#undenial

[ubcs]

' what am i supposed to do with this? '

"Ideally?" grinned into the gear loaded interior of an open Umbrella-patched duffel, sorting the cache within. From the bag, victorious and eager, his hands emerge, working a knife over the unchewed end of a pencil.

Curls of wooden shavings fall by his boots, going soggy in the damp, dank of the day. "You turn around, hand me that, and let me use your back to write on. I won't stick you with any kick me signs — promise."

James makes for a passable clipboard: map spread out across his shoulders, paper splayed taut by the mercenary's glove and forearm. "So, what's this woman like? The one that we're looking for?" Annotations are made. Dashed pencil marks added to illustrations of main roads: A yet-traveled course, hazards unknown.

[hvnsnight]

       ❝ james ?  you're-- ❞      spacing off again.    it makes her uneasy.   as if maybe he might realize how her skin is not her own if he thought too much.  it's too easy for her to step closer with no consideration for his personal space, assessing while also trying to pull him from that damned mind of his.   ❝ hey.  look at me. ❞   she tries to coax.   focus on  her  rather than his thoughts. rather than that dead wife he thought so often about.

        ❝ keep it together.  this place  ..  it's--  ..  i heard something. ❞   maria turns to one of the doors.  locked.  unlocked.  she doesn't know  -- she wouldn't go near it without his protection.   ❝ in there. ❞

@undenial.

[hvnsnight]

' some things we forget, and some things we can never forget. it's funny… i'm not sure which one is sadder. '

       ❝ feeling sentimental ? ❞     when isn't he thinking about mary, she supposes.   given a moment to breathe, she seats herself on a box.   mary, mary, mary.   the name pricks at her, like salt in the wound.   she is, after all, a pale imitation of the real thing even when she insists otherwise.   it was a reality she refused to accept.   ❝ ugh  ..  my feet are  killing  me. ❞    she groans to no one in particular ; body lightly slumping and her fingers pressing against the back of her boots as if it might relieve her of the ache.

          ❝ are you thinking about her ? ❞   her head tilts and she sits forward, gaze settling on his face.  scrutinizing as if she might peel apart the layers and see into his mind.  how sweet that must be, maria thinks with a tint of bitterness.  to even have memories.  to actually be human.  to not simply be a ghost.

[omniterror]

the  sweet,  intoxicating  aroma  stirs  her  awake  as  @undenial  places  the  vase  on  the  windowsill  beside  her.  it  was  just  after  daybreak;  the  light  of  the  sun  shimmering  through  the  half-drawn  curtains.  golden  hair  cascades  upon  her  shoulders  like  soft,  silvery  threads  and  she  smiles  when  she  sees  him.  curious  brown  eyes  peer  up  to  see  the  white  lilies  and  her  face  shines  even  brighter.

❝  oh,  did  you  really.  .  ?  ❞  palm  resting  on  her  chest  awestruck,  and   still  so  ever  in  love.  before  she  can  reach  to  touch  their  soft  petals,  she  feels  her  throat  constrict.  knuckles  breach  to  cover  her  mouth  before  another  coughing  episode.

they  said  it  was  just  the  common  cold,  but  why  does  she  taste  so  much  iron?

❝  so  that  explains  why  you  were  gone  so  early.❞  a  more  subtle  yet  teasing  grin  this  time,  shuffling  to  sitting  upright  on  the  bedside  once  she's  caught  her  bearings.  ❝  they're  beautiful,  james.  .  .  thank  you.  ❞

[jasmineb038]

This is meant to touch you.

[everythingenchanting-blog]

"It's not denial. I'm just selective about the reality I accept."