𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫.

🗾  How self-sufficient is your muse? Are they more independent, or do they need others around them?

🥀  Would your muse betray someone they love?

「          𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐍’ 𝐋𝐎𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐃         」       •        「         open !     」

ARMS CROSSED AND face steeled, Alison looked like she had been standing outside of Locked n’ Loaded for a good long while before she took the time to notice a figuring approaching. Had this been a couple weeks ago and maybe she would have laughed at the thought of her being here, on this side of town, staring into a shop that sold adult - sized toys to those with a very specific need. Now whenever she thought about how unprepared she was for the wedding while people had similar objects strapped beneath the folds of their formal wear, she just got angry, like she had missed the fine print somewhere that said to conceal and carry. So while she had awoken this morning with the intent of storming down to OPD in a whiskey - induced rage after coming to terms with all that had happened, she instead found herself lingering outside a shop she had no real business being at. 

❝ What? ❞ Allie broke her gaze to look over at the other with a careful lift of her brow, she didn’t have time for any judgment. ❝ Baby can’t find interest in getting a gun? ❞

Ivan was long over due for a welcome back present. If no one else was going to get him one, he would have to do it himself. Plus, no one else’s grubby hands were going to touch his new toy. As he parked outside his future sister-in-law’s shop, he stopped and took a moment outside to send her a text he was going to stop by. It was out of courtesy and because he actually liked Elena, which wasn’t what he said about most people. The blond’s icy hues peeking up to find hers and a smirk appeared across his face. “Whoa. Whoa. It’s a free country, isn’t it?” He remarked, shoving his phone in his back pocket approaching the front door and swinging it open. “The pleasure is mine, baby,” he ushered her inside with a smile. “You’re in good hands. Trust me.”

Ivan Petrov was a weak man for his one true love. Whatever she was, whoever she was now, and whoever she would be– he wanted to be a part of it. While he struggled to wrap the fact that he was a father around his brain, it all made it easier knowing it was Sage. Finding love at such a young age would impact anyone and that was an understatement for what he felt towards her. He tried to stay away, he wanted to give her space but the thought of her being in these conditions had Ivan itching to just barge through her doors. So, that was exactly what he did. All the familiar people in Sage’s life were mere bowling pins Ivan was knocking down with his body. He looked around her house, finally coming face to face with her. He stood there like a brick wall, looking at her helplessly.

“Sage,” he said, approaching her and stopping again. “Are you mad at me?” The blond asked, his eyes filled with worry. 

-

Oddly enough, it wasn’t so much the sight of Ivan behind the bar that caused him a look of slight confusion, but it was the fact that the man was slicing limes. Trying to place Ivan Petrov and slicing limes into the same mental image and fully comprehend what he was seeing was difficult enough, but he joined the other at the bar. “I’d ask for an entire bottle of vodka but I’m not sure your bartender-client oath would allow it,” he joked, taking a seat and cleared his throat. “So, are you actually working here? Or are you free to join me for a drink or twenty?” 

Ivan’s icy hues settled on the tall, broad figure entering the bar. The last time he had seen him was before the wedding. The wedding that had him distancing himself once again from the life they were a part of. There was no need for Ivan to be entangled so closely to the plan, anyways. He was there to do what he needed to do and that was it. He was sure the Volkov’s were cleaning up their messes behind the scene. A small smirk forming against his hard features. “No, clearly, I’m just here for shits and giggles,” he said, sarcastically. As Vasili spoke, he looked around at the mostly empty bar besides the employees and shrugged. “Let’s have 25 just for good measure,” he mused, bringing out the recently opened handle of vodka he already started and slid two glasses towards the other. He joined him on the other side, pouring the clear liquid with a grin on his face. “To making it out alive another day, Volkov,” he teased him, lifting the glass. “Ваше здоровье,” he toasted, clinking his glass against his and taking the whole entirety of it down.

The next morning he was up bright and early to check off everything on his to-do list. There was no time to dwell on yesterday’s problems. He had to get his entire life together before his shift at The Lone Palm this evening anyways. Which, seemed to be ticking awfully closer and closer as he did everything but his list. Soon enough, the blond was behind the bar again cutting limes and preparing for the night as he waited for his first customer. His head peeking up as he heard the noise of someone entering the Viper stronghold. How exciting.

“Can I get you anything today?” He asked, painfully putting on his best customer service persona on.

「   LOCATION   」  »   CRESSINO FARM. 

one moment she was taking a shot and the next she was was being grabbed by her arm, a gun pointed to her head. she searched for her friends &. family on the crowd and then her eyes landed on ivan, he was a part of this ; of all of this. as the eldest volkov delivered his speech she looked eyed wide at everyone but the shot caused her to scream and try to get away from the viper that was holding her but the male pushes her down on the floor making her bang her head hard, blood is trickling from her nose and head. tears streaming down her face as she sees the scene unfolding before her and then she sees him ❝ you knew this, you knew they were going to do this . rafa &. carmen and kate , oh my god, kate . ❞ her words were incoherent and she felt as if she was gasping for air in this very moment ❝ she’s dead , julia —- oh my god . she’s dead .❞ she has no control over her emotions as she sits back on the floor trying to process it all . 

.　　 . ⊹      closed     starter     ⋮   @petrovisms​

Every ounce of him tried to tune it out. He followed his orders. He did what he had to do. He wasn’t there to get revenge. He was there to do his job. Even, if it meant having to watch the love of his life get a gun pressed against her head. Ivan’s knuckles turned white around his pistol and he observed her from afar. As soon as the shots went off, he left Grace to be found by some stranger nearby and ran over to Sage who was falling towards the ground. He needed to go. He was on probation and couldn’t risk the rest of his life for these kinds of moments. While he took an oath, he needed to protect himself from the consequences of his own actions. 

He grabbed her arms, pulling her up off the ground and pushed her hair out of her face. His oceanic hues meeting hers and he grabbed her cheeks gently, “You need to get up and leave. Now, Sage!” He yelled through the commotion. “Go protect our children. Please.”

location   ╱╱   cressino farm.

after emiliano was done with what he had to do , he lets chocolate hues scan the room &. he sees ivan who is panicking looking for someone &. he shakes his head knowing exactly who it was. he makes his way to him and grabs him by his arm as he reaches him ❝  we did what we had to do . ❞ he says as he looked at the younger homme before him ❝  you will make this turn quickly against us if you go to her . ❞ he knew that he wanted ti protect her but that was sold news ❝  she is the enemy &. you need to get that through your head, ivan ! ❞

┊   closed    starter   :   @petrovisms​  ┊ 

As soon as he was about to begin running after her, he feels himself being pulled away and he turned around, yanking his arm from his grip. He didn’t want to feel someone stopping him from doing what he wanted to do. His chest was pounding as he listened to him and his words were holding gravity. He knew she was mingling with the enemy. But she was still the mother of his children. He shook his head and his mouth dropped. 

“Leave me the hell alone, Emiliano!” He barked back at him, beads of sweat dripping down his temple as he felt so conflicted on what to do. “I know she fucking is! So, she needs to go be with Ivana and Silas. Our children. Do you fucking understand?”

~

Violet had never expected to stay in touch with everyone in her childhood; of course people grew apart or other things intervened. In the case of Ivan though it was like he’d become a ghost, disappeared without a trace, and now returned before her very eyes. She didn’t want to pry, although her curious nature despised it, and kept most questions to a minimum. “Hopefully you’ll send a post card!” she joked. “Really?” she asked slightly surprised. “Clearly the name Big Apple makes sense now, weird that we missed each other,” she shrugged with a tap to the bar top. “I’ll have whatever it is you’re having!”

At least he could drink his misery away right now. He just wanted this night to be over with. There were so many pieces to pull off the theatrics of their plan and truthfully, he was one of the most impatient people to walk the planet. He was happy Violet was near him, letting him blend in with the crowd. A grin on his lips as she spoke and he gave her an enticed look. He didn’t want to talk about his fake New York life due to the pain it harbored considering it wasn’t true. He nodded, lifting a hand to get the bartender’s attention again. “Vodka on the rocks with a lemon,” he ordered again and looked at her. 

“So, how do you know the lovely couple? Seems like everyone in Oceanside is here, huh?”

   While Rocco spoke of no Russian, he was certain it was anything but friendly talk. But because he was at Julia’s wedding, he couldn’t do anything rash without causing some alarm for his friends, even despite the fact that he was just about ready to mess up Ivan’s face for being an absolute asshole to Sage.

   “You have 10 minutes to enjoy.” he warned lowly, unwavering in his heated stare at the male. “Or I’m calling the cavalry. Or better yet, maybe I’ll drag you out of this place myself.” With his piece said, Rocco turned to make his leave, before Petrov fully soured his mood.

Ivan’s lips tightly pressed together as the Scorpion trainer spoke to him. He knew he wasn’t going to be welcomed with open arms any time soon but, at least he did what he told him to do. Because, Ivan wasn’t above starting a fight. While he had changed, he would always defend himself. He brought his hand to his temple, saluting him goodbye and let out a small chuckle. 

“Cheers, bambino.”

IVAN PETROV

…

Skylar laughed. “Will do.” The blonde considered Ivan the best company right now. Someone who wasn’t going to constantly baby her or worry about what she was doing. It was like the man in front of her was a fresh start and it was something she felt desperate for at this moment regardless of how difficult it would be with the smell of vodka on his breath. Her head turned when she noticed the awkward smile on his features. “Are you not someone who likes to socialize?” She questioned, glancing back in his direction.

“Could always make it one.” She smirked as she arched her eyebrow up. She knew there was one thing she had to do before they even considered leaving the venue but if that was something he wanted to do she knew she’d follow him simply to create distance between her and her own past. She gave him a smile as she nodded her head, wanting him to know she understood exactly what it meant to want to leave the past in the past. “I think I can handle being in the right now.” She told him. 

Her hand extended towards the bearded male not to far away from them. “That’s my brother and my friend Sybil is here… but other than that.” The last thing she wanted to do was bring up Ryan. “What about you?”

Ivan was itching for their Vipers plan to begin. It wasn’t his favorite past time to be sneaking into weddings and traumatize many for the rest of their life but, these were the deck of cards he had dealt. As she questioned him, a small huff of amusement came out of him. While he could’ve easily been mistaken for an extrovert, Ivan wasn’t. He was just an asshole who had to get a word in. He looked at her and winked, “I’m just a guy who likes to smoke and drink,” he told her. He couldn’t consider himself a people person because he hated people, most of the time. 

His icy blue eyes scanning the reception as she spoke and he nodded. His eyes set on her brother accompanied by his drug dealer and a small smirk appeared on his face. He looked back at her and nodded, bringing his drink to his lips again as he looked around again. The room was filled with too many familiar faces. 

“Yeah, a couple people,” he answered her vaguely and placed his drink down, snaking his arm around her waist as he turned to face the crowd with her. “Your brother brought my friend as his date,” he enlightened her. “Sybil’s your friend?” He inquired. “She’s my favorite nurse.”

。゜ ⠀ ☆ ⠀ ⠀ 𝐒𝐀𝐆𝐄  𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐄𝐌⠀ ⠀ 〳 ⠀ ⠀ 𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐍  𝐏𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐕 ˛·

she was the senators daughter &. even though het father and mother showered her with love &. affection from a very young age that didn’t change the fact that when she needed them the most they kicked het to the curb . her eyes became little slits and she drops her hands lovingly and back to his shoulders ❝ don’t you dare speak to me that way , I get it ivan . don’t think that I don irina has always been the main woman in your life &. I will not compete with that . ❞  she knew this all too well ❝ I didn’t compete with it two years ago &. I’m not going to do it now . ❞  

her face becomes still &. cold and she hates that this is the position she is in right now.❝ I promised Gerard that I would leave the twins with him today &. tomorrow . he just got out of the hospital &. they twins love him. ❞ she knew that he didn’t like the fact that the scorpions had become the twins family &. he didn’t have a say it , at least not right now.  ❝ look ivan, i don’t want my children around irina, that’s where I draw the line because as soon as  that happens she’s going to try to file for custody or bully you into doing so ———  ❞ she takes a brief pause as she drops her arms completely ❝ &. if you’re to believe anything believe that for my children I’m willing to fight the devil himself. ❞

His sights had turned south. As soon as she spoke about Irina again, his eyes remained on hers. He was hearing her and he understood where she was coming from. But, there was nothing he could about his family. At least he still had his sister, if not, he’d alone. She was the one who had done him the most favors, ever, in his life. He cleared his throat, letting out a sigh and bit his lip. He didn’t want to say something that would set her off, even more. Because, truthfully, there was no winning for anybody here. “She’s my sister,” he told her, simply. 

And her next pair of words left him shocked, even speechless for such a mouthy man. His jaw dropping slightly as he heard her. A disgusted look plastered on his face and he let go of her completely. He had been holding on for far too long, clearly. His hope had now depleted and it was time to do what he came to do. He swallowed the lump in his throat, trying his best not to explode. “Are you kidding me?” He asked her, still appalled at her. “All you want is getting full custody of the twins. I didn’t even get a chance to try to be a fucking father. You’re not in love with me anymore, are you?” he continued. “It’s William, isn’t it? You really want to go down this road?” He asked her. He promptly backed away, shaking his head. “You know what, talk to your family. If they think you need to file papers against me, go ahead,” Ivan told her, a breath of desperation exiting him. 

“Я понимаю, Мудрец.“

   He wasn’t there to fight. Nor was he there to cause a scene; the last thing he wanted to do was to ruin Julia and Gabriel’s special day by brawling it out with Ivan Petrov. So here he was, opting to handle the whole thing civilly. 

   Ivan addressing him by Lia’s moniker for him had Rocco scrunching his nose in disdain. “I’m asking you nicely because I don’t want to ruin the reception. So why are you here, Petrov? I’m pretty sure you’re not on the guest list. So start talking.” the Scordato male asked, keeping his tone nice and low as he kept his façade intact.

Ivan’s face scrunched as he listened to him. Was he even listening to himself? He was a bit confused as to what role Rocco stood in tonight but he was not doing his best during his security gig. He shoved his hands in his pockets and tilted his head, looking at him with a bewildered look on his face. 

“Asking me nicely?” He asked. “Did you forget the part where you cleared your throat in my ear? Отвратительный. And if really you don’t want to ruin the reception, then leave me the fuck alone,” He told him, more than annoyed.