lara-raith

[lara-raith]

thatgoddamnwizard‌:

Harry kept a wary eye on Lara, making a concerted effort to tamp down on the surge of desire that heated his blood in her presence. This awakening of baser instincts was not unusual when he was around her– but it also wasn’t entirely natural. Lara Raith was a member of the White Court of Vampires, a subset of a species that fed on life force, specifically through lust. 

If he surrendered to the sweet, beckoning siren’s call of that desire, he would be in danger of losing everything he was, up to and including his life. He had seen the consequences of that surrender, up close and personal in all their horrific glory, and he wanted nothing to do with it.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to be interested in ensnaring him just now, so it wasn’t overly difficult to keep himself under control.

Turning so he wasn’t directly facing Lara but could still see her in the peripheral, he took a few steps across the floor of the abandoned, burned-out husk of an office building, broken glass crunching under his feet, until he reached the recumbent ghoul. The creature was still smoldering and twitching from the blast of super-charged lightning that had torn into it from Harry’s staff. The ghoul was still alive, which wasn’t surprising. They were damned hard to kill. 

But in this case, that suited his purposes. He had a few questions to ask.

And at this point, not all of those questions would be directed to the ghoul. He would very much like to know how Lara had found him here, managing to arrive when she did. Maybe she followed the same trail he had. Maybe not. But those questions could wait.

“That’s exactly what I’d like to know,” Harry replied, addressing both the succubus and the ghoul. He pressed the end of his staff against the ghoul’s throat. “See, he hasn’t been answering my calls either. Haven’t seen hide nor hair of him in a week, so I went looking and found a trail.” He gave a little shove with the staff, and the ghoul snarled, grasping at the carved wood. It must still be recovering from the overwhelming shock of the whole situation, because its movements were weak and spasmodic. Harry pushed down harder, grinding his teeth. “And look what I found at the end of that trail.”

As Dresden did his best Noir Detective impression, Lara tilted her head almost imperceptibly to the side and listened to the noises coming from outside.  She didn’t think the wizard knew that she’d been pursued.  Just like she hadn’t known what he’d been doing when she leapt through the window. Coincidence, that they’d both arrived at one of Marcone’s buildings at exactly the same time?

Not likely.

“You found a trail, and I received an invitation; it’s almost as if someone knows us,” Lara purred, feigning nonchalance. She didn’t like being played.  She didn’t like to think about the level of skill required to play her.  Or Dresden, for that matter, though she wouldn’t admit that aloud.  “And I’m jealous.  I haven’t heard from my brother in two.”

Lara trusted that Harry wouldn’t reference their daisy-chair parentage in uncertain surroundings.  She had no reason to emphasize her claim to Thomas as kin in that moment; in fact, she knew it might set him off.  But she felt off-kilter, so her instinct was to attack to avoid showing weakness.

So much of her life was spent navigating a web of secrets and deceits largely of her own design, Lara found it refreshing to be truly, publicly honest.  Especially while asserting a degree of dominance.

I can claim him as my brother in public and you cannot, she reminded Harry with a syllable of inflection and flick of her gaze.  It was the only prize Lara possessed that Dresden couldn’t easily have for himself.  Though why he refused to live in comfort was beyond Lara, she knew that he wasn’t impressed with her money or political influence.  He valued the lumpy, squishy human things that Lara had a harder and harder time remembering and relating to.  As she still wasn’t quite sure if that was a good thing.

Lara closed the distance between herself and the grisly tableau with a runway stomp.  She grimaced as the ghoul screeched and clawed at Dresden’s staff.  This was not her preferred style of interrogation, and she estimated they didn’t have long before they’d have more company.

“I was followed,” she murmured, speaking much more quietly and without looking at Harry while she said it.

Maybe she was being paranoid, but she decided she’d err on the side of caution and candor with the sharing of that piece of information, at least.

#My Brother's Keeper #thatgoddamnwizard #Sorry for the delay #I had a death in the family #it was expected #but it's still heavy #so here have some whiny Lara #and a complete lack of responsibility for plot #Who or what followed Lara #I dunno #maybe we'll never know #or maybe it will all come together #and look like we had a plan #long tags are long

[lara-raith]

sexiestwardenalive‌:

You make it sound sooooo tempting. I had questions regarding activities tho. Any of those exclude psychological damage?

For me?  Or for you?

sexiestwardenalive started following you

#sexiestwardenalive #it's all fun and games until someone needs therapy

[lara-raith]

sexiestwardenalive‌:

lara-raith‌:

sexiestwardenalive‌:

lara-raith‌:

Ohhhhh, is it my birthday?

Listen. I just figured, what the hell. Thought I’d try getting an online account. Never know, Could lead to some kind of fun. 

I’d be willing to introduce you to all sorts of fun activities, Warden.

I wouldnt consider being turned into a feedie slave, fun, Vampire. Tho, I must admit to being curious about, other types of activities you would get up to. 

Oh, darling; you made it perfectly clear on the day we met that you are ‘not food.’  I’ve tasted your soul, virgin.  I have much larger plans for you than simply indulging my hunger.  You are...  What did the abusive sparkle-pire call his little doe?

You are exactly my brand of heroin.

If you have any questions about activities I would get up to, then please, go ahead and ask.

sexiestwardenalive started following you

#sexiestwardenalive #banter

[lara-raith]

primechicagowizard‌:

Harry stared in that unfocused way of his, eyes honed in on an obvious target, but not quite locked in a way that would cast them spiraling down into what would end up being an uncomfortable trek down into soul territory - to put it lightly. At that point in time, he wasn’t even certain that either one of them had an intact enough soul to view and he wasn’t entirely willing to take the chance. 

He leaned in the chair, favoring his left side, the knuckle of his hand propped lazily against his cheek. A casual posture for facing down the most dangerous woman - the most dangerous entity - of the White Court. A cunning and insufferable force, she had the power and the means to bring down anyone she wished, even the Winter Knight if he wasn’t careful. They might share family, but there was only so much she would tolerate. Only so much she COULD tolerate to preserve the integrity of her life. And the court as a whole. He’d already brought down one vampire court, it was extremely doubtful the others would be willing participants to his chaotic game.

…. it wasn’t like caution was Harry’s forte or anything! Indeed, it seemed his ‘larger than life’ size made such prospects impossible, in a natural sort of way! Could anyone expect a man like him to be careful with ANYTHING? That was his excuse and he was certainly sticking to it!

There was a time and a place where he might have chosen to behave as intolerable as possible, really lay on thick the theory that he honestly didn’t give a damn what sort of monster he was sharing company with, he would remain the dominate party and stay one step ahead. He also knew that such a display would not win over Lara in quite the same way. On the contrary, it would force her to take drastic measures of her own to have him forcibly removed. None of his tactics would work, she knew him way more intimately than he might have wished for her to. 

The dance the two of them were engaged in would have to be mutually exclusive and with some manner of rhythm made it seem genuine. He’d already burst into her office like he owned the damn place, that was about as far as he could push it without causing real damage to the cause. Which was, at that moment, at least a somewhat stable alliance.

In all honesty, the prospect of such politics exhausted him, but it had grown so intertwined in the fabric of his life those days, he just had to swallow his personal preference and go with the flow.

He huffed out a breath, planted his feet firmly on the ground and rose out of his chair, leaning over her desk. “You’ve always been my favorite sister.” He whispered, turning his back toward her and raising his voice. “Date it is. We taking your car?” He pulled open the door to face down a guard on the other side, ignoring him entirely. Instead he held the door open and lowered himself into a sweeping bow, gesturing her toward the open corridors outside her humble office. “Shall we?”

Lara held statue-still as she watched Harry make his decision.  She tensed as he rose to his feet, unsure what the mercurial wizard would actually do.

Then she let out a soft, relieved exhale.  It seemed this visit might not end in extensive renovations of the house and grounds.  For once.

“Inari will be so disappointed,” Lara murmured in teasing reply to Harry’s whispered comment.

Inari was everyone’s favorite Raith sister, and Lara knew it.  But the compliment amused Lara, inaccurate as it had to be.

Lara rose slowly and languidly to her stilettoed feet, making a meal of the stretch and sigh she added to the movements.

“A drive and then a walk?” Lara asked with curiosity.  She smoothed down the lines of her silk business suit as she strode around her desk.  “Yes, I’m sure we have a vehicle that will fit you.”

She hummed with feigned disinterest and walked past the melodramatic wizard, nodding at the guard who’d been ready to get himself killed trying to contain Harry Dresden.  The guard stepped back, and Lara continued through the door and out into the foyer without a backward glance at her visitor.  She needed a bigger audience for her next act.

“Justine?” she called out, not waiting for a response.  The girl would hear her, or she’d receive the message from another member of staff.  Either way, things would get done.  What was important was the scene.  “Cancel all my afternoon appointments.  Tell the prince we’ll have to reschedule.”

She stopped in the middle of the foyer, in full view of several members of staff and one wide-eyed businessman sitting with his briefcase in his lap.  Lara turned dramatically, making use of the lighting and stage-like feel of the marble floor and domed ceiling.  She reached out one long, ivory arm toward Harry, her fingers curled slightly around her offered palm.  Sunlight shone down on here from the skylights, illuminating the vampiress’s pale skin and garments, giving her an ethereal glow.

She smiled for the benefit of the witnesses, her expression full of fondness and anticipation as she stared at Harry’s mouth.

“Something’s come up that requires my immediate attention,” she purred with every ounce of innuendo she could evoke.

Harry Dresden isn’t the only one who knows how to make an entrance, she thought with glee. Or an exit.

primechicagowizard started following you

#primechicagowizard #I had to change a tumblr setting #to allow editable reblogs to work #but I figured it out #yay #all the theatrics

[lara-raith]

Lara wiped bits of broken glass off the shoulder of her snow-white blazer.  She lifted her chin and looked down her nose at the wizard.

“We can’t let you have all the fun,” she said dismissively.  Then she tossed her hair, sending more tiny shards of broken glass tinkling to the floor.  “Where’s Thomas?  He’s not answering my calls.”

@lara-raith liked for a dialogue starter!

“Lara. Gotta hand it to you– that was a hell of an entrance. What are you doing here?”

#I'm gonna call this one #My Brother's Keeper #cuz it works both ways #and it amuses me #thatgoddamnwizard #hope THIS works!

[lara-raith]

I’d be willing to introduce you to all sorts of fun activities, Warden.

sexiestwardenalive started following you

Ohhhhh, is it my birthday?

#I used to do so many threads with a Carlos #it was hilarious #I get to lay on the flirting thick #knowing full well it will go nowhere #it was a great dynamic #ALL THE TEASING #sexiestwardenalive

[lara-raith]

sexiestwardenalive started following you

Ohhhhh, is it my birthday?

#sexiestwardenalive

[lara-raith]

Oh, I think I like you.  Do you freelance?

Slytherin in the streets, Ravenclaw everywhere else

#sorcerermarlwulf

[lara-raith]

when you are just hanging out

#I identify with the monster #Things Lara likes

[lara-raith]

“I want to do a big Broadway musical, at some point. I would love to do that. To do something there would be super-cool.“l

Lara Pulver

#Lara Pulver #FC #so pretty

[lara-raith]

Lara frowned as the wizard flaunted his disdain for her expensive and carefully curated furniture by clopping his massive, scruffy boots on her desk.  She lifted her steely blue gaze from his shoes to his face, ignored his questions about her disposition, and waited for him to get around to his point.

He took the long way around, of course.  Lara arched one perfect eyebrow at Harry as he babbled in perfect impersonation of a bumbling idiot.  Lara might have believed it, if she didn’t know better.

Harry Dresden was far more dangerous than he appeared.  Anyone who took him at face value would be woefully unprepared for his chaotic, brazen, and often bafflingly brilliant ability to adapt and survive.

So, the inscrutable wizard presumably had some reason for showing up at the chateau.  Lara wanted to know what it was.  Harry’s bizarre and unexpected request made Lara think Harry wanted to discuss something sensitive and secret--perhaps their mutual sibling.  But the way he was making a show of it seemed to imply his performance was made for the benefit of prying eyes and eager ears.

He’d piqued her interest, to be sure, but Lara couldn’t just skip along behind any man at the crook of his finger.  Especially not this man, and especially after such irreverent behavior.  Oh, no.

They both had roles to play.  So, Lara needed to put the wizard back in his box.  This was her castle, and he would play by her rules, whether he wanted to or not.  If she was going to destroy her itinerary and go anywhere at the bequest of Harry Dresden, she needed to at least make it look like he was under her thrall.  Or like she was seeking a more formal alliance with him.  Not like she’d been bored and he was a welcome distraction from her day’s schedule of meetings with insufferable dignitaries and self-absorbed businessmen.

Luckily, Lara had a persona she could slip into as easily as fluttering her eyelashes.  And perhaps, just as conveniently, Lara thought Harry would be able to see through her caricature of her own kind as she’d seen through his: because they knew each other better than that.  

“Why, Harry,” she said with a vulpine smile and mischief in her expression.  She leaned forward and risked a glance at his eyes before focusing on his mouth, both to avoid a soulgaze and to sell her performance as vixen.  “Are you asking me on a date?”

If he was asking her out, she was going to kill him.  If he had seriously barged into her home because he was bored and wanted attention, she was going to attend him to death with sadistic glee.  It would be worth whatever Mab would sentence for the crime.  But pretending to go on a date as a cover for some other sensible and important reason, well, that seemed a suitable way to acquiesce to Harry’s unscheduled visit and request for a private audience without Lara showing weakness or losing favor with her other allies.

Lara thought the other clan chiefs and warlords and CEOs couldn’t fault her for swanning off with Warden Dresden, the Winter Knight, if he was throwing himself at her feet and begging to become her devoted thrall, could they?

So, yes, that seemed a pretty way to put the ball back in the wizard’s court.

Okay, Harry; you want a private audience? she thought.  We can do that; but not for free.  What will you pay for it?

Her suggestive smile widened as she anticipated his reaction. 

primechicagowizard started following you

“Harry Dresden,” Lara purred.  Her lips curved up at the corners as she looked him over with unveiled interest (and judgement).  “To what do I owe this… pleasure?”

The final word sounded more dubious and skeptical than warm and inviting.

#primechicagowizard #so rusty #first RP reply in five years #gotta settle back into character #Lara's so much fun to play #dance monkey dance #playing chess #White Queen's Gambit #oooh #that seems like a nice thread name #maybe #I'm very curious to see if you have some plot in mind

[lara-raith]

I have questions.

Slytherin in the streets, Ravenclaw everywhere else

#sorcerermarlwulf #Hi Nate #I don't think I knew you when I used to play Lara #but you played with Toby and Tabby #HI HI

[lara-raith]

primechicagowizard started following you

“Harry Dresden,” Lara purred.  Her lips curved up at the corners as she looked him over with unveiled interest (and judgement).  “To what do I owe this... pleasure?”

The final word sounded more dubious and skeptical than warm and inviting.

#primechicagowizard #super vague starter is super vague #first RP post in over 5 years #ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh #I left it short so you had lots of freedom #also feel free to ignore me #rp with Harry

[lara-raith]

#Mood #FC #Lara Raith #Lara Pulver #Queen #White Court

[lara-raith]

Lara Raith

White Court Vampire, de facto King, Daddy Issues, Too Many Sisters

#dfrp #I'm back #Lara Raith