dǝǝɥs ǝɥʇ ɓuoɯɐ ɟloʍ ɐ

"Popcorn is pretty much a classic, but I've gotten hooked on this kind that's covered in chocolate and caramel."

"Zebra popcorn. Has and I used to demolish bags when we lived together."

"Honestly? Terrifying."

"When I was with Cal everything was laid out for me. I knew if I just kept my head down, if I did what I was told and followed the decisions that had been made for me, I would be successful, and I felt like the rest would fall into place. Falling in love with Callie was a happy surprise because I'd already been told I had to pick her. Falling in love with Bellamy was something I did on my own, and that meant I had so many more chances to fuck it up. It's not stopping me, though, the fear. I might still fuck everything up, but I'm not going to give up on her, she's too important, she's worth every ounce of effort I have in me."

"No. No, I think I'd hate it. I'd become one of those old people who talks to shop staff and random people on the bus for an hour just because I was lonely."

"Romantically? No."

"How could lying to her and leading her on ease her suffering? I owe Callie so much and I know I can't give her what she wants but I can give her honesty now."

"Look, I know this is gonna sound like a lie to cover my own ass, but why would I even look at anyone else?"

"There's no one else I'd be interested in even for a night."

"I like eating out."

It’s Leaking!! || Kemper & Ryden

The Den was full of commotion. Usually for similar reasons it always was - full of loud wolves just being rowdy and, well, loud with all their interactions. Even though it was out of commission, it was still very much an epicenter of activity, never giving a dull moment. A small crowd had gathered just outside its mediocre-sized kitchen area in the back, the obvious ‘closed’ sign having stopped no one who really wanted to get in. They all curiously tried to squeeze in, peeking inside as if there was something wildly interesting going on there. 

Careless feet stepped through an advancing puddle coming into the rest of the bar from the kitchen, making the floor messy all over the place. Someone tried to mop up but gave up halfway through because the minor flooding was not looking any close to being stopped soon. Helpful advice was being shouted, each one louder than the next, trying to overpower the previously proposed ideas like it was some sort of a competition. 

“It’s the drain, the drain is leaking, obviously!” 

“Shifting plumbing lines, my place had that problem, not that uncommon.”

“Worn out connections, bro. The entire thing will have to get replaced. Pshh, it’s gonna be pricey…”

“Yeah, yeah yeah, pipe corrosion causing fractures in the plumbing lines, for sure, for sure.”

“Man, it’s a clog. You’re making it worse, water can’t pass through the drain if there’s a clog! You’ll actually bust the pipe that way, you’re putting it under stress! Where’s the plunger? Kevin! Find the plunger.”

“What the fuck man, how should I know where it is, you go find it!”

“Duct tape!! Pass the duct tape!!!”

Ryden’s eye twitched in annoyance. He wasn’t sure if it was because a constant drip was trying to hit him in the eye or because he was seriously contemplating murder. He was sitting in a puddle, his ass wet, trying to stick his broad upper body as much as he could in the confined area under the kitchen sink, looking up at it upside down with a wet wrench key constantly slipping out of his grasp, people leaning over him so they could also take a look and at least a dozen voices in his head giving him all the useless tips they could think of.

Finally, he snapped, roaring at the person sitting next to him shoulder to shoulder, trying to squeeze in there with him ‘helpfully’. “GODDAMNIT GARRET, stop stickin’ so close t’me, don’t… don’t touch me ya wet dog, scoot, scoot!” He raised the wrench threateningly, making his packmate, who was completely oblivious just how uncomfortable it was when two sweaty, drenched guys stuck close to each other on the floor, trying to fit into a space one man could barely stick his head into, look quite offended and confused. So he had to let Ryden know that there was no need for such a tone, that he was only trying to help. A no time for a heartfelt conversation, and now both of Ryden’s temples were twitching, his patience almost entirely spent. 

@k-harding

Kemper was maybe the only wolf in the Den not actively trying to insert himself into the situation. Living out from under the rule and wealth of his parents had forced him to learn a handful of practical life skills, but he knew the intricacies of commercial kitchen plumbing were far behind him, and the last thing he wanted to do was stand there in front of half of the pack and neatly lay out for them all that he was still, in many ways, a pampered rich boy.

Still, the uproar continued, with no hint of resolution, the conversations beginning to run in circles, and just when Kemper had gotten up from the stool he'd perched himself on, watching the commotion from afar, Ryden's barking broke through all the other noise. Kemper didn't jump at the sound, but he got quickly to his feet, reaching for the hem of his hoodie, pulling it up over his head in one clean gesture, shucking the bright orange outer layer so it didn't get soaked and dropping it across the bar top.

"Move, move, fuckin'-" Kemper's words were hardly more intimidating than Ryden's tone had been, and despite the muscles Hastalik and the bite had helped him develop, he wasn't nearly as bulky as most of the wolves trying to crowd the kitchen. Still, Kemper grabbed familiar arms, pulling and pushing, trying to direct all those who would obey back out to the main area of the bar, thankful that the vocal bite Ryden had taken out of Garret seemed to encourage most of them to let themselves be shooed out of the immediate area. Kemper's sneakers slipped on the tile, but he righted himself immediately, with only a small squeak to announce the misstep as he put himself near Ryden's legs where they stuck out from under the sink. He reached down, grabbing the belt loops of the other wolf who'd been too close for comfort, and hauled him away so that Ryden could get space to breathe.

         “Which descriptor was inaccurate?” Hastalik asked in response, a chuckle upon his lips because he knew Kemper and Jamie both did not find Bella nearly as grating as he did. It was probably a good thing. He knew Jamie and Kemper also didn’t quite see much in the other. No one thought anyone in their double date was inherently horrible though, so all in all they felt like the perfect match up. No jealousy, only companionship.

           Has held the ball in his hands, twisting it around and nodded. “of course you did. But if you hadn’t…I would have got it,” Has offered, looking down at the ball. He’d hope he’d tell Clara specifically about Jamie, and he was doing better with his honesty lately, but he still wouldn’t guarantee anything, and Kemper wanting to keep his doll like girlfriend a secret from his ex seemed not so ridiculous. “You planning on seeing her? Your ex? Because your girl isn’t exactly…,” Hastalik rolled off, trying to actually think for a delicate way to phrase Bella’s insecurity. “I don’t know how to say it nice, both of our partners are intense, and easily jealous.”

Kemper only let out a scoff, eyes narrowed faintly in accusation at his friend's laugh. 'Annoying' was, obviously the only part he'd taken issue with, because it was the only part he believed to be untrue. It wouldn't stop him, or shame him any to know they made out too much in public for other people's liking. It was a comfort to him that every time he reached out for Bella in public he found that she was already reaching back for him.

Kemper's brows knit together at the question, the promises he'd easily made Callie that he'd still be there for her if she needed. "Yeah. I mean not like 'see' obviously. But... I dunno. We'll run into each other, I told her I'd help her with stuff if she needed." The mention of the jealous streak that seemed to run deep within their partners brought one corner of his mouth up into a crooked grin.  That, and Bella being referred to as ‘his girl’. He wasn’t sure the shine would ever wear off that one.

She froze, hand going limp in his as she stared at him, her brain almost short-circuiting at the information. Of all the places she could’ve chosen to work, she’d chosen the one place that was run by Kemper’s new girlfriend? It seemed ridiculous, too ridiculous to be true, and yet it was. Her eyes pulled away from his as she gazed out the windscreen of the car, dusk beginning to creep in around them as the sun set, the car growing steadily more dark, cloaking them both in a shadowy light. 

After a couple of minutes of quiet, the only sound being their breathing, Callie cleared her throat, blinking away yet another set of tears as her eyes found his once more. Her mind felt suddenly clear, a sort of peaceful resolve settling over her. This was it. It was over. 

“You’re happy, huh,” she whispered, the tiniest, sad little smile appearing on her face. “You… you did it Kemp. You got out. You… you have this life, you… you’re making your own decisions,” she continued, her emotion evident in every word, voice cracking as she spoke. 

While this was a pretty horrible situation to be in, what she was saying was the truth. She had always hoped that Kemper would be able to break away from the hold his father seemed to have over him, and while she had thought that she would have been part of that, she couldn’t help but feel a kind of painful happiness for him now. 

“I’m so proud of you my darling,” she murmured, her hand moving to cup his jaw, thumb brushing over his cheekbone affectionately. 

The coincidence wasn't lost on Callie, Kemper could tell by her immediate reaction. Maybe it wasn't a coincidence at all, maybe it was ignorant to still believe in a thing like that in a place like this. He loved the city, more than any place he'd ever been, but sometimes it seemed like Opulence thrived on upsetting the lives of it's citizens. Fate seemed to offer more cruelty than kindness.

There seemed to be a small shift in  Callie, something like resignation, but warmer, when she spoke next. She smiled through teary eyes at him, and Kemper felt that ache in his chest again. She shouldn't have to be happy for him, she could be angry, she deserved that.

"Cal..." He lifted his hand to settle on hers, holding her soft palm against the side of his face as he took in a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I really am. You never deserved what I did to you. Running off like that... This happiness I've found... It should be yours."

          That was Hastalik’s nightmare, that Clara would return, regret having left Opulence, and decide she wanted to be with Hastalik as they had planned back in California. He’d never say yes, but he’d hate watching her face as he said no, hate that Jamie would worry, and ultimately, would hate having to deal with the fact it would be hard to say no. Not because he’d second guess things, he wouldn’t, but because he did love Clara, she’d taught him the truth of what his coven was, saved him in a way, he owed her so much, and seeing someone you loved, that did so much for you, hurt…well that fucking stung.

         “You didn’t…agree, right?” Hastalik asked because the fact Kemper didn’t clarify felt like maybe he had. If that was the case Hastalik didn’t really want to know, stomach churning at the idea of keeping a secret like that from Jamie because he’d tell Bella in seconds that Kemper was a cheat and a bastard. “You told her, ‘no way, I have an annoying blonde girlfriend I make out too much with at public events’?”

"Has!" Kemper interjected, the offense he took to the words clear on his features. He'd considered it a running competition between the pair of them, which one was more in love with their chosen partner. If there was anyone in town who could give Kemper's adoration for Bella a run for his money, it was Hastalik's near-worship of Jamie. He knew that Hastalik was maybe the one person who could understand how hard turning Callie down had been, but it stung to think that his friend might think him so weak as to give in.

"Sleeping in a bed, easy."

"Bella and I are just about to rewatch Supergirl, so I can't give that up, and she makes me smile so..."

"Can't say I've ever played... What a weird question."

"Selfishly... Yeah, a little. I know that's not fair. She deserves a chance at happiness just the same as me."

"More than me, actually. It's just such a big world and we both ended up in this city, you know."

"Oooh, this is going to be controversial."

"Be unsurprised, first off. Feel bad for the poor bastard secondly."

"Depends on who it is, and what they plan to do about it, really. Like Ryden cares for Bella, I know that, but he's not in love with her. That's a crucial difference."

Mariah was a contradictoryindividual. While she was absolutely certain that by in a years’ time she wouldin fact greet the true death with the help of an old friend, she was also herenow in Kemper’s office fantasising about setting up a kind of safe haven, as ifshe planned on staying longer in Opulence. But that was just how the old womanwas, one minute she was suicidal, the next she was making philanthropic plans witha complete stranger. Even at the age of sixty-four the woman had little to nocontrol over the personality disorder that she clearly struggled with, but thenshe had little to no control over anything. The only reason she wasn’t killingafter all was due to the Opulence given gift of visions of her victims heart’sdesire.  

“No, I would not presume toenforce hospitality and help on anyone” she answered slowly, obviouslyconsidering her next words as she spoke. “I’m not even sure if what I wouldoffer would really count as a business per say… but maybe when a newcomerarrives in town, it could be one of I’m sure many helpful options for them?”Mariah had been in the strange town for long enough now that she recognised thetown had many organisations and processes that she could only guess at. It wasa safe bet however, to assume that no such place existed like the one she wasenvisioning. She herself had arrived in town not long ago, lugging a picnic boxof stale blood around with her, and had unknowingly cosied up to a vampire thatmade murder all too easy. No one had identified that she had been an unstable,uncontrolled mess of a vampire with a tendency to tear warm blooded creatures’limb from limb, of if they had identified that, no one had stepped in to offerassistance. Well, besides Marie-Therese but that had only ended in violence…

“I mean, if I could offernewcomers a safe place to stay, and an environment where they can…get help foracclimating, or whatever kind of support they may need. Free of charge, just aclean bed and a meal, and continued housing until they sort something forthemselves”.

Mariah leaned back in herchair, pressing a cold fingertip to her lips as she considered.

“I know the motel is popularfor new residents, I never stayed there myself, but I can’t imagine that it’sthe same as staying in a residential establishment”. Thoughts of her own shithole apartment came to mind, and she squinted her eyes in thought. “I’d need tofind a bigger place, somewhere without mould damage…” she thought out loud, asshe processed ideas. “Less of a business, more like temporary accommodation forthose in need” she finally concluded, lifting her green eyed gaze back to the werewolfsat opposite her.  

Kemper's brows drew together, lines appearing in his forehead as he all but squinted at the vampire in his office. He continued to listen intently, to take Mariah's words into consideration. Her confidence seemed to be growing, a more clear idea of what she was imagining taking shape in her mind.

Unfortunately for Kemper, he had no such insight, and couldn't quite parse out what it was Mariah was planning to do. It sounded, to him, much like the Motel that already existed in town, with the exception that Mariah intended it to be meant for certain newcomers to Opulence. The problem Kemper foresaw, though, was that the people who needed the most help sometimes refused to seek it out. It was hard, he knew, to ask for help, to admit one's vulnerability in such a way.

Mariah had seemed to make a decision, without knowing that she'd left Kemper five steps behind her. He tapped his thumb against the desktop, a fidgeting motion as he picked his words. "Well, uh, if you find a place that works we can maybe write up a proposal if the need for funding arises. There will be a lot of questions," More than a couple from Kemper himself, probably, "But it sounds like you've got a plan."

Mariah listened intently. She was relieved to hear that Opulence already had programmes in place for creatures outside of the city, though not entirely surprised. The town seemed to her almost entirely too perfect which was as charming as it was grating. All the years she had spent in isolation, struggling to not kill, surviving on stale and old stolen blood bags, having no safety blanket or net to catch her when she slipped up and lost control. And now here she was in Opulence, where vampires ate cheeseburgers, people turned into dogs and humans were paid to civily offer their blood to the likes of Mariah.

She had been in Opulence long enough now and she knew certain people had certain expectations of her behaviour now, which to Mariah seemed unrealistically high. When thirty years of your life was spent one way, trying to change and adapt to an entirely new world was awkward. Mariah was an old woman despite what she looked like and she had been very set in her ways when she first arrived. Still was to some degree.

“I don’t know… like a half way house? For those whose behaviours and histories are not so in line with the more civilised and practiced here in Opulence.”

Mariah hadn’t even been sure of what she was going to say until she was saying it, but as she spoke she felt more confidence blossoming.

“I’m no expert… I’m challenged” which was a polite way of saying she was a blood junkie in recovery, that had to drink blood every couple of hours for fear of being overcome by a feeding frenzy! “But empathy goes a long way for creatures who have long been alone, and maybe haven’t gotten quite to grips with who they are or how to manage their new abilities… I don’t know, what do you think? As I said it’s an idea I just came up with so it’s not… polished and it doesn’t really… matter”

The blonde vampire trailed off then, not sure of what exactly she was now saying. She felt hugely invested now in an idea she had only just come up with but like always, she was very nervous of showing that eagerness only for Kemper to shut her suggestion down.

 Opulence had a farther reach than most of it's citizens probably knew about. Kemper had only ever scratched the surface until he set his sites on the council and earned a spot there. There was so much more he could have explained to Mariah, and would if the time ever came for it. She seemed like she'd appreciate all the things Kemper did. That didn’t mean there weren’t opportunities, though. There was only so much ‘outreach’ that could be done when you had to operate in secrecy. People were bound to slip through the cracks, to find themselves lost and alone and scared with no one to help them.

 Her words had him nodding, he knew he'd felt like a wild thing when he'd first arrived, untamed, untrained and always on edge. He'd been lucky to have fallen in with a pack, Ryden and another wolf friend had been there to guide and steady him. He had his concerns about the idea, but the heart of it seemed to be in the right place, and so Kemper didn't want to tear it apart.