.into the city&& {{Flicker

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>My eyes followed his movements as he came closer, seeing him bark though I couldn't hear it and I pushed aside the newly found information that I could still make noise so that I could play and have fun for now. We could think about it later and explore the possibilities that had been presented to us with that accidental emittance of noise. Though now that I knew I could do it I would embrace the ability and not ignore it, it would be helpful. As I continued to watch my companion however it became evident that he either wasn't used to play or did not know how and a somewhat pitying look flashed across my features before they became playful again hopefully before he had noticed the look though I doubted it would've escaped him.

My tail continued to wag as I barked once more, wishing I could hear the sound though feeling it vibrate through my mind like an empty echo. Pushing myself quickly to my feet again before closing the distance between us to playfully bump into him before lifting my front paws to push against him again before bringing them back to the earth so I could lower my head to bite at his leg gently and pull at it so he'd have to move it. I would make him play, he had to give in to the puppyish temptation at some point and I would keep trying until I got him to just let go and have fun with me.

Letting go of his leg before lifting a paw onto his back, leaning against him to nip at his ear again before moving away but not too far, seeing if he would follow or not, my eyes never leaving him as I backed away playfully letting out another bark and enjoying this newfound freedom of being able to create that which I could not hear. Though the vibrations within my mind created a tiny sound for me, my own bark? Could I possibly be able to hear the sounds I made? I would dwell on it later, for now the only thing really on my mind was getting my friend to play with me.</sub>

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 373
Muse;; ugh
Tagged;; Rivalry}

[` EMBERS]

Feeling stiff and unknowledgeable, my vain attempt to decipher my companion’s movements went unnoticed as quick expressions dashed across her face in a bout of feelings. I, however, remained void of both thought and stared numbly at her face. It was evident she was indeed desperate to play, and after this harsh experience to which she had been exposed, she was in dire need of the stimulation. And yet, though I pitied her feeble attempts to urge me into frolicking wildly about the park, I could only supply her with my company, and empty words. I could feed her, I could give her comfort and warmth, be her guide, give her an essence of someone to aid her lonely air, but this was one of those things I simply could not do for her. It was simply a missing category in my knowledge bank, and I was slow to learn. Furthermore, I feared in this rough manner of exerting energy, I would, perhaps, turn too brutal and injure her accidentally as I was known to do.

Following her graceful figure as she bounded about her, her bruised side forgotten, I held still. She nipped gently at my leg, and I pulled back slightly, spine arching as I retreated a few steps back. Her paws against my flank left me swaying, and I stiffened my muscles to keep myself from buckling. Though small and slim she appeared, her well-built form and taut muscle left me slightly unbalanced. Her gleeful barking echoed in my ears, her joy palpable in her forgotten voice. Happy for her discovery and yet mystified at her spontaneous urges to engage in bursts of play, I spun to face her, eyes opening doors into my thought. Speaking without realizing it, I explained that I simply could not satisfy her need for a stimulant, mouth turned down. Stopping myself midway through sentence, I graced myself with an agitated look at the sky, forgetful of her impediment of sound. Instead, I merely shook my head again, resolutely.

A sigh emitted from my maw, and I looked out to the road, hoping to ignore her pleading face. Her effort to employ the act of play in me was good, and yet all futile. I was in no mood, stranded in the midst of a city, bearing the knowledge that I’d led her into a danger that she had not been prepared for, and the lingering thought of the dream pursuing me angrily. Fearing the hazardous situations my own claws and teeth could bring her, I shook my head, this time more gently, and leaned forward sadly to touch my nose to her, her warmth clawing my sides. Tentatively pulling away from her, I let a sad smile crawl across my lips, and eyes told her nearly forgotten stories.

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. FOUR-HUNDRED&SIXTY-SEVEN
muse. SEVEN-OUT-OF-TEN

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>As he spun to face me I let my eyes stare into his, standing perfectly still for the moment and just listening with my heart and my mind to the thoughts I could read so clearly in his eyes, ignoring his moving lips so I would not get an aching head from trying to hear the words he kept speaking. He could not play? So.. No dog was born knowing how to play, everyone had to learn at some stage and if his life had never allowed him that small luxury of happiness then I would teach him with determination until he got it. I couldn't let him continue to exist without that little bit of knowledge that every dog should learn when they're only a few weeks old, no matter what you're life will be like you should know how to play.

I continued to watch him as he just convinced himself further that he couldn't play and continued to say no to me by shaking his head. When he touched his nose to me I moved slightly to lick his muzzle affectionately before he could pull it away from me. Though I wasn't just going to accept what he was trying to tell me, no, he had to play. I knew that somewhere inside of him I'd find his puppy nature locked away in some cage or cupboard of his soul, hidden away safely from the cruelty that the world must've thrown at him in his past. I wasn't going to give up on him and let him have what he wanted, he dragged me into the city so he could at least play with me.

I moved towards him, bumping him playfully though not letting it completely look like another attempt at playing before I continued on, hoping that he would follow as I continued on further into the park with my tail wagging. I with I could've heard whether he was following or not but I couldn't so instead I had to turn my head to throw a glance over my shoulder, willing him to be there behind me. It was so much harder not being able to hear, since I could not know whether to pick up my pace to a run to keep my distance from him playfully or whether to slow because he wasn't coming. But I wouldn't give up, he had to start chasing me at some stage unless he was just going to let me get away. That would tear my apart though, to think that he didn't care enough to at least follow, that he could be so coldhearted as to just let me leave his side after making it quite clear I wanted to be with him.</sub>

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 431
Muse;; ugh
Tagged;; Rivalry}

[` EMBERS]

She tore away from me, vaulting herself across the grass through the park, vibrant eyes looking back at me. Groaning inwardly, I knew her strategy immediately, and it was a damn good one, too. Keen and cunning, my companion was certainly capable of getting exactly what she wanted. A sort of manipulator. However, a kind, generous manipulator if there were such a thing. She was extravagant in her movement, and, somehow, I longed to copy her arching back and outstretched limbs, but was not willing to put forth nearly the amount of effort I needed to achieve.

The gentle lick she’d left upon my muzzle loitered carelessly on my muzzle, and I pursed my lips, knowing she’d have me in quick pursuit of her in the near future. Shaking my head quietly to myself, I mused, staring after her, languid legs shuffling on dewy grass. With slight hesitation, I followed her willingly, instinctively drawn towards her; to protect her from harm? to keep her in sight? or perhaps that odd feeling spraying wild fountains of emotion about myself? Unable to find a sound conclusion to my questions, I sought her out, only sauntering slowly. If I could avoid feeding her desire, perhaps she’d soon grow tired, but her determined nature said otherwise.

Afraid of the outcome of this situation, I progressed toward her, meeting her gazing eyes with a blank stare. Consuming my feelings briskly, I wondered what she’d have me do next. Nip at her ears, pounce on her, push against her shoulder? All seemed all too risky for me to complete, and I winced hesitantly, swearing I’d stop myself before anything happened. Perhaps I’d merely catch her, pin her down, and tell her to call it quits…we needed to get out of the city anyway, before it was light again. We wouldn’t make it anywhere in the day, with her cringing at every passing car.

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. THREE-HUNDRED&SEVENTEEN
muse. THREE-OUT-OF-TEN

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>He followed but too slowly to turn this into a game of chase and catch.. damn him. He must've figured out it was only a strategy on my part to continue trying to draw out his playful and puppyish nature I knew was buried beneath that cold fear, of what? I still could not understand why he was holding back so incredibly much, like he just couldn't do anything.. It was really starting to get to me in a way I didn't like, I wanted him to just enjoy living like I did instead of seeming to dread each moment. Finally I stopped my progress away from him and instead turned towards him, bounding up to him with a playful bark before pushing against him again with a playful growl I didn't even realize I'd made before biting at his muzzle gently then licking it.

Moving away from him again I just moved around him, playfully circling him and letting my body brush against his and bump him a little now and then to try and get him to move, to do something, anything. When I got next to his side again I lifted the front of my body onto his shoulders, letting my weight rest fully against him as my tail wagged and I continued to attempt climbing completely on top of him whilst biting at his ears gently and playfully to continue trying to get him to react more than just follow me slowly. If I had trusted myself enough to attempt speaking I would be lavishing him with words to detail my frustration with him so he'd get that I wanted to play and didn't care about anything else at the current moment.

Any movement from him would most likely make me topple to the ground but I didn't care, I'd just get right back up again to continue trying to get him to play. My paws almost sliding over his shoulders to make me almost embrace him between them but I continued to pull them back up onto his back while I leaned on him, struggling slightly with the whole concept of getting the rest of myself onto his back as well for surely that would make him fall over? And then, then he'd have to do something. Continuing to growl playfully and quietly without realizing as I continued to nip and bite at him gently, pulling on anything I managed to get between my teeth.</sub>

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 420
Muse;; ugh
Tagged;; Rivalry}

[` EMBERS]

Frustration nearly compelled me to keel forward, my companion’s constant compulsion to frisk about inanely bearing down on me hard. My breath slogged about angrily, roughly scoring my raw throat. Wishing bitterly she’d simply cease to curl her lips and prance merrily about me with such an absentminded look showered upon her face. I had no intention of amusing myself with her games, and in my own fear of hurting her, in my own desire to protect her, I plagued her with my anger. Trapped in a constricting little cube of emotion, I realized that if I submitted to her childish play, I risked harming her, but in simply ignoring her, the clot of vehemence welling inside myself would detonate upon her and swathe her in my resentment.

Thinking fervently as she returned to me from her brisk romp, I began speaking in jumbled phrasing, desperately attempting to tell her that this wouldn’t turn out well, that something terrible would come of it. Perhaps I was simply too distressed and the exaggeration was eminent, but my caution would put me at ease. A nip clasped my muzzle briefly, and my words were flattened into tiny mutters of incoherent speech. Damn her. Damn her to hell. Burning, the boiling water began cascading over the side of the pot. Squeezed to hard, the weight of the knowledge I was bound to harm her, and her unknowing attitude that seemed to ensure it all locked the latch of the front door, and suddenly the ventilation covered all the grates.

She bounded into hindsight, leaving me only with shallow breath and an essence of a coming storm. I squirmed, a dark cloud waiting to be juiced by the clenched fist of the sky. Quavering slightly, I could feel her against my flank, tipped claws raking gently against my side. Mouth opened and closed silently, words jumping from my lips furtively. The weight on my ribs suddenly augmented forcefully. Gasping in angered surprise, clambering paws tread impressions into my pelt. Legs wobbling threateningly, each passing thought and expressed emotion added to the load. In attempt to suppress myself from lashing out violently, I squinted my eyes shut until my eyelids almost bled. I didn’t want to hurt her, I’d already done enough damage. I should have left her, I should have left her…

Her weight bore down on my spine, her pads shuffling about as her precarious balance stood nimbly upon me. In a single moment, a snapping of my inner pipe works let loose a torrent that gushed from me like rain. Possessed my a dreamer in a passionately wrathful hell, I bucked with the force of an agitated horse, back curling up as I reared, front paws lifting from the ground. With an unstable twist, I splintered the dank air as I rolled mid-flight from beneath her, arcing before touching down solidly with my front paws, claws spitefully piercing earth. Spinning, the heated rage only burned in the mouth of the oven, a blank face serving as the cover. My glazed eyes picked up pieces of images. Her eyes, her mouth, her flank, the powdery, churned dirt beneath me breezed across near blinded optics.

Ears plucked out unnecessary noise, leaving me only with the faint sound of her body impacting the damp grass. In a minute, I was nearly on top of her, muscles taut, paws planted upon her chest so my pads consumed the pulsating heart beneath the weathered skin and pelt. Void visage gazed thoughtlessly upon her, eyes like a broken projector. The sweet compulsion to bite at the tender part of her throat flitted by momentarily, until I caught her eyes again. Remembering. That’s the hardest part of grasping my dilemmas. The worst part of it all is when you remember, because forgetting is so much easier. My companion. No, I didn’t want to hurt her. I sprung away it a flurry of feverish motion, an entirely distraught look upon my features. I looked to her with stricken eyes, and I let my lids envelope them, ashamed, welling stupidly.

”I can’t hurt you, I’m not allowed to hurt you.” I tossed my head in her direction, closed eyes pressing into the back of my head. ”I can’t hurt you,” I repeated. ”I’m not allowed to hurt you. I love you.” The words came before I knew what they meant.

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. SEVEN-HUNDRED&TWENTY-NINE
muse. NINE-OUT-OF-TEN

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>His body moved underneath me, wiping away the smallest amount of balance I had keeping me partially on top of him, falling onto the ground with a quiet thump, luckily not onto my bruised side but onto my back instead, feeling my exposed spine hitting the earth with not much padding to make the impact any less than it was. For a few moments my mind went blank as panic swept through me when I couldn't turn myself to get back to my feel, finally realizing it was because his paws were keeping me down against the earth. My breathing quickening as my paws frantically tried to push against him to get him off of me, the look in his eyes scaring me as I tried to scramble out from underneath him to get away from him before something happened. When I had wanted him to play I hadn't quite meant pinning me to the ground and looking at me with a murderous gleam in his eye. No, that was far from playing, that was dangerous to say the least. And terrifying.

When the pressure was removed and I was free to move I quickly got my paws under me again though I couldn't get myself up in order to go anywhere, too shaken up and trembling so much that I would probably fall over if I attempted to do anything anyway. Panting fearfully as I watched him cautiously, seeing him speak those useless words and wondering what he said. Though one word... just that one, the way his lips moved when he said it.. I recognized it, it was something important, something that definitely meant something but what was it. My breathing slowed back to normal but I still didn't get up, just cringing where I was and trying to think, trying to figure out whether to keep my distance or forgive him for what he'd just done. It couldn't have been his fault could it? I'd started it, I'd been the one to push the idea of playing on him until he'd snapped.. Maybe not in the way I'd expected him to.

Slowly pulling myself onto my paws and padding weakly over to him, my body still trembling as I hesitated slightly, not sure if he'd react badly to my touch again, that look in his eyes resting securely in my head. Was that what he'd been scared would happen? Closing the distance between us with slow timid steps until I was at his side though my mind urged me to move away again before I get hurt, before he snapped again and did more than he already had. But my heart reached out towards him, seeking the comfort that his company brought me. But how could you get comfort from the thing that caused you to need it to begin with? Pressing my head against his neck gently, my heart racing and my weight resting back onto my back paws, muscles taught and ready to propel me away from him if there was even the smallest of signs of aggression from him. Though his scent entering my nostrils did offer the slightest bit of comfort to me as I made my best attempt to show him I was alright, that he hadn't scared me so much that I wouldn't want to get anywhere near him again. I still believed that he was good, that he wasn't as bad as he thought he was. I still wanted to be with him. I still wanted his company. I love him. Despite his now obvious faults, I love him.</sub>

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 614
Muse;; ugh
Tagged;; Rivalry}

[` EMBERS]

And there it was, a single word of the breath of the wind, wizened mouth speaking thousands of stories at once. It was simply remarkable the different meanings taken from the sound of that one simple breath, one that shared an inevitable meaning, but branched off in so many directions, it sprouted into a blossoming, hoary cherry tree. I opened my eyes slowly, distraughtly flinging my anxious gaze into her arms. Neck lowered so I could stare candidly into the grass, my pupils fluttered from her to the ground. ”I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I plead mindfully, beating heart imploding upon itself. I should’ve put her welfare as my top priority and gone away, slinking wordlessly into an indefinite chasm where I could tuck my life away.

Tentatively, she padded to my side, her eyes expressing horror and confusion, but still seeking me. I should’ve told her to leave in fear that another such incident may occur, but this time truly injure her. I had done far worse in my time, and simply throwing her violently to the ground, her bruised side blighting her still, was quite mild. But she was different, and I couldn’t inflict a single scratch upon her without rending myself into a horrified state of mind. Pleading with my eyes, I wanted her to forgive me, not knowing if she could. Her body stood rigidly, the comfort she needed plain on her face. I would give it to her; and I needed it as well.

She came into me, head resting gently near my neck, and I accepted her touch without rejection, without revulsion. Letting my own head turn to her, I brushed against her with needed affection. I was not as much ashamed of what I had done, the fright I had bestowed upon her that she would remember when she saw me, but what I could have done. Breathing deeply, I licked her cheek briskly, my nose near to her face. Our body heat passed from one to the other, a warm impression left where she stood close by. Thinking quietly, and at the same time keeping as close to her as I could, as I ever had in my life, I knew I had spoken the truth before. I loved her, and I knew that was that emotion I couldn’t grasp. But now I could, and I wanted to be there for her, but I could not if I wanted to keep her safe. I mouthed it repeatedly. I love you, I love you.

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. FOUR-HUNDRED&TWENTY
muse. SEVEN-OUT-OF-TEN

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>My eyes were shut as I tried to fight off the small amount of fear still running through me, to just calm myself down and try to reassure myself that he wouldn't harm me, he couldn't... could he? Feeling movement in his neck I opened my eyes to see him turn his head to lick my cheek. It was the first affection he had freely showed me, making my heart skip a happy beat as it jumped with the joy that he couldn't hate me, because those thoughts had crossed my mind as I'd laid pressed against the cold earth, that he might hate me enough to want to hurt me. But that hadn't made sense, because he'd stayed when he so easily could've left me. No.. He couldn't hate me. I could feel my body relax, my breathing returning to normal as a smile came to my face, my eyes expressing my love for him as I moved myself closer so that I could lean against him the slightest bit.

I could see the words that he kept repeating, sense their importance but still I could not grasp their meaning as I tried to think, tried to match the movements of his mouth to the sounds that eluded me. Oh why couldn't I hear for just this second so I'd know what he was telling me, so I could understand him. But I knew what he was saying, I knew in my heart that I understood those words as clear as day.. Maybe it was just a little hard for me to believe at the moment.. A little hard to think that the dog who kept pushing me away and rejecting my touch and who'd just thrown me harshly to the ground and looked as if he were about to tear me to pieces could love me. Did love me.

I wanted to tell him that I love him too, that my heart melts at his touch and my body goes weak just thinking of him. I want to tell him that when I was with him I didn't feel lost and lonely, that he'd found me and that I was his forever.. I didn't want to leave his side or for him to leave me. But I couldn't tell him.. I couldn't say it.. could I? I rubbed my face against his neck, my nose ending close to his ear as I tried to think, tried to find a way to say I love you.. I love you.. "I love you."</sub>

[/b] The words left me in an almost silent whisper on my breath as I sighed and continued to lean against him, unaware that I had actually spoken the words instead of them having just been in my mind like the ones before them. The hope that this moment filled my heart with was almost unbearable.. Now I wouldn't be lonely anymore, somebody actually wanted to be with me even though I was deaf and more of a hassle than anything. I had a feeling that he wasn't used to this, used to loving someone. But he could learn, he could learn to show affection instead of aggression, to love instead of to hurt. We'd get there even if progress was slow, to a place where we could just be happy and stay together without having to worry about anything else and where we could just forget about all of the accidents so far and just the bad luck that we'd had. I didn't even care where he wanted to go anymore, as long as I could be with him I was happy.
[/sub][/blockquote]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

[/size][/blockquote]

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 630
Muse;; ugh
Tagged;; Rivalry}

[` EMBERS]

I realized that attempting to imagine how she felt was simply impossible, as I had no comprehension as to what what proportion the average emotion amounted to. Was she bearing a sense or dismay that drove her paws into the ground, or was the sheer terror I experienced for her acute in her sense of mind? The average was abnormal, and I simply could not convert myself, could not place myself in her paws, trapped in her mind, in her heart. Perhaps in reality the situations in which I sufficed were not as horrific, not a traumatizing as I remembered them. Perhaps memories were relative to emotion. Perhaps that ratio, too, was entirely too far off base. Right then, did I seem like I was over reacting? Had I not been the firebrand here, and still I found myself far more upset than my companion herself. And then everything I knew about my life, the death of my mother, the pain I had inflicted upon others; perhaps the severity was completely embellished.

I diverted my attention from the black walls of my lids to the pale, rasping fur of my companion. Her shallow breath pumped at ease. Standing stagnant, I listened to the quiet, perpetual breathing of the both of us, a cliché moment in which we beat as one entity. ”I love you,” The words burned like a searing poker against my flank, and I drew back quickly, severing the small strands the had twined us together. Directly in front of her, inches dangled flaccidly before our faces. Afraid she’d take my regressive motions as an arrogant fluke, I reached forward promptly, our noses against one another’s for mere heartbeats before pulling back, placidly, now, only slightly.

Touching my muzzle to her mouth, withdrawing to repeat her words, mouth moving with deliberation. I nodded to her, face laced with uniform vacuity, but eyes beaming proudly. ”Your name,” I wanted to know. I loved her, but I didn’t know her. I wanted, ”Your name. What’s your name?”

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. THREE-HUNDRED&THIRTY-SEVEN
muse. SIX-OUT-OF-TEN

[MENTAL]

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
Good lucks gonna shine

<sub>His abrupt movement away from me created a vicissitude in the air that surrounded us, my still working senses suddenly picking up things from our surroundings instead of being entirely focused upon his being. Though his nose touched mine, filling me with the reassurance that this had not been intended as a bad movement but then he withdrew it again and started speaking those tormenting sounds, my ears twitching in frustration as I determinedly attempted to figure out what it was that he was trying to tell, no, he was asking something. Did he think I could answer? Did he not realize I couldn't hear him or speak? Why did he ruin our touching moment just to stand in front of me and torture me with my incapability of answering or understanding him. He was being cruel, more so than he could ever be by shoving me against the earth harshly. He could murder me and I would be in more comfortable pain that the unbearable pain he was causing me by enforcing the knowledge that I couldn't hear him or speak to him. Why did he want to hurt me when we had just established our love for each other? I just didn't understand..

Eyes stared at him in confusion, my mind not comprehending what he meant though slowly his actions were getting through to me. Had I spoken? Without realizing.. Was that what had caused the sudden reaction of him moving to stand in front of me, asking a question? It must be, the proud look in his eyes said it was.. Slowly a small smile crept onto my delicate features, slowly lifting away the confusion and replacing it with a stubborn intent to understand and answer his question. Watching his lips moving closely to try and match it to a word within my mind, frown creasing my forehead as I thought hard, I had to get this.. Name! That was it, wasn't it? Moving my lips slowly like I was mumbling the word though without actually making even the smallest of sounds just to make sure it was the right one and finding that it was I lifted my eyes back to his, sparkling with happiness, the light of the moon making them twinkle almost magically in the darkness as I stared at him.

In my excitement I completely forgot to answer him, silently celebrating the achievement of figuring out what he'd said and gaining the knowledge that though I couldn't hear I could still speak. My tail wagging slightly as I smiled but then remembered his question. Though before I could answer him the thought crossed my mind that I could give him my name but I wouldn't be able to get his, even if he said it. Though maybe, maybe if he spoke it slowly I could match sounds to the movements of his lips inside my mind like I'd just done with his question. It could work couldn't it? Hopefully. "Flicker." The word left my lips softly, voice like a small stream slowly flowing over rocks with smooth weak currents tugging at things insecurely. I didn't completely trust myself to speak yet, wasn't sure how it worked exactly that I could still do it if I thought about what I wanted to say carefully so I didn't mutilate the words completely by not being able to hear them myself. My eyes watched him with curiosity, wondering whether I actually had spoken my name or just thought it and wondering how he would respond now. This new development in our communicational skills exciting me to the point of almost becoming so overjoyed that I would bounce upon my paws lightly and let my bubbly nature take over though I couldn't allow myself that luxury, no, I forced my paws to stay firmly planted upon the earth and my body to stay still though my heart bet with quick beats as my tail wagged a bit more, I couldn't contain the happiness entirely.</sub>

Someday, baby
You and I are gonna be the ones
So hold on, we're headed for a better life

------------------------------------------------------------

_{Words;; 643
Muse;; better
Tagged;; Rivalry}

[` EMBERS]

Her voice rang like the distant crooning of a dove in flight. My ashen face lit up as her lips moved, her face in bitter contemplation, set with the glazed apparel of a porcelain doll. Flicker, Somehow it suited her, perhaps in the way that she flitted about, her many faces sputtering like a dying candle, her mouth unsure which way to turn, conflicted eyes bubbling in overturned chaos. Smile eased its way onto my features, black lips curling tenderly. I expressed myself through a pair of trapdoors into my eyes letting her easily peer into the back my head.

Flicker, I mouthed her name quietly, let it roll of my tongue in a long trill like a lullaby. I lowered my head silently, touching my muzzle against hers, eyes downcast. I could think about her like she was real now. She was no longer just that mysterious female who trod in my footprints and counted my steps. She was Flicker, she was the dog whose steps spread out beside me as we wove a tapestry together, mingling lives sewn into a braid.

Each blink was slow and magical, and when she purged the dark curtain each time I lifted my eyes to hers, my chalk white fur could glow only whiter. I tapped on the glassy snow globe, watching our story float up into the fog of the hundreds of cliché tales of love that swarmed together, the spawn of every lustful look and hearty laugh. How silly of me to have fallen into this stringy cobwebs, to be entangled in such a complicated series of emotion, this odd subcategory of life. It seemed rather out of place in the dark fairy tale that was my life, and yet it was right.

Looking to her suddenly, I barely whispered as I spoke, but I let my lips emphasize each sound so she could savor the movements, connect the visuals and the unspoken words. Rivalry. Ri-val-ry. My name is Rivalry, I nodded in encouragement, reaching out to her. I wanted her to know me now. And if not today, then tomorrow, maybe she could piece me together, maybe we could begin speaking to each other as if she were not impaired, because she could learn. She toddled on these first few steps of precious communication, but soon she could run, and sprint, and we could be the average lovers like in any cliché romance. Flicker, I thought of her name with a subtle sense of happiness clinging to the edges of each letter. Flicker.

puppet. RIVALRY
word count. FOUR-HUNDRED&TWENTY-FOUR
muse. SEVEN-OUT-OF-TEN