ℕ𝕠𝕒𝕙 ℂ𝕠𝕙𝕖𝕟

troye sivan, gay, male + he/him hey look ― it’s noah cohen! they’re twenty four years old, they’ve lived in shrike heights for two years, and they’re currently working at snapshot. i heard they’re pretty facetious, but i think they’re so clever at the same time. can they make it out alive? || aether, 28, he/him, cst + none

Basics

Full Name: Noah Hiram Cohen

Nickname(s): None yet!

Pronouns: He/him

Orientation: Gay

Age: 24

Birthday: April 24, 1964 (Taurus)

Blood Type: B

Birthplace: Malibu, CA

Occupation: Part-time sales associate at Snapshot, freelance photographer

Dream Job: Photojournalist

Detailed Bio: Here

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Noah might actually be one of the most frequent customers of the roller disco, at least that Matty knew. And he’d always seemed like a pretty cool guy, even if they’ve never really hung out, so Matty was glad for the opportunity now. “A man of taste, I see.” He said, handing over the money to the cashier. “I’m good, just waiting for my shift at Donna’s to start. You?” This might, he thought be the first actual conversation they’d had outside of work. 

Noah laughed softly and nodded. “Absolutely. Takes one to know one, right?” he joked. Strawberry milkshakes were the best. Since Matty got him this time, Noah shuffled over to the side, waiting for his own milkshake to be prepared, too. At his question, he smiled. “Seems like we’re heading in the same direction for different reasons,” he nodded. “Just finished my shift at Snapshot, and was thinking about heading over to Donna’s for a while. I wanna see if Eilonwy’s working today. I thought about taking a few photos and just like... skating for a while to forget like... being so stressed out,” he said, wrinkling his nose a little and rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s honestly one of my fave places to go. I know it probably feels different when you have to like... work there,” he chuckled.

               donnie appreciates noah’s easy going attitude. donnie himself is relatively care free in composure, quite care free outwardly, but the same can’t be said for how he works internally and that’s why he benefits greatly from being surrounding by easy going people much like how noah seems to be, and much like donnie’s fiance is - that being the best example due to how long donnie has been able to comfortably keep him by his side. he was quite worried when he thought noah might have been talking about his deep, dark secrets (though nothing could really be that deep, nor was his love life dark at all) but now he was laughing and actually having an amusing time here at snapshot. “right,” he hadn’t thought about the prospect of noah getting in trouble for those actions if donnie went and told his manager, but maybe he should have before growing so worried. “thanks man, yeah.” he nods. 

               “malibu, that’s a little way away.” he comments, as if noah himself wouldn’t already know the distance between the place he’s calling home and the place they both currently reside. donnie’s never left colorado before, he’s never made it anywhere like malibu before, and in his mind he pictures some spectacular beach that he might see on something like mtv. why someone would choose shrike heights over that scene, donnie can’t make sense of it. “i’ve never been to a real beach before.” he tells noah, no real reason behind why he’s sharing the fact. he wants to comment about how he doesn’t know why someone would leave the beach for a place like shrike, but he doesn’t; he doesn’t know noah’s reasoning behind his move and he doesn’t care to push for it when for all he knows he could be wrong about thinking highly of a place like malibu. 

               he listens to noah share what he loves to photograph, smiling as he hears a very real passion in his words and laughing as the other man has to clarify that he doesn’t mean anything depraved. “yeah, i don’t think that’s cheesy, man, i think that’s really something special.” donnie doesn’t want to get too vulnerable there in the middle of snapshot, but he’s not going to alienate noah’s quest for finding those silver linings when they’re all that keep donnie going right now. “it’s nice, that you know how to like… highlight those better moments. important at a time like this.” he nods, not wanting to really talk about the hard time in depth but thinking what noah’s doing is admirable enough to praise. 

               “would you ever do like, band photography? not the kind where they like pose and shit for promotional shots but like live, at a gig?” he asks. “my partner’s been dying for some good shots of him and his band on stage but we don’t really know anyone who’s up for the job, none of our friends really have the gear or the skill.” he explains with a shrug. a few of their friends have snapped some alright pics at some chokehold shows, but for some time donnie’s been on the hunt for a proper photographer to get in there to capture finn in all of his glory, at his truest and happiest while on stage playing a show.

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"It is,” he agreed, rolling his shoulders slightly when Donnie reminded him how far he was from home. How far his family had wanted him gone, really. It wasn’t something he felt like explaining to someone he barely knew right there in the middle of his shift at Snapshot, but it wasn’t exactly something he kept completely secret, either. “You should. There’s nothing quite like standing in front of the ocean and feeling small in the grand scope of things, like everything is temporary and everything that worries you kinda melts away like it doesn’t matter for a while,” he said, thinking of all the late night beach walks he’d done. How he missed it!

But he was glad to change the subject. He didn’t want to get too nostalgic over a place he couldn’t return to, and a place that he knew he was looking back on with a pair of rose-tinted glasses. At least trying to find light in the situation he was presently in seemed to be working. “It’s been great, really. I mean, I don’t want you thinking I’m some high philanthropist or anything like... Sure, I try to take photos of the good times and all that, but I’m not afraid of taking photos of grittier shit, too,” he said. “Gotta have some range, you know?”

When asked if he did band photography, Noah nodded. “Yeah, of course! I’ve done taken some cover shots for people before, and just like.. candid shots of garage band practices and all that,” he said nodding. His smile brightened at the idea of photographing at a live show, and he nodded again, reaching up to push his chocolate curls out of his face. “Oh my god, that’d be fantastic,” he said. “I would definitely be up for taking pics at a live event. I can keep myself invisible, so it’s like they won’t even notice me there.” He smiled and shrugged. “Well, you got my number! So... definitely reach out! I’d love to do that.” That was definitely right up Noah’s alley.

arne was a sensitive man, and one who was easily influenced by the simplest of things. he had been scared before noah’s arrival, then stronger as he tried to reassure noah that things would be okay, but then noah’s worry had rubbed off on him and arne’s sensitivity ate every bit of it up, leaving him more emotional and frightened than he both wanted to be and should have been. 

it really wasn’t the first time he had ever seen a bear, nor was it the scariest bear-related situation he had ever been in, but still, the fright he felt was real and it was only getting worse as he let himself get worked up like this. he wasn’t proud of being a coward, and maybe he should have grown stronger after running from bears plenty of times in his youth, but the truth was that his body began to shake and his heart rate picked up to be faster and faster. 

“yeah, playing dead, standing still, it’s all the same thing of like… telling him you’re no threat. though i would have thought i could do that easily enough just by looking how i do or something.” his voice was quieter and his words were more akin to a ramble than a sensible bit of speech right now. still, he wasn’t doing too bad for how jarring the sudden wave of anxiety was. 

arne felt bad when noah began to try to reassure him. it was nice of him to do, and it was appreciated, but arne’s least favorite thing in the world was being a burden or causing any difficulty for anyone else. “yeah, no, yeah, it’s fine, it’s totally good.” he nodded his head, and then became quite scared of his movement - though the bear hadn’t noticed it. “are you good?” he asked, deflecting from his own fear and from the focus on himself. 

Noah swallowed hard, it was a high-stress situation and he wondered if it would be too late to slowly start walking away, but the last thing he wanted was to draw any more attention to either of them. When the guy asked if he was okay, Noah wasn’t sure how to respond. His brows cinched a little, but he took a slow, deep breath.

“I-I’ve never been camping before. Never saw a bear either. No bears out in Malibu Beach,” he said, with a smile that bordered on incredulous. “We worried about sharks, but never actually saw any,” he said, his voice still quiet as he tried to look away from the bear in the distance back towards Arne. Maybe if he kept his attention on him, the bear would be gone in no time, right?

the blonde didn’t bother fumbling with the seatbelt. perhaps an old habit picked up young. it wasn’t as if mom and dad were around to teach him and nag about things such as safety. and even if they were, he doubted that’d be their main concern. so, it simply was something he never put as priority. it was more of a thoughtless action to get the engine starting and shifting the car into gear. besides, it was easier to focus on the car. drive. do whatever and think about whatever that wasn’t focusing on noah. an eerie feeling came to mind that he’d probably regret this. 

ah, of course. the radio was a pretty perfect solution to drown out any anxieties about this interaction. which, malakai couldn’t really place why he felt the nerves rattle within. he simply hoped it didn’t come across, which, due to he’s rather stoic and stone-cold appearance, it probably rarely would shine through unless caught on a very, very bad day. the blue-eyed male had become quite skilled and shoving everything below surface and letting it run there. “ ahh.., ” he breathed out, flickering on to roll the cassette tape currently in. “ usually play my own stuff than the radio,” he admitted as track 06 from ‘ a dogs of war ’ by pink floyd began to play faintly. “ dunno what you like – you can put a station on if you want. don’t really care, ” he rambled out in a murmur as he exited the godforsaken shrike mall parking lot and headed west to downtown. 

Noah had absolutely no inkling about what, if anything, was crossing Malakai’s mind. In fact, he tried not to think about it, lest he start feeling worse than he was already feeling about him imposing, but the deed was already done. Noah was getting a ride and that was that. Jerk or not, he’d make the most of it. He’d pay the guy back when and if he got a chance to, and he’d stop thinking about ittttt.... now.

"Your own stuff? Like... as in your own mixes, or you make music?” Noah asked curiously. He decided to just relax and be himself, and just try to scoot past the awkwardness. The curly photographer could hear the faint music playing in the background, and tried identifying who it was. It wasn’t a track he’d heard before. “I like a little bit of everything. I listen to a lot of Prince, Fleetwood Mac, Jimi Hendrix. I’m kinda all over the place depending on my mood. I love stuff I can skate to that has a good rhythm to it, a good groove, you know?” he said with a shrug. “But I’m not always in a mood for that. Sometimes I want something that hits a little deeper. Simon and Garfunkel, Pink Floyd-- Dark Side of the Moon? Amazing album.” He leaned in and turned the dial up so he could hear a little better. “How loud are we allowed to go here?” he asked with an almost teasing smile. Noah loved blasting music loudly, but wouldn’t do it if Malakai didn’t want that.

“ that’s  the  hard  part  -  deciding  what  to  put  on  there, ”  she  smiled.  there’d  been  times  where  soren  had  spent  weeks  with  an  untouched  board,  trying  to  figure  out  exactly  what  she  wanted  to  do  with  it.  she  didn’t  touch  a  brush  until  she  knew  the  time  was  right.  “ you’d  have  the  sickest  skates  around.  if  you  went  to  the  roller  disco  i’m  sure  everyone  would  ask  where  you  got  them  from. ” 

soren  shrugged  their  shoulders,  “ i  think…  since  i  was  ten,  probably.  my  original  board,  i  painted  over  it  a  million  times  as  i  got  older  and  got  better  at  art.  then  i  upgraded  to  other,  better  boards. ”  though  of  course  they  still  kept  the  old  board  that  they’d  gotten  as  a  hand-me-down  from  their  brother  once  he’d  aged  out  of  the  hobby.  it  was  special  to  them.  “ oh  a  photographer !  sick.  of  course,  you  can  take  a  picture.  you’re  always  welcome  to  come  down  to  the  skate  park.  i  think  a  lot  of  the  skaters  would  love  to  buy  some  photos  from  you.  there’s  a  good  handful  who  think  they’re  so  much  better  than  they  are,  so  having  photos  taken  will  make  them  feel  like  they  belong  in  the  magazines. ” 

Noah grinned softly at the idea of having bellwether roller skates and starting a fun trend at the roller disco. He already scribbled on his converse enough at home, and now that Soren planted the seed in his head, he was really liking the sound of it more and more.

He listened as they gave him a run-down of how their work painting skateboards began, and Noah truly found it fascinating. He loved hearing origin stories of how people found their passions and their talents. “Do you ever do commissioned work? Like... if I paid you to paint on my skates, would that be a thing you’d be interested in?” he asked out of pure curiosity.

arne’s senses were already overwhelmed as he stood there, completely beyond scared of the bear that sat only feet away from him, and noah’s first reaction of snapping a photo and warning him against ‘trying anything’ - whatever that meant, arne being unsure as his mind was too preoccupied to think about it properly - helped his case in no way. confusion was swiftly added to the mix of feelings arne felt coursing through his paralyzed body, but then noah’s eyes found the spot that arne’s own eyes kept moving back to and everyone was caught up. 

it was oddly reassuring to meet someone else who felt fear. arne didn’t realize he had needed reassurance, and it certainly wasn’t the thing he needed most, but he was happy to receive it and he gladly took it. “i’ve seen a lot of bears before, like, loads.” he started, still standing perfectly still, speaking quietly and calmly in hopes of avoiding irritating the bear but also in hopes of calming noah down with what he hoped would be a reassuring tone. being scared himself, he wasn’t sure if any of his attempts would work, but he certainly would try while he could. “one time my family and i were living in this cabin in the woods up state and this whole family of bears broke in one night - terrifying.” he spoke more not to reassure or to be of any help, but only because he was nervous. 

“we should, we should…” his voice trailed off as he watched the bear closely, no longer even glancing in noah’s direction. the bear was moving around a tree nearby, though he didn’t yet decide to walk back into the forest to leave the two men alone. “keep our voices quiet.” he finally continued, wiping sweaty palms on the sides of his pants. “and i don’t know, i don’t know.” he had tried to speak calmly in hopes of his calmness rubbing off on noah, but it started working the other way around and arne was beginning to feel more panicked. “my dad told me to just stay still and don’t call attention to yourself and don’t act like a threat or anything, you know? i was just… i was just gonna stand here until he passed.”

Noah was really trying to calm down. He was trying to listen to the guy’s rambling about bears breaking in, and somehow, that still didn’t help. He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly before inhaling another. Ten... nine... eight... He began to silently count down backwards to relax.

“Okay...” he said quietly, his voice nearly a whisper. “Okay. We... we stand still. I think I read something about playing dead if they get too close and like.. they won’t bother with you? But I don’t know a fucking thing about bears or camping, so... don’t take my word as law,” he offered, his eyes still glued to the bear up ahead. Still, he continued counting down backwards in his mind and kept his breathing as steady as possible.

it was almost a need rather than a want to not get close to people. it was reflex by now. almost involuntarily. a bad habit that, honestly though, tended to work out for the better. malakai was… way more sensitive than he let all. far too emotional. and he couldn’t take giving that power over himself to someone else. not in any sense. so perhaps it was a defensive coping mechanism, but it worked. especially as soon as he got used to being alone and realized it was far more useful than depending on people that would just stab him later on. nowadays, perhaps literally and metaphorically. 

so, malakai walked over to his shitty all-white ‘79 ford escort. it definitely wasn’t anything special, but it was something. it worked. got to point a to point b and malakai was thankful he managed to scoundrel up enough cash to have it. he had felt stuck all his life so, the grand purchase was actually quite.. meaningful. a first step in perhaps not being so trapped. 

reaching the vehicle, malakai was half tempted to ignore the offer. suppose it was just out of common politeness, but considering the other didn’t have enough for a cab. he didn’t exactly want to take his money either. but then this would really seem like a favor – and malakai didn’t do favors. and he certainly didn’t want noah to think so. no, he was comfortable with the assumptions noah had made this far. “yeah, whatever,” was all he managed to murmur out as he unlocked the sedan, opened the drivers side, and situated himself inside. 

Noah hesitated for only a moment once he got to the passenger’s side of the car, but he took off his backpack, opened the door, and got in. He settled into the seat and buckled in, feeling a little awkard at having to impose on Malakai. This guy wasn’t his friend, and Noah could just feel a hint of contempt. Still, it was kind enough for him to offer, and Noah couldn’t help wondering if maybe there was something redeemable and maybe even kind under all that dickishness. Besides, getting a ride was preferable to risking another run-in with the Scarecrow, whom Noah was still having nightmares he didn’t tell anyone about.

He could tell Malakai didn’t believe him when he said he’d pay him back, but Noah didn’t like handouts. Especially not in a situation like this. He’d just have to catch Malakai again at some point, but knowing where he worked, it wouldn’t be hard to do. For now, he just relaxed and let himself melt into the car seat. It was... a nice break from walking around all day and standing all night at work.

Noah wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself. He didn’t want to ride in complete silence, however. “So... what do you, ah... usually listen to?” he asked, looking at the radio deck.

“Yeah the food’s pretty good,” he confirmed. It was pretty hard to mess up food at events like that. Kettle corn, hot dogs, and bricks of fries were basic but always hit the spot. It’d bee a good way to get out of the house without fear of running into anyone in Shrike. He had a feeling he wouldn’t be attending any large gatherings within city limits anytime soon. He valued his privacy too much and the chance of becoming a spectacle was too high for his liking. “Just got to find a good time to go when the ground isn’t all mud,” he explained. In a town a small as Shrike he knew the happenings of quite a few towns around them. Sometimes the only thing to do in Shrike was to leave Shrike and hanging out in tulip fields when the mud was knee deep wasn’t a pleasant way to get out of dodge. Not that it sounded like Noah was looking for many more details about the event. There wasn’t a whole lot more for Ian to share about something he may or may not end up doing.  

“Really? We’re usually home if you were ever in the neighborhood. I don’t need them right away. His birthday isn’t until April 1st,” he explained. Ian was just thinking well in advance. With how terrible Ian felt about Valentine’s day this year he wanted to make sure he did the most that he could with what little he had to work with for Bo’s birthday. Getting some pictures developed wasn’t the most thoughtful or grand present he’d given but it was going above what was expected of him right now and that was all he aimed for. The bar was pretty low for him right now but that didn’t mean he was slacking intentionally. Ian found his cheeks getting red at the comment. He doubted there’d be anything fun like that on the film. He didn’t really want to admit it but him and his partner’s intimacy took a real hit after the attack. Not only physically had his body been out of commission for so long but mentally it was still hard to get himself in the mood for something like that. Now wasn’t the time to think about not being able to get hard especially not with someone who’d gotten him hard in the past.  “Yeah, of course, I’ll be right back,” Ian promised glancing down at the rollerskates on his feet. They wanted to minimize casualties and Ian didn’t want Noah also breaking his tailbone rolling down his stairs. 

“I’ll be right back,” he promised as he disappeared around the building and down his stairwell. It didn’t take long for Ian to find the canister in question. It was still sitting on top of their refrigerator where he’d placed and he was quick to grab it before Bo even realized he’d walked back inside. Now standing in front of the refrigerator he took a moment to open it up and rummage through his sodas grabbing a can of orange Slice for Noah’s troubles. Skating had to be thirsty work. Without wasting any more time Ian gingerly walked back up the stairs after leaving the soggy stack of mail on the counter to deal with later. Fortunately Noah was standing right where he left him and he offered him the film and the soda. “I figured you might be thirsty from skating all the way over here,” he reasoned the gifting of the soda. His grandmother’s place wasn’t a quick trek by foot and he didn’t imagine skating cut that time down by much even if Noah was zooming. 

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Noah didn’t really let himself reminisce too much about the past that lay behind them now. Even if he subtly teased the guy, he knew that Ian wasn’t going through the best time right now. It was obvious with the way he held himself and the way he could barely manage to get his mail. But he was alive, and for that, Noah was more than glad. He snerked when Ian looked down at his roller skates, and Noah nodded. There had never been any intention to go into the man’s apartment, and so he didn’t mind waiting for a moment. Besides. It was broad day light. What’s the worst that could happen?

"Alright, lover boy, I’ll be here,” he said, turning the music up on his walkman but not lifting the headphones back on all the way. He could hear them from around his neck well enough as Prince encouraged him to just go crazy. Noah waited until Ian disappeared around the corner before he began to shimmy his lanky frame again, skating in a small circle on the sidewalk as he gave a little dance. He was in a good mood, and nothing was going to break his stride today.

He heard Ian’s footsteps coming back, and he rolled a little closer. “Aw, thanks, man! You didn’t have to, but I’m definitely taking this for my troubles,” he mused, taking both the canister and the orange Crush. It was one of his favorites, and he was sure that Ian had probably forgotten that by now, but it really brightened his day that much more. “Alright. I’ll get these ready for you A.S.A.P.! But, you know... probably not for a couple of days cause I’ve got a project due by Friday. You take it easy, yeah? And actually make plans to go to that festival, I wanna hear all about it sometime.” There was a little tease in Noah’s voice, but it was meant as encouragement more than anything. Noah wasn’t a bully. Or at least he tried not to be one. All he wanted was to be a bit of sunshine in a dark town.

there were probably plenty of assumptions noah could make about kai. and perhaps some were accurate or not too far from the truth. to be frank, if there was anyone else in sights, he’d easily pawn off the situation to them. regardless if they were a stranger or not. suppose kai had to prod for information since, well, he didn’t know the situation. if it was due to it being night that was causing the fear. if he was merely waiting for someone. if he had already called a cab. the only thing worse than offering itself was said offer being rejected. it was bad enough to reveal that perhaps, malakai wasn’t completely soulless. just mostly. with a rotten attitude. 

if anyone knew about a defensive coping mechanism, it was malakai. and he didn’t mind in the slightest. there wasn’t anything noah could say that would make kai flinch. he’s heard it all before and quite honestly, it came out as a success when people confirmed their suspicions. “well, you don’t know much about me,” malakai stated plainly. and he tended to keep it that way. 

so the blonde managed to listen as his hues stayed fixated on the ground, boot still crushing against the frail cancer stick as noah spoke. he wasn’t sure if there was any close that would be a deciding factor in the whole thing. suppose kai was attempting to buy some time that a better option could come along. but if neither of them had cash for a cab, there were limited options between the two. “well, come along then. got bitches to fuck and books to brood over, after all. can’t be wasting too much time,” he murmured simply without further directly and simply stepped along the path towards his car. it wasn’t as if he was going to beg to help the other. noah knew his options. 

Noah hated making assumptions about people, especially when he felt like-- even if he was right-- he was being an asshole about it, even if Malakai had been an asshole first. When the other stated that Noah didn’t know much about him, Noah knew he was right. He didn’t say anything to follow it up for now.

He was fully expecting Malakai to walk off and leave him alone to deal with this himself, but when he told Noah to come along, the younger man looked up, almost incredulously. “Wait, are you... like, serious?” he asked. Seeing Malakai stalking off towards what Noah presumed was his car, he stalled for a moment. He wanted to say no, that he could take care of himself... but he knew that would be a mistake. So, Noah swallowed his pride and began to follow him. If he was being honest, there was a quiet expectation that maybe Malakai would say it was all just a joke and that Noah could go fuck himself, but maybe he didn’t need to think the worst of him right now.

"I don’t have any money on me right now, but I swear I’ll give you gas money next time I see you,” he promised, almost apologetically as he continued to follow him. There was nothing he hated more than imposing on others and feeling like a burden they shouldn’t have to bear. He felt it almost on a daily basis at home, but it’s not something he talked about to anyone. Noah wanted to be fiercely independent... but it was a bit difficult to do when he was finishing up school at the college, and only working a part time.

Her idea about the glamor shots had felt silly until Noah started genuinely sounding excited about it. Even if it was silly, though, it could be a fun way to show off their skills, especially around prom season, one of the best times of the year for their business. “Well, I was just kind of throwing it out there, but if you think it’s a good idea..” There was a part of her that had a little bit of a hard time working around her younger coworkers - they made her feel.. Out of touch. It was probably stupid, but it was nice to have approval from the younger generation that she wasn’t losing her touch. 

“It might be nice to go somewhere else - probably safer, too..” She didn’t like the idea of them all getting surprised by a killer, especially if all the employees were together. “Of course, we wouldn’t want to impose on your grandmother, you know.”

"I think it’s a GREAT idea, if you ask me!“ Noah, despite being on the younger end of the store’s employees, did defer to Cynthia’s expertise. Hell, she’d been doing this for much longer, and probably had had more than her fair share of experimental photography projects. This seemed like something fun to switch things up a little and make him actually look forward to a season that historically carried such shitty memories for him.

Noah smiled and shrugged. “I mean, it’s not like she won’t welcome a little company. She kinda likes that sort of thing-- the whole photo shoot thing. Plus, if we do it when she’s out playing cards or bingo, it won’t even matter! OR we could even see about booking out the roller disco for an afternoon. Donna’s would be a GREAT place for a glamor shots photo shoot now that I think about it...” he said, light bulbs going off in his head.

“Anyway, we can figure out more later. What are you doing this weekend. Anything good?” he asked with a little shrug.

the blonde didn’t take not even a step forward. luckily, it wasn’t as if he was too far into the conversation. he hadn’t showed that he cared whether noah lived or died. he was stoic as always and it was completely plausible for malakai to come up and instigate just because he could. and while he had the personality of a complete dickwad, he didn’t intentionally seek out to bully others. it was more often when he was poked or prodded. anxious or vulnerable did his abrasiveness come out. unfortunately, those types of emotions tended to swell up with any conversation that wasn’t with dustin or hayden. and even then, did anxiety bounce back and forth in his mind.  

“fair enough,” malakai retorted in a mumble. not that he really tried himself. he wasn’t the type to seek out any lasting dynamic. just those that were stubborn enough and knew him for lightyears stuck around for only god must know why. plus, it was just easier. he didn’t know how anyone in this town would seek out relationships. this town wasn’t exactly filled with love stories. just horrors and tragedies. and it’d been that way long before the murders in malakai’s view. 

there’s a scoff and a bitter laugh at noah’s remark. as if he had him all figured out to predict his next words. “wasn’t gonna say anything about your car or lack there of,” he stated, burning the cigarette till the last bit before letting it fall. the heel of his boot then crushed the little sparks of flame as he drew his attention back to noah. “so, what, you’re going to walk ? ” malakai questioned with furrow brows. hell, even he would feel uncomfortable at the thought. “how far is your place ? ” 

Noah had a history of being pushed around and having his limits tested. IT wasn’t something he talked about, but it was only too easy to get ultra defensive when it came to being around people who didn’t seem to have any compassion. It was self-preservation. If he held his head high enough, no one would ever have to know how low it had been.

He was glad he made his point and wasn’t prodded further about not having someone. It was perfectly normal to be single, and Valentine’s had already come and gone, so he didn’t have to worry about relationship FOMO.

"I don’t know, you seem like the type that would,” Noah said quietly in his defense, when Malakai said he wouldn’t have made a remark. “Just covering my bases, I guess.” He rolled his shoulders lightly and looked away from the snuffed out cigarette to the blond. “I mean, it’s not like I have a lot of choices right now, and I don’t have money for a cab,” he admitted. He didn’t even have change for a damn payphone to call anyone, really.

“Um... I don’t live too far, I don’t hink. A few miles due west. I live between the Town Center and the Downtown area,” he said, looking at the other somewhat curiously. To be fair, nothing was really too far in Shrike Heights, which was both comforting and terrifying at the same time, given the current state of the town. He couldn’t imagine Malakai offering him a lift, but... was he considering it? He honestly didn’t even know if the guy drove or not, and Noah couldn’t just ask him. Not with the weird tension between them.

why was he here wasting his time talking to noah ? though, if malakai was honest with himself, it didn’t feel like such a waste. hell, the other seemed to have good taste in books after all. that was a pretty good sign for kai. still, didn’t exactly mean that he wanted to start randomly talking to him. or go out of his way for noah. and yet, here he was, daring himself to approach anyway. suppose there was some level of concern. malakai was almost certain that noah always got picked up after work. it wasn’t as if kai went out of his way to notice, but he was observant by nature. he tended to remember far too many things for far too long. and, well, it seemed whoever noah usually got a ride from, was indeed, not here to his rescue. 

maybe if kai was lucky, the person was just running late. and killing time would simply allow noah to not be brutally murdered outside the mall. then that blood would surely be on kai’s hands. but he didn’t need much convincing to drop it. to leave the other alone. though, the quips were an interesting turn from the efforts made of conversation at the park. perhaps kai really was a master of his own facade and made it easy to not want to make efforts of speaking again. oh well. another drag of the cigarette left his lips before murmuring “are you done ? ” he retorted, pondering upon the fact if the fit would be a usual thing now. not that kai blamed the other. kai was the one who rejected giving anything into their previous conversations in the first place. 

“you usually and get picked up. and yet,” he stated, going through the theatrics of looking around the eerie parking lot. “no one’s here. boyfriend leaving you or something ? ” malakai analyzed, fingertips tapping on the stick to let the ash fall to the ground. 

Noah had already started walking. He didn’t want to say anything he’d regret the next day on account of his emotions running a little high and being on edge. He knew that is humor had a little bite to it, and despite Malakai’s surliness, he didn’t want to start anything with him like that. Especially not when he had to see him any time he went to see Eilonwy at the book shop. Noah didn’t want to have to start avoiding the place. He simply let it go until Malakai spoke up again and Noah paused. He turned around and adjusted his backpack.

"I don’t think,” he began, scratching his temple. “That there’s anyone in Shrike Heights who’s man enough for that.” It was true. He was always the one night stand. Too prickly to keep, too much of a dreamer to try and hold on to. Too jaded from his awful experiences back home. Too sassy and outspoken to be anyone’s sweetheart. It was just as well for Noah. It would make it easier to go when he finally got his shit together to leave Shrike Heights. Or so he told himself.

"My grandmother picks me up sometimes when I’m not doing anything after work,” he explained. “But most of the time, I tend to go to Donna’s, or I’ll go hang out with friends or something.” He shrugged his shoulders lightly. “And before you say anything asinine about me not having a car or my grandmother or whatever, I don’t have a car of my own. Don’t really need one. I walk to work after class. It’s just... I just don’t feel comfortable walking at night after-- well. After everything that happened. She’s just... old. She must’ve fallen asleep or something.” There was a little worry in his voice. To say his imagination hadn’t been a little more active than usual would be an understanding. He just hoped that was the case and nothing more sinister had happened to her. “I’ll be fine,” he lied. Just like he’d lied in the park.

Noah was scared shitless. But he didn’t want to show that. The last thing he wanted was to look weak or helpless.

closing wasn’t as big of a deal for malakai as it was for others. one, he had a car. he didn’t have to pester others to be responsible for him – as, well, his life was never quite like that. sure, sometimes he thought about what exactly he’d do if his shitty car decided to cop out one day and not start up. but that hadn’t happened yet. at least, not to the point where it wouldn’t work after a second try. sure, he preferred mornings. liked to have his coffee. maybe even tea. be able to be a productive human and have the rest night curled up in bed with a book. it was more relaxing that way. but suppose never coming face to face with the killers kept his sanity for a bit longer. he didn’t get this immense fear whenever he was set closing. even after the stories of the killers getting in the mall after close. 

no, he simply was able to lock up a new chapter with ease. he plucked a cigarette out of the packet and setting it between his lips before lighting it up as well. and just like that, keys in hand, he was finally fucking done with the day. nothing but a short drive in between the blonde and a fucking bed. that is, until he reached outside and his blue hues caught attention of the familiar curly haired boy he looked like he was about to puke on the sidewalk. or piss himself. or both. 

it wasn’t malakai’s first instinct to help. he wasn’t the type to go out of his way to lend a helping hand. even when it wasn’t that inconvenient for him. there only were a select few where kai’s mind jumped to want to make sure they were safe. happy. well. noah wasn’t quite one of them. still, there was this rising feeling of guilt as he watched the other. he wasn’t one to pity, but the story and look on his face was running through kai’s mind. it was pitch dark out by now as well, which probably wasn’t helping whatever situation noah found himself in. he dragged out a breath from the stick before removing it from his lips and allowing it to balance between his fingertips instead as he reluctantly approached the other. 

“is there a reason you look like you’re about to piss yourself ?  or is this just your face usually looks like ? ”

.

Noah had swept his gaze around, and was about to begin walking off in the direction of home when he spotted a familiar face in a haze of smoke. It was Malakai who approached him. The photographer seemed almost relieved to see a familiar face, hoping that maybe Malakai could help him out... but then that question came so abrasively, that Noah decided he’d rather go for a joyride with the Scarecrow himself. But he had to put on a mask. A front to show he wasn’t going to let Malakai bully him.

“Hmm... Sorry to disappoint,” he said, with a somewhat forced smile. “But watersports aren’t my kink. I don’t judge if that’s your thing,” he said, trying to feign disinterest as he looked away for a moment. Malakai was just like all the others, he’d decided. He wanted to say something else, but he was so nervous from everything else-- such as a potential murderer on the loose-- that he couldn’t really muster his usual sarcasm and sharp wit. He felt any joke that popped into his head even slightly just fell flat in his own mind.

Noah gave Malakai a once-over. He must’ve just finished a closing shift too, because why else would he be there? He shrugged his shoulder lightly, furrowing his brow. “Why are you talking to me, anyway? Don’t you have better things to do, like brood into a book and, I dunno, fuck some bitches?” What did Malakai care anyway? Noah adjusted his backpack and swallowed thickly, ready to just start walking.