the rest is still unwritten.

❝ there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind. ❞ – virginia woolf

[nocturnusinked]

aeonxan:

The bell over the front door rang clearly through the small bookstore, sending the calico cat resting happily in the sunny reading nook off on a journey to nuzzle the feet of the new customer. Akira stepped down from where she was organizing books, navigating through the rows of books and maps and collections to greet the newcomer. “Hello, welcome to Inksplotch. How may I help you?”

It was one of those distressing facts of life---one of many, if you asked her---that there wasn’t much that could be said to live forever. A few years since her passing, Auden still could not believe how she’d allowed herself to be enveloped so fully by the idea that her beloved cat, Storm, would live forever. That was to say: even now, when she saw a cat at any time, she could not help but be drawn to the creature, as though aching to fill the whole Storm’s passing had left in her chest. It was bad enough that she was now wandering into bookstores at the sight of one. It was preposterous, really -- not that it was enough to deter her.

           Auden’s smile was equal parts sheepish and shy as she ducked her head in response to the girl’s greeting. “Er, no. I’m just -- looking?”

[nocturnusinked]

summcry:

“Because, sweet Dom, sometimes we all have to do things that are unpleasant for the sake of charity and health. Besides, I am getting up there in age, y’know. Your aunt has to keep up with your youthful energy somehow.”

“You’re hot enough that no one could care less if you’re getting up there in age, so.” A cluck of her tongue; her obnoxious sound of disbelief, disregarding the reason with a wave of her hand. “Whatever floats your boat, though. So long as you don’t become one of those health-nuts who attempt to recruit all of us other poor suckers with our making of unhealthy, and generally crap, life-decisions.”

[nocturnusinked]

trcshcans:

“Well, personal bias and favouritism aside, Cerberus, give our lovely guest a bow,” Cerberus bent his front legs and dipped his head like he was kneeling, and Liam beamed. “I spent weeks trying to teach him that, the little shit just kept eating all the treats and doing no tricks. But worth it, no? Is it enough to win you over? I tried to teach my other dog Persephone – she was given to me by my brother – to do this, but she wasn’t interested.” Liam’s mouth twisted in thought as he pondered the question. “I’d say aesthetics, personality, talent, general cute factor, and whether or not they drool make solid criteria starting points. But also I find I’m easily won over and I think each of my dogs is the cutest in the world at various times, so maybe I’m not the best one to judge.”

There was no one with a soul, of this Emily was certain, who would be able to resist a display of this sort and keep themselves from at least crumbling into a bit of a cooing mess. And she knew herself to neither be all that soulless, nor a particularly stern human being. It was no surprise that she was on her knees and scratching around the pup’s collar, giggling with unconcealed delight, The apples of her cheeks flushed with it. “I mean, if she looks remotely this precious, then I’d say she’d be pretty perfect, too. Although it’s tough to see past this dashing fella, innit? One can’t expect you to be fair or a good judge or any of that when you’ve got charmers like this one around. Could mess with the best of us’ judgement.” 

[nocturnusinked]

priimafacie:

          “Oh! Well, you might want to come by tomorrow night, then,” she suggested slyly—or as slyly as someone like Tamsin Ayler could be—as she mirrored the motion, sipping at her own glass of margarita. “I’ll be, uhm, performing two of my poems,” added Tamsin, simultaneously proud and embarrassed at her own shameless self-promotion.

She couldn’t have helped but crow had she wanted to -- and when had she ever wanted to contain herself? That was no fun. A cackle burst out of her, vivid and graceless. Dom nearly leered at the girl. “Slick.” There was no hiding the undertone of appreciation.

[nocturnusinked]

inkspillcd:

“And yet I detect a trace of mockery.”

Far be it from her to deny true things. She progressed, instead: “And does it bother you?”

[nocturnusinked]

summcry:

“See, this is a positive for both of us. You’re closer to coffee and I’m further away from having to go to a meeting. It’s a win-win.”

“That implies that there’s either no one to snap at you for tardiness, or you’ve lucked out with extremely understanding supervisors.”

[nocturnusinked]

theworldbreaks:

“‘Dunno who that is, but hopefully my pants and trousers would be firmly buttoned and secure around my waist. I’d like some dignity, Deering.”

“Dignity, he asks for, right after he confesses a wish to go out in a half-decent restaurant loo,” she summarised, tucking a smirk around the words smug enough to diminish any need for a mocking tone.

[nocturnusinked]

summcry:

“What?” Kit’s eyes blew wide, aghast, his stomach churning. “Why would they do that? There has to be alternatives other than exterminating such majestic creatures, right? Something else they could use in their potions that’s…not a living being of any kind?” Kit understood little of magic, even years after is exposure. 

Her nod was emphatic, conviction gathering her brows together in a crumpling of flesh, like a shepherd might sheep. “One would think there would be striving---some of it, more of it---to look for alternatives, but. Nope. This shit is real. And it’s our responsibility to fight for those who can’t, right?”

[nocturnusinked]

theworldbreaks:

“All right. I’m in. Who do I give the money to?”

“Well, it’s just me for now. So, to me. Might I interest you in signing up as an ambassador for the cause? There’s such a lot more to this than just money, y’know? Heaps more.”

[nocturnusinked]

summcry:

“Training for a marathon is rough,” Gabby heaved out, face flushed. “I thought I’d run out here in the open air, you know, to prepare for the real thing and learn how to pace myself because I heard it’s better than a treadmill, but these hills may be the death of me. And my calves.”

With characteristically dramatic flair, her eyes nearly rolled out of her head. “All right, all right, Aunty dearest, but. Why put your body through all that anyhow? Like. It makes no sense to me, dude.”

[nocturnusinked]

priimafacie:

          “ —- Oh, absolutely! I’m certain there will be more events like this,” Tamsin continued, soft-spoken but earnest. “Bringing in more artists, performers, musicians, writers—I think it’s an amazing way to bridge the gap, so to speak.”

Dom took a swig from the bottle beer her hand fisted around the neck of. “Mm, gotcha, so, d’you have some sorta piece to put on that might be representative of that theory?”

[nocturnusinked]

trcshcans:

“Public service announcement, Cerberus is the cutest dog in the world – but don’t tell my other dogs I said that, they’ll get jealous.”

“Gee,” Emily nodded, faux philosophical aura scrunching the tip of her nose up. “What makes one pupper cuter than the others, eh?”

[nocturnusinked]

unhclytrinity:

“I don’t know which I like more. Your gumption at standing in the street and just shouting, or the fact that the posters have, indeed, moving unicorns on them. A true pulling of sympathy from the passers-by; it seems very successful.” 

“Well, sir, you did stop in your tracks to snark at me, didn’t you?”

[nocturnusinked]

summcry:

“They aren’t really endangered to the point where that may happen, are they? I’ve still never seen a real unicorn, but if they are anything like they are in fairytales, I can’t imagine how anyone could want to hunt them down.”

“Uh, yeah, they absolutely are!” Marcella exclaimed with a heap of gusto. “It’s real unfortunate that you’ve not seen one, but you should know that you might never get to, if people keep on killing them off to use them for their wands and potions and all that sick, twisted shnazzle.”

[nocturnusinked]

theworldbreaks:

“I hadn’t heard they were going extinct. Are these flyers just to let people know or is there a charity we can put money towards?”

“Because the people killing them and using their biology for their own gains aren’t about to tell ya!” The arch of her brows was as matter-of-fact as the phrasing of the words. “They are for both, good sir---to spread awareness, and get people talking about the think no one wants to talk about, and to build up a fund to be able to afford the resources to ensure their safety. It’s an important cause.”

[nocturnusinked]

withercdroses:

‘See, now, that’s real nice, but I was actually aiming to use the long line as a reason for putting off going to work for a bit, so I’d rather just… not order first.’

“Perfectly understandable. In that case, I’ll make sure to place my own order at snail’s-pace.”

[nocturnusinked]

summcry:

“You were in line first. I have nowhere else to be. Go ahead.”

“Well, all right---cheers, mate. Being closer to required caffeine-intake is hardly anything but a positive.”