000warning

i didn't opt in to be your odd man out.

you ain't gotta pray for me.

your home's really only a town you're just a guest in.

you don't get to tell me about sad.

i wish i could un-recall how we almost had it all.

and no one here's to blame, but what about your quiet treason?

this town is fake, but you're the real thing.

there was a litany of reasons why.

babe, you gotta fake it til you make it.

i keep recalling things we never did.

but you were gone by the morning.

i love you. it's ruining my life.

who else is gonna know me?

i forget if this was ever fun.

show me that this world is bigger than us.

yes, i'm haunted, but i'm feeling just fine.

i haven't come around in so long but i'm coming back so strong.

oh, here we go again.

i can handle my shit.

time... doesn't it give some perspective?

you smoked then ate seven bars of chocolate.

i should've known it was a matter of time.

who's afraid of little old me?

i'm just mad as hell 'cause i loved this place.

i would've died for your sins.

fuck it if i can't have us.

i don't mind. it takes time.

the jokes that he told across the bar were revolting and far too loud.

you don't get to tell me you feel bad.

take the glory. give everything.

i got drunk and i dared it to wash me away

well, you took me to hell too.

and who's gonna hold you like me?

'cause i'm miserable! and nobody even knows!

i choose you and me religiously.

was any of it true?

but it's gonna be alright. i did my time.

i'll tell you something right now, i'd rather burn my whole life down.

you say i abandoned the ship but i was going down with it.

are they second-hand embarrassed that i can't get out of bed 'cause something counterfeit's dead?

tell me i'm despicable. say it's unforgivable.

come close. i'll show you heaven.

now you know what it feels like.

what if i told you i'm back?

if you wanted me dead you should've just said.

she creeps through the halls. puddles of water splash at her feet, echoing in the silence. her gun rests in one hand. the flashlight in the other. just because they have history doesn't mean she trusts marlene. if it's a battle of who can put a bullet in the others head quicker, well, the firefly queen might be a better sounding name for a horse but placing bets based on names is a pretty shit way to spend cash. but she doubts she'd bring her this far out just for that. nah. their war is with fedra. and she much prefers to stay the hell away from the qz's governing body if she has any choice in the matter. besides, even if a few dozen crossings, shared moonshine and oh i don't know, saving each others lives weren't shared— tess knows she has a name whose reputation precedes it. nobody's sending a lackey to have her meet their so-called leader at a remote location in the night thinking she'd show up all willy nilly if the threat of death so much as wafted in the air. she's ballsy, not fuckin' stupid.

❝   i'm done playin' hide and seek,   ❞ tess calls into the quietude. the conference centre is bordered up but no talk of infected has ever reached her ears. it's just her and marlene here. maybe she scoped out it out a couple o' times between the message three days ago and now. * ballsy, not stupid. footsteps ahead grow louder ahead, causing tess to slow, flashlight pointing until the light wraps around a familiar face. ❝   finally decided to join my party of one huh. thought your lil friend missed somethin' on the invite.   ❞

if you wanted me, you really should've showed.

but we were something, don't you think so?

i didn't have it in myself to go with grace.

those eyes add insult to injury.

would it be enough if i could never give you peace?

and some things you just can't speak about.

love you to the moon and to saturn.

a friend to all is a friend to none.

i didn't know if you'd care if i came back.

were there clues i didn't see?

i'm still a believer but i don't know why.

but the rain is always gonna come if you're standing with me.

who knows if i never showed up what could've been.

i was nowhere to be found. i hate the crowds. you know that.

you didn't even hear me out.

wanting was enough. for me, it was enough.

in my defence, i have none, for never leaving well enough alone.

i'm not your problem anymore.

i don't belong, my beloved, and neither do you.

what do you sing on your drive home?

look at this idiotic fool that you made me.

i never had the courage of my convictions.

all i do is try, try, try.

you knew you won so what's the point of keeping score?

the worst thing that i ever did was what i did to you.

are there still beautiful things?

i knew you'd haunt all of my what if's.

so what am i defending now?

i knew i'd curse you for the longest time.

you are not like the regulars.

i think your house is haunted.

i had a marvellous time ruining everything.

what did you think i'd say to that?

'cause i loved you. i swear i loved you.

i have a lot of regrets about that.

the devil's in the details, but you got a friend in me.

the only thing i wanna do is make it up to you.