#( adrian pierce — character study )

[poisonpicked]

tag drop 1/??? 

ooc tags, jax, adrian pierce, jax and pierce relationship tags, jax npc tags 

[she-wolf09231982]

Chapter 1: Who's the New Guy?

Author Note: Mature Audience, Character introduction, Vigilante/Adrian Chase x Female, Joining 11th Street Kids, Cursing/Explicit Language, Military/Law Enforcement Terminology, Mentions of weaponry/violence, near panic attack, Sentences in Italics implies flashbacks or character thoughts

Summary: You are the new addition to the ARGUS team. Emilia Harcourt who now runs operations brought you in because of your special specific skill sets from serving in the military, which earns you some good rapport but also unwanted attention from the other team members.

~~~~~~~~

Emilia Harcourt brought you to this team because they needed all the help they could get after the beating they took from Project Butterfly and being one man down. The two of you went to high school together but went your separate ways after graduation. She went CIA while you enlisted in the military and landed on the Special Warfare team in 2001. You were perfect for the job.

“…just keep an open mind when you get here. This group is, uh, quite colorful to say the least.” Emilia forewarned over the phone. “I trust your judgement, though”

“Sure, sounds like fun.” You say mockingly. You hang up and plop back onto your bed staring at the ceiling in deep thought about what kind of train wreck you may be getting yourself into with this new team.

The next morning you walk through the threshold of the front entrance of Henenlotter Video. The bell chiming from the door opening caused the group to pause and look in your direction. The silence filled the room as each of you look the other over, sizing eachother up. Harcourt’s voice broke the quiet.

“Guys meet, Y/N, an old friend of mine from high school. She has a lot to bring to the table so let’s make sure we keep this one around.”

Harcourt shoots you an approving look and smirks. You grin and nod back, then look back to survey the group’s response. Peacemaker (Chris) studies you from head to toe with a slight smile obviously undressing you with his mind. Leota Adebayo gave a little wave and smiled at you.

“She seems nice,” you thought to yourself.

John Economos gazed at you perplexed through his spectacles like he was trying to figure out a math equation. Then the guy in the black and teal suit who you recognize from the news as Vigilante. You felt his stare piercing your soul through the red visor of his mask.

“What’s with this guy?” You thought.

You find an empty chair outside their circle so you could keep the entire room in view and listen in to the rest of Harcourt’s briefing.

~~~~~~~~

Economos and Adebayo sat at their desks on their laptops as Peacemaker and Vigilante were competing who was faster at disassembling and reassembling their guns. You sat with Harcourt in her office while she explained what it is you guys do “do” here. As she was speaking, you catch Vigilante glancing at you through the office windows quite frequently. Not even trying to hide that he’s looking at you when you make eye contact with him.

You interrupt Harcourt, “What’s that guy’s deal?” not taking your eyes off Vigilante as you speak. She looked where you were looking and scoffed.

“That’s Adrian Chase…or Vigilante. He’s a bit of a sociopath, but a good teammate.  You don’t need to worry about him unless you graffiti public property while you’re smoking weed.”

You look at her with confusion then chuckle, “Yeah, right,” you say.

“No, really…sociopath.” She repeated.

Your eyes widen then look back at the suited man, again catching him staring at you with his arms crossed, then slowly turning away while keeping his intense gaze in your direction. All you could do was hum in wonder at this, because what the actual fuck? That’s why.

~~~~~~~~

As weeks turned into months, you’ve started to gel with the group already. The business of crime fighting was slow, so you guys spent a lot of time in the store following up on leads and keeping up with the news of anything that may be sketchy. Since you and Vigilante were the most experienced with reconnaissance, you were normally paired up to stealthily gather intel when necessary. Both of you suited up and joined forces quite frequently. His death stares from across the room diminished ultimately and has earned you good rapport with him. As a matter of fact, you two have become pretty close. Chris has repeatedly poked fun at Adrian about it because you can often find him at your desk hovering over you. You thought it was just Chase being Chase and didn’t give it a second thought.

Adrian couldn’t help it, though. He was drawn to you. You guys had a lot in common. And he admired that your suit was flawlessly tactical with no gaps in sight for rounds or shrapnel to get through.

“Genius…” he once thought to himself.

~~~~~~~~

As the six of you were in the store going about your work, John exploded suddenly,

“Now I know who you are!!” He pointed at you from across the room.

You looked behind you then pointed at yourself with no words.

He continued, “Ya! It’s been fucking with me since you got here!” He still pointed at you with his eyes wide and a proud smile.

“Ooookay…so who is she?” Chris asked. You and Harcourt exchanged looks of concern.

“How could you guys not see??” John looked around at everyone then looked back at you, “She-Wolf?? Anybody? Nobody caught this??”

John stood there arms open palms up waiting for the rest of the group to catch up. Everyone but John exchanged looks of confusion at first then

Adebayo spoke, “No way, She-Wolf went MIA in 2018. There’s no way she’d just turn up out of nowhere. And for what? For this?” she gestured to the sorry excuse of a headquarters that they worked from.

“No, he’s right!” Chris said, gaping at you. “They reported her dead eventually, even though they never found her body. But she had a very distinct tattoo behind her ear, branding her as part of the spec ops team “The Pack.” I thought I saw the tat on her when we were at Fennel Fields awhile back but couldn’t really tell.”

“…I knew I should’ve gotten better concealer to cover that.” You thought yourself.

“Well, shit!! That’s badass as fuck!” Adebayo squealed.

Harcourt shook her head and held it in her hand like she had a migraine. Adrian looked at you in shock at first, then his mouth curled into a smile of admiration. His head tilted a bit trying to make eye contact with you as you stared towards the floor. You slowly look up and came face to face with his soft green eyes smiling back at you. His stare sends chills up your spine. Your chest tightens and stomach is all a flutter while your heart races. What is happening?? Why is this happening? Should I deny it? Not say anything? Admit to all of it? Neither confirm nor deny? The room started to close in on you...You needed some air. You stood up gradually and calmly (even though inside, you were a hot mess) walk out the back of the store into the alley.

Everyone fell silent looking at each other in uncertainty.

“Just…give her a minute.” Harcourt said as she walked into her office to find some ibuprofen.

~~~~~~~~

Adrian followed you outside. He found you sitting on the bumper of the van, hands on top of your head fingers interlaced trying to open your lungs up so you could catch your breath. Your eyes were closed while you inhaled and exhaled, and you suddenly choked on air gasping when he suddenly appeared out of nowhere scaring the hell out of you.

“WHAT THE FUU….??” You put your hand over your chest trying to slow your breaths. “What the hell are you doing, Adrian??” You take in a deep breath of air, then put your head back exhaling upward

He approached you cautiously, stopping at a safe distance from where you sat.

“…Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you. Didn’t know anyone could sneak up on She-Wolf.” He said teasingly.

Your eyes darted at him like daggers. He threw both hands up, signifying he didn’t want any trouble.

“Whoa, easy there, killer,” he said smiling. “Just trying to lighten the mood.” You look away from him slowly and continue collecting yourself. He continued, “Is it ok to….sit?”

You look at him puzzled. “Um, yeah,” you said.

You look down at the gravel, eyebrows furrowed, awaiting the flood gate of questions about to burst open. But he said nothing. He asked nothing. He sat next to you, legs dangling and swinging like a little kid, staring with his head slightly tilted with a trivial smile, zoning out. He really is a mystery.

“So, you ok?” he finally asked keeping his gaze straight forward, then side eyeing you.

You look at him, and nod. Both of you sat there in silence, probably waiting for the other one to say something…anything. Truth is, he wanted to ask you tons of questions. He loved the idea that he’d been working with a combat celebrity this whole time. Adrian started to let out impatient sighs.

You look at him, “what?” you asked him.

He snapped his head at you unaware you heard him sighing outloud.

“Oh…well, I was trying to figure something out.” He paused.

“Okaaaay? Go on.” You urged, genuinely curious.

He continued to stare outward, and kind of squinted through his wired framed glasses in thought,

“What’s a group of moose called? Mooses? Meese?” He was genuinely baffled, and you erupted with a laugh that caused you to cough a little. He looked at you and continued,

“No really!” he chuckled, “What’s it called??” He looked at you awaiting your answer.

You let out a deep exhale, “I think a group of ‘moose’ is just a herd, Adrian.”

You explain with a smile shaking your head, then looking at him,

“Thanks for that. I needed to laugh.”

He gave you a crooked smile, green eyes sparkling at you. You haven’t noticed until now how soft his features are. Considering the line of work he’s in, anyone else would look rough, and aged. Because he doesn’t let things bother him like most people do, you surmise that’s how he preserves his appealing boyish looks. He seems to be lost in your gaze as well.

You didn’t realize you were staring at him studying how handsome he is, until Chris’ voice came crashing through the moment like a cannon.

“Hey, bitches! We need you two in here!” He barks. You both snapped out of it, a bit shook from the explosive interruption.

You both let out a breath, then looked back at eachother,

“Shall we?” Adrian asked. You nodded then walked back into the store together.

~~~~~~~~

Chapter 2: Shenanigans & Saliva

Chapter 3: Dirrty Adrian

Chapter 4: My Hero

Masterlist

[acesydneysage]

Sydney's descriptions of Adrian in each book

@vablappreciationweek Favorite ship: Sydrian

In my Demi!Sydney masterpost I mentioned how, in her first description of Adrian, she notices that he's handsome, but describes him in a more detached way, comparing him to a work of art:

The speaker was a Moroi guy, a little older than me, with dark brown hair that had undoubtedly been painstakingly styled to look messy. Unlike Keith's ridiculously over-gelled attempts, this guy had actually done it in a way that looked good. Like all Moroi he was pale, and had a tall lean build. Emerald green eyes studied us from a face that could have been sculpted by one of the classical artists I so admired. Shocked, I dismissed the comparison as soon as it popped into my head. This was a vampire, after all. It was ridiculous to admire him the way I would some hot human guy.

Now compare that to her description of him in The Golden Lily, after they already have some emotional attachment:

His sarcasm aside, he looked supremely delighted to see us. He had the tall, lean build that most Moroi guys did, along with their typically pale (though not Strigoi-pale) skin. I hated to admit it, but he was more good-looking than he had any right to be. He wore his dark brown hair stylishly messy and had eyes that sometimes seemed too green to be real. Adrian had on one of those button-up printed shirts that were trendy with guys lately, with a blue pattern on it I liked. He smelled like he’d been smoking recently, which I didn’t like.

It's less dramatic, but much more involved, in my opinion. This got me thinking about the topic, and this is now a compilation of Sydney's first full description of Adrian in each book. It gets adorable and it gets sad.

In the plane in The Indigo Spell, when she's absolutely not halfway in love with him already, no sir:

I was watching the attendant fasten an oxygen mask when a familiar and intoxicating scent washed over me. [...] I kept sneaking glances out of the corner of my eye, partly to see if he was looking at me and partly just to study his features. He was the same Adrian as ever, annoyingly good looking with his tousled brown hair and sculpted face. I vowed I wouldn’t speak to him, but when I noticed he hadn’t written anything in a while and was tapping his pen loudly on the tray, I couldn’t help myself.

Don't you sneak admiring glances at your friends?

In The Fiery Heart Sydney is in full hormonal teen mode, unable to focus on the meeting where she's about to join a witch coven because she's distracted thinking about making out with her vampire boyfriend (look how far my baby has come):

After a lifetime of praising myself for stoically adhering to mind over matter, I was kind of astonished that someon as cerebral as me would take to physical activity as quickly as I had. Sometimes I tried to rationalize it as a natural animal response. But really, I just had to face the truth. My boyfriend was insanely sexy, vampire or not, and I couldn't keep my hands off him.

In Silver Shadows, on the other hand, actual physical descriptions are set aside in favor of ripping my heart out of my chest. First looking at a picture:

I had no idea where she’d gotten the picture, and I didn’t care. My heart leapt as I looked into their smiling faces, faces I loved and had missed so terribly. I’d imagined their faces countless times, but there was no substituting the actual image. I took in every detail: the way the light played off Adrian’s hair, the way Jill’s lips curved in a shy smile. I had to swallow back a wave of emotion welling up within me. Maybe Sheridan had meant to punish me by showing them, but it actually came off as more of a reward—until she spoke again.

Then when she actually sees him in person:

They fell out of my line of sight, and suddenly, my vision was filled with the most beautiful image I could have hoped for: Adrian. For a few seconds, that doubt plagued me again, that this was just one more deception on the Alchemists’ part. But no, there he was before me. Adrian. My Adrian, gazing down with those piercing green eyes. I felt an ache in my chest as emotion momentarily overcame me. Adrian. Adrian was here, and I fumbled to find something to say, some way to convey all the love and hope and fear that had built within me these last few months. “Are you in a suit?” I managed at last, my voice choking up. “You didn’t have to dress up for me.” “Quiet, Sage,” he said. “I’ll make the hilarious one-liners during this daring rescue.” His eyes, warm and full of love, held mine for a moment, and I thought I would melt.

The Ruby Circle is still kind of sad, since Adrian got hate crimed, but it's a sweet ending to this compilation:

There was nothing more I could say as I helped wipe blood and dirt from Adrian’s face with a damp cloth, brushing aside wayward pieces of chestnut hair. He gave me his devil-may-care smile and still managed to look dashing, despite his bedraggled state. [...] Looking at Adrian now, I felt a surge of love well up within me, despite our earlier tension. I could no longer imagine a life without him in it. It was impossible.

We start with cute for an evil creature of the night and end with I can't imagine my life without him.

I think the compilation turned out to be a nice little map of their relationship, so here's this quick thing I made, because I got caught up in the day 2 prompt and didn't prepare properly for the rest of the week. TBF my favorite character, ship and platonic relationship were on that fic.

[antihero-writings]

Undead Memory (Ch1)

Fandom: Castlevania (Netflix) (Season 2)

Character Focus: Alucard

Summary: What happened during that month in which Alucard was alone in the castle?

Alucard dealing with the aftermath of S2, and trying to cope with the death—or, more accurately, the ghosts—of his parents.

Notes: First of all, spoilers for season 2!

Another Alucard-centric fic, but actually about the show this time!! Whoo!! I'm excited to finally start posting this one. 

Believe it or not, I started this idea a while before S3 started, wanting to write something for the time after S2 of Alucard being alone in the castle. Then after S3 I wanted to write it both more and less XD The idea of Alucard seeing ghosts brought up at the end of S2 is an interesting one, and one I thought deserved more exploration. As well as just that month where he's alone being something interesting to write about. 

This is one of those fics I wanted to post as a long one-shot, but ultimately got stuck and decided it would be better to break it up into chapters to make it more manageable for both reading and writing. I said it'd be 4 chapters above, but I'm not quite sure exactly how many it'll be. It just helps me to jot down a manageable ballpark number.

That being said, one of the reasons I hesitate to break things up into chapters, is because if people don't seem interested it severely inhibits my desire to keep writing that fic. So, it really does help my motivation a LOT when you comment and say you want to read more!! So just know that when you comment, you're helping more of this fic get written!!

Shoutout to @it-burns-when-i-pee for giving me the clock idea!

Chapter 1: Reminders

There were no graves. Dracula and Lisa didn’t get graves. The rest of the world would have said they didn’t deserve to rest in peace.

Antigone would say Polynices deserved to sing in Olympus all the same.

The only grave they got was a castle. And many would say it was better than most—that they’d take a castle over a headstone, a mausoleum, or the ground any day. They’d say a castle was a hell of a lot better than being dumped down the sewage grate.

And all that’s fair, but perhaps the bigger problem was this: there were no remains.

They both burned. One in holy fire, one in hell. (And who could say where they truly ended up, if there was a heaven and hell after all?)

All that was left of Lisa Tepes was a pile of charcoal on an altar to a priests own pride.

And all that was left of Vlad Tepes was a ring, and a soot stain on the carpet.

Most would say they got what they deserved; to die without chance at Olympus.

Adrian doesn’t know where to put his flowers.

Most children bury their parents eventually, but usually this is when they have children of their own to keep them company, and their parents have been bouncing grandchildren on their knees for at least a year or two, with white hair and crinkled smiles, barely able to walk, or see: sick and ready to greet the gods.

Adrian may look old enough to settle down, but he’s younger than most would surmise. And while he can certainly handle himself, he was not prepared for his parents to die within a year of each other…especially considering that the parent who was meant to be immortal died by his own hand.

He would have liked to have some respite in his own home.

But perhaps, more important than where to put flowers, there was most unfortunate side effect of the lack of remains, and the castle grave:

Ghosts.

And this isn’t the pearly white wraiths wandering around saying ‘boo’, or skulls that float about the head gnashing their teeth. Not even a chained apparition to remind one of their sins.

This is something much worse. Worse because they belong to the house’s owner. Worse because their true grave is his head.

—(And that place never rested)—

Their ghosts wander the castle, not just a graveyard. This castle seems to have an affinity for the undead.

Maybe not everyone could see them. He tries not to indulge the thought that maybe there’s nothing there at all, and they’re nothing more than undead memory.

Alucard has been seeing ghosts since the moment he was left alone in this place.

He’d rather have a grave to mourn them at, and converse with the memories, than watch their ghosts keep him up at night, unable to touch, or to talk to them.

He should remind himself to look up the definition of ‘torment’ later.

At first it was his father’s steps when he walked up the stairs. His mother’s smiles, his own young laughter when he sat in the study. When he sat at the table to eat, he watched the vampire king tossing a young boy into the air, both laughing like fairy wing beats, as Lisa watched on from the table. Alucard tried not to lose his appetite.

Then they were given voice: it was Father’s lessons when he looked for a book in the library. Mother’s stories as he sat reading, making him incapable of concentrating to his own book all the while. Baking cookies together in the kitchen. Father allowing him his first drink—(of wine or blood? Take a guess. He only needed one of them, after all)—as he walked through the cellar. Mother decorating the castle, making it look a little nicer, a little more alive. Not all of them were positive. Their arguing voices down the hallway. His own tears.

Father’s claws against his chest.

And he wouldn’t dare get close to that room. Because whenever he walks past the door, he can still hear his father speak to him like he did when he was still a child dressed in sunlight, and there was nothing but love.

Mother, father and…himself. As if he died long ago with them. As if the happy child he was within them is gone. As if he’s no longer the Adrian who sat with his parents, read with them, baked cookies, and laughed with them…but the Alucard who killed them.

And, well, maybe he didn’t kill his mother, but sometimes he didn’t know what else to think but to blame himself for the thought that he could have saved her.

And he did kill his father.

He still feels that stake in his hand when he walks by that room—(But it wasn’t a stake was it? It was the bedpost of his childhood bed, as if ripping his childhood at the seams and denying everything he was born as). He still feels its splinters in his fingers, the smell of pine, the feeling of it piercing his father’s chest, the way his heartbeat refused to stop—(he rested his head on his chest once, the constancy of the rhythm was comforting then). The warmth of his father’s blood draining over his fingers. The sound of his father’s ripping voice. The unearthly, ungodly howling of the souls trapped inside him—(was he really so bad?). He could still smell his flesh burning.

He still wakes up in the middle of the night with the image of his fathers face melting off its bones as it came closer to him, reaching out as if to to caress his son’s cheek, seared onto his eyes—(is this how Victor Frankenstein felt when the creature smiled at his window?)

But when the morning came, he took that ring and he wore it on a chain around his neck all the same, to remind him of a few things:

One: that love is one of those things that is free, but comes at a high price. If you take it lightly, it will leave you heavily.

Two, an addendum to one: that love is not soft. Love is not flowery words, or even the insatiable desires the romance novels say it is. Love is an insidious fire, when you have it, it rages, and you know what warmth is. When the fireplace is empty it aches, and when your heart breaks your chest gets cut on all the pieces. And underestimating it, calling it weakness, will always be your undoing.

Three—(one that was beginning to weigh heaviest): that living and immortality are not the same thing. Vlad may have been immortal, but he was only ever alive with Lisa.

Four: to always know where he came from…and where he didn’t want to end up.

Five, and final: that though he had saved lives, though it was noble, and the stories and songs would say he was brave, and though Trevor and Sypha would say it was for the greater good…he would always be the son who loved his father…and the son who drove the stake into his father’s heart.

All for love.

He can find respite from the memories sometimes. He finds himself spending too much time down in the Belmont hold, reading, organizing, putting away ancestors—(ancestors not of his, ones that didn’t come back). Learning, pursing his lip in disapproval, or laughing to himself at the thought of some of the things Trevor’s relatives did (making a mental note to use the story against Trevor when he next saw him). Thinking of his friends…and trying not to think of them, lest they become ghosts too.

He likes going out into the woods to get food, and water, and fresh air. He wavers there at times, wondering if maybe he could just… leave. He spends more time out there than is strictly necessary.

Sometimes he runs out into the woods—well, more precisely padding, cantering on paws—and other times flies—trying to make sure his tongue can taste freedom, and his wings can snare sunlight, before he turns back.

But he always has to return. Return to the stuffy, putrefied remains of the castle. The air where he hears his parents whisper sweet words that are gone, where memory reconstructed from fairy castles sweet worlds he’s ripped away.

Would it be so hard to just leave?

Surely we can let the poor wandering souls in the woods find refuge. It was a grave after all. Just let the lost rest against the headstones, though they know not whose skeletons lie beneath them.

He leans against Trevor’s tree, and sees a young boy playing on the branches—laughing, free—and smiles…before it becomes gasp and grimace, and he shakes his head, returning to the castle.

Not them too.

He thought he could take it. The grief. The ghosts. The wrath of the gods

But he can’t stay.

Not forever. That is to say, he can’t leave for long. Just to visit town, to see another person or two, to get out of his head, and pray the specters won’t follow him.

He slings his bag over his shoulder, along with the coat he always wore—the one that smells like the campfires he sat at with Trevor and Sypha—and sighs as he walks out the door.

He has another grave to visit.

[clan-sayeed-fic]

Business (Kamilah Sayeed & MC)

Reposting because of the issue with tags, hopefully it works..

Book: Bloodbound (property of Pixelberry Studios)

Pairing: Kamilah Sayeed & MC: Amy (I do not own those characters, they're the property of Pixelberry Studios as well)

Warnings: none

Rating: Mature

Author's note:  I'm not a native English speaker, I'm sorry for any mistakes (feel free to correct me).

Finally, the first chapter is out for you to read 😂 Forgive me for so many descriptions in this one, but I really want to make everything clear for you.

Also, prepare yourself for a slow burn throughout this story 💕

~ 1500 words

------------------------

Chapter 1

The world has never been a peaceful place.

The rule of hierarchy was present between species since the dawn of time. But finally, the opportunity for humans has arrived, making them lords of the earth. Somehow the evolution decided to let those fragile creatures gain the knowledge that put them above others.

So humans kept enjoying life to the fullest, drawing benefits from the earth. But year after year, they were not giving anything in return. The dominant species became the direct danger to the planet, which gave them life.

That's when nature decided to speak up.

When the sky above humans' heads was peaceful, the danger crept up in the shadows. A new species created in the image of humans placed itself at the end of the food chain.

Bloodsucking monsters started walking the earth, killing those to whom they belonged not so long ago. But the perspective had been irreversibly changed since the day of their rebirth as immortals.

Worth remembering is that nature always finds a way to keep the system in balance. That's how another rule has been created on the purpose of this new world.

It says that even the best hunter may one day become the prey.

***

Kamilah Sayeed was working late in her office.

Over the years, she learned that the best time for her to work was during late hours. Especially after, the building emptied itself, leaving her alone, free from unnecessary conversations with coworkers.

New York was sleeping sweetly behind the windows when the CEO of Ahmanet Financial was still very much awake. The sound of fast tapping of the keyboard filled the room as Kamilah's eyes were moving quickly on new documents in search of any mistakes.

Her mind was lost in work, focusing all attention on the bright screen in front of her.

She was just looking through the database of her company when the phone ringing pierced through her ears, killing the silence she was worshipping so much.

The woman sighed deeply, taking a quick look at the phone. She stopped tapping right after noticing Adrian's name on the screen, realizing that the call must have been urgent. Otherwise, he would not bother her at this hour.

"Yes?" Kamilah spoke after putting on a speakerphone, hardly hiding her icy tone.

"I'm sorry for interrupting," he said politely, listening to the noise of tapping, "your work process, I assume."

"Get on with it, Adrian," she scowled, rolling her eyes.

Kamilah was thankful that her best friend was not able to see this reaction of hers. She was already imagining a sarcastic comment he would make about her attitude.

"It's about tomorrow's meeting," Adrian knew too well when it was the right time to end teasing. "Something came up out of sudden, so, unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Paine won't be available."

The woman sighed again, clearly annoyed this time, leaning back on her chair. Hands moved to her hair as she brushed it with her fingers, trying to remain calm.

"So the meeting is canceled," she stated, about to hang up, but Adrian intervened just in time.

"No, no," he paused, making sure she was still there. "They informed me about their absence, but the meeting is still on the top list of our day."

The words got her attention as she looked at the screen once again, composing herself on the seat.

"How is that possible?" she masked curiosity with her emotionless tone.

"They will send their daughter in return," Adrian answered, patiently waiting for her feedback.

Kamilah's eyes moved from the phone, wandering over the desk to the documents she had prepared for the meeting a while ago.

"Then, so be it," she answered shortly before hanging up.

A sly smile danced in the corner of her mouth when she created a new file. Her fingers were hitting the keyboard faster than before, disturbing silence of the night.

A spark grew in her eyes as she muttered to herself.

"Finally, something exciting."

***

Kamilah was standing near the window in the conference room, looking down at the street. Her eyes stopped at the long, black limousine which was shining in the brightness of the sun right by the enormous building of Ahmanet Financial.

It was just a matter of time when paparazzi went entirely crazy over their point of interest, just getting out of the car. A young woman hidden behind shaded spectacles, with her body covered with a big scarf, was carefully escorted by her personal security guards.

Immediately, the pavement glowed with intensely flashing cameras from every side of it. Reporters kept taking pictures long after the whole crew disappeared inside the building as if they were still hoping for a good photograph for their articles.

"Guess who's just arrived," Kamilah turned to Adrian who smiled cheerfully.

Surname Paine was well known in New York City as the most successful investor. Their fame went back in centuries. Generation after generation, family members were proving the worth of this name, making them highly valuable associates.

They had been working with vampires for ages. And by doing so, Paines remained as the only family in the city that could stay alive with this kind of knowledge. What's interesting, not many were aware of what started their cooperation with the vampires' world to begin with.

But... there was a catch.

Because of the threat that came with this kind of business, Paines had restricted rules when it went to choosing the companies they would decide to work with. It was not so easy to gain their trust, and it took a lot of patience.

Kamilah Sayeed was always prepared when it went to her new, potential associates. Also, in this case, she took her time to gather all valuable information about Mr. and Mrs. Paine. Everything about their educational and career path. She knew their family tree as if it was her own.

The CEO of Ahmanet Financial used to study her business associates in a way as she thought of them as both: her future ally,

or enemy.

What she was not prepared for in this situation was their daughter.

She could not find anything significant about this girl, so everything came down to her age. She was 22 years old, just graduated college, this part made Kamilah particularly anxious about the meeting since she expected to be taken seriously.

And hated having her time wasted.

Paines made sure that their daughter had some privacy, even though it was the hardest part to achieve. Because of the kind of life they lived, the girl was daily exposed to speculations created by paparazzi.

In their eyes, she was rated as another spoiled by influential parents kid.

What's more, the girl was always seen in the company of at least one bodyguard. With her face covered as much as it was possible, not even showing her eyes.

Paine's daughter was indeed a mysterious human thing.

At that moment, the doors were opened by the assistant who invited guests to the conference room. Kamilah turned away from the window, facing this average height woman who stepped inside. At the same time, Adrian stood up to greet the whole crew with a smile and warm words.

Only after the doors were closed again, Paine's daughter started slowly taking off her scarf and glasses. By doing so, she revealed her long, wavy, blonde hair that fell freely on her shoulders and back. Her skin was light and a little blushy from the rush that she was in earlier while trying to avoid the paparazzi.

Her eyes green, radiating.

The girl mumbled a quiet, thank you, to the guard who took glasses away from her. After doing so, she turned all her attention to both CEOs standing in the middle of the room.

Mesmerized by the view.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," finally Adrian snapped out of his astonishment and took a few steps toward the girl. Her security guards tensed slightly, watching his moves, "Amelia Paine," he extended a hand to greet her.

"Oh," she returned the gesture, shaking his hand lightly. "Please, just Amy."

She smiled delightfully, spreading warmth all over the room. The girl had this unusual for her age confidence going on. It was clear that this situation was not making her uncomfortable or nervous. As if she was prepared for this from the moment of her birth.

Her eyes moved behind Adrian's back eloquently, searching for another person she was supposed to meet with.

The woman approached her gracefully, intensely staring at the girl with her chestnut eyes, searching for a hint of hesitation. Kamilah was well aware of how influential she and Adrian were in this industry.

And yet, it made no impression on this girl.

"It is a pleasure, indeed," she said skeptically, keeping eye contact. "May I introduce myself..."

"Kamilah Sayeed," Amy's soft voice echoed in woman's ears, piercing deep inside. "Don't worry, I did my homework for today."

Truly bold words followed by the most innocent look.

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Next chapter: 2

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tag list: @cheeto-choices @kamilah-is-queen @ariaminsinclair @helpconfusedpersonhere @ayushixo

[unnecessaryadversaries]

LOVE & DEATH [Alucard | Adrian Tepes x Death]

Summary: After Dracula’s passing, Death (also known as Mistress) returns to his castle to mourn. When discovered by Alucard the two of them find solace amongst one another. As their friendship deepens into something more, Mistress Death and Alucard learn to overcome ghosts of their past and challenges of the future.

(A/N: This idea has been brewing in my mind for months after I finished season 2 of Castlevania. The character Death hasn’t been adapted from the games yet, so I took it upon myself to do it in my own way. Btw, this is only the first chapter so if you like what you read, the rest is posted on Ao3 under the same title.)

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I killed him… I killed him. My father, my flesh and blood.

I saw him. I heard him groan in agony as his body disintegrated before me. His blood still stained my gloves, and the smell of decay never left me. The ash from his burnt body still seemed to cling to my hair, and sometimes I'd catch myself flexing the hand that held the stake which pierced him as if it were still in my grasp.

I miss my father. He’s dead. I miss him.

So why then do these accursed memories plague me so? Why then do I see him there, clutching my mother’s portrait in his hand? This is no memory; this is no ghost…is this really my father? He’s dead. Has he returned? He’s dead. I killed him, he’s dead. 

What is this?

“Who are you?” Alucard demanded.

Earlier in the night, Alucard had left the castle to wander the grounds in search of an animal to hunt. When he returned, an unsettling chill set into his bones as soon as he stepped foot in the foyer. It made him shiver and gave him goosebumps; it was as if this chill constantly crept down his back, making his hair stand on end. There always seemed to be some sort of quiet, ambient noise that echoed throughout the castle, however now it was unnaturally quiet as if time had stopped. Even his footsteps seemed too loud as he searched the halls for an intruder. The echo from his boots unnerved him, so he decided to levitate instead. As he approached the open door to his father’s study he gasped.

A tall, dark figure loomed by the lit fireplace; it wore a dark, hooded cloak and its back was facing Alucard. Its head was dipped to stare at the portrait of Lisa Tepes, which is held in its hand. It was as still as a statue. The outline of this figure was too sharp, it's body too solid to only be a memory or a spirit. Alucard fell silently to his feet and his mouth fell open with the intent to speak. 

Is this my father? Tears brimmed his eyes and threatened to spill. Has he returned? 

He hardened his expression and placed his hand on the handle of his longsword, ready to unsheathe it if necessary.

“Answer me, who are you?”

The figure lifted a hand to softly trace the outline of Lisa’s face with a long, pointed fingernail. It raised its head at the sound of Alucard drawing his sword and turned slightly to face him. He narrowed his eyes and posed to strike.

“Speak,” he ordered for the final time.

The figure sighed as if out of breath and lowered the portrait, then slowly turned to face him. His eyes widened slightly as he realized that this figure is… a woman? From what Alucard could tell she stood a few inches above him and she wore what appeared to be a floor-length, hooded black robe with long medieval sleeves. Underneath was a long, form-fitting, velvet dark blue dress that almost appeared black. The neckline of her dress was high and straight, hitting right below her collarbone. A three chained, silver belt hung loosely on her wide hips and tiny human skulls hung like charms from the lowest chain. An intricate, round silver amulet hung proudly from her neck; a red, cracked gemstone sat in the center. Her hood shrouded her eyes and nose in shadow and her full lips were downturned at the corners. Alucard gripped his sword tighter.

  Who is this woman?

She made no further movements and only seemed to stare him down. Her stillness caused his stomach to turn. An odd and uncomfortable fluttering sensation permeated his gut; a sensation he hadn't felt since he had encountered his father with the intent to kill him. His hands started to sweat as the memory of that fateful night flashed through his mind once more, and his body began to involuntarily shake. The woman tilted her head slightly to the side as a corner of her mouth lifted into a small pitying smirk, "hmph.”

 She brushed him off and walked towards the desk where the portrait hung above. Carefully, as if fearing to damage it, she lifted the painting, placed it back on the wall, and continued to stare at Lisa. He bared his teeth as irritation stirred within him. He felt humiliated, ignored, and he cursed himself for succumbing to the overwhelming unease this woman evoked. From her eerie silence to the unnaturally smooth way she walked —as if she were gliding across the floor— it set him on edge. She was unearthly and seemed far too detached from even the most otherworldly creatures he’s dealt with before. It alarmed him how nonchalantly she ignored him, like how a man would ignore a line of ants beneath his boot: too indifferent to pay them any attention but confident in the fact that he’d crush them in an instant. The thought made Alucard shudder.

He watched as this woman lifted her hand to caress the cheek of Lisa’s portrait longingly. His eyes widened and his mouth fell agape. What the hell?

The way she touched his mother’s portrait seemed far too intimate for his liking. His confusion quickened to rage as he imagined this horrid woman touching his mother like that when she was alive, and he grimaced at the thought. Despite his discomfort, his anger was enough to steel his resolve. He gripped his sword tight, raised it, and quickly lunged towards her. In the blink of an eye, he had pierced her heart from behind deftly. He paid no heed to whether she was too slow to react or simply did not care to put up a fight. She grunted and slowly turned her head. Alucard stared in horror as he watched her head begin to rotate at a perfect 180-degree angle to face him. Before she had a chance to completely turn her head towards him, he plunged his sword deeper, to the hilt, inside of her body. This caused her head to swivel back quickly, her head bowed as she hunched over and braced her hands on the edge of the desk.

He spoke gravely, “You come into my home unannounced and have the gall to touch my mother’s portrait like that.”

He leaned towards her by a few inches causing the added weight to push her slightly forward against the desk. She exhaled shakily. “Your presence confounds me, woman, and your disregard angers me, so I ask again, what is your business here!”

Silence filled the room once more apart from the crackling of the fire. Alucard’s chest rose and fell with the heaviness of his breathing, his eyes were narrowed, and his patience was beginning to fade. He felt his sword waver slightly as the woman’s body began to tremble and he almost couldn’t believe he began to hear light sobs and hiccuping. 

Is she crying?

“To mourn,” she replied. Her voice was soft and barely above a whisper.

His brows knitted in confusion, “what?”

She quickly turned around causing Alucard to lose his grip on the sword and stumble back.

“I said—!” Her voice boomed.

Suddenly a mysterious force snuffed the fire out and the room was bathed in a thick, dark shadow that seemed to wrap itself around every corner. All at once the high-pitched whistle of a strong, howling wind resounded throughout the room, it’s screeching deafening. Alucard could not tell from which direction this wind blew, nor what caused it, but it’s iciness bit at his skin, chilling him to the bone; and its force blew his long hair around wildly. Without warning he was overcome with an overwhelming feeling of dread and distress; it was as if a heaviness had settled upon his shoulders. He staggered back and fell helplessly onto his rear. He could feel his heartbeat wildly in his chest; the thrums of this beating pounded on his chest and rattled his rib cage.

Bumbumbumbumbum!

He struggled to breathe and found it hard to swallow because of how dry his mouth had become. Panicking, he clutched his chest and choked. An ambient droning sound— akin to the buzzing of a multitude of flies— grew louder and louder in his ears, and static seemed to cloud his sight; invading from his peripheral vision and closing in towards the front, his line of sight becoming narrow. The figure of this woman loomed above him imposingly and he looked upon her in fear. He felt his nose begin to stuff as warm tears ran uncontrollably down his cheeks. 

What’s happening! Am I going to die?

However, these sensations and the darkness were gone as quickly as they came, too quickly in fact for Alucard to process. It was as if nothing had happened. The fireplace was lit once again, bathing the room in an orangish glow, and the snapping of firewood filled the otherwise silent room once more. His chest expanded widely as he gulped down lung fulls of air. He dropped his head in his hands and carded them through his hair to tug on the roots. 

Was that real? Did I almost die?

Alucard quickly realized that this woman was more dangerous than he’d originally believed, and he felt anxious at the thought of her harming the villagers who lived far beyond his castle. He released his hair and lifted his head to steal a glance at her through his parted fingers. He was afraid to stand, not wanting to seem like a threat. When he noticed that her head was bowed, he lowered his hands and cautiously raised his head to view her fully. She was trembling slightly, and she clutched her amulet in a tight fist.

“I—I said…” she began with a sad voice.

Hastily, Alucard scooted back as the woman walked forward to unsheathe herself from his levitating sword; it dropped to the ground with a clank! The woman followed suit, falling to her knees with enough force to shake the ground.

“…to mourn.”

Her sobs began again as she curled in on herself; Alucard’s eyebrows raised in disbelief.

To mourn? He looked at Lisa's portrait. She was mourning my mother?

It was then that he felt a slight tug on his heart. He hadn’t thought anyone else, besides his father and himself, had dealt with the pain of losing his mother. After killing his father, bearing the weight of loss became something he had carried himself, and it was such a heavy burden. At that moment Alucard had wished things were different, and that his mother’s love was enough to completely eradicate his father’s hate towards humanity. Maybe then he wouldn’t have needed to kill his father. Maybe then he wouldn’t have been so drastically alone. He yearned for the presence of his father, and much more than that, his mother. These were desperate and grieving thoughts, ones he had thought he was able to subdue, but they clawed their way from the recesses of his mind and attacked him once again. His throat tightened and he chastised himself for losing control of these wild thoughts, ones that used to keep him up for days at a time. To calm his mind, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply through his nose, then exhaled through his mouth; he repeated this technique a few more times before opening his eyes.

He steeled himself and spoke with a gentler tone, “I do not know who you are and yet I empathize with you. If you truly came here to mourn my mother, then please…tell me who you are.”

The woman's sobbing stopped gradually, and she exhaled deeply once she was finished. Next, she sat back on her legs with one hand splayed behind herself for support and the other still clutched her amulet, albeit with a much softer grip. Most of her face was masked from Alucard, so he couldn’t see the forlorn look she had in her eyes when she raised her head to look at him.

He looks just like her, she thought. 

Fresh tears brimmed her eyes, but she was too exhausted to stop them from flowing.

She released her amulet to grip her hood, “very well.”

Frozen, Alucard didn’t blink as he finally saw this woman’s face. Her skin was a dark shade of brown and the richness of it was emphasized by the warm glow of the fireplace. This was contrasted by her wide eyes which were framed by thick, black eyelashes. The entirety of her irises and pupils were a blue so pale they almost blended in with the sclera, oddly there seemed to be some sort of inner glow that shone through, furthering her ethereality. Much to his surprise, they held a deep sadness that Alucard also saw in his own and momentarily reminded him of his father’s eyes moments before his death. Long, white, loosely waved hair cascaded down her back and echoed the same glow in her eyes. Though she looked to be in her early thirties, her face did not betray age-old wisdom.

Alucard gulped, she was beautiful.

Despite her grief, she lifted her head proudly and said with confidence, “I am Death, but you may call me Mistress.”

[ragingbookdragon]

To Challenge The Flow Of Fate PT. 7

An Adrian Tepes (Alucard) x Reader Story

Warnings: Explicit Language, Violence, Canon-Character Death Author’s Note: I’m a bit peeved that PT. 7 didn’t make me hit 20K. I was literally 359 words from 20K. Maybe next time! Enjoy! -Thorne

Her brother sent a glance back at them as they stepped into the room. “The staircase is a wreck.” Their gazes directed upwards and he added, “We’re not getting up there without ropes. Start looking.” Trevor picked up his sword and glanced up muttering, “Damn…this is gonna be hard.” (Y/N) grunted, eyeing the shattered staircase.

           “That’s an understatement if I’ve ever heard one.” The formation of ice sounded in their ears and they looked down, seeing a platform of it beneath their feet. Sypha raised her hands, quipping,

           “We don’t need ropes.” She put her hands together. “Here we go!” The ice jolted as it began to rise, and (Y/N) stumbled forward a bit when a hand reached out to steady here. She glanced at Adrian and nodded.

           “Thanks.” He gave her a nod in return, removing his hand, and the two fell into silence. After a moment, he murmured,

           “Are you alright?” When she gave him a curious expression, he said, “I can hear your heart pounding.” (Y/N) flashed him a weary look and whispered,

           “So is yours.” A troubled smile crossed his lips momentarily before it fell back into a frown. The rest of the ride up was silent between them until red flashed in her vision, and she looked over, eyes widening at the crimson moon. “…Dear god…what…how…” Adrian scowled at the moon.

           “My father’s power.” The platform stopped, and they hopped onto the land across, watching as Sypha threw the pillar into the forest. When she realized they were staring at her, she flushed and confessed,

           “Well, I didn’t want to leave it in there to melt and ruin all your beautiful books.” Adrian picked up his foot, staring at the bottom of his boot.

           “It seems damp enough out here as it is.” Sypha pointed up.

           “Oh! But look!” They turned, staring at the castle, and Trevor complimented,

           “You did it Sypha.” She nodded.

           “Yes but…seeing it is something else entirely. I’m pretty good, right?” The siblings nodded.

           “You’re the best.” His face turned solemn and he glanced at Adrian. “Alucard, are you ready for this?” The vampire’s face didn’t change as he tilted his head down and muttered,

           “No. But let’s put an end to it anyway.” Sypha and Trevor started towards the castle, Adrian behind them, but he stopped when he sensed (Y/N) wasn’t beside him. He turned, gazing at her as she stared at the castle. “(Y/N)?” She didn’t look at him, simply saying,

           “When we finish this, I’d love to come out here and paint this castle on a canvas.”

           “You paint?” She shook her head.

           “No…just trying to keep the future in my sights.” Adrian took a step towards her and she shifted her eyes to his, admitting, “Adrian…I’m scared…I’ve fought hordes of creatures singlehandedly and I’ve taken down full units of trained soldiers but… I’m really…fucking terrified right now.” (Y/N) took a deep breath and let it go, feeling her lungs shudder from the worry. Golden eyes bore into hers, and he reached over, gently taking her hand. He ran his thumb over the silver studs on her armored knuckles.

           “I can’t say I don’t blame you for having your fear…but I can tell you this…” Adrian squeezed her hand. “We are not destined to die tonight. We will win.” (Y/N) dropped his gaze and took another breath before nodding and clenching her jaw.

           “Right.” She cleared her throat and pulled her silver sword from her back. “Let’s go.” He nodded as they hurried to catch up with the others. As soon as they stepped into the doorway, the vampires inside stilled, turning to look at them. (Y/N) let her eyes dart around, catching each vampire as Trevor commanded,

           “I terrify them, Sypha disorients them, Alucard goes over the top, (Y/N) you support him.” (Y/N) and Sypha nodded, and Adrian pulled the scabbard off his sword, and it spun until the blade rested beside his head. He eyed (Y/N) for a second then said,

           “Begin.” The Speaker and her brother sprinted forward, but Adrian and (Y/N) simply walked. Their attacks decimated the foot soldiers and as the blockade of fire surrounded them, the huntress and the vampire surged through it. (Y/N) had to force herself to not follow the white wolf, simply letting him attack the others in front while she thinned the ranks from behind. She ducked, letting one of the silver armored soldiers thrust his sword over her head, and twisted, jamming the sword up into his torso. He let out a pained cry as he doubled over, and she pulled the blade back, letting him drop. Two more advanced on her when a silver sword pierced one in the neck. She quickly delivered a fatal blow to the remaining one. The three remaining vampire generals descended on them. Sypha took care of one, splintering it into thousands of ice shards, while Trevor jerked the other to the ground. (Y/N) started towards the staircase when Adrian’s voice reached her, full of fear. “(Y/N)!” She barely had time to bring her sword up to block the female general’s razor-sharp nails. (Y/N) pulled back, twisting, and dodging each thrust. A failed block sent her sword skittering across the floor and she could see Adrian and Trevor heading her way. The general flashed her an evil smile, thrusting her hand out and (Y/N) simply let her come. She inhaled deeply, closing her fist, the movements around her slowing down as the nails came closer and closer. Just as it neared her, she sidestepped out of its way, the grabbed the vampire’s forearm with her free hand. (Y/N) shoved her fist forward, feeling the snarling heat burn against her skin as she flattened her palm against the general’s chest and ordered,

           “Ignis tempestas.” The vampire’s eyes widened as flames engulfed her, and with a dying screech, she fell into a pile of ash. (Y/N) caught the sword Trevor was tossing her way as she met up with the trio. Trevor shook his head at her.

           “That was risky.” She shrugged, flashing them a smile.

           “Didn’t have time to grab Starfang. Had to think on my feet.” She looked at Adrian. “What now?” Before he could respond, angry cries came from the stairs and they looked over; (Y/N) frowned at the sight of the night creatures coming their way. “Oh, fuck me.” The four sprinted to the stairs, slashing through creature after creature, then climbing the steps. Waiting outside the study, she listened to Adrian talk to Dracula.

           “Father.” Adrian’s voice sounded pained, but Dracula simply replied,

           “Son.”

           “Your war is over.”

           “Because you say so?” (Y/N) glanced at Trevor standing on the opposite side of the door, Sypha beside him. He wore a stern look just as she did, but she could see the apprehension in his eyes.

           “It ends…” Adrian paused, his voice softening. “in the name of my mother.” (Y/N) sensed the atmosphere shift around her, and she shivered at the darkening anger seeping out and through the room.

           “It endures in the name of your mother.”

           “I told you before, I won’t let you do it. I grieve with you…but I won’t let you commit genocide.” Her heart ached for the young man inside, and Dracula countered,

           “You couldn’t stop me before.” At that, Trevor nodded, and the trio entered the room, Sypha and her brother taking his right, (Y/N) at his left. She shifted, raising her sword in a protective stance as Adrian declared,

           “I was alone before.” The standoff lasted less than mere moments before Adrian rushed forward, his sword raised. The two vampires went careening into the fireplace. (Y/N)’s eyes widened as Dracula simply pushed the sword back with his fingers, then Adrian pulled away, swinging at him. The older vampire caught his hand, curling his opposite into fist and swung, catching Adrian in the jaw. He went flying face first into the fire, landing with pained grunt. Trevor shifted forward when Dracula came flying at them, and the two women watched them disappear into the hallway. Following them, Sypha cast a fire spell as (Y/N) dove to her brother, hauling him away. The vampire growled at her, charging towards her.

           “Speaker magician!” (Y/N) watched Sypha’s hands get knocked away, then Dracula’s claws came upon her, sending her backwards. Trevor gasped, jerking away from (Y/N) as he ran to the vampire.

           “Sypha!” (Y/N) cursed.

           “Damnit Trevor! Don’t!” He didn’t listen, tugging the tall figure around, letting his fist fly. Dracula simply glared at him and spat,

           “You must be the oldest Belmont.” Before Trevor could do anything else, a fist sunk into his stomach, lifting him up. The vampire caught him by the throat, his nails ready to pierce her brother. “The end of your line.” A sword pierced Dracula’s arm and hand, then Sypha turned his body, sending a flash of fire into his face. Stunned, the vampire dropped Trevor but quickly recovered, sending Sypha flying once more. (Y/N) moved as fast as she could but Dracula sent Adrian back as well, crashing into the wall, his sword landing away from him. Trevor pulled the wooden stake from his belt, jabbing the vampire in the side. Seconds later, he was chucked into Sypha, and Adrian lurched towards his father, sending them slamming into the wall. Dracula raised his arms above his son, bring them down on his neck, and (Y/N) gasped as the ground cracked beneath them. She said a silent prayer that Adrian wasn’t a human because he wouldn’t have gotten up if had been. Adrian broke his father’s grip, snapping the vampire on either side of the neck before he was shoved back. She gripped his arm as he came towards her and she grunted as she dug her feet into the carpet to keep from going with him. He dropped to his knee beside her and she pulled him up to his feet again, moving forward, calling,

           “Trevor, now!” The siblings moved in familiar fluidity, and as the Morningstar hit Dracula in the face, (Y/N) flipped her body backwards, bringing the heel of her boot up under his chin as she shouted, “The second Belmont sends her regards you genocidal motherfucker!” She dropped to the ground, watching as her momentum combined with the Morningstar exploded, sending him soaring back.

           A cloud of smoke entered the hallway and as it cleared, they watched Dracula hit the ground on his hands and knees with a loud thud. He chuckled darkly as he rose. “The Morningstar Whip. Well played Belmonts.” He gazed at them. “But I am no ordinary vampire to be killed by your human magics.” He crossed his arms over his chest, and (Y/N) felt a surge of magic fill the air as he bellowed, “I am Vlad Dracula Tepes, and I have had enough!” He sent his arms downwards and (Y/N) gaped as a ball of fire and stone grew in the hallway. Sypha moved ahead of them, throwing her arms out to stop it. It helped, but just barely, and it kept moving towards them. Trevor placed his back up against the Speaker’s, holding her steady, and just as (Y/N) was going to yell for them to dive into one of the rooms, Adrian appeared before them, shoving his sword into the fireball. He grit his teeth as he strained against it when he felt someone’s back pressed up against his. Adrian peeked over his shoulder to see (Y/N) slamming both her swords into the ground beside him. That’s when he noticed the silver chain connecting the two of them together. (Y/N) gripped both sides of the chain and pulled as hard as she could, keeping the two of them in place. She dropped her head back between his shoulder blades, yelling,

           “I can’t hold this forever Adrian! Hurry! Push off and send it back!” He shifted his feet and (Y/N) wrapped her arms in the chain and pushed with all her might, feeling the pressure on her back relieve as he thrust forward. An explosion rocked the floor and the two vampires disappeared into the floor above them. (Y/N) sprinted up the stairs, leaving the other two to follow after her. Given her enhanced speed, she reached Adrian and his father first.

           She skidded around the corner, barely able to catch Adrian’s figure as he flashed around the engine room in an eerie red aura. Adrian landed on one of the arches, and (Y/N) glanced at Dracula, watching as he went still. Her heart dropped and she yelped, “Adrian no!” Her cry fell on deaf ears and all she could do was stare as his father reached out, catching Adrian by the face. Dracula lifted him into the air, repeatedly slamming him down into the ground, and she recoiled as Adrian cried out in pain, the stone cracking under him. His father lifted him up, and she gaped at how limp he’d gone. A moment passed, then a punch sent him through the wall. (Y/N) couldn’t help the screech that tore through her. “ADRIAN!” Dracula disappeared after him, her hot on his trail until they ended up a small bedroom. (Y/N) raised her sword, intent to strike, but lowered it when the vampire gasped, the air stilling around them, the blood rage dissipating.

           Dracula bent over, raising a hand to his chest, murmuring, “It’s your home.” At his words, (Y/N)’s arms went slack, and she looked around the room seeing the bed, desk, and toys. Adrian clambered to his feet, and the two vampires looked to the ceiling, staring at the hand drawn star map. (Y/N) crept around the large vampire, making her way to Adrian’s side; he stuck out his arm, pulling her behind him. Her eyes drifted to the window and she watched the red glow fade from the sky, replaced with silvery moonlight. The two glanced to Dracula, watching as he crossed his arms over his chest, lamenting, “My boy…I’m—I…I’m killing my boy.” He turned, walking to a framed picture, and (Y/N) realized it was Adrian as a baby with Lisa and his father. “Lisa…I’m killing our boy.” The vampire stared at the picture, talking to her. “We painted this room. We…made these toys. It’s our boy, Lisa.” She placed a hand on Adrian’s back as he tore the wooden peg from the bed, moving to his father. Dracula raised his clenched fists to his hands and cried, “Your greatest gift to me…and I’m…killing him.” His father lowered his hands, gazing at his son, his eyes full of regret. “I must already be dead.” Tears welled in (Y/N)’s vision as Adrian stepped up to his waiting father. She wanted to look away, wanted to shield herself from what was about to happen, but in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to do so; someone had to bear witness to this family’s suffering. Adrian raised his arm, jamming the stake up into Dracula’s heart. The vampire bent over with a gurgle, blood poured down his wound and mouth, and blooded tears fell from his eyes as he whispered, “Son.” Adrian choked out his reply.

           “F-Father.” He pushed the stake in farther, and (Y/N) listened to the ancient vampire’s heartbeat begin to slow. Adrian took a deep breath and pushed the last of the stake through his father’s heart. The mirror shattered as Dracula stood up, gurgling as he began to wither away. The walking corpse started towards Adrian but Trevor and Sypha rounded the corner, and Trevor swung his sword, removing the head from its shoulders. It dropped to the ground along with the body, and Sypha stepped forward.

           “Alucard. Step back.” She raised her hand. “Let me finish this.” When he didn’t move, (Y/N) took his hand, gently tugging him back with her. His hand squeezed hers so tightly she thought her bones were going to snap, but she kept quiet as Sypha burned the body. As the body burned, otherworldly shrieking filled the room along with a cloud of pure black smoke. It swam around the room and they turned their faces away, as the smoke escaped into the castle and out into the night where it faded.

           When it cleared, all that remained was a scorch mark and a wedding band. Sypha groaned as she clasped her arm and asked, “Is…is that it?” Trevor ran a hand down his face.

           “Alucard? Did we…do it?” Adrian helped (Y/N) to her feet, then gazed at the spot where his father had died.

           “We did.” He took a breath “I…killed my father.”

           “You ended a war on humankind. Don’t get weepy about it.” (Y/N) scowled at his poor choice of words, but Sypha nodded.

           “Trevor’s right. You’ve saved countless lives.” She took a step towards the remaining vampire. “But it’s alright to mourn the man, too.” Adrian didn’t speak for a few moments, then he let out a sigh.

           “He died a long time ago.” (Y/N) placed her hand on his shoulder, peering into his eyes.

           “You didn’t kill your father Adrian.” She squeezed and gave him a sad smile. “You saved him.” Adrian shut his eyes and she removed her hand, gesturing for the others to leave, “We’ll be waiting for you by the staircase. Take your time.”

           The four of them descended the stairs in silence each stopping in the middle of the war room. Trevor frowned as he looked away from Sypha’s wounds, and Adrian stood a few feet away, his hands shaking by his sides. (Y/N) kept her gaze to the ground, not willing to let herself speak, knowing her words wouldn’t bring comfort. Sypha gently placed her hand on Adrian’s shoulder, smiling at him, then she took Trevor’s hand. An arm wrapped around (Y/N)’s waist and she looked up, seeing Adrian smiling sadly at her. She returned it with one of her own as she leaned into him, and the four made their way to the entrance, stepping into the sunlight. (Y/N) rested her head on his shoulder and whispered, “I’ve never seen a more beautiful sunrise.” No one spoke and she questioned, “Adrian…can you paint?” He looked down at her and murmured,

           “I’m no expert…but I know my way around a canvas.” (Y/N) grinned and turned her head up, gazing at him.

           “Will you teach me how to paint someday?” The smile that lit up his face made her heart soar and he nodded, shifting his gaze back to the Belmont home.

           “I’d love nothing more than to teach you.” She nodded, turning to look upon her old home and whispered,

           “Then it’s a date.”

[lambda-complex]

Anomalous Materials- Media Studies Coursework

Alright, so instead of reblogging the last post and adding on bits I’m just gonna make a masterpost here for everything to do with my Half-Life based media coursework. This is a LONG post by the way, so I’ll put it under a cut so it’s not as annoying to scroll past.

So last year, the Media Studies class I was in was tasked with making promotional materials for an upcoming, fictional movie. I decided to make mine about Half-Life and its expansion packs, and I called it Anomalous Materials (creative name, I know.)

The idea was that it would center around Adrian Shephard and his trek through Black Mesa. It would follow a slightly different story to the games, having Shephard backed up by stray members of other military teams, Michael Ianto, head of security, and Dr. Leon Pierce.

I made a whole website for the film, presenting it as an ARG kinda thing. It was all written as if Black Mesa were a real facility, and the film’s website was displayed as a site for the facility itself. Every refresh of the site has randomized text underneath the Black Mesa logo, and every single page has a chance of displaying some glitchy SOS messages.

On the ‘about’ page is the HEV safety video I shared earlier, and I managed to find the uncut audio file and original script for the video. I would have loved to have made the full thing, but there was a time restriction on the site videos so I had to cut it way down.

I also made the promotional posters and DVD cover for the film- This was the portrait poster, fitting in with the whole ARG theme:

I also named the production company ‘Borderworld’ because I’m just that creative.

And the landscape one, made more as a traditional movie poster:

Fun fact: all the placeholder names used in production segment were either people I knew, videogame characters, or members of the Yogscast.

I remember being really proud of the DVD cover and I still kind of am, even though it looks like an awful straight-to-dvd action film.

All the characters were played by either myself (Pierce), or my brother (Michael and Adrian). Luckily you never really see Adrian’s face so we could get away with it. + some awful behind-the-scenes content where you can clearly see we did the whole photoshoot in my kitchen.

But yeah! I spent so long making this whole marketing campaign that I didn’t really want to leave it to rot on my harddrive for the rest of time, so make of this what you will. Hope it seems at least a little bit cool to some people lmao.

[alj4890]

Love Prompt

(Adrian x Alexandria) with the prompt "You own my heart." As requested by @sunflowergirl05

(Adrian x MC) from Choices Blood Bound.

A/N: This is my first time writing for anyone in Blood Bound. I love the characters from these stories and hopefully I don't mess them up too much. I took this prompt from today's chapter and tweaked it. Spoiler warning for today’s chapter.

Masterlist

A Reason

"I'm fine." Adrian repeated, straightening his cuffs. He put his arms into a clean, gray Armani jacket, smoothing the lapels.

Looking at him now, it was difficult to believe that this suave and collected gentleman had been drenched in blood from ripping open arteries and pulling hearts out of soldiers' chests. When The Order descended on Serafine's night club, little did Alexandria expect to see the man she was in love with turn into the monster movies portrayed.

She nervously smoothed the short black dress she had donned earlier when she first went out with Adrian and Jax. His sharp eyes caught the tell and took a step back. "I'm going out."

Jax remained silent as he cleaned his swords. A brief nod was all the recognition he gave that he had heard Adrian. Alexandria had already spoken to Jax about the trauma of the night. She knew he would be fine after he finished processing seeing so many of his kind massacred needlessly.

"It's too dangerous to go out." She said, reaching out to Adrian. "The Order is still somewhere out there."

"I will be safe." Adrian replied softly. He turned to leave and paused when she grabbed his sleeve.

"I'm coming with you." She held tight to him, silently refusing to be be left behind.

His cloudy blue eyes softened and they left without another word.

The lights of Paris seemed to be surreal after the horrors of the catacombs and night club. Everywhere one looked was bright and romantic. How had the City of Love concealed such evil in its depths?

Alexandria began to feel her body responding to the evening's attacks from the ferals and soldiers of The Order. She tried to conceal the sudden shaking from Adrian. He hesitantly reached out to her, as if afraid she would run screaming into the night away from him.

She turned and burried her face against his shoulder while wrapping her arms around him. He held her close, gently running his fingers through her long, dark hair. He pressed his lips to her forehead and closed his eyes.

"You're safe. I promise I won't let anyone hurt you." He murmured against her skin.

She nodded and held him even tighter. Her wild thoughts focused on the moment when a solider shot an arrow at her heart, even though he knew she was human. She had stood frozen, her eyes wide in terror, and braced for the impact that would result in her death.

Then her mind registered the amazing blur that had flashed past her, snatching the arrow in midair. She could still hear the snap as the metal shaft broke in half in a clinched fist. Adrian's normally plesant demeanor had altered when he spoke the words that made her heart flutter. Not her. Never her!

Once her trembling subsided she leaned back against the railing and looked up into Adrian's face. The streetlight and glow from the city cast the angular planes in shadows. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle as they studied her. She gently caressed his cheek, lips curving when he caught her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist.

"How are you, really?" She asked.

His lips firmed before anguish flickered over his features. "I am frightened. More frightened than I have ever been in my existence. Gaius returning has reminded me what I once was, what is still within me."

Alexandria cupped his face. "You're still you. You're kind and good."

He stepped away from her and gripped the railing. "I've killed hundreds of people in the past. I was his butcher, his solider. Men, women, children...all with a snap of his fingers, I killed."

"You're not that person anymore!" She argued, her eyes narrowing. "That was Gaius, not you! He used you as his weapon."

Adrian gazed down at the blackness of the river Seine. "Alexandria...when I killed those people, the soldiers tonight...the rush of pleasure..." He swallowed uneasily. "I was afraid I might revert to that animalistic creature."

"You could never do that. You will always find a way back when sucked into that darkness. You did so after the fight with Vega and you did again this evening." She reached over and took his hand. "You saved me that night as well as tonight."

His piercing gaze lifted to her eyes. "Both times you were what brought me back. You saved me from that hellish version of myself."

She felt the heat rise up her cheeks. "I didn't do much." She muttered.

"Didn't do much? You did everything." He gently embraced her. "You are everything to me. I believe the reason you are able to bring me back each time is because you own my heart." His lips brushed hers in a tender kiss.

"Adrian," She wiped her stray tears that fell at his words. "Then you will always have the power to bring me back if I ever get caught in darkness. You have my heart too."

[tesshoneychurch]

{ DANIELLE ROSE RUSSELL, 21, cisfemale, she/her } can i get a yeehaw? i think it was TESSA HONEYCHURCH i just saw on the slopes. they’ve been working as an ILLUSTRATOR on the mountain for 2 MONTHS and are originally from WINTERGREEN, WYOMING. there’s always talk around town about how WITTY they are, but they can also be CANTANKEROUS. their favourite winter activity is SKIING. let’s hit the slopes!

Hey, hey – it’s just Lily again, but with a revamped Tess Honeychurch. I love Odeya and I loved the character that Tess was when she was her but because of the ~muse~ dropping, we’re here with a new-ish baby – Tess, with the FC of Danielle Rose Russell and a little bit of different style. Part of this intro was taken from the first task!!

stats

name: tessa alexandra honeychurch

age: 21

nickname(s): tess

place of birth: wintergreen, wyoming

current residence: wintergreen, wyoming

favorite place they’ve visited or lived: bruges, belgium (visit)

occupation: illustrator

tattoos, scars, or piercings?: one tattoo of a star on her right wrist, ears pierced once.

sports they play: ice hockey (when she was younger, but she misses it now)

sexuality: bisexual

zodiac: aquarius (january 29th)

mbti: entp

relationships and self

parents: adrian and abigail honeychurch

siblings: n/a (but her cousins are the honeychurches and she adores)

relationship status: single

past relationships: she’s had three – all with men + her first serious relationship with dexter chase, whom she’s still in love with.

pets: she doesn’t have any of her own, but her parents own a cat named rick. (she named it. she was five)

how do they feel about their family?: she loves them more than anything. like, her family means the absolute world to her. she would do anything for them and she adores each and every one of them. 

and now for some headcanons...

tess did super well in school. like, ridiculously well. her parents were always insanely supportive of her and her dreams. yet when she graduated she still had no idea what she wanted to do. 

she went to college at nyu the following year and it took her a little while to figure out what she wanted to do, so she picked art bc she enjoyed it and it turns out she loved it. she used to draw all the time as a kid and doodle in notebooks and she actually ended up being really good at it, so that’s what she studied.

her mother is also still a photographer so she traveled around the world with her a lot and used to draw things when she did 

she’s a bit more of a hard ass than tess was before – and she usually goes by tessa but is totally fine with tess unless you don’t know her well. she can get very bad tempered, too, especially on low sleep, so basically don’t mess with her when she hasn’t had at least seven hours of sleep

other than that she’s pretty happy. very sarcastic. very sassy. very bubbly. she’s very friendly but she’s also a bit standoffish of certain people depending on their vibe. 

she’s very sentimental when it comes to family and friends and if she ever gives you a gift, you better love the heck outta it bc she put a shit ton of thought into it. 

she also loves skiiing. she thinks she’s quite good at it and loves being out on the mountain to clear her mind.

plots!!!

i want everything for her okay? 

give her some best friends. some childhood friends. a ride or die. someone she can just sit and talk shit with about anything and everything. 

someone she’s just weirdly different with? like, someone that she just goes extra soft and cute with and isn’t sassy or sarcastic or anything with them and she doesn’t even know why???

some exes maybe?

drinking buddies

someone she always shows her art to for opinions and they tALK HER THE FUCK UP BECAUSE SHE’S GOOD AF (and if they have something similar, she can do the same)

and anything else you may brainstorm up

so that’s the new and improved tessa!! feel free to slide into my dms for plots or like and i will slide into urs. 

[symphonyofthewrite]

Undead Memory (Ch1)

Fandom: Castlevania (Netflix) (Season 2)

Character Focus: Alucard

Summary: What happened during that month in which Alucard was alone in the castle?

Alucard dealing with the aftermath of S2, and trying to cope with the death—or, more accurately, the ghosts—of his parents.

Chapter 1: Reminders

There were no graves. Dracula and Lisa didn’t get graves. The rest of the world would have said they didn’t deserve to rest in peace.

Antigone would say Polynices deserved to sing in Olympus all the same.

The only grave they got was a castle. And many would say it was better than most—that they’d take a castle over a headstone, a mausoleum, or the ground any day. They’d say a castle was a hell of a lot better than being dumped down the sewage grate.

And all that’s fair, but perhaps the bigger problem was this: there were no remains.

They both burned. One in holy fire, one in hell. (And who could say where they truly ended up, if there was a heaven and hell after all?)

All that was left of Lisa Tepes was a pile of charcoal on an altar to a priests own pride.

And all that was left of Vlad Tepes was a ring, and a soot stain on the carpet.

Most would say they got what they deserved; to die without chance at Olympus.

Adrian doesn’t know where to put his flowers.

Most children bury their parents eventually, but usually this is when they have children of their own to keep them company, and their parents have been bouncing grandchildren on their knees for at least a year or two, with white hair and crinkled smiles, barely able to walk, or see: sick and ready to greet the gods.

Adrian may look old enough to settle down, but he’s younger than most would surmise. And while he can certainly handle himself, he was not prepared for his parents to die within a year of each other…especially considering that the parent who was meant to be immortal died by his own hand.

He would have liked to have some respite in his own home.

But perhaps, more important than where to put flowers, there was most unfortunate side effect of the lack of remains, and the castle grave:

Ghosts.

And this isn’t the pearly white wraiths wandering around saying ‘boo’, or skulls that float about the head gnashing their teeth. Not even a chained apparition to remind one of their sins.

This is something much worse. Worse because they belong to the house’s owner. Worse because their true grave is his head.

—(And that place never rested)—

Their ghosts wander the castle, not just a graveyard. This castle seems to have an affinity for the undead.

Maybe not everyone could see them. He tries not to indulge the thought that maybe there’s nothing there at all, and they’re nothing more than undead memory.

Alucard has been seeing ghosts since the moment he was left alone in this place.

He’d rather have a grave to mourn them at, and converse with the memories, than watch their ghosts keep him up at night, unable to touch, or to talk to them.

He should remind himself to look up the definition of ‘torment’ later.

At first it was his father’s steps when he walked up the stairs. His mother’s smiles, his own young laughter when he sat in the study. When he sat at the table to eat, he watched the vampire king tossing a young boy into the air, both laughing like fairy wing beats, as Lisa watched on from the table. Alucard tried not to lose his appetite.

Then they were given voice: it was Father’s lessons when he looked for a book in the library. Mother’s stories as he sat reading, making him incapable of concentrating to his own book all the while. Baking cookies together in the kitchen. Father allowing him his first drink—(of wine or blood? Take a guess. He only needed one of them, after all)—as he walked through the cellar. Mother decorating the castle, making it look a little nicer, a little more alive. Not all of them were positive. Their arguing voices down the hallway. His own tears.

Father’s claws against his chest.

And he wouldn’t dare get close to that room. Because whenever he walks past the door, he can still hear his father speak to him like he did when he was still a child dressed in sunlight, and there was nothing but love.

Mother, father and…himself. As if he died long ago with them. As if the happy child he was within them is gone. As if he’s no longer the Adrian who sat with his parents, read with them, baked cookies, and laughed with them…but the Alucard who killed them.

And, well, maybe he didn’t kill his mother, but sometimes he didn’t know what else to think but to blame himself for the thought that he could have saved her.

And he did kill his father.

He still feels that stake in his hand when he walks by that room—(But it wasn’t a stake was it? It was the bedpost of his childhood bed, as if ripping his childhood at the seams and denying everything he was born as). He still feels its splinters in his fingers, the smell of pine, the feeling of it piercing his father’s chest, the way his heartbeat refused to stop—(he rested his head on his chest once, the constancy of the rhythm was comforting then). The warmth of his father’s blood draining over his fingers. The sound of his father’s ripping voice. The unearthly, ungodly howling of the souls trapped inside him—(was he really so bad?). He could still smell his flesh burning.

He still wakes up in the middle of the night with the image of his fathers face melting off its bones as it came closer to him, reaching out as if to to caress his son’s cheek, seared onto his eyes—(is this how Victor Frankenstein felt when the creature smiled at his window?)

But when the morning came, he took that ring and he wore it on a chain around his neck all the same, to remind him of a few things:

One: that love is one of those things that is free, but comes at a high price. If you take it lightly, it will leave you heavily.

Two, an addendum to one: that love is not soft. Love is not flowery words, or even the insatiable desires the romance novels say it is. Love is an insidious fire, when you have it, it rages, and you know what warmth is. When the fireplace is empty it aches, and when your heart breaks your chest gets cut on all the pieces. And underestimating it, calling it weakness, will always be your undoing.

Three—(one that was beginning to weigh heaviest): that living and immortality are not the same thing. Vlad may have been immortal, but he was only ever alive with Lisa.

Four: to always know where he came from…and where he didn’t want to end up.

Five, and final: that though he had saved lives, though it was noble, and the stories and songs would say he was brave, and though Trevor and Sypha would say it was for the greater good…he would always be the son who loved his father…and the son who drove the stake into his father’s heart.

All for love.

He can find respite from the memories sometimes. He finds himself spending too much time down in the Belmont hold, reading, organizing, putting away ancestors—(ancestors not of his, ones that didn’t come back). Learning, pursing his lip in disapproval, or laughing to himself at the thought of some of the things Trevor’s relatives did (making a mental note to use the story against Trevor when he next saw him). Thinking of his friends…and trying not to think of them, lest they become ghosts too.

He likes going out into the woods to get food, and water, and fresh air. He wavers there at times, wondering if maybe he could just… leave. He spends more time out there than is strictly necessary.

Sometimes he runs out into the woods—well, more precisely padding, cantering on paws—and other times flies—trying to make sure his tongue can taste freedom, and his wings can snare sunlight, before he turns back.

But he always has to return. Return to the stuffy, putrefied remains of the castle. The air where he hears his parents whisper sweet words that are gone, where memory reconstructed from fairy castles sweet worlds he’s ripped away.

Would it be so hard to just leave?

Surely we can let the poor wandering souls in the woods find refuge. It was a grave after all. Just let the lost rest against the headstones, though they know not whose skeletons lie beneath them.

He leans against Trevor’s tree, and sees a young boy playing on the branches—laughing, free—and smiles…before it becomes gasp and grimace, and he shakes his head, returning to the castle.

Not them too.

He thought he could take it. The grief. The ghosts. The wrath of the gods

But he can’t stay.

Not forever. That is to say, he can’t leave for long. Just to visit town, to see another person or two, to get out of his head, and pray the specters won’t follow him.

He slings his bag over his shoulder, along with the coat he always wore—the one that smells like the campfires he sat at with Trevor and Sypha—and sighs as he walks out the door.

He has another grave to visit.

[obsidianarchives]

Ashley Romans

Ashley Romans started her formal acting training at Pace University School of Performing Arts. She moved to Los Angeles immediately after graduating in 2015.  Los Angeles theater credits include:  Celebration's Charm (Beta), Rotterdam (StageRaw and LADCC award recipients).  Film/Television credits include: "I'm Dying Up Here" and "Shameless" (Showtime), "Are You Sleeping?" (Apple TV), "Hermione Granger and the Quarter Life Crisis" (Sunshine Moxie), "NOS4A2" (AMC new series).

Black Girls Create: What do you create?

I’m an actor. I create by acting. Collaborating with writers, directors, designers, and visionaries in whichever medium possible to hopefully create an honest reflection of a being’s life experience.

BGC: How do I create?

I suppose my entire creative process begins with healthy self trickery. Not quite deception but more healthy, playful, self manipulation. Naturally as creators we have a way of resisting and fearing whatever it is we most want to bring about into the world. Similar to a mother’s fear of giving birth or raising a child, we think “what if the world doesn’t receive my creation well? What if people are mean? What if it’s not healthy or ready?” I often find myself trying to bribe or trick my way out of this fear. I trick myself into going into my next audition as confidently as I can, or preparing for that day on set when I really don’t want to, or finding some connection with a character trait I find reprehensible.

I also think it is very important to stay relaxed and loose so one can reach a playful and spiritual place of creativity. So I try and keep myself healthy; mentally, spiritually, and physically by reading, eating healthy, journaling, praying, meditating, and exercising.  

BGC: How did you get into acting?

I would say my professional pursuit officially began when I went to study theater at Pace University in New York City for my undergraduate degree, but for as long as I can remember I always had an interest in acting. I loved watching ‘90s action/drama movies with my father and “I Love Lucy” reruns with my mother as a child at all hours of the day. I became even more interested in theater and performance through high school choir, joining community summer camps, and doing the spring high school musical.

Even as an adolescent I felt it was best to keep my professional aspirations to myself in fear of naysayers. In retrospect, I understand now that high school is a time a lot of young people are dealing with self doubt and insecurity. Considering that I was far from the funniest, smartest, or most talented individual in the theater department, I, unconsciously, kept my performing ambitions quiet even from the people closest to me because I didn’t want to risk someone rubbing their self doubt on me. I worked up the courage to audition for a couple of acting schools but I told no one except my acting teacher Douglas Hooper and a few very close mates.

I still abide by this privacy philosophy even now and it hasn’t steered me wrong to this day. I still feel that speaking one’s dreams and aspirations among chaotic or unsupportive energy environment would most likely dissipate or poison their own source.  

Eventually after graduating from Pace University through a couple months of tumbling I landed representation for acting with a management company and I moved out to Los Angeles. I’ve been able to land some great acting opportunities and gain a supportive team of people and I could not be more grateful.

BGC: What has been your favorite role so far?

I have so many favorites. The roles that stand out to me as my favorite are the ones that have most challenged me and allowed me to explore a different aspect of life, and explore and connect to the full range of the human experience. I’ve received some of my most valuable acting lessons in various roles in the theater. I played Inez, a red dressed-vixen-leading lady with a passionate, deep-seeded hatred for her ex-husband in Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Our Lady of 121st. Two years ago I played Beta, a young teenage gang affiliated boy in Chicago with a secret in Phillip Dawkins’s play Charm at Celebration Theater. This coming March I will be part of the Kirk Douglas’s production Rotterdam by Jon Brittain. Set in the Netherlands, I will play Fiona/Adrian, one half of a modern London couple who decides to make a huge change in their life. My experience acting in these productions specifically has been positively nurturing. Throughout our rehearsal process, I learned what it means to be not just a more nuanced and skilled actor but also a more supportive and capable teammate in the creative process.

In terms of film/television world, my work as Hermione Granger in Sunshine Moxie’s Hermione Granger and the Quarter Life Crisis remains my greatest acting lesson in the film/television/on-camera discipline.  Eliyannah Yisrael, Megan Grogan, Alice Pierce, other writers and producers leveled up my game up. I’ve never before been number one on the call sheet and I’m not sure if I ever will again, but having that responsibility was so enlightening. It was also an invaluable learning experience getting to work with those amazing creators and seeing those women just get shit done. It was truly an honor being chosen to play such an important and monumental literary character in this version. I remember reading the Harry Potter series as a little girl in London and thinking how much I wanted to be part of and live in that magical world. Playing Hermione in the HGQLC series was by far the best artistic adventure I’ve ever had. Exploring moments, scenes and how far we can bring characters all felt like adventures. Even our trip to Dublin, Ireland this past year felt like one big adventure. I’ll be forever grateful for that experience.

BGC: Why do you create?

I enjoy acting because I love being seen and getting to disappear. It’s a paradox but it’s my truth. I enjoy exploring the range of human experience. I love that I get to feel connected to people in the safe incubator that is pretend. I love that I get to feel and say all the things I’m afraid to feel and say in my real life. I still never get bored of going to the theater, movie or stage, sitting in a dark room with other people and watching performers simply tell us a story. I hope to serve God and the people around me through my creativity and acting. I always hope to truthfully represent a human experience no matter how high or low the stakes it might seem to us at first. Losing your phone and frantically trying to find it can be as exciting and dramatic a story as losing one’s job or finding out your spouse is unfaithful. It’s all in the storytelling and truthfulness of the moment and I love as an actor I get to explore that.

BGC: Who do you hope to reach through your work?

Honestly, the most important people I aim to ultimately reach and impress are my nieces and nephews. Yes the public, my agents, and producers are all important but I feel as though they are a means to an end. Right now my oldest niece is 10 years old and she loves the Hermione series and is always pretty excited to see me act on TV. At the moment she still thinks I’m pretty cool and I hope to keep it that way.

If this was a decade ago and you asked 16-year-old Ashley the same question I probably would have said something like “I want to be a voice for the voiceless and the underrepresented… blah blah blah.” Truthfully, I don’t think I ever really knew what that meant. I mean, I knew what it meant on a superficial-runner-up-in-Beauty-Pageant kind of level but now that answer doesn’t resonate with me as the gutter truth. Whenever I’m working on scripts, deciding on content to create or post etc, I ask myself “Is this something I would be proud to let my niece see? Is this the kind of work that can help make the world even the tiniest bit better for her?” Eventually, she’s going to grow up and have a voice in this world and I hope that her seeing me embrace mine will give her the courage to embrace hers. My nieces and nephews and all the children like them are who I hope to reach.

I really love seeing how the world is changing now. Representation in the media was so limited even 10 years ago but now it’s getting more and more beautiful by the day. With so many platforms, works such as Pose, Glow, Fresh Off the Boat, Chewing Gum, Masters of None, Eighth Grade, and more, so many beings who have been underrepresented for years are getting a chance to reach their audiences and tell their stories. And we all get to identify and see ourselves in each other. I don’t have to reach out and save the world because it kind of starts with myself and our own backyard.

BGC: Who or what inspires you to keep creating?

Oh geez, that’s a loaded question. My peers are my first and foremost inspiration and motivation. Again Eliyannah Yisrael, Megan Grogan, Alice Pearce, Jessica Jenks. It’s remarkable to watch those ladies do what they do. I love being in acting class and witnessing breakthroughs or being in a really great rehearsal with a cast mate. That’s always promising when you get to be part of the creation of something honest and true.  Even if it is just a great moment in a scene. Actors who inspire me are endless. Octavia Spencer is a fantastic actress and creator who I adore. I had the blessing of working with her once and she’s an even better human.  Lovely doesn’t do her justice. I love watching Regina King. There’s a great example of an honest to God creator and storyteller. She’s accomplished so much in acting, directing, writing, and producing. That’s also how I feel about Shonda Rhimes, Boots Riley, Jim Carrey, Maggie Gyllenhaal. There are many more. I’m sure as soon as you publish this interview I’m going to think of more.

BGC: Why is it important as a Black person to create?

As Black people, we have such a specific and loaded way we walk through the world. The Hermione Series has such a beautiful tag line.  It says “HGQLC - Write Your Own Ending.”  I’ve always loved that because it gives power to the subject.  As Black people it is our responsibility to take control of our story the best way we can.  We must feed our communities the best and most honest images of ourselves to ourselves because images and representation matters. In the area of cinema, for years non-Black people have told their version of the Black experience and it has left us misrepresented.

BGC: How do you balance creating with the rest of your life?

It’s always a struggle to keep a balanced life. I have a tendency to obsess and quickly lose perspective but when I want to regain balance I plan my day to make sure I get everything I need in. Luckily for me in my particular art form, acting is about living so I know I can’t be a good actor if I’m not allowing myself to experience life and fun.   

BGC: Have you been able to build a support system around yourself? What does that look like?

I feel so grateful for my support system. I have amazing representation, an amazing day job with super awesome and motivating coworkers who are actively pursuing their life goals. I also have super supportive family and friends who tell me they’re proud of me just for being myself. My sister is also a great support system, someone I can speak and think out loud with no fear of judgment. I could not be any luckier.

BGC: Any advice for young creators/ones just starting?

It takes 10,000 hours to be a professional at anything. So just put in the hours, however that may look. Either do it, read about it, watch a YouTube video on it, whatever you have to do to learn about your craft and get better.  

BGC: Any future projects?

I’m going to be doing a remounting of the stage production Rotterdam at the historic Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City. It’s a short run, performances run from March 28 - April 7th, but it’s such a blessing to revisit this work with such a remarkable group of people.  It’s a super funny and insightful play about gender and love.

In the television world I just finished wrapping a new AMC series starring Zachary Quinto and Ashleigh Cummings called NOS4A2. I don’t know the exact date it is to be released but it’s happening soon. The series is based of the hit novel by Joe Hill and it centers around a teenager (Cummings) who uses supernatural abilities to track down the seemingly immortal Charlie Manx (Quinto), who steals children and deposits them in “Christmasland.”  I play a Detective Tabitha Hutter trying to suss out the truth. This series has supernatural fantasy, horror, action/adventure, procedural, and family drama. Everything you want to see.

[clan-sayeed-fic]

Let me earn your trust (Kamilah Sayeed & MC)

Previous chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

Book: Bloodbound (property of Pixelberry Studios) Pairing: Kamilah Sayeed & MC: Amy (I do not own those characters, they're the property of Pixelberry Studios as well) ❗ Warnings: this chapter contains violence, angst, might cause distress ❗ Rating: Mature Author's note:  I'm not a native English speaker, I'm sorry for any mistakes (feel free to correct me).

~ 2100 words

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Chapter 24

"What did she tell you?" Lily's voice high-pitched, revealing how shocked she was.

"I already told you every single word she said, do you really want me to go through this once again?" Kamilah's eyes were slowly changing its color as the anger was taking over. "Or perhaps I should work on your memory first."

"Easy," Adrian interrupted, standing between them, sensing the tension.

After what happened, Kamilah returned to the gala. She participated in the Council meeting, and when it ended, she told Adrian about her argument with Amy.

Actually, she didn't plan on telling him anything, but Adrian noticed her more distanced than usual behavior. Finally, after multiple nagging questions from him, Kamilah gave up and decided to tell him what happened. And at the same moment, Lily called them worrying about her best friend since she just arrived home from the gala and saw Amy's things gone.

And that's how they found themselves in this situation.

They were in Lily's apartment. Or, to be precise in Amy's former room. The only things suggesting that she had ever lived there were photographs of her and Lily on the wall.

"Did you really do something to her?" Lily was asking this question another time in a row. She didn't realize how much it must hurt Kamilah to even consider such a possibility.

"Lily..." Adrian's eyes pleading, he couldn't stand his best friend's suffering. "We all know how happy Amy was during those past days. There was no indication she would do such a thing."

Kamilah felt like her shirt was made of pure metal instead of smooth cotton. Irritating pain in her chest was causing her problems with breathing. Her legs were daring to tremble as all the pressure and hurt were dragging her down.

"Has she ever done something like that?" Kamilah looked into Lily's eyes, her voice was shaky, unlike her. She sat down on the chair next to the desk.

"Has she ever run away without a word?" Lily asked. "Of course, that's what her family did for years," she frowned. "The real question is, would she do this without a serious reason? Fuck no."

"Well, she explained to me her reasons loud and clear," Kamilah's head spinning. She wasn't able to think at that moment, sorrow spreading on every part of her body.

"Maybe she lied to you," Adrian was the only one focused there. "We can't exclude the possibility that Amy's reasons weren't about us at all. She had a lot on her plate recently."

Those words make the three of them think, search for answers. They were pushing their memories about the past few days, trying to remind themselves something significant in Amy's behavior. Something that would give them a clue to explain her actions.

Lily was sitting on her best friend's bed during this whole talk. Even thinking about the possibility of Amy never coming back was bringing tears to her eyes. She took the pillow from the bed and hugged it tightly to herself, inhaling the smell of the girl's perfume that was slowly fading away.

"What is it?" Kamilah stood up immediately and made her way toward the bed.

Previously covered with a pillow, and then finally visible to their eyes was a small piece of paper with familiar handwriting on it.

Amy's note.

***

"So, you're a Bloodkeeper and the vampire at once?" Amy asked right after she got out of her memories and was able to think straight.

"Apparently so," the woman smiled to her, there was something similar about this smile. About how her lips were curling up effortlessly.

Amy was still sitting on the chair with her wrists tied up. Her blood was slowly floating inside the wires, draining away from her body. But She wasn't concerned about that anymore, not when this discovery got her attention.

"How is it?" the girl looked at her blonde new companion. Her golden strands of hair were like a reflection of her own ones. "How is it to be both?"

The young woman was standing in front of her. She was staring at Amy with her green eyes, rethinking the question.

"Maybe you'll find out one day," she chuckled at her own words. "But for now, you shouldn't bother yourself about it. You need to stay strong to get through all of this."

Amy looked around the room to remind herself of where she was, that it wasn't just a nightmare of hers. That's when a beeping sound pierced through her head once again, ensuring about her full consciousness. Her forehead was sweaty as the fever took over her body. Trying to keep herself awake, she bit onto her lower lip until she tasted the metallic flavor.

Her own blood.

So that's how it tastes, Amy thought to herself with irony.

Despite the pain, her eyelids were getting heavier again, daring to close themselves completely.

"Focus," the voice echoed in her head. "You need to stay strong for Kamilah, can you hear me?"

Amy opened her eyes wider in an instant at the sound of the woman's name. Every feeling from that terrible night came back to her twice as strong. The night when she hurt Kamilah so much.

"How do you know about her?" Amy asked aloud, with suspicion. She was trying her best to concentrate on the features of the person in front of her, so similar.

"You told me," the woman smiled calmly. "You're talking about her all the time."

The girl laughed shortly, imagining Lily saying that. Her best friend that she might never see again. Those thoughts were sending shudders down her spine, so she let go of them, focusing on the next topic.

"For what reason Vega needs so much of my blood?" Amy glanced at blood bags that were slowly filling with red liquid.

The blonde walked to one of those blood bags, touching its characteristic surface with her fingers. Then, she looked again at the girl tied up to the chair.

"What did you learn about him so far?" her voice mysterious, stimulating Amy's brain to think.

"He is a sick person," Amy answered, frowning. But she knew that it wasn't the most important thing. "And power is all that he desires."

"Exactly," the young woman moved closer to her chair. "So what would give him his so much power? How far is he ready to go?"

Their eyes connected with each other, colors almost the same. Amy felt like by staring at this woman's eyes, she was looking intensively into her own soul.

And that's when the solution hit her.

"Of course, he did it before, why wouldn't he try again?"

***

"Come on, Kamilah, read it aloud," Lily was complaining like a little child, not being able to handle the anticipation.

But her nagging tone didn't change a thing in Kamilah's expression. It was still emotionless. She just read the words written by the person she cared about, and she was feeling nothing after doing that.

Because there was absolutely nothing emotional about this letter. No explanation, just a few meaningless words written on the useless piece of paper.

Finally, Lily couldn't stand waiting anymore, and she ripped the note out of Kamilah's hands. The woman didn't even react at such an act of insubordination, as the younger vampire started reading the words loud and clear.

Lily, I had to leave. Stay strong, stay positive, stay safe.

"That's everything?" Adrian's voice didn't hide his surprise.

Kamilah was staring with her empty eyes at the wall. She didn't expect Amy to write anything about her after what she heard last night. But what the girl wrote didn't have a meaning at all.

It meant absolutely nothing.

She looked at Lily, who suddenly became less talkative. She was studying the piece of paper like the note Amy left was way much longer than it actually was. It made the woman feel suspicious.

"Lily," Kamilah's voice made her jump, dragging her out of her thoughts. "What is it?" her tone sharp.

The girl looked at her, her eyes filling with tears.

"Lily," Adrian put a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her and encourage at once. "If this message means something, you need to tell us."

"It does," Lily looked from one vampire to the other. "Amy wrote to me a long time ago the exact same words."

The girl gulped nervously, remembering what happened next. She felt a little squeeze on her shoulder, reminding her that she should continue explaining.

"Amy...she," Lily's voice shaky, making Kamilah's eyes filled with concern and fear. "She almost died back then."

***

Amy was alone in the basement for hours.

Again.

Or... maybe she was alone there for the whole time...

"I see you're still alive," she didn't even notice when Vega walked inside.

He made his steps toward her, and without any warning, ripped the needles out of her skin. Amy trembled from pain, gritting her teeth together. Blood started flowing slowly from her wounds, her body too weak to heal it quickly. The fact of it didn't bother Vega at all. He got himself to work, taking off the blood bags that were hanging around her.

"Why are you doing this?" Amy's voice was husky because of her dry throat. "Why would you unleash ferals all over New York?"

Adam stopped for a moment gathering the bags. Her accusation was so on point, and he didn't even share a thing about this idea with her.

"You might be smarter than I assumed," he seemed to be impressed by her. "Tell me, what betrayed me?"

Amy looked at him with disgust, he was so proud of himself. If she knew all of that earlier, she would have thought of another way to deal with him. She would not have let him lock her there to slaughter.

"Why else would you need so much of my blood?" she watched his movements closely, trying to see an opportunity to escape for herself. "You want to have the cure for yourself when you let out those ferals," his expression changed, and that made Amy come up with another conclusion, a more shocking one. "Unless... you don't need it only for yourself."

Vega packed the blood into one big bag, looking at her with intense eyes. Full of passion for his crime.

"Can you imagine the panic between people in this city?" his eyes burning with red. "How desperate would be all the vampires to get the cure? How afraid of being bitten and turned into a brainless creature?"

He walked closer to her, placing both hands near Amy's in a spot where she was tied up. His eyes were shining with madness.

"And that's when the great Vega would appear," the girl's words full of disgust. "Offering them the antidote."

"Everyone is going to beg me for this," he interrupted her, his fangs growing. "Their life is in my hands."

"You're sick," Amy spit on him, forming fists out of her hands, being angry at herself that she couldn't do more.

Adam closed his eyes for a moment, composing himself. Then, he stepped back slowly, wiping the spit off from his face with the cloth.

"Maybe I am," he looked at her with his usual dark eyes. "But, unlike you," a sly smile in the corner of his mouth. "I'm going to live."

***

"What do we remember from this night?" Kamilah felt motivation, concern, and anger fighting inside her at the same time.

Lily explained to them in a hurry about what happened last time Amy acted like that. She was just a teenager back then, wanting to help their parents. Sacrifice herself.

"We were at the gala," Adrian said, trying to boost their memory. "We were sitting by the table, talking, having fun, and then..."

"Vega's speech," Lily got all dreamy about the speech senator gave them that night.

She didn't know how much mentioning it would help to solve the case.

"And after the speech," Kamilah's imagination brought the memory of Amy dancing with Vega, and the look she gave her after Kamilah saved her from this dance. "This bastard... he..."

"Do you think that Vega has something to do with it?" Adrian watched his best friend's face, trying to read something out of it.

"I know this, Adrian," Kamilah's voice showed how sure she was of it.

There was no other explanation, and the only thing she wished at that moment was for her to realize it much sooner. Before it caused Amy's decision, about disappearing.

"So," Lily stared at them like a kid that was in the middle of her parent's important talk. "What are we gonna do with it?"

Kamilah and Adrian looked at each other. Meaningfully. Finally, the Vampire Queen spoke out loudly.

"Isn't it obvious?

We will get our girl back."

Next chapter: 25 (finale)

----------------------

tag list: @onyxgaytrash @lightning-fury @scarlet-letter-a0114 @caliseds @myonlybae-joohyun @spacecarrousel

[lawful-evil-novelist]

Gotham Rogues Profile #1: Dr. Jonathan Ulysses Crane AKA The Scarecrow

The first part of a rather long series of profiles, both because I wanted to write them out and also because they were requested by @the-mighty-sorceress, @spacetabbi, @hugsforvillains, @michi0no, and @perfunctoryusernamecreation .  I hope you guys like it.

CATEGORY#1: BASIC STATS

Gender: Male

Grammatical Gender (Masculine, Feminine, Androgynous, etc.): Masculine with a very heavy tint of femininity.  His upbringing and appearance had an innate femininity imprinted on him.

Age: 27-30

Race, ethnicity, culture: Mixed race, half Irish, half Native American of the Crow tribe.  Though he was officially made a member of his father’s tribe in his early teens, much of the culture he ascribes to is that of Gotham and the Deep South.  He speaks Crow and attends tribal celebrations when he has the time and isn’t in Arkham.

Height: 6’3”

Body type: tall, long, and wiry.  There’s not much fat to him and while he has muscle, it’s mostly lean

Appearance: Jon is very pretty, in that his features and appearance are rather feminine and doll-like.  There are small “off” things about his features.  When he’s neutral or tired he looks fine, but his expressions can look quite daunting, especially his smile.  He has a gap between his two front teeth.

Jon’s hair is a mop of black curls, a trait he gets from his mother.  In his early years, it was cut rather short and managed, but a lack of care has turned it messy and untamed.

If there’s a defining, terrifying feature of Jon, it’s his eyes, they’re icy blue and piercing, it almost looks like he knows more than he’s been told.

Jon’s skin is copper, you can definitely see his native heritage in his skin color.

Jon has multiple tattoos, the most prominent being a tree growing from a heart on his back, a spade on his left forearm, and a bird behind his right ear.  Others include an octopus over his navel, a cursive note under his collarbone (Reads “Jasper-Maximillian-Zachariah”, the other three boys groomed by his third abuser), and a cross on the side of his right hand.  His childhood has left his body a web of scars, many of which are hidden by tattoos.

Where is he from? Jon was born and raised in a small Southern town in Georgia called Arlen, where he lived until he was 11 when his great-grandmother died. Afterwards, he was placed with his father in Columbia, South Carolina.  He was placed in a mental facility in Columbia when he was 14 after suffering a severe nervous breakdown, but was released at 16, and moved to Gotham to attend Gotham University.

CATEGORY #2: RELATIONSHIPS 

Family: Jonathan’s first known family was his great-grandmother, Mary Keeny. Mary was the product of a very prestigious Southern family and hated her great-grandson, an illegitimate, mixed-race boy.  Mary severely abused her great-grandson until her death when he was 11.

Jonathan’s mother, Karen, is largely uninterested in either of her children, especially not Jon.  Her treatment of him is mostly disgust and fear.  Jon greatly resembles his mother.

Jon’s father Gerald was the one to take him in after Mary’s death.  Though he cared for his son, he was extremely controlling and protective of Jon, not allowing him enough space.  He also ignored that Jon began suffering from bipolar disorder until Jon had a nervous breakdown at 14.  Gerald is currently in prison for child abuse.

Jon has a single half-sister, Adriane Jarvis, who was taken from Karen by their grandmother.  Adriane has a relatively healthy relationship with Jonathan, though it is slightly damaged by their large age gap (Adriane is 10) and Jon’s mental illness.

Jon’s maternal grandmother, Marion Keeny, is the closest thing teenage Jon ever had to a maternal figure.  She and Jonathan have the closest relationship of anyone on his maternal side.

Lyndon Keeny is Jonathan’s great-great-uncle, Mary Keeny’s “wayward” brother.  He and Jon seldom meet face to face because he lives in Europe, but their relationship is healthy enough that they keep in touch.

Jon’s paternal grandfather, Chayton, is the closest thing Jon has to a proper father figure.  He was Jon’s major teacher when it came to learning about Crow culture and language.

Jon’s paternal grandmother, Ruth, is the closest Jon will probably ever get to a proper grandmother.  She’s protective of him but nurturing.  She isn’t controlling and loves cooking for her very thin grandson.  She also has a concealed firearm and has 100% threatened Batman with it.

Friends: Jon’s closest friend is Harley Quinn, they’ve known each other since college and even dated for two years (and then again later while both were dating the Joker).  Their relationship is casual, comfortable, and full of very bad puns, sarcasm, inside jokes (Peach Pie Moonshine is a phrase that will send them both into a laughing fit), and dirty humor.

Jon grew up with Charlie McIntyre and Hartley Rathaway, both are rather close friends and Jon and Hartley briefly dated when both were teenagers.  Jon visits both regularly.

Jon’s closest male friends are Jervis Tetch, Edward Nygma, and Maxwell Mavis.  The three pull regular heists together and Jon has had an on-off romantic relationship with Edward.

Jon’s tensest friendship is with Pamela Isley. The two became friends in college, and even then, were a little at odds.  Pamela’s opinions strain their relationship on occasion, as does Jon’s relationship with Harley, especially before Pamela and Harley begin dating. While not jealous of Jon, Pamela is a little sour that Jon didn’t defend Harley enough while dating Joker.

The three other boys abused with Jon by Hugo Strange, Jasper Curtis (6 years younger), Maximillian Zeus (2 years younger), and Zachariah Bloom (4 years younger), are all still friends with him, they’ve formed a brotherly relationship. Jon, being the eldest, watches all three carefully and does his best to make sure they don’t get hurt or in any danger.

Jon drinks regularly with Waylon Jones and Leonard Snart, he’s also slept with both.

Jon has become good friends with Timothy Drake, but the relationship has become more brotherlike than anything else.  Much of the relationship is Jon keeping Tim from drinking coffee concoctions to stay awake.

Jason Todd has befriended Jon because Jon saved his life at least four times, probably more.

Bane, Angelo Sanchez, has formed a tense sort of friendship with Jonathan while trying to get clean.  Bane refers to Jon alternately as lobo, meaning wolf, or mestizo, referring to Jon’s mixed heritage.  Jon also works for his cartel regularly.

Jon and Selina became friends early in Jon’s criminal career, they’re still rather close.

CATEGORY #3: THE SEXY STUFF

Sexual orientation: Pansexual

What is he attracted to?: Jon has relatively variable preferences, but in general he’s very focused on eyes, he loves them.  Despite his ridiculous height he is extremely attracted to people who are taller than him.  Being shorter clearly isn’t a dealbreaker though.  One of the more interesting notes is that Jon prefers submissive men and dominant women.  He is rather attracted to any kind of intelligence, be it emotional, logical, etc., and likes small traits like, for instance, Edward listing riddles when he’s nervous.  Jon also enjoys people who have a sense of humor.

Sexual experience: While Jon’s initial sexual experience was negative, Jon is very comfortable, perhaps a little too comfortable, with sex.  Jon has had multiple sexual partners of all genders.

Romantic experience: Jon has had a number of romantic relationships alongside sexual partners.  His most prominent and long lasting being with Harley and Edward.  Jon’s romantic experience can be a bit trying though, he has a hard time trusting people because of his past.

CATEGORY #4: SKILLS

Skills: Jon is extremely intelligent and intuitive, being able to read people and situations very easily.  He’s skilled at mimicking voices both speaking and singing, can play violin and piano, and is multilingual (speaks French, Latin, Ancient Greek, Crow, and ASL). Despite being unable to shoot a handgun, Jon has two civilian sharpshooting medals for his ability to shoot a hunting rifle.  He’s also skilled with most knives and, while not strong or disciplined enough to hold his own against a trained opponent, knows enough to overpower larger or stronger opponents in a fight (provided said opponent does not have any other considerable advantage, Jon can’t beat someone who can literally break his arm by biting it), both skills were taught to him by Bane and Selina.  Jon is largely immune to most toxins due to extensive fear toxin testing on himself and regularly being close proximity to Pamela Isley.  As an added note, Jon is hypermobile, making him unusually flexible.

Occupation/schooling: Jon has a PhD in psychology gained at 25 (equaling out to 9 years of schooling).  He also has a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry.  Before becoming a major criminal in Gotham he taught psychology at Gotham University, also acting as a consultant for the GCPD.  Despite regularly being incarcerated at Arkham Mental Facilities, he also consults there as a patient.

Hobbies: Reading is Jon’s main hobby, though he’s obsessed with fear and often studies it whenever he can, he’s fond of cooking, particularly baking, and loves horror and slasher films, Jon also loves playing the violin.

CATEGORY #5: PERSONALITY & CHARACTER

Introvert or extrovert? Definite introvert, though he can occasionally come off as extroverted from his mannerisms.

Strengths: Jonathan is intuitive and has a strong sense of empathy, he can easily connect to people and their emotional state (the problem is he doesn’t give two shits about either, unrelated to the empathy part), and also has a good skill in using both to his advantage.  Jon can come off as misleading, he feigns sympathy well and is skilled at playing the manipulator, making him excellent at drawing people in. He’s also learned how to use his looks as a draw (basically how to use sex appeal as a weapon) and has cultivated this as a strength.  That said, when he comes across a person he cares about, he’ll happily lay his life down for them and is a very loving, while a touch overprotective, friend.

Weaknesses: Jon is reckless, often putting his life in danger for thrills or fun. He can also be very cruel and vindictive.  His lack of sympathy and high empathy makes him a very skilled and calculating manipulator, but makes him less good at being trustworthy or kind to strangers. Jon also lacks much trust in others, being quick to withdraw his trust if it’s broken.  Jon’s near-obsession with control can make him erratic if things aren’t going his way.  Jon also drinks heavily, barely sleeps, and eats sporadically.

Goals/dreams/aspirations: Jonathan’s goal, above all others, is to be able to push past fear, to not be afraid of anything.

Beliefs/affiliations: Jonathan was raised Catholic by his great-grandmother, who was very radical and practiced flagellation.  Jonathan was taught this form of religion, but the flagellation was ended with his father, and the nurses at the Columbia Mental Hospital taught Jonathan a much gentler form of Catholicism to help him cope with his bipolar disorder. Jonathan is still a practicing Catholic.

Beyond his religion, Jonathan values heavily independence and honesty, as well as loyalty.  While he is rather cruel, he has a very high opinion of people who are kind regardless of their circumstances (Jon has a massive amount of respect for Becky Albright for both her kindness and adherence to his other values).

Fears: Jonathan has already confronted many of his fears in the past. His most principle fear is losing his sovereignty and free will.  He’s been exploited, abused, and groomed by a man whose motives were extremely disturbing and never wants to go back to that time again.  He reacts very poorly when people attempt to manipulate him and has been known to stab people who touch him without asking.

Jonathan also fears getting attached to people, mainly because soon after befriending Pamela she was abused by Woodrue.

Insecurities: Though Jonathan is relatively attractive and is aware of this, he is insecure about many aspects of it.  His feminine and often unsettling features were a source of ridicule for him as a child, and he was often the subject of cruel teasing over his resemblance to a doll and his unnerving features, as well as his mixed heritage.

He heavily underestimates his own ability to handle situations, often making him easy to pass over.

What would he die for? People he cares deeply about like Harley, his family (even members he hates like his parents), abuse victims.

[runesandfaes]

11 Questions Tag

So I already did this once before but I was tagged a few more times afterwords so I’ll be answering those questions, but I won’t tag anyone this time around! :)

I was tagged by @readinglikewildfire Thank you <33

1. Do you have any piercings or tattoos, what are they?

I have 2 ear piercings but no tattoos

2. Who is your style icon?

I honestly don’t have one?? It changes a lot with my mood haha

3. Are you a night shower or a morning shower person?

Does afternoon shower person count? xD

4. What do you study at school if you are at school? If you’re not at school what do you do instead?

I am currently finished my 12th year (completing my A Levels)

5. Do you speak multiple languages? What are they?

Yes. Bengali, English and Hindi (well, I pretty fluently understand it but I never tried speaking it so my accent might be shitty, but yeah, I can speak it)

6. What do you like most about where you live?

The food

7. Favorite piece of jewellery, why?

Rings or pendants. I am not a huge jewellery person but their simple and pretty and I’ve always loved them. I always have a ring on.

8.  Whats one random fact about yourself?

Okay, so I tend to bite or nibble on people’s arms when I start to get REALLY sleepy and delirious (people close to me of course. Don’t ask why, I have no clue whatsoever) xD Also, I am super into K-Pop.

9. TOG or ACOTAR?

ACOTAR

10. Do you like fantasy books with a lot of romance or does it not really matter to you?

I DO prefer romance. I thing it just adds more depth but if I find a very well written one without romance, I’m not saying no. I’m open to it.

11. Favorite color?

Red and Black

Tagged by @catastrophicallyinlovewithbooks Thank you so much babe <3

1. What’s the last song you listened to?

Becky G-Mayores (absolutely obsessed)

2. What was your favourite book when you were little?

I think is was the Goosebumps books?

3. What language do you wish you were fluent in?

French

4. What’s your favourite season and time of the day?

Winter and Night

5. If you had to pick one of your top 5 favourite books and never be able to read that book again, which one would you pick?

MUST I?? Six Of Crows I guess....

6. What’s a quote/song lyric you really like?

”To the stars who listen and dreams that are answered”

7. Which 4 fictional characters would you go on a roadtrip with?

Dorian, Lucien, Isabelle Lightwood, Adrian Ivashkov (Can I please take more?)

8. Favourite ice cream flavour?

Chocolate chip

9. Would you rather get stuck in a lift for one hour or get stuck on a balcony really high up for one hour?

Get stuck on a balcony really high up for one hour

10. If you could hop on a plane and go anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

Somewhere in Europe. Italy or Scotland, I think

11. What’s your ideal date?

Something simple and genuine I guess? A picnic under the stars, some cuddling, getting to know each other.

And finally, tagged by my babe @cassiancalore. Thanks baaaabe <33

1. Hogwarts house? (because yes)

Ravenclaw

2. Your favorite thing to do when no one’s around?

Dance like a weirdo. Or sing.

3. A song guaranteed to make you cry?

Currently, it’s Iris by Goo Goo Dolls because my boyfriend loves it and we sat and listened to it cuddling just before he left for the country so I can’t listen to it now without being sad and sobbing.

4. Favorite movie?

Can’t choose Lu, can’t choose. For such a long time it has been A Walk To Remember

5. Dream job?

Author.

6. What do you consider to be your best trait (personality)?

I’m very open-minded and accepting.

7. What is your favorite thing about your body?

My eyes

8. Favorite band?

Uhh....don’t....really..know...haha.

9. Who’s your best friend on Tumblr (and why)?

@cassiancalore of course. Do I even have to elaborate on why? She’s just the best and we have killed friendship chemistry and just clicked from the start. I’m normally suuuper awkward but nothing was ever awkward with her and I jsut love this girl so much???

10. You have the chance to go back in time and fix your one (1) worst mistake. Do you do it?

I don’t think so, no.

11. Try to say what your favorite TV show is by using a totally crazy over the top summary!

Omg, I am so not funny or creative, idk what to say. Man suffering from extremely traumatic childhood experiences uses sarcasm to cover it up and lives with another man child, falls in love and marries his best friend’s sister who is a controlling maniac. Said best friend has a questionable love for dead animals and is blind to wife’s romantic endeavors. Best friend is also in love with controlling sister’s spoiled her yet sweet best friend for a decade, marries her drunk, gets divorced and impregnates her- second in his saga of unplanned pregnancies and 3rd in his saga of failed marriages. Man child steals food from the refrigerator of his traumatised ex roommate and his wife’s apartment and cannot catch a break in his career. Said gang is somehow friends with an eccentric blondie who none of them know how they ended up being friends with, yet she’s there, singing about cats with questionable hygiene. (Okay that was a terrible attempt at explaining F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Arman helped with the beginning, Lu xD )

[rottenappleusach]

The Liberty of the Grave

by Adrian San Martín

The use of symbolism is a very common tool utilized in literature to convey implicit messages or meanings to the readers, like for example, the psychological conditions or states of characters in a literary work. While trying to find a good example of this kind, many choices come to mind, but one of the most fitting, especially when talking about studying symbolism under a psychological approach, is the short story by Kate Chopin called “The Story of an Hour”. In this work, the author presents to the reader a female protagonist called Mrs. Mallard who possesses not only a heart condition but also undergoes a deep, emotional and psychological struggle inside her. The story revolves mainly around her and her internal fight and self-discovery as a person, after the sudden news of her husband’s supposed death. Unfortunately, everything comes to an end with her abrupt death, after finding out that her husband was still alive. But there is more to her death than just the fact of it, because there are psychological factors involved too. Taking this into account and under the view of the psychological approach, it could be said that Mrs. Mallard’s death is a representation of her id being abruptly repressed by her super-ego....

Reference: Kate Chopin (1894), “The Story of an Hour”.