-- rusty halo

“Shhhh— do you hear that? That tweeting noise? Or.. am I the only one who hears it? I swear to God there was this bird outside my window last night that would not shut up and usually that’s not a big deal.. but I can’t get the sound out of my head. The tweeting is everywhere.”

“tweet tweet tweet. is that how it sounded like?”

“So, I’ve been thinking of talking to the londlord about getting a roommates policy for the bulding or something. Neutral for either side, of course. It’d be a good idea in case someone ever feels like murdering the other in their sleep ──What do you say? Would you sign?”

“i’ve never felt like murdering you in your sleep, have you considered hurting me? precious little cairo who wouldn’t hurt a fly? that’s not cool, man.”

“alright, alright, you win. i could probably get some tight shots with this little adventure. or drop my precious camera from thousands of feet above the ground. you’re killing me, man.”

“vance.” he states seriously. “bring one of them cameras you strap on your body, you can’t actually hold one while you’re up there, y’know?”

“Seriously?” the girl sighed with a pointed look. Rolling her eyes she reached out her hand for the coffee and waited for him to place it in her hand so she could add more cream to it.

his lips break into a smile as his gaze lingers on her extended hand then back up to meet her eyes. “’m kiddin’, love.” he smirks, leaning back in his chair. “twelve hours sounds rough though. y’know, you could quit ‘nd work for me.”

“well then, you should have no problem with me not going. i don’t care if it were your last, dying wish. i don’t jump out of planes, only to rely on a bag to save me from falling to the earth.”

“uh, it’s not a bag. it’s a parachute. you know what those are right? they keep you from crashing into the ground if you do it right.”

“Watch it, fucking cunt.” Phoenix hissed to the other person when he feels them brush against his left side, near the stitches that were still healing. He’s been adamant on taking any pain medication today and it was going smoothly until there was a wrong twist.

cairo furrows his eyebrows ant turns to the blond “firstly, chill the fuck out i barely even touched you. secondly, what’s got you so tense?”

“People who say “there’s no such thing as a stupid question” need to just stop. I know many examples. Now, be a good Samaritan and tell me where I can get a good beer after that shift.”

“i’ll suggest some places once you give me an example of a stupid question.”

“I’ve been on my feet for way too long and I swear to god if one more person complains that there’s not enough cream in their coffee I’m going to dump it on their head,” the brunette sighed, glad that she was finally done with her twelve hour shift at the cafe she worked out and she couldn’t be more excited to go lay on her couch for the rest of the night. 

he looks down at his coffee placed beside his sketch, a look of faux disapproval masking his features before he lifts his gaze to meet hers. “actually, could you do me a favour and add more cream in this?” 

“hell…fucking…no. pretty sure there are other people who are much more interested in doin’ shit like that than me. i’m not finding a replacement for shit i didn’t plan. i’ll just be a no-show.”

“this is non-refundable, not that i give a shit about the money, but it’s something i really want to do, so unless you find me a replacement, you’re coming with me.”

“man, i’m all for spontaneity, but things that are out of my control are a little iffy with me. what if the instructors are duds and let us die?”

he blinks. “they have 4.5 star reviews on yelp, i doubt they’re duds.”

“that’s—– weird. like really weird.” green hues studied the man before her curiously. “what made you wanna do that? more specifically, what made you wanna do that with me?“ she shook her head. “what kind of a plane are you expecting me to jump out of, anyways? is it a private jet? and more importantly, will there be champagne involved? because i don’t think you’ll be able to strap me into anything without at least three flutes.”

“i put down the first name i thought of, love.” he begins, already exasperated. he should have expected it, though, he supposes. “ and who really gives a fuck about the plane , we’re gonna be jumping out of it, and trust me unless you wanna throw it back up, there’s no point in drinking champagne. not that they’d allow you, anyway.”

catalina rolled her eyes and looked past cairo to think about her decision. “fine,” she sighed, “but only if we go on the rides too. we can’t just pay for tickets and not go on the rides.” as the words flew out of her mouth, a knot formed in her stomach. cat’s eyebrows rose and her hand rested on her stomach as she drew in a sharp breath, “i’m terrified, honestly.”

he looks at her, dumbfounded. “duh, cat! people don’t go to six flags for the view of fucking course we’re going on the rides.” his gaze studies her for a few seconds. “don’t be, i promise it’ll be a lot of fun, yeah? we can check if there’s like, one of them simulation machines around if ‘ya wanna prepare for it?”

“Skydiving?” Alex’s jaw dropped momentarily. “I mean, while that sounds all good and fun or whatever, I don’t know if you know, and you probably don’t because we don’t really know each other, but I’m scared of heights.” 

He quirks his eyebrow, “This is a great opportunity for you to get over your fear then!” He smiles encouragingly, patting her on the back.

“right? like, being murderedd by a good looking person makes it seem a little better?” madeline let out a small chuckle as she nodded her head. “deal, if i have to kill you, i’ll make sure to, like, stab you twenty seven times or shoot you in the chest. that sound okay?”

“exactly! you get me!” he agrees with a grin, but it slowly fades. “hey, hey, no. if you kill me, you have to make it quick, that’s the least you can do. i don’t want to spend my last few minutes or seconds on earth in pain.”