phantasms

𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒉𝒒𝒔 𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝒅𝒆𝒍 riley lorde jackson. 𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 & 𝒂𝒑𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒚𝒑𝒔𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆. forrest everly. 𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆.

[phvntasms]

DEL.   TWENTY-FOUR.   SHE/THEY.   EST.

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏:  𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑒 𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑠𝑜𝑛 ( main & apocalypse ).  𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑦 ( main ).

TO DO LIST: riley normal verse thread replies [0/?], riley apocalypse verse thread replies [0/?], riley starters [0/?], riley memes [3/3 - drafted], forrest normal verse thread replies [0/?], forrest starters [0/?], forrest memes [4/4 - drafted], character intros [0/0].

[phvntasms]

𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 & 𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒂.

verse: main. location:forrest’s house. status: closed for forrest everly ( @phvntasms​ ).

        hurrying towards the speaker with the same energy as five year old child ( though, maybe a little less stable all in thanks to the almost empty glass of pink wine they held in their hand ), lou quickly turns up the volume and calls out to their friend in the next room. “ okay, okay, pizza’s in the oven. now DANCE with me, forrest everly. you promised !! ” the familiar chords fill his living room and then — three little birds, sat on my window…

Reddish hues color his cheeks, making the apex of his cheekbones a near match to the wine in his glass.  “ No, no... ”  he waves them off, letting slip a small chuckle as he watches his friend make their way around the kitchen. If not for the warm buzzing radiating throughout his body and the recent good news regarding his father’s health, Forrest might have stayed planted there in the living room and offered himself for another role, such as DJ. But, Corrine Bailey Rae’s honeyed vocals rise, and Forrest finds his his hips swaying slightly in his found sanctuary, firmly planted against the kitchen door. 

[phvntasms]

𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏: late afternoon, the weekend. 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆: some abandoned house / building. 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆: post - apocalypse, kailen ruis. 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒔: closed for @chrryflvrd​.

" Dude, what the hell? How did you find this? ”  Riley eyes the bounty curiously before looking back at their own. The items weren’t that far off in terms of rarity, but he had stolen to bring these here. If Kailen had somehow managed to find what they’re looking over now without any treasure hunting, they’d feel not just impressed but embarrassed for not upping the ante. Pausing for a moment, Riley digs in their bag to empty the sole joint onto the table in front of them both.  “ Figure I need to pay my fair share, but — ”  they give a dramatic flourish over the table,  “ — we ready to play? What’s first: truth or dare, drunk bullshit, never have I ever? ” 

[phvntasms]

𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏: late afternoon, a few hours before sunset.  𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆: unknown, somewhere outside of town.  𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆: post - apocalypse.  𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒔: closed for @chrryflvrd​, marley cleese.

" Ah, fuck this, dude... ”  A low groan follows their sudden outburst, mid - pull. When the hood fails to open yet again, he gives the bumper a gentle nudge with his shoe before letting himself fall back onto the dirt road.  “ Any luck back there, champ? ”  Head rolling to the side, Riley makes his best attempt to shield his eyes against the setting sun to see if Marley had found anything her attempt for tools or ‘crowbar-esqe’ item. They knew they should’ve done a better check of the car before choosing it as the one to take for a supply run. Yet... here they were.  “ Be honest with me, when do we say ‘fuck it,’ and start walking home, so we know we’re back before dark? ”  How soon would it be before someone noticed they both had been missing? Would they be scared?

[phvntasms]

𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏: late at night, friday.  𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆: some house in hope known for house shows.  𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆: main.  𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒔: closed for @chrryflvrd​, rue ackerman.

Through the smoke and haze of drunk, sweaty bodies pressed together in some stranger’s basement, Riley nearly hadn’t spotted her from their place at the back of the band they had been asked to help stand in for. They can’t say just how many hours it had been since parting ways, only that it hasn’t been long enough to get the remaining reminders of her from their room. Friends sleeping with friends is a familiar enough experience for them to remain at ease and finish their set, but it isn’t enough to suppress the dull pressure building in their chest as they approach her once the music comes to an end and the next band shuffles to get on stage.  “ Hey, stranger. Want to grab some — water, beer, smoke maybe? — before the next set? ”   He gestures back at the kitchen with an easy grin. Riley’s not cold. If she wants to ‘talk’ tonight —or at all, they’d rather it be where they can both feel some privacy. Better to play everything off as fine, cool, normal even before trying to have that conversation.  “ What’d you think of the music? Take it easy on me though. Only so much criticism my little heart can take. ”

[phvntasms]

𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 & 𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒆.

.

𝐈𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐀𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅 𝐓𝐎 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓 but she felt the need to either way. “i’m sorry, forrest. i wasn’t paying attention.” eloise apologized, “you see dad is coming home from a business trip and my step mother asked me to pick up a few things…” she continued to explain giving a sigh. it was quiet the list.. longer than the normal. but it seemed as though her step mother wanted a feast prepared for her father’s return.. except she wanted to do none of the work herself and put it all on eloise. in which the blonde couldn’t say no to. “no, it’s just me and my tote bag.” she motioned to the bag hanging from her shoulder, “everyone else was busy today.” a half truth or they just didn’t want to join her. 

Shoulders rise and fall with relative ease at her apology. With little harm done in a place with such high frequency of fumbles, he doesn’t see the need to linger on the small mishap.  “Oh, is that right? Has your dad been gone long then?”  His eyes swipe over the list again, noting its length once more before letting his attention drift back to his stall beside him. No fires to put out, and his farm hand seemed more than competent enough to hold down the fort for a bit.  “ Well, as long as you promise we can make a swing by the coffee booth for a cup and a sandwich, I’d be happy to help you out with your groceries. Can even swing them by your place after we wrap up, so you don’t have to lug them all the way back. ”  He shoots the farmhand a quick text that he might be awhile and to take their normal breaks without worrying about it before finally bringing his full attention back to Eloise. “ Perks of being your own boss.”  A snort. That one would take a little longer to sit in before he accepts it for himself.  “ What’re we looking for today? ”

[phvntasms]

salvia, nasturtium, chrysanthemum (for both forrest and riley ! or whichever strikes your muse <3)

salvia :   is your muse possessive over people or things that matter a lot to them ? how do they express that possessiveness ,   or lack thereof ?

forrest is the type of person to get rather possessive over people and things that matter a lot to him, even if he knows it’s unnecessary. after losing his mother & uncle, he moved back home promptly because he couldn’t stand the idea of losing someone or something else of importance and not being there to stop it. it isn’t him being territorial and not wanting other’s to enjoy the presence of the ones he loves or enjoying the items he holds dear, but rather that he has a toxic tendency to be overprotective. 

riley in the main verse is not possessive in the slightest. they have a tendency to feel suffocated themself when other’s get too involved in their life, decisions, etc. control is essential to riley, and they would never want to dictate someone else to the point where they’re being possessive because that’s the last thing they want for themself as well. their lack of possessiveness shows in them being over generous with their own prized items ( as long as it’s someone they trust ) and wanting to hear out and encourage other’s to follow their heart ( see: impulses ) just as they would. 

riley in the apocalypse verse can be slightly possessive over the ones they love and very possessive over sentimental items. given the world they’re in and the way he has been raised, riley’s tendency for possessiveness has a lot to do with other’s that they think are taking advantage of their loved one’s or those items that have a very large sentimental value ( these are likely not to be known by anyone that is not included in those riley has a tendency to be possessive over ). 

nasturtium :   describe your muse’s relationship with their birthplace ,   or homeland .

forrest loves hope. he deeply associates it with his family, his loved ones, and the farm.  hope is home to him in every sense of the word, and he wants to see it continue to grow and thrive. in many ways, forrest is a bit protective over the image of hope that he has in his mind and maintaining the small - town vibe. this makes him suspicious of developers or new folks coming in with big plans out of fear that they might change the town entirely.

riley in the main verse dislikes ( might even say hate ) everything about hope except for their few loved ones. their main goal at this point is to get out and start traveling and making music and / or helping produce movies and movie scores. hope reminds him a lot of his childhood, which has been clouded by all of the loss & darkness that now shades it.

riley in the apocalypse verse doesn’t mind hope, is really appreciative that they live in a safe place like hope, but doesn’t love it. it serves it’s purpose, and while they’d never do this until they were sure there were better places out there, they still do have the itch to leave and see what else is out there. however, they would only go if they knew certain people, like their mentor & pseudo mom francine ( @trcnquils ), came along. 

chrysanthemum :   how does your muse express romantic love ? how do they feel about love as a concept ?

forrest is a big romantic even if he’s not great at dating nor flirting. he was raised in a household with two parents that could not have loved each other more. he’s quiet for sure and not as great with his words, but forrest is extremely thoughtful. he takes notes of his loved one’s likes, dislikes, interests, small things they need... all of it, and really likes surprising them with small things to show he’s listening and he loves them. he really likes the traditional idea of courting and taking intentional time to get to know each other and enjoy the actual falling. forrest loves the concept of love and loves the idea of a hopefully setting down with a wife and one or two kids some day.

riley in the main verse has done one night stands, friends with benefits, hookups, and flings, but anytime something seems to get too serious, they run. he has definitely begun falling in love is, but upon that feeling, riley will begin to act even more erratic and chaotic than normal and then look for an out. as a concept for others, riley likes the idea of love! they really, truly want it for others, but because of some deeply-buried ideas of what it means to love someone and be loved in return like that, they don’t think they’re really the type of person for either nor do they think they’re worthy ( but that’s mostly because they don’t like the idea of showing their darker parts to someone in such a vulnerable way ). in love tho? they’d be a major simp... like i wish i were kidding but lots of doting, fun outings and experiences for some quality time, very affectionate, etc. 

riley in post-apocalypse verse is less opposed to romantic love than main verse, but it’s mostly because they just don’t think about it. sex is a great distraction device for where they’re at now, but anything more than just that doesn’t seem all too realistic and isn’t as present in their day-to-day conscious / life. love as a concept is nice to them, but they don’t know why anyone would go out deliberately looking for it. 

[ohisms]

𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐃  &  𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄    (a  series  of  nonverbal  prompts .   mature  themes  present ,   ‘ my ’  muse  belongs  to  the  one who  posted  the  meme  -  send   “ + REVERSE ”   to  reverse  the  prompts .)

→     𝐈 .    GENERAL

❛   hush .   raise  a  finger  in  a  gesture  to  silence  my  muse . ❛   sit .   gesture  for  my  muse  to  sit  down . ❛   door .   hold  a  door  open  for  my  muse . ❛   tap .   tap  my  muse  on  the  shoulder  to  garner  their  attention . ❛   hunger .   give  my  muse  something  to  eat  /  drink . ❛   cook .   present  my  muse  with  home - cooked  food . ❛   brush .   work  a  brush  /  comb  through  my  muse’s  hair . ❛   read .   silently  read  a  book  alongside  my  muse . ❛   hand .   hold  out  a  hand  for  my  muse  to  take . ❛   dressed .   help  my  muse  put  on  an  article  of  clothing . ❛   note .   give  my  muse  a  note  saying :   [ content ] . ❛   amplify .   turn  up  the  music  in  the  car .

→     𝐈𝐈 .    ANGST

❛   patch .   help  my  muse  patch  up  a  wound . ❛   night terrors .   hold  my  muse  after  they  wake  up  from  a  nightmare . ❛   company .   silently  sit  with  my  muse  to  comfort  them. ❛   hospital .   my  muse  is  told  that  yours  is  in  the  hospital . ❛   revelation .   show  my  muse  evidence  of  a  lie  they  told . ❛   indulge .   find  my  muse  drinking  to  cope . ❛   downfall .   find  my  muse  collapsed  on  the  ground . ❛   console .   comfort  my  muse  as  they  cry . ❛   nurse .   give  my  muse  company  in  the  hospital .

→     𝐈𝐈 .    AFFECTIONATE

❛   wink .   wink  at  my  muse .  ❛   wrap .   wrap  an  arm  around  my  muse’s  [ shoulders  /  waist ] . ❛   caress .   gently  caress  my  muse’s  face . ❛   tousle .   mess  playfully  with  my  muse’s  hair . ❛   chest .   place  your  head  on  my  muse’s  chest .    ❛   comb .   comb  fingers  through  my  muse’s  hair . ❛   grasp .   run  to  my  muse  &  jump  into  their  arms . ❛   lean .   lean  on  my  muse’s  shoulder . ❛   tender .   kiss  my  muse  on  the  [ forehead  /  cheek  /  nose ] . ❛   abrupt .   kiss  my  muse  out  of  the  blue . ❛   chaste .   chastely  kiss  my  muse . ❛   good morning .   kiss  my  muse  the  morning  after . ❛   volumes .   gaze  at  my  muse  in  a  way  that  silently  says  ‘i love you’ .

→     𝐈𝐈𝐈 .    VIOLENT

❛   strike .   [ slap / punch ]  my muse in the face . ❛   gun .   wield  a  gun  at  my  muse . ❛   twist .   twist  my  muse’s  arm  behind  their  back . ❛   throttle .   aggressively  wrap  your  hands  around  my  muse’s  throat . ❛   parch .   burn  my  muse  with  a  hot  object . ❛   take down .   forcefully  bring  my  muse  to  the  ground . ❛   gouge .   wield  a  sharp  object  at  my  muse . ❛  shunt .   shove  my  muse  backwards . ❛  stickup .   yell  at  my  muse  to  put  their  hands  in  the  air. ❛  shoot .   [ fatally  /  non-fatally ]   shoot  my  muse . ❛  stab .   stab  my  muse with a  [ knife / other object ].

→     𝐈𝐕 .    NSFW

❛   surprise .   send  an  unexpected  nsfw  image  to  my  muse . ❛   pin .   push  my  muse  against  a  [ wall,  table,  other ] . ❛   go down .   go  down  on  my  muse . ❛   choke .   intimately  wrap  your  hands  around  my  muse’s  throat . ❛   belt loops .   pull  my  muse  closer  by  their  belt loops . ❛   skinny dipping .   go  skinny  dipping  with  my  muse . ❛   rip .   tear  a  piece  of  clothing  from  my  muse’s  body . ❛   mark .   leave  a  mark  on  my  muse’s  body  [ specify where ] .

[promptfairy]

❥     𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒    [   𝚆𝙾𝚁𝙳 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙿𝚃𝚂    ]   .

headcanon prompts with questions based on plants   &   what they represent in flower language .  happy roleplaying !!  ♡

abatina :   is there anything in life your muse has changed their mind about over time   (   due to becoming more educated on the topic ,   certain experiences  ,   etc .   ) ,    or that they   would   change their mind about under certain circumstances ?  

acanthus :   is your muse deceptive ,   or willing to lie or deceive to achieve certain means ?   why or why not ?   

aloe :   how does your muse handle grief ?

amaryllis :   what is something or someone that your muse takes pride in ?   how do they express that pride ?   

anemone :   how does your muse view the world ;   as a cruel   &   unforgiving place ,   a land full of wonders ,   or something in - between ?  where does that world view come from   (   what experiences ,   life lessons ,   etc .   ) ?  

angelica :   where does your muse draw inspiration in life ?   what motivates them ?

apple blossom :   how does your muse go about expressing or not expressing their sexuality ?  

bachelor’s button :   does your muse actively seek romantic companionship ,   or cherish the liberties of being single ? 

basil :   does your muse have a love - hate relationship with anyone or anything ?

bay tree :   does your muse seek glory   &   accolades ,   or do they favour a simpler ,   more personal life ?  

begonia :   how cautious is your muse ?   are they prone to noticing red flags ,   or paranoid to the point of untrusting most everyone ?   why or why not ?  

belladonna :   how does your muse respond to silence ?   do they take comfort in soundlessness ,   or seek to fill the void with noise ?   

bluebell :   does your muse learn from their past ,   or are they prone to repeating the same mistakes ?  

carnation :   what is your muse’s relationship with their gender ?   how do they express or not express this relationship ?  

chamomile :   what is your muse likely to take away from a painful experience ?   are they one to be haunted by adversity ,   or to use what they’ve gone through to become stronger ?  

chrysanthemum :   how does your muse express romantic love ?  how do they feel about love as a concept ?  

daffodil :   is your muse one to be loyal in relationships ,   or are they likely to quickly move from one bond to another ?

daisy :   did your muse ever feel as though their innocence had been lost ?   what moment in their life could be described as the end of their innocence ?  

edelweiss :   what was the bravest moment in your muse’s life ?  are they known to be courageous from then on ?  

fern :   does your muse believe in magic or cosmic forces ,   or are they more likely to think their life is ultimately a matter of their own control ?  

forget - me - not :   has your muse ever forgotten something that is or was important to them ?   are they afraid of forgetting things like that ?  

gardenia :   is your muse one to confess romantic feelings early on ,   or to conceal them for long periods of time ?  

gladiolus :   describe a moment from your muse’s life that they will never forget .

goldenrod :   does your muse believe in luck or fortune ?  why or why not ?   where do they believe these things come from ?  

heliotrope :   does your muse believe in soulmates ?

hibiscus :   how does your muse view the gentler ,   daintier things in life ?   as things worth preserving   &   caring for ,   or things only bound to wither   &   disappear ?  

holly :   how strong is your muse’s sense of intuition ?  are they aware of it ?   do they ever fear that it is only paranoia ?  

hollyhock :   how strong is your muse’s sense of ambition ?  what’s something they strive for in life ?  

hyacinth :   is your muse athletic ?   does it come naturally to them ,   or have they had to work for their physique and/or skill ?  

hydrangea :   how much does your muse value communication in their relationships with others ?  are they prone to being misunderstood ?

iris :   if your muse could convey one last message to someone they have lost or left behind ,   what would it be ?  

ivy :   what are your muse’s views on marriage ?   do they believe it is something strictly for love ,   or an institution rooted in business   &   social benefits ?   do they desire or have they desired to be married ?

lavender :   how easy is it to gain your muse’s trust ?  once their trust is broken ,   how might one go about mending it ?  

lilac :   what was your muse’s childhood like ?   how has their upbringing affected them as they’ve aged ? 

lily :   how does your muse view their mother ?  

lotus :   has your muse ever felt as though they’ve been reborn ?  have they ever desired the feeling of a fresh start ,   or a better understanding of themself and/or the world around them ?  

magnolia :   describe your muse’s relationship with nature   &   the natural world .  

marigold :   is your muse prone to jealousy ?  how might they handle envious feelings ?  

mint :   does your muse view themself as virtuous   &   moral ?  what do these words mean to them ?

nasturtium :   describe your muse’s relationship with their birthplace ,   or homeland .  

oak :   who would your muse consider the strongest person they know ?  

pansy :   does your muse often reflect on their own actions ?   do they ever think a lot about the past ,   and what they could have done differently ?

parsley :   describe a holiday your muse enjoys ,   and why they enjoy it .

peony :   what would a   ‘  happy life  ’   look like in your muse’s eyes ?

poppy :   what comforts your muse ?

rhododendron :   is your muse receptive to warnings   &   advice given by others ?

rose :   how much does your muse value other people ?   do they wish to have many friends ,   lovers ,   and/or associates ?   are they an easy person to love ?

sage :   what is your muse’s legacy ?   what do they want to be remembered for   &   what might they actually be remembered for ?  

salvia :   is your muse possessive over people or things that matter a lot to them ?  how do they express that possessiveness ,   or lack thereof ? 

snapdragon :   is your muse merciful ?  why or why not ?

southernwood :   how seriously does your muse take themself ?   do they prefer a solemn   &   intellectual atmosphere or do they delight in jokes   &   banter ?  

sunflower :   what brings your muse the most joy in life ?  

tulip :   how does your muse view people in general ?  

violet :   how does your muse respond to betrayal ?

willow :   how does your muse handle sadness   &   depression ?

zinnia :   how has the loss of fallen comrades and/or loved ones affected your muse ?   has it taught them anything or given them any new perspectives ?

[ohisms]

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑶𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑹 𝑳𝑰𝑵𝑬 .    (   a  collection  of  texting  prompts .  receiver of the meme  is  implied  to  be  the  sender  of  the  text .   )

∗ o1﹕ a  text  sent  late  at  night . ∗ o2﹕ a  text  asking  for  advice . ∗ o3﹕ a  text  sent  out  of  worry . ∗ o4﹕ a  text  sent  out  of  excitement . ∗ o5﹕ a  text  sent  out  of  anger . ∗ o6﹕ a  text  containing  a  picture . ∗ o7﹕ a  text  to  get  back  in  touch . ∗ o8﹕ a  text  saying  goodbye . ∗ o9﹕ a  text  containing  a  confession . ∗ 1o﹕ a  cheesy  text . ∗ 11﹕ a  text  sent  from  across  the  room . ∗ 12﹕ a  text  that  wasn’t  meant  for  the  receiver . ∗ 13﹕ an  intoxicated  text . ∗ 14﹕ a  text  sent  while  half  asleep . ∗ 14﹕ a  text  that  was  never  sent . ∗ 15﹕ a  text  containing  advice . ∗ 16﹕ a  flirtatious  text . ∗ 17﹕ a  text  during  a  breakdown  /  panic  attack . ∗ 18﹕ a  threatening  text . ∗ 19﹕ a  suggestive  text . ∗ 2o﹕ a  text  containing  an  apology . ∗ 21﹕ a  text  to  a  group  chat . ∗ 22﹕ a  text  regarding  [ character name ] . ∗ 23﹕ a  text  containing  a  pick - up  line . ∗ 24﹕ an  angry  text . ∗ 25﹕ an  urgent  text . ∗ 26﹕ an  affectionate  text . ∗ 27﹕ a  text  after  first  meeting . ∗ 28﹕ an  embarrassing  text . ∗ 29﹕ a  supportive  text . ∗ 3o﹕ a  random  text .

[phvntasms]

𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 & 𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒊𝒔𝒆.

𝚘𝚙𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚗 𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚎. 𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗: 𝚏𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚎𝚛'𝚜 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚔𝚎𝚝 𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚜𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚊𝚢.

𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐈𝐒𝐄 causing her to pull her coat tighter to her body. it was a little chilly for a day at the farmer’s market but groceries were a necessity. her surrounds were so picturesque it made the trip in the alaskan winter all the more joyful. the snow plowed out the way left in large piles that children played in, running around for a game of tag or snow ball fight, everyone bundled up in their winter attire. it was like a scene from a hallmark movie. something about it just seemed perfect. 

pulling out her shopping list she began to check off the items she had bought. aimlessly walking as she did so. until– thud. she walked right into someone. “oh goodness!” eloise exclaimed, looking up to see who she had collided with, “i’m so sorry. i should’ve been paying attention.” she sighed, “you know grocery lists.. they’re a rather interesting read.” she tried to make light, “are you alright? i didn’t hurt you did i?”

Lunch time had rolled around, allowing for Forrest to slip away for a quick break while one of the farmhands took over their stall. With his attention split between scanning the fellow stalls for something to eat for lunch, he only notices Eloise by the time she’s running smack into him. “ Easy, slugger. You’re going to take my whole back out. ”  A good-natured, if not slightly startled, leaves his lips as he takes a step back from her. Eyes peak down at the list in her hand, letting his finger gesture vaguely over the items listed.  “ Pretty tall order you’ve got there. Is your pops, any of the step-siblings, or ... uh... roommates here to help carry them home in the snow? ”  Forrest, while familiar with Eloise from their family being good friends, couldn’t remember for the life of him what she was currently up to these days, let alone who might be accompanying her when grocery shopping.

[phvntasms]

𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒙 & 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕.

❝   I DON’T KNOW ,   ❞   alex let out a sigh , equal parts frustration and concern. it seemed his job got more difficult every day , answers to questions that much harder to find.   ❝   i know he’s a good kid. something’s obviously going on , i just can’t figure out what.   ❞   he pressed his lips together as he leaned his weight into the table , his eyes focused on the pattern in the grain. he shook his head and lifted his gaze to the other , suddenly ashamed to admit he couldn’t figure out the problem on his own.   ❝   fuck , sorry for unloading on you.   ❞

Silence fills the air as Forrest turns over all that has just been shared with him.  “ You don’t need to apologize. It needs to come out at some point. Better here than when you can’t hold it in anymore. ”  He slips in the slightly watered down advice he has heard time and time again from his therapist. While he’s always been a listener than an advice giver, Forrest hopes that it at least brings Alex some reassurance.  “ How about I get you something to drink while you explain what’s going on with the kid? What’ll it be? Water? I can brew some tea for the both of us or grab some beers out of the fridge? ”

[phvntasms]

𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒓 & 𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒚.

Pinar wouldn’t say that sometimes she didn’t wonder why it hadn’t worked. Maybe she would’ve been the type of person to fall too hard for Riley; and the fear of doing so and ruining their beautiful friendship was bigger than that possibility. In the end, it was in those calm moments that she was simply able to enjoy their presence, that Pinar knew that it didn’t matter. What mattered was that Riley was still part of it, in a friendship, in little moments. “Good, because I’d be hurt if you ended up telling me you have a list of people you’d prefer to be with instead of myself,” a grin light up her demeanot while looking at them. 

“Deal, I can even make a pinky promise, if you’d like me to,” and she offered her pinky to Riley. “It’s a shame that I couldn’t enjoy this before but nothing like the present, huh? I’ll make sure to keep in mind to take you with me next time I’m visiting my family,” which wouldn’t be a bad idea, at all. As long as Riley wanted to be part of such an adventure. And the Durmaz family was very welcoming. And then, Pinar flashed her tongue before taking her phone for a quick selfie, another way to keep that moment with herself. “Did they tell you that? That I’m their favorite teacher? I’m flattered,” she chuckled.

Reaching closer to Riley, Pinar finally took a few pictures, showing her phone screen to them. “Don’t we look great?”

Raising their pinky finger to hers, they carefully link their fingers together. Before they say anything further, eyebrows wrinkle together in a look that asks, ‘ are you sure? ’  “ There’s no takebacks now you know, ” they add on, giving her pinky the tiniest squeeze as if to seal the deal before peeling away. It’s this kind of playfulness, comfort, and genuine ease that reminds Riley how lucky they are to have a friend like Pinar still here despite their past. In a friendship that was formed in the midst of loss and grief over other friends, they didn’t need much convincing that it would be best for them both to end the more physical part of their relationship in order to preserve the friendship overall. 

“ You know you can’t joke around with invitations like that around me, right? If I’m about to meet the parents, you need to give me at least 2-3 months to start planning outfits, preparing my answers to their questions, figuring out what little gift I’m bringing for the both of them to say thank you for having me... ”  It wasn’t that they hadn’t met other friends’ parents or guardians, but when one of the defining features qualities of their childhood friend group was that they were all more-or-less estranged from their families, the idea deliberately trying to make a good impression with a friend’s parents, particularly Pinar’s, was a bit frightening.

“ Sure did. They wouldn’t stop gushing over you. ”  They slip in the little white lie.  Truth being told it was Riley who, upon learning that the coworker who brought in their ‘sick’ child to work was a student of Pinar’s, prompted the gushing.  “ You sure you haven’t been feeding them lines to share about you and your teaching to make yourself look good? ”  Giving her side a tiny nudge, they turn their eyes towards the pictures in question.  “ Great is an understatement. These deserve to be framed if you ask me. Yeah, you know what? Forget Instagram! Fuck it! This is going right smack dab in the middle of the fridge. ”

[phvntasms]

𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒓 & 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕.

“According to the dictionary,” which she even checked out over her phone during their conversation, “it means very pleasant, attractive, kind or having an attractive quality that gives pleasure to those who experience it or think about it, so I guess I’m not that far from such definition when it comes to my compliment, so shh… just take it!” Rolling her eyes playfully, she wouldn’t state out loud that she took his words by heart. But was he wrong? Probably not. After all, ironically the woman that didn’t want to be a mom, decided to educate and be there for children in a different way. “Uh– I’m not. But, I could help you find someone that you trust and would do a great job at taking care of it while you’re teaching those cute and very adorable children.” Her laughter resonated. “Oh, no, no! He would hate you for even considering me for such a position. Day one he’d already regret it! If I’m using these hands for anything work related, they might be DIY stuff for those kids.”

Growing up, Forrest had wrongly believed the only person to out-do him in their stubbornness was his father. A guffaw meets her statement and rolled eyes, too entertained to try and press her any further on the matter.  “ Remind me to check in with you first if I ever forget what a word means, ”  chuckling warmly before allowing the conversation to switch thankfully to being focused on her. It was only so much attention — no matter how good of friends they may be — that Forrest could take before his discomfort with it all would’ve shined through.  “ I’m not so sure you’re right you know... besides, he has been talking about sprucing up our annual ice rink, so it’s a bit more festive for all the holidays this time of year. Have any ideas? ”  While he and his father had created a community ice rink for Hope in their farm’s property for years, with his father’s recent health scare that he was only just recovering from, both of the Everly men were looking for anything to make this year a bit brighter and cheerier.

[phvntasms]

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒆 & 𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒚.

— location: anywhere within the community — verse: post-apocalyptic — availability: open 

“I hardly ask for help, you might know that,” at least, anyone who talked to Charlie or, heard about them, would know that trait very well. In fact, it was one of the few things that was really clear about the other person ever since joining the community and being able to survive in the midst of the chaos that the world had gone through. “You help me build these walls and I can help you with something else. Hunting, fishing, trading, you name it and I’ll see what I can do. I found a nice necklace, if you’re into having a new piece of jewelry. Either way… Do you know how to use a hammer?”

" There’s no need to bribe. Just tell me where you need me. ”  A quick roll of their eyes is followed by another inspection of Charlie’s plan in front of them. If there had been one thing Riley had wished for other’s to learn in the end of the world, it was that there shouldn’t have to be deals or personal gain for other’s to assist each other. Making a mental note to go pester Nicolas about formalizing mutual aid inspired processes and policies for Hope, he leaves his full attention for Charlie.  “ Do I really look like the type to care about my personal aesthetic at the end of the world? ”  Truth be told: They were, and they hated it, knowing just how frivolous it was at a time like this. Yet, in a world that had little to offer in the form of creative expression, pairing together clothing he looked good in gave him and odd sense of comfort.  “ First things first: let’s focus on teaching you how to just hold a hammer, and then you can tell me what this fancy lil necklace looks like. ” 

[phvntasms]

𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏: dinner time.  𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆: wherever the cheffing and co-cheffing/food critiquing takes place.  𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆: main.  𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒔: closed for @rclics​, flora foley.

" I think I cracked it! ”  The exclamation comes suddenly from in between bites of the plate in front of them.  “ Oh yeah... no, this is totally it. I get what it is about your cooking that’s a little off, and I promise... it’s a good thing. Kinda. ”   Nibbling a bit longer on the piece still left on their fork, Riley gives her a single nod before setting the fork down and folding their hands in front of them on the table. It was time to work their magic. They couldn’t let her down so much that they hurt her feelings. That alone would likely mean no free food and no more fun messing around with their favorite diner chef.  “ The reason I don’t know your food? I’m pretty sure it’s because I can taste the desperation of you wanting me to like it you know? ”  Maybe a little blunt, but Riley doesn’t waste any time before quickly moving into their ideas to help soften the blow.  “ You know what we need you to do? I propose we do a night where we cook your favorite thing to cook for yourself. Like not some fancy-shmancy dish you’d see written up in your New York Times Cooking subscription or something Claire Saffitz co-created.... just boring, weekday night food that you can’t help but love. ”

[phvntasms]

𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏: late morning / early afternoon on the weekend.  𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆: riley’s place.  𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆: main.  𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒔: closed for @rclics​​, romir dhar.

When an idea came to them for Romir’s newest addition to his ghost tour, Riley’s newest podcast topic, or — better yet — a combination of the two, they were texting Romir a brief message before getting to work preparing their makeshift storyboard for their newest plan.

[ delivered, december 9th, 8:03 am ]: if you’re not awake you better be soon. [ delivered, november 3rd, 8:03 am ]: i have the next big thing [ delivered, november 3rd, 8:03 am ]: my place whenever you wake up. i’ll have coffee and donuts of the vegan variety.

By the time Romir is at their door, Riley’s entire table has been successfully filled with print outs of articles, blogs, a social media accounts dedicated to the mysterious Mount Hayes.  “ Okay, before you say anything — ”  they begin, opening up the door for him and taking care to not spill their fourth cup of coffee now only half-way filled.  “ — I know this is probably a load of b.s., right? And I know. I know you are all about ghosts. But like, look at this, doesn’t hurt to investigate a super mysterious mountain right in our very large backyard that may or may not be home to aliens, right? ”