Writing Masks The Pain (open)

[salem alaric burroughs]

From lashes to ashes
And from lust to dust
In your sweetest torment I'm lost
And no heaven can help us

Salem had decided that he needed to write today, the pain in his heart completely overwhelming his senses. He quickly threw on a pair of tight jeans and a black shirt that read 'Satuttaa On Elää' (To hurt is to live in Finnish) on the front with a broken heart on the back. Tying up his converses he grabbed his black messenger bag and left his house. He was currently staying in a studio apartment until he could afford something a little larger, his mother having recently cut off his credit cards for good.

Salem's pink lips turned down in a sad frown as he made his way down the back staircase to the street below. He paused when he reached the street, biting his lower lip in indecision as to where he should go. After several more minutes of restless foot-shifting he decided on the library. It would by far be the safest place since none of his old friends were all that into reading, he doubted many of them even knew that the inside of a library looked like. He smiled despite himself at the thought of how all his friends would constantly pick on him (lovingly of course) because he would much rather go study than party.

He made his way at a casual pace to the library, a few ideas for new songs twisting about inside his head. He ran his fingers nervously through his messy dark curls as his bright green eyes glanced around. He always got terribly nervous when heading to a public place. He just felt..damaged when he saw people's eyes on him, like they knew his dirty little secret. As if they could plainly tell why he'd been kicked out of his own home and disowned by his mother. His mind absently wandered to Tony, his ex boyfriend and said reason for his getting kicked out. That night had left him terribly wounded both mentally and emotionally but Jareth had swooped in like a mischievous angel to save him.

He shook his head, trying to get the thoughts of his ex out of his brain. He hummed a soft tune as he walked, finally arriving in the parking lot of the library. It was an old, large building that seemed much too big for such a small town. But Salem was glad there was a place where he could find solace from the outside world, even if just for a couple of hours. He entered and was greeted by name by the ladies behind the desk, he stopped to let the older two fawn over him and tell him how much he needed to get a haircut and eat. He even got an offer to come to lunch with them the following week. At least he knew he would get fed then.

Locating a table in the back of the library Salem laid out a notebook and some mechanical pencils before sitting down. He closed his eyes and released a deep sigh, trying to get all of the stress from his body before starting his task. He really had no clue what to write about though he knew he'd soon figure something out. He delicately picked up one of the mechanical pencils, humming the tune from earlier and writing down a few random phrases. Finally something clicked and he scrawled down the words 'from lashes to ashes from lust to dust?'. A grin broke out across his face as he began pouring his heart into the song. He hummed the tune lightly as he worked, intent on finishing it today.

His curly hair completely obscured his face, making him easily mistaken for a girl the way he bent over his work. Salem had always been very delicately built, his cousins joking he should've been born a girl instead and giving him the nickname Lemon because they couldn't figure out a girl's name to pick at him with. His foot tapped quietly on the floor as his soft voice carried around the small area he was at, singing the words to himself. He bit his lip again, his face scrunched up in concentration. He would be famous someday, and his words would lend hope to all the hopeless.

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[sophia riley allen]

Sophia ran down the street,wiping away tears.Her boyfriend had beat her again and it hurt her chest to be running,but she had to get away. Eventually she had to stop running because she could barely breath,and when she looked up she saw she had ran all the way to the library
Once catching her breath,shop walked into the library and went strait to the small bathroom.She stepped to the mirror,and was terrified at what she saw.Her hair was a absolute mess and her mascara was running down her tear stained cheeks.What she was really worried about,though was the already forming bruise around her eye.Sophia took a wet paper towel and wiped her cheeks clean.she didn't have any makeup with her,but she did have sunglasses.She pulled them on and walked out to the library,raking her hair with her fingers.

Sophia stood there,debating if she should go back.No,she would give her boyfriend time to cool.Soph knew she shouldn't be in the relationship,but couldn't bring herself to leave.He was everything to her,even if he did tend to get a bit violent with her.Soph walked to a wall of books closes to her and browsed for a book.Might as well do something while hiding out.She sat in the nearest seat to her,more like fell into it.She let out a aggravated noise and lifted her head up.oops.Someone had already been sitting at the table."sorry,I didn't see..." Sophia felt stupid as she pushed the words out.She took notice in the boy,with long curly hair and mostly black on.She snorted.Her boyfriend didn't like her to be within 5 feet of another guy.
"Im sorry,I....Ive had better days."She stood up to leave.Great,just great,way to make a fool out of yourself,she thought.He looked awfully familiar,and she hoped it wasn't someone she already knew.Her eye was so swollen she could barely tell if it was in fact a boy or not,but she had guessed boy.

TAG: Salem
NOTES:
WEARING: click
TEMPLATE CREDITS: MISS MAGGIE of Caution 2.0
BANNER CREDITS: NAME HERE of SITE HERE[/right][/blockquote]

[salem alaric burroughs]

From lashes to ashes
And from lust to dust
In your sweetest torment I'm lost
And no heaven can help us

Salem had been absently sitting there for what felt like ages, jotting down various words and phrases and humming a tune to himself as he worked. He would have to get the guys together and teach them this new song before the show Saturday. He felt a shivering tingle go up his spine at the thought of his first big show. Sure he'd done small venues here and there, even a couple of birthday parties, but performing on the stage at Sparkles was a whole new level of fame. Salem smiled softly to himself as he imagined the guitar riffs and bass lines that would go with the song. He wanted it to have a very soft but powerful meaning, not quite as...rowdy as some of his other stuff.

He mused silently at how Ross had suggested they change their name before the big show, make a new start. He rather liked the idea of Contents Under Pressure and the guys weren't so keen on Hopeless Romantics. Personally, he had the idea of Victims Of Love but the guys didn't like it. Either way it was part of yet another bunch of preparations he had to do before Saturday's show. He shook the thoughts out of his mind and continued scribbling things down.

He had nearly finished the song when a suddenly flurry of activity distracted him and a girl dropped into a chair at his table. His green eyes widened as he bit back the urge to squeak at her startling him. When the girl made an aggravated noise it just made Salem's eyes widen even more. He didn't say anything though looked utterly confused when she lifted her head and began speaking.

'sorry,I didn't see..
Im sorry,I....Ive had better days' The girl seemed distraught over something.

Salem sat there for a minute or so, trying to slow his pulse before speaking. Finally he cleared his throat and opened his mouth, begging himself silently not to squeak or sound frightened. But that didn't work, as he squeaked.

"O-oh, it's al-alright." He stuttered out, his voice sounding more like a nervous, pitiful squeak than anything.

He looked at the girl and braved a shy smile, curiously eyeing her sunglasses. He crossed his hands on his lap and tugged quickly at his beanie, trying to hide his face as much as possible. His feet tapped under the chair, betraying his nerves. People looked over at the pretty girl sitting at the same table as one of the town's social outcasts and Salem's cheeks lit up red. He shrunk in the chair and waited for the girl to speak again.

[/size][/blockquote]

[sophia riley allen]

i must confess ,

[/i][/b][/size][/font]



i’m in love with my own sins ![/i][/b][/size][/font]

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Sophia was going to go, until the boy told her it was alright. He sounded frightened, which made Soph sigh, she also noticed him fidgeting with his clothes. She didn't blame him, whenever she got nervous she bit her nails or her lip, it was a habit she never really realized she did. She sat back down in the chair, hugging her arms. She gave a nervous chuckle, "I don't usually make first impressions like this." She wasn't her usual, hyper, talkative self. Not like there was much of that anymore, but its how she used to be. Soph looked around and saw a few heads facing her direction. It was a rare thing that she talked to another boy without her boyfriend. No one except her family knew about her abusive relationship, but it had been a rumor when she lived in college dorm that she was going out with one of the hottest guys in town. A lot of girls resented her for it.
She ditched the dorm life and is now taking online classes, so she could be with Kris more. She hated the fact there relationship wasn't normal, but wasn't ready to leave him. Besides, she was still in love with him. Soph looked down at her hands, which were covered in blue and grey paint. She recently started to paint again, picking up were she left off when she was 17. It had been two years since she picked up a brush, but she was still fairly good at it.
Soph looked at the boy and gave him a small, side smile. " Im Sophia" her brothers called her Soph all the time, she loved the nickname.
Sophia was thankful for the glasses covering her eyes. Not only were they hiding her biggest secret, they also hid the sadness in her eyes. She could cover it up and make them look happier, but what was the point? Its not like anyone could see her greenish blue colored, blood shot eyes.
Soph tugged at her own clothes, remembering the healing bruises on her arms. The ones on her wrist had fully healed by now, but the ones just above her elbow were still a nasty yellow color. Soph couldn't wait to ditch the cardigans and jackets, the sun beat down out side, covering Lipton in hot and brightness.



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THIS THREAD IS finished.
AND IT’S FOR Salem
THE LYRICS ARE FROM america’s suitehearts by fall out boy.
MUSE IS THANKS TO The take over the breaks over
AND WE’RE WEARING My first post
ANY LAST THOUGHTS?
THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK template (c) - bethasaur ftw . of CAUTION 2.0

[salem alaric burroughs]

From lashes to ashes
And from lust to dust
In your sweetest torment I'm lost
And no heaven can help us

The girl had acted like she was going to get up until Salem finally mumbled out a half-reply. She sat back down and hugged her arms and Salem's green eyes still remained terribly large and round in nervousness. People usually called him a liar who either had seen him onstage and not offstage or vice-versa. He was a socially awkward mess offstage but give him a microphone and a whole new side of him emerged. He gave her a shy smile through his hair and beanie.

'I don't usually make first impressions like this'

Salem nodded, as though he knew this fact already. Though really he was just trying to appease this disheveled, sad shell of a girl. Salem drew himself up into a little bit of a better sitting position, closing his notebook for the time being. This girl was obviously going to sit here and there wasn't any reason for him to be rude and continue writing in her presence. He noted the black sunglasses she wore...in a building and looked down to his lap, hoping she didn't catch his folly.

She introduced herself as Sophia, a lovely name that meant..wisdom in Italian if he wasn't mistaken. Sophia wasn't a name one heard around a lot anymore, people choosing Sophie over the traditional version. He tried to mumble out his name but got a mouthful of hair and beanie to which he turned bright pink and cleared his throat, pulling his hat up a bit to speak.

"Salem Burroughs. That's a lovely name, Sophia." His thick Finnish accent was enunciated on every single syllable and made him even more self-conscious.

He debated on what to say to her next. He bit his tongue, almost commenting on her lovely sunglasses. He decided best to act as though she weren't wearing any, though something ate away at him to ask why she wore them. He had a feeling he knew either answer, domestic abuse or a hangover. Neither sounded like a particularly good thing to be dealing with, though the first option was by far the worst. Salem brushed some of the hair from his face and shifted around nervously.

"So--ah-, Sophia. What erm ,uh, are you from--erm, around here?' He mentally slapped himself though his hands stay fidgeting in his lap, what a stupid question to ask.

He offered what came off as a friendly smile and not like a startled animal. He adjusted his beanie, his green eyes now fully visible, rimmed in heavy black eyeliner. He couldn't figure out what to do with his hands so he folded them in his lap, his pale features accented by the dark makeup and clothes he was wearing. He felt a fool for asking such a stupid question but hopefully the girl wouldn't laugh at him and leave like they normally did.

[/blockquote][/size]

[sophia riley allen]

i must confess ,

[/i][/b][/size][/font]



i’m in love with my own sins ![/i][/b][/size][/font]

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Sophia chuckled as he accidentally got a mouthful of hair. She didn’t mean it in a snobbish or mean way, she thought it was cute. Sophia had friends like him, she could tell. Or she used to, she hadn’t talked to her high school friends in a long time. He also dressed like her friends and she had when they were in high school. Sophia had been considered a rebel in school, even though she hadn’t really been trying.

Sophia blushed at Salems complement, feeling about two times better then she did when she walked in. Emotionally anyway, her eye still hurt, and it felt like her eyelid weighed a ton. “ Yes, I have lived here my whole life. I grew up here with my brothers” She thought about her three other brothers/ Sophia was the second oldest, the oldest being her brother Brandon, who went to the college there in Lipton. Her town youngest brothers, Reed and Eli, still went to the high school. “ Were are you from? I don’t think ive seen you before.” she had noticed his accent, and she couldn’t pinpoint its origin, European, defiantly.

“Your accent is boss” she laughed, she thought the accent was cool, even if its thickness made Sophia have to think about the words. “ Do you go to the college?” she asked. Sophia had gone to Liptons only college for a little while, then switched to online college. She thought of going back to the regular college, since she got bored sitting at the computer at home. Sure, she can do school work in her Pjs, but she missed having classes and a backpack.

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THIS THREAD IS finished.
AND IT’S FOR Salem
THE LYRICS ARE FROM america’s suitehearts by fall out boy.
MUSE IS THANKS TO Love id dead-Kerli
AND WE’RE WEARING first post
ANY LAST THOUGHTS?
THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK template (c) - bethasaur ftw . of CAUTION 2.0

[salem alaric burroughs]

From lashes to ashes
And from lust to dust
In your sweetest torment I'm lost
And no heaven can help us

When the girl chuckled he turned a second shade of red, his blush showing all the way to the tips of his ears now. He couldn't tell if she was picking on him or being friendly, but either way it embarrassed him. He was pretty much perfect at making a fool of himself, years of socially awkward practice had seen to that. He messed around with his beanie, ducking his head in embarrassment before speaking again.

Then it was his turn to watch her blush. Sophia was a very pretty girl when she blushed, an almost cherubic innocence lingered there. Or at least that's what his hopelessly romantic brain saw. He listened to her speak, trying to not turn pink again. His lips curved into a smile as he listened to her, even her voice was angelic. Salem knew he was being ridiculous, silently cursing himself for being so open in his emotions. Though this girl seemed like she could use a friend, of course Salem figured everyone needed a friend at some point.

'Yes, I have lived here my whole life. I grew up here with my brothers”
“Where are you from? I don’t think I've seen you before.”

"Oh, I don't get out much that must be why I don't recognize you. I was born in Finland and lived there for most of my young life though my mother and I moved here when I was thirteen." Salem blushed, figuring she must have caught his accent.

He looked at the top of the table, willing himself to melt through the floorboards. He was really out of him comfort zone both in talking to someone and also in talking to a pretty girl. He tried not to have a panic attack sitting there, assuming every person who walked by was silently questioning why someone like Sophia would be talking to him. He nervously went back to adjusting his shirt and pants, his face half smile-half awkward grimace. Salem almost didn't catch Sophia speaking but snapped to attention at the last second.

'Your accent is boss
Do you go to the college?'

His accent was what? Oh gods he felt even more awkward. Though he smiled as though he completely understood what she was saying. He hoped it was the right show of emotion for what she said. Then she asked about the college and his face became unusually excited. Though he wasn't a nerd by any means, he got excited when it came to his music and writing classes. He nodded excitedly before speaking.

"Yes, I do. I am a music and writing double major. My passion is music, though I also enjoy writing. What about yourself?" In a narcissistic way he wished she'd ask about his band.

Salem suddenly remembered he was supposed to have been working on more songs for the band's performance Saturday. If the subject got brought up he'd have to invite her. Though he knew the band's music was really open to any music lover some people still preferred music they could dance to. And this being his first major show of course he was nervous about impressing people. He figured it best to just let his voice and mood do the talking when he got on the stage. His eyes were still bright and excited as he awaited Sophia's answer. He really hoped she'd come for some reason. Though perhaps it's because he was desperate to make people understand he wasn't a total freak.

[/blockquote][/size]

[sophia riley allen]

i must confess ,

[/i][/b][/size][/font]



i’m in love with my own sins ![/i][/b][/size][/font]

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"Oh, I don't get out much that must be why I don't recognize you. I was born in Finland and lived there for most of my young life though my mother and I moved here when I was thirteen."

Sophia nodded at Salems words, when she had been thirteen she had been coping with depression, so she had missed a lot for a long time. Soph wondered how she hadn’t noticed him after her depression went away. After that long year of doing nothing but sleeping, taking pills, and moping she had a fresh start when she went into high school. She said what she wanted and hadn’t cared what anyone else thought of her. She dressed in dark, baggy pants and converse, skate boarded, and was even in a band. People had labeled her as a rebel or punk, but Sophia didn’t care about labels.
Her style had tuned down and she thought some before she spoke, but she was still crazy, outgoing Sophia. She got her confidence from her older brother, Brandon. She wasn’t a player like he was, mostly because she was taken.


"Yes, I do. I am a music and writing double major. My passion is music, though I also enjoy writing. What about yourself?"

Soph noticed how he lit up at the subject. It made her smile. “ I have joined a college online, but im thinking of going back to the college here. Im thinking of joining the medical carrier.” she paused before saying “ I love music, I was in a band in high school. I was always better at painting, though. I still do” she smiled and held up a paint-covered hand. Painting was Sophias passion, and she would love to become a artist. She was thinking of becoming a nurse or doctor just in case painting doesn’t work, but she hoped it would. She had a extra room in her apartment that was covered in paintings, paintings that were 4 years to a few months old. Here favorites were the ones she made of a girl lying in bed, tears sliding down her temples. Sophia had made the painting when remembering her own pain,
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -[/center]

THIS THREAD IS finished.
AND IT’S FOR Salem
THE LYRICS ARE FROM america’s suitehearts by fall out boy.
MUSE IS THANKS TO strange- kerli
AND WE’RE WEARING first post
ANY LAST THOUGHTS?
THANKS FOR THE HARD WORK template (c) - bethasaur ftw . of CAUTION 2.0

[salem alaric burroughs]

From lashes to ashes
And from lust to dust
In your sweetest torment I'm lost
And no heaven can help us

When Salem spoke about his heritage a slight anger coated the words, it was because of his damned heritage he didn't have a family anymore. Though Finland wasn't a terribly religious country his mother had always been a very devout Catholic. Mass every other night, the nights she didn't have mass it was spent at the studio or at women's meetings. His mother acted as though he'd shot Father Mattias in the face when she found her son in bed with another boy. She screamed and ranted for hours after until finally she told him she would not have 'an abomination' in her household and told him to leave. And his dad? Well who knew where that drunken bastard was these days.

'I have joined a college online, but im thinking of going back to the college here. Im thinking of joining the medical career
I love music, I was in a band in high school. I was always better at painting, though. I still do'

Salem nodded when she spoke of going into the medical field. He knew his mother wanted him to become a doctor, a priest, or a missonary. None of which were ever bound to happen now. He was far too consumed with his band and finding his own path to be bothered with such. Though Salem perked up when Sophia said she'd been in a band in high school, and that she painted. He let a grin break over his full lips before he spoke.

"Nice! What kind of music did you play? I'm in a band myself, actually." Salem responded enthusastically.

Salem flipped open his notebook and scribbled down another idea for a song, just a few bars, not saying a word as he did; 'Nailed to the cross, together/As solitude begs us to stay/Disappear in the night, forever/And denounce the power of death over our souls and secret words are/sent to start a war'. Salem briefly closed his eyes, silently seeing chords forming in his brain of what would go alone with the tune. Haunting though still harder rock than usual. Hmm, it very well could work. Not wanting to seem rude he turned his full attention back to Sophia.

"Sorry about that. I had to get this idea down on paper before I forgot it." Salem grinned as he spoke, his foot tapping out a soft beat on the floor.

He knew he needed to invite her to the concert, perhaps she had some friends she could bring along. The more people he got to come to the concert meant more opportunities for new fans. As such it also meant more chances for people to spread the word and potentinally get his band a record deal. That was his dream, to share his pain through his music, through the haunting vocals of love and loss.

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[sophia riley allen]

Sophia watched in interest as he scribbled in his notebook, "No problem" she said with a smile and continued "We were into the punk, rock type of music. We did cover songs a lot. Oh! cool, what kind of music do you play? Oh, are you the lead singer? I bet you sound cool, with your accent and all" She was babbling, but she couldn't help it, that's what she tended to do. Words just slipped like she had no control, and it didn't help she was excited about the subject. She had enjoyed being a guitarist, even if it had been short lived. Besides, she was way better at painting, not that she had been bad at playing the guitar, but she found more satisfaction when she painted. It was calming, and Soph had so much things going on she needed to be calmed, she really didn't need to freak and fall back into depression, especially since she had family to look out for, well, she had always had family, but Sophia is mature enough now to consider them first. Also she didn't want to feel that pain again. She would do a lot to avoid it, but luckily she was doing well, and had been for about five years.

OOC: Ugh, im so out of it, sorry if crappy.