Kissafist

         victory, what a sweet rancorous thing. particularly at the hands of uno, where friendships and loyalties are tested without much thought. her arms rise in victory and she can’t help stick her tongue out at him. she watches him take his shot, soft titter ringing past lips, ❛ pfft please, mentiroso,’ her words lighthearted and full of jest, meaning no ill intent. if she were frank with herself, she’d acknowledge the inkling of relief, the way her shoulders subtly lose some of its tension. and there’s a blooming in her chest, a beating hymn called hope. so he wasn’t seeing anyone. okay. good to know. 

           ❛ i dunno.’ she shrugs, ❛ would you tell me ? we don’t see each other like we used to.’ it’s not meant as a jab, simply an observation. he’s gone before she rises and he arrives after she’s retreated for the evening, or he’s gone on deliveries for days at a time. if there are any updates in his life, there aren’t enough moments like these to catch up as of late. ❛ makes sense. i figured you could’ve found someone since you’re away a lot. can’t blame me for wondering, right ?’ there’s a brief silence on her part, before he asks his own query.

❛  me ? nope.’ the ‘p’ pops, ❛ the bar takes up too much time and i definitely don’t date customers. don’t really have time to go out and meet people either. ’ she shrugs, shuffling and organizing the cards, ❛ guess we’re on the same boat.’ 

   “Yeah I would.” Cloud answers without much of a thought to it. He’s not planning nor interested in the search for love, at least not in its entirety. “I’m workin’ when I’m gone, that’s it, not chasin’ tail” why there’s a doubt in that he can understand, but he’s not actively trying to hook up with anybody. Aside from his disinterest in others he’s not quite the most experienced of individuals in that field either, and he would much rather spare himself the awkwardness that can happen should he try anything at all. He’s not necessarily blaming her for her curiosity since he has his own. It’s just that he doesn’t touch grounds with this subject very often or at all for that matter, so talking about it feels a bit out of place to him. Not that he particularly minds since he’s got nothing to hide anyway. He’s a single-pringle, has been for a good while now. “I’m focusin’ on other things.” He’s made her some promises and swears he’s planning to keep, to her and their friends..their family. That’s where he really is right now.

         victory, what a sweet rancorous thing. particularly at the hands of uno, where friendships and loyalties are tested without much thought. her arms rise in victory and she can’t help stick her tongue out at him. she watches him take his shot, soft titter ringing past lips, ❛ pfft please, mentiroso,’ her words lighthearted and full of jest, meaning no ill intent. if she were frank with herself, she’d acknowledge the inkling of relief, the way her shoulders subtly lose some of its tension. and there’s a blooming in her chest, a beating hymn called hope. so he wasn’t seeing anyone. okay. good to know. 

           ❛ i dunno.’ she shrugs, ❛ would you tell me ? we don’t see each other like we used to.’ it’s not meant as a jab, simply an observation. he’s gone before she rises and he arrives after she’s retreated for the evening, or he’s gone on deliveries for days at a time. if there are any updates in his life, there aren’t enough moments like these to catch up as of late. ❛ makes sense. i figured you could’ve found someone since you’re away a lot. can’t blame me for wondering, right ?’ there’s a brief silence on her part, before he asks his own query.

❛  me ? nope.’ the ‘p’ pops, ❛ the bar takes up too much time and i definitely don’t date customers. don’t really have time to go out and meet people either. ’ she shrugs, shuffling and organizing the cards, ❛ guess we’re on the same boat.’ 

   “Yeah I would.” Cloud answers without much of a thought to it. He’s not planning nor interested in the search for love, at least not in its entirety. “I’m workin’ when I’m gone, that’s it, not chasin’ tail” why there’s a doubt in that he can understand, but he’s not actively trying to hook up with anybody. Aside from his disinterest in others he’s not quite the most experienced of individuals in that field either, and he would much rather spare himself the awkwardness that can happen should he try anything at all. He’s not necessarily blaming her for her curiosity since he has his own. It’s just that he doesn’t touch grounds with this subject very often or at all for that matter, so talking about it feels a bit out of place to him. Not that he particularly minds since he’s got nothing to hide anyway. He’s a single-pringle, has been for a good while now. “I’m focusin’ on other things.” He’s made her some promises and swears he’s planning to keep, to her and their friends..their family. That’s where he really is right now.

         victory, what a sweet rancorous thing. particularly at the hands of uno, where friendships and loyalties are tested without much thought. her arms rise in victory and she can’t help stick her tongue out at him. she watches him take his shot, soft titter ringing past lips, ❛ pfft please, mentiroso,’ her words lighthearted and full of jest, meaning no ill intent. if she were frank with herself, she’d acknowledge the inkling of relief, the way her shoulders subtly lose some of its tension. and there’s a blooming in her chest, a beating hymn called hope. so he wasn’t seeing anyone. okay. good to know. 

           ❛ i dunno.’ she shrugs, ❛ would you tell me ? we don’t see each other like we used to.’ it’s not meant as a jab, simply an observation. he’s gone before she rises and he arrives after she’s retreated for the evening, or he’s gone on deliveries for days at a time. if there are any updates in his life, there aren’t enough moments like these to catch up as of late. ❛ makes sense. i figured you could’ve found someone since you’re away a lot. can’t blame me for wondering, right ?’ there’s a brief silence on her part, before he asks his own query.

❛  me ? nope.’ the ‘p’ pops, ❛ the bar takes up too much time and i definitely don’t date customers. don’t really have time to go out and meet people either. ’ she shrugs, shuffling and organizing the cards, ❛ guess we’re on the same boat.’ 

   “Yeah I would.” Cloud answers without much of a thought to it. He’s not planning nor interested in the search for love, at least not in its entirety. “I’m workin’ when I’m gone, that’s it, not chasin’ tail” why there’s a doubt in that he can understand, but he’s not actively trying to hook up with anybody. Aside from his disinterest in others he’s not quite the most experienced of individuals in that field either, and he would much rather spare himself the awkwardness that can happen should he try anything at all. He’s not necessarily blaming her for her curiosity since he has his own. It’s just that he doesn’t touch grounds with this subject very often or at all for that matter, so talking about it feels a bit out of place to him. Not that he particularly minds since he’s got nothing to hide anyway. He’s a single-pringle, has been for a good while now. “I’m focusin’ on other things.” He’s made her some promises and swears he’s planning to keep, to her and their friends..their family. That’s where he really is right now.

     slumber embraces her without hardship, what with the way his arms tenderly cradle her to his chest. a strenuous week had rendered them weary and worn; with cloud away for five days, the brawler worked endlessly and kept the bar open for longer hours. an arduous week meant a couple days of leisure; they’d planned it this way. those off days were meant for them to enjoy each’s company and venture out of the bar, a change of scenery much needed. with the promise of a wondrous day to come, sleep clung to her just as he did. just as he devoured her with kisses, just as she demonstrated her ardor. a post-coital bliss easily beckoning tranquility’s touch.  

        this semblance of peace…it ends. 

        vermillion eyes surge open, breath finds itself thwarted beneath an unwanted weight around her neck…squeezing, compressing. what she sees is what terrifies her, virescent eyes glaring down at her, fogged over in some sort of trance. he’s on her, his own body weight nearly immobilizing her core. her own hands immediately coil around wrists, incessantly tugging hard to no avail. in this moment, where the vulnerability of sleep reigns victorious, he’s far too strong, ❛  cl…’ she can’t speak, not a single utterance. not a single sound, only those of shuffling sheets as she kicks her legs. she digs her nails into his skin, leaving deep crescent indents. she begs with pleading eyes, mouthing words: clo.ud…stop…please. 

       but this wasn’t clo.ud. this…this was something else. clo.ud wouldn’t hurt her, he’d never even fathom it. this had to be…it.