#���─ 𝐀 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐑 ... 【 ɪᴄ 】

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

Robin's eyes languidly shifted to follow Vlad's peeking into the ballroom, his vision a little clearer than usual ━ watching as opulent colors cascaded through the air and guests twirled and swayed; almost like a painting. Thankfully, the inane laughter and chatter was muffled; it was true that social gatherings had never quite been his cup of tea, and the distant hum left a sense of peace amidst all of the wild revelry. Even in his youth, he would have preferred the quiet confines of Heimderdinger's cluttered office over navigating the raucous clubs scattered along Zaun's Entresol Level. The prospect of mingling with such an animated throng of people made his skin itch ━ yet here he was anyway: waltzing hand in hand with Lord Vladimir Vol Kalah Heigaari ... under the starlit sky and … enjoying it. The Count seemed pleased himself, too.

"She is a strange woman … Surely the hole within her heart is filled with grief? But knowing Noxus perhaps his demise was nothing ... natural."

He chuckled lightly, the sound a delicate veil across the storm of barbs Vladimir had just crooned at him; it was a valiant attempt on Robin's part to maintain his composure in the face of those ruthless insults, as funny as they were. Although by the end of it the corner's of those pretty lips had betrayed him by curling into a wiggly smile desperately trying to keep itself contained. Why? When Vlad spun him around, Robin instinctively adjusted his grip on the Count’s hand, a momentary gasp escaping him as surprise coursed through, as for a fleeting second, uncertainty had taken him, but it dissipated once he found himself anchored against Vladimir’s chest. The warmth he felt, the delicious scent of his Lord's cologne; it was all so reassuring, so soft ... but then why did it bright flame to a new kind of anxiey?

And of course, the hemomancer teased him ━ the question had plucked and dangled the mage above the proverbial abyss, whether intended to or not Robin was unsure. What could he possibly say? How he waited weekly for his letters to arrive? How he'd eagerly spilled over the books gifted to him, how he kept the pressed flowers he would find ... He hated how disarming Vladimir was; his uncanny ability to render Robin speechless time and again. In another circumstance, he would have been grateful for it, he did love banter but … this particular inquiry caused him to stammer, caught between the urge to answer honestly and the fear of revealing too much.

"What made you change your mind so quickly? Did you miss me that much?"

The once-comforting, nearly dreamlike, rhythm of their waltz now felt laden with some invisible weight Robin couldn't place, no no it was a spiraling knot of unease tightening in the pit of his stomach, the uncertain swell of bile igniting into a firestorm of worry. Each step, each click of his heels towered the truth of his predicament to loom ever larger in his mind before it crested and crashed against him ... to pull him deeper in the swirling mire of his emotions. His cheeks were flushed, Vladimir was holding his waist so tenderly, and his unbeating heart somehow still tried to jolt in its excitement. Whatever walls Robin had erected previously had been scaled, and the Count had managed to get an actual look over them ━ it pricked at Robin's veins like a thousand tiny needles; he feared it might be enough for him to be sick right there on the porch. How much had he seen? Green eyes darted up to meet Vlad's crimson gaze, but instead of the expected sweet fluster from Robin, what reflected back at the Count was something wickedly turbulent; a wrathful response that blew his pupils wide.

However, no hateful words barked from his mouth, rather he kept quiet as the past years of loneliness met him head on. A rage filled regret at being unable to successfully initiate any pursuit of him in life, that this happiness was something he'd never been given, and the harsh realization of his own obstinance came hurling forward alongside it ━ he was the source of his own loneliness. To change face instantly, to never have one single personality ━ so then truly to have none. So then ... what was there to really love? Still, survival was a game of life and death which Robin swore to win. Even if it meant that he didn't truly exist ... that he was never loved... What doesn't exist can never die. Nor will it ever change.

The mage's grasp tightened again. He had missed Vlad; he'd missed him more than he wanted to say, more than his heart could handle. But … He was scared.

Robin's thoughts wandered to the others he had met while in Ionia; to the countless wary souls who had lamented in his garden. Who was he to them? Who was he to Vladimir? Hell, who was Robin Altus Baudelaire at all? Hypocrite. Unaccountable. Irresponsible. Unable to form proper connections. You let your family die, remember? He was no one. So then how was he any different now than the corpse he'd left behind in Zaun? What would ever make him desirable to another person? Why couldn't he just accept it?

He trodded backwards in his memory to a time long past where he'd experienced feeling this way once before, in Bilgewater ━ where his dearest Akio had seen the ugliest parts of him ... and accepted him anyway … loved him anyway. And even though Robin was certain he was going to be alone again one day, that Akio would leave him behind ... He, too, accepted those feelings within himself. Perhaps … Maybe he could find that same gentleness within Vladimir. Finally, his teeth grit and he sputtered out his answer in a way which was far more candid and softspoken as opposed to the confident tone he'd have preferred:

"Y-Yes," He swallowed, "I did miss you ... I ... I was very happy when you invited me."

The world seemed to melt away as Vlad continued to sway with the smaller gentleman entwined in his arms. Crimson eyes focused on the pale frame of the man, who looked quite beautiful in the ghostly glow of the full moon which bathed them on the balcony. He never would have thought he would see the mage from the Ionian wilderness step foot in such a refined place- but that was due to the fact he had insisted he hated such events. pleasantly, he was here, in his arms. Entertaining the lords wishes without a care in the world. Had Robin known what high regard that would bring him if he were in the ballroom... No, it wasn't regard. It would have been laced with jealousy. If anything it would put the man on every suitors radar had they seen what Robin was getting away with, with barely any effort on his own part. Vlad was courting him. He was interested - for once.

"Oh?..." there's a soft laughter as he realizes the question, swirling the man to have his back face the moonlight so his shadow would cast upon Vlads. As if hiding the lord from prying eyes and ears with it's darkness cast. "Yes well, there are many who have approached me today that have more than just the wish for me to put a ring on their finger. Many of the women who court me are... hm.. how do I say- ennuyeuse?" He turns them again, giving Vlad the opportunity to look through the doorway of the balcony. His eyes glancing to the darkness of the hallway as if he were half expecting someone there, only to be left with the pleasant surprise of emptiness with silence. Spare for the ball that had been continuing it's festivities with the lords absence. He thanked that mentally- being chased around for small talk was tiring.

"Miss Felicity- oh~" there's a light hearted chuckle, filled with a hint of bitterness that would only grace the others ears briefly. "She is a strange woman, widowed and then she seeks me. I've told her many a time that I am not a miracle worker, perhaps my devilish charm blesses me with such... unfortunate assumptions. I am different than what she seeks, no mere man can replace the desire that she has. I also find it strange that she wishes to elope with me so soon after her husbands demise. Surely the hole within her heart is filled with grief? But knowing Noxus perhaps his demise was nothing of.. natural."

"-Now, it is your turn to entertain my curiosity, my darling. I was certain you were against stepping foot in such a place. What made you change your mind so quickly? Did you miss me that much~?" He's teasing, flirtatiously, perhaps he's more upfront than he should be. Although it was a prime example of the devilish charm that he had mentioned only moments ago to Robin.

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

-> [ robin. ]: just LOOK at how CUTE my son is!!

── 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ── 𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

[ 9:24pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: Why do you have to torment me with this dreaded and ugly thing

[ 9:24pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: I figured that a child between you and Akali would be much more cute than ... whatever *that* is.

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

✧ ━━ 𝐃𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐔𝐍𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄? 𝚁𝙾𝙱𝙸𝙽 𝙰. 𝙱𝙰𝚄𝙳𝙴𝙻𝙰𝙸𝚁𝙴 ; 𝙻𝙴𝙰𝙶𝚄𝙴 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

I accidentally answered this question while writing out another ask as I got the prompts mixed up - But I wrote far too much in regards to Robin's mental state throughout his life in league to really just toss it away? Anyways tagging you @steel-and-fire because you asked for pain and I am always here to deliver. This isn't really edited, so if there's spelling mistakes do ignore them as this wasn't supposed to exist. Also trigger warning !! For everything.

━ Robin's viewpoint of himself has drastically changed over the course of his life, before the destructive events of his teenage years - Yes, he believed he was loveable, he was happy. He loved his family. He loved them enough to sacrifice his own wants because they filled the void left behind ( yet as he pushed for bettering their lives, he lost touch with them, slowly but surely ). After losing them entirely though? No. I think the trauma from the incident destroyed his psyche so badly that he never got the chance to truly and fully recover. He actively blamed himself for the incident that led to the death of his family, and since they were his only support, he drowned himself in the notion that it was impossible for him to really ... be beneficial to society? He was mixing self hatred and survivor's guilt.

Robin crashed like a train. He was going so fast and doing so much that it was impossible to stop even after he lost control of his situation. He ran home excited and eager to tell his parents about his projects and found 4 corpses waiting for him. It was, instantly, almost that things started to plummet and decline worse - his grades began to suffer, he felt more and more like an outsider since he had no true home to go to anymore, and eventually his research was tossed out entirely and denied funding. So everything he had lost didn't even amount to anything anyway ; any dream of being a renowned scientist crashed and burned. He was so happy in school, people were nice to him, and he wasn't lonely, but soon he came to realize that no one really cared about him anymore. No one cared about him once his mind wasn't able to function at its best - he was tossed aside and abandoned. Robin felt that he had no real reason left to live, and only when he, as a traumatized and scared 15 year old child, drank himself half to death did Abel show up and coerce him into a contract by using the voice of his deceased father. Granted Abel gave his grief an outlet, as a demon of companionship and love, and grief being love with nowhere to go? Yeah. He wouldn't have to be alone anymore, and Abel would help him achieve his goals. But what goals does someone with no will to live or better themselves really have? Self destructive ones, ultimately.

 He was so tired of being noble, of being a perfect student, a perfect child, a perfect Piltovan. He wanted to ruin his life and his reputation further - it was already impossible to come back from in his mind anyway. At least if he did it himself there would be some semblance of control. Robin hated himself so much at that time. He indulged in frivolous pleasures to try and fill the void, but it didn't do anything and only made it deeper. Abel did not help him either; ever still, while he was not alone, Abel was no real support system - after all he isn't a human being; he was just a reflection of Robin's own issues. The Demon didn't bother to try and stall any of this awful behavior, either, that wasn't it's job. Soo then he's left to rely on no one except himself. Over and over Robin fell back into the same destructive habits fueled by an obsessive need to prove his worthiness to still be alive over the rest of his family while hating that he was alive at all. In his head he was grappling with the need to prove to others his worth while destroying it because of his own self loathing. This all culminated in a swell and led him to his own death. Whether or not one can say this was just what he wanted is uncertain, it seems so deliberate but at the same time when it actually all came to fruition and he no longer had a way out or to escape; did he realize he did not want to die.

 However not all is gloomy thankfully, and upon his time in this unlife he has learned quite a bit, and made some very close friends. These relationships were the catalyst that, maybe, would allow Robin to not hate himself so much - and this allowed him to explore and eventually accept his feelings with Vladimir ( @hemoplagued ) . Shockingly he's found a vast depth of understanding within the Count, and the two of them have been able to bond over their shared experiences and have given a kindness to the other that they did not receive before. He's seen him fail. And he still chooses to love him, to care for him, to nurture and keep him safe.

There's no doubt that Robin will probably always struggle with his own feelings towards himself, and while I'm not ever sure he'll believe himself to be loveable or that he truly deserves love ... He knows he is loved.

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

-> [ robin. ]: cover for my meeting

-> [ robin. ]: akali looks so hot i have to do her right here right now

── 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄��� 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ── 𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

[ 3:12pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: I'm already *supposed* to be there ???

[ 3:12pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: AND Absolutely not! You're needed at this meeting as we need your signature for various federal tax forms as well as two government issued documents that require your witness and signature.

[ 3:13pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: You can "do" her to your hearts content after your meeting, or you can do it after you serve six years for tax evasion! Your choice! I am NOT getting involved with the IRS; that'll be YOUR mess to clean up.

[ 3:13pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]:

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

“I would like to engage in conversation with Robin. Philosophize about the various topics of life and meaning behind what makes humanity ‘tick’, as they’d say.”

“And perhaps also find out what makes him motivated to go about his life as he does. His demeanour ever seemed different from others. Quite intriguing, if I’d day so myself. Perhaps I’d find an engaging and daring conversational partner in him. Or more.”

✧ ━━ 𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐘𝐌𝐎𝐔𝐒𝐋𝐘 𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋 𝐌𝐘 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐎 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌 𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

Robin leaned back in his chair as he listened to the voicemail. Fingers drummed lightly on the polished desk and the glow of the afternoon sun filtering through the blinds casted sharp shadows across the room and the contours of his lovely face. The city had grown quiet by now, everyone was tucked inside to avoid the winter chill starting to seep in from the North. His eyes shifted from his lack-of-people watching instead to study the receiver and the voice that rang through. It was persistent, almost tenacious in its quest to reach him, and he couldn’t help but admire that kind of dedication. How they'd managed to find his office's number he had no idea, but he did know that however they did manage to do it, it was most likely far from legal. All the more reason to listen; a low hum escaped his lips, his fingers busying themselves by absentmindedly twirling through a lock of his pale hair.

The voicemail continued on, feeding his ego and igniting a small, satisfied grin across his lips ━ that was nothing new, but the way they spoke brought a flutter in Robin's chest. He reveled in the possibilities that could bloom from such an interaction; intelligent conversation was his lifeblood, and those who could match his wit were a rare find. Perhaps he was addicted to the thrill, anything to break the monotony of his otherwise controlled existence.

"Hmph! Alright, I'm intrigued ... "

As he reached to intercept the voicemail, the last phrase caught him off guard — a dizzying flush of crimson instantly ignited across his pale cheeks. In that moment, the world around him blurred, leaving only the sound of his own heartbeat echoing in his ears. He sat there, staring at the phone. The voicemail box clicked closed, and the red glow of the notification light flicked on. His thoughts spiraled.

What sort of brazen asshole... ?!

His chin lifted defiantly, and he turned away momentarily, tapping his fingernail against his knee; but the intrigue was undeniable. Despite his best efforts to ignore it, his gaze flicked back to the phone, and after a moment ━ coupled with a dramatic roll of his eyes and a rather loud scoff ━ Robin finally gave in. The assistant pushed himself forward and pressed the callback button. He took a moment, pushing down the flush on his cheeks and lifted the phone to his ear. When the line connected, he steadied his voice,

“Meet me at the cafe by Southside Park at 4pm,” he said, a playful edge creeping into his tone. “You've caught me for now, but I do tend to get bored rather easily… Let's see if you can keep my attention, mystery caller.”

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

-> [ abel ]: and WHEN were you going to inform me about your child?

-> [ abel ]: i'm an aunt?? since fucking when

── 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ── 𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

[ 7:26pm Abel -> Eve ]: What ever on earth are you talking about, Eve? I've never once sired, nor have the desire to do so. The closest thing I have in terms of a child is your darling boy, and he's practically our child.

[ 7:26pm Abel -> Eve ]: ... You do realize by saying this, you're implying some sort of familial relation to me, yes?

[ 7:27pm Abel -> Eve ]: My. We've much to discuss at this week's dinner.

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

-> [ robin. ]: this too extra to be framed in the office?

-> [ robin. ]: [ attached file ]

── 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ── 𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

Robin stared at his phone for a long few moments after opening the image, somehow this felt both perfectly normal but also so bizarre for her. Had she been smoking with Ahri again? Or worse - Abel? Ugh. He rolled his eyes and pinched his brows:

[ 10:44pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: I would suggest to not place this in the office, its garish and the colors are horrid. Might I suggest using your endless sums of wealth to have a portrait of Miss Akali painted?

[ 10:45pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: Nude portraiture has well often been the means in which nobles and elites showed their desire for their beloved.

[ 10:45pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: Plus it would look much better than this crap.

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

-> [ robin. ]: darling ...

-> [ robin. ]: my macchiato. where is it?

── 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ── 𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

[ 8:12am Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: Hm. And here I thought you told the boy to take the day off, Eve. Given he is as snug as they come and still asleep, I fear you'll have to procure your macchiato alone.

[ 8:12am Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: Truly one of the greatest tragedies of our time.

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

Feather-light kisses on their knuckles + Kisses on the back of their hand

✧ ━━ 𝟏𝟎𝟐 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐘𝐏𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝙻𝙴𝙰𝙶𝚄𝙴 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

The day had finally come for Vladimir to pay his promised dowry; he had vowed Robin the world, and this small step was just the start. It had been a swift and ruthless maneuver, a calculated dismantling of alliances that left the remnants of House Swain shattered and vulnerable. Drawing Raum's ever watchful eyes away left an opening to slip through and after that it was easy enough to paint the walls red with those lingering behind. The Trifarix Council of the Immortal Bastian now stood before him, its grand table looming empty and bare within the ghostly hall. Robin slowly approached one of the towering windows and ran his fingertips across the cold stone, all of it felt hazy ━ ; the pleasure almost too much to bear, the euphoria of it all was too good to be true. But … it was.

His verdent eyes peered outside, finally noticing the grisly spectacle that lay sprawled. before him; the former members of House Swain dangled lifelessly from the fortification’s walls: a warning of what was to come if any of House Swain's allies came to fulfill their oath. A soft smile graced his lips. Now the only thing left to do was to introduce Jericho to his red radiant destiny, and send his severed head in a box to Ionia.

But for now, he was content with merely gazing upon his resplendent future. The scorching sun dipped low on the horizon line, casting a warm golden hue over the Immortal Bastian to illuminate the towering spires and bustling streets below. Oh how far he had come. He had been but a mere Zaunite rat, scuttling through the shadows and chewing on filth in a desperate bid for survival, Robin now stood at the precipice of a life he had only dared to dream of. He had been cloaked in the suffocating embrace of fear and worry, but no more. He had nothing to fear alongside his beloved fiancé. After all, every leader needed a right hand and advisor … who better suited than Robin? The weight of destiny settled comfortably on his shoulders as he envisioned it all — a long life, a better life, finally within his reach.

He need only choke it from the swine whinging in the dungeons.

Beneath him, the city thrummed; merchants hawking their wares, laughter spilling from nearby taverns, and the distant clang of metal as the city’s guards went about their duties. Whether its inhabitants were blissfully unaware of the shifting tides of power, or just didn't care Robin couldn't quite tell. The Noxians were far too fickle a people, their allegiances driven solely by the allure of strength over loyalty, had never held true allegiance to the Grand General. It was a pity, certaintly. Swain, with all his cunning, would become just another name in a long list of fallen leaders whose corpses would soon be tossed aside as the week drew to a close. His kin would be soon to follow should they bother to show their faces.

Swift he was to turn his attention behind him at the sound of a familiar click! a noise that sent a thrill of anticipation running through him alongside his quickening heart. As he shifted, his breath caught in his throat and a smile broke over his features. There, framed by the tall, arched doorway of the council room, stood his beloved, Vladimir Vol Kalah Heigaari. He was always such a striking figure to Robin, and now he strode in with an air of regal confidence that only made the magnus' eyes twinkle. Conquest and Death looked good on his love, evident by who ━ or now what ━ was flanking him; the moaning, groaning, unsettling remnants of the Trifarian Legion. Their magnificent forms now transformed into grotesque shadows of their former selves. Their sockets glowed sickly red, shimmering with a malevolent light that betrayed the bravery they once embodied. At one time noble warriors, now reduced to mere drooling thralls, shuffling in mindless subservience at the prince's side.

Yet amidst the horror, Robin's gaze was drawn irresistibly back to his Count, who, upon stepping into the vibrant light that streamed through the high windows, transformed into a vision of glory. Golden rays of sunlight transforming his pale hair into an ethereal inferno, fiery strands cascading like liquid gold around his adoring features. Pale brows softened as he fully shifted to greet his fiancé, but words caught in his throat once the Camavoran prince knelt before him as though he were some sort of God. He could scarcely breathe as Vladimir's delicate fingers brushed against his palm! With tender reverence, his beloved lifted his left hand in his claws, their fingers entwining, and in that touch, Robin felt the world around them fade away.

Every nervous flutter in his chest felt magnified, a hitch in his breath, as he felt the warm brush of Vlad's lips teasingly glide across his cool knuckles. With a gentle lift of his chin, Robin allowed a pleased hum to break free, and his heart began to race like a wild drum banging in his chest. Finally Vlad’s lips pressed firmly against the back of his hand, and the younger's poor heart went soaring. The mage could feel the heat rising to his cheeks, a rosy flush that betrayed his calm demeanor with abandon, and his heart raced, nearly escaping as he noticed the corners of Vladimir’s eyes crinkle with delight, a knowing smile dancing on his lips. Robin pressed his own plush lips together, biting back a rush of shy exhilaration that threatened to spill over while watching his fiancé ascent to stand before him, hand in hand.

"Little Love," Robin felt his heart racing fast and he no longer tried to hold his smile back as Vladimir swept him off his feet and lifted him effortlessly into his arms with a gentle ━ yet firm ━ grip around his waist. Vampiric crimson drank in every detail of his face, and he saw his own yearning reflected back to him; how could he ever want to resist the allure of his fiancé? His songbird had learned to yield to the sinful call that pulled their bodies and hearts together ━ that bid him to let go and enjoy sheer mindless bliss. Waves of affection surged through him, blossoming like spring flowers at the way Vladimir eagerly peppered his throat with soft, fervent kisses along the the flush of his collar. He shuddered and gasped when sharp teeth sink down to bloom another mark, and then another, another, and another, until the pale column of Robin's throat, even the area surrounding his scar, had been inscribed with the tender offerings of his devoted lover. As the last kiss lingered on his skin, the Darkin drew away ever so slightly to purr against the shell of the mage's ear, "Mm, Robin-" A silky tenor, pulling over his name as a promise, a sonorous wish,

"This wretched place does not deserve to be blessed by your gaze."

Mesmerizing green eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief as they stared up to Vlad half liddedly with a languid softness, a serene contentedness evident in every flutter of his wintry lashes. The soft contours of Robin's pale fingers glided along the fine edges of the prince’s ornate suitcoat, finally capturing the delicate fabric of his cravat in a playful hook. With a mischievous tug, he drew his taller fiancé closer until Vlad’s straight, perfect nose brushed against his. Eager fingers threaded through his love's pale hair, resting possessively at the nape of his neck as he drew the Count closer still. Kisses, soft and chaste, floated across the skin surrounding Vlad's mouth, each one a teasing promise, always just shy of the simmering depth the prince craved. "Then, my darling," Robin's sweet voice emerged as a sultry croon, smooth and enchanting like a siren's song, beckoning softly as he hovered near the delicate curve of Vlad's cupid's bow.

"Reshape it for me until its worthy of us."

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

“My, you’ve quite the set of manners, don’t you?” 

With sweet venomous honey, the demon's low voice rolled like silk as he sauntered around Ezreal with a casual, practiced swagger that matched the mocking undertone of his words well. A low hum vibrated in the air as he closed in, punctuated by the soft crunch of gravel beneath his polished shoes ━ soon to be replaced by the click of his heel against the cobblestone sidewalk outside of the cafe.

When they did finally stand face to face, Abel's wide - brimmed hat cast a shadow that obscured his features, leaving only the tantalizing hint of cheekbones and a sly smirk for the popstar to see ( it was odd how the shade and sun always matched to hide his features away). He was dressed to perfection, as he always was — not a hair nor stitch out of place; an artist’s masterpiece, more so a thing crafted for admiration than any actual flawed human being. Abel's hands were tucked into the pockets of his sharply tailored coat, put together in such a way that it would only compliment, yet one could see the telltale glimmer of a cigar pinched delicately between his sharp fangs ... slowly burning away with the lack of airflow from its user. And those eyes, sharp, crimson, and focused like freshly cut gems, seemed to lock onto Ezreal with an intensity that felt almost predatory.

"You've a judgmental eye; as though I've done something wrong." ✧ ── @essencefluxed​

@witchcraftandburialdirt: “Evening, Mr. Lightfeather."

There was a groan that leaves the smaller; he didn't even need to look behind him; that voice much too familiar. belonging to the man who freaked him out maybe a little too much. A huff leaves his nostrils, eyes closing momentarily before opening slowly.

"What do you want NOW, Abel??"

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

She’s already dragging him out of the office before she speaks with much more eagerneas than one would expect from Evelynn. “Come on darling, our local shop got their pumpkin spice in!”

── 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ── 𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

So it had finally come, or was on the cusp; Pumpkin Spice Season — lesser known as Autumn. Robin was dragged out of his dimly lit office with little resistance his exhaustion too strong to fight. His tired eyes, bloodshot and weary, scanned the bustling office lobby as the flickering fluorescent lights casted a pale glow on his fatigued face. Honestly, if Miss Evelynn wanted to whisk him away to any corner of the world, he'd willingly follow. Whether it was a quaint café nestled in the heart of a bustling city or some long ago trodden trail in the woods, the thought of escaping his mundane routine with her filled him with a little flicker of excitement. After all, he trusted Evelynn implicitly; regardless of whatever insanity she dragged him into, he knew he would be safe. And really, that was all that mattered to him—

"Well, mornin' Pigeon, Eve." The familiar figure of Abel strolled into view with an acknowledging tilt of his hat, before it was lowered politely to his chest, "Where are you two headed in such a hurry?"

Robin couldn’t help but smirk to himself, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. Finally, someone else would bear witness to the absurdity of Eve’s seasonal obsession. "Tis the time of year for Miss Evelynn's favorite coffee flavor — " he began, his voice laced with mock seriousness, but his words trailed off as he caught sight of the demon's reaction. What unfolded before him was ... unexpected ... to say the least; Abel’s crimson eyes quickly widened with a gleam that transformed them into warm pools of tea brown, both of them shimmering with a mix of surprise and delight. His features softened down into that of any other mortal man. Well, besides that he was stupidly gorgeous just like Miss Evelynn. Wait, why did he look so … ? Excited?

This was not the aloof man Robin was used to.

"Oh. I would be delighted to join the two of you, I adore the flavor as well." He turned to Evelynn, a small, genuine smile gracing his lips, his hand still lightly holding his hat to his chest. "There are many holidays this season, so it's one of my favorites, I'll be decorating soon if you two would want to visit." With a gentle gesture, he opened the door, ushering Evelynn and Robin into the crisp, vibrant air outside, all the while casting aside the bewildered gaze of his assistant, who stood frozen in a mixture of horror and confusion before he was also forced out of the building. "You look troubled, is something the matter?"

"I just … didn't think you'd like … that sort of thing."

"Not all of us have burnt tastebuds, Pigeon. Eve, do you prefer hot or cold coffee?"

THE OFFENDED GASP!!!!

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

-> [ robin. ]: its a code red

-> [ robin. ]: extreme emergency

-> [ robin. ]: i lost my designer brand hex coded #E0B0FF lipstick

── 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ── 𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

[ 11:26pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: Ha! HA! HA! HA!!!!!!!!!!!

[ 11:26pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: Do you take me for some sort of charlatan?! I told you I would be the best assistant I could be for you and I intend to live up to that title!

[ 11:27pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]: I've five additional copies of the lipstick within the Vault! I'll pick it up to you in the morning when I go to the bank and pick up your latte.

[ 11:27pm Robin -> Miss Evelynn ]:

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

The song had already progressed to the first, and Evelynn was already strutting onto their dining table, heels and all with a microphone in hand. Later, she would surely hold several regrets to the amounts of alcohol that have been consumed.

Until then, she sways her hips to the beat of the song with a devilish look in her eyes. Once the chorus drops, so does she: squatting down and spreading her legs ( and thankfully for Robin, in front of Akali ) as she belts the chorus.

"Don't cha wish your girlfriend was hot like me?"

── 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ── 𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

The air was thick with a sweet haze of nicotine, curling lazily around the dimly lit room, intertwining with the sharp, bitter tang of the negroni in Robin's glass; both swirling his head while the assistant lounged on the stretch couch next to Akali. His legs were casually draped over Abel, who seemed both amused and slightly trapped under his playful weight. The club was lively, even from their private area. "This is absolutely ... " His voice trailed off as Robin squinted where Evelynn was once sat, momentarily convincing himself that somehow she'd turned invisible ━ but then again, he mused, it wouldn't be the weirdest thing she'd done in front of him. There was that one particularly bizarre incident that he promised himself he would never speak of — oh well, no need to revisit that peculiar memory. Ugh, his head was swimming. Robin tried to shake his fluffy head to clear away the fog and he was quick to regret it as the room shifted dangerously, tilting him to the left before he tumbled to the right and a gentle tug against Abel's side steadied him.

"Abel ... ?"

He watched with half-lidded, intoxicated eyes, the world around him swaying, as Abel's eyes scanned over the club. Ever the charmer, the demon lifted his hand and beckoned a passing waitress with a nonchalant flick of his fingers. Oh. Abel glanced down at Robin from the shadow of his hat, and the assistant watched as those crimson eyes rolled and he muttered something about water and a gin and tonic. His own eyes rolled in their sockets hard when he heard the waitress giggle at whatever bullshit Abel was feeding her. Now Robin really couldn't help how his gaze drifted lazily around the room, his attention momentarily snagged when Abel brushed his bangs away from his forehead and tapped under his chin. The touch was a glint of clarity amid the fog of his inebriation. Thats when the moment sharpened, and suddenly, he could see … Evelynn …?

He was so focused on her that he didn't even realize how his hand instinctively rose to take his water, holding it tightly while he sat there frozen. His ears heard Abel's huff drink your water before you pass out but all he could do was watch in horror as she strutted down the length of their table. Each step echoed in perfect time with the low booming bass that shifted rhythms and reverberated through the venue like a pulse; and Robin felt sick with how it riddled his skull. He quickly took Abel's advice and a few gulps of his water. Then he heard it. An unmistakable classic. Something that instantly transported him back a decade;

The Pussycat Dolls.

The jolt of recognition that shot through him pulled him upright while confusion knitted his brows together and he felt all the more sick. What was she doing? What was she doing? The drinks he had been holding suddenly found their place on the table with an abrupt clink as he peered to Abel for some sort of help; but then a low, familiar hum filled the air, beckoning his attention. His eyes darted toward the stage.

"Oh you have got to be fucking kidding me."

A plank of wood would have been more flexible than Robin in that moment, his body rigid with disbelief about what was about to happen before his eyes. Time seemed to stretch, it felt like he was watching fucking a car crash; and he couldn't avert his stare. Down she went, out came her voice, and her thighs opened to her fiance; no doubt to reveal the lingerie he'd entered Hell to help get. He must have good taste, he noted, considering how excited Akali looked. Robin's instincts screamed for him to intervene and tried to pull himself upright to stop this nightmare ut as soon as he stood a force yanked his ass back down onto the couch before he inevitably ate shit.

He shot a venomous glare at Abel, but there was no sympathy in the returned expression; instead, the demon's lips curled into a wicked grin, momentarily locking eyes with Robin before offering him a lit cigar. The gesture felt absurdly casual given the circumstances. Still with a hesitant sigh, Robin accepted the cigar, leaning back against Abel's arm that rested nonchalantly atop the cushions of the couch.

He forced himself to breathe, to relax, reminding himself that they were in a private area of the club, far removed from any cameras or chirping paparazzi. And yet, as the sultry performance blazed before him, Robin couldn’t shake the flush creeping up his cheeks; trying very hard to focus on the delicate hints of earthy caramel on his tongue versus the alluring fragrance of Abel's cologne.

"Relax, pigeon. You could learn a thing or two about seduction by watching."

"You're disgusting."

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

-> [ abel ]: give me 10 to be there

-> [ abel ]: i have to clean up after christmas festivities with akali : )

── 𝐔𝐍𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 ── 𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

[ 5:45pm Abel -> Eve ]: I see, no worries - the food is still being heated up for the human and Miss Akali. I've also procured an espresso machine along with catering from our local baker, Aetreus.

[ 5:55pm Abel -> Eve ]: Thank you.

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

🕯️first impression perhaps?

✧ ━━ 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐃🕯️𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐘 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄'𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 𝙻𝙴𝙰𝙶𝚄𝙴 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

Oh my, another healing mage with a bleeding heart. How in Janna's name did she manage to get caught about in these woods? She isn't Ionian ━ then again, neither am I nor seemingly half of the people that end up meeting me here. Hm, to help her or to watch her get eaten by the beasts and demons of the woods ... tough choice. On the one hand, another healer ( and a naive one at that ) would be nice to have around, but on the other hand most healers are extremely annoying. The last thing I need is another whimpering mess. ... I'll check on her.

At the moment she's spared from judgement ━ mostly because Robin hasn't done any digging on her yet. That being said he does have a peeve towards mages that primarily focus on healing because it doesn't actually help the body. Like without magic they are just ... generally useless and it infuriates him that they focus on their books and spells and don't actually get their hands bloody in caring for people or figuring out how the body works. He'll have to do more digging on her in order to really figure out how he feels, but don't worry; he'll know soon enough.

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

What if they kissed? ( u know what I want )

✧ ━━ 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐊𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐃? 𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚂𝙴

"Mmm, I'll call you after my meeting."

Abel stepped back with an idly waving tail, watching with his blacked out face as the elevator doors closed on Ez giving him a cute heart with his hands. Cute. The wind began to howl and Abel's keen ears perked up, catching the distant rumble of thunder and the patter of raindrops starting to drum against the pavement. His gaze drifted momentarily to the swirling clouds beyond the office window, but then something else stood out in his periphery; flash of green in the corner of his vision.

There lay Ezreal's umbrella.

He let out a soft sigh and reluctantly plucked it up and opened the fire escape stairwell door. The demon began to descend the steps, knowing he could reach the bottom before the elevator, hopefully Ezreal didn't get off another floor or get distracted somehow. Not that it was really hard to get the pop prince off course. That was when Abel froze, slowly stilling as a realization washed over him; no one was here. Had he grown so accustomed to human behavrior? He imagined Evelynn would be laughing at him right about now. The demon rolled its eyes and lifted his claws, scraping open a rift to step through until he manifested behind the pop prince.

A deep kiss was placed against the delicate curve of Ezreal's neck, and Abel closed his eyes for just a second, savoring the sweetness of the popstar's cologne. With a swift, graceful motion, Abel pulled back just enough to retrieve the forgotten umbrella. He presented it to Ezreal and silkily cooed, "You forgot this."

And then, he was gone.