romance

house on fire

[hcrricanelaughter]

cornelia’s corner || private 1x1 blog written by cornelia / 24 / she/her / est

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[heritagedoll]

she goes stiff the second he lifts her, hands instinctively bracing against his shoulders. by the time her feet hit the ground again, her expression’s already gone cold. she takes a step back the moment he lets her go and fixes her sleeve. “ you’re unbelievable, ” her eyes peer up when he keeps talking, that same smug tone, and something in her face tightens. “ don’t do that. ” it's quiet. “ don’t decide what i feel because it’s convenient for you. ” when his arm drops over her shoulder, she doesn’t shrug it off immediately. just stands there for a second before slipping out from under it with a small step forward. she watches him reach for her bag, and that’s when she moves, taking it back out of his hand. “ i said i’m not done yet, ” she mutters, adjusting the strap on her shoulder. “ i didn’t say i was staying tonight. ” enough. “ and i definitely didn’t say i like you. ”

[hcrricanelaughter]

his smile faltered before dropping away completely . a blank expression met her's . theodore couldn't understand . it was like when he went to eat his dinner , expecting a fresh , hot meal , only to be met with something that was ice cold . disappointed would be an understatement . " what is your problem ? that's not rhetorical by the way . " his stance tensed up , and he didn't fight her as she took her bag back . " what's so complicated about this ? why can't you just say you like me ? " the world had always been simple to him . everything had always been black and white . people got everything they wanted or they didn't . he'd always fallen into the former category . until corinna came along . now , nothing he did ever seemed to be enough . his arms crossed over his chest as he watched her , lips pressed in a thin line .

[heritagedoll]

she rolls her eyes before he even finishes, dragging a hand down her face like she’s physically exhausted by him. her shoulder bumps past his as she moves. “ please, ” she mutters, already reaching for her bag, fingers a little too rough with the zipper. “ don’t act like this is some grand mystery. ” she glances back at him, quick, like she’s checking if he’s still being ridiculous. “ i come back because i let myself. ” she adjusts the strap on her shoulder, then adds without looking at him. “ and if i really wanted to be done ? i would be. you wouldn’t hear from me again. ”

[hcrricanelaughter]

his smirk didn't fade . it was exactly as he suspected . despite her words , she wanted to be there . without much of a second thought , he wrapped his arms around her waist , lifted her up and spun her around before setting her down . theodore took a few steps back , his wide smile and puffed out chest betrayed how proud he felt . " you won't ever escape me . i'd follow you to the ends of the earth . " once something was his , it was his forever . he couldn't let himself lose his favorite toy . or worse , let anyone else play with it . " finally ready to tell me how much you like me instead of telling me to get away ? you basically professed your love for me . if you want to marry me , you have to get permission from my dad . " his arm was slung across her shoulder . " let's stay in tonight . " the words whispered quietly in her ear as his arm now moved to take her bag and put it away .

[heritagedoll]

“ i’m so fucking over this, theo. ”

[hcrricanelaughter]

" are you going to do something about it or just complain ? you say this all the time , but somehow , you always find your way right back to my side . " his words were punctuated with a smirk . it made sense to him . he was charming , handsome , and rich . obviously , she would keep coming back for more . theodore just wished she was happier about it .

[heritagedoll]

it isn’t his best line. she can tell. but he doesn’t need it to be. he thinks proximity is enough. he thinks the fact that she hasn’t walked away yet means he’s already won. she hates that he might be right. she keeps her face motionless, but her pulse betrays her, a sharp flutter beneath her collarbone. he’s not used to not getting what he wants. she knows that about him. it radiates off him. that quiet entitlement. that assumption that the world would bend if he leaned hard enough. slowly, she lifts her chin, forcing his hand to drag away as the angle shifts. “ still ? ” she repeats. like it was ever a given. “ i'm not a fucking door you circle back to when the first option disappoints you. ” a mutter. “ if you wanted me, ” she continues, “ you should’ve chosen me the first time. ” she steps back before he can respond, reclaiming the inch of space he stole. “ i'm going. ”

[hcrricanelaughter]

stepping closer and closer , right hand landed on the wall next to her head . the gesture was casual . he couldn't make a scene . not while his parents were here to scold him if he did . but the motion was to stop her from running away . the same old dance — a game of cat and mouse . he pursued her . she ran away . not this time . theodore tangled his fingers into hers . to any passerby , it would look like a young couple in a lovers embrace . that victory was easy to picture . " you're not running today . not unless it's to leave with me . " the words had confidence oozing out of every pore . " why does it matter if you're first ? i still pick you . every time , i pick you . " finger moved to stroke her wrist . growing up , his father had one lesson he constantly tried to instill in his only son . don't play favorites . the toys he played with the most were always taken from him . but corinna , he wasn't ready to give her up . appearances be damned . he only wanted her to want him . " there aren't other options , you know . i can't get you out of my head . " sentences spoken in a sigh . a rare moment of vulnerability . or maybe he just couldn't stand to lose .

[heritagedoll]

stalk. the word moves through her like teeth against flesh. not because it’s accurate. it isn’t. but because of the implication. that she circled him. that she plotted. that she rearranged her night around the hope of him. her gaze lingers on his mouth, that exasperating curve of pity. he looks pleased. certain. like this encounter confirms something he’s suspected all along. she hates certainty. especially his. there is, however, that quiet betrayal in her own chest. the small, undeniable fact that she did know he’d be here. that she could have chosen the other stairwell. the other bar. the other side of the room. she didn’t. not for him, she tells herself. for the possibility. which is entirely fucking worse. “ stalk you ? ” she tilts her head. “ holy shit, get over yourself ? ” a breath. “ i came with someone, theo. ”

[hcrricanelaughter]

he knew she wasn’t alone . he didn’t care . theodore had been keep tracking of her , kept her in his peripheral all night , waiting for her to be alone . an apology bounced around in his head , but it would stay there . any vulnerability or weakness was tucked tidily away in a part of his brain that would never see the sun . a mumbled excuse to his date . tricia ? tiffany ? whoever it was , he left behind without so much as a glance back and trailed behind corinna . now , he was looking down on her , drinking in the sight of her . " let's switch places . i'll get over myself if you get over me instead . " words were punctuated with a wink . it wasn't his smoothest line , but he had her on the hook . she hadn't run away yet . he only had to reel her back in . he'd been imagining this moment since she left . he wasn't accustomed to not getting what he wanted . never in his life had he wanted something more than her . " you can still leave with me . " the back of his hand traced the side of her throat as he took a step closer .

[hcrricanelaughter]

to corinna ( @rosarynx )

" you know , if you wanted to see me , you didn't have to stalk me . you could have just asked . " he wore a triumphant smile like this was to be expected .

[heritagedoll]

she lets him get close. close enough to feel the warmth of him, close enough that anyone watching might think she’s about to give in to it. then his thumb drags through her lipstick, and she goes still for a beat. just watching, like she’s trying to see what’s underneath the act. her tongue sweeps slowly across her lower lip, fixing the smear without a mirror, without breaking eye contact. her fingers come up, brushing a piece of lint from his shoulder that isn’t there. an absent gesture, almost gentle. ‘ you’re trying too hard. ’ a half whisper. she tilts her head, studying his face up close now, eyes dragging over the tightness in his jaw, the way his smile doesn’t reach his eyes. ‘ whatever’s eating you, ’ she’s quiet, ‘ it’s got nothing to do with me. ’ her hand drops away, and she leans back just enough to put space between them again.

[hcrricanelaughter]

lips pressed together tightly as he watched her . it wasn't her words that hurt him . rather , it was her actions . almost like she pitied him . like he was some poor boy throwing a temper tantrum . well , if that's what she wanted , so be it . theodore barred his teeth at her . " of course not . you're a placeholder . you're not good enough to know what's eating me . " he wanted to stomp his feet or ruffle her hair and make it frizzy . if he was ten , he would do it . but he was an adult . he had to use his words now . wield his words like a sword used to cut down anyone who stood in his way . his dad had taught him that lesson well . the world was a lonely place if he wanted to stand on top of it like a king . " you should consider it a consolation that you're pretty enough to stand by my side for the night . "

[heritagedoll]

her expression stays loose, pretty in that careless way. ‘ yeah. ’ she mutters. ‘ you are. ’ her gaze follows his hands as he smooths his shirt. a slow once - over. when he tucks her hair behind her ear, she studies him for a second too long. then gives him the faintest smile. her fingers hook lightly in the front of his shirt, undoing the neat line he just fixed. ‘ if i wanted to take something out on you, ’ she adds. ‘ you wouldn’t be guessing, theo. ’ a breath. ‘ now fuck off ? ’ i hate that i love you.

[hcrricanelaughter]

his soft smile became like that of a shark as she rumpled his shirt . with furrowed brows , he quickly smoothed it back out . theodore had to look good . look presentable . look like he wasn't worried about the pending investigation his father was involved in . " is that the game you want to play ? " something dark lurked in his eyes as he stared down at her . a hand moved to her cheek . he leaned in ever so close as if he would steal a kiss . instead , he moved his thumb and smudged her lipstick . " having fun yet , corinna ? "

it wasn't her fault that stress was gnawing away at his heart . that he didn't know how else to express it except make everyone else as miserable as he was . perhaps he hoped she'd ask why he did it . then the words could come pouring out of his mouth as a waterfall . but no . that was only a fantasy of a child who didn't know how the world worked . he'd keep pushing her and pushing her and pushing her . at least when she told him to fuck off it meant she felt something , even if it was only irritation .

[heritagedoll]

she leaned close to the cracked mirror, fingers trembling as they smeared black eyeliner across her lids. a laugh caught in her throat as she half - turned toward him, hair falling into her eyes. ‘ god, ’ she breathed, ‘ you’re actually fucking insufferable. ’ her lips curved, smudged lipstick leaving streaks across her mouth. her hand hovered over her cheek, forgetting the brush she’d been holding.

[hcrricanelaughter]

his eyes tracked her movements . a predator watching its prey . theo leaned in close , his breath brushing across her ear . " yet , here i am . " he stood up , straightening his spine and moving his hands down his shirt to smooth out any wrinkles . " anyway , that didn't sound like a no . if anything , it sounds like you have even more aggression you want to take out on me later . " a hand moved up , gently tucking the loose strand of hair behind her ear .

[heritagedoll]

‘ it's me or her. ’

[hcrricanelaughter]

" if i say her , will you take me home and punish me ? will you show me who's boss ? " the mischievous glint in his eyes paired well with the smirk that was glued to his face .

[heritagedoll]

‘ do you like looking stupid ? ’

[hcrricanelaughter]

" this outfit is giving stupid ? " magdalena looked down at her skirt and smoothed out a wrinkle . " i'll put on glasses next time, so i can look like a sexy librarian . then you'll be asking me if i like looking like such a scholar . " she smiled proudly at him .

[heritagedoll]

“ fuck, do you ever get tired of hearing yourself ? ” she spat, pushing over the drink in front of him. “ because it’s a lot. and none of it is fucking interesting. ” she stepped back, gaze dragging over him once. “ and no, ” she added, like an afterthought. “ that wasn’t good enough. ”

[hcrricanelaughter]

he slid back in the chair , the loud scrape mixing in with the other conversations around them . mouth open , anger burning in his eyes as his pants clung to his leg . " what the fuck ? in what world is it right to punish me and project on me because you don't like yourself ? no one will like you with that little attitude . " roman gave her a look that was as close to one of pity that he could muster . he grabbed a cocktail napkin from the table and began dabbing at the stain on his pants . " a little help would be nice . hope that's not too difficult for you . "

[heritagedoll]

‘ go ahead, lie to me again. ’

[hcrricanelaughter]

finger tapped obnoxiously slow against his chin . " it's charming when you talk so loud it sounds like you're yelling . it's not obnoxious at all , " roman hummed . " that good enough for you ? " the question was punctuated with the smirk that seemed to be a permanent fixture on his face .

[lunamonchtuna]

— Ernest Hemingway, from The Sun Also Rises (via lunamonchtuna)

[superscrs]

☆  –   in  the  source  link,  you'll  find  #51  gifs  of  lola  tung  in  the  ‘  who’s  your  boyfriend  ’   by  royel  otis  music  video.  all  gifs  were  made  from  scratch  by  me.  please  do  not  edit,  repost  or  claim  as  your  own.  do  not  use  if  you  rp  taboo,  celeb  rps  or  during  smut.  like/reblog  if  using  !

[movietonight]

I wouldn't be a good sacrificial lamb I'd be like a huge bitch about it