#butterflypack

MISTWOOD: INTRODUCING THE PROTAGONIST AND ANTAGONIST

“I swear I hit someone; that’s how I crashed the car.”

“Did you see anyone lying on the road before you passed out?”

“No; but I saw someone walking away.”

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tenebrae; introducing tallulah wallace. (fka sybille). 

mama says wallace women weren’t made soft enough to break. so when tallulah wallace’s dreams shriek at her in situated above the kidneys and worthless and renal failure and do no harm, tallulah wallace doesn’t break. she stays silent and listens as the cracks and chips spread and grow.

tallulah first arrives at roanoke house to fill a vacancy left by a dropout. a fallen kindred spirit, the girl—odette? odessa?— had bemoaned over the phone and tallulah had hummed her sympathies because the low rent was too seductive not to. as odessa continued to sulk and reminisce, tallulah grew engaged. “surely you’ll see him again?” she’d asked.

“yes, i suppose i will,” odessa agreed, her voice distant and thoughtful. “i suppose we all will see yancy again. one day.” 

now, looking at the missing person poster nailed to the house’s front door, tallulah blinks. no wonder odessa had called her charmingly macabre as she professed her enthusiasm over meeting the revered yancy. she covers her eyes with her hand and laughs at herself and doesn’t notice when the door opens. “no wonder odette likes you,” a young man speaks and tallulah opens her eyes just in time to see him inspect her and then roll his eyes. 

odette, she reminds herself, and feels a little ashamed as he brusquely waves her inside. the old house groans at night. the pipes leak and parts of the wooden frames are rotten. but standing there, that first day, tallulah doesn’t know any of that. the room’s spacious. odette had seemed nice enough and the young man appears easily mollified by the sound of his own voice. “the name’s yates. odette says you go by tallulah. that’s real pretty. real appropriate. can i call you lulu?”

“oh, everyone calls me lu,” she replies, and is astonished when he laughs. no one has ever laughed so hard at anything she’s ever said, so far as she can remember. 

“doesn’t suit you, doesn’t suit you at all,” he announces, “i like tallulah better. we’ll call you tallulah.” 

he smiles at her and she makes herself smile back. if he’s the worst thing about living here, that’s tolerable. she knows all the ways to avoid someone and she hopes he’ll leave soon. he’s only a little taller than her, but then, she herself is taller than most and he is much wider and has camped himself right inside her door, blocking her in. a sandy haired angular barrier. she opens her mouth, searching for what she should say to steer his attention from her, but when the front door creaks open. he’s down the hall before he remembers she’s even there. “come on and meet everyone,” he yells. when she steps into the hallway, she sees he didn’t bother to wait for her and she’s relieved. she takes her time, following the noise. 

odette grabs her by the arms, clutches her like they’re old friends. tallulah stiffens. she nods and smiles through the apologies. “we have dinner parties and socratic dialogue,” she says and as she elaborates, tallulah perks up. 

“there’s a book club?” but before she can express her delight, odette shakes her head and corrects tallulah. book clubs are for desperate housewives and unfulfilled librarians. they have dialogues and discussions. 

“i see,” tallulah says, and she can but she can’t. they go on in this manner for months. tallulah growing more and more fascinated and fearful as they grow more and more flustered and fixated. until one day, she finds herself alone with ingram in the kitchen and she decides to fill the silence. “should i move out?” and then ingram says to her more than he has ever said to her in the months she’d lived steps away from him. “no. if you do, we’ll never forgive you.” 

(’tags’ clockwise from top left) better you than me; and what if it’s all in vain?; let pick yourself up. your journey isn’t half completed; let me tell you a story

Links: WIP INTRO 

INTRODUCING MISTWOOD’S MAIN RESIDENTS (2/2) ;

xander oakes - mistwood’s resident trickster zeke oakes - mistwood’s resident criminal zlei’sha cosmian - gardener of mistwood

psd + template by @castoraphics | taglist

INTRODUCING MISTWOOD’S MAIN RESIDENTS (1/2) ;

kaminokoike - the mayor of mistwood antoinette noir - mistwood’s historian finnegan laughlin - curator of mistwood’s museum

psd + template by @castoraphics | taglist

She was so transfixed on the Queen’s eyebrows that her question fell to deaf ears. With a quick jab from White Rabbit’s elbow, Alice was brought back to the throne room.

“WHAT?” she shouted, paying no heed to her loudness. A slender hand found its way to White Rabbit’s face as his shoulders rose in embarrassment. His pale lashes fluttered rapidly, as if they were attempting to clear the blush from his cheeks.

“Alice Of Fearful Hearts, you are a wonder to behold.” The Queen smirked. Her red lips appeared to stay in a subtle pout, giving off the impression of a heart.

“Why, thank you, Heartfull Queen.” Alice replied with a swift curtsy. A confused smile appeared on the queen’s face when she heard Alice’s name for her.

“My, my. This visit is going to be interesting. Come, Alice, White Rabbit. Let me escort you to your chambers.”

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“Why, White Rabbit, you appear positively gobsmacked.” she grinned, leaning down to meet him for she was large, and he was small.

Queen of Hearts towered over just about everyone in Wonderland. “Methinks that’s a reason why many are frightened of her,” White Rabbit whispered to himself.

“Did you say something, dear?” The Queen asked, brushing her hair aside. It was the colour of ink and blood, noted White Rabbit. Black faded to red as the curls descended like a waterfall down her broad shoulders.

“Not at all, Queen of Hearts!” he answered, scratching his nose nervously, “Though I do believe I am gobsmacked. Your palace is a place of wonders!”

Her pouted lips curled in satisfaction. “What about you, Alice of Fearful Hearts? Are you enchanted by my castle?”

A reply wasn’t given, as Alice was nowhere to be seen. Panic filled White Rabbit’s chest as his eyes darted furiously in search of her.

No, no, no, no, no! I said I’d keep you safe; I promised them! Alice, I promised! Where are you?! These thoughts flooded White Rabbit’s mind, determined to drown him.

Only one thing was clear to him; coming back to Wonderland was a mistake.

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