mcrcki

[mcrcki]

she had been so careful to build up every shield she could, between her own mind and her emotions. knowing that her grief and guilt would be far too apparent if she didn't shove it down until she could handle it properly not at work. but all of that was shattered as the reality crashed into her shields, her emotions screaming in her mind over the sight of him. how could they have spent months wasting time looking for a cure when it was right in front of them the whole time, and she had just been too scared to let go. and now? gods now she had to pretend she was just this heartbroken over fucking dain? she had to get a grip on her thoughts before anything slipped between their bond, on either end. she knew his powers wouldn't just.. lie dormant. he'd still be able to read her but without the same control. "positive." she nodded, finally gaining some control over her voice. "aetos and i can work just fine together, i promise if there's any issues, i'll send the transfer request right to your desk. i appreciate you checking in on it, though."

she seemed to get even more upset as she looks up at him, and it tugs at his chest in a way that doesn't even make sense. he doesn't know her, he shouldn't be having that kind of reaction to a woman he's barely seen twice. but the explanation doesn’t seem right, it doesn't fit quite the way it should. but he has no reason to refute it, because, again, she's not anyone he knows well. "you're sure it won't affect you? and there's no further issue?" because yes, there are some very good reasons why cadets aren't meant to get involved with their direct commanders. "because if you think it's going to be a problem with your squad leader, you can be transferred into a different squad quietly."

[mcrcki]

violet wasn't one who broke down like this, she was better than that, she could pull herself together through most of everything. but she was always able to just.. power through these emotions because there was a war, there was something bigger than her going on around her. but here? sitting in her best friend's arms, there was nothing threatening them right now, was there? if xaden was a venin still, without his memories, they could fight him again. and find a cure once they had him down. she nodded at rhi's words, breathing in when instructed, wiping at the tears that flowed down her chin. "i don't think he'll forgive himself, rhi." violet said after a few moments, gathering some control over herself once the initial tears were through. her arms pulled away, hands going to undo her braid from the top of her head, pointing to the silver strands that now took up most of the brown. "he drained me, he was going to kill me by draining me completely. i don't know if he'll come back from that."

holy gods, this was... a lot. she'd just been planning on bullying their friend for dating dain while she hadn’t remembered the whole messy history between them. but suddenly having to deal with her best friend having had to kill her boyfriend to get justice for her murdered sister? "it's alright, just breathe, vi. it's gonna be fine." she can imagine how well violet is taking the loss of both xaden and mira, and in such a quick succession on top of the grief. "they'll come back, it's going to be okay. and he'll forgive you, you know he will."

[mcrcki]

"didyme." her tone is sharp, despite the pleading in her eyes, staring at her friend as she pushed her away verbally, keeping a distance between them that sulpicia had no idea how to breach. "i don't need a damn wedding dress, i need my friend! i haven't seen you in centuries and all i have wanted is to make sure you are safe, didyme! if that makes me a villain, so be it! but i won't just turn and run because you don't remember me!"

" no," she snapped, tired of everyone seeming to think she owed them an ounce of her time or care without her opinion on it. " you don't get my time, you want that? book a fucking consultation with my assistance for a wedding dress and leave me the hell alone." she tried to put space between the two, rubbing the front of her head.

[mcrcki]

she had thought this would turn into yet another screaming match, where they would just continue to feed off of each other's anger, fueling the fight further and further until one of them said something truly hurtful just to win. but victoria didn't have any fight in her for this, all she wanted was him. she had only ever wanted him, wanted him back so desperately that she became unrecognizable in her rage and grief. when he doesn't react in the same anger she was expecting, victoria feels her shoulders sag, relief crashing over her. "the last thing i wanted was for you to ever even meet him, let alone hear about it from him." her voice is smaller than it ever usually is, looking back up at him through her eyelashes. "it was never more. i hated myself every fucking day since riley woke up, and i couldn't handle it if you hated me too because of it. i was scared, and i'm sorry i let that fear hurt you."

honestly, james doesn't even entirely know how to approach fighting with victoria, considering they've never had a problem that wasn't solved within a few minutes of debating in over two hundred years. but hearing her explanation drains any fight that might have been left in him. seeing her in a negative light was something he didn't think he could ever do, acknowledging negative traits of hers, sure, but her as a whole? "victoria, i was only mad because i found out from that dickhead starting a fight. i know you did what you had to do to survive, but the fact that you kept it from me made it feel like more than that."

[mcrcki]

"james and i have been married for centuries. we kidnap some priest at least every few decades to remarry us." victoria pointed out, knowing that it absolutely wasn't the point, but her sister might as well know that james was in fact her brother in law, not just her sisters mate. "also! this is quite literally the first time we've ever fought, anne! neither of us know how to talk to each other when we're mad at each other! cause we've never been mad at each other!" she shoved her hands through her hair as she tried to figure out how the fuck to talk to james about this. and god, anne was supposed to be helping her but that wasn't happening. "you're definitely just going senile, i've always been like this." she laughed a little. "i'll keep that in mind next time someone holds a lighter too close to me."

"do you two seriously not know how to engage in healthy dialogue? you know i've read somewhere about something called 'marriage therapy'. i know you two aren't exactly married but that sounds like something you two need right now." in that moment she was so happy that she and laurent got along. she couldn't imagine fighting with the person you love so fiercely. even so she was going to be there for anne. "have you always been this stubborn or was i just forgetting things in my old age?" she teased right back with a soft grin. "good. i can't promise that if you died again that i would be able to handle it."

[mcrcki]

"and you fucking believed me?!" she snapped back, knowing that this was her own doing, she had created him to fall madly in love with her. he had done everything she ever asked, simply because she asked. this was always going to blow up, and god, she just wished she didn't have to be the one to deal with it. "because you did it solely to have me as your mate, so i wouldn't be with james. i lied to you to get revenge." she stared at him for a moment. "it doesn't make it right!"

"you told me you loved me." riley blurted out. he was bitter about the fact she clearly cared about james over him, the idea he was truly being used. he loved her, he thought he did. why didn't she love him back? "you lied to me. what makes what i did any different, huh?" he raised an eyebrow "i didn't tell you anything you didn't tell me."

[mcrcki]

"i should fucking gut you right here, you know that?" victoria nearly hissed, taking a step towards them. revenge was easy, that rage felt like home for victoria. "well, you chose the selfish option, i get it. but i don't let people just walk away from fucking me over." she snapped, hand reaching out to wrap around their neck. "dying quickly will make it up to me."

Chi Woo sighs. "I'm sorry. It wasn't anything personal. I just didn't want to forget my life. I wanted to be your friend, I just wanted to be me more." They didn't know what they would be like if they didn't have their memories. "I know I can never make up what I did to you."

[mcrcki]

"oh all of a sudden we're this noble vampire, laurent? you finally get a girlfriend and you what? stop wanting to help your friends? besides! this isn't getting in the middle, i just want to know if he asked you to kill me or not. that's a simple enough question." vic huffed, knowing that he had a point regardless, that she should just talk to james. it would solve probably.. all of their issues.. "at least it seems like you've learned not to piss off a sutherland." she laughed a little. "i knew you missed me."

"i'm not getting in the middle of your relationship. i've spent the past couple of hundred years there, i finally got out. ask him yourself." laurent spoke, raising an eyebrow "i told him i couldn't do anything that would upset anne. if i upset anne, i've got two angry sutherland women after me." he admitted "perhaps."

[mcrcki]

"it's not the easiest thing in the world, but.. it does get at least a little less shocking. the chaos this place gives us often just feels more annoying than anything after a while." which, they weren't exactly sure that was going to help megan either. but she wasn't sure she could help megan feel better. it was going to come with time. "oh, i've done my fair share of crying. but howl and i have always been stronger together, and we have wards on the apartment, so when things get really bad there's always a safe place. i'm sure they've put them on your home as well."

"it doesn't seem natural to just... get used to it." of course she knew that sophie and howl would be more used to it than she would, naturally, but part of her wondered if she would ever fully accept and wrap her head around all this stuff that was suddenly thrust in front of her to process. "...i really don't know how you and howl deal with it. i'd be crying all the time. and i'm not even a crier."

[mcrcki]

"well, look who finally decided to fucking show." dani grinned at their sister, swarm dissipating, only to reconvene in front of cass, pulling her into a long awaited hug. "a few years now, actually. bela as well. we've been impatiently waiting for you."

@mcrcki Cass & Dani

"The snow isn't fooling me. This isn't home. Not even close." But, well, at least her sisters were here? "How long have you been stuck in this fresh hell?"

[mcrcki]

"no problem," daniela waved off the gratitude. honestly, they wouldn't be thanking her soon, so she didn't need to hear it. though, god, daniela had been so bored lately, just going through the motions to eat, that they were willing to draw this out a little longer than usual. "well, maybe it's your lucky day. i'm glad i was passing by."

a sigh of relief escaped her. it was mixed with the feeling of silliness for the fact that she had let her phone die to begin with. "that would be awesome, thank you." she nodded her head to the other. she was just glad she found someone who was willing to show her at least a little bit of kindness. "i didn't think i'd get so lucky to find someone who knew a place around here."

[mcrcki]

"oh i'm sure mother would have a fit if she knew how we had been living. let's hope we have sorted out these.. complications before she ever arrives." dani was sure if their mother knew her daughters were forced to care for themselves in every aspect, she would be furious. they had spent so long being cared for, it felt wrong to change that. "did you ever doubt it?"

"honestly, it's horrific that we're expected to just clean up after ourselves. that's not our position, and mother would be horrified more than any of us." but at least they were able to easily hunt. it was more amusing this way, rather than snatching a maid from the kitchens when she was hungry. "as you should, after all these years."

[mcrcki]

"princess, can't you just send someone to go buy you jewelry so we can stay warped up in here?" daniela groaned, their eyes narrowing as myri pulled the blankets away, the cold air rushing against their skin. she moved to hook an arm around myri's waist, pulling them down into the bed with her. "and i can keep you nice and warm here. send one of your father's employees to go, you're too busy here with me."

@mcrcki: ❛ winter is for hibernating. i’m going back to sleep. ❜ - myri and daniela

"you can go back to sleep after i get my jewelry. we can bundle you up nice and warm though, how about that?" myri asks as they lean over the other in the bed. pulling back the blankets. "i have lots of things to keep you warm."

[mcrcki]

"it was nothing." omega took the tea, cradling it in both hands to try and warm them, feeling the chill of the winter air all the way in their bones. it was worth it though, they liked helping out both for their friend and the animals. it also beat just sitting around doing nothing while all their friends were out shopping for their families. they took a sip, enjoying the few moments of silence while it warms them, finally assessing the absolute chaos that had occurred. it definitely wasn't easy work, keeping kids focused, keeping adults focused even.. but it was fun, in a strange way. "that cannot be true, i'm sure you all would've been just fine. but i appreciate the confidence." they laughed, sipping at the drink again. "i'm happy to help, half of it is my mess anyways." she added. "not tonight, no. i'm wrapping some of my siblings presents but that's really it. what about you? you get to have a night after this or are you just going right home?"

winter event starter for @mcrcki ! ( shen qiao & omega )

                     “Thank you for helping us out today,” Shen Qiao tells her as he hands over a warm cup of tea, courtesy of one of the food stalls a little farther down the street. He takes a moment to breathe in the aromatic steam wafting from his own cup, hands pressed pleasantly against the heat. In the silence that falls when he takes a careful sip, Shen Qiao runs his gaze across the booth to assess the level of damage. Which is… quite bad, but not as bad as it could have been. “If it weren’t for your help, I’m afraid the entire stall would’ve fallen apart by now.” And that’s not even much of an exaggeration. The extra pair of eyes and hands had been more than welcome today, with all the chaos and even the occasional fight. He smiles, “I have a friend coming over in a bit to help me clean this up— you should finish that tea and head home first. Do you have anything fun planned for the evening?” 

[mcrcki]

"oh come on, i doubt it's that bad." she laughed, shaking their head. "okay, take me on a tour of all your favorite places, then." they smirked, letting their hands link as she guided them. though, omega pulled kirei to a stop, eyes wide at the comment. "what the fuck do you mean leia killed you? why are you so nonchalant about that?"

"mental stability?" they offered, grinning slightly. "there is!" she grinned, nodding at the other's comment. "we can go there too!" it was somewhere that kirei loved to spend time. "I might ask leia if she can look into reopening the swimming pool, since she owes me a favour after killing me and all that,"

[mcrcki]

"my word is usually correct." omega said over their shoulder, but any teasing in their tone was gone as they fell, thankful that hunter had reached out and grabbed them before they could actually go through the fucking floor. her hand stayed clutched onto his sleeve for a minute, catching her breath. "yeah, i'm okay." she didn't feel hurt, and hadn't gone any further than her knee. "i think part of my jeans are caught on the wood, though." she pointed out, unable to yank their leg back up through the hole. "so much for the whole place not collapsing around us."

"Wonderful." Hunter nodded. Still keeping his senses sharp as they manoeuvred through the building. "Right okay. I'll take your word for it." Immediately at the yelp and sound of breaking wood he grabbed Omega before she could fall fully. "Are you alright?" Concern filled his eyes. He couldn't help his worry when it came to Omega. No matter how much she grew up.

[mcrcki]

"oh yeah, absolutely never buying it again, but it won't go to waste and that's about as much as i'm gonna give it." their tolerance for spice was definitely higher than most of their friends, but man, spicy snacks might not be for them in the long run. but at least willie was helping them not feel completely insane about it. "damn, a two." she nodded however, agreeing. "if someone tries to argue about it with me again, i'll hit you up, don't worry.'

" yeah , i don't know that it's something that i'd always reach for , but it's not that spicy for sure , " willie responds. he does like his food to have a kick to it on occasion , but based on this brief experience , he thinks that he might prefer his snacks without it. " i'd give it a two out of ten. so l mean , if you need someone to vouch for you , i'm your guy. i can sign a note or something to confirm that you're not insane or whatever. "