#& 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲 ft. MADDOX

[wildcstwinter]

closed starter: @lightthematches !!

this was humiliating.

as low and humiliating as it gets.

her mother's cruel and spiteful words echoed in the confines of the eldest tremaine's skull, making her temples throb with an undeniable pulse of discomfort and shame. the woman had ripped into her, sparking her daughter's fine-tuned wiring and making her feel like she was nothing. she had called her trashy, uncouth, an abomination an disgrace to the tremaine family — a DISAPPOINTMENT.

hot tears clung to thick lashes, lips quivering as her eyes burned from the running mascara that was smeared across drizella's flushed cheeks and across the back of her trembling hand. maybe it was spite that had brought her here, or maybe it was because she really had no where else to go, but within twenty minues of her storming out of the tremaine mansion ; she was on maddox's doorstep.

with a shaking hand, that same one stained with the remnants of her tantrum and makeup, she rapped her knuckles against the worn wood of his front door. the impending fall air nipped at her bare arms as she folded them around herself, wishing she could crawl into her own skin and disappear. a woman who was normally a the epitome aristocratic wealth and upmost class now nothing more than a disheveled debutante looking for a way out.

[wildcstwinter]

closed starter: @lightthematches !!

❛ will you stop looking at me like that ?? ❜ drizella huffed, narrowing her eyes at him. despite the demand, drizella had purposely worn the most controversial black dress she owned for the sole purpose of his eyes falling exactly where they had but... she wasn't going to tell him that. ❛ — and don't act stupid and say 'like what??' because you know exactly how you're looking at me.❜

[wildcstwinter]

closed starter: @lightthematches !! location: that tattoo shop

❛ i should kill you, ❜ drizella fumed after she had thrown open the door to the tattoo shop and stomped up to the counter maddox was lounging behind, manicured fingers folded into fists and dramatically slamming down on the counter top. ❛ seriously, maddox grimwood, i should kill you. not even pay someone to kill you, but kill you myself. you gave my sister a TATTOO ?? have you lost your fucking mind ?? ❜

[wildcstwinter]

closed starter: @lightthematches !!

" for fuck sakes, maddox . . . " drizella hissed, pressing her fingers to her throat in the bathroom they had just defiled, irritancy painted over her flushed expression. splotches of horrendously dark purple bruises ornamented the otherwise pristine flesh of her neck, mascara staining her cheeks in less then fashionable streaks, lips puckered and plump from the assault of his against them. god, she looked hot . . . but not in a way that was societally acceptable.

" you're an animal . . . " she seethed through her teeth, adjusting the strap of her dress, trying to silently come up with a plan to get out of here without the stains of their collective sin on her skin being noticed. looking to him, dark eyes both enamored and wildly irritated, she narrowed her lids into iron slits; " i'm going to kill you. "

[wildcstwinter]

her chest was heaving, and she pressed her lips in a hard, fine line as dark hues narrowed at him. drizella opted for silence now, tongue pressed against the back of her teeth, wishing she truly was the serpent everyone knew her to be so she could lurch forward and coil herself around his throat, squeeze until he went purple. it was like he knew being the one to tattoo anastatia would get to her — and even if he hadn't thought about her whilst doing it, he must have known that would piss her off too. drizella had so much fury pulsing through her right now she wasn't even sure what to do with it, manicured nails pressing crescents into her palms as she stared up at him. ❛ you're delusional, ❜ drizella hissed, her face flushing. she did not BEG. the worst part about all of this is whatever rise he was trying to get out of her, it was working, adrenaline pumping through her veins and making her blood run hot. maybe TOO hot. ❛ not cute, not thoughtful, i just wanted to know what the fuck you were thinking agreeing to deface my sister like that. ❜ he had already given her reasoning, but she had to redirect the conversation before she did pull him into his tattoo room and make him lock the door. it was a shame such a pretty face belonged to such a god damn idiot. dialing it back, she folded her arms over her chest, frowning as she tried to steady her breaths; ❛ — and i do not beg.❜

~

"You're right, I wouldn't know anything about that." How could he have? Their upbringings were very different, to say the least. He grew up around ghouls and things Drizella would only be able to see in a horror film. He didn't even know where he came from, being abandoned on the doorstep of Miss Grimwood's school as a baby with nothing more than a note left with him. He didn't know where he came from, something that had troubled him all his life, but it wasn't the issue at hand. He had ignored her comment that compared him to a cockroach, simply moving on to not give her any satisfaction. She shoved her hands against his chest, but he didn't move back. It was a pathetic attempt on her behalf. His chest began to vibrate as he erupted into another fit of laughter. He'd been called far worse than a shitbag. Her insults did nothing to him because they were so petty. "Is that how you really feel about me? I would be wounded if I didn't know that wasn't true." His devious smirk returned to his features. "it doesn't seem that you think I'm such a shitbag when you're screaming my name in bed and begging me to fuck you. Maybe that's why you really came to see me today. Not to bitch at me for giving your sister tattoo, but because you wanted to see me. Aw, how cute and thoughtful."

[wildcstwinter]

drizella didn't know what she was expecting when she showed up to maddox's door but, it certainly wasn't . . . chivalry. she had half expected him to slam the door in her face, to split his sides with laughter, to mock her as he always did. it wasn't that she was upset about those expectatios, she had set the standard herself, and it was those very standards that got her in this position in the first place. her watery gaze flashed up to his, a gleam of ire in them, almost spiteful that he was being somewhat sincere. without question, pressing her lips together, she slipped between his body and the door and ventured into the familiarity of his place. dragging the back of her hand across her face, drizella sniffled, attempting to compose herself and prepare for no doubt what would be the most humiliating confrontation of them all.

yet, it didn't come.

her head whipped around, meeting maddox's gaze, swallowing the lump that rose in her throat as his pleasantries made nausea swell in her stomach. she stood, unsure of what to do with herself, her arms returning to wrap around herself as the man approached with a wet washcloth. her lower lip almost wobbled at the sight, but she hardened her face, accepting it before turning her back to him to begin swiping the rough cotten beneath her eyes. great — this was great.

" it's nothing , " she lied, voice grated and raw from the hiccuped sobs she had cried on the way here. then, sighing, she pressed the pads of her fingers to her temple and pressed hard on the throbbing pulse that sat there." it's just . . .my mom. it's just everything i've worked for, my entire life, falling the fuck apart. no big deal. " she then rubbed at her face, and drizella felt the tears welling up again, a frustrated growl in her throat as she tried to will the emotion down. at his words, however, she took pause, stiffening under his watchful gaze.

" i came to you because it's your fault. " drizella said after a beat, refusing to look at him, messing with the cloth in her hand. " that stunt at that charity event a few moths ago. there were . . . someone sent pictures to my mom. she lost it. said i was a disgrace to the tremaine family and everything she's ever worked for. that i was an embarrassment, no better than my sister. if anything; now i'm worse."

turning back around, the thick pooling of moisture in the corner's of her eyes undeniable as she turned to face him, eyes downturned and focusing on his bare chest so she wouldn't have to meet his gaze. " she had someone follow me. follow us. they have pictures, videos. . . she knows i go to the shop and don't leave with a tattoo. she threatened me. said if i don't cut things off with you then i can live the rest of my life as a social outcast on the streets with nothing. " no family, no charming — nothing.

drizella swallowed, finally meeting his eyes. " so i came to you because that's what i'm doing. cutting it off. this — whatever this is. it's over. not that it matters or anything but . . . it has to stop."

~

Maddox didn't have any particular place to be as the sun settled and the sky turned into an indicator night was creeping its way up. He was restless though. Sitting alone in his apartment didn't sound appealing neither did going out though. He had Meg on his mind and that made him want to text Drizella as a distraction. He'd decided against it though, something telling him it was a poor decision. At one point he decided to admit defeat and settle in for the night. He took a steaming hot shower to try and relax the restlessness he felt. It was only moments after he'd started getting dressed that a knock was heard at his front door. Maddox didn't have many uninvited visitors so panic quickly set into his stomach as he grabbed the first pair of pants he saw out of his laundry basket and through them on.

He was still tugging the sweatpants he'd grabbed up to his waist when he got to the door. His hair was dripping wet and he'd failed to grab a shirt as something in his gut told him there was something wrong. What if it was one of the ghouls? The second his pants were in place he swiftly swung the door open only to be faced with a very distressed Drizella. For a moment he just stared at her, unsure of how to react. The few times he'd seen her makeup so messed up was after an intense, heated night together. Maddox wasn't sure what to say as he silently stepped aside to let her in then closed the door behind her.

Normally he was pretty agitated around Drizella. Or drunk. If he was drunk it was an entirely different story. This was a situation he hadn't anticipated. He knew he had to say something. He knew he had to do something. As brash as Maddox could be, he wasn't heartless. "I'll get you a towel so you can wash your face then you can tell me what happened," he said in an almost forced, soft tone. Almost. "Come on," He grabbed her hand and led her to the still steamy bathroom before grabbing her a washcloth and small towel. "Whatever it is I'm sure it will be fine," he said in attempt of some sort of comfort. "There's a reason you came to me though. And I feel like it wasn't for a distraction."

[wildcstwinter]

❛ a pretentious asshat with a brand and legacy to protect, not that you would know anything about that. i've met cockroaches with more poise,❜ drizella seethed, a poisonous smirk on her lips with spiteful gleam in her eyes. god, anastatia was a moron. maddox was an even bigger moron. if driz wasn't such a possessive brat she'd insist the two idiots were perfect for one another, but driz didn't like sharing her toys. even if her toys made her pop a blood vessel. fury continued to pulse through her, especially when the blonde got closer and put his filthy yet all too familiar hands on her. against her own better judgement, the eldest tremaine didn't move, cemented to the ground where she stood for a moment. then, drizella lifted her palms to shove against his chest, huffing; ❛ do you even hear yourself right now ?? you're unbelievable. ❜ drizella then stepped forward, closing the space between them once more so their chests were nearly touching, glaring up at him with eyes narrowed into slits; ❛ you are such a shitbag, maddox grimwood. a scummy, greasy, dirty little shitbag.❜ a stupid hot one that kept her royally entertained, to her dismay.

~

The smirk on Maddox's face didn't fade. "A reputation. Ah, yes, that's right. A reputation of being stuck up, pretentious asshats." He ignored her little dig about 'some people' and set his his sketchbook on the counter. He rose from his seat then walked around to the other side of the counter, standing up straight as he looked at her. The change in Drizella's expression was hysterical to Maddox. He burst out into a short fit of laughter before shaking his head, smirk resting on his lips just as before. "Maybe I do. I'd like to see you try and even lay a hand on me." He leans down and whispers in her ear, "you're too weak to kill me. I could destroy you with one touch alone." His hand moves to rest on her hip. "If you want to put up a fight though then by all means do so."

[wildcstwinter]

when he asked if she was done, drizella's nostrils flared, anger pulsing so hot through her that she wouldn't be surprised if steam was pouring from her ears. ❛ she's an idiot, maddox. she doesn't know what she's doing !! ❜ the brunette spat, huffing like that was obvious. ❛ we have a reputation to uphold, unlike some people, and she won't let go of the past. it's going to ruin everything if she doesn't get over herself. ❜ ruin everything for drizella, at least. her eyes rolled at the latter comment, scoffing as she drew back her arms to fold them over her chest, the smirk on his face not helping her i-want-to-kill-you clause. drizella's expression shifted into horror at the implication that SHE'D want to deface herself like that, narrowing her eyes at him. ❛ you must have a death wish, ❜ she spat, her face going hot, her heart beating hard from the fury making her blood boil beneath her skin. ❛ either that or you are severely underestimating how pissed i am at you right now. ❜

~

Why was it whenever Maddox was focused on something someone had to barge in an ruin it? Whether that were one of the ghouls or the raincloud that came in the form of a fuming Drizella. He couldn't get a word in between her threats, so he let her have her rant while he finished the detail on a design he'd been working on. Maddox finally looked up at her, one brow raised. "Are you done?" he asked. "What's the big deal? She's a grown adult and a paying customer. You don't seem to have an issue with my tattoos when you're begging to see what's under my clothes." A slight smirk settles on his lips. "Or are you just jealous I didn't give you one first? I can arrange for that to happen. In fact, I have a free slot right now."