Embrace: A Transcendence Short

Free-Jones Apartment

New York City

United States of America

July 21xx

“You don’t have to do this.”

They remained in bed; Elena comfortably sitting while Ansel lay in her lap. She ran her fingers through the curls of his hair, gently tugging and wrapping her fingers around them. It was what Ansel liked; he liked having her play with his hair. If anything, it was soothing. Almost too soothing—he almost forgot to respond to what she had just said.

“I know. I know I don’t have to. But I want you to know.” His eyes met hers and the corner of his mouth lifted in an attempt to smile. “You deserve to know, Lena. I don’t want to hide from you anymore.” She pursed her lips.

“Only if you’re sure,” she eventually agreed. Ansel moved, adjusting himself into a position more comfortable for both of them. His head rested against her stomach and her other hand lightly stroked his side in comfort. “Where do you want to start?”

“With how it feels. How it feels for me, at least. It affects everyone differently.” She nodded, “…have you ever gone swimming by the ocean?”

“I have, with my family and Amelia. It was a long time ago,” Elena frowned slightly, “but I can still remember.”

“How strong were the waves?”

Russ' Updates #092: Glimpses

Hello there, Darlings! Hope you guys are having a good July! 

Here’s some blogsary progress: I’m at least 75% done with one of the first graphics! I know that might not seem too amazing because what the hell @self you’re supposed to be 50% done with all of the graphics but trust me, when you see the graphics, you may understand why it’s taking me a longer time than usual to do them. ;w;

"She's slow."

Anyway, you can expect more posts for July’s Russie Features as well as a Transcendence short I’ve been writing the past weekend! I really hope that I’ll be able to come up with a sneak peek for the blogsary soon because I really want you guys to have a glimpse of what’s up for August. :D 

Posts to Expect:

[x] Russie Writes: A Transcendence Short
[x] Russie Writes: A Russie Features Short
[x] Russie Photoshops: A Russie Features Graphic

Noise and Haste: A Headcanon Short

Araceli Residence

July 25xx

9:12 AM

As they grew older, feelings of sibling-related affection eventually grew towards blooming into something else. Both of them felt it and felt awkward; Amaris was more aware of her affections and wanted to shut away more, while Arryn wasn’t quite sure what it was and how to deal with it. 

They developed when they were sixteen, seventeen. Touches lingered a little more, didn’t feel as playful as they did when they were kids. Amaris found her eyes moving his way when he would walk into the Araceli dining room in a light shirt and rumpled hair. Arryn’s mouth would dry slightly whenever Amaris would let her hair down. 

Even their attempted sparring was affected. When they were younger, they would teasingly go at each other the way their parents did whenever they had the chance to watch. However, as older teenagers, Arryn would try his best not to hit too hard or to bruise her too much. Amaris, in return, would avoid any lethal areas and aim more for his arms, maybe his shoulders if she felt brave.

And when they would finish up, they would exchange a ‘thank you for the spar’ and dart off to either parent for patching up. James found it concerning when Arryn and Amaris used to treat each other’s wounds all the time. Carina merely accepted it in stride, fussing over her children equally. 

But even with that, it still felt odd. 

It felt like there was a wall in the way, blocking them from getting to know each other even more as something beyond adopted siblings. Amaris knew what the wall was and edged around it, but Arryn remained clueless. 

Intervention: A Coalesce Short

Aether’s Apartment

Atlanta, Georgia

United States of America

January 2016

“I know that shit hurts,” Peters told her, “But I can at least promise you that getting fucked up is going to be so worth it. Because in the morning, you’ll have a hangover worse than heartache.” Aether merely raised a middle finger in his direction, which Peters promptly ignored. He continued, “Jake and I used to get shitfaced about girls all the time. We can’t do it now because he’s a doctor and he has a wife, so.”

He expected her to give a snarky reaction, because that’s just what Aether did. She was snark mixed with smile; her words were supposed to hurt but they didn’t because they were laced with playful intention. That was how Peters knew that they were still good and that she was still okay.

But she didn’t say anything. She just stayed there, with her head leaned against the car window and her hands limp in her lap.

“…okay, I’ll try to drive faster.” He muttered. Stepping on the gas, Peters did his best to drive a little faster without risking being arrested by whoever was on patrol on that night.

OCs x Social Media: Lysette Cross

Russ' Updates #091: Breaking July

Good evening, guys! 

So I am definitely not feeling that well considering that I was sick during the weekend. *sweatdrop emoji* I'm doing better, though, to the point that I have officially started working on the graphics aspect of August's blogsary. :D

On the topic of blogsaries, please go and check out Rothie's, which is currently happening and will last throughout July! Currently, she's on the first week and is currently covering Mirage. Please do support her throughout the entire month and send her all your love.

"Go do that. Go, go, go."

Meanwhile, you guys can start expecting sneak peeks and previews for August's celebration starting next week or within the next two weeks, I'm not too sure. I don't plan on doing a countdown like the last few years, but I'm definitely going to post previews here and there. :> 

This week, expect your usual Russ Features as well as your shorts here and there!

Posts to Expect:

[x] Russie Photoshops: A Russie Features Graphic
[ ] Russie Writes: A RRC Short

Warmth: A Transcendence Short

Free-Jones Apartment

New York City

United States of America

July 2121

For the first few days after his breakdown, Ansel refused to come out of the bedroom. He stayed curled up in bed, not quite moving or making contact with anyone, including Elena. Ansel expected that Marion told her that his refusal to interact with the world was one of his ways to recover (despite how shitty it was); he was simply too tired to have to explain to anyone else why his defence mechanism was as effective as wrongly-assigned medicine.

During the next three days, he kept in bed, not really moving unless he had to go to the bathroom or unless Elena brought him something to eat. When he ate, he ate slowly in bed, feeding himself whatever the brunette had brought into the room. Whenever he was not eating, he tried to sleep as much as he could. When sleep was too much, he simply shifted in bed and stared at whatever his eyes landed on, mind too hazy to navigate through.

Part of him felt guilt for going off and neglecting Elena while staying under the sheets. The other part of him merely allowed itself to be dragged down even further.

Whenever she came in to gently put the tray of food on the nearby table, she would always sit nearby and stroke his hair for a couple of minutes. In those minutes, Ansel felt his mind clear a little bit; her touch and her presence pulled him away from the waters slightly to the point of him wanting to open his mouth and talk.

But instead, he only kept to himself, staying in bed and letting her touch his hair, his forehead. He would hear her sigh, feel her warm lips against his forehead. After, her presence would leave the room and it felt a little more colder than it was before she came in.