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tips for walking in an abandoned graveyard

if it’s dark, don’t shine your flashlight into the trees.

if a child approaches and asks you a question, don’t tell the truth.

you may find some harrowing artifacts (i found a ribbon on a tree and some bible pages) pick these up and keep them. they belong to you.

if you walk down a long, straight pathway, you will feel someone behind you. don’t look

you may see people in your peripheral vision; these are the spirits. they won’t hurt you.

if you wish to communicate with the spirits, do not do it alone. cast a protection circle. only ask polite questions.

you will feel bursts of dread and terror. ignore them.

don’t read too much into what the graves say. some things are best left unsolved.

research the history of the graveyard beforehand. you need to know what you might encounter.

some beings may not want you to leave. should you come into contact with one of these beings, leave immediately.

don’t read the hidden graves.

if you find a headless angel statue, don’t look for her head.

if you find a tipped over angel statue, leave her be. she’s only resting.

don’t listen to music. this will distract you from them.

don’t look in the bushes. you will find something that you weren’t supposed to.

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kingsley finds it perturbing that kieran is somehow related to nathan . kieran and charlotte ? he can see . but kieran and nathan ? there's no clear connection or alikeness , except perhaps their cheekbone structure . to kingsley , nathan is the perfect politician . bill clinton in the 90s -esque ' cool ' to anybody dumb enough to believe it . kieran on the other hand always speaks truths , hard jawed to understand why people do what they do . when kingsley stares at nathan ( which he does , long enough for it to turn into a squint ) , he can't differentiate how the two can be halves of each other . " damn , mr mayor . that's nice of you , and some shit . you pay your respects to everyone here ? i don't think i've ever seen you here before . " kingsley doesn't mean for it to be a dig , mainly just curious and surprised ( suspicion leaking back in as always ) . as nathan's eyes skim over the epitaph , kingsley finds himself frowning , leaning deeper onto his shovel that it cuts into some of the grass . one hand reaches up to scratch along the short coily hair growing across his cheeks . " would it be less of a shame if she was old ? " he questions aloud . kingsley shrugs , skinny boned , hard shouldered and glances along the graveyard . the headstones are plentiful , further then the eye can see , like some simba lion king shit . he's surprised at nathan's question . surprised that the mayor is trying to engage , because kingsley thought the both of them knew better then to try chat garbage to each other . " nah , i didn't know her . not really . " kingsley tells him , but allows his gaze to look back at her gravestone . " everyone said she was nice , though . she had a really generous service . " some people may not understand what makes some funerals more beautiful then others . kingsley himself would often find that to be a lot of hogwash nothing. . . but after working here for as long as he has , he can tell the difference between vainness and genuine love . ALAINA HAD PEOPLE WHO GENUINELY LOVED HER . " did you ? as the mayor . . or . . whatever . " he moves his hand in the space between them , eyes floating back up to where nathan's still haven't moved from her gravestone . a brief frown flickers over his lips . maybe he was wrong . this is the most human-esque he's ever seen the mayor .

〔　🦂　〕　　﹕　　𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻  𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀  𝗮  𝗹𝗼𝘁  𝗼𝗳  𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲,  and  he  would  like  to  asume  to  a  lot  of  people  like  him  (  after  all,  you  don't  become  friendly  neighborhood  mayor  without  forging  a  few  friendships  here  and  there,  genuine  or  otherwise  )  but  there  is  something  about  kingsley  that  makes  him  impossible  to  get  through.  conversing  with  him  is  like  throwing  an  axe  at  a  steel  wall;  you're  never  gonna  break  it,  and  if  you  aren't  careful  enough  it'll  come  back  around  to  hit  you.  “  i'm  just  passing  through,  thought  i'd  pay  my  respects,  ”   he  replies,  looking  down  at  the  grave  with  a  furrowed  brow,  tired  eyes  reading  over  the  epitaph.  “  oh,  but  it's  a  shame  to  though,  isn't  it?  she  still  had  so  many  years  ahead  of  her.  ”   he's  reminded  of  the  victims  from  two  decades  past,  of  casimir  and  ezra  who  were  around  they  same  age  when  they  perished,  of  heather  visser,  who  was  practically  a  child.  the  town  had  barely  healed  from  it  then,  so  what  does  that  mean  for  now?  “  did  you  know  her  well?  alaina?  ”

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Sorry it took me so long to bail you out.

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renee closes her eyes for a moment and can immediately feel like she's back in the life that she used to have . her and mattias were never going to work , she tells herself ( HAS told herself ) this numerous times . but it's still a shock to the system to see him here , now , of all places and all times . it feels vaguely embarrassing , like being caught trying to steal a loaf of bread . as he speaks , his voice still sounds the same as she remembers it . smooth and assertive . it feels warm as she allows it to fill the space between them . a quiet laugh escapes her as she reopens her eyes . " you still know how to flatter me . " renee informs him , with a bemused look . her heart pulsates in the way it always will when you see someone you knew you loved . mattias was good to her . he was sensitive and protective . he was confident and loud in the way he felt about her . her wedding ring feels heavy on her hand and she glances down at it , unable to prevent the reminder that in the end , she chose demetrius . she chose redcreek . she would still never swap that for anything else in the life or any other . " is your mother okay ? " renee asks , tone inflected gently with concern . at his sudden change in tone , the urgency there , renee feels her face crack . SHE STILL CARES FOR HIM . she doesn't want to hurt his feelings but . . . " no . " renee says , with a shake of her head . " no , i'm sorry , mattias . i'm still with demetrius . i have a daughter now . josie . she's incredible . " it's a rejection she wasn't prepared to give , was never GOOD at giving . as if for proof , she waves her hand slightly , the one with the wedding ring on it , connected right to her heart line . " it's really good to see you , mattias . " it always would be . her heart still feels remnants of what it used to , but nowhere near to the same extent . the fire has dwindled . it only exists for one man now . and he's not the man in front of her now . " but this is a . . . wild , unforeseeable coincidence . " another small laugh ripples through her . " i've lived here for a while now . i forgot you even knew of redcreek . " she gives another shake of her head . " i never expected to see you again . "

the urge to reach out and wrap her in his arms was overwhelming, but he managed to stay still, respecting the space she wanted between them. she's married now. the thought caused his fingers to close into fists. it wasn't fair. she was his renee, not some other man's. some man, mattias knew, who would never love her like he had. like he still did. as awkward tension filled the air. something unfamiliar between the two of them. mattias leaned his shoulder against the wall and took in the image of her. she was just as ethereal as the day he met her. "i'd say the same about you, but i'd be lying. time has been so kind to you. i didn't think it was possible, but you're even more beautiful than i've ever seen you." the space between them and the glint of her ring from a nearby streetlight were reminders that this was real, and not the same dream he'd been having since the day she left. "oh, a few months. wanted to spend sometime with my family. get to know elias more now that he's all grown up and help out my mother as she's gotten older." purposefully, he omitted the band falling apart. their hiatus and the ultimate day the band ended. he couldn't have her know that he was failure. he needed to impress her. "renee," his voice lowered as he said her name. "what are you doing in my hometown? did you come here to find me?" goosebumps ran up his arm, not from the cold air, but at the thought of her searching for him.

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kingsley shrugs , not too surprised that he isn't high on the list of suspects . he slows his pace slightly , finding his own long legs able to more easily match fawn's pace now that he's caught up with her . " i'm just saying , the whole idea that there probably are HEAPS of women serial killers out there but they haven't ever been caught cause they're smart ? it holds up . " he pauses . " not that i'm hoping people die . but we all know this life is a game anyways . you die and respawn . come back different . " kingsley does an one shoulder shrug that moves throughout his whole body at a tepid pace . as fawn speaks again , kingsley does pull a face in silent agreement . touche . this is why he and fawn can always get along . she bounces off him , can keep up effortlessly , and her brain works in the same manner that his own does . " anyone ever tell you how smart you are , fawn ? really . i think it's underrated . or misogyny . probably misogyny . " he informs . kingsley flashes a quick grin as they continue walking . he's been told that he'd make a great shaggy numerous times and he has to agree . while he hasn't watched that much scooby doo , he fucks with the dog and shaggy generally . " i dunno . i reckon velma's super hot . " kingsley feels the need to counter . he can't look at fawn and think of her as hot . it feels strange and beyond objectifying . while they're not similar in any sense , he feels the same way towards her as he would to tori . FAMILIAL . " where are we walking to ? "

fawn's head whips around as kingsley speaks up and she snorts, "i never suspected you, trust me, but i would support you if you were." she tells him as they fall into step together, lengthening her stride slightly to keep pace with his longer legs. "you're right, though, it's definitely some annoying white guy. but the idea of a hot girl or NB is a nice thought, y'know as i support women and queer people's wrongs." she may draw the line at serial killing, but it really depends on how hot the perpetrator ends up being. plus, maybe they have a really good reason — you never know. fawn hums, inclining her head slightly in thought, "yeah, i hear you, but boogeyman kinda gives me scooby doo villain and that's a little less scary than just saying 'oh yeah, the brutal serial killer tormenting red creek.' it could be somethin' scarier like... the red creek ripper. that's more threatening, i think." not that fawn will admit any fear regarding the situation. she has enough going on in her life to worry about. "you'd make a really good shaggy if we were doin' real life scooby doo." fawn muses with a teasing grin on her face, "i don't think i fit the velma or daphne archetype unfortunately. plus, i'm sexier than both of them, no offense to hanna-barbera or whoever the fuck." the thought evokes the memory of mornings, siblings sat on the trailer floor watching reruns of old cartoons as she tried to make breakfast, but she shakes the remembrance away quickly, "ritten can be scooby, just a lot more temperamental."

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kingsley has seen mina in front of people . she has a sureness to her , a confident way of speaking . it doesn't marry with the girl he sees when it's just them two , though . i'm not sure . i don't really know . the words trail out of her like the smoke pilfering out of her mouth , gasped into the night air then disappearing without a second thought . " quiet's good . " kingsley testifies , with a small , singular nod . the graveyard makes sense for kingsley . it always has . " what else do you find creepy ? black cats ? halloween ? " kingsley is a believer in things only having strength if you GIVE IT STRENGTH . and that's why he doesn't believe in anything . that's why his arms are like noodles , flapping in the wind aimlessly . HE HAS NO STRENGTH . but he also has no fear .

kingsley lets out a quiet hum to indicate he's listening . he isn't so good with the words , but he sure can always lend a good ear . " why wouldn't it be good ? " he questions , tone inflected with curiousness . he does shift his head now , so it faces her . the space between them is small , but . . . he erases that from his mind , too , keeps his eyes focused on her side profile , the careful bridge of her nose , the sharp cheekbones . she is beautiful . " that's the thing with places like redcreek . " he agrees. " i don't think we change . i think everyone else does . " kingsley moves his hands up , turning one into a fist . " this is redcreek . " he states , then uses his other hand to wave the air around it . " this is the rest of the world . we stand still , but everything else keeps moving . total purgatory , liminal space shit . "

" ⸻ i'm not really sure… " truthfully, she finds it difficult to voice her opinion, has to SPIN her thoughts inside her mind to try and make sense of it all. her hand reaches for the blunt, fingers gently wrapping around it before bringing it to her lips. she inhales, keeps the smoke inside her lungs for a while and exhales at the same time she DECIPHERS what she feels. " i don't think it's bad at all, just… too still, maybe? i guess i'm not used to this quiet. " after all her life has rarely been quiet, if it wasn't her parents screaming at each other ( or at her, depending on the day ) it was the big city with its own kind of cacophony, sometimes her own deafening mind. silence this peaceful was foreign and confusing. she was starting to feel light and careless in the pleasant way only drugs could achieve so she lets out a soft chuckle. " honestly, i really hope NOTHING was waiting for me… i doubt it would be for anything good anyways. " mina couldn't possibly imagine anyone GENUINELY waiting for her to be back, or even happy about it. except maybe… well, he's laying right next to her. " it is kinda weird though, feels different but the same all at once. or maybe it's just me that has changed… i don't really know. "

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renee leans back in the bar stool and contemplates a second glass of wine . she is practical and practiced and refrains from having more than one glass in public for many reasons - but most of redcreek being a present or past client is the MAIN ONE . it'd be a bit strange to see your therapist intoxicated in public . speaking of which . . . her eyes carefully glance to nicolas , and calculate his expression . his eyes look tired . the bags under his eyes are the same , light discolouring . she wonders if he still hasn't been sleeping that well . they're not in session though , and that's a line she'll never cross . but renee mentally reminds herself to ask him about it when their next appointment arises .

she laughs softly , fingers continuing their work of encircling around the rim of the empty wine glass before her . " touche . " she allows . " i don't think it's a mental thing though . perhaps more of a physical safety . being in a bar at night doesn't sound like the best idea when . . . " when there's someone out there hurting people . her mind ticks and ticks , but she holds the words back . " this may be the quietest i've ever seen it be here . " she says instead . " or are you scaring all the customers away , nicolas ? " renee teases .

perhaps  serving  one's  own  therapist  seared  the  clear  boundaries  of  patienthood,  a  state  of  being  that  nicolas  would  willingly  forfeit  given  the  chance  —  just  sign  the  discharge  papers  (  do  they  need  those  ?  )  or  just  ghost.  it's  not  like  he  needs  it,  anyway.  and  even  so,  he  doesn't.  he  stays,  tethered  to  the  deal  between  unnamed  forces  and  ███████  that  force  him  to,  instead,  smile,  carry  on  as  usual.  introspections  aside,  his  psyche  yet  again  snapped  into  the  languid  throughs  of  reality  as  pupils  center  upon  dr.  hart  —  renee  —  fuck,  that  feels  weird  to  say.  does  she  even  know  that  he  knows  her  first  name  ?  whatever.  he  swallows,  a  momentary  pause  in  his  intent  listening  session  -  the  tides  have  turned,  it  seemed  -  as  his  gaze  drops.  nico  doesn't  blame  her  for  the  slip  in  confidentiality,  not  when  the  smooth  slip  of  liquor  is  involved,  his  breath  only  hitches  at  the  trigger  word  —  memories.  his  discomfort  is  over-compensated  by  a  backwards  roll  of  his  shoulders,  jaw  ticked  as  his  head  cants  from  one  side  to  the  other  in  hopes  of  releasing  tension.  “  people  are  turning  to  shrinks  instead  of  ten  dollar  drinks  ?  i  call  bullshit.  ——— inflation's  bad,  but  it  ain't  that  bad.  no  offense.  ” 

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RENEE BLINKS AND THINKS SHE CAN'T POSSIBLY RECOGNISE THE MAN IN FRONT OF HER . but she does . she always will . it is like a light left on at the porch , a doorbell ringing , a reminder of home . renee blinks at him , half expecting him to disappear - but he's cool and calm as he tells her to follow him . any better woman would huff , would lift her chin and walk in the opposite direction . renee has tried for so long to be a better woman . instead , she glances around to ensure nobody is watching and follows him discreetly out the backdoor . the quiet darkness envelops them and renee takes a step back , allowing the space that's been between them for DECADES to remain slightly larger . " mattias - " it's good to see you ? it's been so long ? what are you doing here ? what do you want ? i have nothing to say to you . we shouldn't be talking . every word dies on her lips and she swallows them down , burying them in the pit of her stomach . " you look almost exactly the same . " the attempt at small talk is brutal , like a knife pressed to the inside of her palm . " what brings you to redcreek ? "

he pushed the door open, one last glance thrown to his younger brother behind the bar. a quick wave and he was gone. one foot in front of the other, taking his time as he walked home. it was all he seemed to do recently, amble along to kill time.

the street light illuminated her features. mattias recognized her instantly. 20 odd years and nothing had changed. his pace quickened. "renee," he said quietly, the word like a dream in his mouth. "follow me." he inclined his head to a nearby alley. he staunchly ignored the rumors that she was around, deciding ignorance was in fact bliss. but now she was here ,and there was no avoiding it. he walked towards a more private location, not turning around, but trusting she was following.

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[ins1ders]

○    NOW DELIVERING TO . . .    ⏤ @bittenmoths! (STARTER LOTTERY)

" what'd they get you in for ? " kingsley asks , voice pleasant as always as he looks across to june from where they're both sitting in the waiting room of the police station . kingsley is a familiar sight here . he never quite grew out of always walking into trouble , talking back to the police in a way that made a bad situation worse , and getting caught but only when he wanted to get caught . kingsley is never in a place unless he exactly needs to be there . while everyone looks at him and sees a lazy smoker with a greyed out future , kingsley relishes in the shadows and the knowledge it feeds him . but nobody else is as much of a reoccurring guest in the station than JUNIPER LIAO is . kingsley's eyes scan over them and the sense of familiarity is there , while also the knowledge that she is a complete stranger . the similarities between fawn and june both stop and start at the bridge of their nose . he stares for a moment longer before breaking his gaze away , slumped against the uncomfortable plastic . " i keep telling 'em to get leather chairs in here . "

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○    NOW DELIVERING TO . . .    ⏤ @burnsbr1ghter ! (STARTER LOTTERY)

" i've been thinking about you . " renee's voice is soft , like a curtain billowing in the summer night . there's been a lot of things to think about of late , but more pressing has been the notion that the past is repeating itself . and with that comes the knowledge that the past was particularly hard for MICAELA . a long time ago , renee told herself to never let her work get in the way of her friendship . she always put in lines , drew boundaries , avoided putting on her ' work voice ' or saying ' tell me more about what you just said ' . because friends are friends , and they don't always want a therapist or psychoanalysis . SOMETIMES ( like right now , for instance ) , it is hard to not let the lines bleed together , though . it is hard to watch someone suffer , and know that you can't always fix it , amend it , put a bandaid over it . talking can heal things , yes . but not all things . renee swallows as she eyes her friend . she opens her mouth , then closes it . " i'm not going to give you the spiel about how right now might be a good time to consider talking about your thoughts and feelings , and in return , you won't give me the deflecting joke . " renee offers . " i'm not here as a therapist , ever . i promise . i'm here as your friend and i want to make sure you're . . . " OKAY ? ABLE ? LIVING ? the words dry up in the space between them , day old flowers in old , brown water . " i want to make sure you have someone to talk to . "

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○    NOW DELIVERING TO . . .    ⏤ @clandestone ! (STARTER LOTTERY)

renee stopped making visits to the police station a long time ago . when lunches were often run out on , dinners went cold , and a chaste , brief kiss to the side of her head was all that demetrius could offer before being called away . . . it made the police station rather unappealing . but , her husband has been trying again , and that is something that renee can recognise and appreciate . when she makes her way in , she already knows that a surprise visit wasn't the best idea . she forgot the coldness of the station , despite the familiarity of faces . THERE'S ONE FACE , THOUGH , THAT SHE SIGHS IN RELIEF AT . renee holds up tupperware containers . " my husband isn't in , is he ? " she says , knowingly , voice tinged with amusement . " well , looks like you're going to have to eat this biryani , darshan . it's a tough job , but someone's going to have to do it , and i trust you'll do it well . " she hands him the container and smiles bright , eyebrows tumbling together . " — how are you ? i know work's . . . well . hard isn't quite the right word right now , is it ? "

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kingsley pulls a face at kieran's question . despite his disenchantment towards the fuckass MAYOR aka kieran's dad , kingsley has always found kieran to be a lot more pleasant and likeable ( maybe HE should run for mayor ) . there's strict no bullshit , no phony smiles , or purposeful chances to try and get a photo to look as DIVERSE as possible . when kieran talks , he says every word with meaning . this is something that kingsley appreciates , as his own brain moves far too quick and scattered to always keep up . PURPOSE and PRECISION are his best friends , and kieran is good at delivering both of them . the moonlight bathes both men . no matter how many times kingsley tries to smooth out the clump of dirt , it won't sit the way he likes . he grumbles to himself before moving his shovel again , in the same routine movements that's he so accustomed to and which kieran has probably watched him do countless times by now . " people talk a lot . " kingsley agrees , half unable to focus properly until this dirt sits RIGHT . he lets daniela and alaina's names wash over him like raindrops . he's been asked his thoughts a few times now ( surprising ) and kingsley wishes he had more to say on the topic . " man . . i dunno . but something's up . security's been locked down tighter of late , and i don't mean after alaina. i mean . . before that . firewalls and shit . " hacking suddenly became a harder task in a way that it previously wasn't . " someone high up knows something . it's always the high ups . they make a deal with the devil then get surprised when they gotta pay up . pied piper shit . " kingsley tries not to implicate kieran's DAD in it , but he'd be lying if he said he didn't think there was a plethora of guilt there . he rests on the shovel for a temporary moment , crooks his head up to meet kieran's gaze , watching smoke puff out of him . " i liked daniela . and alaina . like , shit , dude . " kingsley gives a half shrug . " most people liked them . so why the fuck were THEY chosen ? no way is that a coincidence or circumstantial . " kingsley looks back down at the eroded dirt before them . " last time , they went after heather , right ? she was also liked by everyone . " kingsley allows his brain to tick , and tick . " so . . they'd want someone like EZRA next , right ? if they're trying to do copycat shit from 1999 i mean . . . "

ꜜ ﹙ ⚰️  ﹚ ﹕ it  wasn't  fair,  kieran  thought⸻     the  inevitability  of  death.  how  it  could  just  casually  sneak  up  on  you,  do  whatever  it  wanted  with  your  heart,  and  the  earth  would  still  continue  spinning  on  its  axis  after  it  was  done.  though,  the  same  could  probably  be  said  about  love.  but  that  was  another  thought  for  another  time,  the  other  man  probably  just  as  equally  terrible  as  he  was  when  it  came  to  romance.  if  not  worse,  with  all  of  kingsley's  disappearance  acts.  death  was  just  easier  to  talk  about,  especially  in  the  stillness  of  the  cemetery  under  the  sunset's  bruised  hue  of  purple  and  gray,  its  headstones  like  crooked  teeth  rising  from  the  frostbitten  earth.  and  kieran  stood  near  the  edge  of  an  open  grave,  the  cherry  embers  of  his  cigarette  pulsing  in  the  dusk,  watching  kingsley  work  his  spade  to  smooth  out  a  stubborn  clump  of  uneven  snow-dusted  ground.  ❝  have  you  figured  it  all  out  ? ❞  kieran  asked,  his  voice  carrying  the  gravel  of  sleepless  nights  and  too  many  questions,  that  exact  myopic  tone  that  he  possessed  whenever  he  wanted  to  ignore  everything  else  in  his  life  but  a  case.  ❝  you've  got  a  way  of  seeing  things  no  one  else  does.  figured  you  might  have  thoughts  about  alaina.  her  murder,  i  mean.  and  daniela  just  vanishing  off  the  face  of  the  planet.  people  talk,  but  they  don't  really  think,  you  know  ? ❞   smoke  curled  from  his  lips  as  he  exhaled  after  another  drag  that  burned  in  his  lungs,  the  warmth  brief  and  fleeting,  his  gaze  still  steady  on  the  gravedigger.  kieran  knew  that  kingsley's  mind  could  come  up  with  the  most  outrageous  and  absurd  explanations  for  all  the  things  that  happened  ﹕ but  he  didn't  really  mind  sifting  through  the  most  incongruous  and  grotesque  of  ideas,  even  just  for  the  slightest  chance  of  finding  something  real  in  all  of  it.  and  kingsley  was  far  smarter  than  people  gave  him  credit  for.  ❝  thought  maybe  you'd  stitched  together  something  the  rest  of  us  haven't. ❞     @ins1ders

[ins1ders]

renee hadn't even realised she was in a daze until she's promptly pulled right out of it . the first thing she realises is that her wine glass is empty . the second is just how quiet redstone is tonight . people are hardly falling over themselves to be out and about with fear and terror leaking throughout the town . SHE BLINKS AGAIN , gives a small shake of her head , as if physically rearranging her thoughts . " god , sorry . i really was a thousand miles away . " not in the vanessa carlton way , either . " days feel like they're getting longer . " she admits lightly , before clearing her throat and sitting up straighter in her chair . she can already hear the way her old agent would say posture , renee . posture is everything . " i think i had the most amount of back-to-back clients today then i've had in a long time . people are scared . it's bringing up a lot of old memories for some . " she isn't sure why she's telling nicolas this , other than he's always been so very easy to tell things to . renee sighs quiet and to herself , letting the air escape her lungs . IT'S BRINGING UP OLD MEMORIES TO HER , TOO . last time , renee had her daughter strapped to her chest . now . . . she wishes she could strap josie right back up to her again , because if anything ever happened to her , renee has no idea what she'd do . renee pulls her thoughts back again , trying not to ruminate for too long on them . " i guess it's been the opposite for you around here . "

for  those  who  found  religion  at  the  bottom  of  their  glass,  nicolas  could  easily  be  conflated  into  something  akin  to  a  pastor  —  a  priest,  even,  offering  someone  just  a  hint  of  salvation  …  two  ounces  of  it,  at  least.  isn't  that  why  it's  called  a  spirit  ?  semantics  aside,  this  bar  top,  stained  oak  whose  probably  seen  just  as  much  blood  as  any  living  member  of  red  creek  provided  ample  surface  for  every  admission  that  slipped  past  vodka-glistened  lips.  every  fight,  skirmish,  and  accidental  knick  was  immortalized  in  its  unyielding  frame,  touched  by  patrons  both  of  this  realm  and  those  now  of  another.  the  white  towel  in  hand,  buffing  off  the  stickiness  of  your  typical  nighttime  rush,  sanctifying  it  for  yet  another  confessional.  “  can  i  get  you  anything  else,  or  are  you  just  gonna  keep  lookin'  for  the  meaning  of  life  in  the  bottom  of  your  glass  ?  ”  he  doesn't  blame  them,  not  for  the  vacancy  or  whatever  it  was  that  muddled  a  once-lively  visage.  nico  saw  it  in  everyone,  more  and  more  with  each  passing  day,  that  specific  draining  of  life  he  had  only  witnessed  once,  a  while  ago,  and  under  a  lesser,  more  blameless  state  of  mind  —  childlike  naïveté,  the  best  chaser  to  all  things  real.  “  i  don't  think  you're  gonna  find  it  there  -  i've  stared  at  enough  of  ‘em  to  know  that,  i  guess.  ————  or  maybe  you’ll  just  be  the  lucky  winner. ”

CAPPING AT FIVE REPLIES or maybe more idk ... — 0 / 5 .

[ins1ders]

kingsley's smile is ever-present , a potentially rare sight . he offers smiles but they're usually brief , a ' blink and you'll miss it ' type of thing . he leans back in his bar stool , not wanting to crowd in mic's space too much ( as addictive as that sounds ) . his eyes flick up and down her one more time before he busies his gaze by flicking it around the bar . it's quiet tonight , a direct result of the fear and worry people are feeling about everything that's happening . a small smile lights him up again , but he keeps his gaze on his drink , as if fascinated by the brown liquid , swishing it around the glass dully . " if i'm the perfect gentleman , what does that make you ? " he asks , one eyebrow quirking up in tandem with the side of his mouth .

kingsley allows himself to reel it in re : the conspiracy theories . he much prefers what micaela has to say rather than spewing out his own thoughts , anyways . he nods a silent thanks to the bartender as he sets down a drink for micaela . kingsley's hands continue to play with his drink , not quite touching it , not quite holding it . just something to do . he's always been a twitchy guy shoved and stretched into this human skin . he never quite adjusted to the feeling . he twitches again at her agreement of billionaires and corporations . kingsley's mind immediately thinks of the talbots , the nivens , the families at redcreek that uphold it for reasons he can never ascertain . IS GREED ALL THAT DRIVES THEM ?

at micaela's soft confession , his eyes sharply move to hers , finding her , almost pinning her down with his eyes . he allows his eyebrows to knot together . " — alright , but you gotta promise i can walk you home after then . " he doesn't want anyone to get hurt , and that's what he tells himself . but it's also MICAELA and he'd be lying if he said that wasn't an extra point of interest to him and ensuring her safety . " not that i don't believe you can't kick some ass , and i know the guy-walking-a-girl-home thing is rife with misogyny . " he adds , with a slow shake of his head . he looks ahead again , clears his throat . " i just wouldn't want something to happen to you and i didn't at least try to stop it , you know ? " when she volleys the question back to him , he allows the smile to resume on his face . he laughs , quiet , but unreserved all at once . " i had a feeling you'd be here . " kingsley replies , as if it's that easy and simple , with a small shrug to follow . the implication is clear : wherever mic goes , he's sure to follow .

               there’s   a   spark   in   her   eyes   when   their   gazes   meet,   a   moment   so   charged   it   feels   as   though   time   itself   falters.   the   hum   of   the   bar   fades   into   the   background,   and   for   an   instant,   it’s   just   them   —   two   people   suspended   in   the   kind   of   connection   that   feels   rare   and   fleeting.   the   spell   breaks   too   soon,   but   its   echo   lingers,   warm   and   intoxicating.   she   lets   out   a   hearty   laugh   when   he   clutches   his   chest,   feigning   injury,   his   hand   splayed   theatrically   over   his   heart.   her   fingers   brush   his   arm   as   she   leans   in,   her   voice   playful   and   rich   with   amusement.   “   please,   accept   my   deepest   apologies,   ”   she   teases,   her   smile   infectious.

               her   interest   sharpens   when   he   casually   mentions   his   connections   around   town.   it’s   a   side   of   kingsley   she   hadn’t   thought   to   explore,   a   potential   resource   she   could   use.   but   the   idea   gives   her   pause.   could   she   ask   that   of   him   ?   the   thought   unsettles   her.   their   relationship   feels   light,   uncomplicated   —   a   rare   reprieve   in   her   otherwise   heavy   reality.   bringing   her   investigation   into   it   might   shift   the   dynamic   in   ways   she   isn’t   ready   to   face.   “   i   completely   disagree,   ”   she   says,   her   voice   lighter   now,   a   hint   of   a   smirk   playing   on   her   lips.   “   you   are   the   perfect   gentleman.   ”

               only   when   kingsley   waves   down   the   bartender   does   she   notice   her   glass   is   nearly   empty.   a   rush   of   warmth   floods   her   cheeks   when   she   realizes   how   quickly   she   drained   it,   especially   compared   to   kingsley’s   nearly   untouched   drink.   self   -   conscious,   she   wonders   how   she   hadn’t   noticed   before   —   he   isn’t   much   of   a   drinker.   yet   here   he   is,   sitting   in   a   bar   as   if   it’s   the   most   natural   thing   in   the   world.   but   then   again,   kingsley   doesn’t   need   alcohol   to   be   the   most   magnetic   person   in   the   room.   his   eccentric   charm   is   intoxicating   enough   on   its   own.   she   finds   herself   captivated   by   the   way   his   mind   works,   the   way   he   speaks   with   conviction   and   a   perspective   she   rarely   encounters.   “   i’m   with   you   on   that   one,   ”   she   agrees,   nodding   along   to   his   impassioned   rants.   “   people   aren’t   running   this   country;   corporations   are.   the   billionaires   are   getting   rich   off   of   us.   ”

               she   shrugs   at   his   question,   her   voice   soft,   almost   wistful.   “   i   didn’t   want   to   be   home   alone.   it’s   too   quiet.   ”   her   words   linger   in   the   air   as   her   gaze   rests   on   him,   curiosity   flickering   in   her   eyes,   as   if   seeking   something   just   out   of   reach.   “   and   you   ?   ”   she   asks,   her   curiosity   sharpening.   “   someone   who   barely   drinks   —   what   draws   you   to   a   place   like   this   ?   ”

[ins1ders]

○    NOW DELIVERING TO . . .    ⏤ @chappcdlips !

kingsley squints at the familiar figure walking on the other side of the street . that slumping of shoulders is par to his own , although kingsley leans back more as he walks ( like something out of ed , edd and eddy ) . people walk in very distinct ways , and kingsley has always enjoyed seeing the tiny mannerisms that make up a person . for fawn , she walks leaning forward , hair curtaining off everyone , quick steps that slow down every now and then as if she's remembering she's not in a race . his lips quirk up and he crosses the street easily , picking up his pace to try and catch up with fawn . even though he's tall , fawn is FAST . it takes him a few moments to realise that a grown man following a woman right now is probably not something that is very ASSURING . he clears his throat . " i'm not the boogeyman . i have a feeling that guy's white . 82% of american serial killers were white , so that's just statistics, you know ? " kingsley states as way of introduction . " then again , gender isn't real . i guess it could be a hot girl killing everyone . or some cute NB . " he shrugs , thoughts spinning in his mind . " also , should we even be calling him boogeyman ? isn't that SERIAL KILLER 101 ? don't call them by their name cause it gives them more power ? " kingsley has a lot of thoughts on the entirety of the situation , but he mainly keeps them to himself . well . to himself, and to fawn .

[ins1ders]

○    NOW DELIVERING TO . . .    ⏤ @den1als !

one serve for her , one serve popped in the microwave , one serve in a container to drop to josie . dinner has a set routine that's stayed this way for a while . once upon a time it used to be two dinner plates at the table . then josie was born , and a smaller one was added . but over the years , more plates have left and never returned . THAT'S WHAT GROWING OLDER MEANS . by habit still , renee still looks at her phone , half expecting a text or phone call from her brother . but for years the screen has stayed empty . ' can i borrow $200 ? ' imprinted as the last message she ever received from him . lost in her thoughts , she almost jumps as the front door opens . renee's fingers pause from where they've been gently encircling the rim of her wine glass . she can tell those footfalls from planets away . the part of her that always remains for demetrius fizzes at the familiarity .

AND THERE HE IS . her husband , in one piece , a sight that never fails to let her exhale in relief . " i wasn't expecting you home so early , kd . " she says , pleasant surprise ingrained in her voice . a smile that only ever lights up around him graces her lips . " i just popped your dinner in the microwave but i think it might actually still be warm . " she can't remember the last time this has happened . it feels like a thrill , a rollercoaster only bound upwards . she turns , moving with ease and opening the microwave , pulling out the plate of pilaf . " new recipe . not my best work , but we have leftovers for days now . " she still hasn't gotten used to cooking in appropriate batch amounts , a fault she's kept even through josie's teens who'd groan and say ' leftovers again , mum ? '

[ins1ders]