#oftragxdy

send one for my muse’s reaction to your muse ---

The gentle weight of her head fell upon its shoulder—weary, tired. Unguarded. It smiles faintly, the yellow flames of its burning like funeral pyres in the darkness of her room. This is where it thrives—in the softness of the unspoken. The serpent, outstretched so lazily, languidly in her bed, is sanctified in the gauzy moonlight that draped over their slotted limbs—its beatific face shifts, quietly predatory, the sharpness of a claw raised to her cheek; it drags downward, wistfully, unhurriedly, without cutting, without abrasions or violence; no harm will come to you… have I not always been sweet to you, child? It whispers carried through the air with all the softness of a breeze, filling her skull with all the disarming grace butterfly fluttering its wings, finding all the hidden crevices of her to hide in. Rest… it's okay, it coaxes cruelly, a quiet, numbing balm over an injured soul, lulling her to sleep, soothing over wounds, seen and unseen, carrying her into the clutches of slumber with gentle hands.

Rest… are you not tired? Is this not what you've been longing for? He had come to answer her sinner's prayer, offering deliverance through surrender, devouring her so slowly, so she would not stir, not fight. This is how he enjoys his meals: complacent, willing. Rest in my arms, knowing that you are safe… forget everything else; the lies taste like honey on his tongue. The lulling coo of the serpent that slowly wrapped itself around her mortal coil tighter and tighter burrowing so deep, making a hole in her brain; it tucked her raven hair behind the delicate arch of her ear, watching her sleep, following her into her dreams, into the very depths of her subconscious where she could not fight it. Rest… Dream of me, and only of me…

And what did Cardelle Mackie have to show? Nothing. He’d been holed up for however long it had been since the SRS, apprehensive and scared to leave the confined walls of his home or Daniel’s place in fear that Dimitri would jump from the shadows and rip him to shreds on the spot. In actuality, Dimitri probably hadn’t thought of him...wouldn’t even remember his name if he stood in front of the vampire with it written on his shirt.

Today was the day he changed things, started to take his life back, start to get some control over those things he’d lost control over. A shave was the first thing, taking a mass of tangled hair down to something clean and prickly, enough to give definition to a strong jaw. It was strange to see himself in the mirror without it now, having gone months unkempt but it at least elicited a smile across the Mackie’s lips. You’re nearly you again. Blonde locks still fell across his face, too long to cut right now so Cardelle opted to simply tie it back; he could sort that at any time now. He picked up the closest thing he had to a clean and uncrumpled shirt, slung it on as well as whatever else he could find that would be deemed presentable before heading out.

Was he nervous, out in the open, absolutely, but he had direction now, an idea in his head of how he could actually make use of himself. No longer hiding. No longer the weakest link in the family...the weakest link in the hideout. “Axel, sir,” he knocked on the door as he finally arrived at the new commanders room, awaiting a response before he paced tentatively in, “I wondered if I could have a word?”

The bar was busier than normal, people coming in to drink away what had happened and Nick used it as an excuse to stick his nose in his work for once and try not to dwell on things. He flicks his cloth onto his shoulder with a smile once he served the drink and moved onto the neck person who slide into one of his barstools. “Hey, look who it is.” The wolf’s smile turning into a grin as he recognises her. 

Azarius: I was told you didn't choke on yesterday's rations.

"Well, she's not bleeding on the bathroom floor just for the attention," Thaddeus smirked, pushing the now very dead woman from her side onto her back with his foot, "That would just be ridiculously odd." He wasn't one to hide what he had done or what he was doing. In fact, he couldn't think of a single time he'd done anything that he'd lived to regret. Even if things hadn't gone his way, it had been a learning experience, a way to better his evil. "But hey, at least your cleaners will earn their wage today, no?" a beat, "Oh, I hope she wasn't the lead in your next little play or anything? That would be rather unfortunate... for you."

He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, bringing one to his lips with a lighter in hand, "You don't mind if I smoke in here, do you?" Thad didn't wait for an answer, lighting up and taking a drag. "Didn't think so."

"You learn a couple of things when you get to my age," Azagi started, picking at the fries in the centre of their table, "like friends don't lie, and it all tastes the same in the dark." The demon shrugged, looking over the witch. She said she was fine, but she always did. Azagi didn't know when to believe her or call her out on her bullshit. "People think so many things matter, and they don't. A roof over your head, food, and water. That's all a human - or witch - needs. You have that. Things seem to be looking up for you. So I need you to do something, Freyja. I need you to give yourself a try. Really try. Sort this shit out with your magic, talk to other witches, learn control and learn how to protect yourself. I'm working on something, but it doesn't seem like Belgr is going to leave this alone."