The world is quiet here.

[ladys_night]

When You Say Nothing at All Words can be twisted into any shape. Promises can be made to lull the heart and seduce the soul. In the final analysis, words mean nothing. They are labels we give things in an effort to wrap our puny little brains around their underlying natures, when ninety-nine percent of the time the totality of the reality is an entirely different beast. The wisest man is the silent one. Examine his actions. Judge him by them.

A picture's worth a thousand words, but what about an action? When you're with someone, or even just so attracted to a person that you've watched them for a while, you are probably tuned in to them more than any random off the street. You can read their body language. You know their moods, what makes them happy or sad or angry, and, hopefully, how to comfort them or cheer them up. Words aren't the only way to do this: an embrace, a soft kiss, or even an offer of a hand could be worth a MILLION words. Comment with your character and preferences. ALSO, this is super important, put what mood your character will be in/what tone you want the thread to have! If you leave your comment blank, you'll look stupid jsyk. Reply to others.

Comments

James Madison | Hamilton

[itsatie]

[moreequal]

[Jefferson doesn't forgive easily.

He knows that it's unfair. It's not like he hasn't made many mistakes in the past, and he's definitely made mistakes where Madison is involved. The first day they met they did nothing but argue, that was basically why he'd decided he needed to make a friend for life out of one James Madison. He's curt, succinct, he says more with a few words that Jefferson says with pages after pages of letters. He admits, sometimes, in the quiet of the night that he can never be sure if Madison is only humoring him- the difference in their open affections is very pointed. But then Madison is there when he needs him, never stopping, never flattering, never hesitating. The one sure thing in his life.

Which is why it pisses him off so much when he's trying to hide something from him.

He can read Madison like a book by now. He knows the man better than his mother would. It's been days and they still haven't talked to each other, not since that day- and he can read by his body language that Madison is feeling just as awkward as he is by this entire situation. He thinks, maybe, he spies a little guilt as well. Good, let him feel guilty for lying and then hiding his true soulmate from him.

But at least they manage to be professional at work. Jefferson can't help massaging his forehead a bit as he enters the room where he's supposed to meet Madison in private to discuss... something. A trade of some sort, he'll figure it out and deal with it, he always does.

This is going to be a long day.]

Mr Madison? Are you around?

[itsatie]

[ Madison's heart twists painfully in his chest at the cold tone, the formal address, as the older man steps into the room. He misses it, so damn much, when Thomas's face would light up just so, from being in the same room with him. He misses it, when Thomas would buoyantly call Madison!, the voice booming across any and all sort of noise that might be around them.

'Mr. Madison' huddles a little more into his waistcoat, and wheezes (at least that isn't because of the ache in his heart) from his seat, behind the desk in front of the fire, ]

Over here, Mr. Jefferson.

[ He sets down the pen carefully, and holds out the couple of pages he's filled with his small handwriting. Much easier than trying to talk just now, even if he knows he won't be able to stave off the coughing all that long. ]

[moreequal]

[The cough catches his attention. It has been colder than usual lately, and he bets Madison hasn't slowed down even when he should. The man has a tendency to quietly carry the weight of the world on his shoulders. Like keeping certain secrets when all Jefferson had been thinking about when he touched Martha was to quickly write Madison and tell him. He catches himself before he actually reaches for him in concern. Instead he aborts the motion and reaches for one of the chairs instead, taking a seat.]

I would ask if you're feeling ill, but I assume you'd just lie. [He isn't even looking at him as he speaks.] So let's get started instead- I just need your opinion on these drafts.

[itsatie]

[ All the sparse air that he's been trying to live with leaves his chest in a sharp, painful wheeze, and his eyes flash with a shred of very atypical anger. Very unwelcome anger, too, but he can't help himself. Despite the pain and despair from the fact that it's Thomas who says those words to him. ]

One time, Mr. Jefferson. I withheld information one time and you're calling me a liar on a general principle. I would have thought-- [ aaand he changes what he was about to say in the middle of the sentence, ] --that your judgment was better than that.

[ Small pause, to catch both his breath and his emotions. He holds his hand. ]

Let me see.

[moreequal]

I also assumed I was a better judge of character because I assumed you trusted me. It seems we were both wrong.

[He's always better with a pen than he is speaking out loud, so when he speaks his voice is quiet. But that doesn't mean he isn't going to use his words as weapons any way he can.

He scoffs, taking a seat next to him as he hands him the papers. He can be professional and get his job done but like heck he's going to be all nice and pleasant about it.]

Just get it done, yeah?

[itsatie]

[ Okay, that. That hurt. Jefferson does know how to use his words as weapons, and Madison knows, some way, that the reason he's using these words is because Jefferson knows that Madison does, and did, trust him, and the breaking of that trust is a wound that's not mending. Even if he doesn't know just how deeply the knife goes, Thomas knows it's not glancing off.

And knowing that just. It's too much.

Madison hunches his shoulder, squeezing his eyes for a moment to stop any hint of tears, and focuses on the damn edits.

It's only as he turns a page that he grinds between his teeth, without even looking up, ]

I am not my soulmate's soulmate. And I could not bear your pity. I don't think I can bear this any better, so there. Have your reason.

[ His hands seem to just be resting on the desk, on each side of the pages that he's been working on... except his knuckles are so tight they're almost white, just pressing down on the desk.

To keep them from shaking. ]

[moreequal]

[Sometimes the realization that he's an asshole hits him slowly but surely. Sometimes he has time to adjust, change so his blows don't hit has hard and the guilt doesn't eat at him so badly later. But only sometimes. Other times reality slaps him in the face when he pushes too far, demands too much, digs the knife slightly too deep and he can't take it back.

This is, obviously, one of those times. He swallows for a second, trying to find his footing because it feels like his body has forgotten how gravity works. 'I'm sorry' feels heavy on his tongue but that's exactly what Madison doesn't want him to say. He knows that much.

He reaches to cover one of Madison's (giant) hands with his own. The drafts have been completely forgotten.]

You should have told me.

Lucan Trevelyan | Dragon Age: Inquisition

[shocktroops]

Malcolm Meryln l Arrow l ota

[welldressedevil]

Re: Malcolm Meryln l Arrow l ota

[coyote_walking]

Mercy sat quietly, just watching out the window and thinking about the man she was falling for.

Stupidly falling for.

He'd done things that, well, that there was just no way she could condone. But underneath all of it he was such a good, well-meaning man. Who had done some terrible things in his efforts to write a wrong.

And there was such a strong connection between them - had been right from the very first.

She just didn't know what to do. All she knew was that she wanted him dreadfully and he seemed to want her, but...

Re: Malcolm Meryln l Arrow l ota

[welldressedevil]

Malcolm was troubled by this as well. He had long thought that his heart was too frozen to care for anyone again and yet here was this young woman who stood up to him and got into his face. He was deeply torn about what to do about this. He currently sat meditating about this troubling situation trying to find an answer.

Re: Malcolm Meryln l Arrow l ota

[coyote_walking]

Finally Mercy sighed and got up from her seat. Time to find something to do - maybe make some dinner. She turned and froze, seeing Malcolm sitting in meditation.

She opened her mouth to speak and nothing came out but breath. She cleared her throat and tried again. "I'm sorry. I... I didn't realize you were still here."

Re: Malcolm Meryln l Arrow l ota

[welldressedevil]

Malcolm opened his eyes and got up in one smooth motion. "I'm sorry I didn't realize you were here either," he says softly, "I can go and leave you in peace if you wish."

Re: Malcolm Meryln l Arrow l ota

[coyote_walking]

"No!"

Mercy blushed furiously. "No," she said more quietly. "I mean, don't leave on my account. It's not even my place." She reached out a hand to touch him, then froze, staring at her hand just centimeters from him.

This wasn't smart. He'd probably just push her away anyhow.

She let out a breath and began to drop her hand back to her side.

Re: Malcolm Meryln l Arrow l ota

[welldressedevil]

With a speed that shocked him, Malcolm reached out and took her hand gently. "Don't," he says, "I want you to stay."

Re: Malcolm Meryln l Arrow l ota

[coyote_walking]

The feeling of his hand over hers was electic, mesmerizing her and taking her breath away. All she wanted at that moment was his hands all over her.

She couldn't seem to catch her breath. All she could do was nod mutely. Her body leaned a little closer to his almost unconsciously.

Bruce Banner l MCU l ota

[wearebothangry]

[mischiefandice]

[Hello! Not necessarily shippy but I'd be curious to see if these two could coexist on the same team, if they were forced by circumstances. The idea that they could do so by not talking at all but learning to reach each other could be interesting, I think?]

[wearebothangry]

[I am more than hoping Thor 3 is going to be about Bruce and Loki learning to get along and I'd love to play that idea out. Let me know if this starter needs changes.]

Bruce had been more than a little uneasy when Thor suggested teaming up with Loki to figure out who was trying to kick start Ragnarok. Not that he wasn't grateful to either brother for rescuing him from Thanos' battle world when they did, but his trust of Loki was still thin and their peace an uneasy one. Which is why he was surprised as hell to wake up from his most recent Hulk out draped across Loki. The big guy had pretty much followed his body partner lead on the whole "Don't trust Loki" deal.

"Dare I ask what just happened," he asks quietly.

[mischiefandice]

[ooc : that would be really cool, but I'm unfortunately not so sure that's the way it will go, honestly. And yes, let's try it out!]

Loki wakes up abruptly, his magic coming to life with a start as he regains consciousness. He's lying in what seems to be rubble under a cool blue sky and everything hurts. The left side of his body has been exposed to some sort of blast, it seems, and all exposed skin is burnt pretty badly. From the acute pain in his side, he's fairly sure at least one of his ribs is broken as well. His magic works diligently at repairing the damage and he grits his teeth through it, only belatedly realising that the warm weight across him is not rubble but a mostly naked, completely unconscious Bruce Banner. Well, now. This day just keeps getting better, does it not?

He groans and feels Bruce shift in answer, sighing at the question. It takes him a second to remember, even as he's already pushing Bruce away with his good arm. "I believe your monstrous alter ego judged fit to shield me from the blast." He nods towards the still-burning building behind them. "By breaking most of my ribs," he adds after a second, because that sounded almost grateful. He arches his eyebrows meaningfully. "Would you mind?" he drawls, trying to get Bruce to move away so he can breathe.

[wearebothangry]

Bruce flinches and scrambles up so fast he may have left new burn marks on Loki's skin he's pretty sure. Normally he isn't ashamed how he seems to be naked ninety-five percent of the time. "I'm sorry," he says softly, "I can't always control what he does or when he does it." Bruce pulls up his tattered pants and finds a bit of string to tie them off. "Are you badly injured?"

[mischiefandice]

Loki hisses in reply and rolls onto his back, taking shallow breaths. His magic is working to repair his ribs steadily, but it still hurts to move. He doesn't comment at the apology, looking dismissive though he does acknowledge it to himself.

"I shan't die this time either," he answers coolly, very slowly sitting up and inspecting the burns on his hands. The smirk he throws in Bruce's direction shows too many teeth and holds no warmth at all. "Sorry to disappoint."

[wearebothangry]

Bruce sighs still not used to Loki sassing him so easily. "If the other guy wanted you dead, you'd be dead. I honestly thinks he likes you, but it's hard to tell sometimes with him." Bruce shivers and holds out his hand. "not to mention I'd still be green if we really wanted to hurt you."

Mary Stuart | Reign

[scottishqueen]