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eldritchaccident · 1 month

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Timing: Current Location: Darkling Lake Feat: @closingwaters & @eldritchaccident Warnings: Nothing in Particular from the list, but there is descriptions of a panic attack Summary: Lets go for a swim!

New England weather never ceased to amuse Theodore Jones. They didn’t know if they’d ever quite get used to it, but that was half the fun. On Tuesday it’d be snowing. Blustery bitter cold, enough to make a witch’s tit shivver. By Thursday it’d practically be tropical. All warm, sunny, and wonderful. The ex-demon was incredible grateful for the latter, and how the fates had seen fit to alleviate the gloom of early spring with the golden glow peeking through the bare branches above.

They were walking in the woods. Not something they did too often, but a task that was about as enjoyable as anything else. Teds liked nature. Maybe not as much as the nix they sought, but who besides the lovely fae and maybe a few really crunchy hippies could love it that much? Not many, Teddy thought. Still, seeing the woods like this was a welcome change to the fairly constant self imposed house arrest they’d been under. Too much shit going on, the least of which was the goo that had separated them from…

Teagan.

Such a sweet and lovely lass, ripped out of their life mere moments after being added to it. Teddy was tearing themself apart with guilt even after the nix was freed. Arden said she wasn’t dead, and they hardly believed it. She said the nix hadn’t suffered too much, that it was like a blink, and she was back. Tired, but back. Void below Teddy hoped that was the truth. Just about nothing in this world sounded more horrific than being in a stasis, unable to move, to speak, but still conscious of your surroundings the whole time.

In an attempt to chase away the wibbles and wobbles of anxiety and guilt, the ex-demon had brought snacks. A tin full of cookies and treats, a thermos full of hot cocoa. Extra marshmallows. Extra love. All homemade. Maybe it’d make up for the fact that they hadn’t been able to save her. Not when it happened, and not during the month she was trapped.

“Vala! Wait!” The kelpie brayed excitedly, continuing the fast swimming pace that the weak nix could not keep up with. It was a kind of training that Teagan hoped would help, but it seemed only set on frustrating her and damaging her already poor self-esteem. “Argh!” She halted frustratingly in her path, watching Vala continue without looking back, which was just as well. She was having fun, and that was what mattered to Teagan. It brought a smile to her face, albeit a weak one, but it was a smile all the same.

With a disheartened sigh, she made her way to the surface and took a peek. There was no one around as she scanned the area, taking a few extra moments to ensure no one was well-hidden in the brush. Teagan blinked once, twice, and then finally felt safe enough to find purchase on the silted ground of the shallow portion near shore. She stood there lamely, trying to gain her footing while her legs trembled with exhaustion.

Teagan tried to hold the tears back, truly, she did, but the stinging in her nose overwhelmed her and eyes leaked while a breath hitched in her throat. She slashed at the water, immediately apologizing to it just before making her way to a nearby boulder. The coolness of the stone helped calm her a little, but only for a breath.

When she caught sight of her tail, the pain of being too weak and useless caused the wave of frustration to mount over. She wanted to punch something, anything, even knowing it wasn’t the best idea with nothing soft around. Eventually, after rubbing her face and splashing her face with water, Teagan calmed, finding a spot to lay in where half her body rested in the lake and the other half remained on land.

Sleep grew heavy on her lids, head bopping to the side, but her determination to stay awake was still somehow winning. Catrin did always say she was the most stubborn one of all her babes, and the thought brought a sleepy smile to her face, but only for a second. The soft thump of a nearby footstep took Teagan’s attention, and she rolled to her feet as quickly as she could. Her bagged and tired eyes met with a familiar face. A smile grew into a bright grin, and she giggled as her energy was renewed.

“Teddy!” Her voice was hoarse, body swaying just slightly, but nonetheless, she made it to them and gave them a wet hug. “Oh, I’m so happy you’re visiting!”

Their heart swelled by the sight of the lake, and even more so when the nix rushed toward them. Teddy laughed, taking the sopping arms and scooping the fae up in a quick spin before nearly falling in the moss beside the lake, carefully placing the treats down so they could properly squeeze back. Almost like they were confirming that, yes, Teagan was still here. They were real, and safe. Despite everything.

“Hey there cuddle-fish, didn’t know I needed a second shower today.” Any sarcasm in their voice was fond, and the brightness of their smile only served to emphasize that fact. Ted, of course, probably would have done the same thing, rolls reversed. Still the warmer weather was once again, very appreciated.

“Do you like hot chocolate?” Eager, of course, to bring out the gifts. Always. Never visit without something to give, Teddy wasn’t sure where they picked that one up. Certainly wasn’t from Leviathan, whose presence was a present enough. Obviously. “What are your opinions on cookies, truffles, and macarons?”

Teagan couldn’t help but snort at the remark and nickname, only just then realizing she’d been far too wet to hug someone fully clothed. With a bashful smile and a scrunch of her nose, she backed away and clasped her hands behind her back, moving her weight front to back repeatedly. “Oh, please forgive me. I get overly excited at times. Turn into a bit of a scamp.” She bit her lip and winked, shaking her head and flicking water onto Teddy. They’d likely be a bit chilly considering the weather, but Teagan had a feeling they wouldn’t mind. Their playful nature matched one another’s.

“‘Course I like hot chocolate. It’s chocolate and it has sugar. Why? Do ya got some?” Her interest was piqued and she took a look behind Teddy to see they had brought some gifts. “Oh, my dear, you’re speaking sweet music to me. Love sweets, and you’ve chosen the kind full of luxury. Hm…” Teagan tapped on her chin and considered what the next option should be. The two of them were the same in nature based on their first interaction. It would only make sense to partake in the lake and then some treats.

“What do ya say we go for a swim and then warm ourselves with some of that hot choccy after?”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Teddy beamed, taking the spritz with pride. “Cheeky little shit.” A rumble of laughter rolled through their chest. It was strange, with Teagan, there was this strange sense of closeness. Like they’d been best friends since childhood, they just somehow hadn’t figured it out yet. Teddy loved meeting people like that. Who didn’t seem to care if you spent a month apart, or a year. You could just pick right back up where you left off. Perhaps even more admirably in the fae, knowing all the trouble she’d been through in the meantime.

“Well good to know you have taste then, I was beginning to get a little worried.” They were not. But gently and lovingly messing around was a language Teddy was perhaps more fluid in than any other. And they knew quite a lot of fucking languages. “Well, the tin looks extra fancy. They’re all from scratch. Ain’t saying that’s not fancy, but y’know. Packaging helps.”

Teddy shifted uncomfortably, somehow they hadn’t the topic of swimming to come up. Hoping the cooler weather might quell some of the drive for that, but– It never had for them before. The ex-demon had gone diving off a damn iceberg before. Been swimming down in the depths where the waters were only ever warmed by thick columns of mineral smoke and thermal seeps. Their breath caught up in their throat.

“Ah y’know maybe not today. Been a bit– tired lately.”

Of course it was easy to fall into step in the dance of friendship with Teddy. They were kindred spirits, made evident on what ended up being the worst kind of day. But that didn’t matter right then, did it? Teddy was in front of her, and Teagan was free to live. None of it had been Teddy’s fault and there was no way she would place any blame on that sweet lad. After all, it was Teddy that had made sure to keep her as hydrated as they could.

It was Teddy that stepped up to the responsibility and let Arden know the news. And it was still Teddy that had made the trek to visit someone they had met only briefly and yet treated her like they were just catching up. “Oh come now, Teddy. None of that! We’ve got to get you in! And there’s nothing like a swim to get the energy going, eh? Come!” Teagan pulled Teddy with her as she burst toward the lake. She didn’t give them enough time to protest again, and in an instant, the two were surrounded by water.

Before words could be shared or explanations given, the cold waters of the lake rose to greet Teddy. Welcoming them into their depths, covering and cradling the one who once called the ocean their only true home. Instincts warred between two sides of the ex-demon. Drowner and drowned, a rush of air broke through the human’s resolve, blustering upward as they scrambled to catch the bubbles as if they could somehow shove them back in. A gasp for air was only met with icy water. Teddy’s vision swam while they sank. Their eyes weren’t built for this anymore. The surface became a dimly lit blob as the pressure built.

Teagan was still holding onto them, of course she was, it had barely been a second. Might have felt like an eternity to the one struggling to stay alive, but the pair had only just submerged. Teddy struggled against her grip, panic rising like the tide, an aggressive gnarling gnashing thing. Long limbs flailed in every direction, one hand broke the surface. They tried to remember what could bring them closer to it but found themselves floundering instead.

Luckily (perhaps not for her) their other hand found Teagan. The mop of wet hair tangled Teddy’s fingers and accidentally they gave a yank. They weren’t controlling their own actions, fear was. Certainly not behavior fitting one who’d been in the water all their life, but ones born of a war tearing up the inside of a creature newly formed. Not quite human enough, no longer demon at all. Lost.

Panic. Nothing but panic overtook Teddy, and it was unlike a water-dweller to do so. They never said they had certain requirements for what water they dove in, and they’d been so excited at the prospect of a swim together. It was confusing, to say the least, and painfully alarming, to say the most. Thankfully, Teagan didn’t need to breathe, and so the yank to her hair and the thrashing against the water didn’t phase her, besides the pain. But that hardly impeded her ability to keep them both afloat.

“Teddy, my dear, Ted—ah!” They gave Teagan’s hair hard enough tug to strain her neck. “Breathe.” Could they? She wondered for a split second before another tug tore her from her thoughts and pushed her to launch them both out of the water in a frenzy. The two landed on the cold shore with an unceremonious thud, silt running along their feet as the waves continued to run along the shore. “Okay, now breathe!” Urging Teddy with a few pats to their chest, Teagan paid close attention to her friend, careful to not cut them with her claws.

“Talk to me, dear. What’s doin’ ya a panic? What was that?” There was no frustration in her tone, nor was there anger. Only genuine concern and confusion. After all, Teagan saw the panic and fear consuming Teddy’s body, and considering they’d spoken of true forms and their love of water, she could only guess that something had changed or something very bad had happened to them. Either way, she wanted to help calm Teddy down and let them know that she was willing to help any way she could.

“What can I do? Do you want to go inside?”

Teddy and their mind sputtered. One dribbling the dregs of water out of their lungs, the other reeling through visions of what it still believed was happening. They were drowning. They drowned. They were dying, they were dead. Pain erupted from Ted’s chest. In reality from of strain from thick ragged heaves and coughs, but in their head it was the waves, the pressure. No longer the comparably safe and shallow lake, it was the ocean, the depths, the darkness. Even on land, Teddy thrashed. A series of screams finally able to escape between the hoary breaths they didn't realize they were taking.

A voice broke through, hazy and muffled at first, but persistent. It sounded like their past. It was their father's growing tone, repeating the chant that stripped them of their powers. It was every shitty kid in every shitty schoolyard or park, hurtling alienating insults like daggers. Then it was the one and only phrase Teddy ever remembered in their mother’s voice, the words she tried to command the Leviathan with. The ones she used to give Teddy up, condemning her baby to death so she could live forever. The voices shifted through a clip show of the ex-demon’s greatest failures. Until it began to open to a clearer tone. Until it was obvious that the real voice was a helpful one. That it was close. Warm. It was Teagan.

Their eyes had been open, but they finally blinked back to sight. To the surroundings of the clearing, to the worried axolotl, standing over them. On land. On land. On land. Teddy felt their body crumple, felt hot tears fill their eyes again. “I'm–sorry–” They croaked, they crushed themself against her lap, they sobbed. “I can't– I'm not– I'm sor– I'm sorry—”

—

“Teddy! Teddy.” The first call for their name was a little too harsh, wasn’t it? For someone so panicked and apologetic, the treatment needed to be a little gentler. Teagan watched their eyes open, and she saw the way horror and sorrow swam in them like the worst tidal wave imaginable. “No, no, lovely. Shh…” Carefully, she brought Teddy into her and let them do what they needed to feel any sort of relief. She let them do that for a while, their sobs catching Vala’s attention enough to bring her to the surface. She peeked around curiously, snorting loud enough for Teagan to hear.

The nix arched a brow and waved the kelpie over. She circled around and planted herself behind them, as if to both cover them from the elements and wrap them with a sense of safety. “Don’t mind Vala.” Teagan ran her clawed hand carefully through Teddy’s hair, trying to ease them into the realization that they weren’t alone. “She’s just a curious and concerned kelpie, and a mighty good friend.” In response, Vala placed her muzzle in Teagan’s lap, bringing a soft smile to her face. She looked around then, making sure their surroundings remained safe, but her attention quickly went back to Teddy, who was likely incredibly cold.

“Why don’t we get you inside? You’ll catch your death out here.”

Sensation seeped back in, prickles of pain in their fingertips spread outward and illuminated Teddy’s arms and legs. Each limb felt like an icicle, sharp and jagged, and far too brittle. There was warmth, but coming from the other. It felt like they were hollow. A vessel fit only to feel the stings of thousand mistakes that had led them wherever they were now. Still, they soaked it in. Teagan’s arms around them, the strange fae horse. The comfort. Lost and found.

Teddy wasn’t alone. Wasn’t lost to the waters without their father’s guidance, its power. It wasn’t the familiarity they were used to, the reliance. But she was there, she was holding them. Picking them up. Only just aware enough to parse the changes, Teddy realized they were being led off. Between the nix’s arms and the kelpie, they were steadied. She was pulling them toward a house not too far off the shores of the lake. There wasn’t much they could do to resist. Wasn’t much of a reason to try.

Any residual ache unfortunately passed along to the nix, but thankfully the majority of Teddy’s pain was mental. Spiritual. A deeper, more undefinable thing. One that had them only really coming to once they’d been sat down, wrapped tightly in a blanket. Their eyes finally met with Teagan’s. Their heart felt like an anchor.

“I’m—” Tears stained Teddy’s cheeks again. Fresh, hot, stinging. “–I’m just a… human now. I’m nothing– I don’t– I can’t go in the water Teagan. I can’t even go in the water without– I’m sorry. I can’t do it–I’m not– I can’t… ”

“Hey.”

Panic and fear were two fiends that could hardly be fended off alone. They wanted to latch and consume, digging and digging until their victim was a husk or their former self. It was a wretched experience that Teagan had had far too many times, and seeing Teddy become undone by those same demons made her legs wobble and her nose sting. She sniffled, biding herself a little time before her own tears mixed with her friend’s. Now wasn’t the time for that. Teddy needed someone to be strong, whether they’d admit it or not.

“Hey,” She said again, patting Vala to pause the trek indoors. “Human is enough. You’ll learn to swim again in time, learn to…to let the water consume you once more.” With a bit of hesitance, Teagan shuffled a bit closer to Teddy, mindful of her depleted strength. Vala obliged without request, huffing and nuzzling at Teagan. They were both in a safe place. “Taught Arden how to swim. She even plays with Vala sometimes.” She chuckled at the memory, eyes softening as she continued. “Kept the lake safe while I was gone. If she can do it, you can too. Because you will be okay again, and you are not lesser because you are changed.” Pressing her forehead to Teddy’s, Teagan raked a clawed hand through their curls once more, appreciating their existence.

“You’re not ready now, and that’s okay, too. Took me weeks to even step outside after my tail was taken. I can only imagine how difficult it is when everything is gone.” With a swallow, Teagan stepped back to get a good look at Teddy. Their stubble, their deep eyes, the wrinkles at each corner of their lips from the smiles and laughter they’d had, and then, finally, the scar on their face. Beautiful, to say the least. But appearances hardly mattered when it came to the content of one’s heart. Handsome or not, Teddy was still themself. They were still Teagan’s friend, and she was going to get them inside to a change of clothes, a warm blanket, and hot tea. That, she promised herself.

“Now, come.” She kissed their cheek, giving them a good and slow blink as she would with Alffi or Hobbes. “I’ll put the kettle on, and you can sift through my laundry to find something to change into.” Taking Teddy’s hand, Teagan let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, allowing it to become a shaky chuckle.

“You’re sopping.”

#wickedswriting #closingwaters #eldritchaccident

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recoveringdreamer · 8 months

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@closingwaters replied to your post “[user goes to message Felix and realizes who they...”:

[pm] I’d still like to be friends. You were lovely and really, I’m not upset about the berries. I guess this means you know I’m fae now then? And here I was trying to make sure you didn’t see my try form while I was sleeping. Can’t hold the glamour up while unconscious.

[pm] Okay! Yes, then. Definitely, I'd like to be friends.

Yeah. You're [...] not like other fae I've met. Which is a good thing! Um, no offense. In the interest of [...] full disclosure, since I know what you are, I can tell you what I am? I'm a balam. Uh, that means I have a jaguar spirit living inside of me. So I turn into a jaguar. Sometimes. Not often, because I can't call the shots as a jaguar, and that means [...] bad things happen, but [...] I could! If I wanted to.

#closingwaters #teagan: sorry #private

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mortemoppetere · 2 months

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@closingwaters from here:

[pm] The little ones would’ve been laughing about it if you had. But yes. I’m all right. More concerned with you though. That was a lot to deal with. Luckily he’s gone now. Will be from now on.

[pm] Well, as long as they don't drown me, I guess they can laugh all they want.

Yeah. Yeah, it was a lot. [...] He raised me. You know? Never knew my dad, but I knew him. And he was [...] good. I really thought he was good. Guess I'm a shitty judge of character.

#closingwaters #teagan: home #private

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kadavernagh · 5 months

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@closingwaters replied to your post “[pm] Thank you again for helping me. And sorry...”:

[pm] I think I’m fine without a checkup. There has to be more though. If we can get them out, we have to do it as soon as possible. I heal fast in the water, but the humans left out there will be much worse than me.

[pm] Most people do until they die of something that would have been encountered during a physical.

I have not told anyone how I got you out. I can't do that. And the only reason you aren't in a million pieces right now is because I sensed exactly where you were. But you're right. I don't... know what to do.

#closingwaters #c teagan

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magmahearts · 8 months

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@closingwaters from here:

[pm] You did no such things, lass. And frankly, you’re quite likable. Have confidence. If you need any help, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m quite the lady’s woman myself.

[pm] I did, though. Maybe not on purpose, but I still did. I know I'm not likable. If I were, more people would like me.

I don't know. I don't want to [...] try anything else until the mushroom thing is gone. Otherwise I'll never know for sure if it's me she likes.

#closingwaters #teagan: feeling #private

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oceansrevenge · 10 months

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@closingwaters replied to your post “[pm] Would you like to stop by for a visit? Got a...”:

[pm] I do not mind if you sleep with me. Will you be able to still be close under my bed? Can make a small nook in the living room for us to share too. Want to treat you to the affections you’ve missed out on.

[pm] I had had hoped as much. Of course, I have many very long appendages when I am asleep. I am certain at least one would be inclined to reach for you.

A small nook sounds quite nice. I enjoy being close to you.

I do not know if "missed out on" is the most truthful way to describe the experience. It was a foolish obligation on my part.

I have discovered a young nereid in town. Brilliant young nymph tricked a man out of his oceanfront house with a cleverly worded promise. Would you like to meet her some time? I am quite certain you'd enjoy the company of the lovely banshee who has been a great guide to me as well. Wicked's Rest has nothing on the beauty of grace, but I am pleasantly surprised by the presence of so many fae.

#closingwaters #wr teagan #wr dash

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eliaskahtri · 10 months

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A Death on the Dancefloor || Elias & Teagan

TIMING: July 9th LOCATION: Mushroom Circle PARTIES: Teagan (@closingwaters) and Elias SUMMARY: Elias serves Teagan a drink at the bar, only for a deadly fight to break out a little after. CONTENT WARNINGS: Violence, death, stabbing

It had been a quiet night at Mushroom Circle, all things considered. As he finished the patron’s drink, he smiled at them and passed it over. The individual in question had an amazing costume. The legs were as good as everyone else’s, and the horns looked incredibly real. He was always amazed at what people were capable of, though he was increasingly irritated that no one would share their tips with him. Plucking the drink off of the counter, the patron nodded their thanks and turned their way back to their friend. He looked around, noticing two people in the corner that seemed to be talking rather passionately. Better keep an eye on that.

He turned to organize the drinks behind him again, ensuring each group was categorized together. Hearing someone call out to him, he turned around to see an incredible cosplay. A human-like axolotl with pink features. He couldn’t help himself. “You look… so cool!” He spoke with wide-eyed wonder. He shook his head. He had gotten a talking-to about doing that. Still, he couldn’t help it. “Sorry, I… just a… really cool costume.” He shook his head, realizing he was making a fool of himself again. “What can I get you?” He then asked once he had pulled himself together.

Many of the concoctions at the Mushroom Circle were filled with enough sugar to satisfy any fae. Probably enough to make a tooth go rotten, or so Teagan thought. She giggled into her drink, cheeks going pink from what must’ve been her fourth drink. “Hm?” Looking up, the nix looked curiously at the bartender, wondering why he’d called her true form a costume. “This isn’t…” Oh. Teagan gave the man one more look, noticing she didn’t feel any semblance of the familiar buzz beneath her skin.

Not from him, at least.

“Well, I don’t know about cool, but I am certainly gorgeous.” The nix smiled, eyes half-lidded from the early stages of inebriation. It felt good to be surrounded by fae, as if Teagan was in her old Aos Sí in Michigan again. Only, humans were apparently welcomed here, and were none the wiser to who they were serving. Because, really, costumes? There was no way a human could emulate such beauty. Oh well, Teagan thought. She was ready for her fifth drink. “Can I have another mead please?”

As the woman smiled and complimented herself, Elias stood there, momentarily feeling awkward. Then, she asked for another mead. He took a moment to peek over the woman’s shoulder at the spirited debate from the two in the corner of the room, frowning. He picked up a clean glass, poured the mead into it, and pushed it over to the woman. He couldn’t help but marvel at her costume. It looked so real. How were these people here so skilled at what they did? And still, not a damn word as to how they did it.

His thoughts were interrupted by shouting, and he perked up immediately. Looking to the corner of the room, he saw the two costumed individuals getting more heated. “I should…” he began, only to watch the security guard for the night begin to walk closer to the arguing, which made him trail off, nodding to himself. Elias didn’t want to get involved, but he knew he'd probably have to if one security guard wouldn’t help matters enough. “Hopefully, that doesn’t get worse,” he muttered aloud, leaning forward on the bar with a worried gaze in the fighting’s direction.

Right. Some people just weren’t comfortable with others having so much confidence. The look on the bartender’s face was enough to get Teagan to roll her eyes. The inebriation didn’t help, but that was besides the point. “Appreciated, lad.” She scooped up the glass and began to sip, almost spitting out her drink when she heard a commotion behind her. Coc oen…people always got carried away when it came to the drink. Hopefully it’d be a good show at the very least.

Teagan turned to look at a duo on the brink of duking it out, and she chortled, a little too amused at the scene. Thanks to the inebriation, she fell into her Welsh accent and speech easily, no longer sporting the American tone she had developed over the years. “Those guys are absolutely mingin’ right now, yeah? Hopefully they don’t bap the poor lad trying to do his job. Being bewts, they are.” Teagan chuckled again, sipping and watching like it was quality entertainment.

Elias kept his gaze on the squabbling happening in the back of the room, narrowing his eyes as it continued on. He wished he could hear the whole conversation. Whatever it was about, it had the taller individual who appeared as if they were wearing what he could only describe as a betta fish costume. As they raised their arms, beautifully colored fins raised with it. Colored in a deep blue with golden fins, he found himself drawn to it. It was a wonderfully done costume, all things considered.

“I wish I knew what about,” Elias confessed as he leaned forward on the bartop, raising a brow as they got louder. “You’ll pay for what you’ve done!” The betta fish-looking person shouted, their hands balling into fists as they took a handful of the woman’s hair and pulled her head forward to punch her as hard as they could with their other hand. Elias’s eyes went wide, suddenly needing to spring into action. Watching as the security guard began to rush over to the pair, Elias hopped over the bartop to follow suit, not wanting the security guard to get hurt while trying to break up what was now a physical fight.

“Oh Fates, looks like one o’ ‘em did their ed in, eh?” Swiveling her chair around, Teagan watched what appeared to be a nymph, pulling another’s hair with them as they stood. Oh, this was getting good. Teagan wondered what the argument was even about, considering the yeller apparently needed to be paid in one way or another.

Teagan turned back to the bartender, finally reading the name on his nametag. Ah. Elias. That was a pretty name. She wished she could’ve stolen it, but her mind was too preoccupied with the commotion to linger on the thought too long. “All out of sorts, they are, eh?” She took a few more gulps of her mead, her cheeks dusting pink and her eyes half-lidded.

“Might be hearing the chortling whispers soon ‘nough. Oh…!” Elias jumped over the counter and Teagan rushed to the side to avoid him running into her. She probably should’ve stepped in, considering he was just a lowly human. Eh…she leaned back and sipped her mead, watching the show.

Hearing Teagan speaking, he found that he was having a hard time understanding what she was saying. She sounded like she was from somewhere else, though he couldn’t pinpoint exactly where. “I’ll uh… be right back.” He spoke to the woman before rushing up beside the security guard. The fish-looking individual had pulled out a blade, which caused the security guard to run faster toward the situation, and Elias picked up his own pace. What occurred happened so fast, but it all felt like it was in slow motion to him.

Pulling out the knife, the assailant jabbed it forward, driving it straight into the girl’s chest. She let out a gurgling sound in response. The assailant then removed the knife and began to flee, knocking both Elias and the security guard out of the way, running at a breakneck speed as people tried to chase after, only to miss tackling them to the ground narrowly. Elias turned his attention back to the victim, who had now taken a step back before crumpling to the ground, letting out another gurgle before the light left their eyes. She was dead.

Everything turned dark so quickly, murder painting the ground with crimson and the energy slipping briskly into something harrowing. Silence consumed the room, heartbreak set on pause while the gravity of what everyone had just witnessed settled into their souls. Teagan was the first of the patrons to rise from their seat, taking an unsteady step toward the assailant. She froze in place, his body running straight into her and sending Teagan to the ground. She dropped her glass, leaving it to crash and shatter upon impact with the floor.

The sound was enough to get the nix to refocus, her gaze following Elias’s trail. There was nothing in their eyes, their soul slipping from their lips with their final breath. Teagan took a stuttered step, breath hitching at the sight. She’d seen death many times, but to feel as the hum beneath her skin waned? “Oh Fates…” The dilution left Teagan staring with nothing but guilt in her expression, and she kneeled slowly, hand hovering over the corpse with grief trembling her hand for the death of a cousin. A beautiful faun.

Elias felt his ears ringing as the commotion around him became background noise to the ringing in his own head. People were running around, glasses were shattering, and all he could focus on was the woman who had just died a few inches before him, and he did nothing. He had seen the argument from across the room and did nothing. She was dead, and he had. Done. Nothing. He watched as Teagan knelt in front of the woman. There was something about the way the woman’s horns hadn’t fallen off her head at the impact of her fall, the way the legs that she wore didn’t shift in any way that would make them look like a costume. He shoved those thoughts to the backburner as he deemed them unimportant.

He looked to the security guard, who looked just as shaken as Elias felt. The guard was already on the phone with 911, and he felt frozen in place as Teagan grieved the death of the poor woman now lying on the ground. The world felt like it was collapsing in on him, and the fear that rose like bile in his throat took over. He pressed his lips together in a thin line, trying to think of how he could possibly be a help in such a horrific situation. The ringing in his ears continued as he shakily pulled out his phone to message the one person he knew could help in this situation and get justice for the girl who had been wrongfully murdered. Regan.

#A Death on the Dancefloor #threads #closingwaters #t;closingwaters

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faunandfl0ra · 9 months

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@closingwaters replied to your post “[pm] Hi there, lovely. I’ve planted the babes and...”:

[pm] Oh I’ll be sure to take many pictures. Going to be beautiful to have even more color in my garden. Yes, right on the lake. It would be wonderful if you could that. I’d love to add to the ecosystem and make the life for the babes even better.

[pm] Looking forward to it !

Babes? You have kids? But anyhow, I'll make a list. I think we can start with a classic, bunch of irises.

#closingwaters #faun and flora | interactions

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stainedglasstruth · 10 months

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@closingwaters replied to your post “[pm] Should’ve known that your articles would be a...”:

[pm] You should publish your poems too. Your mind amazes me. I don’t know why I had to ask. I’m just always so scared this isn’t real. That maybe I’m just kidding myself. I never cared about humans, but I’m glad I started caring about you.

[pm] I would simply perish. My poetry is so much more personal than anything else I write. I did an open mic night last month or so? Needed a few drinks just to get myself onstage. [user doesn't know how to react to second half of that]

Oh, honey. I get it. This all feels so surreal, like I'm going to wake up and realize it's all been a dream. [...] It's all been so fast, too, which probably doesn't help with that.

[...] You can't just say shit like that I'm glad, too. <3

#closingwaters #wr teagan

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ohwynne · 10 months

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@closingwaters from here

[pm] Oh do ye? It’s one of my favorites too. Always feels like home. I’ll go ahead and send some with Arden then. Biscuits too. Made the em fresh this morning. I tend to make too much food so it’s no problem. [del: I cooked for everyone and never learned how to make less]

[pm] I think so too. I tend to make big batches and give some to people. I'll give some to Arden for you next time.

I also do that, making too much food. It's hard for me to figure out portions, you know?

#closingwaters #the not knowing how to cook for one bc ur used to a lot of people is so strong in them both aaa #teagan: 002.#teagan.

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vanishingreyes · 5 months

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@closingwaters replied to your post “[pm] Xóchitl, I’m incredibly sorry for all the...”:

[pm] I can barely walk right now but I’ll check back with you in about a week. Hoping my strength is better by then. Anything change since I’ve been gone?

[pm] No rush. I could do an appointment by phone call though, if you would like to speak sooner.

In what way? The town is still much the same. Saw my dead friend but not really so that was

#closingwaters #c teagan

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chasseurdeloup · 9 days

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@closingwaters replied to your post “[pm] You’re Happy bi I’m sorry glad you get to...”:

[pm] Well, I hope you and your partner have a wonderful time and that your lucky does change so that surprise goes off without a hitch. And may you celebrate many more birthdays. The water blesses you this day and for the days to come.

[pm] Thanks. I think. I'm not really sure how to talk to someone who tried to kill m--

Turns out I get to worry about someone trying to kill him instead. So. Not sure what that says about our luck.

#closingwaters #c: teagan

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recoveringdreamer · 7 months

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TIMING: current PARTIES: @closingwaters & @recoveringdreamer LOCATION: darkling lake SUMMARY: teagan and felix find their spa day interrupted by teagan's 'duties.' CONTENT WARNINGS: references to parental death & sibling death

Rage was the tempest of emotions, a turbulent storm churning with sorrow and anger. Like thunder and lightning colliding in the dark, relentless sky that made up the core of the nix’s heart. She didn’t tremble, she didn’t shake. As she set up each new trap in the surrounding forest of the lake, Teagan was the calmest she had been in weeks. For as long as she could remember, the storm never broke, it never ceased to be a calamitous eruption, but now?

All Teagan could feel was a slight rumble. She’d failed before, but this time would be different. She’d be far more calculated and far more careful. Having a desperate wish, Teagan would heed the ghosts of her regrets and failings, accepting that her heart would always be haunted by hundreds of ghosts. There would be no exorcism, and there would be no turning back. She’d done that enough when she let her family die.

“Okay, next we’re going to polish this off with some spritz.” A sweet aroma danced in the air as the bottle was squeezed after the face mask was removed. It had been days since the traps were set, with no bites. Patience would just have to be taken over satisfaction, and as she waited, Teagan would enjoy her times of peace. Invite Felix over, who was quickly becoming something of a very good friend. They needed someone to help them relax, and Teagan needed the same. It only made sense to utilize her time that way.

“How are ya feelin’? Posh and relaxed?”

This was definitely new. Self care wasn’t something Felix had ever really been taught, even before their mother’s death. While she had been more worldly than their father, she hadn’t had much time for face masks and spa days, too busy teaching her children how to live in two worlds without knowing they’d one day be plucked up and forced to exist only in one. After she was gone, of course, the concept itself became laughable. Their father went into survival mode, consumed by his grief and his vengeance, and there was no room for anything outside of it. ‘Self care,’ in that cabin in the woods that was half home and half jail cell, was getting a few hours of sleep before being shoved out the door to patrol the perimeter and kill anything that dared to break it.

So this was a new experience. But Felix didn’t think it was a bad one. They weren’t sure what they were supposed to be feeling with the weird clay resting upon their face, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. And Teagan, as always, was good company. She seemed serious about making sure Felix had a genuinely relaxing day, and they didn’t think anyone else had ever done that before.

“It’s nice,” they confirmed, smiling a little. “Relaxing. What about you? Are you having fun? It’s your spa day, too. And we’re in your house, so, you know, I think it’s important that you enjoy yourself, too.”

A soft smile laid sweetly on Teagan’s face, eyes twinkling with joy that Felix managed to actually feel relaxed. Everything she was, was meant to protect. Whether it was with claws and fists, or with gentle whispers and lingering affections, she could do both. “Good, good.” She booped Felix’s nose playfully, spritzing herself now that she was done taking care of them. Always a second thought, always last to be fed. “Look at me, I’m relaxing, too, enaid. I’m having loads of fun. Taking care of others is my nature.” Her smile was reassuring, and she planted a kiss to Felix’s forehead before grabbing her cane and heading to the kitchen for some snacks.

“All…right! I made a delicious tray of goodies. Stones, berries—not the ones that will make us tired grumps—cheeses, and some salami for your carnivorous side. None for me though. Too much salt!” The tray was placed down with a quiet and metallic clink, the arrangement something like a Pinterest photo. And honestly, that’s exactly where Teagan got it from. She spent hours on Pinterest and YouTube trying to figure out how to do it all. Thankfully, it came out beautifully. “Go ahead and dig in. I’ll get the wine and–” A chime interrupted her thought, freezing Teagan into one spot for a few beats before she collected herself. Traps have been set off. They needed to be checked.

“I need to do something.” She excused herself calmly, lying with a bright smile as she walked backwardly toward the door. “Enjoy the heated blanket and snacks, and I’ll be back as soon as possible.” Taking one last look at the chime, Teagan bursted into a sprint, straight toward the trap connected to the alarm.

Felix looked at Teagan carefully, trying to ensure that she really was relaxing. She worked herself a little too hard, sometimes. They hadn’t known her long, but they could still tell. She reminded them of their oldest sister, in that way; taking on too much responsibility, taking care of everyone but herself. But she did seem to be relaxing now, and they offered a satisfied nod. “Okay,” they said, “good. That’s good.” The last thing they wanted was to be a burden here, to be someone Teagan sacrificed her own comfort for. That sort of thing never sat right with Felix.

They grinned softly at the mention of snacks, nodding their head as their stomach rumbled quietly. Everything she mentioned sounded wonderful, but the salami was especially tempting. The jaguar had been restless ever since their last fight with Razor, the one that left them with an impressive chunk missing from their arm. The injury was carefully hidden beneath their sleeve, and all the other results of the fight were similarly put away beneath clothing. Teagan, Felix knew, would worry, and they couldn’t explain what had happened without explaining the Pit as a whole, and then she’d want to help, and… Felix couldn’t risk anything happening to her. Not for them. It wouldn’t be worth it. “This looks great,” they told her, looking at the spread with an impressed expression. “You did a really good job.”

A chime filled the room, and if Felix hadn’t been looking at Teagan, they might not have thought much of it. But the way she froze up, the way she stilled… There was something about it. And then she was excusing herself, walking backwards and — they heard her feet slamming against the ground as she ran.

Felix was on their feet in an instant. Whatever was going on, it was clearly something dangerous. Why else would Teagan run like that? Shifting enough to allow them to move with all the quick silence of a prowling jaguar, the balam took off after the nymph, silently apologizing as they stalked behind her.

Leaving Felix to their devices felt awful, but there was a responsibility that the nix had taken. She was never one to falter or leave jobs half-done or completed poorly. Seeing her mission through was her only option, until her very last breath. She hoped that wouldn’t be the case, but nature and Fate didn’t deal in hope, didn’t feed on the prayers of the pawns it moved. Teagan’s journey was a dangerous one, she knew that going in, and she accepted it anyway because that time would be different.

There was more to fight for, a red line to protect. It grew taut with each aching step she took as she hastily made her way through the trees, weaving through the familiar paths until she threaded herself into her destination. Teagan’s eyes widened with wonder and excitement, her focus completely on the hunter struggling to notice anything else, much less the low crunch of dirt behind her.

“Help!” She exclaimed, just as all the others did, not yet realizing what she was there to do. “There’s a trap. Be careful,” She wheezed, frantically trying to remove the small plate of spikes embedded in her thigh. Watching the scene made Teagan laugh, finding it humorous that the stranger had yet to catch on. Though…that was strange. Wardens normally noticed by then, and the woman wore everything a normal hunter would. Could she be a ranger? If she was, then she would still die, but if she was just a human? Teagan bristled at the thought, inching forward.

“What are ya doin’ out here, lass? Dangerous, even in the middle of the day.” Teagan quirked a brow.

“What?! Just help me! Just…” The woman froze, looking every direction and struggling with more ferocity. “Ma’am, you have to come toward me. Please. Get behind me. There’s a—no time! Just listen to me!”

Teagan’s brows knitted together and she looked behind her, seeing nothing. “What ya blabberin’ ‘bout? It’s only—” The sound of something whizzing past the nix interrupted her question, followed by the sound of cracking bark. Whatever she was aiming for, she missed, and Teagan quickly sprang into action by tackling the now confirmed hunter and punching her repeatedly to prevent any more arrows from being shot.

Where was Teagan going? She wasn’t the type to pause an interaction abruptly without good reason, Felix was confident of that. There was a clear sense of purpose to the way she moved, too; a determination that would have certainly been absent had the goal she was striving towards been anything less than important. Whatever she was doing, it mattered. They suspected it was dangerous, too; otherwise, why not invite Felix along?

But Felix could handle dangerous. Teagan might not know that. They knew they didn’t give off the vibes of someone who could take care of themself. They didn’t like violence, even if most of their life had seen various people insisting that they partake in it. More than anything, Felix wanted a life of peace, a way to live without having to fight anyone. But they’d still fight to protect their friends, if they had to. They’d still help Teagan with whatever it was she was moving towards, with whatever that chime had meant.

She slowed, and Felix slowed, too. Their brow furrowed as they heard a voice. Not Teagan’s, not anyone’s familiar, but it was calling out for help. Was that what Teagan had come out here for? Was the alarm to tell her that there was someone in the vicinity who needed help? Felix took a step forward, craning their neck to see what was going on. There was… a woman. She looked like she was trapped in something, though Teagan’s body blocked most of the view.

Shifting their ears, Felix listened in on the conversation, but their confusion only grew as they did so. Teagan wasn’t helping the woman; not right away, at least. And the woman was… warning her? About wh—

An arrow interrupted the balam’s thought process. It embedded itself in the tree next to their head, and they dropped to the ground in anticipation. But no more arrows were fired. Instead, there was the sound of knuckles hitting skin. It was enough to spur Felix forward, the scene laying itself out in front of them. The woman in the trap, with the crossbow full of silver bolts. Teagan, punching her. Blood on the ground that didn’t belong to the nix.

For a moment, Felix was fourteen again. Their father’s claws were dripping red, a man hanging in his grip. These people, mijo, they want to hurt us, their father had insisted quietly. They do. So we hurt them first. What happened to your mother won’t happen to you, to your siblings. We’ll make sure of it.

It made them sick then, the same way it made them sick now. Felix took another step forward, trying desperately to get between Teagan and the woman in the trap. “Teagan, stop! What — What are you doing?”

Felix’s voice was like an alarm bell, a tolling that called for all violence to cease. The meaty and squelching thumping instantly turned into silence, which was quickly replaced by panicked breathing. “I’m-I’m…” Teagan choked out, finally, trembling when she locked eyes with Felix. That’s when it clicked, why the woman had tried to protect the nix and why she had been quick to attack. The hunter was no warden, and she never would’ve been a slayer to begin with—it was daytime. She was a ranger, and she would’ve most certainly hurt Teagan’s friend had she not attacked.

Looking at her bloodied and bruised hands, the fae took a few moments to respond to Felix’s question, unsure and terrified. They had just become friends, relaxing and truly connecting the way they were supposed to. What would Felix think if Teagan told them what she’d done? Knots weaved and tightened impossibly in her stomach, and she stood up to back away. She didn’t dare lock eyes with her friend. The rejection Teagan expected to be there would prove too much for her to bear, and she was terrified of what that would do to what was left of her heart. There was no way she’d be accepted. If her family couldn’t, then how could someone with no ties to her leave their arms open? Losing Felix was inevitable, Teagan knew that. She just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.

“I…I set up traps. After-after one hunter, it started with a few.” A pause, if only to prolong their friendship. “After the second, a few more. Then-then…” Breath hitched in Teagan’s chest, tears streaming warmly down her cheeks. “Then my tail. He took my tail, and I held back as much as I could! I did! I did!” She wiped her cheeks, smearing stinging blood on her face, but hardly caring. “These monsters just take and take and take! When does it end? When, Felix? Because everyday, every night, I see what they did in my nightmares. They took my family, and I watched them do it.” Teagan’s eyes reluctantly landed on Felix’s, desperation filling them, and acceptance trickling down. “Who’s going to stop them?” She croaked, falling to her knees, right next to the still breathing hunter. “Who’s going to stop another child from sitting in blood like me?”

Felix was fourteen the first time their father came home bloody, eyes wild and face alight. They remembered the panic that set in at the sight, remembered running up to him with their heart pounding. Their mother’s death had been so fresh then, so recent, and the idea of losing the only parent they’d had left had been terrifying. What happened, papi? They’d asked desperately, tracing their hands over his arms in search of injury. But there had been none to be found. The blood wasn’t his, he’d told them. There was someone outside. She’d stumbled onto the property, and Felix had never known if she was a hunter tracking them down or if she was just a human who’d gotten lost in the woods. Their father never specified, and they’d been too afraid to ask; they didn’t know, even now, whether or not their father had known the answer.

She’d been the first. She hadn’t been the last.

It wasn’t a common thing. They were far off enough into the woods that people finding their property was rare. Sometimes, they went a year without anyone stumbling onto it. Other times, there would be several spread across just a few months. Every time, though, regardless of the frequency, the end result was the same. Someone came home covered in blood, with a body behind them. The ground outside that cabin in the woods went from a sanctuary to a graveyard, with the parts of the bodies that weren’t ‘put to use’ buried in the dirt in mass unmarked graves. Felix used to keep count of them. Some desperate attempt at retribution, they thought, some quiet way of pretending that they weren’t a part of it. But they lost track, after a while. There were so many bodies. There was so much blood. The ground was rotted with it.

They missed their family. There was no doubt about that. They ached with the absence of them, yearned to see their siblings again, wished they could ask their father for advice on how to get out of the mess they’d made for themself with the Pit. They missed them, so much that it hurt like a physical thing.

But they didn’t miss the blood.

And here was more of it. A different forest floor, a different nearby cabin, but the blood smelled the same. The ranger in the trap was barely breathing, half-dead and very likely entirely unaware of the conversation happening around her. Felix couldn’t take their eyes off of her, couldn’t stop staring at the blood. Their throat felt tight, like they were fourteen again, like they were still in that cabin across from a father they both loved and feared trying desperately to remember how to breathe. “You can’t — It isn’t an excuse,” he choked out, eyes darting to Teagan’s. “I get it. I do. But you can’t… You can’t use your grief to — to justify more violence. Because where does that end, Teagan? Where does — It keeps going. Over and over and over again. You kill her, and — and her child comes to avenge it. And then — and then you kill them, or they kill you and someone avenges that, and it’s just — This isn’t preventing anything. This isn’t stopping anything. It just… prolongs it.”

They moved forward carefully, hands trembling. They did something they’d never done with their father — they knelt down next to the broken body in the trap, and they pressed their fingers carefully against the side of her throat. There was a faint thump against their hand, and they closed their eyes for a moment with a sigh. “She’s alive,” they said quietly. “She’s still alive. Can I — I want to… To get her help. To take her to a hospital, to try to save her. That — Teagan, that’s how you stop it. You can’t end violence with more violence. You can’t stop death with more death. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what you went through, but you can’t keep using it as an excuse. You can’t. You’ll never move on if you do.”

Their father certainly hadn’t, and Felix didn’t want that for their friend. They didn’t want her to be in a cabin in the woods someday with children who loved her just a little bit more than they feared her, didn’t want her to be the monster in her children’s closet the same way the hunters who had hurt her family were the monster in hers. Teagan’s experience was one of a child who lost everything and grew to avenge it, but Felix’s was one of a child who lost everything because of their father’s desperate vengeance. They knew what this sort of thing led to. They wanted better for her. “Help me. Please, help me get her to a doctor. It doesn’t have to be… this.”

Teagan could tell memories were flooding Felix’s mind, a reel of horrors projecting and flickering painfully. Had they bore witness to the same, or something just as vile? Two sides of a coin, flipping endlessly and growing the nausea in their stomachs. But the source of their disgust was not the same. Felix made that clear when they found relief in the beating of the hunter’s heart. She supposed they didn’t understand, couldn’t, no matter how hard they tried.

True, death would never cease if the nix continued to fight. Why was she supposed to move on, though? Why was it okay that the ranger attacked with no regard to the beautiful life she could’ve ended, had the bolt met its mark? “You don’t get it, then.” No one ever could. Teagan watched through a slit of the door as her family fought, one by one being taken out like common animals. Watched as Catrin crawled to the door of the closet her daughter had been thrown in for her safety.

At ten years old, Teagan had witnessed what true evil was, how quickly everything could be torn away. At ten years old, she sat in the warm and sticky blood of her family until it grew cold and thick and dry against her skin. How was that fair? How was it right that Teagan let go of a monster so she could continue and possibly do the same to another family? “I can’t let you do that,” She shook her head vehemently, voice thick and riddled with pain.

“If she lives, then she will heal and hurt someone else. The cycle never ends because hunters will never stop. Who else is going to stop them? What if they hurt you? I won’t let them hurt you. I can’t! You don’t know what I’ve seen!” Teagan all but shrieked, begging Felix to turn around, to let their friend do what she must. There was no malice, no anger toward the Balam. There couldn’t be. “Felix,” Teagan began, crawling to them and hovering her hands over their cheeks so she wouldn’t stain his skin.

“We can’t stop the violence, we can’t, I know that, but we can stop them. That’s what I’m trying to do. I don’t want the families they hunt to live through what I did. I don’t want families to be cut in half because of their traditions!” But Teagan saw no budging, Felix’s eyes were resolute in their decision on helping this monster. She sighed, scooting away and stumbling to her feet as she searched for a direction to run. Watching Felix defend that thing was hard enough, anything more would just be salt in the wound, burning worse than usual. “I won’t help. I won’t. But I…I won’t stop you.” She continued to back away, receding into the trees. “I won’t hurt you. I never want to do that. You’re my friend, okay? I just…I just can’t help. I can’t.”

“Teagan,” Felix murmured gently, “you’re not the only one who’s lost people.” Hadn’t everyone? Wasn’t that what this life was? Not just for supernatural beings like the two of them, but for the hunters, too. For the humans whose loved ones had disappeared in the woods near the Mendoza’s cabin, for the children whose parents never came home and the parents who turned off lights in empty bedrooms at the end of every day. Felix understood the ache of it. Their mother was shot like an animal in the woods, her body left to rot because someone was afraid. People did terrible things under the guise of fear and protection. The blood on the forest floor was proof enough of that.

They tensed a little as Teagan approached, the same way they used to tense when their father got near. Her hands, like their father’s, wouldn’t hurt them. They knew that. Everything their father had done had been done in the name of protection, just like Teagan. But there was blood on those hands, anyway. And what did it matter what the intention was? What did it matter if it was done for protection or for vengeance? It didn’t change that terrible shade of red.

“You don’t know that,” they insisted. “Maybe she lives and goes right back to hunting, but maybe she doesn’t. Maybe she grows. Maybe she becomes better than she was yesterday if she just — If she gets a chance to try. People will never change if you snuff them out before they can try to, but if you give them the chance, they — People are capable of being better. They can work towards it. They can try to be more than they were yesterday. They can. And everyone — everyone deserves a chance to do that. She does. You do. Everyone does. What she does next is on her, but what you do next? That’s on you.”

They had to believe that. They had to. Because if people weren’t capable of change, what did it say about them? About the father they loved just a little more than they feared him, about the siblings who’d done what they were told no matter what shade of red it left their hands? Felix wanted the hunter to be capable of change, wanted Teagan to be capable of change, but there was something selfish to it, too. They wanted a second chance. For themself, for their family, for everyone.

Teagan scooted away from them, and disappointment tasted acidic in their throat. She wasn’t going to help them. They’d figured that might be the end result. But… maybe it said something, still, that she wouldn’t stop them, either. Maybe it meant something for them both. “You’re my friend, too,” they said quietly. “This doesn’t change that. Not for me. But I need to get her help. I need to try to make sure she’s as okay as she can be.”

“O-okay.” She finally managed to whisper painfully. It felt like betrayal, just for a moment, the way Felix fought back so hard. There was no changing their mind, but maybe, Teagan thought, their desperation said something more. The use of everyone wrote some much in a story that she hadn’t yet heard. There was no judgment, not really. Just hurt and disappointment.

The balam had their own pain, and the nix had hers. Teagan could respect that, especially for a friend that wouldn’t become a ghost of the past. There would be no longing wishes left from a broken relationship. That was a relief, even as heartbreak set in motion with each respective decision. With each trembling step toward the darkness Teagan had led herself into, digging further still.

“Don’t do anything foolish, okay? I’m sorry I ruined our day.” That’s what she did best though, wasn’t it? She did it constantly with her family, and she was doing the same with the new connections she’d made. Still, the pain lay thickly in Teagan’s chest every time. It wasn’t easy doing what she must, but the pain was deserved. She knew that. Because all broken shards are cut when one wasn’t careful while they picked up the pieces, and Teagan broke into several more as she made her exit.

She agreed, and it felt like a weight off their back. It felt like an accomplishment. Felix had tried to argue with their father, so many times. They’d put their foot down only to have it forcibly removed, had been called so many terrible things and accused of such awful atrocities just for wanting to save a life. And for a moment, they’d been afraid Teagan would do the same. They’d been afraid that they couldn’t save her or the hunter or anyone at all. But Felix put their foot down and, for once in their life, it was respected. It was honored. It was a good feeling, even if there was still a tightness in his throat and a nausea tugging at his gut.

“Nothing foolish,” they replied with a small smile. “And it’s not — It isn’t ruined. Just… rescheduled. Okay?” The friendship could survive this if they let it. It could. Felix could save someone, for once. Could save more than one person, maybe, if Teagan took their words to heart. (They wouldn’t hold their breath on that, though. Felix’s words had never counted for much. They’d always known that.) And tomorrow, maybe, they could try again. Tomorrow, the rain would wash the blood off the forest floor, and they could move forward. It was a pretty thought.

They heard Teagan leave, swallowed their feelings in response. Carefully, they extracted the injured hunter from the trap and lifted her. They’d get her away from Teagan’s cabin before calling for an ambulance — less questions that way.

Standing, Felix began a quiet trek out of the woods. Behind them, blood soaked into the dirt.

They pretended their hands weren’t covered with it, too.

#closingwaters #teagan: hate to see your heartbreak #wickedswriting #parental death tw #sibling death tw

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