CHANGER / MOURIR

HER EXPRESSION FALLS to the realm of disapproval with a small shake of her head. the pair of them are wired so differently in most aspects that it’s hard for her to keep up with him. in truth, it’s not even griffith’s humor that bothers her; it’s the timing of it all — how he can belittle any dire situation into almost nothing. ’ i think you’ll fall to your grave with an off-color joke. ’ an early grave at the rate he’s going, but she does not voice it. it’s not a thought vera is particularly fond of. some may romanticize the idea that any moment could be their last, but the reality of it all is far too dark for her to linger on. it’s hard to embrace moment by moment when there is a looming cloud above your head. ‘ no, i think you’ve taken enough beatings for the evening. maybe try your luck in the morning. ’ with this reply, she grants him a half-smile before her eyes flit to the shoulder in question. ‘ dislocated? ’ vera makes the assumption based on his instruction alone and takes a step forward, pushing the sleeves of her sweater up over her elbows. ‘ i can try. ’ the task itself is a little foreboding considering her lack of information — where she can touch, how much pressure and strength without causing more discomfort or making matters worse for him. but she wants to help, and it’s not often griffith gives her the option to. ‘ you may need to help me. ’ a hand just above his elbow and another curled around his wrist, vera is careful while she tries to straighten his arm out before her to find a better grip. ‘ don’t let me hurt you. ’ icy eyes meet his own so she can communicate just how much she means it.

SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WINDING PATH of fight after fight followed by a grace period that couldn’t quite justify why they kept in contact with the other they’ve tripped, stumbled, and fallen ungracefully into... this. this understanding where vera can talk of the MORNING and not have it mean their next meeting to discuss the circumstances of his latest arrest. it’s what he wanted all along, isn’t it? griffith isn’t entirely sure, but to say no would make him feel like a liar. victory doesn’t usually come with crushing GUILT, does it? maybe there was never a chance to win this game at all, and he’s fallen victim to the only thing he’ll ever admit is beyond his control-- FATE. even with vera only fucking looking at him, griffith knows that he never stood a chance. her soft-spoken question registers just as the taut muscles of his rotator cuff give a friendly twinge. ‘ walking ‘round the parking lot looking for where it parked its car, actually, ’ he says, trying to ease the line between her brows, but the determination has iced over her irises and despite her reservations, griffith knows that he’s come to the right place. ‘ i’ll talk you through it, ’ he promises, shifting his perch against the counter into a more forgiving position to brace for the oncoming discomfort. there’s a moment while he waits for her to find a steady position for her hands, and he looks up to catch her gaze. ‘ you only hurt me when you steal all of the covers, ’ he says with a half-grin, his attention quickly shifting to the task at hand. ‘ so, you’re going to bend my arm at the elbow and then twist it outward, yeah ? if that doesn’t work, you can start to lift it up. and then if that doesn’t work, ’ he pauses with a nod, ‘ we amputate. sound good ? ’ 

IT IS TO BE EXPECTED that griffith’s sense of humor will shine through any situation the brit finds himself in. it’s a miracle her eyes haven’t gotten stuck with how often she rolls her eyes in his presence, and this interaction is no exception. ‘ right, well.. you’d be surprised how well mickey mouse bandaids go with pencil skirts and blazers. ’ it’s a teasing remark that comes out awfully DRY, but vera’s not exactly known for her sparkling sense of humor. there is a crinkle knit between her eyebrows as she takes a step forward, arm still outstretched in front of her on the off chance he needs her. ‘ how badly are you hurt? ’ she is not a medic nor capable of being one beyond the basic knowledge she has from patching up her brother — and herself — on occasion, but her eyes move over his form as if she has the ability to gauge the severity of his injuries on sight alone. his arm, obviously, stands out in the way he holds it, but there are a multitude of fresh bruises formed along what’s exposed of his skin. maybe if she were bold enough to inspect them up close and personally, she might be able to determine what caused them. any sane person in a normal situation would have sent him straight to the hospital to be treated properly, but that’s not the world they live in — and if they were TOO severe, she would hope he’d have the wits about him to seek a medical professional instead of planting himself on her doorstep. with a resigned sigh, vera moves to the side of him where her sink is to fetch him a glass of water.. ‘ i don’t have anything stronger to ease the pain, i’m afraid, ’ she murmurs as she offers it to him. ‘ but i can’t help unless you tell me what i can do. ’

HIS HALF-ASSED JOKE falls flat, as they typically do with anyone who possesses a maturity level greater than that of a thirteen year old, but it’s worth it if the concern plaguing the blonde’s features melts away even marginally. it doesn’t do much, but if griffith squints just hard enough, he can pretend it’s ire coloring her gaze and nothing more damning. ‘ well, i was still able to come here and crack shit jokes, ’ he wagers a one-armed shrug that tugs at his bruised ribs just like he expected it to, ‘ so clearly not badly enough. ’ as poor as his execution may be, it’s a reassurance, supported also by the fact that had he been SERIOUSLY injured, vera’s the last person he’d want to see the fallout. the bruises will heal, the lacerations will scar; for all intents and purposes, he IS fine. just... stupid, which, unfortunately, has not resolved itself in the twenty-plus years he’s been around. he wanted to see her, wants to all the time like some insatiable hunger, in fact. but he knows that isn’t something she’s ready to hear, so instead he opts to say or do nothing except let his gaze follow the path she takes to the since. ‘ no worries, my liver’s taking the night off, ’ he eases, a soft smile tugging at split lips. ‘ slapping’s always an option, but i figured i’d give you an opportunity to switch it up tonight. ’ he tilts his head leftward, toward his shoulder. ‘ think you could give this thing a yank ? if not, slapping is still VERY MUCH on the table. ’

IF IT WEREN’T FOR THE SHOCK, she might have thought up a better response than, ‘ oh my god. ’ a hand starts to reach out, but fails to make contact for fear of causing more damage. she’s only catching a glimpse of what she’s sure runs deeper than he’ll ever admit. ‘ i — why didn’t you tell me? ’ vera’s caught between concern and outrage — both familiar feelings when it came to griffith and often paired together, but it’s not a comfort by any means. he shouldn’t have come, not like this, and had she known? she would have found her way to him instead. but that would be too convenient, wouldn’t it? she finally has the mind to step aside, pulling the door with her to give him room to enter. she follows close behind, a hand hovering at his back in case he needs the additional support. she would have herded him straight to the bathroom where her kit is if she had it her way, but she’s still unsure just how badly he’s hurt beyond what she can see with her own eyes. ‘ what do you need? ’ her tone is remarkably SOFT, despite the urge to berate him with questions. frankly, none of the details of what happened matter as long as he’s survived it. she understands the risk, and now simply isn’t the time. @ofgriffith

IT’S A DECISION BRED PURELY out of impulse ( though it edges somewhere closer to weakness, he knows ), but his feet are already weighing on the little WELCOME rug, and the door is opening, and it’s too late to do anything but watch as shock flashes over her blue gaze not unlike how rivers and lakes freeze over in the winter. the ringing in his ears is a bit louder than usual-- something that generally happens after he gets knocked ‘round a bit, but he’s staring so intently at her face that there isn’t a chance in hell that he misses her words. he says nothing as he steps inside, hasn’t yet formulated an VALID excuse for his abrupt arrival, because despite being guided only be what he WANTS, the more logical side of his brain is screaming at him for how awful of an idea this is. he doesn’t know the exact reason why he came; as brilliant as she was, he doubts she has much experience in patching up whatever bruised up shitshow of a guy who happens to stumble across her doorstep. blunt trauma isn’t exactly something that can be FIXED with anything other than time, anyway, but his injuries aren’t the reason he’s here, and griffith knows that. maybe it’s the fact that he didn’t want to have to hide from her for the weeks it took for the worst of it to subside, maybe he’s tired of the sporadic visits, or maybe he’s taken one hit to the head too many and he’s stupidly ready to risk it all-- griffith doesn’t k n o w. ‘ someone-- ’ he starts, the words cutting short as he leans gingerly against the kitchen counter, left arm tucked limply across his chest, ‘ someone down the street sold you out and said you had mickey mouse bandaids. sorry you had to find out like this. ’

there is only the slightest hesitance as his hands reach for hers, but she allows it without flinching away from the contact. eyes moving between their hands and his gaze every so often until he finally places them against his jaw. it is both a blessing and a curse that griffith has such a knack for making these moments lighter than they could be. it gives her time to relax while also making it a little harder to take any of this seriously. she relies on his eyes to be the true tell, even if his lips are moving into an easy smirk — something she is not consciously acknowledging for the time being. at least she is remembering to breathe. vera is uncannily aware of her own breathing, in fact; focusing way too hard on making sure she and griffith aren’t breathing in rhythm, just in case he’s aware of it, too. the jokes and the teasing all warrant their own reactions — an eye roll here, a small scoff there, but the undertone remains apparent. and this is the closest they may ever come to such a confession. the space between them already is minimal, but vera moves just an inch or so closer while the hands on either side of his face shift — one landing on his shoulder while the other curled around the back of his neck. ❛  i know.  ❜ she nods once, a warm smile gracing her features. with the gentlest of tugs, she coaxes him forward as she leans in — slow and deliberate. but she bypasses his lips completely while the hand that’s not tucked into his hair reaches for the hat she’s previously discarded. call it teasing, call it a trick, but she wears a smug expression as she pulls back just enough to press the hat against his chest. ❛  and thank you for not heeding my brother’s warning. just remember, his wrath is incomparable to mine.  ❜

VULNERABILITY ISN’T A FEELING HE’S FAMILIAR WITH. a man with nothing to lose learns to fear very little-- at least that’s how it’s been for most of his life leading up to a very recent, very impulsive decision to remain in valdez past its worth. and now, for the first time in a long, long time, griffith is faced with the desire to preserve. filled with a need to face all of his decisions with an extra level of consideration-- not because of how the fallout may affect him. no, this isn’t for him at all. it’s too late for saving now, he knows, but maybe the fall isn’t all that bad. her hesitating touch is warm against his skin. he looks up at her, and god, he doesn’t stand a fucking chance, does he? he can only pray that she makes it hurt when she inevitably lets him go, if only to keep him from falling victim to the same indulgences ever again. the most minor of slip ups always have major fallouts, after all. he sits stone-still as she moves, but there’s a quickening of his pulse that he knows she could feel if she wanted, and temptation creeps over his shoulders to whisper tantalizingly in his ears. yet-- he doesn’t give in, despite the blatant way hazel eyes have dropped to rosy lips. the slightest sparkle in her gaze should blare a blatant warning, but griffith realizes it too late, and only when she’s shoving the crumpled hat into his chest does he allow himself to relax. ‘ fucking hell, ’ he breathes through lips pulled taut into a smile that’s a mix between wry and amused. there need not be a war to know that he’s completely at her mercy; it’s no secret. ‘ that’s a cruel understatement, you know that, yeah? i’m far too innocent for your wicked games. ’

sean becomes flustered and feels slightly bad for the way his words have been interpreted. he never meant anything negative– in his head, it was meant to be a compliment, but he supposed he was wrong. he swallows hard and lets out a quiet  sigh, arching his brows as he takes on apologetic kicked-puppy eyes. “i’m sorry, dude. i didn’t mean it like that. i just meant that your life is probably a lot more exciting than mine.” he explains. he frowns even more when he hears the other is leaving so early and he moves closer to him. “do you mind if i tag along? i promise i won’t get in your way. “

IMMEDIATELY HE CAN TELL THAT HIS WORDS, offhand observation or not, have struck a cord with the other, and his brows draw together as he shakes his head. ‘ wasn’t speaking out of offense, mate, ’ griffith corrects, bringing a hand up to clap the other on the shoulder. ‘ besides, even if i were offended, you shouldn’t give two fucks. life is far too short to worry about some random bloke’s hurt feelings, yeah? shit’ll make you go grey before you know what hit you. ’  the tattooed hand falls from sean to slip into a pocket, and his lips pull into something that borders apologetic. ‘ if i were only joking about the breaking the law part, i’d let you tag about, but aiding and abetting isn’t a good look. i’ll walk you out so you don’t have to lie to anyone about why you’re leaving early, though, if that counts. ’

❛  WELL..  ❜ her head bobs from side to side. ❛  boats — ships, i mean. there were ships that could have accomplished the same thing.  ❜ vera smiles as if she hasn’t poked a giant hole in his metaphorical bubble. ❛  but i appreciate what you’re trying to do here,  ❜ she adds, following it up with a brief shake of her head. ❛  doesn’t change my mind, though.  ❜ and they truly can go around in circles if he wants to, but she is satisfied to leave it at that. they will move past this, as they’ve done so many other things. whether it’s spoken of again or not. she’s leaning toward not. the beckoning words from his mouth give her pause — out of surprise more than anything else — but the hesitance is not outright obvious, considering he’s moved right along with an offhand remark that breaks apart some of the glue cementing her in place. her head tilts, expression amused, and her eyebrows move upward in sync with her hands before she even takes a step in his direction. ❛  okay, you had me up until the biting bit and now i’m just concerned.  ❜ but she continues moving forward regardless, half-tempted to ask why and half-content to leave it be. she only stops when she’s close enough to remove that ball cap of his completely, as it casts too many shadows on his features for her liking. and if they’re going to be close, she may as well be brave enough to meet his eyes.

‘ THERE ARE WHAT? ’ if the exaggeration of his accent wasn’t enough to sell his act, the sheer incredulity painting his features most definitely is, and he shakes his head with a laugh that borders on skeptical. ‘ let’s not just make methods of travel up just for argument’s sake, hawthorne, you need to play fair. ’ despite his best efforts to remain a nuisance, he drops the defense as soon as it’s obvious that she’s acquiescing to his spontaneous request. partly because he’s now in slapping range, and the other part due to the fact that-- well-- his brain is lucky enough to function at all when she’s nearby, and this is pushing it. ‘ scout’s honor, ’ he manages, neurons sparking to life for one final smart ass comment before jean-clad knees subconsciously part and most intelligent thought comes to a screeching halt. they’d been here before, and history didn’t foreshadow them with the greatest of fates, but griffith knows better than to try his luck-- letting her test the waters before he makes any impetuous moves to dive in. what he fails to account for, however, is the slight hand that lifts to toss away the last line of his nominal defenses, and before griffith can help it, a grin BLOOMS across red lips, and he’s laughing. ‘ not fashion week-worthy? ’ he asks, eyes hopelessly alight as he looks up at her. there’s no offense here, only sheer amusement, but his eyes remain steady on cerulean hues as his hands lift to find her own. his touch is guiding, but light enough to break free from if she so desires, and it lingers once her palms settle over the curve of a stubbled jaw. ‘ my ugly mug is still in one piece, perfectly unharmed. which, unfortunately for you, means that you’re stuck with me. ’ his head tilts, and his lips quirk. ‘ until, of course, you get tired of feigning polite and tell me to get the fuck out-- but until then, i’m here. ’

THE MUSIC PULSATED IN HER EARDRUMS as she jogged. red hair was secured in a scrunchie, bouncing freely with every step. ivy found that exercise was one of the few things that CLEARED her mind aside from smoking weed. that’s not to say she hadn’t already rolled a huge joint that was just CALLING her name from her apartment. 

rounding a corner, ivy’s slight frame collided with another’s with a THUD, ripping her earphones from her head - landing her phone SMACK on the ground. “FUCK!” she cussed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she landed a GLARE on the other person. “watch where you’re going.”

IN RETROSPECT, two unassuming people rounding one of the busiest corners downtown valdez had to offer is probably asking for trouble, and when griffith finds himself sufficiently body checked, he isn’t entirely surprised. fortunately, his phone is saved from the carnage and remains securely in his left hand, but the same can’t be said for the girl’s phone, which goes scraping across the pavement with a tragic noise. even before she goes full-rage, he’s bending down to pick it up-- mainly out of curiosity to see if the screen survived. it did, barely. ‘ shit, love, are your eyes broken? my condolences. ’

a few times, her mouth opens to interrupt — to argue, to explain her side of things. she’s not the one throwing punches at either man, but she feels responsible all the same. there is just so much she doesn’t talk about that she can’t find the words to stop griffith from assuring her she has nothing to apologize for. not without sounding like a broken record. the word ‘sorry’ flies out of her mouth more times than she can count, and there are countless more she’s yet to hand out. she and griffith have never seen eye to eye on many things. he may never see things from her perspective, and she may never see them from his, no matter how much they try — or sometimes even DON’T try — to understand. and this, along with so many others, will fall under the list of things they may never agree on. ❛  i’m safe with you — with the both of you.  ❜ the alteration to her statement comes out too quickly to be considered more than an afterthought, but she’s beyond saving herself now. she pushes herself away from her post against the counter to take a few steps forward. ❛  and, obviously, i don’t want you to stay away. otherwise, you wouldn’t be here right now, and you know i will tell you when you’re not wanted.  ❜ she smirks a little at this, propping herself against the doorframe between the kitchen and living room now. ❛  we can argue about this till we’re blue in the face, but the fact of the matter is, none of this would have happened if it weren’t for me, griffith.  ❜

I’M SAFE WITH YOU. it’s the closest thing to an admission that will ever fall from sealed lips, and, shit, he hopes with every working fiber of his being that whatever god there may be assures they never come to resent those words. it’s a loaded statement-- more loaded than griffith can stand to explain, but for now, maybe they hold some worth. and that’s all he can pray for. his brows flash upwards wryly at the mention of being unwanted, but the lingering lift of the edges of his lips gives him away. it’s one of the things he appreciates about her most; he’d rather her slam the door in his face a million times over than to give into something that she isn’t wholly sold on-- even if that means he spends a sleepless night alone. ‘ if we want to get SEMANTIC about it, vera, ’ he says as he sits forward, arms moving over his chest, ‘ if those bastard wright brothers never got the selfish, horrid idea to invent the first plane, we would’ve never been able to cross the pond and meet each other. in fact, i think it’s THEM who owe us an apology. ’ he hasn’t missed the steadily dwindling proximity, but he knows better than to point it out. baby steps. it’s something akin to a miracle that has him quieting as takes a moment to look at her from where he’s sat, and call it impulse, but when he speaks again, it’s a resolute, ‘ c’mere. ’ tattooed hands lift to reveal that he has no ulterior motive. ‘ i promise i won’t ruin the sanctity of your home with biting, or anything equally as wild. just-- come here. ’

her own space. it was her own space, the most important part; something she can build on and grow with, assuming her time in valdez extends into further years, and she has a looming suspicion her time here’s not yet done. she refuses to let her mind wander into that darkness, not while she’s got something worth having now. vera nods and there is a ghost of a smile in reply, though it opens up a different topic for discussion — and she’d be lying if she said she hadn’t been waiting for the right opportunity to bring it up. ❛  you know first hand how generous he is now, huh?  ❜ her intentions are not to scold griffith on the fight; she knows exactly who acted first and she knows why, but actions based on assumption alone weren’t good enough to justify it. and she’s not as concerned about griffith being hurt, knowing well that he can hold his own just fine — it’s the fact that SHE was the motive. vera’s arms wrapped around herself while she rested against her counter, taking in a deep breath. ❛  i’m sorry about that, too. i don’t need to know the details to know it shouldn’t have happened.  ❜ griffith doesn’t need to hear her apology as much as she needs to tell him. axel had acted with very little context to go off of, but she knew in part why her behavior regarding griffith was concerning. familiar, even, but to her — the situations were incomparable. her fingers pick at a loose thread on her sweater while her head shakes. ❛  i know how he’s justified it in his head, but it’s not — he doesn’t understand, and i haven’t helped him to, so.. i just want you to know that it’s not your fault, and i’m sorry.  ❜

OH, HOW QUICKLY SOMETHING OFFHAND AND HARMLESS can open the floodgates of a topic that decidedly isn’t, and griffith realizes his mistake only a beat too late. there’d been an undertone of surprise but not disappointment that she hadn’t brought up axel’s visit thus far, but of course, leave it to him to prompt the inevitable conversation. he does his best to hold off on making any assumptions as to how this particular topic will go, leaning back against the arm of the couch while she speaks. it’s within a fraction of a second that he notes the guilt that’s cementing itself over her pale features, and only a moment later do her arms lift to provide a last-ditch effort of comfort, or maybe it was protection. he isn’t pleased that she feels the need for either in the moment. the second apology falls quickly after the first, and griffith has to give himself a moment to distract himself from the temping exasperation crawling up the back of his neck. his hat is yet again lifted so that he can tug at mussed brunet strands, and he shakes his head, making an effort to keep his expression open. ‘ your brother cares about keeping you safe, and i very much enjoy when you’re safe. he wanted to fight about-- whatever, and it’s no secret i like to fight. ’ he shrugs, offering a smile that edges on reassuring. ‘ i consider it a win-win, really. we’re both still in one piece, and while i’m not doing a very good job at the whole staying away part, everyone’s fine. you shouldn’t apologize for something beyond your control-- or at all, really. i mean it, vera. this isn’t on you. ’

the question takes her aback and she stares at griffith maybe a moment too long before her gaze shifts. as much as she overthinks decisions like these — financial ones, business ones, semi-permanent ones — she’s yet to consider how the house really makes her feel. she’s content. it’s homey enough. vera’s personal touches are few and far between, and some haven’t even been placed yet. it’s only her first weekend after all, and maybe the feeling will grow on her. her eyes move around the kitchen, floor to ceiling, and everything in between as she takes a deep breath. ❛  i think so.  ❜ the admission falls with a little uncertainty, and while she’s ashamed in her lack of confidence in her answer, she doesn’t bother to hide it; whether he speaks on it or not, he knows her. and she is proud of the house, that much she knows. overall, pleased — but happy? ❛  i probably shouldn’t jinx myself by saying so, huh?  ❜ her nose scrunches and she attempts a smile. ❛  you and i both know my luck’s not the best. the building may cave in on us if i get my hopes up too high.  ❜ the half-assed attempt of a smile fails her in the end and she closes her eyes while her head shakes. ❛  i’m sorry — i know that’s.. you’re trying to ask me a real question, and i’m doing that thing where i don’t really answer or i run circles around it, but it’s.. it’s a good thing. i really needed a good thing.  ❜

IT’S A SIMPLE QUESTION WITH A POTENTIALLY LOADED ANSWER-- that is, if she decides to give one. regardless, griffith watches her with a practiced patience; straightforward answers don’t typically run in abundance between the two of them, but despite his acute awareness that time isn’t something he necessarily has a lot of, he doesn’t mind. he waits, quietly, as blue hues dance along every surface of the room that surrounds them as if the question had made her consider the area for the first time. griffith knows that such a thought isn’t true-- it’s rare that vera operates on IMPULSE, a kind of practiced consideration that he hasn’t yet familiarized himself with ( or simply refuses to ). there’s as much honesty in her initial answer as there is hesitance, but all he responds with is a nod to allow her continue. half-truths were better than none, weren’t they? ‘ sounds like a lawsuit worth a LOT of vacation money, ’ he says, entertaining her attempt at deflection only minimally. his head shakes once more when she tries to apologize; it’d earn him a slap if he compared this to pulling teeth, but it might be close. she’s trying, at least. that’s all he can ask for. ‘ you deserve good things, ’ he agrees, finally allowing a grin once she’s delivered her version of the truth. ‘ and your OWN space-- not that i’m pointing fingers at your very.... generous host. i like it, too. ’

His grin broadened and the corners of his eyes crinkled. It was a relief to hear he wasn’t embarrassing himself and he was not as forgettable as he thought he might be. “You seem like the type of guy that has a lot going on. That night’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me, but it must have been just a blip on your radar.” He glanced around at the crowd and nodded in agreement. He did stand out like a sore thumb. Speaking of thumbs, he was unsure of what to do with his hands or his entire body now that he started talking to the man.  The corn dog stick didn’t help. “I-uh,” he placed the stick on a nearby table and cleared his greasy fingers on his hoodie. “I came here for the food, mostly. Can you protect me if shit goes down, though?” he said half-jokingly.

‘ IF THAT’S A POLITE WAY at hinting that i may or may not spend a majority of my time doing illegal things, you’re really selling it, mate. ’ hazel eyes narrow, and he tilts his head from side to side as he considers the statement. ‘ then again, retrieving a stolen phone isn’t exactly ILLICIT by any means-- the exact method can be a gray area as long as the intentions are good, yeah? ’ griffith can’t make the excuse further from factual if he tries, but fortunately, no witnesses meant that he’s earned himself the right to spin the story in any way he so pleases. and so he does. the other’s awkwardness within the environment is palpable and it draws the slightest of laughs. he hates this shit, too. ‘ good bet, that. i’m actually on my way out-- duty calls-- but apparently this whole do is meant to be a false attempt at peace, so i think very minimal shit will be going down. boring, but safe. ’

a soft hum emanates low in her throat while she rests her head against the door, her gaze moving about the room as she attempts to picture it in various shades of her favorite color. ❛  blue is my favorite. i’m not an interior decorator by any means, but i just worry if i use it too much around the house, it will look begin to look tacky.  ❜ she pouts briefly then waves it off. it’s a problem for another day. ❛  anyway..  ❜ she smiles and gives him a nod so they can move right along, pulling the door closed behind them. ❛  then of course you’ve seen my mess of a living room — it’s nicer without all the clutter, i promise. and with the windows, the lighting is beautiful when the sun’s out. it’s probably what sold me on the place.  ❜ presently, the sunset offers little light through the tall windows, but it still warms her smile as she passes through, careful not to step on any loose screws or tools and she warns griffith to do the same. as part of her open floor plan, the living room bleeds into the kitchen, and vera makes her way to the sink to fix herself a small glass of water — just enough to down her medicine. ❛  then this is the kitchen, obviously.  ❜ she moves quickly enough, popping the capsules in her mouth and following it with a drink, so she can continue with the tour. ❛  laundry room’s behind that door,  ❜ she says, pointing a finger toward the door in question. ❛  boring and small, and currently being used for storage so — cramped, too.  ❜ setting her glass on the counter, she gestures in the direction they came from. ❛  then in the hallway on the left is where the master bedroom is, but while we’re here — would you like anything to drink? your options are milk and water.  ❜

‘ YET YOU ASK ME, A BLOKE WHO HAS NEVER color-coded a single thing in his entire life? i’m not outright questioning your judgement, but i am a bit skeptical. ’ two steps to the side move his frame out of the way just enough for the lawyer to pull the door closed, and then they’re retracing their steps back to the wasteland of various unclaimed parts that they had been quick to escape. there’s an allen wrench near his toe that he nudges away, the corners of his lips lifting just slightly at her insistence that the present unsightliness isn’t a permanent fixture. it’s more to reassure herself than him, he knows, but it’s still funny to think that a few wayward bolts and screws would be where he draws the line of unacceptable. his gaze follows the path of her direction to the tall windows, and her assertion that they might be the most captivating part of the house isn’t unfounded. griffith finds himself possessed by a... reasonable hesitance to spend much of his time within the proximity of windows, but that doesn’t mean that he fails to appreciate the openness that it provides. he lingers only until she speaks once more, doing an about-face to regard both the woman and the kitchen. ‘ are you happy with it?  ’ he asks in lieu of a direct answer to her question, finding more importance in this instead. 

vera hisses through her teeth and snaps her fingers. ❛  you know, that reminds me — i need to move the mattress from my room to in here. it’ll be more practical that way.  ❜ her tone is coated in sarcasm, but the intent to furnish her home office comfortably is definitely present in the back of her mind. she keeps a sofa in her real office for those nights she works herself to near exhaustion, but she’s hoping that having a similar space at home will benefit her. that sofa will remain where it is, though — just to be safe. ❛  first stop — the guest bath because it conveniently has all my medicine for the time being.  ❜ it’s the first door on the same wall as her office. she swings it open and grabs one of the nondescript white containers on the edge of the sink before rattling a few pills into her hand. ❛  nothing special. i haven’t even bought the shower curtains yet.  ❜ the medicine still in her grasp, vera turns and waves griffith out of the small space to move on to the next room in the hallway, on the opposite wall. ❛  then this is the guest room — also pretty bare, but at least the bed’s there.  ❜ her hand lingers on the doorknob as she steps inside, leaving just enough room for griffith to squeeze by. ❛  it needs painting, too. i’m not a fan of the minty color.  ❜ her nose crinkles in thought as she observes the near-empty space of the room. ❛  i’m open to suggestions, if you have any.  ❜

THE SARCASM ITSELF ISN’T A RARITY, but the pointed drawl of her exaggerated idea is still enough to draw a twist from his lips. ‘ oh, alright, then, smartass,’ he says with a resolute nod, socked feet carrying him out of the room just behind the lawyer, ‘ i’ll be sure to have it done before i leave-- just for you. ’ the threat, while blatantly empty, isn’t delivered as such, but then again when you make a LIFETIME of lying, it all starts to sound believable eventually. they first pause at the bathroom, his eyes only making a cursory swipe at the bottles lining the rim of the sink before lifting to confirm that there are, indeed, no shower curtains. ‘ eh, don’t need those for much, ’ griffith dismisses, words punctuated by a shrug and he stands just enough out of the way to give her room to squeeze by as they continue down the hallway. the following stop is at the guest bedroom-- a concept that he’s always found rather interesting, having lived most of his life on necessity only. suppose you don’t need a separate room for guests if you explicitly avoid having any, but still, peers inside anyway, attention falling upon the offending wall color. ‘ could add a few white stripes to it, to go for the fully authentic toothpaste look, ’ he suggests unhelpfully, looking over with a half-grin. ‘ i don’t know, maybe a blue? s’a nice color. ’

There was only one thing he valued more than his own life and it was good food. He knew there was some risk of the gangs clashing and it ending in bloodshed, but it beat ordering food from the same place a fifth time in a row. His face lit up when he spotted his new ‘mate’ across the room and he rushed to him while stuffing his face with the corn dog in his hand. It was his favorite food as a kid and although he didn’t bring it, he would love to congratulate the person who did. “Hey there,” he greeted with a full mouth “Remember me? Sean, from the other night?” he swallowed and grinned. “You clean up well. You’re a lot less scary under a well lit room.”

@ofgriffith

HE HAD STOPPED BY with the sole intent of collecting some intel before going out for a job, but free food is very much free, and while he isn’t a growing boy, he carries the appetite of about ten of them. three plates later and he’s reluctantly pulling himself back on track, topping off the night with the last sip of the fourth beer he decided to sample when a creepingly familiar voice calls out. it takes griffith only a second to place the inflection with circumstance, but when he does, he turns to the other with a drawling grin, brows raised. ‘ you think i’d forget you already? ’ he shakes his head. ‘ that hurts, mate, we had a brilliant bonding experience. i must admit, i’m a bit surprised to see you roaming with the like. ’ he lifts a finger to gesture around the room.

the frustrated sigh escapes her prematurely, if only by the sound of her name. she doesn’t give him a choice and yet he’s stopping her anyway. the hand on her elbow is reminiscent of their last encounter and, while she has no intention of reliving the memory, there is a fleeting look of disappointment that crosses her features before she’s able to school them into something more natural. luckily, his hand doesn’t linger and she doesn’t have to try very hard to ignore it. ❛  cute. but i’m getting the medicine anyway — if only for the nerves you’re dancing over.  ❜ a grin to almost match his own, and she breezes by successfully this time. but she only reaches the door, fingers drumming along the wood of the frame as she considers the next move. cleaning is at the forefront of her mind, of course, but that doesn’t require griffith’s presence and she’s already asked enough of him. ❛  um.. tour?  ❜ she asks, looking over her shoulder at him with an arched brow. ❛  you’ve already had a sneak peek, but..  ❜ her shoulders shrug while her gaze drifts around the room and down her hallway before facing her company again.

HER EXPRESSION SHIFTS, AND HIS HAND DROPS LIKE LEAD. he watches her with a carefulness, now, any time they make contact. any slight change, any waver in her gaze, morphing of tone-- he catches it. he’s been cautious his whole life; he doesn’t want to make a habit out of slipping up. knuckles left a permanent shade of angry red from years of scarring slip into the single pocket of the hoodie, and his eyes roam the bare walls once more if only to give her an out if that’s what she desires. ‘ i prefer handsome, being almost eighteen, and all, ’ he speaks lowly with a shrug, held tilting to appraise her once she hesitates in the doorway. patience has never o n c e been a virtue of his-- not that he boast of having any at all ALL--  but now he knows, undoubtedly, that waiting is the right call. hell, he’d wait FOREVER if he wasn’t sure of the fact that he only has a few more years. sometimes it’s worth it, manifested in the way that his hands can’t reach out and do what they do best: ruin. ‘ oh, so we’re pretending like you’re not spending the rest of your life in here? ’ he asks, brows raised, and stands. ‘ got it. lead on, then. ’

her eyes roll so slowly up into her head that there is genuine concern they may actually get stuck up there. vera brings herself back down to earth with an exasperated sigh. ❛  actually, i think it’s all downhill from eighteen on so —  ❜ her nose crinkles in mock apology. ❛  sorry to be the bearer of bad news. just enjoy seventeen while it lasts.  ❜ vera leads the way to the near center of her office space before setting the desk down, with griffith’s help of course. her head tilts as she appraises the positioning of it, but she opts to leave it for the time being. she’ll have time to move things here and there until the balance clicks within her, and there is a balance to everything in her house — symmetrical, minimalistic, uniform. the office is her next focus. living room had been first, kitchen second, and her bedroom after that. the necessities. a huff of a laugh leaves her over his comments and she turns her head, frowning at his movement. ❛  are you hurting that badly?  ❜ the lighthearted tone from earlier has been replaced with light concern as she nods toward his shoulder. ❛  i have some pain medicine — if you need it.  ❜ despite knowing his answer, vera hopes he accepts. there are countless reasons why his muscles ache like they do, but she’s responsible for a part of them — that, she knows and that’s reason enough to insist. hand raised to keep him in place, she moves by him. ❛  i’ll grab it for you.  ❜

‘ AH, SHITE, ’ the words are hissed with a falsely disappointed shake of his head. despite its relative proximity, eighteen to griffith seems like a lifetime ago. it’s definitely a part of his life that falls on the before half of the red painting his ledger bloody, but some of the specific memories, like too many others, slip through his fingers like sand. he supposes it’s a good thing that he truly wonders if he wants them back. there’s only so many times a villain can win before the story starts to become boring. the sudden question draws him in from his appraisal of the space that just misses the mark of cozy, and he glances over, half-wondering where the proposal had come from until he realizes. right. the offending hand drops back to his side as he leans back against the desk, head already shaking before the proposal can be completed. the thin fingers lifted in his direction have immature lips quirking, and of course this is the one thing she’s brave enough to insist over. he’s dry, and with an ounce of unfounded self-preservation comes the consequent aches that he usually doesn’t have half the mind to notice. he’ll survive. ‘ vera, ’ he says haltingly, sitting forward to put a hand to her elbow. not grabbing, just-- there. ‘ i’m not in pain, it’s just habit. like getting on your nerves, for example. ’ he grins, disarming. ‘ but thanks, doc. what’s next? ’

as griffith carries on with his usual tasks without a care in the world, axel’s gaze wanders. he hadn’t had a lot of time to examine the place before his arrival ─ and he doesn’t trust that he wouldn’t have, if given the opportunity. it’s unethical. sue him. he doesn’t have a liquor cabinet. he doesn’t have a liquor cabinet? oh, this is just getting sadder by the second. no wonder he gets a kick out of raiding his, then. well, other than the company that comes with it, axel assumes. what does vera see in this guy, anyways? he’s objectively attractive. from certain angles. then he opens his mouth and it all goes down the drain. when it comes down to it, it’s all very simple in axel’s mind. vera is the sun. griffith, on the other hand, isn’t even the dirt that she shines upon. ❝ jesus? ❞ he huffs, releases a laugh. ❝ perhaps a bit lower. ❞ same energy, completely different side of the spectrum. ❝ it’s a shame, though. had i known, i would’ve brought something. my bad. ❞ there’s a pause as he seems to wonder. ❝ what’s your favorite drink, griffith? ❞

HE’S TORN BETWEEN giving axel some privacy for whatever internal monologue he’s lamenting over and being a good host, so he falls somewhere between the two. tattooed forearms are propped up on the kitchen table, and he finds just about as much entertainment watching the bare white wall just to the left of the steam coming out of the other’s ears. ‘ narcissism is pervasive on either end of the spectrum, ’ he offers with a comforting, patient grin despite the underlying edge to his words. it doesn’t yet wander into the territory of danger, regardless of what instinct urges him to do. perhaps, for once, the consequences are something to consider. ‘ love a good spiked seltzer, hawthorne. i’d bother to ask, but i suspect you might be the same. ’