Post by Riley Sorsa on Dec 20, 2021 10:40:08 GMT -8
adronitis
n. frustration with how long it takes to get to know someone—spending the first few weeks chatting in their psychological entryway, with each subsequent conversation like entering a different anteroom, each a little closer to the center of the house—wishing instead that you could start there and work your way out, exchanging your deepest secrets first, before easing into casualness, until you’ve built up enough mystery over the years to ask them where they’re from, and what they do for a living.
Laughter fell from the balcony, looking out across the city.
Riley wiped the tears that had welled in their eyes from laughing, their abs burned, and the sides of their mouth were sore. They hadn't laughed like this in months.
Claire leaned back in her seat, balancing her wine glass to not spill.
"I swear, the look on his face was worth it" She grinned, looking over to her sibling.
"That's Fuckin' incredible" Riley shook their head with a chuckle before dancing their way back into the kitchen to collect another bottle of wine.
"I swear you should give up on men and try women instead."
"Ugh, I wish I could," Claire said with a smirk and shook her head. This had not been the first time Riley had made this suggestion.
"Well. You will find the right guy eventually. Good luck with that in this town."
Riley twisted the cork loose from the wine, fluttering their way over to Claire, and poured her another glass. Before taking a seat once more with a satisfied smile.
The two sat in the warmth of the evening light; it was days before the Winter Solstice. Riley liked this time of year; nights lasted so much longer, they felt alive, and the city's lights seemed all the brighter. There was a comfortable silence between the two siblings as they relaxed in the post, laughing blissfully.
"So, What's our plans for Christmas? We doing somethang with Dani?" asked Claire, a leading question to force Riley to actually make some plans.
The darkling froze, the mood dropped; it was unavoidable. This conversation had to happen.
"About that," Riley said, trying to keep their tone light and not betray the mood. Claire was too observant for that.
Riley reached into their jacket and produced an envelope passing it to their sister, trying to maintain a smile.
Claire nervously raised an eyebrow, giving them a smile before tearing open the envelope. Pulling out a plane ticket, Austin, Texas.
" I got you a ticket to visit the family."
"But I did that last year, I promise-"
"I know. Think of it as my Christmas gift."
"What goin' on Riley, what's happened?" Claire said, her voice becoming severe. Concern in her eyes. They almost burned to look at. Who could deserve Claire? Who was worthy of such love?
Nothing has happened. Riley wanted to say that that was a lie, and Riley could not lie anymore.
"I can't tell you."
"Riley not this aga-"
"I need you to trust me."
Claire halted their protest and looked down at the tickets; her hands trembled. Riley wanted nothing more than to tell her it all. Tell her of the keepers, the Courts, what had happened this year. What they were.
Riley always knew Claire would figure it out eventually. She was too bright.
The Moth moved over to their sister, squatting down before her with a soft smile. Taking Claire's hand in her own, cradling them gingerly.
"I wish I could tell you. But I am keepin' ya safe. So listen to me closely."
Claire nodded slowly,
"I need you to go home to the family. Spend the holidays with them. Give mom a hard time, and don't let dad guilt trip you, okay?"
Tears welled in Claire's eyes; this was her job, not Riley's.
"I am gonna give you a phone, don't use it, okay? You cant come back here until I call you on this phone."
"Why?"
" Somethang's might happen soon; I don't know if they will. But I need you safe."
"Who do you owe money to? Cant Archie pay?- Come with me."
The Moth smiled softly at the protest from their sister. The grip around Claire's hands became tighter as it became harder to say no.
"I can't. It's not money. But you need to make me a promise."
"No-"
"Claire, If I dont call ,promise me you won't come back, you won't look for me, you will live your life. Your Life. And I promise, if I call you back, I will tell you everythang."
That wasn't a lie. Riley knew it was a risk, but it was the only leverage they had on Claire. The only thing they knew that she would say yes to.
The Moth didn't know what the days to come would hold. The curse upon them loomed like a storm on the horizon. Soon their freehold oath would be up. What happened next, Riley could only guess. But they knew even if they fixed this, the days that followed would be dangerous. The wards were failing, and they needed Claire safe.
Claire sat silently, her body trembling from the rush of adrenaline and emotions. The soft sound of her sniffles filled the silence between them.
"I promise"
n. frustration with how long it takes to get to know someone—spending the first few weeks chatting in their psychological entryway, with each subsequent conversation like entering a different anteroom, each a little closer to the center of the house—wishing instead that you could start there and work your way out, exchanging your deepest secrets first, before easing into casualness, until you’ve built up enough mystery over the years to ask them where they’re from, and what they do for a living.
Laughter fell from the balcony, looking out across the city.
Riley wiped the tears that had welled in their eyes from laughing, their abs burned, and the sides of their mouth were sore. They hadn't laughed like this in months.
Claire leaned back in her seat, balancing her wine glass to not spill.
"I swear, the look on his face was worth it" She grinned, looking over to her sibling.
"That's Fuckin' incredible" Riley shook their head with a chuckle before dancing their way back into the kitchen to collect another bottle of wine.
"I swear you should give up on men and try women instead."
"Ugh, I wish I could," Claire said with a smirk and shook her head. This had not been the first time Riley had made this suggestion.
"Well. You will find the right guy eventually. Good luck with that in this town."
Riley twisted the cork loose from the wine, fluttering their way over to Claire, and poured her another glass. Before taking a seat once more with a satisfied smile.
The two sat in the warmth of the evening light; it was days before the Winter Solstice. Riley liked this time of year; nights lasted so much longer, they felt alive, and the city's lights seemed all the brighter. There was a comfortable silence between the two siblings as they relaxed in the post, laughing blissfully.
"So, What's our plans for Christmas? We doing somethang with Dani?" asked Claire, a leading question to force Riley to actually make some plans.
The darkling froze, the mood dropped; it was unavoidable. This conversation had to happen.
"About that," Riley said, trying to keep their tone light and not betray the mood. Claire was too observant for that.
Riley reached into their jacket and produced an envelope passing it to their sister, trying to maintain a smile.
Claire nervously raised an eyebrow, giving them a smile before tearing open the envelope. Pulling out a plane ticket, Austin, Texas.
" I got you a ticket to visit the family."
"But I did that last year, I promise-"
"I know. Think of it as my Christmas gift."
"What goin' on Riley, what's happened?" Claire said, her voice becoming severe. Concern in her eyes. They almost burned to look at. Who could deserve Claire? Who was worthy of such love?
Nothing has happened. Riley wanted to say that that was a lie, and Riley could not lie anymore.
"I can't tell you."
"Riley not this aga-"
"I need you to trust me."
Claire halted their protest and looked down at the tickets; her hands trembled. Riley wanted nothing more than to tell her it all. Tell her of the keepers, the Courts, what had happened this year. What they were.
Riley always knew Claire would figure it out eventually. She was too bright.
The Moth moved over to their sister, squatting down before her with a soft smile. Taking Claire's hand in her own, cradling them gingerly.
"I wish I could tell you. But I am keepin' ya safe. So listen to me closely."
Claire nodded slowly,
"I need you to go home to the family. Spend the holidays with them. Give mom a hard time, and don't let dad guilt trip you, okay?"
Tears welled in Claire's eyes; this was her job, not Riley's.
"I am gonna give you a phone, don't use it, okay? You cant come back here until I call you on this phone."
"Why?"
" Somethang's might happen soon; I don't know if they will. But I need you safe."
"Who do you owe money to? Cant Archie pay?- Come with me."
The Moth smiled softly at the protest from their sister. The grip around Claire's hands became tighter as it became harder to say no.
"I can't. It's not money. But you need to make me a promise."
"No-"
"Claire, If I dont call ,promise me you won't come back, you won't look for me, you will live your life. Your Life. And I promise, if I call you back, I will tell you everythang."
That wasn't a lie. Riley knew it was a risk, but it was the only leverage they had on Claire. The only thing they knew that she would say yes to.
The Moth didn't know what the days to come would hold. The curse upon them loomed like a storm on the horizon. Soon their freehold oath would be up. What happened next, Riley could only guess. But they knew even if they fixed this, the days that followed would be dangerous. The wards were failing, and they needed Claire safe.
Claire sat silently, her body trembling from the rush of adrenaline and emotions. The soft sound of her sniffles filled the silence between them.
"I promise"