eclipseofargus:
Ever since he’d been living life as a shadow, the movie theatre became Connor’s favorite place. It was loaded with a variety of different foods, was quiet (for the most part) and dark. Connor loved the dark. Being amongst shadows like himself made him feel like he belonged. His current situation was made less intense here.
More often than not, he’d spend an entire day at the theatre, buying a ticket for one movie and then sneaking into the showings of others by using his powers–He’d let himself come into contact with light on purpose, vanishing in thin air, and sliding into another movie room just as others were leaving it. Disappearing under the light meant being without clothes in total darkness, so Connor had outfits cleverly hidden in every part of the building for that very purpose.
Connor vaguely remembered the movie he was watching now, distracting himself with a bag of popcorn. The images that flashed away on the screen had no meaning to him; apparently the movie was a huge success. Yeah, right. He saw a person out of the corner of his eye. Or what he believed was a person. He had a habit of speaking to shadows, whisking them out of their hiding spaces only for conversation. Either way, he spoke:
“They get married at the end. So sappy. A real letdown, if you ask me. I’ve seen this a thousand times. Scratch that. A thousand and one.”
She’d needed something happy, something to get her out of her head and out of her house. Everything was so chaotic. Her and Alaska had gotten into a fight. It was entirely stupid, too. It was the typical fight—Lucy would scold her for staying out all night and coming home drunk, then Alaska would lash out by bringing up thoughts of joining the Infamous. Sure, neither of them had chosen a side, but she knew that Alaska, however broken she may be, would never really dedicate to a side. She could barely dedicate to anything other than alcohol once the adrenaline rush was over. If it weren’t for Lucy’s stubbornness and general need to poke her nose in her sisters’ business, Lucy was sure they wouldn’t really talk at all.
But, no matter. The fight was over for now. Things would soon go back to normal, so Lucy pushed the thoughts out of her head and bought a ticket for the sappiest show title she could find. Poppy would probably love it. She’d have to tell her all about it over coffee. She took a mental note of that and plopped into her seat. Out of habit, she chose a seat near the back in case her sisters needed her. She never knew when an emergency was going to come up with them and although she knew it was bad form, she kept her phone on, but on silent. That way she could see it light up in her purse just in case.
Finally settled, she leaned back in her seat, crossed her legs and happily started to watch along. She could feel herself already getting lost in the world of it, escapism at its best when—‘They get married at the end. So sappy. A real letdown, if you ask me. I’ve seen this a thousand times. Scratch that. A thousand and one.’
She nearly jumped out of her seat at the voice, but then quickly grew annoyed that annoying would be talking in a movie theater and more than anything, ruining the movie.
“Ah come on,” she whispered sharply at the stranger. “There’s nothing wrong with the predictable romantic comedies. Those kinds of stories have been successful for centuries. And besides, if you’ve seen this story ‘a thousand and one’ times, then clearly part of you agrees.”
















