#sharpcdges

Prompts for Deep Conversations.

He’s asked himself that question more than a few times over the course of his life. Everything is usually the first answer that comes to his mind, because when he looks at the big scheme of things, his failures far outweigh his successes. The mountain of lives lost is higher than that of lives saved. So many disasters he could have stopped if he had just been a little faster, a little stronger, a little … smarter.

But when it comes down to it, every choice Chris has ever made has been with the intent to protect the innocent, keep his loved ones safe, and right even a fraction of the wrong in this world. Claire’s no different. He knows it, even if she can’t see it right now. Matter of fact, he had similar conversations with many a fresh recruit, who joined the cause determined and hopeful, only to be shocked into despair by the gruesome reality. Things hardly turn out how one plans for them to. The real challenge is having to live with the choices you make, every day, and holding onto blind hope that it was the absolute best you could do at the time.

Chris’s eyes finally rise from his feet to Claire’s next to him, before settling on the cot where a passed out Natalia lies, plugged into how many tubes and devices. “Look, what matters is you went back and saved them. That wouldn’t have been possible if you hadn’t made it out of there alive. I think at the end of the day, that’s what really matters. And I think Barry knows that. So does Moira. I’m sure the kid’s grateful, too. She gets a chance to live like she was meant to: as a child.” He reaches over and places a hand on top of her head, giving her hair a gentle ruffle. “I wouldn’t have done anything different. Except maybe bring a few more grenade launchers.”

the  patriarch's voice  echoed  over  the  length  and  breadth  of  walls,  way  down  from  the  lower  floor  near  the  brim  of  the  rosewood  stairway.  no  noise.  not  even  a  tiny  shuffling  of  shadowed  footsteps  underneath  the  door.  just  what  was  that  girl  doing  in  there?  maybe.  .  .  trying  on  some  of  the  newer  hand  me  downs  from  polly?  in  the  bathroom,  putting  on  makeup?  or  whatever  else  girls  her  age  did  these  days.  well,  he  sure  as  hell  didn't  wanna  march  straight  up  there  to  find  out.  didn't  feel  like  getting  yelled  at,  either.  not  this  early.

brows  furrow  impatiently,  eyes  lowering  to  his  wristwatch  to  gander  the  time.  10:13  a.m.  it  wasn't  like  it  was  a  set  date  per  se,  only  asking  @sharpcdges  to  pick  a  day  out  of  the  week  to  practice  driving.

the  days  stretch  out  like  a  sigh  held  too  long,  heavy  and  trembling  as  the  sun  takes  its  last  exhale  over  the  horizon.  rebecca  watches  from  her  desk,  chin  resting  sluggishly  in  the  palm  of  her  hand—training  has  crept  into  her  young  muscles,  tying  them  in  knots,  creating  aches  and  pains  she  never  thought  humanly  possible  before.  if  she’s  made  any  friends  here  their  names  would  be  tylenol  and  advil,  and  the  trusty  heat  pad  she  coughed  up  a  fistful  of  dollars  for  at  the  local  pharmacy.

oh  yeah.  she  needs  a  new  wallet  too,  she  lost  her  velcro  one  this  morning  when  she  endowed  her  bike  into  the  gutter.  the  handlebars  seem  fine,  but  the  rim  is  bent  and  jagged,  wobbling  when  she  tries  to  press  forward.

‘looks  like  i’ll  have  to  find  a  ride  home tonight.  go  me.’

CLACK!

the  sudden  noise  startles  rebecca  from  her  thoughts,  gaze  shifting  to  the  source  of  the  noise  tossed  onto  the  center  of  her  desk.

‘…  sunglasses?’

“ they’re  captain  wesker’s. ”  forest  speyer  states  with  a  grin,  his  hands  planted  firmly  on  his  hips,  as  if  he  just  shot  a  prized  buck and hung him on the wall.

“ oh?  where’d  you  find  them?  you’d  better  put  them  b-“ “ put  ‘em  on  rookie.”  he  dares  her,  reaching  out  to  ruffle  her  hair  with  his  oil  stained  hands. “ i don't think that would be a good idea... ”  she  dodges  his  fingers  just  narrowly  by  a  centimeter,  the  swipe  making  a  few  strays  blow  back  from  her  face  in  response. “ aww,  c’mon!  it  ain’t  like  he’s  around  to  see  ya.  go  on.  put  ‘em  on. ”

“yeah!”  kenneth  chimes  in  from  across  the  room,  shoulders  gently  shaking  from  laughter.  “what  the  captian  doesn’t  know  won’t  kill  him.  ‘sides,  terminators  don’t  die  anyway.  they  always  come  back.  isn’t  that  right  forest?”

“ you’re  goddamn  right! ”  he  responds,  then  begins  to  chant  with  a  rhythmic  slap  to  his  thighs with each word.

“  put  them  on,  put  them  on,  put  them  on,  put  them  on!  “

it doesn't take long for kenneth  to follow  suit, and it's all she can hear, ringing like gunfire in her ears.

“ put  them  on,  put  them  on,  put  them  on,  put  them  on!  “

…  and  so  she  does,  standing  from  her  desk,  ignoring  the  aches  and  pains  all  over  her  body.  rebecca  remains  tight-lipped,  quiet  as  she  walks  to  the  center  of  the  room,  tapping  her  foot  against  the  floor.

‘the  crowd  goes  wild.’

forest  and  kenneth  hoot  and  holler,  then  joseph  and  richard  spill  into  the  office with half melted ice cream cones,  their  cheers  growing  louder  and  louder  as  rebecca  nods  her  head,  clears  her  throat  and  let’s  her  voice  fall  to  the  lowest  decibel  she  can  muster.

“  team.  “  she  begins,  the  corners  of  her  lips  quivering,  fighting  back  a  giggle  with  all  of  her  might.

“  yes  captain?  “  forest  inquires  with  a  snort.

“  i  would  like  to  inform  you  all  that—“  a deep breath. she  presses  the  bridge  of his sunglasses up  with  her  fingers  for  dramatic  effect.

“  i  wear  my  sunglasses  at  night,  so  i  can  watch  you  weave  then  breathe  your  storylines!  “  her  fist  pumps  into  the  air,  fully  expecting  to  hear  roaring  laughter,  but  instead  she’s  met  with  pin-drop  silence,  then  dread.

no  one’s  smiling  anymore.  they’re  simply  staring  through  her,  behind  her.  that  could  mean  only  one  thing.

‘  oh  no…  ‘

“  he’s  behind  me,  isn’t  he?  “  

PROMPTS FOR DEEP CONVERSATIONS

"Thanks..." But the word lacks the gratitude it's supposed to hold. Her voice dry, hoarse. Face sticky where tears have streamed nonstop for at least an hour.

It's hard to accept Claire's words as sincere when Moira's one step away from losing faith in herself. A little wind could easily push her off the metaphorical ledge.

Moira lies on her side in the same clothes she's been wearing for two days straight. No heart to change. No heart to shower. No heart to eat, saved for the bites Claire forced down her throat.

Sore, puffy eyes look up to meet blue ones. She's always looked up to Claire. Always wanted to be as strong and resilient as her. Did Claire have days like this, too? Where she just lay in bed like a useless pile of garbage, rotting away? Where everything felt pointless? Where she wished she'd have died in one of the million times she'd stood face to face with death?

    Nika’s lips formed a thin, white line, her sharp eyes pinned on the wizard then the flowers and back at the wizard again. She didn’t know this boy, only having heard the rumors of his existence, of how he was here to compete, chirped happily out of the mouths of bubbly girls, too preoccupied with their own lives to notice a quiet witch like Nika passing by. It was better that way. Nika had no interest getting wrapped up in their suffocating lives, just as she had no interest in the bouquet held out before her. 

stephen king novels quotes starters

    “You don’t need to tell me twice,” Delilah said, focusing her attention on the languish waves her wine made as she idly tipped her glass back and forth. He was at her apartment again. His presence was not welcomed and still he stayed. Delilah said nothing to express her distaste, too tired from a full week’s work to argue any different. He would leave after they had sex and, like clockwork, the process would repeat again tomorrow. 

Ew wtf.