Life is Strange

❝ ever since my dreams have changed i'm crashing down like a paper plane nothing ever stays the same but, all i know is life is strange. ❞ { citizen of the pelago islands } bank: 200,105G

[jvckofhearts]

{ Jack’s Attire - Hunt Holiday Party ☼ }

[jvckofhearts]

at fifteen | closed

•｡ ♡ There was one night Jack remembered that he did not go trick-or-treating with Jill. He was fifteen, and he had been invited to a party instead by one of the popular students in school. Although he had fun at the party, his mind would wander to what she was doing and if she had a fun time; come to find out by the end of the evening, the party was a bust, and Jill had the best time with a couple of other friends. He does not have many regrets, but if he did have one, it would be not accompanying his sister that night - and making another childhood memory with her by his side.

[jvckofhearts]

sweet business | closed

•｡ ♡ Ending Halloween night was not one for the weary at the Aurel household; similar to a game of Monopoly, Jack and Jill would scatter their candy all over the living room floor and organize them in different categories. From candy they loved to candy they hated - and sour candy to sweet candy, they were methodical and intentional with how they arranged their sweets. For the next hour or so, the twins would stay awake and bargain with each other for the other’s candies. Albeit twins, they still had their own tastes - and sometimes, the deals would not be good enough for the other, and their parents would fall asleep on the couch listening to them bicker and settle. It was amazing how they did not turn out to be businessmen.

[jvckofhearts]

twin costumes | closed

•｡ ♡ At first, when they were toddlers, Jack always loved dressing up in the exact same costume as his twin sister, Jill. He thought that it was the coolest, especially since the adults at each house they’d visit would coo at how adorable they were; however, as the two got older and entered junior high age, they loathed toward their parents’ insistence that they dress alike. Deep down, though, Jack still adored dressing up in sync with her - and he imagined she did too - but you had to make a statement for yourself. He couldn’t always be known as the twin.

[thepelagoislands]

Beach Day on Leuda

If your muse participated in the Beach Day event, you can reblog this post for 2 activity points. 

[jvckofhearts]

ACTIVITY CHECK ♡07.11.20♡

Profit:

[ +1,500G ]: For working at Forget-Me-Not Ranch.

[ +1,000G ]: For working at Barley’s Animal Shop.

[ +2,000G ]: For being the Boss of Forget-Me-Not-Ranch.

[ +1,000G ]: For being the Owner of Forget-Me-Not-Ranch.

[ +500G ]: Rent from Celia.

Expenses:

No Living Expenses! ( Temporary Residence @ Room A01, Bell Hotel, Leuda )

[ -1,500G ]: For Celia ( @runawayflower​ ) in lieu of her paycheck for working at Forget Me-Not Ranch.

New Balance: 200,105G

[jvckofhearts]

searing sorrow | closed

•｡ ♡ “Hey, daddio.” Jack sheepishly smiled, rubbing the back of his neck with unease as his other hand awkwardly held a couple of blue forget-me-not flowers he picked along the way to the cemetery; to be speaking to a gravestone in lieu of his face - who reminded his mother so much of her son - was still an adjustment for him. Part of him was convinced that at any moment his father would walk through the farmhouse door and reassure his son that he was okay and here to stay; alas, life was not always this easy - and acclimating to this new reality was something he must do - sooner rather than later. He knelt down and placed the flowers - his favorite - close to the rock that signified the resting place of his father - and remained silent for a couple of moments to gather his thoughts. After all of this time he waited to visit him - in an attempt to string together the just words to say, there was something about today - a gut feeling - that brought him there; albeit he would never hear him, it was consoling to talk to him as if he could. Maybe - just maybe - he was listening.

“I, uh... I miss you. Dad. -- but don’t worry! Your farm is in good hands. Your son is taking care of it. I’m gonna restore it to its former beauty - like you had it before - and make you proud. I promise.” He tugged on his sleeve and wiped a tear trailing down his face; he swore to himself before he came that he was going to be strong - he needed to be. “I love you, dad.”

Did he get everything off his chest? Did he say all that he wanted to say at that moment? Perhaps so - but even when his father passed, he was unsatisfied with what he did not say over what he did; nonetheless, Jack had all the time in the world to stop by and share the words that came from his heart - for his dad, he would wear it on his sleeve - shamelessly and proudly. With that, the rancher offered a small wave to the gravestone that was engraved with the name of his father and walked away - not turning back. He had work to do.

Man, was his day already booked - and it hadn’t even started yet! As he walked back to the farm, he counted on his fingers the number of chores and tasks that was on his imaginary list; whereas he usually was scratching at the surface for motivation to get ‘er done, he was especially inspired today after visiting his father - like he was rejuvenated with his father’s spirit to push onward and follow through with his commitment to his dad - to his family - to himself.

... Little did he know, though, that the day he eagerly awaited for would be one he wished never happened.

Fire.

Across the landscape - from the farmhouse to the barn to the fields, all that the human eye could see was fire. Flames roared and howled from the gust of wind sweeping through the land; a looming shadow emerged from the sky - to which his eyes brimming with tears discovered a dragon soaring by and into the horizon. Jack felt his heart stop beating - frozen within that moment - and shatter into a million pieces as he watched the wildfire burn everything that belonged to him - his father. All of the sweat, tears, and blood he poured into revitalizing this farm. All of the memories from his childhood on this farm with his sister, friends, extended family, and his dad. All that he had left to remember his father by was gone in an instant. 

Searing sorrow engulfed him - fire from his rage and water from his heartbreak; when two worlds collide.

What would Dad do? Jack already knew the answer. Things can be replaced, but people cannot. He needed to find Celia and ensure her safety; then, he needed to release the animals and allow them to seek shelter on their own for the time being. Another moment could not go to waste.

Go.

[jvckofhearts]

the same cloth | jack & rachel

dancing-lxghts·:

“Ugh, geez…” Rachel huffed, annoyed and embarrassed to have been caught looking so… well, looking like a farmer. She was a farmer, so there was no reason not to look the part, but compared to her appearance at the masquerade where she had met Jack, she looked like Cinderella after midnight, so to speak. 

“Well, hello to you too, Jack.” She looked him up and down, taking in his own new look. All signs pointed towards a similar occupation to her own, which was a bit of a relief to the blonde. Had he been some kind of actual prince or celebrity or something of the sort, Rachel was sure that she’d believe she’d been sucked into the television in one of her soap operas. “The whole ‘farmer’ look suits you too, you know.” 

She leaned against her fence, standing beside him. “So, you just so happened to be walking by my flower farm, hm?” Rachel chuckled, looking out at her field of nearly-bloomed flowers. “I do have to admit, it’s nice to see you– the real you. Might take some getting used to.” She nudged him playfully, a smile on her lips. “I was so used to the whole prince charming getup, y’know. I don’t mind getting to know this look, though.”

•｡ ♡ “Guess you could say that you and I are cut from the same cloth. ♪” Jack was definitely feeling himself, and it was showing - through his smooth words and suave demeanor did his surge in confidence manifest itself; however, she did catch him off guard with the observation of his clothing - posing as a reminder that he was also still in his work clothes but, at least, he was not looking as raggedy as she was. Actually, if he were to be totally honest with her, he preferred this side rather than what the magical ailments conjured up from that transformational potion on the evening of the dance; a woman who was not afraid to get some dirt under her fingernails and work up a sweat was his type - maybe his flirtations was bringing clarity to what appealed to him within another person, though at the end of the day, they were just being playful with each other - or so he thought.

“A flower farm, huh?” Brown eyes wandered from seas of blue to a sea of scattered flowers in an open field. “Nice to see you got a green thumb, but I gotta say that I hardly noticed them when there was only one thing that caught my eye.” He set his gaze back on her, reciprocating the nudge on her arm - and reflecting the smile on his lips with the utmost sincerity. “Hey now - who isn’t to say that I am a man of many threads? I could easily have my suits and ties next to my flannels and suspenders in my closet. Do I not get any benefit of the doubt?”

Jack paused. “I agree, though. It’s also nice to see the real you - but if I’m being honest, I kinda wanna know the real you more, too.”

[jvckofhearts]

promises | jack & celia

runawayflower·:

The songs of hundreds of crickets echoed through the kitchen window. The sound seeping through the farmhouse and into the dining room where Celia was seated. She was staring intently at a book, tapping the end of a pencil to her lips. She had spent the past fifteen minuets writing in her diary while waiting for her cup of warm milk and honey to cool. 

She heard him coming, so she wasn’t startled when his voice echoed through the quiet dining room. He wasn’t exactly the quietest person in the world. Maybe that, or she was used to the sound of his feet plunking around the farmhouse. 

“I had some trouble sleeping.” She admitted, placing her pencil in the center crease of the book. She reached over to grab her mug, blowing over the top of the liquid gently before taking a sip. 

She blinked as the pouch of gold hit the wood of the table. Was he still going to fight her over this again? Well, fight was a strong word. It was never a fight. More…a soft argument. “Jack–” she started, trying to think about what to say. 

“You don’t owe me. You were the one kind enough to let me into your home. That’s more than I could ever repay, no matter how much work I do.” She picked up the pouch of gold, shifting it through her fingers. 

“You deserve it.”

•｡ ♡ He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed, with a slight chuckle in the same breath - knowing well that he should have expected her to respond like this; her graciousness for the smallest of kind gestures was one of the traits she possessed that he admired the most about her, but when it came to the gratitude she expressed to him for the past year or so, he could not understand the magnitude to which his deed meant to her. Jack was tired from another long day of work under the everlasting summer sunshine that bathed him and the animals with its rays, but despite how his body may have felt, he always conjured up enough energy to talk with Celia - given that he was so busy between the land and the pet shop, there would be a couple days at a time that he hardly saw her; if he were honest, those were some of his least favorite days.

The rancher pulled out the chair straight across from her and sat down, crossing his arms as he leaned back in the chair - and a soft smile graced his features. 

“Celia.” He was not always the best with words - especially during times like this when all he wanted to do was get through to her; she was more stubborn than she let on to be. “I do owe you... for so much more than just helping me out here around the farm. You came here when I needed you the most. I mean that,” the brunet briefly paused, “... it’s the least I can do to let you live with me rent-free. Honestly? This place is as home to you as it is to me. You’re part of the reason it’s become what it has.”

“I know you wanna move on to other things in the future. You oughta save the money you earn so that you can get closer to the goals you have.”

[jvckofhearts]

(don’t) take me to church | pandora & jack

arch-sorceress·:

Pandora’s eyes blinked open. Her vision soon returned to her and she took a moment to take in her surroundings. Where was she or rather, who was she with? A man’s voice was the first thing that brought her back to consciousness. The sensation of warmth against her head almost made her fall back out of consciousness, but the confusion was enough to keep her awake.

She abruptly sat up, making her head spin. She swayed, but managed not to fall back down. Her head swiveled towards the man who was with her. He was rather plain looking with his brown hair and eyes. At least, compared to Pandora.

Putting a hand to her pounding head, she attempted to recall what the man had just said. Something about a clinic. She pieced together that he was asking if she needed to go to the clinic. There was no way she would subject herself to that. No mortal could help her.

“No.” She got to her feet before immediately falling to knees. To steady herself, she rested a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Get me out of here, mortal. This was not a plea for help, but rather a command.

•｡ ♡ Jack has had his fair share of bizarre experiences with eccentric individuals in his lifetime, especially when he lived on Leuda and - within the heart of the city - met many kinds of different people; little did he expect, though, that this strange woman would be even beyond those he had crossed paths with before. He admired her tenacity - her perseverance to withstand the physical pain she must have been enduring at that moment - but, despite her best efforts, it was evident that she was in no state to continue forward with whatever she had planned; part of him wondered if he should be thankful that she was not going to follow through with her original intentions, given that she just called him a mortal. 

Push comes to shove, he leaped to the conclusion that she was probably on something - because, in all sincerity, who talks like that?

“Listen,” he reached over to wrap her arm around his neck for support - walking slowly with his back arched so that she could remain on both feet, “if I’m gonna get you out of here, it’s gonna be to get you to the clinic because you need help. Why don’t we just sit for a minute before you pass out again, and I’ll have to carry you myself?”

[jvckofhearts]

dancing-lxghts·:

jvckofhearts·:

the same cloth | jack & rachel

The evening of the masquerade could not have gone any better, really. Rachel got to go and have the night of her life, being swept off her feet by some prince charming, as though fate had designed the night itself…

Only for it to be ripped away by the realization that they had never exchanged proper contact information. Despite having thought about the man she met day in and day out since the masquerade, Rachel simply left it to be a fantasy, a fairy tale of a night that she’d always treasure in her memory. 

She never expected for the man to pop up again, leaning against the fence of her farm as she knelt down in the dirt trimming up the growing flowers in her field. 

“Wh– You!” Rachel stood up abruptly, feeling more than embarrassed at being caught in her work overalls and coated in dirt. She hardly looked anything like the picturesque woman she had made herself out to be the night that they met. Her face flared red with embarrassment, but she hurried over to the fence, dropping her shears on the ground and she practically ran to the fence. 

“What are you doing here? How’d you find me?”

•｡ ♡ A burst of hearty laughter filled with joy - as well as amusement - escaped his lips as he was bearing witness to this entertaining scene unfold; if only she could have seen the look on her face - from the rosy hue in her cheeks to the doe in the headlight eyes... in all honesty, it was absolutely adorable - a cute reaction that he did not foresee coming from the mysterious maiden that waltzed into his life by happenstance. Though, he was not certain of what to expect when he saw her again - beyond the four walls of an enchanting evening rich with illusions of beauty and mystery - and, especially as she was running toward the fence, did not plan this far ahead of how he would go about this; alas, just like their night together, he believed that the words would come to him naturally and flow without a second thought.

“Fate. ♪” Jack giggled at himself - he viewed himself as more funnier than he was sometimes, but hey, nothing was more comical than her flustered expression. “No, I was walking by when I looked out here and saw you getting down and dirty in the soil - then I saw your face and recognized you! Thought I’d say hi.~” He glanced at her up and down. “I gotta give it to you, Rachel... this is one of your best looks yet.” 

[jvckofhearts]

embroideredsmile·:

summer blues | jack & candace 

Though her store was little more than an obscure, fledgling tailor shop, Candace was both surprised and immensely pleased with her customers so far. She likely owed this partially to lack of competition on the island–she found any way to undersell her own efforts–but the pride that stubbornly swelled in her very core was not going anywhere. People liked the things she made enough to buy and wear them, and that was more than enough encouragement to get up every morning and go do what she loved.

That morning, she had arrived and unlocked the door, but was settled at her desk, eating a small breakfast before getting started on the designing for that day. At the sound of the door, a head of blue hair peeked from over the counter, a few stray muffin crumbs clinging to her lip.

“Y-yes…! We’re open…” Candace swiped the specks off her and stood up, smoothing the fabric of her skirt. The new customer was hardly the type she usually saw in here; he was a lanky but well-built man with messy brown hair and tanned skin. He certainly seemed like one of Arcadia’s many agricultural professionals, and her clothing… wasn’t exactly fit for that. But, she hoped, maybe she could find something for him.

“Good morning,” she greeted meekly, but with a smile, as she wound her way around the front counter to meet him. “May I… help you?”

•｡ ♡ Albeit soft-spoken and timid, or as he established from his first impression of the tailor, there was something about her presence alone that was calming; a peaceful atmosphere was created around her, and she was the center. Jack appreciated that; yet, he surmised that she probably did not even recognize the impact she had - but it also could have been the quietude of the early morning or the angle that the dawn sunlight glinted from the window covered in dew; nevertheless, a placid smile discovered its way to his lips - and he closed the door gently behind him as to not disturb the fragile silence that this little shop encompassed. 

“I had heard in town about a local seamstress who has made some pretty good clothes,” he stepped closer to the front counter with his hands in his pockets and his eyes wandering around the small building, “and I can see why.” The rancher paused to recollect his thoughts, fixating his gaze back on the tailor - he honestly did not really know what the right words to say about this sort of thing. “Anyway! I was wanting to see what you had, or... at least get some advice on my, uh... wardrobe?”

[jvckofhearts]

ACTIVITY CHECK ♡06.27.20♡

Profit:

[ +1,500G ]: For working at Forget-Me-Not Ranch.

[ +1,000G ]: For working at Barley’s Animal Shop.

[ +2,000G ]: For being the Boss of Forget-Me-Not-Ranch.

[ +1,000G ]: For being the Owner of Forget-Me-Not-Ranch.

[ +500G ]: Rent from Celia.

Expenses:

None!

New Balance: 199,605G

[jvckofhearts]

treasuresunknown·:

sleepover » jack & lily

Whilst he ordered the room service and looked for something to watch, she grabbed some clean pyjamas from her drawers and retreated back into the bathroom to change. Despite the nature of her relationship with Jack, she still didn’t feel comfortable undressing in front of him unless it served… a certain purpose. She felt that required the sort of intimacy that wasn’t covered by their friends-with-benefits status. 

Still, she chose pyjamas on the more respectable end of the spectrum, opting for a matching satin set over an old, large t-shirt as she might normally wear. She brushed out her wet hair so it lay smooth over her back and headed back into the main room. 

“Ah…” she responded at the news, chewing her lip. A movie would have been a convenient, comfortable silence, but if that wasn’t an option… “I suppose I could stand talking to you for a while,” she said with a quirk of the corner of her lip. “Provided there’s wine involved, of course.”

As if in response, there was a knock at the door. “That was quick,” she commented as she went to retrieve their order.

•｡ ♡ To be fair, Jack should have expected - with how well he knew Lily at this point, given what she gave him beyond their original purpose of friendship - that she would be hesitant toward spending more time together; he understood and respected the boundaries they set with each other from the beginning of their anomaly of a relationship, and it was important to him that he abide by her wishes - but, be as it may fate or a mishap of bad luck, this was the situation they were in together; to him, he wanted to make the most of it instead of awkward silence for Goddess knows how long.

“Is having wine even a question?” He lightened the gravity of the situation with his playful comment - a humored smile tracing his lips - as he watched her walk up to the door; it was still a sight to behold, even with the old, large t-shirt that did not hug her beautiful figure. “I get that we have this... thing... going on between us, but I like to think we’re still friends at the end of the day. I promise I’m not boring - that you should know by now.”

Without any alcohol in their system yet, Jack decided it would be best to not cross the bridge into intimate territory quite yet in terms of conversation; keeping it light and as innocent as possible was key if he hoped for her to not shut down on him. “... You work at the Explorer’s Guild on Arcadia and The Treasure Trove, right? How do you like it? Think you’re gonna stick with those, or is there something else you’re hoping to do?”

[dragon-twin]

shopping

Medium Kitchen [-10,000G] @treetopdynamite

Rusty Fishing Rod [-4,000G] @meanderingblacksmith

Monster Glove [-5,000G] @jvckofhearts

Total: 19,000G New Balance: 4,291G

[jvckofhearts]

•｡ ♡ “Thank you kindly, sir. ♪” Jack accepted the money graciously and gave the monster glove to the patron; he did not look familiar to him, but tourism was starting to pick up on the island - so it may have been an expectation for him to see people he did not know. With everything occurring lately regarding the influx of monsters on the island, it made him smile that there was still hope of kindling relationships with them. “If you have any questions or problems, feel free to come on back - and I’ll help any way I can!” 

New Balance: 193,605G

[jvckofhearts]

{ Jack’s Attire - Beach Day ☼ }

•｡ ♡ Day after day on the ranch certainly kept him busy - especially with upkeep on renovations, as well as rejuvenating the dilapidated property to its former glory - but, sometimes, he appreciated a break once in a while. When he heard from Celia about Beach Day on Leuda, he thought it would be the perfect opportunity to spend some time having fun in the sun and visiting some old friends from his old stomping grounds. He hoped she would not mind him tagging along with her there; the last thing he wanted was to cramp her style.

Jack had yet to pull out his swim trunks and actually wear them for the purpose of swimming - now, he was excited for a good time! 

[jvckofhearts]

promises | jack & celia

[ @runawayflower​ ]

•｡ ♡ It seemed like ages ago when there was a young man - grieving over the recent loss of his father - who spontaneously upheaved himself and moved to Arcadia with a heavy heart to preserve his memory; he felt that he had a sense of responsibility, along with desperation, to keep the ranch passed down from his paternal ancestors alive. Soon after, he encountered a wandering young woman who was lost and foreign to the island - needing refuge to begin again; there was something about her that reflected himself - and he may have not been the most religious person, but he could not believe that this was simply a coincidence.

Couple of years later, Jack and Celia were still living together - and he hoped that she viewed this place as home as much as he did; except, she was persistent that she pay him a small fee for rent despite his opposition.

“Oh,” he stopped in the doorway to the dining room, “you’re still awake.”

“I thought you’d be asleep by now,” Jack softly smiled - thankful that he was wearing a shirt, albeit in his pajamas because he owed her the decency and respect to not parade around the house half-nude. “I believe this is yours,” he placed a pouch of 500G on the table in front of her, “seriously, Celia... you don’t have to do this. If anything, I owe you so much more for all you do here. Save your money.”