libertine

— lucian noct rush. new blood. alpha of the novus pack. an original character made for sinistra academaie.    written by p. 

-

“Very new. I’m Aurora,” she offered with a forced smile, fighting back her desire to leave the alpha’s presence immediately and never look back. “I don’t really want to just get by - I need to understand. I don’t really understand and everything is so new and you’d think after living this way for year, I’d have it figured it out but things make even less sense at Sinistra than they did in the real world.” 

 No one fought for food and punishments seemed few and far between. She couldn’t figure out if it was just because it was a school or if the way Anita had run things was the outlier. The attack at the ball had been terrifying but they seemed to only target the witches. Rubbing her shoulder, Aurora shrugged. “You’ve made it three years here - do things start to make sense eventually?”

-

Oh, she was serious about this. He supposed he couldn’t fault her for that. Lucian perched himself on the bench as she spoke, leaning back onto his palms with his head tilted up. Listening. Her comment about spending a year out in the real world didn’t escape his notice, though rarely did anything, and he made a mental note. 

If that wasn’t enough to further pique his interest, her question was. After a low hum as he thought it over, he shrugged. “As much as they can make sense, sure. As much as it needs to make sense.” A pause. “But you see, that’s the beauty of it. You don’t have to fully understand it when you simply just do things your own way.” It was how he lived. “And..as far as the class is concerned, if you want someone to quiz you or help you study, I’d be happy to help. The basics are all you need, if you ask me, but if you’re committed to memorizing the whole damn thing, be my guest. But practically speaking, not every pack is going to go by the book. Mine certainly doesn’t.” 

That’s certainly a response and it has Victoria confused more than on edge. Eyebrows shoot up in surprise, then furrowed together a moment later trying to determine if this is him or just a dramatic. Fellow werewolf.. An Alpha at that. Standing quickly, dropping his arm from her grip. “Sorry- getting used to this whole being a person thing again.” His offer to take her directly there is a relief and Victoria shoves her things into the bag, nodding enthusiastically. “I’m Victoria. You are..?”

“Is everything a joke to you?” It’s a muttered question, but a genuine one. How this child had any dreams of becoming an Alpha, Nathan had no idea. Still, this crop of new bloods that the school was opening its arms to seemed to have picked the cream of the crop, if they were looking for a challenge. With a sigh, he reaches for a folder and slides it over to Lucian. “No, this is about your.. aspirations. And the reason you’re in this class. You and I both know you’ll need to work overtime to prove yourself to your peers. And, if I am to be perfectly honest, you’ll need to prove yourself to me, as well. Though, I’m sure you knew that.” At that, he opens the folder and taps to the side where there are a few papers. “These are extra resources to help you along that endeavor. Books, other professors with stories to tell who are more open to the turned challenging their place in society, that sort of thing.”

“Does everything have to be so serious for you?” Lucian shot right back, without hesitation. The folder slid across the table and he stopped it with his hand, peering down at it once the other turned it open. Though a blip of interest flickered across his face, he still kept a casualness air about him. 

The paper in their hands helped. They immediately started ripping it into the tiniest pieces as they stared out at the rest of the hall. Her leg still bounced, but it eased some. “Thanks. Sorry, bad habits and all.”  A few more rips of the paper, and she switches gears to folding it first then ripping. “God, I know. Logically, I know that.” She heaves a sigh and moves her neck, going to rub it - a soreness settling in that hasn’t happened since she was human. “I just wish they would tell us what’s going on.”

open.

   “i certainly see the downsides of this day but i would rather see the positives - you can discover yourself in a new way.” she stated from her spot on the bench, her gaze was staring over to the conservatory. the herbalist always felt better around nature, there was comfort in the familiar and in truth the events of the last week or so were far from familiar.

    “perhaps people will see this as a challenge if anything, prove this minor inconvenience is nothing but that a minor inconvenience.”

-

All that optimism and goodness in her, Lucian wondered where it all came from. In his opinion, certainly misplaced here and he didn’t have the tact (thanks to whatever this supposed minor inconvenience was) to hold his tongue back. “That’s easy for you to say, you aren’t the one actively dealing with it. I don’t see you listless and pathetic. Sorry to say, I don’t believe your good vibes will chase this one away.” 

“Though it is curious how none of you old ones are impacted by this. Care to comment?” He needed more information. More perspective. A few years into this world and he still felt like the new kid grasping onto any threads within reach. 

( @lucianofsin ) If there was one person in this academy that Amy trusted to be cunning enough to know how to deal with this solstice situation (other than herself), it was Lucian. The Witch barely had the energy to get out of bed since her magic was drained, but she found enough enough strength to find the werewolf, grabbing him by the hand and taking him to the first isolated room she could find. No pleasantries were needed, all it took was one look to know what this was about. “Tell me you have a plan, Lucian,” she began, crossing her arms in front of her body. “You always have a plan. I can’t stay like this for too long, it’s humiliating.”.

-

The look on her face told him everything he needed to know. This was about this...circumstance they were all under suddenly. He let out a harsh, frustrated sigh, a hand running through his hair before motioning through the air dramatically. Though, this time, it was less for the additional flair and more because he was always one to speak with his hands when frustrated. “Look around, Amy, you aren’t the only one suffering. Honestly, I’ve been thinking more about all the ways in which I could maim whoever, whatever is responsible for this, rather than an actual plan.” It left his lips all at once through grit teeth, in one breath, tone growing angrier and louder by the syllable. “I mean, look at these nails. Do they look as if they’re meant for maiming? No, right? That’s because they aren’t and neither am I.” 

Another harsh exhale and he pinched the bridge of his nose. His feet moved on their own accord and he paced. He wasn’t someone who paced. This was maddening. “My apologies. I — “ A hard swallow and his tone hushed considerably, though with much effort. “Listen, you’re the 8th new blood, excluding myself, to have this problem. It’s all of us, clearly. I’ve seen you in the library, I know what you’re capable of. Has anything like this happened before? I can’t think like this, we need to work together.” 

As a turned wolf, Lucian was feeling the effects of whatever it was making its way through the campus. He had not a damn clue what it was. But everyone was feeling it. Well — not everyone. Only the new bloods, as far as he could tell, but he needed to do more digging. This was suspicious. Almost as suspicious as the old blood families departing the welcoming ball far too early. Almost as suspicious as the drained magi. 

who: anyone (open) where: boveri courtyard

Her head was bent, lips moving silently as she read from the textbook in her lap. Despite it’s subject, Sinistra was very familiar to the university she’d attended pre-transition. If it wasn’t for the magic, vampires, and literal void in the basement, Aurora could almost pretend she was back home. Almost. Flipping the page, she started to read the next sentence and quickly stopped with a growl. It made no sense - turning the last page back, she scanned it before groaning - apparently, nothing she read had actually sunk in. 

A wave of irrational anger shot through her and before her brain could catch up, Aurora threw the book across the courtyard. The loud ‘thunk’ caused a few heads to turn her way and she flushed with embarrassment. “Sorry, sorry,” she mumbled, scurrying over to where her book lay open on the ground, pages open flat against the ground. 

“Is there even a point to this?” she said, mostly to herself. Picking up the book, she started t o head back to where her bag was leaning against a stone bench, just as a shadow crossed her path. “I’m sorry about that,” she said sheepishly, assuming the person had just seen her temper tantrum. “Who knew pack dynamics could be so frustrating?”

-

Lucian had long taken to keeping track of any 1st year wolves. New blood or otherwise, of course. He had a pack to build. A new world to conquer. Fun to be had. Above all else, there was power in knowledge. So when he first caught the other’s scent upon his passing through the courtyard to the caves, it gave him pause. So much so that the Alpha stopped in his tracks to approach. It was then that the book went flying and his brows jumped in interest. 

He’s been there. He’s still finds himself there on occasion. The unbridled anger, particularly for a wolf without a pack. It was tough. And it pulled at an unfamiliar, yet not unwelcome, part of him. Sympathy, maybe? Or was it that he thought he could find use out of this? 

“You’re fine. It happens.” He waved it off with a gesture of his hand as he stepped closer, walking with her as she made her way to the bench. “I’m Lucian. 3rd year. You must be new, yes? I had a pretty tough time with that class, as well. So. Don’t feel bad. You look smart, I’m sure you’ll grasp enough of it to pass the class, at least.”  

Sitting in the middle of the courtyard, papers spread around and staring intently at the map, Victoria sits lost. “Huge.” Muttered to themself, turning the map in every direction trying to figure out where her next class is. A body passes by and she grabs them, without thinking, to get attention and stop them to help her. “Where is the Alpha class?” 

closed starter for @lucianofsin​

Class today had gone well. Of course, it was only going over the syllabus for the year, but he’d been able to get a good look at most of the newer students - including two in particular that he had his eye on for different reasons. Lucian, however, he’d told to stay after class. Not wanting to stand due to the flare that seemed to be spreading fire up his hip, he looked up and waved the young man over. “Alright. Sit, if you will, and let’s have a chat.”

He should have expected this, if the welcoming ball was any indication. Clearly the other had plans for him or he wouldn’t have specifically asked if Lucian had any intentions of taking his class. When the older Alpha waved him over, he sent his little pals off with a nod of his head and sat in front of the desk before him. “This isn’t about the dirty joke I made earlier is it? I thought it was an excellent ice breaker.” He quipped with an arch of his brow and a teasing grin. 

closed starter for @lucianofsin​

“Hypothetically.. very hypothetically, on a scale of one to ten, how stupid would it be for me to try and leave campus this weekend?” It’s genuinely not a serious question, but her leg is bouncing and she’s chewing on the edge of her fingernail as if it might relieve some of the anxiety coursing through her. Hissing as they accidentally pull at a hangnail, they shake their hand while it heals and turns their attention back to Lucian, “It just feels weird waiting on the other shoe to drop, you know?”

-

The wolf who’d helped inspire his outfit had a point, it was similar to the one that the witch, Amy, had brought up as well. The hall seemed too empty, and apparently it was out of the norm for the people who’d acted as escorts - the older generations, the alumni, and Nik’s family in particular, had disappeared. It came as more of a breath of fresh air, the tightness the witch had felt in his chest softened considerably and paired with Lucian he felt a little more uninhibited than he usually did. “You can take some of the credit, I was going to go with all black but I thought a little paint, and a lot of magic might enhance the whole thing.” It was a small step towards an identity that was more himself, but he was grateful to the other’s encouragement anyways. “I’ll play, uh-” he’d had a drink already so his tongue was a bit looser than usual, “fuck him for sure, um, marry her I guess. She seems nice, we could have a great, platonic family and I don’t want to kill her.” Nik spotted the flash of tube socks under the hem of a dress pant and scowled, “Then kill him  for sure, what are those, Nike?” Without gesturing to anyone in particular, Nik looked to Lucian. “Your turn.”

-

“I will happily and gladly take as much credit as you’re willing to give me, handsome, don’t you worry. Stick with me, I’ve got all kinds of good advice I can give you.” Really, he couldn’t care less about the credit. Back at the Boutique he was only using using the outfit as an excuse to dig for more information on the new student before him. Shamelessly, his eyes took in Nik’s outfit. As if he didn’t already take it in and a brand new fascination and appreciation were taking hold. When he looked to the crowd Lucian followed his gaze. Even grimacing at the odd choice of tube socks on the random man in the crowd. 

“Ah, let’s see. Marry her, kill them, and...” He turned to Nik with mischief. The way he seemed to carry himself just screamed he needed someone like Lucian to come along and shake things up.  “...fuck you.” 

“You have your moments.” It was the best she could do to save herself and everyone else in the immediate proximity from Lucian’s ego, however charming it could be. A night like that the ball for Amy wasn’t for relaxing or for partying, quite the opposite, but at least being in the presence of an equal in both mind and swagger. She accepted his compliment with a light shrug, “dressing to impress is kind of my thing. Which is why it’s annoying that there aren’t more people here to look at me.” Her words weren’t that far from the truth, though she unfortunately doubted she would be invited into a coven because of a well picked dress. “Don’t tell me you wouldn’t like seeing them drooling over you.”

The thought of it was nice — outnumbering old bloods, feeling on top of the world for once instead of having to claw her way to a spotlight. But that was temporary. Wherever the old bloods were, they would be back tomorrow or the day after that. No, if Amy wanted to be someone, she had to join them. Much like… “Who the hell do you mean by ‘us’, alpha?” she replied with a stabbing look, not a little envious that Lucian had the opportunity to become one in the first place. “And I’m not sad, I’m curious. Something has to be going on. Don’t expect me to believe this is a coincidence.”

-

He chuckled at that but let it rest. This was Amy he was talking to, of course she wasn’t going to give him an easy compliment. “No, no, believe me, I get it. I’m dressed like this for a reason, of course I’d want everyone in my vicinity unable to keep their eyes off me.” Once more, his brows jumped in surprise at the way she looked at him. Her piercing tone. It didn’t phase him much, however. “I mean us new bloods, of course. Contrary to the way history has gone down between all of our kind, I say we handle things differently. There’s no reason for us to feud when we can stick together. And I might be an Alpha but my pack is nothing compared to the ones that have been around for longer than I’ve been alive.” A slight pause. “At least not yet.” 

Under his breath, “Alright, I’ll give you that. It is a bit suspicious. And...depending on why these old asses have disappeared, I suppose it can be useful to me. How about you let me know if you find anything interesting out and I do the same in return?” At first, he didn’t much care for their vanishing act. But the more people whispered about it, the more the people around him pressed — he found himself wondering. It would have been unwise to not keep himself in the know. 

He noted the slight clench of Lucian’s jaw and allowed himself a tight smile. At least they were both getting on each other’s nerves. A small comfort. “Your choice of emotion is interesting.. telling. Scared? No, not at all. Worried for the future of our species? Yes. It’s my job to make sure you don’t allow those ambitions to get to your head, and destroy the fragile balance we have here at Sinistra. But if you’re scared - though, of what, I’m not sure.. possibly going unnoticed? - we have plenty of guidance counselors to help you come to the proper decision about your.. pack.” He tips his glass to Lucian with a wink. “Come find me once we start classes and we’ll evaluate your propensity for being an Alpha.”

Maybe a part of him was scared. His ambitions were big, he knew, and it was only natural to fear it all come crumbing down before it was even realized. The tone with which Nathaniel spoke had the corner of his brow twitching and the irritation from before easily gave way to carefully veiled anger. He was raised to hold himself a certain way and though his human life was largely left behind, he refused to leave that behind. He was Lucian Rush and Lucian Rush did not fight like an animal, despite his newly acquired instincts that said otherwise. 

-

“I looked at myself in the mirror before I left.” They huffed a bit, feeling very put on the spot by his line of questioning - and mocking behavior. When she was human, there were many times where she got slapped in the face with the very tone of voice he was using now. It made her even more uncomfortable. “It could have been Amy, Luc. That’s all. And if it’s not, maybe they’ll look at me as a suspect - it’s a lot to take in, alright? And I thought dances were supposed to be fun, anyways. Like someone cute asks you to dance and you don’t think about everything for like an hour or two. I think I was lied to.”

-

Beck simply chose to exist mostly to the side at this whole affair, not really intending to stand out amidst all the wonderfully dressed people milling about the area. He’d kept his eye on a few people, some because they meant something to him in one way or another, and others as they were prone to causing trouble and he wanted to get ahead of it. The compliment drew his attention, vaguely amused wry smile touching his lips. “Thanks. I’ll let the folks at the boutique know that their efforts are appreciated.” 

He sipped from the glass of whiskey in his hand, gaze trailing over his sudden conversational companion’s own outfit. The crop top was a choice but he wasn’t judging. Clearly they had the confidence to pull it off. Good for them. Not all the oldies, he thought, but kept that to himself. FMK got a hell of an eyebrow raise, lowering his glass. “As trustworthy as you seem I think the rumor mill gets fed well enough without my contributing.”

-