* BREAKABLE / HEAVEN !

i've come to terms with the fact that there will always be a ribbon of loneliness running through who i am

[piercity]

FELICITY PIERCE ( she/her ) is a CIS FEMALE, TWENTY EIGHT year old BALLET INSTRUCTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER for ROECLIFFE THEATER who has been living in Moorbrooke for ONE MONTH. They were born on JULY 12 and right now, they are currently residing in ELMSETT GREEN. It has been said that they look suspiciously like ELIZABETH LAIL and if they had to choose a song to describe themselves, they would choose CATH… by DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE.

trigger warning for eating disorders and suicide attempt.

FULL NAME: felicity renee pierce

NICKNAMES: cece

SEXUALITY & PRONOUNS: bisexual (unexplored), she/her

ROMANTIC STATUS: married, separated

BIRTHDAY: july 12, 1994 (28)

ZODIAC: cancer sun, capricorn moon, pisces rising

PETS: a doberman pinscher named Orion

HOMETOWN: chicago, illinois

CURRENT LOCATION: moorbrooke, maine

OCCUPATION: ballet instructor/choreographer

SIBLINGS: older brother (wc)

PARENTS: caroline pierce (living), dylan pierce (living)

PINTEREST: link here

felicity was never one to be described as particularly strong willed .   it  was  easy  to  just  tune  out ,    do  as  you’re  told ,   when  you  grow  up  in  a  house  like  that .   old  fashioned :   traditional   values .  felicity  and  her  mother  were  very  close  when  she  was  little ,    with  caroline  imparting  as  much  ‘ wifely  wisdom ’   as  possible  to  set  her  daughter  up  for  her  version  of  success .   despite  being  a  daddy’s  girl  as  a  small  child ,  once  felicity  turned  13  and  began  to  ‘ become  a  woman ’   suddenly  her  father  seemed  to  not  know  how  to  interact  with  her .   he   became  indifferent ,   and  she  let  him . it  hardly  felt  like  a  loss  when  she  had  her older brother  by  her  side .

felicity  loved  her  brother  with  all  her  heart .   small  for  her  age ,    frail  and  meek ,    she  was  an  easy  target  for  bored  bullies  at  school .   her  brother  didn’t  let  that  carry  on  for  very  long  ( or  at  all ,   for  that  matter ) .   she  felt  safe  &  cared  for  by  her  brother ,    which  made  it  hard  for  her  when  it  was  time  for  him  to  leave  home .

TW  EATING  DISORDER       Other  than  her  brother ,     the  one  constant  in  her  life  was  ballet .   Out  of  all  of  the  feminine  pastimes  her  parents  pressured  her  into ,   that  was  where  she  blossomed .   she  felt  at  home  in  the  studio ,   surrounded  by  girls  she  had  formed  a  deep ,   persisting  bond  with .    these  bonds ,    though  deep  and  true ,   can  grow  toxic .   enabling .   ballerinas  are  expected  to  be  waif  thin  &  graceful .    it’s  hard  to  maintain  that  without  help .   it  became  a  sickness ,    an  obsessive  thing ,    spreading  through  her  troupe  like  a  contagion .   a  sickness  that  you  can  never  truly  recover  from .    it  almost  killed  her  ----  but  it  didn’t .   imagine ,    after  all ,    what  that  would  have  done  to  her  dear  brother .

she  once  had  dreams  of  juilliard  or  the  paris  opera  ballet  school ,    but  unfortunately  that  was  deemed  too  independent  by  her  parents .    after  all ,    she  wasn’t  meant  to  have  a  career :    she  was  meant ,   like  her  mother ,    to  be  a  wife  and  have  a  family .    at  sixteen ,   her  parents  introduced  her  to  the  nineteen - year - old   son  of  a  friend :    a  wealthy  family ,   amazing  education ,    a  promising  future .    she  never  had  a  choice .    she  convinced  herself  to  love  him ,    smiled  in  all  the  photos  and  held  her  tongue  with  each  comment  that  grated  on  her  soul .

by  the  time  she  was  twenty  two ,    they  were  married .     she  turned  a  blind  eye  to  a  lot  of  things :    it’s  not  very  wifely  to  rock  the  boat .    no  one  wants  a  woman  who  starts  confrontation .   instead ,    she  focused  on  what  she  could  control .   her  home ,     as  her  husband  was  frequently  traveling  and  let  her  decorate  however  she  wanted  (  as  long  as  it  wasn’t  too  girly )   and  her  body .  the  ballet  studio  was  her  religion ,   and  though  she  wasn’t  allowed  to  work  she  was  able  to  volunteer  to teach  small  youth  classes  every  now  and  then .

TW  SUICIDE  ATTEMPT      the  house  of  cards  eventually  fell  apart .   she  could  no  longer  ignore  the  evidence :    the  dozens  of  women  her  husband  had  slept  with ,    the  neglect  for  their  relationship  and  her  as  a  whole .    she  hadn’t  known  the  extent  of  his  infidelity ,    and  it  broke  her .    she  couldn’t  understand  why  she  wasn’t  enough  despite  checking  all  the  boxes ,    sacrificing  every  inch  of  individuality  she  had  to  become  the  perfect  wife .     she  attempted  to  take  her  own  life ,    but  was  ultimately  unsuccessful .    when  her  mother  found  her ,    she  was  shortly  after  admitted  to  a  mental  hospital .    here  is  a  link  to  a  self  para  regarding  this  incident.

a  month  ago ,  she  was  discharged  from  the  mental  hospital .   her  husband  refused  to  grant  a  divorce  and  instead  rented  a  place  for  her  in  elmsett  green ,   where  she  could  be  near  her  brother  and  ‘ the  seaside  may  help  her  clear  her  mind ’ .    her  husband ,   of  course ,   stays  in  chicago  and  seems  to  have  little  to  no  interest  in  visiting  moorbrooke .

she  does  not  wear  her  wedding  ring ,   and  has  not  shared  her  struggles  with  anyone  but  her  brother .    she’s  struggling  deeply  with  her  identity  after  having  spent  so  long  erasing  it  in  favor  of  being  the  woman  her  parents  and  husband  expected  her  to  be .

[luthienne]

“…and you felt scared, sick, lethargic, worst of all, not wanting to cope.”

— Sylvia Plath, from The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

[unwrtnwishes]

for: @moorbrookestarters​ location: outside of  coastline comics

sebastian stood outside of the comic book shop, attempting to put some garland around the shop’s window. he hadn’t planned on decorating the place but he had gotten a couple of complaints about the lack of christmas’ spirit the shop held compared to the other places in town, so he caved into the suggestions. he had wanted to have some lights up by tonight but he severely underestimated how difficult it was putting lights up on a roof without some guidance, especially if you’ve never done it before, so he convinced himself that the garland would be just as festive. at least until he could find someone wouldn’t mind helping him with the lights. he was trying to adjust some garland to be centered with the window, letting some drop, but he was having troubles pinning it up because he was just a bit out of reach for the spot he had in mind. “hey,” he calls to a person passing by, “would you do me a favor? do you think you’re tall enough to reach that spot up there?”

[piercity]

        as  the  holidays  approach  and  more  &  more  decorations  adorn  moorbrooke ,     felicity  finds  it  rather  bittersweet .    it’s  a  difficult  milestone :    her  first  christmas  away  from  chicago ,    separated  from  her  husband ,   &   no  contact  with  her  parents .   at  least ,    she  thinks ,    she  has  her  brother  vinnie !    and  of  course  her  doberman  pinscher ,    who  is  happily  trotting  alongside  her  when  a  voice  calls  out .   ‘  me ?  ’     felicity’s  brows  furrow  for  a  moment  as  she  assesses  the  situation .     she  does  cut  a  waifish  figure  standing  at  5′10 ,    but  rarely  is  she  asked  to  utilize  her  height .    ‘  i’m  not  sure  i’ll  be  able  to  reach  it ,    but  i  can  certainly  try ....    though ,    it  may  be  a  good  idea  to  have  a  chair  or  ladder  of  some  sort  to  stand  on ?  ’

[piercity]

vinnie.

“i mean this is just how i am and if you can’t get around my schedule that’s just not my fault.” vince joked, offering felicity a smile that he hoped at least said they would drop the subject. they could remember the horrible reality that his sister wasn’t always okay. naturally they were always going to fret over her and she was definitely the kind of person who would push off her issues until it was kind of too late. “i’m not gonna spill! what do you think i am, a barbarian?” vince made a show of unfolding the napkin and placing it on their lap to further emphasize that they were indeed very clean. “you should… get another favorite though. perhaps a romance. a healthy, loving, respectful romcom kind of book.” vince said, a bit quiet. “you didn’t do anything for halloween, oh my _god_ you could’ve at least gotten a sheet from your bedroom and cut holes in it to make a ghost costume. at _least.”_ with the food in front of them, they started eating contently swayed from left to right in their seat on the couch. “i really should stop ordering food from outside and just come here instead, it’s superior.”

           she’s  forgotten  how  inconvenient  it  is  to  have  to  hide  her  illness :    it’s  been  a  long  time  since  someone’s  paid  as  close  attention  as  vinnie  does .     felicity  is  sure  she’ll  feel  more  thankful  for  that  in  the  future ,     but  as  of  this  moment  it  serves  to  put  her  a  bit  on  edge .    she’s  simply .....     not  ready  to  broach  the  issue  at  the  moment .    or  ever ,     really .     considering  the  host  of  other  things  going  on  in  their  lives ,    her  eating  habits  should  be  pretty  low  on  the  priority  list ,   anyway .   ‘  of  course  it’s  not  your  fault ,  ’    she  agrees ,    playfully  overly - placating ,     ‘  why  would  it  be ?  ’     felicity  takes  her  seat  on  the  sofa ,    orion  immediately  jumping  up  beside  her .    she  absentmindedly  scratches  his  belly  as  she  turns  on  the  tv ,    clicking  to  get  to  the  movie .    ‘  i  read  my  fair  share  of  romance  novels .    and  i  do  enjoy  them !   but  it  can  feel  so .....   dull .     they  have  no  teeth .  ’    ( you  know  who’s  all  teeth ?   amy  dunne . )       anger  isn’t  an  emotion  felicity  is  overly  familiar  with  experiencing ,     the  taste  of  it  always  burning  like  acid  in  the  back  of  her  throat :     her  favorite  stories  are  exercises  in  making  it  more  palatable .     after  all ,    if  her  fire  hadn’t  been  smothered  into  sadness  at  such  an  early  age ,     maybe  things  would  be  different .    maybe  she  wouldn’t  have  had  to  martyr  herself ,    a  sacrifice  on  the  altar  of  feminine  expectations :     an  open  mother  wound  that  runs  back ,  ice  cold ,  for  generations .    at  least ,    she  thinks ,    that  will  die  with  her  someday .    ‘  no ,   silly  ----  why  would  i  want  to  ruin  a  perfectly  good  linen  like  that ?   ’     felicity  can’t  help  but  giggle  at  vinnie’s  mock  offense .   ‘  i  just  stayed  home  and  handed  out  sweets  to  the  trick  or  treaters ,   it  hardly  seemed  worth  the  effort  of  dressing  up ....  ’   maybe  next  year .     ‘  you  could  do  that  ----  or !     i  could  teach  you  to  cook  &   you  could  feed  yourself.   ’  she  offers  though  she’s  certain  she  knows  the  answer .

[goodbyess]

[piercity]

andrej.

Even though it was cold out, Andrej found that he quiet enjoyed just sitting outside, taking in the seaside air with his dog by his side. This town had always felt peaceful to him and he liked just existing out here. He had zoned out for a moment before he realised somebody was speaking to him and he looked up before grinning and realising it was Felicity and Orion. “Oh you’re just a smart boy and know I keep the good stuff in there, don’t you?” Andrej said with a laugh to the dog, and then stuck his hand in his bag, pulling out the little treat that Orion was evidently after and then gave it to him. “How have you been? Feels like it’s been a long time since we last saw each other.”

           oh ,   it’s  andrej !    felicity  adores  andrej ,    along  with  the  sense  of ....    well ,   chaos  that  follows  him  wherever  he  goes .   ‘  sorry  again ,  ’   she  apologizes ,   though  a  somewhat  relieved  giggle  follows .    orion  snarfs  down  the  treat  gleefully  before  prancing  around  andrej’s  pup ,    evidently  hoping  to  play .    ‘  it  does  feel  like  it’s  been  a  long  time ,  ’    she  agrees ,    small  frown  tugging  at  her  lips .   ‘  i’m  sorry  for  being  a  bit  absent .    it  just  feels  like  there’s  been  so  much  happening  lately ,    it’s  been  difficult  to  stay  afloat .  ----    i  suppose  that  sounds  a  bit  dramatic .    it  really  isn’t  so  bad ,   i’ve  been  okay !    how  are  things  with  you ,    how  have  you  been  doing ?  ’

[piercity]

mala.

           '  it’s  a  very  big  step !   you  should  be  proud  of  yourself .  ’    mala’s  next  line  of  inquiry  has  a  more  bashful  expression  softening  felicity’s  features :   somehow  the  thought  of  being  ‘ dragged ’   to  events  both  is  and  isn’t  appealing .    ‘  oh ,   it’s  been  just  fine !    it’s  sort  of  difficult  to  make  friends  as  an  adult ,    isn’t  it ?   i  hadn’t  anticipated  that .   but  i’ve  made  a  couple  of  good  friends  nonetheless .   everyone  in  town  seems  very  nice  so  far .    it’s  definitely  a  far  cry  from  chicago .  ’

‘it’s so hard! when my ex and i moved to new york for a bit, i was so lost. i even tried bumble bff and stuff. the new york life didn’t last for long, so i mean.. that’s whatever. but here it’s so easy for me because i grew up with most people.’ mala said with an understanding nod. ‘what was chicago like, anyway? tell me things. let’s strengthen our friendship before i start introducing you to other people. i don’t want to lose what we have!’

         ‘  i  didn’t  know  you’ve  lived  in  new  york !   i’ve  only  ever  visited ,    it’s  such  an  interesting  place .    i  imagine  it’d  be  very  daunting  having  to  build  a  life  for  yourself  out  there .   i’m  sorry  to  hear  it  didn’t  work  out .   ’      felicity  can  sympathize  with  that :    changing  your  life  direction  for  a  person  and  it  not  panning  out .    her  heart  warms  at  mala’s  last  statement ,    a  smile  breaking  across  her  face .   ‘  aw ,   mala !   you  won’t  lose  my  friendship ,   i  promise .   i’m  a  very  loyal  friend .   ----  but  i’ve  lived  in  chicago  my  whole  life ,    so  it’s  a  bit  funny  to  have  to  describe  it ....   it’s  a  big  city ,    but  in  my  experience  the  people  are  still  very  kind .   there’s  these  three  huge ,  beautiful  theaters ,   which  i’ve  always  loved  going  to .    the  winters  are  difficult ,   of  course ,   but  that’s  practically  a  given .    there’s  also  not  a  lot  of  nature  to  see  in  a  city  that  size ,    which  is  something  i’ve  found  i  really  appreciate  about  moorbrooke .    though ,   i  can’t  imagine  i’ll  do  any  kind  of  hiking  or  camping  anytime  soon .  ’

[piercity]

lyanna.

“i swear he didn’t!” lyanna reassured. “i love the name. it’s so unique. maybe it’s not in dog world but i definitely haven’t heard it before.” she nodded and hummed thoughtfully. “maybe a cat. i could do with one. i’m lonely. ugh but then i’ll be a lonely cat lady and i don’t know if i’m ready for that.” lyanna gasped softly at the story. she shook her head, frowning. “that’s so terrible. i hate how much cruelty there is in the world towards animals. they’re so innocent. i’m glad orion got out of there and has you now. what about his other siblings? did they get adopted as well?”

          a  small  wave  of  relief  washes  over  felicity  at  the  reassurance  ----   thank  goodness !    ‘  thank  you !   we’ve  yet  to  meet  another  orion ,    but  i’m  sure  there’s  a  good  amount  of  them  out  there .  ’    she  ruminates  on  lyanna’s  cat  lady  remark  for  a  moment  before  responding  thoughtfully ,    ‘  well ,    if  it  helps ,    i  think  a  lot  of  people  are  lonely .    but  it’s  less ....   oppressive  when  you  have  a  pet .  ’    that’s  one  of  the  main  reasons  she  wanted  to  adopt  a  dog  in  the  first  place ,    after  all ,    so  her  large  chicago  home  wouldn’t  feel  so  isolated .    ‘  besides ,   there’s  nothing  wrong  with  being  a  cat  lady .   or  a  dog  lady !    i  promise  it  doesn’t  seal  your  fate .  ’     not  that  felicity  is  an  expert  on  the  subject  of  romance ,    considering  her  current  situation .    ‘  his  siblings  did  get  adopted ,   yes !    it  took  a  long  time  to  find  good  homes  for  them ,    but  in  the  end  they  all  went  to  families  who  will  love  them  dearly .  ’     the  process  was  extensive ,     but  felicity  felt  confident  that  the  people  who  made  it  through  the  screening  were  looking  for  a  companion  in  the  pups  and  nothing  more  nefarious .    ‘  you  know ,    if  you’re  not  able  to  commit  to  a  pet  at  the  moment ,   you  could  always  volunteer  at  a  shelter .   you’ll  get  to  love  on  all  the  animals  without  the  responsibility  of  actually  owning  one .  ’

[piercity]

closed  starter  for  @thetcsteofink​​ .

           as  felicity  dismisses  the  rehearsal  and  a  parade  of  ballerinas  file  out  of  the  studio ,    she  finds  herself  beaming  as  she  searches  the  group  for  one  blonde  in  particular .    it  doesn’t  take  long  for  her  to  spot  alecto  on  the  floor ,    untying  her  pointe  shoes ,  and  quickly  joins  her  to  do  the  same .    ‘  you  did  wonderfully  today ,   allie !   you’re  a  beautiful  dancer .  ’    the  compliment  is  sincere ,    but  felicity’s  excitement  is  doubled  with  the  knowledge  that  she  has  another  talented  performer  she  can  cast .    slender  fingers  make  quick  work  of  the  ribbons  on  her  shoes ,   quickly  replacing  them  with  thick ,    cozy  socks  pulled  from  her  bag .   ‘  what  did  you  think  of  the  choreography ?  ’

[piercity]

alecto.

“thank you. i do my best.” alecto smiled to herself when she noticed felicity blushing. it was just so darn cute. felicity had always been cute, there was nothing else to it, really. “of course you did. you kind of always impress me. but especially with this.” she laughed. “i… don’t know how you have the patience to teach children but i can so see you teaching children. easily. do you like teaching adults more? if you don’t, you can feel free to lie and just say you like teaching just _me_ more than children.” she joked, grinning. “i’d love to come in for independent practice. i’ll just let you know when i plan to come. or if i can.” she finished packing her bag and got to her feet. “what’re you doing after this?”

            ‘  ----  thank  you  for  saying  that .  ’     she  practically  glows  with  the  praise :    between  her  parents  &  her  husband ,    such  kind  words  have  been  few  and  far  between  for  the  past  several  years .    felicity  hardly  knows  what  to  do  with  herself  now  that  positive  attention  is  being  given ,    especially  from  someone  she’s  so  fond  of .    ‘  well ,   you’re  definitely  my  favorite  student ,  ’   she  agrees ,    mirroring  allie’s  smile .   ‘  both  have  their  pros  and  cons .   i  think  i  favor  teaching  adults ,   though .    children  are  sweet ,    but  most  of  them  aren’t  exactly  the  most  dedicated  students .  and ,   you  know ,   they’re  children ,    so  they’re  not  able  to  do  more  complicated  choreography .....  ’     that’s  a  kind  way  of  saying  it’s  boring !   when  allie  stands ,   felicity  does  as  well  ----  a  little  too  fast .    lightheaded ,    she  teeters  slightly ,   spindly  fingers  wrapping  around  the  barre  to  steady  herself .   it’s  gone  in  a  couple  of  moments ,   anyway ,    and  felicity  won’t  acknowledge  it .   ‘  oh ,   i  don’t  have  any  plans ,   i  was  just  going  to  head  back  to  my  apartment .   did  you  ----   uhm ,    would  you  like  to  come  over ?  ’   

[piercity]

moss.

moss is nose deep in her phone, dark brows scrunched together in concentration and confusion at the article before her - people were weird - that she doesn’t even notice the canine beside her, taking a very sudden, and very reasonable, interest in her backpack. when she hears the voice of it’s owner she looks up and then down, her phone scattering onto the table as she dives down and tries to pry the bag from the animal’s curious nose. she has half a mind to be mad but it’s a dog, what is she supposed to do? at least it wasn’t a cop. “nah, don’t…” she sighs, zipping the bag after making sure the dog hadn’t gotten into the goods. “it’s all good. my fault.” she shrugs, shaking her head. “helps that he’s cute.” she nods.

          ‘  i’m  so  sorry .  ’    felicity’s  cheeks  stain  pink  with  her  embarrassment ,    despite  the  other  woman’s  reassurances .    ‘  he  didn’t  damage  anything ,    did  he ?  ’     the  dobie  seems  very  pleased  with  himself ,    stumpy  tail  wagging  furiously .    she’s  right :    it’s  hard  to  stay  upset  at  that  earnest  face !    ‘  thank  you ,  ’    she  murmurs ,    frowning  down  at  him .   ‘  he  knows  better ,    though .   ----   uhm ,    his  name  is  orion .   he’s  really  a  sweetheart  when  he’s  not  invading  stranger’s  personal  space .   you’re  welcome  to  pet  him  if  you’d  like !    although ,   i  wouldn’t  blame  you  if  you  would  rather  not .  ’   his  big  brown  eyes  stare  up  at  the  other  woman ,     head  tilted  expectantly .   

[shredmytapestry]

text message // felicity & teddy

teddy: IT’S ME HI teddy: i’m not the problem (james is) but it’s me  teddy: [ attached picture depicting teddy in front of the eiffel tower holding a baguette and wearing a beret ]  teddy: locals hate me. i’m JUST like emily in paris teddy: just wanted to tell you that i’m really sorry for being a jerk and disappearing on you. i’m in paris!! i’m in a course learning parisian baking. it’s what i’ve wanted to do for so long and james (unknowingly) held me back. not to talk shit about them, they didn’t know. it was my own problem. anyway yeah, that’s where i am. i miss you a ton.  teddy: i’ll be back early december! do you want anything from here? i already have your christmas present AND birthday present picked out!!!!

@piercity

[piercity]

felicity: omg!!! i was wondering where you went. i’m glad you’re safe and well, i was worried about you! i’m happy to hear you’re taking time for yourself. that’s very important. felicity: france suits you!!! :) i love the beret felicity:  [ attached picture depicting orion looking like an airpod ] felicity:  orion and i miss you too! you don’t have to be sorry. things happen! i’m really sorry things turned sour with james, i know how much you love them. but you’ve opened a new door for yourself, so take pride in that! <3 felicity:  you’ll have to teach me everything you learn when you return!! i’m so envious. i’ve always dreamed of paris. see a ballet performance for me, if you can. <3 felicity: teddy!!!! my birthday isn’t until the summer! that’s so sweet of you. i don’t want anything except for you to have a marvelous time and come home safely! 

[fxlthyangxl-deactivated20240122]

[piercity]

ollie.

ollie had been in moorbrooke for a month and done nothing but thrown himself into work. he still hadn’t even had time to have a proper conversation with vince yet. honestly, he was avoiding anything that involved him having to discuss his horrible life choices. he didn’t want to deal with shit like how disappointed his sister would’ve been to know how he’d turned out. he’d hurt ivy, actually he was still hurting her and he couldn’t seem to stop. the love was there, but was this fucked up need to destroy everything good in his life. nights when james wasn’t working were far too quiet and yet again ollie was left with his thoughts and he hated them. thankfully the ride was short, and they were at the scene of the fire. 

upon arriving there wasn’t actually any flames. the group of them entered the house and dealt with the burnt batch of cookies. there was a sense of familiarity in this place, but ollie had never been here before. he hadn’t even had a chance to look at the woman and dog standing outside before they went in. the debacle was over in ten minutes, which was comical and ollie agreed to be the person to break the news to the woman. ‘so the cause of the fire was– cece? orion? oh my god.’ oliver realised quickly and stared at the other with his mouth agape. ‘what the fu– um, one moment.’ he held up a finger before running back to his coworkers to say he was staying to write the report and he’d have it submitted by tomorrow. his shift was done in half an hour anyway, so there was no harm in him staying. they nodded and the firetruck was gone right away. this did mean that eventually he’d need to find a way back to the firestation to pick up his car, and that he was stuck in his fire fighting suit, but oh well. he made his way back to felicity and scooped her in his arms. ‘what the hell are you doing here, cece?! and burning cookies?! fuck, it’s so good to see you! and you too, orion!’ ollie knelt down to pet the dog once he put felicity down and just smiled warmly at them both. ‘i invited myself over, by the way. my shit’s done and i’m hoping you’ll repay me by baking another batch of cookies and hopefully not burning this one.’ 

           how  humiliating !     felicity  is  hardly  ever  so  careless ,     but  she’s  been  particularly  distracted  these  past  few  weeks .    something  as  simple  as  forgetting  to  set  a  timer  has  resulted  in  an  embarrassing  ordeal :    the  only  positive  is  that  no  one  was  hurt .    the  only  casualty  seems  to  be  the  cookies  intended  for  vinnie .   cece  stands  on  the  sidewalk ,    shivering  in  her  pajamas ,   robe ,   and  slippers  as  the  flashing  lights  of  the  fire  truck  arrived .    orion  didn’t  seemed  phased  by  the  excitement ,      more  than  anything  he  seemed  a  bit  annoyed  that  he  had  to  be  roused  from  his  warm  bed .     she’d  been  ready  with  an  apology  when  one  of  the  firemen  came  over  to  give  her  the  details ,     and  instead  finds  herself  face - to - face  with  a  ghost  from  her  past .

           she  hardly  has  time  to  get  a  word  out  before  ollie  is  gone  once  again ,    &  felicity  finds  herself  reeling .    what  was  he  doing  here ?   what  cruel ,    invisible  string  of  fate  led  him  to  moorbrooke ?    felicity’s  heart  feels  like  it’s  about  to  beat  right  out  of  her  chest ,    cheeks  warming  with  the  recollection  of  the  last  time  they  saw  each  other .   years  had  passed ,    but  the  rush  of  messy ,   complicated  emotions  return  immediately  ----   almost  like  they  never  left .    by  the  time  ollie  comes  back ,    she’s  somewhat  regained  her  composure .   he  sweeps  her  up  into  his  arms  and  felicity  hardly  even  remembers  to  feel  self  conscious ,    instead  giggling  at  the  enthusiastic  greeting .    ‘  oliver  coulson ,    you  are  a  sight  for  sore  eyes ,  ’    she  laughs ,    freezing  hands  lingering  on  his  shoulders  for  a  moment  too  long  after  her  feet  find  the  ground .   ‘  i  could  ask  you  the  same  question !   i  never  expected  ----  ’     to  see  you  again ,    she  nearly  says .   he  was  her  favorite ,    most  painful  almost ,    after  all .   when  things  hit  a  fever  pitch  all  those  years  ago  and  they  walked  away  from  each  other ,    there  was  a  sense  of  finality  to  it .   but  things  change ......    and  they  change  very  quickly .    ‘  uhm ,  i  ----  i  actually  live  here  now .   in  moorbrooke .   alone .  ’     how  do  you  say  i’ve  left  my  husband  without  shame  coloring  your  words ?    how  do  you  navigate  the  questions  that  will  surely  follow ?    dread  mixes  in  with  the  pure  excitement  she  feels .    ‘  of  course !   let’s  go  inside ,   then ,   shall  we ?   it’s  cold  out  here .  ’   she  gestures  for  him  to  follow  back  into  the  inviting  warmth  of  her  apartment ,    orion  eagerly  bounding  back  to  his  favorite  bed  that  has  been  strategically  placed  by  a  heating  vent .    ‘  are  you  hungry  at  all ,    have  you  eaten  dinner ?    i  can  make  you  a  meal  if  you’d  like .   or  just  the  cookies .  ’    she  needs  something  to  put  this  nervous  energy  into ,   anyway ,   or  she  might  just  burst .

[piercity]

vinnie.

“ceceeee,” he said warmly and beamed at her. “a late lunch?” his smile faded and he rolled his eyes rather exaggeratedly. “that is so… lame.” he said, pouting. “you know how awkward it is to eat and then the other person isn’t eating? and then you’re just staring at me while i eat. it’s so mean.” despite his joking demeanor, this wasn’t the first time felicity had told him that she’d had a ‘late lunch’. his sister had only gotten here recently, but in that time, he couldn’t remember once seeing her eat. if they ever had plans and food was involved, felicity always seemed to have some sort of excuse. “well, then, can i eat… like on the couch at least? i’ll be careful! see? coffee table. i won’t make a mess. but this way we can watch tv at the same time. and then you won’t stare at me while i eat! it’s kind of a win-win. and yes, yes, we can watch gone girl. your favorite movie. or favorite book? you really should’ve gone as cool girl amy for halloween.”

        ‘  vinniiiiiiee ,  ’    she  drawls  back  affectionately ,    though  her  expression  becomes  a  little  more  guarded  at  his  prodding .    ‘  you  know ,    if  i’d  been  given  more  than  an  hour’s  notice ,    i  would  have  been  able  to  plan  properly .  ’   her  tone  is  certainly  more  defensive  than  she  would  have  liked ,    but  that’s  neither  here  nor  there .     she’s  not  really  in  a  place  to  deal  with  an  inquisition  at  the  moment .    there’s  very  few  things  in  this  life  that  felicity  truly  has  control  over ,    and  she  clings  to  those  things  desperately .   besides ,    it’s  not  like  she’s  really  sick .    not  like  when  she  was  a  teenager .    she’s  not  emaciated ,   she’s  perfectly  fine .    she  knows  what  she’s  doing ,  okay ?   just  drop  it !   ‘  of  course  you  can  eat  in  the  living  room .    just  please  be  careful  not  to  spill .  ’    the  request  is  followed  by  a  quiet  wince :    recently  she’s  found  herself  hyper - aware  of  the  instances  where  she  opens  her  mouth  &  their  mother’s  words  come  out .    felicity  moves  back  to  the  table ,    transferring  vinnie’s  place  setting  to  a  tray  before  bringing  it  to  the  living  room .    as  she  does  this ,    she  muses  aloud .  ‘  both ,   i  think .    though  it’s  a  very  tough  competition .    ----  that’s  actually  an  amazing  idea .  i  didn’t  really  do  anything  for  halloween  this  year ....   but  there’s  always  next  year .  ’

[oliviairodrigo]

CAMILA MENDES as DREA TORRES and MAYA HAWKE as ELEANOR LEVETAN DO REVENGE (2022), dir. Jennifer Kaytin Robinson  

[piercity]

@thetcsteofink

[piercity]

crawford.

It had been a long shift, one that could only have been made better with a tall cup of coffee. A glass of bourbon would have stung right too but Crawford had a short list of things to get done first so his bed would have to wait; this stop in at Delia’s was the best bit of rest he’d get in awhile. And it was the tired that had caused him not to notice the dog’s intrusive sniffing, Crawford not rattled from his stare down with his own coffee until he heard the woman beside him speak. “Don’t worry about that,” he responded slowly, shaking his head before rubbing his eye and letting a yawn slip. He picked up the bag and set it on the table across from him, a bit better at being out of reach now, and he gestured at it. “I got two whole bags of leftovers in there. Can’t really blame him. Hell,” Crawford leaned back in his chair and looked towards the Doberman, “if he wants a fry or something I can share.”

          she’s  been  sipping  her  tea  on  the  delia’s  patio ,    trying  to  ease  her  persistent  anxiety  with  a  cigarette  before  returning  to  her  eerie ,  empty  apartment  in  elmsett  green .    felicity  is  used  to  a  quiet  home  at  this  point  ----  even  when  she  shared  a  home  with  her  husband ,    he  was  hardly  ever  there  ----  but  with  the  recent  disappearance  of  the  mayor  she’s  been  far  more  aware  of  the  silence .   felicity  is  relieved  that  crawford  doesn’t  seem  particularly  annoyed  by  orion’s  antics ,    though  she  still  finds  herself  feeling  somewhat  embarrassed .     orion ,    instinctually  wary  with  unfamiliar  people   but  not  difficult  to  charm  with  treats  &  attention ,     cocks  his  head  at  the  man  with  interest .   ‘  oh ,  i  wouldn’t  want  to  impose !   but  if  you’re  sure ,   i’m  certain  he’d  love  for  you  to  share .     you  can  ask  him  to  do  a  trick  before  you  give  it  to  him ,    if  you’d  like !     he’s  smart ,    he  knows  a  lot  of  commands .  ’  

[piercity]

lyanna.

lyanna peered up at the sound of the woman’s voice and glanced down to see her doberman sniffing in her bag. she laughed and shook her head. “don’t worry! it’s really okay. oh i just hope he didn’t eat anything he shouldn’t have. like a lipstick or something? i’d feel awful.” she took her bag and quickly inspected it to make sure nothing was missing. “i don’t think he ate anything so it’s all good.” lyanna faced the blonde properly and grinned, soon glancing at the sweet dog. “what a sweetheart. you said his name is orion? i wish i could have pets. well, i think i could but… i don’t know if i’d be able to give the proper attention to one, especially a dog that needs exercise and stuff. how old?”

       with  a  soft  whistle ,    orion  returns  to  his  mom ,    placing  his  head  in  her  lap .    felicity  scratches  his  head  as  if  on  autopilot :     the  motion  is  practically  reflexive  by  now .     ‘  oh ,    gosh ,    if  he  destroyed  anything  please  let  me  know !   i’d  be  happy  to  replace  it .  ’    he’s  usually  not  so  naughty ,    but  a  mischievous  moment  is  only  natural .    his  cropped  ears  twitch  &  he  raises  his  head  when  the  other  woman  says  his  name ,    and  his  interest  is  piqued  once  again .    ‘  yes ,   his  name  is  orion !   like  the  warrior  constellation .   ----    as  much  of  a  shame  as  that  is ,    it’s  refreshing  to  hear  someone  who’s  realistic  about  their  expectations  with  a  pet ....   especially  with  working  or  protection  breeds !   maybe  a  cat  would  be  a  good  fit  for  you ,   though ?   they’re  much  more  independent  than  dogs ,    but  still  great  companions !  ’   not  that  felicity  has  much  experience  with  cats ,    but  she’s  heard  lovely  things !    ‘  orion  is  three  years  old .   i’ve  had  him  since  he  was  a  puppy .    i  was  volunteering  at  a  shelter  when  he  was  brought  in  with  all  his  brothers  and  sisters  ----  it  turns  out  they  were  rescued  from  a  puppy  mill .    we’ve  been  practically  inseparable  ever  since .  ’