AFTERLIFE OF THE PARTY.

He is momentarily caught off guard by their laughter. Not in the strangeness of it, no, many members of their faction find amusement in combat. It’s the sheer joy of it from someone who so rarely finds a reason to react in such a manner.

It makes what comes next happen in slow motion. He sees their approach, anticipates it, but is left with an opening that they can exploit. Which, of course, Sewell does with surprising ease.

“ Not bad, ” he says, before shifting his weight and attempting to reverse the hold.

“ Not bad? Please. That was perfection, much like myself. ”

What follows is decidedly not. Their confidence does have its drawbacks -- such as not anticipating the fastidious method Bastien uses to leverage pressure, bending their arm unexpectedly.

The noise that escapes their throat is somewhere between admiration and an acknowledgement of the discomfort surging from fingertips to shoulder.

In any other circumstance, Sewell would exploit the contact through other means, wrench their body free in a subtle manipulation of bone and sinew, but terms are terms.

        “ Sewell, don’t you have childhood scars like that? Where did your uncle keep you? In a box? “ They did grow up in two different environments, she knew that. She just liked picking on the other. “ I have other nicks but that one got me good. my… frail mortal shell, “ a snort leaves her before she continues. “ Got knocked around a lot, but I grew up rough housing. “

“ Oh, good! An open book. My favorite kind. ”

It isn’t all a show when Sewell makes themself completely and utterly at home, settling into a vacant seat for what might be a long chat, if they have their say. Beckett’s reputation precedes him, of course, even among their particular brand of Cainites. How they feel about that remains irrelevant; the fact that a fraction of the rumors might be true holds an interesting quality.

“ We have some things in common, you and I. If all the fuss you stir up is correct, we find the same sorts of material worth pursuing. If you catch my drift. ”

Bastien watches, waits, anticipating their strike. When it comes, he takes the hit. It doesn’t serve to do any sort of damage, or cause any pain. His nerve endings have long sense been deadened to anything of the sort. Nothing short of an overwhelming attack could overcome the use of vitae that shields him. Not truly using a power, not since he can’t very well turn it on and off.

His grin is still wide. “I never stop preening.”

He pursues them in a relentless fashion, a series of steps, jabs, and movements meant to put Sewell on the defensive.

A trait they can appreciate, certainly -- they thrive on no shortage of flourish in their own right -- but Bastien offers the challenge. They won’t let him back away from it now.

When he advances, his movements so thorough and exacting that they are scarcely able to meet them, Sewell drifts along a wave of bloody exultation that sharpens their senses to a finer edge. The blows peppered against them, many of which they prove too slow to deflect, earn their laughter, roughened and ragged and thrilled.

" That’s more like it. Now allow me. ”

“I suppose I’ll give you that much.”

@selfishlymade​ said:  Why are some people afraid of the dark? It’s pretty shady.

“Why?”

         “ Depends on my mood, truly. Sometimes it’s like I rather have been tortured. “

                “ I’m going to B-Negative. “

@selfishlymade​ inquired: What do you say when two red blood cells get married? Coagulations!

                              “ Sewell, please… Think of the children. “

His grin reveals rows of pearly white teeth—lacking fangs, of course. “An unexpected turn of events.”

Bastien leans in again, his nose brushing against theirs for the briefest of moments. He isn’t adverse to a little teasing here and there. Especially when it comes from Sewell. “What would you have in return for your affection?”

“ That’s the question of the hour. ”

They are aware how the light never quite reaches Bastien’s eyes -- literally speaking. Through the times their senses pierce past it, Sewell learns about the shadowy glamor he keeps, enabling his features to remain partially shrouded and forgettable. Here and now, they think they see something much more satisfactory. That alone is worth it.

“ But you’ve cleverly found the answer. ”

They know it at the first brush of his face to theirs, that the willingness to demand nothing, expect nothing, is the wave that breaks the dam.

[ @selfishlymade​ - x ] ❛   if i told you i’m trying to save the world , would you believe me ?  ❜

“I am certain you believe that, at any rate.” Rodrigo waved his hand dismissively. “Any number of young ones do.”

“No one in power should be comfortable. Not even them.”

“ Precisely, my dear. I think I know where to start. ”

bold  what  applies  to  your  muse. repost  ;  do  NOT  reblog.

𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙰𝙽   »   toothy  grins, stories  around  the  campfire, clothes  covered  in  pet  hair,  hot  temper,  old  jeans,  heartbeat  in  head,  potatoes  and  steak,  beaded  jewelry, bruises  like  galaxies,  mementos,  backpack  stuffed  full,  craigslist  furniture,  spontaneous  road  trips,  air  ripped  from  lungs

𝙱𝙰𝚁𝙳   »  homemade  bread,  white  lies,  easily  excited,  trying  on  hats,  band  geek,  pep  talks,  no impulse  control,  sunsets,  vintage  fashion,  long  showers,  selfies,  following  dreams,  rosy  cheeks,  song  mash-ups,  pink  lemonade  with  tequila,  loves  easily,  animated  storyteller,  full  of  comebacks

𝙲𝙻𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙲   »  list  of  wishes,  biting  their  tongue, band-aids  and  neosporin,  shoulder  to  cry  on,  morning  sun,  necklaces,  trial  and  error,  homemade  quilts,  formal  clothing, astrology fan,  messages  in  bottles,  pleated  braids,  speaking  up  for  friends,  feathers, motivational  quotes,  vivid  dreams

𝙳𝚁𝚄𝙸𝙳   »   bird  watching,  shy  kid,  wind  chimes,  trying  to  whistle,  summer  camp,  apple  orchards,  lost  in  their  head,  glow-in-the-dark  stars  on  the  ceiling,  hoodies,  thrift shopping,  saving  worms  off  the  sidewalk,  pig  latin,  bare  feet,  thunderstorms,  numb  fingers,  braided  hair, naming  potted  plants

𝙵𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃𝙴𝚁   »   goose  bumps,  leather  jackets,  adventure,  chewing  nails,  cares  deeply  but  can’t  show  it,  bronze  locks,  no  sleep,  taste  of  iron,  netflix  binges,  never  forgets, combat  boots,  stories  behind  scars,  table  for  one,  official  soundtracks,  sore  calves,  trusts  themselves  the  most

𝙼𝙾𝙽𝙺   »   always  trying  to  be  better,  wanderlust,  meditation,  sweat  pants, old   photographs,  yoga,  sleeping  in  hammocks,  nostalgia,   minimalist  design,  breath  of  fresh  air,  baby  animals,  volunteering,  perfectionist,  doesn’t  care  about  fashion,  healthy  snacks, noticing  the  little  things

𝙿𝙰𝙻𝙰𝙳𝙸𝙽   »   school  uniforms,  thick  jackets,  sleeping  with  the  windows  open,  logical  advice, scrapbooking,  compasses, i  fight  for  my  friends,  sculpture  gardens,  cold  morning  air,  big  soul,  likes  routine,  secret  romantic,  last  to  get  jokes,  sunflowers, practical  presents,  misty  weather

𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙶𝙴𝚁   »   herbal  tea, smell  of  rain,  blinking  away  tears,  camping  trips,  collecting  bones,  swiss  army  knives,  first  impressions,  anxious  thoughts,  bobby  pins,  burnt  marshmallows, too  competitive, clothes  lines,  messenger  bags,  holding  grudges,  gets  along  better  with  animals  than  people

𝚁𝙾𝙶𝚄𝙴   »   flirtatious  sarcasm,  candid  photos,  lost  phone  chargers,  adrenaline  rush, picking  dirt  out  from  beneath  their  nails,  social  chameleon,  clashing  clothes,  self-deprecating  jokes,  claw  machines,  sits  in  chairs  wrong,  smudged  eyeliner,  has  too  many  sunglasses,  eats  nothing  or everything

𝚂𝙾𝚁𝙲𝙴𝚁𝙴𝚁   »   infectious  laugh,  family  trees,  shivers  down  their  spine,  lipstick  and  roses,  mood  swings,  clumsy,  believing  in  destiny,  high  expectations,  sleeping  in  darkness,  collection  of  nail  polish,  passionate,  good  grades  but  never  studies,  poetry  books,  blowing  kisses,  not  knowing  their  own  strength

𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙺   »   knowing  everyone’s  secrets,  backpack  covered  in  pins,  envy,  being  in  walmart  late  at  night,  earl  grey,  selective  memory,  conspiracy  theories  and  cryptids, keysmashing,  need  to  know  basis,  can’t  cook,  bags  under  eyes,  experimental  art, flickering  bulbs,  black  clothing  all  year  long

𝚆𝙸𝚉𝙰𝚁𝙳   »   piles  of  textbooks,  cat  in  lap,  keeping  a  diary,  indecisions,  scented  candles,  studying  alone  in  a  café,  lingering  touches,  museum  dates,  unanswered  questions,  taking  on  too  much  responsibility,  collections,  chalk  dust,  comfy  robes, unnecessary  apologies, coming  home  after  a  long  day

“No powers,” he says, knowing this is not a pack dispute, nor is it some sort of challenge for renown. He doesn’t have to shroud the room in inky darkness or rely on his brute strength. As much fun as those things are in other situations, a torpid Sewell would be the least desirable outcome. And the same can be said of Sewell’s particular art of flesh shaping and magic using.

“I like my face where it is on my body.” He grins, giving them a once over. “I like you in one piece.”

With that, he stands at the ready, his body angled towards his sparring partner. “Your move.”

“ There are reasons to like me in several, but this is neither the time nor the place. ”

Their attention is his as, finally, they move, a circling pace that keeps him in their sights above all else. It is not without a fresh wave of admiration once again. Sewell knows first hand Bastien’s vast capabilities, the chaos he can sow with a whisper, a thought, all carefully hidden behind the frills and wrapping of a pleasant facade.

They know the same is true of themself.

When they surge forward, it is only to gauge how well he anticipates their decision, an attempt at a glancing swipe to his side that, successful or not, retreats immediately.

In all things, Sewell courts a chase.

@selfishlymade​ asked:  “I still want to kiss you.”

Bastien leans down as his hand rises in a slow, deliberate movement before tracing their jawline. His voice is pitched low, for them and them alone. “There’s nothing stopping you from doing it again. And again.”

“ Oh, but there is. ”

It is a simple thing, to lean into the promising graze of fingertips, to follow with their skin as much as they do their awareness. It is not so simple to play the game Sewell does. To come close but not close enough. To prolong the invitation even as they take in every shape, every line, of Bastien’s face.

“I would tell you that there’s no love lost between myself and the current power structure.”

“ Well, that changes things, doesn’t it? In a delightful way, I might add. ”

@selfishlymade​

Bastien makes a show of himself. This is not uncommon, he likes attention just as much as he has gathered Sewell does. He paces, stretching out long dead muscle and sinew in preparation. The space he has rented for the evening is dimly lit with plenty of open space for the activity they have mutually agreed upon for the evening—sparring.

His chin tilts ever so slightly skyward. “So, Sewell, I take it you enjoy filling your nights with good company and good wine.”

He has opted to dress down this evening. The rings, of course, are missing from his fingers. He’s not here to actually do damage anyone, after all. “And now good fights.”

“ One of those you’ve yet to prove. ”

Where Bastien is controlled motion, danger and power on display for any to admire ( and how they do ), Sewell holds their position, a dancer on their mark, fixed to the spot as though the earth roots them, secures them. In a way, that just might be true; they hear the call more and more these nights.

“ I’m thinking you want to keep that face just the way it is. No powers? ”