[vodkacrxnberry]

( #VODKACRXNBERRY ) — dependent mumu blog for armageddonfm muses. ╱ musings. ╱ queue: 00. ╱ drafts: 00. ╱ inbox: 00.

[vodkacrxnberry]

muse: opal montraist, sector eight grave digger, the damned. status: open for arma ╱ prompt: opal's apartment, or y/m's apartment.

something small clatters against the tabletop, a collection of small, white fragments spreading over the scratched surface, briefly forgotten. seemingly unbothered by [ . . . ]'s presence, opal remains entrenched in the scrap of paper on the table, frantic scribbling, and soft mutters filling the otherwise empty silence. after a few more moments of ignoring their presence, her head lifts, blue hues narrowing. ❝ hey. ❞ a beat, brief and fleeting. ❝ can i see the inside of your mouth? ❞

[vodkacrxnberry]

muse: tati wright, sector five history teacher, the society. status: open for arma ╱ prompt: library, or bookstore !

two books weigh heavy in her hands, whether from the weight of the pages themselves, or the weight of her indecision, even she can't be certain. dark eyes are trained on the covers, before approaching the figure to her side. ❝ excuse me? ❞ a wave of her hand, and a bright smile are offered. ❝ have you read either of these? i told myself i could only get one, and now i'm stumped. ❞

[vodkacrxnberry]

muse: ej videl, sector ten bartender, the bearded lady, rust && ruin. status: open for arma ╱ prompt: utp, outdoors ╱ bike fixin !

❝ son of a bitch, ❞ exasperation roots within his voice, grease stained towel hurled at the shell of his bike. it hadn't been a shell this morning, but now with varying chunks of the engine splayed out in disarray, that's all it qualifies to be. a shell. "can you hand me the 8th." a vague point, over the side of his shoulder. then a pause, as they glance back. ❝ nah, nah, nah - other one. ❞

[buriedwithit]

"oh, really?" soren can relate, to a certain degree. his own had made it so that most of his life, he had gone without a pair of thumbs. but even among his own clan, there are differences that make life a little more complicated for him than the rest. he's unable to spit fire, to begin with—that's the biggest hurtle, leaving him more vulnerable. his other concerns... he's mostly addressed, in one way or another. "that's nice, though. good practice for your coordination." his too, of course. "but you say that now. you sure you won't change your tune when you're eating this for the next several weeks?"

[vodkacrxnberry]

❝ i didn't understand it for a really long time, it's - i'm poison to most people. so it took some time to figure it out. ❞ herself, included. which had been the downfall of most of their childhood. "but, it was worth it to learn, i think. what about you? feeling the spirit of love, and cooking, yet?" understanding mercury as a young girl had been difficult. " great practice, and you get a treat out of it. there's really no loss involved. " a glance to their clothing is spared, in all their flour doused glory. okay, moderate loss. "can i tell you a secret?" what's to come is hardly a secret, more the promise of something shared. it's what kitchens were for, in her mind, the promise of good smells, and hopefully decent recipes, and something shared. ❝ i don't think i could ever get sick of it. . . it just gets better with time, you'll see ! ❞

[buriedwithit]

"but you know... something?" anything is better than nothing. that's a lesson beaten into the people that live in the wastes from just about the moment they're born. he doesn't expect perfection from someone who has to be unfamiliar with dragon physiology, but any stepping stone is a move in the right direction. "i don't need you to be an expert by tomorrow. you've got months before they're even laid, and then there's the whole hatching process..." pausing, soren realizes that he doesn't need to over-explain. that isn't the information, he doesn't think, that adrian needs to know. "you've got time, is what i'm trying to say."

[vodkacrxnberry]

❝ i know a little, ❞ and he knows how to research, which is more than he can say for some of the people in his department. the timeline is looser than he imagines, and the misplaced weight lifts from his shoulders. months. he can work with months. pull back on fights, and spend less time twiddling his thumbs on his breaks. " great, we can work with time. just let me know what you need. " stress melts away into a smile, tugging the corners of his lips with little fight. ❝ guess that means congratulations are in order? ❞

[buriedwithit]

"on hand?" max cocks a brow. "of course you know that," he finishes, snorting. "what, you have to keep track, right? for your allergies? that's tough, really. i'd hate to have to worry about whatever monstrosities we're keeping back there. bad enough i have to sleep in the freezer sometimes. by the way," he hesitates, grimacing; "don't, like... eat anything from here, okay? i hope you knew that already." a bit of advice in return for a favor. that's an even better deal than ej had started with! they should be thankful for his generosity. even if they do set the entire thing on top of his head, instead of being a normal person about it. "you know what, sure. you got it. thanks," he says, stifling a laugh and pulling the bag down to rest in his lap. much better. "don't tell me this was the last one."

[vodkacrxnberry]

❝ noooot loving the 'ej sticks his dick in peanut butter' energy you're putting out here, my man. ❞ feigned offense causes a hand to thud against his chest, reverberating against the hollows of his ribcage. ever the dramatic, and ever the clingy beast, he shrugs, shouldering their way in beside max once again. "you sleep in the freezer?" its his turn to cock a brow, head tilting to the side. "is that sa-" safe, is the first instinct, before the realization of exactly who he is speaking to crashes over him. "sanitary. . am i gonna find blond hair in the pretzels? is that why i shouldn't eat them?" a shimmy of his shoulders, as if he wasn't annoying enough when he was still. ❝ nah, like three left back there. or four? i wasn't counting. was i supposed to be counting? ❞

[buriedwithit]

"i like to think i've got other good qualities than just a beating heart," he sighs, a tad on the dramatic side. "but if you insist, i'll give it my best shot. i'll use all my god-given effort to be only become seriously ill in your flat, not go belly up. there, satisfied?" as opal pulls away, ezra gives the fungus a more scrutinizing look. could he pull it up? more likely, it would break... but so what? maybe they would end up with two. fungus is like worms, isn't it? "sure i could, no sweat," he declares, reaching down to take the pulsing organism in his hand and yank upwards. a surprising amount of resistance fights back. stretching almost like taffy, ezra gives a considerable amount of effort before it seems to pull itself out of the ground, a web of tentacle-like roots splaying limp down his arm. "disturbing," is how he notes the experience.

[vodkacrxnberry]

❝ you're very good at maiming, and eating probably toxic zombie plants. ❞ the poor excuse for a compliment is offered with a grin. "i appreciate your dutiful effort to saving me from hauling your ass out of my place." or turning him into a statue. a memorial of sorts, maybe, though if the plant decayed through him, there wouldn't be much left to memorialize. trials, and tribulations for another day, and another opal. "no sweat." hands find her hips, curious eyes flicking between ezra, and the writhing flora. "eugh." it's instinct, gagging as the plant stretches and pulls against his efforts, springing back up like a curl on picture day. "fuckin gross." her disgust is marred by excitement, coexisting with ease upon pale features. light steps spring her closer, much like the plant, hoping for a better look. without much forethought, a hand hovers above the web of roots, half expecting the warmth of life, as it lingers. ❝ wicked. ❞

[buriedwithit]

clicking his mandibles together, hunter ends his contemplation with a shrug. "sure, light it up." they seem more eager to perform than he is to receive, but that's not uncommon here. despite being so full of people, sol city is also very isolated. since being here is supposed to be like a vacation, he might as well oblige.

[vodkacrxnberry]

❝ hell yeah, that's what i'm talkin 'bout, no one ever lets me light shit. ❞ the last of it trails off into a mournful tone, not that anyone in their right mind should trust them with a lighter, let alone to light their drink. the small, burning flame is thrust outward, fire catching atop the surface of the drink. his arm retreats, curiosity, and the reflection of fire alight in dark eyes. ❝ c'mon. ❞

[buriedwithit]

the reflective sheen seems to retreat, leaving them looking relatively human. he doesn't immediately glance back their way, but slowly his apprehension fades. nothing to do with her, but he doesn't mention it either way. "a little. if you don't mind..." he trails off, gesturing with a long claw past her. "i'm trying to get home."

[vodkacrxnberry]

❝ a little, ❞ she repeats, with some humor. at least he's honest, if odd. then, heels click against the road with each step back. "of course," a curtsy accompanies their words. at least a poor mockery of one. ❝ your chariot awaits, good sir. ❞

[deservedfate]

nothing but blackened teeth by cassandra khaw sentence starters

how the fuck are you this rich?

like that makes this any less ridiculous.

you shouldn't ghost people, dude. it's bad manners.

i didn't think you were actually going to come.

i've apologized. i tried to make it up to you.

i'm not going to throw myself off a building because you were trying to be nice.

i think this is all a mistake. us coming here. us being here. i think we're going to regret it.

this isn't creepy at all.

i don't know. i lost my temper.

i don't have an opinion on this.

you're right. i don't fucking know what came over me.

you know, we don't have to like each other but you don't have to be a bitch.

that's what i get for trying to be nice to you.

if it helps, i wish you weren't here either.

what are we waiting for? let's check it out.

there's something wrong with this place.

i don't give a shit about those idiots.

why the hell did you run off like that?

it's not your fault. you're allowed to be happy.

if you're going to be an asshole, get out.

we're going to die here.

always the hero, aren't you?

are you listening to yourself? do you have any idea how melodramatic you sound?

grief makes us worse people.

you broke my fucking nose.

[mcflymemes]

PROMPTS FROM RICHARD SIKEN'S POETRY *  assorted lines from richard siken poems, some slightly adjusted to suit a roleplay format, adjust as necessary

sorry about the scene at the bottom of the stairwell and how i ruined everything by saying it outloud.

something's not right about what i'm doing but i'm still doing it.

the enormity of my desire disgusts me.

i woke up in the morning and i didn't want anything, didn't do anything, couldn't do it anyway.

i couldn't make you love me and i'm tired of pulling your teeth.

this is not harmless.

damn if there isn't anything sexier than a slender boy with a handgun, a fast car, a bottle of pills.

okay, so i'm the dragon. big deal. you still get to be the hero.

there are many names in history... but none of them are ours.

i had a dream about you.

let me name the stars for you.

kiss me.

here i am, leaving you clues.

what do you want, sweetheart?

just mash your lips against me.

we are all going forward. none of us are going back.

i swear, i end up feeling empty, like you've taken something out of me and i have to search my body for scars.

you wanted happiness.

the truth is complicated.

i should have known.

tell me how all this, and love too, will ruin us.

the way you slam your body into mine reminds me i'm alive.

monsters are always hungry, darling, and they're only a few steps behind you.

i crawled out the window and ran into the woods.

i had to make up all the words myself.

i made this place for you. a place for you to love me.

if this isn't a kingdom then i don't know what it is.

i wore his jacket for the longest time.

you're trembling.

i feel like i've done something terrible.

i'm trying to choke down the feeling.

i've discovered something i didn't even have a name for.

eventually something you love is going to be taken away.

it is finally happening to you.

i am falling to the floor crying.

i realize i didn't paint it very well.

we have not touched the stars.

tell me we'll never get used to it.

sorry about the blood in your mouth. i wish it was mine.

if you love me, [name], you don't love me in a way i understand.

someone has to leave first.

this is a very old story.

i'm battling monsters.

you say "i'll give you anything" but you never come through.

everyone needs a place. it shouldn't be inside of someone else.

you're trying to smile.

how much can you change and get away with it, before you turn into someone else, before it's some kind of murder?

imagine that the world is made out of love.

imagine a story where everything goes wrong.

hello, darling. sorry about that.

tell me we're dead and i'll love you even more.

i should have known.

no one will ever want to sleep with you.

i'm sorry i couldn't come to your party.

i'm sorry i came to your party and seduced you.

you want a better story. who wouldn't?

who am i? i'm just a writer.

let me do it right for once.

this doesn't look that much different from home.

you were crying, too.

you said i could have anything i wanted, but i just couldn't say it outloud.

okay, if you're so great, make it work.

i saved a plate for you.

please keep him safe.

i do believe his mouth is heaven.

i wanted to explain myself in an understandable way.

i'd rather quit. i'd rather be sad. it's too much work.

[buriedwithit]

"the kind that comes with more responsibility," he's quick to say, lips twitching with a smile. "but i hope you'll hear me out." opal is a valuable asset, if a little uncontrolled. that can even be useful under the right guidance. a little chaos, a little order—one grand design. "i want you to go with priscilla when she infiltrates the council building. there's a lot hinging on this mission being a success, opal... but i think that your presence could tip the scales in our favor."

[vodkacrxnberry]

responsibility makes her nose twitch, the corners of her lips dragging down into something like a frown. she holds her disagreements close against her chest, however, nodding along as he makes the simple request. listen. hear me out. she could give him this much, with as much solace she'd found within what he built. so listen she did. "you want me on an infiltration mission?" not just any, but the. the frown quickly shifts, quirking up into a smile instead. "fuck yes." her arms cross over her frame, throat clearing away the obscenities, and the smile that threatens to break her features further apart. ❝ i mean, sure. yeah. just tell me what you need me to do. ❞

[buriedwithit]

clearly missing tati's disgust, he hands over her things and makes sure that it's all in order. satisfied that her books aren't... broken... he pulls himself back up to a good standing position to accept her gratitude. "no problem. what happened, anyway? did you fall over? why didn't you just catch yourself?"

[vodkacrxnberry]

she's thanking her lucky stars that his feet are now separated from her belongings, though all she can think of is the stash of wet wipes in her bag. swallowing her dismay, she offers a smile - or, as much of one as she can muster. really, it looks more akin to a grimace. "i fell," she says, like it's obvious. her books are carefully held, purposefully away from her body. ❝ i don't - i'm sorry. do you always do that ? grab things with your feet, i mean. ❞

[buriedwithit]

"sure," like max is going to refuse the tip either way; "but you'll have to provide your own sunnies. we don't have them just laying around to waste, you know." swiveling to grab their order, he barely even bothers to shove the empty glasses to the side as he sets them down. "here, take them. don't worry about remembering shit. we all do the same drink when people ask us that. there's nothing special about it, hate to tell you." except that he doesn't. popping bubbles is about the only reason to work at the bar.

[vodkacrxnberry]

❝ oh, that's easy. ❞ a hand delves down, rustling around in her pruse, before retrieving a pink pair. a wave of them is given, before they're clipped to the collar of her sweater, dangling loosely over their chest. easy access, for the inevitable moment the week does catch up to her, and she needs to be settled against a wall. "that so?" it wasn't like she expected something show-stopping from the previous bartender, but it was amusing, the idea of a universal contingency plan. whatever was in the glass wasn't poisonous, and it was sweet. maybe her new go-to would be the surprise me special. ❝ well, whatever it is. you guys have good taste, it's good. ❞

[wagging-tongue]

“Holy shit…” With the kind of reaction they give, Ari might as well have told him the secret to the universe. “So you’re like uh.. a mercury mermaid?” Maki adds, tone unsure but still laced with potent admiration. Fish containing mercury is news to them - and they briefly wonder if Fins has traces of mercury in him too. “I don’t think I’ve ever met one before…” With a couple of thoughtful blinks, their memory hits them like a bolt of lightning. "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Maki, by the way. I'm kinda bad at remembering to introduce myself."

[vodkacrxnberry]

❝ mercury mermaid, exactly. ❞ not exactly. not at all, actually, but that doesn't stop the smile from lighting up their features anyways. "happy to be your first." cheery tones display nothing but honesty, despite being indicative of anything but. at the introduction, their glove is quickly slid back over their fingertips, secured against her hand, before extending it out for a handshake. "it's nice to meet you, maki. i'm ari." it was, despite the beginning circumstances. ❝ and, if it's any consolation, i did just drop my head on your shoulder, without asking your name. so, i think we're even. ❞

[buriedwithit]

"was your mom... used to that?" dealing with people without hands, that is. soren isn't so sure of that, but it doesn't take direct experience to make a good teacher. plenty of people in sol city have more than proven that, to the device he's wearing to the lesson he's learning now. "i know you're right, but i still feel like i need to try and be perfect. otherwise, what's the point?"

[vodkacrxnberry]

❝ well, no. not exactly ? ❞ the laughter that shakes her frame is light, all joy, as she dusts the flower off of her hands. " i was really uncoordinated, as a kid. my mutation made it a little . . difficult, so we had this. it's not. . entirely the same, but. i still think it's good advice. " soren's thoughts on the matter were heartwarming, in a way. admittedly, also wrong. but heartwarming, and they understood it to a certain degree. ❝ well, you know what they say. practice makes perfect. ❞