#wh has me in a death grip I'm not going Anywhere

[indecisive-dizzy]

I feel like I'm slowly being dragged back into my (dreamworks) Trolls era,,,

it won't last long knowing me and wh but I feel an intermission coming lol

[puhpandas]

Stuck in the Loop

(2,764 words)

(Gregory convinces Evan to go on the biggest, scariest roller coaster in Hurricane. It goes just about how'd you expect.)

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"No."

"With sprinkles on top?"

"No!" Evan insists.

"Oh, come on!" Gregory deflates, running in front of Evan when he tries to get away from Gregory and getting in his face. "Go on the Red Death with me!"

Evan rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "No, Gregory. It's literally called the Red Death! Theres absolutely nothing you could do to make me get on that death trap!"

Not only does the name do nothing to make Evan want to get on it, but it's the scariest looking coaster in the park. Evan doesnt like coasters, or even rides in general, but when Gregory had heard about the complete lack of rides Evan had gotten on an at amusement park, he hadn't stopped bugging him about it.

But Vanessa is off somewhere with Freddy, probably getting snacks, and Evan is left to Gregory's pestering alone.

"But doesnt the name sound cool?" Gregory asks, grinning. "They say a kid who got on it got his brain turned to mush because it went so fast and that's why they called it the Red Death."

Evan quirks a brow, finally stopping in his tracks so Gregory doesn't have to chase him anymore. "Wh-- what does that even have to do with the name though?"

"Um, because it was red and bloody and the kid died?" Gregory says like its obvious, shrugging at him.

"And that's what's supposed to make me want to get on it?"

Gregory sweatdrops, looking to the side. "Uh, well--"

"No thanks." Evan says, briskly walking past Gregory and gripping his cotton candy. "I dont really want to die on a roller coaster today. Much less to a head injury."

"Oh, come on!" Gregory whines, chasing behind Evan and gripping his bag. He has to yell over the sound of a coaster when Evan's walking caused them to get too close to it. "It'll be fun! I promise!"

"Not for me!" Evan yells. "I hate roller coasters!"

And its true. Last time Evan had gotten on a roller coaster, it had been a few years back, and it was because his parents hadn't cared enough to sit with him while Michael got on one of the big, scary coasters, with loopety loops and straight vertical drops, but he couldnt be left alone. So when he was forced to get on the coaster with Michael, he had thrown up all over his older brother.

That wasnt a fun day for Evan.

"I'm plenty content just looking at the sights and pretty lights." Evan says. "Better than getting a headache all day."

"Okay, look." Gregory starts, holding out his hands, and Evan knows this means hes going to offer a deal that isnt really fair enough to be considered a deal. "How about this."

Evan sighs. "Oh, boy."

"Hear me out!" Gregory insists with placating hands. "You go on the Red Death with me," Gregory begins, pointing at Evan, and then himself. "and I wont bug you about a ride again all day."

To Evan's surprise, Gregory's proposal actually gets his attention. "Really?" He asks with wide eyes.

Gregory grins. "Yep!" he says. "This one coaster, and I wont even mention the Ferris Wheel."

That causes Evan to perk up. The Ferris Wheel is the bane of his existence. Not since he'd gotten on one as a younger kid and been stuck at the top for what felt like hours, scared out of his mind of the heights with his Father of all people. Michael would tease him, but his Father had barely a drop of humor in his body, and everything he'd said about Evan's fear was cold, harsh, and brutal.

Now Evan likes the blinking and flashing neon lights, that are always present on the Ferris Wheel, and always spottable from anywhere in the park. Especially when it gets dark and they shine all pretty like. But he's only been able to enjoy those from the ground, never on a high enough coaster with his eyes open and not squeezed shut with fear of plummeting down a two hundred foot drop, so it's not enough to stave off his hatred for the ride.

"Not once? Wont try to force me on it?" Evan ventures.

Gregory almost looks offended. "I would never force you on a ride. What do you take me for, a monster?" He furrows his brows, then holds out his hand to shake. "No mention of the wheel, or any other rides you dont want, and I'll buy you a funnel cake."

Evan's eyes sparkle, and he grasps Gregory's hand and shakes it at the promise of a funnel cake. "Deal."

Gregory grins almost as bright as the flashing lights at the prize games, and Evan doesnt actually realize what he agreed to until they're standing in line, and he can see just how far the Red Death travels high into the sky.

Evan feels queasy as the line moves forward, and the sight of the straight down vertical drop and loopity loops vanish from sight after entering the boarding area. "Oh, no..."

Gregory just claps him on the shoulder, and smiles. "Exciting, huh?"

Evan shakes his head and trembles as he watches a group in front of them be sent off on the coaster. "If you call feeling like you're gonna throw up exciting."

"Itll be fun." Gregory insists, but then meets Evan's eyes and gets serious, voice hushed over the excited chatter of the guests they share the line with. "Hey, you get on this coaster with me and dont like it, I wont ask you to get on another one, okay?"

Evan furrows his brows. "I thought that was already the deal."

"I mean it, though. Seriously." Gregory pushes, smiling. "I want this to be fun. And if it isnt, then I won't suggest doing something you didnt like again."

Evan just stares, and definitely doesnt tear up a bit when Gregory is nothing but sincere. "I-- Um-- Alright." Evan stutters, wiping at his eyes. "I'll try it, okay? I'm just... not that into feeling scared for fun. I already feel that way on my own enough."

"I get it." Gregory tells him, and holds him in a side hug when it's their turn to step up to the weird cart sculpted like a dragon. "Oh! Looks like we're next!"

Evan feels any sense of peace drain out of his body, replaced with anxiety now that its actually happening. "Oh, um-- Well, I--"

Gregory just steers him to a seat near the middle, and hands their bags to the attendant. "Nope. Too late. It's already happening." Gregory says good naturedly.

"Oh my god." Evan chokes out when hes strapped in, tight, secure, and pressed up against Gregory's shoulder. "Oh my god."

"It hasn't even started yet." Gregory laughs. And as if on queue, the ride pops and lurches, and Evan is only half aware of the embarrassment that colors his cheeks when he shrieks.

"Oh my god!" Evan says more forcefully this time, when the attendant says something Evan wasnt listening to, and the ride starts moving. "Gregory!"

Gregory just cackles when Evan is already pushing himself into the seat of the coaster before it's even gotten going. "Red Death! Red Death! Red Death!"

Gregory's chanting is joined in by others on the coaster, and Evan shakes his head when Gregory looks at him expectantly, a grin on his face.

"Look, you can see Vanessa from here!" Gregory says, looking over the edge of his side and waving.

It's only now that Evan un-fuses himself with the seat, and leans forwards to catch sight of Vanessa and wave, too.

But he'd chosen the exact same time that the coaster begins the drop.

The coaster lurches, and Evan only has enough time to look forward before Gregory is raising his hands in the air, and Evan is left grappling for purchase when the coaster leans forward, and begins to drop.

The nearest solid object turns out to be Gregory's arm, and Evan's stomach does flips when hes thrown downwards, down a completely vertical drop.

"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god!" Evan shrieks, barely heard over the wind whipping around his ears and through his hair. Evan feels his heart jump into his throat, and his gut into his ribcage when their cart sails towards the ground. Evan can barely see what's going on around him, too busy trying to hide his face in the event that it may teleport him off and deliver him straight to solid ground.

Through Evan's own screaming, he can hear Gregory cackling and whopping, and when he finally peels his eyes open, Gregory has one arm in the air, the other being clutched by Evan, and Gregory turns to him.

"Isnt this fuuun!!" Gregory screams through the noise of other guests shrieking, and the coaster rattling along the rails.

"I--" Evan goes to speak, but the coaster lurching again throws him forward, and he shrieks again, grabbing Gregory's arm with his other and wrapping his ankles around Gregory's calf. "I'm gonna die!"

Gregory screams with laughter at that, and he let's Evan cling to him like hes the only thing standing in between Evan and death.

Evan thinks that this is it, his soul has left his body and is heading to heaven when the coaster flips them upside down.

Gregory whoops with joy, but he grips Evan a little tighter. "This is the best part!"

Evan begs to differ, but he can't say so because hes too busy screaming his voice out.

Evan squeezes his eyes shut when he can see the sky beneath him and the ground above him, and he feels nausea crawl up his throat when the coaster lurches, and knocks him and Gregory against the protective railing.

He and Gregory Oomf! when they slam against the solid object, and Gregory makes an upset noise when the coaster slows down.

To Evan's horror, the coaster squeals against the rails, and slows to a stop.

Gregory doesnt say a word. The only sounds are other guests conversing in disappointment and the coaster popping and letting out steam.

Evan gapes as the coaster stills completely, and leaves him and Gregory hanging upside down, on the highest point of the coaster, stranded.

Evan holds his breath, completely frozen in shock, and Gregory gapes as well.

"Um." Is all Gregory can say. "Um. I think. I think we're um."

"Stuck? Stranded? Trapped?" Evan finishes for him.

Gregory scratches behind his head, hair hanging above his head. "Yeah. That."

"What's going on?" Evan can hear some others murmer. "Are they gonna fix it? When are they coming to get us?"

"How long are we gonna be stuck here for?" Evan asks Gregory, trembling when he can feel himself hanging off of the seat and his iron grip on Gregory's arm and the protective railing.

"...I don't know." Gregory says after a moment, sounding dejected.

Evan sighs out shakily, not daring to look above him, lest he see exactly how high up he actually is. "Oh boy."

Gregory turns to him, cheek pressed up against his shoulder. "Evan, I'm-- I'm so sorry--"

"Its okay." Evan cuts him off, and ignores the brewing anger inside of him, because this is exactly why he doesnt like roller coasters, and he'd told Gregory so. He sighs, and tries to be kind for his friend, who doesn't deserve any malice. "Its okay, Gregory."

"No, its not." Gregory insists, swinging forward to try to get in Evan's line of sight better, and Evan tries to ignore the bolt of fear shooting through his stomach when Gregory is displaced for a moment. "Its not okay, Evan. You said you didnt want to get on, and that you hated roller coasters, and I still forced you to get on one."

Evan squeezes his eyes shut, mouth dry. "I said that its okay, Gregory."

"I just wanted you to actually have a chance of having fun at an amusement park." Gregory continues, and when Evan opens his eyes at the emotion lacing his friends voice, he can see Gregory's upset face. "You've only ever been with your dumb family, and they suck too bad to let you be comfortable at a place like this."

Evan shuts his mouth, staring at Gregory with misty eyes when he keeps going.

"Every time you've gotten on a ride, you've always had Michael making you as scared as possible, and your Father ridicules you and makes you feel terrible." Gregory's voice cracks, and to Evans horror, he can see a twist in Gregory's lip, and his friend looks at the ground, er, well, the sky.

"I just wanted to give you a good experience. I just wanted you to have the opportunity to decide what you do and don't like, without your family breathing down your neck about it."

Evan's eyes swim with tears, and Gregory laughs humorlessly, neck twisting around and face scrunched up when the setting sun gets in his eyes. "Look where that got us."

"No." Evan mutters, voice thick. "This isnt your fault, Gregory. It's bad luck, sure, but..." He trails off. "I'm not angry at you. I could never. I've already had more fun with you than I ever did with my family. Please, just..." He wipes a tear away with his sweater. "Dont feel bad. You did nothing wrong."

Gregory smiles softly, but still shifts in discomfort. "...Thanks. But were still hanging upside down on the highest coaster in the park with no clear sign of rescue any time soon."

Evan nods at that, because its true. "Freddy's probably freaking out." Evan points out.

A laugh bursts out of Gregory, and he twists his head, as if he could see Freddys malfunctioning head from all the way up here. "Ness probably is too. I wouldnt be suprised if shes giving the employees a piece of her mind right now."

A laugh rips itself out of Evan, too, real and genuine, and his cheeks hurt from how much hes smiling (probably from how much he screamed, too), despite the situation they're in.

Eventually, of course, Evan gets a headache, and all Gregory can do is try to distract Evan from it while the employees take their sweet time rescuing them.

The sun, at some point, had begun to set, and right as Evan has resulted to resting his eyes all while trying to ignore the pounding in his head from the blood rush, Gregory slaps his arm repeatedly.

"Hey, Evan. Check this out." Gregory says, soft in awareness of Evans headache. Evan peels his eyes open, squinting at the bright light, but looks to where Gregory is pointing.

Evan's eyes open fully when he sees the sight in front of him.

Just over Gregory's shoulder, the sun has set over the park, casting a dark shadow across the attractions, but the sky itself is a beautiful painting of pinks, purples, and yellows, the sun at the center of it all.

The lights of the park glow and flash, the neon lights accentuated in the dark. From where Evan's sitting, he can see kids trailing after their parents as the guests file out of the park, some skipping and jumping, some holding giant prizes, and some asleep on their parents backs.

But the Ferris Wheel is what really grabs his attention. The lights stand out and glow against everything else like it's a beacon, and they flash in patterns and colors that captivate him from the beauty. Evan is able to see it in all its glory from his spot on top of the coaster.

Not to mention the unusual circumstances of being able to see this view upside down.

Evan gapes at the sight of it all, not uttering a word as he just absorbs it. Gregory is quiet as well.

Its peaceful. Just watching the sun set. Watching the lights glow. Watching the result of families heading home after a long day of fun, filled with love.

"You were right about preferring the sights." Gregory mutters after a while, some of the final remnants of the sun peeking through his hair and forming a halo around him. "This is awesome."

For some reason, Evan splutters a laugh at that, and it only intensifies when Gregory grins at him.

Maybe they are stranded on the scariest coaster in the state, thousands of feet off the ground and hanging upside down with no indication of a rescue coming soon, but it isnt so bad when Evan has Gregory.

ao3 link

[aik-membrane]

OOC: Heart-Aik: Aik Membrane's Prequel

Chapter Twenty-Five /tw, blood, gore, death

Ft mentions of @ambassador-d1b

<March 2nd, 2010>

Aik entered the house, already annoyed. "Tilsdale!"

Percy was sitting at the dining room table, barely paying attention. "Hm?"

"Stop calling me every five minutes! I am not your slave to run at your beck and call, stop treating me as such or I will have to put you in your place," Aik growled. His phone had been blowing up ALL day and he was sick of it. He was tired and wanting out of this hell hole too.

"Sure kid." Percy barely looked up from his papers. "We're getting Dib this weekend."

"I'm not falling for your distraction tactic."

"I'm serious, Shank."

"You haven't coordinated anything with me, I don't need your help rescuing my brother, I don't want you anywhere near Dib," Aik continued to growl.

Percy rolled his eyes. "Well Shank, I don't know wh-" His phone went off. "One sec." He went into the other room to answer it. He shut and locked the door tight behind him.

Aik could have snapped off Percy's head right then and there, but instead he just stayed frozen for a moment, then snuck up to the door to listen. Ugh, sound proof. Good thing he had a bug placed in there. He darted up to his room to listen to the live audio feed.

He could only hear Percy's side of the call.

"Hello… Yeah, I'm getting rid of the kid… He thinks he has rights… Sure, you can have the body to see what Membrane did to it… No, the second clone is for me… Well if you up your price. 50 thousand? Hmmm… Yeah, both kids are yours. The older one dead of course, but the younger one can be used for whatever experiments your insane mind can conjure up… Uh huh, yep… Deal, see you tomorrow."

As Percy hung up the call, the last straw for Aik snapped.

The man was not going to survive the night.

With rigid and deliberate movements, Aik walked downstairs. There was practically a cloud of darkness hovering over him, the hair on his neck and arms bristled and his breathing was shaky from tension.

He reached the table as Percy unlocked the door and stepped out.

"Alright Shank, how does dinner so-" Percy stopped and stared at Aik. The kid had no way of telling just how terrifying he looked right now. A blank, almost soulless stare, eyes so dark they were almost black. A subtle finger twitch and the deliberately shaky breathing.

"Shank?" Percy called hesitantly, his hand slowly drifting to his dart gun hidden on his hip.

Aik didn't respond, just glared at Percy. The twitching in hand grew less subtle, it was almost like he was glitching.

"Hey, kid? TwoBit? Hello?" Percy took a few steps back.

Aik's hand just continued to twitch more, now shaking violently.

Percy swallowed. "Aik?"

A dark, wicked grin broke out on Aik's face followed by unnatural chuckling.

"Shit." Percy grabbed the dart gun.

Aik started to hum in between chuckles. "Round and round the cobbler's bench…" As Percy's hand reached the gun, Aik darted to grip Percy's hand with the weapon.

Percy yelped and tried to pull his hand free, but Aik was using his robotic hand so it was impossible.

"The monkey chased the weasel…" Aik continued to hum and chuckle, almost laughing. He tightened his grip on Percy's hand.

Percy punched Aik in the gut with his free hand, Aik barely flinched.

"The monkey thought 'twas all in fun…" His grip continued to tighten.

"Owowow!" Percy yelped, almost dropping the gun and trying to pry off Aik's fingers.

Aik didn't let go. "Pop!" There was a crunch as Percy's wrist was crushed. "Goes the weasel."

Percy gritted his teeth to muffle his scream. No, he wouldn't show this kid pain.

Aik chuckled again and let the broken wrist go. "Penny for a spool of thread…"

Percy snatched the gun with his good hand and aimed a tranquilizer dart at Aik, and fired.

Aik let it hit his metal arm and plucked it free. "Penny for a needle…" He broke off the drug part of the dart, leaving just the sharp needle like tip.

Percy tried to scramble away. Aik kicked his legs out from under him, sending Percy straight to the ground on his back while Aik loomed over him, pressing a knee in his abdomen.

"That's the way the money goes…" Aik hummed, aiming the broken dart at Percy's throat.

"Aik no, please-"

"Pop!" Aik dug the broken dart into Percy's throat, cutting his vocal chords and leaving it in so he wouldn't bleed out as quickly. He might choke a bit, but oh well. "Goes the weasel."

Percy indeed choked, but he could no longer scream. He tried to kick Aik off of him, but Aik had positioned himself out of kicking range.

"The painter needs a ladder and brush…" Aik extended his new knife from his robotic arm. It wasn't that sharp yet, but that was fine. He pressed it into Percy's chest towards a lung. "The artist needs an easel…"

The full knife slowly cut, well more like tore, the flesh. Percy squirmed.

Aik pinned the man's shoulder down. "The dancers need a fiddler's tune…"

Percy continued to try to struggle, but it was futile. He choked more and gasped and the knife punctured his lung.

"Pop! Goes the weasel." Aik chuckled again.

Blood started to leak and splutter from Percy's mouth as he could no longer struggle, he tried to breathe right.

"I've no time to wait or to sigh…" Aik put his robotic arm around Percy's head to force him to look his killer in the eye. "Or to tell the reason why…"

Aik didn't mean to make his arm tighten on Percy's skull. But Percy felt it, his eyes widened in terror, the pain already hitting him.

Aik chuckled. "Kill you quick, I'm off, goodbye…"

The robotic arm continued to tighten, there was crunching. "Pop…"

The skull gave out, the skin split, blood, brains, and spinal fluid spilled all over Aik and the fresh corpse. "... goes the weasel."

A few minutes passed with Aik staring at the remains of the head splattered on him. He was silent.

The kill had been both quick and painful, almost entirely silent as well. No one would have noticed. Not tonight.

The darkness faded from Aik's eyes and aura as he picked himself up. He was a killer now. He had taken a life on purpose. There was no way around that. Last time was an accident, this wasn't. What normal kid would willingly commit murder? He wasn't normal, he was insane, right.

Only one thing left to do now. Get out.

Aik caught his reflection in a mirror on the wall. He saw how dark his eyes could get for a split second. It wasn't normal. He was insane, he was ready to accept it.

Now to start the escape plan. He had to get to Kayla.

[athys-obelia]

of swords and rubies

synopsis: on athanasia de alger obelia's eighteenth birthday, she sits in the ruby palace awaiting her father's present - a sweet little mandate sentencing her to death. the news his personal guard arrives with, though, is quite the different from what she expects.

character/s: athanasia de alger obelia, claude de alger obelia, felix robane

part: one / ?

warning/s: mentions of death / execution, poisoning, tlp!claude is a shit dad, tlp!felix supremacy

|•| ruby palace |•| 10:45 am |•|

"a visitor from the emperor's place, your highness."

lilian york's voice has always carried the same gentleness. for as long as she can remember, athanasia has heard softness, music, safety, in lily - the voice of a mother. the realisation, long overdue, hits her as she inquires after her mysterious guest. i've never addressed lily as such, have i?

the brunette tries for a smile. "it is his majesty's personal guard, princess, sir felix from the robane duchy. i have hannah showing him to the visitors' lounge - perhaps the knight comes bearing good news?"

the blonde princess smiles, nodding hopefully. it's all she can do for lily, she guesses, the woman who cared for her like one of her own. just as lily's smile never dimmed once during the past eighteen years, athanasia supposes she must now return the favour.

but lily never saw her father's eyes that night.

lily hadn't seen his stance harden at the mere sight of her.

the malice, the poison in claude de alger obelia's voice wasn't directed at lily.

so lily couldn't possibly know. for all athanasia knows claude could be in his study, spinning a roulette wheel to decide how to have her executed. he'd want her gone by the earliest, she assumes, probably before jennette can wake and intercede for her - or evidence is found towards the actual culprit.

either way, if the least she could do was comfort lily somewhat with a little, hopeful smile, then the smile would be priority.

|•| ruby palace |•| 11:00 am |•|

  "sir," athanasia greets, recoiling as the knight grins at her. she'd heard stories of the atmosphere in the imperial palace, the deceptive, snake-like nature of noble court - surely, with a father so prominent in both politics and obelia's military, felix robane was one to be vary of.

and - being her father's personal guard would require being similarly ruthless and cunning, would it not? this smiley knight could always be the one poisoning her father against her behind their backs.

  "to what do i owe this pleasure?"

the redhead attempts lightening the mood with another bright grin. "greetings to the star of the obelian empire. may the gods' blessings be with you, princess. today, i have come as a messenger regarding his majesty's wish that you join him for breakfast-"

  "-wh, what? no, i... i'm not going anywhere with you."

felix robane's natural smile falls. "what is it, princess?"

athanasia steps backwards in defense as the knight tries comforting her, a trembling hand raised to cover her mouth. "y-you can tell his majesty i won't...won't be joining him."

  "but, princess-"

not daring to move her eyes from the redhead, athanasia reaches for an hourglass resting on the mantle beside her, holding it up in defense. "go back. go and tell the emperor to send me the death warrant himself. there's no need to build such a roundabout way of-"

felix grimaces. "you may be misunderstanding the situation, prin-"

  "-don't 'princess' me. if he has the guts, have my father tell me his decision himself. you can't force me to leave. i won't, i won't be led out of my home with you pretending as if everything is fine."

the knight holds up his hands in surrender. "you have the higher status of the two of us, your highness, i wouldn't dare pushing you into anything you do not like. i'm afraid you cannot refute the emperor's word, however. but...but if your highness has questions, i can promise to answer with complete honesty."

  "how can i trust you?"

felix taps his chin in thought. "as a knight, my value is measured not by my skill, but the trust put in me by those i am pledged to. my oath is to the obelian emperor. you, princess, are his majesty's heir, so as along as your commands do not undermine the emperor's, you are included in the oath."

athanasia blinks, studying the knight. he seems to be curling into himself so as to not be percieved as a threat. she watches his careful movements, irate. "i read a book once..." she starts, feeling self conscious all of sudden. do i sound like a madwoman?

felix robane nods eagerly. "i was told the princess was an avid reader."

she flushes, glaring at her lap. "...anyway, in the book, the king's sister married a traitor, and because they were technically royalty, he couldn't just kill them under charges of treason. so instead, the king had their food poisoned."

athanasia watches the subtext register on the knight's face. "your highness...no, i- his majesty has no such thing planned. i can assure you - the matter is actually quite the opposite."

  "...is it?"

he stares at his lap before looking up at her determinedly. "i can't say i know how your highness feels about your father, but...he needs you right now." felix sighs softly, "as you know, her highness the princess jennette hasn't yet regained consciousness. this makes you his majesty's most favourable heir."

athanasia stares at the hourglass in her hand before setting it down. interest piqued, she eyes the fidgeting knight. "why would you bring this up, sir robane, and to me of all people? is the emperor perhaps...ill?"

the look in the redhead's eyes is more than enough confirmation. athanasia grips the arm of her seat. "he has been having the strangest migraines ever since...well, a little after your debut, actually. except lately, these headaches seem to be weakening him. quite a lot."

a cold sweat creeping up her neck, athanasia downs a glass of water before turning to the distressed knight. "i assume you want my assistance in hiding this from the nobles. since jennette isn't here."

  "essentially, yes." he nods once more. "with all the commotion surrounding princess jennette, both the nobles and commoners are watching the palace diligently. the factions are too divided - of course, a large portion of the nobles support princess jennette as your father's heir, most of them being blood purists, while an equally large believe you are more competent, having been raised in the palace. regrettably, it isn't just the nobles - we have a delegation arriving at the palace soon enough to settle matters regarding the southern territory. we cannot afford weakening his majesty's image, not right now."

her eyes flicker to the obelian coat of arms on felix's shoulder, and the sigil of house robane embroidered on his cloak. "i don't suppose i have much of choice in the matter - but since urgency of the situation affects my country, i doubt i would've refused anyway. but, sir felix..." she pauses, studying his expression, "my father's palace doesn't garuntee my safety. so i must call on your oath as a knight now."

  "of course, your highness." hesitantly, as if he held a china doll in his hands, felix murmurs, "it can be a chance to get closer to his majesty, too. er - that is, if only your highness wishes it to be."

nodding, athanasia stares at her hands. "...perhaps."

|•| emperor's palace |•| 3:00 pm |•|

with her father's stare scrutinising her every move, she bows deeply in greeting.

his gaze is different, athanasia notices. the malice is gone. the hatred has dissipated.

now, as if she were a complicated math problem, claude de alger obelia stares her down, a spark of challenge alight in his eyes. "don't worry your head too much about it," he starts, "i haven't called you here for any special reason."

"...i see."

he tilts his head curiously, studying her reactions still. "oh? what's this? no declarations of love today? no pleading for attention? you're strangely quiet for someone so full of demands."

she fidgets with her dress, a deep red blooming on her cheeks in embarrassment. "i apologise if my words troubled your majesty."

claude nods slowly, eyes tracing her unkempt hair. "you overestimate yourself, princess."

athanasia inhales sharply. what does he want?

"felix's method of conveying information is a bit... exaggerated, at times," the blonde emperor says, watching her grimace under his stare, "i'm here to clear up any misunderstandings he may have unknowingly planted."

"ye, yes?"

claude's hand lands on his sheathed sword. athanasia blood freezes as he pulls it out, slowly, eyes not moving from hers. "i'm assuming you've been told of the council being held tomorrow. it will be your unofficial entrance into politics, so i hope there won't be any...mistakes. you'll need the nobility's support."

she nearly snorts. you wouldn't hesitate in burying anyone who dared look jennette in the eyes, i'm sure. still, athanasia tries smiling - lily always smiled whenever she was unsure of what to say, after all - and lets go of her skirt, nodding. "there won't be any."

the last time she spoke to her father, she'd known that whether or not he decided on mercy, she wouldn't be talking to him again. thus the courage to empty her heart, lighten her shoulders. now... now, athanasia didn't know what to think. how to act.

she flinches when he speaks, hands tracing the edge of the blade lightly. "do think this sword is important to me, athanasia?"

an odd warmth courses through her at the sound of her name. or was it because of the voice, the owner of the voice? she honestly couldn't tell. "your majesty..." athanasia swallows - what's the right answer? - "i would assume so. i'm no knight, of course...but, a sword is effective for both defense and offense in battle. and i hear your majesty's swordsmanship is unrivaled in obelia, so...yes, i think."

she watches claude draw in a long breath, staring at the weapon. "it's interesting that you think so. but at the end of the day, the sword is just another weapon, isn't it? i can always have better ones at the flick of my wrist."

"your...majesty?"

a drop of blood runs down the emperor's finger as he runs it along the edge of the blade. "it is useful, isn't it? at least...as long as i decide it is. a simple tool's value will always be decided by me, after all."

cold dread settles into athanasia's bones. "i...i see, sire."

nodding approvingly, claude de alger obelia places the beautiful sword in her hands. "happy birthday, princess."

[rpmemesbyarat]

RP meme from the "American Psycho" film (trigger heavy)

"God, I hate this place. It's a chick's restaurant."

"Are you freebasing or what ?"

"They don't have a good bathroom to do coke in."

"You're a fucking ugly bitch. I wanna stab you to death and play around with your blood."

"I believe in taking care of myself, in a balanced diet, in a rigorous exercise routine."

"I always use an aftershave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older."

"And though I can hide my cold gaze, and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours, and may be you can even sense our life styles are probably comparable, I simply am not there."

"Don't wear that outfit again."

"Come on. You're prettier than that."

"You don't like this, I take it."

"Do you know anything about Sri Lanka ?"

"This is crazy ! You're a fool.

"I mean, can you talk to these people or something ? I'm not getting anywhere.

"You're fucking me, and we haven't made plans."

"I'm on a lot of lithium."

"What could you possibly be up to tonight ?"

"Wear something fabulous."

"I just want a child."

"How on Earth did you get a reservation there ?"

"It looks so soft."

"Impressive. Very nice."

"You're sweating."

"Why don't you get a job ?"

"You got a negative attitude. That's what's stopping you."

"You gotta get your act together. I'll help you."

"You reek of shit. Do you know that ?"

"I don't have anything in common with you."

"I have all the characteristics of a human being-- flesh, blood, skin, hair-- but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust."

"Something horrible is happening inside of me, and I don't know why."

"My nightly bloodlust has overflowed into my days."

"I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy."

"I think my mask of sanity is about to slip."

"Mistletoe alert."

"It's a Vietnamese potbellied pig. They make darling pets."

"How you been ? Workaholic, I suppose ? Haven't seen you in a while."

"I like to dissect girls."

"Did you know I'm utterly insane ?"

"I've got a tanning bed at home. You should look into it."

"Do you have a dog ? A little chow or something ?"

"He was completely naked and standing up on the table."

"Where do I send the bastard ?"

"I hope I'm not being cross-examined here."

"It's just strange. One day, someone's walking around, to work, alive, and then-- Nothing. People just disappear."

"That's a very fine chardonnay you're drinking."

"You have a very nice body."

"Not quite blonde, are you ? More dirty blonde."

"Don't you wanna know what I do ?"

"How much did you pay for it ?"

"I don't want you to get drunk, but that's a very fine chardonnay you're not drinking."

"It was too artsy, too intellectual."

"You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument."

"Look at the camera."

"If they have a good personality and they are not great looking, then who fucking cares ?"

"There are no girls with good personalities."

"A good personality consists of a chick with a little hard body who will satisfy all sexual demands without being too slutty about things and who will essentially keep her dumb fucking mouth shut."

"The only girls with good personalities, who are smart or maybe funny or halfway intelligent or talented-- though God knows what the fuck that means-- are ugly chicks."

"Listen, what about dinner ?"

"I've seen you looking at me. I've noticed your hot body. Don't be shy."

"I've gotta return some video tapes."

"I never knew you smoked."

"I'm not sure, but I don't think dyslexia is a virus."

"It's a fucking milligram of sweetener. I wanna get high off this, not sprinkle it on my fucking oatmeal."

"Can you keep it down ? I'm trying to do drugs."

"Sorry, dude. Steroids."

"I'm into, uh, well, murders and executions, mostly."

"So, where do you work out ?"

"You think I'm dumb, don't you ?"

"There's something sweet about you."

"Would you like to accompany me to dinner ? That is, if you're not doing anything."

"Let's not think about what I want. How about anywhere you want ?"

"You look great. Very fit."

"You can always be thinner, look better."

"What do you really wanna do with your life ? Just briefly, summarize. And don't tell me you enjoy working with children, okay ?"

"Well, I'd like to travel and maybe go back to school, but I don't really know. I'm at a point in my life where there seems to be so many possibilities, but I'm-- I don't know-- I'm just so unsure."

"Do you have a boyfriend ? "

"Are you seeing anyone ? I mean, seriously ?"

"It's me. Don't try to hide."

"I know I have a tendency to get involved with unavailable men."

"I think if you stay, something bad will happen. I think I might hurt you. You don't wanna get hurt, do you ?"

"I don't wanna get bruised."

"I'm not so sure about this. I had to go to Emergency after last time."

"This won't be anything like last time. I promise."

"This is nicer than your other apartment."

"If you had a platinum card, she'd give you a blowjob."

"Do you have any coke ? Or Halcyon ?"

"Let's not get lewd. I'm in no mood for a lewd conversation."

"Are you telling me you've never gotten it on with a girl?"

"No. I'm not a lesbian. Why would you think I would be into that ?"

"You're making me feel weird."

"You actually listen to Whitney Houston ?"

"Not the face!"

"My need to engage in homicidal behavior on a massive scale cannot be corrected, but I have no other way to fulfill my needs."

"You're inhuman."

"I'm in touch with humanity."

"I know my behavior can be erratic sometimes."

"What do you want me to do ? What is it that you want ?"

"If you really wanna do something for me, then stop making this scene right now."

"I'm leaving. I've assessed the situation, and I'm going."

"Drop the weapon ! Drop it now !"

"I guess I've killed maybe... 20 people."

"I ate some of their brains, and I tried to cook a little."

"I just had to kill a lot of people !"

"I'm not sure I'm gonna get away with it... this time."

"I mean, I guess I'm a pretty sick guy."

"I think you should go now."

"What did you say, you dumb bitch ?"

"Stop sounding so fucking sad."

"I'm not going anywhere unless we have a reservation."

"Keep your shirt on. Maybe lose the suspenders."

"Just fucking call them. Give me the phone. I'll do it."

"Such a boring, spineless lightweight."

"Now, where do we have reservations at ?"

"What are you so fucking zany about ?"

"I'm just a happy camper!"

"I need a scotch."

"All I have in common with the uncontrollable and the insane, the vicious and the evil, all the mayhem I have caused, and my utter indifference toward it, I have now surpassed."

"My pain is constant and sharp and I do not hope for a better world for anyone. In fact, I want my pain to be inflicted on others. I want no one to escape."

"My punishment continues to elude me and I gain no deeper knowledge of myself."

"This confession has meant... nothing."

[whumping-every-day]

Hey Sarah! Congrats on getting your card! I'm sorry you've been having a few rough days of writing. Writer's block stinks big time. Could I possibly request mercy killing from your card? If you have time and want to. I'm picturing the whimper maybe doing it to "free" a friend of the Whumpee that has also been captured? Thank you so much for all the effort you put into your stories. Please don't pressure yourself about them. We love them whenever you publish then. It should be fun for you!

Baby, buddy, my friend... thank you so much for your kind words. Also, you may regret asking me this. Because I saw this request, and immediately decided on doing the worst thing ever.

Have an Au of my vampire series, where Callum does not find and rescue Ash in time. Instead, Ash remains with the hunters who originally captured him. Callum happens to stop by years later to visit a friend. 

Content Warnings: Major character death!!! (non-canonical, but still) mouth/face/eye/finger gore, blood, broken/shattered bones, aftermath of torture, injuries, dehumanizing language, muzzles, put on display, tortured literally out of his mind, brief vomit, mercy killing. 

Tagging the vampire gang: @pepperonyscience @angelsuperwholock @pennsss @silver-sparrow-462 @silverinkgoldenquill @kestrelsparverius @learningtowhump @shameless-whumper @latenightcupsofcoffee @thebluejayswhump @what-huh-imconfused  @lostbetweenvampiresandmusic @vickytokio @pink-and-purple-flowers @gonna-feel-that-tomorrow @whump-em @umniyah-s

-- 

The creature twitches and shudders as it falls to the packed earth. The crowd of onlookers is thinner, now, as dusk starts to fall. A few of the townspeople linger, though, and the hunters just stand around and watch as they deal a flurry of kicks and insults to the quivering lump of flesh on the ground. 

That’s all it is, anymore. A lump of flesh. The muzzle is a part of its face, and its eye sockets are empty behind bleeding eyelids. 

There’s the rattling of strained, laboured breathing, but there is no other sound. Not even when one of the larger assailants sets his foot on the vampire’s chest and shoves. Something cracks as the creature’s torso caves in. 

“Alright, alright. ‘m afraid you will have to come back tomorrow, boys.” One of the hunters scoops up the chain attached to the creature’s collar. “Don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere.” 

One of the men laughs, wiping his boot off on the grass as if he’s touched something filthy. “Yeah, I should hope so. That thing’s practically our mascot now.” 

It takes some time, but the remaining villagers slowly start to disperse as the hunters drag the still-juddering corpse inside. It’s breathing, technically, but it’s still a corpse. There’s nothing about it that looks human anymore, not its face or its body. Its skin is still smoking, and the stench of burning meat still permeates the courtyard. Night falls, and the courtyard is empty, and the creature lies in a cage made of iron and floats on a sea of nothingness and agony. 

-- 

“Didn’t you say you have a vampire here?” Callum takes a long draw out of his tankard, drumming his fingers on the wood of the bar. He doesn’t know the hunter in front of him that well, but well enough that not stopping by when he’s in town would be rude. Derik is short and rotund, thick and broad. 

“Aww, yeah, man.” Derik is considerably deeper into his bottle than Callum is. “ ‘s hardly a vampire now, though. It’s a money-maker. Who’da ever thought people would pay to stand around ‘n watch us break it? It don’t even respond, anymore. ‘s boring.” The man slurs, glaring pensively into his bottle. 

Callum hides his grimace fairly well, but his next swig of beer tastes bitter on his tongue. He’s done awful things to these creatures, of course, but he tries to keep it quick. A bolt to the chest, or a clean decapitation with a silver blade. But then, he’s never been short on funds, so maybe he shouldn’t talk. “Hey. If it puts food on the table...” 

Derik snorts. “Barely. ‘sides, tha’s not the point. It deserves it.” 

“Ah.” Callum takes another drink. “So you guys caught it, and just... kept it?” 

“Mm-hmm.” Derik’s cheeks are flushed, and he looked about ready to pass out. But his eyes brighten suddenly, and he leans forward, nearly unbalancing on the stool. “You wanna see?” 

“Do I want to-” Callum breaks off. He doesn’t understand why the question fills him with a nameless sort of dread. He doesn’t want to see. He doesn’t want to know. And yet, that terrible dread is translating into sick curiosity. “I’ll take a peek.” 

“Yeeaaahh, that’s my man,” Derik crows. He slings a careless arm around Callum’s shoulders, and his breath stinks like booze. 

Callum is starting to regret coming here at all. 

--

“This is your vampire?” The words fall from his lips as horrified, and for a split second, for just a moment, it feels like it’s happened before. But everything is different, this time; everything is worse. 

They’ve disassembled the creature, piece by piece. Callum mistakes the dark lump for a shadow at first, but then the shadow moves. Callum’s hand falls to his knife automatically - but the figure is keening, quiet and raw. It sounds like a child sobbing, or a wounded, dying animal. It sends shivers down Callum’s spine. 

“Oh, yeah. It don’t do much no more...” Derik stumbles over to it, and he’s not steady on his feet, but he’s aware enough to spit down on it. The flesh of its lower face is burned away. Callum can see its cheekbones, and that it’s missing its teeth. Not just its fangs. All of its teeth. 

Callum gags a little and takes a step back, feeling horror roil in his gut. “What is wrong with you people?” 

Derik is busy fumbling with his pants, like he’s going to take a piss right on the creature’s broken body. He pauses at the words though, brow creasing. “Wha’s wrong with you?” He counters. “ ‘s a vampire. I can do.. wh-ever I want.” 

Callum can’t catch his breath, suddenly. The smell in the little stone room is rancid; filth and piss and rot, and the sour, overlaying stench of terror. The vampire is missing fingers, and the ones that remain are bent and crushed. Callum feels very cold, suddenly, and then very warm. 

His fingers shake as he grips his knife and draws it. He is driven by cold horror as he moves, his mind not even catching up with his body. 

Derik is too drunk to see him coming. Callum knocks him over the head with the hilt, and the man drops like a stone. Callum has to stifle the urge to keep hitting him. 

The vampire does not seem to be conscious of his presence... or of anything at all, really. Callum walks over to it, and the longer he stares, the more he feels the alcohol twisting and turning in his gut. 

It’s only when he sees the creature’s severed tendons, and the way the bottoms of its feet have been mangled, that he turns and vomits all over the floor. 

“Oh my god,” he mutters, wiping the back of his mouth. This goes far beyond overkill. This is - this is something else. This is the deepest expression of human evil he’s ever come across. Callum has never been religious, but this is an abhorrence.

There’s a stake in his hand as he crouches beside the trembling lump of skin and bone. Its head jerks in his direction, and the keening gets a little louder. 

He can’t heal it. Callum has tested the limits of a vampire’s body himself, but he’s never seen torture like this. He’d have to drain three people or over to even think of fixing it, and even then... Callum looks at the way its empty eyelids flutter, the way the exposed, caved bones in its chest rattle and wheeze. No. Healing it would not be a kindness. 

The hunter draws in an unsteady breath and grips the stake. It will be easy from here; a quick plunge, not even a moving target. But he can’t help but reach out, just once, as if something else is guiding his hand. As if allowing this creature’s last moments of contact to be violent is too much.

There’s no patch of the creature’s flesh that is not maimed in some way. Callum settles a hand as gently as he can over its empty eyes, and his jaw clenches at the way it shudders and twitches. 

“Easy,” he murmurs, even as he readies the stake. “You can rest now.” He doesn’t know why he’s trying to talk to it. It can’t understand him. Callum squeezes his eyes shut just for a moment, as if hoping to purge the gory image from his mind. But it’s still there for him when he looks again, and the creature is limp under his hand, finally fallen silent. It’s waiting, he realizes. Callum’s hands shake with fury, but he squeezes the stake harder and grits his teeth. “I give you mercy.” 

It’s a harsh motion, quick and decisive, and the creature turns to dust beneath his fingers. Callum is left gripping the worn wooden steak with angry tears in his eyes. Everything about this is wrong. Everything. 

He’s sick at heart as he stands, and as he goes back to the bar and pays his tab, and as he finds his way out to the stables and saddles his horse. There are monsters in their world, Callum knows this. But he will never again forget that the worst monster is and always has been humanity. 

It’s just one night in the course of his life, but Callum isn’t ever able to forget what he saw. And when he gets home and goes to collapse onto his cot, for some reason, the lab feels emptier than it ever has before.