#c: markus;

[nishaxeleazar]

closed starter for @sntsvilliers

There wasn’t anything normal between them. Centuries apart had created a chasm — one she wasn’t quite sure how to fuse back together. But she was determined to figure it out, even if it took time. Even if it forced her to be patient.

As Nisha walked through the crowd, two drinks in hand, towards where she’d left Markus, she frowned when she noticed him. He was smiling at someone else. Laughing with someone that wasn’t her. With a tightening grip on the two glasses, she moved to stand to the side of him, her hip bumping into his. “Darling.” Her voice was stern, yet sing song. She completely ignored the person in front of him as she moved to place her body between them. “Your drink, as requested.”

[nolanxthatcher]

closed starter for @sntsvilliers

With Markus so fucking distracted lately, Nolan was feeling neglected and ignored. As if what they had didn't mean anything to the vampire. And honestly, it was driving Nolan crazy. He'd kidnapped Annalise for him, only to be told that he wouldn't touch her. He endured excruciating pain as a consequence by a vampire he'd never met before and even though Markus healed him from the harsher wounds, Nolan had wanted more from Markus. Attention. Reassurance. Something that would make him believe they were headed in the right direction.

But instead, he had nothing. And now, he was drinking. Guzzling down shot after shot, forming a plan to try to get Markus' blood without him outright offering. Or, he could obtain another vampires blood and just... turn himself.

He ran his hands through his hair and clasped his fingers behind his back. That could work. Then, he wouldn't have to keep waiting.

He stood up from his desk and moved to the door, opening it and pausing when he saw the person he'd been just plotting against. "Markus." He grumbled, his mind spinning from the alcohol he'd consumed. "To what do I owe this fucking pleasure?" He stared up at the man, a tight smile forming on his lips.

[ebonytails]

Happy Lunar New Year! 🐉🎉🎊

(She got TIKOY!!!!!)

[nishaxeleazar]

-- jump forward --

Due to the bond Nisha had placed on Reid years ago, she was able to track him down, no matter where he was. So when she realized that he was close to the theatre, where she'd been not an hour prior, Nisha began to make her way back. She knew that she'd left Markus there and her hope was that her two fledglings weren't there at the same time. Told herself that Markus most likely left because surely, he had other business to attend to.

But when she approached the outside of the theatre, Nisha realized that she was silly for even having a small shred of hope. Foolish, that she'd think her fledglings would know better than to put their hands on one another. Delusional, as she watched Markus drop Reid from a nearby building and leave him there.

One fledgling at a time. Nisha reminded herself as she walked towards Reid, who was now groaning and writhing on the ground. "I gave you too much credit, before." She said as she knelt down next to him, her fingers brushed gently over his bloodied face. "You are not as smart as you used to be, Reid Halstead."

END

There is no answer Markus could have given that would have Reid satisfied. He knows vengeance and revenge; righteous fury and the embrace of its jaws. It would have changed nothing, to know. It would have scratched an itch, when his entire body is screaming to fall to the same depravity this monster he faces, is.

A grunt escapes when the bone breaks, Reid's own — Markus'. He knows, and that's fine. He'll tear out his teeth, one by one and wear them as a necklace. Rip his jaw from his face with one horrible bout of strength; a mutilated mass of flesh to hang beneath a set of devious eyes, fading of their black. Halstead thinks he is different to the beast that almost killed his sister, but he's not. At the core, even before death stole everything from him. He feels the same justice in killing, right and wrong are variables that shit like Markus wave away like flies.

Reid's teeth are gritted, fangs tip over his bottom row. They threaten to puncture his own flesh. So he's vicious when he speaks, hissing over the bout of brawling that he and De Villiers exchange.

"Next time, I'll reach in and rip out the whole thing," Ribcage, heart, spinal cord, blackened lungs — watch them ashen in his hands, sanding between his fingers. Right, that is. What's wrong, is everything Markus is.

It doesn't cease, the monstrous sounds when the rows of theatre seats, the debris of a caved-in wall pass by them. They're back into the night as if they could go for hours; until the sun breaks past the horizon and ends it for them both.

Reid groans, more pained the second time he buries into the bricks. Smack, slap —He crashes to the ground on the other side of it, groaning in agony as he feels the slow movements of his bones both displaced and fighting to right themself inside his body. When he rolls over, it's with another noise of complaint, he can barely determine which way he's facing. But he grunts sharply when he's forced over, a knee that threatens to concave his ribcage has his hands frantically digging into Markus' leg, in an attempt to lift him off. Furious eyes, blood-stained gaze steeling into the other man's.

Halstead cannot speak, De Villiers determined to say his piece as he squeezes the cords of Halstead's throat. A decade ago, he'd never fall this way. (but he did) The magic in his faded tattoo isn't saving him now, but he knows it's painfully there — glaring at his fallen form whilst he shreds his nails across Markus' leg, feeling the blood seep beneath his nails. How does it feel? Reid feels the world closing in on him, for a second time.

He growls when Markus' teeth tempt to bury — it's not his sire's, he doesn't feel the rush of warmth; he's sure that's a choice thing. "I will end you," He's louder, forcing the words over the grip Markus has on his neck. They're big words, for a man covered in brick debris, bleeding and withholding the scream that his chest is slowly, inch by inch, caving inwards. The pressure has him in a hail mary — "You won't touch them, De Villiers." He won't lose to think on betrayal, and all the nasty mind tricks the other might think himself capable of. "You talk too much, is that how she escaped you?" He knows it isn't, but he's livid, biting back at the other.

Reid shoves forward in an act to try and move Markus, but in the fast-falling energy, he's shifted a hand to reach out for one of the chunks of the broken wall, grips it with cut fingers — and swings right across the too-close body atop him.

[jude-shotto]

A redraw of the C&C zine Jericrew w/ Leo!

This is also for the Leo Surprise Birthday Party Event, ending tomorrow (Leo's birthday)!

If you want to see more Leo content you can check out the event @detroitbhappy and on Twitter, wherein you can win an art prize when you share or make Leo content with the event tag #LeoSBDP and submit he URL on this form! 

[genersones]

Goodnight people

[askmafiabobvelseb]

the visit 2 :3

ah bob, what a way with words lol

(feat our goober Markus! @gooberdrawz :3)

[sci-fi-disney-prince]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kurt Markus (@kurtmarkus_)

kurtmarkus_: Garrett Hedlund for C Magazine, 2017 @garretthedlund @ccaliforniastyle creative @edmondalison

Posted July 3rd, 2023 on Kurt Markus’ Instagram

[freesidexjunkie]

(sidling up to the water cooler at the office) hey there, sucking hard or hardly sucking?

[nishaxeleazar]

closed starter for @sntsvilliers

It had been so long since she'd seen that face. His features. That hair. Those eyes. Eyes she'd wanted to stare into for hours. Arms she wanted to be held by and never let go. There was an uncomfortable ache that settled in her chest. One she didn't recognize, when she saw him.

She ran her tongue over her lips and suddenly, she felt parched. Starved for something. Though, she never skipped meals.

Nisha moved towards him, not caring that he might not want to see her. That her leaving him so abruptly -- and against her will -- could have led to hatred in his heart for her. She needed to be near him. To get closer to him. To touch him again. Even if he shouted at her or yanked himself away. She needed to know.

"Markus." Her desperate tone of voice rang out around her as she picked up the pace. She was close now, reaching towards him, grabbing at his hand and staring up at him. In her mind, she was being pushed back centuries to her old self. The girl that didn't know how to get out of a hard situation. The woman that had no power. No control. But she'd had him, even if for a small amount of time.

Until that was taken away from her, too.

"You're here." One hand moved to his face, as if to see if all of him was real. "I thought I'd never see you again." I thought he might have killed you.

[nolanxthatcher]

closed starter for @sntsvilliers

The spectacle was interesting, to say the least. And honestly, it brought a smile to Nolan's face. He enjoyed seeing Markus in his element. Almost as much as the anger he felt towards the man when it came to him pushing off Nolan's transition. There was always some excuse. It was never the right time. And yet, Nolan felt like now was the best time. Not only was he thriving, business wise, but it felt like Markus was thriving in this moment.

"Bravo." Nolan said as he approached Markus. "Quite the show, I must say." He then let out a sigh as he glanced towards the utter chaos that Markus had caused. "But tell me... are you truly going to keep to your word and pay whomever accomplishes your goal?"

"You and I both know that you have trouble following through with promises."

[marcusrobertobaq]

Who the fuck is CONNER? Y'all punks drunk?

[anikabooker]

closed  — @sntsvilliers

Her mind was still wrapping around the idea of staying in this place. Called it duty and obligation — to her father, to the fellowship. Left no room for friendships and sentiments in the cracks. She desired the vast road and nothing holding her down, except for that rotting vendetta of hers. Nothing tying her to a place that left her vulnerable and open twice already, yet would settle for a temporary shelter if it meant knowing her father was alive and well. Anika couldn't leave him alone. Not in a place with far too many enemies and fewer allies. Not when hunters were dropping like flies, right before her eyes.

She almost joined the pile of bodies — death beckoning her, knowing Anika's time was long overdue. Cheated him once, twice — she'd do it again, for as long as she stood.

That spelled anonimity might have just spared that ancient fucker from being chased down and staked. Memories of that fight were blurry. But the one she had her main focus on, was already begging to be turned to ash. Crawled out of his fancy hole and came to her. Made her job a lot easier, this way. She wouldn't have to enter whatever lair he was rotting in.

So, it worked. He took the bait.

Anika noticed him through the window, when the sun had just set. People going in and out of the gym, seemingly unaware of his menacing pressence. Fewer of them left inside, now. When their eyes met, her hands let go of the metal bar, and it jolted back with a clunk. Wiping traces of sweat with a towel, she took her time until the humans around became less and less. She wouldn't allow any to become collateral damage.

[lesbianwyllravengard]

okay so I keep seeing people say that Connor’s choice to either become deviant/remain machine is the biggest choice in the game but it occurred to me earlier that it’s actually completely dependent on Markus?

bc during Crossroads Connor’s conversation with Markus can boost his software instability if it’s too low to unlock the deviant option (side note: I don’t know if Connor’s conversation with North does the same? because you can’t choose her dialogue?) but ALSO in Night of the Soul if Markus shoots Connor that’s it he’s a machine again no more deviant Connor. So really Connor doesn’t have much of a choice at all

does this make sense at all?? idk (hope you’re having a good day! <3)

(I'm doing alright, thank you! <3)

And yes you're definitely right. I mean, of course, there's instances where no matter how much Markus boosts Connor's SI, he still can't deviate, but yes your point stands, and the same is with North, where everything she says raises Connor's SI. In both situations, if Connor does/says something machine like, his software instability goes down, but no matter what Markus or North say, it positively influences his SI. And yeah, if Markus shoots Connor in NotS, Connor comes back as a machine no matter what.

Connor's status as a machine or as a deviant is entirely dependent on other characters/the environment he's in. Sure, he can make choices that affect whether or not his Software Instability goes up or down, but those choices wouldn't be possible on his own. For example, he couldn't choose saving Hank over chasing Rupert if Hank wasn't there in the first place as someone who Connor could respect and regard. Connor wouldn't have been able to choose to spare the TRACIs if Echo hadn't explained to him why she'd killed the man in the first place. He wouldn't be able to spare Chloe if Kamski hadn't put the idea in his mind that she's living, if Hank hadn't called her a "nice girl", etc. etc. These things influence or trigger his empathy, and if he acts on them, it raises his instability. He wouldn't be able to do so on his own.

It's crazy to me that people actually believe his story could be standalone, or that he's somehow more important than Markus, the literal driver of the story. That anyone could think Connor's choice to remain machine or become a deviant is the "biggest choice" in the game is quite mind blowing to me. The biggest choice in the game is whether or not Markus chooses a Demonstration or a Revolution. That is the single most impactful choice in the game, the most influential choice, and the only choice that decides what kind of ending you get for every single character left. Connor's fate is irrelevant, because Markus can succeed without him. Markus can defeat him. The only thing Connor adds to the story is a different perspective to the journey to deviancy, as we see him from "birth" to "awakening".

I guess my point is, yes, you're right that Connor's choice to remain a machine or become deviant is heavily influenced by Markus - but also, it couldn't possibly be the biggest choice in the game, because his choice only affects his own fate, and at worst gives Markus an obstacle to overcome. It's silly to me that anyone would think that. Markus's decision for how they go about winning their freedom, however, is the only choice that impacts everyone, making that the biggest choice in the game.

[sleepycoffins-and-benhargreeves]

Gurl, not me reading in the underworld subreddit that if the tv show comes to life they're afraid it's gonna be woke with black Michael and gay Markus LIKE GURL I WOULD WSNT THAT

ESPWCUSLLY GAY MARKUS LIKE GURL TJAT IS GOING INTO CANON IN KY NEW FIC DKEMIDMSKSK

[genersones]

Playing minecraft with a friend but I redraw it with our characters I HAD ZERO REFERENCE LEAVE ME ALONE