#threads: briar

[breathing-neon]

CLOSED STARTER

@sparklytimebun

Everything is just a little too loud today, the lights a little to bright. Saying Briar was a little overwhelmed was an understatement. There were a lot of things clogging his mind right now, but the most pressing thing at the current moment was how damn crowded this bubble tea place was at this moment of time.

They had come here for a small little treat for themselves with some of the spare yen they had, and to hopefully maybe get some studying in, but there were so many people that he was finding it a little hard to actually relax. They currently had their head resting on the table, nestled neatly in their folded arms and trying not to actually start crying from how overwhelmed they were, their cane leaning against their legs to keep it tucked out of the way.

Every once and a while, they would reach up to grab their cup, tucking it under their chest to get a drink of the boba without having to lift their head, before placing it back onto the table. He idly listened out at the people walking around him, ears twitching, just in case someone approached him. As much as he didn't want to talk to anyone he wasn't going to be rude, though he really hoped he'd be left be.

Unfortunately, it seems they're going to need to be social soon, the cafe IS pretty crowded...

[scalesworn]

@springs-wrath; closed starter

Cian  moved  through  the  crowd,  the  warm  hum  of  laughter  and  music  buzzing  around  him  like  a  gentle  tide.  He  found  himself  drifting  between  groups,  soaking  it  all in.

Then,  from  across  the  room,  something  caught  his  eye.  A  figure  taller  than  most  leaning  against  a  marble  column  like  they  owned  the  quiet  edges  of  the  party.  There  was  an  ease  to  the  way  they  stood—aloof  but  steady—like  they  were  watching  the  world  spin  but  didn’t  need  to  be  part  of  the  chaos.

He  let  his  eyes  drift  away  from  the  crowd  and  settle  back  on  the  tall  figure.  There  was  something  almost  magnetic  about  Briar’s  quiet  watchfulness,  and  for  a  moment,  Cian  felt  that  familiar  itch—that  pull  to  break  the  ice,  to  make  a  new  connection,  to  fill  the  silence  with  something  warm.

With  a  soft  grin  tugging  at  the  corners  of  his  lips,  Cian  weaved  through  the  dancers  and  drinkers,  edging  closer  to  where  Briar  leaned  against  the  column.  The  music  thumped  around  them,  but  here,  near  Briar,  it  felt  like  a  different  world—slower,  easier.

“Hey  there,”  Cian  said,  voice  low  but  bright,  just  loud  enough  to  be  heard  over  the  music.  “You  look  like  you're  either  gardin’  the  whole  shindig  or  just  havin’  a  right  good  judge  of  us  lot.  Which  one’s  it?”

He  laughed  softly,  eyes  sparkling  with  gentle  mischief  and  a  touch  of  nerves.  “Because  honestly,  if  you’re  the  bouncer,  I  might  have  to  talk  you  outta  lettin’  me  in.  Or  maybe  just  distract  ye  with  some  dreadful  jokes.”

His  gaze  flickered  up  and  down  Briar’s  tall  frame,  appreciating  the  calm  strength  there,  then  he  shrugged  lightly,  cheeks  coloring  just  a  bit.  “I’m  Cian.  And  yourself,  then?”  The  invitation  hung  in  the  air,  open  and  easy,  the  kind  only  someone  with  a  little  bit  of  cheek  and  a  lot  of  genuine  warmth  could  offer.

[kira-aminu]

Location: Briar Ridge Summer Music Festival Starter for: CLOSED.

For the first time in a long time, the Sugar Rush Scoops ice cream truck sat at a venue, but Kira was no where near it. Usually, she distracted herself by working the events, determined to take her mind off her life and the people she might see. But now, she was in a dress she never thought she'd wear, wearing it with confidence and even though she had checked on her team in the truck, she was allowing herself to actually enjoy the festivals they worked.

"Excuse me, ma'am, the strap of your dress has come loose, you may wanna fix that." Turning towards the voice, beer in hand, Kira nodded and glanced down at her dress. "Oh, thanks!" With the stand she had just bought her drink fully busy serving people, she had nowhere to put her drink so instead, she put the cup between her teeth, trying to hold onto it as she reached her hands around to try and fix the strap on her shoulder. With focusing on not dropping her drink, she couldn't make the strap, only succeeding in loosening it more. "Shit." Letting go and taking hold of her beer in one hand and the straps in another to keep it together, she turned to the person next to her. "Could you help? My strap has come undone and I can't quite reach it to tie it back up."

[civanguneri]

Who: Open Where: Chapman's Grocer. It was only December fucking tenth. A week into December was all it took, and suddenly, you couldn't go anywhere without being elbow-to-elbow with people. The days leading up to Christmas seemed like its very own kind of virus, with people frazzled and shopping like it was just days before the holiday. Civan was in dismay as he navigated the isles he knew by heart, muttering to himself as he went. If he wasn't so particular about his vegetables he could just order for delivery, but he'd be out of sorts if things weren't just so. Overly ripe tomatoes made a difference. As did the gender of a bell pepper. "Of course—" He cut himself off, "Allah belanı versin." Civan rounded a particular stall in the fresh market section to a cart wall. A traffic jam, except, in the produce section of a grocery store. Two energetic middle-aged women stood there gabbing, carts facing each other as if the world should stop and rotate around them. The Zax. Instead of arguing, they were gossiping. He backtracked, begrudgingly making to go around them but instead, he felt himself bump into the cool metal of someone else's cart behind him. For a moment he froze, rod straight, and had to exhale the tension in a huff. Civan turned. Face a mask, frustration still boiling beneath the surface. "That way is blocked."

[inkshadow]

random closed starter for @neveraftcr

"i... probably shouldn't ask this but... are you sleeping with anyone else?" they weren't exclusive by any means and he didn't know if they could even pin this as a relationship but he figures it was a good time to ask. entangled in each other's arms and feeling awfully vulnerable with only the blanket to shield them.

[bevanne46]

From Victoriana Quilt Designs ·

With AQS QuiltWeek going on in Paducah, KY this week, I thought it would be fun to share this giant Needle and Thread sculpture, which was commissioned to honour the quilting and crafts culture there! Photo from: TheNotSoDramaticLife

[scythesandscepters]

closed starter: @montanasunshines location: amphitheater event: welcome home celebration

"You don't have to pretend with me." The words are spoken in a hush, his lips pressed against the others neck as he looms above the blonde. Body curled over him like a shroud, long elegant fingers trailing over the others forearms as he mindlessly traces patterns into Cassidy's sun kissed skin. With the hat that neatly sat atop Cassidy's head like always it made the position slightly awkward, as any motion risked him accidentally jostling the headpiece. Briar didn't mind though, he was used to this, and the reminder that not everything had changed was a grounding force.

Perhaps his choice of words could have been better. More poised, lesson pointed. He didn't want to make the other feel as though he was demanding answers, but he could sense that something was off. That something had been off since the ambrosia. There were a few guesses that Briar was prepared to make, a few suspicions he felt could perhaps be the answer. That was Cassidy's choice to share though, and right now he just wanted to assure his friend that he would be there for him.

"I like you just the way you are. If you need to talk. . . Or vent. . . Or even just a distraction. . . I'm here."

[nate-strauss]

Location: Fresh Garbage Starter for: Open

He might not have spent anywhere near to the majority of his life in Briar Ridge, in fact, it was the place he had lived least in his life, but there was something about the tiny coastal time that had a strange feeling of home. It was the feeling he got in his mother's kitchen, it was like he knew he was going to be safe there. That he could be happy.

Standing in the vintage shop, flicking through the box of vinyls they kept in one corner, Nate was sure he had found his favourite place in town. Not only did he have a new jigsaw earmarked, he had a whole box of records to go through. Coming across a new looking one, he couldn't help the frown on his face. "I didn't know what to expect when I looked through these but a Justin Bieber album on vinyl was not the one.." Continuing to flick through, he picked out a couple before laying them both on top of the box.

Aware of someone to his side, Nate glanced over at them with a little trepidation. "Would you go for Fleetwood Mac or Pink Floyd out of interest? Promised I'd only go for one record today so I'd be only disappointing myself if I bought both."

[thehighlordofspring]

the secret side of me @springcourthighlady

It had been a long day — too long. Tamlin was tired and his head ached after spending so long reading contracts and documents with his courtiers and emissaries. He tried not to wear his glasses in court, but now in the soft light of the setting sun, he was happy to have them to assist as he opened his book to the marked page and began to read. 

The rose garden was his place of solace and comfort. Whenever his spirit was worn, he came here to rest. Very few knew of the small path off the manicured way that led to a small grove of trees and wild roses. He’d swung a hammock between two of them and rested between the branches, letting the wind sway him back and forth. 

In the middle of the chapter, an innocent giggle sprang to life from the pages of the old fairytale that he was reading. Tamlin rubbed his head. Am I that tired?

He yawned and tried to focus again on the swirling letters, but the laughter again distracted him. 

He knew that sound. His ears quirked up and his green eyes brightened.

Nyx! 

His excitement was followed by an equally intense rush of anxiety

Feyre. 

Tamlin peered over the hedges. A flash of black curls revealed the toddler running from his guardian.

He did it! His heart swelled with pride. By the cauldron — I hope she’s not too mad at me.

Nyx stopped, spotting him through the branches. “Tamtam!” 

The toddler rushed through the secret entrance and tackled his legs, knocking him to the ground. Tamlin yelped, suddenly upside down, but happily surrounded by hugs from his favorite tiny fae. 

He lifted Nyx up into the air, making dragon sounds, until he saw a lovely young woman peeking around the edge of the brambles. His face turned red, hot, and he stood up quickly. His posture stiffened, though the color didn’t fade from his cheeks, or ears. 

“Lady…” It took him a moment to place her. He did try to keep track of everyone who lived in Spring, but the increasing amount of names was making that difficult. “Rose? Was it? Lady Rose?” 

[neveraftcr-archive]

closed starter for @dysnomiias // based

" why are you here... how did you know i was here? "

[inamindfarfaraway]

Hey Descendants fans, did you know that the franchise has a stage musical adaption? I wasn't until today! But this production is actually really cool, creatively adapting plot points and remixing songs from all over the franchise. There's so much earnest passion bringing it to life. It has the charm of the first movie that endeared us to this stupid franchise despite itself. And the immense added charm of being not a Disney Studios production designed to make money by copying Ever After High with worse writing, but instead an independent project by people just like us who also love this stupid franchise and put in the work and care to make their rewrite fanfic a LIVE MUSICAL. I'd say that it has better writing and costume design than the movies do at times. (Looking at you, Descendants 3).

[breathing-neon]

[CLOSED STARTER FOR JUSTLOVERSREVENGE]

@justloversrevenge

Early afternoon in Eden was often one of the slower times of day, people in work, or in classes, or if you were really lucky, sleeping in late. The Medical district was always very busy no matter what time of day, someone was always getting injured somewhere, but there was always lulls.

Briar was very familiar with the Medical district. Being someone of poor health, and a diabetic to boot, he was in and out often, though today he was here for a class. Was being the key word. As he was idly at the bus stop, watching the flicker of the holo-ticker while waiting for his ride home, a sizable black car rolled to a stop in front of him, the low hum of the hover being cut off as it landed. An undistinguished man leaned out and asked if they were a doctor, and when they tried to answer that they were just a student, said it was good enough, practically grabbing them by the scruff and pulling them into the car.

Needless to say, this was probably one of the most terrifying moments of their life, but quickly, they were filled in on why they were needed.

A strange man was found and apprehended in the district bordering the Medical one, a man who seemingly showed signs of Florescent sickness. They needed a diagnosis to figure out what to do with him.

Briar was... Uneasy that they picked a student for that diagnosis but... At least he was very familiar with that sickness.

They don't know what building they're lead into, their vision mostly obscured by the man practically carrying them inside, though it was dark, and nondescript.

Their hooves echo on the tile, the room otherwise empty, leaving plenty of space for the sound to reverberate. A metal door stood in front of them, the dark dressed man moving forward to unlock it.

"You have as much time as you need to come to your conclusions. The patient is mostly passive, but did put up a small bit of a fight upon capture, keep on your toes." The man said simply, opening the door and gesturing for Briar to enter.

The room was just as dark as the rest of the building, but a faint white glow could be seen from the doorway. They... really didn't have any other choice so, donning a medical mask, they entered.

The room was just as sparse, a table and couple chairs, and a surface against the far wall with a few medical supplies scattered across the top, their ears folding down at the sight... It's a good thing they were just coming back from a class then...

"...Hello...?" They call out to the stranger. They know where he is, there was no way NOT to know but... They'd rather he allow himself to be known.

[emilmoreno]

Open starter. Location: the beach. "Oh, come on!" Emil complained as his arms flung wildly in dismay to both sides. Palms up, his gaze settled in horror at the crumbling infrastructure of what was now his third attempt at a sandcastle that evening. A blob of thick black and white fur gave its owner a side-eye, but otherwise, his companion was too tired out from their post-work run to do much but silently judge. The man's attention drifted aside, realizing belatedly that they weren't alone on the stretch of cooling sand. A humble laugh parted his lips, "Don't mind me..." he offered towards the onlooker, "I'm just in training... for better castle building, per a special request." His daughter's innocent mockery, that is. Another soft chuckle nestled in his chest. "There's got to be some secret I am missing."

[c-mach]

Saying Briar was exhausted and confused was an understatement... They don't know how they ended up on this elevator, but it's been 93 floors of the strangest things they've ever seen, not to mention they've maybe eaten a little too many sweets over the course of this ride. They don't think they're in danger, but they should check... If they even have their blood sugar monitor on them... Augh...

They peer out the elevator cautiously, a habit they picked up despite knowing what was cued up. They barely hear what the other stranger with them says before he disappears into a nearby door, the little ghost that was with them staring with disbelief.

Briar, meanwhile, stumbles out towards the fountain, and just flops down in front of it, deciding to take this moment to rest their aching legs, cane left on the ground next to them for them to grab if need be.

They don't quite realize that they're not alone in here.

@breathing-neon

For once, her office and day was... Quiet. Little to do but work at updating numbers on things, and watching out for him. When the Regretevator's doors open, she barely pays any mind, sparing only a moment to look- Ah, there he is. And early, too. She nods as he slips into the living quarters, throwing the other guest a quick glare. She hadn't forgotten about that one.

But! That's someone that's... New. Entirely. She looks down to the other, standing up. Not every day someone drops themselves into her office quite like that.. This one likely wasn't going to be returning with the other, once the Regretevator left. Which meant plenty of time to talk, and question. Which...

"Looks like the fountain has absolved you of your burdens. You feeling better now?"

Best start with something that isn't particularly ominous, shall we?

[insainted]

located : remedy roots ・ open

Yesterday, Briar had forced herself to finally survey the damage to her store, and while it isn't quite as bad as she'd thought it would be, there's still a lot to do before she can reopen it; there's glass on the floor, as though people had swiped a large collection of phials to the floor in their hurry to grab what they needed, and in that same vein, a lot of stock is missing, not just what had already been on shelves, but ingredients too. Some of them are relatively easy to restock, such as herbs and some poisonous plants—why they'd need those, Briar's not going to wonder about—but others are a lot harder to replenish, things she'd procured from the sweet, tall cryptid who trades in all sorts of toxins, as well as compounds she'd personally swiped from Afterglow on her trips to visit Levi.

They watch, seated on the counter with their legs swinging slowly—bare feet despite the glass strewn about—as three men carefully pull out the wooden doorpost that serves the entrance to their little establishment, the door having been removed earlier. They'd come back later to reinstall both, new not-splintered wood, but it would take a while with everything else going on.

With a sigh, Briar pushes stray curls away from their face and shoves them in the already messy braid keeping their hair in place. Hopping off the counter, they grab the broom that they'd leaned against the side of the counter and tucks one end of the patchwork dress into the worn, loose leather belt around their waist to keep it up and away from their legs as they start sweeping up the glass, deftly avoiding shard sharps with footwork indicating they're experienced in placing their feet on ground dangerous to bare skin.

There's the sound of glass crunching underfoot, but Briar doesn't look up as her eyes scan the floor to place her feet while she sweeps. "We're not open, we won't be open for a while, go away, come back next week."

[tannerkohli]

closed starter for @briarrosedahl at the kismet harbor post office

With Solana and Ian's family being as generous as they were to let her stay with them for the time being, Tanner had been trying her best to be as helpful as possible with the little things that she could manage. That morning it had been nothing too difficult, a simple trip to the post office to send out a package. She was in line, leaning back against a desk waiting to be called when another woman walked in. Tanner's eyes narrowed a bit, looking over with a hint of confusion as she tried to place where she knew her from. The face was entirely too familiar, but Tanner couldn't for the life of her figure out why. By the time the woman was behind her in line, it had become pretty obvious she was looking over and Tanner figured it was better to just say something. "You look familiar. You from around here?" she asked, assuming it could possibly be someone she had known from her summers spent in Kismet in her younger years.