HELL HATH A WOMAN SCORNED.

↠ 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐆𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐂 . ( sentence starters for the muses that fall under the southern gothic genre. feel free to adjust wording / pronouns accordingly. )

❛ we bite the hand that feeds. ❜ ❛ it's out there. ❜ ❛ darkness surrounds this place. ❜ ❛ don't go out past dark. ❜ ❛ this place has rules for a reason. ❜ ❛ they're plotting your demise. ❜ ❛ they feed on fear. ❜ ❛ i feel like they're watching me. ❜ ❛ they don't like outsiders. ❜ ❛ what a load of bible - pushers. ❜ ❛ god ain't watching here. ❜ ❛ that place looks like it hasn't been touched in years. ❜ ❛ you're gonna need a gun if you go in there. ❜ ❛ don't go down there. ❜ ❛ they found a body by the river. ❜ ❛ stuff like that happens here all the time. ❜ ❛ we don't talk about that. ❜ ❛ this place can't be real. ❜ ❛ did you see that? ❜ ❛ it's easier to bleed than to sweat. ❜ ❛ it comes out at night. ❜ ❛ i want nothing. ❜ ❛ that was fucking creepy. ❜ ❛ we're gonna die in these woods. ❜ ❛ did you bring a flashlight? ❜ ❛ you better pray that it never finds you. ❜ ❛ run. as far and as fast as you can. ❜ ❛ they're all angry. ❜ ❛ did i do something to offend them? ❜ ❛ you'll learn the secrets the longer you're here. ❜ ❛ this ground is founded on fear. ❜ ❛ don't anger the townsfolk. ❜ ❛ they're good folk if they let you know them. ❜ ❛ lock your doors. ❜ ❛ you look sick to your stomach. ❜ ❛ if you listen closer, you can hear it screaming. ❜ ❛ fuck this town for ruining us. ❜ ❛ you can wash me in blood before i let this town take me. ❜ ❛ you think they're looking at us? ❜ ❛ if yours is glory, then mine must be shame. ❜ ❛ i'm saving my strength for running. ❜ ❛ i'll forgive it all. even as it all comes back to me. ❜ ❛ i am never coming back to this place. ❜

Besides. He's glad she's made that move, because he's a little flushed at being this close (something else that can be blamed on the wind). "I understand, in theory," Isaac says, after a moment. "But I don't feel anything like that, really, so I don't have any specific experience. But if there's anything I can do to like, help...?" He lets the sentence trail off in favour of squeezing her hand gently. "I like seeing you too. Especially here, where you can be a bit more relaxed."

She averts her gaze to Lily, and Isaac has to say he's relieved for a second. It's not that he squirms under her gaze, really, it's more that every so often he thinks there could be more - and he doesn't want that displayed on his own face so easily.

Lorelei bumps his shoulder, though, and he smiles down at her.

"You'll want to spend more time here anyway, I imagine, if you can get away. Lily's getting bigger and I'm starting to train her but it'll be good for her to get used to getting the commands from both of us."

she says, not willing to admit that somehow he puts her at ease, a feat that is a mighty task to most. she uses her opposite hand to brush away a billowing strand of hair from out of her face, shifting her gaze away from him for a brief moment before glancing out at the orchard. it's a sight to behold, that much she's certain.

"i mean, just being there, listening. it helps a lot."

her mind wanders, slightly, as she tries to not focus on the reddening of her cheeks, thankful she could say it was just the cold air having fun with her skin color. she wishes she could have gotten here when the leaves were starting to change colors, because she could only imagine how beautiful it must have been. her grandmother would have loved to have a painting of this beautiful sight - if only she'd been able to gift her one before she passed.

now hearing isaac speak, she glances back up at the taller man, her thumb absentmindedly running across the top of his hand in random, gentle patterns, keeping her mind focused on the present and not the past that involved itself with sadness.

"you're already doing a really good job with her,"

lorelei admits, in reference to lily's behavior. she knows for a fact that dogs often like to run off if they're not trained properly, and the fact that lily is currently weaving between the trees, not too far ahead where she can't be seen, but enough to grant her a moment of freedom, is a feat in and of itself.

for someone that hasn't had a dog before, isaac is excelling in being a dog parent. she's going to have to gift him some sort of treat or present for being the one to take the brunt of the training process, she knows, filing that idea away for a later date.

that’s what it feels like here, and the closer they get to that house the stronger it is. like air gone rancid, air gone so bad it’s trying to suffocate you.

old houses are normal, he grew up in old houses, even the nicest of them seemed to carry ghosts inside. and this one is far from the nicest. people died here, they died bad, you can taste it. tim steps behind her after a moment, his hand staying on the gun strapped to his hip. the holster is open so he can grab it quick, but having it up at the moment seems to be asking for trouble.

“christ,” he murmurs under his breath once he’s actually inside the house. it’s hot outside, not the heat of his childhood, something more alive, but once he steps foot into here it’s like he walked into a freezer. but he doesn’t know if it’s just him, so he keeps that too himself. wouldn’t be the first time his mind played those kinds of tricks on him.

before she can pull open the door tim reaches out, hands wrapping gently but strongly around her wrist to stop the movement. “we don’t know what’s down there, and if you go in there i don’t know if i can protect you.” he feels childish, he’s been to war, he’s killed and watched his friends die, but he knows there is something wrong here. and whatever it is it’s worse in that basement. it’s always worse in the basement.

this was her burden, her cross to bear, and she's potentially risking the life of a kind and gentle soul by involving him in her madness. she would apologize, but she's afraid he has no choice but to sit and deal with what's happening for now until they can figure out how to rid this place of some of the evil that's currently infested in the walls.

"i....i don't know, honestly."

she says, and her voice is shaky as ever. the fact that her grandfather killed both his wife and two kids in this very house means that there is likely a presence of them left behind, remnants of the past scattered amongst the floorboards and hiding in the rafters, but she doesn't know if what he was trying to summon or bring about ever managed to escape.

the best she knows is that something is lurking here and she's drawn to it, potentially to exorcise it from this long left to rot abode. it's gotten worse in the past few years, this house. she stayed here for a bit when she was kicked out of her parents place, and at that point at least it was livable, but then again, she never did venture down into the basement at that point.

there are signs of life scattered throughout, likely vagrants or people who believed in what her father believed trying to bring about some sort of phenomenal change in the form of whatever cosmic god they were worshipping, but she knows this feeling, it's come to her in the night many a'time. something is calling for help and she feels the need to save them.

what she doesn't know is that the spirits of her family, her step-grandmother, and the two kids, are trapped here as well, subject to tortures of the unbearable kind while they manifest whatever is holding them here.

this was her burden, her cross to bear, and she's potentially risking the life of a kind and gentle soul by involving him in her madness. she would apologize, but she's afraid he has no choice but to sit and deal with what's happening for now until they can figure out how to rid this place of some of the evil that's currently infested in the walls.

"i....i don't know, honestly."

she says, and her voice is shaky as ever. the fact that her grandfather killed both his wife and two kids in this very house means that there is likely a presence of them left behind, remnants of the past scattered amongst the floorboards and hiding in the rafters, but she doesn't know if what he was trying to summon or bring about ever managed to escape.

the best she knows is that something is lurking here and she's drawn to it, potentially to exorcise it from this long left to rot abode. it's gotten worse in the past few years, this house. she stayed here for a bit when she was kicked out of her parents place, and at that point at least it was livable, but then again, she never did venture down into the basement at that point.

there are signs of life scattered throughout, likely vagrants or people who believed in what her father believed trying to bring about some sort of phenomenal change in the form of whatever cosmic god they were worshipping, but she knows this feeling, it's come to her in the night many a'time. something is calling for help and she feels the need to save them.

what she doesn't know is that the spirits of her family, her step-grandmother, and the two kids, are trapped here as well, subject to tortures of the unbearable kind while they manifest whatever is holding them here.

Isaac's listening intently, letting out a soft hum in lieu of any actual words - after all, he doesn't want to say the wrong words. He doesn't experience anxiety like that - not the way she does - so he doesn't want to step on her toes by saying something dumb.

At this moment, Lily races back to circle his feet before racing off again, giving him something else to focus on for a second.

"As long as you're not neglecting yourself," he muses, looking at her gently. He does worry about how much she works and how much she takes on, but really it isn't any of his business.

"i do, it just...i don't feel like i'm doing enough sometimes, if that makes sense? my brain is a constant whirlwind of thoughts and ideas and i rarely take the time for it to just stop. which is why i really needed this outing."

and under her breath she adds a few words, wanting to say them but also hoping she doesn't regret it. lorelei is never this bold and she doesn't quite know what's gotten into her, but something about being in his shared company is rather freeing, and she has to admit, she really likes it.

"and y'know seeing you is always a pleasure, as well."

there's a slight flush to her cheeks that is not brought forth by the cold and she glances away for a brief second before focusing on the rampant little miss lily that is currently waiting for them to continue to walk along through the trees, obviously in the mood for some play time.

she wonders if lily will learn to fetch apples one day, seeing as they have to have some that fall on the ground in the orchard at some point. were apples even good for dogs? that's something she's certainly going to have to google at a later date.

001.   the seaside ,  as the sun is setting .

002.   a cabin in the middle of the woods .

003.   a picket-fenced home in the suburbs .

004.   a dark bus stop lit only by street lights .

005.   a private jet miles high in the sky .

006.   a funhouse’s room of mirrors .

007.   an office building ,  bustling and busy .

008.   the back row of an empty movie theater .

009.   a run - down motel room .

010.   a loud house party on a suburban street .

011.   a university lecture hall during a class .

012.   the rooftop of a very tall building .

013.   a great ballroom during an elegant party .

014.   the back of a wailing ambulance .

015.   the wine cellar of a large mansion .

016.   behind the school’s gymnasium .

017.   a boisterous bonfire at the lakeside .

018.   an otherwise empty parking lot .

019.   the shady bar of a noisy , dark club .

020.  the grounds of an empty summer camp .

021.   a large hedge maze ,  easy to get lost in .

022.   a neglected or derelict treehouse .

023.   a spacious ,  light-filled meadow .

024.   an underground illegal fighting club .

025.   an abandoned scrapyard .

026.   a large penthouse overlooking the city .

027.    an apple orchard in the middle of spring .

028.   an empty playground with squeaky swings .

029.   an extravagant greenhouse .

030.   the base of a large waterfall .

031.    a spacious walk - in closet full of lovely clothes .

032.   a solemnly quiet hospital room .

033.   the dark depths of an abandoned mine .

034.   the deck of a fishing boat at night .

035.   the thick crowd of an audience at a show .

036.   a long ,  winding road .

037.   the scene of a violent crime .

038.   a fork in a hiking trail deep in the wilderness .

039.   a cramped dressing room .

040.   a dusty antiques shop full of relics .

041.   the street of an unfamiliar city at night .

042.   between the tall shelves of a thrifted book shop .

043.   a building abandoned during construction .

044.   a house without power or running water .

045.   a mysterious trail found in the woods .

046.   the back of a taxi stuck in traffic .

047.    the inside of an elevator that won’t move .

048.   fairgrounds during a large event  (or after hours) .

049.   a garden bountiful with flowers or produce .

050.   a childhood home or bedroom .

+   30  more  setting  prompts :    1 / 3 / 2024

051. the site of a horrible accident .

052. a closed pool , after everyone has left .

053. a home holding horrific memories .

054. by the side of a dangerously quick river .

055. a private hotel room .

056. a police station in the middle of the night .

057. a ferris wheel carriage under a sky of fireworks .

058. a lavish , invite - only party .

059. a public transit stop as rain is pouring down .

060. the back of a taxi going in the wrong direction .

061. the underworld .

062. a dusty , forgotten attic .

063. on the set of a television show or movie .

064. a lighthouse overlooking the raging sea .

065. in a post - apocalyptic bunker .

066. on a ship hundreds of miles from the nearest coast .

067. on the rooftop of a perilously tall building .

068. a tent pitched in the middle of the woods .

069. a crowded stadium during a football game .

070. the morgue during an identification .

071. an otherwise empty library during a late study session .

072. a place that feels familiar , yet you've never been here before .

073. a long hallway that seems to stretch on forever .

074. a signpost at the start of a hiking trail .

075. a bar or tavern bustling with life .

076. the dance floor of a masquerade ball .

077. inside of a car parked in a secluded area .

078. at the edge of a cliff overlooking a large lake .

079. inside a very old house with very old haunts .

They walk companionably for a moment, watching the dog. "I mean. I'm definitely not just insinuating." He lets out a laugh and pre-emptively ducks out of the way in case she decides to swat at him. " I know what you mean though. She's tried to get my dinner from me more than once."

Isaac leads the way through the trees. There's not any rush, and he's making sure to slow down his steps to match hers.

"Yeah, you are a hard worker." He muses. He'd thought a few times in the past that she might have been overdoing it, but wasn't sure that it was his place to say anything about it. "If you need a break, the orchard is the best place to come then."

she says, quickly and as if it's done with an air of nonchalance. she knows that people food isn't good for dogs, but in any reality, chicken is good for them and when they're homemade, at least she knows what's going in them and can make sure they're healthy for their girl.

but that's neither here nor there.

cuddling lily to her chest, she continues to snuggle with the tiny dog, who is desperately trying to wiggle out of her grasp. eventually, with a kiss on the snout, lorelei gives in and places the dog back on the ground, watching as she chases a fallen series of leaves that have been shaken up by the wind.

"it's the anxiety,"

she says, a shrug of her shoulders as they continue to walk on by, finding her gaze drawn upwards to look at the trees, watching as leaves shifted in the gentle breeze. it's more beautiful than she could imagine, even in a time where apples are far and few between dotting some of the upper portions of the trees.

she can't imagine the sight of it in spring - when the produce is flowing rapidly from the source and the trees are fully in bloom.

"i sometimes feel like i might just....drift away if i'm not doing something, no matter whatever it may be."

she tilts her head to the side, clicks her tongue against teeth.

Isaac does also notice that she's finished her food now, toying with a bottle of water. She makes no move to go, however, so clearly she's enjoying their conversation enough that she doesn't want to just race out of there - something else that makes him feel warm. It's been a long time since he's had a conversation go this well.

"I'm sure they're great." He says graciously. Honestly, even if the pies aren't, Isaac knows that he'll tell her he loves them. Apple fritters though, those are some of his favourites, and he tells her as much.

when her co-bartender takes the plate and gives her a smirk and a wink, she can't help the blush that settled across her chest for a brief moment, but she brushes it off like it's nothing. she's not usually this bold, but she can't deny that this conversation has been one of worth, and she's rather enjoyed the company of isaac.

"so, this might be a little forward,"

she says, before she's reaching behind the bar for a pen and a piece of receipt paper. she scribbles down her name, phone number, and draws a little sun in the corner of the paper, for recognition purposes.

"but i'd definitely like to do this again sometime, if you're interested."

"It is," Isaac agrees. "And you haven't even really seen all of it. C'mon, you wanna go for a walk?"

Isaac nods his head towards the rows of trees. There's not many apples, now, but there are a few still dotted through.

As they move towards the gate, Lily runs back and forth - back, specifically, to nose at Lorelei's hands every so often, checking for more treats.

"I'm feeding her exactly what the vet told us to." Isaac laughs. "Maybe it's all these extra treats she gets?"

In reality, it was neither of those things - the dog simply growing as all puppies must. it constantly amazes Isaac whenever she is at Lorelei's place how much bigger she comes back.

she says, watching as the dog shifts and zooms across the ground, her excitable energy always a pleasant sight for lorelei. it shows they did the right thing by adopting her, and honestly, lori wouldn't know what to do with herself without that precious pup in her arms sometimes. she's fallen in serious love with this puppy.

reaching down, she grabs lily as she runs by, sneaking her another sweet little treat before pressing a series of kisses to the animal's fur, nuzzling her nose into the strands of fluff.

"are you insinuating i'm spoiling our precious baby?" she says, feigning innocence. she pretends to cover lily's ears with her hand, playing into the idea. "how can anyone resist this sweet and precious face though, she's just a baby."

when they start the walk, the question is posed about her day off - because he's right, she doesn't normally take those. but when she woke up a little down in the dumps this morning, she figured going see isaac and lily was a definite way to brighten her life.

for muses who need to share some intimate thoughts with one another. can be platonic, romantic, familial ... works with any kind of dynamic really. feel free to change pronouns, descriptor words, whatever you may need!

However, she does eventually keep speaking - and it seems that she's not winding down the conversation, so maybe he's worrying over nothing, currently.

"My Ma makes apple cider at Christmas." He confirms with a nod. It's a family tradition - one that he'll take over eventually. Who he'll pass it on to? Well. That's a question for another day. "But I make it occasionally other times. Maybe I'll bring you some next time I do."

Is that presumptuous? Probably not any more so than inviting her in to have a look at the orchard full stop.

It was nice to hear her talking about using his apples to make things she liked though. That was all Isaac wanted, really. Was for the apples to be enjoyed.

her fingers dance across the now aforementioned plastic, collecting the condensation on the tips and spreading them across the wooden surface of the bar, an activity to keep herself available and giving isaac her full attention.

despite her urge to fidget every so often. she so often finds herself caught up in her head that she has to remind herself to stay present and active in conversations, poor girl's mind never stops working.

"i can only assume your apple cider has to be some'a the best in town, maybe i'll definitely have to be on the lookout for some in the future when i get a hankerin' for it."

she says, in reference to the fact that his mother is in charge of making it for the holidays and whatnot. she could only assume with the family having the orchard for some time now, the recipe has been passed down from generations.

"that's real kind'a you. i'll definitely have to share my baking treats when i make 'em. my pies may be a lil' iffy sometimes, but i can damn well make one mean apple fritter."