#i LOVE when artists offer sketchy options and it has nothing to do with it usually costing less than render like i legit like messy art mor

[icicleteeth]

I find I enjoy my art a hell of a lot more the messier and scratcher the lines and colors are done, but I always have it in my head that like "Well Teeth only you think rougher drawings look better; you can't do that if it's for a comm or for someone else because it will come off as laziness"

[cttncndys]

                                   𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐈𝐌𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐒𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐒...

welcome  to  impulse  records  ,  just  be  sure  to  read  the  ᶠⁱⁿᵉ  ᵖʳⁱⁿᵗ  before  signing  anything  .  each  year  impulse  signs  with  an  exclusive  number  of  bands  and  solo  artists  to  make  their  dreams  —  or  worst  nightmares  —  come  true  .  of  course  ,  when  if  you  do  fail  there  are  horror  stories  of  shredded  contracts  ,  terminated  deals  ,  less  than  stellar  touring  arrangements  ,  and  being  locked  out  of  the  building  completely  .  but  above  all  else  impulse  records  churns  out  chart  topping  artists  in  varying  genres  year  after  year  .  with  artists  under  their  label  smashing  records  and  continuing  to  solidify  themselves  as  icons  in  the  music  industry  since  1978  it’s  no  wonder  why  people  go  to  any  length  to  get  signed  .  although  ,  for  even  a  fraction  of  success  they’ll  be  pitted  against  themselves  and  each  other  .  impulse  records  is  a  beast  and  will  either  be  your  big  break  —  or  the  thing  that  breaks  you  .  here’s  one  last  welcome  from  the  team  here  at  impulse  ,  we’ll  see  how  long  you  last  .

impulse  records  is  an  original  character  discord  verse  that  revolves  around  the  lives  of  musicians  signed  under  the  iconic  record  label  impulse  records  .  the  company  is  rumored  to  do  sketchy  things  like  create  fake  relationships  among  band  members  ,  create  rumors  among  members  to  encourage  healthy  competition  ,  and  even  fire  and  replace  band  members  .  but  those  of  course  are  ‘  just  rumors  ’  .  the  verse  will  come  with  many  events  ,  plot  drops  ,  tasks  and  much  more  to  move  the  plot  along  and  help  development  of  the  characters  . 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 & 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬  :

we  (  cttncndys  &  you  )  must  be  mutuals

due  to  expected  mature  themes  all  muns  should  be  18+  and  all  muses  should  fall  between  the  ages  of  20-28

i  won’t  accept  fcs  who  wish  not  to  be  used  ,  deceased  fcs  ,  or  overly  problematic  fcs  .  you  can  come  to  me  with  a  fc  if  you’re  unsure  but  at  this  point  i’m  sure  we’re  all  aware  of  what’s  what  .

godmodding  ,  gatekeeping  ,  and  /  or  ooc  drama  will  not  be  tolerated  .

activity  will  be  fairly  lax  because  i  am  aware  we  all  have  lives  outside  of  rp  but  if  you  join  please  do  so  with  the  intent  of  being  active  in  mind  for  the  sake  of  longevity  .

this  list  isn’t  exhaustive  &  all  other  basic  rules  not  listed  still  apply  .  

this  group  is  heavily  centered  around  character  development  so  i  highly  encourage  you  bring  a  fresh  muse  .

this  group  will  be  kept  fairly  small  (  5  -  8  muns  depending  on  interest  )  but  each  application  received  will  be  considered  equally  .

all  apps  should  be  sent  to  my  sumbit  ,  although  only  the  app  is  required  feel  free  to  include  bullet  points  ,  a  playlist  ,  a  pinterest  board�� ,  anything  your  heart  desires  to  help  me  get  a  better  feel  for  your  muse  ,  but  bare  in  mind  this  is  completely  optional  .

lastly  ,  have  fun  .  <3

𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧  :

note  :  below  you’ll  find  a  list  of  bands  /  solo  artists  to  help  you  complete  the  application  .  although  the  bands  have  small  blurbs  detailing  how  each   group  is  formed  this  is  just  to  give  a  vague  idea  of  what  muse  would  fit  each  group  ,  and  any  official  backstory  is  up  to  mun  discretion  .

*  (  faceclaim  ,  age  ,  pronouns  ,  gender  )  impulse  records  is  pleased  to  announce  the  official  signing  of  first  last  the  role  in  band  /  solo  artist  to  our  prestigious  roster  .  you  probably  know  them  for  scandal.  they’ve  grown  in  recognition  due  to  positive  trait  or  actually  it  might  be  because  of  negative  trait  ,  what  a  classic  zodiac  sign  .  their  fans  tend  to  associate  them  with  3  -  5  aesthetics  .  oh  ,  impulse  records  is  going  to  eat  them  alive  .  (  ooc  name  /  alias  ,  age  ,  pronouns  ,  tmz  )

fcs  applied  for: taken  fcs:  mishti  rahman  ,  charles  melton  ,  kiana  lede  ,  luke  hemmings  ,  &  ross  lynch

𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬  :

𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐥 — if  you’ve  only  been  a  passive  fan  of  the  all  -  male  band  you’d  know  they  mad  their  debut  more  recently  .  the  trio  who  have  been  friends  since  their  college  days  all  had  set  career  paths  .  but  of  course  any  die  hard  fan  could  tell  you  ,  after  the  band  for  a  mutual  friend’s  engagement  withdrew  last  minute  ,  the  boys  who  had  all  expressed  musical  talents  separately  were  asked  to  perform  .  from  that  point  forward  ,  they  performed  small  gigs  here  and  there  to  score  some  extra  cash  .  it  wasn’t  until  they  were  offered  a  hefty  sum  of  cash  that  they  decided  to  pursue  music  full  time  and  ditch  their  days  jobs  .  and  although  there  has  been  plenty  of  speculation  over  the  years  among  fans  on  whether  any  of  the  members  are  dating  ,  nothing  has  been  publicly  confirmed.  

dynamic  :  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp. app  count  :  vocalist  /  lead  guitarist  :  00.  vocalist  /  rhythm  guitarist  :  00. vocalist  /  drummer  :  00.  

𝐞𝐮𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 —  if  you’ve  only  been  a  passive  fan  of  the  all  -  female  band  you’d  know  they  made  their  debut  more  recently  .  the  trio  who  have  been  friends  since  they  were  in  diapers  had  always  dreamed  of  starting  a  band  with  one  another  .  but  of  course  as  any  die  hard  fan  could  tell  you  in  middle  school  the  girls  came  close  to  it  ,  but   after  a  rather  unfortunate  wardrobe  malfunction  at  a  middle  school  talent  show  nearly  axed  their  dream  completely  .  it  wouldn’t  be  until  high  school  that  they  group  rekindled  their  musical  talents  to  yet  another  talent  show  that  went  much  smoother  the  second  time  around  .  and  although  there  has  been  plenty  of  speculation  over  the  years  among  fans  on  whether  any  of  the  members  are  dating  ,  nothing  has  been  publicly  confirmed  .

dynamic  :  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp. app  count :  vocalist  /  lead  guitarist  :  00.  vocalist  /  rhythm  guitarist  :  00. vocalist  /  drummer  :  00.  

𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 —  if  you’ve  only  been  a  passive  fan  of  the  band  you’d  know they  made  their  debut  more  recently  .  the  trio  who  attended  the  same  high  school  says  they  never  even  spoke  to  another  until  meeting  again  at  their  community  college  .  but  of  course  as  any  die  hard  fan  could  tell  you  , the  group  has  an  interesting  origin  story  .  after  all  being  placed  in  the  same  introduction  to  music  theory  class  ,  and  being  told  by  their  professor  they  had  an  “  interesting  sound  ”  ,  the  trio  paired  up  out  of  pure  spite  .  they  played  countless  open  mic  nights  at  their  college  ,  and  the  surrounding  area  ,  until  they  finally  got  their  big  break  at  a  “  battle  of  the  bands  ”  competition  hosted  by  none  other  than  their  music  theory  professor  .  not  too  long  after  the  trio  dropped  out  .  they  have  been  mostly  inseparable  since  ,  if  you  ignore  the  petty  twitter  drama  between  deja  and  cash  that  is  .   and  although  there  has  been  plenty  of  speculation  over  the years  among  fans  on  whether  any  of  the  members  are  dating  ,  nothing  has  been publicly  confirmed  .

dynamic  :  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp. app  count :  vocalist  /  lead  guitarist  :  00.  vocalist  /  rhythm  guitarist  :  00. vocalist  /  drummer  :  00.  

𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐞 — if  you’ve  only  been  a  passive  fan  of  the  band  you’d  know  they  made  their  debut  more  recently  .  the  trio  who  met  when  they  all  attended  the  same  summer  camp  in  high  school  .  but  of  course  as  any  die  hard  fan  could  tell  you  ,  the  group  all  had  a  shared  hatred  for  a  specific  camp  counselor  ,  and  came  together  to  pull  an  elaborate  prank  on  them  .  as  fate  would  have  it  ,  the  trio  found  out  they  all  attended  the  same  high  school  ,  and  from  that  moment  forward  have  been  inseparable  .  they  began  making  music  together  their  last  year  of  camp  and  begrudgingly  won  first  place  ,  an  honor  bestowed  upon  them  by  a  not  too  forgiving  camp  counselor  .  and  although  there  has  been  plenty  of  speculation  over  the  years  among  fans  on  whether  any  of  the  members  are  dating  ,  nothing  has  been  publicly  confirmed  .

dynamic  :  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp. app  count :  vocalist  /  lead  guitarist  :  00.  vocalist  /  rhythm  guitarist  :  00. vocalist  /  drummer  :  00.  

𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐲 —  if  you’ve  only  been  a  passive  fan  of  the  band  you’d  know  they  made  their  debut  way  back  in  their  college  days  .  the  quartet  who  met  at  a  charity  date  auction  for  their  college  have  quite  the  history  .  but  of  course  as  any  die  hard  fan  could  tell  you  ,  the  band  has  had  a  rocky  start  given  the  problems  with  jealousy  in  the  group  and  their  trouble  with  seeing  each  other  as  anything  but  rivals  first  and  foremost  ,  despite  constant  mediation  from  managers  and  the  like  .  the  band  has  managed  to  keep  a  friendly  facade  long  enough  to  keep  a  record  deal  but  tensions  constantly  threaten  to  spill  day  by  day  .  and  although  there  has  been  plenty  of  speculation  over  the  years  among  fans  of  whether  any  of  the  members  are  dating  ,  nothing  has  been  publicly  confirmed  .

dynamic  :  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp. app  count :  vocalist  :  00.  lead  guitarist  :  00.  rhythm  guitarist:  00.  drummer: 00.

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 — if  you’ve  only  been  a  passive fan  of  the  band  you’d  know  they  made  their  debut  way  back  in  their  high  school  days  .  the  quartet  says  that  they  had  almost  nothing  in  common  except  their  passion  for  music  ,  and  even  attribute  it  to  their  success  .  but  of  course  as  any  die  hard  fan  could  tell  you  ,  the  group  have  become  inseparable  as  friends  over  time  ,  as  shown  by  their  behind  the  scene  videos  on  tours  and  concerts  alike  ,  and  for  even  further  evidence  the  four  even  went  as  far  as  too  buy  a  house  and  move  in  together  .  and  although  there  has  been  plenty  of  speculation  over  the  years  among  fans  on  whether  any  of  the  members  are  dating  ,  nothing  has  been  publicly  confirmed  .

dynamic  :  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp. app  count :  vocalist  :  01.  lead  guitarist  :  00.  rhythm  guitarist:  00.  drummer: 00.

𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 —  if  you’ve  only  been  a  passive  fan  of  the  band  you’d  know  they  made  their  debut  way  back  in  their  college  days  .  the  group  who  actually  met  in  the  waiting  room  of  the  dean’s  office  have  little  in  common  with  one  another  apart  from  their  love  of  music  .  but  of  course  as  any  die  hard  fan  could  tell  you  the  group  has  constantly  had  to  see  each  other  as  competition  ,  vying  for  music  scholarships  and  recording  booth  time  since  their  band  came  to  fruition  ,  there  is  little  that  has  been  done  about  trying  to  salvage  group  dynamics  .  and  although  there  has  been  plenty  of  speculation  over  the  years  among  fans  on  whether  any  of  the  members  are  dating  ,  nothing  has  been  publicly  confirmed  .

dynamic  :  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp. app  count :  vocalist  :  00.  lead  guitarist  :  00.  rhythm  guitarist:  00.  bassist: 00.  drummer: 00.  keyboardist: 00.

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 — if  you’ve  only  been  a  passive  fan  of  the  band  you’d  know  they  made  their  debut  way  back  in  their  middle  school  days.  originally  a  family  band  ,  when  the  eldest  members  decided  to  leave  the  youngest  to  her  own  devices  ,  the  band  became  a  passion  project  for  a  vivacious  middle  schooler  .  but  of  course  as  any  die  hard  fan  could  tell  you  the  current  group  who  only  formed  due  to  friends  of  parents  hoping  music  would  give  their  antisocial  preteens  a  connection  to  something  bigger  than  themselves  and  interact  with  anything  outside  of  their  rooms  .  since  then  the  group  has  grown  to  be  inseparable  and  embrace  the  parts  of  them  that  made  them  unique  in  middle  school  .  and  although  there  has  been  plenty  of  speculation  over  the  years  among  fans  on  whether  any  of  the  members  are  dating  ,  nothing  has  been  publicly  confirmed  .

dynamic  :  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp.  insp. app  count :  vocalist  :  00.  lead  guitarist  :  00.  rhythm  guitarist:  00.  bassist: 00.  drummer: 00.  keyboardist: 00.

𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐨 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬  :

app  count  :  00.

[keeroo92]

Be My Nightmare Ch2

Of Charcoal and Lust

Warnings for references to self-harm, mental illness and blood kink. Spicy at the end.

~~~Previous Chapter~~~

Word count - 4,048

____________________

---Reader---

You spent the rest of the week with your other patients, but you couldn’t keep your thoughts away from V. He was an enigma, the kind of case you’d been waiting for. A killer, but with brains. Capable of planning, and trickery. He’d be a tough man to work with, a stark contrast to the boring tedium of the masses.

“Dr. Waras, are you listening?”

Speaking of…

You tapped your pen against your lips and met the eyes of your current patient, Ken Sinclair. Guilty of animal abuse but he blamed it on visions of the future. He also had a lovely tendency to believe every conspiracy theory known to man.

“Of course I am. Please, continue,” you replied.

He shifted his weight and stared at the floor. Evasion. You made a note.

“I… so the cat next door, he was going to start a revolution. I saw it.”

“What sort of revolution? How was the cat going to begin?”

Ken fidgeted, his fingers betraying his anxiety. Due to his enjoyment of conspiracies, the man was extremely slow to trust. You internally rolled your eyes.

“I’m truly curious. I have a cat myself, did you know that?”

A lie, but a harmless one. Ken smiled, his fingers relaxing at the reassuring tone of your voice. Child’s play.

“He was going to start with his owner, the guy worked for the CIA.”

You widened your eyes and made a note. It was possible the neighbor actually did work for the CIA, but most likely it was yet another delusion. Poor Ken had trouble telling the difference. He had potential, though. If he made enough progress he might someday get to go home.

But it was doubtful.

By the end of the session, you had heard enough quackery to last until next time. You waved to Ken as Aaron led him back to his room and checked your schedule to see which patient was next, even though you already knew. You’d been looking forward to this for days.

V.

After your first meeting with him, his file proved a fascinating read. An art student from a prestigious university, he’d suddenly dropped out last year and vanished. His family searched for months but found no trace of the gifted artist. His whereabouts between then and the murders were hazy at best, only unconfirmed rumors or hearsay.

And the murders themselves were truly obscene. Details were sketchy on how he chose the family, but the scene was thoroughly documented. Blood so deep the cops wore galoshes, a mixture of his victims and several cows. The walls were painted with the crimson fluid, the wet dribbles still trailing to the kick molding. He’d used a nailgun to affix lengths of ropy intestines to his artwork as a frame, spearing a kidney and part of the child’s liver as focal points.

The bodies themselves were arranged in a gruesome tableau. The mother and father were stripped naked, splayed out for all to see on the couch. He hadn’t bothered trying to disguise where his blades had left their marks, choosing instead to draw attention to the young child strung up above her parents on the chandelier. The child had died first, her blood dripping into the heartbroken faces of her parents as he carved them up.

He didn’t gag them. The neighbors heard the keening wails but by the time the police arrived, he was licking the gristle from his fingertips and humming a piece of classical music. He’d welcomed the officers, offering bags for them to vomit into even as the man with the strongest stomach cuffed him.

The case never even made it to trial. He pled guilty with a smile, and the judge was all too happy to ship him off to an asylum based off his lawyer’s recommendation.

And now here he was, being led into your office by Kevin with a lidded gaze and a suggestive smirk. The orderly affixed the cuffs to the wall with a length of nylon rope, making sure V couldn’t reach you if you stayed at the desk. The young man saluted you and took his leave, and you were alone with the crazed murderer.

“How lovely to see you again, Y/N,” he purred. Even knowing his crimes, you couldn’t deny his voice held great allure. Again, you were struck by the waste of a life before you. He had so much potential, only to fall into madness.

“Hello again, V. How are you feeling today?”

You made it a point not to acknowledge the way he addressed you. To insist on him using your title would only show weakness, that his opinion of you held value. He could call you whatever he liked; you were the one in control here.

He smirked and pulled up his legs, sitting cross legged on the couch. “I’m well. Quite a treat to stretch my legs today. It’s almost a shame how close your office is.”

He’s reminding me of when I stretched his leg. Trying to set me off my game.

You smiled and made a note.

“True, maybe Kevin can take you for a walk after we’re finished.”

Asserting your control, telling him you held his fate in your hands. What fun he was already; the mind games alone were worth the wait.

“That would be nice.”

His eyes gleamed. He knew exactly what you were trying to do. Damn.

“Let’s get started.”

V licked his lips and gazed at you, his meaning clear. “Do let’s.”

You continued without missing a beat. “Here at Mundus Psychiatric, we have a three-pronged system to rehabilitate violent offenders. First off is medication. Dr. Malphas has you on Seroquel, and he’ll be in charge of your prescriptions based on my notes. He’ll meet with you personally once a month.”

You paused to give him a chance to ask any questions, but he only stared at you. On to the next section, then.

“Next, you’ll meet with me on a daily basis to work through any trauma or psychological issues. My job is to help you reach a healthy state of mind and to do that I need you to work with me.”

You paused again, giving the man a meaningful look. He licked his lips.

Right. On to the last one.

“The third approach involves creative catharsis. I imagine this will be of particular interest to you due to your background, but if you display signs of aggression or self-harm, this privilege will be revoked.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Art.”

His hands twitched and he inhaled sharply, his excitement clear. As you’d thought; this would be the way to reach him. You couldn’t help but be curious what he would create, especially without human remains to use as materials. Watching him at work could grant you insights otherwise hidden from view, and you slid open the lower drawer of your desk to pull out supplies with excitement.

---V---

The dull stub of charcoal was the most beautiful thing he’d seen in months. His mouth watered, his fingers twitching to outline the images in his mind. He could almost hear the scratching of the dark substance against paper. He couldn’t look away.

It occurred to him that this was a test, some menial attempt to gain new insights into his character. Yet he didn’t care. The urge was too strong and he didn’t hesitate as you arranged a sheet of paper on a clipboard and offered it to him with the nub of charcoal.

What to draw, that was the question. His first work in months, it had to be sublime. Something to celebrate the occasion.

Draw her, idiot.

He bit his lip to remain silent. It wouldn’t do to reveal Vergil to you, not yet. It was too early to introduce you to such thoughts. Still, he had a point.

Nothing inappropriate, mind you. A portrait. No blood or tears.

He sighed internally. How boring. The image of your face twisted in pain and pleasure, like Bernini’s Saint Teresa in Ecstasy was oh so tempting. He’d imagined it many times already, it would be lovely to bring the image to life.

Don’t be a fool.

He drew the first line. The shape of your face was simple, but how to arrange your features? What did your smile look like? Did your eyes crinkle?

His focused gaze shifted to meet yours. You were watching his every move, intent curiosity on every feature. Vergil had been right, you were paying far too much attention for him to indulge. Damn him.

“What’s her name?” you asked.

The truth was too risky, yet you’d have to be blind to not make the connection by the time he was finished. He had to avoid answering, then.

“Would you mind smiling for me? It’s been a long time since I saw happiness.”

You leaned back in your chair and made a note. He clenched his jaw, hating the reminder of the situation. How he craved the chance to connect without the framework of your profession. To do so was essential to your growth.

A warning growl sounded in his head, Shadow reminding him of his goals. Truly, she was the best of them all. He schooled his features into an expression of raw vulnerability, furrowing his brow and angling his head so the light reflected from his eyes. You tapped your pen against your lips and empathy bloomed in your stare.

Victory was sweet.

“I suppose it couldn’t hurt. Let’s keep talking while you work, too.”

He nodded and added another line, glancing between the paper and your face. Though you did smile, it seemed false. Forced. It gave him what he needed to add lips, but to get the eyes right he needed to see you laugh.

“What shall we talk about?”

You hummed and he added the shadow cast by your nose.

“Let’s start with what happened between you leaving school and the murders.”

He smirked. Could you have given him a better opening? Doubtful.

“Oh, is that all?” he replied, injecting his voice with all the sarcasm he could muster. You tried to hide it, but you were amused. He saw the glint of humor in your eyes as you fought to restrain a chuckle. Perfect, just what he needed. He began outlining your eyes.

“Unless you’d rather tell me more about Griffon.”

He hummed and pondered his choices. It was always an option to remain silent, but that would do nothing to further his goals. He chose the safer of the two subjects and tilted his head, comparing the sketch with reality. Sufficient, considering the circumstances.

“I spent a great deal of time wandering, observing humanity in action. Planning my masterpiece.”

You made a note. He added a few lines to your brows, darkening them to his liking.

“So you knew in advance what you were going to do?”

He smirked and ran a thumb over the brows to smudge them. Perfection. “Only vaguely.”

Another note. It was becoming distracting. He held the clipboard higher, blocking his line of sight to focus.

“Tell me more about your masterpiece.”

Careful.

He could speak on it for hours, but he needed to be cautious. How to frame his thoughts so they didn’t seem too outlandish? He wasn’t unaware of how far from the norm his reality was; far from it. But it wasn’t his fault the world was blind.

“It was meant to be a statement on humanity’s focus on innocence and virtue, and how foolish it is. Naivete should not be praised, it should be excised. It is weakness to intentionally keep blinders on and block out the pain of reality.”

You chuckled. He’d never heard the sound before and closed his eyes to memorize it. It would sound all the more lovely if you were by his side, blade in hand.

“You have a point, though your methods seem extreme. Why not try something less drastic first?”

“The gentler the approach, the fewer people it reaches and the duller its impact. I had to be drastic to make my message clear.”

He shaded the strands of your hair. Such a beautiful color, it would be divine in red.

“I think I understand. You had to be bold to be heard.”

His lips twisted into a smirk. You really did show great promise. He should reward you. Another morsel, just a taste of what he had to offer.

“Exactly. Think of all the great artists. They were great for many reasons but chief among them was nerve. Have you studied art history?”

You shook your head and remained silent, waiting for him to elaborate. He allowed himself a moment of self-satisfaction – so far, he had played this perfectly.

“Write this down and do some research. Rubens’ Massacre of the Innocents. Rembrandt’s Blinding of Samson. Caravaggio’s Judith Beheading Holofernes. Titian’s Flaying of Marsyas. Art is full of examples of violence and the macabre. Several artists have even used human remains as subjects.”

He paused, letting you finish taking down his referrals. It was difficult to limit his choices to only the few, but there would be time to show you more. First, you must see his perspective. He added the final touches to the portrait of you and added a dark V to the bottom right corner with a smile.

“Why do you think that is? That some artists paint such darkness while others don’t.”

He scoffed. “Those whose art reflects traditional beauty are skilled, I cannot deny that. But they are limited. Only through pain and suffering do we grow, only through torment do we reach truth. They are distracted by worldly appeals and though their work is pleasing, it offers no deeper meaning. The purpose of art is to guide the viewer to a better understanding of reality. How can that happen if the viewer is subjected only to pleasantness?”

You pursed your lips. Had he gone too far? Perhaps an example would help you see. A contrast. He wiped the dust from his hands, leaving black stains on his plain linens.

“May I have another piece of paper?”

Within moments, his hand was flying across a fresh sheet. Powerful strokes left dark lines behind as he furiously sketched, using his own face so as not to alarm you. He added tear tracks and small drops of fluid oozing from thin lines. The eyes showed fear and rage, a tempest of emotion in black and white. A few careful smudges and the drawing was complete. He held out both to you and waited.

“These are incredible… You have true talent, V.”

Your eyes were wide, lips parted in awe at his meager efforts. He could do so much better. How would you react to a piece created with more intent, more thought behind it? Images of you flooded his mind, worshipful and obedient to his whims. He shifted his weight to ease the ache in his cock at the thought of sketching your lips covering his length, blood leaking from your mouth to drip on his thighs.

Focus. Be patient.

He pulled at the nylon cord anchoring him to the wall, taking all the slack available to rest his hands in his lap and subtly rub himself. It sent him reeling to be able to touch himself at last. He bit his cheek to withhold a moan as his thumb caressed the ridge of his head, the fabric sticking to his slit from his arousal.

Your eyes lifted and he forced his hands to lie still. Such torture, to have relief so near and yet so far. He licked his lips.

“Do you see now? Do you understand?”

You sighed and set the drawings aside. He didn’t miss the way your eyes lingered on the page featuring his own face twisted in agony. Something soft tinted your face and you cleared your throat before turning to face him once more. He shifted his hips again.

“I understand your perspective, though I’m not sure I agree with it. Art serves many purposes to many people. Who am I to judge what its true role is?”

A safe answer. She begins to see but refuses to admit it.

It was enough. For now. He leaned back and relaxed his posture, wondering what you would ask next. With the progress so far, perhaps he could be more cooperative with his answer.

“When did Griffon first speak to you?”

---Reader---

His art was remarkable. The raw emotion in the charcoal astounded you and you struggled to refocus. Watching him work gave you a new appreciation for his looks, too. The focus and intensity of his eyes as he added line after line, the intimacy of the way he asked for a smile, the movements of his lithe fingers… it was beautiful to behold.

It was a testament to your training and professionalism that you didn’t react when he started fondling himself. He wasn’t the first patient to indulge sexual desires in your office, but he was by far the most attractive. You pursed your lips and adjusted your legs, trying to ignore the heat pooling in your belly. It made you feel unclean to have such a strong reaction and yet it refused to diminish.

This man will be the end of me if I’m not careful.

So, you steered the conversation into safer waters, back to something that was less likely to arouse his passions. He clenched his jaw and his fingers twitched as if to rub his length again, and you hastily looked elsewhere as he answered.

“Early May, just under a year ago.”

You made a note. “Does Griffon speak to anyone else?”

He smirked and his eyes gleamed. It sent a tremor of anticipation through you to see the hunger in his gaze.

“Not yet.”

Yet? That’s unusual.

You made a note just as a gentle tap sounded from the door. Kevin was back to take V to his room. The time had passed so quickly you hadn’t noticed. You mentally shook yourself and gave V a smile.

“Looks like we’re out of time for today.”

“May I make a request?”

You paused. From the way he still gripped the charcoal, you had a guess as to what he wanted. It wasn’t unreasonable to allow him to keep the nub and send him off with a few sheets of paper, but it was decidedly against protocol. Regardless, you had to hear him out.

“Of course.”

He held up the charcoal. “May I take this with me, and some paper? It’s dreadfully boring to sit in that room with nothing to do.”

Another gentle tap and the door opened. Kevin walked over with a smile, waiting for the go-ahead to release the artist. You sighed. If only it were up to you.

“I’ll talk to Dr. Malphas about it on your behalf. We’ll see,” you replied, reaching out to take the charcoal away. He didn’t fight you, but the sadness in his eyes almost stopped you in your tracks. There was one thing you could grant him. Hopefully it would bridge the gap.

“Kevin, take him for a lap around the building to stretch his legs. You won’t be difficult, will you V?”

He shook his head and smirked. Kevin shrugged and untied the nylon cord, leading V away. The moment the door closed, you let out a deep sigh, slumping in your chair.

As far as first sessions normally went, this had been a home run. You’d gained more information than you expected, seen a facet of the man you knew was integral to his recovery. Maintained the balance of power and given him a reward. You’d done your job.

So why did you feel so conflicted?

---V---

The walk was a blessed gift and he savored every step. He also made it a point to note the security gates and location of the stairwell, creating a map in his mind for future use. As Kevin led him back toward his room, he requested a pit stop. His room didn’t have a toilet, due to concerns of self-harm.

As Kevin retreated behind the transparent panel, giving him the barest semblance of privacy, he grinned. It was all too easy to conjure images to fuel his need and within a few pumps he was fully hard. He angled his body to hide his activity and let himself imagine it was your slim hand wrapped around him.

He closed his eyes and wondered how tight you were, whether you’d gasp as he sank inside you. The couch in your office was the perfect size, was it bolted to the floor or could he make it move? He bit his lip to keep from groaning, mind full of all the ways he’d decorate your flesh with bruises and bite marks. You’d be ethereal with a few tasteful splashes of blood and his cum leaking from your lips.

His hand quickened along with his panting as he thought about claiming you as his own, leaving this accursed place behind and finding somewhere to hone his craft and teach you all he knew. He would set you free and share his every creation with you. If you desired it, he’d use the bodies of his chosen to show you how he’d fuck you until you bled. His hands would stifle any cries so as not to spoil the mood as he held your sweet gaze and pounded into another. Would you touch yourself? Would you want a turn?

He couldn’t suppress his drawn out whine as he exploded. Hot ropes of white spewed from his tip as he quivered his release, hand coaxing every last drop into open air. His hips rolled forward, smacking against his palm in a poor approximation of his plans for you.

After a moment to catch his breath, he opened his eyes to judge his work. Evidence of his release coated the wall behind the toilet, crossing over the porcelain into the urinal. It was a shame he had to leave it behind, but he’d have other chances. He hummed and licked his fingers clean, another surge of lust pulsing inside him as he imagined your tongue on his flesh. Would you enjoy the salty flavor?

He had faith.

“Almost done?” Kevin called out. He’d forgotten the simpleton was watching.

“Almost.”

He relieved himself quickly, knowing he wouldn’t get another chance for a while. A hasty wash of his hands and he rejoined the orderly with a satisfied smile.

The man escorted him to his room in silence, hooking his wrists and ankles into the bed once more without meeting his eyes. It was easy to figure out why – he must have seen V’s gratuitous self-indulgence. The artist smirked as Kevin turned to leave, but he paused at the door.

“Next time you do that, can you keep the mess contained? I have to go clean it now.”

V bared his teeth in a grin. “Apologies.”

Kevin shuffled his feet. “I don’t care if you need to do it, just… you know.”

Oh for heaven’s sake, have mercy on the fool.

“Hush, Vergil! I’ll be more mindful next time.”

“Thanks,” Kevin replied, and finally left him in peace.

He replayed every frame of his session with you, analyzing your reactions. It was a promising start, but he still needed to tread carefully. He couldn’t afford to show his hand too early or all would be lost. Your curiosity and logic would be points in his favor, but you had a long way to go before you were his equal.

And Kevin… the man might turn out to be an ally. The dolt had limited usefulness, but he wasn’t so arrogant as to ignore possible assets. He had plenty to offer, just not intelligence.

Hours passed and his mind grew restless. It truly was infuriating to be restrained like this, with nothing to occupy his thoughts except his current predicament. He tugged at the leather periodically, but he lacked the strength to break free. When he saw you next he could bring it up, but that was ages away. How to pass the time?

He shifted his weight and smirked. A few delicious ideas came to mind.

~~~Next Chapter~~~