no grave can hold my body down

one day this pain will make sense to you

[oneandonlysosa]

She raised an eyebrow and folded her arms over her chest. “Is that so? Or are you just intimidated because I have a cool name now and you’re stuck with Hunter?” Why did they give each other fake names? She took a mental note to ask the cards. No doubt she would forget again. “What is your name?” She took a closer look at him as he approached her. He looked alright, not at all like somebody who had just come back from the dead. Not that she was afraid of them anyway; she never was afraid of anything. She giggled. “Are we friends now? Are we besties? I guess we are. Parkouring up the Campanile and going to a wedding with ghosts are pretty bonding activities.” They could be, she thought. There were enough things out there to surprise even those living in a supernatural circus.

[raf-x]

"Nothing wrong with Hunter,” Raf shrugged plainly. “I’ve gone by a lot of names in the past few decades, it’s nothing new.” He smiled, wondering if he should stretch out the mystery for a little longer, but finding no legitimate reason to do so. “It’s Rafik. Raf, most people call me. At least in the Cirque.” Raf laughed and shook his head. “Well not everyone’s willing to talk about country music with a guy for an hour and a half, true aficionados are hard to find. And well...a lot of the things about me were somewhat...off when we met, so how about let’s just chalk it up to one long electric kool-aid acid trip, and start over?”

[acadia-jacques-blog]

Shut up. [Laughs weakly, arms tightening around him as her head found a spot on his shoulder, not seeming bothered by their stark contrast in temperatures.] Yes, yes you can say that…[Hesitates and then sighs, voice catching slightly] I missed you too, Raf. Don’t leave us again. Please.

[raf-x]

[Holds her in silence for a while, before pulling away. He knew he shouldn’t have left, but it was hard to get the words across.] I feel like you’re all getting sick of the whole ‘punishing myself’ thing I’ve got going on. It’s just...hard when it’s almost all you’ve known, you know? 

But I’m gonna try.

[darkdamiaknight]

Dayum! Luke Mitchell looks fit for Season 3 of Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

[acadia-jacques-blog]

Was…I think. I don’t know. He took off after the wedding and is off ‘being taken care of’ in Only-God-Knows-Where. [Shakes her head, muscle in her jaw tensing with the words] Yeah, yeah I’d appreciate that…Could probably do with going back ten years and telling my happy ass to never touch a lighter, stay in school, and all of that jazz. [Looks down at her feet but was quick to raise her gaze at the apology, expression softening immensely] …If I keep burning bridges every time I get my toes stepped on, soon enough I’ll only have myself, and I’m not that great of a friend. [Did her best to manage a smile, coming forward suddenly and wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace] Just shut up, Raf. If I hear you say you’re sorry one more time I might just scream.

[raf-x]

You’re a great frie— [he was cut off by the complete surprise at her movement, even though his reflexes were quick and he’d seen it coming. He went stiff for a moment before hugging her back. Then laughed a little.] I’m sorry. Okay, I’ll stop. I swear. [Goes silent for a moment.] I missed you. Can I say that? I’m gonna say that.

[acadia-jacques-blog]

You say it like that and you make us sound like a couple. [Sighs and rubs at her eyes] I don’t know, both? Just back to where there weren’t issues with anything. [Laughs suddenly, weakly] Okay, when I didn’t have issues with everything.

[raf-x]

Definitely not. I mean, I know you’re seeing someone. Behmard told me...through gritted teeth. [Laughs just as awkwardly.] I don’t think it’s possible to turn back time. I’ve been trying for years now but if I get a breakthrough I’ll let you know. [Smiles but it’s quick to fade. Looks down, shuffles feet.] I’m sorry about everything, okay? I wrote you a letter and ran off, that’s not enough of an apology. I had a good few months of being a complete dick to you and everyone else in here, and I just have to own up to that. But I wanna put it behind me cause I missed this...and you...all of it.

[acadia-jacques-blog]

It would. [Spoke quickly, the words seeming to shock even her. An attempt at a smile visibly crumbled and she shook her head quickly when she gave up on the facade.] I just—I’m not the best company. You’re back, you’ve got catching up to do, and I don’t think I’m the one you need to be around. [Shifts a step back, eyes avoiding his] I’m clingy. I’m a bitch. Hell I could probably still fail a breathalyzer with how much I had last night. [Shakes her head again] Trust me, I’d give anything for everything to just go back to how it was months ago.

[raf-x]

[He listened to her, holding his breath, if he had any breath to hold. Her words surprised him completely.] You mean...how it was months ago, in general, or...between you and me?

[acadia-jacques-blog]

Only because I have food. I’m sure if I ran out or didn’t get up to feed them in time they’d get a new favorite person. [Shrugs and briefly chews on her lower lip, looking around them again] I have nothing to be busy with except shows, but I’m sure you’re working then. Otherwise…Nope, everything is pretty boring and uneventful for me. Don’t have the money to go and explore the town like I used to, and Behmard is off on his honeymoon so I’d be on my own.

[raf-x]

[Laughs at her words about the dogs, but quickly draws back.] Well...I’d offer my company if that sounded in any way appealing to you, which it probably doesn’t. [He didn’t mean it in a bad way, Raf was simply stating the true...sad facts. She wanted nothing to do with him, not now, not any time soon. Which he was fine with. Or at least, had to be fine with.]

[oneandonlysosa]

She lowered her head to look down at the ruins that were her shoes, a shy smile of mock embarassment playing at her lips. “What can I say, you met me at a point in my life when I thought Wanda sounded good.” Before her brain could stop it, her hand moved upwards to comb through her hair which was still breaking under her fingers like straw. It would be a wrong move, a stupidly wrong move if Sosa believed in those. “That’s my last name actually. My birth name is Denise but nobody calls me that.” The smile quickly became a mischievous grin that reached her eyes, eyes that were now looking back up to him. ”Why were you asking for me anyway? Was there a wedding we weren’t invited to again?” She didn’t even think to tell him she thought him dead or anything about blackened crystal balls and mute tarot cards, reminding herself that at least she had only asked once.

[raf-x]

“Well then I guess I gotta come clean too.” It was funny, almost too funny, the fact he’d given her a fake name and she’d done the same.  “I’m not exactly...Hunter,” Raf said with a shake of his head. What the hell had possessed him to do that? As good as his memory was, he couldn’t even recall. Maybe he didn’t want to. “Denise? That’s almost as bad as Wanda,” he teased. “I kid, I kid. And what,” he said, stepping closer so they didn’t have to shout from across the field to one another. “Can’t go asking after my friends? Something wrong with that?”

[oneandonlysosa]

For a heartbeat Sosa went still as he stood in front of her. She felt something being lifted from somewhere in her ribcage, something that was there ever since she grew curious and looked for him in the crystal ball only to see the abyss. “It was a prank, bunny.” The words left her lips right as her breath did, almost whispered, coloured by her smile. “Why, were you running around asking what happened to Wanda?”

[raf-x]

"A prank?” he wondered, mostly aloud. She looked odd, different to when he’d last seen her, and part of him wanted to ask what the hell was wrong. But he wouldn’t, of course. Manners. “I did at first, which seemed to have caused a lot of confusion with people. Until they put two and two together with what I was saying and we worked out that you mostly go by a different name, Sosa.” He still hadn’t told her his though, so maybe he’d have to come clean on that one.

[oneandonlysosa]

The time that seemed to be frozen since she frantically ran away in Brazil with wings coming out of her shoulder blades and bells under her tongue started ticking again in front of the gates. Her eyes were still hungry and hollow from fasting, her hair breaking as she ran her fingers through it, but her heart was beating fast for a different reason. Taking a last drag from her joint before throwing it on the ground and stepping on it with a sandal that was falling apart, she walked through the Cirque gates as wide-eyed and excited as she was ninety years ago. Only now everything was familiar. Spotting a face she knew she raised a waving hand, chapped lips mouthing a silent “come here”.

[raf-x]

Raf thought he’d seen everyone he had mentally said goodbye to all those months ago, with exception for one Cirque costumer of course, whom he’d only seen from a distance during the wedding. And yet, crossing the grounds to make his way to one of the tents he came face to face with another ghost. He smiled, a bit more genuine than most of the smiles that had been forced from him lately. “I thought they said you’d left.” 

[acadia-jacques-blog]

Yeah…Yeah he did the same when I took off, but that wasn’t…Like your situation. [Clears her throat and shakes her head] He did it for Behmard, too, back when he…[Trails off and shrugs] It’s going. I like having some company again, just not used to having to carry Spyro everywhere. He almost fell off the bed the other day, I forgot how high up it really is set. [Pauses, expression suddenly softening with the realization that she shouldn’t have been one to talk about loneliness.] I mean—If you want to take ‘em for a night or two I don’t think Behmard or Julian would mind. It’s…Not like they’re intruding on any plans or anything.

[raf-x]

They sound like they’re doing just fine with you. [Shrugs, scratches his head.] I was just glad to take them off your hands if you were busy or something.

[acadia-jacques-blog]

Yeah, that’s…Them. [Shifts awkwardly, unsure of what else to say about the safe topic] Normally I stop by the security tent, just….I’ve been busy lately. Y’know, watching the dogs and all that…

[raf-x]

I’m hardly ever in that tent, mostly outside when it’s shifts or back in my caravan. It was really nice of the Ringmaster to keep it for me as it was. Almost like he knew I would return. Funny, huh. [Attempts a weak smile.] Oh yeah, how’s that going? Need any help? I honestly don’t mind taking them over for a while. [Some company would be nice, he thought to himself. Funny, he’d spent so long in isolation but now that he was back amongst people he found himself needing more of their presence.]

[acadia-jacques-blog]

Yeah…That and I’m sure after the heat in Medina they’d want to be anywhere but there. [Shrugs and looks around them] …Gettin’ back into the hang of things yet?

[raf-x]

Yeah. Kind of ironic how they went from extreme heat right into extreme cold, but I guess that’s them...I’m...yeah, I had a long talk with the Ringmaster and all...actually working security now...probably why you haven’t seen me inside all that much... [It wasn’t much of a change from what he’d been doing the past two months, Raf thought. And it felt right protecting the people of the Cirque, undoing his position as someone who had endangered them from earlier. It didn’t make up for it, but it was a start.]

[acadia-jacques-blog]

[Slowly takes it and tucks the item in her pocket] Eli made Spyro a new collar, it must’ve fallen out. [Shrugs] I guess. [Shifts her weight from one foot to the other.] ….You hear where they went?

[raf-x]

Antarctica? Yeah, Julian wouldn’t shut up about it. I suppose when you’ve got someone who can double as a heater you don’t have to worry about getting cold. 

[acadia-jacques-blog]

Yeah, th– [Started to reach for it but stopped, hand still held in mid air] Hey. Thanks. [Swallows thickly] You enjoy the wedding?

[raf-x]

[Offers the thing anyway with a smile and an awkward laugh.] Uh. Yeah, of course. You?

[raf-x]

Oh, sorry, you dropped — [looks up and sees who it is.] — Hey.

[acadia-jacques-blog]

So no different than what you did to me, except they’re probably lucky enough to have a plethora of friends to pick from when one calls them…What was it…Right! “Another dumb cirque slut.”  [Tightened her hand on his when she repeated the insult to be sure he didn’t pull away, not stopping until they were a good bit on the dance floor just as one song ended and another began. She turned around and gently rested a hand on his shoulder while the other cupped his, her expression softening as her grip let up a moment later, giving him room to pull away.] No, I didn’t see you earlier. I’m not going to stare you down and set your brother off. [Sighs and releases his hand entirely, slowly dropping her arm to her side while the other remained on his shoulder.] But fine, Raf. If you want to go make it up to all those others…Fine. I’m not making you stay.

[raf-x]

[Hand goes limp in hers and Raf pulls away, not moving.] You’re telling me to put a smile on my face but doing everything you can to get the opposite reaction. I said I’m sorry, I regret every damn thing I said, did, or thought. More than you’ll ever know. If I could take it back, at whatever cost, believe me, I would’ve already done so. I deserve all of that and more, but I’d also like to get through today. So if we could somehow make it through the night, and then...