johnny's got a teasing lilt to his voice as his eyes cut between the elegant silver-belled collar and the man holding it. the collar is pretty, sure. delicate, (faux) leather smooth to the touch, intricate buckles that gleam under the light. it's something someone would pick with care. But johnny's eye for detail is razor sharp and can't help but notice that it's not cat-sized.
"big one, aye?" he taps the delicate bell with the tip of his thumb, and it gives a quiet chime. ghost merely tilts his head, a slow, measured movement as he watches johnny inspect it. "if i'd known ye were big on pets, id've given ye a fish." his grin is wolfish, full of teeth, and it only deepens when he catches the slight twitch of ghost's mask, right where his mouth is.
ghost mutters, voice low and even. "could've used the quiet."
johnny's laugh is quick, bright, sharp as he shakes his head. "yer a man of surprises, simon." his amusement settles, and with a lazy shrug, he leans back. "well, i'm sure it'll look good on 'er."
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You’re reading it right—I’m hopping from Substack to a Patreon account.
To be clear, my Substack isn’t disappearing and all my stuff isn’t going behind a paywall. The Substack will remain as a backup account, but the Patreon, now with all my writing transferred, is going to exist as my main account going forward. The Harker preview chapters and the odd short story will remain available for my freebie members (and I’ve included Chapter 7 and the new short “My Friend” as my Substack farewells), but the paid subscription will not only help support me, but will come with an extra monthly scribble.*
My first one is a missing epilogue to Carmilla, in which we see how Laura spent her final hours alive. Notably, she’s not alone…
Short version: Substack closed. Patreon new. Includes vampires.
*Postscript:
I may finagle with this in the future. Might experiment with either other tiers or one-time pay options for certain posts and collections**, but we’ll see how subscribing works out first.
**Post-Postscript:
I have collections on Patreon! All my series in their own neat little piles! It’s so tidy and I love it.
Human AU, Aurora is a horror fan, Cirrus is a scare actor. Feat Phantom and Dew.
"This is the best day of my fucking life," Aurora giggles as she looks around the horror-themed park, pratically vibrating where she's standing, waiting for Phantom to get their tickets checked. He joins her quickly, knocking shoulders with her, all over-excited grin and barely contained energy.
"What do we do first ?"
Aurora scans the map she snagged at the entry, a concentrated frown between her eyebrows like she's deciding on something crucial to her life. She twirls a pale pink strand of hair around her pointer finger, letting Phantom peer above her shoulder.
"I think we can roam around to visit first. The Cursed Village, the Doomed Forest, the Catacombs and all. Then we go on the rides we want, and we fisnish with the Haunted Manor, by night ?"
Phantom nods, batting his hair away from his freckled face. It's Halloween, and most of the visitors are dressed the part. The both of them certainly are, Aurora as Columbia from Rocky Horror, shimmering from head to toes, and Phantom as a Lost Boys themed vampire.
"Sounds good to me. Ready ?"
Phantom offers his arm, and Aurora takes it with a giddy smile. Horror is a passion of them. They met at a Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween screening- they both went alone, unsure who to bring when they were the only ones in their respective circles to be into the trainwreck that is this movie, and ended up being seated next to each other by chance. Having arrived about half an hour early, they chatted to pass time, and got on like a house on fire ; even more so when they spent the night screaming iconic lines or jabs at the screen. Since then, it's tradition for them to do something fun on Halloween, and today is just a continuation of that.
They go about exploring the Village first, and it becomes clear that the best part about it, beside the fantastic sets, is the actors. They roam about, dressed as iconic monsters or completely new ones, interracting in character with an remarkable amount of comittment. Phantom pratically yeets himself out of the window of a grand house in excitment when a Bela Lugosi Dracula lookalike agrees to take a picture with him, baring his fangs.
The both of them spend the afternoon running around in excitment, pointing out details and easter eggs, nerding the fuck out in an environment that doesn't make them feel like freaks for it. Aurora poses in front of several cool locations, tries strange drinks, banters with actors and is even asked for pictures by several other visitors. She and Phantom go for rides and burst each other's eardrums, screaming like they have no care for their vocal cords, Aurora clutching her sparkling top hat to her chest.
She doesn't remember the last time she felt so happy. The sun is starting to set, slowly, so they will soon head for the Manor, but they stopped by the Village again to get cotton candy and churros. Phantom goes to throw the wrap paper in a nearby bin, and Aurora goes down on one knee a few paces away to adjust the strap of her right shoe. She's focused on her task, at least until a boot enters her line of sight, prompting her to look up at the actor looming above her.
Standing there is a plague doctor, face obscured by the bird-like mask, wordlessly offering her a gloved hand. Aurora takes it, equal part intimidated and flustered, flushing when she's pulled to her feet with surprising strenght.
"Thank you," she giggles, adjusting her hat. The plague doctor appraises her for a beat, then tilts their head to the side.
"You're welcome, m'lady. I do not believe I've seen such a...sparkling beauty around before."
Aurora resists the urge to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. The voice sounds feminine, though she wouldn't want to assume. The thrill of mystery, of this fully clothed figure safely hidden behind a mask, makes Aurora perk up just as much as the compliment.
"Oh, uh, yeah, it' my first time here."
The doctor has yet to let go of Aurora's hand, though they hold it loosely enough that she could take it away should she want to. She does not, in fact, want to.
"Ah, first time, is it ? Well, I hope you find your stay here pleasant, and it should be, if you take care of avoiding those infection-ridden rats."
Aurora snorts, shrugging.
"Oh, I have pet rats at home, i'm not scared."
The doctor tilts their head, taking a step forward, breaching the space between them in fake concern.
"Fearless little one," they croon, and really, Aurora shouldn't be so weak to this kind of pet names, "and did you come here alone, unprotected ?"
Aurora peers at the blacked-out googles, trying to find a glimpse of eyes behind them, to no avail. Her face warms when the doctor brushes a strand of hair away from Aurora's eyes, carelessly, like a second thought.
"I can hold my own, don't worry. But i did come with a friend, he should be somewhere around here...oh. Nevermind. I think he's busy," Aurora giggles as she catches a glimpse of Phantom, beat red with his chin craddled in the palm of an actor dressed as the Invisible Man, standing so close they're nearly knocking noses.
The doctor chuckles, having followed Aurora's gaze.
"Oh, please excuse Dr. Griffin, he does have a tendency to swipe people off their feet. Tell me, sparkling girl, what is your name ?"
Aurora's stomach swoop for no reason at all as she gives her name, but there is definitely a justification behind the way her ears start to burn when the doctor brings her hand to the lower part of their mask, under the beak, in what could be considered a hand kiss.
"Pleasure, Miss Aurora. I am Dr Elizabeth Thorne, smartest woman alive and definitely better scientist than Griffin, no matter what he says. If you find yourself infected, come find me. I might be able to save your life."
She tilts her head sharply then, letting out an ominous cackle that really shouldn't be attractive, yet somehow manages to.
"I cannot guarantee you'll walk out with all your limbs, though. I have quite the collection..."
Aurora giggles, because apparently she's down so bad that fictional threats of bodily harm make her face heat up.
"Well, I'll keep that in mind, doctor."
She's already at risk of exploding, but Aurora's knees damn near give out under herself when the doctor reaches out to adjust her jacket for her, slow and deliberate in her movements.
"Go now, sparkling Aurora, night is coming. Soon the Manor will open its doors...be safe, threats are everywhere..."
Aurora stubles out of the interraction with a flamming face and maybe a new kink or two. Phantom quietly joins her at the bench she collapsed on, just as red as her.
"...I think I met the love of my life," she wheezes, earning a chuckle from him.
"Dude, same. I will never recover."
They fawn each other exageratedly for a moment, babbling about their respective interractions, before they decide to head to the Manor, the sun having finally set.
At night, the park is even spookier, even more majestic, and they both fall prey to a few jumpscares on their way to the Manor, hands pressed to their chests to keep their hearts from falling out of it.
It's their last activity before heading home, so they intend on making it worth it. They explore every nooks and cranies, Aurora finds the entrance to the underground lair out of which a very convincing Phantom of the Opera chases them, they pretend to be terrified when a crazed Victor Frankenstein deliberates on whether to chop them into little bits for his creations, Phantom looks longingly at the plastic bats hung from the ceiling and Aurora makes a mental note to buy him a plushie when they walk out.
Still, in a corner of her mind, she keeps going back to her interraction with Dr Thorne, and she keeps an eye out for her the second she realizes some of the actors who were previously outside wandered in the Manor too. Despite how alert she is, she still jumps when a voice sounds behind her back.
"Miss Aurora. I see you've survived the night. For now."
Spinning on her heels, Aurora feels her stupid heart skyrocket as she's faced with the Doctor, who becons her closer with a crooking of her gloved finger. Aurora glances at Phantom, who gestures extensively for her to go, mouthing "have fun" with a smirk.
Well, do not blame Aurora for not opposing any resistance. Soon, she's offered an arm, and she ends up strolling the Manor next to possibly the hottest woman she's ever met.
"So, you've found me."
"Indeed," the doctor hums, "alive and spared by the infection, nonetheless. It seems you are a lucky, lucky one."
"Ah, I agree with that," Aurora chuckles, though she might feel in luck for another reason. A quick survey of her surroundings informs her that the Invisble Man has found Phantom again, crowding him against a wall. Unfortunately, Aurora's distraction causes her to miss an irregularity in the floor, and she feels her ankle tweak painfully when her heel doesn't land quite right. She cries out, probably would've fallen if it weren't for the doctor's quick reflex, an arm wrapping around her waist to support her weight.
"Are you okay ?"
The actress' voice is clearer, out of character in her concern. Aurora makes an ambiguous noise, unsure herself.
"Let me take a look. Here."
Aurora ends up in a secluded corner, on a bench with the actress holding her foot, down on one knee in front of her. Which still makes her feel some type of way.
"Apologies, but I can't see shit with this," the actress sighs, gesturing toward her mask and undoing the laces behind her head, "sorry to ruin the magic."
The mask comes off, freeing painted lips, high cheekbones, a roman nose, piercing grey eyes, a small scar running through one thick eyebrow, and raven black hair falling messily around this striking face. Oh. Aurora is so fucked.
"...you call that ruining the magic ?" she wheezes, gesturing toward the actress, who grins up at him for a second, before going back to carefully prodding at Aurora's ankle.
"I mean, you seemed pretty into the mysterious, faceless Dr Elizabeth Thorne, so. You don't always wanna know what's under the mask."
Aurora isn't sure what to answer to that, still a bit dazed by this turn of events. There is a pause in the conversation, where the actress gently twists Aurora's ankle this way and that, asking how she feels and if it hurts. It's only when she assures her that she didn't hurt it too bad and should be able to walk normally in a couple of days if she puts ice on it and straps it correctly, that Aurora finds the courage to clear her throat and mumble.
"...I'm glad I know what's under the mask."
The actress gets up, smiling slightly, head cocked to the side. Considering. She dusts her mask off, watching Aurora like a hawk, eyes never straying.
"Know is a strong word for having seen my face. You don't even have my name."
It doesn't sound like a rebuffal, more like a challenge, especially with her easy smile, one that lifts a corner of her mouth higher than the other. Aurora's heart hammers against her ribs, and she swallows thickly, face warm, stinging ankle forgotten.
"...can I have your name then ? And your number, maybe ? I mean, if you don't mind of course-"
The actress chuckles warmly, cutting off the begining of Aurora's rambling. Her face lights up with it, and even with the shadows gaining ground on the both of them, she is gorgeous in a way that pulls at Aurora's heart strings.
"It's Cirrus. C-I-R-R-U-S. My name."
Cirrus. The name bounces around in Aurora's head until it feels as familiar as her own. The actress- Cirrus- takes a pen out of her pocket, uncaps it with her teeth, and gestures for Aurora to give her her hand. A shiver runs down her spine as numbers are drawn with the uttermost care on the back of it. Cirrus is focused, a crease forming between her eyebrows as she makes sure no mistakes were made.
Aurora tries to commit each and every details of her face to memory, just because forgetting some of them feels like an unforgiveable offense. There is something hypnotizing about Cirrus, an effortless grace and a magnetic presence that drew Aurora in from the start, and became exceedingly more striking when she took off the mask, no matter what she said about it.
"There you go. Gimme a call, yeah pretty girl ?"
Aurora blushes to her hairline, especially when Cirrus gives her an actual hand kiss, now that the mask isn't in the way. They stay standing there for a moment, neither really willing to break the moment, but alas, Cirrus is still on the clock.
"I gotta go," she sighs as she puts the mask back on. After seeing her struggle with it, Aurora reaches out to help her fit her hair in it and lace it shut. "Let me help you get to your friend, though ? So he can walk you out. You shouldn't put too much weight on your ankle."
Aurora agrees, and soon, they find Phantom, flustered as can be as the guy playing the Invisible Man squeezes his shoulder, leaning in to whisper something in his ear, looking incredibly smug even beneath the bandages. He gives Cirrus a small wave when he walks away.
It's impossible to miss that Phantom is clutching a piece of paper that is no doubt a phone number.
"I'm afraid you friend got into a small...accident. Her ankle needs some ice, but otherwise she should be fine," Cirrus explains through the mask, transfering Aurora's weight from her arm to Phantom's. "And good luck with Dew. He bites."
For a moment, Aurora is confused, until she sees Phantom looking at the slip of paper in his hand, blushing crimson red. Oh, him.
"Oh, don't worry," Aurora cackles, "he's into that."
Phantom gasps and uses her own top hat to swat at her head, which makes Cirrus chuckle. She pats Aurora's shoulder in goodbye.
"See you, sparkling girl."
With a whoosh of her costume, Cirrus is gone, Aurora turning to Phantom, with a grin wide enough to tear her face in half. They grab onto each other and shake, silently screaming as they resist jumping up and down for the sake of Aurora's ankle.
"I can't believe that just happened. Pinch me, i'm dreaming- ouch, Rory ! I didn't mean it !"
Aurora only laughs, waving her finger in front of Phantom's face.
"You better tell me everything. I want all the details. How did it happen ? How is he ? Did he ask or did you ?"
Phantom pretends to be overwhelmed by all the questions as he starts steering them toward the exit, but he's smiling too much to be convincing.
"Easy, easy, you know I will. If you tell me everything too."
"Of course."
Aurora looks back just as they cross the Manor's threshold, and sure enough, she finds black lenses turned her way. A thrill runs through her. Whatever it is she's getting herself into, she cannot wait.
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It's Vox's turn to have Neemo, and the little digital devil isn't supposed to be back in Lucifer's care for another twenty-four hours, at least. But there he is, scampering across the hotel lobby to latch onto Lucifer's legs, snickering to himself about something.
"Dad, dad! Digi-dad's angry."
Only a moment later, Vox passes through the door, following their son. He isn't obviously furious, but he doesn't look happy either.
Though the frown on his face is only part of the overall image that is the dishevelled overlord, whose entire outfit is covered with patches of flour and sugar and something that might be dough.
He comes to a stop just a few paces from the pair of them, takes a long, slow breath, and forces out five simple words that hold the key to both Neemo's early return, and Vox's appearance.
How often do you think god listens in
Like a person in the kitchen cradling a landline phone to their ear
Devouring the tear soaked fear in the bedroom
Watching someone be torn apart at the seams
By the love they misplaced
Do you think god watches from a one way mirror
Jotting down notes
Analyzing micro expressions
Waiting for the right moment to
Twist the knife
He manufactured in our back
Do you wonder if god even cares
Or if he cares the right way
Reveling in spilt blood
He could’ve prevented
Using it like moisturizer,
Washing away his eye bags he got
From spying on us
I think god sits up top
Surrounded by souls
Nodding his head along to their
Wails
Dancing, to their screams
Tapping his fingers against the clouds
And sending down lighting bolts
To those who dare to pray
Started working on a really simple snowy woods drawing when I thought to myself “Hey, might as well turn this into fanart”. Funny I’ve never done a fall of Starkiller base piece, almost every kyluxer has!
