.

and oh,    you’re so perfect?     [     voice rising despite the quiver in it.    lips tremble,    but her words came out sharp like glass cutting through the air.       ]     huh?      fuck you.      [     the room seemed to hold its breath with her,       tears threatened to spill at the edges of her eyes.  an iron taste in her mouth,    making her nauseous carrying the tension she felt at this moment.    spiraling her.     ]       you don’t get to sit there and call me broken,      when you act like everything’s fine.       [      her words hung in the air,    sharp and unrelenting.      the walls seemed to press in closer,     as if even the peeling paint and cracked plaster were listening,    judging.       she stared at him,  furious,   hurt,  and utterly exposed.    a shaky breath.      something didn’t felt right.      ]    you’re right i shouldn’t have come.           you can be a real dick,    you know.      

@finalsgirl         [the words she’d just said spinning in the air like the smoke from the cheap candle flickering on the windowsill,   his apartment was quiet in a way that felt heavier.  the hum of the fridge in the distance,   the faint scratch of the radiator as it shifted into old pipes.  outside,    the town murmurs into distant sirens and passing tires,   but here time felt suspended. he looked at her,  the yellow light of the candle catching onto his face,  shadows dancing across peeling paint of the wall.   seeing the tremor in her hands, the fragile look into her eyes and yet,   they held him.   her raw brown eyes, challenged him.  tore at something in him he wasn’t used to admitting.  his lips parted, but the words that finally came were slower, deliberate.]     you’re a broken soul.  [the sentence hung in the room,   echoing off the bare walls.   it wasn’t gentle, it wasn’t meant to comfort her.  almost insulting,  cruel.  said in recognition.   the silence that followed was almost a presence itself.   it lingered in the hum of the fridge,    in the drip of the faucet, in the stale smoke that curled lazily above the couch.    a grounding reminder that nothing here was perfect—nothing was neat or polished or easy.] 

[     she didn’t interrupt him,    that was the worse part.       she just stood there,     taking it in.   every word,    every edge in his voice.     like she deserved it.        fingers slowly curled into the sleeves of her hoodie,    knuckles whitening beneath the fabric.      the anger she felt drained out of her face,     then the fire in her eyes.    replaced by hurt.    something fragile;   sadness.      ]      you didn’t sign up for that?    i didn’t ask you to.      [     her  gaze dropped from his face for the first time since she walked in.    that alone said more than any shout could have.    ]        just.    [    she trailed off,    blinking fast.     ]     i thought maybe..   things were different now.     [     the confession slipped out before she could stop it.    ]     i know what my world looks like.    [   she continued, her voice softer now.   ]    i know it can be loud and messy.  [   brown hues looked back up at him, and there it was,   that crack in her armor.     ]      but you make it sound like I’m dragging it here on purpose.    [    her voice trembled, but she didn’t cry again. not this time.    ]     i didn’t come here to crash anything into your life.    i came here because i trust you.           you say you like me.  [  she states, barely above a whisper.    ]       but you talk about me like i’m damage control. 

[ the way his eyes linger sends a small, traitorous warmth through her chest.  she keeps her posture loose,  her expression cool—-  confidence worn like a jacket she can shrug on when she needs it. ]     i have that effect on people.    [ she’s comments with a playful undertone,  offering a small shrug.  fingertips rest atop of the counter that separates the pair.  chocolate hues scan the wall behind him before meeting his gaze. ]    mm.  a few things actually.  where do you keep your pain killers?  

@atelophobias         yeah,    i remember.    how could i forget about you?    you left an impression.  [ ever so smooth.   he set the money down onto the counter,     looking up at her.   eyes lingering on her face.   a soft chuckle surpassed his lips.]        for awhile,   it keeps me busy.    do you need something?     

that’s me.    [ the blonde offers a small smile with a nod.  she watches the movements he creates in his hands before looking back up to him.  she adjusts the strap of her bag over her shoulder. ]    that’s cool.  have you been doing this for a while or is it new? 

@glittersecx    [a playful roll with his eyes, a bit startled by the hug.]     yeah..  now, dont get used to it.   

please,  no way.   [her nose scrunched,  she shook her head.]     he’s so corny.     [her face lit up,  a bright smile on display.   she threw her arms around his shoulders.]    thankss!     you’re the best.   

@glittersecx        seems like you’re enjoying yourself just fine,   with that guy.    [a pondering pause,   he lifted a hand to rub his face. he looked at her.]     okay,  fine.. 

@cultofsaltz        [gigi.  no,  not the girl he’d left behind but something sharper,   steadier seeing her stand there;  somehow,  this encounter brought up old memories, something he liked to avoid.   because she didn’t look afraid, he felt like she was looking at him like she was trying to solve him.   averting his gaze,  he couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.]         don’t look at me like that.       [swiping at his mouth with the back of his hand,   he checks the smear of blood like it offended him.   personally,  it’s nothing.  it’s always nothing.]       i’m fine.   don’t worry.   i’ve had worse.   [that’s a lie,   they both know it.  his ribs ache from the fall earlier, when he breaths too deep and the dark alley is still ringing in his ears.]       no— !   no one is chasing me now.   [a glance over his shoulder.   a habit.   paranoia. east highland has a pulse at night and it didn’t beat kindly.  he was familiar with that.]     i cut through backstreets.   lost them three blocks over.       [his eyes land on her,  a pause as he took in the sight of her..   she hadn’t much changed. despite getting older, of course.  he hadn’t changed that much either..   despite the deep mess he was in.] i should probably go..  /sorry/    dumb mistake. 

[gigi, neé saltzman, has barely changed. the only living girl in east highland: mousy blonde hair’s a tad brightened, cheeks flushed pink with adrenaline, and perhaps an inch or two grown. had he muttered her name an octave lower, she would not have jolted in place at all.]      what’re you..   /who’re you/?      [the smoke in her head from muzzled night’s interrupted sleep, clouding visions and stuffing ears, this smog-like mass disperses in quick succession.]      you’re bleeding—      [dully, perhaps almost dumbly, it’ll begin to register: buzzcut, the gnawing bruise, an incoming migraine she presumed to be incoming. though the call of his name remained tantalizing, gigi’s instincts act faster than senes do.]      are people following you?      i have a bat.      i can bring it out and we can beat their asses up,   wait right there—!

@cultofsaltz         hey!   calm down!     [he said,    out of breath.    his chest rose and fell hard, breath torn up from sprinting alley to alley.   he felt his lungs burning.     at her demand,    one hand came up to his mask as he peeled it back.     warm light caught his face,     split lip,    a scrape blooming red along defined cheekbone,    sweat cutting clean lines through the dirt.   his eyes glanced towards her,  tired.   though,  a relief adorned his greenish, blue hues when he saw her face,  his alert posture softened.  as it felt familiar.]      it’s me,  gigi!  it’s just me.    [holding his hands up in defeat,   to show her he was no harm.]    i..   just had to move fast tonight.    didn’t think you’d be the one catching me.   this house was..  the closest.    [then realization hit him, right there.]     fuck, i’m sorry.. 

[ a small smile is earned.  she follows behind him,  attempting to avoid touching others as much as she could.  the moment they stepped onto the porch,  the cold air hit her skin and she flinched—  not from the temperature,  but from the sudden clarity of it.  it cut through the sticky warmth of the house,  through the layered smells of sweat and liquor and too many bodies pressed too close together.  her lungs pulled in the air greedily,  like they’d been starved for it.  for a moment,  she stood there and let the night settle around her.  her attention is torn from her own empty thoughts after he spoke up.  she blinked and shifted,  offering a small thankful smile. ]    one being the worst and ten being the best?    [ she asks,  taking the joint inbetween her fingers and placing it between her lips.  her eyes flick from the pre-roll and up to him,  expectant for him to light the end of it. ]    

@atelophobias      no pressure.    i mean,  i get it.    don’t go with strangers right?   i’m harmless,   promise.    [he said with a soft laugh,  trying to ease the tension that he felt sparked, hoping she would trust him enough.    he nodded, before signing for her to follow him towards the exit.   making his way through the crowd,  he stepped outside onto the porch.   the cold air hitting him in the face,  inhaling the fresh air.   almost relieved.   he shoved his hand into the pocket of his hoodie,    revealing a lighter and a rolled up joint.  he handed the joint to her.   his familiar smile across his face. ]     tell me all about it,     be completely honest..  on a scale of one to ten.  

right.   [ she confirms lowly,  unsure if he even heard her.  she turns her head to him again.  savannah hesitates before responding,  his offers catching her off guard. ]   okay  ..  sure.    [ she glances down at the cup in her hand,  then set it carefully on the railing like she was leaving behind proof of a bad decision. ]    let’s see how good it really is.   

@usedcigar        thanks,   thanks.      gotta keep it undercover.     or the cops,   will be on my ass.  [an amused tone laced his voice,    as he watched her through the store.]      hm,  can do.     i think we got some more lighters behind the counter.     [he said,    before grabbing a box with more lighters.   these ones colorful,  and with different designes.]     this lighter with the teddy bear is perfect for you.       [he teased,     greenish,   blue eyes still following her movements while she picked out a drink. a slight grin tugged at the corner of his lips.  cheeks feeling hot.]        grab what you want,   it’s on the house.      

keeping   it   low   profile   behind   a   lottery   ticket   counter?     honestly,     it   suits   you.     very   mysterious.     very..   undercover.     smart.     [     solange   let   out   an   airy   chuckle,     leaning   her   hip   against   the   counter   as   he   headed   for   the   fridge.     ]     nah,     i’m   straight.     just   a   girl   in   need   of   some   lighters—     the   pretty   ones,     not   the   boring   solid-color   crap,     you   know?     [     causing   a   curl   to   fall   from   behind   her   ear   as   she   scanned   the   lighters   along   the   counter   beside   her.   no   luck.   with   a   simple   pout,   her   gaze   flickered   back   to   him.    ]    though   if   it’s   strawberry,     i   might   make   an   exception.   [   solange   pushed   off   the   counter,    heels   clicking   sharply   as   she   drifted   toward   him   &   stopped   at   the   fridge,     leaning   into   the   billowing   cold   with   a   contented   sigh.     ]     i   could   get   used   to   this.     [    a   soft   murmur   escaped,     tilting   her   head   to   give   the   blonde   a   playful   side-eye   as   the   frosty   mist   settled   against   her   warm   skin.     ]

@usedcigar        [looking up from the cash register,  his familiar smug smile tugging at the corner of his lips.]       o hey,    stranger.   [a chuckle,   he then nodded.]    i do,  yeah.   just a cover. have to make my money somehow,   legal.  [a slight tease in his tone,   as his gaze lingered on her.  for a moment,  not making it obvious.   before he walked over to a refrigerator, opening it. ]     you need something.    a drink?    it’s hot outside.       we also,    got slushies.     

*      we could continue or leave this too bb as you’d like <333

[cassian stands out amidst the altar of cluttered myriad of feminine gadgets and interests, all left where they last held flighty attention. the softened peach tint the room offered from aged nightlights presented the landscape of it as if plucked from a dream: messed up quilted covers, holy palms pressed to the biting grit of ceiling. uncapped lipglosses, discarded camisoles: somehow all missed from her haphazard and negligent clean up from minutes before. the calamity of, not so much the bedroom but, the saltzman residence, felt less daunting or burdensome with cash’s sudden residence in nights like these. there had not been one night in juvenile company where gigi had not felt some warmth creeping dreamily in her sweetheart.]         you’re so sweet, cashie.     [now, blonde girl is a platinum strike of life atop carpeted floors, glimmering vaguely behind the laced curtain of nicotine smoke. giggling, a twinkling, ephemeral strike of sound. follow its melody to find her trailing along his path, then, unfolding wishbone length of bare legs revealed by floral pajamas.]         it’s just what i needed—  the energy..   y’know,  for studying.        [between them, the plastic bag rustles and labors as her digits wander in by managing to open the cardboard of packaging in one pull. cerulean eyes hold the sight of cassian in lieu of ornamental moon, taking a bite of a chocolate-covered strawberry with candied smile. in a blink, she’ll turn the kiss—bitten half fruit around towards him.]        ‘aaah’. 

@cultofsaltz          it’s fine,     kinda understandable though.    i take the intruder role, just fine.    [an amused chuckle,  he stepped over the window frame.   a smooth landing,  he had done sneaking in like this before.    after all,  it wasn’t a first.      friends.   he thought, quietly.   that’s what they were,  yeah right.    an unknown feeling settling in the pit of his stomach,   greenish, blue eyes scanning the surroundings.   her room was nice,  girly..  but, nice.]       i brought you something.    [he then said,   clearing his throat before revealing something from behind his back.  a bag. while on his way, he had went by the grocery store. ]    i figured you were hungry,    they’re strawberries.      chocolate covered.   we can eat them.    while,   studying.   [a pause, at the word studying.   did they ever study?   he couldn’t remember the last time, he did.]    

@he4rtlust      you know,    pretty privilege doesn’t work with me.       [he said,  tone stern. he sighed then.]    forty bucks? 

@cultofsaltz      /      i willl i willlll,  we rlly need to brainstorm :0 

*      i loooove ur mind. literally just hmu if you want to brainstorm tgt <33 xx

@cultofsaltz    / tyy love <33 i have more ideas ksjsjsks.  im tryna write it down but it makes more sense in my head.. if yk 

for now, my brain came up w this 

willl add more,   iff things changes 

character thread.