Kareem   knew   exactly   what   would   entail   if   he   accepted   her   offer,   and   if   he   would   be   completely   honest   with   himself   and   others,   the   witch   didn’t   know   if   he   would   be   ready   for   what   it   would   mean   to   his   integrity.    “   I   appreciate   it,   Charvitha.   ”    Kareem   bowed   his   head   in   a   thankful   way,   his   free   hand   resting   inside   his   pocket   while   the   other   witch   spoke.   Indeed   it   was   a   tempting   offer,   but   Kareem   had   also   been   taught   that   whatever   the   Goddess   gave,   she   could   also   take   back,   and   he   wasn’t   ready   to   give   that   up   because   he’d   decided   to   be   selfish   for   a   change.   There   were   several   differences   between   himself   and   Vitha,   and   however   annoyed   and   betrayed   he’d   felt   with   her   actions   towards   him,   it   was   hard   not   to   feel   for   her.   They   had   been   friends   once.   Good   ones,   at   that.   Or   so   he   thought. “   Look,   if   I’m   being   honest,   I’d   like   to   do   something,   too.   ”    He   said   with   a   shrug.   Kareem   had   lived   and   loved   Portum   all   his   life,   and   even   though   there   were   many   things   he   didn’t   agree   with   when   it   came   to   how   the   town   worked,   and   knew   it   would   take   probably   centuries   to   change   these   people’s   mentality   and   embrace   change,   maybe   they   could   start   now.    “   I   know   we’ve   talked   in   the   past,   but   I’d   like   to   listen   with   fresh   ears   this   time.   ”    Last   time   they’d   talked   about   it,   Kareem   had   been   too   angry,   hurt   and   upset   with   his   own   personal   issues   with   Charvitha   to   actively   pay   attention.   That   was   something   he’d   like   to   change.    “   And   see   how   I   can   help.   ”

their appreciation actually seems genuine, which makes charvitha feel like maybe he's starting to see she didn't always have the worst intent. what's more surprising is that she doesn't sense any judgement either. a common thread in her life was feeling the eyes of condemnation upon her when she was truly seen. her sisters weren't like that either; disagreements existed, keeping them apart, but their bond was strong despite the distance. vitha never really thought she'd have that with another witch besides them and bisma. she only nods back in response, glad for some sort of understanding between the two. do something ... fresh ears ... help. for a moment, her mind spins, going to a place that wants to exploit this. and then her eyes drop. feeling bad? remorse? charvitha sighs and looks up at kareem, changing her mindset. ❝ i'm really glad you're open to talking. ❞ her eyes glance over to bisma and fang and then back up at kareem. ❝ maybe you can stop by after we drop this stuff off? ❞ a private, protected setting would be better. the siphon didn't like to risk anyone overhearing anything she didn't want heard. and her place ensured outside ears, with or without supernatural hearing, wouldn't be able to.

❝ it's a good thing none of it is for you, ❞ she jabs, but shoots the ghost a smirk and she gets another box, placing some items in it. ❝ i have some boxes marked by size to make things easier, ❞ she points out while continuing to . the words that come from ender seem a little too sweet for the gorgon. and for the other, for that matter. it almost makes hansa recoil like a serpent, triggered by what she feels is phoney behavior. ❝ oh yeah, i'm a great source of entertainment. ❞ maybe if it was someone she knew better, the words wouldn't have left a sour taste in her mouth. and she knew she already had some reservations about ender, but she just didn't believe the overly nice comments.

                                                                                         «   time   skip   »

for some reason, adelaide's dreams and visions kept leading her out to the woods. she used to try and not read into them, let whatever happened happen. but feeling furthest from herself than she ever had, figuring out whatever her magic was trying to tell her seemed like a good idea. maybe doing it on her own wasn't, but she didn't know who else to go to with this. in the past, adelaide would probably have convinced a friend to at least join her on her crazy outing. but lately much of her social battery was nonexistent; probably a symptom throughout the town. yet it seemed she often didn't need to seek anyone out. bad ass being a term not often used for adelaide, she can't help but perk up a little, smirk thrown the warlock's way, momentarily. ❝ or somethin. ❞ flowers, she'd found, were really nothing in comparison to the hold she and the trees had over each other. ❝ things just feel like they make a bit more sense out here, ❞ said as she glimpses over at him while they walk. ❝ and is it by myself if you keep tagging along? ❞ not that she minded. ade was never one to push people away; even on these dark days, she didn't have it in her.

charvitha is somewhat caught off guard by the brazenness in which the other speaks, sounding as if he's sorry he missed out on such a fight. maybe it shouldn't be so surprising in portum, where some lie more in the shades of gray than one might think. but with everyone full of melancholy these days, she doesn't expect to hear someone talk about the attack in such a manner. ❝ i'm sure it will once the shock of it all wears off. ❞ she even lets some of the shock read on her face to assist her slight redirect of just how experienced she is in similar matters. at the offer, vitha takes a seat, glad to be offered more time with the stranger. something about his words strike a chord, though. the wrong one. so much so that it's work to keep her face from twisting into a snarl. instead, just taking a beat to think. ❝ i guess that depends on what one thinks a monster is. i'd say many inside of portum would be considered monsters to much of the world. ❞ like her. some in portum might even agree with that self assessment. ❝ what kind of monsters do you hunt? ❞

There   was   a   sense   of   familiarity   in   Hansa’s   words.   Like   he   should   have   expected   that   kind   of   reaction   coming   from   her,   and   maybe   he   should   have.   Jinwoo   couldn’t   help   but   laugh   at   his   girlfriend’s   reaction   and   if   he   was   being   honest,   he   wouldn’t   have   it   any   other   way.   In   fact,   by   the   end   of   her   sentence,   he   was   smirking   as   his   arms   snaked   around   her   petite   waist.    “   I   mean,   if   you   punched   me,   I   probably   deserved   it.   ”    That   abrasiveness,   the   recklessness,   the   lack   of   filter   that   matched   his…   those   were   only   some   of   the   things   that   kept   him   attracted   to   Hansa.   The   fact   that   in   a   fight,   she   was   just   as   lethal   as   he   was.   And   maybe   after   all   that   he’d   gone   through,   that   was   exactly   what   he   needed   in   a   partner. 

of course she didn't mean it. not completely. and yet she still can't help but let him break through her stoicism to crack a smile in her lips. ❝ i mean it, ❞ her hands on his face pull him closer so their foreheads touch. ❝ i promise that's not the issue. ❞ because even though she loved to break the tension with a joke and tried to make light of things when they got too heavy for her, hansa wanted to make sure linus knew this wasn't going to be ripped from underneath him out of nowhere. it'd be too cruel on him, her, and an excited leo. hansa succumbs to the ease she feels when his lips heat up a spot on her neck, only to let out a little gasp when she's unexpectedly lifted. her legs wrap around him, looking down at him with a smirk as she's carried to the kitchen. ❝ i think this is gonna be my preferred mode of transportation from now on, ❞ said through a laugh as she's placed down. ❝ sure. i see through your tricks, but i'll take them. ❞ a forceful grasp on his shirt pulls him to her, but the kiss is quite the opposite when she lets go. ❝ why? i love this place, ❞ she says while grabbing an apple from the bowl on the counter. space wasn't something she was really thinking about. considering she lived a long time in a very small space, there was a lot she hadn't thought about or considered. but she smiles as he explains, more touched than she thought she'd be. maybe she just kept thinking she'd get used to him — but she didn't. how he thought about her and her pets, trying to make her comfortable and always making room for her. ❝ sorry, but, i was under the impression that you were good at your job, ❞ she teases before taking a bite. ❝ can't we just make this place bigger? ❞

the compliment brings a rosiness to adelaide's cheeks despite it being one heard often. ❝ good! you should. i won't make anyone feel bad by saying you're the best but ... well no one else has a star, ❞ she semi jokes. ❝ especially if you make them strong. can get messy quick. ❞ and that was the best case scenario. ❝ yeah, food and drink culture is kind of amazing there. ❞ and something she missed, but her passions would always be with writing and music. that didn't stop her from finding many things interesting. ❝ oh. the snack was more to absorb some of the alcohol, ❞ said through a giggle.

The   young   vampire   let   out   a   sigh.   In   another   instance,   she   would   have   playfully   argued   with   him,   but   this   time,   maybe   Benny   deserved   to   hear   nice   things.   Sometimes,   people   just   needed   that:   a   good   and   warm   hug   to   their   ego.    “   Not   everyone   has   someone   willing   to   cook   for   them,   Benny.   ”    She   said,   stating   the   obvious.   He   was   a   good   man,   regardless   of   what   he   wanted   to   believe   or   if   he   was   going   to   brush   it   off   as   nothing.    “   Some   of   these   people   have   been   living   in   shelters,   so   it’s   nice   of   you   to   prepare   meals   for   them.”   Just   like   they   had   done   in   the   past,   when   they’d   gone   out   of   Portum   to   give   food   to   people   in   need.   Although   Aeri   had   actually   helped   him,   to   some   extent,   in   the   preparation,   she   was   definitely   more   hands-on   with   the   distribution.   “   Does   that   not   mean   you’re   a   good   man?   ”    She   asked,   wondering   what   made   someone   good   or   bad   in   his   eyes.   Things   weren’t   as   black   and   white   as   they   seemed.   Good   people   could   do   bad   things   and   bad   people   could   do   good   things.    “   Are   you   handing   it   out   tomorrow?   ”    Maybe,   if   she   focused   enough,   she   would   be   able   to   help   this   one   time,   too.   She   doubted   that   she   would   be   able   to,   but   it   was   worth   trying.   Benny   alone   was   tempting   enough. As   she   munched   on   the   food   he’d   prepared,   the   brunette   bobbed   her   head,   listening   to   him.   His   voice   sounded   different,   it   seemed.   Maybe   it   was   a   vampire   thing,   or   maybe   she   had   noticed   how   velvety   it   could   sound   sometimes.   Her   dark   amber   hues   averted   to   watch   him   carefully,   almost   as   if   drawn   to   him   by   the   sound   of   his   words,   and   once   again,   her   gaze   landed   on   that   prominent   vein   on   his   neck.   Her   mouth   watered.   It   watered   as   if   he’d   placed   a   gigantic   plate   of   her   favorite   food   in   front   of   her.   She   could   see   the   blood   pulsating   in   his   vein,   calling   out   to   her,   inviting   her   in.   She   wanted   to   run   her   tongue   along   that   vein,   to   sink   her   fangs   into   his   skin   and   drink   from   him.   Her   fangs   broke   the   sensitive   skin,   the   slight   hint   of   pain   causing   Aeri   to   steer   her   gaze   away   from   him   and   back   down   to   the   plate   in   front   of   her.   Why   couldn’t   his   food   feel   inviting   like   his   blood   could? “   Right…   ”    She   coughed   a   little,   covering   her   lips   with   her   hand   so   he   wouldn’t   catch   her   fangs   while   she   spoke.    “   I   mean…   it’s   different,   for   sure.”   Keeping   her   head   low,   she   tried   to   give   herself   some   time.   Maybe,   if   Aeri   acted   like   nothing   had   happened,   he   would,   too.    “   What   um…   what’s   a   bandeja   paisa?   ”   She   asked,   welcoming   the   distraction   and   steering   away   from   the   topic   of   blood.   Food   had   always   been   her   link   to   the   chef,   so,   hopefully,   she   could   make   good   use   of   it   to   help   herself   calm   down.   Maybe   she   should   leave.   She   wasn’t   ready.   She   couldn’t   handle   this.   It   was   too   soon.   What   would   imo   Hera   do?   What   would   Sasha   do?    “   Did   you–um,   I   heard   your   place   of   work   was   hit   pretty   bad.   Is   everyone   okay?   ”

❝ and some people don't need a pat on the back every time they do something nice. ❞ or benny didn't; he didn't want it. or deserve it. ❝ i don't think one thing determines whether or not you're good. but if you think so, then fine. ❞ aeri was going to believe whatever she wanted and if his agreement got her to stop talking about it, so be it. they did a nice thing and now it felt like she was going to hold it over his head instead of just enjoying the moment. he sighs and stands again, cracking another window to let more air in. ❝ probably whenever it cools. ❞ portum practically ran twenty-four hours, anyway. aeri answers but sounds distracted, bringing the shifter's attention back to her as he leans back against the counter across from where she sits. maybe she didn't realize how good the shifter's vision was. he was an owl, after all. ❝ uhh ... it's a huge plate of a lot of different foods. rice, beans, a few different meats, plantains, my favorite part is a fried egg, ❞ he laughs softly, ❝ it's a lot but really hearty and comforting. ❞ even as he speaks, there's still some awkwardness the vampire is giving off. ❝ yeah, everyone is okay. ❞ thankfully, it hadn't been worse are you okay? ❞ it seemed like a bad idea to step closer to check on her, so he didn't. and when going to grab her a glass of water, it dawns on him that there's something else she probably wants or needs to drink. ❝ shit, this probably won't help much, hm?, ❞ he asks, putting the glass of water down.

❝ i will, ❞ maybe said simply, but yong sun didn't make declarations without the intent to uphold them. and feeling a little better every day, he definitely intended on returning to more of his routine, which meant stopping by more. ❝ both. i can't stop in without getting something, but mostly wanted to say hi. see how you and this place is holding up. ❞ of course, sunni knew the bakery had been fine and that the hybrid was as well. just because he had isolated himself, didn't mean he didn't find ways to keep track. ❝ it looks like you can use some work to do, anyway. looking a little too comfortable. ❞

It   had   always   amused   Jinwoo   just   how   smart   Sasha   was.   Sometimes,   he   was   even   envious   of   the   young   vampire   because   for   a   few   years   there,   he’d   allowed   himself   to   get   lost   in   his   own   problems   and   his   own   grief,   so   he   felt   like   he’d   missed   a   lot.    “   Nah,   I   don’t   think   there’s   any   zombies   around.   ”    He   teased,   dismissing   their   words   about   not   needing   to   bring   anything   whenever   he   stopped   by.    “   Except   maybe   you   and   your   undead   ass.   ”    He   teased,   yet   again   as   he   looked   around   Sasha’s   apartment.   It   was   a   lot   similar   to   his   own,   back   when   Jinwoo   was   still   a   college   student.   Granted,   he   wasn’t   that   much   older   than   Sasha,   he   still   felt   like   he   had   to   grow   up   faster.   He   was   supposed   to   take   care   of   a   family,   a   pack   and   was   left   with   neither   for   a   while.   But   talking   to   Sasha,   Jinwoo   felt   young   again.   They   helped   keeping   his   brain   alive   and   working.    “   But   maybe,   just   in   case,   we   should   start   building   those   apocalypse   bunkers.   ”    He   chuckled.    “   Anyways,   you   up   for   it?   Joining   our   brains   and   coming   up   with   a   reformation   plan   for   this   town?   I   have   some   ideas,   but   I’d   love   to   get   your   input   on   some   of   them.   ”    Sasha   really   was   Jinwoo’s   go-to   person   to   bounce   ideas   off   from,   even   before,   when   they   had   only   spoken   online   about   their   ideas. 

❝ that's a relief. i don't think i could deal with a zombie apocalypse on top of everything else. ❞ they knew it sounded ridiculous, but until recently, they thought everything found in portum was all made up, myths, not real. so they wouldn't be that surprised. ❝ uh ... my undead ass would never eat brains. i appreciate them too much. but ... maybe that would make them more irresistible to me. ❞ they need to stop thinking out loud. ❝ anyway, yeah, i would love that. did you wanna run idea by me now? ❞ with the shop out of commission, there was a lot to be done still and someone with a plan who also knew what they were doing would be nice. obviously magic wasn't the be all, end all that people wanted and some efforts would have to be made. sash was glad to be one of those people, their mind spinning with so many doubts and questions ( not the good kind ) when not kept busy. ❝ want a drink or anything? ❞ they start to move things from their work table in case he wants to stay there.

❝ like i said, it's not enough. ❞ painting was just a small source of his peace, a way to keep his mind busy, distracted by the beauty surrounding him instead of letting himself get pulled into the darkness left in him by his past. ❝ but it does help just to keep relaxed. ❞ yong sun was lucky to have his siblings but they were like him, grown up in a place not meant for children. he could never lean on them for help. ❝ friends can turn into family. and the special thing about portum is many people with similar issues. ❞ which could also end up terribly; the dragon didn't think so, though. those similarities seemed to tie people together. ❝ remove myself altogether. ❞ or hope he could before having a much worse reaction than even the werewolf had. sunni's gaze follows the werewolf's, the alley now darker in its distance. despite having issues controlling some violent urges, sunni didn't actually enjoy causing harm. or witnessing the aftermath of his actions. it was jarring and triggering. at one point he could try and leave it behind, when he believed it was just a job. when he learned better and the weight of his actions, it became much harder to accept. ❝ right. because if not you'd go back and finish the job? ❞ there's a slight challenge in his question, but the softness in his tone doesn't change. raised with lies was another thing yong sun could relate to. whoever his birth parents were, the dragon never knew and never would. nor what happened to them. his guardians built a whole life of lies for him and his siblings. those that lied to protect others were kidding themselves, the werewolf proving that point. ❝ you'll never know if you never go back. they'll probably be more relieved than you think. ❞ of course, there was no way to say. but the dragon knew no time or distance would make him turn any of his family away. if they wanted to protect him before, that could still be true.

❝ well, ❞ his head shifts from side to side, not really agreeing with the other's statement. but maybe for a larger bird, there was more work needed. for benny, and the small owl he became, it was quite effortless. maybe sports helped with that — better control in the air, utilizing more of his chest and surroundings to make flights easier. most of his soreness just came from the length of time and lack of rest. ❝ maybe you need to hit the gym once and a while. ❞ however, even benny hadn't been making the time for a workout lately. all of the work still needed to be done around town was fulfilling that enough.

❝ if its all in good fun. ❞ sasha could joke and take one, but past experiences made them reluctant to truly poke fun at anyone. if sasha could relate to anything, it was wanting to feel like themself again. that was all they wanted, really. a silent sigh leaves them, nodding in agreement with íde. ❝ you will. maybe ... i don't know how things work here, but maybe you'll be able to be healed faster. ❞ again, that envy and resentment crept up. sasha often thought about whether or not they could be healed, fixed ... returned to normal. ❝ don't thank me yet. might not be too smart of me to put rockets on the person who can get more injured, ❞ said with a laugh. but the vampire would try and take some precautions; make it as safe as possible.