BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY.

there's something tragic about you, something so magic about you — don't you agree? babe, there's something lonesome about you, something so wholesome about you. nora mae wilkes. 24 years old. true wadian.

[nongratae]

to the anon -- i’ve tagged the thread accordingly! thanks for bring it to my attention. ly! ❤︎

[nongratae]

HENLEY  ( ofdollparts‌ )

Henley’s brain fills with images of Jaylen laying down in the casket, insisting that it may give him a new perspective to work with. The moment his head hits the pillow, the casket tilts downwards, its base parting much like a trap door dropping open. Jaylen slides down a metal slide, into the darkness below, a terrified yell chasing after him. She snorts. “Maybe don’t tell Jay about that.”

The climb up isn’t complicated. Henley grips onto the window ledge, tongue prodding out the corner of her lips as she hoists herself up. The tiny cracks skittering through the rubber soles of her sneakers gape into wide grins as she uses her toes to scrape herself halfway into the funeral home. The rest of the endeavour she completes with Nora’s help, hands holding onto her arms, and vice versa.

“Thanks,” she breathes, now on two feet. It isn’t any warmer in here than it is outside, but at least they’re free from the wind. Even so, Henley’s arms feel tingly, almost like when one sits too close to a log fire, the blames barely touching skin yet threatening to singe. It’s exciting, and maybe a little scary. Maybe a lot.

“Man, it really is creepy in here, isn’t it?”

nora laughed, gently and sincerely. still, all her motions were ever so subdued, unable to shake off the worry that they weren’t truly alone and that the kanes would come by any moment. the brunette nodded at the other, then tilting her head. “copy that. you’ve got me thinking about it now, though.” 

   once henley was in, nora took a few steps away to give her some room. she gestured, almost bumping into a piece of furniture but barely avoiding it. “welcome to the humble abode,” she let out, feigning an old, raspy english accent. right after, she immediately shook her head. “sorry. it feels weird to make jokes in here.” her cheeks reddened a little, and in her head she extended josie -- wherever she might be -- and her deceased counterparts an apology.

     it was too quiet, the sound of the crickets in the distant verdure crisp against the absence of all other noise. nora let her gaze meet henley’s then, and it lingered. 

    “it really fucking is. during the funeral services it looks all peaceful, but now... give off some haunted house vibes. it’s weird how sunlight does that to spaces, isn’t it ? -- how it makes them look calm.” 

   “d’you wanna go around and look for any clues? your eyes’ surely better than mine. and hey, and let me know if you get too cold -- we could probably get you one of those coats leftover by attendees; i’m sure the kanes keep all the misplaced objects somewhere.”

[nongratae]

JAYLEN ( jaylenmaxwell‌ )

“Goes to show might not’ta been someone,” Jaylen points out, scanning a light along the doorjamb by the front, checking for… In all honesty, he isn’t entirely sure what he’s searching for. What do dead women leave behind as they’re carried out of their own funeral?

“I ‘unno, Fangs.” He settles both hands on his hips, eyes scanning the wallpaper starting to peel along the edges. Why can’t anything in this damn place stay where it belongs? 

“Couldn’t exactly sneak her in and out a window, neither…” That feeling’s starting to creep up on him, the feeling that makes him feel as if his spine has turned into a Jenga pile, threatening to slip free with one wrong tip. It’s the helplessness that sets in when he’s particularly stumped. 

A beat. Two. “Think we should check the coffin?”

nora let jaylen’s comment drift around in her head. she didn’t want to give in to paranoia to the supernatural -- no, rationality was more comfortable, more reliable -- but she wasn’t entirely opposed. it just scared her to think that if it’d indeed been a something, when what chance did a group of meddling kids stand? “something of what kind? ghosts, bigfoot? jaylen...” she half-pleaded, letting the remainder of that sentence fade into the air around them. 

    “maybe they didn’t remove the body of the premises. maybe josie’s corpse is around here somewhere, hidden out of sight and waiting to get picked up the moment we’re out of here.” her own thought sent shivers down her spine. 

   “good thinking,” nora nodded at jaylen, walking up to the casket. the cover was lifted at the count of three, and soon enough they were staring at the white silk bedding that’d cushioned the corpse mere hours ago. 

    “it sure looks comfortable,” nora half-joked, trying to brighten the mood. 

[nongratae]

MASON  ( agirlnamedmason‌ ) 

She accepted the cigarette with a grateful smile. Even though she knew she ought to cut down on her nicotine consumption, it was more than budding addiction that caused her to accept the other girl’s offering. Mason had always had a keen appreciation for sharing, a very school girl attribute that she had never seemed to grow out of.  But yet there was something so intimate about someone sharing a bite of their food, a sip of their drink, a cig from their brand new pack. It had always seemed to Mason like something special and not to be ignored. 

Cigarette to her lips, she lit up using Nora’s lighter, listening to the other girl talk of Herbie. Mason snorted a laugh. “Exactly. It’s funny how when you look back at stuff you used to watch as a child you sort of realize, ‘oh, dip, that’s why I’m gay now.’ There was a surprising amount of homoerotic imagery in child’s media back in the early aughts.” 

Smoke drifted out of her lips in amorphous tendrils and she watched it drift to the ceiling and disperse like little clouds. Every now and then a dramatic moan would draw her attention back to the television where two big haired lesbians (that both looked like variations of Dolly Parton, she noted with interest) were feeling each other up. Mason rose suddenly and went to open a window. She knew that her neighbors would most assuredly hear the porn they were watching, but what did she care? The walls were paper thin anyway, and she herself had heard all manner of unsavory things coming from the next room over that she doubted they would care very much. They’d be hypocrites if they did.  

Mason returned to the bed, plopping down next to Nora. “Can I ask you something kind of invasive?” She leaned back on her elbows, head tilted slightly as she gazed up at her friend. “Well, actually, maybe it’s not that invasive. Depends on your definition of invasive. God, how many times can I say invasive in one sentence? Anyway–” She took another drag of the cigarette before continuing. “Why’d you call me tonight? Not that I’m complaining. Just curious.”

“do you think--” nora asked, taking a drag of her cigarette and letting some warm her palate-- “that writers and producers realize they’re making their content that level of gay, or that they’re totally oblivious to it until someone points it out?” it wasn’t a pressing matter, but she was curious to know. she didn’t usually ask these kinds of things, nor speak so bluntly. she tiptoed around people, but much like a pendulum, interactions usually went like that or entirely atrocious, with no grey area in-between. getting to be so candid, lacing bits here and there with sour humour like that, felt special. 

   nora took a moment to look at mason. the contours of her face shone under the neon light that reflected from the screen. then, she glanced over at the screen, suppressing a chuckle as the woman moaned. every now and then she’d make out something they were saying, the classic ‘you’re so beautiful’s and ‘i’m so wet already’s being thrown around. it was, to a certain degree of irony, fascinating to witness. 

  “sure,” nora said. the word left her quickly, in the tone she’d rehearsed in front of the mirror to learn how to act like an actual human with self-awareness. but it worked, because that ‘sure’ had sounded more relaxed and nonchalant than she was actually feeling. nora didn’t like prying questions. sure, her life was an open book everyone already seemed to know, but that which hadn’t seen the light of day hadn’t done so for a reason. 

  the question was unexpected. it wasn’t too invasive, but not too pleasant either. the brunette thought about it. 

  “i...” nora didn’t know how to be honest when it wasn’t about being vulgar, or impolite. in other words, she didn’t know how to be vulnerable. “i don’t know,” a shrug. “well, it’s gonna sound lame, but it’s that... all my days look the same and every night’s like the previous one. and that’d been fine, but tonight it was different. i just felt--” really fucking lonely-- “that i could use some company. i know we hadn’t really spoken, but in my head that kind of meant perhaps that’d make you more likely to understand.”

   “and then on the other hand--” she let out quickly, as if trying to cover up the insecurity she’d just revelead-- “i thought it could be a good way to get to know each other.... is that weird?”   

[nongratae]

ROBBIE  ( robbie-rivera‌ ) 

“right,” robbie sat down in front of her, in the interrogation room. brandt sat next to him, silent as ever. “You have the right to remain silent,” robbie started while setting up his files in front of him, his voice as monotone as ever. perhaps it was the day getting to him, but dios, he was tired. “Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law.” the rights were recited with the same tone, and robbie wondering what would the young woman in front of him choose.

“You have the right to an attorney; if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”

crossing his arms on his chest, robbie watched the young woman sitting in front of them. nora wilkes, 24 years old, and surprisingly, she did not seem to be known by the law. the deputy had absolutely no idea who she was, and that ignited fear inside of him. he knew the usual culprits, the department even arrested some, but having a young woman he did not know standing in front of him … how much of other homemade detectives was there supposed to be in one small town like wade?

“ms. wilkes, i’m deputy rivera and this is officer brandt. as i said, you have the right to remain silent, but if you willingly choose to talk here,” a sigh escaped robbie’s mouth while tilting his head, expressing his exhaustion at all of this. “the faster we can all go home. today was a special day, and in josie’s memory, i’d really like to know what you were hoping to find there.”

the young woman nodded at the statement. she’d heard that before, in cop shows and noir movies. funny how she’d been really into that genre and now she was, put simply, in the last place she would like to be. her head turned a little, searching for the clichés -- the double mirror, the camera in the corner, the smell of cigar and coffee. playing bingo in her head helped ease some of her qualms. her leg bounced as the officers spoke. 

   nora let out a very brief, dry chuckle. there was no way she’d be able to afford an external attorney. but she didn’t think about it, mostly because doing so hurt. it was a slap in the face, and it only made her angrier seeing herself stuck in such position. 

  as she looked at the motions and demeanors of both of the officers, the options were being weighed inside her head. she couldn’t afford to get sent to the slammer -- how else was the shop going to stay open? and the farm? maybe now wasn’t a good time to hold her peace. but this was guilt swaying her, not any of that good cop script he had going on. even if it was, she wouldn’t dare admit it. 

   “in josie’s memory? that’s a low blow coming from you guys.” 

           don’t, the voice in her head whispered. now wasn’t the time to steel herself.  

   “is that really the question you wanna ask? cause i could say i went in there hoping to find the sasquatch, so that’s pretty damn pointless. are you sure you didn’t mean to ask something else?” 

   she didn’t wait for his answer. “i wanted to see if whoever took josie’s body had left a trace. i went cause i wanted answers, like everyone else. and i figured i wouldn’t get ‘em anywhere else.” you know what they said: if you want something done, do it yourself. 

[yennefahs]

[jaylenmaxwell]

WADE + INCORRECT QUOTES (2/?)

@nongratae

[bob-belcher]

Little Women (2019) Greta Gerwig

[nongratae]

HENLEY  ( ofdollparts‌ ) 

“No. No, it’s okay,” she insists, brushing away Nora’s apologies with a quick wave of her hand. If anything, it’s her fault for not being more alert– ergo, the main purpose of her task during this late night endeavour. Henley tries not to dwell on her guilt too much, instead focusing on the melodic softness of Nora’s voice, lulling her into this calm, warm bubble that does very little for her sleepiness. She blinks once, twice, a third time. 

“There’s no, like, Sweeney Todd trapdoor under where the casket is, right?” It was supposed to be a joke– and a poor one, at that –but now that Henley’s said it, she can’t help suppose it might be worth looking into. Though maybe that’s just the deliriousness talking.

Nora’s concern isn’t unwelcome, but it does have Henley wondering if she’s being… obvious. Her mother did always say she had a face like an open book, a comment meant for chastising Henley whenever they were at social gatherings, and it was clear she was not having a good time.

So she forces on a grin. “Windy outdoors or creepy funeral home? Those are some, uh… seriously appealing options.”

A pause. Henley rolls her lips into her mouth; shrugs. “Yeah, actually. That sounds good. Just– Do I climb through here?”

nora let out a chuckle, briefly neglecting the stealth demanded by the operation. though, she soon realized it wasn’t that big of a deal; the funeral home was supposedly empty and devoid of cameras -- better to let themselves enjoy these tranquil, lighthearted moments given how stressful the recent events had been.

   “huh. that’s pretty clever... i hadn’t actually thought of that,” nora smiled, “i didn’t spot one, but maybe i just wasn’t looking in the right place. maybe it’s all really just magician logistics at play. now that you mention it, i think we should give the casket another look. hell, maybe if we push the pillow with enough pressure it’ll open that trapdoor and lead us down a slide.” while she was piggybacking on henley’s joke, it did seem more plausible than josie having walked out & away herself. maybe henley should’ve been the one inside the home in the first place; she was far more creative than nora would ever be.

  “kinda like videogame options. there’s no wrong answer here, though.” 

   “yup, just like that--” admittedly, nora’s expression had lit up even more when henley agreed to come on in. she nodded at her friend, then gestured. steadying herself, nora then extended out her arms for support. “right this way, m’lady.”

[nongratae]

JAYLEN  ( jaylenmaxwell‌ )

“Not really,” Jaylen calls back, eyes fixed on the aisle between the rows of seats. There isn’t much there other than a couple of hard candies and mints that have certainly adhered to the tacky carpeting lining the floors. He lets out a sigh, turning back to Nora, raising his flashlight high enough to scan over her face. “What’chu lookin’ at over there? I don’t think there’s shit on the floor. Maybe we should start goin’ around the walls?”

the young woman let out a soft sigh. as of recently, she’d developed the nasty habit of feeling entitled to all of the answers and explanations; disappointing prospects no longer sat well with her.

     “if someone actually took her, they would’ve struggled carrying the body, their steps would’ve been heavier and sloppier,” nora mused, but agreed with him. “you’re right, though, there’s nothing.” 

  “i don’t see any dents in the walls--” she eyed the area around the doorframe leading into the viewing room-- “but i still think it’s worth looking. how d’you the bodysnatchers managed to get in?”

[nongratae]

WHEN & WHERE: hour unknown, wade police department WHO: robbie ( @robbie-rivera​ ) 

when they’d set out, arriving at the entrance of the funeral home right as it struck the witching hour, there hadn’t been much concern about the night running smoothly. everyone knew the kane’s home was an old building, and that they -- being too respectful for their own damn good -- thought it unkind to set up proper cctv. had those circumstances been any different, maybe she would’ve sat the break-in out.  but stubborn nora, who had maybe gotten too confident as of late, just didn’t know when enough was enough. 

    she’d only spotted the flashes of red and blue when it was apparently too late for her to jump back out of the residence. even if she’d ran down the street, they probably would’ve tracked her down in some way. but in all fairness, she’d rather take this than letting it reach any of the others; it was the least she could do, unable to bear the thought of either of them getting detained. besides, it wasn’t like she’d been coerced into anything -- getting caught red-handed this time around, nora thought to herself, had been her own fucking fault. 

   “so...” nora began, looking around every so often. even when keeping up the stoic demeanor, she still felt uneasy. something in her had told her that she’d end up here, in this very spot, sooner or later -- it was just a tad surprising it’d backfire this out of all the other times, “how does this work? do i get to make a phonecall, or do just head straight into the paperwork?” 

[nongratae]

ALBANY  ( albanyrogcrs‌ )

despite the shocking turn of events earlier, albany was just grateful her fake ID had seemingly worked without a hitch. staff and bartenders had been so distracted by the sudden influx of wadians cloaked in black, they barely even bothered to properly ID the brunette. not that she was complaining. that being said, she still looked way too pleased with herself for someone who’d just attended a funeral. so instead, she sat up in her seat and focused all of her attention on the shot glass in front of her. 

this one’s for josie, she thought to herself before tossing the bitter drink back. it burned less the third time and she could finally feel the alcohol taking some effect. albany traced her finger around the rim of the shot glass, listening carefully to nora’s remark. 

“Totally. You can’t make this shit up. I don’t even think David Lynch could if he tried.” 

Albany finally stopped fiddling with the tableware to ask her friend a question, “You think Red knows something? I mean the guy’s been pretty cuckoo lately.”

nora was glad albany’s id had worked. she didn’t like drinking on her own, and when did, it felt like albany was missing. it was funny how in the span of a few weeks -- days, even -- the universe had seemingly given them more than enough reasons to drink. now they had a catalogue of memories and images, and it was up to them to choose one to drown with hard liquor. 

    the conifer lounge didn’t look like its usual self, given the sudden inflow of attire-wearing customers. it felt like more of a convention, a symposium for perturbed, exhausted residents to come together. to nora, it seemed like everyone was looking to pool their grief, their confusion. maybe, just maybe, they’d be easier to bear that way.

   at first, nora nodded and chuckled at albany’s reference. god knew how many times she’d watched twin peaks, but maybe some reruns would be very apropos. 

  “fuck. if only i knew,” now, inhibitors weakened, she felt no desire to hold back her tongue. how dangerous, but how liberating at once, “they were married for what-- fifty years? surely you know your partner well enough by then, well enough to know if they were caught up in something. maybe he knows more than he lets on.”

   “what d’you think? i mean, would it really make things any better if he disclosed anything, or would it just tarnish josie’s name even more?”

[nongratae]

HENLEY ( ofdollparts‌ ) 

 It’s not that she doesn’t respond well to fatigue, it’s that she hasn’t been sleeping properly for the past week and a half. That’s why she’s so jumpy now, whirling around with a cut-off gasp at the sound of Nora’s beckoning. “Oh my god,” Henley gasps, hand flying up to her throat. She can feel the veins there jumping along to her erratic heartbeat. A quiet laugh follows. 

As much as it insists on popping into her head, Henley will give little time of day to the thought of comparing this very scenario to that of the prince asking Rapunzel to let down her hair. And what nice hair Nora has, Henley notes, framing her sharp features to make them all the more striking. Especially her eyes. They’re hypnotic.

“Huh? Oh.” The hand on her neck reaches up, raking strands the colour of sunflowers out of her face. Keep it together. “Yeah, it’s all really quiet out here.” Too quiet. She and Tommy haven’t really said a proper word since the gang split up.

“Um… How’s it in there?”

with the star-speckled sky above their heads and the white noise in the street offering them its lull, tonight didn’t seem like other nights. funnily enough, it didn’t feel like a bad. she doubted the ungodly hours or the emptiness of the house were responsible for this lingering repose. she realized, then, that she’d been looking into henley’s eyes as she thought of this. maybe she’d been the answer all along.

    time seemed to melt into itself then, as if no longer holding any weight. it washed over them and retreated, like sea coming to greet the shore. maybe time wasn’t supposed to feel the same anymore. nora didn’t momentarily mind if time were to freeze right then: if it did, she’d have the honor of enjoying someone’s delightful company.

  “sorry--” she spoke softer than before as if she were scared any loudness or harshness would scrape the blonde-- “i didn’t mean to startle you. you’re right, it was quieter than i thought.” nora commented after listening for a moment. in the moonlight, henley’s features glistened periwinkle-blue. “it’s fine. well, uh, i haven’t spotted anything yet. if anyone took josie’s body, they were goddamn sneaky about it.”

 “are you okay, though? you know you can sneak in if it gets too windy out there, right?” 

[nongratae]

WHEN & WHERE: sometime after josie’s funeral, conifer lounge WHO: albany ( @albanyrogcrs​ ) 

after what could only be described as a biblical portent, wade no longer seemed like the town it’d been back at the height of its ‘72 victory as the “best place to live in america”. the obscene american dazzle that at one point had made it look like something straight out of better homes & gardens magazine was gone; it’d been aggressively peeled off, and there, for everyone to behold, lay a throbbing, poisoned wound.

    three shots in, with the room around her only starting to go out of focus, nora couldn’t help bringing herself to question the trace of odd happenings leading them to this point. her throat felt the burn of the gulp of whiskey, but she’d stopped caring. if anything, it was reassuring to still feel something in this day and age. 

    “look, i’m not trying to imply anything--” she began, elbow against the table surface and her temple resting against her fist-- “but the houdini-spiel back there was a total mindfuck, right?”

[nongratae]

WHEN & WHERE: 3:40 a.m, kane funeral home WHO: henley ( @ofdollparts​ ) 

nora couldn’t pinpoint at which point she’d become desensitized enough to find breaking in to be valid means to achieve an end. it didn’t seem that desperate anymore, given the circumstances. the disappearance of josie’s corpse from the ceremony been a poignantly cruel backfire; red’s argument with mayor daniels back at the spring celebration was nothing in comparison the sight of her uninhabited casket. having been raised on mysticism as a child, it almost wouldn’t surprise her to see wade’s water reserve changed into blood come the morning. 

   disappointment weighing down on her, nora walked up to the window to take some fresh air. she’d been looking for a while and no matter how thoroughly she searched, there wasn’t a single sign or clue to be found inside the residence.

   “pssst. pssst,” she called out, softly, to henley ( was it wise to distract their sentinel? maybe not, but nora was hoping she could use a distraction just as much as herself ). “everything okay over there? has anyone come by yet?”

[nongratae]

HENLEY  ( ofdollparts‌ )

Nora paints a harsh face over something soft and beautiful; Henley’s grateful that she gets to see what’s underneath. She’d been surprised that one summer that had finally cemented their friendship, and she still is now: Nora’s let her in. Out of everybody in Wade, she’s allowed a glimpse under the mask. Henley can’t quite pinpoint what she’s done to deserve it, but it doesn’t stop her from treasuring these moments.

Local sleuths. Henley offers a halfhearted laugh. She’d wince at how strained it sounds were it not for her scramble to cover the whole thing up, move on as swiftly as possible. As warm of a welcome as it is, Henley knows she sticks out like a sore thumb. Usually, ordinary doesn’t stand out, though she supposes that Wade’s full of contradictions.

“Thanks,” she says, bundling her hands into her pockets. Hopefully she can offer the gang something, else there’s little point in her attending these mysterious little gatherings. With a quick breath, Henley banishes those thoughts for a later time. She can deal with them when she’s alone. 

“Yeah, it’s… definitely creepy,” Henley agrees, making a mental note to bring something of comfort– snacks, blankets, alcohol –to the clearing. That much she can do for everyone.

An indignant cough from behind both girls startles Henley into turning. The place is clearing out, Wade’s Spring Celebration coming to a morose end after everyone failed to lift each other’s spirits. Henley catches her mother’s eye, the subtle nod of her head towards the car. She turns back to Nora.

“I… have to go. But I’ll call you?”

it soon became clear to nora that it was so natural to engage with henley. clearly, they hadn’t spoken in over ten months, and yet it felt as if she’d last seen her yesterday. maybe that was one of henley’s gifts -- to soften the time continuum and make it seemingly easier to withstand. it was the one explanation nora’s mind could conjure as to why it felt like, in just the span of their conversation, years had slipped between her fingers, silk-like. 

    nora simply nods, finishing cleaning her share of the mess up and rubbing her hands against her jeans. it was a bad habit she hadn’t kicked, and which had cost her one good pair of trousers one. but she didn’t seem to matter. “can’t wait to see what comes out of it. hopefully the cops don’t get too annoyed with us,” that comment was dumb, and nora knew it; of course they’d piss law enforcement out. but she didn’t want to scare henley with this. what is life without a little thrill? 

   nora’s eyes follow henley, missing her mother’s gaze by a second. she has never felt at ease around that woman. when henley turned back to her, she gestured softly. words weren’t necessary then; nora understood. 

    “don’t worry about it. have a safe ride home, yeah?” she smiled, for what felt like the hundredth time. it was surprising to find out her cheeks weren’t sore in the slightest by the end of their conversation. 

[nongratae]

MASON ( agirlnamedmason‌ )

“Beautiful,” Mason sighed as Nora listed the contents in her bag. She’d really been craving a cigarette. That’s what happened when you tell yourself you’re only a ‘social smoker,’ like Mason had – nicotine is nicotine no matter the context and she was growing dependent. Mason hated being dependent on anything. But maybe one cigarette wouldn’t hurt…

“It’s actually pretty high quality entertainment,” she said, “It’s a lot like modern porn except with like… shoulder pads and big hair. I prefer the lesbian stuff because it just seems more… I don’t know… tender? Less likely that the actresses had be coerced or gotten drunk to film a scene?” She couldn’t help but laugh at how serious she was discussing the topic of porn, but weirdly enough Mason did have a lot of opinions on it. 

At Nora’s suggestion, Mason nodded enthusiastically. “Hell yeah.” For the millionth time since she knew the girl, she was thinking about just how cool she was. “Porn marathon, do each other’s nails, maybe a little truth or dare?” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively as she said this. “Then it’ll be like a real sleepover. Hell, at this point, I might even bust out one of my composition books so we can play M.A.S.H.”

Mason reached over Nora to retrieve the remote from the other side of the bed, turning on the TV which just so happened to already be on one of the many porn channels. Comically loud moans filled the room. 

“I actually came out to my middle school friends through M.A.S.H,” she went on. “You know the part where you’re supposed to list celebrities you’d like to marry? Well, let’s just say I was adamant on including both Zac Efron and Lindsey Lohan…” She casted Nora a wink as she added: “What can I say? I love an unhinged bitch.” 

“you want one?” she asked, fishing the lighter and pack out of the bag and extending them to mason like an invitation. the pack was, upon inspection, brand new. it seemed fitting, then, for them to open it: it was like an inauguration, a toast. 

    “damn. sounds like my cup of tea, then,” nora joked. she was still self-conscious, if only a little bit; she didn’t know whether her humor would throw mason off, but by the looks of it, things were going seemingly well. she had left the most curious items available for nora to gaze at, and she’d welcomed her without complaints - it was only fair that nora remained just as open to mason. nora exhaled out a gentle chuckle. “i have never seen 80s straight porn, so i can’t imagine what the guys must’ve looked like--” she tried conjuring an image of it, but the only thing that came up were flashes of robotic yet somehow-still sloppy fondling and obnoxious drunken groaning. she shook her head as if she were disposing of the memory. “i’ll take your word for it.” 

    mason’s words made nora laugh. afterward, a genuine smile lingered onto her features. she wished she could’ve known mason sooner; she could’ve used an ally like mason a few years back. “oh, you bet. i just hope you’re okay with a weed-induced mess of a manicure.”

    the brunette couldn’t hold back a laugh as the tv turned on, the sight of the couple in all their splendor coming into view. but her attention quickly returned to the subject of mason. “really? that’s a damn good way to come out then -- i could’ve probably used some pointers from you,” she shrugged, an air of modesty and nonchalance to the gesture. “i don’t think i could choose between them -- lindsay in ‘herbie’? i don’t remember much about that movie other than the car having a mind of its own and lindsay giving off very heavy sexually ambiguous vibes. she was ahead of her time.”