psl; [the healing process]

[animalqueen]

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ELLE GRAYSON is generally a normal one, with enough variety sprinkled in throughout the week to prevent it from becoming a deadly dull routine. She lives in a flat in London, a charming little one bedroom and two bath, not particularly large, but cozy. It’s a strange fusion of modern and old fashioned, a dichotomy that reflects her own personality quite well.

Every morning, she wakes up and makes a cup of strong coffee. (Black, no sugar.) Her cat, a grey, long-haired, grumpy looking thing, lazes on her bed for longer than she does, only trotting out when he’s ready to be fed. His name is Paladin Leeroy. Sometimes she just calls him Lee.

When coffee and breakfast are a thing of the past, Elle usually hears chirping on her balcony, a structure small but laden with potted plants. She will open the doors, and sometimes, if she’s in a particularly energized mood, will announce, “Your Queen has arrived! Court will now be held,” and the little sparrows will chirp at her, and line up in a row. She’ll feed them birdseed, or bread, if she’s run out. Later, Leeroy will bound out, but she always tells him to leave the birds alone until they’re done eating. He listens. They always fly away before he gets a chance to do any real harm.

Lately, she’s been working part-time at an advertising agency, writing and tweaking copy that slides across her desk. It isn’t the most fulfilling job, but it pays the bills, and that’s what matters. Her real work is her own writing; freelancing for various websites, and poking and prodding at the idea for a book, slowly trying to force life into the narrative. Sometimes inspiration strikes her, and she sits and writes for hours at a time, until her eyes begin to strain, and she has to stop. Other times, she grows tired and can’t seem to string words together at all, and her word document looks a bit like this:

And then stuff happened. Everyone died tragically but it was fine, because it was thematically appropriate to the narrative.

ugh ugh you suck

That always gets deleted at the end, of course.

Crammed in the corner of the living area is an upright piano, white and well-used. Sheet music sits scattered on its stand, and an acoustic guitar rests on the floor next to it. There’s a television, of course, a flat-screen that looks larger than it actually is in her apartment. Connected to it is a Playstation 2, a blu ray player, and little else. On the shelves above, there are books — so many books. Mostly horror and old classics; copies of Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice look particularly worn.

The shelf next to it is stocked with board games. Tabletop and family ones, alike. One in particular is even out of its spot, instead spread out on the little glass coffee table. It looks as if a campaign hasn’t been started yet, though someone’s been flipping through the manual quite recently. Maybe quite frequently.

Her bedroom is small, but the bed is large and roomy. There are pictures of friends and family on the bookshelves in here, and a few on her nightstand. Beyond that, she keeps this part of the flat a little messier than the rest.

GENERALLY, SHE LIVES A RELATIVELY NORMAL LIFE, quiet and cozy. Sometimes living by herself is a bit lonely, and the time difference means that she cannot call her mom and step-dad any time she likes just to hear their voices. But like all things, these emotions pass like any other. Perhaps the only real oddity in her life are the strange surprises she sometimes finds on her balcony. There were a family of raccoons once. A possum. A falcon, who looked lost and confused when she opened the door, turning its head at her, blinking. There were even rats, but they only sniffed the air in her direction, and did little else.

Elle Grayson is just a normal 26 year-old, with a magnetism or two that might be considered abnormal. Perhaps that’s the extent of the oddities in her life. Perhaps this is all she could ever really wish for.

Perhaps she’ll be proven wrong, sooner rather than later.

----------

D I R E C T O R Y;

➤ a reunion
➤ a cat
➤ a novel
➤ an outing
➤ a resolution
➤ a sickness
➤ a home
➤ a boyfriend
➤ a horror

Comments

[coalheart]

Probably.

[Corvus, it's not "probably," it's no joke, a Leeroy is next to him.]

Probably wanted my spot.

[animalqueen]

That, or he thinks you're the next best thing.

[She laughs a little, then stretches her arms up. The awkardness at the start seems to have completely dissipated; what was the point, if he literally has been in her lap for...

She looks at the clock. Longer than an hour? Wow.

Elle looks down at him, stifling a yawn.]

Are you all right? You looked so tired. And I can't imagine my lap is much more comfortable than the couch cushions.

[coalheart]

... I'm fine. I think.

[He just. Likes this. He actually likes this.]

Sorry.

[And he actually apologizes...? It's the upside down world.]

[animalqueen]

[Not only is he apologizing, but Elle isn't even sure for what. Vague lingerings of confusion seems to be the theme for today.]

...For what? I wasn't complaining.

[coalheart]

For not asking to rest on you.

[Still he lays there.]

It seemed right. For me, but for you...

[animalqueen]

[...Oh. His consideration is kind of sweet, and Elle feels that tinge of embarrassment coming on again. It's not as strong as the last time, however, and she ignores it with more ease than she initially thought possible.]

That's okay. I think we all needed the rest, anyway. [It's been an... interesting past few days, hasn't it?] All three of us [Leeroy, included!], useless lumps on the couch. There's nothing wrong with that.

[She opens her mouth to make an addendum, but something makes her hesitate. The pause is deafening, but more so because Elle pierces cleanly through it only a few seconds later, surprising herself.]

Besides... I kind of liked you laying on my lap.

[coalheart]

[What dangerous words.

They stir up a number of feelings in him, ones he's tried to avoid for so long. A little too late now.]

... Good.

That's good.

[animalqueen]

[The fact that he says that, simple and straightforward as the words are, make her feel happy. She pokes him a little playfully on the shoulder.]

You like laying like this more than being a fluffy cat?

[coalheart]

Why not both?

[He gives a shrug with his shoulders.]

I'd still be me either way.

[animalqueen]

Yeah, but you've got to remember that I can't change shape like you; I wouldn't know if it makes sense to prefer one over the other.

[She pauses, glancing over at Leeroy who's quietly sleeping next to him.]

Sometimes I wonder if you're really comfortable all by yourself, out here at night. I left you a blanket, but all you do is sleep on it.

[Cats......]

[coalheart]

Well, if one has fur, having another piece of cloth on top makes one feel stuffy.

And I'm comfortable, really. I'd have no trouble raising an objection if that wasn't the case.

[animalqueen]

Well, good. Be sure to raise an objection if you are uncomfortable, because I'm not going to be responsible for you catching a cold in the middle of winter.

[coalheart]

... You already do too much.

[animalqueen]

Sometimes I feel like I'm not doing enough.

[But in many ways, she'll never be satisfied when it comes to others. Again, what a bleeding heart she possesses, whether for good or ill.]

Anyway, did you already forget? I'm going to make sure you're warm, safe, and fed.

[coalheart]

[THAT AGAIN... He lays, not moving for a long minute and then his face turns to glance at her, brows raised.]

That's the second time you've said that.

[animalqueen]

I know. I'm reminding you.

[She mirrors his arched brow with her own.]

Why? Do you not want me to? I can stop. [She's teasing a little. Why wouldn't he want her to keep him warm, safe, and fed?]

[coalheart]

[It's quick, it's nearly a flash and gone too quickly, but a ghost of a smile threatens to spread across his lips and he turns his head away, shaking in disbelief.]

I'd say that's too much of an allowance for something that's just a pretend partner.

[animalqueen]

[Ah... that smile, however brief it was, makes her look away in embarrassment. How freaking cute... why did his face have to be made like that? It was too distracting sometimes.

Not to mention his words -- she had nearly forgotten about the pretend boyfriend bit, until he brings it up again.]

W-well. We have to play the part. I think you're doing a good job so far.

[Mr. Lying His Head Down in Her Lap.]

[coalheart]

Mn.

[Is he going to sleep again?]

I'm probably no good in the end.

[animalqueen]

[She frowns. Elle doesn't want him to get like... that again.

She's bold enough to lean in a little closer, trying to get his attention. For his sake, she can ignore her own self-consciousness for the time being.]

Hey. Stop saying stuff like that. You helped me out today, remember?

[coalheart]

[Slowly, Corvus' hand reaches up to lightly touch Elle's cheek. He doesn't know what to say at first. Just that whatever he does for her won't make up for what he actually is in the end. What he will do.]

That's just one thing.

[animalqueen]

[She swears that her heart skipped a beat when he reaches up to gently touch her cheek. Without even thinking, hers comes up to meet his; just her fingertips are bold enough to lightly brush at the back of his hand, a feather touch.]

That was just today. There’s still tomorrow, and the day after that. And the day after that.

[coalheart]

[It's just a feathery touch, something barely there, but certainly within his grasp. He doesn't know if he can chase it, if he wants to. He's still not sure. This is fine for now.]

That's a long time.

[Says the guy who's been alive for god knows how long.]

[animalqueen]

[She'll be the first to call him out on it, too, unmoving for now. She can't help but grin down at him, teasingly.]

And you've been around for how long? You can spare a few extra days, can't you?

[coalheart]

Long for you.

[Humans, psh.]

I might overstay my welcome.