#ope !

[rcsplendent]

closed  starter              —            griffin  windsor. ( @effervcscents )

location : ophelia's workshop.                  time : 6pm, around sunset.

 it  was  foolish  of  her,  really,  to  think  that  she'd  be  able  to  get  through  a  fitting  with  him  without  feeling  the  same  dejection  she'd  felt  when  they'd  ended  things.  &  it's  not  even  like  this  is  the  first  time  this  has  happened.  time  &  time  again,  in  countless  instances  over  the  last  few  years,  she'd  had  a  servant  fetch  the  duke  for  her  so  she  could  take  in  one  of  his  jackets  or  hem  his  pants  or  whatever  else,  naively  thinking  that  they  would  be  FINE  —  only  to  stubbornly  fight  back  angry  tears  the  moment  she  closed  the  door  behind  him.  this  time  is  no  different:  she's  letting  him  ramble  on  &  on  —  half-annoyed  &  half-grateful  that  he's  filling  the  silence  —  standing  close  behind  him  as  she  gathers  fabric  between  nimble  fingers  &  slides  pin  after  pin  in  to  hold  it  in  place,  meticulously  making  her  way  down  the  length  of  his  spine.  she  realizes  there's  a  stubborn  knot  in  her  throat  when  she  reaches  the  hem,  &  she  wills  it  away  to  the  best  of  their  ability  as  she  waits  for  a  lull  in  his  speech.  &  when  they  finally  afford  one,  she  swallows,  letting  silence  swell  between  them  for  a  beat  before,  in  a  meek,  cold  voice:  "  lift  your  arms. "

[rcsplendent]

closed  starter  —  wolfram  wagner. ( @aresenics )   time  :  9:37pm.            location  :  balcony  off  the  grand  ballroom.  

 leaving  the  ballroom  had  been  a  challenge  —  an  impossibly  massive  figure  wading  through  the  undulating  crowd  ;  hard  to  miss  &  therefore  burdened  as  he  tries  to  make  his  absence  inconsequential.  he  knows  he  doesn't  have  much  time  —  twenty  minutes  at  best  before  somebody  comes  looking  for  him.  but  ——  he  needs  something.  anything,  at  this  point.  just  a  bit  of  relief.  the  alcohol  he's  already  consumed  has  well  beyond  taken  its  toll  already,  his  breathing  decelerated  and  his  movements  languid  ;  autonomous  nervous  system  slowed  by  the  liquor  in  his  veins.  but  there's  that  ever-present  craving  —  lingering  all  through  his  body,  snaking  down  his  spine,  making  his  fingertips  itch.  just  a  glimpse  of  eye  contact  with  his  cousin  (  distant,  but  still  family,  in  max's  mind  )  from  across  the  room  had  been  enough  to  spark  the  idea  —  and  the  toss  of  his  head  toward  the  door  to  the  nearest  balcony,  an  invitation.  it's  where  he  waits  now,  leaning  his  heavy  body  against  a  pillar,  arms  crossed  lazily  over  his  chest  ;  face  illuminated  by  a  lantern  at  forehead-height,  the  flickering  flame  within  it  casting  shadows  across  boyish  cheekbones  and  half-lidded  eyes.  the  few  minutes  he  spends  alone,  waiting,  are  enough  to  intensify  the  need  so  much  that  he  feels  it  in  his  teeth  ;  his  jaw  is  clenched  to  stave  off  the  feeling  as  his  cousin  approaches.  "  cousin,  "  he  greets  coolly,  glassy  eyes  blinking  slowly  before  they  glance  around,  checking  for  witnesses. they  fall  back  on  wolfram  once  he  decides  the  coast  is  clear.  "  do  you  have  it?  "

[summcrshcndy]

@sugaried​ based off of THIS

it had been MONTHS of gracie and kaden spending an endless amount of time together without labels, without feelings. it was confusing -- but it was also effortless. so, as she sits on her couch pretzel legged ( a little too high ) and looks over at kaden she can’t help it. “i love you.” but as soon as it spews out of her mouth, she shakes her head. she didn’t. she COULDN’T. she doesn’t do feelings. never has and never will. “f u c k. i didn’t mean it like that.”

[stardevoted]

       you do not think of your actions as  aggravating, especially to the taller gem you had become accustomed to. yet you let the warning signs pass without notice       ---       careless, really.  

when callous, cruel, words leave his frame, accusing you of crimes you haven't admitted to, you’re left silenced. you merely stare up at his frame, as you process his anger. you figure you’ve done wrong, & so those walls that had been torn down are rebuilt in an bat of an eye. you stay silent.

you do the  one thing  you know you do  well  .

you give a salute, as uncomfortable as it is, your arms falling back into place   ---   folded neatly in front of your skirt. you are the picture perfect form of an obedient warrior. your eyes are pointed downwards, not daring to peek up at him any longer.

truly, you are the gem you were when you first arrived. you do not know where those emotions of his reside   ---    & why should you ? it does not change his words, or his meanings. ( & he wonders why your gem cut always rebels  ---  if anyone spoke like this to him, he’d be a volcano rather than a calm, hurt, ocean. )

@astrollogus. cont.