trapped and the water's rising

@wyntergknight

i would prefer not to be here

89 posts

So they were at a standstill on whose fault it could be. Fine. It wasn’t as if they’d really know either way unless one of them started gaining back memories of their drunken night. But it didn’t mean he wouldn’t continue to assume it was her fault in his head.

He rolled his eyes at the word. Even if it was a stupid joke, he wasn’t laughing. He was just hoping he didn’t spend a fortune when drunk purchasing his supposed-bride a ring.

Continuing to pick up around the room, Julian thought he’d toss all the trash when he heard Wynter. He wasn’t sure whether to be happy about the news or curse that it was in fact a real purchase. “Okay…” he called back to her. “Try not to lose it again.” The last thing he wanted was to see it, no need to be further pushed into the reality of the situation, but he did know he’d need to return it. They were better off returning it since it wasn’t as if they’d plan on staying in this marriage.

“I didn’t lose it, clearly! I just took it off and forgot that I did that.” It was hardly the worst think either of them had forgotten that morning. The marriage, after all, seemed like a bigger deal. Wynter turned her attention back to the ring. It’d be a shame to lose it but it wasn’t like she could just wear it. Then again, where better to keep it? She huffed a sigh, closed her eyes tight, braced herself, and then called out to Julian again. “Would it be super weird if I wore it until we get this all--” The ring, and perhaps its associated marriage--”Sorted out? I don’t have the box or anywhere to keep it, and I don’t want to damage it. Seems like the safest place is...well...”

She barely waited for his answer before slipping it on. It felt strangely normal. Wynter had a few rings she liked to wear and this one didn’t feel different. It just felt like a ring. It fit--perfectly, not that she wanted to think about that--and sat there on her finger, not doing anything special. She re-emerged from the bathroom, unconsciously keeping her hand behind her back so he didn’t have to see her wearing it. “So...now what?”

Her question was seemingly answered when her phone and Julian’s buzzed simultaneously. She checked it and it was a notification from their airline. Their flight--this afternoon--was on time. Meaning they were leaving in a few hours. Meaning they had just a few hours to sort everything out, pack, and make it to the airport. Crap.

“I didn’t lose it, clearly! I just took it off and forgot that I did that.” It was hardly the worst think either of them had forgotten that morning. The marriage, after all, seemed like a bigger deal. Wynter turned her attention back to the ring. It’d be a shame to lose it but it wasn’t like she could just wear it. Then again, where better to keep it? She huffed a sigh, closed her eyes tight, braced herself, and then called out to Julian again. “Would it be super weird if I wore it until we get this all--” The ring, and perhaps its associated marriage--”Sorted out? I don’t have the box or anywhere to keep it, and I don’t want to damage it. Seems like the safest place is...well...”

She barely waited for his answer before slipping it on. It felt strangely normal. Wynter had a few rings she liked to wear and this one didn’t feel different. It just felt like a ring. It fit--perfectly, not that she wanted to think about that--and sat there on her finger, not doing anything special. She re-emerged from the bathroom, unconsciously keeping her hand behind her back so he didn’t have to see her wearing it. “So...now what?”

Her question was seemingly answered when her phone and Julian’s buzzed simultaneously. She checked it and it was a notification from their airline. Their flight--this afternoon--was on time. Meaning they were leaving in a few hours. Meaning they had just a few hours to sort everything out, pack, and make it to the airport. Crap.

#vegas!au: julian

Julian could only nod and listen since he'd technically invited conversation with her. At least they both seemed to be in the same boat of not wanting to go broke simply because they were in Vegas. But it didn't surprise him that she had other plans. What did was the invitation to tag along with her.

He did only have plans to head back to his room. Probably sleep early so he had plenty of rest before their flight home. So it was weird that she'd want him around. "You want me to come along? That's not going to 'ruin your night' or anything, is it?" It wasn't as if Wynter had wanted him around before--there was a reason they'd barely spent time together even during this trip. Having her ask in general seemed like a weird peace offering. Pursing his lips slightly, he hoped he wasn't making a horrible mistake. "If you're sure, then okay, I guess..."

Now, to be fair, there was a very good chance Julian would ruin her fun. He was a professional fun-ruiner when he wanted to be. But he might also not, and she didn't have any reason to take the offer back. So, instead, she shrugged and did her best to give him a welcoming smile. "Only one way to find out, right?" she offered.

With that decided, she scooted herself over, even though he was already next to her. Like she was trying to make space for him but he already had space. Why was being nice so hard? "So, what're you drinking? Are you drinking?" Or are you going to be a stick in the mud? She didn't say that last part out loud, though, and she was extremely proud of herself for that.

#vegas!au: julian

Of course it fit the situation. He stifled a snort behind a closed fist, a corner of his mouth lifting up into a smirk. “Do you always choose books that fit the setting or is this just that special of an occasion?” It wasn’t like it was that funny, but it seemed fitting for her. His shoulders relaxed, leaning back more comfortably against the headrest. “I don’t mind mysteries,” he answered. “Less the death-related ones though. But in general I usually read more non-fiction books. Maybe an occasional sci-fi thing…”

Wynter shook her head, stifling a laugh. She wasn’t laughing at his suggestion--or at least not directly--but at the way he said it. Like maybe it was a friendly teasing sort of thing, and she liked that. “No. Well, sometimes, I guess, yeah. If i can’t pick what to read, it’s nice to have like a way of narrowing things down.” Wyn wasn’t a particularly picky reader. “Non-fiction, huh?” It wasn’t that surprising. Julian was so serious all the time. She couldn’t exactly picture him with a fun romp-style book. “Is it all, like, biographies of important people or history books about war?” She didn’t know if he’d take it teasingly like she meant it, but they were stuck together, so what was the worst that could happen?

Wynter shook her head, stifling a laugh. She wasn’t laughing at his suggestion--or at least not directly--but at the way he said it. Like maybe it was a friendly teasing sort of thing, and she liked that. “No. Well, sometimes, I guess, yeah. If i can’t pick what to read, it’s nice to have like a way of narrowing things down.” Wyn wasn’t a particularly picky reader. “Non-fiction, huh?” It wasn’t that surprising. Julian was so serious all the time. She couldn’t exactly picture him with a fun romp-style book. “Is it all, like, biographies of important people or history books about war?” She didn’t know if he’d take it teasingly like she meant it, but they were stuck together, so what was the worst that could happen?

#haunted!au: julian

He stared for a few seconds more before forcing himself to look elsewhere. Not sure how to take what he said, it left him feeling… Odd. Different. At least different than how he usually felt in her company. Because while he hadn’t thought he had seemed that different – it wasn’t as if his mom or Charlotte noticed anything was up – Wynter had noticed. “Well, thanks,” he ended up saying, still not looking over at her.

With both of their attention on the television for the time being, Julian tried to pay attention. But it was proving difficult when he felt like something had changed between them. He just wasn’t quite sure what that was.

“So…” he ended saying, suddenly not enjoying the silence between them. “What is this movie supposed to be about anyway?” Not that he cared, nor did he want to follow along to the plot of the film, but talking about it seemed infinitely better than whatever was going on.

It wasn’t like Wynter was really paying attention to the movie. She was so in her own head about her own nerves, whether she was being weird, that she didn’t really hear much of what was going on. It was only when Julian spoke, seemingly changing the topic, that she mentally returned to the present. “Oh, well...” She trailed off, trying to remember if she’d seen this movie before or even knew the plot.

After a moment, she made a decision. “I’m not exactly sure. I wasn’t really following. I think James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan are rivals at work, and then they both have a pen-pal so...I dunno what’s up with that yet.” She tilted her head to one side, considering the action on screen. “I think it’s one of those old movies where people talk fast in old-timey accents.” She paused, daring to take a glance at Julian. He looked...well, like he always did. Normal. She didn’t know what she was looking for. “We don’t have to watch it if you don’t want.”

It wasn’t like Wynter was really paying attention to the movie. She was so in her own head about her own nerves, whether she was being weird, that she didn’t really hear much of what was going on. It was only when Julian spoke, seemingly changing the topic, that she mentally returned to the present. “Oh, well...” She trailed off, trying to remember if she’d seen this movie before or even knew the plot.

After a moment, she made a decision. “I’m not exactly sure. I wasn’t really following. I think James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan are rivals at work, and then they both have a pen-pal so...I dunno what’s up with that yet.” She tilted her head to one side, considering the action on screen. “I think it’s one of those old movies where people talk fast in old-timey accents.” She paused, daring to take a glance at Julian. He looked...well, like he always did. Normal. She didn’t know what she was looking for. “We don’t have to watch it if you don’t want.”

#thread: julian #we can wrap this one up if you want

@wyntergknight

With classes done and some time to kill until he was heading home, Julian wandered around campus in search of a place to do some studying. Spotting Wyn and some of her friends, he considered walking right past like usual. But after their weird argument over text, he figured he was better off proving that he could treat her like one of his friends.

"Hey," he greeted. If Wyn or her friends were weirded out by his sudden appearance, he didn't pay much attention. Taking the open spot beside her, he took a seat and dropped his bag into his lap. Rifling through it, he started taking out some of his things only to glance up and notice eyes on him. His brows rose, staring back. "What?" he asked when no one seemed to say aside from look between him and her. One of them asked what he was doing. "Studying... What does it look like I'm doing?" Only for them to interject that they'd never seen the pair of them together before (outside of bickering anyway). Julian shrugged. "We're... friends."

Someone snickered behind their hand. Another turning towards Wynter. "Since when have the two of you been friends?" they asked.

Being in class and spending time with her friends had been an absolute balm for Wynter. She'd needed the normalcy and the routine and the pretending everything was fine that they allowed her. Wyn wasn't exactly lying about or hiding how bad things had been with the flooding, but she hadn't told any of them the extent of the bad either. It was nice because that meant they couldn't be weird about it. Ideal for an avoider like Wynter.

She was almost feeling like her normal self when Julian reappeared out of nowhere, joining her group of friends on the quad and disrupting her only recently built sense of peace. It wasn't that he did anything in particular, either. It was just that she was having feelings around him and she hadn't yet decided what she thought about all of that.

"Oh, y'know," she shrugged, trying to seem perfectly casual and brush off her friends' meaningful glances. "We're..." Wynter had little need to lie because she didn't care enough to lie. But she didn't have a good answer either. "Hanging out because of our moms. Turns out when we're both annoyed at someone else, we can get along." She turned to Julian, giving him a meaningful glance and hoping he could play along. "Right, Julian?"

#thread: julian

[ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: So are we okay or are you still mad at me?

[ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: we're probably ok [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: buttface

[ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: 😒 [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: Then why ask me? [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: How am I making it weird? I am extending an olive branch or whatever. You're being confusing.

[ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: you just are [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: never mind forget i said literally anything [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: sorry, it's better if i don't let you act :P

[ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: What? [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: Are you just baiting me to compliment you? [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: We're friends. We talk. Hang out or whatever. [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: I'll stop avoiding you out of the house now that I know that.

[ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: no if i wanted compliments i'd ask literally anyone else [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: i don't want you to make it weird

#text: julian #make it weird now? oh wynter just you wait #it's going to get much weirder lol

[ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: That's not just how I feel about you. [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: I wouldn't talk to you at all if I didn't like you. [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: So I guess technically we are friends

[ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: how do you feel about me? [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: technically friends wow i'm thrilled

#text: julian #wyn considered not sending that first one but oop

[ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: But you want us to be friends

[ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: i didn't want us not to be friends [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: but that was before i knew how you felt about me

[ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: I didn't think you wanted us to be friends

[ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: i don't want you to be a dick. [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: i don't want my house to be under repair. there's a lot of things i don't want

[ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: I'm not trying to be [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: What am I doing in public exactly?

[ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: not being my friend that's for fucking sure [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: but that's because we're not friends as you've made abundantly clear

[ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: It's not mutually exclusive [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: And it's not like you don't feel the same way.

[ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: well i'm not a dick to you in public so [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: or in texts [ unsent ] also i don't feel the same way

[ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 unsent ]: Are you being serious? [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 unsent ]: It's not like you're annoying all the time [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: I don't know what I'm supposed to say to that. [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: It's not like I'm saying I dislike you or anything

[ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: no you just said i'm annoying [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: that sounds pretty much like you dislike me

[ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: What? [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: You're not actually offended by what I sent are you? [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: ????????

[ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: no it was super cool and nice of you to say [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: totally great for my self-esteem

[ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: I find you annoying regardless if we're hanging out alone or not, so I don't see how that's any different [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: What am I doing exactly that makes it seem otherwise?

[ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: oh i see

#text: julian #now she's hurt lol

[ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: When you're acting like this, yeah. [ julian💩 → wynter👎🙄 ]: What's that supposed to mean?

[ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: exactly what I said [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: you don't seem to mind me when it's just us hanging out but when we're out it's like we're not friends [ wynter👎🙄 → julian💩 ]: it's some jekyll and hyde shit

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