bone and tooth

I was hung from the tree made of tongues of the weak. The branches, the bones of the liars, the thieves. Aiden Cage, 28. Not much worth knowing.

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

Getting A Pack Together | Lucian + Aiden

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

Lucian knew where Aiden was coming from. The one thing Lucian always did was protect his daughter, and he would do anything that was morally right to do so. He didn’t want to completely give up on Gixx though. Gixx would always be his little brother, and after he saw him he had faith in that Gixx knew what he dd was wrong and had truly changed. “I know your point, but people can realize their mistakes. Last time I saw him I’m pretty sure he was at that point where realized his mistake. I know we can’t really trust him like we used to, but we can at least give him a chance.”

[aiden-cage]

Aiden shrugged again. “Look, it’s your call. If you want to give him a shot, I’m not gonna say no.” It made him twitchy, but he trusted Luc. He just hoped it wouldn’t come back to bite them in the ass. And he hoped he could manage to tolerate the guy once he was back in the fold - that seemed more of a long shot than anything. “Just... if you want my advice, don’t let him in on everything right away. Give him a trial run.”

[giixxblack-blog]

I Know You | Gixx + Aiden

[giixxblack-blog]

Gixx managed to find his balance, leaning his hunched frame against the wall as he watched his former friend pace back and forth. That look on his face, one he’d seen a million times before didn’t do anything to ease his suffering or nerves. “I don’t know.” Gixx answered, though he knew well it was in his best interest to stay silent. “I just- I didn’t think. These guys were dead serious, they’d picked me out somehow, cornered me—“ He looked up at Aiden, still pacing, while he tried his best to focus on him through his slowly swelling eye.

Remembering that night paralyzed Gixx’s limbs, but his fear then trumped what he felt now. Perhaps it was because it was Aiden, because of their history. He knew Aiden wouldn’t kill him. Put him close to death, sure, but Aiden’s heart was bigger than he let off.  

“You would’ve done the same thing. If you’da had a blade to your throat and a shotgun barrel to the chest, you would’ve done the same god damned thing and sold me out.” His tone hitched, almost to the brink of breaking. It was too late to sound brave and save face, as though his façade hadn’t already crumbled to dust the moment Aiden had laid his hands on him.

[aiden-cage]

Aiden stopped pacing, reduced to fidgeting, to twitching, what his friend said making him want to kick him in the gut again, making him wish he’d just killed him before something so fucking poisonous had come out of his mouth. After all this time, he believed that? The thought actually turned his stomach. 

“No.” He said finally, turning to look at the man below him. “No. Fucking never.” He could barely get the words out. Aiden wasn’t a crier - but in that second, all he wanted to do was scream. Howl. Get it all fucking out and lay it to rest right there with a last few kicks to the head. “I would’ve died. I would’ve fuckin’ died. And I would’ve died with a fucking smile on my face, because me dying would’ve given you two assholes enough warning to grab Joey and get the fuck outta dodge before they came for you too.” 

He didn’t even know what he was doing. He put his back to the wall, his head in his hands. “Fuck you.” He muttered. “Didn’t fucking think. No kidding. No fucking kidding.” He dropped his hands, still shaking. “You know, I get that Luc and I aren’t perfect guys - well fuck, Luc might be, but I’m not - but... if you really thought either of us woulda given you up to them...” He shook his head, laughing bitterly. “Then, fuck, man. This pack wasn’t worth shit anyways. None of it was worth shit.” He gave the other man one last, long look, before turning to go. “Leave town.” He added, his voice just a bit louder. “For your own good. Last warning you’re ever gonna get.” 

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

Getting A Pack Together | Lucian + Aiden

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

Lucian knew that Aiden had a hard time trusting people, he did too after what happened with Gixx. All Lucian really had in mind were other werewolves, but now he was thinking that it could be anyone. Vampires or witches, even humans, as long as he could trust them. There were the girls at the club, Lizzy was one of the girls who he trusted the most. Then there was Del, he seemed like a good guy, but Lucian couldn’t really trust him 100% just yet. “Do you think we could possibly reconcile and talk some sense into Gixx?“ Lucian asked hoping to get a reasonable answer from Aiden. It was something that he was thinking about ever since Gixx showed his smug little face.

[aiden-cage]

Aiden paused. The last time he’d seen their old packmate was still fresh in his mind, and he just shrugged. “Honestly?” He said, as if there was any way he wasn't going to be honest about it. “Not really.” He paused, leaning down to scratch the cat’s belly. “Look, if you think it’s worth a shot, maybe. Maybe. But think about this, man. It’s not just us he tried to fuck over. He didn't just put us in danger. He knew those fuckers wouldn't stop at us. I don’t have any family, right? But you do, and he put your little girl in the line of fire.” He straightened back up and shook his head. “I’ve done a lot of shitty things in my life, man. But not like that.” 

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

Getting A Pack Together | Lucian + Aiden

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

Lucian was more than sure of himself that he could be the alpha of a pack, hell if he stayed with his family he would have been next in line. Perhaps what they had before didn’t work, and maybe being in a pack with a strong leader would work out better. Lucian knew though that Aiden might have problems with it, but hopefully it wouldn’t last forever. Lucian glanced down at the cat and stared at it as it grumbled. What was that cat’s problem? Lucian would never know. He crossed his arms over his chest as Aiden continued speaking. Of course they weren’t gonna go door to door asking people.”I could be the alpha, and no where just gonna get people we know, trust.”

[aiden-cage]

“Yeah, I figured that was the plan.” Aiden said quietly. It didn’t bother him, not really. Not as long as things didn’t get too weird, too grounded in the hierarchy. He wasn’t sure if he could deal with that, but he was even less sure he could break ties completely. If Lucian was stuck on this plan, he’d go with it. He scooped up the cat and set it down on the table, where she continued softly growling. She didn’t like anyone. She liked getting fur on everything he owned and killing birds. “I don’t know about you, but the pool of people I know and trust is pretty fucking small.” He pointed out. “That still leaves us with the girls at the club, and not much else.” Not that he was particularly close with any of them, but the two of them had been woven into the fabric of the place a long time ago. They knew how the girls operated, if nothing else. Everyone else was an uncertainty. 

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

Getting A Pack Together | Lucian + Aiden

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

Lucian grinned at Aiden and headed inside with him. “I need to talk to you about something.” He stated with a serious look on his face. “We need to build a strong pack. I know we won’t have what we had with Gixx, that was something special that can never be replaced, but just with the way things are now, knowing in the back of my mind that there are always hunters out there, we nee to have something strong, and there needs to be a clear alpha this time. Not like it was before with the three of us, cause this pack is going to be more than a trio.” Lucian explained what he wanted, hopefully Aiden agreed. This wasn’t just something for Lucian, or for Aiden, but it was for his daughter as well. Soon she would shift if she had the werewolf gene in her blood, and even if she didn’t Lucian needed to be around for a long time to raise her.

[aiden-cage]

“An alpha, huh?” Aiden sat down at the battered little table, tapping some ash off of his cigarette. “Not sure I like the sound of that.” What did that even mean? He knew himself well enough to know he wasn’t that type of wolf. He just wasn’t sure he was the type of wolf who could coexist peacefully with leadership, either. His cat lazily walked into the kitchen, still letting out quiet grumbles at the sight (or maybe the smell) of Lucian. “Besides, what are we gonna do? Go door to door? Hey, you feel like joining a pack?” He shook his head. “We gonna have a pack full of werewolf strippers you nab from the club? And who’s alpha? You? Me? Some random fuck we pick up?” He wasn’t upset by the suggestion, but he had questions. He just didn’t know how it would work.

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

Getting A Pack Together | Lucian + Aiden

"February is almost over, what a shame. It was fun though." Lucian thought to himself as he woke up on the 26th. February was always that month that went by quicker than the others because it only had 28 days, 29 if it’s a leap year. Since the start of the year, Lucian had been doing a lot of thinking, mostly of the way his friendship was with Aiden, and how things were with Gixx. He wanted to fix things, get back to how everything used to be between them, but it was difficult to look Gixx in the face without getting sick. He also wanted to get a strong pack together. Whether or not he and Aiden would fix their relationship with Gixx, he missed having a pack. It’s the only thing that he’s missing. Every wolf needs a strong pack, no one can be a lone wolf for long. He had a list, a small list but so far, Aiden was on it of course, Del, and Gixx. Who is a big maybe. After dropping off his daughter at school he went out on the town, looking for any of the three.

[aiden-cage]

Aiden had been up half the night with work, and the other half restless after the full moon. By the time Lucian came by, he was settled on his front step, his raggedy old cat sitting beside him while he chain smoked, a cup of coffee sitting cold and forgotten on the other side of him. Running alone was something he’d gotten used to before meeting the rest of his pack, and he was trying to settle back into it, but it fucked with him. He found himself sitting surprisingly still, mind exactly nowhere except what the next full moon would bring, and the low growl the cat let out when his friend got close to the duplex. “There’s coffee inside.” He jerked his head towards the door. It had probably burned to the bottom of the pot by now, but whatever. Most of it would be more or less drinkable. 

[aiden-cage]

sin' auld lang syne // aiden&sophie

[sophieclaveaud]

He had a nice face, especially when the light caught it just right— something soft in his features that made him look a little younger under the knuckle scrapes under his eyes and the stubble, when he relaxed enough to let it through. Sophie still knew nothing about him besides that he’d been a decent kiss and not a bad person to share a curb with. But who cared? So what? She wasn’t here to cast judgement on New Orleans and bless the deserving souls of the city like some kind of fairy godmother or pious teenage saint facing fiery stakes— after all, she was a witch.

The thought made her smile. Sophie decided not to lean up against the man, though seeing where that would’ve taken the night didn’t sound awful. In another time and place, maybe. But for now, she reached over and clasped one of his hands on the pavement, bringing it up to her face to ghost lips over raw knuckles and wink at the stranger at her side. “Here’s to 2015.”

She stood, releasing him, and then bent down to retrieve her handbag. For a half a second, Sophie thought she should give him something— like a good luck charm. A piece of jewelry or something, maybe. But she wasn’t that good a witch. She didn’t have any luck to spare. Nothing more permanent than a kiss. She still grinned on straightening up. ‘Good luck' sounded like what someone more naïve would wish for, anyway; and Sophie couldn't make promises on the universe's behalf outside of what she could do herself.

"…I won’t forget you."

[aiden-cage]

Aiden watched her, smiling faintly when she took his hand, forcing himself not to make some excuse when she stood. He could've changed the subject, could've asked her a question, anything to prolong whatever it was that was happening, whatever they were doing. Instead, he stayed quiet, watching her collect her bag, trying to sum up the right thing to say. Was there anything to say? Chances are if he tried, he'd just fuck it up. He'd wind up sounding like a jackass, and ruin the moment. He was pretty good at that. 

And then she beat him to it. He could've laughed. The only thing keeping him from dismissing the thought completely was how much he wanted to believe her. He made an impression easily enough, but... it wasn't usually very good. Instead of laughing it off, he reached up and clasped her free hand.

Thank you. He couldn't get it out. He watched her go, smiling like a dope, until she was out of sight. Then he stood up, brushed himself off, and started down the road towards Deja Vu, whistling the entire way. 

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

Last Shift of 2014 | lucian & aiden

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

"You’re quite a generous guy." He took the ten that was passed to him. "If I need your help, I’ll let you know." He didn’t want Aiden to get into another fight, but if he needed Aiden to get involved, he knew that he would, cause that’s what friends do. They have each others back, no matter what circumstance.

[aiden-cage]

"Just chipping in." Aiden grinned lopsidedly, glancing back at the stage. What a fucking night. First the fight, then the witch on the corner... he wondered what Luc would have to say if he started talking about that. It wasn't like witches were the strangest thing they'd ever come across, but the whole thing seemed hazy already. What was there to say? Hey man, you wouldn't believe the girl I fuckin' met tonight. I mean, I didn't get her phone number, or her name, and I don't know where she lives, but... Instead, he just absentmindedly clapped his friend on the shoulder. 

[giixxblack-blog]

I Know You | Gixx + Aiden

[giixxblack-blog]

Gixx drew in a ragged breath, grunting and groaning in pain with each blow Aiden dealt to him. He was too drunk and too hurt to try and fight back, so he simply tried to block what he could; hands open and fanned out, trying to adsorb a kick if possible. He couldn’t think of a reason good enough to explain his actions, but he couldn’t find it in himself to fully apologize, either.

He felt bad. He felt terrible. It was the worst decision he had ever had to make in his life. But to Gixx, there had been no option besides kill or be killed. A silver blade to the neck would do that to a man. But there were other options, it wasn’t black and white. After spending the days after thinking about that night over and over could he come up with different scenarios. It was too late then, and too late now to be forgiven.

Gixx could taste the copper-saltiness of blood in his mouth, and he spat what he could out before trying to speak again. “Don’t… don’t kill me. Please.” It hardly sounded like a plead, he hadn’t enough energy. “Aiden, I’m—I’m sorry, okay? You weren’t there, you didn’t—You don’t know.”

[aiden-cage]

Aiden found himself hesitating, seizing up. Don't kill me. Like it had finally occurred to him that that was exactly the plan, that he'd been hunting his friend for that purpose exactly. "Don't know what?" He crouched down, like he was giving Gixx a clearer shot. "What? Bein' hunted? Bein' in a tight spot? Or bein' a fuckin' coward?"

Hearing it had flipped something, though. Don't kill me. It was like he wanted to be able to recoil, wanted to be able to call the other man crazy for even suggesting that he could do that, insist that he wasn't that kind of man. He'd been that kind of man for a long time. Everyone in his pack knew that. 

"The fuck were you expecting to happen." He said finally, voice flat. "We'd just roll over and die? Fuck that." He stood, but he couldn't bring himself to kick the man again. He started pacing, running his hands through his hair. 

[giixxblack-blog]

I Know You | Gixx + Aiden

[giixxblack-blog]

A definite crunch, followed by the taste of the pavement was all Gixx was able to fathom. Another few moments to breathe and blink the stars from his eyes was just enough time for the werewolf to process the information, and with a groan of pain - which hadn’t quite reached him yet due to shock, but he knew would catch up in a few seconds - he groggily tried to turn to defend himself from any more attacks. It was a little late, Gixx was already on the ground, and he could feel something warm gushing from his nose.

"What the—Fuck?!" He practically yelped when the pain finally overtook shock, and his hand flew up to his face to see if he was really bleeding. Once he realized he was, and that Aiden wasn’t dead - and was very much alive and livid, Gixx began to crawl backwards, trying to back up away from his former packmate.

"Aiden, Aiden - wait. I can- I can—" He couldn’t explain it, no words or smooth talking could get Gixx out of the pile of shit he’d dove in to. He knew he was doomed, or at least in for a world of hurt. For years he had been on the same side as Aiden and Luc, they’d fought other packs, or even just assholes at the club, but it was always together. Aiden was a ruthless fucker, he’d seen him bash in a few heads. Gixx distinctly remembered thinking to himself after one particular bar fight, one that left Aiden’s hands bloodied and busted, that he was happy to be bandaging up his knuckles, not on the receiving end of a punch from him.

Tonight was different. Everything was different. Gixx finally made it to his feet, but he knew that Aiden wasn’t finished. “You’re alive,” He managed to choke out. He couldn’t tell if he was happy or scared.

[aiden-cage]

"You can what?" Aiden spat, driving his boot square into his old friend's gut. He could kill him - right here, in public. There wasn't really anybody around, not close enough to hear - and if they did, who bothered to call the police on a couple of guys brawling? They'd be ignored, and Aiden would be free to beat the other wolf to death - or turn and rip his throat out. It was right there in front of him, but he didn't go for it. Not right away. 

It wasn't that he wanted reasons - there was no reason good enough. Maybe he was just a sorry fuck, but Luc had a family. There was a little kid in the middle of all this, a little kid that they'd been happy uncles to. It wasn't like hunters were in the habit of sparing children. Kill the pup, it never grows up to be a big bad wolf. 

"You thought you'd never have to fucking face what you did?" Aiden howled, kicking Gixx in the ribs again. "Fuck you. Fuck you. I killed the two they fucking sent after us and I can damn well fucking kill you too." 

[aiden-cage]

sin' auld lang syne // aiden&sophie

[sophieclaveaud]

The thought hadn’t occurred to her, and Sophie smiled, slow and amused. “…You’re safe with me.” Her grin spread wider when the man reached for his drink, and she jokingly added, “You don’t have anything to worry about— it wasn’t that bad a kiss.”

She stretched out the arm she’d been leaning back on, resting her weight on the heel of her palm, and then swung her other arm back to support her alongside it. The rest of the world was trying to creep back in around the edges, when she gave herself a moment to think. Bad decision, you don’t even know this guy, Claveaud. Party invitations. Ayala, in that school. No money coming in from the salon. Lisbeth’s face when she finds out! A new year— another drop in the bucket for Marie, another down payment to Vye Legba. Gixx. Vampires on the street. Get it together. Keep it together. Grow up, Sophie.

She was being pulled in so many different directions; but when she closed her eyes, Sophie could still taste tobacco and blood on her own lips. It was enough for right now. More than enough, it was what right now actually was, even if it was unvarnished, or irresponsible, or… whatever the hell she was doing. It was as real and exactly as powerful as everything else, and every other moment.

There was a kind of rhythm and a magic in that, too. It all mattered. Even the strangers who wouldn’t remember you when the hangover faded. She’d be a trick of the light in the morning— but it wasn’t morning yet. Sophie tipped her head to one side, resting it on her shoulder, and closed her eyes. “Can we just… sit here? Just for a minute.”

[aiden-cage]

"Good to know I'm just rusty, not "set on fire" bad." Aiden snickered. When she spoke again, he got quiet, looking up at the sky. There wasn't much to see, not in a city that big and bright, especially on New Year's. He wished there was. It was kind of a sorry state of affairs when trying to pick out the big dipper from a cloud of light pollution was simpler than looking at the pretty girl next to you, but that was where the night had taken him.

"Yeah." He nodded, finally managing to look over at her, to smile. He wanted to kiss her again. He wanted to ask her name, get a phone number, as stupid as it was. As easily as she'd ignored all his faults (and he had more or less listed them off for her) that wasn't permanent. If he tried to contact her after this, she'd realize what a mess he was, honestly this time, and she'd know it was better to stay far, far away from him. Besides, he probably still had hunters on his tail. He knew enough about them to know that a witch was as much fair game as he was. 

He swallowed down the words whatever. as long as you want, figured they went without saying as he turned his eyes back up to the cloudy, lit up sky. 

[aiden-cage]

sin' auld lang syne // aiden&sophie

[sophieclaveaud]

"That’s no reason to give up." The second kiss was still a surprise, even with all that, though Sophie was more prepared for it this time, and kissed him back.

She’d needed… this. Whatever this was. Contact. Sweetness. Something uncomplicated between two probably complicated lives. Sophie could only speak for herself on that, even if she managed to look like her life was more together than it was, but really, a bloodied werewolf offering a lone witch a shared beer on the curb alone on New Year’s couldn’t have everything handled too much better than she did herself. It wasn’t so much that this guy, whoever he was, made her forget the weight of everything on her shoulders, and the shoulders of everyone she knew. They were just— both fucked up, and taking a breather. It was nice. It made her feel almost back to normal.

Sophie shifted her weight, propping herself up on one elbow to lift her face closer to his, and she raised her other hand— after a second’s hesitation— to rest gently against the man’s cheek as the kiss drew out, trying to avoid accidentally prodding what looked like a still-healing black eye. …What a wreck we must look like. She didn’t really care.

[aiden-cage]

"Thanks for not lighting me on fire." Aiden chuckled, resting his forehead against hers for a moment. Not that he'd been expecting that, but still. She could've, if she'd wanted to. 

He pulled away for a minute, partially to finish off his beer, partially to give her a chance to beat it if she wanted to. A nagging voice in the back of his head reminded him that she'd kissed him back. She had touched his face, had minded the swelling around his eye. She didn't seem to mind the blood left on his lips, how completely wrecked the night had left him.

That fact alone would've been enough to make him pull her in again, a hand on the back of her neck, to stay like that until the sun came up, but his mouth was sore. The swelling was only going to get worse. 

[giixxblack-blog]

I Know You | Gixx + Aiden

He had lost count after the third drink, and was beginning to feel pretty good. His body had lost all sense of self, and Gixx felt as though he were floating on a cloud, though in reality he was simply swaying on his seat at the bar with both arms resting on the counter. The werewolf took a drink from his Sazerak, and as he put it down, clunked the glass loudly, almost enough to spill the rest of the contents.

He had been drinking heavily for what felt like weeks on end, when in a reality it had only been two. Two weeks since he had sold his soul - rather, Lucian and Aiden’s - for a chance to live. Gixx didn’t even know if they were alive or dead, and in a way, Gixx wasn’t sure he wanted to know. His heart tore at him to even think about it, and every time he did could feel his chest sting. The only thing that made a dent in the pain was a healthy dose of alcohol, but even that was beginning to lose its charm.

The werewolf set down a bill for his drinks. The Sazerak was shit - not as good as the kind S.B. could whip up at Deja vu - but he left a fifty anyways. Money was useless. Gixx took to the streets, trying to let the cool night air sober him up. He would need a lot more than air to get him sober, but his walking managed to keep straight as Gixx wandered through the back alleys of New Orleans, getting from one stoop to the next. He had to avoid Deja vu, avoid anywhere where someone might know him. This is surviving. He told himself. This is what surviving is.

It was nothing, and yet, he had chosen it. He sold his packmates out so the hunters would spare him. The only thing that kept the guilt from completely tearing him apart was Gixx reminding himself that they would have done the same thing in his situation. Maybe.

Gixx felt a wave of nausea wash over him, causing him to stop abruptly and lean against a brick wall alongside the alley. "Fuck… eugh." He spat, but the need to vomit subsided. He was too distracted - shouldn’t have been - especially after what had transpired only a few weeks back. But he was, and the familiar scent on the air was lost to the drunken haze he was caught up in.

[aiden-cage]

Two weeks. Two weeks since the end of his pack, two weeks since the hunters came knocking. He wasn't looking for Gixx. Not that night, anyways. Maybe that was why his luck finally changed - he was out of it, just trying to get home, when he caught the smell on the wind. If he'd been a more reasonable guy, he would've let it rest for the night, would've gone home, gotten right, and tried to find him again later.

Aiden wasn't a reasonable guy. 

The second the scent, and all it meant to him, hit his brain, he turned on his heel to follow it, all the way to the alley, all the way to the form sagging against the wall. He didn't say a word. He just crossed the distance, grabbed the other loup's long hair, and slammed his head into the exposed brick with all the force he could manage. 

[aiden-cage]

sin' auld lang syne // aiden&sophie

[sophieclaveaud]

Sophie smiled, head turning to face him. He was impressed. It was a nice feeling— certainly a refreshing change of pace from being hated, or ignored, or merely tolerated. But then he turned to face her, too, and he was so serious that Sophie didn’t even have a retort ready for him when suddenly…

That kiss.

It would be lying if Sophie said she wasn’t startled, but she’d been lying if she said she hadn’t felt some chemistry with the man, too. And she’d backed off, not wanting to know what he was thinking, and he… he seemed startled enough that the whole thing did not seem too premeditated to begin with, even if he wasn’t drunk.

Well, his lip isn’t bleeding anymore. It was a frivolous thought, but Sophie still smiled against his mouth, breaking him off. “…I thought it’s only good luck if you kiss at midnight.”

[aiden-cage]

"I don't think my luck's getting any better." Aiden admitted, smiling crookedly. She'd been the one spot of it, and she wasn't going to last. He was just some weird fuck she'd run into on the street - maybe she'd been alright with the kiss, maybe it hadn't gotten his hair lit on fire, but he still wasn't going to look half as good in the light of day. 

Truth was, he wasn't much at all. If he looked like it in the dark, to her, that was good enough for him. He couldn't have asked for a better night. Instead of trying (and probably failing) to think of something witty to follow up with, he pressed his lips to hers again, keeping his hands firmly on the pavement.

As much as he wanted to touch her, he wasn't going to push his luck. It wasn't even that he was afraid of what she could do. He just didn't want her to leave. 

[aiden-cage]

sin' auld lang syne // aiden&sophie

[sophieclaveaud]

Sophie glanced away from the flame and smiled wider at the man on the ground next to her. “The intention and the energy in an offering or a sacrifice— that goes to the lwa. They don’t actually show up with a bib on. Well, usually. We feed the spirits first, and then we feed the congregation. Two for one.” There were other arrangements— you could incorporate offerings into protection pakets, use or wear or consume them as a way of taking the lwa’s protection into yourself. With not much congregation left to speak of, Sophie often burned her offerings, saving the ash for later magics (or offering them to Lisbeth to grow her plants that much stronger), but hoping the smoke would carry her will where it would do the most good.

She raised an eyebrow, and let the lighter go out. “…You’re just teasing me.” Lowering herself to the cement next to him, Sophie snorted, dropping the lighter on his chest before flexing her fingers. “Watch and learn.”

Lifting her arms and pointing her hands into gun shapes, index finger extended, she closed one eye and mimed shooting the sky above her. Small blooms of flame erupted high above the street, cooler fires arranged into a fiery question mark, red-orange against the hazy blackness before it faded away. She laughed, quiet and breathy. It had been a long time since she’d done this one. “Bang, bang, bang. Should’ve picked a number.”

[aiden-cage]

"Hey." Aiden stared up at the flames, His eyes were wide, wider than he'd ever admit in hindsight. He'd never seen anything like it, and it was a little scary. How did anyone do that? How did they learn? She didn't even seem real to him in that moment. Maybe he'd taken a really bad knock on the head during that fight, and he was dreaming all this. It made more sense than the odds.

What were the chances a guy like him would run into a girl like that, a girl who could do something like that, on New Year's Eve? It was so bizarre it was almost cliche. The kind of shit that happened in movies he didn't even watch. "I wasn't teasing you." He said, voice very quiet and very insistent, before closing the tiny distance between them and kissing her. 

It wasn't smart, considering how quick she could've lit him up, but it was New Year's. They'd never see each other again. 

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

Last Shift of 2014 | lucian & aiden

[lucian-covenofsinandmiseryrp]

Lucian stared at the girl with his big brown eyes as she spoke. Should have been smarter to know that Dex was behind it. Hopefully he wouldn’t get in trouble over this. “Alright, just make sure people know what they’re picking up. I don’t want to hear any more complaints.” Lucian let the girl go and turned to Aiden, playfully smacking him on the back of his head. “You’re a fuckin’ idiot.” He teased him. “I got some singles if you need ‘em.” He replied.

[aiden-cage]

"Please." Aiden laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "Jesus, man. Jesus." He passed Lucian one of his tens, still grinning. "Just because I'm willing to upgrade my tips? That doesn't make me an idiot. That makes me generous." He glanced over at the tip rail. "Besides, you could use a guy undercover. I could start knocking skulls if the guys get too handsy." He pointed out. Not that he needed to get into another fight, but if it was helpful...

[aiden-cage]

sin' auld lang syne // aiden&sophie

[sophieclaveaud]

Sophie glanced down at the butane lighter in her hand, and she pressed the pad of her thumb against the toothed edge of the sparkwheel, feeling nostalgic. For as much grief as she’d been given by fire in the past (and there’d been no shortage of it; fire needed to be respected, and it took discipline to master), it made for a hell of a party trick.

Aiden exhaled, and the smoke fleetingly made Sophie picture Lisbeth. “Did you know actually— tobacco. My… people and I, we offer it to the… they’re called loa. Like spirits, kind of. They like rum, too.” Corner store beer and gas station cigarettes weren’t exactly the same thing, but the absurd familiarity of it, and the irreverence— the curb like a mock-altar, everything tinted red and hazy from the fireworks in the sky, and the man only just now not free-bleeding on the ground, felt like a cosmic joke that for once Sophie was in on, and on the right side of. And it was about damn time, too. Maybe it was a sign 2015 wouldn’t be so bad.

She flicked the lighter so its fuel valve opened, and felt the flame jump to life through the plastic. Sophie held the fork button depressed and smiled. “Hey. Pick a number between one and ten.”

[aiden-cage]

"They sound like my kinda guys." Aiden grinned over at her. He'd never heard the word before. Part of him was curious - he suddenly had an awful lot of questions. Was that where her powers came from? Spirits? The kind of spirits who asked for rum and tobacco. "So how does that work? I never understood that. Does it, like... go away? Do you drink it after?" 

He'd never been a religious guy. It just never mattered to him, what was pulling the strings, He scraped by, that was his life. Favor wasn't something he needed. He simply didn't have enough ambition. He couldn't imagine believing in something that strongly. 

He looked over at her, lazily pulling in another lungfull of smoke, and smiled. "Alright, got one." He grinned. He was lying. He couldn't settle on one. It wasn't important, he knew that, his mind just... wasn't settling.