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open--till--midnight · 2 years ago

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ooooh what's happening???? this is so great i stg, regis laughing and dettlaff yelling at him lmfaoo

Blood and Vengeance - Part 4

A/N: Split the original chapter into two parts so I can draw out the drama. It isn't at all because my energy is running on empty and I'm running out of already written material haha.

Pairing: Dettlaff x Reader

Words: 1292

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 4

_____________

This particular morning found you struggling with the will to pull the covers back and climb out of bed. It was supposed to be colder today than you would have liked, and the stone floors below certainly didn’t motivate you to leave the comfort of your blanket.

But you did have work to do… so the moment you got the courage you quickly pulled the covers off of your head and swung your legs over the edge, bracing yourself for the unpleasant cold to be your first sensation that morning.

Only it didn’t come. The stone was cool- yes, but not sharply cold. And now that you registered it you had yet to find goosebumps on your arms when the cold air of the room should’ve been hitting you. Instead, you looked over to find the fireplace filled with small flames and large chunks of glowing embers, the remnants of a warm fire, and a newly replenished pile of firewood beside it. But you didn’t remember getting up to light a fire last night? You never did that…

You shuffled sleepily to the fireplace and found a carefully folded note sitting on the mantle, a little drawing of a moth adorning the corner of the paper. You unfolded the note as you warmed your legs in front of the dying fire, pleased to find it was from Dettlaff. It detailed that Regis had left again and Dettlaff went after him, saying that he needed to talk to him about something of great importance and to not expect him back for a good part of the day. Your lips turned upward as you read through the note, a small puff of laughter even tugging at you as you read over his final words.

‘Stay warm today, my little moth.

-Dettlaff’

Your heart fluttered furiously at his new nickname for you; his little moth. You bit your lip to fight back the growing smile that spread across your lips as your fingers ran over the dried ink. Despite having such important things to deal with, he still lit a fire to ensure you woke up comfortably.

With careful hands you folded the note back up and placed it with his last one on your bedside table before going to get ready, a new brightness invigorating you from this simple act of love.

The house was quiet as you worked, with neither Regis nor Dettlaff there to make noise and fill the house with some semblance of life. Though, you were thankful as always to have Amelia whose presence and test dishes gave you and your stomach pleasant company.

“Mmm,” you hummed happily as you took a bite, thinking for a minute on your critique, “I like it, but I think you need a different bread. The tang of sourdough just doesn’t sit well with the rest of the dish…” you commented as you set the piece of bread aside to continue eating.

“I know, I know. The baker said he didn’t have enough supplies to fulfill our order right away, but he should drop by with it sometime today.” She took a large, frustrating bite of bread as she spoke. “Damn you, sourdough….”

You laughed and shook your head at your friend’s antics and continued eating and idly chatting until a particular sound caught your attention.

The familiar groan of the heavy iron gate followed by the heavy CLACK of the door knocker let you know someone had finally arrived.

“Oh, that must be the baker.” You perked up, “I’ll get it, you can finish eating.” You told her and stood, straightening out your dress before you went over to answer.

“You’re just hoping your handsome brooding man is back..!” she yelled with a snicker, her laugh only growing when you yelled back.

“Ah, shut up, Amelia!”

---

Dettlaff poured into the cracks of Regis’s private crypt in the form of black and red smoke, coming down to the ground to solidify into his normal self.

“Regis..?” he called out as he walked around, searching the darkened tunnels.

“Dettlaff… I wasn’t expecting you here. What’s going on?” Regis said, poking his head out from a dimly lit room.

“We need to talk- I… I don’t know what’s going on anymore.” He mumbled as he paced the room. “About Y/n, I- just…” his hand rubbed over his face as he let out a frustrated growl.

Regis quickly dropped everything and moved toward his pacing friend. He was hoping on his eternal life that this wasn’t another tea-spilling incident. It had been obvious as of late how preoccupied Dettlaff had become with you, you were one of the only things he talked about after all. He had been making leaps and strides towards understanding humans as a whole and if that had all turned on a dime…. He almost didn’t want to know.

“What’s happened now?” The older vampire asked, already dreading the next few words.

“I…” Dettlaff struggled and ground his teeth audibly “I think I love a human…” He finally admitted, as if admitting shameful defeat.

Silence bounced around the dark cavern until the crackle of laughter rippled through the air. Regis didn’t even realize he was laughing so hard until he was doubled over from it.

“STOP LAUGHING” Dettlaff roared out, anger painting over his embarrassment. “Stop laughing at me, Regis!” he hissed, his features twisting into a flash of his more bat-like self.

“Ah… ah, I’m sorry my friend… I truly don’t mean to laugh I just- I may have seen this coming for some time, but you still surprise me.” Regis said with a pleasant sigh to catch his breath as he righted himself once more.

Dettlaff paused, “You… saw this coming…?”

Regis almost laughed again, “Dettlaff. My friend- if she walks anywhere near you your brain instantly goes to half capacity. You look at her like a bat looks longingly at its cave come sunrise… I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so caught up on someone,” Regis explained as he shook his head. It’s like he was dealing with a couple of schoolchildren dancing circles around their crush.

“Don’t even get me started on the way she looks at you. I swear-”

Dettlaff's ears perked up at that, “you think she looks at me the same way?” he interrupted quickly. Humans were often so subtle in their actions and their words that he wasn’t sure if you were just teaching him to be friendly like Regis asked or if you genuinely felt the same.

Regis raised his eyebrow, arms crossed as if this should all be perfectly clear to the other vampire, “Since the first day she saw you she’s been positively enamored…”

The cave was quiet once again as Dettlaff took this in, nodding to himself as he took this new information into account. He had just opened his mouth to say something when a horrible feeling pinged deep in his chest.

Something was wrong.

It was like the deepest pain and grief hit a sudden rolling boil in his chest. His shoulders raised as his entire body tightened with fear, his fingers twitching with the need for action.

Regis watched him go through the whole thing, his features twisting again as an odd sense of fight or flight kicked in. “What is it?” he asked, having felt his own small shiver of unease- but nothing like his fellow bat.

“Something’s wrong… something’s really wrong…” Dettlaff’s breath quickened as he looked around him, noting no immediate danger.

“Go back to the house. Now. I’ll follow behind and keep an eye out.”

With that smoke filled the cavern once more; gray, black, and red fog shooting out of the smallest cracks in the cave's ceiling to race toward home.

______________________

Taglist: @writingmysanity @open--till--midnight @unstable-kiwi @madamemelancholysstuff

Wanna be added to a specific taglist? DM me to let me know!

#lilys witcher recs ❤️

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open--till--midnight · 2 years ago

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Faye Dunaway as Bonnie Parker in Bonnie and Clyde 1967 dir. Arthur Penn

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open--till--midnight · 2 years ago

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Blood and Vengeance - Part 3

A/N: Enjoy some fluff and simple slice of life stuff!

Pairing: Dettlaff x Reader

Words: 1874

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

__________

Chattering voices and the call of vendors spread through the air as you made your way through the market with Amelia. You two were gathering groceries for the next week or so at the manor as well as doing a bit of personal shopping on the side.

“Your arms are looking a lot better than they were a few days ago. I was worried you’d look like a cherry for the rest of your life!” your companion exclaimed above the noise of the market's bustling patrons.

“Oh Amelia, you always know exactly what to say, don’t you?” you teased and laughed as she handed you another bag of groceries to carry. “Fortunately, Dettlaff gave me a little something to help my burn or I’d still be looking more cherry-like than ever.”

“He gave you a gift? I still have yet to hear a single peep out of him! Regis does all the talking with me- not that I mind, he’s plenty nice-” she said, turning to you with raised eyebrows. “But he must be taking quite a liking to you. Have you talked to him since?”

You smiled as you thought about it, and nodded, “A few times. Right after I got burned was a little awkward, but I rather like speaking to him. He’s more candid than I expected, but it’s kind of refreshing, you know?” Your eyes wandered idly as you thought back to those meetings. Since he had given you that jar of burn cream you’d been able to make a little conversation with him when you arrived to light his fireplace in the morning or to bring him a glass of wine. He never hid how he felt on a subject when you brought them up and always seemed keen on hearing your side as well, even when it was obvious you knew far less about it than he did.

“Y/n? Y/n!” Amelia called you back to the present as she waved her hand in front of your face. “Getting a little lost in thought thinking about Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome?” she snickered playfully, “I guess he’s not the only one whose taken a liking…”

“Amelia!” Your cheeks flushed bright red as you bumped her shoulder with your own, “You stop that or I’m going to stop playing pack mule for you!” You held up the various bags of produce that kept your hands full.

“Hmm, I’m still not hearing a no..” she teased, laughter trailing away as she ran ahead to escape your friendly wrath.

The two of you meandered the rest of the market, picking up extra treats here and there when you found yourself stopping in front of a used bookshop. It seemed a little empty inside as you peered in the front window, a little dusty, and piled with countless books- just as any good bookshop should be. But what really caught your eye was the green book being showcased front and center.

It was pale green in color with various moths etched in gold leaf on the cover, the largest one reminding you of the pin that adorned Dettlaff’s coat.

Moths of Nazair and The Surrounding Regions its title read, and you knew it would be perfect.

You set the heaping bags of groceries down, taking a quick moment to duck inside the shop. A cough scratched at your lungs as ages of dust plumed up from your disturbance of the idle air. An old lady- looking a little dusty herself- eyed you as you came in, smiling in a way that emphasized her deep laugh lines.

After a nod of acknowledgment, you went straight to the bay window to scoop it up, taking a quick glance at the price inside the cover.

”Oh that's… more than I was hoping it would be.” You mumbled quietly to yourself. It would take a little over half of the money you had put away… but you knew it would be worth it when you gave it to him. After all, you could always save more later, right?

“Is there a problem, Dear?” The old woman called, her voice too was worn with age, but her short steps shuffled over with a surprising pace to help you.

“Oh, it's nothing.” you tried to assure her, “I was just… I thought this would be an excellent gift for a... a friend-yes, a friend of mine..” You smiled shyly, embarrassed at the way you paused as you decided what to call him.

Her eyes sparkled with a slightly mischievous sense of knowing as she nodded in response. “Say no more, Dearie. I understand exactly what you mean.” her tone was light and even a little teasing as she headed back to the front counter, waving at you to follow her.

“I’ll tell you what,” she started as she sat back on her stool with a huff of effort, “I’ll give you a good discount on the book, okay?” she said, “I know that look, Dear. Had it once myself even, so I’ll be no fool and stand in the way of a young love like that…” she said, undoubtedly reminiscing in the romantic adventures of her own youth.

Your cheeks darkened and felt as hot as the sun as she spoke, but even that couldn’t stop the grin from pulling at your lips as you brought the book up to pay and slipped it into your coat for safekeeping. “Thank you, It’s gonna be perfect

---

Dettlaff’s sensitive ears immediately picked up the sound of your familiar footsteps as they came near and the front gate groaning out your welcoming. He had been listening closer as of late to when you came back from town. He assured himself (as well as Regis) that it was not because he was concerning himself with something as complicated as a human, nor was it because he found himself enjoying when you visited after getting back. It wasn’t even because he found that he missed the sound of your voice in your absence or the gentle thrumming of your heart beneath your skin. No, he would tell anyone that asked that he listened only to make sure you arrived back safely.

It was not uncommon for him or Regis to leave for a few hours or days at a time, they’d smoke away into the night, taking in the surroundings as they went. Regis had just arrived back with a message; There was a group of bandits beginning to move closer to the town; they seemed to only move by night right now, but there was no telling how bold they would be once they reached the town’s limits.

Dettlaff knew Regis only warned him so he’d be prepared and not lash out lest anything happen, but he only found himself worrying more and more the longer you had been out.

“Dettlaff? I have a surprise for you” you said, interrupting his thoughts as you nudged open the library door carefully.

“Y/n” He spoke your name with a faint breath of relief like a man in the desert whose finally seen rain. His brows furrowed downward when he registered your other words, “A surprise? You know I hate surprises.”

“Yeah, I know,” you shrugged, with a small smile. You held one hand behind your back and led with a cup of blood-red wine in the other.

“And yet you still do it?” he asked.

“Only because I know it’ll be a good one…” A shy but lovely smile crossed your lips as you set the wine before him slipping the book on the table beside it. You took a half step back and watched his face for a reaction as he lifted the book to inspect it.

“What’s this..? I know this isn’t from our library…” he commented as he looked it over, Moths of Nazair and the Surrounding Regions. He ran his fingers briefly over the golden moth the cover held and opened it to the inside cover where he found your simple inscription.

‘To Dettlaff,

So no matter where you are, you’ll always have a piece of home.

- From Y/n’

“I remembered you telling me in passing that you were from Nazair and since you wear that pin everywhere you go, I thought you might like seeing the moths you grew up with…” you trailed off as you explained. You wrung your fingers in your hand as you thought everything over again, ‘was this really a good idea? Maybe this is too bold of a move for what we are right now… wait- we aren’t even anything, why am I so worried?’

It hadn’t been terribly long since you had started working here, but you already found yourself being pulled in by this stormy-eyed man. One of the things you loved most about him was… rather complicated to express actually. When you watched him go about life and when you two spoke especially- it was almost as if he spoke with ten lifetimes worth of experience. Lifetimes worth of grief, joy, and loss…. You had always considered yourself something of an old soul, but you’re certain that compared to Dettlaff your soul looked like an absolute infant.

But it wasn’t only that- It was that despite so much experience and existence being held inside one person he still felt so much. And though- as you had seen firsthand- there are some downsides to all that concentrated emotion, you wouldn't have it any other way.

The corner of his mouth quirked up slightly in confusion as he looked over the cover of the book once more. “You bought this for me… But why?” He asked, hoping to understand exactly what you were trying to get at. Did you want something in return the way all humans did? Or was this purely altruistic? Or perhaps you just softening him up for something terrible you were about to do?

He had begun growing rather attached to you since that first and fateful day and he was not about to be played like a fool for thinking better of you.

“Why?” you repeated as you blinked in surprise- no one ever really had this reaction to a gift before. “Well… it’s because I instantly thought of you when I saw it. The moth on the cover looked a little bit like your pin and I thought it might make you happy to have..” You answered honestly. your mind worried restlessly on whether your impression of him and you had been all wrong.

But instead of looking upset you watched his expression smooth out and even a small and subtle smile make its way onto his face. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been correct when assuming the best of someone, but then again you just keep surprising him, don’t you?

With another glance at your gift, the small smile still lingering on his lips he finally spoke. “Y/n, would you like to stay a while with me..?” he asked hopefully, “I can help you finish your tasks for today if it makes any difference…”

Your own expression morphed into a large dopey grin as you took a seat before him on his chair’s ottoman.

“I would love nothing more.”

____________

Taglist: @writingmysanity @open--till--midnight @unstable-kiwi @madamemelancholysstuff

Wanna be on a certian taglist? just DM me to let me know!

#🥺#lilys witcher recs ❤️

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open--till--midnight · 2 years ago

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Blood and Vengeance - Part 2

A/N: why is this like…. the most well written thing I’ve written?? Doesn’t matter, Dettlaff deserves it.

Pairing: Dettlaff x Reader

Words: 3,587

Warnings: Minor burns, Anger

Part 1 | Part 2

____________________

Your stomach fluttered with butterflies as you made your way past the iron gate once more, Its creaking groans welcoming you as you passed onto the estate grounds. Two gardeners were clearing detritus from the garden beds and chatting here and there. They both watched as you slipped past the gate and waved a greeting to you, pulling a small smile and wave from yourself in return.

You stepped up to the main doors, hand outstretched to knock when Regis swung open the door before you could even touch it, nearly scaring you to death. “Ah, hello again, miss Y/n. My apologies for startling you- I heard the gate creak as you came in. Come; let me lead you down to your room so you can settle.” he offered with a kind smile and took a bag from your hands to help.

Keep reading

#how did i see this first on ao3??#anyways gotta give my love here too #this is quite literally so good haha #lilys witcher recs ❤️

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open--till--midnight · 2 years ago

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some general hanza sketches but primarily a lot of of angoulême, and thinking about some of her dynamics with the rest of the group :,)

#angouleme! angouleme! angouleme!

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open--till--midnight · 2 years ago

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The Guest Room at Corvo Bianco

geralt x gn!reader | no pronouns used

summary | for all you know, you are just a friend of Geralt's, occupying his guest room.

cw | none

wc | 1.1k

***

Geralt was a friend, nothing more. He always was and always will be. Why would he be anything more? There never was anything to suggest you would become anything other than friends.

When he had extended his invitation to Corvo Bianco, you agreed. And stayed in the guest room upstairs. It was used for storage but with BB’s help, yes, Geralt got you in on the nickname too, it was cleaned up and made good enough for you to live comfortably.

From the room upstairs, you could hear that gravelly laugh and you could practically smell the wine wafting up the stairway. Dandelion’s visits were often, too often, and though you loved the bard in your own way, he made things infinitely harder. More often than not, you were left to go upstairs alone, to hear their merrymaking from your room.

And you heard it when Dandelion asked about you, and when Geralt replied, “Not now, she’s still awake.” Because he could tell, of course he could tell. Not that you wanted to hear what they had to say anyway, it would only hurt you. They continued on after that, louder than ever.

Your pillow did nothing to silence their noise and, along with the light seeping into your doorless room, sleep would not come until the men downstairs went to bed, or more likely, passed out. In the morning, though, you would pretend not to mind. You would put up with their chatter and Dandelion’s lute. It would get better when he left.

This infatuation of yours was ruining you. You felt horrible. Horrible about resenting the bard. Horrible about wanting Geralt all to yourself. Was this what it was like to love someone? Why would anyone want this?

When the bard left, you expected things to get easier. But alas, they did not. You only made a fool of yourself. Geralt would walk you out to the gardens to bring you out of your brooding, only for you to stare awkwardly at him until he took notice. Your antics would cause you to trip over your own legs. Legs that were filled with bug bites and scratches. He would notice the misery on your face and he would lead you back inside, where you retreated once more to the guest room of Corvo Bianco.

Tonight he would laugh with BB and you would kick yourself for not taking those few steps to bring you downstairs to Geralt’s table.

On occasions, he would invite you, of course, but it was never as you’d heard it from upstairs. Geralt was reserved and his laughs were infrequent when you sat across from him. You would write this off as due to your offputting aura, not from what was really happening.

Geralt longed for you to come out from the guest room, wished for it even. But when you did, he froze and, like you did with your room; he retreated into himself.

And his heart would break when he would go upstairs and see you in bed while the sun was at its peak in the sky. He knew how you loved the garden, so he would pull you up and drag you to them. And he would glare at anyone that so much as raised a brow at your sleep heavy and moody state.

And he would ache when you looked at him like that. Like you were already miserable and how you would immediately look away when he glanced over at you. And when he saw your legs, he was already thinking about the right cream to apply to the bites and scratches. But he wouldn’t get to, because you had already left for the guest room at Corvo Bianco.

BB consoled him that night, bringing him back to life. Yet he wished for your presence. As always.

When you would go out, never telling him exactly where, he would go up to your room. He would sit and stare at all the ways you made it home.

On the far wall, opposite the bed, hung an awful painting that you had insisted on buying on your last trip into the city. There was a small carved horse on your nightstand. You had recently named it Roach and had carved it crudely on its belly.

Your Gwent cards rested safely in an ornate box on the dresser, a gaudy little thing, large colored glass gems filled its lit and sides. But you loved it anyway, going as far to defend it with threats of violence when Geralt made a snide comment about it.

He got lost in your world, so much so that he had not heard your approaching footsteps. You had caught him smiling at the worn out doll sitting on a rocking chair in the corner. He was so pretty when he smiled. You wished you could see more of that. The way the crow’s feet by his eyes deepened and how the corners of his nose were pushed up ever so slightly. You wanted it all committed to memory. Just as you wanted the memory of his skin on yours, just a hug, even. It had been so long since he last hugged you.

“What are you doing up here, Geralt?”

He jerked slightly, not so much jumping, but you had definitely startled him. The look he gave you was one of a guilty man. What did he have to hide?

“Change of scenery.” A lie.

“Right.” You sat behind him on the bed, leaning back on your arms as you awaited his genuine answer.

“Maybe I missed you.”

“I was only gone an hour.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I understand.”

Geralt muttered your name, choked out, more like. It was strained, as his body was. Every muscle telling him to move forward and wrap you up in himself, yet every piece of common sense was screaming at him, no.

“What troubles you, witcher?”

Geralt did not answer.

“Is it me?”

“No.”

“That wasn’t very convincing.” You cocked your head at him, a teasing gesture that made it so much harder for him to achieve anything with his words.

So he ignored everything his brain was telling him, and he leaned forward. His hand caressed the side of your face, testing the waters. And you were petrified. You had wanted this for so long and now that it was happening; you were petrified. And he pulled back because of it.

He was not quick enough, though, for before he got too far, your lips collided with his and between you began a kiss. A kiss shared in the guest room at Corvo Bianco.

#self rb #i was rereading some of my stuff and omg i love this one #i kind of cant believe i wrote it haha

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open--till--midnight · 2 years ago

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ooh! the premise of this is so interesting!?! i am beyond exited to continue reading haha. also love the strange yet earnest regis, the way you wrote him so far is so on point!

Blood and Vengeance - Part 1

A/N: I've had this story saved in my drafts for a while now and i think about it every dang day so here it is! Finally!

Pairing: Dettlaff x Reader

Words: 1332

Summary: You answer an ad for a housekeeping job at the estate of the two new mysterious visitors in town, despite strange rumors circulating around town you know the pay makes it well worth it. However, when you arrive it seems to be part housekeeping and part "nanny" as you're tasked with getting the dark-brooding Dettlaff used to humans. surely this will go smoothly, right?

__________________

Your town had always been a sleepy place as far as you could remember. Small markets, rarely any visitors, and relatively little commotion as far as you were concerned; but maybe that's what attracted the two mysterious men to your tiny town.

Word of their arrival spread quickly and quietly through the streets of the town, warping the way all rumors do. Some said they just seemed like two standard rich men. One was pleasant, always carrying a bag of herbs and odd-smelling concoctions, and the other didn’t seem to like anyone and was strangely intense for such a quiet man. However, in no time those rumors faded out, instead replaced by speculation of criminal pasts, and fake identities- some even went so far as to swear they had seen them turn into bats when the veil of night fell.

Either direction the rumors went you found yourself growing more and more curious the longer you stared at the posted ad on the noticeboard.

It said they were looking for a few workers; mostly gardeners and people to help renovate- neither of which you knew how to do well enough, but you did think you could settle into the housekeeping role well. It looked like it paid nicely and you’d get to have a room at the manor as well. It was bound to be long hours and being on call at a moment's notice, but soon enough you should be able to save up a small fortune and live your life quietly on your own time.

You nodded, determined in your decision, and went straight there to apply, despite the way your nerves grew with each step.

As you walked up to the estate It’s multiple levels loomed over you and blocked out the low-hanging sun. You pushed open the iron-wrought gate which creaked with age as you closed it behind you and walked through the freshly tilled gardens. The home had been worn by decades of neglect and paint flecked off in patches here and there revealing an older color underneath.

“I guess they must’ve already found gardeners” you commented as you made your way up to the door. A deep breath steadied your nerves long enough to lift the heavy door knocker, clacking it against the old wood twice.

It was quiet for a short while before the sound of footsteps suddenly came from behind the door as it was pulled open with ease by an older-looking gentleman. His hair and sideburns were a sooty gray and his eyes held bags beneath them that betrayed the exhaustion his pleasant smile tried to hide. “Ah, you must be here to apply for one of the posted jobs?” He held his hand out for you to shake. “Emiel Regis, it’s a pleasure.”

You put on your best smile, shaking his hand as you introduced yourself, “Yes, um- I was hoping the housekeeping position was still open..?”

An amusing thought seemed to cross him as he glanced you over once more, barely noticeable if you weren’t watching. He nodded and ushered you in right away, into the darkened entryway. “Of course. Come in, come in- I might as well show you around if you're going to be working here,” he said, leading the way.

Two large staircases curved their way out and upward and met at the next level. Rugs lined each step and the hallway before you, worn to a small degree but mostly dulled with dirt, dust, and age. The wood lining the walls could use a layer of polish, but you were surprised to see what decent shape the interior was in.

Mostly the interior just showed aging, from the dimmed dirty windows to the cobwebs in the corners. “You’ll have to pardon the mess while we get everything put back to its former glory. The house Is big, but please don’t let it become daunting to you. I-” He paused his steps and his words to listen to the quiet house for a moment before he continued.

“Well if I have to be frank. This job is in part a regular housekeeping job, I assure you. But it is also because I would like to have someone to keep an eye on my dear friend Dettlaff.” He said, glancing back at you before he continued giving you a tour of the house. “I-I promise it’s nothing strange. Ah- but that probably only made it sound stranger, didn’t it?”

“Very much so..” you replied, laughing lightly, but still holding your satchel close as you went from room to room. A few of the rooms were more finished than the others- the bedrooms and the kitchens for example- others seemed to be more of storage for extra materials.

“I apologize… I had no intention of making you feel uncomfortable. It’s just- Well, how do I put this… Dettlaff is not good with people. At all.” Regis huffed in mild annoyance. Because Dettlaff was such a good friend, Regis could only acknowledge his shortcomings for what they were. Dangerous liabilities. “He feels far too much, but I think small introductions could be good for him; someone who can pepper him with how people work socially” He further explained, waving a hand of his with nails that were just a bit longer than normal.

This was all starting to get a little bit weird… but you still couldn't deny this kind of pay, plus room and board. “So you want me to be a sort of… glorified nanny for your friend?” You asked, increasing your pace to step side by side with the older man.

“Well, when you put it like that…” he began to mumble, but you quickly interjected.

“I’ll do it. When can I start?” you stepped in front of him and held out your hand to shake on it, causing the older man to stop short and raise his eyebrows in surprise.

“My, my… you certainly seem like a rather tenacious creature, don’t you? Though I think that could prove you well in dealing with him…” He smiled that friendly smile again and shook your hand. “If you’re up to it you can start tomorrow. I’ll create a list of daily duties and It’ll be waiting for you in the room we’ve set aside for you. We can discuss your pay after your first day, does that arrangement work for you miss Y/n?” He asked, looking at you with nothing but an earnest expression and kind eyes.

You smiled as you nodded, hefting your bag further up on your shoulder as you were led back to the front door and seen off by the older man.

You were quiet on your walk home, quickly scampering through the streets before the sun fully fell and the more malicious folks came out for the evening. As soon as the door clicked closed you shouted in excitement and did a little dance. You weren’t even a hundred percent sure where all the confidence had come from, but you didn’t care! A huge grin spread across your face as you breathed a sigh of relief.

“Oh, shit, I’ve got to get packing…” you thought aloud as you sprung yourself up and began pulling things together. For once you were thankful that you had only been renting in this little town. It felt like ages ago that you had walked away from your childhood home to try and make a life for yourself and for once it seemed to actually be working out. You didn’t have too much to pack up, mostly books, clothes, and a few little knickknacks you had picked up over the years, but each one held a small special place with you.

A small smile painted on your expression as you put the last of your things away in a bag and gave the old place one last look around.

Tomorrow would change the trajectory of the rest of your life for you, you could feel it. And you had never been more ready.

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#lilys witcher recs ❤️

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