* cherry / kiss

if    anyone   else    would    ever   call    the    feline   a    fool    ,    she    would   have    their    tongues   on    a    silver   plate    for    dinner   .    however    this   was    family    &   family    had    certain   .    .    .    priviledges    so   to    say    .    ❝    aww    ,    did    i    chip    at   that    grand    evil   ego    of    yours   ?    come    on   ,    take    it   with    a    grain   of    salt    .    i    haven’t   had    proper    entertainment    in   days    .    .    .    it’s   taking    its    toll   on    me    .    ❞

the privileges of family, eros took full advantage. “ you know entertainment isn’t hard to provide. if you can’t find it, make it, ” he reminded with a wicked grin. a bored eros was a dangerous thing and likewise, he would never allow casia to have such a horrendous experience. “ what are you craving today? i’m sure i can provide to some degree. ” the offer only came because he knew they both took delight in the wicked and crueler parts of life.

“It’s not but I like to read about it. I’m a bit of an odd duck. It helps being from Halloweentown.”

“That’s interesting then. Everyone must have hobbies, nothing odd about it. Not in a bad way, at least.”

– ♔ Right on time. There’s an instant change in her demeanor, posture straight while azure practically sparkles in the dingy bar lights. “Innet like he’d take friend seriously, wouldn’t take boyfriend seriously.” Swiveling to face Eros atop her bar stool, it’s easy for her attention to shift from one male to the other; lust to distain and back again. “Wouldn’t take NO fer an answer, Eros.”

“Is that so?” His gaze dragged down the drunk’s body, a lanky young man, not hideous but far below Ero’s standards still. “You like to ignore the word no,” he started, stepping forward until he was close enough to place a heavy hand on the guy’s shoulder. “Perhaps I should do the same, hm?” His grip tightened, making the idiot wince in pain but he was not so far gone to miss the implication of his words. “What should we do with this fool, Katherine? Make him cry --- or bleed?”

The glee she felt at Eros’ words was hard to hide, likely only adding to the poor man’s terror. Likely he’d finally realized just who he was dealing with, given the comments on decapitation and the violence she could practically feel bubbling beneath her brother’s skin. Violence she knew would be reflected in his gaze. Watching the man go, a soft pout formed on her lips. Though her disappointment was short lived, already disappearing as she stepped in front of the eldest Heart sibling. “Why are you here?” A purely curious question. “You always avoid venues where I’m dancing. Is everything okay?”

“ i don’t want to . ”

                          the young mermaid decided , continuing                           her approach to him . perhaps it was foolish ,                           to ignore warnings from a creature most feared .                           but she wasn’t scared ; how could she be ?

“ i know what it’s like ,   to need to change but   you can’t . ”

                          dark hues remain secure , black as midnight ,                           refusing to leave his . she’d always been curious                           what it might look like ; what it might do . why not                           stay and find out ?

“ say it , and i can stop the pain .   i promise you that . ”

vulnerability and need. eros wanted no part of such things, he was not weak enough to depend on the pity of others and he would sooner die than let that become the case. ironic since the pain certainly made him feel as if he was on the verge of death. it felt like his very bones were trying to shape and reform themselves. the stranger’s word barely registered through the pain so he gave no response but a few moments passed and he managed to force the transformation to stop then the pain left him all in one big rush. “shit,” he cursed, panting from his spot on the ground as he tried to regain his sense.

The voice of her brother just behind her brought the smallest upward twitch to the corners of her lips. A ghosting of a smile that she banished before it could appear. There were very few who could get away with mocking her, and Hearts blood ran through all of their veins. Given the man who had caused her near tears lacked the familial claim, he was lucky to still have his life with Eros present. Venus pulled the silk robe she wore more tightly to her body, a half step taken back so she was beside her brother. “I wish we were home so you could get me his head.” A sentiment delivered while staring the drunkard directly in the eye, the slightest whimper placed deliberately into her voice. An easy enough ploy given the true hurt his words had caused. Hurt that would fuel Eros’ anger, thus increasing the man’s fear. Perhaps they couldn’t kill him, but they could drive him to fear that they might.

– ♔ Of course he had acted like Eros’s better, half the people in Auradon acted like that; ignorant. Katherine only offers a shake of her head before taking a step toward the lifeless body, tsking noise leaving her. “People can be so feckin’ daft, can’t they?” Singular brow arches, “Doesn’t much matter now – besides tha body nonsense, ye got any plans tonight?”

It was fortunate that this man had no royal lineage to speak of so his disappearance would go unnoticed in this winter chill. “They can,” he agreed, bringing out an old handkerchief from his pocket to wipe away the blood from his hands and mouth. “Not in particular, no. Did you have something in mind?”