#just living my best new life as a vampire apparently

[kimi240302]

Daylight

A/N: Before you read this story, be aware I am from Germany and can't write a bit of English. That's why I'm sending this through an app that translates it for me. 

A/N2.0: In this story, the characters are all a little older. 

Summary: Y/N Swan tries everything to keep her promise to stay away from Demetri Volturi. But can you stay away from the man fate bound you to?

Demetri Volturi x Female!Swan!reader 

Words: 2,8

Part 1 of Daylight Masterlist

Main Post / Twilight Masterlist / Request list  / Playlist

18+ I am new to the whole smut writing so please be nice 

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“ You and I drink the poison from the same vine Oh, I love it and I hate it at the same time Hidin´ all of our sins from  the daylight” - David Kushner 

"You have to promise me that Y/N." Bella looked at her younger sister with piercing eyes. However, the latter did not understand what her older sister and the Cullens family had. Confused, the young girl looked up from her place on the couch. "Why should I promise you to stay away from Demetri Volturi? I don't even really know this man?" "Y/N..." Carlisle began, but Bella interrupted him. "The less she knows, the better it is for her!" Y/N jumped up angrily. "Tell me Bella are you kidding me?! I didn't know anything when you dragged me to Italy with you. I didn't know there were vampires or people who could turn into giant wolves. I was normal, I was happy." The young girl stopped, took one deep breath and wrapped her arms around herself. "Now I'm scared of what lies ahead, being bound to a vampire who is apparently the villain for you? But instead of explaining everything to me, I'm supposed to bluntly forget what I've seen, heard and felt because it's easier for you and your oh-so-great Cullens? You want me to make a promise I don't even understand just because you don't like the Volturi?" Y/N took another deep breath. Her vision blurred from tears she wasn't ready to let Bella see. "Let me tell you something Bella, I don't like Edward either. Yet I'm not telling you to stay away from him or how to live your life!" Y/N turned on her heel and left the Cullens' living room, leaving the entire family in stunned disbelief.

"She's right." Carlisle was the first to find his voice again. "Y/N has been through a lot the last few days. We should have explained everything to her calmly first and then..." "And then what? Demetri Volturi won't leave her alone. Not when she's his mate."  Rosalie looked at everyone around once, her gaze stopping on Bella. "You pushed her into this world, now you can't just kick her out. That's not how it works." "I'm just trying to protect her!" Rosalie raised an eyebrow. "Then you shouldn't have taken her with you." Esme looked at Rosalie warningly. "What happened can't be undone. Blaming each other doesn't change that anymore." The vampire turned to her husband, placing a hand on his arm as she did so. "You should talk to Y/N, after all, you know the Volturi best." Slowly he nodded, "But not today. Y/N needs to process what all happened from today first."

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Humming to herself, Y/N was just turning around in the kitchen of her home to get to the fridge when, out of nowhere, Carlisle stood in front of her. "Jesus Christ! Do you have to scare me like that!" Amused, the blond-haired man looked at Y/N. "Sorry. I forget sometimes that not everyone, can hear everything that's going on around them."   Nodding, Y/N looked at Carlisle, which turned into an uncomfortable silence that the young girl was the first to break.  Sighing, Y/N let herself sink down on the chair in the kitchen and looked at Carlisle. "My father isn't here." "We both know I'm not here for your father Y/N." He lowered himself to the chair across from her. The latter tensed slightly. Reassuringly, Carlisle placed his cold hand on the young girl's. "I'm here to give you an idea of why Bella and my family want you to keep your distance from Demetri and the rest of the Volturi." Y/N just nodded and looked at Carlisle tensely. "You should know that the Volturi clan that Demetri belongs to are kind of like our supreme ones. They rule over the species of vampires and have done so for a very long time. Led by the three kings you met in Italy. Aro the head one, he can see everything you think, what you have experienced or what you have planned with one touch. He can be very overwhelming. But I think you have already witnessed this. He's occasionally..." Carlisle searched for the right words, but Y/N filled the void for him. "Extreme when you're not used to it?" Carlisle smiled, nodding as he did so. "Aro is extreme when it comes to enforcing the rules and can get too brutal in the process. But Caius is the one who has the most fun punishing those who have done wrong in his eyes." "What is his ability?" "He has none, other than his viciousness, he is simply loyal to Aro. Marcus, on the other hand, is the calmest of the three. His passion for life was taken from him when his wife was killed. His ability is to see the relationships between individuals." Y/N nodded. "And what does that have to do with Demetri?" Carlisle sat up a little straighter. "Demetri is part of the Kings' main guards with Felix, Jane and Alec. They do jobs and make sure no one can overthrow the Volturi. They do that by wiping out entire clans or individuals." "So he's an murderer?" Carlisle winced briefly. He hadn't expected Y/N to answer so directly with such a neutral expression on her face. "You can look at it that way, yes. But the main reason Bella wants you to stay away is because the Volturi feed on human blood. They don't see humans as equals, they just see them as something to feed on. Bella...we're all worried that Aro will see you as a threat to Demetri's loyalty and will have you killed."

Y/N let herself sink against the back of the chair with drooping shoulders. Several minutes of silence passed until the young girl cleared her throat. "Marcus lost his wife and became sad, absent and quiet after that?" Confused, Carlisle nodded and was about to ask why, but Y/N kept talking. "Was she his mate?" Again Carlisle nodded. "Is this what happens to vampires when they find their mate and can't be with them?"  Carlisle was startled by these thoughts. "I don't know. But I suspect this may lead to that." Y/N looked closely at the man in front of her. "Then you must really hate the Volturi if you wish such a fate for Demetri."

"Y/N..." Bella stood in the kitchen doorway. "I just want what's best for you." Defeated, the young girl looked down at her hands, which she had folded in her lap. "I won't say I understand this whole vampire thing, or if I even really want to understand it. But I do know that I don't necessarily want to be dragged into the middle of this whole thing. The Volturi thing is your thing, not mine and even if you think that the visit to Italy has dragged me into it, you are wrong. I have my life and I will live it how I want." Bella and Carlisle both wanted to say something, but Y/N's raised hand stopped them. "I will promise you Bella and the Cullens that I will do my best to stay away from Demetri." Bella smiled at her. "As long as you're here in Forks, nothing will happen to you. We'll all make sure of that." Y/N twisted her mouth into a pained smile. "There's something you should know. Our father already knows, and he supports me completely in this. I'm moving to Seattle next week." "What are you going to do there, and by yourself? Does mom know about this?" "I got a school offer, which I can't refuse. Mom was the one who helped me to fill out and get everything I needed for it. I'm going to start packing today." "Y/N you can't just leave now" Bella spread her arms, setting to say more. But Y/N simply got up to leave the room. "You willingly entered the world of the supernatural. I didn't, that's what you decided for me, and now I'm deciding for me to leave."

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"Are you settling in okay?" Y/N set her phone down on her desk and saw Bella making herself comfortable on her bed. "Bella I've been gone for six months. I almost feel like I'm home already." Bella laughed. "I still can't believe my younger sister is the first of us to live alone." Smiling, Y/N looked around her one-bedroom apartment. It wasn't much, however it was nice and big and cozy. Everything she needed to get by on her own. "Now tell me what is Seattle like and your school?"

Y/N's face was barely noticeably twisted as she began to talk about her school. She loved Seattle and the people she had made friends with. They helped Y/N get out of herself and enjoy her life like the young girl never had before. But the feeling of constantly having eyes on her didn't leave her. As if someone was constantly in her shadows. Several times, she could swear she thought she saw Demetri Volturi. The first time, Y/N was sitting in a café with friends, relaxing after a long day at school. The second time was at the library and the last was at a club where she had gone to celebrate a Friday with her class.  However, she did not tell Bella about it. She didn't want her to worry or make up anything so that her parents would send Y/N back to Forks. Because she was sure her sister would go to such lengths to keep an eye on her. Especially now that Bella had calmed down a bit when it came to the subject of Demetri Volturi.

"Damn!" Y/N looked around at her desk, "What's wrong?" Bella looked at her sister with concern. The latter, annoyed with herself, just shook her head. "I have to turn in this homework tomorrow, and the book I need to do these assignments is in my locker at school." "Then just ask for more time." Y/N shook her head. "I can't, but the library is still open and I know they need to have that book there." "Be careful, will you?"  "I always am Bella!" The addressed raised an eyebrow and was about to say something, but Y/N pointed her index finger at her sister, "People who jump off cliffs voluntarily should be quiet!" Defensively, Bella raised her hands. "I'm not saying anything anyway!" "Better that way."

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Y/N shakily rubbed her hands together as she walked down the street. Seattle was cloudy as the smell of a coming rain worked its way to the surface. The shivering came, but not only from the cold air, but also because of the renewed feeling of being watched. Discreetly, she turned her head from right to left. But she could not see anything that seemed strange to her. Shrugging her shoulders, Y/N looked for her headphones in her bag and put them in her ears, hoping to get rid of the feeling as quickly as possible. In the library she asked directly at the entrance if the book she needed was really here and was relieved when the librarian said that the book was in the back of the library.

Again with her headphones in her ears, Y/N walked past the many bookshelves. Every now and then she let her fingers glide over the various book spines, while she hummed softly along to the melody. The shadow that followed her stayed out of the young girl's thoughts. Nor did she notice him standing almost directly behind her as she stopped in front of one of the shelves, her eyes roaming over the various book spines. Annoyed, Y/N pulled a frown from her face. The book she needed was on the top shelf. Standing on her tiptoes, she reached for the black leather book, but only her fingertips touched the spine. With a sigh, she stood back up properly and was about to turn around to go back to the front to ask for a stool or other help.

Y/N froze, however, when a body came up directly behind her, or rather when the upper body of a stranger nestled directly against her back and she saw a pale hand reaching for the book. Startled, Y/N pushed the air out of her lungs and turned around. At the quickness of her turn, her headphones fell to the floor and rolled away in different directions. But the young girl no longer cared, because when she looked up, Y/N saw into a pair of red eyes. Demetri Volturi stood not two inches from Y/N, looking down at the young Swan. A smile had settled on his lips, which was more akin to a Predator having his prey where he wanted it than pure friendliness.

"Demetri..." Y/N sounded breathless, which only made the vampire smile wider. "Good evening mon amour. Is this what you needed?" Demetri ignored her questioning look and held the book between them, but Y/N didn't even notice it. She was too distracted by his closeness and his eyes. "What are you doing here?" The blond-haired vampire tilted his head slightly. His smile softened as he lifted his left hand, the one not holding the book, to brush a stray strand behind Y/N's ear. "I came to check on you." Unwillingly, Y/N closed her eyes as Demetri slid his cold fingers back over her cheek. Instantly, goosebumps spread all over her body as she leaned a little further into his touch. Y/N couldn't help it, it was almost as if something was pulling her towards Demetri.

"This isn't your first time here, is it?" Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open. Slightly, Demetri shook his head. His hand lingered on his mate's cheek. "You've just never been alone." Absently, Demetri placed the book, behind Y/N on the shelf. His hand he placed as a support on the edge of just that. In this way he enclosed Y/N and at the same time came even closer to her. His lips were just above hers. "Demetri, what are you doing?" Panic slowly spread through Y/N. Her hands went to his chest, where she tried to push him away. But Demetri just stopped, no matter what Y/N was trying to do. When the vampire put his forehead against hers and closed his eyes, she gave up. Y/N curled her fingers into Demetri's jacket and studied him. His left hand rested on her waist while he slightly strengthened the grip of his right hand on the shelf, making the wood creak in protest.

"I tried to stay away from you after I overheard your conversation with Bella. After I listened to you promise her to stay away from me." Demetri stopped. Still with his eyes closed, he moved his forehead away from hers. He tilted his face slightly forward so that his lips were only millimeters from hers. Y/N drew in a sharp breath as Demetri let his lips move further over her skin to her cheek, to her neck. There he found her pulse point and placed a kiss directly on it.

Y/N's eyes widened in shock as her fingers clawed tighter into his jacket. "Demetri?" Her voice trembled. "Don't do this, please!" Now the young girl sounded tormented. Demetri released his lips from her neck and looked at Y/N again. "Admit it Cheri, you were thinking of me as much as I was thinking of you. Of my hands on your waist, my voice close to your ear, like in Volterra when I finally found you." Again she closed her eyes, almost as if it caused her pain to admit this simple truth.

Y/N still remembered clearly the day she met Demetri Volturi for the first time. His arms wrapped around her so that he could better protect her. The way he had whispered in her ear that she shouldn't be afraid because he would keep her safe. The way he didn't let go of her until he was sure the danger was over. Nor had she forgotten the feeling of safety and security that Demetri had triggered in her.

"Tell me you haven't thought about me for a second and I'll let you go. You won't see me again." Demetri came closer to her lips again. Y/N opened her mouth to tell him to leave, but nothing came out. So she closed it again. Because the truth was, she hadn't stopped thinking about him. Demetri released his right hand from the shelf and let it wander to the back of Y/N's neck. He pulled her a little closer to him. Prevented her from looking away. "Say it!" He challenged her, his eyes falling on Y/N's lips. "Tell me you hate me!" "I can't." Demetri's eyes settled on hers again. He saw the confusion and at the same time the craving he himself felt when he was near Y/N. Demetri broke eye contact, lifted his lips to Y/N's forehead and placed a lingering kiss there. When he released his lips from her skin, he lowered them to her ear. "How long can you hide your sins from the daylight?"

Confused, Y/N wanted to know what Demetri meant by that, but in the next moment he was gone and so was the feeling of his closeness.

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A/N3.0: Please let me know how it was and if you want a second part?

@hc-geralt-23​

#demetri volturi #demetri volturi imagine #twilight x reader #demetri x reader #demetri volturi x reader #demetri volturi x y/n #twilight #twilight imagine #twilight fanfiction #twilight masterlist #twilight x y/n #the volturi #volturi x reader

[thisapplepielife]

Written for the @steddieholidaydrabbles December challenge.

Taking Over the Neighborhood

Prompt Day 21: Snow | Word Count: 1000 | Rating: T | CW: Language | Tags: Fluff, Neighbor Meet-Cute, Snow, Platonic Stobin, Cat People, Eddie POV

Eddie hates winter. 

It's cold. It's miserable. 

And the snow. 

The goddamn, motherfucking snow. 

He looks out the window, and he's not sure he's even gonna be able to get home by closing time. That's the shitty thing about working nights in the winter. Sometimes, when you're really unlucky, you get stuck at work.

They get a few more inches of snow, but he's determined to make it home, come hell or frozen water. His van can just suck it up.

He has to drive about ten miles per hour, but he does make it home. Then he gets to wade through his snow-covered sidewalk. Fantastic. 

His jeans are wet from the knees down, and he's freezing, so he jumps in the warm shower. Even if he'd really rather just crash.

The next day, he wakes up just after lunch, and while he's drinking his first cup of coffee, he notices that his walk has been shoveled. That's weird. He definitely doesn't know any of his neighbors that well. He hasn't lived here long, and his schedule isn't exactly ideal for meeting neighbors. Maybe it's some of the kids in the neighborhood, and he owes them money now. Which, he wouldn't mind paying, he definitely appreciates it.

Maybe he'll see 'em out working.

So, Eddie sits by the window and waits. Soon enough, a guy is walking across the street with a snow shovel. Eddie's never seen him before in his life. Doesn't know if he has a wife, a boyfriend, six kids or a dozen cats. No clue. Maybe all of the above, for all Eddie knows.

But, Eddie pours another mug of coffee, slides on his boots, zips up his coat and goes out to thank him.

The guy's just walking up the driveway when Eddie opens the door, and he freezes in his tracks.

"Hey, thank you, your handiwork is greatly appreciated!" Eddie hollers, offering him a big smile. "I'm Eddie."

"I'm Steve," Steve says, and Eddie smiles at him. "I kinda figured that either you worked nights, or were a vampire," Steve teases, "But look at you! Out in the daytime."

Eddie laughs, "Not a vampire. Bar owner, though, so lots of late nights," Eddie says.

"I hope you don't mind, I was doing mine, and just thought I'd help."

"I really appreciate that help, Steve," Eddie says, handing him the cup of coffee. Steve accepts it with thanks, and Eddie takes the shovel from his hands, and shovels up the small amount of new snow that fell overnight.

"So, a bar, huh? Which one?" Steve asks, and Eddie pauses for a second.

"Hellfire Club," Eddie finally says.

"Oh, that's cool! Small world. My best friend and I have been there a few times. It's great. We liked it a lot. There's not a lot of queer-friendly bars in the area, and a new one is always appreciated," Steve says, and Eddie relaxes.

"I'm glad you guys liked it," Eddie says, smiling, "it's taking up all my time. Hence, the rumors of me being a vampire, apparently."

Steve laughs, and Eddie leans on the shovel, just looking at him. He's very pretty, and maybe, some flavor of queer.

It's Eddie's lucky day.

"You hungry? I can make breakfast? As a thank you for all your manual labor," Eddie offers, and Steve actually nods, which sends a thrill through Eddie. He hadn't expected that, not really.

But he ushers Steve into his house, and they both take off their snow boots at the front door, and then Eddie leads him into his kitchen. "There's more coffee in the pot," Eddie says, and he watches as Steve refills his mug. "Milk or cream in the fridge if you want some, and sugar in the container right there," Eddie adds, pointing.

And Steve doctors up his coffee.

"I should have asked earlier, I forget not everyone drinks it black," Eddie says.

"Oh, I like it both ways," Steve says, stirring his coffee with a spoon he got out of the dish drainer. 

Eddie would be so lucky, if Steve likes it both ways.

Steve scoots onto the bar stool, and drinks his coffee while Eddie makes breakfast. 

"How do you like your eggs?" Eddie asks.

"The runnier the better," Steve says, and Eddie pulls his hands to his heart, dramatically. 

Steve laughs.

"A guy after my heart," Eddie declares, and starts frying some bacon, and puts bread in the toaster.

"How long have you lived across the street?" Eddie asks, glancing over his shoulder at Steve.

"Four, no, five years. My best friend, Robin and I, moved from a small town in Indiana," Steve says.

"I didn't know who lived over there. Single person? Family with six kids? A dozen cats? It could have been any combination," Eddie teases.

"Well, it's one bisexual, one lesbian, no kids, and 2 cats."

Eddie smiles, teasing, "We're taking over the neighborhood."

"The gays?" Steve asks, grinning.

"No, the cat people," Eddie teases, clicking his tongue and a big, black cat comes racing into the kitchen.

"That's Midnight."

Steve reaches down and scratches him behind the ears, and it makes Eddie smile.

Once the food is ready, they sit side-by-side and eat at the counter. Midnight eating his lunch in the corner, on the floor. They talk, and Eddie is happy he's making a friend in town. 

Then there's knocking on the front door, and Eddie gets up to go answer it. That's weird. Gareth would just walk in, so he doesn't know who it'd be.

He opens the door to a woman with a bob haircut, "Did you kidnap my best friend?"

"Yes, and I'm force feeding him breakfast," Eddie answers. "You must be Robin."

Steve laughs from the kitchen, then hollers, "How did you even know I was over here?"

"I followed your footprints. And I saw your shovel, dingus," she says, and pushes her way inside. 

Eddie steps aside to let her enter.

Maybe he'll make two new friends today.

If you want to write your own, or see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @steddieholidaydrabbles and follow along with the fun!

If you want to see more of my entries into this month-long challenge, you can check them out in my Steddie Holiday Drabbles tag, right here!

#steddieholidaydrabbles #snow #meet cute #neighbors #bar owner eddie #steddie #steddie ficlet #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #thisapplepielife: short fic #thisapplepielife: steddieholidaydrabbles

[bless-my-demons]

Redamancy: Chapter Twenty-Two

Series Summary: What happens when your soulmate is a vampire that struggles to maintain a diet of trying not to kill you? Common sense says run for the hills, nothing is worth your life - but my heart is whispering why not, what’s there to lose?

Warnings: cuss words and recreational cliff diving

Notes: The moment you’ve been waiting for! Just don’t kill me pls🫣 sorry this one is short, but the next chapter is twice as long so buckle up lol

Word Count: 1290

Series Masterlist

Reader

Quil has been… tricky since I found out about the wolves. Now I know why his best friends have ditched him and I can’t even tell him.

How would I even phrase it?

Hey man, so you know how your best buds kinda cut all their hair off, got insanely ripped, tattooed these tribal pieces on their arms, and seclude themselves? Well, they’re actually these supernatural protectors of the reservation and turn into huge fucking wolves.

Yeah that’d go over real well. Not to mention said wolves would rip me a fucking new one. I mean, they protect humans, but is the line drawn at exposure? Would they even vote or would Sam just slam his own gavel? Make a spectacle in front of the tribe? What would they even tell my mom?

I can’t help the direction of my thoughts, desperation for my friend - to cure the source of his pain, gnaws at me from the inside.

So I unintentionally start hanging out with him less. Not completely - no, my heart would never allow it, but less. Less means I can stop pretending so much - I lie to my mom and I live with her. I lie to Bella because two friends falling apart in the same way helps no one. I lie to Quil so the wolves can continue to exist without a spotlight. I lie to Embry and say I’m fine so he can have someone to not be fine with. More often than not it feels like the smile on my face and the words in my mouth are just lies, lies, lies.

So I have to do less. Because less is how I stay afloat.

Less is what I wish I’d feel.

•March 16th, 2006 • Quileute Indian Reservation•

Reader

“Are you sure about this?” The roaring of the water below almost drowns me out, but Bella’s shoulder is brushing mine and I can tell she heard my question in the way her own shoulders sink as we stare down at the turning water.

“Look, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to-”

“Oh I’m going to, just thought I’d offer an out.” I’m not even looking at her and I can feel the tension leak away from her.

“You’ve always been down for some crazy stuff.” She tells me, stepping away to shed her backpack, bracelets, shoes and anything else she doesn’t want to get wet.

“Believe me, I fucking know.” I whisper to myself.

Are we really about to jump from a cliff just to feel something?

I’ll do anything to feel something besides this gaping hole in my chest and apparently that starts with cliff jumping.

I turn to check on her and catch her mumbling something under her breath before she steps off and disappears from view.

I copy her actions and shed myself of my extra clothing items until I’m in just my jeans and t-shirt. A thundering rumble from deep in the trees pulls my attention for half a second from the dark water below as I wait for Bella’s head to surface. A storm, maybe? Has to be-but the snapping of twigs, that’s something inside the forest.

The wolves? We picked a day they were occupied, they’ve been chasing Victoria ever since Laraunt showed up and Bella explained to Jacob what they were after - us. And Charlie, along with some trigger-happy townspeople, have been hunting the wolves.

Which leaves us free to do things like this, stupid shit without the overbearing men in our lives watching our every move.

I take a step forward into nothing before whatever that is makes an appearance and stops us.

Time might as well be standing still.

I mean, I feel the rumple of my shirt across my stomach as I fall, but the way my heart is in my throat and my lungs squeeze-

Ice. The water is pure ice.

I’m stunned at the brutality of the water, not only in temperature, but also in the way it ebbs and rolls. I’m not entirely sure which way is up, but I catch a glimpse of a jean-clad leg drifting away into the darkness - Bella! I’m too slow, the water is zapping my warmth and my strength with it.

Lungs screaming at me to give up, a tan blur of muscles dives right past me at an incredible pace. A few seconds later, another tan and muscled arm wraps around my torso and our rapid ascent to the surface begins.

My last thought - the last image in my brain before darkness drowns me out is Bella, dragged completely limp by Jacob.

• March 16th, 2005 • Ithaca, New York •

Jasper

A choking gasp so loud it startles everyone lounging in the house-horror, disbelief, terror courses through my sister in the fraction of a second.

The next fraction I’m at her side.

“Alice-Alice!” I grip the tops of her arms as I stare into her eyes, begging her to answer me immediately, “What is it?”

Her eyes are flicking around, far away from here and searching-panic begins overtaking her and I can do nothing to stop its rampant escalation. My power retaliates, I try to grasp her slippery hysteria but it’s like smoke - filling the room rapidly, choking me, but I’m unable to grasp it-to tame it. There’s only three people not in this room that would elicit such reaction and one is immortal-

“Bella and-” but she cuts herself off before she could finish as she meets my eyes.

“Bella. And. What. Alice?” My tone is deadly and the words are clipped - I already know the answer, but it can’t be.

Instead of answering me, she spins from my grip.

“Carlisle! I need keys!” I follow her as she grabs everything she needs for a day trip, apparently.

“Alice answer me, what’s going on?” I’m desperate at this point for any information.

“I’m driving to Forks.” Her words are stern, mind set. “I have to check on them, I can’t see-”

“You can’t see them?”

“They jumped off a fucking cliff and I can’t see them!” Her breath is tearing in and out as she spins to look at me, panic and inadequacy pinging off of her.

They… jumped off a cliff?

For the first time in a very long time, I can’t breathe.

“My-my girl j-jumped?” The small voice passing through my lips doesn’t sound like me.

“I need to check on them-”

“I’m coming.” The heart in my chest has long since ceased to work, but now it feels as though it’s turning rotten and black.

“If you can’t handle it-” She starts, but I stop her again.

“If she’s gone, nothing matters anymore.”

• March 16th, 2006 • Home •

Reader

I rinsed off in the shower after Embry dropped me off, not much energy left to fully shower. Thank whatever other-worldly force looking out for me that he didn’t take me to the hospital so my mom could get involved. The woman would hover no doubt non-stop and then proceed to give me the lecture of the century, something I don’t have the capacity for at the moment.

Plopping down onto the sofa, I settle back into the soft cushions, my body absolutely tired.

Hurried knocking on the front door not-so-softly wakes me up, I must’ve drifted off after laying down.

“Embry, I’m fine - you didn’t need to check on me-”

But as the door swings open it isn’t Embry.

Panting like he had just run a marathon, hair slightly wet and eyes wide with panic, stood someone I thought I’d never see again.

Someone I thought had to be a figment of my imagination.

Jasper?

Next

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[wardenparker]

Vampire Waltz - ch 9

Max Phillips x female reader Co-written with @absurdthirst

A mysterious inheritance, sprawling mansion, eccentric roommates, friendly bat, and coven of New England witches are the newest chapter of your life after being unceremoniously dumped and kicked out by your boyfriend. For Max, the biggest change in his life is you, and what exactly he's going to do about the fact that he is stuck living with you as long as his sire continues to punish him for that incident at his last office...

Rating: Mature, but this blog is always 18+ Word Count: 10.6k Warnings: *Blanket warnings for this series: deceased parents, cursing, food, blood and blood drinking, depictions and references to abusive relationships. Anxiety and trauma responses. Self-worth issues.* Family drama (past), revelations, family estrangement, the truth will always come out. Summary: The revelation of your grandfather's identity is not the only secret that will unfurl itself into your life. Notes: This week has just been another shitshow of utter chaos, but it is LOVELY chaos, so I hope you enjoy the chapter my darlings! As always, sorry for any errors I miss. I’m just an exhausted little nerd doing my best 🧡

Ch 1 ~ Ch 2 ~ Ch 3 ~ Ch 4 ~ Ch 5 ~ Ch 6 ~ Ch 7 ~ Ch 8

"How are you here?" And, more over, how are you real? But one thing at a time. The fuzzy edges of the memory that washed up on the shores of your dreams are still nudging at your waking mind.

He sighs sadly, his eyes shuttering slightly as he reflects on what has brought him back to you. “It was only because of your abuela’s sacrifice, muñequita. It was the only way to lift the spell. She loved you more than anything else on this earth.”

"I don't understand." Whether it's the fog of waking up so suddenly or the confusion of memories and dreams and daydreams all slamming together in your mind, you can't quite tell.

“I am your grandfather.” He tells you with a charming grin. “Some call me ‘The Thief’, since it has been years since anyone but the people in this house have known my name. But you always called me ‘Yayo’.” He bows slightly as he tells you his real name.

“Holy shit.” Max hisses, his eyes wide as he stares at his sire. The pieces are clicking into place, but even he is shocked at how close you really are to the man who had created him, who had saved him when he had been destroyed. How was it possible? A vampire cannot have children, at least that’s what he’s been told.

"But...I made you up." That's the rational half of your brain. The part of you that knows dreams aren't real, that fantasies can't come true through manifestation alone, and that love is a feeling rather than a universal force. But the other half of you? The witch who was born of witches who once conjured fire with nothing more than a thought and bare hands? That part of you knows he's telling the truth. "Didn't I?"

Again, another sigh. A habit he had picked up from his late soulmate. The human-ifcation as she liked to call it. “No. When your mother took you away, banned us from seeing you, the only way I could visit was through your dreams. Apparently the spell she cast had also made you forget about myself and your grandmother.”

Max is tense beside you and you cover his hand with one of yours, squeezing it as if it might reassure him that everything is okay. You can feel that intrinsically even if the logic for how you know that escapes you. "I think..." Like a rapid-fire collage on the inside of your mind, flashing of visits with your grandparents burn to life as very real memories instead of gauzy wisps of dreams. "I—um—" Looking between the two men, realizing that you're in bed and in your pajamas, you look back to Yayo with wide eyes. "You're not a witch, are you?" You ask, needing confirmation more than you actually need to be told. The memories are there in your mind, but they aren't clear.

Chuckling quietly, he shakes his head. “No witch.” He promises, letting his razor-sharp fangs descend from his gums to show off his true nature. “A vampire who was soulmates with a witch, just as my protégé.” His eyes shift to Max. “Now you understand why you were brought back.”

The next puzzle piece clicks into place in your mind and you gasp, looking over to Max with wide eyes. "Are you— I mean— did he?—" You sputter inelegantly, running out of breath all at once as you try to stutter out a coherent question. " Your sire is my...grandfather?"

“I didn’t know.” Max shakes his head in awe, apparently nearly speechless considering he knows that this vampire is older than any other that he knows.

"There is much to say." Yayo's eyes move between you on the bed, coming back to you after a few seconds and holding your gaze. Not in an entrancing way, but with the soft eyes of a doting grandfather. "We can talk anywhere you like, muñequita. But when you were a little girl you were very grouchy before breakfast."

"I should at least get dressed, I guess." For the second morning in a row, you are starting out disoriented and with an unexpected visitor. But this time you're not afraid. Curious? Oh yes. But there is none of that deep, intrinsic fear that there was yesterday.

“Then I shall meet you in the dining room.” Yayo bows and turns to disappear through the door like a ghost, completely silent as he moves.

It's icy cold around you when he sweeps out of the room without a sound, and you turn to Max in wide-eyed confusion. "Um..." you huff, shaking your head. You want to ask how he had possibly gotten in the house, but that seems like a moot point by now. "Good morning?"

“It seems like there is a lot going on.” He snorts slightly, reaching out to you to stroke your arms lightly. “How are you feeling?”

"Weird." The sense of safety that you have with Max is absolute, and you nearly collapse into his side to beg silently for more of his comforting touch. "I dreamt about him again last night. And it was a dream. But it felt so real..."

“I don’t think it was a dream, Queenie.” Max murmurs softly. “I think your grandfather made you relive a memory. He was here, all night.”

"He was here?" When your head pops up again you want to harrumph about having two vampires sit around watching you sleep, but as soon as you think it you think again about how safe that is. And how no one else in the world would probably feel as safe around creatures who drink blood to survive as you do. "Max?" Your head tilts slightly and you find his eyes. "Have you ever known your sire to lie?"

“Never lie.” Max tells you. “Sometimes he doesn’t tell you everything. He’s…enigmatic, but not a liar.”

"I remember my parents fighting," you tell him quietly, pressing a kiss to the tip of Max's shoulder before you push back the blankets to crawl out of bed and find some clean clothes. You're doubly glad that you took a bath last night. It had helped you relax and be sleepy for bed, but now it takes away the need to wash this morning. "That's what I dreamt about. My parents fighting with my grandparents." Right before you disappear around the corner into your dressing room, you turn to look at him with sadness in your eyes. "About me."

“Families sometimes don’t agree.” Max can understand that you are hurt by that. Zipping over to you to wrap his arms around you. “But you can find out why now. And….” He bites his lip. “You have family still.”

"One person." Though you nod against his chest, knowing that he's right as you hug him back. "It was too much to let me know both of them, I guess."

“He said something about a sacrifice.” Max doesn’t want to cloud your opinion before you talk to his sire. “I know that it was Cookie’s choice to stop taking his blood. He did not agree, but he could not stop her.”

"Allison said Cookie...abuela was trying to break some kind of spell. They were working together trying to combine their magic to make it happen but they couldn't." Realizing that you were technically brought here under false pretenses is odd, but you can't find it in yourself to be upset about it. Apparently, this situation is far more complicated than you knew.

“Then we should hear the unfiltered story from his mouth.” Max encourages, giving you a small smile as he reels from the developments of the morning.

"I guess that is what breakfast will be for." Looking at your closet, you look back to Max with determination. "You said your sire was a big deal in the vampire world, right? I should...try to dress up? Dress respectfully?"

“Dress in whatever makes you feel good.” He arches a brow. “This is your grandfather, important vampire or not. Your imaginary friend isn’t so imaginary anymore.”

"What's your favourite color?" It seems like a silly question, but in the face of so much chaos you're looking for an anchor. Something solid to hold onto in the storm. And if that thing is as simple as wearing your soulmate's favorite color, then that's what you're going to do.

Max smirks slightly as he leans against the door frame. “Blood red.” He teases for a second before he shakes his head. “No— actually, yellow is my favorite color.”

"Okay." Yellow...you have a few yellow things somewhere...you can definitely find something, at least. For now you reach up to hug Max as tightly as you can and exhale an unsteady breath. "I'm just going to get dressed and then I'll meet you downstairs?

“Of course, sweetheart.” Max understands that you might need a few moments to yourself. He nods and then disappears out of the doorway to dress himself and go down to the dining room.

The photograph of you and your mother that stares back from your vanity mirror is a tantalizing route back to those memories that still escape you. You find yourself staring at it for longer than you should, tracing the curve of your mother's face and seeing the way that Yayo's curls somehow had ended up on her head. How had you never noticed? Or were those curls just something you found so comforting that it simply hadn't occurred to you not to give them to your imaginary friend? But he isn't imaginary at all. He's so very real. And he is your family.

Sighing, you dig into your dresser until you come out with an amber colored cable knit sweater and a pair of dark brown corduroy pants. The comfortable ones that Derek hated because he said they weren't putting your best foot forward. Fuck that. You've always loved these pants. If comfort is a way to take back power, you are absolutely here for it.

Max is dressed in a flash, downstairs and waiting for you. His eyes fixed on the stairs as he tries not to ask his sire any questions that you might wish to know the answer to while he waits.

As quickly as you can, you head downstairs, only to find both men standing at the bottom of the grand staircase instead of sitting in the dining room as you expected them. "Waiting for me?" You ask, knowing the answer but feeling unduly self-conscious about it all of a sudden.

"I would wait to eternity for you muñequita." He promises, soft affection glowing as he steps forward and offers you his arm. While he understands the modern customs and traditions, he still prefers his way of being. Set in his ways about some things, and the opportunity to touch you is still a delightful experience. "Your breakfast is nearly ready, and I believe the tea service is already on the table."

“Mrs. Taylor is wonderful.” And you’ll never downplay that, especially not now that you realize your housekeeper has been his housekeeper for a very long time. Taking his arm instead of Max’s feels strange only in that you aren’t used to Yayo being solid. In all the thoughts you have of him, he is a figment of your imagination and not much more. Realizing that there is more at stake here is a lot to process.

“She is.” He won’t deny that in the least. “She took care of your mother when she was a child as well.” Since she had been with them for so long, Mrs. Taylor had known the entire history of the family.

“Mom…grew up here?” It’s only a few steps into the dining room, and Yayo pulls out your chair for you before sitting down on your right. Max takes the seat on your left and you note quietly that there are only three places set. Allison and Eddie must have gone back to Allison’s house last night after their date.

Settling beside you, his eyes are focused on you. “This house was built in 1852.” He explains. “When I found out that your grandmother was pregnant with your mother. She gave birth to her in this house.”

“What?” The math doesn’t add up. Not at all. The woman you remember — the woman you have photos of — was maybe in her mid-30s at the oldest. “Mom was…over a hundred and fifty years old?”

“Yes.” He knows it’s nearly impossible to imagine, but it’s true. “Your mother was half vampire, half witch and like me, nearly did not age.”

“Will you…” you sigh softly, and pour yourself a cup of tea with shaky hands. “Will you start at the beginning, Yayo? Please?”

Again, there is a carafe of blood, and he pours himself and Max a cup before he pick up the elegant tea cup and smiles slightly, remembering how he had bought this set for his Cookie. “When I was a young man, I was a thief.” He tells you, wanting you to understand the background of your family line. “The best. I was never caught save for one time.” He flashes a grin. “When I stole from the Devil.”

The Devil. For the moment — and for as unbelievable as the rest of the story seems to already be — you suspend your disbelief and nod. “How long ago was this?” You ask, trying politely to get a handle on exactly how old Yayo is.

"201 B.C." He answers with a small smirk. "I am quite a bit older than most would guess." Even Max's eyes widen dramatically, unaware that his sire was such an ancient vampire. "As punishment for my sin, the Devil decided to make an example of me." He takes a sip of his blood and pauses dramatically. "I was the first of our kind. The undead. The first vampire to walk the earth."

When you glance at Max it’s very clear that your soulmate fully believes the story that is being told, and you would never take Max for easily misled. More over, he knows a hell of a lot more about vampires than you do. So you sip your tea in contemplative silence for a long moment before sitting back in your chair again. “And you met Ms. Brown—Cookie—that is…abuela…in the 18th century?” The timeline here is mind boggling, but you’re trying your best here. To understand it all. To believe it.

“Part of my punishment was that I would walk without my soulmate for over a thousand years.” He snorts elegantly. “Apparently a few hundred extra years is no matter to the Devil.”

“And abuela was born a witch?” The genetic differences between witches and humans had dwindled over time to become very subtle. The powers they manifested were less powerful, too, and you regret now that you never listened more deeply to your father when he tried to tell you about your ancestors. Your mother’s intense desire to live a human life had overruled that sort of talk as you got older.

“Yes.” The proud gleam to the ancient vampire’s eyes reappears and he caresses the edge of the teacup. “Cookie was formidable. A powerful witch. When we met, she had come to the colonies because her own coven had cast her out. Scared of the power she possessed.”

“She was remarkable.” Mrs. Taylor appears in the doorway from the pantry with a plate of fixed breakfast for you, as the only warm blooded person at the table, and a bowl each of fruit and raw nuts for the vampires to pick at with their blood. “Good morning, sir. I am glad to see you have decided to leave the tower.”

“So that’s where you’ve been camped out.” Max snorts, smirking at his sire. “Dramatic as always.”

“Is that why Renee looked like she’d seen a ghost when I asked her about the locked room?” You thank Mrs. Taylor softly, as always, and inhale the beautiful scent of the last pieces of quiche from yesterday — one of your favourite leftovers that you had begged her to save — alongside a fresh salad, a few slices of bacon, and a warm croissant. She has outdone herself, as always.

Your grandfather clicks his tongue at Max, slightly annoyed at making it sound dramatic, even though it is. "I had a room next to Cookie's spell room. It was so that I would not bother her, but I could rest easier closer to her." He frowns slightly, still getting used to talking about his beloved in the past tense.

“Max is going to help me turn the teahouse into a little spell cottage.” The urge to be excited and proud for something you’re sharing with your soulmate is overwhelming, simply because after yesterday morning — and so many years before — there was not much to be excited about. And certainly no family to share anything with.

He smiles, a flash of fang and white teeth. No longer hiding them now that he's not just in your subconscious. "That is wonderful, muñequita." He agrees. "Every witch would have her own space. Your mother preferred her room, no other would do, when she would work on her magic."

“Her room was the one with the silver wallpaper, wasn’t it?” Somehow there is no doubt of that in your mind. The powerful feeling of belonging and comfort you had gotten from it when you first walked through the house now makes perfect sense, and you’re glad that you didn’t choose it for yourself. From now on you can go and sit in your mother’s room when you miss her, and that almost brings happy tears to your eyes. Because gods above, you have missed her so much.

"It was." He smiles as he realizes you must have felt a connection to the room. A presence. Since his daughter had passed, he had hoped that the feeling of her spirit - her early spirit - would remain. It and you were all he had left of his beloved child. "The portait hanging above the bed is your mother, nieta. She was twenty when it was painted."

“Abuela kept it close.” It isn’t even a question. You understand completely that that is how it ended up in the bedroom that once belonged to your grandmother and is now yours. “Was it for when she came out? Or…did Mom ever have anyone? Before Dad, I mean?” It’s a delicate topic but an important one, and something pulling at the back of your mind pushes you to ask it now instead of waiting.

“Your mother had a soulmate that she was with.” The memory makes him frown, his brow furrowing slightly.

“She did?” That is startling news, considering she always told you that she didn’t have one. But apparently there are a great many things your mother didn’t tell you.

"It is probably my greatest regret." There is a dramatic sigh for show from the vampire and he sets his tea cup down. "I, like any parent, made mistakes, muñequita." He admits. "Like Cookie and I, we believed that your mother was destined to be mated with a vampire. By the time she had come - which was a miracle - there was a large coven of witches and vampires. Despite my best efforts, there had been tensions between the two groups." He bites his lip. "Our nature, our bloodlust, craves the blood of a witch more than anything else." He reveals. "It's nearly ambrosia to a vampire and because of that, there had been some hard feelings among the covens because of our...less than responsible vampires."

"You believed she was meant to be mated with a vampire even though there were objections to vampire and witches interacting?" It isn't a judgement call, you're just trying to understand. Apparently your little suburban family with typical holiday dinners (and atypical holidays) was far less typical than you thought. "And Mom...didn't want that?"

"Vampire and witches are stronger together." He tells you quietly. "Especially for us. My line. We were the only ones capable of having children. Of creating a lineage." He sighs again. "She was in love with him. Emanuel was a smart, talented young man. Her mother and I were proud when we discovered they had matching marks."

"So what happened, then? Did something happen to him?" It must have, otherwise your father would have been a very different man. And Yayo wouldn't look so terribly sad.

“I made the mistake of changing him.” He murmurs quietly. “I didn’t do it without his permission. He wanted to become a vampire.” It’s almost as if he was imploring you to believe him.

"But you didn't talk to Mom first?" Though it is only a guess, it is a solid one, and you put your fork down for a moment. "It was a long time ago, Yayo. A very long time ago. I'm not judging you. I just want to understand what happened to my family."

“No, I did not talk to your mother.” He had hoped it would be seen as a gesture on Emanuel’s part. His acceptance of the family he had joined. “Unfortunately, your mother’s blood called to him. He tried to drink from her and she—” he winces. “She destroyed her soulmate.”

“Gods.” If you had been holding anything you would have dropped it instantly. Your mother killed her soulmate over bloodlust. That makes you stammer for a moment before all you can do is reach for Max’s hand and try not to shudder at the idea. You know Max would never hurt you. He’s proved that. He’s your port in the storm. “I’m so sorry, Yayo.”

"She blamed me. As she should have." He watches as you reach for Max and it soothes him in a way that he would never be able to explain. Your soulmate is a vampire and yet you are still drawn to him, comforted by him. "I had not yet learned how to bring one of my protégé back, so he was lost to us."

“Thank you for learning.” Your hand tightens around Max’s subtly, fingers flexing and keeping his grip. “For…making sure Max was here for me when I needed him.”

"Of course, muñequita." He nods his head seriously. "You should have met him years before and I cannot fix the past, but I could make sure you would meet him."

“And you have no idea how much that means to me.” He has no idea of what you’ve been through. What has gone on in your life between childhood and now. But at least you can say to his face that you’re grateful.

“I spent many years trying to find the way to fix my mistakes.” He murmurs quietly. “I am afforded the luxury of time, so I decided to put it to good use.”

“They did raise me a witch.” It’s the most reassurance you can give him, since your parents did not give you even a hint of the reality of vampires in the world. They had taught you magic, yes, but you had never had a real talent for spell work. “I’m sorry to ask you all of these things all at once. I just…I guess I don’t understand why we haven’t been in contact since the accident?” Allison had told you something about helping Cookie break a powerful spell, and that that was why she chose to stop drinking Yayo’s blood. But you still don’t quite understand.

“Your mother, while she wished to be human,” he sighs again. “Was a powerful witch. Some of her own talents far surpassing even her mother’s.” He picks up a few of the nuts and rolls them around in his hand. “There is a spell, a protective barrier, that would keep anyone away until the blood price has been paid.” He stares at you solemnly. “Death.”

“She really didn’t want me involved in all of this…” Something which is both stunning and rather appalling to you, considering coming to Newport might truly have saved your life. Who knows what might have happened to you if you had had to live in your car in Tennessee. Knowing that your sweet, steadfast mother was angry enough with her parents to separate you for life is daunting.

“Your mother…” he doesn’t wish to speak ill of the dead, and especially of the daughter that he had loved for centuries and will continue to love until he is destroyed. “Was very much human in the fact that she was not infallible, none of us are.” He doesn’t wish for you to hold a grudge against her, even as he tries to explain things. “I pushed too hard and tried to see you again after that last memory I showed you. That was when she cast the spell.”

“A spell that kept you and abuela away…and made me think that I made you up?” That is a remarkably impressive spell, you will admit it freely. Your mother’s abilities must have been far greater than you could ever have dreamed.

“Yes.” He bites his lip. “It was one that took us a long time to even figure out what she had used and even longer to discover the key to breaking it.” He reaches out and touches your hand. “Your abuela left you a letter, in case these truths ever came to light.”

“I would like to read it. If it’s not too much trouble.” A few of Cookie’s own words might be wonderful, if you’re honest. Though you do already feel the fullness in your mind off memories beginning to resettle now that you realize they are memories and not only your imagination. “It…doesn’t have to do this moment. It will take some time to process all of this.”

“Whenever you feel like it.” He promises, smiling indulgently at you. “I will have them placed in your room for when you are ready.”

“I’m…” There isn’t technically any reason to feel this way, but you still squeeze his cold hand gently. “I’m sorry we were apart so long.”

“Muñequita, do not feel guilty.” He chides softly, aware of that expression on your face. “It is I who am the guilty one. You have suffered for so long because I could not find you. I could not reach you.”

“It isn’t your fault that I was in a bad situation. Or Max’s either.” Acutely aware that Max views himself as responsible for that entire situation because he had been expelled that night, you won’t hear of it for even a second. “It seems like this is a new beginning for all of us.” New, aside from the specter of your ex-boyfriend that now hangs over Newport.

“Though I hear you had a visitor yesterday.” Your grandfather’s youthfully middle aged face drops unhappily and his eyes darken fiercely.

“I—” Mistaking his displeasure for anger directed at you, your eyes stop to the table instantly. “He was not invited,” you defend immediately, not wanting anyone to get in trouble on your account.

He pauses when he realizes that you think he is upset at you. “Yes, this…Derek will be dealt with.” He promises you. “Although I do not understand why you will not let your soulmate kill him.”

“Because I don’t believe that murder is ever the answer. Regardless of the question.” Suffering, pain, death — none of it. You’ve lived several lifetimes of all that hurt and you would be happy to never have another second of it near you.

“Kind and empathetic.” He hums, not displeased with the idea at all. “I will promise you this—” he taps your hand gently. “If he harms you again, nothing on this earth or in hell will protect him from me.” It’s not a threat, it’s a promise. A pact to repay every hurt he has ever bestowed upon you tenfold.

“I will say if I am hurt or not.” That is the bargain you will make. To make your grandfather feel as though the door is open, though you need intend to go through it.

His eyes narrow for a moment in contemplation and he nods. “Agreeable.” He decides.

******

For the rest of your meal, he answers your questions, never shying away from the answers and it surprises Max. His sire has always been elusive at times, and yet, he is very succinct with you. Perhaps it is because of the want to keep you close.

After he leaves you, your grandfather goes back to the tower. The locked room beyond Cookie’s potion room now opened. The mahogany box retrieved from a shelf and his fingers brush over the inlaid gold. The letters are inside. Lovingly preserved for you. His soulmate had taken to writing you at least once a week since deciding that she would sacrifice herself to break what she viewed as a curse. Her thoughts, hopes, memories all immortalized in ink, her familiar script beautiful as he opens the box and lifts a letter to his nose, inhaling the scent of her perfume. “You would have loved her, Cookie.” He murmurs sadly. “She’s stronger than all of us.”

******

The cadence of his footsteps is unfamiliar, and nearly nonexistent, but you know it’s him coming into the library a few minutes after breakfast has ended without ever having to look up. Mrs. Taylor has left menus for you to approve and Max is outside at the teahouse with Mr. Taylor — and Renee is altogether too bright and sunshiny for such a quiet entrance. But when Yayo appears holding a beautifully and intricately carved box in his hands, the arrival is near-silent and solemn.

“I had considered leaving these in your rooms.” He admits quietly, his voice low and soothing like it always is. “But then, I did not know if you would want that.”

“Would you…” you push the tray of menus aside, knowing that Mrs. Taylor won’t object to getting them later today. Not when these letters are so important. “Want to sit with me? While I read some?”

“I would be delighted.” Silently and much faster than Max, he moves over to you with the box.

The letter box is lacquered mahogany, trimmed in gilded dragons done after the Chinese style in what you now know intimately as chinoiserie — a Gilded Age specialty. It’s yet one more thing in this house that someone else would sell for a fortune at auction and instead you cling to it desperately as a connection to your family’s past. The key that he has left resting on top fits neatly into the lock and you open the box with a small smile as you bite your lip in concentration. The box is very old, after all, and delicate. What’s inside, though? Dozens of letters. Some thick and some thin. All stamped with blood red wax and addressed to you. “There’s…so many of them…”

“My late soulmate was a woman who loved to write letters.” He admits, his smile wistful. “There is a trunk of letters she had written to your mother while we were…estranged.” He reveals. “At one point after learning of her death, she had thought to burn them all, but could not.”

“The accident wasn’t easy for anyone,” you admit, glad to see him pull up a chair beside the large library desk with you instead of pacing anxiously or giving you distance. There has been so much distance for so long — all you want now is to keep him close. “I almost withdrew my place in college and just stayed closed up in the house. But I knew they wouldn’t have wanted that.”

“No, they wouldn’t have.” As much as he regrets not being there for you, he admires your courage. You might not think so, but you have been extremely strong-willed through the last ten years.

“And these are…all for me?” It seems incredible to you, that anyone would have spent so much time and effort just thinking of you, but the reality of things has been so different than what you thought they were for your entire life that it bears a sort of…reinspection.

“Yes.” He smiles at the box. “She would sit at her writing desk and talk to me about you. Wondering what you were like, how you were doing.”

“What was your favorite thing to imagine?” There is no way they could have guessed the truth, and that is your comfort. That you hope they never feared for you.

“You used to love to dance.” Your grandfather hums. “We spent hours dancing in your living room when you were small. We used to imagine you dancing. Laughing as you were guided along the dance floor.”

“I stopped for a long time.” You admit, not ashamed of the fact although you’re ashamed of the reason. It’s just what happened. It was your life for many years. “But I’ve started again…because of Max.”

“That’s brilliant.” His eyes sparkle in delight and his lips quirk up in a pleased smile. “You were so happy to learn when you were just a baby.”

“I loved ballet.” The slipper blanket still in your room is proof enough of that, and you smile. “But I do love ballroom more. And Max did danced competitively in college. It’s…honestly so nice to be able to share that with him.”

“It was my rule for the school that all students must take an elective that was creative.” He tells you with a dramatic flip of his hand. “I think it appealed to him because I was teaching the class and your soulmate is a bit of a suck up.”

“So you teach, then?” Ignoring the comment about Max — because you used to be a little bit of a suck up in dance class, too — you leave the letter chest closed and focus on Yayo. “In Romania?”

“That is how I discovered your soulmate, Muñequita.” He hums. “When I saw the birthmark, a mark I would know anywhere, I knew. I knew I had to take him under my wing.”

“I’m so grateful that you did.” If not for Yayo, who knows who Max’s sire would have been? Who knows how you ever would have found him again?

“I made mistakes with him as well.” He can admit that, flashing a fangy smile. “I let him get too arrogant. But he has learned his lesson.”

“According to him, he was already arrogant,” you tell your grandfather. “But he says that his attitude has changed enormously since you brought him back.”

“It has.” He agrees with Max’s assessment of himself completely. “This house, his stay here has been good for him.”

“This house has been good for me, too.” Yesterday morning notwithstanding, of course.

“Of course it has.” To imagine anything else would be unbelievable. “Despite your mother’s ill feelings, I had this house built to be a refuge, a haven, if you will.”

“Mom didn’t like having her hand forced. I didn’t understand it then, but I do as I get older.” It makes you shrug, though, not wanting to start an argument with your grandfather. “But this house has certainly been a haven for me. So thank you.”

“If I could have done things differently, I would have.” He admits quietly. “I would have bitten my tongue and realized my daughter’s dreams for life weren’t mine for her.”

“Regretting and wishing can’t bring them back,” you murmur, voice finding the same tenor as his. “If it could, we would have had my parents back immediately.”

“You are right.” He reaches out and pats your hand. “You are as wise as you are beautiful.”

“I have had a lot of time to think it over. Not as much as you, of course, but…” A slight shrug of your shoulders comes as your hand runs over the box in front of you again. “There is so much I would say to my mother if I could see her again.”

His smile turned mysterious and he hums. “Think of what you would say to her, Muñequita. Never forget it.”

“I wish she could meet Max.” The thought had already occurred to you more than once, and as much as it hurts you also have to believe that she’s watching over you with your father beside her. “I think they would enjoy teasing each other.”

“She had a robust sense of humor.” He chuckles. “Perhaps one day you will know what she thinks.”

“It would be too wonderful for words, I think.” Dwelling on it for too long threatens to drown you in a wave of sadness, and your expression flickers — faltering slightly. “But I can dream.”

Sensing that you might want some space, he pats your hand again and stands. “I think I will go have Mrs. Taylor bring you up a pot of tea while you go through your abuela’s letters.” He decides.

“Thank you, Yayo.” Your hand catches his, squeezing his fingers tight for a moment before letting it go again. “For everything.”

“It is my pleasure and my duty.” He nods and bows slightly before disappearing from sight.

The box in front of you is full to bursting, and when you open the lid it is clear that some letters consist of a single page while some are self-contained novelas. They seem to be stacked in order of writing, but not with any semblance of order in the time between each letter. Selecting the first — a single sheet neatly folded, waxed, and dated — you carefully slip the seal and open the paper.

My Darling Girl— It has been a month and a week since we visited you last, making today your ninth birthday. I hope it is joyful, sweetheart, and that you know how very dearly your grandfather and I love you. When we see you again we will bring your gift and heaps of books, and your grandfather will dance with you until you are too exhausted even to laugh. And it will do my heart so much good to see you both reunited. You are the magic of our hearts, darling, and always will be. But in case this letter is only the first of many you will not see until you are a grown woman, know that we are thinking of you and missing you every day. And that we are so proud of you, no matter what path you choose each day. Happy birthday, darling girl. We love you. Granny Cookie

The heavy vellum paper is quite old, the scrawling, looping handwriting a work of art. Cookie had whimsically decided that your letters would be written with a quill, like she would have before. Making it a labor of love.

There are so many that it seems daunting, and something tells you not to read them in order but that might just be a response to how many there are. You’re still toying with the box, though, when Mrs. Taylor appears in the doorway with a tea tray.

“Your grandfather said you might enjoy some tea while you read.” She smiles as she walks inside. “I took the liberty of making Cookie’s favorite tea for you.”

“You’ve known the entire time.” Far from being angry or accusatory, there is awe in your voice. Her loyalty and steadfastness to your grandparents is astonishing.

“I have.” She doesn’t apologize, her smile softening slightly. “It has been hard not to mention your mother, since you look so like her.”

The tea tray she sets down on the desk beside you is sparse, but Mrs. Taylor never brings * only* tea. There is a plate of scones today, with jam and butter. “Did you ever meet me before?” You ask cautiously, unsure if you had ever even been to this house as a child or if the housekeeper had ever traveled with your grandparents. “When I was young?”

“We have met before.” She answers vaguely, a curious twist to her lips. “There was a time we spend quite a bit of time together.”

“I wish I could remember.” It must have been when you were just a baby, considering that first letter from your abuela was at your ninth birthday. “I wish I could remember this house. Or visiting here.”

“A side effect of the spell.” She murmurs quietly. “It’s as if this house never existed to you before now.”

“I knew my mother was powerful, but I guess I never really knew how much.” There were always signs of it growing up, and of course your father has considerable magic as well, but this is a level far beyond what you knew was possible. “But…I never knew she was half-vampire, either. I suppose there was quite a lot they kept from me.”

“Your mother…” she sighs softly, a sound just for you. It had been amazing learning how to do those things again when you don’t need to breathe. It conveys so much. “Always looked at the other side of the field and admired the grass there. Even though her side was perfectly lush.”

“She wanted to explore.” Even as young as you were when she died, you know that. “Explore new experiences and meet new people. The more and the more different, the better.”

“She had been that way for her entire life.” Mrs. Taylor hums, happy that she had never lost her spark. “She was the first of her social circle to wear pants when it was so terribly taboo.”

“I can see her doing that. Being a rabble rouser.” In fact, from alternative choices at bake sales to extra adventures on field trips, your mother was always ready for anything. For a long time, you had wanted to grow up to be just like her. Fearless.

“Despite that, she broke many hearts when her soulmate was found.” She tells you. “She had quite the number of gentleman callers before.”

“Dad always joked that he had to treat Mom like a princess because there would always be another guy who would if he didn’t.” Mostly those jokes had been to encourage you to look for someone who would treat you the same, but you hadn’t really understood that at the time. Now, you think it might be a big part of why your father might have approved of Max. “So I can see that.”

“That is true.” She agrees. “I did not get to know your father well, but he seemed like he was a good man. He loved your mother, that was obvious.”

“He did.” You nod, agreeing with that statement easily. “He loved her more than anything else in the world.”

“Then that is all that matters.” While she’s sure that her soulmate would have been amazing, she’s not lived for as long as she had without knowing that you don’t have to be a soulmate to love someone completely.

“They were wonderful together.” It warns a small, almost wistful sigh from you and you smile. “Completely wonderful.”

******

Max had not meant to leave you alone all day. After breakfast with his sire, he had gone off with Mr. Taylor to look at the Tea House. Looking had turned into doing and half the afternoon was gone before he realized. Strolling into the morning room, he grins when he finds you still reading letters, happy to see you enjoying yourself. Carefully handling the folded and wax sealed paper as if it were precious, because it is to you. “How many secrets did the old bird spill?”

“You’re never going to believe some of the stuff she wrote out for me.” Having moved from the library after tea to the window seat in the morning room, you’ve been basking in the near-sunset while you read uninterrupted. But now that Max is back inside? You shift to one side of the seat and sit up, making room for him to join you. “She wrote down as much as she could stand to, I think. Sometimes just little notes and sometimes pages upon pages.”

Max plops down next to you in a graceless flop that would have looks undignified by anyone else. He makes it look almost elegant in its casualness. “So it’s like a journal….in letters?” He asks curiously, peeking at the script of the one you are holding.

“Kind of.” You nod and shift closer to him, inhaling the scent of his cologne when he puts one arm around you. Since vampires don’t sweat, the only underlying scent is the intensely powerful sunscreen he wears everyday to keep from being affected by the sun. Enchanted, according to him. “Some of these are stories about my mom. Others are talking about powers she suspects I might have had, or would be able to develop. Others are just memories. Sometimes she even wrote down stories about her and Yayo.”

“Really?” His eyes widen and he playfully waggles his brows. “Don’t know if you should be reading those.” He teases.

“They’re not intimate stories.” You pinch Max with two fingers and laugh, feeling lighter this afternoon than you thought you would be able to. “They’re my grandparents.”

“Uhhhh, hate to tell you, babe…” Max grins even wider, happy you are laughing and smiling. “Grandparents fuck.” He snorts. “Otherwise there would be no parents to have the grandkids and make them grandparents.”

“Yes, they do.” The way you roll your eyes is just for show, playing along with his teasing. “But they don’t typically tell those stories to their twelve-year-old granddaughters.” The letter you happen open to be holding is on the thicker side, dated the summer you were twelve. “Usually.”

He snickers and shrugs. “It would be a lot cooler if they did.” He jokes. “Let the g-kids know how hip they were at one time.”

“I think I would have been horrified to hear that when I was twelve,” you tell him honestly. “I was a very innocent kid.”

“Very innocent, huh?” He leans in and kisses your cheek. “We’ll change that, Queenie.”

“I was an innocent kid.” The last word gets emphasis, and you tilt your head to kiss his lips as of that proves some sort of point. “I don’t think what we did the other night counts as innocent in the least.”

“Just a little harmless grinding.” His grin turns positively wicked. “It’ll be less innocent when my ‘no need to breathe’ face is planted in your pussy for hours on end until you can’t take another orgasm.”

It should be abundantly obvious from the shock on your face that you hadn’t yet put that puzzle together, and the heat in your cheeks radiates off you in waves. “Yep…” you manage to swallow finally and half-nod. “That will be…not innocent at all.”

The chuckle he gives is filthy, accompanied by a wink. “So I was thinking about another date tonight.”

"You were?" the suggestion lights you up immediately, although it is tinged with that unfortunate but real paranoia. "Did you have something in mind?"

“I know you love to dance, but I don’t want to be a one trick pony.” Max hums, leaning in against you. “So I thought we could be disgustingly cliché. There’s a pumpkin patch, with a corn maze and a ‘haunted hayride’.” He puts air quotes around the last portion. “They do all the cutesy shit and sell hot chocolate. I thought you would love it.”

“Are you going to protect me from all the jump scares and fake vampires?” It’s your own small brand of teasing, because even though you love horror movies as an adult there is something about jump scares in real life that is less fun and more anxiety-inducing. The one thing you do know, though, deep in your heart? Is that Max will protect you no matter what.

“Absolutely.” Max practically giggles. “Gotta show off so your little pussy throbs at what a strong, manly vamp I am.” He winks to show that he’s teasing, but he would protect you from anything.

“And you can smell it, so I can’t even pretend like it doesn’t affect me.” Which, admittedly, could be slightly embarrassing. But for some reason Max being so in tune with your emotions is a wicked turn on.

“You can pretend it doesn’t affect you at any time.” He hums. “Just because you’re turned on, doesn’t mean you are in the mood, sweetheart.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Although he does have a point, and you appreciate him acknowledging it out loud. “I was thinking more like…it’s harder to play innocent. Since I kind of have an inkling that you might enjoy that sort of thing.”

“Hmmmmm but I like when someone plays hard to get.” He admits with a grin. “Knowing they want me but making me chase is just as thrilling.”

“So this works for you perfectly then, I guess?” It’s one less thing to have on your mind, if he’s telling the truth. And Max has never given you any reason to think he would lie. “You probably love those great big doe eyes some girl have. The innocence and purity of it all.”

“I like your eyes.” He flirts shamelessly. “They are the prettiest I’ve ever gotten lost in.”

“I’m already yours, ya know.” Despite the protest, you absolutely melt in his arms and become a puddle against his chest. “You don’t have to flirt.”

“I want to flirt.” He promises. “Flirting is good for the body, mind and soul.” He announces. “It makes you feel good, makes you feel wanted and it makes you easier to kiss.” He teases, turning his head and kissing your nose.

“In that case?” You could not be more putty-like in his arms if he had been literally kneading your shoulders. “What time do you want to go out tonight? Because hay rides and pumpkins and chilly fall things with you sounds like a dream.”

“Six? Six-thirty?” He asks. “That way we still have plenty of daylight to pick out pumpkins? I know you will want one or two.”

“That’s perfect.” You would probably put a pumpkin or two in every room of the house if you could, but that sounds like a mess waiting to happen. “Do you want to sit with me for a little bit or do you have something you want to do before then?” It’s about a hour and a half away, and there are so many more letters from your grandmother to read. The box seems never ending. It might even be enchanted to hold extra, you can’t tell.

“I’m right here until we change,” he promises. “I’m thinking this will be our casual date. Leggings, boots, for you of course.”

“Maybe we can alternate?” It’s just a small idea, but knowing that he loves to dress up and make a splash and you aren’t typically as well dressed as he is lets you both have moments of fun and moments of relaxation. “Something fancy and something casual?”

“That sounds good to me, Queenie.” He flashes you a grin. “Can’t hurt and it’ll keep you from getting bored.”

“I have a feeling I’ll never be bored with you.” It’s just a feeling, but it’s right in the back of your mind and hovering over your heart, so it’s undeniable.

“It’s because I’m incredible.” He boasts, but it’s all just an act. His thigh is pressed against yours and he looks over at the letters. “Want to read me one? Or is it something you’d rather keep to yourself for now?”

“I think it’s safe to say that my family is your family…since my grandfather is literally your sire and all.” It does sort of call the structure of vampire families into question in your mind, but that is a detail you will ask Yayo about later on. “You can read the next one. That sounds nice.”

“You want me to read it to you?” He asks, brow raised at the thought. “I will.”

“I like your voice,” you admit sheepishly, sinking down in his arms a little in a rush of embarrassment. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

“Oh no, you aren’t getting out of it now.” He teases, reaching into the box and selecting a letter. “Hmmmm, how does this one look?”

“Perfect.” Every time he shows such amusement or happiness at little compliments from you, you feel that same skip in your heart that you’re starting to think might become a permanent fixture in your life. Max never ceases to surprise you with his affection and it really is wonderful.

“Puuuuurrrrrfect.” He rolls his ‘r’ playfully as he slides a neatly manicured nail under the wax seal and breaks it. Stopping and shuddering before he looks over at you. “Did you feel that?”

“It’s just a little chilly in here.” You explain it away instinctively, not even realizing that a breeze would have no effect on Max whatsoever.

“Sppppooooooky.” He’s playing it up, but there had been a current to the air when he broke the seal on this letter. Clearing his through is purely perfunctory as he opens the stiff paper. “My darling Muñequita,” he begins and says the date.

This is a later letter, something from you were a teenager. Max must have gone deep into the box. You hum happily at that and snuggle into his side like a cat.

“You really are the cleverest witch I have seen in my time. And considering how old I truly am, that is saying something.” He tilts his head and glances up at you before looking back at the letter. “To think that the answer was right in front of us, just a few words difference is simply magical, pardon the pun.”

“Are you sure this one is addressed to me and not my mom?” Though the question is rhetorical, there is also a nugget of truth to it. You haven’t done any sort of remarkable magic in years.

“It says it’s to you.” He huffs, flipping it back over so you can see the way it’s addressed. “Hush.” He blows you a raspberry. “Take the compliments. Now where was I?” He scans the page again. “For centuries, we had just believed that it was a myth, as fanciful as that sounds. Time travel. Who would have believed H.G.Wells was a witch?”

“I’m sorry.” Sitting up ramrod straight in an instant, your eyes go wide. “Did you just say time travel?”

“Are you always this disruptive?” Max teases as he waves the letter at you. “It’s right here. Do you want to read it for yourself?”

“But time travel is impossible!” Managing to snatch the letter from his hand, you settle back in his arms with a furrowed brow and your two front teeth firmly biting down on your lower lip as you reread what he had just read out loud. “Who would have believed H.G. Wells was a witch? Of course, everyone know that magic, alchemy, and science are all the same thing. But not everyone knows how to harness it to emotion. But you are such a clever thing, we ought to have suspected that you would find a way.”

“Sounds like someone did something.” Max intones, his voice playful, but he’s impressed.

“I can’t imagine what. By the time this was written, they hadn’t been allowed to see me in more than six years.” Still, the pull of this particular letter is far too strong, and you turn back to it with curiosity. “It took us an embarrassingly long time to understand it fully, Muñequita, but once we did you cannot imagine how foolish we felt for not seeing it years before.”

“Wow...incredibly intriguing.” Max snorts, impatient as always. “Like- what did you do? I wanna know.”

"I'm disruptive and you're impatient," you tease, but you keep reading. "To know that you managed to visit us from your time is remarkable beyond words. And how clever you were not to let us know, to never have even given us a whiff. You have your Yayo's talent for keeping secrets, darling girl, and we are so proud of the power you have finally come to. We will keep the portrait you so graciously left with us in the house and I will display it proudly for all of my days, telling anyone who asks that my granddaughter has a warm and loving heart and a doting, charming husband."

“Husband?” His own eyes widen slightly and his lips curve into a slow grin. “Something I should know, Queenie?”

“At the moment you know exactly as much as I do.” Your hand is practically shaking with the letter in it, but the slightly smug, pleased grin on his face makes you huff out a laugh. “I have no idea!”

“Wellllllll, now we have a mystery to talk about.” Max chuckles. He knows that you don’t know, but it’s intriguing.

“If I had to guess?” Being the kind of little kid — and sometimes adult — that had dreamt yourself into every possible and impossible kind of situation, you avoid his eyes slightly when you shrug. “If this is true, then you must have been there, too. I wouldn’t call anybody else that, and depending on when we went to, dating doesn’t exist. It’s married or unmarried, and an unmarried woman has a hell of a lot more restrictions on how she can act than a married one.”

“That would be interesting.” He snorts and shrugs. “I promise I won’t demand my husbandly rights if you’re correct.”

“Maybe we’ll actually be married by the time it happens, who knows?” It’s such a ludicrous ides that you can’t really take it seriously in the first place, and you shrug. “Besides, it’s time travel, honey. It’s not true. It can’t be.”

“And vampires don’t exist.” Max reminds you with a grin. “It’s so unbelievable that you would go back in time to visit with your granny when your soulmate doesn’t have a pulse and drinks blood?”

He has, frustratingly, a very good point. So much so that it makes you pause with your mouth already half-open to a pithy reply and shut it again with a furrowed brow. “I guess…” you swallow a deep breath. “If I wear every going to visit anyone…”

“She would be the one to visit.” Max finishes for you. “I wonder when you visit her. Obviously you haven’t yet.”

“After Mom was born.” You can answer that easily, even if your voice is quiet. “Any time when Mom was young. I always wondered what she was like as a young woman…and she never liked to tell stories. I get why, now. How could she rephrase a story about the 1870s to make it sound like modern life?” The idea of seeing your mother again is painful it’s so sweet, and you sniffle quietly, burying your face in your free hand. “I miss her so much.”

“I know you do.” Max hums thoughtfully after a moment. “You can’t have gone to the past when she would remember it, would you? Otherwise, she might have done things differently in life, right?”

“I guess…it would have to have been long enough ago that she wouldn’t have a strong memory of me. Or at least that she would never make the connection.” It feels like such a weird thing to contemplate, but Max is looking down at you so intently that you find yourself just spinning in the idea. Trying to follow the thought all the way through. “And I certainly wouldn’t use my real name. It would be Dolly. Or Queenie.”

“When we time travel, don’t use your real name, got it.” He gives you a thumbs up and snorts playfully. “Can I have a code name too?”

“Sure.” If you do roll your eyes at him it’s all in good fun and teasing. “What do you want your code name to be? James Bond?”

“Bond.” He imitates with an English accent. “James Bond.” He laughs and shakes his head.

He is laughing, which has you giggling, and you shake your head at him in pure amusement. “I genuinely can’t tell if that’s a yes or no,” you tease.

“I would need something way cooler.” He huffs and smirks at you. “Something that is subtly acknowledging my sexual magmatism.”

“Bruno?” Just about anything would be silly, and you can’t resist his smirk anyway. “Should we call you Jean-Claude van Damme?”

He snorts and rolls his eyes. “Romania, not Austria, babe.”

“What would you like to be called?” What he wants is more important than anything, after all. At least, it is to you.

“I was just teasing, sweetheart.” He promises. “Call me Max, I promise it’ll be alright with me.”

"We won't ever need to worry about it." You're certain of that, somehow. Even with the evidence sitting right there in your hand.

“With this discovery, do you still want to go out?” He asks quietly. If you’d rather read more letters, he wouldn’t blame you.

“I think I need some time to adjust to the idea,” you admit, putting the letter down without finishing it. It’s taking up so much space in your mind that you feel as if you might explode. “Maybe I’ll shower before we go out? I know we said tonight is going to be casual but I still want to look nice for you.”

“Go shower, sweetheart.” He encourages you. “Or better yet, go soak in that claw foot tub.”

“Yeah?” It’s a very soothing idea, and you have to agree that it might do you a world of good. All the same, though, you don’t want to be too far from Max. “Are you going to go back out to the tea house?”

“No.” He can sense your unease, and he quickly decides that he will stay nearby. “I’m going to go see if my jeans still fit.” He jokes with a grin. “Haven’t worn them in a long time. No need to, until now.”

“I know you’ll be very handsome in whatever you choose.” It is touching, though, that he is dressing down for you. Because you know that his suits are his suits of armor.

“I know the leather jacket is what you’ll focus on.” He jokes, winking at you.

If you could stop yourself from blurting it out you would have, but your immediate reaction is an unapologetic: “You have a leather jacket?”

His eyes light up when you give yourself away and he nods. “Yep.” He hums, leaning in to you, crowding you slightly. “Black leather.”

“That…” When you swallow it’s slightly embarrassed but interested all the same. “That sounds nice.”

“Does it?” He rubs his hand down your arm. “That’s good. Maybe we’ll see how you look in it tonight when you get cold.”

The thought of being marked as his in any way makes you burn in the most unexpectedly lustful way, and you clear your throat before standing up. “I going to go take a cold bath.”

“You do that, sweetheart.” Max reaches out and pats your hip. “I’ll be here when you get out.” He pauses. “Better yet, I’ll be at your door when you’re ready.”

______

Master Tags: @pixiedurango @chattychell @winter-fox-queen @lady-himbo @artsymaddie @princess76179 @paintballkid711 @missminkylove @pedrosbrat @ew-erin @sarahjkl82-blog @sharkbait77 @justanotherblonde23 @lv7867 @recklesswit @mylittlesenaar @f0rever15elf @gallowsjoker @steeevienicks @athalien @sherala007 @skvatnavle @thatpinkshirt @jaime1110 @girlimjusttryingtoreadfanfics @goodgriefitsawildworld @greeneyedblondie44 @katheriner1999 @littlemousedroid @harriedandharassed @churchill356 @ajathegreats-blog @haylzcyon   @beardsanddetectives @kirsteng42 @ladykatakuri @adancedivasmom @madiebear @tanzthompson @emilianamason @bigsdinger @xocalliexo @pedr0swh0r3 @avaleineandafryingpan @charlyrmv @avidreader73 @iceclaw101 @loveslide @elegantduckturtle @becsworld @julesonrecord @its-nebuleuse @itsrubberbisquit @mikeyswifie @guelyury @lizzie-cakes @for-a-longlongtime @vabeachazn @purplerain04

VW: @haileymorelikestupid, @miraclesabound @nastiasnow @vabeachazn @oberynslady @grogusmum @kittenlittle24 @8-900 @survivingandenduring @ktmadden86 @inept-the-magnificent @missladym1981 @sweetnsaltyclussy

My Masterlist!

#Pedro Pascal #Pedro Pascal character fanfiction #Pedro Pascal fanfic #Max Phillips #Max Phillips x you #Max Phillips x reader #Max Phillips x female reader #Max Phillips x f!reader #Eddie BtVS #Bloodsucking Bastards #soulmate au #mysterious inheritance #The Thief #Casillero del Diablo #magic #witch reader

[archangeldyke-all]

hi angel!!!

sevika and vampire reader again because i can't get them out of my head <3333 can we get vampire reader turning sevika into a vampire and how their lives would be after her transition?

black reader pleaseee <3

yes yes yes let's do it! i'm going to include an idea mars, @sexysapphicshopowner gave me too! so be sure to check out their blog if u like the bucket list bits <3

same disclaimers as always with this series! i don't know much about vampire lore, so i'm just guessing and making shit up as it goes haha. also, i'm white, so i'll try my best to make this an obviously black reader, but if i mess anything up lmk!! i'll change it asap :)

man and minors dni

sevika's getting older.

a few grey hairs here, a few new wrinkles there, some new aches and pains she'd never had before-- it's an inevitable part of life. at least it is for most people.

but sevika's got you, now, and you've got an out for her-- a very permanent out, but an out nonetheless.

for a while now, she's been pressuring you to change her. about a month ago at work, she very narrowly dodged a fatal blow, and you started taking her demands seriously.

but-- there's a few things you want her to do before you guys go through with it.

you didn't get the chance to live out your final mortal desires before you were changed. you know just how depressing it can be to mourn being human, especially when you don't get to properly say goodbye. so, you've been helping sevika make a 'bucket list' of sorts-- all the things she wants to do one last time before she won't be able to do them anymore.

soaking in the sun, wearing silver jewelry, drinking a glass (or bottle) of whiskey-- stuff like that.

she's been steadily checking items off the list, and now you're down to the last few, and she wants to check 'em off all in one go.

she wants to eat a big, full meal-- steak and potatoes and a slice of chocolate cake on the side. then, she wants to feed you, one last time. and finally she wants to do what all humans are eventually bound to do: she wants to die.

that last one makes you nervous.

changing her requires that you drain her completely before you kiss her back to life. there's going to be a solid ten or so minutes where she's completely dead-- and she's apparently looking forward to it.

"i wanna know what it's like. see if i feel anything, see if i see anything." she says with a curious shrug.

it makes you nauseous to think about.

the entire reason you're doing this in the first place is so sevika never has to die. the idea of her body going still and cold beneath you, of her eyes glazing over and staring off into space, of her breaths ceasing, it hurts you to even fucking think about.

you're trying not to think about it at all.

"babe." sevika says to you over the table as you place her plate in front of her. you look down at her, smiling, and she reaches up to grab your hand. "this look fucking amazing." she says, not even looking at the plate. you snort. "you look... nervous." she says. you groan and slump down into her lap, scooping up a bite of potatoes and shoving it into her mouth. she chuckles.

"i'm trying not to freak the fuck out." you say. sevika hums, grabbing the fork from you to tear into her steak.

"it'll be fine babe." she mumbles around a mouthful. she groans. "fuck, this is divine."

"enjoy it." you say. she grins.

"i'm trying to savor it but i kinda wanna wolf it down and get your teeth in me." she says. you snort.

"eat slower." you demand. she giggles.

"baby." she says, putting her fork down to hold your hips. you lean forward, pressing your forehead against her shoulder. "i promise it'll be okay. it's gonna be fucking amazing, actually. just think about it-- in a few hours i'll be able to float around with you, we can start hunting together, i'm gonna be able to stay up all night with you. think of all the endless sex we'll have once i've got vampire stamina." she says, kissing your head. you snort.

"i'm just. i really don't want you to die." you say. sevika hums, rubbing her hand up and down your back.

"i know. but it's gotta happen one way or another. it's either this-- you killing me with your sexy fucking teeth then fucking me back to life or whatever--" you giggle. "-- or, i die at work or i get sick or something and you're not there to save me. and then we'll both be miserable forever." she says.

you sigh. she's right, of course, but you're still worried. you think you will be until she blinks back to life.

sevika reaches behind your back to grab another bite of her food. with her free hand, she reaches up to gently rub your cheek.

"you're everything to me, you know that right?" she asks around another mouthful of steak. you smile.

"feeling's mutual." you say. sevika smiles, gently toying with the tiny curl near your ear, pulling it straight then watching it coil back up again when she releases it.

"and i wanna spend infinity with you. if you'll have me." she says. you snort, and flick her head.

"course i will." you say. sevika grins.

"so there's no problem." she says.

you'd be lying if you said there wasn't at least a small part of you that's looking forward to tonight. you've been fasting for a month-- in preparation to drain sevika. you're ravenous. and sevika's your favorite fucking meal.

especially now, with her all glowy and happy after a big meal, a little tipsy from the bottle of wine you'd bought her-- she looks delectable.

she grins up at you from her spot on the bed. "hungry?" she asks. you chuckle.

"starving." you say, licking your lips. "i gotta say. i'm really gonna miss your blood."

sevika chuckles. "we'll find something else you like. together." she says, reaching up to thread her fingers through yours. you sigh, leaning down to kiss her, gently trailing your fangs over her lower lip. sevika shudders.

"c'mon, babe. i'm ready." she says, kissing the back of your hand, tilting her chin up, and widening her legs. you laugh.

"i'm not fucking you tonight." you say. sevika gasps.

"what?! why not?" she asks, pouting. you snort.

"because, i gotta stay focused." you say. sevika groans petulantly.

"but!" she tries. you press a finger to her lips.

"i'll fuck you when you wake up." you promise. sevika sighs.

"that works, i guess. is vampire sex any different than human sex?" she asks. you giggle.

"i dunno, it's been so long since i was a human it's all a bit of a blur now. you'll have to tell me." you say. sevika smiles.

"alright." she says. "c'mon." she says, tilting her chin up again. you giggle, leaning down to press a few kisses over her pulse point. sevika sighs, relaxing into the bed beneath her. "i love you more than i've ever loved anything or anyone, you know." she says shakily. you smile against her neck, licking her artery.

"you're sure?" you ask, one final time. sevika reaches up to hold your hips like she always does when she's beneath you.

"more sure than i've ever been about anything in my life."

"i love you sev." you whisper.

"i love you too, baby." she responds.

you take a deep breath, and sink your teeth into her throat.

sevika shudders and sighs, her nails digging into your skin as you retract your teeth and lick against her wounds, before you start sucking down her blood.

she tastes so fucking good. you're tempted to stop, just so you can keep her around as a bloodbag for a bit longer, but you know she'd be pissed if you did. so, instead, you let your instincts take over, and you start to devour her.

sevika's squeaking and gasping beneath you, her hands clawing into your flesh, her thighs squeezing together as you drink.

"th-that's it, honey, drain me. take it all from me. make me yours. make me yours." she whimpers. you growl against her neck, reaching down to hold her shoulder, gently tracing your thumb back and forth on her collar bone. sevika sighs. "c-can't believe you aren't gonna fuck me, shit! gonna make me cum in my p-pants." she says. you groan and readjust, shoving your thigh between sevika's. she laughs as she starts grinding down against you. "fuck i love you." she mumbles.

sevika cums a second later, shivering underneath you as you continue to slurp her down. you're messy-- messier than you've ever been before. something about the fact that you're changing her is making you fucking feral. you can taste the rush of hormones as she cums, and you shiver on top of her at the taste.

sevika goes limp beneath you, her grip loosening as she tries to catch her breath. she's getting lightheaded and dizzy, you can tell from the way she keeps giggling.

"f-fuck." she mutters. you hum against her. "feel drunk 'r somethin'." she says. you snort. "'m so fuckin' in love with you. you gotta marry me now, y'know." she says. you chuckle.

sevika's breaths start getting shaky, the hands on your hips slipping down to her sides. you reach out to hold her hand, intertwining your fingers again. she hums.

a minute later, and all of sevika's sounds stop. you can still hear her heartbeat, but it's much slower and softer than it usually is. your stomach flips, and you continue to drink from her.

when the gentle rhythm of her heart stops completely, you nearly choke with fear.

it's happening. fuck, it's happening.

you take a few more sips from her, draining her completely as she grows cold beneath you, and then you pull away with a gasp.

the usual high that accompanies a recent feed is nowhere to be found, dread taking its place.

sevika's eyes are shut, her skin clammy and cold, and she's not breathing, not moving, her heart completely silent.

you take a second to wipe your face of her blood, licking it off your arm, looking down at your girlfriend. she looks... peaceful. you hope she's feeling peaceful too.

you wanted to give her a solid minute or so to experience death, but your anxiety's too high. you only manage a few seconds before you lean down, cupping her face between both of your hands, and leaning down to gently, shakily press your lips against hers.

sevika's lips are cold and unresponsive.

you start to freak out.

you kiss her again, licking your tongue against her lip.

she stays still.

you gasp, sitting up to tap her cheek with your palm. "sevika." you call. she doesn't respond. tears start to well up in your eyes as you duck back down, sucking her lip into your mouth, running your tongue against it.

she still doesn't move.

you begin to panic.

"sevika!" you shout against her mouth. you bite her bottom lip, then follow it up with a quick peck. sevika remains still beneath you, and tears begin to well in your eyes. "wake up, you bitch!" you cry against her as you press your mouth to her again.

suddenly, sevika gasps and snaps upwards, her lips moving against yours, her hands coming up to hold your hips. you sigh in relief against her, and sevika flips you, pinning you to the bed. you squeal.

"oh thank fuck." you whisper up at her. she grins down at you.

"that is a hell of a way to wake up." she says. you chuckle, a few stray tears escaping your eyes as relief floods your body, and you reach up to grab her by the hair and pull her back down against you.

sevika chuckles against your lips. "you really thought i'd leave you behind?" she asks. you sob.

"fuck off. you had me worried!" you say. sevika snorts.

"i don't think you even fully let me die, babe." she says. "could hear you the whole time."

you giggle, and sevika gently swipes your tears away.

"how do you feel?" you ask. sevika grins, her fangs descending, and you gasp. fuck that's hot. you think.

"honestly?" she asks. you nod up at her. "better than i've ever felt before. what did you do to me?" she asks. you giggle.

"exactly what you asked me to!" you say. sevika grins.

"i didn't know i'd feel so... refreshed!" she says. you chuckle.

"i'm so fucking glad you woke up." you say. "i was gonna kill you if you died on me."

sevika snorts. "how would that work, exactly?" she asks. you groan and shrug, then reach up to pull her against you again, hugging her to your chest. sevika hums, nuzzling against your neck.

"i love you so fucking much." she says. "so fucking much."

"let's get married." you say. sevika grins against your neck.

"that's my line." she says. you giggle and blindly reach out to pat down your bedside table, pulling the drawer open and fumbling for the tiny box you've been hiding for months now. you pull it out and pull sevika away from your neck by her ponytail, before shoving it in her hand.

"i'm dead fucking serious." you say. sevika blinks, her eyes going wide.

"fuck-- really?" she asks. you nod.

"i mean. we're already spending eternity together, what's a ring and some paperwork?" you ask. sevika grins, then tears the box from your hand, tears welling in her eyes.

she opens it and bursts into laughter as she reveals the gold ring, strung on a gold chain so she can wear it all the time. you smile as you watch her squint, trying to make out the inscription.

your secret admirer it reads. sevika bursts into laughter.

"oh fuck-- i love you so fucking much." she cries. you grin up at her.

"yeah?" you ask. "is that a yes?"

"of course it's a fucking yes! are you kidding me?" she asks. you grin, and sevika swoops down to press her lips against yours. "thank you." she mumbles. "thank you thank you thank you thank you."

"for what?" you ask. "i should be thanking you!" you exclaim.

"for stalking me! for falling in love with me and being so fucking sweet and all the gifts and how much you take care of me and changing me and being my fiance and--"

you cut her off with another kiss. sevika hums against you.

"i love you." she finishes.

"i love you too. for infinity." you say. sevika grins.

"for infinity." she agrees, pulling the chain over her neck. you smile as the ring dangles down over you, gently tugging her closer by it.

"you want me to show you how to float?" you ask. sevika grins.

"fuck yes. but first i want to pay you back for that orgasm." she says, leaning down to kiss you.

you giggle, and sevika grins, and right before your lips connect, you think that even forever with sevika might not be enough time.

taglist!

@fyeahnix @sapphicsgirl @half-of-a-gay @ellabslut @thesevi0lentdelights @sexysapphicshopowner @shimtarofstupidity @love-sugarr @chuucanchuucan @222danielaa @badbye666 @femme-historian @lia-winther @gr0ssz0mbi3 @ellsss @sevikaspillowprincess @leomatsuzaki @emiliabby

#sevika #sevika imagine #sevika arcane #sevika x reader #sevika x you #soft sevika

[amarynthian-chronicles]

Our Guest Chapter 1

Vampire!Sun, Vampire!Moon, Vampire!Eclipse x Hunter Reader

(You arrive at a sinister and luxurious castle with the innocent intention of checking why its mysterious residents haven't been paying any taxes or utilities for the past several centuries. Very useful excuse for a vampire hunter to have when trying to do some good old infiltrating. The three vampire lords however, fully intend to capture and seduce you, but that is a bit difficult when you keep asking them about their financial books. Will they be able to make you theirs? Are they onto your little schemes and playing along? Will you finally get that plate of cupcakes? We'll find out)

“There is a beautiful and delicious darling waiting at our castle door, brothers.“

“This is practical, normally we have to go out and hunt for one of those. Apparently the whole process switched to free postal service.“

“I can taste the tantalizing sweetness in their veins even from here. All shall envy our fortune, no other lord of the night will ever have access to such nectar.“

Three vampiric aristocrats were huddling together behind the velvet curtains, trying to get a discreet peek at the unexpected visitor that had rung the castle doorbell, disturbing their nocturnal activities. The boys had been on their best behaviour. Trust them.

Prior to this, Marquis Moon had been composing a new sonata, writing notes in expert penmanship before playing the piece beautifully, but no beloved was there to hear it. Viscount Sun had just been in the middle of painting a new masterpiece, creating wonders with each stroke of his brush, but he had found himself in need of a model to pose for him.

Grand Duke Eclipse's craftsmanship was unmatched when it came to jewellery, his combinations and designs of precious stones and metals resembling physical manifestations of poetry, yet no beauty had been available to wear them, no delicate fingers to offer home for his rings nor lovely neck he could adorn with gold and rubies.

How convenient of you to come and solve their problems, dear Y/N!

You stood at the door, umbrella in hand, calm, smiling, without a care in the world. Possibly wondering why it was taking so long for someone to come to the door. Truth be told, it was a pretty big castle, maybe the residents just needed time to get from one side to the other, you never know.

The three brothers eyed you through the window with hunger, lust and curiosity. It was quite cold outside and your cheeks were red. You were doe-eyed, delectable, theirs for the taking.

Moon's preternatural senses were sharper than those of his brothers, capable of detecting even the smallest of details when it came to analysing a living creature, perfectly appropriate skills for a hunter of his calibre. He could hear the stable rhythm of your heart, memorising it as if it were a beat of a musical piece, something he should use in composing. He could make a whole symphony with your heartbeat as inspiration for tempo, the flow of your sweet blood serving as inspiration for the flow of his music.

Moon spoke, his voice almost a raspy whisper:

“Most unusual, not a single trace of fear in them. Posture almost immaculate, joy and confidence in their bearing, almost as if they just entered an amusement park. Shall we give them a little scare? The steady cadence of their heart could use some excitement, every calm melody needs a good crescendo from time to time.“

Viscount Sun huffed, disagreeing:

“Fear adds such a bitter taste and ruins both the palate and the palette. Various emotions change the chemical components of the nectar of life, different combinations create different flavours, similarly how different colours form various new shades on the canvas. Just look what a soft little thing they are. Such a delicate disposition, definitely not made for this type of weather nor your sadistic chasing games, Moonie.“

“Do not spoil my fun, Sunny.“

“Why chase when you can entice?“

“That is a very interesting way of admitting that you are tragically bad at tracking prey.“

“If only you were as good at throwing compliments as you were with throwing insults, you wouldn't have to chase anyone in the first place.“

Eclipse held up a red beryl gem and gazed at it, as if silently asking a question. A green mist appeared within, whispering to him in a language only he could understand. He listened intently, maroon circles appearing in his golden eyes for a swift moment, before disappearing. All in due time.

Sun and Moon were still having their little argument and he decided it was time to put an end to it:

“Enough, we cannot keep them waiting out there forever. They will freeze before any of you gets a chance to do anything at all. We should warm them up.“

As you were waiting for someone to finally deign to answer the door, you took your time to admire the castle's exterior. You were very fond of such aesthetic and your inner scholar felt like a cat that had fallen into a whole basket of catnip.

Even in the dark of the night and heavy rain, it was fairly easy to discern that it was a place of splendour, its design a combination of Renaissance and Gothic architecture. There was a wide variety of turrets and towers, marvellous rose windows, loggias and galleries, facade ornaments containing statues of figures from Classical antiquity.

Nevertheless, Beauty always had an interesting tendency of holding hands with the Grotesque. Therefore, something lugubrious reigned in the air, a perpetual feeling of gloom, as if there were an echo of forgotten funeral bells, suspended between reality and imagination. Life and Death, Luxury and Decay, all of it intertwined in a shameless orgy of contradictory concepts.

October rain was a perfect proverbial cherry on top. Honestly, there was no better time of the year to make a little detour at such a place. It just didn't hit the same if one were to visit a sinister chateau in June.

The season of Autumn had arrived like an old friend, having just gotten out of its elegant carriage, clad in russet cloaks and vermillion capes, bringing gifts, ripe grapes and apples, calling for harvest and summoning everyone to bask in the final rays of golden sunlight before stern Winter shrouds the land with snow.

However, your particular journey had a few setbacks, forcing you to use all of your negotiation skills to get a local taxi driver to get you to the desired address.

The aforementioned driver was currently sitting in the parked car, keeping the engine running, waiting for your further instructions. He was looking at the building's imposing structure with an expression of visceral fear and the only thing holding him from simply driving away was the suspiciously large amount of cash you had given him to bring you there in the first place.

How lovely, all of our main characters were so trustworthy.

Other than your sudden presence, all had seemed to be perfectly peaceful in our dear castle, not a creature stirred. The bats were napping, the owls nesting, the spiders were wondering whether they should protect their web designs in the central intellectual property system. All was calm. Well, a few poor fellows in the dungeons may not have been having the best time of their lives, but you can't make everyone happy.

You had gotten yourself well-acquainted with the names and ranks of your targets. Pardon, “auditees“. Although, considering the nature of your visit, both terms could equally apply, the revenue and audit business was a cruel one. You had done extensive reading on the subject of their suspicious “economic activities“, along with all the macabre phenomena that had been connected to them. You should be feeling some sort of anxiety over the whole task, but honestly, you were rather giddy. You loved a challenge. What a wonderful way to spend the spooky season.

The heavy door opened in front of you. You looked upwards at the looming shadowy figure, a pair of golden eyes glowing in the penumbra, a deep husky voice greeting you:

“Do my eyes deceive me? A bright morning star is visiting us, is it dawn already? Welcome, welcome, bringer of light.“

“Good evening, sir. Please accept my sincere apologies for disturbing your household so late. You are the Grand Duke, I presume?“

“What a polite little thing you are. Indeed, you presume correctly. Now, why are you here in the middle of nowhere at such an ungodly hour? Lost your way?“

The vampire lord was looking at you as if you were the last scrumptious morsel on that side of the known universe, which could be interpreted as both flattering and unnerving.

Before you could answer, you noticed that two additional figures appeared at his side, a gaze of menacing crimson and one of ardent blue. You spoke, tone chirpy and cheerful:

“The Marquis and the Viscount! What an honour, I only heard the best about your artistic talents.“

“Oh, did you come all the way here for an autograph, dearest? Or perhaps a private performance?“

You smiled at them, tilting your head like a kitten that was trying to charm its owner into getting treats.

“May I come in? I will make it quick, I promise.“

The three of them gave each other a look, grinning as if thoroughly amused.

“Interesting, usually we are the ones asking such a question. Come in, come in! Do tell us, are you a tourist? We love tourists that desperately need assistance with directions. Adore them, very much so.“

“You love to help them?“

“Hm? Ah, yes, yes. Definitely love to help them.“

“Actually, I have been sent by the Revenue and Audit Bureau, I am here on official business. The usual, suspected tax fraud, unpaid utilities and so on. “

They definitely didn't expect that. Oh, no, no. Confusion reigned for a solid minute, before you casually presented your very legitimate credentials, letting them read. Sun was the first to break the silence with a slightly hysterical laugh. He reached to give you a little pat on the head.

“Are you now, my pretty? We still love making new friends, even when they come from financial institutions!“

“The taxi is waiting for me with my baggage still, so I won't take long and will just ask you a few preliminary questions. This visit was really just intended for me to announce that I would be conducting this procedure in the following days. I will be making a few additional visits during the week just for the sake of the inspection, then I shall be on my merry way with the report.“

“Nonsense! We cannot let you go back on the road in this weather. Besides, the local hotel is more terrifying than a graveyard at the witching hour. Do stay with us, we have plenty of comfortable chambers, we cannot let you fly away like a little comet in the night.“

“Oh, you are very generous, but that won't be necessary. Business aside, it is still a great pleasure to make your acquiantance.“

You extended your hand to them, expecting a firm and professional handshake. What could possibly go wrong there?

Everything.

Your eyes widened when the Grand Duke took your hand and kissed it, taking his sweet time. By the time he released it, your cheeks must have gone through several shades of red.

“The pleasure is all ours, morning star.“

As if that wasn't enough to make your heart skip a beat or ten, the Viscount and Marquis joined the fun, as well, each of them placing little kisses on your knuckles.

Alright, apparently neither side would be playing a fair game.

They knew exactly what they were doing. Their gestures and ministrations provided an excellent distraction, making you drop your mental defenses for a few precious seconds, enough for them to work their spell on you as you began to lose yourself in their eyes.

Several firm rules existed when it came to dealing with vampires and you just messed up the most crucial one: do not let yourself be mesmerized.

And yet.

Combine that with your natural curiosity and desire for knowledge, and there you have it, a freshly baked disaster, straight out of the oven.

Suppressing your fascination with the three of them had suddenly become a very difficult task. You had never seen such facial structures nor anatomy before. True, you had seen your fair share of weird things in your short little life, but you were still very much taken aback.

The three aristocrats possessed celestial features reminiscent of their heavenly namesakes, a perfect union of Beauty and the Grotesque, allowing such an appearance to be more alluring than simply awe-inspiring. The brothers were preternaturally handsome, of impressive height, wolfish grins always present, everything about them was perfectly tailored to entrap both willing and unwilling victims.

Sun's canines were discreet but still very sharp, appropriate for someone whose primary role was to lure and enchant. Moon's were far more prominent and intimidating, the rest of his teeth possessing a similar razor edge, fit for a predator meant to deliver efficient results. Eclipse's were the sharpest and most lethal, establishing his status of being the most formidable and terrifying member of the group.

Rich scents were lingering in the air around them, amber, vanilla, cardamom, rose oil, lovely, oh, so lovely.

It took you a solid several seconds to register the fact that you still had to use your words to speak, but the glow of their eyes was so magnificent, magnetic, such ethereal beauty, entire worlds were present in them, promising pleasures untold.

It was as if the concept of time had suddenly been shattered like a fairy tale mirror, seconds became centuries. How long had you been silent and simply standing there in pure adoration?

And yet, a certain part of you suddenly awakened, grasping the rest of your soul by the hand and pulling it out of the mindless haze, showing that it had power strong enough to escape the tendrils of darkness. You had a task, after all. Let's remain professional.

Unbeknownst to you, the brothers were somewhat shocked with your ability to get your mind back on track, even after direct exposure to the hypnotic power of all three of them. True, they had only been using a low level of their mind control magic, but it was still impressive, considering that most humans would simply choose to remain in the comforting embrace of oblivion. Why on earth would anyone choose to return to the cold fields of reality?

During all of that, your grip had slackened on the umbrella's handle and a suspiciously strong wind current blew it away right out of your hand before you even had time to realize what is going on, leaving you unprotected from the pouring rain.

By the time you had finally returned to your senses, you were partially soaked from the deluge and the wind was really not doing you any favours. You made a cute sneeze, followed by another.

“Pardon me. Now, as I was saying-“

Another adorable sneeze. You honestly hoped that this wouldn't make your reputation suffer one day.

Eclipse casually commented, smirking:

“You won't be able to last the drive to the hotel like that. Unless you are prepared to deal with potential pneumonia.“

Before you could protest, Sun eagerly trapped both your hands in his grasp, giving them a little squeeze and massaging them as if trying to warm you up. He didn't let go even when you tried to pull away.

“Goodness, darling comet, your hands are so cold. You will catch your death out there, we must insist that you stay here with us for the whole week. It is very cozy and comfy inside, we can build you a whole nest of blankets after a nice hot bath. Moonie, go get their things and give the good driver some extra compensation, will you?“

You blinked as Moon passed by with a speed that was certainly not normal by any means. You could have sworn that you felt the most tender of caresses along your cheek, a motion so swift that your eyes could barely catch it, but your nerves certainly did. It was difficult to supress a shudder.

Enthusiastic and almost mad with glee, Moon got all of your things from the car, hastily throwing a bag full of jewels in the taxi driver's face as additional payment, ignoring the man's muffled yelp, before dashing right back at the door, carrying your baggage as if it weighed nothing.

A few moments later the only thing that was heard was the rain falling and the sound of the car tires shrieking as it drove off, leaving you alone with your eager and enamoured hosts.

You made a little squeak of surprise as you were suddenly pulled inside, the door closing and making a dramatic echo in the stormy night.

A few words were in order regarding the noble residence. The whole castle served both as a comfortable home and as a convenient trap for newcomers. It was true that the classical process of hunting provided a wonderful thrill, a tingle so exquisite that nothing could compare. Chasing and tracking chosen prey, what a delight, sensing the beating heart, the warmth of blood, bliss beyond description. However, there were times when it seemed appropriate to play a more elegant game, inviting and letting the victims enter the web willingly.

Therefore, our handsome vampire lords had a habit of organizing ostentatious dance parties, having a very strict dress code where all the guests had to dress in accordance with the fashion of the late 18th century. A grand feast would be prepared, fireworks, concerts, luxuries that would place kings to shame, a decadent display of wealth and desire. The celestial vampires would then proceed to charm and seduce their victims, one by one, all of them giving themselves, mind, body and soul.

If all went well, and usually it did, the experience could be pleasurable for all those involved. One drinking from the neck, the other two relishing the sweetness on the pulsating wrist arteries. If things were a bit more amorous, all of them would nibble and drink the precious blood from the inner thigh area.

Sharing was caring, after all.

There was something beautifully intimate about the whole process. Drinking life. Hungry licks and bites, gestures of both a lover and a murderer. For an enemy, tearing out the heart and drinking from the source seemed like a worthy way of evening an old score, but for allies it would always be a pleasant little bite and a quick drink, leaving the victim alive and well.

They harboured a heightened appreciation of the human body. Flesh was aesthetically pleasing, beautiful, pulsing with life, warmth, all those wonderful things that were ready to be stolen. Blood illuminated by moonlight, blood illuminated by early rays of dawn. Art, it was pure art.

Furthermore, the brothers had additional powers conveniently associated with their artistic skills. Temporary enthrallment was a wonderful tool, but they created their own ways of ensuring a more permanent bond with those they allowed to live, assuring that no matter where they run, they could always be called upon and summoned like obedient pets.

Sun would sometimes use some of the precious blood as an additional pigment ingredient for his paintings, no different from Moon at times combining it with ink to write musical notes as he composed. It served as a type entrapment of the person's mind, having a part of them forever bound to them, their soul captured in their art, their music.

If Moon were to play a piece written with the blood of one person, they would immediately succumb to the pull, making haste to heed their master's call no matter what. Similarly, if Sun were to paint with that specific colour containing the blood pigment, he could make the person do whatever the picture was showing in that current moment.

Eclipse's ability was the most potent, he was capable of trapping the entire soul of a person in jewels, ensuring absolute control over their mind and heart whenever he wished. In death they would remain his prisoners, their spirits and energy his to use as he pleased.

Such magic was terrifying even in the world of vampires and therefore a majority of them had acknowledged the celestial brothers as royalty among immortals.

Now, let us return to your fun little predicament with those very sane individuals that certainly only had your best interests at heart.

Moon made haste to bolt the doors as soon as you were inside, of course. Sun's giggle was slightly maniacal as he winked at you.

“Security reasons, my pretty. You never know what beasts are lurking out there, dangerous times we live in.“

You pouted, removing your soaked coat and trying to get your hair to somewhat dry by combing your fingers through it.

“Oh, yes, that is quite true that one can never be too careful, my dear sir. In fact, I think I saw a few life insurance agents on my way here. Truly frightening creatures, the lot of them, wouldn't recommend meeting them in a dark alley under any circumstance whatsoever.“

Moon's voice was close once more, it seemed almost as if he moved as swiftly as a shadow, one could miss him within a single blink.

“There could be some other monsters wandering around, shining comet.“

“Such as?“

“Do you happen to know which creature of the Night feeds on the essence of the living, stalking and doing all it can to attract prey?“

“The HR department?“

Ignoring his confusion, your focus shifted to the grandeur of the interior. They weren't lying, it was undoubtedly cozy and wonderful to behold. Comforting heat was coming from the fireplace. Thick carpets with elaborate patterns were present all over the hardwood flooring. Walls were decorated with intricate tapestries and paintings, golden sconces, cabinets containing Venetian glass and crystal figurines, not a single surface was left bare. Vaulted ceilings, frescoes painted in each available bit of space, creating a wonderful effect that only a mad artist could concoct in a fever dream of divine inspiration.

Which is probably what had happened, considering Sun's habits.

However, elements of the supernatural and macabre continued to linger. Some paintings had eyes that seemed a bit too alive, while others would become more and more disturbing the longer you looked at them. Statues appeared to be capable of changing their pose at a whim and it was easy to miss the motion itself within a mere blink. Shadows cast from the fireplace were not following any law of physics, undulating and writhing on the floor as they please, sometimes creating monstrous shapes.

Marvellous. Beyond description, fascinating. Had it not been for your task, you would have gladly spent a whole eternity studying the components and properties of the whole structure.

You were brought back to reality when you realized that you were still very much shivering and that you really needed to get your hair properly dried.

You gasped as you suddenly felt Eclipse wrap his cloak around you from behind, pulling you closer to his form, his strong arms wrapping around your waist. Goodness gracious, was that a secret additional pair of arms he had?

“Sir!“

“There was no time to fetch you a blanket, consider this an urgent alternative.“

“Don't you think this is a bit of a compromising position?“

“Preposterous, that must be the feverish delirium talking. This cruel weather is detrimental for soft flowers such as yourself.“

“I suppose by this logic it must the delirium that is squeezing my hips right now?“

He purred in your ear:

“Relax, morning star, you need warmth, we cannot allow you to get ill under our care.“

“I think I am very warm now, though.“

“Hush, be still, let us take care of you.“

Viscount Sun made sure to get your attention once more.

“You know, sweetness, many have pursued us for various reasons, but tax evasion was never one of them. This is going to be a fun new experience for all of us.“

It was perfectly within your right to struggle and act indignant in order to free yourself, but you were aware that you had to be diplomatic and collected for the moment. Antagonizing your hosts would yield no results and would certainly make your job far more difficult than it needed to be.

You had to remain professional, it was a task like any other. Yes, your hosts were not really the best examples of sanity nor did they seem to be aware of the concept of personal space, but you couldn't let that distract you from your duties. Someone had to be mature in the whole situation, after all. You cleared your throat, trying to appear as dignified as possible in your current position.

Adjusting a bit, ignoring the fact that you were still being held tightly by four arms, you managed to reach for your pocket to get a little notepad and a pencil. It was a rather comical scene to behold, since you had limited options and an even more limited space to maneuver in, but by some miracle you were able to make a few scribbles on the paper. Such an action required the same skill level one usually achieves when trying to get work done with one cat asleep on their computer and five additional cats on their lap and head.

Sun was very much offended with you playing with the paper and pencil instead of letting him warm your hands. You spoke:

“Alright, I will need some basic information for now, such as source of income, registered businesses, unregistered activities that may go under the radar of the government. You do realize that there is an unusually large cemetery on the way here that is not even on the map?“

“I can answer all of those for you. Accumulated heirloom. Pleasure is our only business and business is doing well! As for the final one, well, it is such a tragedy how incompetent cartographers are these days, my dear.“

“Regardless, I still have to conduct a thorough investigation and write a report, it is a formal requirement. Also, it will be necessary that I take a tour around the place simply to inspect the installations. Since none of the utilities are being paid for either, I must see whether you have self-sufficient power sources.“

“Now, now, you can't explore all on your own, that would be against our rules. And you don't want to be a little rulebreaker. You cannot enter certain rooms or parts of the castle without our permission.“

“Understandable. You three can guide me during my stay, then.“

“Moreover, communication with the outside world is highly discouraged. So discouraged, that it is forbidden, actually.“

“May I ask why?“

“You may! We won't answer, but you definitely may ask regardless, your voice is so pleasant to listen to. Do you sing?“

“I am still processing the “no communication with the outside world with no explanation whatsoever as to why“ part, give me a moment. I think I need ibuprofen.“

“Oh, we do have that!“

Soft cloth suddenly fell on your head and you realized it was a towel. You slowly looked upwards, finding yourself face to face with Moon who was now shamelessly hanging upside down from a cord, crimson eyes as menacing as ever and grin impossibly wide.

You spoke, unsure how to even react properly:

“What on earth are you doing?“

“I was feeling excluded. And you needed something to get your hair dry.“

“How did you even get up there? You were at the door barely a few seconds ago.“

“In a very clandestine and stealthy manner, as is currently being demonstrated. Impressed?“

“Fine, yes. Happy?“

Moon giggled like a wicked imp, relishing the situation. Teasing you was slowly becoming his new favourite activity.

“Are you good at playing hide and seek, my everlasting aurora?“

To his surprise, you actually did ponder the answer to his question for a few moments. Finally, you smiled at him:

“The classical game has a predictable pattern, so I actually did invent my own twist once. I would count, the other person would hide, and then I would simply proceed to steal cookies from the kitchen without anyone knowing. Really practical. Free sweets, nobody knows who the culprit is, perfect cost-benefit analysis.“

Oh, he loved that. Moon definitely appreciated some good old-fashioned mischief and he felt an even greater desire to discover what made you tick. He reached with his hand, tracing along your jawline with his claws, before pressing the palm of his hand to your cheek, his wicked eyes never leaving yours.

“Naughty, naughty. You must be punished.“

“Retroactively?“

“With interest.“

“Good luck with calculating all of that. If you start early, you should be done by the next decade, give or take a year or two.“

Moon's mind was already imagining all sorts of scenarios that he had every intention of bringing into reality.

What a delight it would be to have you, play with you, chase you, catch you, taste you, forever and ever. Your blood was tormenting him, you were the golden apple stolen from a magical garden, ripe and delicious. He did not care how many pomegranate seeds it would take to ensnare you and chain you to his world.

One had to admire the dedication, at least.

He was familiar with that sly streak. Finally, a kindred spirit. You had something guileful within you, as if a joyful scherzo were constantly playing in your soul, lively and vivid, truly akin to an ethereal aurora borealis in the night sky, teasing mortals with its unreachable beauty.

Needless to say that Sun was simply not having this and he had to ruin the moment by intervening in the most mature way possible: by taking your pencil away.

“What is this I see? A hawthorn pencil? Quite sharp, I see. No, no, we can't have such a vile thing as hawthorn wood here, absolutely not, in the trash it goes where it belongs.“

You had every intention of arguing with him, but you were once again distracted with the fact that Eclipse was now diligently getting your hair dried with the towel as if you were a kitten they had found outside or something. Goodybe reputation, it was nice knowing you, write a postcard.

“I must say, nobody ever insulted my pencils before.“

Sun went over to the nearby desk, fiddling with some parchment until he found what he was looking for, returning with a triumphant grin on his face and a quill feather in his hand.

“You shall write with one of these.“

“I don't even know how to write with ink without making a mess.“

“Come now, I am sure you are a fast learner.“

You shuddered as he teasingly slid the feather along your cheek and neck.

“Oh, stop.“

We were all familiar with the saying about everything being about the journey and not the destination itself. Perhaps you could allow yourself some enjoyment in the whole affair. In all technicality, you did manage to get in the castle, so it was going well for now. Moon summoned a few ghostly servants to command them to get a comfy chamber prepared for you, as well as some dinner. You were rather tired and hungry, after all.

Eclipse gave your shoulder a little squeeze to get your attention.

“Now, morning star, since you are already here, could I interest you in some pretty necklaces you may like?“

You pondered his offer for a few moments, before shrugging, letting yourself relax.

“You know what? Sure.“

(continuation also on AO3)

#vampire sun #vampire moon #vampire eclipse #sundrop x reader #moondrop x reader #eclipse x reader #sundrop #moondrop #fnaf sun #fnaf moon #fnaf eclipse #five nights at freddy's #daycare attendant x reader #daycare attendant #vampire au #jester's privilege chronicles #amary's chronicles

[felassan]

Article: 'If Anthem is the "anti-BioWare game", then James Ohlen is correcting the balance'

Text [quote]:

"The hugely influential design director talks Baldur’s Gate, his next RPG, and the abandonment of the BioWare model.

“Baldur’s Gate II set the model, and I obviously loved that model,” says James Ohlen. “But there were a ton of people at BioWare who didn’t like it.” During leadership meetings over the course of the Canadian designer’s 22 years at the RPG studio, he’d sometimes feel totally outnumbered when talking about the importance of story. “Game developers don’t get into the industry to create stories, they get into the industry to create games,” he says. “And so there’s this conflict between game developers and story - my entire career it's been a constant fight.”

Ohlen picked his side early. He was telling BioWare stories even before he joined the company. The meeting of Minsc and Boo, one of the most enduring partnerships in PC gaming, came about in a tabletop Dungeons & Dragons game he ran as a teenager. Then a comic book store manager, he took advantage of his premises to guide no fewer than three concurrent D&D groups through their campaigns. “I didn’t really have much of a life outside of Dungeons & Dragons,” he says.

BioWare programmer Cam Tofer played Minsc in one of those campaigns, “as a guy who’s basically been knocked on the head too many times in fights”. A merchant NPC of Ohlen’s invention sold him Boo, the miniature giant space hamster, in an apparent scam. Tofer ran with it, declaring that Boo would be Minsc’s animal companion, and holding one-sided conversations with the confidant that lived in his pocket. “In my campaign he was just a hamster,” Ohlen says. “I always thought of him as just a hamster.”

Back then, in the early 90s, there were no game design degrees, but Ohlen had dedicated himself to the next best thing. DMing proved to be an intensive training course in giving players agency and immersing them in another world - and his local reputation as a story wrangler landed him a job working on Baldur’s Gate. It’s a similar origin story to that of David Gaider, another D&D head who was plucked from the hotel industry to tell tales about vampires and druid groves.

“Have you ever read Malcolm Gladwell on the 10,000 hour rule? I think by the time I got hired by BioWare, I had done 20,000 hours of dungeon mastering,” Ohlen says. “It was ridiculous. I owe a lot to D&D. My friendships, my career, my mental stability.”

BioWare co-founder Ray Muzyka encouraged Ohlen to dig into the huge binders that contained the details of all the player characters and NPCs in his campaigns, and to let them spill out into the world of Baldur’s Gate. “I hadn’t intended to do that,” Ohlen says. “It seemed narcissistic. But he was right. Once I started using them, I started getting things done real fast. All the characters had personalities that I already knew.”

Those tabletop campaigns turned out to be accidental writers’ rooms - producing distinct personalities that reflected the voices of their individual players. From the binders came some of Baldur’s Gate’s most beloved companions, like Minsc and the egotistical conjurer Edwin, as well as its villains - leading all the way up to the sequel’s Hannibal Lector-esque antagonist, Jon Irenicus.

That said, inspiration for Baldur’s Gate II’s much deeper companion stories came from an unlikely source. During a freezing winter smoke break in Edmonton, an Interplay producer named Dermot Clarke mentioned that Baldur’s Gate’s characters weren’t nearly as developed as those in Final Fantasy VII.

“I’m very competitive,” Ohlen says. “I went and played Final Fantasy VII and was like, ‘Oh my good god, these characters make ours look like a bunch of cardboard cutouts. This is terrible.’” The disparity convinced BioWare to up their game, leading to the complex journeys of companions like Jaheira - the grieving wife and activist, whose sense of duty has been shaken by so much loss. Despite Ohlen’s distaste for the way SquareSoft’s RPGs played, he continued to be influenced by their character work - all the way up to Knights Of The Old Republic, which was partly inspired by the twist-laden Chrono Cross. That and Star Wars, of course.

“I actually totally, entirely ripped off The Empire Strikes Back in such blatant fashion,” Ohlen says. “You basically go to face the dark lord by yourself, and then you get into a lightsaber fight with him, and he kicks your ass. And then, after kicking your ass, he does the big twist. Then you don’t die because you’re rescued by your friends on the Millennium Falcon - I mean, the Ebon Hawk. It’s beat by beat the same thing.”

Of course, KOTOR’s plot twist didn’t feel familiar to players because it impacted not Luke Skywalker but them personally. For those who don’t know - and spoiler warning, if so - it revealed that your character was in fact a former Sith Lord, their memory wiped by the Jedi Council. In an RPG genre rooted by knowing your avatar down to their last stat, having your identity ripped out from under you felt genuinely radical. BioWare had succeeded in making its biggest setpiece not a battle, but a revelation. And in the process, it proved that BioWare storytelling was packed with the kind of explosive potential a publisher could bank on.

After the sale of the company to EA in 2007, Ohlen was put in charge of creative development on a Star Wars MMO, The Old Republic. It was BioWare’s next great hope, and an enormous undertaking - involving the founding of a brand new studio in Austin, Texas. At launch, it featured eight story campaigns which unfolded across 19 planets. In 2011, executive producer Rich Vogel told Fast Company that The Old Republic hosted “the most content in a video game ever”. Looking back, Ohlen views that as a fundamental problem.

“If open-world is the enemy of storytelling, multiplayer is the arch-villain,” Ohlen says. “If I was to go back in time to give my 2006 self some advice it would be, ‘Don’t try to make the game so long that you can fill up 200 hours. Instead, keep it shorter.’” With less ground to cover, the Austin team could have committed more resources to its Flashpoints - story-heavy missions which forefronted the difficult decision-making and tight encounter design that had elevated previous BioWare games. “Everyone wanted Knights of the Old Republic Online, and it felt more like World Of Warcraft with Star Wars spray-painted on it and some BioWare juice thrown in,” Ohlen says. “Even though the Metacritic was pretty good, it wasn’t new enough to really take off.”

At this point, a Knights Of The Old Republic 3 directed by Ohlen would be “not great”, he says. “Because I’m all Star Wars’d out. I have nothing else to say about Star Wars. But if a whole new studio does KOTOR 3 that loved KOTOR, that could be an amazing game. So hopefully Disney makes that happen. But probably not, because executives around there are all probably going, ‘It’s too hardcore.’” Ohlen still remembers the efforts he made to convince EA boss John Riccitiello that fantasy was a genre that could sell. “I had this whole PowerPoint presentation,” he says. “We have Lord Of The Rings! We have World Of Warcraft! We have Diablo!”

The year after The Old Republic’s launch, with the arch-villain of multiplayer still undefeated, development of Anthem began - and BioWare fought that increasingly costly battle for the better part of a decade. Those at the studio tired of the Baldur’s Gate model had the backing of EA, since a live service looter-shooter in the mode of Destiny could unlock years of long-term revenue beyond the reach of a single-player RPG. Or so the theory went. “It was always chasing the gigantic successes instead of leaning into what BioWare was good at,” Ohlen says. “It wasn’t just EA leaning on BioWare - there were lots of people in BioWare who wanted to do something different.”

Ohlen understood why others at the company would want to get away from a formula that empowered old hands like him and Gaider, and embrace one that empowered them instead. And he knew first-hand that freedom to experiment was what had set BioWare on the path to success decades before. Yet this new direction felt like an abandonment of the studio’s strengths. “Anthem was the ultimate expression of that,” Ohlen says. “It got away from everything. It’s kind of like the anti-BioWare game.”

Ohlen left in 2018, intending to retire from videogames altogether. “The big games have a formula and they don’t adjust it too much,” he says. “It’s very production driven, and I was like, ‘I’m not gonna get to make a game that I want to make at EA.’” He returned to the tabletop, putting together a new Baldur’s Gate adventure book featuring Minsc and the gang. But then Wizards Of The Coast called and flew him up to Seattle to discuss starting a new studio. Ohlen didn’t need or necessarily want a videogame development team under his wing - and that proved to be a perfect negotiating position.

“My demands were, ‘I only do this if I get to start my own studio in Austin, I get to choose who I hire, I get to choose exactly the kind of IP I want to make, no one’s gonna tell me anything about how to make the game.” At this point, Ohlen adopts a megalomaniacal tone, as if he were Baldur’s Gate baddy Sarevok, ascending to the throne of the dead god Bhaal. “I want control over absolutely everything! I want all the power!”

To his surprise, Wizards said yes, and Ohlen has been happily presiding over Archetype Entertainment ever since, building a new sci-fi RPG world without interference. “If you’ve seen the games I like to build, it’s that style of game,” he says. “But then it leans into the people and technology that I have available.” Ohlen won’t elaborate on what’s in his toybox, for fear of spilling secrets - but it’s worth noting that Mass Effect legend Drew Karpyshyn joined Archetype in 2020 as lead writer. “The feel in the studio reminds me of my early days at BioWare,” wrote Karpyshyn on his blog at the time. “I can feel the magic in the air.”

Magic and Wizards and science fiction - it’s the kind of atmosphere in which you could believe a hamster isn’t just a hamster, but something altogether sillier and more exciting. An act of collective imagination is happening, the binders are filled to bursting, and all we have to do is wait."

[source]

#bioware #sw:tor #long post #longpost #anthem #mass effect #smoking mention

[captainsophiestark]

Type A

Caroline Forbes x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for Fictober 2023!

Fandom: The Vampire Diaries

Day 29 Prompt: "That's all? Easy."

Summary: Caroline is a little overwhelmed by the amount of things that need to happen to open the Salvatore Boarding School for its first year of operation, but her SO is there to help her through.

Word Count: 1,056

Category: Fluff

A/N: Disclaimer, I haven't seen Legacies

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

"Oh. My. God."

I poked my head into the living room cautiously at the sound of my girlfriend's voice. I recognized her tone as the 'something has gone disastrously wrong and I'm about to have a meltdown' tone. I'd run to the kitchen to get coffee for both of us, and apparently in that short amount of time we'd encountered a new problem. To be fair, worse things had definitely happened in less time to us before.

"Babe?" I asked, taking a few more steps into the room. Caroline Forbes, my girlfriend and the love of my life, looked up at me, clipboard in hand and distress written all over her face. "What happened?"

"Ugh, the Salvatores happened!" she cried, throwing her hands up in the air. "I'm pretty sure they spent the past hundred years compelling anybody involved with this house, and now that new people are responsible for billing things like electric, water, gas, and whatever else you can think of, I have to deal with them all at once! And that's not even mentioning the home inspectors. And I still have to organize all the heirlooms they left laying around, just waiting to be broken. Or the fact that not a single bedroom in this place looks remotely like something a kid would enjoy living in-"

"Caroline." I'd set down our coffee mugs and now held up my hands as I slowly approached my girlfriend, stopping her spiral before it could go any further. "Take a breath, babe."

"Take a breath?" she cried, her voice actually going up an octave. "I still have to make decisions about our first class, find teachers, figure out curriculum, make sure the house is actually safe, and a thousand other things before we can open our doors, which we're supposed to be doing at the end of the summer?"

"Pft. That's all? Easy."

Caroline scoffed, her eyes practically glowing as a murderous expression spread across her face. If I didn't know her so well, I might've been worried for my safety. Instead, I closed the rest of the remaining distance between us, putting my hands on her shoulders and looking her right in the eye.

"Listen to me, right now. You are Caroline Motherfucking Forbes. You do event planning in your sleep, and I know that's a true statement, because I've heard it. This shit is right up your alley! Yeah, it's gonna be a challenge, and a lot of vampires with lazy habits are going to make it harder. But you love challenges! I've quite literally never seen you happier than when you're taking charge in the middle of chaos and pulling it all together. And we went to Paris for your birthday."

Caroline huffed and rolled her eyes, but I caught her smiling anyway. I grinned back at her, giving her shoulders a gentle shake.

"You are a force of nature, and there is literally no future where you don't pull this off. I'm not a witch, but I know it doesn't exist. Besides, you're not doing any of it alone. I'm here with you, and so are our friends. We're gonna help you every step of the way to get this school up and running. And we're gonna help you when a kid inevitably breaks some precious historic heirloom, and one of them brings home a curse from touching something they should've left alone, and every other situation you can possibly think of. We'll be here for you to lean on."

Caroline smiled. She took a deep breath, then pursed her lips and nodded, more determined than frazzled now.

"You're right. I am Caroline Forbes, and no centuries-long problem the Salvatores refused to deal with is going to get the best of me."

"Damn right."

She laughed a little, then leaned in to kiss me. We broke apart fairly quickly, since we did have quite a few things left to do, but it was enough to have a warm glow working its way through my chest.

I turned to retrieve our coffee mugs, offering Caroline's to her. Thankfully, they were still warm, and she took hers with one hand, picking up a clipboard with the other. Her eyes scanned the page for a few minutes with a critical eye. I just sipped my coffee and waited, knowing I'd need all the energy I could muster for whatever was about to come next.

"Okay... the bills are easy enough to deal with, so I'll get online and set up autopay for that. In the mean time, you're on heirloom duty. Find anything we don't want in the line of fire for kids practicing their supernatural abilities and put it in the attic."

"Yes ma'am," I said, saluting. Caroline rolled her eyes with a smile.

We started off to do our tasks, but I stopped short before leaving the room. Caroline was already buried in a task, but I took the risk of interrupting her.

"Care?"

"Hm?"

"If we get this done today... any chance we can play interior decorator for our task tomorrow?"

"Sure!" She turned around with a bright smile, a slight edge to it that I recognized and that made me immediately nervous. "And then we can deep clean all the other parts of this house that haven't been touched in years."

I groaned. "Do we have to? Can't we hire a cleaning company to deal with that?"

"Not when vampire speed will get it done at least twice as fast."

"But Caroline, there might be spiders." She crossed her arms, and I realized I was not going to win this fight. I sighed dramatically, turning to go back to the task I'd originally been on my way to do. "Fine, but if I see a spider, I'm screaming and I'm making you deal with it."

"You're an immortal vampire with super speed and super strength!"

"Yeah, and I still hate spiders!"

Her laughter echoed in the room and hallway behind me, and I smiled to myself. I loved that crazy blonde tornado of a girl, and although I complained sometimes and would continue to do so, I'd also follow her to the ends of the earth with a smile.

****************

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury

TVD/TO Taglist: @elenavampire21

#fictober23 #the vampire diaries #caroline forbes #caroline forbes x reader #the vampire diaries fanfiction #the vampire diaries imagine #the vampire diaries oneshot #caroline forbes fanfiction #caroline forbes imagine #caroline forbes oneshot #tvd #the salvatore boarding school for the young and gifted #the salvatore boarding school #vampires #the vampire diaries x reader #the salvatores #the salvatore brothers #legacies #post tvd #tvdu

[spideysbabe]

Hey sweetheart! 😘 I hope I can ask for an Elijah Mikaelson imagine where you both fell in love during the events in Mystic Falls, even though he never wanted to show feelings again, but he couldn't help when he met you. So you started dating and he's always making sure you're okay and it's all just great. That changes when Klaus comes to town and sees you with Elijah. He kidnaps you to hurt his brother and Elijah gets furious. He finds you, but you're pretty hurt and barely alive, so he needs to make a decision and turns you in the end. After you wake up he's there for you and promises to be with you forever and you're accepting your new life ?

Hope this is okay with you 🫶🏼

Save Me

18+ —— (masterlist)

He was going to be your downfall. You already knew that, but what you didn’t expect was for you’re fate to be in his brothers hands.

⋆˚✿˖° Thank you for the request my love @talesofreading ! I literally spent days working on this for you so i sincerely hope you love and enjoy every second of it. I also left it open for a second part of you wish <3 ⋆˚✿˖°

warnings: violence, mentions of kidnapping, Elijah being stubborn, Klaus being Klaus, possessive!Elijah, no mention of y/n, angst, heartbreak, biting, kinda beefy!elijah (i just always imagine him actually towering over my ocs), power dynamic, seems unfinished but i rly wanna write a second part lol

You had grown up in mystic falls you’re whole life, the quiet town where nothing ever happened. Well that was bullshit, the whole town crawled with the worlds most dangerous creatures. You had found out about Vampires after your best friend Elena started dating Stefan Salvatore then you heard about his less charming douche bag brother Damon and decided to stay away from them as a whole. Subsequently because Elena and you had been attached at the hip since preschool you didn’t have to interact with them but you sure did get filled in on all the gossip. Which was why you were currently in the car on your way to the lockwood mansion with her. Apparently the latter were on a mission to kill elena’s freako look alike great something grandma.

“this sucks” you said looking over at Elena who was driving the car — “we literally live in a town of vampires, werewolf’s and witches and the two of us are just human” you added

“yeah well i think i’d rather be human than a vampire” Elena declared stubbornly

“you know i think i have to agree because we both know that Stefan and Damon are going to do a terrible job at killing Katherine and if you were a vampire i think she’d make your life eternally miserable” you responded just as you pulled up to the Lockwood mansion. “i am so not dressed for the occasion” you muttered under your breath eyeing your oversized sweatpants and spaghetti strap tang top, you barley had time to put your shoes on before Elena was pulling you out of the house. you wrapped your arms around your body as Elena pulled you through crowds of people into the mansion. You and Elena quickly found bonnie and Jeremy quietly talking amongst themselves in the corner. Unfortunately you couldn’t get yourself to care about the conversation going on in front of you mainly because of the chill running down your spine at the sight of a man in a jester mask staring right back at you. You blinked and the man was gone just as Elena cried out in pain.

~~~~

“I can’t believe Katherine did that to you” you rushed as you tried to keep up with Elena. The night had only gotten worse and when everything was said and done Elena was a bloody mess and you were freezing.

“honestly, i’m surprised you think she wouldn’t do this to me” Elena retorted storming to her car.

you followed closely behind, “okay well don’t get mad with me it’s not my fault that you almost died” you argued back crossing your arms over your chest. “i’m sorry okay? it’s just… she’s only doing this because she’s in love with Stefan” Elena sighed.

you saw the same man from earlier with the jester mask walk up behind Elena. You’re eyes widened in worry “Elena watch out” you yelled as you ran forward to push the man away from your friend. He grabbed you and threw you against the car slamming your head into the door.

~~~

When you wake up the first thing you notice is the rope around your arms and legs. You quickly try to get out of them but fail miserably.

“Stop trying to get out of the ropes. It’ll never work” a brunette said as she walked into the room. “who are you?” you asked flinching as she walked towards you and bent down.

“my names rose.” she responded voice dead “you weren’t supposed to be with the girl” she said sadly, undoing your restraints.

“where is Elena, what do you want with her” you shook as you replied.

“it’s not what we want. it’s what he wants” she said as she looked away from you — “who’s he?” you asked lowly, she moved her head back to face you and replied “Elijah”

~~~

“oh my god you’re okay” Elena said as she rushed towards you when rose took you into the other room. “yea i’m okay lena” you smiled sadly.

“he’s here. this was a mistake” a man rushed out as he paced around the room. “Trevor in order to get our freedom we must give him the girl. This is no mistake” the woman demanded grabbing the man to a stop. “I will bring him here, watch the girls.” she asserted as she walked out of the room.

“I’m not going to make it out of here am i?” you sighed trying to fight the tears in your eyes as you looked forward towards the covered up windows.

“hey, no don’t say that. I’m going to do everything i can to make sure we both get out here alive” Elena reassured you as she held you, you rested your head on her shoulder and sighed out a breath. The weight of this situation coming crashing down on you. While you both were human, Elena was more important to the supernatural world than you would ever be. You also knew if it came down to it Stefan and Damon would leave you to die if it meant saving her. You didn’t resent her for that, you were happy she had somebody who would do anything for her, you just wished you had someone who would do the same for you.

Your head snapped up at the sound of footsteps, your breathing became shallow as Elena pulled you onto your feet with her. You were terrified, you had no idea who Elijah was and from roses reaction to him you could tell he probably wasn’t going to be a saint.

In the blink of an eye you were throw behind Elena’s back as a man took place in front of her. You saw what you would say was the most handsome man you’d ever seen. You kicked yourself. you shouldn’t be thinking that when your best friends life was on the line, but you couldn’t help but notice the way his hair fell perfectly down around his handsome face, the powerful stance in which he stood. You noted he was dressed in a suit which probably cost more than your whole life together. His eyes drew you in from behind Elena and you couldn’t look away. If this was the way you went out you wouldn’t complain.

“human. It’s impossible” he breathed out in shock. “hello there” he smirked, you noticed his gaze went past Elena and right into your eyes. He was talking to you. why would he be talking to you? You felt your heartbeat quicken and you were sure you’d held your breath way beyond your lungs capability. You quickly shifted your gaze downwards biting your lip, suddenly remembering your lack of clothing moving closer to Elena.

“we have a long journey ahead of us we should be going” Elijah says grabbing Elena’s arm and turning them around.

“And the girl? What should we do with her.” Rose asked from across the room.

Elijah’s gaze moved to meet yours again. “leave her be. Do not harm her.” he ordered rose.

Elena looked at you with a pleading look before crying out towards rose “please, don’t let him take me.”

Elijah let go of Elena’s arm pushing her towards rose. “one last piece of business before we go”

Elijah stalks towards Trevor who shrinks down in fear “you have no idea how long i’ve waited for this day” he sputtered out. You noticed how Elijah held such an air of power around himself. You wondered how old he was, surely he was a vampire. You tuned out the rest of the conversation watching as Elijah ruled the two vampires in the room with just his presence. You suddenly hear rose cry out in sorrow as Elijah smacks Trevor’s head clean from his body. You noticed that Elijah had moved his body so he was in front of you, like he was intentionally blocking you from the scene in front. Your face paled as he grabbed both you and Elena dragging you to the front of the house. “who else is here” he demanded towards rose who shook her head “no one”

His grip tightened around your arm as he pushed Elena towards rose keeping you firmly planted next to him. Damon and Stefan were playing games with him. That probably wasn’t a smart idea you thought. You felt your body being ripped away from Elijah’s grasp and slammed up against a wall. Your head hitting the wall hard. Too hard. You cried out in pain and shook as the dizziness came in waves until everything went black.

~~~

When you woke up you took note of the fact you were still in the house, except it was night time now. You brushed the dirt off of your pants as you stood up and looked around. “Elena…” you yelled out wincing when you remembered that probably wasn’t a good idea. You were answered back with silence as you made your way towards the front of the stairs. You gasped as your eyes landed on a very dead Elijah, you walked quietly towards his seemingly sleeping body. Just as you reached out to pull the coat rack from his body he awoke with a gasp of his own. Anger displayed upon his face as he ripped the coat rack from his chest and threw it across the room at a very inhuman speed. He cracked his neck and fixed his jacket before his gaze landed on you.

“what did you do?” he roared taking large steps towards you. For every one step he took you had to take three steps back. “i — i didn’t do anything” you felt your face pale and mouth dry with fear. “y — you were dead” you stuttered trying to look anywhere but his angry eyes. “for centuries now. where did the girl go?” he demanded looking you up and down as if he was trying to decide what to do with you. “i really don’t know, i just woke up on the floor. I’m assuming Stefan and Damon took her… they left me, no way they actually left me here” you rambled out as your back hit the wall. You realized you had nowhere to go as Elijah’s frame blocked you in. You noticed how tall he was, you had always been short it didn’t take much for someone to be taller than you, but Elijah; he was tall. You stood just below his shoulders, your small frame feeling even smaller as he stood in front of you.

“what wonderful friends you have” he implied looking down from your eyes to your neck where he could see the blood rushing between your veins. “they aren’t my friends. only elena is” you mumbled shifting on your feet. “hm. we should get going then” he declared swiftly pulling his jacket from his shoulders and holding it out to you.

~~

“do you always kidnap teenage girls?” you asked looking out of the window in Elijah’s car and wrapping his jacket tighter around. “do you consider this kidnapping?” he asked with a cocked head. “yes i do.” you stated firmly looking over at him “do you not?”. he looked fully at you now, “i consider this me doing you a favor, saving a poor defenseless girl from an abandoned home, to which your own friends didn’t save you from. Now i could have done what i originally intended and drained every single drop of blood from your body and left you there, but i didn’t. So No i would not say this is considered kidnapping” he replied putting his eyes back on the road. “why didn’t you kill me?” you pondered fidgeting with your fingers in your lap. you noticed his fingers tightened their grip around the steering wheel as he said “there’s something awfully interesting about you.”

~~

From that moment on you and Elijah had been inseparable. He told you about his desire to not be seen in mystic falls just yet. So you returned home and acted as if some friendly stranger gave you a ride home.

It hadn’t taken long for you to fall head over heels for Elijah, but you noticed his hesitance when it came to you. How he never shared too much about himself. How he absolutely insisted you never speak of him to anyone, as if he was scared. You had learned he was one of the oldest vampires to ever exist. A thousand years old, he was strong, and wise and he surely had a copious amount of enemies. You knew all of that should have scared you away but you found it only intriguing you more and more each day. He handled you with such care, as if the smallest of things would break you and he’d lose you forever. Yet he never said what you wanted him to say.

It had been weeks since the day in the abandoned house and Elijah had finally made his presence known to mystic falls. You especially enjoyed pretending you didn’t spend all your time with the man. You knew in your gut Elijah feels the same way about you that you do him. It was just getting him to act on it that proved to be hard.

When you saw him at the founders party all dressed in his grey suit and hair slicked back, you didn’t care who noticed you decided that you had had enough of pining over him.

“so, Mr. Smith?” you quoted raising your champagne glass to your lips to hide your smile. “not everyone can be privy to my actual identity sweetheart” he replied looking down at you. You noticed his eyes raking over your form. “you look absolutely astonishing tonight” he said voice husky as his gaze returned to yours. You almost moaned at the tone of his voice. This was what you meant, you knew he was attracted to you but he never acted on it. You figured your best bet would be to show him what he was missing. “do i?” you questioned him with a smile “i thought you’d like this dress” you winked at him as his eyes darkened. “I didn’t think you would be bold enough to test your little theory here” he smiled licking his lips before raising his glass of champagne. “what theory would that be?” you pushed trying to get him to say it for himself but before he could answer a hand wrapped around your shoulder.

“Fancy seeing you here, my, my you look amazing” Damon stated, you winced out of his grasp moving away from him. You noticed the deadly look on Elijah’s face as he stared Damon down. “Damon i do believe it’s time we have a chat just the two of us” he said through gritted teeth. The two disappearing upstairs before you could say anything

~~

You sat a the bar picking at the fruit tray when Elijah approached you again. “I’m sorry sweetheart, i had to take care of something” he said moving to stand behind you. “did you kill him” you accused taking a bite out of a strawberry. “No i did not, I should have.” he replied turning you in your seat so you were facing him. “why” you questioned looking up at him. “because i do not like the idea of him ever looking at you again.” Elijah moved his head down so he was level with your ear, “or anyone for that matter” he muttered moving your hair out of the way, inhaling your scent. “i know this is what you want, it’s what i want too. But it would be selfish of me to subject you to the life i live.” he confessed before he grabbed you and in the blink of an eye you were in a different room. “you don’t get to decide what’s right or wrong for me Elijah” you argued back pulling out of his embrace. “why are you scared, I know it’s not the reason you just gave. I know that because for months i have been living as apart of your life, i know you think giving me some noble reason will deter me from continuing this but it won’t, so what’s the real reason?” you semi shouted at him, you were angry and you had every right to be. He’d been playing that game since the day you met him, where he acted as if he wanted you and then decided he couldn’t be with you. “Because i have lost every single person i have ever loved!” he roared back with tears in his eyes “i have had every person i have ever cared for ripped away from me, for a millennium i have been dealt constant heartbreak. I would be a fool if i left myself care for another being ever again, and i would be eternally selfish if i let you in and you died at the hand of my enemies.. or worse me. But you have infiltrated my very being, every thought, every feeling is because of you, so i cannot just let you walk away, because no where is far enough for me to not crave you, you’re scent is engraved in my senses and i cannot stop it.” he confessed moving toward you, he lifted his arm and ran his knuckles down your face as he gazed lovingly into your eyes. you leaned into his hand and looked up at him through your eyelashes. He was staring at your lips, this was new he’d never done that before. Elijah leaned down until his lips were just above your own “can i kiss you” he asked against your lips. You nodded your head vigorously as he entwined his lips with yours. His lips are softer than anything you’ve ever known. The feeling in your chest was explosive, spreading all throughout your body. He tilted your head upward biting your lip in the process. you let out a moan of approval, moving your hands to lay underneath his suit jacket. You could feel every inch of his muscles tensing underneath your touch. You loved it, craved for more. His hand moved from your face into your hair, bunching it up and pulling you closer to him. You loved every second of this moment, how raw and beautiful it truly was.

When Elijah pulled away from the kiss he rested his forehead on yours, out of breath you closed your eyes.

~~

Elijah had entrusted you with the secret of the curse placed upon his brother Klaus. You were sleeping one night when he came to see you, telling you that Elena would need to be sacrificed in order for him to kill his brother. Of course you asked him if he was sure he wanted to do this and he was. So tonight he was attending a dinner party at the Salvatore mansion in order to keep and eye on Damon. You had told him you thought it was a bad idea, that you got a bad feeling from it, but he insisted he would be alright. Now it was two days later and you hadn’t heard or seen from him. You were currently on a mission to find him when you entered the Salvatore mansion to find all your so called friends having some type of meeting. “where is Elijah” you announced as you walked in. “so you are sleeping with him” Damon said back smirking as he turned around to face her. “Yeah Damon i am, you know if you were going to have such an issue with it maybe you shouldn’t have left me for dead” you said walking more into the room. “well he’s not here, so no need for you to be here any longer” he dismissed her. You looked at Elena over his shoulder meeting her gaze. She quickly moved her eyes towards the basement door. You nodded your head and turned to walk away when Alaric called out to you. “hey wait up” he called after you following you outside.

“you’ve literally never talked to me before Alaric, so unless your going to tell me where Elijah is don’t start now” you said not stopping your stride heading to your car.

“cmon now love i just wanted a chat. seems we have to do this the hard way” Alaric replied grabbing your arm and slamming your head into your car window.

~~~

you awoke to a shooting pain in your side as you stirred. “welcome back to the land of the living love” a man said crouching in-front of you “i’m getting really tired of people knocking me out” you murmured groggily.

“ah yes, you see i’ve heard my brother was plotting my demise, and since i’ve got more at stake than him i figured an eye for an eye.” klaus said reaching to grab something above your head. His hand returned with a knife, your eyes widened as he covered your mouth and stabbed you in the thigh as your screams muffled. “now living for a thousand years you learn a few things about torture. except your human and you can’t handle as much as i’d like.” he said twisting the knife, the pain you felt was white hot and expanded through your whole body. “So i’ll resort to draining all but a drop of blood from you until Elijah comes to find you.” he said with a wicked smirk, grabbing your hair and tilting your head back. His whole face changed, you remember seeing Elijah’s vampire face which you loved but Klaus’ was just outright scary. You felt his sharp teeth rip into your carotid artery, you felt every drop of blood leave your body. The excruciating pain of his teeth in your skin. You head felt heavy as it rolled to the side when he finally pulled away. “cmon love the games are just beginning.” he taunted.

~~

when Elijah had woken the first thing he demanded of Elena was to bring him to you. When she failed to find you red flags raised in his mind. You would never disappear and all he could think was you had hurt yourself in the process of trying to find him. what he wasn’t expecting was for his brother to have taken you captive. when Elijah found you, you were a bloody mess. Crimson red everywhere, you say in your own puddle of blood. Shallow breathing was all he heard as he rushed forward and held your face in his hand. “my love” he whispered trying to wake you up.

You failed to wake up after the fifth time he tried. You had bruises and cuts all over you. The wounds on your thighs bleeding the most. When you whimpered in response to him shifting you he was glad for a sign you were alive.

“Elijah” you cried out unable to move “i can’t it hurts so much” you reached out to grab his arm as he picked you up and speed the two of you to his apartment.

“i’m so sorry my love” he cried as he held your hand. “for what?” you asked weakly wiping his tears away from his eyes. “for not protecting you. I can give you my blood and it will heal you.”he said moving your body to lay down. in the process of moving you the wounds he had patched in your thighs had opened, resulting in you losing blood. Again you had become faint and in and out of consciousness.

Elijah had managed to get his blood down your throat but he knew he would lose you. he had waited to long to feed it to you. Within the next minute he whispered a quick apology into your ear and snapped your neck.

#damon salvatore #elena gilbert #elijah mikaelson #elijah mikealson smut #klaus mikaelson #kol mikaelson #fanfic #stefan salvatore #bonnie bennett #fandom

[ja3gerb0mbb]

bloodsucker epilogue: somewhere in germany

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

word count: 2.2k

content warnings: sexual content, brief descriptions of blood

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

three years later:

warm air circled through the barn; it was finally spring in germany. quiet sounds of life filled my ears. birds chirping, the movement of the barn animals. “good boy,” i murmured to the goat at my hands, feeding him another piece of straw as i patted his head. 

“i hate it when you call other guys that,” eren teased. turning to him, he was sitting on the railing to the pen, an exaggerated frown on his face. it couldn’t cover the constant comfort his features wore. a few months after we had gotten here, reality set in, and both of us adjusted to the absence of overwhelming doom that had followed us for too long. it was hard not to be constantly happy with how things turned out. 

“it’s a goat, sociopath,” i reached into the ground below me, chucking a bit of dirt at him. he launched himself off the fence, walking over to me to pick me up from my kneeling position. “doesn’t matter,” he muttered, lining my head with quick kisses. “so i was stalking reiner a few days ago,” eren drew me out of my bliss. 

i pushed him away so he could see the disturbed look on my face, “the fuck? why?” i shook my head in disbelief at him, but i couldn’t hold back the laugh. “he is your ex,” he lifted his brows, trying to show his reasoning. 

i rolled my eyes, “are you seriously still pulling that? i’m your goddamn fiance!” i lifted my hand in the air, showing him the ring. he laughed, and i pulled my hand down to admire it again. the one he picked was perfect; i wasn’t surprised. neither of us could have kids with the vampirism; it would be just us for the rest of our lives. i couldn’t be sad at that thought; instead it made perfect sense. 

“yes i am,” he protested, “anyway, he has a new girlfriend.” my jaw dropped open. i scoffed lightly, “yikes. i almost feel bad for bertholdt.” i really did. it was hard to imagine everything he did to me being useless because he never confessed his feelings to the person it mattered to. and he likely never would. 

eren scoffed even harder, “i don’t,” he shrugged his shoulders.  “i can’t believe he still hasn’t mentioned anything,” i shook my head in disbelief. “you really don’t need to feel so bad for him,” he approached me, rubbing my shoulder in comfort. 

shrugging my shoulders, i let out a breath of air, “i know.” he scanned my face quickly, trying to gauge my emotions before changing the conversation. “jean texted. he’ll be here tomorrow,” his voice was lined with false disappointment. i couldn’t hold back the laugh in the back of my throat. “oh don’t sound so disappointed, i know you’re excited to see him.”

in the months leading up to our move, eren and jean had fixed their bond. sort of. i doubted it would ever be how it was when marco was still with them; but i was happy to see them have a semblance of a friendship again. “whatever,” eren muttered, still insecure about being excited. 

“why’s he coming so early though?” none of our friends were supposed to be flying in for another week and a half. “he wants to spend some time with us before the wedding. i guess pieck is gonna fly up separately.” i nodded my head, finishing up the goat’s feed. 

eren took my que, grabbing the bucket of chicken feed, and throwing the rest around their coup. the sun started to set on the horizon. our plot of land always had the best sunsets. it was hard to feel any disdain here; other than the mention of one thing. “and i heard from someone else.”

i already knew what was coming, but i couldn’t hold back the disappointed sigh that left my mouth. news from zeke. i should be thankful to him, and i was, but his name usually came with unnerving news. but i think zeke was thankful to us, too. apparently, after we left, grisha was so caught up in finding eren, it allowed him to have more freedom in his own life. grisha was less suffocating to him. 

eren laughed nervously, trying to gain composure before continuing, “he’s issued an official order for my execution.” the words hung in the air. we knew it would be coming at some point, but it would make tensions higher when we returned for visits. 

my steps halted on our way back to the cottage. eren turned around to face me, approaching me. i interlocked our hands, fiddling with his fingers. he continued, “the dumb oaf still doesn’t realize i ran off with you, though,” his laugh rang out around us. absolving the tension that had built around his previous statement. 

“guess i played my part well at his house,” i winked at him, trying to set my emotions back into place. eren was still having difficulty, “there’s something else,” his features tensed again. i pulled on his hands, urging him to continue. 

his sigh was loud, and he broke our gaze to look out at the sunset, “with his sights off of me, he’s gone back to focusing on the cult. zeke said there’s been a lot of deaths.” i pulled one of my hands out, moving it to his cheek. his head tiled in the direction of it, leaning into my palm. i stroked his cold skin with my thumb, “we won’t have to worry about that in our lifetime. it’s not our responsibility.” eren had already seen too much of that life; it wasn’t right that he still felt burdened by it. 

his head shook lightly, “we could do something,” he offered weakly. “really, we couldn’t. if it’s as big as zeke says it is, we wouldn’t even have a shot at getting close to grisha. it’d be futile.”

eren thought about it for a few seconds, getting lost in my eyes. he sucked in a breath, “you’re right, i know that, it’s just hard to accept sometimes.” with my other hand, i squeezed his, “i know,” i whispered it. the wind whistled softly around us, bringing with it the sound of barn animals. the serenity of it helped to calm both of us down. 

“i love you,” he whispered, leaning down to connect our lips. he moved slowly at first, pausing after each movement. his hands moved down to my waist, pressing my hips up against him. i bit at his bottom lip, trying to get him to kiss me harder. 

i could feel his lips turn into a smirk before he gave in, moving his lips fervently. his hands wandered over my torso, and mine did the same, pulling at his skin with my nails as i went. a few kisses later, eren ripped the shirt i was wearing from my body. unlocking our lips, i gasped, “that was my favorite shirt, eren!” he threw it to the ground with a chuckle, “i’ll get you a new one.”

he lifted my body up, and i wrapped my legs around his torso as he carried me the rest of the way inside, leaving kisses around his neck. i could feel him getting hard beneath me. my butt hit the kitchen counter as eren let me down, fixing his grip around my waist again. 

the next thing he pulled off were my pants; i lifted my hips higher on his stomach for them to pull off cleanly. “this reminds me of something,” i giggled, tugging at his shirt. he furrowed his brows, “and what would that be?” he feigned innocence. 

he took a step back to slide his pants off as i undid the buckle of his belt, “just something that happened on a kitchen counter a few years ago,” i giggled again as i admired his toned body that flexed with the movements. he hummed, “i don’t remember. guess you’ll have to show me?” his hand gripped behind my neck, pulling me forward in a kiss. i bit his lip as a response. 

his movements were hasty, quickly pulling back again. his two middle fingers hung on my bottom lip, silently asking for permission. i opened my mouth, sucking them in. my tongue swirled around them as his other hand slid under my body, pulling my hips out further. 

his fingers slid out of my mouth, and the next second, i felt him shoving them into my pussy. “fuck!” i yelled out at the abrupt action, arching my back into him. i shot him a dirty look as i heard him laugh, his other hand circling my nipple. i brought my lips to his neck, biting into his flesh. i licked up the small amount of blood that trickled out, hearing a moan escape him at the action. 

with another pump of his fingers, he drew his fingers out and slipped off his boxers. i bent down from my place on the counter, letting spit drip down onto his tip. he groaned, and i wrapped my hand around the shaft, spreading the slick with my thumb over his piercing. 

his hands gripped each side on my waist, pulling me off the counter before shoving my body around and pushing my torso against the cold surface. “so pretty,” he muttered, pulling my legs further apart with his leg. he stood in between, placing his feet on either side of mine; an attempt to keep my legs separated. 

i felt his tip tease my folds before he slammed his entire length in me. i let out a loud moan, “god, eren,” i grunted. he placed one hand on my waist to steady, and brought the other to my shoulder. he didn’t move as he learned down to whisper in my ear, “say my name again,” i could head the smirk in his voice, even with my face shoved into the counter. 

my body lightly jostled with the grip he had on me, slamming his body into mine, “eren!” i yelled it louder, arching my back so he could penetrate deeper. “louder, slut,” he teased, moving his grip on my shoulder closer to my neck. at the nape of it, he applied pressure, keeping me pinned to the counter as he moved at a faster pace. 

“eren! eren,” i started babbling as his hand around my waist reached further down, looping around my hips to rub my clit. with the added stimulation, i felt a knot tie tighter in my core. i let out more panty moans with eren’s hits on my g-spot becoming sloppier. 

his body pressed further against mine, and i could hear pants of his own closer in my ear, a few drops of blood dripping down onto my upper back. his hands tied in my hair, and he pulled back on it, sending me into an orgasm. eren removed his dick, continuing to work me through my high with my clit. 

i could feel a warm substance hit my back as eren lt out a final low moan. he wrapped his body around mine, moving my hair to plant a kiss on my forehead, “wait here.” i barely noticed his absence, still trying to catch my breath. i felt my knees buckle without his support, as i waited for a few minutes. my body started to heal itself quickly, and i was already ready to fuck him again. 

he was back quickly, the sound of running water filtered to my ears. “c’mere, pretty,” he cooed, picking me up bridal style. he carried me to the bathroom, the room lit by candles. a floral aroma filled my nose. looking into the tug, eren had added dried flowers, “aw such a sweetheart,” i teased him. this was something he did often, but it never failed to give me butterflies. 

“ugh, shut it,” he scoffed, annoyed with my constant mocking. his arms lowered me into the tub, and i moved my body forward, allowing him to get in beside me. his hands reached down to my waist, pulling me back onto him. he dunked my head in the water, running his hands through my hair, “i found the perfect destination for our honeymoon.”

i closed my eyes, content against him, “let me guess, you’re not gonna tell me?” i sighed. it was his nature to still keep me in the dark with everything he could. his chest bubbled with a laugh, jolting my body with it. “nope,” he popped the end, placing kisses on my temple, working his way down my face. 

i sucked in a deep breath. i was aware of the absence of the void in my stomach. anxiety was no longer clawing at the back of my mind. with grisha finally setting his sights off of eren, i felt like i could fully settle into my fiance, certain that we could live in this calm for the rest of our lives. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

spotify playlist

a/n: had to reference phoebe bridgers in the title

thank you to everyone who has spent time reading this; i appreciate you! and thank you for all the comments, notes, and interactions; they really made my days, and gave me the confidence to finish this story! hope you guys like this ending, i’m not sure how i feel about it, but it’s the only one i could come up with. love yall!

#eren jaeger #eren jaeger fanfiction #eren jeager x reader #eren jaeger smut #eren yeager #eren yaeger smut #eren yaeger x reader #attack on titan #jean kirstein #mikasa ackerman

[penncilkid]

Hey PK! I'd love to hear about Midnight Cravings for your rarepair ask game ଘ(✿˵•́ ᴗ •̀˵)

Oh Aether, you better strap yourself in, 'cause this features your man (/lh).

I cannot for the life of me remember where the vision for this ship came from, but all I know is that one night, me and Lexi Moon sat in a call for hours talking about how this all starts in a Lowe's parking Lot.

The short version: Midnight Cravings refers to the pairing between Sam, Asher, and David.

No, I'm not kidding when I say this all starts in a Lowe's parking lot (/lh). In the version of canon for this pairing, "Angel" and "Baaabe" aren't present, meaning Asher and David are still roommates/living together. They're best friends who are both pining but far too scared to actually make a move one way or the other. Now, on one fateful night, Sam and Asher meet formally for the first time. Ash is leaving the store, having been there to pick something up for the apartment. As he's leaving, he spots Sam and is like "Hey, I think I know you! You're one of the vampires from the Solaire clan, right?" Meanwhile, Sam is like "...Who are you?" "Asher. Beta of the Shaw Pack." "..." "What...?" "I just… I thought you'd look… more… I don't know" "Like what~? Are you saying I don't look like a sexy lumberjack?" "That is not what I meant." But Sam's laughing, so you already know the vibes are there (/pos).

The two get to talking for a good bit in the parking lot until the lights start to go out/the store is closing for the night. Asher asks Sam if he'll need any help with his purchases, essentially offering to help unload stuff if Sam wants. Which is how Asher ends up at the residence of the southern vamp. While the two are at his place, the southern hospitality is out in full force. Sam offers Ash something to drink, the two pick up their conversation from before— which eventually drifts to David. Based on how Asher's talking about him, Sam assumes and asks if David and Asher are dating. However, Asher quickly sets the record straight, clarifying that they're friends. It's obvious that admitting that is complicated, and Asher tries to play it off as more of a joke, saying something along the lines of "Sometimes, I just wish I could forget, you know?" (About what? Yes.)

So what does Sam do? Offers to be a distraction.

It starts out tame enough. Music is put on, Sam offers to cook if Asher hasn't had anything to eat, and they're both subtly flirting with each other. Asher, wanting to be proactive, asks directly what things are going to look like between the two of them. Sam replies with something along the lines of "You tell me, Pup. I'm down for whatever you're feeling up to— Whether that's tonight or down the line."

Almost immediately after that, Asher gets a text from David. Originally, Ash had been gone to go to the store. While he's known to get distracted and such, it had been long enough that David was starting to get worried. ou can see the complicated feelings clouding Asher's face in real time, the pining, the sadness, the frustration— Sam takes the phone from Asher's hand and sets it face down. "Look at me. You get to call the shots tonight. You want out of your head? Tell me what you want." And Asher is looking. Sam texts back "Ran into a friend, don't wait up. I'll tell you tomorrow." And when Asher looks at him again, he's smiling but with an apparent, underlying sadness. "I want to forget. Please." And it's easy for Ash to fall into this because instead of dealing with all the pining and chasing after David, he's fully in the present.

Now all that right there? Night one. Consider that the appetizer to all that the ship offers/becomes later on. Sam and Asher keep up this situationship/friends with benefits-esque dynamic for awhile, enjoying the bond shared. While this is all going on, David is starting to notice the shifter's new bond with the vampire, and it's stirring up all kinds of emotions in him for obvious reasons. To try and condense some of my remaining thoughts:

You get Asher and David being pining dumbasses while Sam watches with a near constant internal sigh at them both

Down the line, Sam brings up that he really likes Asher, which is reciprocated of course. But he also points out that he can tell Asher is clearly in love with David, which Ash deflects terribly. ("Psh, what? I don't— That's not even true anymore, we're just—" "How long ya gonna stand here playing this game?")

I think Sam "Can y'all act right?" Collins is a menace. He can see David and Asher's pining from a mile away and he's seen it up close from Asher. However, David is hesitating to make a move/pursue/do anything about his feelings. So Sam's gonna have fun with that

Have I mentioned how much I adore Sam in this pairng? Because listen— You can argue it's a bit out of character, but I think Sam can be a lot "meaner" and direct than most people give him credit for (just look at Imperium, hello? /pos) Like I love chewing on Sam's demeanor for this dynamic >>>. It's not possessive because he's more than willing to share Asher. It's basically Sam/David playing a game of chicken except it's got a "Yes and?" vibe. Sam's baiting David, sending signals that "You want in on this? Show it then." Meanwhile, David's just further digging himself a hole because he absolutely wants in— Not just with Asher but Sam as well— But is convincing himself he shouldn't be there.

I will stop myself here because otherwise, I will be here forever. But I hope you enjoyed this lengthy answer, Aether!

#PK Answers #redacted rarepairs #Midnight Cravings #Redacted Rambles #PK Rambles #redacted david #redacted asher #redacted sam #I got possessed by my demons as I was writing this up for you /lh /pos #They make me unwell your honor /pos

[starry-blue-echoes]

Alright, with the timeline clarification question out of the way, its time to start getting my thoughts on the StarSwap AU.

For starters, Star Swap Phantom Blood undergoes a complete tonal shift. 

Like, regular Phantom Blood is probably the most serious of the JoJo parts. I don’t think it has any sections of it that are intentionally played for laughs. 

And that all changes with Jolyne arrives because she is officially done with this before it even starts.

While the whole “having to adapt to life as a Victorian gentlemen”, sucks, the one things she is fully prepared for is Dio’s Bullshit. She doesn’t even bother tolerating him. 

Dio: (says some thinly veiled insult)

Jolyne: Alright, sure, fuck you too.

Dio: wha- you can’t just say things like that!

Jolyne: Watch me. (Flips Dio off while walking away)

The first fight against Vampire Dio is going to be less about “Oh no! My brother’s become a monster!” and more “Heck yeah! I can finally punch this asshole without without anyone complaining about it anymore!”

Dio: I have rejected my humanity, JoJo!

Jolyne: Alright cool but are you a stand user? (Summons Stone Free)

Dio: A stand what? (Doesn’t notice)

(Stone Free Punches him in the face)

And the whole initial Zeppeli interaction goes differently. Because he still shows up and punches Jolyne in the stomach, activating her latent hamon potential (Yaaay hamon-user Jolyne is the best), but rather that being shocked, Jolyne just punches Zeppili back and sends him flying.

And then the final Fight against Dio is going to be much less dramatic, because Jolyne does not give him the opportunity to be dramatic.

Dio: I can freeze your blood!

Jolyne: Okay but what is my blood was string?

Dio: (irratated WRYYYYYY)

Dio: I can shoot pressurized fluid from my eyes! 

Jolyne: Okay, now I know you’re just trying to show off (deflects space ripper stingy eyes with Stone Free)

Dio: (infuriated WRYYYYYY)

This isn’t to say that the fights aren’t going to be challenging for her, they definitely are. 

But having a stand gives Jolyne a much more level playing field against Dio compared to what Jonathan had to deal with.

RJHBFHJDRBFHBHVD Y E A H -

Jolyne is 110% D O N E with every single aspect of Dio's Bullshit. Honestly what he's doing is almost nothing compared to Literal Prison and he's not even a Stand User so dealing with him is easy

the time period? honestly sucks ass. At the very least she has a good status, but she really misses her old body. She misses being able to be Jolyne and a she, but this is possibly one of the single worst time periods for those feelings to exist in

so Dio ends up being a good outlet for all these frustrations. She isn't fooled by his Playing Nice attitude, she knows he's plotting some shit. Plus, even him playing nice doesn't make him kind. In the beginning she thinks Jonathan would've been incredibly gullible and stupid to believe it........ but then she learns and experiences exactly Jonathan had to live his life and realises Dio's "change" was probably the kindest thing the guy had ever experienced

but she doesn't have time to deal with All That, so she decides to spend her time getting back at Dio and making a nice life Jonathan could maybe return to :D

and to make things even funnier, what if as the months/years go by, Jolyne slowly perfects the art of subtly telling Dio to Fuck Off in public and various explicit Fuck Offs to tell him when nobody else is around. It throws Dio off completely because not only is Jonathan acting VERY different, but he's also actually pushing back and noticing what he's doing which is a mix of confusing, freaky and frustrating. Plus....... there's all the strange supernatural things happening around his 'brother.' Dio could've sworn he's seen objects float, he trips on apparently nothing almost daily, things seem to move with no one there to move them

If Dio had a new sudden interest in stories of the supernatural...... well that's nobodies business

(and if Jolyne took extra care to specifically fuck around with his super natural stuff, that's nobodies business either :3)

but also YEAH Jolyne is going so happy to finally have an excuse to finally be able to get Dio in trouble for all the shit he's pulled over the years. Sure it's not for everything, and honestly most of the things he did are likely to stay unknown for the rest of their lives, but at least this one would get Dio locked up for a good while, if not for the rest of his life

I think it would be funny for Speedwagon to be a bit surprised by Jolyne's reaction. After all, as far as he's aware this is Jolyne's brother, sure there are some conflicting feelings there.......... but then she quickly explains All The Shit Dio's Pulled Over The Years and his surprise becomes "oh yeah never mind that makes sense fuck that guy"

(it's also entirely possible that while the mansion burns down, George might not die. Jolyne doesn't have the same honour code as Jonathan and wouldn't be lured as easily. And even if she was, she'd at least have the abilities to redirect the knife safely)

I do think Jolyne would be a bit more secretive with her Stand though, just in general. She's absolutely going to use it whenever she can, but Stone Free is one card she aims to keep as close to her chest as possible. She's going to be going all out when the mansion starts burning down. Using SF to make holes around Dio's attacks to avoid getting injured, climbing the walls to get out of reach, anything she can do to take this guy down she pulls out every trick she has because she knows that only one of them is walking away from this fight

as a result, while she's still definitely going to have to spend some time in the hospital, she's going to be way less injured than Jonathan was, which is nice. She's immediately on edge when Zeppeli shows up tho, she's gotten blindsided by too much Bullshit Shenanigans to let herself get caught off guard that easily. Unfortunately with her injuries Zeppeli still manages to punch her, and while it does wind her she immediately decks him right back

also, Stone Free is going to be ridiculously compatible with Hamon. Kinda like with Joseph and Hermit Purple, Stone Free's reach and dexterity is now going to be given an extra punch

and dhrbghvdbhvbd the "what if my blood was string" definitely got a laugh out of me, and given the fact most of the people present know Stone Free exists she probably wouldn't be too secretive about it at the moment. The fight is made a bit difficult in how Dio is ow consciously aware of SF, and how while he can't see the Stand he's still strong enough to rip them with relative ease if Jolyne's not careful

#srjbhfhrbfv there's so much untouched insanity #star swap #jjba #jojo’s bizarre adventure #phantom blood #jjba part 1 #jjba jolyne #jolyne kujo #stone free #jjba dio #dio brando #jjba speedwagon #robert e.o. speedwagon #jjba george #george joestar #jjba zeppeli #will zeppeli #sb answers #artbyfinnbrown

[countrymusiclover]

28 - Where We Started

Part 29

Family is More than Blood

@icefrye19 @secretdreamlandmentality

Laying on one of the beds in the supposed Mikaelson’s mansion as it is called. Staring at the ring I held in between my thumbs and index fingers I kept trying to piece together what I had apparently lost. My phone rang and broke the silence in the room. “Hello, who is this?”

“Don’t tell me that you have forgotten me, Rae.” It took me a minute before I could recognize that it was the voice of Cami.

Sitting the ring down in my lap I slowly replied. “How could I forget you, you are my one my sired vampires after all.”

“Well that's reassuring. I wish I could have the same hope for you remembering your husband.” She said softly before I changed the call to video.

“Why does everyone seem to think he is my type? I mean yes I adore the accent but I think I’d remember the man that everyone says I’m supposed to spend all eternity with.” I shake my head in a huff.

Cami sends me a half smile. “Raelyn, I know it’s hard to believe and I admit that he doesn’t exactly have the best track record. Until it came to when he met you.”

“What did you mean until I came into his life?” I questioned her, still so confused.

The young New Orleans vampire focused on my gaze. “He was the most ruthless vampire who ever walked the earth and had no emotion. Then you met him at the Mystic Falls bar and there was a light about you that he was drawn towards.”

“So a Beauty and the Beast type fairytale.” Shrugging my shoulders I tilted my head in disbelief. “Unfortunately Cami, we don't live in our childhood. The real world doesn’t mean that all the tales we were told can actually happen here as adults.”

“You just don’t see it because you don’t remember how you truly feel about him. I can’t imagine how hard this is for you but I’m just saying that you need to give him the same chance you gave him the first time you met.” Cami waited for my response.

I could sense that someone was watching me from the doorway so I hung up the phone quickly. “I’ll try my best. Talk to you later….using Cami and her ways of Psychology to convince me to give you a chance. You couldn't manage that yourself I see.” Shifting my gaze to the doorway I saw Klaus leaning with his hands behind his back.

“I must admit our therapist friend wasn’t a part of my plan. But I do hope you consider the advice she’s given you about me.” He stepped into the bedroom keeping his distance from me after our encounter the other day.

Hugging my knees to my chest I released a breath. “I may consider it. So what exactly do you want from me today?”

“Well my previous request hasn’t changed from the other night, Ms. Lane. So I’d wish to take you on a date again.” He clicked his tongue and came to sit on the edge of the bed where our gazes actually met for the first time this morning.

Tapping my fingers on my legs I paused for a moment in thought. “Okay I did agree to go out with you and I don’t back away from a deal. Where are we going exactly?”

“I already have a spot picked out. Don’t worry I know you’ll like it. Nothing too fancy just like you like.” Klaus responds turning on his heels vamping out of the bedroom keeping his answers vague. “Be ready and downstairs at six.”

Time seemed to go fast until it was almost five o clock and I still hadn’t decided on what I was going to wear for this date. Looking through my closet I grumbled typing away on my phone until I found Rebekah’s number. Holding it up to my ear she immediately answered my call. “Hey Rae, what do you need?”

“Bex, you’re uh…brother has me going on a date. I don’t remember him but I have no clue what to wear for tonight. Please help me.” I explained flopping down on the edge of the bed.

She paused and turned on a video call so I showed her the closest of what I had. She didn’t live in this town anymore and had made a permanent home in Orleans with Marcel. She finally responded, not finding anything that she knew would be good. “Hmm go to my old room and see if there’s a dark red dress and pair it with your brown ankle boots. Leave your hair down completely too.”

“I'm not gonna take your clothes, Bex.” I told her I would feel guilty if I did so.

The original vampire sent me a smile shaking her head side to side. “Don’t feel guilty, Rae Rae. We are sisters in law even if you can't currently remember bedding my brother.”

“Rebekah!” I scolded her, feeling my face turn red at the thought.

She sends me a raised brow with the same gentle smile. “It’s just me speaking the truth, Rae. Now go put on that dress and enjoy your date.” We hung up the phone and I went into her old bedroom. Slipping the dress over my head it fell loosely down my body. It was a good fit on my hips, short sleeve and it had a v neck cut out. It also fell just to my knees and paired it with my brown ankle boots.

Moving down the hallway I vamped down the stairs looking around the room until my eyes found Klaus at the bottom of the stairs. Sliding my hand down the railing I released a breath feeling his blue eyes scanning me up and down. “You look elegant as always, Ms. Lane.” He raised a hand to me and I placed my hand in his larger one.

“You don't have to call me, Ms. Lane. I may not be wearing your ring but you can still call me just Raelyn.” I responded to him allowing my gaze to trail him up and down. He was wearing casual clothing. He had a black jacket thrown over a dark gray shirt. I could also note that he was wearing a dog tag necklace that appears to have a blue gem inside of it. Raising my freehand I held it in between my fingers. “What's this gem? It wasn't there before, was it?’

Klaus shakes his head no. “It wasn't, I promise. I decided to add it to my necklace because it matches your eyes and it's the same gemstone your brother’s old necklace was made of.”

“You choose to represent me?” I smiled, dropping my hands to my sides, feeling touched. “That's kinda cute.”

Klaus sent me a bright smile hoping that his plan would work tonight and that everything would return to normal for the two most powerful creatures on the planet. “So shall we get this evening started?” He questioned me offering his arm and I looped mine through his and he vamped me out of the mansion and we ended up outside the local Mystic Grill.

“The Grill, why here of all places. I'm not complaining, just curious.” I glanced at the hybrid removing my arm from his before we headed inside and up to the bar. Klaus sat down first eyeing the bartender nodding his direction. “Old scotch and a Apple cider beer for the lady.”

The bartender left us alone and I put my face in my hands sending him a curious look. “How could you know that? I never told anyone what I like to drink.”

“I told you that I know everything about you, did I not?” He sent me a cheeky smile, raising his glass to his lips when the bartender brought them to us. “I also knew that you wouldn't want something big and flashy. And this spot has special meaning to us.”

Taking a long sip of my drink I knitted my brows together. “Special meaning how?”

“This is the exact spot where we first met. Can I show you?” He flipped over his freehand waiting for my reply. Lowering my gaze to his hand I slipped my fingers through his before a memory flashes through my mind.

A glass gets slid my way when the front door of the bar opened and someone walked up taking a seat beside me. "Strong scotch. May I ask what is troubling a lady like yourself?" My ears picked up on a British accent causing me to whip my head throwing my hair around.

The stranger smiles in my direction picking up a drink Matt had brought him that I hadn't noticed until now. "Unfortunately I don't talk to strangers so no." I scoffed, flipping my hair towards him.

The British man chuckled, taking a long sip from his glass still eyeing me from the corner of his eyes. I can feel my heart starting to flutter at hearing his laugh. "Then let's change that. My name's Klaus. Klaus Mikaelson." He sticks his hand out towards me turning in his chair to face me.

I nearly choked on my drink having to quickly sit the glass down. Hitting my chest as I have a coughing fit in an attempt to not choke. Eyeing him with uncertainty I put my hand in his shaking it slowly biting my lip. Klaus started to pull away but I siphon his hand suddenly twisting his wrist slamming him against the wall with my other hand holding him there.

"Ergh - what are you girl!" He grunts against the wall trying to break free.

Slowly walking up to him I keep my hand raised in front of me holding him there. Eyeing him up and down Klaus has dirty blonde hair and blue eyes that are now turning gold. He clutched his hands into fists still trying to fight against my grip. But somehow I knew I could take him, maybe now that I took my brother's power it gave me a booster. "There's something about you that I don't trust, Klaus. I trusted people closest to me and they betrayed me. So I'm not falling for your charms."

Turning my hand I dropped him to the ground where he growled up at me, heading for the door glancing over my shoulder I kept a brave face to him. "As for my name it's Raelyn Lane. I'd stay away if I were you, Mr. Mikaelson."

“Woah…I suppose not everyone gets to have an easy first meeting. So what other things do you supposedly know about me hmm?” I asked him in a teasing manner, resting my chin in the palm of my freehand.

Klaus sat his drink back down on the bar table. “One of your favorite movies is….”

“The Hunger Games Series.” We responded in sync where our faces got closer to one another until I drew back blinking my eyes a few times. Leaning back on my barstool I crossed my arms over my chest. “You can’t seriously know everything.”

The smile on his face turned into a proud smirk in a split second. “I’ll take that as a challenge, Raelyn Lane.”

“We’ll see about that, Klaus.” I took a long sip of my drink, closing my eyes briefly and heard a plate get slid across to me. I gasped choking on the liquid that went down my throat seeing steak and shrimp in front of me. “Holy crap. No, this is not acceptable.”

He intertwined his hands together, shaking his head in defense at me. “It is entirely acceptable. I told you on our first date that money isn’t an issue. That you deserve to have the whole world at your fingertips.”

“I still think you’re a really good stalker because there’s no way you can know all the little things that I like.” I cut some pieces of steak and ate in silence without hearing him get down from his stool.

Klaus watched the bartender he had compelled leave the room. The hybrid went over and took a microphone from the stage pausing while he stared at the heretic in front of him. Nothing had scared him for a thousand years except his father Mikeal, but the thought of losing her was even worse. He raised the microphone to his mouth slowly singing behind her. “ 🎶

Well, look who it is

Last call, I thought I'd get

How's your mama, how you've been?

Girl, it's been too long

Saw your sister at the Circle K

Heard baby number two was on the way

Hadn't seen her since her weddin' day

With you on my arm

It's good to hear from you again

Girl what a coincidence

I was just thinkin' 'bout that weekend out on Cumberland Lake

And that one time in Baton Rouge when we made out in the rain

Where we went chasin' fallin' stars on a hill at your daddy's farm

Don't be sorry for callin' me up right out of the blue

I was just thinkin' 'bout you

I was just thinkin' 'bout you.”

“Hey, I just gotta say I heard your song the other day

And it put a smile on my face when I started reminiscing

I've been on the edge of callin' you

And I'm so glad I decided to….” I trailed off dropping the fork in my hands slowly looking over my shoulder seeing him standing behind me. My heart skipped a beat recognizing the song that he had chosen. In a creepy and romantic sort of way he was checking the boxes.

Sliding off the barstool I walked up to him until we were almost pressed up against the other. Placing my hands over his that held the microphone we finished the song with me jumping around in my own free style dance at the end singing the last few lines. “I was just thinkin' 'bout that weekend out on Cumberland Lake

And that one time in Baton Rouge when we made out in the rain

Where we went chasin' fallin' stars on a hill at your daddy's farm

Don't be sorry for callin' me up right out of the blue

I was just thinkin' 'bout you

Oh, I was just thinkin' 'bout you.

If you're ever back in town

Do what you're doin' right now

'Cause I'm probably thinkin' 'bout you

I was just thinkin' 'bout that weekend out on Cumberland Lake

And that one time in Baton Rouge when we made out in the rain

Where we went chasin' fallin' stars on a hill at your daddy's farm

Don't be sorry for callin' me up right out of the blue

I was just thinkin' 'bout you

🎶 “

I finally stopped dancing around when my hair fell completely in front of my eyes. I tried my best to get it out of the way but I only made it worse. I finally felt Klaus place his hands on my head brushing it down and away with his fingers. “Can't take you anywhere can I, Rae?”

“I guess not, Klaus….You’re not so bad of a romantic.” I grinned looking up into his blue eyes resting one of my hands on his face that he leaned into.

He leans down where I thought he was going to kiss me again yet he only let his lips hover above mine. “I'll take that as a start….goodnight Raelyn.” He whispered and I shut my eyes seeing he was gone the second I opened them. Running a hand through my hair I covered my mouth with my hands releasing a breath figuring that whatever this was it was going to be interesting for sure.

Comments really appreciated ❤️

#family is more than blood #klaus mikaelson fanfiction #klaus mikaelson x reader #klaus mikaelson x heretic reader #klaus mikaelson x witch reader #klaus mikaelson x oc #indiana evans #dustin lynch #legacies #legacies fanfiction #tvdu #tvd universe #tvd x reader #tvd fic #tvd fanfiction #tvd fandom #gemini runaway #sequel #tvd heretic #joseph morgan #oc : raelyn lane #wattpad fanfiction #ask box is open for feedback #klaus mikaelson x reader fanfiction #tvd #klaus mikaelson fic #comments really appreciated #klaus mikaelson #Spotify

[berenwrites]

Dreams in the Night - Stranger Things - Steddie, Chapter 9 of 9

Dreams in the Night: But Vampires Aren't an Upside Down Thing!

Summary: Steve has been having nightmares, seeing through the eyes of a vampire like creature in Hawkins as it hunts. He puts the dreams down to past trauma and too many horror movies at Family video. He’s checked and no one’s been hurt, so even Robin agrees. However, his world is about to be turned upside down yet again as the nightmares become far too real.

Tumblr Master Chapter Listing | Also on AO3

For: @lady-lostmind (lady_lostmind on AO3)

Relationships: steddie, platonic stobin

Rating: Explicit

Wordcount: ~18600

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Tags: vampire!Eddie, Kas!Eddie, hurt/comfort, bisexual!Steve, bisexual!Eddie, platonic stobin, steddie

This fic is a part of the @steddieholidayexchange

Chapter 9: Freedom

“Gentlemen, Miss Buckley,” Owens said as he walked in while they finished breakfast three days after Steve had woken up, “I have good news.”

The first thing Steve noticed was the pile of things the man was carrying. They looked like real clothes.

“We get to go home?” Robin asked hopefully.

Owens smiled.

“Indeed,” he said with a nod of his head. “We would appreciate it if you would come back for occasional observation,” Owens added looking at Eddie and Steve, “but all our tests so far have been conclusive, neither of you are contaminated in such a way as to be dangerous to yourselves or others.”

Robin cheered and threw herself at Steve for a hug.

“What about Eddie’s need for blood?” she asked from within Steve’s arms.

“I believe Eddie and Steve have come to their own arrangement, have you not, gentlemen?” Owens said with that same smile.

Steve felt his face heating up. He’d never really thought what they were doing had gone unnoticed, but confirmation was still mortifying. Frankly he’d been expecting it to be brought up among all the tests they had been through over the past few days, but apparently it was being left un-investigated.

“You knew that’s what this was about,” Eddie accused.

“Suspected,” Owens replied simply, “not knew. It became clear you, Eddie, were channelling energy to Steve while he was comatose, but we had no proof of why. We did not wish to artificially influence either of you, but our observations did suggest the logical conclusion.”

“So, I was right,” Steve said, “I am his perfect donor?”

Owens nodded.

“The average human takes between eight and twenty-four hours to replace a pint of blood, with their red cell count not returning to normal until between four to six weeks,” Owens replied. “From our observations, you are now capable of complete regeneration within three to five hours.”

“Was it my bite that did it?” Eddie asked. “Is this all my fault?”

Steve reached out and pulled Eddie into a one-armed embrace while still holding onto Robin with the other, because he was not having the guilt he could hear in Eddie’s voice.

“We believe it was your bite which was the catalyst in this instance,” Owens replied, “however, it was also our oversight in not testing Steve after the defeat of Henry Creel. Thanks to the injuries he sustained from the bats and the contamination of their bites, we have concluded certain possibilities remained dormant within him until you re-emerged from the Upside Down. It is possible that living in Hawkins, they may have been triggered by something else at a later time, this just happening to be the catalytic event now.”

Steve frowned as he did his best to follow that.

“So, I could have collapsed at any time?” he asked.

“It is a possibility,” Owens said, “however, it is impossible to be certain. You may have gone your whole life without even knowing, or you could have changed tomorrow.”

“But he changed to be my donor,” Eddie said, “why would he have changed otherwise.”

“We don’t fully understand the lifecycles of the creatures of the Upside Down,” Owens said, “especially now Henry Creel’s influence has been removed. Yours appears to be a symbiotic relationship, in that you both gain advantages from the arrangement. Given the hive mind of the creatures of the Upside Down it is possible they also exist in symbiotic terms. If that is the case, there are likely many things which could trigger such a change.”

“Symbiotic,” Steve tried out the sound of the word.

It was one of those terms he was pretty sure he had heard before, but he’d never taken in what it meant.

“Ugh,” Robin said, slumping against Steve’s side, “you’re telling me I’m stuck with both of them forever?”

She put the perfect whine into her voice that made Steve laugh.

“Sorry, Platonic Soulmate with a capital P, but there’s no takebacks,” he said around the laugh.

“You better not have your fangs in him all the time, Munson,” Robin said, “or I will get a hose.”

Eddie’s big brown eyes were wide and shocked, and Steve was pretty sure this would not be the last conversation about this, but he pulled them both in close rather than commenting. Now was not the time.

“I’ll leave these here for you,” Owens said, placing the clothes on the end of Robin’s bed. “When you’re ready, we just have a few things for you to sign and I’ll have someone drop you at your homes.”

Steve internally grimaced at yet more paperwork, but he was very happy to be getting out of the lab.

~*~

Walking into his house, Steve noticed the answer machine flashing at him.

“You guys make yourselves comfortable, just gotta check this,” he said as Robin and Eddie trailed him inside.

They had convinced the driver taking them home to drop them all at Steve’s house so they could unpack what they had just been through before dealing with other people.

Pressing the button, he listened to the tape rewind before it beeped and began to play.

“Steven, it’s your mother, where are you?”

Another beep.

“Steven, it’s your mother again. What are you doing at all hours?”

A third beep.

“Steven, this is ridiculous, I have tried to get hold of you multiple times…”

“You tried twice, Mom,” he said quietly as he listened.

“I suppose I will just have to do this on the answering machine. One of your father’s new business associates has invited your father and I to join him and his wife at their lodge in the Alps over Christmas. I’m sure you understand how we couldn’t possibly turn it down without seeming rude, so we won’t be able to make it back to Hawkins this year. Given how you never seem to be at home, I’m sure you can find something else to do. Your cheque is in the post. We’ll see you some time in the New Year.”

It beeped a final time without even a goodbye.

He breathed out, letting his disappointment go as well as he could. His parents had been home once since “the earthquake” and that had seemed mostly so they could check on the house, not him. It had been just after the Party had finally put Vecna down for good and he’d been battered and bruised, but they hadn’t even seemed to notice. That they couldn’t even be bothered to come home for Christmas wasn’t exactly a shock. He really didn’t know why he cared anymore.

He was pretty sure the only reason they hadn’t sold the house out from under him by now was the fact no one wanted to move to Hawkins, so it wasn’t worth anything. Or possibly having their son living in his car would be a bad look on them.

“Hey,” Robin said, placing a gentle hand on his back, “you okay?”

“Yeah,” he replied, giving her a forced smile, “not unexpected, y’know.”

Robin rubbed her hand in a small circle, leaning into him for a moment, because she did know. She was one of the few people who knew just how absent his parents were and how many years he had been looking after himself.

“I could ask my mom and dad if there’s room for one more,” she began to say.

“Robs it’s your family time,” he replied before she could go on, “I couldn’t intrude. Besides it would only make your whole family want to know when the wedding’s going to be.”

Robin’s family always had a big Christmas gathering, which was going to be at her grandparents’ house this year. It was strictly family only because there were so many of them. The only exception being engaged couples.

“At least it would stop them all asking about boyfriends,” Robin complained. “You sure you don’t want to be my beard?”

Steve’s eyes immediately flicked to Eddie, who was also still standing in the hallway. He didn’t look majorly surprised, more like something had been confirmed, but it wasn’t him Steve was worried about. Robin had just effectively outed herself and he wasn’t sure she had realised she was doing it.

“Oh, oh,” she said, eyes going big and round as she remembered Eddie was there.

“Robin, breathe,” Eddie said, holding up his hands. “Your secret is safe, I swear. I know you didn’t mean to tell me, but it’s all cool. You remember I’m banging your very male soulmate, right?”

From the look on her face, Steve wasn’t sure Robin had remembered that in the moment. She took a very deep breath.

“I feel dumb,” she said, looking up at Steve through her lashes.

“Not dumb,” he assured her, “just a baked in reaction.”

“God, it sucks to be queer in small town Indiana,” Robin said loudly, putting her head back.

“Totally,” Eddie agreed.

“Well, I’ve only known I was queer for a little over a week,” Steve added, “but I get your point.”

“What?” Eddie said, staring at him.

It only occurred to Steve at that moment that they hadn’t had any time to have that conversation.

“You didn’t tell him?” Robin asked, seemingly very happy the spotlight was no longer on her.

“When exactly did I have the chance?” he said, putting his hands on his hips. “It wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have on camera.”

“What about before … well … before the hot and heavy stuff?” Robin said.

“That was more a primal moment than a talking moment,” he confessed.

“Right,” Robin said in a very decisive manner, “I’m going into the kitchen to make coffee very loudly. You two,” she pinned them both down with a look, “talk.”

Eddie was giving him one of those big doe-eyed looks that had just a hint of guilt to it. Steve walked over.

“I’m the first guy you’ve ever ..?” Eddie trailed off.

“Yes,” he replied.

“And we … you let me … Steve,” Eddie half said, half whined.

“I didn’t let you do anything I wasn’t very, very into,” he said, reaching out and placing a hand on Eddie’s arm.

“After I bit you,” Eddie seemed to feel the need to point out. “Oh god, I did this, didn’t I, I forced you into this. This in on…”

Steve stepped completely into Eddie’s personal space and took the other man’s face between his hands, forcing Eddie to look at him rather than spiral.

“You didn’t force me into anything,” he said slowly and clearly, making sure Eddie was listening. “Has it occurred to you, I was the one who did the forcing?”

Eddie blinked at him.

“I called you here,” he went on. “I tricked you into biting me. I invaded your brain.”

“But…” Eddie said.

“No buts,” Steve interrupted. “That’s all on me, not you. I realised I was dreaming about you, and I grabbed at it. I don’t know what I was feeling at the time, I didn’t stop to analyse it, but I don’t care. I know what I feel now. I want you with every part of me, and I know you want me. I can feel it. That is what I care about.”

For a while, Eddie stared at him in complete silence. It was the scariest few seconds of Steve’s life since Vecna was finally dealt with.

“Wow,” Eddie said, bringing one of his hands up to cup Steve’s.

Now it was Steve who didn’t know what to say.

“You go big, don’t you,” Eddie said with the tiniest smile.

“Um, I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

“Oh, Stevie, don’t be sorry, never be sorry for that,” Eddie said. “You are a wonder. And you’re mine.”

“All yours,” Steve agreed. “Are you mine?” he added hesitantly.

Now Eddie leaned forward and kissed him.

“For as long as you’ll have me,” Eddie said, and Steve’s stomach did a swoop. “You’re joining me and Wayne for Christmas, by the way, no arguments. Gonna indoctrinate you into our Munson traditions.”

“I wouldn’t want to in…”

Eddie put his finger on Steve’s lips before he could go on.

“You won’t be intruding,” Eddie said. “I suggest we get the whole Wayne grilling you to make sure you’re not some loser who will break my heart over before Christmas eve (he’s protective), because that could be awkward during dinner, but he’s gonna want to give you a slap on the back for saving my sorry ass too. As Wayne says, there’s always room for one more at our table.”

Steve blinked hard. He refused to cry. He wasn’t a crier by rule, his dad had always frowned on it, but it had been a trying few days. It was testing his control.

“Come on,” Eddie said, taking his hand, “let’s get in the kitchen before Birdie breaks something. And I hope you have some food in your cabinets that hasn’t been perfectly balanced to give us all the nutrients we need to be in top condition.”

“I think I have a boxed mac and cheese in there somewhere,” he replied, using the distraction for what it was.

“That’ll hit the spot,” Eddie said in a terrible British accent.

The Upside Down had once again thrown his life in the air to see where bits landed, but as Steve let Eddie lead him through his house, he was pretty happy with how it had turned out. They needed to call everyone. They needed to find out what everyone knew and make sure everyone knew what had happened. They needed to decide if, when, and how he and Eddie were going to come out to their extended found-family.

There was so much to do and still questions to answer. But as far as Steve was concerned, things were looking up.

As he looked out the kitchen window, he realised it was snowing. It was cliched, but he really hoped that was a touch of Christmas magic from the universe, like the movies always had.

“Ooh,” Eddie said, spotting the snow as well and making a dash for the back door.

“Where are you going?” Steve called after him.

“Gotta catch a snowflake on my tongue,” Eddie yelled back. “First snowfall. Big Munson tradition.”

Steve grinned and shared a look with Robin. His boyfriend was a little insane, but that was fine with him.

“Guess we should join him,” he said and gestured for Robin to precede him.

“You are so whipped,” Robin said, but went along anyway.

Stepping out into the first snow flurry of the season, Steve laughed properly for the first time in what felt like forever. Eddie was dancing around trying to catch a snowflake and it simply filled him with joy. Giving Robin a shrug, he joined in.

The End

Thank you so much for reading, I very much hope you enjoyed the story, especially @lady-lostmind . Best wishes and happy holidays to one and all.

#stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things fanfic #steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #robin buckley #steve x eddie #steve harrington/eddie munson #platonic stobin #vampires #kas eddie munson #vampire eddie munson #eddie lives #fanfic #fanfiction #dreams in the night - steddie

[afunfunkytime]

fack you, go drink water- the northeast

so, my friends, i was given a request relating to the northeastern 'family' dynamics (@h4ndz4ey4z (: i hope this is what you wanted)

so the northeast fights. a lot. the longest time without a fight between them is under two hours.

however.

they care about each other<3

they refuse to act like it but they notice little things about each other, picking up on each others moods and tells for what's going on. they usually never acknowledge this but they know the others know

maine has his life pulled together the most and as the leader of the northeast, he is unofficially dad and thus ensures everybody drinks water and eats food

definitely has a few sneaky lobster rolls hidden on his person just to ensure his definitely not friends consume food

connecticut is a little bit of a workaholic, he likes to pretend he's put together but this man chugs red bulls hunched over a desk at 4:38AM with no intention of going to sleep. whenever he's caught doing this he is DRAGGED into bed, usually by new york because he's also definitely awake- butthatsinsomniaandhesNOTahypocrite,cut

vermont and new hampshire like to just take care of each other. theyre either best friends or boyfriends but hold hands regardless. they notice when the other is stressed immediately. louis and florida wish they were this in sync. they go camping together and cuddle under the stars until the stress is gone. new hampshire is serious about living free or dying, he refuses to be anything but free. vermont is not so chill but that's okay, kissies fix everything.

new jersey and rhode are highkey lowkey besties. both have anger issues and take it out with baseball bats and old furniture in the middle of nowhere. talking about your feelings is overrated in their humble opinions, breaking shit is absolutely not. fuck up your enemies. theyre aggressive homies, refuse to hug but they are always there to work shit out with each other.

massachusetts will fucking make you drink water. he will. nobody kills you but him. he'll help with northeastern states paperwork when theyre stressed, hes a nerd and uses it well. also wont hug but he gives angry helpful advice. "if hes facking breaking your heart, facking break his kneecaps. or break up. i dont facking care, ill just facking dispose the body" definitely committed several crimes for the sake of his absolutely not friends

PA is like the only northeastern state who will hug the others. not often enough for it to be a thing, they all think each other are all sewer rats, but he'll do it if they need it. his pockets are filled with snacks because he knows these hoes don't eat, and chocolate makes massachusetts slightly more tolerable. florida doesnt call him papa just because of his abbreviation, PA has a habit of giving dad lectures to the rest of the northeast. has called rhode 'kiddo' more than once.

new york totally hates them. definitely. absolutely doesn't shove water bottles into their hands and go out of his way to get them pizza from their states. he'd never dream of buying mass dunks when he's hungover. would rather die than make new jersey go to sleep when he catches him up at 2am watching vampire diaries. he says as he does all of these things. big softie, they are his rats.

mary and delaware are honourary northeastern states (apparently they are in the south which is bullshit in my humble opinion). mary is that wine mom that straightens up their clothes and lets them angrily vent whilst he watches golden girls. goes fishing with maine whenever both feel cooped up in the statehouse. can pinch rhode islands cheeks without being bitten. delaware is less affectionate but as the oldest state he feels he should take a kind of responsibility over his horrible little 'children'. he checks in on them every day, kinda like the 'are ya winning son?' guy. particularly likes doing paperwork in silence with connecticut. appreciates presence, not words. words are for losers.

TLDR: rats with anger issues care about each other

mwah congrats if you read this whole thing

#ben brainard #welcome to the statehouse #welcome to the table #wttsh #wttt #the table #the northeast are all rats and i love them #however i do not know them very well</3 #i hope this is not garbage #mary wine mom is my favourite thing and no i will not drop it #fack you go drink water #eat food dumbass

[taintedevesayori]

Diabolik Lovers More, Blood - Sayo's Route: Dark Prologue

Sayo's Route Masterlist

((Okay so quick author's note. No, I'm not giving up on Tainted Eve. I've just got a bit of a writer's block with the story right now. But I really wanted to keep writing, so I thought it might be fun to write as if Sayo was in the More, Blood game. It's given me some inspiration.

Because of that, some scenarios are heavily inspired by scenes from the game and this prologue is one of them because obviously the first prologue of the game sets up the game. Others will have more original content.

Because this is game specific, I changed up Sayo's background a bit. In this universe, Sayo has never met Karlheinz before being brought to the Sakamaki manor, although his presence in her life is still the same, she just didn't know about it. She knows nothing about the Adam and Eve plan. Her friends also do not go to Ryoutei Academy due to the church she grew up in being in a nearby town, Sayo was forced to transfer schools when she moves.

Also I am aware Sayo is not using traditional honorifics like -san when speaking to the brothers. I've never used them in Tainted Eve but I never established that with her character, she picks and chooses who she uses honorifics with based on who she actually respects and how close she is with someone. Game CG is from the More, Blood prologue))

Monologue

A normal life That’s really all I wanted I guess normal wasn’t in the cards for me But escape is still possible I remind myself of this each day

-Sayo and the Sakamaki brothers are in the limousine on their way to school. Sayo is staring off into the distance, ignoring the others

Monologue

Half a year ago, I would have laughed in your face if someone told me I would be living in a mansion and riding to school in a limo with a bunch of rich boys, but unfortunately that was my reality now.  I’m an orphan, abandoned by my parents as a baby. I was given to a church in the next town over from where I live now shortly after I was born. It was just a place to sleep and eat.  My personality tended to conflict with the strict and pious nature of the church, but I tried to reign myself in the best I could to avoid the punishments the nuns liked to use against troublemakers.  To their displeasure, I was out with friends more often than not instead. But they looked the other way for the most part since I was out of the way.  I used to have friends. Leiko, Kisa, Emi, and Rena were my best friends. But ever since I had been forced to move here, I hadn’t been able to talk to them much.  Half a year ago was when the church decided to get rid of me to solve their problem. Tougo Sakamaki, a politician and proprietor of the church, was seeking a prospective bride for his sons. I had done some digging, and apparently he had done this before. Tougo Sakamaki was also known as Karlheinz Sakamaki, the king of the vampires…and these prospective brides were also called sacrificial brides. Who knew if they all came from the church, but it was probably an easy way to snatch unwanted girls like me.  And so, I was sent to live with his six sons-Shu, Reiji, Ayato, Laito, Kanato, and Subaru. It didn’t go over well. The dynamic in the household was chaotic for a while. I wasn’t the type to roll over and accept my new position as prey for six vampires.  Normally this would have gotten me killed right away, but I had an interest in fighting and weapons. I always carried at least one pocket knife. I was quick to dodge and find my way out of sticky situations. That included hitting people away from me if need be.  Of course vampires were stronger than me, and it only served to piss them off. However, Karlheinz actually witnessed one of these interactions right away. He thought it was amusing and decided I had a greater chance of surviving “the awakening”. So I’m still alive and we’ve learned to tolerate each other. They still attempt to take my blood, but they aren’t always successful. I’m good at slipping away, thankfully. I still manage to irritate them sometimes, but apparently none of them can say they truly hate me.  After half a year, we had learned more about each other, even though I still keep a wall up to stop them from getting too close. They wish I would have a better attitude about this, considering I’m supposed to be a bride eventually.  At least, that’s what they think. I have other ideas on the matter. 

Subaru: Oi, Sayo. Are you spacing out?

Laito: Nfu~ Lost in thought again. Hey, I know you’re always thinking about me but-

Subaru: Enough of that. Oi, Sayo!

-Sayo glances over at Subaru

Sayo: Hm?

Kanato: You’re awfully inconsiderate…having the nerve to get lost in thought.

Sayo: Haah…Did you need something, Subaru?

Subaru: Not really…

-Sayo cocks an eyebrow at him

Sayo: Really?

-The car suddenly brakes

Sayo: Huh?!

Ayato: Woah?!

-The car begins to crash

Sayo: Shit…!

-Sayo’s vision fades to white. She is faced with a man she has never seen before, although feels as if she vaguely recognizes him. 

?Karlheinz?: You have awakened, Eve.

Sayo: Huh?! Who the hell are you?!

?Karlheinz?: You are interested in knowing who I am?

Sayo: Obviously…and while you’re at it, where am I?

?Karlheinz?: Fufu..Eve is quite curious, aren’t you? 

Sayo: My name isn’t Eve. Are you sure you have the right person?

?Karlheinz?: You have kept me waiting long enough. Even though the apple should have ripened naturally, it has rotted away instead…

Sayo: What are you ranting about? You sound crazy…

?Karlheinz?: What do you think caused it to rot away?

-Sayo simply stares, tired of his cryptidness

?Karlheinz?: You don’t know? The next time we meet, I am sure you will have a guess.

-The man fades away. When Sayo opens her eyes, the triplets are leaning over her. She is sitting on the ground, Laito keeping her upright. The other three brothers are standing nearby. 

(Was I just hallucinating because of the car crash…? I must have hit my head…)

Sayo: W-What the hell…?

Ayato: Oi, Sayo!

Kanato: Geez…You’re awake.

Sayo: What the hell happened…?

Reiji: Good grief…I am surprised you of all people would pass out. We were talking about where the culprit of the accident has run off to. Pulling a hit and run like that….they sure have guts.

Ayato: Think a human is behind it?

Reiji: I doubt this is the work of a human. Our car was being driven by a familiar. 

Laito: Hm…Then it would have to be someone from the Demon World, I suppose?

Subaru: I wouldn’t call this unusual. Our family has plenty of enemies.

Shu: Haah…This sucks. 

Reiji: Either way, let’s go. The familiars can clean up the mess. 

Sayo: Never really considered you guys would be attacked like this. 

-Laito helps her stand

Sayo: Thanks, I guess.

Laito: No problem, Sayo-chan~ You can pay me back with a kiss~

-Sayo takes his hand, placing a kiss on his knuckles

Sayo: There, debt paid.

Laito: Aw~ That wasn’t a very fun spot.

Sayo: You’re lucky you got a kiss at all. Now are we going or what?

-Later on before school, Sayo is walking to class with the triplets

Ayato: It’s been a while since we’ve been directly attacked, right?

Sayo: Were you attacked a lot in the past?

Kanato: We’ve been targeted plenty of times before.

Sayo: Why’s that?

Laito: Nfu~ Because this world is full of fools? They’ll never stop trying to steal that man’s throne.

???: You there.

Ayato: Hah? Who the fuck are you?

???: Eh? Me? My name is Reinhart. I’m the school doctor.

Laito: Hm? That’s odd…I’m pretty sure it was a woman until now…

Reinhart: She is on maternity leave, so I am  taking her place.

Laito: Hmm…I see.

Sayo: Haah…Chill out you two. Did you need something, sensei?

Reinhart: Right. Could you come with me? I would like to speak with you.

Sayo: Me?

Ayato: Oi, you bastard…The fuck are you planning?

Sayo: Ayato calm down! There’s nothing wrong with a teacher wanting to talk to a student. Why are you freaking out?

Reinhart: When I spotted you all earlier, I noticed you looked a little pale. I wanted to make sure you were alright.

Sayo: We got into a small car accident earlier but I’m just fine, sir.

Reinhart: If it was a car accident, you should let me take a look at you, just in case.

-Laito latches onto her arm

Laito: Let’s go to the infirmary, Sayo-chan~ That’s much better than listening to boring lectures.

Ayato: Laito, you jerk…! I won’t let you hog her.

Laito: I’m not doing that. Nfu~ I’m just skipping. Consider this a humble gift from Sayo-chan. Why don’t you two join us?

Kanato: Laito has a point. Let us go. Sensei, do you have an sweets?

Reinhart: ...Seems like you have a couple of ‘knights in shining armor’, huh?

Sayo: Honestly…Haah..I didn’t want to go in the first place! You guys are a pain!

-The group follow Reinhart to the infirmary. He performs a light physical exam on Sayo while asking a lot of questions, much to Sayo’s annoyance

Laito: How exactly were you able to judge her condition from far away, sensei?

Reinhart: Hm…Her aura, I suppose.

-Sayo cocks an eyebrow at him

Sayo: Aura? What does that have to do with health?

Reinhart: Hahaha. That’s just something I can see. This time it seems I was right since you did get into a car crash. It seems like you really are doing okay, though.

Laito: Hey, hey, sensei~ What color is her aura? Vibrant pink?

-Sayo shakes her head

Sayo: I highly doubt that. Pink doesn’t suit me.

Ayato: Well...you have a point.

Reinhart: Hahaha. It is a bit difficult to explain using colors…hers would be like a kaleidoscope, a color that shifts depending how you look at it. At first, you think there’s nothing there but when you begin to move it, you see that there are many colors and aspects to her you’ve never seen before.

Laito: Heh…?

Kanato: Hmph…I can’t insult her when you say it like that…

Sayo: That’s….certainly not what I expected, sensei.

Reinhart: Don’t mind me, that’s just the feeling I get. Well, how are you feeling? 

Sayo: I’m just fine.

(We’ll just neglect to mention the hallucination. That will bring more problems I don’t need…)

Reinhart: I see. That’s good then.

Ayato: Oi, teach, offer us something to drink...maybe something to eat, too.

Reinhart: Oh my…Classes will resume shortly. You don’t want to be late.

Ayato: Huh?! What was that?

Laito: I’d love to stay a little longer, though. Come on, Sayo-chan, you should join me in this bed. It’ll be fun, you know~?

-Sayo shoots up from her chair, heading for the door

Sayo: Yeah, no. I’m going to class.

Kanato: I won’t go. Right, Teddy?

Reinhart: Come on, I’ll give you a candy.

Kanato: Heh. I see you are trying to bribe me. However, I’ll accept your puny candies. 

Reinhart: Please drop by anytime you need.

-The group leaves the infirmary

Laito: Don’t you think he was a little suspicious?

Ayato: You have a point…

Sayo: What about him was suspicious, exactly…? Seemed like a normal teacher to me. Although a little quirky.

Kanato: That’s not it! He…must be fond of you…

Laito: Nfu~ So we all thought so. 

Sayo: Ahaha! Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? You guys are definitely imagining things.

Ayato: It was so obvious! You’re too damn cheeky, Sayo!

(They’re pretty worked up….This probably won’t turn out well. Better make a break for it before things get any worse.)

Sayo: We’re going to be late for class!

-Sayo runs away down the hall

Ayato: Oi! Wait, dammit!

Laito: Aw~ Ditched again~

-After school, Sayo is in the garden, taking out the trash to finish her cleaning duty

?Ruki?: Is it really okay for livestock to leave its master’s side and wander around like you are?

-Sayo turns to look, at first not realizing he was speaking to her. She glares once she realizes he’s looking straight at her

Sayo: Excuse me? Are you talking to me?

?Yuma?: Of course we’re talkin’ to you! Fuck off with that shit!

?Azusa?: We can finally…talk to you…Eve…

(Eve…? Where have I heard that before? That hallucination…?)

?Kou?: Hey, hey~ No need to be so frightened, M-neko-chan~

Sayo: What did you just call me?! Besides, you’ve got the wrong person. My name isn’t Eve.

-Sayo tries to walk away but ?Yuma? steps in front of her

?Yuma?: Hold on.

-?Yuma? grabs her before she can go around him. She struggles to get out of his grip

Sayo: Hey! Get off dammit!��

?Yuma?: Tch! Stop struggling…fuck…you stupid sow…!

Sayo: Excuse me?! What the fuck is wrong with you guys?!

-She struggles harder, making it very difficult for ?Yuma? to restrain her. ?Ruki? gets up in her face in an attempt to get a good look at her

?Ruki?: This livestock won’t hesitate to bare her teeth at her master. And you are strong willed. I fear this will not turn out well.

Sayo: If you don’t let me go I swear to god…! I don’t even know who the fuck you guys are!

Ruki: Hmph. I am Ruki Mukami. And the guy who is trying to make you behave is…

Yuma: The name’s Yuma.

Kou: I’m Kou! Nice to meet you!

Azusa: Azusa…Haah…

Sayo: That’s great. Now let go, Yuma Mukami! Why the hell did you grab me?!

Kou: Fufu…We’re transfer students, you see~

Sayo: What about it?

Ruki: Is that how you talk to your seniors? Aren’t you being disrespectful?

-Sayo glares with a small smirk

Sayo: Oh, I’m sorry. As your respectful underclassman, shall I offer you a tour? If I do that will you let go?!

Kou: Feisty~

Shu: Sayo…What are you guys doing to her?

Sayo: Shu…

Shu: I can tell you things won’t be pleasant if you torment her any longer…so will you let go of her?

Ruki: Hmph…Oi, Yuma.

Yuma: Tch, fine.

-Yuma pushes her towards Shu

Yuma: Scram!

-They can all see from Sayo’s expression that she is livid. Shu knows he needs to end this before she blows up on them, if she hadn’t already

Shu: It isn’t like you to cause trouble…

-Sayo rolls her eyes as Reiji walks up to the group

Reiji: What is all this commotion? ...hm? You all…

Ruki: Let’s go.

Azusa: Eve…I’ll see you soon, okay…?

Kou: Bye, bye~

Yuma: Tch…This pisses me off…

Sayo: It pisses you off…?! I’m the one who’s pissed…!

Subaru: Oi, the fuck happened?

Laito: What’s this? Did something happen?

Ayato: We passed by some new people…

-They all turn to Sayo, looking for answers

Sayo: God if I know! Those guys just waltzed up to me saying all this weird shit! And then that tall one grabbed me and wouldn’t fucking let go. Luckily Shu came or I would have pulled my damn knife on them.

Ayato: Next time, I’ll crush them!

Kanato: Their scent…

Subaru: It reeks…

Reiji: I see…

Sayo: What is it?

Reiji: We’re all here now, so let us head home. The car is waiting.

Sayo: Let me go grab my things.

Reiji: A familiar will fetch it for you. 

Sayo: Sure…

(Why is he in such a hurry…? Is it because of what just happened?)

-Later on in the limousine

Subaru: The crash earlier…Don’t you think those guys could have done it?

Kanato: Probably…

Sayo: So you think those guys are vampires?

Laito: From their scent, they aren’t pureblood vampires.

Sayo: You can tell as much by their scent?

Laito: That’s right…nfu~

Shu: Those guys…are they attending school now…?

Sayo: They told me they’re transfer students.

Shu: Haah…and it seems like they’ve got their eye on you.

Laito: Nfu~ Shu, are you jealous? You aren’t very relaxed, you know?

Shu: Shut up…The fact you even think of bringing up jealousy says more about you than me…you fake pervert.

Sayo: Fake…? Pretty sure he’s the real deal…

Laito: ....Do you want to die~?

Shu: Hmph…go ahead and try?

Monologue

I resisted the urge to sigh.  The atmosphere was too oppressive now.  I glanced out the window, trying my best to ignore everyone. It would be best to take a bath and go to bed early. That way, I wouldn’t have to deal with them. 

-The next day, Sayo is getting ready for school when she hears a knock on her door

Sayo: Yes?

-Reiji enters the room

Reiji: Good morning.

Sayo: Good morning, Reiji. Is something wrong?

Reiji: There is something I would like to talk about before we head to school. I have to rouse the others, but if you are ready, please meet me in the living room.

Sayo: Sure. I’ll head down in a moment.

Reiji: Thank you.

-Reiji leaves, shutting the door behind him. Sayo finishes getting ready before going down to the living room. Shu is sleeping on one of the couches. One after the other, the brothers filter in

(Subaru, Kanato, and Ayato look like they might as well still be asleep. And of course Shu is still sleeping. The others don’t look much better for that matter…)

-Reiji comes in with a pot of tea, giving each of them a cup

Reiji: I’ve brewed a tea to combat exhaustion for everyone to drink. Subaru, wake up!

Subaru: Hah…

-Sayo resists the urge to laugh

(He was seriously sleeping while standing…)

Reiji: The reason why I’ve had you all gathered here is obviously about yesterday’s accident and that group of vampires.

Laito: Ah. That, is it? 

Reiji: Yesterday’s accident was most likely caused by them.

Kanato: It would be impossible for anyone without similar powers…...so you gathered us here just to talk about them…?

Reiji: That is not all.

(Where is he going with this…?)

Reiji: I would like to ask everyone’s opinion on their target.

Subaru: Ah? Target…? Haven’t they come to murder us?

Ayato: Yeah…exactly. It’s ‘cause that shitty old man…geez…

Sayo: I’m assuming you mean your father. Just what kind of person is that guy?

Reiji: Well, it is off topic but I will tell you. Our father has been the head of the vampires for over 2000 years.

Sayo: Seriously? That long?

Laito: His speech is totally old fashioned. His words reek of mold.

Shu: Well…He is a pain in the ass…

Kanato: Our Father is also a shapeshifter. He can turn into anything…

Ayato: He’ll show up with a different appearance sometimes. Even we don’t know what he really looks like.

Reiji: He is shrouded in mystery. 

Sayo: Well then…

Reiji: You lot, we’re returning to the previous topic. About those guys’ target.

Kanato: To destroy our household?

Reiji: I think their true motive may lay elsewhere.

Ayato: Aah? What do you mean?

Laito: Nfu~ It’s Sayo-chan, isn’t it?

Sayo: ...huh?

Reiji: Haah…Laito, when it comes to women, you always become very sharp, don’t you?

Laito: Can I take that as a compliment?

Reiji: I am disappointed in you…I do believe you are right though.

Sayo: You’ve got to be kidding me…There’s no way.

Reiji: You were confronted by them yesterday, isn’t that right?

Sayo: I guess…Could have just been to take a jab at you guys, though.

Reiji: I considered that myself. However…if it were us they were after, they could have done so before now.

Subaru: This never happened before you showed up…

Shu: Well…that’s true.

Sayo: There are other explanations for this. Like they just moved here and are getting territorial, for example?

Reiji: I am fairly certain it is you they are after.

Sayo: What reason could they have for that, though?

Kanato: Your blood is the most obvious reason…right, Teddy? You do give off such a delicious scent.

Ayato: Your looks aren’t bad either. But your blood is top quality.

-She rolls her eyes with a sigh

Subaru: What are we gonna do?

Reiji: What is it you want to do? 

Subaru: Without you, we won’t have blood. You should stay, Sayo.

(He says that as if I give them much blood to begin with…Oh well.)

Laito: Nfu…Agreed~ Well, I can still enjoy whatever they might do to you, but I won’t let them take you.

Ayato: Your blood belongs to me, right, Sayo?

Kanato: It is mine as well so don’t decide that by yourself.

Laito: What about you, Reiji? What would you do if some other guy tried to steal her?

Reiji: It should be obvious that I do not let others steal my possessions.

(Even Reiji is being possessive? What the hell? This is getting creepier by the second…And again, it’s not like I give them blood all that often in the first place!)

Laito:  Oh? I didn’t expect that from you. What about you, Shu?

Shu: Aah…Well…I pretty much agree with you guys…Those guys piss me off…

Ayato: Sayo, don’t you agree?

Sayo: Hearing you guys act so possessive is actually a bit annoying but those guys piss me off so I didn’t intend on getting anywhere near them in the first place.

Ayato: Then we crush them, right?

Reiji: Wait a minute. Is that your only solution?

Ayato: Aah?! Then what do you think we should do?

Reiji: For starters, don’t you think you’ll be playing right into their hands?

Kanato: Their hands?

Reiji: They approached her yesterday to agitate us. If we pick a fight with them, they’ll use that opportunity to take her away.

Subaru: …So what are we gonna do?

Reiji: For now, we have no other choice. We have to watch over her. 

Sayo and Subaru: “Huh?!”

Subaru: Lame! The fuck…

Sayo: Yeah! I don’t need a babysitter!

Ayato: Shit…! Having to go through all this trouble…

(And yet he looks like he’s accepted it…?!)

Laito: In that case, I’ll keep a close eye on you every second of the day~

-Sayo glares at him

Sayo: No way in hell.

Shu: I have a suggestion. One of us will watch her…that way it’s that person’s fault if she’s caught.

Reiji: I don’t like how the good for nothing suggested it, but it is the most logical solution to this problem.

Shu: Oi, Sayo. Pick one of us. Hurry up so they stop fighting.

Reiji: The person she chooses will take responsibility and watch her from today onwards. Is that clear?

Sayo: Hell no! Like I said, I don’t want a babysitter! I can take care of myself!

Shu: Don’t you remember how you were caught by that tall one yesterday?

Sayo: He caught me off guard. That won’t happen again.

Reiji: We aren’t taking any chances. If you refuse to choose, we will choose instead.

Sayo: Why can’t any of you just respect my decision?!

Subaru: Maybe we could if you were considering your safety more.

Sayo: You don’t even want to do this, Subaru!

Reiji: Well?

Shu: If she doesn’t choose, let’s just pull lots or something so there are no arguments.

-Sayo glares, remaining silent

(I won’t budge on this. I do not want a babysitter. It doesn’t matter that there are new vampires going to our school. We don’t even know for sure that I’m their target.)

(Yeah, Yuma grabbed me yesterday but now that I know who they are and that they’re vampires, I’ll be more careful. I don’t need one of the brothers following me around every moment of every day.)

Reiji: Haah…Fine. Lots it is. Why must you be so stubborn? Don’t complain if you get stuck with someone less than favorable.

Sayo: I could say the same to you guys. I hope you know I’m not cooperating with this.

-Sayo watches in silence as the brothers draw lots. After a moment, one of them lets out a victorious chuckle

Laito: Nfu~Looks like I get to watch over you, Sayo-chan~

Sayo: Jesus christ…

-Reiji stops himself from chuckling since this was what he meant. It would have been better for her to choose him or Subaru since she got along with them best but now she was stuck with Laito

Subaru: Shouldn’t have been so stubborn…

Sayo: This is absolutely ridiculous…We don’t know if those guys are even after me…

-Sayo grabs her bag, storming out of the room

Ayato: Are you sure this is fine…?

Reiji: Haah…For now at least. We can reevaluate if we have to. Do not go overboard, Laito.

Laito: Nfu~ I would never.

Reiji: Haah...I have a feeling this isn't going to go well...

#diabolik lovers oc #diabolik lovers #sayori makina #sakamaki brothers #mukami brothers #ayato sakamaki #laito sakamaki #kanato sakamaki #subaru sakamaki #reiji sakamaki #shu sakamaki #ruki mukami #kou mukami #azusa mukami #yuma mukami #sayo's route