Olive

23 She/Her Sound manipulation

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“Unlike you, I don’t let myself be miserable.” He grinned. “Besides. you can just admit it. You haunting me is your way of telling me you can’t bear the idea of me not being here, even in death.” Wren mused.

“That…is the saddest thing I have ever heard. Like actually. You spent time on this look and you’re proud of it.” Wren’s expression changed to one as if he was worried for her based on her choices. “Lame, boring, and also wow. I can’t believe you would get rid of me so quick!”

“You just wish you could be as beautiful as I am.” He said, dramatically leaning down to her height. “Mmhmm, see if I ever take your side in a fight.”

“Oh, please,” Olivia snorted, rolling her eyes dramatically. “I just had the best five years of my life, before you dragged me off the street!” 

“Fuck yeah I’m proud of this look. You wish you could look like me.” Wren’s description of her wardrobe made her laugh, but he’d actually managed to distract her long enough that she felt a little guilty about shirking her work. “I actually do need to get rid of you. You can get a book and read while I get some shit done in here.”

“My side? Who was hiding behind who today?” She asked, crossing her arms slowly across her chest, eyebrows raised expectantly for his answer. “Seriously. Go find a book,” Olive gesturing towards the door.

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“I think if I say it’s interesting, you definitely will.” He said, raising an eyebrow. “Good. Just making sure that you’re aware that haunting me will be a mistake on your behalf. Therefor I live life worry-free.”

“I know, it must have taken years to master the mindset of a forty year old woman trying to be in the mindset of a ten year old boy.” He teased with a grin. “You have to sacrifice, it’s for the team, Via!”

“I would rather get a ride from a one-legged flamingo.” He said with a laugh. “Excuse me! A bad scarecrow? I am at least a wonderful scarecrow, thank you!”

“Hey, I didn’t say I wouldn’t haunt you!” Olive huffed, offended Wren had written her off so easily. “I’d just have to make sure it was at least as miserable for you as it would be for me,” she decided coolly, her small smile betraying her poker face.

“It took the whole five years I’ve been able to do my own shopping to master this look,” Olivia stuck her tongue out at Wren for good measure. “I’m good on sacrifice. How about you find someone else, and I’ll watch and cheer the tow of you on.”

“You look like some shitty farmer made you out of potato sacks,” Olive informed him, reaching out to poke Wren squarely in the center of his chest. “Yup. Like I thought, nothing but straw.”

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“Awful? I am a very amusing person who lives a very interesting life.” He hummed. “Not sure. Guess future you will find out.” Wren shot her a smirk. “I will make it my goal that if I’m haunted, the ghost will regret haunting me.”

“Most of what you say is pretty dumb.” He huffed, rolling his eyes. “It’s all Satan. I feel like you need to go hardcore Satan now. Lose the ten year old boy whose mom still buys his clothes look and go full cult.”

“You’re real shitty vehicle. At least my fantasy car can go out in all weathers. You’re limited.” He retorted. “Uh yeah. I’m in optimal shape now. The picture perfect of health!”

“You’re idea of interesting might be different than mine,” she laughed, wrinkling her nose as she considered it. “And you’ve already convinced me I’d regret haunting you. There’s some things you can’t unsee, even when you’re undead.”

Olivia gasped, raising a hand to her chest in mock offence. “I spent a long time perfecting this look,” she protested, gesturing over her body as an exemplar of her fashion choices. “I’m not just going to give that up.”

“See if I ever offer you a ride on it,” Oliver couldn’t help laughing, his bad comebacks familiar. “You look like a bad scarecrow, that’s your ‘optimal’ shape?”

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“Oh please, I would be guiltless. A free bird!” He laughed, knowing full well he wasn’t being truthful. “And you would be trapped as a ghost following me forever. The worst fate.”

“You tried to disagree with me.” He mused, a grin on his face. “Oh yeah, absolutely. Hundred percent Satan. Not sure if they’re sacrificing to him or trying to summon him…guess that’s a question to ask at the next cult meeting.”

“Oh, now who is the one all purring over their vehicle?” He said, eyebrow raising. “Oooh motorcycle, you’ll always be there for me.” He said dramatically, voice raising in a poor imitation of Olivia. “Puh-lease. I don’t do public transit either.”

“It would be pretty awful to see everything you get up to,” Olive grimaced, trying not to let that image linger in her mind too long. “Is it possible for ghosts to be traumatized?” She asked, shuddering for dramatic effect.

“Most of what you say is pretty dumb,” she dismissed, fighting back a smirk. “And those seem like a pretty petty distinction, it’s all Satan after all. But sure, we can bring it up.”

“I’m just admiring my real vehicle, not drooling over their own fantasy,” she huffed, scowling at the imitation. “So what, just you and your own two feet then?”

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“I know Olive. You just can’t imagine life without me…even in death.” He said, shooting a grin to her. “I get it and I don’t hold it against you.”

“Umm yes. Our entire life backs up that claim.” He responded before laughing. “Come on. Admit. It’s a cult. A cult of us freaks who escaped. You just double escaped. Escape 2.0.” He said with a gasp as if it were a realization. “Ooh morning cult practice. Is that when you sacrifice your goats and….pray to….I don’t actually know.” He said, laughing the entire time he spoke.

“People love me, what can I say?” Uh huh, I’m sure. Your motorcycle is a coward compared to the future car I’m going to have and I’m far from envious. Talk about moaning. You make fun of people with cars but have you seen people with bikes? Oooh, I just love my bike. It’s so loud and obnoxious and I wake up everyone who lives within ten miles of me with me. Uuuuuh.”

“I wouldn’t have to wait long, you’d last a week without me, then your guilt would drive you to a tragic end,” Olive couldn’t help her chuckle, the argument had become more than borderline ridiculous. As many of theirs did.

“I never disagreed with you!” She shook her head, eyebrows raising as he failed just as badly to describe a cult’s actual activities. It turned out not to be so easy a task. “Probably something like that,” Olive laughed, “there’s definitely something about Satan in there.”

“Don’t talk about her like that!” Olivia hissed, offended on behalf of her bike. “Even if I did, a motorcycle is so much cooler than a car it would be deserved,” she nodded, decisive. “You’re so jealous right now of my freedom from public transit.”

[oliviadoran]

evemurdoch:

She laughed a bit, “Yeah, tell me about it.” she bit the bottom of her lip and dazed of a bit.

As Eve seemed to drift off, Olive frowned, a little concerned. “Uh, are you okay?”

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“Yes, you did hurt my royal feelings and I’m going to call for a beheading as punishment.” Wren said, his tone far from serious but still defensive at the same time as she continued to make fun of him.

“Keep telling yourself that but when have we ever been the ones to fit into a party? I mean, except me of course. People love me.” He grinned. “Hmm, is it? You’re making it sound like we’re a weird cult you know.”

“More exciting than a cat.” He said. “I mean, a cat is cool. I know lots of old people that have multiple cats and no friends.” He said, ignoring her driving comment but making a face as she stuck out her tongue. “I have lots of friends and I learned how to play instruments and I speak spanish now. Sort of. I mostly learned it from music but you know, it’s a real work in progress. Oh also I’m going to one day have a totally kick ass car that you’re going to be envious of.”

“I’d spend the rest of your life haunting you,” she tossed back, though really it was entertaining idea. He’d be fun to haunt, Olive was sure she could reduce him to a gibbering mess in a week. 

“Do have anything to back that claim up?” Olivia asked, raising an eyebrow at Wren. She could concede he had a point though, it did sort of sound like a cult when  “That’s not the worst descriptor for it,” she admitted. “Maybe that’s what I’ll start telling people, I escaped from a cult,” Olive snorted, amused but only somewhat kidding. “That’s how we met, at morning...cult...practice,” she scowled as the joke got away from her, Olivia coming up entirely blank over what cults actually did.

“Loads of people, I’m sure,” Olive rolled her eyes, obviously not believing his story. “Well, I already have a kickass motorcycle that you’re envious of. I can’t drive it right now since there’s so much slow, but you’re jealous. Admit it,” she crowed, sticking her tongue back at him in retaliation.  

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“Sorry that I’m a nice person that doesn’t thrive on insulting others.” He said, though he was sure Olive knew just as well he was lying. That didn’t stop him from acting like he had suddenly become a moral person.

“Nope, I don’t really remember a lot of people though.” Wren said, which was true. Unless if he saw you every day, chances are he would forget your name and face. “It probably wasn’t weird, you were probably weird.” He grinned.

“Shut up you,” He said, giving her a pointed stare. “You have a cat?” He said, as if expecting more. “You spend all of this time ridiculing me but all you have going for you is you have a cat. I think I won this round.”

“Oh, your highness, did I hurt the royal feelings? I’m so sorry, come here and i’ll kiss it better,” Olive cooed, only barely holding back enough of a smile to give him an exaggerated pout.

“It wasn’t me,” she protested, only a little defensive of the idea she’d already dwelled on. “I mean, get that many of us in a room and it’s bound it be a little weird,” she shrugged.

“So what are you getting up to that’s so exciting?” Olive huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “And what’s wrong with a cat? I can also drive a car, which is more than you,” she stuck out her tongue, regretting sinking to his level instantly.

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“You know what. Fine, you look like a twelve year old boy. I just feel that’s not very good because you know. Yeah it’s insulting but is it really insulting?” He said, thinking more about an insult to say. 

“Really?” He asked, an eyebrow raising. “That many. I thought maybe like four. Why were you all at the same party? Was that coincidence or was it like, a thing?” He asked, genuinely curious now about it. “Huh, that’s weird.”

“Okay first off, red cars are ugly and I want a black one. With a nice interior and like…a skull for a gear shifter and I purrs is a dumb word for a car. It rumbles. Rumbles is a much better word.” He mused, shaking his head at her accusation. “But you know what? If that happens I give you full permission now to slap me and call me stupid.” He grinned. “Like..I don’t know. Friends? Hobbies? Surely you do something outside of work….maybe.”

“Well if you could come up with insults on your own, I wouldn’t have to help you,” Olive shrugged, the picture of innocence, if you didn’t know her well enough to realize her smile was mostly a smirk.

“One of um...Sidney, if you remember them. I guess it was just everyone he’d run into,” she shrugged, not sure exactly herself and wary of spreading lies. “It was sort of weird,” Olive admitted with a mildly uncomfortable chuckle. 

“Okay none of this is disproving my point I hope you know this,” she teased, storing away the free slap for a time she could maneuver him into needing it. “I...have a cat?” Olive’s voice rose, realizing even as she was speaking how sad that sounded.

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“I am not insulted.” He said, clearly insulted as he huffed at her and adjusted the collar of his jacket. “At least I don’t look like…..Ugh!” He said, not able to come up with a good enough come back. “Whatever.” He said, sticking his tongue out at her. 

“It makes sense. I mean, people were sure to wait for their friends when they got out. I was sleeping when it all started so when I got out, mostly everyone was gone so uuuh, yeah. But maybe they all just followed each other. I don’t know, I don’t really care if I’m going to be honest.”

“I didn’t say I wanted to fuck a car, you’re being ridiculous. A werewolf, maybe, but a car is where I draw the line.” He grinned. “Oh, that makes sense.” He said as he played with the fire in his hand. “So what have you been doing with your life outside of work?”

She stuck her tongue back at Wren almost more out of habit than anything else, the gesture just seeming to necessitate it. “Not even like, a joke about how I look like a 12 year old boy? Those are classic.”

“I...it could be,” she decided, nodding slowly. Olive couldn't help the doubt that had crept into her tone. “I went to a dumb party on New Years and there were like half a dozen of us there. Eve, actually! She was there...” she trailed off, it seemed like time to drop the subject. 

“God, please!” Olive snorted, rolling her eyes again. “If you could afford it, you’d get a stupid red sports car, and then you’d sit inside it while it vibrates and moan about how cool, and sleek, and how it purrs,” she drew out the words, chuckling at how funny she found herself. His next question though gave Olive pause, and she turned to blink at him, a little owlish. “What do you mean?” 

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“You’ll be disappointed when you know I’m right.” He said, clearly amused. “It’d be fun. I could be one of those people that does elaborate tricks on the street. Finally my fire dragon and tiger will be showcased!” He said, eyes lighting up at that thought. “Hey, wait. What do you mean I have the looks down? If that’s an insult I’m not insulted.”

“Hmm, maybe everyone met up and all moved to Cleveland and we just never got the notice.” He said with a shrug, not thinking much of it. Then again, he had only seen two of them and even if there were more around, he still wouldn’t give it much thought.

“Yeah, good plan. I just really want a car. They look cool.” He said as he leaned against a wall and closed his eyes as he felt the heat of the fire. “Hmm I don’t have much else to do so sure. So what is it exactly that you do?”

Olivia nodded along, waiting for the moment he realized she was teasing him. It still hadn’t really seemed to sink in. “You’re a little insulted,” she disagreed, grinning despite herself. 

“Yeah. Sure,” she didn’t think that seemed likely, but she really didn’t have another better explanation either. Maybe...one of them had moved, told the couple they had kept contact with and like a ripple effect...but that didn’t explain her or Wren having got the memo. 

His reasoning made Olive roll her eyes hard. “Why do guys all seem to want to fuck their cars,” she tsked, turning away with a shake of her head. “The basement of this place flooded, I’m redoing the floors, then I’m going to paint it and move the furniture back in,” Olivia shrugged, neglecting to mention that she wasn’t exactly working ‘on the books’.

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“Not just now like…whenever I remembered and decided to look it up!” He said, shaking his head. “I’m saying people would pay. It could be a serious thing!” He said before rolling his eyes. “I mean…I can breathe fire and I’ve always wanted to learn how to swallow swords. So that could be a possibility. I don’t want to roast people.”

“I saw Eve but that’s it.” He said with a shrug. “I figured you meant that. I’m not that dumb…sort of.”

“Haven’t decided what for yet. Just know that I’m just saving. It came in handy because I could get an apartment just from it and I also want a car. But I also can’t drive. But got tot learn how to do that.” He said with a shrug before making out a small fire in his hand to keep himself warm with.”

“I’ll check later,” she waved a hand, not trusting his recollection past about 20 minutes. “Stick to the magic tricks,” Olive advised seriously, no bothering to hide much the idea of him fighting amused her. “You could always make some money like that, I’d buy you as a street performer,” she told him seriously, looking Wren up and down slowly. “You’ve really got the look down already.”

“It’s weird, I’ve only started running into people since I got to this city. What is it about Cleveland that would draw us all together?” She was speaking out loud, but really it was more to herself than anything. It had been bothering her since the party. Really, it had been bothering her since she’d run into Sidney of all people her first week in the city.

“Learn to drive before you buy a car,” Olive agreed, taking a slightly extra wide step around his flame filled palm. She was planning on finishing laying out the floorboards today, which wasn’t difficult work so much as tedious to make sure every board fit together perfectly. “Are you planning on staying?”

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“Hm,” He mocked, deciding not to use anymore names. Only because his arm was getting really sore from being hit. “Yeah, now that you bring it up, I’m pretty sure we did. Also I looked it up. It is a fruit. I’m right, you’re wrong.”

“My poor hand indeed.” He huffed. “Okay it isn’t a regular occurrence for me to punch someone. Getting into fights is different. People pay for those you know? I think I should really get into that.” He mused. “Are you really that surprised?”

“Wow, who would have guessed?” He responded sarcastically with a shrug. “Yeah, three days about.” He said with a shrug. “It’s like fate knew that you would live a friendless and lonely life without me.” Wren grinned. “Uuuh, used to be a waiter and then started doing bar tending. Learned how to play guitar and piano from my boss, that was cool. I’d play sometimes and get tips. Right now, still saving money.”

“Just now, or back then?” She protested, turning her head to see if he’d actually bothered to google it. “Wait, are you trying to say people pay to see you fight?” Olivia asked with a snort of laughter. “People might pay to see you put on a magic show, that I believe, but unless you’ve found a way to roast people undetected...”

“Have you met anyone other than me yet?” She turned to look at him seriously, eyes narrowing a little as she considered. “Anyone else from back then I mean.” She didn’t feel the need to explain what ‘then’ was.

There was no way for Olive to insist that she really did have friends when that would inevitability result in Wren asking for the nonexistent proof, so it was better to ignore the comment. “Saving for what?” She deflected instead, digging out a pair of slippers for Wren so they wouldn’t track wet snow and salt onto the floor she was in the process of restoring.

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“What about Ve?” He mused, only growing more entertained as she got more angry with him. “They are fruits. I got into a very heated argument about it once so I think Ishould know.”

“I mean, I do but I have reason!” He said, defending himself. “I told you, he was harassing people. Just an over all dick that looked like he needed punched in the face. It worked pretty well too. Except I hurt my hand. Why does it hurt to punch people anyway? Like, shouldn’t my hand be immune by now?”

Wren observed the building, raising an eyebrow as he walked into a library. Odd thinking that he had never actually been in one before. He looked around as he pulled off his gloves, shoving them into his pocket. “This place is….old looking.”

“You should have known I got out.” He said as he followed her down the stairs. “It was a little chaos. I wish I had been the one to start it. Really, my biggest regret.” He said with a laugh. “That’s good. Yeah, it is. I’ve only been here for….three days? Yeah about that. I guess five but I’m not counting the first two because that was mostly unpacking and sleeping.”

“Hm,” she didn’t comment further on the latest nickname, turning to scowl briefly at Wren. “I think we had that argument,” she reminded him, unable to help a small laugh. “I’m still not sure I’m convinced.”

“Your poor hand,” she teased, voice flat without any real sympathy. “You’re the one who said this isn’t a regular occurrence, changing your story?” Olive laughed, “I still can’t believe you’ve survived this long.”

Her walk wasn’t far, but the cold had still penetrated her winter clothing and frozen any bit of skin it could reach. “That’s because it’s old,” Olive told him plainly, voice a bit hushed given their circumstances. “Three days?” She was almost startled, it seemed like too much of a coincidence to be possible. “Funny we ran into each other,” Olive bit her lip, a little disquieted by the coincidence. “What are you even doing? Like, as a job.”

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“So violent,” He huffed as she slapped his hand, rolling his eyes as she kept her hand raised. “Olive is a fruit. Is that you what you want to be known as?”

“I could have.” He said, clearly having already considered it, “But then I decided that wouldn’t be a good idea. Should have caught his shoe on fire though. That would have been a little funny.” He mused before shrugging. “That would be boring and it’s not like I go around punching people. I do it with reason.”

“Well then come on Cinderella before you’re late to the ball.” He said as he walked beside her. “You know I thought you died or something in that building and here you have just been avoiding me for years. Very rude. My heart is broken, you know. How have you been anyway?”

“It’s better than anything you’ve come up with,” she argued a little hotly, even though she knew that Wren was only trying to push her buttons. “I don’t even know if Olive’s are fruit. Technically.”

“Should have,” Olive agreed with a huffed laugh, though really Wren had probably made the right call. If he’d decided to exercise caution, Olivia was sure caution had been more than necessary. She raised an eyebrow at his denial. “Apparently you do go around punching people,” she reminded him, “seriously what did that guy even do?”

Olive had found a place to work at a research library through a friend of a friend, but her job was currently just restoring one of the basement rooms since there’d been a flood. It was boring, Olive really doubted anyone would mind Wren hanging around for a bit. She led him around the side of the building anyways, pulling off her hat and scarf as soon as she was through the door into the warmth of the library.

“I didn’t know who got out,” Olive shrugged, not really looking at Wren as she led him down the stairs. “I hope most of us, but it was...sort of chaos,” she flashed him an uncertain smile, eyes lingering a moment before she turned away again. “I guess I’ve been fine. I only moved here a few weeks ago, it’s funny running into you now. What about you?”

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

Wren knew the warning glare, even after five years he still knew it. He also still ignored it as he poked her a few times. “Ol is fine but Oli is where you draw the line? I can remember Olivia. It’s just too many syllables.” He grinned.

“The story. Well I was walking and this guy was there and he looked like he was harassing some people so I punched him in the face. But he had a pocket knife and I did not so I ran.” He said, keeping his hands up for a few seconds in case she tried to hit him again before letting his arms fall to his side. “Nice,” He said, huffing as he was pushed. “Okay okay, I’m going. Lead the way, Oil.” He said with a dramatic salute.

Olive slapped his hand away with a growl, keeping her hand raised to hit him if he kept it up. “Yeah. It is,” she agreed with a serious nod. “What about Olive then? The right amount of syllables?”

She listened to his story with a raised eyebrow, not completely convinced. “You could have just set him on fire,” Olive couldn’t help but point out, but then sighed, tilting her head to the side. “You should start carrying a pocket knife if you’re going to go around punching people.”

She paused again at the new name, making a loud noise of disgust. “Shut up,” she snapped, giving him a bit of a shove towards the mouth of the alley. “It’s only like a block over, so hopefully I won’t be...more than a few minutes late,” Olive checked her watch, groaning when she realized it was already a minute past the hour.

[oliviadoran]

wrendevereaux:

“Ol? Oil? Liv?” He said, giving her a pointed look, a large grin on his face before he poked her. Only wanting to add onto the annoyance. Usually he was the one with a quick temper but right now, he was only filled with joy and amusement. 

“I wouldn’t say often but you know, it happens. I was running from some jag-off who I punched. I promise you, I had a good reason!” He said defensively, an eyebrow raising as she looked around the corner. “Stop hitting me,” He said smacking at her hand lightly. “I’m saving you from death, duh. What are you doing here?”

Olive flashed him a warning glare when he poked her, jaw clenching with the effort of not retaliating, and from experience, giving him more to work with. “Ol’s not terrible actually,” she admitted, “if O-li-vi-a is too much for your bird brain to remember.”

“I’m sure you did,” Olive snorted, rolling her eyes with a bit of exaggeration, “I want to hear this story.” His complaint made her pause, weighing pity with hitting him again just for whining, but put her hand down and settled for a scowl instead. “I was going to work. Which you’re going to make me late for!” Olive realized with a start. "Fuck, come on you can sit inside for a bit,” she ordered, physically pushing him towards the mouth of the alley. “I don’t think my boss will mind.”