There is nowhere to go but through the smoke

Aiden isn’t terribly offended by the harsh words the other spews at him. He’s used to pissing people off, though he can’t help but to note that Noah seemed particularly on edge today. ❝Yeah—it’s the middle of the day, you’re also awake. Who pissed in your cheerios? ❞ He scoffs, but makes no moves to leave. Even with the man’s clearly soured mood.

❝As for what annoying things I feel like talking about today…Hm, let me think. As I’m sure you’re aware, I have a running list.❞ He’ll raise his eyebrows, a grin evident on his features. However, eventually, he relents. Not genuinely wanting to upset the man, especially when he seems more tense than generally irritated. ❝I came to check on you asshat, annoying you is simply a bonus for our conversations.❞

He realizes that harsh words weren’t going to scare the other away. He gave in and turned, leaning on the banister, glancing to the floor a story below before settling in. He looks the other over, “I have insomnia, what’s your excuse?” 

“Who isn’t a little scared of the death dealers. I’m smart enough to know they could kick my ass. I think my favorite would be Zaiden, purely because his loyalty to the coven. We don’t really get along, I aggravate him, but I get his reasons and I respect him for them.” He rolls his eyes, trying not to say something worse than that about the death dealer that obviously hates him.

     The little person on the pedestrian signal across the street blinked as Blaise approached the intersection, changing to the stop hand just as his foot left the curb. Cursing as his foot sank into a deeper than he was expecting puddle, Blaise jumped back his umbrella spinning slightly spraying the nearby vicinity with droplets. Which was just when he noticed the presence behind him. 

“I’m sorry!” He turned apologetically to the person behind him. “I would ask if I got you wet but I feel like the rain has already taken care of that. Are you okay? I didn’t hit you with my umbrella or anything did I?”

Noah had been standing there for a while, leaning on the post, just scrolling through his phone. He had been walking and doing as such but he had realized that he was too distracted to keep that up for very long. He had just been in a very short almost relationship so being around people was getting easier, but she was gone now. He wouldn’t ever pursue her again even if he did see her. He wouldn’t let anyone get into his life like that again. He didn’t think he was done dating forever, he just thought he was done with the specific sort of relationship they had.

While he was distracted, he stopped and moved off to the side where he would be out of everyone’s way. He scrolled through the article he was reading, sinking closer against the pole as someone with an umbrella came up next to him.

He knew the other was about to back up, he heard the beep saying the light had turned red. Instead of staying where he was, he stepped out and instead of the rain drizzling on his phone from above, the umbrella doused him and his phone. The screen probably wouldn’t work properly now. He wiped it on his jeans and put it away as the other apologized.

“I can dry off and youre right, I was already getting pretty soaked as it was. Just a surprise. That’s all. No harm.” He could tell the other was supernatural but wasn’t exactly sure how to say anything about it or if he should.

Starter for Noah and Aiden

Noah had started to isolate himself again. Noah wasn’t exactly sane, to be honest. He was starting to feel a sort of panic, a mania, set in. He didn’t know exactly what had caused it, he just knew that he didn’t want to be near anyone. The last person he had gotten close to, he shouldn’t have. He had even kissed her and now he was alone again.

With Noah’s sudden mvement, she turned to look at him, her body scoting so it was more horizontal, her head resting against the pillow. She was surprised to see him pull out another photo album, and her interest was definitely piqued. After he wa done grabbing the book and situated, Ophelia let go of Noah’s hand, resting both of hers on her stomach as she listened to him. She had no idea what he could possibly mean until he opened the album, and suddenly it was put into perspective for her. Without even meaning to, her lips pulled into the faintest of smiles, a fluttering sensation moving through her chest, as if she were nervous. “You have an entire album full of me,” she muttered, her fingers toying with the hem of her shirt. Ophelia felt an overwheming urge to plant a kiss on his lips, but she stayed where she was, her eyes focused on his face. “And here I thought you hated me.”

The only person Salem ever really opened up to was Lysander. The two had known each other long enough that Salem felt he could trust him, and even then he would deflect the topic of conversation from himself. He’d been around for a long time, and he felt that it was a hassle to try and explain his roots to new people. In a way he understood how Noah felt, but that didn’t mean he wanted to be lonely. “People do things they don’t mean in hard times,” he stated simply, pressing a figer to his lips as he contemplated. “As for running into Damien, he’s mostly harmless, from what I can tell. Quite large and brooding, but I’ve never seen anything that flagged him as bad. Unless you mess with his daughter. That might get you killed.”

He kept his gaze steady on Noah’s face, a concerned expression on his own features. Salem had never been the type to judge people; no matter how rude or polite, he treated everyone with the same amount of respect. It had almost landed him in hot water a few times, but he let those instances roll off his shoulders without a second thought. However, what Noah was saying concerned him, and he couldn’t help but lean forward, his fingertips pressing together and his elbows resting against his knees. “You haven’t been rude to me yet. And even if you are rude, I doubt I’ll never want to speak to you again. Unless that’s something you want to happen, of course. I like to give people the option of interacting with me; I’ve heard I can be quite tiresome.” Salem cleared his throat, shifting once again in his chair. “Have you told them to leave you be?”

She stayed quiet for as long as she could, keeping her gaze on the page. Noah’s sire was obviously a sore subject for him, and she regretted ever making the remark in the first place. But on the other hand, he had brought up the topic to begin with, and had even opened himself up when he offered up the photo album. Then again, Ophelia knew how easily his mood flipped, nd she was trying to keep him in one headspace for as long as she possibly could.When he took hold of her hand, she shifted it just enough so she could twine their fingers, but still loked at the photo, nodding as he spoke. “I’m jealous that I wasn’t around when these were taken.”

Scar snorted in response. “Am I bad person for embracing my most vampiric of instincts?” Scar asked raising an eyebrow. The vampire tsked at the other. “You need to be more resilent than that.” He leaned in with a smirk. “I’m barely a threat.” Scar was anything but barely a threat but how much does the other about him. Scar brushed his hair back.

“Come with me…”

Noah hadn’t seen this vampire before. He may not know the other coven members very well but he had at least seen all of them, he had thought. Maybe this was a new one? A recluse like him? He didn’t know, and he really didn’t want to figure it out. He didn’t want yet another person chewing him out for not letting people in. He was sick and tired of that fight every time he breathed in someone’s direction.

“Hold on. I’m not going anywhere with you.” He said, running a hand through his curls, as if Scar reminded him that he sometimes needed to do that, “Who are you?” He asked with apprehension.

Ophelia didn’t mind the similarities that she found between herself and Noah’s sire. If anything, she figured that’s why he was so comfortable with her in the first place, and the thought almost made her smile. But with his outburst, she winced away from him a little, eyes on his face as the atmosphere of the room suddenly went serious. Trueborn. A term she’d always hated for several reasons. Ophelia had been so lonely growing up, sometimes the only child that could be found around the manor; she entertained herself however she could, but mostly she’d chase Damien around until he would pick her up, glad for the small moment of affection he would allow her before she was handed off to someone else. Biting her lip at the thought, Lia shrunk away from Noah but kept the album in her lp, flipping the page over and pointing to the first photo she saw. “Tell me about this one.”

It wasn’t hard to busy himself straight away, getting a plain black mug ready and stuffing a tea bag into it. He was glad he’d already prepped the hot water, slowly pouring itinto the cup and watching a bit of foam swirl around in the water as the tea began to steep. “It’s nice to meet you, Noah,” he responded softly, turning to the other and setting the mug beside him on one of the many tables he kept around. Salem’s room was decorated intricately, with tapestries covering each wall, posters he’d acquired in the seventies of his favorite bands, and hooks and trays that held countless pieces of jewelry. It looked like something straight out of a movie, and that’s how he liked it. “I don’t believe we’ve met before,” he grunted, lowering himself into his favorite upholstered chair. “I’m Salem. And odn’t feel like you need to apologize. Sometimes hings can get overwhelming.” Salem’s body sank against te chair, his brows furrowing as he thought. “I’ve been with them for over a century. I know that much.”

Theo sighed, lifting her hands to rub at her temples. All she wanted to do was leave, go back to her apartment, and finish her book of the day. It as growing exhausting having to sit there, knowing he didn’t want to interact with her any longer. “I need to leave, Noah. I need to go back to my apartment and forget that I exist for a little bit. Do you think you can let me do that, please?” The brunette was rolling her eyes now, only managing a short glance. “Probably because you’re being bull-headed and idiotic. If youlet people in, they wouldn’t get heated over it.”

Closed starter for Scar and Noah

Noah was trying his best to avoid everyone. It hadn’t been working lately. everyone could tell he was on edge, that his claustrophobia was setting in. He hadn’t been around so many people in so long, but he seemed unable to get away. He used to blend. He used to be bland. He used to just fade into nothing and just watch from the corner. Part of him hoped this was an existential crisis. A midlife crisis of some sort. Maybe this was the turning point in his life to force him to get better. Or maybe he was just finally going insane. 500 years might do that to a vampire, he didn’t know. Now with the summit drawing closer, he had more to worry about. 

He came down the hall, headed outside, only to realize the sun was just about to come up. He thought he was the only one still awake, so when he cussed aloud, he didn’t realize the other vampire was in the room. The sound of movement made him spin on the other with wide eyes, “What the fuck!? You scared the shit out of me! What are you doing, hiding in the shadows like that!?” 

As he spoke about the pictures on the first page, she kept silent. Ophelia would never admit out loud just how soothing his voice was to her, and she found that she didn’t need to look at him as he explained what the pictures were. For a moment, her fingers lingered on the one of his sister, taking in just how much the siblings had looked alike. Noah had never told her what happened to his sister, and she was scared to ask him, not wanting to set off any unwanted feelings within him. When her eyes flicked to the one of the sunset, Lia bit her lip, her gaze finally finding Noah’s so she could muster the smallest of smiles. “I’ve never gotten to see the sun. Only through blinds and curtains and all of that.” She sighed, taking in the facts about his sire, fingers touching the same photo as they had been before. “He and I have a lot in common.”

Theo sighed, turning her face away from Noah just before shaking her head. “Vernacular or not, it felt condescending in the moment. That’d be like me calling you ‘sweetheart’ for no particular reason.” Lolling her head to peer at him once more, she adjusted her stance, already ready to move along. “I really need to go.” Her arms crossed over her body, a move she had perfected growing up when she wanted to close herself off to people. “I know you’re sayng you don’t want anyone in your life, but if you change your mind…look for Lysander King. He’s my…it’s hard to put it int words. But he can help you find me, should you need me.”