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@nolanayer
my talent is coming off warm and inviting and open but still remaining a fairly closed off person
technicvlor:
—— ✥ If there was ever an opportunity where running away without a word made sense, this was it. Yet Brynne sat secure in her seat, unflinching. She didn’t even look at the door. Even though something minor had sent her running the night of the ball, she didn’t feel the need to escape from this. It was a joke she would have made with anybody, and maybe that was why she felt like it could easily be overcome here. Their situation was obviously different, but at least she was starting to really act like herself.
Still, she was grateful the way Nolan seemed to glide past it without too much comment. If either of them had made a much bigger deal over her poor word choice, she couldn’t guarantee her presence much longer. At least this time she would have been able to recognize a specific cause.
Brynne laced her fingers together, the comfort of her own touch dulling the uncertainty she felt. “Hmm?” Her focus once again drew back to Nolan as he spoke, her lips pressed together in an attempt to keep any more words from spilling out. “Oh, uh, yeah. It’s great,” she said, nodding her response. She was still trying to get over the casual use of falling in love, not paying close enough attention to notice the way he’d said ‘for now’. The prospect of the future together had really been what sent her running last time.
With Nolan’s back turned, Brynne was able to scold herself in the most personal way. She looked up at the ceiling, mouthing a few cuss words as she shook her hands in frustration. It did not last long, and she quickly reverted to her same position once she noticed the man turning back towards her. She narrowed her eyes curiously at his choice of beverage, assuming it was due to his desperate need for groceries.
Before she could question him, a new thought occurred to her. She didn’t know what had brought him to Jericho to begin with, or how long he had been there. To have gotten a house, it must have been a well planned trip, not the last minute adventure Brynne had made out of her move. He had clearly been in town long enough to make good progress on the garden, and to have made it to the grocery store at least once. From what she remembered, he had come from California.
Once again, she failed to completely grasp what he said due to her own thoughts taking over her attention. But when he turned a question towards her, she opened her mouth to respond. No words came out, though, so she closed her lips again. How was she supposed to answer that question? It was worded so casually, but felt more invasive than that if she answered honestly. I can’t get you out of my head, no matter what I try. Neither of them were probably ready to hear that or experience that conversation. Brynne wondered if she could lie, or if she could omit certain details and still get away with it. In theory she could never tell a single thread of truth and Nolan wouldn’t know any better, but it would always come back to bite her in the ass.
“Honestly? I don’t know,” she finally said, her shoulders relaxing. “I think I’m still getting used to… this,” she added finally, looking down at the mark on her ring finger. It looked and felt the same as it had the day before the ball, but nothing was the way it had been. Brynne couldn’t identify exactly what it was, but something in her had changed. “I’m sorry I left the way I did. The other night.” It wasn’t entirely relevant anymore, but she still felt the push to say it. “My way of dealing with things has always been… not… dealing with them,” she explained.
It didn’t take much to recognize the questioning expression that flashed across Brynne’s face. Both corners of Nolan’s lips curled downward as he suppressed a smidgen of amusement. His nerves had still not fully settled down in the remark’s aftermath, but this was a start— having a question that he could actually answer with nary a doubt.
“Milk is to peanut butter and jelly as wine is to hors d’oeuvres.” Extravagant, he added internally, although half-seriously. He could only hope that humor could further comfort’s return. Glancing around the kitchen, he added, “If you’d prefer something else to drink, however, I also have... water.”
He let out a humored breath at the last word. It was probably as anti-climactic as it was rather embarrassing, how unprepared he had been over the past few minutes. Who would have thought, however, that she would find him at his own residence? And at a time wherein he had barely managed to settle in and recover from unforeseen ailments? And in such a mucky state? Timing was of the essence, but at present it also certainly proved to be quite the nuisance.
Nolan opted to channel his distress into preparing the sandwiches. He turned away once more to retrieve two plates from a different cupboard, then began opening up the ingredients on the counter. His movements became like clockwork once more, only slowing when her answer regarding her condition emerged. He tilted his chin up in an attempt to gain a better view of her mark.
“Have you, ah... You experienced any discomfort?... Or pain since then?”
Perhaps it was better that Nolan made no mention of what he had been experiencing since the evening at the Spring Ball. The kind of worry that had crossed him was a burden that was better left for only one of them rather than both. He silently wished that everything — from the mark to its inexplicable and unpredictable effects — were as simple as the three-ingredient food in his hands.
“Well... I apologize for any inappropriate behavior that I might have exhibited myself.” Nolan’s voice was soft but steady, much like the way that he pushed the now-completed and -plated sandwich in front of her. “I hope you’ll ‘deal’ with this.”
I hope you’ll ‘deal’ with me.
kenzala:
the connection between soulmates was a curious one, and while she had plenty of theory behind, each specific one was unique. just like each person had their own defining qualities, each bond might not check all of the same boxes as another. it still gave kenzie a basic knowledge of what to expect, and at least where to start.
“the initial discomfort of the touch should fade,” she assured him. she assumed his soulmate hadn’t passed away in the span of a few hours since meeting them, so that was not a complication she would bring up yet. “sometimes, depending on the two people, there might be some lingering pain. it generally happens when there is a fight between bonded individuals, or any sort of unhappy interaction.” she continued to try and explain the situation as best she could, so that nolan would not be frightened. “not that you should be worried about that, not on the first meeting.”
mackenzie was relieved to learn that his mark was somewhere accessible, and she reached over to the counter for a pump of the hand sanitizer. she was in the midst of rubbing it thoroughly into her skin when she paused, noticing the mark on his finger. she’d grown up beside that mark, she knew its match like she knew herself. brynne. kenzie faltered only for a moment as she looked between the black mark and the man it belonged to, instantly knowing what it meant. her sister had found her soulmate.
a wide smile played across her features, though she tried to hide it quickly and remain professional. she carefully took his hand in hers and examined the soulmark. “no infection,” she confirmed. she cleared her throat, running a finger lightly over the anchor. “do you know if br– if ah.. your soul mate felt that same sensation?” getting more information without letting on that it was her sister might be difficult.
“oh, o— okay,” he replied, exchanging a long exhale for her explanation.
‘unhappy’ was not a favored term. it implied disappointment, and the mere idea sent a shiver down his spine, not only because it was one of the last that he wished associated with himself, but also because it hadn’t once crossed his mind during that evening.
“we felt similarly at first. the, ah, the discomfort, i mean...” nolan fell quiet as he internally replayed the details of the encounter. he had hesitated to look at first, but when he did there was no mistaking the perfect manner by which the symbol on brynne’s left hand matched that on his right. he looked at the anchor now, and it was as though the sensations were ghosting at the tips of his fingers. “do you think they might be experiencing similarly? i wouldn’t like to think that sh— they are also... sickly.”
nolan watched quietly as the nurse touched the mark. for something that had such a weighted presence in real life, it sure had an air of uncertainty when it came to its existence on his skin. he nipped at the insides of his cheeks, remembering that the confusion had only hit a peak when the dance ended early. she had walked away and he knew little else past six letters of a name.
when his voice returned, he was not certain whether he was asking only himself or the courteous woman before him, “what am i going to do?”
fxregods:
“So, where did you move here from?” Nate questioned, setting down the armchair in it’s appropriate spot. They’d been at this for about two hours and were making pretty good process. “People end up her from all over the place. Case and point, me,” he chuckled, leaning against the arm of the chair. @nolanayer
“Alaska,” Nolan answered, picking up the box on the coffee table and moving it to one corner of the room. “I spent a few months in a small town just north of Anchorage. Before that, I was in Pennsylvania and before that, I—” he paused and tittered at how easily-lost he became in his stories. “You understand the idea. I’ve lived abroad for some time as well, but never quite as far as Australia... Have you ever thought of moving back?”
technicvlor:
—— ✥ Brynne had to wonder what other aspects of Nolan’s life would start to surprise her. He clearly wasn’t as easy to read as she had first assumed. She couldn’t decide whether that was comforting or the opposite. She hadn’t been given a negative impression of him at first, but perhaps she was worried that they simply wouldn’t match. Brynne hated the idea of a simple life, or doing anything other than living freely. It was part of why finding her soulmate had been so terrifying for her. Change was difficult, and she didn’t want to be tied down to one place or person.
It was another reason why she watched him so carefully, trying to find any excuse to stop attempting to make this work out. She had a way of ruining even the best things in her life, simply by spoiling it in her own mind. She would work until there was nothing good left. She was actively trying not to do that in this case.
They both seemed somewhat lost in thought, as Brynne saw the water starting to change the color of Nolan’s skin. She looked away, not wanting to be too obvious in her staring. She grinned, still observing him with avid curiosity. Super intense organizing hardly seemed like the explanation he had been grasping for. Brynne glanced down at her mark, the anchor back to normal as it had been her entire life. Despite the lack of physical change, she knew it wasn’t the same. They had both felt something different the night of the ball, and maybe they were both still feeling that.
“I hope I didn’t have anything to do with that… super intense organizing,” she said finally, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear and looking blankly at the counter. Nolan had been a frequent subject of her thoughts since they met, and although she didn’t necessarily want to believe it, she assumed it was true on his side as well. Brynne was easily distracted, and he was not a simple concept to just forget.
She once again began watching him as he wandered the kitchen, grabbing the items he would need to make their food. As he slid the unmarked jar and a spoon across to her, Brynne sat up straighter. Along with not being particular about her food, she wasn’t cautious. As Nolan watched her, Brynne pried the lid from the jar and lifted it to her nose. At least if she could catch a scent she would know what to expect. Satisfied with her initial investigation, she dipped the spoon into the orange substance and slipped it into her mouth. She removed the spoon slowly, letting the flavor sink into her tongue.
“Mmm,” the noise slipped from her lips as she licked them to get the last drops of what she assumed was orange marmalade. She resisted the urge to take another scoop, instead picking the napkin up and dabbing the corners of her mouth. “That is delicious,” she revealed. Brynne replaced the lid and slid the jar back towards Nolan, looking at him curiously and laughing lightly. “If you say you made it, I might have just fallen in love with you.” The words slipped from her mouth before she stopped them, and instantly her eyes widened. “I mean–it’s… I just meant—” Brynne stuttered trying to take back her comment, and in the end she simply pressed her lips together and sunk into the stool, knowing her cheeks were red as the tomatoes outside. She momentarily dropped her head into her hands, leaning her elbows on the counter. “Let’s forget I said that.”
Nolan beamed at the sight of Brynne’s taste test. His eyes had already been shining with pride over his jarred creation, something that only brightened at the prospects of sharing it with her. The blues of his irises grew more apparent with each passing moment, but it hardly compared to the flush of pink that ran up his nape when the word ‘love’ hit the air.
“Ah, okay, I—” Pushing himself away from the counter, he reached for his collar, intent on adjusting his tie, his fingers faltering upon remembering that his torso bore nothing more than a plain tee. He looked down to his socks and rubbed his collarbones, then moved one hand to run against the back of his neck. Surely the chill of his fingertips would do well for the burning sensation that permeated all throughout his chest and up to his head.
“It’s, ahm—” he cleared his throat. “It’s an old family recipe.”
Those words were still proper, weren’t they? He hadn’t explicitly stated that he made the marmalade... His smile was still unsteady as he attempted to push forward without getting caught on her comment.
“I’m glad that you enjoy it. Does it, ah— hopefully it’ll suffice for for now?” Nolan wondered if the question was too forward — the ‘now’ possibly suggesting that there would be another time like this in the future. It was imprudent, especially considering the uncertainty as to whether or not she would hastily leave for a second time in the present. He scolded himself again and immediately turned away.
Instinct guided him toward the refrigerator, and it was as though he couldn’t open it quickly enough. He scanned the interior for as long as it would take to inspect a near-empty container, then retrieved a carton of milk and side-stepped to take two glasses from the adjacent cupboard. Sliding the carton and the glasses toward the center of the counter, he nodded in very minuscule self-satisfaction and finally spoke again.
“With regard to the, ah— the ‘super intense organizing,’ I, ahm—” I lied about that and was actually sickly for days after our first encounter. Did you feel that too? “—I finally had the chance to settle in. It’s quite the relief to no longer be surrounded by boxes.”
Nolan hummed to himself for another moment before being unable to hold back his curiosity — and concern — any longer.
“How, ahm— how have you been?”
technicvlor:
—— ✥ Brynne couldn’t help but snicker at his joke. “I’ve always thought turnips were bullies,” she teased in response. It seemed they had a similar sense of humor, which was encouraging for any sort of relationship moving forward. At this point, she had accepted that there was no avoiding him. They were paired together by fate, and everything she had ever heard of meant that they would be pulled towards each other no matter how they resisted. Although she may not like it, she couldn’t keep trying to escape.
Seeing Nolan remove his shoes made her freeze, wondering if she should do the same. His were certainly more muck covered than hers, but she figured if his appearance was as important to him as his house, shoes were probably not preferable. She bent over, slipping her own sneakers off without another thought. Brynne aligned them beside Nolan’s boots, straightening up and wiping her hands on her shorts as she looked around.
The house was filled with a warm light from the sun outside, the stark white walls reflecting an almost blinding color. She squinted slight as she tried to take in her surroundings. The hardwood floor was spotless, as were the naked walls. From what little she knew about Nolan, this wasn’t entirely out of her expectations. Her own apartment was devoid of sentimentality. She didn’t have any pictures hanging on the walls, or decorations lining the shelves. It was more a house than a home, which was a similar atmosphere as this place. Brynne could tell the garden was most likely what Nolan poured his energy into.
She followed him quietly to the kitchen, again impressed by the cleanliness. Everything about him seemed so organized and put together, almost completely contrasting her own life. She looked carefully down at her feet, thankful to find she was wearing matching white socks for once.
Unexpected. It was exactly the word she had been thinking. Of course he was aware of his image, Brynne was aware of hers too. “It was a pleasant surprise,” she confirmed. Her faith in the system was already weak, and she still had lingering questions whether this was a true match. Part of her had been worried after their first meeting that they were completely different, and wouldn’t find any common ground. Now she almost felt assured that they would.
Without hesitation, Brynne took a seat at the island stools, across the counter from Nolan. Keeping some distance between them settled her nerves, though she suddenly felt a bit of a cold sensation shoot through the mark on her finger. She bit her lip as she thought, trying to determine whether Nolan would have makings for anything simple. She would generally just make a salad or turkey sandwich, but this wasn’t her house. Brynne watched Nolan washing his hands as she considered potential options. “Your kitchen, your choice,” she suggested finally, shirking the responsibility of choice. “I don’t have very extravagant tastes,” she added simply and slowly, listening to the water run over the man’s dirty hands.
Nolan’s shoulders loosened as the water from the faucet splashed against his skin. He scrubbed diligently, as though he were not only cleaning away the grime, but also picking at the apprehension from having invited Brynne inside. It certainly helped that the she seemed to go along with relatively little opposition— and she hadn’t bolted away like at the Spring Ball. All of these factors reassured him and inspired a small hope...
But then the words, ‘pleasant surprise’ crossed his hearing, and he couldn’t quite pinpoint how they sank in.
On one hand, he would be relieved that he hadn’t been a complete disappointment thus far. He had been interesting — or at least bearable — enough for her to to grace him with her presence. On the other hand, he could not fight away the idea that it would only be a matter of time before he unraveled the other parts of him that were unsightly— not in the same manner as the dirt smudged across his clothes, but worse: the sensations of ‘never being a good thing’ and ‘never being enough.’
He realized that the skin of one forearm had begun turning a light shade of pink, and he quickly shifted to rinsing off the soap and drying himself.
“That’s very reassuring, seeing as I just so happened to run out of filet mignon the other evening,” he quipped almost desperately, reaching for a towelette nearby and turning on his heels. “I’ll be very honest here— I’m actually in dire need of groceries. Haven’t been able to go out much due to some s—”
‘Strange symptoms’ lingered at the tip of his tongue, but he pushed them back and diverted toward, “—super intense... Organizing.” He nodded once, hung the towelette to the side, then tapped the fingertips of one hand against the counter as he glanced around and considered what he could offer.
Without a further word, Nolan’s gaze settled on Brynne. There had been many distractions outside, but here, in the simpleness of his residence, it was far easier — unavoidable, really — to take in the aspects of her being. She was as enticing as he had remembered. Her present attire was a far cry from the dress that she had worn evenings earlier, but her beauty had not diminished— only transformed into something as comfortable as the clothes that hugged her body with such leisure. One corner of his lips rose in assurance. It became easier, then, to zip around the kitchen and gather his ‘choice’ of the moment.
A loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter now stood on the counter between them. he slid an unmarked jar of orange marmalade and a spoon atop a folded napkin right in front of her. “I’d like for you to taste this and tell me what you think.”
technicvlor:
—— ✥ She couldn’t bring herself to feel surprised that he had collected so many cassettes before coming here. She doubted he would have been able to find them in town, though there was plenty of obscure things around. Jericho was a town that felt out of place in the rest of the world, like crossing the border transported you back in time. Part of it was the lack of reception, but the landscape of the town itself added to it. The wandering dirt roads, the small community, the mystical forest that surrounded the clearing–all of it added to the magical atmosphere.
Sometimes it was just too unbelievable for Brynne. She had to make her escapes every now and then, at least far enough to get reception to call her father and update him on the goings on with his two daughters. She was probably due for a trip soon, now that she thought about it. Now that she met Nolan, a flash of her mother’s face broke into her mind. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d called her mother, and this wouldn’t change that. No matter the impact Nolan might end up having on her life, Brynne wasn’t going to include her mother.
The lyrics of the song playing seemed far too close for comfort, and she was instantly grateful when the man turned the nob to decrease the volume. Her brown eyes tracked his movements as he went to open the gate and invite her in. Brynne didn’t consciously move her feet, but they somehow found their way to him again. She chuckled, looking over at the plants in the garden. “They might reconsider once they meet me,” she joked. Eventually Nolan would probably figure out she wasn’t the gardening type. At least, if she lasted long enough for him to know anything about her that wasn’t surface level.
Brynne could feel her heart speeding as soon as she passed the threshold of his property. The gate closed lightly behind them as she followed his path towards the porch. Her steps were sure, despite the shaking feeling inside her. There was no turning back now. Like the night of the ball, flashes of a potential future ran through her vision. She saw them sitting together on the porch, drinking lemonade and listening to those same songs he had been playing before. While the notion wasn’t entirely unpleasant, it still felt too soon to be comforting. If anything, Brynne felt alarm building up inside her, sirens going off in her head.
But still, she made her way up the steps of the porch. Give him a shot.
“If you’re hungry, I could eat, but I don’t want to–” Intrude. She didn’t say it again, since she didn’t feel like she was anymore. He’d said as much, and for the moment Brynne believed him. Maybe it was the inexplicable connection she felt to him, but she didn’t feel like she was an inconvenience here. “Yes. Something to eat would be great.” She was completely unsure how to progress in this situation, not unlike the dance at the ball, but at least making a decision would help them both.
She cleared her throat as she stood on his porch, running a hand through her hair. “So, do you garden a lot?” It was another surface question, but they had to start somewhere.
“Mm-mm. The tomatoes don’t have a single bad bone in their bodies. It’s the turnips you need to be wary of— although the cabbages typically keep them well in check.”
Nolan was glad that he had been facing forward, for Brynne would have caught the way that he grimaced at his awful humor. There he walked, speaking as though his produce were fully sentient, not fully considering possibilities such as, ‘what if she’s allergic?’ Then he scolded himself; his thoughts were becoming a series of non-sequiturs and he needed to realign them quickly.
He peeled off his remaining glove and dropped both beside the front door. After turning the knob and pushing the door open, he paused to remove his muck boots and placed them next to the gloves and before stepping through the doorway. Her change in tone went completely unnoticed under the focus of wanting to keep some measure of cleanliness.
“Apparently, when I’m not jumping off of trees, I’m planting them.” Nolan couldn’t hold back the smirk at his lips. He continued to lead the way inside, saying nothing more, for he believed that their surroundings would provide the best version of ‘welcome.’
One entering would quickly find that its highlight was not in its furnishings — for it lay mostly bare minus the standard couches and tables — but in the structure itself. Natural light streamed effortlessly through large, paned windows, illuminating the mid tone hardwood that comprised the floor. The walls stood as white as snow and with other wooden accents, only making easier the feeling that one had never truly gone indoors.
As they padded into the equally-charming kitchen, he finally spoke up again.
"I’d say that I garden a fair amount. It’s, ahm— well... I feel inclined to believe that you must find it a little... Unexpected,” he gestured down to his soiled clothing, “but it’s something I grew up learning. My grandparents used to tell me that it was ‘training for the future.’”
Nolan stopped in front of the sink, tilting his head toward the stools next to the island at the center of the room. “Please don’t hesitate to make yourself comfortable, by the way... And is there any particular kind of food that you’re craving at the moment?” Then she shifted once more to begin washing his hands and forearms.
technicvlor:
—— ✥ Brynne knew it would take time but she was trying to open up to the concept of a soulmate. She couldn’t just ignore that they had met. Even if she wanted to, her heart seemed to drop every time she thought of leaving him behind forever. Brynne constantly battled between her heart and her head, and until recently the latter always won. She never let people close enough to give her heart a strong argument.
She stood watching him as he gathered his tools, trying to fit this into the picture she’d formed of him in her mind. The suit he had worn at the ball, the way they had danced, even the way he spoke built a picture of sophistication. It was an anomaly for him to actually be gardening, getting dirt under his nails and wrinkles in his clothes. Brynne felt herself excited by that fact. It meant he wasn’t as straight forward as he seemed. There were mysteries beneath the surface, and it would be an honor to try to figure them out.
Maybe she would have to let him discover some of her own mysteries, too.
Brynne nodded understandingly at his response. The reception had been something she struggled with when she first moved here. Part of what brought her to Jericho had actually been the fact Kenzie hadn’t answered any calls. They would go straight to voice mail, or get answered with static. Being the protective sister, and the one who automatically assumed the worst in the world, she’d come to town instantly. It had been a frantic search, since she had convinced herself that Mackenzie had been kidnapped. Luckily, she had been very, very, wrong.
“I think we maybe get one station. Very inconsistently,” she confirmed. Still, cassettes was old school even for Jericho. But as she thought about it, Brynne wasn’t as surprised to find Nolan listening to them. They seemed to fit in with his character.
Brynne couldn’t help but smile watching him organize his work space, her eyes intent on his every movement. The pride he took in his work was interesting to her, inviting even. Not to mention the glean of his sweat soaked skin, which wasn’t at all unattractive to her. She liked knowing he wasn’t the type to sit up in his house and do nothing, though he was probably capable of that too.
As she thought of his house, the invitation to go inside caught her off guard. She lifted her hands from the fence, looking cautiously at the door. Even with the sun beating down on her shoulders, she was about to decline until she heard her sister’s voice in her head. Stop being yourself for an hour. Give him a shot. “That actually sounds nice,” she forced herself to respond. “As long as I’m not intruding,” she clarified, looking back to his garden.
“That’s a shame. I suppose it’s a good thing, then, that I came in with a box crammed to the top with cassettes.”
Nolan was not as disappointed as he may have sounded. This was not to say that he despised his family; it was quite the contrary. He valued his name and every individual who shared it, and he hardly ever presented any hesitation in dedicating a significant amount of his energy for their sake. There was, however, a discomfort that had arisen over the past few weeks. Certain circumstances were kept mostly hidden from the public eye minus a single point: they were contacting with far greater frequency these days.
The town’s isolation meant that there was a firm excuse for avoidance... But how could it be that he seemed to walk right into another matter that demanded his attention? That seemed to hold just as much weight in his life as his family’s calls?
His thoughts were cut short by the small player beside him, which had begun to croon in a little too much relevance for his own comfort.
‘ I’ve got you under my skin ’
One corner of his lips held back a laugh as he shook his head. Now was not the time to surrender to his overactive mind. He needed to focus.
“Intruding? No, I’m, ah— here, allow me to—” Nolan shook off one of his gloves and used that same hand to turn the knob on the player all the way until the music became one with the wind. Then, he jogged over toward the gate nearby and unlocked it. He pulled it open and signaled an invitation for Brynne to enter the yard. “Please. I’m certain that the tomatoes won’t mind the company.”
Although the words flowed from him with the same smoothness as the tunes from earlier, his insides felt anything but. A hyper-awareness of the situation was growing. His body was rampant with heat from both his activities and the sun, but chills were spreading from deep within. Every cold sensation was underlined with the hope that he wouldn’t make another mistake like nights earlier.
He walked directly past his garden and began climbing the steps of his porch, looking back slightly as he asked, “May I get you something to drink? Or, ahm— it seems I’ve lost track of time. Perhaps you’d be interested in something to eat?”
kenzala:
mackenzie had taken a course specifically in the soulmark, and various effects it might have. she felt lucky to know more about it than the average person. she had been surprised at first how many people came into the hospital with similar questions after they first met their soulmate. they often wanted comfort or clarity, and kenzie felt it was her job to give it to them. luckily, she had experience in the area not just a theoretical knowledge.
she once again offered an encouraging smile to him, placing the file and the pen on the counter and turning back to face her patient. “don’t worry,” she said. “what you’re feeling is normal. it happens to a lot of people after the first touch.” kenzie hoped that her words might calm him down, but time would only tell. he did not seem scared, necessarily, of the implications of the touch. from what she gathered, he at least knew what had happened.
“may i see your mark?” she asked, hoping it wasn’t in too compromising a location. if it was, she would have to get the doctor in to do the inspection. either way, this was the next logical step to figure out if there had been any adverse effects. in most circumstances, the discomfort of the first touch would fade. in rare situations, though, it would linger. kenzie would hopefully be able to get a bit more information by the soulmark’s appearance.
“it is?” nolan’s brow furrowed deeply and he couldn’t tell if the new knowledge quelled his worries or exacerbated them. as his voice soaked into the walls, he came to terms with the fact that it was both— and more. he shook his head, let the words fall out of his mouth as jumbled as they were in his head. “is the feeling... permanent? or i don’t— the feasibility of it all seems so... how is that possible?”
his gaze traveled down to where his fingers fumbled with one another. in any other case, he might have been keen to make light of the situation, to jest that ‘the answer’ had been ‘right in his own hands.’ no humor left him now, only a bundle of nerves that had not waned since the night at city hall. he pressed his lips together at her question and hummed. he would have preferred to end the appointment there, to simply walk out and never look back... but he had come here for counsel, and there was no mistaking that this nurse could provide it.
he extended his hand out slowly, turning it to give her a clear view of the anchor that marked his right ring finger. his breath hitched slightly, but he forced his words out. “it isn’t infected, is it? because it, ahm— it heated up when it happened— started to glow really brightly. it went away quickly after, but, ah— but sometimes it’s still a little bothersome...”
technicvlor:
—— ✥ She wasn’t sure what part startled her more–the fact that she had actually found Nolan, or that he was kneeling down in the dirt. Even more than that, Nolan was singing along with the music Brynne had heard before. Although she didn’t recognize the song, she couldn’t help smiling. She’d found him in his element, in a place where he didn’t think anyone was watching. She always believed that was the best way to judge someone’s character, find a way to be a fly on the wall. Sneaking up on him, evidently had worked just as well.
This was a different Nolan than she had met at the ball. As he stood up, Brynne couldn’t stop herself from biting the corner of her lip and raising a brow at him. She looked at him quizzically, trying to determine if this was closer to his normal than the tailored suit. As he spoke, though, she was able to settle on this being a bit less typical. Brynne let out a short laugh, the length of a breath of air. “Yeah. It’s good to see you too,” she responded, wondering if he would believe her after how she’d left the ball.
She stood there for another moment, her eyes captured in his gaze. It wasn’t fear that froze her this time, but curiosity. Added to that, the silence was actually comfortable this time rather than anything awkward or foreboding. With the woman’s smooth tone escaping whatever source Nolan was using, Brynne didn’t feel the need to fill the air with her own words. Partly, she hadn’t even been able to form them, and didn’t want to spit out sounds or jumbled sentences.
She finally pulled her eyes from Nolan and his appearance, looking down at the garden he had been forming. Brynne herself couldn’t even keep a cactus alive, and could probably find some miraculous way to kill an artificial plant. What really grabbed her attention, was the small cassette player placed carefully atop the dirt. “Are you… are you listening to cassettes?” she asked bemused, her eyes flickering between the device and Nolan. She took a step forward to lean her hands on his fence and get a better look at the man out of his time. He fit perfectly into this town.
Nolan’s brow raised, his teeth nipping at the tip of his tongue to prevent a single word from rolling out.
Really?
Instead, he nodded curtly and then looked down at his attire. Smears and splatters of dirt screamed the exact opposite of elegance. He wished that there were some way to conceal or remove them all in an instant; in the absence of such an option, he stooped over again to gather his belongings. His moves fell back into diligence until her question. Then, he slowed, shifting his attention between Brynne, the player beside him, and his tools.
“Oh, uhm... Yes, but— well, I’ve had a little, ah— the reception in town? I couldn’t quite get signal for any of the local radio stations... Or, ah— I don’t know, perhaps the radio functions of this device have long ceased.”
As soon as he had lined up his tools at the edge of the dirt patch, he rose up again — this time careful not to touch his clothing with his gloves — and took a long glance at his work. He raised a forearm to wipe the sweat off of his brow and let out a prideful huff. The relief was short-lived, however, as completing his gardening tasks meant needing to face the other matter present...
“Would you like to come in?” When he realized the forwardness of the invitation, he quickly pointed a thumb toward his porch and added, “I mean, ah— not— not inside, if you aren’t— just to get out of the sun. It seems a little warm today.”
reaganwheeler:
“it’s kind of a memoir, kind of a thriller… i won’t get into it.” it wasn’t something she liked to talk about – falling in love with someone and then losing them too soon as a teenager. it sucked, but that was life. “yeah, i’ve been here for a little while. definitely interesting.”
“noted,” he replied curtly, and he prodded no further. “i’ll keep an eye out for its release and, ah— i look forward to discovering what lies inside.” his lips pursed at the word ‘interesting.’ “i have a question, actually... are issues with reception common here? because i’ve settled down decently so far, but i seem to be having trouble with my phone, for example.”
technicvlor:
closed for // @nolanayer
—— ✥ Brynne had been feeling off ever since the Spring Ball. She hadn’t been prepared for meeting Nolan, and in her classic style, she ended the night on a very sour note. It wasn’t often that Brynne felt overwhelmed. She had an innate desire for adventure, a thrill seeking gene in her core. Every dangerous or unknown thing she could possibly do had made it on her list. But meeting her soulmate… that hadn’t been part of her plan.
It hadn’t gone poorly, at least not at first. She’d forced herself to open up to possibilities, long enough for one dance. Brynne still couldn’t put her finger on exactly what caused her to finally step back from him. Nobody could ever identify the straw that broke the camel’s back. Maybe it had been something about the way he’d spoken to her, like they had known each other forever and would know each other forever more. Or perhaps it was the touch, the burning of her finger leaving a lingering sensation she couldn’t describe.
Either way, her instincts had kicked in and she had left Nolan on the dance floor, with little to no explanation. Brynne would have eventually worked it out on her own, the feeling of guilt in the pit of her stomach. She probably would have realized that the solution to the hollow feeling in her chest was finding Nolan and trying harder to understand their bond. She didn’t need to reach the answer on her own, though. That was where her sister came in.
Their conversation had instilled a small sense of confidence in Brynne, at least about the connection she felt. Fear could be overcome, at least with help, and that was one of Kenzie’s skills. Although she wasn’t ever going to be one hundred percent sure about her actions with Nolan, this was an easy decision.
She wandered through the town, her feet guiding her in unknown directions. She didn’t know how or why, but she trusted them to take here where she needed to be. It was a similar sensation to the ball when her mark had throbbed more or less depending where she walked.
Brynne soon found herself walking down the middle of a street lined with houses, each one different, but all with a fenced yard. Something shifted in her and she knew, somehow, that she was getting closer. Music seemed to drift up the road, but the source wasn’t as clearly identifiable yet, so she kept walking. Maybe whoever was playing it would know if Nolan was around.
There weren’t many people outside, despite the warm sun breaking through the clouds. When she finally saw someone, she stepped off the road and onto the sidewalk, trying to peek over the fence. As soon as she did, she froze. The very man she had been looking for was there, and suddenly her nerves shook her entire body. What if he didn’t want to see her? What if the way she had left the night of the ball had ruined any opportunity they had together? Brynne stood idle, playing with the strap of her bag as she stared.
After several days, the worst of Nolan’s strange symptoms had finally subsided. The aches throughout his body were becoming weaker and less frequent, and no longer did he experience chills that were only intensified by how warm his insides felt. Still, there was one key part of him that remained without much rest: his head.
It had been difficult to bury away the thoughts of the Spring Ball. Daytime brought questions over the cause of his condition, ideas that perhaps it was the champagne or the cozy sausages that had simply gone down him improperly. Nighttime, however, provided the true answers. He could not control his dreams, and so he could not prevent the replay of every step that was taken or the echo of every that was word spoken.
He could not deny that she was more than just another partner in dance.
The appointment that he had scheduled at the local hospital only drove the notion further, fueling the whirlwind that circled within. He subsequently vowed that ‘enough was enough’— he needed to reclaim some measure of control over his life and it would start right in the comforts of his new residence.
Nolan had been outside for hours, intent on finally setting up a garden in the front yard. One would easily believe that the absence of his custom-tailored suits would fill him with immeasurable discomfort; the truth was that he could not have felt more of the opposite. There was unmatched value in hard, physical labor, especially when it bore fruits of all kinds.
His grandfather’s cassettes kept him company, voices of the past crooning through the static of a portable player that had seen far better days. They had not lost their smooth authority, even decades later, and at present they guided him into a reverie that only deepened with every word.
‘ I’m on a lonely road that leads to nowhere ’
There was no telling what point he had joined in on the tune. The only thing that was clear was when he stopped— upon noticing that he wasn’t actually alone.
“Brynne?”
Nolan remained hunched over his plants, his eyes darting left and right. His cheeks burned, not necessarily as a result of the sun’s rays as much as it was the realization of how unkempt of an appearance he had at that moment. He moved upright slowly, as though doing so would render her unable to notice, but one of his gloves brushed against the bottom of his shirt.
“Sorry, my— my apologies, I d— it’s, ah—” he silently cursed the gracelessness of his being, “It’s good to see you.”
kenzala:
kenzie could tell he wasn’t thrilled to need medical attention. she had seen enough people with that same expression and attitude, it was easy to identify. she carefully wrapped the cuff around his arm, placing the stethescope at the inside of his elbow. she took the blood pressure efficiently, having done it a thousand times before. “well the good news is, your blood pressure is normal. it’s really good, actually,” she said, hoping that assurance would comfort him even a little bit. he was in good shape, and so far the evidence suggested his discomfort wasn’t from a physical source.
she nodded along as he explained the changes in his life. she had taken enough psychology classes to understand that any sort of life change could cause physical symptoms. the human body had an amazing defense system, in that it would alert you to anything that it didn’t like, including mental things. she continued taking a few short notes in the file until the last statement caught her attention more than anything else had.
kenzie looked up, a smile still plastered on her face. moving past the term ‘cozy sausages’, she decided to focus on the ‘s’ word he hadn’t managed to get out. she could only assume what it meant, but once he continued her assumption was confirmed. she placed the stethescope around her neck, and the cuff back on the shelf before she spoke. “so, you’re feeling temperature changes, general discomfort, and–correct me if i am wrong– maybe somewhat overwhelmed?” she asked kindly, hoping to clarify the picture in her head. “did you and this… someone… touch last night? maybe for the first time?”
nolan let out a long exhale as he nodded, one corner of his lips rising up for the first time since he had arrived at the hospital. he mumbled a quiet “thank you” before slipping his arm back into the sleeve of his jacket. at least his blood pressure had made for one normal aspect of his life at this point...
his posture straightened in the instant that she began to analyze his words. surely this nurse had the answers to his concerns regarding why he felt so sickly lately. his brow etched with worry, however, when he realized that she was inquiring about the certain ‘someone’ that he had so vaguely mentioned.
“y— yeah,” he answered, then re-answered for the sake of formality. “yes. i mean— we, ahm— we did just become acquainted for the first time and— and it was a ball — with dancing — so... so naturally, when one dances at a formal occasion, it typically involves a touch...” his right hand rested on his lap, his left rubbing at the mark as his ramble continued. “—and if you’ve just met someone for the first time and you dance with them at a formal, then you would also make physical contact with them for the first time too...”
technicvlor:
—— ✥ The little voice creeping up inside her head kept saying to get out, to run and not look back. She didn’t want to wonder what Nolan was thinking, what his reaction would be, yet she did. She stared at him, an arms length away, as he visibly deflated. No, don’t look like that, that’s not fair, she thought, her own heart sinking at the sight of him. That weird sense of calm they had created had been yanked away, all because she ruined everything she touched.
Brynne didn’t understand what was going on right now, and maybe she never would fully grasp the concept. But diving in too much too fast wouldn’t be good for anyone. “No, it’s— I’m… “ Fine wasn’t the word she said, because she wasn’t fine. And she couldn’t very well tell him he wasn’t at fault, because in part he was. Neither of them had done this intentionally, and neither had been prepared. He may have been able to handle it for now, but everything that it meant or might mean was overwhelming Brynne. She couldn’t go against her instincts anymore, at least not tonight.
She cleared her throat, shaking her head a little as if that would clear it. “It’s okay, I’m just.” Once again she couldn’t describe what she was. “I’m sorry. I just need to head outside,” she finally explained, her voice surprisingly sympathetic. “I’ll see you around,” she said, trying not to cringe at the cliche of it as she turned and started to walk off.
Her feet were firm and sure as she made her way to the exit, but the sudden absence of Nolan was noticeable. She hadn’t felt that emptiness before the touch, but now she was aware that some part of her own soul was lingering behind. Brynne looked cautiously over her shoulder, knowing that seeing Nolan there would cause more guilt than she already felt. But she had to at least give one more look tonight.
As she turned back, leaving finally, she hoped her last words were something of a comfort for him. She wasn’t walking out forever, though maybe she should. Brynne knew that whatever this was, she couldn’t avoid it the rest of her life. They would see each other again, probably sooner than later.
[ END ]
bethsawyer:
“now that’s more like it.” her smile stayed glued to her face. beth wanted a day of fun after the past few weeks being hard on her at the bed and breakfast. it seemed like recently, everyone was flooding into jericho - all looking for their darn soulmates. the blonde turned the truck’s ignition on, waiting for her new friend to hop in. and when nolan did, she didn’t waste time setting off in a blur thought incapable for the old vehicle. “you ever go muddin’ before? you’re not scared of a little off road, right? ‘cause we’ll be hittin’ air a few times and i don’t need you peein’ your pants on my seats,” she teased.
“so long as i don’t fly off of my seat, i’m certain i’ll be—” he grappled with the seatbelt, then pat on the diagonal strap twice after the click. the grin plastered on his face was perhaps as wide as the windshield before them. “i already relieved myself before hand. twice for good measure.” he wiggled his eyebrows to drive the humor forward before letting out a sigh and his confession. “truth be told, i’m slightly terrified— but it isn’t so much the thought of ‘becoming soiled’ that intimidates me as much as simply not understanding what we’re doing. what does the term ‘mudding’ mean?”