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aikoiya · 3 years ago

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DP - Vlad’s Appearance & the Supernatural Trio

Do you think... that the reason Plasmius came out looking like that might've been due to the possibility that Vlad might've had a vampiric ancestor or two?

How interesting would that be?? I wonder what having vampire blood would change about being a halfa. Like, a strange connection to bat ghosts? The urge to drink from other ghosts when his ectoplasm levels are low? Turning into a wolf or a swarm of bats or a cloud of mist? Hypnotism? Cause him to need both regular blood & core-plasm to remain healthy?

There's so many possibilities!

I've decided that he has strigoi ancestry, then when he died in the hospital, he came back as half-lugat, half-ghost but never knew about the lugat part. The sort of ghost he came back as was probably a Revenant Psychopomp, though.

It's said that strigoi are a type of Romanian vampire that can be living people with certain magical properties such as draining wealth instead of blood, which was what Vlad's ancestor was.

Meanwhile, lugats are a type of Albanian vampire that rise from the dead to seek out something they desired in life. They are known for siring dhampirs which are born with supernatural physicality, the ability to sense supernatural beings, & wild, dark hair. Dhampirs are typically destined to fight & kill their lugat parent. The original Fenton family is actually descended from a dhampir, thus giving them that supernatural sense, which Danny's ghost sense is an evolved form of.

It could go along with that Supernatural Trio AU where Danny remains a half-ghost, Tucker's a cyborg, & Sam's a fruitbat vampire which I think honestly kills a lot of the potential for a moral struggle in her story.

I say, make her a regular, traditional vampire. It could be interesting to see her have to choose to either drink from a human or drink from an animal given her lifestyle choices in the show. Like, animal blood is the closest thing to a vegan option that vampires have. That or blood bags. Maybe she knocks over blood banks & feels guilty about it?

At the same time, utilize her rebellious tendencies & desire for change so that she searches for a true vegan, or at least vegetarian, option. I might not agree with the vegan lifestyle on several matters, but I admire the dedication needed in order to stick to it.

Fortunately for Sam, she's only ½ vampire, so she's able to eat human food & get actual nutrition from it & likewise doesn't require as much blood as full vampires. However, that doesn't stop her from needing blood to survive. So, while she's much better off than if she were a full vampire & wanted to become vegan, she's still in a difficult spot.

My thoughts are that after Urban Jungle, she retains some of the power she was given. That, plus her discovery that Blood Blossoms let human food become more edible to vampiric creatures even if it isn't as nutritious for them as actual blood; opens the doorway to finding a true solution in the form of crossbreeding them with fruits & vegetables high in protein & zinc to create what is essentially the plasma fruits from the Sims.

If I had to guess, I'd make Jeremy, Sam's dad, a born half-vampire that turned Pamela when they got married. Magic actually runs in Pam's family & they used to be a strong wizarding family until a dark witch ancestor was caught & burned at the stake during the Salem witch trials. After which, they began to hide their powers & even reject them to become... not necessarily Scourers as they don't go out & hunt other wizards & wiccans, instead just distancing themselves from the magical world... often becoming Obscurials. This is considered a closely-guarded family secret.

Part of the reason why Pam is so intent on controlling Sam is because of her own generational trauma involving a dire need to appear normal lest she, herself, be killed. It's part of why she didn't fight being turned into a vampire, because she'd hoped it'd take her magic from her. It didn't.

Anyway, she raises Sam in a similar way to how her own parents did. So, in this version of the story, she & Sam have an ever-so-slightly better relationship simply due to the fact that Sam knows the reason why she's like this. However, she still strongly opposes her mother just on principle.

Ida was human & Jewish, but married into the family before she ever knew about her husband's status & is the current shareholder for the family fortune. She chose to maintain her religious beliefs & not be turned (her husband respected her decision because he legitimately loved her), so not only is she still aging, but Jeremy is technically only half-vampire & so is Sam because when Jeremy turned Pam, she too became half-vampire. Which is a point of gossip amongst the upper-class, blood-purists, & general aristocracy of vampire society.

Sam's family is only known for making toothpicks within human society & it’s used as a cover story for how they got their wealth in the mundane world. Their actual business is providing vampires & other photosensitive beings around the world with a special, super powerful sunscreen that allows them to walk around in daylight. Though, at the moment, only vampires & their families with an upper-middle to upper-class income are able to afford it due to the price of the ingredients used to make it. Specifically the bloodstone dust used in it's creation.

The founder of their company had been a brilliant alchemist that had just invented the toothpick cellophane twirler thing Sam's family is known for in canon & was using it to finance his alchemical discoveries. Then, he was turned & he used his expertise to invent a salve/ointment that would allow him, his wife, & their future children to venture out into the sunlight once more. Of course, back then it only worked for a few minutes at a time & didn't stop them from being burnt to a crisp & didn't stop severe sunburns, which vampires are just naturally predesposed to. As such, despite the stereotype, back then vampires tended to wear all white & sunhats because white reflects light & heat away rather than absorbing it like black does. However, that didn't stop every vampire in the vicinity from wanting a taste.

So, his wife (having also been turned by her husband in a desperate attempt to be with her always) being the savvy businessperson she was, she convinced him to sell it so that other vampires could experience the same thing as them.

He & his wife are still alive, living in London.

Ever since then, it's been a Manson family tradition for their children to learn alchemy so that they can continue to improve the formula of their sunscreen & possibly, one day, find a cure to their aversion to sunlight.

It's actually one of the few family traditions Sam actively supports. She loves alchemy & is very talented at it. Though, she gets squeamish when she has to use animal parts & has a habit of alchemical experimentation in an attempt to try to find more 'humane' alternatives. One of her character arcs is learning that some recipes just require it because it simply doesn't work otherwise & there's no way to change that. Sam is currently trying to make the sunscreen more affordable to lower-class vampires & other photosensitive monsters with less expensive ingredients.

She also has access to magic on her mother's side, having a connection to chloromancy, umbramancy, & hemomancy due to her mother's magic connecting to the vampiric heritage in her blood. However, despite having the magical connection needed to use hemomancy, she utterly rejects it for being, as she calls it, seriously fucked up. Before she became vegan, or as vegan as a vampire could, she was utterly enthralled by hemomancy because it's just SO metal & fits right into her gothic shtick, but then she went "vegan" & realized that if she used hemomancy on other people or animals, then it makes her a hypocrite.

She still thinks it's a super freaking cool branch of magic, but her vegan brainwashing causes her to have psychological dissonance over it. She actually knows a few hemomantic spells, but she only allows herself to use ones that help with healing. Which bums her out because she has SO many wicked cool ideas!

Also, cyborg Tucker being both descended from & the reincarnation of Pharoah Duul Aman leading to an Egyptian cyberpunk aesthetic. Maybe he learns dunemancy (sand magic)?

Also, Danny's dad being from an old school hunter's family like in Supernatural (minus the making God an enemy bullshit) or @floralflowerpower's Pendragon/Hunter AU. But it's more like the Fentons are a branch of the main family, the Fenton-Nightengales, that specifically focused on ghosts. Also, there are as many bad eggs in supernatural society as there are in human society, so it isn't a one-sided bigotry with hunters being the embodiment of evil.

There are horrible, prejudiced people on both sides.

Also, earthbound ghosts are more like the ones from Supernatural or the Blackwell series of games & can, therefore, also be very dangerous. However, there are also ghosts with beneficial Obsessions like the Greco-Roman lares (I hc that Danny is based off of lares praestites which are "the spirits that protect the community") or penates, the Afro-Caribbean loa, the Mesoamerican nagual, the Balto-Finnic haltia, certain breeds of banshee that warn people of death before it happens, & other guardian spirits. They are part of a classification of spirit called Tutelaries which are specifically guardian spirits & beings of protection.

Not that the Fenton hunters truly believe this, but still.

It could be so cool!

#dp #danny phantom #vlad masters #vlad plasmius #supernatural trio #vampire!vlad masters #vampire!sam manson #cyborg!tucker foley #vampire ancestry #ghost lore #supernatural lore #aikoiya au #writing prompt

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tiptapricot · 4 years ago

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tipstie PLEASE tell me about tlb turning human/ human AU

Absolutely my dudes 👁👁 (this is also all hcs about how vampire rules work so just go with it)

So for me a human TLB AU isn’t one where they die and turn human, it’s one where Max is killed after being found out one way or another before any altercation with the boys happens, and they revert back to humans as a result

The reason this happens is because all the boys were sired by Max, and while they are technically full vampires, they aren’t independent vampires

Sires act as a sort of guardian to the vampires they turn, watching over them and guiding them until they believe they’re ready to take care of themselves

This is why they have a certain level of control, influence, and power over the vampires they turn, they have a bond

When sires think the vampires they’ve turned are ready to make it on their own, they sever that bond with a ritual that relinquishes complete autonomy to their vampires

But Max never did this

He wanted a family, and families have to stick together, so until his death he still clung to that small sliver of control over the boys, and that last step to complete and independent vampirism remained incomplete

And so, when Max is killed, there’s a sort of backlash, a glitch

The bond is broken, but broken wrong, and the small piece of the boys that’s still human, the piece that still remains deep down, starts clawing it’s way out

It hits Marko first, since was turned most recently, chills and fever and body wracking pain, like his body is eating itself from the inside out

It’s nothing like any of them have ever seen or heard of before, and they don’t know what to do but sit with him and try to lessen the fever

Paul follows a few hours later, exactly the same, and Dwayne helps David carry the two of them a little over halfway to the Emerson house before he collapses too

David gets them the rest of the way there, feeling worse and worse the longer he goes

He knocks on the door and Michael opens it, and David only manages a raspy “Need your help, Michael,” before he’s pitching forward into his arms

The next week or so is a blur

Michael convinces Lucy and Grandpa to help, and for Sam to keep the Frogs away while they figure out what’s going on

Star calls that night, and says she and Laddie were out when they felt themselves change back, and that she didn’t wait to find out why

She caught a bus to her cousin’s place in LA and took Laddie with her, but wanted to make sure Michael was ok

He says he’s fine, and promises to call again with more details, since “it’s a little hard to explain right now” and they hang up with plans to talk that weekend

Meanwhile the boys are going in and out of feverish half awake states, never lucid enough to do anything except drink water and groan. The Emersons take care of them in shifts, and Michael helps Grandpa research what might be happening to them. They don’t find a lot

Marko is the first to come out of it, after about three days

He’s groggy and confused, waking up to Lucy wiping his forehead with a damp towel

She gives him something to drink and helps him sit up, but there’s something... wrong

There’s a weight in his chest, a thrumming, heavy heartbeat, expanding lungs, heat

He’s breathing again, he’s alive again

He’s human

Paul wakes up in the middle of that night, to Michael in the room this time. After getting the general “you’re human but we don’t know why” pitch, he’s taken to a guest bedroom where he finds Marko curled up on the bed. He slides in behind him and pulls him close, and he knows Marko isn’t asleep because he can feel him shaking

Marko’s always been good at crying quietly

Paul’s pretty personable as they wait for David and Dwayne to wake up. He talks with the family and reads comics on the living room couch, and fetches food and stuff for Marko, who’s basically refusing to leave the guest room

Being back in a human body is bringing back too many memories for him of the shitty life he escaped from, and he’s having a hard time dealing with it

But Paul is there, and the Emersons are alright, and he’s eventually able to be coaxed out to have an actual meals with the family, and that’s nice too

Dwayne wakes up the Saturday after the boys first arrive, in one of the rare times no one was in the room to keep an eye on him and David

He interrupts breakfast by barreling into the living room looking extremely lost and worried, and shakily rushes over to pull Paul and Marko into a hug when he sees them staring wide eyed at him from the table

“Couldn’t hear you...” he mumbles into Marko’s hair. “Can’t hear either of you anymore...”

Lucy has him join them at the table and gets him his own plate of food, and they explain what they know. It still isn’t a lot, but it does give him a reason as to why the mental link the boys had is gone

The following days are strangely quiet. Michael and Lucy help the boys adjust, reminding them to eat and helping them when they forget they don’t have super strength or magic healing

The boys start talking more too, mostly out of necessity since they can’t communicate mentally anymore (which Marko thinks is extremely annoying) but also because life in the Emerson house is... surprisingly comfortable

Michael explains the whole thing to Star over the phone, and after a moment she laughs

“Maybe they needed this,” she tells him, “maybe this is good.”

A week and a half after the boys arrive, two things happen: David finally wakes up, and the Frogs find out who the mysterious house guests Sammy’s been keeping them away from are

David comes to in a dim room, with Michael dozing against the wall

He grunts and pushes himself up, and only just registers the heat of his own blood and the scratch of breathing in the back of his throat when there’s a commotion from somewhere outside

Michael wakes up with a slight flinch, rubbing a hand over his face, and makes eye contact with David right as the door slams open and Dwayne, Marko, and Paul come rushing in, followed quickly by the Frog brothers and a frantic Sam

It takes a bit of explaining, but they eventually come to an understanding

The Frogs are still a bit hesitant to believe the boys are human, but it’s not like real vampires could walk in the sunlight or show up in the hall mirror, so that’s good enough for them

The boys continue living with the Emersons after that

They find ways to help out here and there, with cleaning or dinner or dishes or farm work

Sleep schedules become basically non existent as well, and it’s a common occurrence to find at least one person up at all hours of the night

Each of the boys has... a moment or two, where it really settles in that they’re human again

For Marko, it’s when he pokes himself while trying to resew one of his patches. He hisses when he pricks his thumb, and when the blood beads up on the pad of his finger he just... stares at it. It doesn’t heal right away, and he can’t even smell it. He sucks on it to try and make it go away, and tasting blood again, when it no longer has the same rush or necessity, makes him cringe. He puts a band aid on it, and doesn’t mention it to anyone.

For Paul, it’s when he goes to a concert on the beach. He manages to get lost in the music, in the crowd, in the loud drums and the guitar riffs and the warm press of bodies and the intoxicating energy, and he doesn’t, not once, think about sinking his teeth into anyone around him. He only realizes about halfway through the second song that he’s actually hearing the music, too, instead of it just being the background noise for a cacophony of heartbeats. He goes home that night drunk on sound and life, and doesn’t know if he’s ever been happier in his life.

For Dwayne, it’s when he has his first cup of hot chocolate after turning back. It’s at the beginning of winter, and everyone is crammed together on the couch to break in the TV that Sam finally convinced Grandpa and Lucy to get. Michael and Sam are bickering about what movie to watch, Paul and Marko are having an animated conversation with the Frogs from their place on the floor, and Lucy and grandpa are laughing about something in the kitchen. They come out a bit later with snacks and drinks, and Dwayne is handed a big mug of cocoa with a heaping helping of whipped cream and marshmallows. He takes a sip without really thinking, and then stops. There’s a moment, when he just feels the warmth spread through his chest and belly, and then all at once it’s like he’s hit with this wave of emotions he can’t quite place, familiarity and relief and joy, and there are tears mixing with his whipped cream mustache. The movie is good, but the cocoa is definitely better.

For David, the first time is when he goes outside after waking up. He’d seen the sunlight through the windows, and knew it didn’t hurt him anymore, but feeling it, actually smelling the fresh air and hearing the birds and cicadas and feeling a warm breeze... it’s a little overwhelming. Michael finds him sitting on the back porch wiping at his eyes, and joins him

The second time is when he notices that his roots are showing, that his hair is growing again. Any cutting or dying was effectively permanent when he was a vampire, since their hair didn’t grow, but now... Getting a reminder that his body is living and changing again is strange. He decides to let it grow out a bit, just to see where it goes

The boys are very touchy with everyone. They were already before they turned back, but now that cuddles involve body heat, they happen much more often

So do visits to the mall, oddly enough. Lucy takes them once to get them some new clothes, and they have way too much fun popping in and out of different shops and all trying to fit in the photo booth at once. They may, technically, get banned from a few stores for causing too much of a ruckus, but that doesn’t stop them from coming back

Dwayne and David both get really into cooking, and Paul and Marko experiment a lot with mixing different things to “remember what tastes good” again. Usually doesn’t have the best outcomes, but they’re definitely adventurous

David forgets he has to sleep sometimes, but he’ll be out like a rock if anyone pulls him into bed or lets him lean on them while watching TV

Overall, adjusting is strange for all of them, but there’s a goodness to it too. Even when things are hard they figure them out eventually, and no matter what they always have each other

It feels like a new life, a new start, where they can finally get things right

Headcanons masterpost

#the fruit is talking again #the fruit is headcanoning again #tlb #the lost boys #the lost boys 1987 #michael emerson #sam emerson #lucy emerson #david the lost boys #marko the lost boys #paul the lost boys #dwayne the lost boys #the fruit is answering again

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shirtlesssammy · 3 years ago

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6x05: Live Free or Twihard

Then:

Vampires are real

Now:

At a gothy bar, a girl shows an ID and starts looking around. She takes a drink and starts walking around. She bumps into her presumed date. Later, they’re really bonding --or well he’s pressuring her to reveal more about herself than she feels comfortable. She agrees to show him more of her poetry, and in the process of pulling the sheets out, she gets a papercut. The guy looks away TOTALLY not interested.

Actually, he’s more interested than he should be and takes off for her sake.

He comes back though, because he can’t stop thinking about her. He pulls out his best Edward line and tells her they can’t be together. Bella Kristin disagrees. He’s done BAD things, girl. But she’s 17! He shows her his fangs. It only excites her. He invites her to see his world. And a gross dude pops out of the alley to go to chow town on her neck.

Dean gives Lisa a call, seeing if she’d like him to visit. She misses him --of course.

Sam has a bunch of missing girls. They’ve got a case.

They head to interview a parent of one of the missing girls, Kristy. They check out her room to discover she’s REALLY into sparkly vampires. Dean’s little “wow” says it all. Sam finds the girl’s computer, while Dean entertains himself with reading the vamp books the girl was obsessed with.

They read the emails and find the location where the girl met her fate.

Meanwhile, a blood transport van is robbed.

Sam gets on the phone with Samuel. He confirms that they’re hunting vamps and they need to find the nest. Dean and Sam head inside the bar to scope the scene. They find three potential vamps (well, actually just two because one kisses another dude and Dean Bean, you don’t have to look so awkward.)

They split up to follow their respective vamp. Sam ends up in a storage area and slices his vamp’s head off easy peasy. Because Sam Fucking Winchester is Sam Super Fucking Winchester without a soul. Dean heads to the alley to break up a totally normal couple just making out. The dude wasn’t actually a vamp --he just pretends to be to get laid.

Dean gets jumped by the longhaired vamp. Sam rushes into the alley to watch the vamp beat up Dean. He has plenty of time to stop it --but just watches with a cruel and curious smile on his face. He watches the vamp feed Dean his blood. The vamp takes off (THANKFULLY) before Sam can kill him.

Dean’s a vampire, guys!

His transformation involves hypersensitivity to sound and light. He tells Sam that once Samuel gets there, he needs to kill him. He also wonders why Sam isn’t more freaked out. Sam just wants to know how he physically feels --cause that’s normal Samuel.

Dean heads to the bathroom to check on his little baby fangs. They’re coming in nicely!

Also, he totally runs away and heads to Lisa’s place. He acts cryptic but tells Lisa, “Thanks, for everything.” (Remember when Cas said those exact words to Dean when HE was being cryptic but knew he’d never see him again? I do.) Dean then tells Lisa he’s got to go --he’s not going to talk about it. He doesn’t want to bring it home. She gets closer and demands that he tell her what’s going on. Dean takes off, but not before waking Ben. He comes closer to Dean and Dean shoves him away--hard.

Later, Grandpa Campbell scolds Sam for losing track of his brother. But, surprise! Dean is lurking next to the refrigerator. He double pinky swears that he didn’t feed. “You can relax, I didn’t drink anyone. But...I came close.”

Dean begs for a quick ending, but Samuel reveals that he has a vampire cure - as long as Dean doesn’t drink any human juice boxes. There’s just one catch: he has to get blood from the vampire who turned him. Dean departs, armed with dead man’s blood and a can-do attitude!

Samuel spends a moment looking at Sam suspiciously. Apparently they both discussed the vampire cure months ago! So why didn’t Sam save his brother? WHY INDEED. Samuel implies that Sam did it solely to get a man on the inside and help them track the alpha vampire.

Dean encounters Edward Cullen in the grimy, dark hallways of the vampire lair. Sparklepants the Vampire Boy offers Dean a refreshing blood cooler before they sit down and watch Nickelodeon together. “I killed so many people on the way over here,” Dean boasts awkwardly, turning down the blood. He just can’t eat another bite! Dean gets the feature tour of the compound. He’s been tagged as a recruiter for the vamps, on account of his pretty face.

Dean encounters his sire. The vamp reveals his dirty scheme. He keeps the captured and turned women locked up until they’re “compliant” (EW) and then sets them out to catch hot guys, who in turn set out to catch hot girls. Etcetera! Ah, the circle of life.

The vamp leans in reeeeeeeaaaal close and asks Dean if he wants the “private tour.” GOOD GOD I am deceased.

Dean pulls out the vial of dead man’s blood, but one errant drop escapes the syringe and the game is over. They grapple for control, and Dean looks like he’s about to lose. But whispering descends from above. All the vampires collapse to the ground and in an instant, Dean follows. He dreams of a series of images - little girls and vampires and gothic country imagery. A man appears in the vision - the alpha vamp.

Dean swims to consciousness just as all the vamps try to ambush him. Heads meet the blood cannon.

Sam and Samuel pull up outside of the lair. A vamp breaks their windshield.

Dean continues to murder his way through an entire building of vampires while Sam and Samuel fight off windshield vamp. They head inside to see room after room of dead vampires. “Looks like your brother has some Campbell in him after all,” Samuel mutters. DAMN RIGHT HE DOES. (Some Mary Campbell, that is.) They finally find Dean sitting in contemplation with his boot resting gently on his sire’s severed head.

For Male Modeling Science:

Later, they prepare the cure. Sam demands to know what Dean saw of the nest - what visions did he have? Cold as ICE, Sam! Dean chokes down the cure. He vomits a truly next level amount of bile and his flashbacks go in reverse because, you see, HIS VAMPIRISM IS REVERSING. The last thing Dean remembers is the smirk on Sam’s face as he got turned.

He wakes, physically whole but mentally as scarred as ever! The next morning, Sam presses Dean again. He wants to know what Dean saw in the nest. WHAT GOTHIC COLLAGE?

Alone outside, Dean calls Lisa and then immediately chickens out on leaving a message. He checks in with Sam as they leave - he’ll always have his back, right? RIGHT????

The Sparkle Quotes of Doom:

These aren’t vampires. These are douchebags

You’re pretty!

Want to read more? Check out our Recap Archive!

#spn recap #dean winchester #sam winchester #spn 6x05 #live free or twihard #supernatural season 6 #et tu brute #the lolz

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magnoliasinbloom · 4 years ago

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Lie To Me - 9

AO3 :: Previously

Claire blinks, visibly baffled. For a moment, she doesn’t even know what to say, processing what Jamie’s revelation means for their own relationship. She shakes her head to clear it. “You say that having children is one way for your uncles to take the land. How do you manage to not… you know?” Claire blushes.

“Och, Sassenach, I’ve told them that the burns may have made me… unable to sire children. Nerve damage and such.” Jamie matches her reddening cheeks. They both know he is perfectly capable of performing.

“The other way they win is if you—you die. Does this mean that they’ve tried that?”

“Not yet. I agreed to marry as well because Jenny has bairns of her own, including boys. They can inherit too, but I dinna wish my uncles to harm them in their pursuit of wealth and power.” Jamie’s voice is hard. “There was the fire, but that was merely a happy accident that didna turn out as well as they would have hoped.”

“The fire? Your scars?” Claire asks, and Jamie and Murtagh exchange glances.

“Start at the beginning, a bhalaich. Dinna confuse the puir lassie.” Murtagh pours them another tumblerful. Claire is still nursing the first drink, her mind reeling with the information regarding Jamie’s marriage.

“A few years ago, I was working late at night at the Leoch office building. I was still inexperienced, tryin’ to prove meself at the job. I had a colleague; his name was Alexander McGregor.” Jamie’s eyes are full of shame, but his voice is steady. “He had stayed that night too. When I was finally leaving, I noticed he was in a private conference room, with the blinds drawn. That was smart, for Alex knew there were cameras in there. I thought it might be something serious, for their talk grew so heated I could hear the argument coming from the room. I thought I’d knock and defuse the situation.” Jamie paused to take a deep draught. Claire is tempted to reach for his hand and comfort him, but senses this is a story he has to tell for himself.

“Before I could turn the doorknob, I heard a muffled gunshot and I broke into the room. I could only see Alex for a second, slumped in a chair, blood pouring from a hole in his stomach. The man struck me in the heid wi’ the gun, and I dropped like a stone.” Claire gasps softly.

Jamie plows ahead resolutely. “I woke up a few minutes later when I smelled the smoke, the gun in my own hand, and it was already too late. Alex was dead, and the room was up in flames. The man had rigged the wiring on the overhead lights when he left and caused the fire, disabling the sprinklers too. Wi’ the closed door, it was an inferno. My back was seared and blistered, the skin peeling off as I tried to get Alex’s body out. Or so the doctors told me. ‘Twas a miracle I survived at all.”

Murtagh clears his throat. “He was in the hospital for a month. Jenny and I were terribly worried, thinking he might not pull through.”

“But why?” Claire bursts out, bewildered. “Why kill Alex?”

“Alex discovered internal documents that implicated men in power, links to bank accounts of several police officers, judges, and politicians on Leoch Holdings’ payroll. My uncles were—are—trading money for favors, overturning convictions, and legislating in the company’s interests.”

“During the investigations, we found no trace of any document in the room, most everything had burned up,” Murtagh says. “There was also no CCTV footage available. Someone had tampered with the video.” With this, the old man stood up, and unlocked a metal filing cabinet next to his desk. Claire watched in fascination as he manipulated a false bottom and extracted a fat manila envelope. “But then we got these.”

“Murtagh took care of my dingy flat while I was in hospital. Alex had messengered over copies of the documents in secret—wise of him, to leave no digital trace. There was a letter explaining what it all meant, and who the man was—Stephen Bonnet, he’s a commander in the force. Murtagh saw it, and could verify that my name was not on the records. Therefore, I was unlikely to be involved in my uncles’ dirty business.”

“Why did he not tell you from the start?” Dread was settling into Claire’s very bones, as she grasped the magnitude of the situation.

“He didna trust me, I imagine. Upon his discovery, he assumed I was in cahoots with my uncles, bein’ family and all. But I made certain comments to him that probably convinced him I was unaware of their dealings.”

“What did you tell him?”

“At the time, when I started at Leoch, my uncles were pressuring me to date and marry Laoghaire. I told Alex this, and said that it was wrong and I plain didna want to, and if they fired me for it, they could go fuck themselves and I’d work bagging groceries at Tesco before I’d let them bully me like that.” Claire almost smiles at this vehement outburst. “I lost on that account.”

“And Bonnet?”

“He was listed under an assumed name on the documents. That’s why Alex, poor lad, didna think he might be involved either. Bonnet fixed it so Alex’s body was not autopsied, so no one could ken of the gunshot wound that killed him. The McGregors were told there were no real remains, and they had only ashes to mourn. My uncles—”

“Threatened your life if you exposed them and forced you to marry,” Claire finishes for him. “But there is no proof of you doing any wrong!”

Murtagh sighed. “We thought so as weel. But Colum and Dougal’s reach is much longer than ye ken.”

“They had tech experts alter images and deep fake a video that pin Alexander’s death on me,” Jamie says. Claire shakes her head.

“But surely anyone—”

“’Tis my word against theirs. With their endless resources and contacts in law enforcement and the courts, who would believe me?” Jamie’s tone is final and resigned.

Silence weighs heavy in the air; Murtagh collects their empty glasses and sets them on his desk. “I’ve used my position in the force to continue to gather evidence, more papers, whatever I can use to help bring Colum and Dougal MacKenzie to justice, and absolve Jamie from any blame. I’ve involved Chief John Grey from the SCD, Specialist Crime Division, who works with organized crime, and it’s taken us years to be able to discern who to trust and who is in Leoch’s pockets.”

Claire is stunned at this turn of events. She had expected a godfather who at best, might cajole her into believing that Jamie’s marriage was a lie, an economic convenience of sorts, and that had been true after a fashion. But she had not predicted that this was an issue involving crime, illegal activities, and the death of an innocent man. Jamie appears to read her thoughts.

“That is the truth, Sassenach, and I trust ye enough that I ken well ye willna expose the ongoing investigation, or speak to anyone about what happens at Leoch. I’ve endangered yer very life by making ye privy to my story, and for that I am truly sorry.”

“Jamie, I—” Claire’s voice breaks. She casts about for what she wants to say. “Thank you for trusting me. I won’t say anything, not even to Geillis,”—at this she remembers G is still waiting in the lobby— “and… and I want you to understand, we are what we make ourselves, we use what we have, and we decide what we are. You, James Fraser, are an honorable man.”

X-x-X

Jamie remains behind to spend time going over new evidence with Murtagh. Claire assures him Geillis and she will head straight to their flat, and he asks if she would call him tomorrow. He doesn’t want to assume, he doesn’t want to lie anymore; he will give her time to think, to decide if this is something she also wants, if she feels as he does, their short acquaintance be damned. Can Claire risk her heart?

There is an unbearable weight of sorrow pressing upon Claire’s spirit; as she rides the elevator, descending numbers flashing in the display, she racks her brain trying to figure out if there is anything, anything at all she can do to ease his burden.

When she spots Geillis waiting for her, she realizes how lucky she is to have a friend like her—unconditional, constant, a forever kind of friend. G had been there for her in her darkest times, even when…

Suddenly it hits Claire. Without a word, Geillis follows her out into the rainy Glasgow night.

“What’s happened? Are ye convinced? Was he telling the truth?”

“Oh, G. I can’t even tell you. He’s for real, and he’s just been so unlucky in life… I have to help him.”

“What do you mean? Help him how?”

“I’m going to call Frank.”

#outlander #outlander fanfic #jamie and claire #ltm9

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xoxo-nikki-xoxo · 4 years ago

Text

Leverage

Elijah Mikaelson x Arabella Castaway-Mikaelson

Authors note: Okay everyone after much planning and thinking I have come up with my own OC! I can’t wait for us to take this journey together learning about Arabella, like who she is, and how she came to be. Do not be afraid to send in asks about her either!

Word count: 2.4K

Somewhat based off of season 3 of the originals. I also joined the calibration for Dom’s 2 years bioversary. This fic is about sire bonds more importantly them being broken.

@xxwritemeastoryxx

———————————

Being involved in The Original family comes with its up and downs. Especially when it has caused the love of your life to pick his family over well his wife. That was about well two months ago, sense then I have not seen Elijah Mikaelson or his family. It is nothing I can blame them for though, the sad thing is I do not even remember who they are! In fact, it is the vampires I come across on during my travels that bring up The Original family. Usually it goes around the lines someone asking me where they are. From my gathering of these conversations I was married to the one they call honorable, the noble brother, Elijah. It never has set well with me though that my so called “husband” has abandoned me. If we are married is not that meant to be forever, that’s the whole point of getting married is not. Asking to many questions is what got me in this predicament, see what I do remember is my whole life. I remember the life I had New Orleans, the fashion the cooking all of it. So, if I was married to someone back then why is there no piecing pieces? I barley know anything about this so-called original family, yet their presentence lingers over my body like a shadow. Too afraid to come and say hello, but it’s like every step I take it’s as though I’m being watched.

“Well if it isn’t the myth, the legend Arabella…. how did you find her? Elijah never mentioned why she left or where she went to in the first place” A male’s voice, it was deep with the hint of smoothness. I have no clue what happened, I just remember being at a local cafe in France then my neck was snapped. It went black for a while after that.

“Well we have our ways of getting what we need. When it comes to the leverage we need, this will be perfect. He’ll do anything it takes to keep his precious wife safe… And that well be the way we lure both him and his brother here, so my witches can perform this spell.” it’s a women’s voice, even though I don’t understand what she talking about I don’t want anything to do with it. “I’ll be back later with the items that Davina needs to finish the spell. Be prepared Marcellus, the strixs are all prepared for this battle tonight.” I can hear her shoes click as she walks away from us.

“Davina! Help me take these ropes off her. I can’t touch them, there soaked in vervain. She doesn’t deserve to be in the middle of this. Aya’s only using her to lure Elijah and Klaus here” the man’s voice I can hear must be Marcellus, whoever he is.

“She won’t die today Marcel… she needs to be here to lure Elijah and Klaus here. When they get here, it’ll be easy one of the other witches knock them out.” Davina say as she unties the ropes that are wrapped around my arms and legs. ” she’s safe here Marcel you can leave. When the spell starts you might feel a little warmth, it’ll pass though once the link it gone.” the girl says, and as she says it the blind fold over my eyes gets taken off and so does the duct tape.

“What if this warmth is the last thing I feel”

“I’ll be careful”

“I get that Davina and I’m game. But we are on a tight rope with the Mikaelson’s right now. Jackson was a friend to them and us. On top of that we have Arabella too”

“I know Marcel. And I know it’s a long shot, but if I can’t save you, and I can’t save Josh, even Arabella, then I can’t save Kol. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to you guys.” Davina says as she takes of the last of the ropes from my body.

When I open my eyes the man’s gone and the only thing in front of me is a girl looking at me. “You can’t leave, I put up a boundary spell around you… It’s for your protection Bella” The sweet looking girl says to me as she watches me over

“How do you know me?” I asked

“It’s a long story, just know that you’re my friend… I’m Davina, and that guy that was here a couple seconds ago his name is Marcel.” Davina says turning back to the papers that are hanging on the wall.

“Well it seems like everyone here already knows who I am, so tell me Davina. What is that spell for?”

———-Switch to Elijah———

“And now Aya and her mob of are free to break the sire line. You know, we have made many glorious enemies over the years, brother, but If they sever the link to us, then they well all come for our heads.” Klaus speaks as both of us walk side by side toward the entrance of the compound. This is the very reason why I sent her away, I knew this prophecy was going to be a blood bath. I didn’t need for her to get in the way.

“Not without the white oak brother” I say in a soothing voice as Niklaus stops Infront of me

“Aurora has the last of it” I can the thought swirling in his head, with a smirk forming on my lips I simply say

“Then she dies first”

“You once told me you wanted to use her head as a footstool” titling his head to the side he finished with “why wait”

That’s when my phone vibrates in my coat pocket. I pull it out answering

“Marcel?”

“how”

“Yes, I see” *hangs up the phone*

My face drops looking at Klaus “I don’t know how, but Aya found Arabella. The crescent wolves were able to locate where they are keeping her” I say looking right at Klaus

“Well then let’s get going”

—— back to Arabella—-

“Where is she Aya? Unlike my brother I don’t have the patience to deal with this” the voice is raspy thick sounding as I hear multiple footsteps approaching us.

“Hello gentlemen, it’s my pleasure you have decided to join us tonight” Aya says, so that is Aya!

“Let me out of here!!” I yelled getting fed up with being confined into this circle. I bang my fists on the barrier and both the men’s eyes land right on to me.

“How did you-” The man in the suit says his bouncing from mine to Ayas

“It doesn’t matter now that you both are here” Aya says as she stands tall. There two girls that approach them changing some foreign language I don’t recognize. Both men then collapse onto the floor.

“I told you Davina Claire, Arabella Castaway was the key to getting them to come here.” Aya says glancing at me before some body guards drag the two men’s bodies into the water.

“Ive played my part let me out of here!!” I yelled

“You well soon sweet girl, just a few more hours left. Your role to play is still not over yet.” Aya states as she approach’s Davina

“Were ready to start” Davina stats looking over at Aya

“Then let’s begin”

That’s when all the chanting starts, There’s apart of me deep down that knows this is wrong. This hole I have felt the past 3 months is aching in a way I’ve never felt it do before. This must be him, the more I think about the faster I put the pieces together. Those are the originals, the one in the suit. He is my husband and even if he did abdomen me years ago I won’t abdomen him now.

I scream banging my fists on the barrier again as the chanting continue. Marcel comes into the room suddenly going up to Aya.

“Any problems?” Marcel asks looking into the pool with the two men, at me, then his eyes land on Davina.

“No, we are nearly there. After today one man’s recklessness will no longer weigh on the shoulders of his sires. Thousands of vampires across the world will be free from the tranny of the originals. I’m glad you’re here Marcel. Stay close by when it happens will you?” Aya says walking up to the pool looking over.

“Why are you guys doing this, I don’t belong here” I scream throwing a fit.

I watch in horror as both the men’s throats are cut then thrown back into the water, the chanting gets louder. And the more chanting I hear is when the barrier drops, I rush the closets witch breaking her back. Another women appears besides marcel killing what looked like to be a body guard

“Marcel!”

“I’m Sorry D. We need to get them out of the water now” Marcel states looking at both us girls. But before anything can happen Davina yells “No” and throws all three of us to the end of the room. I hear the screams as the man in the suit sits up taking one of the witches’ under water with him. I stand up making eye contact with him as he leaps out of the water.

“I’m so sorry baby… forgive me, Rememoraeri” He says looking into my eyes, and it’s as if the two worlds collided. All my memories come crashing down onto me. But it’s one inparticular that strikes me the hardest. It’s the night I was turned into a vampire

The street was cold underneath my numb body. This wasn’t supposed to happen to me, not like this. I was supposed to live a life, not dying on the side of the road. The loneness of staring up into the sky not being able to move or cry out for help seemed to be the only thing I could look at. I was utterly hopeless as blood pooled up around me. Soon I began choking on the blood stuck in my throat. I wasn’t in any pain no more, it felt more like I was high up in the sky flying.

“No!” I heard him yell he rushed over to my side picking me up biting into his wrist “Drink Bella… please… no-no-no. Not like this… You can’t die like this” I took my last breath Elijah Mikaeslons arms. The last thing I seen was his beautiful brown eyes and the stars glowing behind him. That was in tell I woke up

“Elijah?” I blinked away the memory as I took in his appearance Infront of me. “Whats going on, oh my god-” There where millions of thoughts running through my head

“I well explain later” Elijah says giving me a small smile tucking a random piece of hair behind my ear, that was before we turn, we turned our attention to Davina as she started to break Klaus sire line link

“Davina No!” Marcel shouts, Klaus opens his eyes leaping out Infront of Davina but she catches him with her powers yelling

“No, you’ve had your time!” She shouts throwing him back down into the water, in the process of her doing his she throws all of us down to. We can hear he finishing her spell as Klaus yells. I scream as a warming sensation comes over my body and before I know it, it stops. Elijahs is the first to get up and come to the rescue of Klaus.

I sit up getting into the water with Elijah as well, I move Niks hair out of his face

He is weak but he would never ambit it. “I felt them leave, my sire line is broken” Nik states his voice shaky.

Elijah and I help Klaus out of the pool “I’ll be in the car soon… I have some unfinished business to attended too.” Elijah says leaving me and Nik in the car.

“You do understand they both have history” Klaus says as he glances at me

“I do, and I tend to end that history right now.” I say excusing myself from the car as I make my way into the building using the back door so I can eavesdrop on the conversation he was having with Aya.

“So, we remain connected, you and I, in spite of everything that you have done” Elijah says as he twirls a gun around his finger. “I can’t let you hurt my family, my wife. And you can’t hurt me more than you already have” Elijah says looking into Ayas eyes. I can feel and see the hurt and guilt he is holding over himself for hurting Aya. It makes me feel somewhat jealous, but I can’t blame him. He’s lived a thousand plus years; he should have had a few epic loves.

“I stood by you Elijah. All of us where willing to die for you, and how do you repay us? Betrayal, abandonment.” Aya spits out turning to face his face. She loves him it’s easy to tell, love can be killer.

“You were not forsaken. Yes, I failed you, for this… I will never forgive myself… But I can’t forgive this. You captured my wife!” Elijah yells as he motioned to all the body in the room

“If your life was chained to a man, who left you despite of your devotion, what choice do I have other than to break free” Aya says this conversation hurts to hear. “ So… End this” Aya says moving as he holds the gun up to her heart. His hand is shaky “End it Elijah!! Or I’ll take that gun and kill you just to be free of you!” She yells tears rolling down her cheek into she grunts, her voice stops her body leans to the side. I stand besides her holding her heart in my hand.

“So, Elijah tell me why did you decided to erase my memory from ever knowing you?” I ask holding the heart as I look my husband right in the eyes

#elijah mikaelson #elijah mikaelson smut #elijah mikealson imagine #the originals #the vampire diaries #niklaus mikaelson #hayley marshall #rebekah mikaelson #Kol mikaelson #elijah mikaelson x reader #xxwritemeastoryxxturns2

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stayextrafrosty · 4 years ago

Text

I’m Dying for a Taste of You: Chapter 2

Chapter Title: Go On and Tear Me Apart

Roswell New Mexico Malex Vampire AU

A/N: Everyone really seemed to like this and I couldn’t get it out of my head so have another chapter. This chapter has a lot more sex and some sprinklings of plot. Some more niche kinks are explored. I don’t expect consistent updates so I’ll never leave a chapter on a major cliffhanger. Again, PLEASE READ WARNINGS

Warnings: Dom/sub, cock warming, consensual non-consent, anal fisting

Read on AO3 // Masterlist

What was Alex supposed to do now? Could he walk back into the office saying he failed a mission so spectacularly that he even ended up getting claimed by his target? Somehow he figured that wouldn’t go well.

Michael had snuck him out the back door of the blood ball. He drove them both home in an old pickup that didn’t at all fit in with the usual aesthetic of vampires. Most of them were all about luxury and flashy possessions. The only thing Alex could think about on that ride was how hot it would be to fuck in the bed under the stars.

His whole mind was nothing but dirty thoughts. Whatever Michael did to him, there’s no way it didn’t involve the constant horniness. It wasn’t even this bad when he went through puberty. Not that Michael wasn’t fully prepared to satisfy him. Alex hadn’t gotten a good look at the outside of his house before he was being dragged inside and shoved up against the wall.

Michael’s mouth was all over him. He sucked at the mark on his neck while grinding his hips into Alex. He couldn’t help but try to tug him closer. He hadn’t thought his body could handle anymore but he was rock hard by the time Michael was pulling his jeans down along with his slacks. He had spun him to face the wall and pushed into him again. Alex was still open from their earlier activities.

Michael had his forehead pressed to the top of his spine and his hands worked Alex’s cock. Neither of them had lasted long, both grunting out the other’s name as Alex came over the wooden floors and Michael filled him again.

And now sunlight filtered in from the edges of the blackout shade. Alex was naked and covered with soft cotton blend sheets. He could distantly hear Michael in the shower. He wanted to join him but he didn’t think he could handle any more sex. He grabbed his phone from the bedside table to check the time.

He was late. There were already missed calls from his partner Kyle, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave yet. He wanted to take a sick day that he rarely ever used but with the importance of the mission, it wasn’t an option. He needed to at least report back.

His stomach rumbled at him and he briefly wondered if Michael would even have food. He buried his face in the pillow and groaned. Then he finally pulled himself up and sat on the edge of the bed. He ran his fingers over the area of his thigh Michael had bit yesterday. There was nothing. Not even a hint of it having ever happened.

Then he ran his fingers over the bite mark on his neck. Why hadn’t that healed? He grabbed his pants and underwear from the floor. He could get away with it today but he needed new clothes. After pulling his underwear on, he worked on his leg. Jeans took a little longer to put on but he couldn’t go to work in sweats.

Alex stood and walked out of the room, retracing his steps from the night before. There weren’t many stairs but the lack of a hand railing made it more complicated. He let his fingers drag over the wall for stability. He hated building standards sometimes.

The kitchen was a room off from the front area they had walked in last night. It wasn’t huge but certainly fancier than any kitchen he had been in before. The appliances looked new but the theme was more rustic. The appliances were all matte black but most other things were wood and granite based. Alex guessed the cabinets were cherry but couldn’t be sure. The granite was black but sparkled with white, making it look like stars.

He pulled the fridge open, happy to find it fully stocked with normal food. There was also a corner dedicated to bags of blood. He had never thought about vampires not drinking from a human. Every depiction they had been shown in the academy showed them as gorging from the necks of humans.

He picked one up and turned it over in his hand a couple times. There were labels signaling the type and a ‘best by’ date, but no other information. Had he been expecting a name? Maybe. He supposed it wasn’t necessary information.

“I think that’s mine. Unless you’re curious,” a voice materialized next to his ear. Alex jumped what felt like a foot in the air and he spun toward Michael, who had an amused grin on his face.

“Christ, would it kill you to make some noise,” Alex scolded. Michael just chuckled and took the bag of blood from his hand to set it on the counter. He was shirtless with sweats that still showed off the outline of his cock.

“Sorry.” He openly ran his eyes over every part of Alex. He blushed under the intense attention. “Do you make a habit of walking around shirtless, because I approve.” As he worked his way back up, his gaze lingered on the mark. Alex watched him smile and run his fingers over the mark.

He shivered even as a warmth spread through his body. His eyes fluttered shut and leaned back against the still open fridge. His head rolled to the side as Michael pressed his body against him, running his mouth over his neck. His one hand joined the other on Alex’s hips.

Alex lifted a hand to his hair, the damp curls tangling around his fingers. He heard Michael inhale deeply and then groan quietly. He kissed up and down his throat, occasionally nipping at the skin. Alex felt his fingers dig into his hips.

Then he was pulling away, causing Alex to almost stumble forward after him, as though Michael had been holding him up. He turned away from Alex and grabbed the bag of blood from the counter. He opened up a cabinet on the other side of the kitchen and pulled out a glass.

What just happened? I thought…

Alex had to catch his breath. His mark almost throbbed. As if telling him exactly what he was supposed to do for Michael. But he had been rejected.

“You just going to stand there with the door open?” Alex blinked himself back into reality. Michael had a raised eyebrow and a teasing smile. Alex blushed and turned to look for something easy to make. He settled on eggs, pulling three from the package.

“Um, do you want me to make you anything,” Alex asked? Michael chuckled and he realized the stupidity of the question.

“No. Don’t worry about it.” Alex grabbed the hanging pan and placed it on a burner.

“Why do you have all that food if you don’t eat it?”

“For you.”

Alex stopped in his movements to look back at him. His smile had transformed into something soft and his head rested in his palm. Another blush rose to his face and he cursed himself. Since when had he become so damn sentimental?

“What do you mean for me,” he asked instead?

“After you fell asleep last night I went shopping. I did drag you back here without much warning after all. Besides, the least I can do as your Sire is take care of you.” Sire?

“What does that mean?” His eyebrows drew together, smile falling to a slight frown.

“Last night I was joking, but now I’m serious. What did they teach you in the academy?” Alex turned back to his eggs. Less than he originally thought, apparently. “Sire is one of the nice ways of saying I’m the one who claimed you. A lot of other vamps use words like master or mistress. I never cared for those terms much.”

Alex’s eggs snapped in the pan as he scrambled them. He supposed he would have to get used to those terms. Certain vampires weren’t exactly appreciative of humans. They viewed them as food and nothing else. He had thought Michael was one of those not even a day earlier.

He dumped his food on a plate and sat across from Michael at the table. He pushed the eggs around with the fork. He was hungry but he needed to know more about the world he had jumped headfirst into.

“When will this mark on my neck fade?” Michael’s fingers twitched to half close his fist.

“It won’t. At least, not completely.” Alex met his eyes seeing the hurt there. He reached for his hand, wanting to take back the question.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know that. It’s not that I want it gone or anything it’s just in a kind of difficult spot to cover.” Michael squeezed his hand back.

“It’s alright. I’m sorry I didn’t think about that last night. I couldn’t think of anything except making you mine,” he said leaning in, smile returning to his face. Alex glanced down at his mouth. Was it ok to kiss him? What was their relationship exactly? Sure Michael was his… sire… but what else?

Michael apparently made the decision for him. He stood and closed the distance between them, pressing his mouth to Alex’s gently. His free hand held his face. Alex tested the water and licked his bottom lip. Michael opened up for him easily as he ran the tip of his tongue over his canines and then massaged his tongue. They both moaned quietly.

Michael’s fingers moved from his face to his hair. Alex knew his food was getting cold but it was just a passing thought. His mark throbbed lightly as Michael kissed him. The prick of his teeth warmed him and his cock started to respond. Michael groaned and pulled himself away.

Alex felt the cold as soon as he was gone. He watched the muscles in his back as he left the kitchen. He clenched his fists and shoved his chair back, hurrying after him. What was his problem. It was like he didn’t want him anymore.

Alex caught up to him in the front room before he made it up the stairs. He yanked him back to face him.

“Why do you keep doing that? Do you not want me or something?” Michael pleaded with his eyes before turning his head away.

“Alex please,” he begged. He could have easily broken away if he really wanted to.

“No. Explain it to me. I’m not a mind reader Guerin.” He shook his head, eyes squeezing shut. He pulled his arm away and ran his hand over his face and jaw. He tried moving back. Alex grabbed him again, thinking he was about to run.

Michael grabbed him instead, shoving his hips against the nearby couch. His teeth bared to Alex’s face. Alex saw the anger and pain but his body reacted anyway. His mark seemed to scream at him to submit but he didn’t want to back down. He never broke eye contact even as Michael snarled at him.

“I can fucking smell you. I’m aware of every change in your body and it’s driving me mad to control myself.”

“Why?”

“Because,” he started, looking away first. He let his head fall to Alex’s shoulder. “I don’t want to hurt you. With lust comes hunger. And I know your mark is telling you to offer yourself to me but I could easily drain you.”

Alex didn’t move. Oh. He was worried.

He lifted his arms slowly to wrap around Michael’s neck. He pet his head gently. He could feel Michael panting and gripping his hips. His lips pressed to his shoulder and the moved up slowly. His teeth scratched him but never drew blood. He kissed the mark, whimpering with need. Alex’s heart broke. He had to do something.

He pushed Michael away from him gently. When he finally looked at Alex again, he lifted his arm, pressing his wrist against his lips. He could control him better if he needed to.

“I’ll be fine. You seem to forget I’ve been trained to fight off vampires.” His eyes were wide, searching his expression for any sign of hesitation. He wouldn’t find any.

Michael slowly ran his hand over his arm, gipping it gently. He turned it so the angle was better. He let his eyes flutter closed as he licked the soft skin of his wrist. Alex sighed at the feeling and wrapped his free arm around Michael’s shoulder.

The pinch of his teeth was quickly becoming familiar. The sensitive nerves in his wrist complained but not enough to make him want to stop. The warmth burned through his body and his fingers dug into Michael’s back. He let a small moan slip and Michael pressed his hips against him, showing that his condition wasn’t much better.

Alex watched him as a drop slid down his arm. He seemed to sense he was being watched and opened his eyes, meeting his gaze. Alex had never seen a more alluring sight. All he could do was smile. The dizziness returned far quicker than the previous night. He would need to stop him before he became too weak to do so.

It never actually got to that point. Michael was pulling his teeth out and running his tongue over the wound. He ran his tongue down his arm, collecting the drop that spilled. Michael didn’t stop there. When he got to his elbow, he started pressing kisses up his bicep and shoulder. He stopped short of his neck, instead lifting his head to kiss his lips.

The kiss was lazy and sweet. Alex could pick up the taste of his own blood but he didn’t want to stop. Michael’s hands moved to the waist of his jeans, popping open the button and pushing them down. Alex moaned against his lips.

Michael pulled back and grinned at him, fangs not fully retracted. He proceeded to drop to one knee, pulling his pants down with the movement. He lifted Alex’s good leg and pulled the jeans off quickly so he wouldn’t be balancing on the prosthesis for too long. He repeated the action with the other leg more carefully.

After he stood back up and kissed Alex again. He ran his hands over his body, making Alex sigh at the gentle caresses. He moved his hands to his lower back, then down over his ass, squeezing firmly. Alex chuckled. His hands continued their movement down to the back of his thighs.

“Wrap your arms around me,” he ordered. Alex didn’t hesitate and pulled him as close as possible.

Michael kissed him again. He hardly registered that he was being lifted into the air and set down on the back of the couch. “Legs.” Alex could easily figure what he meant. He wrapped his legs around his waist. He was being lifted again, Michael’s lips still pressed against his own. He felt his back hit a wall.

Alex tugged at his hair, earning him a groan and a quick bite on his lip. He felt Michael pressing against his hole. He hazily wondered when he had time to remove his sweats. Not that it mattered.

Michael spread his cheeks and pushed up and into him. Alex yelped, half in pain, half in need. He was still prepped from the stretching yesterday but without lube, it was rougher than he was used to. He scratched Michael’s back, making him hiss and thrust his hips forward roughly.

Alex broke the kiss and let his head fall to his shoulder, moaning loudly. Michael thrust again, more gentle this time.

“I’m gunna cum in your ass. Then you’re going to sit on my cock ‘til I’m hard again and can fuck you properly.” His own cock jumped in anticipation. He nodded wordlessly and he heard Michael chuckle. “Fuck you’re perfect.”

Then he was fucking into him again. He could feel the desire coiling in his gut and he was so close. Michael’s name tumbled from his lips then he felt his hips stutter in their movement. The throbbing in his ass signaled him to Michael’s orgasm. He was wound so tightly and he just needed a bit more.

“Fuck… I didn’t…” he started.

“I know. And you won’t either. Not until I want you to,” Michael said next to his ear. He groaned and tried to rock his hips. No such luck.

Michael carried him to the couch and sat, adjusting Alex’s legs so they were kneeling on either side of him. Alex whimpered at how deep he was, completely filling him. He felt the cum leaking out around his hole. Natural lubricant.

Michael held his hips still and kissed his chest and shoulders. Alex was digging his own nails into his shoulders.

“I will never get tired of seeing you stretched around my cock. It’s so hot. Squeeze that ass around me.” Alex did as he was told and he regret it immediately. He felt every inch of him as though it was being burned into his body’s memory. He tried to grind down unsuccessfully.

Michael released his hips but he didn’t dare move. He wrapped a hand loosely around his cock and stroked him. He leaned up and nuzzled his throat.

“You let me feed from you even though I said not to. That wasn’t smart. I’ll punish you like this when you needlessly put your life in danger.” Alex whimpered. If this was punishment then what were the rewards?

His thumb teased the head of his cock, rubbing the precum around. His mouth dropped open. It wasn’t enough to bring him over the edge but he was definitely on it. His legs trembled and his whole body was coiled tight. One thrust and it would be all over. He heard Michael chuckle.

“I never said you couldn’t try to speed up this process. But keep those hips still.”

Alex grabbed his face and kissed him. His hands wound through his hair and pulled. Michael sighed happily. He squeezed his muscles around him again, somehow managing to keep himself from grinding down. He took his bottom lip and bit down, tugging on it. Michael’s hand squeezed him briefly.

Biting. Duh.

Alex smirked and tore his mouth away from Michael. He kissed over his jaw, nipping gently. He groaned quietly. He kissed down his neck with an open mouth, licking and sucking at the skin. He found the spot where his pulse thumped against his lips.

“Fuck Alex. You’re playing with fire,” Michael warned. His cock was starting to harden inside of him again.

Alex flattened his tongue over the spot just as he did when he was about to bite him. He licked and then kissed. He bit down. Not hard but enough to get the job done. His cock jerked inside of him, making Alex moan.

Michael grabbed his hips and pulled him down while thrusting up. Alex’s jaw clenched at the surprise. He tasted blood. Michael pulled him off and back down again. His hips rolled, trying to take him deeper.

“Look who’s a fast learner. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” Michael taunted. Their hips fell into a rhythm and Alex was spiraling. He had been kept on the edge for so long it was like he couldn’t get off it. He gasped and moaned with his face buried against Michael’s neck.

He grabbed his throbbing cock firmly, so every roll of his hips had him fucking into his fist. Michael groaned watching him. His fingers dug into his skin and he shifted his angle. The head of his cock rubbed against his prostate. He called out and his entire body spasmed.

White ropes spilled between them. Mostly over Michael’s chest. Alex found himself on his back, bent in half and legs spread wide. He chewed on his lip, sure he was stretched open for Michael’s eyes.

“You are probably the sexiest man alive,” he said, slipping himself back in. “And all. Fucking. Mine.” Every word was accented with a rough jerk of his hips. Alex saw stars, back arching as much as he could with Michaels weight on top of him.

He kissed him then. Michael thrust into him roughly and erratically. Their mouths fell open and they breathed each other in. The man above him grunted and shoved himself in a final time, painting his insides.

Michael rested his forehead against Alex’s as he released his legs and collapsed on top of him. He pressed lazy kisses to his face. The sweetness was broken from Alex’s stomach growling loudly at them.

Michael snorted as Alex burst into chuckles. He had planned to eat hadn’t he?

“You better eat. No distractions this time.” He rolled off and walked around to grab his sweats from the floor. Alex watched his ass and grinned.

“I’m going to get you back for all this at some point,” he teased, sitting up. Michael looked over his shoulder at him and winked.

“I look forward to it.” He picked up Alex’s pants and tossed them at him. He just shook his head and began the process of getting them on.

Suffice to say the eggs were cold.

Alex was redressing after his shower when the fantasy ended. There was a knock at the front door which Michael had answered. He assumed it was a delivery. Then there was a gunshot and yelling.

“Manes! Where are you?” Kyle? Alex rushed out of the room, grabbing his gun on top of the dresser as he passed. He lifted the gun as he all but jumped from the last couple stairs.

Michael was crumpled on the ground, teeth fully extended and snarling at his partner. His hand was pressed to his gut where blood was dripping onto the wooden floors. Alex panicked, dropping his gun and stumbling over to him, falling to his knees.

“Alex! What the hell,” Kyle yelled, confusion evident. “That thing is going to kill you if you don’t get away.” His brain hardly registered the words. Instead he pulled Michael close pressing his own hand over the wound.

“Get… Away…” he growled out. Alex shook his head. He didn’t think his body would let him move even if he wanted to. Tears slipped down his cheeks. He couldn’t even give him blood to heal. His mark throbbed but any further blood loss would bring him closer to death than he wanted to be.

Alex finally acknowledged Kyle, turning toward him and begging.

“Please. Help me.” His gun pointed at the two of them, eyes not sure where to focus. His mouth hung open as he tried to process what he was seeing. “Kyle! If we don’t do something he’s going to die.”

“That’s the point, Manes! What’s wrong with you?” Kyle finally seemed to notice the mark on his neck. His anger seemed to resurface as he steadied his gun. He clenched his jaw and glared at Michael. “You did this to him. He can’t even think rationally. All you fucking vampires know how to do is manipulate,” he spat out.

Alex cursed. If he left Michael’s side, Kyle would finish him off. Michael had said he didn’t want him to die but there was no choice. He unwrapped the bandage from his wrist, pressing it to his mouth just as he had earlier.

“Alex no!” Alex felt himself being ripped away from Michael and flung to the ground. Another gunshot rang out. He looked on, horrified as Michael had Kyle’s arm gripped in his hand, aiming the gun at the ceiling.

“Don’t touch him,” Michael threatened, voice low and calm. Blood soaked through the shirt from his abdomen. Alex glanced at Kyle, whose face was overtaken with fear. The gun fell out of his hand and clattered to the floor. “How kind of you to make a donation in his place.” Then his teeth sunk into his throat.

Kyle was stunned. At least until the bullet that had been lodged in Michael’s gut clattered to the wooden floor. Alex couldn’t move. All his training and he would have never let this continue for as long as it did. He’d fought off vampires feeding before. But something about this had him frozen to the spot.

Kyle managed to shove him back but the rough treatment meant the bleeding didn’t stop. Alex shook his head back to reality and scrambled to his feet. Michael snarled and made a move for him again.

“Stop!” Kyle stumbled back, hand pressed to his neck. Michael stood over him, body shaking with rage. Blood dripped down his chin and neck. Alex had never been scared of him until that moment.

Alex’s voice had stopped his rampage but now Kyle was the one in danger of dying. His best friend. Who he had left to be attacked by a vampire. A vampire protecting itself and the one it had claimed.

Alex was disgusted with himself.

He crouched in front of his friend. He pulled his t-shirt off to press it to the wound hoping he could slow the bleeding until they got to the hospital. He wrapped Kyle’s arm around his neck to help him stand. He glanced back at Michael. There was a cold blank expression and he couldn’t look at him for long.

Alex hobbled out the door, half carrying Kyle who was still in shock. He reached into the pocket of his partner’s jeans and pulled out the key to the jeep. He helped him into the passenger side before rushing to climb into the other side.

He felt Michael’s eyes on him as he started the car and pulled out. In the haze of everything that had happened, he had forgotten just how vicious a vampire could be.

Alex refused to leave Kyle’s side while a doctor examined him. No one had called the police yet and Michael could do jail time for attacking him like that. The self-defense plea was rarely taken seriously in vampire cases.

They wrapped his neck in bandages. Despite how much blood there was, Michael hadn’t actually pierced him that deep.

They sat silently in the office. Alex had taken a hoodie from the back of the jeep. It smelled like Kyle. Alex had been interested in him at one point but nothing had ever come of it. He was still comforted by the spice of his cologne.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. Kyle turned toward him, eyebrows drawn together, a look of confusion softening his sharp features.

“What happened? How did that thing get its fangs in you long enough to claim you?” Alex wrung his hands together.

“I let him.”

“Let him? He was your target, Manes.”

“It felt right.”

“Right? He’s a monster! He nearly killed me and there’s strong evidence that he killed those girls!”

“I know. And I’ll talk to him about that but—”

“The hell you will! We’re sending an entire squad back there to get rid of it. Then this disgusting infatuation you have will be broken.”

His mark burned. Overcome with the desire to protect.

“You attacked him Kyle! He wouldn’t have felt the need to hurt anyone if you hadn’t shot him!” Kyle gave an exasperated laugh, running a hand through his short hair.

“I can’t believe you’re actually defending it.”

Alex didn’t get a chance to respond before the doctor re-entered the room. He watched Kyle. He had always been on his side and suddenly it was like they had never known each other. They walked out together but he didn’t say another word. He handed the keys back to Kyle.

He didn’t offer a ride.

Alex watched him pull out of the parking lot. The sun beat down on the asphalt. He could see the waves of heat rolling off it. It was far too warm for the sweatshirt but he didn’t want to take it off. If it was the last piece of his friend then he would hold onto it.

He stepped back inside the hospital to call himself a taxi. He had no idea what would happen. He was sure Kyle was going to report everything to the chief. When the car pulled up he gave his own address. The pull back to Michael was strong but he wasn’t sure if he could face him. Not that he even knew his address. There was obviously still a lot for them to talk about. What exactly was this mark doing to his mind?

The driver made light conversation but he really wasn’t in the mood. He gave short responses as he stared out the window. Alex did his best to give a friendly smile as he paid and tipped the driver.

Alex watched him pull away before turning back to the old pickup that was parked in his driveway. He sighed and made his way to the front door. He didn’t bother looking for the spare key, figuring Michael had left it unlocked for him.

He stepped into the front room and the house was nearly silent but he knew Michael was here somewhere. Nothing looked out of place except for the boots that sat by the front door. Alex walked through the house, glancing in rooms.

He finally pushed the door to his own room open. Michael sat on his bed, looking at a picture of him and Kyle when they first graduated the academy. He had changed his shirt and washed his face but a chill still ran down Alex’s spine.

“You’re terrified of me now.” His voice was quiet. There was no surprise but he couldn’t disguise the hurt. He slowly sat next to him on the bed, taking the photo from his hands.

“I did watch you try to rip out my best friends throat.” Michael was silent and still hadn’t looked at him. He set the picture down on the nightstand. Alex reached toward him slowly. He tried to touch his shoulder but he just jumped up and moved to the window. He pulled the curtains closed, flinching at the sun.

He just stood like that. Staring at the curtains as if he could see through them.

“The mark,” he started slowly. “It will influence your thoughts like a reroute. You’re first instinct will always be for my needs until you can learn to shut it down. I’ve seen this take anywhere from a few days to years. And sometimes never.” Alex stood slowly, moving toward him again.

“So what happened this morning. When you attacked Kyle and I couldn’t do anything…”

“It stopped you. Because that part of you knew why I was doing it.” Michael finally looked at him. His eyes seemed swollen. As though he had been crying.

“To protect me,” he confirmed. He nodded slowly.

“I was selfish. I wanted to experience that kind of devotion for a while. I knew it was wrong but I wanted you for myself. I didn’t want to be one of those vampires who kept their claimed in the dark about everything.” Alex tried to touch him again. He didn’t pull away this time as he ran a hand over his shoulder and wrapped his arm around his neck.

“Kyle is probably going to tell the chief what happened. I’ll protect you.” Michael leaned in to rest his forehead against him. Alex wasn’t sure how long they stood like that. He watched as his nose scrunched as though he smelled something bad.

“Can I make one more selfish request?” Alex pulled back slightly. Could he really refuse?

“Sure.”

“Take this off. It smells like him.” He couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. When he met his eyes, he found them deadly serious. Heat started to coil down. He stepped back and pulled the sweatshirt off, tossing it on the bed.

Michael pulled him in again, burying his face in his shoulder. He inhaled and the fingers that had stuck themselves to Alex’s waist tightened. A low rumble from his chest made Alex’s groin uncomfortable in his jeans.

“It’s on your skin,” he sounded annoyed. But there was an anger too. The same possessiveness that Alex knew was unhealthy but he entertained anyway because of how his body reacted to it.

Michael kissed his shoulders and chest. In the back of Alex’s mind, he knew this probably wasn’t the right time for this. Knew that it was the mark responding to what Michael wanted. He squashed the voice of reason. One more wouldn’t hurt.

Alex grabbed the hem of Michael’s tee and pulled up. He tossed it to the side and pulled their bodies together. He ran his hands over the muscles of his chest and wound his arms around his neck.

Michael kissed him, tongue delving into his open and welcoming mouth. Alex let out a small moan as he tangled his fingers in his hair. He was walked back until he was pressed against a dresser.

They stood there, making out. Why hadn’t Michael moved to go any farther? Was it like this morning? Would the lust trigger the hunger?

“Michael,” he mumbled out through the kisses. Michael hummed a response, moving to kiss at his throat instead.

“I need you,” he gasped out. He could feel the desire through Michael’s jeans as he pressed his hips against him. He groaned and pulled himself away much to Alex’s disappointment.

“Alex… This isn’t you thinking. I can’t keep taking advantage of you like that.”

“Michael, it’s ok…” He shook his head. “You asked for one more request to be selfish. So allow me one.” Michael watched him and then nodded slowly. Alex stepped up to him and ran his fingers over his abs and slipped them into the waist of his jeans. “I don’t want to think of anything except you. At least for a little while.”

Michael let out a shaky breath. Alex got to watch his fangs extend for the first time. It wasn’t their full length but it was enough to make his mark throb. His hand wrapped around his throat, thumb brushing against the mark. He kissed him again, quick and hard.

“You’re the worst kind of addiction. I know I shouldn’t have you and yet you pull me back every time.” Alex moaned at the words. Michael nipped at his lip, drawing a drop of blood and licking it away.

His grip on his throat tightened as he was pulled away from the dresser and all but dragged to the bed. Michael shoved him down and grabbed the waist of his jeans, undoing them quickly before yanking them down. He was still careful of the prosthesis.

Alex had sat up to remove it himself but the look he received in warning made him lay back. Michael was quick with its removal but gentle, setting it to the side as opposed to throwing it away like he proceeded to do with his pants and underwear.

Alex was naked in front of him again while he still kept his pants on. He tried to grab for them but Michael refused to get that close. His gaze kept him pinned to the bed. Michael was the predator and he wanted to play before enjoying his prey.

Alex was scared but not in the same way as before. His cock jumped in anticipation whenever Michael moved or let a finger brush over his skin. He breathed in deeply and his nose twitched in annoyance.

“I’m going to get that damn stench off you.” He grabbed Alex’s ankle and yanked him to the edge of the bed. He sat up and he was eye level with his groin. Michael ran his hands through his hair gently before grabbing two fistfuls and yanking his head back, forcing Alex to look at him.

“Listen to me. This will get rough and I want you to fight back.” Michael crouched down in front of him. “Say the word ‘red’ if you really need me to stop. Tell me you understand.”

“I understand.” Michael kissed him sweetly for a few seconds. Alex wanted to melt into him but that wasn’t where it was going. His hands left his hair, running down to his throat. He pulled back and stood, looking down at him.

It was when his fingers started to squeeze that Alex tried to shove him back. He was quickly reminded of how strong vampires were. Michael stumbled but his hand never released his throat. An almost evil smiled appeared on his face, making Alex’s cock twitch.

“Let go,” he tried ordering. Michael laughed and shook his head.

“Fight me off hunter. Otherwise it’s no fun when I rip your throat out.” A tingle of fear ran down his spine. The pet name was back, sounding demeaning. And yet…

Alex kicked his leg out, surprising Michael, sending him back far enough to force him to let go of his throat. His eyes flashed red as Alex scrambled as far back from him as he could. He had taken his leg, making it harder for him to fight effectively. He wanted to grin.

But Michael was after him again. He pounced at Alex, who was able to roll out of the way but not far enough. His arm was yanked back, pinned behind him in a vice grip. He felt Michael’s breath on his neck and he shuddered, forgetting that he was supposed to be fighting back.

“That all you got, hunter?” He pushed himself back, smacking Michael against the wall. A low laugh graced his ears. He could feel the danger rolling off him. His body tensed and his groin throbbed.

A whimper escaped his lips and Michael growled behind him. He tucked forward, attempting to throw Michael off him by summersaulting. It half worked and Alex was able to escape his grip. But he also ended up slipping to the floor.

Michael crouched above him in less than a second as he tried to scoot himself back. He grabbed his ankle again, stopping his movements. He sniffed the air and dragged his eyes over his body, smirking at Alex’s erection.

“You sure you don’t want this?” He wanted it. He wanted to let Michael devour him if that’s what needed to happen. He continued playing along instead.

“A vampire could never turn me on.” The smile fell from his face and Alex wondered for a moment if he had went too far. His nose twitched and he snarled, showing off his fangs.

“And yet your body says otherwise.” Alex tried to pull away again, jerking his leg to wiggle out of his grasp. Michael yanked him closer, completely overpowering him. “Why don’t we test your theory?”

Michael fell to his knees, pushing Alex’s legs back and exposing his hole. He wiggled as much as he could but he couldn’t fight when Michael had him bent in half like this. His firm hands ran over the backs of his thighs to his ass. One of his thumbs ran around the rim, making him whine.

“Someone’s been using this well,” he said grinning. Alex put on his best glare but Michael just chuckled.

“Go to hell,” he spat out.

“Only if I can fuck you in the back of the limo down.”

Then he leaned down, tongue running over his entrance. His body tried to rub against his tongue but he was securely pinned. He felt the rumble of laughter as he licked and sucked around his entrance. Alex let a curse slip as his body started to relax.

Michael pulled away, grinning down at him. He dragged one of his hands down and slipped two fingers into him. Alex couldn’t stop the moan as he pressed against his prostate. Michael leaned back down, licking him again. Alex was ready to throw the scene out the window and beg.

Then he slipped his tongue into him alongside his fingers. Alex’s cock jerked, neglected and weeping.

“Did I take the fight out of you already?” He felt the pressure on his legs lift slightly. He could move. His body screamed for release as he rolled away from Michael, fingers being pulled out. “Well that’s not polite.” Alex crawled away but then he was being lifted, literally.

Michael’s arms wrapped around his waist as he was hauled from the floor and instead bent over his nearby desk. He braced himself on the flat surface and then he heard the rustling of fabric and a zipper. He tried to turn himself around but Michael pressed an arm against his back.

“I was ready to make this feel good for you, now I’ve changed my mind.” There was a blunt pressure as Michael pushed into him, his saliva somewhat easing the process. He moaned as he was filled. The muscles in his back tensing as he stretched to accommodate him.

Michael groaned from behind him and he felt him lean over him. His hips thrust froward, slamming against his prostate. The heat in his groin was begging to be satisfied and yet he couldn’t do anything about it. Michael continued like that. Slow and hard. He ran his hands over Alex’s back and shoulders. He grabbed his shoulders as he increased the rate of his thrusts.

“Please,” Alex begged.

“Please? Poor hunter. Being used for a quick bang. To bad I’m just going to cum and be done with you.” He wouldn’t dare. Alex hoped anyway.

Michael’s cock fucked in and out of him. The desk shook from the abuse. He didn’t even try to stop the moans that poured out of him. His hips and leg were starting to ache but he couldn’t focus on it for long.

“So much for all that talk. You going to be good for me now?” Michael was moving him again. Form the hard desk to being tossed on the bed. He half-heartedly tried to crawl away from him, but he didn’t have the fight anymore. He needed Michael inside him. He would take whatever he was given.

His hips were grabbed as he was filled again. He let his head fall forward as his ass was abused. Michael’s thrusts lost their rhythm and he grunted, digging his nails into his skin.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” he moaned out. His hips jerked and his cock throbbed inside him. Only once he had completely emptied himself did he pull out. Alex felt it leak out and run down his legs.

“Stop,” he whimpered out, starting to mean it. His whole body shook with unreleased tension. Michael flipped him on his back, pushing his legs open. His ass clenched around nothing as more cum dripped out.

“You look good like this. So needy and well used.” He caught another drip with his finger, pushing it back inside. “I suppose I can treat you a bit better now.” He twisted his finger inside him, pushing the second in immediately.

“Fuck! I need…” he gasped out, unable to even finish his thought. He heard him chuckle and a third finger was working its way in next to the others. Alex couldn’t see anything with his eyes squeezed shut but he felt Michael bending over him.

His teeth nibbled at the skin on his chest. The fangs taunted him as his mark started burning. The fingers inside him moved slowly and avoided his prostate, desperate to drag this out as long as possible. His hands gripped the sheets as he tried to move his hips.

Every nerve in his body was hyper focused on Michael. His muscles jumped at every bite on his chest and every thrust of his fingers made his cock weep more. He felt a fourth finger rubbing around his rim, ready to push in.

“Should we find out how much you can fit in here,” Michael asked, honey dripping from his words. Alex groaned. Anything if it would let him orgasm. He felt his grin against his skin. He worked his pinky in slowly. The burn of the stretch only intensified as Michael pushed to the last knuckle.

Alex choked out a moan, never realizing this was something he had wanted to try. He felt Michael pull back and shift his position on the bed. He cracked his eyes open to watch him. He sat on the edge, completely focused on his fingers inside his ass.

“Michael,” he pleaded. His eyes snapped toward him as he smiled. It was almost kind.

His thumb traced him as the other fingers spun and pushed. His knuckles slipped in, making Alex moan loudly. The small open space was soon being filled. Alex’s moans turned into small hisses of pain.

Michael shifted again, pulling Alex with him so his ass was on the very edge of the bed. An arm wrapped around his waist, forcing him to sit up. A kiss was being pressed to his mouth and the stretching resumed. He wrapped an arm around Michael, scratching at his back. He nibbled his lip then kissed down to the mark on his neck.

Alex didn’t have time to consider that this was bad. He was locking his mouth over the mark and biting. Alex hips jerked, forcing his hand in farther. Warmth spread from the mark, making his body relax. The venom. His hips rolled again, easing his thumb past the first knuckle.

Alex’s eyes fluttered closed as he moaned. His hips refused to listen to him as they rolled and Michael pushed into him. He was so stretched out and he loved it. He felt full and needed Michael to move. There was a pressure against his prostate and it needed more attention.

The teeth were leaving his neck and he kissed the mark. Then his hand started moving. Pulling out slightly then jamming back in. Alex called out as his back arched. Gibberish spilled from his mouth as Michael fucked him like that. The arm wrapped around his waist disappeared and he fell back. A rough hand flipped him onto his hands and knees, never letting up on his ass.

“Look at you taking it so good. I know you wanna cum. Go ahead. Cum with a hand shoved up your ass.”

He did. Finally.

It ripped through him, making him scream. Hot spurts shot out onto the sheets. It was only prolonged by the assault from behind him. His face was buried in the mattress, muffling his moans of ecstasy. His cock jerked as it ran dry, still trying to cum.

Michael pulled his hand out carefully. His ass attempted to return to a more normal state but he was being filled by his cock again. Michael held his hips up as he fucked him roughly and then came in him again. The throbbing in him made him twitch but he had nothing left. The pressure was gone shortly after.

Alex was rolled away from the mess he made before he collapsed. He panted and let his eyes drift closed. He didn’t know where Michael had gone but soon he was curling around him, pressing gentle kisses all over his shoulders. He ran his fingers through his hair, his other hand kneading his muscles.

“Alex, talk to me,” he said softly. Alex turned to face him and smiled.

“You’re an animal.” Michael let out a sigh of relief and nuzzled into him.

“Do you need anything? Wet wipe? Back rub? A nap?” Alex chuckled and pulled him up for a kiss. Or rather multiple little kisses.

“A shower,” he suggested. Michael laughed and nodded.

“Anything for you. Let me help?” Alex rolled his eyes but nodded anyway. Then he was being swept up into his arms, making him yelp in surprise. He carried him to the bathroom and set him on the counter while he turned on the hot water.

Alex had splurged on the bathroom when renovating. The shower was easily big enough for two people, even three. There was no step to get in and was surrounded by fogged glass. There was a shower head above and on the side. Sometimes he turned on both if he was really stressed.

Michael stepped back out and stood between his legs, leaning in to kiss him gently. Alex ran his hands over his shoulders and up his neck until they wove through his hair. They kissed until he could feel the steam from the water. He felt his hands slip under his thighs.

Michael lifted him again, never breaking from his mouth. He felt the spray on his back and then over his head. The water ran between them, making their lips slip over each other more easily. They separated after a moment, both panting.

“I’ll set you down now,” he warned before slowly lowering Alex to the built in reclining bench. He ran his fingers through his hair and down his neck, lingering on the mark. Alex sighed, letting his shoulders drop and relax, eyes drifting closed.

He heard the snap of a bottle and felt Michael sit beside him. He pushed on his shoulder gently, letting him know to turn. He began rubbing soap into his skin, digging his fingers into the muscles for a massage. Alex groaned at how nice it felt.

“Hey, I’m trying to work you down. Don’t go making those sounds or I might take you again,” he teased, pressing a kiss to the spot below his ear. Alex chuckled and turned his head to look at him.

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t,” he said, kissing him quickly. Michael’s smile was beaming as he resumed his massage.

Alex knew things were bad in the real world and about to get worse. But in this bubble they had created, it was bliss.

#malex fic #malex fanfiction #vampire au #michael guerin/alex manes #smut #Roswell New Mexico fanfiction #roswell new mexico fic #feedback always appreciated

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ryttu3k · 4 years ago

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All Night Road Journal entries! For players who are new to VtM, this is absolutely invaluable. For those who are familiar with VtM, it's still pretty neat! Find it in the menu below your stats.

Note - the Characters list changes depending on your in-game actions; this list is based on my Banu Haqim hot mess Courier, Pyre.

Characters

Kindred

Aila: A powerful Daughter of Haqim. You consumed her, Blood and soul, ten years ago.

Edouard Chambet: A member of the Ministry and influential fixer. Or he was until you and Raúl destroyed him.

Julian Sim: Your sire Technological visionary, data scientist, and (by Camarilla standards) an "Anarch" bent on bringing down the Masquerade. You and he worked together under the Camarilla's thumb for a few years before going your separate ways. Now you're both back in Tucson.

Prince Lettow: A Gangrel, originally a minor aristocrat from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth—making him one of the few elders left in Arizona. Lettow came to America after serving as a pilot in the Great War.

Called the Eagle Prince on account of his eagle servant, Riga, Lettow seized control of Tucson after the last Prince launched a murderous and doomed campaign against all non-Ventrue in the city. He magnanimously spared the old Prince's childer and has sought to rule with as much compassion as an undead crime lord can allow himself.

Millicent Rue: A blood trader whose specialty is finding obscure vintages for fussy Ventrue. From a clan called Lasombra, which you don't know anything about. After the fall of Camp Scheffler, has started to rebuild her "business."

Dove: Prince Lettow of Tucson's second in command, a Nosferatu and former courier. Keeps her mouth shut about her past, but she has known Lettow for many years.

Invidia Caul: A Tremere sorceress who works for Julian Sim ever since Prince Lettow forced the closure of her research facility, Kiowa Xenogenetics.

D'Espine: A Toreador. Manages the Cinderblock, a jazz club in Dallas. Obsessed with surgically modifying her ghouls.

Elin Olivecrona: A Ventrue. After the fall of Camp Scheffler, Olivecrona disappeared into the bureaucracy of the US government to work against the Second Inquisition.

Lampago: An ancient vampire—or some kind of related creature—who lurked in Tucson for years until hunters finally drove her away. She now dwells in Biosphere Zero.

Pattermuster: A Brujah. You helped him block a proposed renovation to the hospital.

Reremouse: A Nosferatu elder that dwelled beneath the sands of the California desert. You and Julian spent a depressing year feeding the elder to keep him dormant. When he finally arose, you helped Julian teleport him across the world using ancient sorcery that you do not fully understand.

Z: Julian Sim's mysterious acolyte.

Ghouls

Raúl Cañedo: Vampire hunter you first encountered when a wight attacked you after your CR-X broke down. Now your retainer. Knows how to fight and hunt; also a capable investigator.

Miguel: One of Lettow's retainers and couriers. Killed at Camp Scheffler, probably by hunters affiliated with the Second Inquisition.

Carlos: One of Dove's retainers. A police detective and the local Camarilla's contact with the Tucson police.

Nadia Goh: One of Julian Sim's retainers. Works as a delivery girl for a Malaysian restaurant when not helping Julian.

Others

Elena Prodan: Owner of Covenant Pawn Shop.

Agent Samantha Donati: Technically just a special agent with the FBI's Special Affairs Division, Agent Donati in fact controls most Second Inquisition activity across the Southwest. Her lightning-quick strikes have destroyed dozens of vampires and thrown the local Camarilla into chaos.

Clans

Banu Haqim

Originally from the Middle East, the "Assamites" were once feared assassins and sorcerers. They have recently entered into a tentative alliance with the Camarilla, the vampire shadow-society of Europe and the Americas.

Disciplines: Blood Sorcery, Celerity, Obfuscate. Some Banu Haqim focus on rituals, while others favor inhuman speed and the powers of invisibility.

Clan Weakness: Thirst for vitae. Banu Haqim are compelled to commit diablerie—the sin of draining another vampire, body and soul.

Brujah

Once a proud clan of philosophers, the rage-fueled "Rebels" are now scattered and disorganized.

Disciplines: Celerity, Potence, Presence. Unnatural strength and speed help the unsubtle Brujah in a fight, but the secret to their survival is in shaping crowds with their eerie charisma.

Clan Weakness: Temper. Brujah are prone to losing control of their Beast in terrible rages.

Gangrel

The savage "Outlanders" are shapeshifting beastmasters who, almost alone among vampires, can survive outside of the cities.

Disciplines: Animalism, Fortitude, Protean. Gangrel flesh is both hardy and able to change its form; the Outlanders also have various powers over living animals.

Clan Weakness: Feral. Gangrel struggle to relate to normal humans, especially as their Humanity declines.

Malkavian

The "Lunatics" are all mad, but their madness gives them strange insights. They often serve as court seers and mad prophets.

Disciplines: Auspex, Dominate, Obfuscate. Keen senses and the power to vanish from sight give Malkavians their reputation as prophets. Their mental compulsions often spread their insanity.

Clan Weakness: Madness. All Malkavians are incurably insane.

The Ministry

Formerly the "Followers of Set," the Ministry are friendly and good. There is nothing bad about the Ministry. They are here to help and to get you what you need. They are not a snake cult.

Disciplines: Obfuscate, Presence, Protean. Vampires of the Ministry can become invisible, control minds, and turn into giant snakes (it always helps).

Clan Weakness: No problems here, nothing to worry about.

Nosferatu

The "Sewer Rats" are hideous and malformed vampires whose information-gathering skills make them invaluable. They once managed electronic communication for the Kindred, until the Second Inquisition infiltrated their servers.

Disciplines: Animalism, Obfuscate, Potence. Nosferatu use their shadow-powers not just to turn invisible, but to hide their hideous faces. When exposed, they can call on their unnatural strength, or their allies among the Creatures of the Night.

Clan Weakness: Hideous. All Nosferatu are monstrous in appearance.

Toreador

The elegant and sophisticated "Aesthetes" would prefer you didn't call them "Degenerates." Obsessed with beauty, the vampires of Clan Toreador can seem almost alive when their passions move them.

Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Presence. Supernaturally keen senses and a beguiling aura let the Aesthetes thrive among high culture; when things go wrong, unnatural speed helps them escape.

Clan Weakness: Distracted. Toreador are so obsessed with beauty that it can endanger them.

Tremere

The "Usurpers" of Clan Tremere are said to descend from a mortal wizard who stole immortal life from an ancient vampire. Once organized into a disciplined arcane hierarchy, the sorcerers of Clan Tremere are in turmoil after the destruction of their greatest occult stronghold.

Disciplines: Auspex, Blood Sorcery, Dominate. Though famous for their Thaumaturgy—their intricate sorcerous tradition—many Tremere also possess supernaturally acute senses and the power to command mortals with a word.

Clan Weakness: Frail Blood. This manifests in different ways for different Usurpers. Some mend their flesh slowly; others cannot form Blood Bonds or create ghoul servitors.

Ventrue

The Clan of Kings rules from the shadows, controlling modern boardrooms as they once controlled courts and cathedrals. The mental powers of the "Blue Bloods" also protect the Masquerade.

Disciplines: Dominate, Fortitude, Presence. Ventrue study two distinct paths of mental control: Presence is more subtle, Dominate more direct. Some are also nearly indestructible, even when exposed to banes like fire and sunlight.

Clan Weakness: Refined palate. Ventrue cannot drink bagged or animal blood, and most are restricted to a particular kind of human prey.

Caitiff

Not a clan at all, Caitiff vampires are the Clanless—those whose Blood is too thin or whose education was too inadequate for them to join a proper clan.

Disciplines: Varies based on ancestry and inclination.

Clan Weakness: Outcast. The Camarilla has little respect for Caitiff, and other vampires don't treat them well either.

Hunger and Willpower

All vampires suffer from an undying Hunger for blood. Using Disciplines (vampire powers) and mending wounds uses some of the blood you've stolen and increases your Hunger; so does the simple act of rising every night. Only killing and fully draining a living human slakes your Hunger fully, and then only for a time. As a Child of Haqim, drinking vampire Blood also increases your Hunger.

If you become hungry enough, you lose the ability to activate Disciplines or mend your wounds. If your Hunger equals or exceeds your Willpower, you suffer penalties to actions that require concentration and self-control. That includes most actions you take, except those that risk a messy critical—see that entry. The penalties grow as your Hunger grows.

Willpower is based on your Resolve and Composure scores. Increase those scores to increase your Willpower and ignore the distraction caused by your Hunger. Certain actions, like extended negotiations or staying out too close to the sun, can mentally exhaust you, temporarily reducing your Willpower. You can regain lost Willpower by embodying your Convictions (see Experience and Convictions).

Messy Criticals

Succeed too well on certain actions and you run the risk of unleashing your Beast. The monster within you assures your success…at any cost.

Any choice that ends in an exclamation point ("!") risks a messy critical. Most of these are attacks or other aggressive actions where you risk losing control, such as threatening people or bashing down doors. Any choice that involves hunting and drinking from a human also risks a messy critical, and messy criticals there usually result in you draining the mortal completely, reducing your Humanity and leaving you with a corpse to dispose of.

The good news is that choices that risk a messy critical aren't more difficult due to Hunger (see Hunger and Willpower). Your Beast guides you in these savage actions, even when you're desperate for blood.

Experience and Convictions

After a decade of lethargy and routine, you find yourself bursting with newfound creative vigor!

You gain experience in two chief ways: first, by going on missions and succeeding in your goals. Second, by gaining Convictions and living up to them. To gain a Conviction, select choices that increase that personality trait: if you want to Defy the Traditions, then you must Defy the Traditions: ignore vampire laws like the Masquerade (see that entry), disobey elder vampires, and defy the Camarilla. If you want to Seek Luxury, then demand money and inducements as often as possible.

The Masquerade

The First Tradition of the Camarilla—what passes for civilization among the undead—is to hide the existence of vampires from the mortal herd. This is the Masquerade. You can violate the Masquerade by openly using obvious supernatural powers (such as shapeshifting), feeding in public, or failing to dispose of a body you drained.

Violating the Masquerade risks the wrath of elders among the Camarilla. Worse, with the Second Inquisition raging across the United States, a breach of the Masquerade risks sending an entire Second Inquisition kill team to your doorstep. Such an attack usually comes in daylight and can destroy you if you're not careful.

Humanity and the Beast

Vampires aren't human. They're dead things animated by stolen blood, with a screaming monster in their head they call the Beast. Perhaps because of this damned state, most vampires cling to their Humanity and struggle to control the Beast's savage urges.

But the Beast is always waiting. Acts of callousness and brutality strip vampires of their Humanity until, in the end, they are nothing but mindless animals that lurk in the shadows and hunt at night. Even before that point, low-Humanity vampires struggle to act with kindness or empathy.

Killing mortals (unless attacked first, such as by hunters or assassins) is a sure way to lose Humanity. The Beast permits no excuses—killing to feed and killing to hide your true nature (and protect the Masquerade) will stain your soul as surely as killing for sport.

Regaining Humanity is arduous but possible through great acts of sacrifice and by risking yourself for others. But beware: if your Humanity falls low enough, you'll have to spend Willpower (see Hunger and Willpower) to perform even small acts of decency.

The Camarilla

The Camarilla—the so-called Ivory Tower—is a secret society of vampires dedicated to hiding their existence from mortals, a guiding ideology called the Masquerade. Most Camarilla cities are ruled by a Prince (the term is gender neutral). Beneath this monarch is an elaborate hierarchy of underlings and overlords, bound together through favors, mutual enemies, the Traditions (including the Masquerade), and the overwhelming nightly drive to find more blood. Vampires of the Camarilla call each other "Kindred." They all appreciate the bitter irony of that term.

The rise of the Second Inquisition has made the Camarilla more paranoid and restrictive. Where once the Princes tolerated "Anarchs" and fringe types (like independent couriers), now they retreat into their Elysiums—hidden sanctums where they can conduct their business in peace—and try to weather the storm. These nights, the Camarilla are the vampire elite, and like any elite, they are happy to sacrifice everyone else for their own safety or convenience.

The Second Inquisition

The first Inquisition taught the arrogant vampires of the Middle Ages that they were not invincible. They learned that mortals, while weak alone, were almost unstoppable when organized and when they knew their enemy.

The vampires of the Camarilla took the lessons of the Inquisition to heart, hiding their actions behind the Masquerade. But no deception is perfect. As digital technology proliferated in the twentieth century, young vampires adapted, leaving their elders in the dust. They didn't know that mortals were listening in. And even when they realized the danger, many in the Camarilla believed they could direct these hunters at their enemies.

The results of this arrogance were catastrophic: the fires of the Second Inquisition blazed across the world, destroying elders and fledglings alike, cleansing whole cities of vampires. Embedded in the security and intelligence agencies of various national governments, including the FBI and the CIA, the Second Inquisition employs every weapon at its disposal to hunt down and destroy vampires. Now the SI has turned its sights on Arizona. Its goal is nothing less than the total eradication of every vampire in the state.

The Beckoning

A strange event called the Beckoning recently started luring elder vampires to the Middle East. No one knows the source of the Beckoning, but the sudden loss of so many elders—and the vast supernatural power they possess—has thrown the Camarilla into chaos and allowed Anarchs and other independent groups to seize power.

The Nature of the Blood

A vampire's vitae—the stolen blood that flows through your veins—has a variety of supernatural powers.

Disciplines. A vampire's supernatural arts are called Disciplines. Different clans manifest different arts, from mind control and shapeshifting to superhuman strength and speed. Most Disciplines require Blood to activate (increasing your Hunger) and grant a significant bonus to any relevant action you undertake. This bonus increases with your level of mastery.

Mending. You can use the blood you take to repair your dead flesh. In fact, this is the only way vampires can "heal," as they cannot do so naturally.

Ghouls. A vampire who feeds vitae to a living mortal creates a ghoul. Sometimes called a retainer or a thrall, a ghoul does not age, manifests minor supernatural powers such as occasional bursts of great strength, and is loyal to their vampire regnant through the Blood Bond (see below). Most established vampires make use of one or more ghouls to handle their daylight business.

The Embrace. Feed a mortal your vitae and you create a ghoul. Drain a mortal to death and feed that mortal your Blood and you create a new vampire of your clan. You are now the sire to a childe. This act is called the Embrace. Most Princes of the Camarilla forbid Embracing new vampires except under special conditions, as there are always too many vampires and never enough places to hunt.

The Blood Bond. Drink a vampire's blood three times on three separate nights and you are bound to that vampire, forced into service through a supernatural compulsion called the Blood Bond. If you create a ghoul, that ghoul is soon Blood Bound to you. Beware of your sire—you've already tasted your sire's Blood once, when you were Embraced and turned into a vampire!

Learning from the Blood. Vampires of different clans begin with different Disciplines, but you can unlock more Disciplines by tasting the Blood of another vampire and then receiving instruction from them.

Diablerie. To drain another vampire, body and soul, is called diablerie, and the Camarilla consider it the most awful of crimes. But young vampires practice the art in secret anyway, hunting their elders, in order to lower their generation and gain greater power.

Generation. According to legend, the first vampire was Caine, the first murderer. Legend further says that Caine had three childer, who had childer of their own, and that those vampires of the Third Generation founded the clans. Whether or not you believe this story, when a vampire Embraces a mortal, that childe's Blood is thinner and weaker than the sire's. Vampires of high generation are sometimes Caitiff (the Clanless), and those of very high generation are thin-bloods—barely vampires at all. Though a vampire's Disciplines develop with age, generation does not change…except through diablerie.

Functions of Abilities, Skills, and Disciplines

Abilities

Strength: Punching, wrestling, clawing (if you have claws). Most climbing where you haul yourself up.

Dexterity: Balance, speed, reacting quickly. Attacking with a bladed weapon or in coyote form (if you can change shape), reacting quickly. Most shooting that relies on speed.

Stamina: Adds to your Health. Not used actively.

Charisma: Getting people to like you. Leading people into battle or giving them orders. Impressing a crowd.

Manipulation: Getting people to do what you want (even if they don't like you). Most kinds of lies and deceit.

Composure: Adds to your Willpower. Staying cool, in social situations or in a fight (especially when threatened by fire or sunlight).

Intelligence: Education, reasoning ability, analysis. Most forms of research.

Wits: Cunning, cleverness, noticing things on the go. Intuition, "following your nose." Shooting when you can't see clearly.

Resolve: Adds to your Willpower. Determination, patience. Performing tasks that take all night or that are mentally draining.

Use the language of the choices to determine what is being tested. "Quickly" usually means Dexterity, "clever" signals Wits, "patient" implies Resolve.

Specific descriptions override general rules. You normally use Dexterity to strike with a sword, but if there's a lot of smoke and the choice says you need to be clever to hit, that's Wits.

Skills

Athletics: Jumping, swimming, running, dodging.

Combat: Brawling, wrestling, wielding swords or improvised weapons, using claws or teeth.

Drive: This gets your AE86 to its destination in one piece.

Firearms: Shooting a gun.

Clandestine: Sneaking, moving silently, hiding, picking locks, forcing doors.

Intimidation: Threatening, bullying, and forcing others to back down.

Leadership: Giving orders. Commanding your ghoul; also adds a passive boost when you work together with your ghoul.

Persuasion: Getting people to do what you want in a more or less straightforward manner, without lies or threats. Also covers etiquette and manners.

Streetwise: Bribery. Knowing streets and alleys (useful for quick getaways). Interacting with criminals.

Subterfuge: Lying, swindling, and deceiving. Also includes palming, picking pockets, and similar deceptions.

Academics: Nonscientific education—everything from history and philosophy to occult lore. Used in Blood Sorcery.

Awareness: Noticing things just by looking around (or listening or sniffing around).

Investigation: Careful, systematic exploring. Helps you both find hidden items and interrogate people until you find something.

Technology: Crafts, car repair, computer use, and hacking, as well as scientific acumen.

Survival: Finding shelter (especially from sunlight!), hunting wild animals.

Disciplines

Most Disciplines increase your Hunger when used but add a bonus to your actions.

Animalism: Grants you a wolf companion who grants significant bonuses to actions when activated. Your lobo gains power as you advance this Discipline. Low risk of a Masquerade breach; your lobo is just a "big weird dog."

Auspex: Enhances your senses, typically improving skills like Awareness, Investigation, and (if you're shooting where you can't see clearly) Firearms. Low risk of Masquerade breach; Auspex affects only you.

Blood Sorcery: Not a proper Discipline so much as a collection of ritual techniques developed over millennia. Most rituals take time and grant automatic success to an action; particularly challenging rituals, or those opposed by another sorcerer, often rely on Intelligence and Academics. Risk of Masquerade breach varies based on the ritual.

Celerity: Supernatural speed and quickness. Offers only a modest bonus, but helps with a huge number of activities, especially when you need to fight or flee. Mortals will be surprised by but not suspicious of the lowest level of Celerity; any more than that breaches the Masquerade.

Dominate: Overwhelming short-term mind control. Usually succeeds automatically, especially on mortals. A blunt instrument; doesn't gently boost your natural abilities like Presence. Low Masquerade risk since it's so uncanny. Dominate can also be used to scramble memories, which protects your secrets.

Fortitude: Unnatural resilience, even against the vampire's natural banes (fire and sunlight). Not used actively; it works automatically when you're hurt to absorb injury. Low risk of Masquerade breach—maybe you were wearing body armor?

Obfuscate: Fading from sight. Not literal invisibility; people just don't notice you. Mostly used to enhance Clandestine when sneaking. Low risk of Masquerade breach unless you just vanish in front of someone.

Potence: Monstrous strength. Increase your ferocity in combat and smash right through obstacles. Like Celerity, mortals will accept the lowest levels of Potence as the effects of adrenaline, but any more than that breaches the Masquerade.

Presence: Unnatural allure and charisma. Use it to fill mortals with dread (enhances Intimidate) or to enhance your natural charm (pairs with a large number of social skills). Lacks the immediate and inescapable power of Dominate, but more flexible. Low risk of Masquerade breach; people just believe you're unusually magnetic.

Protean: Three distinct shapeshifting powers. Beginners can grow wolflike claws to rip their enemies to shreds. Intermediate students learn how to meld with the earth, sinking into the ground to escape pursuers (or the rising sun). Masters take the form of beasts—in your case, a coyote. Any use of Protean is a huge and obvious Masquerade breach.

#vampire the masquerade #vtm night road #vtmnr #vtmnr spoilers #long post #resources

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wulfgard-fantasy · 4 years ago

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The Imperial Bestiary - Vampires

A horror shrouded in mystery, the vampire comes in many forms. Men, or even elves and other beings, cursed with vampirism are doomed to live cursed lives as undead. What gods wrought this curse upon the world remains unknown, but there is little doubt some form of archdemons were involved. What we do not know, however, is why the gods would allow something so terrible to exist.

Vampires most often appear much as they did in life, so long as they drink enough mortal blood. In this way, they continue to live among their own kind and trick them into believing they are trustworthy. In truth, they are undead abominations, parasitic in nature. The only elements that may betray a vampire’s true nature is that their skin is often pale, save for immediately after feeding. If someone avoid the sunlight, it is also likely they may be a vampire. Some vampires may also bear hideous cauls, particularly those that dwell near swamps, though many vampires are said to be alluring instead.

Perhaps the best-known quality of vampires is their need to feed upon the blood of mortals. Without this blood, they will enter a state of deep undeath, returning to a corpse-like state and appearance. If this goes too far, they will become entirely dormant until blood is administered, reawakening the vampire. If they drink enough blood, vampires may appear entirely ordinary, as they did in life. However, if a vampire gorges itself, it will become more animalistic and lose its common sense and intelligence, becoming a bestial creature that longs only for still more blood. In this way, demons have forced vampires to exist tenuously based upon controlling their own urges, and they absolutely require the life-blood of mortals to exist. A vampire cannot drink corpse blood as opposed to blood from a living creature, or it will cause them great illness. Likewise, the blood of an animal is said to cause them madness. They must drink only the blood of noble mortal beings. This is yet another reason they must be destroyed.

The abilities of a vampire are many and terrifying. Vampires may influence the minds of many mortals, and the most powerful may even force others to do their bidding. They cannot, however, exert this control over animals. Not all vampires possess these powers, as it seems to be true that some form of vampire hierarchy exists, generally with one vampire ‘sire’ ruling other, lesser vampires.

The shapeshifting abilities of the vampire are legendary, though little is known about them. Some say vampires turn into bats and man-bat monstrosities. Other vampires seem to bear more resemblance to rats. Some do not exhibit animalistic traits at all and instead appear something more akin to a demon. Most all vampires are in some way associated with mist and becoming mist to move from place to place. It is said a vampire may assume these forms at will, though if they intake too much blood, they may enter a monstrous form in a more permanent state.

As unnatural abominations, vampires cannot reproduce and must instead be created through demonic rituals that remain largely mysterious. It is said that the vampire must bite and drain all blood from the victim, then a ritual is performed by the vampire in order to share the curse and damn the victim’s soul. Six days after this is performed, the victim’s once dead body will enter an undead state and return as a new vampire.

Although they are said to be impossible to kill, vampires can at least be deterred. They fear the sun above all else, as well as any object or ground blessed by the gods. Running water burns them like acid. Silver, as well, can be used against them with great effectiveness. Some methods may be undertaken to prevent one from returning as a vampire, such as staking the body into the coffin before burial. Beheading a vampire, cutting out their heart, burning the heart, and drinking the ashes is one way to prevent the vampire’s return.

A victim of a vampire may have bite marks on their throat, wrist, or stomach. Some vampires are said to bite between the eyes, though this is likely to be hearsay. The legends surrounding vampires abound, and it is difficult to know which are true and which are not.

- Vita Mortis, by Grigore Summers

Grigore Summers is known for his somewhat erratic style of providing information. While most of the information here is generally considered accurate, he leaves out several important details.

We know now from the many trials and studies from the Venatori that vampires can, in fact, be defeated, similar to how we eventually learned this about werewolves. However, unlike werewolves, vampires are unholy creatures and thus fear anything holy: likewise, this can be used to truly kill them. A favorite of vampire hunters is a blessed stake driven through the vampire’s heart. This also pins the vampire’s husk that passes for its soul, not allowing it to escape in the form of mist. Likewise, vampires are sensitive to silver and will recoil at its touch, unable to easily recover from wounds inflicted by the metal. However, the Venatori have learned that while vampires shun sunlight and will burn in it, they are not instantly destroyed by it and may even survive in the sun, especially if they wear some form of heavy clothing for protection. The light, however, will always temporarily blind their eyes.

Among the most frightening of vampire legends are the First, said to be the first vampires to ever exist in Midgard. Where these vampires are now remains unknown, but many claim they still live on since time immemorial, haunting civilization and hunting mortals - while perhaps also ruling them.

Should there be any suspicion of a vampire in the area, the Venatori should be notified as soon as possible. Throughout their existence, hunting vampires has remained one of their most important, if also most difficult, tasks. The threat of a vampire is not taken lightly, however, and their presence must be confirmed before the vampire can be slain, particularly as it can be difficult to truly determine if one bears the curse of vampirism.

(( Bestiary Masterlist --- Wulfgard.net --- Twitter --- Maegan’s Patreon --- Justin’s Patreon ))

#bestiary #the imperial bestiary #wulfgard #medievalfantasy #fantasy #dark fantasy #monsters #in universe #in character #books #self-publishing #indie author #vampire #vampires #vampirism

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theveryworstthing · 5 years ago

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Spooky Time.

Mixing some prompts from patreon here, namely 'gay vampires' and 'all dressed up for a spooky soriee'

This is Fera, she's a performance artist, she's very gay, and she's legally blind but she forms her mosquito minions into glasses or suspiciously thick eye shadow and sees through them. She's currently attending a 'children of the night' themed benefit sponsored by Cashmere's company as a guest and later she'll do something on stage that will cause at least one emotional breakdown in the audience.

Here's a bunch of lore about the kind of vampire she is because of course I wrote some:

Mosangre Vampires

What are they: A human just filled to the brim with mosquitoes and all the supernatural powers that apparently come with that.

How They’re made: Can have a natural birth or be turned with some difficulty. Afab and intersex people with vampire blood in their family tree are the only ones with a chance of inheriting these powers.

Turning: These vampires very VERY rarely turn humans as their powers are made to primarily turn mosquitoes. As naturally born vamps age, mosquitoes are drawn to them in droves. When one lands on their skin its legs become stuck as it gets sucked into the Mosangre’s flesh. That mosquito then joins the Swarm. Over time the Swarm grows, replacing organs, bone, and muscle in much of the body as they are transformed by the vampire’s passive shape-shifting abilities. People who aren’t gifted by genetics can join the party but it usually means getting a hunk cut out of you (usually a non-vital organ) and having your gracious Dam or Sire shove enough of their curated mosquitoes inside the hole to fill the gap and jump start the process. You hope.

Feeding: Bits of the Swarm are sent out to gather blood. The mosquitoes drink from any blood-having critter they come across and carry it back to the main body. When they are reabsorbed all that blood goes to their master (and them since they’re technically a part of this person now). Feeding is very easy and these vampires are not seen as dangerous because they take such little bits from a large amount of creatures and their diet is supplemented with nectar, juice, and finely blended fruit. They basically live on blood and smoothies. The only way they would bite someone with their actual human mouth (there’s a proboscis involved and you know what we’re not going to get into All That) is if they needed a lot of blood very urgently. Like, on the brink of death and need to re-grow a vital organ NOW because you don’t have enough mosquitoes to replace it urgently. That, or they Nasty. Some of them are nasty! It happens! I don’t know what to tell you!

Powers: Super healing/durability. Any skin ripped away dissolves quickly and regrows as soon as the mosquitoes return to their perches. Any organs other than the brain can be slowly regrown or just replaced with mosquitoes (there is an urban legend about these vampires just selling their organs for fat stacks and regrowing them that might not be urban legend). They also have control of their Swarm, access to their Swarm’s senses (which can be a real mixed bag that most use sparingly tbh), shape-shifting, levitation, and others that vary from person to person and mostly depend on how creative you can get with guts made of obedient mosquitoes.

Fun Facts:

Mosangre have no problem with sunlight and are as social as any other human. They are very much alive and can be pretty ‘normal’ despite their whole deal. Probably the vampire most peacefully integrated with the human race.

Their treatment in certain communities varies, but they are widely regarded as a good to neutral thing to have around due to the way they drastically reduce the rate of mosquito borne illness. Something about their bodies gives a purifying affect to the mosquitoes they turn (the mosangre doesn’t want to eat gross diseased blood after all). This effect doesn’t heal sufferers of blood borne diseases when bitten (and you will get bitten either way), but it does stop the spread of them if the vampire’s Swarm outnumbers wild mosquitoes. This purified blood is also said to have great medicinal qualities but first you have to get it back out of the vampire and there have been mixed results with that.

All the mosquitoes turned are females. Male mosquitoes can not be turned. Turned mosquitoes live much longer (like 5 to 10 years while in the Swarm) and can still breed with wild mosquitoes if released from the vampire. Mosangre will do this periodically, releasing older members of their swarm back into the breeding population to replenish their bodies with fresh generations. These released mosquitoes rarely live more than six months at most.

When mosquitoes are released for feeding many stay behind with the main body. This gives feeding mosangre, especially older ones with lots of their original body replaced, a kind of partially melted or rotted look that people can find upsetting. The parts left behind can function perfectly fine and tend to just float around according to the vampire’s whims until their connective bits return.

Mosangre often don’t tell their Swarm exactly where to go when feeding and tend to ignore them unless something feels wrong. Mosquitoes are good at finding food all on their own and rarely need backseat drivers. Also they can see through the mosquitoes’ eyes if they want but like. You need a lot of mosquitoes clumped together to do that efficiently. They are so small. What do you expect to see from the perspective of just one?

Vampire mosquito bites can sting like a wild mosquito bite but they don’t leave any itchiness behind.

Their mosquitoes are super hard to kill. You’ll smack one and it’ll look smushed but its little blood-filled belly will always be intact and within seconds the rest of its bits will pull back together from whatever smear you’ve made of them into a perfectly fine little lady. The only way to kill them is to burn them or freeze them and they must be frozen for a while to Make Sure. You can also pop or smash them with something made of pure iron which doesn’t kill them right away but does make it impossible for them to reform with their master and eventually starves them to death.

The iron=death thing makes many people believe that these vampires might also officially be classified as fae or at least fae-touched, but this is inconclusive since getting fae to confirm anything is Hard and honestly dying when hit in the head with an iron crowbar several times isn’t that special of a weakness for a human-based creature. This doesn’t stop the rumors however, and mosangre usually find camaraderie with changelings and shape-shifters over other vampires and humans.

Immortality?: They’re immortal in the same way that a lobster is immortal. As long as they don’t get burned/frozen to death or their brain doesn’t get too damaged to repair itself in a timely manner they can live for a wild amount of time. Their brains kind of get destroyed by time like anyone else though. It might take a few hundred years in perfect conditions with steady repair and a constantly replenished Swarm, but eventually there will come a time when the last glob of real human brain left isn’t up to the task of shape-shifting new brain matter to fill in the gaps and that’s that. The second there is no human consciousness holding them together the Swarm disperses peacefully from the last bit of carcass.

Their final coffin is very small.

Some say the ghosts of these vampires are just about the worst a ghost can be. Shambling clouds of dead mosquitoes anchored to each other for eternity, unable to fully pass until their master does the same. Tiny corpses frozen in their death throes as they’re dragged through the air, occasionally coming together to form the rough shapes of their old human meat. Most stories talk about hands with crumbling fingertips and death mask faces and endlessly roving eyes stuck in clots of rotting blood. The worst ones are about the drifting lungs that writhe like giant aquatic worms as they squeeze air through esophagi finely furred with insect limbs and out of black lips that have so much to tell to whoever will listen.

No one in these stories ever wants to listen.

No one outside of them wants to think about how there are even older stories hinting that these wretched forms are the fate of any of their kind who lives long enough. That they are the true face of immortality.

This surely has no correlation with the fact that most very old vampires have their deaths very neatly planned with very big bonfires.

Just like grandma used to say, better safe than trapped in the forever wandering life beyond life.

#vampire #mosangre #small guide #fera #bare chest #long post #her lip piercing is one of my favorite design decisions for some reason.#i just wanted something evocative of classic vampire fangs and i think it works pretty well #it's been so long since i took the time to write some real meaty lore chunks #body horror

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unpredictable-probabilities · 4 years ago

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Valliant Crowns: Chapter 1 - Tanya’s Tavern

Summary: Because of the sudden storm, Prince Nicholas and his knights take shelter in a tavern. Chaos is imminent when the reputable bounty hunter Val makes a wager with her friends involving the Crown Prince.

Word Count: 3,221

Includes: Mature fluff

Prince Nicholas stepped in through the tavern door that was held open for him; murmurs of conversations floated in the air along with the smell of ale. His knights surrounded him as they looked for a table. Travellers and merchants and all sorts of townsfolk were here tonight, taking refuge from the dreadful storm outside.

“Apologies, Your Highness,” Sir Julian told him. “We had not anticipated the weather, and this is the nearest shelter we could find.”

“It’s alright, Sir Julian,” the crown prince replied, “a roof over our heads and a warm drink would be enough.” He was just relieved to have gotten out of the pouring rain.

“The other knights would be making arrangements for our lodging. Fortunately, there is an inn above this tavern.”

They found a table by the wall that was just enough to accommodate them; Prince Nicholas was seated at the middle, the wall at his back and his knights around him. Sir Julian excused himself to purchase their drinks.

Laughter arose from the other side of the room and caught the prince’s attention; a group of people huddled by the fireplace and on the bar counter looked to be in the middle of a lively conversation. The barkeep was laughing along as she served them another round.

A woman in the group noticed him looking; she smiled mischievously and gave him a wink.

His cheeks flushed and he looked away. He was certain he didn’t know that woman, and he felt rude to have been staring.

Sir Julian came back and set down a mug in front of him, “Some ale, Your Highness. It’s not of the best quality but it ought to warm us enough before we retire for the night.”

“Sir Julian,” Prince Nicholas turned to him distractedly, “who’s the woman there by the counter? The one wearing the green travelling cloak.”

The knight turned to look at the counter and frowned in distaste. “Val. A bounty hunter, sire. She has caused plenty of trouble across the villages, but I regret to say that she has never been apprehended. No one ever filed charges; it’s like the entire kingdom is protecting her.” The words seemed to leave a bitter taste in his mouth.

Prince Nicholas looked again. Val had her hand to her stomach as she laughed raucously at something that her companions said. Her joviality was contagious and made the prince feel warm inside. He smiled, “She doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

“People of her kind are deceitful, Your Highness,” Sir Julian was frowning. “Those companions of hers are gamblers; they roll their dice and play their board games and swindle people out of hard-earned money.” He removed his cape and hung it on the back of his chair to dry. “Best stay away.”

“Hey, Val,” Tanya called her attention from behind the counter. She jerked her head to her left, “That young man in the fancy clothes keeps looking at you.”

Val set her mug down and turned to the direction that the barkeep indicated. The man surrounded by six knights was staring at her again, but he quickly looked away when he saw her looking.

“Is he some nobleman?” she asked her friends. They were by the fireplace with some board game at the table, a rather standard night for them when they wanted to wind down from whatever adventures they had for that week. She was sitting at the counter because she enjoyed Tanya’s conversations. Patrons of the tavern told the barkeep a lot of stories, all of them either useful or entertaining.

“Maybe you nabbed his brother at one point and he wants revenge?” Zac said jokingly, moving his piece on the board game.

Isabel laughed, “That’s such a bashful face for someone so vengeful. He looks like one of them pampered boys, you know the ones who never go beyond the walls of their homes? I bet he’s never even heard of Val.”

“You bet?” Trent turned to Isabel and raised his eyebrows.

“Haha,” Isabel replied, “no, Trent, you vulture.”

Trent chuckled and turned to Val. “That’s Crown Prince Nicholas. He went to some diplomatic mission a week ago; my guess is he’s coming back to the palace now.”

Trent had a lot of connections in the kingdom, he was the person to look for if you wanted to know anything about anyone and were willing to pay the price. Val has never seen him without a drink in his hand, and he was the only person in their group who never seemed to get drunk.

“Oh!” Isabel grinned at Val, “The crown prince, quite literally, has his eye on you.”

Trent slammed his hand on the table, “I have a wager to make.”

Val picked up a pretzel, “When do you not have a wager to make?”

“5 silver pieces,” Trent continued, “if you kiss the crown prince on the lips. Tonight.”

“Oooooh,” their little group chorused, even Tanya joined in.

“5 silver pieces?” Val repeated. “He’s barricaded behind six knights.”

They stared at her; they knew she wasn’t done speaking.

She grinned, “Make it 10 pieces and you got a deal.”

“Tsk tsk,” Trent shook his head, “you’re trying to rob me, Val. It’s 5 silver pieces and you can tell people you’ve snogged the crown prince.” He said in his famous businessman voice.

Val scoffed. “Snogging a pale, weak-limbed nobleman who can’t go outside without his nannies is nothing to brag about, Trent. I will give you one silver piece to not tell anyone.”

“I’ll take that deal,” Trent agreed. “So you’re doing it, then?”

Val drained her mug and slammed it down on the counter. “Make it 8 silver pieces, and I’ll do it right now.” She removed her cloak and set it down next to her mug.

Her friends looked at each other excitedly. Trent’s wagers were always something to look forward to, but they seldom involved royalty.

Trent grinned and put out his hand, “Deal.”

Val shook it and hopped off her chair.

She observed the prince’s table and slowly walked toward it; he was drinking quietly while his knights conversed around him. They all looked worn down from travel, and she knew that she’d be able to move faster than them. She was almost certain she could kiss the prince for at least three seconds before she got dragged away and most probably threatened.

She was one table away. The prince noticed her and appeared surprised; he looked around at his knights but no one else had seen Val. He stared at her again, as if wondering what she was planning.

Oh, you’re about to find out. She smiled and winked flirtatiously.

The prince blushed again but didn’t look away this time.

Val took a step back and somersaulted on the table nearest to her, startling the group of merchants gathered around it.

She landed on one knee right in front of the prince, who looked surprised and flustered at the same time.

She immediately leaned forward and felt a pair of soft lips against hers.

Everyone at the table froze.

She saw the prince’s shocked expression―over the shoulder of his knight who had stepped in front of him protectively.

Val had kissed the knight instead.

She pulled away in surprise. The knight was wide-eyed and seemed to have stopped breathing.

All the other knights stood up and drew their swords.

She raised her hands in surrender and stepped backwards off the table.

The knight she kissed came to his senses and drew his own sword, walking around the table to stand in front of her.

“Val!” he spat out her name and pointed his sword at her throat. “By far the most notorious hoodlum I’ve ever heard of.”

“You’ve heard of me?” Val smiled and tilted her head to the side, keeping her hands raised. “I am honored, Sir Knight.”

The knight moved to step forward but the prince held him back, “Sir Julian,” he said worriedly, “calm yourself. She hasn’t hurt any of us, there is no reason to spill her blood here.”

The other knights looked uncertainly at their captain and their prince, awaiting orders.

Sir Julian glared at her and clenched his jaw.

He stepped back and sheathed his sword; the others followed suit.

“Your Highness,” he turned to Prince Nicholas, “I think it’s best that we escort you to your chambers. There are certain inconveniences here.” He cast Val one last indignant look and led the way to the stairs.

The crown prince stopped for a moment and glanced at Val.

She smiled at him. “Maybe next time, Your Highness,” she winked again.

Prince Nicholas looked down and tried to hide a smile; then his knights surrounded him and they made their way upstairs.

Val went back to her chuckling friends and sighed, placing 8 silver pieces in front of Trent. “Stupid guards always ruin everything.” She hopped back on her chair.

A man’s voice from across the room called to her, “Val.”

She looked to see another friend of theirs sitting at a table. The entire tavern must have seen the commotion, but such things were common enough there.

“Would you kiss me for a few silver pieces?” he seemed to have worked out her wager with Trent.

She grinned and raised her empty mug to him, “Not even for a hundred gold pieces, Borghan.”

Borghan clutched at his chest and pretended to be hurt. The whole tavern laughed. Almost everyone there knew each other; Tanya’s tavern was the best in the village and part of the entertainment there was Trent and Borghan’s antics.

“You kissed a captain,” Isabela teased. “Not some weak-limbed nobleman. How does that feel?”

“Like I need another drink,” Val gestured to Tanya. It didn’t really make much difference to her, though she enjoyed the look of rage on Sir Julian’s face and the unexpected kindness of the prince.

The barkeep laughed and refilled her mug. “This one’s on me, because that was really something.”

“Julian, could you please stop that? You’re going to tear the floor in half,” Travis lay back on his bed and put a pillow over his face.

“How are we supposed to sleep with all your pacing around?” Marcus echoed the complaint.

Julian was sharing a room with two other knights; they were fortunate enough to afford a room with three beds.

“I’m worried about the crown prince’s safety!” He stopped pacing to look at them, “How could you two think of sleep at a time like this?”

Marcus stared at him blankly.

Travis lifted the pillow from his face to squint at him, “What?”

Julian stepped closer to them and lowered his voice, “I think Val might be a sorceress.” He waited for their reactions after revealing such a serious accusation.

Marcus started to laugh.

“Gods,” Travis seemed to be trying to suffocate himself with his pillow.

“I’m serious!” Julian insisted; he had to make them understand the danger. “Or maybe she’s not a sorceress herself but she’s working with one.” He started pacing again, “What if that was an attempt to control the crown? Make the prince fall for her with a love potion on her lips and make him do their bidding?”

“A love potion?” Marcus asked.

Travis suddenly sat up on his bed. “Julian?”

He stopped pacing and turned to his friends, “Yes?”

“Have you…” Travis began, “fallen for Val? When she kissed you?”

Julian gasped, “What absolute nonsense!”

Marcus burst out laughing and looked at Travis. “This is precious; our mighty captain has become weak-kneed for a bounty hunter.”

“I have not!” Julian felt his face go red with rage. The audacity of those two was unbelievable.

“Then why do you suspect a love potion?” Travis asked.

“I―” Julian was tongue-tied. He suspected it because when Val pulled away from him, he felt disappointed, as if there was something suddenly missing from his life. Surely he would never feel anything like that for such a person as Val, and she had clearly meant to kiss the prince. The only logical conclusion was a love potion meant to control the crown; Prince Nicholas was supposed to be the one who couldn’t sleep because of his longing to see Val again.

But judging by his friends’ faces, Marcus grinning and Travis looking skeptical, he knew they would never listen.

Julian stood up straight and adjusted his chest plate. “I am taking this to the crown prince himself, since you two are of no help.” He went out the door with his cape billowing behind him.

He was walking down the hall to the prince’s chambers when he hesitated; he neither had evidence nor the support of his fellow knights. Prince Nicholas would never laugh at him the way Travis and Marcus had, but he didn’t want to embarrass himself in front of his liege.

He went downstairs to talk to the owner of the place; he had something to ask.

Val tossed her cloak on her bed and yawned; she’d had a rather fun night with her friends and was about ready to go to sleep. She walked over to the lamp to blow out the fire.

Three firm knocks sounded at her door.

She wondered if Isabel had gotten too drunk again and wanted to tell her some wild story before passing out on her floor. It wouldn’t be the first time.

She hadn’t blown out the fire yet and hopefully she’d be able to see well enough in the dim light; she might need to drag Isabel through the doorway.

She opened the door to a man standing proudly on the other side.

“Sir Knight,” she said in surprise. “Julian, is it? How may I be of help to the crown at this hour?” she smiled.

“May I request an audience?” he said stiffly. He was so tense that he reminded Val of the statues at the town square.

“With… me?” No one had ever asked for Val in that manner, especially not a guard. Her interactions with them were usually outdoors and she was usually running away laughing.

“Yes,” Julian nodded. “May we speak in private?”

Val blinked. “Okay,” she stepped aside to let him in. She suspected that she would be getting a sternly worded lecture about keeping her distance from the crown prince and whatnot. She hoped it would be over soon; these guards could get deathly boring.

“Undo it,” Julian said as soon as the door closed.

She frowned at him, “What?” The authorities were usually more specific than that. ‘You’re banned from this establishment’, ‘Don’t break through doors’, ‘How are you going to pay for this window?’

Julian stepped closer, she didn’t step back. She had stopped being afraid of them long ago.

“Undo your magic,” he said adamantly.

“...My what?” Val was getting increasingly confused. She had been accused of a lot of things but magic was definitely a first.

The knight started pacing. “You planned to give a love potion to the prince by kissing him but I stopped you just in time, which resulted in me getting the potion instead,” he stopped in front of her, “Now give me the antidote.”

Val took a moment to process the bizarre string of words that was just thrown at her. “Are you drunk, Sir Julian?”

He stood up even straighter, “I assure you I am not inebriated.”

Val massaged her temples; she just wanted to sleep. “I am not, nor have I ever been, in possession of any kind of magical potion, love or otherwise.”

“Then why do I feel this way?!”

The sudden outburst from the previously stoic knight startled her.

He stepped closer. “Why do I feel like I want to kiss you again?” he demanded.

Val’s jaw dropped; her sleepiness evaporated in an instant.

Julian closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. “May I kiss you?” he asked quietly.

“Why…?” Val saw no mockery or aggression in his eyes, only uncertainty and determination.

“So I can get you out of my head and we could forget this ever happened,” he stated it like a declaration.

“How chivalrous of you to ask for permission,” she smiled slyly. She would be lying to herself if she said that the idea didn’t pique her interest.

The knight looked offended, “I will never touch a woman without her consent.”

Val raised her eyebrow, “You almost ran me through with your sword earlier.”

“I wasn’t really going to… I wouldn’t have…” Julian seemed to have forgotten how to complete sentences.

“I can’t really blame you,” Val put her hands on her hips and smiled. “Though if I had known you’d be visiting me, I would have made another wager with Trent.”

Julian looked away and fidgeted with his cape and metal chest plate.

“Okay,” she noticed the knight glance at her immediately at that, “I suppose there’s no harm in―”

Julian had caught her face in his hands and was kissing her.

She felt the familiarity of his lips, and was glad that she didn’t have to pull away this time.

Julian moved his lips gently; she found herself responding and holding the front of his chest plate, pulling him closer. The world seemed to stop and nothing else existed but her and the knight. Her heart was starting to race when he suddenly pulled back, his hand remaining on her face.

“I don’t understand,” he brushed his thumb across her cheek, “it’s not going away.”

Val was trying to catch her breath and wasn’t sure if she heard him correctly.

“The feeling…” Julian continued, looking into her eyes, “it’s getting stronger.”

Val grabbed him by the back of his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss; an untamed hunger had possessed her and gentle kisses weren’t enough to sate it. Her hands found their way into his hair and they clutched desperately, not wanting him to pull back again.

Julian hastily unfastened his chest plate and tossed it behind him, the metal clanging loudly on the floorboards.

He wrapped his arms around Val’s waist and pushed her into a wall, their bodies pressing together. Her nimble fingers undid his cape and he felt it fall away from his shoulders.

Julian lifted her up and pushed even closer, wrapping her legs around his waist as his hand rubbed up and down her thigh.

Their tongues danced and swirled against each other; their hearts pounding almost as loudly as their trembling sighs of pleasure.

“By the gods,” he gasped, the warmth of her body against his fuelling the frenzied desire that was already scorching him. Julian felt an irresistible impulse to rip off every piece of clothing that was getting in the way of their skins touching. “What are you doing to me, woman?”

“Oh, Julian,” Val smiled and spoke his name with such mischievous promise that it aroused his passions even further, “I haven’t even done anything yet.”

The thunderstorm drowned out the creaking of Val’s bed that night, but the icy winds did nothing to quench the flames of its fervent occupants; the union that they shared transcending all borders of social classes and prejudices. Nothing else mattered but their embrace and with it a feeling that’s more powerful than any magic in the world.

#valliant crowns #chapter 1 #tanya's tavern #original character #original story #prince #knight #medieval

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