#splittinghares

[the-actor-himself]

🧸

A small, dark-haired child peeks out of the fort that had been built squarely in the middle of the kitchen. It took advantage of the kitchen island for additional cover, with couch cushions stacked tall at the narrower end, and blankets pinned in place with twine and clothespins.

“ Okay, you were right about this being better than the end of the hall, ” Mark says, glancing inward, to where Hare was tucked and hidden, waiting for impending assault. “ I still say we should’ve tried to throw Celine out of the attic. ” At least Damien’s refusal to join her meant the pairs had been split into individuals. Will would have probably knocked something over by now, anyway.

And since the others never seemed to be able to see Hare when they were around to play, it meant he had the only team advantage.

Maybe it was cheating, but really it was their fault for ignoring his best friend.

“ Just let me know if Will comes at us from behind. Damien’s more likely to come at us with the white flag. ” If he did, maybe he’d be allowed to join them. Even if he’d still ignore Hare. It usually ended in a one versus all stand-off against whoever had the best spot, anyway.

“ That candy is as good as ours. Don’t worry, you still get your share. ” A good friend - a hero - never went back on a promise, after all.

[crushng-a]

this is not the captain. OR IS IT? they're certainly wearing that familiar coat, adorned with all of its finery. ( showoff. ) that shimmering blue crystal upon their wrist is missing, but you swear you can see a glint of something phosphorescent in their eyes when their head turns to just the right angle. the curl at the corner of their mouth is not fond, reminding you more of the snarl of a cornered beast.

the captain's shoulders sway as they come to a stop in front of you, pale green eyes ( those are new! ) appraising you from head to toe. they may not know what you are, not entirely, but they do not seem afraid. not like the other delicate little rabbits you've found peering at you from the darkness. their fingers flex at their hip. they do not lift. a voice, an honest to god voice, cuts through the crackle of whatever energy it is that they carry on their person:

" SO WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE? "

this is definitely not the captain. probably. no, this is the captain alright, but — not the captain he knew way back when! after all this time! WAITING! SEARCHING! SCREAMING YOUR NAME INTO THE VOID! and you have the gall to show up looking like this?

well. looking like this. wow. mm. those eyes, they sure do be looking. green? or — hm. could have sworn.

gin really just stares for a second. there’s so many things he’s had planned to say. (scripts! they had scripts! plural! scripts worth of passionate and well-thought points to pull from!) a lot of that’s blown completely out of the water by the strong, confident voice that comes out of the tiny, frail little frame. where’s the orphan waif? where’s the ghostly, wafting hair? sickly, victorian, washed-out, paper-thin? porcelain doll? LOOK AT YOU! you! you! roses in your cheeks, golden sheen to your hair, green! green eyes! you’re so beautiful. so goddamn handsome.

they do try to speak before too long. manage a gasp and a sort of cough. “captain.”

IT’S YOU. captain, did we make it? don’t let go! captain, please, no! left or right? no, wait, where are you going?! buddy! pal! amigo! captain! IT’S ALWAYS BEEN YOU.

( captain? )

“so you’re the captain!” captain in the way gin’s the engineer. you’re the captain of your fate! “oh, i can’t even be mad. just, just look at you!”

AND LOOK AT ME! gin laughs! sheer glee! utmost joy! you and your sour faces. you and your carefully kept distance. you and your hands, your perfect, delicate hands, wait, where’s the crystal. where’s? — my baby, my darling ship, the soul of her, where did you put it? did you fucking eat my warp crystal?

… i might be impressed. i’m not sure yet.

gin flings his arms out to the sides. “I’M SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR DOOM! but i don’t even think i have to be! look, look, look at you! you gorgeous thing, you! you made it out! i’m so fucking proud of you right now. darling, perfect thing. you’re wonderful. you’re amazing. YOU’RE A DREAM!”

AND I’M A NIGHTMARE!

(so we’re perfect for each other.) (hey, how’d you do that anyway?) (warp crystal. warp crystal. warp crystal. something important about the warp crystal.) (fancy a date?) (you’re moving too fast! woo them!) (oh, i adore you. love me. love me. love me. love me.)

starshine eyes, bright beaming face resolving into skin — a hungry void in engineer’s clothes. aren’t i ｄａｚｚｌｉｎｇ? aren’t i lovely?

“it’s me! you recognize me now, don’t you, captain? your loyal little pet, the head engineer?” you know, your friend? your pal? your sidekick? your slave? you remember that, don’tcha?

NO HARD FEELINGS. REALLY.

[pleasuretomeetme]

dare + "i dare you to let me get a dog."

Jonas flicks an apple seed that had fallen out onto the countertop toward Captain. “ You say that like I let you do anything, ” he points out, but there’s something else on their face that gives him pause. He takes a final bite off of the core in his hands and chucks it toward their compost barrel.

“ It better be a big dog, ” he tacks on, after a moment. “ That can do tricks. ”

[charofthestars]

kisses.

6. a kiss to the knuckles

" Look, are you going to keep fussing or are you going to let me help you? " Charlie crosses his arms over his chest and meets the Captain's steady stare for many long, drawn out seconds before they finally relent.

[ This is a waste of time. ]

" You can say that all you want, but you wouldn't have gotten this far if you didn't seriously want to learn. " Charlie rolls his eyes. " I can't believe the Captain is afraid of something like this. "

Their eyes narrow, and while there's a little twist of fear in his gut, it's outweighed by the calculated success he feels as well. They stalk toward him, and hold out a hand, glowering.

Charlie grins, and reaches out to take their hand, bringing it up smoothly to kiss the Captain's gloved knuckles. " It doesn't matter that you're shorter than him. You do that, and he's going to melt. Now. You're going to come closer, and my hand is going to go here-- " Dancing might not have been Charlie's strongest skill, but in the name of the Captain surprising their darling Engineer? He could certainly figure it out!

[thelightfalls]

@splittinghares continued from here.

“What a pity.”

But not a surprise.

Spun up in the nets of never ending tales. There are no conclusions to put those questions to rest. No rhyme or reason as to why it ends, only to begin all over again. But would it even matter if an answer was found at all? Would it provide relief? Would it sate that thirst for more?

How disgusting.

“You must be so tired of searching.”

So lost as you give yourself over piece by piece, all for a cause that is fruitless as it is to resist the bait. Hook, line, and sinker, a fish set on display within a glass maze, slamming against the clear walls of empty choices. Do not question your own fate as eyes peer in with delight.

You won’t like the answer.

“Would you not like it all to stop?”

[powcrhour]

         ◹     👁️    ( @splittinghares​​ )     asked;  whatever happens, happens to both of us. it’s gonna be okay. ( chase/marvin/any of them honestly? and either in ASL or as a note depending on how you hc their knowing ASL )

        The  note  presented  to  the  father,  takes  a  moment  for  him  to  read  through  the  tears  in  his  eyes.  Chase  was  embarrassed  by  how  much  of  a  mess  he  was  right  now,  instead  forcing  a  laugh  from  his  lips  as  he  wipes  at  his  eyes  and  cheeks,  trying  to  calm  himself  down  from  the  initial  fear  and  panic  that  had  gripped  him,  shaking  him  to  his  very  core.

             ❝ Oh-ah,  haha,  okay,  okay. ❞      He  tries  to  sound  like  he  agrees,  like  he’s  reassured,  but  it  sounds  like  he’s  just  trying  to  soothe  himself  still  instead.  He  still  didn’t  believe  their  words.            ❝ I  trust  you.  Not  that  I- ah-  wanna  do  this  still  but,  if  I  do  something  stupid  it’s  on  you. ❞       Chase  states,  finally  taking  a  deep  breath  in  with  a  sniffle  through  his  nose.  His  heart  hammered  against  his  rib  cage  and  he  was  almost  worried  he  might  have  a  stroke  or  a  heart  attack  right  then  and  there,  but  his  smile  doesn’t  falter  despite  it  not  reaching  his  eyes. 

[the-actor-himself]

hare frowns at the baby in their bassinet, wondering at — perhaps a bit cruelly — what sort of story you've decided to write for yourself, now. oddly, they aren't necessarily concerned for the well-being of the baby, as it would hardly be heroic of you to harm them.

pale fingers curl around soft swaddling blankets, hands shifting beneath their small body to lift them up and out. they hold the baby as if they aren't quite sure how, tucked against their chest — quickly shifting to support the baby's head the moment it starts to loll.

their expression is, as usual, nigh-impossible to read. but the sleeping baby doesn't stir, and the viewer simply — views.

Mark comes across them as he’s coming to peek in and check on the napping boy. He sees Hare standing by the crib and pauses - the flash of panic come and gone just as quick - before he nudges open the nursery door just a touch wider. The Manor had been accommodating, at least. When it was where it was supposed to be, the new room was attached to the master bedroom as well as the hallway, giving him the most ease of access.

Mark leans in the doorframe for several moments, watching quietly as his little star sleeps peacefully in the arms of his Viewer.

He knocks very gently on the wooden frame before he moves closer, lest he startle them too badly. “ Seems like he likes you. ” Or he was just napping deeply, but Mark couldn’t imagine his little star not delighting over Hare as much as he did.

[the-actor-himself]

should i tell them that hare only knows where babies come from because they picked up the wrong folder in your office.

“ I feel like that isn’t going to help me much, but then again, when does Hare enjoy helping me. ”