The Raven & The Wolf

THE FOOL'S LAMENT

CHAPTER ONE:

PRICKLING BLOOMS

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Key for this chapter:

Stiles' Thoughts

Anyone Else's Thoughts

'Old dialogues memories, spoken out loud thoughts, the past in general...'

///Memories///

POVs

""Not an Actual Speech or Thought""

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Warning: Alternative POVs

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"You don't have to do this you know", he said, "You know if this is a dare or something, it would be better off if you don't do it, even if you're bullied as a coward later on", he advised gently.

Stiles looked up and offered up a grimacing smile, "I need to", he corrected, and "I need to feel less like I've been trapped", he answered quietly.

"Honestly kid, the last time you were in here, things did not turn out well as I recall", he reminded him pointedly.

"No", Stiles laughed a dry humourless laugh, "They certainly did not, not during or after", he muttered amused beyond words.

The man sighed heavily, "Changes are hard to make after, please take that into consideration", he warned.

Stiles hummed and nodded, "Is it normal procedure to warn a person off? It almost seems like the idea would be bad for business", he muttered weakly.

The man rolled his eyes, "You would think", he agreed shaking his head, and sighed, "And so, if you're absolutely sure, are you ready?" he asked.

"As I'll ever be", he nodded nervously threading fingers through his already dishevelled hair, almost tugging it off his scalp.

The man slapped his hand away, "You look ridiculously sleep-deprived, quit doing that and looking more crazed by the second", he scolded, "And is this really the state of your hands? Jeezus, are you some kind of wild animal, you've practically bitten them raw, there's blood crusted in places", he grumbled, "Maya!" he yelled sharply.

A young woman walked into the store, she had her hair pulled into two pigtails, each pigtail had a different colour though, the left was green and the right was blue, she wore purple lipstick, and had stunning bright blue eyes, "Yeah Mikey?! What's up?" she asked around a lollipop.

"Can you take care of this guy's nails?" he asked quietly.

"Oi! I didn't ask, I just came in for—"

"You came in to stop feeling trapped, right. Then let me do my job and ensure perfect customer service", he scolded him, "Now sit back and let me do my job", he ordered.

"B-But?" Stiles asked just about jumping out of his skin, when Maya's cold hands, gently took his hands and placed them in a solution, "Wha—what are you doing?" he winced at the sting he felt.