Realistic or Modern 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 — 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿

[erzulie]

[ CHAPTER I — THE ARRIVAL. ]

An endless sea of trees loomed overhead as though they were curious about the vehicle that had arrived on their land. The light of day could not reach from under the pillars of wood and foliage. It made it seem as though night was beginning to fall and shadows were attempting to reach out and grab onto their vehicle. The shapes that peaked out from behind the trees could easily be mistaken as trick of the light or the eyes seeing things that weren’t there. The shadows, no, the figures stayed just out of the line of sight yet they had no problem with keeping up with the moving vehicle. Had the group been outside they would have heard the giggles, the whispering that sounded oh so close.

Alas, the human mind was also so ready to deny the impossible. They often covered their eyes at the hint of something otherworldly, safety tucked away in their bubble of normalcy. That bubble would do them no good where they were going. As they crossed the enormous arch of old wood, the bubble quickly popped then and there without anyone even noticing. Talon’s Cross had them now and it would slowly devour them whole if they let it.

Eyes bore into the car from the streets. It was apparent that the little town rarely got visitors from the looks that they received. The children were particularly curious, adorable little things ran beside the car for a while. They were all big smiles and carnation adornments. In such a small town, it seemed as though a fear of strangers wasn’t present. Their attention had soon turned to another child, plainly dressed. They surrounded them in what appeared to be some sort of game.

It wasn’t long before they reached their temporary home. A small cottage stood proudly in front of a vast forest. The sun shone on the building and flowers decorated the front lawn. It was exactly what people tended to associate with small towns. There were neighbors but a field separated them by a good distance. There was little concern for anyone disturbing them. The car parked and the doors opened, the occupants stepped out and took it all in.

𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄
Explore the forest
Explore the cottage

​

​

​

 

[sollie]

maggie foster

B

lood and a burning field left the taste of smoke and rust in Maggie’s mouth.

Plums of smoke rose high above a field of burning hay, the metallic smell of blood and flesh filled her nose. Could it be possible that burning season had already started? No. That wasn’t right. The air was ripe with frost, the hint of winter on the horizon. It was far too early for that. The nearest fire station to Mentone was nearly 12 miles down the road in Fort Payne. By the time they got the call– if they got the call– the field and half the town would be burnt up. She needed to warn someone. Tell people to get out of their houses and away from the field.

Her body twitched, writhing in awareness to her inability to move. She was stuck, back seemingly melded with the rich Earth below her. Was it consuming her? Hands grasped desperately to the wet soil beneath her, dirt accumulating under her fingernails. The only evidence she even tried to move were eight finger marks dug about a half inch deep in the ground.

The fire grew hotter around her, images of the first Baptist preacher, Walter Scott, preaching fire hellfire and brimstone. The roasting of her skin certainly felt like the start of eternal damnation. But what had Maggie Foster ever done in her life that was deserving of an eternity in hell? Sure, she wasn’t impenitent about all the sins she’d committed but she didn’t know a single person groveling in church if they lied to a child about where their cat had gone or eating too much after Church on Sunday.

As the fire singed her skin and threatened to roast her alive, Maggie jerked up a silent gasp of air the only rush to her brain that she wasn’t in a burning field and instead sat in the third row of some shitty rent-a-car. The girl groaned, slumping back into her seat and bringing a hand up to massage the lump in her shoulder from sleeping in such an awkward position. She hated sleeping in the car. She always got the weirdest nightmares. “I told you guys to wake me up when we got to town. I wanted to watch the people.” Maggie complained, speaking about the town members as if they were creatures to be observed rather than individuals. Wiggling in her seat, she pressed her face against the window, taking in the last few fleeting seconds of the faces that lingered in the street, curious to get a glimpse at what the population of another small town looked like. Talon’s Cross felt far bigger than Mentone. Maybe it was the fact that Talon’s Cross appeared to have a wealth of children and people and businesses unlike Mentone.

Despite her disappointment, Maggie didn’t complain to her friends. She knew they’d have more than enough time to explore the familiar new town in their time away from the big city. It was the closest taste to home the young woman had gotten since she’d first left for college. There was a strange sense of warmth and familiarity that came with all small towns, although something was a bit different about Talon’s Cross. It was probably the Georgia air. Everything was always a little funky in Georgia.

Finally peeling her face from the window, she slumped down in the seat, trying her best to stretch out her creaky limbs. Road Trips were fun and all but the seven of them had been cramped in that little car for far too long, only rest stops and pee breaks to give them any relief from the overfull car. Between their luggage, the seven of them, and a pillow or blanket or two, the car was packed to the brim. Maggie wondered if this is what worms felt like wiggling beneath the Earth, desperate for air and open space. “Are we almost–” Maggie opened her mouth to spill out those irritating words when the quaint little cottage came into view. It was small, but cute, something the seven of them would have no trouble fitting into and enjoying.

When the car finally came to a halt, Maggie was the first out, crawling over her friends with no sign of apology as she landed her feet on the ground. Arms stretched over her head and as she worked out her creaky body, a few cracks and pops relieved her bones of their discomfort. Cottage. Woods. Hollyhock AND marigold?? If Maggie saw a Monarch she was going to lose her shit. She wondered what other type of flora and fauna existed around this place…

There was only one way to find out and they’d been burning daylight driving around in that car for hours and hours. Without another word to her friends, leaving her jacket tucked in the back seat, she found herself wandering towards the forest. She could dig for her stuff later. But there was no time like the present, she’d heard so many times. Most bugs were ectotherms and she couldn’t waste time unpacking while the sun was still up and over the horizon. Their adventure had started when they packed the car and headed off, but Maggie’s was starting as she followed the dirt path into the lush forest.

MOOD

forest bugs forest bugs

TAGS

EVERYONE < 3

LOCATION

Talon's Cross | Forest

TIME

ẹ̵͖̭̣͕͚̻͚̏̍̊̃̐̎̾̓̚̚r̵͇̬͆r̴̟̘̉o̸̧͖̗̰̰͉͎̎́̉͒͂r̷̢͓̯̳͕̘̒̃̔ ̷̣̾̌̆̀̒͝e̶̬̍̎r̶͕͕̦̰̹̉͛͌̄͊͂̔̋͝ͅr̵̻͕̰̦̬̍́́͒̊̽͒͝ŏ̶͕̠͙̗̭̤̭͎̈́́̔ŕ̴̡̋̆͝͝ ̸̯̭̯̞̱̙͐̔̀̏͛̓̽̄ĕ̴̛̞͚̄̄͗̾͘͜r̵̻͖͌r̶͙̝͎͍̮̤̱̹̲̅̍̍͐̒̂̊̚̕ǒ̴͎̹͉̠͖͉͌̈́͂̇̌r̵̡̲̩̠͇͙̹̭͂̄

coded by xayah.ღ

 

[demonology]

S

filler! ignore

C

filler! ignore

• aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
• aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

• 
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  santo calles

  
  
  
  

  designated driver

  
  
  

  
  
  
  
• 
  
  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  

  mood

  
  

  slaphappily jubilant

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  location

  
  

  talon’s cross cottage

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  outfit

  
  

  the look

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  

  tags

  
  

  everyone who’s going to the forest, some dialogue for maggie specifically

  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  
  
  

  
  Having been weaned off the almost-morning-not-quite, subtle-yet-lively flow of highway traffic, Santo lit up a gasper, crinkling the silky-plastic crimson of his Marlboro pack as he dug out a similarly colored lighter. The sense of peace earned by driving between the hours of 3 A.M. and 9 A.M. was not at all equal to the tranquility of Talon’s Cross and its dirt roads. This surprised him. This roadtrip had taught him many things: the nasal sound of Margaret Foster’s Are we there yet?, the soft curls across Ches’s slumbering, regal forehead, the doomed quality of Luc’s green-yet-not eyes in the rearview, Zo’s toothy smile when they paused at a red light and he looked back to find her the only one awake, Andy’s furrowed brow, Cody’s laugh, etcetera, etcetera. What he had not expected was to feel at home in Talon’s Cross, which was more of a means to an end rather than the destination — at least for him. A handful of miles, a few scoopfuls, and he’d be against the metal, barbed fence of one of Georgia’s Finest Federal Penitentiaries. He’d be only a handful of feet, a few scoopfuls from his dad.
  
  Talon’s Cross formed a milieu that caused him to quickly forget this fact and to focus instead on the minutiae that had occurred to him on the drive. The eyes of the children that followed the rented van, their pliant smiles that were so willingly given to dangerous strangers, and the dusty signage indicating where he needed to turn. They pulled up on the cottage, which was much more beautiful than the picture indicated. Despite his love of photography, it always unsettled him how obscuring the medium could be. It could hide beauty or falsify it.
  
  Maggie was out the car before he could put it in park. ”Hold up!” he called, throwing off his seatbelt with a thwack.
  
  He dug into his slouchy, acid-washed jeans’s mammoth pocket. Fished out, the turmeric band of the disposable camera gleamed in the sunlight refracted off the bountiful flowers that felt mythic to him, despite Maggie’s ability to name some of them and the various fauna. Snapping a picture of them, Santo followed Maggie absentmindedly with the only sounds being the jingling of the car keys and the rustle of his boots meeting the grass.
  
  Halfway to the forest, he called back, ”Whoever wants a smoke break before we unpack, feel free to tag along.” He snapped another photo from this distance, taking in both the van and the friends milling around.
  
  To those that decided to attend to the greenery’s call, Santo added, ”Plus maybe we can go to the lake later? There’s gotta be a moving body of water somewhere.” He looked forward and watched Maggie’s silhouette. ”Maybe you can find us some primo worms, Mags deary? Ya know, for fishin’?”
  

  
  
  

  
  
  
  

♡design by dreamglow, coded by uxie♡

 

[ravensunset]

zoey calvert

mood

decision making!

location

outside the cottage

oufit

jeans, a red flannel under a grey hoodie, brown sneakers

tag

everyone!

Talon’s Cross would be quiet, peaceful, lovely, and welcoming. It was a wonderful vacation destination. There would be no bugs and the cabin they rented would be well insulated. Her friends would all enjoy it. She was going to have a wonderful time. Zoey repeated the phrases in her head, over and over, a silent mantra, doing her best to will them into existence as the car neared their destination.

Were the townspeople staring at them? Zoey pulled at her curls, giving the others a nervous glance. They’re just curious, they’re not looking specifically at you, she told herself, yet still ducked her head down, doing her best to not be one of the ones most seen. The car jolted as it turned a corner, making Zoey gasp sharply, but the drive continued without them crashing, right up until they pulled to a stop in front of their booked cottage.

Zoey took in a deep breath of air as she stepped out of the truck, sneakers colliding with the ground. It was cold, fresh, and looking in front of her, she could almost believe her little speech. It was beautiful, the forest a soft green, the blues and whites painted on the cottage matching the flowers that adorned its front, the field left them a good distance away from any stares. Words swirled through Zoey as she tried to figure out how she’d describe the feeling in a poem, a book. Would she focus on the strain in her legs from sitting down so long, relieved by the grass poking at her shoes, or on the way cottages wooden roof looked yellow in the sunlight, almost the same shade as some of the lighter trees, nature and buildings swiveling into one, threatened to be consumed by the forest outside? Would she say, cliche as it was, that she understood what drove one to live in a quiet, rural town like this? That her soul, too, ached quiet and still, the reflection of it sharply uncomfortable, barring true why she tried to live surrounded with noise?

“Should we,” Zoey started to speak, if only to break herself out of the thoughts before they consumed her entirely, but stopped when she realized she hadn’t been the first one with a bright idea. Maggie hadn’t spoken, but her action was no less taken. Towards the forest, no discussion.

Santo caught on quickly, following right behind her, calling an invitation back to the team. Zoey didn’t smoke, nor did she want to be shown any bugs, but, to sit down in the forest, by a crystal-cold lake, and forget everything else? It was appealing, in a way that made her insides ache. Somehow, though, that wasn’t enough, not to get her moving towards it. Zoey looked back at the remainder of the group, still stepping out from the car and taking in the view, wondering briefly who would do what. Her eyes, almost questioning, found Chester, someone who’s opinion and presence by her side she wanted with the same fierce ache the forest called to her with, but also who she figured was unlikely to decline a smoke. Zoey tugged at her curls, at the sleeve of her flannel.

“A walk first might be nice? Although, it might be a good idea to unpack now. Before we get too tired, have it done with.” She finished her train of thought. She could still go, be the first to enter the cabin, pull out all her belongings, one by one. But she didn’t want to go alone, and couldn't bring herself to head off on her own path. Zoey’s attention turned back to Maggie, finding herself in a not uncommon moment of wishing for the other girl’s resolve, her ability to follow with her decision without another thought. Fighting against the beauty of the landscape, Zoey turned towards the rest of her friends making their way onto the grounds, as always needing their presence.

/* ------ credit -- do not remove ------ */

© weldherwings.

 

[livingdead]

lucas chambers

mood

overwhelmed

location

Talon’s Cross

oufit

old shitty converse, a brown flannel, faded jeans, and an MTV t-shirt

tag

ur mom

The cool air, crickets chirping during the evening, and a comfortable sense of familiarity died in the city. Having fallen half-asleep to voices who were excited yet exhausted, their laughter, and the faint rumbling in his stomach that reminded him he had forgotten breakfast, eventually he could no longer see the city, obscured behind the purplish horizon. A pillow propped up behind his head, the cramped, limiting vehicle that caused him to fidget with his hands, his social battery drained so low that he barely contributed to his friend’s conversations—it was overwhelming, but to know he could soon bask in nature and open space made all of that worth it. Lucas missed where he came from, which turned out to be hard to admit and even more difficult to accept. Talon’s Cross was even smaller than the woodsy town he was used to, and the winding dirt paths drifted them into an unknown world almost, the kind he only saw in dreams and read in poems, cut off from pop-culture and the music he loved so dearly.

Children followed them with glee, soon left behind in the dirt. He wondered whether they got many visitors at all, and it surprised him how gorgeous the foliage and towering trees were for such a quaint, isolated place. Had he pictured a dream, a perfect dream, it would be Talon’s Cross. Their cottage, roomy enough to comfortably fit the seven of them, lived up to that fantasy standard, and he planned out to himself how he could capture it in a sketch.

Maggie crawled over her friends to free herself from the claustrophobia-inducing space, entranced by the local wildlife. Lucas leaned back for a moment, not yet ready to explore their destination. He knew some of his friends were eager to discover rather than relax, making it the perfect and potentially only time he could rest in silence, or sit down by the lake and take in the serenity of ice cold water glistening in the morning light. He could make a coffee even, just a minute to prepare for whatever the day would throw at them. Called out of his trance by the mention of a smoke break, Luc climbed out of their rented vehicle and dug in his pocket for a pack of Marlboros and a lighter. He stuck a cigarette between his lips and caught up with Santo.

Sparks flew off his lighter. Thinking of unpacking gave him a reason to choose to ignore it. He figured he could grab what he needed when he needed it, or set his bag beside his bed for convenience. Slowing down his stride, and blowing out a puff of smoke, he turned to Zoey in all her uncertainty and worry. “I can help you unpack later,” he offered, speaking for the first time in hours. “I know I’ll never get it done if we don’t.”

/* ------ credit -- do not remove ------ */

© weldherwings.

 

[aeneas.]

chester finch

mood

grump in a funk

location

inside the cottage

oufit

maybe a little overdressed

tag

bababooey

❝Does anyone feel like they just stepped onto the set of Snow White and the Seven fucks?❞ The crude comparison was the first words taken from the Finch after his hours asleep in the passenger’s seat. It wasn’t like Chester was wrong. Groggily stepping out of the rented van and onto the pasture grass, it was clear that they were far from his usual habitat of bustling cities with shit-wreaking streets. The cottage itself reminded him of ones painted onto shabby chic jars put up for a buck at the charity stores he and Lucas would frequent. And the grounds surrounding it reminded him of a garden someone's grandmother would tend to. All picture-perfect and dolled up for the gang’s temporary residence yet humble at the same time.

Perhaps inspiration will hit him like a New York yellow cab and he’d write up a play and finally get out of his contract with Steve—the deadbeat playwright. It’ll be about a farmer’s kid destined for greatness. A star-crossed romance between a redneck and a city boy. A musical from the point-of-view of barnyard animals. Maybe even his own spin-off of the ’37 Disney classic. Chester and the six imbeciles (and Zoey) didn’t have a bad ring to it.

When his friends had approached him with the idea of a trip to dumbfuck nowhere, he was probably intoxicated beyond human thought because as Chester continued to glare at the pretty cottage on the prairie, there was no way he would’ve actually agreed to the trip while sober. That or his own sleep-sunken mind was clouding his own judgment and left him despising the idea of anything and everything. Most likely the latter.

You see, there were rules to planning a road trip into the rural countryside. First, don’t forget to pack everything you need, tourist traps and convenience stores put in the middle of nowhere were meant to steal the money of underprepared travelers. Especially the young and freshly out of college-type. Second, bring bug spray. A lot of it. And third, arguably the most important rule of all—don’t wake Chester up. It was like a bad omen, as serious as a black cat crossing your path or a mirror shattering at your hands. Bad luck. Unfortunately in a van with the likes of seat kickers and broken records who asked nothing but, ❝Are we there yet?❞ Chester Finch knew no peace. That sure as hell was the case as he heard the click of Santo’s camera.

❝You owe me at least a cig for that shot, Calles.❞ Through gritted teeth, he followed the familiar jingle of keys nonetheless. A force of habit. Misery loved company and the mention of a smoke mixed with the surprise of a candid photo was quick to wake the hedonist up from his half-asleep state. Chester could do for a smoke. Chester could always do for a smoke. However, the look Zoey gave him when the two met eyes made him reconsider. Her voice lacked the volume Santo had nor the conviction brought by Maggie’s leap into the woods, yet Chester found himself swayed to throw the poor girl a bone. ❝Just a smoke break by a hypothetical lake then we gotta unpack.❞ Call his sympathy for Zoey his Achille’s heel. He beckoned a hand to the remaining group as he walked ahead, just a couple of steps behind Santo and yards behind Maggie. ❝Lazy assholes will have their luggage used as campfire fuel, how about that?❞

/* ------ credit -- do not remove ------ */

© weldherwings.

 

[erzulie]

[ ACT I — THE ARRIVAL. ]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐒
Explore the forest
Yes, step into the forest dear travels. Listen as it serenades you with sounds deep within, isn’t it kind? Birds chirp to one another, as though they are excited about the new beings stepping foot into their domain. Oh how welcoming the land is. The trees are polite in the way some of them bend, bowing their leaves in what could be compared to a curtsey. And how dressed up they are, the light grey of the Spanish moss drapes over their limbs and gently sway in the breeze.

You walk deeper, deeper into the lush green. The trees are larger now, entwined in an almost loving embrace. Thick roots lay partially exposed for all to see. The jagged gouges in the wood all come in three. Is that sap, black and gooey, attached to some of these trees? There is no time to question it, a snap can be heard behind, in front, on either side. The corner of the eye is a playful thing, they make the shadows seem as though they’re moving. But of course, it’s all just a trick of the light.

There is something thick in the air, tense yet hazy. How long have you been walking for? Nevermind that, a grove has appeared in front of you. The ground is a vibrant shade of red. The spider lilies are plentiful here. Not a single shade of green can be seen, they cover the forest floor completely.

“We’ve never seen you all around here before….” A childish voice suddenly says from behind. When had the children gotten here? You recognize some of them as the children you had greeted you during your ride into town. They are far lovelier up close, with sparkling eyes and wide smiles. They wear the same spider lilies on the ground, in their hair, on their clothes, they’re all wearing them in some form.

A child steps up, he could be no older than 9 and he had skin like the forest floor after rain. His eyes are light brown. He is all chubby cheeks and silken, black curls. He wears a spider lily in the pocket of his overalls. “It’s nice to meet you! Do you wanna play hide and seek with us?” The children watch with smiles.


𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄
Play hide & seek
Decline & continue exploring

_________________________

Explore the Cottage & get settled
The cottage is everything that someone can hold for and more. Though small there is a homey feel that fills the soul with warmth. Rustic is the word that suits it. The space is all white and brown interior. It’s obvious that the owner has taken care of the place to a near perfect level. Not a single frame, holding generic pictures of different aspects of nature, is out of place.

A pleasant smell wafts through the entire cottage, tantalizing and mouthwatering to the senses. The kitchen is the source of the smell, a plate of freshly baked cookies sitting atop the island. As though they’ve just popped right out of the oven the cookies are warm and gooey. A note sits beside the plate, cursive letters spelling out a sweet letter to the current occupants.

“Hello and Welcome to Talon’s Cross! I’m so pleased that you all have decided to visit our little nowhere town to celebrate your upcoming walk into the real world! Please enjoy these complimentary chocolate chip cookies, they’re an old family recipe of mine. Consider them a welcome gift!”

— yours, L

𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄
Eat a cookie and get settled
Don’t eat a cookie and get settled

​

​

 

[mother of sorrows]

cody henderford

the passerby

the cabin

on his death bed

outfit here

interactions

interactions come here

His legs are going to fall off.

No exaggeration, Cody might have to learn a life where he drags himself around by his arms, because there's just no way he hasn't suffered severe nerve damage from the tight position he's been forced in for hours. He hasn't quite picked a culprit for this yet, but Cody has decided to blame Chester (for taking up the passenger seat), Zoey (for convincing him to go on this trip) and Santo (for daring to take sharp turns that made his legs scream out in pained horror.) The only ones he's not considering suing are Lucas, whose smoke breaks gave Cody much deserved walking breaks and Maggie, who has been innocent enough through this whole ordeal that he's filing her away as a bystander. Worse yet, Cody has been barred from most of his luggage through the journey and by the time he started getting bored, no one was feeling up to moving and letting him squeeze past to his books or magazines. Most of the hours were wasted by commenting on the changing scenery, the big city whittling into ruthless nature; cement, broken by enormous, ageless trees and a distance you can never hope to catch.

Talon's Cross is rusting. Tiny. Humble, but well-kept. At home, the ruralness smells like leaden desperation, like a piss-stained carpet that a family has gotten used to. Here, it's almost comforting. Quiet and hushed by wet soil, a town that's seemingly never learnt to shy away from an outstretched hand. The cabin is curious like the children, peering at them with aged windows; a building that's not going to impress a rich, dreaming couple, but a pride for an everyman. Just big enough that a group of friends won't step on each other's toes and arms. The car stuttered to a stop like a sheepish visitor and the driveway let it, loose gravel springing from under the wheels.

''Kill me.'' Cody practically sighed once he was freed, leaning on the car roof with a hand and the other on his knee. He gasped for air dramatically, a man that's been saved from the fires of a battlefield. ''Just do it. I don't think I have much time left.''

His shoulder popped with a satisfying crack as he flexed his spine, letting out a wail that belongs to a broken man and not a student getting leg cramps. The three musketeers have already decided to forego helping out, but Cody is not in the least interested in the woods and soggy mud up to his knees. Later, when he doesn't feel half dead, he'll think on birdsong and the bubbling creeks - right now, he needs at least five hours of sleep. ''I hope if there's bears out there, it'll eat those three first.'' Cody circles to where Lucas and Zoey are standing, wiggling his eyebrows in a conspirational joke. He's not sure if wildfire big enough to eat a man lives out here, but he thinks even a bear would have higher standards than this. Without more thought than rest, Cody grabbed a few of the bags to carry inside - he wiggled one to rest on his thigh, shimmying up the porch like a distressed crab. ''Wait, is it unlocked? Does anyone have the key? Do we have to break a window to get in?''

coded by natasha.

 

[livingdead]

lucas chambers

mood

??

location

Talon’s Cross

oufit

old shitty converse, a brown flannel, faded jeans, and an MTV t-shirt

tag

ur mom

“If there’s bears out here, I’m going back home,” Lucas mumbled half to himself in response to Cody’s witty remark. Wildlife wasn’t something he learned to despise, having camped out in the dead center of the thickest Virginia woods further from a shower stall than what was comfortable countless times, thanks to his hunting-fanatic dad. At least until he was old enough to refuse and old enough to figure out how to inhale smoke so that it got into his bloodstream. But Talon’s Cross was civilization, if not isolated, but it was close enough that it felt familiar. The only wildlife he really despised were beetles the size of his thumb and with shimmering exoskeletons, and mosquito bites he somehow woke up with no matter how much bug spray was used.

Instead of taking it all in, though, he followed Santo through the sea of woods for a much-needed smoke break. The greens had become reds, and the sturdy tree trunks bled strange goop that reminded him of a muddy swamp. He stepped over and between the tree roots, forgetting to breathe for just a second. Billows of smoke poured out of his mouth and nose, and he had to check that he hadn’t grabbed a joint instead of a cigarette.

Hundreds of spider lillies littered the ground; they flattened under Luc’s filthy Converse. Talon’s Cross’ children wandered up to them with joyful smiles on their faces, smiles that looked almost unnerving to him.

“It’s nice to meet you! Do you wanna play hide and seek with us?”

The cigarette hung between his lips. He threw a glance toward Santo as though he was expecting him to handle the interaction. What were these kids doing so deep into the woods anyway? Surely they had lunch, or supper, or… Whatever they had to do. Lucas guessed some form of homeschooling.

“Um…” It was hard to decline those innocent smiles. But he was far too grown for that. The last time he had played hide and seek was with his little brother before he reached his teenage years and began to care. “It’s nice to meet you too. Some other time, okay?” Luc pinched the end of his cigarette, putting it out and saving some for later.

/* ------ credit -- do not remove ------ */

© weldherwings.

 

[ravensunset]

zoey calvert

mood

out in the forest...

location

spider lily grove

oufit

jeans, a red flannel under a grey hoodie, brown sneakers

tag

everyone! especially Lucas, Cody, Chester

“Does anyone feel like they just stepped onto the set of Snow White and the Seven fucks?” When Zoey looked over at Chester, her eyes were wide with curiosity. It wasn’t an unfair comparison, but not one she would’ve chosen as an insult. A safe haven amidst dark woods, Snow White’s place of respite. Chester’s eyes– in the sunlight, she could just tell how grey they were– met hers. Luc chimed in to agree to help her later, which she gave a grateful nod to, and between that and Chester’s agreement as well, some of Zoey’s tension melted away. A break would be nice, anyways; Zoey’s legs were itching for a stretch.

Cody got out of the car at last, as always somewhere between complaining and joking around. She chuckled at his dramatic exit, spirits only further lightening. “I don’t think– I don’t think there are any bears here,” Zoey echoed after Lucas, although she shared his sentiment. There was a limit on how much wilderness she could be in before they would be packing up again.

“I got it,” She replied to his next inquiry, pulling out a key she hadn’t quite trusted anyone else in the group to hold onto, and passed it over to Cody, “Although I think if everyone else is heading for a break, maybe we join?” She looked over at their friends, all on their way out, if with various degrees of discussion on their choice.

Zoey pulled in a deep breath, unsure if she was about to regret the decision, but strode off away from the house until she was in pace with Chester. “Thanks,” She whispered, although knowing full well any implication that his agreement to pack later was a kindness and not unbiased practicality would be denied.

The trees thickened around them. The air smelled of sap and dirt, and Zoey had to take care to step over the root of trees weaving bumps across the ground. She hadn’t thought there was any chance of their being a lake, the home hadn’t advertised one nearby anyways, but the forest was lovely, in a certain way. A place to get lost in, for one a little less careful. The dark, twisting woods around the dwarves’ home, but also Snow White’s shield and escape. The wind rustled the leaves like a hand playing with a lover’s hair.

Blooms of blood red, heart red flowers covered the ground as the trees made way from them. Zoey couldn’t avoid crushing them under her feet, though they were plentiful, their masses unbothered by the action. Zoey looked up, wondering whether anyone else thought the sight was as worthy as a lake to stop at, but before anyone else could speak–

Zoey gasped at the voice, and her hand immediately flew up to cover her mouth, as though embarrassed at her own reaction. She turned to see the group of children behind them, and was suddenly intensely grateful that Lucas had ended up just closer to the kids.

She shot a quick glance at Chester, eyebrows raised. Luc, always managing to be reasonable with his actions, answered them, and although Zoey didn’t quite manage to chime in herself, she nodded to the words. Better not join in with the kids anyways, their parents might not be happy with it, she tried to rationalize her discomfort with the prospect. Zoey focused on staying still, resisting the urge to step back away from them.

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© weldherwings.

 

[demonology]

santo calles

mood

...homesick?

location

da woods

oufit

jean jacket, a plain white tee screenprinted by birdie back home, boots, jeans, big belt. here

tag

everyone!

The projected schism between the woods and the cabin was quelled by Zoey, whose presence drew a smile from Santo's cheeks. He gave a goofy wave to her and then a slightly less jovial one towards Cody. Before he could squeeze a word of welcome to the dark side, Zoey gasped and Lucas's gentle voice hit Santo's ear. He turned, finding a gaggle (or perhaps a murder was more appropriate) of kiddos. The ground had bubbled over with red, spindly flora, and center stage, there was the cherubic boy with satin curls and the front of his person brandishing one of the lilies. One of the kids behind him, smiling just as jubilantly, reminded him of Fernie, who was far too old now to play hide and seek. This realization came with the subsidiaries of regret and guilt that accompanied any engagement with his family.

I promised Aleja I'd called once we got here.

He realized he was staring, once he'd sifted through the flour-puddle of thoughts relating to and about Angel, Omar, Pedro, Aleja, and Fernie, and maybe Mamá, and especially his dad. He was still staring. The child was still smiling, despite Luc's rejection. Now, Santo was staring as Lucas Chambers, whose curls flounced with subtle grace.

I also promised to update her on that...

So began his temptation to play hide and seek with the kiddos. This was a cycle, the sorta that pushed him to hit the hay early, and the last thing he needed was to be a buzzkill on the first day of their vacation. Stubbing out his cigarette on a stump, he stuck the half-finished bud behind his ear, the same ear that took in Luc's voice like a funnel to the 9th circle, and smiled at the children. He bent low, resting his hands on his knees.

"You're the ones who greeted us earlier, aren'tcha?" He assessed the kids, recognizing some from earlier. "Well, alrighty. I'll play with ya."

Santo Calles looked back amongst the forest-goers and said, "Who else'll join us?"

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© weldherwings.

 

[aeneas.]

chester finch

mood

doing something stoopid

location

(into) the woods

oufit

maybe a little overdressed

tag

bababooey

Birds chirping, forestry glazed in the sun’s gracious light, and fields painted in red spider lilies. All juxtaposed by the group of baffling misfits out for the taste of nicotine and an adventure. Nonchalantly Chester crushed the flowers in his way, too busy fiddling with his lighter and the cigarette he managed to nick off of Santo to really care about the scene’s picturesque beauty. Only when he heard the soft gratitude from Zoey did he look up; his eyes gave him away—his eyes always gave him away—he looked out for her, an underlying sentiment that he’d always look out for her. With just a small quirk up his mouth, he hummed in acknowledgment. Pairing it with a roll of his eyes to at least try to cover his tracks.

Almost inspired by Cody’s jokes about a bear attack, the world instead gave them an ambush of children. A part of himself would have preferred the bear. ❝Didn’t mommy and daddy teach you not to talk to strangers?❞ He looked down at them, trying to use his height to at least spook the kids, a little lesson not to stray so deep into the woods and speak with the first group they see. What were they even doing here? Was this just a normal occurrence? Perhaps Talon’s Cross truly was different. If it was a good kind of different or not, he had yet to find out.

Speaking of finding…hide and seek. A game a lonely kid like Chester never really played in his youth. For the second time, he looked at Zoey, a shared message of distrust. Then he looked at Lucas, politely-spoken to the snot-nosed kids as he expected him to do. And then he looked at Santo—an unanticipated switch to him that had been immediately triggered by the sound of his agreement. He coughed up smoke, patting at his chest with the same hand that held his still-lit cigarette.

❝You can't be serious.❞ The gleam of unabashed determinism told him everything he needed to know. A familiar look he’s seen time and time again before spontaneous nights out in the city. A look that sealed the fate of decisions made to regret and highs meant to burn out. In the grayscale mind of Chester Finch there were two options: play along or fuck right off.

Sigh.

Like he was back in a lecture room, he rose a slender hand. ❝Alright, I’ll bite.❞ More reluctant than he was proud, looking back at Zoey and Lucas in a way that could only spell out “Pray for me”. ❝Just one game then you kids beat it—we’ll seek.❞

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© weldherwings.