Trigger warnings: child abuse tw, abuse tw, neglect tw, child neglect tw. storm tw, parental death tw, hunger tw, starving tw, homeless tw. (not current triggers but triggers that have been mentioned with Arthurs bg)
MUSE: Arthur Rasa Pendragon, 19 {currently 20}, male, he/him, occupation: homeless
PLOT: Tina and James skip Halloween and stay home, but after a storm, Tina unexpectedly volunteers for a town clean-up, driven by a need to fix things. While repairing a fence, she meets Arthur, a homeless young man new to town who has been struggling to survive after being kicked out by his adoptive parent. Desperate, he asks her for help finding a place to stay.
Though initially reluctant and wary, Tina directs him to a youth hostel and walks him there. When they arrive, it’s full, leaving Arthur with nowhere to go again. Despite her tough and seemingly cold demeanor, Tina’s conscience pushes her to keep helping—she manages to get the hostel to promise a future spot and ultimately considers calling her husband, a hotel owner, to arrange temporary shelter for Arthur, on the condition that he finds work.
"Tina," Arthur said, offering her a small, tentative smile. Though she seemed to struggle to keep the conversation casual, he appreciated her openness more than he could properly express. There was something in the way she carried herself, a quiet tension beneath her words, that made him feel as though she understood perhaps not him exactly, but something close to it. Maybe it came from someone she had known. He could only guess.
She grumbled, yes, but he wasn’t blind to the fact that he was an inconvenience. He chose not to comment on her uninviting expression. Instead, he followed a step behind her, shoulders slightly drawn in, his gaze lowered as though he were ashamed to be seen. Not because of her— Tina wasn’t the problem, never had been. It was Arthur himself. It always came back to him. He tried to manage on his own, always did, and yet somehow still found himself reaching out in the end, asking more of others than he ever intended.
And now, he had gone so far as to ask a stranger for help.
Still… perhaps not just a stranger for long. It was a small town, after all. If things turned out well, maybe this moment wouldn’t remain one of quiet desperation, but become the beginning of something gentler—something like friendship. The thought, fragile as it was, settled softly in his chest.
When Tina returned, relief loosened something tight within him as she explained they would contact her if a bed became available.
"But how will I—" He stopped short. Before he could finish the question, she offered to call thehotel manager herself.The words caught in his throat. It felt like too much to ask—too much kindness, too freely given.
"Yes! Of course, I promise!" The response came too quickly, driven by urgency rather than thought. He reached forward and took her hands in his, the gesture sudden, almost pleading —and just as quickly, he let go.
"Oh—sorry." The apology came out rushed, his voice unsteady. "I’m a bit desperate. I shouldn’t have touched you without permission. That was wrong of me. I’m so sorry… especially when you’re trying to help me."
Honesty Hour (From Tina ✨) Would you say the stick up your ass if a really long stick? Or is it like a short one, but it's got jaggy bits on it and that's why you're so grumpy? You should really see a doctor about that.
You might wish to see a professional about your utter and complete lack of humor and cleverness.
He was annoyed, he was super annoyed. Who would have guessed that taking care of the electricity would take more than a day. In fact it was already three days and James couldn't believe it. It was as if the gods were toying with him in one of their sick little games and he wasn't having any of it. He was glaring at pretty much anything and his mood worsened with each passing day. The ring box was still in his pocket but it felt like it was burning a hole through his pocket. He didn't get to talk to Tina much.
Finally he had enough of it, of the brats that complained about their rooms. About the brats that complained that they couldn't have warm food. They were without proper power, if they'd use a stove the power would cut off and apparently BBQ wasn't something they were willing to eat everyday. He was so sick and tired that he just wanted to walk into Tina's arms and well...cry.
Ella nodded her head. She was lucky in a lot of ways. Just not in love. She had a terrible luck when it came to love, yet she still hoped to find her prince charming that lets her be swept from her feet. She still believed that one to be Patrick but she couldn’t force him to love her, and he didn’t he made sure to let her know that he didn’t fancy her like that. He probably saw her like a little sister. Her whole face started to gloom again and she sighed.
“I wanted a makeover, but I’m not confident enough to rock a flashy color - so I thought why not go brunette.” Ella explained. She wouldn’t dare to dye her hair red or something. “And I don’t know - Maybe he prefers brunettes...” She mumbled to it wasn’t necessarily to Tina.
Jack had been going on a leisurely stroll when he heard a noise coming from an abandoned building, a large chain link fence surrounding the perimeter. He paused, scrunching up his face as he tried to pick up the sound again. Yep, there it was. He turned to the stranger next to him, a tiny blonde woman. “Hey, did ya hear that? Sounded like a kitten crying. We should help!” Without warning he started to climb the fence, not bothering to check if Tina was following or not.
Adam did what his psychiatrist had told him to do in moment like these. Wait for the anger to go away and ignore the issue at hand. That’s why when she started to yell at him he did nothing more than grind his teeth and unpack his first box.
It’s a quiet town love. His mother had said to him. What a joke. If this was quiet than his room was world loudest orchestra room. Honestly how rude could someone be? He looked inside the box to find out it was cutlery and plates.
Not something he could throw it seemed. He sighed deeply before walking outside again looking for the box that said clothes, trying to ignore the rude blond on the entrance of his driveway.
[ Placed atop Peter's pillow: A little cardboard trinket box, filled with candy and topped lovingly with a bow. A homemade card is attached, on which Tina had stuck a drawing she made when she was 7, of she and Peter in a tree house. It reads "To my best friend, love Tina x P.S. making fancy pasta for dinner, bring your strongest stomach! ♡" ]
When Peter originally saw the trinket box, his first thought was “Wendy?” but that didn’t make sense. How would she get into Tina’s apartment? He picked up the box and opened it, eyes widening when he saw the candy. He picked up the card next, inspecting it before recognizing the drawing. Tina. Of course. That made much more sense.
There was some disappointment, but overall he felt warm, glad there was at least one person in his life that still loved him and wanted him. He spent the rest of the day eating candy, missing the old days and grateful that Tina, at least, was still here.
It doesn't happen often but James was glad when it does, that he and Tina found themselves in his office either discussing work of actually working. Today however James kept stealing glances, eyes hovering over Tina like there was something he wanted to ask her.
It was as if the radio followed his thoughts because a rather cute song started playing and James found his way over to her. Taking her hand with a smile and a playful gleam in his eye.
