#c:luce

[ghxstofyxu]

”It’s a really good thing, yes. Sometimes you never really know if people are going to turn up.” And it’s true, sometime folks want to do good but can’t and it becomes a vicious cycle he knows all too well. But it did warm him to see the community show up.

Slowly, he starts to walk as she speaks, a slow pace to show she’s welcome to join him. “It works very well for me, worth trying.” A smile as she continues, a small chuckle escaping him as she explains herself. Rich kids were fascinating to him, they always had been. Ty figures at least her heart was in the right place. “Fair enough…” A hesitation. “It wasn’t overboard… Most people just donate old things, not brand new. It was a shock. But families will be very happy.” He reassures with ha smile and a nod.

"Yeah, seriously. But I guess that's also a good thing? People being generous and all that." Or maybe it was people trying to atone for shitty behavior and, like her, aiming for a little dose of good karma. Either way, at least sick kids would have a good Christmas, which genuinely was a nice thing to think about.

"Ty." Luce echoed softly, nodding as she shook his hand before they parted. "Does that work? Cause if so, maybe I should give it a shot." She told him with a laugh. "Oh uh, nah, not really. Not ever, actually. But my father can rot, and I had access to his credit card, so I figured why not rack it up to piss him off and do something nice at the same time? Seemed like a win/win in my opinion. Hence the overbuying--which you can totally tell me that I went overboard, I promise I won't be too offended."

[wickedmilo]

YOU’RE REALLY NOT MY TYPE | MILO & LUCE

PLACE: A dive bar TIMING: 1:13 AM SUMMARY: Tired of drinking alone, Milo approaches Luce and makes an attempt to befriend her. It does not go well. WRITING PARTNER: @divineluce CONTENT WARNINGS: Addiction, alcoholism, inebriation, PTSD

Milo was drunk. If he considered being inebriated a regular occurrence before his death, he had taken things to an entirely new level after waking up as a vampire. Even with Harsh making an effort to help him learn and understand, things were difficult. Beyond difficult. He missed his old life, missed being in the centre of a crowd, making friends with every single stranger in the smoking area, going home with someone without even knowing their name. He couldn’t do any of those things anymore. Not without an overwhelming desperation for blood. Not without fear, and anxiety clawing viciously at his chest. That didn’t ease the need to drink though, his body was still craving what it had been relying on for years. There was only so much he could do before being alone and sober became too much. Which was how, not for the first time, he found himself at a bar. 

It was stupid, he knew it was stupid. But he was so tired. If he could steal even a semblance of his old life back, then he was going to try. He wasn’t sure how long he had been sitting alone, staring down at the dregs in his glass, before he finally forced himself to his feet. There was a girl who didn’t look too far from his age, sitting alone just across from where he was lurking in the shadows. If she didn’t want company, he would leave. And if his bloodlust became too great, he was confident he would find a way to excuse himself. With that justification playing over in his mind, he set down his empty glass on her table. “Any chance you’ve reached the point of realising how depressing it is to drink alone, and wouldn’t say no to some company?” He asked, his voice lazy, drawn out by the alcohol in his system. “I mean, tell me to screw myself and I’ll go- I swear, I just- well, I’ve reached that point.” 

The nightmares were still coming. She’d heard bits and pieces of the weird dream situation from fucking Leah of all people, a fact that irritated Luce to no end. She’d heard that whatever supernatural bullshit that had been fucking with the town’s collective sleep schedule was over. But, tonight-- just like so many other nights-- Luce’s dreams had jolted her awake and driven her from the place she called home. She could see Lydia’s face, staring at her, wide eyed as she stalked towards her. She could see herself, blood rolling down the wound in her leg, dripping from the knife she’d yanked out of her own flesh. Luce had watched, hovering behind Lydia, and had seen the unrelenting rage in her own eyes as she’d lunged forward and stabbed the iron spear through her body. Luce had felt the iron burn and sear against her skin, she’d heard the begging, pleading screams that still haunted her to this day. And then she’d woken up. And dragged herself here. Some shitty hole in the wall bar with shitty, cheap whiskey. But at least it was cheap. 

Staring at the bottom of her glass Luce paused mid sip as some random kid approached her table. He looked as though he’d been drinking just as long as she had and he sounded it too. “If you’re making a pass, you’re barking up the wrong tree.” She said, more tired than irritated for once. “If you actually just want to drink. Sure. Go for it.” She said and gestured to the chair next to her.

Milo laughed, unable to stop the sound from escaping his lips. “Don’t flatter yourself.” He teased, his tone lighthearted, as he took a seat. “You’re really not my type.” Getting comfortable, something that was all too easy to do considering how inebriated he was, he tapped his fingers absentmindedly against his glass. If he leaned back against his chair a little, he could almost ignore the close proximity, the smell of his company’s blood. “So,” he started, watching the girl sitting across from him with an open curiosity. People didn’t just drink alone at bars when they were happy. Not in his experience, at least. “Do you get hit on by strangers very often?”

“Good cuz you’re not mine either.” Luce snorted. This guy looked like he was Nell’s age. A fucking kid. But, hey, if he was old enough to drink, so be it. And even if he wasn’t, she didn’t really give a shit. As he made himself comfortable, Luce stared at the ice cubes in her glass, willing them to melt. She wanted them to melt. For them to bubble and froth and to sublimate straight to vapor. But, they sat stubbornly whole in a pool of amber. Glancing over at the kid, she laughed. “No. Other way around.” She said before lifting the glass to her lips, “Usually, not right now though. Not really looking for that kind of company tonight. And if I was, it wouldn’t be here. Flaming Mo’s, Friction, anywhere but this shitty little bar.” She said, rattling off the usual haunts. Well, usual before shit had gone down with Remmy and Nadia, before her magic refused to flow through her veins.

Milo smiled. The easy, playful nature of the conversation was allowing him to relax. There was still a faint voice in the back of his mind telling him he couldn’t afford to, but it was the same voice that occasionally told him not to drink, or not to accept an unnamed substance from a stranger. He had been readily ignoring it for years. ���Oh, really?” He asked, grinning easily at his company’s admission. He had a feeling he was going to like her. “So what’s got you drinking in this shitty little bar?” He asked. “There has to be a reason you aren’t at Flaming Mo’s, or Friction.” He downed what was left in his glass, dregs, really, before turning his attention back to the girl. 

Still staring at the ice cubes in her cup, Luce’s lips curled slightly at his question. Nope. A lot of shit had happened in the last year. A lot had changed, including her. But, she still wasn’t the type to just fucking unload her problems to some stranger at the bar. Let alone some kid who looked like he could barely afford his drinks. “Sometimes people just want a change in scene. Nothing wrong with that.” She said coolly, lifting her glass back to her lips. “What about you, huh? What’s got you here? There are plenty of other places in town that don’t card. And they’ve at least got a more lively scene than this,” Luce gestured to the sleepy looking bar, filled with other people who had been doing the same as her before this kid rolled up. They were all quietly stewing in their own thoughts, in their own misery, with a glass in hand because it was easier than sitting in the dark at home.

Milo knew from the look the girl gave him that she wasn’t about to tell her story. Which was only fair when he considered the fact that he definitely wasn’t ready to share his own. “A change of scenery like a downgrade?” He teased, glancing around at the less than classy establishment. There were posters tacked to the walls, thrown into focus by dingy, yellow lighting. The bar was small, the bottles behind it suspiciously dusty. And the lack of patrons was a sign of just how poor the customer service was. In a way, he almost liked it. It felt good to be somewhere so… unbothered. Whoever owned this place wasn’t out to draw crowds, or make money. They just wanted to give people a place to mournfully drown their sorrows, and he respected that. 

“Me? Oh, I really was looking for a downgrade.” He countered, sarcasm dripping from his tone. His eyes were shining though, a sign of his good nature. “You think I’m not old enough to drink? I’m 22.” He assured her, amused by the assumption. He had a list compiled in his head of every place in town that didn’t card at the door. Even though he didn’t need it anymore, the information seemed to be seared into his brain. Waving his hand, brushing off the mention of a livelier scene, he wrinkled his nose. He wanted a livelier scene, it just wasn’t an option for him right now. He had begrudgingly been forced to settle. “I’m kind of avoiding people right now…” He realised approaching her contradicted his statement, but it was the truth. Or sort of the truth. “Trying to, anyway.” He added. “Guess I’m not cut out for drinking alone.” 

Lips pressing together in a thin line, Luce finished off the last of her drink. “Change of scene like people not bothering me here.” She said pointedly. This wasn’t a place where people made conversation, or met with some friends after work for drinks. That was what places like Dell’s was for. This bar was a dusty hole in the wall where the people here were for one thing only-- cheap drinks.  “Uh huh. Sure you are.” Luce said with a shrug as she drummed her hands on the table. She should go home. She should just go home and just… deal. She should just go home and face it. With a sigh, Luce waved to get the sleepy-eyed bartender’s attention and gestured to call it quits.  

“Well,” Luce said with a long sigh, knocking on the table as she stood up from her chair, “Sounds like you’ve got some work ahead of you if that’s the case.” She said before putting a twenty on the table, gesturing to the kid as she made eye contact with the bartender. “Use whatever’s left to cover his drinks too.” She said before making her way out the door. “Good luck with whatever’s got you drinking here. Check out Mo’s when you have a chance. It’s a better scene than here.”  

Out in the cool night air, Luce paused outside the bar and pulled out her phone. She could Uber home, which would be fine. Or she could walk, it was how she got here in the first place. Without meaning to, Luce realized she was flicking through the contacts on her phone. She still had Remmy’s number. Which didn’t matter-- they’d left town. They were better off away from White Crest. Away from all the fucked up shit here. Away from her. Swallowing, her finger hovered over the delete contact button.  

She took a deep breath and hit the button. She had to move on, she had to move beyond her past. And that meant letting go. Stowing her phone back in her pocket, Luce headed back into the night. She had to go home.  

Milo frowned, suddenly feeling guilty for disturbing the girl. Although his motivations were often selfish, he never intended to cause trouble for anyone, and now he was forced to wonder whether she had agreed to his company to be polite. Or even worse, maybe she had felt as though she couldn’t say no to him. He stayed silent, listening to her brush off his comments. He liked to think he was self-aware enough to accept the fact that he wasn’t incredibly personable. On multiple occasions he had argued with people purely because they didn’t like his attitude, and looking back on said arguments, he couldn’t exactly blame them for getting upset. But he had kind of, almost been trying here. At the very least he had made a conscious effort not to be a dick. He watched as she flagged down the bartender, dropping a twenty before standing up to leave. “Oh- I… okay.” He couldn’t hide how miserable he felt, though he wasn’t sure why the rejection hurt. He had been alone five minutes ago, did it really matter if he was alone again now? Especially not when somebody had willingly paid for his drinks. 

Tapping his fingers against his glass, he downed what was left of the contents, thinking about the last time he had visited Mo’s. He wanted, more than anything, to trust himself in such a busy environment, but he had already taken too many risks. He wasn’t in control. When was he ever in control? Letting out a huff of breath, a habit he had yet to shake, he pushed away from the table too, uncomfortable in the sudden silence. Pulling his cigarettes from his pocket, he had one in his mouth by the time he reached the door, desperate for a distraction from his thoughts. The cold air hitting his skin the moment he stepped outside, the vague scent of the girl he had been talking to still lingered in the air, but she had long since disappeared into the night, apparently desperate to get away from him. He sparked up, leaning against the brick wall behind him as he struggled to force down his emotions. It wouldn’t be the first time he had chased his feelings away with a trusty combination of nicotine, and alcohol. It certainly wouldn’t be the last.  

[jaimitchell]

he made a point to rub his eyes when he saw her across the hallway. he knew she would come back, or that had been the conversation following the casino night and the whole scholarship thing, and yet, seeing her again in gallagher felt surreal. well, at least he could get to know her properly. within reasonable distance, of course, because he was now a taken man, and while he wasn’t entirely sure, he was almost sure she was kind of taken as well... “OH MY GOD! IT���S REAL! YOU’RE HERE!” he yelled, probably disturbing everyone around but he didn’t care. || @lucefrs​

[a-bugz-life]

divineluce replied to your post: <p>What's the weirdest thing you've ever done for...

Well, you certainly have mine now.

Game, set, match. 

And you have mine.

[lefebvre-leo]

“Hey–” she matched the description and the way she remembered from the time he memorized what every single witness protection student looked like. “You’re Luce, right?” He asked. He had been meaning to approach the blonde weeks ago, but hadn’t really found the right time. Well, it would never come, in all fairness.  || @lucefrs​

[ariabeck]

“That’s the shittiest erotic excerpt I ever read.” Aria said out loud, closing down the book she had stumbled upon laying around in the library. How had it made its way to the Systems section? She wasn’t sure, but boy, was she disappointed.   ( @lucefrs​ )

[g0t-ri5h]

divineluce​:

Weird. Welcome to the insomniac’s club, kid, it’s shit. My trick for getting a nightmare-free night of sleep is to just force yourself to get so tired you basically pass out when you fall into bed. You like running at all?

.

I prefer not to engage in physical activity. But, I’ll try just about anything at this point. I’ve heard there are some good hiking trails on the Outskirts, maybe I’ll go for a jog. [user shudders at the thought]

[call-me-officer-evans]

vivacious-hymn replied to your post: Do you ever read ARLH fanfiction?

KADIA! This is brilliant (and creepy).

Eh, could be creepier if you ask me. I mean, we were bound to find all of the fanfiction and whatnot at some point. But Luuuuuce, our characters have a ship name! That's fuckin' awesome. 

[jaimitchell]

lucefrs​:

        ‘   you’re right. you’ve stumbled upon grade a company, the good shit.    ’ says it like she a cool, sunglasses wielding, leather jacket wearing, rockstar who can tell the difference in the quality of hard drugs that’ll lead to their eventual demise on top of the toilet. though the persona doesn’t last for long, years of practiced quick wit makes it easy to hope on his joke, a dramatic sigh slewing past her lips. ‘   good. horn dogs. every single one of them.    ’ reprimanding the horizon of students with a frown. of course she’s joking, she almost always is. ‘   you don’t own gym clothes ? are you gonna get a jockstrap ? don’t you think they’re kinda hot ? really cups a guy’s ass you know ? a thong could never. maybe it’s just a me thing.   ’

“I hate those. Bad influences, sexual deviants. Ew!” He pretended to have a chill running down his spine. Fair, he was trying to be good, but not that good. He had some agreements here and there that were a little hard to drop. “I surprisingly don’t– oh, honey. I’m so sad you don’t remember. I don’t own anything other than jockstraps. It’s the sexiest piece in a man’s closet. I’ve got a full collection. All colors,” he nodded, quite proudly so. “Thongs are hot, though. They should make jockstraps for women.”

[jaimitchell]

Jai walks up to a blonde girl that looks vaguely familiar and taps her shoulder. "Did we fuck?" 

@lucefrs​

[a-bugz-life]

divineluce replied to your post: What are you hobbies?

And a damn good way of life indeed.

Wouldn’t wanna have it any other way. 

[tasmyn-pearce]

divineluce‌:

[User oggles the photo in a respectful way]

Congrats on the win on the pie contest– what kinda cake pie did you submit?

I said it in there, STARGAZY PIE! You should stop by The Codfather and try some! 

[abcwithmsz]

"I fully plan on running the 5k hungover, and then curing myself with mimosas after." Zana shrugged, licking the sugar rim off her own drink before taking another sip. "But I used to run still drunk in my earlier twenties, so I just love to suffer."

open - @aurorabaystarter

where - around town square

"The real question is, sign up for this 5k? Or, fuck it and and reserve a spot for brunch?" Luce asked aloud, sipping on a frozen cocktail that had been rainbow but now everything was mixed together into a murky color. "Like, do we go with health or the bottomless mimosas?"

[call-me-officer-evans]

Luce replied to your post(s)

You hear that? It’s the sound of /shattered/ dreams, Rid-did.

I knew that was you hollering from the corner during the Nadia-and-Len catfight.

Shattered? How shattered? Like a baseball through a window? Or more like an elephant through a glass door?

Who else would it have been, m'darling? That shit is fun to watch. 

[ghxstofyxu]

Ahh yeah, the crazy lady. Well, one of them at least. Ty supposes he shouldn't make that judgment, it sounds like she's just passionate when she explains herself, but it was quite the sight for the volunteers. "Ahh, right, right. There were a ton of people this morning, I think everyone wanted to get on with their day and not miss out on the activities." He chuckles, taking her hand and nodding at the greeting.

"Ty." He introduces.

His hand goes back into his pocket, shaking his head. "No. I just like volunteering. Keeps me out of trouble." He laughs, only half joking. "Do you donate a lot or just this year?"

Lucinda wrinkled her nose up at the reply, "Damn, I left a hell of a lasting impression, huh." she teased, not actually upset by it since there was at least a dozen people there at the same time she was that morning, so she could only imagine how many faces and people he'd seen today alone. "I was there this morning, I had like three bags of toys cause I couldn't decide what to get? Or rather, I couldn't decide what to eliminate once I started filling my cart, so I said fuck it and got it all."

As she spoke she shrugged and then even held her hand out, "I'm Luce." she greeted, the same smile now back on her lips. "So, are you a firefighter there at the station, or just like I said, a really good human being. You know, volunteering and all that."

[ghxstofyxu]

He'd always been a fan of volunteering, but after being forced into it as part of his probation, it just became habit. The Toys for Tots drive had been advertised at the homeless shelter, and this year the shelter didn't need volunteers for the Christmas dinner, so he figured it was a good way to spend his time. It did bring some warmth to his heart to see the community show up for those in need, offering a polite smile to the donors before taking their donations and sorting them out. But now, with no need to be at the shelter, his friends busy and the shop closed, he had nothing to do. So he wandered. Skateboard along the concrete, avoiding the kids and families as he cruised until he found himself at the lights. The display was bright and colorful and it reminded him of home. His eyebrow raises as a blonde approaches him, she looks familiar but he can't quite place from where. "Uh," A short laugh. "Yeah, yeah, it was a good turnout." She must've donated. "Sorry I don't recognize you." He finally admits after a moment. "What's your name again?"

closed - @ghxstofyxu

where - botanical gardens

Luce figured she needed some good karma in her life so she'd donated a lot of toys that morning to the Toys for Tots dropbox. Besides, she also figured her dear old dad's money could go to some good use for once as she charged it all on his credit card. What she hadn't expected though was the man helping with the donations at the firehouse and how he immediately caught her attention. Unfortunately though, the area was pretty busy, so unfortunately Luce couldn't do more than say a few words and spend a minute or two lingering before being ushered off.

Oh well.

After lamenting over it (and having a shitty work shift) Lucinda made her way into town and decided to go to the botanical gardens, figuring an evening of pretty twinkly lights and maybe some mulled wine could turn her day around. As fate would have it though, as she walked through the display, she caught what she was pretty sure was a familiar face and she made her way over, truly unable to help herself as she felt a smile pulling onto her lips. "Finally done being a good human being and collecting toys?"