-- and shamefully laps at Steve's mud-encrusted, filthy boots in wide stripes --

             the full moon approaches, and simon could feel himself losing control. sooner and sooner, these days, it felt like. where once he could work up until the night before a moon, now simon closed the week prior and found his way back up into the mountains, where he could transform without hurting anyone. only days remained until the harvest moon, and the bartender believed he could make it, this time. he could wait it out, fight the urges that came with his condition. this wouldn’t be the first time he had been wrong. leaning away from the man who stood across the bar, simon’s expression doesn’t change, despite being called out on his accidental indulgence. his pride had been wounded, but that was nothing new, either.  ‘ your cologne. it smells familiar, ’  a good enough cover up, one given through slightly slurred words. hands land on the counter.  ‘ won’t happen again. promise, ’     @cloudtm.

               don’t get attached, don’t make friends. you never know when you’re going to get betrayed out here, throat slit in the sand, or a bullet straight through an eye. stumbling across the girl, party had half a mind to take her back to where she said she came from. running around out here with a savior complex - there was only room in the dunes for one martyr. then poison saw something in her ; part of himself, a younger him, someone who wanted to help, who would venture out into a wasteland and risk their own life for others. foolish, really. party wouldn’t recommend it. look at what’s happened to him - alone, wandering, looking for people to rescue when he can’t even save himself. but it was her choice, ultimately. which is why she was sitting in the passenger set of his trans am as he drove through the sandstorm.  ‘ get your arm inside, roll up th’window, ’  one hand retracts from the steering wheel to do the same, hot air now trapped in the car with them. chin nods out the windshield, offering a view of the dense sky ahead.  ‘ storm’s comin’ up. strap in, ’     @cloudtm​.

it’s different when it’s just them.  there’s a certain feeling in the pit of her stomach at his compliment, but she tries to push it aside, even if her body goes hot, goes flush.  sadie’s lips curl up into a smile as she lifts herself up on her elbows to lessen the distance.  “ you’re not so bad yourself, sweetheart. ”  she brings one foot up to draw against the side of his thigh, gently, so gently.  “ are you just gonna stare at me all night, puppy?  not that it’s an issue-- but i’m naked and you’re not.  that’s not fair to me, is it? ”

             it’s the smell of books and the calming atmosphere that keeps ace coming back to this job. set aside the money they need to survive in a too expensive city ; there was no where else ace would rather be than in a shop filled floor to ceiling with books. rows and rows of novels, autobiographies, poetry and music line the shelves that ace now knows like the back of their hand. clerk wanders through the aisles with their cart of donations, eyes meeting that of another’s standing a bit down from them.  ‘ can i help you find something? ’  ace perks up, hands rested on the cart as they give the other a grin.  ‘ or give recommendations - that’s my specality, ’     @cloudtm.

For now.

@cloudtm​ / wanda

           “perhaps you were too slow,” you respond wryly, tone dry and your words drawled as you twist your hand and the cosmic energy you wield fades to nothing in your palm. your eyes flit up to meet his, and you shrug.     “next time- i’ll leave you one to play with, hm?”