paracosm (noun) - a detailed, imaginary world

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥  looking up by john de sohn

ASIA CAN'T REMEMBER THE
LAST TIME SHE WENT OUT

Asia's eyes trailed towards the front desk, where Echo gleefully waited for the register to process her card. She wasn't really sure how the whole card thing worked with being immortal, but apparently it was fine enough.

At first she'd been concerned that their finances would disrupt the financial stability of the global economy, but Cue assured her that all their wealth had been accumulated originally from Earth itself, none of it was magically manifested or attained. Asia guessed that thousands of hundreds of lives would allow for quite the accumulation of wealth, not to mention the collections of things Cue no doubt had in his own house. Course, Asia had never been to his house.

As a matter of fact, none of them had.

Another question she'd ask Echo then. Blue eyes stayed trained on her friend's face for a moment, before drifting to her back. It was odd now, seeing her without the steadying weight of her wings right behind her. At the very least they were healed now, which was a comfort to her. She's found something inherently unsettling about Echo's screams in her head. She still didn't know if she'd made it up herself, or it was something from the outside.

Regardless, she would like to see them again now that they were healed up.

"I've never had a girls night with anyone but Echo before." Bryce's voice was chipper, and Asia found her eyes pulled away from her friend momentarily, meeting the glittering one's of Echo's friend. "At the very least, I'm gettin' new friends outta today, even if it was rudely interrupted."

Her head dipped in response, letting the warmth twitch up her mouth, "It'll be fun."

Cordelia, who was standing nearby, who'd been previously admiring the ring that now glittered on her finger spoke in turn. "It's nice of Echo to buy us clothes for tonight." Sharp eyes caught Asia's, "Although, I suppose none of us are single."

"I am!" Bryce hummed, rocking on the back of her heels, "I wanna find a boyfriend as nice as your guys' , or a girlfriend, or just a datefriend. I dunno, anyone who makes me happy really."

"You will Bryce." Echo breezed over to them, warmth radiating from wherever she walked like liquid sunshine. "It might not be tonight, but you will eventually." She just reached over to her, interlocking their arms almost instinctively, "Besides! Today is just about having fun with each other." Laughter bubbled over, sending glittering joy by the handfuls. "We don't have to be single to have a great time."

That much was true, and Asia felt her own soul humm as the thought of Cassian briefly drifted through her thoughts. Again, Cordelia's eyes found hers, dark and prodding, and it sent heat flaring up her cheeks at the realization she'd been caught. Ducking her head away from them, she shook her head slightly, "Well come on then, we should find a good bar."

"Right." Bryce nodded in affirmation, falling into step beside echo as they hit the cooling air on the outside. It was late July now, so warmth hid in undertones against the backdrop of settling summertime. Soft, night-kissed breezes swept against their legs as they walked, and absently, Asia realized Cordelia had fallen into step beside her.

Jumping at any chance to potentially tease her new friend, she lowered her voice. "So, Cue, darling."

"I don't think you have much room to talk, Asia." Cordelia's voice was firm, but Asia could hear the underlying embarrassment in it, "I do remember Cassian whispering to you earlier today, and unless you want to delve in particular detail about that-"

"That's enough." Asia shot back, pseudo irritation barking up her stomach, even if heat pooled in her cheeks as her thoughts were again called back to Cassian. It was a little surreal if she was being honest, actually dating him now. She doesn't have a regret about telling him, of course not, but she truly can't help the outline of anxiety that seems to erase the silver lining from any cloud that comes across her way. They were immortal, so what would that mean for their relationship?

"I'm glad you finally did something about it." Cordelia's voice is impossibly soft, but it didn't go unnoticed, and the mention again brought Asia from deep in her thoughts, turning to watch her friend's slow, even steps against the stones of the sidewalk.

"How long did you know?"

"Only about a week before the beach." She looked up again, eyes locking onto Asia's once more, clear light now filtering within them, some smokey kind of haze drifting through them, as if magic had been injected into the iris. "I noticed you were soulmates - I had a dream."

"A dream?" Asia can't help the disbelief in her voice, especially after her own particular experience with dreams. Ever since that night it terrified her to sleep alone, to once again be lost to nothing but the crushing weight of her fears. It helped to have Cassian's arms around her.

"Yeah." She slowly nodded. "I was walking in this..kind of this long colosseum, and there were thousands of doors all around me- millions probably. They stretched into oblivion." Again, her eyes lit up with that kind of magic haze, glittering in constellation-connected arcana. "There were names on them- and the one's beside me, they were the people I knew." There was a bout of hesitance in her voice, "Well, I didn't see Cue's - but, I saw Cassian's." She closed her eyes for a brief second, breathing the cooling air around them slowly, "I can't really explain how it looked, but it felt like him, for lack of a better term." Cordelia shook her head briefly, "Like the energy..I can't explain it, but it was him, and I knew it was." She opened her eyes again, following the chattering pair in front of them. "There was a colored line from his door, like on the ground, going to yours. And when I looked closely at the line, it looked like memories, like there was something inherent connecting you two."

"Did you go in?" Asia's curiosity had been sparked, and briefly, she wondered if Cassian hadn't woken her up, if Cordelia could have.

"No." Her companion shook her head again. "It felt like an invasion of privacy..and, when you were out, Cue asked me to open your door, but I couldn't. It felt all locked up, but Cassian's door was open." her face scrunched up, "It was so strange, I felt sick as I approached your door, and I really, really tried Asia-"

"It's okay." She knew what Cordelia was trying to portray. It was a feeling she knew all too well.

Guilt.

"It wasn't your fault." Her own response was equally as soft, and both of them fell into silence, enjoying the soft chatter of their two forward companions. Bryce and Echo seemed to get along so well. Mindlessly, she wondered how they'd met in the first place.

Does it hurt when you have to leave?

The realization hit Asia suddenly, blinking hard at the pair in front of her. Sometimes it was hard to grasp. Echo was thousands of years old, she'd seen things that Asia could only dream of seeing. She'd made hundreds of friends, and lost them all, one by one.

How could you still love so much?

Asia had only lived one life, and it felt difficult enough to love a few people. She couldn't imagine watching her friends die over and over again. Sick sadness settled in the pit of her stomach as Echo's laughter rang loud and clear. That's right, Echo was immortal, so she left her friends before they left her.

It had hurt Asia to go to her own funeral.

Echo had gone to hundreds of her own.

Is there a limit to your love?

Her thoughts were momentarily interrupted as Bryce and Echo turned, approaching an open door to a warm-hearted bar. The outside patio was full of people already, talking actively to each other, enjoying their friend's company as if it was the last one they were going to have. The inside was lit up with glowing lights, smooth rays of purples and blues rushing over the floor as music bounced over the walls.

Echo and Bryce led the way through the crowd towards the bar, settling on the few stools that were remaining open. Music flooded Asia's ears, but she stole a glance towards Cordelia, who looked around with some undecipherable look before returning Asia's stare, and nodding a short reassurance that she was fine.

Taking a seat next to Echo at the bar, Cordelia sitting on the other side of her, while Bryce sat beside Asia, she just smiled a little, letting nostalgia sink deep into her blood. It had been a while since she'd gone out, really. More than a few months, and that sweet sense of normalcy settled in her veins. Maybe this was why Echo made friends still, consistently almost, because she craved the normalcy of it all deep down.

Asia really couldn't fault her for that.

She watched as Cordelia blinked, looking sheepish for a second as she leaned over to talk to Echo. Echo, characteristically leaned closer to listen, before that warm smile again lit up her face, and she turned to Asia instead. "I'm gonna show Delia where the restroom is, I'll be right back." Her kid sister squeezed her arm before pushing off the bar stool, taking Cordelia's arm in her own like it had always belonged there, and dragging her off amidst the bouncing crowd.

It was more than a little surprising sometimes, to watch Cordelia and Echo's relationship bloom. It had really only been a month or two ago that Delia had wanted nothing to do with them at all, and now she seemed like she'd rather be with them than with anyone else. Of course, no one could hold any real ill will towards Echo for very long. It just wasn't in her nature to let anger settle between her and other's for long.

"How long have ya and Cassian been datin' then?" Bryce's lilting voice pulled Asia from her thoughts, and she spun in her chair to face the freckle-faced female before her. Her thoughts hesitated mindlessly, spinning in circles. It would be easier to bluff, wouldn't it? After all, questions like that typically led to other relationship type questions, and Asia couldn't very well explain that immortality and kidnapping of all things had brought them together. The thought of it was tasteless, and would naturally lead to way more questions and concerns that Asia could deal with, especially considering Bryce wouldn't understand half of it.

"It's kinda new still. We just made it official." She nodded slightly, waiting for the expectant barrage of curiosity to come.

"That's sweet. He seems nice." Bryce looked towards the crowd for a second, before returning to Asia's azure eyes, "What's he like?"

"Pardon?" The word was out instinctually, temporarily shocked that that was the question that Bryce had gone for rather than the usual relationship questions.

Bryce looked sheepish for a moment, shrugging. "Echo always asks that. I asked her why once, and she told me that most of the time people would rather jus' talk about why they love their partner, rather than having ta spout the same story over and over again. I mean, yeah, If ya wanna tell me all about how ya met, cause some couples do, ya can, but also s'not really my place ta judge however ya met"

"Oh." Of course Echo would say that. It was a very Echo thing to say, and really an excellent set up for getting out of lying about relationships that deal in immortality. "Well, he's really sweet." She blinked, feeling the heat again rise in her cheeks, "He's a brat too, but I love him."

Asia really isn't sure how long she talks about Cassian, but she knows it's long enough that Cordelia and Echo have both returned, drinking their own share of alcohol as she nursed her own. Long enough to realize her cheeks are flushed with both embarrassment and intoxication. And long enough to lose track of the time they'd been there. Despite the humiliation that should lace her chest, all she feels is that warm buttery feeling, like it feels good to talk about the person she desperately loves. In complete honesty, Asia doesn't really mind as long as Cassian isn't there to hear it.

It's at least long enough to notice a guy approach Bryce, he looks nice enough, buying her a drink before asking her to dance. Something she gleefully accepted, some kind of sparkling giggle escaping her own mouth as music floods the room again.

Echo's wings.

Bryce is gone now, so it's really the perfect time to ask about them. So Asia turns to her make-shift little sister, smiling. "Are you glad to have your wings back?" Distantly, Asia realizes Cordelia stiffens slightly, but Echo doesn't so much as flinch, just turning to her gently.

"Sure." She smiled, but for the first time, Asia realizes it's empty. Her eyes remain hollow, and suddenly it carves out the warmth that had settled in her stomach a moment ago. It's frightening almost, but Echo must realize that Asia realizes something, and ducks her head away, staring at her drink for a moment.

"You're lying to me." it's a breath of words. Soft enough that it really shouldn't be heard over the blaring music around them. Music that seems to have grown muffled as the deep sinking feeling of betrayal courses through her blood.

Echo still doesn't look at her.

The betrayal is suddenly replaced, consumed by something like a deep, residual anger. "You're lying to me." Asia can feel herself hiss the words, and watches Echo's smile vanish entirely. She can feel Cordelia's gaze sharp on her, tense with the accusation. Neither of them say anything, and it deepens that fury in her throat. "Where are your wings, Echo?" Her voice is sharp, laced with venom and Asia knows it, but she can't stop the tone it takes. She's not asking anymore, she's demanding.

"Asia." It's Cordelia. A warning to not push, to leave it be. The idea sends a broiling froth over the bouncing anger in her chest. Asia opts to ignore it, eyes trained on Echo's, watching her hands slowly hold her glass tighter.

"Echo." It's not a yell, but it might as well be, because it's sudden and sharp enough that Echo nearly flinches, and in an instant Cordelia is up, eyes flaring with ignited anger, mirroring Asia's as she moves swiftly between them. Her hand slams against the counter, and the sound makes Echo tense all over again, but her friend's voice is sharp. Is angry.

"You took them." The words seem to hollow out the muffled room, almost silencing any outside noise as she breathes Echo's defense.

It doesn't matter. It doesn't silence Asia's own fury, and the volcano of emotion inside her begins to rise. She pushes to her feet, ducking past Cordelia, and is suddenly looking down on Echo again. "How could you lie to me?" She doesn't want it to be angry, but that's all that comes out.

How could I have done that to you?

"Why didn't you tell me?" Her nose scrunches in fury, leering over Echo as she watches her face pale slowly, cornered by her older sister and the bar behind her. "How could you keep that from me?"

How could I have hurt you?

Asia is angry, but it's not at Echo, not really. It's at herself. Desperately, she tries to strangle the words that begin to come out of her mouth, knowing in her heart they're horrible to say, but it's fury that's riding her soul now. "How could my own sister keep that from me."

Echo's face blanches, and suddenly Asia feels Cordelia's arms against her shoulders, shoving her back. Then it's her standing in front of Echo, firm, and fury igniting her eyes. "She was protecting you, Asia. She lost her wings instead of losing you." Her sneer is unmistakable. "Don't you dare talk to Echo that way. Don't you ever think that she kept it from you for selfish reasons you fucking bitch."

Asia hears it then, the softest stifled sob, and suddenly realizes it's Echo. Cordelia's own gaze seems to soften, eyes darkening again as she turns and takes Echo's hand, dragging her from the bar where Asia is still standing, stock still.

Oh.

Oh God.

What did I do?

Asia hadn't meant it, she really hadn't. She wasn't mad at Echo. She couldn't ever really be mad at Echo.

I made Echo cry.

Her crying. It was almost worse than the ringing screaming in her ears. Asia barely registers sitting down, staring at the empty glass as her thoughts emptied themselves out her head steadily. Of course she wasn't mad at her, how could she have been? Echo had picked her over her own wings, and it pushed Asia to initial panic, to realize that she had hurt Echo unintentionally. And now. Now she had hurt her all over again, just because her family was trying to protect her from feeling this way, this guilt that had already begun to settle deep in her chest.

It has to be at least half an hour that Asia sits there, before she realizes someone slides into the seat next to her, a hand gripping her arm. Forcing herself to refocus, she pulls her eyes up, meeting Bryce's gaze. She looks concerned, worried and anxious as her hand tightens on Asia's arm.

"I can't find Cordelia and Echo."

꘎♡━━━━━♡꘎

wyn !!

sixteenth chapter done !

sorry not sorry

...i am sorry for the next
chapter thought fr fr

just prepare yourself 
if that's even possible