๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ? - ใ ๐ผ๐พ๐ณ๐ด๐๐ฝ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ต๐ฐ๐๐ด ๐ ๐ด๐๐๐ด . ใ trigger warnings , use of the r word because these characters simply do not care ! characters โ writer . this is a lazy little drabble to get me back into the swing of writing as a whole so you legally have to be nice to me .
exhaustion had coraline dropping to knees in relief the moment camp had been set up ; her squad instantly followed suit , a collection of sighs forcing passed lips in a near perfect harmony . she loves moments like these ; where she can slow down her busy life and really enjoy the moment , reveling in the accomplishment that she made through another day . she stretches out against the fn loor , placing a bag under head for a makeshift pillow ; making a content noise as she feels bones crack , giving some sort of escape from the tense muscles and heavy bones .
the mindless chatter of others fills the space , tired sounding and continuing the conversation despite half lidded eyes threatening to close and end the day . others on their phones , or staring at nothing . coraline had her hand over her eyes , leg hitched on the floor as it slowly rocked to a beat no one else could hear ; enjoying the feeling of her back on the forest ground ; peaking every so often to watch the darkening sky and steady dancing of leaves ; keen ears going from listening to her squad mates to the singing of birds , the rustling of trees , the deer in the distance shooting off the moment it realizes it's crossed into , for the night , human territory .
" why did you join the military ? " carter had his phone out , pushing it into the faces of those he questioned . emily is his first victim , cheek in her palm as head poked out of unzipped tent . a small hum in thought - though a quick forming smile appears on lips before the response is ever spoken , hazel eyes staring up at the camera .
" my mom said : get a job or get out . . . so i - i did both " a sheepish look crosses features , though face bundles up in held back laughter . several people laughed along with her .
" you're next, ry, why did you join ?"
ryan sighs through his lips , head lolling back as he shrugs awkwardly from the way he was laid " i dunno , man " he confessed " i'm just a fucking idiot, i think "
" nobody's gonna be debunking that one anytime soon " carter responds
" oh , fuck you ! "
" your insults are as good as your aim - "
" still beat you at the one on one though , didn't i ? "
" there they go again " emily sighed, face nuzzling into the uncomfortable fabric of the tent as her bed mate beside her made an annoyed sound ; nicole turning slightly beside her " they're fuckin' annoying" in which emily made a small 'mmhmm' in agreement , " s'not like you're any better "
" true , but i know when to shut the fuck up ; unlike some "
the argument eventually fickles out as carter resumes his continued question , coraline doesn't need to open her eyes to know carter has decided to pick on her next - sighing heavily in preparation . he kicks the sole of her boot , she doesn't move , only playfully lifts her leg to kick back at him, making a decent connection to his ankle .ย
" your turn, cat - " he asks , camera aimed directly above her as she smiles ; holding back the laughter in an attempt to act annoyed "why did you join the military ?"
" oh , man , loaded question " eyes peer open , scrunching slightly as the light was harsh against once closed eyes ; blue hues straining to look into the camera for a moment " uh - " she knows they weren't after an actual response , short and sweet , but she still couldn't stop the reflection of thought . it was a whim of a choice , something that simply happened - she doesn't regret it in the slightest , it was the only good choice she made in her life - but it was still a quick series of events that even she couldn't remember .
" i was suuuuuper high " it was more complicated than that , but it didn't erase the fact the idea popped into her head when on a bender . cackling ensured , contagious enough that she couldn't help but join in with them too - eyes creasing in the corners with the smile , sitting up as arms wrapped around her knees " on meth , specifically "
" - jesus , meth ? " emily's tone sounds concerned , but coraline merely shrugged . carter grinned down , moving the camera slightly away from her face . eyes trailing over her slowly , taking in each detail .
" you don't look like a meth head - shouldn't you look like one of those dare before and after ads ? fucked up skin and teeth - lookinโ straight out of a tim burton movie ?ย "
" oh , so you're saying i should look exactly like you - ? " she jumps up , plucking the phone out of his hand ; another chorus of laughter , especially from ryan - a loud snort ringing out that fueled the fire - though coraline continued " looks like i dodge a fucking bullet - " turning the camera around to face carter , who was complaining ; though the words landed on deaf ears as coraline began to work with the camera , making sure it was unblurred and could see his face clearly .
" your - hey shut up for a second, idiot, it's your turn - why did you join the military ? "
" honestly ?โ he grinned as eyes laid expectedly on him , nothing could've prepared coraline for the answer โ it was this or prostitution , i wasnโt ready for that - โย ย
โ oh my god - โ coraline wasnโt expecting that response , a small fit of giggles slowly breaking through ; trying hard to stop them , however once again it went in vein , carter owned it , arms held out in his admission .
โ i wasn't ready to go down that road - too young , too pretty - they would've eaten me alive ! โ
" please , more like you wouldn't make any money . you'd be like those fat hookers that are left over on the street that no one wants to pick up but fuck it , a lays a lay , who cares how you feel when you wake up - "
" um - " coraline blinked , staring over at ryan ; eyebrow quirking " you had him in the first half but that continued to be waaay too specific - "
" yeah , do you wanna talk about it ? " emily asked , faux concern as eyebrows knit together " this is a safe space . "
" i'll just talk to your exes , i'm sure its a feeling they relate to . " ย
โ well - โ coraline begins, clicking off the camera and throwing it towards carter who only just managed to catch it . listening to the new wave of arguments that just sparked to life , a smile planted on lips ; it's soft , content , for the first time in a long time coraline truly feels like she can call herself happy โ good to know we're all retards , that's why we're here - โย
carter shoves his phone in his pocket โ yeah , sounds about right . some more than others , but overall . . . yeah ! โ her head shakes , pushing him by the shoulders away from her as she retreated back to her spot , " you sound too happy about that , now fuck off , will you ? i want to try and get some sleep , i can't do that if you're pissing everyone off . "
