capitclkarma

[capitclkarma]

kazimir was confident now this was a dream . it was finally happening — the dream he'd had since their mother left . sebastian cared . he worried about him . they were a family again .

in an instant , their power dynamic was gone . he wasn't playing surrogate father , surrogate hero , anymore . they were simply two brothers . to the untrained eye , they were two brothers mourning the dead side-by-side . but their bond went deeper . they were two sides of the same coin . stubborn and temperamental . caring and thoughtful . but their backs were to each other and they couldn't see their similarities , only their differences — heads and tails . until today .

despite , his circumstances , kaz had to smile . he was happy . he knew his brother cared . at least , one good thing came out of this . and it was easier to focus on that rather than the impending sense of dread hanging over him like a raincloud .

" it's probably just a practical joke gone wrong . they thought it'd be funny to do this . piss someone off lately ? " the question was uncalled for , but he wanted things to get back to normal . goading at the younger cannon and trying to get a reaction from him because , as much as he appreciated his concern , kaz didn't want him to worry about him . he never had . he wanted him to take care of himself and be free .

BUT YOU CAN'T. he wanted to scream. he wanted to fight. no, he wanted to burn the whole goddamn town down. it was typically easy for him to take out his emotions on others. bash was rather explosive by default. unfortunately, kazimir was ultimately on the other end of that most of the time. the two simply seemed so far apart. in a lot of aspects, they were. but bash needed him. kaz had potential. potential to be a light. to make a difference. it was bash who was meant to be the one that allowed darkness consume him whole. hell, he's woken up in red creek hospital enough times to not be phased for when his time comes.

kazimir's words made reality hit harder than a ton of bricks to his chest. kaz was now involved, one way or another. the murders now suddenly too close for comfort rather than some story bash barely even cared enough to cover. in any other scenario, sebastian had been quick to claim that kaz was right. he couldn't protect him and in fact, it felt that it was vice versa. tip toeing around kaz's sensitivity. shielding him from evils that was right in front of his face. this time though, this seemed to be more than even he could take on.

❝ no you don't get it . they fucked with the wrong family , ❞ right, as if now the mystery would be solved. as if sebastian could do anything to keep his older brother out of harms way. he couldn't take things in his own hands ... could he? ❝ do you think you were onto something ? we can get ahead of this . not surviving isn't a fucking option , kaz . ❞ god surely knew bash couldn't make it through otherwise. logically, it made sense to treat this as a threat rather than wrongfully write it off as nothing.

[capitclkarma]

7:25pm at deerlake clubhouse for yasmine + selin @inlustre

" so , " they began , " what's been your favorite booth so far ? " once upon a time , they had been an expert at small talk , always able to keep up a steady stream of conversation . but that was left behind , tucked between the pillows in their childhood bedroom , next to their favorite stuffed animal . they wanted to feel more normal , like they were part of the town . they needed a friend here , someone to talk to , someone to distract them . and selin had always tried . yasmine noticed and hardly gave her a bone , but this time , yasmine approached her first . and now they walked together along the line of booths , observing what the businesses had to offer . well , maybe they just wanted someone to mourn them .

[capitclkarma]

5:30pm outside of town hall for yasmine + taylan @ofvolatile

time heals all the wounds . the words that had been repeated over and over as the yorbas mourned the loss of the eldest . empty words carried empty promises . the wound left by fran was covered with a blanket . it would always be there , but they couldn't bear to look at it . the one left by azi was covered with a bandaid . one that had to be changed every day because they kept bleeding through it . now the anger was gone and all that was left was the aching hole .

they approached taylan slowly , hesitantly after the memorial . tapping him lightly on the shoulder , they said , " look , you might not remember me , but i'm sorry . " yasmine took a deep breath , exhaling through their mouth , trying to dispose of their guilt . " sorry because i hit you with my cart in the grocery store . it was on purpose . i was taking my anger out on you for something that wasn't your fault , and i apologize . " perhaps , they should be thanking him for handing them the blade to surgically remove azi from their life and to keep him safe from yasmine's curse .

[capitclkarma]

they should have stayed home . stayed tucked beneath the covers of their bed , and they would never have to see him again . but they were trying . trying to become a productive member of society , so they could blend right in with the small town . become a carbon copy of the typical nosy neighbor who knows everyone . hi , how are the wife and kids ? they would say , and they would sink right into the role until they were no longer yasmine , but the person tending to the garden , the neighbor next door dropping off a casserole , or the sad townsperson grieving the losses of red creek .

it was easy to ignore azizi's texts and calls . easy wasn't the right word . necessary . the knot in their chest was pulled tighter every day , wishing they could reach out and confide in him about how lonely they felt without him . a loneliness that began with the loss of fran . but they had to protect him . with a killer on the loose , he was too precious to lose . every shift , their eyes would glance towards his booth . more mistakes and more irritability . head and heart at war .

yasmine wanted to ignore him , pick up their pace and hurry home . here , in person , it was impossible . each step heavy as their legs turned to stone . the knot loosened as they took in the hair curling against his forehead , his cheeks rosy from the cold , and the familiar lullaby of his voice . " advertise much ? come to ghosts in the attic to see a real ghost . nice try . not easily convinced . " their eyes were on their shoes , watching the ground one step at a time . steps noticeably slower than before . for the first time , they weren't sure what to say around him . " uh , good luck today , azi . " words slipped out to prolong the conversation . although , it was against their better judgment . finally , they lifted their gaze , eyes wide and meeting his as if willing him to understand everything .

🗓️ february 15 , 6 : 40 p.m. 📍 deerlake clubhouse 💬 azizi + yasmine ( @capitclkarma )

too  much  time  had  passed  between  the  last  time  he  saw  yasmine  and  now  .  azizi  can  replay  the  last  conversation  they  had  with  perfect  clarity  ,  every  sharp  word  ,  every  pause  that  stretched  too  long  .  he  wonders  if  the  memory  lingers  in  their  chest  the  way  it  does  in  his  .  at  first  ,  he  didn't  stop  trying  .  a  few  texts  left  unanswered  ,  a  call  or  two  that  went  straight  to  voicemail  .  after  a  while  ,  he  stopped  going  to  dolly’s  ,  let  the  silence  settle  in  his  bones  .  message  received  .  but  then  his  birthday  came  ,  and  with  it  ,  the  card  .  plain  ,  unsigned  ,  slipped  in  his  mailbox  like  a  whisper  .  no  name  ,  no  explanation  —  just  proof  that  yasmine  was  still  there  ,  lingering  at  the  edges  of  his  life  even  as  they  tried  to  slip  away  . 

as  he  finishes  setting  up  his  own  display  for the  ghosts  in  the  attic  popup  ,  his  fingers  skim  the  edge  of  the  table  .  when  he  looks  up  ,  he  sees  them  .  yasmine  .  not  too  far  away  ,  close  enough  that  if  he  spoke  ,  they’d  hear  .  restless  ,  he  moves  before  he  can  remind  himself  that  things  are  different  now  .  “  thought  i  saw  a  ghost  ,  ”  he  says  when  he  reaches  them  ,  voice  light  but  edged  with  something  else  .  “  guess  i  was  half  right.  ”

[capitclkarma]

he was a statue . frozen in time in a museum . no . not a statue , one of the remains from pompeii . a man , covered in ash . his body , lit up by the fear of death , stuck in time for anyone to analyze . it hadn't been fear when he first saw the name . but anger . anger someone would deface a memorial . that this is what the people of red creek found funny . all the anger flowed away at the gentle touch from his brother . maybe because it wasn't something they did . touch each other in a gentle , comforting way . left in the wake of anger was a hole of nothingness . his organs , his bones , his muscles having been eaten away by fear until there was nothing left of kaz .

he was staring at his name , analyzing the others , his hands clasped behind his back . finally , he turned towards his brother . " i'm supposed to be the one questioning people , bash . " his words came out in a whisper , using the nickname he hardly spoke . " i failed . even if i survive this , i'm too weak to save anyone . i could never save you . " he dropped his head into his hands . fingers pinching his temples , his cheeks , trying to wake himself up from a bad dream . his shoulders started moving up and down , not with tears but with laughter . even at a time like this , his brother had to scold him . a familiar comfort . he lifted his face . " well , there's nothing i can change now . but i'm sure you keep a list of all of my idiotic actions . saying this is the worst , i'm almost proud of that . " the joke was thin , but he didn't want his younger brother to worry .

LOCATION: town hall TIME: february 15th, 05:10pm STATUS: closed @capitclkarma

THERE WAS A TREMBLE that intertwined through bash as he racked his digits through straggled hair. protectiveness wasn't an emotion that paired well with sebastian, especially when it related to kazimir's blind optimism. it's caused more than one fight in the past, both brothers headstrong in the opposite ways of thinking. this was different though. this was a soul sucking, drop of the heart type of emotion. for once, bash felt like the delusional one. it's a prank, right? he told himself that over and over again until he locked his gaze on the older.

❝ we should go , right ? ❞ sebastian questioned, extending a hand out onto kaz's shoulder in an attempt to prove that standing here was going to do nothing. ❝ we know that volunteers were here before or -- i don't know . we can make a list . and then the sheriff will pull people into questioning , ❞ an uneasy breath left the younger as he attempted to regain his stoic composure. ❝ and then it'll be found out that this was some dumb prank and they'll get . . . fined or something , ❞ so much for not being delusional. no, no. it was logical. sebastian always followed sound logic. in fact, it sounded more hysteric to think someone would put a threat so out in the open. unfortunately though, if it was a threat... it did make perfect sense for a deputy to make the cut. ❝ goddammit , kaz . joining the sheriff's department is the idiotic fucking thing you've ever done . this is stupid . ❞

[capitclkarma]

her words sent a tremor through him , every nerve alight , bouncing around and disrupting his nervous system . she thought about him . a blink of an eye , and they were back in high school . glances stolen across the room , red cheeks when they made eye contact . daydreams about her talking to him . late night talks with bash about the most intelligent , beautiful girl in the whole of red creek . and one day they talked . one day , they were friends . one day , boyfriend and girlfriend . but it was over as quickly as it began . nothing but a fever dream .

he missed her . being with her now , he missed her .

it was easy to forget . work , sleep , eat , rein in bash . it was a simple routine , repeating day in and day out , not focused on anything but the task at hand . grinding , grinding , grinding . grinding himself into bones and dust and nothing until nothing but tainted memories would be left of kazimir cannon .

" i'd love to come in . " the words came out too fast , jumbled together . i'dlovetocomein . a deep breath in , a sigh out , and nails digging tightly into his palms to keep himself from smacking his face . " um , " eyes plastered to his feet , red spreading up his neck and to his cheeks . " you are actually . the only person i'm checking in on . well , you and sebastian of course . but i , uh , i was worried about you . even though we haven't really spoken . i still ... " care about you he wanted to say , " want to make sure you're okay . " the words scratched and tore at his throat as they made their way up and out . they weren't what he wanted to say , but the truth was locked deep in his heart , trapped in his ribcage and bound with his blood vessels . that wasn't them anymore. they weren't matilda and kaz . they were just matilda and just kaz .

he walked past her and into the foyer , his feet bringing him towards the kitchen . guided not by the sound of the tea kettle but by phantom memory . he pulled a chair out for her and got two mugs out of the cabinet , as familiar in her home as his own . " i can get you a patrol if you don't feel safe , " he spoke , his eyes trained on the tea he was pouring . " i don't want you ... or your dad to feel unsafe here . "

“Yeah, we’re both fine, all things considered. Dad’s a little shaken, maybe, but so’s everyone else.” She studied him closely, first looking for flushed cheeks, or stumbling, or the smell of cheap beer and cigarette smoke from the Redstone- because surely he wouldn’t come to her door if he was in his right mind, right? She found no proof of it, though, and her gaze continued to linger, and she couldn’t help but feel the years that had passed between them. He was maybe a little stronger, a bit more weathered. His eyes seemed more tired than before, and his shoulders looked heavy- but it was still him. It struck her that even after nearly a decade, she still recognized the way he smelled, and she briefly wondered (or hoped?) that the ghost of him would linger in the hallway after he’d left.

The weight of everything that had gone unspoken between them was crushing. She wanted to say: ‘Is that really why you came all this way? Just to see me?’, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it- not if that was really all he was there for, not if that meant he’d be leaving as quickly as he arrived. Matilda was seized by the urge to reach out, to feel the fabric of his coat between her fingers, to close the distance, to finally let herself wonder why they let it all slip away. Her cheeks burned with something that felt like guilt. “I thought about you, after I heard what happened.” An understatement. She crossed her arms across her chest, bringing her eyes down to the floor, as if she was embarrassed to be admitting it. “I hope you’re taking care of yourself, you know. It can't be easy.”   

The scream of the tea kettle rang out from the kitchen, and Matilda jumped at its intrusion. It felt like a sign, as if the universe was telling her it was time to thank him for stopping by, to tell him she’d just made chamomile tea and was off to bed, to subtly push him out the door, to leave that chapter of her life behind- but she betrayed herself instead. “Do you wanna come in, Kaz?” The thought of watching his car pull away made her panic. It felt pathetic- she’d been fine for years without him, and had somehow come undone in mere moments.”Unless you’re busy, of course. I probably shouldn’t assume I’m the only one you’re checking in on.” 

[capitclkarma]

FABIEN FRANKEL Behind the Scenes The House That Dragons Built | Season 2, Episode 5

[capitclkarma]

a scoff was quick to leave his mouth . " no , you can't help me . not unless you want to do me a favor and leave my life for good . " he was out looking for flowers , wanting to surprise sienna with a fresh boquet to show her that he changed , was more thoughtful and considerate now . though , with the cold , he wasn't sure he'd find any . " you're ruining the view by the way . " finally , he didn't feel forced to be nice to her , safe to say whatever he wanted .

♡ 𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 ─── starter for anyone / open. ♡ 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ─── near deer lake clubhouse. ♡ 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 ─── around sunset time.

a deep inhale and smoke fills her lungs, nothing in particular on her mind; exactly the way she likes it. she does realize it's maybe not the best idea to stand all alone, with the light of the sun going away, when there's a killer on the loose but... what else is there for her to do? stay cooped up at home while her parents attempt to poke at her psyche? oh no, she's choosing the faster way out instead.

at least that's what she thought until a sound suddenly startled her and made her look back. a hand coming to rest on her chest ─── willing her heart to calm down ─── as she zeroes in on the approaching figure. " can i help you? "

[capitclkarma]

yasmine stood next to him , his dish burning their fingers . typically , the heat would get to be too much and , following a clatter that made everyone's head turns , there would be another mess to clean up and another deduction from their tips . but they were enthralled in his production , not because they agreed , but out of sheer confusion . finally , they placed the plate on the table in front of him , but far enough away that he wouldn't knock if off the table . fingertips now wrapped in the hem of their apron . " practicing for a play ? " lost as to what would compel him to do this in public . they had liked to make a scene often in public when they wanted something other than their families' attention . their mom always cooed at them , cheered them on and told them they should be an actress . but they had long grown out of that habit , instead , seeking attention in the dead of night . their sins hidden under the cover of darkness . " if you wanted your food smoky , you could have just said so . "

location: dolly's diner time: late afternoon status: open!

something about diners. greasy leather seats. overheard secrets tangled up with the clatter of forks. bitter, often stale coffee -- unless you got lucky enough to walk in when the place was mostly empty. unlikely. the kind of place where time hangs heavy, like it got tired and sat down to rest in the corner booth. red creek felt the same, like it had long surrendered to time’s weight instead of running alongside it. no reinvention, no salvation -- just a stubborn place clinging to people like mud after rain, or maybe quicksand, tugging until they sank without a fight. soren didn't have to imagine dark things haunting its bones when its effect where already laying there, sprawled out for anyone willing to see. maybe ancient spirits seeking revenge after having their forever homes suffocated with asphalt and cement. maybe nothing at all, just the weight of a town folding in on itself, vanishing into a fog you didn’t know you’d entered until it was too late. soren wouldn't flinch if someone shattered the silence with a lynchian scream -- sinister close-ups, faces trembling under the pressure of things better left unsaid -- right there in the diner, right as he staed at his gone stale coffee. and perhaps it was his obsession with intricate stories that blurred the line with reality, but twin peaks really didn't feel like fiction anymore; it was a blueprint, a warning for places like this, where the mundane teetered on the edge of surreal, where time sagged, like peeling wallpaper in a room sealed off for too long, and good people stumbled into band endings. even diners -- those greasy churches of familiarity -- could warp into confessional booths. soren let his face fall into his hands, elbows propped at the sides of the cup of coffee. if it had been steaming, it would've made a perfect shot. “ you know what's bullshit, ” he spoke as soon as he felt a presence next to him finally glad to push his inner monologue onto someone else, anyone unlucky enough to hear. he continued as his hands dropped to his lap, revealing a face worn thin by restless nights. “ the fact that they made it illegal to smoke in public places. especially diners. ” though it wasn't just diners. it was also cinemas, trains, pubs.... a beat. then two fingers lifted to his lips, mimicking the pitch of a cigarette between index and thumb. soren inhaled theatrically, face tilting upward as though savoring the hit. then, just as theatrically, he ground the phantom amber into an imaginary glass ashtray, the kind with ornate edges. clock. sound design coming from his tongue against his palate and he swat the phantom ashtray away, still dipped in his interactive daydream.

[capitclkarma]

shift ended early , they were sent home as the diner was like a ghost town . open booths mocking them , reminding them of the tragedy that had taken place in town . yasmine wasn't needed , and rather than eat the same food they saw every other day , the food stuck to their nonslips and the smell that permeated their hair , they stopped by the grill on the way home to get something to eat . energy stolen from their very being , they knew they wouldn't cook when they returned to their apartment . opened the door and almost laughed in lissa's face . she couldn't be serious . no , yasmine knew she wasn't serious by high pitch of the other's voice . " oh , yeah , reservation for one . was soooo worried all of the tables would be filled , and wanted to take myself on a nice date . " words laced heavy with sarcasm as their eyes scanned the place . it looked exactly like dolly's . " menu , please , lis . i'd like to make a to-go order . " they held their hand out , waiting .

LOCATION  :  lakeside  grill  . TIME  :  five  o'clock  ,  day  after  discovery  of  kirby's  body  . STATUS  :  open  !

she  would  never  say  it  out  loud  ,  because  then  people  would  100%  dub  her  a  shallow  and  uppity  bitch  ,  but  lissa  was  fully  of  the  belief  that  having  to  work  at  the  lakeside  grill  of  all  fucking  places  was  below  her  .  no  ,  not  working  in  general  .  she  liked  bartending  at  the  warehouse  ,  didn't  mind  that  at  all  .  but  the  grill  ?  as  a  hostess  ?  she  wanted  to  throw  herself  in  to  lake  michigan  every  time  she  pulled  into  the  parking  lot  .  whatever  ,  this  was  temporary  ,  she  kept  reminding  herself  .  until  she  could  write  the  piece  on  red  creek  that  would  rival  rebecca  talbot's  book  and  get  her  back  on  the  scene  …  maybe  not  in  new  york  but  la  ?  chicago  ?  she'd  even  take  boston  at  this  point  …  though  ,  truly  ,  she'd  love  to  see  new  york  come  crawling  back  to  her  .  doubtful  .  the  kirby  sloane  murder  had  it's  own  ten  page  document  already  on  her  drive  at  home  ,  mostly  full  of  shit  she  remembered  about  the  girl  from  high  school  or  from  scouring  her  socials  .  lissa  was  staring  down  at  the  notes  she'd  taken  so  far  ,  reviewing  them  ,  when  the  door  opened  and  she  looked  up  ,  fake  smile  plastered  on  her  face  at  the  customer  .  “  hi  !  welcome  to  the  lakeside  grill  ,  do  you  have  a  reservation  ?  ”  they  wouldn't  need  one  anyways  ,  the  place  was  practically  empty  since  …  ya  know  ,  dead  girl  and  all  .

[capitclkarma]

shoulders shrugged in a lazy movement . " taking the long , long way to work . what's the point anyhow ? " yasmine was buying time . they'd been awake all night , unable to sleep as the news dropped . someone they had met . once but someone they knew . memories of the past , long surpressed , bubbling to the surface , screaming in their ears , not affording them a moment of calm . one dead girl and the world kept turning . so they got dressed , put their hair up , and went wondering before they had to be at their shift . they didn't look where they were going , not caring . if there was a sign , it never registered . " hi , by the way . happy ? " words came out like they were an inside joke the two didn't share . " what are you doing ? " head tilted as they posed the question .

LOCATION : weldon ranch. TIME OF DAY : mid - morning, the day after kirby was found. STATUS : open starter, accepting replies.

a  quiet  day  at  weldon  ranch  —  no  shipments,  no  deliveries,  his  favorite  day  of  the  week,  just  lennon  and  the  acrage  at  his  disposal,  wandering  and  tending  in  a  nearly  meditative  fashion.  usually  he  wouldn't  be  so  vigilant,  headphones  in  world  out  as  he  tugs  at  weeds  and  dead  brush,  but  recent  happenings  have  had  him  grateful  to  be  carrying  a  hunting  knife  -  one  usually  used  to  slash  at  coarse,  dead  wildflower,  but  a  mode  of  protection  for  any  mountain  lions  …  or  other  predators  that  lurk  around  red  creek.  he  didn't  mean  to  be  on  defense  the  moment  he  heard  a  twig  snap,  crunching  with  force  that  signals  something  much  more  substantial  than  a  rabbit  or  even  a  deer.  it  was  deliberate,  alerting,  forcing  a  hand  to  remain  on  his  holster  as  he  turned,  suddenly  eye  -  to  -  eye  with  a  familiar  town  face.  “  jesus  fucking  christ.  you  can't  just  say  ‘  hi  ’  ?  ”  a  deep  inhale,  shoulders  untensed,  but  the  hand  remains  atop  the  leather  sheath.  “  what  the  hell  are  you  doing  here,  anyway  ?  we're  closed.  there's  a  sign  out  front  -  kind  of  hard  to  miss.  at  least  i  thought  it  was.  ”

[capitclkarma]

eyes narrowed in his direction , not welcoming to his commentary . " next week , you take my double at the diner and see how you look after . " fingers moved under their eyes , wiping away the smeared mascara under their eyes , hands moving to dab the sweat from their hairline . they suddenly wished they had a mirror , but they couldn't admit that his words got to them . a part of them always focused on looks . their mother would never let them leave the house unless they looked perfect . put together and fresh like they just stepped out of the pages of a magazine . but they had to relax . just one drink and they'd be on their way home , wanting to delay the inevitable . sulking in their room and feeling miserable . at least the music could drown out their thoughts . " are you always this pleasant or is today a special occasion ? "

LOCATION: REDSTONE BAR TIME: LATE NIGHT STATUS: OPEN STARTER

WORDS PAINTED ON THE HEADLINE always tended to be main goal at the register. bash; however, prided himself on an immersive story that held facts. unfortunately, the only facts seemed to be everyone knew fucking nothing. still, the entire day had escaped sebastian as vision went blurry once hues grazed upon the same words over, over, and over again . . . there was nothing to be proud of with the article and quite frankly, he planned to erase any association to the scattered theories by having one, two, five drinks. it didn't help that since the notice of another local dead, pressure only skyrocketed for the next leak. after all, you're only as good as your next story.

attention whipped to another as they somehow caught his attention enough to lower the glass from his cracked lips. it would have been difficult to hold back the smirk peering on his lips if he gave a fuck enough to try to hide it. ❝ well aren't you a fuckin' mess , ❞ he blurted out the honesty as he took in the other's appearance. ❝ what ? you can't actually be trying to hide it . if so , definitely don't part-take in poker any time soon , ❞

[capitclkarma]

here and now , the harsh question his brother posed , kaz wasn't sure if he was the good guy or the bad guy . the villain or the hero . he'd always tried his hardest . but he was a kid , forced to play the role of an adult before his time . more of his life spent there than anything that came before . he was lost in the deep , dark woods with no map and no compass , feeling his way around with no direction . he knew he wasn't a good brother , that he fell short in so many ways , but he did all that he could . all that was left was to hope and pray everything would turn out okay . that one day the sun would come up and illuminate the path out of the woods . and he would take a deep , deep breath and be free .

he stood in the doorframe like a vampire waiting to be invited in . scared that one wrong movement would startle him , scare him off . set off the ticking time bomb that always lurked between the two . tick , tick , ticking away . and they didn't know when it would go off .

kaz stepped tentatively through the doorway , unsure of what to do . he walked toward the table and pulled out the chair , seating himself next to his younger brother . a small smile crossing his lips as he watched bash with the dessert . " oh , well there isn't much to tell , " he confessed . not pretending it was because he had to keep the case under wraps , but because he wanted to speak frankly with his brother . " it's a small town , you know ? not sure why it's so hard to find this person . this place must be cursed or something . i don't know , bash . i don't know what's going to happen . but ... " he hesitated unsure of how honest he wanted to say , what exactly he could say to his brother . " but i want to keep you safe . " finger tips scratched the edge of the table as his right leg bounced up and down .

IT WAS PARTLY AMUSING how much kaz didn't understand. bash was convinced by now that his brother would never acknowledge his perspective. not only dis kazimir not comprehend it, but bash was certain he hated it. the two were so different in so many ways. still, there was a part f bash that was grasping onto every word his older brother said. silently pleading for it to be true. that he wanted to be here. that he wanted to hang out. but bash knew that if kaz wasn't sent away, he'd still be planted in the sheriff's department. see, bash should be used to be second choice. or third. or sixth.

the tension rose between the two, so sharp that a knife could easily slice through like butter. sebastian's jaw clenched as he was doing his very best not explode. he's done it before. plenty of times, in fact. but every time that happened, he has to pick up the own pieces as shards of his heart were part of the casualties. he forced himself to stay silent, teeth snipping at the inside of his cheek so harshly that he could taste a metallic tang

❝ and what exactly do you assume that i think about you , kazimir ? ❞ bash questioned harshly, taking the bag with reluctance. he gave a peak inside, features daring to soften. goddamn him, really. every time kaz seemed to act like he knew even the slightest bit about bash, he'd prove it was so easily to walk away.

despite his entire world being an entire mess, his apartment was quite clean. clutter proved inefficient to work in and that was just fact. without giving kaz another glance, he walked further into his apartment, allowing the door to stay open as a hushed invite that kaz could stay or leave if he truly wanted. bash took a set at the table, pulling the contained cheesecake of its bag. he didn't give kaz the satisfaction of acting positively at the novelty, but he also wasn't going to deprive himself of the treat. hell, if he was honest, he may of forgotten a meal here and there. ❝ are you gonna tell me about your bigshot case or what ? ❞ he called out to solidify the invite.

[capitclkarma]

he didn't hesitate to change course towards redstone bar . while she wasn't his favorite person in the world , and he certainly didn't trust her , he would never abandon someone in their time of need. the fear in the town hung heavy in the air , everything coated in a thick fog . he knew what it was like to be scared and worried . the same feelings burrowing into his muscles and tendons and bones . worried about bash . anxious about matilda . nervous about bronte . about the whole town . and the blame rested partially on him . he was failing at keeping the town safe. at protecting it and stopping the bad guy . so he rushed to do what he could , and he found himself outside of redstone , hana at his side .

" uh , my car is parked just about a block down this way . " finger pointing straight ahead before quickly burrowing back into his pocket . walking in step next to her , he looked around . the town was quiet , seemingly peaceful . most people choosing to stay in their homes rather than venture out after dark , shattering the illusion of peace . but he didn't know what to do to break the eery silence . didn't know what to say that wouldn't lead to some kind of argument . " well , uh , did you have a fun night ? " awkward question for an awkward pair , but they made it to the squad car . a quick step in front of her , and grabbed the handle and held the door open for her .

🗝️ dedicated to kazimir cannon / @capitclkarma . 📍 redstone bar .

spending   the   evening   at   redstone   bar   was   meant   to   provide   a   distraction   from   the   darkness   that   looms   over   the   town.   another   death   seems   to   confirm   what   everyone   feared;   someone   is   after   the   people   of   redcreek.   it   also   confirms   another   thing;   if   she   dwells   on   the   fact   too   long,   she'll   begin   to   see   the   fragility   of   her   own   lifelife.   hana's   intentions   had   been   clear   —   step   one,   knock   back   a   cosmo.   PASS.   step   two,   find   someone   to   talk   their   ear   off.   PASS.   step   three,   go   home.   FAIL.   she   seems   to   be   stuck   on   that   step,   peeking   out   of   front   window.   it's   actually   dark   outside   now,   not   just   in   the   town   mourning   way.   what   was   meant   to   be   an   escape   from   it   all   has   resulted   in   hana   running   through   every   slasher   -   flick   possibility   now   that   the   sun   has   gone   down.   there's   no   way   she   could   make   it   home   alone   now. a   name   surfaces   in   her   mind.   kazimir—   endlessly   frustrating   &   entirely   safe,   as   far   as   hana   is   concerned.   she   presses   dial   on   his   contact,   puffing   out   her   cheeks   as   she   waits   for   the   call   to   connect.    ❝   kaz   ?   it's   hana.   ❞    [   ugh.   like   caller   id   doesn't   exist.   ]    ❝   look—    i'm   sorry   to   bother   you   if   you're   like,   busy   or   something.    but   i'm   at   the   bar   &   totally   freaking   out   about   going   home—    do   you   think   you   could   come   get   me   ?   ❞

[capitclkarma]

a frustrated sigh blew through his lips . minutes had gone by but felt like hours , yet he couldn't get the hang of this . he was trying . trying to learn a new skill . trying to get better . to be able to help people in a more comprehensive way . but he was the one who needed all of the help here . a short laugh followed as kaz straightened his back and stepped away from the car for a moment . " mhm we don't have that kind of time anymore . here's your badge , now go find the murderer that's been haunting this town for 25 years . but , i think that might be more simple than this . "

he ran the back of his hand over his forehead , wiping the sweat on the leg of his pants . moved to lean against the car as the conversation turned serious , the wrench hanging loosely by his side . he liked cooper . he was tough , never letting kaz off the hook and forcing him to be accountable . but his heart was in the right place , and kaz felt almost safe with him . learning more than he ever had from his father .

" there's not much to say right now . sorry , but we're still in the preliminary investigation . we're keeping it quiet right now because we don't want interference that could make things worse . " another sigh as his shoulder drooped and backed curved in . " it might not mean much , but this is my home too . i've always been here , and i'm doing the best i can to fix this . i don't want to see my home destroyed . "

✱     𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚂         :       private    ,     kaz    (   @capitclkarma   ) ✱     𝚂𝙴𝚃𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶       :      cooper's garage

      𝚃𝙷𝙴   𝙵𝙰𝙸𝙽𝚃   𝚃𝙰𝙽𝙶   𝙾𝙵   𝚁𝚄𝚂𝚃   𝙵𝙸𝙻𝙻𝙴𝙳   cooper's   nostrils   as   he   stood   over   the   battered   engine   block   of   an   old   ford.   his   sleeves   rolled   up   past   his   forearms   ,   revealing   scars   and   tattoos   that   had   their   own   stories   to   tell.   his   hands   were   stained   with   grease   ,   the   same   way   they'd   been   stained   with   blood   too   many   times   before.   this   ,   though   —   fixing   things   —   was   a   hell   of   a   lot   simpler   than   anything   else   in   his   life.   "   you're   turning   it   the   wrong   way   ,   mate , "   cooper   grunted   ,   pointing   to   the   bolt   kaz   was   wrestling   with.   righty   tighty   ,   lefty   loosey.   don't   they   teach   that   in   the   academy   these   days   ?   or   are   they   too   busy   cockin'   up   murder   investigations   to   bother   with   the   basics   ?   "

      𝚃𝙷𝙴   𝙹𝙰𝙱   𝚆𝙰𝚂   𝚂𝙷𝙰𝚁𝙿   ,   𝙱𝚄𝚃   𝙷𝙸𝚂   tone   wasn’t.   it   carried   a   thread   of   teasing   ,   the   kind   of   banter   that   felt   like   a   hand   on   the   shoulder   rather   than   a   knife   in   the   gut.   cooper   leaned   against   the   workbench   ,   wiping   his   hands   on   an   already   filthy   rag   ,   his   eyes   narrowing   just   slightly   as   he   tilted   his   head   toward   kaz.   “   speakin’   of   cock   -   ups   ,   how’s   the   department   handling   things   ?   or   should   i   say   …   not   handling   things   ?   ”

      𝙷𝙸𝚂   𝚅𝙾𝙸𝙲𝙴   𝙳𝙸𝙿𝙿𝙴𝙳   ,   𝚃𝙰𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙶   his   voice   dipped,   taking   on   a   quieter   ,   more   serious   tone   ,   the   teasing   edge   gone.   “   i   know   you’re   not   runnin’   the   show   ,   kaz   ,   but   people   are   scared.   scared   and   angry.   a   town   like   red   creek   can’t   survive   much   more   of   this.   you   know   it   as   well   as   i   do.   ”   he   reached   for   a   cigar   on   the   edge   of   the   bench   ,   tucking   it   between   his   teeth   but   not   lighting   it   —   just   something   to   occupy   his   mouth   while   his   mind   worked   overtime.

[capitclkarma]

ya actually those arent typos i just spell words however i want to

[capitclkarma]

there was no question about it . they didn't speak anymore . not even strangers to each other , they were ghosts . ducking when she walked into dolly's , staring at her out of the corner of his eye but not daring to make eye contact . around her , kazimir was stripped raw , turned inside out . he was vulnerable . a thing he could never truly let himself be . not with the eyes of the town turned towards him , looking for answers . and he would always be that way with her , wrapped in the warmth of her words , the warmth of her eyes , the warmth of her hands .

he knew she was okay . he would have known . not just from the scene , but he would have felt it in his gut . another tug and tumble and the world would shake just like the day his mother left . but he had to see for himself .

for a moment , the world slipped of it's axis . something went wrong for him to be standing on her doorstep again . his feet settled easy into the concrete , slipping into a familiar stance , hands grasped behind his back like he was hiding flowers for her . but it was nightmare . he couldn't reach out and touch her . grab her and spin her and pull her into a hug . he had to stand there , separated by some glass he couldn't see . the urge to break it and pull her close consumed his limbs , but he was paralyzed .

" i should be asking you that , matilda . are you okay ? your dad ? " breathless , from the worry or from seeing her , he couldn't tell . " i just wanted to make sure nothing had happened to you , " he confessed . he couldn't pretend . pretend it was some kind of police check up to make sure the town was okay . it purely selfish . one small thing he could grant himself .

closed starter with: matilda and kaz (@capitclkarma) setting: her home, 10:30pm

It was strange, the way memory stretched and pulled through time. How strange it was to briefly return to an old habit, and feel as though no time had passed at all. That’s how it felt when Matilda opened the door of her childhood home, saw Kaz on her front porch, and found it all incredibly commonplace, despite nearly a decade passing since she’d seen him there. It was disorienting, then, when reason returned, and she was forced back to the present day. She ran through a mental list of reasons for him to be there, but all fell short of making sense. It couldn’t be in a formal capacity, notifying her of a death, because her only family member was currently snoring away in his bedroom; it couldn’t be for to arrest her, because she hadn’t committed any crimes; and it could hardly be personal, because they’d left any and all affection in the past- right? It occurred to her that she’d been standing in silence, staring blankly at Kaz, her eyebrows raised in surprise. “Kaz,” she murmured, half-whispering, still stuck to her spot in the entry. A cold breeze lifted, biting at Matilda’s thinly socked toes, and she stepped aside, leaving the doorway open in a silent offering.

This was a home to him, once. He knew his way around, knew where they kept the cups, knew which floorboards creaked and where her dad hid the good snacks. It made her chest ache, seeing someone who knew the smallest details of her life, now standing like a guest in the hallway. “What are you doing here? Are you… okay?”