worship like a dog (at the shrine of your life) | 6.8k
"Y-you're thinking about moving?" Buck asks, words turning to ash in his mouth.
"Starting to think about it anyway," Eddie says, braced like he's waiting for Buck to snap his tablet in half.
But Buck is a good dog, really. Or, he tries to be. Tries so hard. So, he doesn't do anything he wants to. Doesn't throw up on the living room carpet. Doesn't piss in every corner of the house. Doesn't scratch his presence into all the furniture—it's there already, he thinks, I'm there already, aren't I?
No, instead, he plasters on a smile, thinks about plastering all the walls in every grocery list with three mismatched but equally illegible handwritings, every drawing of Christopher's he and Eddie have accumulated over the years—the cardboard box at the bottom of Eddie's wardrobe, the accordion folder under Buck's bed— every ticket stub from the aquarium, the arcade, the zoo, the movies, the museum. He imagines sketching a hundred more hearts in every colour the Diaz boys have made that ball of glowing light in his chest turn, imagines pasting them to the windows of the house, so that the light seeping into the kitchen was filtered through Buck's love like, like, like.
Like stained glass.
Buck doesn't believe in God, but he has his faith. Buck doesn't believe in The Holy Trinity, but he believes in The Father and The Son. Buck doesn't believe in a higher power, but he knows what it is to worship.
(OR: eddie's house is home, buck finds worship there)
🎲 #33 :: a kiss to a scar, birthmark, injury, or other marking w/ 1286 (jackboldy)
Truthfully Boldy didn't expect to see Jack in his apartment again after leaving him there to head off to the rink. In fact, he had half expected him to hitch a ride home with Quinn and crash at his place after the game.
Yet, here he is, sprawled out on Boldy's couch dead asleep. Which means he falls asleep way too easily and that he went out of his way to find and steal Matt's spare key before heading to the rink himself. It was all so insane and also exactly something Jack would do.
And there is really only one thing Boldy can do about it; absolutely nothing.
He kicks his shoes off and tosses his bag onto the armchair—not really in the mood to unpack or put anything away. He slumps down into the space at the end of the couch Jack wasn't occupying. For someone so short—at least in comparison to Matt—he took up far too much space.
Boldy really should get up and go find an extra blanket and pillow for Jack if he wanted to insist on staying the night. And he should bury himself into his bed and pretend the playoffs don't exist for a second.
He doesn't do any of that. Instead, he just leans his head back, closes his eyes, and pretends for just a second that this is all completely normal. That Jack always steals his key to fall asleep in his apartment after a game. That Jack always stays the night at his place instead of Quinn's all the time. That–
“How's your head?”
Boldy jolts, whipping his head around fast enough that his neck screams in complaint. He winces and brings a hand to the back of his neck. “Fine, I guess.” He grits out, fingers massaging at his muscles for a second before his hand drops back down to his lap. He regards Jack for a second, takes in his half-asleep, bleary-eyed appearance long enough that his chest starts to ache. It feels far too domestic.
“Why are you here? Thought you'd be at Quinn's.”
Jack just shrugs and slides his legs off the couch. “Just felt like it. Besides, Quinn is probably at Fabes’ right now.”
Which makes sense, Quinn is at Faber's place more often than not these days. Something about how homey it was or whatever bullshit excuse Quinn gave him last time. It's more like Quinn wants to be surrounded by everything Brock as much as he possibly can, and being at his house is the easiest way to make it happen.
Boldy still doesn't understand why Jack decides to crash at his place though, he had a hotel room with a bed that was probably significantly more comfortable than Boldy's couch. Clearly, he didn't just ‘feel like it’ considering the extra key wasn't exactly in an obvious spot. Jack had gone hunting for that shit. In fact, Boldy doesn't even remember where he hid the key.
“Well, I'm glad my company is better than the solitude and comfort of your hotel room.” He tries to make it sound like a joke but it comes out a bit flat and too genuine. He's tired and it's so painfully obvious that Jack offers him a pity smile. “Course dude. Didn't hunt your key down for nothing.”
“Where was the key?”
“You don't even know where your own spare key is?” Jack's smile is the same one he used to wear when Bolds did something particularly stupid back when they were teammates. The chest ache is back.
Boldy reaches over and pushes at Jack's shoulder. He doesn't put much force into it so really it does nothing, but Jack laughs and leans a bit more into his space, so it's a win.
“It was in your nightstand drawer under the book that's been in there for 2 years, probably.” Boldy winces at the reminder of that fucking book. His mom gave it to him and he still hasn't even opened it. But it stares at him every time he opens that drawer and now it just makes him feel guilty because he's already read the book Jack lent him back in milan. Truly pathetic.
“You were in my room? You dug through my nightstand?”
“Yeah, I even took a nap on your bed.” And wow, wasn't that a picture. Jack Hughes curled up in his bed, wrapped up in his blankets. Jack's cologne is probably all over those sheets now. Straight from his fucking daydreams, and Matt really didn't need to know that that they were reality and he didn't even get to see it. “Really?” Boldy probably sounds a bit too hopeful because Jack's grin just gets wider. “Nah, but I thought about it.”
Boldy just rolls his eyes and turns his head away, trying not to show any of his disappointment. He almost said “You could have,” and that would have been truly embarrassing.
“Ok, but seriously how is your head?” Jack sounds concerned again, scooting closer as if he can somehow see the extent of the internal damage on the outside of Matt's head. “I'm fine, just a headache. I already took meds. I mean, the back of my head is sore, but what do you expect?” Remnants of the anger from before curl into his tone making him come off a bit more irritated than he intends, but he kind of just wants to not even be reminded of it. He would rather Jack not mention it at all.
Jack doesn't seem to be deterred by the tone or the somewhat annoyed and tired look Bolds’ sports, instead he just gently grabs Boldy's face to angle his head to the side. He kind of just lets it happen because he's weak, in love, and obviously wants Jack's hands on his face. “Fucking Benn,” Jack hisses under his breath, fingers skimming along his hairline and gently sliding up the back of his head. It's nice, it's way too nice and Jack should really stop right now before Boldy melts into a puddle. Then he dips forward and plants a kiss right under Boldy's ear. It sends shivers right down his spine and Boldy nearly jerks his head away.
“Come on,” Jack is standing now, grabbing Boldy's hand and tugging him up, “Let's get you into bed, it's late.”
Matt's brain is about three steps behind so he kind of just lets Jack pull him around his own apartment and sit right onto his bed. Jack is digging around his closet when he finally catches up. “Wait- hold on- what was-”
“Do you want sweats or shorts?” Right, okay, they'll just not mention it then. He kind of just blinks at Jack for a second before clearly his throat and speaking, “Uh– shorts?” Jack raises a brow at the question that really should have been a statement. “Wow, Kirill was right, you are easy.”
“What does that mean?” Boldy bristles, suddenly very offended with just how his teammates are talking about him. It just makes Jack laugh, which really isn't the reaction Boldy wants right now. He wants to reach over and cover his smug grin under his palm. “I just mean you get flustered so easily with people you like.” Jack is rounding the bed now, slotting himself between Boldy's knees. “It's cute, really.” He's smiling fondly now, hand coming up to gently touch the temple he had kissed earlier.
Oh god.
“Jack…” It's a borderline whine and it does nothing but amuse him further. “See, cute.”
Boldy groans dramatically and falls back on the bed, pressing the heels of his palms to his eyes so he doesn't have to see the shit-eating grin on Jack's face. “Go away,” he whines—again—and tries to kick at Jack's shins. Jack just laughs and grabs Boldy's wrists. “Oh, you haven't wanted me to go away since the Olympics Matthew.”
The whole of the script including a synopsis and directions to the director and actors comes in at a cool 52221 words (no nothing about that is deliberate but heh)
A rejected "PC", now become NPC. Can be found in Connudatus Street Stalls & the bus stop in the Forest at Midnight to 4AM. They seem to be ordinary, but all the customers lined up seem to regard her with a certain politness, perhaps even fear.
Proceed with caution.
For more info regarding Noel below:
Noel was formerly a student and orphan named Riley, who was the town's rising track team star, being the best amongst her peers. Despite her popularity, though, it was agreed by most that Riley kept a small handful of friends. One in particular being a fellow orphan who was a few years older than her, before they eventually went missing; and Riley then, after.
Some assume it was due to grief, some think she was swooped away by what took her friend.
The reality of it being that Riley has always been someone with a hyper sense of awareness. Since she was little, she knew something was deeply wrong with the Orphanage: seeing the people frequent in and out of her older friends' rooms, the whispers of payment, debts. Eventually, hearing whispers of bodies found in the woods.
Hearing nothing for weeks regarding her friend's disappearance, she went looking and amongst the numerous shallow graves, Riley found the corpse of her friend. Spiraling into the worst mental breakdown, the night was a blur.
But, it can be agreed, that amongst the blood coating her body, dragging her feet to an abandoned home in the Moor, that Riley was no more.
Noel as a person is someone who always seems... off. For being someone that some in the criminal underground whisper carefully about, Noel often speaks hesitantly, unsure. As if gauging whether or not what they are saying is going to garner the right response. Often cagey, never really one to talk about themselves and often giving short, dry responses. Or just silence.
However, as the PC gets to know Noel, they come to find out that Noel is actually quite easily irritable. Squinting, and sighing at the slightest inconvenience and yelling and hitting at the largest ones. To Noel, everything can be solved with some form of violence.
They aren't really one to tell jokes, and aren't impressed by them either. Noel is actually quite a serious person.
Though Noel values themself and their survival above all else, at high love, Noel can be consider doting on the PC. Often fixing frayed clothing, 50% chance of being carried back to rest in her home if you pass out in the streets, and having a figure to vent to that won't say "that's terrible! i wish i could help you!" or "i should've been there!", but rather instead "why are you struggling so much? i sell weapons, buy the weapons i sell, use them, i am selling them for a REASON-"
SPECIAL TRAIT
Noel's special trait is her Paranoia.
On immediate first encounter, Noel's Paranoia is 100%. Any little action can increase Noel's Paranoia and the only way to lower it is by constantly interacting with her without doing any actions that would garner the wrong attention to her. ( Police, Bailey, etc. )
This takes time, and can take awhile for Noel's Paranoia to go down, making the process a bit tedious.
However, it does pay off, as Noel with low Paranoia will give the PC discounts at their store, give them protection charms for free and offer their home as a safehouse if they ever need it. They'll even take the mask off for the PC.
ROMANCING
Noel is... difficult to romance.
Due to having a volatile nature that is prone to violence and mania, romance is the furthest thing from their mind. And sex is almost non-existent in their head. If the PC tries to do promiscuous actions towards Noel, it decreases their love drastically as they are in fact, mostly repulsed by the acts of sex. They tend to sigh, and give the PC a tired look, or one of disdain depending on the love level.
And PCs with high exhibitionism, if approaching Noel with little to no clothing; the sexual act of it flies over her head. Instead, she urges you to buy clothes at her shop, dropping the price drastically so you don't run around the town nude.
However, sexual acts are still possible with Noel. It will simply have to be done in the condition of "fuck or die(not literally)", which, she will complain the entire time.
DISMISSING
it is possible to dismiss Noel when they are at 0% Love and 100% Paranoia. If Noel is convinced that the Player is a threat, Noel will try to make attempts on the Player's life; either indirectly or directly.
To protect themselves, the Player can either go to Bailey or the Police, creating two branches of Dismissal.
Telling Bailey results in Noel going missing for a week, before appearing again at her storefront. If the PC tries to approach, Noel will deny any interaction or offer of service, saying that their new employer has told them not to sell to any of their wards. Buying & Bonding with Noel will be locked out, and protection wards can longer be bought.
Telling the Police, however, results in a unique, variant event. During Avery's Poker Date Night, if Avery wins and brings the PC to the Elk & Fox party, when the sacrifice is being chosen, they notice a commotion coming from the guards and guests, with guards being beaten and bleeding on the floor. Numerous guards have to storm in to hold down & drag the surprisingly small sacrifice to the center of the room, a familiar face peeking out. Before they are sacrificed into the rift, Noel still has enough anger & fight in them to snatch off the masks of Remy & Harper, revealing their faces to the party, before grabbing another unsuspecting guest and dragging them into the rift with her. With the glare she sends the PC's way, full of vindication and rage, it felt like she was trying to grab at the PC, but took what was closest.
Noel will no longer be available in any way. Her character card only saying: "Noel has been sacrificed."
Max nods. Daniel puts her hand on Max’s chin and tips her head back. She’s immediately aware of every single nerve ending where Daniel’s hand rests along her throat, thumb on her chin. Every single one of those nerve endings sing and Max does the only thing she can. She opens her mouth for Daniel to pour the champagne into her mouth. Daniel brings the shoe to her lips and she swallows the disgusting, foot tasting champagne and knows she’d do it 100 times again to feel this alive, even if it means coming in second place.
When Daniel takes the shoe away and removes her hand from Max, it takes all of her willpower not to chase Daniel down and ask her to do it again.
