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 Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2018 4:33 pm
Penrose was asleep.
This was both entirely unsurprising and entirely ordinary. Equally as unsurprising and ordinary was the fact that he was asleep at Nevada Burns' house, curled up in a ball on her bed, his curly hair tousled and loose around his face, falling about his closed eyes. Somewhere in the nearby vicinity was Nevada herself; subconsciously he could feel her warmth seeping into him, pressing against at least his back or possibly his side.
It was nap time and it was cozy and familiar at Nevada's house. She was the best for when it came to this sort of thing, and Penrose appreciated actually having someone in the city that he both knew and was close to. He still didn't know too many people, but as long as he had Nevada, everything was perfectly fine and dandy. He didn't really need or want much more than that.
Sometime during the day Nevada's best friend Stormy was coming over; Penrose had stayed the night and was possibly going to be hanging out with the pair of them, but he'd fallen asleep again around midday during one of his and Nevada's lazy times, and now he was completely out, chest rising and falling gently.
Somewhere on the ground, his phone beeped. Penrose didn't wake, but rolled over, burrowing deeper into the blankets.
"Don't wanna," he mumbled sleepily, yawning.
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2018 8:46 pm
Nevada didn't usually sleep alone often, as Penrose and her had been close since their time as both aerial silk partners and best friends. They both shared a penchant for naps, laziness and overall cuddling. It had not changed in the years they had been friend.
Where his hair curled around him, hers was long and silk and draped over her side of the bed. When he moved, she moved. It was almost as if they were in sync asleep, just as much as they were when they did dual hoops and silks.
The beep made her blink, because even though she had no work today, she did have the most lovely friend coming over. Stormy had been one of her long time best friends as well, and she had been a consistent penpal. Nevada counted her just as important in her life as Penrose and the fact that both of them were now accessible to her as they all lived in Destiny City.
Ever so slowly, the smaller woman started to slide out of the bed, hair pooling around her hips as she stretched and then moved over open the curtains, letting in midday sun.
"Gotta get up Pen." She went over and rubbed her nose against his cheek. "Stormy will be over soon, and I don't wanna miss her cause of naps." She teased, but she was very serious. She had only recently gotten the girl's local phone number and arranged for the lazy date with movies, popcorn, candy and overall catching up.
Especially now that she could also get her greedy hands on her adorable other best friend.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 2:23 pm
Stormy was anxious. Well, she was always anxious, but she was even more so today for no reason she could help. She'd considered cancelling at the last minute, because it was better to mope by herself than it was to foist it onto anyone else (let alone someone like Nevada), and that instinct had almost won. It was almost a miracle that she dragged herself from work, sat on the bus, and didn't remain seated when the right stop came. The impulse to cry was still with her, no matter how much she tried to wall it off.
It was just going to be a fun and friendly chat with someone she hadn't seen in a while. Why did she have to have a down day now?
It wasn't too late. She could make up an excuse and just wait for the next bus back home. Maybe Nevada wouldn't get mad. (Or maybe she'd get mad enough.) But Stormy kept moving forward anyway, because when did her body listen? She wasn't in control, clearly. And there was the door. Ten minutes late, according to her phone.
After a moment's hesitation, she knocked.
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Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2018 5:44 pm
Pen did not want to get up. Pen wanted to continue sleeping until he had had his full nap time and stay curled up against Nevada for the rest of the evening, because it was warm and gentle and soft and he didn't have to think about anything else in the world.
But his phone was beeping and Nevada was stirring - and then jabbing him - and then pushing her nose into his cheek - and Pen let out a low groan, forcing his eyes open. He found his best friend's face mere inches from his and made some sort of snorting noise before pushing himself back and then vertical again.
"Fine, fine," he said with a yawn, Pen stretching a muscular arm skyward. His auburn hair, normally pulled back, was lose around his neck and fell most of the way down his back in long, glossy ringlets that were, at present, kind of messy and sleep fuzzy.
He tumbled gracefully out of the bed and yawned again. There was a knocking sound coming from down the hallway, and it took Penrose a moment to realize that someone was knocking on the door to Nevada's place, a gentle and quiet knock.
"I'll get it," he said sleepily and shuffled down the hallway in a pair of stripped leggings and a oversized shirt that came down mid-thigh. Penrose padded to the door, flipped the lock, unhooked the chain, and pulled it open to reveal a small, pink haired young woman standing there.
"Hullo," he said, leaning against the door, willing himself to wake up a bit more. It was very difficult. "You must be Stormy. Nevada's here, she's just gettin' ready."
The accent made Nevada rounder at the edges; it came out sounding like Nevader.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 10:44 am
"Thanks Boo." She went to brush her hair, quickly braiding it and switching her pajama's for well....sorta not pajamas. She didn't feel like there would be much change beyond shorts and shirts and it wasn't like they were going out. They were just enjoying movies at him.
She heard the knocking and then Pen had greeted the small girl, a girl she remembered as a child mostly. There exchange of letters as Nevada had been travelling still sat in a box on her counter labelled the Storm Box. She had pictures and items from the girl that she treasured greatly.
It was surprising just how much different it was to meet in person after so long again.
"Stormy." She slipped under Pen's arms and took the girl in a soft hug. "This is Pen. He's gonna join us for movies." She nudged her taller best friend away to make room for Stormy. "We got movies, and popcorn and candy. We also just woke up from a nap." Nevada smiled sheepishly, "Sorry for the messy apartment." messy was a relative term. Her bedroom was open and a queen size bed that was mussed from their prior napping. Along the walls were pictures and newspaper clippings from her time travelling where she did.
The living room was a bit smaller, just enough room for a couch, TV, TV stand and pillows. Piles of pillows for all of them. "Do you want anything to eat, beautiful?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2018 1:30 am
Stormy froze as soon as as she saw someone other than Nevada opened the door. A hundred thoughts whirled about her head. Did she have the wrong address? Did she have the right address and wrong time? Oh, no, worse: both address and time were fine, and there was simply extra company involved. This was not what she had mentally prepared for.
Nevada was on his heels, swooping in and taking Stormy into her arms as easily as a child took a stuffed animal. Stormy hadn’t so much as said a word to the stranger yet, having only given him a look of surprise and abject horror, and what little greeting she did mumble was muffled into her best friend’s body as she clung to her. Warm, human touch was something so rare in her life, and yet thought of so little; she hadn’t realized how starved she was until she felt the wet spots seeping into Nevada’s clothes.
Crap, crap, crap.
Stormy tried to wipe at her eyes casually once the hug broke. The whirlwind of thoughts was not letting up. “Um. Don’t worry about it,” she replied, something like a nervous laugh bubbling up. “I-I’m sorry. Just. Been a day. Watching a movie sounds nice.”
What did she say his name was? God damn it.
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2018 9:34 am
She looked very fragile.
This was Penrose’ first thought as he blinked down at Stormy, her dark face tilted up to look at him, her expression a panicked one. Maybe she thought he was some sort of creep answering the door that was supposed to be Nevada’s place. Or maybe she thought he was...he wasn’t entirely sure how to finish that sentence.
But he could understand her surprise and her confusion, even if he wouldn’t have reacted the same way, considering how lackadaisical he was most of the time. Penrose lifted his arm as Nevada swooped forwards, gathering Stormy up and against her chest before anyone could say the word trapeze. He glanced at them both and then reached out and pushed the door shut behind them all, gently ushering them back towards Nevada’s bedroom at the end of the hallway.
“Don’t mind me,” he said lightly, and patted the top of Nevada’s head before ambling into the small kitchenette area, fishing around for some sort of snacks or drinks or something to bring back for their movie night. “I’ll just get us some nosh, shall I? Does anyone want anything specific to drink? Ladies?”
Pen opened a cabinet, squinting into the darkness.
“Nevada, where do you keep your glasses, luv?”
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2018 12:04 pm
The wet of tears made Nevada sigh, but not in experasation. The sigh was of happiness and she gathered the girl up with her. When Pen ushered them in, she still held on to the girl, lacing fingers with Stormy and leading her to the sitting area in the living room. The pat from Pen made her chuckle, it was like the man to be affectionate.
As Pen went for drinks, Nevada smiled at him. "Otherside darling." She turned her attention back to Stormy, studying her face and brushing away tears. "There there my love. It's been forever." There was no tears from Nevada, but her heart clenched as she looked at her friend. The anxiousness was something that plauged the smaller girl, and sometimes she got tones of it in letters or even calls if they chose to do those. With the simple ease of confidence, she slid Stormy and herself onto the couch where she practically circled arms around her smaller best friend.
"Not just a movie but cuddles and food." She buried her face on Stormy's shoulder. "Pen's really sweet too, He's my aerial silk partner and also someone I would consider a best friend." She waited, "I love the color of your hair Stormy." Nevada was always one to preen others, as she gently ran a hand over the pink hair. "Wanna talk about your day?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2018 10:10 pm
God, she wanted to rewind and start over. What a child she must have looked, being fussed over and face wiped and ushered this way and that. It was a terrible and new guilty pleasure, as much as she felt embarrassed.
"S'okay, day was a day," Stormy said as she was enveloped into a cuddle, relaxing a little bit more. She didn't acknowledge the compliment. Speaking up, she said to Penrose, "Water, please? And what's it like at the circus with her?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2018 7:19 pm
He closed the current cabinet he was investigating (full of plates, but no glasses) and promptly swiveled around to open the one that Nevada had indicated, letting out a small aha as his eyes fell on a neatly stacked tower of glasses. Penrose carefully extracted three of them, swung the cabinet shut, set the glasses on the counter, and then began rummaging around in the refrigerator for snacks.
He could hear Nevada and Stormy talking in low, snuffly voices somewhere in the other room, the latter of which still seemed anxious, but he didn't take this as a personal affront. People couldn't help that sort of thing, after all, he thought as he reemerged from poking his head into the refrigerator with several packages of cheese, a few apples, three bottles of water, and some chocolate M&Ms. He piled them all beside the glasses, then opened the pantry, this time pulling out a bag of crisps, some crackers, and a bottle of red wine that he'd stashed in there earlier.
Piling the lot of it into his arms, Penrose ambled back into the room to find Stormy and Nevada huddled up together on the couch, Stormy's cheeks still a little pink. He said, "She's a right firecracker, this'un," and bent slowly to let the spoils of his gatherings tumble out onto the coffee table before Penrose folded himself gracefully into a cross-legged position on the floor. He reached for the packet of crackers, ripping it open.
"She likes to pretend she's all cute, but really she's just a pain in my arse," said Pen, and popped a saltine into his mouth before holding it out to the girls.
"Cracker?" he said thickly, mouth full. "Oh, here's your water, luv."
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 11:57 pm
Nevada did her best to curl the woman into her arms as well. Gentle pets through her hair and gentle touches to her ace. Like Pen, the girl didn't seem a bit perturbed by Stormy's behavior.
"I resent that. I am cute." She smiled, "He's dropped me before." Nevada looked at Stormy with a very serious face. "Don't let that face fool you."
She took a cracker, and stuffed it in her mouth.
"Where's my water? You dropper. You dropper of people." She pushed him with her foot and then touched Stormy's hair.
"You should see us together though. It's amazing. Do you wanna come sometime?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2018 12:43 am
Stormy didn't think Nevada was pretending, but she was content to listen and be balled up in the other's arms and said nothing. Even as her stomach rumbled, she didn't move. She had missed this place. And everything seemed fine, even if Pen had dropped her once before. So.
She nodded at the offer, arms now around her knees, balled up and convenient for holding. In the past, Nevada had often talked about running away to the circus as a joke, but it was strange to think of her as one of their acrobats now. Were they taking good care of her? Pen seemed nice enough...and had an accent as a bonus. And was comfortable enough to be over and taking naps, apparently. Best friend. Best friend. Time never did stop, did it.
Eventually Stormy took one of the offered crackers and began to nibble, smiling just a little as the two bantered.
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2018 5:34 pm
It was kind of endearing, seeing Nevada sitting there with her arms around the clearly distraught Stormy, whatever she was distraught about. Maybe she just didn't like meeting people, which, in all honesty, Penrose couldn't quite blame her. Meeting people - especially new people - especially your best friend's other best friend - was exhausting.
He did, however, look a little outraged at Nevada's insinuation.
"I have never dropped you," said Penrose indignantly. "How insulting. Here, take your bloody water and be grateful," he added, shoving a bottle of water in her direction. "And yes, please do come, Stormy, but don't let this heathen fool you into thinking I'm anything but a professional."
He ate another cracker, chewing slowly.
"What about you, luv? Do you have an interest in the circus?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2018 4:52 pm
Nevada did exactly that, using her own smaller body to curl the ball that Stormy was and gently let her cheek rest on the pink haired. Every touch to the girl was meant to be comforting and lovingly. She didn't share this much with others, but Stormy was a different story.
"So he says." She sighed into the girl's hair as Pen shoved water at them and chuckled, "I'm always grateful for you, my handsome prince." She blew him a kiss and then waited for Stormy to answer.
In their letters, Nevada had tried to write just how much joy she had with the circus and what freedoms it gave her. Freedoms she knew her friend didn't have. Or couldn't allow herself to have.
"Just be careful, Pen might drop you on accident." Her eyes twinkled as she burrowed herself against Stormy.
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Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 1:24 am
”Heathen fool,” Stormy repeated with amusement. But he was also a “handsome prince.” Nevada did like her nicknames, and so Stormy continued to wonder, as she finished her cracker and took another, if that was her normal flirting or her flirting. Even when cocooned and pleased, she couldn’t help but make needles to p***k herself with.
“I’m no performer, if that’s what you mean,” she said. “Not built for it. You guys could probably bench me.” At least, she felt Nevada’s muscles for sure, even in their lazy cuddling. “But I’d love to see you guys! Um, if there’s something going on right now, I mean.”
Did circuses have seasons like sports did...?
“I know Nevada does stuff with ribbons, but you guys don’t have to worry about stuff like blind folded tight ropes, right? Or jumping off diving boards into tiny glasses of water?” That last one was a joke, but Stormy had always been anxious imagining her best friend being so risky on the job.
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