inktober day 19/20/21: hereditary (2018)

Writing Snippet - Glass Haven

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Most of the time, Civilian preferred plants to people. They listened better than anyone she knew and they expected nothing of her but to be nurtured and cared for. She could appreciate that.

Civilian crouched to water the plants lined on the floor of the rooftop greenhouse, being careful to give them each the proper amount.

She could get lost in the quiet comfort of it all, in the soothing blanket of dappled greens and fading sunlight in her little glass haven.

The ferns swayed in a lazy dance as Civilian gave them their daily drink of water. The little patch of fuscia-pink petunias hanging above them soaked in the waning sun, a warm glow gently washing the glass walls in an orange hue.

Without warning, the silence cracked.

The door to the rooftop crashed against the wall as it was thrown open. The sound sliced through Civilian's quiet world of calm, sending her heart leaping into her mouth.

Two sets of footsteps crunched against the ground.

"Hey, hey- I swear I had nothing to do with that plot, it wasn't me who ratted you out!" a panicked voice, one she didn't recognize, said.

Civilian peeked up over the gardenias to see what was going on. A taller man dragged the first forward by the back of his neck. The panicked man's shoes scuffed at the ground.

The taller one--

Villian, Civilian realized with a sickening knot in her stomach--

-flashed his teeth in a lethal smile, shaking his head in seeming disappointment. "Now, now, Todd. Don't you know how much I loathe liars?" His smile dropped. "I'm feeling generous, I'll give you one chance not to do it again."

The other man--Todd--was shaking like an autumn leaf, holding his hands up in a placating gesture as Villain shoved him to stumble a few steps forward.

"I swear, sir, I didn't, I-"

Villain tsked, his expression one of casual boredom. Only his eyes, which locked onto the man with laser-focus, revealed otherwise. He stepped closer. Civilian heard Todd's breathing hitch as Villain reached out, straightening the other man's collar.

Tension hung like static in the air.

"Wrong answer."

Villain seized hold of the man by his coat, throwing him straight through the wall of the greenhouse with inhuman strength.

Civilian shrieked as the glass shattered, shards peppering her hair as Todd rolled to stop unconscious at her feet. She yelped again at the sight, scurrying back on her hands and knees.

Scrambling to her feet, Civilian jerked the door open--running straight into a solid chest.

She made an embarrassing squeak at the impact, looking up at Villain's face. He was comprised of sharp edges and artful contours, as if his features were chiseled from stone. The light of the setting sun caught in his eyes. They were a cat-like green that seemed to radiate under the sun's glow.

Oh no.

Civilian shifted her body so that she was no longer between Villain and the greenhouse. Her gaze didn't waver from him as she slowly backed away.

Villain watched her with interest, matching each of her backward steps with one toward her. "Well, well. What do we have here?"

The air around her felt too thick, too suffocating.

"I haven't done anything," she managed quietly, taking a cautious step further away from him.

She felt like a gazelle trying to sneak past a lion.

Villain stepped closer.

"You were watching me and my, ahh, business associate."

His voice was smooth and steady. His piercing gaze dipped over her, assessing.

"You-You broke my greenhouse." Hers came out raspy. Raw at the edges and entirely too frightened.

Villain hummed at that. His gaze flicked behind her briefly, then he took several strides closer, effectively closing the distance between them.

Civilian jolted backward to escape. The soles of her shoes skidded over the rooftop's edge and she teetered backward in a flail of limbs. Her stomach plummeted and bottomed out.

Villain caught her arms just below the wrists, keeping her from falling but holding her off balance.

A choked whimper caught in her throat. Wide-eyed, her gaze snapped back up to the Villain's face.

He tutted, clearly enjoying himself.

"Quite the jumpy kitten you are. So reckless. Have you never been taught to watch where you're going?"

"Please don't drop me," she breathed.

Villain smiled. Too lovely of a thing to suit his face.

"That depends entirely on how you answer my questions, kitten." His tone turned to a velvet purr. "And do be honest with me. My car is somewhere below and I'd hate for you to crush it. I only just replaced my windshield."

Civilian forgot how to breathe. She took a dizzying glance at the ground below, terror seizing her throat.

"Eyes on me, kitten." He sounded a fraction gentler, the corners of his mouth lifting.

Civilian looked up again, swallowing a hard lump that wouldn't go away. Her insides sloshed cold.

"Good girl. Take a breath. Now. What were you doing out here crouched behind some glorified shrubbery? Not spying on me, were you?"

Civilian shook her head vigorously. "Just watering the plants."

Villain cocked his head to the side. "Hmm. You're not working for anyone, then? Hero, perhaps?"

Civilian barked a startled laugh, nervous and ready to burst at the seams. "Do-Do I look like the type of person a hero would ask to help catch you?"

Villain's smile turned more genuine, amusement flickering over his features.

"So you're not a spy, not working for hero. You're not a reporter either?"

She shook her head again. She sucked in a breath and it rattled against her ribcage. "No. I'm just a gardener."

The Villain studied her face. Glanced over his shoulder at the fractured greenhouse behind him, then back at her. His searing attention picked her apart. She felt like she would unravel and unravel until nothing was left.

"You live here in this complex, then?"

Civilian stilled. Considered lying. "Yes."

Villain tugged her onto stable ground, letting her find her footing before steering her away from the edge. He waited until she was steady before letting go.

Civilian felt like she might faint. She needed something small to focus on. She zeroed in on his slender hands, delicate and uncalloused despite all the bloodshed they'd caused.

Her pulse roared in her ears.

"Alright, kitten," he purred, tapping her nose, "I believe you."

Civilian gusted out a breath, swaying a few feet back, further into the safety of the center of the roof.

Villain followed her casually and she didn't dare dart away this time.

His gaze wandered over the broken glass of the greenhouse, next seeming to map the dozens of cheery plants inside.

Each meticulously pruned and tended to. Each a demonstration of the time and care put into them.

Villain looked at Civilian again. She stared in mourning at the damage done to her little patch of heaven.

"You really should be more careful," he repeated. His tone shifted teasing, but not cruel. "I have better things to do than rescue kittens from trees, or from falling off rooftops, as the case may be."

She gave a jerky nod, not sure what to say.

He walked to the door leading to the stairwell, glancing back at the civilian before disappearing.

The next morning when she returned to clean the mess, the entire glass wall had been replaced. Inside, was a pot of roses with a note stuck in the soil.

In awe, she picked it up and read.

Part 2 Here

General Taglist: @writing-on-the-wahl , @valiantlytransparentwhispers , @distance-does-not-matter , @redbircl , @lilaccatholic , @crazytwentythrees , @thelazywitchphotographer , @deadlygemuwu-writting , @chibicelloking , @lolafaiy , @thinkwrite5 , @putridghost , @tobeornottobeateacher , @sunflower1000 , @bouncyartist , @thanatoastie , @feyriddle , @yet-another-heathen , @silverwhisperer1 , @distractedlydistracted , @pensivespacepirate

I didnt realize the taglist wasn't working againnn when I posted this last night. Tumblr's crappy nonworking tags can catch these hands 😠

ahhhhhh I love this!! somehow a greenhouse setting just makes everything about this piece extra delightful 😍😍😍

My Name (마이 네임)

“No, I’m going to win.” HAN SO HEE AS YOON JI WOO IN MY NAME (2021) - EPISODE 1.

“The action scene with Jung Tae Joo (Lee Hak Joo) was excellent. I wanted them to do it as if they’re dancing. Yoon Ji Woo (Han So Hee) was confronting the best fighter. The final boss she has to defeat. I wanted it to be the climax.” ― Director Kim Jin Min on the fight scene in Ep.7 of MY NAME (2021)

Hi! I write lady whump!

hey me too!

I’m not the most active at the moment (I’m trying to fix that), but I do write lady whump when I write so… 😁 <3

I’m a bit all over the place, but try @sableflynn and @whumpopology. They have good lady whump series.

I write pretty much exclusively lady whump, a lot of it nsfw, so please interact only if you’re an adult. Here is my masterlist, and I also have a collection of recommendations on my blog, should be tagged under #recs

I did a ladywhump challenge last whumptober, you can read it here if you’re interested

@deluxewhump has an awesome female whumpee in Belle! (pet whumpee owned by the awful Amber). go check those pieces out for sure!

Bad Luck, Belle

Cam lets disillusioned boxbabe Belle attempt escape before her cruel and careless owner can come back from Miami to collect her. It doesn't go well, and the boxie returns two nights later to their doorstep. (Thanks for the suggestion, anon!)

cw: lady whump, pet whump, bbu, lady whumpee, blood, failed escape attempt, hurt/comfort, partial non-sexual nudity, numbness from anxiety, mild wound tending, crying, discussion of medical confidentiality being violated for bbu reasons. soft cam.

"Belle," Cam breathed. "What the hell happened?"

She was shivering. Drenched. A cut on her hairline was bleeding down the side of her cheek, diluting with rainwater into a sickly pink. Her hair was tangled and wild, new bruises joining the old yellowing one she wouldn't tell them about.

Stuck.

This is.. American style!