#&hemlock.

[nxttheendxfthestxry]

Closed Starter: Unlocked (Keefe/Everyone)

The first sensation he’s fully aware of is cold.

He’s cold.

He’s laying down.

There’s a sharp, medicinal smell in the air. He’s not a fan, at all. But there’s far more immediate scents coming from everywhere. Something smells strongly of garbage.

Beeping sounds.

And then the feelings sort of hit him. Worry, stress, fear. A lot of it. He’s not entirely sure if it’s his.

Keefe shifts, finally opening his eyes... and abruptly closing them from the fluorescent lighting. “Ow.”

Axel jolts to life. “Keefe--”

“Keefe!” Sophie launches up to him, but half trips, half gets pushed aside by Margo.

“Bitchy!!!”

“Right here,” Keefe grunts, holding up one hand to the yelling, his other hand coming up to his head. “I’m right here. No need to yell.”

@storystartsanew​

[nxttheendxfthestxry]

Hemlock sees her Sophie first, and she rushes towards her, pulling her into a tight hug the moment she reaches her.

- ( @storystartsanew )

Sophie squeaks, alarmed, looking up and lighting up, hugging the other back tightly. "I'm so glad you're okay! Have you found Fitz?"

Over her shoulder, however, the other Sophie lights up. Gods, she's glad to see who's behind the... very wrong Hemlock, pushing past the pair and pulling her Hemlock in. "It is you! I thought the picture looked right, but..."

[nxttheendxfthestxry]

Hemlock smiles over at Fitz and holds out her hands for him. "You ready to go? We're meeting Ozwell and Laurian at the bowling alley. I did try to keep it low-key, but Ozwell insisted on buying out the entire place for the night, so it'll be just us there." - ( @storystartsanew )

Fitz pauses, laughing and shaking his head. Gods, what has he gotten into? But he smiles, taking her hands and nodding. "I'm ready, but I'm also preparing myself quite possibly for some kind of absolute nonsense."

[nxttheendxfthestxry]

Hemlock smiles and waves once she finally finds her sister. "Your rescue team is here! Please stop antagonizing Wisteria and Lysandus in the group chat, I beg you." - ( @storystartsanew )

Cora looks back, pausing and letting her jaw drop in sheer offense. "I beg your damn pardon? Me?! Me, stop antagonizing them-- this whole fucking thing started because I can only assume Wisteria said she's been sitting there WATCHING ME SLOWLY WANDER IN FUCKING CIRCLES!"

She sighs, crossing her arms and shaking her head. "Can we please just go?"

[nxttheendxfthestxry]

Hemlock's mood brightens considerably when she sees Fitz. "Wicked to have you home. Did you end up actually killing Val, or is he still just avoiding us all?" - ( @storystartsanew )

"Second one. I considered it. He came and saw Ash on her own and took off again." Fitz shrugs. "At least he saw Ash. About all I could ask."

[nxttheendxfthestxry]

Hemlock decides to forgo the hoodie this time, just in her normal clothes. There's no point in hiding at this point. She opens the door for Keefe with a tentative smile, playing with one of the necklaces around her neck. "Welcome to the chaos." - ( @storystartsanew )

"Always happy to be a part of that," Keefe nods, glancing over the scars before back to her face in a heartbeat. "But what's new with it?"

[nxttheendxfthestxry]

Hemlock opens the door for Fitz with casual smile, tugging on the ends of her hoodie strings absentmindedly. "Why do I feel like every time you've been over it's been to help me plan something? We really do need to stop meeting like this." - ( @storystartsanew )

Fitz laughs a bit. "That's true, and we most certainly do."

His eyebrows furrow as he looks her over. "Didn't take you for the hoodie type."