𝔞 𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔱 𝔟𝔬𝔶

Memes for when the other character has lost it! Some of these can have heavier connotations so peruse with caution.

"You're hurting me!"

"Get off me!"

"This isn't you!"

"Get control!"

"I trust you - but you need to stop -"

"Don't make me tie you up."

"Take a breath, focus."

"You're here with me."

"I don't like that look in your eyes."

"You are stronger than this!"

"You have to fight it off."

"Come on, come back to me..."

"Take a breath. Remember to ground yourself."

"You're better than the monster."

"Don't let it take you over."

"Hold my hand. Take a breath. You're here. You're safe."

"No! No! Please -"

"Why would you do this?! I thought you were better than this!"

"You're meant to be fighting it!"

"We were friends, weren't we?"

"How could it end like this?"

"Please - don't -"

"You're out of control."

"Someone needs to put you down."

"Like a wild dog, aren't you?"

"Get the muzzle."

"If you don't stop, you're going to make me hurt you."

"Oh, poor thing... so much wildness in you, hm?"

"Someone help! Please!"

Back to Santa Carla, right as the heavy rain and an early "June Gloom" hit, Star regretting them leaving Washington so soon (she had been the one lamenting about the ocean). Curled up on a moth-eaten couch, feet tucked underneath herself, the brunette focused on beadwork, embellishing a denim jacket she had found while out of California. She feels the weight of her brother sitting beside her, before the sudden teeth on her forearm just as she had set her work down for a second.

"Hey!" The younger vampire exclaims, eyes narrowing at the edges half-playfully, before using her nails to flick the bridge of Dwayne's nose. "Bad dog," she said, a laugh laced in her voice she tried to push aside, knowing that Thorn slept soundly across the cave at David's feet. "If you're bored, I still have maybe 10 percent on my phone you can play Candy Crush or something, just let goooo, come on!"

               HE   LOST   TRACK   OF   TIME.   DWAYNE   NOTICED   HE   HAD   BEEN   doing   that   a   lot   more   given   they   didn’t   have   a   looming   threat   over   them;   one   that   wrapped   thick   around   David   and   Dwayne’s   throats.   It   was   just   signs   that   he   could   finally   relax,   enjoy   the   company   of   his   family,   and   engage   in   things   he   liked.   However,   he   didn’t   know   exactly   what   he   liked   to   do   for…   fun.   Dwayne   got   so   lost   in   his   purpose   that   he   forgot   that   human   side   of   him.   He   only   ever   felt   some   resemblance   of   it   when   he   was   with   Star.   

                  Maybe   that   was   why   he   bothered   her   so   much   lately.   

               HIS   TEETH   STAYED   CLAMPED   DOWN   ON   HER   ARM   LIKE   A   dog   unwilling   to   let   go   of   his   favorite   bone.   His   eyes   glinted   and   lips   twitched   when   Star   voiced   similar   thoughts   with   her   ‘bad   dog’   comment.   Dwayne   laughed   softly,   “   Fine…   ”   the   voice   was   muffled   around   her   arm.   Letting   go   of   her,   he   straightened   himself   better   next   to   her.   He   was   careful   not   to   touch   anything   because   his   hands   had   a   thin   layer   of   grime   from   messing   with   his   new   bike;   an   updated   style   that   was   sleek   and   athletic,   but   he   still   kept   his   old   one,   “   Candy   Crush?   ”   Dwayne’s   nose   wrinkled,   “   No   thanks.   ”

"It just takes time." Star nearly scoffed at that, wondering how much time. Animals were still difficult for her to hunt, how was she going to kill a human? Sure, she knew about the sort of moral code the band of vampires had, doing their best to follow it when they could (with exceptions, many she knew were just if David mostly felt like it), but would that ever be her? Her head shook at Dwayne's suggestion to do it for her; if this was something she was going to have to learn to manage, the new halfling would push herself, tune the moment out if she had to. "No, no. I need to learn."

If she had been doing that her entire life so far, now would be no different.

A weight on her shoulders lifted only slightly at the vampire's reassurance regarding the leader of the Lost Boys; Star would see girls much more like him, girls who would fit in seamlessly with the others, and wonder if he ever regretted her. Bohemian, tarot card reading, whimsical in her brightly colored skirts and accessories, vegetarian in any regard, Star stuck out amongst the boys. Brown eyes met brown as a small, whisper of a smile appeared on her lips at the reassurance that David's irritance wasn't at her necessarily before it faltered. "... I just wish he hadn't done it the way he did, not telling me until after it was all done," Star admitted softly, finally going to a small puddle of water to clean off her blood-stained hands.

               SHE   WAS   TENACIOUS,   DWAYNE   WOULD   GIVE   HER   THAT.   EITHER   WAY,   he   would   keep   his   offer   on   the   table   just   in   case.   He   had   no   problem   with   catching   something,   and   pouring   the   meal   into   a   bottle   for   her   to   sip   from   until   she   was   more   committed   to   the   act.   Dwayne   stood   by   what   he   said;   hunting   wasn’t   easy,   but   it   did   become   a   necessity.   A   horrible   necessity,   he   knew.     For   now,   he   would   let   the   conversation   lie   where   it   was.

               THE   OLDER   VAMPIRE   STOOD   WHERE   HE   WAS,   KEEPING   HIMSELF   AS   watch   dog   no   matter   the   mundane   task   the   others   in   his   family   busied themselves with.   Their   eyes   met,   and   Dwayne   could   see   the   disappointment   and   hurt   in   her   eyes.   It   made   his   stomach   churn,   the   guilt   caused   his   chest   to   tighten   to   an   aching   degree.   Star   didn’t   deserve   this.   She   had   more   hope   than   any   of   them   combined.   Meaning,   she   could’ve   strived   in   life   despite   her   hardships.   Then,   she had   run   into   them;   a   fate   sealed   unknowingly.   Dwayne   saw   it   the   moment   David   looked   at   her.   He   had   tried   to   convince   him   not   to   do   it,   but   David   was   persistent…   he   was   happy.   Dwayne   hadn’t   seen   his   brother   happy   in   a   long   time,   and   so   he   let   it   go.

               “   I   WOULDN’T   HAVE   EITHER…   OR MAYBE—   I   DON’T   KNOW,   ”   HE   looked   down   while   he   crossed   his   hands   over   his   chest,   “   If   my   sister   wanted   to   do   it,   then   I   would   have,   ”   But,   it   didn’t   turn   out   that   way.   If   anything,   his   experience   was   similar   to   Star,   but   it   wasn’t   David   who   did   it,   “   I   think   he   should   have   told   you   upfront.   ”   Dwayne   said   in   agreement   with   tensing   jaws   that   set   after   he   spoke.

Star's half-beating heart had been pounding so fast in her chest, it nearly was human again, as the overwhelming nature of what she had done hit her. The rabbit's fur, once dusty brown, now a dark red that in the night, it looked black, drying on her hands, around her mouth. The taste of the blood alone had settled too much on her tongue, going to the part of her head that reminded her she was still human, if even half. Her eyes fixated on the animal on the ground, hands shaking as her breath quickened, spinning around quickly only to feel the cool touch of Dwayne.

It was his turn to take her hunting, making sure that she remained fed at least somewhat on her new diet, after the last time with David, she swore she could feel the faint irritability he kept at bay. "I can't- I can't do this-" she said, voice trembling at the edges as she tried to focus on the fact the vampire's arms had wrapped around her, grounding her in a way. Hot tears fell down her cool cheeks, against Dwayne's skin, as Star tried to calm herself down, sniffing once before the other spoke.

She was there with him.

She was alright, even if what she had just done made bile threaten to rise up; a dead rabbit was what had turned her vegetarian as a kid, and now here she was. Killing animals all so she herself didn't one night lose any and all control she had, a stark warning the leader of the Lost Boys had given her, doing something she would regret even more.

                  DWAYNE   KNEW   FULLY   WELL   SHE   WOULD   HAVE   A   HARD   TIME   to   the   adjustment.   All   of   them   did   at   first.   Some   adapted   quicker   than   others,   but   it   took   time.   Dwayne   was   disgusted   with   himself.   Especially   since   his   first   kill   was   his   sister.   He   didn’t   mean   to   do   it—   he   meant   to   stop   after   just   one   taste,   but   no   one   warned   him   how   animalistic   it   felt;   how   primal   it   was.   So,   when   David   decided   to   turn   her,   after   the   many   times   Dwayne   said   what   a   bad   idea   it   was,   he   swore   to   watch   over   her   habits.   He   didn’t   want   Star   to   turn   out   like   he   did.   He   didn’t   want   her   to   have   regrets.   

                  HE   WATCHED   DAVID   AND   STAR   EACH   TIME   THEY   WENT   ON   a   hunt,   and   it   was   clear   the   communication   between   them   wasn’t   the   best,   or   maybe   it   was   just   the   fact   David   was   more   detached   when   it   came   to   their   food.   Either   way,   Dwayne   was   a   gentle   giant   underneath   his   cold   exterior.   He   had   to   raise   and   watch   over   his   sister   when   their   parents   died   which   meant   he   already   had   the   demeanor   Star   needed   for   this   task.   What   she   needed   was   family,   a   brother,   and   Dwayne   was   quite   experienced   in   that   category.   So,   he   started   to   accompany   her   on   her   hunts   instead   of   any   of   the   others,   and   would   go   feed   later   in   the   night.   

               WHEN   SHE   STARTED   TO   SPIRAL,   HE   WAS   QUICK   TO   STEP   forward,   “   You   can   do   it.   It   just   takes   time,   ”   a   gentle   reassurance   as   he   let   Star   pull   away   from   him.   His   dark   eyes   dropped   to   the   rabbit   with   a   small   frown,   “   It’s   not   easy—   it   never   is.   If   you   want,   I   can   do   it   for   you,   and   bring   it   to   you   in   a   glass   or   bottle   until   you   get   a   little   more…   comfortable   with   it.   ”   A   suggestion   he   would   keep   on   the   table   forever   long   she   needed   it.   

          𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚.

          Independent, selective, & 21+ Michael Langdon Morningstar of FX's AHS: Apocalypse. Mostly written in the direction of an original character with many verses & horror themes ahead.

                                                       𝐇𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬…

"Okay, okay!" Star whispered back, lifting the front of her skirt around her ankles as she mirrored Dwayne's path. She had nearly forgotten how different things could look even inside their nest during the daytime, following the other to the mouth of the cave. The smell of oncoming rain mixed with salty air and mud filled her nose, but her own fear held her back for just a moment longer, even with her brother in enough of the light itself. It was something she had longed for again, never bothering to ask, because Star had felt so many of her questions were more of the 'common sense' variety for a vampire, but this?

Oh, this meant more to her than Dwayne could have known. Not just going in the light, but adding such a memory like this, just the two of them.

Her eyes widened as she could only watch as Dwayne stepped outside the dark of the cave, a hand flying to her mouth to keep in the gasp of fear, of surprise- until nothing happened. There was no instant burning of his skin, no even hint of it; lowering her hand, she then carefully stepped outside as well. A cool, soft breeze instantly hit her cheeks as she did so, eyes adjusting to the brighter view around them. "... I never thought I could see this again," she said, more to herself than to Dwayne, brown eyes going from the sky above, to the crashing waves below against the jagged rocks. The storm that was coming in was one that could last into the night, but in that moment, all Star could think about was this: a part of her was also healing itself. Learning to appreciate even more something that humans -or other creatures- look for granted, even as simple as an overcast, seemingly gloomy day.

To them, it was miserable, but to a vampire? It allowed them to feel human again, for even a short time.

               HE   HAD   HIS   BACK   TO   THEIR   NEST,   CHIN   LIFTED   TO   meet   the   sky.   Dwayne's   eyes   gleamed   with   delight   upon   seeing   the   sky   so illuminated.   Dark, though brining a   storm,   it   was   still   brighter   than   the   night   they   crawled   around   in.   And,   when   he   lowered   his   chin,   he   could   actually   see   the   ocean   and   the   boardwalk;   could   see   everything.   He   felt   himself—   felt   like   a   human   again.   Despite   the   rowdiness   he   would   partake   in,   Dwayne   felt   like   a   monster.   He   tried   desperately   to   cling   to   something,   anything   to   subside   that   animalistic   quality.   And,   funny   enough,   comparing   them   to   animals   helped   him   a   fraction.   

               DWAYNE   LOOKED   TO   STAR,   WATCHED   AS   SHE   TOOK   IN   THE   day   around   them.   Gloomy?   Sure,   but   Dwayne   started   to   like   rainy   weather   a   lot   more   now.   It   meant   he   could   have   some   internal   peace,   to   make   sure   he   wasn’t   going   to   go   insane   by   being   trapped   by   the   night,   “   It   took   some   experimenting   for   sure.   I   thought   ‘If   the   sunlight   hurts   us,   then   shouldn’t   cloudy   days   be   fine’?   ”   Dwayne   chuckled,   “   So   I   would   peek   at   the   weather   channel,   stay   up   most   of   the   time   on   days   they   said   we’d   get   rain.   Then,   when   we   did,   I   just   stepped   outside,   ”   he   shrugged   his   shoulders,   “   I   was   fine.   After   a   few   minutes   I   started   to   feel   a   little   tingling   on   my   skin,   but   then   after   an   hour   the   tingling   started   to   prickle.   Despite   that   feeling,   I   stayed   out.   I   wanted   to   know   how   long   we   could   stay   out   under   the   clouds.   ”

A small, muffled sound of near annoyance came from underneath the floral shawl draped over her head. Star had only just fallen asleep shortly after dawn, a book dog-eared sat on the cluttered nightstand, a tapered candle snuffed out with a painted over thimble (Paul's idea). "...M'hm.... it's still..." the shawl was tugged down, her eyes adjusting to how... How much brighter it was. The faint cast of light around her brother wasn't the usual orange-yellow hue of candlelight Star had known too well, no, this was-

Daylight. Overcast, moreso than the usual clouds from just the ocean, and even in her sleepy state, she understood what it was Dwayne had woken her up for.

Out of the boys, she had remained the one to still cling for, and even mourn, the smallest things of being human; ever since she had completely become a vampire, the idea of even being awake at such a time of day had felt lost. She once read that there was a joke that was why they valued candlelight so much: the warmth and the light was the closest they could get to the sunlight. Part of her would always regret her first kill, but an even larger part of her never would.

                  DWAYNE   HAD   SMILED   TO   HIMSELF   WHEN   STAR   STRUGGLED   AGAINST   THE   spell   of   sleep.   In   ways,   Star   was   identical   to   his   little   sister.   He   remembered   what   a   challenge   it   was   to   get   her   going   in   the   morning.   When   she   died,   Dwayne   often   asked   to   have   just   one   more   morning   like   that.   Now?   Now   he   was   blessed   with   that   wish.   Dwayne   wouldn’t   admit   it,   but   Star   alone   started   to   heal   the   inner   wounds   Dwayne   created   for   himself.   

               THE   OLDER   VAMPIRE   DIDN’T   WAIT   FOR   HER   LIKE   ANY   OLDER   sibling   might   do,   and   headed   towards   the   cave   entrance.   Dark   eyes   scanned   the   sleeping   bodies   as   he   moved,   making   sure   they   stayed   sound   asleep.   Dwayne   looked   over   his   shoulder   to   see   Star’s   progress   while   also   holding   his   finger   to   indicate   lowering   her   voice.   The   last   thing   he   needed   was   to   hear   two   sets   of   moody   voices   from   Marko   and   Paul   about   not   getting   their   beauty   sleep.   From   what   Dwayne   could   tell…   they   need   a   lot   of   it,   “   Just   c’mon!   ”   He   whispered   before   he   turned   back   toward   the   entrance.