vainglory.

✰ 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝚰𝐍𝐔𝐀𝐓𝚰𝐎𝐍 𝚰𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐄.

"you're welcome then, i guess." aurora retorted flatly. he was chatty, she noted, but he hadn't said anything so far that would be of any use to her. she had no idea who he was, where she was, or who had hired him and why. she wondered if he knew what he had gotten himself into. if he knew anything about her, about her family. how much were they paying him, she wondered? an obscene amount, she hoped. when he left and she heard the lock click, she sprang up and padded quickly across the room, ignoring the pounding in her head and the protests of her aching body. she pressed an ear to the door, straining to make out his muffled conversation. she caught fragments of it, could make out his tone, but nothing that she could piece together into anything tangible. huffing her irritation, aurora returned to her original spot. when the lock clicked again and the door opened, aurora looked up, her expression bored, as if this were something she had to endure daily. she reached for the painkillers and water without comment, but then paused as she was uncapping the water, the pills momentarily forgotten in her hand as he told her the plan. she pressed her lips together to suppress the smile she felt tugging at her lips. at worst, it meant a shower and a relatively comfortable bed, at best it was an opportunity. "how thoughtful." she took the ibuprofen and the water, feeling a little more optimistic. setting the bottle down on the floor, she looked up at him. "do i get to know your name at any point then, or is it a secret? i'd tell you mine but i have a feeling you already know it."

“Ah.. I actually don’t,” Ford lied after he stood upright again, hands shoved down the front of his pockets he started to rock back and forth on the balls of his feet a little bit, “I was shown your picture, told where you would be at what time and I let the night go according to plan.” That wasn’t a lie. He shouldn’t be talking to her, if she was dead all of this would be easier, Ford rarely worked with talking bodies, he didn’t want to answer her question – but he couldn’t help but run his mouth, “my friends call me Auggie.” He checked his watch, his phone buzzing against his ass again but the second time around he didn’t flinch, expecting it, the last bit of the money was sent. “ ‘kay, enough of the chit chat. We’re gonna hit the road soon, I just have to take care of a few things first so sit tight and yeah…” he trailed off awkwardly and left the room again. Most of what he needed was in his truck so it was a matter of cleaning, it was a ratty stash house used for a plethora of dubious activities yet, the boss was a stickler for cleaning up after. Ford hadn’t made exactly what he would have considered a terrible mess, but better safe than sorry. Once that was handled, he pocketed a few items and unlocked the room again. “Here –” he tossed a black pillow case toward Aurora, “put this over your head, I’m not carrying you this time, last night was enough.”

open starter : m / f / nb ( 30+ ). muse : emery kingston. bisexual. she / her. nurse practioner. * please do not like my starter !

continued from here — addressed to @whiskeyspecs ✨

nora listened attentively as he spoke, giving an occasional nod before resting her elbow against the table and cupping her face in her palm. a spark of curiosity flickered in her brown eyes at the suggestion, especially the second idea. pretend to date the only guy she’d hooked up with? it sounded dangerously fun - and far too tempting to pass up. it would be another first and she was the type to at least try something once. her friend had been on her case for fixating solely on work instead of proper dating and going out, so this could actually be to her advantage. but, of course, the sensible voice in her head was screaming a warning about confusion and future disappointment, especially considering how easily she fell for men. especially men like him, with that certain effortless charisma. “i can’t say i’m the best actress, but… i’m willing to try,” she admitted, a curve tugging at her lips as she chuckled softly. “plus, really… who doesn’t love a good makeover?” she raised a brow, mischief glinting in her eyes. “you really think we could fool them into thinking we’re dating… for months? because if we do this, it has to be executed perfectly.”

“I’m no actor, just a man with endless curiosity and a thirst for revenge...” Andrew had let the words process in his mind before he looked at Nora again, “... that did sound a bit dramatic, I might have some thespian in me,” her chuckle made him think it could actually work, and he looked down at his outfit, “I’ll finally admit I should probably use a few new outfits but let’s keep that between us.” He didn’t think she would actually agree, after all, he did leave in the middle of the night. Andrew had forgotten how doing devious things can bring people together, friend groups in the history of society have been formed based on all parties mutually hating the same thing, their situation was no different in his eyes.  “We have to be nicer to each other than we are to them, post carefully curated posts on social media for them to dissect. We’re creating a parasocial trap for our friends. Anna is more likely to stalk someone’s Instagram page before asking them a question, so we hang out a few times, drop a few Easter eggs at a time. Do you drive? As you know, Gabriel is a big group activity guy so I can give you a ride to the next bowling night – if I have to be subjected to heavy balls with holes? So will my soon to be fake-girlfriend.”

It’s painful to have her around, but it’s even more painful to be away from her.