thclastlight

[thclastlight]

i feel like being in love suits me

[thclastlight]

LOCATION: the fundraiser FOR: @fixedmoments

He'd wanted to leave the moment he arrived, but Braxton was pretty sure other people felt the same. Spotting Bellamy, he made his way towards her, taking her arm to gently steer her away from the middle of the event to a more private area. "I know I'm not the only one who thinks this is bullshit. How are you holding up?" Turning back towards a small group of people standing near one of the food trucks, he shook his head, barely waiting for a response before speaking again. "I vote that if they erect some sort of statue, we bust it into a million pieces."

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Adeline felt like she was moving through fog. She had broke down when she found out, but since then she had been incredibly... numb. Like something inside of her had snapped, something she couldn't help but think was irreparable. Every now and then it would hit her, and the tears would rise up again, but before she could truly fall into that pit of despair again, she was able to shut it down. She didn't feel like she had the right to hurt as terribly as she did. Derrick's mother, his brother, his friends, they were mourning and they hadn't willed him away while he was still here. They hadn't wished for a life without him.

She hadn't wanted this, though. She had never wanted this.

"I'm not..." The sentence was dropped as soon as it had started, finishing it off with a shake of her head. Adeline hadn't even noticed Elodie until she spoke. Poor Elodie. She hadn't given a second thought to any of the other people on that list, too wrapped up in the tragedy that hit closest to home. "They don't get it," she stated softly, she knew that it was true. She'd seen it happen. How quickly people seemed to forget. How easily Derrick had been written off as one of the bowling alley employees when the next one vanished instead of a kind young man that had a full life ahead of him. Who had dreams of his own and hobbies and endearing quirks. "They may be sorry, but their lives go on unchanged. They don't have to live with this for the rest of... forever. This..." Guilt. "This ache."

open starter: @helltownhqstarters !!

the world around her felt like static, words and sounds and thoughts buzzing in her ears like the wings of pestering gnats and yet elodie mcneil could make sense of none of it.

all she had ever wanted was to escape the shadow kayla had cast upon her; to free herself of the burden that came along with having an elder sister that lived for others. the elder sister who was good at sports, good at socializing, good at making friends . . . the only thing elodie had accomplished in comparison to kayla was outliving her.

sat atop one of the park benches, knees curled to her chest, jacket-encased arms wound around bare shins as a pointed chin rested atop knee caps, elodie allowed herself to zone out. eyes, dreary and distant, concentrated on the erecting of tents and the marking of walkways for the fundraiser her mother was hosting. the woman floated atop sun-warmed grass and pointed with a manicured finger, cradling a clipboard to her blouse-encased breast. elodie saw her mother's painted lips moving, but couldn't read them. for a woman in mourning , kenndy mcneil sure looked . . . put together.

feeling a shadow beside her, elodie pressed her lips together, blinking away the dissociative clouds that had polluted her vision. she didn't shift her gaze to whomever was looming beside her, but she did acknowledge their presence with a heaved sigh.

" if i hear one more ' i'm sorry for your loss ' . . . another mcneil is gonna end up either dead or in jail. whichever happens first. "

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This wasn't supposed to happen. Adeline wasn't sure what she felt was supposed to happen, but anything else was a better outcome. If Derrick came back, she knew she would have to come clean to him. She knew that their relationship would end, or she would settle because the fear of losing him again would be too much to swallow, but that was obviously preferrable. Even if he left her, even if he never spoke to her again, he would still have the chance to be happy. To live. Maybe if he hadn't been with her, this wouldn't have happened. Maybe it was her fault. Maybe someone else would've stopped him from going to work that day, maybe someone else would have found him a better job, moved cities with him, wouldn't be so tied down. Maybe someone else wouldn't have wished him away.

"He's gone," she whispered, fingers winding so tightly around the fabric of her shirt that her knuckles paled. She couldn't acknowledge Sam, she couldn't acknowledge anything around her. All the could think about was how he would never smile again. How she would never be able to hug him, to tell him how much she had loved him in spite of what she'd done. How he might have been alive all this time, how he could've been thinking he would make it back home, only to now... "He's gone," she said again, her voice catching on the word. "He's gone and I'll never be able to tell him I'm sorry, I'll never... he's just... gone."

after the news broke about the bowling alley burning down sam started to spend most of time at the public library. the place was ancient and there was bound to be some public records--books even on helltown's past. sam had no idea what he was looking for, cross referencing events with past ones perhaps? he wasn't sure but so many bad things were happening for him not to question it all. especially when of the victims was sister to one of his--maybe only best friend. it felt like a stupid idea. it's always how those stupid thriller movies went, right? looking for old or lost files and suddenly the main character is thrown into the cross-fire of an age old battle between good and evil. fortunately for sam he found nothing of note, at least nothing he could sense together himself. besides it was getting late anyway, and he'd be damn to be caught after dark in this godforsaken town. pedaling at a normal pace, on route to his house as he caught adeline ahead of him. something dropping from her hands and then her altogether. sam found himself pedaling faster until he got too close that he almost slid sideways on his bike to avoid crashing into her. he jumped off, bike crashing into one of tree's as he got to his knee's hands absentmindedly hovering over her back. "Adeline?" He asked, not sure his voice broke through her heart wrenching sobs. "Addie.."

[thclastlight]

He was kind of surprised it worked.

People were usually more predictable to him than Elodie, and he did wonder if she was going to take off with his cash and not return, but he didn't really care if she did. Rent was paid, and he could always try to play a guilt card out of that later on. When she did return, Vicente smiled warmly, wrapping his fingers around the mug but hesitating to take a sip. He didn't want to be too direct with his questions, but if he danced around it too much, something told him she would let the annoyance win out and leave him sitting alone.

"Thank you," he said at first, bringing the cup to his lips as he thought over the best angle to take to get anything out of her at all. "I used to hangout at Hellcats, but it doesn't feel as... welcoming anymore. You know how it is, avoiding exes? Awkward."

irritation steered her tongue as it wedged itself between her teeth, desperate to coil around insults and spit venom at the stranger who was so keen on making this shift more difficult than it was already proving itself to be. skepticism was ripe in her features as the man presented a ludicrous amount of money — was this supposed to be some ditch effort of sympathy ??

hey, girl i've never met . . . sorry about your dead sister. here , have some chump change . . . !!

for fuck sakes.

wrinkling her nose, elodie reached forward to swipe the three bills off the table, gazing at them quizzically. brows threaded together, and her darkened gaze lifed to vic's one once more as she crumbled the money in her fist. " whatever , be right back, " she huffed, turning on her heel, shoving the money into her worn apron and feeling the muscles in her face strain as they fought to keep her rolling eyes in her skull.

moments later, elodie returned with a room temperature glass mug filled to the rim with the foamiest beer she could have selected off the tap. setting it down in front of him, then sliding into the chair adjacent to his own, she folded her arms across her chest, brows lifting expectantly; " alright. timer starts now. consider my company purchased. "

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Vicente knew who Amara was because of old pictures, he knew all about Kayla's friends through Toni. He had a moment of wondering if his ex-girlfriend was okay, but it didn't feel like his place to check in, so he focused on the conversation instead. "It doesn't feel right to me that the mom decided to throw something like this, but didn't say anything about her husband probably being the reason she had to in the first place... no offense Mrs. McNeil, ma'am," he quickly added, looking around like she was eavesdropping, though realistically he assumed she had been advised by a legal team not to say anything about that, "I guess grief does funny things."

After the news had broke about her missing best friend had been found DEAD instead--amara went into a catatonic like state. everything became numb, and the mundane of everyday life was starting to feel bleak. this fund raiser didn't sit right with her either, but she showed up--for kayla. "huh, oh yeah." amara finally replied when she noticed a figure out of the corner of her eye. right hand absentmindedly fiddling with her silver necklace. not even glancing at the stranger, she kept her vision laser beamed focused onto the blood stand. nodding in agreement. "something about it just doesn't feel right." she couldn't ever remember kayla talking about a blood drive when they were younger. but the past wasn't a reliable narrative either, because back then all amara had cared about was the prospect of her future. and look where that got her.

[thclastlight]

He recognized her after a moment, the other half of The Devil You Know — the half he hadn't gone on a date with. Vicente nodded, silently agreeing with her. The whole fundraiser had a weird vibe about it, but it was Helltown. Everything had weird vibes. That was probably the one reason he hadn't left town once he'd been old enough to move away.

"You gotta admit, though, that'd be pretty wicked... but only if they weren't killer zombies," Vic added, as if it was an after thought. "Maybe, like, vegan zombies or something. Brains aren't vegan, right?"

half drowsy from her recent lack of sleep , half blitzed out of her mind, maya's lashes seemed to bat in slow motion as she turned her head to face the other. her vision was already horrendous as it was . . . add a veil of inebriation and she might as well be blind.

" it's freaaakkyy , " maya nodded, sipping lazily from the slushee straw. " feels kinda morbid to uh . . . have a fundraiser before people have even had time to mourn ya know ?? kinda fucked. . . but uh, hey, if they're using the blood from the drive to bring 'em back to life . . . guess waiting for a funeral to happen is pointless.."

[thclastlight]

LOCATION: wherever amara is staying shfksjh FOR: @phantomtownx (amara)

"Come on, Hopie," Uriah urged his daughter, her little fingers enclosed in his as he helped her out of the car, "we're gonna give Amara the cookies we decorated. Remember 'Mara?" Making his way up the sidewalk, he balanced the plate of the sweets on his hip, releasing his daughter's hand just long enough to knock on the door. He would have left her at his mother's place, but since the bonfire and now the bowling alley event, Uriah's anxiety had been at an all time high. If he was going to be any comfort to his cousin, he needed to know for a fact his daughter was safe. "Amara," he called out, "it's Uriah. I wanted to see how you were doing. Hope and I made some cookies for you."

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"Oh, of course. I'm sorry," Tala offered, unsure if he was affected by one of the bodies they'd found. She didn't mean to be so... tone-deaf. "I'm sure they'll find out who is behind it soon, if it wasn't Mr. McNeil. You don't think he kidnapped all those people, do you?" Her eyebrows pulled together as she thought it over, a small smile tugging at her lips, a selfish sort of sadness in it instead of empathy. He was right. It wasn't what she was expecting, despite not expecting anything at all. She had only come to this town for Rafael, and she would rather be with him here than without him anywhere else in the world... but she missed it, the hustle and bustle of New York, the dreaminess of Paris. This town was the worst place she'd been, and she'd been to many. "Have you ever thought about leaving?"

"It's nice and all -- but answers would be better, don't you think?" The Samson of a month prior would have gladly indulged in a chipper, glib reply; he would have rushed to help organize the whole affair, promised a heart-felt delivery of some biblical refrain. But he could only gaze at the contents of his cup now, his eyes staring intently, as if he wished to will the water to offer some solution. "I'm sure it'll help, really. Helltown wasn't exactly what you expected, is it? I'm pretty sure all brochures state it's a nice small town, slightly odd, but quiet. This wasn't what I had in mind when I wandered in twenty years ago."

[thclastlight]

He was already a few beers deep; Braxton considered not coming at all, but if he was going to be there he definitely wasn't going to be there sober. It didn't sit right with him, any of it. Was Kayla's mother willing to move on that quickly? She didn't give it even half a week before deciding to throw together some sort of event with music and food trucks? "It's in incredibly poor taste," he stated, turning to look at Percy, unable to keep the sharpness out of his tone, though he wasn't really trying too hard. "Who the fuck feels like playing games right now?"

status: open [ @helltownhqstarters ] location: the fundraiser

"I'm telling you right now, if someone comes near me with a needle I'm not going to be responsible for my actions." Percy said to anyone nearby that was willing to listen, quickly looking over his shoulder as he placed a cigarette between his teeth. "I feel like the whole blood drive thing is kind of in poor taste, right?" He questioned, though he was planning to do everything in his power to get the thought of six dead bodies out of his mind — he couldn't deal with another one — the cigarette was only the beginning.

[thclastlight]

It had unfolded so fast. Braxton could not remember the first thought that crossed his mind when he opened the news update, he could not remember the first punch that was thrown, but now he sat in the middle of his living room, a mess of broken belongings. His knuckles were forming bruises already, cut and bleeding, and there was a burning ache in his wrist that made him think he might have broken something, but he could snap his arm in half for all he cared. It didn't matter. Kayla was dead.

At first, hearing the banging on his door, he was sure it was the police, that a neighbor had reported the noises coming from his house and he couldn't blame them. While he didn't remember screaming, his throat was sore enough to assume at some point, he did. He had busted a window, he had put his fist through the wall, he had destroyed every piece of furniture he'd been able to lift. Of course they'd call. He remained sitting, silently encouraging them to break the door down and come for him. Maybe he was still a suspect, despite the involvement of her father, despite the other bodies being with them. Maybe everyone still thought he'd had something to do with it.

Then came her voice. Without hesitation, Braxton was pushing himself off of the floor, stepping over a broken chair leg and shattered glass from every bottle in the house to let Elodie in. Hearing the tears in her voice, he felt like he should comfort her, hug her, tell her how sorry he was, but there was only one thought that he held back — didn't you wish for this?

But didn't he, too, deep down?

Staring at her now, he wasn't angry. Braxton, in a moment of relief, didn't feel anything at all. "It's over," he simply stated, expression blank, his arms falling limp to his sides.

closed starter: @thclastlight !!

elodie was running so fast she couldn't tell if it was her heart or the asphalt beneath her feet pulsing with each step. the late june air pushed through entangled tresses, sending them back in a curtain of coiled brown as the wind whistled in scarlet-flushed ears. it was wild ; how deeply suffocated and how intoxicatingly free she felt at the same time.

her sister was dead.

elodie had gotten what she wished for.

yet something deep inside of her always seemed to stir with unease whenever elodie finally thought the coast was clear . . . that same unsettling prick of nervousness speaking to her now through winded lungs and salty tears. it told her that it couldn't be that simple. she knew better than anyone that it couldn't be that simple.

and yet, elodie had brought herself to the one place where a desire for simplicity was always ill-met. nothing that happened in regards to braxton clarke was ever simple. never straight forward. never truthful. never easy. fists pounded against the wood of his front door, desperate sobs flying from trembling lips, lungs fighting for enough air to send oxygen through her aching limbs as her cries for him stole more breath than the organs had to supply.

" BRAXTON ," elodie cried, leaning her full weight into the door, blubbering hysterically as if this weren't the very outcome she had been yearning for. " b-braxton, please — please tell me you're home . . . " he was, she knew he was. elodie had the man's schedule ironed to the backs of her god damn eye lids.

[thclastlight]

i miss being a little girl full of hope and joy that plays alone in her room dreaming about her future

[thclastlight]

LOCATION: on a sidewalk slfhjlfsh FOR: @phantomtownx (sam)

She had known it was a possibility. Every day when she woke, Adeline feared that it would be the day the news would break, answers and closure that felt far worse than being in the dark — but knowing it could happen, fearing it, didn't mean she had ever been prepared for it. The news had only shaken her up a little in the morning, hearing that someone had burned the bowling alley down, and later, that Kayla's father was a suspect, but she had managed to focus on work and push her emotions down. A part of her even thought good riddance. She had, stupidly, thought that would be the end of it. She was on her way home from the library when the third update came through, a knot tying itself in her stomach the moment she started to read. But when she got to the part about the bodies, the words stopped making sense, her eyes jumping down and lingering on the second name listed, turning into a blur of letters when her eyelids refused to blink. DERRICK ADALHARD. Seconds passed, maybe minutes, while she stood with her feet planted on the sidewalk, the words "oh my God" falling from her lips like a mantra. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families impacted by this tragedy. "Oh my God. Oh my God." Her phone fell to the concrete by her shoes, hands starting to shake too much to hang onto it, and after wondering briefly if she was going to lose her lunch or burst into tears, she found herself following it down, her knees hitting the concrete with enough force to jumpstart the crying. Choked sobs began to rattle her entire body as her nails raked the cloth against her skin, scratching at her chest, as if she could dig the pain inside of it out.

[thclastlight]

LOCATION: the fundraiser

FOR: @helltownhqstarters (open)

"It's just too weird, man. A blood drive?" Vic shook his head, playing up his stupidity as he tried to get a read on the other person. He was really only here to keep his eyes and ears peeled, to figure out if there was any news he hadn't been aware of, details he'd missed. "Nuh uh. Who knows what they're doing with it. Probably, like, trying to bring them back to life or something. I don't know about you, but I'm not signing up to be Frankenstein-ed and shit."

[thclastlight]

LOCATION: the fundraiser

FOR: @helltownhqstarters (open)

Tala kept having to remind herself that this was not just a party to socialize at, and those around her had lost people close to them. She wasn't heartless, she just wasn't affected. Her family was not from Helltown, and as long as Rafael was alright, that was really all she was concerned about. "I think that the memorial is such a good idea, don't you?" Clinging to a drink from one of the food trucks, she turned to offer a smile to the closest person in line. "Hopefully my donation will make a difference." It was a pretty hefty one, but she wasn't going to brag...

[thclastlight]

Sympathy clearly wasn't going to work.

Her response had Vicente backpedaling. He liked to think he could manipulate people fairly easily, once he got to know them... but the truth was, he didn't know Elodie. He had read more of her words than he had conversed with her, which was exactly why he needed to be on her good side. She knew more than she was letting on, he was sure of it. He could be patient, though. Good things took time. Even if he wasn't going to get anything out of her tonight, he could at least not make her list of most-hated.

"I am," Vic assured her after a short pause, pulling his wallet out, and three twenties with it. He laid the bills on the table, sliding them to the edge for her to take. "But I think I'm feeling indecisive. How about you choose for me, and keep the change?"

the bar was empty; and even saying it was empty was giving it far more credit than it was due. ever since the solstice, since scooter had been painted as a sacrifice to the bonfire ( or so elodie had heard ) both he and the regular clientele were nowhere to be seen. the staff was struggling; irritated, broke, on edge . . . but elodie ?? she was desperate to find solace in this job. desperate to find escape. with kayla's names hot on everyone's tongue once more, it felt like there was no escaping the elder mcneil's name or speculated demise. it didn't help whispers were starting to carry her name too; suspicions, speculations . . .

" buy my time ?? " elodie echoed, gaze distant, not looking directly at the man currently grappling for her attention but instead having zoned out focusing on a table that kept casting her odd glances. anger pooled beneath her tongue, and she snapped her gaze back to the other, clutching the guest-pad she was taking orders on with an iron grasp. " look — join the fucking club, pal. this whole town is having a hard night. a hard week, month, year, life — whatever. want me to rub your back and spit shine your shoes, too ?? or are you gonna order something like everyone else ?? "

[thclastlight]

"I hope not, for the town's sake." But in reality, he only hoped that he would be part of it, and more than just a bystander... or the person that skipped out altogether. "Man, what possesses someone to do that?" Vicente shook his head, feigning shock. It wasn't hard for him to understand, why someone would want to give everything up to make a point. For him, it needed to be a little more self-centered, a little more spectacular, but still. "I was at home, just reading. I figured it'd be a bust... guess I've never really been more wrong."

            “  oh  well  i’m  sure  there  will  be  another  ,  ”  a  playful  pout  settles  upon  their  lips  .  “  plenty  of  opportunity  in  this  town  .  never  thought  a  quaint  little  town  like  this  could  be  so  unpredictable  .  ”  and  try  as  they  might  ,  those  sacrifices  have  been  seared  into  memory  .  but  theo  will  do  what  they  always  do  best  and  internalize  it  .  bury  it  within  the  deep  recesses  of  their  mind  .  “  i  may  have  gone  just  to  take  a  peek  .  but  i  wouldn’t  say  running  into  the  fire  .  maybe  throwing  themselves  into  the  fire  is  more  accurate  ?  but  never  mind  that  ,  why’d  you  miss  it  ?  i  wanna  say  the  entire  town  was  there  .  ”