#Bloodbound OC

[gfitzwillsebastianz3rd]

This is my OC Ash Lee Davenport back for Bloodbound Book 2, made with assets from Sims 4 Custom Content creator @mnvlz, as I used their Top surgery scars.

Since there's another six months between the first book at the second, I think Ash would have relented and allowed Adrian to help him afford Double incision top surgery.

Then this three-piece suit from America's Most Eligible matches close enough to the blue suit that the female MC wears in the boardroom, though there are no pink accents. I was going to colour-match the handkerchief to pink, but the smaller an item is, the harder it is to recolour and edit in Photoshop.

The kidnapping scene in book two is more straightforward to colour a suit for, as MC just wears a red satin dress labelled Scarlet Stunner. For that, I just used the maroon suit from Nightbound and recoloured it in Photoshop.

I have to say, I love putting Mr Davenport in blue clothing for regular mortal things and red for vampire-related events.

I find that more books that have darker tones have a red premium outfit option, so it fits well.

I seem to like editing these, so here's the Gold Rush outfit, edited from America's Most Eligible, with a glittery black texture from Adobe stock. I also debated using the white tux, but it's not glitzy enough for Vegas.

I seem to like editing these, so here's the Gold Rush outfit, edited from America's Most Eligible, with a glittery black texture from Adobe stock. I also debated using the white tux, but it's not glitzy enough for Vegas.

I think it was my hardest to edit so far, though. There's only so much I can trace floral patterns in Photoshop before I get cross with how fiddly it is.

It's why the floral part of the left cuff is missing. It didn't even look right when I mirrored it, So it's asymmetrical instead.

For the next Chapter, I had the idea that since Cal wolfed out, Ash would give him his jacket since his shirt is ripped beyond covering him.

It's rare to see the MC's in Bloodbound in anything that doesn't have a Blazer since it's an Executive romance book, but to achieve this, I took the black shirt from Foreign Affairs and copied the gold leaf pattern onto the belt, as well as making sure I copied the gold buttons onto the shirt.

For the Tribunal about Gaius, Ash and Adrian had a serious revelation about their relationship, so I recoloured the Waistcoat to be like Adrian's because He claimed Ash was his boyfriend out loud during a fight (He's not realised the implications yet...)

But I thought it would be nice to make it look like Ash borrowed one of his, no doubt, many black waistcoats.

It's the same suit as the one from AME, but the watch that resembles the one Adrian describes to Kamilah, that he bought in the 1920's is from Foreign Affairs.

The next outfit is almost cheating, but it raises an important thing for me.

What if we could add Hats, like we could hair and other things like Watches or different trousers/boxers for the MC in Wardrobe?

Since we have another encounter in the 1920's-themed Shrike (whether you chose to let the Prisoners go so they could set it on fire or not), I couldn't help but add the trilby to Ash's already Adrian-centric outfit.

So, For this next chapter, there's a bowling scene, and there are not enough clothes in book 2 for me, so I made a bowling shirt from the polo and chinos in AME.

Choices need to make more variants of light-coloured clothing; they're all really dark and hard to recolour...

The next chapter to have a new outfit is the Paris chapter, but it was super hard finding a light-coloured shirt. The one I used was from Foreign Affairs.

By this point, Ash has been running all around fighting against Prejudice from Vampire hate, homophobia and transphobia, so he's tired. He's also discovered many a secret about himself being a Bloodkeeper, and one other I won't spoil for now 😉.

His outfit for the Vampire crypts is much more relaxed and informal, originally from AME.

I didn't edit this one, as I love it as it is. The starry-looking hoodie matches the narrative of Adrian and Ash travelling around the Paris night scene under the stars.

For Serafine's club, Ash is just wearing a simple black shirt from Foreign Affairs to emulate the strappy dress and choker that the MC wears, but also Adrian's brand pendant, with the cord from the Flamingo shorts and the striped shirt with a crystal necklace.

I just used the cord to add to the pendant and made the shirt wider for Ash's physique change, but it's not edited any more than that.

The next one is seriously fun, though I'm sure Adrian would baulk if Ash wore this outside of Victoriana vampire balls. It's so... cliché!

It's from the romance vampire novel Immortal Desires. Some of the clothing for the more Vampire-themed stuff is pretty useful for this, even if it's a highschool themed book.

Ash only wore it for Dracula's party, and I guess you'd be inconvenienced by the cape, so It's not an outfit we'll see him in until the Solstice ball, at least.

For this next outfit, I actually took the shirt from Foreign Affairs and then warped the Puffer jacket from the Bloodbound Female MC Outdoorsy outfit to make something that I'm sure Ash would wear to be touristy.

His expression is worried because the Island of Midieya also has The massive Order base on it, but also because Prague was another layer of stress on top of New York under siege. His Cousin Parker is still in New York, after all...

For the next couple of Chapters, it's hard to know which of the outfits Ash Lee would have packed in his suitcase as they rushed around the world on their crusade.

In fact, this was the hardest outfit to put him in for the story, as a mixed trans guy doesn't really fit with the whole white-knight-against-the-Darkness stuff that reminds me of the Knights Templar but has a Neo-Nazi flavour to it. The original later chapters it's based on have little representation for each of the Order soldiers unless you look at the sprite files, and even then, there's hardly any that look anyone like him.

It's clear this is terrible for Ash to have to do, and he's terrified to wear it for the mission.

For the evening following the counter-raid to the Order, Ash would be- as I would be grateful to change clothes, and I was getting tired of writing him in the same outfits I've already edited him in, so we have a new one!

They're still in Greece, but Ash is feeling the breezeless evening, so there's this gradient T-shirt combo from It Lives in the Woods/It Lives Beneath.

I removed the bead necklace, as Ash doesn't usually wear much jewelry except for the Brand pendant that Adrian gave him, and it seems a bit too young for him since the books are teenager based and he's twenty-six.

Because when they return to New York, all they have is what's in the suitcases, I put Ash in his hoodie from Paris but edited the black hood that goes with the hoodie in It Lives Beneath to be Grey Marl so Ash could have it up as protection from the dust and light debris.

For the Abandoned Mall fight chapter, the original MC outfit is denim and lace. I just swapped it for an outfit from Ride or Die, which also appears in America's Most Eligible. The double denim and chains combo.

(Peep the engagement ring from Adrian on his left hand. I edited it from the ring box in the Bloodbound Solstice files but changed it to a silver band in Photoshop by removing the original ring and adding a styled filter in Photoshop, so it looked painted like the other assets.)

[mynotsohealthyobsession]

Hello, I like the stories you create, especially the one about Bloodbound. Can you create a story about Adrian Raines, MC, and Zuri again? Thank you!

Hi darling! Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm truly happy you enjoy them! And... Omg, it's like you read my mind! I just finished this piece of them and let me tell you, be ready for an overdose of cuteness! lol (Or at least that it's how it felt while writing it!) I just love them together! Here hoping you enjoy it!

First birthday

Pairing: Adrian Raines x MC x OC Zuri (their daughter)

Warning: Just a tiny bit of angst but fluff fluff fluff!

Words: 1.133

As always, tagging in the reblog!

Amy turned around on the bed, surprised to see the absence of Adrian's arm around her and his side of the bed empty. She hadn't heard the baby monitor go off so she knew Zuri hadn't disturbed his sleep. She stood up and walked towards the baby's room first. When she pushed open the ajar door, a little smile blossomed on her face, watching Adrian attentively looking at their little girl. She tip-toed up to him and hugged his waist from behind, kissing his nape.

"Is she okay? I didn't hear her cry." Amy whispered as he turned, holding her back and kissing her forehead.

"She's fine, love. I woke up and took the opportunity to check on her." 

"And you? Do you feel alright?" 

"Everything is just perfect." She studied him for a bit before gently cupping his cheek, making him look at her. Zuri's first birthday would be in a couple of days and Amy was pretty sure what was going on in his mind.

"We are okay. Nothing bad is going to happen to her. Or me." Adrian paused for a moment with a serious expression, before sighing, his shoulders slumped a little and his brows knitting together. 

"It scares me to think that history repeats itself. To lose everything I love again."

"It won't." She knew that he had lost his son just a few days after his first birthday.

 "I will mentally torture anyone that even tries to touch her." His hands squeezed her involuntarily. "They can ask Gaius how that feels." He quietly chuckled, a bit of tension smoking away from him. "I promised you, when I woke up, that you will never lose me again. Let me add something to that promise." Their eyes fixed to each other, intensely and profoundly. "You are not going to lose her either, Adrian."

"It just… You two are everything to me." His voice was low but filled with emotion, directing his gaze back at Zuri, still asleep in her crib. "My whole world." 

"Do you trust me?" He turned to her, surprised at the question.

"You know I trust you more than anyone or anything, Amy." 

"Then trust me when I say that nothing bad is going to happen." 

"I'll try, my love." She brushed his cheek with her lips before detangling from his hold. "But it's not easy…"

"Of course it's not. But you have to try." Slowly and tenderly, she lifted Zuri from the crib, careful to not wake her, leaning her on her shoulder. Her little arms rested on her chest, her mouth slightly open while Amy gently patted her back. "You deserved to enjoy every second with her, to not be worried or scared." He kissed Zuri's small head.

"Believe me, I am." Careful to not disturb the baby, he sweetly took Amy's lips with his. "I love you, my eternity."

"Almost eleven years together and you still sound as cheesy as the first time." She said with a little smirk as he silently chuckled and leaned his head against hers. "I love you too, handsome."

"As if you don't like it." Adrian winked at her.

"Of course I do. I mean, there's a reason I married you." Zuri moved against her causing Amy to tighten her hold a little more. "Let's go back to bed. This lady can sleep with us for a few days." She moved to the door, quietly walking to their bedroom, Adrian turned off the dim light and followed her. Carefully, she lowered Zuri's tiny frame onto the bed, laying her down in the space between them. Amy smiled at her as she caressed her cheek with the back of her finger, getting comfortable beside her. "Having her in our lives still amazes me sometimes.”

"I know the feeling. She's positively extraordinary." He gently and protectively rested his hand on her belly, his thumb stroking her tummy below the soft light pink onesie with the print of a joystick and the quote 'Player 3 has joined the game' that Lily had given her. Amy moved her finger, leading it inside the tiny loose fist, holding her hand, and kissed the side of her head until she fell asleep once more, her face almost touching Zuri's. 

Adrian stood awake a long time, simply observing them, hearing their steady heartbeats and the soothing rhythm of their breathing. He knew Amy was right, after all it had been years since something dangerous had happened to them but no matter how hard he tried, the uneasiness was still there. Zuri gave a little kick with her right leg and he smiled at her. When they had decided to start the adoption process, he knew he would love them no matter what but he hadn't expected it would be this much. At that time, he had noticed how worried Amy had been for him, trying not to make him feel they were replacing his first family. And he loved her for that, even more than he already did.

Zuri's cry called his attention. He picked her up, activating the bottle warmer with the remote, going to the kitchen so Amy could keep sleeping. He checked her diaper just in case but it was completely clean. 

"Sh sh, beautiful. It's almost done." He rocked her a bit, waiting the last two minutes until the bottle was ready, kissing her forehead. He took the bottle, offering it to her, smiling when she vigorously drank it, her bright eyes glued at him. "You and your mom are equally enthusiastic about food." Her gulps continued like that for a little while, becoming gradual until it finally stopped. Adrian left the almost empty bottle in the sink and gently leaned her over his shoulder, clapping her back softly, waiting for her burp. The little belch echoed in the kitchen, making him smile, and wiped her mouth with the towel he was holding. He gently lay her over his arm, calmly passing around, until her eyelids flushered, beginning to close again. "Time for bed, little angel." He returned to the bedroom, grinning at Amy profoundly asleep. By the time he sat her down on the mattress, her cute snores had begun again. He took the hem of the cover and pulled it up, making sure that neither of them were cold. As he looked at them he thought of all the years of darkness and pain, all the times that he had felt empty or lost. Of course he would never forget those years but… If it meant being this incredibly happy again, he would definitely go through all that again. Because they are definitely worth it. As his own eyelids started to close, a smile curved his lips up, noticing how Amy's finger, somehow, was in Zuri's grasp again.

💗

[baji-sideblog]

A little sneak peak for Quinn’s first day route

Don’t mind any spelling or grammar mistakes this is just getting everything written.

They’re so tempted to shake you

Also Topaz

[lover-also-fighter-also]

!!

From this ask

Introducing my Bloodbound MC, Lexi Wong

She is cis-woman, bi, half-chinese, loves lose-fitting clothes that make her comfortable, gives very less preference for looking sexy (even though she shamelessly is). She loves grey, red, purple and the respective dark shades.

Her parents got divorced when she was 7, owing to her mother's strange behavior, which later Lexi finds out is due to her bloodkeeper abilities flaring up every now and then. So she grows up with her dad in Texas, till she moves to New York for her job.

I'm still conflicted between Kamilah and Lily regarding her endgame LI, but she flirts and hooks up with all 4 of them.

[kilvalir]

kilvalir's choices works

Below the read more, you will find a compilation of all the choices content I've made so far. Beware of it lives within spoilers, not all the titles of the works ahead are spoiler-free.

Tags

These are the tags I normally use on my own creations.

Writing: #my writing Edits: #my edits Memes: #my memes Below are the tags I use for my own favourite it lives within main character, mr pink-hair up there, Vax Vũ-Verdant, and all content related to him, including those made by me, and those not made by me. Vax in general: #OC: Vax Vax with Lincoln: #Vaxlinc

Writing

A note on trigger warnings: all my writing lists any potential content warnings at the top of the work, with the work itself under a "read more" button.

1. Lincoln x MC angst fic - Heal what has been hurt (change the fate's design), part 1, part 2 2. Abel x MC ficlet - click 3. Excerpt of an unfinished Abel x MC angst - click 4. Abel x MC (ish) - a sinister Judas Kiss piece - click 5. Abel x MC joke fic - click 6. Pictures of You - ILW Main Cast Angst - click 7. In Progress Lincoln x MC Angst - part 1 8. Excerpt of a soft Lincoln x MC WIP - click 9. Little ILW MC Angst Piece - click

Edits

Another note on trigger warnings: warnings for edits are shown by caution emojis and what the warning is for, after the link. e.g ⚠️EXAMPLE ⚠️

Fake CGS and Book Covers:

1. Bashful Abel in a suit - click 2. Horror Abel - click⚠️GUNS ⚠️ 3. Horror Abel looming behind ILW MC - click ⚠️BODY HORROR ⚠️ 4. Suited Up Abel Leaning - click 5. ILW MC (Feens!) striding menacingly through an alley - click 6. Eiko x MOTY MC cover edit - click 7. Abel x ILW MC (Hilkka) reading by a tree - click 8. Blades MC (Raine) flying on a drake - click 9. Blades MC (Maiele), Tyril, and Imtura in battle - click 10. Martin Vanderweil x LOA MC edit - click 11. Gabe x Cas ready for battle - click

Sprite Edits (Part 1!):

1. Abel in Rowan's glasses - click 2. Sleeveless Abel with long hair - click 3. Long-hair Abel in a flower crown - click 4. ILW MC in Abel's sweater - click 5. Pirate Abel #1 - click 6. Pirate Abel #2 - click 7. Pirate Abel #3 - click 8. Horror Abel - click ⚠️BODY HORROR ⚠️ 9. Grandpa Abel - click 10. Crying Abel - click ⚠️DEATH AND ILW SPOILERS ⚠️ 11. Bearded Abel and beardless Lincoln - click 12. Merman Abel - click 13. Abel x ILW MC heist suits - click 14. Amalia dressed as her younger self - click 15. Lincoln dressed as his younger self - click 16. Beckett (TE) as a wood nymph - click 17. Lincoln as an elf - click 18. Tom as a mage - click 19. Jean Jacket Lincoln with his hair down - click 20. Nik Ryder if he was in ATV - click 21. ILW MC (Vax) lookbook - click ⚠️ILW SPOILERS ⚠️ 22. ILW MC (Vax) expressions - click 23. ILW MC (Vax) in the ILW ballroom dress - click 24. ILW MC (Vax) in an immortal desires dress - click ⚠️ILW SPOILERS ⚠️ 25. ILW MC (Rowan) as a snow queen - click 26. TE MC (Anitha) as a mermaid - click 27. Blades MC as a shadow court member - click 28. Desire and Decorum MC as a fairy - click 29. ILW MC (Vax) pride edits - click

Sprite Edits (Part 2!)

30. Lincoln x MC edits - click⚠️ILW SPOILERS ⚠️ 31. ILW MC's Goth Mom - click 32. LOA MC x Martin Vanderweil edits - click 33. ILW OC Expression Sheet - click 34. ILW OC Full Body Sprite - click 35. ILW MC (Nishiki) Robes Outfit - click ⚠️ILW SPOILERS ⚠️ 36. ILW MC (Nishiki) Casual Outfit - click 37. ILW MC (Vax) lit up with Power - click ⚠️ILW SPOILERS ⚠️ 38. ILW MC (Vax) Before and After GIFs - click ⚠️FLASHING IMAGES, ILW SPOILERS ⚠️

Misc. Edits:

1. Rheya (BB) fragment piece, with the cracks removed - click ⚠️BLOOD AND BLOODBOUND B2 SPOILERS⚠️ 2. Abel Valentines Cards - click 3. Abel Moodboard - click 4. Gaius (BB) fragment piece, with the cracks removed - click ⚠️BLOOD, DEAD PEOPLE, AND BLOODBOUND B1 SPOILERS⚠️

Art

1. LOA MC x Martin Vanderweil portraits - click

Memes

1. Abel vs Connor - click ⚠️ILW SPOILERS ⚠️ 2. Abel, Jocelyn, and ILW mc - someone will die... - click 3. Horror Connor when you flirt with more than one person - click 4. Abel, Annie, and mentioned MC - she thinks it's fancy? - click 5. Lincoln x MC - a smile might be nice... - click 6. Devon, Power MC - I'm literally shaking.. - click 7. Abel x MC - no principles - click 8. MC and most LIs - please sir, can I have some more? - click 9. Lincoln x MC - breakfast takes a turn - click 10. Abel and Lincoln - on the matter of sleep.. click 11. ILW MC - the key to happiness.. click 12. Abel & ILW MC - frown meme uno reverse (follow up to #5) - click 13. ILW - quit telling everyone I'm dead! - click ⚠️ILW SPOILERS ⚠️

[iolesgallery]

Pretty women who are doomed by the narrative own my heart

(kinda spoiler under the cut but this is an original work)

[zhoras-bitch]

My Playchoices MCs #11

There's been a lot of Bloodbound on my dash lately and it made me want to shake off the dust from my BB headcanons. This Evita, my precious little ball of depression and existential dread. If you know who I named her after, you get a cookie. Also, yes, I stole her middle name from @gaiuskamilah. Headcanons under the cut.

First | Previous | Next | All

Was almost a literature major, but went into communications instead after her parents vetoed the idea with, ‘You’ll never get a job with that degree!’ 

She does like social sciences, but her real passion is stuffy old books (affectionate). Specifically, she is partial to deep, dark, sometimes surreal and maybe a little tedious works. I can see her reading Dostoevsky, Camus, Unamuno etc.

Besides Spanish and English, can speak decent French and Portuguese.

Went back here to add that she's a trans woman after this headcanon has completely taken over my brain.

Evita's Bloodkeeper abilities began to manifest when she was very young, way before her transition and before she even knew she was trans. The visions started caming to her in the form of dreams, and seeing how bloody and cruel vampire history is, those dreams were often pretty fucked up. So Evita was a perpetually tired and kind of jumpy kid and teen. Thankfully, she didn't remember most of those dreams back then.

Evita grew up in a Catholic family, so the existence of vampires and their whole lore were hard for her to reconcile. By the end of book 3, she's not even sure what she believes in anymore.

Doesn’t like lying and is kind of bad at it.

Her wardrobe is kind of dull. Evita's style is business casual, with no bright colours or flashy patterns. She wears a lot of black and even more button-up shirts.

Prefers tea to coffee.

Very much asexual, cannot determine whether her feelings are romantic or platonic to save her life.

She had a… relationship with Lily where they were toeing the line between friends and lovers for years. And then Lily died before they could figure it out.

Yeah, the series finale is not really a happy ending for her. Post book 3 Evita is a total wreck. She's going through a crisis of faith, her best friend is dead, and without her, Evita feels like the last thread that connected her to her humanity is gone.

On the bright side, Adrian promotes her to be the representative of Raines Corps. internationally (yay?). Evita uses the opportunity to travel around Europe and other parts of the world. For a while, I think she distances herself from Adrian, Kamilah and Jax. She needs the time to just reflect.

During that time, she finds purpose in seeking out newly turned and just lone vampires and helping them navigate their new life. If there's s risk they might turn Feral, she gives them her own brand, a lily. She didn't plan to rule over them or anything, but over the years she kind of naturally starts being referred to as the leader of her own clan.

Gaius and she have a... relationship. They meet when Evita is traveling in Europe sometime after the finale. And they find themselves in a similar place psychologically: struggling to understand who the fuck they even are and what they are supposed to do with their lives. Like with Lily, it's all on the verge of romantic and platonic (that's a theme with Evita). And with their long ass vampire lifespans, it probably takes them decades to figure it out.

[a-cloud-for-dreams]

If we met in another life…things could have been different…

Gaius and Evelyn

[clansayeed]

The Evening ― a Bound by Destiny drabble

⥼ Summary ⥽

While Nadya is busy making friends among the Ball's other human guests, Adrian and Kamilah retreat to the vampire-exclusive La Soiree. It is there that Adrian meets a pair of vampires with which to spend the evening... and finds himself caught up in the scintillating air of their natural mystery.

note: This piece takes place during Bound by Destiny, during the events of Chapter 10: The Cellar. It is not necessary to read to understand Book 1 or the Oblivion Bound series, but it does provide a fun insight into both Adrian and the original characters Valdas and Isseya.

word count: 4,175 rating: mature content warnings: language, blood drinking, vaguely-described sexual situations find out more: HERE

⥼ MASTERLIST ⥽

[READ IT ON AO3]

By the third time Kamilah sweeps her gaze across the room he’s had enough.

“You don’t need to babysit me all night. Do you think I’m going to up and retreat the moment you turn your back?”

The look she gives him isn’t entirely unwarranted; a simple arched brow and the kind of breath that shifts her bosom at the top of her corset but serves only to be seen and understood.

For as long as he’s known her, Adrian has been fascinated with Kamilah’s skill of speaking columns without so much as an utterance. Maybe it comes with age. More likely it’s just something uniquely Kamilah.

“Give yourself a tad more credit Adrian.” She curls a single finger in the air; summoning a serving boy from out of his line of sight and plucks her choice of dark amber liquor from his offered assortment. “‘Retreat’ is not a word in your lexicon.”

The same silver tray is offered to Adrian. He declines, and the servant flits away.

“You know what I mean.”

Kamilah savors her drink for a long moment. “Perhaps I did, once. Now, however, I find myself in need of a translator where you are concerned.”

And… well, isn’t that entirely not what he was expecting. “What’s that about?”

“It is about the changes I’ve seen in you over the last few months. I’ve yet to determine whether or not to be concerned.”

“A chan—” But before he can even get the full question out, Kamilah cuts him off.

“Do not play the fool to me. Never to me.”

Eyes sharp as the daggers she collects so avidly; plum-tinted lips curled into a frown usually reserved for literally anyone else. All of her discontent plain to see despite the heady fog of incense that curls around the foyer and its guests.

But it’s not exactly difficult for Adrian to figure out the source of her ire. The unspoken name that’s kept her on her toes.

Only Adrian wouldn’t dare do anything but call Nadya a profoundly positive influence on his life. Not even just his—Kamilah’s, too. How long has it been since he’s heard even the whisper of amusement curled into the corners of her mouth? Or seen a kindness as simple as slipping Nadya her Clan symbol so she wouldn’t have to brave the train ride without them at her side?

One of his great personal tragedies of the last century was being forced into the role of silent witness to the hardening of Kamilah Sayeed’s heart. And yet she sits here in front of him and implies he’s the only one changed by the strange yet welcome break in immortal tedium ignited by their wondrous new human friend.

Alas, Adrian isn’t the least bit surprised.

He’s young (compared to her, anyway), but not stupid.

Before Adrian can speak a word in his own defense a familiar and throaty laugh catches the pair’s attention. It has Adrian looking beyond her shoulder while Kamilah twists lithely to join him in watching Lester’s entrance to the evening’s events.

To no one’s surprise their fellow Council member has arrived with a beautiful woman gracing each arm. Mortal, given the flush in their cheeks — and no doubt a disturbingly small fraction of his presumed age. He postures; he always does. Loud bellowing guffaws and over-exaggerated reunions with old friends he will need plenty of liquor to recall the names of.

By the time he’s made his way across the foyer there’s an entire Castellanos entourage on his heels. And as quickly as they gathered… they all vanish together too. Gone behind one of several doorways draped in maroon velvet.

Attentions turning back to one another, the looks Adrian and Kamilah exchange make his heart feel a little bit lighter. Even when they aren’t eye-to-eye on one thing, they will always be on the same team.

“Well we know which salon to steer clear of.” Adrian muses.

“I would venture caution even to those which share a wall with his den of debauchery.”

That, however, brings up the unspoken discussion neither of them have wanted to set in motion. The one where they discuss their own and each others’ participation in the soiree’s intended purpose.

Kamilah is certainly dressed for it. And Adrian isn’t even the only one around them wearing a simple suit — sometimes what is not revealed is just as tantalizing as what is, after all.

So he sighs, accepts defeat, and politely stops the closest server for his pick of red wines on offer. “I’ll stay—salut,” his raised glass meets hers between them, “but I’ve got too much on my mind to even think about… joining in.”

Knowing it’s the best she’s going to get out of him, Kamilah accepts this and begins to unwind herself from the supple leather sofa.

“One of these days you might want to try not shouldering the world’s every burden.”

“One of these days.”

“And when such a day comes, I might just die from shock.”

“Just don’t resent me for being your demise.”

With a bemused little smile Kamilah bends down to bestow chaste kisses to his cheeks. It’s enough to give Adrian a strange yet fleeting sense of relief. “I cannot make any promises about not holding it against you,” she teases. “But in all seriousness— do try to find something to keep you entertained tonight. You might even find yourself enjoying what opportunity comes along. It does so only once a decade, if you recall.”

Then Kamilah takes her leave. Adrian watches her go for lack of anything better to do… though the sight of her greeting an unfamiliar woman with a coy smile and friendly kisses isn’t exactly easy on him. He’s glad she’s giving into the opportunity to let loose even a little bit — but knowing what Adrian does about Nadya and her feelings towards Kamilah…

Well, he’s frustrated. Torn between two loyalties. But that’s nothing new.

La Soiree is still in its early hours. Eventually the foyer, still bustling with the last wave of attendees under the impression fashionably late has modern relevance, will be no more than an echoing chamber. And Adrian still doesn’t know if he plans on being one of the scant few left behind.

Wistfully his thoughts drift—unsurprisingly—to Nadya and the Cellar party happening below. Maybe he could pop in. Could check and just make sure she’s acclimating and finding friends and doing well. But would the attendants even let him in…?

The other end of the long couch sighs. Drawing Adrian’s attention to the man helping himself in taking up Kamilah’s place.

He gives the stranger a polite nod out of sheer courtesy — already readying himself to stand and take his leave.

“Surely there is enough room to share?”

Adrian blinks, startled. Looking back at the man but unsure of what to say.

“Yes, you,” the stranger offers a small chuckle and a sweeping hand to all of the empty cushions around them. “There’s no need to leave. In fact, I invite the pleasure of your company.”

The pleasure of his company? Words no doubt carefully-chosen here… of all places.

“Unless…” The man shrugs one shoulder before looking up at Adrian through obviously lowered lashes. “You have a prior engagement, of course.”

Something about the unspoken implication rubs Adrian the wrong way; and makes him debate staying solely to prove the man wrong. There’s a touch of the sinner in the glint of the stranger’s honeyed eyes and the almost predatory way he watches Adrian while sipping his drink.

Apparently… he’s doing this. Adrian sits back down… and tries to reassure himself of the feeling that he may not have really had a choice in the matter. Of course he did.

… Right?

The other vampire doesn’t bother hiding the victory lacing his smile. “Forgive me, where are my manners…”

He extends a dark hand… and the moment Adrian reciprocates the other takes it as unspoken permission to snatch up the empty cushion between them.

“You will call me Valdas.”

Oh will he? “Adrian, Adrian Raines.”

Only Valdas doesn’t relinquish his grip so easily. Leaving Adrian watching with growing confusion and unease as he turns over their joined hands with a tender curiosity.

“Ease the tension in your jaw. It isn’t good for such a handsome face to always look so displeased with the world.”

Reluctantly, Adrian does. “I don’t think I look… displeased,” and brushing the barely-concealed compliment aside… “May I have my hand back, Valdas?”

Apparently not. Well-trimmed nails brush along the inside of his upturned wrist. They linger in the same way winter just won’t let the city go in February. The barest touch dragging along the lines of Adrian’s palm in a way only a lover’s should.

Valdas hums as if pleased. “The trained eye can always tell who among us are survivors of the days of old. Indulge me this, Adrian Raines — I would put you at two, three centuries walking?”

“Pardon?”

“You are pardoned. I’m asking for your age, young man.” Which is a strange endearment to hear from someone who looks pretty close to him in physical age at the very least. Adrian can almost imagine a bit of a baby face hiding under that thick and well-trimmed beard.

While asking someone’s age isn’t any taboo among their kind—especially those gathered at La Soiree—Adrian can’t help but feel a little bit uncomfortable; sharing his age with a man he’s only just met. It’s a clear indicator at the very least that he’s not from around New York or the surrounding states. If he was he’d know Adrian by sight. And age has always been an important measure of decorum — among the Council anyway. It’s why the likes of the Baron will always hesitate before crossing Kamilah; or even Adrian himself for that matter.

Kamilah had even explained to him once the importance of age in the old European vampire culture. How it dictated everything from eye contact to forms of address to even whether you could speak to someone at all.

If Adrian’s placing this Valdas’ accent even remotely geographically close… these could be dangerous waters ahead.

Subtly, Adrian tries to coax his hand free. “Is it that important?”

He fails. Earning instead the stroke of a roughly calloused thumb over the top of his palm. “My curiosity has you uncomfortable,” Valdas answers; a statement that leaves Adrian slightly taken aback.

“Well, no, I —”

The other vampire’s grasp tightens suddenly. It’s minuscule, but definitely noteworthy.

“I do not ask the same thing twice.”

That Adrian doesn’t have a hard time believing. At this rate it’s just easier to answer and get it over with. “I’ve never had a reason to count the years off,” he coolly lies, but still offers, “somewhere over the head of two hundred and fifty, though.”

His acquiescence is met favorably; an almost proud curve added to Valdas’ smile while he nods.

“Yes. I thought so.”

“How could you tell?”

Valdas seems glad Adrian asks. He gestures with a sweep of his thumb over calluses so old Adrian often forgets they’re there; no more important or defining unto him than the scar on his foot from the angry end of a horseshoe nail in his youth, or the chip on his bottom tooth he had been forced to wait for modern dentistry to finally get corrected.

Judging by the way Valdas looks at them, too, their permanence is kind of the whole point.

“The evidence is here, do you see? So many of us lucky enough to have survived have telltale marks such as these. Marks from a farmer’s labor or a blacksmith’s skill. Yours, Adrian, are a tad more distinct though. I would recognize another soldier’s hands anywhere.”

There was once a time when Adrian would have recoiled at the assumption. It didn’t matter if it was true or not. But Gaius has been gone for so long, now. Titles like Soldier, like Bloodqueen, have faded into nothing more than words; as mundane as their current occupations of CEO and Council Member.

“You’re a regular Sherlock Holmes, huh.”

Valdas again shrugs a single shoulder. Then he turns his own hand up and into Adrian’s cupped palm to reveal his own similarly rough hewn skin.

“Deduction has its uses to be sure. But I’ve found experience to be a far more adept means of investigation.”

At least Adrian can take his hand back, now.

“Well I guess my eye isn’t as trained. I hope you’re not waiting for me to guess your age.”

“Why would I, when the time it would take you to do so even close to accurately could be spent in far more amicable ways?”

In the time it takes Adrian to realize his intended insult, Valdas throws his arm over the back of the couch and allows himself to sink further into the pliant leather for comfort.

Well, Adrian thinks, there are worse ways to spend the evening.

He could be in the same room as Lester.

“I take it you are local to the area?”

Adrian nods. “Well—Manhattan, yes.”

“I mean to say that this is not your first of these events.” Valdas gestures broadly to the foyer around them; growing more empty with every passing minute. The intricate and semi-sexual dance of small talk and choosing partners seems to be nearly over.

Ah. “Oh, no then,” he answers. “What about you?” Since it’s highly unlikely his companion is here for someone’s Debut.

“‘Tis our first on this continent. Though the Balls of old hosted by the young Lord Lafayette weren’t so specific in nature back then — they never were.”

There’s… quite a bit to unpack there in a simple statement; and Adrian doesn’t really know where to begin. Maybe that’s a good thing—famous last thoughts—when Valdas reaches forward and cards a surprisingly gentle touch through his hair.

Adrian should be leaning away.

Why isn’t he leaning away?

Because apparently once again Kamilah is proven right — only this time she isn’t even here to reap the spoils of her victory. And because maybe it has been a while since Adrian has… indulged himself with the company of another. It’s not as though Valdas isn’t an attractive man; that’s not it at all. He just isn’t the first person Adrian would have picked out in a room full of equally eligible vampires ranging from casually friendly to just plain horny.

So where does that leave them?

It leaves Adrian speechless; a wordless yet not entirely unwilling participant to the way the other vampire takes slow and purposeful advances. It’s not like Valdas is trying to lure him in falsely with a ruse. They both know exactly what’s going on, what each movement and action mean, and what they could very well build up to.

And Valdas is surprisingly patient as he waits to see if his affections will be reciprocated… or politely refused.

Adrian Raines is a polite man by nature. However he doesn’t refuse.

The rough pad of Valdas’ thumb swipes over Adrian’s bottom lip slowly and with care. Pressing down with the barest of pressure; just enough to feel the tip of his nail on his front tooth.

There’s a point to this brief hesitation. Now would be the time to tell him to stop, if that’s the plan.

Instead, Adrian asks— “Which party would you be referring to, exactly? The Ball, or La Soiree?”

The answer to Adrian’s question lies not in words, but in the way Valdas moves his hand to hold the other’s chin with thumb and forefinger; in the way Adrian follows by allowing his head to cant to the side, welcoming a warm exhale of breath on his neck.

Valdas’ lips tease just shy of a kiss. There’s the tickle of his facial hair that Adrian hasn’t felt in—phew—at least two decades, maybe more? Sensations both familiar in theory and new in specific experience. All that and the air of hunger that hangs over them, sultry and sweet.

Adrian’s half-lidded eyes briefly sweep the room around them in a daze; looking but not really seeing anything from beyond this moment the men have sealed themselves in. Why would he even bother — when there’s still so much to be taken in from the awakening his body is undergoing?

That strong grip winds its way into Adrian’s coiffed hair — clutching at soft strands and digging into his scalp. Like the hand’s owner was born in the tumultuous storm straddling pleasure and pain and has never left it.

“May I?”

Two words given breath and life wet against Adrian’s throat. He isn’t given the chance to answer… but he doesn’t need to when blunted teeth suddenly give way to something sharper.

The lightest twitch is all it takes for Valdas’ fangs to pierce Adrian’s flesh. It’s a carnal act as much as it is a relief; eliminating the need to navigate the murky waters of speech any further.

They sit together, each man’s existence honed in on the other, for what feels like an eternity. The soiree, the Ball itself; everything could continue to move and flow around them and Adrian is quite sure he would be none the wiser.

Yet every time he reaches out to offer some kind of physical reciprocation, Valdas declines. Whether it’s seeking out his cheeks or hair, trying to skirt touches to his neck or shoulders… even when Adrian tries to switch subtle tactics and goes for the buttons of Valdas’ dress shirt with certainty—the other man pushes his hands back in a silent command to simply enjoy. To allow himself to be enjoyed.

The next attempt becomes his last. Rejection joined this time by punishment of Adrian’s hands held bound in his own lap. He really doesn’t have a choice after that.

Somewhere in the din of it all the hairs on the back of Adrian’s arms prickle with gooseflesh. It’s enough to drag him into awareness beyond the heated coil burning in his belly and back to the world that—somehow, like a fever dream—exists outside of Valdas’ extremely talented mouth.

They are being watched.

They are being enjoyed.

One of the staff tries to offer the woman an hors d’oeuvre; just doing her job, being polite. But even from across the room Adrian can see the tension rippling underneath supple olive skin; can sense it in the shift of her lithe body under the dim lighting of the chandelier, and in the way the sheer veils that cover just enough of her skin glide effortlessly along her body and curves.

She is dark black hair in ringlets around sharp cheekbones and a sharper jawline. One eye the color of a tree in morning light and the other an ivy-toned green; both pupils blown wide and black and seemingly endless. And her smile… oh how her fangs catch pearlescent in the light.

He has absolutely no idea who she is.

That doesn’t stop her from staring at them with eyes giving new definition to the word desire.

But the attention starts to unnerve Adrian slightly. Enough to make him twitch and move under Valdas’ continued bloodstained attentions — though his body isn’t sure where to go.

Judging by the tightening grip on his hair… nowhere.

But even through whatever lusting frenzy has him so enamored, Valdas doesn’t ignore the chance of ambiance. Rather than pull back entirely he simply shifts; coyly tucking his face into Adrian’s fluttering pulse in order to cast a subtle glance at what exactly has his new treat ready to flee.

“Ah, yes,” he croons, a familiarity in his tone that catches Adrian off guard, “she can be rather… intense at first. But I assure you darling, she means no harm. Well… none that will go unrewarded anyway.”

Blinking through the haze of Valdas is harder than Adrian expected it to be. “You… know her?” He asks.

Only the second the words pass his lips he no longer needs them. Only then does he remember Valdas’ earlier choice of words—

“…our first time…”

—and it all makes sense.

“She’s your… partner.”

Valdas chuckles lowly; lets his rumbling voice thickened with arousal burrow itself a home beneath Adrian’s skin.

“To call her such a plain term is almost an insult — not that you could have known. If my beloved is merely my partner, then this—here, you and I—is nothing more than a business-like chat.”

Which they both know is an understatement. Point proven when Valdas finally releases his wrists, reaching between their entwined bodies to palm the evidence of Adrian’s enjoyment of even the little they’ve done so far. Finding him full and aching; eager for release against the tight fabric of his suit slacks.

“I can’t recall business ever putting me… here.” Hard, confused; the itch of the role of prey tingling the base of his spine in a way it hadn’t since Adrian was Turned.

And all-too-quickly due to that woman’s unwavering stare.

Valdas wrenches Adrian’s focus back from across the room with a squeeze. Watching and relishing every expression flickering across Adrian’s face with rapt obsession. “I’m gladdened to know you aren’t opposed to Isseya’s voyeurism.”

Any protests that might have been are thus no longer. They die on the tip of Adrian’s tongue; swallowed down so quickly he almost chokes on them in exchange for the moan Valdas pulls from him when he skillfully destroys Adrian’s button fly without a care.

His head falls back against the back of the chaise, his world sent off-kilter, everything distorted at the edges of his sight.

Only to be brought back by the slow and purposeful approach of the tigress called Isseya.

Deceitfully delicate hands fall on his shoulders. The whisper of a soft thumb stroking the juncture where Adrian’s neck meets his shoulder that quickly grows heavy. Effortlessly she is holding him down — pinned and prone.

Isseya leans over him then — fully aware of how her supple breasts follow the curve of her spine to lean just within reach of his parted lips. But the kiss she captures Valdas with becomes a form of distraction all its own.

Humans invented monogamy because to them life was fleeting. Vampires have a very different mindset—and rightly so. There are dozens of ways two (or more) of their kind can define the relationships they have between one another and all together; probably even more than Adrian knows.

But as he watches their tongues tangle soft and exploratory, two of Valdas’ fingers tucking under Isseya’s chin and the control held in such a simple touch… Adrian quickly learns, and understands.

Calling her partner really was a kind of insult. It belittles them and what they are together; what they have. What they let wash over Adrian in building desperation and raising volume wet and eager and only continuing to grow.

What would it be like to kiss someone like that, Adrian finds himself wondering. It’s not an answer, but as if under a compulsion he watches himself lend Valdas a hand by hooking his finger into the rope belt hanging low on Isseya’s hips — like that could somehow hold her there.

The couple press their foreheads together briefly before parting in a silent reckoning. Isseya’s gaze trails lazily back to Adrian like he’s an afterthought.

Oh, yes. You exist.

“You always find me the prettiest presents, My Beloved One.” Her voice rings like chimes on a twilight breeze.

With a chuckle and a nod, Valdas resumes his earlier pursuit — fingers dipping steadily below Adrian’s bespoke waistline to take his arousal in hand. “Who said he was yours?”

“I did.”

“I rather like him for mine own.”

“Cruel, lover.”

Adrian wants to interject; though at the moment his brain is likely to say something stupid about not belonging to anyone, about being his own man. But it’s difficult to think when he’s… like this.

“Strong jaw, good cheekbones… You know I love the cheekbones.” Yet even the bare minimum of a compliment feels, coming from her, like worshipful praise.

His stare is glassy, and he looks up at Isseya with acceptance as well as desire. Another minute more and Adrian worries he might find it impossible to deny them both of anything. Especially the inevitable.

Maybe that’s the whole point.

“Does he suit your vision of the evening, my love?” Valdas asks, words breathed like worship into Isseya’s slender neck. The vampiress hums at the affection and question both, sweeping Adrian up in another of her all-consuming gazes.

“I’d have to taste of him, first.”

Rather than give her an answer, Valdas simply turns to Adrian with a single eyebrow raised.

The unspoken question hangs loudly between them all.

Well? The choice is his.

Well…

Adrian watches his hand cup the back of Isseya’s neck, pulling her in for a kiss.

There are worse ways to spend the evening.

[where-the-wind-travels]

decided to do the picrew thing ♡

left to right, top to bottom: amethyst grimes & euphemia labelle (ilw), darlene murphy (hss), maya minobe (rod), pamela harper (d&d), yuuto kira (ilitw), mandy stone (mah), elias bellamy (ds) & raida pearce (bb)

[ezekielbhandarivalleros]

Friends with Roller Skates

Characters: Jake Tweneboah (My OC from Open Heart) and Ade Augustine (@aesthetic-aag OC from Bloodbound)

Summary: When nobody wants to play with Jake, Ade choses to Roller Skate with him when she herself has nobody to play with 

Rating - General 

Tags - @aesthetic-aag @princess-geek @secretaryunpaid @choicesficwriterscreations

Written for me and @aesthetic-aag’s Friendship Anniversary!

Jake Tweneboah was not impressed. He did not want to be in this day care at all, but shortly after he had turned five, his grandmother had been offered a job for one day in the week. Since his parents also worked aboard (Something they never liked to tell him), and there was no other family living nearby, Jake’s grandmother had opted to send him here once a week. They said he would make friends here, but none of the kids here wanted to play with him, saying that he looked and talked funny.

Jake didn't understand why that would effect them to not want to play with him.

Not that he wanted to play the games they were playing anyway. Hide and seek would undoubtedly make him dirty, and playing tag would make him sweaty, both of which he loathed. He would draw, but every seat at the drawing table was taken, and he most definitely didn't want to listen to the weird girl talking all the time.

In the end, that reduced Jake opted sitting by himself at one of the clean tables, watching the other kids have fun. He sighed. He just wanted to go home, but his Grandmother had made him promise to at least try this day care. She had been very happy excited the job offer, but Jake knew that she would stay home with him if he didn't like it here. He bit his lip. Why couldn't his grandmother just stay home? He did promise could be a good boy and start school when he got older!

"Hi," a voice suddenly came from next to Jake. Looking up, he saw a girl, slightly smaller than him, smiling happily at him. "I like your shoes," the girl told him a little shyly.

Jake grinned. Up until that point, all the other kids had told him that his shoes, along with the rest of his clothes, were stupid. "Thank you," he replied politely, remembering how his Grandmother always told him to have good manners. "Whoa," he continued, catching sight of the girl's facial features. "Your cheeks are huge!" The girl frowned, looking a bit hurt. "They're really cool, though!" Jake tried to reassure her.

The girl smiled a little again. "Thanks," she muttered, glancing at the kids playing in the courtyard. "All the other kids say I'm a freak because of them."

Now it was Jake's turn to frown. "That's not very nice," he said. "I don't think you're a freak. But they call me that too because they don't like my clothes."

The girl looked at him with wide eyes. "I like your clothes!"

Again, Jake grinned. "Thanks! I'm Jake, by the way!"

The girl held out a hand for Jake to shake. "I'm Ade! Do you want to roller-skate with me?" She gestured towards his feet, and he blinked. He hadn't even noticed that Ade had been wearing roller-skates all this time.

He wrinkled his nose. "But if I fall, my clothes will get dirty," he reminded Ade. After all, Ade liked his clothes, right? He wouldn't want them to get dirty.

"I'll hold your hand," Ade promised. "My mum taught me to skate some time ago. It's really fun!"

Jake bit his lip. He really didn't want to get his clothes dirty, but Ade was the first kid his age to talk to him without making fun of him. She even seemed to want to be Jake's friend. "O-Okay," he stuttered in the end. "But you have to hold my hand all the time."

Ade nodded eagerly before standing up. She skated clumsily, Jake noted towards the shed where the play stuff was kept. Jake got up a little more hesitantly. He hoped Ade would keep her promise, and not make fun of him as well when she noticed Jake couldn't skate at all.

When he arrived at the shed, Ade was already going through the roller-skates as if life depended on it. Jake watched her for a moment, before he realised that hardly any of those skates would go well with his outfit. And while Ade had expressed her love for Jake's clothes, Jake knew better than to expect the girl to be able to color-coordinate as well as he did.

He took a few more steps towards Ade, hoping that the few skates that wouldn't clash with his outfit were his size. Just then, Ade held up a pair of awfully orange skates. "Maybe these fit?" she asked excitedly, but Jake just stared at the skates with a horrified expression on his face. Ade's face fell. "You don't like them?"

"They're orange" Jake replied, unable to keep his distaste for the colour out of his tone. He moved even closer to the shed and picked up the nearest pair that didn't look too awful. "I'll wear these."

 Ade looked confused. "Aren't those much too big for you?"

"Maybe," Jake said, not wanting to give Ade any indication that she was, in fact, very right – these particular skates looked like Jake could fit both his feet in one skate. He hurried back to where he'd been sitting previously. After carefully taking his shoes off, he put the skates on. He bit his lip, Ade had been completely right. These skates were obviously meant for bigger kids.

"Jake?" Ade shuffled closer, seeming a little unsure of herself. "Do you want these instead? You'll fall if you wear those…"

Jake glanced at the pair of skates she was carrying. They seemed familiar somehow. "Aren't those your skates?" he asked when it hit him. Ade nodded sheepishly, and Jake immediately looked down at her feet.

She was wearing the bright orange skates instead.

This time, Jake managed to keep himself from scowling at them. After all, he didn't have to wear them.

He carefully took the skates from Ade and kicked off the skates he was currently wearing – which just proved how large they really were. Ade sat down next to him again, watching Jake as he put on the skates.

"Thank you," Jake said earnestly. Ade was really nice, he found. Not only did she want to play with Jake, she didn't even mind giving up the skates she had already put on.

Ade smiled in response, and when she saw that Jake had the skates on, Jake swore she even squealed. Hastily, Ade stood up again appearing to lose her balance at some point, but she didn't fall. Jake hoped Ade could teach him how to do that and extended both her hands for Jake to grab. Jake instantly latched onto them before standing upright 

And he promptly fell over. Ade tried to catch him, but thanks to the roller skates, she wasn't exactly stable either. Thus, she fell over as well, with Jake on top of her.

"Ouch," she muttered, obviously trying not to cry. Jake, although glad that his clothes were still intact, didn't like the fact that he'd almost made his new friend cry. He tried to get up from where he was lying, so he could tug up Ade this time. Before he was even fully standing, though, he lost his balance and fell again. Now he knew what Ade must feel – that really hurt.

He whimpered a little from the pain, but even before he could remember the fact that his clothes must be ruined now, Ade extended a hand towards him once more, giving him a slightly nervous smile. "Want to try again?" she asked quietly. "Please don't cry."

Sniffing a little, Jake nodded. If Ade could hold back her tears, so could he, right? This time, Ade leaned against the table to pull Jake up, so that they wouldn't immediately fall over again. Once they were both standing Ade tried to steady Jake, who couldn't seem to remain standing still for half a second. This only caused Jake to panic more and Ade too.

"Come on," Kurt's new friend said frantically. "Let's see if you can skate…"

"Ade!" Jake yelped, as she dragged him along. If he couldn't even stand on these things, how was he supposed to move forward? He tried to ignore his fears and just concentrated on the fact that Ade was still holding his hand firmly. He wouldn't fall, he wouldn't fall, he wouldn't fall…

‘Jake?" she realized only now that he'd closed his eyes at some point. "If you don't move your legs, you'll never see if you can skate."

Jake wanted to shake his head, wanted to tell Ade to please bring him back to his table in the classroom. Instead, he found himself hesitantly placing one foot in front of the other, and then again, and again…

Smiling brightly, he turned to Ade before quickly turning his head back towards his feet, so he wouldn't fall again. "I can do it!" he exclaimed happily. "I'm skating, Ade!"

In response, Ade squeezed his hand as they moved on, slowly circling the playground. "You're great!" Ade assured him after a couple of rounds. "Maybe you can skate by yourself already!"

Without thinking of any possible consequences, Jake nodded, and Ade let go of his hand. Amazed, Jake kept skating around, making sure not to get too close to the other children who were running around and getting dirty. He could do this. He could actually skate. Ade kept skating next to him, although Jake was sure that his friend could probably move much faster than that. He contemplated telling Ade to just skate as her own speed, before remembering that she was the only kid here willing to play with him. And he, Jake, was the only one who wanted to play with Ade.

So he didn't tell Ade she could go ahead.

Some time later, Ade asked him, "Do you want to stop? I'm getting a little tired…"

Jake nodded, suddenly feeling a little tired as well. "Sure," he replied, "let's go back to the table."

As soon as they were there and Jake stood still once more, he felt like he was falling down again. He gripped the table and threw a panicking look around. Ade stared at him in shock. "You can skate, but you can't stand still? That's weird; when I started, it was the other way around. Are you – "

Wow. Ade talked just as much as that weird girl Jake always would avoid. Only Jake actually liked it when Ade talked, because she didn't just talk about herself. Oh, and she didn't wear silly clothes and outfits like the weird girl did.

In the end, Jake managed to sit down at the bench, and he slowly moved towards where his shoes were still lying. When he looked up, Ade was gone. For a moment, Jake's expression fell. Did she not like him after all? This fear was proven to be false when Ade returned a few moments later.

Upon seeing Jake's questioning look, she held up her hand. "I had to get my shoes!" she told him. "They were over there," she added, waving her hand towards somewhere Jake couldn't really see.

They changed back into their shoes in silence, but then, Jake asked shyly, "Do you want to come see if we can draw now?" He felt a little uncertain, what if Ade didn't like drawing?

"Of course!" Ade replied, grinning back at Jake. "I love drawing!" She chattered on, Jake trying his best to reply whenever he was asked a question, as they brought the roller-skates back to the shed. Fortunately for them, a lot of the children who had been sitting at the drawing table before had moved away in order to play with Clay at a different Table. Jake looked their way longingly. He wanted to make something out of the clay as well, but he'd already asked Ade to draw with him. Not that he didn't like drawing – but he liked clay as well. Maybe they could do that another time?

"Come on, Jake!" Ade said enthusiastically, already grabbing a couple of nicely colored pencils and some paper. "Draw with me!"

And Jake did. They were still drawing when Jake’s Grandmother came to pick him up. Jake didn't want to leave his new friend all alone, but Jake told her that his Grandmother would probably come soon as well. Besides, they would see each other again next week. Jake actually felt a little sad about seeing Ade only once a week, especially since the other kids here didn't seem to like her very much.

"Maybe your mommy will let you come over some time," he told Ade conspiringly. Ade smiled gleefully at the prospect before hugging her new friend Jake tightly.

"Bye, Jake!" she told him softly.

Jake smiled back. "Bye, Ade!"

He would make sure to tell his Grandmother that if she wanted to work more than just one day per week, that was okay too.

[gfitzwillsebastianz3rd]

@bloodbound-selfship Did some edits of Diago Mendoza with Cain and Avery.

He's the best Security detail Senator Raines could hire, at least in Cain's time.

(For those that love Choices books, his Family, the Mendozas', are also featured in Big Sky Country, and Tatum, from Foreign Affairs, is his son.)

[choicesficwriterscreations]

Friends with Roller Skates

Characters: Jake Tweneboah (My OC from Open Heart) and Ade Augustine (@aesthetic-aag OC from Bloodbound)

Summary: When nobody wants to play with Jake, Ade choses to Roller Skate with him when she herself has nobody to play with 

Rating: General 

Author: @ezekielbhandarivalleros

[northboreas]

youre cursed, im cursed, we're cursed with each other. the curse doesn't exist. the curse is broken with a forehead kiss. i leave you, but i leave you with love. love that drew us together and is far too strong to ever be desolved. still, you'll hate me. the two are not mutually exclusive. you'll hate me and you should, but promise me that when the fog lifts that you will rise without me. swear it.

[bagelbark]

ok this was kind of funny icl

[themildestofwriters]

Lisa Stroud, Dragon of Los Angeles

Art by @hunbloom // Picrew available here

See the Prince’s errand girl. Strange, even by Kindred standards. Young, too, and Caitiff in all but name. “She won’t survive the night,” most thought, watching her escape death by the whims of politics, even as her sire was executed. “Bet,” challenged the gamblers. “She'll survive the night, but tomorrow — ? Fat chance!”

Yet, there she stood, days — weeks — months — later, even as bodies began piling up around her.

Potent blood oozes through her veins, tainted by powers far older than the Curse of Caine itself. Embraced to be the vessel of change; the streets of Los Angeles will never be the same again.