#exiiiled

‘ this is the place where everything starts to begin ’ - richard siken’s crush [ poetry starters ] // @exiiiled​ , mark bennett

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Concealment charms are a blessing. Learned well at the age of sixteen, abandoned, and left behind to find his way in life. Resentment a bitter emotion lingering in the background, threatening to taint the green of his song. Blue and black seeped around the edges; the rot and decay to the leaves, grass, and rain Mark claims of him. Unable to scent himself, or claim one for Mark, himself.

His mate. His lover. His childhood crush; first love and all that fell between and after. 

New beginnings are wishes of the young and old. Only one of those categories that they could claim for themselves. Forty has crept up on them. Their relationship out of order and out of whack. Too long did it take for them to get to where they are now, entwined in bed in a house worn down and underkept. The dead of night to keep them company and a new moon to give them light. Nothing to be heard save for the soft sounds of their breath and the thump thump thump of his own heart. 

How it beats and sings and hums for the wolf curved against his back. A heavy arm thrown over his waist and a hand entwined with the only one Gordo has left. His stump was blurry in the distance as he kept it out of the way. Mark is warm against him. His beard tickled the back of his neck, raven black strands held up in a messy bun, too short to remain affixed for long. Lips pressed against the nape of his neck, warm and soft. Words are mumbled, engraved into his flesh. 

Earthen eyes fluttered shut in return as he listened. 

This is the place where everything starts to begin.

That’s hopeful. That is very ambitious for them to think. Never has what they have been easy to achieve or obtain. Brought to fruition decades later only out of fear. Violet eyes and what it meant if he didn’t act now. Regret all he has ever known. Mark on the verge of slipping from his grasp forever and ever.

And what it would have meant if he had allowed it to happen. What it would have said about him, and the truths he would have had to come to terms with. Gordo is no better of a man than Mark Bennett is. They are a disaster brought about by those who came before them, making amends for the sins of the fathers. He turned around, fingers sunk into the soft beard Mark insists on sporting. Their foreheads brought together in an act of affection he still knows how to emulate.

“Don’t you fucking leave me, Mark Bennett.”

Not again. Not ever again. Not when here is where everything starts to begin. New beginnings on the cusp of the horizon. A mating mark freshly made on his shoulder, and a counterclaim inked on the throat of his lover.

“Never again.”

@exiiiled​ sent a message in a bottle: ❝  i was sort’ve hoping you needed me.  is that selfish?  ❞ // olu to jim / IT’S ALL ABOUT THE YEARNING.

              THEY HONESTLY FEEL BAD, oluwande’s words leaving a nasty, unpleasant sensation in their stomach. the sense that they’ve hurt his feelings, whether it’s right or not, id distressing to jim in a way they’re entirely unfamiliar with.

they’ve always been independent. for as long as they can recall, since the day of their birth — they’ve never needed anyone but themself, not even their family.

there’s something frightening about relying on another person for anything, but jim supposes that if they had to pick someone, they would want it to be oluwande.

“i don’t think it’s selfish,” they say, in their odd, hoarse, rasp. “i....” it’s easier, sometimes, ot say things in spanish. luckily, oluwande understands. “i don’t always know how to open up, or how to share what i feel. i’ve always been alone, && the concept of NEEDING something or someone is foreign to me, but...”

beep beep how’s my portrayal ?

another morning, another ride. as much as lady danbury had tried to rein kate in, kate could not resist the morning mist, the slight chill of the morning air as she galloped across the open fields. it was a liberty that she could not deny herself of, a semblance of freedom from the overwhelming marriage mart that they spent their days parading around. true, kate did not have to do much flaunting herself but ensuring her wits were always about her for edwina’s sake was far more draining that she had ever imagined. men were like vultures and she would be damned before she let anyone unworthy within an inch of her sister.

still, the day had barely begun and there was no need to fret about rakes just yet. at least, kate had hoped. an additional set of hooves could be heard, gaining on her own steed and she peered carefully to the side of her, just to meet eyes with viscount bridgerton.

        “well, i don’t suppose you were planning on allowing   me to have a glass myself, anyway.  so essentially, you’re still here to drink alone.”  and eloise wasn’t there to have a drink with him in the first place.  her brother had found himself a nice little spot secluded from the heart of the ball, and that was exactly what she needed at the moment, too.  she could almost hear their mother chastising her for her failure to dance with the two remaining men on her dance card, but she’d worry about that much later when it actually happens.  or if anthony would do the honor himself right then.

“i don’t think i need to explain why i’m hiding like you are, but do feel free to ignore my presence,”  she says as she sits down across from him, sighing in relief.  “i’ve had to converse with enough men for the past two hours to last me a fortnight without speaking to another.”

‘ this is a good look for you ’ kieran & poppy [ @exiiiled​ ]

SHE SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN FLUSTERED BY THE WORDS FROM HER FAVOURITE WOLVEN, BUT IT WASN’T EXACTLY EASY FOR HER TO DENY HERSELF THE PLEASED FLUSH THAT DARKENED HER CHEEKS WITH THE COMPLIMENT. she tossed her head with an aura of indignance, but she was confident that he’d be able to see the little smile that tugged at the corners of her lips as she did so. ❝ we have more important things to be focused on than how i look in your tunic, kieran. you and i both know that my wearing your shirt was necessary after what the craven did to mine and the fact that you don’t need clothes when you’re shifted. it’s not just to boost your ego. ❞ she quipped, though she had to admit she was thankful they’d thought of it. she shuddered internally as she remembered the stench left upon her after the last attack they’d dealt with and made a note to properly thank her joined advisor when they were in company less likely to eavesdrop - or in netta’s case, to spend the next week teasing them about it.