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berryitalive · 1 year ago

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HI!!! I have not forgotten about this. I know what I want to do for Chapter 4 (Final) but writing 3 has put me in such a block! I promise I'll post soon <3

As The Year Goes By// Chapter 2

Summary: Just a totally normal Fall for Pelican Town.

Warning: for brief domestic violence

Chapter 2: Fall

Fall 27, Year 0

A plate smashed against a wall at 9 p.m on a Saturday evening. The broken pieces fell onto the carpet floor as two adults got into a screaming match, inevitably alerting neighbors to call the police. Bridgit locked herself in her bathroom as Liam pounded on the door. Several explicits and names were thrown her way as he continued to try to get in. The drunken slurring of his words filled the woman with as much hate as it did fear.

“Go the fuck away!” Bridgit screamed, her voice trembled as tears ruined her makeup. It was such a shame. She had spent hours in the bathroom mirror earlier that day trying to choose the perfect shade of eyeshadow, lipstick, mascara…etc, just for Liam to get mad at her for smiling at the waiter. So much for their three year anniversary. The sound of police knocking on the door could be heard but Liam did not care.

“Come. The. Fuck. Out!” Liam yelled. Dread filled the short woman’s body as the door was kicked in and the tall redheaded man dragged her out of the bathroom by her long, synthetic braids. She screamed before his hands wrapped around her throat. Luckily, her previous screams of terror were enough to encourage the cops to break in.

The woman was freed from Liam’s grasp while he attempted to dodge the Zuzu City policemen. Two officers pinned him against the wall, put him in handcuffs, and forced him outside. Another officer helped the traumatized 21 year old to her feet and led her to his car to take her statement. She struggled to speak; her throat was sore from the attempt on her life, her mind was still shaken up from being attacked by what she previously thought was the love of her life, and she could barely focus on anything the cop was saying.

Bridgit’s bare feet felt the hard concrete of the apartment’s parking lot as an officer spoke to her. She played with one of her ruined braids, desperately trying to ignore the neighbors peeking out their doors. The short brown woman rubbed her arm, dissociating as the angry-drunk yelling of her now ex-boyfriend came from the cop car. It felt like it took ten years for the law to leave and take her abusive ex with them.

Silence filled the destroyed apartment. Bridgit crawled into her bed and sobbed, the adrenaline leaving her exhausted body. She spent the next hour laying in bed, staring at the ceiling before opening the drawer in the nightstand beside the bed. The young woman looked at the letter her late grandfather left her a few years ago and gently took it out to read it.

“If you're reading this, you must be in dire need of a change. The same thing happened to me, long ago. I'd lost sight of what mattered most in life... real connections with other people and nature. So I dropped everything and moved to the place I truly belong…”

Bridgit sighed and looked at her belongings. She slowly drifted into the bathroom and stared at her bruised arms and face while her fingers touched the spots where Liam had struck her. Clear as day were dark bruises against her neck where he had grabbed her throat. Her gaze moved to her hair. The long braids that went down her back were suddenly too painful to look at. ‘Dire need of a change’ was an understatement. She wanted to completely erase everything she currently knew.

Fall 3, Year 2

“Cows!” Jas cheered as she ran towards the barn. Bee’s orange cat, Cheddar, followed behind her hoping to be pet and given attention. Bee yawned as she looked out at her farm, dreading all the work she had to do today.

“Bee, you are a life-saver. I gotta work today, Marnie is out of town till later this evening for a delivery in Zuzu city and Penny is home with a cold. I’ll come by to pick her up later.” Shane explained. He zipped up his Joja jacket as Bee shook her head.

“I will walk Jas home later, it's no big deal. I could use the company anyways. The beginning of the season is always the worst when it comes to work.” The farmer looked over at Jas. The girl was currently petting and talking to the goats and cows.

Shane gave a relieved smile and waved as he left for work. Bee groaned as she put her gloves on and grabbed her golden hoe. The woman immediately got to work. Dead crops were removed and new seeds were put down. She harvested the wheat, replaced them with seeds, then watered them. Her sprinklers were installed swiftly to make the rest of the season easier.

“Jas! Let’s take a walk to Pierre’s, yeah?” Bee called to her. The child skipped over to her and took her hand.

“What are you buying from Mr. Pierre?” Jas asked as they began their walk.

“Well, I’m going to bring him today’s wheat that I didn’t use for the kegs. And I’m going to buy more seeds.”

“What kind of seeds?”

“Bok choy, some more wheat, pumpkins, and fairy roses.”

Jas’s face lit up. “I love fairy roses! Can I help you plant them?”

“Yes you can!” Bee smiled.

The day seemed to go by fast. The seeds were bought and brought back to the farm. Bee planted the main crops by herself then called Jas over to help with the fairy roses.

“Why are we planting these near the bee houses?” Jas asks as she carefully places the seeds in their plot.

“The pollen the bees collect from the flowers can affect the taste of their honey. Last season they made sunflower honey. This season they’ll make fairy rose honey.”

“Can I have a fairy rose when the bees are done using them?” She asks and takes off the small gardening gloves.

Bee waters the seeds and nods. “Yep! They should be done with them at the end of the season.” She looks down at the watch on her wrist. “It’s only three and we are already done! You’re a great help, Jas.”

Jas dusts the dirt off her dress and smiles. The farmer puts away the farming equipment and leads Jas into the house for a well deserved dinner. “Does Uncle Shane come here for dinner a lot?” Jas asks.

Bee shakes her head. “Shane doesn’t come here too often at all. He came to help me last week because I had, most likely, whatever cold Penny has now. He is a very good friend.” She cuts the pizza in even slices and places two on Jas’s plate.

‘Technically speaking he's my only friend.’ The farmer thought to herself. ‘It would definitely benefit me to start talking to the rest of Pelican Town. I mean, why doesn't anyone approach me? Am I too stand-offish?’

So lost in thought, Bee doesn’t notice Jas getting up to turn the oven off. “You forgot the oven was on.” She stated, taking a bite of pizza. The woman looks over at the oven.

“Thank you. Once you finish up we’ll start walking to your house. Shane should be at home by now.”

The girls made their way to Marnie’s ranch. As they entered the large home, it seemed to be empty. Jas went into her room to put the toys she had brought with her away. Bee walked over to the kitchen and noticed Marnie standing in Shane’s room. A worried expression attached to the older woman’s face. As the farmer entered the room she saw Shane lying on the ground, unconscious.

“Bridgit, could you do something? He’s passed out cold.” His aunt sighed.

Bee grabbed a cup of water from the kitchen and dumped it onto Shane’s face. He yelled and rose up from the floor. Marnie pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Shane! What’s the matter with you? All you do anymore is mope around your room and drink beer!” She yelled. Suddenly, Bee felt out of place and very uncomfortable.

“You wouldn’t understand.” Shane responded weakly.

“I’m worried. What’s your plan? Don’t you ever think about the future?” Marnie asks. Jas slowly entered the room and clutched her aunt's hand, concerned for her godfather.

“Plan..? Hopefully I won’t be around long enough to need a plan.” He responded honestly. A loud gasp was heard which was followed by sobbing as Jas ran out of the room. She was followed by Marnie leaving Bee and Shane alone.

“Jas…” The depressed man stared at the door. “I’m sorry.” He collapsed to his knees and let out a frustrated yell as he struggled to keep it together. His breaths came in short, ragged gasps as he tried to control himself. Bee went to touch his shoulder but stopped as he suddenly glared up at her. The woman took a step back.

“Shane-”

“Just go, Bee.” He said shakily. His hands trembled as he clutched his hair.

“Promise me you won’t go out and hurt yourself.” Bee responded softly.

“Just get out, Bridgit. Please.”

She avoided looking at her friend as she left his room, closing the door behind her. Worry consumed her mind, all she could think about was how broken Shane looked just now. Marnie stopped her before she made it out of the house.

“Be careful on your way home, dear. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

“Sure. I think I forgot to water my pumpkin seeds today. I’m gonna...go do that.”

Bee left the ranch and wandered home. It was dark outside by the time she made it into the house and into her bed. The woman wrapped herself in a blanket and stared at the ceiling, wondering if there was something better she could have said. If there was something better she could have done. But instead, she left her only friend alone in his room. Bee knew he told her to leave, but she couldn’t help but feel like she should have comforted him better.

Fall 16, Year 2

Arranging a grange display was proving to be much more difficult than Bee initially thought it would be. She placed her fairy rose honey in the center before deciding where to put the other items. She had quality artisan goods and animal products waiting to be placed on the grange display and judged by Mayor Lewis.

The farmer glanced at Pierre’s display and sighed. He and Marnie were definitely tough competition, not to mention some of the fish Willie had on his display were beautiful. Fuck it. Her fresh produce would speak for itself no matter how it was displayed. Bee made her final arrangements and took a step back to look it over. A smile made its way to her face. It looked pretty good!

“That’s a nice looking pumpkin, Bridgit. Never knew you had a green thumb.” A very familiar voice spoke from behind her. Bee suddenly felt nauseous as she turned around to look at the tall redheaded man that stood behind her. Her smile turned into a grimace and her heart sank.

Liam yawned as he looked down at his ex-girlfriend. He continued as if his being there was nothing special.

“That bus ride? Fuckin brutal. I mean, I would have taken my new car but there is nowhere to park in this dumbass town. You really gave up Zuzu for this shithole?”

Bee felt her chest tighten as the hurt and anger of their past flooded back. She had hoped to never cross paths with him again but fate apparently had other plans as their eyes were locked in a stand-off.

“Get the fuck away from me, William,” She spat. “I don’t know why you’re here and I don’t care. There is no reason for you to find me and speak to me.”

The man laughed as Bee tensed.

“Please. Don’t act like I’m here for you. My girl is running the slingshot booth and she invited me to tag along to enjoy the fair. Ya know, I was just trying to be nice and say hi. I forgot how uptight you are about everything. Lighten up.”

Bee knew she could be the bigger person. Just ignore him and he will go away. She closed her eyes. Just ignore him and he will go away.

“Do you try to kill her too?” She asked right as Liam turned to walk off.

Time seemed to freeze once he turned back to face her. His hazel eyes seemed tinted with malice as they bored into her brown ones with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. The expression on Liam’s face was equal to that of a predator eyeing his prey.

“Oh wow…I have missed your creative mind, Honeybee. But let me be clear, I never tried to kill you and I would never lay a finger on Brooke since she actually loves me. Which you never did. If you loved me you wouldn't have smiled at a fuckin waiter on our anniversary. You also would have stuck around for me to do better if you loved me. Instead you ran off to fuckin’ hillbillyville!”

“Oh bullshit. You can't sit here and try to convince me you didn't try to kill me or put me in a hospital. I filed a police report, I went to clinics for my throat, I left my job to get away from you…Someone who loves me wouldn’t damage my larynx.”

Liam grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to him.

“I DID LOVE YOU.” He growled.

Bee tried pulling her arm away but his grip only tightened. She looked around in a panic as she realized no one was nearby. Her eyes met his once more, and as they did he leaned in close to her face.

“You are a fucking disease. You will drive every man to do what I did because you, Bridgit, are fucking insufferable. I will be the only man to have ever wanted you and Yoba, what a mistake that was,” Liam let go of her arm and stood up straight.

“And if you tell Brooke a damn thing, if you even look in her direction, I’ll burn you and your farm down.”

Bee could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Her breath was coming in shallow gasps as she felt like she may collapse at any moment. Angry and panicked thoughts raced through her mind as her body was overwhelmed with terror. The woman’s muscles were tense, her hands were trembling, and she was sweating as if it were 100 degrees outside.

She tried to keep from spiraling. Was he just trying to sound tough? Does he know where her farm is? What if he broke into her house? Bee teared up as she tried to pull herself together.

The farmer yelped as she felt a hand on her shoulder, pulling her away from the grange display she was leaning over. She felt a surge of adrenaline and a flash of fear. Without thinking, she turned and threw a punch at whoever was standing behind her. The culprit quickly jumped back, narrowly missing the swing.

“Woah! What the hell?!” A startled voice yelped.

Bee stared in shock as her eyes focused and she realized it was just Sam. Sebastian and Abigail stood a few feet away from them, snickering to themselves. The woman looked around confused as she realized Liam was nowhere to be seen.

“Sam! Fuck, I am so sorry! You startled me, I thought you were someone else.” Bee explained as she finally managed to calm down.

“Whoever that someone else is should definitely watch out. Sam almost got knocked on his ass.” Abigail snickered. The blonde rolled his eyes before shoving his hair out of his face.

“I called out to you a few times cause you looked like you were gonna vomit. We saw you on our way to go smoke, wanna join?” Sam asked as Sebastian and Abigail continued walking towards the river.

“Oh, thanks for the offer but I try not to smoke cigarettes anymore.” Bee gave an awkward smile as she adjusted the rose-honey in the display.

Sam chuckled. “Different kind of smoke.”

Bee stared at Sam. “In that case, I’m right behind you.”

The four of them giggled as they passed a joint around, remaining out of sight from the rest of the festival attendees.

Sebastian coughed as he handed the joint to Bee. The woman inhaled the smoke and passed it to Abigail.

“Man, I wish Joja would like, burn down or something. Morris has been on my ass about the stupidest crap.” Sam complained as he was handed the rolled up marijuana.

“Oh, I didn't know you worked at JojaMart too.” Bee replied.

“Unfortunately.” The blonde said before coughing while tossing the roach in a cup. “This is out.”

“Too? So you do have a thing with Shane. That's 20, Sebastian.” Abigail smirked.

“A thing? You mean like friends? Sure we're friends but that's it. We're not like, seeing each other if that's what you think.” Bee explained.

The three stoned friends looked at each other and laughed. Bee groaned as blood rushed to her cheeks.

“Would you consider us your friends?” Sebastian asks while Abigail begins rolling another paper.

“Well, this is the first time I've been around any of you after living here for a while. I feel like saying we're all friends wouldn't be correct? I mean yet! I want to be friends with you guys for sure, just- socializing is hard for me.”

Sebastian chuckled and passed the lighter to the younger purple-haired woman so she could light the joint. Abigail lit the joint, took a puff, and passed it to the farmer.

“What I mean to ask is would you go as far to dance with us like you did with Shane at the Luau?”

“Well that was different- plus it's just dancing, you know? Dancing doesn't have to be romantic. If we all started break dancing right now would that mean we were seeing each other?” Bee retorted before taking another inhale of the joint, and passing it to Sebastian.

“We'd be seeing each other make a fool of ourselves.” Sebastian joked and took a small inhale on the joint. He turned to hand the joint to Sam.

As Sam took a hit on the joint he began to wave his hand in the air.

“Speak of the devil! Shane! Coworker bestie! Shane, come hit this!” Sam giggled.

They could all see the unamused expression on the older man's face as he took his time walking over to them. Once he noticed the farmer sitting alongside them it changed into a look of confusion.

“Since when did you smoke pot?” Shane asked Bee as Sam gave the joint to him.

Bee watched without responding as the man inhaled the smoke. There was something about watching him blow smoke from the side of his mouth that had her damn near drooling.

“Hello?” Shane waved his hand in front of her face.

“Hey.” Bee smiled up at him.

“Yeah, she's done.” Abigail laughed, making the others chuckle. Shane's eyes stayed on the farmer as he passed the joint.

“I want to go back to the festival, you all coming?” Abigail stood up and tossed the last roach away. Sam and Sebastian got up and followed her back into the town center.

Bee slowly stood up and looked over at Shane. He shoved his hands into his jacket pocket and began walking back towards the grange displays.

“I didn't know you hung out with those three.” Bee said.

“I don't. But Sam's the only coworker I can stand and he smokes me out whenever it's a really rough shift.”

The farmer nodded. There was a long silence as they walked. Bee kept a smile on her face as she felt warm and cozy from the pot they just smoked. The previous anxiety and fear from Liam being around seemingly subdued.

“Listen, Bee, I'm sorry about the other day. I just needed some space.” Shane apologized, his eyes avoiding hers.

“I understand. I'm sorry for splashing water on you. I probably could've just shaken you awake.” Bee chuckled awkwardly.

Shane shrugged. “Buh, it's in the past now. Let's go see who won the grange display this year, yeah?”

As they walk over to the displays, Bee notices the prismatic shard she had placed in the center was missing. Mayor Lewis was making his way over to her display as she looked around for the shard. Who would steal her crystal? A bitter scoff slipped from her mouth. It was probably the asshole who made his presence known earlier. Still, maybe there was a chance it was somewhere under the grange displays.

Shane noticed his friend looking around frantically for something and saw the giant space in the display. Not thinking much about it, he sets an egg where the shard should be. As mayor Lewis walks up to the showcase of produce he smiles.

“Very impressive, Miss Bee.”

The woman gives an awkward smile in response as the mayor inspect’s Pierre’s produce. Shane took the egg back and placed it back in his pocket.

“You just carry eggs around?” Bee asks the man.

“I’ve seen you run around with a plate of spaghetti.”

“Fair enough. But thanks Shane. I don’t know what happened to the prismatic shard I had though.”

Shane gives a small shrug in response as Lewis begins to announce the winner. “In second place we have…Farmer Bee!”

“Hey, not bad for the replacement being an egg.” Bee chuckled. No use in feeling defeated. Besides, seeing Shane help her was almost a win in itself.

“Still, it's pretty messed up for someone to steal your shard like that.” Shane gave her a small pat on the back. “Anyways, I need to find Jas. I’ll see ya later?”

“Of course. Later, Shane.” Bee smiled as Shane walked away. Despite not getting first place, she felt good. She was still stoned and getting the nice feelings that come from enjoying pot but deeper she felt cared for by Shane. And that was a better high than anything pot could offer.

Fall 20, Year 2

Bee woke to the sound of the phone ringing and roaring thunder. She rose from her bed and stumbled over to the loud red telephone before picking it up and holding it to her ear.

"Mm-Hello?" Bee yawned.

“Bridgit?” Marnie’s worried voice came from the other end of the line.

“Hey Marnie, is everything okay?” The farmer asked as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

“I’m not sure. It’s Jas’s birthday and Shane said he would take the afternoon shift to spend the morning with all of us but he’s not here. And his supervisor said he’s not at work either. It’s already near 9 am…I told Jas he got called in but I really don’t know where he could be.”

Bee was silent as she felt a knot in her stomach. Her mind raced with thoughts of worst-case scenarios of where Shane could be. The feeling of dread began to take over her body, completely overpowering the annoyance she had at waking up late.

“I’ll find him. Tell Jas happy birthday from me, yeah?” She did not waste time waiting for a response and hung up the telephone. The farmer threw on a jacket and rushed out of the door, not bothering to pull the hood over her head.

The rain was heavy and the thunder was deafening. The storm showed no sign of relenting either. Her hair was soaked and her clothes stuck to her skin but none of it mattered to her, she just wanted Shane to be okay. He was somewhere in Pelican Town and she was determined to find him.

Bee’s heart was racing as she ran around Pelican Town, the coldness of the rain seeping into her bones. She had checked the beach, the train station, and even Joja just to make sure he was truly not there. As she entered Cindersap Forest she took a deep breath. It was a lot of ground to cover but damn it, she was determined.

Her feet splashed through puddles and mud, ruining her shoes, but she couldn't care any less. The wind whipped her hair into a frenzy as she called out Shane’s name. As she made her way towards the sewer near the end of the forest, she finally spotted her very drunk friend lying near the cliff surrounded by beer cans.

“Shane!” Bee shouted. She ran over to him then bent over, exhausted from hunting for the man for the past two hours. Her hair was ruined and she was soaked to the bone but it was all worth finding him.

“Bridgit…” Shane moaned from where he was laying. Bee’s eyes softened and her brows furrowed as she sat down by him. “I-I’m sorry.”

Shane continued after his drunken hiccup, “M…My life. It’s a pathetic joke…look at me…Why do I even try?” He sobbed with his face against the wet ground. All Bee could do in the moment was just sit there and listen to his crying.

“I’m too small and stupid to…to take control of my life. I…I’m just a piece of soiled garbage flittering in the wind…I’ve been coming here often lately…looking down…here’s a chance to finally take control of my life…these cliffs. But…but I’m too scared and anxious…just like always.” Shane cried. Bee stood up, her eyes glassy and rimmed with red.

“Bee��all I do is work, sleep and drink…t…to dull the feelings of self-hatred. Why should I even go on? Tell me…T-tell me why I shouldn’t roll off this cliff right now.”

The soaked farmer gazed down at the drunk and depressed man in front of her. She looked down from the cliff and sighed. Was there even a right response to this? He was a drunken mess and probably more soaked than she was. Still. She needed to say something.

“If you decide that there’s no reason to keep going, right now, you will never get to find out if you were wrong later. It would be bullshit to try and feed you arbitrary reasons to not roll off this cliff because life is fucking brutal and its hard. Sometimes it's hard for no good reason...But either way, I’m here for you Shane.” Bee responded. It was the best she could manage to say while being cold and worried.

“Thanks…I appreciate that…I really do.” Shane said softly. He clutched his stomach and groaned. “Bee…I think you should take me to the hospital now.”

The woman helped Shane to his feet, throwing his arm over her shoulder and supported him all the way out of the forest and to Harvey’s clinic. The doctor looked at them both with wide eyes as puddles formed around their feet, soaking his floors. Bee looked at the older brunette, her eyes full of concern as she pleaded for his help and was relieved when Harvey helped her get him to a room.

It was evening by the time she left the clinic. Harvey had pumped Shane’s stomach and rehydrated him. The doctor had also expressed his concern for Shane’s mental health which was the more pressing issue. She wondered what could have happened, had she not found Shane in time. Even if he decided not to jump off the cliff the man could have died from alcohol poisoning.

Bee got into her house and sighed. The first thing she did was dry off and change into warm clothes. Then she went to her phone and called Marnie.

“Is he okay?” Marnie asked immediately.

“He is now. He’s over at the hospital with Harvey. He was in rough shape.” Bee explained. It was silent for a moment but she could hear his aunt sniffling.

“I’m glad you found him.” She finally spoke.

“Me too. I think I’m gonna head to bed early. Night, Marnie.” The farmer hung up the phone and sighed. Her body was sore from running around town in the rain searching for the 28 year old. As she lay in her bed, holding her cat close to her, all she could think about was how defeated her friend looked as he cried to her.

Fall 21, Year 2

Loud knocking came from the front door. Bee stretched as she arose from her bed before slowly making her way to the front of the house. There better be a good reason someone is here this early. She opens her door with a tired and slightly aggravated expression.

"Hey…" Shane said. His voice was barely above a whisper. "Oh man…how do I say this? I'm really sorry for what happened down at the cliffs…that was…embarrassing."

Bee's expression had shifted the moment she saw him. So many emotions were bubbling inside her like a pot of water about to boil over. Her eyes began to burn, tears threatening to spill onto her shirt while she clenched her fist. She could barely make eye contact with the man.

"Bee," He moved closer to her. "Say something will ya?"

Suddenly she pulled Shane into an embrace. Her arms wrapped around him, squeezing him tightly while her face was buried into his green shirt. She felt his arms hesitantly return the gesture.

"Please don't ever scare me like that again. I'm so glad you're still here." Bee's voice cracked as she broke their hug.

“Wow, it was that serious, huh? I can hardly remember…” Shane admitted. “I’ve decided I want to see a therapist. Harvey got me in touch with a colleague of his. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for taking care of me and I want you to know I’m going to take things more seriously from now on. I don’t want to be a burden on anyone…”

The farmer smiled softly. “That's really good Shane. I'm just relieved you're okay.”

Shane nodded and returned the smile. “I’ll catch you around, Bee.”

Autumn leaves continued to fall and blow around in the wind as the older man took his leave. She watched as he continued down the path before heading into her greenhouse and beginning her chores.

#Berryitalive update

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berryitalive · 2 years ago

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The Starlight Mauve (Short Story)

There it was, The Starlight Mauve, the place where the passions of love came to die. Formerly a prestigious retreat from society’s ever righteous morals, the mighty niterie now stood barren atop that once virident hill, projecting its melancholic memories upon the lands below. Run down in desolation, that famed house’s fluorescence could no longer mystify the minds, nor could its thick air of lust and betrayal charm the lowly denizens of the night. It was a pathetic sight to see, how the marvelous nightclub had resolved to nothing more than a shelter from Boreas’ cold fury, but it was a fate well deserved. Now, the only beings who called this pitiful den home were the vermin and dregs birthed from its sinful sludge many moons prior.

It had been three years since I'd last been there, but its maroon walls and musk of intoxicated love never ceased to plague my mind. Haunting my dreams and eating away at my soul, the memories of the fateful night spent in that degenerative hell had conjured before my eyes all that I had lost. For months on end I was convinced this was the fate I was damned with, convinced these nightmares would never cease and neither would my suffering, but then I read of The Starlight Mauve’s condemnation. It was then I knew that to find the closure I so desperately needed I’d have to return there once more.

Now, having proceeded through a litany of snow-clad forests and once traveled roads, I found myself at the foot of The Starlight Mauve’s great entrance once more. There I stood before the precipice, glaring at the soft glow emanating from the purple-tinted star which bore the nightclub’s name above me. Even in its desolation, The Starlight Mauve taunted me, illuminating the frost below me with neon lights and reflections of lovers blowing kisses that no one would catch. Seeing these illusions, I felt a heat begin to rise from my chest. Feeding off of my sorrows and regrets, this heat manifested itself as a melancholic haze that brought painful memories of my night three years prior. Enveloped by the past, I no longer felt the slow descending snow peck my cheeks with its chilling barrage. Instead, I now felt the jealousy that consumed my heart the night I lost my dear Elizabeth.

We were two wildfires caught within a storm. Tangled by our lust, we’d spend every night dancing atop every aspiration and commitment we ever had, burning them down just for one more sunrise together. For months I believed that our bond was unbreakable, that our destinies would be forever intertwined, but I soon found out how wrong I was. Elizabeth was my everything, my angelic rose, and I lost her before I could truly love her.

I tried to pull myself from my mind, but It took me a moment to find my composure. Tears streamed down my face, escaping my sorrowful eyes and descending down upon the snow. Each droplet burned a hole as it sank, producing ascending mists before me. In the steam I could’ve sworn I saw Elizabeth dancing like she used to, but before I could grasp her beauty, the vapors would vanish. Sighing, I put out my lantern and made my way into the dark recesses awaiting me, knowing that regardless of if I was ready or not, closure would be coming soon.

Upon entering, I immediately felt overwhelmed by a wave of crashing heartache. Regardless of its emptiness, The Starlight Mauve still carried with it the pains of its past. Every soul that had been taken, every love that had been murdered, every virgin turned wanton, all of it was there, forsaken by the burlesque’s lustful ignorance. Solemnly, I traversed deeper into the nightclub, desperate to pass these piteous pockets of loathing.

Soon I found myself standing where the dance floor had once been with my sight obscured by a heavy haze of stink and despair. I was lost beneath this veil, blind to all that surrounded me except for the lavender carpet whose pile sung with each step. Despite this, my spirit’s rising panic began to fade and I felt assuaged by the ambiance before me. The wool called to me, and as I allowed the voracious fabric below to pull me to my knees, I began to retrieve three sacred items which haunted the hollows of my heart.

First, from my lapel I pulled the brooch Elizabeth pinned to my chest the first night we met. Once shining with a striking silver gleam, the metal which warded the black rose that centered the ornament had now decayed with spots of red and orange. The rose contained within it was all but dead, except for a single petal which refused to fall from its sepal. Giving it one last longing glance, I placed the brooch to my left and continued my ritual.

Next, I pulled from my breast a locket which contained a faded picture of Elizabeth and I. Its oxidized corners had turned yellow over time and the paper smelt of buttered popcorn, sparking my memories of the circus where we met. My mind was overcome by the sound of her beautiful laughter and the image of her soft smile that carried infinite joys and sorrows. Now, seeing my eyes reflected in the rhinestone crest which adorned the inner recess, I reflected on how her irises would sparkle under the moonlight. It took all I had in me to separate myself from that image, and it took more strength than I believed I had to place her locket down upon the ground before me.

Finally, from my pocket I pulled the ring I had planned on giving her that fateful night. Staring at the purple hue which painted its golden band, I recalled how excited I was when I had bought it. I had spent weeks going from town to town, looking for the perfect jeweler to bedazzle my love, and when I finally found the right ring my giddiness had overwhelmed me. Unfortunately, that giddiness has faded, but my love for her has not. For three years it had been burning a hole in my pocket, never seeing the light of day or feeling the wind bend to its diamond crest, but now it was finally time to separate myself from it.

Contained within a triangle of my past, I sat solemnly, whispering both nothing and everything to the world around me. I hadn’t seen Elizabeth in 3 years, but I hoped that somewhere, somehow, she’d hear my message.

“I don’t know what occurred that night. I don’t know what happened to cause you to leave, but I am sorry. I hope that wherever you went, wherever you are now, you’re safe and happy. Goodbye Elizabeth”

Before a sea of sorrows could escape my eyes, a small shower did instead. Three solitary tears sank through the cracks in the floorboards, binding themselves forever to the foundations of this woeful wretch. This was it, this was the end. I had to let Elizabeth go, here, now, and forever.

With a deep sigh, I rose to my feet and turned towards the door. For the first time in nearly an hour I felt the brisk wind chill my bones, invading every depression within The Starlight Mauve and I. Turning towards the door, I prepared myself to leave and never return when suddenly my essence was compelled by the sting of an old chord.

Across the room I saw the old stain-ridden piano alive and well, its ivory keys playing a somber scale that quickly transitioned into a melodious swing. The wind picked up, now tunneling through the corridors before slamming those velvet doors shut, enveloping me in darkness. Surrounded by shadow and painful nostalgia, I prepared myself for hell to come once more. Instead, I found heaven.

The room exploded with a barrage of lights and sounds. Music blasted from every direction and within moments I was caught between a mob of dancing spirits locked within an eternal tango. Ghostly quartets played the masquerade on as phantoms brought the ballroom to life, rebranding The Starlight Mauve as a house of romance and passion. Darting my eyes back and forth, I almost couldn’t believe what I saw. The crowd before me was neither alive nor dead, but rather a beautiful union of transcendent love across the ages. Old widows reunited with their husbands, lovers embraced in death without the judgment of society, and couples conjoined with a bond so strong that even death could not part. Each soul had been joined by their equal, locked hand in hand, swaying to the hypnotic thump of the bass and the flourishing strings. Young or old, flesh or bone, the shades of the hall oscillated rhythmically and smiled as they fell into the arms of their lover.

It was impossible not to find joy in the pure ecstasy occurring around me, but part of me felt a stinging loneliness begin to rise. I searched among the crowd for someone to take my hand, for anyone to acknowledge my presence, but it was useless. Invisible amongst these amorous couplets, the pain in my heart returned, and it returned with fury as its partner.

“Why is this happening?” I thought to myself as I angrily pushed through the ghostly crowds. Just moments before this eruption occurred I had been mourning the loss of my love, casting aside my history and pain for a better tomorrow, but nobody seemed to notice nor care. I was caught within a rushing river of compassion, yet my skin ran dry and my throat contracted from thirst.

Scorn riddled my heart as I looked for an escape from this mirage. I had spent three years searching for the right moment to let go of my painful attachment and I wouldn’t let these spirits ruin this chance. I couldn’t hear my thoughts over the mesmerizing harmony emerging from the brass around me but I knew that I had to leave. Compelled towards the large velvet set of doors before me, I found myself below its imposing frame grasping the copper handle before I suddenly heard her voice.

“Leaving so soon? I was hoping we’d at least have a dance together”

Overcome with fear, confusion, and fervor, I found my eyes bound to the floor below me. I couldn’t turn my body to face this voice and I couldn’t dare meet its gaze, afraid that what I’d see would either disappoint or revive the fires in my heart I had just put out. My shoulders tensed and my hands shook with a freezing burn that chilled my veins. I wanted to run away from all of this, but I couldn’t.

“It's ok Henry, It’s me. I promise it's me.”

Taking a deep breath, I drew from what willpower I had left the desire to face this voice. Back towards the center of the hall stood Elizabeth, looking just as beautiful as the day I lost her.

Everything about her was a dream. Beneath the dim lights that guided loving dancers’ souls around the picturesque ballroom her eyes shone brighter than ever before. In her hair I found a heart of chestnut and lavender that could burn you with its fiery touch. Her ballgown ran black with streaks of gold and on her breast sat a pinned nightingale whose metallic wings reflected my deepest desires back at me.

For three years I had prayed for a night like this, a night where I would finally see my love once more. Now that it was here I had no idea what to do. I had neither the preparation nor the rationale to truly navigate the situation before me, so instead I followed my heart and glided across the hall to her.

Within moments we were in each other’s arms, picking our love up right where we left off. With her hands behind my neck and mine around her waist, I felt safe for the first time in years. The music was soft and smooth, slow enough to match a heartbeat, but fast enough to keep our feet moving below us. Elizabeth danced just like she used to, dragging me across the ballroom floor with a hasty flourish. Each dip, spin, jump, and lunge that we performed worked only to further join our hearts. Our fire was alive once more, but the pains of the past were persistent in their beckoning.

“How is this possible?” My eyes glazed past her, landing on the undead procession behind her. “Is any of this real?”

“Don’t focus on that Henry, focus on me.”

“But how can I not focus on that? Are they really dead? Are you dead? What happened?”

I waited for a response from Elizabeth but before she could answer the tempo picked up and we were swept into the crowding cadaverous sea. My body felt foreign as my feet took initiative, swaying in 2/4 time to keep up with Elizabeth’s fiery tango. Had it not been for the waltz which had previously united us I believe our souls would have lost one another once more. However, the crescendoing accelerando that possessed the guitarists sharp chords and percussions swift rhythm gave our bodies no rest. In an attempt to ground myself, I returned to the questions that I had been asking Elizabeth.

“Where have you been for the past three years? What happened to you?”

“You’ll learn in due time my Starshine, until then let us enjoy this.”

From that moment I wanted to continue my questioning but her calm words and loving smile eased all of my queries. I felt as if I could fall into her arms and spend an eternity wrapped in her warm embrace, swaying on the dance floor between a mob of lovers and memories. Everything was perfect, and I wished that these ever fleeting seconds would drag their feet in their quest to progress time’s agenda.

For hours we danced, forgetting about the worlds beyond and their woes. Every sonata, ballad, and flamenco that the revenant quartet performed filled my heart with promises of a forever that I believed were right there for the taking. I was happy and my love was stronger than ever, revived by the searing affection found within Elizabeth’s affectionate visage.

With every strut and step that we took I felt more energy flow through my body. Exhaustion was a mortal worry and as I spent this night among my love and the dead I was granted the gifts that come with immortality.

Life was a dream, a pleasant serenade of love and devotion that made me feel alive once again, but unfortunately all dreams must come to an end. As Elizabeth and I glided about the ballroom I began to see the faux illusion that had occupied my eyes fail. The polished floorboards began to splinter and the music adopted a minor key that distorted the fantasy before me. I turned to Elizabeth for an answer, but she instead met my gaze with a longing look that told me all I needed to know.

“No…stop looking at me like that! Don’t tell me this has to end!” I uttered in a shaky voice.

“I’m sorry Henry, but it’s time. I wanted this to last as long as it could but our night must end for you to be able to grow.”

Before I could bring myself to interrogate Elizabeth further I was stopped by the deconstruction of the world around me. I watched as the spirits that once shared the dance floor with Elizabeth and I began to dissipate and how the many instrumentalists that provided us all with beautiful melodies began to fade into oblivion. The vast variety of colors and joys were draining from my surroundings, leaving behind the desolate interior that I had found within The Starlight Mauve hours earlier.

Panic rose throughout my body as I veered back towards Elizabeth, hoping that even if this all went away that I'd still be able to keep her. Reaching out, I grabbed at her hand and prepared myself to run away with her but as I held out to hold her my hand passed through hers.

“Elizabeth please! Please don’t tell me this is the end! I just got you back, I can't lose you again!” I yelled as I looked into her eyes longing for her sympathy but all I found was a distant smile.

“Henry, this night was amazing but it was not meant to last. I know this is hard but remember this, you’ll never lose me. You can learn to let go, but you can always remember our time together.”

“But I don’t want to let go! I thought I did but I don’t”

“Yes you do Henry, and you will. You are stronger than the desires your longing heart feeds you. Soon you will learn the reason behind tonight but until then I want you to know that it’s ok to move on.”

Elizabeth smiled at me and for a moment caressed my face, looking into my eyes lovingly. I tried to return that affection, that touch, but her form turned to mist in my hands.

“Goodbye Henry, please take care of yourself.”

With those final words I watched as she began to fade away along with the final remnants of the fabrication conjured before me. Within moments she disappeared and all that was left before me were the broken down vestigial veins of The Starlight Mauve.

It was over. The vivacious promenade of rhythmic footsteps had been overcome by a deafening silence that shook my very essence. The dozens of lively souls marching to love’s tempo had been replaced by an empty ballroom and a note that sat forlorn upon the wooden floorboards. I rushed over as fast as I could to this parchment, hoping that written on it would be some explanation of what had happened or some trace of my love. As I picked it up my eyes began to hastily read the ink-blotten contents.

“Henry, I’m sorry I had to leave you again. I know how hard this must be for you to read and I’m sorry for any more heartbreak it causes you, I just wanted you to finally know the truth. That night, our first night at The Starlight Mauve, I was dying. I hadn’t much time left to live and I knew that if you had to see me suffer it would break your heart. I ran away that night because I thought it would protect you, save you from the agony I know you would have felt, but perhaps I did it for myself as well. I wanted in my final days to have control, to be able to decide the terms in which I left my affairs, and in my desire to do so I felt I had to leave you. I shouldn’t have robbed you of the ability to care for me, nor should I have robbed you of your goodbye, but I did anyway and I am truly sorry for that. Tonight, I did what I could to be able to see you again. No matter the consequence, no matter the struggle, I wanted to make sure you got that goodbye that you deserved. I wanted to make sure you knew that I truly did love you.”

My throat closed up as my eyes began to water, leaving me heaving for air as I tried to resist the tears. The more and more my sight glossed over the words written, the further Into my own despair I sunk. I had thought for a moment that perhaps I could have gotten Elizabeth back, that despite how rough this night had started it would get better, but The Starlight Mauve had once again taken my love from me. Choking on my own exacerbated breath, I fell to the floor and finally let the tears take their toll. My face burned, scorned once again by love’s scalding flame, and my body ached with the pains of a thousand fresh wounds.

The pain and shock of it all was too much to bear. In my head I recounted the events of the past few hours, wishing that at some point I decided to turn around and leave this ridiculous quest for closure behind. I resented the merry spirits that surrounded Elizabeth and I, and I felt the grasping vines of envy bind my ever hurting heart. I believed that I must be cursed, that this night of hope and disappointment must’ve been some predetermined punishment chosen by the fates for my hubris.

However, as I laid there groveling in my own melancholic self-pity I began to think of Elizabeth herself. I thought about how vibrant she seemed, how I could feel her heart beat with love and see her eyes dilated with the light of an ethereal soul. Though she was as beautiful as I remembered her in life, when I saw her today she radiated a sense of joy that sunk down to your core, assuring you that everything would be alright. These reflections brought with them a new sense of understanding, one that helped me accept that perhaps this night wasn’t one to be remembered for its pain and disappointment but instead for the additional moments it gave me with the love of my life. Her life seemed better now and maybe that meant I could finally improve my own.

Having lost Elizabeth once more but now having seen how happy she was in the worlds beyond, I brought myself to accept that this was truly the end of my journey. As I rose to my feet I took a final look around the interior of this wretch, taking in its isolation once more. There was nothing left for me here, I knew this more than I had ever known anything in my life. Solemnly, I began to make my way out of the Mauve, feeling the great effervescent ballroom revert back into the sullen dereliction that I had found hours before. Each step towards the exit felt like a mile, but each breath felt freer as I approached the Mauve’s snow-clad threshold. Shades of purple and red called my spirit forth, promising me freedom from this hell. As I took my last step out of The Starlight Mauve, I felt the chains of its presence fall from my heavy limbs.

Standing below the sign bearing its name, I saw The Starlight Mauve take its final breath. With neither dignity nor grace, the lights bearing the burlesque’s name flickered with a pitiful infrequency before going out entirely. It was dead, Elizabeth was dead, and even though I knew I’d never forget her, it was time to move on. Pulling the lantern from my pack, I struck a match and lit the gaslight. I could feel the flame’s burn passing through the glass, and as I stared into the fire I saw an image of The Starlight Mauve ablaze. I saw every soul that danced within its halls consumed by the eternal fire raging on, and I saw the very foundations of the club come crashing down forever.

As morbid as it was, this vision brought me comfort, but as I readied my hand to toss the lantern, I found myself pulling back and instead dropping the torchlight to the ground. Despite how much pain it brought me, The Starlight Mauve had given me one last moment with Elizabeth. It allowed me to finally move on, and perhaps that meant it could still help others find their peace. Feeling a newfound sense of appreciation, it dawned on me that even though I could no longer burden my heart with the longing for a miracle, I could still immortalize my love for Elizabeth.

Raising my foot, I slammed my boot through the glass casing and smothered the flame beneath snow and leather. As I reached down to observe the mess I created I grasped at the largest shard I could find and began to study it. The snow sent shivers through my nerves, ending in my fingertips and dancing through my knuckles, while the burning glass painted its history upon my palm. Closing my fist, I walked to the nearest tree and went to work.

The pain I felt was overwhelming, but still I carved at the bark with precision and care. Every slash produced a crunch of wood and glass dragging against one another, creating tectonic movements in my bones with its rugged pull. Once I was satisfied with my work, I took a step back and dropped the shard to the ground below me. The sun began its rise into the sky, gleaming down onto the snow around me and illuminating my opus. A bitter smile crossed my face as I saw the heart with Elizabeth’s name written across it and I sighed, looking out towards the horizon feeling as if I had finally achieved what I came here to do.

“Goodbye Elizabeth, and thank you.”

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berryitalive · 2 years ago

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— introducing 009: CELESTIAL BODIES + [ link ]

until October 15th 2023: stand a chance to win a free copy of this template by joining the giveaway!

a google doc template made for planning a novel or piece of writing that is inspired by space. this document features 9 pages of celestial illustrations that I drew especially for this template. this template contains a lot of functional elements (e.g. dashboard with to-do-list, drop-down menus to track progress), and is also made to flexibly accommodate any length (including large amounts) of writing and planning. every purchase of this template comes with a light and dark mode. the template and static previews can be found in the link above or in the source code.

features:

two templates for one — light and dark mode versions of this template

13 total 8.5" x 11" pages, with 9 unique pages of celestial illustrations I drew especially for this template

a dashboard first-page with a daily to-do-list and milestone tracker that can be sorted by priority or level of completion

plot points section, research sections, locations section, character sheets, and ideas vault / free section that is made to accommodate any amount of writing, including long amounts of prose

individual character sheets and individual research sections that can be easily copied and duplicated for more

you may edit to your heart’s desire. Change the colours, replace, add or remove elements and images etc.

you may remix pages with pages from my other templates.

you may not remove the credit from the templates.

you may not copy, sell or redistribute my templates whether wholesale, in part (i.e. taking out certain pages) or remixed (i.e. modified).

you will also receive an additional guide with images on how to use and edit google doc templates! if you have any problems or issues, feel free to leave an ask or join our discord server.

I am absolutely thrilled to be sharing this template, it's really a labour of love and I've poured many hours into this! this was so fun to make, and I am so happy with how it turned out.

I hope you enjoy this template, and all likes + reblogs are always appreciated. ♡

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berryitalive · 2 years ago

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1 x 1 Roleplay Plots inspired by songs by Everything Everything

So this definitely isn't a roleplay blog itself (I have no idea how rp Tumblr functions and I prefer to use Discord for it.)

Recently I have been trying to reignite my love for roleplaying and because of that it has given me reason to write out different scenarios! Since my favorite band is Everything Everything I figured I would draw inspo from them!

Album: Raw Data Feel

Bad Friday -Theme: Supernatural-

[Muse A] wakes up on a Sunday morning with a killer headache and little memory of the days before. When they enter the bathroom and cut the lights on, they see their reflection covered in blood. In a panic, they search for any wounds they may have but find none. This wasn’t their blood. Flashes of the night before, of them running in the woods to escape whatever beast was after them, suddenly flooded their mind. How had they managed to escape whatever creature was chasing them? [Muse A] looks at their phone for any clue of what happened over the weekend, only to find a blurry picture of [Muse B] in some kind of mid-transformation. What was their best friend doing in this picture? Why was the last thing they could remember was leaving the nightclub with [Muse B] after ‘last call’?

Metroland Is Burning - Theme: Apocalyptic/Supernatural-

[Muse A] and [Muse B] were subjects in a government science lab deep underground, originally they were supposed to be the answer to adapting to the changing climate…or so they were told. The lab offered 25 grand to each person to allow themselves to be injected with ‘Serum K’. They were the only two participants in this experiment before things outside of the lab went wrong. After 6 months of overnight studies and invasive tests, a county-killing asteroid hits Earth around midnight, wiping out many of the scientists that lived in the area. [Muses] heard the explosion before the lights went off in the facility. After locating each other, their belongings and a map of the lab, they make their way out of the underground building. As they reach the surface the first thing they see is Six Flags on fire. Everything is quiet, no one is looking for survivors. And to make things worse the material in the asteroid seems to cause the serum in their bodies to change their dna. Why was there no warning about the asteroid? What is this serum doing to [Muses]?

Album: Get To Heaven

Distant Past - Plot Theme: Modern Fantasy/Adventure

[Muse A] is magic royalty from an era that is all but seemingly forgotten. Days before their wedding, they get pushed through a portal to the future where there is no magic in use but instead a modern time filled with cell phones, electric vehicles and whatever the fuck Tinder is. [Muse B] seems to think [A] is their date and approaches them. [A] just wants to find their way back to their era and because [B] is clearly of ‘lower class’, it is now their responsibility to help the royal pain. (I realize world wise this is basically Onward by Pixar)

Regret - Plot Theme: Fantasy/Action

The city is on curfew due to an arsonist running loose. Several buildings and trees have caught fire in the past few days. [Muse A]’s face is in the papers as the main suspect and the authorities are searching high and low for them. [Muse B] the leading detective spots [Muse A] in a dark, hooded cloak and against their better judgment begins a chase after them. [B] manages to corner [A] in an alleyway. [A] removes the hood that was previously covering their head to reveal a set of dragon horns.

Album: A Fever Dream

Desire - Plot Theme: Fantasy/Drama

[Muse A] has been raised to hate vampires. To only see them as blood-sucking, human-destroying monsters. When [A] became an adult, they left home to train to become a monster hunter. [A]’s only mission is to purify the world of vampire’s existence and make humanity safer. After training with the League of Slayers, [A] returns home to begin their solo hunting career with their best friend [Muse B] by their side. Things look great for [A]! However…[B] is a vampire and now has to protect their secret from [A]. Will [A’s] desire to put an end to the vampire race be stronger than their love for their friend [B]?

#1x1 rp #roleplay prompts #RP plots #rp #I didn't do one for spring/sun/winter/dread because it was written to describe the horrors of what *srael was doing to the children in Gaza #I totally am not procrastinating on fanfiction #roleplay plot

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