#oliverashcroftdocuments

‘good morning, Damien!’ Oliver signed happily, a smile wide on his face.

(and a hug for the mun too! happy new year!)

For When You Need a Hug (Accepting across the blogs, but will be slow!)

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The first day back after any form of work break was always considered a culture shock to anyone. It was easier to envision a world where one didn't have to go back to work. A life of luxury sounded grand in the long-term.

But the world needed to keep spinning. Some jobs were vital, such as the mayor who would make sure that schemes to help those who had been affected by public service buildings being closed were helped as early as possible. Damien had goals for the new year, after all, and he wanted those in the city to benefit from ideas that seemed so obvious that it was a surprise that no one had considered them before.

Seeing Oliver after a break away was a further pep in his step. When the attorney stepped into his office, Damien was up on his feet, crossing the office, and pulling his friend into a quick, yet firm, hug. Nothing like the bear-hugs the Colonel would give to those he was comfortable with, but clearly a consequence of being in the soldier's company over the break.

Ollie was in William’s old room, from before it was redone to be a guest room when… Ollie didn’t remember exactly. There were photos on the old dresser and walls of the twins, Mark and Will, then little Oliver in later pictures. The attorney sniffed, face wet and slowly crystalizing with ice. It was getting harder to remember names, and it scared the attorney. He could hardly remember Damien’s sister, let alone her name. All Ollie knew was he didn’t trust her. but why? laid on his tongue, but he didn’t want to say it.

When Wilford found the ghost, Ollie flickered and turned slightly. His eyes were still watery, even as his face was pale with frost. Ollie look like they needed a hug but wouldn’t admit it.

@oliver-ashcroft-documents

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The Manor was quiet. Perfect time to snoop around for stuff. Wilford needed some ideas for the Jims to research, so looking at the old items scattered throughout the Manor was a great way to spark inspiration!

Whatever thoughts he had gathered immediately dispersed when he opened a door. It was a room he wasn't too keen on entering, but there was a sharp chill from the door handle. That would be a cue for a sensible person to avoid it. Unfortunately, Wilford was a self-proclaimed "unsensible", and so he poked his head around the door before stepping inside.

The room felt empty, despite the photographs dotted across it. They were ignored as something else took centre stage:

His hand reached out, only to hesitate. Oliver looked more distressed than Wilford could ever recall. But what could he do? Once more, one would let logic triumph... Unless you are Wilford.

Pity was quickly shaken off with a huff and a grumble of "Well, this won't do". Without even considering whether he should ask permission or whether this was possible, he marched toward the ghost and wrapped his arms around Oliver.

Oliver snuck inside the mayor’s office after a close call with the secretary, mentioning how he was running an errand for Damien and thought to liven the room up. They seemed tickled by it, saying something about the Mayor needing the freshness before winter came. Oliver had agreed politely, then closed the office door with a sigh of relief. Damien was inside, thankfully, and the attorney beamed with delight.

Without hands to speak with, Oliver moved forward and handed Damien a small bouquet of a couple gardenias and some white lilies (a reference to a time when Oliver confused to the two flowers as a growing boy), with there being one lilac in the middle. ‘i also have this, my gardenia.’ Oliver signed, hands shaky with nerves.

From his pocket, the man pulled out said black gift box, the ribbon and twine twisted into an imperfect bow. Once Damien opened it, there was a leather bracelet, with a metal plate. It was pretty small, non intrusive, but the words on it were clear: “Life is Ours to Choose”. Taking advantage of the surprise, Oliver placed a gentle kiss to Damien’s temple, warm like summer.

‘happy birthday, my Damien.’

@oliver-ashcroft-documents

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A Friday was a risky day. Some weeks would make the final day a near insurmountable hurdle. Other weeks, it would be hauntingly quiet. On days like today, there was a busy hum, but never anything too frantic. It was enough to keep Damien occupied, with enough quiet spells to realise something was missing.

Or rather, someone.

He knew better than to give hopeful glances to the door when he swore he heard movement. He knew Oliver was busy today! It would be unfair to put an unspoken expectation on the Attorney before Damien left office for the afternoon. And yet... Part of him hoped that maybe, just maybe, a familiar face might poke his head around the ajar door and share that smile that made Damien’s heart skip a beat. However, he needed to be realistic. Daydreaming about such a matter would only delay the planned early departure. He could always pop into the other’s office on his way out.

It meant that by the time Oliver did appear, Damien was in the middle of proof-reading a letter that would be sent out to various team leaders for an upcoming project. The requests needed to be clear and concise so there were no chances of misinterpretation. A hint of movement in his periphery prompted Damien to lift his head just as the door was closed and the Attorney turned his full attention to the Mayor.

“Oliver... Oh, they’re beautiful.” He was up on his feet in an instant, hurrying over to gently cradle the bouquet. It was little surprise to note that the stems had been freshly trimmed, ensuring they would be ready for a home in a vase. The flowers were alike at first, until he giggled at which flowers were chosen. It would seem gardenias and lilies would always be an inside joke for the two of them. They also served to make the sole lilac stand out with a flourish. “I couldn’t have asked for anything - hm?” As he tried to answer, he noticed how Oliver’s hands lifted as he revealed there was another part to the present. Rather than putting the nervous Attorney under further pressure, Damien briefly turned his back, using the laying the flowers on it as an excuse to buy Oliver a moment to collect himself.

A small, narrow box was presented to him, wrapped with twine and a pale ribbon that was smooth to the touch. It didn’t matter if the bow wasn’t perfect, it was Oliver, which made it far more special in Damien’s eyes. The bow was carefully undone, as though there was a risk of somehow tearing it. Then, he clicked the box open to reveal the leather band.

The bracelet wasn’t like anything Damien would have received growing up. In a world of silver and pearls, a bracelet made of leather would have been seen as ‘uncouth’. But not to him. It was charming in its simplicity, drawing the eye to a phrase that Damien must have said a hundred times in a small, discreet font. If the light shone against the metal at just the right angle, the text almost disappeared. It was like magic, and Damien found himself spellbound by such a touching gift. But he had dropped his guard, and was unprepared for the kiss against his warm skin.

My Damien.

That did have a nice ring to it, Damien decided. Once more, he briefly turned his attention to the desk, this time so he could remove the bracelet from the hold and offer it to Oliver.

(i am sorry for him but he really chose violence tonight aldskf)

@oliver-ashcroft-documents

The stranger looks familiar, but he can't quite put a name to it. However, the dare is taken onboard as he lightly taps his chin with a finger.

Let Wilf Draw Your Muse! (Accepting!)

@oliver-ashcroft-documents

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"Him babey!!"

‘hi! what is your favorite part about spring?’ He asked, his pale hair floating as he beams up at the pink reporter.

@oliver-ashcroft-documents

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A friendly face in the dressing-room-studio!

Wilford had been checking out his reflection in the large mirror when a hint of movement caught his eye. Thinking it was one of the more "serious" members of the team, he spun around with a hand innocently running through his curls like he was totally just fixing some rebellious strands.

"Ollie! So good of ya ta swing by!" A chair was grabbed and brought over so Wilford could drop onto it. "Y'know, that's a great question. Might hafta look into ya joinin' th' team fer some ghostly interviews. Could give one or two of th' younger Jims some good pointers, I'd bet. But, ah, lemme think fer a sec... I like th' longer days. When yer someone like me, who's spent a lotta time fallin' in an' out of time, goin' back an' forth an' baaack an' foooorth, ya forget what it's like ta actually experience time normally. Y'know: th' fourteenth turns ta th' fifteenth, then th' sixteenth, that sorta thing. An' each day, th' sun's settin' a little later. Did ya know it does that? I sure forgot it did."

What a strange answer. One would have assumed he would have jumped to an answer that connected the cherry blossoms to him. Instead, he chuckled. "I have this, uh, faint thing I can see in my head where I'd gotten my hands on some chalk. Me, an' this other small person, were makin' notes on a path. Maybe lines? Maybe words? I don't know, but it was somethin' we did each day fer a while. Like we were, we were..." He paused, a penny dropping in his mind, "We were takin' note of where th' shadows stood at th' same time every day."

( @oliver-ashcroft-documents, @the-graves-family ) - Following on from this

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Well now, that got a hearty laugh out of the prisoner.

@oliver-ashcroft-documents

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"Crashing Wallop Lackadaisy -" Oh no, Yancy had to resort to using the full name in a scolding voice and a wagging finger, "- I thought I told you that youse don't gotta be here every month for the visitation slot. That ain't fair on no one. Youse got a lotta living to catch up on, remember?"

Of course Oliver would remember. Not everyone was in prison because they landed in it through a weird thing. The mess was sorted out and Oliver was sent on his merry way. Which was important! Innocent people didn't belong in prison. But a question was asked, and the greaser would answer.

"Y'know. Same shit, different day. I's been looking at some of them music courses they's is running. I got this ukulele, see, but I ain't that good at playing it. I figure someone oughta know how it works, right? Can't be that hard if you asks me." He could play a few melodies by ear, but the chords were proving too tricky a challenge.