HES DIZZY AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME FROM RELIEF. Well, Michael Thinks Its Relief. It Could Just Be Exhaustion,

HE’S DIZZY AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME FROM RELIEF. Well, Michael thinks it’s relief. It could just be exhaustion, those long angry nights catching up with his emotions, or maybe surprise at having anyone (let alone his father!) on his side. But no matter, because tears nip at his eyes and Michael turns away to the cabinet indicated to hide them, scuffing roughly at his eyes with his bloodied cuffs. Any comfort, no matter how basic, is unfamiliar […] But in a situation like this, he could practically fall at his father’s feet in praise. A man of devout faith to a god.

“No, it was— it was slow,” he says, just as drawn out, like he’s not really there at all, “he— I didn’t even know him much, and I just heard him saying shi— STUFF ABOUT OUR FAMILY. Stuff about you and me. I just wanted to make him stop.”

The cabinet is opened, but his arms are occupied with dirty, bloodied rug. In this state — a little numb, a little dazed, Michael blindly copies his father, rolling up his already sullied sleeves and dropping the rug at the side of the room. Tunes out the repugnant tang of blood and the sight of the body. It’s the little things, the unthinking obedience, that helps him cope with the next words.

“I just… lost it, I guess. And I didn’t even realise ‘til halfway through, didn’t realise how bad I’d hurt him.”

Rug, discarded. Sleeves, pushed back. Michael falters briefly, and keeps his eyes firmly averted from the corpse as he opens the cabinet. He’d punched until the red mist cleared and the throbbing in his hands made him cry out, and then he’d panicked and floundered at the mess he’d made.

All of you Aftons, the boy had spat, you’re all monsters, and everybody knows it.

The queasiness returns at the memory, and Michael lurches over to his father with cleaning products like he’s forgotten how to walk. William is so nonchalant and vaguely pleased about the whole situation that he’s beginning to feel some of that sought-after delight of killing (alongside the disgust and dread).

Well. Of his father’s praise and attention. But he won’t realize the difference between the two for another couple of months.

William’s last words steady him. Breathe. His chest heaves up automatically, and it’s ridiculous how much easier it feels now that he’s been told to do it — breaths jerky, but less panicked, Michael shoots his father a look. It oozes more gratitude and more positive emotion than he’s aimed at the man in several years.

“Thank you. Thank you. I’m okay. I promise I’m okay. I just— didn’t know what to do, and I was so angry. It— It felt good.” A lie, but he’s seeking approval. It feels like the right thing to say. “To just… let it all out.” (Now that’s not a lie.)

CONTINUED. / @behindslaughter

🐝  *  ―  𝑵𝑶𝑵-𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑩𝑨𝑳 𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑺𝑻 𝑷𝑹𝑶𝑴𝑷𝑻𝑺. (  some triggering content ahead. add " + " to reverse the action.  )

[ wipe ] sender wipes away receiver's tears [ hurt ] sender hurts receiver with words [ lonely ] sender finds receiver alone in a dark room [ wounded ] sender patches up receiver's wounds [ crying ] sender finds receiver crying [ help ] sender runs to receiver when they scream for help [ nightmare ] sender wakes receiver up from a nightmare [ dying breath ] sender talks to receiver before dying [ hold on ] sender pulls receiver into their arms [ anger ] sender takes their anger out on receiver [ argue ] sender gets into a heated argument with receiver [ scared ] sender scares receiver [ sick ] sender cares for receiver while they are sick [ palm ] sender places a hand on receiver to stop them from doing something [ fight ] sender gets into a physical fight with receiver [ comfort ] sender tries to comfort receiver [ blood ] sender notices that receiver is bleeding [ collapse ] sender collapses into receiver's arms [ pressure ] sender puts pressure on receiver's wound [ slap ] sender slaps receiver in the face [ panic ] sender helps receiver through a panic attack [ lie ] sender catches receiver in a lie [ sobs ] sender sobs uncontrollably while receiver holds them [ hiding ] sender finds out that receiver has hidden an injury from them [ death ] sender just died, receiver finds out [ chin up ] sender lifts receiver's chin to stop them from hiding their tears [ fears ] sender talks to receiver about their fears [ scream ] sender screams at receiver [ coping ] sender teaches receiver some coping mechanisms [ loss ] sender is there for receiver after they've lost someone important to them [ needs ] sender asks receiver what they need [ bullet ] sender takes a bullet for receiver [ bruises ] sender finds bruises of unknown origin on receiver [ rainfall ] sender finds receiver out alone in the rain [ hospital ] sender wakes up in a hospital bed and finds receiver sitting by their bedside [ intrude ] sender walks in on receiver treating their wounds [ calming ] sender tries to calm down receiver [ inspection ] sender holds receiver's face while inspecting an injury they got [ rescue ] sender carries receiver to safety [ clean ] sender cleans blood off of receiver's body

IT’S BEEN LITERAL YEARS SINCE HER DEATH, AND MICHAEL STILL WINCES AT HED DEADPAN WORDS. Sure, he hadn’t actually done anything to kill her (— other than be another Afton kid, who would eventually go on to join his dad’s work, though that’s a whole other story —) but the kicked-puppy look of guilt won’t leave his face as he replies awkwardly:

“You could try being anything else, y’know. Get creative! Be dead AND dress up. Halloween only comes once a year, Cass. Uh… There’s bound to be some white tablecloth or something lying around back here.” Leaning back on his chair, taking a moment to slurp emphatically on his soda, Michael glances vaguely from side to side in the office. Nothing jumps out immediately, but he’ll improvise. “You could at least go as a stereotypical ghost. Something fun.”

"this year for halloween, i'm going to be dead."

"just like every other year."

(( you have a vanessa blog :O i was thinking of making one (for movie verse vanessa) ))

[ DO ITTTTT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT OMG THATS SO EXCITING my vanessa blog is ALSO an even bigger wip than this but it should be in a better shape tonight :] I WOULD LOVE TO RP W UR VANESSA AT SOME POINT WHEN UR FEELING UP FOR IT !!! ]

@BITTERBORNE; a roleplay blog for michael afton.

a study into broken families; the journey to becoming a man after so long being a soldier; lost faith in gods & fathers; the slow tragedy of a boy who will always sacrifice himself. loved always by rune, 22, he/they. follows from @slaughterlocked. heavy themes ahead. please check my rules before following!

CARRD / MEMES / STARTER CALL / AFFILIATE CALL

LIKE FOR A STARTER & / OR MEMES SENT TO YOU !!!!! mike brain night apparently