OCs x Social Media: Mack Thomas

Cover Up: A Russie Features Short

Headquarters

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

December 2016

The Monday after it happened, Mack came to work bearing a violet scarf snuggly-wrapped around his neck. He second-guessed at first, wondering if it would be suspicious if he wore it the entire day; but then again, the weather had been growing colder and it was Christmas season. Mack didn’t have an excuse to not wear it—it would look completely inconspicuous. 

Or at least, that’s what he had thought. Aether had also been wearing a scarf of her own—red as wine—when he arrived at the office, sipping at her usual mug of coffee and leaving a light lipstick stain on it. “Cold day,” she commented, green eyes spotting the scarf. “I thought you weren’t the cold type?” 

“It’s almost below ten,” Mack defended. She nodded slowly and took another sip from her coffee, Mack approaching the coffee maker to pour himself his own mug. “How was your weekend?”

“It was good.” Aether gave a small smile, “Went Christmas shopping. The company party is in one, two weeks? I thought that it was best to be prepared. Mathieu and I went together, he had to get gifts for his friends also.” 

He threw her a cheeky smirk. “Did you get him something, or did you just get some ribbons? If you know what I mean.” Mack chuckled at the sight of her cheeks reddening and narrowly dodged a crumpled paper thrown his way. “Touchy, I didn’t know that you were the type.” 

Mood Boards: Mack Thomas

Good Intentions: A Coalesce Short

Jian’s Apartment


Altlanta, GA


United States of America


January 2017

“Are you sure that you’re okay, brother?”

A half-smile crawls up the male’s lips. “I’m okay, Yue. I promise. I’ve just been…more tired lately, compared to these past few weeks. The bar’s been gaining more attention, so it’s only normal that I’m getting tired, you know?”

“I don’t know.” From his laptop screen, Yue throws him a look. “You’ve never really looked this exhausted. Maybe you want to come to Taipei, take a break with us? The family’s been asking how you’ve been,” she expressed. Her brown eyes met the gaze of her older brother, and she gave a small sigh. “I keep telling them to get off your case, but you have to admit that you owe them an answer, too. They’ve been concerned that you were suddenly able to help out with my college tuition and everything. Not that I’m not thankful,” she adds hurriedly, spotting the small frown poking its way to his lips, “I am. Really. They just want to know how you’re doing, and so do I.”

He sighed, reaching up and loosening the deep purple tie that hung around his neck. “I…alright. You’re right; I do owe you an explanation. And our family. But not now.” Yue looked like she was about to protest, but Jian lifted a hand and she kept her mouth closed. “I promise that I’ll explain. But I’m afraid that if I do tell, everyone else will just get on my case. And I don’t want that—I don’t think you want that either. Right?”

Russ' Updates #107: Vacation

Good evening, everyone! Hope you’re doing okay—and to those who watched The Walking Dead’s season opener, I sincerely hope that you guys have (somehow) managed to recover. :(( 

Here’s my agenda for this week: by Thursday night, I want the RussDate shorts and graphics to be posted. You may be wondering why I’m rushing, and, well—that’s because I’ll be in Japan! From October 28—November 2, I’ll be out of the country. My family and I will be spending a few days travelling and whatnot; as much as I want to bring my laptop along, it might distract me from the adventure and all. 

I’ll try to set up the format for next Monday’s RussDate, though! I want to post on time and update you guys on how I’m doing. :D But for now—just hope that I’ll be able to get the Russ Features finished as soon as possible! 

Posts to Expect:

[ ] Russie Photoshops: A Russie Features Graphic #03

[ ] Russie Writes: A Russie Features Short #03

"My time here was sufficient enough."

Waiting Game: A Coalesce Short

The Cage

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

December 2016

“Was he that bad?”

“What?”

“You’re looking awfully chipper today,” Elsie snarked, tying her brown her up in a ponytail. Jian gave her a pointed look but said nothing, not wanting her words to aggravate him as much as the prior weekend did. “Was it because of what happened during the weekend? You owe me a few stories, by the way.”

“Stories?”

“Mhm. You never really take Saturdays off unless you’re really, really sick or unless you need to go back to Taiwan.” The other said nothing, though sighed internally. Elsie was, if anything, observant—but maybe too observant for her own good. Jian inhaled and counted to ten before looking at her. Elsie kept looking at him, waiting for him to answer. He knew that she wouldn’t exactly back down without an answer she thought was satisfactory enough.

“I didn’t have a good weekend,” he answered shortly. Jian glanced at the mirror in the staff room and straightened his collar, “That’s all there is to it. Nothing more, nothing less.”

OCs x Social Media: Jian Lee

 

Attachment: A Russie Features Short

Mack’s Apartment

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

December 2016

Jian wakes up with a splitting headache and the taste of last night’s alcohol in his mouth. He blinks, feels an unfamiliar blanket on top. It’s violet and thin—not his typical thick and purple one. Jian reaches to yank it off, but there’s a heavy weight beside him which makes movement much more difficult.

Soft curls brush against his back. His throat dries upon realizing what had gone on the previous night—remembers smirks and semi-drunken laughter and dark brown curls that almost looked black in the dark of the night.

“Oh fuck,” he curses. “Oh my fucking God.” Panic shoots up his system and he nearly jerks out of bed only to realize the presence of a warm arm around his waist. Jian’s breath stutters and he looks over his shoulder to see a sleeping other there, his face perfectly relaxed as he sleeps.

On a normal morning, he wouldn’t be too bothered. It wasn’t an uncommon occurrence—the flames of one-night stands were usually extinguished come morning. The two of them would part ways eventually without much memory or attachment to the hours spent together asleep and awake.

It didn’t bother him much because there was the feeling of absolute nothingness.

Now, however, Jian felt a drumming in his chest that he wasn’t sure was something he was familiar with.

And it scared him.

Mood Boards: Jian Lee

Russ' Updates #104: Midterms

Good evening and happy October, everyone! 

How are you guys doing? To be honest, I'm pretty thankful that it's already October. I've got high hopes for this months -- last month wasn't really that great for me. *sweatdrop emoji* Anyway, now that it's a new month, we've got a new Russie Features character. Does he look familiar? 

"Hope you all remember me."

If you guys remember, Jian was also featured two years ago! His character then is *almost* the same as his character now, save for a few changes of course. :') I'm looking forward to bonding with him this month, and for you guys to see the changes as well! He's a bit more complicated this time around.

For this week, I'm gonna be a little more swamped once again. It's midterms season over here, and most of mine actually consist of papers rather than actual exams. Wish me luck! 

Posts to Expect:

[x] Russie Photoshops: A Russie Features Graphic 

[x] Russie Writes: A Russie Features Short 

Rise Up: A Russie Features Short

Deserving: A Russie Features Short

The Cage

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

October 2016

“You two are disgusting,” Peters sighs.

Aether merely flashes him a middle finger as she cuddles against Mathieu, the other grinning and holding her a little bit tighter than he already was. “Don’t aim your bitterness at us,” she snipped back. “We didn’t even do anything to you.”

Peters gives Tadashi a look. “Look at them, Tad. Gross.” But Tadashi shakes his head and smiles at the couple, watching as Aether presses a kiss onto the redhead’s jaw.

“Not my fault you’re single.” Aether mutters. Mathieu bites his lip and snorts into her hair; she feels the trembles from where she is and can’t help but smile even more herself. “Again: no need to be bitter.”

Peters is about to retort when Tadashi interrupts smoothly. “Let them be, Peters. We all need some happiness tonight, anyway.” Aether shot him a thankful look before leaning in and kissing Mathieu lightly, the other kissing back just as happily. “They’re cute. And this is one of the rare times wherein we see A not as uptight or as stressed as she usually is.”

“I get stressed with reason,” she murmurs against Mathieu’s lips. They pull away eventually, with her leaning her head on his shoulder and he gently running his fingers through her hair. Peters watches them. He finds himself agreeing internally; it was indeed one of the times wherein Aether was more relaxed, assured. His banter and teasing was merely just for fun.

Mood Boards: Samuel Peters

Strained: A Russie Features Short

New York City, NY

United States of America

March 2015

It was Aether who had to break the silence.

“I don’t want to make this awkward,” she started, “but I noticed something weird going on between you and your dad a while ago. Are you two okay?”

“It’s nothing,” Peters replied shortly. Aether and Tadashi exchanged a glance but didn’t pry. Peters merely continued unpacking his clothes, taking out an outfit that he was to wear the following day. “It’s just been a while since I’ve last seen my old man. Or any member of the family.”

“We can always take him up on his offer.” She fixed her hair into a bun before continuing, “When we finish up here. I think your parents would like it, and so would your brother—”

He interrupted her. “We’ll see.” Before she could protest, Peters got up and excused himself to go to the bathroom, leaving behind a befuddled Aether and Tadashi, the latter’s face appearing blank for only a moment. They heard the door shut and Aether huffed, folding her arms over her chest.

“I don’t understand,” she muttered.

“Don’t understand what?”

OCs x Social Media: Samuel Peters

Savior: A Russie Features Graphic

One Last Time: A Russie Features Short

Winchester, England

United Kingdom

July 2002

Lysette remembered meeting her. The finer details were fuzzy, like the weather and what she was wearing, but the general concept was there: Aether was brought in during autumn, and Lysette immediately thought that she was the shyest girl she had ever come across.

Their room in the orphanage changed throughout the years, but things like the creamy walls and the dark, wooden floor remained. Lysette had drawings carefully framed in crayon, others in pencil, her bed sheets stained with watercolor while the other one across hers was neat, untouched.

When Aether was brought in, Lysette wasn’t sure if she had ever seen anyone as sad or as exhausted she did. The words said to her were a blur; all she remembered was it being said that this new girl with tired eyes would be her new roommate.

After the door closed, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind—

“I, uh, I’m sorry for the messy room.”

“It’s okay.”

Mood Boards: Lysette Cross

OCs x Social Media: Lysette Cross

Value: A Russie Features Short

Atlanta, GA

United States of America

March 2017

Flashing lights, blinding lights. A microphone was pushed into his hand, the other gripping the plaque tightly. “Congratulations,” someone – Sol? – whispered, pushing him a little more to the front. Tadashi froze and stared, wide-eyed and still in shock upon what had just happened within the past two, three minutes.

He wasn’t sure what had happened, honestly. He and the rest of Squad A were busy drinking, and he was laughing at a joke Peters had told, when all of a sudden his name was announced and Aether was pulling up with the brightest smile on her face. Peters was whooping and Mack was laughing too, and before he knew it, he was stumbling to the stage with Sol beaming up at him. There was someone with her too, probably a higher-up, who most likely congratulated him as well, he didn’t know.

“I—I honestly don’t know what just happened,” he admitted into the mic, the entire room laughing warmly at that. He wasn’t trying to be humble nor was he trying to play off his win, not at all—it was the truth. He hadn’t been expecting any of that to happen, not at all. “Honestly. I never really expecting any of this,” he told the rest of HQ, his eyes falling to Squad A’s table.

He caught Aether’s gaze momentarily. She smiled even wider, if that was possible, and was holding a handkerchief that Mack had most likely lent to her. You can do it, she mouthed, and he swallowed, nodding before looking at the rest of them.

Tadashi inhaled for a second before putting on a smile, loosening his grip slightly and starting to speak.