the wilds of us — penelope&jackson

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d7f amber bosch 🌿 tris
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the wilds of us — penelope&jackson Oct 11, 2017 9:18:49 GMT -5

Post by d7f amber bosch 🌿 tris on Oct 11, 2017 9:18:49 GMT -5

when i was a child i'd sit for hours
staring into open flames
something in it had a power
could barely tear my eyes away

Cherry lips and diamond dusted skin — it doesn't do for a woman to be a lover of conceit, but the art of sophisticated arrogance has always been an easy wire for Penelope to make her way across. A bouquet of roses at every turn, letters that profess undying affection lining the white walls of her dressing room; and she hasn't read a single one. Not since that first night all those months ago when she made her debut. Every suitor uses the exact same lines, so why waste the time? 'I've never seen a woman like you.' Pity that they don't open their eyes to check the truth of their claims. All women have a magic parallel to hers within themselves.

For as much as she is adored, no man could ever compare to how she holds herself. Not that she hasn't humoured the thought, but she wants a challenge. An adventure that leaves her breathless. She has to be the first to bite — control has to be in her hands alone. Let her be the dragon landing before the knight, daring him to deny her. The role of the damsel has never suited her. She flashes her teeth to her reflection as she tucks a stray strand of dark hair behind her ear, wiping away the dramatics of her makeup with a silk cloth. Perhaps it's wasteful, but when you can afford gold, why be a glutton who eats with silverware? She's not one for selling herself short.

She strips out of her bodysuit, pulling her thick waves up into a knot atop her head, and she doesn't bother to check if her door is closed. All of her coworkers share her organs and her flesh, so she has no fear of them seeing her in a bare and vulnerable state. They understand her. They're all a similar breed of creature. Hungry and reckless, always wanting more than they're given. Always trying to reach that next thrill. The risk of falling doesn't matter to people like them. Broken bones are just broken bones; if you're alive, you can heal. Death is the only thing that can't be escaped, so you might as well taunt it. Racing it to the final destination. It won't conquer her until she allows it.

A sheer robe is brought to rest upon her shoulders, velvet sash tied around her waist — and she's a vision. She removes the red from her mouth and blinks at her mirror. Sometimes she forgets that she's just a girl. An orphan living on her own in a hotel that keeps more secrets than she could ever hope to obtain. Thoughts threaten to swallow her, a family portrait folded over and tucked into her vanity, so she shakes her head and turns away. She strolls out into the bustling underground of Cirque d'Étoiles, waving to her companions as they get settled and relax after their performances earlier that evening. They're a nocturnal bunch, her crew of misfits, so it's hardly surprising that none of them wear tired expressions. The dead of night is their home.

When she passes the lion taming tent, she's not able to stop herself from glancing inside. The rustling metal of the cages and feral cries greet her, but she's not looking for the beasts as she cranes her neck. They've never been the part of the act that impresses her most. When she catches sight of him, whip in hand and his impressive form free of his usual costume, she crosses her arms over her chest and smirks at the display. It's been nearly a year, and the young man's never once approached her. She used to assume that he favoured the less fair sex, but the longer that she's studied him, she's realized that he's simply just innocent; oblivious to everything around him. An oversized pup who asserts his dominance over wild cats for a hobby. And truly, he amuses her. She laughs and enters the holding area without any care for her safety.

"Jackson!" she calls out, hand up in the air and silken fabric billowing around her. She doesn't belong here, but she's never been one for following the rules. Obnoxious, but enchanting, and now's as good a time as any to make her move. The queen corners the king, and what's to come of this? "Jack, we need to talk," she goes on, closing the distance between them with quick steps and placing her arm around his torso. She presses herself against him without shame. "It's safe in here as long as I'm at your side, right?" She glances at the lion he's training, but she doesn't bother gauging its temperament. Let it lunge at her if it dares. Regardless of whether she got mauled to death or survived the attack, it'd be put down within the hour. Perks of being a star attraction, right?

"We're going out tonight.
Go put your kitty to bed, alright?"

all you have is your fire
and the place you need to reach
don't you ever tame your demons
but always keep them on a leash

[dars]

Last Edit: Oct 11, 2017 12:28:09 GMT -5 by d7f amber bosch 🌿 tris

all my girls got their lace and their crimes

hesper hart 🐺 d9f
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— 🥀 —

the wilds of us — penelope&jackson Oct 11, 2017 11:52:44 GMT -5

Post by hesper hart 🐺 d9f on Oct 11, 2017 11:52:44 GMT -5

I need noise
I need the buzz of a sub
need the crack of a whip
need some blood in the cut

"Up!" His arms reached highest into the sky, pointed foot out in front of him as a new lion named Chuck stood on its back two paws and roared.

Directing was a dance, really, and the rate in which he had become fluent in its steps sometimes baffled him. A step back, posture at its peak, eyes closed to the very tent where his performances paid the rent on his lavish apartment. He spun, bending his back so that his face was never away from the beast standing only ten feet away from him.

"Roll!" He called. Chuck just stood on his back legs, licking one of his paws, so Jackson tried it again: "Roll!" Nothing.

Fuck.

It was predicted that Chuck wouldn't be approved for showtime for another month, but it had never taken Jack more than two weeks to train the basic steps. Up, down, roll, roar, jump- the easy stuff. That was all he needed. He had Sully to do the impossible, terrifying tricks that kept his name on people's tongues.

One more time, he twisted around, back arched, hands stretched over his head. "Roll!"

The lion ducked his head down and rolled forward, just enough inertia to land on all of his feet.

"Good! Good!" Jack raced over to Chuck, hands combing through his mane as the cat began to purr.

"Jack!"

His head snapped to the right, showing a girl named Penelope waving him over from the sidelines. Chuck growled, and Jack patted him on the head, whispered a quick, "Easy, big guy. She won't hurt me," before he noticed Penelope racing toward him. His lions were domestic. Mostly, anyhow, but they were pretty protective of him. Were Sully standing in the ring with him, he might have met Penelope half way across the arena and made sure she could never run towards him again. She was lucky he only had Chuck for a short while.

Still, he stepped in front of the lion just to be sure.

Penelope had joined around the same time as Jack, and made her money by hanging from a metallic ring that was suspended in the air. Pretty and brave. Clearly not the smartest, though. Out of his league, regardless.

Black hair was pulled up and her face looked like she had just cleaned it. She wore a silk robe, pink fabric like liquid spilling down her thighs.

When she reached him, he expected her to stop, but she didn't. Two feet away, then a foot, six inches, until she was completely pressed against him, hands tied around his lower back and a very confident stare meeting his gaze.

"Uh—"

She did it so casually, as if they were best friends. Or, at least as if they had ever spoken at length before. The closest thing to a conversation Jack could remember having with the girl is nodding to her as she walked past his tent while he closed up one day.

She didn't seem to notice his discomfort, and if she did notice it, she did not care.

"It's safe in here as long as I'm at your side, right?"

"I mean, that doesn't rea—" Warm stare. It wasn't icy, or cruel, or vindictive. She wasn't here to break anything or to get some story to laugh about with her friends. She was just reckless, and Jack would have been lying if he said the rest of them weren't.

"We're going out tonight. Go put your kitty to bed, alright?" A low rumble fell from Chuck in reply, while Jack tried to understand what the hell was happening.

"Whe— I mean, uh, sure!" He knew he must have looked like a damn fool, and then it occurred to him that he was made uncomfortable for a living. He performed the death defying and awe striking. He did what no one else could do on a daily basis, and he had somehow let himself be reduced to a melting puddle of confusion and timidness just because a pretty girl had wrapped her hands around his waist.

He cleared his throat and then, "Yeah, sure. Walk with me to the cages?"

take my head and kick it in
break some bread for all my sins
say a word, do it soon
it's too quiet in this room

Last Edit: Oct 11, 2017 12:01:41 GMT -5 by hesper hart 🐺 d9f

^{I AM A GARDEN OF BLACK AND RED AGONIES}

d7f amber bosch 🌿 tris
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Pronouns: he/him
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the wilds of us — penelope&jackson Oct 11, 2017 13:20:03 GMT -5

Post by d7f amber bosch 🌿 tris on Oct 11, 2017 13:20:03 GMT -5

when i was a child i'd sit for hours
staring into open flames
something in it had a power
could barely tear my eyes away

She decides in that moment that he's a man of good intentions — all uneven grins and fumbled words. It's been years since she last went for one of the nice guys, but at least there's no harm in getting back in the swing of things with Jackson. On one hand there's no risk, which saddens her, but there's also excitement. He's not going to hurt her, and he sure as Hell won't be saving her, but it might be nice to go out for drinks with a suitor who genuinely cares. Who sees past her appearance and wonders, 'What's beneath all that glamour?' Who doesn't want her just to say that he had her.

At least he still seems attracted by her facade, though. As much as she appreciates the thought, she's not willing to give up fully on physical praise. She's a hypocrite, but so is the world. She's just trying to make her way through the woods unscathed. His tongue battles to escape his throat, and if you asked her, she'd bet that he'd rather take on the lion if given the choice between them. "You're an absolute darling," she laughs, keeping hold of him but twisting her body to give him more space to move. "Lead the way, and please, don't make me a snack." A wink follows, teeth flashing. "Not quite yet."

Arm hooked through his, she accompanies him to the cages. The lion walks ahead of them, obeying his every command, and she thinks that maybe she's underestimating Mr. Right. Surely someone so authoritative can't be all sugar and honey, right? But damn if he doesn't make it seem like that's all he's made of. He's the type of boy she'd take home to meet her mother if they weren't estranged, and he's the kind of man she'd be lucky to build a steady future with. That's just not how her life's meant to go, though. No picket fences and no kids playing in the yard. She can't slow down for that. Not for anyone.

"Is this one Sully?" she asks, almost surprised at herself for recalling a name from his performances. "Doesn't look the same to me. Too young." She looks around as he gets the lion settled, taking notice of just how many he has to care for and teach. "What's it like? Y'know, being the lion tamer?" She pulls away slightly until she's no longer clinging to him, but she keeps her hand around his wrist and traces her thumb over his skin. "Are they like a family to you? Just pets? Coworkers?" She meets his gaze, taking in his sweet features, and she offers a genuine smile.

"What do you want to do, Jackie?" she asks, giving him the reins. "I was thinking we could go to a bar, but that's boring. We need to do something special, right? I don't go on dates that suck." If she's truthful, she doesn't care, but it's better to play it safe and ask. "There's not someone else in your life, is there? Because that's what this is. You're taking me on a date and it's going to be awesome. One of us has to be maimed by tomorrow, or I'll be disappointed." She chuckles, moving her hand to his shoulder. "I'm just messing with you. Don't let me come on too strong. Tell me to slow down if this gets to be too much."

They exit his tent after a short moment, and without a warning, she leads him to her dressing room. "I've got a dress in my closet that I can put on. Nothing too fancy. Unless you prefer au naturel?" She pulls off her robe when they enter, tossing it over her shoulder and letting it hit Jackson in the face. "You don't have to cover your eyes, but feel free to be a gentleman. I'll just be a second." She rummages through her wardrobe and finds the outfit in question, quickly slipping it on and remaining nude beneath. Her hair is let loose from its confinement and she puts on a matching pair of heels.

"You can look now.
You happy with this, Jack?"

all you have is your fire
and the place you need to reach
don't you ever tame your demons
but always keep them on a leash

[dars]