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[† @subduednights]

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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 𝑬𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝑮𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 ⋆
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[† @subduednights]

𝘪'𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 ...

[۟ @godsfell]

you are the knife i turn inside myself.

[† @subduednights]

“ How curious… to exist only as thought. No form, no name… and yet, still... confined. One wonders which is the greater prison.

... what do they seek? Why might they pick me of any? ”

[𝐕𝐔𝐋𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐔𝐒 @sonofchronos_]

❝ their names escape me. they exist only as thoughts. they have no body that is within conceptualization.

⠀ yet, anyway.
⠀ they are still trapped outside shindao. ❞

[† @subduednights]

of wood accompanying steps. “ I think we all prefer a bit of normalcy; however, there’s nothing wrong with... a little change. It can be quite riveting under the correct stimuli. Otherwise… ”

He trailed off, reaching the end of the set.

“ Ah. Now we are closer to life. ”

[† @subduednights]

“ I wasn’t aware you were so familiar, ” he teased, hues sprinkled with amusement as he observed the two. “ What a match. ”

A nod, glancing back as he took a step forward. “ Then up we shall go, my friend. ” He smiled. With that, he began to ascend the staircase, slight creak +

[𝗠 𝗔 𝗦 𝗢 𝗡 @BEWAREOFTHED0G_]

I prefer the stairs anyway .

[ Some smaller steps were heard in the small pause of silence . Mason smiled a bit , looking back . A dog .

An odd looking one . It was like a golden retriever , but something felt off about the animal itself . Perhaps it was the eyes . ]

(+)

[𝐉𝐈𝐆𝐒𝐀𝐖 🧩 @kramerssickgame]

𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝.

[† @subduednights]

—But in a brave, adventurous sense. ”

He stopped them at a set of stairs. “ The elevator may be convenient… but I’ve always taken a liking to the stairs. Would you like to explore as high as the ceiling, or as low as the ground? ”

[† @subduednights]

Optics locked onto the opposite, “ One must keep manners afloat, yes? ”

Eddie adjusted his posture slightly—a palm slipping into the pocket of his slacks, the other resting behind his back—his pace moderate. He was leading, yet did not walk miles ahead, instead staying +

[𝗠 𝗔 𝗦 𝗢 𝗡 @BEWAREOFTHED0G_]

[ He saw the hand gesture and had to snicker . ]

What a gentleman . Thanks .

[ Mason followed , calmly looking around the place . Not the worst place he has been in ... ]

Really ? Don't see why , you're definitely charming .

(+)

[† @subduednights]

closer to Mason’s side. For beginnings, the facility was, of course, a facility in and of itself. Stagnant, even. But that would change.

“ I’m happy to hear someone sees it. And, for the record… you don’t seem so mad. Not yet, anyway. Stubborn… plausible.

[† @subduednights]

—that is. ”

“ I suppose I could do that… you know, the pat—people around here aren’t so talkative. I find your presence… refreshing. ” He smiled.

Shortly after, he held a hand forth, as if motioning for Mason to follow.

[† @subduednights]

He almost couldn’t silence the chuckle that rose. Quite the character, the other seemed, and certainly nothing like those he had been accustomed to.

“ Ah… a bit of a rebellious streak... no? Or it happens to mean that you are not a student of conformist thought—admirable, —

[𝗠 𝗔 𝗦 𝗢 𝗡 @BEWAREOFTHED0G_]

[ Scoff , followed by an amused chuckle . The eyebrow is raised playfully . That's quite a statement . ]

It does , but not for a man such as myself . I'm the type of man that does whatever he wants , even if some don't agree . Does that make sense to you ?

(+)

[† @subduednights]

A clearing of his throat. “ Mm… well, if he is as you say, I take it my opinion holds little gravity. Perhaps, rather, you are in search of… a voice to guide your morals where they stand. Does that hold weight? ”

[† @subduednights]

Lit hues softly rummaged across the opposite, almost as if collecting him to memory in the pause. And those words? They piqued his interest.

“ Despicable, you say? ” Eddie straightened slightly, head tilting pensively. “ This fellow must have quite the… reputation about him. ”

[𝗠 𝗔 𝗦 𝗢 𝗡 @BEWAREOFTHED0G_]

Eddie . What a charming way .

[ Milky eyes turned towards the residence . It could take him the entire day to find ...

He turned to Eddie again , smiling . ]

I have my ways . Let's say I'm here to visit an old friend . You see , Eddie ...

(+)

[† @subduednights]

Edward's gaze drifted along the skyline a moment—as if pondering Daniela's words—before returning.

“ That... doesn't sound too promising. Not to impose, of course, but I am a listening ear, if needed...? ”

[—asa.🩷 @lvstintokyo]

Daniela nodded her head in agreement. She understood all too well what Eddie was talking about. “I’m ok. I guess. Just a lot on my mind.”

[† @subduednights]

—might say permanent residence. Speaking of… well, how did you… get here? ”

[† @subduednights]

Eddie’s eyes widened slightly, the other’s politeness catching him off-guard, before they crinkled at the edges in a prudent smile.

“ Likewise, Mason, ” he quietly breathed. “ I’m Eddie… Eddie Gluskin. ”

A nod followed. “ You could make that conclusion, yes… though some—

[𝗠 𝗔 𝗦 𝗢 𝗡 @BEWAREOFTHED0G_]

Hello . I'm Mason Delaire . Charmed to meet you .

[ Mason smiles a bit , giving a polite nod , before his white eyes went up , examining for a moment before they returned to the other man . ]

Are you a recurrent resident , when it comes to this place ?

[† @subduednights]

“ What... might this 𝘪𝘵 be? ”

[𝐕𝐔𝐋𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐔𝐒 @sonofchronos_]

❝ it will come looking for you. ❞

[𝙖𝙨𝙝𝙩𝙤𝙣 @eyespht]

𝘼𝙎𝙃𝙏𝙊𝙉 𝘿𝙐𝙉𝙉𝙀

[† @subduednights]

Edward’s gaze settled softly upon Daniela, hands clasped neatly behind his back, posture firm yet lax.

“ I find that I am... rather refreshed today. One must await what the rest offers, I suppose. And how are you? ”

[—asa.🩷 @lvstintokyo]

Daniela was sitting by the water fountain, admiring the surrounding area when she heard her name.

“Hi Eddie. How are you doing?”

[† @subduednights]

onto the figure before him.

He did not speak right away. Instead, his gaze bore into the other—intrigue, astonishment, and elation surfacing all at once.

“ Hello to you… sir. ”

[† @subduednights]

The gaze of frosty, gray-tarnished optics stretched onward, almost out of focus—yet there lingered an inconspicuous shift within them, something only the trained eye might catch.

First came the greeting—a male voice, not so familiar—then the optics shifted, finally latching +

[𝗠 𝗔 𝗦 𝗢 𝗡 @BEWAREOFTHED0G_]

What an interesting place for one of his targets to be in . Perhaps the rumors have extended like wildfire , and it's a known fact that desperate people make desperate solutions .

However , as he adjusted the scope , his attention fell on ( @subduednights )

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