#prophecylinked

he just isn't expecting to run into someone he knows in the process.

❝  ...  amanda.  ❞   as  always,  ren's  breath  leaves  no  vapor  in  the  air when he speaks.  ❝  what  are  you  doing  up  here?  ❞

( @prophecylinked - mandy ) "Rennn, I need more lessons! I almost got robbed again yesterdayy!"

        𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 — thank God she was where she needed to be. Her phone, long since dead, is unceremoniously shoved into her back pocket as she pulls into the dust makeshift parking lot, loud music already drowning out the sound of her engine. Lillie was the only one that really knew where she was — for all Lillie’s dad knew, she was going on a trip to meet some friends, though she is sure her cover will be blown once she comes home smelling like beer and looking like shit. After all, if anyone knows punk shows, it would be him.

The first place she goes when she gets out of her car is over to wherever the alcohol is kept, ignoring whatever stares and glances she gets on the way, though one particular set of eyes seem to follow her more than the others.

[ txt: DRAFT UNSENT ] mabel says that i’m sort of mean to you by being so cold and distant, i’m sorry. i don’t want to be mean.  [ txt: DRAFT UNSENT ] i just dont trust easily. i hope you can understand that i’m not trying to be malicious [ txt ] hey! soos fixed up this ancient projector thing and mabel and i are going to use it to watch cheesy horror movies on the side of the shack, did you want to join? [ txt ] there is going to be a ton of snacks and soda if that sweetens the pot at all 👀

he  lands  on  the  windowsill  like  a  particularly  ornate  bird,  taking  a  seat  with  his  back  to  the  glass.  a  hand  raises;  knuckles  tap  —  once,  twice,  three  times  in  a wordless  demand  for  ATTENTION.  with  any  luck,  amanda  is  around  to  let  him  in.  if  not,  ren  supposes  he  doesn't  particularly  mind  sitting  there  while  he  waits.  (  a  worthwhile  use  of  his  so-called  valuable  time,  surely.  )  lightning  bright  gaze  drifts  to  a  nearby  tree,  tracing  its  branches.  a  nest  still  sits  among  them;  he  refuses  to  acknowledge  what  RELIEF  the  sight  may  bring  him  —  to  learn  that  the  birds  are  still  present  and  safe,  even  after  his  absence.

they aren't the wanderer's responsibility, of course. he just likes to feed them — whenever the whim strikes.

@prophecylinked​  &&.  said...                SPRAIN :  for one muse to carry the other after spraining their ankle. ~amanda from prophecylinked

...  this  would  be  the  perfect  setup  for  an  ambush.

a  distant  yelp  of  pain  —  a  HURT  STRANGER  sitting  on  the  side  of  the  road.  one  garbed  in  a  distinctly  inazuman  set  of  attire,  no  less.  ordinarily,  the  wanderer  would  walk  right  by  such  a  pathetic  scene  (  knowing  he  was  under  no  real  obligation  to  help  )  but  this  particular  stranger  was  a  child.  as  much  as  ren  wanted  to  embrace  comfortable  APATHY,  he  simply  couldn’t  avert  his  eyes.  in  doing  so,  he  would  potentially  be  condemning  an  innocent  kid  to  an  unfortunate  fate  —  a  line  even  one  as  callous  as  he  couldn’t  bring  himself  to  cross.  there  was  no  telling  who  the  next  to  pass  her  by  would  be,  after  all.  there  was  no  telling  whether  they  would  be  the  kind  of  merciful  do-gooder  who’d  jump  at  the  chance  to  help  —  or  someone  reprehensible  looking  for  an  easy  TARGET.

besides,  things  had  been  getting  awfully  DULL  as  of  late;  if  anyone  wanted  to  attack  him ...  ren  welcomed  them  to  try.

❝  don’t  let  my  HAT  fall.  ❞      he  called  over  his  shoulder.  it  was  a  bit  of  an  awkward  arrangement;  the  kid  was  already  wearing  a  hat  herself.  trying  to  stack  them  made  for  a  ridiculous  sight,  but  thankfully  there  didn’t  seem  to  be  any  WITNESSES  hanging  about  to  see  it.  turning  back  around,  the  wanderer  fixed  his  gaze  on  the  road  ahead.  (  his  sandals  crunching  on  loose  gravel ...  no  wonder  she  slipped.  )      ❝  if  memory  serves,  there’s  an  inn  further  down  the  path.  ❞      he  had  been  through  this  area  once  or  twice  before.      ❝  would  you  be  alright  getting  dropped  off  there?  i  think  you’ll  live.  ❞

@marchingasone &&. said... msg from katxgirlxoxo: so who's this mandy? msg from katxgirlxoxo: seems to think throwing around insults does her any favors msg from katxgirlxoxo: i don't think i like her msg from katxgirlxoxo: also who is arakan? msg from katxgirlxoxo: is arakan your family too?

he  looks  at  the  messages  lighting  up  his  phone  and  feels  his  lips  curl  with  disdain.  the  group  chat  is  no  longer  a  SAFE  PLACE  —  not  that  it  ever  was  with  the  likes  of  dottore  hanging  around,  but  at  least  the  threat  he  poses  feels  more  manageable  by  comparison.  he's  familiar;  a  lurking  threat,  slowly  eating  away  at  their  collective  morale  like  an  acid  dissolving  flesh.  this  person  —  this  waste  of  skin  and  oxygen  is  unpredictable.  a  knife  driven  mercilessly  between  the  ribs,  serrated  edge  ripping  and  tearing  as  it  goes.  each  subsequent  blow  delving  deeper,  causing  more  damage  —  leaving  little  pause  for  the  bleeding  to  slow  before  going  in  for  another  attack.  things  can't  go  on  like  this  FOREVER;  he's  sure  of  it.  the  only  question  is  who  breaks  first,  and  ren  (  pessimist  that  he  is  )  doesn't  feel  as  confident  about  their  chances  as  he  would  ever  profess  aloud.

still.  he's  dug  himself  into  this  hole  —  he  may  as  well  keep  going.  he  has  her  trust,  for  now;  he  has  to  make  SOMETHING  out  of  it.

𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑: ignore them 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑: amanda is just some kid who wormed her way into the gc 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑: kaminari's been feeding them all kinds of bullshit about you. 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑: she's just trying to sound cool in front of everyone. 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑: as for arakan...... 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑: they're kami's sibling 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑: think of them as living proof someone can exist without any redeeming qualities whatsoever 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑: they hate my guts and i hate theirs :)

it's  all  lies  —  well,  mostly.  the  animosity  he  portrays  between  himself  and  arakan  is  very  much  real  —  at  least  from  ren's  perspective.  he's  sure  they  have  redeeming  qualities;  he's  simply  never  been  the  recipient  of  them.  (  their  family  drama  truly  is  something  to  behold,  in  the  same  way  a  car  crash  inspires  onlookers  to  stop  and  stare.  )  in  any  case,  the streamer's choice of  wording  is  deliberate.  all  condescending,  all  meant  to  downplay  them  both  as  insignificant,  uninspiring,  not  worth  paying  any  mind.  like  insects  tapping  ineffectually  at  a  window.  it's  not  much,  but  if  he  can  at  least  PROTECT  them  from  further  harassment,  he'll  gladly  bear  their  share  of  the  attention  in  their  place.

he bites the inside of his cheek. thinking. planning. trying to figure out how he wants to EASE HER into answering his questions.

𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑: watching them get worked up into a panic was hilarious 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑: wish i was around to see it happen live 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑: how did you get in? 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐑: the group chat hasn't been that interesting in ages