forum The Heart’s Thoroughfare — oxo mlm — mature (17+) — [[closed]]

Started June 22, 2021 by @vinylradio eco

tune

It wasn’t until I first saw you under that one apple tree, on that bittersweet summer’s day. When the sunlight shown through the leaves, and they left little splotches that danced upon your skin.
It wasn’t until that day that I noticed the way your hair was parted, the way your eyes fluttered when you were dozing off with a book in your hand.
It wasn’t until that day that I realized how gorgeous I found you, and it wasn’t until that day that I admitted to myself…
That I was in love with you.

Hello there and welcome to The Hearst’s Thoroughfare! Of course I chose the cheesiest title I could but you honestly need to know what you’re getting into upfront. I want this to be a mature romance story about two men who attend the same university college somewhere around the 1930s/40s. Of course there was a lot of oppression during this time, so I figured a kind of secretive/hidden romance would be fun and fitting.

Little bit of rules:

• Please be moderately active
• This will probably contain sexual content, so if you are uncomfortable writing that, I would advise against joining.
• I would prefer longer responses, about 4+ lines. (it’s nice to have things to work off of)
• I’d prefer if we kept more accurate to the times. No modern language/slang, keeping the 30s/40s technology and academy dynamic, but it doesn’t have to be insanely accurate!
• I’m comfortable writing anything, but if you have any trouble with a topic, let me know!
• Have fun! This is our story, take it wherever you’d like.

Character templates will be up once someone joins! I might ask for a writing sample as well.

(Ofc! I'll throw you something that's a little bit more intense and off tone to what we will be writing, but I think it displays my writing style well. This is a couple paras longer than what I'd usually write. )

It was pitch black when Zack found himself outside. The only things piercing the night were wails of sirens from nearby police cars, the howling wind, and the sound of his thick, heavy wings on the dead air of night. The hairs on his head stood up and prickled as he flew, picking up something… off about tonight. The moment the thought of stopping and maybe dropping to the ground to be a little safer, he felt his chest and neck seized and plunged into a surging, agonizing pain. Zack recognized that pain– it was an Angel.
Zack heard it screaming unintelligibly into his ear, only in a way that Zack could hear. The street below them went quiet, until the Angel forced him down onto the street. At this point they were both invisible due to the Angel's effect on Humans, but the cracks in the ground that came from the impact were undeniable. The Demon didn't allow himself any time to feel pain over his burning chest and wounds– he quickly pushed himself up, only to get forced back down by the huge, clawed foot of the Angel.
The only reason Zack thought of Angels as "Angels" was because of Human influence. This Angel was not what Humans thought they were, not even close. This Angel had several eyes, all bulging and dark red, with a wide mouth hinging on nothing but a sliver of skin, wide open and screaming at him from above. Its slobber got on his face as its long body pushed its weight into his neck, the Demon left scratching at its shin and ankles. With a swift kick at the Angel's second leg and curling his legs up around the first, he was able to use every molecule of strength he had to move the foot up enough to slip out from underneath it.
Oxygen returned to his fading vision and he ran, and he could clearly hear his throat slurring each breath. His wings beat at the ground, trying to grab it to fly off and escape properly. His wings were promptly used as weapons against him, though. He felt a massive hand seize the feathers and pull him back, sending him reeling on the spot as his sensitive areas were torn out. The Angel disposed of his feathers with a snarl and threw his head into the curb of the sidewalk, bringing its foot down and crushing him in.
No, he didn't die, in fact it was probably impossible for him to die at such a force to his skull, but the force knocked out the points on all of his teeth, sending the white points scattering around his lips.
Ah, it is quite pointless to run. This one likes playing with its food, An amused, tired thought came to his running, terrified mind as he was lifted by his hair. With Zack's tongue hang out of his mouth, and he could faintly feel the Angel's second hand digging into his back wings and those smaller spots to suppress him from moving (while also cutting upwards to try and find a weak point to find a reaction), the Demon smiled goofily at it with his broken grin. He had many encounters with Angels, many of which ended by him running away, mostly because he knew they would happen. Angels were quite clumsy and loud. This one had snuck up on him, to say the least.
"Just kill me already, yeah?" Zack spat in his native language, his voice cracking and broken against his openly bleeding throat. His voice was louder than how he felt on the inside, his wings weakening and shivering against the Angel's ripping and tearing hands. He would be stripped to bone before the Angel allowed him to die.

(I go all out for writing samples LMAO)

Name:
Nickname: (optional)
Age: (19+)
Gender:
Occupation: (optional)

Physical appearance: (links welcome!)
Usual apparel:
Personality:
Habits/mannerisms:
Other:

(I’ll have mine up in a little while!)

(No problem— take all the time you need :) Also this is a little long, sorry about that! You don’t need to add as much detail as I did, I was just having fun with his character)

Name: Olallas Linslow
Nickname: Ollie / Ol
Age: 20
Gender: Male h/h
Occupation: Sophomore in college / Science major, studying biology. He hopes to go into a research field when he graduates

Physical appearance: Ollie has a leaner stature, and could be considered moderately underweight. He stands at about 5’11” and has more angular features. Sunken brownish/amber eyes sit behind thin, gold-framed glasses. His hair is about the same color as his eyes— not quite brown, not quite rust, but a lighter mesh of the two colors. Light brown with a reddish tint in the sun, cut short and always styled and parted on the side, but many would argue he looks better if he ruffles it up a bit. His skin is paler than most, with reddish undertones and pigment around his knuckles and chest. Freckles, too— permanent ones across the bridge of his face, and some on his shoulders that fade when winter comes around.
Usual apparel: Collared shirts, suspenders, slacks, and dress shoes. He likes to be a little on the fancier side of things, and sticks to warmer colors. He does consistently wear a little gold chain necklace that’s always tucked under his shirts.
Personality: Relatively timid and awkward when it comes to dealing with people of his same age, so he tends to get along better with older folk (probably a result of being raised by his grandparents). He has trouble with casual talk but has no issue in engaging in conversation when it comes to sophisticated intellectual topics. He’s a scholar through and through, and because of his love of literature, many people often think he’s an English major. He’s very passionate about academic subjects, and doesn’t really know how to take breaks or relax. He runs on coffee and music, and often takes on more than he can handle— even with people. He doesn’t know love very well and always thought it was a waste of time, but unfortunately for him, once he gets a taste of it, he’s a hopeless romantic. His timid nature doesn’t hinder him from stepping up for himself and other’s though, and in the past, he’s talked himself into some dangerous situations.
Habits/mannerisms: Rambles when he’s nervous / not really a mannerism but he’s got major sub energy / when he’s nervous or emotional, he doesn’t really think before he speaks
Other: Raised by his grandparents. His grandmother passed a few years ago, which made Ollie hesitate going off to college. He didn’t want to leave his grandfather alone, but the older man insisted, considering they had saved the majority of their life just so Ollie had the opportunity to enroll in college and “chase his dreams.”

Name: Dorian Finley Roìne-Braden
Nickname: Dovi
Age: 21
Gender: Male, bisexual
Occupation: Junior in undergrad / internship at a newspaper/ publishing company

Physical appearance: A mixed young man with mocha colored skin, light brown hair that is bleached at the tips. Bleaching is considered a rarity in this society, but in order to stick out in the journalism field, he took a chance at a new trend. His hair is short and spiky, and he often gets cowlicks if he forgets to comb it. A lanky young man who towers over most, and a couple pounds overweight because of his more muscular stature (participates in several sports).
Usual apparel: Usually dressed in button-up shirts of black with golden chains (usually with crosses or pendants with diamonds). Slim dark jeans that hug his body and a strong belt to tie things together.
Personality: A smiling, confident man with his eyes on the prize of success. He's quite social and knows a lot of names despite how young he is, due to his parents being fairly educated and social themselves.
Habits/mannerisms: Tends to make conversations with strangers and tries to light up everyone's day. Plays several sports such as tennis, soccer, and rugby with the college (but not competitive). Tried to paint and make art, but can't really get into it as much as he wants.
Other:

Olallas had spent the majority of his summer back west in his home state with his grandfather, so needless to say, he was disheveled and completely out of routine. Classes started back up in a few days (at least, his did— some others had already started), and by no means was he prepared. Although he was definitely looking forward to them. He had somehow landed a spot with one of the science professors, and through sending letters back and forth, he had finally charmed the man into letting Ollie use his lab from time to time.
Maybe he had given himself too many things to do, like always. After all, briskly walking down one of the hallways with books in either hand, he just wished to lie in the sun outside like the other students. It’d be nice to spend a Saturday evening like a normal person, out there having drinks and reconnecting with people they hadn’t seen since the spring.
Not that Ollie had many friends in the first place— there were some people that mutually knew him by name, and others that he’d had concise conversations with regarding strictly school topics. With that almost abrupt realization, he hesitated his next step, nearly running into a nearby open door. Luckily the halls were relatively empty, so the mishap didn’t cause too much embarrassment.
Shaking his head in a futile attempt to clear it, he kept walking.

(Hey quick note, can this be set closer to the mid 1960's? For historical accuracy and such with Dovi. It'd only be a few years from what I imagine this being so is that okay?)

Several weeks had passed since Dovi had landed back on campus. Several friends of his had picked him up, and they all lived together in the same area, making practices, writing out syllabuses and working constantly. With everything set up, Dovi was able to enjoy the sun and warm weather as professors set up their classes.
The gleaming sun set its burning tendrils onto the warm cheeks of Dorian Finley Roìne-Braden and his smiling features as he sunned by himself on a bench. It felt good to be on campus despite the sneers and stares he got from a small handful of students, it felt nice to enjoy himself away from the others. Around here, it was great to see people he related to in his major, rising stars with the same passion he held for the future of society. Yet on days like this one, that burning fire could be momentarily satiated for the calmness of the summer afternoon.
Occasionally he'll be called out to by some of his friends, making him pop his eyes open with a grin and a wave, but go back into his relaxed state with his eyes closed, his skin shining, and blond flecks of hair gleaming like fire under his darker caramel roots.

It wasn’t cold in the halls by any stretch, but as he exited the building, Ollie found himself wanting to bask in the evening sun just a bit longer. He stood on the relatively empty stairway, eyes closed and face up to the sky.
Luckily, this was his last errand today. He’d received all his textbooks, sent out his letters, discussed his classes, and made the effort to meet every professor in each of his classes— for the sake of making a good impression. Or trying to, at least. Many people were often turned off by his passion for learning, or thought he was an oddball, but normally professors were an exception.
Ollie took a deep breath in, the fresh scent of summer air pushed away lightly by the impeding dregs of autumn. Due to the weather this far north, the apple trees dotting campus began to leaf. It was a very pleasant sight.
Finally deciding it was time to move on and get back to his dorm, Ollie began walking again, almost completely missing the first step and tripping down the stairs. Lucky he was able to catch himself in time, only dropping a book or two. Cradling them back up, his eyes darted around to see if anyone had noticed. Much to his pleasure, not many people paid him attention, but his eyes caught on a figure not too far away. A man, around the same age, reclined on a bench. Ollie didn’t recall seeing him the prior year, but then again, Ollie wasn’t one to socially explore outside of his classes. He offered an extremely awkward wave and a nod of his head, quickly adverting his eyes soon after and hastily descending the rest of the stairs.

The hubbub and raised voices of idle conversation died as people colagulated to their classes, and the only thing stirring the silence was the fluttering of leaves in the wind, as well as chirps of birds above Dovi picking at blossoms and feeding nests of chirruping hatchlings awaiting their meal. The calm truly became meditative, and even the most crazed, fast-running brain could relax under the sun and shade.
The scuff of feet and the sound of books dropping stirred Dovi from his meditation, making his head jump up curiously. A young man determined to walk through the calm afternoon, holding way too many books for what seemed to be every class available. He waved back but didn't nod, his eyebrows cocking as he watched the other walk away. His thick rings and shining jewelry glistened in his peripherals as he observed, trying his best to remember if he'd seen that face around campus before. It was quite possible that neither had seen a lick of the other man, but something tickled his curiosity.
All well, Dovi passed that lingering thought from his brain with a slight shake of his head. He glanced back up through the trees at one of the nests settled in the branches above, listening to the continued chirps with a soft chuckle.