midnight blues and blacks which look endless like a raven’s wings. she could sing the poem from her lips and dance along the tightrope of the VOID— whatever that meant. bleeding lips in two ways that reflect such strongly bound roommates. her berry lipstick seeming to smudge outside the lines, and crimson beads threatening to poke from friday’s match. her mind trapped in an endless wheel of colors. typically trapped in sights of vibrance and sunset metaphors, she finds herself roped into night skies and shimmering lakes under the moon.
she thinks of nat king cole and dancing. she wonders why she’s so dazzled. not even pocket square and bow ties would do this. formalities were for galas and galas were for real adults. instead she came home to slacks and something deep, blue in a way that wasn’t melancholic but charming. seeing someone very day in sweats and jeans, this was a change of pace and she hardly remembered howard waiting patiently to be unhooked from his leash. there she stood after coming back from group therapy to see him collecting his wallet and keys.
considering logic— and while most logic was broken in her mind— she could only imagine one option for such lovely attire. “ are you going on a date? “ she speaks out to grab his attention, and he looks up. pale skin against a cool blue and she sees his split lip stick out even more. the only source of visible warmth on his whole body— the sign of beating life; humanity and fragility. she imagined anyone he would be seeing would find it comforting. no men are immortal. no men are immune to brutality.
her eyes peel away so she can set her purse down, and unhook howie so he can go sit on the couch. zebby slide out of her heels so she can walk up to austin. there were only light traces of purple under his eye, one that, to the right person, would look like an angry sky. she could study the blue veins peaking underneath and she almost told him of her vision, but she refrained, looking back down at his shirt before raising and eyebrow. “ silly, you can’t have this buttoned up all the way. “ she smiles, her fingers reaching to release the top two. “ you’ll look like a loser. “ she blurts, her eyes watching as her fingers feel the fine fabric, fixing the state of the shirt so it was meticulous and appropriate. she could tell this wasn’t a cheap shirt, feeling it glide under her thumb. her eyebrows knit together as hairs raise from the back of her neck. “ i like this shirt. “ she says quietly, now touching it for the sake of touching it. boundaries, she had to remind herself, pulling her hands away from him so he could be on his way. “ you look nice. “ she smiles, tearing her eyes from the color of seas at midnight, and the color of summer insects purring after dark. “ please text me if you wont be coming home tonight. “ she leans up to give him a kiss on the cheek, a hand bracing on his shoulder. the fabric still feels cool on her hand and it’s chill all over again. “ have fun. “ she beams, stepping back to establish more space. “ be safe. “ adding the last bit as just a reminder, one she always gave if he were going out.
she still felt the chills down her spine when she walked past him to her room, howie not far behind her. she thought of candle lights and pearl smiles. of frank sinatra over stereos and light flirtations. midnight blues and deep plums. her brain swam in romanticism and she began humming strangers in the night as she took out her earrings.
[ 3:14pm ] thomas i’m so sorry but oscar ate miles’ lego so i have to take him to the vet[ 3:14pm ] is there a way i can bring miles to you?? i’m so sorry about this!!
twelve ; what is an inaccurate hollywood cliche about your line of work that makes you cringe every time you see it?
“i don’t think there’s many hollywood cliché’s about working in lush. but i think that one would maybe be that we’re eclectic? we don’t all have blue hair and facial piercings.”
seventeen ; if someone were to take over your body this very instance, what would you need to brief them on?
“presuming they already know the basics, that i’m a vegan etc. they should probably know that i have a papercut in the web of my pointer and middle finger.”
twenty-nine ; what’s the most useless thing you still have memorized?
“the periodic table. but maybe one day it will be useful? hopefully.”
“TOMMY BOY,” she breathed into the corner of her phone, a slick grin wet on her face as her emerald irises danced in slow motion. “i miss you! i can’t believe i’m out here in the middle of san diego –– drunk! –– and you’re not here to escort me home or hook me up with a random stranger!” all sound is cut off for a moment, as a sudden fumbling to reign in focus again makes it clear she had accidentally thrown her phone. “whoopsie poopsie, i’ve got a crack. looks like i’ll be seeing you tomorrow for this one! i love you, don’t be a stranger!”
