[laughs] this sucks man.

The little witch groaned as her boss approached her.  God she hated him.  Why couldn’t Kumo come back?  He was nice and smart, and believed the best in her.  Sydney fucking blew.  

She snorted as she rounded on Sydney.  “I only went to him cuz I couldn’t find you.  Don’t.  Touch.  My.  Shit.”

Lizzie rolled her eyes.  “Or else what?  You’re gonna faint again?  Oooh I’m so scared.”

///

The feeling was mutual.

He inhaled as she approached, holding his ground.

Deep breaths, Sydney. Deep breaths.

“Or. You could keep your shit out of my, and the mourners’, bloody way. You may live here, Elizabeth -- I allow you to live here...” God only knew why anymore, “But this is not your demesne. This is not your haunt.” IN FACT, “It’s mine.” It was like he only just realized this fact, spurring him on, “And I-I will not have you waltzing around like you’re the blimming queen. Speaking to me however you want. Hunting down my boyfriend. And doing whatever sick shit it is you do with no consequence. No more.” His jaw clenched at the eye roll. He didn’t even have time to acknowledge he had put a label on his and Lucian’s relationship without meaning to, settling on a plain, “You don’t know me.” 

And here was the kicker:

“Oh, and, love? I’ve a no pets policy. Handle your pest situation or I will for you.”

“Read: anything James Baldwin; watch: Moonlight; Listen: Solange’s A Seat at the Table.” A pause, “I think... all three artists — Baldwin, Barry Jenkins, and Solange... — they all explore rage in a very... personal, beautifully tangible way. For me. If that makes sense. It’s... quite comforting, knowing there’s someone else out there like me. — Well... Somewhat like me. Dealing with similar feelings, I mean.

August Wilson’s Fences is another great read. The film is excellent as well. Viola Davis and Denzel Washington are just... brilliant. Though it can be quite... uncomfortable if you’ve not got a great relationship with your father. Just a warning.”

For a headcanon for our muses...

Sydney has banned Lizzie from inside the funeral home. Any and all work u der her jurisdiction takes place outside on the property. He doesn’t like bringing her energy into a space where people are trying to grieve in peace.

Despite everything. Sometimes he feels bad about this.

For a song that reminds me of our muses...

“Glass House” by Screaming Females

-

By now Rainbow’s little flat had quite a lot of furniture piled into it, but the lack of coffee table was starting to annoy her to bits. Sure, the boxes kinda do the trick, but its just not the same eating your TV dinner at a make-shift wonky table that could go all mushy and collapse if you spill any liquid on it. This was her third time in this furniture shop and Ray was determined to maybe finally buy what she’s been looking for.

She turned toward the voice speaking to her, eyeing the sofa’s as the guy rambled on. “I’d say if you care about the look of a sofa at someone’s funeral, you probably didn’t care much for the person.” Ray mused. “They do both look… like they have some character.” She nodded agreeing to herself, both sofa’s looked like they belong in a living room of a 70s middle class family, in the most fun way. Rainbow grinned as she really liked the feel of both pieces of furniture. “Paisley seams more tame if you have to choose from these two?” She suggested.

///

“It’s less for the clients I suppose and more for me. The...” A pause, “My cat is a bit of a menace. The current furniture looks quite worse for wear. I just want to... created a comfortable space. That’s all... And I don’t know if I’m very good at that.” her choice forced a gentle laugh from him, “Paisley is the tame choice?” He looked back at the couch, “Maybe it’s not so bad after all. I will keep it in mind. Thank you.”

Mattie hadn’t been paying much attention to anybody around her until she heard the sound of the voice speaking to her. The blonde looked at him for a moment before she spoke up. “Oh well you would be mistaken, I was in my own little world so thanks for pulling me out of it. Well I would say for your line of work that they aren’t the best choices to go with. I think that they would want to feel a sense of calm,knowing that their loved one is at peace, some of these look like couches I used to have and I hated them.”She admitted. “ I could help you out if you want.”

///

Sydney offered her a shy smile.

“I understand the feeling... I had a friend who would do that for me often. She’s since moved away. Now I’m left to shop for couches alone, I’m afraid.” a pang in his chest thinking of Mercy. The mention of her own couches forced a curious quirk of his brow. “S’quite lonely, if I’m honest. You kind of... feel the weight of her not being there. So thank you, really. I would appreciate the help.” Pausing, waiting until they were in a quiet part of the store, “...You’re a vampire? If... I may ask... I...” motioning towards his head, “Can tell.”

“Hey!”

He kept his distance but didn’t back down.

“Now you’re going to listen to me because I’m only going to say this once: Stay. Away. From Lucian. If you need to speak to me, find me.” Just the prospect made his blood boil. But he could will himself to calm down if he focused. The more ‘civil’ (and the more brief) this conversation the better. 

“This is not a request. Do you understand?”

Mi-Sun hated furniture shopping. Absolutely detested it. Usually, she had an assistant doing these mundane tasks for her. Since she hadn’t befriended anyone in this small town yet, she was alone. Her arms crossed, she attempted to ignore the person next to her… but he was growing increasingly more annoying with every word. She sighed. 

“Please. You don’t want to know what I think.” She mumbled. “I think both of these and everything in this damned store is hideous.” She huffed out a laugh. “Besides… If you run a funeral home… The people they love are already gone. A bloody couch isn’t going to change that.” 

///

Sydney’s mouth shut immediately.

“Right... Well, maybe online shopping would be best then...” That way he could search and find exactly what he wanted and didn’t need to speak to anyone.

“...That’s... Not what I meant. I know that...” A sigh, “...I just want people to be as comfortable as possible, I guess... You’re already talking about the arrangements of a very delicate situation. It can be quite uncomfortable in itself. Let alone if you feel like you’re sat on a couch full of rocks.” a pause, “...If you aren’t interested in anything in this store why bother coming in in the first place?”

~

“You never have to apologize to me. For anything. Least of all this.” Whatever this was. Lucian had an idea, but was more concerned about Sydney’s comfort. He knew how that mind of his worked, how bad things could get–Lucian always worked hard to insure that he was never a source of stress for the psychic, but rather a comfort.

Fingers trailing against Sydney’s cheek, he pressed a light kiss to the other’s lips, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. Lucian never expected to feel this way for anyone in Wildemount, but Sydney was a pleasant surprise. His hand moved to rest on the back of the other’s neck, deepening the kiss before he pulled back with a sigh. “We don’t have to do this, if you don’t want to.” Sydney’s words prompted a chuckle from the djinn, a brow slowly arching.

“You really going to set me up to quote Alice in Wonderland at you?” He chuckled, pulling away just to look at Sydney. “It is the best kind of spontaneity. And, no, yu’re not mad. Not yet anyway. Give it time and we both know I’ll drive you to insanity.”

///

A soft smirk pulled at his lips.

“You know I can’t make any promises. I apologize to inanimate objects when I bump into them.” It’d be a learning process. But he would try. And really, since meeting Lucian Sydney had gotten so much better. More confident. Maybe the djinn was rubbing off of him.

There were... Few occasions in his life where someone was this gentle with him. Generally, Sydney refused to let anyone get close enough to try. It was freeing to turn his face towards Lucian’s hand and not flinch. To kiss and be kissed and allow himself to feel excited about this new experience instead of afraid.

His fingers gripped a little tighter at Lucian’s shirt, a breathless, “What?” escaping from between his lips when Lucian pulled away, “No. -- Yes. I want this.” a pause, as if realizing the gravity of what he’d said, “I want this. Jesus Christ, when was the last time I did something I wanted?” he ran a hand over his face, laughing, eyes flickering back to meet Lucian’s. “Oh, yeah?

Then I’m looking forward to it.”

~

Max had decided his place needed some interior remodeling, at least when it came to the furniture and ‘decor’ a term he wouldn’t use himself, but according to the internet and certain tv shows seemed to be correct. There was no real reason for the decision, midlife crisis perhaps? But he’d been looking over the couches, to put one into one of the extra bedrooms, when he heard a voice talking about two of the couches. 

“Well, they are on sale.” he mused, knowing that people tended to put things on sale that they were having a hard time getting rid of (or too much of in stock. He doubted in this case it was the latter) “I don’t think you’re being judgemental, you definitely want something that won’t remind people too much of the dead grandmother they’re burying’s place.”

///

A soft ‘ha’ when the stranger spoke.

“Yes... That’s right. I’m honestly surprised it they handed been chucked a decade ago. Dr. Kokumo seemed much more... fashion forward than that...” he cleared his throat, twisting fabric swatches between his hands, “I suppose this is all just... Very new to me. I’m used to just... working with the bodies -- the dead people --” He clarified, knowing that speaking about the deceased as objects (though they... were...) could be seen as insensitive when he didn’t mean it to be, “The family members, and their comfort? That’s new. Not to mention...” the energy of the previous owner that was left behind. But he was rambling. 

“I’m sorry. I’m talking too much.”

So here he was in the furniture shop, looking for replacement couches for the lobby. The originals had be scratched to ribbons. It was embarrassing.

He stared blankly at the paisley couch in front of him. Then turned his attention to the stripped mustard number.

“...Is it just me or are both of these options absolutely dreadful?” A pause, “...I’m sorry, I’m sure you care little about my seating preferences. It’s just... I run the funeral home in town and I’m afraid these would only aid to the grief of my clients... Or am I being too judgmental? Oh, I don’t know, what do you think?” It was this person’s lucky day, if anyone could stress over couch covers if was Sydney — the worlds most indecisive funeral director.

~

Oh.

It was the only thing that went through Lucian’s mind before it shut off entirely. Just a simple, one word thought. The coffee mug was set on the counter, already forgotten. This sort of move was something Lucian would have expected to make himself, but here they were, the roles reversed. 

And Lucian couldn’t be happier for it.

The kiss was no sooner initiated and Sydney was gone again, leaving Lucian trying to remember how to properly breathe, the butterfly feeling stronger than ever. Sydney kissed him, another act of impulse for the day. His hand was still on Sydney’s arm, scared to let go. To let him leave. His other hand rose to rest on Sydney’s cheek. “You-you don’t have to go.” A pause, Lucian moving forward slightly, lips hovering just a hair’s breadth away, a suggestion. One that left the choice up to Sydney. “I…“ He gave a quiet chuckle, eyes meeting Sydney’s, lips forming into a small smile. “I don’t want you to go.” It was fleeting, a moment of genuine weakness on the djinn’s part. No witty comment, no dramatics. 

///

Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck --

All Sydney wanted was to run. But Lucian wasn’t letting him go. His face felt like it was on fire; all he could do was seize up in attempt to make himself smaller. Was this shame? Fear? Maybe both. He was terrified so often but this was different, this wasn’t a bad thing he was trying to run from, it was a good thing. Lucian was a good thing and now Sydney was so fucking worried he went and ruined it.

Like he did everything.

“I’m... I’m sorry...” 

He forgot to breathe when Lucian touched his face, willing himself to release his bottom lip from between his teeth. He hadn’t even noticed he was bitting down on it from stress. The sound of Lucian’s laugh relaxed him -- truly -- even if when Sydney met Lucian’s gaze it was with those wide, doe caught in the headlight eyes of his. And Lucian’s smile? Sydney’s eyes involuntarily slipped closed, speaking against the taller man’s lips. Was he even awake right now? 

“...I’ve never... Done this before.” A pause, “I mean, I’ve... I’ve done this but just not with...” another man. Or anyone I liked this much. Or anyone that... liked me... and knew me... this much... That’s what he was getting at but everything was too jumbled for him to form coherent sentences. So he rested his hands on Lucian’s chest instead, fingers gently grasping at his shirt’s fabric to keep him close. Like a crutch. 

“...Is this still spontaneity?” He whispered, “Or I have finally gone mad?”