The Hidden Door-A Role Play (AKA The Most Dangerous Coffee Shop II)

[Cluckcluck1215]

Ciro really let himself go now.

Truth be told, he couldn’t stop it if he tried.
He needed to cry. He needed to cry for his sisters, his mother, his friends, his acquaintances, his streets, his neighborhood, his world, and this one too. What was it about all of those people and places that he was crying over? Everything and nothing at all.
But these tears were multifaceted.
They weren't just for him and his.
With Ciro, they never were.

Silent, though. Ciro had taught himself long ago to be a silent crier.
Because when someone broke your heart with the words they found you worthy of sharing with, you needed them to know that you were hearing them, not yourself as your lungs heaved and throat spasmed. When the only response you could offer was to spill out rivulets of glimmering grief, you were listening to them alone.
Sure, sometimes they didn't like it anyway. No one could know what they'd gone through, and no one had a right to mourn their situation but them.
Regardless, the soundless keener cared- so much more than the world wanted to let him.

But he smiled through his tears as he found hers.
It wasn't a happy smile, nor was it a miserable one. Simply, there was nothing more to it than being an expression.
Not yet, anyway.
“Are you, Aella?”
Thing was, he put so much effort into enunciating those three words that his accent was all but stripped from them, and, combined with the constrictive swelling of his glottis, it produced an articulation that was something entirely different. Surprised even Ciro himself, for sure, but it definitely got the point across.

Aella felt his tears.
The silent tears that hurt so much more then full on sobbing. Where your chest and throat ached for hours after trying to keep yourself so silent. The trembling. The persistent migraine that never failed to blossom. It always seemed to hurt worse then the full on scream-sobbing that tore at your throat.
She found herself covering her mouth with both her hands at his choked words, her teeth biting her lip until it bled. There was no was she was going to break.

She couldn't.

21 years.
Twenty one agonizing years, and yet she could count maybe a handful of times she had let another see her tears. Twenty one years and every single time she looked in the mirror and covered her hazy and reddened eyes with a grin that could fool just about anyone. Twenty one years and every time she had wanted to scream so hard she couldn't speak, she had muffled it and silenced herself. Twenty one years and rarely did anyone see her cry.
And there she was breaking in front of a stranger. She hadn't even realized she had until she felt the uncomfortable dampness on the sleeves of her shirt and tasted the saltiness. They both cried for seperate reasons, yet they were so similar. He wept for himself, for his world, for his family. She wept for him, for herself, for everything that the little alcohol in her system decided to painfully remind her of. Maybe it was a good judgement of character, maybe it painfully showed her selfishness and his selflessness. But, in the moment, did it really even matter?

"Are any of us?" She directed her gaze back to him, just barely muffling a choked sob that broke through as her hands came away from her mouth. A neatly perfected grin tried to appear, the ghost of it just barely dancing across her features, but instead it was replaced by a twisted smile, betraying more then she would have liked if she saw it herself.
Suddenly her gaze fell on his hands.
Her own hand out and grabbed one of them out of sheer impulse.
It surprised even her, even though she knew the limits of her impulse control.
And she could've sworn she was going to say something. She was, in all honesty. She was going to reassure him that it was going to be okay, that they where going to be okay. But all to quickly she felt what it actually felt like to hold a persons hand, not a drunken grab or an attempt to stop someone from going somewhere but holding a sober person's hand.
That in it's self forced a sob from her throat.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Take rose off the ground after receiving a sloppy lick on the side of his face from Blair. He light-heartedly called her ‘gross’ and wiped it away with the palm of his hand, but the canine scent still remained in his cheek. He followed her willingly into the night, not questioning where they were going, or if they should return to the Rugæ settlement. They might as well explore what was out in these vast mountains— a sort of adventure for him and Blair. Take watched as Blair strutted along in her wolf form, Yeah that’s definitely Blair, even with four legs she still manages to walk the same way as she does when she’s human. He couldn’t help but smile at her for an instant before craning his neck up towards the night sky to observe the dark blanket littered with twinkling stars. Even for a lack of moon, the night sky never failed to amaze Take, but he found what was walking in front of him to be far more stunning than every star that twinkled above his head. Tearing his gaze from the sky, he sped up a little and ruffled Blair’s wolf noggin before bolting off, an excited holler escaping his throat as he ran.

Blair was startled frozen for a few moments when he ruffled the fur on her head abruptly, watching him take off. The excited yell he gave made her heart soar, finally snapping out of her daze and bolting after him, giving a high-pitched yip. She could have easily passed him if she wanted to, yet she chose to just run alongside him when she caught up to him.
When she was sure she wasn't going to trip over anything, she stole a glance at him. Everything was worth it. The absolutely agony when her body and mind tore apart. The pain that she felt when she just needed him to be there some nights and he couldn't be there. The crippling anxiety she had felt when he had went missing. Even the scars from the demon.
It was all worth it.
He was worth it.
She slowed when they approached a spot barren of trees, the little lights from the Rugæ village visible from the incline they were on. Turning, she looked at him and grinned as much as a wolf could possibly grin. She wished that the wolf's eyes didn't mute the exact yellow of his eyes, or the precise pink of his hair. But at least I'm me. And he's here.

 

[Rose Quartz]

Colby actually did exist.
But he was so scandalized at this point that he couldn't even comprehend dragging himself out from beneath the table he'd holed up underneath when the first drinks came out.

Kipp spots Colby under a table and give him a funny look.

"Colby! Stop acting so creepy. Come over here and help us round up all the kids."

 

[Amer]

Kipp smiled appreciatively at her, glad she was willing to humor her two blindly optimistic boys.
"Looks like Take and Blair took off." He said to Cam while tousling Noah's hair. They probably found some other place to be alone... together. And he wasn't going to shoving his nose into that. He patted Noah's shoulders trying to convince him to sit back down before he got knocked off the stool again. "We should probably make sure the kids are all fed and get them upstairs. I think Kyle's the only adult who hasn't had something to drink." He said, a bit nervous to bring that up again. "They've probably forgotten the kids exist."

Cam sucked on her teeth. “Yeah, we should probably round them up.” She imagined Kyle riding Rylie around, herding the children to bed like a cowboy herding cattle, and then she imagined a drunk Kyle. It was not a pleasant image. Given his spastic instability, he’d be completely unpredictable. And even a little was too much for him.
But even if he did drink, he’d probably be pretty harmless, she realized. It was hard to imagine him instigating a bar brawl.
“Korim, can you order more food for the kids?” Cam asked.
He was all too happy to oblige. He seemed to like any excuse to bring the blonde closer to him, even though he’d come to the conclusion she was lightyears out of his league. He must have been a little affected though because Cam swore she saw him flex at her.
She giggled.
Love turns people’s brains into mush.

Kyle conveniently emerged from the kitchen atop Rylie -to avoid poorly coordinated footsteps- who had his tail in the air and was licking his lips.
A busboy was clearing abandoned glasses, several instruments were left on the ground, and the few remaining occupants in the room looked less than healthy.
It could just be the regular post-party cleaning, or it could be the clearing of the spoils of an epic barfight.
Wow, they really do need me, Kyle thought.
“What’d I miss?” he asked.

Nat chose this dreary point in time to make a magnificent entrance. From the coatroom.
Do not ask how she ended up in the coatroom.
Also, it should be noted that she was wearing somebody's coat. Albeit upside-down, but it was a lavish and likely highly prized sabertooth fur nonetheless.
And promptly announced herself with none other than her signature-
"HAHA, YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD ESCAPE ME."
It would not be an understatement to say she roared it.

Immediately after the threat, Korim’s eyes grew wide. Oh no. She’s back. What does she want with me now? But where could he hide without looking like an absolute coward?
He got instant regrets for giving her permission to hunt him down... er... rejoin the party.
“I never assumed such a thing,” he said, feigning calm.

 

[Yowza Wowza]

Blair was startled frozen for a few moments when he ruffled the fur on her head abruptly, watching him take off. The excited yell he gave made her heart soar, finally snapping out of her daze and bolting after him, giving a high-pitched yip. She could have easily passed him if she wanted to, yet she chose to just run alongside him when she caught up to him.
When she was sure she wasn't going to trip over anything, she stole a glance at him. Everything was worth it. The absolutely agony when her body and mind tore apart. The pain that she felt when she just needed him to be there some nights and he couldn't be there. The crippling anxiety she had felt when he had went missing. Even the scars from the demon.
It was all worth it.
He was worth it.
She slowed when they approached a spot barren of trees, the little lights from the Rugæ village visible from the incline they were on. Turning, she looked at him and grinned as much as a wolf could possibly grin. She wished that the wolf's eyes didn't mute the exact yellow of his eyes, or the precise pink of his hair. But at least I'm me. And he's here.

Finally slowing into the clearing bare of any trees, Take spun to face Blair, catching her odd wolf grin. He gave a snort in amusement and knelt down in front of her, “Come on, I know you’re way faster than that.” completely skeptical that she was running at full capacity. He brought his hands up to her face and tugged at the edges of her mouth so she was really smiling. “There you go, that’s a real smile” he grinned back at her, scrunching up his nose and eyes smiling. Unbeknownst to Take and Blair, there was something watching them from the brush that surrounded the two, and the noises of the Borealean wildlife were there to conceal the sounds of its movements.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Finally slowing into the clearing bare of any trees, Take spun to face Blair, catching her odd wolf grin. He gave a snort in amusement and knelt down in front of her, “Come on, I know you’re way faster than that.” completely skeptical that she was running at full capacity. He brought his hands up to her face and tugged at the edges of her mouth so she was really smiling. “There you go, that’s a real smile” he grinned back at her, scrunching up his nose and eyes smiling. Unbeknownst to Take and Blair, there was something watching them from the brush that surrounded the two, and the noises of the Borealean wildlife were there to conceal the sounds of its movements.

Blair snorted at his comment, curling her lip as he tugged on her face. She was unaware of the creature stalking the pair. There were too many other scents of the harmless Borealean creatures overwhelming it that she didn't even think twice about it.
Glancing back at Take, she jerked her towards where the forest thickened, itching to explore. The wolf's body had far more stamina then her human form did, and she was hardly fazed by their race.

 

[HeavensHens88]

Juliana who decided that being miserable this whole time was going to be no fun, decided she'd pretend these strange people from Earth were probably the best bet for safety, even if they had weird powers; Pointed dramatically at Nat.
"IT'S YOU!!!" Not that she actually knew who she was, but she spoke English, and that was good enough for her.

Nat was overjoyed at getting a reception and completely forgot about her pursuit of Blue for the moment.
"THNEED IT IS."
I promise she was really trying to say indeed, but now that her mind started traveling down that track...
She whipped off 'her' coat and sauntered over to Juliana with fur in hand, looking for all the world like a used car saleswoman ready to sell or make you feel shame for consuming the free cocoa she made the mistake of wasting on a miser like you.
"Everybody needs a thneed."

 

[Rose Quartz]

Nat was overjoyed at getting a reception and completely forgot about her pursuit of Blue for the moment.
"THNEED IT IS."
I promise she was really trying to say indeed, but now that her mind started traveling down that track...
She whipped off 'her' coat and sauntered over to Juliana with fur in hand, looking for all the world like a used car saleswoman ready to sell or make you feel shame for consuming the free cocoa she made the mistake of wasting on a miser like you.
"Everybody needs a thneed."

Juliana gave her a quizzical look before sticking out her hand assuming Thneed was her name. "Then you'll have to be mine. I'm Juliana, and you're my official Thneed."

 

[HeavensHens88]

Kipp spots Colby under a table and give him a funny look.

"Colby! Stop acting so creepy. Come over here and help us round up all the kids."

Colby emerged on command, looking like an absolute wreck. He slid into the open seat most local to Kipp and all but sank into it. "I don't know her," he muttered furiously, his horribly understocked two paws multitasking between folding his ears down and covering his eyes. Seeing his best friend drunk had done quite a number on him. "This can't be happening."

 

[Amer]

Colby emerged on command, looking like an absolute wreck. He slid into the open seat most local to Kipp and all but sank into it. "I don't know her," he muttered furiously, his horribly understocked two paws multitasking between folding his ears down and covering his eyes. Seeing his best friend drunk had done quite a number on him. "This can't be happening."

I know the feeling, thought Cam.
Kyle returned with Alex, Emma, and Kylan’s brother. One was occupied with stroking Rylie’s head.
“I have the kids, do you have the food?” He asked, as if they were in some terrible rush.
He’s probably never ordered food at a restaurant before, Cam realized. “No, it’s been less than five minutes,” she said.
But this tavern had faster service than your usual restaurant, and trays were soon on the table.
“Do you want something for dinner?” Cam asked the kids gently, but she was thinking This isn’t a question and it isn’t optional. Be compliant and eat so I can go to bed.