fernweh

Deck swallowed nervously and blinked slowly as he averted his gaze to the ground, none of those options sounded viable to him. This was his home. He’d been living in his car for a couple weeks now, parking at a different spot every night as to not arise suspicion from local authorities. It would be only a matter of time for him to get in trouble if he didn’t move the car. “I can’t afford a new battery right now,” he confessed, kicking the ground beneath him to keep himself from meeting the other’s gaze. “Are you sure you can’t try jumpstarting it again? Maybe it’ll work this time.”

Brows knit, he looked at the other with understanding. "It's not gonna start." Riley insisted knowingly, though his grease stained hand slid under the hood to open the latch once again. Returning the clamps to the battery, he stepped back to turn on the portal starter. As the jump starter's lights flashed signalling a jolt, the battery remained as stubborn as a mule.

"It's only gonna cost ya' about a buck fifty." His question filling the silence that replaced engine igniting. "Less if you're any good with cars and want to work it off at the shop." Riley offered, always needing extra help as the sole owner and employee.

“i guess NOT…” auggie begins, the once optimistic outlook she had on the situation fading. truth was, she couldn’t care less if things were up in the air. spontaneity had came into augusta’s life at a much needed time – and now she couldn’t imagine being any different. “but then the alternative would be long distance. or…” trailing off, she assumes the brunet can fill in the blanks. “so what do you think our options are, then?” 

juliette gave riley a shocked glare. what was so funny? someone had broken into the house and he was laughing? at the sight of the brass knuckles, though, her expression changed, eyebrows raising and mouth twitching into an almost-smile. “i’m not locking myself in my room,” she said, a little testily, though she wasn’t really angry. it was sort of chivalrous of him to try to take over, but she didn’t need to hide. “thanks for your permission, though.” she motioned for him to go first, grip still tight on the lamp. “and i’m coming with you. i’ve seen enough slasher movies to know if you say you’re gonna go ‘check it out,’ you won’t come back.”

“suit yourself, just remember to keep your breath steady. ‘cause that breath-holding bullshit is what gets people gutted.” he teased, though accepting her decision to follow him. perhaps it was his eternal curiosity and unyielding optimism that led his steel toe boots to the stop of the stairs, but the mechanic doubted the sounds she had heard were more than her imagination playing with the brewing rainstorm outside. confidently, he descended the steps with juliette trailing behind. “so what exactly did you hear and where was it coming from?” he questioned once they had reach the bottom. he continued to strain his ear to listen to any subtle movements as a rare chill pricked his skin into goosebumps.. 

nerissa couldn’t stop the small scoff at his words as she walked past him and into his home. she shouldn’t be here, was he serious? the woman couldn’t imagine him not knowing that his own men had actually run into her. the more she thought about it, the more she thinks that maybe she’d run into them more than she’s realized. her eyes trained in one every aspect of the home, even the energy within that unsettled her. emerson had always made her feel safe somehow, and when she was younger she never questioned it but now it felt like she had no choice. for a long while she just looked around, truly not wanting to face him.

she couldn’t find the words to say now that she was here. it was all supposed to be a joke. and she knew that man in front of her today was not the same man she’d known all those years ago except for his drive. she had no doubts that his drive was half the reason why he was where he was now. finally, she faced him and blew out an exasperated breath. “emerson…what the fuck are you doing?” he had so much potential that a small part of her, even with all the evidence laid out in front of her, could not believe that emerson was behind that robbery.

immediately reaching to lock the door behind her, emerson gave the hallway a quick glace before the metal latched. he had become accustomed to this. looking over his shoulder, checking if anyone might be watching. without a second thought, his feet led him to the fully stocked bar. his men had told him that they had run into nerissa during their last job, but emerson never expected for her to be more than an antidote let alone to have her in front of him now.

open: m/f/nb (f for romantic)

connection: any (no t*boo please)

juliette’s hands were clenched tightly around the lamp, knuckles white. when she saw the other, she immediately let go to raise one hand to her mouth and make a shushing gesture. “there’s someone in the house,” she whispered, the hairs on the back of her neck prickling as footsteps creaked downstairs. her heart racing, she motioned for the other to get behind her as she moved further out onto the landing, facing the stairs. juliette had already called 911, but there was no telling how long they’d take to arrive. 

not meaning to laugh at her fear but the thought of him hiding behind her small frame bubbled a chuckle to the surface. “shit, sorry.” he apologetically whispered after making the noise. standing next to her, he tilted his head straining to listen for any noise downstairs. though he knew that his decades of blaring music and power tools at the shop did a number on his hearing. “let me just check it out.” he reached to his inside jacket pocket and pulled out the brass knuckles roth made for him. “you can lock yourself in your room in case anything happens.” riley offered the younger woman.

“REALLY?” and auggie is slightly taken aback that the male hadn’t agreed right away. if she were in his shoes, she would have taken an opportunity like this in a heartbeat. clearing her throat, the blonde shrugs. the two of them had always been very different beings. “we can figure it out, can’t we? i don’t want to do long distance, gav…”

⏤⏤  “𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐁𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐍’𝐓 𝐅𝐔𝐂𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐔𝐏 𝐎𝐍 𝐌𝐄?” instead of a proper apology, she offers.. well, that. blue eyes rest on the other, clear distrust painted across her features, but the gaze seems to soften when he mentions the mysterious noises from all around the house. “i guess.” she stands up, holding out a hand to assist the man. “thought that maybe i was going insane, but nope, turns out it’s just the fucking place itself.” she makes it sound like more of an inconvenience than.. actual danger. “i hate ghosts.” a blunt statement. “fucking shitty transparent bitches, they can suck my dick.” the genuine fear is masked by poor attempts at humor. “what the hell are you doing here? who are you, even?” 

-: ✧ :-

he was well in over his head. with all of kassidy’s travels to places that others feared, he had never truly experienced nor believed in ghosts. but the honesty in her statement brought a chill down his spine. he hoped in his gut that it was just a mixture of their imaginations, the old creaky house, and the storm brewing outside. “i needed a place to crash.” he admitted, thinking now that it would have been better to just sleep in his car. “why the hell are you here?” his feet began to lead him back to the room he had claimed for the night, his head motioning for her to follow.