lost in the light @osphd-blog - Tumblr Blog

( - CHRISTIAN WALKED BETWEEN SMALL pools of water, manoeuvring himself between crowds and lampposts. The air had become chilly, numbing his hands and feet. But he liked it this way, was glad that the summer had ended and that he was able to light the fireplace at home and warm himself up after a walk back from work – a relaxing end to his crowded day“ And so winter is coming.” He uttered, not wanting to acknowledge that fall was in between – he preferred his snow over falling leafs. “How about a coffee?”

osphd-blog

Despite the rapidly cooling weather, Owen walked with skip in his step, looking forward to the first snowflakes and a city lit up in celebration. He sent a cheerful smile sideways. “It’s hot chocolate season for me.”

#[christian]

TEXT 📲 AIDEN feat. OPEN

Aiden: Oh, no.

Aiden: Wrong number, isn't it?

Aiden: Shit.

Owen: Uh, yikes, I'll just casually delete that

Owen: Never happened

#[aiden]

maxstephens:

She shook her head, yet took a breath. There was no use freaking out now, it’d only make things worse. “Come on, I’m sure there’s a road ahead somewhere-” she told him, still holding on to his arm as she continued walking forward with him. The thought of sleeping in the cold, damp woods was not an option for her. Max had successfully avoided camping for this long, she wasn’t about to throw that all away.

“I brought water if you need any… We’ll be good though, it took a bit of a hike to get here anyway.” She was lost. She was lost, but she wouldn’t say it out loud because doing that made it real. But the sun was setting and she still didn’t know where they were.

Finally it was getting darker and it became harder and harder to see ahead. “Do you have reception still?”

"I... don’t even have battery left,” Owen admitted in a small voice. “Stupid. Should have charged it before... Didn’t think ahead.”

His footsteps slow; there’s the instinct to keep going, no matter what, but he knows they’re lost, need to stop, need to regroup. If only he could think straight.

“There have got to be... people. Park people. Right? Somewhere. This isn’t total wilderness. We just have to... find people.”

#[max]

rebeccathomcs:

“Oh, and how does she threaten your life?” The brunette asked with a furrow of her brow, kind of curious to know what she said. Especially to an employee. “Don’t you have an higher person to go find when that happens, or some kind of union?” The blonde said as she peered at him before nodding her head. “I’m Rebecca, and I do take offence to everything you’ve just said.”

Owen shook his head, smiling. “I appreciate the concern, but it’s not so dire. It’s just that I frequently forget... basic lab safety procedures, and she’s told me that the next time I show up in shorts or flip-flops or without a lab coat she will actively hunt me down with something corrosive. I’m sure she’s kidding. Mostly. Either way, I’m more vigilant now.” He laughed nervously. “Hi Rebecca. I’m sorry, nice to meet you, you seem cool. And pretty. In an intimidating way. Not hitting on you, I swear, I mean you must have a lucky significant other. Oh god this is not fixing things.”

#[rebecca]

Banquet hall, crowded. Suit, unfashionable, oversized. Owen, wishing he were anywhere else.

The professor sits at the far corner of a corner table, slouching as far down as he can manage without falling off his chair. Colleagues wander past, murmuring congratulations and pretending not to notice his body language. It’s the night of an awards ceremony, and he has exactly thirty-five minutes before he’s up on stage with all eyes on him. He’d leave, but he’s already been spotted by the head of his department, and has had to pretend he is deeply honoured to be recognized for his teaching and research contributions, and delighted to be here.

Owen’s eyes dart around. Groups of friends laugh in conversation by the refreshment table, and no one is close enough to serve as a distraction. Last time he was here, Bliss was with him. (Once she’s in his head, she refuses to leave.) Last time, she stuffed half of the table’s appetizers into her purse, made fun of all the people who scared him until he was laughing. When he’d tripped on stage, she’d snorted, then glared at anyone who’d dare do the same. The night had flown by, far more good than bad. Now, time ticks by glacially. Then it stops cold, as he sees a familiar face.

@chasingxbliss

#[bliss]

alexchvw:

“what?” alex shook her head, dismissing everything owen just said. she didn’t get anything and she didn’t want to have to hear him repeat it. “do you have alcohol here? you’ve gotta..”

“...this is my office. And it’s noon.” Owen paused, thinking. “I do have a ton of m&ms, several mars bars, a miniature fondue pot, a half dozen bags of chips, and half a sandwich. Though, the sandwich is a week old -- I really should have thrown that out by now.”

#[alex]

liincvlns:

“look, mr. summers… pal… i gotta be honest with you here — i didn’t catch anything you just said. having a hard time following this train of thought you got going for you —this freight train of thought, actually. i’m nervous. you’re throwing me off here.” link stared at him for a moment, eyes widened out of partial amazement, and partial uncertainty that this man wasn’t actually out here planning to take over the world at some point. “dude… i’m the one who needs an energy drink after that. an energy drink, an espresso shot, some hennessy. you know what i mean? —but it’s kinda cool how fast you talk. kudos.”

Owen blinked a couple of times. “Sorry. Thank you? Nothing I said was really-- Er, thanks. But also sorry. I will try to... be understandable.” He tapped his fingers nervously across his desk for a second, then got up abruptly. “I need to go set up the projector.” A brief pause. “I still don’t know how to set up the projector.”

#[lincoln]

jord-youngg

“One of my students just e-mailed me saying they can’t make it to class because it’s their dogs birthday. I don’t know if I should be amused by the fact that she actually typed up this e-mail or insulted that a dogs birthday is more important than a probably life changing lecture on why Hemingway and Fitzgerald were assholes.”

osphd-blog

“Honestly, I’m flattered if more than half the class shows up to a lecture that isn’t just midterm prep. I mean, I think T cells are the coolest, but students don’t seem to agree. Yet. Besides, dogs are pure happiness, and they only get so many birthdays, you know?”

#||noah #I had to use the nose wrinkle

maxstephens:

“If we make it out-” she glance up at him to see his reaction before nudging his shoulder. “Kidding, it’s just a two hour hike I think.” Max never liked admitting defeat. Directionally, she was like the stereotypical guy on a road trip. By now though, she was shivering slightly from the previous rain along with the cold wind blowing against them.

“But I’ll take you up on the hot chocolate. We can dry up, drink hot chocolate, and have a movie night… Also I’m pretty hungry, so let’s order out-” Max kept her eyes ahead, taking a few turns here and there before pausing and glancing in every direction.

“…Owen? Does any of this look familiar?”

With the dark rapidly spreading, Owen couldn’t help but be shaken by her words. Max didn’t need to be here, he was the reason they were both in the middle of the woods instead of safe at home. And god knows he wouldn’t be any help if anything went wrong.

He shook away the thoughts for a moment, as Max dreamed up plans. As she spoke, he could almost see it, and he let it fight off the chill. Of course they would be out of here in no time, with an evening to spare. Just a short detour before a return to comforting normality.

Then, Max wasn’t walking anymore. Owen’s breath caught in his throat as he looked around. Trees were just trees. With their decisive path so far, he’d figured they’d be at a road soon, but he couldn’t hear any traffic, or see any signs of life. With hands that shook slightly, he pulled horn-rimmed glasses from his pocket and slipped them on. The view was clearer, and he felt just as lost.

“...No,” he said, finally. “You don’t recognize anything?”

#[max]

maxstephens:

“I’m pretty sure I’d be charged with some sort of involuntary manslaughter or negligence if I just left you. And you know I’d come get you, couldn’t have my best Star Wars guy lost in the woods.” She stayed close, eyes glancing around at any slight sound she heard while they walked. It was sort of creepy, but the land was protected and monitored- at least that’s what the ranger at the welcome center said.

She finally recognized a rigid rock and turned left. “I’m sure Bambi misses you. But I still can’t believe you chased a deer into the woods, that’s pretty hilarious,” Max smirked, gripping on to his arm tighter when she heard a rustling in the bushes which was soon followed by a rabbit hopping out. “…False alarm, don’t chase it-” she teased, tugging him in the opposite way.

“Aww,” Owen said, beaming. “I’m the best. Of the Star Wars guys. To you.”

At the noise in the bushes, Owen immediately stopped. “Oh my god.” He looked between Max, and the tiny brown rabbit in the grass. “Bunny! Max, it’s a little baby bunny. It’s so small.”

He made a sound of complaint as Max pulled him away. “I have never seen a deer before. And Bambi looked at me for two whole seconds, so I think we had an understanding.” He shivered, the chill setting in the further they walked. The sky was darkening, long shadows trailing behind them. “I’m really sorry about this. I owe you hot chocolate when we make it back.”

#[max]

maxstephens:

It was well into fall and the air was growing colder by the hour, so him embrace was very welcomed. Max usually found herself sporting an extra puffy jacket or even a blanket on her way to work since she both hated and loved the cold. This however, was a situation she didn’t particularly enjoy- the two being deep in the woods.

She nodded at his words then followed along beside him in the direction she was fairly certain she came from. Luckily she was pretty okay with directions, but this would actually be the first time she’d been to a park like this. “Sorry about the jacket, it was the biggest I had. I thought Jonah left his at my place, but I guess he took it with him last time.” Max shrugged a shoulder then took a hold of his arm and moved closer while walking since he was much warmer than she was.

“How did you even get here anyway? You just walked straight into a forrest…”

Owen smiled as Max linked arms with him, focusing on keeping them both on the narrow path instead of stumbling off of it. “Honestly, you didn’t even have to show up, so I’m more than happy. I’m sure you had better ways to spend an afternoon than rescuing me from the depths of Jersey.”

The sound of rushing water faded away behind them, and Owen scanned their surroundings. Nothing looked familiar, each patch of the woods looking the same as the one before. Still, with a friend at his side, his confidence remained high. “Not exactly. My bike bit the dust on an actual road, and I was trying to follow that back, but I got turned around, and then I saw Bambi, and then I walked straight into the forest. Speaking of...” He glanced over his shoulder, and whispered, “Fare thee well, friend.”

#[max]

maxstephens:

She spun around as she heard the cracking of a few fallen twigs which signaled someone was coming her was. A large, relived sigh came about when she finally saw him and Max immediately wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. Thank god this wasn’t some elaborate prank, Max could’ve never let herself live it down.

She then pulled away and looked up at him with a small smile before quickly reaching into her backpack and handing him that extra jacket. “I didn’t know it’d rain, I forgot an umbrella,” Max admitted, biting her bottom lip before zipping the bag back up. She wouldn’t point out his lack of the deer friend he had made, wanting to keep the man focused on instead finding their way out of there first.

But once she reached for the map she’d used the whole trail, Max found it to be misplaced. A worried expression was quite obvious as she instantly started digging though her bag and pockets in search for it, but it was no where to be found, having fallen out of her backpack or something. Turning back to Owen, eyes wide, she wondered how exactly to break it to him.

“So… No map… But I think I came from that way-” she said, nodding in one direction.

“Hi,” Owen said happily, over the top of her head.

He stepped back and accepted the jacket, putting on the hood but not the sleeves, and drawing it around his shoulders as best as he could. He shrugged. “It’s alright, clouds are clearing. We’ve got this. No problem. Owen and Max, against the world!”

Newly energized, Owen bounced in place for a second, barely noticing as Max paused to search through her things. When she spoke again, he looked in the direction she indicated. “Okay,” he said simply. “Let’s go.” He started forward.

#[max]

sunrusetequilas-deactivated2021

Owen may have been a professor, but Max did think he could be pretty dull at times. These were one of those times. She was still confused as to how exactly he got lost so badly, but at the same time she was a bit flattered that he reached out to her for help. Then again, the man basically had a Star Wars club, that didn’t really scream ‘rescue material’. Max had brought a backpack and stuffed a spare jacket within it before catching the Jersey ferry and then a bus to the park he had texted her. It was nearly four in the evening and the sky was already darkening which wasn’t the best when it came to searching for people.

After grabbing a map from the small welcome center, she started on the trail to the waterfall Owen had mentioned earlier. Hopefully the deer ditched him by now, she feared it’d attract bears or something. However, she trusted that she’d find him and get out of the woods by nine at the latest, so Max didn’t worry too much. This whole thing was pretty hilarious actually.

Max followed the trail the map had laid out, veering away slightly in attempt to make the journey faster to that waterfall and occasionally texting Owen just to make sure he didn’t follow another animal away from the landmark. It took about two hours, but she finally arrived- yet there was no Owen to be seen.

And for a second, she thought that he had just played the best and most brutal prank on her perhaps for some nerd initiation or something. “Owen!?” she called out, looking around for him around the falls.

@osphd

osphd-blog

In the scheme of things, the day’s adventure wasn’t going particularly well. The first few of hours of biking had served its purpose, clearing the dark clouds that had been hanging over him since the festival. The next objective, turning back and heading home, was thwarted first by sharp debris in the road, and second by his absolute lack of directional sense. Then it had started to rain.

Max’s number happened to be the only one programmed into his new phone, after the previous one met a violent death, but he was grateful that it was. Unfortunately, this would be the second time she would have to help him out, but she seemed like someone he could trust. As Max closed the distance between them, and the rain clouds made their retreat, Owen looked to the deer sitting nearby and said, “I think everything is going to be alright.” The deer blinked at him, and did not respond.

Halfway through typing another reassurance that he hadn’t moved, Owen’s phone beeped with gusto, then promptly died. The deer, startled by the noise, stood up and bolted into the trees. Owen instinctively followed. He lost sight of the animal within seconds, and had the urge to call out to it like Tom Hanks in Castaway. Instead, he stood among the trees, inexplicably sad.

A voice, suddenly, from behind him. Owen spun around, and rushed back to the waterfall. Albeit cold, lost, and abandoned by his deer friend, seeing Max standing there instantly cheered him up. Before saying a word, he pulled her into a hug.

#[max]

rebeccathomcs:

“Powerful women often are.” The blonde said with a small smile as she peered down at the male. “Well, then, you wouldn’t mind showing me, would you?” She asked him before nodding her head and following the male. The least he could do was make himself useful rather than sleep.

“Mm, most don’t casually threaten my life on a weekly basis like she does, but I get your point.” Owen started walking, glancing over his shoulder once in a while. The more time that passed, the more concerned he was that he was leading her in the wrong direction. Since his nerves wouldn’t allow silence, he spoke. “I’m Owen, by the way. Or, well, Dr. Summers but you’re probably older than me so you don’t need to call me by a title or -- Not that you look old, you’re really quite a beautiful person, objectively, it’s just that you carry yourself in a certain way.”