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lykegenia · 1 year

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Like Glitter And Gold Ch.8

Fandom: The Wayhaven Chronicles Characters/Relationships: Nate Sewell x F!Detective Rating: T

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The rest of Unit Bravo have already arrived at the station by the time Leah pulls into the parking bay with Nate. Having waited for an Agency team to arrive to secure the boat and box up Russell’s stash of artefacts for cataloguing, a good chunk of the afternoon is now gone, the blustery sunshine of earlier in the day clouded over and spotting with rain as they bundle through the main doors.

“Detective,” Adam greets without preamble. “Did you have a successful morning?”

She shoots him a wry smile. “You could say that. Some answers, and a whole load of new questions.”

“We can start with the answers,” he says, but Nate interrupts.

“Where’s Mason?”

“He said he had a report to write,” Felix says from the borrowed chair he’s pulled up by Tina’s desk. “But we all know he’s using the excuse to spend time with the kittens where we can’t see him.”

“Who wouldn’t want to spend time with them?” Tina cries. “They’re so cute! Leah, have you seen these?”

“They have names now!” Felix adds helpfully.

Without waiting for a response, he jumps out of his seat and bounds across the room to hold up his phone. A muscle ticks in Adam’s jaw, disapproving of more than just the younger agent’s burst of preternatural speed, but does nothing to actively discourage the behaviour.

“We called the black and white one Lucky,” Felix informs them, swiping to a photo of the little runt asleep on his back with his front paws tucked up to his chin.

Beside Leah, Nate chuckles at the image, the sound a low rumble in her ear as he uses the excuse to lean close. She can feel his body light and electric against her back, one hand resting on the curve above her waist, and even if there’s no intent to the gesture she’s sure he can feel the way her heartbeat spikes. Luckily, Felix seems too absorbed in swiping through the dozens of photos crowding his phone to notice her distraction. After Lucky sleeping, sitting, loafing, and sleeping again, he swipes to a photo of the two splashed tabbies, their baby blue eyes wide with curiosity as they huddle together in a mess of blankets.

“These two are Strawberry and Shortcake,” he says, flicking through more pictures. “You can tell them apart because Strawberry has the patch above her eye. And then this is Van Helsing.”

Nate coughs. “Van Helsing?”

The little orange ringleader stares up from the phone screen, velvet paws planted on the carpet, intent on the end of string that dangles just out of shot.

“That’s an… interesting choice,” Leah says. Her gaze flashes to Tina, who holds her palms up in surrender and mouths it wasn’t me! before going back to her screen.

“My Insta followers thought of it,” Felix explains. “I asked them to come up with something vampire related – you know, for reasons. Adam doesn’t like it, obviously.”

“No, I do not,” the team leader agrees, and jerks his head towards Leah’s office. “If we could return to the case?”

With a dramatic roll of his eyes, Felix slips his phone into a pocket and obeys the directive, mollified only by the commiserating look Tina throws his way. Leah is about to follow when the far door squeaks open and Verda appears clutching a manilla folder to his chest. He looks like he hasn’t slept. His clothes areas put-together as ever, but the heavy bags beneath his eyes and the slump of his shoulders are easy enough for anyone to read.

“I thought I heard you back,” he says. “I have some new evidence for you, and the lab called back with a print match on the sports bag. They must be having a slow day.” His eyes dart to Nate, then to the silhouettes blocked against the interior windows of her office.

“Thanks, I’ll check it out.” She tilts her head. “You alright?”

He blinks. “Nothing to worry about. Do either of you want anything from Haley’s while I’m there?”

With a quick shake of her head, and an instruction to Tina to run a background check on both Harrises, Leah completes the party in her office and closes the door behind her. Nate is already making himself useful attaching printouts of the GPS history of Russell’s boat to the board, but he catches her gaze as she steps up beside him, passes her a smile she can’t help but return.

“You two are adorable,” Felix interrupts, holding his chin in his hands.

Her face heats. “Did you guys find anything on patrol?”

“No sign of Trappers, or rogues,” Adam says. “So far. It would be unwise to rule them out completely.”

“That’s fair, but it’s still a dead end for now.” She crosses to the desk and slaps Verda’s folder down over the keyboard. “We, on the other hand, have had more success. It looks likely that Walter Greene’s money was being used to fund a salvage operation for sunken treasure.”

“Really?” Felix asks. “Cool.”

“He would have done well to tell you that when you visited him yesterday,” Adam notes with a scowl.

She shrugs. “I’m not surprised he didn’t. Not sharing what he’s up to also means he doesn’t have to share any profits.”

“Maritime salvage law can have – ah – muddied waters, let’s say,” Nate adds. “The ownership of the cargo could be too easily disputed if people knew it was there.”

“I can’t believe you just made a pun!” Felix cries. “Do we know what the treasure is? Is it gold?”

“The equipment on Russell’s boat did look pretty heavy duty.”

Adam huffs. “This is all irrelevant unless it can be tied to a motive for murder.”

He’s right, though so far the sunken treasure is squatting in the middle of the case like a toad in a fairy tale, defying all attempts to get past it. As she gazes at the murder board, the possibilities nag at her, twisting this way and that to fit into the facts they have so far. Maybe Russell found what he was looking for, and Walter didn’t want to share his profits – or Russell didn’t find anything and didn’t want to pay back the loan – or did find something and decided he wanted a bigger cut. The problem with all of these ideas is squaring away the fact that the treasure is still missing, if it exists at all, and without it there’s no profit in Russell’s death. And then there’s the way the body was found, still with the murder weapon in place, out in the open where it was guaranteed to get the attention of the police. Walter Greene and his lackeys would never be so sloppy.

“We’ll table it,” she says. “Unless…”

Adam lifts an eyebrow. “What is it?”

Verda never fails to disappoint. The first thing to meet Leah’s gaze as she flips open the folder is a close-up photo of an uneven bruise on Russell’s torso. Next to it, a note in the examiner’s neat handwriting indicates that it was taken using a filter to enhance the details. Impression of a ring found on several contusions across subject’s body, concentrated around the midsection and one along the jaw. Minimal defensive wounds. Normal human rate of healing suggests injuries are at least two weeks old.

“How fast do selkies heal?” she asks.

“Faster than humans,” Nate supplies. “Not as fast as vampires.”

“They’re more resilient than humans too. It takes more to hurt them.”

Felix is the one who asks her why.

“Someone gave our victim a going over in the very recent past. Someone with a ring.” She holds the photo out to show them. “One of Walter Greene’s henchmen was wearing a ring yesterday.”

Nate moves closer, a frown knotted between his brows. “If you’re going to go back there, Leah, you should take one of us with you.”

“I’ll go,” Adam decides. “You need to help catalogue all those artefacts the Detective found, to see if they have any relevance.”

For a moment, it looks like there’ll be an argument, but with one last worried glance, Nate swallows back his reply and nods.

“You can’t keep our Detective to yourself all day, Natey,” Felix teases.

“I wasn’t trying to!”

Leah, still looking at the folder, ignores the banter as best she can. “We also have a name and address for the person who dumped the kittens. They’re still potentially our best witness.”

“Then that will be our first destination.” Adam is already moving. “You two should return to the warehouse.”

“Are you sure –”

“But I wanted to –”

“There will be no debate,” Adam snaps. “Detective, shall we?”

She’s glad she didn’t take her coat off. With an apologetic look back at the other two, she follows the commanding agent to the front of the building, already fishing in her pocket for Nessie’s keys.

He gives her a stern look. “I will drive.”

“You have something against my car?” she asks sweetly.

“It’s a death trap, and it’s tiny,” he retorts. “And it doesn’t have air conditioning.”

“Can I choose the music, at least?”

“Detective, please.”

With a loud and very obvious click of her tongue, she follows him out. “Worth a shot.”

After relaying the address for Adam to punch into the sat nav, the rest of the journey passes in silence, though that hardly counts as a bad thing. It’s refreshing not being expected to make conversation. When they finally pull up in front of a bland semi-detached house in what passes for Wayhaven’s suburbs a few miles from the old wharf, they share a look that says he’s as unimpressed with their environs as she is. A line of leggy, parched shrubs overgrown with grass line the wall beneath the front window, the PVC window frames in good enough repair but grimy with dirt.

Leah leads the way up the garden path, alert for any movement inside that might suggest an attempted escape.

“Bloody hell,” she complains as she knocks on the door, “could you try to look less like a government agent?”

“I’m not an agent for the government,” Adam replies, sullen, his folded arms bulging the fabric of his t-shirt.

“It’s not a distinction most people –”

“Hello?”

She turns a friendly smile on the man clutching the edge of the door. He looks to be in his mid-thirties, rather scrawny, a balding IT type with a trimmed brown beard and wire glasses that frame dark brown eyes.

“Martin Johnston?” she checks, and holds up her badge. “I’m Detective Kingston, this is Adam du Mortain.”

The man has already flinched away as if to shut the door, but she stamps her foot down across the threshold before he can follow through.

“We were hoping for a few minutes of your time?”

“Are you from the government?” he asks.

“No,” Adam answers with a pointed glance sideways. “We are not.”

Leah tilts a polite smile at him. “Why would you ask that?”

“No reason.”

“May we come in?” she asks, with yet another smile. “You’re not paying to heat the street, after all.”

Martin glances over his shoulder. “No, I’m… No.” He swallows. “I’m – I’m very busy – with work – I don’t have time to –”

With a chirp, a tabby-and-white cat dashes out from between his legs and runs straight to Adam, then halts and sniffs the air with a plaintive meow, tail lashing. He frowns as he crouches down to offer his hand in greeting, and when the creature butts its head against his knuckles, purring like an engine, he lets out a hum that positively radiates displeasure.

“This cat recently given birth,” he says as he picks her up.

Their witness flinches again. “It’s not my cat.”

“But she ran out of your house,” Adam points out. Somehow, having his arms full of a madly purring cat that’s enjoying a scratch on the chin only makes him more intimidating.

“Uh… A friend of mine left her here while she’s away.”

“Well, I’m sure that friend wouldn’t want her getting run over,” Leah says. “We can bring her back into the house for you.”

“No!” Martin yelps. “You can’t come in!”

He tries to shut the door again but Leah is quicker and jams her foot properly in the doorway, glad of the heavy-soled boots he wears for work.

“I don’t like being heavy-handed, Mr Johnston,” she warns, leaning closer, “but I have a sports bag of abandoned kittens with rocks in the bottom and your name and fingerprints all over it, and now a nursing cat associated with your property, all within spitting distance of a murder scene.” She looms in, lowers her voice to a pitch little more than a growl. “You saw something the night you went to drown them, and I want to know what it is, otherwise I will make sure you’re brought up on animal cruelty charges, obstructing an investigation, and anything else I can make stick. Do you understand?”

Martin’s gaze flickers between Leah and the burly, glaring figure at her back, the fear in his eyes a palpable thing. And then, at long last, his shoulders slump. “You won’t believe me.”

“What did you see?” she presses.

He breaks. He reels back, running one hand through his thinning hair as he holds open the door and leads them into the living room. Adam still has hold of the cat, who seems to find the curl of his massive arms a suitable cushion, and he takes a perch on the edge of the worn sofa as their witness flops into the mismatched armchair opposite.

“It was dark.” He falters. “I…”

“Tell us from the beginning,” Adam instructs.

There’s a momentary struggle, and a fearful glance at the cat. “I… like to go for walks at night, to clear my head, you know?” It’s an obvious, inelegant lie, but she lets it go. “Sometimes I go to the docks.”

“And two nights ago?” Adam prompts. “What time were you there?”

Martin shrugs. “About midnight, or slightly later maybe? I wasn’t thinking about checking my phone. I heard a door open, then someone spoke, and then… it sounded like a struggle, something got kicked over, and there was a – almost a scream, but gasping, you know?”

“The voice you heard,” Leah asks, “what did it sound like?”

“It was a man, or at least, I thought it was. God.” Here he stops, drags a hand down in his face. “When I got closer to see what was going on, the light from the door –” His eyes narrow. “You are from the government, aren’t you? You’re here as a cover up, to silence me!”

Before he can do more than stagger upright, Adam is across the room, laying a hand on his arm. “Please calm down, Mr Johnston,” he says, in the same slow, deliberate voice he used on Garrett Hayes’ mother. “Tell us what you saw.”

Martin’s voice flattens, the inflection gone. “It was a monster, there was smoke coming off it, and it was struggling with someone behind it but it couldn’t turn around.”

“Can you describe the other person?” Leah asks, biting back disapproval at the use of pheromones.

“All I saw were these huge black eyes and bared teeth – grey skin.” He shakes his head. “I got out of there as fast as I could.”

Leah and Adam share a glance as Martin drops his head into his hands.

“That’s useful information,” she says, cold. “Now about that sports bag…”

“Wait, don’t I get some sort of deal, or something?” he wails. “You said I helped!”

“You were going to toss that bag off the end of the dock,” she snarls. “Those kittens were zipped up, trapped. They never stood a chance.”

“I didn’t know what else to do!” His eyes go wide, pleading. “I’m sorry. My useless ex didn’t tell me the cat was pregnant when she dumped her here. What was I supposed to do with kittens?”

“Most people don’t choose drowning them as a first option,” she snaps. “Stand up.”

Still under the influence of the pheromones, he complies, says nothing as she recites his rights and places the handcuffs around his wrists. When she walks him out to the SUV she gives him a brief warning look before depositing him on the back seat and stepping up beside Adam, who for the lack of anything more suitable has secured the cat in the equipment store in the boot.

“If you swing by the station and drop me off, I can get him processed while you take mama back to her babies,” she suggests, then spies his phone. “Who are you calling?”

“The Agency has a unit to take care of this,” he replies, features set.

“What do you mean, ‘take care’?”

“They will extract the memories of Russell Seakirk and erase them.” As if it’s obvious. As if it’s normal.

She folds her arms. “What if he’s needed to testify?”

“It is clear that whoever the murderer is, they are a supernatural or are aware that supernaturals exist.” He stares her down. “Ordinary measures will not work here, Detective. Will you still have enough evidence to press charges for the kittens?”

Trying to ignore the familiar feeling of having a case wrenched from her grasp, she turns and leans against the car. “I can ask the vet to do a DNA test to confirm the kittens belong to this cat, and if it comes back positive, combined with his prints on the bag and the fact that we found her in his house, it’s a solid case.”

“Good.” He nods, but his brow furrows as if he’s struggling with something. “I understand your hesitation in this, but this is the cost of keeping both supernaturals and humans safe.”

She scowls. “Let’s just get on with it. The sooner we drop him off, the sooner we can go piss off Walter Greene.”

Walter Greene is not in his office.

Expecting him to be there was probably a longshot, given that it’s past five and the Agency SUV is about as subtle as a brick through a window, but even though his secretary has clearly had practice dodging investigators for the big man, the combination of Leah’s badge and Adam’s sheer size flusters him enough to mention that his boss is out to dinner with the mayor. From there, it’s just a quick phone call to Douglas to find out his father’s schedule, and they’re off along the darkening country roads to the fancy golf club patronised by all the big city’s biggest fish.

By the time they get there night has truly fallen, though the spotlights beaming up beneath the immaculate topiary do their best to compensate. The whole place reeks of elitism – not the self-assured disdain of old money, but the neurotic overbearance of those fighting for a seat at the same table. From the purse in Adam’s lips, he doesn’t think much of the gilt wood panelling or the beige tartan carpet either, though the server at the front desk is polite enough and leads them through to the clubhouse’s dining room with little fuss.

Perhaps she just knows a losing battle when she sees one.

“Ah, Detective Kingston – and Commanding Agent du Mortain!” The mayor waves them over from the far corner, the broad, genuine smile on his aged face. “How wonderful to see you both – and how is your mother? I mean Agent Kingston, of course,” he adds, with a self-deprecating chuckle. “I hope she’s aware of all the fine work you do for our town.”

“Work is why we’re here, I’m afraid,” Leah answers, declining the chair the server pulls out for her.

“Ah, the murder, no doubt.” The mayor eyes the manilla folder in her hands. “Dreadful business. Well, anything I can do to help, I’m at your disposal.”

“We’re grateful,” Adam bites out. “Agent Kingston appreciates the accommodations you have made for the Agency.”

The mayor’s smile falters at the brusque tone, but he recovers valiantly. “And I’m sure you know Walter Greene, one of our foremost backers for the new development on Briars Lane.”

“We were actually hoping to borrow Mr Greene for a moment or two,” Leah says.

The businessman narrows his gaze at her. “I’m not sure what use I could possibly be to you, Detective.”

“Walter, be reasonable,” the mayor scolds, like his business partner is a misbehaving toddler. “It’s not like our young detective is here to arrest you – is it?”

“Not at all,” she tells him, her smile forced.

“We have some follow up questions about the statement he gave us yesterday,” Adam supplies. The deflection comes with surprising ease, the formal language like a soundbite from some crime show.

She shakes the thought away. “It should only take a few moments.”

“Well, I see no reason not to cooperate,” the mayor decides. “It’s not like your crab salad will scuttle off your plate if you leave it unattended for a few minutes, eh?”

With a terse smile Walter Greene sets his napkin on the tablecloth and rises from his chair. He’s about two inches shorter than Adam, but stretches himself outwards like a bullfrog as he leads them to a quiet corner of the lobby.

“I see you brought a bodyguard this time, Detective,” he notes. “I do hope our last interview didn’t leave you too rattled?”

“Do you have a problem with my colleague?” she replies.

Said colleague is probably flexing his muscles behind her back, given the flicker in Walter’s regard.

He snorts, bull-like. “What is this about?”

“Your goons beat up Russell Seakirk shortly before his death, and I want to know why.”

“What fanciful –”

But she’s ready for him, slips one of Verda’s photos out of the folder and shoves it under his nose.

“Seakirk was a supernatural,” she bites out. “No ordinary human could have made these marks, especially not when the symbol in the middle of that bruise is so unusual.”

“Did he ask for more money?” Adam presses, when the only response is a clench of the jaw.

“Maybe he refused to share the findings of his little expeditions with you,” she suggests. “I know he was looking for something in the lake, and that he either found it or was very close.”

“And we also know that whoever killed him knew what he was.”

The last nudge from Adam does it. With a roll of his eyes, Walter steps closer so his voice won’t carry. “As I already informed Detective Kingston, I am a businessman. It does not do to destroy the things that make me money.” He swallows. “There were rumours that Seakirk had found… what he was looking for, and others that he was planning to abscond with it, without providing me with what was contracted. If – when my associates went to remind him of his obligations – he got aggressive, they were perfectly within their rights to defend themselves.”

“By beating him half to death?” Leah checks.

“My associates cannot help it if a selkie isn’t built to take the same hits as a minotaur,” he retorts.

She decides to change tack. “Did he ever show signs of reneging before this?”

“No,” comes the answer, as if it’s mildly interesting. “This was a recent change in attitude. I couldn’t say why. And if you want more proof that I am not the murderer you seek, you should know I had a meeting scheduled with him for the morning after he was killed – you can check with my secretary.”

“What was the meeting about?” Adam asks.

“The return on my investment.” He leans back, tugs on his suit jacket to straighten it. “You guessed correctly, Detective. He found what he was looking for. And now, I think you’ve trespassed on my patience long enough. If you have any more questions, you’ll have to ask my lawyer. Good evening.”

He pushes past them, though carefully enough to avoid making a scene, and as he rounds the corner back into the dining room Leah blows a breath through her cheeks and sinks against the wall. There’s a raised eyebrow from Adam. She wafts it away with the case folder and pushes herself back up, eager to get away from this stuffy place with its pretentious lack of taste.

“I guess that officially makes that a dead end,” she says when they finally step outside.

“It confirms that something changed just before Seakirk’s death,” he replies.

“True.” She shrugs her coat tighter to keep out the chill. “You’re getting better at this, you know. Investigating. It’s almost like you’re a different person to when we first met.”

“Your praise is touching.”

She answers the stubborn quirk of his mouth with a grin, but it falls quickly as her mind turns back to the case.

“What is it?” he asks.

“There’s something about this treasure that’s not adding up. There’s nothing except that journal to say there’s anything valuable down there.” She shrugs. “Maybe he found out it wasn’t real after all and tried to escape, or maybe he knew it already and this whole thing was a con from the start, and that’s what got him killed.”

“Perhaps,” Adam allows. “Perhaps the treasure means nothing to the case.”

They reach the SUV, parked just beyond the reach of the clubhouse lights.

“It means something,” she insists. “Too many things keep coming back to it.”

Or perhaps it’s just her. As she sinks into the passenger seat and clips the seatbelt into place, doubt winds in like ivy to smother the certainty of her assumptions. At the first mention of sunken treasure, she tried to ignore the spark of excitement that lit in the pit of her stomach, the hope that the case would turn out like one of the adventure stories she read as a kid, even though every part of it – the journal, the legend, the mob boss, fucking selkies – seemed too perfect to be real. The sceptical, calculating, adult part of her brain should be keeping a tighter grip on reality.

And yet, between moonlighting for a supernatural Agency and having weird, mutated blood that makes her extra delicious, any standard definition of reality is so far out of sight that a mysterious sunken treasure at the bottom of a perfectly ordinary lake seems the least outlandish feature of the last few days.

“Will you drop me off at the station?” she asks, to stop the chase of her thoughts. “My car’s still there and I have to write up the interviews from today while they’re still fresh.”

Adam doesn’t take his eyes off the road. “Of course. Will you be coming to the warehouse when you’re done?”

“Mm – If I don’t finish too late.”

Really, there’s a headache starting behind her eyes, and it’s joining battle with the leaden, drowsy feeling that always steals across her when she’s in a car at night and someone else is driving. The steady pulse of the road markings as they’re eaten up by the windshield has a hypnotic effect, the drone of the tyres and the engine a low vibration beneath her skin. She shifts in the seat and blinks hard to banish the itch in her eyes, but it doesn’t get her far. The yawn still comes. It looks like dinner with Nate will have to be put off yet another night.

#the wayhaven chronicles #unit bravo #nate sewell #nate x detective #nate sewell x detective #adam du mortain #felix hauville #detective leah kingston #wayhaven fic #murder mystery

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deadinarussianelevator · 1 year

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I posted 5,259 times in 2022

That's 2,650 more posts than 2021!

1,195 posts created (23%)

4,064 posts reblogged (77%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@aevarswall

@notyoursunnygirlfriend

@lizardmonet

@shenzi-hemlock

@a-lil-strawberry

I tagged 3,098 of my posts in 2022

Only 41% of my posts had no tags

#house of anubis - 309 posts

#dracula daily - 293 posts

#video - 148 posts

#stranger things - 55 posts

#ml spoilers - 47 posts

#atla - 37 posts

#stranger things 4 - 35 posts

#fmab - 32 posts

#personal - 31 posts

#yeah - 31 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#someone as brilliant as peterson having to say ‘i am nothing without the one who formed me in my mothers womb and gives me breath every day’

My Top Posts in 2022:

Oh, the power is out? You mean I get to carry around a candle like there’s a mystery around every corner?

463 notes - Posted September 30, 2022

Can't believe our friend Jonathan Harker has damsel in distress syndrome, locked in a tower like that by a monster, no one daring to rescue him.

469 notes - Posted June 17, 2022

Tired of people finding the End of the World in everything.

We’re told to be ready, not conspiratorial.

We’re also told to not worry about tomorrow, for today has enough trouble if it’s own.

Jesus may come back in our life time. He may not. The world may get really bad… and it still may not be His timing.

We are to remain faithful while we’re here and to be good stewards. We’re told to boldly proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth. Be fruitful, multiply.

Those of us in the comfy west think that once we experience any level of political unrest, however minor, it MUST be The End Timez.

How long has the believer in China suffered? In Russia? In the Middle East? And yet the Lord hasn’t returned. It hasn’t been time yet.

It is not for us to know when. So then, we must continue to remain steadfast in the hope that is set before us.

625 notes - Posted February 28, 2022

Okay but there is a reason that we as people go absolutely feral for redemption stories and narratives that end with the person who was in the wrong confessing their faults and their loved one - be it romantic, familial, or what have you - forgiving them and saying, "Forget it, I'm here with you now and I'll be with you until the end." My dudes that is the GOSPEL. WE ALL LONG FOR THE GOSPEL.

1,407 notes - Posted March 12, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Dr. Seward: haha.. it’s almost like you’re trying to keep out an evil spirit

Dr. Van Helsing:

1,598 notes - Posted September 11, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review #Yayyyy thanks besties #I love all the top posts hehe #Also HAHA that House of Anubis beat Dracula hahaha

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thebellamybarnesarchive · 2 years

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Manchester Pt 1.

Place: Bella’s private jet just outside of Opulence headed for Manchester. Who: @nicholasbaudelaire Synopsis: The beginning of Nicky and Bella’s trip to Manchester, they discuss Bella’s ex’s issues with alcoholism as well as Nicky’s fathers and Bella tells Nicky she cannot date someone who does not intend to one day become a vampire.

Bella leaned her back against Nicky's chest in the bedroom on the 'small' jet. To Bella it was small because it only fit about six passengers but that was because she had insisted the jet also have a bedroom, a walk in closet and a large shower - apparently a bath tub was going to get a bit too complicated. Like the outside the interior was entirely black, the walls, the furniture, the decor. The only things that stood out as they laid on the bed watching a movie was the television itself that was presently playing Van Helsing, Bella's pink robe that hung loosely off her shoulder to show the slender strap of her bra, and the plate beside them of strawberries with two dipping cups, one dark chocolate caramel while the other was a blood red shade Bella had specified was just for her.

The stewardess knocked gently at the door and stepped inside, like the staff at Erzsebet's she was dressed all in designer black clothing. Bella had asked for some cocktails to be brought to them, smiling up at Nicky excitedly. "I had them make up my favourite, a Pink Fizz Mojito," Bellamy informed him gleefully as the woman sat the drinks down in the cup holders so they did not tumble during turbulence. "Let us know if you need anything else, Miss Barnes," the stewardess said before stepping away and back towards the front of the jet.

It was rare, almost never, that Bella showed of just how expansive her wealth was. The young vampire knew it was unattractive but beyond that she knew how it could make men feel - insignificant and insecure. Bella had never taken any of her exes even near the jet, Kemper aware of it but sure it was different in his mind than in the reality. It was Nicky's natural confidence and his own money that made Bella think all of this would be okay, that he wouldn't judge her or himself. "It's pink grapefruit, white rum, mint, lime and soda water," she told him, picking up a glass and holding it out for him.

Nick had accumulated some wealth in his time as a doctor. Not, for lack of spending of course, since he rarely cooked for himself, generally opting for eating out and he spent small fortunes on his clothes too, but even with all of that, he had saved well. His apartment had costed a small fortune to renovated after all from a business space to a home space. Still though, the wolf had not enjoyed wealth like this. Had part of him assumed they would enjoy first class? Of course. But this, a private jet? Hell no.

When the wolf had caught sight of the black jet on the tarmac, he had whooped shamelessly, almost dropping the suitcases he pulled behind him. On stepping inside, Nick had not hidden his gleeful excitement at all of the pros of the experience, which might not have been particularly suave of him, but so long as Bella wasn't unpleased, he cared not.

Some time later, splayed out on their bed, his shirt undone so Bellamy's newly brunette head could rest against his bare chest, he wondered if perhaps he should have felt somewhat insecure at her immense wealth in comparison to his. It was hard to feel bad though when the vampire was smiling with such glee and handing him a cocktail.

"Yes!" he exclaimed, sitting up a little so he could accept the cocktail, clinking it against Bella's glass and taking a sip. Unsurprisingly, it tasted glorious, and coming from a secret mixologist, that meant something. "Damn, Bells, this is insanely good!" he exclaimed, sitting up fully now so he could enjoy the refreshing bite, his blue eyes on the vampire.

Nicky sat and Bella turned so she was facing him, form still between his thighs where they sat upright on the bed, the wolf's chest exposed to her while Bella's robe fell further the more she moved about, uncaring as it fell off her shoulder. All Bella wanted was to enjoy this trip with Nicky, to be able to be unabashed about their affections for one another offending anyone or, more likely, having Nicky worry.

"I made sure that all of the fruity cocktails they could do would be ready, I wanted it to be the best flight," she insisted, clutching her glass to her chest as she leaned in and caught his lips in her own. It was an especially long flight too and Bella had a feeling the shifting in pressure would mean Nicky with his wolf like senses might have a more difficult time than her resting and since she didn't need to Bella intended to stay up with him as long as he needed her to. "Should we toast to something? Or can you not toast once you've already had a sip?"

"The cocktails were a good shout!" Nick could say this entirely honestly because it was the truth, cocktails were a passion of his as well as a palatable preference. The wolf grinned as the vampire leaned in for a kiss and his lips received hers readily, almost greedily. Whenever Nick kissed Bella, it was like he was worried she might disappear afterwards, and he needed to get as much of her in that one kiss as possible. "Yes, we should toast to..." his thick brows knitted together as he considered for a moment, a small smile slowly making it's way across his face "We can toast even harder after a sip! Let's toast to our first get away!" He knocked his cocktail glass against hers "The first of many I hope"

Bella still felt that need on Nicky, the way he held her in any capacity was like he needed to keep her to him, like she'd leave if he didn't hold on tight enough. In some ways it was endearing, she loved him lingering in their kisses, holding her to them because it made her feel wanted, but in other moments it worried her. Bella wasn't going to just leave, she'd never done that to anyone, despite how often they had done it to her, but convincing Nicky wouldn't be easy.

Bella knocked her drink against his, toasting to their first trip away. "First of many," she agreed before taking a slow sip, her eyes on him in this private oasis of sorts. That was what they were best at, other people, at least until Nicky knew where he was at with the pack, seemed to make him nervous. "I haven't actually been on a vacation with anyone before," she admitted, giving Nicky a soft smile with her golden eyes filling it in with honesty. "I went to one of my exes parents for Thanksgiving but when they called him a disappointment I...well I am not good at holding that stuff in, he was pretty upset with me that I got us thrown out and he had a pretty bad drinking problem and so he drove us to a liquor store and he made us sit there until he decided he didn't want another drink," Bellamy told him, looking down at her glass. She'd actually never told anyone about that, the way Miles had made Bella sit with him, insistent she was the reason he needed a drink, and she'd had to apologise, to insist she should not have spoken up as she had in his defense because she had ruined his only chance of being normal with his family again.

Admittedly, the pair had not been together that long. Officially speaking, their relationship was still in it's early days; and their jumping on a plane and disappearing abroad for a week or so might have been easily described as rash, reckless, but Nick did not care. He loved Bella like she was his own; his family, and so it did not matter when it had started, it would last a lifetime; he knew that. "First of many" he confirmed, smiling, entirely too pleased with their current situation to consider how smug he might look. As if he could help it. "He was upset with you for getting you thrown at?" Nick could not help but blurt it out. As every new partner is prone to do, Nick was horrified by her confession, but this had less to do with pride, and more to do with shock. "That's rough... loving someone with a drinking problem..." Nick deliberately sipped at his cocktail then, because as much as he wanted to gulp down the sugary sweetness in an instant purely for it's flavour, he did not want to give Bellamy any concern that he was like her ex... or his father... "I uhh- I kinda know what that feels like..."

His smug look only made her more pleased, content with his unaffected confidence. The love he felt she felt it too and hoped, without the ties to the town, she might be more open to saying it without the guilt that drew in her stomach for Kemper. In a lot of ways she was glad Nicky came on the trip for that too, so the wolf didn't worry her work trip was some secret endevour to see Kemper, Bella had no intention of it. The vampire would not waste her time on men who did not want her, especially not when someone who did and did so with the connection she felt to Nicky was right in front of her.

When he asked of what had happened though Bellamy nodded. "He stopped while we were dating, for his kids, he had two daughters and his ex wouldn't let him see them because of the drinking and because he was a wolf. I cleaned out his place, I made sure he went to meetings but...people are manipulative sometimes, I don't think he meant to make me feel as badly as I did but I'm...easily swayed I suppose," she admitted, keeping her gaze low because it was embarrassing to admit that Bella had allowed herself to take on the blame he'd given. Miles had thrown her aside and pulled her back in so many times, and he wasn't the only ex who blamed her for things that weren't her fault, using things that actually were as reasoning for why she had to be the cause of all their problems.

When Nicky said he knew what that felt like though Bella's golden eyes lifted to him. "You dated someone who drank?" she asked, sitting her drink in her lap as she focused on him.

Nick listened with a furrowed brow, his hand reaching out and resting atop of her thigh. The imagery of Bella sitting on the curb outside a liquor store with an alcoholic ass hole ex made his heart hurt, and so his touch on her thigh was as much for him as it was her. If Nick had it his way, the people he loved would be wrapped up in cotton wool, their pain erased, and kept safe, undoubtedly in his arms, for all of time. But life was cruel and Nick simply couldn't erase the trauma that his loved ones endured. All he could do was listen, and reassure them where possible. The wolf brushed a calloused thumb over the tops of Bella's thigh and listened.

"Intent is worth noting" he admitted slowly "But it kind of becomes irrelevant when the consequences of your actions hurt others... It's messed up that you felt responsible for his disease, that kind of responsibility must have felt like a real weight on you?"

Her question might have thrown Nick off if it had been anyone else. He felt a kind of blinding loyalty to all his family members, which he took as seriously as his loyalty to his pack, more so in fact. But confiding in Bella didn't feel like a betrayal, instead it felt natural.

"My dad... he drank a lot... still does. It started when I was young, and it led to my mum kicking him out a few years before she died, so... I know what loving someone who can't stop hurting themselves feels like"

Bella felt his hand over the soft silk of her robe, grasping at her thigh and keeping it there, his thumb moving over the exposed skin of where the split in her robe was. It was sweet, but certainly her experience with an ex unknowingly paled in comparison to those he had with his father.

"Sometimes, but I think I got used to that type of dynamic, taking care of the other person. I never dated anyone until I was a vampire and I felt so lonely I think I was just willing to take on anything. I dealt with it, eventually, before Kemper. I was way more defined about what I wanted, and what I would and wouldn't do, but I think I liked the responsibility because it made me feel like he wouldn't leave if he needed me, which he did...three times," Bella was embarrassed by that but wasn't going to pretend it hadn't happened either, looking down at Nicky's hand on her, hopeful her confession didn't make him feel like she had sought him out because of simple loneliness.

At the mention of his father however, Bella rose her eyes back to him. It clicked, why Nicky clung to her. He hadn't just dealt with a parent who abandoned him in the past but was actively dealing with a man who likely was putting his addiction before Nicky. Bella's own hand moved to sit on Nicky's own, wrapping her fingers around it as he spoke. She hadn't known anything about his parents and in two seconds he'd shared that his Dad was a drunk and his mother was no longer with him.

Slowly Bella brought his hand up to her lips, kissing his palm softly before placing it upon her cheek and leaning into it. "I hope he realises what it's doing to him and to you soon," she offered, knowing it didn't mean much. "Sometimes it takes that, I - I lost almost everyone I knew before I came to Opulence because I was so violent when I first turned but having something that feels good to you doesn't feel as good as being loved. It's never worth it, hopefully he sees that one day."

The fact that Bella had not dated until she was made vampire was a surprising one. Bella was a beautiful vampire, and though vampirism was a species that naturally exaggerated the beauty of the individuals, Nick had still met vampires he considered... unattractive, and objectively so, they were simply eye catching. Therefore, he had only imagined how beautiful Bella must have been as human. How could she have gone so long without dating?

"Aawh Bells..." Nick said softly, his heart going out to the young vampire who had tolerated so much mistreatment, reliant on being needed so she could retain a relationship that in all truth did not sound healthy. He considered their own relationship, and wondered if Bella still felt like this, a desire to be needed and not just wanted. It was a curious thought, that he might have to keep an eye out for. Nick felt he was a fairly independent creature, sure he had a housekeeper, but he paid for the pleasure and he stayed on top of things his own end. He wondered how he could make it clear to the vampire that she didn't have to be helpful, to be absolutely necessary in Nick's life.

The texture of Bella's soft skin on his hand was a welcome sensation and he exhaled peacefully as she brought his palm to her lips.

"I'm sure he will" Nick said with a confidence he didn't quite feel. In truth, the wolf wasn't sure his alcoholic father would ever realise until it was too late. "I'm just trying to get to a point where whether he does, or doesn't is irrelevant. Where it doesn't impact on my sense of self worth". Nick knew what he said made logical sense, but as unsure as he was of his father, he was also equally unsure of himself. "Is that something you feel like you've achieved?" he needled curiously. Wondering if Bellamy's sense of self worth was separate from her partners yet.

Bella kept Nicky's hand at her cheek, leaning into the palm further as he spoke on his father. The confidence of his words was lacking in his tone but she was sure Nicky wanted to believe them. "That's hard, especially when it's your Dad, the person who is meant to love you more than he loves anything, it...explains a little," she offered, drawing his hand down into her lap as it had been in her home. "Sometimes when you grab at me I feel it, like you're afraid if I'm upset and you can't fix it immediately I'll just...be gone forever." Bella didn't say it to be cruel but because it felt now was a time that her observation would feel the least like an accusation and more like an awareness.

When he asked her if she had achieved it she laughed a little, she doubted herself constantly. "I think I know how to be happy on my own, but it's not when I'm happiest. Kemper felt like the first relationship I had where I knew if he left me I wouldn't break, it would hurt but I wouldn't shatter into a million pieces, and before we even dated I was ready to adopt, I had always promised myself I wouldn't do that until I knew I was doing it to love someone else, not so someone else could love me, and even not going through with it because I had a partner and I wasn't so needy for love I'd expose a child to a family that might not last. So, I guess...I don't think I'm like so perfectly actualised I'd be extraordinarily happy alone but I do think I would be happy."

Presuming the question came from a fear that she may simply have latched onto Nicky because she did not want to be alone, especially because they had confessed so much to one another so quickly, Bella squeezed his palm in hers. "If you had moved on I would have been fine, Nick. I would have been kicking myself, to be sure, but I...I don't want someone who doesn't want me. The real me. I'm not letting another guy bully me into changing and I don't want you because I want anyone. I want you because I want you."

Nick adored the way Bella held his hand to her cheek and leaned into it. His blue eyes watched her with adoration and his sadness at pulling his hand away was only remedied when she brought it to her lap. As much as their conversation was deep, he couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth when he felt where the fabric of her gown split, exposing her naked skin. Still, her next words distracted him. Did he grab at her? He frowned again as he considered this.

"I didn't realise I did that... I guess I do feel a bit like that. I can't stand you being upset though. At all. I don't mean to be... smothering with it though?" his tone raised at the end, like his statement was more of a question, as he was concerned he might be putting too much on her to forgive him when he upset her.

That Bellamy was so close to adopting prior to dating Kemper was definitely interesting to Nicky. Selfishly, he couldn't help but imagine she would be in a similar mindset to him. He was almost thirty and never had a child, it wasn't ludicrous really, plenty of people had children later on in life, and Nick certainly had more time on his hands now that he was lycan but still, he always imagined marrying young and having children years ago.

"I like that you think like that" Nick said slowly, mulling things over as he spoke "That you wanted to make sure you were bringing home a child for the right reasons, and bringing them into a family that would last. I know a lot of people wouldn't have been that thoughtful" This was why Nick was sure Bellamy would make an amazing mother, she wanted what was best for her children, not what was best for her.

Nick grinned, reaching up to stroke Bellamy's dark hair, his hand cupping the back of her neck and drawing close to her so he could press a deep, lingering kiss to her lips.

"I'm glad. And for the record, I also want you because I want you. I wouldn't change a thing about you" Nick wasn't sure he could offer the vampire the same promise, unsure he would handle losing her in the same way. He was more attached though, he was sure of that, he had had longer to develop his feelings, and perhaps that was unhealthy, but that was how he felt currently.

Bella shook her head quickly, keeping his hand in hers because she didn't want him to feel that the comment meant he had to pull away. "No, you're not smothering me. I admit I worried you were trying to control me at first, but after the faire, the way you were I...I thought maybe it was less about controlling me as it was about feeling out of control yourself and I love how affectionate you are, I...I felt so much relief when I didn't have to keep you at arms length anymore," Bella insisted, not that they'd ever done the best job of it. "So you're not smothering me, I just want you to know you can be that way and I'm...I'm not going to pull away from you, I want you to feel like you can reach for me and I'll be there."

His hands in her lap felt so warm against her skin, making the seriousness of the conversation much easier, they probably needed it. Well, they definitely needed it, but she was glad for how it was happening, that it was somewhat organic. "I think, from what you've said, neither of us are the kind of people who would ever want to hurt a kid the way we were hurt."

The grin on his face certainly eased things, a large smile coming around her own face as he reached out with his other hand to touch her presently dark hair, drawing her into a kiss that was filled with their smiles, and affection, Bella giggling just a little so he knew she would. When he spoke at her lips though Bella paused, breathing in his words. "You know...you would have to change though, one day, to be with me. I couldn't...I couldn't be with someone and watch them age away from me and...die." Bella's hand clutched his, becoming quite aware that maybe Nicky hadn't connected those dots yet. It was now her who clung to him for fear he might withdraw.

Nick blinked. The concern that he might be a controlling partner was never one that had crossed his mind, but that didn't mean it wasn't possible. It also didn't mean that his actions hadn't come across like that. So, he was glad when she explained she didn't see it like that anymore. She was definitely right about his feeling completely out of control at the faire. Between seeing his dad's non-girlfriend snuggled up to some random dude like it was nothing - he still needed clarification on what the hell that had been about - while Roman was at home recovering from a damn heart attack - or drinking himself into another heart attack - and then Bella being upset with him and him having zero idea as to why or how to fix it... she was spot on. He had felt completely out of control, like the world was spinning out in that moment and he had no way of stopping it. Damn Bella was good. Nick hadn't been able to put his finger on just what the hell had happened that night, why he had behaved so erratically, and Bella managed to sum it up in a tidy little phrase.

"Damn, you're very smart you know" Nick said warmly, not sounding surprised by the statement, just very proud of it. "You're quite hard not to adore you know!"

He nodded wordlessly when Bella commented on neither of them wanting to hurt a child they way they were hurt. It felt so good to have talked about some of this. He felt closer to her because of it. Her subsequent laughter was adorable, and he caressed her cheek, about to kiss her again when she said something he had not expected. Not expected at all.

Nick's smile began to shake, his brows connecting once more as confusion slowly washed away the blissful joy he had been experiencing in getting closer to vampire.

"W-what?" he didn't move, his hands remained in hers, and he didn't pull away. Instead he simply froze. "But- I thought... I thought you liked wolves?" he asked sounding almost childlike. He could feel her tight grip on him, and he held on too, like he was also afraid they were about to withdraw.

The adoration, it seemed, was short lived. Bella felt the waivering of his smile, the way it did not quite hold at his lips as his brows came together slightly. At the notion she 'liked wolves' her own brows furrowed, as though she was so simplistic that she intended to only date wolves and not that she had simply found that most wolves held characteristics she enjoyed and most vampires did not.

"I like you, and yes, I have mostly dated wolves but...what did you imagine?" Bella asked, he had been the one to talk about the house and the kids, had he truly not considered what the reality of that would mean for her? "That I would want to watch someone grow old and die without me?" she pressed, her hand still holding him as her face pulled away from his own, aware the conversation was not one to be had with their expressions clouded by how close their eyes were to one another's.

Bella's free hand came up and pushed back some of her dark hair, eyes still on him. "I can't attach myself to someone who won't consider it, I can't hurt myself like that. We look the same age now," she noted, since while Nicky was twenty-nine now he'd been aging at half the rate since he was turned, maturing of course so maybe not quite half but close to it. "But in thirty years you'll look almost forty and I don't want to wait thirty years and have my heart broken ," Bella shook her head, insistent of that. "You don't have to promise me you will, just...if you know you couldn't ever I'd want to know before either of us says anything....anything that would hurt too much to lose." Bella leaned in again, pressing a kiss to his cheek, still grasping his hand, and offering him a weak and unsure sort of smile.

Dating anyone when having this type of conversation would be difficult, but dating a fellow supernatural who could hear how his heartbeat was accelerating, was not ideal. His heart was indeed racing, and but he suddenly felt very slow. Slow in the sense that he was clearly an idiot, and slow in that his body could not compete with his racing thoughts and so began to move at a spectacularly slow pace.

"I... uh I don't know..." Nick fumbled to find the words. His grip on her hand was very slowly flexing because he couldn't tell if he was holding too tight or not. His grip on the glass suddenly felt very precarious so he moved to put his drink on the bedside table beside them.

"You can't... attach yourself-" he repeated, shaking his head in confusion, that same errant curl falling between his eyes which had dropped to their clasped hands. "Before.. .either of us say anything" yes, he was catching on to what her meaning was then, but he was taking a minute to fully process what she was saying. She couldn't be with just a wolf... a wolf would age and die, and she didn't want to see that. She couldn't be around that... She couldn't invest in someone who would eventually die. Even with Nick's extended life... "But I love being a wolf" he said after a moment of silence. "I thought you liked it too... I didn't think you'd want me to change" it wasn't a question, it was a statement. Bella had in some ways seemed a little like a wolf herself, surrounded by wolves always. She had seemed to enjoy his wolf form too which had meant a lot to Nick, because he too adored his wolf form...

It didn't hurt when Nicky said he didn't know, it hurt initially because she had assumed he had made the connection but now that she knew he hadn't Bella understood that it was a lot. There was an internal need to console herself that this was exactly why she couldn't let herself or Nicky say the word that she knew had been seated on their lips since their kiss. There were still unknowns and apparently this was one of them. While it did not hurt she was nervous, hearing his heartbeat in her head showed how this was stressing him out and Bella felt compelled to give him space while being entirely aware pulling away might only make it worse.

"I adore your wolf, I adore you being a wolf, and I know how much it means to you but I can't change," she insisted. That was the difference, Bella would give up what she was and become a wolf in a second, not even for someone, for herself, but she couldn't. "And I wouldn't want to hurt you either, Nick. It wouldn't feel good for you to feel old and see me young and know that, if your wolf was the thing you needed to be you, that you had chosen the wrong person to commit to," she insisted, because if Nicky's wolf was him, if there was no other way he could be and feel like himself then Bella was not his person. "You're so kind, Nicky, you wouldn't want to hurt me, and you wouldn't want to hurt yourself either." Bella's fingers softly rubbing his palm as she spoke, feeling his flexing and thinking he wanted to withdraw.

Sucking in her bottom lip Bella pushed his hand between her thighs, not for arousals sake but so he could feel the way his hand warmed her skin and be reminded of what he was. "Let's just enjoy the week, nothing matters right now, Nick. Just spend the week being with me, no obligation to anything, and then when we get back I can give you time to think on it. I'd never ask for the promise of a definite, I just need someone who isn't so sure it's impossible, but I don't need anything today."

Nick inhaled deeply, Bella's offer of giving him some time to think on it was something he desperately needed. Nothing Bella was saying was illogical, and really, truly, if he had been a more thoughtful person it should not have come as a surprise. Of the two of them, only Nick could really change. Bellamy was stuck, frozen in time, with no hope of developing wrinkles or ageing disgracefully. She would never have to learn to laugh at frown lines, or worry about her blood pressure. Which all kind of sounded amazing, but... it was the natural order of things wasn't it? For kids to watch their parents grow grey, and to settle down and develop a lifestyle around their increasingly tired bodies. Nick had grown up around vampires who were weird, who spoke strangely, and were disconnected from the world. Sure Bella wasn't like that, but then... she was still young. He thought of Marie-Therese, and the British broad and both of them had been ... so far removed from standard morality. Humanity didn't seem to count for much to those women who no doubt gorged on humanity.

Still though, Nick couldn't picture Bellamy being like that. What would he be like? How could he have kids if part of him always wanted to eat them?! The thought alone made him feel queasy, but the sight of Bella sucking in her bottom lip flipped that nausea into guilt.

Only moments ago he had been telling her he wouldn't change a thing about her, and now he was sat there feeling sick at the thought of being like her.

"I'm sorry" he said, finally able to string more than a few words together "I should have thought about this all, but I didn't, and that's completely on me. I would really appreciate a bit of time to think on it" he said gratefully, unable to shake the feeling that there was no thinking on it; Nicky couldn't become a vampire. He just couldn't.

Though the notion of him considering it didn't hurt, Bella hated lies and it would have hurt her to know he was saying he would consider it when in reality he was not and would not. It was, for Nicky, fortunate that Bella was not capable of detecting lies through someone's heartbeat, she had to simple stumble across the truth.

"Can we keep enjoying the trip?" she asked him, golden eyes looking up at him with brilliant adoration. It would be hard to hold her tongue regarding him and how she felt, she really had hoped this would be the time and the place, something all their own but she could wait. Adoration could be where her words ended for the moment, however much she wanted to say more. "We do have this wonderful bed and I think turbulence could be very fun."

#nicholasbaudelaire #alcoholism mention tw #domestic abuse mention tw #death mention tw #trauma mention tw

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vanhelsingenthusiast · 4 years

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Just came upon the realization that Dracula and Van Helsing are the blueberry dress and strawberry dress of MLM.

Now I want to draw them in those dresses

#dracula #abraham van helsing #dracula x van helsing #van helsing x dracula #vancula #strawberry dress #blueberry dress

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netherworldpost · 3 years

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Van Helsing dealt with a single incident of an invasive species vampire; the fault lies mostly with Bram Stoker who published the information without proper ecological regard to native vampire species.

Van Helsing saw a strawberry, called it a rhubarb, declared himself God's gardener, dosed the entire patch with a poison he sold publicly as both an aftershave and after dinner mint, and sold the story of his genius to Mr. Stoker who bought it if for no other reason than to shut up this rambling, surely dangerous, mad man.

I hate Abraham Van Helsing as much as much as a deck of playing cards hates a strong wind.

#dracula #abraham van helsing #van helsing #bram stoker

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rainydayotomes · 2 years

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Code: Realize smell headcanons? ❤

Oh ho ho, coming right up~!

Lupin

Lupin smells like earl grey tea!

Although if he needs a disguise (like as a soldier or something, which is highly uncommon), you can expect the scent of old clothes, dust, sweat, or a clothes shop

Impey

You can definitely expect a variety of smells from this man!

Oil, metal, sweat and dust are all quite common with him when he's been working on a machine! These are the smells youre most often going to smell on him, even if its just a hint of it

Sometimes he may get a little bit of some type of cooking ingredient on himself, like vanilla extract or lemon juice or whatnot

Otherwise, Impey in general smells like those Strawberry flavoured scented markers! An artificial strawberry smell, for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of smelling said markers

Its a sweet smell with a bit of a tang to it

Impey's always slightly sweaty because he's always running around doing stuff! Which is why something sweet with a bit of a tang to it is perfect for him

Van Helsing

If you use incense, Van Helsing smells like the rain scented incense sticks

Its kind of a sweet dusty smell? Like not outright dusty at all, more calming and a little sweet?

Its like that smell you'd encounter if you went into a shop that sold crystals and stones and stuff

Viktor

Viktor smells like lemons!

It comes from some of the cleaning agents he uses to clean his wares

Sometimes he may smell especially chemically due to the nature of his work

He may occasionally smell like a hospital

Otherwise, he may also smell like nothing at all! If he hasn't been working on alchemy lately, then he most likely wouldn't really smell like anything

He's used to having to work in scent free places, so he doesn't really use or wear anything that smells like anything

Saint Germain

Honestly I'm torn between two different scents for this man

He either smells of old books and lavender, or lillies and lotuses

Either way, this man smells floral and its amazing

He always smells like this, no matter how much running or fighting hes doing

Sometimes you can smell the familiar tang of iron.... you dont want to know where thats from

#saint germain my beloved #i did my research this time #i smelled a bunch of incense sticks lmaaoo #code realize #headcanons #impey barbicane #arsene lupin #saint germain #viktor frankenstein #abraham van helsing

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ladyhaley28 · 3 years

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Ch 8 preview of “The Wolf and The Nun”

“Here, let me help.” Vlad comforts her as he makes his way to the shelves. Agatha watches him as he reaches for more baskets, her eyes wide with lust as she appreciates the muscles of his back and arms as he reaches for said containers. A bolt of white hot arousal courses through her. Thank God he does not wear a shirt to bed. (My dear, are you hungry or horny?)

“I did not find strawberries, but would this strawberry jam suffice?” he asks as he hands her the jar.

“I suppose so, darling.” she looks up and smiles as she takes the jar. “Please pass me a spoon, and a knife.” she requests sweetly, grabbing the bread from the table. Dracula gathers the materials she asked for and hands them to her, but not before pressing a quick peck on her lips.

“Thank you, darling.” she smiles while scooping a heaping spoonful of the sweet jam on her slice of bread.

“My pleasure, Beautiful.” he delights at her crimson blush. He smiles.

The man watches his woman make herself a sandwich and eat it with such gusto. Dracula makes a note to himself to ask Sonja to purchase more jam, bread, and a basket of strawberries. His Agatha Van Helsing desires strawberries? She will get strawberries.

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https://archiveofourown.org/works/32882986/chapters/81603025

AU where Count Dracula is a werewolf and Sister Agatha Van Helsing is his fated mate.

#bbc dracula #dragatha #dracula x agatha van helsing #claes bang #dolly wells #werewolf fiction

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count-v-dracula · 2 years

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Name: Gabriel Van Helsing Age: ... I'll get back to you on that Do you like to cuddle?: With you, yeah. Can we make-out?: Thought that was the idea of this application. A night in or dinner out?: How about dinner in and a night out? Ice cream or chocolate covered strawberries?: Blood covered me, hows that? What makes you a good Valentine?: I'm already wearing your ring, that seems like a good reason. And we have history, your words not mine. Would you cook for me?: Trust me, that would be a bad idea. Would you let me cook for you?: I won't turn down a free dinner. I like sweets.

{ meme } | accepting

Vlad bit at the inner flesh of his cheek, an attempt to keep himself from smiling at the absurd bluntness of Gabriel. Oh, precious Gabriel, what an endearing soul he was and he was quite unaware of it! "I do like a man that doesn't waste time on glorifying his beloved," he cooed teasingly. Gabriel was unlike Vlad in that respect, whereas Vlad spun a web of words, Gabriel spoke few words that were plain and direct -- sometimes coming off as unfeeling, but that was not true. And often his actions were just as direct as his words and that thrilled Vlad. "I believe it is my charge to soften those edges of yours? Refine you a bit, hm?

"I shall acquire a cook that will prepare something for you, then I shall have the cook for myself! And that ring was stolen from me, must I remind you, as was my heart, you stupid fool," Vlad intoned, all in lightheartedness.

#submission #answered #gvhelsing #[ omg they're acting like they're married already ]

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bluecatwriter · 6 months

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Mina: dark chocolate. Jonathan: white wine. Seward: coffee. Lucy: strawberry. Arthur: pistachio. Quincey: chestnut. Van Helsing: plum

Those are from period-available flavors

Love this! I didn't know that white wine or chestnut ice cream existed— too bad they fell out of favor!

You are so correct, Jack is 100000% a coffee ice cream guy. XD

#answered #dracula daily

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nightwingshero · 2 years

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😨🍩🌌🪤🎀 + Wren & Emika?!

Thank you, love!!! Emika, too!!! I’ve missed her, to be honest! My awesome, bat goth child.

😨 FEARFUL - when scared, do they go into "flight" or "fight"?

Wren: she definitely goes into fight mode. This girl is a swinger, throw a punch and think later. Very few things will put her in “flight” mode, and most of that is because Wren is just...used to surviving. She’s used to having to fight, literally and metaphorically. She’s more emotional than logical, so if she feels threatened, she’s quick to act on it if she has to. She’s also the type of person that yells “fuck!” and swings when she gets scared, so taking her to haunted houses is either really fun or a really bad idea. (And yes, she got that from me, not gonna lie).

Emika: she’s a mixture of the two, if I’m being honest. Emika...seems like a gentle person, and for the most part, she is. And most assume she’s not much of a fighter with how flighty she can be (pun is definitely intended). But do not ever mistake her, she is absolutely savage when she needs to be. She is feral when she’s angered. Its very much the “lady on the outside, beast on the inside” kind of thing. Emika is more logical, she’ll take flight when she feels its best, observing from a distance and biding her time. When Emika does fight instead of flight, its usually over quickly, because she goes straight for the jugular.

🍩 DONUT - favorite sweet treat?

Wren: Cheesecake. Straight up just...cheesecake. Wren is obsessed with it. If you ever wrong her, bring her some and she’ll forgive you instantly. Its a tactic even John uses because having Wren mad at you is not...ideal. But yeah, she doesn’t have a favorite kind, she likes them all, but I’d have to say that strawberry cheesecake or Cinnabon cinnamon swirl are her top two.

Emika: She doesn’t truly partake in sweets that often, but when she does, its when she’s having tea with Donna and her dolls. When that happens, Emika takes it upon herself to bake some treats for them, recipes from her childhood that her mother used to make. Laskonky, sisky, and makovinik are usually her go-to recipes, and Donna adores them. It also reminds Emika of before she was taken by Miranda. She’s often sad after though, because it makes her miss what was, but she does try to take comfort in Donna’s company or even Heisenburg.

🌌 MILKY WAY - what was the inspiration behind your oc? what was the first thing you decided about them?

Wren: So...I honestly wasn’t going to make an oc for Far Cry 5 when I first played it. Like, it was becoming a favorite game, for sure, but I didn’t really have an idea for an oc. Not until Faith’s boss fight, who I think I took down first??? It was her or John, and I can’t remember. But it was actually the Nemesis line Faith has that got me. I have an undying love for mythology, especially Greek and Norse, and it got the gears turning. I wanted Wren to be someone that was good in the beginning, had the reader on her side throughout the story, only to have her become this harsh judge at the end, and a bad guy. A villain in the making. Everything with the symbolism for her literally fell in place (bird in the cage tattoo only for them to be hanging in the church, her scales of justice tattoo and her being shipped with John), like...Wren pretty much created herself and she fit so perfectly. A daughter of a man that wanted a son, sketchy past, plenty of sins to confess, and John eats them up while luring her close. She’s one of my favorite ocs when it comes to symbolism. Her Nemesis arc is *chef’s kiss* to me.

Emika: She’s another case of “I like this but not oc level”, but then ended up becoming a thing. Heisenburg had me from the beginning, and then Donna sealed it. I was going to make her another daughter of Lady D, but I got inspired by the bat monsters (I really love bats, they’re like puppies with wings) and then Van Helsing kind of came into play as I worked on her. So, essentially, I ran with the vintage/goth aesthetic that I love so damn much (I am a sucker for vampires and such, I will not take criticisms at this time). This whole game made it so easy to work with, to be honest, and Donna pretty much sealed the goth fate for Emika. I had this image in my head of black dresses, lace choker necklaces, and pale skin with bright eyes. A messenger for Miranda, someone she holds close to the chest, almost like a favorite pet than anything. Honestly, she’s one of the ocs I have that came together very quickly.

🪤 MOUSE TRAP - what will always lure them into certain danger? a loved one in danger? a promise of something they are always searching for?

Wren: her friends, found family, and those that are closest to her. Wren has her selfish moments, but she will always put those she loves (and those that love her) before all else. Wren will jump in without a thought because she’s driven by that need to make sure they’re safe and sound. Its almost a fault, to be honest, because Wren’s loyalty is with where her heart lies, not necessarily with what’s wrong or right, or at least, she bases it on what she believes is right or wrong, which again, is ruled by her emotions rather than logic. If its something she’s always wanted, she’ll risk her life for it, or if its a promise of that thing, She’s the type to have her eye on the prize and be like “whatever we have to do, we’ll do it”, not even thinking about the how, her eyes are on the endgame.

Emika: She would risk herself to save someone she loved, absolutely. But she’s also the type to do it for something promised, something she deeply wants. Emika is careful however, because she’s ruled by logic, she’s not going to just charge into something, risk her life, all for something that’s promised or that she wants. No matter how badly she wants something, she can’t exactly enjoy it if she’s dead. Does she value sentiment? Absolutely. But she’s not going to throw herself into danger for it, not without a good pay out and a good chance of her coming out of it alive. Emika is careful. Too careful, considering that Donna and Heisenburg die and she doesn’t make it in time to save either of them. She fights him twice, and barely gets away both times, clinging to her life. She chooses to stay out of the fight with Lady D, though, sending the bat monsters instead of protecting the vampire lady she works closely with. Now...the fight with Miranda...that all depends on how I want her story to end, if I’m being honest. If she dies, she will throw herself into danger with the sole purpose of not coming out alive. Whether she’s captured and studied, or actually dies is up in the air, but the purpose is to finally be freed of the hell Miranda put her in--she wants to be reunited with her dead loved ones.

🎀 RIBBON - how would they fit into other worlds / aus? what aus would you like to try out? what fictional world would they fit / not fit into?

Wren: This is probably my favorite question for her. Wren fits into so many things, but I have her specifically in three. I have a Burlesque au for her that I’ve written a oneshot for, but it was meant to be a chapter thing. Now, I do have a mafia au for her as well, and that’s honestly one of my favorites. A thief/assassin that gets mixed up with the wrong people. Another world I have her in, or another fandom I have her in, is True Blood, and I have to say, this is my ultimate favorite. Wren fits so well in it and honestly, its near and dear to my heart. She’s Sofie’s progeny, having been changed in France somewhere around the beginning of the Victorian era. Wren was also a dancer then, but of course, things were a lot different then and it wasn’t exactly great. Its something she’s used to lure men though, and that was something Sofie and her did to feed for years. But in present day, she runs a burlesque club (very classy and elegant, mind you) in New Orleans. She’s tasked to kind of keep an eye on Sookie and Eric Northman, who she is shipped with (a very begrudging affection that grows). She’s great friends with Pam, and Jane is even in it. I was almost tempted to make Jane a past Viking, since I joke about her being that in FC5, but she’s just another progeny of Sofie’s and is a bit younger than Wren. I’m not sure if there’s too many other things I would love to put her in, maybe Game of Thrones (if I ever finish it) or something. Wren is pretty good where she’s at. I almost put her in Peaky Blinders, but I just ended up coming up with Dahlia instead.

Emika: I honestly haven’t thought of an au for her. Maybe like...something where, you know, Heisenburg and Donna don’t die, but outside of that, I haven’t given it much thought. I don’t even know how her story ends. But I think throwing her into something like...Interview With A Vampire might do her some good, or something vampire related. Just because she has that aesthetic going for her and it works so damn well for her. I couldn’t really see her as something else. I considered throwing her in True Blood with Wren and Jane, but that’s up for debate. Skyrim could be an option, but I’ve been seeing some vampire games trending on here that I’ve been wanting to play and check out, so who knows? Maybe I can find a good world that’s fitting for her and I’ll go down a rabbit hole.

#oc: wren blake #oc: emika novak #far cry 5 #resident evil 8 #my ocs are my babies #asks

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dalekofchaos · 4 years

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Things I would change about Red Dead Redemption 2

I love the game and I think it is perfection, but I'd be lying if I said I'd want more for the game and Arthur's story. What I would choose

Features

Liar’s Dice. It frustrated me to no end that Liar’s Dice did not return. Put Liar’s Dice in camp activities and in Van Horn, simple.

More stable space for horses. At least 5-10

Find gang horses in epilogue. We know we can find Boaz, Gwydion, and Silver Dollar, but I believe we should be allowed to find the rest of the gang horses as John. let us find Old Boy, Bob, Maggie, Ennis, Old Belle, Taima, Nell II and Baylock(not including The Count or Baylock since they would still be with Dutch and Bill)

Low Honor outfits similar to how there are High Honor outfits, bit unfair we can’t get outfits with the dark coats and such

The ability to bribe the law

The ability to cheat in poker.

More bounties. In RDR1, it was required to capture 8 bounties in each province to get 100%. So in my opinion We should have 8 bounties in every city. -8 in Valentine -8 in Rhodes -8 in Saint Denis -8 in Van Horn -8 in Annesburg -8 in Strawberry -8 in Blackwater -8 in Tumbleweed -8 in Armadillo

If you are Low Honor, Bounties prices doubling because sending one outlaw after the other warrants the price

At least one area like Thieves Landing for RDR2 that lowers prices for Low Honor. I’d say Van Horn, but who wants to be in Van Horn?

The ability to rob banks outside of the two story missions.

Companion activities. More than just scripted activities. You could invite anyone to join you on your journey whether it be hunting, fishing, finding treasure, robbing or looking for collectibles.

Reinforced gunbelts, but with belt buckles, same with Upgraded Gun Belt

The ability to hire prostitutes. John can't due to being married, but Arthur had no excuse.

You could customize all weapons with the Hero Pearl Grip and Ebony Gunslinger Grip, because let's face it, it sucks that these weapon grips are limited to only the Cattleman revolver and Double Action pistol

The ability to smoke a pipe. We can customize the material and engravings on it as well. Also what if smoking were more of a mechanic than simply a consumable? Like instead of smoking it in 2 sec, the player could keep them in their mouth and it could give a small deadeye bonus or something as long as you are smoking it.

No floating Bandoliers. It's so off putting that they float when RDR1's bandolier never had this problem

The off-hand holster is placed like everyone else’s instead of the stupid placement Arthur has

Keep the Winter Gungslinger outfit closed. It is impractical and stupid to have it open and just dumb to keep it closed in the prologue only

Add RDO clothes, navy revolver, elephant rifle and horses

Undead Nightmare 2. The fans want this and I'm pretty damn sure the voice actors would want this. It could start when they all come back from Guarma. My idea for Undead Nightmare 2 is basically Arthur becomes a Wild Western Van Helsing hunting down the zombies, Vampires, Werewolves and other mythological creatures. Hell, throw in aliens in since we saw a UFO. After Arthur dies, he rises up as the Ghost Rider to hunt down Micah and Dutch. Enemies we could face -Zombies and zombie animals -Vampires -Werewolves -Ghosts -Wendigo -Witches -Aliens -Micah as the lord of the dead -The Strange Man

Story

Arthur tells stories around the campfire. Could be about how Arthur met Dutch and Hosea. Could be that when he was a young "delinquent" as Hosea put it, Arthur successfully stole from them and tried to ride The Count and got bucked off or Arthur was in a really bad place on the streets and close to being taken by the law and Dutch and Hosea saved him and that's when Dutch and Hosea took Arthur under their wing. We could even see Arthur tell the gang about his parents, Boadicea, Mary, Eliza and Isaac or just Arthur telling his thoughts on the journey so far, this would go along well with depending on what your honor is.

Kieran would do more to prove himself to the gang. Kieran would've proved his worth to the gang by helping free Arthur when he got captured by Colm, then make amends with Sadie by helping her get her husband's killer sooner, before finally being offed by the O'Driscolls at Shady Belle."

Arthur would get the chance to reunite with his original horse, Boadicea, which would be a Liver Chestnut Hungarian Halfbred. When Arthur arrives in New Austin(more on that later) Arthur then reunites with Boadicea

A stranger mission in the Saint Denis chapter involving Arthur and The Strange Man. While The Cabin is a nice touch, I believe it would've been great to actually have Arthur meet The Strange Man. Could be about The Strange Man testing Arthur's honor, questioning his loyalty to the gang and if he really trusts Dutch. It would be a nice touch to have it end depending on your honor, on top of the mountain or in Beaver's Hollow's cavern and his final words to Arthur could be "What a beautiful spot to find peace" if you have high honor on the mountain and if you have low honor in the cavern "such a shame it has to end here" and it ends with either Arthur confused or full of rage. In his journal, I think Arthur would write down. “I think I just met the Grim Reaper, the Devil or even God. This man tested me and in the end, I just feel confused and even angry.”

Charles comments on the animals that Arthur sees throughout the game. If Arthur sees the buck, Charles says it’s a sign of a goodman. If it’s the coyote, Charles warns Arthur to turn back on his current path

Romance choices -Actual romance between Arthur and Mary. I love Mary’s character and I love her missions with Arthur, but I wanted more. Instead of parting ways after their date at the theater, they would reignite their relationship and the mission ends in a kiss. What I would do is every so often, we get letters from Mary inviting us out on dates. Play dominos. Introduce Mary to the gang and have a Mass Effect type romance scene if you catch my drift. Then in chapter 6, Arthur has one final mission with Mary. Arthur tells Mary about his affliction and it’s just Mary giving Arthur the best day to remember. Having dinner, going to the movies, getting their picture took in the studio and making love. -Sadie. There would be several triggers to achieve Sadie’s romance. 1. Give Sadie the Harmonica. 2. Reject Mary and Charles. 3. Help Sadie against the O’Driscolls. Arthur in his journal states he has become to rely on Sadie and cares for her deeply. He let Mary go and even though he knows he’s going to die. He and Sadie can find peace with each other. There will be a heat of the moment where Arthur and Sadie embrace each other and declare their love. Then you can do activities as a couple. Hold each other during nights at the campfire. Charles, Abigail and John show their support for the new couple while Dutch, Bill and Micah show contempt. Prior to the big heist, a sex scene. Arthur and Sadie make a plan together. Help John and his family escape and if possible leave with them and head to somewhere warm and dry. Before Arthur leaves to confront Micah and Dutch, Arthur kisses Sadie goodbye. and his final words are “I love you, Sadie Adler” Arthur doesn’t make it of course and in the epilogue, Sadie has moments where she shows her remorse for not being able to save Arthur and tells John he was the best man she knew and that for a brief moment, he made her want to be alive and she was her Arthur and she loved him. -Charles. Depending on if you were high honor and helped Rains Falls/Captain Monroe. A romance between Arthur and Charles would break out after Arthur gets back from Guarma. There will be a moment where Arthur admits that he depends on Charles greatly and he is the best man he knows. Charles confesses his feelings for Arthur and you are giving two choices. Kiss Charles or remain as friends. If you pursue the relationship, then we can go on activities with Charles as boyfriends. Sadie, Abigail and John show their support for the new couple while Dutch, Bill and Micah show contempt. Prior to the mission to save Eagle Flies at the Oil Refinery, there would be a sex scene between Arthur and Charles and as Charles has to leave with the Wapiti tribe. Arthur and Charles kisses each other goodbye.

The option to go back to Blackwater. Make it mandatory to go back to Blackwater. After Guarma, Dutch sends Arthur on a mission to make it the long way back and we don’t hear what Dutch tells Arthur, but Dutch tells Arthur where the money is located. Now why this point in the story? Because the Pinkertons would be in Lemoyne after the bank robbery. Arthur is dropped off in Tumbleweed and we as the player get to complete the dinosaur bones, Legendary fishes and animals and challenges while we’re in New Austin. Arthur reunites with Boadicea and rides to find the money in Blackwater and rides to find the gang

Chances for Arthur to properly convince the majority of the group to leave. Considering that Arthur wanted to help folks to see clearly and leave, I think there should have been something similar to companion activities, but it works in a way for Arthur to help everyone leave -Swanson. Reverend Swanson. Swanson leaves if you don't donate to Sister Calderon and you get to see him off. Personally I think we could've had both Swanson and Calderon, cause in a scene in chapter 6, Swanson says he met a nun, prayed together and he got his act together, so I think the good sister was the nun who helped Swanson and maybe they could've shared the same scene, the sister gives the same speech to Arthur, Swanson says "save who you can and leave the rest to rot/You've lived your life like a man, and you turned into a good man." and then Arthur sees them off -Uncle. Uncle has been challenging Micah in Chapter 6 and Arthur and Uncle shared a touching moment in Chapter 6. So it's inconceivable to imagine Arthur being able to save Uncle by convincing him to leave. As for how this could go, perhaps Arthur overhears Micah talking of killing Uncle(after being roasted by Uncle lol) but the gist is Arthur saves Uncle and convinces him to run and don't look back, "this is pretty much done" -Pearson. Pearson knew this was all over. Arthur talks Pearson into leaving and throws a line about "Go back to sea or run a store." -Tilly, Mary-Beth and Karen. Arthur could've talked Susan into helping him save the girls. Even Susan thinks things were going bad, so it's not impossible to imagine things Susan helping the girls considering how batshit Susan became when Anthony Forman kidnapped Tilly. Mary-Beth and Karen leave, but Tilly stays because she stayed the longest and well she needs to save Jack when the Pinkertons take Abigail. So Arthur would convince Pearson, Uncle, Mary-Beth, Karen and Tilly. Arthur would also explain that he has TB and the majority of them feel sympathy for them and they know this is goodbye.

Arthur technically kills Micah. Wanna know how? Arthur gives Micah Tuberculosis. Whether or not you go with John or go back for the money, during the climax of your fight with Micah, Arthur coughs up blood in Micah's face and in his mouth or alternatively in the go for the money ending, since Arthur was stabbed with his own knife, his blood is on it and if you had high honor, Arthur can cut Micah’s eye out. So Arthur’s blood will be in Micha’s wound. So either way, Micah gets TB. Arthur. Then Arthur laughs and when Micah asks what's so funny, Arthur says "Nothing, Black Lung." SInce TB can take years to develop, in the epilogue John finds Micah and he's whimpering, coughing mess and barely alive. Then you can choose to kill him or let the disease take him.

Keep Epilogue John actually looking like John Marston

More stranger missions in epilogue. Seriously there is one stranger and that’s Evelyn Miller. No idea what we could do, but we desperately needed content for John after completing the epilogue.

The ability for John to find Old Boy in the epilogue and being able to stable and save him. How I would do it is there would be a mission or two when working with Sadie. We go to Tumbleweed and work with Sadie and the Sherriff on a bounty, as a reward for the help. Sherriff Freeman gifts John the horse and to John’s surprise, it’s Old Boy. Also I think John reuniting with Old Boy works considering that the War Horse from RDR1 and Old Boy look so similar.

The gang members John meets would appear at his and Abigail’s wedding. Been thinking it was a wasted opportunity not to have John meet with Pearson, Mary-Beth, and Tilly. Considering that they have John and Abigail's wedding, I think it would've been nice to have everyone together for one final memory of the gang together. I even think Reverend Swanson should've been the priest to marry off John and Abigail.

The ability to customize the ranch. Similarly to using Pearson’s tools to upgrade the camp, we can do something similar for the ranch. Take animal skins or hides to Abigail, then we can have mounted skulls, hides or skins to customize the ranch. And while we’re at it, let us capture the Legendary Channel Catfish and we can mount it in the ranch.

#Red Dead Redemption #Red Dead Redemption 2 #Arthur Morgan #Sadie Adler #Charles Smith #Dutch Van Der Linde #Hosea Matthews #The Strange Man #My Changes #Marthur #Arthur x Mary #Sadithur #Charthur

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hisbluemonarch · 3 years

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A Bram Stoker night

Eve’s lips curled at both sides when the movie ended. Her favourite. Carved by the hand of the Bram Stoker book she had read over and over again. She turned her head shyly to the side to see Asa next to her on the sofa. He was close even though there was sufficient space for them both but she didn’t mind it in the slightest. He was quiet as always, just looking back at her, maybe even scanning her thoughts, which made starting a conversation even more difficult for the librarian. She wasn’t good at that but still tried with the enthusiasm of the shared moment:

“Have you found it enjoyable, Doctor?”

Asa took a second to appreciate the brightness in her eyes. How to catch a spirit.

“For the most part”.

“Oh”, Eve’s voice was so transparent that it wasn’t hard to notice her worry. “What was missing?”

“Science”, Asa let himself show a smirk. “I don’t think Van Helsing methods would be approved nowadays. But, who am I to judge about stakes in people’s bodies? Doesn’t seem to be my field”.

Eve let out a silent giggle. “I believe you are right, Doctor Emory. However, I’m sure the movie is intended to show the sacrifice true love requires”.

Oh? Please continue, butterfly.

“To search for someone through oceans of time. To feel torn apart when you lose them. To be utterly in their hands, begging for them to take you to their darkness because you cannot stand to live in a sun field where they are not in it”.

Asa smirked again, then purposefully shortened the distance even more so that both faces were separated just by mere centimeters. It was amusing how responsive she was, the redness on her cheeks quickly to show.

“I’m- I’m sorry, is this boring?”

“Not in the slightest, Eve”, he moved his index finger to tilt her chin up so that her anxious eyes making an effort to avoid him were forced to look into his.

“My…”, Eve swallowed. The digit was already burning her skin but there was a universe full of new unnamed stars in the doctor’s gaze and she wondered if it was possible to get lost. “My favorite scene is precisely that one. When she- when she begs him to bite her so-so that they could… be together… for the end of times”.

“Hm”, Asa let out with just his exhalation, lips now a millimeter away from Eve’s mouth, his finger on the chin now changing into the gentlest grip he could elaborate for her jaw.

Eve felt about to explode with an unforgivable heartbeat. It was torturous to have him closer and closer yet she couldn’t move. Just like an insect knowing the spider is coming closer but still trapped in the web. This beautiful web of unspoken words.

“Did you find a favorite scene, Doctor?”, she asked with a shaky voice. It was silly but still pushed by her anxiety.

“I sure did”, Asa murmured and finally kissed her. Eve stood frozen for just a few seconds, brain trying to process the new reality of his wonderful, warm, sweet lips. It felt like tasting a forbidden apple, something too far away from her nature but still presented before her, tempting her to surrender. And she did, because her pale hands went for Asa’s face, caressing the contour of his cheeks as well as the strawberry hair. His gentleness quickly progressed into roughness gripping her tiny neck with a bit more strength yet still trying to control his urges not to scare her, conscious of the fragility of her wings.

However, Eve’s response was unexpected. His touch sent her to move her body close to his and increase the intensity of her kissing, needy whimpers escaping her nose working as traitors for Asa’s weight to push her to lie on the sofa. He stopped kissing her for a moment to look into her eyes once more, one hand exploring the side of her body and grabbing a hold on her hip, experimenting if she complained. She didn’t, her arms only strengthening their embrace around the doctor’s head, shyly pulling him closer.

Asa continued staying still, observing her gestures before letting out: “Ask me to bite you, Eve”.

Eve gasped. She though he was asking for consent and was fascinated by the idea of being bitten with love after Dracula. With a barely audible voice, she said: “Would you bite me, doctor?”.

That seemed to press a key of inner satisfaction for Asa. He moved to her neck, tantalizing her skin with kisses before front teeth and fangs bit the surface. Eve let out an unwilling moan. It felt tingly as well as the hand moving her dress upwards. Asa moved his lips to her ear to whisper: “Ask me to bite you again, Eve”.

“Would you bite me, doctor?” Eve asked and a moment later, her toes contracted at the increased intensity. It was slightly painful and full of warmth, not to mention the same hand caressing her inner thigh.

“Ask me again”, Asa let out with a groan.

It started to feel dangerous yet more than captivating. When she obeyed and he deliberately bit her this time, something was woken in her. Her hips moved up at the pain and a waterfall of whimpers and moans receive his fingers on her sex, allowing them to start tracing circles on her clit.

“Beg, Eve”. Asa demanded locking her into a trap of desire that went against her basic instincts.

“Would you bite me?”, was the best Eve could say this time and Asa went for the hearbeat in the crock of her neck biting it as if he could drink from her bloody heart. Eve whined, confused between the pleasure she was feeling between her legs and the pain he was inflicting. She tugged from his hair trying to alleviate it. Asa stopped all actions but just to grab her wrists and slowly moving them to lie on the sofa’s arm above her head, making her understand they were supposed to stay there.

“Doctor…”, she whimpered when his fingers masturbated her again; too many gasps to think properly.

“Shhh”, he hushed above her earlobe. “That’s not begging”.

“Please?”, Eve said not sure about what she was asking for.

He let out a silent chuckle. “That’s better”. He bit her again, drawing out a pair of blood drops that had her crying out.

Asa looked again into her eyes. Tears were threatening to spill from their corners but she was still immersed in the pleasurable friction. “You are so good for me, Eve”.

He didn’t want to break her yet but he wanted to show her the abyss. One day she was going to jump and fall into his claws. For now, he was just going to fuse with her carnally and conquer more of her delicious moans.

As long as she still kept saying “please”.

#eve x dr asa emory #the collector #asa emory #the collector x reader

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