#anyfight

[withinycu]

@anyfight has some serious fucking problems

The truth was he'd been avoiding Riff ever since the fourth of July. It had been easy at first because of his injuries, but now that he was better, it was harder.

Things hadn't been going well for him. He dropped out of school, worked full-time, and even rented a place a little out of town where he could be alone. He wasn't good with people anymore. Whether he ever really had been was questionable. He also just didn't want to be who he had been. Not that he had much idea what a better version of him could be.

And Riff had never been the best influence.

"What are you doing here, man?" He asked, trying to play it cool. Even though the truth was he felt . . . anxious seeing his old friend again.

[riffxlorton]

"Ask for my heart." (Graziella)

𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 || @anyfight

She had become more to him than just a lay wherever they could find in private. More than just a good-time girl to take to the dance. If you were to ask him when that happened he wouldn't be able to tell you. He hadn't planned on it, hell, he hadn't wanted it. Women were trouble, and he had other things on his mind.

Or at least he used to.

"I don't fuckin' know how." He answered, and he could see in her big, pretty eyes that she was looking for more from him. He always had a mouth, but in this moment he was clueless on what to say.

Instead, he took of his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. It was a big deal for a Jet to give his jacket away to his #1 girl, and it was a sign to everyone else that's just what she was.

"How's that strike ya, ya know, until I can say somethin' worth sayin'?" He didn't want to say some sappy romance stuff just because it was was expected of him, this wasn't the movies.

He leaned down and kissed her tenderly, Riff always was better at actions rather than words.

[andpale]

@anyfight's raefer mcclellan says, ❛ drink. your lungs want vodka. ❜

the drink makes her mind fuzzy. although she's only consumed a few slips, the effect already has her blurry and trembling. the center of her vision is her husband. ( most of the time it is. ) although, a whine escapes her throat, she accepts another few sips. vodka is supposed to be a healing drink. something to help her sleep at night. at least, that's what one of their fellow farmhands claimed. he'd made it himself and the cook backed him up, prescribing it to johanna's insomnia and she promised she would try it. something about this time of year makes her even more restless. as much as johanna hates to admit it, she's sick of exhaustion, too. she'd never heard of the beverage before she demanded riff help her pour it down. though, it's obvious now that it has a splash of alcohol in it. medicine or not.

❝ raefer, ❞ she whispers with a moan. something between a complaint and something sultry. clearly, they hadn't taken into account what else the drink does to her. mouth against his skin, her own bare arms waving at him, attempting to bring him closer to her. lungs may want vodka, but her lips want him. ❝ you silly boy. ❞

giddy and tired all at once. ❝ i am... ❞ and she's overtaken by a fit of giggles. ❝ i'm going to kiss you silly. ❞ if she could properly hear herself now, she would scold herself. how silly she sounds! johanna's arms limply try to find his neck to wrap around, to steady herself ( she's already laying down ). from the corner of her eye, she can see her sleeve and she giggles again. ❝ i'm still dressed! ❞ now, a mischievous smile. a heavy line. ❝ but maybe not for much longer. raefer? ❞ if he bent down enough, johanna could whisper all the things she would do to him in his ear. but his back is bad and she's too heavy to sit up now. her fingers do find his jaw, causing her to grin. ❝ you pretty boy. ❞

[riffxlorton]

"Tell me to stay." (Graziella)

𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 || @anyfight

He wasn't good at admitting vulnerability, and to say he'd been an absolute ass to the hospital staff would be an understatement. He didn't want to show weakness, to admit that he owed anyone his life after the stabbing.

He'd been aloof, defensive, and cold to everyone, convincing himself that no one cared. The Jets weren't the boys he thought they were, not after what he was told they tried to do to Anita when they thought he was dead. He had no family, and Tony, unlike him, was dead. Shot down like a dog in the street.

No one cared, he had no one left.... except Grazi. She'd apparently stayed by his side while he was laid up and unconscious, and she was still here now, at his bedside, even though he'd been less than kind and unfeeling. That's all Riff knew, it was easier than facing the truth, than confronting his feelings. There was relief at being alive, but grief from losing his best friend, again.

"Look, I'm sorry ok, I'm not thinkin' straight." It was a poor excuse for an apology and he knew it. He'd seen the hurt in her eyes when he said he didn't want her here, that he didn't need her. All lies of course, he needed someone now more than ever.

"Grazi, please stay." He spoke softly, swallowing his pride like a bitter pill that stuck in his throat. "Stay, I don't really want to be alone."

[razorgleam]

@anyfight

the boy swings in and out. one evening he's here, the next benjamin returns back to their cell to learn he was escorted out hours prior. it doesn't bother him, for the most part. benjamin can do without the early mornings waking up to hearing the boy being returned behind their shared bars. but at the same time, he's become accustomed to it. benjamin doesn't talk much. in the early days of his sentence, he would too afraid to. now, he can't muster enough care to make any new friends. benjamin clings to himself. though, it doesn't mean he doesn't listen. the kid's some sort of teen parent who keeps getting himself locked up. not that benjamin can blame him. if he was in the same boat as him with lucy, he would be doing anything to provide for his family. this kid is married to that girl ( no baby yet ).

and there's something else... they're living with a family member? the girl's parents? benjamin can't remember.

the girl came today. that's what else he knows. the boy---riff---hasn't stopped talking about it since. they can't be more than eighteen years old. ( johanna is eighteen now. ) stuck in indiana. ( is johanna still here? ) with some older relative that clearly hates riff. ( where is johanna? )

what does riff keep calling her? ( did he hear johanna? )

❝ sounds like you really miss this girl, ❞ benjamin says, possibly interrupting the boy though it wasn't his intention. he stares at him. benjamin's daughter is his age now. they're from the same deadbeat town. ❝ you say her name was johanna? ❞ ( it can't be. ) ❝ johanna what? ❞

[razorgleam]

@anyfight

fingers spread out amidst the flowers. he knows by now how johanna doesn't like them, but well, anthony likes how the wildflowers blossom against the hill. it's a beautiful, little escape between shifts at the lighthouse. from here, he can see home and imagine what his wife is doing down there. is she reading? sewing? today the sun shines down on them, allowing anthony to bask his face in it. summer is right around the corner. days like this remind him of it.

❝ hey riff? ❞ it's hard to imagine his best friend not at his side. practically anytime outside of work, if anthony calls, riff will answer. his wife likened them to birds playing call-and-response with each other. ❝ how're you and johanna getting on? ❞ from what she's told them, it's been... not exactly well. not yet.

❝ we've all gotta be gentle on her, you know? jo is... sick. ❞ sick is one way to describe it. anthony doesn't have the words for anything else. ❞ and--- ❞ he reaches over to pat his friend's knee ❝ --- i need you to help me keep an eye on her when i'm not home. ❞ he smiles. as much as it worries him, it'll all turn out. anthony loves this girl more than anything else in the world. and with riff at his side, they'll make sure she's taken care of. maybe it's not now, but one day, she'll be alright. better. ❝ i'm glad you're here with us. ❞

[gridbest]

@anyfight liked for a starter

Riff was tired. This was not something he admitted easily, and probably wouldn’t be anything he’d ever admit to anyone, but he was tired. The guys hadn’t done much today, but he was still tired anyway. He leaned against the pinball machine, grinning lazily at Grazi. “Where’ve you been, girly?” Work, probably. Riff always complained about Grazi being at work too much. He didn’t like not seeing her. “I missed you.” That wasn’t something he admitted easily either, but seeing as how Doc’s was empty aside from them and Valentina puttering around in the back, he felt safe admitting such a thing.

[cannotflym]

@anyfight's raefer mcclellan says, “ you’re my lady , i’m your fool . ”

she can taste blood, biting back her " i don't belong to anyone. " not to her husband, not really her lover's either. but as they wind through the streets that she was told to avoid her whole life, she finds herself enjoying the moment. there's no reason to ruin it.

❝ you're not a fool. ❞ and she's only an orphan disguised in silks and lace to look like a lady. thief's daughter, lunatic's blood---that's all johanna will ever be. ( judge's wife. ) though they're far away from the proprieties of her society and her ring is burning a hole in her pocket instead of on her finger, she is almost reluctant as she leans into him. still shy, still unused to how different his world is from hers. arm in arm. ❝ you're certainly not a fool when it comes to me. you know more about me than anyone ever will, i think. ❞

to these crowds, they look like an ordinary couple. to johanna, riff is the reason she's able to take another step forward. ❝ i'm not a lady. even if i was, i wouldn't want to be. the only thing i want to be is your wife. ❞