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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2018 4:35 pm
Quote: Near the outskirts of the clearing is a snow covered pathway leading into the adjacent forest. Couples and clusters of friends disappear into the shaded area, their delight in the beautiful scenery loud enough for any passersby to hear. Deciding to venture in to see what the fuss is all about, you (and perhaps whoever you're with) head towards the marked path. Twenty minutes or so in and you soon realize that you must have fallen distracted at some point because the path is no longer obvious and there's neither sound nor sight of any other people around. The sun begins to set and you can swear you hear quiet whispers among the trees. You'd better find your way back somehow - and fast - before the whispers’ owners find you first. Lavender thought it might just be a good idea to come out to this winter carnival that everyone was making such a big fuss about…however she made sure not to go too close to actual Christmas…and she made sure that is was smack dab in the middle of the day when she went…
She didn’t trust this city and its events worth a fig, and it was only the fact that the carnival spanned such a long running time that she was going at all. Stupidly bad things couldn’t happen all of the days…right?
Honestly, if she had to judge herself, she looked cute today. Her hair was a perfectly fluffy mess and her makeup was utterly perfect, complete with a few snowflake shaped rhinestones around her eyes for effect.
Ah, if only Rhona hadn’t been busy…but…she could still show off for whoever else was here. As her eyes scanned the faces, she saw a rather familiar face and long blonde hair and her eyes lit up in delight. “Virell!” She called happily, half running over to him and grabbing his hands without a second thought. “I haven’t seen you in ages! How have you been?”
Lavender hoped he hadn’t been too worried about him…she had cut a lot of people out of her life for a few months…but she was back now…and things were going to be better. Things…were better. She was happy. Lighter.
It was great.
But she hoped the same held true for the blonde.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2018 8:36 am
Virell had been working earlier in the day; he was scheduled to work for another two hours still, but between the chill weather, a frustrated director and failing cameras, they had all decided to leave early and just work with the shots they'd taken. He couldn't complain; he was built for the heat, not the cold.
He'd left the shoot bundled up in nearly four layers of clothes, complete with scarf and gloves.
He hadn't meant to take this route home; he had been so cozy in the outfit that the cool wind didn't even bother him--especially now that the clouds had moved out of the sky and the sun was able the shine a little brighter.
There were hands in his hands and a voice calling his name before he even knew where he was or what he was doing, but all confusion washed away when he realized it was Lavender in front of him.
His eyes widened and a grin split across his face as he gripped the hands that had slid into his own. "Lavender!" he exclaimed in greeting, clearly pleased to see her. "I've been well enough," he said; he kept it short because he'd been both very bad and very good and he didn't know where to start if he was going to get into any of it. Instead, he said, "Your makeup is so cute! I was waiting for new videos. You look amazing, how have you been?"
There was no ill will in his voice, just excitement to see her. He had been worried; he got that way about anyone that was in his life for long enough for him to care, but he was too pleased to see her to be upset with her absence.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2018 3:28 pm
“Oh! Virell, I’ve…it’s been a roller coaster of a year, but I think it’s…I’m doing good now. But…what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, am I right? And now that Rhona and I have both grown up a bit and…well? Our relationship is actually going well. Which is surprising…I know the last time I talked with you she was being a little…I mean…” Lavender shrugged. “We got over ourselves and then started back up again around Halloween. Somewhere around then…but…” She smiled softly, looking truly happy. “I think we’ve got this all figured out…finally. And aside from that…I’m going to start doing videos again…most likely after the first of the year, and I know you and I talked about doing one together, are you still interested?” Because she was. She wanted to make this beautiful man even more beautiful. There were several peals of laughter and Lavender paused, glancing over as some couples ran into a small wooded area. “Oh, I wonder what’s over there? Want to go check it out and keep chatting? I figured it would be fun to check out this carnival since nothing stupid or strange seems to have happened yet. Normally I try to avoid things in this city like the plague.” It was just the smart thing to do, at least in her own mind. “If it’s something cool over there, I don’t want to miss out…and I have time if you want to take a walk with me~”
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2018 4:48 pm
Virell found himself nodding agreeably as he listened. "Of course I'm still interested in doing a video with you, you're gorgeous and talented. How could I not want that experience? I'm so happy to hear about you and Rhona."
His eyes had followed the couple; they seemed like they were having too much fun, but he couldn't think of a good reason not to investigate.
He shot his hand out to Lavender. "Well, if we're going into the woods, hold my hand. I've had this nightmare since I was a child, I get lost and I'm all alone and can't find my way out. So if I'm going to let you convince me to see what's going on over there, you have to at least make sure we don't get separated!"
Too many weird things happened in Destiny City not to take such precautions anyway.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2018 4:50 pm
Lavender paused and grinned, taking Virell’s hand and squeezing it. “I won’t let you get lost, don’t worry! Besides, we won’t go in very far. I don’t trust anything in this city but…now I’m forced to stay until I can convince Rhona that it’s best for both of us that we move. She went and got all beat up over Halloween because of some…store? I don’t know.”
She began walking into the woods, taking Virell with her and seeming excited, swinging their hands.
“But, enough about me! What’s been going on with you? I feel like I’ve been talking nonstop this whole time—are you doing okay? Like really doing okay?”
Lavender shook her head, letting her hair fluff out a bit more. She was really enjoying how it looked now and wondered why she had ever thought getting an undercut was a good decision…she had rocking hair when she tried.
“Tell me everything.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2018 4:51 pm
Virell kept a firm grip on her hand and smiled, nodding. He kept his eyes on the area around, alert and concerned that something could jump out at any time. He didn't belong in nature and he knew it, but even with that in mind he had butterflies dancing in his stomach at the idea of solving some mystery.
"Enough about me? 'Enough about me', for real? I could never hear enough about you," he laughed. It was partly to hide the fact that he needed a few seconds to figure out how to answer, to try and figure out where he'd left off on things with her.
"Really okay," he said, because it wasn't a lie and the smile on his face proved it. "There's this guy, okay. And I guess, at first, I liked him, but then immediately after hated him--not his fault, my manager screwed me over for a job that was mine and gave it to this guy--and then immediately fell for him, because he showed up at my place to tell me that after he found out, he couldn't take the job and it was mine. And somehow we started dating. And he's seen me without makeup on and didn't run away so," he winked at her.
"I think that means he's a keeper."
...Eric was so much better than that, though, and no matter what he said, there was a soft glow in his eyes and a smile that seemed like it was genuine, just thinking about him.
...God, he had it bad. Just thinking about him made Virell itch to shoot him a text and see what he was doing tonight
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2018 4:53 pm
Lavender was beaming, grinning from ear to ear as Virell spoke of this new guy of his, and by the time he was done, she gave a squeal of excitement. Her hand let go of his and instead she threw her arms around him, squeezing the blonde tightly. “Oh, we should go on a double date sometime…I want you to meet Rhona…she…she’s a little much but she’s…”
There was a smile on her face, and her eyes were warm as she snuggled close to the male. “She’s my little much. And I don’t think I’d want to trade her for the world.”
Finally she let go of Virell and once more took his hand, walking what she thought was only a little further into the forest…though when she glanced around, suddenly nothing looked quite as it had before and for a moment, Lavender frowned.
“…Hey…uh. Where did the path get to?”
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2019 5:00 pm
He laughed, embracing Lavender easily; it was nice to have someone who was so openly affectionate, who could be so genuine--it was contagious, and he found butterflies dancing in his stomach.
...And then his stomach twisted into knots.
"...Um. What do you mean where did the path go?" he asked; he'd been so certain they were just on it; he froze, looked at the ground and then behind them. "--I didn't leave it. We were just on it."
He skimmed the forest, eyes wide when he realized there was no path--and nobody around.
"...Where's the city?" he asked after a second. "We should turn around and head back. Before we wind up here, and the sun sets, and we're cold and lost and wolves eat us."
He faced her and with a serious expression, clutched her hand and confessed, "I've been afraid of wolves tearing off my face since I was four. I don't know if there are wolves in Destiny City, but if there are, they will find us, and eat our faces off."
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 8:39 pm
Lavender swallowed, eyes moving rapidly around the woods, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. What had happened to the other laughing couples in here? The voices of the half dozen other groups…how had they ended up…in the middle of nowhere…and why were there no sounds at all…it frightened her.
A lot.
She glanced at Virell and managed what she hoped was a brave smile. “Hey, none of that, Virell. We won’t get attacked by wolves—I’ll protect us.” The girl winked, but there was a sinking feeling as she thought of the henshin pen that was suddenly very heavy in her pocket. She could protect them if it came to that…but boy oh boy, wouldn’t that make Virell judge her something fierce.
Suddenly just wanting to be out of the forest, Lavender began to pull the blonde with her in the direction that she was sure they had just come from. They couldn’t have gone more than a few hundred feet into these stupid woods. They would be out in no time.
…She hoped.
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Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 8:08 am
The eerie silence was enough to make his skin prickle, and Virell didn't want to admit that suddenly everything looked the same. He didn't fight her; instead, he moved with her, eager to stay close. He kept his fingers tightly locked with hers.
"You'll protect us?" he asked. "You're very brave, Lavender. I didn't know that about you."
He tried to stay positive. "I'd try, you know. I'd just also expect to lose my face in the process. --Where did everyone go?"
He seemed a little chatty, not becuase he necessarily felt like he needed to say those things but because the worst part of all of this wasn't that he didn't know how far into the woods they'd gone, or that he coudln't see anyone else--it was that the rest of the forest seemed like it was silent.
No wind, no rustling leaves, no running water or distant cars honking.
Being in a city that never slept meant that silence was completely foreign to Virell--and it made his skin crawl.
He tried to disrupt it by continuing, "--You said something about a double date? I'd be interested in meeting this lady love of yours. Eric is really sweet, he's--it's so weird, he's so nice and down to Earth. He's from out of Destiny City, I didn't know people like him existed. He's really sweet. I could convince him to go double dating, I think he'd love that. Where do you girls usually go?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 7:59 am
“Of course I’ll protect us. I’m very skilled in uh. Protecting…things. Kind of. If this was a foreign country, it would be a lot easier I think. I’m good with languages…not so good with nature though, I confess.” Lavender continued to walk in the direction that she thought the exit was and squeezed his hand tightly. “Oh, hell yeah the double date sounds amazing…though, my Rhona sounds about the complete opposite of your Eric…she’s loud and a little crass but…”
A little smile formed on her face despite the fear that was pumping through her veins and Lavender had the sudden feeling of warmth descend on her when thinking of Rhona.
“But she loves me. And she’s mine so…I’m happy. And sometimes that’s all you can really ask for.” The silence felt as though it were pressing down on her ears, muffling everything…but then.
Her head perked up and she cocked her ear slightly. “…I think I hear something. Laughter? Maybe it’s the fair, maybe we’re not as completely lost as we thought!”
It was all well and good until she heard what sounded much like a snarl coming from some point behind them.
…There weren’t wolves in the city…
Were there?
…She didn’t want to stick around and find out.
“How about we run?”
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 8:23 am
"Yes," Virell said, without any hesitation or even proper consideration; he hadn't heard the laughter but he had heard the snarl.
He didn't waste time looking behind him. He didn't waste time trying to prepare a game plan.
He didn't waste time thinking about what he was doing.
Instead, he scooped Lavender up in his arms almost effortlessly and bolted in the direction she had been tugging them in.
Virell might have been lean, but he could run. Be it build or adrenaline, he didn't feel Lavender's weight in his arms at all and he held her close to him, mindful not to bump her into any trees or branches as he charged through the forest. Maybe, in another life, he would have enjoyed nature more; in this life, he was just worried about branches snagging his clothes, or running into a spider web, or wolves tearing off his face.
But Lavender was protected, and he didn't realize how important it was to him that someone in his life be safe.
He didn't have much to lose, so he held the important things that much closer.
He drew her more into his arms and burst through the treeline--paused--and had to slow down when he realized they weren't in the forest anymore.
There were normal sounds--sounds!--and people in the distance, and movement. His breathing was a bit heavy but he paused, finally glanced behind him, and realized there were no wolves. Just a normal forest that, from this angle, looked so much more friendly than it had just felt.
"Oh," he said after a second, hesitated, and put Lavender down, fussing over brushing her off. His face was a little red, either by exertion or embarrassment. "...Sorry, are you all right?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 8:58 am
Lavender hadn’t expected to be lifted up and run with as though she weighed nothing at all…but she supposed that people could do great things in a moment of panic…either that or Virell really worked out a lot.
Regardless…she was happy to know that they were safe, and when she was back on her feet, she gave a wobbly laugh and nodded, seeming a little stunned still. “Oh…oh yeah. I’m…perfectly fine. Thanks for that…do you ah…want to go and get some hot chocolate and pretend that we never went into the woods? Because…look, I am perfectly fine with that idea…”
Her eyes wondered to the innocent looking clump of trees, and she wondered how they had managed to get lost in there in the first place…
It didn’t seem like something that would be very easy to do, it wasn’t imposing at all from out here.
“…We could even get the hot chocolate somewhere that isn’t this sketchy carnival. I know a great café…and we can plan our double date while getting the hell away from whatever is hiding in those trees because, I’m not kidding, the hair on the back of my neck is still standing up.”
Lavender tried to give an unimpressed laugh but it sounded forced and a little shaky. “Let’s just get out of here, yeah?”
It was the best idea that she could think of, and again she held her hand out to Virell, managing a small smile.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2019 9:21 am
Virell offered a quick smile and eagerly took her hand. "I'm done taking walks in the woods, remind me that it is always, always a bad idea." He shivered, perhaps a bit overdramatically, and tried to shake away the goosebumps--and the uneasy feeling that had washed over him.
He cast one last look back at the forest and then shook his head, hurrying to head off with Lavender.
"Hot chocolate sounds amazing, I need something to warm me up. And we'll. We'll not talk of this again," he said, quiet content to bury this memory behind him. "I'd much rather listen to you tell me about Rhona," he said, squeezing her hand.
He wouldn't mind an afternoon of gossiping and gushing. And then, tonight, he could...
Maybe he'd call Eric. Maybe he'd see if he could convince Eric to let him spend the night.
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