unclear path

don't lose hope. there's some good in you. a dependent blog for scatterdstorieshq. penned by jess.

[lastingsongs]

happyhavnts‌

eden was a bit surprised when the other said they didn’t know in response to her comment, head tilting to the side slightly. but, she didn’t argue with it. especially since the other’s next comment had her all the more intrigued by the mask and them. she took a step forward and begin to admire the simple detail of the mask, careful not to invade their personal space. though that wasn’t exactly one of eden’s strong suits. she was working on improving that now that she was around so many new and interesting faces. “made together? how interesting. is the mask a part of you?” that was what she had gotten from the other’s statement. a genuine smile worked its way onto eden’s lips in spite of the compliment she was paid, “i don’t think my face is half as pretty as my shop but i’m glad you think so!” she chuckled softly, the laughter dying in her throat briefly when she saw the polaroid that was offered out to her. before she could even reach out to take it, they pulled it away from her. “i don’t want it…? how come? what is it?” she questioned, brows furrowing slightly. “i make all sorts of things here such as potions, tinctures, charms, and other enchanted items.”

nara reached up and slipped the mask from their head, holding it in their hands as they looked down at it. it was strange being able to see your own face with your eyes and not through a reflection. it made nara feel like they were in some inbetween space -- a space stuck in the middle of the spirit world where their real self resided, and the mortal plane where their mortal form would live if they had one. “it is me. from home, this is all i am,” they said as they referred to the mask. they realized that, at home, they really were just a mask -- no true goals, no personality. they had only known obsession as their only motivation and emotion. they looked back up at the other as they hugged the thing to their chest. “it is pretty. but, my picture would show you something not pretty. they make people not happy. it feels good. but, i would not feel good if you were upset -- you wouldn’t like me anymore,” they said, knowing through experience that they were typically avoided after initial an initial run-in. “you’re a witch? do you own a bathhouse?” their own knowledge told them that all witched own bathhouses and forced spirits to work for them. that was how they had their power.

[lastingsongs]

ofstorybooks‌

sabrina couldn’t help but continue staring at her arm that was bleeding, feeling a bit queasy just from the sight. it was a bit ironic that she could watch the goriest horror movies but felt faint the moment she saw blood in real life. she inhaled sharply as she registered the boy’s question and forced herself to nod her head in reply. “ i’m fine, i was just worried that i was going to hurt you. ” her attention shifted back to her wound as he mentioned that she needed to get her arm fixed. but there was something about the way the other covered his nose that made her feel slightly uneasy. she knew that she didn’t have enough energy or strength to heal the wound completely but she focused her attention and whispered, “ percuro. ” the wound became less ghastly and the amount of blood lessened. she still definitely needed to put a bandage on it and clean it up, but at least it was a bit more tolerable. she felt safe enough to reach out and take the boy’s hand with a weak smile. once she was back on her own two feet, she let out a sigh and reached to pick up her broom. “ do you know where i could find the closest first aid kit ? ”

chase swallowed thickly as he waited for her to take his hand. but, his brows furrowed with surprise and confusion as he watched the wound change right in front of his eyes. immediately, the smell was less intense. it still lingered in the air, but it wasn’t so overwhelming that he couldn’t function properly. he easily pulled her up. “i-- i don’t know. um, maybe in a shop nearby?” he guessed. he heard that shops usually had them. but, honestly, he wasn’t thinking about that as much as he should have been at the moment. “how did you do that? make it smaller? are you magic?” he asked. he’d never seen anything like it before nor had he heard anything similar happening with anyone he knew. the only thing he could come up with was that she had to be magical. or, maybe humans were just really fast at healing.

[lastingsongs]

happyhavnts‌

( closed starter for @lastingsongs / ❝ it’s so nice to hear your laugh again. ❞ )

flynn’s laugh had never been something he was overly confident in, the sound being commented on in the past. some said it was too loud, too boisterous. others mentioned the fact that it was almost contagious. either way, the comment coming from berlioz managed to make the once dragon smile, his hair color shifting to a golden blonde color as a reflection of the joy that he suddenly felt. “i didn’t think that would be something that could be missed or enjoyed, but it makes me happy to hear that you don’t mind hearing it. besides, it’s kind of difficult not to laugh when you’re around. you’re so fun!” he exclaimed, a bright smile working its way onto his lips.

berlioz noticed the way the other’s hair shifted, smiling brightly. for some reason, being able to see such an open show of emotion brought a lot of comfort when it came to interacting with the other. berlioz wasn’t typically apprehensive when it came to interacting with others, but with this involuntary honesty brought something else to the table. berlioz playfully rubbed flynn’s chest over his heart, shaking his head. “be quiet. everywhere you go, you light up the room. and, while i may be fun, you are the fun. it’s easy to be myself around you -- it’s like you invite people to come out of their shell,” he explained. “especially when you wanted to come dance to my music choice? that was probably one of the best nights ever. i would love to do that again -- even if there isn’t a dance and it’s just us.”

[lastingsongs]

happyhavnts‌

a concerned and curious citizen? that statement caused eden to cock her head to the side in confusion. whether or not there was a clinic or hospital in town was probably her last thought when she initially appeared in town so it seemed strange for this man she had never seen around before to be worried about such things, especially if he wasn’t presently injured. but she decided to keep that thought to herself for the time being. “oh, um… nothing like that. i’m hardly qualified in any sort of way.” that probably wasn’t the best thing to say after just offering help to someone, but she wanted to be honest. “but i am a witch and i just so happen to know of a few remedies for ailments.” though healing spells were always the riskiest of the bunch. 

it appeared the town was becoming more and more curious -- he’d crossed paths with another vampire and now a witch. this really appeared to be a dangerous melting pot of creatures that could turn against each other at any moment. and, who knew what other supernatural beings lay in the crowd of the town? he felt that the need for a clinic or a hospital was even more necessary than he initially thought. “well, at least we have a witch. i feel a bit more comforted know that you’re here. perhaps you’ll be able to come up with something to keep hostility at bay -- something i’m sure will happen. with so many different people and now laws? well, something bad is bound to happen. so, i think you can agree with me with my concerns about a healer.”

[lastingsongs]

ofstorybooks‌

seeing lucky step through the front doors of the library was a surprise to say the least but most definitely a welcomed one. jun’s eyes lit up the moment they saw one of their dearest friends they had made since their arrival to town. it felt like it had been far too long since they had last seen each other which was mostly their fault considering they spent most of their time in the library now. their eyes widened at the sight of the basket that lucky presented out to them. “ what’s all this ? you definitely didn’t need to go out of your way to bring me anything. but, i appreciate it nonetheless. ” their cheeks flushed a little, feeling a bit overwhelmed from the other’s kindness. at the mention of jin, their mouth dried out a little and their gaze was momentarily averted. “ ah, what do you think of him ? he’s pretty… intimidating, huh ? ” they chuckled, trying to make light of the topic and dodge the question to the best of their ability. at the suggestions provided, jun smiled and bowed their head a bit. “ getting out more often would probably be good for me. i wouldn’t mind going to see a movie with you. i’ve heard about them since coming here but i haven’t actually gone to the cinema yet. ”

lucky waved his hand in denial. “no, i really did! i needed to know how you were doing and make sure you knew that i was thinking of you -- in case you were feeling lonely,” he said, feeling his own cheeks warm up. it was probably ridiculous to do something like this or assume they would need a reminder of any kind. perhaps lucky was the lonely one. “intimidating, yes. but, i think he’s a bit more mild underneath that -- he does enjoy peppermint tea,” he said, smiling slightly. he firmly believed that one’s choice of tea said a lot about their personality within. “oh! you must come, then!” he said, uncharacteristically excited. “if you are uncomfortable with going to the theater or the drive in, i do have a few movies on disc at my home and we could go there instead. they tell stories like books, but people act it out for you instead of your mind -- it truly lets you see how other people interpret stories compared to how you would,” he explained. “when you are next free would be perfect for me. i can easily make time for you.”

[lastingsongs]

happyhavnts‌

arin was put a bit more at ease when julien agreed to eat with him, knowing that he wouldn’t feel guilty for indulging in the delicious smelling soup that the other had made. the moment the bowl was placed down on the table in front of him, arin could feel his mouth begin to water and his stomach grumbled softly. “this looks amazing, julien. i can’t believe it’s homemade. thank you.” he smiled brightly up at the other before picking up the spoon and beginning to dig in. the first spoonful was confirmation that it was indeed just as delicious as it smelled and looked. though a wave of nerves washed over him the moment julien redirected the conversation toward what was on his mind. he nervously cleared his throat, “i’m not even sure where to start.” he tried to laugh the question off, but his demeanor slowly became a bit more serious. “i… i’ve been struggling a lot lately – with myself and my feelings. i feel like my emotions are starting to control me. all the anger and sadness that i’ve forced down over the years is ruining me.” it was a terrifying thing to have to admit. 

julien carefully watched arin taste the soup, nervous that perhaps it wouldn’t be to his liking. but, he easily beamed like a proud mother when it turned out there were no complaints about it. however, his smile faltered slightly as he listened, nodding as he did so to show that arin really had his full attention. “i wouldn’t say ruining you,” he said gently. “influencing or affecting are a bit better words to use. you’re still a really good guy, arin -- there’s nothing about you that’s getting ruined. plus, i’m sure this entire shift in place and living has really thrown you for a loop. it’s hard to find your footing with something that was already giving you troubles before. and, with not much else to do here, you don’t really have any good distraction when it comes to pushing those feelings back down. you have to face them -- work through them so they don’t define what you do,” he said carefully. “maybe write down things you’re feeling or topics that trouble you. you can mentally go through them that way, confront them, and then file them away. my anger towards this thing is because of this. i’m valid for feeling that way, i’ve felt it, and now i have to accept that it has happened and i can be done with it. i know it’s not a magic wand, but it could help at least a few things that are bothering you. are there anythings specifically that are making you sad or angry right this moment?”

[lastingsongs]

happyhavnts‌

rory was surprised to say the least when the other removed his shirt, not expecting to encounter someone who would easily give in to his request considering the day itself was a little on the cooler side. but what was one to expect from spring weather? the moment the boy joined him in the water by jumping in, rory’s eyes lit up. though as he breached the surface once more and reached to cling onto him, he was taken aback. a look of surprise was etched across his features before he giggled, wrapping his arms around the other for support and added warmth. “it is perfect! –to me at least,” he added in, scrunching his nose up. “you just have to move around a bit to get used it. just keep swimming.”

chase was definitely used to having a bit more insulation than this body had -- nothing now protecting him from the water. he squeezed the other a little more, shaking his head. “i don’t want to move, you’re warm,” he playfully whined before letting go and forcing himself to paddle this way and that. it helped a slightly, his body slowly acclimating to the temperature. but, he still thought his companion was a better alternative to fix his temperature problem. “just keep swimming -- i’ve heard that somewhere. i think my dad told me something like that and he said he got it from someone else. is it a common saying?” he asked. sharks were lonely creatures, shunned by other fish and their society. knowing any social norms in the fish world were beyond him.

[lastingsongs]

happyhavnts‌

brody honestly hadn’t ever bothered to think of it that way, but a small smile managed to work its way onto his lips in spite of her comment before he nodded his head in agreement. “i definitely think you’re right… those kinds of people probably don’t find real joy in anything but the shallower things in life.” he explained with an apathetic shrug of his shoulders. as he listened to the girl explain her home, he cocked his head to the side and felt his intrigue growing. “that sounds sort of magical in its own way. but, i understand how seeing something like this would provide a bit of a shock almost after being exposed to one setting for so long.” it was exactly how he felt but in a different context. he chuckled and nodded his head as his gaze shifted back down toward the book on the table in front of him, “i’m definitely not used to books this big or detailed either, at the daycare i used to live at we only had storybooks. those don’t really provide much factual information as they do moral information.” he chuckled and shook his head. 

laura nodded. she did agree that the mansion was indeed ‘magical’ -- with it’s many ghosts, ghouls, curses, and indescribable happenings. “shock is not something someone like me experiencing much of anymore, so it is actually quite welcome. it adds something different to make the days feel less like seconds and the years more meaningful,” she said. she was curious about this daycare. the man did look like the type to secretly get along very well with children. “are you a caretaker at a daycare? that’s quite the noble occupation. children are a joy and a curse wrapped into a mortal being that is still very much part of the other side. have you ever heard any of them give you inexplainable prophecies or told you of lives that they could not have possibly lived?” she asked curiously.

[lastingsongs]

a memory of death or a loss // snap

snap looked up at the picture taped to the inside of his cockpit, a candid picture of his [OMITTED]. he had to constantly remind himself that he was here in this dark place for him -- to ensure that [OMITTED] would never have to go through the pain he had to when growing up. [OMITTED] deserved peace. sure, he believed the whole galaxy did, but [OMITTED] was who he cared for most. he had to get through this for him, to complete the mission and finally come home permanently. 

the battle on exegol was looking bleak -- ships were falling left and right and the enemy fire was overwhelming. snap couldn’t see how they would win, but he’d beaten the odds countless times before. he knew his luck would run out eventually, but he would continue to push it. he had to keep hope. he heard poe barking orders through the comm system, but it didn’t feel like it made any difference. snap watched as many of his close friends burst into flames and fall to the desolate planet below. there was no word on help arriving -- it was just them. snap glanced up one more time to the picture, the glance proving to be a fatal reminder. he felt the ship shake violently before flames burst in the rear engine. the system began screaming errors as the x-wing began its nose dive. snap felt his insides clench as he knew what was going to happen in just a few moments. he knew poe was yelling into his ear through his helmet, but he didn’t register the words. he simply looked back up the picture of [OMITTED]. he’s pushed his luck and he his last shred of hope was that his son would be okay and safe. “[OMITTED], i’m sorry.” and the world went black.

[lastingsongs]

happyhavnts‌

while lix was definitely the type of person to prefer going out for a night of fun than shutting himself in for the night, that all changed when he began to realize his shifting feelings for lucky. he just wanted to spend time in the other’s presence and enjoy it for what it was worth. a small smile spread across his lips the moment lucky agreed to the idea, nodding his head. though the moment he was told he could go upstairs and begin to make himself comfortable, he nervously shifted from foot to foot. “are you sure you don’t need me to help you clean anything up? i don’t really mind if it means that i get to spend time with you sooner.” he wasn’t one to typically offer up his services when it came to doing chores, but things were different when it came to lucky. he would do anything for the other, simple or not.

lucky paused as the other offered to help, surprise turning into a fond smile. he looked around the cafe. it was pretty much clean for the most part -- most of the patrons typically cleaned after themselves. anything that was left over could easily be taken care of in the morning. “you know what? i can leave this for later, it’s no big deal,” he said, which was honestly a big deal for him to say that and stick by it considering he didn’t typically like to leave things messy like this. but, he really just wanted to please lix and see the other like this as much as possible. he walked over and turned the main lights off before holding his hand out for the boy to take so he can lead him up the staircase. “thank you. it means a lot to me and i know you would do a lot of good helping me. maybe you could help me tomorrow?” he offered, squeezing the boy’s hand before starting his ascent.

[lastingsongs]

cosmicxjuice‌

to say that cricket is confused is the understatement of the century. she has no idea where she is, and she feels and looks different. that is a complete shock. despite this, she finds herself getting up and getting ready to explore. her first thought is to look for a store and buy more clothes, shoes, makeup - the whole works. when she sets out down the main street of town, that’s exactly what she plans on doing. however, as she makes her way through the emporium, she can’t help but pick up a guitar. music always did bring her comfort in times to stress. after leaving the store, she finds a bench to sit and fumble around with the strings. after a while, she begins to get the hang of it and starts playing a classic tune - rainbow connection, of course. it was the first song she learned to play on banjo, and will probably always be engrained in her head. as she’s playing, she barely hears the person approach. however, once she notices, she stops playing and looks up from the guitar. “ hi! “ she says cheerfully. “ normally, i wouldn’t mind taking requests but i’m afraid i’m a bit out of sorts at the moment. “

nara had always had an attraction to music. anytime they’d heard it, they felt the need to follow it and listen. they knew they could never create music on their own, but they were rather content with listening to others play. when the first few notes hit their ears, they quickly sought it out. they hadn’t planned on interrupting the other and they shook their head. “i don’t know any songs to request -- i like the one you were playing,” the said softly. “are you okay?” they asked from beneath their mask. while they could feel other’s emotions typically, they found that it was better to ask rather than not addressing it. it apparently made people feel better.

[lastingsongs]

realhercs‌

“ wait… we should make a ship! ” nora exclaimed excitedly, as if she had been the first person to think of it. “ i mean… why hasn’t anyone done that already? ” she questioned and blinked, looking at the other with raised eyebrows as she sat with her back against the wall, while the sun warmed her skin perfectly. at least she could work on her tan a little bit while being stuck there. a sigh fell from her mouth as she closed her eyes and let the sun soak into her skin. “ people have probably thought about it already and debunked it, huh? ” nora replied quietly, before opening one eye and looking over at the other person who had joined her. 

din scrunched his nose at the idea of a ship on the water, though it was obscured by his helmet. while he had his own ship at home that he lived in, being on the water made his stomach turn. “i’m not sure if anyone has done that, but you can count me out -- i don’t do traditional ships. i don’t fancy drowning for people who would miss me,” he said. “what we need is a ship -- one that gets us into the sky and off this rock,” he suggested. but, he wasn’t sure if it was feasible in any way. he wasn’t a genius when it came to building ships. he only knew how to fix his own and they weren’t usually very complicated fixes. 

[lastingsongs]

lostothers‌

“don’t you think you’ve had enough?” he asked, looking over at the other who had been drinking beside him. he hadn’t counted just how many drinks they consumed, but he had noted they had more than two. and, he knew that most humans didn’t take too kindly to too much alcohol. he was lucky enough to find that alcohol prepared by the fae was much more potent and he’d grown very accustomed to it. so, human drinks served only to give him a buzz at the most. “i would hate to see you make a mess in here, whether it be outwardly or just with your appearance and behavior. i’ll take you home if i must, or i will entertain you if it will distract you enough to stop,” he offered, feeling generous.

curran scoffed as he shook his head and continued drinking despite the other’s warnings. he was confident in himself in holding his liquor. however, he’d only had ale and rum at home -- nothing quite like this. so, he did feel the warmth in his cheeks and, if he stood, he would more likely sway. “i’m fine -- i don’t need you or anyone telling me what to do. you can’t act like you know me or what i can take,” he lightly chastised. despite the man being older than him, respect for his elders was something curran greatly lacked. “you know what? maybe we should have a little drinking game. whoever is under the table first obviously loses.”

[lastingsongs]

please excuse me for my self indulgence. i really enjoy lee as a character and felt the need to draw him. this is obviously from before coming to town. an incident in the palace truly exhibited his skills as a skilled warrior and protector.

[lastingsongs]

a memory that involves romance or love // lee

it was an honor to be invited to the palace -- obviously, not just any soldier was invited to visit it. but, many of those higher up than himself invited lee to attend a social gathering that allowed for visitors outside the usual circle of aristocrats. jin had insisted that lee had earned his place among them with how he carried himself and his accomplishments in the army despite his obvious set back. lee didn’t believe in that, but there was no arguing without coming off as rude. so, with jin’s assistance, he found some proper garments to wear. his nerves were all over the place as he was forced to navigate unfamiliar surroundings and interact with so many he did not know -- many of which did not treat him as an equal in both social status and physical ability. and, as much as lee had grown accustomed to such behavior, it never lessened the hurt he felt.

he was asked to display his skills for the emperor and court, to somehow prove that he truly was capable of what jin had vouched for him. but, that was surprisingly the easiest part of the night -- his sword was what he knew best out of all things. once he was able to wander about on his own again, he found a quiet place where he could feel a cool breeze and the chatter of the gathering behind him. it was supposed to be a good night, yet he felt like he was simply an entertainment piece for others. he heard someone approaching, quickly straightening up to offer a respectful bow. it mattered not who he was bowing to -- everyone here outranked him in someway. “please, excuse me -- i just needed a breath of fresh air,” he quickly said. however, he detected no malice or expectation in the air. “liu lichang,” he introduced, slower this time as he attempted to force himself to relax. “li jun,” they said. there was something that carried on that voice that caused lee to feel at ease -- much different than what it felt like to talk to the rest of the crowd. “would you stay with me for just a minute or two? despite the attention and the amount of people, it still feels horribly lonely and you’re the first person to feel like they are actually seeing me. perhaps that’s assumptive or ridiculous sounding,” he admitted, biting down on his lip. “i wouldn’t mind. i’m not a fan of this either -- especially with how i’ve seen you treated. so, don’t worry, i’m not in a hurry to go back in there. perhaps we could go for a walk instead?” they suggested, lee jumped on the opportunity immediately, nodding. “yes, i would love that. thank you.” his voice was soft and he could feel a warmth in his chest. some had been kind to him before, but this felt incredibly different. it felt fated that he met jun. he wouldn’t mind going through all of this again just to speak to the other. “as a token of my gratitude for just being here, may i present this?” he asked, reaching to the hilt of his sword and slipping off a jade bead bracelet. it had been his mother’s. he had no use for it -- especially now when he couldn’t even look at it to remember the woman he had no memory of. yet, he still hung onto it and placed it where he could never lose it. “it may not be much, but i feel as though this would suit you better than it  ever would me.” there was a beat of hesitation before lee felt soft fingers touch his own as they took the bracelet. “lee, are you sure? we’ve only just met -- i’ve done nothing to deserve this.” a small smile graced lee’s lips. “i have a feeling you deserve so much more.”

[lastingsongs]

realhercs‌

“ what? i don’t believe that. ” shaking her head, kennedy looked over at miguel who said that there were plenty of people who don’t like him, which she didn’t quite believe was true. la chancla – you know? a sandal. flipflop. i think Australians call them thongs. “ you-you got hit by a pair of flipflops? ” kennedy answered and looked at him with raised eyebrows and a surprised expression on his face. “ and why would someone call them thongs. i mean, that is underwear. not flipflops, ” she spoke and chuckled softly as the two of them reached the bakery and she smiled brightly as he held the door open for him. chuckling softly, kennedy nodded and walked inside, looking over at miguel over her shoulder as she waited for him to join her inside of the bakery. “ just… you know, i’m sure you won’t say anything that will make me want to slap you across the face with flipflops. ”

miguel chuckled. “i’m glad at least you don’t believe that. i’ll choose to believe you, then, for the time being -- might boost my ego a bit,” he teased. he pursed his lips together, not too sure why anyone would call them thongs either. frankly, he found it a bit hilarious. but, perhaps that was the immaturity inside of him showing through. “thongs are definitely underwear. but, i suppose if you look at them, they are technically thongs for your feet,” he tried to explain, mostly trying to convince himself that had to be true. he joined her inside, waving at the lovely woman he’d come to know as lynette. “i’m not planning on saying anything bad, but one really can’t foresee the future,” he said, rubbing his hands together as he approached the case full of classic french baked goods. they all looked wonderful. “what do you think? they really do look too good to eat, don’t they? ah, but it’s a shame not to eat them -- they taste so fantastic.”

[bryandechrt]

[x]