[He'll... recognize it eventually, right? This is the question Cordial has been asking himself for nearly 30 minutes, confidence slipping with each repetition. This shadowy little marten, which seemed to approach with a purpose and began to follow... it has an unusually clean look to it, he's come to notice. More and more, with each glance lingering a touch longer on the details than before. At first it payed the critter no mind as it joined him, thinking it perhaps a newer one of his own making that it let wander a bit too far directionless. But the longer he looks... the longer it can't quite remember...]
[It stops. And, turning towards the creature still following at a suspiciously far distance, takes a moment to think. Really think, still on alert from Di's recent strange encounter. Surely it's a coincidence, and yet.]
[It searches, turning deep, deep within. Sights and smells fade in and out of focus, cycling sensations like the rush of the air past fur as it runs full speed or the grass caressing his snout as a nose is pressed to the cool earth. Growing all the more frantic as his thoughts begin to grasp through the darkness past that, seeking, increasingly less certain to find. Again and again All of it calls for response from One in particular, and is met with NOTHING.]
[It's no good. He does not see himself through these eyes, which stare him down so sharply. There is no synergy when it steps forward and the odd beast steps back, away from it and denying his will. It doesn't carry even a whiff of his scent, though he realizes too late that it has remained downwind all this time to hide such. The breeze is mockingly gentle, as he comes back to Himself in full. It only chills the cold sweat that it's broken into further, as Cordial shudders a breath. Suddenly everything around it looks so starkly CLEAR. Closes in. The moon, the stars, the things he can see with and without the help of their glowing high above.]
" No, that's-- Why would You...? "
[He laughs, but it's unpleasantly sputtered and tense. All nerves and little else. His hands tremble as they ball into tight fists at his sides and then release just as quickly, riding his uncertainty on which emotion to let lead him. Another stumbled step forward, and it opens its mouth to speak again. It tries to force ANYTHING out, when normally talking comes so easily... but it doesn't get the chance. The marten acts as if it expects him to charge, losing form as it sloughs to the ground in a manner like sand or ash. Soaking in and then out of existence, now behaving like a liquid; dispatched by its maker without even making a sound. He pounces on the spot it had disappeared now with a snarl, and a muttered curse. Digging into the dirt with its nails, and tearing fistfuls out of the grass haphazardly. He's just delaying the inveitable, already knowing it to be pointless. Delaying the sitting here in silence that follows, breathing heavily, wondering... what to do now. Processing how to feel.]
[Telling Di would be a good start, but... as its many helpers work to pick through the forest for any other fakes among themselves, long through the night and into morning, it chooses to sit by the river awhile instead. Collect all his thoughts up, herding them back as they vie to get away from him too.]
sabrina knew that her life was going at warp speed. it was something that had been happening for the past year. a lot of things that were unexpected had happened. the biggest unexpected thing in her life? that was her fiancee pedro and she still almost couldn't believe he had asked her to marry him. the trip to california was going to be a bit of a quick one. she knew that he had promo to do but they also wanted to take care of a few other things. plus? he had suggested a trip to disneyland and she was all for it.
she knew that pedro had contacted his team to make the arrangements. she knew that there was no way they could go to disney without making them. the attention either one of them could attract would be like a mad house. she was excited but also nervous since she knew his nephews, pedro & bruno were going to be coming with them. she hoped that they liked her but she'd understand if they found it strange. that was why she had possibly been dragging that morning.
the blonde realized that it was silly once they had shown up at the park. they had a guide which she had been expecting. she had asked to be taken to one of the shops in order to find some ears for them. she was a bit nervous about which ones to pick but ended up stumbling upon the empire strikes back: 45th anniversary ones. she had noticed how the cashier seemed to be unable to stop themselves from staring. she had given them a smile and thanked them before she was led out the back. sometimes she still felt strange about the way that things had to be but she knew it was about safety.
she was glancing around as she was led "backstage" and made some small talk with her escort. the blonde knew that a lot of people were surprised whenever she was dressed more casually. for the day, she had chosen a cropped white t-shirt, jean shorts and some sneakers. she had almost left the ring at home but she couldn't bare it not being on her finger. the blonde was practically bouncing on her feet as neared pedro," i told you i wouldn't take that long and wasn't i right?" @pedrcpasccl
it had been a whirlwind for the past few days. sydney hadn't been sure what she had been expecting. though the blow up with her dad was something that she should have seen coming. especially since she knew how he felt about what she did for work. she had thought that she would be heading back to LA but glen had insisted she come with him to london. she had the feeling that he was worried, given everything that had happened. it was just a relief for her that both her family and his knew. she still felt such relief that glen's family was happy and excited about the news. she couldn't remember the last time she had slept so much or so deeply. traveling had already become a bit much for her and she knew it would only get worse.
she found herself finally climbing from the bed and realized that more than half the day was gone. she knew that glen had been needed on set but had no idea what time he'd be back. she was surprised when she stepped out to see that he was actually there," i thought you were going to be gone all day," she admitted, yawning," don't tell me you stuck around because you were worried." she knew that he had already taken a small break from production for her but she didn't want him to keep doing it if he didn't have to. @glenpcwcll
"Life's getting boring, Mena. Time to give me another tattoo." Ivy was not tatted by any means but did have a fair share here and there, a few from the bad & drunk decisions of their youth and some they'd drawn themselves. "I think it's time that I get a Merrock specific tattoo, actually. How about this, you beat me in this Bean Bag toss and I'll let you put ANY tattoo you want on me. Paint me like one of your French girls."
"you can go back to sleep. it's safe." - @slobbyseconds
( @slobbyseconds )
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*[Slob's words come as a welcome interruption to a mind that races even while still being groggy with sleep. Thoughts that stumbled desperately in their running through his skull are slowed to a halt, a familiar voice reminding him where he is and who he's with. Remembering now that he must've been asleep. And it could've been anything, the abrupt sound which woke him from a comfortable slumber. It could've been nothing-- Phthalo knows that. Something being dropped, a door closing particularly loudly, the list of mundane explanations goes on.]
*[Didn't stop him from startling awake, instinctively reaching for the nearest consolation and snatching it close with a strained wheeze through his teeth. And of course, Slob was right there to gravitate towards. A bit sheepish, even quieter, as Phthalo ever so slowly loosens his death grip on the other skeleton's robe, shirt, and well... whole self, really.]
* " right... 'course it is. hhheh. "
*[He ALMOST apologizes outright, but. Instead there's a pause, grounding himself further... and he keeps phalanges hooked into fabric just a little, reluctant in that way. He probably shouldn't apologize if he isn't going to let go, huh? Phthalo's eyes slide shut again, encouraged with a heavy feeling that makes them hard to keep open any longer. He sighs softly, and the sound carries relief. Comfort and sleepiness, too.]
“What do you mean? Lord, what do you mean?” Brittany questioned again, gaping at their cat. But then there was a knock on the door and they had no more time to question Lord Tubbington further. “We are so talking about this later, mister.” There was a meow of agreement from Lady Tubbington, who was currently glaring at her boyfriend. Britt went to go answer the door, grinning at the Warbler and his pet once the door was open. “Greetings!”
They invited the two in and brought them toward the living area, half of which had a full interview set up. “You two can take the couch. Do you want anything to drink before we start?” They pointed toward the small table between both seating arrangements; couch for them and a single recliner for her. “I don't know if you've ever seen the show before or heard of it, Hunter. But we usually do fondue, i.e. the name being Fondue for Two.” There was a small fondue pot in the middle of the table, along with some 3-prong forks for dipping the assortment of vegetables surrounding the rest of the table’s surface. “You seemed like someone who eats healthy so.”
A girl popped up at Brittany’s side wearing a neck brace, carrying two lapel mics. “This is Celeste, my roommate and one of my elite employees. She’s going to mic you two up. Usually, she’ll do a little makeup too, but you two seem ready. Are you ready?”
What a night. Things were just getting better and better, if you asked him. The football team actually managed a win, with or without some extra help, who’s to say. Dottie was back in his arms, being extra clingy and his best friend was by his side. He even complimented Brett’s new look! He was sure his girlfriend would tell him something about it later, right now he knew she was just distracted by something on the other side of the room. That aside, Brett couldn't think of a way to make the night better. Mostly because he knew he was definitely going to be able to sell all of his product by the end of it, so he had no other reason to be worried tonight.
Sure, there was still lingering tension festering between the trio, which had only increased when Brett left them alone. He'd almost asked about it, but figured it was better not poke the cocaine bear. Especially since Jacob still refused to call his girlfriend by her actual name and then there was Dottie, who kept making digs at his friend’s lack of a date. He knew nothing was ever perfect though, c'est la vie.
Brett had learned long ago that sometimes you had to power through, even if you didn’t want to, but really it was no hardship for him to be between the two people he cared about most. He rocked back on his heels and gave them his brightest smile.
"So, do any of you want some punch? Sue is still hovering over it so it should be safe."
* " in my big ass bed-- after i'm done having some freaky sex in it, obviously. "
*[It comes so naturally and smoothly from him that it's certain to have been the first thought which came to mind. And that checks out, since Stray seems much more focused on playing games on the phone in his hand as he leans against the wall. Guess he has better things to be doing.]
* " ... was that supposed to be a tough question, or something? "
*[-- Doesn't stop him from looking SMUG. He can multitask, he's talented like that.]
