my kingdom is turning to ash in my mouth

i dream of terrible things. i dream of worlds. i dream of monsters. i dream of the sea. i dream of falling. i dream of fire. i dream of mazes. i dream of death. and you... you don't dream at all. amelia fulton, of house odell. ARIADNE, OF CRETE.

[labyrinthandthread]

hectorclayton:

“You better be a good shot.” Hector told her, pulling the cig away from his mouth and breathing out white smoke, “I gave you that little killer just last month for that reason, You swore t’me you were a good shot.” He winked, sucking on the cigarette again, “Tell it to the Cap’, Cason is a wreck, Fired at me instead of the perp again today, damn bastard is gonna get us both killed.”

"Of course I am,” she said, almost offended as she took another puff of her own cigarette, mollified only by his wink. Smiling back at her friend, Amelia leaned against the wall and then raised her eyebrows at him. “Again? You sure it’s not on purpose, sugar?”

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sommersofkindness:

“It’s alright, a lot of these streets look the same, it’s easy to get lost if you distract yourself for a minute.” He said gently, shaking his head. “Not at all, it would be my pleasure. Do you have an appointment?” He tried for a casual conversation as they began their walk.

"You could say that again,” she agreed, walking alongside him and then smiling at his kindness. “Of sorts,” Amelia confirmed, shrugging a shoulder. “A friend wished to go shopping, and I was fool enough to think I knew the city better than I did. And you? I do hope I’m not keeping you from anything pressing.”

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galenvance:

“You don’t need lines like that to charm me, Miss Fulton, you do that just fine all on your own whenever we run into each other.” Galen replied with a chuckle, taking a sip of his drink. “But I guess I’m just waiting for the right partner to come along. Maybe you can save that dance for me when they do put your song on?”

“Oh please, we’re far past that. Call me Amelia,” she insisted, smiling broadly at him around the rim of her glass. The right partner. She nodded, familiar with the feeling, and then smiled again, dimples popping in her cheeks as she did. “I’d be more than happy too –– so long as the right doll hasn’t come along for you by then.”

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dariusrossi:

Darius swallowed before clearing his throat and tearing his eyes away from her, shaking his head as he picked up some fallen paint brushes. “What? Oh, no, if anyone’s the fool here, it would be me and my inability to hold onto a couple of canvases.” Darius joked with a shrug of his shoulders. 

“Right, please… Forgive me. Darius Rossi.” He extended his hand out towards her and nodded his head in greeting. 

"No, please, it was my fault,” she protested, her hands fluttering around in an effort to try and help him, coming up short by the time he rose back to his full height. Rocking back on her heels slightly, she smiled back at him, still a touch embarrassed even as her she took his hand with hers, shaking once, twice, three times. “Amelia, Amelia Fulton,” she responded with a slight nod of her own. “Truly, I am sorry, I promise I don’t make a habit of accosting fellas on the street like that, it’s just –– I’m a bit lost,” she admitted with a sheepish laugh, letting go of his hand.

[hollidayxgrainger]

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elinor-ptolemy:

Elinor gave the young woman a confused look at the muttered response, only for her eyes to shoot wide open a moment later.  “Oh, dear.”  She said quietly, but still found herself stepping behind her loud-mouthed hero and watching the exchange with wide eyes.  A moment later, she realized that the girl had, in fact, asked a question.  “Oh!  I-I suppose they were, yes.  Being…being lewd and whatnot, y-you know.”  Embarrassment was turning her a brilliant shade of red, and she wondered if her ears would actually burst into flames before this whole ordeal had finished.

"Of course they were,” she hissed, rolling her eyes in a very unladylike fashion, before volleying back a retort of her own at the men so loud and colorful that it would have made a sailor blush. When one started to hoot with laughter, she glared and raised an eyebrow, daring them to come any closer. All of five feet and two inches with the heels on her feet, she didn’t make for a very intimidating figure, but the hand curled around the top of her purse promised a fight, and when it became clear she wasn’t about to lay down dead at their feet, the men moved on. “See? All bark, no bite,” she said with a small smile, turning back to the blonde and resting a hand gently on the side of her arm. “Men’re like that, sometimes. Besides, I wouldn’t have let them after you. Are you alright, doll? You got somewhere you can go? Mine’s just ‘round the corner, if you want?”

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hectorclayton:

Hector pulled the pack out of his pocket and handed her one, lighting a match and holding it up as he sucked in on the one hanging from his lips, “Look, I’m just sayin the man is a nut. He’s a terrible cop and a worse shot.” He motioned broadly, “Who shoots like that, did he even have any training?”

"Probably hasn’t,” Amelia goaded with a grin, taking the cigarette gracefully and cupping a hand around the flame of the match to light the cigarette before taking a drag. Wonderful. “Bet I’m a better shot,” she said airily, holding the cigarette between two fingers delicately as she spoke. “I should’ve become a detective, I’d be a much better partner.”

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bringerxfdeath:

“Rush Street? You’ve accomplished quite a feat if that’s where you’re heading.” He chuckled briefly, though it was more to give himself time to work out bearings than at the girl’s expense. “I believe that’s on the way to where I’m going, you’re welcome to walk with me.”

"Have I really? Oh dear,” she chuckled, shaking her head at herself, embarrassed, and then nodded at him.

“That would be lovely, thank you. I’m Amelia, by the way, and normally much better at not getting lost. I do hope directing me isn’t going to keep you from anything.”

[boykeats]

Daphne by Keaton St. James

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elinor-ptolemy:

They were still there, still half-singing compliments at her legs and face and body the closer they came.  It had been a good city block since whistles and catcalls had started, and as Elinor glanced back, she saw the two plastered men give her cheeky waves and start call out illicit offers.  Her cheeks burned, but she fought a smile despite her embarrassment; she’d stepped out for a paper, but would go home with a story to tell.

But truth be told, they made her nervous, and were coming too close.  Her eyes started to dart left and right in search of someone to hold her on their arm for a moment or two until the two ossified dawdlers tumbled by, but the street boasted not a single person for another block.  The girl’s young face was flushed with nerves as her stomach started to tie itself in knots.  When at last she glimpsed a solitary figure on the street, she stopped close at their side and took a deep breath before speaking clearly and quietly.

She’d been minding her own business, waiting for Hector three blocks down from her house –– standard procedure; if her mother caught her out with him, she’d never hear the end of it ( “you really oughta stop giving that boy ideas if you’re not going to marry him”, it was incessant ) –– when she saw the girl. She was all but running, but in that contained and careful way that women did when they were nervous, and Amelia watched her for the better part of a block, one hand wrapping more firmly around her pocketbook as she did. She heard the men before she saw them, and had she not been scowling, she would have rolled her eyes at the comments they were making. When the blonde reached her, it would have been easy to nod and keep walking, holding onto the other girl until they got back to her house. After all, it was only a few blocks away. 

Amelia had never really been one for the easy way.

“Oh, the hell with that,” she muttered, and then leaned around the girl, raising her voice enough to be heard. “Are these men BOTHERING you, darlin’?” Her pocketbook was heavy enough to knock one down, if needs be, and the switchblade Hector had insisted she start carrying was sharp enough to send the other one running for the hills, but she’d found that most men who followed women needed only one thing: embarrassment. 

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asapemberley:

“No, I apologize, that is quite fascinating.” Asa faked a smile for his companion - another one of those bored, aging socialite-types - and though he wished to inform her she’d already finished up her time with him, such a statement wouldn’t be good for his business, not at all. “Please, tell me more.” And as he soon as he said that he prayed for some kind soul to swoop down and take him from his misery. 

She’d been watching the scene for the better part of thirty minutes, listening to the bits and pieces of conversation she could catch over the rest of the conversations flowing around her. The poor kid was in over his head with the woman across from him, and Amelia was almost content to watch it continue to play out, to see what he’d do or say to the lady. She’d bet against herself that it’d end in him being slapped, but when he caught her eyes and his look was so DESPERATE, her soft heart won out, and she abandoned her drink to walk over to his table, coming up behind him and letting her elbows drop to his shoulders. Her hands crossed over his chest delicately and she kissed the side of his cheek boldly, leaving a perfect red imprint of her lips on his skin. “Darling,” she trilled, leaning to the side to smile at him properly. “I’m so sorry I’m late, the weather’s made for miserable traveling. I hope you’ll excuse me if I...?” She asked the woman across from him, smiling almost apologetically as she dragged the blond off, only speaking again when they were out of earshot. “I’m Amelia –– sorry ‘bout that, you just looked so sad.”

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holdenvitello:

“I’m about as dandy as one could expect on such a dismally cold day.” He gave her arm a gentle pat. “I hope you’re doing far better?” 

"You say that as though the weather isn’t always dreary,” she grinned, her tone pitched the same way she usually reserved for gossip, as if she she had something scandalous to say about the rainclouds lurking on the edges of the horizon. “Well, I’ve run into you, Doctor. How could I be anything but lovely?”

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galenvance:

“Says you. I’d say I have some stiff competition, doll.” Galen flashed a grin, leaning against the wall beside her with easy grace. “So, you wanna tell me what a girl like you’s doing standing here like a wallflower? Doesn’t suit you, I gotta say. I woulda figured you for the dancing type.” 

"Mmm, that’s what they all say,” she teased, smiling back at him, her head tilting just a touch. “I am,” Amelia confirmed, glancing at the dance floor with an airy and carefree glance, one that said she didn’t mind the lack of attention or exertion –– for the moment. “They haven’t played my song yet. What about you, Galen? I’d have thought every girl in here’d be throwing themselves at you for a dance.”

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sommersofkindness:

He stopped immediately and turned to give the woman his full attention. “Yes, ma’am. I’m afraid you got way out of your path, Rush Street is four blocks down, turning left. May I accompany you?”

"Left, left, my goodness, I’m more turned around than I thought,” she said, frowning at herself. She never got lost; this was a predicament for her. “Would you mind terribly? I’m a bit afraid I’d end up on Albany if I keep this up alone.”

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hectorclayton:

“Only ‘cause I’m good at it. But my latest partner, you know, big ass with blonde hair, wears a stupid jacket, He’s just about got me Killed three times today, Amelia. Three times in One Day.” He sighed and wrapped her hand in his, tugging her along, “Come on, I need a smoke or two.”

"I’ve heard you complain, yes,” she confirmed with a dimpled smile, tucking an errant bit of auburn hair behind her ear and then squeezing his hand with both of hers. “It can’t be that bad, Hector,” she laughed, shaking her head but following quickly, all but hopping and jogging in an effort to keep up with his long legs. “God, I could die for a cigarette,” she moaned, dancing around so that she was facing him as they walked. “You’ll have to tell me all about those three times.”

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dariusrossi:

Darius had been struggling with his paints, large pieces of canvas sandwiched under his arms and truly, he must have looked like a complete and utter mess. Having been so muddled, it came as no surprise that Darius nearly jumped out of his skin at the sudden address, nearly dropping his paints in the process. 

“Good god, doll, you scared the living lights out of me.” Darius rested a hand on his heart before shaking his head with a chuckle. “Lucky for you, I’m heading there mysel-” Darius finally looked up, only to find himself completely stunned by the woman before him. 

Beautiful. 

“Oh, careful!” Amelia gasped, feeling thoroughly embarrassed as he jumped, reaching out to steady the edge of a canvas in his arms, a bright red blush coloring her cheeks. “I’m sorry,” she laughed, still flushed with embarrassment, pulling her hand away and resting her fingertips over her lips. “I didn’t mean to startle you, honest. I––” she paused, realizing that he was staring at her, and she blinked, eyes wide and self conscious. 

“Oh dear, please tell me I haven’t made a damn fool of myself with something on my face, to boot.”

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thaddeusthornton:

Thaddeus gave a smile, puffing out an air of smoke before striding over to the sweet little thing. “Anythin’ for a face like yours, darling. Come on, I’ll walk you there myself,” he offered with a little nod in the particular direction, sliding his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “No sense in you walkin’ over there all by your lonesome.”

"Oh, would you?” She asked hopefully, eyeing him as he strode over – which was far more difficult than it sounded, given how tall he was – and then smiling brightly at his words. 

“That’s very kind of you, sir. I’m normally much better with directions, never get lost. Don’t know what’s got me so turned around today,” she admitted, playing with her pocketbook as they walked. “Lucky I ran into you.”