condition

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park

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played by

noodles

beck
he/him
thirty-eight
march 11th
cinnabar
bisexual
human resources
underboss
829 height
829 height
HIDING FROM THE SUN, WAITING FOR THE NIGHT TO COME.
awards
5,188 posts
THEO BECKETT DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @theo
THEO BECKETT
condition
POSTED ON May 14, 2021 18:26:50 GMT
THEO BECKETT Avatar
[attr="class","beck"]night has long descended over saffron. remnants of a cigarette fall to the floor, joining a multitude of others that have long rotted away. he exhales out smoke that seems to hang in the air for far too long.

soon, merlino awakes. he's tied to a chair, bounded by thick hemp rope that seems impossible to snap. it's heavy, weighing down on him.

"merlino."

[attr="class","noodles"]
[newclass=.beck] text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; } .beck b { color: #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck u { color: #b5b5b5; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline dotted #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck a { font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; } .beck .noodles { margin: 0; padding: 5px 0; } .beck .noodles img { max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; border: none; outline: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: inline; float: none; } .beck .noodles .pkmn { display: inline; } .beck .noodles .inactive { filter: grayscale(1); -webkit-filter: grayscale(1); [/newclass]
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played by

thorn

Gavin Merlino
he/him
36
october 28th
circhester, galar
demisexual
the harbinger
underboss
creatures of habit, carrion flowers, growing from repeated crimes.
awards
7,761 posts
part of
TAG WITH @gavin
Cillian Quinn
condition
POSTED ON May 14, 2021 18:39:20 GMT
Cillian Quinn Avatar
Under the hypnosis, Gavin doesn't dream. But for a moment, he mistakes this for one of his nightmares.

He's been in this room many times, in those nightmares. The position, too, is familiar. The ropes are heavier than he remembers them being, thick and restraining. He's groggy as the remnants of psychic sleep fade, doesn't fight their hold on him. The breaths he takes are thin because they have to be.

'Merlino.' It's always Cillian, in the dreams.

Everything hurts. When Gavin blinks up at the admin, he sees him bruised and battered.

This, too, is something new.

"Beckett." He closes his eyes, breathes.

Hopefully, Rocket's newest recruit would be quicker than Gavin was.
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played by

noodles

beck
he/him
thirty-eight
march 11th
cinnabar
bisexual
human resources
underboss
829 height
829 height
HIDING FROM THE SUN, WAITING FOR THE NIGHT TO COME.
awards
5,188 posts
THEO BECKETT DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @theo
THEO BECKETT
condition
POSTED ON May 14, 2021 18:48:53 GMT
THEO BECKETT Avatar
[attr="class","beck"]"i take it you know where we are."

he doesn't ask because he knows that for merlino, this room, and the memories that come with it, have long been burned into his soul — much like how another room elsewhere, somewhere far away, and the memories that come with that, have long been burned into theo's soul.

"but do you know why?"

[attr="class","noodles"]
[newclass=.beck] text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; } .beck b { color: #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck u { color: #b5b5b5; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline dotted #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck a { font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; } .beck .noodles { margin: 0; padding: 5px 0; } .beck .noodles img { max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; border: none; outline: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: inline; float: none; } .beck .noodles .pkmn { display: inline; } .beck .noodles .inactive { filter: grayscale(1); -webkit-filter: grayscale(1); [/newclass]
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played by

thorn

Gavin Merlino
he/him
36
october 28th
circhester, galar
demisexual
the harbinger
underboss
creatures of habit, carrion flowers, growing from repeated crimes.
awards
7,761 posts
part of
TAG WITH @gavin
Cillian Quinn
condition
POSTED ON May 14, 2021 18:58:02 GMT
Cillian Quinn Avatar
His throat is dry as a desert, begging for oasis.

Gavin clears it, licks at a busted lip. The blood he tastes has dried against his skin. How long was he out?

"Yeah."

Been a while since he's been back to Saffron. He tries to avoid it.

Behind his back, fingers worry gently at thick rope. How long does he have?

He doesn't open his eyes, but the furrow of his brow betrays the memories that slip back in, one by one and out of order. Anger slumbers like a dragon in the hollow of his chest; it has been allowed to feast, and won't help him, now.

An attempt at a deep breath strains against the ropes that bind him.

"Will you make it quick?"

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played by

noodles

beck
he/him
thirty-eight
march 11th
cinnabar
bisexual
human resources
underboss
829 height
829 height
HIDING FROM THE SUN, WAITING FOR THE NIGHT TO COME.
awards
5,188 posts
THEO BECKETT DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @theo
THEO BECKETT
condition
POSTED ON May 15, 2021 5:10:21 GMT
THEO BECKETT Avatar
[attr="class","beck"]nothing betrays in his expression. he grabs a chair, pulls it in front of merlino, and sits. their legs are close to touching, but not quite.

"no."

a hand reaches into his blazer, pulls out two cigarettes and a lighter. he extends one over to merlino, attempts to place it between his lips.

[attr="class","noodles"]
[newclass=.beck] text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; } .beck b { color: #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck u { color: #b5b5b5; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline dotted #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck a { font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; } .beck .noodles { margin: 0; padding: 5px 0; } .beck .noodles img { max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; border: none; outline: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: inline; float: none; } .beck .noodles .pkmn { display: inline; } .beck .noodles .inactive { filter: grayscale(1); -webkit-filter: grayscale(1); [/newclass]
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played by

thorn

Gavin Merlino
he/him
36
october 28th
circhester, galar
demisexual
the harbinger
underboss
creatures of habit, carrion flowers, growing from repeated crimes.
awards
7,761 posts
part of
TAG WITH @gavin
Cillian Quinn
condition
POSTED ON May 15, 2021 5:19:45 GMT
Cillian Quinn Avatar
His feelings on the answer are mixed.

He'll have more time to plot escape, but Gavin's always been a realist. There is a weight that settles over him that has nothing to do with the ropes.

His victim had tried to escape, too.

Breath shudders softly on the exhale, betraying.

At least Theo will let him have a smoke. He traps it between his teeth.

"Bringing in a kid, or are you gonna do it yourself?"

Keep him talking. Ignore how much it hurts, ignore the rabbit pounding of his heart.
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played by

noodles

beck
he/him
thirty-eight
march 11th
cinnabar
bisexual
human resources
underboss
829 height
829 height
HIDING FROM THE SUN, WAITING FOR THE NIGHT TO COME.
awards
5,188 posts
THEO BECKETT DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @theo
THEO BECKETT
condition
POSTED ON May 15, 2021 5:26:20 GMT
THEO BECKETT Avatar
[attr="class","beck"]his finger pulls, scratches, ignites the cigarette between merlino's lips. he pulls away to do the same for his. a long drag follows, one that he chooses to savor.

"i started smoking after i joined, too."

[attr="class","noodles"]
[newclass=.beck] text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; } .beck b { color: #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck u { color: #b5b5b5; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline dotted #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck a { font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; } .beck .noodles { margin: 0; padding: 5px 0; } .beck .noodles img { max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; border: none; outline: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: inline; float: none; } .beck .noodles .pkmn { display: inline; } .beck .noodles .inactive { filter: grayscale(1); -webkit-filter: grayscale(1); [/newclass]
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played by

thorn

Gavin Merlino
he/him
36
october 28th
circhester, galar
demisexual
the harbinger
underboss
creatures of habit, carrion flowers, growing from repeated crimes.
awards
7,761 posts
part of
TAG WITH @gavin
Cillian Quinn
condition
POSTED ON May 15, 2021 5:37:13 GMT
Cillian Quinn Avatar
Theo doesn't answer his question, and Gavin doesn't push it. He's not in any place to, and he knows it. That hurts almost as much as being ignored.

He takes a deep pull of the cigarette. If it's going to be his last, he might as well enjoy it.

"Fuckin' — least it won't be my lungs that did me in."

He laughs, but the sound is hollow. Hurts.
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played by

noodles

beck
he/him
thirty-eight
march 11th
cinnabar
bisexual
human resources
underboss
829 height
829 height
HIDING FROM THE SUN, WAITING FOR THE NIGHT TO COME.
awards
5,188 posts
THEO BECKETT DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @theo
THEO BECKETT
condition
POSTED ON May 15, 2021 5:45:09 GMT
THEO BECKETT Avatar
[attr="class","beck"]his lips quirk, tempted by a smile.

"it still might be."

he takes another drag, then lets the cigarette hang between his fingers. he exhales, then speaks:

"i didn't think you'd make it."

[attr="class","noodles"]
[newclass=.beck] text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; } .beck b { color: #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck u { color: #b5b5b5; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline dotted #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck a { font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; } .beck .noodles { margin: 0; padding: 5px 0; } .beck .noodles img { max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; border: none; outline: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: inline; float: none; } .beck .noodles .pkmn { display: inline; } .beck .noodles .inactive { filter: grayscale(1); -webkit-filter: grayscale(1); [/newclass]
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played by

thorn

Gavin Merlino
he/him
36
october 28th
circhester, galar
demisexual
the harbinger
underboss
creatures of habit, carrion flowers, growing from repeated crimes.
awards
7,761 posts
part of
TAG WITH @gavin
Cillian Quinn
condition
POSTED ON May 15, 2021 5:52:46 GMT
Cillian Quinn Avatar
His brow furrows. With walls down, his thoughts flow freely, but it still takes a moment for the implication to click.

Hope blossoms dangerous, quickly quashed.

He's toying with you. That's what they do.

Behind his back, his fingers continue their subtle movement against rope. It's tight around wrists that ache from fighting, hard to work against, but he takes it in increments as he processes Theo's words.

"How d'you mean?"

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played by

noodles

beck
he/him
thirty-eight
march 11th
cinnabar
bisexual
human resources
underboss
829 height
829 height
HIDING FROM THE SUN, WAITING FOR THE NIGHT TO COME.
awards
5,188 posts
THEO BECKETT DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @theo
THEO BECKETT
condition
POSTED ON May 15, 2021 5:58:09 GMT
THEO BECKETT Avatar
[attr="class","beck"]"i thought you'd eventually step out of line, say something to the wrong person and get yourself killed."

in a way, merlino did just that.

"there's only so much i can do."

[attr="class","noodles"]
[newclass=.beck] text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; } .beck b { color: #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck u { color: #b5b5b5; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline dotted #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck a { font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; } .beck .noodles { margin: 0; padding: 5px 0; } .beck .noodles img { max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; border: none; outline: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: inline; float: none; } .beck .noodles .pkmn { display: inline; } .beck .noodles .inactive { filter: grayscale(1); -webkit-filter: grayscale(1); [/newclass]
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played by

thorn

Gavin Merlino
he/him
36
october 28th
circhester, galar
demisexual
the harbinger
underboss
creatures of habit, carrion flowers, growing from repeated crimes.
awards
7,761 posts
part of
TAG WITH @gavin
Cillian Quinn
condition
POSTED ON May 15, 2021 6:03:11 GMT
Cillian Quinn Avatar
He might've laughed again if he had the energy. He's too tired to give anything more then a wry quirk of his lips.

"Can't fault you for trying."

It's not thanks; the words won't find their proper form upon his lips, but the meaning is there as he slowly exhales cigarette smoke around the filter trapped between his teeth.

"You did what you could," he decides, and looks away.
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played by

noodles

beck
he/him
thirty-eight
march 11th
cinnabar
bisexual
human resources
underboss
829 height
829 height
HIDING FROM THE SUN, WAITING FOR THE NIGHT TO COME.
awards
5,188 posts
THEO BECKETT DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @theo
THEO BECKETT
condition
POSTED ON May 15, 2021 6:10:44 GMT
THEO BECKETT Avatar
[attr="class","beck"]"but was it enough?"

the words, much like wispy-white smoke, hang in the air between them. he simmers in them for moments before reaching over for merlino's cigarette. he taps it, scattering ash, then returns it.

"what were you running from, merlino?"

[attr="class","noodles"]
[newclass=.beck] text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; } .beck b { color: #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck u { color: #b5b5b5; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline dotted #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck a { font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; } .beck .noodles { margin: 0; padding: 5px 0; } .beck .noodles img { max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; border: none; outline: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: inline; float: none; } .beck .noodles .pkmn { display: inline; } .beck .noodles .inactive { filter: grayscale(1); -webkit-filter: grayscale(1); [/newclass]
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played by

thorn

Gavin Merlino
he/him
36
october 28th
circhester, galar
demisexual
the harbinger
underboss
creatures of habit, carrion flowers, growing from repeated crimes.
awards
7,761 posts
part of
TAG WITH @gavin
Cillian Quinn
condition
POSTED ON May 15, 2021 6:31:41 GMT
Cillian Quinn Avatar
"Guess not."

It should hurt less. He should be angrier. Theo had pushed him, he recalls. Ordered him to fight back, even after they'd both taken a few knocks. Riled him, mocked him, called him weak. In the end, he supposes, Theo was right.

The question is a heavy one, one that would ordinarily be ignored. Otherwise, he'd lie through his teeth.

Resignation sees him honest.

"Parents kicked me out." The flight to Kanto had been cheap. In retrospect, he understands why. "Just wanted to get as far away as I could."

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played by

noodles

beck
he/him
thirty-eight
march 11th
cinnabar
bisexual
human resources
underboss
829 height
829 height
HIDING FROM THE SUN, WAITING FOR THE NIGHT TO COME.
awards
5,188 posts
THEO BECKETT DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @theo
THEO BECKETT
condition
POSTED ON May 15, 2021 6:50:31 GMT
THEO BECKETT Avatar
[attr="class","beck"]his eyes stray over to the window, peers out at the small view they have over saffron. some might considered it beautiful.

"are they still alive?"

[attr="class","noodles"]
[newclass=.beck] text-align: justify; font-size: 12px; } .beck b { color: #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck u { color: #b5b5b5; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline dotted #716075; font-size: 13px; } .beck a { font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; font-weight: bold; text-transform: uppercase; } .beck .noodles { margin: 0; padding: 5px 0; } .beck .noodles img { max-width: 100%; max-height: 100%; border: none; outline: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: inline; float: none; } .beck .noodles .pkmn { display: inline; } .beck .noodles .inactive { filter: grayscale(1); -webkit-filter: grayscale(1); [/newclass]