𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓬.

         SNEAKING OUT LATE at night probably doesn’t count as one of dj’s brightest ideas, but they could never find any food at home  (  or rather, find ones they liked enough to finish once opened  )  and knows that new york city street food is better but a little pricey  —  making it all worth it in the end. this rings true with almost anything for someone with an empty stomach and a heavy heart, now that their family was constantly at odds with one another.  “  yeah, but the chili dogs in times square are really callin’ to me right now, and i could eat about ten of ‘em.  ”  their mouth watered at the sound of that, shouldering their backpack for a better grip.  “  why don’t you join me  ?  i could use the company, my treat. think of it as an apology dog.  ”

          ❝ My favorites are the ones flavored like green apple. Also cherry - though really , I guess I like ALL of them ?? Except blue raspberry. Too tart. ❞ She’s referring to jolly ranchers , of course. Hands are wrapping brightly colored ribbons around flowers made from the candy , offering them to random passerbys. Some folks recognize her and some folks down - but the majority of the reactions are the same : CONFUSED. As she places another rose in plastic and picks up another with her non-latex gloves , she prattles on , ❝ I love fruit. I always think it’s so funny how we associate fruits with additional meanings and stuff too , you know ?? Like it’s always an APPLE that Eve bites in the biblical myth. It’s an APPLE that the Evil Queen uses to poison Snow White. I personally don’t know what’s so bad about apples - can you imagine what it’d be like if all apples were cursed ?? Even apple flavored stuff ?? ❞ A pause. She mulls on it a slight bit before offering a candy rose with green apple petals to the other. ❝ Anyways !! Want one ?? ❞

“ WHICH species ? “    They’re talking in hypotheticals now, but it seems it’s the only way to straighten this out.  The conversation almost seems too silly to even keep track of.   “ Maybe so, but I trust her to be honest. And no light magic user would ever do something like that — I can’t say the same for Simone’s circle. Though her idea of using a spell to trace back one of the cards to its owner is something. “   There’s no way he’d let her do it though, even if she offered it; Cassius knew very little about magic, and he couldn’t trust her to do it and not tell them if it came from one of her family members, or even her.   “ Perhaps we can find a witch we trust enough to perform the spell ? “ 

Cassius took another long gulp of his drink, giving him the courage to continue.   “ I know how it sounds. I had seen her body, after the wolves… “   He took a deep breath, not wanting to go down that route again. He didn’t want to picture the sight that had him on a killing spree for so long.   “ But I swear, Ros. It was her. I lost her in the crowd after everything went down, but… I don’t know. “   Cassius shook his head, placing his glass on the table and leaning back into the couch. His body leaned against hers, sitting close together as they nearly always do, two bodies practically one.   “ Can species EVOLVE so much that it brings people back from the dead ? “

          there’s no denying that they would disagree on some aspects  ,   despite being her  BEST FRIEND  ,    some interests would just never line up identically  .   that was okay  ,   it keeping things far more interesting  .     “  the  not-immortal  ones  .  ”    she doesn’t fully commit to the thought  ,    instead just throwing around ideas of  ALMOSTS   or  MAYBES  .      “  that’s fair  ,   i suppose  .   there’s no going wrong with asking both of them  ;   i take on simone  ,   you constance  .   the two can’t  stand  each other anyways  ,   it’s not like they’d ever  talk  to each other on it  .  ”    will roll her shoulders in consideration  .      “  ...  we could go to the parks  ,   or someone with  no  affiliations  .  ”  

A smile cracked across his face. “Someone has been having fun without me. No fair.” He closed the door behind him and walked over to her. “So who’s the guy? Or girl? I really can’t keep up with people’s preferences anymore. Everyone is basically the same for me.”

        WHATEVER COMPELLED CALVIN to leave the comfort of their own bed to go to a crowded bar late at night was a mystery, but they knew they needed to get drunk and leave before anyone else says anything. they eye her curiously, almost  …  intrigued, but the drink in front of them was distracting and they down it in one gulp, making a face of disgust then sighs.  “  well, it’s just the beginning, so it can’t get any worse.  ”  they mutter.  “  but i think i’m okay  —  i’m not really open to the idea that people in the city could possibly get to know me better.  ”

            “ where’s the fun in that ? ” the redhead cocks her brow, eyeing amelia with a smile plastered on thin lips. “ a little fear never hurt nobody. it helps nudging them in the right direction, makes them easier to control. ”

         hayley can’t help but laugh at her reaction, her shameless self unable to crack a few jokes here and there without giving other people secondhand embarrassment.  “  if you don’t mind whatever came out of my mouth being said, then go ahead.  ”  she shrugs, turning back to her phone.  “  they both weren’t very good, but at least there was money involved one way or another.  ”

“Yes.” she replied. A smile forming on her lips. “It almost makes me want to skip out on lunch for some ice cream or frozen yogurt instead. Just thinking about all the toppings you can add has me tempted.” 

“There is nothing more tragic than wasted potential,” he says candidly, taking a sip of his champagne. When she asks if Greer reminds him of his daughter, he can’t help but smile. Perhaps even the way he talked about her was reminiscent of how a father might speak of their child—he really only has known her for such a short amount of time, but there is something about her that brings out the man he used to be. “She does, yes… my eldest daughter, to be exact. I had three children, the other two boys. I kept watch over them for as long as they lived—long enough to see my sons die in battle, my daughter disappear without a trace, and my wife go mad with grief. There is no other pain on this earth like losing a child. I still think about them, even today.” He eyes fall to the floor, his brain briefly clouded with what little memories he has of them. He vaguely remembers what they looked like—but he mostly remembers the idea of them; their essence. If he ever crosses to the other side, he knows he would recognise their souls instantly. “You’re right, we do need to grow from it. I have changed so much from when I was young—back then, I would have picked a fight with the sky if it somehow displeased me. Now I think I have more of an idea of what is actually important.”

His eyes are drawn back to her, lingering on her neck and then onto her face. William would have written endless sonnets about her, he imagines. “Who would have believed that Lysander, the Spartan admiral, hadn’t actually died and was, in fact, a vampire? Humans don’t have that kind of imagination. I have changed my surname many times, though. On my paperwork for the university I use Lysander Taylor, simply because it was the first thing that popped into my head. And, of course, my fake ID matches that.” Name changes were always a burden to him so he didn’t care too much about what surname he chose. Sometimes he’d look at a nearby book and merely choose whatever the author’s surname was. When she says she and Cleopatra grew to be more than friends, he raises an intrigued eyebrow. He thinks he feels a pang of jealousy, perhaps mixed with amusement. They have both lived such long lives—anything was possible, that much was plain. “At the time it did. I admit I felt guilty when I heard of the news of his death. He was a beautiful young man who thought he was invincible. I suppose when people revere you as a god, it’s hard not to believe such a thing. It’s always been a dream of mine to locate his tomb—perhaps once I am done with New York, or when it is done with me, I will make that my next mission.” He turns his attention back to Rosamie, curiosity still lingering about her implied affair with Cleopatra. “What was Egypt like during Cleopatra’s reign? I wish I had visited.”

          “  at least we have years to make up for any potential wasted time  .  ”   she’s sure that in another thousand years  ,   the things she’s doing  CURRENTLY  will make her cringe  ;   and at least then  ,   she’ll have time to  fix  it  .   especially looking at the amount of  immortals  she has surrounding her these days  .      “  and what’s this girl’s name  ,   the co-worker ?  yes  ...  though i had no children of my own  ,   nor human lover when i was human  -  watching the rest of my people die off  ,   knowing i lead them to their deaths at some times  ...  some things are not  meant  for you to forget  .  ”    and she’ll reach over  ,   takes his hand in hers for just a moment as she gives a gentle squeeze  ,   before letting go  .   she didn’t turn many of her people  ,   surprisingly  ;   by time she returned to them  ...  she had realized that not  all  people were meant to be immortal  .     “  rather  ,   we must  remember  .   so that if there  are  repeats  ,   it’s intentional  .  ”  

        “ A human can’t cause EARTHQUAKES.  Neither can werewolves, or really vampires for that matter. Though it could be a group of people working together, in which case… “   In which case Cassius QUITS. He sighs, takes another long swig of his drink.    “ I still think witches are the number one priority. Maybe we can talk to Constance and see if she’s heard anything in the witch community about this. Though I’d imagine she’d have said something in the meeting if she had. “   Cassius’ witch allegiances has always leaned towards the Godfreys, he just couldn’t help himself. Shifting the glass in his hands, the vampire looked down at it, contemplating his next words.   “ Work aside… I have to get something off my chest, something I haven’t told anyone yet because I fear I’ve lost my marbles. “    A deep breath.   “ I think I saw Analeigh at the gala. Before everything. “ 

       What was that heat rising to Thea’s cheeks ?   If the werewolf could will away a blush she would, but instead she just ducked her head like a stupid schoolgirl, letting out a laugh while simultaneously rolling her eyes.   “ PLEASE, you’ve always been the prettier one, “   she scoffs, her feet matching Amelia’s pace.  The mention of a witch makes her balk.   “ You associate with witches now ? “    her words come out as a tease, though she’s hopeless to know more. At least Thea knows that she’s still a hunter, though she couldn’t imagine Amelia as anything else. Then again, the same could’ve been said for Thea; thirteen year old her had always been DESPERATE to grow up and hopefully take the place as leader of the family  ( even if she had quite the competition with her other cousins for it ).    “ Fun, fun. Are you at Attie still close ? “

       “ I’m assuming coffee isn’t an option ? “   Simone smirks slightly.   “ There are always energy drinks, if you’re alright with putting that garbage into your body.  Or I could probably get you something for THAT as well. “   She studies him for a moment.    “ What’s causing your issues ? “

       “ I’m not talking about hunting… not in the vampire sense, at least. “   Perhaps that’s why Caden found the hunting life so intriguing; it wasn’t too far of a cry from the dating life he’s had since he was fifteen.   “ Best hunter around, OKAY. “    The brunette rolls his eyes at her. He would never give her the satisfaction of saying that much, even if he thought it was true.   “ That’s no fun, not that I’m complaining, “   he commented, grabbing his drinks from the bartender and passing one to her.   “ What’s new otherwise ?    How’s the fam ? “

         THE  INFAMOUS  GHOSTPRINCE  OF  the  youtube  space  knew  no  bounds  when  it  came  to  training  or  producing  the  goofiest  and  showoff-y  type  of  content,  sometimes  pushing  themselves  past  their  limits  on  days  they  could  afford  to  only  get  a  few  hours  of  sleep.  one  would  say  it  was  unhealthy,  others  would  want  to  see  how  far  they  would  go,  but  from  where  they  were  perched  at  their  workspace,  slowly  but  surely  chipping  away  at  rearranged  clips  and  the  various  books  on  hunting  knives  scattered  across  their  desk  that  they  were  seemingly  too  focused  to  even  bother  with  the  time,  only  realizing  after  almost  falling  asleep  and  their  stomach  growling  that  it  was  past  midnight,  gathering  their  stuff  and  turning  the  lights  off  before   locking  the  front  door,  walking  out  of  the  building  not  a  moment  later  about  to  collide  with  somebody,  their  reflexes  stopping  them  before  doing  so,  though  it  made  their  heart  race  faster  with  the  adrenaline  now  pumping  through  their  veins.  “  sorry  —  my  bad.  i  didn’t  see  you  there.  ”

“Same.” Dahlia agreed taking a thought back to her adopted parents that she had turned to stone. Even being a part of the foster system made her become more independent than a child should be. “Yeah, you know, if you want to be knocked out.” She demonstrates moving her both arms in the air to display the choker hold. “I’ve seen it knock out wrestlers.”  She offered,. Too bad she didn’t know how to break someone out of a petrified state yet. 

Adan let out a laugh, “Only if someone can punch the shit out of me too.” Running his hand through his hair he leaned against the wall for a second. “I haven’t been sleeping much either.” Nightmares like usual for him. He was tired of them but he couldn’t do anything to get rid of them.