#ashbalfour

[firebrnd]

Mains appreciation post part 2 featuring @ashbalfour

A few weeks ago, Bonnie met Asher during her search for a magical ring, and they've been working together ever since. Though she doesn’t know much about him, she’s found herself trusting him more than she ever expected. There’s a sense of safety she feels when he’s around, a quiet reassurance that everything will be okay. It was rare for Bonnie to connect with someone so quickly, but Asher had become that person for her, and she’s grateful to have him by her side on this journey. His calm demeanor and steady presence have brought her a sense of peace she didn’t know she needed. With a shy smile tucking at her lips, she glanced at Asher. "You know, I've never expected to trust you so fast but . . . your endearing charm got the best of me."

[sonnenreich]

continuation of (☀️) ⸻ @ashbalfour

The smell of musty books, old wood and cedar has always harboured the cornerstones of familiarity for Zeev. A potpourri of history and cosy feelings. The expensive perfume of his host reinforced the impression of professional experience in dealing with antiques, as well as the shared ambivalence of old and new. Asher's words resonated with a part of him that sought its equal and he recognised, perhaps not a confidant, but a kindred spirit. Zeev's family lived much more in the past than in the present. Isolated from the echoes of incomprehension that still resonated in a world that prided itself on progress, yet turned a blind eye to what had brought them this far in the first place. History, in particular, offered countless conclusions that could expand awareness and increase knowledge. Only those who understood and respected the past could recognise the patterns of the future and act accordingly. However, the witcher had always stayed away from political matters and judgements, so he would not start drawing up equations now. 

Instead, he smiled at the broad-shouldered and tall man, whose demeanour could have been intimidating had the circumstances been different. He exuded an English elegance that Zeev could only declare commendable. “That's the problem,” the blond began, scrutinising a glass case containing an elongated walking cane, the silver head almost unbeatable in its richness of detail. “Some things are not made to be controlled. Have you ever tried to influence the wind? Prevented nature from growing? This may work in some parts, and yet a flower also blossoms in the grey wasteland of a concrete-locked city. The step of understanding is skipped because it is less lucrative for one's own interests. Yet knowledge is just as valuable as possessions. If not more.” He strolled calmly around the exhibits, which Zeev knew were only a fraction of what was really in the Balfour collection. 

Zeev didn't know much about the Briton's family business, though he was aware of the influence they harboured. Preserving supposedly cursed relics, however, sounded noble enough to his ears not to be suspicious of what purpose they served for someone like Asher, if not the desire to protect history. Someone would always come into possession, someone who knew the dangers and acted accordingly was preferable to him than haughtily dealing with things the person didn't understand - and causing harm as a result. This way, the world's view of the inexplicable would never change. A wish that Zeev knew would never come true. But a man was allowed to dream. 

As Zeev continued to survey the room, interested and invested in the other's work, he heard the cosy tingling of magical presences. They were not fundamentally malevolent, as it always was with magic. A fire was not evil, it was not even aware of this concept, yet it could destroy livelihoods and raze countries to the ground. It was a natural occurrence and another facet of the world in which they moved. The actions of an individual did not infer the intentions of the whole, even if it fit better into the narrative of humanity. 

Zeev smirked contentedly at Asher, asking his favourite question when confronted with antiques and obscurities: “Show me your favourite relic and tell me why so.” It was a request, but the witcher did not press him.

[cursedhunting]

continued from here

in the days since arriving to the city, natasha had adapted to her new situation, as she always did, and weaved a new web of lies. the woman she was currently pretending to be and the woman underneath the guise could not be more different. save for the common thread of drinking alcohol and smoking one too many cigarettes. old habits die hard.

with her suit jacket long forgotten on the back of the chair, the sleeves of her blouse rolled up and the first few buttons undone, she looked like a woman off work. she fits into her surroundings. but the same could not be said for the man across the bar, even if she had seen him the past few days. he looked disheveled in the way someone going through a rough patch does: like he wanted to forget. but this time around he ends up staring at her and after meeting him with an unwavering look of her own she finds herself taking her half finished wine and moving towards him.

"i've seen you here before. and i’ve seen them, too," @ashbalfour replies to her brazen greeting. but it is she who is intrigued by his reply. she's seen the man in question days prior but had thought nothing of him at the time. he was another regular patron, simple as that. however, upon further study by way of waving down the bartender, she notices the man's ill-fitting suit and the way he doesn't take an actual sip from his drink. it could be a coincidence. he could be waiting for someone. or attempting to gather up the courage to talk to her. but there's something about him that causes the hair on her arms to stand up. surely, they hadn't found her? not here in the city that never sleeps. taking a sip of her wine, natasha focuses her attention on the man before her, pushing away the unnerving thoughts as they would do her no good.

"do you always go about drunkenly looking out for women in bars?" she asks. this time it is amusement that laces her tone. a smile curls across her lips, even as her mind races to formulate a plan to get out because the last thing she wants to do is wait around and see if this stranger's assumptions are correct. natasha thinks back to the week old events that had transpired in oregon, of the unusual weather in chicago and detroit that reminds her of the unseen chaos still taking place. she mentally runs through the last few days in the city and of where she'd gone. nothing stood out but then again, she almost felt safe here—— insulated from everything that had happened and was happening. there was no way that man had any connection to the ranch in harney county she'd left behind. even if he did, in a city of eight million people, there was no way they'd found her so quickly. they didn't have the resources or connections for such a task. unless ... but the thought is pushed almost as quickly as it pops up. she isn't going to entertain what ifs. not here, not now.

"or is this your way of hitting on me? i thought englishmen were more charming than americans." natasha adds. a brow arching as if to say well, am i right?

[wickedslip]

It had been a day from actual hell, or as close to it as she would have ever concocted. She had been minding her own business, pruning the herb garden to add more to the herbarium at the apothecary, and all she wanted was silence. Silence from the elements, from consumers, from everyone and everything around her. And that’s when she realized that her ears had somehow magically plugged, and she had gone deficit of hearing for the last three and a half days. Oh, by some grace of hell she had really outdone herself this time. The only comparison she could draw to was when she had received a nasty ailment of spring allergies the year prior. Somehow, this seemed worse. The voice that sounded in her mind, rather in her ears, and she nearly jumped out of her skin, for the way she hadn’t expected it.

❛ Magic does that. It wastes you away. Once it grips you by the ear, the real world gets quieter and quieter, until you can hardly hear it at all. ❜ @ashbalfour bestowed to her.

That was the first time she had ever heard anyone telepathically, or at least that was what appeared to have happened. She wasn’t hearing it from the outside; it had all come from within, and she wasn’t even sure if his lips had even moved. Slowly she concentrated on the drums of her ears and leftover residuum, practicing in a heighted notion to alleviate the blockage. She knew she had succeeded when she felt the satisfying pop, much like when you change elevation when flying at high altitude.

❛ Did you just say that, or did I do something strange? ❜ It was almost expected to be the latter mentioned, because knowing her, she one hundred percent had done this to herself. ❛ Magic only wastes you away if you take on too much power, and not have a balance for it. ❜ She slowly turned to him, walking in his direction. ❛ Are you a magic user, Asher? ❜

[vikasgarden]

⸻ continued from here with @ashbalfour

It was fun to see how Asher relaxed over time, especially as he had no choice in this dance. He had found his rhythm and Vika liked it. She herself tried to move a little more, to shake her hips a little to the rhythm of the bagpipes, and she enjoyed the way she moved her body to the music. 

This wasn't her first folk festival and it wouldn't be her last. Her first memories of the world were at folk festivals and she went to them at least once a year. The only thing that was a real shame was that she had decided to wear jeans and not the pretty skirt she first had in mind. With a skirt that flowed around her legs as she danced, it would have been perfect. But that didn't stop her from having fun once Asher spun her around.

His words made her grin. "So you're already thinking about dancing with me again?" Vika giggled softly. "I knew I could be enchanting, but that was quick. Especially that you wanted to say no straight away. But we can practise together if you like. Hopefully I won't mess it up by stepping on your toes first." Vika made a joke. She hadn't thought she would step on his toes, but you never know. There were so many people around them, dancing with full energy. She wouldn't be surprised if they grazed others or were grazed by them. However, they haven't managed to touch another dancing couple yet. That must be a sign, in her opinion. And if Asher asked Vika, they made a good catch with each other. 

If she tuned out the other people around her who were talking, dancing and watching the dancers go by, just by looking into Asher's eyes, Vika could imagine that they were alone on the dance floor. That was her favourite idea: dancing as if no one was watching. She danced just for herself and also for Asher. 

"What music do you prefer?" She hardly knew Asher at all. Not only did she not know what he listened to when he was driving or sitting alone in his home, she didn't know if he could dance at all. But it seemed like this wasn't his first dance. "Where did you learn to dance? In a club? I can't imagine you doing something like the Train or the Reebok in a crowd." Another soft giggle left her mouth as she tried to visualise it. She shook her head to clear the image from her mind and focused on his eyes again. "And, if I may say so, you dance really well. We probably don't need to practice much."

[sulezgirl]

for @ashbalfour.

The girl moved silently, her footsteps echoing faintly on the aged wooden floor. Dodging in the dark environment, she preferred to rely on the small flashlight that she held tightly in one hand, the yellowish light casting irregular shadows across the walls of the old warehouse. In his other hand rested his gun, loaded with wooden bullets dipped in vervain, a precaution that had saved his life before.

She took a deep breath, feeling the cold touch of humidity in the air. The place was full of antiques, furniture covered in yellowed sheets, paintings of faces forgotten by time, and wooden boxes that looked like they had never been opened. Everything seemed dormant, but Meredith knew that, somewhere in that maze of history and dust, the Gilbert Device was hidden.

Finding him, however, had not been an easy task. Bonnie, so talented, had done her best to perform a location spell that would help her find the artifact. The spell, which would normally be simple for Bonnie, turned out to be exhausting and complex, as if something was blocking her magic, distorting the path she was trying to illuminate. Meredith still remembered the sweat running down Bonnie's forehead, the words of incantation repeated with increasing intensity, and the moment when she finally got a vague glimpse of where the device was hidden.

This only confirmed what Meredith already feared: whoever had stolen the artifact from the Sulez family knew exactly what they were doing. There were layers of protection, invisible barriers that almost stopped Bonnie from tracking the device. This meant that the danger was real and imminent—the kind of threat that demanded the utmost caution. His black eyes swept the room, every detail analyzing for anything out of place. A compass that captured vampires—an artifact that, in the wrong hands, could become a lethal weapon.

“Focus” she muttered to herself, following her intuition. Time was crucial. If someone found out she was there, would there be a second chance? It wasn't like she was going to give up.

[shevampyre]

reply to @ashbalfour , continued from here .

To be very honest, even though she was quite a professional when it came to carving pumpkins and doing.. other stuff with knives, most of the time she still was afraid of cutting her fingers which lead to her following her every step with her eyes. Almost like an artist focusing on the movements of his brush. She smiled benignly as he leaned against the table and watched her do her work. “Oh I almost have my masters in knowledge of the human nature. I wouldn’t call it 'presuming to know'.”, she said jokingly, still sounding serious due to the strict tone her voice naturally had. It most probably was the heavy British accent.

“Murder mystery you say?”, she rolled her eyes at him being so reserved towards the fun that came with Halloween. “One more kill joy comment and I’ll make you come to my Halloween birthday bash.”, she turned to him, almost glaring at him with her dark brown eyes and the knife she was holding dangerously near to his throat, “with a proper costume.”, she continued, intentionally keeping the serious tone that just came in handy before bursting out into laughter just a few seconds after.

She would’ve loved scaring him a little longer though she was afraid he’d take it serious. Most people can’t handle her humour. She had to learn that the tough way.

“I usually am pretty judgmental. I can’t help it. I’m Indian.”, she excused herself, shrugging her shoulders and smiling innocently. Her voice turned somewhat into that of a pretty little diva as she started singing the chorus of “just a girl” by the band 'no doubt', wiggling her head to the rhythm of the song and cleaning the kitchen table at the same time. At this point her behaviour must’ve came off as notorious just like Monica from her favourite show "friends”. She couldn’t handle a dirty counter for more than two minutes. Maybe even one.

Once she was done with the pumpkin, she held it up, turning its face to Ash with a bouncing movement of her hands. “Oh look, it resembles you so much!”, she grinned. She had carved two big crosses where the eyes should’ve been and a wide open mouth screaming for help. Nikita was very amused by her own words and chuckled as she turned the scaredy pumpkins face towards herself and eyed it up once more. “I’m funny, ain’t I?”

[firebrnd]

☂️

How do they feel about rain? also asked by @ashbalfour

Bonnie loves the rain. It makes her feel alive, the way the air smells fresher, and the earth softens beneath her feet. She finds peace in the steady rhythm of droplets falling, like a gentle lullaby from nature. The rain soothes her, its cool touch reminding her of the power in even the smallest forces of the world.

[crimelrd]

𝐡𝐨𝐭 / 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭

𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝟏𝟎𝟎% 𝐡𝐨𝐭, 𝟔𝟓% 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐞

people  in  the  date  zone  are  attractive,  but  they  also  tend  to  be  quirky  or  strange.  introducing  them  to  one’s  friends  and  family  is  often  a  question  of  hit  or  miss  and  tends  to  come  down  to  the  level  of  craziness  that  exists  in  one’s  own  social  circle  to  begin  with.  there  is  nothing  wrong  with  forming  a  relationship  with  someone  in  the  date  zone.  in  fact,  many  date  zoners  tend  to  mature  with  age,  often  to  the  point  of  becoming  marriage  material.  that  being  said,  it  is  also  possible  for  date  zoners  to  never  mature,  or  to  grow  even  crazier,  and  thus  slip  into  the  danger  zone.  therefore,  one  should  pay  close  attention  to  whether  the  hot  or  the  crazy  seems  to  have  the  upper  hand  when  dating  someone  from  the  date  zone.

tagged by @pistolmadeofroses & @fireburial (thanksies, sending flowers ur way)

tagging @ashbalfour, @vasted, @zeitrcisender, @lethalfight & @menschengvmacht

[cursedhunting]

continued from here

natasha didn't avoid humans, in fact she helped those in need but she was always cautious of those that claimed to be accepting of what she was. and while @ashbalfour seemed genuine in his curiosity, she can't help the sardonic smile that curls across her lips. she's heard versions of that countless times and it always ends the same way: in blood curling screams once they see her true face. "you accept me now because i look like someone's girlfriend, someone's sister." there's a pause, as she downs the amber liquid in her glass. an act done to confuse him and dismantle whatever preconceived notions he has of vampires—— while also attempting to dull hunger's ever present edge.

"countless men have sat where you are right now." the bartender comes over to take her glass and natasha uses the opportunity to ask for another round and chat her up to plant the seed of free endless drinks to celebrate her birthday. the bartender laughs along with the suggestion, congratulates her and leaves with the empty glass. humans, easy to help and even easier to manipulate. natasha turns her attention back to asher, setting him with an unwavering gaze. "aren't you curious what happened to those who sat where you are?"

[wickedslip]

🔥 (putting this here for safety reasons: 🧯)

OH MY GOODNESS right back at you, beloved! Like still thinking back to the conversation on our first reply and she was like !!!!!! this mannnnn. So trust me, it is very much reciprocated! 🔥🔥🔥

[vikasgarden]

💃

The leaves have already started to turn yellow, red and brown. There was still some green on some of the trees, but it already looked more like autumn than summer, and Vika loved it. Sunny days, cold nights and a scent in a light breeze that promised a coming storm. But not now. Now the sky was blue with a few white fleecy clouds. Music was all around them. A local band was playing at the harvest festival and there were stalls everywhere. Some of them were selling the harvest from the fields, others were selling autumn decorations or handmade things. Vika loved it as she walked past with Asher by her side. Many people found their way here. Strangers from the harbour, but also the inhabitants of Wick. Only a few times a year were the streets in Wick so full, but it was so nice to see all the happy faces, smell the delicious autumnal food and hear the laughter and conversations. 

"I told you it would be fun." Her backpack was already filled with one or two things from the stall of homemade items. A birthday present for someone and a decoration that Vika already knew where it belonged. She was happy and the smile didn't leave her lips for a second. Her hair, braided into two pigtails, bounced as she made her way through the crowd with a light-footed, easy dance rhythm that matched the music. "Do you dance, Asher?" Her gaze travelled to him, her eyes already sparkling with anticipation. Through the crowd, Vika had already spotted the dance floor, where people were already moving to the music. Some of them were trying their hand at some folk dances and dance moves, others were just having fun and dancing as they pleased. It looked like fun and Vika was full of enthusiasm. She expected him to say no, but she stood right in front of him anyway and held out her hand. "Would you dance with me?" Asher barely had time to say yes or no. She gave him a second to think before grabbing his hand and pulling him through the crowd onto the dance floor. Luckily, the song ended and a new one began. Some people disappeared from the dance floor, others moved to it and Vika found a spot for them, already moving to the rhythm of the music, grabbing his other hand and trying to animate him with a soft giggle and a big smile. But as Vika thought, the music was doing its own thing. The band tried their hand at a cover of the already covered Shut Up and Dance by the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, of course with the bagpipes in it. It wasn't just an invitation to dance. It also invited people to sing along.

[sonnenreich]

SEVEN  DEADLY  SINS.  -   bold what applies, italicize what  sometimes applies, strike through  for never applies.

LUST.      desire  for  connection.  pursuit  of  pleasure.  emotional  intelligence.  obsessive.  lovesick.  one-night  stands.  seductive  encounter.  flirtatious  conversation.  erotic  party.  seductive  attire.  revealing  clothing.  passionate  gaze.  provocative  makeup.  sensual  expressions.  suggestive  gestures.  flirtatious  smiles.  lingerie.  love  letters.  perfumes.  provocative  behaviour.  love  poems.  erotic  art.

GLUTTONY. indulgence  in  experiences.  savouring  moments.  hospitality.  generosity.  hedonism.  culinary  expertise.  wine-tasting.  excessive  snacking.  overloaded  plates.  excessive  portions.  bloated  stomachs.  messy  eating.  greasy  fingers.  full  tables.  indulgent  spreads.  overflowing  cups.  satisfied  expressions.  wine  bottles.  just  can't  get  enough.  fast  food  wrappers.

ENVY.      motivation.  competitive  spirit.  strategic  planning.  observational  skills.  bitter  rivalry.  contest. envious  gossip.  resentment-filled  argument.  social  media  jealousy.  furrowed  brows.  clenched  jaws.  side-eye  looks.  pursed  lips.  tense  posture.  whispering  behind  backs.  crossed  arms.  gossip  magazines.  keeping  up  with  the  joneses.  the  grass  is  always  greener.  feeling  inadequate.

GREED.      resourcefulness. entrepreneurial  spirit. negotiation.  materialistic.  aggressive  investment.  lavish  spending  spree.  resource-hoarding.  get-rich-quick  schemes.  auction-bidding  war.  property  acquisition. piles  of  money.  overflowing  wallets.  luxury  items.  locked  safes.  penny-pinching.  rare  collectibles.  selfishness.  unwillingness  to  share.

SLOTH.      calmness.  stress  management.  nonchalance.  relaxation  techniques.  lethargic.  apathetic.  inactive.  lazy  weekend.  binge-watching  marathon.  neglected  chores.  skipped  workout.  long  nap.  lounging  on  the  couch.  missed  deadlines.  unkempt  appearance.  messy  hair.  pajamas.  blankets.  slippers.  procrastination  station.  self-care  routines.

PRIDE.      confidence.  self-assurance.  self-respect.  dignity.  public  speaking. self-promotion.  arrogant.  conceited.  egotistical.  self-important.  vain.  boastful  speech.  puffed  chest.  raised  chin.  smug  smiles.  spotlight.  tooting  your  own  horn.  showing  off.  refusing  to  admit  mistakes.  feeling  entitled.  personal  branding.  leadership  development.

WRATH.      assertiveness.  decisiveness.  strength.  intensity.  boundary  setting.  courage.  indignant.  heated  arguments.  road  rage  incident.  physical  altercation.  angry  outburst.  clenched  fists.  glaring  eyes.  tense  muscles.  raised  voices.  reddened  faces.  aggressive  gestures.  stormy  demeanour.  intense  frowns.  destructive  actions.  broken  objects.  punching  bag.  out  for  blood.  fists.  simmering  anger.

tagging: @gruenwald, @girlsurvive, @dopplgaenger, @hochmvt, @geisterwelt, @wickedslip , @firebrnd , @ashbalfour , @vasted @vikasgarden & @nepnthc - also anyone who'd like to do it too!

[a-neverending-story]

cutify me   | makowka character maker

tagged: @hochmvt & @shadowpunk & @theallegedsourwolf (feel free to do the other if you only tagged me in one)

tagging: @gold-nblush & @nuit-sanglant & @ashbalfour obviously all those who havn't done one or both. Do it. Now!

[firebrnd]

🚢

send 🚢 or ( 'SHIP' ) if you ever considered shipping our characters romantically and want me to fill out the following form for our muses. bold all that definitely applies, italicize what could potentially apply. feel free to add more if you think certain options are missing or you just want to add more.

do i ship our characters together?: yes | no | not yet but maybe soon

would i like to ship with you?: yes | maybe, i'm willing to try | no

type of relationship i could see: childhood or high school sweethearts | exes | engaged | married | long-term relationship | crushes | unrequited love | fling | long distance | online relationship | just dating | new relationship | toxic lovers | friends with benefits

tropes i'd enjoy writing for them: friends to lovers | enemies to lovers | exes to lovers | fake relationship / dating | forbidden love | grumpy and sunshine | star-crossed lovers | surprise pregnancy | second chance | soulmates | amnesia / mistaken identity | forced proximity | secret relationship | slow burn relationship

would i rather plot first or jump right in and see where it goes?: develop their relationship first | jump right in | something in between (continue with the novel and see where this will lead us)

what now?: let's plot something | send me shippy memes | i'll send you shippy memes | write me a random starter | i'll write you a random starter

anything else i want you to know about me / my character / my shipping habits: I am quite new to shipping my characters but I already love their dynamic. I could definitely see Bonnie and Ash happen in the future !

[phasmophobie]

🎀

— all-around kind person ( shoutouts of awesomeness )

sadly, i don't know that many muses ( outside the truppe ) to say they're a kind person through and through. most muses pavel has encountered are either twisted, egoistical, a villain from head to toe or very very very "misunderstood" ( and so on, him included ). but from an outside perspective and regarding smalltalk with mun, i'd say I met a few very lovely people who I consider kind ( at least to me so far ). — @dragonul-de-aur — @ashbalfour — @xtoariadnesdarklightx — @gestalt-wandler — and, i cannot contain myself anymore to not mention my peeps, the most kind and cute and friendly and most wholesome muse is Daria, @caughtbetweenworlds. She'll hurt a fly by accident and feel sorry days after.