misery business.

AINSLEY ATWOOD thirty-two. con artist manhattan. fae, succubus. changeling. • • • • • • • • • • Rule number one is that you gotta have fun. Baby, when you're done, you gotta be the first to run. Rule number two, just don't get attached to somebody you could lose. This is how to be a heartbreaker. They like a little DANGER, we’ll get them falling for a stranger, a player, singing I love you.

[ainsleyatwood]

[ainsleyatwood]

@delphinahamptonthesiren​

Ainsley needed a break from the baskets and everything as a whole so she walked over to the first booth she could find which was the comic booth, she buried herself in between the pages. Half reading whatever story was in front of her, but mostly she was busy looking at the pictures. Barely following along with the story that was spread out across the page, when she heard a voice she looked up to see a blonde woman. “I’m sorry what did you say?” Not registering anything the woman had said. “You’re one of the fae right? I think I’ve seen you around before.” 

[ainsleyatwood]

@seraphmargot​

“We could totally steal all of this.” Ainsley remarked boredly as she looked around the MET. While her demeanor appeared cool that last time she’d been in a museum was when her parents had been arrested, her thoughts constantly went back to that night the longer they stood there. “So do you want to stand in here much longer? I mean it’s nice being in the AC and all, but...” Trailing off before gesturing towards the exhibit. “Plus, we have to see what basket you get and all. Isn’t that the most exciting part of all this?”

[ainsleyatwood]

ARTHUR HAWTHORNE. 

Location: Neon Nights

Status: Closed ( @ainsleyatwood​ )

“There you are!”

“Jesus, you know you’re a tough cookie to find, right? I was about to call it a night but fifth bar’s a charm.” Without further ado, Arthur placed himself in the bar stool to Ainsley’s left. There was no need for introductions. She knew who he was and vise versa thanks to the one person who links them together: Margot Hawthorne, his sister and her partner in crime. Up until this point, he had only seen Ainsley from over his father’s shoulder, usually while said father was shewing her away for the sake of public image. Surely not the best first impression. He’ll make it work. “Look, I’m sure you’re busy but I’ll only take a little bit of your time. I just want to talk. About what happened.”  What exactly Margot saw in this conman was beyond Arthur. Hopefully this will all go well and he will leave with some semblance of insight. 

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“Here I am.” Ainsley replied sarcastically with an eye roll before taking another sip of her drink. She’d spent the last few weeks feeling sorry for herself in different bars across the city. 

“Yes, that’s generally the point if you don’t want to be found, which I didn’t. Although guess you didn’t get the hint.” Using her straw to stir the drink in front of her before tapping it against the glass, then tossing it on the bar top. “You want to talk to me about what happened?” She asked curiously and raised an eyebrow. “What exactly are you asking about Arthur?” Turning to face him with a smirk. “Although if your meaning what happened with your sister on Valentine’s Day I’m sure your fellow seraphs gave you a report.” She remarked with a huff. “You’d know though if you had been there, but you know you were rather busy i’m sure.” 

[ainsleyatwood]

@swearonstars​ (Livia Cromwell)

“I swear they should have done this before Easter.” Taking a drink from her glass before setting it down. Looking over at Liv who was still at the art stand trying to paint and sell art. “So have you sold any paintings today?” She asked before sitting on the table and crossing one leg over another. “I mean you don’t have my lovely face on any paintings so I know it’s a hard sell.” She teased. “AlsoI have to admit I’m a little shocked that neither you or Margot did baskets. I would have thought you girls had planned baskets together and did something cute and matchy.” 

[dylnsohbrien]

[ainsleyatwood]

@beasramos​ 

Ainsley had to admit that she was still going through it and with the new Fae leader still not announced she had been trying to take matters into her own hands to get answers about her past. Although she’d promised herself to at least take this weekend off and hope that maybe she could have a semblance of fun again. As she walked in front of each basket with her bidder card in hand she made slight notes about each one so she could remember what she wanted to bid on. After she’d examined all the baskets she made her way to less crowded place. “Care if I use this table?” Asking to the woman sitting at it. “I am trying to fill out one of these basket cards with my bids and there’s tons of people around.” She explained, put her card and pen on the table. “So have you already got your bids in?” Half wondering if the other woman would be going after something she wanted, this way she’d know to bid more. 

[ainsleyatwood]

@wcilingwomcn​

location: bliss yoga studio

“I know they say yoga is suppose to cause relaxation but this is the furthest from relaxed that I’ve been in ages.” Ainsley huffed as she rolled up the pink mat that she’d used during their session. “What about you?” Looking over at Imran who she’d forced to come along to her complimentary class. “Personally if we’re going to be involving psychical activity I prefer boxing. At least I get to hit something.” Maybe it was partly due to how much she loved to fight, or the fact she never did stop fighting, or that nothing got her blood bumping like a fight did. For once she could turn off all the emotions around her and force herself to be controlled.

Fixing the ponytail on her head as she shoved her stuff into her oversized tote and stood up straight. Watching as most of the women in the class ran off to pick up children or tend back to their homes. “So do you have any plans for tonight or could you go for some retail therapy?” She asked, eyed Imran closely. “I mean I need a new outfit for this date tonight since I’ve already worn everything amazing in my closet.” 

[ainsleyatwood]

MARGOT HAWTHORNE.

At the sight of Ainsley and food, Margot shimmied up in her bed to sit against the headboard. Though the usual argument of being fine was on the tip of her tongue, she wasn’t about to turn down the opportunity of Ainsley doting on her. “Have I mentioned how much I love you?” she asked as she pulled the tray close and started in on her own dish. Margot settled into a comfortable position with Ainsley next to her and sighed. Though the question of Selene wasn’t  a new one, Margot was still a little embarrassed that she’d let the vampire get the better of her. “I’m fine,” she groaned, her nose wrinkling in annoyance at herself. “Though I do wonder if I can use this to get her to plan an event for me later. ‘Hey, remember that time you almost ate me? Maybe a little soiree will heal over those wounds’.” Margot took a bite of her fried rice and leaned more into Ainsley. “It’s not like we can actually do anything about it anyway. I have a feeling pissing off her sister wouldn’t be one of our better ideas, Ains.”

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“You haven’t, so I welcome all compliments and mentions of how amazing I am and how you love me.” Ainsley remarked with a laugh before flipping her hair over her shoulder carelessly. Eyeing Margot carefully as she waited the answer, to see if it would be the same as all of the others. “Sure about that, Red?” She asked once more, her dark eyes narrowing as she looked at Margot. “Probably, but do you really want her help planning an event for you? I mean you have me. I can plan any event you need.” Sure she didn’t have near the connections that Selene did, but it didn’t mean that Margot had to go to Selene of all people. Plus after the attack Ainsley wasn’t sure she trusted Selene within a hundred feed of Margot. “Fair. It still doesn’t mean she should get away with it.” Ainsley remarked. “Maybe ask her for cash or threaten to take her to court for the injuries. While the physical ones may have healed you could probably say the mental scars haven’t.” She remarked with a shrug before picking up an egg roll. “I’m just not okay with anyone hurting you and walking around like nothing happened.” 

[ainsleyatwood]

LIVIA CROMWELL.

⋅𖥔⋅ ━━✶━━ ⋅𖥔⋅

“Fuck,” The faint curse slipped off her tongue as she pressed her lips tightly together. Her nose scrunching up as her fingers curled tightly into fists. Her arms wrapping themselves around Ainsley’s for a prolonged moment despite cursing herself out in her head for feeling so completely and utterly useless. “We will, but not because of us,” Liv finally brought herself to admit as she pulled ever so slightly back from her friend’s comforting grasp. “So, there is really nothing to promise. We’re useless until that barrier comes down and, for that, we need the witches. Something that I could have been if I had just-” If she had just accepted Logan’s offer to step away from the agency and have her magic restored. The twisted irony of the situation far from lost on her. The two reasons why Liv had been avoiding even thinking about the idea of leaving the seraphs were trapped inside and yet if she had? She probably would have already saved them. “It doesn’t matter now. Our wings will do shit until the barrier comes down, so get comfortable. Looks like we’re going to be stuck here waiting to storm the castle for a while.”

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Ainsley never knew how to comfort someone especially when they were upset. By nature she wanted to take the emotion away from them, in the hopes that maybe that would help. This was Livia though and Ainsley knew better than to just take without asking. Holding onto Livia tight in the hopes that maybe the other woman would find some comfort, but even Ainsley was terrified that Margot might not make it out; that she could be losing one of the last few people in her life. “Wait what?If you had what? Not been a seraph?” Ainsley attempted to finish for Livia, despite feeling like she’d maybe missed something in the process. “Are you a hundred present sure the only way in is via the witches? I mean magic has a loop hole right? We just have to figure out the loop hole and maybe we can beat the witches to it and get in there to save Margot.” 

[ainsleyatwood]

KAI ST. CLAIRE.

⋅𖥔⋅ ━━✶━━ ⋅𖥔⋅

“Pawning you off? What in the? Ainsley, you’re the one who was asking me a ton of questions about being a fae. Questions that you seem visible and verbally annoyed with anytime my answer doesn’t live up to your expectations. I told you, I’m not good with this shit. Learning has never been my thing. And as for ‘pawning you off to the first person I could think of’ as you oh so graciously described it? I was referring you to the fae leader, not some stranger I met off the street five seconds ago. And as for Leyla? I mean you’re new to this, so I figured I could help, by introducing you to someone whose actually been through a similar situation as to you, can probably relate and help far better than I can, and so you can, you know, get to know some more people in the fae court so that it won’t seem so daunting? But, clearly, that was the wrong move. So, pretend I never mentioned it,” Kai rolled his eyes over, not really feeling like being the one Ainsley took out all of her frustrations on at this point. “At what point did you say any of what? I’m not accusing you of saying anything? I just said that if you want to close yourself off, that’s your own prerogative, because it is? And you can say you aren’t closing yourself off, but I’d kinda like to beg to differ right about now?” He blinked over at her, suddenly feeling like they were two very different conversations and he wasn’t exactly sure how in the hell they had even got here. All he knew was that he was very confused and clearly didn’t understand women in the slightest. “Oh jesus christ. Ainsley, if you want to talk about being a fae, I’m more than happy to talk about it, but this doesn’t feel like a friendly chat or conversation? It feels like I’m being quizzed and berated at the same time and, there is a reason I dropped out of high school, and it is because of this anxiety ridden feeling right here.”

“You didn’t bother me. You just confused the fuck out of me and oh great. Now you’re grabbing your purse to leave,” He noted as he picked himself up to his feet, watching her storm off towards to door as he called out to her, “Okay, thanks for coming by. This was weird. Sorry I made you mad and couldn’t be more helpful? Have a good one? I guess?” He offered up as he slide back down to the couch. Combing his fingers back through his hair, he sat there trying to wrap his head around what the fuck had just happened. His eyes trailing after the practically untouched beer she had left on the table top with another sigh. Welp, might as well not let it go to waste, he thought as downed a big gulp back. The sun streaming in through the loft’s lofty windows caused his eyes to squint and, between the hangover he was still riding from the other night and this, he was quickly reminded of why it was clearly in his best interest not to wake up before the club opened.

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“Yes, you are pawning me off on whoever!” Ainsley countered, she crossed her arms over her chest. “Okay I’m not asking you to be great at this, but I am trying to figure out what the fuck I just got inducted to and your giving half answers then saying oh go talk to this person or that person! Like I know who the fuck any of these fucking people are.” Ainsley screamed back even though Kai he wasn’t yelling at her. “You aren’t introducing me to anyone your saying go find this person or that person. You aren’t listening you are once more pawning me off on anyone and everyone!” It felt like like she might as well talk to the wall at this point, it would be more sympathetic to her situation. “Fine! Pretend I didn’t mention this whole Fae bullshit at all since clearly I am bother.” Throwing her hands up in frustration as she ended the conversation about being a fae. “Oh please Kai.” Rolling her eyes at him. “Did you ever think that maybe I’m closing myself off because you’re acting like a dick right now? I’m trying to talk to you and all I’m getting out of this is to go to someone else and your self loathing.” Pinching the bridge of her nose as she closed her eyes and reminded herself to continue to push any sort of emotion down. Knowing it was better to let it be snuffed out verses actually having to acknowledge it. Acknowledge the fact that everything had changed, she couldn’t talk to her friends, and that she was scared to lose what little she did have. “I’m not trying to derate you or quiz you!” She screamed once more in frustration. 

“Really because your words and actions say otherwise, Kaito.” Using his full name to let him know she was pissed. Huffing at his words when he clocked her actions, she stomped off. Rolling her eyes at his half assed apology, she didn’t bother to accept it. Waiting outside for a few moments, she half expected Kai to come at least check on her since she was clearly upset. When he didn’t though more anger built up inside, she stomped back up the steps and shoved open the door once more. “So do you just fucking hate me or something here? Because I thought we were better friends than this.” She asked bluntly as she stood in the doorway. Putting one hand on the door as her dark eyes looked over at him, waited for some kind of response.

[ainsleyatwood]

KAI ST. CLAIRE. 

“I don’t think you know all of this, Ains, nor does anyone expect you to? I just think you’re coming to the wrong guy for an explanation is all. I mean, not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m kinda a deadbeat and pretty much crap at everything I do including being a fae. So, probably not the best guy to go to for the welcome tour. And wow. Okay. Do what you want, Ains. Close yourself off if that’s your prerogative,” Kai rolled his eyes lightly over as he proceeded to down back the rest of his drink. He knew Ainsley was just frustrated about her situation, but he also didn’t exactly know what the hell she wanted him to do about it? It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help her. It’s just that he knew he didn’t have the answers she was looking for. He didn’t have the right thing to say or be all end all solution. So, when she tried to brush off what was clearly still bothering her, Kai found himself growing serious, a dark shadow casting over his gaze as he mumbled out, “Nothing matters, Atwood. Never has, never will and the less you expect to it, the less likely you are to wind up disappointed.” He didn’t mean it to be harsh. It was just the truth he had chosen to live by, or more so, advice his dad and brother had told him over and over again himself until it had finally managed to stick.

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“Really because sounds like you’re kinda expecting me to here and pawning me off on the first person you could think of.” Ainsley had to admit she was getting annoying frustrated with the conversation when it turned to self loathing. “At what point did I say any of that?” She asked with annoyance. “I came here because I thought if anyone could understand the shit storm I was just thrown into it would be you. Nobody else in my life is even a fae nor can I talk to them about this.” She already felt alone excluding more people from a part of her life, but that was what came with her life; nobody ever got the full picture. Even talking about it made her feel too vulnerable, she wanted to drown in little any other emotion she could get her hands on. 

 Standing up and she left the beer on the table at his words. She didn’t want to admit how much it stung to be told nothing mattered, to feel like the crisis she was currently in was just another thing. “Cool. Don’t worry I won’t expect nor will I ever ask another question about being a fae.” Figuring the door for this conversation was over, if she was going to learn anything it wouldn’t be through the help of Kai since he was clearly rejecting the idea. “Sorry I fucking bothered, promise I won’t do it again.” Grabbing her purse off the floor before she walked to the door and yanked it open, just to slam it shut behind her. 

[ainsleyatwood]

LUCIANO TORRES. 

Luciano had heard rummaging in the file room. Somehow he had been tasked with the task of putting a few of them away and had against his dismay. Hearing the rummaging had caused him to swing the door open however and he shook his head looking at her. “Are you looking for something?” He asked a slight disappointed look on his face. He had knew her as one of his own. “You and I both know that you were doing more than looking for a bathroom. How must I deal with this Ainsley? I can’t have the same shit happening over and over again, but on the other hand I really don’t want you to face consequences. Help me out here.” 

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Ainsley shook her head no rather than answering since she knew she couldn’t lie. While she could side step an answer lying she wasn’t able to do. “You sure about that?” She countered with a smirk. “Deal with this? Face Consequences? Big words when I’m just standing here.” She remarked and gestured around the room. “Nothing looks out of place does it? And I clearly didn’t take anything so... what exactly are you going to punish?” Pushing past him as she walked out of the room and into the hall. “Plus even if I was looking for something you couldn’t help me. Last I heard you’re even newer to this than me.” Ainsley remarked with a smirk. “So explain to me how you could actually help.” 

[ainsleyatwood]

KIYA SUWAN.

Meetings. That’s all Kiya had done all day and she was tired of all the meetings. Meetings for Khan Cosmetics. Meetings for the clan. Meetings with Devin. Meetings until she was drowning in them. And Kiya was honestly tired of it all. Sleep no longer did anything for her, but she felt exhausted in a way that she could almost believe sleep would help. But no, what she needed was blood. Kiya could honestly go to the blood bank, but she’d always preferred feeding straight from the source. Even before coming on as the second in charge of the clan, she still always fed from others with their consent and a clear mind. It hadn’t changed since she agreed to the clan rules. So that was how she found herself with the other, leaning softly towards them over the table and tracing her finger over the pulse of their wrist. “I promise you’ll like it.” She promised, her sweet smile alluring. “You might even come back and ask for more, trust me you’ll like me when I bite.” Over the centuries she’d gotten quite good at making this an enjoyable experience for both parties. As she was fluttering her eyelashes, she smelled the presence of another coming towards them before a shadow fell across the pair. But she ignored them, focusing on her new potential friend. 

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Ainsley had to admit as she sat across from the other woman it was rather interesting seeing the shoe on the other foot. She was for once trying to be seduced by another woman, instead of it being for money it was for blood. She couldn’t help but find the interaction funny. Taking a drink from her glass so she didn’t laugh. “Trust me I’m aware of the high. I’ve donated plenty of times.” She’d caused chaos plenty of times when donating because of her fae blood. While she didn’t know it until recently apparently it was something about her blood that drove them crazy. “If you would like I’m sure there’s some of my blood still floating around in a blood bag.” She remarked with a shrug before pulling her hand away. “Trust me when I say you’ll be the one coming back and liking me more out of this interaction.” 

[ainsleyatwood]

@fierykingluc​

Ainsley didn’t want to be in this stupid court, but she needed answers. So she’d snuck in and practically ran directly to the records room. Searching through all the A files she could find, while she found Atwood’s none were her parents or related to them. “What the fuck?” Ainsley said allowed before kicking the cabinet. She was exasperated from trying to find out what was going on with her life. Just as she went to leave though the door opened revealing another person on the other side. Shit. “Must have been a wrong turn.” She replied with a laugh. “Anyways I best be getting out of here and finding that bathroom. Can you direct me where to go?” 

[ainsleyatwood]

KAI ST. CLAIRE. 

⋅𖥔⋅ ━━✶━━ ⋅𖥔⋅

“Okay. Well, for one thing, that’s not how mirages work. They don’t wipe away anyone’s memories. They just tamper with them and non fae court member’s perceptions of things. As like a protective barrier? But, if you already know the truth, the mirage can’t work on you. Because think about it, right? If you know fae exist and that there is a mirage over Staten Island that will tamper with your perceptions of reality, then when you leave the island, you’ll know that your perceptions have been tampered with and will be able to discern the truth from the reality since the truth is still in your brain deep down, you are just being told to remember it different than how the events actually occurred and I don’t know an easy way to explain this so we’re just going to leave it there. And no, but once a fae, always a fae? We not just going to forsake our own because they were forced to turn against their will? They may not be part of the fae court, but who are we to try to take that part of themselves from them when they didn’t do anything wrong? And anyways, what about a fae who got their wings ripped off? What’s stopping them from telling more people? It’s not like you can rip them off again. There are always going to be a hundred of different variables out of our control, Ains. So, the fae leader and court do the best they can, but again, the mirage and secret is only there to protect us. So, if it gets out, it gets out. It just means that we’ll be far more likely to be fed on by vamps or judged and persecuted by witches and other species who will be intimidated by how powerful we are and means that there will be a much higher chance of fae needed to regenerate again and again. And can too. You ask way too many questions and I barely paid attention during human history. Now you want me to recount fae history too?” He pointed out as he moved to offer her that beer she had mentioned earlier. “And hey, I’m here for you, Ains. I am, but maybe it’s time to branch out a little bit if you really are curious about this? I mean Leyla’s a fae whose regenerated a few different times now and joined a court again in this lifetime a few months ago? So, maybe if you think you might be a fae who regenerated, you could ask her? I bet she knows more than I do about triggering memories?” He offered up, giving her a reassuring nudge, before adding, “Eh. Probably not. It doesn’t exactly make sense to me half the time and this is the only life I’ve ever known, but you know, not everything needs to make sense. Sometimes things are just easier not knowing.”

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

“You act like I know all of this, but I don’t know any of it.” Ainsley replied with annoyance. She knew he was just trying to explain to her, but there was a part of her that felt like she was the butt of everyone’s joke in the face court. It had taken her this long to find the court when those around her already knew about it. It felt like she should have been handled a binder on how to be a fae, when instead she was given a five minute talk that was suppose to explain everything. Sitting quietly as she listened to him, she felt like she was being an annoyance for trying to understand what she was and how any of this worked. “Don’t worry about it. I won’t ask anymore.” She replied cooly, while on the inside she shoved any emotion she felt down. Hoping that maybe if she buried it deep enough that she wouldn’t ever have to feel it again. After all it had been working most of her life. “It’s fine I don’t need to talk to anyone about this I’ll just figure it out.” Brushing off his suggestions of talking to Leyla, the last thing she wanted to do was share her life details with a person she didn’t know. Not responding to his nudge as she sat there, her fingers traced the opening of her beer. “Yeah, I mean not like any of this matters in the long run right?” She remarked, put the beer on the table with a shrug. “Not like it actually changes anything in my life.” Forcing a laugh, even though she knew deep down nothing was adding up from her end. “After all I’ve got plenty more to live anyways so hey who cares about this one.” 

[connectivitty-blog]

cell phone headcanons

send me “#” for cell phone headcanons about our muses including:                              - what your muse’s name is in mine’s phone                              - what your muse’s picture is in mine’s phone                              - what your muse’s ringtone is in mine’s phone                              - my muse’s last text to your muse