❤️ Built For This World ❤️
Chapter 11
“Ya don't have to, ya know?”
“Yeah, I know”
“But ya'll do it anyway, dontcha?”
I sigh deeply trying to stay calm.
The archer's strong yet delicate hands gently caress my back as I snuggle against his chest.
His steady heartbeat punctuates my breathing.
“I know.But I have to.I won't let you carry this burden alone” I murmur against the damp fabric of his shirt.
It stopped raining a few hours ago and now, hugging each other inside Daryl's tent, we are waiting for the fateful moment.
According to Rick we need to get rid of our problem as soon as possible.
Finally the decision was made.
Randall will be executed tonight.
And as much as I know it's the safest choice for us, there's still that little voice in my head that wonders if we're really doing the right thing.
“I can hear yer thoughts from here, sunshine” Daryl whispers, pulling away just enough to look me in the eyes.
The darkness around us is interrupted only by the dim yellow light of an old lantern lying in a corner of the tent.
His hands move from my back, in a delicate caress that slides along my arms and then finds their place on my face.
His blue eyes carefully study my face in search of any sign that could show my real nervousness so he can immediately use that pretext to convince me not to go.
And even though I would like to stay in this tent far from what awaits me, I know I can't.
Him, Rick and, why not, Shane too already carry a big load on their shoulders and with my presence I just want to lighten their souls.
Make them understand that they are not alone, that they can count on my support.
I shake my head weakly, bringing my lips closer to his in search of another kiss.
The umpteenth.
I absentmindedly wonder if he'll being sick of it.
But his mouth, as hungry as mine, quickly cancels out this thought of mine.
My hands caress the man's muscular biceps, my fingers travel undisturbed following the contours of the veins.
Daryl sighs resting his forehead against mine.
“It's just…” I whisper against his lips, “I know we have to keep our people safe, that's it our duty...it's just stressful.That's all”
The archer shakes his head in response.
“Ma’ duty is to keep ya safe.Not just from the walkers but from these things too”
The sweetness of his confession makes the corners of my lips lift up.
I bring my hands into his hair, pushing it back, pushing the messy wild locks away from his face to get a better view of the magnificence in front of my eyes.
“You can't protect me from everything, big boy.You know it?I am a strong and grown up girl.I can take care of myself”
He chuckles, with that half smile capable of making me melt.
That half smile that every single time awakens a pleasant sensation in my lower body.
That half smile that make my pants go on fire.
“Oh, I know” he whispers, grabbing my hips and scooping me so I can find myself straddling his lap.
Our chests touch.
I can feel every curve of his body molding against mine.
“Ya’re my strong and brave girl but tha’ doesn't mean I don't wan’ to protect ya anyway”
I pinch my lower lip between my teeth to try to stop the satisfied smile that threatens to spread across my face.
Again that pleasant sensation in the middle of my thighs, the same place that is currently rubbing sensually against the crotch of his jeans.
Trying to distract my mind from those thoughts, I bring my attention back to his words.
“So…I'm your girl, now?” I tease him by digging my fingers into the hair at the base of his neck.
His.
Oh, I know so many ways I could really be his…
Ways that involve a lot of things and no clothes on.
I gently rock my hips trying to find some relief to ease the pleasant sensation I feel teasing the point where our bodies meet.
A flash of lust seems to cross the man's blue irises while his digit forcefully digs themselves on the skin of my hips.
I already feel that will leave its mark, but it's something I'm not complaining about.
I would gladly and proudly carry those marks on my body every single day of my life.
His lips crash against mine, his tongue raids my mouth, tearing the air from my lungs.
His velvety muscle explores every crevice of my mouth with ferocity, with such lust that it makes me dizzy.
His hands travel up my back, insinuating themselves under my shirt, making me let out a pathetic moan.
The man swallows it happily as his teeth grab the flesh of my lower lip, pulling it slightly.
Slowly with a wet obscene sound he loosens his teeth's grip leaving my lips swollen and plump but without stopping.
His lips immediately find my chin continuing their descent along my neck leaving a wet trail in their path.
It's amazing how this man can reduce me to a panting mess with just one kiss.
“Why?Dontcha want to be mine?” he whispers against the sensitive skin of the juncture between the neck and collarbone, “Would ya like someone else?Maybe Shane?”
His mouth doesn't stop, slowly moving up until it stops in that small portion of skin behind my ear and then lightly scratches my lobe with his teeth.
This time I can't stop the smirk that presses against my lips.
“Are you jealous, big boy?”
Daryl snorts as his lips resume their journey across my skin.
“Wan’ me to ask ya?Like with some official bullshit?”
I shake my head no at his question, trembling under the sweet torture of his lips which finally stop their race at the corner of mine.
“Ya mine?”
Unable to find my voice I just nod.
“Words, sunshine”
His words are followed by his fingers gripping my hips tightly.
His lips still at the corner of mine.
It's a sweet torture.
“I'm yours”
How could I not be his as his mouth tastes everything it can reach.
How could I not be his as his fingers dig furrows into my skin, burning in their wake like molten lava.
Every inch of my body belongs to him.
Every single piece of my soul belongs to him.
“Good” the man murmurs with his lips pressed against mine, “Good.’Cause I hate sharing”
Another sweet bite on my upper lip and then his tongue takes possession of my mouth again but this time with more sweetness, more calmly, as if he wanted to enjoy every moment to the fullest, aware that maybe we won't have any more moments so only for us.
When the archer's mouth moves away from mine I find myself panting heavily.
All hot and bothered.
Shit!
I smile like an idiot as I look at his beautiful face.
With the tip of my finger I trace the line of his nose and then slowly go down and caress the mole above his lips.
My hand moves slowly, as if dancing to the rhythm of an ancient melody.
The soft and irregular beard under my fingers is an invitation to tenderness.
His face is a mosaic of lived stories, tears and pain.
His blue eyes, deep like the stormy sea, capture me and drag me into a vortex of emotions.
Around his eyes his skin is furrowed by a few small wrinkles, now more relaxed than when he is out in the world, with that frown that often makes him appear older than he really is.
Running my fingers around them I can feel every little roughness, every sign of time, and yet I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Moving down, I trace the outline of his lips with the tip of my finger, tracing a path of love that has gone through storms.
The man closes his eyes, as if he wanted to imprint every detail in his memory.
His breathing is calm and regular but I know that beneath this apparent calm there are oceans of feelings hidden.
His cheeks are warm under my touch.
Suddenly a realization hits me.
I never asked him how old he is.
No that this would make any difference after all.
I'm just curious.
“Daryl?” I ask in a whisper, afraid of interrupting the magic that surrounds us.
“Wha’?” he breathes towards my lips without opening his eyes.
“I was wondering...how old are you?”
I immediately regretting it when I feel him stiffen under my touch.
I remain silent, holding my breath for fear of saying something wrong.
After a few moments the man's shoulders relax imperceptibly, reopening his eyes and gracing me again with their splendor.
“Does it matter?”
“No” I reply with conviction and without giving him time to dwell on it too much I grab his face in my hands kissing him again.
This time I'm in charge and I try to dominate.
Daryl lets me take control.
With my tongue I trace the boundaries of his lips silently asking for permission.
I would never do anything to make him feel uncomfortable.
And so, erasing all my fears, he opens his lips allowing me to feast on his mouth.
Pressing my knees against the hard ground I push myself further against his body, I press myself with so much force against him that it is difficult to understand where I begin and where he ends.
A tangle of limbs, tongues and souls.
Something sublime that goes beyond mere physical pleasure.
It is a communion of souls, of kindred spirits.
The famous two halves of the same apple.
Timidly my hands descend along his broad and rocky chest until they find the hem of his shirt, a border that I overcome putting my hands under it.
The skin of his abdomen is like velvet covering the steel that is his muscles.
From the defined abdomen I move up towards his pectorals where I find defined muscles that welcome me flicking under my touch.
Daryl moans into my mouth as one of his hands grips the back of my neck forcefully while the other hand rests on the crown of my head, grabbing a fistfuls of hair between his fingers, pulling it forcefully.
I moan back.
With our lips locked together we swallow each other's moans, welcoming them as a thirsty person would welcome a sip of fresh water.
We part ways only when the need for oxygen becomes more burning than our passion.
Daryl brushes the tip of my nose with his and then his forehead rests on mine.
In a gesture that now comes naturally to him.
Almost domestic.
“’M old” he whispers, taking me by surprise.
I move away looking for his eyes who promptly denies me.
“Daryl” I call him softly, a note of pleading envelops the syllables of his name and his eyes shyly return to mine, revealing to me a labyrinth of doubts, an intricate path in which every step is uncertain and every crossroads hides a choice difficult for him.
“You're not old.How old do you think I am?” I giggle, kissing the tip of his nose.
Daryl shrugs.
“Dunno.Maybe, twenty?”
I wrinkle my nose smiling.
“Twenty-four.Almost twenty-five.I don't think you're much older than me.And if you don't want to tell me, I don't care.It wouldn't change anything for me.I don't care how old you are, big boy”
I stroke his hair again trying to convey the truth into my words and gestures.
I don't care about his age.
It's enough for me that he's here, with me.
And that he considers me his.
That's all I want.
His eyes carefully examine my expression looking for some hidden lie and I let him do it because I'm sure he won't find any.
He brings his lips closer again, slowly rubbing them against mine, letting me get drunk on the essence of his breath which delicately breaks on my face.
“Thirty-five”
His words are so whispered that if there had been a stronger gust of wind at that moment they would have flown away and I would have lost them.
His eyes don't leave mine probing my reaction to his revelation.
Maintaining my composure I wink in his direction earning a raise of his left eyebrow in response.
“Wha’?” he asks.
My smile widens into a grin.
“I like old men.I think it's because of my daddy's issues.This would make sense…I don't know” I blather, gesturing frantically with my hands in front of his face.
The archer looks at me with confusion written all over his face.
“Sunshine, ya know tha’ I didn't understand anything of wha’ ya said, ya know tha’, righ’?”
I laugh, throwing my head back and placing my fingers behind his neck.
“You're lucky you're cute, my big boy”
“’M yours?”
He promptly replies to my statement, his sly eyes hide an infinite sweetness.
I bite my bottom lip between my teeth as I squint at him from under my lashes.
“Don't you like the idea?” I whisper languidly with my lips brushing his earlobe.
Without waiting for his response I grab it between my teeth and then suck it.
And the sound Daryl gives me makes every inch of my body crawl.
It is a sound between a moan and a whine.
But before I have the chance to delve deeper into this sweet sound, the sound of footsteps resonates loudly and decisively on the grass outside the tent.
Immediately every excitement dies bringing me to the harsh reality.
Time has come.
I lift myself from Daryl's lap, my knees creaking in protest at the prolonged position they've assumed.
I leave the tent without saying a word while Daryl follows me closely, positioning himself at my side with his arms crossed over his chest waiting for the two men to reach us.
When Shane and Rick pass us, Rick nods towards the barn.
Sighing deeply, I walk behind the two friends but a steel grip around my wrist prevents me from doing so.
“Ya sure?”
The archer asks for the umpteenth time.
And I nod for the umpteenth time.
But despite this, the grip around my wrist does not loosen, on the contrary, it tightens as the man forcefully pulls me against his chest.
I cast a quick glance towards the barn where Rick and Shane are about to cross the threshold.
I look back at Daryl as his face gently drops towards mine.
Just a breath from my lips he whispers three simple words.
Three simple words that have the power to make me go weak in the knees.
“’M yours too”
I smile again and standing on my tiptoe I kiss him for the umpteenth time.
It is a moment suspended in time, an instant in which everything else fades away.
I wish I could stop the world, stay here forever wrapped in his warm embrace.
Words are superfluous, because our souls are already communicating through this delicate contact.
Right here, between the folds of his beard and the deep gaze of his blue eyes, I know I have finally found my home.
In the silent cold of the barn Daryl grabs Randall by the arm, yanking him to stay upright.
The boy whimpers begging us to let him go, not to kill him.
The dim moonlight illuminates his pale face and frightened eyes.
Each of his tears reduces my heart to a mass of nothingness.
Seeing this poor young boy cry and beg for his life destabilizes me more than I thought it would.
I feel my knees wobble, my breath catching in my throat as I try to tame the shaking of my hands.
I hug my mid section trying not to shatter in front of my friends.
Rick slowly joins Daryl while the trembling boy kneels on the ground after the calm but peremptory order from the former officer.
I am aware that I myself agreed to be here but now, as Rick loads the gun, I feel the anguish and horror suffocating me.
I know this is necessary for us, for our safety, but my mind and my heart are in conflict.
Randall's eyes beg for mercy.
He is just a boy, with a life, with stories and perhaps many regrets.
I close my eyes trying to block the image.
But I can't.
Horror and sadness surround me like a suffocating cloak.
The weight of this choice will remain with me forever.
Shane at my side nudges my arm gently with his elbow.
Grateful for this distraction I turn my gaze full of desperation towards his face.
“You can go” he whispers so that only I can hear him.
I shake my head no, thanking him with my eyes for the humanity he is showing me.
He nods once, leaving my side to reach Randall and blindfold him, trying to silence him with the same delicate note of voice that he had addressed to me a few moments ago.
As absurd as it may seem, even Shane finds himself feeling a minimum of pity for this poor boy whose only fault is having found himself with the wrong people at the wrong time.
Daryl moves nervously but his gaze shows no sign of weakness, no second thoughts, but the moment his gaze meets mine something cracks him.
Something that makes him come closer to me and wrap his arm around my shoulders.
His large, warm hand rests on the crown of my head, guiding it to his shoulder.
His lips caress my hair, I don't know if in an attempt to console me or to ease the turmoil inside his heart.
Peering over at Rick I see him nod briefly at Shane and then bring his gaze to Daryl and me.
In his tired eyes there is all the pain a man can feel.
Because one thing is kill to defend yourself and another thing is to execute someone for your own gain.
I would never want to be in his shoes now but I certainly won't leave him alone in this fucking shit.
So, as a lone tear rolls down my face, I nod in response.
Rick returns his gaze to the boy kneeling in front of him.
“Do you have any final words?” he asks, triggering an uncontrollable cry in the boy who, trembling like a leaf shaken by the wind, whispers only a weak please don't, immediately suffocated by whines of pure terror.
My heart beats so violently that it echoes in my ears.
The gun is ready, cold and inexorably pointed towards the boy's forehead.
The sound of the bullet being loaded into the barrel of the gun makes me jump, Daryl tightening his grip around my shoulders.
“Do It, dad.Do it”
Carl's voice tears us out of our bubble.
Rick gasps, immediately shifting his gaze to his son standing on the threshold of the door.
Shane immediately abandons his position to reach Carl, scolding him harshly and grabbing his arm he drags him out.
Rick seems torn by his own feelings and his stormy gaze returns to rest on us.
Then he lowers the gun and turns to Daryl whispering “Tie him”
The archer does as he is ordered and this triggers a nervous reaction from Shane who, slamming his hand against the barn door, turns on his heel and disappears into the dark of the night.
I slowly approach Rick, placing my hand delicately on his forearm.
“It's ok, Rick.It's ok”
Our eyes meet again.
I try to smile at him even though I'm sure that more than a smile what came out was a sympathetic and pained look.
“Your son needs you.Go” I encourage him.
Rick nods and walks away taking Carl with him, Daryl and I follow them in silence, reaching the others gathered around the fire.
“We’re keeping him in custody, for now” begins Rick.
I look around at the tense faces of my friends.
“Where's Dale?” I ask, addressing no one in particular.
“Him and Amy are walking around checking the perimeter.I'm going to look for them and tell them the news” Andrea replies, offering me a shy smile.
I nod without saying anything else.
Carol watches me from afar.
A shaky sigh slips from my lips, immediately catching Daryl's attention.
“Wha’?” he asks me, coming closer and looking for my gaze.
“I need to talk to Carol.Apologize to her, you understand?”
He nods reassuringly and leaving a delicate kiss on my forehead encourages me to go to our friend.
With an uncertain step I reach her and sit next to her on the cold ground.
The fire crackles happily in front of our eyes.
I made an unforgivable mistake by hurting with sharp and senseless words the only person who doesn't deserve it.
“I thought a lot about the words I said to you” I whisper with a lump in my throat, “I don't know what happened to me.I was angry.I'm ashamed of myself.I'm really sorry.I swear that I will do anything to make it up to you, anything to make you understand that I am truly sorry for the horrible words I said to you”
My river of hasty apologies is interrupted by my friend's hand which delicately rests on my hands clasped in my lap.
“You have nothing to make up for, Summer”
I shake my head as if to dismiss her words.
It's not true.
With my behavior I hurt everyone, especially her.
The one person who didn't deserve it.
I didn't care about her pain, I was selfish.
Yet Carol is here, next to me.
She is ready to forgive me.
The tears begin to flow timidly as I rest my head against her shoulder, searching for that consolation that was offered to me and which I denied.
Not wanting it, not feeling adequate to receive it.
But everything changes quickly.
A scream pierces the silence.
A desperate scream, full of terror.
Then a shot.
More screams.
I jump up, my heart in my throat and my heartbeat racing madly in my ears.
Without even seeking the gaze of the others I launch myself into a desperate run using the screams carried by the wind as if they were a compass, orienting myself in the dark night.
My legs burn as my breath rasps my dry throat, but the adrenaline keeps me going.
Behind me I can hear more heavy footsteps.
His unmistakable breathing.
Daryl.
Reaching the edge of the woods, what I find in front of me freezes my blood in my veins.
Amy is struggling with all her might to keep a walker away from her face.
The girl lies on the ground, her limbs moving frantically as she screams and tries to defend herself.
Daryl passes me, lunging towards the girl.
Recovering from my moment of confusion I continue my run but my feet trip on something sending me to the ground.
I try to cushion the fall by putting my hands forward but the impact is equally violent, capable of tearing the air from my lungs with a hiss.
Trying to stay clear, I immediately get back on my feet, grabbing my knife from its holster and slowly walking towards the point where my feet lost their grip on the ground.
It could be another walker but to my surprise it's Dale.
The man lies supine on the ground.
Putting the knife back in its place, I kneel down, placing a hand on the man's neck, searching with my trembling fingers for his pulse.
And thank goodness I find it but my fingers get damp.
Behind me, Amy's agonized scream pierces the night and Daryl begins to scream for help, urging the others to reach them.
My heart tells me to go to him but I can't leave Dale, not before making sure he's okay.
I gently run a hand behind his neck, where a thick liquid flows between my fingers.
“Dale?C'mon man”
I shake him delicately and after a few moments his eyelids flicker, opening and revealing a haunted look.
“Amy…Amy…”
The man whispers agitatedly, coughing.
With effort I help him sit down again.
His eyes travel from one side of the field to the other as if he expects to be attacked at any moment.
“Dale.Dale it's over.Stay calm” I reassure him but my words are drowned out by Andrea's scream.
A scream full of pain and desperation.
And I understand.
Amy.
We're late.
Dale forcefully avoids my hand and staggers dangerously when he reaches the others.
I followed him, already knowing what I would find.
Lying on the cold, bare ground, Amy gurgles meaningless words while her insides glisten with thick dark blood from her totally torn abdomen.
Rick yells to go get Hersel.
But even if the old doctor tried hard there would be nothing that could be done.
The sweet Amy is slowly dying in front of our eyes.
Her sister kneels next to her, crying desperately while her fingers move delicately through her hair, whispering sweet words of love and comfort.
Don't give up.
Hold on.
I'll not leave you.
Many small and painful goodbyes whispered by the trembling and desperate lips of the woman.
Daryl stands still with his knees sunk into the cold ground, his eyes full of pain and guilt.
Yet another victim that he failed to save.
Yet another family member that this world is taking away from him.
Hersel comes running in followed by Maggie and Glenn.
And the moment the vet's eyes stop on the girl on the ground it is clear as day that there is nothing left to do.
A sob shakes my chest.
We have lost another person.
The acrid smell of death fills my nostrils.
In this new world ruled by walkers I tried to close my heart.
I have seen many, too many, people die and yet every time a face fades away, the pain hits me like a punch in the stomach.
Amy's blood flows, staining the ground below, glistening macabrely under the silvery moonlight.
Cries and sobs pass through my ears.
Rick's scream of rage fills my spine with shivers.
Letting my arms fall lifeless to my sides I notice all the people surrounding me and with a trembling step I approach Amy, stopping right behind Andrea.
Shane next to me offers me a look full of anger and pain and in a completely spontaneous gesture I tighten my fingers around his strong upper arm, demonstrating my closeness to him in this terrible moment that has shaken everyone's hearts.
The roars of her pain hurt.
Amy is in pain.
Poor little girl.
The painful moans and whines that roll from her lips are a stab to my heart.
Every gasp, every gurgle, every whine only increases the anger.
The frustration.
The impotence.
“She's suffering.Do something” Carol whispers through her tears, begging anyone to put an end to this havoc.
Shane next to me moves, pulling out his gun and when the sharp noise of the bullet loaded into the barrel resonates in the air Andrea raises her head abruptly, interposing her body between her sister and the man's gun.
“Andrea” the man murmurs, “She's in pain.We must give her a dignified death”
Andrea, with a look full of anger, gets up and with an unexpected move grabs the man's gun, ripping it from his grip.
Shane takes a step in her direction but I quickly stop him by wrapping my fingers around his wrist.
His eyes move quickly between my grip and my face.
I shake my head no slowly.
Shane seems to think about it by taking a step back and letting Andrea decide what is best to do.
It's right that she makes the choice.
“She's my little sister.I'll take care of her”
The woman's words are decisive.
No tremor in her voice.
The resolve in her eyes is icy as she turns to her adored and beloved sister.
With a firm hand she raises the gun pointing it towards Amy's forehead who is now breathing heavily while with an imperceptible nod of her head she makes it clear that she's okay with it.
“I love you, Amy” whispers Andrea.
The words wrapped in infinite love hover lightly in the air, dispersing among the stars.
I squeeze my eyes shut, holding my hands to my ears, but this isn't enough to cut out the reverberation of the shot that makes the depths of my soul vibrate.
We find ourselves in a distorted world, where life and death are intertwined in a dark embrace.
Despite the eyelids closed, behind them the scene repeats itself in an infinite loop.
Amy.
A young woman, once alive and vibrant, brutally devoured by one of those rotten, disgusting beings.
Beings who in turn were human beings with a life, with dreams.
Her poor body torn from her, her insides exposed, her scared look slowly fading away.
I feel paralyzed with horror.
My heart beats wildly in my chest, as if it wants to break through my rib cage to escape this ominous reality.
Anger envelops me, making me tremble, my hands closed in two trembling fists, an impotent rage against the injustice of it all.
Why?
Why Amy?
Why the walkers?
Why has life become so cruel?
The pain clouds my mind.
The pain for the young woman, for Andrea, for everything that was torn away in an instant.
The pain for the fragility of human life, for its ephemeral beauty.
Anger at a plague so devastating that it erases everything.
I just want to scream but my voice is lost in the depths of my dark mind.
Defeat envelops me, its claws planted ferociously in my heart.
I have seen death in the face, I know there is no escape.
No matter how bravely I fight, how much I cling to hope, death will prevail in the end.
I feel helpless, useless, like a leaf blown away by the wind.
Like someone at the mercy of a greater force.
Indestructible, unstoppable.
Only emptiness and darkness remain.
An arm wraps around my shoulders while another sneaks around the bend of my knees and a moment later someone is carrying me away in his arms.
I don't have the strength to open my eyes again but the intense smell of woods and leather under my cheek makes me understand who he is.
And this only triggers a crying fit.
Big, fat sobs shake my chest as Daryl's soft voice whispers words of comfort that vibrate through his cozy chest.
My hands grip his vest tightly.
“Ya'll be fine, my sunshine.Ya'll be fine”
And for the first time I find myself doubting the man's words.
For the first time my heart doesn't believe in Daryl Dixon.
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so, about a month ago, I posted this bit of background material for the @sipofsnips word game. I made a comment to @fallenscintilla that I might post the entire scene, just to show how bad a mental health day Phil had. Here it is, basically not edited at all.
It occurs immediately after this snip, posted last week. CW for language, drinking, alcohol, mention of execution, and detailed description of a person vomiting.
long post
One of my brothers-in-law takes Mama. Whether home or with him I don't recall. Or care, either. All I care about is getting piss drunk and hopefully wiping the last week or so out of my memory. I buy a bottle in low town--the one place around not picky about who they sell to on execution day, provided your coin is good. It burns going down and makes my eyes water. Utter shit but it’s getting the job done.
The main road is too bright and cheery for my mood right now. All these fucking idiots. Laughing. Singing. Alive. Fuck ‘em. I turn down a sidestreet. Maybe an alley. Whatever. Music isn’t so goddamn loud. It’s nice and shadowy. Smells like shit and garbage. Just like this whole damn town. Whole damn world, all of it shit and garbage. I take a hearty swig from my emptying bottle and cough a few times. “TO HELL WITH ALL OF YOU!” I shout to no one in particular. "RATFUCKING BASTARDS!" Damn, that feels good. Just. Get it out there. Yeah.
Something scampers off a barrel and I swivel toward the sound. “YEAH YOU BETTER RUN, SPRINGER! RUN OFF AND HIDE! IN THE TRASH! WHERE YA BELONG, CHICKENSHIT!” Might not be him. Might be a rat. ‘Course he is a rat. “CHICKENSHIT RAT BASTARD! YA LIKE TOADYING FOR WHIDBY? KISS HIS ARSE GOOD?”
A door opens up in one of the buildings and light spills into the alley. A person steps out. I think they notice me. “Shut up, ya drunk,” they call.
“FUCK OFF!” I yell back. “FUCK OFF! FUCK YA'LL OFF!” The glow is too godamn bright in my nice dark alley. “GONNA FUCKING HANG WHIDBY ON HIS OWN GODDAMN GALLOWS AND ALL HIS FRIENDS BESIDES!” They disappear into the building but leave the door open. When I spin around my shadow’s ten feet tall. I take another drink. Barely notice the burn. "SEND 'EM ALL TO HELL! DEVIL'S WAITING ON YA!"
"Philla?" There's a soft touch on my elbow and a voice beside me.
I lurch around. "WHO FUCKING WANTS TO KNOW?"
"A friend."
"AlN'T GOT NO FRIENDS!" Bring up the bottle and some sloshes out. Damn shame, waste. "Cept this right here." Another glug. Nice.
"How about you come inside?"
Do I know this person? I'm not sure. "Fuck the fuck off."
“I was a friend to your father.”
“THEN WHY AIN’T YOU SWINGING WITH HIM?” I scream. Fucking remind me, goddammit. I upend the bottle and guzzle the rest. Toss it away. It breaks against a building. Now I gotta buy another.
“There’s more inside. How about you come with me?”
Oh, lucky me. “More?” I stand, wavering.
“Yes. As much as you’d like. Come in off the street, Philla.” They tug my elbow toward the open doorway.
I let them guide me. “I got coin.” Coin is important. Coin means booze. Booze means oblivion.
“Don’t worry about that.”
The light’s bright. I hear music and conversation but it flows together. Noise. “Too cheery,” I complain.
They help me up the two or three or ten steps to the open door. “I’ll put you up private. Don’t worry.”
I squint against the glare from the lamps in the hallway. Far, far, far in the distance, I think I see a crowd. Tobacco smoke scents the air. Tobacco and whiskey and leather. That’s where the booze is. I take a tottering step that direction but that same soft touch at my elbow redirects me.
“This way, Philla.”
There’s stairs. Oh, fuck me. I grasp for the handrail and miss. Twice.
Behind me, I hear the voice speaking but not to me. “Take her up to one of the empty rooms on the third floor. Don't leave her alone, even for a minute. Keep her lubed if she wants but most of all quiet. There’s been enough death today.”
"Yes, Miss Peaches." Different voice. A strong arm grips me around my chest and there's a shoulder under my armpit, helping me up the stairs. "Come on, Philla. Up we go."
I wake in my own bed and immediately wish I hadn't. Sunlight streams in around the closed curtain, tunnels through my eyeballs, and curdles my brain. My stomach churns and gurgles in a decidedly unfriendly way. Something reeks to high heaven. It might be me. I groan and throw an arm over my eyes. It doesn't help much.
"Well, maybe fourth time's a charm. How are you feeling?"
I move my arm and crack open one eye. A woman sits in Mama's old rocker across the room. Strawberry blonde hair, simple blue dress, and quite frankly that's all I notice before covering my eyes again because they ache so bad. "Like shit." My voice sounds nauseous.
"Answering questions. That's a good sign," she says.
I groan again. Thinking about words is an effort. "Mind telling me who the fuck you are and why you're in my house?"
"Asking questions, even better." She giggles. "My name's Liese. Miss Peaches sent me home to take care of you."
"Nungh," I grunt in reply.
"We'll see if it sticks this time," Liese says.
I slowly, slowly, sort through her answer. "Peaches?" I ask, settling on the most pressing issue.
"Miss Peaches, yes."
"Mama here?" Any loud noises and my head will explode, and if Mother discovers one of Miss Peaches’ ladies here there will be a lot of loud noise.
"No."
Her answer brings it back, all of it, everything I was trying to forget. The arrest, the executions, the…the hanging. The whole thing. Something between a sob and a moan escapes my lips and my stomach rolls. I’m going to be sick. I try to turn on my side and Liese is there, helping. She even has a slop bucket. But it doesn’t matter because all I manage is dry heaves. My nose is running a steady stream. I wipe it away with the back of one hand. Liese cleans off my hand and nose with a dry cloth. Like Mama or---that train of thought leads to another choked sob and more heaving.
I have to know. When the spasms pass I ask, “What day is it?”
"Tuesday."
"Fuck me." Tuesday. Fuck.
Liese places one arm around my shoulders. “How about sitting up?”
I try to lay back down. "How about no?”
It doesn't matter because Liese hauls me up anyway. My head swims with the change of position and I gag a few times. “There. How do you feel?” she asks.
I squint my eyes open against the light. I’m wearing a long shirt I don’t think is mine. I certainly don’t remember changing into it. My legs and feet are bare. "Like shit and also confused."
< stuff happens > < Location: Phil's house later that day >
I think it’ll stay down this time. But I’m wrong, and Liese realizes it a half-second before I do. She shoves the slop pail at me barely in time to catch my spew. I vomit up the food I just ate until there’s nothing left in my stomach. Then I vomit up sour yellow bile until I run out of that, too. I puke until my belly aches from the effort and I can’t anymore. She gives me a mouthful of water to rinse, setting off another round of dry heaves. God, everything hurts.
Liese wipes my face and mouth with a damp cloth like I’m a child. She crouches down beside me and puts my arm over her shoulders. “Let’s get you to the jakes. On three. One, two, three!” She stands and brings me with her despite my groaning protests. I struggle to make my legs work. They don’t want to. My heels slip on the floorboards. Eventually I manage to get them under me but it’s Liese bearing my weight. She leans to grab the slop bucket in her free hand. “Come on, Philla.”
< stuff happens > < New Location: Peach House, Later >
Miss Peaches walks around the end of the bar to stand beside me. "There's a line between drowning your sorrows and drinking yourself to death and you rolled right over it without slowing down. So I cut you off and sent Liese home with you once you dried out enough to stand."
"I don't remember."
"I'm not surprised. I ought to have done sooner,” she says. “My condolences, Philla. He was--"
I hold up a hand to stop her. "Don't. Just don't. I had to go past the square to get here and if I have to think about it I'll be sick. Not today. Not now, please." Christ, I'm begging. I can't look at her. I can't look at anything but the dark polished wood of the bar I’m leaning on. My haggard, distorted reflection stares back at me. There's a black chasm, a cliff, barely beyond my toes and only the thinnest wire keeping me from taking that final step and falling in. "I want a drink."
"I won't serve you," Miss Peaches says.
“I've half a mind to find someone who will.” More than half, if I’m honest. Wouldn’t be hard even this early. Not in low town.
She rests her hand gently on my arm. “Don’t.”
It’s so like my father I feel tears forming hot in the corners of my eyes. They roll down my cheeks. I squeeze my eyelids shut to try to stop them but they creep out anyway. My breath hitches in a sob. Fuck. I can’t lose it now. Not here. Not in public. I blink a lot, snurfle the tears back, then drag out a coin purse and set it on the bar. “I, ah, I owe you…for the, ah, the room and all.” The words come out ragged and hoarse. I almost don’t recognize my own voice.
Miss Peaches folds my fingers back over the bag. “No, you're paid full,” she says. Her other hand brushes my hair behind my ear and ends resting across my shoulders in a gentle embrace.
I choke out another sob and feel her soft pat on my shoulder. It breaks the dam. My eyes squeeze shut again and I start shaking. No sounds. She gathers me in and I cling to her shoulders, curled into her embrace, when the wailing begins in earnest. She holds me while I cry out all the pain I tried to drink away before and then some. At some point she guides me to one of the card tables and eases me down into a chair, then sits with me until I'm all wrung out. It’s ugly. It feels like hours.
When the shakes finally stop and the tears slow she smooths my hair and asks, "Better?"
"Not really." I feel like I did when I stopped puking. Nothing's fixed. I'm not done. I'm just spent. Numb and hurting at the same time. “I ruined your dress,” I say. Snot and tears pucker the shimmering blue material. It looks like someone’s baby spit up and then some.
Her face shows no disapproval. “I have others.”
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Rantaro, Ryoma and Shuichi snapping at (Usually Depressed) S/O
howdy!! May I request a scenario with Rantaro, Ryoma, and Shuichi having a bad day, and their (depressed) s/o is in a cheery mood and telling them about something, until the boys kinda snap at s/o, and all the cheeriness just kinda.. vanishes?? And maybe s/o just doesn't even respond to the boys, just goes somewhere to stare at nothing for a few hours ((ya'll mind if I hit ya'll with thEM FEELIES THO))
Hi my heart, thanks for shattering it, ripping it to pieces right in front of me. and then for taking out my awfully sadistic side that loves hurting people with angsty imagines.
You’ve unleashed the beast.
(Googles how to make Rantaro Amami of all people angry, so I just placed him into a kg for this situation because what the fuck how do you make this guy mad)
-Mod Shuichi
Shuichi Saihara
Shuichi didn’t want to admit it but he was having a terrible day, he had recently solved a homicide but at what cost, the murderer had been promising to kill him, screaming it at him as he was dragged away into the vehicle, he even continued to scream as he was dragged away.
“ARE YOU LISTENING?! I’LL KILL YOU! I’LL KILL EVERYTHING YOU LOVE, SLEEP WITH ONE EYE OPEN!”
He was horrified to say the least, then you had come over to his house, looking cheerier than you usually looked with a large smile on your face, he barely listened along as he was contained in his thoughts.
“Can you believe it...? I got us set up on a date towards this place I’ve wanted us to go to for ages, I can’t believe it myself! Waaah... I’m so happy Shuichi, aren’t you?”
He responded with staring down towards the floor, his thoughts growing more rampant by the second.
“Shuichi? Did... you not hear me, should I speak up louder...?”
“Are you listening to me?”
Shuichi jumped out of his seat with a scream, he pulls himself back, pushing himself away.
“S-Shut up, please shut up, for Christ’s sake! I-I- I-I don’t want to remember anymore, I-I’m sorry! I-I-“
“Just shut... up.”
He stared back at you horrified, you took a step back that smile on your features gone, wiped away with tears flowing down your face.
“... I-I’m... sorry...? I-I-I didn’t mean...” Shuichi tried pulling himself up, but you had already started running out of the house, he looked at the door moments after you shut it.
... He’s driving matters that you shouldn’t even be associated with into your own life, he had no right to vent that pure driven anger into you, what had he done...?
He takes out his phone, going forward as to apologize via call, but you don’t answer.
Shuichi feels himself fall to the floor a sobbing mess, he’s so sorry he’s dragged you into this...
Ryoma Hoshi
Ryoma Hoshi was known to keep his cool no matter the situation, that was usually the case, even now.
When he had been told by the person he kept his cat with, that they had gotten into an accident.
They died this morning, he never got to see them again.
Ryoma should’ve expected it afterall nothing stays, he just stood by himself, a sense of dread in his system, he tried telling’ ya today wasn’t a good day to come over but you insisted it.
“Hey! Ryoma!”
On the couch he was just sitting down, minding his own business even as you moved in towards him with an oddly familiar grin on your features.
“I have such good news to tell you, I finally got that job I was applying for! Things seem to finally be turning up for me...!”
You grinned brightly at him, that grin so familiar grew and grew, yet he didn’t feel happy, just somewhat... desolate.
It reminded him of her, she was gone too though, wasn’t she?
“... Hey! Ryoma, what’s wrong? You... don’t look so-“
“... Leave m’ alone.”
“... Huh?”
He pushed his hat down, a grim expression on his features. “... Good for you, but... you should tell anyone else this news, m’ just tired, I... I don’t want to hear it.”
Ryoma picked himself up, before you could even respond he left the room, leaving you all alone with your thoughts with no way to react.
He pushed himself to solitude, the distance sound of meowing he could swore he could hear, he pulled his hat down, taking in what he had just said to you...
...
Ryoma deserved any hate you’d give him, he deserved to be alone, this was just a sign of that, so if you had left him too...
Who could blame you?
Rantaro Amami
Rantaro Amami? Ever acting up in pure anger, to actually snap at anybody?
Such a request seemed impossible, but it is with just one little thing...
It’s almost impossible, but he was holding enough unsureness of the motive that was containing him, any information you could possibly ask for, his thoughts were piling up on another for how valuable that could actually be...
Then you walked into the room, wanting to hang out with him, he couldn’t blame you, he just wished you took a better time to do so when he wasn’t organizing his thoughts.
“Rantaro! Look at what I got from the MonoMonomachine! I can’t believe they actually have these in here!”
You would show off your hands yo him, he tried smiling back at you, especially with how energetic you had looked, with sparkles in your eyes.
“I... I can’t believe they have it either.”
Your... roles have been reversed somewhat, hm...?
“Mhm! Isn’t it amazing Rantaro? I haven’t tested if it works yet, so I was planning on doing that n-“
“... can... you be a bit quieter?”
...
Huh? You looked back at Rantaro confused, he rubbed at his temples, awkwardly staring down at the floor his face going grim.
“... I-I’m uh... getting an headache, I’m sorry, it’s not... you it’s just... everything’s so... loud.”
You made Rantaro Amami of all people get a headache? You blinked, putting the item you gained in your pockets, you become silent.
You don’t even nod at him, before you go to leave the room, holding back the tears that threaten to spill.
Rantaro sighs, he looks down feeling slightly... awful at what he just did, he’ll apologize to you in the morning, he just needs to... stop this terrible headache.
He promises.
How ironic it is then, for you to be found stapled to the wall in a killing game like this, with your throat slit.
Rantaro Amami feels true anger entering his system as he stares up to the sight of you gone from him, he never even got to apologize.
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