a storm brews

When she heard the door open, she looked up and straightened slightly. “I broke into your place and am planning on stealing your cat,” she called, hoping to alert him to her presence without alarming him. She smiled fondly at the cat and gently stroked his side a few times, then closed the book and set it aside. @luciantallis

She wasn’t going to touch the woman’s clothing, leaving them on the floor where the remaining droplets of rain could burn nothing but perhaps the floor. She winced as she saw the burns on the woman’s shoulders and face. It looked painful. She could only hope that the witch was able to heal it herself, but her offer still stood. “I swear when we catch them we should put them in a room with all of the things they created. See how they like to be on the receiving end of things.” How was the human world going to explain this? Acid rain with some weird red particles colouring the liquid? Vulcano eruption? Doubtful. But most were gullible by nature, others would most likely predict the end of the world. “Don’t be crazy, I might even give you a key just to make sure you’ve got multiple places to run to.” The huntress spoke, making her way further into the apartment. “Now you go take that shower – or at least wash yourself up. You’ll feel better.” 

“Not a bad idea, honestly, let them deal with this shit for a change,” she agreed, then sighed heavily. The witch invited herself into her friend’s bathroom and turned on the sink, then began to rinse off some of the stinging blood on her face, leaving just the burns and not the cause of them. The coolness was a relief--after being in rain that felt like fire, it was practically a blessing.

“Honestly, if you find yourself in the village and need cover for a bit, you can hit me up too,” she said as she turned off the sink. “I think once I get home I can... I don’t know. Charm a few items of clothes to completely repel the rain. Or make Corrina do it because she’s better at it.”

It seemed the sisters were on the same wavelength. Corrina stood in the center of the kitchen, leaning on the marble counter as she spun a wooden spoon on the vast island. Using magic to distract herself was easy and something she’d done since she could talk. She’d come a long way, now hardly needing an incantation of any kind unless she was planning something big. Not moving at first after she heard the first slam of what could only be one of the many doors upstairs, she took her time pushing off from the counter and standing upright in her spot. The blonde moved leisurely throughout her home, stopping for nothing as she followed the noise. At first she stood, just watching her sister throw open the door, getting a glance of her each time before it was pulled shut again with ridiculous force. “Laine,” the name tumbled from her half parted lips. “Are you okay?”

At the sound of her name, the elder witch startled and looked up, only to slam the door once more in Corrina’s face. It was probably a good sign, being able to do simple things without requiring words or a lot of focus, but apparently there were adverse side effects. She stood and zipped to the door to open it, then offered her sister an apologetic looks.

“How long was I doing that?” she asked, then shook her head. “Nope, nevermind, don’t wanna know that I’ve been slamming the door for thirty minutes or something stupid,” she continued before the other could answer, waving her hand dismissively. “I’m fine though, just... I dunno. Concentrating? I’ve been stealing books from Luc and trying to teach myself.” The words fell from her lips in a steady stream, fueled by mild embarrassment and a strange spark of curiosity. When she quieted, she sucked in a great breath and exhaled evenly. “Uh. Anyway. You’re good too? I didn’t wake you up?”

          Julian was more nonplussed at the possibility that he expected a more tame reaction when presented with how he so haphazardly grabbed the arm of another. New Yorkers were their own special breed of hostile, a virulent stretch of a frosty exterior being the main fact of most keeping to themselves within the city limits. All the same, from what Julian had witnessed when it came to this pernicious rain fall, he could only act in the moment, being swiftly met with a jab to the toes and an elbow to the ribs. Now, the latter he surely felt, letting out a rasped cough as the wind was near sucked out of him, Laine hitting just the right spot. He could double over for half a moment, grasping at his side as means for recovery, before finally sucking in a sharp breath and shaking his head, a pained laugh escaping him. “You’re lucky that I lost any feeling in my toes when I was like fifteen, I think.” Gravelly timbre resonated with how accurate her hit had been, still putting on a convivial expression that showed it meant no hard feelings. 

“I’m an asshole,” the witch lamented, then hissed a sigh between her teeth as she awkwardly patted the hunter’s shoulder. There wasn’t much she could do--it’s not like she caused any real damage, except perhaps to that of his pride. He managed not to look furious, however, which allowed a small smile to creep across the blonde’s lips. “You’re okay though? We both know Lola would kill me if you weren’t,” she said, joking gently. As the rain began to pour harder, Laine took a step back further under the awning and lightly tugged Julian’s arm to pull him in with her as nightmarishly thick blood splashed and stained everything in its path bright, awful red. “Doesn’t this shit inconvenience them, too?” she asked after a beat, glancing at the hunter.

She had been home safely for a while now, albeit with a whining Scout wanting to be walked, not yet understanding the seriousness of the red downfall. He went wild when someone pounded on her door but it was the fact that Calypso recognised the door that she told him to be quiet, rushing towards the door that she opened in a frenzy. “Laine! Oh my God, come inside!” A worried gaze was cast to the woman, hands already moving to take off her jacket. “Take off your shoes, we’ll get you in the shower and I’ll get something for the burns. My God, are you all right?” 

The second the door opened, the witch launched herself inside, divesting herself of the jacket and shoes at breakneck speeds. Thankfully, the jacket kept off most of the chemical effects of the rain, but it had seeped in a few places, leaving mild burns on her shoulders. The worst was her face, which burned so fiercely it brought tears to her eyes, and that didn’t help things in the slightest. 

“I’m okay, just--ah--” The witch peeled off her shirt and winced, then sighed heavily in relief as some of the burning stopped as a result. “Honestly, fuck these people,” she mumbled. “I owe you, Cali.”

“I tend to stick to magical brews when I’m in the mood for actually inebriation,” the CEO chuckled, following the younger woman. It was obvious to her that the Tallis witch was a bit unsure about how to proceed around her. It was an interesting chance from Lucian, whom was incredibly comfortable in her presence. “I assume you’re referring to when I was alive and magically inclined. Go ahead.”

Thankfully, Mallory followed, content to let the young witch pick her brain for a while. Growing up, Laine might have killed for the chance to ask the original about magic and her life, eager to learn all she could to live up to her family’s name, but now it came from a place of genuine curiosity, tempered slightly by her natural, slight fear of the elder woman. She picked up a glass of white wine and took a sip. It wasn’t the best, but wine was wine. “Did magic evolve? I mean... you know, like technology has? I mean I suppose things might have changed a little, but...” Her voice trailed off. There was so much she wanted to ask, but she forced herself to keep somewhat quiet in hopes of not coming off like a lunatic.

          The initial onslaught of rain had left many on edge, the crimson essence of such liquid proving to be unnerving at best Julian taking to the streets in typical fashion between each break between the madness. Any drop that had touched calloused fingertips burned and he had been attempting to diverge home for the sake of his girlfriend who never dared to pick up her phone at the right damned time. All the same, many New Yorkers had continued to be enraptured within their own superficial bubbles, Julian snagging somebody practically by the collar as the tainted storm began to hail down once more, dragging them unceremoniously beneath a bodega overhang. “Be out of place to make a joke about being envious of raining cats and dogs right?” Breath was huffed out at the other, a gauche greeting consider he had near yanked them from their hazardous spot on the street. 

In the past, if someone had grabbed her so fiercely, Laine might have made them regret it with something akin to a mighty static shock, but her time distanced from magic made her react differently, more physically. This meant instead of a thanks, the blonde witch’s knee-jerk reaction was to slam a heel into her attacker’s toes and jam her elbow into his ribs. When she turned, ready to fight, the rain began and she realized this was Julian Rhodes, not one who meant her ill-will but instead intended to drag her out of the path of the red rain that now fell at her back.

“Oh shit-- fuck-- Julian I’m so--” She winced visibly and covered her mouth with her hands. “Oh my god.”

“We can definitely go rock climbing, cheri. Have you ever been? It’s quite exhilarating,” Remi smirked, moving to lean back against the headboard. She’d climbed the Andes when she’d backpack in South American. It had been awesome and she knew Laine would absolutely love it.

“I mean... bouldering on a sheer rock face while hammered probably doesn’t count,” the blonde said with a giggle. “The real thing would be so fun though... I’m itching to travel again, just to get out of the city.”

Mallory laughed as the witch’s face flushed with color. “There is alcohol,” she replied, resting her elbow against the table and sett her empty glass down. “I do drink and vampire can get drunk. Though, it takes several bottles of hard liquor for it to happen. Unless the libations are enchanted that is.”

“Bottles?” Laine balked, her light eyes meeting the original’s for a moment before her gaze flicked away in search of the supposed alcohol. She spotted a small table with wine and slowly began to head that way, but she was loathe to leave the other woman’s side. “I think I’d get bored before I got drunk, which would be truly sad,” she said with a chuckle. “Can I ask... um. Can I ask about when you were younger?” she continued, her tone delicate. After a thousand years, things had certainly changed, but where inebriation was a relatively safe topic, she didn’t want to upset Mallory by potentially bringing up a painful subject.

This damn cold. Piper was spending more money on tissues and flu medicine than she was on food recently. Holding a coffee carefully in one hand, she searched for the packet of tissues she’d stashed in her coat. She continued to walk as she rummaged. She’d been so amused by the amount of pockets this coat had when she’d bought it. Now? Now, she sifted through in frustration. As her hand slipped into the inside of her coat, searching the inside pocket, she collided with someone. Her coffee spilled over the both of them, as she staggered backwards, pulling her hand free, with a packet of tissues between her fingers. She cursed.

The coffee burned, and almost instantly, the blonde witch’s temper ignited. Cheeks reddened and fire burned through her veins as the urge to shout pressed just behind her teeth, threatening to sear just as much as the errant cup of coffee. “Watch where you’re walking,” she said finally, managing to take some of the edge out of her tone just as the words left her lips. You can clean this up in five minutes, once she’s gone, she reminded herself.

Zinnia: Give a random fact about yourself.

I can do parkour pretty well? Like... without magic. Run, jump, launch myself off dangerous places and usually not get hurt--that sort of thing.

Sunflower: What is something you don’t want to imagine life without?

My family. I’m a cliche. 

Prairie Gentian: Who is someone you look up to? Describe them.

Okay. Um... she’s gorgeous and well-dressed, fearless, and honestly I was a little afraid of her for a while, but Lucian’s always... around the Bordeauxs and I trust his judgement on this one thing alone. If I ever wanted to aspire to follow in someone’s footsteps, it would probably be hers. Pissing off old straight dudes is basically my life goal and she gets to do it probably every day. @mallorybordeaux

Lupine: What does your name mean? Why is that your name?

Black-Eyed Susan: If you could be any animal for a day, what would it be?

Some kind of bird. A sparrow or a cardinal maybe.

Bergenia: Are you a morning or night person?

Candytufts: When do you feel most loved?

I don’t know. When people worry about me, I guess? Not that I particularly like being worried about, but... I guess it shows they care. Whatever, I don’t know.

Vervain: What’s stressing you out most right now?