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i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

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TAG WITH @temp

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 5:31:16 GMT

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Eventually, the pounding in his ears stops.[break][break]

Eventually, the room is not a backdrop, it is just a room he is inside of.[break][break]

Eventually, the aches of the body become present.[break][break]

Tempest pushes his cramped and aching body upwards, wobbling like a newborn deer when forced to find his balance. At some point his arm and one of his legs had fallen asleep. Tear tracks are still damp on his cheeks but no more fall, yet the sour twist of his mouth promises more could come so easy at the slightest word.[break][break]

Gripping the door-frame too tight, he lumbers into the hallway. It's as quiet and dark as when he went to sleep; Cillian Quinn's computer having long went to sleep and darkened the space. A sudden, icy panic fills his heart. Was Cil even out there? Had the Triad done something to him while...?[break][break]

"Cil?" He calls, from the entrance to the living room. His voice only wobbles a little, scratchy and thick from snot and tears.[break][break]

He isn't quiet as he walks, heavy footsteps on the floor as he makes his way closer. Leans over the back of the couch and reaches out a hand in the dark like he's afraid to find empty air.

[attr="class","tag"]Cillian Quinn

[attr="class","notes"]

notes

[break]
🔗 notes

[attr="class","pkmn"][break] purified eevee - hati - female - disguise - frost breath, dragon hammer, shadow sneak, burning jealously, morning sun, veevee volley - (Z)

purified eevee - hati - female - disguise - frost breath, dragon hammer, shadow sneak, burning jealously, morning sun, veevee volley - (Z)

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played by

thorn

the Harbinger

he/him

october 28th

circhester, galar

demisexual

underboss

the harbinger

6'3" height

I want corruption, I think I'm the devil in disguise.

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TAG WITH @gavin

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 5:52:24 GMT

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By the time Cillian hears the bedroom door crack open, the shaking has stopped. The tears have dried. Yet he remains huddled in his nest of stolen blankets, seeking warmth and comfort. Though most of the dogs have remained asleep, Faolan has emerged from his favourite spot in the study to sit next to him on the couch, leaning against Cillian's shoulder as he calms.[break][break]

The jackal's ears flick at the sound of the door, red eyes gleaming in the dark as he turns toward Temp's shuffling form.[break][break]

Half-asleep, exhausted from his ordeal, Cillian is slow to respond. He uncurls himself slowly, remembering how to move, and turns his head just as Temp's fingers brush against his shoulder.[break][break]

"M'here."[break][break]

He stretches up his hand to entwine their fingers, frowning as he thinks of the wobble in his husband's voice.[break][break]

"You OK?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","tag"]Tempest Quinn

[attr="class","pkmn"][break]

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yams

temporary

he/him

may 3rd

pacifilog, hoenn

big homo

housewife

beast

6'2" height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

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TAG WITH @temp

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 6:35:02 GMT

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"Mm." Is all Tempest answers with at the question.[break][break]

Because 'no' would splinter his voice into a thousand tiny pieces.[break][break]

He doesn't glance at Faolan, only shifts to round to couch. A hand never stops touching Cillian Quinn. A brush of fingers against skin as he bullies his way on the couch next to the other man. Moves the blanket to curl up chest to chest, bury his nose against Cillian's shoulder.[break][break]

"Triad. Made me keep seeing how she died. Over and over." High and reedy, Tempest sucks in a shuddering breath. He blinks away tears that threaten to fall again, closes his eyes and tries to take in the scent of Cillian's soap, sweat, and cigarette smoke. Stay grounded in the moment.

[attr="class","tag"]Cillian Quinn

[attr="class","notes"]

notes

[break]
🔗 notes

[attr="class","pkmn"][break] purified eevee - hati - female - disguise - frost breath, dragon hammer, shadow sneak, burning jealously, morning sun, veevee volley - (Z)

close tab

played by

thorn

the Harbinger

he/him

october 28th

circhester, galar

demisexual

underboss

the harbinger

6'3" height

I want corruption, I think I'm the devil in disguise.

awards

8,672 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @gavin

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 7:12:50 GMT

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It's the only answer Cillian needs. Honestly, he hadn't needed an answer at all. He knows. He can hear it in the other's voice, sense it in the quiet that stretches briefly between them.[break][break]

Faolan can sense it, too.[break][break]

He's never liked Cillian's romantic partners. Cil had chosen to save Emma's life over his own, and Theo had put Cillian through hell. He hadn't liked Temp at first, either. But he's grown to know the man enough to have a grudging respect for his master's relationship, and he too can sense the distress emanating off Tempest Quinn in waves. The maelstrom of their combined emotion puts the Lucario on edge, and he's quietly relieved to be dismissed from his post as Temp sits down on the couch.[break][break]

Cillian gives him a last touch on the shoulder, a solemn thanks, before Faolan disappears into the dark of the hallway.[break][break]

In his absence, Cillian envelopes Temp in a tight hug, burying his nose against his lover's hair. He smells of sweat from the stress he'd been under, but Cil doesn't care. It's comforting all the same.[break][break]

Temp is the one person Cillian will prioritize above himself. Above even Rocket, should it come to that. So he swallows his own demons and murmurs, "I'm sorry, love. You're safe, now. You're home."

[break][break]

[attr="class","tag"]Tempest Quinn

[attr="class","pkmn"][break]

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temporary

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may 3rd

pacifilog, hoenn

big homo

housewife

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6'2" height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

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TAG WITH @temp

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 7:34:02 GMT

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Cillian Quinn holds him close.[break][break]

And Tempest breaks.[break][break]

A suppressed shiver, full body, races up his spine. Temp shakes in Cillian's arms. It's followed by a gasp for air, chest heaving, before his voice breaks. Whatever word he was going to say is lost in Cil's skin, replaced by a cracked sob as it escapes his throat. The tears come back, hot and wet as they drip down onto the other.[break][break]

Tempest curls up and grasps into Cillian like a lifeline. His nails would dig into the other where he touched as he tried to gain some grip on himself.[break][break]

"I kept drowning. I kept drowning and when I would die. I would die and it would all start over again. And she was in the water and I had go get her."

[attr="class","tag"]Cillian Quinn

[attr="class","notes"]

notes

[break]
🔗 notes

[attr="class","pkmn"][break] purified eevee - hati - female - disguise - frost breath, dragon hammer, shadow sneak, burning jealously, morning sun, veevee volley - (Z)

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played by

thorn

the Harbinger

he/him

october 28th

circhester, galar

demisexual

underboss

the harbinger

6'3" height

I want corruption, I think I'm the devil in disguise.

awards

8,672 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @gavin

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 7:53:16 GMT

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Men don't cry.[break][break]

His father's words, the sneer behind them. It's Temp who'd taught Cillian the truth: men, people, didn't need to justify their tears. Emotions were human. Natural. His husband falls apart in his arms and Cillian holds him tighter still.[break][break]

"Shh," he murmurs, tracing circles in his lovers skin as he sweats and shakes. "It'll be OK. Take your time."[break][break]

He repeats these gentle affirmations until Temp starts to choke out words. Cillian quiets to listen, still gently massaging the other.[break][break]

Fury builds deep within, bolstered by shadow, but Cillian's own experiences have blessedly left him too exhausted to rise to it for now. Still, he knows a pure, unrivalled hatred for the Triad in that moment.[break][break]

"You're not drowning anymore," he promises. He knows that fear all too well. "Take a second and breathe, love. That's oxygen in your lungs, not water. It was a simulation, that's all."[break][break]

But could they really be sure of that? It had felt so real...

[break][break]

[attr="class","tag"]Tempest Quinn

[attr="class","pkmn"][break]

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played by

yams

temporary

he/him

may 3rd

pacifilog, hoenn

big homo

housewife

beast

6'2" height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

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TAG WITH @temp

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 8:07:26 GMT

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Cillian asks him to breathe, so Tempest tries to breath. It's too fast, shallow puffs that blows moist air between them. He chokes on aborted sobs and keeps sniffling back as much of the snot as he can. Squeezing his eyes till spots dot behind his eyelids, Tempest rides out the storm of his emotions. A shaking leaf fighting a hurricane in his husband's arms.[break][break]

It takes too long for him to speak again. Yet, still, it's too rushed. Most of the trembling has stopped, though. Cracking open his eyes, Tempest shifts to try and meet Cillian Quinn's amber. They're still hazy and distant but more alert than before. Pleading just as strong there as in his voice.[break][break]

"I couldn't... couldn't not save her. I had to, every time. I would jump in and jump in and every time, I would... I would get her out, Cil. I would get her out then I would drown."

[attr="class","tag"]Cillian Quinn

[attr="class","notes"]

notes

[break]
🔗 notes

[attr="class","pkmn"][break] purified eevee - hati - female - disguise - frost breath, dragon hammer, shadow sneak, burning jealously, morning sun, veevee volley - (Z)

close tab

played by

thorn

the Harbinger

he/him

october 28th

circhester, galar

demisexual

underboss

the harbinger

6'3" height

I want corruption, I think I'm the devil in disguise.

awards

8,672 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @gavin

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 8:22:55 GMT

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"Slower," Cillian coaches. "Deep breaths. Hold them for a sec if you can. It'll be easier to talk if you can steady your breathing, love."[break][break]

But he'll listen whether Temp speaks steadily or stumbles and stutters over every word. He listens as if these are the most important words he'll ever hear, sympathy etched in wide eyes. He can only imagine the pain. Physical, emotional.[break][break]

"They're fucking sick for making you relive that," he spits. What they'd put Cillian through felt tame in comparison, and he's more easily able to shelve his trauma as a result. He's always been good at prioritizing his pain. Rocket had taught him that. Put it away, deal with it later, maybe not deal with it at all. Break down in private, where no one could see you.[break][break]

"Did you go through anything else? Or was it just...?"[break][break]

His worst nightmare on repeat, over and over and over and-

[break][break]

[attr="class","tag"]Tempest Quinn

[attr="class","pkmn"][break]

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played by

yams

temporary

he/him

may 3rd

pacifilog, hoenn

big homo

housewife

beast

6'2" height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

awards

3,137 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @temp

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 8:30:29 GMT

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"Just that."[break][break]

It's quiet and hollow. A finality to the statement. Tempest is somewhere far away again.[break][break]

But, his breathing down calm. Quiet, thinking, his sobs gone and sniffles reduced down to minimum. Contemplative, Tempest releases his death grip slowly but stays curled against the other. Comforted in the warmth of the cold room, now that his tears are drying.[break][break]

Sitting up slightly, Temp wipes his face on the back of his wrist. Scrubs his hands down his cheeks before pressing his palms against his eyes for a few seconds. He can feel how puffy and tender his eyes are from crying.[break][break]

"I feel in the bedroom. Then I came to look for you. When I got in the living room, I thought they hurt you while I was...gone." Lowering his hands, he glances at the other. Weak, exhausted, tired as Cillian Quinn looked.[break][break]

"Did they do to you...?"

[attr="class","tag"]Cillian Quinn

[attr="class","notes"]

notes

[break]
🔗 notes

[attr="class","pkmn"][break] purified eevee - hati - female - disguise - frost breath, dragon hammer, shadow sneak, burning jealously, morning sun, veevee volley - (Z)

close tab

played by

thorn

the Harbinger

he/him

october 28th

circhester, galar

demisexual

underboss

the harbinger

6'3" height

I want corruption, I think I'm the devil in disguise.

awards

8,672 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @gavin

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 8:40:39 GMT

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There's nothing Cillian can say.
[break][break]

No words could cure a trauma like that. He'd know.
[break][break]

But comfort could ease it, if only in the moment, and so he surrenders himself willingly to the role of protector for tonight.
[break][break]

"You fell?"
[break][break]

He doesn't need to ask the follow-up question, it's in the pitch of his voice: are you all right? He tries to remember if he'd heard a thump, but he'd been so caught up in his own come-down that he must've missed it.
[break][break]

"M'not hurt," he assures his partner, quick and firm. Not physically. "Just tired. It was... a lot."
[break][break]

Where Temp had experienced a single moment in time on repeat, Cillian had witnessed a bad ending in vignettes. He'd had power, influence, but he'd lacked the family earned through his experiences in 820.
[break][break]

"Said they needed me alive before he pushed me through the portal."
[break][break]

His tone is bitter, full of vitriol.

[break][break]

[attr="class","tag"]Tempest Quinn

[attr="class","pkmn"][break]

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played by

yams

temporary

he/him

may 3rd

pacifilog, hoenn

big homo

housewife

beast

6'2" height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

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part of

TAG WITH @temp

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 8:48:16 GMT

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"Yeah..." Is agreed, when Cillian says it was 'a lot'. Tempest feels like that didn't even cover one puzzle piece of whatever hells the two of them had been put through.[break][break]

He listens, though, to the timber of Cillian's voice. Moves his cheek down to rest on his chest this time. Listens to the other's heartbeat and feels comfort in the affirmation of blood flowing through the other's veins.[break][break]

"What do you think they wanted?" The Triad always wanted something. "No one spoke to me. Before or after."

[attr="class","tag"]Cillian Quinn

[attr="class","notes"]

notes

[break]
🔗 notes

[attr="class","pkmn"][break] purified eevee - hati - female - disguise - frost breath, dragon hammer, shadow sneak, burning jealously, morning sun, veevee volley - (Z)

close tab

played by

thorn

the Harbinger

he/him

october 28th

circhester, galar

demisexual

underboss

the harbinger

6'3" height

I want corruption, I think I'm the devil in disguise.

awards

8,672 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @gavin

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 10:09:25 GMT

[nospaces]

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"They didn't?"[break][break]

There's surprise in his voice, tinged with outrage. They'd put Temp through all that hell and not even bothered to speak to him?[break][break]

His fingers tense with the urge to strangle, only nails crease a lover's flesh instead of the necks of the enemy. He softens his grip through will, smoothing the pads of his fingers apologetically over indents left.[break][break]

"We were their fucking guinea pigs. Maldecena's guinea pigs." Just like they'd been before, in the Cloud. A terrarium of ants that the Triad could watch scurry around. "They wanted to see what would happen if they fucked with the timelines. Sent me back to Galar. Uh. My Galar."[break][break]

He says no more than that. He doesn't want to drag the focus away from Temp, who'd clearly had the worse experience.[break][break]

"Guess something went wrong when they tried to change yours."

[break][break]

[attr="class","tag"]Tempest Quinn

[attr="class","pkmn"][break]

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played by

yams

temporary

he/him

may 3rd

pacifilog, hoenn

big homo

housewife

beast

6'2" height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

awards

3,137 posts

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part of

TAG WITH @temp

POSTED ON Feb 2, 2024 19:08:06 GMT

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"That a Triad guy?" Tempest wasn't in the Cloud. While Cillian Quinn might have mentioned it before, it wasn't something he had absorbed. The name sounded like some of the weird shit the Triad called themselves.[break][break]

But, Tempest rolls that around in his head. Why do that over and over?[break][break]

"Mine didn't go like it did."[break][break]

When only one of them had come out of the water intact, it hadn't been Aurora.[break][break]

"I think it would have if I had.... " He chokes on the word. Shakes his head as if that would explain. "I just couldn't let her die again, you know? So I just kept pulling her out. Even when I wanted to give up so bad, I just kept... pulling her out."

[attr="class","tag"]Cillian Quinn

[attr="class","notes"]

notes

[break]
🔗 notes

[attr="class","pkmn"][break] purified eevee - hati - female - disguise - frost breath, dragon hammer, shadow sneak, burning jealously, morning sun, veevee volley - (Z)

close tab

played by

thorn

the Harbinger

he/him

october 28th

circhester, galar

demisexual

underboss

the harbinger

6'3" height

I want corruption, I think I'm the devil in disguise.

awards

8,672 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @gavin

POSTED ON Feb 3, 2024 14:30:44 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","twtgm"]

[attr="class","main"]

Cillian mentioned the Triad often enough, given that they wanted him dead, but he's not surprised Temp has forgotten Maldecena's name. He hadn't been in the Cloud, hadn't been fucked with in the way Cillian had.
[break][break]
"You've done the RKS; did you ever fix that device? It's his voice." His lip curls. "He's the one who claimed to be 'helping' in the Cloud."
[break][break]
In truth, Cillian's not sure they'd have ever escaped that particular simulation if not for the Unown.
[break][break]
"Maybe it glitched 'cause you weren't in the Cloud?"
[break][break]
They didn't have Temp's data from that, after all... but even as he says it, Cillian sounds doubtful. Troubled.

[break][break]

[attr="class","tag"]Tempest Quinn

[attr="class","pkmn"][break]

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played by

yams

temporary

he/him

may 3rd

pacifilog, hoenn

big homo

housewife

beast

6'2" height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

awards

3,137 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @temp