“Oh that’s way cheaper. I’m better to look at than I am to talk to.” She nodded along to her own words. “It’s the whole being a bit of a mouthy cunt thing.”

.

Lorcan grinned, sure there were many people who would say the same thing about him. “That’s my second favorite kind of cunt.” Just to prove his own point. 

Andromeda stared back into the stranger’s face with artificial intensity rivaling his own. “Any stares lasting longer than six seconds are an upcharge.” She shrugged, big and wide. “Inflation, you know. There’s nothing I can do about it. Don’t hex the howler.” She took the pen from behind her ear and scribbled something on her receipt pad that had a lot of zeros behind it.

.

Lorcan raised a brow at the witch, amusement and interest in his eyes. “If a mere gaze costs me this much one wonders how much an unhindered moment of your time costs.”

esmeraldamacnair​:

Neither boy’s response was what Esmeralda had expected. She allowed herself a moment to feel some disappointment in that; not in them, but in her own quickness to judge. Once she’d felt it, she let it go. Very nearly she might have even considered a smile. 

Love and inspiration and destiny. None of their motives matched up, and yet in a way they were all still looking for the same thing. You could call it love, you could call it inspiration, you could call it anything. They all meant this: purpose. They were each here to fulfil their own life’s purpose. To love, to create, to mother.

“All my life I’ve known what it is that I want above all else. In many ways, maybe knowing that has absolved me of much anxiety, because there is nothing else in the world that matters so much to me. I want to be mother, one day.” It went without saying why she would need a partner—at least in the beginning—for that. 

.

Asher barely acknowledged Lorcan’s question, too busy casting a wary glance Esmeralda’s way. He didn’t mean to be rude, there was simply too much defensiveness in his posture with the other person at the table. His hackles were raised. Every wall, or piece of armor he could wear, he was currently donning. Ready to fight off whatever advancement she might wage on him. What greeted him instead of a sword was an admittance that struck a blow almost as brutal.

How strange it was to suddenly be surrounded by so much truth, and know that there was no hiding from it. Even more, how terrifying to hear Esmeralda’s words and find a pang of recognition in them. Fuck. “Most of my experiences with love are rather sudden. I know when I see someone.” He wished he didn’t say it. That the Veritaserum wasn’t working so brilliantly. Maybe then Lorcan’s question could’ve gone unnoticed, and he could shrink back away from Esmeralda’s inevitable gaze.

“I suppose in some ways, I want inspiration, too. Or maybe I just want to stop fucking up, and do better than my father ever did.”

@lorcxn​

Of all the things someone would come here for, Lorcan was not expecting motherhood to come from her lips, especially one who was paired with him. Not only was Lorcan not ready to be a father— he would never want to pass his affliction on to another. Guaranteeing torment seemed like the most unfatherly thing he could do to a child. Lorcan believed he would be an awful father for many reasons and therefore did not want to be one. 

If Esmeralda truly was looking here to find someone to sire her child— whatever animosity there was between her and Asher, he was still likely a better choice. Then he took her words and ran with them. Their similarities became glaringly obvious. For one reason or another, the network had taken the broken things and put them together as a form of tormented entertainment. Perhaps they would all learn from each other, perhaps it would end in murder, only time would tell. 

“I’d make a terrible father.” Lorcan admitted, “Even if I wanted to be better than my own— it’s best if I just don’t.” Lorcan had resolved themselves to a loveless and lonely life long ago. “Daddy issues are something I’m intimately familiar with.” He grinned— even under the effects of the serum, his need to be obnoxiously too much in the face of serious matters was ever-present.

“Sure, like some of them are ever going to fully acclimate,” said Bailey rolling her eyes. At least Bailey didn’t think she’d see peace in her lifetime. “Pretty sure half of them are still in denial of any of this. But suppose that’s what stage personas are for.”

.

“Probably not, but I don’t even think the ones who are open to magic are quite ready for my brand of stage persona.” He said with a grin. His entire schtick was that he was a vampire. Half of the people would want to burn him alive and then there would be the ones all too interested in his vampirism. “Nor am I ready for that kind of attention. Not yet anyway. Hate and fear from Wixen is one thing. I think coming from muggles will be an entirely different experience.”

“Well, you’ve got some fierce competition when it comes to muggle music,” said Bailey. “There’s just so much out there, you know.” And Bailey wasn’t really privy to pop culture of the moment. She liked what she liked and that was it. “And you know, now that may actually matter, entering those muggle markets.”

.

Lorcan grinned at the comment, “I’ve had my fair share of entanglements with muggles, though some of my older music might not fare well to them just yet. Let them have their introduction to magic fully before you spring me on them.” He couldn’t help but laugh. He’d likely be condemned on the spot. Which reminded him he needed to check in with Eve.

esmeraldamacnair​:

Pink painted her cheeks. Esmeralda Macnair could tell you many things, with or without the tea she sipped now, taking Lorcan’s cue. She could tell you how many bodies she’d prepared for a funeral that week, how to play one of the most difficult pieces of violin work ever composed, and about Hattie Hathaway’s corpse which she had reanimated and was now tied to forever. She hoped to avoid that last topic, but frankly not as much as she hoped to avoid the one she brought up instead.

It was the one thing she could not have said without the help of tea. “I’m actually blushing.” She held both hands out, palms to the boys. A wait, stop motion. “From embarrassment you’d say that aloud.” It did make her wonder about him though. What had brought each of them to this table? To sounded like boredom had been Lorcan’s motivator. And Asher’s… a lost dare? Sex? Esmeralda realized that in the few short moment’s she’d spent in this room with them, all she had done was assume things about both of her companions. It was very unlike the exercise they’d been given. What she should have been seeking from them was their truths. 

Esmeralda could, on occasion when the mood struck, be a little high strung. 

Whatever reason they were here, judgment wasn’t her motive. Into her seat, and her body, Esmeralda relaxed a little. “Maybe we should start by saying why were here.” 

.

Asher, keeping his eyes trained on the table, and now the cup of tea he was bringing to his mouth, was already filled with more regret than he thought possible. The simplest solution would have been to leave. To put a stop to the nonsense before he said anything that could result in far more than simply secrets being passed along.

The hot tea hit the back of his throat. Too late. The decision had been made by his own idle hands, itching for something to do. “Why am I here?” His voice felt like an echo, barely belonging to himself. 

He cleared his throat. The effects of the truth serum already forcing loose his tongue from the roof of his mouth. There would be no hiding today. “Love, I suppose. I wasn’t assuming all of this would be perfect, and it’d be instantaneous, but I wouldn’t have minded if that happened, either.” Above all else, Asher was a horrible romantic, destined to fall in and out of love until it became impossible to do so.

@lorcxn​

The pink in her cheeks was delightful. He bet it felt warm and the rush of blood wafted off of her in delicious waves overtaking the hints of death that permeated her skin. “I don’t believe in shame. There’s too much life to live to be embarrassed about anything.” Lorcan said simply with a shrug. He had much more life to live— more than most wizards would be granted lest he get himself killed. 

Lorcan’s attention moved to Asher, his response intriguing. “And you’ve taken that off the table already have you?” Lorcan asked curiously at the way Asher had phrased the response. Interest peaked in any potential history between his two partners. 

“I’m here for inspiration.” He admitted with raised brow as he looked back at Esmeralda. “It's your turn, love.”

“Oh, a musician,” repeated Bailey, looking mildly more interested. “So, what? You a solo artist or part of a band? Anything I might’ve heard?”

.

“Solo.” He responded still weary of the woman. “Lorcan d’Eath. I don’t know what you listen to, but my last single was number one the charts for like 20 weeks or something.”

“You’re not some sort of comedian or impressionist, are you? Because if you are, you’re not very good and ought to consider a new career.” She shrugged casually. “I might be the best or worst person you’ll ever meet.” 

.

“No, I’m not a fuckin’ comedian.” He snapped, irritation on the rise which had nothing to do with this witch. “A musician.”

esmeraldamacnair​:

WHEN: 6 February 1981 WHERE: Some empty cafe, somewhere WHO: @asheravery & @lorcxn​

Esmeralda’s disappointment was acute to walk into this competition and see Asher Avery, but it would not deter her from her purpose for signing up in the first place. One day she would have a daughter, and though Esmeralda could raise the dead she could not make a child on a her own. 

She closed her eyes, counted to three, and then as she exhaled steadily through the nose sat down at a seat between the two men, one foe and one foreign. Esmeralda wasted no time in adding sugar, and lots of it, to her Truth Tea. Only then did she speak up. “I didn’t realize this would be a group assignment.” 

.

To say Asher was nervous would’ve been the understatement of the century. His life was one filled with many secrets, facts he didn’t wish for anyone to know under any circumstance. There was too much to say, and never enough words to explain away every horrible thing he had ever done. Maybe if it was just Lorcan he wouldn’t have minded. A stranger in all regards. But Esmeralda?

He could feel the heat of her eyes, even if she wasn’t paying him any mind at all. She discomforted him. Undressed his mind and his soul with just a simple judging glance. “Let’s get this over with.” Asher had wanted love, not the money, and now he knew with certainty he wouldn’t get either.

@lorcxn​

.

Lorcan watched the nonexchange with interest. Money was of no object to him— he had entered into this competition with the intent of finding inspiration. Momentary love perhaps though nothing lasting. Nothing ever lasted. Addressing Esmeralda first he grinned, devilish and handsome. “Oh— I specifically requested a threesome.” 

Sipping his veritastea as if it were any other Sunday— or whatever day it happened to be, his gaze moved to Asher. “Got somewhere else to be?” He asked as if this task weren’t as much of a risk for himself as it might be for his companions. “I, for one, am looking forward to taking my time with you both. Really getting in there and getting to know you.”

“No idea,” said Bailey. “Never been the creative sort. You think you’ve peaked, maybe?” 

.

Lorcan’s eyes narrowed at the busybody. “No— I don’t think I’ve peaked.” He said in an imitation of her voice. “Who are you?”

“Isn’t that when you would go about getting a new muse or something?” she said. She knew perfectly well that the conversation wasn’t for her, but if people were going to be talking into their iFlowns out loud, she may as well contribute. 

.

His green eyes moved slowly to the voice who had interrupted his call. Hanging up with his management, he raised a brow at her. “And it’s just that easy is it?” He questioned. “Oh, just go about getting a new muse or something, why didn’t I think of that?!”

“That’s the problem though, innit? I can’t get you any new bloody music because I’m fucking blocked.” Lorcan hissed into his iFlown.

“The 20th of December. Ballycastle Community Church. We’re putting on two shows. One at 6 and the other at 8.” If he could find his way here now, he shouldn’t have any issue the day of. 

“I’ll be there.” He grinned, holding out his arm to her. “Now why don’t you show me around this charming little town.”

Eve kept looking at him under the guise of suspicion, though it was softened now by the compliment. Nothing made her more pliable than the promise of being looked at as though she were the best. Because she was. Extraordinary. Beyond attractive. The pinnacle of human existence. “A few days from now. Are you interested?” Less about the play, and more about her. Eve wanted everyone interested in her.

“Interested in watching you portray the deliverer of our Savior— I do think I’d like to see that, yes.” He smiled. Eve really was a very interesting piece of work, the way she moved and presented herself, much different than each of her sisters. Though he supposed most families needed at least one sociopath. Of course there was the chance that he was totally wrong, only time would tell.

Eve flinched at the voice that was much closer than she could’ve anticipated. No one came here, so what was he doing here? “Exactly how much of that did you hear?” She wasn’t embarrassed over her performance. In fact, she was ready to ask him his opinion, to ensure that she was just as brilliant as she thought herself to be.

.

“Enough to know that you’re a natural Mary.” He smiled at her, full to the brim of shit. “When's the show?”