Had Enough [Open]

[Caligrace]

The bitter taste of her defeat laid heavy on the back of her tongue, choking her.

She could still see the concern in Every’s eyes as the shadow quite literally hoisted her from the couch and tossed her out of her farmhouse, locking the door the second her *** hit the dirt. ‘Do something productive, Caligrace,’ had been tossed her way, and she had to fight the urge to kick her feet and just lay on her back on the ground, staring up at the sky. It was for the best, she knew that. They all knew that. She was changing, turning into someone she barely recognized, and while the tough-love routine was needed, that didn’t mean she enjoyed it.

“Come on, girl, just get up,” she whispered, her hands lifting so her slender fingers could snake into tousled fire-colored curls. Her knuckles tangled in the knots, and she wrinkled her nose as she narrowed her eyes on the window, catching sight of dark colored hair as her best friend - and mentor - just gave her a knowing smirk. There would be no brushing of her hair, no grabbing of her purse. If she touched that door, that smirk said it all - she’d find herself teleported halfway across the city.

Huffing out a breath, she pressed her palms to the ground and lifted herself up to sit, barely catching herself from tossing a rock through the glass. It was a childish urge, and though she caught the granite in her palm, she just curled her fingers around it and groaned. “She just wants to help,” she reminded herself, rolling herself gracefully to stand. Dropping the rock, she dusted off the back of her jeans and turned, sweeping her amber gaze across the surrounding farmlands. Not allowing herself to linger too long on one particular home, she headed out into the city, stopping at the gate on the way. A flash of a smile, a brightness put into her eyes she didn’t really feel, and she was past the checkpoint, her keys spinning lazily around her pale fingers.

Where does one go when they were forced into public?
A bar, of course.

She had said nothing about Lancaster’s being off the menu. Only her apartment and her own club. With a soft laugh, she smoothed her fingers back through her hair and turned in the direction of the pub - or, well. What she assumed was the direction. Instead, it seemed the more she walked, the further she was taken from the bustling activity, finding herself standing on the outskirts, surrounded by trees and rundown apartments. “Well, ****,” the small allurist huffed, her hands patting at her pockets for her cell.

Which, of course, she didn’t have.

Oh, she was going to kill Every for this.

[Baptiste (DELETED 11846)]

As the sun sinks lower toward the greying silhouettes of the woodland trees, the boston terrier moves serpentine in the thick grass. His brindled coat merges with the fading dappled shadows and he hunkers low to the ground - flat-nose twitching and large ears pinned back. The woodland floor is a million hues of brown; the differences are magnified by the moisture, variation on variation. Mingled in are some stones, adding their greys to the mosaic beneath the feet of woodland adventurers. The trees are kissed with moss, and on the shaded sides of each towering pine grows lichen as if thrown there like powdered paint; so softly green as to be white. The loamy scent of the forest is an irresistible perfume to Benny as he hunts for rabbits, but to B, it’s torture.

B lets his eyes rest on the trees as he walks - nonchalant - in Benny’s shadow. The trees make a formidable line of sleeping warriors; their armour scarred by forest animals seeking insects. Each woody trench is mahogany and deep even where the moonlight reaches them. B can also see that there are marks on some trees that are much too large to be made by a bird or tree-top scavenger. The threat of bears and even greater dangers keep him on the path, which is rutted; the soft spring mud has dried in the first heat of the new season leaving casts of every shoe. B picks his way over with care, mindful of what a twisted ankle would mean to the rest of his journey.The footpath edges are made shaggy by the undergrowth; already lying dark sage green.

About three seconds later, Benny leaps through the trees that line the path with a stick in his mouth. With those big brown eyes and his skinny tail swishing like he just got all his birthday wishes at once, B knows what he wants. Benny wants that slimy stick thrown down the path, and not once, but over and over until B’s arm drops off. The bark is going to leave brown flecks on B’s hands and who knows where it has been besides Benny’s mouth. His nose wrinkles, but against his reservations, B can never refuse Benny - he's just too damn cute. So he curl his perfectly clean fingers around the end of the stick that isn’t still in the dog’s mouth and gives a curt tug. The terrier releases it at once and sits; mouth wide and tongue lolling to one side.

As B’s arm wheels backwards, Benny runs forward as fast as his stubby legs can carry him. However, instead of doing what he expects, B wait until Benny stops and looks at him and then throws the stick back down the path behind him. B laughs as Benny’s legs scramble for traction in the mud; his paws making wide cartoonish circles before he bolts back the way he came. B can feel the pulse of air push against his jeans as the dog passes him; he turns to watch as Benny hunts in the grass for his prized stick and wipes his hands down his sides. Taking Benny for a walk can be gross at times, but it’s all made worth it when he sees that great big grin on his happy dog’s face.

[Caligrace]

The chilled air brushed through her hair, and she took a moment to collect herself, her thoughts swirling like a gathering storm in her mind. It was so easy to get lost in this city, especially for the small redhead, who paid absolute no attention to her surroundings. If she had, she would have noticed the way the buildings turned into trees, the gravel into dirt. She would have felt the way the ground softened beneath her heels, or caught the faint floral scent that had surrounded her the moment she crossed into the forest. It wouldn’t have mattered, of course, because she would have remained as lost as she currently was.

Her mind was a strange place. She could remember a line from a book she read six years ago with perfect clarity, or the color of someone’s eyes that she simply passed on the street, but when it came to direction… well, she was a lost cause. A quiet sound caught in her throat as she slipped a small hand into her hair, tousling the red curls even more. It would make sense for her to backtrack, to pivot on her heel and head back the way she had come, and yet, she remained frozen in spot, her dark, wide eyes sweeping across the treeline.

It had been a long time since she had stepped foot into the wilderness, crossing the invisible line between safety and the dangers that lurked within the darkness. Taking a step forward, she had barely lifted her foot from the beaten path, when the sound of rustling leaves and small feet padding against dirt had her whipping around. Her hand dropped to her side, pale fingers searching for her weapon, only to realize that she’d been tossed out without that, as well. For crying out loud, Every, are you just trying to get me killed? The question was voiced silently, a touch of humor to her own thoughts as she narrowed her eyes, lithe form tensing as she started in the direction of the sound.

A second, two, and she felt her fingers twitch at her side, magic starting to flow through her veins as she searched for a power to stall whatever gruesome creature might appear. In the back of her mind, she remembered the one weapon she held, the switchblade tucked into her back pocket, where it had remained from the moment it had been gifted to her. Before she had a chance to reach for it, however, the monster came into view…

…. and she choked on a laugh, her stance relaxing. Lifting her hands, she cupped them across her mouth to try and stifle the amused sound, watching as the small boston terrier hunt through the grass with a shake of her head. “Well, sugar, you’re just as cute as they come,” she said, her words soft-spoken and melodic. Her attention drifted to the man, then, a brow raising as she dusted her palms against her jeans, offering him a bright - and playful - smile.

"Don't you know it's dangerous to be out here alone?"

[Baptiste (DELETED 11846)]

It’s clear that Benny has lost all interest in the stick. B watches as the terrier bunny hops through the long grass before diving down and rolling on his back. There he makes his own version of doggy mud angels, which looks more like a winding snake as he pushes his upturned body forward with his hind legs. It looks like he’s swimming and B starts laughing. He’s about to take out his smartphone and start recording when footsteps approach. Benny couldn’t care any less as he resumes his slithering hunt through the grass, but B’s head whips around like it’s pulled on a string. It tethers around his insides too, pulling his ribcage in like a bony corset and squashing his organs. They say that he doesn’t need to breathe any more, which is just as well because his whole body stands frozen in anticipation. He doesn’t understand how it works this way: his body acting on impulses only it knows, but remains compliant as soon as he consciously recognises that he’s not in any danger.

B recognises that the approaching person is his new boss, Caligrace, but her voice is a little different than he’s gotten used to as he cleans up the office. She coos at Benny in the softest tone, spares a laugh and a smile, and then talks to him in a voice as sweet as new blossom honey. He greets her with a cheeky smile and nods his head like he’s been caught playing hooky.

"I’m not alone now,” he says.

She still holds an air of authority; it shows in each confident stride she takes and the elegance of her movements. Her youth and beauty disguise age-less experiences, reminding him of the legends of elves. Brown eyes are common, but not hers. They are the colour of acorns; just bright enough to shine in the shadows. He marvels at the swirls of mahogany and speckles of gold that coloured her pupils and how they dominate her pixie features. It’s when he feels like he’s staring that he looks around for Benny and calls the pup over with a whistle.

"So how are you doing, tonight? Oh. And this little ball of energy is Benny.”

The terrier immediately drops to the ground at B’s feet, baring his white tummy and kicking his hind legs frantically even before B gives it a rub. Once contact is made, a gurgling sound rises from his tiny ribcage and chirps from his gaping jaws with a healthy stream of drool. Within seconds, Benny can no longer tolerate being quite so still and he twists and squirms back onto his feet ready to run circles around B and Cali.

Back in the days he was fresh from the pound, Benny was a raw bundle of unspent energy crammed into a canine shape several sizes too small for his personality. Now that he is two years old, Benny has grown in size but not changed in temperament. It’s good really - or it was - because when B was human, taking Benny out for walks gave him excuses to get out of the house and away from his recording equipment. He is far too young to be a hermit, so, he's glad to still have that excuse even though they can't go on walks in the sunshine.

[Caligrace]

There was a crack of energy in the air, that familiar tether starting its dance within her chest as she neared the man. Without thought, her hand lifted, slender fingers pressing against her breastbone as she took a steadying - albeit unneeded - breath. Her smile never wavered, even as she fought against the curse, against feeling his emotion twist within her own. Before, it might have been enough to bring her to her knees, to make her run - but now, she was able to calm the storm swelling within her as she met his brilliant gaze.

“No, doll, you are not. I’ll protect you,” she teased, her voice still as relaxed and soft as it had been when she spoke to Benny. Pulling her hand from her chest, she ran it through her hair, gathering the thick crimson locks at the nape of her neck before pulling them over her shoulder, lip caught between her teeth. Standing with the man outside of Thrive was… interesting. She had only glanced his way a few times when passing him in the halls, but now, surrounded by nature and the night, he was… different.

It was always interesting for her to see someone outside of their normal element, and now, she was able to notice the brightness of his eyes, the shape of his features. He was still taller than her, and she had to crane her neck to meet his gaze, even in boots - but still. Shaking her head, then, she ran her palm against the front of her oversized leather jacket, wrapping it tighter around her as she chuckled. “I’m being forced into the world against my will, courtesy of my mentor, but my night is looking up. Yours?” She smiled, watching as he crouched to run his fingers along the dog’s eager and open stomach.

“He is just adorable, and his name suits him, I think.” Taking a step closer as the dog squirmed free, she laughed, watching him run about in circles. Just the small interaction, and she was already beginning to feel the weight lift from her chest, her shoulders, her stance relaxing as the tension began to ease from around her eyes. Her gaze drifted back to B, then, and she offered him another soft smile, even as she bent at the knees and reached out, catching Benny long enough to run her palm along his back before straightening once again.

[Baptiste (DELETED 11846)]

They say that each person is different to everyone they meet. To the stranger on the street, B is just another well-dressed Millennial with his fashionably ripped Calvin Klein jeans, Air Jordan sneakers, and his Louis Vuitton hipster jacket and shirt. He’s glued to his smartphone and measures his self-worth on the number of likes he gets from each selfie. To his half a million subscribers, he’s the loud, flamboyant drama queen with a scathing view of society’s wrong-doers. He makes them laugh for a few hours a week and holds a mirror up to their world so they don’t feel quite so alone in this wretched world. To his friends, B is also loud and obnoxious, but endearing in his optimism and naivety. They think he’s a bit spoilt and entitled, but they love the adventures they can share together. To Cali, he represents himself as a whirlwind of obsessive compulsive cleaning, and while he’s happy to chat and gossip, he’s serious when he’s on the clock. Now he’s gone one step further to reveal he’s the type of person to play fetch with his dog when there’s danger lurking in every shadow.

“Thanks,” B responds to her offer of protection. “I’ve always wanted a hot babysitter.”

B shares a grin and cheeky wink like he’s making a joke. In hindsight, he’s internally choking on his own tongue and trying to bite it off. He doesn’t mean to come off as lecherous and creepy; he knows better than to condense a person down into a list of body parts. He’s glad for the distraction as Benny comes full circle, baring the stick. His whip-like tail is shaking so fast that his entire back end wriggles from side to side. B ducks down to fetch the stick, but Benny doesn’t let go this time and yanks back hard. It manages to slip through B’s grasp and Benny runs off toward Cali; his tail still wagging triumphantly. Now, it’s her turn to try her strength against the 17 inch dog. B watches a little nervously, his body tensing like a balloon full of hot air, but he’s soon relieved when she runs her hand across Benny’s brindled back and gives him a smile.

“Mine’s going better than expected too,” B answers and happily deflates. “Do you fancy coming for a walk with us, Cali? Maybe you can tell me why your mentor’s forced you out against your will.”

[Caligrace]

There should have been that familiar feeling of unease, that twist in her gut, that told her that she should start to move. Standing in one place too long - especially lingering on the outside of the wilderness - was a dangerous game to play. However, he seemed to distract her easily enough, her thoughts turning from what could be lurking in the shadows to focus fully on the man in front of her. When he spoke, the term ‘hot babysitter’ rolling so easily from his tongue, she laughed, the sound carefree and easy.

Amusement caused her eyes to brighten, and slowly, the fingers that had curled within the pockets of her jacket began to loosen, hands slipping free of the dark confines to press once more through her unkempt hair. The slender digits became tangled once more in the knots, the steady breeze doing little to help her untangle the mess. Instead, she shook her hand free, pale knuckles gathering a few loose curls to tuck them behind her ear. “You think I’m hot?” Another soft laugh followed the question, and she gave a slow shake of her head, offering him a smile. “That’s kind of sweet. Thank you,” she said, gaze breaking from him once more to focus on the dog between their feet, her head cocked to the side in thought.

He was smaller than her foxes, but she knew that he was just as sturdy. Still, there was a moment of hesitation before she bent back at the knees, fingers outstretched for the stick. She knew her own strength, but still, there were moments when she slipped. When the stick touched her fingertips, she slowly curved her fingers until she could grip it, and carefully began to wiggle the stick back and forth. The entire time, her gaze remained locked on the pup, watching the way his body moved as she hummed a gentle note in response to B.

“I would love to come with you two,” she smiled, finally releasing her hold on the makeshift toy to once more bounce back to her feet. Despite her recent lack of muscle usage, she still held that grace that she’d been gifted with at rebirth. Blowing a stray curl from her eye, she gave him another grin, though it dimmed a bit around the edges as she thought back to what had lead her out here to begin with. “She’s a cruel, cruel woman. That’s why,” she playfully pouted, small shoulders lifting in a shrug as she tsked her tongue, then.

“Or, to be more accurate, she’s a cruel and caring woman. She was just worried about me, I suppose. I hit a bit of a rough patch recently, and she finally had enough. I tend to test her patience from time to time,” she chuckled.

[Baptiste (DELETED 11846)]

The sound of her voice, the way it carries an amused lilt much like honey sticks to a jar, puts him at ease. It shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise to learn that B gets nervous about the stuff that comes out of his mouth. They say he lacks a filter and doesn’t think before he speaks - they’re not wrong and it’s a risky flaw to introduce to the world-wide wicked web. He gets anxious before every video and edits around half of the content so that anything which seems even remotely inflammatory doesn’t get leaked and trashes his career. B wishes that he had that same technology in real life so that he could rewind time and redact the ignorant rubbish that sometimes comes out. It’s definitely not a possibility that he just keeps his thoughts to himself; if he did that, then he would have missed the moment when he made Caligrace laugh and how it spools out of her like candyfloss. He also would have missed his chance to smile back at her and nod in agreement.

“Well, you’re welcome,” he adds.

When Cali accepts his offer to walk with them, B whistles for Benny to follow and they begin a casual gait around the edge of the wilderness. At least, that is the case for twenty seconds before Benny catches sight of a squirrel in the distance and runs off. His small body hugs the ground, and with ears pinned back and tail outstretched, he is the perfect puppy projectile. There’s a moment when B watches with concern - his brows pinching and lips tightening - when he thinks that Benny might just catch the squirrel and tear the stuffing out of it with the same fervent thrashing as he applies to his toys. Benny soon reveals that he enjoys the chase much more than the pay-off because when he gets up close he starts yapping, alerting the squirrel which immediately zips up the nearest tree. The city terrier’s blunt claws have no chance of helping him scale the tree, but that doesn’t stop him from trying. Benny makes laps of the towering conifer; his snout is in the air, his pink tongue lolls from the side of his dripping jaws, and his tail is wagging frantically. The squirrel, meanwhile, is nowhere near as happy with this game as Benny is and seems to sit in the tree, pouting.

B shakes his head and lets out a sigh before letting his head drop back. His hands tuck neatly into his jacket pockets and disappear in the oversized white and navy garment. He gazes at the sky for a moment; the star-dappled sky has a way of resetting his balance and he quietly admires the way the cloud cover thickens over the moon like pulling up a duvet. He’s only drawn out of his introspection when he hears Cali speak again and something in her voice this time, the way it dims, suggests that there’s something casting its shadow over her too. B gives her a look of mild concern before the edge of his lips pushes his cheek into a firm apple.

“I get it,” he says. “My aunt once tried the tough love trick on me when I was much younger. I wouldn’t eat my greens, so I wasn’t allowed to leave the table. Not even for a bathroom break. So I pissed on her rug. Her curtains. The chairs and table. She never babysat me again. You might not want to either after that confession,” he says and laughs; embarrassment dusts his cheeks and nose. “In my defence, I was six. On the other hand, I am just as spiteful now as I was back then.”

[Caligrace]

It was unusual that she found herself at a loss for words. Conversation was something that the usual energetic firecracker excelled at, but lately, she couldn’t seem to string two sentences together without stumbling like a drunk over her words. Instead, she swept her tongue across her lip, tasting the bittersweet chemicals in the red paint that stained her skin as she searched for something to say. Another crack in the air, another moment of feeling as if she were trapped in a cage, and then she was focusing on his eyes, using the crystalline blue as a guide through the tangible darkness that threatened her mind. A second passed, two, and then she was in control again, her dark eyes drifting across the diamond of his features before breaking away to watch as Benny locked in on the squirrel.

“Oh no,” she chuckled, her hand lifting to cover her mouth as she spoke. It was mock concern that she watched the terrier chase the critter, though there was a flash of genuine worry when it toed the line, her jaw tightening momentarily. When there wasn’t an automatic shift in the air, or the sudden appearance of fae, she allowed her shoulders to relax, fingers brushing through her hair once again. Falling into step at B’s side was easy, even if her smaller legs had to take two steps for his one. A quiet note was hummed beneath her breath, her head tilting to the side as she watched him from the corner of her eye, taking note of the way his head fell back, gaze finding the sky.

She remembered when she was first turned, how she would find herself lost in the stars - when she was allowed to see the night sky, of course. Everything always seemed brighter, crisper, more vibrant. The colors had come to life, speaking to her in a way they hadn’t before. Of course, the newness had worn off - for her, at least - replaced with so much… more. Now the colors no longer spoke to her, but everything else did. The emotions that created tethers in the air between two souls, the sound of a heartbeat, the patter of bird’s wings when they flew overhead. These were the things she noticed, the memories that would forever be ingrained in her mind. Tipping her head in the opposite direction, her gaze snapped to the left, following the sound of a snapping twig, only to chuckle when a small hare darted from beneath the brush to disappear into the wilderness.

When he spoke, she devoted her full attention to him, listening to the story he told with a small, soft smile. “So, you were a little troublemaker. I can see it. A man with a smile like yours has trouble written all over him,” she teased, her hands disappearing back into the pockets of her jacket as she nodded. “I'll take my chances, doll. I think I can handle you.” Laughing quietly, she tapped her fingers against the inseam of her pocket, toying with a frayed piece of thread. “Every means well. We’ve been there for each other when everyone else abandoned us. We pick each other up, but sometimes, I want to strangle her. Though, I guess I can’t be too mad at her for tonight. If she hadn’t kicked me out, we wouldn’t be talking,” she smiled.

[Baptiste (DELETED 11846)]

Truth be told, this isn’t the first time B has been instantly branded a troublemaker. Further truths reveal that it isn’t an unfair estimation, either. This is the persona he’s been building over this YouTube career and it’s been so effective that being a snarky little demon has become his main personality trait. Cali’s observation of his smile makes him chuckle and he’s impressed by her unswerving confidence; he even enjoys the nickname she keeps giving him. For a minute, his eyes don’t quite know where to settle on her face. Staring at any singular point for too long feels rude, but he can’t seem to share his attention with much else as Benny loses interest in the squirrel and returns to foraging smells. She has the most adorable, heart-shaped face, reminding him of hand-carved quartz. B’s hands curl in on themselves inside their cotton nests; dull fingernails bite into the pad of his palm as he thinks.

“You think so, huh?” he says; his tone of voice playfully suggests that he’s not convinced. “We’ll see then, won’t we,” he adds; another impish grin spreads across his pale lips.

He listens to her external musings next, explaining the she behind the reason Cali came out tonight in the first place. He decides that he likes this Every already. She reminds him of a few of his friends; the ones who are there to give him advice and push him along toward his goals. Every reminds him a little of himself in that same respect too because he is there for his friends just as much as they are for them. B thinks that’s what distinguishes a real friend from a poser: they want to be there through the bad times as well as the good.

B does his best to not interrupt Cali as she shares with him, but he’s chomping at the bit to get his thoughts across. He loves to share - not just because he delights in the opportunity to make any subject matter about him, but he likes to think of himself as a deeply caring and empathic individual. He shares his stories so that he can be the one to say, ’Yes, me too. I totally understand! You’re not alone.’ He’s like this because he grew up as an only child to distant parents, but he doesn’t discuss this with people and barely hints at it either.

“That’s true. Good on Every,” he says. “We can all do with a good kick up the butt from time to time. Sometimes, I don’t think I’d leave the house if it wasn’t for Benny.”

B spares a glance to the terrier, hoping to see a happy little dog digging at the soil before finding an earthworm to eat, but he doesn’t. In fact, he can’t see Benny at all. There's trees overshadowing trees, thorn bushes invading their leafy cousins, a patch of yellow flowers, and some sprouting mushrooms, but no dog. This isn't something that B gets immediately alarmed about because Benny's a small, curious dog and is known for sticking his nose into tight places followed by his entire head, shoulders, and eventually his tail-end. It's only when he gives a short, sharp whistle - the command to come - that B starts to worry. The anxiety grows like a weed from the pit of his stomach, choking his inner organs as it grows. Even after a couple of seconds, Benny still hasn't appeared.

“That's not like him,” he mutters. “Benny! Come here, boy.” He whistles again. “Ah ****. Where did he run off to?”