#this is part of something much larger ehhh please excuse the teeny snippet without much context >w<

[compressednerve]

Here's a lil somethin I've been chipping away at all week. Ficlet under cut ^_^

“Why the hell is this House Shift so isolated to us?” Broderick sneers at Theodore, crossing his arms over his chest and looking down his nose at the other man. The Director and The Head of Research are standing so close together though not of their own volition. The walls are squeezing in on them but their bodies are not touching yet. Northmoor’s temperature is rising with his agitation. The oxygen in the room is hot, and hard to breathe in. It smells like sweat and stale air.

Ash is shrinking against the wall, his palms flat and fingers splayed outwards on the concrete of The House. It’s like he’s trying to melt into the wall, or at least like he’s trying desperately to get away from his superior. A response bubbles in his throat, but he can’t bring himself to speak properly.

From an outside perspective, it’s clear that they’re trying to reach a conclusion. It’s also clear that with where they stand, one on the side of The Board, the other on the side of The House, that they cannot reach that conclusion together.

It offends Northmoor. He responds with a challenge.

Ash gathers his courage and tries to speak

“Northmoor, Sir, with this house shift, I can't... there's something wrong…” 

“And what, pray tell, would that be?”

Ash takes the challenge, against better reasoning. He thinks he’s going to be able to appeal to Northmoor’s higher reason. He’s been able to tell that something has been changing Northmoor, much like The House has been changing him.

“I- I think it’s you, Sir…” Dr. Ash’s voice comes out meek, afraid, like always. Ash’s hands come up to gesticulate as he speaks. To Ash, there’s the glimmer of opportunity for camaraderie. He couldn’t be more wrong in assuming there’s common ground between them. The sound of the pathetic waver in the Head of Research’s voice is almost enough to distract from the meaning of his words. Almost.

Broderick’s eyes widen. The snarl of his mouth curls into a deeper sneer. Northmoor takes it as an insult, because how else would he take it? He’s even more offended, and now incensed. He surges forward, grabbing Ash’s arms by the wrists, lifting him off his feet and pinning him against The House. The walls shift again, closing around them, squeezing them together even tighter. It practically shoves the air out of their lungs.

Northmoor’s knee is jammed between Ash’s legs, pressing concentrated sweltering heat and pressure against Ash’s crotch. Northmoor’s pelvis is pressed against Ash’s hip. Northmoor’s breath is so hot against Ash’s face, he’s struggling to breathe without choking on the searing damp of the Director’s respiration. They’re so close now, and with Northmoor holding him so hard and high, Ash can practically taste the sweat rolling down his face. His tongue almost, almost darts out to taste it. It’s the only thought in his head other than the fear of imminent immolation.

(timelapses for part 1 and part 2)

#broderick northmoor #theodore ash jr #remedy control #control 2019 #northmoor x ash #ashmoor #compressednerve art #compressednerve writing #theo design courtesy of parasitefun #yaoi #this is part of something much larger ehhh please excuse the teeny snippet without much context >w< #i complete illustrations WAAAAY faster than I do writing