vitalphenomena - Tumblr blog

[vitalphenomena]

TIRAMISU WOULD CERTAINLY SWEETEN SOME OF THIS ACHE. Spirit just stares morosely into the distance. Callisto reaches for her and she accepts, absentminded, distant.

She's beginning to shut down. Still, some curiosity persists.

"Figure out what stuff, baby?" she asks, soft.

"No, baby - I want to. Of course I want to."

She has shanked this. Callisto is reminded of another conversation that went similarly poorly, only this time they aren't sharing a tiramisu. Still, Callisto reaches out, hoping to soothe a bit of the sting.

"It's just complicated. I don't know if I can say yes without figuring some stuff out first."

[vitalphenomena]

"I think you're wrong," he says simply, primarily to have a point of contention. He spends all day saying yes and asking questions and relenting, relenting, relenting. It feels good to push back.

He is calm, of course, as he does so. He is sturdy and easygoing and confident. He so rarely has a care in the world. It is almost unnerving, how little care he has for the world.

"If we're not changing and growing and adapting, we're not human. If we're not learning, if we're remaining stagnant, what are we doing, exactly? You insist that our very natures are set in stone. You insist our perspectives don't change. Didn't you have that moment where you realized tu madre," He switches to native tongue to avoid mimicking Daniel's muddah, "Was a person and not just a parent? Didn't that change something?"

It goes quiet. In the quiet he blinks. He twines one hand on top of the other by gripping his fingers through the gaps into a fist. He breathes slowly: it does not soothe him, but he can feel the edges of his nerves flatten out into something that cannot be labelled as dramatic.

"I work with addicts, day in, day out. A lot prefer the separation of the person they have become in sobriety from the person they were at rock bottom."

"I try to take people - myself included - as they are. But I don't believe that the people we are are so different from what we were. Why we do things: the reasons don't change."

[vitalphenomena]

"I know what you mean," Kennedy says sympathetically, even though she's only ever been on this side of the situation, not his. "I know it isn't easy. But you can sleep in your own bed tonight, and we'll figure out what to do." Gently: "Is there anything you can tell me about who you were there with? That's a good place to start."

domestic terrorism. his first thought was, 'is that what they're calling it these days?' his second thought was, 'i'm absolutely fucked.' honestly, if the situation weren't so dire, it would almost be laughable: all the assassinations under his belt and what did him in was a simple protest. he sucked a hard breath in through his teeth.

"well, it's not fun."

[vitalphenomena]

"Okay," she says softly. She's tipsy and sleepy and her social battery is exhausted. Zero could tell her they were ready to go swing dancing on the moon and she would accept it, would dance lazy and swaying and slow in his arms, in outer space.

"I think a lot has happened to me," she murmurs against his chest. "A lot has happened since that man. Since you brought me donuts. Since the very first time we attacked each other, even." She smiles fondly, as if this is a blissful recollection. "A lot of people have hurt me. And I've started hurting a lot of people, and it always feels right."

Ease off the blackberry wine, Spirit.

I'm so happy you're still here.

She looks back at him, too out of focus to memorize anything important. Still, she knows what comes next, or at least thinks that she does—she kisses him deeply, mouth open and exploring.

His arms wrap around her immediately; he shuts his eyes for a moment and enjoys the closeness. Her closeness. It isn’t always like this. It’s important that he remembers every detail, every sensation. 

          “Things just happen, I guess, and they keep happening, and here we are,”          he says, because that’s all there really is to it, as far as he can tell. He’s just as puzzled as she is. Sometimes—especially in the aftermath of a party like this—he is stricken with a strange bewilderment at his own life, unsure how he got here. All of it is so unrecognizable, so foreign, even now. Things happened, and they kept happening, and here he is. 

There’s a 24-hour donut place in the city. He wonders if they deliver. Bleary eyes open; he gazes at the twinkling lights outside the window for a little while, then looks back at Spirit. Studying her. Memorizing her.

          “I’m so happy you’re still here.”

[vitalphenomena]

"You should probably re-start the whole paper."

"...Okay but like, won't I get yelled at for plagiarism or something if I don't? It's a pretty important part of the paper."

[vitalphenomena]

YEAH, HOPEFULLY THERE'S MORE OF THIS SWEET LITTLE HONEYMOON PERIOD BEFORE ADRIEN HAS TO TRULY CONFRONT ROMAN'S TEMPER. For now, they're at peace.

Roman's sweet kisses have their desired effect. Adrien is stupefied, mesmerized, completely romanced. He kisses Roman deeply, hands running down his back. He untucks Roman's shirt fully, begins undoing the buttons on the front.

<<You could not put me off no mater how hard you tried.>> (He has no fucking clue what he's getting into.) "I am here, am I not? Come closer, and let me feel you —"

" Exactly -- " Reassured back with repetition of his own words . Perhaps a reminder to himself but he can never really control what he does when he's angry . But that's a test for another day surely -- hopefully .

Affection is accepted and chased even which have Roman shifting to settle into Adrien's lap . He grips onto the back of chair as it buckles slightly with adjustment to weight . And Roman leans in again to find lips against his own for longer now , using whatever he could in his arsenal now to further convince Adrien .

" Let's keep it that way -- " Said against lips before pulling back . " Last fucking thing I want is you being scared of me -- or put off ... "

[vitalphenomena]

SHE DIDN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF HIDING HERSELF. She, perhaps, wanted to be found quickly, wanted this to be over with. His stupid games, his stupid riddles, the puzzles he's constantly pouring into her brain and forcing her to piece together.

But, yes, she is crying. She is—may I remind you—in her lacy little panties and nothing else. So dainty! So vulnerable! She still couldn't fit underneath the sink, though.

She looks up at him, the belt in his hands. It excited and irritates.

"You're annoying, and I don't like you." He literally just made her breakfast in bed!

He counts to eight whilst taking off his belt. Makes it a loop, or a noose, a thing to wrap or strike or bind.

The bathroom is the only obviously closed door in the house. He, hating the dark, turns on the light before going in. He sees her shape behind the shower curtain. At first he thinks she's laughing at him.

His enjoyment drops. The uncertainty: laughing or crying, and why, and why. He pushes his hand through, opening the gap enough to peer in. He watches her, incredibly still. Like an animal caught in a foot trap. There is the same impulse, pity and desire to destroy first and save second.

He steps into the bath.

[vitalphenomena]

"You would not know."

{ OPEN.

"Sometimes having a huge dick is a curse."

[vitalphenomena]

ADRIEN WAVES HIS FINGER, TOO. Why I oughta!

"Reading my work would improve you," he allows, "But only by a very little bit."

He waves his finger at him: you are right. It's a threat.

"I should be more like you. I am artless, as you tell me. Perhaps if I were to read your work, I could create as you create."

[vitalphenomena]

TRYING TO KEEP THEM ON EQUAL FOOTING, CAIN SITS DOWN OPPOSITE ZACHARY. They're both imploring each other with those big fucking eyes, trying to encourage each other to come to an understanding. Zachary's relative calmness does little to reassure Cain, though.

Cain knows that he's hurting Zachary. He'd almost prefer an outburst. At least that would be easier to respond to; at least that would have a beginning and an end.

"You think I am fucking him?" Cain asks softly. "You think I would—when I was with you, and only with you, and when I want you so badly?" Never you mind the fact that Kieran would never, ever give Cain that closure, that satisfaction, that knowing of his entire body and soul.

His feelings are hurt; he can't really deny it. He looks down, no longer able to face Zachary.

ㅤㅤ The first instinct that bubbles to the surface is one of cruelty, to lash out and say something hurtful in response. Jealousy, an emotion that he detests in himself, rears its ugly head once again, clouding his judgment and tempting him to react in a way that he knows is unkind and unwarranted.

ㅤㅤ But that would make Zachary a hypocrite—keeping his best friend Charles around (he would be stupid to not see how desperate Charles was).

ㅤㅤ He's on edge, made obvious by the way he's sitting. Hand up to the face, shoulders are rigid and pulled tight and big, sad eyes look up at Cain.

ㅤㅤ ❝ Do you fuck him? ❞ Zachary asks, quietly, resigned, not about the past, though. He only cares about now.

ㅤㅤ ❝ I—I won't ask anything else, okay? I just need to know that. ❞

[vitalphenomena]

voicetesting madison/maddie — a member of kieran's cult from the american midwest/minnesota. she likes flowers. like for a starter or send her some memes!

[vitalphenomena]

I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN ANY CLEARER, SHE WANTS TO MUMBLE WITH HER CHARACTERISTIC PETULANCE, BUT NOW IS NOT THE TIME. She just sighs, tries to steady her breathing. Asking was difficult enough. Now the follow through feels nearly impossible.

"You don't want to."

"You want to move in together?"

Why is this such a surprise? They've been practically living together already.

"I - shit, Spirit, I didn't realise that what was what you meant. Of course I-"

Ah. But what about Jupiter, who spends her life with her head in the clouds, under Callisto's care. What happens there?

[vitalphenomena]

"Yeah, don't do that."

OPEN.

"does anyone know how to cite a vision in APA format?"

[vitalphenomena]

"I'm talking about us living together, Cal, and not in my disgusting-as-fuck apartment in Harlem. What are you talking about?" Does she even know what she's talking about?

"So I think what is a bad idea?"

The bafflement has to be written all over her face, surely.

"You haven't told me what you're going to do?" A pause. "Are we... talking about the same thing?"

[vitalphenomena]

CHALLENGERS (2024) PROMPTS *  assorted dialogue, adjust as necessary.

who says i want somebody to be in love with me?

i don't want to fuck you to prove a point.

fuck me because you want to.

are you gonna do it or not?

tastes even better than it looks.

i just told you i missed you.

i really want to kiss you right now, but i'm worried that if i try, you'll think i'm the worst friend in the world.

you know, it hurts me sometimes how little you believe in yourself.

decimate that little bitch.

let's be honest, you gotta feel bad for the kid.

you're not a spring chicken anymore.

dude. he's a pancake. you're gonna flatten him.

how's this feeling?

we're ready for you.

so obviously this isn't the result you wanted today.

you choked.

i don't want you to embarrass yourself.

i'm just a little rusty. it's a confidence thing.

get your fucking confidence back. i can't do it for you.

i'm so sick of you using this as an excuse to have a fucking meltdown.

you said we could watch a movie.

you're evil.

i'm gonna quiz you on it tomorrow.

sir, i don't know who you are.

i don't think we have much more to talk about.

i haven't spoken to you in five years.

i was just taking a little nap.

move, or i'm calling the cops.

you were really something back then, huh?

we always talked about how amazing it would be to win this together.

i'm a crazy person.

any predictions about how that's going to go?

can you do me a favor? can you not, like... demolish me tomorrow?

shut the fuck up.

if it matters to you so much, i can just give it to you.

i need it to look like i really beat you.

don't guilt me with your dying grandmother.

she's the hottest woman i've ever seen.

you were... fucking incredible.

baby, we've got to get going.

i'm not going to that party.

are you that threatened by me?

we can't both just go in there, dicks swinging.

i'd let her fuck me with a racket.

hey, do you smoke?

of course they will remember you.

see, that's your problem. you think you're like an artist or something.

you just want to win because you love it when people tell you how talented you are.

are you on facebook?

i told you tennis was boring.

you just got this crazy look on your face.

are you on a date?

i don't kiss and tell.

why did you want to have dinner with me?

i think you might be the worst friend in the world.

i didn't know you were so concerned about my feelings.

of course you still have a thing for her.

we just had what i'm assuming is the best sex of our lives.

i fucked your brains out?

what do you think you need? a cheerleader? a fuck buddy? a girlfriend?

you're talented, you're charming, and you've got a big dick.

excuse me for inconveniencing you.

don't expect to sleep here tonight.

stop going easy on me.

i'll be whatever you need me to be. i'll fuck off if you want me to.

i need you here, actually.

you're referring to when i declared my love for you.

you're not in love with me anymore?

i've been dreaming about this for five years.

i'm gonna propose something to you, and it's gonna make you angry. it's gonna make you very angry. but you have to hear me out, okay?

i'm finally ready to listen to you.

how dare you fucking ask me that.

do you think it's cute what you're doing? do you think it's funny?

that's the stupidest fucking thing i've ever heard.

i've always wanted you.

you didn't do anything to me. i did it all to myself.

i think i've reached the limit of my willingness to have this conversation with you.

do you understand how embarrassing it is that you're here?

you've never beaten me.

tell me it doesn't matter.

will you just hold me?

i'm not here to fuck you.

i miss watching you play. you were so beautiful.

[vitalphenomena]

"Conrad," Busy says, sounding sympathetic and soft but mostly just sorry for him. Mostly like she's about to say buckle up, fucklehead..

She takes a powder compact out of her purse and begins blotting gingerly at the uneven splotches of his expansive forehead, his damp chin.

"I'll do what I can. You need to be ready; there's no way around this. Got it?"

@vitalphenomena busy said: you look like shit.

She's not wrong, what with the (even more) paler-than-death complexion and grossly excessive sweating. When he's not mopping his forehead he's wiping rivulets of faintly yellow spittle from his jaw.

"Just what I needed to hear, thanks." There's no bite (haha) in it. He feels worse than he looks.

[vitalphenomena]

voicetesting madison/maddie — a member of kieran's cult from the american midwest/minnesota. she likes flowers. like for a starter or send her some memes!