Swing Life Away

Travis, 25 years old. Currently unemployed and living in Alexandria, VA with my three sisters, my girlfriend (who I love to annoy), and my little dog too. I'm looking around at colleges in the city, hoping to get back to school and find something I enjoy doing. I'm also looking for part-time work, but since we just moved, I'm still turning in applications. I'm trying not to stress out about it all. I think we all needed a good change.

[travis--knight]

To those still following me:

So I left the para group I was part of. Someone suggested this group to me, and while I was hesitant at first, I decided to give it a try since I wanted to be part of a para RP group again. 

I wish the group best of luck, but I won't be rejoining any time soon, nor will I be joining any more recommended groups. That, unfortunately, was a big waste of my effort to make a character and time logging in to check to see if anyone noticed I existed, and it's not something I ever want to repeat again.

[travis--knight]

To those still following me:

The para group I decided to join isn't working out for me very well so far. Everyone's nice, but... It's just not the environment I thrive in. As such, I made my own group: Pinegrove University. I'd like to invite my followers to apply; it's a brand new group, and it focuses on plot development and making connections of all kinds. Thanks, hope to see some of you over there!

[travis--knight]

To those still following me:

So I might be getting back into para RP groups, but not on Travis. Stay tuned~

[travis--knight]

Waffles || Travis & Marianne

[marianne-kinsey]

"I know you don’t." She knew that very first-hand, as a matter of fact. Not to mention that he often said it to her as a reassurance, despite believing in him from the first moment he said it. Perhaps she was too trusting, but… no, not when it came to Travis. She wondered if having so much faith in him, or him having so much faith in her, would backfire on them someday. It was a morbid thought, really, because she knew she’d do everything in her power to make sure he wouldn’t lose his faith or his trust in her, and she trusted the same from him. Even so, she still didn’t want all her brothers there together.

"I know Charlie and Jacob won’t come by for Christmas, because they have inlaws and crap, but… maybe Andrew can come stay with us for the holiday? I mean, when he’s not flirting with everyone, he’s the best out of the three, I think. … Don’t tell them, that, of course," she whispered, eyes going wide for the shortest of seconds. But then her expression soured immediately as she prodded one of his shoulders with two fingers, pouting. "You’re so mean to me, Travis." Of course he really wasn’t, but if she pouted enough, maybe he’d hug her, proclaim just how nice she really smelled, take back his teasing words. Fat chance of that, but still. "Hey I called dibs on the shower first! I even got my towels!" Her nose crinkled as she pointed to her towels before peering back up at him. "I’d /hope/ you showered naked. Otherwise, you’d just be weird." She knew what he was insinuating, especially with that smile of his, but playing dumb was just pay-back for these jokes at her expense. "But I mean, if you’re scared of Walt checking you out when you’re in the shower, since I guess that’s the only reason you wouldn’t be totally naked, you can just lock the door."

[travis--knight]

"That works for me," Travis mused with a nod. "I don't think we've ever actually done a 'family' kind of Christmas before, so this would come pretty close, with your brother and my sisters." He smiled brightly and kissed the tip of her nose, his own wrinkling in dismay as she all but shot him down. "Weeell, I was hoping to shower with you, but I guess I'll make due this time. Probably for the better, I don't want to get all Herbal Essencey."

He turned to head out of the bathroom, but stopped at the doorway, eyes focusing on the door-frame. He wasn't sure why his mouth started running again; maybe it was just that in spite of telling her a lot of things, he kept a lot more in. He'd told her in bits and pieces about his life, about how things used to be, because he didn't want her to break under the pressure, but it wasn't always fair to treat her like a china doll. 

"You know... I never imagined having Christmas in my own house before, let alone with... With the girl of my dreams, and part of her family. It's so weird to think it's happening now. But, in a good way." His smile faded some as his eyes flitted away from the door-frame, to her. "Christmas actually always kind of sucked. It was the biggest time of year where I felt like a failure for not providing enough for my sisters. They'd always end up pawning off the stuff I bought them the year before to buy me something really nice, and then I'd repay them by working extra shifts and ignoring them so I could buy them something half-way decent in return. We didn't even have a tree or any decorations, our apartment always looked the same all year 'round." He rubbed his nose, a thoughtful, but tense smile, replacing the former one. "When we first left Baltimore, it was even worse. We didn't even have wrapping paper, we'd just trade trinkets and clothes we found at the salvation army. I always told them some day it'd get better, and some day we'd actually get to enjoy the holiday instead of dreading it, and... I guess that's where we are now. And I have you to thank for it." His smile brightened again. "I love you, Marianne. And honestly, you are and will stay the best thing I've gotten in my life all year." He chuckled, ruffling up the back of his hair and shaking his head. "Sorry I went all sentimental. Alright, take your precious shower."

[twaddlxr]

[emilia-lancaster1]

"Oh, it’s honestly great. I mean, it’s freezing out there because of the winter and all, but that doesn’t matter. At least, to me it doesn’t. It’s still fresh air."

"It was so much fun and then those creepy assholes invaded and now everyone thinks that that’s all it’s about. It’s even attracted the wrong kind of crowds and it’s certainly taken that whole family aspect out of the equation. Whenever me and my mom go, we kind of just go further down, and stay a while. Last summer, after my dad’s passing, we rented a house down there for the summer. It was a beach closer to Atlantic City, so it wasn’t as crowded with that … swine. I’m sorry if I come off harsh about it all, it’s just … it sucks when something so intimate and lovely, something you’ve pretty much thought your whole life would be unscathed, is completely defiled by people who don’t even matter. And believe me, I never say things like that… it’s just bs that it all works that way… — You really have a super mancrush on the guy don’t you? My cousin, he lives in Old Bridge. Went to the same high school Bon Jovi did. One time he told me there was a bookcase in the library that had his initials carved into it. He said it was like getting your hands on US archives. Hah. Some kind of national treasure."

[travis--knight]

I'll be sure to bundle up, then. Or bring a thermos full of hot cocoa.

I'm sorry to hear about your father. I can understand the anger, having good memories tarnished by jerkoffs who don't understand what it means to you. I mean, I was never close with my parents or anything, but I have places that I'd hate to be defiled by people with the IQ of a peanut. I'm probably obsessed with him more than I should be, but the man's amazing.  I'd kill for a personal autograph from him. I'm pretty sure Marianne's gotten sick of hearing all of my CDs by now, unfortunately, so I've moved them down to the basement so I don't have to plague her further.

[emilia-lancaster1]

"Yeah, everyone deals with it in their own way… It’s one monster that triggers all types of emotions and reactions, for sure."

"Well, I’m happy you have a place to call your own now, Travis. I don’t know much about you, but everyone deserves a home to go to at the end of the day. There’s no better feeling, I think. You should try it here, though. Walking along the docks, I mean. I do it all of the time. Helps me clear my head. Helps me write. Helps me think. It’s nice. …—- Jersey is nothing like other people say it is. People have simply just been misinformed. It’s nice. There are bad parts, but there are good parts as well. And the shore was somewhere to be during the summer. There was just something about being on the Jersey shore that I’ll miss the most, for sure. Probably just some distant memory of Bon Jovi playing on the stereo on the sand while reading a good book… but, it’s nice. So I take it you’re a fan? That’s awesome. I grew up on him, among many other bands. My dad was a fanatic."

[travis--knight]

I'll have to head down to the docks and check it out, then. Sounds like a fun time.

The creepy tans aside, the setting of the Jersey Shore actually looked really fun, with the boardwalk and everything. I don't think I'd do well on the beach, though. Pasty guys like me tend to fry rather than tan. Yeah, I'm definitely a Bon Jovi fan, though his new stuff isn't as great. His 90's and early 2000's stuff is really where he hit his stride, to me, though obviously his 80's hits will always be a classic. But he's an amazing man. He started up this restaurant/soup kitchen thing where people just pay whatever they want for a meal, and that's just awesome. It's always nice to see people don't let fame and fortune completely go to their heads. 

[emilia-lancaster1]

"Grouchy or reclusive huh? Those are two little monsters I deal with myself. Then again, I can’t really say I’ve always been that way. You tend to find out a lot of ugly things about yourself when that good old friend depression kicks you in the bum. I mean. Uhm. …—— Your reasoning makes much sesne. Who wouldn’t be?"

"Yeah, my mom was really particular about the whole house-by-water ideal. We never got to buy a house down the shore back in Jersey, then we had a whole mess of sorts happen within the family, then Hurricane Sandy happened, so we never got the chance. Then we come down here and she sets her eyes on this beautiful three bedroom abode with a view of the River Front in the back and we pretty much just took it. After we obviously bought it, of course. Heh. Monticello Park though? Never been. Sounds nice to live by a park…"

[travis--knight]

Heh. I get that a lot. Depression's a pretty ugly thing, I'm starting to find. I think everyone deals with it in their own way, though. Some better than others. But, I guess that's why people save it for therapy. 

I've never actually had a legitimate home before, so this is all new to me. I've been pretty much everywhere else, but I've never had a house to call mine. It sounds nice, though, being able to look out over the water and everything. I've gone down to the docks a couple times in Annapolis, to clear my head. I haven't done it yet here. I've never been to Jersey before. Was it pretty nice? I hear people give a lot of crap to it, but hey, Bon Jovi's birth place; it can't be all bad!

[emilia-lancaster1]

"There’s nothing wrong with being on your own. I mean, I can’t really talk because I’ve been in that boat for about a year now. I’ve kept to myself for a while… But, hey. You’re tryin’ right? You’re workin’ on it so its somethin’. Although, I wouldn’t have pegged you for someone who was tough to get along with. I’ve only been talking to you for about a few minutes now, and you seem rather personable."

"Ahhh, so just humanity in general. I can agree to that. At least, from stories I’ve heard. Never really had much of an experience other than loss and rejection, so I can’t really account to that. Maryland, huh? I actually used to go to Baltimore with my mom whenever she had business trips. Well, APA conferences. I’d just go with her and my dad usually… It’s nice to know things are lookin’ up for you here, though it’d still be nice to talk and share your own story. I highly doubt it could be boring. Everyone comes from different walks of life right? Things are sort of looking up for me, I think. But it’s way too soon to tell. It’s just me and my mom, now. We live over by the River Front and it’s …—- refreshing, to say the least."

[travis--knight]

It's not really a matter of trying. It's more that... I don't really know, actually. For most of my life, it was just me on my own, taking care of my three sisters, and now suddenly I'm living in a house in Virginia with two of my sisters and my girlfriend. I'm still not really sure how all of it happened. It just kind of... Fell into place together. It's good to know that I'm seen as personable, though. I've been told a lot of times I'm pretty grouchy or reclusive. Which, to be fair, I can be. I think everyone can when something's at stake.

We lived in one of the rougher neighborhoods, so Baltimore doesn't really have fond memories for me. It's somewhere I don't ever intend on going back to, if I don't have to. The River Front, huh? That's pretty nice. We looked at a few houses over there, but we ended up about three minutes from Monticello Park instead. 

[emilia-lancaster1]

"Did you think otherwise?"

"Oh, you have to be careful with girls too. We’re the most vicious creatures to have ever existed. Hah! Well, you seem like you were way beyond your years even then… despite what you may have gone through. Everyone has a story to tell, and I would love to hear yours one day. As for friends, there were only four of us. Like a little circle, I guess. I left them all in Jersey. Don’t have anyone here now. Just my mom."

[travis--knight]

I've been told I can be rough to get along with, at times. Not really because I don't like other people, but mostly because I'm used to being on my own. I guess it's something I'm still working on.

Ah, not all girls are vicious. I imagine there's about as many bad ones as there are bad guys out there. I don't think being a jerk-off has anything to do with what's between your legs. My story's pretty long and boring, so you'd probably want to bring a book and a blanket with you, heh. See, I'm backwards. In high school, I had no real people I called friends, but I'm sort of breaking away from that now. I just moved here a few weeks ago, myself. I was living in Maryland for a while, after I left Baltimore, but things were getting kind of hectic there, and there was a really nice house here in Alexandria, so we made the move. It seems like a good place, though. Definitely a major step up from Baltimore, to say the least. 

[emilia-lancaster1]

"That’s pretty much how she explained it to me, but she’s got the best of intentions. She’ll like you. I can tell already."

"Parties were never my thing either. I don’t go to them, ever. I’m not really drawn to the whole idea of getting wasted around a bunch of guys getting ready to take advantage of you. At least, that’s what it seemed like back in Jersey. Usually, whenever I was dragged along, I kind of just… became the designated driver. And my friends, well, that’s a long story to get into."

[travis--knight]

Good to know I'm likable, at least.

Down in Baltimore, it was more like the girls were trying to take advantage of you. It was crazy. I went to one of those high school parties, and the girls there... All they wanted to do was go upstairs and have sex. It's very flattering and tempting, especially when you're fourteen and your life is shit, but I couldn't ever bring myself to do it because they were definitely on something, and I don't deal with that. I never really had the kind of friend where I needed to be a designated driver, fortunately. Though to be fair, I didn't have very many friends in general, back then.  I had more important things to tend to.

[travis--knight]

Text ► Travis/Marianne

Marianne: omg

Marianne: thats so ridiculous i can't believe they just let that slide

Marianne: but... you know if we get a lawyer that might require liv to stand in court and talk about everything

Marianne: do you think you can do that??

Travis: i honestly don't know. i don't know how well she'll hold up but i'm so tired of this marianne.

Travis: i'm tired of people getting away with abusing and mistreating my sister and sticking her away in a closet like she's not important.

Travis: i'm not letting it happen anymore.

[emilia-lancaster1]

"No need to feel awkward, I deal with it all the time. That and I’m a patient of someone’s myself. I don’t usually tell anyone that, but you’ve kind of just confided your end in me, so… But, as far as sessions go, it’s usually by insurance for a psychiatrist. Other than that I think it varies per session. Like she doesn’t charge for the first three because that’s how you get to know her and develop trust with her as a professional. Then, depending on the form of treatment, prices vary. So if she’s medicating you it might be a little more. If you have a diagnosis, same thing. But, as long as I’ve known my mom to practice, she doesn’t charge more than $100 a session and that’s for extreme cases… As far as your pay; Lorraine would never take that away from you."

"Party introductions with me were always… weird. That reminds me of this time, not too long ago. My friends kind of dragged me along to a frat party and this guy came up to me, blond… cute. Not bad lookin’. "Thought you looked thirsty," he says… And I couldn’t help but respond with, "Probably not as much as you kid."… While it was a joke, he didn’t take it too nicely. Hah."

[travis--knight]

She sounds pretty good. A lot of the places I was looking at charged, like, three hundred per session, which baffles me. Help should never cost that much, but I guess that's just the society we live in. Everything has its price. 

I've never actually been to a frat party. Then again, I never really had a reason to. I went to a couple of high school parties back in the day, but I always felt guilty about leaving my sisters at home when they needed someone to take care of them. Besides, hooking up and getting drunk really weren't on my to-do list at the time.

[emilia-lancaster1]

"Relax there, buddy. She won’t ask for anything but your help and loyalty. You see, some psychiatrists aren’t always well meaning, and my mom is kind of trying to break that mold. You know, the whole ‘shrink’ stereotype. She’s a good lady, she won’t ever ask you to do such a thing."

"I don’t feel like such an asshole then. Hah. It’s a pleasure, Travis."

[travis--knight]

...Actually, if she could do something for me, I'd even take lower pay than $25 dollars. This is kind of awkward to just blurt out but, I've been looking into getting some sort of counseling or something for me and my sisters. I don't know about me, but I think it'd be good for the two of them to talk to someone. I'd take lower pay in exchange for sessions. ...Though with $25 dollars per hour, I suppose I'd be able to afford a session anyway. Depends on how much they run...

Nah, you should never feel like an asshole. Introductions are always sort of awkward unless it's the very first thing you say to someone, like at a party when someone's having you meet with someone else.

[travis--knight]

Text ► Travis/Marianne

Marianne: okay calm down you won't help any of us if you pop a blood vessel in your brain

Marianne: we'll get it taken care of okay?? that is so bad though they always called my dad when i skipped school

Travis: i'm trying i really am. i just want to punch someone in their stupid faces right now.

Travis: yeah no one called me until after they found her, or after the janitor found her it sounds like. those girls weren't even going to tell anyone where she was. what the fuck is wrong with them????

[travis--knight]

Text ► Travis/Marianne

Marianne: .... what? are you serious??

Marianne: that's such crap! they didn't do anything about it?

Travis: they tried to bullshit me into this not being a big deal and i'm not having a fucking single ounce of it.

Travis: i swear everyone in that fucking room had a screw loose in their head, they all thought this was just a normal thing that happens.

Travis: i'm so fucking pissed i can hardly see straight right now.

[emilia-lancaster1]

"Sneetches on the Beaches. I can’t with that one, really… but, it’s nice to know we agree."

"Well, paperwork and assisting my mom and such. She’s a very successful woman, carries herself very well, but she needs the help. And she knows how tough it could be to even help at times, so that’s why she’ll pay you as she sees fit with $25 an hour. Hey, if you even become interested in the field, who knows, she’ll even talk to the board and pay for your education. That’s how she did it with the last assistant. Look, I’m just tryin’ to help you out here, if you’re really interested."

"Which brings me to the embarrassment that I hadn’t even introduced myself. I’m Emilia, by the way. Emilia Lancaster."

[travis--knight]

No, I really am interested. That sounds good. Almost too good to be true. She's not going to, like, ask me for a kidney in return or something, is she?

Ah, don't be embarrassed. I always suck at introductions. I'm Travis. Travis Knight. Nice to meet you, Emilia.