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@shelbythevampire
Hello!!!
I’m Shelby I write fan fiction and as it turns out my roommate was in fact a vampire it just so happens that I am now a vampire living in said roommate’s castle.
ooc: This is my first Rp/ask blog so be patient with me as I figure stuff out since this is also my very first tumblr post!
There’s not really any rules as far as asks just nothing inappropriate since the character I am portraying I see as a minor and is asexual!
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Made the blog haven’t done the intro post yet but consider this one abandoned as I will probably no longer post here
Pfp by: MillaStaria She/They
Ooc:
So this blogs kinda dead so I’m kinda thinking about making a bf!Shelby blog. It would probably be just kinda like Misadventures Shelby and her circus traveled from Meriport to the Red and Blue kingdoms. I’ve seen a few vsmp blogs start Banerfall blogs so what would yall think if I did it too?
Open Rp Starter
A year after the events of Oakhurst occurred Shelby, Scott, and Drift went back to Oakhurst to visit. While Drift and Scott were doing a few things Shelby snuck off. She ventured off to obelisk with a few materials in hand. She took her time and built a grave for Pyro.
Sure Pyro had been extreme and was a murder. He murdered her fledgling after all, but she still cared. Even as she had plunged that stake into his heart she still cared. The coven was her family, Pyro was like a brother to her.
After the grave was constructed Shelby sat at the bottom of it. She spoke to the grave like she was talking to Pyro again. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. I don’t think I’ll ever really forgive you for what you did but I guess we’re even now? Although it really just fell back on me didn’t it?” She laughed just a little bit, it wasn’t happy laughter at all. A few tears slipped from her eyes but she quickly wiped them away.
Grave image from Shubble. Owen messaged it to me a while back:3
{ Frankly, Allen was reluctant to even return to this place. Especially considering the risks of being noticed by anyone — human or otherwise. After his return to his job, the missions became a lot more risky, and with him leaving Oakhurst under the assumption he had died in the flames, it was a wonder why he even bothered to return. One that confounded even him! — but he had his suspicions }
{ He had intended to build a graveyard. That was the idea. That was not how it went, however. No, because someone beat him to it. Someone who he swore he had seen once, and prayed that he’d never have to see them or their “family” ever again }
‘’ . . . Shelby. ‘’
Shelby jumped before she looked up. She hadn’t expected anyone to find her. She stood up quickly and dusted off her skirt.
“Oh umm hi Allen. Didn’t expect to see anyone out here… didn’t know you were even alive…”
Shelby looked back at the grave. She really missed Pyro even though she’s the one who did it. They looked at the ground not really knowing what to do in this situation.
{ He laughed, though it was quiet and awkward }
‘’ Yeah, uh . . . not as alive as I could be, but- hi. ‘’
{ As they get up, he moves to sit down in front of the grave. Pyro’s grave }
‘’ . . . He was good. ‘’
She looked at him and sat back down in her previous spot. She didn’t really want to cry in front of him.
“He was, before he kinda went a bit insane. I don’t miss the person he was when he died but I miss who he used to be.”
They pulled her knees up to her chest, which made her seem younger than she actually was.
“So are you a vampire now?”
{ He cast her a confused look as she expressed her love for who he was before it all. It made him stiffen, a knot forming in his stomach. A sudden doubt whispered in his mind that perhaps he and the scholar were never as close as they thought }
‘’ . . . yeah. I- yes. I am. I’m . . . sorry I lied to everyone. About my death. ‘’
“It’s ok… I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me since you know”
She looked at her hands remembering them covered in Pyro’s blood. She’d regretted it almost instantly, some of that regret had disappeared when the others agreed with her but it had come back almost full force. They hated their actions but she couldn’t do anything about it now.
{ He watches her before taking one of their hands in his own, gloved in a deep maroon }
‘’ I don’t blame you, Shelby. You were doing it for a reason. I can’t fault you for the same reason that I have done such horrible things. Pyro would understand. The Pyro that we used to know. ‘’
The only thing keeping her together right now just snapped and she started crying. She went through in a few weeks more than what most people would go through in their life her being younger didn’t all that much help. She probably needed to cry. She accepted her hand being taken and she squeezed a little bit.
“I miss him, I miss Avid too.”
{ He squeezed back before gently rubbing his thumb over her hand. He would’ve hugged her, but admittedly, he was terrified. Terrified of her, of what she stands for, of who she works with . . . but being undead has taught him humanity, and so he shifts closer in case she decides to lean on him }
‘’ I- I know. I never knew Avid. Not really. But it’s tragic, nonetheless. And Pyro- . . . I miss him more than I can say. ‘’
“I miss doing Owen’s hair and thinking maybe I could be happy. I miss a lot of things.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She felt like she was little again having just lost her dad and losing her mom. She looked towards Pyro’s grave.
“Maybe I’m just as bad as he ended up, can’t be worse than Owen but he killed 3,000 people.”
{ He nods, trying to grasp the tragedy she must be feeling, but aside from Pyro, he was never close to anyone. And in terms of the coven — well, he loathes Scott. It tore into him. The want to help with no ability to }
‘’ You are not as bad as . . . him. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst. You have done good, Shelby. That’s more than most could have done in your situation. ‘’
“I’m sorry it’s been a year I need to get over it.”
Shelby pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her hand away. She wanted to be fine she didn’t want to feel this weight anymore. She had turned Avid and it led to his death and she had killed Pyro herself.
‘’ You don’t. ‘’
{ Those words slip out faster than he intended, but now he couldn’t help but continue, sharing against his better thoughts }
‘’ The job I used to work . . . I had to do what you did with Pyro far more often than anyone. Than Scott. Than the Doctor. Than Owen. I started it when I was young, and it’s been — what — at least ten years? I’m still not over it. You definitely don’t have to be. ‘’
She looked up at him with a curious expression but she didn’t want to force him to talk. She was confused now.
“You, did what I did? I didn’t know anyone else did something like that… I just have to pretend I’m ok even if I’m not. I don’t want to end up like my mom.”
{ He nods, the reminder of it painful, though he’s used to it by now. Mom. That’s another mental jab. But he’ll hide everything for as long as it takes }
‘’ Yeah. Yeah, I did. A long time ago. But- you don’t have to pretend. Not around me, at least. ‘’
Shelby shook her head quickly at the notion. She couldn’t be sad in front of people. She couldn’t end up as broken as her mom. She had to help Scott and Drift so she couldn’t do that.
“So where did you go after all this happened?”
She was definitely trying to deflect. Was she going to keep deflecting? Yes, yes she would.
{ He casts her a look as if to say she won’t get away with this, but he’d let her try }
‘’ I, uh- back to my old job. To a crowned nation, a little west of here. It’s . . . better than it was before. The job, I mean. But that’s all bland news, what happened to you? Looked around after the walls fell and I almost bought that another massacre happened. ‘’
“Well me and Drift have been showing Scott the world. I’ve been working on my book in any downtime.”
She messed with her sleeves as she spoke. Avid was supposed to explore the world with them but it didn’t really work out that way.
“I told my mom that I’m ok and that dad was right because at least vampires and werewolves are real! I haven’t really found anything else yet.”
‘’ Well, that- that’s all wonderful! I never knew you were writing a book. Must be a wonderful writer. A- . . . your mother, is she alright? I figure she must be proud of you, but to be hearing all of this, well, one would be quite shocked. ‘’
“I sent her a letter. I haven’t seen her in a year she didn’t do much after my dad died anyway.”
She sounded bitter at the end. It was clear she disliked her mother. Shelby pulled a little locket out from under her shirt. Luckily it had been gold so she had no trouble with it now. She opened it up and there was a picture of a man with brown hair and yellow eyes and a little girl the same features.
“That’s me and my dad a few months before he disappeared.”
{ He hummed, a small, bittersweet smile crossing his face at the photo }
‘’ I’m . . . sorry for his disappearance. It’s easier when you know the truth, that I know. ‘’
“Yeah. He wasn’t crazy I know that now.”
She closed the locket and sighed. She wondered if everyone in town said the same things about her that they said about her father. She reached out and gently booped Allen. She giggled afterwards.
{ He smiled, though his face scrunched up slightly as she booped him. He relaxed soon after, though }
‘’ Certainly not crazy. ‘’
‘’ . . . though you might as well be for booping me! ‘’
{ Teasingly, he boops her back }
She giggled even more as he was booped. They leaned back on their elbows. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was gone from the castle yet but she didn’t want to go back right now.
“Sooooo how long are you staying around here? I think I’m staying for a few weeks depends on what the other two want. It was mostly for them anyway, I hate being in that castle now.”
{ He hums, chuckling a bit after a few minutes }
‘’ Ah, I’ll figure it out as I go. Though, with Scott around, I might cut my visit short. Don’t want to be around him longer than I have to be. ‘’
“He changed! He’s nice to people now me and Drift have been teaching him. We told him only girlboss no gaslight or gatekeep.”
She sat back up. She needed to make sure people knew that Scott was better now. He wasn’t manipulating people for personal gain and he wasn’t hurting people for fun.
{ He gives a skeptical glance in her direction, scoffing as she finishes her defense of the elder }
‘’ Sure. Well, I don’t know if I can trust that by word alone, and frankly, I don’t intend to meet him to find out the truth. I don’t like him. That’s that. ‘’
Shelby just shrunk in on herself. That was the man who took her in when everyone else thought she was weird. He’s the one who cared about her when the town didn’t. She didn’t like hearing someone talk about him like he couldn’t change.
“Avid made him feel something. He hadn’t felt anything in a thousand years of corse he was going to be cruel. Abolish promised to watch over him and make sure he didn’t slip back, he asked Abolish to do so.”
{ He sighs, leaning forward and staring at the name on the grave }
‘’ He made Pyro feel something, and Pyro did the same to him. Everyone has an influence on everyone, Shelby. I’m not saying that he can’t change, I’m saying that I don’t think he’s- . . . forget it. ‘’
“And then Pyro turned on both of us. Nothing from Oakhurst haunts me more than Avid’s screams. Do you have any idea how that feels? Avid was my fledgling, he was the first person to say I wasn’t crazy.”
Shelby’s fists clenched. If her skin wasn’t already white she knuckles would be. There were tears in her eyes. She stood up, she walked behind the grave and went to the water. She sat down at the edge of the water just staring into it.
{ It stung. Hearing her and Avid’s pain, knowing the pain of Pyro. It was awful, and for several minutes, he sat there, glancing between the name of the past and the pain in the present }
‘’ . . . I have fledglings. Unwilling ones. Ones I had to turn during my job to save them from death, though who knows how much better this is. ‘’
{ Slowly, he stands, brushing off some of his clothes. Though he doesn’t move away from the grave }
‘’ They die often, Shelby. My fledglings never last long. Vampires never last long. Not in big capitals. Not in small towns. So ask again how it feels, because I know it. It happens once every day - screaming, yelling, pain, and then nothing. I don’t know them, Shelby. I don’t know them honorably, and I can do nothing to save them. My losses outweigh my wins. It’s never fair, Shelby. Never. Pyro warned me of that from the start. ‘’
“You didn’t know them. They weren’t your best friend. I close my eyes to sleep and I hear my brother killing my best friend. Both of their deaths are on me.”
Shelby slashed her claws along the surface of the water. She didn’t think anyone could understand what she went through even if what he went through was similar.
“I get that that is still hard but if you don’t know them how can it hurt? It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, I feel empty and alone. But I don’t show it because if I let it out it’ll consume me, I don’t want to be like my mom.”
‘’ It hurts because it’s my fault. But you’re right. It’s not the same. I don’t understand the pain. ‘’
{ His voice is steady but it’s filled with frustration }
‘’ I don’t understand how Pyro lived with you. ‘’
Shelby turned her head around to look at him again. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She needed to calm down.
“I’m sorry for acting like this my feelings are just kinda all over the place right now, it’s probably because it’s been exactly a year since it all happened.”
{ He sighs, looking away from her and instead behind himself }
‘’ . . . it’s fine. It’s not your fault. ‘’
“Kinda is.”
She stood up and started pacing around the area by the edge of the water.
‘’ It was the fault of all sides, Shelby. Not just yours, not just his; everybody has some effect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s unfair to yourself to be so cruel to only one instigator. ‘’
“I’m the only one who made it out. I’m the one who didn’t have any consequences for my actions. I didn’t even get told off by anyone they all just celebrated.”
The guilt was evident on her face as she paced along the waters edge.
{ He stays quiet, still refusing to look and her }
‘’ Well, that’s their fault, now, isn’t it? You have guilt. It reeks off of you every waking moment. They don’t have a care for the man behind the monster, they simply needed him gone. At least you feel guilty. That’s the most important thing. ‘’
“Everyone just hated him, I hated him… I don’t hate him. I miss him so much”
She kept pacing around. She was breathing frantically despite not needing to, it was a habit she kept for the whole year.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be pushing this all onto you I- I’m sorry.”
‘’ It’s fine. I- it’s fine. ‘’
{ He pauses, glancing over to her for a moment as he hears her begin breathing, albeit very frantically }
‘’ I never hated him. Not truly. I never forgave him for the death of Avid - who would? - but hate wasn’t something I could bring myself to. ‘’
“I just was so angry and I haven’t felt like that before and I haven’t felt like that since. I think I hated him, he wasn’t really himself at that point. I guess we all had to change a bit, I think I’m better at standing up for myself now?”
They paused in their pacing for a moment to think. She had been standing her ground more and she felt much older even though it’s only by a year.
{ Carefully, he nodded }
‘’ I- It’s good that you became better for yourself through it. Even if it came from hardship. ‘’
“Are you ok? We’ve talked about me a lot, how are you holding up?”
She paused her pacing and looked towards Allen. There was genuine concern on her face.
{ He winces slightly upon seeing all the concern on her face }
‘’ I’m fine. ‘’
{ After a minute, he pulls out a bottle of crimson and quickly downs it, wiping at his mouth to make sure he got it all }
‘’ Just a bit tired from the journey. ‘’
“Do you need somewhere to rest? I could probably sneak you into the castle that way you don’t have to interact with anyone. Plus Scott’s at Avid’s grave most of the time”
Shelby smiled at him a little bit. The offer was genuine she wanted to make sure he was ok.
{ There’s a long silence as he stares at her, looking as though she just said the most incredulous thing he’s ever heard }
‘’ . . . you’re sure he won’t be there? ‘’
“Well he wasn’t there when I left. This is like the second day we’ve been here and he’s only been at the castle a total of like 3 hours.”
The castle has grown in the year that had passed so there were rooms in there which made it much easier to hide a person in there. She walked back over to Allen with a kind smile on her face.
{ Hesitantly, he stands, offering some semblance of a smile in return }
‘’ Well . . . then I suppose I wouldn’t mind. I’ve never been inside that castle, after all. ‘’
{ He offers a hand, smile faltering as anxiety stirred }
‘’ Off we go, then? ‘’
Shelby grabbed his hand and lead him off to the castle. It wasn’t difficult to sneak him into her room. She didn’t want to put him in a guest room since there was a higher chance of someone going in there. She put a sign on her door that said she was writing so nobody would come in.
{ He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, awkwardness settling around him. After a few moments of silence, he sits on the floor, distracting himself with admiring her room }
‘’ . . . it’s very pretty in here. ‘’
“Thank you! Pearl decorated part of it but I added some touches, mostly the books. M sent me signed copies of all his books!”
Shelby sat on the floor close by to the door so if someone decided to peak in they were see her before they got the door open. She had a notebook sitting in her lap with a pen.
{ He looks at the pen, at the book, and then all around the room again }
‘’ . . . that’s nice. ‘’
She started doodling little stars and stuff at the top of her chapter pages. She drew a rather detailed mushroom at the bottom of the end of a chapter. She always had a bit of thing for mushrooms.
“If you’d prefer I can go outside to write, if I’m out there nobody will come in here”
{ It takes a while for him to register she even said anything. Her room, really the whole castle, reminded him of home. The little mansion, run-down and weathered on the outside but cozy within, where he retires after long days and takes in those weathered by distrust and inequality }
‘’ No . . . no, I don’t- I don’t mind. It’s nice having you around. It- it’s nice not being alone. ‘’
“I get that I was kinda on my own for a while before I came to Oakhurst everyone at home just pitied me”
She frowned a bit and looked at the first few pages of her notebook. It talked about her early life and her dad.
‘’ . . . I’ve been alone since my family was killed. ‘’
‘’ It’s not easy, growing up alone. But I’m glad we’ve both made it. ‘’
“My dad left to go find werewolves and my mom just kinda left mentally. She was there but she wasn’t, the first few years she just sat in the chair she found out in I had to make her get up but she would always end up there. I was 12”
She wiped away a tear away that threatened to fall as she spoke. She flipped a few pages in the notebook on her lap getting away from that stuff, it probably wouldn’t make it into the book anyway.
{ He nods solemnly, shifting positions before bringing his knees to his chest and laying his head atop his arms which covered his knees }
‘’ Sorry . . . what are you writing? ‘’
“It’s a ‘fiction’ book about a girl having a vampire roommate and the chaos that happens. I’m changing everyone’s names except mine so it just looks self indulgent”
She lit up after being asked about her writing. She seemed very excited to talk about it.
‘’ Oh, that’s fun! To tell more. What has happened so far? ‘’
“Well she was a cryptid hunter and so when she found out that her roommate and two other people in the town were vampires she got very excited. They had turned her obviously and the four grew very close until yeah…”
*She kinda cut herself off and pulled her knees closer to her chest.*
{ He hums, a soft smile crossing his face }
‘’ Sounds wonderful. ‘’
‘’ . . . are you alright? ‘’
“Yeah I’m fine! I’m just kinda thinking right now”
Shelby messed with her sleeves again. She was definitely anxious but that was pretty normal.
{ He hums, nodding politely. He closes his eyes, leaning his head back. One could mistakenly believe he’s falling asleep, but the vampire is much rather reminiscening }
She went to the page she had left off on, then she remembered why she had stopped writing. There were notes from Avid scribbled in the empty pages. She read over the notes and laughed remembering how goofy he was.
{ Hearing her laugh, he can’t help but smile, opening an eye to see what may be the cause of it. The writing to him is illegible, but it’s joyous to her, and so he closes his eyes once more and lets out a soft breath }
“Oh Avid…”
She had a soft smile on her face. She came across the note about when Avid asked her to turn him, setting up the meeting location.
{ The name makes his body tense, if only briefly. Avid. He remembers brief flourishes of the hunter—not enough, he fears. A part of him desperately wants to leave. To find Avid—to find Scott—and to ask for forgiveness. For anything other than the guilt of loving a fire so kind to keep him alive }
Shelby glanced over at him. She looked back at the notebook and sighed. She couldn’t get rid of these so she would have to get a new one.
“Dang it and I painted this one and everything”
{ He laughs, finally lifting his head to look at her and smile }
‘’ Sounds like you’ll get a new opportunity to paint. Doesn’t seem too bad. ‘’
“Hmmm I’m gonna put a mushroom with a butterfly on the next one. I miss Kathrine”
She sighed thinking about the lives she remembered before this one.
‘’ Who’s Kathrine? ‘’
“So umm one time this person showed me a picture where I was a witch Owen was a llama and Scott was like colorful and stuff. After I saw that I started getting these memories of lives I guess I lived. Kathrine was my girlfriend in two of them, my wife actually once.”
She glanced at the pink tulip she kept in a flowerpot beside her bed.
‘’ She sounds kind. A very wonderful lady, I’m sure. Though . . . that photo is an odd occurrence. ‘’
{ The sound of a clock’s ticking echoes around the room, though there seems not to be a clock in sight. Allen doesn’t seem to hear it, or perhaps he’s spent so much time at odds with it that it rings only as background noise }
Shelby looked around the room trying to find the source of the mysterious ticking noise. She looked a little bit confused, she didn’t have a clock.
“Where is that? Do you hear that?”
‘’ What? ‘’
“I hear a clock but I don’t have a clock. You don’t hear it?”
She started to feel like she was going insane, wouldn’t be the first the she could hear something that others couldn’t.
{ It takes several moments out of him before it clicks, and he begins to laugh }
‘’ Oh, the ticking! No, I suppose it’s so common I’m used to it. Please, pay it no mind. What were you saying about Kathrine? ‘’
{ Slowly, the ticking starts to fade away }
“Well one time she put me in a prison where I sat in a little boat because I was corrupted by this stuff called the skulk it was weird. She put me in prison because I was kinda evil and she was a monster hunter, you know she’d probably hate me now.”
{ He hums, listening before tsking at her end statement }
‘’ Oh, please. You saw Scott and Avid, did you not? A hunter can surely love their hunted, even if such a prospect is strange. ‘’
“I don’t even know why she cared about me in the first place! I was a witch and a criminal!”
She signed. She knew Scott and Avid worked out but Katherine was different than Avid.
‘’ So? ‘’
{ He sighs, standing up and moving over to her before plopping down by her side }
‘’ Y’know, by all means, I’m wanted, too. But I found someone who loved me, once. He sang such beautiful songs to me. And he had a way with words that I find myself constantly trying to emulate. A lawman. That’s what he was. I never quite believed he truly loved me. It seemed impossible. But there it was. And there he was . . . point is, even the most unexpected people care sometimes. Despite all impossibility. ‘’
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, it’s not like she’d remember me. If she was still a monster hunter then she’d probably try and kill me. Although who knows what she would be it’s not exactly like we’re alive like that anymore. Well I was kinda in a weird situation with dying but that’s for another day.”
She ran her hand over the cover of her notebook feeling the texture of it. She kinda made herself shut up because she was rambling a lot.
{ He hums, nodding along }
‘’ I see. Well, I can only pray if you two ever do cross paths again, that it goes peacefully and lovingly. ‘’
She nodded before looking at the flower by her bed once again. She had a soft smile on her face as she reminisced.
“I hope so too”
{ He smiles, closing his eyes soon again and burying his face in his arms }
She eventually just kinda spaced thinking about the past or maybe she was reliving it who really knew.
{ After a few peacefully quiet moments, Allen mumbles something under his breath }
‘’ ᓭ𝙹∷∷|| ᔑʖ𝙹⚍ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵꖎ𝙹ᓵꖌ ‘’
She didn’t even notice that he said anything she kinda wasn’t really present in the moment
((THE GALACTIC HELLO?))
{ It took him a moment to realize she hadn’t heard, at which point he immediately let it go }
( // hehehe // )
She eventually zoned back in a little bit and she pulled her knees closer to her chest. Her eyes were teary but she wasn’t actually crying.
{ He heard the shuffling, though he wasn’t sure he dared to look up. If he met her eyes, that’d be one thing, but if he met theirs . . . }
Shelby blinked the tears from her eyes before wiping them away. She calmed herself down after a moment taking a few deep breaths.
((HELLO? WATCHER REFERENCE MAYBE??))
{ After a few moments of hearing her breathing, he looks up, casting a concerned look }
‘’ Shelby? ‘’
( // mwhehehehe - mixing and matching some Allen lore, so I’m slowly implementing it >:3 there’ll be a post today // )
“Yeah? Sorry I kinda zoned out there”
She looked up at him and smiled a little bit but under her eyes were slightly damp.
‘’ Okay . . . ‘’
{ He doesn’t let go of the look in her eyes. The tears left staining below them. And so he stands, out-stretching a hand to her with a mock smile }
‘’ Want to show me your favorite parts of the castle? ‘’
“Yeah sure!! Let’s go to the ballroom that’s my favorite room!”
She jumped up and smiled.
{ He smiles, grabbing her hand and motioning for her to lead the way }
‘’ Sounds wonderful! ‘’
She giggled as she dragged him through the halls down to the ballroom.
{ He smiled, both at the architecture and at Shelby’s joy. It was nice. All of it. The exquisite designs and seeing such light in her eyes. It was really good to see }
“I really like the ballroom because it’s the only room that the four of us built together that I don’t have trauma in!”
((Sorry man I’ve been dying))
{ He doesn’t mean to, but he snorts at that }
‘’ Sorry. Tha- I really love that. It’s nice to have a safe place. Ballrooms especially have always been like a bubble; a shield from the outside world. ‘’
( // no worries!! I lwk have been too, but on the emotional end of the spectrum :,3 // )
“You can laugh it’s ok! It was ment to be a little bit funny!”
She walked over to the fountain and grabbed a glass to fill. She kinda wondered how many animals it took Cleo and Pearl to keep this thing filled.
{ He watched, curiously watching the fountain while also feeling incredibly hesitant to step even an inch closer }
‘’ I figured. It just- seemed rude, I suppose. ‘’
{ A soft noise escapes him as he shakes his head }
‘’ Spirits, Pyro was right. I could loosen up. ‘’
She took a dip from her glass and walked around the room. She walked over to the windows and looked outside. She glanced over the spot in the bridge where she stood when they told her about Avid, then to the spot she once hid her novel.
“There’s so many bad memories here but so many good ones as well”
‘’ I’m glad to hear it. ‘’
{ Slowly, after some psyching, he begins to walk around the room. The last time he had been to the castle- spirits, it was the last he had seen of Pyro. A planned dance until they were found out. Not even an afternoon later, and he had been turned }
“So what do you do for fun?”
Shelby was honestly a little bit bored so she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured a bit into her blood. Scott had taught her proportions that it would do a little bit of an effect on her but still taste good.
‘’ I- I don’t indulge in much fun nowadays. Too busy working. Though, on occasion, I’ll find myself at my bass singing some jostled tune. Not as often as I used to. ‘’
“I mostly just write but that’s also my job so”
She leaned against a nearby wall and took another sip. She stood in a manner Owen often would although that made sense since the two were close and Shelby at least was fairly impressionable.
{ He notices the hint in her posture and immediately his eyes narrow. He doesn’t realize it, but he steps away from her, wrapping his arms around himself. Something Pyro used to do when they were uneasy. Spirits, how they miss him }
She immediately stood up straighter and got a concerned look in her face.
“Hey, are you alright? Did something happen?”
{ There’s that familiar ticking again. And, if she were to pay notice, she’d see a red, coral-bone-like structure creep around their wrist, almost forming a glove. Yet, he doesn’t seem concerned. Not one bit. He doesn’t even seem to notice it. If anything, he looks caught in a daze }
‘’ . . . w-what? ‘’
Shelby jumped after noticing the strange structure. Her eyes were wide and she looked a little bit confused.
“What is that???!! Are you ok??!!”
{ He glances down at his hand, face never wavering. After a beat, he looks back up at her }
‘’ I’m fine. It’s just the coral. ‘’
{ As soon as he says that, eyes open from upon the coral. He seems to sense this and gives the eyes a stern glare, which they send right back at him. Then he returns his focus to Shelby }
‘’ I’m not a monster. I promise. ‘’
“Is it like a kind of corruption because if so I have like a lot of experience with that. Interacting with corrupted people and being corrupted myself, it’s not fun”
She calmed herself down a little bit and took a few steps towards him cautiously.
‘’ I- no. No, not really. ‘’
{ He wants to step back from her. He really, really does, but he can’t seem to make himself move }
‘’ The coral is biological. The, um, the eyes . . . those are a curse. ‘’
“A curse?”
She kinda stoped moving for a second. Then she stood just a few feet away from him. She looked concerned still.
“And by biological do you mean like it’s something that has always happened to you?”
{ He watches her pause, all confidence—all bravado—faltering as she does }
‘’ 𝙹⍑ リ𝙹 ‘’
‘’ Forget I said anything about the eyes. Forget they even exist! Just focus on the coral. Biological, yes, not something that has always happened. I mean, sort of, but more like it’s always been attached to me. ‘’
“Katherine had a curse half of her kingdom was shrouded in darkness the moment she was born”
She took a step back again noticing he was anxious or something of that nature. She sat down on the floor and pondered what to do.
{ He simply hums curiously before taking a step back in turn. The eyes looked between him and Shelby, and he was really tempted to go find Owen’s axe and tell them to leave him alone. But he didn’t know where it was, and they never listen to anything he has to say }
‘’ Not a kind of curse like that. One from above, I guess you could say. They cursed all of us. ‘’
“They? Who are they?”
Nobody had ever really told her much about them she had heard of them before.
{ He speaks in a hushed tone when he mentions them by title }
‘’ The Listeners and the Watchers. ‘’
“Oh… I’ve heard of them, I was in a witches academy and there was a whole class on them but I slept through it because it was boring and I wasn’t a good student.”
She tried her best to remember anything but she really didn’t stay awake in that class like at all. Maybe her getting kicked out would have been justified if they hadn’t sent her off to die.
{ He laughs a bit at that, seemingly wishing he could’ve slept through all of his history with them }
‘’ Completely fair. There’s much about them, but all that mortals seem to know are the most boring parts of them. A shame, really. And the rest of us don’t even fall on a mouse’s ear . . . ‘’
“The rest? I know that the Watchers and Listeners god like beings that’s pretty much all I know besides the obvious.”
She was curious, she wanted to know more now. She would probably turn to reading if it wasn’t explained to her.
‘’ God-like. That’s funny. The rest of us are, too. Were. The Boogey, the Secret Keeper, the Wild Ones- . . . the Clockmakers. ‘’
“The WHAT?”
She had never heard of them before so she seemed a little bit confused.
‘’ Friends. ‘’
{ He shrugged as though it was so simple, though when the slam of a door echoed down the hall, he violently flinched }
‘’ Think that’s my cue to leave. ‘’
“Oh alright I’ll see you later?”
She seemed a bit confused about everything. She grabbed another glass and downed it pretty quickly.
Open Rp Starter
A year after the events of Oakhurst occurred Shelby, Scott, and Drift went back to Oakhurst to visit. While Drift and Scott were doing a few things Shelby snuck off. She ventured off to obelisk with a few materials in hand. She took her time and built a grave for Pyro.
Sure Pyro had been extreme and was a murder. He murdered her fledgling after all, but she still cared. Even as she had plunged that stake into his heart she still cared. The coven was her family, Pyro was like a brother to her.
After the grave was constructed Shelby sat at the bottom of it. She spoke to the grave like she was talking to Pyro again. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. I don’t think I’ll ever really forgive you for what you did but I guess we’re even now? Although it really just fell back on me didn’t it?” She laughed just a little bit, it wasn’t happy laughter at all. A few tears slipped from her eyes but she quickly wiped them away.
Grave image from Shubble. Owen messaged it to me a while back:3
{ Frankly, Allen was reluctant to even return to this place. Especially considering the risks of being noticed by anyone — human or otherwise. After his return to his job, the missions became a lot more risky, and with him leaving Oakhurst under the assumption he had died in the flames, it was a wonder why he even bothered to return. One that confounded even him! — but he had his suspicions }
{ He had intended to build a graveyard. That was the idea. That was not how it went, however. No, because someone beat him to it. Someone who he swore he had seen once, and prayed that he’d never have to see them or their “family” ever again }
‘’ . . . Shelby. ‘’
Shelby jumped before she looked up. She hadn’t expected anyone to find her. She stood up quickly and dusted off her skirt.
“Oh umm hi Allen. Didn’t expect to see anyone out here… didn’t know you were even alive…”
Shelby looked back at the grave. She really missed Pyro even though she’s the one who did it. They looked at the ground not really knowing what to do in this situation.
{ He laughed, though it was quiet and awkward }
‘’ Yeah, uh . . . not as alive as I could be, but- hi. ‘’
{ As they get up, he moves to sit down in front of the grave. Pyro’s grave }
‘’ . . . He was good. ‘’
She looked at him and sat back down in her previous spot. She didn’t really want to cry in front of him.
“He was, before he kinda went a bit insane. I don’t miss the person he was when he died but I miss who he used to be.”
They pulled her knees up to her chest, which made her seem younger than she actually was.
“So are you a vampire now?”
{ He cast her a confused look as she expressed her love for who he was before it all. It made him stiffen, a knot forming in his stomach. A sudden doubt whispered in his mind that perhaps he and the scholar were never as close as they thought }
‘’ . . . yeah. I- yes. I am. I’m . . . sorry I lied to everyone. About my death. ‘’
“It’s ok… I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me since you know”
She looked at her hands remembering them covered in Pyro’s blood. She’d regretted it almost instantly, some of that regret had disappeared when the others agreed with her but it had come back almost full force. They hated their actions but she couldn’t do anything about it now.
{ He watches her before taking one of their hands in his own, gloved in a deep maroon }
‘’ I don’t blame you, Shelby. You were doing it for a reason. I can’t fault you for the same reason that I have done such horrible things. Pyro would understand. The Pyro that we used to know. ‘’
The only thing keeping her together right now just snapped and she started crying. She went through in a few weeks more than what most people would go through in their life her being younger didn’t all that much help. She probably needed to cry. She accepted her hand being taken and she squeezed a little bit.
“I miss him, I miss Avid too.”
{ He squeezed back before gently rubbing his thumb over her hand. He would’ve hugged her, but admittedly, he was terrified. Terrified of her, of what she stands for, of who she works with . . . but being undead has taught him humanity, and so he shifts closer in case she decides to lean on him }
‘’ I- I know. I never knew Avid. Not really. But it’s tragic, nonetheless. And Pyro- . . . I miss him more than I can say. ‘’
“I miss doing Owen’s hair and thinking maybe I could be happy. I miss a lot of things.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She felt like she was little again having just lost her dad and losing her mom. She looked towards Pyro’s grave.
“Maybe I’m just as bad as he ended up, can’t be worse than Owen but he killed 3,000 people.”
{ He nods, trying to grasp the tragedy she must be feeling, but aside from Pyro, he was never close to anyone. And in terms of the coven — well, he loathes Scott. It tore into him. The want to help with no ability to }
‘’ You are not as bad as . . . him. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst. You have done good, Shelby. That’s more than most could have done in your situation. ‘’
“I’m sorry it’s been a year I need to get over it.”
Shelby pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her hand away. She wanted to be fine she didn’t want to feel this weight anymore. She had turned Avid and it led to his death and she had killed Pyro herself.
‘’ You don’t. ‘’
{ Those words slip out faster than he intended, but now he couldn’t help but continue, sharing against his better thoughts }
‘’ The job I used to work . . . I had to do what you did with Pyro far more often than anyone. Than Scott. Than the Doctor. Than Owen. I started it when I was young, and it’s been — what — at least ten years? I’m still not over it. You definitely don’t have to be. ‘’
She looked up at him with a curious expression but she didn’t want to force him to talk. She was confused now.
“You, did what I did? I didn’t know anyone else did something like that… I just have to pretend I’m ok even if I’m not. I don’t want to end up like my mom.”
{ He nods, the reminder of it painful, though he’s used to it by now. Mom. That’s another mental jab. But he’ll hide everything for as long as it takes }
‘’ Yeah. Yeah, I did. A long time ago. But- you don’t have to pretend. Not around me, at least. ‘’
Shelby shook her head quickly at the notion. She couldn’t be sad in front of people. She couldn’t end up as broken as her mom. She had to help Scott and Drift so she couldn’t do that.
“So where did you go after all this happened?”
She was definitely trying to deflect. Was she going to keep deflecting? Yes, yes she would.
{ He casts her a look as if to say she won’t get away with this, but he’d let her try }
‘’ I, uh- back to my old job. To a crowned nation, a little west of here. It’s . . . better than it was before. The job, I mean. But that’s all bland news, what happened to you? Looked around after the walls fell and I almost bought that another massacre happened. ‘’
“Well me and Drift have been showing Scott the world. I’ve been working on my book in any downtime.”
She messed with her sleeves as she spoke. Avid was supposed to explore the world with them but it didn’t really work out that way.
“I told my mom that I’m ok and that dad was right because at least vampires and werewolves are real! I haven’t really found anything else yet.”
‘’ Well, that- that’s all wonderful! I never knew you were writing a book. Must be a wonderful writer. A- . . . your mother, is she alright? I figure she must be proud of you, but to be hearing all of this, well, one would be quite shocked. ‘’
“I sent her a letter. I haven’t seen her in a year she didn’t do much after my dad died anyway.”
She sounded bitter at the end. It was clear she disliked her mother. Shelby pulled a little locket out from under her shirt. Luckily it had been gold so she had no trouble with it now. She opened it up and there was a picture of a man with brown hair and yellow eyes and a little girl the same features.
“That’s me and my dad a few months before he disappeared.”
{ He hummed, a small, bittersweet smile crossing his face at the photo }
‘’ I’m . . . sorry for his disappearance. It’s easier when you know the truth, that I know. ‘’
“Yeah. He wasn’t crazy I know that now.”
She closed the locket and sighed. She wondered if everyone in town said the same things about her that they said about her father. She reached out and gently booped Allen. She giggled afterwards.
{ He smiled, though his face scrunched up slightly as she booped him. He relaxed soon after, though }
‘’ Certainly not crazy. ‘’
‘’ . . . though you might as well be for booping me! ‘’
{ Teasingly, he boops her back }
She giggled even more as he was booped. They leaned back on their elbows. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was gone from the castle yet but she didn’t want to go back right now.
“Sooooo how long are you staying around here? I think I’m staying for a few weeks depends on what the other two want. It was mostly for them anyway, I hate being in that castle now.”
{ He hums, chuckling a bit after a few minutes }
‘’ Ah, I’ll figure it out as I go. Though, with Scott around, I might cut my visit short. Don’t want to be around him longer than I have to be. ‘’
“He changed! He’s nice to people now me and Drift have been teaching him. We told him only girlboss no gaslight or gatekeep.”
She sat back up. She needed to make sure people knew that Scott was better now. He wasn’t manipulating people for personal gain and he wasn’t hurting people for fun.
{ He gives a skeptical glance in her direction, scoffing as she finishes her defense of the elder }
‘’ Sure. Well, I don’t know if I can trust that by word alone, and frankly, I don’t intend to meet him to find out the truth. I don’t like him. That’s that. ‘’
Shelby just shrunk in on herself. That was the man who took her in when everyone else thought she was weird. He’s the one who cared about her when the town didn’t. She didn’t like hearing someone talk about him like he couldn’t change.
“Avid made him feel something. He hadn’t felt anything in a thousand years of corse he was going to be cruel. Abolish promised to watch over him and make sure he didn’t slip back, he asked Abolish to do so.”
{ He sighs, leaning forward and staring at the name on the grave }
‘’ He made Pyro feel something, and Pyro did the same to him. Everyone has an influence on everyone, Shelby. I’m not saying that he can’t change, I’m saying that I don’t think he’s- . . . forget it. ‘’
“And then Pyro turned on both of us. Nothing from Oakhurst haunts me more than Avid’s screams. Do you have any idea how that feels? Avid was my fledgling, he was the first person to say I wasn’t crazy.”
Shelby’s fists clenched. If her skin wasn’t already white she knuckles would be. There were tears in her eyes. She stood up, she walked behind the grave and went to the water. She sat down at the edge of the water just staring into it.
{ It stung. Hearing her and Avid’s pain, knowing the pain of Pyro. It was awful, and for several minutes, he sat there, glancing between the name of the past and the pain in the present }
‘’ . . . I have fledglings. Unwilling ones. Ones I had to turn during my job to save them from death, though who knows how much better this is. ‘’
{ Slowly, he stands, brushing off some of his clothes. Though he doesn’t move away from the grave }
‘’ They die often, Shelby. My fledglings never last long. Vampires never last long. Not in big capitals. Not in small towns. So ask again how it feels, because I know it. It happens once every day - screaming, yelling, pain, and then nothing. I don’t know them, Shelby. I don’t know them honorably, and I can do nothing to save them. My losses outweigh my wins. It’s never fair, Shelby. Never. Pyro warned me of that from the start. ‘’
“You didn’t know them. They weren’t your best friend. I close my eyes to sleep and I hear my brother killing my best friend. Both of their deaths are on me.”
Shelby slashed her claws along the surface of the water. She didn’t think anyone could understand what she went through even if what he went through was similar.
“I get that that is still hard but if you don’t know them how can it hurt? It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, I feel empty and alone. But I don’t show it because if I let it out it’ll consume me, I don’t want to be like my mom.”
‘’ It hurts because it’s my fault. But you’re right. It’s not the same. I don’t understand the pain. ‘’
{ His voice is steady but it’s filled with frustration }
‘’ I don’t understand how Pyro lived with you. ‘’
Shelby turned her head around to look at him again. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She needed to calm down.
“I’m sorry for acting like this my feelings are just kinda all over the place right now, it’s probably because it’s been exactly a year since it all happened.”
{ He sighs, looking away from her and instead behind himself }
‘’ . . . it’s fine. It’s not your fault. ‘’
“Kinda is.”
She stood up and started pacing around the area by the edge of the water.
‘’ It was the fault of all sides, Shelby. Not just yours, not just his; everybody has some effect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s unfair to yourself to be so cruel to only one instigator. ‘’
“I’m the only one who made it out. I’m the one who didn’t have any consequences for my actions. I didn’t even get told off by anyone they all just celebrated.”
The guilt was evident on her face as she paced along the waters edge.
{ He stays quiet, still refusing to look and her }
‘’ Well, that’s their fault, now, isn’t it? You have guilt. It reeks off of you every waking moment. They don’t have a care for the man behind the monster, they simply needed him gone. At least you feel guilty. That’s the most important thing. ‘’
“Everyone just hated him, I hated him… I don’t hate him. I miss him so much”
She kept pacing around. She was breathing frantically despite not needing to, it was a habit she kept for the whole year.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be pushing this all onto you I- I’m sorry.”
‘’ It’s fine. I- it’s fine. ‘’
{ He pauses, glancing over to her for a moment as he hears her begin breathing, albeit very frantically }
‘’ I never hated him. Not truly. I never forgave him for the death of Avid - who would? - but hate wasn’t something I could bring myself to. ‘’
“I just was so angry and I haven’t felt like that before and I haven’t felt like that since. I think I hated him, he wasn’t really himself at that point. I guess we all had to change a bit, I think I’m better at standing up for myself now?”
They paused in their pacing for a moment to think. She had been standing her ground more and she felt much older even though it’s only by a year.
{ Carefully, he nodded }
‘’ I- It’s good that you became better for yourself through it. Even if it came from hardship. ‘’
“Are you ok? We’ve talked about me a lot, how are you holding up?”
She paused her pacing and looked towards Allen. There was genuine concern on her face.
{ He winces slightly upon seeing all the concern on her face }
‘’ I’m fine. ‘’
{ After a minute, he pulls out a bottle of crimson and quickly downs it, wiping at his mouth to make sure he got it all }
‘’ Just a bit tired from the journey. ‘’
“Do you need somewhere to rest? I could probably sneak you into the castle that way you don’t have to interact with anyone. Plus Scott’s at Avid’s grave most of the time”
Shelby smiled at him a little bit. The offer was genuine she wanted to make sure he was ok.
{ There’s a long silence as he stares at her, looking as though she just said the most incredulous thing he’s ever heard }
‘’ . . . you’re sure he won’t be there? ‘’
“Well he wasn’t there when I left. This is like the second day we’ve been here and he’s only been at the castle a total of like 3 hours.”
The castle has grown in the year that had passed so there were rooms in there which made it much easier to hide a person in there. She walked back over to Allen with a kind smile on her face.
{ Hesitantly, he stands, offering some semblance of a smile in return }
‘’ Well . . . then I suppose I wouldn’t mind. I’ve never been inside that castle, after all. ‘’
{ He offers a hand, smile faltering as anxiety stirred }
‘’ Off we go, then? ‘’
Shelby grabbed his hand and lead him off to the castle. It wasn’t difficult to sneak him into her room. She didn’t want to put him in a guest room since there was a higher chance of someone going in there. She put a sign on her door that said she was writing so nobody would come in.
{ He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, awkwardness settling around him. After a few moments of silence, he sits on the floor, distracting himself with admiring her room }
‘’ . . . it’s very pretty in here. ‘’
“Thank you! Pearl decorated part of it but I added some touches, mostly the books. M sent me signed copies of all his books!”
Shelby sat on the floor close by to the door so if someone decided to peak in they were see her before they got the door open. She had a notebook sitting in her lap with a pen.
{ He looks at the pen, at the book, and then all around the room again }
‘’ . . . that’s nice. ‘’
She started doodling little stars and stuff at the top of her chapter pages. She drew a rather detailed mushroom at the bottom of the end of a chapter. She always had a bit of thing for mushrooms.
“If you’d prefer I can go outside to write, if I’m out there nobody will come in here”
{ It takes a while for him to register she even said anything. Her room, really the whole castle, reminded him of home. The little mansion, run-down and weathered on the outside but cozy within, where he retires after long days and takes in those weathered by distrust and inequality }
‘’ No . . . no, I don’t- I don’t mind. It’s nice having you around. It- it’s nice not being alone. ‘’
“I get that I was kinda on my own for a while before I came to Oakhurst everyone at home just pitied me”
She frowned a bit and looked at the first few pages of her notebook. It talked about her early life and her dad.
‘’ . . . I’ve been alone since my family was killed. ‘’
‘’ It’s not easy, growing up alone. But I’m glad we’ve both made it. ‘’
“My dad left to go find werewolves and my mom just kinda left mentally. She was there but she wasn’t, the first few years she just sat in the chair she found out in I had to make her get up but she would always end up there. I was 12”
She wiped away a tear away that threatened to fall as she spoke. She flipped a few pages in the notebook on her lap getting away from that stuff, it probably wouldn’t make it into the book anyway.
{ He nods solemnly, shifting positions before bringing his knees to his chest and laying his head atop his arms which covered his knees }
‘’ Sorry . . . what are you writing? ‘’
“It’s a ‘fiction’ book about a girl having a vampire roommate and the chaos that happens. I’m changing everyone’s names except mine so it just looks self indulgent”
She lit up after being asked about her writing. She seemed very excited to talk about it.
‘’ Oh, that’s fun! To tell more. What has happened so far? ‘’
“Well she was a cryptid hunter and so when she found out that her roommate and two other people in the town were vampires she got very excited. They had turned her obviously and the four grew very close until yeah…”
*She kinda cut herself off and pulled her knees closer to her chest.*
{ He hums, a soft smile crossing his face }
‘’ Sounds wonderful. ‘’
‘’ . . . are you alright? ‘’
“Yeah I’m fine! I’m just kinda thinking right now”
Shelby messed with her sleeves again. She was definitely anxious but that was pretty normal.
{ He hums, nodding politely. He closes his eyes, leaning his head back. One could mistakenly believe he’s falling asleep, but the vampire is much rather reminiscening }
She went to the page she had left off on, then she remembered why she had stopped writing. There were notes from Avid scribbled in the empty pages. She read over the notes and laughed remembering how goofy he was.
{ Hearing her laugh, he can’t help but smile, opening an eye to see what may be the cause of it. The writing to him is illegible, but it’s joyous to her, and so he closes his eyes once more and lets out a soft breath }
“Oh Avid…”
She had a soft smile on her face. She came across the note about when Avid asked her to turn him, setting up the meeting location.
{ The name makes his body tense, if only briefly. Avid. He remembers brief flourishes of the hunter—not enough, he fears. A part of him desperately wants to leave. To find Avid—to find Scott—and to ask for forgiveness. For anything other than the guilt of loving a fire so kind to keep him alive }
Shelby glanced over at him. She looked back at the notebook and sighed. She couldn’t get rid of these so she would have to get a new one.
“Dang it and I painted this one and everything”
{ He laughs, finally lifting his head to look at her and smile }
‘’ Sounds like you’ll get a new opportunity to paint. Doesn’t seem too bad. ‘’
“Hmmm I’m gonna put a mushroom with a butterfly on the next one. I miss Kathrine”
She sighed thinking about the lives she remembered before this one.
‘’ Who’s Kathrine? ‘’
“So umm one time this person showed me a picture where I was a witch Owen was a llama and Scott was like colorful and stuff. After I saw that I started getting these memories of lives I guess I lived. Kathrine was my girlfriend in two of them, my wife actually once.”
She glanced at the pink tulip she kept in a flowerpot beside her bed.
‘’ She sounds kind. A very wonderful lady, I’m sure. Though . . . that photo is an odd occurrence. ‘’
{ The sound of a clock’s ticking echoes around the room, though there seems not to be a clock in sight. Allen doesn’t seem to hear it, or perhaps he’s spent so much time at odds with it that it rings only as background noise }
Shelby looked around the room trying to find the source of the mysterious ticking noise. She looked a little bit confused, she didn’t have a clock.
“Where is that? Do you hear that?”
‘’ What? ‘’
“I hear a clock but I don’t have a clock. You don’t hear it?”
She started to feel like she was going insane, wouldn’t be the first the she could hear something that others couldn’t.
{ It takes several moments out of him before it clicks, and he begins to laugh }
‘’ Oh, the ticking! No, I suppose it’s so common I’m used to it. Please, pay it no mind. What were you saying about Kathrine? ‘’
{ Slowly, the ticking starts to fade away }
“Well one time she put me in a prison where I sat in a little boat because I was corrupted by this stuff called the skulk it was weird. She put me in prison because I was kinda evil and she was a monster hunter, you know she’d probably hate me now.”
{ He hums, listening before tsking at her end statement }
‘’ Oh, please. You saw Scott and Avid, did you not? A hunter can surely love their hunted, even if such a prospect is strange. ‘’
“I don’t even know why she cared about me in the first place! I was a witch and a criminal!”
She signed. She knew Scott and Avid worked out but Katherine was different than Avid.
‘’ So? ‘’
{ He sighs, standing up and moving over to her before plopping down by her side }
‘’ Y’know, by all means, I’m wanted, too. But I found someone who loved me, once. He sang such beautiful songs to me. And he had a way with words that I find myself constantly trying to emulate. A lawman. That’s what he was. I never quite believed he truly loved me. It seemed impossible. But there it was. And there he was . . . point is, even the most unexpected people care sometimes. Despite all impossibility. ‘’
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, it’s not like she’d remember me. If she was still a monster hunter then she’d probably try and kill me. Although who knows what she would be it’s not exactly like we’re alive like that anymore. Well I was kinda in a weird situation with dying but that’s for another day.”
She ran her hand over the cover of her notebook feeling the texture of it. She kinda made herself shut up because she was rambling a lot.
{ He hums, nodding along }
‘’ I see. Well, I can only pray if you two ever do cross paths again, that it goes peacefully and lovingly. ‘’
She nodded before looking at the flower by her bed once again. She had a soft smile on her face as she reminisced.
“I hope so too”
{ He smiles, closing his eyes soon again and burying his face in his arms }
She eventually just kinda spaced thinking about the past or maybe she was reliving it who really knew.
{ After a few peacefully quiet moments, Allen mumbles something under his breath }
‘’ ᓭ𝙹∷∷|| ᔑʖ𝙹⚍ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵꖎ𝙹ᓵꖌ ‘’
She didn’t even notice that he said anything she kinda wasn’t really present in the moment
((THE GALACTIC HELLO?))
{ It took him a moment to realize she hadn’t heard, at which point he immediately let it go }
( // hehehe // )
She eventually zoned back in a little bit and she pulled her knees closer to her chest. Her eyes were teary but she wasn’t actually crying.
{ He heard the shuffling, though he wasn’t sure he dared to look up. If he met her eyes, that’d be one thing, but if he met theirs . . . }
Shelby blinked the tears from her eyes before wiping them away. She calmed herself down after a moment taking a few deep breaths.
((HELLO? WATCHER REFERENCE MAYBE??))
{ After a few moments of hearing her breathing, he looks up, casting a concerned look }
‘’ Shelby? ‘’
( // mwhehehehe - mixing and matching some Allen lore, so I’m slowly implementing it >:3 there’ll be a post today // )
“Yeah? Sorry I kinda zoned out there”
She looked up at him and smiled a little bit but under her eyes were slightly damp.
‘’ Okay . . . ‘’
{ He doesn’t let go of the look in her eyes. The tears left staining below them. And so he stands, out-stretching a hand to her with a mock smile }
‘’ Want to show me your favorite parts of the castle? ‘’
“Yeah sure!! Let’s go to the ballroom that’s my favorite room!”
She jumped up and smiled.
{ He smiles, grabbing her hand and motioning for her to lead the way }
‘’ Sounds wonderful! ‘’
She giggled as she dragged him through the halls down to the ballroom.
{ He smiled, both at the architecture and at Shelby’s joy. It was nice. All of it. The exquisite designs and seeing such light in her eyes. It was really good to see }
“I really like the ballroom because it’s the only room that the four of us built together that I don’t have trauma in!”
((Sorry man I’ve been dying))
{ He doesn’t mean to, but he snorts at that }
‘’ Sorry. Tha- I really love that. It’s nice to have a safe place. Ballrooms especially have always been like a bubble; a shield from the outside world. ‘’
( // no worries!! I lwk have been too, but on the emotional end of the spectrum :,3 // )
“You can laugh it’s ok! It was ment to be a little bit funny!”
She walked over to the fountain and grabbed a glass to fill. She kinda wondered how many animals it took Cleo and Pearl to keep this thing filled.
{ He watched, curiously watching the fountain while also feeling incredibly hesitant to step even an inch closer }
‘’ I figured. It just- seemed rude, I suppose. ‘’
{ A soft noise escapes him as he shakes his head }
‘’ Spirits, Pyro was right. I could loosen up. ‘’
She took a dip from her glass and walked around the room. She walked over to the windows and looked outside. She glanced over the spot in the bridge where she stood when they told her about Avid, then to the spot she once hid her novel.
“There’s so many bad memories here but so many good ones as well”
‘’ I’m glad to hear it. ‘’
{ Slowly, after some psyching, he begins to walk around the room. The last time he had been to the castle- spirits, it was the last he had seen of Pyro. A planned dance until they were found out. Not even an afternoon later, and he had been turned }
“So what do you do for fun?”
Shelby was honestly a little bit bored so she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured a bit into her blood. Scott had taught her proportions that it would do a little bit of an effect on her but still taste good.
‘’ I- I don’t indulge in much fun nowadays. Too busy working. Though, on occasion, I’ll find myself at my bass singing some jostled tune. Not as often as I used to. ‘’
“I mostly just write but that’s also my job so”
She leaned against a nearby wall and took another sip. She stood in a manner Owen often would although that made sense since the two were close and Shelby at least was fairly impressionable.
{ He notices the hint in her posture and immediately his eyes narrow. He doesn’t realize it, but he steps away from her, wrapping his arms around himself. Something Pyro used to do when they were uneasy. Spirits, how they miss him }
She immediately stood up straighter and got a concerned look in her face.
“Hey, are you alright? Did something happen?”
{ There’s that familiar ticking again. And, if she were to pay notice, she’d see a red, coral-bone-like structure creep around their wrist, almost forming a glove. Yet, he doesn’t seem concerned. Not one bit. He doesn’t even seem to notice it. If anything, he looks caught in a daze }
‘’ . . . w-what? ‘’
Shelby jumped after noticing the strange structure. Her eyes were wide and she looked a little bit confused.
“What is that???!! Are you ok??!!”
{ He glances down at his hand, face never wavering. After a beat, he looks back up at her }
‘’ I’m fine. It’s just the coral. ‘’
{ As soon as he says that, eyes open from upon the coral. He seems to sense this and gives the eyes a stern glare, which they send right back at him. Then he returns his focus to Shelby }
‘’ I’m not a monster. I promise. ‘’
“Is it like a kind of corruption because if so I have like a lot of experience with that. Interacting with corrupted people and being corrupted myself, it’s not fun”
She calmed herself down a little bit and took a few steps towards him cautiously.
‘’ I- no. No, not really. ‘’
{ He wants to step back from her. He really, really does, but he can’t seem to make himself move }
‘’ The coral is biological. The, um, the eyes . . . those are a curse. ‘’
“A curse?”
She kinda stoped moving for a second. Then she stood just a few feet away from him. She looked concerned still.
“And by biological do you mean like it’s something that has always happened to you?”
{ He watches her pause, all confidence—all bravado—faltering as she does }
‘’ 𝙹⍑ リ𝙹 ‘’
‘’ Forget I said anything about the eyes. Forget they even exist! Just focus on the coral. Biological, yes, not something that has always happened. I mean, sort of, but more like it’s always been attached to me. ‘’
“Katherine had a curse half of her kingdom was shrouded in darkness the moment she was born”
She took a step back again noticing he was anxious or something of that nature. She sat down on the floor and pondered what to do.
{ He simply hums curiously before taking a step back in turn. The eyes looked between him and Shelby, and he was really tempted to go find Owen’s axe and tell them to leave him alone. But he didn’t know where it was, and they never listen to anything he has to say }
‘’ Not a kind of curse like that. One from above, I guess you could say. They cursed all of us. ‘’
“They? Who are they?”
Nobody had ever really told her much about them she had heard of them before.
{ He speaks in a hushed tone when he mentions them by title }
‘’ The Listeners and the Watchers. ‘’
“Oh… I’ve heard of them, I was in a witches academy and there was a whole class on them but I slept through it because it was boring and I wasn’t a good student.”
She tried her best to remember anything but she really didn’t stay awake in that class like at all. Maybe her getting kicked out would have been justified if they hadn’t sent her off to die.
{ He laughs a bit at that, seemingly wishing he could’ve slept through all of his history with them }
‘’ Completely fair. There’s much about them, but all that mortals seem to know are the most boring parts of them. A shame, really. And the rest of us don’t even fall on a mouse’s ear . . . ‘’
“The rest? I know that the Watchers and Listeners god like beings that’s pretty much all I know besides the obvious.”
She was curious, she wanted to know more now. She would probably turn to reading if it wasn’t explained to her.
‘’ God-like. That’s funny. The rest of us are, too. Were. The Boogey, the Secret Keeper, the Wild Ones- . . . the Clockmakers. ‘’
“The WHAT?”
She had never heard of them before so she seemed a little bit confused.
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Open Rp Starter
A year after the events of Oakhurst occurred Shelby, Scott, and Drift went back to Oakhurst to visit. While Drift and Scott were doing a few things Shelby snuck off. She ventured off to obelisk with a few materials in hand. She took her time and built a grave for Pyro.
Sure Pyro had been extreme and was a murder. He murdered her fledgling after all, but she still cared. Even as she had plunged that stake into his heart she still cared. The coven was her family, Pyro was like a brother to her.
After the grave was constructed Shelby sat at the bottom of it. She spoke to the grave like she was talking to Pyro again. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. I don’t think I’ll ever really forgive you for what you did but I guess we’re even now? Although it really just fell back on me didn’t it?” She laughed just a little bit, it wasn’t happy laughter at all. A few tears slipped from her eyes but she quickly wiped them away.
Grave image from Shubble. Owen messaged it to me a while back:3
{ Frankly, Allen was reluctant to even return to this place. Especially considering the risks of being noticed by anyone — human or otherwise. After his return to his job, the missions became a lot more risky, and with him leaving Oakhurst under the assumption he had died in the flames, it was a wonder why he even bothered to return. One that confounded even him! — but he had his suspicions }
{ He had intended to build a graveyard. That was the idea. That was not how it went, however. No, because someone beat him to it. Someone who he swore he had seen once, and prayed that he’d never have to see them or their “family” ever again }
‘’ . . . Shelby. ‘’
Shelby jumped before she looked up. She hadn’t expected anyone to find her. She stood up quickly and dusted off her skirt.
“Oh umm hi Allen. Didn’t expect to see anyone out here… didn’t know you were even alive…”
Shelby looked back at the grave. She really missed Pyro even though she’s the one who did it. They looked at the ground not really knowing what to do in this situation.
{ He laughed, though it was quiet and awkward }
‘’ Yeah, uh . . . not as alive as I could be, but- hi. ‘’
{ As they get up, he moves to sit down in front of the grave. Pyro’s grave }
‘’ . . . He was good. ‘’
She looked at him and sat back down in her previous spot. She didn’t really want to cry in front of him.
“He was, before he kinda went a bit insane. I don’t miss the person he was when he died but I miss who he used to be.”
They pulled her knees up to her chest, which made her seem younger than she actually was.
“So are you a vampire now?”
{ He cast her a confused look as she expressed her love for who he was before it all. It made him stiffen, a knot forming in his stomach. A sudden doubt whispered in his mind that perhaps he and the scholar were never as close as they thought }
‘’ . . . yeah. I- yes. I am. I’m . . . sorry I lied to everyone. About my death. ‘’
“It’s ok… I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me since you know”
She looked at her hands remembering them covered in Pyro’s blood. She’d regretted it almost instantly, some of that regret had disappeared when the others agreed with her but it had come back almost full force. They hated their actions but she couldn’t do anything about it now.
{ He watches her before taking one of their hands in his own, gloved in a deep maroon }
‘’ I don’t blame you, Shelby. You were doing it for a reason. I can’t fault you for the same reason that I have done such horrible things. Pyro would understand. The Pyro that we used to know. ‘’
The only thing keeping her together right now just snapped and she started crying. She went through in a few weeks more than what most people would go through in their life her being younger didn’t all that much help. She probably needed to cry. She accepted her hand being taken and she squeezed a little bit.
“I miss him, I miss Avid too.”
{ He squeezed back before gently rubbing his thumb over her hand. He would’ve hugged her, but admittedly, he was terrified. Terrified of her, of what she stands for, of who she works with . . . but being undead has taught him humanity, and so he shifts closer in case she decides to lean on him }
‘’ I- I know. I never knew Avid. Not really. But it’s tragic, nonetheless. And Pyro- . . . I miss him more than I can say. ‘’
“I miss doing Owen’s hair and thinking maybe I could be happy. I miss a lot of things.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She felt like she was little again having just lost her dad and losing her mom. She looked towards Pyro’s grave.
“Maybe I’m just as bad as he ended up, can’t be worse than Owen but he killed 3,000 people.”
{ He nods, trying to grasp the tragedy she must be feeling, but aside from Pyro, he was never close to anyone. And in terms of the coven — well, he loathes Scott. It tore into him. The want to help with no ability to }
‘’ You are not as bad as . . . him. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst. You have done good, Shelby. That’s more than most could have done in your situation. ‘’
“I’m sorry it’s been a year I need to get over it.”
Shelby pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her hand away. She wanted to be fine she didn’t want to feel this weight anymore. She had turned Avid and it led to his death and she had killed Pyro herself.
‘’ You don’t. ‘’
{ Those words slip out faster than he intended, but now he couldn’t help but continue, sharing against his better thoughts }
‘’ The job I used to work . . . I had to do what you did with Pyro far more often than anyone. Than Scott. Than the Doctor. Than Owen. I started it when I was young, and it’s been — what — at least ten years? I’m still not over it. You definitely don’t have to be. ‘’
She looked up at him with a curious expression but she didn’t want to force him to talk. She was confused now.
“You, did what I did? I didn’t know anyone else did something like that… I just have to pretend I’m ok even if I’m not. I don’t want to end up like my mom.”
{ He nods, the reminder of it painful, though he’s used to it by now. Mom. That’s another mental jab. But he’ll hide everything for as long as it takes }
‘’ Yeah. Yeah, I did. A long time ago. But- you don’t have to pretend. Not around me, at least. ‘’
Shelby shook her head quickly at the notion. She couldn’t be sad in front of people. She couldn’t end up as broken as her mom. She had to help Scott and Drift so she couldn’t do that.
“So where did you go after all this happened?”
She was definitely trying to deflect. Was she going to keep deflecting? Yes, yes she would.
{ He casts her a look as if to say she won’t get away with this, but he’d let her try }
‘’ I, uh- back to my old job. To a crowned nation, a little west of here. It’s . . . better than it was before. The job, I mean. But that’s all bland news, what happened to you? Looked around after the walls fell and I almost bought that another massacre happened. ‘’
“Well me and Drift have been showing Scott the world. I’ve been working on my book in any downtime.”
She messed with her sleeves as she spoke. Avid was supposed to explore the world with them but it didn’t really work out that way.
“I told my mom that I’m ok and that dad was right because at least vampires and werewolves are real! I haven’t really found anything else yet.”
‘’ Well, that- that’s all wonderful! I never knew you were writing a book. Must be a wonderful writer. A- . . . your mother, is she alright? I figure she must be proud of you, but to be hearing all of this, well, one would be quite shocked. ‘’
“I sent her a letter. I haven’t seen her in a year she didn’t do much after my dad died anyway.”
She sounded bitter at the end. It was clear she disliked her mother. Shelby pulled a little locket out from under her shirt. Luckily it had been gold so she had no trouble with it now. She opened it up and there was a picture of a man with brown hair and yellow eyes and a little girl the same features.
“That’s me and my dad a few months before he disappeared.”
{ He hummed, a small, bittersweet smile crossing his face at the photo }
‘’ I’m . . . sorry for his disappearance. It’s easier when you know the truth, that I know. ‘’
“Yeah. He wasn’t crazy I know that now.”
She closed the locket and sighed. She wondered if everyone in town said the same things about her that they said about her father. She reached out and gently booped Allen. She giggled afterwards.
{ He smiled, though his face scrunched up slightly as she booped him. He relaxed soon after, though }
‘’ Certainly not crazy. ‘’
‘’ . . . though you might as well be for booping me! ‘’
{ Teasingly, he boops her back }
She giggled even more as he was booped. They leaned back on their elbows. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was gone from the castle yet but she didn’t want to go back right now.
“Sooooo how long are you staying around here? I think I’m staying for a few weeks depends on what the other two want. It was mostly for them anyway, I hate being in that castle now.”
{ He hums, chuckling a bit after a few minutes }
‘’ Ah, I’ll figure it out as I go. Though, with Scott around, I might cut my visit short. Don’t want to be around him longer than I have to be. ‘’
“He changed! He’s nice to people now me and Drift have been teaching him. We told him only girlboss no gaslight or gatekeep.”
She sat back up. She needed to make sure people knew that Scott was better now. He wasn’t manipulating people for personal gain and he wasn’t hurting people for fun.
{ He gives a skeptical glance in her direction, scoffing as she finishes her defense of the elder }
‘’ Sure. Well, I don’t know if I can trust that by word alone, and frankly, I don’t intend to meet him to find out the truth. I don’t like him. That’s that. ‘’
Shelby just shrunk in on herself. That was the man who took her in when everyone else thought she was weird. He’s the one who cared about her when the town didn’t. She didn’t like hearing someone talk about him like he couldn’t change.
“Avid made him feel something. He hadn’t felt anything in a thousand years of corse he was going to be cruel. Abolish promised to watch over him and make sure he didn’t slip back, he asked Abolish to do so.”
{ He sighs, leaning forward and staring at the name on the grave }
‘’ He made Pyro feel something, and Pyro did the same to him. Everyone has an influence on everyone, Shelby. I’m not saying that he can’t change, I’m saying that I don’t think he’s- . . . forget it. ‘’
“And then Pyro turned on both of us. Nothing from Oakhurst haunts me more than Avid’s screams. Do you have any idea how that feels? Avid was my fledgling, he was the first person to say I wasn’t crazy.”
Shelby’s fists clenched. If her skin wasn’t already white she knuckles would be. There were tears in her eyes. She stood up, she walked behind the grave and went to the water. She sat down at the edge of the water just staring into it.
{ It stung. Hearing her and Avid’s pain, knowing the pain of Pyro. It was awful, and for several minutes, he sat there, glancing between the name of the past and the pain in the present }
‘’ . . . I have fledglings. Unwilling ones. Ones I had to turn during my job to save them from death, though who knows how much better this is. ‘’
{ Slowly, he stands, brushing off some of his clothes. Though he doesn’t move away from the grave }
‘’ They die often, Shelby. My fledglings never last long. Vampires never last long. Not in big capitals. Not in small towns. So ask again how it feels, because I know it. It happens once every day - screaming, yelling, pain, and then nothing. I don’t know them, Shelby. I don’t know them honorably, and I can do nothing to save them. My losses outweigh my wins. It’s never fair, Shelby. Never. Pyro warned me of that from the start. ‘’
“You didn’t know them. They weren’t your best friend. I close my eyes to sleep and I hear my brother killing my best friend. Both of their deaths are on me.”
Shelby slashed her claws along the surface of the water. She didn’t think anyone could understand what she went through even if what he went through was similar.
“I get that that is still hard but if you don’t know them how can it hurt? It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, I feel empty and alone. But I don’t show it because if I let it out it’ll consume me, I don’t want to be like my mom.”
‘’ It hurts because it’s my fault. But you’re right. It’s not the same. I don’t understand the pain. ‘’
{ His voice is steady but it’s filled with frustration }
‘’ I don’t understand how Pyro lived with you. ‘’
Shelby turned her head around to look at him again. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She needed to calm down.
“I’m sorry for acting like this my feelings are just kinda all over the place right now, it’s probably because it’s been exactly a year since it all happened.”
{ He sighs, looking away from her and instead behind himself }
‘’ . . . it’s fine. It’s not your fault. ‘’
“Kinda is.”
She stood up and started pacing around the area by the edge of the water.
‘’ It was the fault of all sides, Shelby. Not just yours, not just his; everybody has some effect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s unfair to yourself to be so cruel to only one instigator. ‘’
“I’m the only one who made it out. I’m the one who didn’t have any consequences for my actions. I didn’t even get told off by anyone they all just celebrated.”
The guilt was evident on her face as she paced along the waters edge.
{ He stays quiet, still refusing to look and her }
‘’ Well, that’s their fault, now, isn’t it? You have guilt. It reeks off of you every waking moment. They don’t have a care for the man behind the monster, they simply needed him gone. At least you feel guilty. That’s the most important thing. ‘’
“Everyone just hated him, I hated him… I don’t hate him. I miss him so much”
She kept pacing around. She was breathing frantically despite not needing to, it was a habit she kept for the whole year.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be pushing this all onto you I- I’m sorry.”
‘’ It’s fine. I- it’s fine. ‘’
{ He pauses, glancing over to her for a moment as he hears her begin breathing, albeit very frantically }
‘’ I never hated him. Not truly. I never forgave him for the death of Avid - who would? - but hate wasn’t something I could bring myself to. ‘’
“I just was so angry and I haven’t felt like that before and I haven’t felt like that since. I think I hated him, he wasn’t really himself at that point. I guess we all had to change a bit, I think I’m better at standing up for myself now?”
They paused in their pacing for a moment to think. She had been standing her ground more and she felt much older even though it’s only by a year.
{ Carefully, he nodded }
‘’ I- It’s good that you became better for yourself through it. Even if it came from hardship. ‘’
“Are you ok? We’ve talked about me a lot, how are you holding up?”
She paused her pacing and looked towards Allen. There was genuine concern on her face.
{ He winces slightly upon seeing all the concern on her face }
‘’ I’m fine. ‘’
{ After a minute, he pulls out a bottle of crimson and quickly downs it, wiping at his mouth to make sure he got it all }
‘’ Just a bit tired from the journey. ‘’
“Do you need somewhere to rest? I could probably sneak you into the castle that way you don’t have to interact with anyone. Plus Scott’s at Avid’s grave most of the time”
Shelby smiled at him a little bit. The offer was genuine she wanted to make sure he was ok.
{ There’s a long silence as he stares at her, looking as though she just said the most incredulous thing he’s ever heard }
‘’ . . . you’re sure he won’t be there? ‘’
“Well he wasn’t there when I left. This is like the second day we’ve been here and he’s only been at the castle a total of like 3 hours.”
The castle has grown in the year that had passed so there were rooms in there which made it much easier to hide a person in there. She walked back over to Allen with a kind smile on her face.
{ Hesitantly, he stands, offering some semblance of a smile in return }
‘’ Well . . . then I suppose I wouldn’t mind. I’ve never been inside that castle, after all. ‘’
{ He offers a hand, smile faltering as anxiety stirred }
‘’ Off we go, then? ‘’
Shelby grabbed his hand and lead him off to the castle. It wasn’t difficult to sneak him into her room. She didn’t want to put him in a guest room since there was a higher chance of someone going in there. She put a sign on her door that said she was writing so nobody would come in.
{ He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, awkwardness settling around him. After a few moments of silence, he sits on the floor, distracting himself with admiring her room }
‘’ . . . it’s very pretty in here. ‘’
“Thank you! Pearl decorated part of it but I added some touches, mostly the books. M sent me signed copies of all his books!”
Shelby sat on the floor close by to the door so if someone decided to peak in they were see her before they got the door open. She had a notebook sitting in her lap with a pen.
{ He looks at the pen, at the book, and then all around the room again }
‘’ . . . that’s nice. ‘’
She started doodling little stars and stuff at the top of her chapter pages. She drew a rather detailed mushroom at the bottom of the end of a chapter. She always had a bit of thing for mushrooms.
“If you’d prefer I can go outside to write, if I’m out there nobody will come in here”
{ It takes a while for him to register she even said anything. Her room, really the whole castle, reminded him of home. The little mansion, run-down and weathered on the outside but cozy within, where he retires after long days and takes in those weathered by distrust and inequality }
‘’ No . . . no, I don’t- I don’t mind. It’s nice having you around. It- it’s nice not being alone. ‘’
“I get that I was kinda on my own for a while before I came to Oakhurst everyone at home just pitied me”
She frowned a bit and looked at the first few pages of her notebook. It talked about her early life and her dad.
‘’ . . . I’ve been alone since my family was killed. ‘’
‘’ It’s not easy, growing up alone. But I’m glad we’ve both made it. ‘’
“My dad left to go find werewolves and my mom just kinda left mentally. She was there but she wasn’t, the first few years she just sat in the chair she found out in I had to make her get up but she would always end up there. I was 12”
She wiped away a tear away that threatened to fall as she spoke. She flipped a few pages in the notebook on her lap getting away from that stuff, it probably wouldn’t make it into the book anyway.
{ He nods solemnly, shifting positions before bringing his knees to his chest and laying his head atop his arms which covered his knees }
‘’ Sorry . . . what are you writing? ‘’
“It’s a ‘fiction’ book about a girl having a vampire roommate and the chaos that happens. I’m changing everyone’s names except mine so it just looks self indulgent”
She lit up after being asked about her writing. She seemed very excited to talk about it.
‘’ Oh, that’s fun! To tell more. What has happened so far? ‘’
“Well she was a cryptid hunter and so when she found out that her roommate and two other people in the town were vampires she got very excited. They had turned her obviously and the four grew very close until yeah…”
*She kinda cut herself off and pulled her knees closer to her chest.*
{ He hums, a soft smile crossing his face }
‘’ Sounds wonderful. ‘’
‘’ . . . are you alright? ‘’
“Yeah I’m fine! I’m just kinda thinking right now”
Shelby messed with her sleeves again. She was definitely anxious but that was pretty normal.
{ He hums, nodding politely. He closes his eyes, leaning his head back. One could mistakenly believe he’s falling asleep, but the vampire is much rather reminiscening }
She went to the page she had left off on, then she remembered why she had stopped writing. There were notes from Avid scribbled in the empty pages. She read over the notes and laughed remembering how goofy he was.
{ Hearing her laugh, he can’t help but smile, opening an eye to see what may be the cause of it. The writing to him is illegible, but it’s joyous to her, and so he closes his eyes once more and lets out a soft breath }
“Oh Avid…”
She had a soft smile on her face. She came across the note about when Avid asked her to turn him, setting up the meeting location.
{ The name makes his body tense, if only briefly. Avid. He remembers brief flourishes of the hunter—not enough, he fears. A part of him desperately wants to leave. To find Avid—to find Scott—and to ask for forgiveness. For anything other than the guilt of loving a fire so kind to keep him alive }
Shelby glanced over at him. She looked back at the notebook and sighed. She couldn’t get rid of these so she would have to get a new one.
“Dang it and I painted this one and everything”
{ He laughs, finally lifting his head to look at her and smile }
‘’ Sounds like you’ll get a new opportunity to paint. Doesn’t seem too bad. ‘’
“Hmmm I’m gonna put a mushroom with a butterfly on the next one. I miss Kathrine”
She sighed thinking about the lives she remembered before this one.
‘’ Who’s Kathrine? ‘’
“So umm one time this person showed me a picture where I was a witch Owen was a llama and Scott was like colorful and stuff. After I saw that I started getting these memories of lives I guess I lived. Kathrine was my girlfriend in two of them, my wife actually once.”
She glanced at the pink tulip she kept in a flowerpot beside her bed.
‘’ She sounds kind. A very wonderful lady, I’m sure. Though . . . that photo is an odd occurrence. ‘’
{ The sound of a clock’s ticking echoes around the room, though there seems not to be a clock in sight. Allen doesn’t seem to hear it, or perhaps he’s spent so much time at odds with it that it rings only as background noise }
Shelby looked around the room trying to find the source of the mysterious ticking noise. She looked a little bit confused, she didn’t have a clock.
“Where is that? Do you hear that?”
‘’ What? ‘’
“I hear a clock but I don’t have a clock. You don’t hear it?”
She started to feel like she was going insane, wouldn’t be the first the she could hear something that others couldn’t.
{ It takes several moments out of him before it clicks, and he begins to laugh }
‘’ Oh, the ticking! No, I suppose it’s so common I’m used to it. Please, pay it no mind. What were you saying about Kathrine? ‘’
{ Slowly, the ticking starts to fade away }
“Well one time she put me in a prison where I sat in a little boat because I was corrupted by this stuff called the skulk it was weird. She put me in prison because I was kinda evil and she was a monster hunter, you know she’d probably hate me now.”
{ He hums, listening before tsking at her end statement }
‘’ Oh, please. You saw Scott and Avid, did you not? A hunter can surely love their hunted, even if such a prospect is strange. ‘’
“I don’t even know why she cared about me in the first place! I was a witch and a criminal!”
She signed. She knew Scott and Avid worked out but Katherine was different than Avid.
‘’ So? ‘’
{ He sighs, standing up and moving over to her before plopping down by her side }
‘’ Y’know, by all means, I’m wanted, too. But I found someone who loved me, once. He sang such beautiful songs to me. And he had a way with words that I find myself constantly trying to emulate. A lawman. That’s what he was. I never quite believed he truly loved me. It seemed impossible. But there it was. And there he was . . . point is, even the most unexpected people care sometimes. Despite all impossibility. ‘’
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, it’s not like she’d remember me. If she was still a monster hunter then she’d probably try and kill me. Although who knows what she would be it’s not exactly like we’re alive like that anymore. Well I was kinda in a weird situation with dying but that’s for another day.”
She ran her hand over the cover of her notebook feeling the texture of it. She kinda made herself shut up because she was rambling a lot.
{ He hums, nodding along }
‘’ I see. Well, I can only pray if you two ever do cross paths again, that it goes peacefully and lovingly. ‘’
She nodded before looking at the flower by her bed once again. She had a soft smile on her face as she reminisced.
“I hope so too”
{ He smiles, closing his eyes soon again and burying his face in his arms }
She eventually just kinda spaced thinking about the past or maybe she was reliving it who really knew.
{ After a few peacefully quiet moments, Allen mumbles something under his breath }
‘’ ᓭ𝙹∷∷|| ᔑʖ𝙹⚍ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵꖎ𝙹ᓵꖌ ‘’
She didn’t even notice that he said anything she kinda wasn’t really present in the moment
((THE GALACTIC HELLO?))
{ It took him a moment to realize she hadn’t heard, at which point he immediately let it go }
( // hehehe // )
She eventually zoned back in a little bit and she pulled her knees closer to her chest. Her eyes were teary but she wasn’t actually crying.
{ He heard the shuffling, though he wasn’t sure he dared to look up. If he met her eyes, that’d be one thing, but if he met theirs . . . }
Shelby blinked the tears from her eyes before wiping them away. She calmed herself down after a moment taking a few deep breaths.
((HELLO? WATCHER REFERENCE MAYBE??))
{ After a few moments of hearing her breathing, he looks up, casting a concerned look }
‘’ Shelby? ‘’
( // mwhehehehe - mixing and matching some Allen lore, so I’m slowly implementing it >:3 there’ll be a post today // )
“Yeah? Sorry I kinda zoned out there”
She looked up at him and smiled a little bit but under her eyes were slightly damp.
‘’ Okay . . . ‘’
{ He doesn’t let go of the look in her eyes. The tears left staining below them. And so he stands, out-stretching a hand to her with a mock smile }
‘’ Want to show me your favorite parts of the castle? ‘’
“Yeah sure!! Let’s go to the ballroom that’s my favorite room!”
She jumped up and smiled.
{ He smiles, grabbing her hand and motioning for her to lead the way }
‘’ Sounds wonderful! ‘’
She giggled as she dragged him through the halls down to the ballroom.
{ He smiled, both at the architecture and at Shelby’s joy. It was nice. All of it. The exquisite designs and seeing such light in her eyes. It was really good to see }
“I really like the ballroom because it’s the only room that the four of us built together that I don’t have trauma in!”
((Sorry man I’ve been dying))
{ He doesn’t mean to, but he snorts at that }
‘’ Sorry. Tha- I really love that. It’s nice to have a safe place. Ballrooms especially have always been like a bubble; a shield from the outside world. ‘’
( // no worries!! I lwk have been too, but on the emotional end of the spectrum :,3 // )
“You can laugh it’s ok! It was ment to be a little bit funny!”
She walked over to the fountain and grabbed a glass to fill. She kinda wondered how many animals it took Cleo and Pearl to keep this thing filled.
{ He watched, curiously watching the fountain while also feeling incredibly hesitant to step even an inch closer }
‘’ I figured. It just- seemed rude, I suppose. ‘’
{ A soft noise escapes him as he shakes his head }
‘’ Spirits, Pyro was right. I could loosen up. ‘’
She took a dip from her glass and walked around the room. She walked over to the windows and looked outside. She glanced over the spot in the bridge where she stood when they told her about Avid, then to the spot she once hid her novel.
“There’s so many bad memories here but so many good ones as well”
‘’ I’m glad to hear it. ‘’
{ Slowly, after some psyching, he begins to walk around the room. The last time he had been to the castle- spirits, it was the last he had seen of Pyro. A planned dance until they were found out. Not even an afternoon later, and he had been turned }
“So what do you do for fun?”
Shelby was honestly a little bit bored so she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured a bit into her blood. Scott had taught her proportions that it would do a little bit of an effect on her but still taste good.
‘’ I- I don’t indulge in much fun nowadays. Too busy working. Though, on occasion, I’ll find myself at my bass singing some jostled tune. Not as often as I used to. ‘’
“I mostly just write but that’s also my job so”
She leaned against a nearby wall and took another sip. She stood in a manner Owen often would although that made sense since the two were close and Shelby at least was fairly impressionable.
{ He notices the hint in her posture and immediately his eyes narrow. He doesn’t realize it, but he steps away from her, wrapping his arms around himself. Something Pyro used to do when they were uneasy. Spirits, how they miss him }
She immediately stood up straighter and got a concerned look in her face.
“Hey, are you alright? Did something happen?”
{ There’s that familiar ticking again. And, if she were to pay notice, she’d see a red, coral-bone-like structure creep around their wrist, almost forming a glove. Yet, he doesn’t seem concerned. Not one bit. He doesn’t even seem to notice it. If anything, he looks caught in a daze }
‘’ . . . w-what? ‘’
Shelby jumped after noticing the strange structure. Her eyes were wide and she looked a little bit confused.
“What is that???!! Are you ok??!!”
{ He glances down at his hand, face never wavering. After a beat, he looks back up at her }
‘’ I’m fine. It’s just the coral. ‘’
{ As soon as he says that, eyes open from upon the coral. He seems to sense this and gives the eyes a stern glare, which they send right back at him. Then he returns his focus to Shelby }
‘’ I’m not a monster. I promise. ‘’
“Is it like a kind of corruption because if so I have like a lot of experience with that. Interacting with corrupted people and being corrupted myself, it’s not fun”
She calmed herself down a little bit and took a few steps towards him cautiously.
‘’ I- no. No, not really. ‘’
{ He wants to step back from her. He really, really does, but he can’t seem to make himself move }
‘’ The coral is biological. The, um, the eyes . . . those are a curse. ‘’
“A curse?”
She kinda stoped moving for a second. Then she stood just a few feet away from him. She looked concerned still.
“And by biological do you mean like it’s something that has always happened to you?”
{ He watches her pause, all confidence—all bravado—faltering as she does }
‘’ 𝙹⍑ リ𝙹 ‘’
‘’ Forget I said anything about the eyes. Forget they even exist! Just focus on the coral. Biological, yes, not something that has always happened. I mean, sort of, but more like it’s always been attached to me. ‘’
“Katherine had a curse half of her kingdom was shrouded in darkness the moment she was born”
She took a step back again noticing he was anxious or something of that nature. She sat down on the floor and pondered what to do.
{ He simply hums curiously before taking a step back in turn. The eyes looked between him and Shelby, and he was really tempted to go find Owen’s axe and tell them to leave him alone. But he didn’t know where it was, and they never listen to anything he has to say }
‘’ Not a kind of curse like that. One from above, I guess you could say. They cursed all of us. ‘’
“They? Who are they?”
Nobody had ever really told her much about them she had heard of them before.
{ He speaks in a hushed tone when he mentions them by title }
‘’ The Listeners and the Watchers. ‘’
“Oh… I’ve heard of them, I was in a witches academy and there was a whole class on them but I slept through it because it was boring and I wasn’t a good student.”
She tried her best to remember anything but she really didn’t stay awake in that class like at all. Maybe her getting kicked out would have been justified if they hadn’t sent her off to die.
{ He laughs a bit at that, seemingly wishing he could’ve slept through all of his history with them }
‘’ Completely fair. There’s much about them, but all that mortals seem to know are the most boring parts of them. A shame, really. And the rest of us don’t even fall on a mouse’s ear . . . ‘’
“The rest? I know that the Watchers and Listeners god like beings that’s pretty much all I know besides the obvious.”
She was curious, she wanted to know more now. She would probably turn to reading if it wasn’t explained to her.
Open Rp Starter
A year after the events of Oakhurst occurred Shelby, Scott, and Drift went back to Oakhurst to visit. While Drift and Scott were doing a few things Shelby snuck off. She ventured off to obelisk with a few materials in hand. She took her time and built a grave for Pyro.
Sure Pyro had been extreme and was a murder. He murdered her fledgling after all, but she still cared. Even as she had plunged that stake into his heart she still cared. The coven was her family, Pyro was like a brother to her.
After the grave was constructed Shelby sat at the bottom of it. She spoke to the grave like she was talking to Pyro again. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. I don’t think I’ll ever really forgive you for what you did but I guess we’re even now? Although it really just fell back on me didn’t it?” She laughed just a little bit, it wasn’t happy laughter at all. A few tears slipped from her eyes but she quickly wiped them away.
Grave image from Shubble. Owen messaged it to me a while back:3
{ Frankly, Allen was reluctant to even return to this place. Especially considering the risks of being noticed by anyone — human or otherwise. After his return to his job, the missions became a lot more risky, and with him leaving Oakhurst under the assumption he had died in the flames, it was a wonder why he even bothered to return. One that confounded even him! — but he had his suspicions }
{ He had intended to build a graveyard. That was the idea. That was not how it went, however. No, because someone beat him to it. Someone who he swore he had seen once, and prayed that he’d never have to see them or their “family” ever again }
‘’ . . . Shelby. ‘’
Shelby jumped before she looked up. She hadn’t expected anyone to find her. She stood up quickly and dusted off her skirt.
“Oh umm hi Allen. Didn’t expect to see anyone out here… didn’t know you were even alive…”
Shelby looked back at the grave. She really missed Pyro even though she’s the one who did it. They looked at the ground not really knowing what to do in this situation.
{ He laughed, though it was quiet and awkward }
‘’ Yeah, uh . . . not as alive as I could be, but- hi. ‘’
{ As they get up, he moves to sit down in front of the grave. Pyro’s grave }
‘’ . . . He was good. ‘’
She looked at him and sat back down in her previous spot. She didn’t really want to cry in front of him.
“He was, before he kinda went a bit insane. I don’t miss the person he was when he died but I miss who he used to be.”
They pulled her knees up to her chest, which made her seem younger than she actually was.
“So are you a vampire now?”
{ He cast her a confused look as she expressed her love for who he was before it all. It made him stiffen, a knot forming in his stomach. A sudden doubt whispered in his mind that perhaps he and the scholar were never as close as they thought }
‘’ . . . yeah. I- yes. I am. I’m . . . sorry I lied to everyone. About my death. ‘’
“It’s ok… I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me since you know”
She looked at her hands remembering them covered in Pyro’s blood. She’d regretted it almost instantly, some of that regret had disappeared when the others agreed with her but it had come back almost full force. They hated their actions but she couldn’t do anything about it now.
{ He watches her before taking one of their hands in his own, gloved in a deep maroon }
‘’ I don’t blame you, Shelby. You were doing it for a reason. I can’t fault you for the same reason that I have done such horrible things. Pyro would understand. The Pyro that we used to know. ‘’
The only thing keeping her together right now just snapped and she started crying. She went through in a few weeks more than what most people would go through in their life her being younger didn’t all that much help. She probably needed to cry. She accepted her hand being taken and she squeezed a little bit.
“I miss him, I miss Avid too.”
{ He squeezed back before gently rubbing his thumb over her hand. He would’ve hugged her, but admittedly, he was terrified. Terrified of her, of what she stands for, of who she works with . . . but being undead has taught him humanity, and so he shifts closer in case she decides to lean on him }
‘’ I- I know. I never knew Avid. Not really. But it’s tragic, nonetheless. And Pyro- . . . I miss him more than I can say. ‘’
“I miss doing Owen’s hair and thinking maybe I could be happy. I miss a lot of things.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She felt like she was little again having just lost her dad and losing her mom. She looked towards Pyro’s grave.
“Maybe I’m just as bad as he ended up, can’t be worse than Owen but he killed 3,000 people.”
{ He nods, trying to grasp the tragedy she must be feeling, but aside from Pyro, he was never close to anyone. And in terms of the coven — well, he loathes Scott. It tore into him. The want to help with no ability to }
‘’ You are not as bad as . . . him. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst. You have done good, Shelby. That’s more than most could have done in your situation. ‘’
“I’m sorry it’s been a year I need to get over it.”
Shelby pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her hand away. She wanted to be fine she didn’t want to feel this weight anymore. She had turned Avid and it led to his death and she had killed Pyro herself.
‘’ You don’t. ‘’
{ Those words slip out faster than he intended, but now he couldn’t help but continue, sharing against his better thoughts }
‘’ The job I used to work . . . I had to do what you did with Pyro far more often than anyone. Than Scott. Than the Doctor. Than Owen. I started it when I was young, and it’s been — what — at least ten years? I’m still not over it. You definitely don’t have to be. ‘’
She looked up at him with a curious expression but she didn’t want to force him to talk. She was confused now.
“You, did what I did? I didn’t know anyone else did something like that… I just have to pretend I’m ok even if I’m not. I don’t want to end up like my mom.”
{ He nods, the reminder of it painful, though he’s used to it by now. Mom. That’s another mental jab. But he’ll hide everything for as long as it takes }
‘’ Yeah. Yeah, I did. A long time ago. But- you don’t have to pretend. Not around me, at least. ‘’
Shelby shook her head quickly at the notion. She couldn’t be sad in front of people. She couldn’t end up as broken as her mom. She had to help Scott and Drift so she couldn’t do that.
“So where did you go after all this happened?”
She was definitely trying to deflect. Was she going to keep deflecting? Yes, yes she would.
{ He casts her a look as if to say she won’t get away with this, but he’d let her try }
‘’ I, uh- back to my old job. To a crowned nation, a little west of here. It’s . . . better than it was before. The job, I mean. But that’s all bland news, what happened to you? Looked around after the walls fell and I almost bought that another massacre happened. ‘’
“Well me and Drift have been showing Scott the world. I’ve been working on my book in any downtime.”
She messed with her sleeves as she spoke. Avid was supposed to explore the world with them but it didn’t really work out that way.
“I told my mom that I’m ok and that dad was right because at least vampires and werewolves are real! I haven’t really found anything else yet.”
‘’ Well, that- that’s all wonderful! I never knew you were writing a book. Must be a wonderful writer. A- . . . your mother, is she alright? I figure she must be proud of you, but to be hearing all of this, well, one would be quite shocked. ‘’
“I sent her a letter. I haven’t seen her in a year she didn’t do much after my dad died anyway.”
She sounded bitter at the end. It was clear she disliked her mother. Shelby pulled a little locket out from under her shirt. Luckily it had been gold so she had no trouble with it now. She opened it up and there was a picture of a man with brown hair and yellow eyes and a little girl the same features.
“That’s me and my dad a few months before he disappeared.”
{ He hummed, a small, bittersweet smile crossing his face at the photo }
‘’ I’m . . . sorry for his disappearance. It’s easier when you know the truth, that I know. ‘’
“Yeah. He wasn’t crazy I know that now.”
She closed the locket and sighed. She wondered if everyone in town said the same things about her that they said about her father. She reached out and gently booped Allen. She giggled afterwards.
{ He smiled, though his face scrunched up slightly as she booped him. He relaxed soon after, though }
‘’ Certainly not crazy. ‘’
‘’ . . . though you might as well be for booping me! ‘’
{ Teasingly, he boops her back }
She giggled even more as he was booped. They leaned back on their elbows. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was gone from the castle yet but she didn’t want to go back right now.
“Sooooo how long are you staying around here? I think I’m staying for a few weeks depends on what the other two want. It was mostly for them anyway, I hate being in that castle now.”
{ He hums, chuckling a bit after a few minutes }
‘’ Ah, I’ll figure it out as I go. Though, with Scott around, I might cut my visit short. Don’t want to be around him longer than I have to be. ‘’
“He changed! He’s nice to people now me and Drift have been teaching him. We told him only girlboss no gaslight or gatekeep.”
She sat back up. She needed to make sure people knew that Scott was better now. He wasn’t manipulating people for personal gain and he wasn’t hurting people for fun.
{ He gives a skeptical glance in her direction, scoffing as she finishes her defense of the elder }
‘’ Sure. Well, I don’t know if I can trust that by word alone, and frankly, I don’t intend to meet him to find out the truth. I don’t like him. That’s that. ‘’
Shelby just shrunk in on herself. That was the man who took her in when everyone else thought she was weird. He’s the one who cared about her when the town didn’t. She didn’t like hearing someone talk about him like he couldn’t change.
“Avid made him feel something. He hadn’t felt anything in a thousand years of corse he was going to be cruel. Abolish promised to watch over him and make sure he didn’t slip back, he asked Abolish to do so.”
{ He sighs, leaning forward and staring at the name on the grave }
‘’ He made Pyro feel something, and Pyro did the same to him. Everyone has an influence on everyone, Shelby. I’m not saying that he can’t change, I’m saying that I don’t think he’s- . . . forget it. ‘’
“And then Pyro turned on both of us. Nothing from Oakhurst haunts me more than Avid’s screams. Do you have any idea how that feels? Avid was my fledgling, he was the first person to say I wasn’t crazy.”
Shelby’s fists clenched. If her skin wasn’t already white she knuckles would be. There were tears in her eyes. She stood up, she walked behind the grave and went to the water. She sat down at the edge of the water just staring into it.
{ It stung. Hearing her and Avid’s pain, knowing the pain of Pyro. It was awful, and for several minutes, he sat there, glancing between the name of the past and the pain in the present }
‘’ . . . I have fledglings. Unwilling ones. Ones I had to turn during my job to save them from death, though who knows how much better this is. ‘’
{ Slowly, he stands, brushing off some of his clothes. Though he doesn’t move away from the grave }
‘’ They die often, Shelby. My fledglings never last long. Vampires never last long. Not in big capitals. Not in small towns. So ask again how it feels, because I know it. It happens once every day - screaming, yelling, pain, and then nothing. I don’t know them, Shelby. I don’t know them honorably, and I can do nothing to save them. My losses outweigh my wins. It’s never fair, Shelby. Never. Pyro warned me of that from the start. ‘’
“You didn’t know them. They weren’t your best friend. I close my eyes to sleep and I hear my brother killing my best friend. Both of their deaths are on me.”
Shelby slashed her claws along the surface of the water. She didn’t think anyone could understand what she went through even if what he went through was similar.
“I get that that is still hard but if you don’t know them how can it hurt? It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, I feel empty and alone. But I don’t show it because if I let it out it’ll consume me, I don’t want to be like my mom.”
‘’ It hurts because it’s my fault. But you’re right. It’s not the same. I don’t understand the pain. ‘’
{ His voice is steady but it’s filled with frustration }
‘’ I don’t understand how Pyro lived with you. ‘’
Shelby turned her head around to look at him again. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She needed to calm down.
“I’m sorry for acting like this my feelings are just kinda all over the place right now, it’s probably because it’s been exactly a year since it all happened.”
{ He sighs, looking away from her and instead behind himself }
‘’ . . . it’s fine. It’s not your fault. ‘’
“Kinda is.”
She stood up and started pacing around the area by the edge of the water.
‘’ It was the fault of all sides, Shelby. Not just yours, not just his; everybody has some effect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s unfair to yourself to be so cruel to only one instigator. ‘’
“I’m the only one who made it out. I’m the one who didn’t have any consequences for my actions. I didn’t even get told off by anyone they all just celebrated.”
The guilt was evident on her face as she paced along the waters edge.
{ He stays quiet, still refusing to look and her }
‘’ Well, that’s their fault, now, isn’t it? You have guilt. It reeks off of you every waking moment. They don’t have a care for the man behind the monster, they simply needed him gone. At least you feel guilty. That’s the most important thing. ‘’
“Everyone just hated him, I hated him… I don’t hate him. I miss him so much”
She kept pacing around. She was breathing frantically despite not needing to, it was a habit she kept for the whole year.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be pushing this all onto you I- I’m sorry.”
‘’ It’s fine. I- it’s fine. ‘’
{ He pauses, glancing over to her for a moment as he hears her begin breathing, albeit very frantically }
‘’ I never hated him. Not truly. I never forgave him for the death of Avid - who would? - but hate wasn’t something I could bring myself to. ‘’
“I just was so angry and I haven’t felt like that before and I haven’t felt like that since. I think I hated him, he wasn’t really himself at that point. I guess we all had to change a bit, I think I’m better at standing up for myself now?”
They paused in their pacing for a moment to think. She had been standing her ground more and she felt much older even though it’s only by a year.
{ Carefully, he nodded }
‘’ I- It’s good that you became better for yourself through it. Even if it came from hardship. ‘’
“Are you ok? We’ve talked about me a lot, how are you holding up?”
She paused her pacing and looked towards Allen. There was genuine concern on her face.
{ He winces slightly upon seeing all the concern on her face }
‘’ I’m fine. ‘’
{ After a minute, he pulls out a bottle of crimson and quickly downs it, wiping at his mouth to make sure he got it all }
‘’ Just a bit tired from the journey. ‘’
“Do you need somewhere to rest? I could probably sneak you into the castle that way you don’t have to interact with anyone. Plus Scott’s at Avid’s grave most of the time”
Shelby smiled at him a little bit. The offer was genuine she wanted to make sure he was ok.
{ There’s a long silence as he stares at her, looking as though she just said the most incredulous thing he’s ever heard }
‘’ . . . you’re sure he won’t be there? ‘’
“Well he wasn’t there when I left. This is like the second day we’ve been here and he’s only been at the castle a total of like 3 hours.”
The castle has grown in the year that had passed so there were rooms in there which made it much easier to hide a person in there. She walked back over to Allen with a kind smile on her face.
{ Hesitantly, he stands, offering some semblance of a smile in return }
‘’ Well . . . then I suppose I wouldn’t mind. I’ve never been inside that castle, after all. ‘’
{ He offers a hand, smile faltering as anxiety stirred }
‘’ Off we go, then? ‘’
Shelby grabbed his hand and lead him off to the castle. It wasn’t difficult to sneak him into her room. She didn’t want to put him in a guest room since there was a higher chance of someone going in there. She put a sign on her door that said she was writing so nobody would come in.
{ He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, awkwardness settling around him. After a few moments of silence, he sits on the floor, distracting himself with admiring her room }
‘’ . . . it’s very pretty in here. ‘’
“Thank you! Pearl decorated part of it but I added some touches, mostly the books. M sent me signed copies of all his books!”
Shelby sat on the floor close by to the door so if someone decided to peak in they were see her before they got the door open. She had a notebook sitting in her lap with a pen.
{ He looks at the pen, at the book, and then all around the room again }
‘’ . . . that’s nice. ‘’
She started doodling little stars and stuff at the top of her chapter pages. She drew a rather detailed mushroom at the bottom of the end of a chapter. She always had a bit of thing for mushrooms.
“If you’d prefer I can go outside to write, if I’m out there nobody will come in here”
{ It takes a while for him to register she even said anything. Her room, really the whole castle, reminded him of home. The little mansion, run-down and weathered on the outside but cozy within, where he retires after long days and takes in those weathered by distrust and inequality }
‘’ No . . . no, I don’t- I don’t mind. It’s nice having you around. It- it’s nice not being alone. ‘’
“I get that I was kinda on my own for a while before I came to Oakhurst everyone at home just pitied me”
She frowned a bit and looked at the first few pages of her notebook. It talked about her early life and her dad.
‘’ . . . I’ve been alone since my family was killed. ‘’
‘’ It’s not easy, growing up alone. But I’m glad we’ve both made it. ‘’
“My dad left to go find werewolves and my mom just kinda left mentally. She was there but she wasn’t, the first few years she just sat in the chair she found out in I had to make her get up but she would always end up there. I was 12”
She wiped away a tear away that threatened to fall as she spoke. She flipped a few pages in the notebook on her lap getting away from that stuff, it probably wouldn’t make it into the book anyway.
{ He nods solemnly, shifting positions before bringing his knees to his chest and laying his head atop his arms which covered his knees }
‘’ Sorry . . . what are you writing? ‘’
“It’s a ‘fiction’ book about a girl having a vampire roommate and the chaos that happens. I’m changing everyone’s names except mine so it just looks self indulgent”
She lit up after being asked about her writing. She seemed very excited to talk about it.
‘’ Oh, that’s fun! To tell more. What has happened so far? ‘’
“Well she was a cryptid hunter and so when she found out that her roommate and two other people in the town were vampires she got very excited. They had turned her obviously and the four grew very close until yeah…”
*She kinda cut herself off and pulled her knees closer to her chest.*
{ He hums, a soft smile crossing his face }
‘’ Sounds wonderful. ‘’
‘’ . . . are you alright? ‘’
“Yeah I’m fine! I’m just kinda thinking right now”
Shelby messed with her sleeves again. She was definitely anxious but that was pretty normal.
{ He hums, nodding politely. He closes his eyes, leaning his head back. One could mistakenly believe he’s falling asleep, but the vampire is much rather reminiscening }
She went to the page she had left off on, then she remembered why she had stopped writing. There were notes from Avid scribbled in the empty pages. She read over the notes and laughed remembering how goofy he was.
{ Hearing her laugh, he can’t help but smile, opening an eye to see what may be the cause of it. The writing to him is illegible, but it’s joyous to her, and so he closes his eyes once more and lets out a soft breath }
“Oh Avid…”
She had a soft smile on her face. She came across the note about when Avid asked her to turn him, setting up the meeting location.
{ The name makes his body tense, if only briefly. Avid. He remembers brief flourishes of the hunter—not enough, he fears. A part of him desperately wants to leave. To find Avid—to find Scott—and to ask for forgiveness. For anything other than the guilt of loving a fire so kind to keep him alive }
Shelby glanced over at him. She looked back at the notebook and sighed. She couldn’t get rid of these so she would have to get a new one.
“Dang it and I painted this one and everything”
{ He laughs, finally lifting his head to look at her and smile }
‘’ Sounds like you’ll get a new opportunity to paint. Doesn’t seem too bad. ‘’
“Hmmm I’m gonna put a mushroom with a butterfly on the next one. I miss Kathrine”
She sighed thinking about the lives she remembered before this one.
‘’ Who’s Kathrine? ‘’
“So umm one time this person showed me a picture where I was a witch Owen was a llama and Scott was like colorful and stuff. After I saw that I started getting these memories of lives I guess I lived. Kathrine was my girlfriend in two of them, my wife actually once.”
She glanced at the pink tulip she kept in a flowerpot beside her bed.
‘’ She sounds kind. A very wonderful lady, I’m sure. Though . . . that photo is an odd occurrence. ‘’
{ The sound of a clock’s ticking echoes around the room, though there seems not to be a clock in sight. Allen doesn’t seem to hear it, or perhaps he’s spent so much time at odds with it that it rings only as background noise }
Shelby looked around the room trying to find the source of the mysterious ticking noise. She looked a little bit confused, she didn’t have a clock.
“Where is that? Do you hear that?”
‘’ What? ‘’
“I hear a clock but I don’t have a clock. You don’t hear it?”
She started to feel like she was going insane, wouldn’t be the first the she could hear something that others couldn’t.
{ It takes several moments out of him before it clicks, and he begins to laugh }
‘’ Oh, the ticking! No, I suppose it’s so common I’m used to it. Please, pay it no mind. What were you saying about Kathrine? ‘’
{ Slowly, the ticking starts to fade away }
“Well one time she put me in a prison where I sat in a little boat because I was corrupted by this stuff called the skulk it was weird. She put me in prison because I was kinda evil and she was a monster hunter, you know she’d probably hate me now.”
{ He hums, listening before tsking at her end statement }
‘’ Oh, please. You saw Scott and Avid, did you not? A hunter can surely love their hunted, even if such a prospect is strange. ‘’
“I don’t even know why she cared about me in the first place! I was a witch and a criminal!”
She signed. She knew Scott and Avid worked out but Katherine was different than Avid.
‘’ So? ‘’
{ He sighs, standing up and moving over to her before plopping down by her side }
‘’ Y’know, by all means, I’m wanted, too. But I found someone who loved me, once. He sang such beautiful songs to me. And he had a way with words that I find myself constantly trying to emulate. A lawman. That’s what he was. I never quite believed he truly loved me. It seemed impossible. But there it was. And there he was . . . point is, even the most unexpected people care sometimes. Despite all impossibility. ‘’
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, it’s not like she’d remember me. If she was still a monster hunter then she’d probably try and kill me. Although who knows what she would be it’s not exactly like we’re alive like that anymore. Well I was kinda in a weird situation with dying but that’s for another day.”
She ran her hand over the cover of her notebook feeling the texture of it. She kinda made herself shut up because she was rambling a lot.
{ He hums, nodding along }
‘’ I see. Well, I can only pray if you two ever do cross paths again, that it goes peacefully and lovingly. ‘’
She nodded before looking at the flower by her bed once again. She had a soft smile on her face as she reminisced.
“I hope so too”
{ He smiles, closing his eyes soon again and burying his face in his arms }
She eventually just kinda spaced thinking about the past or maybe she was reliving it who really knew.
{ After a few peacefully quiet moments, Allen mumbles something under his breath }
‘’ ᓭ𝙹∷∷|| ᔑʖ𝙹⚍ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵꖎ𝙹ᓵꖌ ‘’
She didn’t even notice that he said anything she kinda wasn’t really present in the moment
((THE GALACTIC HELLO?))
{ It took him a moment to realize she hadn’t heard, at which point he immediately let it go }
( // hehehe // )
She eventually zoned back in a little bit and she pulled her knees closer to her chest. Her eyes were teary but she wasn’t actually crying.
{ He heard the shuffling, though he wasn’t sure he dared to look up. If he met her eyes, that’d be one thing, but if he met theirs . . . }
Shelby blinked the tears from her eyes before wiping them away. She calmed herself down after a moment taking a few deep breaths.
((HELLO? WATCHER REFERENCE MAYBE??))
{ After a few moments of hearing her breathing, he looks up, casting a concerned look }
‘’ Shelby? ‘’
( // mwhehehehe - mixing and matching some Allen lore, so I’m slowly implementing it >:3 there’ll be a post today // )
“Yeah? Sorry I kinda zoned out there”
She looked up at him and smiled a little bit but under her eyes were slightly damp.
‘’ Okay . . . ‘’
{ He doesn’t let go of the look in her eyes. The tears left staining below them. And so he stands, out-stretching a hand to her with a mock smile }
‘’ Want to show me your favorite parts of the castle? ‘’
“Yeah sure!! Let’s go to the ballroom that’s my favorite room!”
She jumped up and smiled.
{ He smiles, grabbing her hand and motioning for her to lead the way }
‘’ Sounds wonderful! ‘’
She giggled as she dragged him through the halls down to the ballroom.
{ He smiled, both at the architecture and at Shelby’s joy. It was nice. All of it. The exquisite designs and seeing such light in her eyes. It was really good to see }
“I really like the ballroom because it’s the only room that the four of us built together that I don’t have trauma in!”
((Sorry man I’ve been dying))
{ He doesn’t mean to, but he snorts at that }
‘’ Sorry. Tha- I really love that. It’s nice to have a safe place. Ballrooms especially have always been like a bubble; a shield from the outside world. ‘’
( // no worries!! I lwk have been too, but on the emotional end of the spectrum :,3 // )
“You can laugh it’s ok! It was ment to be a little bit funny!”
She walked over to the fountain and grabbed a glass to fill. She kinda wondered how many animals it took Cleo and Pearl to keep this thing filled.
{ He watched, curiously watching the fountain while also feeling incredibly hesitant to step even an inch closer }
‘’ I figured. It just- seemed rude, I suppose. ‘’
{ A soft noise escapes him as he shakes his head }
‘’ Spirits, Pyro was right. I could loosen up. ‘’
She took a dip from her glass and walked around the room. She walked over to the windows and looked outside. She glanced over the spot in the bridge where she stood when they told her about Avid, then to the spot she once hid her novel.
“There’s so many bad memories here but so many good ones as well”
‘’ I’m glad to hear it. ‘’
{ Slowly, after some psyching, he begins to walk around the room. The last time he had been to the castle- spirits, it was the last he had seen of Pyro. A planned dance until they were found out. Not even an afternoon later, and he had been turned }
“So what do you do for fun?”
Shelby was honestly a little bit bored so she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured a bit into her blood. Scott had taught her proportions that it would do a little bit of an effect on her but still taste good.
‘’ I- I don’t indulge in much fun nowadays. Too busy working. Though, on occasion, I’ll find myself at my bass singing some jostled tune. Not as often as I used to. ‘’
“I mostly just write but that’s also my job so”
She leaned against a nearby wall and took another sip. She stood in a manner Owen often would although that made sense since the two were close and Shelby at least was fairly impressionable.
{ He notices the hint in her posture and immediately his eyes narrow. He doesn’t realize it, but he steps away from her, wrapping his arms around himself. Something Pyro used to do when they were uneasy. Spirits, how they miss him }
She immediately stood up straighter and got a concerned look in her face.
“Hey, are you alright? Did something happen?”
{ There’s that familiar ticking again. And, if she were to pay notice, she’d see a red, coral-bone-like structure creep around their wrist, almost forming a glove. Yet, he doesn’t seem concerned. Not one bit. He doesn’t even seem to notice it. If anything, he looks caught in a daze }
‘’ . . . w-what? ‘’
Shelby jumped after noticing the strange structure. Her eyes were wide and she looked a little bit confused.
“What is that???!! Are you ok??!!”
{ He glances down at his hand, face never wavering. After a beat, he looks back up at her }
‘’ I’m fine. It’s just the coral. ‘’
{ As soon as he says that, eyes open from upon the coral. He seems to sense this and gives the eyes a stern glare, which they send right back at him. Then he returns his focus to Shelby }
‘’ I’m not a monster. I promise. ‘’
“Is it like a kind of corruption because if so I have like a lot of experience with that. Interacting with corrupted people and being corrupted myself, it’s not fun”
She calmed herself down a little bit and took a few steps towards him cautiously.
‘’ I- no. No, not really. ‘’
{ He wants to step back from her. He really, really does, but he can’t seem to make himself move }
‘’ The coral is biological. The, um, the eyes . . . those are a curse. ‘’
“A curse?”
She kinda stoped moving for a second. Then she stood just a few feet away from him. She looked concerned still.
“And by biological do you mean like it’s something that has always happened to you?”
{ He watches her pause, all confidence—all bravado—faltering as she does }
‘’ 𝙹⍑ リ𝙹 ‘’
‘’ Forget I said anything about the eyes. Forget they even exist! Just focus on the coral. Biological, yes, not something that has always happened. I mean, sort of, but more like it’s always been attached to me. ‘’
“Katherine had a curse half of her kingdom was shrouded in darkness the moment she was born”
She took a step back again noticing he was anxious or something of that nature. She sat down on the floor and pondered what to do.
{ He simply hums curiously before taking a step back in turn. The eyes looked between him and Shelby, and he was really tempted to go find Owen’s axe and tell them to leave him alone. But he didn’t know where it was, and they never listen to anything he has to say }
‘’ Not a kind of curse like that. One from above, I guess you could say. They cursed all of us. ‘’
“They? Who are they?”
Nobody had ever really told her much about them she had heard of them before.
{ He speaks in a hushed tone when he mentions them by title }
‘’ The Listeners and the Watchers. ‘’
“Oh… I’ve heard of them, I was in a witches academy and there was a whole class on them but I slept through it because it was boring and I wasn’t a good student.”
She tried her best to remember anything but she really didn’t stay awake in that class like at all. Maybe her getting kicked out would have been justified if they hadn’t sent her off to die.
Open Rp Starter
A year after the events of Oakhurst occurred Shelby, Scott, and Drift went back to Oakhurst to visit. While Drift and Scott were doing a few things Shelby snuck off. She ventured off to obelisk with a few materials in hand. She took her time and built a grave for Pyro.
Sure Pyro had been extreme and was a murder. He murdered her fledgling after all, but she still cared. Even as she had plunged that stake into his heart she still cared. The coven was her family, Pyro was like a brother to her.
After the grave was constructed Shelby sat at the bottom of it. She spoke to the grave like she was talking to Pyro again. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. I don’t think I’ll ever really forgive you for what you did but I guess we’re even now? Although it really just fell back on me didn’t it?” She laughed just a little bit, it wasn’t happy laughter at all. A few tears slipped from her eyes but she quickly wiped them away.
Grave image from Shubble. Owen messaged it to me a while back:3
{ Frankly, Allen was reluctant to even return to this place. Especially considering the risks of being noticed by anyone — human or otherwise. After his return to his job, the missions became a lot more risky, and with him leaving Oakhurst under the assumption he had died in the flames, it was a wonder why he even bothered to return. One that confounded even him! — but he had his suspicions }
{ He had intended to build a graveyard. That was the idea. That was not how it went, however. No, because someone beat him to it. Someone who he swore he had seen once, and prayed that he’d never have to see them or their “family” ever again }
‘’ . . . Shelby. ‘’
Shelby jumped before she looked up. She hadn’t expected anyone to find her. She stood up quickly and dusted off her skirt.
“Oh umm hi Allen. Didn’t expect to see anyone out here… didn’t know you were even alive…”
Shelby looked back at the grave. She really missed Pyro even though she’s the one who did it. They looked at the ground not really knowing what to do in this situation.
{ He laughed, though it was quiet and awkward }
‘’ Yeah, uh . . . not as alive as I could be, but- hi. ‘’
{ As they get up, he moves to sit down in front of the grave. Pyro’s grave }
‘’ . . . He was good. ‘’
She looked at him and sat back down in her previous spot. She didn’t really want to cry in front of him.
“He was, before he kinda went a bit insane. I don’t miss the person he was when he died but I miss who he used to be.”
They pulled her knees up to her chest, which made her seem younger than she actually was.
“So are you a vampire now?”
{ He cast her a confused look as she expressed her love for who he was before it all. It made him stiffen, a knot forming in his stomach. A sudden doubt whispered in his mind that perhaps he and the scholar were never as close as they thought }
‘’ . . . yeah. I- yes. I am. I’m . . . sorry I lied to everyone. About my death. ‘’
“It’s ok… I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me since you know”
She looked at her hands remembering them covered in Pyro’s blood. She’d regretted it almost instantly, some of that regret had disappeared when the others agreed with her but it had come back almost full force. They hated their actions but she couldn’t do anything about it now.
{ He watches her before taking one of their hands in his own, gloved in a deep maroon }
‘’ I don’t blame you, Shelby. You were doing it for a reason. I can’t fault you for the same reason that I have done such horrible things. Pyro would understand. The Pyro that we used to know. ‘’
The only thing keeping her together right now just snapped and she started crying. She went through in a few weeks more than what most people would go through in their life her being younger didn’t all that much help. She probably needed to cry. She accepted her hand being taken and she squeezed a little bit.
“I miss him, I miss Avid too.”
{ He squeezed back before gently rubbing his thumb over her hand. He would’ve hugged her, but admittedly, he was terrified. Terrified of her, of what she stands for, of who she works with . . . but being undead has taught him humanity, and so he shifts closer in case she decides to lean on him }
‘’ I- I know. I never knew Avid. Not really. But it’s tragic, nonetheless. And Pyro- . . . I miss him more than I can say. ‘’
“I miss doing Owen’s hair and thinking maybe I could be happy. I miss a lot of things.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She felt like she was little again having just lost her dad and losing her mom. She looked towards Pyro’s grave.
“Maybe I’m just as bad as he ended up, can’t be worse than Owen but he killed 3,000 people.”
{ He nods, trying to grasp the tragedy she must be feeling, but aside from Pyro, he was never close to anyone. And in terms of the coven — well, he loathes Scott. It tore into him. The want to help with no ability to }
‘’ You are not as bad as . . . him. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst. You have done good, Shelby. That’s more than most could have done in your situation. ‘’
“I’m sorry it’s been a year I need to get over it.”
Shelby pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her hand away. She wanted to be fine she didn’t want to feel this weight anymore. She had turned Avid and it led to his death and she had killed Pyro herself.
‘’ You don’t. ‘’
{ Those words slip out faster than he intended, but now he couldn’t help but continue, sharing against his better thoughts }
‘’ The job I used to work . . . I had to do what you did with Pyro far more often than anyone. Than Scott. Than the Doctor. Than Owen. I started it when I was young, and it’s been — what — at least ten years? I’m still not over it. You definitely don’t have to be. ‘’
She looked up at him with a curious expression but she didn’t want to force him to talk. She was confused now.
“You, did what I did? I didn’t know anyone else did something like that… I just have to pretend I’m ok even if I’m not. I don’t want to end up like my mom.”
{ He nods, the reminder of it painful, though he’s used to it by now. Mom. That’s another mental jab. But he’ll hide everything for as long as it takes }
‘’ Yeah. Yeah, I did. A long time ago. But- you don’t have to pretend. Not around me, at least. ‘’
Shelby shook her head quickly at the notion. She couldn’t be sad in front of people. She couldn’t end up as broken as her mom. She had to help Scott and Drift so she couldn’t do that.
“So where did you go after all this happened?”
She was definitely trying to deflect. Was she going to keep deflecting? Yes, yes she would.
{ He casts her a look as if to say she won’t get away with this, but he’d let her try }
‘’ I, uh- back to my old job. To a crowned nation, a little west of here. It’s . . . better than it was before. The job, I mean. But that’s all bland news, what happened to you? Looked around after the walls fell and I almost bought that another massacre happened. ‘’
“Well me and Drift have been showing Scott the world. I’ve been working on my book in any downtime.”
She messed with her sleeves as she spoke. Avid was supposed to explore the world with them but it didn’t really work out that way.
“I told my mom that I’m ok and that dad was right because at least vampires and werewolves are real! I haven’t really found anything else yet.”
‘’ Well, that- that’s all wonderful! I never knew you were writing a book. Must be a wonderful writer. A- . . . your mother, is she alright? I figure she must be proud of you, but to be hearing all of this, well, one would be quite shocked. ‘’
“I sent her a letter. I haven’t seen her in a year she didn’t do much after my dad died anyway.”
She sounded bitter at the end. It was clear she disliked her mother. Shelby pulled a little locket out from under her shirt. Luckily it had been gold so she had no trouble with it now. She opened it up and there was a picture of a man with brown hair and yellow eyes and a little girl the same features.
“That’s me and my dad a few months before he disappeared.”
{ He hummed, a small, bittersweet smile crossing his face at the photo }
‘’ I’m . . . sorry for his disappearance. It’s easier when you know the truth, that I know. ‘’
“Yeah. He wasn’t crazy I know that now.”
She closed the locket and sighed. She wondered if everyone in town said the same things about her that they said about her father. She reached out and gently booped Allen. She giggled afterwards.
{ He smiled, though his face scrunched up slightly as she booped him. He relaxed soon after, though }
‘’ Certainly not crazy. ‘’
‘’ . . . though you might as well be for booping me! ‘’
{ Teasingly, he boops her back }
She giggled even more as he was booped. They leaned back on their elbows. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was gone from the castle yet but she didn’t want to go back right now.
“Sooooo how long are you staying around here? I think I’m staying for a few weeks depends on what the other two want. It was mostly for them anyway, I hate being in that castle now.”
{ He hums, chuckling a bit after a few minutes }
‘’ Ah, I’ll figure it out as I go. Though, with Scott around, I might cut my visit short. Don’t want to be around him longer than I have to be. ‘’
“He changed! He’s nice to people now me and Drift have been teaching him. We told him only girlboss no gaslight or gatekeep.”
She sat back up. She needed to make sure people knew that Scott was better now. He wasn’t manipulating people for personal gain and he wasn’t hurting people for fun.
{ He gives a skeptical glance in her direction, scoffing as she finishes her defense of the elder }
‘’ Sure. Well, I don’t know if I can trust that by word alone, and frankly, I don’t intend to meet him to find out the truth. I don’t like him. That’s that. ‘’
Shelby just shrunk in on herself. That was the man who took her in when everyone else thought she was weird. He’s the one who cared about her when the town didn’t. She didn’t like hearing someone talk about him like he couldn’t change.
“Avid made him feel something. He hadn’t felt anything in a thousand years of corse he was going to be cruel. Abolish promised to watch over him and make sure he didn’t slip back, he asked Abolish to do so.”
{ He sighs, leaning forward and staring at the name on the grave }
‘’ He made Pyro feel something, and Pyro did the same to him. Everyone has an influence on everyone, Shelby. I’m not saying that he can’t change, I’m saying that I don’t think he’s- . . . forget it. ‘’
“And then Pyro turned on both of us. Nothing from Oakhurst haunts me more than Avid’s screams. Do you have any idea how that feels? Avid was my fledgling, he was the first person to say I wasn’t crazy.”
Shelby’s fists clenched. If her skin wasn’t already white she knuckles would be. There were tears in her eyes. She stood up, she walked behind the grave and went to the water. She sat down at the edge of the water just staring into it.
{ It stung. Hearing her and Avid’s pain, knowing the pain of Pyro. It was awful, and for several minutes, he sat there, glancing between the name of the past and the pain in the present }
‘’ . . . I have fledglings. Unwilling ones. Ones I had to turn during my job to save them from death, though who knows how much better this is. ‘’
{ Slowly, he stands, brushing off some of his clothes. Though he doesn’t move away from the grave }
‘’ They die often, Shelby. My fledglings never last long. Vampires never last long. Not in big capitals. Not in small towns. So ask again how it feels, because I know it. It happens once every day - screaming, yelling, pain, and then nothing. I don’t know them, Shelby. I don’t know them honorably, and I can do nothing to save them. My losses outweigh my wins. It’s never fair, Shelby. Never. Pyro warned me of that from the start. ‘’
“You didn’t know them. They weren’t your best friend. I close my eyes to sleep and I hear my brother killing my best friend. Both of their deaths are on me.”
Shelby slashed her claws along the surface of the water. She didn’t think anyone could understand what she went through even if what he went through was similar.
“I get that that is still hard but if you don’t know them how can it hurt? It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, I feel empty and alone. But I don’t show it because if I let it out it’ll consume me, I don’t want to be like my mom.”
‘’ It hurts because it’s my fault. But you’re right. It’s not the same. I don’t understand the pain. ‘’
{ His voice is steady but it’s filled with frustration }
‘’ I don’t understand how Pyro lived with you. ‘’
Shelby turned her head around to look at him again. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She needed to calm down.
“I’m sorry for acting like this my feelings are just kinda all over the place right now, it’s probably because it’s been exactly a year since it all happened.”
{ He sighs, looking away from her and instead behind himself }
‘’ . . . it’s fine. It’s not your fault. ‘’
“Kinda is.”
She stood up and started pacing around the area by the edge of the water.
‘’ It was the fault of all sides, Shelby. Not just yours, not just his; everybody has some effect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s unfair to yourself to be so cruel to only one instigator. ‘’
“I’m the only one who made it out. I’m the one who didn’t have any consequences for my actions. I didn’t even get told off by anyone they all just celebrated.”
The guilt was evident on her face as she paced along the waters edge.
{ He stays quiet, still refusing to look and her }
‘’ Well, that’s their fault, now, isn’t it? You have guilt. It reeks off of you every waking moment. They don’t have a care for the man behind the monster, they simply needed him gone. At least you feel guilty. That’s the most important thing. ‘’
“Everyone just hated him, I hated him… I don’t hate him. I miss him so much”
She kept pacing around. She was breathing frantically despite not needing to, it was a habit she kept for the whole year.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be pushing this all onto you I- I’m sorry.”
‘’ It’s fine. I- it’s fine. ‘’
{ He pauses, glancing over to her for a moment as he hears her begin breathing, albeit very frantically }
‘’ I never hated him. Not truly. I never forgave him for the death of Avid - who would? - but hate wasn’t something I could bring myself to. ‘’
“I just was so angry and I haven’t felt like that before and I haven’t felt like that since. I think I hated him, he wasn’t really himself at that point. I guess we all had to change a bit, I think I’m better at standing up for myself now?”
They paused in their pacing for a moment to think. She had been standing her ground more and she felt much older even though it’s only by a year.
{ Carefully, he nodded }
‘’ I- It’s good that you became better for yourself through it. Even if it came from hardship. ‘’
“Are you ok? We’ve talked about me a lot, how are you holding up?”
She paused her pacing and looked towards Allen. There was genuine concern on her face.
{ He winces slightly upon seeing all the concern on her face }
‘’ I’m fine. ‘’
{ After a minute, he pulls out a bottle of crimson and quickly downs it, wiping at his mouth to make sure he got it all }
‘’ Just a bit tired from the journey. ‘’
“Do you need somewhere to rest? I could probably sneak you into the castle that way you don’t have to interact with anyone. Plus Scott’s at Avid’s grave most of the time”
Shelby smiled at him a little bit. The offer was genuine she wanted to make sure he was ok.
{ There’s a long silence as he stares at her, looking as though she just said the most incredulous thing he’s ever heard }
‘’ . . . you’re sure he won’t be there? ‘’
“Well he wasn’t there when I left. This is like the second day we’ve been here and he’s only been at the castle a total of like 3 hours.”
The castle has grown in the year that had passed so there were rooms in there which made it much easier to hide a person in there. She walked back over to Allen with a kind smile on her face.
{ Hesitantly, he stands, offering some semblance of a smile in return }
‘’ Well . . . then I suppose I wouldn’t mind. I’ve never been inside that castle, after all. ‘’
{ He offers a hand, smile faltering as anxiety stirred }
‘’ Off we go, then? ‘’
Shelby grabbed his hand and lead him off to the castle. It wasn’t difficult to sneak him into her room. She didn’t want to put him in a guest room since there was a higher chance of someone going in there. She put a sign on her door that said she was writing so nobody would come in.
{ He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, awkwardness settling around him. After a few moments of silence, he sits on the floor, distracting himself with admiring her room }
‘’ . . . it’s very pretty in here. ‘’
“Thank you! Pearl decorated part of it but I added some touches, mostly the books. M sent me signed copies of all his books!”
Shelby sat on the floor close by to the door so if someone decided to peak in they were see her before they got the door open. She had a notebook sitting in her lap with a pen.
{ He looks at the pen, at the book, and then all around the room again }
‘’ . . . that’s nice. ‘’
She started doodling little stars and stuff at the top of her chapter pages. She drew a rather detailed mushroom at the bottom of the end of a chapter. She always had a bit of thing for mushrooms.
“If you’d prefer I can go outside to write, if I’m out there nobody will come in here”
{ It takes a while for him to register she even said anything. Her room, really the whole castle, reminded him of home. The little mansion, run-down and weathered on the outside but cozy within, where he retires after long days and takes in those weathered by distrust and inequality }
‘’ No . . . no, I don’t- I don’t mind. It’s nice having you around. It- it’s nice not being alone. ‘’
“I get that I was kinda on my own for a while before I came to Oakhurst everyone at home just pitied me”
She frowned a bit and looked at the first few pages of her notebook. It talked about her early life and her dad.
‘’ . . . I’ve been alone since my family was killed. ‘’
‘’ It’s not easy, growing up alone. But I’m glad we’ve both made it. ‘’
“My dad left to go find werewolves and my mom just kinda left mentally. She was there but she wasn’t, the first few years she just sat in the chair she found out in I had to make her get up but she would always end up there. I was 12”
She wiped away a tear away that threatened to fall as she spoke. She flipped a few pages in the notebook on her lap getting away from that stuff, it probably wouldn’t make it into the book anyway.
{ He nods solemnly, shifting positions before bringing his knees to his chest and laying his head atop his arms which covered his knees }
‘’ Sorry . . . what are you writing? ‘’
“It’s a ‘fiction’ book about a girl having a vampire roommate and the chaos that happens. I’m changing everyone’s names except mine so it just looks self indulgent”
She lit up after being asked about her writing. She seemed very excited to talk about it.
‘’ Oh, that’s fun! To tell more. What has happened so far? ‘’
“Well she was a cryptid hunter and so when she found out that her roommate and two other people in the town were vampires she got very excited. They had turned her obviously and the four grew very close until yeah…”
*She kinda cut herself off and pulled her knees closer to her chest.*
{ He hums, a soft smile crossing his face }
‘’ Sounds wonderful. ‘’
‘’ . . . are you alright? ‘’
“Yeah I’m fine! I’m just kinda thinking right now”
Shelby messed with her sleeves again. She was definitely anxious but that was pretty normal.
{ He hums, nodding politely. He closes his eyes, leaning his head back. One could mistakenly believe he’s falling asleep, but the vampire is much rather reminiscening }
She went to the page she had left off on, then she remembered why she had stopped writing. There were notes from Avid scribbled in the empty pages. She read over the notes and laughed remembering how goofy he was.
{ Hearing her laugh, he can’t help but smile, opening an eye to see what may be the cause of it. The writing to him is illegible, but it’s joyous to her, and so he closes his eyes once more and lets out a soft breath }
“Oh Avid…”
She had a soft smile on her face. She came across the note about when Avid asked her to turn him, setting up the meeting location.
{ The name makes his body tense, if only briefly. Avid. He remembers brief flourishes of the hunter—not enough, he fears. A part of him desperately wants to leave. To find Avid—to find Scott—and to ask for forgiveness. For anything other than the guilt of loving a fire so kind to keep him alive }
Shelby glanced over at him. She looked back at the notebook and sighed. She couldn’t get rid of these so she would have to get a new one.
“Dang it and I painted this one and everything”
{ He laughs, finally lifting his head to look at her and smile }
‘’ Sounds like you’ll get a new opportunity to paint. Doesn’t seem too bad. ‘’
“Hmmm I’m gonna put a mushroom with a butterfly on the next one. I miss Kathrine”
She sighed thinking about the lives she remembered before this one.
‘’ Who’s Kathrine? ‘’
“So umm one time this person showed me a picture where I was a witch Owen was a llama and Scott was like colorful and stuff. After I saw that I started getting these memories of lives I guess I lived. Kathrine was my girlfriend in two of them, my wife actually once.”
She glanced at the pink tulip she kept in a flowerpot beside her bed.
‘’ She sounds kind. A very wonderful lady, I’m sure. Though . . . that photo is an odd occurrence. ‘’
{ The sound of a clock’s ticking echoes around the room, though there seems not to be a clock in sight. Allen doesn’t seem to hear it, or perhaps he’s spent so much time at odds with it that it rings only as background noise }
Shelby looked around the room trying to find the source of the mysterious ticking noise. She looked a little bit confused, she didn’t have a clock.
“Where is that? Do you hear that?”
‘’ What? ‘’
“I hear a clock but I don’t have a clock. You don’t hear it?”
She started to feel like she was going insane, wouldn’t be the first the she could hear something that others couldn’t.
{ It takes several moments out of him before it clicks, and he begins to laugh }
‘’ Oh, the ticking! No, I suppose it’s so common I’m used to it. Please, pay it no mind. What were you saying about Kathrine? ‘’
{ Slowly, the ticking starts to fade away }
“Well one time she put me in a prison where I sat in a little boat because I was corrupted by this stuff called the skulk it was weird. She put me in prison because I was kinda evil and she was a monster hunter, you know she’d probably hate me now.”
{ He hums, listening before tsking at her end statement }
‘’ Oh, please. You saw Scott and Avid, did you not? A hunter can surely love their hunted, even if such a prospect is strange. ‘’
“I don’t even know why she cared about me in the first place! I was a witch and a criminal!”
She signed. She knew Scott and Avid worked out but Katherine was different than Avid.
‘’ So? ‘’
{ He sighs, standing up and moving over to her before plopping down by her side }
‘’ Y’know, by all means, I’m wanted, too. But I found someone who loved me, once. He sang such beautiful songs to me. And he had a way with words that I find myself constantly trying to emulate. A lawman. That’s what he was. I never quite believed he truly loved me. It seemed impossible. But there it was. And there he was . . . point is, even the most unexpected people care sometimes. Despite all impossibility. ‘’
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, it’s not like she’d remember me. If she was still a monster hunter then she’d probably try and kill me. Although who knows what she would be it’s not exactly like we’re alive like that anymore. Well I was kinda in a weird situation with dying but that’s for another day.”
She ran her hand over the cover of her notebook feeling the texture of it. She kinda made herself shut up because she was rambling a lot.
{ He hums, nodding along }
‘’ I see. Well, I can only pray if you two ever do cross paths again, that it goes peacefully and lovingly. ‘’
She nodded before looking at the flower by her bed once again. She had a soft smile on her face as she reminisced.
“I hope so too”
{ He smiles, closing his eyes soon again and burying his face in his arms }
She eventually just kinda spaced thinking about the past or maybe she was reliving it who really knew.
{ After a few peacefully quiet moments, Allen mumbles something under his breath }
‘’ ᓭ𝙹∷∷|| ᔑʖ𝙹⚍ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵꖎ𝙹ᓵꖌ ‘’
She didn’t even notice that he said anything she kinda wasn’t really present in the moment
((THE GALACTIC HELLO?))
{ It took him a moment to realize she hadn’t heard, at which point he immediately let it go }
( // hehehe // )
She eventually zoned back in a little bit and she pulled her knees closer to her chest. Her eyes were teary but she wasn’t actually crying.
{ He heard the shuffling, though he wasn’t sure he dared to look up. If he met her eyes, that’d be one thing, but if he met theirs . . . }
Shelby blinked the tears from her eyes before wiping them away. She calmed herself down after a moment taking a few deep breaths.
((HELLO? WATCHER REFERENCE MAYBE??))
{ After a few moments of hearing her breathing, he looks up, casting a concerned look }
‘’ Shelby? ‘’
( // mwhehehehe - mixing and matching some Allen lore, so I’m slowly implementing it >:3 there’ll be a post today // )
“Yeah? Sorry I kinda zoned out there”
She looked up at him and smiled a little bit but under her eyes were slightly damp.
‘’ Okay . . . ‘’
{ He doesn’t let go of the look in her eyes. The tears left staining below them. And so he stands, out-stretching a hand to her with a mock smile }
‘’ Want to show me your favorite parts of the castle? ‘’
“Yeah sure!! Let’s go to the ballroom that’s my favorite room!”
She jumped up and smiled.
{ He smiles, grabbing her hand and motioning for her to lead the way }
‘’ Sounds wonderful! ‘’
She giggled as she dragged him through the halls down to the ballroom.
{ He smiled, both at the architecture and at Shelby’s joy. It was nice. All of it. The exquisite designs and seeing such light in her eyes. It was really good to see }
“I really like the ballroom because it’s the only room that the four of us built together that I don’t have trauma in!”
((Sorry man I’ve been dying))
{ He doesn’t mean to, but he snorts at that }
‘’ Sorry. Tha- I really love that. It’s nice to have a safe place. Ballrooms especially have always been like a bubble; a shield from the outside world. ‘’
( // no worries!! I lwk have been too, but on the emotional end of the spectrum :,3 // )
“You can laugh it’s ok! It was ment to be a little bit funny!”
She walked over to the fountain and grabbed a glass to fill. She kinda wondered how many animals it took Cleo and Pearl to keep this thing filled.
{ He watched, curiously watching the fountain while also feeling incredibly hesitant to step even an inch closer }
‘’ I figured. It just- seemed rude, I suppose. ‘’
{ A soft noise escapes him as he shakes his head }
‘’ Spirits, Pyro was right. I could loosen up. ‘’
She took a dip from her glass and walked around the room. She walked over to the windows and looked outside. She glanced over the spot in the bridge where she stood when they told her about Avid, then to the spot she once hid her novel.
“There’s so many bad memories here but so many good ones as well”
‘’ I’m glad to hear it. ‘’
{ Slowly, after some psyching, he begins to walk around the room. The last time he had been to the castle- spirits, it was the last he had seen of Pyro. A planned dance until they were found out. Not even an afternoon later, and he had been turned }
“So what do you do for fun?”
Shelby was honestly a little bit bored so she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured a bit into her blood. Scott had taught her proportions that it would do a little bit of an effect on her but still taste good.
‘’ I- I don’t indulge in much fun nowadays. Too busy working. Though, on occasion, I’ll find myself at my bass singing some jostled tune. Not as often as I used to. ‘’
“I mostly just write but that’s also my job so”
She leaned against a nearby wall and took another sip. She stood in a manner Owen often would although that made sense since the two were close and Shelby at least was fairly impressionable.
{ He notices the hint in her posture and immediately his eyes narrow. He doesn’t realize it, but he steps away from her, wrapping his arms around himself. Something Pyro used to do when they were uneasy. Spirits, how they miss him }
She immediately stood up straighter and got a concerned look in her face.
“Hey, are you alright? Did something happen?”
{ There’s that familiar ticking again. And, if she were to pay notice, she’d see a red, coral-bone-like structure creep around their wrist, almost forming a glove. Yet, he doesn’t seem concerned. Not one bit. He doesn’t even seem to notice it. If anything, he looks caught in a daze }
‘’ . . . w-what? ‘’
Shelby jumped after noticing the strange structure. Her eyes were wide and she looked a little bit confused.
“What is that???!! Are you ok??!!”
{ He glances down at his hand, face never wavering. After a beat, he looks back up at her }
‘’ I’m fine. It’s just the coral. ‘’
{ As soon as he says that, eyes open from upon the coral. He seems to sense this and gives the eyes a stern glare, which they send right back at him. Then he returns his focus to Shelby }
‘’ I’m not a monster. I promise. ‘’
“Is it like a kind of corruption because if so I have like a lot of experience with that. Interacting with corrupted people and being corrupted myself, it’s not fun”
She calmed herself down a little bit and took a few steps towards him cautiously.
‘’ I- no. No, not really. ‘’
{ He wants to step back from her. He really, really does, but he can’t seem to make himself move }
‘’ The coral is biological. The, um, the eyes . . . those are a curse. ‘’
“A curse?”
She kinda stoped moving for a second. Then she stood just a few feet away from him. She looked concerned still.
“And by biological do you mean like it’s something that has always happened to you?”
{ He watches her pause, all confidence—all bravado—faltering as she does }
‘’ 𝙹⍑ リ𝙹 ‘’
‘’ Forget I said anything about the eyes. Forget they even exist! Just focus on the coral. Biological, yes, not something that has always happened. I mean, sort of, but more like it’s always been attached to me. ‘’
“Katherine had a curse half of her kingdom was shrouded in darkness the moment she was born”
She took a step back again noticing he was anxious or something of that nature. She sat down on the floor and pondered what to do.
{ He simply hums curiously before taking a step back in turn. The eyes looked between him and Shelby, and he was really tempted to go find Owen’s axe and tell them to leave him alone. But he didn’t know where it was, and they never listen to anything he has to say }
‘’ Not a kind of curse like that. One from above, I guess you could say. They cursed all of us. ‘’
“They? Who are they?”
Nobody had ever really told her much about them she had heard of them before.
Open Rp Starter
A year after the events of Oakhurst occurred Shelby, Scott, and Drift went back to Oakhurst to visit. While Drift and Scott were doing a few things Shelby snuck off. She ventured off to obelisk with a few materials in hand. She took her time and built a grave for Pyro.
Sure Pyro had been extreme and was a murder. He murdered her fledgling after all, but she still cared. Even as she had plunged that stake into his heart she still cared. The coven was her family, Pyro was like a brother to her.
After the grave was constructed Shelby sat at the bottom of it. She spoke to the grave like she was talking to Pyro again. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. I don’t think I’ll ever really forgive you for what you did but I guess we’re even now? Although it really just fell back on me didn’t it?” She laughed just a little bit, it wasn’t happy laughter at all. A few tears slipped from her eyes but she quickly wiped them away.
Grave image from Shubble. Owen messaged it to me a while back:3
{ Frankly, Allen was reluctant to even return to this place. Especially considering the risks of being noticed by anyone — human or otherwise. After his return to his job, the missions became a lot more risky, and with him leaving Oakhurst under the assumption he had died in the flames, it was a wonder why he even bothered to return. One that confounded even him! — but he had his suspicions }
{ He had intended to build a graveyard. That was the idea. That was not how it went, however. No, because someone beat him to it. Someone who he swore he had seen once, and prayed that he’d never have to see them or their “family” ever again }
‘’ . . . Shelby. ‘’
Shelby jumped before she looked up. She hadn’t expected anyone to find her. She stood up quickly and dusted off her skirt.
“Oh umm hi Allen. Didn’t expect to see anyone out here… didn’t know you were even alive…”
Shelby looked back at the grave. She really missed Pyro even though she’s the one who did it. They looked at the ground not really knowing what to do in this situation.
{ He laughed, though it was quiet and awkward }
‘’ Yeah, uh . . . not as alive as I could be, but- hi. ‘’
{ As they get up, he moves to sit down in front of the grave. Pyro’s grave }
‘’ . . . He was good. ‘’
She looked at him and sat back down in her previous spot. She didn’t really want to cry in front of him.
“He was, before he kinda went a bit insane. I don’t miss the person he was when he died but I miss who he used to be.”
They pulled her knees up to her chest, which made her seem younger than she actually was.
“So are you a vampire now?”
{ He cast her a confused look as she expressed her love for who he was before it all. It made him stiffen, a knot forming in his stomach. A sudden doubt whispered in his mind that perhaps he and the scholar were never as close as they thought }
‘’ . . . yeah. I- yes. I am. I’m . . . sorry I lied to everyone. About my death. ‘’
“It’s ok… I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me since you know”
She looked at her hands remembering them covered in Pyro’s blood. She’d regretted it almost instantly, some of that regret had disappeared when the others agreed with her but it had come back almost full force. They hated their actions but she couldn’t do anything about it now.
{ He watches her before taking one of their hands in his own, gloved in a deep maroon }
‘’ I don’t blame you, Shelby. You were doing it for a reason. I can’t fault you for the same reason that I have done such horrible things. Pyro would understand. The Pyro that we used to know. ‘’
The only thing keeping her together right now just snapped and she started crying. She went through in a few weeks more than what most people would go through in their life her being younger didn’t all that much help. She probably needed to cry. She accepted her hand being taken and she squeezed a little bit.
“I miss him, I miss Avid too.”
{ He squeezed back before gently rubbing his thumb over her hand. He would’ve hugged her, but admittedly, he was terrified. Terrified of her, of what she stands for, of who she works with . . . but being undead has taught him humanity, and so he shifts closer in case she decides to lean on him }
‘’ I- I know. I never knew Avid. Not really. But it’s tragic, nonetheless. And Pyro- . . . I miss him more than I can say. ‘’
“I miss doing Owen’s hair and thinking maybe I could be happy. I miss a lot of things.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She felt like she was little again having just lost her dad and losing her mom. She looked towards Pyro’s grave.
“Maybe I’m just as bad as he ended up, can’t be worse than Owen but he killed 3,000 people.”
{ He nods, trying to grasp the tragedy she must be feeling, but aside from Pyro, he was never close to anyone. And in terms of the coven — well, he loathes Scott. It tore into him. The want to help with no ability to }
‘’ You are not as bad as . . . him. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst. You have done good, Shelby. That’s more than most could have done in your situation. ‘’
“I’m sorry it’s been a year I need to get over it.”
Shelby pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her hand away. She wanted to be fine she didn’t want to feel this weight anymore. She had turned Avid and it led to his death and she had killed Pyro herself.
‘’ You don’t. ‘’
{ Those words slip out faster than he intended, but now he couldn’t help but continue, sharing against his better thoughts }
‘’ The job I used to work . . . I had to do what you did with Pyro far more often than anyone. Than Scott. Than the Doctor. Than Owen. I started it when I was young, and it’s been — what — at least ten years? I’m still not over it. You definitely don’t have to be. ‘’
She looked up at him with a curious expression but she didn’t want to force him to talk. She was confused now.
“You, did what I did? I didn’t know anyone else did something like that… I just have to pretend I’m ok even if I’m not. I don’t want to end up like my mom.”
{ He nods, the reminder of it painful, though he’s used to it by now. Mom. That’s another mental jab. But he’ll hide everything for as long as it takes }
‘’ Yeah. Yeah, I did. A long time ago. But- you don’t have to pretend. Not around me, at least. ‘’
Shelby shook her head quickly at the notion. She couldn’t be sad in front of people. She couldn’t end up as broken as her mom. She had to help Scott and Drift so she couldn’t do that.
“So where did you go after all this happened?”
She was definitely trying to deflect. Was she going to keep deflecting? Yes, yes she would.
{ He casts her a look as if to say she won’t get away with this, but he’d let her try }
‘’ I, uh- back to my old job. To a crowned nation, a little west of here. It’s . . . better than it was before. The job, I mean. But that’s all bland news, what happened to you? Looked around after the walls fell and I almost bought that another massacre happened. ‘’
“Well me and Drift have been showing Scott the world. I’ve been working on my book in any downtime.”
She messed with her sleeves as she spoke. Avid was supposed to explore the world with them but it didn’t really work out that way.
“I told my mom that I’m ok and that dad was right because at least vampires and werewolves are real! I haven’t really found anything else yet.”
‘’ Well, that- that’s all wonderful! I never knew you were writing a book. Must be a wonderful writer. A- . . . your mother, is she alright? I figure she must be proud of you, but to be hearing all of this, well, one would be quite shocked. ‘’
“I sent her a letter. I haven’t seen her in a year she didn’t do much after my dad died anyway.”
She sounded bitter at the end. It was clear she disliked her mother. Shelby pulled a little locket out from under her shirt. Luckily it had been gold so she had no trouble with it now. She opened it up and there was a picture of a man with brown hair and yellow eyes and a little girl the same features.
“That’s me and my dad a few months before he disappeared.”
{ He hummed, a small, bittersweet smile crossing his face at the photo }
‘’ I’m . . . sorry for his disappearance. It’s easier when you know the truth, that I know. ‘’
“Yeah. He wasn’t crazy I know that now.”
She closed the locket and sighed. She wondered if everyone in town said the same things about her that they said about her father. She reached out and gently booped Allen. She giggled afterwards.
{ He smiled, though his face scrunched up slightly as she booped him. He relaxed soon after, though }
‘’ Certainly not crazy. ‘’
‘’ . . . though you might as well be for booping me! ‘’
{ Teasingly, he boops her back }
She giggled even more as he was booped. They leaned back on their elbows. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was gone from the castle yet but she didn’t want to go back right now.
“Sooooo how long are you staying around here? I think I’m staying for a few weeks depends on what the other two want. It was mostly for them anyway, I hate being in that castle now.”
{ He hums, chuckling a bit after a few minutes }
‘’ Ah, I’ll figure it out as I go. Though, with Scott around, I might cut my visit short. Don’t want to be around him longer than I have to be. ‘’
“He changed! He’s nice to people now me and Drift have been teaching him. We told him only girlboss no gaslight or gatekeep.”
She sat back up. She needed to make sure people knew that Scott was better now. He wasn’t manipulating people for personal gain and he wasn’t hurting people for fun.
{ He gives a skeptical glance in her direction, scoffing as she finishes her defense of the elder }
‘’ Sure. Well, I don’t know if I can trust that by word alone, and frankly, I don’t intend to meet him to find out the truth. I don’t like him. That’s that. ‘’
Shelby just shrunk in on herself. That was the man who took her in when everyone else thought she was weird. He’s the one who cared about her when the town didn’t. She didn’t like hearing someone talk about him like he couldn’t change.
“Avid made him feel something. He hadn’t felt anything in a thousand years of corse he was going to be cruel. Abolish promised to watch over him and make sure he didn’t slip back, he asked Abolish to do so.”
{ He sighs, leaning forward and staring at the name on the grave }
‘’ He made Pyro feel something, and Pyro did the same to him. Everyone has an influence on everyone, Shelby. I’m not saying that he can’t change, I’m saying that I don’t think he’s- . . . forget it. ‘’
“And then Pyro turned on both of us. Nothing from Oakhurst haunts me more than Avid’s screams. Do you have any idea how that feels? Avid was my fledgling, he was the first person to say I wasn’t crazy.”
Shelby’s fists clenched. If her skin wasn’t already white she knuckles would be. There were tears in her eyes. She stood up, she walked behind the grave and went to the water. She sat down at the edge of the water just staring into it.
{ It stung. Hearing her and Avid’s pain, knowing the pain of Pyro. It was awful, and for several minutes, he sat there, glancing between the name of the past and the pain in the present }
‘’ . . . I have fledglings. Unwilling ones. Ones I had to turn during my job to save them from death, though who knows how much better this is. ‘’
{ Slowly, he stands, brushing off some of his clothes. Though he doesn’t move away from the grave }
‘’ They die often, Shelby. My fledglings never last long. Vampires never last long. Not in big capitals. Not in small towns. So ask again how it feels, because I know it. It happens once every day - screaming, yelling, pain, and then nothing. I don’t know them, Shelby. I don’t know them honorably, and I can do nothing to save them. My losses outweigh my wins. It’s never fair, Shelby. Never. Pyro warned me of that from the start. ‘’
“You didn’t know them. They weren’t your best friend. I close my eyes to sleep and I hear my brother killing my best friend. Both of their deaths are on me.”
Shelby slashed her claws along the surface of the water. She didn’t think anyone could understand what she went through even if what he went through was similar.
“I get that that is still hard but if you don’t know them how can it hurt? It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, I feel empty and alone. But I don’t show it because if I let it out it’ll consume me, I don’t want to be like my mom.”
‘’ It hurts because it’s my fault. But you’re right. It’s not the same. I don’t understand the pain. ‘’
{ His voice is steady but it’s filled with frustration }
‘’ I don’t understand how Pyro lived with you. ‘’
Shelby turned her head around to look at him again. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She needed to calm down.
“I’m sorry for acting like this my feelings are just kinda all over the place right now, it’s probably because it’s been exactly a year since it all happened.”
{ He sighs, looking away from her and instead behind himself }
‘’ . . . it’s fine. It’s not your fault. ‘’
“Kinda is.”
She stood up and started pacing around the area by the edge of the water.
‘’ It was the fault of all sides, Shelby. Not just yours, not just his; everybody has some effect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s unfair to yourself to be so cruel to only one instigator. ‘’
“I’m the only one who made it out. I’m the one who didn’t have any consequences for my actions. I didn’t even get told off by anyone they all just celebrated.”
The guilt was evident on her face as she paced along the waters edge.
{ He stays quiet, still refusing to look and her }
‘’ Well, that’s their fault, now, isn’t it? You have guilt. It reeks off of you every waking moment. They don’t have a care for the man behind the monster, they simply needed him gone. At least you feel guilty. That’s the most important thing. ‘’
“Everyone just hated him, I hated him… I don’t hate him. I miss him so much”
She kept pacing around. She was breathing frantically despite not needing to, it was a habit she kept for the whole year.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be pushing this all onto you I- I’m sorry.”
‘’ It’s fine. I- it’s fine. ‘’
{ He pauses, glancing over to her for a moment as he hears her begin breathing, albeit very frantically }
‘’ I never hated him. Not truly. I never forgave him for the death of Avid - who would? - but hate wasn’t something I could bring myself to. ‘’
“I just was so angry and I haven’t felt like that before and I haven’t felt like that since. I think I hated him, he wasn’t really himself at that point. I guess we all had to change a bit, I think I’m better at standing up for myself now?”
They paused in their pacing for a moment to think. She had been standing her ground more and she felt much older even though it’s only by a year.
{ Carefully, he nodded }
‘’ I- It’s good that you became better for yourself through it. Even if it came from hardship. ‘’
“Are you ok? We’ve talked about me a lot, how are you holding up?”
She paused her pacing and looked towards Allen. There was genuine concern on her face.
{ He winces slightly upon seeing all the concern on her face }
‘’ I’m fine. ‘’
{ After a minute, he pulls out a bottle of crimson and quickly downs it, wiping at his mouth to make sure he got it all }
‘’ Just a bit tired from the journey. ‘’
“Do you need somewhere to rest? I could probably sneak you into the castle that way you don’t have to interact with anyone. Plus Scott’s at Avid’s grave most of the time”
Shelby smiled at him a little bit. The offer was genuine she wanted to make sure he was ok.
{ There’s a long silence as he stares at her, looking as though she just said the most incredulous thing he’s ever heard }
‘’ . . . you’re sure he won’t be there? ‘’
“Well he wasn’t there when I left. This is like the second day we’ve been here and he’s only been at the castle a total of like 3 hours.”
The castle has grown in the year that had passed so there were rooms in there which made it much easier to hide a person in there. She walked back over to Allen with a kind smile on her face.
{ Hesitantly, he stands, offering some semblance of a smile in return }
‘’ Well . . . then I suppose I wouldn’t mind. I’ve never been inside that castle, after all. ‘’
{ He offers a hand, smile faltering as anxiety stirred }
‘’ Off we go, then? ‘’
Shelby grabbed his hand and lead him off to the castle. It wasn’t difficult to sneak him into her room. She didn’t want to put him in a guest room since there was a higher chance of someone going in there. She put a sign on her door that said she was writing so nobody would come in.
{ He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, awkwardness settling around him. After a few moments of silence, he sits on the floor, distracting himself with admiring her room }
‘’ . . . it’s very pretty in here. ‘’
“Thank you! Pearl decorated part of it but I added some touches, mostly the books. M sent me signed copies of all his books!”
Shelby sat on the floor close by to the door so if someone decided to peak in they were see her before they got the door open. She had a notebook sitting in her lap with a pen.
{ He looks at the pen, at the book, and then all around the room again }
‘’ . . . that’s nice. ‘’
She started doodling little stars and stuff at the top of her chapter pages. She drew a rather detailed mushroom at the bottom of the end of a chapter. She always had a bit of thing for mushrooms.
“If you’d prefer I can go outside to write, if I’m out there nobody will come in here”
{ It takes a while for him to register she even said anything. Her room, really the whole castle, reminded him of home. The little mansion, run-down and weathered on the outside but cozy within, where he retires after long days and takes in those weathered by distrust and inequality }
‘’ No . . . no, I don’t- I don’t mind. It’s nice having you around. It- it’s nice not being alone. ‘’
“I get that I was kinda on my own for a while before I came to Oakhurst everyone at home just pitied me”
She frowned a bit and looked at the first few pages of her notebook. It talked about her early life and her dad.
‘’ . . . I’ve been alone since my family was killed. ‘’
‘’ It’s not easy, growing up alone. But I’m glad we’ve both made it. ‘’
“My dad left to go find werewolves and my mom just kinda left mentally. She was there but she wasn’t, the first few years she just sat in the chair she found out in I had to make her get up but she would always end up there. I was 12”
She wiped away a tear away that threatened to fall as she spoke. She flipped a few pages in the notebook on her lap getting away from that stuff, it probably wouldn’t make it into the book anyway.
{ He nods solemnly, shifting positions before bringing his knees to his chest and laying his head atop his arms which covered his knees }
‘’ Sorry . . . what are you writing? ‘’
“It’s a ‘fiction’ book about a girl having a vampire roommate and the chaos that happens. I’m changing everyone’s names except mine so it just looks self indulgent”
She lit up after being asked about her writing. She seemed very excited to talk about it.
‘’ Oh, that’s fun! To tell more. What has happened so far? ‘’
“Well she was a cryptid hunter and so when she found out that her roommate and two other people in the town were vampires she got very excited. They had turned her obviously and the four grew very close until yeah…”
*She kinda cut herself off and pulled her knees closer to her chest.*
{ He hums, a soft smile crossing his face }
‘’ Sounds wonderful. ‘’
‘’ . . . are you alright? ‘’
“Yeah I’m fine! I’m just kinda thinking right now”
Shelby messed with her sleeves again. She was definitely anxious but that was pretty normal.
{ He hums, nodding politely. He closes his eyes, leaning his head back. One could mistakenly believe he’s falling asleep, but the vampire is much rather reminiscening }
She went to the page she had left off on, then she remembered why she had stopped writing. There were notes from Avid scribbled in the empty pages. She read over the notes and laughed remembering how goofy he was.
{ Hearing her laugh, he can’t help but smile, opening an eye to see what may be the cause of it. The writing to him is illegible, but it’s joyous to her, and so he closes his eyes once more and lets out a soft breath }
“Oh Avid…”
She had a soft smile on her face. She came across the note about when Avid asked her to turn him, setting up the meeting location.
{ The name makes his body tense, if only briefly. Avid. He remembers brief flourishes of the hunter—not enough, he fears. A part of him desperately wants to leave. To find Avid—to find Scott—and to ask for forgiveness. For anything other than the guilt of loving a fire so kind to keep him alive }
Shelby glanced over at him. She looked back at the notebook and sighed. She couldn’t get rid of these so she would have to get a new one.
“Dang it and I painted this one and everything”
{ He laughs, finally lifting his head to look at her and smile }
‘’ Sounds like you’ll get a new opportunity to paint. Doesn’t seem too bad. ‘’
“Hmmm I’m gonna put a mushroom with a butterfly on the next one. I miss Kathrine”
She sighed thinking about the lives she remembered before this one.
‘’ Who’s Kathrine? ‘’
“So umm one time this person showed me a picture where I was a witch Owen was a llama and Scott was like colorful and stuff. After I saw that I started getting these memories of lives I guess I lived. Kathrine was my girlfriend in two of them, my wife actually once.”
She glanced at the pink tulip she kept in a flowerpot beside her bed.
‘’ She sounds kind. A very wonderful lady, I’m sure. Though . . . that photo is an odd occurrence. ‘’
{ The sound of a clock’s ticking echoes around the room, though there seems not to be a clock in sight. Allen doesn’t seem to hear it, or perhaps he’s spent so much time at odds with it that it rings only as background noise }
Shelby looked around the room trying to find the source of the mysterious ticking noise. She looked a little bit confused, she didn’t have a clock.
“Where is that? Do you hear that?”
‘’ What? ‘’
“I hear a clock but I don’t have a clock. You don’t hear it?”
She started to feel like she was going insane, wouldn’t be the first the she could hear something that others couldn’t.
{ It takes several moments out of him before it clicks, and he begins to laugh }
‘’ Oh, the ticking! No, I suppose it’s so common I’m used to it. Please, pay it no mind. What were you saying about Kathrine? ‘’
{ Slowly, the ticking starts to fade away }
“Well one time she put me in a prison where I sat in a little boat because I was corrupted by this stuff called the skulk it was weird. She put me in prison because I was kinda evil and she was a monster hunter, you know she’d probably hate me now.”
{ He hums, listening before tsking at her end statement }
‘’ Oh, please. You saw Scott and Avid, did you not? A hunter can surely love their hunted, even if such a prospect is strange. ‘’
“I don’t even know why she cared about me in the first place! I was a witch and a criminal!”
She signed. She knew Scott and Avid worked out but Katherine was different than Avid.
‘’ So? ‘’
{ He sighs, standing up and moving over to her before plopping down by her side }
‘’ Y’know, by all means, I’m wanted, too. But I found someone who loved me, once. He sang such beautiful songs to me. And he had a way with words that I find myself constantly trying to emulate. A lawman. That’s what he was. I never quite believed he truly loved me. It seemed impossible. But there it was. And there he was . . . point is, even the most unexpected people care sometimes. Despite all impossibility. ‘’
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, it’s not like she’d remember me. If she was still a monster hunter then she’d probably try and kill me. Although who knows what she would be it’s not exactly like we’re alive like that anymore. Well I was kinda in a weird situation with dying but that’s for another day.”
She ran her hand over the cover of her notebook feeling the texture of it. She kinda made herself shut up because she was rambling a lot.
{ He hums, nodding along }
‘’ I see. Well, I can only pray if you two ever do cross paths again, that it goes peacefully and lovingly. ‘’
She nodded before looking at the flower by her bed once again. She had a soft smile on her face as she reminisced.
“I hope so too”
{ He smiles, closing his eyes soon again and burying his face in his arms }
She eventually just kinda spaced thinking about the past or maybe she was reliving it who really knew.
{ After a few peacefully quiet moments, Allen mumbles something under his breath }
‘’ ᓭ𝙹∷∷|| ᔑʖ𝙹⚍ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵꖎ𝙹ᓵꖌ ‘’
She didn’t even notice that he said anything she kinda wasn’t really present in the moment
((THE GALACTIC HELLO?))
{ It took him a moment to realize she hadn’t heard, at which point he immediately let it go }
( // hehehe // )
She eventually zoned back in a little bit and she pulled her knees closer to her chest. Her eyes were teary but she wasn’t actually crying.
{ He heard the shuffling, though he wasn’t sure he dared to look up. If he met her eyes, that’d be one thing, but if he met theirs . . . }
Shelby blinked the tears from her eyes before wiping them away. She calmed herself down after a moment taking a few deep breaths.
((HELLO? WATCHER REFERENCE MAYBE??))
{ After a few moments of hearing her breathing, he looks up, casting a concerned look }
‘’ Shelby? ‘’
( // mwhehehehe - mixing and matching some Allen lore, so I’m slowly implementing it >:3 there’ll be a post today // )
“Yeah? Sorry I kinda zoned out there”
She looked up at him and smiled a little bit but under her eyes were slightly damp.
‘’ Okay . . . ‘’
{ He doesn’t let go of the look in her eyes. The tears left staining below them. And so he stands, out-stretching a hand to her with a mock smile }
‘’ Want to show me your favorite parts of the castle? ‘’
“Yeah sure!! Let’s go to the ballroom that’s my favorite room!”
She jumped up and smiled.
{ He smiles, grabbing her hand and motioning for her to lead the way }
‘’ Sounds wonderful! ‘’
She giggled as she dragged him through the halls down to the ballroom.
{ He smiled, both at the architecture and at Shelby’s joy. It was nice. All of it. The exquisite designs and seeing such light in her eyes. It was really good to see }
“I really like the ballroom because it’s the only room that the four of us built together that I don’t have trauma in!”
((Sorry man I’ve been dying))
{ He doesn’t mean to, but he snorts at that }
‘’ Sorry. Tha- I really love that. It’s nice to have a safe place. Ballrooms especially have always been like a bubble; a shield from the outside world. ‘’
( // no worries!! I lwk have been too, but on the emotional end of the spectrum :,3 // )
“You can laugh it’s ok! It was ment to be a little bit funny!”
She walked over to the fountain and grabbed a glass to fill. She kinda wondered how many animals it took Cleo and Pearl to keep this thing filled.
{ He watched, curiously watching the fountain while also feeling incredibly hesitant to step even an inch closer }
‘’ I figured. It just- seemed rude, I suppose. ‘’
{ A soft noise escapes him as he shakes his head }
‘’ Spirits, Pyro was right. I could loosen up. ‘’
She took a dip from her glass and walked around the room. She walked over to the windows and looked outside. She glanced over the spot in the bridge where she stood when they told her about Avid, then to the spot she once hid her novel.
“There’s so many bad memories here but so many good ones as well”
‘’ I’m glad to hear it. ‘’
{ Slowly, after some psyching, he begins to walk around the room. The last time he had been to the castle- spirits, it was the last he had seen of Pyro. A planned dance until they were found out. Not even an afternoon later, and he had been turned }
“So what do you do for fun?”
Shelby was honestly a little bit bored so she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured a bit into her blood. Scott had taught her proportions that it would do a little bit of an effect on her but still taste good.
‘’ I- I don’t indulge in much fun nowadays. Too busy working. Though, on occasion, I’ll find myself at my bass singing some jostled tune. Not as often as I used to. ‘’
“I mostly just write but that’s also my job so”
She leaned against a nearby wall and took another sip. She stood in a manner Owen often would although that made sense since the two were close and Shelby at least was fairly impressionable.
{ He notices the hint in her posture and immediately his eyes narrow. He doesn’t realize it, but he steps away from her, wrapping his arms around himself. Something Pyro used to do when they were uneasy. Spirits, how they miss him }
She immediately stood up straighter and got a concerned look in her face.
“Hey, are you alright? Did something happen?”
{ There’s that familiar ticking again. And, if she were to pay notice, she’d see a red, coral-bone-like structure creep around their wrist, almost forming a glove. Yet, he doesn’t seem concerned. Not one bit. He doesn’t even seem to notice it. If anything, he looks caught in a daze }
‘’ . . . w-what? ‘’
Shelby jumped after noticing the strange structure. Her eyes were wide and she looked a little bit confused.
“What is that???!! Are you ok??!!”
{ He glances down at his hand, face never wavering. After a beat, he looks back up at her }
‘’ I’m fine. It’s just the coral. ‘’
{ As soon as he says that, eyes open from upon the coral. He seems to sense this and gives the eyes a stern glare, which they send right back at him. Then he returns his focus to Shelby }
‘’ I’m not a monster. I promise. ‘’
“Is it like a kind of corruption because if so I have like a lot of experience with that. Interacting with corrupted people and being corrupted myself, it’s not fun”
She calmed herself down a little bit and took a few steps towards him cautiously.
‘’ I- no. No, not really. ‘’
{ He wants to step back from her. He really, really does, but he can’t seem to make himself move }
‘’ The coral is biological. The, um, the eyes . . . those are a curse. ‘’
“A curse?”
She kinda stoped moving for a second. Then she stood just a few feet away from him. She looked concerned still.
“And by biological do you mean like it’s something that has always happened to you?”
{ He watches her pause, all confidence—all bravado—faltering as she does }
‘’ 𝙹⍑ リ𝙹 ‘’
‘’ Forget I said anything about the eyes. Forget they even exist! Just focus on the coral. Biological, yes, not something that has always happened. I mean, sort of, but more like it’s always been attached to me. ‘’
“Katherine had a curse half of her kingdom was shrouded in darkness the moment she was born”
She took a step back again noticing he was anxious or something of that nature. She sat down on the floor and pondered what to do.
Open Rp Starter
A year after the events of Oakhurst occurred Shelby, Scott, and Drift went back to Oakhurst to visit. While Drift and Scott were doing a few things Shelby snuck off. She ventured off to obelisk with a few materials in hand. She took her time and built a grave for Pyro.
Sure Pyro had been extreme and was a murder. He murdered her fledgling after all, but she still cared. Even as she had plunged that stake into his heart she still cared. The coven was her family, Pyro was like a brother to her.
After the grave was constructed Shelby sat at the bottom of it. She spoke to the grave like she was talking to Pyro again. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. I don’t think I’ll ever really forgive you for what you did but I guess we’re even now? Although it really just fell back on me didn’t it?” She laughed just a little bit, it wasn’t happy laughter at all. A few tears slipped from her eyes but she quickly wiped them away.
Grave image from Shubble. Owen messaged it to me a while back:3
{ Frankly, Allen was reluctant to even return to this place. Especially considering the risks of being noticed by anyone — human or otherwise. After his return to his job, the missions became a lot more risky, and with him leaving Oakhurst under the assumption he had died in the flames, it was a wonder why he even bothered to return. One that confounded even him! — but he had his suspicions }
{ He had intended to build a graveyard. That was the idea. That was not how it went, however. No, because someone beat him to it. Someone who he swore he had seen once, and prayed that he’d never have to see them or their “family” ever again }
‘’ . . . Shelby. ‘’
Shelby jumped before she looked up. She hadn’t expected anyone to find her. She stood up quickly and dusted off her skirt.
“Oh umm hi Allen. Didn’t expect to see anyone out here… didn’t know you were even alive…”
Shelby looked back at the grave. She really missed Pyro even though she’s the one who did it. They looked at the ground not really knowing what to do in this situation.
{ He laughed, though it was quiet and awkward }
‘’ Yeah, uh . . . not as alive as I could be, but- hi. ‘’
{ As they get up, he moves to sit down in front of the grave. Pyro’s grave }
‘’ . . . He was good. ‘’
She looked at him and sat back down in her previous spot. She didn’t really want to cry in front of him.
“He was, before he kinda went a bit insane. I don’t miss the person he was when he died but I miss who he used to be.”
They pulled her knees up to her chest, which made her seem younger than she actually was.
“So are you a vampire now?”
{ He cast her a confused look as she expressed her love for who he was before it all. It made him stiffen, a knot forming in his stomach. A sudden doubt whispered in his mind that perhaps he and the scholar were never as close as they thought }
‘’ . . . yeah. I- yes. I am. I’m . . . sorry I lied to everyone. About my death. ‘’
“It’s ok… I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me since you know”
She looked at her hands remembering them covered in Pyro’s blood. She’d regretted it almost instantly, some of that regret had disappeared when the others agreed with her but it had come back almost full force. They hated their actions but she couldn’t do anything about it now.
{ He watches her before taking one of their hands in his own, gloved in a deep maroon }
‘’ I don’t blame you, Shelby. You were doing it for a reason. I can’t fault you for the same reason that I have done such horrible things. Pyro would understand. The Pyro that we used to know. ‘’
The only thing keeping her together right now just snapped and she started crying. She went through in a few weeks more than what most people would go through in their life her being younger didn’t all that much help. She probably needed to cry. She accepted her hand being taken and she squeezed a little bit.
“I miss him, I miss Avid too.”
{ He squeezed back before gently rubbing his thumb over her hand. He would’ve hugged her, but admittedly, he was terrified. Terrified of her, of what she stands for, of who she works with . . . but being undead has taught him humanity, and so he shifts closer in case she decides to lean on him }
‘’ I- I know. I never knew Avid. Not really. But it’s tragic, nonetheless. And Pyro- . . . I miss him more than I can say. ‘’
“I miss doing Owen’s hair and thinking maybe I could be happy. I miss a lot of things.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She felt like she was little again having just lost her dad and losing her mom. She looked towards Pyro’s grave.
“Maybe I’m just as bad as he ended up, can’t be worse than Owen but he killed 3,000 people.”
{ He nods, trying to grasp the tragedy she must be feeling, but aside from Pyro, he was never close to anyone. And in terms of the coven — well, he loathes Scott. It tore into him. The want to help with no ability to }
‘’ You are not as bad as . . . him. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst. You have done good, Shelby. That’s more than most could have done in your situation. ‘’
“I’m sorry it’s been a year I need to get over it.”
Shelby pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her hand away. She wanted to be fine she didn’t want to feel this weight anymore. She had turned Avid and it led to his death and she had killed Pyro herself.
‘’ You don’t. ‘’
{ Those words slip out faster than he intended, but now he couldn’t help but continue, sharing against his better thoughts }
‘’ The job I used to work . . . I had to do what you did with Pyro far more often than anyone. Than Scott. Than the Doctor. Than Owen. I started it when I was young, and it’s been — what — at least ten years? I’m still not over it. You definitely don’t have to be. ‘’
She looked up at him with a curious expression but she didn’t want to force him to talk. She was confused now.
“You, did what I did? I didn’t know anyone else did something like that… I just have to pretend I’m ok even if I’m not. I don’t want to end up like my mom.”
{ He nods, the reminder of it painful, though he’s used to it by now. Mom. That’s another mental jab. But he’ll hide everything for as long as it takes }
‘’ Yeah. Yeah, I did. A long time ago. But- you don’t have to pretend. Not around me, at least. ‘’
Shelby shook her head quickly at the notion. She couldn’t be sad in front of people. She couldn’t end up as broken as her mom. She had to help Scott and Drift so she couldn’t do that.
“So where did you go after all this happened?”
She was definitely trying to deflect. Was she going to keep deflecting? Yes, yes she would.
{ He casts her a look as if to say she won’t get away with this, but he’d let her try }
‘’ I, uh- back to my old job. To a crowned nation, a little west of here. It’s . . . better than it was before. The job, I mean. But that’s all bland news, what happened to you? Looked around after the walls fell and I almost bought that another massacre happened. ‘’
“Well me and Drift have been showing Scott the world. I’ve been working on my book in any downtime.”
She messed with her sleeves as she spoke. Avid was supposed to explore the world with them but it didn’t really work out that way.
“I told my mom that I’m ok and that dad was right because at least vampires and werewolves are real! I haven’t really found anything else yet.”
‘’ Well, that- that’s all wonderful! I never knew you were writing a book. Must be a wonderful writer. A- . . . your mother, is she alright? I figure she must be proud of you, but to be hearing all of this, well, one would be quite shocked. ‘’
“I sent her a letter. I haven’t seen her in a year she didn’t do much after my dad died anyway.”
She sounded bitter at the end. It was clear she disliked her mother. Shelby pulled a little locket out from under her shirt. Luckily it had been gold so she had no trouble with it now. She opened it up and there was a picture of a man with brown hair and yellow eyes and a little girl the same features.
“That’s me and my dad a few months before he disappeared.”
{ He hummed, a small, bittersweet smile crossing his face at the photo }
‘’ I’m . . . sorry for his disappearance. It’s easier when you know the truth, that I know. ‘’
“Yeah. He wasn’t crazy I know that now.”
She closed the locket and sighed. She wondered if everyone in town said the same things about her that they said about her father. She reached out and gently booped Allen. She giggled afterwards.
{ He smiled, though his face scrunched up slightly as she booped him. He relaxed soon after, though }
‘’ Certainly not crazy. ‘’
‘’ . . . though you might as well be for booping me! ‘’
{ Teasingly, he boops her back }
She giggled even more as he was booped. They leaned back on their elbows. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was gone from the castle yet but she didn’t want to go back right now.
“Sooooo how long are you staying around here? I think I’m staying for a few weeks depends on what the other two want. It was mostly for them anyway, I hate being in that castle now.”
{ He hums, chuckling a bit after a few minutes }
‘’ Ah, I’ll figure it out as I go. Though, with Scott around, I might cut my visit short. Don’t want to be around him longer than I have to be. ‘’
“He changed! He’s nice to people now me and Drift have been teaching him. We told him only girlboss no gaslight or gatekeep.”
She sat back up. She needed to make sure people knew that Scott was better now. He wasn’t manipulating people for personal gain and he wasn’t hurting people for fun.
{ He gives a skeptical glance in her direction, scoffing as she finishes her defense of the elder }
‘’ Sure. Well, I don’t know if I can trust that by word alone, and frankly, I don’t intend to meet him to find out the truth. I don’t like him. That’s that. ‘’
Shelby just shrunk in on herself. That was the man who took her in when everyone else thought she was weird. He’s the one who cared about her when the town didn’t. She didn’t like hearing someone talk about him like he couldn’t change.
“Avid made him feel something. He hadn’t felt anything in a thousand years of corse he was going to be cruel. Abolish promised to watch over him and make sure he didn’t slip back, he asked Abolish to do so.”
{ He sighs, leaning forward and staring at the name on the grave }
‘’ He made Pyro feel something, and Pyro did the same to him. Everyone has an influence on everyone, Shelby. I’m not saying that he can’t change, I’m saying that I don’t think he’s- . . . forget it. ‘’
“And then Pyro turned on both of us. Nothing from Oakhurst haunts me more than Avid’s screams. Do you have any idea how that feels? Avid was my fledgling, he was the first person to say I wasn’t crazy.”
Shelby’s fists clenched. If her skin wasn’t already white she knuckles would be. There were tears in her eyes. She stood up, she walked behind the grave and went to the water. She sat down at the edge of the water just staring into it.
{ It stung. Hearing her and Avid’s pain, knowing the pain of Pyro. It was awful, and for several minutes, he sat there, glancing between the name of the past and the pain in the present }
‘’ . . . I have fledglings. Unwilling ones. Ones I had to turn during my job to save them from death, though who knows how much better this is. ‘’
{ Slowly, he stands, brushing off some of his clothes. Though he doesn’t move away from the grave }
‘’ They die often, Shelby. My fledglings never last long. Vampires never last long. Not in big capitals. Not in small towns. So ask again how it feels, because I know it. It happens once every day - screaming, yelling, pain, and then nothing. I don’t know them, Shelby. I don’t know them honorably, and I can do nothing to save them. My losses outweigh my wins. It’s never fair, Shelby. Never. Pyro warned me of that from the start. ‘’
“You didn’t know them. They weren’t your best friend. I close my eyes to sleep and I hear my brother killing my best friend. Both of their deaths are on me.”
Shelby slashed her claws along the surface of the water. She didn’t think anyone could understand what she went through even if what he went through was similar.
“I get that that is still hard but if you don’t know them how can it hurt? It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, I feel empty and alone. But I don’t show it because if I let it out it’ll consume me, I don’t want to be like my mom.”
‘’ It hurts because it’s my fault. But you’re right. It’s not the same. I don’t understand the pain. ‘’
{ His voice is steady but it’s filled with frustration }
‘’ I don’t understand how Pyro lived with you. ‘’
Shelby turned her head around to look at him again. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She needed to calm down.
“I’m sorry for acting like this my feelings are just kinda all over the place right now, it’s probably because it’s been exactly a year since it all happened.”
{ He sighs, looking away from her and instead behind himself }
‘’ . . . it’s fine. It’s not your fault. ‘’
“Kinda is.”
She stood up and started pacing around the area by the edge of the water.
‘’ It was the fault of all sides, Shelby. Not just yours, not just his; everybody has some effect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s unfair to yourself to be so cruel to only one instigator. ‘’
“I’m the only one who made it out. I’m the one who didn’t have any consequences for my actions. I didn’t even get told off by anyone they all just celebrated.”
The guilt was evident on her face as she paced along the waters edge.
{ He stays quiet, still refusing to look and her }
‘’ Well, that’s their fault, now, isn’t it? You have guilt. It reeks off of you every waking moment. They don’t have a care for the man behind the monster, they simply needed him gone. At least you feel guilty. That’s the most important thing. ‘’
“Everyone just hated him, I hated him… I don’t hate him. I miss him so much”
She kept pacing around. She was breathing frantically despite not needing to, it was a habit she kept for the whole year.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be pushing this all onto you I- I’m sorry.”
‘’ It’s fine. I- it’s fine. ‘’
{ He pauses, glancing over to her for a moment as he hears her begin breathing, albeit very frantically }
‘’ I never hated him. Not truly. I never forgave him for the death of Avid - who would? - but hate wasn’t something I could bring myself to. ‘’
“I just was so angry and I haven’t felt like that before and I haven’t felt like that since. I think I hated him, he wasn’t really himself at that point. I guess we all had to change a bit, I think I’m better at standing up for myself now?”
They paused in their pacing for a moment to think. She had been standing her ground more and she felt much older even though it’s only by a year.
{ Carefully, he nodded }
‘’ I- It’s good that you became better for yourself through it. Even if it came from hardship. ‘’
“Are you ok? We’ve talked about me a lot, how are you holding up?”
She paused her pacing and looked towards Allen. There was genuine concern on her face.
{ He winces slightly upon seeing all the concern on her face }
‘’ I’m fine. ‘’
{ After a minute, he pulls out a bottle of crimson and quickly downs it, wiping at his mouth to make sure he got it all }
‘’ Just a bit tired from the journey. ‘’
“Do you need somewhere to rest? I could probably sneak you into the castle that way you don’t have to interact with anyone. Plus Scott’s at Avid’s grave most of the time”
Shelby smiled at him a little bit. The offer was genuine she wanted to make sure he was ok.
{ There’s a long silence as he stares at her, looking as though she just said the most incredulous thing he’s ever heard }
‘’ . . . you’re sure he won’t be there? ‘’
“Well he wasn’t there when I left. This is like the second day we’ve been here and he’s only been at the castle a total of like 3 hours.”
The castle has grown in the year that had passed so there were rooms in there which made it much easier to hide a person in there. She walked back over to Allen with a kind smile on her face.
{ Hesitantly, he stands, offering some semblance of a smile in return }
‘’ Well . . . then I suppose I wouldn’t mind. I’ve never been inside that castle, after all. ‘’
{ He offers a hand, smile faltering as anxiety stirred }
‘’ Off we go, then? ‘’
Shelby grabbed his hand and lead him off to the castle. It wasn’t difficult to sneak him into her room. She didn’t want to put him in a guest room since there was a higher chance of someone going in there. She put a sign on her door that said she was writing so nobody would come in.
{ He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, awkwardness settling around him. After a few moments of silence, he sits on the floor, distracting himself with admiring her room }
‘’ . . . it’s very pretty in here. ‘’
“Thank you! Pearl decorated part of it but I added some touches, mostly the books. M sent me signed copies of all his books!”
Shelby sat on the floor close by to the door so if someone decided to peak in they were see her before they got the door open. She had a notebook sitting in her lap with a pen.
{ He looks at the pen, at the book, and then all around the room again }
‘’ . . . that’s nice. ‘’
She started doodling little stars and stuff at the top of her chapter pages. She drew a rather detailed mushroom at the bottom of the end of a chapter. She always had a bit of thing for mushrooms.
“If you’d prefer I can go outside to write, if I’m out there nobody will come in here”
{ It takes a while for him to register she even said anything. Her room, really the whole castle, reminded him of home. The little mansion, run-down and weathered on the outside but cozy within, where he retires after long days and takes in those weathered by distrust and inequality }
‘’ No . . . no, I don’t- I don’t mind. It’s nice having you around. It- it’s nice not being alone. ‘’
“I get that I was kinda on my own for a while before I came to Oakhurst everyone at home just pitied me”
She frowned a bit and looked at the first few pages of her notebook. It talked about her early life and her dad.
‘’ . . . I’ve been alone since my family was killed. ‘’
‘’ It’s not easy, growing up alone. But I’m glad we’ve both made it. ‘’
“My dad left to go find werewolves and my mom just kinda left mentally. She was there but she wasn’t, the first few years she just sat in the chair she found out in I had to make her get up but she would always end up there. I was 12”
She wiped away a tear away that threatened to fall as she spoke. She flipped a few pages in the notebook on her lap getting away from that stuff, it probably wouldn’t make it into the book anyway.
{ He nods solemnly, shifting positions before bringing his knees to his chest and laying his head atop his arms which covered his knees }
‘’ Sorry . . . what are you writing? ‘’
“It’s a ‘fiction’ book about a girl having a vampire roommate and the chaos that happens. I’m changing everyone’s names except mine so it just looks self indulgent”
She lit up after being asked about her writing. She seemed very excited to talk about it.
‘’ Oh, that’s fun! To tell more. What has happened so far? ‘’
“Well she was a cryptid hunter and so when she found out that her roommate and two other people in the town were vampires she got very excited. They had turned her obviously and the four grew very close until yeah…”
*She kinda cut herself off and pulled her knees closer to her chest.*
{ He hums, a soft smile crossing his face }
‘’ Sounds wonderful. ‘’
‘’ . . . are you alright? ‘’
“Yeah I’m fine! I’m just kinda thinking right now”
Shelby messed with her sleeves again. She was definitely anxious but that was pretty normal.
{ He hums, nodding politely. He closes his eyes, leaning his head back. One could mistakenly believe he’s falling asleep, but the vampire is much rather reminiscening }
She went to the page she had left off on, then she remembered why she had stopped writing. There were notes from Avid scribbled in the empty pages. She read over the notes and laughed remembering how goofy he was.
{ Hearing her laugh, he can’t help but smile, opening an eye to see what may be the cause of it. The writing to him is illegible, but it’s joyous to her, and so he closes his eyes once more and lets out a soft breath }
“Oh Avid…”
She had a soft smile on her face. She came across the note about when Avid asked her to turn him, setting up the meeting location.
{ The name makes his body tense, if only briefly. Avid. He remembers brief flourishes of the hunter—not enough, he fears. A part of him desperately wants to leave. To find Avid—to find Scott—and to ask for forgiveness. For anything other than the guilt of loving a fire so kind to keep him alive }
Shelby glanced over at him. She looked back at the notebook and sighed. She couldn’t get rid of these so she would have to get a new one.
“Dang it and I painted this one and everything”
{ He laughs, finally lifting his head to look at her and smile }
‘’ Sounds like you’ll get a new opportunity to paint. Doesn’t seem too bad. ‘’
“Hmmm I’m gonna put a mushroom with a butterfly on the next one. I miss Kathrine”
She sighed thinking about the lives she remembered before this one.
‘’ Who’s Kathrine? ‘’
“So umm one time this person showed me a picture where I was a witch Owen was a llama and Scott was like colorful and stuff. After I saw that I started getting these memories of lives I guess I lived. Kathrine was my girlfriend in two of them, my wife actually once.”
She glanced at the pink tulip she kept in a flowerpot beside her bed.
‘’ She sounds kind. A very wonderful lady, I’m sure. Though . . . that photo is an odd occurrence. ‘’
{ The sound of a clock’s ticking echoes around the room, though there seems not to be a clock in sight. Allen doesn’t seem to hear it, or perhaps he’s spent so much time at odds with it that it rings only as background noise }
Shelby looked around the room trying to find the source of the mysterious ticking noise. She looked a little bit confused, she didn’t have a clock.
“Where is that? Do you hear that?”
‘’ What? ‘’
“I hear a clock but I don’t have a clock. You don’t hear it?”
She started to feel like she was going insane, wouldn’t be the first the she could hear something that others couldn’t.
{ It takes several moments out of him before it clicks, and he begins to laugh }
‘’ Oh, the ticking! No, I suppose it’s so common I’m used to it. Please, pay it no mind. What were you saying about Kathrine? ‘’
{ Slowly, the ticking starts to fade away }
“Well one time she put me in a prison where I sat in a little boat because I was corrupted by this stuff called the skulk it was weird. She put me in prison because I was kinda evil and she was a monster hunter, you know she’d probably hate me now.”
{ He hums, listening before tsking at her end statement }
‘’ Oh, please. You saw Scott and Avid, did you not? A hunter can surely love their hunted, even if such a prospect is strange. ‘’
“I don’t even know why she cared about me in the first place! I was a witch and a criminal!”
She signed. She knew Scott and Avid worked out but Katherine was different than Avid.
‘’ So? ‘’
{ He sighs, standing up and moving over to her before plopping down by her side }
‘’ Y’know, by all means, I’m wanted, too. But I found someone who loved me, once. He sang such beautiful songs to me. And he had a way with words that I find myself constantly trying to emulate. A lawman. That’s what he was. I never quite believed he truly loved me. It seemed impossible. But there it was. And there he was . . . point is, even the most unexpected people care sometimes. Despite all impossibility. ‘’
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, it’s not like she’d remember me. If she was still a monster hunter then she’d probably try and kill me. Although who knows what she would be it’s not exactly like we’re alive like that anymore. Well I was kinda in a weird situation with dying but that’s for another day.”
She ran her hand over the cover of her notebook feeling the texture of it. She kinda made herself shut up because she was rambling a lot.
{ He hums, nodding along }
‘’ I see. Well, I can only pray if you two ever do cross paths again, that it goes peacefully and lovingly. ‘’
She nodded before looking at the flower by her bed once again. She had a soft smile on her face as she reminisced.
“I hope so too”
{ He smiles, closing his eyes soon again and burying his face in his arms }
She eventually just kinda spaced thinking about the past or maybe she was reliving it who really knew.
{ After a few peacefully quiet moments, Allen mumbles something under his breath }
‘’ ᓭ𝙹∷∷|| ᔑʖ𝙹⚍ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵꖎ𝙹ᓵꖌ ‘’
She didn’t even notice that he said anything she kinda wasn’t really present in the moment
((THE GALACTIC HELLO?))
{ It took him a moment to realize she hadn’t heard, at which point he immediately let it go }
( // hehehe // )
She eventually zoned back in a little bit and she pulled her knees closer to her chest. Her eyes were teary but she wasn’t actually crying.
{ He heard the shuffling, though he wasn’t sure he dared to look up. If he met her eyes, that’d be one thing, but if he met theirs . . . }
Shelby blinked the tears from her eyes before wiping them away. She calmed herself down after a moment taking a few deep breaths.
((HELLO? WATCHER REFERENCE MAYBE??))
{ After a few moments of hearing her breathing, he looks up, casting a concerned look }
‘’ Shelby? ‘’
( // mwhehehehe - mixing and matching some Allen lore, so I’m slowly implementing it >:3 there’ll be a post today // )
“Yeah? Sorry I kinda zoned out there”
She looked up at him and smiled a little bit but under her eyes were slightly damp.
‘’ Okay . . . ‘’
{ He doesn’t let go of the look in her eyes. The tears left staining below them. And so he stands, out-stretching a hand to her with a mock smile }
‘’ Want to show me your favorite parts of the castle? ‘’
“Yeah sure!! Let’s go to the ballroom that’s my favorite room!”
She jumped up and smiled.
{ He smiles, grabbing her hand and motioning for her to lead the way }
‘’ Sounds wonderful! ‘’
She giggled as she dragged him through the halls down to the ballroom.
{ He smiled, both at the architecture and at Shelby’s joy. It was nice. All of it. The exquisite designs and seeing such light in her eyes. It was really good to see }
“I really like the ballroom because it’s the only room that the four of us built together that I don’t have trauma in!”
((Sorry man I’ve been dying))
{ He doesn’t mean to, but he snorts at that }
‘’ Sorry. Tha- I really love that. It’s nice to have a safe place. Ballrooms especially have always been like a bubble; a shield from the outside world. ‘’
( // no worries!! I lwk have been too, but on the emotional end of the spectrum :,3 // )
“You can laugh it’s ok! It was ment to be a little bit funny!”
She walked over to the fountain and grabbed a glass to fill. She kinda wondered how many animals it took Cleo and Pearl to keep this thing filled.
{ He watched, curiously watching the fountain while also feeling incredibly hesitant to step even an inch closer }
‘’ I figured. It just- seemed rude, I suppose. ‘’
{ A soft noise escapes him as he shakes his head }
‘’ Spirits, Pyro was right. I could loosen up. ‘’
She took a dip from her glass and walked around the room. She walked over to the windows and looked outside. She glanced over the spot in the bridge where she stood when they told her about Avid, then to the spot she once hid her novel.
“There’s so many bad memories here but so many good ones as well”
‘’ I’m glad to hear it. ‘’
{ Slowly, after some psyching, he begins to walk around the room. The last time he had been to the castle- spirits, it was the last he had seen of Pyro. A planned dance until they were found out. Not even an afternoon later, and he had been turned }
“So what do you do for fun?”
Shelby was honestly a little bit bored so she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured a bit into her blood. Scott had taught her proportions that it would do a little bit of an effect on her but still taste good.
‘’ I- I don’t indulge in much fun nowadays. Too busy working. Though, on occasion, I’ll find myself at my bass singing some jostled tune. Not as often as I used to. ‘’
“I mostly just write but that’s also my job so”
She leaned against a nearby wall and took another sip. She stood in a manner Owen often would although that made sense since the two were close and Shelby at least was fairly impressionable.
{ He notices the hint in her posture and immediately his eyes narrow. He doesn’t realize it, but he steps away from her, wrapping his arms around himself. Something Pyro used to do when they were uneasy. Spirits, how they miss him }
She immediately stood up straighter and got a concerned look in her face.
“Hey, are you alright? Did something happen?”
{ There’s that familiar ticking again. And, if she were to pay notice, she’d see a red, coral-bone-like structure creep around their wrist, almost forming a glove. Yet, he doesn’t seem concerned. Not one bit. He doesn’t even seem to notice it. If anything, he looks caught in a daze }
‘’ . . . w-what? ‘’
Shelby jumped after noticing the strange structure. Her eyes were wide and she looked a little bit confused.
“What is that???!! Are you ok??!!”
{ He glances down at his hand, face never wavering. After a beat, he looks back up at her }
‘’ I’m fine. It’s just the coral. ‘’
{ As soon as he says that, eyes open from upon the coral. He seems to sense this and gives the eyes a stern glare, which they send right back at him. Then he returns his focus to Shelby }
‘’ I’m not a monster. I promise. ‘’
“Is it like a kind of corruption because if so I have like a lot of experience with that. Interacting with corrupted people and being corrupted myself, it’s not fun”
She calmed herself down a little bit and took a few steps towards him cautiously.
‘’ I- no. No, not really. ‘’
{ He wants to step back from her. He really, really does, but he can’t seem to make himself move }
‘’ The coral is biological. The, um, the eyes . . . those are a curse. ‘’
“A curse?”
She kinda stoped moving for a second. Then she stood just a few feet away from him. She looked concerned still.
“And by biological do you mean like it’s something that has always happened to you?”
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A year after the events of Oakhurst occurred Shelby, Scott, and Drift went back to Oakhurst to visit. While Drift and Scott were doing a few things Shelby snuck off. She ventured off to obelisk with a few materials in hand. She took her time and built a grave for Pyro.
Sure Pyro had been extreme and was a murder. He murdered her fledgling after all, but she still cared. Even as she had plunged that stake into his heart she still cared. The coven was her family, Pyro was like a brother to her.
After the grave was constructed Shelby sat at the bottom of it. She spoke to the grave like she was talking to Pyro again. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. I don’t think I’ll ever really forgive you for what you did but I guess we’re even now? Although it really just fell back on me didn’t it?” She laughed just a little bit, it wasn’t happy laughter at all. A few tears slipped from her eyes but she quickly wiped them away.
Grave image from Shubble. Owen messaged it to me a while back:3
{ Frankly, Allen was reluctant to even return to this place. Especially considering the risks of being noticed by anyone — human or otherwise. After his return to his job, the missions became a lot more risky, and with him leaving Oakhurst under the assumption he had died in the flames, it was a wonder why he even bothered to return. One that confounded even him! — but he had his suspicions }
{ He had intended to build a graveyard. That was the idea. That was not how it went, however. No, because someone beat him to it. Someone who he swore he had seen once, and prayed that he’d never have to see them or their “family” ever again }
‘’ . . . Shelby. ‘’
Shelby jumped before she looked up. She hadn’t expected anyone to find her. She stood up quickly and dusted off her skirt.
“Oh umm hi Allen. Didn’t expect to see anyone out here… didn’t know you were even alive…”
Shelby looked back at the grave. She really missed Pyro even though she’s the one who did it. They looked at the ground not really knowing what to do in this situation.
{ He laughed, though it was quiet and awkward }
‘’ Yeah, uh . . . not as alive as I could be, but- hi. ‘’
{ As they get up, he moves to sit down in front of the grave. Pyro’s grave }
‘’ . . . He was good. ‘’
She looked at him and sat back down in her previous spot. She didn’t really want to cry in front of him.
“He was, before he kinda went a bit insane. I don’t miss the person he was when he died but I miss who he used to be.”
They pulled her knees up to her chest, which made her seem younger than she actually was.
“So are you a vampire now?”
{ He cast her a confused look as she expressed her love for who he was before it all. It made him stiffen, a knot forming in his stomach. A sudden doubt whispered in his mind that perhaps he and the scholar were never as close as they thought }
‘’ . . . yeah. I- yes. I am. I’m . . . sorry I lied to everyone. About my death. ‘’
“It’s ok… I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me since you know”
She looked at her hands remembering them covered in Pyro’s blood. She’d regretted it almost instantly, some of that regret had disappeared when the others agreed with her but it had come back almost full force. They hated their actions but she couldn’t do anything about it now.
{ He watches her before taking one of their hands in his own, gloved in a deep maroon }
‘’ I don’t blame you, Shelby. You were doing it for a reason. I can’t fault you for the same reason that I have done such horrible things. Pyro would understand. The Pyro that we used to know. ‘’
The only thing keeping her together right now just snapped and she started crying. She went through in a few weeks more than what most people would go through in their life her being younger didn’t all that much help. She probably needed to cry. She accepted her hand being taken and she squeezed a little bit.
“I miss him, I miss Avid too.”
{ He squeezed back before gently rubbing his thumb over her hand. He would’ve hugged her, but admittedly, he was terrified. Terrified of her, of what she stands for, of who she works with . . . but being undead has taught him humanity, and so he shifts closer in case she decides to lean on him }
‘’ I- I know. I never knew Avid. Not really. But it’s tragic, nonetheless. And Pyro- . . . I miss him more than I can say. ‘’
“I miss doing Owen’s hair and thinking maybe I could be happy. I miss a lot of things.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She felt like she was little again having just lost her dad and losing her mom. She looked towards Pyro’s grave.
“Maybe I’m just as bad as he ended up, can’t be worse than Owen but he killed 3,000 people.”
{ He nods, trying to grasp the tragedy she must be feeling, but aside from Pyro, he was never close to anyone. And in terms of the coven — well, he loathes Scott. It tore into him. The want to help with no ability to }
‘’ You are not as bad as . . . him. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst. You have done good, Shelby. That’s more than most could have done in your situation. ‘’
“I’m sorry it’s been a year I need to get over it.”
Shelby pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her hand away. She wanted to be fine she didn’t want to feel this weight anymore. She had turned Avid and it led to his death and she had killed Pyro herself.
‘’ You don’t. ‘’
{ Those words slip out faster than he intended, but now he couldn’t help but continue, sharing against his better thoughts }
‘’ The job I used to work . . . I had to do what you did with Pyro far more often than anyone. Than Scott. Than the Doctor. Than Owen. I started it when I was young, and it’s been — what — at least ten years? I’m still not over it. You definitely don’t have to be. ‘’
She looked up at him with a curious expression but she didn’t want to force him to talk. She was confused now.
“You, did what I did? I didn’t know anyone else did something like that… I just have to pretend I’m ok even if I’m not. I don’t want to end up like my mom.”
{ He nods, the reminder of it painful, though he’s used to it by now. Mom. That’s another mental jab. But he’ll hide everything for as long as it takes }
‘’ Yeah. Yeah, I did. A long time ago. But- you don’t have to pretend. Not around me, at least. ‘’
Shelby shook her head quickly at the notion. She couldn’t be sad in front of people. She couldn’t end up as broken as her mom. She had to help Scott and Drift so she couldn’t do that.
“So where did you go after all this happened?”
She was definitely trying to deflect. Was she going to keep deflecting? Yes, yes she would.
{ He casts her a look as if to say she won’t get away with this, but he’d let her try }
‘’ I, uh- back to my old job. To a crowned nation, a little west of here. It’s . . . better than it was before. The job, I mean. But that’s all bland news, what happened to you? Looked around after the walls fell and I almost bought that another massacre happened. ‘’
“Well me and Drift have been showing Scott the world. I’ve been working on my book in any downtime.”
She messed with her sleeves as she spoke. Avid was supposed to explore the world with them but it didn’t really work out that way.
“I told my mom that I’m ok and that dad was right because at least vampires and werewolves are real! I haven’t really found anything else yet.”
‘’ Well, that- that’s all wonderful! I never knew you were writing a book. Must be a wonderful writer. A- . . . your mother, is she alright? I figure she must be proud of you, but to be hearing all of this, well, one would be quite shocked. ‘’
“I sent her a letter. I haven’t seen her in a year she didn’t do much after my dad died anyway.”
She sounded bitter at the end. It was clear she disliked her mother. Shelby pulled a little locket out from under her shirt. Luckily it had been gold so she had no trouble with it now. She opened it up and there was a picture of a man with brown hair and yellow eyes and a little girl the same features.
“That’s me and my dad a few months before he disappeared.”
{ He hummed, a small, bittersweet smile crossing his face at the photo }
‘’ I’m . . . sorry for his disappearance. It’s easier when you know the truth, that I know. ‘’
“Yeah. He wasn’t crazy I know that now.”
She closed the locket and sighed. She wondered if everyone in town said the same things about her that they said about her father. She reached out and gently booped Allen. She giggled afterwards.
{ He smiled, though his face scrunched up slightly as she booped him. He relaxed soon after, though }
‘’ Certainly not crazy. ‘’
‘’ . . . though you might as well be for booping me! ‘’
{ Teasingly, he boops her back }
She giggled even more as he was booped. They leaned back on their elbows. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was gone from the castle yet but she didn’t want to go back right now.
“Sooooo how long are you staying around here? I think I’m staying for a few weeks depends on what the other two want. It was mostly for them anyway, I hate being in that castle now.”
{ He hums, chuckling a bit after a few minutes }
‘’ Ah, I’ll figure it out as I go. Though, with Scott around, I might cut my visit short. Don’t want to be around him longer than I have to be. ‘’
“He changed! He’s nice to people now me and Drift have been teaching him. We told him only girlboss no gaslight or gatekeep.”
She sat back up. She needed to make sure people knew that Scott was better now. He wasn’t manipulating people for personal gain and he wasn’t hurting people for fun.
{ He gives a skeptical glance in her direction, scoffing as she finishes her defense of the elder }
‘’ Sure. Well, I don’t know if I can trust that by word alone, and frankly, I don’t intend to meet him to find out the truth. I don’t like him. That’s that. ‘’
Shelby just shrunk in on herself. That was the man who took her in when everyone else thought she was weird. He’s the one who cared about her when the town didn’t. She didn’t like hearing someone talk about him like he couldn’t change.
“Avid made him feel something. He hadn’t felt anything in a thousand years of corse he was going to be cruel. Abolish promised to watch over him and make sure he didn’t slip back, he asked Abolish to do so.”
{ He sighs, leaning forward and staring at the name on the grave }
‘’ He made Pyro feel something, and Pyro did the same to him. Everyone has an influence on everyone, Shelby. I’m not saying that he can’t change, I’m saying that I don’t think he’s- . . . forget it. ‘’
“And then Pyro turned on both of us. Nothing from Oakhurst haunts me more than Avid’s screams. Do you have any idea how that feels? Avid was my fledgling, he was the first person to say I wasn’t crazy.”
Shelby’s fists clenched. If her skin wasn’t already white she knuckles would be. There were tears in her eyes. She stood up, she walked behind the grave and went to the water. She sat down at the edge of the water just staring into it.
{ It stung. Hearing her and Avid’s pain, knowing the pain of Pyro. It was awful, and for several minutes, he sat there, glancing between the name of the past and the pain in the present }
‘’ . . . I have fledglings. Unwilling ones. Ones I had to turn during my job to save them from death, though who knows how much better this is. ‘’
{ Slowly, he stands, brushing off some of his clothes. Though he doesn’t move away from the grave }
‘’ They die often, Shelby. My fledglings never last long. Vampires never last long. Not in big capitals. Not in small towns. So ask again how it feels, because I know it. It happens once every day - screaming, yelling, pain, and then nothing. I don’t know them, Shelby. I don’t know them honorably, and I can do nothing to save them. My losses outweigh my wins. It’s never fair, Shelby. Never. Pyro warned me of that from the start. ‘’
“You didn’t know them. They weren’t your best friend. I close my eyes to sleep and I hear my brother killing my best friend. Both of their deaths are on me.”
Shelby slashed her claws along the surface of the water. She didn’t think anyone could understand what she went through even if what he went through was similar.
“I get that that is still hard but if you don’t know them how can it hurt? It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, I feel empty and alone. But I don’t show it because if I let it out it’ll consume me, I don’t want to be like my mom.”
‘’ It hurts because it’s my fault. But you’re right. It’s not the same. I don’t understand the pain. ‘’
{ His voice is steady but it’s filled with frustration }
‘’ I don’t understand how Pyro lived with you. ‘’
Shelby turned her head around to look at him again. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She needed to calm down.
“I’m sorry for acting like this my feelings are just kinda all over the place right now, it’s probably because it’s been exactly a year since it all happened.”
{ He sighs, looking away from her and instead behind himself }
‘’ . . . it’s fine. It’s not your fault. ‘’
“Kinda is.”
She stood up and started pacing around the area by the edge of the water.
‘’ It was the fault of all sides, Shelby. Not just yours, not just his; everybody has some effect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s unfair to yourself to be so cruel to only one instigator. ‘’
“I’m the only one who made it out. I’m the one who didn’t have any consequences for my actions. I didn’t even get told off by anyone they all just celebrated.”
The guilt was evident on her face as she paced along the waters edge.
{ He stays quiet, still refusing to look and her }
‘’ Well, that’s their fault, now, isn’t it? You have guilt. It reeks off of you every waking moment. They don’t have a care for the man behind the monster, they simply needed him gone. At least you feel guilty. That’s the most important thing. ‘’
“Everyone just hated him, I hated him… I don’t hate him. I miss him so much”
She kept pacing around. She was breathing frantically despite not needing to, it was a habit she kept for the whole year.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be pushing this all onto you I- I’m sorry.”
‘’ It’s fine. I- it’s fine. ‘’
{ He pauses, glancing over to her for a moment as he hears her begin breathing, albeit very frantically }
‘’ I never hated him. Not truly. I never forgave him for the death of Avid - who would? - but hate wasn’t something I could bring myself to. ‘’
“I just was so angry and I haven’t felt like that before and I haven’t felt like that since. I think I hated him, he wasn’t really himself at that point. I guess we all had to change a bit, I think I’m better at standing up for myself now?”
They paused in their pacing for a moment to think. She had been standing her ground more and she felt much older even though it’s only by a year.
{ Carefully, he nodded }
‘’ I- It’s good that you became better for yourself through it. Even if it came from hardship. ‘’
“Are you ok? We’ve talked about me a lot, how are you holding up?”
She paused her pacing and looked towards Allen. There was genuine concern on her face.
{ He winces slightly upon seeing all the concern on her face }
‘’ I’m fine. ‘’
{ After a minute, he pulls out a bottle of crimson and quickly downs it, wiping at his mouth to make sure he got it all }
‘’ Just a bit tired from the journey. ‘’
“Do you need somewhere to rest? I could probably sneak you into the castle that way you don’t have to interact with anyone. Plus Scott’s at Avid’s grave most of the time”
Shelby smiled at him a little bit. The offer was genuine she wanted to make sure he was ok.
{ There’s a long silence as he stares at her, looking as though she just said the most incredulous thing he’s ever heard }
‘’ . . . you’re sure he won’t be there? ‘’
“Well he wasn’t there when I left. This is like the second day we’ve been here and he’s only been at the castle a total of like 3 hours.”
The castle has grown in the year that had passed so there were rooms in there which made it much easier to hide a person in there. She walked back over to Allen with a kind smile on her face.
{ Hesitantly, he stands, offering some semblance of a smile in return }
‘’ Well . . . then I suppose I wouldn’t mind. I’ve never been inside that castle, after all. ‘’
{ He offers a hand, smile faltering as anxiety stirred }
‘’ Off we go, then? ‘’
Shelby grabbed his hand and lead him off to the castle. It wasn’t difficult to sneak him into her room. She didn’t want to put him in a guest room since there was a higher chance of someone going in there. She put a sign on her door that said she was writing so nobody would come in.
{ He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, awkwardness settling around him. After a few moments of silence, he sits on the floor, distracting himself with admiring her room }
‘’ . . . it’s very pretty in here. ‘’
“Thank you! Pearl decorated part of it but I added some touches, mostly the books. M sent me signed copies of all his books!”
Shelby sat on the floor close by to the door so if someone decided to peak in they were see her before they got the door open. She had a notebook sitting in her lap with a pen.
{ He looks at the pen, at the book, and then all around the room again }
‘’ . . . that’s nice. ‘’
She started doodling little stars and stuff at the top of her chapter pages. She drew a rather detailed mushroom at the bottom of the end of a chapter. She always had a bit of thing for mushrooms.
“If you’d prefer I can go outside to write, if I’m out there nobody will come in here”
{ It takes a while for him to register she even said anything. Her room, really the whole castle, reminded him of home. The little mansion, run-down and weathered on the outside but cozy within, where he retires after long days and takes in those weathered by distrust and inequality }
‘’ No . . . no, I don’t- I don’t mind. It’s nice having you around. It- it’s nice not being alone. ‘’
“I get that I was kinda on my own for a while before I came to Oakhurst everyone at home just pitied me”
She frowned a bit and looked at the first few pages of her notebook. It talked about her early life and her dad.
‘’ . . . I’ve been alone since my family was killed. ‘’
‘’ It’s not easy, growing up alone. But I’m glad we’ve both made it. ‘’
“My dad left to go find werewolves and my mom just kinda left mentally. She was there but she wasn’t, the first few years she just sat in the chair she found out in I had to make her get up but she would always end up there. I was 12”
She wiped away a tear away that threatened to fall as she spoke. She flipped a few pages in the notebook on her lap getting away from that stuff, it probably wouldn’t make it into the book anyway.
{ He nods solemnly, shifting positions before bringing his knees to his chest and laying his head atop his arms which covered his knees }
‘’ Sorry . . . what are you writing? ‘’
“It’s a ‘fiction’ book about a girl having a vampire roommate and the chaos that happens. I’m changing everyone’s names except mine so it just looks self indulgent”
She lit up after being asked about her writing. She seemed very excited to talk about it.
‘’ Oh, that’s fun! To tell more. What has happened so far? ‘’
“Well she was a cryptid hunter and so when she found out that her roommate and two other people in the town were vampires she got very excited. They had turned her obviously and the four grew very close until yeah…”
*She kinda cut herself off and pulled her knees closer to her chest.*
{ He hums, a soft smile crossing his face }
‘’ Sounds wonderful. ‘’
‘’ . . . are you alright? ‘’
“Yeah I’m fine! I’m just kinda thinking right now”
Shelby messed with her sleeves again. She was definitely anxious but that was pretty normal.
{ He hums, nodding politely. He closes his eyes, leaning his head back. One could mistakenly believe he’s falling asleep, but the vampire is much rather reminiscening }
She went to the page she had left off on, then she remembered why she had stopped writing. There were notes from Avid scribbled in the empty pages. She read over the notes and laughed remembering how goofy he was.
{ Hearing her laugh, he can’t help but smile, opening an eye to see what may be the cause of it. The writing to him is illegible, but it’s joyous to her, and so he closes his eyes once more and lets out a soft breath }
“Oh Avid…”
She had a soft smile on her face. She came across the note about when Avid asked her to turn him, setting up the meeting location.
{ The name makes his body tense, if only briefly. Avid. He remembers brief flourishes of the hunter—not enough, he fears. A part of him desperately wants to leave. To find Avid—to find Scott—and to ask for forgiveness. For anything other than the guilt of loving a fire so kind to keep him alive }
Shelby glanced over at him. She looked back at the notebook and sighed. She couldn’t get rid of these so she would have to get a new one.
“Dang it and I painted this one and everything”
{ He laughs, finally lifting his head to look at her and smile }
‘’ Sounds like you’ll get a new opportunity to paint. Doesn’t seem too bad. ‘’
“Hmmm I’m gonna put a mushroom with a butterfly on the next one. I miss Kathrine”
She sighed thinking about the lives she remembered before this one.
‘’ Who’s Kathrine? ‘’
“So umm one time this person showed me a picture where I was a witch Owen was a llama and Scott was like colorful and stuff. After I saw that I started getting these memories of lives I guess I lived. Kathrine was my girlfriend in two of them, my wife actually once.”
She glanced at the pink tulip she kept in a flowerpot beside her bed.
‘’ She sounds kind. A very wonderful lady, I’m sure. Though . . . that photo is an odd occurrence. ‘’
{ The sound of a clock’s ticking echoes around the room, though there seems not to be a clock in sight. Allen doesn’t seem to hear it, or perhaps he’s spent so much time at odds with it that it rings only as background noise }
Shelby looked around the room trying to find the source of the mysterious ticking noise. She looked a little bit confused, she didn’t have a clock.
“Where is that? Do you hear that?”
‘’ What? ‘’
“I hear a clock but I don’t have a clock. You don’t hear it?”
She started to feel like she was going insane, wouldn’t be the first the she could hear something that others couldn’t.
{ It takes several moments out of him before it clicks, and he begins to laugh }
‘’ Oh, the ticking! No, I suppose it’s so common I’m used to it. Please, pay it no mind. What were you saying about Kathrine? ‘’
{ Slowly, the ticking starts to fade away }
“Well one time she put me in a prison where I sat in a little boat because I was corrupted by this stuff called the skulk it was weird. She put me in prison because I was kinda evil and she was a monster hunter, you know she’d probably hate me now.”
{ He hums, listening before tsking at her end statement }
‘’ Oh, please. You saw Scott and Avid, did you not? A hunter can surely love their hunted, even if such a prospect is strange. ‘’
“I don’t even know why she cared about me in the first place! I was a witch and a criminal!”
She signed. She knew Scott and Avid worked out but Katherine was different than Avid.
‘’ So? ‘’
{ He sighs, standing up and moving over to her before plopping down by her side }
‘’ Y’know, by all means, I’m wanted, too. But I found someone who loved me, once. He sang such beautiful songs to me. And he had a way with words that I find myself constantly trying to emulate. A lawman. That’s what he was. I never quite believed he truly loved me. It seemed impossible. But there it was. And there he was . . . point is, even the most unexpected people care sometimes. Despite all impossibility. ‘’
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, it’s not like she’d remember me. If she was still a monster hunter then she’d probably try and kill me. Although who knows what she would be it’s not exactly like we’re alive like that anymore. Well I was kinda in a weird situation with dying but that’s for another day.”
She ran her hand over the cover of her notebook feeling the texture of it. She kinda made herself shut up because she was rambling a lot.
{ He hums, nodding along }
‘’ I see. Well, I can only pray if you two ever do cross paths again, that it goes peacefully and lovingly. ‘’
She nodded before looking at the flower by her bed once again. She had a soft smile on her face as she reminisced.
“I hope so too”
{ He smiles, closing his eyes soon again and burying his face in his arms }
She eventually just kinda spaced thinking about the past or maybe she was reliving it who really knew.
{ After a few peacefully quiet moments, Allen mumbles something under his breath }
‘’ ᓭ𝙹∷∷|| ᔑʖ𝙹⚍ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵꖎ𝙹ᓵꖌ ‘’
She didn’t even notice that he said anything she kinda wasn’t really present in the moment
((THE GALACTIC HELLO?))
{ It took him a moment to realize she hadn’t heard, at which point he immediately let it go }
( // hehehe // )
She eventually zoned back in a little bit and she pulled her knees closer to her chest. Her eyes were teary but she wasn’t actually crying.
{ He heard the shuffling, though he wasn’t sure he dared to look up. If he met her eyes, that’d be one thing, but if he met theirs . . . }
Shelby blinked the tears from her eyes before wiping them away. She calmed herself down after a moment taking a few deep breaths.
((HELLO? WATCHER REFERENCE MAYBE??))
{ After a few moments of hearing her breathing, he looks up, casting a concerned look }
‘’ Shelby? ‘’
( // mwhehehehe - mixing and matching some Allen lore, so I’m slowly implementing it >:3 there’ll be a post today // )
“Yeah? Sorry I kinda zoned out there”
She looked up at him and smiled a little bit but under her eyes were slightly damp.
‘’ Okay . . . ‘’
{ He doesn’t let go of the look in her eyes. The tears left staining below them. And so he stands, out-stretching a hand to her with a mock smile }
‘’ Want to show me your favorite parts of the castle? ‘’
“Yeah sure!! Let’s go to the ballroom that’s my favorite room!”
She jumped up and smiled.
{ He smiles, grabbing her hand and motioning for her to lead the way }
‘’ Sounds wonderful! ‘’
She giggled as she dragged him through the halls down to the ballroom.
{ He smiled, both at the architecture and at Shelby’s joy. It was nice. All of it. The exquisite designs and seeing such light in her eyes. It was really good to see }
“I really like the ballroom because it’s the only room that the four of us built together that I don’t have trauma in!”
((Sorry man I’ve been dying))
{ He doesn’t mean to, but he snorts at that }
‘’ Sorry. Tha- I really love that. It’s nice to have a safe place. Ballrooms especially have always been like a bubble; a shield from the outside world. ‘’
( // no worries!! I lwk have been too, but on the emotional end of the spectrum :,3 // )
“You can laugh it’s ok! It was ment to be a little bit funny!”
She walked over to the fountain and grabbed a glass to fill. She kinda wondered how many animals it took Cleo and Pearl to keep this thing filled.
{ He watched, curiously watching the fountain while also feeling incredibly hesitant to step even an inch closer }
‘’ I figured. It just- seemed rude, I suppose. ‘’
{ A soft noise escapes him as he shakes his head }
‘’ Spirits, Pyro was right. I could loosen up. ‘’
She took a dip from her glass and walked around the room. She walked over to the windows and looked outside. She glanced over the spot in the bridge where she stood when they told her about Avid, then to the spot she once hid her novel.
“There’s so many bad memories here but so many good ones as well”
‘’ I’m glad to hear it. ‘’
{ Slowly, after some psyching, he begins to walk around the room. The last time he had been to the castle- spirits, it was the last he had seen of Pyro. A planned dance until they were found out. Not even an afternoon later, and he had been turned }
“So what do you do for fun?”
Shelby was honestly a little bit bored so she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured a bit into her blood. Scott had taught her proportions that it would do a little bit of an effect on her but still taste good.
‘’ I- I don’t indulge in much fun nowadays. Too busy working. Though, on occasion, I’ll find myself at my bass singing some jostled tune. Not as often as I used to. ‘’
“I mostly just write but that’s also my job so”
She leaned against a nearby wall and took another sip. She stood in a manner Owen often would although that made sense since the two were close and Shelby at least was fairly impressionable.
{ He notices the hint in her posture and immediately his eyes narrow. He doesn’t realize it, but he steps away from her, wrapping his arms around himself. Something Pyro used to do when they were uneasy. Spirits, how they miss him }
She immediately stood up straighter and got a concerned look in her face.
“Hey, are you alright? Did something happen?”
{ There’s that familiar ticking again. And, if she were to pay notice, she’d see a red, coral-bone-like structure creep around their wrist, almost forming a glove. Yet, he doesn’t seem concerned. Not one bit. He doesn’t even seem to notice it. If anything, he looks caught in a daze }
‘’ . . . w-what? ‘’
Shelby jumped after noticing the strange structure. Her eyes were wide and she looked a little bit confused.
“What is that???!! Are you ok??!!”
{ He glances down at his hand, face never wavering. After a beat, he looks back up at her }
‘’ I’m fine. It’s just the coral. ‘’
{ As soon as he says that, eyes open from upon the coral. He seems to sense this and gives the eyes a stern glare, which they send right back at him. Then he returns his focus to Shelby }
‘’ I’m not a monster. I promise. ‘’
“Is it like a kind of corruption because if so I have like a lot of experience with that. Interacting with corrupted people and being corrupted myself, it’s not fun”
She calmed herself down a little bit and took a few steps towards him cautiously.
Open Rp Starter
A year after the events of Oakhurst occurred Shelby, Scott, and Drift went back to Oakhurst to visit. While Drift and Scott were doing a few things Shelby snuck off. She ventured off to obelisk with a few materials in hand. She took her time and built a grave for Pyro.
Sure Pyro had been extreme and was a murder. He murdered her fledgling after all, but she still cared. Even as she had plunged that stake into his heart she still cared. The coven was her family, Pyro was like a brother to her.
After the grave was constructed Shelby sat at the bottom of it. She spoke to the grave like she was talking to Pyro again. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. I don’t think I’ll ever really forgive you for what you did but I guess we’re even now? Although it really just fell back on me didn’t it?” She laughed just a little bit, it wasn’t happy laughter at all. A few tears slipped from her eyes but she quickly wiped them away.
Grave image from Shubble. Owen messaged it to me a while back:3
{ Frankly, Allen was reluctant to even return to this place. Especially considering the risks of being noticed by anyone — human or otherwise. After his return to his job, the missions became a lot more risky, and with him leaving Oakhurst under the assumption he had died in the flames, it was a wonder why he even bothered to return. One that confounded even him! — but he had his suspicions }
{ He had intended to build a graveyard. That was the idea. That was not how it went, however. No, because someone beat him to it. Someone who he swore he had seen once, and prayed that he’d never have to see them or their “family” ever again }
‘’ . . . Shelby. ‘’
Shelby jumped before she looked up. She hadn’t expected anyone to find her. She stood up quickly and dusted off her skirt.
“Oh umm hi Allen. Didn’t expect to see anyone out here… didn’t know you were even alive…”
Shelby looked back at the grave. She really missed Pyro even though she’s the one who did it. They looked at the ground not really knowing what to do in this situation.
{ He laughed, though it was quiet and awkward }
‘’ Yeah, uh . . . not as alive as I could be, but- hi. ‘’
{ As they get up, he moves to sit down in front of the grave. Pyro’s grave }
‘’ . . . He was good. ‘’
She looked at him and sat back down in her previous spot. She didn’t really want to cry in front of him.
“He was, before he kinda went a bit insane. I don’t miss the person he was when he died but I miss who he used to be.”
They pulled her knees up to her chest, which made her seem younger than she actually was.
“So are you a vampire now?”
{ He cast her a confused look as she expressed her love for who he was before it all. It made him stiffen, a knot forming in his stomach. A sudden doubt whispered in his mind that perhaps he and the scholar were never as close as they thought }
‘’ . . . yeah. I- yes. I am. I’m . . . sorry I lied to everyone. About my death. ‘’
“It’s ok… I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me since you know”
She looked at her hands remembering them covered in Pyro’s blood. She’d regretted it almost instantly, some of that regret had disappeared when the others agreed with her but it had come back almost full force. They hated their actions but she couldn’t do anything about it now.
{ He watches her before taking one of their hands in his own, gloved in a deep maroon }
‘’ I don’t blame you, Shelby. You were doing it for a reason. I can’t fault you for the same reason that I have done such horrible things. Pyro would understand. The Pyro that we used to know. ‘’
The only thing keeping her together right now just snapped and she started crying. She went through in a few weeks more than what most people would go through in their life her being younger didn’t all that much help. She probably needed to cry. She accepted her hand being taken and she squeezed a little bit.
“I miss him, I miss Avid too.”
{ He squeezed back before gently rubbing his thumb over her hand. He would’ve hugged her, but admittedly, he was terrified. Terrified of her, of what she stands for, of who she works with . . . but being undead has taught him humanity, and so he shifts closer in case she decides to lean on him }
‘’ I- I know. I never knew Avid. Not really. But it’s tragic, nonetheless. And Pyro- . . . I miss him more than I can say. ‘’
“I miss doing Owen’s hair and thinking maybe I could be happy. I miss a lot of things.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She felt like she was little again having just lost her dad and losing her mom. She looked towards Pyro’s grave.
“Maybe I’m just as bad as he ended up, can’t be worse than Owen but he killed 3,000 people.”
{ He nods, trying to grasp the tragedy she must be feeling, but aside from Pyro, he was never close to anyone. And in terms of the coven — well, he loathes Scott. It tore into him. The want to help with no ability to }
‘’ You are not as bad as . . . him. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst. You have done good, Shelby. That’s more than most could have done in your situation. ‘’
“I’m sorry it’s been a year I need to get over it.”
Shelby pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her hand away. She wanted to be fine she didn’t want to feel this weight anymore. She had turned Avid and it led to his death and she had killed Pyro herself.
‘’ You don’t. ‘’
{ Those words slip out faster than he intended, but now he couldn’t help but continue, sharing against his better thoughts }
‘’ The job I used to work . . . I had to do what you did with Pyro far more often than anyone. Than Scott. Than the Doctor. Than Owen. I started it when I was young, and it’s been — what — at least ten years? I’m still not over it. You definitely don’t have to be. ‘’
She looked up at him with a curious expression but she didn’t want to force him to talk. She was confused now.
“You, did what I did? I didn’t know anyone else did something like that… I just have to pretend I’m ok even if I’m not. I don’t want to end up like my mom.”
{ He nods, the reminder of it painful, though he’s used to it by now. Mom. That’s another mental jab. But he’ll hide everything for as long as it takes }
‘’ Yeah. Yeah, I did. A long time ago. But- you don’t have to pretend. Not around me, at least. ‘’
Shelby shook her head quickly at the notion. She couldn’t be sad in front of people. She couldn’t end up as broken as her mom. She had to help Scott and Drift so she couldn’t do that.
“So where did you go after all this happened?”
She was definitely trying to deflect. Was she going to keep deflecting? Yes, yes she would.
{ He casts her a look as if to say she won’t get away with this, but he’d let her try }
‘’ I, uh- back to my old job. To a crowned nation, a little west of here. It’s . . . better than it was before. The job, I mean. But that’s all bland news, what happened to you? Looked around after the walls fell and I almost bought that another massacre happened. ‘’
“Well me and Drift have been showing Scott the world. I’ve been working on my book in any downtime.”
She messed with her sleeves as she spoke. Avid was supposed to explore the world with them but it didn’t really work out that way.
“I told my mom that I’m ok and that dad was right because at least vampires and werewolves are real! I haven’t really found anything else yet.”
‘’ Well, that- that’s all wonderful! I never knew you were writing a book. Must be a wonderful writer. A- . . . your mother, is she alright? I figure she must be proud of you, but to be hearing all of this, well, one would be quite shocked. ‘’
“I sent her a letter. I haven’t seen her in a year she didn’t do much after my dad died anyway.”
She sounded bitter at the end. It was clear she disliked her mother. Shelby pulled a little locket out from under her shirt. Luckily it had been gold so she had no trouble with it now. She opened it up and there was a picture of a man with brown hair and yellow eyes and a little girl the same features.
“That’s me and my dad a few months before he disappeared.”
{ He hummed, a small, bittersweet smile crossing his face at the photo }
‘’ I’m . . . sorry for his disappearance. It’s easier when you know the truth, that I know. ‘’
“Yeah. He wasn’t crazy I know that now.”
She closed the locket and sighed. She wondered if everyone in town said the same things about her that they said about her father. She reached out and gently booped Allen. She giggled afterwards.
{ He smiled, though his face scrunched up slightly as she booped him. He relaxed soon after, though }
‘’ Certainly not crazy. ‘’
‘’ . . . though you might as well be for booping me! ‘’
{ Teasingly, he boops her back }
She giggled even more as he was booped. They leaned back on their elbows. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was gone from the castle yet but she didn’t want to go back right now.
“Sooooo how long are you staying around here? I think I’m staying for a few weeks depends on what the other two want. It was mostly for them anyway, I hate being in that castle now.”
{ He hums, chuckling a bit after a few minutes }
‘’ Ah, I’ll figure it out as I go. Though, with Scott around, I might cut my visit short. Don’t want to be around him longer than I have to be. ‘’
“He changed! He’s nice to people now me and Drift have been teaching him. We told him only girlboss no gaslight or gatekeep.”
She sat back up. She needed to make sure people knew that Scott was better now. He wasn’t manipulating people for personal gain and he wasn’t hurting people for fun.
{ He gives a skeptical glance in her direction, scoffing as she finishes her defense of the elder }
‘’ Sure. Well, I don’t know if I can trust that by word alone, and frankly, I don’t intend to meet him to find out the truth. I don’t like him. That’s that. ‘’
Shelby just shrunk in on herself. That was the man who took her in when everyone else thought she was weird. He’s the one who cared about her when the town didn’t. She didn’t like hearing someone talk about him like he couldn’t change.
“Avid made him feel something. He hadn’t felt anything in a thousand years of corse he was going to be cruel. Abolish promised to watch over him and make sure he didn’t slip back, he asked Abolish to do so.”
{ He sighs, leaning forward and staring at the name on the grave }
‘’ He made Pyro feel something, and Pyro did the same to him. Everyone has an influence on everyone, Shelby. I’m not saying that he can’t change, I’m saying that I don’t think he’s- . . . forget it. ‘’
“And then Pyro turned on both of us. Nothing from Oakhurst haunts me more than Avid’s screams. Do you have any idea how that feels? Avid was my fledgling, he was the first person to say I wasn’t crazy.”
Shelby’s fists clenched. If her skin wasn’t already white she knuckles would be. There were tears in her eyes. She stood up, she walked behind the grave and went to the water. She sat down at the edge of the water just staring into it.
{ It stung. Hearing her and Avid’s pain, knowing the pain of Pyro. It was awful, and for several minutes, he sat there, glancing between the name of the past and the pain in the present }
‘’ . . . I have fledglings. Unwilling ones. Ones I had to turn during my job to save them from death, though who knows how much better this is. ‘’
{ Slowly, he stands, brushing off some of his clothes. Though he doesn’t move away from the grave }
‘’ They die often, Shelby. My fledglings never last long. Vampires never last long. Not in big capitals. Not in small towns. So ask again how it feels, because I know it. It happens once every day - screaming, yelling, pain, and then nothing. I don’t know them, Shelby. I don’t know them honorably, and I can do nothing to save them. My losses outweigh my wins. It’s never fair, Shelby. Never. Pyro warned me of that from the start. ‘’
“You didn’t know them. They weren’t your best friend. I close my eyes to sleep and I hear my brother killing my best friend. Both of their deaths are on me.”
Shelby slashed her claws along the surface of the water. She didn’t think anyone could understand what she went through even if what he went through was similar.
“I get that that is still hard but if you don’t know them how can it hurt? It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, I feel empty and alone. But I don’t show it because if I let it out it’ll consume me, I don’t want to be like my mom.”
‘’ It hurts because it’s my fault. But you’re right. It’s not the same. I don’t understand the pain. ‘’
{ His voice is steady but it’s filled with frustration }
‘’ I don’t understand how Pyro lived with you. ‘’
Shelby turned her head around to look at him again. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She needed to calm down.
“I’m sorry for acting like this my feelings are just kinda all over the place right now, it’s probably because it’s been exactly a year since it all happened.”
{ He sighs, looking away from her and instead behind himself }
‘’ . . . it’s fine. It’s not your fault. ‘’
“Kinda is.”
She stood up and started pacing around the area by the edge of the water.
‘’ It was the fault of all sides, Shelby. Not just yours, not just his; everybody has some effect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s unfair to yourself to be so cruel to only one instigator. ‘’
“I’m the only one who made it out. I’m the one who didn’t have any consequences for my actions. I didn’t even get told off by anyone they all just celebrated.”
The guilt was evident on her face as she paced along the waters edge.
{ He stays quiet, still refusing to look and her }
‘’ Well, that’s their fault, now, isn’t it? You have guilt. It reeks off of you every waking moment. They don’t have a care for the man behind the monster, they simply needed him gone. At least you feel guilty. That’s the most important thing. ‘’
“Everyone just hated him, I hated him… I don’t hate him. I miss him so much”
She kept pacing around. She was breathing frantically despite not needing to, it was a habit she kept for the whole year.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be pushing this all onto you I- I’m sorry.”
‘’ It’s fine. I- it’s fine. ‘’
{ He pauses, glancing over to her for a moment as he hears her begin breathing, albeit very frantically }
‘’ I never hated him. Not truly. I never forgave him for the death of Avid - who would? - but hate wasn’t something I could bring myself to. ‘’
“I just was so angry and I haven’t felt like that before and I haven’t felt like that since. I think I hated him, he wasn’t really himself at that point. I guess we all had to change a bit, I think I’m better at standing up for myself now?”
They paused in their pacing for a moment to think. She had been standing her ground more and she felt much older even though it’s only by a year.
{ Carefully, he nodded }
‘’ I- It’s good that you became better for yourself through it. Even if it came from hardship. ‘’
“Are you ok? We’ve talked about me a lot, how are you holding up?”
She paused her pacing and looked towards Allen. There was genuine concern on her face.
{ He winces slightly upon seeing all the concern on her face }
‘’ I’m fine. ‘’
{ After a minute, he pulls out a bottle of crimson and quickly downs it, wiping at his mouth to make sure he got it all }
‘’ Just a bit tired from the journey. ‘’
“Do you need somewhere to rest? I could probably sneak you into the castle that way you don’t have to interact with anyone. Plus Scott’s at Avid’s grave most of the time”
Shelby smiled at him a little bit. The offer was genuine she wanted to make sure he was ok.
{ There’s a long silence as he stares at her, looking as though she just said the most incredulous thing he’s ever heard }
‘’ . . . you’re sure he won’t be there? ‘’
“Well he wasn’t there when I left. This is like the second day we’ve been here and he’s only been at the castle a total of like 3 hours.”
The castle has grown in the year that had passed so there were rooms in there which made it much easier to hide a person in there. She walked back over to Allen with a kind smile on her face.
{ Hesitantly, he stands, offering some semblance of a smile in return }
‘’ Well . . . then I suppose I wouldn’t mind. I’ve never been inside that castle, after all. ‘’
{ He offers a hand, smile faltering as anxiety stirred }
‘’ Off we go, then? ‘’
Shelby grabbed his hand and lead him off to the castle. It wasn’t difficult to sneak him into her room. She didn’t want to put him in a guest room since there was a higher chance of someone going in there. She put a sign on her door that said she was writing so nobody would come in.
{ He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, awkwardness settling around him. After a few moments of silence, he sits on the floor, distracting himself with admiring her room }
‘’ . . . it’s very pretty in here. ‘’
“Thank you! Pearl decorated part of it but I added some touches, mostly the books. M sent me signed copies of all his books!”
Shelby sat on the floor close by to the door so if someone decided to peak in they were see her before they got the door open. She had a notebook sitting in her lap with a pen.
{ He looks at the pen, at the book, and then all around the room again }
‘’ . . . that’s nice. ‘’
She started doodling little stars and stuff at the top of her chapter pages. She drew a rather detailed mushroom at the bottom of the end of a chapter. She always had a bit of thing for mushrooms.
“If you’d prefer I can go outside to write, if I’m out there nobody will come in here”
{ It takes a while for him to register she even said anything. Her room, really the whole castle, reminded him of home. The little mansion, run-down and weathered on the outside but cozy within, where he retires after long days and takes in those weathered by distrust and inequality }
‘’ No . . . no, I don’t- I don’t mind. It’s nice having you around. It- it’s nice not being alone. ‘’
“I get that I was kinda on my own for a while before I came to Oakhurst everyone at home just pitied me”
She frowned a bit and looked at the first few pages of her notebook. It talked about her early life and her dad.
‘’ . . . I’ve been alone since my family was killed. ‘’
‘’ It’s not easy, growing up alone. But I’m glad we’ve both made it. ‘’
“My dad left to go find werewolves and my mom just kinda left mentally. She was there but she wasn’t, the first few years she just sat in the chair she found out in I had to make her get up but she would always end up there. I was 12”
She wiped away a tear away that threatened to fall as she spoke. She flipped a few pages in the notebook on her lap getting away from that stuff, it probably wouldn’t make it into the book anyway.
{ He nods solemnly, shifting positions before bringing his knees to his chest and laying his head atop his arms which covered his knees }
‘’ Sorry . . . what are you writing? ‘’
“It’s a ‘fiction’ book about a girl having a vampire roommate and the chaos that happens. I’m changing everyone’s names except mine so it just looks self indulgent”
She lit up after being asked about her writing. She seemed very excited to talk about it.
‘’ Oh, that’s fun! To tell more. What has happened so far? ‘’
“Well she was a cryptid hunter and so when she found out that her roommate and two other people in the town were vampires she got very excited. They had turned her obviously and the four grew very close until yeah…”
*She kinda cut herself off and pulled her knees closer to her chest.*
{ He hums, a soft smile crossing his face }
‘’ Sounds wonderful. ‘’
‘’ . . . are you alright? ‘’
“Yeah I’m fine! I’m just kinda thinking right now”
Shelby messed with her sleeves again. She was definitely anxious but that was pretty normal.
{ He hums, nodding politely. He closes his eyes, leaning his head back. One could mistakenly believe he’s falling asleep, but the vampire is much rather reminiscening }
She went to the page she had left off on, then she remembered why she had stopped writing. There were notes from Avid scribbled in the empty pages. She read over the notes and laughed remembering how goofy he was.
{ Hearing her laugh, he can’t help but smile, opening an eye to see what may be the cause of it. The writing to him is illegible, but it’s joyous to her, and so he closes his eyes once more and lets out a soft breath }
“Oh Avid…”
She had a soft smile on her face. She came across the note about when Avid asked her to turn him, setting up the meeting location.
{ The name makes his body tense, if only briefly. Avid. He remembers brief flourishes of the hunter—not enough, he fears. A part of him desperately wants to leave. To find Avid—to find Scott—and to ask for forgiveness. For anything other than the guilt of loving a fire so kind to keep him alive }
Shelby glanced over at him. She looked back at the notebook and sighed. She couldn’t get rid of these so she would have to get a new one.
“Dang it and I painted this one and everything”
{ He laughs, finally lifting his head to look at her and smile }
‘’ Sounds like you’ll get a new opportunity to paint. Doesn’t seem too bad. ‘’
“Hmmm I’m gonna put a mushroom with a butterfly on the next one. I miss Kathrine”
She sighed thinking about the lives she remembered before this one.
‘’ Who’s Kathrine? ‘’
“So umm one time this person showed me a picture where I was a witch Owen was a llama and Scott was like colorful and stuff. After I saw that I started getting these memories of lives I guess I lived. Kathrine was my girlfriend in two of them, my wife actually once.”
She glanced at the pink tulip she kept in a flowerpot beside her bed.
‘’ She sounds kind. A very wonderful lady, I’m sure. Though . . . that photo is an odd occurrence. ‘’
{ The sound of a clock’s ticking echoes around the room, though there seems not to be a clock in sight. Allen doesn’t seem to hear it, or perhaps he’s spent so much time at odds with it that it rings only as background noise }
Shelby looked around the room trying to find the source of the mysterious ticking noise. She looked a little bit confused, she didn’t have a clock.
“Where is that? Do you hear that?”
‘’ What? ‘’
“I hear a clock but I don’t have a clock. You don’t hear it?”
She started to feel like she was going insane, wouldn’t be the first the she could hear something that others couldn’t.
{ It takes several moments out of him before it clicks, and he begins to laugh }
‘’ Oh, the ticking! No, I suppose it’s so common I’m used to it. Please, pay it no mind. What were you saying about Kathrine? ‘’
{ Slowly, the ticking starts to fade away }
“Well one time she put me in a prison where I sat in a little boat because I was corrupted by this stuff called the skulk it was weird. She put me in prison because I was kinda evil and she was a monster hunter, you know she’d probably hate me now.”
{ He hums, listening before tsking at her end statement }
‘’ Oh, please. You saw Scott and Avid, did you not? A hunter can surely love their hunted, even if such a prospect is strange. ‘’
“I don’t even know why she cared about me in the first place! I was a witch and a criminal!”
She signed. She knew Scott and Avid worked out but Katherine was different than Avid.
‘’ So? ‘’
{ He sighs, standing up and moving over to her before plopping down by her side }
‘’ Y’know, by all means, I’m wanted, too. But I found someone who loved me, once. He sang such beautiful songs to me. And he had a way with words that I find myself constantly trying to emulate. A lawman. That’s what he was. I never quite believed he truly loved me. It seemed impossible. But there it was. And there he was . . . point is, even the most unexpected people care sometimes. Despite all impossibility. ‘’
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, it’s not like she’d remember me. If she was still a monster hunter then she’d probably try and kill me. Although who knows what she would be it’s not exactly like we’re alive like that anymore. Well I was kinda in a weird situation with dying but that’s for another day.”
She ran her hand over the cover of her notebook feeling the texture of it. She kinda made herself shut up because she was rambling a lot.
{ He hums, nodding along }
‘’ I see. Well, I can only pray if you two ever do cross paths again, that it goes peacefully and lovingly. ‘’
She nodded before looking at the flower by her bed once again. She had a soft smile on her face as she reminisced.
“I hope so too”
{ He smiles, closing his eyes soon again and burying his face in his arms }
She eventually just kinda spaced thinking about the past or maybe she was reliving it who really knew.
{ After a few peacefully quiet moments, Allen mumbles something under his breath }
‘’ ᓭ𝙹∷∷|| ᔑʖ𝙹⚍ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵꖎ𝙹ᓵꖌ ‘’
She didn’t even notice that he said anything she kinda wasn’t really present in the moment
((THE GALACTIC HELLO?))
{ It took him a moment to realize she hadn’t heard, at which point he immediately let it go }
( // hehehe // )
She eventually zoned back in a little bit and she pulled her knees closer to her chest. Her eyes were teary but she wasn’t actually crying.
{ He heard the shuffling, though he wasn’t sure he dared to look up. If he met her eyes, that’d be one thing, but if he met theirs . . . }
Shelby blinked the tears from her eyes before wiping them away. She calmed herself down after a moment taking a few deep breaths.
((HELLO? WATCHER REFERENCE MAYBE??))
{ After a few moments of hearing her breathing, he looks up, casting a concerned look }
‘’ Shelby? ‘’
( // mwhehehehe - mixing and matching some Allen lore, so I’m slowly implementing it >:3 there’ll be a post today // )
“Yeah? Sorry I kinda zoned out there”
She looked up at him and smiled a little bit but under her eyes were slightly damp.
‘’ Okay . . . ‘’
{ He doesn’t let go of the look in her eyes. The tears left staining below them. And so he stands, out-stretching a hand to her with a mock smile }
‘’ Want to show me your favorite parts of the castle? ‘’
“Yeah sure!! Let’s go to the ballroom that’s my favorite room!”
She jumped up and smiled.
{ He smiles, grabbing her hand and motioning for her to lead the way }
‘’ Sounds wonderful! ‘’
She giggled as she dragged him through the halls down to the ballroom.
{ He smiled, both at the architecture and at Shelby’s joy. It was nice. All of it. The exquisite designs and seeing such light in her eyes. It was really good to see }
“I really like the ballroom because it’s the only room that the four of us built together that I don’t have trauma in!”
((Sorry man I’ve been dying))
{ He doesn’t mean to, but he snorts at that }
‘’ Sorry. Tha- I really love that. It’s nice to have a safe place. Ballrooms especially have always been like a bubble; a shield from the outside world. ‘’
( // no worries!! I lwk have been too, but on the emotional end of the spectrum :,3 // )
“You can laugh it’s ok! It was ment to be a little bit funny!”
She walked over to the fountain and grabbed a glass to fill. She kinda wondered how many animals it took Cleo and Pearl to keep this thing filled.
{ He watched, curiously watching the fountain while also feeling incredibly hesitant to step even an inch closer }
‘’ I figured. It just- seemed rude, I suppose. ‘’
{ A soft noise escapes him as he shakes his head }
‘’ Spirits, Pyro was right. I could loosen up. ‘’
She took a dip from her glass and walked around the room. She walked over to the windows and looked outside. She glanced over the spot in the bridge where she stood when they told her about Avid, then to the spot she once hid her novel.
“There’s so many bad memories here but so many good ones as well”
‘’ I’m glad to hear it. ‘’
{ Slowly, after some psyching, he begins to walk around the room. The last time he had been to the castle- spirits, it was the last he had seen of Pyro. A planned dance until they were found out. Not even an afternoon later, and he had been turned }
“So what do you do for fun?”
Shelby was honestly a little bit bored so she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured a bit into her blood. Scott had taught her proportions that it would do a little bit of an effect on her but still taste good.
‘’ I- I don’t indulge in much fun nowadays. Too busy working. Though, on occasion, I’ll find myself at my bass singing some jostled tune. Not as often as I used to. ‘’
“I mostly just write but that’s also my job so”
She leaned against a nearby wall and took another sip. She stood in a manner Owen often would although that made sense since the two were close and Shelby at least was fairly impressionable.
{ He notices the hint in her posture and immediately his eyes narrow. He doesn’t realize it, but he steps away from her, wrapping his arms around himself. Something Pyro used to do when they were uneasy. Spirits, how they miss him }
She immediately stood up straighter and got a concerned look in her face.
“Hey, are you alright? Did something happen?”
{ There’s that familiar ticking again. And, if she were to pay notice, she’d see a red, coral-bone-like structure creep around their wrist, almost forming a glove. Yet, he doesn’t seem concerned. Not one bit. He doesn’t even seem to notice it. If anything, he looks caught in a daze }
‘’ . . . w-what? ‘’
Shelby jumped after noticing the strange structure. Her eyes were wide and she looked a little bit confused.
“What is that???!! Are you ok??!!”
Open Rp Starter
A year after the events of Oakhurst occurred Shelby, Scott, and Drift went back to Oakhurst to visit. While Drift and Scott were doing a few things Shelby snuck off. She ventured off to obelisk with a few materials in hand. She took her time and built a grave for Pyro.
Sure Pyro had been extreme and was a murder. He murdered her fledgling after all, but she still cared. Even as she had plunged that stake into his heart she still cared. The coven was her family, Pyro was like a brother to her.
After the grave was constructed Shelby sat at the bottom of it. She spoke to the grave like she was talking to Pyro again. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. I don’t think I’ll ever really forgive you for what you did but I guess we’re even now? Although it really just fell back on me didn’t it?” She laughed just a little bit, it wasn’t happy laughter at all. A few tears slipped from her eyes but she quickly wiped them away.
Grave image from Shubble. Owen messaged it to me a while back:3
{ Frankly, Allen was reluctant to even return to this place. Especially considering the risks of being noticed by anyone — human or otherwise. After his return to his job, the missions became a lot more risky, and with him leaving Oakhurst under the assumption he had died in the flames, it was a wonder why he even bothered to return. One that confounded even him! — but he had his suspicions }
{ He had intended to build a graveyard. That was the idea. That was not how it went, however. No, because someone beat him to it. Someone who he swore he had seen once, and prayed that he’d never have to see them or their “family” ever again }
‘’ . . . Shelby. ‘’
Shelby jumped before she looked up. She hadn’t expected anyone to find her. She stood up quickly and dusted off her skirt.
“Oh umm hi Allen. Didn’t expect to see anyone out here… didn’t know you were even alive…”
Shelby looked back at the grave. She really missed Pyro even though she’s the one who did it. They looked at the ground not really knowing what to do in this situation.
{ He laughed, though it was quiet and awkward }
‘’ Yeah, uh . . . not as alive as I could be, but- hi. ‘’
{ As they get up, he moves to sit down in front of the grave. Pyro’s grave }
‘’ . . . He was good. ‘’
She looked at him and sat back down in her previous spot. She didn’t really want to cry in front of him.
“He was, before he kinda went a bit insane. I don’t miss the person he was when he died but I miss who he used to be.”
They pulled her knees up to her chest, which made her seem younger than she actually was.
“So are you a vampire now?”
{ He cast her a confused look as she expressed her love for who he was before it all. It made him stiffen, a knot forming in his stomach. A sudden doubt whispered in his mind that perhaps he and the scholar were never as close as they thought }
‘’ . . . yeah. I- yes. I am. I’m . . . sorry I lied to everyone. About my death. ‘’
“It’s ok… I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me since you know”
She looked at her hands remembering them covered in Pyro’s blood. She’d regretted it almost instantly, some of that regret had disappeared when the others agreed with her but it had come back almost full force. They hated their actions but she couldn’t do anything about it now.
{ He watches her before taking one of their hands in his own, gloved in a deep maroon }
‘’ I don’t blame you, Shelby. You were doing it for a reason. I can’t fault you for the same reason that I have done such horrible things. Pyro would understand. The Pyro that we used to know. ‘’
The only thing keeping her together right now just snapped and she started crying. She went through in a few weeks more than what most people would go through in their life her being younger didn’t all that much help. She probably needed to cry. She accepted her hand being taken and she squeezed a little bit.
“I miss him, I miss Avid too.”
{ He squeezed back before gently rubbing his thumb over her hand. He would’ve hugged her, but admittedly, he was terrified. Terrified of her, of what she stands for, of who she works with . . . but being undead has taught him humanity, and so he shifts closer in case she decides to lean on him }
‘’ I- I know. I never knew Avid. Not really. But it’s tragic, nonetheless. And Pyro- . . . I miss him more than I can say. ‘’
“I miss doing Owen’s hair and thinking maybe I could be happy. I miss a lot of things.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She felt like she was little again having just lost her dad and losing her mom. She looked towards Pyro’s grave.
“Maybe I’m just as bad as he ended up, can’t be worse than Owen but he killed 3,000 people.”
{ He nods, trying to grasp the tragedy she must be feeling, but aside from Pyro, he was never close to anyone. And in terms of the coven — well, he loathes Scott. It tore into him. The want to help with no ability to }
‘’ You are not as bad as . . . him. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst. You have done good, Shelby. That’s more than most could have done in your situation. ‘’
“I’m sorry it’s been a year I need to get over it.”
Shelby pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her hand away. She wanted to be fine she didn’t want to feel this weight anymore. She had turned Avid and it led to his death and she had killed Pyro herself.
‘’ You don’t. ‘’
{ Those words slip out faster than he intended, but now he couldn’t help but continue, sharing against his better thoughts }
‘’ The job I used to work . . . I had to do what you did with Pyro far more often than anyone. Than Scott. Than the Doctor. Than Owen. I started it when I was young, and it’s been — what — at least ten years? I’m still not over it. You definitely don’t have to be. ‘’
She looked up at him with a curious expression but she didn’t want to force him to talk. She was confused now.
“You, did what I did? I didn’t know anyone else did something like that… I just have to pretend I’m ok even if I’m not. I don’t want to end up like my mom.”
{ He nods, the reminder of it painful, though he’s used to it by now. Mom. That’s another mental jab. But he’ll hide everything for as long as it takes }
‘’ Yeah. Yeah, I did. A long time ago. But- you don’t have to pretend. Not around me, at least. ‘’
Shelby shook her head quickly at the notion. She couldn’t be sad in front of people. She couldn’t end up as broken as her mom. She had to help Scott and Drift so she couldn’t do that.
“So where did you go after all this happened?”
She was definitely trying to deflect. Was she going to keep deflecting? Yes, yes she would.
{ He casts her a look as if to say she won’t get away with this, but he’d let her try }
‘’ I, uh- back to my old job. To a crowned nation, a little west of here. It’s . . . better than it was before. The job, I mean. But that’s all bland news, what happened to you? Looked around after the walls fell and I almost bought that another massacre happened. ‘’
“Well me and Drift have been showing Scott the world. I’ve been working on my book in any downtime.”
She messed with her sleeves as she spoke. Avid was supposed to explore the world with them but it didn’t really work out that way.
“I told my mom that I’m ok and that dad was right because at least vampires and werewolves are real! I haven’t really found anything else yet.”
‘’ Well, that- that’s all wonderful! I never knew you were writing a book. Must be a wonderful writer. A- . . . your mother, is she alright? I figure she must be proud of you, but to be hearing all of this, well, one would be quite shocked. ‘’
“I sent her a letter. I haven’t seen her in a year she didn’t do much after my dad died anyway.”
She sounded bitter at the end. It was clear she disliked her mother. Shelby pulled a little locket out from under her shirt. Luckily it had been gold so she had no trouble with it now. She opened it up and there was a picture of a man with brown hair and yellow eyes and a little girl the same features.
“That’s me and my dad a few months before he disappeared.”
{ He hummed, a small, bittersweet smile crossing his face at the photo }
‘’ I’m . . . sorry for his disappearance. It’s easier when you know the truth, that I know. ‘’
“Yeah. He wasn’t crazy I know that now.”
She closed the locket and sighed. She wondered if everyone in town said the same things about her that they said about her father. She reached out and gently booped Allen. She giggled afterwards.
{ He smiled, though his face scrunched up slightly as she booped him. He relaxed soon after, though }
‘’ Certainly not crazy. ‘’
‘’ . . . though you might as well be for booping me! ‘’
{ Teasingly, he boops her back }
She giggled even more as he was booped. They leaned back on their elbows. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was gone from the castle yet but she didn’t want to go back right now.
“Sooooo how long are you staying around here? I think I’m staying for a few weeks depends on what the other two want. It was mostly for them anyway, I hate being in that castle now.”
{ He hums, chuckling a bit after a few minutes }
‘’ Ah, I’ll figure it out as I go. Though, with Scott around, I might cut my visit short. Don’t want to be around him longer than I have to be. ‘’
“He changed! He’s nice to people now me and Drift have been teaching him. We told him only girlboss no gaslight or gatekeep.”
She sat back up. She needed to make sure people knew that Scott was better now. He wasn’t manipulating people for personal gain and he wasn’t hurting people for fun.
{ He gives a skeptical glance in her direction, scoffing as she finishes her defense of the elder }
‘’ Sure. Well, I don’t know if I can trust that by word alone, and frankly, I don’t intend to meet him to find out the truth. I don’t like him. That’s that. ‘’
Shelby just shrunk in on herself. That was the man who took her in when everyone else thought she was weird. He’s the one who cared about her when the town didn’t. She didn’t like hearing someone talk about him like he couldn’t change.
“Avid made him feel something. He hadn’t felt anything in a thousand years of corse he was going to be cruel. Abolish promised to watch over him and make sure he didn’t slip back, he asked Abolish to do so.”
{ He sighs, leaning forward and staring at the name on the grave }
‘’ He made Pyro feel something, and Pyro did the same to him. Everyone has an influence on everyone, Shelby. I’m not saying that he can’t change, I’m saying that I don’t think he’s- . . . forget it. ‘’
“And then Pyro turned on both of us. Nothing from Oakhurst haunts me more than Avid’s screams. Do you have any idea how that feels? Avid was my fledgling, he was the first person to say I wasn’t crazy.”
Shelby’s fists clenched. If her skin wasn’t already white she knuckles would be. There were tears in her eyes. She stood up, she walked behind the grave and went to the water. She sat down at the edge of the water just staring into it.
{ It stung. Hearing her and Avid’s pain, knowing the pain of Pyro. It was awful, and for several minutes, he sat there, glancing between the name of the past and the pain in the present }
‘’ . . . I have fledglings. Unwilling ones. Ones I had to turn during my job to save them from death, though who knows how much better this is. ‘’
{ Slowly, he stands, brushing off some of his clothes. Though he doesn’t move away from the grave }
‘’ They die often, Shelby. My fledglings never last long. Vampires never last long. Not in big capitals. Not in small towns. So ask again how it feels, because I know it. It happens once every day - screaming, yelling, pain, and then nothing. I don’t know them, Shelby. I don’t know them honorably, and I can do nothing to save them. My losses outweigh my wins. It’s never fair, Shelby. Never. Pyro warned me of that from the start. ‘’
“You didn’t know them. They weren’t your best friend. I close my eyes to sleep and I hear my brother killing my best friend. Both of their deaths are on me.”
Shelby slashed her claws along the surface of the water. She didn’t think anyone could understand what she went through even if what he went through was similar.
“I get that that is still hard but if you don’t know them how can it hurt? It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, I feel empty and alone. But I don’t show it because if I let it out it’ll consume me, I don’t want to be like my mom.”
‘’ It hurts because it’s my fault. But you’re right. It’s not the same. I don’t understand the pain. ‘’
{ His voice is steady but it’s filled with frustration }
‘’ I don’t understand how Pyro lived with you. ‘’
Shelby turned her head around to look at him again. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She needed to calm down.
“I’m sorry for acting like this my feelings are just kinda all over the place right now, it’s probably because it’s been exactly a year since it all happened.”
{ He sighs, looking away from her and instead behind himself }
‘’ . . . it’s fine. It’s not your fault. ‘’
“Kinda is.”
She stood up and started pacing around the area by the edge of the water.
‘’ It was the fault of all sides, Shelby. Not just yours, not just his; everybody has some effect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s unfair to yourself to be so cruel to only one instigator. ‘’
“I’m the only one who made it out. I’m the one who didn’t have any consequences for my actions. I didn’t even get told off by anyone they all just celebrated.”
The guilt was evident on her face as she paced along the waters edge.
{ He stays quiet, still refusing to look and her }
‘’ Well, that’s their fault, now, isn’t it? You have guilt. It reeks off of you every waking moment. They don’t have a care for the man behind the monster, they simply needed him gone. At least you feel guilty. That’s the most important thing. ‘’
“Everyone just hated him, I hated him… I don’t hate him. I miss him so much”
She kept pacing around. She was breathing frantically despite not needing to, it was a habit she kept for the whole year.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be pushing this all onto you I- I’m sorry.”
‘’ It’s fine. I- it’s fine. ‘’
{ He pauses, glancing over to her for a moment as he hears her begin breathing, albeit very frantically }
‘’ I never hated him. Not truly. I never forgave him for the death of Avid - who would? - but hate wasn’t something I could bring myself to. ‘’
“I just was so angry and I haven’t felt like that before and I haven’t felt like that since. I think I hated him, he wasn’t really himself at that point. I guess we all had to change a bit, I think I’m better at standing up for myself now?”
They paused in their pacing for a moment to think. She had been standing her ground more and she felt much older even though it’s only by a year.
{ Carefully, he nodded }
‘’ I- It’s good that you became better for yourself through it. Even if it came from hardship. ‘’
“Are you ok? We’ve talked about me a lot, how are you holding up?”
She paused her pacing and looked towards Allen. There was genuine concern on her face.
{ He winces slightly upon seeing all the concern on her face }
‘’ I’m fine. ‘’
{ After a minute, he pulls out a bottle of crimson and quickly downs it, wiping at his mouth to make sure he got it all }
‘’ Just a bit tired from the journey. ‘’
“Do you need somewhere to rest? I could probably sneak you into the castle that way you don’t have to interact with anyone. Plus Scott’s at Avid’s grave most of the time”
Shelby smiled at him a little bit. The offer was genuine she wanted to make sure he was ok.
{ There’s a long silence as he stares at her, looking as though she just said the most incredulous thing he’s ever heard }
‘’ . . . you’re sure he won’t be there? ‘’
“Well he wasn’t there when I left. This is like the second day we’ve been here and he’s only been at the castle a total of like 3 hours.”
The castle has grown in the year that had passed so there were rooms in there which made it much easier to hide a person in there. She walked back over to Allen with a kind smile on her face.
{ Hesitantly, he stands, offering some semblance of a smile in return }
‘’ Well . . . then I suppose I wouldn’t mind. I’ve never been inside that castle, after all. ‘’
{ He offers a hand, smile faltering as anxiety stirred }
‘’ Off we go, then? ‘’
Shelby grabbed his hand and lead him off to the castle. It wasn’t difficult to sneak him into her room. She didn’t want to put him in a guest room since there was a higher chance of someone going in there. She put a sign on her door that said she was writing so nobody would come in.
{ He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, awkwardness settling around him. After a few moments of silence, he sits on the floor, distracting himself with admiring her room }
‘’ . . . it’s very pretty in here. ‘’
“Thank you! Pearl decorated part of it but I added some touches, mostly the books. M sent me signed copies of all his books!”
Shelby sat on the floor close by to the door so if someone decided to peak in they were see her before they got the door open. She had a notebook sitting in her lap with a pen.
{ He looks at the pen, at the book, and then all around the room again }
‘’ . . . that’s nice. ‘’
She started doodling little stars and stuff at the top of her chapter pages. She drew a rather detailed mushroom at the bottom of the end of a chapter. She always had a bit of thing for mushrooms.
“If you’d prefer I can go outside to write, if I’m out there nobody will come in here”
{ It takes a while for him to register she even said anything. Her room, really the whole castle, reminded him of home. The little mansion, run-down and weathered on the outside but cozy within, where he retires after long days and takes in those weathered by distrust and inequality }
‘’ No . . . no, I don’t- I don’t mind. It’s nice having you around. It- it’s nice not being alone. ‘’
“I get that I was kinda on my own for a while before I came to Oakhurst everyone at home just pitied me”
She frowned a bit and looked at the first few pages of her notebook. It talked about her early life and her dad.
‘’ . . . I’ve been alone since my family was killed. ‘’
‘’ It’s not easy, growing up alone. But I’m glad we’ve both made it. ‘’
“My dad left to go find werewolves and my mom just kinda left mentally. She was there but she wasn’t, the first few years she just sat in the chair she found out in I had to make her get up but she would always end up there. I was 12”
She wiped away a tear away that threatened to fall as she spoke. She flipped a few pages in the notebook on her lap getting away from that stuff, it probably wouldn’t make it into the book anyway.
{ He nods solemnly, shifting positions before bringing his knees to his chest and laying his head atop his arms which covered his knees }
‘’ Sorry . . . what are you writing? ‘’
“It’s a ‘fiction’ book about a girl having a vampire roommate and the chaos that happens. I’m changing everyone’s names except mine so it just looks self indulgent”
She lit up after being asked about her writing. She seemed very excited to talk about it.
‘’ Oh, that’s fun! To tell more. What has happened so far? ‘’
“Well she was a cryptid hunter and so when she found out that her roommate and two other people in the town were vampires she got very excited. They had turned her obviously and the four grew very close until yeah…”
*She kinda cut herself off and pulled her knees closer to her chest.*
{ He hums, a soft smile crossing his face }
‘’ Sounds wonderful. ‘’
‘’ . . . are you alright? ‘’
“Yeah I’m fine! I’m just kinda thinking right now”
Shelby messed with her sleeves again. She was definitely anxious but that was pretty normal.
{ He hums, nodding politely. He closes his eyes, leaning his head back. One could mistakenly believe he’s falling asleep, but the vampire is much rather reminiscening }
She went to the page she had left off on, then she remembered why she had stopped writing. There were notes from Avid scribbled in the empty pages. She read over the notes and laughed remembering how goofy he was.
{ Hearing her laugh, he can’t help but smile, opening an eye to see what may be the cause of it. The writing to him is illegible, but it’s joyous to her, and so he closes his eyes once more and lets out a soft breath }
“Oh Avid…”
She had a soft smile on her face. She came across the note about when Avid asked her to turn him, setting up the meeting location.
{ The name makes his body tense, if only briefly. Avid. He remembers brief flourishes of the hunter—not enough, he fears. A part of him desperately wants to leave. To find Avid—to find Scott—and to ask for forgiveness. For anything other than the guilt of loving a fire so kind to keep him alive }
Shelby glanced over at him. She looked back at the notebook and sighed. She couldn’t get rid of these so she would have to get a new one.
“Dang it and I painted this one and everything”
{ He laughs, finally lifting his head to look at her and smile }
‘’ Sounds like you’ll get a new opportunity to paint. Doesn’t seem too bad. ‘’
“Hmmm I’m gonna put a mushroom with a butterfly on the next one. I miss Kathrine”
She sighed thinking about the lives she remembered before this one.
‘’ Who’s Kathrine? ‘’
“So umm one time this person showed me a picture where I was a witch Owen was a llama and Scott was like colorful and stuff. After I saw that I started getting these memories of lives I guess I lived. Kathrine was my girlfriend in two of them, my wife actually once.”
She glanced at the pink tulip she kept in a flowerpot beside her bed.
‘’ She sounds kind. A very wonderful lady, I’m sure. Though . . . that photo is an odd occurrence. ‘’
{ The sound of a clock’s ticking echoes around the room, though there seems not to be a clock in sight. Allen doesn’t seem to hear it, or perhaps he’s spent so much time at odds with it that it rings only as background noise }
Shelby looked around the room trying to find the source of the mysterious ticking noise. She looked a little bit confused, she didn’t have a clock.
“Where is that? Do you hear that?”
‘’ What? ‘’
“I hear a clock but I don’t have a clock. You don’t hear it?”
She started to feel like she was going insane, wouldn’t be the first the she could hear something that others couldn’t.
{ It takes several moments out of him before it clicks, and he begins to laugh }
‘’ Oh, the ticking! No, I suppose it’s so common I’m used to it. Please, pay it no mind. What were you saying about Kathrine? ‘’
{ Slowly, the ticking starts to fade away }
“Well one time she put me in a prison where I sat in a little boat because I was corrupted by this stuff called the skulk it was weird. She put me in prison because I was kinda evil and she was a monster hunter, you know she’d probably hate me now.”
{ He hums, listening before tsking at her end statement }
‘’ Oh, please. You saw Scott and Avid, did you not? A hunter can surely love their hunted, even if such a prospect is strange. ‘’
“I don’t even know why she cared about me in the first place! I was a witch and a criminal!”
She signed. She knew Scott and Avid worked out but Katherine was different than Avid.
‘’ So? ‘’
{ He sighs, standing up and moving over to her before plopping down by her side }
‘’ Y’know, by all means, I’m wanted, too. But I found someone who loved me, once. He sang such beautiful songs to me. And he had a way with words that I find myself constantly trying to emulate. A lawman. That’s what he was. I never quite believed he truly loved me. It seemed impossible. But there it was. And there he was . . . point is, even the most unexpected people care sometimes. Despite all impossibility. ‘’
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, it’s not like she’d remember me. If she was still a monster hunter then she’d probably try and kill me. Although who knows what she would be it’s not exactly like we’re alive like that anymore. Well I was kinda in a weird situation with dying but that’s for another day.”
She ran her hand over the cover of her notebook feeling the texture of it. She kinda made herself shut up because she was rambling a lot.
{ He hums, nodding along }
‘’ I see. Well, I can only pray if you two ever do cross paths again, that it goes peacefully and lovingly. ‘’
She nodded before looking at the flower by her bed once again. She had a soft smile on her face as she reminisced.
“I hope so too”
{ He smiles, closing his eyes soon again and burying his face in his arms }
She eventually just kinda spaced thinking about the past or maybe she was reliving it who really knew.
{ After a few peacefully quiet moments, Allen mumbles something under his breath }
‘’ ᓭ𝙹∷∷|| ᔑʖ𝙹⚍ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵꖎ𝙹ᓵꖌ ‘’
She didn’t even notice that he said anything she kinda wasn’t really present in the moment
((THE GALACTIC HELLO?))
{ It took him a moment to realize she hadn’t heard, at which point he immediately let it go }
( // hehehe // )
She eventually zoned back in a little bit and she pulled her knees closer to her chest. Her eyes were teary but she wasn’t actually crying.
{ He heard the shuffling, though he wasn’t sure he dared to look up. If he met her eyes, that’d be one thing, but if he met theirs . . . }
Shelby blinked the tears from her eyes before wiping them away. She calmed herself down after a moment taking a few deep breaths.
((HELLO? WATCHER REFERENCE MAYBE??))
{ After a few moments of hearing her breathing, he looks up, casting a concerned look }
‘’ Shelby? ‘’
( // mwhehehehe - mixing and matching some Allen lore, so I’m slowly implementing it >:3 there’ll be a post today // )
“Yeah? Sorry I kinda zoned out there”
She looked up at him and smiled a little bit but under her eyes were slightly damp.
‘’ Okay . . . ‘’
{ He doesn’t let go of the look in her eyes. The tears left staining below them. And so he stands, out-stretching a hand to her with a mock smile }
‘’ Want to show me your favorite parts of the castle? ‘’
“Yeah sure!! Let’s go to the ballroom that’s my favorite room!”
She jumped up and smiled.
{ He smiles, grabbing her hand and motioning for her to lead the way }
‘’ Sounds wonderful! ‘’
She giggled as she dragged him through the halls down to the ballroom.
{ He smiled, both at the architecture and at Shelby’s joy. It was nice. All of it. The exquisite designs and seeing such light in her eyes. It was really good to see }
“I really like the ballroom because it’s the only room that the four of us built together that I don’t have trauma in!”
((Sorry man I’ve been dying))
{ He doesn’t mean to, but he snorts at that }
‘’ Sorry. Tha- I really love that. It’s nice to have a safe place. Ballrooms especially have always been like a bubble; a shield from the outside world. ‘’
( // no worries!! I lwk have been too, but on the emotional end of the spectrum :,3 // )
“You can laugh it’s ok! It was ment to be a little bit funny!”
She walked over to the fountain and grabbed a glass to fill. She kinda wondered how many animals it took Cleo and Pearl to keep this thing filled.
{ He watched, curiously watching the fountain while also feeling incredibly hesitant to step even an inch closer }
‘’ I figured. It just- seemed rude, I suppose. ‘’
{ A soft noise escapes him as he shakes his head }
‘’ Spirits, Pyro was right. I could loosen up. ‘’
She took a dip from her glass and walked around the room. She walked over to the windows and looked outside. She glanced over the spot in the bridge where she stood when they told her about Avid, then to the spot she once hid her novel.
“There’s so many bad memories here but so many good ones as well”
‘’ I’m glad to hear it. ‘’
{ Slowly, after some psyching, he begins to walk around the room. The last time he had been to the castle- spirits, it was the last he had seen of Pyro. A planned dance until they were found out. Not even an afternoon later, and he had been turned }
“So what do you do for fun?”
Shelby was honestly a little bit bored so she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured a bit into her blood. Scott had taught her proportions that it would do a little bit of an effect on her but still taste good.
‘’ I- I don’t indulge in much fun nowadays. Too busy working. Though, on occasion, I’ll find myself at my bass singing some jostled tune. Not as often as I used to. ‘’
“I mostly just write but that’s also my job so”
She leaned against a nearby wall and took another sip. She stood in a manner Owen often would although that made sense since the two were close and Shelby at least was fairly impressionable.
{ He notices the hint in her posture and immediately his eyes narrow. He doesn’t realize it, but he steps away from her, wrapping his arms around himself. Something Pyro used to do when they were uneasy. Spirits, how they miss him }
She immediately stood up straighter and got a concerned look in her face.
“Hey, are you alright? Did something happen?”
Open Rp Starter
A year after the events of Oakhurst occurred Shelby, Scott, and Drift went back to Oakhurst to visit. While Drift and Scott were doing a few things Shelby snuck off. She ventured off to obelisk with a few materials in hand. She took her time and built a grave for Pyro.
Sure Pyro had been extreme and was a murder. He murdered her fledgling after all, but she still cared. Even as she had plunged that stake into his heart she still cared. The coven was her family, Pyro was like a brother to her.
After the grave was constructed Shelby sat at the bottom of it. She spoke to the grave like she was talking to Pyro again. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked. I don’t think I’ll ever really forgive you for what you did but I guess we’re even now? Although it really just fell back on me didn’t it?” She laughed just a little bit, it wasn’t happy laughter at all. A few tears slipped from her eyes but she quickly wiped them away.
Grave image from Shubble. Owen messaged it to me a while back:3
{ Frankly, Allen was reluctant to even return to this place. Especially considering the risks of being noticed by anyone — human or otherwise. After his return to his job, the missions became a lot more risky, and with him leaving Oakhurst under the assumption he had died in the flames, it was a wonder why he even bothered to return. One that confounded even him! — but he had his suspicions }
{ He had intended to build a graveyard. That was the idea. That was not how it went, however. No, because someone beat him to it. Someone who he swore he had seen once, and prayed that he’d never have to see them or their “family” ever again }
‘’ . . . Shelby. ‘’
Shelby jumped before she looked up. She hadn’t expected anyone to find her. She stood up quickly and dusted off her skirt.
“Oh umm hi Allen. Didn’t expect to see anyone out here… didn’t know you were even alive…”
Shelby looked back at the grave. She really missed Pyro even though she’s the one who did it. They looked at the ground not really knowing what to do in this situation.
{ He laughed, though it was quiet and awkward }
‘’ Yeah, uh . . . not as alive as I could be, but- hi. ‘’
{ As they get up, he moves to sit down in front of the grave. Pyro’s grave }
‘’ . . . He was good. ‘’
She looked at him and sat back down in her previous spot. She didn’t really want to cry in front of him.
“He was, before he kinda went a bit insane. I don’t miss the person he was when he died but I miss who he used to be.”
They pulled her knees up to her chest, which made her seem younger than she actually was.
“So are you a vampire now?”
{ He cast her a confused look as she expressed her love for who he was before it all. It made him stiffen, a knot forming in his stomach. A sudden doubt whispered in his mind that perhaps he and the scholar were never as close as they thought }
‘’ . . . yeah. I- yes. I am. I’m . . . sorry I lied to everyone. About my death. ‘’
“It’s ok… I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me since you know”
She looked at her hands remembering them covered in Pyro’s blood. She’d regretted it almost instantly, some of that regret had disappeared when the others agreed with her but it had come back almost full force. They hated their actions but she couldn’t do anything about it now.
{ He watches her before taking one of their hands in his own, gloved in a deep maroon }
‘’ I don’t blame you, Shelby. You were doing it for a reason. I can’t fault you for the same reason that I have done such horrible things. Pyro would understand. The Pyro that we used to know. ‘’
The only thing keeping her together right now just snapped and she started crying. She went through in a few weeks more than what most people would go through in their life her being younger didn’t all that much help. She probably needed to cry. She accepted her hand being taken and she squeezed a little bit.
“I miss him, I miss Avid too.”
{ He squeezed back before gently rubbing his thumb over her hand. He would’ve hugged her, but admittedly, he was terrified. Terrified of her, of what she stands for, of who she works with . . . but being undead has taught him humanity, and so he shifts closer in case she decides to lean on him }
‘’ I- I know. I never knew Avid. Not really. But it’s tragic, nonetheless. And Pyro- . . . I miss him more than I can say. ‘’
“I miss doing Owen’s hair and thinking maybe I could be happy. I miss a lot of things.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes. She felt like she was little again having just lost her dad and losing her mom. She looked towards Pyro’s grave.
“Maybe I’m just as bad as he ended up, can’t be worse than Owen but he killed 3,000 people.”
{ He nods, trying to grasp the tragedy she must be feeling, but aside from Pyro, he was never close to anyone. And in terms of the coven — well, he loathes Scott. It tore into him. The want to help with no ability to }
‘’ You are not as bad as . . . him. Maybe not the best, but certainly not the worst. You have done good, Shelby. That’s more than most could have done in your situation. ‘’
“I’m sorry it’s been a year I need to get over it.”
Shelby pulled her knees up to her chest and pulled her hand away. She wanted to be fine she didn’t want to feel this weight anymore. She had turned Avid and it led to his death and she had killed Pyro herself.
‘’ You don’t. ‘’
{ Those words slip out faster than he intended, but now he couldn’t help but continue, sharing against his better thoughts }
‘’ The job I used to work . . . I had to do what you did with Pyro far more often than anyone. Than Scott. Than the Doctor. Than Owen. I started it when I was young, and it’s been — what — at least ten years? I’m still not over it. You definitely don’t have to be. ‘’
She looked up at him with a curious expression but she didn’t want to force him to talk. She was confused now.
“You, did what I did? I didn’t know anyone else did something like that… I just have to pretend I’m ok even if I’m not. I don’t want to end up like my mom.”
{ He nods, the reminder of it painful, though he’s used to it by now. Mom. That’s another mental jab. But he’ll hide everything for as long as it takes }
‘’ Yeah. Yeah, I did. A long time ago. But- you don’t have to pretend. Not around me, at least. ‘’
Shelby shook her head quickly at the notion. She couldn’t be sad in front of people. She couldn’t end up as broken as her mom. She had to help Scott and Drift so she couldn’t do that.
“So where did you go after all this happened?”
She was definitely trying to deflect. Was she going to keep deflecting? Yes, yes she would.
{ He casts her a look as if to say she won’t get away with this, but he’d let her try }
‘’ I, uh- back to my old job. To a crowned nation, a little west of here. It’s . . . better than it was before. The job, I mean. But that’s all bland news, what happened to you? Looked around after the walls fell and I almost bought that another massacre happened. ‘’
“Well me and Drift have been showing Scott the world. I’ve been working on my book in any downtime.”
She messed with her sleeves as she spoke. Avid was supposed to explore the world with them but it didn’t really work out that way.
“I told my mom that I’m ok and that dad was right because at least vampires and werewolves are real! I haven’t really found anything else yet.”
‘’ Well, that- that’s all wonderful! I never knew you were writing a book. Must be a wonderful writer. A- . . . your mother, is she alright? I figure she must be proud of you, but to be hearing all of this, well, one would be quite shocked. ‘’
“I sent her a letter. I haven’t seen her in a year she didn’t do much after my dad died anyway.”
She sounded bitter at the end. It was clear she disliked her mother. Shelby pulled a little locket out from under her shirt. Luckily it had been gold so she had no trouble with it now. She opened it up and there was a picture of a man with brown hair and yellow eyes and a little girl the same features.
“That’s me and my dad a few months before he disappeared.”
{ He hummed, a small, bittersweet smile crossing his face at the photo }
‘’ I’m . . . sorry for his disappearance. It’s easier when you know the truth, that I know. ‘’
“Yeah. He wasn’t crazy I know that now.”
She closed the locket and sighed. She wondered if everyone in town said the same things about her that they said about her father. She reached out and gently booped Allen. She giggled afterwards.
{ He smiled, though his face scrunched up slightly as she booped him. He relaxed soon after, though }
‘’ Certainly not crazy. ‘’
‘’ . . . though you might as well be for booping me! ‘’
{ Teasingly, he boops her back }
She giggled even more as he was booped. They leaned back on their elbows. She wondered if anyone had noticed she was gone from the castle yet but she didn’t want to go back right now.
“Sooooo how long are you staying around here? I think I’m staying for a few weeks depends on what the other two want. It was mostly for them anyway, I hate being in that castle now.”
{ He hums, chuckling a bit after a few minutes }
‘’ Ah, I’ll figure it out as I go. Though, with Scott around, I might cut my visit short. Don’t want to be around him longer than I have to be. ‘’
“He changed! He’s nice to people now me and Drift have been teaching him. We told him only girlboss no gaslight or gatekeep.”
She sat back up. She needed to make sure people knew that Scott was better now. He wasn’t manipulating people for personal gain and he wasn’t hurting people for fun.
{ He gives a skeptical glance in her direction, scoffing as she finishes her defense of the elder }
‘’ Sure. Well, I don’t know if I can trust that by word alone, and frankly, I don’t intend to meet him to find out the truth. I don’t like him. That’s that. ‘’
Shelby just shrunk in on herself. That was the man who took her in when everyone else thought she was weird. He’s the one who cared about her when the town didn’t. She didn’t like hearing someone talk about him like he couldn’t change.
“Avid made him feel something. He hadn’t felt anything in a thousand years of corse he was going to be cruel. Abolish promised to watch over him and make sure he didn’t slip back, he asked Abolish to do so.”
{ He sighs, leaning forward and staring at the name on the grave }
‘’ He made Pyro feel something, and Pyro did the same to him. Everyone has an influence on everyone, Shelby. I’m not saying that he can’t change, I’m saying that I don’t think he’s- . . . forget it. ‘’
“And then Pyro turned on both of us. Nothing from Oakhurst haunts me more than Avid’s screams. Do you have any idea how that feels? Avid was my fledgling, he was the first person to say I wasn’t crazy.”
Shelby’s fists clenched. If her skin wasn’t already white she knuckles would be. There were tears in her eyes. She stood up, she walked behind the grave and went to the water. She sat down at the edge of the water just staring into it.
{ It stung. Hearing her and Avid’s pain, knowing the pain of Pyro. It was awful, and for several minutes, he sat there, glancing between the name of the past and the pain in the present }
‘’ . . . I have fledglings. Unwilling ones. Ones I had to turn during my job to save them from death, though who knows how much better this is. ‘’
{ Slowly, he stands, brushing off some of his clothes. Though he doesn’t move away from the grave }
‘’ They die often, Shelby. My fledglings never last long. Vampires never last long. Not in big capitals. Not in small towns. So ask again how it feels, because I know it. It happens once every day - screaming, yelling, pain, and then nothing. I don’t know them, Shelby. I don’t know them honorably, and I can do nothing to save them. My losses outweigh my wins. It’s never fair, Shelby. Never. Pyro warned me of that from the start. ‘’
“You didn’t know them. They weren’t your best friend. I close my eyes to sleep and I hear my brother killing my best friend. Both of their deaths are on me.”
Shelby slashed her claws along the surface of the water. She didn’t think anyone could understand what she went through even if what he went through was similar.
“I get that that is still hard but if you don’t know them how can it hurt? It feels like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, I feel empty and alone. But I don’t show it because if I let it out it’ll consume me, I don’t want to be like my mom.”
‘’ It hurts because it’s my fault. But you’re right. It’s not the same. I don’t understand the pain. ‘’
{ His voice is steady but it’s filled with frustration }
‘’ I don’t understand how Pyro lived with you. ‘’
Shelby turned her head around to look at him again. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. She needed to calm down.
“I’m sorry for acting like this my feelings are just kinda all over the place right now, it’s probably because it’s been exactly a year since it all happened.”
{ He sighs, looking away from her and instead behind himself }
‘’ . . . it’s fine. It’s not your fault. ‘’
“Kinda is.”
She stood up and started pacing around the area by the edge of the water.
‘’ It was the fault of all sides, Shelby. Not just yours, not just his; everybody has some effect. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s unfair to yourself to be so cruel to only one instigator. ‘’
“I’m the only one who made it out. I’m the one who didn’t have any consequences for my actions. I didn’t even get told off by anyone they all just celebrated.”
The guilt was evident on her face as she paced along the waters edge.
{ He stays quiet, still refusing to look and her }
‘’ Well, that’s their fault, now, isn’t it? You have guilt. It reeks off of you every waking moment. They don’t have a care for the man behind the monster, they simply needed him gone. At least you feel guilty. That’s the most important thing. ‘’
“Everyone just hated him, I hated him… I don’t hate him. I miss him so much”
She kept pacing around. She was breathing frantically despite not needing to, it was a habit she kept for the whole year.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be pushing this all onto you I- I’m sorry.”
‘’ It’s fine. I- it’s fine. ‘’
{ He pauses, glancing over to her for a moment as he hears her begin breathing, albeit very frantically }
‘’ I never hated him. Not truly. I never forgave him for the death of Avid - who would? - but hate wasn’t something I could bring myself to. ‘’
“I just was so angry and I haven’t felt like that before and I haven’t felt like that since. I think I hated him, he wasn’t really himself at that point. I guess we all had to change a bit, I think I’m better at standing up for myself now?”
They paused in their pacing for a moment to think. She had been standing her ground more and she felt much older even though it’s only by a year.
{ Carefully, he nodded }
‘’ I- It’s good that you became better for yourself through it. Even if it came from hardship. ‘’
“Are you ok? We’ve talked about me a lot, how are you holding up?”
She paused her pacing and looked towards Allen. There was genuine concern on her face.
{ He winces slightly upon seeing all the concern on her face }
‘’ I’m fine. ‘’
{ After a minute, he pulls out a bottle of crimson and quickly downs it, wiping at his mouth to make sure he got it all }
‘’ Just a bit tired from the journey. ‘’
“Do you need somewhere to rest? I could probably sneak you into the castle that way you don’t have to interact with anyone. Plus Scott’s at Avid’s grave most of the time”
Shelby smiled at him a little bit. The offer was genuine she wanted to make sure he was ok.
{ There’s a long silence as he stares at her, looking as though she just said the most incredulous thing he’s ever heard }
‘’ . . . you’re sure he won’t be there? ‘’
“Well he wasn’t there when I left. This is like the second day we’ve been here and he’s only been at the castle a total of like 3 hours.”
The castle has grown in the year that had passed so there were rooms in there which made it much easier to hide a person in there. She walked back over to Allen with a kind smile on her face.
{ Hesitantly, he stands, offering some semblance of a smile in return }
‘’ Well . . . then I suppose I wouldn’t mind. I’ve never been inside that castle, after all. ‘’
{ He offers a hand, smile faltering as anxiety stirred }
‘’ Off we go, then? ‘’
Shelby grabbed his hand and lead him off to the castle. It wasn’t difficult to sneak him into her room. She didn’t want to put him in a guest room since there was a higher chance of someone going in there. She put a sign on her door that said she was writing so nobody would come in.
{ He shifts his weight from one leg to the other, awkwardness settling around him. After a few moments of silence, he sits on the floor, distracting himself with admiring her room }
‘’ . . . it’s very pretty in here. ‘’
“Thank you! Pearl decorated part of it but I added some touches, mostly the books. M sent me signed copies of all his books!”
Shelby sat on the floor close by to the door so if someone decided to peak in they were see her before they got the door open. She had a notebook sitting in her lap with a pen.
{ He looks at the pen, at the book, and then all around the room again }
‘’ . . . that’s nice. ‘’
She started doodling little stars and stuff at the top of her chapter pages. She drew a rather detailed mushroom at the bottom of the end of a chapter. She always had a bit of thing for mushrooms.
“If you’d prefer I can go outside to write, if I’m out there nobody will come in here”
{ It takes a while for him to register she even said anything. Her room, really the whole castle, reminded him of home. The little mansion, run-down and weathered on the outside but cozy within, where he retires after long days and takes in those weathered by distrust and inequality }
‘’ No . . . no, I don’t- I don’t mind. It’s nice having you around. It- it’s nice not being alone. ‘’
“I get that I was kinda on my own for a while before I came to Oakhurst everyone at home just pitied me”
She frowned a bit and looked at the first few pages of her notebook. It talked about her early life and her dad.
‘’ . . . I’ve been alone since my family was killed. ‘’
‘’ It’s not easy, growing up alone. But I’m glad we’ve both made it. ‘’
“My dad left to go find werewolves and my mom just kinda left mentally. She was there but she wasn’t, the first few years she just sat in the chair she found out in I had to make her get up but she would always end up there. I was 12”
She wiped away a tear away that threatened to fall as she spoke. She flipped a few pages in the notebook on her lap getting away from that stuff, it probably wouldn’t make it into the book anyway.
{ He nods solemnly, shifting positions before bringing his knees to his chest and laying his head atop his arms which covered his knees }
‘’ Sorry . . . what are you writing? ‘’
“It’s a ‘fiction’ book about a girl having a vampire roommate and the chaos that happens. I’m changing everyone’s names except mine so it just looks self indulgent”
She lit up after being asked about her writing. She seemed very excited to talk about it.
‘’ Oh, that’s fun! To tell more. What has happened so far? ‘’
“Well she was a cryptid hunter and so when she found out that her roommate and two other people in the town were vampires she got very excited. They had turned her obviously and the four grew very close until yeah…”
*She kinda cut herself off and pulled her knees closer to her chest.*
{ He hums, a soft smile crossing his face }
‘’ Sounds wonderful. ‘’
‘’ . . . are you alright? ‘’
“Yeah I’m fine! I’m just kinda thinking right now”
Shelby messed with her sleeves again. She was definitely anxious but that was pretty normal.
{ He hums, nodding politely. He closes his eyes, leaning his head back. One could mistakenly believe he’s falling asleep, but the vampire is much rather reminiscening }
She went to the page she had left off on, then she remembered why she had stopped writing. There were notes from Avid scribbled in the empty pages. She read over the notes and laughed remembering how goofy he was.
{ Hearing her laugh, he can’t help but smile, opening an eye to see what may be the cause of it. The writing to him is illegible, but it’s joyous to her, and so he closes his eyes once more and lets out a soft breath }
“Oh Avid…”
She had a soft smile on her face. She came across the note about when Avid asked her to turn him, setting up the meeting location.
{ The name makes his body tense, if only briefly. Avid. He remembers brief flourishes of the hunter—not enough, he fears. A part of him desperately wants to leave. To find Avid—to find Scott—and to ask for forgiveness. For anything other than the guilt of loving a fire so kind to keep him alive }
Shelby glanced over at him. She looked back at the notebook and sighed. She couldn’t get rid of these so she would have to get a new one.
“Dang it and I painted this one and everything”
{ He laughs, finally lifting his head to look at her and smile }
‘’ Sounds like you’ll get a new opportunity to paint. Doesn’t seem too bad. ‘’
“Hmmm I’m gonna put a mushroom with a butterfly on the next one. I miss Kathrine”
She sighed thinking about the lives she remembered before this one.
‘’ Who’s Kathrine? ‘’
“So umm one time this person showed me a picture where I was a witch Owen was a llama and Scott was like colorful and stuff. After I saw that I started getting these memories of lives I guess I lived. Kathrine was my girlfriend in two of them, my wife actually once.”
She glanced at the pink tulip she kept in a flowerpot beside her bed.
‘’ She sounds kind. A very wonderful lady, I’m sure. Though . . . that photo is an odd occurrence. ‘’
{ The sound of a clock’s ticking echoes around the room, though there seems not to be a clock in sight. Allen doesn’t seem to hear it, or perhaps he’s spent so much time at odds with it that it rings only as background noise }
Shelby looked around the room trying to find the source of the mysterious ticking noise. She looked a little bit confused, she didn’t have a clock.
“Where is that? Do you hear that?”
‘’ What? ‘’
“I hear a clock but I don’t have a clock. You don’t hear it?”
She started to feel like she was going insane, wouldn’t be the first the she could hear something that others couldn’t.
{ It takes several moments out of him before it clicks, and he begins to laugh }
‘’ Oh, the ticking! No, I suppose it’s so common I’m used to it. Please, pay it no mind. What were you saying about Kathrine? ‘’
{ Slowly, the ticking starts to fade away }
“Well one time she put me in a prison where I sat in a little boat because I was corrupted by this stuff called the skulk it was weird. She put me in prison because I was kinda evil and she was a monster hunter, you know she’d probably hate me now.”
{ He hums, listening before tsking at her end statement }
‘’ Oh, please. You saw Scott and Avid, did you not? A hunter can surely love their hunted, even if such a prospect is strange. ‘’
“I don’t even know why she cared about me in the first place! I was a witch and a criminal!”
She signed. She knew Scott and Avid worked out but Katherine was different than Avid.
‘’ So? ‘’
{ He sighs, standing up and moving over to her before plopping down by her side }
‘’ Y’know, by all means, I’m wanted, too. But I found someone who loved me, once. He sang such beautiful songs to me. And he had a way with words that I find myself constantly trying to emulate. A lawman. That’s what he was. I never quite believed he truly loved me. It seemed impossible. But there it was. And there he was . . . point is, even the most unexpected people care sometimes. Despite all impossibility. ‘’
“It’s a bit more complicated than that, it’s not like she’d remember me. If she was still a monster hunter then she’d probably try and kill me. Although who knows what she would be it’s not exactly like we’re alive like that anymore. Well I was kinda in a weird situation with dying but that’s for another day.”
She ran her hand over the cover of her notebook feeling the texture of it. She kinda made herself shut up because she was rambling a lot.
{ He hums, nodding along }
‘’ I see. Well, I can only pray if you two ever do cross paths again, that it goes peacefully and lovingly. ‘’
She nodded before looking at the flower by her bed once again. She had a soft smile on her face as she reminisced.
“I hope so too”
{ He smiles, closing his eyes soon again and burying his face in his arms }
She eventually just kinda spaced thinking about the past or maybe she was reliving it who really knew.
{ After a few peacefully quiet moments, Allen mumbles something under his breath }
‘’ ᓭ𝙹∷∷|| ᔑʖ𝙹⚍ℸ ̣ ℸ ̣ ⍑ᒷ ᓵꖎ𝙹ᓵꖌ ‘’
She didn’t even notice that he said anything she kinda wasn’t really present in the moment
((THE GALACTIC HELLO?))
{ It took him a moment to realize she hadn’t heard, at which point he immediately let it go }
( // hehehe // )
She eventually zoned back in a little bit and she pulled her knees closer to her chest. Her eyes were teary but she wasn’t actually crying.
{ He heard the shuffling, though he wasn’t sure he dared to look up. If he met her eyes, that’d be one thing, but if he met theirs . . . }
Shelby blinked the tears from her eyes before wiping them away. She calmed herself down after a moment taking a few deep breaths.
((HELLO? WATCHER REFERENCE MAYBE??))
{ After a few moments of hearing her breathing, he looks up, casting a concerned look }
‘’ Shelby? ‘’
( // mwhehehehe - mixing and matching some Allen lore, so I’m slowly implementing it >:3 there’ll be a post today // )
“Yeah? Sorry I kinda zoned out there”
She looked up at him and smiled a little bit but under her eyes were slightly damp.
‘’ Okay . . . ‘’
{ He doesn’t let go of the look in her eyes. The tears left staining below them. And so he stands, out-stretching a hand to her with a mock smile }
‘’ Want to show me your favorite parts of the castle? ‘’
“Yeah sure!! Let’s go to the ballroom that’s my favorite room!”
She jumped up and smiled.
{ He smiles, grabbing her hand and motioning for her to lead the way }
‘’ Sounds wonderful! ‘’
She giggled as she dragged him through the halls down to the ballroom.
{ He smiled, both at the architecture and at Shelby’s joy. It was nice. All of it. The exquisite designs and seeing such light in her eyes. It was really good to see }
“I really like the ballroom because it’s the only room that the four of us built together that I don’t have trauma in!”
((Sorry man I’ve been dying))
{ He doesn’t mean to, but he snorts at that }
‘’ Sorry. Tha- I really love that. It’s nice to have a safe place. Ballrooms especially have always been like a bubble; a shield from the outside world. ‘’
( // no worries!! I lwk have been too, but on the emotional end of the spectrum :,3 // )
“You can laugh it’s ok! It was ment to be a little bit funny!”
She walked over to the fountain and grabbed a glass to fill. She kinda wondered how many animals it took Cleo and Pearl to keep this thing filled.
{ He watched, curiously watching the fountain while also feeling incredibly hesitant to step even an inch closer }
‘’ I figured. It just- seemed rude, I suppose. ‘’
{ A soft noise escapes him as he shakes his head }
‘’ Spirits, Pyro was right. I could loosen up. ‘’
She took a dip from her glass and walked around the room. She walked over to the windows and looked outside. She glanced over the spot in the bridge where she stood when they told her about Avid, then to the spot she once hid her novel.
“There’s so many bad memories here but so many good ones as well”
‘’ I’m glad to hear it. ‘’
{ Slowly, after some psyching, he begins to walk around the room. The last time he had been to the castle- spirits, it was the last he had seen of Pyro. A planned dance until they were found out. Not even an afternoon later, and he had been turned }
“So what do you do for fun?”
Shelby was honestly a little bit bored so she grabbed a bottle of wine and poured a bit into her blood. Scott had taught her proportions that it would do a little bit of an effect on her but still taste good.
‘’ I- I don’t indulge in much fun nowadays. Too busy working. Though, on occasion, I’ll find myself at my bass singing some jostled tune. Not as often as I used to. ‘’
“I mostly just write but that’s also my job so”
She leaned against a nearby wall and took another sip. She stood in a manner Owen often would although that made sense since the two were close and Shelby at least was fairly impressionable.
"I wonder what plastic tastes like..."
“Bad, very bad”
"But what if it tastes really good as a demon...."
“Avid no-“
"Avid YES!"
“Avid NO! I’ll let you read my rough draft of my next book if you don’t”
"I- BUT- BUT- But plastic looks so tastyyyyy!!! Can't I read it anywaysss?" :<
“Trust me it is NOT tasty! And no you can not!”
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"I wonder what plastic tastes like..."
“Bad, very bad”
"But what if it tastes really good as a demon...."
“Avid no-“
"Avid YES!"
“Avid NO! I’ll let you read my rough draft of my next book if you don’t”
"I wonder what plastic tastes like..."
“Bad, very bad”
"But what if it tastes really good as a demon...."
“Avid no-“
