#puri writes

[totallynotpuri]

The thing with hunger is that it’s always there, even if you can’t always feel it. That lump in your throat, the lead in your lungs, the whisper at the edge of your thoughts, it’s always there to remind you that something isn’t right.

When that hunger grows, it’s the only thing you can think about. That lump in your throat grows until it chokes you on dry land. That lead in your lungs melts and fills whatever breath you can take with molten dread. That whisper turn into screams and shouts that fill your every thought until your every waking moment is consumed by that hunger.

And when everything is consumed by that hunger, you’d do anything to stop it.

A little push.

A swing of the sword.

The release of a bowstring.

Anything, everything, to quell that hunger.

Just long enough to breathe again

[totallynotpuri]

Phil has really pretty shaders on right now and it makes ores glow, and I can’t help but think about an entire cave lit up by twinkling ores, like, underground stars.

I want you to imagine this.

You’re in a small passageway; the jagged rocks pressing against your arms and legs as you squeeze between the cold, stone walls.

 The only source of light is the small lantern that you brought with you; the flickering flame held in front of you barely illuminates the narrow path as you push onwards. 

Suddenly, the light goes out; it seems like the torch inside burned out. You push onwards, hoping not to have gone down here in vain. 

There’s an opening. You try to squeeze through it, desperately trying to get away from the walls that threaten to press the air out of your lungs with every movement. 

You barely worm out of the hole and fall onto the wet limestone, taking in a deep breath of damp cave air as you lie still upon the ground. 

You open your eyes. If you weren’t so hellbent on getting above ground again, you would’ve mistakened the ceiling for the endless night sky. 

Despite the lack of light, clusters of iron, copper, gold, redstone, and lapiz seemed to glimmer and shine brightly all around you. 

You stay there, lying on the cold ground as you take everything in; the light flowing of water drowning out the sound of your ragged breathing. Maybe the surface could wait a bit longer.

As you close your eyes, body sore and weary from the journey, you drift into a peaceful sleep under the false sky of gems.

[totallynotpuri]

The Cacophony of Fall

Having a café near the apartment was honestly one of the best perks of the place. Etho never truly got lonely in the apartment, especially with Pineapple Pizza keeping him company while Bdubs was out. However, nothing beats sitting in the cozy Aha C-aha-fe all day long and drinking a latte or hot cup of custom blend tea. Today was one of those days, where Etho had a craving to just sit at a café table and tower cups upon cups of coffee while working. After packing up his laptop and refilling PP’s water bowl, Etho threw on his jacket before walking out into the cool autumn air.

When he opened the door to the café, Etho was blasted with the warm air. Even though it was barely winter, it was cold enough for Etho to quickly walk into the comfortable little café.

“Etho! I haven’t seen ya in quite a while, what can I get for you today?” Grian asked as Etho walked towards the counter while whipping the fog from his glasses.

“Just a pot of Zora tea for now, I’m not in a rush today.” Etho replied as he stared into the dessert case next to the checkout counter, “And an opera cake too, the chocolate one.”

“You say you’re not in a rush, yet you order one of the most caffeinated teas we have.” Grian chuckled as he wrote the order onto a small notepad, “Take a seat, I’ll bring the tea over soon.”

Taking a seat right in front of the windowed wall, Etho pulled out his laptop and started working on his latest job. He wasn’t in a rush to finish the job, but he’d rather finish it now than sit around all day doing nothing. The small apartment, while cramped and usually full of life, had been feeling emptier in the past few days. Bdubs’ most recent job had him leaving the apartment early and coming home increasingly late, sometimes coming home after Etho had already fallen asleep.

There was not much to do about it though, it would be selfish to make Bdubs stay up any longer than he had to. It was clear that the long workdays have been draining Bdubs more and more, so much so that he nearly jumped out of his skin when Etho opened the apartment door to let him in.

Etho didn’t realize how lost in thought he was until Grian came over with his order, placing a teapot, a small teacup, 2 small pitchers, an opera cake, and 2 small white boxes tied up with dark green ribbons on top of the spruce table.

“Considering how you take your coffee, I was very tempted to just not bring the milk and sugar.” Grian joked as he finished balancing everything before heading back to the counter.

“Wait, Grian, I don’t think I ordered this?” Etho asked as he held up the white boxes.

“Oh yeah!,” Grian exclaimed, stopping and turning back to Etho, “Mumbo was testing out some sort of heart glass cookies for Valentine's Day. Said it’d be a shame for them to be thrown out, so Martyn packed them up to give away”

“So you’re giving your most loyal customer failed cookies?” Etho cried out dramatically, placing his hand over his heart and tipping the wooden chair as far back as possible, “I’m hurt G, I thought I would’ve been worth more than a box of bargain bin cookies.”

“I mean, if you don’t want the free cookies, I can always take them back.” Grian replied, his deadpan voice covering up the joking tone as he reached out for the two white boxes.

“Hey! I never said I didn’t want them!” Etho yelled as he stifled the sudden urge to kick the shorter man before pointing towards the counter, “Look, I think you have some packages you need to sign for. Shoo, leave me and my cookies alone,”

Looking towards where Etho had pointed, Grian saw a poor post carrier trying to balance a dozen or so packages and rushed over to help.

After Grian left, Etho fell back into the little world that he made in front of the window; typing away at his laptop as he took in everything the café had to offer. That was the magic of the Southlands C-aha-fe really; to be able to soak in the light rumbling of the coffee machine and the warm smell of bread and pastries, to sit down and enjoy the light that came through the cafe’s windows, and to feel all your muscles ease as you fall into the rhythm of the café.

Once, when Bdubs and he had taken the day off just to hang out at the café, Bdubs joked about how the baristas must’ve put some sort of cozy potion into their drinks, and even at the time, Etho couldn’t help but agree. There was just something about the dark oak and full-wall windows and time-worn brick walls that drew him in like nothing else; helping him work without even processing the time of day.

Before he knew it, the sun had dipped below the horizon. That in itself was another beauty of the Southland Cafe. With the windowed walls facing East and West, it gave the perfect view of both the sunrise and sunset.

Closing his laptop, Etho took a moment to take the view in. The sun always sets early this time of year but watching the rays seep through the golden and orange blanket of leaves and the tint everything in the cafe with a light orange glow was always a sight to behold, no matter what hour of the day it was. For the next 20 or so minutes, Etho sat there; watching as the sun sank lower and lower below the horizon, bathing the sky in a fiery orange.

But as the sun set and the sky was blanketed with the endless expanse of night, Etho packed up his laptop to leave; Pineapple Pizza was probably getting lonely in the apartment and he needed to make dinner.

  And so Etho slung his bag over his back, waved goodbye to Grian and the other employees of the café, and opened the door into the bitter cold of evening.

[totallynotpuri]

“Honestly! How am I suppose to get to my drink with this much whipped cream on top!” Bdubs complained as he stared down the cup.

“I mean, you didn’t have to ask Grian for extra whip” Etho laughed as he sipped from his own mug, watching as Bdubs gently swirled the cup in hopes of leveling the cream.

“I know, but whip makes everything better! Especially compared to whatever your midnight dark cold brew brewed hot thing is...” Bdubs replied as he tried to take a drink before backing off last second and placing the cup back on the dark oak table, “I should’ve went with tea...”

“Here, take my spoon and just stir the whip a bit.” Etho said as he handed the small dessert spoon to Bdubs, who reluctantly accepted it.

“To stir or not to stir, that is the question ” Bdubs sighed as he stared at his reflection on the spoon, “Whether nobler in the mind to have no whip or to have no drink, The slings and arrows of... something something...”

“Well, if you keep quoting Shakespeare,” Etho said with a loud sip followed by the exaggerated sigh of a theater kid, “you’re gonna have neither whip NOR hot coffee.”

“And what am I supposed to do? Eat whipped cream?”

“You mean you’ve never had whipped cream straight from the can?”

“NO! Why would I ever do that?”

“Bdubs eat the whip”

“Over my dead body dude”

“If you’re not eating it, I’m gonna eat it”

“I’m not letting you, get your own whip”

“You know what, I will”

With that, Etho snatched the fork provided with Bdub’s red velvet cake and swooped towards the cup.

And, as if in slow motion, the fork scooped up the whipped cream cleanly off of the latte before promptly dropping it straight onto the table.

“...”

“...”

“Well... Darn...” Was all Etho could say as the two of them stared at the pile of whipped cream.

At the counter, Jimmy could be seen handing Grian a 5 pound note.

[totallynotpuri]

"Etho, look this way!”

“Huh?” Etho asked has he turned his towards the voice.

*CLICK*

A bright flash of light filled Etho’s vision as the polaroid camera whirled to life before the film printed out.

“Did you really have to ask me to look directly into the flash?” Etho said as he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

“Well of course! What was I suppose to do, take a picture of your back?” Bdubs joked as he took the photo out of the camera’s exit slot and starting shaking it vigorously.

“I thought you weren’t suppose to shake those?” Etho pondered, putting his glasses back on as he stared at the developing film.

“Well, if this one breaks, we can try again! Come on, take one of me!”

Placing the developing polaroid on the counter, Bdubs handed the camera to Etho before grabbing Pineapple Pizza and holding her up to his face.

“Come on!”

Smiling, Etho looked through the polaroid’s viewfinder to see PP trying to wiggle out of Bdubs arms while Bdubs smiled widely toward him

*CLICK*

[totallynotpuri]

Thank you Sleepwalker Anon, now onwards to the angst

[TW derealization, kinda phycological horror, clock ticking]

Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.

The sound of the clock never seemed to stop as the seconds and minutes passed like molasses. 

Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick.

To be honest, Etho never paid that old clock any mind until now. Bdubs had bought it back in college, but the ticking had always been drowned out by the sounds of rowdy college kids or shouts of promised ass kicking during games night. Even at night, when the world was silent but for the gentle clicking of his keyboard, the ticking noise never got to him.

But now, waiting in the darkness of their apartment for Bdubs, the clock’s never-ending ticks and tocks chipped at his thoughts.

Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.

It was silly really. Bdubs was older than him! He could handle himself and there was nothing to worry about! Even if it was late, even if the sun had set hours ago, even if the city’s bus system could get worryingly empty at this time, even if Bdubs had a habit of sleeping on his long commutes, even if the horrible pit in his stomach grew with every tick of that insufferable clock, there was nothing to worry about.

Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick.

He should’ve turned on the lights. He should’ve turned them on a while ago, but he couldn’t get himself to get up from the kitchen chair. He doesn’t think he could get up from the chair now either, so he stayed still, sitting, waiting, listening.

Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.

Why Bdubs had to take a job outside of the city, Etho would never know. Cities always had apartment buildings and cramped dorms that needed decorating and designing, so why did Bdubs have to take a job that would entail him riding the bus for almost 2 hours each way?

Tick.

Another second.

Tock.

Another minute.

Tick.

Another hour.

How long has he been waiting here?

Tock.

He’s lost track of the time.

Tick, tock.

He’s gonna drive an axe through that clock the moment he’s able to.

Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, t-

And then, there was a jangling of keys. Etho’s eyes shot up to the door as the lock clicked and the knob twisted, letting the bright light of the apartment’s hallway spill into the dark apartment. 

“Bdubs!” Etho shouted as he shot up from the chair, knocking it over as he ran towards Bdubs and wrapping his arms around Bdubs. As he went in for the hug though, the chair hit the hard wooden floor hard and caused Bdubs to tense up, nearly causing the shorter man to elbow Ethos in the face.

“DON’T JUMP OUT OF THE DARK LIKE THAT!” Bdubs yelled as held his arms up defensively.

“Sorry, sorry! I just got worried, you know.” Etho said as he finally turned on the apartment light, wincing as if he hadn’t seen light for months.

“What, you scared I wouldn’t be able to find my way home?” Bdubs questioned as he hugged Etho back.

“It’s late! Knowing you, you’ve probably never been out of bed at this hour!” Etho joked as he let go of the hug, most of the anxiety from the moment before melting away.

“No way it’s that late!” Bdubs laughed as he placed his bag down and looked towards that damned clock, “It’s on- oh, I forgot, we need to get the clock fixed.”

Looking at the clock properly for the first time all night, Etho could see the clock was stuck at 2:24. 

“I guess we should, huh?” Etho said as he took the clock off the wall and placed it on the kitchen counter, “But we can worry about that later, have you had anything to eat?”

[totallynotpuri]

A lil continuation of the angst from @opera25 absolutely amazing and adorable/heartbreaking My Last Life AU, please go check it out it’s so cute. However, the time is not for cute, it’s time for angst and Tango and Skizz’s POV

It was getting late, especially for Tango’s standards. Even Etho, who’s sleep schedule was nearly non-existent, must have gone to bed already, so it was definitely time to get some rest. While packing up his papers and shutting down his PC, he heard a loud thud come from the other side of his wall, the unmistakable sound of something falling to the ground.

If this was another day or if it was a different time, Tango would’ve dismissed the sound out of hand, but tonight was different, he could feel it.

“Did you drop something Skizz?” Tango asked as he peaked his head through his roommate’s door.

“No, I don’t think so,” Skizz replied groggily, clearly just as tired as Tango, “I thought it was something you dropped.” “It wasn’t anything from me,” Tango replied as he shifted his feet on the floor, “I think it came from Bdub and Etho’s apartment.”

Etho was never really one to leave things messily enough that they’d fall for no reason. No matter how many fireworks he tried to set off in their old dorm, everything was kept organized enough so that “it wouldn’t cause an actual fire hazard”, as he himself would put it

The two of them stared at each other and for a split second, they had the same thought. “What if something happened?’

“Look, it’s late and just,” Skizz said as he slipped on his slippers and led Tango to the front entrance, “let’s just check up on them, make sure they’re not gonna accidentally blow up their fridge or something”.

When the 4 of them had (accidentally) moved into adjacent apartment buildings, they decided to give each other a copy of their house keys. This was mainly so Tango or Skizz could (begrudgingly) feed Pineapple Pizza in case both Bdubs and Etho were running home late, but tonight, the two of them were glad the key was given to them.

When they tried knocking on the apartment door however, they found it unlocked, exacerbating the lump of panic in both their guts. Slowly, they walked into the apartment building and turned on the lights. Nothing seemed to be touched and there didn’t seem to be a forced entry, but that did not disway their fears.

“Let’s go check on Bdubs, just in case you know?” Tango said as he walked into the apartment proper and straight to the bedroom that was practically right next to his.

He knocked on the door, but got no response whatsoever, and when he opened the door,  he found nothing but an empty bed.

“Skizz, Bdubs’ not here!” Tango nearly shouted as he turned back to Skizz, panic completely taking over him. Bdubs wouldn’t go out this late, he’s never been the type to stay out when it was dark, he was the type who’d go to sleep the moment the sky turned dark, but where was he? Where did he go? What happened?

“Come on, let’s ask Etho, he’d probably know,” Skizz said, trying to keep his composure as he rushed to the door across the hall, barely knocking before opening up the door. 

He’d be lying if he said he wasn’t shocked by what he saw. Etho, his friend and roommate for so many years, clutching onto his blanket and sobbing into it.

“Etho, Etho, wake up, are you okay, what happened?” Skizz said as he rushed to the bed, completely unable to hide his panic as he tried sitting Etho upright.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please come back, please I still have my half of the promise, please, please, where are you, please I’m sorry, come back” was all he could hear from the gently sobbing man.

“What are you talking about Etho? Come on, wake up” Skizz blurted as he shook Ethos again and again. What was going on? 

And that’s how the three of them stayed. Etho sobbing and muttering while Tango and Skizz tried to wake him up, trying to get answers to whatever was going on from the only person who could’ve known. How long they stayed like that, in complete disarray and panic, it was unsure, but nothing worked. Even after the sobbing slowed, even after the sun came up, even after the morning commute of the city started outside the window, Tango and Skizz were left with no answers and no Bdubs.

[totallynotpuri]

A Breath of Cold Air

[This is part 3.1 of The Angst. Big special thank you to \ @pig-rank for going through the entire thing and beta reading it. As always, check out Opera25′s My Last Life Au if you haven’t already!]

Bdubs shivered as he walked through the cold, empty streets of the city. If his thoughts were loud before, they were screaming now. First those strange visions and memories and now whatever happened with Etho. What was he to do? Where should he even start? He could barely remember anything, yet everything he remembered made no sense. What did his best friend have to do with his death? What did the local café workers have to do with it? What did any of this mean?

As he kept walking through the streets, he was snapped out of his stupor by a sudden shout of his name.

Turning to his left, he saw Scar with his hands cupped over his mouth. Bdubs, still a bit in shock from the shout, gave a little wave as Scar ran across the street towards him.

“Hey dude, what are you doing out here this late?” Scar asked as he started walking the path along with Bdubs, trying to discern the man’s mood, “it’s absolutely freezing, didn’t you bring a jacket?”

“I just needed a bit of air, I didn’t think I’d be out for too long,” Bdubs replied as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. It was only the start of winter, but the nights here were brutal. Compared to him, Scar’s light winter coat was infinitely warmer than his pajamas. 

“I mean, fresh air is good and all, but you’re pretty far from your apartment,” Scar said as he pointed at the street signs above them. Looking up, he saw the street sign reading 52nd street; he and E- his apartment was on 63rd street.

“I was… I,” Bdubs stuttered. What was he supposed to say? That he was getting back memories that weren’t his? That he’s worried that he’s gonna get killed by his best friend? Or already had been killed by his best friend? That his best friend and roommate sleep-walked into his room and cried at the edge of his bed?

“How about this,” Scar as he gently placed his hands on Bdub’s shoulder, “Let’s go sit down and get you warmed up first. Then we can talk.”

And so they walked, passing closed shops and empty streets until they reached a small diner with large white letters reading The Garden Wall. 

“Come on, this way,” Scar murmured as he pulled Bdubs towards the side of the building. At this point, the cold has seeped so far into his bone that Bdubs just walks behind Scar into the large metal employee’s door.

“Scar, what did I tell you about using the emp- Bdubs?” A familiar voice said as the two of them walked into the cramp storage room.

Turning his head up, Bdubs was faced with none other than Cleo, whose usual long hair was placed in a high ponytail, her face filled with concerned shock.

“Can you get him something warm?” Scar whispered to Cleo as he pushed through the storage room door and sat Bdubs down at the closest empty booth, “He’s been walking outside for god knows how long.”

Cleo nodded, running behind the counter without a word, the sounds of the stove clicking to life ringing throughout the silent diner.

And so the two of them sat there, waiting; Scar not wanting to start talking about what was going on until Bdubs stopped shivering and Bdubs refusing to talk about it until he could process it himself. Looking around, he tried to take in the area around him. Though sparsely decorated, the lamps hanging above them provided each booth with bright, warm light. That, along with the hand-drawn swirling vines and flowers on beige walls and dark shiny oak, made the Bdubs feel at home for the first time in a long, long time.