ofviolentdeath

[ofviolentdeath]

"He is quite fond of peanut butter cookies and the recipe for those is a simple one." It was one of the few things that Epiales could handle without falling asleep waiting for them to bake as well. He had always wondered if that had been part of the appeal to Morpheus as well.

"Though, to be perfectly honest, I think he would be pleased with anything simply because you took the time and effort to make it for him."

"Really?"

Kitt's face lit up with the praise, having always been eager to please, but especially thriving on it when it came from Epiales as the pup nuzzled against his hand.

"Do you think he would like it if I made some cookies too? Dimitri showed me how and I think I could do it by myself this time."

[ofviolentdeath]

Burn Out

"Hold me."

"I just want to feel safe."

"I'm sick of being afraid."

"I wish I wasn't tired all the time."

"I want to be okay."

"I want to be better."

"Everything is so... tiring."

"I'm exhausted all the time."

"I wish I could make it all make sense."

"I'm going to go lay down."

"I want to finish it! I'm staring at it!"

"My brain just doesn't seem to work any more!"

"God, I'm so stupid, why did I ever think I could do this?"

"I... I'm sorry, I know, I'm late -"

"I can't sleep or I can't stop sleeping, there's no in between."

"I don't want to do it any more!"

"No, I didn't go to work."

"No, I didn't go to school."

"I'm just... gonna take a self care day, okay?"

"All the hot baths and candles in the world won't fix this."

"You need to get real rest."

"It's not like I can fix it. I have to go back to work."

"There's no way out, is there? This is forever."

[ofviolentdeath]

"I won't beg. Or give you whatever it is you want."

Alaric

"You look so good, restrained and bloodied."

[ofviolentdeath]

Curled up under the heated blanket because woof, pain flares in both legs. No work tomorrow but I do have to be up at the ass end of the day to head to Pam's because her pipes burst again, Miss A has an Important Doctor's Appointment, Squid is sick with pneumonia, and my BIL's useless. So, ya know, yay adulting

[ofviolentdeath]

"I'll reach out to the bar, see if anyone out that ways knows anyone with better knowledge on dragons. Think that'll probably be our best starting point."

With all of the different people that passed through that way and the network that had been built by several of the residents, it seemed the most logical route to go. And, even if they didn't know anyone directly, it could get the word out in the safest possible manner.

Wylie looked a little alarmed at being told that the usual stuff that seemed common sense when it came to having a pet was probably mostly out of the question for Chalupa, and it worried Wylie that if the little fuzz ball got sick in any way, they wouldn't have any means to treat him properly, especially if it was something serious.

"Guess it's even more of a good thing you got him off the street then," he reasoned. "Who knows what he could have picked up tryin' to survive out there all on his own."

[ofviolentdeath]

Softer Love

"Will you hold me? Just for a while?"

"It's not too much to ask for - to be loved."

"It feels better when you're here."

"Hold my hand. Don't let go."

"Promise me you'll hold on."

"I don't feel so cold now. Because you're here."

"My heart aches when you're away."

"Share a blanket with me?"

"We should just stay in and watch a movie."

"Oh, I saw this and thought of you."

"I wanted to bring you here. I knew you'd like it."

"Let me take you to my favourite place."

"You light up the room for me."

"I can hear your breathing. It makes me feel safe."

"Can I listen to your heartbeat?"

"We don't need to do anything. I just want you to be here."

"Can I hold your hand?"

"You bought this for me..?"

"You're always cold, so I got you a scarf."

"I know you're right behind me."

"I can't sleep until I hear you get home."

"You can tell me when you're not okay."

"Just get some rest, okay? I'll be right here."

"I bought your favourite food."

"I made you your favourite meal."

"I picked up some of that tea you like."

"Oh! I saw a dog today, let me show you a picture -"

"You were talking in your sleep. It was cute."

"I can't imagine being here without you."

"I had a nightmare that you left me."

[ofviolentdeath]

If it were anyone else, she would have made a joke about doing it anyway, but there was still a level of tension between her and Silas that Kat wasn't sure would ever fully go away. "It probably would be, so I'll just not mention it to her," she agreed, shaking her head. "You're also having a harder time adjusting and you need people just as much as your dad and grandfather do." It was the least she could do, really. She also had the most memories of him outside of their daughter and it just didn't feel right to put that on their kid. "Intentions? Do I want to know?" He had a point about the artwork, but that just gave her an idea. "Why not get to know Creedance a little better? See how him and your dad are together and then start the piece?"

Silas simply knew that Izzy likely hadn't said anything good about him to his friend and that she probably disliked him. It was fair enough. If he really thought she was scary it wasn't all that obvious. "That sounds like actual torture, Kat. None of you have to waste your time trying to entertain me, you know? I'm sure you've got things to do, kids that like you to care for." He shrugged. "Last time I did a painting with Pops in mind it was the mural for my shop. And it wasn't just for him - it was for him and dad, grandpa and Felix. It's weird trying to dodge the memories and I don't want to influence this new painting because new guy, and don't get me wrong I like him, has intentions. Doubt he wants a painting flooded with memories of my dads hanging in his kitchen."

[ofviolentdeath]

"So the rumors of Belladonna adopting people are as true as people say?" That's what it sounded like to Robert. Probably would have been better for the boy if Bells had adopted him because she certainly would have figured out his background long before now. Which would have saved everyone the surprise.

"Dead how?"

"Bells looked out for me. Offered me a place t' crash a few times before I dealt with the old man. After, she made sure social services didn't come sniffin' around an' all, what with me still bein' a minor at the time, an' made sure nobody gave me any shit when I started doin' business for myself," Phoenix explained, grateful that the woman had proven herself to be a good friend and never really expected anything in return, even if she had made attempts to bring him into her brood.

"Lucky because if the circumstances of how me an' Amber got together had been any different, one or both o' us would'a been dead soon after. That's how."

[ofviolentdeath]

"You started it with the scary twin shit," Marissa pointed out, her smile slipping into something less friendly. If he wanted to play this game, she would be all too happy to play along and she wouldn't be nice about it. "You really are new to the whole siblings thing..."

"Who said I was lying?" She wasn't wearing anything at the moment, but only because she was still cleaning the blood out of her usual jewelry. "Body chains? Really? That's a little tacky."

"Weird ass crackhead is rude," he countered quite easily, grin on his face showing off his shiny tooth gems. "Hey, look, we agree on something - we're making waves." There would be no details as to why Darcy thought that but it didn't really seem like he needed any in the moment.

"You're really good at telling lies, aren't you? I bet most people believe you." Not Darcy who had once upon a time been quite the liar himself. Honesty was really working out for him these days though, so he tended to stick with it. "I almost went with body chains - for you and Fulton. I got disapproving looks so I just bought one for myself."

[ofviolentdeath]

Been fighting with vertigo for a good part of the day but I did get some drafts done and in the queue?

[ofviolentdeath]

"Yes."

He'd like to say it wasn't, that it was a learned trait, but his own stubbornness was proof enough. Stubborn and reckless just seemed to be plentiful.

"Well. Good to know Calla's not the only one with a penchant for poor choices."

Belladonna's reputation was an interesting one. She was known to take pity on kids but she was also ruthless. A damn butcher. Getting involved with one of her children seemed like asking for trouble.

"How was her being a Delaney lucky?"

"That a family trait?"

There was almost a trace of sarcasm in his tone but not quite, Phoenix having no genuine interest in knowing whether it was or not, beyond whether he should expect anyone else to come looking for him at some point.

"Belladonna," Phoenix answered, figuring if Robert was familiar enough with the Delaney's, as it sounded like he was, he'd know her at least by name, if not reputation.

"Truth be told, known Bells since a while before I met Amber. Was jus' lucky happenstance she turned out t'be one o' Bells's kids, I s'pose."

[ofviolentdeath]

"She is very persistent." Which meant that either Phoenix would cave or grow impatient with her. If he had to choose which way it would go, Robert would almost hope for the first. As much as the girl annoyed him, she was still his and that meant he was responsible for her.

"Take her with you. I'm willing to bet she's already known there if she's a Delaney." He knew well enough that his mother had ties to that family so it wouldn't be much of a stretch to figure that, if Phoenix was with a Delaney, she had been there at least once before. "Which one is her mother?"

"Yeah, I noticed."

As concerned as Phoenix was, he had to respect the recklessness in her actions, knowing that he too was prone to making unwise choices more often than he cared to admit, although Phoenix's brand of unwise was much more of the calculated risk variety.

"She's been bendin' my ear tryin' to convince me to stop in sometime soon like she thinks if she keeps on my arse long enough, she can wear me down. Don't think my girlfriend'll take it too well if I go wanderin' off to the other side of the country on a whim like that, though. Least not without tellin' her where I'm goin' an' how long I'll be gone, 'cause she might not be a Delaney by blood, but her ma certainly is."

[ofviolentdeath]

"She isn't one for making wise choices." Meeting him had not been particularly smart either, but that was neither here nor there. What was done was done on both accounts and there was nothing he nor Phoenix could do to undo it.

Of course she had mentioned that already. The whole thing was giving him a migraine already and he needed a drink. Or several. He was never going to hear the end of this from Yin, especially if Calla was right about the boy.

"She is," he confirmed, knowing that his mother would take the boy in without hesitation just as Calla had probably mentioned already. "Calla spends a decent amount of time there when she's not being a pain in my ass."

"Warned 'er it wasn't exactly a wise idea to come lookin' around here in the first place, especially not knowin' what or who she might find in doin' so."

Phoenix still had some concerns there, not wanting Calla to run across anyone who wouldn't be nearly as patient and far quicker to take advantage of the situation if they thought they could.

"She's the one who owns the bar out in Nevada, right? Yeah, Calla mentioned that already," he mentioned, since Calla had brought it up fairly quickly, letting Phoenix know he could show up there no questions asked if he ever needed to.

[ofviolentdeath]

There was a moment of stillness before Robert was swearing under his breath. That damned child was going to give him an ulcer at this rate and he wasn't entirely sure what to about her. The ley lines had also led her to Yin, but that had, against all odds, seemed to have worked out in her favor. Robert wasn't so sure she was going to keep getting that lucky.

"That girl is a damned menace and she's lucky I don't throttle her myself." Despite the words, there was worry undercutting it and a tightness around his eyes. He had watched what the lines had done to Samuel and he was worried that the same would happen to Calla. "I trick I believe she learned from my mother. Who, by the way, would be all too happy to do a DNA test to see if my daughter is correct."

"Asked 'er the same question when she showed up at my place," Phoenix answered, still keeping that casual emotional detachment, as though he were talking to a cop and being careful about what he said; a clear sign he wasn't quick to trust, even with his apparent own flesh and blood.

"Said somethin' about ley lines, a drop o' yer DNA and askin' for assistance findin' direct descendents, so interpret that however ya think she meant it," he continued, sticking to the facts. "Knew I had demon blood too. Ain't too many who pick up on that on first meetin'. Don't exactly go around advertisin' it in case someone wants t' try pickin' up where the old man left off..."

[ofviolentdeath]

He hummed to himself, nodding as he listened. It was still concerning but it wasn't his place to voice that worry. Not at this point anyway. Yin might have, he was better at this than Robert ever would be.

The gesture was not lost on him, Robert doing similar things when Yin or Calla pressed on anything he didn't want to deal with. That was fine with him, he could change the subject. "So, tell me, why is it that Calla is convinced you are her brother?"

"Started when I was six. Got good enough that I could keep the old man alive while his body slowly cooked from the outside in," Phoenix answered, a coldness in his tone that was difficult to distinguish between a simple lack of remorse over his actions or the kind of emotional detachment that had grown out of trauma and become a coping mechanism.

"Fucker got what was comin' to him is all," he shrugged, letting the flames die down before sniffing and shifting his entire demeanor as though he was physically drawing a line on the conversation and did not wish to discuss anything further on the matter.

[ofviolentdeath]

A HANDFUL OF MISCELLANEOUS PROMPTS *  assorted dialogue most likely taken from taskmaster, adjust as necessary

i was so shit at that.

i don't know what the hell is going on.

you know i'm strong, so if i break this, that's on you.

i'm under a lot of stress.

are you going to explain yourself?

this isn't fair.

there's a peep hole.

what am i gonna do with that?

i wish that was a joke.

was it that bad?

have you tried it?

it could take a few months.

there's something inside this.

i'm good at this! i'm very good.

can you argue with me though?

you look fabulous.

do you chase people?

we'll come back to that later.

was that wrong?

i would have done it... if you'd done your fucking job.

say it. we're all adults here.

whisper it to me.

that's enough!

god, i almost believed you.

look at me!

listen, i don't care about that.

we are lovers.

where's the cheese grater?

live your truth. if you like it, you like it.

i don't feel good saying this.

would you like some dessert?

i didn't say it was going to be funny.

this is amazing.

the least i could do was rob him.

they're all pieces of shit.

i make this look good.

how do you make cereal? do you add the milk first, or add the cereal first?

how dare you.

this has been a weird week for me.

i dressed as spongebob to go to a party.

i find it religiously insensitive.

let's never speak of it again.

are you married?

maybe you and i could hang out sometime.

i didn't realize you had a degree.

can i play a saxophone? no.

there's a dignity in total failure.

you look happy.

i am happy any day that i'm with you.

i just feel like we've got so much in common.

what life choices brought you here?

we're creatures of habit, aren't we?

would you like some champagne?

so... i've set it on fire.

when i don't smile, people think i'm dead.

he needs to smile more.

that's my favorite bee gees song.

i'm in quite a lot of pain.

am i missing something?

here we are!

what's your favorite swear word?

not today, satan.

you're doing so well today!

this is where the magic doesn't happen.

smells nice in here!

nice to know i'll never find love.

i don't know if you can tell, but i feel quite lonely.

shall we hold hands?

neither of you noticed this woman lying on the floor?

it's in your pocket!

don't know what's going on... but then to be honest, i've not had a clue what's going on for most of this.

i don't mean to be rude.

do you feel any sense of shame?

[ofviolentdeath]

"Doesn't help that you can't actually lie and promising something you don't mean is a little close to lying," he pointed out, a slight smirk tugging on his lips. "Yeah, but if I suddenly become agreeable, you'll think I'm going to try to kill you or some shit."

@ofviolentdeath sent: ❛ if i say yes, will you shut up? ❜okay but Blake to Naoise maybe? xD

"I make no such promises." Not that Blake would want him to make any actual promises anyway. "But I do think it would be more interesting if you agree."