Devil doesn't bargain

all of the tension in her body had evaporated, finally feeling some sense of calm. there was a small thought scratching at her brain that the earthquake was not the last dangerous situation they'd find themselves in. and if that were the case ? pj needed him to really know. how strongly she felt for him, even if things fell to pieces because of or regardless of it. at least he'd know. she wasn't certain what his reaction would be, while believing it wouldn't be a rejection. eyes searching his for any sort of response, until he gave his. a wash of emotions ran through her, twitch of a smile on her lips. ❛ and you have me, ❜ words leaving as if breathing.

Yet, her words. The feel of touching her, the subtle upturn of her lips, warm eyes full of everything, as if the power of these feelings could create a bridge between sides, could stop the apocalypse itself. He'd feared losing her today, and even if he'd wanted, he couldn't push her away. Not with this much desperation to be closer than ever. "You have horrible taste in men," he exhaled in something like a laugh. Damn his selfishness. Because he'd hear those words again, even as he meant to tell her you could do better. "Stay with me."

wetness rimming her eyes, as the gravity of everything they'd both just experienced really starting to hit her. blinking them back, she refused to give way to any more negative thoughts or beliefs when he stood in front of her. squeezing his hand affectionately as their fingers intertwined, she reached up to place a soft kiss on his cheek. ❛ don't scare me like that again, okay ? ❜ the tease leaving her gently with a small grin pulling at the corner of her lips. taking a peak into the bag he'd pulled out she shook her head softly before looking back up at him. ❛ i don't need any of that, rain. just you. ❜ a vocal admission of the truth. nothing in that bag was worth more to her than he was

Lips against skin. Lighting up every nerve ending, surging through every fiber in his being. While his allegiance may have been to Wyatt and their cause, the true power over him was hers alone. In something as simple as gentle affection. "Yes, ma'am," he answered with a touch of a smirk, glad to see a little reprieve in her worry. The fact she took nothing did not surprise him, but her reason, her answer--though also no shock--was unexpected to hear aloud. Momentarily, he froze, uncertain of the processing needed for all he felt for her. "My darling...you have me."

— the war will turn us to monsters (i no longer recognize you) [j.m] (via mythpoetrynet)

i am now, now. the word echoed quietly. whatever he had been through had to have been categorically worse. trapped amongst the debris while she been lucky. the quip a remembrance of the ever growing loss surrounding them. she let it go, let the air sweep it away in the wind. thinking of it all now would consume her. ❛ none is mine, ❜ referring to her own blood stained clothes in reassurance. blotches gained from the chaos in the wake of the shudder. ❛ i'm okay, i promise. where i was didn't have a much damage. ❜ how that had been she didn't know, she'd have changed spots with him in a second. ❛ are you sure you're alright ? ❜ she presses once more, needing to be sure, unable to take that first answer while worry still gripped her.

Breath flowed more freely through his lungs. Hand engulfing hers, resting on his chest over where a heart should be--where she reminded him a heart was. "You are unharmed," he stated as if that were answer enough, "I could not be more alright." Physical wounds would heal, but the loss of her--that would never. Reaching for the bag he'd smuggled out of the wreckage, he offered to show her its contents. Show he'd made use of his time, if not exactly in the way she had. Money stacked at the bottom as various pieces of jewelry (diamonds, emeralds, gold, silver, and the like) littered the top. "Whatever you like you can have."

head cocked. smile bloomed. feigned naiveté took a DANGEROUS edge : a look that could lacerate , a powder keg promise , an ill-advised invitation. they'd played this game before ---- brokered business or pleasure for WHATEVER their little heart desired ---- and they nearly almost won. he wouldn't of SURVIVED this long if he hadn't. an appraising hum. " you must have one hell of a trust fund , " they teased. what could they say ? they had a HEDONIST'S heart. how someone got what skylar wanted wasn't so important as that they had it. " we might . " he agreed. " -but i know lots of people. not many of them are INTERESTING. " a silent question : are you ? because demons were a dime a dozen and BLONDES weren't exactly their thing , so as far as skylar was concerned , this guy was going to have to WORK for it.

What a great thing it was that Rainier loved a game. Immortality could so easily become dull otherwise. Sitting, waiting for the next move--or the world to end, it didn't suit. Not with entertainment wildly available if one only looked. "Something like that." Fund of mistrust may be a more fitting term, but semantics never concerned the demon. "It's limitless, let's just say that. With proper motivation anyway." Life was cheap, particularly human life. There were so many of them, and with last breaths, the law of finders keepers applied. "I don't disagree. Should probably keep better company." Interesting personalities were like little treasures, only found if looking in the right places. "Speaking of the uninteresting, some of them would like us to take our taste for being the ruling class and spit it out. Call that 'setting the world right'. Well, I'm not quite so inclined. You do not seem like a person who wants that decided for you either, so maybe we have the makings of a conversation right there."

@hellsmouthstarters

There was something invigorating in survival, in watching chaos befall others. Victory was in the sights of the few. But few they were. The Resistance did outnumber them, and in a battle of good vs. evil, the numbers needed to tilt in the latter's direction. Light had too pesky a habit of illuminating darkness. PJ was right there, toe at the line she professed she would not cross, but maybe someone else would. Saddling up in the chair beside, Rainier met grin for grin, his own devilish and charming. In another life, he might have done well in sales. Or recruiting. "Oh, I always finish." But he also came prepared, revealing large bills held between pointer and middle finger but stopped short of belonging to the other. He'd escaped the mall with more than simply his life, having made use of his time to maximum self-benefit. Bribery: the language of man, beast, and everything in between. It was just a matter of finding out what they wanted. "I think we know some of the same people, don't we?"

with arms snaking around him her face buried in his chest, hearing his heart beat, another reminder he was alive. ❛ are you okay ? ❜ she murmurs as one hand slides up to hold the side of his face. eyes now scanning over his features worriedly. looking for any injury that would need tending to. everything and everyone else fading into a quiet buzz around them.

He'd have to let go eventually, but her head pressed into his chest, the look in her eyes when she checked him for injury, all he could do was hold her. "I am now," he assured, the wounds he'd sustained were nothing in comparison to what could have been if she'd not made it through. Brushing off the still closing slices and bruises, it was hardly worth her concern. "You should have seen the other guys." It was a bit tasteless, perhaps, for a joke, knowing she would care that there were fallen. He decided to leave out that a mere few feet separated him and the impaling of a man. "Most of this blood isn't mine, and now that things are stabilizing, I'll finish healing." Taking the moment to check her over in return, he inquired softly, "where were you? Are you okay?"

❛ mhm, ❜ he hummed before continuing, ❛ i'll keep your donation anonymous, wouldn't want anyone to think you're of any actual use. ❜ perhaps without his magic at the tips of his fingers he shouldn't be as mouthy. though, if he was having performance issues, warren was sure the other was as well. ❛ you know, just because you say that doesn't make it true, ❜ everyone had a weakness, that he was sure of. ❛ yeah, your weak ass throw, ❜ murmuring under his breath. shrugging his shoulders, ❛ and miss the chance to ransack ? somehow i doubt that. ❜ chaos for the sake of chaos right ? his injury had been a slight set back in the means of escaping, that he already knew. eyes rolled as the other continued to toss thinly veiled insults his way. that he was used to, amelia never holding anything back. he ignored it all, ❛ what do you suggest ? we roam about till we find a gap ? ❜ the enemy you know better than the enemy you don't right ?

"Of actual use to you? Absolutely not. Though you certainly need the help." In better circumstances, Warren might have been made to regret the words. However, all they had consistently was the ability to sound like a couple of bitchy teenagers in the school cafeteria, and well, that'd pass the time. "Say it, mean it." As if doubling down would make it true, but to admit weakness would be to invite speculation on what--or who--it was. Approaching the other man, he gave his injured arm a 'friendly' pat. "Right, my throw," he hummed, tossing the bag of goodies over his shoulder with a self-satisfied smirk. He peaked out into the chaos of the mall, trying to mentally map a route. "Exactly. This is the mall in this town, I think people noticed when it came down. So as long as we aren't the only survivors in town..." a thought he didn't dare give more attention than a passing reference, "someone is making a hole somewhere. In the event of instability, I'd like to be the first one through, which means finding where they're coming in before anyone else does."

#every bad politicians be like