#liminal:start

the town was filling up with familiar faces, causing the tight feeling in sora’s chest began to lift. but it didn’t go away entirely, a ghost of it stayed all through his shifts, all through his walks home, and all through the night. the only time they felt any peace was when they walked the streets of their new home when the street-lamps turn on. it was the only time he could see the similarities between here and there. it felt the same, the moment where everyone laid to rest. it was a stillness, an in-between, that could be replicated anywhere. and there was a sense of home to it. they continued to walk to the docks, hoping to maybe find something there, a sense of meaning to all of it, maybe? they sat at the edge, wondering if the sea would swallow him whole, or if it would have mercy on him from a distance. the sound of footsteps behind them felt misplaced, as if there was a break in a perfect moment, so they didn’t turn away from the water when they spoke. “the next ferry isn’t until morning.”

“can you pretend to be with me?” camila more so demands than asks.. she had been outside with a cigarette, minding her own business.. when a few guys walked by that seemed far too eager to buy for her attention.. they’d gone inside after camila.. clearly not taking a hint.. and their presence loomed close behind. “.. weird al behind me can’t catch a hint and as much as i’d love to use my pepper spray.. “ she trails with a wince. “just quick, kay? till he.. fucks off or whatever.” she waves her finely manicured nails. 

        ‘  where the fuck is everyone ,  ’ icarus questions in the form of a mumble beneath his breath . if there is  anywhere  life exists no matter the hour , he figures it is the local bar . he opens his phone to look one up — no such luck service . so he walks until human life is sitting on a curb , hopefully with liquor - permeated breath . ‘  excuse me ... is this establishment  open  or closed ?  ’

“Son of a mother-fudging cocksucker bastard,” Onyx spurted out as they tripped and had to gain their balance on a nearby wall. They’d had an armful of grocery bags which were now splattered on the cracked pavement, including an entire gallon of milk. The sidewalk was now splattered with white and the multiple cereal boxes were getting soaked. Their breakfast staple was ruined. They sighed, putting their head against the wall for a moment before locking eyes with a bystander. “Nothing to see here, move along,” they said, turning back to stare at the wall. Why couldn’t their car be magically fixed?

Nic has been running this lovely little makeshift casino on the water for the past three weeks. The risk was minimal, considering the boat belonged to a shell corporation, and she played the role of just an almost innocent dealer better than most. She leaned back on the stool, deft fingers reaching up to undo two of the buttons on that white shirt before nodding towards the person in front of her. “Anyone ever tell you, you can bluff for shit?” Asked as head tilted to the side, amusement painted all over her.

          SWEAT BEADS ACROSS A FOREHEAD plastered with dark, damp and matted bangs as an overheated guitarist ducks out through the side door of a tiny dive bar and sucks in a breath. he doesn’t know why he’d gone and been so stupid as to expect fresh air, anything cooler than the absolute boiler room he’d just stepped out of ; maybe he was hoping that the lack of sunlight might knock the temperature down at least a few degrees, that the oppressive heat might have eased into something, if balmy, at least a little more comfortable. he’s wrong. and, completely drenched after what’s arguably the world’s shortest set, kelly wastes little time in shrugging out of his jacket, tossing the damp article of clothing over the nearest trash can.  ( as if that’s better than the ground. if it is, it’s not by much, that’s for damn sure. )  ❝ goddamn, it’s hotter than the devil’s dick out here ! ❞ he groans to no one in particular. hands smack wildly at pockets before landing on his back left and fishing out a crumpled soft-pack of marlboro reds. it’s only after he’s got one between his lips that he discovers he’s lost something very important and he huffs a sigh, looks around before dark irises land on the only other person within earshot.  ❝ oh, fuck me. hey ! you got a light by chance ? ❞

her lips were pressed into a thin line after pulling away the glass of wine they’d been nursing since opening their third moving box. in most circumstances they’d be happy to welcome change, to welcome a new beginning.. but when the catalyst had been something so fiery as centralia’s doom... well they felt a bit anxious. “..how are you holding up?” she asks as she looks up from her hands, eyebrows knit.

           a kind samaritan appears , assuring the guard that they will assist faye . rather than being met with gratitude , they receive faye’s backlash . you see , faye isn’t interested in being treated like a damsel in distress unless she decides to be one . ‘  listen , whatever hero kink you have is wasted on me .  ’