archived

Finn had barely the time to react to her abrupt departure before she was gone from the table. “What? Freya—” he called out to her, making no difference as the blonde disappeared into the crowd. Taking a moment, Finn let out a loud groan that was swallowed by the noise within the bar, before he banged his fist on the table in annoyance. The table had barely recovered before he made his way out of the booth and followed her. Making his way to the exit, Finn only managed to catch a glimpse of Freya before she stumbled to the ground. Any frustration he had for her fell away when she hit the ground. A few bystanders went to help her but he moved them aside to bend down near her, his hands resting on her shoulder. “Are you okay? Can you stand?” he asked with concern.

It had been embarrassment she felt at Finn’s rejection. But now, on the ground with all eyes on her, Freya had felt completely humiliated. Pathetic as it had been, there was no holding back the dam of tears that flooded her eyes. There had been no clear, singular reason for them, but she couldn’t seem to stop them anyhow. She only wished for less of an audience. Her misery shouldn’t have been something to make a show out of. Hand grasping tightly at his forearm, Freya kept her head low, leaving his questions unanswered to instead make a request. Though her words had been hard to make out through her sobs, the desperation had been discernible, “Please get me out of here.” 

      “i just wouldn’t know what to do with the body.” his sarcasm didn’t miss a beat, slipping out before he could stop it ( as if he wanted too. ) when the toy landed at his feet, jackson resisted the urge to make a face. instead, he reached his hand out cautiously towards the animal. for something that had been so eager to make it’s home in his apartment, she sure was guarded now, sneakily approaching him. every small movement he made seem to startle her - that had been how the entire afternoon had been going. he’d move a little too quickly, and dutchess would panic, sending herself reeling into the closet or under the couch or into the darkness of the cupboards under the sink. it was ridiculous, really, for a grown man to be so uneasy with nothing more than a cat. but jackson rhodes didn’t do well when he pushed outside of his emotional comfort zone. and that’s what he was being forced to do right now. “i still don’t know why. i think your dog would get used to her,” jackson grumbled childishly, though when dutchess reached out to sniff his hand, some of the obvious tension in his posture melted. “animals don’t really like me.” he explained after a moment, as if it was some kind of guilty secret. “i don’t think she’d like being here all that much.” 

“Mhmm.” An unconvinced hum served as her only response. He could make claim after claim, even give evidence of his lack of care, but Freya would continue to refute. Her desire to find and cling onto the better parts of people truly knew no bounds. Jackson had been no exception. No matter how naïve or idealistic, it was simply how she was. “Oh, look!” Freya gushed, eyes gleaming as she watched the feline make a proper introduction; head bumping clumsily against the man’s outstretched hand with yet another questionably endearing noise. There had still been visible unease between the two, but at the very least they could perhaps recognise that the other meant no harm. “She seems to like you just fine,” Freya pointed out. As did he, but saying it aloud would only damage her current agenda. “Just...try, okay? Please? Let her stay a week or two. And if you really don’t want her around, I’ll find somewhere else for her to stay.” 

miles was practically dizzy when freya’s smile widened, the sudden urge to press his lips to the apple of her gorgeously rosy cheek more than a little overwhelming. he often wondered if she remembered their peck at camp all those years ago, the two of them alone together in a rare moment without violet when freya had kissed him before he even really knew what was happening. even if his memory wasn’t what it was, he was sure that everything about that day would’ve been seared in his mind regardless. it was the moment his already budding crush had become….well, he still wasn’t quite sure what he felt for freya, only that it was confusing and overwhelmingly strong at times. the only thing he knew for certain was that he wanted to be close to her whenever he got the chance. 

“sure it was,” he said with a laugh. “you’ve never instigated a single thing in your life - freya ‘saintly’ woods, that’s what we ought to call you.” he was still grinning when she hooked her arm in his, but when her head met his shoulder his expression instantly gave way to one of shock, which then softened into something like blissful contentment. he was so distracted by this new development that he very nearly missed what she said next, but he found himself smiling wistfully. “it really does,” he agreed softly, afraid that if he spoke too loudly he’d break the spell and she’d move away. “but i’m glad we still know each other now.”

I’m glad we still know each other. They were such simple words that Miles had spoken. Yet still, Freya had felt them so profoundly. Coming from him especially, somebody who’d bore witness to the peaks and valleys of her life. What a sweet sentiment; to be appreciated in every version of your existence. And more than that — to return the feeling wholeheartedly. She adored every bit of him, truly. “I am too,” she returned gently, smile mirroring his as she glanced up at him, “I think...you’re one of my favourite people to ever exist.” Her hold tightened around his arm ever so slightly, as if to reaffirm her statement. Even just to relish in this rare allowance of closeness.

“What’s going on in that brilliant mind of yours, hm?” Freya soon questioned, not having missed that contemplative expression on his face. He always had something interesting to say. What others may have considered to be mindless ramblings, she rather enjoyed listening to. 

Her reaction wasn’t completely unreasonable. She’d come to him, like most women did, wanting the only thing he could give. But the array of emotions that flooded out of Freya’s features made him clench his jaw tight. He could see the sense of rejection fill her dazed eyes, now narrowed in his direction. “You’re drunk,” he replied flippantly as though it was the only reason. Neither confirmed nor denying her accusations. Freya always had a way to get under his skin, as though she could see any small weak or exposed spot, driving straight to the bone. “You’ll hate me in the morning and you’ll hate yourself even more.” That much he knew for sure. “And I’m not in the mood to fight.” His tone turned from defensive to defeated. “You’ve never made anything easy, Freya.” It felt like no matter what choice he made with her, he was reprehended.  Damned if you do, damned if you don’t, Finn thought to himself. 

Her mind had been in overdrive; working quicker than she knew to keep up with. Within mere moments she had gone from playful and flirtatious, to downright spiteful. Though, now embarrassment was all she could seem to feel. For Finn had been correct in all that he was saying. Not only that, he was being decent. Kind, even, considering her usual attitude toward him. All the while she had been behaving poorly. And there was no taking any of it back. She couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. Couldn’t find it in her to formulate an apology. “I’ve got to go,” Freya blurted out suddenly. Words she murmured to herself again and again as she scrambled out of the booth and away from him. She stumbled off without even so much as glancing back. If only she could keep herself upright long enough to make it out. 

        𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐋𝐄𝐘 𝐒𝐇𝐑𝐔𝐆𝐆𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐄 of Freya’s critique of his plan. He thought it was brilliant. A carry-on from the ‘dog ate my homework’ excuse, which Finley would argue was real and valid. Digby would eat just about anything that would fit in his gob. Homework and jewellery included. “Oh, sod off. Last I checked, I was the only one of us with a Masters degree.” Finley said as he shoved his sister a little harder than he should’ve in the middle of a jewellery store. A more sensible man would’ve been frought with embarrassment at the number of heads they turned, but Finley didn’t even blush.

        The rowdy Brit sauntered over to a display cabinet and, for the first time, peered down at a selection of engagement rings. It was the only that could have knocked the wind out of him. Half a dozen diamonds all sparkling up at him. For the first time since he’d met up with Freya, Finley was silent. Here in front of him was real, material evidence of just how much he was prepared to offer Aubrey. More than he ever thought he’d be able to give.

Any time Finley had been around, Freya seemed to forget all about what it was to be a mature, fully grown adult. She would ditch the usual poise in which she carried herself with, opting instead to match his rowdiness and brazen attitude. Freya could have gone on and on with the wisecracks and pushing and shoving. Though, in an unusual turn of events, Finley seemed to be the one not keen for it. She sensed that he was only now truly grasping the gravity of the situation. 

“Hey,” Freya called gently, nudging her shoulder gently against his as she came to stand by his side, “You alright?” For once in their lives, she couldn’t quite get a read on him. “Is it the price tag? Because I can go without an organ or two.” A light-hearted comment, in hopes that she could do what he had always done for her in times of unease. 

﹃﹄

malachi knew freya purely as charlotte’s teacher, unbeknownst they shared a mutual understanding of a kind of soul crushing grief one wouldn’t wish on their worst enemy. malachi lifts his features, taking an even exhale. he isn’t quite sure what to say, he never really did. malachi wasn’t one for talking. he harboured the ability to write eloquently, but the gift of the gab was certainly not passed down to him. “yes.” he offers a nod, processing over revolving thought, “would be three years today.” malachi had refused to go to grief counselling after the death, purely because that required him to talk about. he could barely asses his own feelings with his own mind, how was he supposed to convey it into sentences in front of a group ?? “i don’t talk about it much.”

The fact that her fiancé passed away hadn’t been classified information. Though, it hadn’t been information given readily, either. She simply hesitated in discussing the matter unnecessarily, lest she be dubbed a grieving widow all over again. But there was no worry of that with Malachi. It seemed he almost needed to know that his experiences weren’t his alone. And maybe Freya even needed to be reminded of it, too. “It’s been around the same for me,” she revealed quietly, trusting that she didn’t need to go into much detail for him to understand, “I mean we hadn’t been married yet, but...” Her fingers toyed absentmindedly at the ring hanging from her neck, lips quirking upward into a sad sort of smile. “It’s tough to talk about, I know. And it’s not some instant fix, but it beats having to shove all of those emotions down. They’ll catch up to you, at one point or another. You’re only human, after all.” 

❝ The part of the day when my mother calls and we get to have a chat. It’s a bit rough with the time difference and her hectic work schedule and all, but we figure it out. ❞

❝ I don’t have anything more to wish for aside from the health and happiness of my loved ones. That’s all that really matters at the end of the day, isn’t it? ❞

❝ I mean, sure. I have a lot of feelings for a lot of people. ❞

mars: ok what snacks can cats....not eat

mars: because i've hidden snacks all over jackson's apartment and now i am how you say...very stressed ://

freya: there are so many things they can't eat, mars. so many 😩

freya: i just want to know what the thought process was behind you doing that like

Aubrey: 😂😂

Aubrey: I may be judging you a little bit.

Aubrey: Do they not have toaster strudels in England?

Freya: I can't even blame you 😫You're out there living the life and I'm doing

Freya: Well. Whatever this is.

Freya: I couldn't even tell you. But you have so many things here that we didn't have. Like, fried oreos? Who even came up with that? Why? You Americans are so odd.

luvena: of course i mean it! i mean i love lying but i wouldn't lie to you! 💕

luvena: i think it's all a facade. stuck in the 2000s where grumpy and brooding was in. you know the only action he's getting is from a bagger at the grocery store :/

luvena: he says she offered him her number, but i think she was just telling him how much his items cost :/

luvena: okay the tik toks could be a deal breaker it's basically a personality trait for me at this point

freya: ...very reassuring, lu.

freya: 😂

freya: ever said any of this to his face? he needs to be humbled.