* SMILE / FLOWER !

whatever happens, just like always, our smile flowers will bloom. whenever, wherever, even if we’re not together, just like always, our smile flowers bloom; i’ll be the spring to your smile.

[sxtmefree]

Nari let out a soft chuckle as she pondered the plan. "Sounds like a solid plan. It's like one big sleepover for a few weeks," she said with a smile. The idea of staying with Nik for a while sounds fantastic, like a much needed escape and a good distraction from everything happening. "I'm just hoping that all of this ends soon… I don't like feeling like I'm being watched. Nothing weird has happened around you has it?"

[smileflowcrs-a]

seeing nari's smile was all he needed, the air to lungs that had forgotten how to breathe as some of the tension in his shoulders melted away. for a moment, some of the crushing heaviness lifted, if only slightly. that would do for now. one step after the other. “ ya, after twelve years of big sleepovers, i'm not opposed to anything. it's exciting, actually! its been so weird, being here by myself. i can't lie, i reeeally hate it, ” but now wasn't exactly the time to touch too deeply on the hollow ache of loneliness that came from being away from his members, no, his family—the people who tenderly gathered all of his broken pieces, fitting them together into something whole. a smile, as if on cue, appeared. “ i'll ask him about it later, then, ” though the answer was already known. “ um... i don't think so? i mean, the vibes fucking suck, but no, no envelopes full of teeth, or whatever these freaks like getting up to, ” he shook his head. “ which, like, find other hobbies. oh my god. ”

[s3cretkept-deactivated20250311]

TIME: October 31st, 5:15pm.

LOCATION: near the start of the s'mores bonfire.

CURRENTLY ACCEPTING REPLIES: 0/5.

@anchoragestarters .

With the tassels of the black hat, covering the purple of his mask, he looked to be more like a cabaret performer than he did Darkwing, but listen, he didn't say he was going towards accuracy, he wanted the combination of flamboyance and silent treads on the soles of his boots. He's on the lookout. He's not going to continue to be a fucking failure. Of course, this rattled around in his head where no one else can see, and he grinned, phantom-opera-lookalike in a different hue, as he forewent the temptation of another lolly for the sake of finishing off the drink he'd obtained at the Witch's Brew. "You just walk in? Ooh, you're in for it." He loved to keep things just as vague as they could be. Whatever you choose to read into it, that was yours to handle! Shin cleared his throat, nearly choking on the sudden pungent cherry flavour wafting from the syrup pooling at the bottom of the cup. "I can pretend like I just walked in too, and we can get another free zombie's bite, all on me."

[smileflowcrs-a]

the hum of social gatherings was something that he had always flourished in, drifting effortlessly from one conversation to the next and leaving trails of laughter in his wake. in any crowd, he was a familiar, warm presence; the kind of person you knew you would find at the very heart of the celebration ( center of attention, much? ). a joy unmistakably blossomed in the company of others, his spirit much like a flower opening to sunlight—which had, unfortunately, withered under grey skies in recent months. that spark was dimmer, now, having been chipped away at by unseen forces, but by god, did he try. all you ever do is try, don't you? do you even know what for, anymore? and so, here he was, at yet another event, as if there was something here for him; a way to reclaim what he felt slipping away. bright smiles, endless mingling—hell, putting on a show was, quite literally, his job. a sugary treat that he'd snatched from one of the tables was popped into his mouth as he moved about, the hum of approval buried underneath the revel, but what wasn't was the flamboyance of the costume that had caught his eye. always one to be pulled in by fancy looking things, this one. “ i hope so! i would've came all this way for nothing— ya, ” with a shake of his head, he clicked his tongue, a grin quick to follow. the other's proposition wasn't one he would turn down. “ zombie's bite? sounds delicious, ” his gaze dropped to the cup in his hand. “ i don't know what this one is, something... vampire? i think he said vampire. whatever it is, it's good, ” half-empty, and he still had his free drink, what fun!

[ftdino]

DK: _world (eye contact ver.)

[hoshingi]

DK Kidult

[sxtmefree]

She understands that he's just worried about her safety, he has always been like this. However, it seems to be more intense now since her brother told him to take care of her while he was gone. It would probably be best to stay unemployed for the time being. To not have to worry about that on top of everything. "Could I stay here with you? You're the only one I fully trust here.." she sighs looking to her best friend.

[smileflowcrs-a]

there was only so much he could do, and the weight of that helplessness settled over him like an old, ever-familiar burden. as events in anchorage continued to unravel, the days inching closer to that grim anniversary, his worry only deepened. what he wanted, truly, was to take her hand and press a plane ticket into her palm, but it wasn't that simple. it was never that simple. “ of course. of course you can, ” he nodded, words softer than intended, as if they might break under their own weight; the pit of anxiety lodged deep in his chest gnawing at him. “ you think bash would get mad if i stole loki for a bit? big scary dog privilege, or whatever, ” even if he couldn't muster a smile himself, some levity was summoned; second nature. it was a skill he had honed as far back as he can remember, after all—sliding into humour as a shield, making things seem lighter than they were. “ actually, he should just stay here too. fuck it, double big scary dog privilege. ”

[sxtmefree]

Nari looked over at Nik, a hint of surprise in her expression as she processed his words. "So, what are you suggesting, Nik? Should I just shut myself away in my apartment?" she inquired, crossing her arms. "I've barely left the place in days. Yes, I'm scared, but hiding me away won't solve anything. What if you never find them? the police aren't doing anything. they didn't even seem to care."

[smileflowcrs-a]

heavy-lidded eyes fell shut, head shaking as a hand ran over his face. in truth, he didn't know what he was suggesting. let it be said that despite his efforts to seem put together and have all the answers, nikolai really wasn’t, and didn’t. what did he know at all? “ no, i’m not suggesting that, ” his voice was soft, a sigh following a brief pause. “ i think you should stay with someone, so you won’t have to be alone. i can help you look for a new job, or you can stay unemployed until all of this is over if you're more comfortable doing that — whatever you want. the police are always useless, but i'm not gonna let it go, ” he continued, “ i just... don't want anything to happen to you. ”

[salemhqs]

𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙺 𝚂𝚃𝚁𝙸𝙺𝙴𝚂 …

 happy 28th birthday dearest NIKOLAI XIANG  ,

come drop your presents & send wishes if you may                             find out more about character birthdays here !

[blessyouhawkeye]

he's got a sadness about him you only see in catholic stained glass windows

[smileflowcrs-a]

@sxtmefree ; nikolai's mansion, not long after june 18th

anchorage was seeming more and more like a mistake. what the fuck was wrong with this town? six nights out of seven, the vocalist either tossed and turned until the birds began to chirp at daybreak, or woke up in a cold sweat, a trembling hand pressed against his chest, the weak organ within his ribcage ruthless with its banging and beating. it wasn't so much himself that he was worried about — no, he couldn't give less of a shit about himself, it was everyone else. how could he have told korain that he'd keep his little sister safe during his enlistment, when that promise had already been broken? a stranger was targeting her, under his own fucking nose, in his shop, for christ's sake. nikolai was actively coming apart, and it showed. “ i don't want you coming in to the creamery anymore, ” he spoke quietly, brows furrowed, his gaze unfocused and locked on the floor. i never should have brought you here. “ until i find out who this fucking freak is, i don't want you anywhere near it. ”

[pupptmcster]

       as an introvert to the end, addy wouldn’t have thrown an impromptu bowling party for himself. that might seem a little selfish, wouldn’t it? well, it was too late now! it was PARTY TIME and they knew how to have a good time ... or it should be hoped, at least. they were an awkward fellow so an effort should obviously be put out on his end. fingers crossed they don’t do anything out of the ordinary, or it’ll come with a dash of embarrassment later. god forbid it happens! thankfully, nikolai was around for the event. addison had noticed their effort in making sure that everyone felt comfortable; he was grateful for that. sure, they had only met tonight, quite possibly? his memory betrayed him sometimes, but this kid knew they would get along lovingly. the other almost reminded them of their brother - his older sibling whom he adores. “so, like, this whole shebang’s totally RANDOM so why don’t we go with ocean world - they have way too many, and i’ll never be able to decide. but like you said, the games are short, but i’m curious if i'll get to see if my buddy nemo shows up in this supposed world.” they might not be able to decide, but they sure don’t know when to stop talking. whatever was decided, he would be cool with it, obviously.

[smileflowcrs-a]

if you had asked nikolai the previous evening what his plans for the next day were, he wouldn't have said joining an impromptu game of bowling with random patrons, but there were no problems to be had with it! what was a little spontaneity, here and there ( as if he wasn't the very definition of it )? it was how he ended up in this snowy little town, after all, and he'd formed many meaningful relationships from it! that was a win, in his books. happy to be in good company, a good friend in the making, for sure, he knew that a good time was about to be had – even if it ended up being only the two of them for the duration of the evening. “ ocean world? oh, we're swimming, ” he spoke in agreement, and with a tap of the screen, the screens above the lane changed to the deep blue theme. “ ya, if nemo's in here, the best game of bowling is about to be had, ” a grin danced across his lips as the next step was followed with the insert of his name, or at least some rendition of it; NIKIOOIO was officially on the roster! stepping aside to let them register, arms habitually crossing once more, he continued, “ you can't have an ocean theme without a nemo cameo, right? you just can't! i need to see nemo and dory on those screens. ooh, you think simba is in the savanna one? he's gotta be. ”

[aridante]

the black saint & the sinner lady & the dead & the truth, morgan parker // the truth the dead know, anne sexton.

[digitalmp3]

Visit Original Link

[pupptmcster]

❝    @anchoragestarters     —     STARTER  DELIVERY     ;     OPEN ! LOCATION:  LAST  PIN  STANDING    ↯    DATE:  FRIDAY,  JANUARY  12 CAP: 0/5  ( will be updated with every reply & names will be added here )

       a visit to the bowling alley after a FUN, EVENTFUL drag show was called for, especially during discount game night! well, maybe not the day of, but certainly the next day. they were likely mixing up the place’s offers, or whatever, but they wanted to have a good time. he invited a few people he knew and didn’t oppose the idea of having random patrons of the bowling alley join in the fun. so addison wasn’t entirely there, but he was present, and that was all that mattered at this point in the evening. “i dunno if anyone else is gonna show up; if you’d like, we can go ahead and start a game of our own, you know. just you and me. what do you say?” if their company wanted to, they could order food for themselves and their party; it was all just assumptions at this time. anything to make the air feel less stuffy and awkward for addison and the other(s). it was rather challenging for them to make friends, let alone keep a conversation going, but they were open-minded with just about anything and anyone, and the other’s presence was, of course, appreciated nonetheless!

[smileflowcrs-a]

for an extroverted extrovert like himself, the idea of bowling with a party of random people sounded like fun. never one to turn down a social event, nikolai got along well with everyone, able to strike up new friendships with ease. bestowing geniality, he always ensured that others around him were comfortable, and did his utmost to help them not feel awkward, and instead, part of the conversation. even though he often led them, the topic was never about himself, and rather, the other individuals. arms crossed over his chest, his head turned, surveying the alley for the rest of the anticipated group. “ i'm down for that. games aren't super long, anyway, so if anyone else does show up, we're good – they can hop in on the next one, ” an enjoyable time would be had, nonetheless. giving the other a smile and beckoning them with a tilt of his head, he approached the bowler console, tapping the screen to navigate the menu. “ look at all of these different themes they got! what're you feeling, 80's party, disco party, ocean world, ya, they have so many. ”

[stargirldotcom]

and last night i blacked out in my car, and i woke up in my childhood bed. wishing i was someone else, feeling sorry for myself

[sxtmefree]

"hmm, I'm leaning more towards bbr. I think I just want chill vibes for tonight." nari replies with a nod. chill vibes might be what she wants but, knowing how nari and nik are, those chill vibes won't last long. something weird will end up happening with one of them by the end of the night. "do you know if they have any specials going on?"

[smileflowcrs-a]

“ boom boom room it is, then, ” he announced with a clap of his hands, never one to turn down a night out. not having to worry about schedules was truly a blessing – waking up at the crack of dawn to do promotions or shoots wouldn't be necessary for quite some time yet. “ y'know, i should, since i'm literally working there, but i don't. i don't even know what day it is, ” he admitted with a laugh; not that she wasn't aware of the latter, having been his friend for as long as she had. “ i'm a great employee, aren't i? i'm sure the bosses love me and don't regret meeting me at all. surely not. ”

[riben-deactivated20230922]

Fucking. Wow im gonna die

[thvnderr]

Status: OPEN ( @anchoragestarters ) Location: The Boom Boom Room — days after Halloween

Shitty place for just a drink and maybe some peace. The blaring music and overpriced drinks would usually be enough to drive the handyman away; but the recent event plus an avoidance of reality plus a hard day at work plus holidays coming... had Dae-Hyun settling for just any type of alcohol and distraction he could get his hands on at this point.

"Honestly, what did we expect?" cynicism spat out at the sight of a forgotten newspaper on the counter with the news of his now former neighbor's passing. It hurt him, it really did. While probably not quite close, Matevos was regular conversation, his default vet for Tripod and his lover's best friend. "It's just matter of time for the rest of us at this point..." he mumbled before downing his tequila shot.

[smileflowcrs-a]

it wouldn't be far from the truth to say that he'd begun second-guessing himself; more precisely, his decision in taking residence here. if it weren't for the friendships he'd built, he'd, beyond the shadow of a doubt, be on a plane back to seoul. the sentiment of missing his family, both blood relatives and not, carried more weight than usual, and it wasn't anything a facetime call could abate. in hindsight, the injuries he sustained on the night of the party were of little importance, what with the devastating passing of matevos, a person that many held dear, as well as someone that he enjoyed conversations with whenever the other visited the cafe. all in all, things were not going good.

and so here he was, leaning over the bar he sat at, eyes glued to the glass of whiskey before him as he poked at the large ice ball in its center – his preferred method of dealing with the endless stream of bullshit that life threw out. at least he'd downed enough to not think twice about the stinging skin underneath his bandages as the papercuts reopened with what felt like every move. “ ya, you can say that again, ” he replied, just as bitter – lacking the energy to be anything but. “ i guess so, huh? ” a sip. back to zoning out. “ wonder what's gonna happen with the person of interest. ”