𝒕𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆.

#   𝐑𝐂𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒   ,          ━━          an   independent,    highly   selective,    and   mutuals   only   𝐌𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐈-𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄   with   muses   from   marvel,    dc,    archie   comics,    the   vampire   diaries,    the   walking   dead,    and   more.          loved   by   𝖺𝗅𝗂𝖼𝗂𝖺     (   21+,    she/her,   gmt-3   ).          discord   available   upon   request.

[  !  ]     carrd.

[  !  ]     @rstlcss,    a   gif   only   sideblog.

[  !  ]     blogroll:     @kreebred,    @crawlswall.

❛       FUCKING  HELL  THAT’S  A  LOTTA’V’EM.      ❜             bow  is  grasped  a  little  tighter  as  the  blonde  frowns  ,  emerald  gaze  watching  the  hoarde  of  zombies  currently  mauling  a  deer  corpse  down  the  hill  as  she  scowls.            ❛       guess  we’re  not  going  that  way.      ❜

          the   grip    on   the   steel   fireplace   poker   tightens,    prepares   for   eminent   attack.          “   deer   looks   half-way   eaten.          even   with   the   all-you-can-eat-buffet   as   a   distraction,    i   don’t   think   we   can   take   all   of   ‘em.   ”          and   swings   it   back   to   rest   on   top   of   his   shoulder.          “   we   could   circle   around   them   through   the   woods.   ”

         “  no  ,   lucas  -  i  still  don’t  want  to  play  whatever  new  video  game  version  of  d&d  with  you  guys  .   i’ll  just  call el  or  something  -  ”   maybe  she  could  convince  her  mom  to  let  her  VISIT  her  friend !   that  could  be  fun  .   turns  to  @rcstless·  ,   lips  quirk  just  a  bit  .    “  sorry  i’m  just  -  not  into  it  ,   i  guess  .  ”   not  into  much  of  anything  these  days  ,   really  .   🤎

          “   ghosts   ‘n   goblins’   not   d&d   based!   ”          hands   are   in   the   air,    gesticulating   wildly.          “   okay,    okay…          it   kind   of   is,    but   it’s   fun,    i   promise!   ”          a   sigh   leave   lips,   but   there’s   always   something   soft   and   fond   in   his   eyes,    in   the   faint   curl   of   his   smile.          she’s   his   first   love,    even   if   lately   it   feels   like   she’s   slipping   away   from    him.          “   you   used   to   hold   the   highest   dig   dug   score   by   100k   points!          c’mon,    mad   max.          give   it   a   chance.   ”

          “   cindy,    cindy,    cindy.   ”          tongue   clicks   against   the   roof   of   mouth,    a   tsk   sound   being   emitted.          “   i’m   heartbroken   that   you   won’t  admit   your   feelings   for   me.          you   kissed   me,   remember?          i’m   not   insane   to   think   there’s   a   spark   between   us.   ”          grins   with   all   the   smugness   he   can   muster   as   fingers   snap.          flame   ignites   on   fingertips,    a   spark   between   them.          “   what   do   you   peg   me   for,    huh?          you   think   i   only   think   about   sex?          there’s    also   money,    and   cars,    and   prada   suits,    and   rolexes,    and   fancy   meals,    and…   ”          …she’s   not   having   any   of   it,    he   thinks.

the    hunter    took    another    step    toward    her    ,    standing    just    inches    away.    close    enough    that    he    lifted    a    lock    of    her    hair    ,    delicately    sniffing    at    it    like    an    aroma    connoisseur.    when    he    eased    the    strand    of    her    hair    back    into    place    ,    bella    held    her    breath    as    she    felt    him    wrap    his    gelid    fingers    around    her    throat    ;    sharp    nails    digging    into    the    flesh    of    her    neck    just    enough    to    leave    a    temporary    mark.    vivid    dark    red    orbs    stared    at    her    in    such    a    piercing    gaze    that    it    was    impossible    for    bella    not    to    glare    back.    the    hunter    smelled    of    pine    trees    ;    smoke    and    a    certain    rust    odor    that    didn’t    take    her    more    than    a    second    to    distinguish.    .    .        blood. it    was    already    dry    in    his    clothes    ,    but    just    the    knowledge    of    the    blood    there    present    was    enough    to    cause    her    a    familiar    nauseousness.    as    she    stared    at    him    ──    not    in    fear    like    any    other    person    in    her    place    probably    would    have    ;    but    in    disgust    ,    brown    hues    defying    him    to    put    an    end    to    all    of    it    at    once    ──    ,    bella    wondered    if    he    had    killed    someone    that    night.    how    many    innocent    lives    were    taken    so    that    he    could    get    to    her?    how    many    people    wouldn’t    return    to    their    homes    ever    again    ;    their    blood    shed    in    her    name? finally    ,    she    wouldn’t    have    to    carry    this    burden    for    the    rest    of    her    life.    it    would    end    that    night. he    reached    up    to    stroke    her    cheek    once    quickly    with    his    thumb    ,    his    face    curious.    bella    wanted    so    badly    to    run,    but    her    legs    were    frozen.    she    couldn’t    even    flinch    away. ❛    no    ,    ❜    he    murmured    to    himself    as    he    dropped    his    dirt    stained    hand    from    her    body    ,        ❛    i    don’t    understand.    ❜    he    sighed.    ❛    well    ,    i    suppose    we    should    get    on    with    it.    and    then    i    can    call    your    friends    and    tell    them    where    to    find    you    ,    and    my    little    message.    ❜ she    was    definitely    sick    now.    there    was    pain    coming    ,    she    could    see    it    in    his    eyes.    it    wouldn’t    be    enough    for    him    to    win    ,    to    feed    and    go.    there    would    be    no    quick    end    like    she’d    been    counting    on.    no.    .    .    the    way    james    was    looking    at    bella    ,    he    seemed    to    think    that    only    her    blood    would    be    enough    to    satiate    his    thirst    for    the    next    century. her    knees    began    to    shake    ,    and    bella    feared    she    was    going    to    fall.    he    stepped    back    ,    and    began    to    circle    around    her    ,    casual    as    if    he    was    trying    to    get    a    better    view    of    a    statue    in    a    museum.    his    face    was    still    open    and    friendly    as    he    decided    where    to    start.    then    he    slumped    forward    into    a    crouch    she    recognized    ,    and    his    pleasant    smile    slowly    widened    ,    until    it    wasn’t    a    smile    at    all    but    a    contortion    of    teeth    ,    exposed    and    glistening.    bella    couldn’t    help    herself    ──    she    tried    to    run.    as    useless    as    she    knew    it    would    be    ,    as    weak    as    her    knees    already    were    ,    panic    took    over    and    she    bolted    for    the    emergency    door. he    was    in    front    of    her    in    a    flash.    she    didn’t    see    if    he    used    his    hand    or    his    foot    ,    it    was    too    fast.    a    crushing    blow    struck    her    chest    ──    bella    felt    herself    flying    backward    ,    and    then    heard    the    crunch    as    her    head    bashed    into    the    mirrors.    the    glass    buckled    ,    some    of    the    pieces    shattering    and    splintering    on    the    floor    beside    her. she    was    too    stunned    to    feel    the    pain.    she    couldn’t    breathe    yet. he    walked    toward    her    slowly. ❛    that’s    a    very    nice    effect    ,    ❜    he    said    ,    examining    the    mess    of    glass    ,    his    voice    friendly    again.        ❛    i    thought    this    room    would    be    visually    dramatic    for    my    little    film.    that’s    why    i    picked    this    place    to    meet    you.    it’s    perfect    ,    isn’t    it?    ❜ she    ignored    him    ,    scrambling    on    her    hands    and    knees    ,    crawling    toward    the    other    door.    he    was    over    her    at    once    ,    his    foot    stepping    down    hard    on    her    leg.    bella    heard    the    sickening    snap    before    she    felt    it.    but    then    she    did    feel    it    ,    and    she    couldn’t    hold    back    her    scream    of    agony.    she    twisted    up    to    reach    for    her    leg    ,    and    he    was    standing    over    her    ,    smiling. ❛    would    you    like    to    rethink    your    last    request?    ❜    he    asked    pleasantly.    his    toe    nudged    her    broken    leg    and    she    heard    a    piercing    scream.    with    a    shock    ,    she    realized    it    belonged    to    her.    ❛    wouldn’t    you    rather    have    edward    try    to    find    me?    ❜    he    prompted. bella    then    realized    that    ,    despite    possessing    all    the    gifts    of    a    hunter    ,    james    didn’t    know    her    as    a    prey    at    all.    he    hoped    that    ,    even    as    a    human    ,    bella    would    try    to    defend    herself    ;    hoped    that    she    would    be    seeing    red    enough    to    ask    edward    to    avenge    her    ,    at    any    cost.    but    that    wasn’t    her.    for    each    punishment    he    applied    to    her    body    ,    all    bella    could    think    of    was    :    at    least    it’s    me.    my    mother    is    far    from    here    ,    safe    and    sound.    there    would    be    no    revenge    ,    no    console.    as    long    as    those    she    loved    were    safe    ,    she    would    part    from    this    world    with    ease. ❛    no.    ❜    bella    demanded    between    gritted    teeth    ,    trying    not    to    grant        him    the    satisfaction    of    hearing    her    grunts    of    pain    again    ;    her    voice    cold.    with    a    single    slap    to    her    face    ,    james    threw    her    back    into    the    shattered    mirrors. over    the    pain    of    her    leg    ,    she    felt    the    sharp    rip    across    her    scalp    where    the    glass    cut    into    it.    and    then    the    warm    wetness    began    to    spread    through    her    hair    with    alarming    speed.    she    could    feel    it    soaking    the    shoulder    of    her    shirt    ,    hear    it    dripping    on    the    wood    below.    the    smell    of    it    twisted    her    stomach.    through    the    nausea    and    dizziness    bella    saw    something    that    gave    her    a    sudden    ,    final    shred    of    hope.    his    eyes    ,    merely    intent    before    ,    now    burned    with    an    uncontrollable    need.    the    blood    ──    spreading    crimson    across    her    white    shirt    ,    pooling    rapidly    on    the    floor    ──    was    driving    him    mad    with    thirst.    no    matter    his    original    intentions    ,    he    couldn’t    draw    this    out    much    longer. let    it    be    quick    now    ,    was    all    she    could    hope    as    the    flow    of    blood    from    her    head    sucked    her    consciousness    away    with    it.    her    eyes    were    closing. she    heard    ,    as    if    from    underwater    ,    the    final    growl    of    the    hunter.    she    could    see    ,    through    the    long    tunnels    her    eyes    had    become    ,    his    dark    shape    coming    toward    her.    with    her    last    effort    ,    her    hand    instinctively    raised    to    protect    her    face.    her    eyes    closed    ,    and    she    drifted. as    she    drifted    ,    she    dreamed. where    bella    floated    ,    under    the    dark    water    ,    she    heard    the    happiest    sound    her    mind    could    conjure    up    ──    as        beautiful    ,    as        uplifting    ,    as    it    was    ghastly.    it    was    another    snarl    ;    a    deeper    ,    wilder    roar    that    rang    with    fury. she    was    brought    back    ,    almost    to    the    surface    ,    by    a    sharp    pain    slashing    her    upraised    hand    ,    but    she    couldn’t    find    her    way    back    far    enough    to    open    her    eyes.    and    then    she    knew    she    was    dead.    because    ,    through    the    heavy    water    ,    she    heard    the    sound    of    an    angel    calling    her    name    ,    calling    her    to    the    only    heaven    she    wanted. ❛    oh    no    ,    bella    ,    no    !    ❜    the    angel’s    voice    cried    in    horror. behind    that    longed-for    sound    was    another    noise    ──    an    awful    tumult    that    her    mind    shied    away    from.    a    vicious    bass    growling    ,    a    shocking    snapping    sound    ,    and    a    high    keening    ,    suddenly    breaking    off.    .    .    she    tried    to    concentrate    on    the    angel’s    voice    instead. ❛    bella    ,    please    !    bella    ,    listen    to    me    ,    please    ,    please    ,    bella    ,    please    !    ❜    he    begged.    yes    ,    she    wanted    to    say.    anything.    but    she    couldn’t    find    her    lips. his    voice    ,    though    perfect    ,    was    drowned    in    agony    ,    and    the    angel    carried    on    with    his    tearless    ,    broken    sobs.    the    angel    shouldn’t    cry    ,    it    was    wrong.    she    tried    to    find    him    ,    to    tell    him    that    everything    was    fine    ,    but    the    water    was    so    deep    ,    it    was    pressing    on    her    ,    and    she    couldn’t    breathe. the    melodious    sound    of    her    angel’s    heavenly    wailings    was    the    last    thing    she    heard    before    growing    unconscious.

her    eyes    opened    to    a    bright    ,    white    light    and    for    a    moment    ,    her    heart    stopped    as    she    thought    she    might    have    actually    died.    soon    she    was    met    with    the    realization    that    if    she    was    dead    ,    she    wouldn’t    need    a    heartbeat    ,    and    releases    the    air    through    her    nose. she    was    in    an    unfamiliar    room    ,    a    white    room.    the    wall    beside    her    was    covered    in    long    vertical    blinds    ;    over    her    head    ,    the    glaring    lights    blinded    her.    she    was    propped    up    on    a    hard    ,    uneven    bed    ──    a    bed    with    rails.    the    pillows    were    flat    and    lumpy.    there    was    an    annoying    beeping    sound    somewhere    close    by.    she    hoped    that    meant    she    was    still    alive.    death    shouldn’t    be    this    uncomfortable. slowly    ,    flashes    of    the    last    memories    her    mind    could    conjure    flew    back    into    her    brain    ;    the    hunter    ,    the    blood    ,    the    angel.    as    she    looked    down    at    herself    in    sudden    panic    ,    bella    noticed    her    hands    all    twisted    up    with    clear    tubes    ,    and    something        was    taped    across    her    face    ,    under    her    nose.    she        lifted    her    hand    to    rip    it    off    ,    only    one    thing    in    mind    at    the    moment. finding    the    angel.

          edward   cullen   is   fast.          he   is   the   fastest   in   the   cullen   family.          but   at   that   moment,    a   hundred   miles   per   hour   does   not   feel   fast   enough.          carlisle,    emmett,    jasper   and   alice   are   all   miles   behind   by   now.          there   is   no   waiting,    no   hesitating,    just   acting.          for   he   knows   james   to   be   nothing   but   a   sadist.          he’d   torture   and   torment   bella,    feed   of   his   lusts   without   a   drop   of   blood   first.          and   only   then,    when   she   can’t   take   it   no   more,    when    she   begs   for   her   death   to   come,    he’d   drain   her   of   her   blood.          until   thirst   is   quenched   and   life   leaves   her   eyes.

          thus,    there   isn’t   time   for   hesitation,   for   second   thought.          all   alone,   he   launches   himself   through   the   glass   doors   of   bella’s   old   ballet   studio,    shattering   them   all   around.          he   flies   into   the    other   vampire   mid-lunge,    pushing   him   away   from   his   target’s    skin,   smashing   him   into   the   floor.          sheer   force   craters   the   wooden   planks   below   them,    wreck   what’s   left   of   the   ballet   studio,    but   most   of   all—keeps   the   tracker   away   from   bella.

          and   the   sadist   savors   every   second   of   it,    even   whilst   away   from   her   blood;          the   hunt,    the   terror,    the   hurting,    the   way   she   convulses   as   his   venom   flows   in   her   bloodstream,    the   pain   in   edward’s   honey   tinted   hues   as   he   notices   bella’s   heartbeat   weakening,    faltering   even.          he   could   read   thoughts   as   they   came,    and   he   couldn’t   control   the   rage   burning   within   him.

          blood   everywhere,    limp   limbs,    pale   skin,    weak   heart.          he   kneels   beside   her,   in   her   blood.          “   oh   no,    bella,    no…   ”          hands   itch    to   touch,    but   halts.          what   if   he   makes   it   worse?          she   looks   so   fragile,   so   broken.          “   bella,    please!          bella…   ”          words   become   ramblings,    and   ramblings    become   sobs.          carlisle    assesses   the   damage,    vocalizes   even.          ‘  she’s   lost   blood,    but   the   head   wound   isn’t   deep.          broken   leg,   broken   ribs…          she—she’s   been   bitten.  ’          carlisle   tells,    but   as   impassive   his   adoptive   father   can   be   in   a   crisis,    thoughts   are   loud,    carrying   a   lot   of   ifs.          and   the   biggest   ifs   of   them   all,    if   they   should   allow   her   to   turn,    or   if   he   could   suck   the   venom   back   out   of   her   hand.

          he   can’t,    can   he?          no,    he   can’t!          the   second   he   tastes   her   blood   he   would   frenzy,   he’d   drink   her   dry.          “   carlisle,    i   can’t—what   you’re   suggesting,   i—   ”          voice   falters,    hands   shake.          there’s   shame   in   his   voice,   in   the   way   he   carries   himself   after   the   suggestion.          his   adoptive   father,   however,    does   not   seem   to   care   as   thoughts   rush   him   to   make   a    decision   whilst   suturing   her   scalp.   

          pain   rocks   her   again,   and   he   sobs   again.          carlisle   rushes   him,    tells   him   the   time’s   running   out.          “   bella,    it’s   okay.         i’ll   make   the   pain   go   away.   ”          reluctantly,    he   grasps   her   hand,    holds    her   still.          he   debates   with   himself   long   enough   for   carlisle   to   rush   him   one   last   time.          finally,    he   seals   his   lips   around   the   small   cut,    gingerly   sucking   in.

          first   trickle   of   blood   to   reach   lips   and   he’s   completely   hooked.          pulling   from   the   wound   with   such   eagerness   that   it   almost   turns   into   enthusiasm.     even   after   blood   is   clean   from   venom,    he   doesn’t   stop.          even   as   carlisle   warns   him,    he   doesn’t   stop.          he   is   going   to   kill   her.          he   is   going   to   kill   her.          he   is   going   to   kill   her.          there’s   no   willpower   left   to   muster;          there’s   only   thoughts   and   voices   warning   him   to   stop.          sounds   that   feel   muted   and   too   far   from   him.          what   pulls   him   back   is   what   renders   her   unconscious:          her   vital   essence   dissipating,    their   story   rolling   through   his   mind,    her   love   for   him,    her   voice   when   calling   his   name.

          the   drive   to   the   hospital   is   quiet,   for   he’s   terribly   ashamed.         she   needs   blood.          because   of   her   leg,   and   because   of   him.           they   go   to   a   hospital   where   a   friend   of   carlisle   works,    and   they   make   things   smoother.          soon,   bella   is   in   stable   condition,   receiving   a   blood   transfusion.          still,   it   doesn’t   hurt   any   less   to   see   her   pale   and   unresponsive,   covered   in   tubes   and   tape.          but   maybe   it’s   for   the   best,    maybe   it’s   the   reminder   he   needs   to   step   away,     to   let   bella   live   her   human   life   away   from   all   of   it.

          but   can   he   live   without   her   when   he’s   completely   and   irrevocably   hers?

          he’d   rather   die   than   to   not   have   her   in   his   life,    in   his   arms.          if   such   thought   ever   crosses   his   mind,    it’s   just   as   fast   pushed   aside.          he’d   be   more   cautious,    more   protective,   but   there’s   no   way    in   hell   he’d   leave   her.

          and   so,   he   never   does.          he’s   there   when   charlie   calls,    he’s   there   when   renée  arrives,    he’s   there   when   doctors   check   on   her,   and   he’s   there   when   she   wakes  up.

          first   action   is   to   pull   out   the   tubing   under   her   nose,    and   if   had   it   been  under   different   circumstances,   he’d   have   laughed   and   pressed   a   kiss   to   her   temple.          but   he   catches   her   hand   instead,   soothes   her.          “   you’re   okay   now.           everything’s   all   right   now.   ”

          slightly   red   tinted   hues   lock   on   the   girl.          “   i   promise,   with   everything   in   me,   this   will   never   happen   again.          i   won’t   let   anyone   hurt   you   again.   ”          his   silken   voice   is   genuine,    concerned,    and   leaves   no   room   for   discussion   on   her   end.

        head  will  tilt  to  the  side  for  a  moment  ,   studies  @rcstless​  carefully  .    “  i’m  not  gonna  lie  ,   i’m  surprised  you’re  in  a  government  facility  again  .   i  thought  you  gave  up  on  all  that  -  ”    daisy  starts  ,   approaches  him  slowly  -  just  in  case  something  else  is  brewing  .   eyes  narrow  ,   just  a  bit  .    “  are  you  here  to  help  …  or  take  down  shield ?  ”   💜

          his   answering   grumble   is   unintelligible,   along   the   lines   of   ‘i   have’,    and  it’s   laced   with   a   groan   at   the   near   end.          barnes,    your   cranky   undertone   is   showing.          “   told   ‘em   t‘dial   if   they   ever   needed   help.          y’know,    felt   like   i   owed   them   to   at   least   say   that.          and   here   i   am.          give   an   inch,   take   a   mile,   huh?   ”          he   attempts   friendly   this   time   around;          a   smile,    reminiscent   of   the   ladies’   man   he   used   to   be   back   in   the   40s,    appears   on   lips.          “   are   you   my   partner   on   this   stakeout,   johnson?   ”

        “come to mansplain something to me again?”   it’s a joke, but the quirk of her brow could have been taken as a dash of seriousness.  eloise doesn’t know what to make of the handful of men in her gender studies class; half of them were clearly just there to fill their units while the other half did seem to seek out a slot at enlistment, but she was sure even that was halved into those who actually wanted to learn and those who were simply curious but not invested.  his particular category still hung in the balance for her.  “it’s free, by the way,”  she says with a nod towards the vacant seat across the table.

          brow   quirks   just   the   same.          “   mansplaining,    is   that   what   i   do?   ”          and   maybe,    in   an   academic   setting,    theo   sharpe   can   be   a   little   too   critical,    a   little   too   unsympathetic.          in   life,    he   doesn’t   have   much.          he   never   had   much.          his   writings,    his   top-of-the-class   grades   and   his   intellect   were   all   he   had.          and   he’s   proud;   he   knows   he’s    good.          alas,    he   often   mistakes   superiority   complex   and   arrogance   for   pride.          “   is   it   mansplaining   if   i   was   simply   correcting   you?          when   did   corrections   stop   being   an   appropriate   response   to   misinformation?   ”          he   teases,    an   all-too-familiar   smug   smile   appearing   on   the   edge   of   lips   as   he   sits   across   from   her.          as   usual,    ready   for   a   battle   of   wits   if   it   ever   comes   to   it.          “   were   you   saving   me   a   seat,    eloise   bridgerton?   ”

       he’s  her  best  friend  .   she’d  die  ,   go  to  her  grave  saying  such  a  thing  .   because  this ?   this  was  @rcstless ,   this  was  archie  andrews  ,   and  …  he  sucks  at  shooting  a  gun  .     “  arch  ,   can  you  please  just  let  me  show  you  how  to  do  it !?  ”    💖

          deep   breaths,    archibald.       in   through   the   nose   and   out   through   the   mouth.       find   your   zen.       squeeze   the   trigger,    don’t   pull   it.       remember   what   betty   told   you.       “   no—i’ve   got   this,    betty!   ”       one   eye   shuts,    taking   aim.       breath   in.       breath   out.      trigger   squeezed,     shot   fired.       “   did   i   get   it?   ”       a   frown   tugs   lips   down   as   gaze   sweeps   over   the   line   of   tin   cans,    brows   furrow   for   they’re   all   still   standing.       eyes   flit   over   to   his   best   friend,    fond,    apologetic   smile   for   the   one   he   loves   the   most.     “   okay,    show   me.       i   suck   at   this.   ”

RCSTLESS                    ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯                     indie   .     selective   .     multimuse   .                    as   loved   by   alicia   .