#sneeps

hellooo I have been writing non stop idk why I haven't been posting it. like. at all. but I got the urge now so here's some. cw for discussion of Eating People

-

He waited for Rosalind to leave. That was the polite thing to do. When she was far enough away, collecting birch bark and twigs, Arthur turned to Orion.

“I told you I knew that woman didn’t die from a stab wound.”

Orion barely frowned. “You don’t have to rub it in.”

“I’m not.” He let his gaze settle over Orion. Their dark eyes were deep-set and tired, and there was a hunch in their posture that hadn’t been there before. The words light on his tongue, he asked, “Should I consider myself to be travelling with a cannibal or a monster?”

Orion’s head shot up. “I beg your fucking pardon?”

“I think the question was clear?” Arthur said, shrugging.

“You're asking if I'm still human.” They fidgeted as they spoke, but didn't break eye contact. “That didn't matter before.”

“You weren't eating people before.”

They stepped forward, head held high and as in Arthur's space as they could be, with the nearly full foot of height difference. “Are you scared?”

“Not of being eaten.” Arthur lightly pushed them backward. “I just wanted to know. Do you see yourself as person who eats other people, or an animal who hunts other animals?”

Orion scowled. “Do you see yourself as an asshole or a bitch?”

“I'm fluid.”

“Beautiful.” Orion looked at him for another few seconds, then sighed, and admitted, “I don't know.”

“Which makes you more comfortable?” Arthur asked.

They swallowed. “I don't know.”

-

I’m doing my seventh show night in a row (stage acting), which has meant my seventh late night (in bed at midnight, up at six in the morning), when I typically go to bed at 9-10PM and get up at 7AM. I am NOT awake right now, I haven’t been sleeping. Also for the past two days I’ve been waking up at 4 am due to…. the universe fucking with me???? So like I’ve had not anywhere near enough sleep to be acting every night on top of work lmao

On top of that I’ve been cycling at least three hours every day (long story) so my body is on absolute NOPE MODE right now.

But our understudy (replacement actress for my fellow lead actor) is performing her last night tonight and she’s been absolutely brilliant (she memorized the whole script in nine days. NINE!!!!!). So. Given she’s my scene partner and also my stage girlfriend in the play, I want to give her my best tonight.

I made a peep snom to go along with the spinel one-

this is when they're around. 17? yeah. that sounds right

-

"You shouldn’t be here,” Penelope whispered.

“Get off me.”

“You’re only here because Ashfall likes you,” she said. The electricity had slowed, and she was talking slower, but he was still kept in pain. “I’ve heard the way he talks. Charismatic, for sure. I guarantee he prattled on to his father until something stuck, and now you’re with us, even though you’re sloppy and your family is lazy.”

Alexei twisted around and then shoved her, hard. Penelope didn’t expect it, and she fell. He quickly stood. “I told you to get off of me.” Bitterness coursed through his veins where electricity had just been. Both burned. “You’re not special for being a priestess bitch. You’re just lucky.”

She glared at him and slowly rose. “Fuck off.” With that, she strode away toward where Helena and Hugo were sitting, their fights done.

“You good?” came Arthur’s voice.

Alexei turned to face him. He was just sweating enough that his hair had gone frizzier, a somewhat endearing look. “I’m fine.”

“Did you get your ass kicked?” Arthur asked, the corner of his mouth slightly upturned.

“It was an even fight,” Alexei replied.

“That’s a yes?”

Alexei scrunched his nose and did not answer, which was answer enough. “Why’s she such a dick?”

Arthur shrugged. “Her parents are dicks, probably. Or she finds it funny, or an easier type of person to be, or hot. Multiple of the above. I don’t know. Don’t worry about her, Lex.”

Alexei sighed. After a moment, he looked Arthur up and down again, and asked, “Did you get your ass kicked?”

That slight upturned smile came again. “You’re still the only one to accomplish that.”

-

i'm juuust in here on time,,,,, here's arthur crashing in on alexei's weird alone time at the church that he's involved in for reasons relating to Creepy Priest Bitch, Erastus. yippee

-

“What do you need, Arthur?”

Arthur shrugged. “You didn’t come to class today.”

Alexei glanced at the clock. School had just ended. “Yeah. That’s not uncommon.”

“I know,” Arthur replied. “That’s the problem. I feel like you’re barely there anymore.” He hesitated. “Are you just… here?”

Alexei grabbed a box full of syringes. He didn’t like that there was a box full of syringes down here, quite honestly. “Not usually.” He grabbed some heavy-duty tape, ripping off a long strip with his teeth. Through the slight taste of tape gunk, he added, “Mostly just Fridays.” He taped the syringe box closed and scribbled out the label, hoping to give Erastus a shittier afternoon the next time he needed any.

Arthur frowned, crossing his arms. “Where else do you go?”

“Work.” Alexei shoved the box behind two others.

“You have a job?”

“Yes,” Alexei replied indignantly. (He knew full well he had never said nor hinted to Arthur that that was the case.)

“See, this is what I mean,” Arthur said with a sigh. “I’d probably know this if you were ever at school.”

“Why do you care if I’m at school?” Alexei started poking around in another box, mostly just to mess with things.

“One: I’m bored,” Arthur replied. He came closer, peering into the same box. “Two: you’re not going to graduate at this rate.” Alexei could hear genuine concern creeping into Arthur’s voice. It made him pissy.

“I’ll be fine,” Alexei mumbled. “I honestly think Erastus will get my grades changed if they’re that bad. And if he doesn’t… I dunno. I don’t need a diploma.” He looked back at Bess, who seemed both annoyed and uncomfortable. “You can go back to your date. Don’t worry about me. I’m always fine.”

“Are you sick?” Arthur replied. Alexei threw a small box at him in response. “Hey! I’m worried.”