sethcohcnaf​:

there were a few things in this world that could give her peace - a lazy sunday morning where it was just her and the sunlight that managed to sneak its way into the room, earning pancakes after a run, but nothing came close to tristan mckinnon’s laugh. it felt like a victory in its own right, as if she had done something right, what she could never grasp was how she earned this tenderness but she was too selfish to ever give it back, “i’m always thinking of you” she mumbled. vulnerability had never been her strong suit, but he had shown up to her door - spontaneous, which was not a word she’d normally use to paint them - it was her turn to be a bit not herself.

“you saved my sofa from having to be replaced” she chuckled, “it was one nap away from its undoing and i know, i have a bed - but it’s not the same” naps on the sofa were so much better than the ones she had on bed, as ridiculous as it sounded - it was a hill she was willing to die on. she had been careless and that spoke to how comfortable she was around him – forgetting to essentially wrap what she needed too, “courtesy of the prick locked up last night - he was a bit feisty” she joked, she had to find the humour in it, if she wasn’t able to swing a bad night - it would consume her. “it’s just a reminder that my hand to hand is a bit rusty” she murmured, because she saw the concern and that worried her more than anything, “nothing to fret about” she promised, giving his arm a squeeze.

        his ears barely catch the words , only  half convinced that emmeline had even muttered them until their eyes meet . it’d always been like this between the two ; even from across a large room the male could esteem what she was thinking with conviction . so he does acknowledge her openness with a soft and caring smile . maybe it was enough for her to read that he too was always thinking of her too . ❝ you are certainly right about that . it’s not the same -  ❞  tristan says with a facetious shake of his head , knowing it wasn’t even his position to say otherwise seeing that most nights he didn’t even make it home . 

       the minute rigidity in his muscles do soften under her touch , his lingering gaze forcing another sweep of her features before tearing it away from her all together to where her hand had fallen on his forearm . to doubt her truth would be to doubt the fact that she could handle herself - and tristan was faithfully convinced that the  witch could and had been for all this time . ❝ if he managed to bruise you , then i am sure he is worse off .  ❞  tristan says in a light tone , sliding his right hand to fall on top of hers as it laid on his left arm . ❝ if it’s any console at all , your hand to hand cannot be any more rusty than mine . i’ve always excelled in the defensive but the offensive - i think you were always better at that than me . ❞ he’d meant it about their days at hogwarts , but tristan’s realized that it had always been emmeline who openly acted upon things she wanted . ( and why was it that he never could ? ) 

tristan & emmeline: 

for a saturday morning - one that could be filled with so many possibilities, she was curled up in her sofa that seemed to be getting closer and closer to its end of days considering it seemed to be the only place she fell asleep these days. last night had been less than ideal – three hours of a hunt that left her with bruised ribs and a bit more blue on her skin than she’d like.

what she hadn’t expected was to have to set her coffee down for the door – the man before her was always full of surprises and perhaps she needed a healthy dosage of tristan mckinnon because god knows her heart was sick of yearning – the limbo they were in was exhausting yet anything outside of this was not feasible - she would take an almost with him any day rather than a never could be  – “was i expecting you?” confusion dancing in her gaze as she let him in, wondering if she had forgotten a marking on her calendar. 

@ofdcydreams​

       his shoulders nearly fall forward with the weight of the stress that continued to only build as he knocks once and twice on the door . it would have probably served better if he had sent an owl sometime earlier this morning in advance rather than an unwelcome visit but being even in close proximity of emmeline vance provided a clarity that the suffocating walls of the castle could not provide . so a timid smile shapes his lips as the door opens , tristan preparing for the confusion that would greet him on the other side - ❝ i dunno ,  ❞ the male says with a breathy laugh , hands falling into the pocket of his robe . ❝  i am not the keeper of your brilliant mind , emmeline . i cannot answer if you were thinking of me . ❞ 

      it’s partially a method of evasion of the truth . there was no true nature or purpose to his visit , he realizes just then : it was simply tristan’s instinct to seek her as a reminder of what good was left in a world that seemed to be void of light . because even as the warmth of her flat envelops him like a blanket , he follows right behind her through the hall as if it was second nature . ❝ i hope i did not intrude on something important , ❞ tristan says as he takes in the scene around him - noticing the abandoned coffee and other items strewn across the sofa . the apology falls short when tristan notices that splotches of blue stains across her porcelain skin in the new light . these days it felt like it was an accessory - ❝ who hurt you ? ❞  the question comes out dry , every worry that he had before now pale in comparison to the disconcert that flashed across his features at that moment . 

poltcrgists​:​

it had been since christmas since haneul had last seen tatum, and his feelings had still stayed the same despite it. but everything was different now. he had come back from new york city to help their sister move out of their parents house at long last and tatum had joined them. she had always been family in their eyes which made everything even more complicated going through old things that they needed to sell. “oh my god,” haneul says, grabbing an empty bottle of smirnoff. “i forgot i hid this in yuna’s closet.” they shake their head looking at the other. “remember when you got me drunk for the first time?” haneul had always felt like he had gone backwards with most things. he had always been the DD in most parties, never wanting to lose contol only until after their brother went missing. he had one night to himself and he remembers that time very clearly. “thanks for helping… by the way.” haneul tried to make his visits short at their parents house considering all the trauma that it had caused but it was nice that tatum was here anyway despite all the… weirdness between them. 

         tatum  was  partial  to  the  fact  that  being  an  adult  kept  you  busy  ,  especially  with  work  involved  but  it  never  became  easier  to  spend  so  much  time  away  from  her  best  friend .  she  thought  of  haneul  often  ,  even  in  passing  when  something  reminded  her  of  him  but  it  feels  like  the  opposite  for  him  .  she  always  becomes  close  to  swearing  haneul  off  -  much  to  the  encouragement  by  her  co-workers  that  she  could  definitely  do  better  and  pinning  after  someone  always  led  to  heart  break  but  he’d  call  and  she  was  always  back .  her  hopes  would  be  lifted  in  his  presence and  crushed  in  the  absence  afterwards  but  the  crash  always  felt  worth  it .  there  was  no  doubt  of  the  love  there  .  

   so  she  spends  her  weekend  off  from  work  to  help  haneul  and  their  sister  ,  staying  by  their  side  as  she  uses  the  last  of  the  tape  to  close  a  box .  her  eyes  are  redirected  when  haneul  speaks  and  the  sight  of  the  half  empty  bottle  of  liquor  makes  her  laugh  almost  immediately .  ❝  you  can  hardly  all  the  blame  on  me  -  ❞  tatum  says  pointedly  though  the  smile  still  curves  her  glossed lips .  she  reaches  for  the  smirnoff  ,  tilting  the  aged  glass  to  the  side  as  the  memory  imprints  her  mind .  ❝  most  people  get  violently  sick  their  first  time  drinking  ,  but  you  took  it  like  a  champ . ❞   her  arm  extends  forward  to  haneul  then .   ❝  yuna  gets  home  with  the  lot  and  for  some  reason ,  it  made  sense  to  us  to  throw  in  the  closet .  just  shows  you  that  she  never  cleaned  the  closet  like  she  was  told  to  many  times  or  else  we  would  have  been  caught . ❞ 

sethcohcnaf​:

she had been in and out of sleep, but she wouldn’t call it restless – this felt different, her night wasn’t plagued with nightmares of what she’d seen or thoughts of what she’d see in coming weeks – she had made it to her flat rather than dozing off at her desk which was far too common than not. this had reminded her of how things used to be, even when she had been younger – her body had never been eager for those seven to eight hours that most thought necessary, she had only arisen once before collapsing back into the sheets – she had woken up smiling, she had turned to see the source of it still dozing off, he looked so peaceful, she was never one to be hell bent on a higher source, a tendency to believe in what she could see but in  that moment she had prayed for more moments of this. this was something she wanted a lifetime of, before she had allowed sleep to take her once more.

it was his warmth that stirred her awake this time around, the hand entwined with his – her own personal heat source wrapped around her, “tristan” she murmured – a groan slipping from her lips, “is it?” the time had been the least of her worries and if she got her way - it would be half past ten before they managed to stumble out of bed. she let go of his hand, just to turn in his arms – her face burrowed against his neck. “what can i do to keep you like this?” pressing a kiss against his throat, “breakfast in bed in a hour? i promise it’ll be edible this time –” a soft chuckle following, “then a day of whatever you want –” she was laying it on a bit thick, but the idea of stumbling out of this bed in to the shower was currently blasphemous.

          the  smile  that  coursed  his  lips  was  sluggish ,  and  even  though  the  corners  of  his  eyes  still  felt  sore  with  sleep ,  tristan  fought  to  stay  awake  for  his  own  selfish  sake .  there  weren’t  many  mornings  like  this  anymore -  empty  of  any  responsibility  -  and  he  certainly  could  indulge  in  hundreds  of  more  hours  of  her  touch  if  it  had  been  his  choice .  ❝  you  haven’t  got  to  do  much  ,  ❞  he  says  with  no  hesitation ,  his  hand  only  moving  from  the  length  of  her  arm  to  her  back  as  emmeline moves  against  him  out  of  instinct .    ❝  every  morning  can  be  like  this . ❞  the  male  was  certainly  not  the  begging  type ,  but  he’d ask  emmeline  time  and  time  again  to  spend  forever  with  him  .  

      her  next  words  do  make  him  laugh ,  rolling  back  onto  his  back  so  that  she  was  pressed  against  him  .  ❝ you  are  just  saying  that  because  i  have  gotten  spoiled  by  the  cooking  done  at  hogwarts  , ❞  it  was  true  though ,  tristan  mckinnon  cannot  remember  the  last  time  he  has  had  to  make  a  meal  for  himself .  even  when  he  visited  him  did  the  house  elves  wait  on  him  but  living  so  simple  with  emmeline  vance  felt  more  like  home  .  ❝  a  day  of  whatever  i  want  ...  ❞  he  trails  off ,  head  only  lulling  to  the side  for  a  moment  to  the  covered  window  .  the  world  would  continue  to  wreck  its  own  havoc  ,  never  idle  nor  relenting  and  for  once ,  he  actually  craved  normalcy .  to  be  so  oblivious  of  the  darkness  waiting  at  the  corner  would  rid  of  his  need  to  be  careful  -  if   it  hadn’t  been  for  all  that  ,  he  would  have  kissed  emmeline  back  so  long  ago .  ❝  i’ve  already  got  what  i  want  . ❞   tristan  says  after  another  moment  of  contemplation  ,  fingers  curling  against  the  fabric  of  her  night  gown  in  its  feat  to  bask  in  this  dream .  

closed for @sethcohcnaf​

    he  suddenly  stirs  awake  ,  the  muscles  of  his  body  already  tensing  before  his  eyes  take  in  the  scene  laid  before  him .  there  next  to  him  is  another  body ,  its  contour  delicately  shaped  by  the  thin  sheet  which  only  complimented  the  soft  brown  wave  of  hair  that  adjourned  the  pillow .  it’s  easy  to  admire  the  sight  ,  and  it  certainly  does  help  the  mckinnon  to  relax  but  he  simply  cannot  remember  the  last  time he  had  shared  such  a  simple  gesture  with  someone  else --  what  the  pair  had  was  unconventional  by  nature  .  what  began  as  a  scheduled  headache ,  became  an  acquaintance,   and  somehow  after  that  emmeline  was  the  person  he  sought  for  in  crowds .  tristan  didn’t  choose her ,  not  at  first .  emmeline  was  force  to  be  reckoned  with , and tristan  was  the  reckoner ,  but  somehow  she  had  slipped  into  his  consciousness .  now ?  now ,  tristan  would  eagerly  choose  her  everytime .  

      one  hand   does  extend  towards  her ,  a  finger  delicately  tracing  along  the  length  of  her  shoulder  in  hopes  of  not  drawing  the  dream  away  if  this  was  an  ill  illusion .  the  same  finger  then  draws  down  her  arm  until  his  hand  catches  hers ,  his  chest  falling  into  her  back  so  her  warmth  engulfed  him .  it  had  been  easy  to  convince  him  for  her  to  stay  the  night  -  even  if  they  both  fell  into  a  slumber  as  soon  as  their  bodies  hit  the  mattress -  but  with  most  of  their  free  time  away  from  their  actual  jobs  joined  in  secret  meetings  ,  there  was  never  a  place  to  let  the  defenses  that  a  war  could  build  settle .  he  doesn’t  want  to  disturb  this  peace  for  her  ;  even  the  thought  of  staying  in  bed  next  to  her  was  tempting  enough  but  the  young  couple  were  certainly  too  honest  to  miss  a  day  like  this  .  ❝ emmy -  ❞  a  chaste  kiss  to  her  undressed  shoulder  interrupts  his  words ,  hand  still  intertwined  with  hers  under  the  warmth  of  the  white  bed  sheet  .  ❝  it’s  half  past  nine  , ❞  the  abandoned  pocket  watch  was  still  strewn  on  the  nightstand  as  one  of  the  causalities  of  their  haphazard  attempt  to  sleep  as  soon  as  possible .   

celine & mateo: 

“ you keep … “ frustration builds easily. he’s stumbling on his words. “ you keep giving me this feeling that i can’t fight, and i hate it. “

          celine  certainly  cannot  help  the  quick  rise  of  her  brow  ,  catching  her  chin  against  the  palm  of  her  hand  as  she  gives  mateo  a  glance  over .  ❝  you  seriously  aren’t  going  to  say  that  to  her  ,  right  ?  ❞   a  laugh  slips  through  her  lips  then ,  shaking  her  head  at  the  mental  image  of  seeing  her  friend  repeating  those  words .  ❝  it’s  just  a  bloody  crush  ,  right  ?  i’ve  got  to  teach  you  something  a  wee  bit  smoother  if  you’re  going  to  catch  her  attention .   ❞ 

kwejflkwjfkewl sshhh

⌈ ☆ ⌉ ✖  CELINE ZHANG . || ✧ –––– ISMS. 

tristan & emmeline: 

she didn’t know what was more surprising – his shock at her observation or his reply, “do you believe what you just said?” raising a brow carefully - it wasn’t a test, no she actually needed to understand if she was in her head or if there was an underlying tone, because truly all she could do was ask him what he thought. did he think he was being honest with himself? and if he said yes with the confidence that only he could. she would take it - how could she not? who was she to tell him what he was feeling, all she could do was comment on what she had felt, “i felt like you were upset or maybe upset with the choice that i made - you’re allowed to be disappointed or even angry” because wasn’t she? by rowena, she loved his morality – when she thought about the things she could count on – the things that gave her peace, one of them was his sense of knowing who he was – he knew where he stood but in moments like, maybe she wished he could toe the line of chaos but then again - she may be doing enough of that for both of them.

teeth sinking into her inner cheek as he drew close, it was her tell - as if creating enough distance would give her space to breathe let alone think, but with every step, any chance for distance - he took a step along with her and in hindsight, she was grateful. as if he couldn’t allow for more space than they had created with their votes,  “it’s not about vengeance–” she could hear the defensiveness in her words and with a sigh - she relented “is it an underlying need?i’d be lying if i said that there wasn’t a part of me that wanted it, but it’s not just about vengeance, tristan and i had hoped you knew me better than to assume that was all it was”

“we’re always one step behind and i can’t help but wonder if it’s our inability to make the first move - as if, as long as they make the first strike, whatever we do after absolves us from the sins that we commit in the name of protection – it doesn’t make it better. i’d rather try to stop something and be preventative than simply defend - maybe i’m saving a family another horrible knock on their bloody door” because wasn’t that the point of this? stop it before it started and perhaps that required more fire power than they could do in good conscious, but wasn’t that how wars were won? “i don’t want revenge, tristan - i want justice and i wan’t a taste of something normal because look at us, we’re arguing about this when we could be talking about anything else, this consumes our lives and if i were to go back, i would still commit to this cause because it’s the right thing to do but don’t hold my need to have this all done with against me, because any choice i make, believe it or not - it’s in the best interest of the people that i love” which she wasn’t ready to say - included him.

“that’s not fair–” she whispered, what energy she once had - the fire that drove her argument, it all dissipated and what was left was quite a bit of hurt and honestly, her own hypocrisy - deep down, she knew he was right and if she was a better person she could own it right then and there, but it was different. “you’re resilient –” knowing glint in her gaze and perhaps it was unfair to throw that back on him but she never really played fair, “you would survive - you’d go on, that’s all i can ask for”

       there  is  a  forced  hollowness  of  his  cheeks  when  he  inhales  -  lips  pursing  as  tristan  contemplates  his  next  words .  no  answer  could  truly  satisfy  emmeline  ,  he  thinks  ,  so  he  goes  for  the  most  unimpeachable   refutation .  ❝  i  would  never  lie  to   you , emmeline .  especially  over  this  - ❞  it’s  not  supposed  to  sound  like  he’s  taken  offense  to  the  accusation ,  but  it  certainly  didn’t  help  that  it  sounded  like  tristan  was  evading  the  question .  ❝  i  am  angry !  undoubtably  beside  myself  about  the  fact  that  there’s  nothing  more  to  be  done .  ❞   a  huff  ;  tristan  could  continue  to  say  the  same  thing  and  the  brunette  watching  him  could  possibly  never  wrap  her  head  around  his  point .  ❝ you  and  i :  we’ve  had  differing  opinions  before  ,  even  beforehand ... ❞   no  need  to  divulge  how  their  kiss  had  definitely  changed  their  dynamic  no  matter  the  fact  that  tristan  had  told  her  that  he  needed  time .  ❝ but  upset  about  the  choice  you’ve  made  ?   never .  my  regard  for  you  has  remained unchanged  -    it is  the  same  as  it  was  when  i  woke  this  morning .  ❞  

    her  flat  had  always  been  a  bubble  that  remained  unpopped  by  the  world’s  curse so  to  have  it  change  so  suddenly  was  unsettling .  no  darkness  should  have  to  creep  into  the  best  parts  of  his  life  -  ❝ you’re  right  .  you  are  more  than  just  vengeance  . ❞  he  says  with  an  unsettled  sigh ,  choosing  to  stand  tall  by  the  wall  that  greeted  her  living  room .  maybe  his  visit  wouldn’t  last  as  long  as  he  had  hoped .  ❝  but  that  sliver  of  rage  can  be  blinding  . ❞ 

       there  he  shakes  his  head  in  the  same  disagreement  from  before .  ❝  what  do  we  tell  the  families  of  the  wixen  we  foolishly  put  at  risk  ?   we’ve  got  mothers  ,  fathers  ..  people  ,  children  -  .  ❞  a  twinge  of  nostalgia  for  his  new  home  at  the  castle  strikes  him  even  then .  ❝ some  of  those  that  you  wish  to  confront  have  power  ,  emmeline .  we  cannot  trust  the  ministry nor  any  of  its  offices  for  the  first  time  in  our  lives . ❞  tristan’s  contribution  to  the  politics  of  the  wixen  community  was  short-lived  but  having  lived  with  two  parents  that  had  some  influence  had  its  own  kind  of  mark .   ❝ can  you  say  with  one-hundred  percent  certainty  that  every  auror  in  your  office  is  not  marked or  an  associate  to  someone  who  is  ?   diplomacy  certainly  looks  different  these  days  and  it  often  leads  to  injustice ,  but  when  you  cannot  even  trust  your  neighbor ,  any  risk  is  a  death  sentence .  ❞  there  was  at  least  one  thing  the  pair  agreed  on  ,  though .  all  of  this -  the  headaches ,  the  fight ,  and  everything  in  between  -  was  for  those  who guarded  their  hearts .  ❝  all  i  do  and  think  about  is  about  my  family  too  ,  emmeline .  so  no  .  i  could  never  hold  that  against  you ,  because  if  it  was  my  choice ,  i  too  would  fight .  ❞ 

    so  his  expression  becomes  soft  with  his  next  words ,  tristan’s  right  arm  extending  towards  her  as  if  maybe  touch  alone  could  better  convey  what  he  meant . ❝ we’re  a  team  .  you  need  me  and  i  need  you  ,   ❞   the  male  says  with  a  rather  somber  fondness  .  ❝ and  when  the  time  comes ,  i’ll  fight  alongside  you .  ❞ 

emmeline & tristan: 

she thought she would be able to stomach his silence before - she knew the second the words had left her lips she would be faced with his disappointment at the meeting, but never had she thought she would be on the receiving end of his dismissiveness. that felt more like a knife to her heart than anything he could have said - standing here before him, she still couldn’t feel him and that’s when she felt the fear – that maybe this is what it took to lose him. 

“i don’t like to go to bed angry –” arms around herself, as if that would be enough comfort as she took a step back to give him space, “i wasn’t the only one upset–” the whisper harsh, pointed stare right at those eyes she often found herself lost in. “i knew we would disagree – but i didn’t expect that, tristan” and maybe that’s because she was so used to him being her voice of reason - her anchor, that she forgot that their views may not always align just because things were simply good. 

as much she held on to her independence and that gentle reminder that she had been okay prior to even having him close, “it didn’t feel that way–” she admitted, she half-expected for him to not come and here he was proving her wrong every step of the way – he came to fight rather than to let go and for that she was grateful, “thank you – i needed to hear that” 

         he  understood  where  emmeline  was  coming  from  .  tristan  too  didn’t  like  the  sour  taste  of  anger  at  all  but  to  let  it  linger  just  seemed  counterproductive . ❝  -  what  ?  ❞  head  reeling  back  to  the  moment  ,  brows  furrowing  at  the  cut  in  her  voice  when  she  speaks  .  ❝  if  you  are  speaking  of  me  ,  i’m  not  upset .  ❞  even  when  he  says  it  out  loud  it  feels  strange  on  his  tongue .  it  was  a  rather  complicated  truth  ,  because  sure  ,  he  was  upset  .  but  it  had  never  been  nor  would  it  ever  be  directed  at  her .  ❝  and  if  you  are  concerned  with  what   the  lot  has  got  to  say  ,  then  i  reassure  you  that  all  i  really  minded  was  your  refute . ❞ 

    with  the  step  that  she  took  away  from  him ,  tristan  takes  another  towards  her .  maybe  it  was  his  next  point  that  really  tristan  to  come  tonight  rather  than  festering  in  the  furore  of  the  night’s  vote .  ❝  i  still  grapple  with  your  need  for  immediate  vengeance  ,  emmeline .  ❞   there  is  no  disappointment  nor  chagrin  even  as  he  looks  back  at  her  then .  she  was  a  solider  through  and  through ,  branding  an  armor  that  tested  any  threat  but   it  was  her  temerity  that  troubled  him .  ❝  there  is  a  fine  line  between  avenging  and  seeking  revenge  ,  one  that  would  be  crossed  if  we  acted  now  .  ❞   emotions  were  high  ,  some  antsy  to  act  while  others  hid  in  the  shadows.  maybe  she  thought  of  him   to  be  the  latter  .  

        ❝  you’re  one  of  the  best  at  combat ,   ❞  a  trace  of  admiration  even  in  his  exasperation .  ❝  so  to  risk  losing  you   -  and  frankly  anyone  else  -  over  some  intel  that  has  only  small  foundation  is  not  a  price  i  find  myself  agreeing  with .  ❞  tristan  is  reminded  of  the  afternoon  when  they  kissed  ,  when  she  had  told  him  that  no  war  should  ever  ruin  their  happiness  and  that’s  something  he  is  set  on  reminding  her  then .  ❝ you  talk  of  me  never  taking  on  something  that  could  bring  me  harm  ,  yet  you’re  reckless .   ❞  it  was  maddening  cause  it  was  a  trait  of  hers  that  he  loved  and  truly  began  to  detest  at  the  same  time .  ❝  that’s  why  i  couldn’t  meet  your  eye ,  emmeline .  ❞ 

tristan & emmeline: 

it was late and yet wandering about in her flat was not enough to soothe her mind let alone silence the noise that came with the turmoil bubbling up in her. she didn’t have to edge toward the door in fear at the sound of the knocking – she already had a good idea of who it was. 

she opened the door – the smile that often etched at her lips at the sight of him could not be found and perhaps it was because she wasn’t sure if it was her own anger or his disappointment that she feared most or maybe it was the quiet realization that they were capable of fighting that had her terrified of what was to come out next. 

“i didn’t think you were going to come” she admitted, she had sent the owl with the little optimism she had left, she didn’t want to fight, but she also couldn’t bare the silence – so she had given him a time slot and a request to join her if he was up for it and maybe she needed to know if he was still going to show up, even if he she might have given him every reason not too – ​

         boots  wet  against  the  tiled  floor ,  hands  wedged  into  the  robes  that  tristan  had  haphazardly  thrown  on  and  eyes  almost  immediately  finding  emmeline’s  when  she  opens  the  front  door .   even  the  scribbled  letters  on  the  parchment  that  he  had  received  from  her  owl  didn’t  feel  as  hallow  as  this  moment  -  

     he  had  left  her  in  the  board  room  just  hours  ago  with  nothing  more  than  a  dismissive  glance .  it  was  rather  difficult  to  miss  the  indignation  she  was  feeling   with  her  quick  and  rushed  arguments  .  ❝   i  didn’t  expect  to  hear  from  you  so  soon  ,  ❞  tristan  counters  with  a  simple  shrug  ,  only  daring  to  continue  because  he  would  rather  have  the  truth  than  the  alternative   .  ❝ especially  because  you  seemed  so  upset  earlier . ❞ 

     a  pause  -  ❝  but  just  because  we  might  disagree ,  emmeline  ,  doesn’t  mean  i  don’t  want  to  see  you .   ❞ it  was  only  fair  to  give  her  the  same  freedom  to  fight  for  what  she  wanted  and  of  course  there  had  always  been  a  history  of  tristan  going  out  of  his  way  to  know  what  emmeline  vance  was  thinking .  this  was  nothing  different .  

what is a trait that you give way too many of your ocs

emilie & nancy: 

it was supposed to be a little fun, that’s all. nancy knew she couldn’t blame emilie for how she was taking things but not everyone could be as confident as her, some people were still trying to come to terms with their identity and didn’t want to be flaunting it all over the place. it was her own problem, that she knew for sure but nancy couldn’t help but feel a little hurt at how easy her friend adapted to things. awkwardly, she reached back to wipe away the sweat decorating the back of her neck and turned her eyes away from emilie, as if she were too bright to look at— like she was the sun. ‘ i told you, i have plans. ‘ she explained briefly, despite knowing full well that her plans involved a tub of ice cream and her empty couch. ‘ and what did i say about not mentioning that stuff out here, please. ‘ it felt pathetic to beg for such a thing but then again, maybe that’s exactly what she was. 

       maybe  emilie  did  push  too  far  and  too  fast  -  but  she  had  always  been  the  girl  to  know  what  she  wanted  and  that  hadn’t  changed  even  now .  there  was  only  so  much  rejection  that  could  be  taken  before  it  was  a  retired  game  - ❝ that  stuff .❞  she  repeats  with  a  vividly  sour  tone  ,  making  no  effort  to  discrete  about  the  offense  she’s  taken  by  nancy’s  sudden  turn  of  mood .  ❝  if  it’s  something  you  don’t  want  to  partake  in  anymore  ,  nancy ,  then  don’t  !   ❞   the  anger  is  not  even  directed  towards  her  friend  but  rather  herself .  she  should  have  known  better  than  get  involved  with  someone  who  couldn’t  even  admit  her  own  feelings .  ❝ but  just  tell  me .  but  this  -   this  i  can’t  deal  with  anymore .  ❞ 

emilie & dalia: 

she can tell emilie is growing increasingly more frustrated with her every time something like this happens. it had been a huge strain on their friendship and dalia knows it either needs to stop - or she needs to address why it is she can’t say no when emilie is giving her the eyes. or why her stomach erupts in butterflies when they do kiss. she’s hesitant to admit what she might think it all means - so she’s been hiding from it. “i get that we’re older now - i didn’t mean it like we were literally playing house i just meant you know sometimes people just do stupid things and it doesn’t mean anything.” she responds, trying her best to laugh off the accusations. “what do you mean you’d act different?” she the brunette questions. “okay even if there’s some tension between us that doesn’t mean it has to ruin our friendship, right?” dalia swallows hard, not sure if she’s trying to convince herself or emilie of that. 

         it  was  rare  for   emilie  to  feel  defeated  and  more  so  to  feel  disappointed .  but  in  this  moment  ,  as  her  eyes  scorchingly  sweep  across  her  features  with  a  faint  desperation  ,  it’s  both  emotions  that  course  through  her  .   ❝  so  it  meant  nothing  to  you  .  ❞  it’s  said  matter-of-factly ,  so  deadpan  that  the  laugh  that  comes  after  is  so  ironic  . ❝  i  don’t  know ,  dalia  .  i  would  have  probably  not  let  it  mean  something  if  i  knew  it  was  nothing  to  you .  ❞  the  urge  to  bolt  is  strong  then .  the  urge  to  cry   was  even  stronger  ,  though ,  but  emilie  dared  herself  to  hold  back  the  tears .  this  morning  was  supposed  to  be  relieve  the  tension  that  anchored  her  body  down  but  the  weight  of  this  moment  made  everything  else  that  much  heavier  .  ❝  it  wouldn’t  have  ruined  our  friendship  if  you  had  told  me  the  truth  .  but  you  have  no  problem  with  that  ,  right  ?   since  we  all  do  stupid  things  that  doesn’t  mean  anything  .  ❞ 

beckett & finch: 

Finch startles at the sudden sound of Beckett’s voice, his hand instinctively straying to the handle of the pocket knife concealed beneath his brand new coat (which he has been wearing all evening, in spite of the fact that they’re supposed to be ‘settled in’ at the motel for the night). He relaxes incrementally when he realises exactly who has approached him, bracing his arms against the railing of their small balcony and looking out into the night once more. “No,” he agrees, though it’s not so much a matter of ‘can’t’ as ‘won’t. He’s noticed that Beckett doesn’t seem to sleep much herself, but until now they’ve been content to move around each other. He wonders what’s changed.

“Can’t decide if I like it or not. The quiet.” It’s different than what he’s used to, certainly. “I passed through the Carolinas on my way south from New York,” Finch comments, “But I’ve never been this far out from the cities. Didn’t think I’d be back in such a hurry, either.” It’s because of her.

       beckett  regards  him  for  another  moment ,  appreciating  the  sight  of  his  silhouette  as  it  basked  in  the  moonlight  .  it’s  been  barely  a  month  and  yet  the  man  standing  next  to  her  felt  different  -  and  he  certainly  acted  different  .  ❝ the  quiet  is  a  nice  change  ,  ❞   she  says  though  her  there’s  still  a  bit  of  uncertainty  in  her  posture .  ❝ but  i  would  be  lying  if  i  said  that  i’ve  not  been  anxiously  waiting  for  the  ball  to  drop .  waiting  for  something  to  fuck  up  -  ❞   calmness  was  simply  the  absence  of  chaos  and  beckett  had  never  felt  peace  before .  there  simply  had  to  be  shadows  lurking  that  were  going  to  rob  her  of  this  very  feeling  eventually .  

     the  change  of  conversation  is  for  the  sake  of  both  their  sanities .  she  wasn’t  blind  to  the  cause  of  his  inability  to  sleep  mirrored  hers  in  that  the  two  were  slaves  to  fear .  ❝ what  is  new  york  like  ?  ❞   beckett  suddenly  asks  ,  arms  crossed  against  the  metal   as  she  leans  forward  with  sparkling  curiosity .  ❝  i  used  to  go  there  with  my  parents  when  i  was  younger  ,  ❞   before  her  father  died  ,  of  course  ,  but  a  fact  that  she  didn’t  need  to  share  .  her  step  father  would  never  dare  take  them  anywhere .  ❝ i  had  an  aunt  we  would  visit  .  she  would  always  take  me  sightseeing  ,  tell  me  these  grand  stories  about  the  people  there  and  i  remember  there  was  so  many  bright  lights .    ❞  

everson & diana: 

     when you’re a girl in a field where dogs eat dogs and fists are a love language, you adapt       but this was a different sort of field, where boys never had to grow up and ate money for all their meals. diana takes the place price calls home in, eyes roving over each shelf, cabinet and trinket. “ you wouldn’t be the first to underestimate me, and you won’t be the last, “ she tells him, absently reaching out to touch a stray book as she continues, “ but feel free to keep at it, i promise it makes my job easier. “ and she doesn’t miss the sudden glass shard drop in his tone at the mention of his parents, looking over her shoulder towards him. ultimately, diana doesn’t care what his parents are worried about. she doesn’t interfere, so long as she continues to earn her money. but it must be nice, she thinks, to live with a golden spoon in your mouth. “ if it makes you feel better, you can get into all the scandals you want. really stick it to them, you know ? i won’t tell. “ but the moment of contract-issued kindness dissipates, replaced with narrowed eyes and knitted eyebrows. “ i think i’ll pass from now until forever, thanks. i’m getting paid to make sure you live to see your father’s next election, but i’m sure you can find someone who would be interested. want me to get in contact with someone ? or call a club and respective paparazzi to prepare for your red carpet appearance ? “

        if  everson  wasn’t  so  preoccupied  with  eliciting  a  strong  reaction  out  of  ,  then  he  would  have  probably  admired  the  way  her  gaze  fixed  on  their  surroundings .  it’s  with  a  careful  precision ,  mind  capturing  even  the  smallest  detail  and  yet  diana  still  somehow  managed  to  pay  him  some  attention .  ❝   you’d  be  wrong  to  assume  that  i  underestimate  you  ,  miss  -  ❞   everson  had  been  told  her  name  earlier  this  morning  but  he  hadn’t  payed  any  mind  to  the  lecture  that  had  come  from  his  mother  just  before  the  news .   instead ,  the  male  plays  it  off  as  an  intentional  pause ,  a  half  regarded  shrug  pulling  his  shoulders  up  at  his  next  words .  ❝  i  just  think  it’s  unnecessary  and  a  waste  of  time  for  you  to  be  here .  ❞   he’d  been  fine  for  this  long  and  nothing  could  ever  change  that .  at  thirty ,  everson  should  be  awarded  with  some  kind  of  independence .  his  visit  here  was  truly  just  a  favor  to  his  father .  before  long ,  he’d  travel  back  home  to  the  city  and  rack  up  a  credit  card  bill  taller  than  him .  the  smile  only  becomes  more  slick  at  her  immediate  distaste  at  the  invitation  .  ❝  you  offer  as  if  i  even  need  your  help  .  like  you’ve  said  ,  it’d  be  easy  for  me  to  find  someone  .  ❞   the  unread  messages  on  his  phone  proved  it  . ❝  but  seriously  ,  where  are  you  staying  then  ?   i  seriously  don’t  need  you  to  watch  me  when  i  sleep  too .  ❞  

 cries .... after working four days in a row with promise of two days off , my dumbass rlly picked up OT for tomorrow cause they’re offering time and a half </3  i’m a broke bitch  but also now a sleep deprived bitch 

everson & diana: 

     “ i don’t think being my inability to reach the top cabinet is going to matter when someone pulls a gun on you, “ comes the quick reply, honed on her tongue with practice. she’s far too used to it — the men who loved to say you’re too pretty to pack a punch, then pull the words back once they realized she could do both. she glances up towards him, places a little smile onto her features, says : “ your parents seem to think otherwise. aren’t you their darling son ? i’m here to make sure they never have to worry about your brains on the pavement. “ a brief pause. she gestures towards the room. “ let’s rephrase. can you promise me you won’t be doing something stupid with that alone time ? “

        it  takes  very  little  for  the  curve  on  his  lips  to  twitch  ,  the  amusement  only  mirroring  her  apparent  distaste  for  him .  it  surely  wouldn’t  take  much  to  scare  her  off ,  ❝ quite  the  contrary ,  don’t  you  think ?  i  personally  wouldn’t  find  you  a  threat. ❞   but  if  there  was  anything  else  in  his  life  that  could  provoke  a  reaction  just  as  unnerving  ,  it  was  his  parents .  being  the  only  son  had  some  perks  but  there  were  many  more  nuisances  .  ❝  i’m  sure  they  told  you  that  , ❞  the  sour  taste  in  his  voice  only  punctuated  with  the  way  his  arms  cross  against  everson’s  frame  then  as  he  continues .  ❝  i  bet  you  that  they  are  more  preoccupied  with  the  worry  that  i’ll  find  myself  in  the  middle  of  some  scandal  .  god  forbid  a  bachelor  has  some  fun  .  ❞   the  scrutiny  was  definitely  something  everson  had  been  forced  to  learn  how  to  swallow  but  having  a  shadow  was  far  different  than  the  nannies  he’d  grown  up  with  .  ❝  how  could  i  make  a  promise  so  fast  ?   you  really  shouldn’t  worry  about  what  i  do  unless  ..  of  course  you’d  like  to  involve  yourself  with  what  i  do  behind  closed doors  too .  ❞