#LENORE STUNNED. AS SHE SHOULD BE

[coconut530]

MANIFESTING GIRLBOSS STYLE

[containatrocity]

He still seems somewhat surprised at the admission she always found him attractive whenever that fact comes up, the same way he'd been stunned to be informed that Wren had similarly enjoyed any shift they shared at the grocery store since his presence meant there was 'at least something worth staring at that wasn't the wall.' Cyan too had been pretty firm about the idea that G was a 'prettyboy' that would have done well on whatever an 'onlyfans' was- It's nice, he guesses, to know that his worst enemy in most places was his own self-doubt. "You know I always worried that I was like, weirding you out, or something." He reasons, as he follows her to the kitchen, checking the time on his phone before, after a moment of consideration, grabbing his box of cigarettes from the dresser- he could surely catch one more smoke in the meantime, ever-avoidant of smoking in the house, despite the knowledge that Josie likely wouldn't begrudge him the activity, so long as he shared. "Because I like, definitely had a staring problem, and talking to you was really hard when I was sober, because yanno you're... well." He motions to her as they settle in the kitchen.

She admits they were both pretty rough when they'd become friends, and he nods. "Well, I don't like to attribute anything to any sort of... higher power, you know? But maybe it was just the right time." He insists. "I've... not been this okay for a long time." Stable. Comfortable. His delusions present, but brought to heel through careful trial and error- and the willingness of others to keep him from shunning kindnesses. It's already becoming harder to remember a time before he was surrounded with friends- a time before the way he feels safe now. "Man, you know we could probably do pasta for dinner, we're gonna be worn out, I'd much rather just make up some leftovers and crash out on the couch once we're done with all these boxes- so why don't we do somethin' quick for lunch- sandwiches? I can definitely cut up the lettuce and a tomato for something without starting a small-to-medium kitchen fire." He's poking through boxes deposited near the kitchen, producing Lenore's food bowl and placing it in the floor carefully. "there, now the Queen's moved in." he laughs, rifling through the box's contents. "I am glad, you know, that uh, for all the chaos that came from it, that we got here when we did." He admits. "It... I dunno. Feels a lot like I'm finally making good on what Gabriel left behind." He speaks of himself somewhat divorced again- the version of him left to rot under a great tree in the woods outside of Huntsville. "Like I'm uh... finally worth the second chance, I guess." He pulls a battered looking old gameboy from the box and a water-damaged copy of King's Different Seasons. "Ah, this must be the stuff from my cubbyhole from Esth's place." He straightens. "Hid everything I wasn't supposed to have in there when I was a teenager. Should have seen the chewing out I got from my old man the time he caught me with this." He lifts the book slightly, leaning himself in the doorframe of the kitchen to watch Josie work on lunch. "For what it's worth? I think Gabriel would have liked you as much as I do." He chuckles. "Would have probably been even more terrified to talk to you though."

"Oh I will...it's what I do best" she smirked at him "You can't have all the fun with the punishments, I get to make you suffer too" she shuffled through books. "It's close enough to be the same, and last time I checked I was the one who was supposed to throw you you off!" That wasn't true. G had continuously throw Josie off her game, Curve ball after Curve ball. Here she was was play arguing with her boyfriend who just showed up with his things to move in. And she was over joyed and he wasn't sick of her yet, and they loved each other. It was far from where she thought she would be this time last year. In just a month from now everything changed. But she wouldn't want it any other way. "she has good taste she likes your hair down too" she laughed "She can be whatever she wants to be thank very much" she smiled at G and Lenore fondly "You know I'm going to spoil her"

"just knowing you'lm be my knight in shining..... Tattoos then I guess thats enough to hold me over." Stealing kisses like its second nature. She finishes off another box and looks through them with ease. Furrows her brows and him "G, baby I'm why do you think I always said hi to you at the market...I wasn't just shopping for produce." She felt a smile pull at her lips "Whenever you checked my things out I was.... checking you out...." She cleared her throat "-but I'm glad we really didn't get close till much later." She began when he mentioned he was bad off and drunk. More drunk that he ever had been. "and I had just slept with Mercy....I was also probably stupidly drunk....or High....all I really remember is being with you and feeling....safe" she said simply. "That whole Festival was rough and you really...just made me feel less shitty that weekend..." She smiled softly. "So I guess we found each other at the right time....sounds like we both were struggling..." She felt her eyes watering. If course she was about to cry. Then his alarm went off for food and she snapped back. "oh good" she sighed setting the box down and taking his hand. "what are you in the mood for?' She said knowing very well already not to let G cook. She didn't mind, besides he could sit and look pretty while he watched her. "I have some pasta left over from dinner, could make some quick Pasts salad. Or I could make something fresh and we can have Pasta tonight!"

[angst-fairygodmother]

Exchanges: Come With Me (The Song of Sway Lake Story)

After sleeping together, Jess and Ollie have a few things to work out. [Direct continuation of Love Lessons].

A/N: Here there be mood-whiplash. Word Count: 1362 Rating: T - mild language, angst, implied sexual conduct

Jess was still asleep when Ollie woke up, their bodies slotting together naturally and her forehead pressed between his shoulder blades. He quietly slipped from the bed, finding his boxers and stepping over Lenore out into the hall. A quick shower later, he stood in the kitchen, wondering if he should make breakfast to go along with the coffee he’d set to brew, when the sound of someone’s throat being cleared startled him. 

“Morning,” he said sheepishly, voice sleep-gravelled as he turned to face Jess. 

He paused for a second, stunned by how beautiful she was, framed in the doorway by the morning light. He was struck by the simple and obvious fact that she was an angel. Unfortunately, his angel looked more vengeful than saving. 

“You're still here,” she observed with surprise.

“We said we were going to talk in the morning.”

She offered him a wry half-smile. “Most people wouldn't have actually stuck around to do that though. Easier to just avoid the problem.”

“If I did that there'd be no chance of you considering my invitation.” He stepped forward to try to wrap his arms around her, and stopped in confusion when she stepped back. 

“Oh it's an invitation now?” Her eyebrow raised challengingly and she crossed her arms over her chest. Something about the way she moved made the collar of her robe slip, exposing more of her skin and making it hard for him to think.

“What are you talking about, Jess? It's always been an invitation.”

“Really? Because 'Fuck this place, I want you to come with me' sounds more like a demand. Or an ultimatum.”

“What?”

“You hate it here. And I understand that. But it felt, it feels like you want to leave and never look back.”

“I do.”

“So my choice is you or here?”

Ollie was silent. Jess brought her hand up to chew on the corner of her thumb. 

“I don't want to have to choose,” she said eventually, tearfully. “But I will.”

He frowned, feeling his own eyes starting to sting, both at the conversation and the thought that he had upset her.

“No. You don't have to choose,” he said quickly. “I didn't want to make you feel like that. I love you. I'll stay, for you.”

“That's not fair either.” 

She shook her head, her defensive stance deflating. She finally let herself step into his space, hand coming up to cup his jaw. He leaned instinctively into her touch. 

“I love you Ollie. But if us means someone has to compromise and be unhappy, maybe--”

“No.” He shook his head vehemently and this time he was the one to step back. “No. There has to be a way.”

“I want there to be. But I don't see it.”

“Why are you being like this?” he sighed in frustration.

“Me?” she scoffed. “You’re the asshole that waited until after we had sex to tell me you were leaving.”

“You knew I was only here for the summer.”

“I didn't know that you'd expect me to leave with you.” She threw her arms annoyedly in the air.

“I don't exp--”

“Fine!” She turned away and wrapped her arms tightly around herself. “I didn't know you'd want me.”

“Jess…” 

She swiped angrily at her tears. “I thought by now Nikolai would have convinced you I'm not worth the effort, or you'd have picked someone else, and you'd be happy to leave, and, and, that'd be that. This...I don't have a plan for this.”

“Is that what this is about?” He asked softly, placing his hands on her elbows and drawing her back against his chest. 

“What?” She frowned in confusion. 

“You're not worried about staying or leaving are you?” He kissed the side of her neck just below her ear and she fought herself wanting to lean into the soothing touch. “We said we'd figure things out. Together.”

“And then we didn’t. Just ignored the fact that this was going to become a problem sooner rather than later.”

He spun her around to face him. “I love you Jess. So tell me what you want to do, and I'll do it.”

“I don't want that,” she shook her head. “I don't want to just tell you what to do and have you do it.” 'You deserve someone not bent on controlling you.’ she silently added.

“So, what then?”

“I don't know!” She groaned. “We're just going in circles. It's pointless!”

His hands tangled into her hair suddenly and he kissed her. The action startled her, their teeth clacking together before she melted. She mirrored him, nails dragging across his scalp as she combed into his locks. She pushed back, tongue sliding into his mouth and hips pinning him to the edge of her counter. He released her hair, hands wandering to the edges of her robe now, caressing the skin beneath it and drawing out a sigh.

“W-wait,” Jess breathed, pulling back. His lips made their way to her jaw and she pressed a hand to his chest, leaning back. “Ollie, how does this help?”

He looked at her and she realized that he was crying.

“Hey,” she reached out to brush the tears away. “What? What is it?”

“I just wanted to kiss you one last time,” he whispered shakily. 

“Last time? What are you talking about?” She swiped away a few more of his tears.

“We're breaking up, aren't we?”

“Why would we be doing that?” She wasn't sure whether to laugh or to cry. “Do...you want to?”

Even in the split second of waiting for his answer, she felt like a fist clamped around her, twisting her stomach and making it impossible to breathe. 

“No! I just thought…” he sighed, shoulders slumping.

It felt like a slap in the face. She had hurt him, and scared him, and now risked losing him. And for what? She loved him, in a way she had never felt before, even when she tried. Her heart raced and the only thought she could focus on was ‘fix this.’ She took a deep, steadying breath and forced it out slowly.

“I hate this, fighting with you. And I'm sorry.” Her forehead pressed to his. “I just, panicked.”

He brushed his fingers against her cheek and nodded, letting her go on.

“You're not leaving today, so we have time. To figure out what comes next. Long distance and visits or something. But we really do have to figure it out. You're not, are you? Leaving today?”

He shook his head with a slight laugh. “No. I don't know when I'm leaving, just soon. My grandmother will probably kick me out after her goodbye dinner.”

“Charlotte’s actually leaving?” her eyebrows shot up in surprise. “And throwing herself a goodbye dinner? That's almost sad.”

“Yeah, something about having one last formal night at the Point.”

“Oh. That's perfect though. If she's leaving, you could stay without having to worry about her? Not permanently...unless...but for a little bit longer?”

“We'd probably have to stay here…” he pointed out, a small smile on his face that almost seemed to tease or challenge her with the idea.

She shrugged. “We do anyway. And I'd even let Nik stay on the couch if that needs to happen to keep you longer. Assuming he doesn't just run off with his 'siren'.”

“His...you heard about her too?”

She laughed. “All about her. Except who she actually was or any way to identify her.” 

“I should tell him to bring her to dinner.” His smile widened at the thought and she winced, already imagining the chaos that would cause.

“I don't know, I might have to tap out if you do. I have to draw the line somewhere.”

“So you'll come?”

She nodded, fingers finding his and lacing through them. “Sure, if you want me there.”

He nudged his nose against hers affectionately. “You know I always want you.”

She kissed him fiercely, drawing back when he slid his tongue across her lip and smiling teasingly. “I could open the shop late if you want to prove it? We can make sure there’s no tension left between us?”

[fostersffff]

Finished Castlevania: the Netflix Season 3! Here’s some Season 3 specific observations:

I had heard that Season 3 was considered the weakest of the three seasons, and expressed nervousness because it was even longer than Season 2, which I felt was just a touch too long. Upon completion, I’d agree that this is definitely the weakest of the three, but only by a matter of degrees. I was actually more positive on the whole thing until the last two episodes, at which point you start to get into a lot of sudden and arbitrary misery for misery’s sake, which I think the series was pretty good about avoiding up until this point. I should specify that the length wasn’t the issue- even with the extra episodes Season 3 was overall better paced than Season 2- it was just the content of those last two episodes.

I knew through cultural osmosis that Alucard was going to be betrayed by the siblings, so I kept looking for signs, and... there really weren’t any. Except for constantly asking how to move the castle and expressing interest in parts of the castle they hadn’t seen, there were no signs of discontent. Nothing like flinching from gentle touches that they interpreted as incoming abuse, or having to restrain themselves from outbursts of anger over perceived slights, or a lack of interest in the Belmont Hold because all they wanted was to use the castle to enact revenge on everyone who wronged them. Even when talking privately, they came across as totally genuine- there was no doublespeak that was like “ah, you interpreted what they were saying this way but this was what they actually meant” unless you REALLY stretch how hard they leaned on “reward”.

Speaking of the siblings, my first thought upon seeing them was “why is the twink cuter than his sister?”, so imagine my surprise when the sex starts and the twink is suddenly built like a brick shithouse and the sister has some big ol’ honka donka badonkers.

I enjoyed Isaac’s Philosophy Quest, but I don’t actually have a whole lot to say about it, other than the way they managed to use Legion- a Castlevania monster I was sure would not show up in this series- was incredibly cool. Besides that, it was the part that made this season feel like a filler arc the most, because the whole point was to set up for the clash between Isaac and Carmilla’s armies next season.

Right up until the very last bit of it, I would have said that Trevor and Sypha’s story my favorite part of the whole season, because you could isolate it from the other three stories and it would be able to stand on its own no problem. But if the point of everything was ultimately to drag Sypha back down to Earth and make her realize that fighting the forces of hell is not going to exclusively be a Good Time, the complete and total destruction of the town would’ve been enough. Revealing that the Judge was actually a serial killer operating right under their noses was the most “arbitrary misery for misery’s sake” thing in the whole season and the little bit of an extra knife twist it provides was not worth souring the whole thing.

As such, to my great surprise, my favorite story of the season wound up being Hector and Lenore. I mentioned previously that I really don’t like Hector, because in a series chock full of all flavors of genius, he’s a pretty normal guy, which makes him look really stupid by comparison. That still stands, but Lenore actually carries it because she’s a good parallel for Hector with her own interest in “pets” and how that manifests. Actually, Lenore, Striga, and Morana carry it, which also reminds me that Carmilla feels really ancillary to the coven, which is odd considering what an overwhelming presence she was in Season 2.

Also, Lenore enslaving Hector with the ring is the least of the miserable twist endings. From the moment she beats the dogshit out of him for attempting to take her hostage, it’s abundantly clear that Lenore is just as capable as any of her sister and has an angle in mind. As it turns out, she’s just explicitly honest about what her angle is: she wants a loyal army of night creatures for Carmilla’s plan, and in return she’s giving Hector the things he seems to want (but not what he will inevitably realize he wants the most: freedom). It would’ve been so easy to just have her go “teehee, this was all just a work to get you to wear the slave ring, now you go back in the cell, naked, and also your peepee small”, which would’ve been in line with the twins’ betrayal and the Judge’s reveal, so I do appreciate that restraint.

The colorful and diverse range of voice acting performances in this season really make me wish Richard Armitage and James Callis hadn’t gotten instruction to mumble-grumble their deliveries. It was noticeable in prior seasons in the company of Alejandra Reynoso, who is my Big Favorite, but it’s even worse when surrounded by so many more interesting and, more importantly, clear voices.

I just looked this up and was stunned to find out that Prior Sala’s voice actor, Navid Negahban, also voiced the shopkeeper who gave Isaac the mirror. That’s a crazy impressive range!

I am once again thankful that this series has turned out to be as good as it’s been, because in addition to The Troubles with Warren Ellis, I read that a lawsuit was just filed by producer Adi Shankar against fellow producer Kevin Kolde over Shankar being excluded from the Rondo of Blood spin-off. Shankar not being involved isn’t necessarily a bad sign in and of itself, but it just feels like a bad omen, especially if the lawsuit winds up wrapping up the spin-off in red tape.

[just-castlevania-imagines]

Do you think Carmilla slept with anyone in the Council of Sisters? I’ve seen some Carmilla and Lenore fanarts and now I am curious

I wouldn't be surprised if she bot had and hadn't. We do know she's at least interested in women cause in s2 she tells Drac that all the vampire men and half or the vampire women would have to die before she'd sleep w/ God Brand.

And let's be real here, everyone loves Striga. I love Striga, Morana loves Striga. It should be illegal to be that stunning.

- Sincerely Mod Wall Chicken

[dyavania]

Hector x Reader — No Touching — Chapter one: Watching

First part to what is probably going to be a mini-series of short one-shots. It’ll be pretty simple and straightforward, focused on the relationship between Hector and the reader, and then I’ll probably write some smut. I hope you’ll enjoy it, it’s my first time writing for Hector and I hope I do him justice!

Ao3

Hector was slowly but surely getting used to feeling your eyes on him while he was working. You had introduced yourself the first time you had walked into his forge, but he hadn’t paid much attention to you. You were, after all, human, and as much as he now despised vampires, he hadn’t forgotten how people like you had treated him for years. Sure, you didn’t seem to be that bad — so far. He refused to let himself trust only to be betrayed again.

You had come with the human mercenaries who had recently been hired by Morana, but you seemed to be more of a servant than anything. He’d seen that the mercenaries didn’t treat you well and, had he been in another situation, he would probably have felt sorry for you.

You often came to see him work during the day. He never talked to you, but he also didn’t see a point in throwing you out. This wasn’t even his forge, after all. He was painfully aware of the fact that he didn’t own anything around him. Lenore tried her best to make him believe he did, to make him think that things weren’t that bad, but he refused to believe her again. This was a cage. A golden one, sure, but a cage nonetheless.

So whenever you walked in, he ignored you. On occasions, he acknowledged you with a nod. You generally went to sit by the window. You leaned against the wall, lifting your legs on the window seat, and you watched him. You could have looked outside — the view was stunning after all, though he didn’t enjoy it much, now that it was tied to Lenore’s manipulation — but he knew you spent most of your time watching him. He wasn’t sure why you did that, or why you even came here in the first place.

He assumed you were trying to escape the presence of the others, and he could understand why you wouldn’t want to be around vampires, but even then, why come here? The reanimation of corpses wasn’t a pleasant sight by any means. Yet almost every day, when you could get away, he assumed, you came in, started by petting his dog, then sat by the window. And watched.

He was starting to grow curious, despite himself.

“I don’t understand what you’re doing here,” he told you flatly one day.

You blinked, and he put his hammer to the side.

“If they asked you to keep an eye on me, there’s no need. I can’t go anywhere and I can’t betray the vampires.” He wasn’t going to talk to you about his ring, you didn’t need to know that. “So if your people are suspicious, you can reassure them. Or tell them to talk things through with the others.”

To his surprise, your expression softened.

“I wasn’t sent here. I just… like watching you work.”

He frowned, but refused to be affected in any way. He cleared his throat, making an effort to keep his voice even. He wanted to believe in your interest, badly, which meant he had to fight himself, but he didn’t want to keep being such an easy prey.

“What is there to watch?”

A smile formed on your lips, and he was struck by how natural it seemed to be for you, to have a conversation with him. It looked genuine, simple, easy.

That didn’t mean it couldn’t be fake.

“When you make the ones with wings, there’s a wrinkle that forms there,” you said, tracing a small line between your eyebrows. “You lift your hammer higher, you bring it down harder. You’re careful with animals when you put them on your table, and when they’re reanimated, you smile. You’re gentle with them. When you’re tired, you rub your shoulders, but you still keep going for a while.”

Hector swallowed. He never thought about most of that. He didn’t understand why you would have noticed that.

“You look at me when you think I won’t notice,” you added, your smile dancing, almost teasingly, on your lips, and he almost thought he liked that sight, until it faded abruptly and your eyes seemed to cloud. “You tense when people approach, when the mercenaries come in here. But you tense most when they mention miss Lenore.”

He didn’t control his muscles’ reaction at her name. It was instinctive and immediate. His fist clenched, his nails digging in his palms, and he gritted his teeth. He forced himself to exhale slowly, knowing you were watching, but still glanced away from you self-consciously. He hadn’t expected to be giving that much away.

“Miss Lenore said she didn’t care if I came to watch you,” you added. “But if I bother you, I can—”

“You talked to her?”

The words spilled out of his mouth without warning, heart suddenly racing in his chest. Were you her spy? Was she waiting for him to step out of line, expecting you to report his every move to her?

You grimaced at his question, and he saw you shiver.

“She talked to me,” you mumbled, looking away from him. “After I came here the first few times. She said… She said I could look but not touch.”

Hector scoffed. He didn’t know what Lenore was playing at, but he was not going to let it affect him in any way. Touch? Why would you even want to touch him?

“So?” you asked, and shook the thought away. “Do you want me to stop coming?”

He decided he was imagining the hint of sadness in your voice, and took the time to think about it. He should have told you that yes, he wanted you out of the forge, but he hesitated. You didn’t bother him, and you were kind to his pets. If you were telling the truth, it was unnecessary to kick you out, and if you weren’t, well, it wasn’t like you were talking or anything. Plus, Lenore had given you her okay, so surely she wouldn’t appreciate him overstepping her authority.

“You can be there,” he shrugged. “I don’t care.”

And yet, the bright smile you gave him in response made his heart flutter, just a little.

[ichor-and-symbiosis]

When you like Hector and Lenore :x she's a bitch, but she's really pretty and my Monkey brain won't let me hate her, but Hector really did deserve better. Like, taking advantage of him during such a vulnerable moment? Not cool. I was super upset for Alucard too. Like, God, can these two men catch a damn break? It's one thing after the other.

I really like Lenore as a villain, she is far scarier than her sisters simply because she is the smartest, most manipulative one of them all, even more than Carmilla. With Carmilla, you can usually see what to expect. But Lenore is a wildcard, very shrewd and dangerous. I don’t trust her at all and I really think she’s gonna fuck over her sisters eventually. Her design is stunning though, she’s tied with Sypha as most gorgeous woman on that show for me. 

Hector and Alucard bruh … this season taught them really harsh lessons. I think they needed to see the gross reality of the principles they stand for, but it hurts to see them actually go through it. Hector believed slavery was a peaceful, logical option for humankind because he was treated well by Dracula, so he didn’t have any point of reference for just how cruel vampires could be. He was getting a taste of it the more he interacted with Carmilla, but she was always bordering the precipice of being super disrespectful and almost as accommodating as Dracula. 

It’s only after the betrayal that she let her true colors shine, and it was simply too late for him. And now he sees just how horrible life would have been - and could still be - for humans if vampires took charge. Poor bitch needs to join the ot3 and find some happiness. Although now that Lenore wants to give him immense privileges, I hope he doesn’t accept his role. I also don’t want this wench touching him anymore it HURTS MEEEEEE 

(also can we note how hector became a slave while isaac, a former slave, became a powerful leader? makes me think of that talk they had in the forest, when hector was like ‘lol yeah vampires are just cute animals they don’t mean any true harm, let’s enslave humanity c’mon buddy’ isaac … i felt for you there, your comrade radiates disrespectful himbo energy i’m sorry dude)

AND ALUCARD WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU BABY?! I didn’t like the build-up for Sumi and Taka, it could have been paced better. They forced the curiosity way too much, it should have been more nuanced and manipulative if they wanted to go that route. I also wish to know how long they spent time together because kajsdfh was it months? Weeks???? Anyway I’m super sad that this was probably Alucard’s first sexual experience. If this show doesn’t give me Sypha and Trevor lovingly fucking Alucard’s sadness away then I will genuinely riot. 

Also Taka was super fucking sexy. Why did this show have to waste such eyecandy? WHY 

[fedine]

Castlevania Season 3 Thoughts

Spoilers will be under the cut, but I just want to give my general overview first. This season was very visually stunning. It had sequences that were so beautiful that I can’t stop thinking about them. The animators really went above and beyond here! The music was so good too! I always love how dramatic it gets in those big fight scenes and this season did not disappoint me. 

THE WRITING WAS SO GOOD TOO. THE DIALOGUE, THE STORY, THE ARCS OF THE SEPARATE CHARACTER STORY LINES. THE DEVELOPMENT. So many of the jokes hit me over the head and left me laughing for several minutes afterwards. But I do have a couple of notes on the plot, and I will go into them now.

So... Yeah. Sumi and Taka. I was dreading the idea of Alucard getting paired off with Sumi just for the sake of pairing him off, but I was still ready for a good story. THAT however, was not what I was expecting. They seemed nice at first, but as I saw more and more of them they gave me an uncomfortable vibe. During the scene in what was it, episode 9? I was deeply uncomfortable with the way they just kind of forced themselves on him. There was barely any build up between the three, but thinking on it, that was the point, wasn’t it? Alucard was vulnerable and traumatized already. He was talking to dolls he made of his only two friends! After just over a year he had lost everything! His parents! His friends! It was believable that he WOULD just trust the first people to talk to him. I don’t personally think that the scene needed quite that much... visualization. I don’t think they should have done it differently though. 

Something I have noticed about the Castlevania team is that they understand trauma and the weight of grief and how people deal with shit. I trust that they have something to say about it, and we will just have to wait and see what happens. I can at least tell that they didn’t just pepper it in for shock value though. 

Same sort of deal with Hector. I was kind of expecting Lenore to be doing something exactly like what she was doing, but watching it happen was unnerving. I’m sure there’s an end goal here, and I have faith, but I’m still scared lol.

Something I noticed with Hector and Isaac is that they both believe in love. Even still! It’s a lot different than what they had believed it to be as kids, but I remember in Isaac’s backstory his abuser saying “After everything you’ve been through, you’re still just a sweet kid who believes in love,” and he WANTS to believe in it! but he’s disappointed! Same thing with Hector! But they keep falling for the exact same thing! Hector trusts a vampire and he gets humiliated and enslaved. Isaac expects humans to be descent and honorable and they usually just aren’t. I just love how they mirror and foil each other. 

I am also pretty glad that we got canon WLW and that Alucard was confirmed as bisexual. I’m... Really hoping that Trephacard is end game, personally, but I still appreciate that we gays got something. Even if the context wasn’t really warm and fuzzy like Striga and Morana.

Anyway, Sam and Warren if you’re reading this where is Little Cezar? Thank you.

[iestyn-crowe]

In Years Past

March fifteenth. It was two decades ago today, but he remembered it in such vivid detail. He found himself back on the ship, which had become significantly quieter in recent weeks. Desmond was visiting family in Elwynn, Em had vanished entirely, Inron and Cynthia generally spent the daytime below deck. After what the musician had told Iestyn, though, he couldn’t be certain that he was there at all. He still wouldn’t chance his usual venture to the bilge, just in case he passed by them on the way-- he couldn’t hide nor explain the mournful expression on his face and he didn’t want to try. There was only one person on the crew who knew everything, so he mustered the energy to knock on the door to his quarters.

March fifteenth. It was two decades ago today.

Carmen pulled the door open and wordlessly beckoned his first mate inside. The damned thing looked like he was on the verge of tears and he had anticipated his arrival. Rising from a dish on the desk was a wisp of smoke, evidence of the unfinished cigarette that he had twisted upon it for the sake of the lad. He wouldn’t light another while he was here. The captain made his way back to his seat, sitting down with a quiet grunt and turning back to the invoices and contracts he had been working on before the interruption. To anyone but Iestyn that may have seemed callous, but he appreciated the lack of staring as he crawled onto the bed and laid down. He managed to look just like the lost child he had pulled from the water all those years ago, and in many ways he still was.

A comforting silence had fallen between them, accented only by the soft scratch of quill on parchment while Carmen worked. Iestyn closed his eyes, taking a deep and shaky breath to fight the sting of tears.

Two decades ago today had been a dark, dark day, but it had brought the brightest light he had ever seen into his life. He remembered being told to leave the room, he remembered reentering hours later to see his mother in bed, staring silently at the wall. Her face was still wet from tears but she was too exhausted to sob anymore. There was blood-- entirely too much of it for this sort of thing. His ears pinned back and he looked around for the midwife, but it was just them.

“<Momma…? Is there a baby?>”

She gave a weak nod, though her gaze didn’t move from the spot on the wall. When she spoke, her voice was raspy and raw from the cries he had heard from the other side of the door, “<For now. … Outside.>”

The child didn’t know what that meant, but it made his blood run cold all the same. He ran out as though somehow he could help. They tried to keep him away, really, but he ducked and weaved through the arms that attempted to shoo him until he managed to see her. She was… small. Too small. He didn’t know the proper size for a baby, exactly, but even he could tell that something was very, very wrong. Her arms and legs were like brittle twigs curled close to her body and her skin was a deep, bright red. The hands held above in a desperate attempt to heal overshadowed her completely. She could have fit in one palm. That’s what he remembered before he was picked up and carried back to his mother, too stunned and confused to fight or complain this time.

They had said she probably wouldn’t live to see morning. Even if she did, every day was going to be a struggle. The idea that she would see a twentieth birthday was laughable at the time, so how could he still hold it against his mother? How could it still pain him so much?

“<Would you like to name her?>”

“<... Why bother?>”

In years past, he had seen her celebrate. He had seen her cook a feast entirely too large for the household she lived in. He had seen her give away flowers from her garden to friends and strangers alike, always happily chirping that it was her birthday and she wanted to spend it making people smile. That was the best present anyone could give her, anyways. She loved making people smile.

This year, he couldn’t risk the visit. If he went anywhere near her again…

Iestyn rolled over, taking a shaky breath and pulling a pillow close to cling to. He just needed a moment-- but the sound of a notification on his communicator had his ears pinning back. Even Carmen glanced over his shoulder. He wasn’t certain if he should be proud or worried that the thief had become so sociable lately, as it usually ended in either a new crewmate or a downward spiral.

He winced at the brightness of the screen, reading the message with some difficulty after wiping his eyes on his sleeve. It was from Leon.

I seem to have accidentally made a small cake. If you’re so inclined, feel free to help me dispose of it.

It got a broken laugh from him. He hadn’t meant to tell anyone the significance of the date, but there had been so much on his mind that it spilled outward on Poetry Night. Of course the bloody Gilnean would reach out, that man’s heart was so big that it only fit in his chest sometimes. In all others, he wore it on his sleeve. Iestyn laid the communicator back face down, running his hand through his hair. He wasn’t going anywhere and he knew it. No one could see him like this.

In retrospect, the communicator was a much more welcome interruption to his melancholy than the soft scratch at the door that followed. He glanced at his captain, knowing full well that he never had any visitors. Besides, that didn’t sound quite like a knock. Carmen stood reluctantly to open it, finding a crow waiting on the deck with a rolled up letter attached to its leg. It wasn’t Lenore and the seal on the parchment matched the tattoo on Iestyn’s forearm, something that was enough cause for alarm for his brow to furrow while he untied it. The Guild didn’t usually contact their master at sea unless it was extremely urgent, and in their line of business, urgent matters never meant something good.

Iestyn had thrown his legs off the side of the bed, an expectant look on his face when his captain returned to the quarters. He handed him the letter silently, still sealed. He knew better than to meddle in his affairs, even if he was interested in doing so. (He wasn’t.)

The thief tensed in recognition of what appeared to be an official report from his thieves, opening it with a conflicting sense of impatience and hesitance. As with all those from his guild, the letter was written in an encrypted language-- Thieves Cant-- and took a moment to decode even for the man himself.

Master Crowe,

We regret to report that our team has lost sight of our person of interest as of the of tenth March, two forty-eight post meridiem.

Her last known points of contact were two Ebon Blade knights due south of Sindragosa’s Fall. One, a high elf identified as Scout Vanlaris Brassvale and the other, a human identified as Scout Isaac Riley. She had inadvertently left the company of Corporal Allivarin Blackmorrow the week prior due to poor weather conditions. As per our orders, we had no intentions of interfering unless in a matter of life or death.

We regret to report that interference, in this case, was necessary.

The person of interest found herself separated as well from the knights, drawn away for unknown reasons. She brought with her her feline companion. Our scouts followed her into the blizzard but were unable to maintain consistent vision on the target. When it became clear that she would succumb to hypothermia if left unsheltered, we moved in.

The cat was recovered, but the person of interest was nowhere to be found.

We will continue our search and send updates as the situation unfolds.

He read it several times over, heart rising into his throat and racing to match his thoughts. They lost her? They lost her. Five days ago-- and he was just now hearing of it? His jaw set and hands trembled with the barely restrained desire to tear the paper to shreds. Carmen watched him with brow arched. The closest thing to worry that ever crossed the captain’s features often looked more like mild intrigue.

“... I need to go to Icecrown. Now.”

((Mentioned: @mremaknu​))

[alfunccot]

What headcanons do you have for Count and Countess?

Oh god. Oh sweet lord. 

First and foremost, this is a book-based interpretation of the characters. And we know literally nothing about them from the books, except for the fact that they’re dead, so it’s my civil right to imagine them any way I want. 

As I already said, I do see Olaf’s parents bearing this title. And my imagination pictures them in that classic, old-fashioned comital aesthetic of nobility. Don’t question me. 

The Count.

The only thing I liked about the Netflix adaptation was their decision to make him the head of the Official Fire Department. It makes sense. Now, the Count that appears in my head is a tall, slender man with graying hair (premature graying probably being a hereditary trait). He was quite reserved and strict as a parent, but there was nothing in the world that he could love more than his only son. However, he believed that Olaf needed some discipline (and god knows, he did), that’s why he would sometimes be hard on him. It wasn’t not abusive, though, but moderately strict.

The Count used to smoke expensive Cuban cigars, and that’s probably one of the reasons his son started smoking, too, but Olaf’s father was often disappointed about the fact that Olaf chose cigarettes, believing them to be vulgar and unsuitable for a Viscount. 

He also wore a ring, indicating his station and his status. This is the ring Olaf wears in canon (in the show). It became his after his father’s death, as well as the title. 

His greatest “talent” was his influence, but he was also adept in mathematics. 

The Countess.

I’ve seen a headcanon somewhere on Tumblr about her name being Lenore (but I can’t find the exact post, so sorry, if I’m referring to your idea without credit). I really love this one. She must have had a symbolic name, a literary reference, and maybe Anna would be a great choice, too (as an allusion to Anna Karenina, who was also a countess). 

The Countess was an exquisite woman, very elegant, very beautiful, and at the first sight she could seem a little bit cold and standoffish, but she was very soft-hearted, in fact, and a really caring mom behind closed doors. She was the kind of mother who would pretend to only worry about her son’s looks and manners in society, but get the most embarrassing and adorably silly at home. 

She played the piano very well – there was a grand piano at the mansion, and that’s Olaf’s main association with his mother. She was the reason he loved music – she probably tried to teach him how to play the piano, too, and she was the one who discovered his singing and acting talents and helped him develop them. 

The Countess often wore a lot of rings with precious stones and always chose the most stunning dresses. However, when she and her husband went on some field mission for V.F.D., she would dress unrecognizably simply and comfortably.

Her greatest talent was music, of course, and she would often sing in her younger days.

(Yeah, Olaf kind of takes after his mom, I find that adorable)

One more headcanon for both of them. As I mentioned earlier, they were quite old-fashioned and traditional, so they believed that you only meet your true love once, and if you ever decide to marry someone, it should be for life. And they did love each other, as they loved their son. And maybe that’s one of the reasons why Olaf loved one woman all his life. 

(And yes, I love the Countess way too much, so I’ll just leave it here, okay?)

[jaynaneeya]

Okay, but like...you don’t even understand how much I love all of this.

George takes charge of the situation in the most manly way s/he can think of, using some amazing gestures in the process. Also the way the “...and Emily Dickinson” is just casually slipped in at the end is freaking hilarious.

Oscar is clearly upset, but is also clearly more concerned with LOOKING dramatically upset than the fact that there’s apparently been a murder.

Charlotte’s all, “Yes, of course, I’m definitely focused on what you’re saying, sounds like a plan, nope I have no clue what’s going on either, nobody bother looking at me.”

Ernest looks slightly stunned, but he’s processing.

Annabel is the only one who seems genuinely concerned about Eddie’s passing, although she’s not quite sure how to act because she’s not quite sure how she felt about him.

Eddie is so perfectly still, you just know he’s been rehearsing playing dead for weeks, thoroughly preparing for his long-awaited revenge.

This is too much for Fyodor; he needs more vodka.

Edgar is resigned to the fact that his party is a disaster; not surprised, but a little disappointed. Two corpses already...yes, he should have seen this coming.

Louisa May is the only one who seems to see anything wrong with George’s statement; she looks confused, and even starts to turn to Emily when she speaks. Obviously anyone who acknowledges Emily’s presence must be killed sooner rather than later.

Mary is so ready to solve these murders. She could be dangerous to the killers; she’s clearly not long for this world either.

Emily, whom pretty much everyone assumes is already dead, is off to the side, hardly in the shot, BEHIND THE FREAKING WATER JUG. She barely gets out her only three words in the ENTIRE CHAPTER before she’s interrupted.

And Lenore really couldn’t care less about any of this as long as people don’t disparage her soup.

TL;DR I’ve seen entire movies that didn’t contain anywhere near the level of humor and character development and foreshadowing encompassed in these 12 seconds of Poe Party. It’s just such a freaking brilliant masterpiece.

[kreepykittyreturns]

Alllllll righty where to start.

SO, M9 fake Essek's death at some point of course. He and Caleb have a house in Nicodranas and Caleb commutes to the academy. Here's where Verin comes in. Verin was in on the faking Essek's death bit, he plays the part of the grieving younger brother has to take time off and all that. Eventually he cannot continue to be at his post because of his grief. Of course the Dynasty and the Bright Queen are understanding, it must be so traumatizing to loose your brother and him not be constituted, super sad.

But really, Verin just wants to gtfo of all the politics of the Dens and Dynasty and honestly just wants to have a nice life and be involved with his brothers. He practically mother hens Essek when Caleb is away. He follows Essek EVERYWHERE, the market, the docks, the Lavish Chateau, and to the biweekly research get togethers and Yussa's tower.

Yussa is annoyed of course, the younger Thelyess is a bit of a bull in a china shop and has a bad habit of touching everything. Verin is dazzled by Yussa, the older elf is just so stunning, he practically shines like the sun. For Verin it is an immediate crush, 100% "oh no he's hot." Verin tries everything to endear himself to Yussa, bringing him spell components, shiny trinkets the older might like. Meanwhile Essek is in the back watching like, "Are we both this so emotionally stunted?'

It takes until Essek, Yussa, and Verin go into the Happy Fun Ball for Yussa to catch some feelings. It was just supposed to be a quick in and out research mission, Verin practically forced the other two to bring him along in case of danger. Verin knows how his brother gets when he's absorbed in research, careless. Another golem gets activated but Verin catches it first and just fucks the thing right up. That endears him. Yussa is like "oh ok, he's certainly not an idiot and he do got them muscles tho." At some point Verin asks Yussa to dinner, the older isn't exactly comfortable going out anywhere when Verin is like "Oh I meant me cook for you." And holy shit is he a good cook and just this absolutely big sweet teddy bear, super understanding of Yussa's "quirks".

Yussa doesn't address or really bring up the fact that he's trans for a while, they haven't gotten any farther than a quick make out and cuddle. But he figures that he should just get the cat out of the bag. It's much less of an event then Yussa thought it would be.

"Oh ok, my one aunt was in a male body for a life, we still called her Aunt Lenore. It was weirder when she was a Gnoll for a life, she would shed her hair a lot."

Yussa mentality slaps himself because duh, his Dynasty born boyfriend wouldn't have a problem it's practically apart of his culture.

In all of this Wensforth is quite frankly exhausted and exasperated until Yussa and Verin actually get together.

Consider this;

Verin Thelyss x Yussa Errenis

Sweet Himbo and so smart yet zero common sense shut in.

[atlanticcanada]

MP got the facts wrong in social media post about COVID case at restaurant

You can't believe everything you read on social media.

A Nova Scotia MP recently took to Facebook, suggesting the provincial health authority made a mistake in warning of a potential COVID-19 exposure at a popular eatery.

Business is picking up slowly at the Glenholme Loop Petropass restaurant, popular with locals and truckers alike.

Owner Crystal Blair holds a special place in the hearts of the latter group, because she went out of her way to make sure the truckers had access to meals during the COVID shutdown in the spring.

She was stunned last Friday when the Nova Scotia Health Authority issued an advisory, warning of possible COVID exposures at the restaurant.

"People are calling," Blair said. "They heard staff contracted it. They heard I had it."

MP Lenore Zann stopped in at Glenholme Loop for a meal Sunday night, and said a waitress mentioned to her the positive test turned out to be false.

Zann relayed the information on her Facebook page. The problem is, it was wrong.

In a statement to CTV News, the health authority says the posted information was incorrect and that the advisory was issued based on their investigation of a positive case of COVID-19.

Zann calls it a "miscommunication", and says she was simply trying to drum-up support for a local business.

"So, knowing what I know now, if that is true, if there was in fact a case, then I'll correct my statement on Facebook," Zann said. "But I still think we should support our local restaurants."

Zann did issue a correction a short time later.

Blair says it's par for the course.

"The last eight months have literally just been one thing after another," Blair said. "It seems like it doesn't stop."

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/3mKnKab

[itshaejinju]

Family is Forever | Chp 5 | FF15 Mafia AU

Warnings: Snarky Morana, Prompto standing up for himself, drug use, abuse victim (nothing graphic).

Word Count: 2,524

Tagging: @stephicness @zacklover24 @neko-otaku13 @blondechocobobutt @rubyphilomela @cagedbycravings @waifuthewhite @lady-asuka @teacupjenniesketches @valkyrieofardyn @mistressoli @sweetchocobae @insomniacapples @insomniasix @sheylann @chocobabyporcelain @roses-and-oceans @inprotocreed @ardyns-jabberwocky @mandakatt @eternallydaydreaming2015 @fieryfantasy

Chapter 5:

Prompto was pretty sure Morana hated his very guts and they had just been talking for ten minutes. Her snide comments about how he grew up, to how he dressed and he did his job for the Family was enough to make him feel about five inches tall. She was belittling him each step of the way from under her breath to out loud, Gladiolus wasn’t doing too much to stop her either and this was Prompto’s mentor.

“This shop here is under our protection, along with this whole strip it is on the border of the Izunia clan so it’s easy to go under attack often.” Gladiolus explained as he pointed out a popular side street that held many shops.

This lane of shops was several long blocks worth of buildings all popular tourist shops and commonly needed shops that the Caelum Family put protection over. Gladiolus went to explain that because it is on the border of Izunia land that they tried to test the patrol often and bother the shop owners. Morana explained that the borders were decided a long time ago when the Families became into power as Mafia segments, it had been involving a lot of bullying and blood spilling to get what they had for lands and it is lost and regained the same way. She went on to tell him that once a month they pull together a team to take on more land from the Izunia who took over the land belonging to the Fleuret when they were massacred.

Prompto felt like his brain was going to explode from all this information he was learning that the two of them were spouting out as they walked into each business asking how they are fairing. All to the “clients” as Gladiolus called them respected them and looked genuinely happy to see the both of them walk into the stores. If they asked about Prompto curious as who he was as this seemed to be a couple thing that the two of them did, Morana would make some snarky comment about his presence to the person who would just laugh and not take her too seriously.

“He’s the Bastone’s new toy…doesn’t know a lick about his job seriously Cor is passing any fool right now that has a pretty smile or some sob story out of the Orphanage.” Morana sniped as she looked over at Prompto then back to the chef of the restaurant.

“I past all the tests just that Common Knowledge test thing he does is hard as fuck, the rest I aced!” Prompto shouted angrily at Morana as they walked out of the store, hands balled up into fists, red in the face with anger making his mass amount of freckles he had made more apparent from the flushed expression.

“The most important thing, fighting is second nature specially to a orphan! So of course you should have gotten that right the first time around you dolt, the important stuff you flunked so easily. You better be paying attention!” Morana retorted as she glared down at Prompto light green eyes angry and infuriated with how he failed this important test.

“Shut up alright?” Prompto shouted angrily, getting up into Morana’s face looking up at her, a index finger pointed at her face.

Gladiolus let out a bark of laughter as he watched over the scene arms crossed around his chest, he was quite sure this was the most amusing thing he had witnessed all day. In a blink of a eye a loud snap filled the space in front of the candy shop, Morana snapped Prompto’s finger backwards breaking it. Moving her hand quick as a snake to his elbow, she headbutted him effortlessly and then shoved him back several steps, walking past him letting out a laugh.

“After you.” Morana retorted as she walked down the path way, as Gladiolus helped Prompto to his feet as he stumbled to the ground.

“She is such a bitch, I’m sorry Gladio I just don’t understand why you love her.” Prompto glared shaking his head unsure about his choice in lovers.

“I understand you see her that way, I’m not sure why she despises you so much Prompto but trust me I would do anything for her just as she would do anything for me without a second thought.” Gladiolus answered, looking over at Morana smiling at her and then back to Prompto.

“She’s so spiteful…” Prompto grumbled.

“Hurry up you two!” Morana shouted as she stood in front of a shop.

“Here let me fix it up some, brace yourself okay?” Gladiolus said grabbing the right hand, that trigger finger of his bent all the way back, swollen already and bruised.

“Fuck no, please that will hurt can’t I just go back to the Manor and see the doctor about it?” Prompto whined instantly pulling away from Gladiolus eyes wide as his mentor grabbed a hold of his hand a blinding pain rushing through him.

“It will be in terrible pain if we wait any longer Prompto and it might not heal correctly. Man up and bite the bullet okay?” Gladiolus tried to reason with him.

“NO! Just I can wait I promise it will be okay, I don’t think that will work at all you know…”

“Damn.” Morana muttered shaking her head letting go of the door handle not wanting to deal with the whining any longer.

Marching up towards Prompto and Gladiolus she took the Gunner’s hand out of Gladiolus’ grip and moved it towards her. In a quick move she yanked the finger back into spot, sending another shout falling from Prompto as the pain rushed through him. Patting Prompto on the back Morana let out a chuckle, grabbing Gladiolus’ hand.

She lead them to a ice cream shop, Prompto was shocked to see her face light up the smile on her face was huge she looked like a child. A happy with everything child who was in her happy place in this ice cream shop it stunned Prompto to see this pleased look on her face. Looking over at the Goliath of a man beside him, Gladiolus let out a derisive laugh and walked over to the counter where Morana was ordering.

Morana looked into the bins of ice cream, a hand hovering over the glass careful not to touch it and place finger prints on it. Gladiolus placed a hand on her waist, the white tank top had rose up a bit exposing some scarred skin, he leaned up against her smiling fondly as she tried to make up her mind on what she wanted. Prompto wanted some but he didn’t have any money on him, he was still in awe at how she went from being a spiteful bitch to a cheerful looking child.

“What would you like today, Miss Tarda?”

“I am kinda like the looks of that raspberry swirl with the cheesecake bites.” Morana replied, her voice was taking on a softer and kinder note than what Prompto had ever heard before.

“Good choice! And for you Gladio?” The man asked, giving him a broad smile.

Izunia Family Manor was quiet for a Saturday night but then again ever since Morana Tarda left it was always quiet if Aranea wasn’t around. Lenore sat down at her desk one of the few soldiers to have their own desk but as the assistant to the Consigliere she expected at least a desk and a chair. Placing down the cup of tea she stared at the pile of paperwork she needed to finish, it was overwhelming to some but for Lenore this was a challenge she welcomed. This paperwork was due by midnight and it was easily something that would take eight hours for a normal person, but armed with tea, lollipops and a quiet manor she could get it all done.

“So much quieter now that Morana is gone, the other Caelum Families’ problem now. I can’t believe they took in that asshole. She’s such a trouble maker never doing her paperwork.” Lenore grumbled remembering when Morana and Cindy would bicker about things for hours on end.

Taking a calming sip of her tea that was loaded with sugar to the point that the sugar wasn’t dissolved on the bottom of the cup. Short well manicured nails clacking on the cup as she sat it back down, Lenore smiled she knew that finishing this huge project in three hours was possible.

Ravus sat in his office that was behind Lenore’s finishing up his paperwork for the day, he was looking forward to tomorrow being Sunday. A day off from all the madness that ensues time for him to work on his own personal projects his sister was going to actually help him this weekend. Running a hand through his platinum blond hair, the striped jacket of his suit was a little crumpled from his jaunt outside. Normally he would fuss with it and make it look neat but he was almost done for the day and would be in his apartment shrugging off the clothes and soaking into the tub. Ravus made point to have a home off the manor’s grounds, most people stayed at the manor or really close by. With his position as a Consigliere he should stay on premises but he didn’t, he really couldn’t stand his boss anymore than possible.

His boss, Ardyn Izunia was a infuriating man to say the least. There was something wrong with him mentally, Ravus figured. Ardyn often would walk the main hallway muttering under his breath strange things that made Ravus question him, greatly. Whatever was said was always spoken in a old dialect that Ravus couldn’t understand fully, no one in the building knew what the language was, even Lenore. It wasn’t until a few months ago did Ravus find out what happened when Ardyn walked down that hallway like that. He would disappear down a corridor that was hidden by a secret door.

Inspecting the hallway there is a hidden door that couldn’t be opened normally, Ravus figured out that what Ardyn says is what activates it. But he could never heard all of what Ardyn said to open it and the Capo Familigia is on to him now so he needed to keep it under wraps. Ravus wasn’t sure what made him so interested in what Ardyn was doing but he had to know it was odd that he kept things from him, Ardyn often felt the need to tell Ravus even the smallest detail.

Except for this detail.

Down in the dungeons, a place where ill behaving Family members were set to cool off. The trick with the place was that in hopes of keeping that misbehaving person in place and not escaping or being helped by other Family members. It was a dungeon that he didn’t want a lot of people know about unless they needed to be tossed into it.

The dungeon was dimly lit, holding six cells in total with toilets, and a light hanging inches from the ceiling. The place was damp and looked like it belonged in a castle versus a manor built only twenty years ago. At one point there had been a castle but it had decayed and fell to ruin just like most of Ardyn’s hopes and dreams. The thing that destroyed most of his hopes and dreams was sitting in the furthermost cell looking worse for the wear.

Dressed in his striped suit, it fitting him immaculately, sticking out fashionably in the dark cell making his way to the end room Ardyn stared at the woman. Her cell was by far different from the others, it was ornate, a bit brighter than the rest and had a strong scent of sylleblossoms. Ardyn let a sigh, reassured that she was still there waiting for him there, standing in front of the cell the thin blonde stared up at him. Her violet eyes staring up at him, they were dazed, wide from being on constant dosage of drugs. A cocktail of drugs fed to her, stuff tapped into a IV, or pills ground up into her food keeping her unaware of her situation and location.

Stella Nox Fleuret was a force to be reckoned with, one that Ardyn loved greatly and wanted all for himself. She foolishly refused his offerings of a relationship in turn for a relationship with Regis Caelum. Stella was Capo Bastone of the Fleuret Family, well technically speaking she is the Capo Familigia. That is if people knew she was alive.

Humming to himself Ardyn unlocked her cell, the cloak he wore over this jacket a long thick red brocade dragged against the floor. The scraping sound of his shoes against the dirty floor as his eyes surveyed the room, there was dried bouquets of sylleblossoms on the wall. Fresh ones were on the end of the bed and on the nightstand.

“My darling, Stella you look so beautiful like normal. Your hair is out of place though let me fix that.” Ardyn said sitting down next to her, reaching across the thin woman’s lap for the ornate silver comb.

Snake like the drug addled woman grabbed his arm squeezing tightly, her mouth opened slightly her voice coming out in a raspy sound. Her mouth was so cotton-mouthed from the drugs that it was impossible to understand what she said. Ardyn didn’t really care what she said, her grip on his hand was weak her long ill manicured nails digging into his skin bruising slightly. Prying her hand free of his arm Ardyn locked eyes with her, she looked angry in her inability to speak or really react.

“Stella darling, you realize you cannot leave until you submit to me body and soul. Since you betrayed me and all.” Ardyn muttered softly as he grabbed the comb and started to comb out the few knots in her long golden hair.

There was a noticeable growl coming from Stella as the Capo Familigia reached for the IV drip and clicked the button administering another few drops of the drug filtering into her system. Slowly Ardyn started to sing to her as he combed out her hair, staring at her lovingly as he took out the tangles in her hair. Her violet eyes glazed over from the fresh dose of drugs, she sat there catatonic unable to react as he combed her hair, free hand caressing the small of her back.

“I will always take care of you Stella despite you betrayed me in such a way, I will always be here keeping a eye on you. You are a danger to others, you are unfit to rule your family with such weak morals like your own. I’ll keep you safe from harm my little pet, even if the biggest harm is coming from yourself.” Ardyn spoke to her as he leaned in placing a kiss to her temple.

[reinelefey]

Arthur could find no word for the feeling inside of him, save perhaps trepidation. He wasn't prepared to be standing before the woman he'd been hunting across three lifetimes and six countries.

She was resplendent in her beauty, and he could barely unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth to speak. The gun at his temple certainly did not help. But speak he must, and speak he would.

"Your grace," he began from his position on his knees, "I beg of you, allow me an audience in private. The matter of which we must speak is of some... sensitivity." The laugh which rang from her lips was as rich as the red of her gown, and twice as beautiful. She waved away the guards, however, and Arthur nearly cried at the relief of the gun being removed from his temple. Her descent from the throne's dias was graceful, and he felt his heart lurch as she held out her hand for him to take, and rise. Once he had done so, and stood before her, he was taken aback once more by the simple, yet stunning, beauty before him.

"Arthur, don't you ever get tired of chasing me around? Certainly my debt must have been written off the books by now?" She spoke gently, but confidently, genuinely curious as to why this man had such devotion to his job. She was stunned as she watched a smile form on his lips, and wondered at what could put it there.

"Lenore, I have chased you through three lifetimes, of course your debts have fallen from the books. They fell away during your time as Andrew Ashburn." He had to admit, the look of confusion across her face was something sweet, something he had been looking forward to when he'd thought about this confrontation.

"Truthfully, I have sought you out this lifetime because while you were Andrew, and I Marcel... I could not help but fall for your smile, for your mannerisms, for your mind. I wanted to spend the entirety of that lifetime with you, but how could I? I was charged to bring you back to the agency, to collect your debts, or your life. I couldn't bear to do it, and so I simply stood by as you took your own life, again. I waited until your debts were removed from the books, before I took my own, so that I could find you. Imagine my surprise when I came to as myself again." He slowly reached out a hand, brushing his fingertips across the swell of her cheek. "I knew you would know me for who I am, and that you may refuse me, but I had to try and find you, and tell you how I felt. It was the most important thing in my mind. I understand that you must be confused. I apologi--"

He was unable to finish his sentence, as she had launched herself at him, pressing her reddened lips to his own pale ones. His shock prevented him from reacting but for only a moment, before he began to return her kiss, eventually, the two finding themselves against a wall, his beautiful queen pressed between him and the rough, cold, steel. He felt himself reacting to the passion of their kiss, and from the hardness against his hip, he knew his queen was feeling the effects as well.

He pulled away, regretting the action even as he performed it. "Your Grace, I think we are getting a bit carried away. Perhaps we should talk, first?" He spoke gently, pressing a kiss to her lips at every pause.

"I will only allow a pause if you agree to use the name I have chosen for myself. Calling me by titles is unnecessary, when I consider you my equal." Lenore paused, and bit her lip, mentally preparing herself for what she needed to say. "Arthur, I wanted this for longer than I can say. I had so hoped for you to come to me in this form, the form in which I fell for you."

"Come," he spoke gently, "let us go." They clasped each other's hand, and walked out of the throne room, down the steps, and out of the palace, following the oath toward their future.

( can you tell that I lost inspiration after a while? Sorry it sucked...)

Reincarnation is a known, common, and expected result of death. You are a bounty hunter that specializes in tracking down people who have committed suicide to escape debts or a jail sentence.

[peacekeepingjennerit-blog]

Reunited

Alive!AU where Vex and Day meet up.

The rumors had been flooding around about an aggressive old constrictor slithering around and causing trouble. An old Roa that seemingly gave a bad name to all snakes by eating people alive. It all sounded too familiar. Way too familiar for Day’s liking.

She had seen a message online from the Roa, giving two people his location. A shop on the Arcfleet called “Killer’s Corner”. It would have been so easy for her to not go. She could have just put this whole thing behind her and moved on. But no. She had to know the truth.

Walking into the shop Day was immediately greeted by the pungent order of burnt wiring, blood, and stale beer. It made her visibly gasp and she tuck her head out of the doorway to the fresh air outside. 

“By Lenore that stench...”

She took a deep breath before heading back inside and shutting the door behind her. The store was nothing special, and definitely looked like it didn’t belong on the Arcfleet. It was dingy, poorly lit and there were huge weapons scattered around everywhere. Walking up to the front desk, she pressed down on a bell. But no answer. 

“Um... Hello?... Vex?” Day called out meekly and rang the bell again. Suddenly there was a very loud noise coming from the back room. A meek human peered out from behind a curtain and then quickly ran away.

This peaked Day’s interest. She was about to move behind the desk when a loud crash came from behind the curtain followed by a booming voice. Soon there was a large presence pulling back the curtain to the front desk and Day’s breath left her body.

A large Roa with deep purple scales slightered his way out of the backroom, grumbling under his breath and looking down at one of his two robotics arms, seeming to calibrate something. Nearly everything about him was robotic. Everything except his skin.

He came right up to the front desk and began talking in a monotone, disinterested voice. “Welcome-to-Killer’s-Corner. My-name-is-Vescion-Enem-how-can-I-” 

Finally he looked up at his silent customer wanting to ask what the fuck they wanted, only to be met with ten years of memoriesn staring him directly in his robotic eyes. He dropped his screwdriver and went open mouthed.

“...Lotharia...”

“V-Vex?...”

Vex slithered right over the desk and immeidately wrapped his newfound arms around her as she still stood in complete shock.

“I can’t believe you’re here! After all of this time! You’re finally mine again!” His grip on her tightened and his fang filled grin became wider with every second the hug was extended. 

Being called his would have warmed her heart years ago, but now? it made her feel... Off. Like she was supposed to be his property. Why was she being so stiff? She just found out that her husband is alive! She should be thrilled, but all Day could feel was pure disdain.

She started to struggle against him, trying to break free of his grasp. But he was so much stronger than he used to be.

“Heh, you’re a lot more squirmy than what you used to be, ruby. And what the fuck did you do to your hair?” He laughed and smelled her dyed hair before gagging dramatically. “Thought I told ya that  like it long! And pink? That doesn’t suit you!”

Her face grew red and she tried to break free harder. Was he always like this?! Not even five minutes reunited and he was telling her how to look!

“Your life has really gone off track since I left, huh? Don’t worry... I’ll help you be pretty again...”

“NO!” Day screamed out and finally managed to break free from his grasp. “What the fuck, Vex?! I found out that you’re alive after 300 years and the first thing you do is criticize how I look?!”

The Roa stood there, stunned at her outburst. She was never this loud when they were married. “Whoa, calm down. What the fuck do you expect me to say? You’ve changed A LOT.”

“And you haven’t?!” she motioned to his arms while looking him straight in his eyes which flickered randomly “I mean... What the actual fuck Vex?! Your arms! Your EYES! YOUR 300 YEAR ABSENCE WHERE I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD!”

“HEY. Don’t you raise your voice at me!” Vex pointed one of his four fingers directly in her face and poked her nose. “This is supposed to be happy! I thought you loved me!”

“I DID! Emphasis on did! I loved you for so long, you were all I ever thought about for the past 298 years!” Day poked his chest and her face grew a red that would rival the shade of her eyes.

Vex could feel his chest clenching up at her words and he gripped the vest around it. “Well... What about the last two years?! Did you just stop magically loving me?!”

Day scoffed and backed away from him. “No. I moved on. I was starting to heal from the pain that you left me with... I became a part of something bigger than myself. I changed for the better.”

What could she mean by... Oh. The Battleborn. They made her change. She joined up with them and now she’s no longer his. His eye sparked as his rage grew and he raised himself up to loom over her.

“I did all of this for you. I made meself into a bloody cyborg so I could be with you. So I could live forver just as you do.” He lowered his head down to meet eye contact with her. “I left so I could be more. So, act grateful.”

300 years ago, Day would have listened to him. She would have done exactly as he commanded, having not known any better. But now she does. She knows what love is and what it isn’t. And this is not love. It never really was. Love doesn’t use fear as a tactic.

Without breaking the intense gaze, Day leaned in closer. “You should have stayed. At least then you would have died happy. But now you’ll just live miserably.”

Vex was obviously taken aback by this, as he broke the eye contact and backed away. Soon enough he was breathing heavy and a whirring noise came from his abdomen. He let out a large scream and attempted to make a grab for her.

Day managed to evade his grasp, but not before being knocked to the ground by his other arm. The implanted spikes tore her UPR uniform slightly. Wasting no time she got up again and ran for the exit.

“GET BACK HERE LOTHARIA!” Vex screeched out, his voice wavering as static interference affected his voice. “YOU ARE MY WIFE!” He chased after her, but it was too late. She was already out the door and in the crowded streets.

Vex huffed as his right eye began to spark and malfunction violently. It caused him a severe amount of pain, but he didn’t care. All he could do was watch as his wife ran way from him. This was all the Battleborn’s fault. If she hadn’t joined up with them she’d still be easy to control. His little puppet.

In that moment Vex swore that if he came across any Battleborn, no matter the faction, that he would be the last thing they ever see.

For now he slithered right back into his shop and base of operations. There were plans that needed to be made.