wild predator / .

The damn vampire always thought he had the upper hand. In some regard, he likely did. But Tripp would be out of his mind if he allowed Emir to continue to think so, or even to do so. Their respective species had been at odds with each other since conception, and Tripp would not be the one to appear as some weak, panting dog waiting for even the tiniest bit of attention from the vampire. Fuck that. So he listened to the words as they rolled off the other's tongue, almost a little too hoarse with the way the lycan's fingers continued to close off his throat. Good, Emir deserved such treatment. "Oh, it's me wanting you so badly, is it?" His own gaze traveled to the door, then to the vampire's mouth, before meeting the other's. "Was it me begging to have my hands around your throat? Or was it me praying that I'll fuck you?" There was little begging or praying that had happened, Tripp knew that, but he'd antagonize the vampire with it all the same. "Tell me, how often were you glancing at the door, waiting for me to eventually come in?"

Tripp looked keen on her request and it only made the demon's ruby smile that much wider. The warm brown eyes, wrinkled from her smile, practically sparkled like an anime character's. "Ugh, Texting is boring." Though she certainly loved to post on instagram, Maz much preferred seeing her favorite people in person. The Inferno had left the demon with a desire to be certain that she knew the things she was looking at or hearing were real and not some new form of torture. That, and she already had to do too much texting in the Familiar group chat.

In truth, she would have had a better chance sending a carrier pigeon to find him. Given that often Tripp wasn't in a form to handle a cellphone, let alone carry one with him. Though, he supposed he kept it close enough to hear the soft ping of whichever family member had texted him that time. Not many others were worth giving his number out to. "Do you ever not mention it?" The pinch of his cheek queued a particular face to be made, but it soon enough settled into a soft smile. It didn't often happen, but Maz was typically awarded such a thing. "New, huh?" A brow was lifted, before he presented her now with a grin. Perhaps it was the thought of chasing down some wayward supernatural that put him in such a good mood. Then again, any reason to shift put him in a better mood. "After you."

"I want to poke around with other wolves, is that so bad?" Or unlike her at all. Aurea had been a child with magic chasing after the sounds of lycans howling in the woods once upon a time. That hadn't changed, no matter how old she got, she was constantly attracted to this kind of wildness within them, within her. It'd always been there, she hadn't ever been able to shake it. "I'm not gonna go joining up another pack or whatever, I am loyal to us. I just wanna, I dunno, hang out."

It's the kid sister in her that has her mouth immediately ready to fire something back but she thinks better of it. "You would be who I would be texting." Crossing her arms, she can't help but feel a bit petulant because he had a fair point. "You all keep acting like I get into all sorts of trouble. I go out by myself and I go to work." She wouldn't even entirely said she'd connected with any old friends in Rome quite yet either, family had been the priority. Things were slowing down again, she had time and it was another hurdle, reconnecting with the city after she'd been gone the last few years. "Eoin made me promise him I'm not going to get into anything already."

"If you think I'm home and I'm not going to Lupercalia in February, you're wrong. I heard it was essentially Wolfchella and I missed it. I'm never going to get that back." She's only kind of kidding, she couldn't believe the lineup they'd had. It was only December and she'd already seen rumors of Slipknot maybe playing, there was no way she was missing Duality live, even if she did consider herself a casual fan. "I'm just wondering if you're gonna come drag me out of All Fours if I go by myself." That's what she's fishing for. Regardless of anyone's thoughts on the Lupo, Aurea operated under that a wolf was a wolf and it's not like all of them were volatile and dangerous, they didn't even have an alpha. The pack was vulnerable and she could....She wanted more local wolf friends that wasn't just her dear packmate.

Lupercalia; the previous year had been something to be seen, or so he'd heard. The change of one alpha to another, a volatile that had ripped the heart of a lycan right out. These were only some of the factors to why Tripp did not like the Lupo pack. Especially given that they had all but declared war on the rest of Rome, on the various other species that flocked its streets. The alpha, or previous alpha now had made too many declarations, too many claims that couldn't possibly have been shoved under the rug when he'd stepped down. Tripp believed that each of them needed to be brought down, regardless of where they stood now. "Where you go is your choice, Aurea. I won't drag you out of anywhere. But I also won't promise that I won't give you shit if anything goes wrong. Or if I need to come bail your ass out of trouble." One text would be all that it would take, before Tripp showed up to ruin anyone that even thought to give her grief.

Mazikeen grinned, ruby red lips curling upwards. "Well, I have to track down an extra misbehaving demon, which is saying something, isn't it?" She giggled. "Anyway, I could definitely handle it myself if it wasn't for the fact I... really don't feel like it. It's a lot quicker to use my resources. Like your nose. And maybe your muscles if they want to ignore Bebe's summons, but I'm sure I can convince them." She sighed. "That and maybe I missed you? We never get to spend time because you're never here or at the hotel." She was a curious demon, always looking to find out where her favorite coven and pack members went - partially due to abandonment issues and partially due to just being nosy.

Emir really couldn't help but laugh. It was pretty damn amusing to him honestly. The lycan was so determined to say just how much he hated the vampire at any given moment. Yet...here he still stood. Tripp was definitely a masochist, that was for damn sure. Why else would the lycan constantly be here? Emir was convinced there was something else deep down. Perhaps like? How absolutely preposterous if he happened to like someone like Emir. That had to be what it was. There had been plenty of opportunities for the feral lycan to kill the marshal turned senator, but he guessed that the backlash would've been far worse than any satisfaction. Speaking of satisfaction, he was sure that he could give that to Tripp right now. "A job well done? I'll be sure to make the bouquet for you early then." He circled around to stand in front of the lycan now. "You can start trying now if you want. I promise I won't get hard when you wrap your hands around my neck."

who: @trippxblais where: Christmas Market, Gladiator ring

Person: @trippxblais Location: Ivy Hotel, main lobby The place is decorated for Christmas and Hannukah because frankly, she's a festive menace and always has been. She sits by the big tree in the lobby in one of the armchairs, the fireplace on and maybe there really is something to being home for the holidays. It's nice, she always sends gifts back home but to really be there is something else. "So, Lupercal. That's fun." She's fishing, Aurea knows Tripp is going to see through it but she asks anyways, wants his opinion to gauge how much judgement she's gonna get if she starts hanging around there. "As if the Lupo couldn't go through enough at this point."

For how much Tripp seemed to be constantly annoyed by the vampire, he was always standing so damn close. Not that Emir minded at all. He was all for the lack of space that was between the two of them at all times. It made it that much easier to sway the lycan into giving him whatever he wanted. And it was made so easy by just how frustrated the other got. He was starting to think that Tripp was just waiting for the moment that Emir said something annoying just to get his hands on him. Which was perfectly fine to the senator. He wasn't going to ever say he didn't enjoy it. The smile on his face every time was enough of an indicator of that. "I knew you were into bouquets." He winked as he looked back down at the one he was currently working on for a customer. "Glad to know you're thinking about giving me a nice send off. You're so caring."

Insufferable, unbearable, every variation of the same meaning slipped through Tripp's mind whenever he found himself within Emir's space. The natural distrust of the vampire ran deep within the lycan. Had him damn near salivating at the mere thought of sinking his teeth into the other. One bite, that would be all that was necessary to bring the vampire down. To send him to his knees and then permanently into a grave. Yet --- he held himself back. Talked himself out of what he could easily do. Perhaps it was because Emir was a senator. Or perhaps because Tripp was meant to play nice while they were in Rome. "No, you misunderstood," he stated, as the thought of crushing the bouquet before the other slipped through his mind. Would it piss off the vampire? It was about time the tables were turned. "The flowers would be for me. For a job well done."

Time: When things have cooled down Location: Ivy Coven HQ, but wherever the lycan hang out Characters: @trippxblais & @ivysmazikeen Notes: demon auntie

It had become rare to see the lycan within the Ivy building, given how he preferred the outdoors that much more. If it were not for the workout room that had been custom fitted for his species, he may have not been in there at all. Unless Virgil had come calling. Within that particular room is where Maz had found him, releasing all that which had built up over the last few days. Or perhaps years, given how that is how he seemed to feel. The familiar sound of her voice drew him from his concentration, had him setting down the equipment as he turned to face her. There likely wasn't a thing that Tripp wouldn't do for his family, and given how Maz seemed to favor his more feral antics, the request was bound to be intriguing. "Depends on what you're about to ask of me."

closed starter for @trippxblais location: thistle house note: daddyshome.mp3

Why had Tripp come to this place? There was no reason for him to be there. He didn't need flowers, unlike seemingly so many others within the city. He hadn't exactly known any of the six, probably wouldn't have trusted most of them. But he despised any notion that he had come to this place solely because of the vampire that was now grinning at him like he belonged in a looney bin. For a moment, the lycan debated on ignoring the other, on meandering around the shop before he simply left. He knew how much Emir loved to piss him off, so maybe he wouldn't even give him the satisfaction. Then again, Tripp was a damn fool. "A bouquet is exactly what I came for," he mused, as he drew closer to the insufferable vampire. "What's your favorite? It'll be good to know when I finally rip your damn head off."

A hand around his throat, a feral lycan breathing in his face, and still Emir taunted. The punch had been well deserved, and the resounding crack when the vampire's nose broke from its placement invigorated Tripp that much more. Oh, he could certainly do this all night. Eventually, he would grow tired, but then the prospect of another hunt would liven him up. Who needed coffee when the call of spilled blood was in the air? A keen gaze watched the vampire set his nose, followed him as he rose once more, eager for the next hit. There was a hungry look in his eyes as he advanced upon the other, as fists rose before him with the intent of another punch. Yet, that was not what Tripp had planned. No, he moved as if he were going to punch the vampire, before he changed course. His body spun instead, his back to the other for a brief moment, as his leg swung to knock Emir's directly out from under him. Fighting was one thing, but toying with an enemy was entirely different. "If you're going to make this easy for me, then maybe I'll have to find someone else. Someone that can actually put up a fight."

There was something wrong with this vampire. Who continued to antagonize and taunt the very creature that could be his undoing. One shift, one bite from Tripp and the vampire would suffer the consequences of his annoyance. Then again, that meant there was something wrong with the lycan. Who continued to keep playing into Emir's taunts and provocations. Even now, with Tripp's hand gripping so tightly to his jaw, Emir continued on his merry way towards those fatal consequences. There was a war brewing just beyond them, how easy it would be to toss the vampire into the fray. To watch him attempt to defend himself against all those creatures that sought blood. And just when he talked himself out of such a thing, Emir had the idiotic idea to speak again. A taunt, a proposition, it was always the same from the vampire. Then again, he couldn't expect anything more from him. Nor would he have wanted anything more. Tripp had made it perfectly clear what he wanted from Emir, and it was not the words that came out of his mouth. His hand was removed from the other's jaw, and he let it hang back by his side while he considered once more the proposition that was so boldly made.

Well, that was all he had wanted. The irritation that usually appeared on Tripp's face was enough to fuel Emir for days on end. Of course, he knew that the lycan was thinking about other things entirely, but it certainly didn't concern the Juno vampire so he didn't much care about it. His job as a marshal was always to look out for vampires. He guessed other people were of importance, too. Sometimes. Honestly, he didn't really care what happened to others as long as they didn't bother any of the Juno vampires and, by extension, the other three variants. That never stopped him from testing Tripp's patience though. "So they say." The words came out of his mouth just as the lycan's fingers gripped his jaw. Of course Emir couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face. Even with the threat of death, he would annoy this man incessantly. "Kinky, but...I'll pass on that. I like my head where it is." He still didn't make a move to get Tripp's hand off of his jaw though. Curiosity won every single time.

Emir was tired of all of this already. As much as he had trained for stuff like this with Rhia, he still didn't want to be involved in all of this. Couldn't he just stand around and be pretty sometimes? Whatever though. He was still alive and he was still going to annoy Tripp as much as possible. The lycan was certainly someone he shouldn't have been involved with at all based on the simple fact that he was a lycan and Emir was a vampire, but here they were. He didn't mind getting manhandled once in a while. Nothing was ever more attractive to him than seeing Tripp angry though. Like right now. He was sure it had to do with the other's cousin being MIA, but the anger was directed towards him so he would take what he could get. "I think you are actually. Imagine how bored you would be if I wasn't here to keep you company." He blew the lycan a kiss. "Want a good luck blowjob? I'll pretend you're not infuriating while I do it."

There had always been some unspoken rule, that denounced any sort of relationship between vampire and lycan. Especially when the bite from one could kill the other. It had always been a tempting thought, especially in moments like this. When Emir spoke for the simple act of irritating Tripp to no end. His mind was a jumbled mess, from worrying over the safety of Eoin, to wanting to shift and tear through whatever happened to cross his path. "They're saying that Death has taken a break," he spoke as he stepped forward, as he eliminated that bit of space that separated one from the other. Once close enough, his hand lifted to press fingers so roughly along Emir's jaw. Perhaps he did enjoy certain qualities about the vampire. "So maybe I'll tear your head off instead. Wait to see what happens. Then maybe I'll do it all over again." His hand forced Emir's head to tilt, "How does that sound instead?"