#the one I have in mind is a somewhat newly-turned vampire who is a bit like Mairu

[misakistaircase]

If I made a rp blog for my OCs, would you guys be interested?

[ambiguouspuzuma]

Redneck

"I mean, sure, slurping is frowned upon - but I can't well let the good stuff go to waste, right? Y'all got all them nice juices down at the bottom of the body, and it'd be a crying shame to leave them for the coyotes like the rest of the carcass. Waste not, want not, as my ma always said, back when we was coming up. You know, I never really got what she meant, until I came to be raising a boy of my own."

Princess Ekara guzzled from their victim between mangled sentences, letting the blood flow freely down her throat. They were amongst friends, secluded here between the trees. Just the three of them, and each of them cursed. She and Count Kajal went back a long way, all the way to the Old Country, and this was nothing that he hadn't seen before - and besides, he'd taken the best bits for himself.

"Well, not my own, grant you, but near close enough. I found him in these here woods, can y'all believe it? Feeding off them slow moving possoms and Lord knows what else, and I'm learning him how to live proper. Taken him under my wings, as they say. Are y'all sure y'all don't want no more?"

"I'm good, thank you," Count Kajal said. He'd brought their quarry down, and that had meant the first glut of fresh blood had filled him up in minutes. It came gushing out if you hit the artery right, and you didn't need to slurp at all.

"That means helping him with his eating, too, of course - he's only a few months undead, you see, and not yet made the switch from solids to liquids. His teeth are still coming in, if y'all can remember what that feels like. Bless his cold unbeating heart. But he's just the most precious thing, the way he tries to chew the gristle down."

Turning, as the elders had termed it, was by no means a one-off thing. A newly formed vampire had to be constantly suckled with some sort of blood - or formula, for those who preferred - to keep the grip of death from taking hold. Before their bodies adjusted, that meant red meat, and lots of it. A balanced diet, with all of the major blood groups.

Princess remembered how it had felt to turn for herself: starting to like her meat rare, and her meals often. She didn't remember much before - the mortal memories often became hazy, lost to the trauma of death. That was why new vampires needed raising: even after learning to feed themselves, they'd forgotten how to do everything else. They were basically kids, even at a century old.

"And he's teaching you the accent?" The boy sat to the right as they caught up, quietly chewing the fat. He would have been a teenager, in human years. Or a corpse. "The dialect?"

"We'll that's the long and short of it, sure," Princess replied. "To help me blend in, best I can, whilst I help him to blend his food. That's the deal we got in place. I teach him to be a vampire, he teaches me to be a regular Joe."

"A regular Joe called Princess," the Count noted, with no small amount of scepticism.

"Oh, that's no problem at all," she said. "We got an Earl or two in the town, a Duke, a Queenie, a Barron. Ain't nobody pays no mind to little old me. Even the surnames really ain't the problem, settling here - y'all get plenty of migrant labourers, Old Country families and the like. We fit in like gecko on a rock. No, the accent's the rub. I can't be talking in that high-falutin, fancy-pants European vernacular. They'll think me awful uppity, and it'll be sore thumbs and pitchforks time."

"So this is all about camouflage." He seemed somewhat relieved. "You haven't just gone entirely native."

"Well, I'm sure fixing to. The boy reckons I still sound like a bad impression, but Lord I'm trying. He says it's like I'm mocking them. Mortal folk can get real snooty like that. But I sure as Hell know they'd mock me if I was talking like we used to."

Princess paused, hearing his own scant lines on replay in her mind. Haven't, not have not. Starting a sentence with So. The old Count wouldn't have ever talked like that. But it had been a long journey here, and it had clearly rubbed off on him too.

"Oh look now, even y'all have softened it a touch, Mister 'I'm good, thank you'. This ain't the land of castles no more, and you ditch the crenellations from your speech to adjust, right? You always got to adapt to survive."

"It seems easier than the cities, at least. More space to hide. More places like this."

She nodded. "We're at home around country folk, y'all got that right. Vampires have always known that rhythm of reap and sow; the milking of the herd, the harvest of the crops. I figure the mob can't come with pitchforks if you're holding onto one yourself."

"American Gothic indeed."

"If you like," Princess said, pushing the finished corpse aside, its remnants now drying on her cheeks and throat. She'd have to show the boy how to get the stains out of their clothes. "I'm just trying to be an ordinary redneck."

[aquilaofarkham]

title: mishpachah rating: T+ word count: 3,085 summary: Five years after rebuilding the manor—and the birth of a new Belmont into the world—Trevor decides to share an old recipe with his newfound family.

For @fibulaa 💛  Thanks so much for commissioning me!

READ HERE

The first bread Trevor Belmont ate while living his newly orphaned vagabond life was so dry it cut at the inner walls of his throat. He swallowed each bite with grimace after grimace, knowing that despite the pain, the already hardened child of thirteen could stave off starvation for a little while longer. Until he tasted the faintest tinge of copper on his ruined tongue.

Putting those years far behind, he now stands in front of a wooden counter, blurry eyed and with a yawn reminiscent of a sun drunk cat. It seems clean at first glance but in every corner Trevor notices fragments of past meals which he tried wiping away once they were finished and placed on a more pristine table meant for family. Bits of salt, half minced vegetables, and crumbs of bread much softer than the ones belonging to a later childhood he would rather forget. This kitchen, warm in its early morning sunlight, was the final instalment of the manor, newly risen from the ashes. Or rather, simply rebuilt thanks to the calloused, blistered, and splintered hands. No more ruined stone, no more fire blackened beams holding together little less than an architectural skeleton. The somewhat mirror image of Trevor’s lost home has been faring better than the castle. Too many memories, fresh, ranging from bitter to incomprehensible.

Slowly, he grows conscious of his surroundings and his own self. A continuing habit of being the first to wake not just in this manor hold but in life. Reluctantly opening his eyes prior to dawn covering the landscape while still traveling alone only to drag a pair of worn boots back along a similar muddy road. Trevor never wanted to wake up before the sun. He just couldn’t bear to stay in the same place for much longer whether due to the laundry list of dangers or more often than not, his newfound hatred of whichever backwater hamlet he unfortunately found himself in.

He’s happy to wake up early. Happy to never feel a need to leave or escape, happy to know that lack of food replaced with pints of liquid pleasure mixed with death will never plague him again. Happy to prepare breakfast in a hot iron pot over a well stoked fire. What he thought he lost forever has come back, along with new additions to the family he’s carved out.

Another presence bounds her way into the kitchen and ambushes Trevor from behind. He’s not old—not yet, he’ll give it time—but years of drinking have made their permanent stay, dulling the more acute senses. Makes it easier for a five-year-old to catch him off guard. Trevor’s eyes bolt open as tiny arms hold him in a tight cage.

“Good morning, papa!”

His ears ring at the sound of Mirele’s loud voice, but at least he won’t have to worry about nodding off. He stares down at the youngest Belmont who looks as though someone had split Trevor and Sypha straight down their centres into four pieces and sewed each differing half onto the other in order to create a new person. A homunculi of messy dark chocolate hair, bright eyes shining with blue ice, full rosy cheeks somehow conspicuously smeared with some sort of dirt or jam, and enough energy to wear out an electric powered jackrabbit. 

“How’s my little monster doing this morning?” Everything Trevor says is laced with his own personal touch of affection and Mirele loves it.

“Mama and papa are still asleep. Help me wake them up! Pleaseeee?”

This doesn’t surprise him; Sypha has always preferred to savour her last moments of sleep longer than normal and Alucard is… well, Alucard.

“Tell you what.” Trevor places a lid onto the simmering pot with a heavy clank. “While this heats up for our breakfast, we’ll go wake up those lazy bones.”

“Right!” Hand in smaller hand, the two make their way upstairs into the shadowy master bedchamber. Curtains drawn with only a sliver of light cutting its singular path across the floor and over two distinct lumps covered by blankets and furs. They seem conjoined, linked in each other’s arms, unaware that a third party has been missing for long enough. Mirele plunges into the room first, jumping onto the bed as all children do when parents refuse to join the land of the conscious. She playfully shoves and cuddles her way between the two bodies who sink deeper beneath the covers, lazily moaning like ghosts.

“Mama! Papa! Wake up! It’s time to get up!”

Trevor hopes that his tactic of throwing open the weighted curtains works in a more effective manner. Listening to the rising chorus of wordless protests coming from behind, he’s pleased with the results. “Never thought I would be the one setting a good example for our daughter.”

“Do not get cheeky, especially this early.” Sypha’s response spills out like running water. It’s clear her mind isn’t quite all there yet. But she can scoop Mirele into her arms, find every ticklish spot, and illicit giggles that only canines might hear. “At least we both know how to have fun, right my sweet?”

“Vampires… nocturnal…” A deeper, muffled voice emerges from under one of the pillows.

“Something you’d like to share with us, Alucard?” Trevor quips, amused at how the other father of the household can never seem to shake off his morning dishevelment. Perhaps sleeping in a coffin would help—a very large one so he doesn’t have to be alone. Alucard reluctantly removes the pillow as tangled heaps of gold fall over his face.

“Vampires are supposed to be nocturnal. Would you rather I burst into ashes upon contact with the sun? Think of our girls, Trevor.”

“We’ve all seen you in the sun before, it’s about as dangerous as a clove of garlic.”

“I have my own means of physical protection. Far beyond your measly human comprehension, love.”

“Personally, I’ve been able to comprehend you plenty.”

Mirele stares up at Sypha, her bushy brows furrowed. “What does… comp… sshhheshion mean?”

“It’s just another word your fathers use whenever either of them want to feel smart.” 

Alucard gives Sypha a gentle pinch on either side of her abdomen. “I thought you were on my side.”

“What about my side?” Trevor asks, excelling at the greatest strength he possesses—the ability to never take anything seriously, only when he must.

“I’m hungry,” Mirele speaks up. “Hungry and bored. Can we eat now?”

--

This life is not normal, but then again it is. It always has been for them. Normal once meant coming together because of violence, encroaching darkness, and some flimsy prophecy stringing them along one dead body at a time. A prophecy which never said what had to be done after they followed it to the hard earned letter. Perhaps that’s why Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard floundered afterwards. No instruction on how to live their upturned lives.

Fuck prophecy.

They made this life by their own standards and in accordance with their own desires. They loved how they wanted to love and no prophecy could have foreseen Mirele. How she calls for her father while both Trevor and Alucard turn their heads at the same exact second. How she quickly calms herself when presented with a bowl of warm oatmeal drowning in honey and wild fruits hand plucked from the surrounding forest. But it’s not enough. Nothing ever is for someone always growing, always wanting more from life at such a young age.

“Can I have bread?”

Trevor, half way through his bitter coffee, turns to Sypha then Alucard as all three parental figures exchange glances. They haven’t the heart to tell Mirele. No bread at the ready, only the necessary ingredients and a considerable amount of flour bags to blanket Enisala. There’s the option of making it themselves, yet it depends on a certain someone’s capacity for patience.

“How do you feel about baking our own?” Trevor’s voice wavers, which he tries to mask with his characteristic dry tone. It’s been a long time since he’s made bread. Then again, helping the manor cooks was a somewhat selfish endeavour as it meant extra servings for the baby of the Belmonts. Yet his proposal goes over well with Mirele, whose inherited eyes light up at the prospect of trying something new.

“I wanna make bread! Can we? Can we please?”

“When was the last time you baked anything, Trevor?” Alucard asks, genuinely curious and with a healthy dose of skepticism. “You still won’t tell us much about anything concerning your former life, let alone the sort of foods your family ate.”

Trevor feels a twinge in his gut—still better than a punch. His two lovers, even his daughter, they only know of his mother; a matriarch in her own right. They know her name, the monsters she killed, and not much else. Trevor’s excuses: he doesn’t remember anything about her, despite the fact that he does. He didn’t know her for very long or very well, so there’s no point in missing her. Trevor did know Sonia and he does miss her, sometimes more than he can handle. Then the easiest excuse: it’s just another self-preservation tactic.

Out of this inner reflection comes an idea. It breaks tradition in a way. For the Belmonts and other Jewish families, everything is passed down through the mother—recipes, forms of worship, blood memories, centuries old tactics of bruising one’s knuckles and temples. Trevor doesn’t think this slight deviation from his culture’s norm will make him any less of what he’s always been. Mirele will simply have to pick up where he left off when she’s grown.

He doesn’t want to think about that now. She’s only five after all. One lesson at a time. 

“Alright. Gather round, pupils. The bread we’re making isn’t just any bread. Forget everything you know and everything you’ve been taught because this will be the closest thing to heaven you’ll ever taste.”

“How dramatic…” Sypha mutters under her breath. Alucard joins her amusement with a subdued chuckle. 

“I believe you were partially his influence.”

Trevor knows how much trouble he’ll be in if he puts Mirele through the most agonizing cruelty of waiting a second longer than necessary. Fearful of her pint-sized wrath, he gives everyone the order to start gathering ingredients: flour, eggs, honey, and some indulgent herbs to make this particular bread something special. As much of a strategic leader in the kitchen as he is when the world is coming to an end. With everything spread out on the countertops, Trevor guides his family step by step through the only recipe he remembers. He calls this bread “challah”, which Mirele immediately strains her freshly green vocal chords, trying to pronounce the word exactly as her father does. She quickly gives up and focuses on mixing the ingredients with an intense look—almost to a fault as bits of sloppy dough fly out of the bowl. Good. This enthusiasm is what Trevor wants to see.

Kneaded and allowed time to rise, the next step is the most important. Trevor divides the dough into four halves, then again, and again until each participant has their own handful of raw unbaked strips. 

“We have to braid them?” Mirele asks following his explanation. 

“That’s right. It’s what makes this bread different from all the rest.”

“Just like when papa let’s me braid his pretty hair!”

Every pair of eyes turns to Alucard, whose smile widens in that way which causes his eyes to shut tightly. Fangs happily bared as he pulls Mirele into his flour and dough covered arms while she giggles in delight. After they all return to work, her loaf turns out the same way as the braids she gives to him—lopsided, uneven, lacking a few outsticking stray hairs, but filled with affection and genuine resolve.

Three loaves are placed into the oven, including a fourth crudely constructed but still adequately done piece. Mirele is now more willing to play the waiting game—so she claims. Sitting in front of the oven while staring directly into its insides, utterly fascinated, oblivious to her surroundings. Unaware that her three parents are whispering behind her back. Eventually, Sypha has to gently pull her away with her bottom dragging along the kitchen floor.

“How about you and I do something a little more interesting while your fathers keep watch over things.”

“But what about the c… the calla!”

“Don’t worry, they will look after it. And we are not going far, my sweet.”

“We’ll make sure nothing burns down.” Trevor assures, despite it being Sypha who usually revels in cinders and ashes, intentionally or not.

The two retreat down the corridor past diamond shaped stained windows and into one of the manor’s smaller libraries where the cabinets reach the high ceiling painted in deep blue hues. Scattered from corner to corner are constellations of stars and midnight clouds obscuring each phase of the moon. Once when Alucard found Mirele curiously asleep atop a number of pillows when she should have been in her own bed, it was his decision to paint the library in new colours. Sypha moves aside an entire shelf of thick volumes as though trying to find a carefully hidden switch that will lead them into a secret chamber. It’s what Mirele hopes but turns mildly disappointed when the books do not in fact magically shift to reveal a stone passageway. Her soured anticipation is only countered when Sypha places a box on the desk.

“Can you guess what’s inside?”

“Is it treasure?”

“Close! You are almost right.” Sypha opens the lid just as Pandora did except there are no horrors, no evils to be wrought upon humanity. Mirele peeks inside and her eyes shine with the glistening silver of trinkets, pendants, and talismans. She resists the innate urge to reach her hands, still white with flour, into the box only to briefly experience the sensation of holding one between her fingers. Even children know when something is sacred.

“These belonged to your grandparents. They used them for protection and strength. A long time ago, before you were born, their home burned down and everything was destroyed.”

“Papa’s home?”

Sypha nods, grateful that this story now has its happy ending, slight as it may be. “However, when your other father started building the manor we live in, he found this box trapped amongst all the rubble. It managed to survive.”

“What do they say?”

Mirele points to one pendant molded in the shape of a sword. Inscribed along the curve of its ash-riddled blade are the Hebrew names of angels which must have been muttered by Sonia or Gabriel. The longer Mirele stares, attempting to decipher yet another new language, the brighter her cheeks grow red with frustration. Her mother acts quick just as her eyes begin to water. 

“It’s alright if you don’t understand what any of them say.”

“I can learn! Please, mama? I promise I’ll study really hard!”

Sypha’s lips curl as Mirele continues her begging. Oh the mind of a child. How quickly it changes.

--

The kitchen feels hotter, wafting through the air. Enveloping the room and everything caught between its walls. Trevor stands by the oven, a thick cloth ready in his hand. It shouldn’t take much longer. At least there’s no stench of something burning. Almost makes him pine for the days of his family’s massive stone oven and how he would sneak around at night and pick out leftover morsels from inside like an insatiable mouse. Not unlike the actual beasts which he hunted throughout the hallways before moving onto larger prey typical of a Belmonts’ work—or as large as his own runtish body mass could handle.

Minutes of quiet pass, still eyeing the loaves with a keen gaze. Trevor’s concentration soon broken by the feeling of two arms wrapping around his softening yet still robust midsection. Slow and careful, until his back is pressed against an equally broad chest.

“Can I help you?” He asks as Alucard buries his face into the curvature of his shoulder blades.

“You’re already helping.” The dhampir, unchanging in his physical appearance (a revelation both Trevor and Sypha refuse to acknowledge for the time being), tightens his embrace.

“Something wrong?”

“No… I just enjoy feeling how much softer and warmer you’ve become.”

Trevor’s cheeks blush ever so pinker and not because of the oven’s heat. By now he should be used to Alucard’s sudden bouts of outward affection.

“You even smell better.”

There it is. Trevor thought he would be waiting forever to hear that little jab, though said with nothing but a good heart.

“That might be the herbs you’re smelling.”

Alucard shifts around so that the two of them are side by side, cheek to cheek, as he chuckles in Trevor’s ear. “Come here.”

He doesn’t offer a kiss, not where Trevor was expecting. Instead of his lips, Alucard singles out every patch of stray flour on his face, kissing, wiping, even licking them clean. Cheek, jawline, and nose. Trevor’s expression twists into a ticklish, surprisingly delighted facade. 

“You’re a half vampire, not a cat.”

“Better to clean you now than later.”

“Always so fucking odd…”

“You love it.”

Much to his lucky stars, Trevor manages one curse mere seconds before Sypha and Mirele return. They let their daughter speak at a breakneck speed neither one can fully comprehend—something about silver pieces and whether they can teach her a new language—until one series of questions finally sticks.

“Is the bread ready yet? Can we eat it now? Can we please?”

Trevor placates Mirele by revealing the fruits of their joint hard earned labour: four freshly baked and perfectly shined challah loaves each representative of whoever did the braiding. She bounces in her chair before simmering down to an excited tremble once Trevor warns her of how they need to cool. In order to make this more of a meal, he rummages about in search of two other beacons from his childhood. He’s rewarded with one of the few fresh apples they have left while Sypha, ever in tune with his inner thoughts, grabs another small pot of honey for him.

Trevor thanks her by gently running his palm across her lower abdomen, over the growing bump. He keeps it there for just a second longer, a subtle gesture of love noticed by Sypha. Fingertips intertwined with each other, they join Alucard and Mirele at the table as the midday sun shines golden through the windows.

[superspookywombat]

Treetops {j.h}

Request:  “(Can you make it super angsty and fluffy please 🥰)

But can you make one where I’m walking around and get attacked by a vampire. Edward gets there just as I’m about to die and I beg for him to change me so I wouldn’t have to leave Jasper (he’s my mate) and he’s so sad for me because he feels like I’m a sister to him so he changes me just as my eyes close. He freaks out and takes me to the house where Carlisle is and Carlisle eases his mind that he had done it just in time(like with Bella in the end of the last one of breaking dawn part 1) . Then he when Jasper can’t find me he goes home all sad and worried and as he walks in Edward sits him down and tells him. He feels really bad and sits down by my side holding my hand just waiting as Alice and rose changes me into a cute summer dress. When I wake up it kinda like when Bella dose and Jasper is not there when I do so I end up going to look for him. In the end we just cuddle just happy to be together and read my favorite books.” from @faithie-brock-gillespie01​

Warnings: one use of a derogatory term (not a slur or anything), mentions of scars and nakedness but not too graphic in either

A/n: sorry i’ve been away for forever. yes, i’m still active and i see everything people send me (dm wise or in ask-form) anyway, i really really love this and i hope you do too

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You know it’s a bad idea. Growing up, everyone always told you not to walk alone at night. But, being the independent person you are, you took self defense classes and never went far without your pocket knife. But over the past year, being surrounded by your boyfriend Jasper all the time made you loosen the reigns a bit. Soon, the countless hours you spent in your basement practicing Hammer and Heel Palm strikes were faded lessons that sat collecting dust in the back of your mind. You didn’t have to worry about defending yourself when Jasper was always around to do it for you, and after graduating college, you would be almost indestructible like him anyway. So, yes, you know better than to be walking through the forest, in the dark nonetheless, but anger has clouded your common sense and that’s the excuse you were currently using to make yourself feel better.

The tall trees on either side of you make you feel claustrophobic. You take deep, shuddering breaths as you fight back tears. So maybe you’re sensitive, you’ve been told once or twice, but the thought of someone you thought to be one of your closest friends gossiping and spreading hurtful stuff about you would make anyone's throat tighten. Your roommate had approached you earlier in the week, she was planning a huge birthday party for your best friend back home in Forks. Of course you’d come, you said. You came home every weekend anyway, courtesy of your super generous boyfriend and his very illegal speeding. He even dropped you off at the party, which is what led to you running through the woods.

You had shown up to the party, a bottle of your best friend’s alcohol of choice in hand, and a black dress that stopped just before your knee tight on your body. The loud, booming music hurt your ears, but you soldiered through and greeted your friend with a hug.

“Happy birthday!” You said, a large smile stretching across your face. She laughed pulling you into her arms. 

“I wasn’t sure you were coming.” Your roommate that stood next to her said. You gave her a confused look, pulling back from the hug.

“What do you mean? Of course I’d come.” You said laughing it off. Holding up the alcohol, you asked where to put it.

“Over on that table.” Your best friend said. You smile and walk off, placing the hefty bottle on the colorfully covered table. You went to grab a solo cup, a glittery 22 printed neatly on the plastic. Filling it with your alcohol of choice, you brought it to your lips to take a sip.

“Should you really be doing that? While you’re.. You know.” A voice came from your right, and you glanced over to see a friend of your best friend.  

“While I’m what?” You asked, raising an eyebrow. Waiting for his response, you took a sip of the bitter drink.

“Pregnant.” He said. You choked on the alcohol, coughing as it dribbled down your chin. 

“Excuse me?” You asked, grabbing a napkin to wipe the drink before it reached your dress. 

“I just- I don’t- everyone’s been saying that you’re pregnant.” He sputtered, a pink tinge on his cheeks evident even through the flashing lights of the party.

“Well I’m not,” You chuckled nervously, somewhat amused. You leaned closer to him, lowering your voice. “Where did you hear that?”

His eyebrows furrowed. He leaned in close, mimicking what you had just done. When he murmured your best friend’s name, a cold sweat washed over your body. Your hands shook as you placed the drink back down on the table. Leaving him behind, you walked over to your best friend and grasped her arm, pulling her away and upstairs into a spare bedroom. 

“Tell me it isn’t true.” You demanded, fury igniting flames in your heart. She shut the door behind her, setting her drink down on the dresser.

She laughed dryly, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning on one leg. “Of course it’s true.”

“Why would you say something like that? You know I’m not.. Pregnant!” You yelled, stepping closer to her. 

“Don’t act like you’re so innocent. With all the unprotected sex you brag about having, you might as well be!” She said, matching your voice level. 

“It was one time! And he can’t get me pregnant anyway, I already told you that!” You replied, fighting back tears that tried to escape. 

“So? Who’s to say that you aren’t sleeping around with other people? Play stupid games, you get stupid prizes.” She said, rolling her eyes. 

“I’m sorry, I’m really really sorry. I didn’t want to, Professor Michaels-” You started to say, but she slapped you before you could finish what you were saying. 

“I would never! Why would you do this? I thought we were friends?” You asked, hurt laced in your voice. She moved closer to you, the smell of alcohol creating waves off of her breath.

“I told you not to enter the contest. You knew how much it meant to me and you still entered. And you won. My parents won’t even make eye contact! They’ve taken away my weekly allowance!” She said, tears spilling over the heavily lined lower lid of her eyes. She poked a finger to your chest, causing nerves to fire up in pain.

“Professor Michaels this, Professor Michaels that; You’re probably sleeping with him too, you slut!” She screamed, clenching her fists at her sides. You take the full cup from the dresser, and splash her in her face. You both stood in silence for a moment, before you turned on your heel and briskly walked out of the room, slamming the door so loud that you could hear it over the music. People watched as you came down the stairs, but you avoided their gaze and ran out the back door into the cool night sky. You had almost brought Jasper to the party, schedules had finally lined up to introduce him to your friends since freshman orientation. Now you were glad you hadn’t. You hadn’t even thought about calling him for a ride, you were too blind with rage. But you’d soon come to regret letting emotions cloud your judgment. 

The smell of wet earth comforts you as you double over, hands on your knees and taking large gasps of air. As much as you would love to lean against a tree, you just bought this dress and you’re not ready to ruin it quite yet. You shiver, standing up straight and hugging yourself, trying to retain some warmth. As you look around, you notice that the only light in sight was the moon. The house is nowhere to be seen, and you pull your phone out of your pocket to see that you don’t have cell reception. Suddenly you aren’t cold anymore, your face flushing with anxiety as your newly calmed breathing speeds up again. But then you hear something that causes a false sense of security; footsteps. 

“Oh thank God.” You say, turning around. Before you can make out who’s there, you’re knocked to the ground. A sharp pain tears into the inside of your elbow, and you scream out in pain. Tears fall down your cheeks as you take a sharp intake of breath. 

“Jasper!” You scream at the top of your lungs. You know it’s a stretch, but the Cullen’s house is only a few miles away and there is a chance they could hear. “Please! Someone hel-”

A cool hand clamps over your mouth, snuffing any chance of words to escape. You sob as your blood drains, your body starting to shut down. As black starts flooding your eyesight, your attacker is flung off of you and crashes into a nearby tree. You gasp, fumbling to put pressure on the gushing wound. You curl into a fetus position, the sharp earth pressing into the skin of your face nothing compared to the gash in your arm. You can’t see well, but you can make out the garbled voices of Jasper’s brothers, Emmett and Edward. You think you hear Rosalie too. 

“Take care of y/n, we got ‘em.” Emmett says, referring to you. You feel cool hands lift your limp body, and you groan.

“Jasper..” You say. Tears stiffen your cheeks as you grow tired. Your eyes flutter closed and hands grasp your numbing arm. 

“It’s torn to shreds, there’s no chance of survival.” Edward says. You aren’t sure if he’s talking to you or himself.

“Please,” You muster the strength to say two more words. You just need to say two more words. “T-Turn.. Me.” 

“I can’t.” He says. You want to respond, but your body finally goes fully limp in his arms, and he makes a split-second decision. He buries his head in your neck and sinks his teeth in. You don’t feel it immediately, but soon, fire roars through your entire body. You groan in pain, not strong enough to make anything louder. Before you drift off, you feel wind whipping past your hair as you’re carried through the forest.

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“Carlisle!” Edward calls out, carrying your unresponsive body in his arms. He practically flies up the stairs into Carlisle’s office, and Emmett opens the door before he can kick it down. The doctor strides over, eyebrows pulled together in worry.

“What happened?” He asks. Edward’s at a loss for words, his mouth agape. “Edward, what happened?” 

“We- I- There was screaming.. And then we found a newborn on top of her. Her arm is torn to shreds, there’s no way she would survive it.” Edward says, his gaze avoiding your body. Carlisle senses his uncomfort, and motions for him to set you down on an exam table. You lay on the vinyl, looking almost peaceful if it wasn’t for the blood slathered over your neck and upper torso. 

“Tell me I did the right thing..” Edward pleads. Carlisle glances up at him while examining your arm.

“She would have been turned regardless. You just sped up the process.” He reassures. Edward, obviously, can tell that Carlisle is being sincere. You had literally asked for it, of course, but still he felt guilty. The taste of blood on his tongue became too much, and he turned around, stalking out of the room. Though the door shut behind him, it was reopened by Esme, peeking her head in. She brings her hand to her mouth, clearly shocked. 

She walks over, yet still keeping her distance. “Someone needs to find Jasper.” She murmurs through her palm.

“Bring me water and a sponge, please.” He asks softly, pain straining his voice. Esme nods and leaves. Carlisle sighs, placing his hands on the table and looking down at you. When he first met you, he was worried. He knew that you were intelligent and was scared that you’d figure out their secret prematurely. But soon after, you weaseled your way into their hearts. It was only a few months in when you found out, and it shocked everyone with how nonchalant you were about it. Then about a month after that, you discussed your future with Jasper and decided that after graduation you’d join them and their undeadness. That was the plan.

Downstairs, Edward’s phone rings. The caller ID says his brother’s name, though he’s not sure how to answer. 

“Hello?” Edward answers. ‘Hello’ seems too relaxed, he thinks. 

“Alice called me. She said she can’t see Y/n anymore. Something happened at the party and she’s not answering her phone.” Jasper says, sounding as out of breath as a vampire can. Edward glances at Rosalie, whose face is neutral, though she seems to find comfort in Emmett’s arm around her.

“You need to come home.” Edward says, then closes the flip phone and drops it onto the couch. It rings again, but the room remains still until Esme brushes past with a tub of water and a sponge.

“He’s going to need your support.” Esme says. Rosalie looks up and crosses her arms, shrugging from Emmett’s embrace.

“He should have known better than to get attached to a human.” She says, though halfheartedly. 

“I’ll ground you.” Esme warns as she ascends the stairs. She knocks on Carlisle’s office door, then enters. Placing the bowl down next to him, she hugs him from behind and wraps her arms around his stiff torso. Pressing her head between his shoulder blades, he relaxes in her hold. “He did the right thing, right?” 

“I.. I believe so, yes. Jasper would be ruined without her.” Carlisle says, not sure if he’s reassuring himself, or her. “You can leave, I need to get the blood gone before he gets here.” 

“He’ll be here soon. Edward hung up in him.” She responds. Carlisle sighs, and grabs the sponge, dipping it in the water. He drags it over your exposed skin as Esme exits, red, watery streaks running down and pooling in your collarbone area. He leaves the areas covered by clothes for Alice or Esme to clean, not that he expects there to be much there anyway. Once you appear to be blood-free, he takes a large bandage and covers your arm, but is soon interrupted by a door slamming and glass shattering on the lower level. 

“Carlisle’s up there, y/n’s in good hands.” Edward says, placing a tentative hand on Jasper’s shoulder. He shakes off his brother’s touch, striding up the stairs three at a time. He enters the room and rushes over to you, his eyes examining every inch of your ghostly silhouette. He hesitates, but then takes your hand and presses it to his lips. He closes his eyes, feeling as close to crying as he’s ever felt before. A chair scraping the floor takes him by surprise, which is something that doesn’t happen much to vampires. 

“What happened?” He murmurs, lips tickling the soft skin on the back of your hand. He sits in the chair Carlisle offered, but doesn’t take his eyes off of you.

“Newborn attack. Edward, Emmett, and Rose found her.” Carlisle says. Jasper stares blankly at your paler-than-normal face. 

“She was supposed to call me when she was ready to leave. Why was she in the woods?” He asks. 

“I can’t answer that.” 

“Will she.. Is she going to wake up? Will she turn?” He asks. Carlisle folds his arms and leans against his desk. 

“I think so, yes.” He answers. Jasper looks at his father for a moment, then returns his gaze back to you. “All we can do now is wait.” 

After a few days, you started to show signs of improvement. You had slimmed out in some places, filled out in others. The warm hues of your skin color had completely drained, and there was a raised scar on your neck from Edward’s venom. He tried very hard not to think about it, but whenever he saw it he felt a twinge of jealousy in his belly. If Edward had heard him think it, he was generous enough not to mention it. Turning someone is intimate, for most vampires at least, and he had been looking forward to a special night. He’d give you a few more ‘human experiences’ (wink wink) and then bite you before returning to the Cullen house. But now his brother had laid claim on you, whether it was intentional or not.

Alice bounds through the door, Rosalie in tow. Rose holds a dress folded over the crook of her arm, a flash of what Jasper recognizes as your favorite color all over it. Alice flips you onto your side, rather roughly, and Jasper jumps to his feet.

“What are you doing?” He asks. Rosalie unzips the back of your black dress and starts to pull it off of your shoulders.

“Getting your girlfriend naked.” She says, fighting back a smug smile. Jasper holds his hand up, shielding your body from his view.

“Nothing you haven’t seen before, Jas.” Alice says with a chuckle.

 “Not while she’s unconscious.” Jasper takes one last look at your unobstructed face, then leaves the room. 

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Turn me. Your words echo in your mind, and you jolt into a sitting position. You blink a few times before your eyes come into focus. You glance down, your hands turned palms up. You can see every fine detail of your fingerprints, the undersides of your fingernails darkened from clawing at the earth, but the tops freshly painted over. Your hair flutters down over your eyes, and the sun shines through the strand, creating a glowing effect that you’ve never noticed so intensely before. You swallow, your throat feeling like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together. You run your fingers over your neck, lips parting when you feel the puckered skin that.. Edward? No way. You slide off of the vinyl exam table and your bare feet touch the floor. You skate across to the other side of the room to a floor length mirror, and you gasp when you see your reflection.

It doesn’t much look like you, but it mimics your movement and expressions so well that it must be. Your hair has grown at least half an inch, and your body is sleek and toned. You run your palms down your torso and the thin, silky fabric of a fit & flared summer dress makes your insides smile. You twirl, feeling light on your feet, and the fabric flows around like a graceful tornado. You laugh, a melodic, bubbly sound bouncing off of the walls. The noise comes to a halt in your throat as you catch a glimpse of your arm out of your peripheral vision, however. You pull your arm into your full vision, and feel almost lightheaded when you see a large area of the skin patched together and covered in a thick bramble of scars. There’s a knock in the doorway, and you let your arm go limp before taking a hesitant step towards your boyfriend. 

“You’re awake.” He says. You nod. “Are you thirsty?” You nod again. He takes a step forward, and in a moment, you meet in the middle and he sweeps you into his arms. You inhale his scent, stronger than you’ve ever smelled it before, as you rest your head into the crook of his neck. 

“I’m sorry.” You say, and though it doesn’t really sound like you, the words come from your heart. He inhales your scent too, nuzzling his nose into your hair. 

“For what?” He asks, but the strain in his voice lets you know that he knows. You turn your head, your cheek on his shoulder, and close your eyes.

“We had a plan.” You say. 

“It’s okay.” He reassures. You can feel the calmness radiating off of him in waves of serenity, and since the night in the woods, you’ve craved this more than anything.

“I love you.” You say, and even though it wasn’t the first time exchanging those three words, it was the first time they held such an impact. 

Two months have gone by, and vampirism suits you well. You moved out of your dorm, and now you’re finishing your degree virtually. You cut off ties with your college peers, and found a new community back home. Jasper almost never left your side (save for book club every other Tuesday) and you both decided to get married the next spring. 

“Shh, I’m trying to read.” You lightheartedly complain, gently pushing Jasper and causing him to almost fall off of the tree you both are lying in. The branch dips slightly as he redistributes his weight to support you resting against his chest. His arms hold you close as you try to focus on the book in your lap, but between the view of the water from the treetop and his persistent need for attention, you fail. He snatches the book from your lap and softly grasps your chin, turning your head to bring his lips to yours. 

[malethirsty]

Loyalty - Tyler Lockwood

Summary: When Klaus’s #2 makes eyes with you, Klaus sets the two of you up. But when you encounter an issue, it’s down to you to pull through for the both of you.

Warnings: M/M smut (21+), Bareback (However Orgasm occurs once Tyler pulls out, make of that what you will), Homophobic comments, Elena and co. become villains

Inspired by: https://twitter.com/MaleThirst/status/1196818509830819841

Life had changed drastically since Klaus had found out how to make hybrids. He moved you quickly into his house & got his new army to guard you in case Elena and her friends tried to pull any punches, The Council did indeed cut you off, but the Mikaelson fortune was extended to you by Klaus & the day spent shopping with Rebekah helped you both to bond. What was the most surprising thing was that you were now spending more time with Tyler Lockwood. You expected Elena to surround a support group around him, or ask him to spy on Klaus, but she ditched him, as it had been found out that Klaus had sired Tyler, and thus Tyler was now fiercely loyal to him. It was good to have someone else to share an admiration for Klaus & on days when the Original Hybrid had to battle against Damon & Mikael, you took time with Rebekah to train the newest hybrid. It was a Friday night that you all finally got to take a break from hecticness of it all. “Don’t you usually go to the Mystic Grill on Fridays, love?” Klaus pondered as he saw you flopped down, trying to find something on Netflix. “I mean I would, but Elena and all her friends are there, and I know they’ll send me out of the bar.” Klaus could tell you were still a bit down following your exile & leaned in to give you a kiss “Y/N, You need to boost your confidence. I’ll send Rebekah to watch from afar, but also, to make them that much more pissed, tonight I’ll send you out to the Mystic Grill with Tyler as a date, make Caroline jealous.” You snorted, it did sound like a good idea but “Is Tyler up for this?” You asked, you wanted it to be his idea & not Klaus planting him there “I asked him, he said yes. He also said he has a thing for you as well, so I’ve booked you next to her hotel room where she’s staying for the night before flying out for some Miss Virginia thing, keep her up all night.” “And how would I do that?” Klaus leaned up to whisper in your ear “You know how love. Do you always do with me every night” you knew that Klaus meant to fuck Tyler and while the idea sounded good.

“I’ll let Tyler know to be ready at a quarter to 8.” Klaus smiled, dimples on show as you headed into the closet, to pick out some good clothing. In next to no time, whether it be a need to impress you or due to his newly acquired speed, Tyler was ready & waiting as he walked you down the street, hand in hand. Right behind you was Rebekah not only your escort but also giving dirty looks to those who were giving you & Tyler side eye, which was comforting to you, it was nice to know Klaus, Tyler & Rebekah at least cared about your wellbeing, even if the world around you was less than sympathetic. As you entered the Mystic Grill, you saw the majority of the building taken up for Caroline’s big title party. Rebekah positioned herself near the door as You & Tyler selected the same secluded booth that you had gone to the night You & Klaus became partners. Ordering your usual Chips & Garlic Bread, Tyler ordering the same with a massive burger, you eventually opened up the conversation. “So Klaus told me about you having a thing for me.” Tyler gave a slight grin “When did you know & why didn’t you tell me earlier?” “Well it was a while ago, after Dad died, I realised I was free from his vileness, and I was going to tell you after the funeral, but then everything with Mason and turning happened, I threw myself into what I had become instead of managing both my crush & that.” Tyler swallowed, clearly not used to letting out a lot “It’s alright Tyler, you went through a lot so quickly, I’m not angry and you had every right to work on yourself before hand.” Tyler grinned as his burger got placed on the table “Jesus Christ, That’s massive! How are you gonna get through that?!” Tyler shrugged “You know that before I was a hybrid, I played football right Y/N? I’ve always had a big appetite.” “What exactly is the appeal of football? I’ve never understood.” Tyler shot a grin at you “Y/N, tonight I’m gonnna give you a crash course.”

And indeed he did, outlining the rules of the game, his favourite team and some spectacular moments that he had achieved with Mystic Falls during his tenure as a player. Usually you’d scoff at sport talk but Tyler was so engaging in great conversation, that you didn’t mind a second, and as much as you listened to him, he listened to you discuss your likeness of musical theatre with the same enjoyment plastered on his face as you had when he talked. “Y/N, I’m having one of the best date nights ever, Little Miss Blonde over there couldn’t compare” you were about to start laughing when at that exact moment, Elena’s group came over to your table. “Well hello there” Damon said somewhat curtly “Hello Damon, I guess you’re here to intimidate us” you responded, “Now Y/N, me intimidate, never!” Damon mockingly feigned outrage “Well it’s not for the bourbon since there’s none at our table” you quipped back, Elena stepping in. “No we aren’t here to intimidate, we wanted to take a look at the man who stabbed me in the back last week, who sold us all to Klaus, who made me a blood bag, how you had the nerve to show up at our bar and stage some sort of mock date to get under Caroline’s skin”. Whilst Elena was right about trying to get Caroline riled up, she had no business questioning Tyler’s feelings for you, which made you angry, and looking over to where Tyler sat, you noticed he was gripping his fists angrily, trying bot to let an outburst emerge and ruin the night. Looking to your left, you saw Rebekah had heard what was going on and had stepped up from her table, with your own group of friends ready to back you up, you decided that you might as well strike back, wasn’t as if she could do worse “Wow Elena, your ass is jealous at the amount of shit that just came out of your mouth” Seeing Elena’s shit eating grin thinking that she had intimidated you fall was quite possibly the sight of the year, but you weren’t done, not at all “Firstly, Tyler was close to dying, so if I hadn’t said anything, he wouldn’t be here, also when was the last time any of you acknowledged me in your supernatural group of expertise? I didn’t owe you a God damn thing. And this ‘mock date?’ How would you know that Tyler’s feelings are genuine?” “Because I dated him for several months & as an ally I can tell when someone has feelings for men.” Caroline said now stepping forwards next to Elena to survey the scene. You turned to face Caroline, intending to give her the same verbal lashing as Elena “It’s about time someone told you Caroline, but having a group of Gay Friends who help you shop & quoting lines from RuPaul’s Drag Race does not make you an ally, it makes you an insufferable cunt.” A snorting laugh came from your left, and without turning, you knew that Rebekah had enjoyed your comment Now Caroline was looking like she’d been hit over the face with how red she’d turned, embarrassed she’d been called out at her party, good.

“Why would you have even gotten up with Klaus though?” Inquired Bonnie, “Yeah, what did he offer you: Money, Power, Immortality?” Jeremy seconded. “Nothing, what he did do was tell me about his loneliness & I remembered the times I felt pushed out and I thought if others could give me grace after being tossed to the side, the least I could do is return it to others.” “Oh Boo Hoo.” Damon prodded in, “Klaus is making an army without asking any of the wolves if they want in.” “How-” Tyler began angrily and Rebekah’s feet began to stomp towards the table, which Elena & Bonnie had acknowledged by the look of intimidation on their faces, however you stood up very suddenly, determined to stand your ground “How’s Vicki? Did you make sure she wanted to be immortal? You know, after you gave her your blood & snapped her neck.” An uncomfortable silence filled that section of the bar. “Bonnie, how is carrying Anna’s death going? You know the woman your current squeeze was dating? How were all the vampires minding their own business going before you tripped up the device & caused so much disaster, that almost caused Jeremy to die? Wasn’t that because all vampires were the same?, a pity story after your Grams passed, yet you stand with Damon and have the audacity to lunge after me. And you two” Y/N pointed at Elena & Jeremy, “You two are cut from the same cloth. Jeremy you knew about Bonnie tripping up the device, killing Anna & yet you two are dating and Elena you complain about Klaus needing your blood for something so little as turning which is somehow so bad, yet when Katherine didn’t open her legs to welcome Damon, he snapped your brothers neck, yet you forgave him somehow. I’m not saying you can’t forgive him, but if you’re going to let Damon’s miniature things go, then you need to let Klaus’s go. I’m aware that Klaus isn’t the picture perfect idea of humanity you all want, but you keep excusing the darkness in your own supernatural partners, not to mention yourselves, so you have some nerve isolating me like I’m the only one lavishing in it. Stay the fuck away from me.” You grabbed Tyler’s hand and marched out of the Mystic Grill. “Nice work-“ Rebekah began, but in your angry mood, you marched right past her with Tyler in tow. “Rude” she muttered under her breath as she reached for her phone to tip off Klaus that whilst you’d blown her off, you finally grew a backbone.

You walked several streets in a huff before stopping to breathe, at that point, Tyler hugged you. “T-Tyler, are you alright?” You questioned, “Yeah, it’s just that you could see me getting angry and you stood up for me instead. You were so scared of being confronted by them, but you stood your ground to their faces. You may not have faced down a vampire or a wolf, but you Y/N are the bravest out of us all.” You smiled “Thanks Tyler” he leaned in & kissed you. You took a moment to let Tyler endulge before you began to kiss back, running your hands down Tyler’s back before you were slammed into the lamppost. Whilst you wanted Tyler, you didn’t want to be written up for public sex, so you broke the kiss “Let’s get back to Klaus’s and continue this there.” “But what about antagonising Caroline?” Tyler questioned, but you had your answer ready “I think we’ve antagonised her enough, besides she’d probably rub herself to your moans and shit, I don’t want to give her the satisfaction.” Tyler let a cold smirk cross his face, he knew you wanted to be fucked hard, and that’s what he planned to do. Deciding to test out Tyler’s compelling skills on a homeless person, you gave him the room Klaus had booked out & you both made your way back to The Mikaelson Compound. It was empty, so you & Tyler could fuck as loud as you could, so he sped you up to your room and as the door closed, Tyler slammed you up against it, kissing you passionately, the same as he did on the street, however this time, your clothes were removed with vampire speed. Standing there naked, Tyler took in your nude form with a twinkle in his eyes, you blushed slightly which made Tyler smile “You’re cute when you’re flustered Y/N.” Tyler commented and with that he began to undress as well, intending to take time so you could see the goodies under his clothes.

As he removed his shirt, Tyler pulled you in for a kiss, his tongue sliding into your mouth as he deepened it. You began to feel around his shirtlessness, tweaking at his nipples which make the newly turned hybrid moan in your ear, the sound like molten gold to you. Suddenly you were thrown with all of Tyler’s might onto the bed, Tyler made sure you were looking up as he disposed of his pants and underwear in one go, his cock standing proud and hard. He began to walk towards you, cockily flaunting all the while “You want this dick don’t you Y/N?”, you nodded, but that didn’t appease the hybrid who sped towards you and gripped you by the neck, softly yet dominant “Talk to me Y/N, do you want me to fuck you all night?, have you crying my name as I make you cum from my stroke? Answer me.” He spoke the last part cooly as he playfully tightened his grip on your throat, making you feel a bit light headed “Yes Tyler, please fuck me as hard as you can.” You moaned out, making him laugh “As hard as I can? God this is gonna be good.” He laid his hand out, spitting onto it before stroking his hard member, coating it with the makeshift lube all the while looking at you all sprawled out, naked for him, and while he tried to maintain his cockiness, you could see from the ripples of pleasure on his face. Once he had lathered himself up enough, Tyler didn’t waste anymore time and used his newly acquired speed to to thrust deep into your ass, making you cry out at the sting. “Fuck, shit, your tighter than Caroline.” Tyler moaned out, you couldn’t even form words from how big he was and how he was stretching you out so right, all that came out was a mewling cry, which the hybrid smirked at. Rocking his cock deeper inside your tight canal, he began a passionate pace, looking down into your eyes as he fucked you deep so he could see how you crumbled apart for him, how desperate you were to take his dick. He locked you in another kiss again, moaning into it as you trailed your hands down his back, until he slammed in balls deep, colliding head first with your prostate, you cried out & instictively tightened your grip, sinking your fingers into Tyler. “Sink it in pretty boy, scratch down my back till you draw blood while I fuck you the way Vicki & Caroline could never handle, but you can, you fucking slut.”

The rough dirty talk emerged a desire in you to meet Tyler’s challenge head on. You dug in harder as Tyler cried out from the mix of pain and pleasure, all thoughts of Caroline and the confrontation gone, all you both wanted to do was chase down your orgasms. Your fingers began to feel a bit moist and you took them away from Tyler’s back to see you’d got him deep that there was blood dripping “Taste it” Tyler panted in your ear “Taste me Y/N, I know you want to.” With Tyler’s encouragement, you locked eyes with him drew your tongue across your fingers, tasting Tyler’s blood. You moaned out from his taste, knowing it would incense him into fucking you rougher and indeed, Tyler began to rock into you so hard that the bed began to slam into the wall with every thrust. ”God, this is amazing, keep this up and I’ll cum for you Y/N.” “Do it Tyler, cum.” Once again Tyler squeezed your neck “I’m the hybrid here baby, you’re the human, I control you, I won’t cum till you cum apart from my dick.” Tyler’s words were accompanied by a sharp thrust deep inside you, well and truly smashing into your prostate, the driving force combined with his words was what it took for you to reach your peak and crying out Tyler’s name, you came in spurts over yourself. “Fuck, that’s hot, seeing you cum for me. You want to taste me again?” You nodded and began to move your hands to Tyler’s back again, intending to leave new marks, but instead you were met by Tyler’s full force as he slammed your hands to the bed. Groaning and spluttering out of ecstasy, his body also rippling with the same energy, Tyler pulled out and with a few simple strokes let out a loud moan as he came all over you, splattering you with even more hot cum.

As he calmed down, Tyler wiped his hand in his load, covering his fingers with the sticky white substance and held it up to your mouth “Taste it” he said again, reminiscent of when he wanted you to drink his blood, except this time, there was a more erotic tone to his voice, he wanted all of his essence inside you. Never losing eye contact with the Lockwood, you licked across your hand, taking in his salty sweet seed, even sucking it off your fingers while moaning which made Tyler grin “Fuck, if people only knew how perfect you are.” He breathed out “I do” came a distinctive british voice that could only mean... “Klaus!” you both exclaimed as you looked over to see the hybrid standing in the doorway, watching you both with a smirk on his face “I thought you were at the hotel making Caroline sulk.” “No, you should have seen though, Y/N pretty much tore them all a new one” “I don’t doubt that, Rebekah texted me and told me about it. She also told me you’d left without talking to her.” He eyed you closely “I was in an angry mood” you tried to explain, but Klaus held his hand up to silence you and you obeyed his command. “I have to say nice technique Tyler, you wanted Y/N to take his fill you of you and that you did. But now I want you to step back” With the sire bond in affect, Tyler took several steps away from the bed, Klaus grinning at his power as he walked towards you and to your excitement began to strip his clothing off “You’re going to watch as I now fuck Y/N, cause while you know how to fuck, you don’t have a thousand years of experience to you. You can masturbate to us if you want, as long as you cum once we have.” Klaus stopped at the foot of the bed, Tyler nodding as he fisted his hardening length “Good. Now love” he turned his gaze to you “Tyler’s got you ready for me, like a good sweet progeny, ready for another hybrid cock inside you.” He palmed at himself and nodding, you threw yourself back on the bed, spreading your legs. Oh yes, this was the life.

[since0202]

Chapter 20: B-word

Grace woke up to the soft glow of Paul’s digital clock on his nightstand: it read 5:02 a.m.. She felt exceptionally warm, a feeling she was coming to be very familiar with sleeping in bed with a member of the pack. Paul’s white t-shirt hung loose on her frame and was the only thing she was wearing. She crept out of bed to the bathroom quickly to pee. When she looked in the mirror to take in the state of herself, she placed a hand over her mouth to stifle a giggle. 

Her cheeks were flushed red, and she let her fingers caress the red warmth. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes held their half lidded shape somewhere between sleep and a flutter of immense pleasure. Her mind lingered back to just a few hours ago as she and Paul were clutched together, Grace on top of him this time moving needy and quick over him as he cradled his hands on her hips and ass helping her to move up and down on him and sucking softly at her breast. 

She pulled the hand across her mouth back to gingerly touch her lips that were swollen and soft from rough, wanting kisses that asked for more and more. She quickly combed fingers through her hair to smooth it down, snapping herself from her reverie, and then crept back into Paul’s room looking for her clothes. She had to get back to the Cullen’s before Bella woke up. She was going to tell Bella about Paul, but she just didn’t want to cause a fuss so early in the morning. As she shuffled quietly around the room gathering her things, she heard Paul stir from the bed. 

“Mmm, where do you think you’re going before the sun’s even up?” his deep morning voice made her lower body tingle and she smiled warmly, whispering: 

“I don’t want anyone to think I’ve been kidnapped and my honor taken under the cover of night. I have a reputation to remain on this rez,” Grace laughed. As she spotted her underwear just under his bed and leaned close to get it, he reached out with one swift arm and grabbed her. She shrieked trying to turn out of his grasp, but he held fast and pulled her to him, pressing her back against his warm chest. Grace giggled and tried to pretend to struggle against him as the hand he had wrapped around her belly snaked its way up toward her breasts. 

“Paul for real, I gotta go!” Grace protested only half serious. He smiled, kissing on her neck and grumbling low in her ear: 

“You wiggling is not helping your case here.” She could feel how much isn’t wasn’t helping, alright. Paul hadn’t bothered to put his boxers back on after the third time they’d gone at each other last night, so there was nothing between them—she felt him pressed against her back loud and clear. 

“They’re going to worry!” Grace tried again, turning her head ever so slightly so his kisses could land closer to her lips. 

“Letting my nearly naked girlfriend leave my bed to run back to house full of vampires does not appeal at all to your short-fuse boyfriend,” his other hand had pushed under her waist and was moving it’s way down her hips, sliding between her thighs and pushing them open. Grace let out a gasp as he gently stroked her there—she closed her eyes and leaned her head back, triggering an eagerness in Paul to roughly kiss on her throat and clutch her breast. 

“Say you’re my boyfriend again,” Grace exhaled, eyes still closed. Paul chuckled running his lips across the edge of her ear before saying, 

“Maybe later. Don’t want to wear my name out,” he teased before fully cupping her mound and pushing down, causing Grace to instinctively arch her back. He quickly entered her from behind, rushing into her and causing Grace to let out a sharp cry before happily matching his rhythm as early morning light poured through his window. 

6:14 a.m. 

Grace clicked the front door of the Cullen home softly behind her before hurrying up the steps to her guest room. On the landing, Rosalie was standing at the other end of the hallway, arms crossed and giving her a knowing smile. 

“And where have you been all night?” Rosalie asked, not trying to keep her voice down. Grace looked around panicked and held out a hand. 

“I was, was, was, uuuuhh, tending to business on the rez,” Grace said quickly and not convincingly. 

“Well, your business stinks. I can smell you from here,” Rosalie wrinkled her nose and turned to walk back toward the study. 

“Thanks,” Grace breathed to an empty hallway before quickly retreating into the guest room. She made a beeline for the shower, trying to smell herself. She didn’t think she smelled that bad, but who knows. 

Grace took her time in the shower, letting her mind wander back to last night as she touched parts of her body that Paul had lingered on, clutched to, or gripped. She knew what would be waiting for her on the other side of all of this. Someone was going to get hurt, but she needed to sit in this moment of happiness for just a moment longer. 

Before she had left, much to the continued protesting of Paul, she begged him to do his best not to let what had happened creep into his head during rounds. He gave her a wicked grin and had the audacity to ask why, before she let out an aggravated groan and said: “I’d really like all of this to be a ‘your-eyes-only’ thing.” 

She motioned up and down to her body which Paul was aggressively staring at. 

“Say no more,” he said seriously. Grace had a feeling that watching a pack member drool over or make a comment about Paul’s picture of her naked body would result in some serious mauling. 

Grace didn’t bother drying her hair, opting to let it dry natural and wavy before pulling on some dark wash jeans, a black fitted t-shirt and grey zip up sweatshirt. Grace plugged in her phone and before going downstairs to appear totally normal and not like she had been rolling around in bed with her newly anointed boyfriend last night, she checked her phone. 

SMS Text—6:33 a.m.: Paul

Be safe. I’ll call you after rounds tonight

Signed, your boyfriend. 

Grace laughed before quickly typing her reply: 

I will. Thanks for last night < 3 

I’ll talk to you soon, from your very exhausted girlfriend

She clipped her phone shut and left it on the nightstand and contemplated mussing up her sheets to make it look like she had slept there last night. Shaking her head, she left them perfectly made up instead and made her way down to the kitchen, peeking around the corner to scope it out before busting in like she owned the place. 

Alice was tentatively at the stove prodding at pancakes when Grace came into view with her hands folded in front of her. 

“Good morning!” Alice cried. “Oh my goodness, I didn’t think you’d be up so early!” Alice said, a tone of lilted recognition in her voice. 

“Oh!” Grace said a little surprised as she came to sit at the island across from Alice, “Just an early riser, I guess. School’s been a grind lately so I’m used to it I guess.”

“Right,” Alice looked at her with a knowing smile and then back at her pancakes, “Well! Breakfast is not ready just yet, I’m trying to learn the perfect brown of a pancake, but they’ll be ready before you know it! Help yourself to some coffee.” 

Bella woke up a couple hours later and stumbled still in her pajamas into the kitchen while Grace and Alice chatted away easily. 

“You’re chipper this morning,” Bella said off hand through a yawn as Alice placed a cup of tea in front of her. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Grace said aghast. Could Bella really tell so quickly? 

“Pink cheeks, happier than I’ve seen in weeks,” Bella said sleepily as she leaned into her cup. Grace looked at her over her second cup of coffee and raised her eyebrows. “You’re happy is all, jeez,” Bella laughed. 

“Thank you, I am. Very happy.” She enunciated the last two words and broke out in a giggles as she made eye contact with Alice. Grace had found it very easy to get along with a feel close with Alice. She understood now why Bella liked her too. Alice was easy to love, warm, knowing, but always true. 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Bella echoed Grace’s earlier statement. Alice finished cutting some fresh bright peppers and scattered them elegantly across Bella’s stack of pancakes before sliding it in front of her. 

Alice looked to Grace for permission who gave a short nod and eye roll before Alice blurted out excitedly, “She’s got a boyfriend. A real official boyfriend!” She finished the announcement with a squeal of utter delight. Bella almost choked on her tea. 

“What?! Oh my god, really? Jake?!” Bella said wide eyed. It was Grace’s turn to choke on her coffee. Between cough and sputters that she got out she shook her head no. 

“No! No, no, no. Paul!” Grace said before clearing her throat and saying, “Paul Lahote is my boyfriend.” The words rolled off her tongue easily and she liked the taste of them. Paul Lahote was hers. Her boyfriend. She crossed her legs to help quiet the throb that had returned when she thought about last night. Get a grip, Grace. She told herself. 

“Oh Paul!” Bella said somewhat surprised before she changed her tone and said, “That’s so great! You guys are-are great together.” 

“Yikes, Bella,” Rosalie said as she entered the kitchen and sat next to Grace. Bella squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. 

“It’s an easy mistake to make,” Grace interjected. “Honestly, I get around,” she toasted herself and bust out laughing. Bella relaxed and laughed to shaking her head. 

“So what happened?” Rosalie asked, her eyes curious and invested. Grace wasn’t sure why Rosalie seemed to like Grace as much as she did. The entire night before when they were in the girl’s night part of their sleepover, she had doted on Grace, fixing her hair, pushing back her cuticles, tending to her like a doll. Curious. 

“Uh, well,” Grace looked from Rosalie to Alice. They of course knew that she had snuck out the night before and now it was clear where she had been. 

“You don’t have to say,” Alice suddenly waved it off. 

“Nooo!” Both Rosalie and Bella chorused, surprising each other. 

“No secrets, remember?” Bella said. Grace looked to her and then bit her lip, holding back a smile and said: 

“I went to see him last night. He texted me and well, he gets under my skin, you know.” Grace said, suddenly getting nervous at all of the eyes on her. “And…” 

“And?” Rosalie prompted. 

“We… we had sex,” Grace finally got out closing her eyes tight and letting the exulatations from the others rush over her. “Like a lot...of sex.” 

“Oh my god,” Bella said, blushing profusely. She was suddenly hiding her face in her tea. 

“Oh, I forgot, Bella’s a little virgin. Not too many details now, Grace,” Rosalie chided. Bella’s face flamed hot as she looked up with a grimace. 

“Rosalie,” Alice groaned. Grace looked quickly to Bella. 

“Bella, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-” Grace started to which Bella became even more embarrassed. 

“Oh jeez, please don’t apologize. I’m not some innocent little baby. I know what sex is. I grew up sharing a house with Renee, remember? She wasn’t entirely secretive about her conquests.” Bella stammered trying to gain some composure. 

“Okay,” Grace said still apologetically. Rosalie leaned in and said quietly. 

“So how was it?” Grace blushed and tried to hold in her giddy laughter. She was a woman possessed. And she leaned into Rosalie, while Alice tried to feign disinterest but still leaned toward them while Grace tried to spill some details. 

Bella speared a strawberry and looked out the window.

Back at home, Grace unpacked her bag and started a load of laundry. When she returned to her room, Bella was sitting on her bed picking at the tips of her fingers. 

“Bella?” Grace asked. Bella looked up suddenly and said. 

“You can tell me stuff, you know. I’m not a total prude.” Bella said a little dejectedly. 

“Oh my god,” Grace said as she dropped her laundry basket and moved to sit next to her. “I know! And it’s not a big deal really. I just didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. You just seemed….uncomfortable.” 

Bella fidgeted some more. “I wasn’t. I just-” Grace looked to Bella’s fingers. “I know me and Edward aren’t there yet, but I can still talk about these things.” 

“I know! And hey, it’s totally okay to go at your own pace okay? I didn’t mean to make you feel left out. Come here,” She pulled Bella into a hug, “You’re like my sister. Okay?” 

“Okay,” Bella mumbled into her hair letting out a light laugh. They each pulled back from the hug. 

“No secrets,” Grace said holding out her pinky. Bella let out a laugh and looped her pinky with hers. 

“No secrets.”  They sat quietly for a second swinging their pinkies back and forth before Bella shyly asked, “So...what was it like? Was it your first time or?” 

Grace broke into an overwhelming bright smile. 

“So, if I’m being totally honest, no it wasn’t my first time. Brad Boychen was my first, ugh,” Grace stuck out her tongue and pointed to the back of her throat indicating a gag, “But this time, everything felt so new and right and he was so sweet.” Grace felt her hand creeping up to hold around her neck. “And I honestly can’t stop thinking about it. He just knew what to do, and I felt like with him, I knew what to do too. We just clicked together.” Grace flushed and let out a sigh before looking at Bella who was enraptured. 

“How did you know he wanted to...you know?” Bella blushed and then forced herself to proceed, “I mean, how did you know that you were ready to have sex. With him i mean.” 

“Well, I honestly did not know when I went over there last night that that was the plan. Like at all. But when I got there, I just felt like something had changed between us and we acknowledged something in each other we knew had been building for awhile. It was definitely a mutual decision. He waited for cues and I responded to those cues I think. Does that make sense?” Grace cocked her head to one side. 

“Did he initiate it? Or did you?” 

“Definitely him, he said he was tired of the ‘back and forth’ so he was making a decision. And then he just kissed me and-” Grace paused smiling again, shaking her head. “It just happened. And it was so wonderful.” Grace watched Bella’s face carefully for the next few minutes. It seemed like she was mulling something over so Grace went out on a limb, “Are you and Edward thinking about….you know?” Grace nudged Bella with her shoulder. 

Bella’s gaze shot up and her eyes were wide, “Oh no! No definitely not. I mean….Edward is….very old fashioned,” she scoffed. “But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to.” she admitted. 

Grace paused before asking her next question. “Can I ask? Ummm, like how will that work? I don’t claim to be an expert on the mechanics of vampire-human sex, but...I don’t if you had..thought about it?” Grace stumbled over that last bit and blushed profusely. She really didn’t hope Bella thought that she was thinking about how her and her boyfriend would have sex. 

“I think it works like normal?” Bella said a little unsure. “I mean, we’ve definitely gotten to a point where I thought things were about to go farther, but he always stops. It’s so….” she made a face, “Frustrating. I totally get that he wants to wait, but if it was up to me…” Bella stalled there, letting her curtain of hair cover her face. 

“Woah, Bella,” Grace said jokingly, “You’re a total sex freak.” 

Bella’s jaw dropped before she made a sound of protest and smacked Grace with her history binder. 

“Whatever,” she laughed, “I’m not the one having wild all nighter sex with a half human, half wolf.” 

“Hey, he’s fully human when we do it,” Grace laughed. She heard a car horn honk out in front and looked over her shoulder. 

“Who’s that?” Bella said. Grace crawled across Bella’s bed and opened her window that looked over the front yard. Paul was leaning against the passenger side door of his forerunner, arms crossed in a cream colored crew neck sweater and jeans, smiling up at her when she leaned out. 

“What are you doing here?” She called out, a smile breaking over her face and her belly swelling with warmth already. 

“Come down from your balcony, Juliet so I can say hi to you the right way.” Paul called back up. Delighted, she pulled back from the window and bolted toward her door saying over her shoulder, “It’s Paul!” to Bella. Once down the stairs, she pulled on her boots and bounded out the front door, running full tilt toward him and crashing into his open arms.

They’re lips collided effortlessly and he kissed her like he hadn’t seen her in weeks, holding her to him and lifting her body up off the ground. When she broke away from the kiss she said, breathy: “Hi.” 

He put his forehead to hers, kissing gently at her nose before saying softly, “Hi.” 

“Was that the right way to say hello?” Grace asked, cocking her head to the side and feeling her feet touch the ground. 

“To your boyfriend, yes,” Paul laughed, leaning down to softly kiss her again. 

“What are you doing here, again?” Grace asked. 

“It’s bonfire night babe. Go get dressed.” Paul patted her hip and let another hand come up to tuck her hair behind her ear. “We’re ‘coming out’ tonight, so I want to show you off a little bit” 

“Oh!” Grace said, her eyes widening nervously. Did everyone already know? 

“Word gets around the rez,” Paul said shrugging and letting his hands move up and down her arms instinctively to warm her up. “Don’t worry, your rep is cleanly in tact. Pack’s honor.” Grace laughed at this and kissed him again, relishing in the feeling of getting to do it anytime she wanted. 

“Okay, just give me ten minutes?” Grace said stepping back. Paul nodded and Grace turned to jog inside. 

In her bedroom she got dressed quickly, pulling on a cream colored chunky knit sweater with a thick turtle neck to match Paul’s and some black, tight jeans. She ran a brush through her hair a few times and opted to tie half of it up in a loose knot, letting the rest fall down around her shoulders. It was getting long, she’d need to get it cut soon. She patted some orange red lip tint on that blushed against her warm brown skin. 

“Can you do me a favor?” Grace said over her should to Bella who was propped on her bed with a book. 

“Yeah, sure.” Bella said. 

“Can you cover for me? I might be getting home kind of late tonight.” Grace said smiling knowingly. Bella smiled. 

“Of course!” Bella replied. 

“Are you going to be okay tonight?” 

“Oh yeah, Edward should be here soon.” Bella said. Grace came over and kissed the top of her head before waving goodbye and hurtling down the steps, pulling on her boots once more before she skipped down the steps toward Paul. 

He broke into a wide smile and when she reached him again, he bent his head down and kissed her softly before whispering, “You look beautiful.” 

“Thank you.” she smiled up at him. He opened the passenger door for her and when she got in he closed it behind her. 

When he hopped into the driver seat, he took her hand into his and said “Ready?” 

“Ready.” She breathed. She hadn’t been this excited since her junior prom. Something about declaring her and Paul as a couple to the rez felt so satisfying and nerve wracking and thrilling. 

He pulled her hand up to his lips to kiss and then they were off, the sun just beginning to set behind them. 

[ofmythsandfables-a]

Vlad

GENERAL INFO

FULL NAME: Vladislaus Draculea

SPECIES: Human / Vampire

AGE: Verse Dependent

PLACE OF BIRTH: Romania

GENDER AND ORIENTATION: Male / Bisexual

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES

HEIGHT: 6′2

HAIR COLOUR: Brown/Black

EYE COLOUR: Green

DISTINGUISHING MARKS: Scar in the middle of his chest from a stake

BACKGROUND INFO

LANGUAGES: Too many to count lol he’s old so he had time to study many languages

OCCUPATION: Verse Dependent

VERSES

SYNOPSIS

{ My variation of Vlad comes from both historical and film (Dracula Untold) influences. Some historical sites vary a bit with information but generally they are all the same in context. }

Vladislaus Draculea was one of three sons of Vlad Dracul II, who ruled the principality Wallachia from 1436-1447. Vlad Dracul II sold his 11 year old son Vlad to the Ottoman Sultan to show his loyalty. As a result, Vlad was forced to fight among other boys his age and older in the armies, trained only to kill and feel no remorse. Though that was the only downside to staying with the Sultan. He was taught various subjects and cared for as if one of their own.

 Brainwashed by the Ottomans, Vlad unfortunately became nothing but a cold blooded killer and the most skilled and valued soldier in the Sultan’s armies. Once he was 18 though, he broke away from the Ottomans and returned to his home in Wallachia where he fought for the throne and won, becoming the new Voivode, or Prince, of Wallachia.Vlad ruled in peace for fourteen straight years, ruling with an iron fist and yet was fair. Then Mehmed II, the new Sultan and former comrade of Vlad’s when he was in the Ottomans armies, proposed a deal with Vlad that he give him 1,000 of Wallachia’s boys including his own son, or there would be war. Vlad desperately tried to negotiate, even offering himself in the place of the boys, but Mehmed wouldn’t budge. And so, war was declared.

Knowing he couldn’t win the war on his own and with little men in his army, Vlad sought out a monster of darkness, Caligula, in a cave high in the mountains. For a price, Vlad was turned into the very monster he sought out. The war came to a head on the third day as Vlad swooped in with an army of freshly turned vampires. Thousands of men perished on the fields and Vlad was able to defeat Mehmed and his men. But the price he paid for the victory was great; he lost his loving wife Mirena due to falling off a tower and sacrificing her own blood to Vlad so he could remain a vampire and save their son from the clutches of the evil Sultan. And Ingeras, Vlad’s ten year old boy who witnessed too much for his age, was taken by a fellow friar from Vlad’s old monastery to be kept safe, and would eventually rule Wallachia in his father’s place.

Once Mehmed and his men were defeated, Vlad burned his own army of vampires in the sun’s light, including himself, so that future generations would be kept safe from their harm. But a follower of Vlad’s found him and revived him by giving him his blood, and thought he’d walk eternity with his newfound master. Though, when Vlad was alive once again, his thirst for blood took over and he drained the man completely. It was then that Vlad fled, and for days sought out refuge in the Carpathian Mountains. There, tucked away from the world, was an old abandoned castle where he then made his permanent residence and hid in the shadows for years to come…

VLAD MUSAT (Main/Modern Verse, Aged 32 ; FC: Luke Evans)

Vlad is currently just under 600 years old, and a CEO of his own restoration company, ReVamp Restorations, INC. The company restores old landmarks, buildings and homes, and is expanded globally. He lives in London, England, and has a house in his homeland of Romania which he visits on holiday. Vlad changed his last name to his mother’s maiden name so he would not be recognized. He isn’t usually around others outside of his job, and his quiet time consists of more work due to his need to constantly be occupied.

FROM PRINCE TO BEAST (After the war with Mehmed II)

No longer the voivode for Wallachia, Vlad has hidden away high in the Carpathian Mountains, dwelling in an abandoned and long forgotten castle. Weary travelers or people who have gotten lost on their journeys sought shelter in the castle and Vlad happily took them in, but for a price: that they would serve him forever. They’ve agreed, and happily serve him regardless of knowing what he is and who he once was. His servants are his only real company and Vlad has looked to them as an almost family to him.

HE WHO STILL REIGNS (After the war with Mehmed II, Alternate Ending)

Vlad has returned after fighting and defeating Mehmed, taking his place on the throne once more. Only this time, he is a vampire. He now rules over the lands Mehmed once did, except he is not known as Sultan, he remains Prince. His dwellings are still within Wallachia which is newly rebuilt, his army becomes vast and stronger than any other army around, and though weary of others, he still rules as he once did. His heart is heavy with the loss of his wife, and the duty of raising their son on his own. But he does everything and anything for Ingeras so he doesn’t have to suffer anymore than he already has.

THE COUNT (1880 - early 1900s ; very loosely based on Bram Stoker’s version)

London’s new resident is a centuries old vampire, having just bought into real estate. Vlad Dracula leads a quiet life, not bothering anyone as he tries to make his life somewhat normal. He prays upon people, though not savagely, and drinks only enough for him to be satisfied. Afterwards, he heals them with his own blood and wipes away their memory of anything that had transpired between them.

PRINCE OF WALLACHIA (Pre war with Mehmed II)

Vlad is Voivode to Wallachia, and is reigning peacefully. His rulings are fair and his people adore him. He is not married, and not with any children. Vlad’s adviser pushes him to marry someone already to give him an heir, but it is not something Vlad is in a rush for even though he wishes to have a family of his own someday. Vlad is always holding Council with his noblemen or working on kingly duties, but one can find him constantly with his nose in a book, learning something new and enticing.

*Alternate Version*

Vlad is Prince, and ruling with Mirena. This takes place a year before the war with Mehmed.

CHIEF INSPECTOR IONESCU (1850s ; Aged 30)

Of Romanian descent, Vlad’s family had moved to England in the early 1800s for a better life. His father became wealthy in the railroad business, and Vlad went to Oxford where he graduated top of his class in both criminal justice and anatomy. He soon began to work for London’s Scotland Yard. Vlad was quick to move up the ranks due to his vast knowledge in the field, and became London’s youngest Chief Inspector at the age of 30. His work always consumes him, never allowing him to keep a steady relationship and miss out on important events his family hosted almost monthly. And though it bothered him, his job to keep the streets of London safe were more important.

HUMAN (Modern day, Aged 33)

Vlad Dragan was raised in Romania along with his three brothers on a vast farm. Having ambitions far bigger than the life he was meant to have, Vlad made sure he excelled in school before getting a scholarship for Oxford in London. There, he studied History and Archaeology, and became an archaeologist. His job has taken him all over the world, but his home base remains London, and he works as both an Archaeology professor in Oxford as well as studying artifacts in England’s Natural History Museum.

WIZARDING WORLD (Taking place throughout the HP series, Timeline varies)

A vampire as a professor? Vlad is! Vlad works at Hogwarts as a History of Magic professor. He doesn’t socialize too much with others outside of when classes are in session, but he does attend every school event and never misses a meeting. He is also a Hufflepuff (I personally think he’s a hybrid of Hufflepuff and Gryffindor…so Gryffinpuff. But to be technical, Hufflepuff).

VAMPIRE KING (Tolkien semi-loosely based, takes place during ‘The Hobbit’ and on; also, using Welsh as the language for Men in my verse since there are hardly any translations in Adunaic, and Welsh is a pretty awesome language so try not to correct me on this for all you super Tolkien canon fanatics)

Vlad Alastor is Edain, from the House of Marach during the First Age. He lived in Dor-lomin, part of Hithlum, and ruled as King for many prosperous yet tough years. But Morgoth struck war upon the lands, and Vlad knew his army wouldn’t be enough to win the war. He sought help from a dark, magical being living in the mountains that turned him into a fampyr (my own derivation from the Welsh spelling for vampire) for a hefty price of his soul once the time came. As Nírnaeth Arnoediad occurred, most of Vlad’s army was defeated but he himself was able to defeat the enemy, driving away the evil forces. But due to Dor-lomin crumbling away from the war, and more evil forces eventually ascending upon the country, Vlad was overthrown as king and banished from the lands he grew up on and ruled. Having an idea, he faked his death, and Vlad ran as far away as he could. Many, many years had passed, and by the time of the Third Age, Vlad is king in Rhun, his residence lay beyond the Sea of Rhun.

ABILITIES AND WEAKNESSES

|+|IMPORTANT|+|

Vlad is part of a bloodline he solely shares with his superior, Caligula: the vampire who turned him, due to having no choice but to dwell in a cave for eons until he was able to pass on his powers to Vlad and set himself free. Therefore, his abilities and weaknesses are different from any other bloodline. His transformation is different, as well as the way he turns others, which never happens unless it happens in a thread.

|+| ABILITIES |+|

~Shapeshifts into bats~Manipulates bats at his will~Super strength and speed~Heightened sight, smell and hearing~Weather manipulation (to an extent)~Mind manipulation (to an extent)~Healing. Very small increments of his blood, when taken via mouth, can heal a person. There is no guarentee that it can revive a person if they are dying.

|+| WEAKNESSES |+|

~ Silver~ Wooden and silver stakes (both fatal if directly piercing his heart)~ Direct sunlight

|+| OTHER INFORMATION |+|

~ Vlad sleeps, but only for a few hours. He needs to be in a completely dark room in order to sleep soundly, or else he’ll be quite irritable.~ Vlad is able to walk during the day while using his weather manipulation powers to cover up the sun’s harmful rays with clouds.~ Holy objects do not harm Vlad. It isn’t specified why in the film, but for RP purposes, it’s due to him being so in-tuned with his religion even when he was turned that his God saw the good in him regardless of the fact he was a now a monster (his religion during the time was and remains to be Orthodox).~ Vlad can eat food but chooses not to usually. The taste of food has not faded for him even though he is a vampire. He does not crave food, nor does he need to live off it, therefore he doesn’t really eat anything unless it's to keep up appearences. Vlad lives off of animal blood mainly, but knows a guy that slips him blood bags from a blood bank to keep in the house.

[tothedarkdarkseas]

The way Vampire AU has taken off has really warmed my heart! So many great thoughts all round. I sent you some elaborations on my own personal headcanons for it as a submission, just for the fun of it. Enjoy!

Hi! I got your submission last night and read over it-- it's very elaborate, you've clearly put a lot of thought into fleshing this AU out and it sounds like a ton of fun. I know you mentioned at the end that you had no intentions of writing it because you're busy with other fandom projects, but I'm sure there are many who'd be interested in reading your ideas if you ever decided to make a sideblog for it. I'll post your submission for others to read below a cut here so that the post won't be too long on the dashboard, and I'll reply to some of the specifics underneath!

Yes! I have so many more thoughts on a vampire AU, I figured it would be easier to put them in a submission. Hope you don't mind.

The concept is just so fascinating to me, because so much of it lines up perfectly with the character dynamics we're given in the canon, and what doesn't has the potential to expand on and explore those dynamics in a really interesting way.

I agree 100 percent about the tone it would have to be written in. An actual brooding, dark prince Murdoc type of thing wouldn't work for me. (Murdoc would try to play up that persona, but in reality, he'd be far from it.) In my mind, the tone would be half What We Do In The Shadows and half Being Human UK. Four misfits living in a mouldering mansion somewhere, getting on each other's tits - but deep down they've got each other's backs. There's a bond, even if they can't quite explain what it is.

In my mind the bloodlust would function as an addiction. Murdoc is no Mother Theresa but he's not comfortable with indiscriminate murder either. (Guilt and self-loathing is not a good combination in Murdoc.) Knowing there is no in between for vampires - you can't have a sip here and there, it's abstinence or nightly slaughter - he stays teetotal from blood and tries to channel his desires into other addictions instead. Any and every addiction, really. Drugs, booze, sex, theft, you name it. Which is how he comes to be doing donuts in a stolen car in a Tesco car park, at the exact same time Stuart Pot is making a midnight run for condoms and Tango.

I picture Murdoc's turning of Stu would be this confusing moment that even he can't fully explain, so he's always switching his story about it. One day he'll say he didn't want to deal with the police, another day it'll be vampire enforcers he was afraid of - "total killjoys, they'll bung you in a blood-filled coffin for a hundred years over the TINIEST infraction". Other days he comes close to admitting he felt guilty, that he flipped out over the idea of killing someone after all, when he's dedicating all his energy to avoiding doing just that. Sometimes he just calls it a moment of madness.

But in every vampire movie, there's that moment. The moment where the newly-turned vamp rises from the grave as this beautiful unearthly creature of the night, and I mean . . . this absolutely would be Murdoc's experience of it. He's almost convinced himself there aren't real vampires like that, that it's all Hollywood bollocks, and then Stu rises up in front of him like some black-eyed, blue-haired god, and the part of Murdoc that isn't utterly gobsmacked by it can't help resenting the little sod for making it look so easy. Murdoc likes to take the piss out of him and claim he's like one of those Lost Boys California pretty boy vampires, but he's jealous really.

I imagine Murdoc would be similarly mercurial about how he was turned. There's always some hyperbolic story about it, designed to paint Murdoc in the best light. Sometimes he was the premier occultist of his day. Sometimes he sold his soul to the devil for immortality. Sometimes he was turned by a beautiful vampire seductress, who was bitter he broke her heart. It's all bollocks. The truth is definitely something less glamorous, and I would imagine actually much sadder as well? I'm not sure what, but I'm picturing something like Murdoc's father being some small-time occultist who sold his son to vampires, or maybe Murdoc was working some menial job and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe he was turned by some vampire who would have drunk him dry, if Murdoc hadn't fought him off. Or maybe it's a bit of mystery, like the mystery of his mother in canon. Someone did this to Murdoc, someone made him what he is, but he has no memory of it. And all the different stories are actually partly a coping mechanism for that, as he tries on different explanations for size. (It would also explain why he would refuse to abandon Stu after turning him. Because navigating this new reality alone is something he wouldn't wish on anyone, even some dumb kid.)

I think the supernatural element would also be a great way to expand on and deepen Murdoc's relationships with Russell and Noodle. In supernatural fiction there are always two types of beings that hate each other. Usually vampires and werewolves, but often vampires and ghosts too. As, obviously, vamps can't drain ghosts, and they spend their lives running from the guilt of all the people they've killed. Ghosts are a constant reminder of that - and of the afterlife they both fear, and resent that they were denied. I can picture Russell maybe helping Murdoc exorcise the ghost of Hannibal or Jacob, and that's how they meet. (And why he has more patience with Murdoc than most. He's seen him at his most vulnerable.) Noodle would be great as a vampire hunter too. Her dynamic with Murdoc would be fraught as on the one hand, she respects Russell and venerates him for his connection to the spirit world, so to a certain extent anything he says she'll try to respect. And Murdoc is supposedly reformed, and she has moments where she even almost quite likes him. But her instinct is not to trust him. Her instinct is to put him down, and they both know it. As much as he battles his bloodlust around her, she battles her urge to put a stake through his heart, Van Helsing style.

Finding out he turned someone would be a MAJOR ruck in their relationship. But I think Murdoc would use 2-D to convince her and Russell to stick around - because he turned him, but it wasn't like he was chowing down on the lad, it was practically an act of charity, really. Practically an act of atonement. And if they both leave now, Stu is only left with Mr Bad Influence Murdoc Niccals, to teach him how to be a vampire, and restrain his urges and whatnot. And Murdoc has never been much good at all that AA, 12 step stuff, so unless they WANT poor sweet Stuart Pot to wind up spending eternity as some kind of crackhead . . . it would be a kindness to him, really, to stick around.

I could not agree more about how Murdoc turning Stu would mirror their Phase Two dynamic, with Stu literally having become "the thing Murdoc turned him into", and resenting that. But also, having moments of perverse gratitude for it? Stu is vain, and vampire Stu would be gorgeous, which I reckon he'd love. And though I think he'd hate that his normal life of footy with the boys and Sunday dinner at his mum's was over, I can also imagine him feeling this whole new world has opened up in front of him, something most people aren't special enough to gain entry to. And he likes that.

I can even see the fame thing and the band happening. Music would be a great, healthier way to channel the urges he can't act on. And I can see Murdoc agreeing. Admitting that he's been playing in bands for years, because it's actually a great cover for a vampire lifestyle. Being nocturnal is practically a prerequisite, when you're a rock star, and you can get away with looking all kinds of weird when you're in a band, because people just chalk it up to the aesthetic. Still, until he met 2-D, none of the bands he'd been in were actually any GOOD. 2-D reawakens his love of music, the same way he is the turning point for Murdoc's career in the canon.

Vampirism would also be a great way to explore Stuart's flaws. His vanity is an obvious one, but I can also see him avoiding his family and not letting them know why he'd disappeared for years. Just too self-absorbed to appreciate the harm it's caused. I can also see the pill problem happening as he imitates Murdoc's habit of abusing substances to try and blunt his bloodlust. I can imagine him saying stupid stuff like "you never even took me to the hospital!" and convincing himself he experiences phantom headaches, because he doesn't want to admit he's becoming just like Murdoc, actually. He tells himself the pills are medicine and he really needs them, and it's not the same at all.

And I can see him getting too carried away with his lusts, and having several near misses or disastrous incidents where he brings girls home and loses control of himself. Where Murdoc jumps in and saves it from getting too out of hand, but at the same time exposes how he's basically been stalking Stu "for your own protection", with a side of decidedly voyeuristic intentions. Stu has . . . strong (and somewhat confused) feelings about this.

I think Murdoc would be the same trouble magnet in the vampire underworld that he was in the criminal one. Feelings about Murdoc range from "this unwashed oik should NEVER have been allowed to become one of us" to "I WILL STAKE MURDOC FAUST NICCALS IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO". Murdoc would definitely continue his streak of petty crime any time he entered the hallowed halls of the vampire hoi poloi. He'd be pilfering left and right. And I can't imagine he'd ever kowtow to the aristocracy, which, in a subculture as obsessed with class as vampires . . .  yeah, he's insolent, to say the least. And they hate it. They just hate Murdoc, generally. I imagine 2-D might consider crossing over to the dark side to join them, to spite Murdoc, before eventually he realizes that - amazing as it sounds - even Murdoc has higher moral standards than these people. Maybe he's better off with the devil he knows.

I love what you said about Murdoc and Stuart being hung by the same rope, for all eternity. That's exactly the dynamic I think a vampire AU would bring about. I also think Murdoc being Stu's vampire sire would be interesting in the romantic sense, as part of them would always second guess if that was the reason for the bond they feel. Are they developing feelings, or is all of this just the blood bond? I can imagine Stuart hating his own inability to judge why he feels so drawn to Murdoc, and I can see Murdoc trying to convince himself any possessiveness or pride or protectiveness he feels over Stu is just what all vampires feel when they turn someone. (Even though it's not.) It would be a potent brew.

Anyway, this was long but I will never have the time to actually write this (I have five WIPs in other fandoms already) so I thought I'd let it out somehow. Thanks for giving me the space to talk this over!

(If anyone wants to run with this and make something of it, by the way, have at it! Just credit me somewhere for the idea. That'd be good.)

This was quite a ride! I love the idea of Stuart Pot's mortal life ending when he's mowed down in a Tesco car park buying condoms and Tango. It's cruel to say it's what he deserves and frankly the complete antithesis of the whole conflict I'm begging for, but... it's what he deserves. I'm also very intrigued by the angle of treating bloodlust as an addiction: it could theoretically be overcome, but practically speaking, rarely is. This makes it easy to see how Murdoc spins off into such a cartoonishly extreme life of debauchery. I love the bit about Murdoc changing his story of what happened, both the night he hit Stuart and his own origin-- the difference being that Stu does know what happened to him, whether he ever chooses to believe Murdoc's ever-shifting justifications for it or not, but no one can ever really know where Murdoc came from except himself. I definitely agree that the truth has to be less glamorous, less thrilling, less worthy of tales and legends. I like Stuart and Murdoc best when they are not men born into greatness nor men born for greatness, not inherently, and I love the private grappling with the belief that they are special and the fear that they probably aren't. Your explanation of the foil-like dynamic between vampires and spirits/ghosts is interesting, I don't know if that's an established piece of vampire lore or if that's your own invention, but I think it's a really solid one. I don't know if I've truly seen those two creatures explored in a world together with such a direct emphasis on that ghoulish ecosystem, so to speak.

And, well, I'm quite predictable but I'm ready to invest $5k in a full novel exploring Stu's estrangement from his family and friends following the transformation, the psychological toll it takes to choose-- though he may feel he has no other choice at all-- to abandon those relationships, how his own descent may mirror Murdoc's as he shelters himself in chalk-tablet excess and a vibrant, at times frightful carnal life to distract himself from the guilt. I'm dying to see how he could approach mending those fences again after years away. It isn't something one sweeps under the rug, isn't something that he can make amends for. This sort of thing shatters a family, and in my imagining of Rachel and David, it certainly shattered his. This kind of permanently-marred family drama really captivates me and is something I don't think we should shy away from in stories about addiction, and it would be fascinating to explore the human element of that against the metaphorical monstrous one.

I love what you mentioned about the "blood bond" and how it factors into the pull between them they're too unsettled to really name. This adds an extra layer of confusion, as you say, and better justifies why they find themselves orbiting each other, pretending there's a blood-coloured chain tethering them and ignoring the heavy weighted padlock in the middle that pulls them down, down, down. I've spoken a lot on this blog about why Stu is participatory in the relationship when he dislikes Murdoc in such a profound way, and while I absolutely never tire of the messy, bleak human weakness and ego of that, it would be quite special to explore that with something that almost feels like an excuse for Stu, a macabre justification entirely out of his hands; it gives him permission to be part of this broken spiral and absolves him of the responsibility of acknowledging his choice. I'd like to think he still lives with it, as Murdoc does too, but they may appreciate the safety of the smokescreen as much as they struggle to see through it.

Thanks for sending me your ideas, I hope other readers will enjoy seeing your elaborations, and if you're having fun thinking about these two goons I'd encourage you to consider making a blog. Sometimes you get lucky and draw in people who are incredibly kind!

(Lastly, unrelated fun fact about vampirism in my life: my first job was playing a vampire at a haunted amusement park. Our "Scare Zone" was designed as a junkyard taken over by a vampire gang, and I was the "queen" with a throne made of old tires. It was... a fun job and also not a fun job, haha.)

[superfanficnatural]

The Choice Part 1

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Female!Reader, Christian Grey x Female!Reader

Summary: Deciding to get over your crush on Dean, you find Christian, a mysterious billionaire that manages to split your heart into two. Finding out hidden truths, your decision becomes a hard one, who will you choose?

A/N: So I came up with this idea yesterday on a phone call with @winchest09​ @flamencodiva​ @whatareyousearchingfordean​ and a few others and had the inspiration to write because come on, who the hell doesn’t want some Winchester and Grey action? I’m not sure how long this series will be, but I hope you guys enjoy!

Warnings: Smut, 18+ NSFW, Fingering, Oral Receiving (male), Marking, BONDAGE ON BONDAGE, Pain Play, Sensory Deprivation, Spanking, Choking, Sensory Play, Rough Sex, Throat Fucking, again most likely some others that I can’t think of.

Word Count: 3,580

Italics are thoughts

Masterpost

You decided today was the day. You would stop pining over Dean Winchester and hook up with someone else. He did it after almost every hunt and it made you jealous and more pissed off than ever. It’s obvious that he doesn’t feel the same, so it’s time to move on. 

You and the boys had a hunt down in Seattle, a nest of vamps living underground sucking the blood out of stragglers every night. You guys finished up the hunt pretty quickly, the vampires scrambling the second you guys burst into the room. They were most likely newly turned, sloppy, barely knew how to fight. You were staying in a motel near some huge building, something to do with a guy named Grey? 

“You guys wanna go for a drink?” Dean asked with a look in his eye and you knew what he was implying. You pushed down your jealousy and replied, “Sure, it’ll be fun.” with a look just as mischievous as his. He looked surprised, your normal banter of “I don’t want to” or “Just go find a prostitute on the street” nowhere to be found. He shrugged and you all got into the car, stopping by the motel to freshen up, you made sure you wore an outfit that showed just enough skin, but not too revealing. Walking out of the bathroom after spraying on some perfume, Dean had to double-take at your appearance, ripped jeans with holes at the knees and thighs, a top that basically only covered your boobs. You smirked at his reaction and sauntered away, swaying your hips to rub it in.

Getting into the car, you and Dean made your way over to the nearest bar, Sam opting to stay behind and get some rest. Arriving at the bar, you turned over to Dean, “By the way, I won’t need a ride tonight, the car is all for you and the chick you are probably going to fuck, I’m gonna find my own ride.” you winked, getting out of the car, missing the look of undeniable jealousy on his face. Entering the bar, the scent of booze hit you and you smiled, making your way over to the bar you sat down on one of the stools and ordered a whisky, on the rocks. 

Finishing your drink, you ordered another, praying that anyone but a creep walked up and sat down next to you. Halfway through your second drink you almost gave up, about to ask for the check and leave, losing all of your confidence and self-esteem. Before you could, a man sat down next to you, a button up shirt with the top few buttons loose, revealing some chest hair, blue eyes, mingling with a bit of grey, short somewhat curly hair, a sexy scruff beard. Holy shit he is the hottest man I have ever seen. 

“Are you here all alone?” he asked, damn even his voice…

You composed yourself before responding, “Yeah, bored out of my mind.”

“Well, maybe I can help bring some fun into your night.” he replied, looking you up and down, usually you would be disgusted and walk away but the way his eyes were devouring you, the mysterious aura that surrounded him, you were hooked. You forced a confident smirk, “Here’s hoping.” you raised your glass and he clinked his with your own. Offering you a smile that held hidden promises behind it. 

“I’m Y/N, you?”

“Christian, Grey.”

“You mean the hotshot billionaire who owns that big ass skyscraper down the block?” you replied with a confused smile.

“Yup, but don’t go telling people, I don’t need paparazzi on my ass tonight.” he chuckled.

“Your secret's safe with me.” you zipped your mouth with your finger, coaxing another laugh from him.

You guys continued to talk, actually talking about life, kind of like a date, until eventually you looked behind him and saw a girl on Dean’s lap. Jealousy ran through your blood like wildfire, “What do you say we get out of here?” you asked, pushing your boobs out to make it known.

He glanced down and his eyes darkened, “As you wish, come with me.” he simply said, slapping down money on the counter to pay for the both of you, grabbing your hand and guiding you out of the bar. He was moving so quickly that you couldn’t notice Dean’s hurt and jealous expression from the other side of the bar.

“I don’t have a place we can go back to.” you said, “I got people back at home.” 

“Don’t worry, I’m taking you somewhere we can have much more fun.”

He led you to a black Range Rover, opening the passenger seat and helping you in before going around the car and getting into the driver's seat. You knew the building wasn’t very far but you were desperate, his smell and looks intoxicating, you reached over and started rubbing his thigh, slowly inching your hand closer to his crotch. Brushing his half-mast cock, he clenched his jaw and held the wheel tighter, glancing over at you with a look that said ‘I’m gonna punish you for that’ and your panties instantly dampened. Continuing to rub him through his pants, he roughly grabbed your hand, “Stop,” he choked, “You’re getting punished for that.”

He parked in the underground garage and damn near dragged you into the elevator, pushing the button to the top floor, you both waited to arrive. You looked down at your feet and started thinking if this was smart or not, but before you could think too much about it, he turned around and slammed you into the wall, burying his face in your throat. You let out a moan at his rough gesture and felt him smirk into your neck, “So you like it rough huh? A little pain too? You’re going to be my perfect submissive.” he growled, biting on the skin below your ear. Your knees nearly buckled and you knew this was the right fucking decision. He claimed your lips and you instantly responded, the roughness behind it, the softness of his lips, it was driving you insane. He forced entry into your mouth and started french kissing you, mapping out the inside of your mouth and kissing the breath out of you. By the time you reached the top floor and the door opened, your face was flushed, your panties were soaked, and your knees were weak. 

He reluctantly pulled away and grabbed your hand once more, not even allowing you to take in the incredible apartment in front of you, pulling you upstairs and walking down the hall to a room with a lock on it. He pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked it, guiding you in. You looked around and gasped, hundreds of different toys, dildos, vibrators, chains, paddles, ropes, handcuffs, and stuff that looked like it belonged in an operating room decorating the walls and cabinets. 

“Are you ok with me using anything in this room tonight with you?” he asked, still looking as dark as ever.

You put some serious thought into it, you had never done BDSM before but you had always thought about trying it, why not with an incredibly attractive man with obvious knowledge on it?

You nodded your head with a small smile, giving him permission.

“Your safe word is grey, but I have a feeling you won't be using it, take off your socks and shoes.” If it was even possible, he went darker, reminding you of Dean as a demon and you held back the moan threatening to escape your lips. You rushed to take them off, waiting for further instructions.

He slowly stalked up to you, reaching out slowly to grasp your top. You thought he was going to be sensual, and that he would go slow, but in an instant, he ripped off your top easily, grabbing your bra and doing the same. Your heart rate picked up and your breathing accelerated, waiting for what he would do next. He reached down and pulled his shirt off, rock hard abs and a few burn marks jumping out at you. Grabbing your arm with an iron grip, he threw you onto the bed that had a few handcuffs at the corners of the bed, pulling your pants down, only your panties remaining. He forced you onto your stomach and cuffed your hands to each corner at the top of the bed. You heard him open a cabinet next to you and strained your neck to see him holding a paddle in one hand, a whip in the other. He placed them near the foot of the bed and grabbed your legs, cuffing your feet to the remaining corners. You bit your lip in anticipation and raised your ass slightly, hearing him let out a dark chuckle behind you.

“You’re going to be a good little whore and take this spanking, and you’re gonna like it.” You felt the paddle on your ass before you felt the sting, moaning and grabbing the rope connected to the cuffs on your hands, bracing yourself for the next one. 

He swung with the paddle five more times, your ass stinging and the sheets soaked underneath you, your arousal escaping your panties. You never thought that spanking would turn you on to this degree but you were a moaning mess, damn near wanting more. 

He put the paddle away and grabbed the whip, tracing it down your thigh to let you know. He raised his arm and slammed the whip down on your ass, each string of leather leaving red marks. You yelled out, the pain intense. “You like this don’t you? I can smell you from here, good little slut taking her spanking. I’m going to have so much fun with you.” He whipped you a few more times before tossing the whip aside and taking off the cuffs from your hands and feet. Lifting you up, he carried you over to a padded floor, chains with cuffs at the end from the ceiling laying on the floor. Taking off your soaked panties, he strapped your feet up to the chains, walking over to the wall and pressing a button. You heard gears grinding and felt the chains start to lift, your eyes widening and breathing ceased. You were pulled up mid-air, your head about three feet off of the ground, you could feel the blood start rushing to your head. 

“What-”

“-You will not say a word, or I will gag you as well.” he growled, effectively shutting you up. He reached down and unbuttoned his jeans, taking off his pants and underwear, revealing his cock, decently thick and incredibly long, you guessed it was around nine inches but you couldn’t tell, for you were upside down. He walked over to you and grabbed your head, angling it up and using his other hand to guide his cock into your mouth. 

“I’m going to fuck your throat, and I’m not going to stop until I’m satisfied.”

You tried rubbing your legs together for friction but the chains made that impossible, your juices slowly dripping up your heat and trailing up your stomach. He shoved his cock into your mouth, pumping his hips back and forth at high speed, instantly making you gag. You tried tapping his thigh to let him know but he slapped your hands away, continuing to fuck your mouth, “I told you I wasn’t going to stop until I wanted to, now choke on my cock like the good little cock slut you are.” he snarled.

You felt tears stinging your eyes and you tried relaxing your throat, his cock still reaching into the back of your throat. He reached his hand up and started fingering you, pummeling his fingers into your heat and forcing entry. You moaned loudly but it was muffled by his cock, him letting out a deep moan at the vibration. He continued to fuck your mouth for what felt like forever, fingering you but not touching your clit purposefully, your juices now fully built up and coating your stomach. 

“Oh fuck yeah, I’m gonna cum down your throat and you’re going to swallow.” he moaned. 

Pumping his hips and shoving his cock even further down your throat, you felt it tense up and felt rope after rope of warm cum coat your inner throat, threatening to climb back up. You swallowed it all down, his taste incredible. He pulled away and walked over to the wall, pressing the button to lower the chains, you landed softly on the padded floor and he came over to release your legs from the chains. You tried getting up but your legs were so weak you couldn’t even find the strength to stand. He picked you up and placed you on the bed you were on previously. 

“Safe word?” “Grey, but I’m good.”

He smirked, opening the same cabinet from before and taking out a silk blindfold along with some nipple clamps, you let him place the blindfold around your head, your vision cut off. He then grabbed your hands and re-cuffed them to the ropes, placing the nipple clamps on you. You let out a keen whine, arching your back, the pain and pleasure new. He reached over to a table next to your head, hearing a glass clink you furrowed your eyebrows in confusion. 

“Oh fuck!” you moaned, an ice cube placed on your stomach with his lips. Holy shit, not being able to see makes everything so much more intense.

He dragged the ice cube up towards your boobs, the cold cube melting as it moved up your heated skin. Rubbing circles around your boobs you let out a sigh, the feeling relaxing yet exhilarating. He made his way back down your stomach, the ice cube nearly melted and starting rubbing it on your clit, “Oh fuck Christian!” you moaned, the feeling like no other. He slapped your thigh, reprimanding you for calling him by his name, continuing to rub circles around your bundle of nerves until the ice fully melted. Your legs hurt from the amount of force you put in keeping them still, not wanting to be punished for moving them. 

You felt him move up the bed on top of you, the feeling of his cool lips and tongue pressing against your neck, biting and sucking hard. You were sure he was going to leave some impressionable marks but you wanted them, the idea of being claimed by this man making you wetter. You felt his cock brush against your walls, hard as ever, how the hell did he get hard so fast?

“I’m gonna fuck you, nice and deep, I don’t care how bad it might hurt, you’re my toy to use, and your pussy is going to be the next thing to make me cum. If you’re good enough, you might be able to cum too.” he growled into your ear, biting it. You bit your inner lip, desperately trying not to bring your legs together for some kind of relief on your wanting heat. 

He slammed into you with no warning, a scream erupting from your lips. You had no preparation, your walls being stretched so forcefully feeling like you were being ripped in half. He didn’t wait for you to adjust either, instantly thrusting in and out with haste. The pain slowly started to go away, being replaced with undeniable pleasure, loud moans leaving your throat. He continued sucking and biting on your neck, his hands gripping your thighs like a vice. You were going to walk out of here like you just left a boxing ring but you couldn’t care less.

“Fuck this pussy is so good, taking my cock like it was meant for it.” he moaned into your neck. 

His hips were slamming into you, your body sinking into the bed.

“Oh fuck! Fuck, that feels so goddamn good!” you yelled out, how the hell were you so close to your orgasm and he hasn’t even touched your clit yet?

You didn’t think he could go any faster but he proved you wrong, a dark energy behind his thrusts fueling his movements, your pussy being pounded by his cock. 

“Fuck I’m gonna cum, you better be on the pill because I am filling you up.” he grunted.

He was bruisingly thrusting into you, not letting up. You were so close to your orgasm, needing only something to push you off the edge and you prayed that he was going to let you cum. He reached down and started rubbing your clit, pushing down so hard that you came instantly. White stars dancing across your eyes, “OH FUCK!” you screamed, whole body shaking with the force in your orgasm. He pumped his hips fiercely a few more times before letting out a guttural moan and cumming once again deep inside of you. 

He paused for a moment, his cock rapidly decreasing in size inside of you, letting out a huge sigh, he pulled out, cum leaking from your abused hole. He reached over and undid the cuffs and took off the clamps, tossing them aside. Using the bed sheets, he completely cleaned you off along with the remaining cum off of his member. You laid there, breathing heavily, face flushed, feeling the best you had in your entire life. Holy shit he just rocked my world, you thought to yourself. You reluctantly got up, knowing you had to make your way back to the motel, “Hey, I wish I could stay the night but I gotta go home.”

He looked a bit sad at that, “I understand, I can drive you back home.”

You walked over to your clothes on the floor and realized that your bra and top were ruined, before you could say anything, you felt him come up to behind you with fresh new clothes. You were going to ask how he knew your bra size but decided against it, gratefully taking the clothes and putting them on. 

“I can just toss your pants and underwear, here you go.” he said, offering you new panties and pants that were similar to your own. You were shocked, he was so aggressive before but now he was soft, a gentleman. You took the clothing from him and put it on, once again a perfect fit. Reaching into your old pants, you grabbed your wallet and phone, seeing it lit up with nearly a thousand messages from Dean, “Shit.” you muttered.

“Something wrong?”

“No, it’s just my... family, they called and texted a million times. It’s ok though.” you added.

He nodded and put on his own clothes, guiding you downstairs and back to the elevator. Getting back into his car, you directed him to the motel you were staying at. Before he could say anything, “This isn’t where I normally live, we are just stopping by here for a few days.” you rushed out, not wanting him to think you were basically living on the street. He offered you an understanding smile and pulled into the parking lot. You were glued to your seat not knowing what to say, eventually you choked out, “Thanks for tonight, you really did show me a damn good time.” you said, reaching for the door. Before you could reach the handle, he roughly grabbed your neck, forcing you to turn and kissed you. The hunger and darkness from earlier was still there, but there was also a softness to it that made your heart swell. He pulled away after a few moments, “Here is my number, call me, please.” he said, offering you his business card with his number written on the back. 

You smiled, “I’ll be sure to do so.”

Getting out of the car, you waved him off and turned around, walking to the room you guys were staying in. Stuffing the card in your pocket so they wouldn’t see, you knocked on the door, waiting for one of them to answer. The door was ripped open and you were met with an angry Dean, face practically steaming. 

You walked past him, “What’s got you so pissed off?” you asked innocently.

He noticed the hickeys and bite marks under your shirt and all around your neck, his fingers white knuckled, a vein threatening to burst on his neck. You thought steam was about to start seeping out of his ears.

“Where the fuck were you all night?” he seethed.

“What? You didn’t see me walk out with that guy? He took me back to his place and fuuuuuckkk Dean he-”

“-Shut. the. fuck. up.” he said clenching his teeth. No fucking way, was he... jealous?

Deciding to test your theory you continued, “God he gave it to me so damn good, I think I even forgot my own name for a second. I need to meet up with him again.”

The next thing you know you were slammed against the wall, Dean’s lips claiming yours. You couldn’t fight it, giving in and kissing him back. He licked your bottom lip, asking for permission that you granted instantly, the kiss turning heated in a matter of seconds. He pulled away and rested his forehead on yours, you looked up into his eyes and saw most of the anger had dissipated, jealously, want, and desire written in his eyes, “No one can have what’s mine.” he growled, before kissing you again.

Next Part

 Forever's Tag List: @magssteenkamp​ @akshi8278​

[vtmb2s]

Past 1, 3, 6, 8 for Jason my beloved and Present 5-8 for Jenny annnd Future 2, 5, 7 for Helena! 😏

─ JASON

1. Briefly describe the way their parents grew up, and how it affected the way they raised them.

Both his parents were two regular middle class new yorkers, Frank (his dad) grew up in New York's suburbs and had a very conventional upbringing, he was the middle child of three siblings and thus kind of ignored so he usually just minded his own business... that very much carried over into adulthood, he was very reclusive and didn't really bother spending much time with his family -_-

Jason's mom, Gina, was a 2nd generation italian-american who grew up in a huge family with a billion siblings and cousins who are all very different from her husband. She liked it in the beginning but she became more and more unhappy and kind of underwhelmed. She really projected all her dreams of ever becoming someone on her kids that failed with her because she was stuck in a boring marriage with the most unambitious and boring man ever 😑

3. Describe their family. Who raised them, and who had the most impact on them? Did they have any siblings? Who were they closest to? What were the family dynamics like?

This ties in with the previous question but Frank was a bit of a loser, not particularly attractive and more timid & shy.. he was a very unambitious guy who worked a boring office job all his life without any intention of climbing the ladder. He really spent most of his time off work with his boring little loser hobbies :/

Gina was a much more spirited and lively person than her husband, Jason takes a lot more after her than his dad. She wasn't a great mother by all means due to the fact that she was unhappy in her marriage and with her life and kind of took that out on her kids, in a way where she placed certain expectations on them which Jason never really met. They weren't particularly close due to Jason's more.. rebellious nature he had as a kid, which in turn made him cause more trouble because that was the only way his parents gave him any attention at all :/ He also has an older brother, Richard, who their mother very obviously favored. Frank didn't really give a fuck about either of his sons -_-

He had a very close relationship with his mother's family though, particularly with one of her brothers. Carlo (said uncle) was a lot like him and never had any kids on his own so he became somewhat of a father figure to Jason :-)

6. Did the location they grew up in affect them significantly? Do they still go there?

He grew up in some little house in New York's suburb, not the prettiest house there because they didn't make enough for one of the nicer looking ones. He's not that fond of the boring suburbs (even in Boston), he spent more time in the city with his relatives and preferred that over his actual home. Other than that it didn't affect him much 🤷‍♀️

8. What was their childhood/teenage bedroom like?

A small little room with an ugly sports wallpaper that his parents never bothered to replace as he got older. It always looked a little messy and had a few mismatching mid-century decorations and furniture in there. As he grew older he started to cover the walls with random posters he had, to hide the ugly baseball wallpaper.

─ JENNY

5. What kind of people do they usually interact with? Who are their friends, the people they look up to/trust, and who are their “associates”?

She interacts with all sorts of people in New Bordeaux' criminal underworld - if you do anything illegal chances are you'll know Jenny. As for her actual friends, she's friends with the 3 other criminal 20 year olds in town, Danny, Lincoln, Ellis, unfortunately Giorgi (frenemies would be more fitting) and Lena. Her closest and best friends would definitely be Gavin (of @dannyburke fame)and Juliet (of @jennystahl fame) though, they're also pretty much the only ones who would fall into the "people she trusts" category... they're the only ones she'll have long weed induced therapy sessions at 1 am while the monkees are on tv.

6. What is their current relationship with their family?

Complicated... the love is there and all that, it's more of a business relationship though rather than a parent-child thing, especially with her dad. It's nothing that she ever questions (until aforementioned therapy sessions with her friends), she grew up in an environment where affection isn't really something she sees often and almost all her friends have messed up relationships with their parents too so while there is some resentment she never really questions that the way they raised her might not be ideal :c

The relationship with her siblings is complicated as well, especially because they're both a LOT younger than her. She was an only-child until the age of 13 and moved out of her childhood home when they were eight and six years old so there's this weird disconnect but there's a relationship nonetheless, which is weird. Eldest daughter AND only child disease 😓Not to mention that her parents are looking to make her little brother head of the family because he's a boy or whatever.. drama!

7. Do they have a partner? How did they meet, and what’s their relationship like now?

Yes.. she and Ellis met on some random job in the Hollow in 1963 that her dad was taking her along with (he and Sammy did random deals together and were also good friends 😌) and Jenny was like wow how boring. What if I just talk to this this guy's sons instead.... she thought he was some annoying teenage guy and only really talked to him whenever necessary (when her dad's business trips to Sammy's got REALLY boring). She forced herself to hang out with him more after Lincoln went to Vietnam and realized he's not so bad so they became friends :)

In actual game canon nothing really happens because he dies, Jenny just becomes sad that her friends were killed (him, Danny, Sammy and maybe Michael too because of Juliet connection.. she doesn't give a fuck abt Giorgi anymore that little rat can die) and wonders if she liked that goofy little guy with the ugly shirts, but in any case it's too late now.

We're doing au's here though (also this is as of '68) so in the good timeline they get together in 1968.. sort of. It's not a friends with benefits thing, more that sort of relationship that you know will end sooner or later for various reasons, so you're kind of living in the moment and have fun while it lasts. It IS genuine and not just about hooking up from time to time of course, it's just not the kind of thing that was built to last because it's based off of a dumb 20 year olds friendship and one of them (Jenny) doesn't really plan on sticking around in New Bordeaux. But well, who knows what will happen 😏

8. What hobby or pastime of theirs do they consider most important to them and why?

Well, she's big on making music, she plays the guitar and sings (she has a pretty nice voice c: ), she grew up in a pretty fucked up environment so that was her sort of escape in her youth, to be a normal kid who's playing the guitar very very badly. She doesn't play it badly as a 23 year old anymore of course and it's a little thing she shares with her best friends so that means a lot to her 😳

─ HELENA

2. Are they content with their future situation? Is there anything they would change?

Well, she's certainly not happy with the whole vampire situation - her dreams of becoming famous for acting were pretty much ruined, now she's legally dead and nothing more than a photo on true crime blogs and conspiracy theory websites... Famous but for the wrong reasons, in a way she's more bitter about "dying" before she had the chance to become famous than about the whole vampirism thing herself. There would have been something incredibly poetic about a beautiful young actress dying at the height of her career, now she's just some random nobody :/

It could be worse though. She's known among L.A. vampires for her lack of loyalty to any of the factions (despite her working for the Camarilla earlier) and her just helping whoever she feels like which is fine to her, most of them will just leave her alone. In any case, she's not in Los Angeles anymore after the events of Bloodlines!!

5. Did they get married or have a family? Why? If otherwise, why not?

See she would like to get married eventually, making a promise to love someone and be with them for eternity (literally... because... vampires) is incredibly romantic and she would love that (THIS is her wedding... not really because she's not that cringe but also.. yeah), so who knows what might happen.

Family though, no!! Starting one isn't possible, at least not with biological children since she's a vampire. It doesn't bother her that much, she always did envision herself with one child in the future but she's not desperate to be a mother anyway so she doesn't beat herself up about it. She does wonder what it might be like to have children and laments it from time to time (she's a little overdramatic) but overall she doesn't mind that much.

7. Are their friends still a part of their life? Are there people they are no longer in touch with, or newly important people?

Yes, sort of! As I mentioned before she's not in L.A. anymore post-bloodlines and she never had many friends there to begin with so she keeps in touch with the few she has there. She miiight make a few new (or old) connections once shes out of Los Angeles too, who knows!

[one-boring-person]

What Kind Of A World Are We Living In?

The Lost Boys x The Walking Dead Crossover

Warnings: blood imagery, death, some very vague TWD spoilers, bad language

Context: So @browneyes528 , @lostbetweenvampiresandmusic and I kinda came up with an idea for a crossover between these fandoms, and it basically entails David meeting Negan for the first time.

A/N: This is my first time writing Negan, so I hope it's not too bad! I enjoyed writing this; it's quite fun to combine the things I enjoy 😂😅💛

Masterlist.

Originally, David had made it clear that he wanted no part in joining any groups they came across on their travels, impressing this on the boys on multiple occasions, especially when "food" was scarce. Even before he'd turned, he'd never been a particularly social person, so the outbreak of "biters" as one group they'd encountered had called them was perfect for his naturally guarded personality, as it meant he never had to interact with people he didn't like as much as he used to, back in Santa Carla in the good old days. Only one problem came with the outbreak: the amount of available people to feed on was slowly decreasing, and the biters do not taste nearly as good.

However, this changed when he came across a rather interesting character, whose name he had yet to figure out, whilst on a hunt, the others having spread out through the area to find possible sources of blood. For once, David was walking through the dense forest rather than flying over it, avoiding the biters wherever possible, easily decapitating those that stumbled too close to him with the machete he "borrowed" from a previous victim, though in theory there was no need to do so, seeing as they didn't seem to care about the taste of vampire flesh, and their bites wouldn't do anything to them anyway. He'd started to give up hope of finding any source of life, until he picked up the sounds of voices a little way off, interest spiking as he headed off in that direction, hunger growing as the familiar scent of fresh blood reached him, the smell clearly emanating from a large area ahead of him. Following with more vigour, he soon came across the odd gathering of people; a semi-circle of sorts was formed around an old RV, a number of them kneeling on the floor in front of a horde of armed soldier-type men and women. Vehicles surrounded them, a collection of armoured trucks and pickups, as well as a couple of motorbikes (which he greatly envied, seeing as he and the boys had had to leave theirs back in Santa Carla for lighter travel) solidifying the would-be intimidating group into an almost impenetrable wall. Normally, he'd signal for the other boys to join him, there being too many for him to finish off alone, but something stopped him in his tracks. Or rather, someone.

A tall man went to the RV, having said something relevant to the kneeling people, opening the door to reveal another man, who stepped into the light with a large grin on his face. Instantly, David's focus was on the newcomer, eyebrow raising at his choice of attire - a black leather jacket, red scarf and dark jeans, though what really caught his eye was the baseball bat, which was wrapped in barbed wire, a deadly weapon he wished he could see in action. Despite the circumstances (it being an apocalypse and all), the newcomer was clean and undirtied, as if he had somewhere to return to where he could shower and change into clean clothes, and his entire attitude around the gathered people only proved to David that this man was the leader.

His eyes remained fixed on him, taking in the laid-back, yet clearly authoritative stance and movements, not listening to what was being said until the familiar sound of an old song floated up to him from the leader, each line punctuated by a point of the bat at a kneeling person, all of whom appeared terrified.

"Eeny, meeny, miny, mo, catch a tiger by his toe..."

The black-clad leader's voice was taunting, his fingers visibly clenching around the handle of the bat as he came to a halt in front of a thick-set ginger guy, who stared up the length of the weapon with a confidence only bred in the military.

David could only watch with grudging  appreciation as the leader then proceeded to beat the hell out of the guy's head, spreading the ginger man's brains all over the dusty tarmac with a brutal finality.

It only took the sight of this to change David's mind about joining a group, his mind made up as he watched the leader tease and taunt the rest of the group, nearly rising in anger when a dishevelled brunette sprung forward to punch him in the jaw, smirking to himself when another guy had his head smashed to pieces in retaliation. This guy knew how to demonstrate his ultimate dominance over his people.

Unfortunately, he had to wait another few weeks or so until he got the chance to meet this guy again, at which point he'd already informed the others of this new group he had found, eager to figure out what this guy's reaction would be to finding a coven of vampires asking to ally with him. To say the boys had been surprised was an understatement; Paul nearly fell from the roof they were perched on, Dwayne only just managing to pull him back up again, Marko staring, wide-eyed, at his leader. Unsurprisingly, they had all wanted to see this guy for themselves, not quite believing that a human could be as brutal and remorseless as David made him out to be, thus starting a search for the base of these people, though it was mostly unsuccessful, until one summer night.

The four of them hovered over the decrepit motorway below, eyes searching for any signs of movements, each of them as bored as the others, having had less luck finding food in the last few weeks, seeing as everyone seemed to be letting themselves die in ways that meant they would become a biter, which was not helpful at all. By now, they'd been out for a good four hours, their hunger levels through the roof - they'd only found a group of two loners the day before, meaning that they hadn't eaten nearly enough to satisfy them. At his point, Marko and Paul decided they needed to start acting dramatic, theatrically dropping from the sky every now and then, only to catch themselves after a few metres, complaining about how tired and hungry they were the entire time, neither of them letting up, even when Dwayne threatened to stake them both. They were whinging so much they never noticed the little band of people on the motorway below them, the tiny group having just emerged from the trees lining the side of the road, until David pointed them out, licking his lips in anticipation, his vampiric features contorting his face as he led the dive down.

Whooping in triumph and relief, the four of them descended on the group of five, each of them claiming a victim right off the bat, tearing into their chosen person with a vigour born of deep-rooted hunger, blood erupting in macabre fountains from the newly made wounds. The rich fluid coated their chins and fangs, staining their already filthy clothes further as the screaming people writhe and struggle in their respective grips, each one gradually dying in full view of the fifth, who had yet to race off in the other direction, which would've been the smart thing to do. As it happened, the horrified girl never stood a chance, swiftly being taken out by David as he took his fill from her, passing her barely alive body on to an eagerly waiting Paul, who was only to happy to sink his fangs into her skin, tearing her throat out with a grim efficiency.

In their feeding frenzy, none of them had noticed the envoy of vehicles slowly approaching from the north, a familiar RV amongst them, until the beaming headlights were focused on them, drawing the vampires' attention. Dropping the corpses, each vampire moved to stand beside David, who stuck his gloved hands in his pockets and watched the cars approach, smirking at the realisation of who it is, glad that their first encounter involved him covered in fresh blood from a victim he just spent a few enjoyable minutes tearing to pieces, knowing that his appearance must be horrifying. Beside him, the others stood their ground, Marko moving to bite at his thumb, only to swiftly think better of it, hooking it in the belt loops of his jeans instead. Ahead of them, each vehicle came to a halt, a group of armed people stepping forward with rifles and shotguns aimed at them, a sight which brought a slight grin to David's lips, the door to the RV opening to reveal the guy from before, a somewhat confused yet confident expression on his face.

"It's nearly two in the morning and I have to sort out a bunch of cannibals on the road? What kinda world are we living in?!" The leader joked with one of his cronies, eyeing the motley group of blood stained boys with no trepidation at all.

"A dying one, I reckon." David called out to him in way of response, their eyes locking, almost as if challenging each other.

"Well, then I guess it all depends on who you ask, don't it?" A wide grin appeared on the guy's face as he looked David over, clearly impressed by what he saw, "Damn, you are creepy as shit! You look totally badass!"

David's eyes narrowed a bit at his words, suspicious of the guy's odd compliments.

"If that's what you think, then sure." He responded, choosing his words carefully.

"What I think? Hell, no, that's not what I think. It's what I know." He confirmed, leaning back on his heels, his bat resting over one shoulder, "I'm Negan."

"David."

"David? Your name is David? I'm gonna have to figure out something better than that, something more badass."

For once, David chose not to let his offense at the statement determine how he acted, instead remaining in place with a neutral expression.

"If you must." He bit out, deciding to get straight to the point, "We've been looking for you."

Surprise seemed to cross Negan's face at this confession, eyebrows momentarily drawing together in confusion.

"You've been looking for me? Why in the hell would you do that?"

"I saw you beat two people's heads in a few weeks back, and you left a good impression on me. I thought you might like the help of four vampires in your group, who have no qualms about killing anyone." David informed him, nearly rolling his eyes at the disbelieving look on their faces.

"I left a good impression on someone like you because I beat the shit outta two people? Damn, you are messed up, I'll give you that." Negan smirked, pointing at David with his bat, "But I cannot give you the vampire bullshit. Who in the hell still believes in them?"

"People with sense." He grinned in reply, his features changing into their vampiric forms, lips peeling back to reveal his razor sharp fangs.

For a long moment, everyone is silent, Negan's eyes fixed on David's face, clearly taken aback by the turn of events, though the smile is quick to return.

"I owe you damn apology, David, that is terrifying. Like real, pant-pissing, shitting-yourself terrifying." He complimented again, seemingly considering something, "You still up for helping me out? Because I have a job that I think will suit you guys just fine."

"Sure thing, as long as the price is decent."

Negan stepped forwards, bat back on his shoulder, a conspiratorial smirk on his lips.

"There's a certain group of people who need the shit scaring outta them. Their leader is a prick named Rick, or Rick the Prick as I call him, and he needs an attitude adjustment."

[plastic-lamb]

W-would you mind doing a sub vampire mingi 🥺

warning: light bloodplay (obviously)

I had troubles deciding between whiny sub mingi and good boy sub mingi so I kind of did both, I hope you like it :')

When it came to your relationship with Mingi, the saying that 'appearances can be deceiving' fit perfectly.

Even for a vampire Mingi was astonishingly intimidating at first glance. Tall, strong and handsome, other vampires were somewhat fearful of him and what power he potentially had. Those who actually knew him, however, knew that he barely had the guts to kill a mouse. In reality he was so soft hearted and loving, probably one of the few vampires that could handle a relationship with a human. He was gentle, submissive even. He could easily snap you in half, tear you apart, or drain you dry, but he never would.

Mingi seemed to have some fetish for being dominated by a human, someone weaker than him being in full control aroused him more than anything else. He loved making love, of course, but those moments where you straddled him and called him a good boy just turned him into a pile of goo.

It was moments like these: you grinding yourself against his cock, him underneath you panting and squirming, begging you to stop teasing him and to please just fuck him.

You simply smiled sweetly at him, reaching over to his bedside table and retrieving a small knife from the drawer. His eyes changed then, knowing exactly what you intended to do. His expression reminded you of an animal ready to pounce, but lucky for you he was held back by a metaphorical leash.

You stopped rubbing yourself against him long enough to prick your finger with the knife; just enough to draw a little droplet of blood. Slowly, you moved your hand, hovering it just above his face. You noticed the way the corner of his mouth twitched and how he gripped the sheets so hard he tore holes in them. He wanted to taste you so badly, but he restrained yourself. You were so proud of him for it.

You were cautious, despite his willpower seeming to be unwavering there was always the possibly of him snapping and attacking you. You slid your bleeding finger passed his plush lips, at the same time you used your other hand to guide his cock into you. Suddenly overwhelmed with all the sensations, Mingi's hands flew to you, one holding your wrist and the other on your hip.

After waiting a few moments to get accustomed to the way he stretched you, you slipped a second finger into his mouth and started riding him at the same time. He let out a whiny moan around your fingers, then started to suck them, swirling his tongue around them despite the fact that you had stopped bleeding at that point.

"Look at you, sucking my fingers like a little slut," you panted, placing your free hand on his chest to support yourself. "You're such a good boy, you fill me up so much I almost can't stand it."

Mingi couldn't take it, he wanted more. He knew that he needed to have some self control but being young it was difficult for him. He didn't even realise it when he pierced your finger with his fang until you snatched your hand out of his mouth.

"Did my baby boy get greedy? You know the rule."

"Don't take more than you offer, I know, but I'm sorry! I just couldn't help myself you taste so good and-"

You cut him off by covering his mouth with your hand. "I don't think you deserve this blood that you tried to steal, don't you agree?" He whined but nodded. The rule didn't only apply to the bedroom, but to your entire relationship. Of course he fed from you sometimes, but obviously there needed to be ground rules. He couldn't just have as much as he wanted whenever he wanted, then you end up dead and he'd be heartbroken.

You tutted, sitting upright and looking him in the eye as you brought your newly wounded finger to your mouth and licked the blood off.

"Fuck," Mingi panted out, his hips involuntarily jolting to thrust into you a couple times. You grinned, proud that you had such an effect on him.

"Make me cum like a good boy and you'll get more than some little pinpricks on my finger," you cooed. He didn't hesitate at all, reaching between you two to rub your clit as he thrusted into you at as consistent of a pace as he could. You felt the familiar pool of heat building up in your stomach and by the way you were crying out his name, Mingi knew you were close as well.

When you came the way you clenched and spasmed around him brought him so close to the edge but frustratingly not enough. He didn't really care about coming at this point, the prospect of feeding from you was a much higher priority for him.

After catching your breath and composing yourself, you tantalizingly ran your hands along his chest making him squirm whenever your fingers touched his nipples.

"Ready?"

He nodded quickly, his breath hitching when you brushed your hair to the side and leaned down. He waited for your permission before puncturing your skin with his fangs. You hissed from the pain, but the way he always soothingly licked the wounds after initially making them always helped make it just a little bit less painful whenever he drank from you.

He had been waiting for this, ever since you allowed him to have that tiny drop all he wanted was to get more. To him, everything about you was absolutely perfect, including your blood, so it came as no surprise to him when he suddenly released deep inside you, but it sure did surprise you. You gently tugged on his hair and he pulled back, looking fucked out and drunk all at the same time.

"Look at you, cumming just from tasting my blood," you teased him. He was far too gone, too overstimulated and intoxicated by desire to drink from you to formulate a response. So instead, he leaned over and licked up a small trail of blood that was running down your neck, ever so gently like a little puppy. Then he was back to sucking, his strong arms wrapped around you holding you as close as possible while simultaneously keeping track of your pulse.

"Mingi s-stop I'm getting lightheaded," you whispered. He pulled away immediately, his big brown eyes looking so apologetic it made your heart melt. But before he could say anything you closed the space between you and kissed him sweetly to show him you weren't upset and he didn't have to feel bad. It comforted him, but there was truly no way to make his guilt go away. He always felt bad after drinking from you, no matter how little he took, because he didn't want to hurt you in the least bit. Sometimes he wished you were the one cursed with vampirism so that he could be the one to give his everything to you, his body, blood, heart and soul. Perhaps that was him feeling a bit selfish though, after all there was a reason he refused to turn you.

When you pulled away he immediately went into the same drawer in his nightstand and pulled out a bandage, carefully placing it over the wound on your next.

"Do you need one for your finger too?" He asked quietly, absent-mindely running his hand up and down your back.

You held up your hand and examined your fingers, bending them both. Both had stopped bleeding and neither really hurt anymore so you shook your head.

Finally with you starting to feel tired you pulled him out of you, squirming a little at the sudden feeling of emptiness. He handed you a couple tissues to wipe yourself clean with before you cuddled up next to him.

"I'm really sorry for biting you earlier," he mumbled. You shook your head, scooting closer to him.

"It's okay Mingi, I know it's hard for you to resist. I'm proud of you though, you did so good," you whispered against his skin. His heart swelled with pride at your praise. He pulled you as close to him as possible, your bodies flush together and your head on his chest. You could hear his heartbeat, slow and irregular. At first his heartbeat kind of freaked you out, but now it was like a soothing lullaby.

"I love you," he whispered, knowing that you were already starting to fall asleep from the way your breathing changed. You muttered something close to 'I love you too' before passing out, exhausted mainly from the blood loss. He stayed like that, holding you in his arms until you finally woke up. He didn't mind sitting in bed just staring into the darkness as long as you were there with him to remind him that he had a reason to.

[vampiregirl1797]

Hopeless: Epilogue

Klaus Mikaelson x OC

GIF Not Mine

Warnings: this is over 10,000 words, so get some snacks and a hot cup of chocolate!

Click Here For Masterlist 

Five years after Evangeline returned from the 15th century.

 ‘Bekah, really this is completely unnecessary.’ I tried to reason with her, but I wasn’t surprised when my protests seemed to fall on deaf ears.

 ‘It may not be necessary but that doesn’t mean it’s not happening.’ She winked, turning back to the owner of the cute little clothes store we’d found in the centre of the city. She was compelling her to let us have free run of the store, seeing as clothes were limited and she didn’t want to lose out on the perfect outfit to someone else.

 While she did that, I wondered around, absentmindedly looking at the different clothes she had to offer. I had to hand it to her, everything was beautiful and all one of a kind, seeing as she made the clothes herself and only ever made ten of everything. Once they sold, that was it.

‘Find anything?’ I asked Elena when I reached her.

 ‘Oh my--,’ she cut off with a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

 ‘Sorry.’ I grinned, amused that after so many years of me being a vampire I could still startle her.

 She shot me a look, clearly not believing my apology but she waved me off anyway.

 ‘You know, I’m surprised I can still startle you with your newfound heightened senses.’ I teased.

 Elena had become a vampire a few years ago, after she had turned twenty. She had given it a lot of thought beforehand, and was content with her decision when she asked Stefan to turn her so that she could spend an eternity by his side. The younger Salvatore had been hesitant, but after my sister assured him that she had done nothing but think about it since she met him, he followed through with her request.

 ‘Well I was too busy wondering if this top would look cute on me.’ She protested, holding up a white and baby pink lace crop top.

 ‘It would not.’ Bekah interjected, sliding up next to me and holding out a similar style crop top but in red, ‘this colour suits your skin tone better.’

 ‘Thank you, Bekah.’ Elena smiled gratefully and put the reject back on the rack before adding the new addition to her basket.

 I smirked in amusement when I realised that Elena had already gathered enough to fill half her basket, while Bekah had enough to warrant moving onto a third while I had nothing.

 Bekah seemed to notice that too, ‘why haven’t you got anything in your basket yet? We only have another hour until we need to be back for dinner and the barbecue is tomorrow!’

 ‘I know,’ I sighed, running a hand through my hair, ‘I’ve never been good at picking out clothes for myself Bekah. I hate shopping.’

 Elena and Bekah gasped dramatically, as if this was news to them, which of course it wasn’t. I rolled my eyes at their dramatics, but a small smile still found its way to my lips.

 ‘Well that’s easy enough. I’ll pick something for you.’ Bekah smiled, already wondering off to the back wall—I imagined she already had something in mind.

 A few years ago, I would’ve tried to stop her, but I knew that she would only pick something that would compliment my figure and my personal tastes. She had a gift when it came to styling people, in any other time she could’ve been an amazing personal shopper. But then again, owning her own clothing line seemed more Bekah’s style.

 ‘So when are Stefan and Damon getting in?’ I asked, following Elena around while she browsed through the other options.

 ‘Tonight after dinner, which sucks but we can all probably watch a movie together.’ Elena replied, the excitement at the prospect of seeing her love leaking into her voice.

 ‘True, though it is Kol’s turn to pick this month. Probably means we’re gonna be stuck watching some gory horror movie.’ I rolled my eyes fondly—the younger Mikaelson loved watching scary movies to mock and point holes in the stories.

 ‘Better than Elijah’s documentary obsession.’ Elena joked. She wasn’t wrong, though. Elijah was fascinated with watching documentaries on anything—the last time it had been his pick, we sat through a two hour movie on how cans were made.

 ‘No arguments here.’ Bekah laughed, adding an armful of clothes to my basket.

 I knew there was more than one outfit choice there, but I also knew better than to argue—she liked to add options for me to choose from, plus anything I didn’t want to wear tomorrow I could just wear some other time.

 ‘Thanks, Bekah.’ I smiled offering her a side hug, ‘you’re a godsend.’

 Bekah snorted, commenting on the fact that no one had ever called her that in a thousand years. She offered me a kind smile though and I knew she was grateful for the compliment.

 ‘Well if everyone’s finished, I’m craving something sweet.’ Elena mused.

 ‘I know just the place.’ Bekah smirked; I could already feel my mouth watering at the prospect of pastries.

 //

 ‘So, how’s being newly married?’ Bekah asked my sister just as I’d taken a huge bit of one of the beignets from the centre of the table.

 My eyes closed in pleasure and I couldn’t help the small moan that formed at the back of my throat from the taste. Heaven.

 ‘Great.’ Elena’s expression visibly lit up, as it always did when she spoke of her relationship with the younger Salvatore, ‘we’re actually thinking about moving to New Orleans permanently. Stefan wants to talk to you guys about it first, just to make sure it’s alright, but hopefully there won’t be an issue. I’m ready to move on from Mystic Falls, and I want to be closer to my second family, seeing as the only ones really left back home are me, Stefan, Damon and Bonnie.’

 It was true; Jeremy and a few of his friends from school had decided to travel the world before committing to a college, and Jenna had moved back to Denver after Jeremy had graduated. The old house was currently being rented out by Jenna being as none of us had the heart to put it up for sale.

 ‘I don’t think that will be a problem, Elena you’re family.’ I assured her with a smile, honestly the thought of her moving to the city filled me with joy, ‘the Mikaelson’s love you like a sister, and Stefan and Nik have the biggest bromance going on, there should be zero issues.’

 ‘She’s right, Lena.’ Bekah assured her, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement—I imagined mine looked the same. The prospect of us all living in the same city all the time was just too wonderful to comprehend. Usually we had to made do with one weekend a month—that was the mandatory minimum for the whole family to meet up, no matter where they were in the world they had to be back for family weekend. Though to be fair, Elena, Stefan and Damon were the only ones who didn’t live in the city permanently, so that rule only really applied to them.

 ‘Do you think Bonnie will come to the barbecue?’ I wondered, sipping my caramel latte as I waited for an answer.

 Bonnie was a somewhat touchy subject for the group. When I’d gathered the courage and will to go back to Mystic Falls to tell my family the truth about what had happened, Bonnie and Katherine were the only two who had an issue. Bonnie because she believed I’d defied the balance of nature by helping break a curse that had been in place for so long, and Katherine because she’d lost five hundred years bound to paranoia and fear.

 It had taken some time, but eventually Bonnie realised that if the curse shouldn’t have been broken, the means to break it wouldn’t have existed. Katherine was more stubborn and even attempted to gather enough firepower from witches, vampires and werewolves to take Klaus and Elijah down. Of course, when they found out whom she wanted them to go up against they immediately backed out, a few even coming to New Orleans to warn the Mikaelsons of the potential threat—they didn’t want to go up against the strongest supernatural army in the world. Which was of course what the Mikaelson’s had built in New Orleans. It was the place that any species could come and live with different supernatural creatures in harmony. They did such a good job ruling it, fairly and with a genuine care for each and every person, that the loyalty they earned from each member of the city was unwavering. That was something Katherine hadn’t realised, until it was too late.

 Klaus and Elijah had sent a few werewolves and vampires for her to “recruit.” Of course, it had been a ploy to lure her to New Orleans and once they had her, they gave her three options:

-       Give up her ploy for revenge and start living her immortal life without a thirst for repentance

-       Let herself be compelled to once again forget why she wanted vengeance

-       Or die.

Her rage had inevitably made the decision for her. After she had been given her options, I had returned to the compound after meeting Cami for a drink at Rousseau’s. My appearance reminded her of her hatred and she’d attempted to attack me immediately, before she could however Elijah had removed her heart while Klaus had flashed to my side, prepared to aid me should I need it. We had both stared at the elder Mikaelson in shock, but he simply dropped her heart and ordered for her body to be burned to ash.

 I still remembered the conversation I’d had with him that night.

 A few months after Evangeline returned from the 15th century.

 I took a deep breath, trying to build up the courage to knock on his door, but I found myself shuffling from foot to foot. I was just about to bolt and return to bed with Nik when the door opened of its own accord.

 ‘Evangeline, is there something I can help you with?’ Elijah’s calm voice tampered a little of my anxiety, as did the absence of anger or sorrow in his eyes. But I didn’t let that fool me completely—I knew just as well as anyone that he was the best at withholding emotions from those closest to him.

 ‘I- I just wanted to apologise.’ I said, clearing my throat as my voice broke.

 ‘Whatever for?’ he gestured for me to enter his bedroom and I took a seat on one of the armchairs he had opposite his bed. Elijah himself perched himself on the foot of his bed, rolling his shirtsleeves up to his elbows as he awaited my response.

 ‘For Katherine. I know you cared for her once, and it’s my fault that nothing happened with her.’ I murmured, suddenly finding myself enamoured with the sleeves of the Henley that I was wearing that happened to belong to my hybrid.

 ‘If I ever cared for Katarina, it was because she reminded me of another life.’ Elijah said, the softness of his voice caused me to look up to him, ‘she reminded me of a time where my biggest worry was competing with my brother to win the affections of a woman who looked a lot like her.’

 ‘Tatia.’ I said, familiar with the story.

 ‘Indeed. When we were human my biggest concerns were trying to win Tatia’s hand in marriage, and protecting my siblings from our brute of a father. Katarina reminded me of that, and as a result caused me to yearn for that simplicity.’

 I nodded, somewhat understanding.

 ‘Of course, that changed when I realised that Niklaus was finding his humanity, due to a mysterious girl from the future.’ Elijah smiled knowingly at me, and I couldn’t help but look down, grateful that I couldn’t blush, ‘you see Evangeline, your appearance in our lives made me yearn for my life in the present. It made me yearn for a time that we could all sit down together as a family and be happy. Happier than we ever were when we lived in that small village in Mystic Falls over a thousand years ago. For the first time in a long time, I was excited by what the future would bring, rather than being consumed with dread over the prospect of witnessing my family commit heinous acts before my very eyes. You saved this family. And for Katarina to come along and try to inadvertently tear that apart, well you know by now… no one hurts my family and lives. And you, Evangeline are just as much a part of this family as I am.’

 I knew that my cheeks were wet with tears but I didn’t care. In a flash I was hugging Elijah and unconsciously soaking his shirt with tears. He hugged me back and I found myself grateful and lucky to have been accepted into the Mikaelson family.

 ‘Thank you, Elijah.’ I murmured against his chest.

 ‘Always and forever, sister.’ He murmured back, placing a chaste kiss to the top of my head.

 Back to five years after Evangeline returned from the 15th century.

 That had been a few months after I returned from the past, and Elijah and I had only grown closer. He was like the big brother I had always wanted, and being accepted into the fold meant that I was also gifted with the huge family I’d always yearned for. I was immensely grateful, being as I’d given up on the idea of a big family when I’d been turned into a vampire. I was lucky, and a day didn’t go by where I wasn’t reminded of that.

 ‘No. She’s accepted everything and I know she understands, but she doesn’t want to be a part of it.’ Elena said, her bright expression dimming considerably at the reminder of her absent ex-best friend.

 ‘I’m sorry sweetie.’ I murmured, squeezing her hand comfortingly.

 ‘It’s okay. It’s her life to live, and she doesn’t want to live it immersed in the supernatural world like we do. That’s her choice and she’s well within her rights to make it.’ Elena murmured, her eyes conveying the sincerity behind her words.

 It sucked, of course it did, but Elena was right. Bonnie was living her life like she wanted to—without vampires, hybrids and werewolves. Elena and I still loved her, but we knew it was just a part of life; some people are only meant to be in your life for a certain amount of time before you drift apart and they leave you with the memories you created together.

 //

 ‘Aren’t you ever going to tire of painting me?’ I murmured, partially amused and fond from where I leaned against the doorframe.

 After lunch with my sisters, I’d returned to the compound and after placing my newly acquired clothes into our room, I went to find him. Where I found him wasn’t a surprise; he was in his art studio painting yet another portrait of me. My heart fluttered every time I saw him taking the time to put me onto another canvas; I’d been so overcome with love when he’d shown me the ones he’d painted in my absence that I’d been reduced to a puddle of tears. Nik still had yet to let me hear the end of that.

 ‘How could one ever tire of capturing such beauty?’ he grinned, his eyes sparkling with adoration as he turned to face me. In a flash I was at his side, my arm wound around his waist as I placed a chaste yet passionate kiss to his lips.

 ‘How was your day?’ he asked, pulling me against his chest and winding his arms around my waist.

 ‘Fine. Bekah picked out some clothes for me to wear tomorrow.’ I told him, my hands resting against his chest and my head against his shoulder.

 He chuckled, ‘I don’t know why you go; you hate shopping.’

 I hummed in agreement before adding, ‘but I love spending time with my sisters.’

 ‘Forgive me, I find it hard to imagine why anyone would enjoy Bekah’s company.’ He deadpanned, but broke out into a laugh when I lightly slapped his shoulder in reprimand.

 ‘Elena mentioned that her and Stefan were thinking of moving here.’ I grinned, my hands moving to his shoulders as I leaned back to meet his gaze.

 ‘Is that so?’ he said, his hands falling to my hips as a smile formed on his at the sight of my happiness.

 I nodded, ‘she mentioned Stefan wanted to run it by you all first, but it you’re okay with it then they’re gonna come.’

 ‘Why would we have a problem?’ he mused, his eyes dancing with mirth.

 ‘I think it’s Stefan’s idea to be honest. Just to make sure they’re not stepping on any toes.’ I shrugged, not really understanding the need for permission myself.

 ‘Well I’d never deny them residence here and I doubt anyone else would either, lest they incur your wrath.’ He teased, grinning when I playfully glared at him.

 ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ I said innocently.

 It was true, of course. Over my time with the Mikaelson’s I’d gained a reputation. My temper was known to rival Nik’s when someone threatened or hurt my family. I’d always been protective, and that instinct had only become heightened when I’d become a vampire. And now I had a family that ruled New Orleans, we were bound to attract trouble, which led to my protective instincts rearing their head more often than I was used to. The Mikaelson’s, Nik especially, thought my ability to go from calm to a force that the devil himself would be intimidated by was hilarious. But I couldn’t help it. And I was happy to have found a family that understood and even rivalled my over protective tendencies. I thought back to the first time we’d incurred a threat after Katherine.

 A year after Evangeline returned from the 15th century.

 I woke up to the sun shining on my face, which wasn’t unusual seeing as Nik and I had a habit of forgetting to close the drapes. I smiled when I felt his arms still wrapped around me, his warmth seeping through the shirt of his I was wearing. I rolled over to face him and was unsurprised to see his eyes already open; it was rare that I awoke before him, but even though he woke before me most days, he preferred to stay and hold me until I woke up before he even thought of getting out of bed. I’d asked him about it before and he’d admitted to taking the time to bask in the gratitude he felt for finally being able to wake up with me in his arms. I’d held him tight after that.

 ‘Good morning my love.’ His voice was husky with sleep, and I couldn’t help the small shiver of desire that shot down my spine.

 ‘Good morning my hybrid.’ I murmured back, placing a kiss to his cheek, a wave of adoration washing over me at his bashful smile that always followed me calling him that.

 That became my nickname for him not long after I found him again and he was able to finally reveal that he had broken his curse. At first, the reception had varied from fear to acceptance. Unfortunately the latter opinion was rare; Elena and everyone from back home had accepted it fairly quickly, though I assumed that Elena not needing to die for the curse to be broken was the main reason for that. It took a while for the factions of New Orleans to realise that Klaus being part werewolf as well as vampire made no difference to who he was as a ruler. When they did, the criticism, fear and disgust had dissipated. Though Nik liked to joke that my attitude towards those who criticised him was the main reason for that. I’d started calling him “My Hybrid” because I wanted him to know he had no reason to be ashamed of who he was, and to remind him that I loved every single part of him.

 ‘Do we have any plans today?’ I wondered, nuzzling into his neck, his scent keeping me in a state of contentedness. My eyes were starting to flutter shut again, and I found myself not wanting to fight it.

 ‘Actually, Sophie has contacted Elijah and informed us of a potential threat coming to New Orleans.’ Nik murmured, his lips against my hair.

 ‘Hmmm.’ I said, not really processing his words and placing a kiss onto the side of his neck.

 He chuckled kissing my hair and pulling me tighter against him, ‘I should tell you of all potential threats after you’ve just woken up my love.’

 ‘Hmmm.’ I sighed as his hand starting to move back and forth across my lower back.

 I thought I heard him chuckle again and it made me smile as I fell into unconsciousness.

 //

 Kol and Bekah were doubled over in laughter where we were gathered in the courtyard of the compound. Klaus was laughing a lot less rambunctiously, while Elijah was a lot more reserved, though his amusement was still obvious on his expression.

 ‘I don’t bloody believe this.’ I muttered, shaking my head in exasperation, ‘are you having me on?’

 ‘No my love, we’re not.’ Nik’s dimpled smile eased my embarrassment a little, ‘I told you of the threat three days ago after you woke up. You must have still been half asleep.’

 ‘That’s cheating!’ I complained, slapping his shoulder, ‘you should’ve told me again when I was actually awake.’

 ‘Technically you were conscious.’ Kol pointed out, seeming to have recovered enough to add a comment.

 ‘Obviously not enough.’ I rolled my eyes and ran a hand through my hair, ‘now tell me about this threat.’

 ‘The De Martials are on their way to New Orleans.’ Elijah said solemnly and I nodded, familiar with the story.

 The elder Mikaelson had informed Niklaus over what he had done a few centuries after I’d returned to the future, and Nik had told me a few months ago. Nik had definitely been furious but his rage had subsided when he realised why his elder brother had done what he’d done. It had been around that time that Nik had told his siblings the truth about what happened to their mother. The reactions to that news had varied. Kol hadn’t had much of one, Elijah had already known but Bekah had taken it the hardest. But after some time, she came to forgive him.

 ‘So they want revenge for the time they spent pretending to be you and leading Mikael astray.’ I summarised, the wheels in my head turning.

 ‘I’d imagine so.’ Bekah mused, coming to sit by me on the sofa and stretching her legs out over my lap. Kol came to sit on the other side of me and rolled his eyes at the intrusion of Bekah’s legs on his lap as well, but he didn’t protest.

 ‘Do you think Aurora might have other motivations?’ I asked, internally wincing at the insecurity in my voice.

 ‘If that psychotic bitch comes anywhere near you darling, I can assure you she will be torn limb from limb.’ Kol patted my shoulder for reassurance.

 ‘That’s not what I’m worried about.’ I rolled my eyes and then frowned, ‘why would she be interested in me? I doubt she even knows who I am.’

 ‘Over the years you were not with us, we were subtle and discrete over your existence, but evidently rumours did get out about you.’ Elijah explained, smiling at my wide eyes, ‘your name along with your importance to this family made you somewhat of a legend. Though, no one knew why, or even knew of anyone by the name of Evangeline, so it’s often been dismissed as a rumour.’

 ‘Until now.’ Nik murmured, his eyes on me and shining with concern.

 ‘And Aurora always was the jealous type.’ Bekah sneered.

 ‘I don’t care about me.’ I muttered; my only concern was with my family, ‘you’re basically invincible. If they’re coming for revenge now after all this time, that must mean they have a plan, one that they’re confident will work.’

 ‘We’ve faced many people over our thousand years, all of which intended to end us all, and yet we’re still here.’ Elijah murmured, smiling in assurance, ‘I assure you, this time will be no different.’

 I wished I had his confidence, but I had a bad feeling about this and Nik must have sensed it because he held his hand out to me from where he was sat on the armchair. I shifted Bekah’s legs off me and moved to sit on his lap. His scent soothed my nerves like a balm—I’d always be grateful for how safe Nik’s arms made me feel. Especially in that moment because the absence of anxiety allowed me to think clearly and I had a plan.

 //

 Nik: They’re here. Aurora left a body surrounded by lavender and a scavenger hunt for me to follow.

 Kol: Tristan has made himself known; he’s already got the strix out looking for vampires descended from Elijah.

 Elijah: The witches are preforming the spell now.

 Me: Lucien has just walked into Rousseau’s.

 Bekah: This is an insane plan; I just want that on the record.

 Nik: Now is not the time. Focus.

 Me: If anything bad happens, I just want you to know I love you all.

 I slid my phone into the back pocket of my high-waisted jeans, subtly watching Lucien from where I sat at the bar, while Bekah was blending in with the crowd thanks to a glamour spell a witch had placed on her. My hair was down and wavy, cutting off at the bottom of my spine and offering me some comfort as it covered up the most of my back. The crop top had been Bekah’s idea, it was white, lacy and entirely too revealing but I was looking to gain the attention of Lucien.

 A small smile formed on my lips as I noticed a family of tourists sitting by the window, a mother and father sat across from their twin daughters. They were all laughing and talking, enjoying their meal together. I felt a small wave of homesickness wash over me in that moment. I hadn’t seen my family in almost a year—not since I’d told them the truth about everything. We were still in touch, but I hadn’t seen them in the flesh for ten months, and I realised in that moment that I missed them. It wasn’t as bad as it could be, as I was already surrounded by family, but I found myself wondering if Elena, Jeremy and Jenna would be up for a weekend visit. Though it would be difficult to organise now; Elena was coming up to the end of senior year, Jeremy near the end of Junior, and Jenna was in the middle of writing her thesis. Though I’d heard from Elena that she was thinking of moving back to Denver after Jeremy was done with school. As the youngest Gilbert had already mentioned his desire to travel after he graduated, and with Elena potentially going to collage, Jenna would be in Mystic Falls all by herself. It wouldn’t be the same not having Jenna back home, but I understood her desire to move away being as the life she had before our parents died was in Denver.

 ‘Hello there darling.’ An arrogant sounding voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked to my right to see just the man I was looking for, now occupying the empty seat beside me.

 ‘Hello.’ I forced a smile and hoped the disgust didn’t show on my face. He was sitting far too close and his scent was overwhelming me. He smelled like he’d bathed in cologne and whiskey, it was so bad that I had to make due with breathing through my mouth. A pang of longing to be encased in my Hybrid’s scent overwhelmed me, but I forced myself to focus.

 ‘Now what’s a pretty thing like you doing in a place like this?’ He smirked, his breath fanning over my face. If I were still capable of vomiting, I would have in that moment.

 ‘You’ll have to be more specific. In this bar or in this city?’ I was being evasive, but I couldn’t help it.

 ‘This city, of course.’ He said, taking a sip of the drink in his hand.

 ‘I like it here.’ I shrugged, downing the shot of tequila Cami placed in front of me. Apparently seeming uninterested was a sure way to garner his attention, which was exactly what was needed. I leaned forward over the bar to grab the bottle of liquor that Cami had purposefully left within reach.

 ‘I’m starting to as well’ I rolled my eyes when I realised he was checking out my ass and when I fell back into my seat his eyes trailed over my chest. I fought the urge to cross my arms to try and cover up as I poured myself another shot.

 ‘How would you feel about coming back to my place later?’ he asked, his fingers trailing up and down my arm. I assume he mistook my shiver of disgust as pleasure, because his hand moved to my back, trailing up and down my spine and lightly tugging my hair.

 Quick as a flash I held his wrist in mine, before he could react I snapped it like a twig, ‘I think I’d rather set myself on fire.’

 ‘You’re feisty I like that.’ He bit out as he reset his wrist with a click.

 ‘I’m leaving now.’ I huffed placing a hundred on the bar to cover my drinks and tip.

 I shot Bekah a reassuring look before I left. I didn’t have to turn around to know he was following me; his pungent scent assured me he was.

 It shouldn’t have been so simple, but it was. I led him into a trap; witches bought him to his knees while I turned and snapped his neck. After that, he was trapped in a basement with chains and boundary spells, where he would be bled out until the vervain was out of his system. Which shouldn’t take long for how fast the selected vampires were working on him. One down. Two to go.

 //

 ‘Nik?’ I called out as I entered the compound—he should have been back by now and I’ll admit the fact he wasn’t had me feeling both worried and insecure.

 I was about to call him when the scent hit my nose—blood. Most importantly Nik’s blood. I followed it to his art studio—he was in the centre of the room a circle of salt hinting at the boundary spell that was around him. He was shirtless and the dried blood on his torso hinted at how much he had lost. Despite the overwhelming urge to go to him, I forced myself to focus, someone had obviously done this to him, but where were they? I didn’t have to look far. She had her back to me, which hinted at her arrogance—she clearly didn’t perceive me to be a threat. She was staring at one of the portraits Nik had painted of me and hung along the back wall. Her fingers were pressed against the canvas gently at first, and in the blink of an eye her fingers tore through with such force she created a hole in the brickwork. That was when she turned to face me. Her eyes is what stood out to me at first, they were a striking green, seeming to shine brighter due to the red curly hair that draped around her shoulders and down her back. She was dressed in a short and low cut black dress; clearly she’d been intending to impress my Hybrid.

 ‘Aurora I presume.’ I said, unable to keep the venom from my voice.

 ‘You’ve heard of me?’ she seemed to preen with the knowledge.

 ‘Yes, when Nik was recounting his psychotic exes you were the first name out of his mouth.’ I smiled, inwardly cheering when her expression transformed into fury.

 ‘I cannot understand what he possibly sees in you.’ She sneered, walking around me like a shark circling its prey.

 ‘That makes two of us,’ I shrugged.

 ‘I’ll admit I’m disappointed. I expected more fire.’ She said, coming to stand in front of me again, and that was when she revealed a stake, ‘white oak seems a waste on you, but it’ll kill you just the same and to be honest, I rather enjoy the poetry of Nik waking up to see you dead beside him. The pathetic abomination will be so overcome with grief that he’ll be powerless to falling into my awaiting arms. As soon as that happens, I’ll be able to easily convince him to dagger his other pathetic siblings and we’ll live happily ever after as King and Queen of New Orleans.’

 My eyes flashed and before she could comprehend it, the stake clattered to the floor as the snap her wrist made when I twisted it behind her back echoed throughout the room.

 ‘How dare you.’ I growled, unbelievably enraged, picking the stake myself and plunging it into her stomach. She fell to her knees with a cry of pain, her hands moving to the wound when I yanked the wood out.

 ‘How dare you come into this city and threaten my family. How dare you call my Hybrid an abomination? The way I see it, the only abominable creature in this room is you, you psychotic, ignorant, pretentious bitch.’ I snarled, too far-gone in my fury to notice my Hybrid stirring behind me.

 ‘This isn’t your family.’ She protested, albeit a little weekly as I drove the stake through her chest, a mere inch from her heart.

 ‘Yes it is. I love each and every one of the Mikaelson’s, and I’d be damned if I let you threaten one of them, but all of them, including the man I love more than anything? Well you just signed your death certificate.’ With that, my hand punctured her chest cavity, clenching around her heart and tearing it out. I watched with relief and satisfaction as her corpse turned grey, before dropping the organ to the ground.

 I pulled my phone out of my back pocket to send a text to the group chat; pleased to see everyone else had achieved their goals without a hitch.

 Me: Need a witch back at the compound. Aurora has Nik trapped with a boundary spell.

 Elijah: Will bring Sophie now.

 Me: Thanks, Lijah. Glad everyone else is okay.

 Elijah had been with the witches to lure those of his sire line and trap them. Those who already resided in the quarter had been given a remedy that granted them immunity while the spell was being cast. When the strix arrived they would be given the chance to leave Tristan’s leadership or risk death. Tristan himself was trapped much like Lucien in a separate space secured with chains and witchcraft, which is where he would remain until the vervain had been drained and his plan had been compelled out of him. Either way, after that was discovered they would both be dead. The same had been planned for Aurora… before I’d gone AWOL.

 ‘Evangeline.’ I jumped a mile at the sound of his voice, having not heard him come around. When I faced him I was surprised by the intense expression on his face.

 ‘Are you okay?’ I asked, my fingers pressing against the boundary in vein as I tried to reach him.

 ‘I’m fine. A little hungry, but otherwise I’ll live. I managed to secure the location of the white oak from her mind before she incapacitated me.’ He smiled softly, ‘I already sent the location to Kol, I’m sure he’s taken care of it by now.’

 ‘Then why do you look so… astounded?’ I wondered.

 ‘Because watching you defend our family, and defend me has got to have been one of the most erotic things I’ve ever seen.’ He told me honestly.

 I blinked in surprise before letting out a laugh, him joining me. Though I knew he was being sincere due to the lust in his eyes, which seemed to grow as his eyes roamed over my outfit.

 ‘I’ll take it your part of the plan was successful?’ he wondered.

 ‘Yes, though I feel like I need to scrub every inch of my body. Lucien is a pig.’ I informed him honestly. There were no secrets between us.

 ‘What did he do?’ Nik growled, his eyes flashing protectively.

 ‘He touched my arm and back, pulled on my hair and leaned way too close. Not terrible when you say it aloud but he made me feel really uncomfortable. But it doesn’t matter now.’ I waved it off, ‘once he’s had the vervain drained from his system and whatever plan they had in place is revealed he’s dead. At the rate they were draining him, I can’t imagine it would take long.’

 This seemed to soothe him somewhat, but I could see him itching to hold me, his wolf needing to make sure I was indeed okay. Thankfully in that moment, Elijah walked through the door, Sophie following closely behind him. The elder Mikaelson raised a brow at the dead De Martial on the floor in confusion, looking over and pursing his lips in amusement when I hid my bloodied hand and the stake behind my back.

 ‘I don’t remember killing her being a part of the plan,’ Elijah commented as Sophie got to work.

 ‘I know. My temper might have gotten the best of me.’ I winced like a child about to be reprimanded by their parents.

 ‘She defended us brother. Aurora intended to kill her and use my grief to manipulate me to dagger you all and allow her to rule beside me.’ Nik explained, amused by my timid behaviour.

 ‘I couldn’t help it. I’m protective of my family, and of Nik, she threatened all of that.’ I pursed my lips, glancing down to her body, ‘she was one crazy bitch.’

 Nik laughed loudly and the sound bought a smile to my lips, relieved that at least he wasn’t pissed at me for messing with the plan. A glance at Elijah and the amusement on his expression assured me he wasn’t all that mad either. I felt the tension in my shoulders ease.

 ‘She had white oak though,’ I revealed the stake and handed it to the older Original, ‘Nik sent Kol to collect the rest.’

 Elijah nodded, some tension easing from his expression. In that moment Kol entered the room, grinning so widely I was surprised when his face didn’t split in half.

 ‘The white oak is gone. Apparently they gathered it from the wood made to construct a bridge and sign in Mystic Falls. Ironic, but alas I has all burned to ash.’ He said, practically bouncing with happiness at his success.

 ‘Excellent. Well done brother.’ Nik said, his expression conveying the sincerity behind his words. Kol’s expression softened under Nik’s praise and I couldn’t help but smile at the strong bonds they all now shared—My Hybrid had told me of Kol’s feeling of being left out of the family and so moments like this reminded me of how much they’d all overcome.

 Kol nodded, a soft smile aimed at his older brother before he accepted a hug from Elijah and then me. When I pulled away, he frowned at the dried blood on my hand and forearm.

 ‘Don’t ask.’ I said before he could inquire.

 Kol looked over to Nik who grinned and nodded in answer to his silent question: he would tell him later.

 ‘It’s all done.’ Sophie announced, but before she could even get up from the floor I found myself surrounded by Nik’s warmth and his scent.

 All of the tension eased of my body, and I felt Nik relax too as his face nuzzled into my neck and took in my scent, now assured that I was in fact okay.

 ‘You two are too cute.’ Bekah commented, I noted that she had her own voice back, which meant the glamour had been removed, but I didn’t lift my head to look.

 I hummed in contentment as Nik’s hand moved back and forth at the bottom of my spine, while his other hand rested at the centre of my back, his thumb moving back and forth comfortingly. The warmth his arms and hands emitted would never fail to make me feel safe and home. One of my hands were moving through the curls on his head, while the other rested against his chest, playing with the collection of necklaces that laid there. I was so contented and relaxed that I almost forgot where we were and what had happened when—

 ‘Why is Aurora dead?’ Bekah asked.

 Nik laughed and I hid my face in his chest, embarrassed and already aware that I would never live this down.

 //

 Back to Five years after Evangeline returned from the 15th century.

 ‘Come on, Kol!’ Bekah complained from one of the love seats—Nik and I occupied the other.

 ‘It’s my choice, Bekah. You think I wanted to watch that god-awful romance movie you picked last month? No. But did I complain?’ his question was intended to be rhetorical but I answered anyway.

 ‘Excessively.’ I deadpanned, chuckling with the others.

 ‘Well—I didn’t complain as much as I wanted to.’ He said, as if that were a solid argument. I rolled my eyes and settled further into Nik’s side, my head resting on his chest. His arm was wrapped around me and he was tracing random patterns on my arm. I sighed in contentment, knowing that if he kept that up with how warm and relaxed I was, I wouldn’t see ten minutes of this movie.

 ‘Then Bekah can complain just shy of how much she wants to, and you’ll have to take it.’ Marcel pointed out, laughing at Kol’s affronted expression.

 ‘Can we just get this over with? The sooner it’s on, the sooner it can be over.’ Elena mumbled, a blanket wrapped around her, that and her husband’s arms around her providing her with protection from the zombies that Kol was subjecting us to. She was sat on the far end of the couch, Stefan to her right, Kol to his right and Damon on the other side of him. Bekah and Marcel were sat on the armchair; the female Mikaelson basically sat on her husband’s lap.

 ‘Come on, you’re a vampire. If zombies were running around in this world, they’d be no match for any of us.’ Damon smirked smugly from his seat next to Kol.

 ‘You don’t know that. What if a zombie bite affected us? If we also became zombie’s I’d hate to spend an eternity like that.’ Elena argued, pointing to the zombie that was now on the screen.

 Instead of arguing, Damon shushed her, reaching for a handful of popcorn where the ridiculously huge bowl rested on Kol’s lap. I busied myself with the chocolate Eminem’s I’d commandeered, occasionally feeding some to Nik as I munched away.

 I reached over to the arm of the chair for one of the blood bags we’d bought over to sustain us through the movie. I opened the cap and drank a few sips before offering some to my Hybrid, when he was finished I recapped it and placed it back where I’d grabbed it. I sighed softly, not interested in the movie in the slightest. But I knew this was the whole point of movie night, it wasn’t simply to watch; it was an opportunity to spend time together. Glancing around I noticed that Bekah and Nik were also unimpressed, Elena was terrified, while Kol, Damon, Marcel were overly amused by what passed as a horror movie.

 I shifted in Nik’s arms so my head now rested on his shoulder, I faced his neck, not bothering any further with the terrible acting on the screen and started to play with the collection of necklaces around his throat. A small smile always formed on my face when my fingers connected with the only metallic one he wore—the locket I’d given him all those centuries ago. He’d tried to return it to me, but I insisted he wore it, liking that a part of me was always with him on the rare occasions I couldn’t be. In return he’d gifted me with his necklace that bore the Mikaelson crest. It had originally hung from a leather cord but he’d had it transferred to a silver chain and I wore it around my neck, happy to have something that reminded me of him for always.

 ‘Bored there my love?’ He murmured, to quiet to be heard by anyone else over the T.V.

 ‘While I’m in your arms? Never.’ I grinned as his chuckle, placing a kiss to his pulse point.

 ‘Do you ever think about getting married?’ Nik asked and I blinked at the question.

 I leaned up, my hands resting against his face so I could take in his expression. He looked curious, yet slightly nervous.

 ‘I used to all the time when I was human. Had my perfect wedding all planned out. But it was something I gave up on when I became a vampire.’ I told him honestly.

 ‘Why?’ he wondered, reaching up to brush some hair behind my ear.

 ‘Because I couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to spend an eternity with me. I could barely imagine sixty years, but forever? It just seemed impossible.’ I murmured.

 ‘What about now?’ he seemed tentative, which was rare for him and I couldn’t help but instinctively move a hand to his hair, knowing that it soothed him.

 ‘Is that your way of proposing?’ I teased, trying to ease his nerves.

 He grinned, leaning up and pecking my lips before falling back to the love seat, ‘I’ve been thinking about it for a while now.’

 The sincerity in his expression caught me off guard, but my surprise quickly faded to delight, ‘really?’

 He nodded, relieved by my excitement, ‘I even have a ring. I was planning on a romantic dinner with just the two of us, ending with me asking you.’

 ‘That sounds like quite the proposal.’ I commented, my hand gently moving back and forth against his jaw, ‘why mention it now?’

 ‘My love, patience has never been my strength. I’ve waited so long to have you back in my arms and I can’t keep putting off making you mine because I’m waiting for a perfect moment. Every moment with you is more perfect than I ever could have imagined, and certainly more perfect than I deserve. I love you Evangeline, with everything that I am. Spend an eternity with me. Marry me.’ He said, softly wiping away the tears that had fallen down my cheeks.

 ‘Okay,’ I was sure my tears didn’t dampen the pure happiness that I could feel radiating from my face. Nik captured my lips, kissing me with a softness and tenderness that made my heart flutter in my chest.

 ‘I love you.’ I told him, my voice barely above a whisper, but his soft smile assured me that he’d heard me.

 ‘I love you too.’ He replied as I settled against his chest again.

 I drifted off to sleep there, surrounded by our oblivious family and in the arms of the man I loved.

 //

 Five years and six months after Evangeline returned from the 15th century.

 ‘You look beautiful.’ Jenna said, dabbing away the tears in her eyes with a tissue.

 I smiled at her from where I was sat, getting my hair curled by one of the professionals Bekah had hired for all of us.

 ‘Thank you Aunt Jenna.’ I winked.

 ‘If you’re this emotional now, you’re gonna be done for when she puts on the dress.’ Elena teased, winding an arm around Jenna’s waist.

 They had all gotten ready before me so they (mainly Bekah) could assure everything else was going to plan everywhere else. The female Mikaelson was currently checking on the boys and making sure they were finished, honestly I was so grateful for her. If it hadn’t been for her input, I doubt we could’ve pulled off the wedding I’d been dreaming of since I was a little girl.

 ‘I know, I just keep thinking about your Mom and Dad and how proud they would be right now.’ She said, barely squeezing out her words before the tears started streaming again.

 ‘They are here, Jenna. Maybe not in body but definitely in spirit.’ Elena assured both our aunt and I. I offered her a grateful smile, my eyes flicking over to my bouquet of red and white roses I would be holding while walking down the isle—my mom and dad’s favourite flowers. It had been Nik’s idea and I’d loved it.

 ‘You’re right.’ Our emotional aunt nodded, seeming to steel herself as she dabbed her eyes one last time before securing her tissue in her bra. Elena and I shared an amused glance.

 ‘You both look beautiful by the way.’ I complimented them.

 I had chosen Elena as my maid of honour, with Bekah and Jenna being bridesmaids. Each wore a deep purple A-line styled dress made of chiffon material. This colour matched the ties of the groomsman, aside from Nik’s—his would be white. The dress cut off just below the knee, revealing the black platform shoes each of them wore. I had encouraged them to choose how they wanted to wear their own hair and was surprised when they’d all agreed on one hairstyle for them all. Their hair had been curled, with the front being pinned back to the backs of their heads with a jewelled clip that matched the deep purple of their dresses. They looked stunning.

 ‘Not as beautiful as you’re going to look.’ Bekah commented as she re-entered the room, looking moderately relieved.

 ‘What’s up?’ Lena asked.

 ‘Nik’s pacing a hole in the floor from his room. It amazes me how quickly his paranoia grows the longer he’s separated from you.’ She shook her head in amazement, moving over to the mirror to unzip my dress.

 ‘Well maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if someone hadn’t made us sleep apart last night.’ I muttered, already reaching for my phone.

 ‘It’s bad luck to see the groom before the wedding!’ Bekah protested, frowning when she saw me walking towards the bathroom, ‘what are you doing? You need to put your dress on, the ceremony starts in ten minutes!’

 ‘I’ll be two, I promise.’ I smiled reassuringly and closed the door behind me, finding Nik’s contact and clicking it before bringing it to my ear.

 It rung once before he answered, ‘Evangeline.’ He murmured; his voice already sounding a little more relaxed.

 ‘Hello my gorgeous Hybrid and soon to be husband.’ I answered brightly, smiling at the sound of his chuckle, ‘what’s this I hear about you being paranoid?’

 ‘It’s nothing, my love. Just my self depreciating voice rearing it’s ugly head and telling me that I don’t deserve you.’ He said, his voice more sombre now.

 ‘Nik, you are the strongest, sweetest, smartest, funniest, sexiest and most talented man I’ve ever known. So you tell that voice inside your head to shove it because you’re an amazing man and I promise to keep reminding you of that fact for eternity.’

 ‘Thank you, my love. You always know what to say,’ he said, his voice soft.

 ‘You’re welcome, we all need reassurance sometimes, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.’ My voice was as gentle as his.

 ‘I can’t wait to marry you.’ I could sense his smile on the other side of the phone.

 ‘Right back at you my Hybrid.’ I grinned, ‘speaking of I should put my dress on before Bekah has an aneurism. I’ll see you soon.’

 ‘That you will, my love.’

 I hung up the phone and exited the bathroom, handing my phone to Jenna while Bekah and Elena helped me step into my dress. I had surprised everyone with my determination to choose my own wedding attire, which was fair seeing as any other clothing trip ended with me leaving it to Bekah. But I’d had a very specific dress in mind for my wedding day and I was overjoyed with the end result. It was a ball gown dress with a three-foot train; the bodice had a lace overlay that extended on sheer material to my arms. There were hundreds of diamonds scattered all over that twinkled when they caught the light just right. The veil that was clipped into my hair was also decorated with lace and hung all the way down to the floor. I was wearing my Mikaelson necklace, which I’d been sure to pull from underneath my dress, displaying the crest proudly where it rested on my chest. My hair was curled; the front pinned back similarly to the girls’ but mine was secured with the clip of my veil. My made up was natural; my lips painted with a deep red lip stain that matched the roses I’d be carrying perfectly.

 ‘You look radiant.’ Bekah said, tears forming in her own eyes.

 ‘Don’t, you’re gonna make me cry.’ I warned.

 ‘We can’t have that, you’ll ruin your make up and you look perfect.’ Elena nudged Bekah playfully.

 A knock on the door broke us out of our conversation; Elena answered the door to reveal Elijah. His expression became soft when he saw me, his own eyes glassing over as emotion overcame him.

 ‘Sister, you look… wonderful.’ He murmured.

 I hugged him, ‘thank you Lijah.’

 ‘Well, it’s time.’ Bekah announced, shooing the other bridesmaids out of the room, ‘remember walk down the isle when you hear the wedding march.’

 ‘We know Bekah.’ I chuckled, my arm linking through Elijah’s as we followed them.

 I had asked him to walk me down the isle because I couldn’t imagine anyone else doing it. Elijah had become the best big brother I could have ever hoped for, and it seemed wrong to be given away by anyone else. Of course, Nik had also asked him to be best man, so after he’d delivered me to the end of the isle, he would take his place in between Nik and Kol. I took a deep breath as we reached the entrance to the ballroom; we were getting married at a house Nik had built in Mystic Falls long before I had even been born. He wanted to have a house where we could live when I wanted to visit my home, and a place that he could stay in to reminisce about the village he’d lived in when he was human. He’d built this house on top of the same place he’d resided all those years ago. When he’d told me that, it seemed to be the perfect location; the town where I’d grown up, where my parents were born and buried, and the village he’d spent time with his family before they’d become vampires. It held a lot of nostalgia and meaning for the both of us, and I knew then that this is where we could become husband and wife.

 ‘Are you ready, sister?’ Elijah murmured, turning to me as the march started.

 I nodded, unable to keep the smile off my face as I followed Elijah’s lead down the isle. I’ve never felt more love and happiness than I did in that moment, surrounded by those I loved, and the man I loved more than anything. Those invited had been kept to a bare minimum. Nik had most of his friends as groomsmen: Marcel, Stefan, Kol and Elijah were all stood up there with him, while on my side stood Jenna, Bekah and Elena. Other than that, Damon, Jeremy, April (he’d asked to bring her as his guest), Sophie, Josh, Cami, Finn and Freya all sat in white wooden chairs as the audience.

 Freya had been a surprise to the Mikaelson’s not long after Nik had proposed. She’d popped up explaining that their aunt Dahlia had kidnapped her and cursed to spend a hundred years sleeping to every year of life. That had been a close fight that involved another time travel spell for Esther’s blood and a few other ingredients, but we defeated her and Freya was free and connecting with the family she’d yearned to know for centuries. Finn was a different story. He’d been undaggered after Nik had tracked down Sage, who’d been his long lost love nine centuries ago. After their reunion, they’d departed and we hadn’t heard a word from him until Freya popped up and he came to the compound to visit her. Even during those visits he’d only really spoken to his eldest sister. Still, we’d extended a wedding invitation to him seeing as he was technically family. But I’ll admit I was stunned by his attendance; I suspected Freya had something to do with it. Though I was unsurprised that Sage hadn’t come; her and Nik had apparently never gotten along.

 After my eyes had quickly glanced over those present they fell and remained on the most important one of all. My Hybrid was positively beaming with happiness, the same kind that I was sure he could see on my face. The kind of elation that you felt at the prospect of marrying your best friend, your confidant, your lover… your person. His gorgeous blue eyes were glassed over as he fought to hold back his tears, I want as strong however, my tears having long fallen onto my cheeks. Bekah would have a fit, but I didn’t care. Elijah took my hand and placed it in Nik’s and just like that, I was home. My fingers entwined with his as we faced the man we’d chosen to officiate our marriage.

 ‘We are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in matrimony.’ I couldn’t help but tune out what he was saying, too lost in Nik’s eyes to worry about anything else.

 ‘I believe you have written your own vows?’ I startled at the question, and nodded.

 ‘Nik, before I met you, I had given up on the idea of marriage, of finding someone to spend the rest of my life with. When I was human, it seemed plausible, as sixty years doesn’t seem as daunting as an eternity. But suddenly faced with the prospect of forever, I couldn’t imagine finding anyone who would love me enough to want to be tied with me for eternity. Then I met you. We might have first gotten of on the wrong foot,’ we all shared a chuckle at that, ‘but I fell in love with you so fast that it scared me. I’d never felt so much so fast before, but before I could get too lost in my own insecurities, you told me that you loved me too. Not with words at first, but in the way you protected me, the way that you touched me and the way that you looked at me. From that moment all those years ago, I couldn’t picture a future without you in it, and now I can’t wait to spend eternity with you as your wife.’ I gently wiped away the tears that had fallen onto his cheeks before grasping his hands in mine again.

 ‘Evangeline, I’ve been on this earth for a long time, and for a majority of it I was a man I’m not proud of. As a human, I was berated and beaten for no reason other than my father’s unexplainable hatred of me. When I became a vampire and my werewolf side was revealed, I was more of an outsider then I had ever been. I learned to be ashamed of who I was, because that is what my mother inadvertently told me when she cursed my werewolf side into dormancy. This created a man whose insecurity and fear manifested itself as anger and aggression. I believed I didn’t deserve to be loved by anyone. I became a monster, pushing away those closest to me until I believed they hated me too. I belittled anyone who showed emotion, when deep down I envied them for being brave enough to love, to adore, to laugh, and to be happy. I spent centuries taking the fate of my sibling’s into my own hands, because while I knew they hated me, I loved them and I couldn’t tamper my protective instincts when it came to their safety. They perceived it was out of spite or superiority and I let them believe it because it was easier to accept their hate than their love. But then I met you. You came into my life and within two minutes you’d already, albeit unwillingly, revealed your plans to kill me.’ I chuckled with him, my tears falling steadily down my face, ‘but despite the obvious threat, I couldn’t bring myself to hurt you. When you offered a plan to help me I was grateful that it meant I didn’t have to come up with an excuse myself. Your light, your kindness to a man who you only knew to cause you pain drew me in. You bought out my humanity without effort and I found myself overcome with my love for you, with my protectiveness and adoration. You accepted me for who I was, you made accepting your love and returning it effortless. You made me realise that I deserved to be loved.’ He took a breath, gently wiping the tears from my cheeks and smiling when I leaned into his touch. ‘I vow that for the rest of eternity, you will never doubt how much I love you, Evangeline.’

 My hands squeezed his gently as we shared a smile.

 ‘The rings?’ The officiate asked.

 I turned and took Nik’s ring from Elena, while Nik retrieved mine from Elijah.

 After we exchanged ‘I do’s,’ Nik pulled me in for a passionate kiss and just like that, we were married. The idea of an eternity with one person may have scared me once. But that was before Nik. That was before I’d met the one person in the world who seemed to understand me better than I understood myself. He was my rock, my Hybrid, and as long as he was by my side the prospect of forever was anything but daunting.

[paperbagpetrichor]

can i request jotaro with an s/o who has a major affinity for cats and has a bunch of cat plushies and is also just like one and is super gentle and quiet and lazy n likes to take cat naps a lot in lap 🥺 👉👈 btw i love your writing its always so eloquent

[ Thank you so much, lovely anon!  I loved this request so much, it was very fun to write, and thank you again for your compliment ;;u;;  I apologize for the wait and hope you enjoy! ]

The first time Jotaro visited your residence was fairly early in your relationship (at least, you supposed as much - you hadn’t been with very many people, especially as of late, with your transfer to your new boyfriend’s school).  It wasn’t so much that people appeared to dislike you, per se, or that you disliked people, but for you, spending time with one in silence was just as meaningful, if not more, than carrying on a conversation.  Not many people agreed with that philosophy.  And yet from day one, Jotaro seemed to be exactly the kind of person who understood you.  Initially you were a bit intimidated by him.  Everyone at school labeled him as a delinquent.  He got into fights just about every other day, frequently skipped classes, and called his mother a bitch whenever he forgot his lunch and she brought it to class for him.  But with time you found that he wasn’t as abrasive or aggressive as you had initially believed.  The two of you sat next to each other in the majority of your classes, and eventually began eating together after his mother was out of town and he’d failed to bring a boxed lunch - or money to buy something from the cafeteria - to school.  Tentatively, you had taken a seat next to him, and wordlessly reached into your bag.  You returned with your bento box and opened it.  Because of the way you shaped your salmon sashimi into small cat faces, eyes, nose, and mouth carefully shaped from shiso, you often had more than enough leftovers from the parts you’d cut off.  They weren’t inherently pretty, but they were something.  At least they tasted good enough.  “Would you like some?”  It seemed like your sudden words almost startled him, with almost being the key word.

He eyed you with something like curiosity, before giving a gruff noise of acceptance and taking the remnants of your food.  His gaze never left the kitten-shaped food you ate.  When he was finished, he surprised you equally by speaking to you for the first time.  “Cats?”

You broke into a grin.  “Of course.  I love them.”

He stared at you for a moment, something flashing through his eyes and flowing through his veins, too quickly for even you, who had a rather strong affinity for sensing the emotions of others, to determine.  Jotaro was a mystery in just about every sense of the word.  Nevertheless, as he handed you the now-empty container back, he gave a brief noise of acknowledgement, followed by a rough “Thanks.”

From then on, the two of you fell into a comfortable ritual of sitting next to one another, then walking home with one another, and beginning to date.  It was you who initially confessed.  You had never taken the first step in any other relationship, but over the two years you had come to know him, you couldn’t deny your feelings for Jotaro, and, much to your surprise, apparently he couldn’t deny his feelings for you, either.  He didn’t exactly say ‘I love you too, [y/n],’ but by Jotaro standards, it was quite a leap.

After a week into your official relationship, he’d sort of just invited himself into your place one evening after school.  Apparently he was annoyed with his mother.  All he asked was something along the lines of “Mind if I stay here for awhile?”  

You shook your head and opened the door for him, and he was met with something he never thought he would see, including the encounter with his grandfather’s grandfather’s body attached to the head of an immortal vampire with a stand that could freeze time.  As he made his way to your living room, he noticed that just about everything was cat-themed in one way or another, be it the pawprint curtains or the plush animals lining the mantle of the fireplace or the two cats that appeared, interested, around the doorway to your bedroom.  Everything was a bit messy.  But he didn’t mind.  He wouldn’t say anything, of course, but even though it was eccentric for his tastes, he didn’t particularly mind it.  Your cats were kind enough.  As were you.  And if this was an interest for you, well, good for you.  What he equally didn’t expect was it to turn from something he found esoteric to something he understood, even found cute at times (of course, not that he ever expressed).  But as the two of you spent more time together you began to get clear signals of his feelings.  He was stoic as the high heavens, sure, but there were subtle changes when you invited him over, when your cats brushed against him, when he had to leave.  Your house became somewhat of a second home for him, which was more than fine for you.  You’d lived on your own since you had begun college, about a year and a half or so.  Since the both of you went to the same school, and your house was closest to the university, what was once a day or so a month became a day or so a week, three days or so, until you invited him to move in.  You weren’t entirely sure if he’d accept the offer.  He thought on it for a day, although there really wasn’t all that much to think about.  Anywhere was better than with his mother, and nowhere was better than with you, but it took him another day to get his meager possessions in order and another few to verbally agree with you.  The next few days were filled with box after box of his things, although there weren’t too many.  You helped him unpack nevertheless.  With your combined power, you both were able to finish setting all of his things in their proper positions - practically swallowed by your cat memorabilia, especially in the bedroom - in less than a day.  Admittedly you were dead tired.  And although Jotaro wouldn’t admit it, you could sense he was a bit tuckered out himself.  Of course, that was to be expected, after moving into a new place and then settling in all in the same day, still getting used to the new environment.

The two of you flopped down on the sofa, flicking on the television.  “I hope this isn’t too bad for you,” you began slowly, a light dust of red coating your cheeks, equally from the physical exertion as from having the man you loved now sharing a home with you.  “It isn’t all that much.”

“I don’t need too much room.”  A pause, and then, “It’s nice here.”

Almost as if in response, the sweetest of your two cats, the boy - they were a pair of siblings, one calico girl and one marbled brown tabby boy, both of whom you’d rescued in high school - gracefully arched his way onto the couch, made his way to Jotaro, and rubbed against him vigorously, presenting his forehead to Jotaro and, upon receiving no contact in return, nuzzling at his hand until he’d practically lifted it off the furniture and onto his head.  You grinned.  “[Cat’s name] wants you to pet him,” you yawned, giving your cat a brief rub on the base of his ears in Jotaro’s stead.

Jotaro tilted his head and slowly, hesitantly, reached out to [cat’s name].  Within a few moments he was petting a furry, purry mess, melting under his touch and vibrating like a plane hitting a rather rough landing, the cat rolling on its back for the first time in Jotaro’s presence.  “He hasn’t done this before.”

“It means he really trusts you,” you replied, raising your hands to your face in disbelief.  Jotaro had begun to trust your cats over time, and, in turn, they had done the same.  He hadn’t ever particularly gotten close with either of them, but he didn’t mind them, either.  In fact, you could practically feel a small twitch of surprise from your boyfriend himself.  Just as you were about to join in the festivities, your female cat jumped up beside you, maneuvering across your lap and spreading herself out on the armrest to your left.  Her eyes watched the situation unfolding beneath her, but she didn’t join in.  She was far shier than her brother.  Nevertheless, she eventually made her way over, too, and soon enough both of Jotaro’s hands were engaged in gently stroking the animals. 

The sight made your heart burst with affection.  You leaned your head on his shoulder, only then realizing how tense your muscles were, unclenching them and sinking into him.  “Thank you for giving them some love,” you giggled, noticing the small smile that had begun to form on his lips.  

“I only have two hands, [y/n],” he replied, a hint of a chuckle in his usually emotionless voice, turning his attention to you.  Your look of sheer joy warmed him suddenly, and the barely-visible grin on his face grew a little more prominent.  “Both of your hands, however, are free.”

You yawned melodramatically, stretching as far back as you possibly could, hands grasping at the air before you let go, resting your arms across Jotaro’s legs and laying down upon them, your upper half supported by his surprisingly comfortable muscular body and your bottom directly in contact with the plush couch.  Another stretched wracked your body, but this time as you returned to your position you took one hand and began to give a gentle chin scratch to your lovely little lady, who promptly purred before crossing Jotaro and curling up against your bent legs.  “There.  Now you have a free hand, too,” you joked.

Much to your surprise, his newly-freed hand found itself against the top of your head, gently running his fingers through your hair with the same softness he’d shown your cats, and despite yourself you snuggled into him deeper, practically purring with contentment as your tabby curled up beside you just in front of your chest, right atop Jotaro’s legs.

“I suppose I’m not going anywhere.”

“That’s not a bad thing,” you reprimanded gingerly, taking his hand in your own and lightly brushing your lips against it in a lazy kiss.  “Say, Jotaro, you’re a little tired, too, aren’t you?”

He shook his head.  “Not really.”  But you noticed his drooping eyelids, the way such a rare smile still hung about his face, beautiful and radiating comforting happiness onto you.

You flipped over from your side to your back, so that your face was beneath his and you could maintain eye contact, returning his display of joy.  “Have you ever tried a cat nap?”

“A…” he tilted his head, jaw shifting in thought, “...cat nap?  Like [cat’s name] and [cat’s name] right now?”

With a shake of your head, you let out a laugh, a passive grin morphing its way onto your weary face.  “No, for humans,” you gently corrected, flopping over once more, face pressed against his torso.  

You could practically feel his muscular chest moving with his words.  “Is that what you’re doing?”

“Yep,” you nodded, nuzzling against him, wrapping your arms around him and pulling him closer, taking his hands in yours and yawning.  “You should take one with me.”  The smile on your face was priceless.  “Just fall asleep...stay like this for awhile.  I think it’d be nice.”

He glanced away from you for a moment before relenting with a sigh, “Doesn’t sound too bad after moving.  Or with you and your cat in my lap.”  The last sentence was barely audible, but nevertheless reached your ears, and in a flash you had yours arms wrapped around his neck, giving him a sloppy but passionate kiss, only for him to correct your lips with his own, helping you settle back down once the two of you broke apart.  You shifted into a comfortable position on his legs and he returned his hand, absentmindedly trailing his fingers from your scalp to your shoulders, leaning against his armrest.  

“I love you,” you breathed as you began to drift off into sleep, eyes flickering closed.

“Have a nice rest, [y/n].”

“You too, Jotaro.”

Soon enough you were asleep.  All four of you, curled up with one another, partaking in one giant, comfortable cat nap; a completed family, and the best one you could’ve asked for, at that.

[carbrakes-and-stakes]

Built for better things | Nell & Alain

Where : Alain’s house (x) Summary : Nell asks Alain for help with the Ring, old scars emerge.

       Nell was well aware that she was most likely the last person Alain expected to see on his doorstep. But he’d blocked her online, so she couldn’t warn him that way. And even though she technically had his phone number, she didn’t particularly feel the need to let him know she was coming. Part of her took pleasure in hopefully catching him by surprise, and putting him a little off-kilter. After all, this wasn’t a position she’s ever enjoyed being in, aka asking for information from someone who she didn’t see eye to eye with in the least. However, Alain was the only person she knew that was no longer connected to the Ring, and would most likely have information she wanted. Now that she was free, she wanted the Ring to hurt, and to stop them from torturing innocent lives. She raised a hand to the door, her newly heavily scarred arms on display as she knocked. “Hey, Alain! Guess who!” she called out, already prepared to savor the look on his face when he opened the door. 

      It was a drowsy looking Alain that opened the door. It was not exactly the time for a nap, but having a lot of sleep to catch up on, he had fallen asleep on his couch while reading Audrey’s notes. He had hoped that somewhere, perhaps, she had written about maras. After all, she was a beast hunter, but he had so far ended up empty handed. Confused at first, this first emotion let room for anger as he slammed the door shut. No, this was not something he wanted to be doing today. This probably had to do with him and Remmy. Either she was here to yell at him, either she was here to mock him about this. It would have been insane to think that the zombie wouldn’t tell everyone they knew, that they saved the life of the very person who had tried to kill them. “I am not in the mood, Nell, go away,” his back against the door, he waited, hoping that this would suffice. Clearly, he did not want to fight, again.

        Apparently, Nell had got Alain in the middle of his beauty rest. “Sorry, did I interrupt your skincare routine?” she yelled through the door, not sounding apologetic in the least. Nevertheless, she stood her ground, crossing her recently healed arms over her chest, signaling that she had no intentions of leaving. “It can’t be a very good routine if you still look like that.” She did her best not to think of the time Alain had called her a piece of shit over text as she bit her tongue, knowing this was not the time for a fight if she wanted to pick his brain for information. No doubt he’d lord it over her that she’d come to him for assistance. “We can talk through the door if you want. That’s fine,” she said haughtily before speaking once more. “I just came here...about the Ring.” She let the word hang in the air, the only real thing that bonded her and the Hunter on the other side of the door. Had he heard about the breakout?

      “C’est pas possible d’être aussi chiante. Il est quoi ? 10 heures ?” Alain mumbled to himself. He had a look at the clock on the wall. 10.35am. Close enough. If he was going to talk to her, he would need a good amount of coffee. Scratching at his beard, he left the door and went to the kitchen, opening the window so she could hear him speak. “What about the fucking Ring ?” If he had checked his phone this morning, he probably would have had a clue of why she was here. The place was terrible, but he had been happy to find it when he needed a well paying job. It was a place that made him feel useful, then, but he did not miss it, now. Why? Multiple reasons. The major one was that it reminded him of what he had lost. Audrey had gone missing while she was recruiting for them. Often he had wondered if things would have gone so wrong if he had kept working there. They made quite the team, back then. “Are you aware that one of your friend works there? Is this what this is about?” He had poured himself a cup of coffee, and perhaps as a gesture of peace, placed a second cup on the window ledge, for her. Whatever this was about would be a nice distraction from the things he had on his mind lately.

       Yet again, Nell rolled her eyes at his dramatics of not even letting her in the house. Not that it really mattered. She’d yell at him through a window if that’s what he wanted. “Well-” she began, not entirely sure how to get this started. “First things first— recognize this?” With that she held her arm up to the window, scars and all along with the metal bracelet they’d put on her for the kidnapping. The thing was dead now, but they hadn’t yet figured how to get it off without killing the person it was on. That being said, she wasn’t sure if he’d recognize the magic-inhibiting bracelet. After all, the Ring didn’t keep that many spellcasters around in imprisonment, them often being more trouble than they were worth. As for her friend working there… “Yeah, Remmy mentioned you know they worked there. That was my fault. I introduced them to it. But we don’t work there anymore.” Nevertheless, she was somewhat surprised by the offer of the coffee, and began to sniff it suspiciously. 

        Sipping on his cup of coffee, he took a seat on the kitchen counter fronting the window and rubbed at his chin and jaw for a moment, avoiding her eyes. He did recognize those bracelets. They had slightly changed since he had left, but he could only guess that it was only to make them even more effective. “I do recognize this,” he finally conceded, looking at her this time. You could tell that he was worried from the slight frown on his forehead. What had she done to end up with that thing on her wrist? They had similar devices back then to force shifting in some, and block it in others. Obviously, they also were great to keep your talented fighters from getting away. Alain knew how hard it was to find proper talents, after all, it had been his job for almost a decade. “Why ? You worked there. You knew it was a terrible place.” If there was one thing he would haven’t done, it would have been to tell his friends to start working or fighting for the Ring. Getting out of here in one piece was not exactly an option. Now he doubted that Nell wanted to get lectured about this, but he hoped that she understood how awful that decision was. “You don’t work there anymore, but you still have this on your wrist,” he observed. Something did not add up. He watched her sniff at her cup of coffee, but kept his mouth shut. All things considered, he was not too paranoid for someone who had lived his whole life being an enemy to a whole community of things in town. “We need to get rid of that thing,” standing up, he headed to the front door and walked outside. However, a question remained. She did not come here to tell him that she and Remmy had left the Ring. They had not spoken in months (and the blame was shared), and so, there had something else that she came here for. “Is that why you’re here?” 

      “Yeah, well here’s the thing,” Nell began, “I didn’t know it was a terrible place. Or well- I knew it wasn't the best place but- I didn’t realize they took innocent creatures and people and forced them to fight. Or that they imprison witches who dare tell them to fuck off after putting a collar of her zombie friend.” She thought it was fairly obvious that the last portion of that sentence was referring to herself. “I thought the people bringing the creatures in had the same...rules that I did. I was obviously wrong, though.” Nell was tempted to ask if Alain knew how terrible it had been, but decided not to for the sake of momentary peace, and the information she was looking to get out of him. “Yeah, Luce is working on a way to get it off without killing us,” Nell began nonchalantly, as if they were talking about the weather. “Since, you know- usually only the one who puts them on can take them off and everything unless they like...transfer ownership.” As he walked outside, she turned to him, satisfied that she’d apparently caught his interest. “I’m here because...I want to make the Ring regret ever touching me or Remmy or anyone else who didn’t deserve it in the first place. And I think you might be able to help.”

    “Nell, what do you think they needed hunters for ? Audrey and I had one job to find and at least to a certain extent, tame creatures. The feral ones, they clearly don’t ask to be here,” he sighed. There was no way she did not realize that this place was bad. “You once told me that you only brought the “worse” in, but that is not your call to make. Vampires are the worst to me, doesn’t mean it’s true for everyone,” he deadpanned and shook his head. This was not the kind of debate he wanted to start here, but he hoped that she would realize that none of what she had done there  was better than whatever he did then, especially now that she came asking for his help, and he was nice enough not to rub it in her face. It was an understatement to say that their last argument had left him with a sour taste in his mouth, after all. “Luce, right.” He shook his head, as if to say don’t know her. But that did not really matter. “I mean, there’s nothing a few tools can’t do,” although he felt like approaching her with anything he had in his garage would not feel very reassuring. “Alright, I’ll leave it to Luce, then,” he declared as he sat down at the table under the shade of an umbrella pine tree. Looking up, his eyes narrowed on a nest in the branches. This was new, and he wondered who was in there. “That’s funny,” he spoke to himself, sipping again on his coffee as he listened to Nell. Ah, revenge. “You worked there, you know how big their influence is,” leaning back in his chair, he sighed. “There’s only a handful of people who chose to work here. You and I, for instance. We are the exception,” clearly, the other 95% were either stuck in cages, or tied with debts. “Anyway, you know I hate this place,” she didn’t per say know why, but he did hate it, “how do you want me to help?”

    “I didn’t come here to get told how blind I was, Alain,” Nell quipped back neatly, not exactly looking for a fight, but certainly not condoning the shame he was bringing up in her for her lack of knowledge. “And I did only bring in the worst. I was just wrong in assuming others did the same. I’m also not here to talk about our differences in opinion when it comes to what’s worse and what’s not.” No doubt that would only lead to another yelling match. She and Alain didn’t need to be friends, or even on the same page, they just needed to have a shared goal in the form of the Ring. Nell often forgot the whole town didn’t know of the Vural sisters and their link, so she quickly clarified, “My sister. Luce is my other sister. Not Bea, obviously.” As for the tools, “Maybe in your time, old man. But tinkering with it is what’s most likely to get me killed now so- I‘d rather not fuck with it until we know more about how exactly it works. I’ve seen the results of what happens when you fuck it up.” There’d been enough creatures in the cages desperate enough to try and gnaw it off, and they’d quickly perished. “Yes, it’s workers are limited which is why I’m here. As for helping...I want to find records. Something that will help me better weed out all the people that need to be taken care of, and made sure they don’t keep doing what they’re doing. Do you know where there’s a record room or something?” As for not liking them, her curiosity got the better of her when it came to that. “Why did you quit, anyway?”

      “Well that’s a shame, because that’s what you get,” if she expected a red carpet, a bouquet of flowers and a hug, she could fuck right back to party city, or wherever the fuck she came from. Certainly it was not hell, or else she wouldn’t keep on defending monsters. Only people who had seen hell could know how hunters felt. “I’m sorry, you are obviously a model of virtue and kindness. How kind of you. Let’s get you a ribbon that reads goodest goody two shoes,” she couldn’t believe that she was better than the rest because she brought the worst, could she? Of course, she could. Hypocrites. Alain breathed out sharply and shook his head. Besides, who was she to decide who was bad or not? Certainly not someone who was going to defend a monster because it happened to be her friend. He finished his cup of coffee and crossed his arms over his chest, not quite convinced by her offer yet. “And you think your sister will know how to get you rid of that thing?” Okay. If she was so confident in that, who was he to question it. “Speaking of, Blanche, she went there, didn’t she?” If he had tried his best to stay calm when Blanche told him this, and that she had broken a bone too, it did not mean that he was less concerned about her. In fact, he was concerned for Nell too, even if he sucked at showing it. “You two are gonna end up getting yourself killed if you keep going like that,” he rubbed at his face and sighed. Somehow, he doubted that they would stop getting into trouble once this would all be solved, just like he did not, no matter how close he got to dying sometimes. He reassured himself with his accelerated healing, telling himself that at least, it was no big deal to him. Besides, he was already pretty old, all things considered. These kids, they had their whole life ahead of them.     “I doubt they moved rooms around since I left,” he finally replied, a slight frown still on his face, “although I haven’t been seen there in over a decade,” still, he had left the Ring in good terms with the owner, and he doubted coming back would be an issue. “Alright.” He rubbed his beard and sighed. “And what exactly do I gain from this?” They had fucked up, messing with The Ring like that, and clearly, that was not his problem.  He had his own things to be dealing with, and he doubted that they would return the favor. “Why I quit is none of your business,” Alain barely spoke of Audrey, and Nell was not the first person he wanted to discuss her with. He looked as if he had completely shut down, for a moment, lost in his thoughts, and clearly lost in his sorrow. “I wanted to build something better,” was all he added before he stood up. You could easily guess whether it was to enjoy the breeze, or to hide the look on his face.

     “Jesus fucking Christ,” Nell reflexively cursed, her temper quickly rising. She’d truly come here with the best of intentions, intending to have a moment of neutrality rather than whatever Alain was trying to dig up. Not one to generally have the best hold on her anger, her fist clenched tight, trying to force the bubbling emotions into that tiny corner of her body. Think of all the people you can help with Alain’s help, she reminded herself. Focus on that so you can get through this bullshit. Try not to engage. “I’ve literally never acted like I’m some model of virtue or whatever else you think I think I am. And we’ve talked about this before over text. When you kindly reminded me that I’m a piece of shit and I fucking agreed. I know that I fuck up and make mistakes.” Her fist began to shake, remembering what she’d seen in the mirrors at the carnival as she held it even tighter. “I don’t know what the fuck you always think you’re going to get from trying to make me, a girl that’s literally half your age, feel like shit by constantly berating her. But I don’t give a shit!” she finished the sentence with a high pitch to her tone, momentarily losing the togetherness she was trying to hold onto. Another long breath and she was back. “I don’t give a shit if you like me or not. Either you’ll help me or not. And if you won’t, then I have nothing more to say to you.” She ignored the comment about Luce and the bracelet, done with talking about things that weren’t what she’d come here for. If Alain was going to be as difficult as possible, Nell would keep this to the barest of bones, no outside talk. She wasn’t even sure where the mention of Blanche had come from, as she hadn’t mentioned her friend, but if Alain wanted information about the medium, he wouldn’t get it from Nell. “Ask her if you’re wondering. That’s also not what I’m here for.”     As for getting themselves killed. “Probably. Don’t know where you get the audacity to act as if you care though when literally all you’ve ever done is try to knock me off whatever pedestal you think I’ve put myself on. When I’ve never done anything of the sort.” Nell barely resisted rolling her eyes as he seemed to demand something in return. “I don’t know, Alain. The warm fuzzy feeling of doing something good? And not letting innocent lives get taken?” But if he wanted to build something better, perhaps that was her in. “Then help to build something better, by helping me. It’s not for me.” She wasn’t sure what to make of the way his tone had suddenly shifted into something more somber, but Nell clinged to this small, potential in. “If you want to change it, then change it.”

    “When you started saying that some things deserved to die, and some don’t.” To have the nerve to claim that you could judge and condemn others like she did, that’s what he called putting yourself on a pedestal, and adopting an holier-than-thou attitude. Now if you had to ask why he was so annoyed by it? Well good question. Hard to say that he and Nell ever really got along. They had been clashing since the day they met. So why ? Well, it was quite simple. Childish, in every sense of the term. She reminded him of a much younger Alain, one that did not care for the consequences, for what people thought, or for the feelings he would hurt. It had taken someone knocking him down from that tricky position to get a first idea of what life could be without all this violence. That someone had been Audrey. The hunter, lost in his thoughts, didn’t react to anything else she said, until she reached that high pitch, and brought a frown to his face. Ouch. Alain, looking down at her, remained quiet for a few more seconds, as he tried to process what she just said to him. She was being honest, that much he was sure of, and that might have been what worried him.        It makes you feel like shit because that’s exactly how I want you to feel about hunting,” pinching at the bridge of his nose, he sighed. Being a hunter, was a huge part of his life, and he could not understand, at all, why she would willingly pick this for herself, when it was the one thing about him that he often wished he could get rid of, his ability to hunt, but also, the fact that at the end of the day, he was not just a normal person, living a normal life. Having spent most of his days putting himself in danger, he had reached this moment in his life when he was tired, completely, entirely exhausted of being here to help others, save others, protect others. Quite ironically so, he had never done this for others. First, it was to impress his father, then it was because he had a sense of duty like not many did. But now, he was tired, and entangled in his responsibilities as a hunter. Alain breathed in, and out, deeply, again. “You, are me, 20 years ago,” he finally explained, “making the same choices, the same mistakes too,” oh he had hurt himself badly, so many times, and just like her, he always got up, ready to show the other cheek. “And I did not give a shit either, but unlike you, I had no one who gave a shit about whether I lived or died. No, one.” His sisters, he had pushed them away. His parents, he had pushed them away, in their graves. And his first year at the Ring, he had spent it pushing everyone away. It was a miracle, that he survived being so lonely, and that might be what would save her, the fact that she had people looking out for her.       “See, you won’t even accept that perhaps, I do care a bit for your well being,” if he smiled, his smile looked nothing but cheerful. Melancolia, sadness, and worry. “I do something good every time a spawn turns to dust,” this much he knew for sure. There was nothing but benevolence in getting humans rid of those, “I don’t need guidance through the dark night,” his arms crossed over his chest, he found himself once again thinking of Audrey, who unlike him, had gotten lost into that dark night. “I have to build something better, for me,” his voice faltered, almost to the point of breaking, on those last two words. He kept his back turned toward her. “Now you made it sound so fucking easy, but look at me, I’m old, broken and fucking sour.” A pause. “I’m sorry Nell, I should have been a better person, to you.”

      “Alain, that’s literally the exact same thing that you do,” Nell managed to say through gritted teeth. He chose every day whether something would die or not, whether it be a vampire, zombie, or otherwise. But his words about feeling like hunting and making her feel like shit didn’t quite satisfy her, and she was quick to tell him as much. “No, it and hunting don't make me feel like shit. You do. You, Alain Babineaux, go out of your way to bully me and then you have the fucking audacity to call it a god damned lesson of all things.” Her rage was building, the air beginning to crackle in the slightest with the feel of pooling magic, though she was trying her best not to let it build too far. How many times had her mother tried to teach a lesson through the same means? How many times had Nisa rained shame, and disdain on her and then turned around and told her it was for her own good? That it was to help her be better. And how many times had she believed that, before realizing that even if her mother was trying to make her better— that didn’t make it okay that Nell felt small and self-destructive at the end of those lessons. “Learn better fucking ways to teach whatever the hell you’re trying to teach or leave me the fuck alone. Because I’m not going to stand here and let you say you’re hurting me for the sake of making me better.” She’d had enough of that in her lifetime, and she wouldn’t let it happen anymore. “And take responsibility for yourself.”       Nell balked at the claim that they were alike shaking her head as she calmed in the slightest, the magic resting back beneath her skin. “You don’t know me. You don’t know the first thing about me. If you did, you’d know better than to try and teach me a lesson that way. “You don’t know anything about my mistakes, and you don’t deserve to know. I give a shit. Just not about you.” Perhaps the words sounded harsh, but at this point— they were the truth. And if Alain didn’t like, she’d resigned herself to finding some other way to get the Ring’s secrets. She didn’t know what he wanted her to say as he mentioned no one caring for him, not particularly in the mindset to offer comfort to the man who continued to anger her again and again. Her voice was hard as she spoke again, cold instead of hot as she turned to stone. Again here he was attempting to say that he cared for her, when all he’d done was try and tear her down. No more. Not after what she’d gone through with her mother. “I don’t accept you caring because I value myself enough to know that I can do better than someone who preys on all the parts of me that I like the least, and then calls it helping. I don’t want it, if that’s what you call ‘caring’. I know better now.” She knew better because she’d gotten friends along the way, friends like Winston and Jared and Blanche.      As Alain’s voice broke with emotion, Nell waited, trying to see if he would come to a conclusion on whether or not to help. Instead, she was surprised when an apology came, and it showed briefly on her features. That was new. “You should have,” she simply said in response, not willing to give forgiveness at a time like this. “But I’m tired of talking about the two of us. The Ring isn’t about us. So let’s do it, then. Let’s build something better.”

       Wow, the audacity of that girl. Yes, girl. She wanted to be treated like a grown up but it was tantrum after tantrum, after tantrum. She spoke with the maturity of a teenager, relying on insults and basic rhetoric to get her point through. Alain was not impressed, although he did not expect to be. She spoke like she knew the first thing about being bullied, but he doubted that she ever had to spend a good part of her life thinking the cause to all her problems was herself. Alain had been told, from the moment he was old enough to understand it, that he was a mistake, that he shouldn’t exist, and that the only reason he was here, was to rid the Earth of the monsters that were the undead. An insult to nature and God’s work. He had lost faith in God a while back, but he still remained convinced that the undead could not be. You lived your life, and then you died. The end.        An eternal life was a life without meaning and it was death that gave meaning to his life, or Nell’s. Both of them wanted to experience things before it happened, and both of them wanted to help others, before it happened. “You think this is a fucking lesson? You keep repeating that I wanna teach you something, again, and again. Do I look like a goddamn teacher to you ?! DO I ?! You call me a fucking bully, which by the way, is fucking proof that you don’t fucking know me. You wanna know why I ended up working at the Ring? It was because Clare, the woman who ran this place, she told me that those skills I have, were special, that I could use them to help her. I was so fucking crushed as a person, when I arrived at the Ring, that this felt immediately like home to me. The Ring, it felt like HOME.” He shouted that last word, the pain and anger in his voice vibrating. What kind of fucked up person could for one second think that a place of death and torture was the ideal place to restart over. “You, you chose to be there, to work there, for the fucking thrill of it. Me, I just fit right in, because I was reduced to thinking that this was where I belong. You could have done anything else, you picked this. And now, you realize that it’s a bad place? Are you fucking kidding me?” He shook his head, the anger on his face leaving some room for disgust. He wasn’t even disappointed, no, he was past that. “I don’t believe that. You liked it, but now, it’s hard to justify it, is it?” He shook his head again, raising his shoulders and lifting his palms up, as if to say: consequences, sucks, doesn’t it?         Alain didn’t even reply to that bit about her caring for people, just not him. Nah, she only cared for herself, and her friends, like many people. He did not blame her, it was hard to care for people you never met. Sure, you’d feel sad for a few, but life goes on. Hunters, they were raised having to care for the entire mankind. He doubted that she cared as much for zombies as she cared for Remmy, for instance. “I’m glad to see where you stand. We were raised differently, and we have different views, but I’m telling you to take some time to think about what you really want for your future,” turning around, he picked up the empty cups of coffee and retreated inside his home, putting down the cups in the sink then heading to the kitchen’s window. “Coming from me, I don’t assume you’ll listen,” he added, calmer, just like she was after his apology. “As for talking about yourself, I see that you don’t like that. I don’t blame you, I usually avoid the subject,” he scoffed, rubbing at this face with one hand. “I’m not sure I’m glad I told you all these things about me,” leaning his forearms against the window sill, he looked her in the eyes. “Doesn’t matter now.” He smiled, with melancholy in his eyes. Maybe he was scared of going back to that place. Oh no. He was. God knew what he would find there. The idea felt like ice running through his veins. “Like I said, the Ring is a place where I used to belong. It feels a bit personal to me.” Maybe it did not to her, but to him, it was special. “So, yeah, I will help you. And I’m pretty sure we’ll find things we don’t like, but if this means building something better, together, why not.” His arms crossed on the sill, he pursed his lips. “Maybe working together will bring us both growth, we’ll see.”

       Alain couldn’t possibly know that Nell’s entire existence as of late was herself viewing herself as a problem, mistake after mistake being made, so she couldn’t expect him to right the wrong of him assuming she’d never known what it had felt like in any form. Of course, their lives had gone about it differently, but it was still wrong to think that she hadn’t experienced any form of seeing herself as the root of the problem, not when the Hall of Mirrors had shown that it was all she was thinking about these days. Either way, at least she hadn’t raised her voice in the way Alain had. Somehow it seemed she was dealing with this in a more mature way that he was, despite what he might think. Her tone was even calmer this time as she spoke as she shut down, building a protective emotional wall between herself and Alain. “If teaching a lesson isn’t what you meant, then I don’t know what it is you think you’re doing. But whatever it is, I don’t want it. I call you a bully, because that’s how I perceive you. Because all you’d done is bully me by dragging me down. So if that’s not a bully, I’d be happy to hear what it is.” Whatever he tried to call it, it didn’t matter. What else was she meant to call someone who constantly tried to make her feel like shit? “You don’t know why I chose to work there,” she deflected instantly. Because it was true. He didn’t know the first thing about her, and he’d made that much obvious in the past fifteen minutes or however long they’d been standing there. Certainly the thrill of the Ring had been alluring, but it had been the crowd that had made her stay, and the fact that she was good at what she did. It had been nice to have an aspect of her life where she succeeded and was praised rather than ignored or hit with backhanded compliments. “Think about me what you want. But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re wrong.” If she’d known exactly how terrible the Ring was, she certainly wouldn’t have given them her in time in the first place. Anyone that knew even the surface concept of who she was would know that as well. “I never tried to justify it, and I never will. I know I made a mistake, and now I’m trying to fix it.” How could he not see that? Why else would she be here on the porch of a man she didn’t want anything to do with?     As far as Nell was concerned, Alain had no right to tell her jackshit about her future. He hadn’t earned anything when it came to the witch standing before him. So she brushed past the comment, ignoring it, deciding this would be the way they had to interact if there was any promise of them working together. Her mind was static as he continued to speak, far too tired of trying to figure out whatever hoops he wanted her to jump through, though she didn’t have any desire to jump through them in the first place. “I know what it is to belong there,” was all she said, rather blank as her body continued to go into shut down mode, because of the way he’d so thoroughly attacked her emotions, now just protecting them at all costs. But at least he’d finally agreed to help. “Perfect. That’s all I came here for.” And now that she had his word that he would assist she could leave, and find some way to work herself out of the emotionally numb stupor he’d put her in. “I’ll be in contact.” And with that she turned on her heel, going back the way she came, and leaving the coffee on the window sill.

[stragglewort]

Ghoul Parade -- “5.) Car Trouble”

Picture by StreetWill.co, “1970s car grill, headlights.” - 2016

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      He wasn’t sure if he was more afraid of that hissing, inhumane something that had just invaded his thoughts or of his own friend. He’d seen magic tricks before, hell, he’d done magic tricks before. But what James did was nothing like his Mr. Magical pocket guides had ever described. He had half a mind to feel for fishing wire.

        “I think you should sit down.”James chimed.

        “I’m… apt to agree.” His voice shook and he staggered back to the chair, slumping into it. The sulfur smell had disappeared, but it was still horribly fresh in his mind. “You have my attention.”

        A wash of relief spread over James’ face. He also sat down, slicking back his hair as he let out a heavy, drawn-out breath. “You don’t understand how glad I am to hear that. I’ve never actually trapped anything like this before, and I wasn’t excited to try it on you.” He stopped and stared for a moment. “An actual vampire – look at you! You have all the signs!” His lips pursed. “...Most of the signs. You were attacked, you died –”

        “I didn’t die.”

        “Exactly! You should’ve, but you didn’t. Oh gods, Jo – don’t give me that face – I don’t want to be forced to prove this to you.”

        Something about James’ stoic urgency rattled him. Though rattled didn’t mean passive. “We’re not just glossing over whatever the hell that was.” He threw his hand to the slammed door.

        “That was magic.”

        His voice was monotone. “It’s something that’s been here long enough that most of us have forgotten about it. So long that those who do figure it out tend to get unreasonably shunned.”

        “…Okay?”

        “It’s in and around everything – wait, wait –“ He scrambled around the table, grabbing a torn bit of scratch paper and an old permanent marker. He took a split-second to think, biting the marker cap before a realization dawned on him. “Most magic is inside us living things; it’s the energy that makes us work or escapes when these hunks of meat die off –“

        “…’Hunks of meat?” Joshua Interrupted.

        He ignored it. “There are some more lucky than me who can wear that magic on their sleeves – like you!“ He said it so quickly Joshua didn’t quite catch it. “Now, I’ve learned most humanoid creatures with all these tend to come from a pact… or a sire. Those who weren’t created, though, were taught - like me.” He spoke quickly, excitedly, while he scratched the last segments of a strange line-littered circle on the paper. “Even though everything has magic, not everything has the means to access it. We went on to better, easier things. Electricity, lightbulbs and… staplers. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You just need the right push, the right set of markings and the perfect focus to –“ He held the sheet up, a finished circle of odd, archaic markings drawn on its surface. Though there wasn’t much time to process the shapes before James gripped it in his hands, a glowing purple flame sparked from the bottom and curled up the fibers, eating the paper away in its wake. The flame morphed into itself, rising into a warbling purple orb that lit up the table like some strange candle. “… To draw it out.”

        “That’s fantastic. How did you figure this out? How do you do it?” Joshua whispered, drawing his hands to the orb. It was cold.

        “Practice? Books? Listening to the wise, raving rants of lunatics on the street? I’m confined to the runes on paper, or the runes in my room.” He motioned to the ritual circle out in the corner. “I can do mostly anything I want with that thing here – otherwise the ink’s my best friend.” He gave a coy, disingenuous grin. “Other than you, of course.”

        He was still stunned by the glittering orb. “…What’s this have to do with Lottie and I, then?” He asked, distracted.

        “Everything!” James’ voice got loud, and he slammed a hand down on the table (which startled Joshua to no end). The small light flickered and died, fuzzing out of existence the second James raised his voice. “You’re magic, she’s magic, we’re all magic and you’re just now figuring it out.”

        Joshua’s eyes darted around the room. Looking to the ritual circle, the blank spot of air where the orb had been, then to James, who looked strangely calm. “This is insane.”

        “Yeah, I coped with that years ago.”

        He sighed. He didn’t like being so quickly swayed but undoubtedly, he had been. “I’m all ears.”

        “Good. Now, about the vampirism. We need to find another one. Someone who might explain all of this better than I can.“ Honestly, James knew only the bare truth about it all. He knew enough to realize their existence and spot one from a crowd, but other than that he’d never gotten the chance for a proper conversation. There was this pang of something in the back of his mind that regretted using Joshua as his doorway into the world of the unliving – but the opportunity had been served to him on a Styrofoam platter. He wasn’t going to pass it up.

        “Another one…?” The words came out nervous, though he agreed having some insight on the matter would be convenient (even if he only bearing the slim chance James was wrong).  “What about Lottie?”

        “What about her? You said she ran off.”

        “I mean, sure she did – but if I’m a vampire –“ It would never feel right to say that word genuinely. “That means she’d be one too, yeah? She might even know where we can find an… I don’t know, an older one?” He felt like he was speaking gibberish. He knew what he was trying to say but barely had the words to describe it. “Can’t you find her with your… uh –“ He motioned to the burnt remnants of the paper James had drawn on. “Your runes?”

        “I can’t just tell the universe to track one of every species in a certain –“ He stopped, realization striking him. “You’re both dead.”

        “Excuse me?”  

        “Jo, you genius. You’re both dead! That not a species, that a state of mind!” He exclaimed excitedly, his hand grabbing for a coat he never took off as he rushed out the door. “Come on – I know what we need to do.”

        Joshua watched as James bolted out the room. “Uh – you left your –“ James had disappeared through the labyrinth of storage totes. He sighed, grabbing the papers and marker off the table and wandered out after him. He wasn’t in any state to go running. By the time he made it out the cellar doors, James had already gotten to the other side of the short parking lot and started the car.

        He slipped awkwardly into the passenger’s seat – “Alright, wh –” He was taken off guard as James snatched the marker from his hands and uncapped it, drawing suddenly in a scramble of black, inky markings. “What are you doing to my steering wheel?”

        James lifted his head to meet his friend’s, his hand freezing about halfway through a short semi-circle on the center pad. “Something… useful?”

        “Please don’t draw on my car!”

        “Too late!” He finished the circle with a final flick then swiped at Jo’s hand, grabbing his wrist before pausing, “I need to borrow this, do you mind?”

        “I uh –“ Whatever he was going to say got interrupted as James threw his hand onto the wheel, blaring the horn for a few seconds. If it hadn’t been for everything else that had happened, he would’ve thought he was going blind or mad as James started to murmur under his breath, the marker stains on the pleather wheel shimmering in response. It lit up in a blueish-grey hue that reminded him of something like a newly-broken glowstick. After a few more seconds the blinkers started flickering, the headlights winked, and even the reading lights went wacky as the whole car threw itself into an electrical nightmare. “What are you doing to my car?” He instinctively tried to pull his hand away from the jittering mess, but James held it in place.

        “I’m going to need you to stay put, yeah?” He sounded somewhat finicky, like he was desperately trying to focus. It seemed he only needed to ask out of politeness as barely a second later Jo found he was stuck to the wheel. It was like he’d been glued. “If I use your signature… your ah – “ His voice hitched as his grip got a bit tighter on Jo’s hand. In-tandem the car started shaking and a low electrical buzz hummed through the air, filling their ears. It felt like chaos contained to the inside of an old station wagon. “Your – it’s like a magic fingerprint.”

        “An… aura?” Joshua was really trying to come to terms with all the new information.

        “Yeah, if you want to be cliché about it.” He laughed, a bit shakily. “We might be able to find more of you. Usually I’d do this to a map or something.”

        “Wh– why didn’t you?” He asked, frazzled, his free hand now gripping the grab-handle in a desperate attempt not to get shaken into the floor.

        “You’ve got better car insurance than I have money for a new phone.” If anyone were looking from the outside-in, they’d find the vehicle practically hopping. Jittering and buzzing in its parking space, it lifted off the ground like a helium balloon getting pulled by some kid tugging at its string. It didn’t help when the alarm started to go.

        “What are you doing, stop it!”

        “It’s going to work. Just give it a little more – Ha!”

        Jo was about to continue snapping at his friend, but the car – in a split, unhesitating second went still. They fell back into their seats, his hand still stuck to the wheel and James’ still planted firmly on-top, keeping him there where the magic couldn’t. The only sound left from the commotion being the blinker, queuing them for a left turn. James laughed, shakily, but triumphantly. “I can’t believe I wasn’t lying.” He said in a near whisper.  

        “What?”

        “I’m not saying that could’ve completely destroyed your car, I’m just saying that it was either going to work, or you’d need a new dash.” He slicked back his long hair, fingers getting caught between some stray curls, and let out a sigh.

        When James’ grip loosened, Jo tried to pull his palm off the horn. It still wouldn’t budge. “I… I still can’t move.” He stuttered, tugging at his arm. He couldn’t help but notice how the blinker would crackle every time he tried to pull away. It didn’t feel as much like glue then as it did tendrils; something invisible and threadlike holding his hand to the center pad in a death grip.

        “Obviously. I haven’t dismissed you yet.” James said as if it were something completely nonchalant. “Now if you can keep still, we might be able to find your secretary. See? She’s somewhere… left.”

        “…Right.” Joshua leaned back as far as his reach would let him.

        “No, left.” James laughed, and then promptly quieted when he realized he was the only one laughing.  

        They pulled out of the parking lot (which was a much more hectic task than that would imply). With Jo’s hand firmly planted to the wheel, James had to practically drive over him to get the car turning. He got pulled in every direction as they swerved from turn to sidestreet – a U-turn here and an ­‘Oh, that wasn’t the right way’ there. With every road they took the blinker would shift, change, and point them in whatever direction it decided they needed to go.

        Everyone else on the road must’ve loved them.

        There was a distinct effort made to follow every other traffic law in a desperate attempt not to get pulled over. Magic tends to be something of a guessing game when melded haphazardly with human mechanics – cars weren’t made for tracking rituals. But they figured out quickly enough the rules it had set up for itself. Left and right were obvious; when it sped up on its own, revving and whirring like some racer, they figured that meant go forward; when it stalled to halt in the middle of the road, they figured that meant turn around. Stop lights were the most fun, though. James found himself pedal-to-the-metal on the brakes trying to keep the car in place while Jo was leaned halfway over the arm rest, practically in the driver’s seat. He’d made eye contact with more than a few other drivers who couldn’t help but peek at the blinking, swerving commotion. They were on the road for at least an hour just trying to decipher the directions taking them only god knew where. Jo was just thankful it wasn’t some blood-ritual-sacrificing-something-or-another. At least, he was sure he wasn’t bleeding.

        After some time they clattered, blinked, and veered their way into the lot of a tall apartment complex nestled tightly between a stretch of buildings. Grey and dreary, only highlighted in spurts by bright window decorations. There were some colorful flags and curtains here, some potted plants there, all of it giving life to the brutal concrete. Though, there wasn’t any time to appreciate the resident’s decorative taste as Jo found himself convinced the car was about to explode. It bounced and clicked, the blinkers going off at random while the headlights flashed.

        “I think we might’ve found the place!” James laughed, gripping the steering wheel like an anchor.

        Jo wasn’t in much of a talking mood. He was almost sure his shoulder was going to dislocate with how the car tossed. His free hand scrambling, he shot for the key and turned it in a frantic attempt to shut the whole thing down. With the ignition off, the buzzing hummed to a low murmur, the bouncing settled, and it all came to a somewhat reasonable state. Though the charmed shimmering of magic was still faintly speckled over the metal and across the pleather, leaving faint, fluttering traces. The tendril-like grip on Jo’s hand finally loosened, though he didn’t seem to notice. He instead just sat there catching up with his heart rate – or, no – he could hear a heart pounding in his ears, but it didn’t feel like his. Instead, his eyes tracked the noise to James, to his chest, he could almost hear a rush of something under his skin behind his cut laughter. He sat there for a moment, entranced, his mouth opened slightly and realized the air suddenly tasted savory – heavy.

        “You… you can move your hand now.” James wove his arm out of their tangle and sat back into the seat. Jo shook his head, as if he were clearing some abstract etch-a-sketch of thought and pulled away, slowly.

        “Yeah, sure – I –“ He sat himself primly into the chair and stared forward, it felt like his mind was swimming. “Where are we?”

        “Hollow Oaks Apartment Complex, apparently.” James read off some sign set up a few feet away from them. “Does your secretary live here?”

        “I… I don’t know, I’ve never asked.”

        “Wow! You’re terrible at the secret office romance thing, you know that? Where on earth have you been sending her flowers to?”

        “Nowhere!” He started, shifting in his seat. It was a little annoying, but the banter did something to clear his head. “I don’t send her flowers.”

        “Right… you’re more of a chocolate guy, I should’ve guessed.” He cracked his knuckles and moved for the door. “Well come on, we can’t find the supernatural sitting down.”

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