I babble on until my voice is gone

Her response left Ben a little drawn in. She clearly knew things about the supernatural, knew things about the dynamic that so often existed between hunters and those things they sought out. But it was impossible for him to figure out which side of that debate she sat on. Was she a hunter, or at the very least in support of what people like him did? Or was she something that he might hunt? Either way, thus far she hadn’t posed any danger to him, it felt like two strangers simply having a drink together, but his guard would remain up. 

“You can’t paint everyone with the same brush. Too many factors to take into account.” he replied. “The innocent deserve to be saved and protected, and that goes for humans and not. At least, that’s how I see things.” As she mentioned Hell, however, Ben felt his ears prick up. “So who exactly are you? You seem to know a lot about this stuff but you don’t exactly strike me as a hunter.” 

             Lilith takes her glass, raises it to him. A toast, of sorts. To the open-mindedness he shared. An inclination of her head, her eyes not leaving him quite ever, and she takes another sip of her drink. “You must have some story,” she says, “to think as you do. It’s refreshing.” And he’s given her some of it, yes. But she’s curious how that story has changed the course of his life... what stories had come of it. 

He was terrified and he knew that no matter how hard he tried to hide that, it was impossible. Someone else having this power over him was his greatest fear and who knew what she would do with this power? With his power? Swallowing thickly his eyes narrowed briefly as it seemed she wouldn’t actually answer him. He at least felt like he deserved that.

“…and what is it you’re intending to do with me?” he asked her, trying to lift his chin to try to stand tall despite his fears.

          ❝ hmmm... ❞ another drawl of Lilith’s tone, but then there’s another smile. Almost in a friendly sort of way. ❝ So apprehensive, dear. You shouldn’t be. It isn’t like me to be hasty with matters like these -- ❞

             Her heart went from racing to landing in her throat with a force as she whipped around to face the voice of a strange woman. As if her day spent tracking down these bothersome demons and banishing them back to where they belonged wasn’t enough to deal with in a day. No, now she had a witness, one calling her as she saw her: a witch. Yet this woman wasn’t showing any signs of fear or hatred. Instead she seemed content to confuse her.

             Zelda eyed the offered hand, hesitantly accepting it for the briefest of contact. Her eyes narrowed as she listened to the woman, Hester, go on and on about some group she belonged to until it was clear she needed to say something in response. “And what do you know of covens? Or witches and other realms for that matter?”

          There’s the hint of a smirk, and then a smile. “Covens? Well, that they can be a family, of sorts. Or a sister-hood. Or a church...” Hester pauses. “And witches... I don’t actually know a great deal about witches. In the mythic sense, I suppose I know a lot. But... not in actual practice. I study secret societies. And lost people. And witches come up a lot in my research... But... other realms? I know a lot about other realms.”

C O N T from @constcllations​ || Lilith (X)

This woman was unique, different, and gave off a somewhat unnerving vibe as Ben sat opposite her in the bar. He wasn’t entirely sure who she was or what interest she had in his work, but he was curious by her questions. 

“Quite a lot, actually.” he admitted, lifting his glass to his lips before lowering it back to the table. “Being saved and protected by something you thought would want to kill you changes your views a bit. Most people like me just think everything out there is evil, black and white kinda thinking.” 

          ❝ Ah, I see, ❞ Lilith replies, a subtle smile on her face -- not the amused sort she’d give out in some sort of mockery of consideration. She was not in the position to feel she need appease her temporary companion. Even if that companionship was merely built on their physical, shared location. ❝ You were saved then, by a non-human. Interesting... ❞

             “I beg your pardon,” Zelda replied, instantly turning to stare at the woman while still geared up from her argument with said niece. Crossing her arms, she gave her a challenging look. “Is that so? So, in your opinion, this is all just some phase Sabrina will go through and then be done with it? Because I highly doubt it. Edward never outgrew it, his savior complex.”

Open: any (m 40+ only for ships) Connection: another hunter

“Look, I came to the realisation a long time ago that not everything non-human is a monster. And, in the same light, not every monster is non-human…” Ben paused, taking a drag of his cigarette as he looked over to the other. “It’s just that not many hunters seem to share my… shall we say ‘optimistic’ outlook.”

          There’s a sip, a pause, and then a smile,,, ❝ and how have you come to this conclusion, ❞ the woman asks, the words taking the wine taste of her lips. ❝ Have you had experience first hand with these -- monsters ? Either of which you mean... ❞ 

             It was true; Zelda had indeed been working tirelessly as of late, but what other choice did she have? Thanks to Faustus, the coven had been left in shambles. And thanks to their own actions, the being they had worshiped had been dethroned. Yes, religions had been built under worse circumstances, but that certainly gave Zelda no ease of mind or help. “How do I feel?” She raised a brow, curious to see where Lilith was going with the questioning.. and why she was in her home at such a late hour. “Exhausted,” she answered honestly, wondering if that was the answer she expected, leaning back into the couch as she crossed her legs. “Though I’m glad to hear my efforts haven’t gone completely unnoticed.”

          Lilith inclined her head, her smile tight -- but not as false as it had been in her servitude to their dark lord. ( the name is said in mockery in lilith’s head. ) “ it is understandable to be exhausted. worn out. this is arduous work, Zelda. i don’t expect you to lie to me. ” there’s almost a wry smile to Lilith’s lips. “ my life has been spent doing paperwork to uphold a religion based on lies, and forgoing my own history -- my own basis. please know, as well, that i know the tedium that is paperwork. ” 

His heart was pounding, his pulse racing and his palms were sweaty. Frozen to the spot there was absolutely nothing he could do to claim back what was rightfully his. He’d hidden it so well, used so many kinds of magic to do it and yet she had managed to find it. That meant she was powerful on her own, so why did she need him?

It could only end badly for him, he knew.

“…it’s mine. I hid it well enough. The questions I have are how did you find it, and why do you have it?”

          “ yours, ” the woman drawled, already unamused with his insistence, “ of course. power is always yours, his, someone else’s --- because you claim it. ” she rests her feet up on the desk -- his desk, because she could... “ i could answer your questions. i could -- only, i don’t really have a want to. ” pause. “ Oh, alright. since you care. ”

          “ I saw that. What you did -- . No -- no need to worry. I won’t ‘ tattle ’ on you. ” The woman, with her light eyes but dark hair, could have been a witch. The way she held her head was self-assured enough. “ Believe me, I think it’s admirable. But you -- ” ( in hushed tones ) “ --a witch? Fighting off -- what are they? -- monsters from another realm. Or did you know they were? From another realm, I mean -- ”

The woman who was in the doorway of his shop was unfamiliar to him. He’d grown through the years and wasn’t immediately hostile anymore to people. Though he didn’t know her and knew she could be a threat, he had also learned - whether he’d wanted to or not - to be a little gentler a first with people. 

“You may well know me by reputation if not name,” he replied, standing behind the counter to his store. With his hands bracing against the edge he allowed his lips to briefly twitch upwards. “Where are you from? Really.” If he felt like she were from a magical realm then he’d give her his real name and potentially then she’d know exactly who he was.

          “ Reputation? ” There’s a glimmer of --... amusement, in the woman’s blue eyes. “ Well, perhaps that’s it. Yes, probably the most sensible thing. ” Her eyes flit from one item to another in his shop. Quaint, she thinks. The lost things, it appeared. Lost things that had to find their way home. Mary knew something of that. 

mary stared reflectively at the now empty glass in front of her, the words joseph said earlier that night still ringing in her head. the way he deflected all her questions to tell her she was overreacting about things again. when she said she was heading out how he almost seemed concerned for her wellbeing. that was until he asked ‘what would the neighbors think?’ it had always been about reputation and appearances rather than her safety. it irritated her to no end.

so there she was at the bar again. trying to poison whatever it was in her that caused all of the shit she couldn’t escape. mary didn’t have any of the energy she usually did to even entertain the idea of trying to insert herself everywhere for a distraction, she mostly just wanted to fester on her negativity.

despite the desire to be alone, she didn’t necessarily mind when someone came to sit by her and started talking. it was a much different energy than the men who were interested in whatever attention she could give for 15 minutes. she appreciated it. mary couldn’t help but let out a small huff of a laugh at the specification that this transaction had no intentions behind it. she had never minded if other woman had hit on her. still she smiled,  ❝ well, i’ve never been one to turn down when someone offers me a drink. ❞

❝ didn’t realize i was that easy to read however. i thought i was hiding my shitty day perfectly well, ❞ mary joked knowing full well just how miserable she probably looked there alone. 

          For a moment Trina wonders if she’d perhaps overstepped -- she always seemed to be doing that -- but it’s when the woman agrees that Trina smiles. In relief, yes. But also, she was somewhat joyful that this woman would accept. Trina was rarely at a bar, and if she went, she was always there without company.

          She sits up a bit straighter in her chair -- on her barstool, technically -- and offers yet another type of smile. One of -- understanding? “ Well, I don’t mean to be rude about it, you know. ” And then she remembers that people -- other than Marvin -- do speak that way. Swearing, sometimes. It didn’t bother her any, just simply jogged her memory that people did. 

          “ I don’t mean to compete with you. Simply -- I’ve had a poor day as well, so if you’d like to talk about it, I really might be able to sympathise? ” Trina’s voice had gotten a bit smaller towards the end. Or perhaps this stranger would rather not speak to her -- Trina may be naive to think that all women had the same experiences with others. She knew it wasn’t true, and still, she suffered this idea that perhaps she could find companionship, or atleast camaraderie, with at least one other human in her life.