ㅤㅤ “Yeah it's like ecstacy, When she's next to me. Can't seem to get her out of my head, And she knows it should be me in her bed." ~ ☕ COLLEGE!AU ☕ ~

You'd be right. It takes more than a deck of cards and and someone foolish enough to think they can see the future. We're going to try anyway.

Cards, the tried and true. I'm much too fond of stacking the deck, so you're in charge of the draw. ( Reaching into his coat, he produces a worn deck. Paper and painted over by hand, their backs are simple but evocative. ) Here. Take care with them.

⠀ 𝐀𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗇 𝗎𝗇𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗄𝖾𝗇 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀. 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐘 𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗇 𝗎𝗇𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗄𝖾𝗇 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀. ⠀

They only want what they can sell And I can't help that I sell well We are drawing circles on an empty page Playing power chords on a private stage The body's a temple, it's in ruins Empty visions, empty tomb If everything I own I steal Tell me, baby, how does it feel? #NOVENARY

The Huntsman raised his hands. In them, he held a paintbrush, a vial of inky paint, and a blank card. "If you must know, I'm talkin' about painting. Ever had your likeness put down before? I've been told it makes for a fun souvenir." A dry smile tugged at his lips, unfazed.

"Probably not. Most of us are too busy worrying about being watched than watching anyone ourselves." The Huntsman speaks in an easy, slow drawl. "Took a tumble, did you?"

"Far be it for me to judge. Tumbling's it's own skill, after all. You just have a ways to go." A wise nod. Either he's dead serious or an incredible actor, because it doesn't sound like he's joking.

Smiling, he raises an eyebrow as if to ask, "Who doesn't?". "Well, if you must know, it's Russet." He offers a hand casually, but there's a practiced ease to his manner. "And you, madame stranger?"

The hand in hers is calloused. His grip is firm, and he gives her a single shake. "Viburnum," He says her name as if testing the sound. "The pleasure's all mine." Looking closely now, he paused. "You wouldn't happen to be a Huntress, would you?"

Given his snort of amusement, it seems he appreciates the joke. "Could have fooled me. If you don't look a Huntress," He furrows his brow in feigned thought. "Then how could I have got that impression in the first place?"

"The simplest answer's the best one here." He replied without missing a beat, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "You look like a Huntress. If anyone else can't see it? They're just not paying attention." "I'll admit I'm looking for someone like you, but I reckon it's true."

"A huntress, full stop." Russet answered smoothly, though his levity faltered. "It's mighty lucky that we met. I had a feelin' about you, but needed to make sure, you understand. Truth is, I need a favour- one that I can return. "

/ 🥴 russetcore...

Ignore him scaling a wall like a spider. Please ignore him, please— His grip loosens on a ledge, and he scrabbles not to fall past a window. A grimace. He's just going to hope no one inside saw him.

what a view, huh? the desert at night seems to stretch on forever.

boy with a bloodied nose, boy with purple-green knuckles. boy that knows how to fight, how to bend, how to break. boy that always gets back up. boy that doesn't know when to stay down. boy that lives with knives in his hands. boy with a countdown, a deadline, a shelf-life.