Archived Roleplay

"Of course! Mrs. Smith's bound to be there. I'll have to introduce you."

"Don't worry, she's actually nice enough most of the time," he told her, walking down the cobbled main street towards the pharmacy.

When they reached the shop, Russell could see another boy about their age inside, inspecting the shelves of herbs. Russell's brow furrowed and he clenched his jaw.

"Not someone I'm particularly happy to see..." Russell sighed. "His name's William and let's just say he's not very...pleasant." Russell opened the door to the pharmacy and William turned around, grinning.

"Very..." he muttered back. "William, I have to ask you to leave now. You know you're not welcome here."

"Oh? And what're you gonna do? Make Mrs. Smith kick me out? Rely on her to stick up for you and your shop? You gonna go get your mother?" His words made Russell wince and William laughed. "You're pathetic," he said smugly. "You always have been. That's why you don't have any friends," he said simply.

William dodged, but he looked startled. When he realized who'd nearly punched him, he guffawed. "Wow, Russell! I never thought you'd be able to find something this young and pretty. And she's a feisty one too!" He laughed again. "Tell me...how much did you have to pay?"

Russell clenched his fists. "William, get out!"
"Aww...how sweet. You actually care about her, do you? That's a shame..."

"Come on, dear. You don't have to pretend anymore." William said. "Come with me and you won't have to feel obliged to hang around this fool anymore," he told her with a grin, grabbing Corinne's arm roughly and trying to lead her out of the pharmacy.

"Let go of her!" Russell shouted, his voice audibly shaking.
"Oh come on, Russell. Just give it up already. She must know by now that you're worthless."

"I don't have to take orders from anyone. Especially not a girl." William looked disgusted. "You're just as pathetic as he is," he said, spitting at her. A second later, William was on the ground, clutching his stomach and groaning. Russell looked down at his fist in utter amazement, too shocked by his own actions to move.

William got up shakily and walked towards the door. At the threshold, he turned, sneering. "Fine. I just don't want to see your idiotic faces around again." After that, he was gone.

Russell didn't seem to hear her. Instead, he sat down on a stool numbly. After a minute, his breathing became quicker until he was nearly hyperventilating and he buried his face in his hands, rocking back and forth slightly while whimpering incoherently. He knew he was having another one of his attacks. The ones where he felt helpless. The ones he couldn't control. His only regret now was the fact that Corinne was having to see him like this. How weak he really was. That William was right.