Black Cats & Voodoo Dolls

Lucius looked over Andreley as he walked in to the coffee shop and smiled, ordering his coffee like normal and walking over to the mans table, taking a seat and smiling. He did enjoy hearing the mans theories, though usually he wasn’t thrilled by demons as a species, there were exceptions, and this was one of them. The witch found him rather fascinating, and he never caused him trouble, unlike some of his kind.

Taking a sip he looked to the other man with a smile, knowing he had rather rudely pulled up a chair without asking, but he hoped the demon wouldn’t mind. “Andreley, and what are you up to today?” he asked  and gave a shrug to the demon “Out observing people or is this just purely a coffee run?”

“Just because I’m old doesn’t mean I have to act it.” Ricky chuckled as he moved in closer to the man. “Old dogs can have new tricks. If I had a soul I would be tempted to say it was a young one.” The demons lips pulled into a smirk as he stopped his movement, as close as the witch would let him approach, and then just a step closer pushing it a bit. He wanted to see if Lucius would actually follow through. 

“I’m older than you.” He pointed out, fairly confidently. “I know I look so young and handsome but I am older than Galileo if that helps you pin point it.” Ricky shrugged. ‘But with that aside, I’d like to stop talking.” He meant to hush them both as he suddenly leaned in for a heated kiss. 

“True.” But it didn’t mean he had to act like a child either. “I agree, though it seems to take them longer to learn new tricks.” he said and smirked to the other man. The demon was clearly pushing him, and enjoying it but Lucius didn’t react to such taunts. 

If Noel had the ability to blush when the other called him adorable, he would have. Thankfully though, he wasn’t able to considering his pale skin wouldn’t even have a chance of hiding it from the other man. “I’m glad to hear that, sir,” Noel said politely before he continued making the other man’s drink, checking up on some of the other customers as he did so.

“When I applied I didn’t really understand the territories or anything. I just needed a job and this is what I got.” The young looking vampire said with a shrug of his shoulders. “Human years, or the amount of years I’ve been a vampire?” Noel inquired before deciding he should just answer both. “I’m twenty-six alltogether. I’ve only been a vampire for about 6 months now. What about you?”

Territories, it made this city sound like there were clear cut lines of where people should be, but that’s not what it felt like. Lucius went where he pleased, though he felt safer with his own kind, it meant less chance he’d turn in to someone’s meal. “Don’t worry about the territories, most people are welcoming.” he said with a shrug, though he knew a few werewolves that wouldn’t be thrilled if a vampire moved in to their neighbourhood. 

“All together is perfect.” he said when Noel explained that he was a newborn, in vampire terms. “I’m 36 dear, and a witch, so mortal, unlike you.” he said and smiled. “It’s always hard to tell with your kind.” he admitted, though that wasn’t always a bad thing, it gave them an air of mystery. “Do you live with your sire? Are they mentoring you?” he asked, not meaning to pry, but intrigued. 

“It was flirting, yeah.” Ricky confirmed. “But usually I don’t have to pay people to want to have sex with me.” He was cocky, but he was aware of how handsome he was. He knew very well where he could go for hired sex, hell he was friends with some of those boys. The demon was now wondering if the other had any guilty pleasures. 

“Well are you willing to let me get away with.” His grin curled on his lips. “Oh you hold the power? That’s hot.” He admitted. “Oh don’t banish me, handsome. I’m just here to play. No maiming or destruction I pinky promise.” He even held out a pinky to the witch with a earnest look on his face. “Trust an old demon, wont you?”

“Good, because I don’t pay either.” he said and smiled to the other man. The witch was all for having fun, and he understood some boys needed to be paid, but he felt it was degrading for all parties. He had sex with people who wanted him. 

“I do,” Noel admitted with a sheepish look on his face. “I was a waiter before I came into town for a few years…So it is kind of a force of habit by this point.” Noel admitted with a small chuckle as he looked at the rather attractive man. He easily and quickly wrote down the other man’s order just in case he had a lapse in his memory and forgot what to substitute, before nodding his head. “I’ll get right on it, sir,” Noel said before he quickly busied himself around the bar to make the man’s drink. 

He managed to make the other man’s drink, and put the wedge of lime on the edge of the glass. “Here you go, sir. I hope it’s to your satisfaction.” The pale vampire said as he placed the drink on the bar table in front of the other man. “So what made you try lemonade over tonic, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Well aren’t you adorable.” he said to the man with a youthful face and a cute little smile. “No rush Noel, I plan to sit for awhile.” he said and leaned against the bar, glancing between Noel making his drink and the rest of the customers.

“I’m sure it will be.” he said and smiled to him “I like the sweetness, especially when the gin is a rather bitter one.” he explained and chuckled “And may I ask what a vampire like you is doing as a bar tender here?” he asked, not meaning to be rude. “How old are you?”

Ah, a creature of refined taste. Sterling felt an ember of pride glow in his chest, he liked to think he could adapt well enough to any situation. Even if it was a social one. You’ll get along fine. Even if the words were empty platitudes. “That’s fair, we’re not normally known to be social creatures,” he returns easily “The young are but well, the young of any species tends to be the more approachable ones.” 

He wondered if it was the same across all other beings, that the older they got the colder they became. In humans whatever status one could garner from a long life was marred by health complications to the point that it became nothing more than something to pity. Frail. Weak. Not unlike an infant but lacking the certain want to protect and nurture. Sterling may have a decent sum of knowledge of most species, but he couldn’t honestly say he’d interacting with many of them in their elder years. 

It was better to stay away from such senior vampires. 

His short laugh was almost self-depreciating “Yes, I’ll admit to that ready enough,” it would be foolish of him not to “It’s not a skill I’ve been able to improve with age…despite everyone saying it should be otherwise.”

It’s not a pleasure visit, it’s a transaction. Purchasing a handful of bags and a small unlabeled cooler bag with which to carry them in. Hopefully the witch wouldn’t be against him drinking in his presence. If so, then he could always simply sit outside and do so, a return to how he started his evening. “Thank you for waiting.” he says once he exits the bar, slinging the bag over one shoulder “Are you certain my tale of the night is payment enough? I’m not a very vibrant storyteller I’m afraid as it can be safely summed up as: I’m an awful chef and it’s all my fault.”

“And the more reckless.” he said and smiled, knowing a lot of youngsters had a certain disregard for their safety, and others. Though he didn’t class himself as you, nor did he class Ignis as young, at least, not at heart, he was very much like a grumpy old man at times. Though the vampire would find that out for himself.

So the vampire was the guilty party wen it came to the apartment building fire. He now had to just find out whether he’d invited an arsonist to his home or a klutz. He wasn’t sure which he’d prefer with quite a few ancient artefacts laying around, he just hoped Sterling didn’t have permanent butter fingers. “Clumsy then? I thought a vampires reactions would of been quick enough to compensate for such a thing, interesting that they’re not.” He said with a small smile.

Lucius didn’t mind waiting, he played with a little paper bag someone had left with litter, making it dance around on the floor before he saw the vampire return and the bag fell to the floor as he looked to him with a nod. “You’re very welcome. I entertained myself, and you weren’t gone too long.” he replied, hoping he wasn’t going to keep getting apologies when none were owed. It seemed like the vampire was overly polite, but it was better than him  being rude.

“What would you prefer to give me?” he asked, teasing the other man and giving him a small wink “I require no payment for such a thing, it’s a night, perhaps two, till you find somewhere decent.” he said and smiled to him as he started to walk again, leading the way to his home.

Oleksy always enjoyed seeing his go-to alchemist given their products were unmatched anywhere else in the state. In fact, the demon really ought to thank the man considering his products made him one of the busiest and well-fed incubus’ in the city. (There was never a night when Oleksy wasn’t in some man’s bed or pushed up against a stall bathroom wall.) Sure, Oleksy was attractive and alluring and had centuries to perfect his techniques of seduction and lovemaking. But the added pheromones in the talented alchemists products and the magical way his moisturizers turned his skin silky smooth just made him that much more enticing to the unsuspecting. “Are you kidding me? I’d kill to try something new of yours.”

Without skipping a beat, the demon took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves before following Lucius behind the counter and out the back where all the magic happened. Literally.

The little something extra in his products and the fact Lucius always went the extra mile for his customers meant most people came back to De Lune. He usually wasn’t always fond of demons, but Oleksy always seemed polite when he came in, friendly even, and over time, Lucius had grown used to him and his flirting.

Lucius chuckled at the mans words and shook his head “Well luckily you don’t have to kill.” All he had to do was wait while he finished preparing his magical creams. He headed to the back and smiled over his shoulder to Oleksy as he pulled out a tub of the new moisturiser he was in the middle of mixing.  “So what have you been up to? Who was your latest conquest?” he asked with a smile as he muttered just a little incantation over the tub before he handed it to the demon.

“This is the first batch, but I always test them on myself first, and all species seem to have noticed, so it may well be a new best seller.”

The little bell chimed the moment someone came in to the store, and Lucius looked up to see the incubus, smiling at his regular customer, he tilted his head and watched him walk around the counters. “Are you here for your usual? You know I have just mixed a new batch of moisturiser I’m sure you will love. Lavender is the baseline for it, attractive to most species.” he said and smiled to him. 

Maybe his luck was turning around. Bit of an odd afterthought to have after setting one’s kitchen ablaze but there was no harm in seeing the silver lining in a situation. His surprise shows on his face at the other’s wordplay, a witch? Cyanide City was ripe with the supernatural element this was a fact he’d found out and he’d barely begun to settle in here. “Ignis…” he echoes, repeating the name to himself “I shall endeavor to stay in his good graces, any other pointers on how to do so?”

The thought of finding sanctuary within a witch’s home offered a level of security he’d never considered. It was nice. “He’s your familiar then?” he asks careful to consider, he’d never met a witch’s familiar before; was there a protocol for that outside of having good manners? 

Was it rude to ask if Ignis was his familiar? 

There was a whole other layer of social niceties to navigate here, which was difficult to do on an empty stomach. A flush colours his pale features and he pointedly looks away, coughing into his fist awkwardly “I uh..ah am…hm, I wasn’t…wasn’t asking after your…service,” he murmurs leading the way “I don’t…drink from the vein,” he says “There’s a back alley blood bar that sells the bottled stuff or individual bags; normally I could stick it out but,” he lifts his arms in an empty gesture “I was on fire.”

It’s not too far of a walk, he’d been rather pleased to find the location after all so close to his home “I believe we’re far enough away…if you wanted the story now?” he glances sidelong to him “It’s embarrassing but…it’s a shame I’m willing to bear for your kindness.” 

He leads the way down the alleyway, he can smell the blood from all the way out here. A finger crooked to entice him forward “Did you…want to wait outside?” 

“He does enjoy cheese.” he said with a shrug “But I’m sure you’ll get along fine.” It wasn’t often he had people staying the night but he doubted the cat would mind, if it did, he knew Ignis would make it known, he wasn’t one for staying quiet. His familiar was rather indifferent to most things but he did take exception to some things, and some people. “He is.” he admitted with a nod. He had no reason to hide it, most would make the same guess. “He’s never met a vampire before, let’s hope he’s not too territorial.” he teased.

It was nice to hear the vampire wasn’t asking to drink from him, and it was amusing to see the way he grew a little sheepish when it was mentioned, but Lucius was not shy in such matters, nor was he judgemental, though perhaps he was more so when it came to demons, things that have never been human and cannot know what it is like to truly feel.

He didn’t comment on the fact that vampire said he was on fire, he simply walked with him, away from the crowds, till he was ready to talk and Lucius nodded “Of course.” he replied and smiled when the vampire said it was embarrassing “Then I shall feel honoured. Though now i am going to jump to the conclusion that you started the fire.”

Walking down the alley, Lucius slipped hands into his trouser pockets and nodded to him “Yes, I doubt they’ll take kindly to an audience.” he said and looked to the vampire “Take your time, I’m in no rush.”

It was obvious that Lucius had been warning him and Ricky was going to keep that in mind, but he probably wasn’t going to follow it. “Oh who said I was going to pay you for sex?” He feigned innocence like it was his job. Though sometimes it was his job, pretending he didn’t have anything to do with the seedy underbelly of the city even though his hands were covered in it. 

The demon’s eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas when the witch said that he would close the store. “Imma need more than ten minutes if we’re gunna play.” He grinned, straightening up to his full height. Ricky loved trouble and a witch he never met was just giving in to it? This was making the mans day. 

“The flirting suggested it was what you wanted. In which case, there’s many places in this city you can go to.” he replied, trying not to sound judgemental, though the demon was handsome, he wasn’t thrilled with thought of chaos and trouble.

whispersxinxwax·:

@townofmonsters· - One starter XD

Though Lucius would never admit such a thing to anyone, he quite liked the smell of sweat and liquor of these sorts of places. He was writing down a list of stock he needed for the store when he saw a flash of movement close to the edge of the stage. He slid his reading glasses down and peered over the edge of them and up at the dancer. “Alec, are you trying to get my attention?” he asked, unsure if his voice would carry over the music, but he formed his words well hoping the human would read his lips just fine.

HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS STAGE, and for good reason. He had just finished his number and had stripped himself of most of his clothes when he noticed someone in the corner. Although Lucius never requested his services, he did seem to enjoy his time on stage. He wasn’t the best at reading lips, but he managed to read the man’s lips just enough. When the song came to an end, a hand ran through his hair, a satisfied smirk resting on his features as he jumped from the stage to the floor, stopping to stand in front of the man. “Depends. Did I get your attention?” 

There was something about the dancer, those plump lips perhaps, that drew Lucius’ attention to him, and while he wasn’t going to pay for the escort, he would happily watch him dance. It just felt sordid and dirty to pay for sexual favours, it wasn’t something he ever planned to do. He wanted to make sure his partners wanted him for reasons other than money. 

whispersxinxwax·:

Lucius was at the counter, grinding cumin with his pestle and mortar, crafted by a friend using rose quartz. He always found using the right crystal helped make the finished product have the desired effect. Healing properties and all that, it was great to aid with hair and weight loss, not to mention energizing the mind. 

The Witch was adding a little honey to the pot to add some sweetness to the spice but he paused when he saw the door open and slid the pestle and mortar to the side, leaning his arms on the counter and smiling “Looking for something in particular?” he asked as he leaned over the counter, his white sleeves turned up to his elbows.

The werewolf wasn’t one that usually went to witch’s shops, as he usually didn’t have a need for buying the variety of herbs used for the variety of spells, but there were a couple of things he found that he liked to have on hand. Things that often helped him out with his boyfriend and his various lovers. Perhaps that is why he began to walk into the Alchemy shop, the bell dinging as he did, and almost immediately he was being greeted by what he assumed was the manager of the store.

“Yes, I was looking for a couple of things that would make it easier for a… non-werewolf to take a knot,” he explained, walking up to the counter. “A salve of sorts that makes it easier for one to take it, and perhaps one that allows them to not feel pain - only pleasure?”

Not everybody that walked in to his store was so open and frank. Especially not with such personal matters, but as this wolf was the only person in the store Lucius didn’t see much point in subtlety either. He smiled at the mans request, the mention of slaves, and he slowly gave a nod “I need a few minutes, it’s not something I usually get asked for, but I can mix it up for you.” Lucius explained and gestured for the man to follow him behind the counter. 

He gestured for the man to take a seat on the stool behind the counter and went to grab some herbs from the back. He came back with a pestle and mortar, and started to crush up the plants, looking to the werewolf “I’ll mix you a full tube, use it sparingly, but it will only last around 3 months, don’t use it after that, so make a note of the date.” he said, giving the man a warning “It might cause more of a burning sensation that a pleasurable one after that. Understand?”