s a l v e

“I feel like he’s not going to complain about too many chocolate chips.” Actually, Myles would be willing to bet that Vasa would complain if he saw too much cookie to chocolate ratio. He was out of bounds of his mom’s recipe, just eyeballing it, dropping in an extra handful of chips into the batter. Picking up the wooden spoon beside the bowl, he started stirring in the extra chocolate before looking over to where Isadora sat at the kitchen table. It was kind of funny, actually. To be baking with someone who didn’t really need to eat. He’d thought that she might find baking kind of boring when he’d suggested it, but there she sat, invested with her fingers covered in flour. “The real question is, do you think I should just double up the recipe now? We know he’s gonna try’n’eat all of them in one sitting.” @isxdcrx

“Does anyone, ever?” Strangely enough, she’d been more than happy to simply watch, she’d always found some sense of peace in watching humans even now, after so long. And truthfully, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d baked anything, the idea that perhaps she might have been a bit of a liability within the kitchen only a passing thought she didn’t voice concern over just yet, that and she’d wanted to help. Propping herself up, she snagged a few chocolate chips from the bag and popped them into her mouth with a smile, the small dusting of flour on her hands leaving wisps of white behind on her top lip. “I think you’ve answered your own question. Have you seen how many marshmallows he can put into his mouth? It’s absurd, and I’m almost completely sure he’ll try to set some record with cookies too if he hadn’t already --- and if you don’t double up, we’re definitely not getting any.”

Kasey wondered if Isadora even thought about a thing before she spoke. In his mind, it must’ve been the grief that caused the Bordeaux to have the audacity to blame the deaths that followed the Ouroboros’ plan on himself. The phoenix grew hot; he already knew his temperature had sky rocketed. It’d only be a matter of time before the red would hit his eyes, and then he’d be riding that high until he managed to calm down. “So this is how you want our friendship to end, huh? So what – I knew enough for the past year and a half. I played my part, but I also pushed for mercy; and what did I get for it? You, telling me I could’ve stopped massacres. One phoenix against a dozen other people, dark witches, phoenixes, oneiroi – like I was the key to saving the fucking city. Fuck you, Isadora, and your shitty attempt at trying to guilt me into something that was never my fault to begin with.” He’d confided in the wrong person it seemed, and Kasey could feel that same heartbreak all over again. “I never asked for this! I had a family too, and a life that I was fucking trying to rebuild until they took that from me. They took my life – my agency – for over fifty fucking years.” He was sure it was bordering on seventy up until that fateful Halloween. He’d felt so violated after his memories had rushed back to him, and now he was here. On his third life, unsure if it’d truly be his, and his friend wanted to say he could’ve stopped things from coming to pass. “Their lives are not more important than mine. Just like mine isn’t more important than theirs. You need to recognize that – this bloody war isn’t my fault, and it was never my idea of a life. But you – you have tunnel vision. My life was forfeit the minute a basilisk killed me, and I haven’t been free since.”

Isadora knew that she’d opened her mouth well before her mind had completely processed anything; her first instinct would always be to think about the world of innocents around them; it’s how she’d lived her life before the curse, and certainly how she’d lived it since she’d regained some semblance of sanity in the afterlife. But truly --- she’d never thought that she’d have to so readily speak of the lengths she might have gone for Kasey if he’d ever come to her. Her mouth fell open and the glaze that slipped across her eyes held as much apology within them as she’d ever held within her at any singular moment. “Kasey I..---” There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for him; not after years of friendship, years of knowing the tethered love of someone they’d shared in memories and life could so surely entwine them years later. “I’m sorry. That’s..--” Her lips rolled together, the vampire feeling less than two feet tall beneath his scrutiny of how she’d first reacted to any of this. “I’m so sorry. For what they did to you --- for making you feel like anyone else was more important than you are. That’s not..-- that wasn’t my intention.” But that was always the problem, intention was always too far from what was spoken. Any semblance of confrontation had never been something she’d excelled at and this was no different, the very weight of his heated gaze --- Isa not so naive as to not noticed the sudden rise in temperature within the room. “There’s not a single thing I wouldn’t do for you, Kasey. I thought maybe you knew that already, but perhaps I haven’t been the greatest friend to you as I should have.” She spoke meekly, curling an arm around her waist tightly. “I could have helped you.” Given, she had absolutely no idea what she could have done; but she knew they’d had options. Despite the seemingly extensive arsenal the ouroboros had, she and her’s weren’t without their own secrets and connections within the world. “You could have told me.”

“You and me both. Especially if my greatest feat is that marshmallow thing. Don’t judge me – my mouth is just bigger than yours. It can fit a lot more girth,” Vasa grinned at his childish innuendo, shaking his head a little more. “Damn, fine. Wound a guy’s pride.” Vee rubbed his chest, right above his heart, like she had indeed wounded it. He dropped his hand after a moment, settling back into his couch as well as she answered his prying question. It was difficult to get a read on Isa sometimes, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to try. “Sure, they expect things. But fuck them. They’ll never really understand what you’re going through.” Her question made him smile, and he tried to pride himself on ensuring no one ever saw his weak moments. “When my mother went missing – I’d never felt more alone. I’m sure you think I’m crazy, considering I have all these siblings who’d die for me, but they were…panicking. The ones that work at the station were always working, and they were so determined to find things that sometimes they’d just…well, it’d be radio silence. For days.”

“Oh, I’m judging.” The notion peaking it’s way through a soft laugh, lips rolling together tightly, caught between her teeth as hues darted to look beyond him as the every knowledgeable betrayal of rose coloring the sweep of her cheeks burnt brightly. It certainly wasn’t something she’d intended, but he’d seen her at the very edge of her worst. Perhaps an even more terrifying thought had been the very possibility he might have seen worse. Isa had fought so long to keep that from the people she cared about, the people that cared about her in return. The very possibility that such a thing might cause drift or turn people away was.. gut wrenching. But he’d stayed -- and perhaps she could find some level ground in giving him reason to believe that he just as surely could find some strength in vulnerability, more to the point; that she’d never exploit it, not after he’d so readily helped her without question or judgement. “I don’t think you’re crazy.” She spoke softly, “Everything in my life has this.. permanence that nothing else around me has. Everything is fleeting, and it’s easy to get lost in that, especially when time isn’t on your side.” Not that she could so readily convince herself that it was on hers either. “It kept them busy, meant they didn’t have to face it --- not really. I get that.” It took pause, but passing seconds had Isa reaching to give gentle squeeze to the curve of his bicep, “It’s okay that you felt that, lost..-- but you weren’t alone, not then, and not now.”

“You ever been brainwashed for over fifty years, Isa?” Kasey let the words linger between them, like the notion of saying something had never crossed his mind. Every day I woke up, trying to be someone I wasn’t. I tried to pretend that I could do it, and pretend just long enough to get myself out of this fucking city. But people kept dying, and I couldn’t leave some of them behind. Anton and Susannah – they manipulate and they lie. So don’t act like you know how it was for me. Like I could have said anything where I wouldn’t have been caught right away and killed just so they could make sure I was another blank slate for them. Me, being what I am, it’s a fucking curse sometimes. And telling you sooner than now would’ve been a death wish for both of us. That knife could’ve found you and they could’ve handled me, except I would be the only one waking up and I’d have to deal with knowing your death was my fault.”

She’d spent her life tethered and drawn to the simplicity of the sticky liquid that ran through the veins of everyone she came across, there was little that she could so readily discern between that and brainwashing. Though, she’d never voice it and never claim to know how Kasey felt or damn him for the choices he’d made; not so readily. Every word he spoke seemed to tie so easily into hundreds and hundreds of lives she’d lives. “Seriously?” It fell before she could think, before she could so readily let herself process. People had died --- people were dying, and Kasey had known. He’d known about the dagger, about their intention to rid the city of her own family, and he’d never said a thing. “You knew, about everything.” Isa could bite back the terrible feeling in her gut that could so surely wish he’d said something; that he’d thought anything of the lives of innocents around them before so readily fending for himself. However, she remained well aware that all too many wouldn’t sacrifice themselves for such a thing. “Kasey.. if you’d..-- the people in this city would still be.” Lithe fingers trembled, uncertain of how any of this was meant to make her feel. Grateful, that her friend was still here, that she was still here because he’d so readily kept his every burden to himself, or whether she could so surely fall to the churning of her stomach that could only think of the people who’s entire lives had been destroyed since this had all starter; people who’s innocence had been torn from them. The palm of her hand lifted to press gently against the swell of her lips as the reality of it sunk in and she stepped away from him. “All of those people, Kasey. You could have stopped this.. you could have helped us stop this.” 

Vasa gave a wry smile, “That’s better than the alternative, I guess. Though you could’ve fooled me. Isadora Bordeaux – down on her luck. You should write a book.” The Rhodes moved towards his couch, motioning for her to follow, “You here to stay the night again? Knew my bed was too good for you to pass up.” As she spoke, Vasa waved his hand, “It’s not a big deal,” he echoed, just to wink at her. Sinking down into the couch, Vee waited for her to follow suit, “You don’t have to always feel like you have to be put together in front of me, you know. We all have our weak moments, and that just makes life…bearable.”

“I think by the time I publish anything the world will have worked out a new way to damn my family name.” Especially if the ouroboros had their own way, which.. they were seemingly becoming closer to getting. “I’ll dedicate at least a chapter to you.” She smiled, finding the ease of being here a lot different to how she’d first arrived in the wake of new years. “No,” Said rather quickly as she shook her head, amusement clear on delicate features. “My being here has absolutely nothing to do with the bed and more to do with the man who let me in it.” A bold sentiment as she drew her legs up under her as she sat in the corner of his couch. “I knew you’d say that before I even left my place this morning.” Still, her mood dropped slightly, no less comforting as she lent forward to pluck a cushion from between them, pulling it into her lap. “It’s been so long since I was.. not together that it’s just a hard concept to be okay with. People expect things. If you don’t meet them you’re a coward or.. fragile. I’ve never liked being seen as either.” She shrugged, ”So what’s your weak moment then? If it’s got anything to do with you not beating your own record in marshmallows.. i’m in awe.”

Kasey downed the boiling water anyway, especially when he heard Isa repeat his words. It was too late to turn back now – someone had to know, and hopefully she’d be able to do something about it now. “Yeah, we,” he repeated, though his voice was lower, “The Ouroboros. The phoenix set the glass down, turning towards his old friend. “I left London after burying my girls,” he began, remembering their double funeral almost like it was yesterday. “And I came here, thinking I could find some kind of life in New York. Well, this basilisk killed me, and they didn’t let my memories trigger. For decades I only thought about…vengeance, and murdering everyone who held some concept of power in this city. It wasn’t until two years ago – that Halloween disaster? I was injured and it killed me. When I woke up, the event triggered everything. I was that other man for so fucking long, Isa, that sometimes I forget what it’s like to even have my own agency. I’ve been stuck ever since, thinking they’re going to reset my fucking head again.”

As if it were just any other conversation, Kasey delved into details so quickly it left her head a bigger mess than it had been being dragged in here on the coat tails of his paranoia. “You..” Everything that had happened --- everything that had torn this city and the people she knew and cared for at the seams for so long; and he’d known all along. “You knew.” Severed, was the ache in her chest -- for those lost and destroyed to the mess the Ouroboros had made of all of them, and for the man she’d known longer than most, who she’d trusted and loved as if he might have been her own flesh and blood. Fingertips pressed into the curve of her mouth to stop judgement and blame that built in her chest from spilling over in haste. Her brother was dead -- and Kasey had known about the weapon strong enough to destroy an Original; to destroy her and never said a word. “Why didn’t you..-- you could have said something. You could have said anything.” Only now, once the surmount of damage had been done and something entirely new unleashed to the world. Only now was he even trying. “Why didn’t you tell me.. I could have..” Helped? The idea turned her stomach, for the loss she’d felt in Noah’s absence lingered like a dark cloud.  

@isxdcrx

“Are you feeling any better?” It was a strange question to ask a Bordeaux vampire, but the Rhodes couldn’t entirely be bothered to think about semantics. The last time they’d spent a decent amount of time together, she’d requested vervain. Reaching out, he placed a kiss against her cold knuckles, “I mean, I know that’s kinda vague but, you were pretty upset last time we talked.”

The soft touch of his lips against her knuckles wasn’t exactly expected and yet the heat seared across the back of her hand and up through her arm much brighter than she knew his warmth to be. “I don’t feel like ripping anyone’s carotid arteries out, if that’s what you meant.” The idea a little more far fetched to her now. The time spent poisoning herself to drown out her own hunger, caught within the confines and company of safety was something she’d not realized she’d missed until this very moment. “I’m the epitome of picture perfect control now,” the slight roll of her hues upwards and the blooming laugh that followed painted with the self depreciating dig. “Thanks, for what you did. I know you’re gonna’ say it wasn’t a big deal,” she shrugged, “but it was to me so..”

“Why wouldn’t someone follow you?” Kasey locked all five locks on his door, moving away from it and towards the kitchen, “Because you’re a Bordeaux. And we – they have a weapon that could kill you.” He poured himself a glass of water, but by the time he took a drink, it was steaming thanks to his own temperature. “Fuck,” he huffed out a breath, setting the glass down, “I – we have a lot to talk about.”

Something she supposed, up until now had been her only safeguard. The dire reminder that someone was indeed, out to end her family line, and those alike it pushed aside for a short while in search of her own stability. “I would have noticed..” Focusing a little more on the space beyond his front door, as if the anticipation of someone lingering just beyond it. “There’s nobody out there.” Not beyond the usual people lingering the streets. She stopped, watching almost too intently as he poured himself a glass of water, Isa not blind to the affects his body temperature had on it. “Hey, just calm down, please?” She stepped towards him, “There’s nobody else here but ...--” It struck hard, like another stake to the chest as concern fell to a fading color on her cheeks. “You said we..-- we.. have a weapon.”

The phoenix stilled, his gaze on the Bordeaux unsteady. “Not here. Be quiet,” Kasey could practically hear his heart beating against his chest, the wild rhythm easily showing his fear. They were so close. He hadn’t felt right enough to warn her months before, but maybe he could now before it was too late. “Get inside,” he muttered, low enough to where he knew a vampire would have no trouble with it. Shoving open his door, he waited for to walk in, and he locked the door behind them. “Were you followed?”

Confusion bled features that had moments before been stoic in her confidence in simply showing up to apologize. The things she’d said -- in her mind unforgivable, but she’d always known Kasey to be a good man and perhaps it might have been enough to hold close the friend she’d carried close to her heart from years. His hushed tone spiked concern and instead of wasting whatever time he seemed to short on, Isadora was inside before he could blink. “Followed?” Now that didn’t make sense, why would she have been followed? The mere idea sparking a paranoia not there before. “Why would anyone follow me?”

There’d been absolutely nothing ideal about it, how they’d left things. But Isadora knew that Kasey was --- in every aspect fiery enough to hold it close and given that she was almost always the first to admit to her own wrongs, this wasn’t an easy pill to swallow as she waited, perched on the front walk-up of his building. Nothing about their last conversation sat well with her, and though she certainly wasn’t feeling one hundred percent herself; she’d barely recognized the woman she’d been four months before hand. “I’m not here to fight,” Isa noted quietly as she stood well before he’d approached, hearing his footsteps and the familiarity of his heartbeat made it all too easy to point him out. “Nothing like that, I promise.” 

Vasa grinned a little more, wrinkling his nose at Isa, “I mean, I could look at you funny if you want. Like how you kinda look like a wreck and you should probably come and sit down before you actually fall over.” The Rhodes huffed out a laugh, “Beer? Okay. I can do that.” He picked up the bag of jumbo marshmallows, then two beers. He handed one to the vampire, before he put his hand on her elbow to somewhat tug her towards the living room. “Underwhelming? You’d choke on the mini ones. Those aren’t much fun. Also, it’s kinda not fair for you to participate in breaking my record. You don’t have to breathe, I have to make sure I don’t suffocate on jumbo sugar puffs.”

“I don’t..---” She did look that bad, something she knew purely by how terrible she felt. The lingering doubt in what the hell she was even doing agreeing to this enough to keep her rooted to the spot before he’d so boldly thought to tug her further into his home. “I think by now I’ve probably mastered the art of not choking on food. Who said I was participating? I’m completely willing to sit by and be a witness to you trying not to suffocate on tiny balls of cloud like goodness.” All too surely, she found herself in the corner of his couch, the bag open in her lap as she held it out to him, the vervain she’d ingested already burning at her insides as she played her discomfort off with a soft smile; she’d grow much weaker soon enough. “I’ve gotta’ see it to believe it, you know.”

Deflection was a tactic she knew all too well. The same one her little sister was using despite mentioning that she wanted to talk. Mallory honestly couldn’t blame her. This wasn’t the norm for them. It hadn’t been in centuries…Noah had liked to point out how unapproachable she was any chance he could. Unfortunately, that translated into some of the relationships she’d never meant it to. Her siblings were all that she truly had left in this world. Who couldn’t be tainted by the whims of others because they shared her burdens. “His taste in art was always rather niche,” Mallory responded, diplomatically.

It was vibrantly amazing, how much she could have learnt simply by projecting the things she’d learnt from her siblings over the years -- usually so much more upfront, in the most harmless and gentle way she could manage, the efforts of her own nature seemingly slipped as she maneuvered her way through something else entirely. “Do you think he did it for a reason?” Alluding to much more than his choice of painting, “Besides just..-- wanting it.” She elaborated a little further, a little uncertain of how they’d come to this. “-- What’re we meant to do from here?” Those terrorizing the city now knowing full well that their immortally finally had a clause.

myleshart‌:

“So um, you two know each other?” Myles looked between Isadora and Vasa as he sat at the hunter’s small kitchen table. It’d seemed like a good idea, a way to combine two people he liked to be around. And a way to keep Isadora a little more comfortable. They’d texted since their last encounter, but he hadn’t felt it appropriate to bring up meeting in person. When he’d thought about meeting in a group or with another person, Vee had been his first thought. He’d been someone he’d been meaning to meet outside of the Sanctuary and he figured Isadora would maybe feel a bit safer being around him knowing there was a skilled hunter around. Not like he thought Vee was going to try anything, but he’d do anything to keep the original vampire from pushing him away. @isxdcrx @veexrhodes

Vasa rose an eyebrow at Myles, trying not to laugh at the look on the other male’s face. The Rhodes was currently sitting on the bar counter of the small kitchen, huffing out a laugh before he looked at Isadora, “Yeah, she likes to cuddle. We can all share my bed if you need someone to hold you, Myles.” He looked back at the other, a smirk on his face since he clearly couldn’t help himself at this point. “You guys need anything? I don’t really have a lot of food. But there’s a pizza place that delivers.”

@isxdcrx​

While she’d almost fully expected Vasa to have already pieced together some near basic reasoning behind why they might have known each other, the jarring shock as he so carelessly spoke of something that may or may not have happened in the first place caused her to splutter a little on the blood bag she’d emptied into the mug in her hand. “I --- that’s..” She cleared her throat, looking between them both before she settled a near guilt ridden look on Myles, “We never..--- Vee’s been helping with.. you know.” And truthfully, it’d been one of the only reasons she’d agreed to seeing him in the first place, Vasa promised to help, and she’d simply already been here when Myles suggested it. “He’s right you know, he skips right over buy essential food items for bags of jumbo marshmallows and trust me, it’s really not pretty.”