#v.bri

He doesn't do costumes, not really- the tail end of the era of Ziggy's willingness to play dress up had, all things considered, likely been whiled away in prison. It's not like he's without a little willingness to participate in the cheer, sat at the radio booth with KB and Cash, the dog wearing a pair of cardboard cutout bat wings on his harness and Ziggy carving crude buttons for KB's projects- passing one to the older man a moment later. He'd taken on the task of helping the host repair his home in the last few weeks- as KB had been one of the few people in town who received him somewhat kindly early on. "Here's another one, old man." He declares, KB laughing and rolling his eyes.

"Oh- Hello Miss Ryan!" KB greets pleasantly as he places another crochet critter on the booth in front of himself- Ziggy glancing up- and nearly choking on his toothpick.

"H-Hey. Bri." He greets, coughing and straightening up- Cash letting out a happy warble and stretching, lumbering out of his spot under the counter to demand attention. "you look... Uh. So! I didn't know they still even did these here- the uh, festivals? All things considered."

@violenttempest

Thank God the water's cool. Sure, Ziggy's never been one to complain, at least, not after he'd decided that he needed to repent for his lifetime of being an insufferable dick, but it had been a cooker the last few days on the handful of odd-jobs he'd undertaken, and he felt bad for Cash, the German Shepherd panting more than he was doing anything else lately. So it's no surprise that he's playing frisbee with the pup and a few of the other locals now, a towel around his shoulders and swim trunks both already wet from a few trips into the lake- at least one of them surely to chase the dog, similarly wet and thrilled to partake in the day's festivities.

He's taken by surprise, though, when in the middle of chasing a throw, Cash halts in his tracks to start barking, wagging his tail wildly. "What the hell's gotten into-" He trails off, turning to look where the canine's attention has settled. "Shoulda assumed it was you, Sparkplug, everybody else in this town's about as interestin' as wallpaper to Johnny Cash here." He reaches down to pat the pup's head, crosses arms over his bare torso with a grin as he take Bri in. "Damn nice day out, ain't it? Crossing my fingers it stays that way, been a scorcher the last few."

@violenttempest

"You know, I feel like it aught to be a testament t' how much I like you that I'm willing to endure this whole... Ball thing." Ziggy chuckles, adjusting the straps of the decor on his suit. "Especially when apparently my old trusty suit and tie isn't the 'right way' to dress for it." It's good natured ribbing, and as he offers his arm to Bri, he takes the time to take her in. "God. been a long time since I took you to any sort of dance, huh?" It had to have been his senior prom, just before things got... complicated. "Granted, the outfits? Way different. similar amount of black and tulle, And if I'm rememberin' correctly, most everybody was secretly wearin' converse underneath their dresses so we could pretend we really didn't give a shit about dressing nice, despite the fact that, much like today, I stood in my bedroom wondering if you'd accept 'sheet ghost' as an outfit so I wouldn't have to accidentally embarrass myself."

It's easier, now, to reminisce on things when they were young- knowing that perhaps in another time, maybe, just maybe, he and Bri never fell apart the way they did. Knowing Nattie's safe (relatively, it was Huntsville, after all.) But it doesn't do anything to quiet the nerves- and the vague butterflies. "you... you look real good, Sparkplug. Gonna get both of us all kinds of jealous looks tonight."

@violenttempest

"I fucked it up I always- I always fuck it up. I should have just never said anything- it's awkward now, the tension's so thick i could cut it with a knife, and I should have known it would be. 'I've still got a thing for you' god. We're veritable strangers, and Nattie deserves to know us without all this lingering around but... We kissed on new years and I felt like I was where I belonged, because no matter what life throws at me I think you're where I belong and I tried to be a gentleman and I fucked that too. I wanted to, just as drunk as you I wanted to follow through, see if the scars and stories in our skin still lined up- kiss the new ones the way I'd sank teeth into the old ones because I'm a hell of a lot softer at the core now. I thought it'd be better, to make these decisions sober and in right mind."

Their first impression: "That Ryan girl looks pissed as hell to be alive. I mean, me too, but at least I'm better at hiding it, shit. I'm gonna see if she wants some of this chocolate bar. I've already got detention today they can't give me second, additional detention for talking in Math."

Their current impression: "Does she still want me? Do I still want her- probably? maybe? I know whenever she looks at me for too long I get nervous. I used to be the confident one! Victor you're dissociating in the chair again she's been talking this whole time- oh god she's been talking this whole time. Be cool. God how is she hotter than she was when you were kids!? BE. COOL. What the FUCK are we talkin' about oh god."

What they like the most about your muse: Bri's been his ride or die for years- she saw the good in him when nobody else did, when he refused to show it, more like. She's tenacious, passionate, and talented and he's known this his whole life. He's happy to just be around her- He was happier to be hers, for better or worse.

What they dislike the most about your muse: The way she clearly blames herself for what happened with them, with their daughter. He knows he doesn't blame her, and can't imagine Nattie would either, if she knew the truth of what Bri's parents had done to her. He wishes she'd recognize she was a victim in her circumstance- and with the context he has, she'll never, ever, be misunderstood as the villain.

What your muse is for them ( Friend, lover, rival ecc.): A former lover, a twin flame or soulmate, maybe- But now, time and distance has placed them somewhere harder to name. Ziggy's calling it friends.

A general opinion of their relationship: Bri means a lot to Ziggy, and while he knows he didn't deserve her affection for the years he had it- cruel and unapologetic about that fact to everyone but her, he's doing his best to earn what he had, when he had it, now. At least to remain friends so Natalie doesn't end up mired in the family drama that haunted him for decades.

"Oh no it's pretty clear why nobody here wants to give you a job, actually, because most of us remember exactly the kind a' person ya are." It's declared rather flatly, as Rusty does his best to disengage the conversation. "You better than most know how long a grudge holds in a place like this'n, Calhoun."

"Fuck me, PJ-" Rusty stops on his heels, turning to shoot a glare over his shoulder.

"Rusty- right, sorry, my bad- I'm going insane with nothing to do, alright? I'll take whatever-"

"Well then ya can pester folk who ain't me. Learn an' change all ya want, but I ain't forgot the way you treated folk. Way you looked at me an' my husband like we were a sideshow, kinda words you had fer people like us- you know, I've half th- mind to-" He stops, reeling himself in as another person approaches their... very public argument outside the outdoors shop. "Evenin' Bri." He greets- tone kind once more- as Ziggy chokes on his words. Rusty looks between them. Scoffs. "Have th' day ya deserve, Calhoun."

"I- Brianna?" it's disbelief, really- last he'd heard of her, she'd been famous, making albums, selling out arenas. And now, on the cragged sidewalk of their hometown- Brianna Ryan was the one ghost he'd hoped no longer haunted this place. "I thought you were... I thought you woulda been-" He almost wants to go back to arguing with Russell- the other man's nowhere to be found now. "you... you look... good. uh. Christ."

@violenttempest