#luminous illusion

[meowzanin33]

caught u ^_^

[moonzeroo]

TWINS CRUMBS 🥹

[priestessoffurina]

omg they were roommates

[elementclmcstery]

Character Tag Dump #1

✨ Not from around here {Aether} 🏹 May your heart guide you true... {Amos/The Nameless Huntress} ❈ There isn't anything I can't make {Albedo} 🎐There when the first star appears at night {Astral Dancer} ❄️ Inazuma’s Snowflake {Ayaka} 🌿 Sugar only helps hide the bitter taste of medicine {Baizhu} 🌸 Quiet and Cold {Bosacius} ⚡️Loud and Proud {Bonanus} 🐍 The Dark Serpent in the Grass {Collei} ☁️ Watcher of the Clouds and Skies {Cloud Retainer} ☥  He who guards the gates {Cyno} 💎 Ice itself is an illusion {Dainsleif} 🐏 I will serve The Qixing with my Life {Ganyu} ⚙︎ Teach with Wisdom, bound by virtue {Guizhong} 🔥 Impulsive and Hot headed {Indarius} ⚔️ I will defend this city with my life {Jean} 🍁 On the Autumn breeze {Kazuha} 💫 Out of this World {Lumine} 🔮 Putting on a performance {Lynette} ❅ Home is the land of Ice and Snow... {Lyonechika}

[venussaidso]

𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧-𝐑𝐚𝐡𝐮-𝐊𝐞𝐭𝐮: 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦

the prominent themes of vampirism such as desire, hunger, mystery and illusions tie so perfectly with the moon and its nodes. it wasn't surprising to find the nodes dominating this genre the most, along with the luminaries (moon & sun nakshatras, but more fittingly the moon). i will not be touching on the few sun nakshatras playing vampires, as the moon makes far more sense symbolizing true vampiric nature.

So many vampire movie posters have this luminous glow to them, likely done consciously because of these creatures' affinity for nighttime, and generally being nocturnal as they're extremely sensitive to any type of sunlight.

I've once briefly mentioned, in my "Moon Dominant Themes" post, that lunar natives can operate very secretly, such as 'working in the shadows'. And the whole lore of vampires always emphasizes their ability to hide themselves while still living among humans.

Vampires undergoing periods of dormancy and resurgence is interesting as that can also be linked back to the moon's cycles of waxing & maning. The influence that the moon has on vampires, in some legends, is during certain lunar phases in which they become more active. A full moon could literally mean that their strength has enhanced, whilst a moonless night could mean their desire for blood is heightened.

Rohini Sun Colin Farrell

Claire Nakti explored, in her "TOP 3 Most Magical & Mystical Astrology Signs | Cults, Divination, & Occultism | Part 2 (Nakshatras)" documentary, on the ability of Moon nakshatra natives to brainwash/mind control/hypnotize.

daniel kaluuya is a hasta moon, not rohini.

As these natives are often cult leaders, their ability to influence the mind goes back to their lunar-rulership. The Moon rules over the mind, emotions and subconscious. A vampire's ability to hypnotize humans and other lesser beings is in parallel to the Moon's influence over the psyche and subconscious.

This illusory nature found in vampires can be connected to the shadow planet, Rahu. As Rahu is illusions, desire, hunger. Rahu is very seductive and tempting; this could tie back to some legends in which vampires lure their prey giving them promises of pleasure.

Ardra Sun Tom Cruise.

In "Interview with the Vampire", Tom Cruise plays Lestat who is an overindulgent, greedy vampire. Rahu governs desires and the pursuit of worldly pleasures. It's related to insatiable cravings that lead to greed. The lustful nature of Rahu is seen in Lestat's intense bloodlust and the chaos it brings.

Rahu's associations with eclipses relates to their ability of being hidden in the shadows. Another hint is in Rahu being a Shadow planet itself, just like Ketu is which is also related to vampires.

The story about Rahu's head getting decapitated by Vishnu for trying to get a drink out of the nectar of immortality can be brilliantly paralleled with vampirism. Due to Rahu's consumption of the drop of the nectar, he became the infamous dismembered immortal. His dismemberment a symbol of the detachment from humanity to vampirism.

Rahu is considered an entity of darkness and malevolence, preying upon cosmic forces and defying the natural order of things (such as vampirism which does defy nature itself, ie. the dead becoming undead) in pursuit for immortality. Vampires are literal parasites, and Rahu is also parasitical. Vampires feed on humans without providing any benefit in the ecosystem in return, a one-sided relationship which resembles one between a parasite and its host. Rahu is depicted as insatiable and consuming, feeding and draining one's energy. It creates a cycle of thirsting for more without any fulfillment, a predicament vampires find themselves in.

Ashwini Sun Luke Evans

Rahu and Ketu represent the lunar nodes, respectively depicted as the head and tail of the celestial serpent. Their energetic interaction can be likened to the endless chase between a vampire and a vampire hunter, villain and hero, the friction between unlikely lovers. It's obvious in how Rahu embodies the insatiable hunger for experiences and the craving for fulfillment that it can be the vampiric force in such a dynamic. Like a vampire, Rahu relentlessly pursues its desires, often leading to greed and excess. And then you have Ketu, on the other hand, which embodies detachment, spirituality, and liberation from worldly attachments. It quite literally symbolizes the renunciation of desires and the quest for enlightenment, opposing Rahu's restlessness for more. Ketu is a cutting force, and like a determined vampire hunter, is skilled in tracking down illusions and breaking free from temptations.

Although it sounds like a more fitting interplay between Rahu as the evil force and Ketu as the hunter, it's actually more seen in the other way around.

It is more so that Rahuvians are the vampire hunters, which I found so intriguing; showcasing how Rahu is both the parasitical (illusory), and also the one to be rid of parasites (disillusionment). And I have explored this particular theme in my Rahu post -- how Rahu natives experience a lot of disillusionment from their reality, wanting to cast away the illusions that drain the life force.

The reversal of roles showcases the fluidity of the nodes; their roles almost always expected to reverse, illustrating just how Rahu and Ketu are deeply intertwined with the concept of karma, representing the push-&-pull between cosmic forces of destiny.

More nodal-vampire movies, and other examples in which Rahu & Ketu find themselves on opposite sides of the same spectrum in which they are both vampires, similar to the friction seen between Louis (Ketu) and Lestat (Rahu) in "Interview with the Vampire".

In the film "Fright Night", the one who has to kill the villainous vampire is an Ashwini native. It is also interesting how in "Queen of the Damned" (above, right), the villain is a Magha native who must be stopped by her Mula lover -- both being vampires.

As mentioned in the figure image about the film "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter", where a nodal-ruled native is paired up with someone who is lunar-ruled, this is a type of pairing seen a lot in these supernatural stories.

Similarly to "Twilight", as Edward was the one to turn Bella into a vampire, we see the planetary reversal of this in which the lunar-native is the one who turns the nodal-native.

Or the film "Vamps" in which Hasta Sun, Shatabhisha Moon native Alicia Silverstone turns Mula Sun, Magha Moon native Krysten Ritter into a vampire.

It isn't a surprise that the moon and its nodes are related to the extremities of the mind. These energies can cause isolation due to how polarizing they come off in regular society (furthermore validating its relation to vampirism), so they become attracted to one another -- especially the nodal natives to the moon natives, because of how much they feel magnetized by them, and vice versa.

The presence of some Sun nakshatras in vampire stories is present and that could tie to the Sun's influence over the Moon despite the fact that solar symbolisms regarding vampirism don't exist, and vampires are far too sensitive to the Sun so much so that they get sunburn during the full moon where the sun's light reflects (interesting to think about). The whole point of a vampire is to lurk in the shadows or during nighttime, so the strict avoidance of the Sun could make sense in there being solar-natives in vampiric roles. It makes for an interesting contradiction, certainly.

Ketu is the body of the severed demon Rahu following the consumption of the elixir. Much like Rahu, Ketu is also associated to darkness and illusions. But it symbolizes the darker, unseen aspects of reality -- all the hidden forces and energies as I've touched on in my Ketu exploration. Ketu and Rahu are two sides of the same coin, it isn't surprising to see them share many vampiric roles/stories.

Ketu is about spiritual liberation, detachment (in this context, becoming a vampire means a harsh detachment from normality/the old life), transcendence; these existential themes are found in vampirism.

The character Louis in "Interview with the Vampire" played by Mula Sun Brad Pitt describes his existential crisis as a vampire to a Magha Sun human who interviews him.

The enhanced strength, agility, speed, hearing and all these abilities are gained after the painful transformation process, going from human to vampire. This process is seen in the film "Interview with the Vampire", Mula Sun Brad Pitt's character going through excruciating pain when turning. My mind immediately takes me to Claire Nakti's first Mula nakshatra exploration, in which she touched on the interconnection of pain and evolution for access to more powers.

robert pattinson is an ardra moon, not sun. and i accidentally used jk rowling's face as l.j smith, ugh! 💔

Vampires are caught between worlds, trapped in a liminal space between life & death. Ketu can cause feelings of entrapment. The yearning for release from their eternal existence is a common theme, as Ketu wants to escape its body. Louis de Pointe du Lac is the best character as example of rejecting one's own nature and wanting to cease to exist.

Mula Sun Brad Pitt

nodals being so emo jfc

notes: colin farrell's birthtime accuracy is botched, he's definitely a mula ascendant. tom hiddleston stays a possible ashwini moon until he's not (until his birthtime is available and accurate).

[yanderehsr]

Hiya there! I hope you don't mind me requesting something.

How do you think Ei, Furina and Lumine would react to their lover making small plush versions of their friends as a hobby?

Hi, happy to take your request😆

Hope you'll enjoy😄

Trigger Warning: Yandere, Obsessive behaviour, Possessive behaviour, Kidnapping, Murder

Raiden Ei: She can spend hours just watching you make those plushies, it is a comfort seeing her precious love creating them, just having them with her makes all those years of loneliness seem like a mere illusion, like it never happened. But then Ei notices something, all those plushies seems suspiciously like some people she has seen in passing glance.

When Raiden Ei realises that it is indeed real people that isn't her, she will snap, she will destroy all plushies and later hunt down those that you made plushies of. Ei will return later drenched in blood and aplogize for her outburst, she doesn't want to be angry with you. Don't ask her where the blood came from, you wont like the answer.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you, maybe you can make som new plushies, this time you can make one of me"

Furina: She likes the plushies but gets annoyed that it takes such a long time to make them, she wants you to pay attention to her as well, isn't she your favorite, isn't she your most loved one... wait why isn't there a plushie of her in you collection.

Suddenly your friends are put on trial, their crime being seducing the hydro archons lover, Furina will watch in glee as they are sentenced to prison, she will keep sending more and more of your friends there until you have made a plushie of her, at the very least she is kind enough to give you a chance to save your friends from eternal imprisonment.

"Let me see, let me see, it is very well made, I-I mean it is acceptable enough I guess, and guess what only 7 of your friends got sentenced, see how kind I am"

Lumine: She finds you adorable, utterly cute and precious and all hers. Hers to love and hers to protect. Chances are she has met with all of your friends at some point on her journey, but she wont do anything towards them as long as you don't leave her.

Lumine will literally go down on her knees and beg you to make a plushie of both her and you. Is sobbing when she sees the final product, it's a gift from you, she will protect it forever and of course she wants you to keep the Lumine plushie, she wants to be with you even when she isn't there.

"Thank you, I'll cherish this forever. You are just so cute I just wanna lock you up... no no, just kidding of course"

[wolfsblog]

THE LEGEND OF THE BLACK WOLF

A tale of illusion vs. truth ... Deep in the Canadian Rockies, a small mountain village of 500 people dealt with a problem that hit close to home. Over the span of a month, a rare black wolf was spotted near the village on four occasions. According to local legend, this animal was believed to be a sign of misfortune and impending doom ... During this rash of sightings, parents kept their children locked indoors, and all adults completed their outdoor work at least two hours before sunset. Though they were highly contemplative and spiritual people, the villagers fell sway to the dogmas of their own fear ... Following the latest sighting of the black wolf, village elders resolved to send their two most courageous warriors deep into the mountain wilderness to confront the wild beast before it could visit harm upon the community ... The following morning, the two young warriors, River Stone and White Lightning, set off on horseback into the desolate snow-capped mountains to track down the feared animal. For the first three hours, the two revered men rode in near silence, up an ancient path that steadily climbed high into the alpine forests. Finally, White Lightning broke the deep and awe-filled silence : “My dear brother, how do you suppose we’ll know where to find the black wolf? What if we never find it and fail in our mission? Then we’ll return home in defeat and shame.” River Stone smiled warmly at his travelling companion and replied : “My loyal friend, have no worry about the answers you seek. If the Great Spirit wills for us to encounter the beast, then that shall be so. Have faith that it’ll present itself. The ancestors are already guiding us toward our destiny.” ... The two warriors rode for another hour in silence, until they arrived at a sacred cave just off the beaten path, where a long line of medicine men and women took refuge to pray while on vision quests ... Down through the centuries, these conduits of the traditional way invoked the spirits of their ancestors there. This invocation included the chanting of mantras and the smoking of Gasha, a psychedelic herb that expanded consciousness and unlocked certain spiritual powers like clairvoyance and telepathy ... Both men dismounted from their horses, climbed into the ancient cave and sat down cross-legged. Without uttering a word, River Stone pulled a magnificent embroidered pipe from his coat pocket and packed it full of sacred Gasha. White Lightning bowed his head in reverence, as River Stone recited a prayer before taking the first hit and passing the pipe counterclockwise to his soul brother ... Within moments, the effects of the holy Gasha began to take hold, and the sounds of their ancestors’ voices began echoing through the cave. River Stone and White Lightning dropped to their knees and touched their foreheads to the ground to honour the spirit of the Earth ... The voices grew louder, before breaking into haunting cries of soulful wildness. As the sounds became more intense, the two seekers felt the ground shake and a luminous presence appear ... At that very moment, both men emerged out of their trance and gazed at the entrance of the cave—only to find a great being standing before them. It was the black wolf !!!

Courtesy of Henk Sparreboom ...

[feefymo]

The Rorchach Effect - Part 1

Jimmy Darling x fem! reader - NSFW • MDNI word count: 2757 author's notes: it was like a multiple birth but here we are. This is my very first attempt of a fanfiction (and it's not written in my native language) but I worked a lot on it and I hope you enjoy it. I tried to keep It simple. After mulling it over I chose to divide the fic in two parts and yes: the smut is in the second part! It's not proofread because I'm a kamikaze, yes. Little curiosity: I was partly inspired by Saltburn and this soundtrack. What else? I'll leave you to read! Be kind, pleaseee! My hashtag is #ficfymo ! summary: Elsa threw a party for Jimmy's birthday but no one knows where he ended up. Fem! Reader POV. warnings: mention of violence, and blood. I think that's it, for now. https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/track/6Huqy9WdEE3rMazEQgajn2?si=2105621ac0044260

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome.

I'm the one they call the Rorschach Woman; my real name is not important.

Do any of you know what vitiligo is? Vitiligo is a disease but in the maternal arms of Elsa Mars, nothing is bad. None of her adopted children are sick: we all have a gift, don't we, Elsa? I had a boundless love for ballet, I was busily studying psychiatry, I was a "prodigy girl" or, at least, I thought I was. Then, the vitiligo showed up. What I thought was my downfall, according to Elsa, represented the true miracle. I gave up dancing; I gave up on my dream of becoming a researcher. I lost the support of my real parents because my appearance had changed but hey! Now I have my own number in Elsa Mars Freak Show. I'm here to enchant you. To let you read the spots on my face. I'm here to interpret your minds. This is my personal test of Rorschach, offered to you, kind audience. A few dollars and you can study me, myself every night but not every night are like this. Tonight I want to tell you a story 'cause today is my best friend's birthday. The brother I've chosen. Tonight, a big party was thrown for him but there's no trace of him. Where did you go, Jimmy Darling?

Let's take a step back.

I've never seen the camp so packed. Never. If all these people showed up for every show, each of us would be filthy rich. I don't understand how it is possible and yet, Elsa must have performed one of her magics. She says she consider Jimmy her blood, so she claimed to organize everything herself. She chose a party theme: "Normal People". She call it "satire", a mockery towards those who are truly considered normal. Some of us believed her, others adapted to avoid getting into trouble. The truth is that, by disguising ourselves according to the canons, we appear even less credible. Grotesque. Ridicolous. I couldn't resist a subtle provocation, so I made my complexion uniform but with the white of French mimes. Like a pierrot. Totally painted in white, I wander around in a champagne dress. I look like a crazy moth until I find the flame. That flame is Jimmy himself, surrounded by a myriad of strangers who urge him to blow out the candles.

- Happy birthday… uhm… -

- Happy birt… Joseph? -

- Jack? John? -

- I think it's Jimmy. -

- Jimmy? Are you sure? -

- JIMMY! -

The music does not cover the murmurs nor the embarrassment that comes down like a curtain. I try to push and elbow to reach my best friend but I can't. He's standing there, nerves to edge: he looks around, clenching his teeth. He seems lost while he's trying to put an unconvinced smile on his Peter Pan face. Once the candles have been blown out, Jimmy disappears in the general disinterest. Nobody cares, the party continues as if nothing had happened, fueling an atmosphere that has nothing normal about it. It's something like a mesmerizing nightmare in the suffused lights that Elsa had placed everywhere. A luminous design that even turns into a labyrinth in the wild meadow near the main event. It should be a modern fairy tale for the privileged who want to escape from the routine. For us, scum, it's an illusion. A utopia, a warning of what we will never achieve but I don't give a fucking damn. Sincerely. If I'm still here it's not because of Elsa nor because I truly appreciate her Cabinet Of Curiosities. I'm still here for my "acquired family" and for the boy who should be the protagonist of the evening which no one cares about.

Driven by the chaos, I search for familiar faces in the dim light until I come across Ethel; she shaved her chin. She is holding a plate with a slice of cake that she has prepared herself and she's standing in the dancing crowd, with a worried and resigned look. We both knows who the cake is for: Ethel has seen his son, maybe talked to him but she won't chase him. I prefer to not disturb her but I don't give up: retreating into a slit of darkness I collide with someone and jump perhaps exaggeratedly. Paul emerges from the darkness, rubbing his side with a grimace. He wears a hideous, gigantic suit to disguise his condition. It makes it look like a sad parallelepiped. Doctor Frankenstein's Creature.

-Paul, sorry! Did I hurt you?! -

-Nah, no biggies! What about you? You're nervous, what's happening? -

-Well, uh, I'm… have you seen Jimmy? I've been looking for him all night. -

- First I saw him with a brunette, she was dragging him towards El-'s tent… hey, that's the one over there! -

But the brunette is not in Jimmy's company: laughing rudely with her friends, she passes by me in a sweet-smelling cloud of glitters. She carries with her a kind of old oil lantern lit on a gesture that makes my blood run cold: cheeky, she twirls a battered glove on her head and, in one breath of Pink Lady, she's already too far away. Even though I would like to, I'm not going to confront her and complicate things because I prefer to follow her steps backwards. An alarm screams wildly inside me and I have to comply with it by launching myself out of the tent. The humidity of the night sticks to my skin, kneading the white paint that I thought was dry. I'm a mess inside and out but it doesn't matter at all.

- JIMMY! - I call, shout and run. I run, run, run like a fugitive. A voice whispers the worst to me and maybe I'm crazy but I can't help it. - JIMMY! - I keep repeating myself but he doesn't answer. The throat burns, the feet go by themselves, swaying dangerously on the heels. I didn't even realize I had ventured onto the lawn until I felt tickles on my ankles. Fräulain Elsa's illuminations invite me to follow their aura like drunken fireflies and I, disaffected, accept. I'm not afraid that Jimmy is dead but, worse, that he's gone. That he left me alone, leaving suddenly and without me. He promised me that if we ever succeeded, we would leave together and one suitcase would be enough to move to Europe. He always kept his promises, he…

I stop, crystallized in the heaviness of the evening. I hear noises scattered throughout the maze of light bulbs: they come from a specific point but they echo and bounce in the air. It sounds like the clumsy moan of an animal that it would be better not to get close to but I obstinately follow the source to the center of the maze. Once I reach my destination I jump somewhere between horror and relief, putting a hand to my mouth so as not to be discovered immediately. Sitting on the ground is Jimmy Darling. Hunched over, he turns his back to me and fiddles with something I don't understand. He is surrounded by objects, some of which I cannot distinguish. There are a few bottles including one of vermouth still sealed, half a lemon, a shirt reduced to a pile of wrinkles in Granada Green, the other glove specially sewn for the party. Some salt, perhaps? The worst aspect, the most dramatic touch, is a pinata hanging over his skull. A lobster-shaped pinata. As I try to figure out whether or not I'm awake, a low, deep growl forces its way into Jimmy's lungs, flaying them with increasing violence. The growl is quickly turning into the pained cry of an already wounded beast. I won't respect his privacy any longer, so I walk over to him and kneel before him.

- JIMMY! JIM, STOP IT! STOP, DAMMIT! - Jimmy was on the verge of cutting off his left hand with a rusty knife but my arrival ruined his plans. He doesn't recognize me right away and his immediate reaction is to turn against me. He is much, much stronger than me but, even if he vehemently chases me away, I attack again in what turns into a blind scuffle. The moment Jim realizes it's really me, he drops his guard groggily. He is no less upset, nor willing to suddenly change his mind but he grabs me by the elbows and pushes me away roughly so that I don't end up hurting myself. Crawling on the ground, he steps back before pulling himself up and staggering but he isn't drunk. He's been drinking but it's not the alcohol that shakes him like this: I recognize the difference, also because I've never seen him in this state. In his big good eyes there is no freshly roasted coffee but boiling petrolium. His expression, a cracked mask of hatred and at the same time authentic desperation, reduced to its core. He trembles in his sweat-soaked undershirt and makes a gesture that he has never deemed necessary in front of me. He hides his hands, trying in vain to put them in his back pockets, like a child caught red-handed. Does he feel reassured by my presence? Is he bothered by it? He's gasping.

Jimmy what… what are you doing? Why?! - I ask him in tears, advancing slowly on my knees. - NO! - he spits out a scream, trying to freeze me in place. - Please… Y/N, no. Enough. That's enough. - I shake my head, I'm confused and I rub my now soaked cheeks. Gray due to the white mixing with the black of the mascara.

- What are you talking about, pleas st-… -

- SHE SCREAMED, Y/N! SHE SCREAMED IN GENUINE TERROR, I TELL YOU!-

- BUT WHO, JAMES?! FOR GOD'S SAKE, WHO?! -

He hates it when I call him James but that seems strangely to appease him. He stares at me like a madman and, in silence, seems to wonder how it is possible that I don't know the circumstances of his delirium but, gradually, lucidity returns and, at the same time, an atrocious sadness. - That… oh, fuck. She was one of the very few people to smile at me and make me sincere wishes. Did she really want to spend time with me… did I fall for it like an idiot? I do not know. It was her! She chose it, I warned her but… - while Jimmy tries to explain, he forgets to hide from me and gesticulates, so I notice a burn on the hand that he was seriously about to cut off. The living flesh fades from red to the paleness of the bladder. Grains of not completely dissolved salt outline the surface like grotesque lace. He must have poured it in. - She took off my glove, alluding to my skills as a pilot but then a heartbreaking scream and… and… I had to let it go. Instead, I tried to calm her down but she…how the fuck is that possible? How did she not know I'm a fucking freak? It was written all over the damn thing! But she knew it. She knew it very well. My attentions were the perfect excuse to defend herself. She called me a monster, a half-man, an abomination and so on, you know, what's new? But then… she burned me with her fucking lantern. You convince yourself that you have a zest, that you are used to it and yet it's not true. And, as with Meep, the day comes when insults are no longer enough. - he doesn't have the courage to look at me but what he says is intimate. Devastating. Shareable. - The bar of wickedness is raised. Of course! That girl wasn't defending herself. She squirted oil on me once, twice, three times. She was torturing me, only stopped because I raised my arms and… the fear came back. She's gone. -

I'm annihilated. Annihilated by what I see and hear, I undergo the hypnosis of Jimmy's pain which soon becomes mine too. His irises are diluted by a sea of ​​tears; suffering makes him unfairly wonderful. In the meantime I have reached him and, from the bottom of my position, I stare at him without embarrassment. I wrap one arm around his knees while the other grabs his good hand and places it on the back of my neck. He wants to take it away, he puts up a feeble resistance but he hears me sobbing and stops immediately. - Yes, Jimmy: her wish was to hurt you. This isn't a party, it's a visit to the slaughterhouse and we are the pigs. As always. - now I hold him with both arms, rubbing my face between his knees. The fabric of his trousers becomes stained white make-up until my skin is almost clean. I raise my head. My face's a palette used between stains that can be washed away and stains that my skin retains.

- Look at me. Are you looking at me? -

- I am. - he says, with the tone of someone who absolutely has to convince you. He hasn't noticed but he's stroking my hair. His eyebrows furrowed and his mouth turned down. -The kindness with which you caress me has never belonged to anyone among the few who have touched me. Not even my mother. - I'm deadly serious. I look at him with watery eyes but it's his tear that rains down my forehead. - Not even to myself. - because I mistreated myself, inflicted physical pain and consequent signatures but he… - If those are really claws, everyone should have them. Maybe they would learn what kindness is. - if I wasn't the one talking to him, he wouldn't believe me. He would mock me, it would be bitter and biting. Instead he fights with the truth that I offer him and stares at me dazed. Almost angry, hunted. The problem is that he believes me, so he picks me up and it's as if he's looking at me for the very first time. His forehead is damp with sweat, so I free his unruly curls before rummaging through my clutch bag. I make sure he follows my gestures and I take out a box of matches: I choose one and place it under the perfect curve of his nose. He flinches but stays as I light the end and, solemnly, set the piñata on fire. While the papier-mâché lobster is devoured by the flames, little by little, melted sweets and chocolate perish in the meadow. Neither of us needs to introduce what's about to happen: just as I stand on tiptoe, he lowers his disheveled head and the tips of our noses meet. It's the last chance to retract before the soft "m" of his upper lip meets my lower lip, dehydrated from makeup. In the first friction there is the disbelief of all the years in which we have not allowed ourselves and then, surrounded by the smell of burning, the kiss intensifies in an unstoppable crescendo. Jimmy wraps his bare arms around my body with the eagerness of someone who must survive. For my part, I let out a moan and cling to his shoulder blades: I realize what I wanted and how much I needed to be satisfied. Jimmy and I share the thrill of the kiss, so much so that he murmurs something incomprehensible against my teeth before parting them with his tongue and searching for mine. He holds my head as if I were water and he was drinking and he doesn't care about the cosmetic taste I have on; his lips turn pale. He slides down my neck without any self-control and I understand that he would take me here, right now. In the midst of the fire. - Wait. - I try to stop him with a deafening smooch. We are out of breath and the air is irrespirable but he stares at me with an imploring look. - How much longer? - he plead. I feel his blood vibrate under his golden skin, between the vertebrae of his broad back. - You have to trust me: I have an idea. - The smoke screen rises towards the sky and us. We… dissolve in the middle.

taglist: @taintandviolent @silverzoomies @doll3tt33 @wh0re43van @fear-is-truth + PLEASE, If you want to be added or I forgot someone, let me know!

[redmyeyes]

Pretend

Hawk left the election-night party hungry for brown doe eyes and a wide smile with milk-stained lips.

For a moment, when he had brushed past the boy on his way out, Hawk had been sorely tempted. A single nod, and the boy would've followed him out, Hawk was sure of it. They had locked eyes when Hawk was at the door, and the look of unabashed hope on the boy's face had Hawk nearly breaking every rule he'd laid down for himself. First and foremost, never fuck around in the political circles. Or, as they said in the war, don't shit where you eat. Still. He could've had the boy on his knees right this second. Or pressed against a wall. On all fours… He seemed so young. Hawk might have been his first. What an intoxicating thought. To ruin a boy so innocent.

The boy in the bathhouse, from a distance, had the right look about him. Young, and with his cap pulled low, his ears stuck out a bit, almost like— his. Close up, the illusion faded. Face too pimpled, eyes not nearly as luminous, hair too curly, not the adorable mop of straight brown he wanted. Still, when Hawk gripped his jaw and plundered his mouth, he could almost pretend the the boy's moans were from someone else.

Skippy. The name came to him out of nowhere, memory of the boy toasting him with a full glass of milk playing on repeat in his head. Those wide glasses, the milk, the oversized tweed jacket and bowtie. The boy could've been all of twelve years old except for the way he'd looked at Hawk with such playful heat in his eyes. Christ, the way he'd doubled down on that glass of milk when Hawk had given him an incredulous look. That stubbornness. Flirting, without saying a word. And the way he'd basked in Hawk's attention, like he was lit up from inside.

"Your place. Now," he growled into the substitute's mouth. He could pretend, for a little while.

It was too easy to get the kid to take him home. Hawk wanted more of a dance. He wanted protests of, I could never, maybe demands that he be taken to dinner first. As if that were the way of things. Still, the kid was willing, and he got out of his clothes fast, and soon enough Hawk was thrusting into him from behind, as the kid gripped the bedposts.

His Skippy would be tight, not prepared in advance like this grifter. Hawk would have to prep him slow. He'd keep the boy on edge for hours as he worked him open. He'd look at Hawk with those big, wet eyes and beg and beg and beg and Hawk would finally relent, pushing inside so slow as Skippy clawed at his back, his back arching, his eyes clenching shut and Hawk would pause until those eyes opened again, whisper, look at me, keep looking, and he would hold him close, keep grinding in and in and in, breathing each other's air open-mouthed until the boy was moaning and clenching and shuddering and—

Hawk slammed home one last time as he shuddered through his own release, then pushed the kid off him and onto the bed. He was pretty sure the kid had come. He didn't much care.

Hawk sat on the edge of the bed and fished out a cigarette as the kid cleaned up behind him. Outside, the world was dark and silent. Skippy would probably be asleep by now, if he wasn't still at the party. He probably said his prayers like a good Christian boy before he went to bed. Hawk wondered if his face had crossed the boy's mind tonight as he lay there trying for sleep. If he'd touched himself, imagining what could have been.

Hawk took a puff of his cigarette and blew out acrid smoke. Stupid to think about. Fuck, the high always faded so damn fast.

Behind him, the kid started yammering, and Hawk pulled on his clothes, eager to make an exit. Better to forget. Better, always, to forget. To move on as quickly as possible. That was how you survived in this world.

Still, as Hawk shrugged on his jacket and made his way down the lonely nighttime street, he paused and looked up at the sky. The stars were obscured by clouds and light pollution, and for one painful heartbeat he yearned to see them. He thought, if he did ever see his Skippy again, he might have to take it as a sign from a god he didn't believe in, and act.

[justabrunettewhowrites-stuff]

OC INTRO.

Get to know:Illarya

Full name: Illarya Juliette Penelope Kane. Illarya Kane,shortened.

Age: 20

Birthday: 21st of December: The winter solstice.

Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

Year: First year,cadet.

Dragon: Female Crimson Morningstar.

Dragon name: Vastranaar-Vastra shortened.

Dragon age: A little over 100.Described as being a little older than Tairneanach.Though black dragons were the rarest of types,a crimson morningstar is even rarer: "Crimson one?Oh,do you mean Vastranaar?No.Keep a distance.She never chooses.And may Malek have mercy on the one that does get picked by her,if someone ever will be,because she certainly will not." - Professor Kaori

Hair color: dark red - "With hair as red as the prettiest and richest freshly bloomed roses."- Bodhi Durran

Eye color: ice blue,with deeper sapphire flecks in them and the same color of sapphire manifested as a ring around the pupil.

Skin color: pale,milky white - "With skin as pale as marble milk and as flawless as porcelain.And her skin shone luminous and pale, as if it drank light from the moon itself and yet it wasn't sickly pale." - Rhiannon Matthias

Body type: Though described as average height,she has enough curves.Her chest is a bit on the larger size,but fits her complexion.On the lower part of the body,she has relatively medium thighs,though a bit thick,and a slim waist,fitting on the hourglass category and is rather toned,but not overly so.

Height:5"5' tall.Approx. 165 in cm.

Hair: her hair is dark red,but in texture and lenght it is smooth and silky,healthy,although some would be surprised when she said her hair was naturally thay color.It was also much of a surprise to some at its volume.Though it is very wavy,it resembles a waterfall of red silk falling.It reaches around her lower back,hence the term waterfall due to its lenght,being on the longer part,and is voluminous all around,framing her face and features in a way some would describe as perfect.Her hair color is considered odd,and she stands out among the crowd due to it,but also due to her eyes.

She often wears her hair in a low ponytail,though it is not tied too tightly and it's a bit loose,but still enough.That is most times,as in classes,out of training and flight,etc.The other times,she wears it loose when she is out of training and in her free time,and during training or flight classes,she braids it,to secure it.

-

Her aesthetic:

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Her hobbies:

Her signet(s): First signet,known:Illusion manipulation-includes:(Hallucikinesis, Hallucination Manipulation, Mirage Manipulation, Illusion Casting, Illusive Reality Manipulation.) And the additional,nightmare illusion,which allows her to bring someone's greatest fears/nightmares to life in the form of hallucinations or illusions,effectively allowing her to shatter their minds by them going insane or collapsing due to the sickening sensations.

Second signet,unknown,likely inherited from an acestor but is yet to be found out which one,as her family is unknown.Second signet:weather manipulation (not restricted only to storms.Can conjure all types of natural phenomena,and anything that relatea to weather,not being restricted only to a certain element or area.)

Extra: is extremely skilled in barrier conjuring or generally defense - physical and magical.

Strenghts:

Versatility: With mastery over illusion manipulation, she can manipulate perceptions, create intricate mirages, and induce hallucinations. This versatility allows her to adapt to various situations, whether it's evading detection, influencing adversaries, or disorienting opponents in combat.

Psychological Warfare: Her nightmare illusion ability adds a psychological dimension to her arsenal, tapping into the deepest fears and insecurities of her targets. By manifesting their nightmares as hallucinations, she can instill paralyzing fear and confusion, gaining a significant advantage in confrontations.

Subterfuge: The combination of weather manipulation makes her a formidable opponent. She can create illusions to mask her true intentions while nobody expects what she will conjure up next.

Inherited Potential: The second signet, though yet to be fully understood, suggests a lineage of powerful abilities. This unknown heritage hints at untapped potential and a deeper connection to her family's history, which could unlock even greater powers in the future.

Weaknesses:

Emotional Toll: Constantly delving into the fears and nightmares of others can take a toll on her own psyche. The weight of inflicting psychological torment may lead to moral conflicts and internal turmoil, potentially compromising her judgment and emotional stability.

Dependency on Illusions: While her illusion manipulation is formidable, it relies heavily on maintaining concentration and deceiving the senses of her opponents. If her concentration is broken or her illusions are countered, she becomes vulnerable, especially in direct confrontations where her illusions may be less effective.

Stamina: Despite her prowess in offense and manipulation,she lacks in stamina. While she can create illusions to evade detection or misdirect adversaries, she lacks stamina that lasts her long term.Though she is a master in defense by other means,when using her signets,her stamina can be heavily reduced,especially when both are used at once,or if she is injured already.

Identity Crisis: The mystery surrounding her family and the unknown origins of her second signet may lead to an identity crisis and a search for self-discovery. This internal struggle could distract her from her objectives or leave her vulnerable to manipulation by those who seek to exploit her uncertainties.

Clothing style:

She usually wears loose clothing in her free time,and uniform when needed.In her free time she opts for comfortable clothes,not what necessarily looks good just for the sake of appeareance.She likes comfort over appeareance,but when needed to look a certain way or if an event demands certain attire,she does it.

Dragon aesthetic:

A few quotes:

"She is madness under the facade of purity." - General Sorrengail.

"She is a goddamned mess,but she is a fearless mess.That makes her dangerous.Very dangerous." - Major Varrish.

"From what I can tell you,firstly,she's a beast.Secondly,if you're lucky,she's a lady.And thirdly,if by some miracle you get there,and you reach deep enough for her to trust you,she's an angel." - Violet Sorrengail

"Sweet like sugar,dangerous like hell.A woman of my heart." - Garrick Tavis

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"Closed off as she may be,she's a sweetheart once you know her." - Liam Mairi

"The.coolest.fucking.friend.ever!" - Ridoc Gamlyn

"Love it when she smiles.It looks cute,yet it is so rare.And no,I did not say this.If you tell her,I will personally rearrange your teeth." - Xaden Riorson

"If you do not want a sarcastic answer,then do not ask her a question." - Professor Carr

[rachelclowny]

my top ten genshin ships (and a soft headcanon i have about them)

1. cyno x tighnari

just the healthiest pairing. they communicate and talk about everything and more than any other feeling, more than love or adoration they respect each other.

2. beidou x ningguang

will never stop being fascinated with each other. their brains, their bodies, their souls.. there's always more to learn. they know each other best, but there's always more they yearn to know every day.

3. albedo x kaeya

they were drawn to each other due to their roots, but after years together they've realized khaenri'ah was never their home. there was never any peace there for them, so together they built their own. carved out their own space in the world and in each other. home has never been a place, but now it's a person.

4. guizhong x streetward rambler

FOREHEAD KISSES!! ping has a memorial to her just outside the harbor and every week she takes the trip out to it, kissing each object, telling guizhong about her week and falling asleep there in the daylight.

5. bennett x fischl

bennett is the only person fischl can let her guard down around, to be both fischl and amy to. bennett adores her and adventuring with her is his favorite thing in the whole world. somehow she always manages to keep him safe.

6. jean x lisa

biggest cuddlers. when jean is overworking herself and they're both frustrated, lisa will just hold her and wait until her muscles have relaxed. they'll take the day off, taking klee for an adventure, or just napping or reading together.

7. venti x xiao

they have never said 'i love you' or anything of the sort. those are human expressions, and they're words the two of them have never felt made sense. not to say they don't deny their unwavering connection. silent words are whispered deep in their souls every time they depart... 'may the wind lead you back to me.'

8. alhaitham x kaveh

they have their issues, but god how they trust each other. they trust each other so much. alhaitham trusts kaveh to at least try to understand him. even when it's hard, even when they're so different that their left and rights are opposite. kaveh trusts alhaitham to be real with him. alhaitham's love is honest and full of respect, and kaveh can finally breathe, knowing there's no one he has to please.

9. ei x yae miko

yae always knew eternity wouldn't last. she knew ei's plan was foolish and stubborn, and it killed her to be left behind, but she would've done anything to give ei that illusion of peace, even if only for a century or two.

10. amber x lumine

constantly writing to each other. amber can be quite the poet when she wants, actually. amber knows more of lumine's past and motives than everyone else in teyvat combined and she still loves her. it's completely unconditional adoration, seeing the cruelest versions of a person and still deciding to love them anyways.

[priestessoffurina]

So he is trying to re-create the Akasha? Typical

[snowe-zolynn-rogers]

So I finally made a slightly comprehendible list of my most common Lord OCs. Here's my powerful babies.

Lord Selene (Lord Moon. Companion is Luna, his Lunar.) Loves candy and is very socially anxious because his star wiped half his personality and most of his memories in the wipe.

Lord Hypernova (Lord Kill Code. Companion is Void, his Moon.) 30' tall megalith of an animatronic. Is a safe haven for dimension travelers and has a soft spot for versions of his children from other dimensions.

Lord Pulsar (Lord Eclipse. Companions are his Sun, Dawn, and an Eclipse from another world, Magnetar.) Age regresses, becoming quite kind due to Magnetar's influence. Loves cotton candy.

Lord Artemis (Lord Blood Moon. Companion is Telesto, his Moon.) Very kind, very depressed. Still traumatized and depressed from his twin dying in the star going off. Loves all travelers, though his universe is not particularly safe for them at most times with random spatial jolts.

Lord Styx (Lord Harvest Moon. Companion is Nyx, his Eclipse.) A mean son of a bitch at first. Gets better once he realizes Nyx has no memory. He's very sassy and snarky but kind to those who he was close to before the star went off (Lunars and Blood Moons).

Lord Luminous (Lord Lunar. Companions are all of his family; Incandescent [Sun], Phosphorescent [Moon], Fluorescent [Eclipse], Iridescent [Blood Moon], Opalescent [Harvest Moon], and Pearlescent [Kill Code].) An abusive asshole at first but, once confronted with his abuse of his companions, Luminous becomes much kinder and willing to cooperate and try to undo the century of abuse he put them through. Loves spicy food, does the one chip challenge like they're doritos.

Lord Fractal [yep I made a new one again] (Lord Solar. Companion is no-one.) Lord Fractal took in Lunar's star power in a desperate attempt to save Lunar from judgment by the Astral Bodies, which caused the powers to go haywire and wipe the universe. Lord Fractal existed in a small corner of his universe for fifty-three years in a 'paradise' where his family was no longer dead, though it was only an illusion. After those fifty-three years, he realized he was in an illusion of his own making and used his star powers to create a world for him to live on rather than floating in space (though he can't figure out how to recreate his family). Fractal is a very lonely soul simply going through the motions of his old life with his star powers giving him whispers of the life he used to have and illusions of the family he lost when his star power went haywire.

Lord Albedo [yes, yet another one] (Lord Ruin. Companion is his, Astronomy, his Solar.) Albedo became a Lord entirely by accident. When Lunar killed Eclipse 3.0, Ruin was much too close and ended up taking in some of Lunar's star power, thus leading the Astral Bodies to attempt to eliminate Albedo as a potential threat. However, the elimination went wrong, very wrong. When the Astral Bodies attempted to kill Albedo, the star power that Albedo had absorbed continued to absorb the Astral bodies' powers as well until all beings with star power ceased to exist. Because of this attempt on his life, Lord Albedo had a mental breakdown, which unleashed the star power he had absorbed into a destructive wave that wiped the universe of all but Astronomy, who was attempting to calm Albedo down at the time. Albedo has regular panic attacks, which Astronomy usually helps calm him down from. He's very anxious and traumatized, but Astronomy acts as his bodyguard and best friend to help Albedo feel safer and less stressed, since too much stress could potentially cause another wipe of the universe.

[amarynthian-chronicles]

Our Guest Chapter 2

Vampire!Sun, Vampire!Moon, Vampire!Eclipse x Hunter Reader

(You arrive at a sinister and luxurious castle with the innocent intention of checking why its mysterious residents haven't been paying any taxes or utilities for the past several centuries. Very useful excuse for a vampire hunter to have when trying to do some good old infiltrating. The three vampire lords however, fully intend to capture and seduce you, but that is a bit difficult when you keep asking them about their financial books. Will they be able to make you theirs? Are they onto your little schemes and playing along? Will you finally get that plate of cupcakes? We'll find out)

The storm continued to reign and rage, asserting authority over the night sky.

Lightning pierced the vast horizon, akin to a vein branching into infinity, pulsating with pure electrical energy.

The darkness didn't mind being defeated by such a force. If we allow ourselves some poetic freedom, we may even say it enjoyed it greatly, for the triumph of light offered a breathtaking spectacle as compensation.

Wondrous illumination, casting shades of pale pink and white, tinges of blue here and there, creating an illusion of ethereal smoke, or perhaps even a gathering of spectres, having their macabre symposium among the clouds, conspiring to terrify mortals with such a magnificent display of celestial power.

Wait for it, count the seconds, anticipation and excitement blending into one.

Finally, the roaring echo of Their Thunderous Majesty reverberated across the heavens.

Luminous lightning and threatening thunder, inevitable companions, eternal partners in crime creating a memorable show capable of stirring the sensitive sensibilities.

A feast for the senses, amplified when combined with the majestic atmosphere of the castle, echoes of thunder across the halls, shadowy corners being graced with mere seconds of flickering light as the storm saw fit, revealing all sorts of scultpures and portraits that changed details from the last time you had glanced at them. Blink and you miss it, but the promise of the whole spectacle repeating itself remained.

While your dinner was being prepared, you had asked your gracious hosts for a short tour of the household. For very legitimate inventory check purposes. It was only logical that an auditor would get an overview of the suspiciously large amount of precious possessions that would place both the Louvre and the Hermitage Museum to shame. You had also asked for further insight into their official records containing more details of the origin of acquisition and nominal value of each item.

Sun's rules had stipulated that you were strictly forbidden from wandering around on your own, so that limit was a bit of an inconvenience, but beggars cannot be choosers and you went along with it. The Viscount and the Marquis would be your primary guides for the time being, while the Grand Duke had gone to fetch the jewellery he had promised.

Alright, no problem. At least you would be getting an overview of the basic layout of your new surroundings, right? Right?

Oh, dearest Y/N, you got your wish granted in the worst way possible.

What you received was less of a coherent house tour and more of whatever type of delirium Dante had been experiencing when Virgil was taking him along on a casual joyride across the Nine Circles of Hell as if it were a macabre theme park with no entrance fees to be paid.

All aboard the Pandaemonium Express, darlings, hosted and organized by the Celestial Coven.

Viscount Sun was fiddling with an obscenely large bundle of keys, opening random doors of various shapes and sizes, revealing the contents of chambers for barely a few moments before closing them quickly after. You would be graced with several seconds of whichever horror was living its best life in those rooms, ranging from a group of ghosts and a boogeyman having a poker night, all the way to macabre apparitions and disfigured beings crawling and contorting their form all over the ceiling, chanting and whispering in unison.

Sun did his best to remain as cheerful and manic as possible, slamming another door shut to stop a few wailing wraiths from escaping.

“Nothing suspicious there, my pretty, we got nothing to hide.“

“I have questions.“

“What a coincidence, I too have questions! I had many of those over the course of my life. We have so much in common, love, it must be a sign from the universe that our souls were destined to meet.“

He opened another room that was seemingly safe to actually step inside. Cautious, you entered, observing all the paintings hanging from the walls. It appeared to be a collection of the works of Antoine Watteau, serene, idyllic, innocent. The faint lights in the room suddenly flickered, before going completely out. Strike of lightning, darkness once more, lights back on.

You blinked in surprise as you saw that all of Watteau's picturesque works were replaced by Francisco Goya's portrayals of witches and demons, Henry Fuseli's “Nightmare“ and Edvard Munch's “Love and Pain“. How fitting, especially since that particiular work from Munch had always been referred to as the “Vampire“.

“Care to explain that, my lord?“

“Optical illusion and masterful application of special effects. I cannot divulge more details than that, a magician never reveals the secrets of the trade.“

“Not that. How did you get your hands on originals that are officially in several different museums across the globe?“

“Mad skills.“

“Is that a confession of smuggling?“

“My words linger somewhere in the realm of jester's privilege, love, all to brighten up your evening. Why worry over their veracity? Perhaps it was an old gift from the original painters that had a bond of friendship with our ancestors. Or perhaps there had been a very elaborate heist some decades ago that deserves its own picture show. Who knows?“

He made an elegant bow and allowed you to exit the room first. You continued onwards in the hallway, focused on your notes. Well, as much as you could, considering the impractical writing tool the Viscount had so kindly and innocently provided.

Aesthetic be damned, the accursed quill was a nightmare to work with. You had punctured so many holes in the paper and gotten more ink on the side of your hand than on the document itself.

As Sun was closing the door, right before it clicked, lightning struck again. For a moment the paintings were covered in rivulets of blood, then all of it vanished, yet another forgotten echo of the past.

You were acutely aware of Moon's presence in the penumbra beneath the vaulted ceiling, the lunar-themed vampire's impish giggling echoing in the halls every once in a while.

He was still keeping to his theory that you could use a good and proper scare, so he made sure to keep soaring with the aid of his cord, eyes of unforgiving scarlet, giving him a truly demonic aura in the shadowy recesses of the lofty structure. He couldn't help his inner insane conductor that wished to command the orchestra of your cardiovascular system to fit his tempo.

He couldn't let Sun have all the fun with you, after all.

Moon made sure to make full use of all the hidden traps the castle had to offer, pressing sconces or pulling levers, cackling wickedly as various mechanisms would activate.

Swinging pendulums with curved blades would dash past you, conveniently missing their “target“, but still achieving the effect of being an inconvenience. Well-timed arrows being shot from hidden automatic crossbows in the walls, trapdoors opening at random, medieval knight armours coming to life and standing in your way.

Madness and shenanigans notwithstanding, you did your best to remain composed and maintain the typical indifference of an administrative official. You even asked the living armours if they had a valid permit and other documents necessary to wield glaives and other spearlike weaponry, and one of them almost began to cry because he didn't have any of that. You ended up patting him on the back and saying “there, there“ to offer emotional support.

Sun would look upwards and give his twin a stern glare, but that hardly had any effect on Moon's behaviour and barely fazed him. However, Moon did seem rather upset with your lack of fear. How cruel of you, giving the maestro nothing to work with.

Moon untied his dark cloak and snapped his fingers, letting the elegant cloth transform into a myriad of bats and sending them in your direction. From a rational perspective, one could merely interpret it as domesticated bats coming to greet a newcomer, nobody saw the magic trick in the shadows anyway.

You froze as the little rascals began to fly around you. Alright, challenge accepted. If Moon wanted to play, then you would play, but the tune would be set according to your own personal preference. We could ignore professionalism for a moment. Before Sun could take any action to stop Moon's tomfoolery, you acted first.

“Please hold these papers and quill for me, my lord Viscount. I need my hands free.“

“Wait, what?“

Animal familiars served as extensions of one's soul, and vampiric bats were no exception. It was more than obvious that Moon harboured a certain fondness for you, and therefore it made sense that his familiars would never be truly hostile to you. You held up your hand and made an affectionate coo at the dear creatures, calling for them as if they were kittens. As expected, a cute little bat landed on the palm of your hand, looking up at you with curious eyes. You patted its head and gave little scratches behind its ear.

To say that Moon almost had a cardiac arrest would be an understatement, his control over his own familiars falling apart as all of them were collectively sharing the joyful feeling of getting head scratches, himself included.

You extended your other arm, as if offering a nice resting place for the other darlings to hang onto. As expected, the bats huddled together and made themselves comfortable by hanging from your sleeve, all in a nice row. The one from your palm happily joined them.

You looked up at Moon and smiled, satisfied with your work.

“Your pets seem to like me. By my understanding, after seeing all of your contraptions, this castle operates as an unregistered haunted house attraction? It would fail plenty of safety requirements, my dear Marquis.“

“Allow me to remind you of the ancient saying about winning battles, but not the war itself.“

“What an odd war this is.“

There was a wisdom in being passive, at least temporarily. Not only did it force the other party to be active and therefore show their metaphorical cards first, it also allowed you to read more into their modus operandi. Besides, it offered an opportunity for you to acquaint yourself with certain nuances that would otherwise remain hidden knowledge. Behaviour patterns, sounds, habits, reactions, all of it was precious information.

Old rule of keeping friends close and enemies closer. Especially if your opponents were within stabbing distance. True, you could be the one that ends up injured first, but that brings us again to the usefulness of waiting for the other to initiate the lethal dance. After all, there was no greater pleasure than getting an enemy close enough to attack you, you pull out their own blade from your flesh, whisper a polite “thank you“ for the free weapon they had so kindly provided, and stab them right back. Where it counts, right in the heart.

No hurry. We got no train to catch.

You smile at the abyss, it smiles back, you give each other a high five, perfect summary of your approach to impossible situations. A puzzle to solve, a mathematical problem, and all the obstacles in front of you were a group of factors that you could play with in order to create a solution.

And, by heavens, the euphoria of solving a problem was far more powerful than any fear of death. Fear was powerless in the realm of manic joy. Defeat the monsters by showing them that you are far more insane than they could ever hope to be, letting them know that they were trapped with you and not the other way around.

Speaking of which, you had been memorizing the pattern of Moon's traps and listening to the specific sounds they produced when activated, their combination forming a sequence of notes, ascending and descending, as if he wished to create a parody of an arpeggio. Of course, it was inevitable for him to use musical theory on absolutely everything. If your calculations were accurate, then you knew exactly what would be coming next.

You had also noticed that the arrows were adjusted to miss their mark by exactly ten centimeters, and a tiny click would be heard right before they were released.

Focus. You had to utilise another part of yourself, the one that only understood cold discipline, the same sober force that had broken the hypnotic spell the trio had placed you under when you first arrived on their doorstep.

Let the Northern wind banish the euphoria away for the time being, it had done its part of providing insane genius. Allow frost to take over, you needed the calm precision of Winter for your next stunt, turn off all primary instincts. There it was. Reach for it. Don't breathe.

Sun's eyes widened in absolute shock as you swiftly caught a passing arrow with your bare hand as if it were second nature.

You needed the events around you to go even slower. Keep focusing, there had to be a mechanism on the lower area in the corridor that could stop the next trap. Another click. You found it. Pendulums would be coming soon.

You ignored Sun's words as you proceeded to move towards a wall, noticing a small opening. More metallic sounds were soon heard coming from within. Without thought, you shoved the arrow inside with the precision of a surgeon, hitting straight between the cogs of the concealed apparatus, blocking any further motion. The pendulum that had already been released suddenly stopped mid-swing.

Silence reigned for several seconds. You heard Moon land right behind you. His thoughts were in a fine disarray, but what truly surprised him was the sound of your heart and flow of your blood. Or rather, a sudden almost complete lack thereof. The former giddy cadence had slowed drastically, almost as if you had forced your system into temporary hibernation.

Moon glanced over at the little bats that were still resting on your other arm, and he huffed as he noticed that they were napping without a care in the world, choosing to remain unbothered by their master's current thoughts as if they simply turned on a mental answering machine to receive his commands instead. Adorable traitors. He snapped his fingers, trying to get his point across, and the darling creatures woke up and flew away, refusing to form back into his cloak.

Slowly, steadily, your warmth returned, Winter melting back into Spring. It was a gradual process and you needed to return to the desired equilibrium gently. The downsides of your peculiar technique were that that you would feel very hungry after using it and more sensitive to cold when returning to your normal functions. You sneezed. Oh, damn it, not again.

You spoke, voice a bit more stern than you intended:

“I hope we are done with these tricks and traps finally, shall we move onto the next room, gentlemen?“

You stood in front of the next door, waiting patiently for Sun to unlock it, casual as if nothing even happened, while the boys were trying to process the whole situation, the lack of explanations driving them insane.

Vampires were known to be obsessive creatures, always needing to keep their mind occupied and craving answers to their questions. Curiosity and knowledge were a consolation prize when blood was not available, providing a similar ecstasy. It was therefore no surprise that plenty of them found solace in scholarly disciplines, such as music, art and philosophy.

A gentle flame bloomed in Moon's heart, slivers of desire and pleasure flickering alongside those of pride and interest. You had the audacity to cause his creations to malfunction and this only made him wish to build even more of them, he would give you all the puzzles in the world to solve, beyond those that required solutions to musical riddles.

What a hunt it could be. Finally a true challenge in the doldrums of immortality, an aurora borealis appearing in his night sky after an eternity of starless darkness.

So many new possibilities, a vampire of his calibre chasing after the only person capable of silencing their heart, leaving only the sweet scent of their blood to tease and torment him. Nevertheless, it did not escape his notice that you needed some time to properly return to normal after such a feat. He would be there to soothe you. Moon knew very well how to take care of priceless instruments.

Sun came over to your side, cautious, but very much intrigued. He returned the papers and quill to you, grinning.

“I have questions, dear comet.“

“Let me see, how was it you worded your replies earlier regarding all of those odd occurences? Ah, yes. What a coincidence, I too have questions. A magician never reveals their secrets, and so on, and so forth.“

“Using my own weapons against me?“

“Of course. I'm not going to waste those in my arsenal, have you seen the prices for new ones these days?“

There was some trouble with opening the new door, as no key seemed to work on the lock. If anything, the room seemed as if nobody had touched it in ages. Sun groaned.

“I could have sworn it was this one. I may need your help, darling. Pick a key, any key, your guess is as good as mine.“

“This one with the little heart seems cute.“

“Tenth time's the charm.“

Moon smirked and commented:

“I can always go fetch a drill.“

The Viscount made a happy noise as the lock finally clicked, but his joy was short-lived as a solid avalanche of heavy leather-bound books and scrolls of parchment comically buried him as soon as he opened the door. The Marquis burst out laughing.

“Well, that's a sad way to die, brother.“

“Shut up!“

The tomes were in a dire condition and as soon as you reached for one, the binding partially fell apart. You managed to decipher that at least some of them held some financial information, but whoever had compiled it was probably either dead drunk or not paid enough to care. You knelt down, removing a few books to help dig Sun out.

“Sir, these records are basically antediluvian.“

“So is the dust. Do you mind categorizing them year by year by yourself, love? Could take you a while, really. Days. Months. A decade. You know, I propose you just move in at this point, no problem.“

“This is absolute chaos and the charts here make no sense. Was there anyone tasked with keeping track of the transactions? Debts, income?“

Sun and Moon gave each other a look, both of them humming in thought and inspecting the vast corridors of their brilliant minds, arriving somewhere on the forgotten level that had a sign with “to delete later, seriously“ written on it.

They whispered to each other:

“Didn't we have that notary, Moon?“

“Yes, we did. Somewhere in the early Baroque era.“

“The chap's probably not alive now, is he?“

“He could be, if I play a note or two.“

Sun frowned at him, narrowing his eyes and speaking in a tone as if dealing with a troublesome child.

“Out of the question, not a topic of discussion. You can hardly control yourself once you start going crazy with your musical necromancy powers.“

“I am officially offended by such a statement. The dancing dead are always a delight to see.“

“Yes, especially that one time on the national news on a Sunday evening. Thank goodness mortals have no concept of common sense, so they proclaimed it a zombie flash mob and turned it into an annual trend.“

“You can't let things go, can you?“

There was something heartwarming about their childish banter, and you could not help but smile. You didn't know what was more adorable, their wisecracks or the fact that they were convinced you couldn't hear them. Oh, well.

The corridor was illuminated by lightning once more, drops of rain still continuously hitting the windows, providing a soothing combination of sounds, and soon enough the roar of thunder reverberated all across the castle. Personally, you would have loved to simply snuggle up in a soft blanket, with a collection of priceless hardcover books nearby for you to read, but we digress.

While the boys were still busy with their verbal swordplay, you took the time to gaze through the window. The garden area had a very intricate design, serving to enchant and bedazzle the beholder. Shrubberies and flower bed areas were placed to replicate the shapes of constellations, labyrinthine paths and lanes forming the shapes of the sun and the moon, fountains with sculptures that no master could ever replicate. It reminded you of the style that André Le Nôtre had been known for, but Sun's variation was ten times more magnificent.

The Viscount was truly an incredibly talented man when it came to visual arts, his work was breathtaking. Speak of the devil. You heard him whisper next to your ear.

“A shame that we cannot take you out for a stroll through our gardens tonight, love.“

“I see you two are done arguing?“

“We were too charmed by the wonder in your eyes to continue. You seem mesmerized. Perhaps we can enjoy them another day, when the weather permits. There are so many gazebos, labyrinths and hidden havens for us to explore together. I place additional lighting during our dance parties. Visitors love to frolic in the garden area the most. It offers a perfect shelter for clandestine activities, where gentle sighs and tender kisses are exchanged between loving promises.“

You shuddered as you heard Moon speak, his hands squeezing your shoulders, massaging them.

“An ideal location for a good game of hide and seek, in my humble opinion. Especially if it slowly evolves into a chase. Fair warning, dearest, I always win, so I expect you to place maximum effort if you want to escape me.“

“There is no greater pleasure than stealing victory from someone who is far too accustomed to it.“

Moon gave you an affectionate nuzzle, making your heart rate slightly increase, and he made sure to keep memorizing the harmonies of your blood. The skin of your neck was warm and silken. It would be so easy to puncture it with his sharp teeth and any lesser vampire would have already done so with wild abandon. Not yet, no, he craved the reward that came after a proper capture, precious and well-deserved.

Nevertheless, a small part of him would have loved to enjoy the simplicity of domestic bliss, without the thrill of the hunt. It would be nice to assist you in preparing for your slumber. Brushing your hair, letting the tingling sensations along your sensitive scalp lull you further into the embrace of slumber, singing softly or playing an instrument for you. Perhaps one day.

Your voice brought his attention back to reality:

“I do warmly recommend investing in an emotional support plushie, sir.“

“Oh? Hardly a sound financial advice. I already have one here, no need to seek others.“

“You know, since you're already at it, could you please focus your ministrations a little to the left? I am feeling some tension and ache there.“

“Of course, Your Majesty. Although, do you permit me to do my best to properly help you with that health issue?“

“Alright, granted.“

You stiffened as you felt his hands around your neck, but his hold was gentle, akin to what one may expect from a medical doctor. He traced his fingers over the carotid sinus and the vagus nerve area, applying pressure on the nerve and proceeding with a gentle massage. There were many benefits to such a manoeuvre and the effects were almost instantaneous for you, allowing you relax.

Moon had registered that your little hibernation technique had a strain on your body, regardless of your remarkable recovery abilities. Rather terrifying recovery abilities, more like. By all means, it was a miracle that you were even alive. Skill level notwithstanding, such a drastic back-and-forth change in blood flow intensity and oxygenation, coupled with the lack of an adequate presence of leukocytes when needed, was bound to temporarily mess up the immune system, create issues with blood circulation and cause muscle aches.

He focused, listening attentively. Your blood was singing softly, a gentle lullaby of past, present and future. With sufficient focus, he could read many things about you, but for now chose not to. Again, it would be too easy and there was no glory in easy prey. Oh, but how magnificent it would be to enjoy such a composition.

Every vibration was carved in the texture of flesh, almost in a similar way that sound was perfectly preserved in the grooves of a vinyl record, or the metal pins on the cylinder of a music box being able to replicate a melody. Your blood could hear all that had ever happened to you, after all. Even if all cells eventually replaced themselves, flesh regenerating and changing over the years, all of them would still whisper secrets to each other, containing them forever. For Moon, it would be like listening to a recording.

Pleasant tingles went down your spine and, surpringly enough, it did make you feel better. You closed your eyes, fully leaning into Moon's touch, much to his delight.

“I have to admit, you are really good at this, my lord Marquis.“

“The pleasure is all mine.“

He could get used to this idyllic scenario. It was certainly different from what he would feel while hunting or feeding. Each individual hunt was often a dramatic symphony that he conducted as if possessed, letting the rhythm completely take over all sanity and consume him in the same manner he would take all drops of blood that a person had to offer, shuddering from the tragic swan song of a dying heart offering the last bit of the nectar of life, grande finale, all for him, only for him.

Corpses had no music left in them. Therefore, he would keep some blood for his ink for composing, and in that way have a record of the person's inner workings forever at his disposal, along with the possibility to summon the body back from the dead if he so pleased. If there were to be a dire need for an urgent army of the dead, he could temporarily revive thousands through the usage of his own blood, writing specific notes and chords with it and then simply playing the tune on an instrument.

Coincidentally, it was a nice surprise and a change for you, as well. Any other vampire would have used the opportunity and take advantage of your vulnerability in that moment.

Your humanity was an asset that you would use regularly to lure the ravenous beings of the Night. Your scent was sweet and therefore perfect bait, especially if you were letting your heart slow its rhythm, thus tricking the vampires into thinking that you were dying and helpless. They would come, starved, ready to feast, and you would pierce their heart the moment they were close enough, unexpecting. You were silent and you were quick, moving like a midnight curse, unyielding and inevitable.

But let us return to our current adventure.

Sun wished to have his fair share of your attention once more, so he reached and combed his fingers through your hair, sharp claws caressing your scalp, sending tingles down your spine. You could honestly get used to all of that pampering, you almost fell asleep right there and then. Sun spoke:

“Since we cannot play outside, perhaps we should use this opportunity to think of a story together. The weather adds to the spooky atmosphere, after all, doesn't it?“

You hummed, still too relaxed to care what was going on.

“Will we ever get some work done here, sir? We still got rooms to go through.“

“No, I don't think so.“

“Alright, I will take the bait. What shall we make? A horror story?“

You had always been a great admirer and avid reader of horror fiction, dear Y/N, both classical and modern. However, you were of the opinion that the common perception of such tales had become rather stagnant, as if those stories had already given all the lessons and messages they had to give.

You had half a mind to one day write a collection of essays to give a new perspective regarding that particular genre. For instance, contrary to common sense and popular expectations, natural law dictated that sooner or later an administrative official or a legal professional was bound to enter the abode of a vampire.

It would be fun if you were to rewrite the whole summary of “Dracula“ into “aspiring solicitor visits a charming old vampire, helps him purchase real estate in several easy steps and this becomes everybody else's problem.“

Moon released you from his embrace and grinned.

“Perhaps a tale about a group of devilish fiends that lurk in the dark of your chamber and wait to steal you away.“

“You know, that is rather hilarious if you think about it.“

“Oh?“

“Imagine, they just sit there and look at the time every once in a while as they wait for your potential entrance so they could potentially kidnap you. What if your plans change and they just end up sitting there in the corner for nothing all night? I suppose they would read a nearby magazine or something.“

That certainly got a laugh out of him. Alright, enough tomfoolery, the three of you agreed to improvise as the story went along.

As was customary in most dark fairy tale beginnings, there was a walk through the forest. We cannot have you go with a bicycle, imagine the hassle. It would not be as frightening and serious if the handsome monsters had to jog along to keep up with you while trying to lead you astray or trick you into their clutches. Although it would be hilarious if they were to run after you with a net, but we digress.

A character named Darling Red Riding Hood was carrying a basket full of cakes and other treats, on their merry way through the perilous realm that belonged to two very trustworthy hunters that were totally not wolfish demons in disguise. Quite a lot of irony to unpack there, in your opinion.

“Gentlemen, we should make a whole compilation of parodies of fairy tales.“

“Don't get out of character, we are coming to the good part.“

“Sorry, sorry. My, such big hands you have, my dear Viscount Sun.“

“The better to hold you with, precious.“

Moon, of course, had to protest:

“I thought I would be the one doing the holding, brother.“

“Well, you already got the eyes and the teeth part, don't be greedy.“

They settled for a compromise of both doing the holding, otherwise a whole war would break out.

“Does Darling Red proceed to run or should I just make them initiate a pillow fight with their opponents?“

“Oh, no, anything but the deadly power of the pillows.“

“If we make a chase scene, I would love for Moon's character to trip over the carpet at least once.“

“How rude.“

Eventually, the three of you created several ending scenarios and agreed that you would properly choose one during the course of your stay. Under the condition that Sun makes all the notes, since you were very much done with the whole quill fiasco.

The situation was rather absurd and you had no idea how things had gotten to that point really, but you were having fun in that specific moment and it also allowed you to acquire a more relaxed perspective of things. For instance, you were very well aware that Grand Duke Eclipse was taking a suspiciously long time to get the collection of jewellery ready. What on earth was the old man doing?

Sun tapped your shoulder to get your attention.

“Any other silly ideas to note down? Potential sequels?“

“I was thinking about another ending idea. What if there never was a grandmother and Darling Red Riding Hood just used that as an excuse to trick the wolfish fiends into going to the cottage first, trapping them inside?“

“That would be very sneaky and wicked.“

“Well, so is stalking people in the forest for nefarious purposes. Double standards, I see.“

“And what will Darling Red do with their newly acquired prisoners?“

“Well, the house isn't going to vacuum itself and someone has to do the cooking.“

Sun and Moon looked at each other before cackling.

“What an elaborate plan just to get someone to do the housekeeping for you. But maybe they predicted the whole plot all along and have their own schemes. I am certain they would find a way to trick Darling Red and return the favour. Write all of that down, we got some good material here that we can expand upon.“

“I am trying, give me a second.“

“Having some trouble there? That notebook has seen some better days, I reckon. What a dangerous little impaler you are, puncturing that poor piece of paper ever so cruelly. And look at all those smudged letters, what a fine mess.“

Oh, enough was enough.

You huffed as if you were an offended princess, holding up the quill to Sun.

“I wish to return this item and report it as a faulty product. I also regret to inform you that the ink doesn't dry, either.“

“Give it some time, it is all a matter of practice and the correct position of the wrist. As for the ink, well, I hardly ever had such problems. Medieval monks used to ascribe manuscript errors to a sly demon named Titivillus. Mayhaps he is the one interfering with your efforts.“

He winked at you. You were not having it.

“My lord Viscount, falsely accusing an innocent demon in such a manner. I would feel slighted if I were him. Perhaps even file a lawsuit for slander.“

“Gracious goodness, heaven forbid, we don't need another administrative affair on top of this one. Besides, I would take this writing problem as a sign that you need to quit your current job altogether.“

“Excuse me?“

“You are excused. You see, I find myself in need of an art model. If you ever get bored of your tiresome profession, I shall be waiting, welcoming you with open arms. You should be lying on crimson velvet, inspiring beauteous images, not walking around in the rain from door to door like a street urchin.“

“Tempting, sir, but we will have a problem if you keep making me write with this torture device should I choose to stay.“

You sighed as you looked down at the ink stains on your hand.

“I do hope these markings are not permanent. Will warm water and soap suffice to get this out?“

He contemplated the answer for a while. Sun was hardly fazed by your attempts at being cold with him. Blood never told a single lie and the sweetness of yours was certainly guilty of high treason, displaying a palette of dawn-coloured emotions that no ice could keep contained. Frozen fruit remained sweet and there was no wine more precious than the one made from special grapes collected in Winter.

Sun saw artistic value in each and every gesture, shades and colours that he would make sure to remember so he could create a similar version on the canvas.

The fabric of your clothes, each lock of your hair having its subtle and delicate texture, slight curls at the ends after drying from the rain. Your cheeks, soft eyelashes, the way your eyes reflected the distant source of light, the curve and shape of your lips, he wished to immortalize all of it in countless paintings.

To your surprise, Sun reached for your ink-stained hand, holding it gently as if it were a fragile bird, inspecting the patterns.

“Sir?“

“Permit me one simple gesture to prove my devotion, same way you allowed Moon to do so.“

You blushed as his fingers caressed your skin, a part of you apprehensive of the ink making a mess on his hands, as well. You were about to speak, but words evaporated the moment you realized what Sun was doing. He traced his index finger along the stained area, commanding its shape and direction, and suddenly the ink flowed as if it were a living tattoo, rearranging itself into the shape of a comet.

Sun then pressed his lips to the newly made image, his reverence almost palpable.

“Comets are made out of ice, but their full potential is released the closer they come to the warmth of the sun, their companionship creating the vapour that forms the comet's tail. You would be doing me a great honour if you chose to be my assistant in creating similar wonders, love.“

You were certain that there were little sparkles in your eyes, but let us remain professional.

“I will keep your offer in mind, Viscount. Nice parlour trick, I'll give you that. I hope you don't charge your guests for witnessing such shows.“

“I could simply say I am freelancing for compensation that is selectively given. A donation, if you will.“

He meant what he said, he wanted a partnership, body and soul. Nevertheless, his darker side was equally potent, dreaming of your warm blood colouring the flowers on his canvas, gentle droplets on each petal, giving life to his art in ways no mortal ever did.

He was fully aware of the perils of his own duality and the consequences of losing control of himself. There was nothing more disturbing than using kindness for evil and he made an effort to only apply that part of himself when it was for the benefit of the entirety of the Celestial Coven.

Viscount Sun possessed an additional ability that no other vampire had ever been gifted with: he could freely walk in the daylight. Therefore, he was often the diplomat of the group, the link to the outside world that kept up their pristine image in the eyes of mortals. He was gentle and therefore lethal, prancing happily and collecting everyone's trust and adoration with his charm. Giving someone your trust was akin to carving out your heart and handing it over to them with a smile, the tender organ still beating in the palm of your hand.

Being the one most accustomed to keeping up appearances, it only made sense for him to be gifted with the power over images and illusions. Additionally, this allowed him to see through his paintings as if they were a magic mirror, and it was not uncommon for him to gift special portraits to those that the coven had an interest in monitoring from afar, be it either people in important positions or those they needed information on.

He did not possess Moon's hunting instincts, but he excelled in psychological torture. Allowing certain prisoners to escape, letting them spread the word to all the denizens in the local town that there were vampires living in the castle. Sun would then casually appear in broad daylight, dressed in his best suit, grinning and wishing the former prisoner a good day, watching them whimper in shock. Needless to say that everyone around them would become more than convinced that the accuser was insane.

There had always been such a joy in Sun's eyes, a kindness seemingly so sincere, as if inviting an audience to a magical wonderland of his own making, a picture he himself had painted, promising and coaxing, never mentioning that there were no real exits once entered.

You were well aware of all of his shenanigans and past deeds, which is why your common sense commanded you to be very careful with him. However, he was also adorable, so you could permit yourself a moment or two of indulgence. Reasonable dosage.

You cleared your throat when you realized you were silent for far too long.

“Out of curiosity, are there any secret passageways around here? Seems only natural, we already have everything else that constitutes a typical Gothic story scenario.“

“Yes, but those are hardly practical. Last time we installed those, Eclipse got stuck in the walls. We miscalculated the tunnel measurements, you see. After a while we heard some very cranky noises, but we couldn't pinpoint where he was exactly. Took an eternity to get him out.“

Fun and games came to a stop when a dark voice spoke:

“Why, thank you for sharing that silly story with our beautiful guest, Sun. My good name shall never recover.“

The Viscount looked over at the end of the hallway. The familiar regal figure was standing there, gazing out the window, studying the storm absentmindedly. His expression was almost soft, pensive. Sun called out:

“All in good fun, esteemed brother. We would never mock you, heaven forbid. I see you brought all of your paraphernalia with you.“

You blinked in shock when you noticed the absurd amount of coffers, chests and trunks around Eclipse, including a large jewellery cabinet that bore the crest of the Celestial Coven. The man had casually hauled over a king's ransom to your presence as if it were the most normal thing in the world, without any of you even hearing him appear.

Eyes of gold and liquid honey were now focused on you, but they did not seek to enchant you, at least for the time being. Something was different about his general demeanour. You had no idea what to expect, whether you should be alarmed, concerned or intrigued.

“Are you alright, sir?“

“Would you pardon an old dreamer for getting lost in his reveries? Also, I ask for a moment of your time, diligent scribe, it won't be long.“

“Of course, no problem.“

“Much obliged.“

Another blink and he was gone, his form disappearing in smoke. You winced, alert and prepared for a confrontation should the situation demand it. Sun and Moon both had a knowing smile, aware that their brother had prepared a beautiful show for you.

“Relax, comet. You do love parlour tricks still, don't you?“

“I think I am reaching my limit for one evening, honestly.“

The nearby window opened on its own accord, strong winds playing with the heavy velvet curtains. The passing droplets of rain suddenly halted their course, hovering in the air, before floating towards you. With bated breath, you watched them glow and transform into tear-shaped diamonds.

A single thread of a spider's web was summoned from a dark corner, undulating in the air, radiating light as its properties were subjected to a miraculous metamorphosis into a chain of white gold.

The chain proceeded to connect the diamonds together, particles of dust in the air becoming incandescent and transforming into filigree for each jewel. Unconsciously, you extended your palm and watched it land there, incredulous of what you had just witnessed.

Eclipse's voice was at your ear, tender, almost a purr.

“Alchemy is a divine scholarly discipline, morning star. A minute oscillation in structure on the atomic level can alter the physical properties of any object in existence. The same logic applies to all parts of nature, from the humble rock in the groumd, all the way to the exalted blood that courses through our veins and gives life.“

He reached for the newly-made treasure from your hand and gently placed it around your neck, his fingers lightly playing with a lock of your hair after he finished. From what he had silently observed, diamonds seemed to partially resonate with your soul, but didn't quite fit to serve as its new home. The energies of your spirit kept interchanging during the evening while you were playing with his brothers, vernal bliss turning into a kingdom of frost, back and forth.

What other jewels would be appropriate for your spirit? Emeralds? Indicolite? When it came to your inner essence, it was important to dedicate the diligence of a true craftsman that was observing the structure of a gem under a lens. Moreover, it was of crucial importance to match the energy of the blood with the proper stone.

As for you, dear Y/N, you had no idea whether you should continue to marvel at all of the wonders presented to you, or if you should start to lowkey panic over the amount of spiritual energy that the Grand Duke had accumulated in his considerably long career of snatching human souls by sealing their blood in jewels. Alchemical transmutation was a monstrous power and to see its application was both incredible and terrifying.

Alright, you had already been aware that he would be the most dangerous out of the three. Nothing new. However, you required more information. You were mostly acquainted with the way Sun and Moon were able to use their powers in practice, as well as knowing where they drew the line and boundaries they would never cross. You needed to have the same experience with Eclipse to properly build a strategy against him. Another mathematical problem to solve, a challenge, a mystery to unravel.

The Grand Duke placed a finger under your chin to get your attention.

“A miracle, our darling is speechless.“

“I am merely processing the fact that you could singlehandedly crash the entire international gem market this way.“

“Oh, my, how villainous of me. I should be stopped.“

“Well, that is why I am here, correct?“

“Beauteous Venus, bright herald of both morning and evening, you combine within you the lethal gift of dawn and the comforting shelter of dusk, but I assure you, your little inspection will never make this noble house fall. Now, shall we continue?“

With a swift motion, he produced a golden key out of thin air and made his merry way to the many chests and coffers he had brought, opening them and revealing all that was stored within. Handmade music boxes, pocket watches, rings and bracelets galore, crowns, diadems, sceptres, various complex tools and instruments, bejewelled daggers. All of it made by his own hand.

Sun and Moon did not wish to remain on the side and they happily joined the fun, helping you unbox priceless items as if they were regular Christmas gifts. Giggling, you playfully placed a tiara on Moon's head and plenty of rings on Sun's fingers, as well as an obscene amount of pearl necklaces around his neck.

“We look ridiculous.“

“On the contrary, I think this appearance will be very useful should you ever apply to work at an airport.“

“How so?“

“With all those sparkles, it will be very easy to help navigate the plane to where it needs to land.“

“Very funny.“

A few items caught your eye in particular. With childish curiosity, you reached for the ornate sabres that were stored in one chest, the quality of their material and design beyond description. There were various other types of swords, such as elegant rapiers and light smallswords. Blades were a thing of immense beauty and you harboured almost the same type of weakness for them as you did for chocolate cupcakes. And books.

As was expected, Sun was quick to reprimand you.

“No, no, sharp objects down. Bad comet.“

“But they are pretty.“

“You will poke someone's eye out.“

“That doesn't make them any less pretty. Also, rude. I am very skilled when it comes to duels with historical weapons, thank you very much.“

“Now, what was it you said to those poor knights earlier this evening? Do you have a permit to wield those?“

“Actually, I do.“

The economic principles of supply and demand had a tendency of functioning the same way one would expect from cosmically linked soulmates. It was in that particular moment that both you and Eclipse realised a few things. He needed a way to get to your blood without initiating a full frontal attack and you needed a way to learn how he functioned when in action, even if it was all a part of the little absurd farce all four of you were partaking in.

It was therefore no wonder that the Grand Duke took the opportunity as soon as it presented itself.

“Did someone mention a duel?“

There was nothing worse than being in the same room with an unstoppable force and an immovable object, especially when both of them had a penchant and passion for swords. Eclipse was setting down some basic rules for you to follow and you were adding some adjustments to them, especially those dealing with collateral damage. Modern fencing regulations be damned, let's go wild. The Viscount and the Marquis exchanged a look of concern. They certainly were not in the mood for acting as makeshift daycare attendants and they could feel the migraine coming in their direction in a metaphorical car with broken metaphorical breaks.

You sealed the deal with a handshake, a true professional one this time. No time for hand kissing when it came to business.

“To finalize, what will lead to direct victory, my lord?“

Eclipse tilted his head, grin widening, red circles appearing in his golden eyes.

“First blood.“

AO3

[alexanderlightweight]

Here’s a prompt for you.

So I’m thinking calculating badass Alec. He could have fought off the possession. But it was such a convenient way to get rid of Jocelyn and Alec was always one to seize an opportunity. Clary had caused him and the shadow world so much trouble in her single minded search for her mother, not caring who payed for it. It was a fitting revenge. Clary finally finds her mother only to lose her. And Alec is just another victim. Completely blameless.

Besides. As if Alec would suffer a circle member to live. Much less a Morgenstern. And Jocelyn was both.

And unfortunately for her, Clary had proved herself to be her parent’s daughter.

Maybe make it murder husbands Magnus and Alec. Magnus is 100% in agreement with Alec.

One thought I had in that vein for Clary is that the whole message from the angels was bullshit. The angels didn’t interfere when one of their own was captured and being tortured and his blood taken and used. Why in the world would they care about some runes? It was all just a simple illusion. Maybe if Clary had actually studied the material Alec prepared for her she would have realized it. Clary had been so quick to blame and condemn Magnus for taking her memories, as if it was his fault and not her mother who had actually done it to her. It seemed a fitting punishment to wipe the slate clean and leave her a mundane. She was warned this time. It was h choice really.

It’s not a coincidence that it happens on the day of the wedding. Magnus had promised his Alexander a wedding gift.

I chose to just answer the first part as I've always really enjoyed the idea that Alec did purposefully somewhat pick/influence jocelyn for revenge and i love playing with that headcanon.

i hope you enjoy! thank you for the lovely prompts

<3 lumine

-

Alec has a limited amount of time between being possessed and when Magnus will be alerted to fact that he’s possessed.

He knows that. Magnus has left numerous different magical failsafe’s on him.

It’s why he lets it happen.

Alec lets the demon take over, hanging in the back and guiding it with its stupidity in the wake of finding what it thinks is weak prey. Alec knows exactly who he wants to deal with and how he wants to deal with her.

Jocelyn Fairchild is easy to find and even easier to dispatch and Alec’s only regret is that it’s taken so long.

It will alert Magnus if Alec stays possessed any longer and so Alec kicks the demon out and lets himself be found, trembling and shocking with what he pretends is muted shock and not the side-effects of pushing out such a powerful demon.

— “I thought you were going to leave Jocelyn to me, darling?” Magnus says and he doesn’t sound upset, but he does sound irritated and Alec winces when Magnus adds, “I’d have certainly had an easier time. Letting a demon possess you? What were you thinking?”

Alec winces and then shrugs because he doesn’t think Magnus will accept the fact that Alec still considers it a calculated and worthwhile risk.

“It was a good opportunity and she’s been making waves again. I can’t trust her not to stab me in the back if it meant helping her daughter, you know that.”

“I still wish you’d left it to me.” Magnus says and he’s walking over and taking Alec’s hand.

— Magnus tisks at the cuts that must have come from Alexander’s fist breaking through the bones of Jocelyn’s ribcage.

“Good, no fractures.” He finally says after he’s thoroughly checked his boy over and then he kisses Alexander’s knuckles, each of the ones until his tongue licks away each tiny cut. “There we are sweetheart, all cleaned up.”

Alexander is smiling at him with adoration on his face and Magnus wonders how he ever lived without this. Truthfully, if it hadn’t come at the price of Alexander being injured, Magnus would have been overjoyed at hearing Jocelyn was so easily dispatched.

She’s become a thorn that Magnus has been itching to clip and now, she’s completely out of the way.

Meanwhile, with the amount of death and injury at the Institute, no one will dare doubt Alexander and that, is perhaps, the most enticing thing about the whole experience.