Citrus and Cinnamon

“I know. I’m pretty hot, aren’t I?” She chuckled softly. Vivian would never deny that she was a beautiful woman. Whether she was beautiful on the inside, she left that for others to decide.Her deep chocolate eyes looking at Adrian. “You do realize that you don’t look bad in yours either. It’s like the nerdy kind of cute.” Her tone continuing to hold its light playfulness that might have you believe that Vivian was both a night and a morning person. She simply wanted to keep up a cheerfulness in the air after everything. 

She was rather shocked as she felt his fingers loosely wrap around her own. Vivian looked back at him. His question, it caused the smirk that usually played at her lips to dim. She could talk to him, but she couldn’t tell him. Her own venture to become stronger as a witch and therefore have a stronger grip on her powers, so that they would have to be pryed from her cold, lifeless hands if it ever came to it. Her element. Her abilies. They were very much her. So, what happened had deeply affected her more than she would let anyone know. Vivian planned to go to the library later and find grimores that might have answers for her. The ritual to push back the Eidolons was one thing… But what she was seeking was to amplify her own power within herself. That would only cause Adrian to worry… Or maybe it was she didn’t want to fully admit it to him because it was a way that she sympathized with her father. “I’m fine, why wouldn’t I be? The ritual was successful, my powers are under my control again. All is well.” She lightly squeezed his hand. “What about you?”

Adrian's pout easily morphed into a sheepish grin as the witch complimented him, allowing her excessive blanket of happiness to drape over his shoulders while sleep slowly seeped from his bones. “How ever did you know? ‘Nerdy kind of cute’ was exactly the look I was going for this morning.” With an adoring roll of his eyes, Adrian grabbed a lighter before they headed out the front door, lighting up the cigarette between his lips the moment fresh air cooled his heated skin. 

With a shrug, Adrian let his fingers intertwine with the other’s, trying to provide more comfort for Vivian than concern but seemingly failing. “Of course it was a success. You’re absolutely brilliant.” With a soft smile, “But you’re also a terribly skilled liar. So, I... suppose I simply wanted to ensure you were being honest with me. Because you’re my best friend and I care about you.” Adrian turned to exhale a bit of smoke away from Vivian, cheeks warming at the thought of how sappy he was being but that’s exactly what she got for waking him up so early— the fox was always less restrained with his speech before the sun came up. 

“I’m all right. Truthfully, since the fog, I can’t stop imagining what... terrible things are to come.” Adrian slipped his hand free of Vivian’s to run it through his hair, smoothing down his bedhead in the back before reaching out for her once again, hardly recognizing how sappy and touchy he was in the morning. “But I’d much rather focus on the wonderful things to come. Like right now, for instance. Where exactly are you taking us?” 

He could practically see the nerves moving across Adrian’s features. The different emotions that the shapeshifter felt weren’t hidden, and Lucas almost felt bad for putting them there in the first place. “I can come up,” he said finally, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one was paying too much attention to the pair of them. 

The phoenix followed Adrian up the stairs, not saying much for the time being. He was sure the other was more reluctant to share information with him, considering they didn’t know each other very well. Lucas wanted to fix that, and he hoped that his calming presence would be enough. Besides, he would give Adrian the gift of good luck for 24 hours before he left. “Look, I was just checking in with you. I know you’ve been here for longer than I have, and I just wanted to hear…I don’t know. What you’ve seen. What you’ve heard.”

With very little thought, Adrian went through the motions of heating up the kettle on the stovetop, stuffing a diffuser with some dried tea leaves, and slicing up a lemon. He tried his best to listen intently while Lucas spoke but he was truly still struggling with the after effects of the fog, the physical exhaustion and emotional turmoil, along with his excessive time spent studying rather than taking care of himself. Before the phoenix even had a chance to finish, Adrian’s eyes were slipping shut on their own accord and the knife suddenly sliced through his finger instead of the lemon. “Bastard.” Adrian cursed, moving to the sink to run the wound under the water, hissing slightly as the lemon juice mixed with the stream and stung all the more. “Sorry. Christ. I’m... so sorry. I’m normally not so...” Unstable? Conflicted? Rude? Adrian wasn’t sure how to finish the sentence so he merely huffed out a defeated sigh and glanced over his shoulder towards the man. “Honestly, I’ve been struggling quite a bit since... everything.” Adrian turned back towards the sink with a clenched jaw and corrected, “Since the fog.”

Using his unwounded hand to rub the exhaustion from his eyes, Adrian inspected the cut as he spoke again, any tension he’d previously been withholding from the stranger bubbling to the surface. “I appreciate you checking in, truly I do, but I’m not sure how much help I can be. I’ve been here longer than you have but, at this point, I think I may be worse off for it. Too subjective. I can’t even make sense of what I’ve seen or heard. The forces in Corinth Bay are starting to feel far out of anyone’s control, especially yours or mine.”

Do you believe in god(s)?

“Does it matter if I believe or non? I feel the pain of their wrath nonetheless.”  

Is there a song you can’t handle listening to, even though you like it?

Do you prefer space or the ocean?

“Neither. There’s far too much of the unknown in each. I prefer to keep my feet on solid ground.”

Do you like soft, fluffy blankets or rough/smooth blankets?

“I like them fluffy. But I like them even more once they’ve become rough from a few too many washes.” 

What food do you binge on when you’re lazy?

A frown drew across Atlas’ features, he thought about Ajax, Alarick, and Ara, if their changes had been similar or if the fog had somehow impacted the wolves differently. It was past due for the oracle to check in on his friends, Ajax especially was bound to end up getting himself into trouble. “That sounds terrible, shifting was painful?” Atlas said sincerely, his tone concerned, “and the fog made you shift against your will?” The oracle asked, the question only intended to clarify what the shifter’s experience had been like. “I”m sorry Adrian, that sounds unbearable. My magic was… muted, to say the least.” Atlas knew that others hadn’t been able to control their element, but his was already out of reach when the fog rolled in. “That’s right, our elements were out of whack as well, made doing any magic kind of impossible.” He was glad that those he knew had managed to escape unharmed, absently he thought to the volatile look that had appeared in Xander’s eyes when bloodlust had overpowered his other senses. “I’m just glad my friends are all okay, could have been a lot worse.”

Adrian merely nodded in response to Atlas’ questioning, shuddering ever so slightly at the memory of his crawling skin. “It was. Unbearable. Thankfully I wasn’t alone.” Casper’s presence throughout the fog had been an enormous comfort and he found himself hoping Atlas had not been alone in his torment either, however minimal. “That must have been terrifying, that feeling of helplessness. Even more so, I imagine, when trying to combat the very thing that is harming you.” Adrian couldn’t help but find himself curious if the Delphi coven had tried to combat the curse. Though he’d concluded that it was highly unlikely they’d been the ones to start the fog, they must have at least attempted to fight back against its effects to no avail. “Did you spend the time together, with your coven?” It was only recently Adrian connected the dots, had learned from Vivian that Atlas was on the Vidalis’ side of the supernatural war. “It certainly could have been worse. But... ‘the Gods don’t give a damn about us,’ right?” The shifter quoted Atlas’ own words back to him, fingers toying with the pages of the open book he’d sat atop the desk, eyes nervously scanning over the witch’s features. “Do you think there are worse things to come?” 

     Elias had lost any ability to sense other supernatural creatures the moment the last bit of magic had been taken from his soul. He liked to think he still had a feeling for it; after all he wasn’t oblivious to the other creatures that existed, and maybe he had an easier time figuring out a vampire or whatever else than a normal human. But at the end of the day, he wouldn’t have known the man before him was a shifter himself if he hadn’t hinted at it so strongly. The thought of having to say it out loud caused his heart to race, his chest to feel tighter. But Elias told himself he had to do this, if he didn’t want to be painfully reminded of what he’d lost for the next minutes. “I’m not a shifter anymore,” he corrected his previous statement, the words leaving his lips in a bit of a breathless, tortured voice. Admitting to what he had lost was one of the worst things he had to do, and it took everything in him to focus on the next words falling from the other’s lips. “Stranger side-effects? That doesn’t sound good.” Elias knew his brain, and he knew it was wired in all the wrong ways. The last thing he should risk were strange side-effects. Who knew how his body would react. “I… thank you, but I think I’ll just stick with the normal tea, please.”

Dantri was absolutely delighted that he’d found the right shop and got to see his new friend again. He was doing his best to be wary of his surroundings, to not trounce about aimlessly where he didn’t belong, so a guiding hand at his back gave him utmost relief. His electric excitement was hard to miss. With a great grin on his face and a nod of thanks Dantri takes the seat offered to him, crossing his legs immediately. “I’m glad you were here when I came!” Dantri’s feet dance in place to an internal rhythm only he knows.

“I would love some! I’ve never had it before.” After all, he’d hardly had any tea before meeting Adrian. It doesn’t take a lot of deductions to conclude that he’s going to be having a lot of tea in the near future. “I’m doing as well as I can be, but better now that you’re in front of me.” He leans in closer, “How is … business?”  When they first met, Dantri was so excited to meet another shifter that his focus was solely on that. But here, in Adrian’s shop, it becomes apparent that there are more mundane things to investigate as well, even if he’s not sure how to ask the questions.

“If ever I’m not, you should feel more than welcome to head upstairs.” During their last interaction, Adrian had made sure to point out his spare key to the other. Though Dantri seemed just as helpless and awkward as Adrian at times, it was incredibly brave, traveling to Corinth Bay to avenge his father’s murder. Not only did they share shapeshifter blood but their shared loss also brought them closer. There was something about the other that felt a lot like hope and it made Adrian’s eyes light up with an earnest smile. “Even when I’m not home.” Nowadays it seemed rare if he was found at the tea shop or the apartment above, since he’d been spending so much time at Kazimir and Malachi’s fortress on the edge of town. He probably sounded a lot like a broken record with his offers to care for Dantri but he wouldn’t stand to see the shifter out on the streets, especially if his own apartment was sitting empty. 

Adrian made up the brew with little effort, smile warming at the thought of serving Dantri something he’d never had before. Squeezing a bit of lemon juice into the mugs, he listened intently while handing it over, clearing off a corner of his messy desk to take a seat on it with his own cup in hand. The fox flushed at Dantri’s compliment, letting out a breathy laugh. “You’re too sweet, truly.” Business was picking up now that the town was somewhat back to normal but Adrian found that, as of late, he was more concerned with supernatural issues than tea. Still, being back in the shop and brewing instead of researching often helped calm his nerves. “It’s been alright. You know, most of our recipes were passed down from my father. He was quite skilled in the art of drying tea leaves. Brewing certainly eases my troubles at times.” His expression softened just a bit as he glanced down towards Dantri’s mug. “Do let me know how you like it.” Setting it aside to rest his hands on his chin, Adrian leaned in close as well, mimicking the other’s previous posture. “Have you made any new discoveries in town?” 

Setting his cup of coffee down, Beau laced his fingers together and offered the shifter a sly look. It was kind of sad really, how easy he’d taken the bait. But he wasn’t about to complain when he was potentially going to be shown a semblance of a good time. There was something about this one that screamed vulnerability, he was someone Rion might have loved to torment, but he wasn’t about to go that far. No, he just seemed like someone easy to fluster and happened to be a local. “You’re the local. Any bars catch your fancy? I’ll buy. I simply tire of the company I keep and am on a need to know basis for the happenings around here.” Like he could get Angel or Rion to do recon with him. Maybe with the bribe of booze or worse, EDM music, but there was only so much of it he could take. 

Besides, there was a strange part of him that had him in some kind of mentor mode when it came to the two. They were grown men, they didn’t need a babysitter, or a parent, and yet that’s how he felt. Responsible for the both of them. It’d be nice to get out and not have to shift into dad mode. “Smaller preferably. You seem the hole in the wall type.”

“’A need to know basis.’ Is that so?” Though the man seemed to think himself quite clever, it was clear he was most definitely interested in the things Adrian knew about the supernatural world but the shifter wasn’t so sure he could trust the other yet. “So, your offer for drinks is merely to repay me for last time, non? Or do you intend to get me piss drunk, enough to spill everything I know about this town?” Adrian quirked a brow at the other, lips tugging into a loose smile, hoping to surprise him. After a hellish week of torture, Adrian wasn’t entirely set on making new friends, grew even more wary of the intentions of those around him. Still, free alcohol following a long day of studying and stocking up the shop sounded heavenly. And there was something intriguing about the dark and mysterious nature of the other. Adrian could play along, if only for the night. “Regardless— I’m in dire need of alcohol.” The bags beneath his eyes spoke well enough to that fact. “And I know just the place.”

Gabriel wondered if he could con someone else into working at the library. As it was, it seemed like he was the only one who did anything around there. He’d started giving the library some weird times, and most of the days he just spent reading the books or putting them back since people seemed incapable of putting items back where they found them. Typical. Either way, the incubus used the library as his own way to find souls. There was a shapeshifter that was still lingering, Adrian – the tea shop owner. The incubus was waiting not so patiently to leave, eager to get back home to the genasi that would be waiting for him. Raising an eyebrow, he looked at the shifter once more, “You already have like…three other books out. I don’t cap people on them, but I will burn your house down if you don’t give me my books back.”

Adrian wasn’t quite sure whether to take the librarian’s threat seriously or laugh at it. Judging from the annoyance on Gabriel’s features, he avoided the later and simply released a heavy breath along with a plea, “Please, don’t— no need for fires. I’ll return them tomorrow.” It didn’t seem like the man was budging easily so Adrian pleaded a bit more earnestly, quoting something he’d read somewhere or another. “’The books we read answer questions we didn’t even know existed’, right?” If Gabriel actually cared enough about books to burn down his house for them, hopefully he’d understand Adrian’s immense need for the one on the counter. “It’s been a hectic week. And I’m desperately in need of answers.” Working up a bit of courage, Adrian met Gabriel's gaze once more, testing his knowledge of the curse in Corinth Bay. If he wasn't going home with the book, perhaps he could get some answers from the man himself. "Aren't you?"

kazimir-mikhailov‌:

The effects of the magic that had afflicted them all had brought back terrible memories that Kazimir had tried to bury long ago. Teeth ripping into flesh, blood flowing into his mouth like a wild river–it brought such a strong desire to head into the city and hunt until he could sate this unending thirst. It was torture, especially for one who prided himself on his ability to remain so controlled. The only motivation he had was Malachi, whom he was determined to set a good example for. By ensuring the younger vampire did not set out on a rampaging slaughter, Kazimir was able to distract himself enough not to slip on his own prodding cravings.

In time, it began to fade, much to his relief. Nights were restless, causing the two of them to become almost animalistic in nature that even his patience began to taper. His donors were frightened, and rightfully so, for one of them nearly died and the other two were left so weakened, they were forced to lock themselves in one of Kazimir’s spare rooms downstairs until they were well enough to leave the following day. 

He’d slept beside Malachi each night, comforting him when he could, and after a week of torment, was finally able to rest with the other vampire secured in his arms.

The knock on his door couldn’t have come soon enough, as the following day they were both feeling well enough to venture back outside. Adrian had not gone forgotten, for Kazimir had worried about him plenty during this, fearing that another vampire may view him as a meal. Given he was, for the first time, a danger to Adrian himself, he had neglected to go near him. Seeing him now, smiling and standing at the door brought such joy to his heart, that he could not bear to remain cautious any longer. At the question, he merely smiled in return, that wild edge gone from his eyes and replaced with the same staple of kindness Adrian had always known.

One arm stretched out to the shifter in invitation, but he hardly gave him a chance to approach as he took hold of Adrian and pulled him in. “Come here.” His voice was drenched in relief and affection, pulling the shifter flush against him as if he might shelter him from the world. “Normal.” He confirmed. “Now that you are home.”

@greyadriangrey​ @malachixquinn​

The week had not gone entirely well for Malachi- he’d always been a bit of a loose cannon and he’d gone off the deep end near the middle of it. Attacking the flower girl had thrown him entirely off balance, and he was still feeling unsteady on his feet. His more unnatural instincts had reared their heads, and it was the first time that Kazimir had ever had to resort to violence to bring him back to the present. It was a wonder he could return at all, but at the disappointment in the elder’s eyes- he’d felt his humanity more than his darkness. And it sliced through him much the Hunter’s bullets had the week prior. Corinth Bay had never been this terrifying before. The pull of it stronger than ever, but the consequences that the Gods bestowed upon them all were more torturous than he’d ever imagined. He could only hope that he could continue to hold on tight enough to the man beside him now, even as he stepped forward toward Adrian.

Their reunion at the Carnivale felt eons away now, the burn less now, but the dull ache still lingered beneath his sinew. Stepping forth, he wrapped his arms around Adrian in turn and pressed a kiss to the side of his neck- careful to move back just as quickly as he’d arrived; if only to protect the shifter from what desire still lingered there- and to give Kazimir the room he needed to invite Adrian in properly. He took the offered presents, shifting toward the kitchen to place them on the marbled countertop. He took up post there, lower back pressed against the edge to give himself some stability. Arms wrapped over his chest, he pressed himself closer in an attempt to maintain distance, knowing fully well that Kazimir had been uncomfortable with his attention to Adrian previously. Of course, he hadn’t been able to control the compulsions that led him to stake a claim- and even if he had, he might’ve still ignored it anyway.

Clearing his throat, eyes focused on the floor, he tried to think of anything to say- something- “I missed you,” as if that was enough to convey it. Spoken word always failed him- he preferred to show his emotions rather than voice them. How quickly the shifter had wound his way around the still heart of the younger vampire, making room for himself there among the nestled place that Kazimir had held for so long now. His chin lifted, a small grin tugging the corners of his lips. “Welcome home.”

The cool fingertips from the touch of each vampire left imprints on Adrian’s heated skin and he sighed softly, earnestly, relieved as they welcomed him in, welcomed him home. Adoration flooded his entire being and though the hands were fleeting, the fox felt drunk from the contact. The build up of emotion bouncing between the three of them felt electric, heavy, and intoxicating. No words could properly express his regret for avoiding them before the fog, his immense longing for them every hour of every day since. Adrian hardly realized he had been pulled towards the kitchen, busying his nervous hands by picking up the package Malachi had just set down, unloading the contents onto the counter in the overwhelming silence. The fox felt completely out of his element, undeserving, lost in the expanse of warmth, comfort, and care the two men were providing for him. It only felt right to focus his energy on something familiar— Tea bags. Cinnamon sticks. Lemon slices. ‘I missed you.’ 

Adrian felt his cheeks flush, releasing a soft breath as his fingers stilled. Although he could gauge Malachi’s hesitancy to touch him, to claim him, in front of Kazimir, Adrian could no longer resist his own desire. Perhaps it was the lingering feral effects of the curse or the distance but Adrian was surging forward to reach into the cabinet behind Malachi, his nose trailing up the other’s arm as he did so, moving in too close since the smell of Malachi’s skin severely lacked his own. After a few moments of physical touch, the fox pressed a kiss to the other’s shoulder, whispering a phrase into that skin, one he’d spoken so many times before. “Tu m’as manqués.” You were missing from me. 

Pulling back entirely, Adrian set the three mugs he’d managed to grab beside the other tea ingredients on the counter and turned to wrap his unsteady fingers around Kazimir’s wrist in turn. Adrian gently pulled the man’s larger hand to his lips, the touch lingering a little too long to scent him as well, nuzzling against Kaz’s knuckles. “Both of you. I can’t... I won’t spend another moment apart from you. Not again.” Though he had apologized to each of them for his avoidances prior to the curse, there was still a fair amount of guilt in his spoken promise. But the want was considerably more prominent. When he finally released his hold on the other’s skin, Adrian’s pupils were blown wide with it, with the restrained desire.

“It was terrible. I couldn’t shift without pain. And every second in my human body felt like absolute torture.” The air around them was starting to smell more distinctly like Adrian and he inhaled their mingling scents heavily, greedy for it.  “I saw quite a few vampires that night.” Glancing from Kazimir to Malachi then back to the elder again, Adrian resisted the urge to express what they all knew— if he had been around them when the curse had first started, he might not be alive today. That was enough to send a shiver up his spine where he stood between them, though not enough to deter him from trusting them both completely, now and always. “That lack of control... was it like that for you?” 

      Noah couldn’t imagine any of this either. Some days he still woke up and thought it had all just been a bad dream. Or good dream, however you wanted to see it. But he was still a phoenix, day after day, slowly growing into his new skin, his new life, his new self. It wasn’t easy, but it was getting easier, at least. “I thought I knew who I was, too, but then someone decided I should be something else,” he pointed out with a shrug of his shoulders as if it was nothing. Hard to believe that not too long ago, he couldn’t even begin to fathom that the supernatural world existed. Now he had been hit by so many revelations that he had grown numb to the sensation of being surprised. “Thank you for the offer. But like I said, I’m fine.” At least for now he was. But it was good to know that there were people out there willing to have his back if he needed it.

        His brows arched slightly when he saw the look on Adrian’s face. While it had been fun to try and teach the other a few things about how to throw a punch, he hadn’t expected him to actually need it. Noah had only learned how to fight because the home he grew up in forced him to, but ever since he fled it, he hadn’t really used his skills except when boxing at the gym, maybe. A smile appeared on his lips when Adrian spoke, and a chuckle fell from them soon after. “Well, look at you! Ready to defend yourself. I’m proud,” he teased, patting the other’s shoulder. “It’s not about perfect technique, really. Just about getting your point across. And I’m guessing you did?”

The difference between their circumstances was monumental— Adrian had been born a shifter, even though he’d been shielded from it for years, while Noah had been hand selected, chosen, changed. The other’s situation was difficult for him to swallow, the idea of free will seeming more like a fantasy with each passing moment in Corinth Bay, and he expressed his empathy with a sad smile, releasing a quiet sigh. “I’ve come to realize the original shifters have more power than is fathomable, especially now that they’re back in town... They might’ve decided what you are going forward but, I don’t think you ought to keep letting them decide who you are.” Honestly, Adrian needed to hear those exact words himself but that one key difference made him feel obligated to follow his mission as a shapeshifter. He felt he owed it to his heritage, his bloodline, his family. Or perhaps just the memory of them. But if he had been in Noah’s position, he’d have run far from the supernatural world the moment he rose from the ashes, never to return again. “Did he... speak to you? Phoenix?” 

Remembering the festival with Noah felt almost silly now, after all the chaos, but it was worth it to bring it up if only to hear the other chuckle for the first time since his arrival. Adrian’s own lips tugged into a sheepish smile, shrugging off the other’s praise. “Well, truthfully, I didn’t stick around long after to assess the damage.” There was no doubt in his mind the point had definitely gotten across though— if his punch hadn’t made sure of it, Malachi’s certainly did. The fox felt his cheeks heat a little at the memory. “I bruised my knuckles a bit. I’d like to keep learning, if you don’t mind teaching me some more.” 

“See. If you die, at least you die watching a pretty sunset with a pretty girl, right? Worse ways to go.” At the very least, he was in a sitting position, so she didn’t have to push him off the bed. Surprisingly, her bedhead only framed her face. Learning forward, she fixed a couple tuffs of his fluffy hair. “We can still go in our pajamas. I doubt anyone would notice or care if that’s what your self concious about.” She slipped off the bed and put her feet in some of those fluzzy types of slippers that was periwinkle in color. Her pajamas was a loose fitting pair of cream colored shorts with a sparsely floral design on them paired with a periwinkle, loose, cropped tank top. Looking in the mirror in the room, she brushed through loose, onyx waves with slender fingers. Her locks quickly taimed. “Come along.” She chimed at him with a wink.

Adrian merely grunted at Vivian’s teasing, no argument falling from his lips since there were definitely much worse ways to go— he’d seen them himself. At the pajama comment, the shifter couldn’t help but laugh, the sound low and gruff, dripping with sleep. “Well, you look bloody picturesque in your pajamas.” The shifter blinked up at the witch as she fixed a few of his curls, pouting but appreciating the physical contact nonetheless. “But alright. I’ll skip the shirt then.”