[redzuigiberx]

The First of Many (9:18 PM)

[allthisandheavan-too]

He barely heard her come into the living room, and he knew for a fact he couldn’t smell her with all the shit that was around them. If there was a  negative to this holiday it was the fact that the scents messed with him so much it out him in such a sour mood that even the children in the clinic could notice it. Peeking up at her with one tired eye, Liam attempted a failed smirk at her. She’d understand his appreciation he hoped as he shuffled upwards to shake the towel through his hair. Snuffling a bit from behind the think fabric, Liam could hear her starting to speak again, dropping the towel a bit so he could hear her just a bit better. But when the words finally hit him, it was like he attempted to hide in the towel once more, wild hair peeking out instead of his annoyance. Why today? Of all the days this woman could’ve brought this up it had to be tonight. He was too tired to fight, to tired to even care. Liam could feel the rage bubbling like a luke warm kettle under his skin. Not enough to explode, but enough to show up on his face when he finally decided to look at her.

“Is this really the fucking time for this right now Maris?” he growled at her, a defeated and lack luster sound compared to all their other fights. His body was wary, but he could feel his skin tingling as he tossed the towel at her feet. “I can’t even begin to explain to you how idiotic this is, but if you feel that way then get the fuck out,” he barked, another lack-luster sound as he pointed towards the door. Something was off though, he couldn’t quite pinpoint it, his senses all muddled with rage, Christmas junk, and exhaustion. “I don’t have the energy to argue with you. Nor do I want to right now. I’ve had the longest fucking day, and I just wanted a normal fucking night. And here you come, with this bullshit because you want a pity party for Christmas,” Liam said, the words followed by a clipped snarl as he sat up, hands on his knees as he helped himself to his feet. “The last thing I need right now is my mate acting like a petulant child.” Pushing past her, he got an uneasy feeling once more; something was off…

[redzuigiberx]

She flinched at his words, not thinking about how odd that was for her. Normally she would puff up, refuse to let him be alpha over her. But for once her eyes were beginning to water up in front of him, the first hot tear streaking down her cheeks felt like a slap to the face. Was she really that easy to throw away? That he could just tell her to get out? She had put thought into this, into wanting him to be happy, because he never seemed to be happy with her, and his reaction was to tell her to leave. Her shoulders shook slightly as the tears continued to fall. This was not who she was, not in the slightest and usually she would question that fact, she would try to understand why she was whimpering and crying simply because Liam wanted to act like the big bad wolf. But for now it was too late and she was trying to wipe away her tears with the sleeves of her shirt. “I’m not being petulant, I just want to know that I make you happy. Do you even want to be with me? You just seem to hate everything I do,” She forced the words out, voice quivering in a way she hadn’t heard since she was a little girl stumbling around behind her father’s tail. “I don’t want a pity party, I want you to be with someone who makes you happy and you just seem unhappy with everything that I do,”

“Don’t tell me to leave, tell me something I can do to be better. I want to be worth something,” She was rambling now, words tripping into one another. She wouldn’t normally say things like this, admit a dent in her ego. But at the moment her emotions seemed to have flown out of her hands and she wasn’t sure how or why, but she couldn’t bring herself to question it as she looked up at her mate with reddened eyes, heart broken. Normally she would find it easy to blame this on him, claim that it was his fault for being so cold instead of her own for not being good enough. But she couldn’t place why this was happening.

[allthisandheavan-too]

He could feel the venom bubbling and foaming in his throat. There wasn’t a prayer she could have in this world that could save her from this fight she wanted to apparently start. But something stopped him cold in his tracks, the blood and the bubbles rushing away from his head. From red to white, his vision was clear, and his hands fell limp to his side. Turning around on his heel, Liam looked at the woman with confusion. This wasn’t right, but he knew somewhere deep in his gut he was right. The smell, it was the smell. He couldn’t have noticed it before, there was no way with all the damn candles, and decorations. But walking past her...there was no way to miss it. His face paled, ocean blue eyes looking at her with disbelief, even distrust. Was she not going to tell him...Was it even his? He snuffed that thought out before the anger bubbled back into his head as he looked at her, brows knitting with concern.

“Were you going to tell me?” he huffed out, voice immediately softer as if that were, or would, effect the baby at all. Pup, baby...pups? He couldn’t tell, too early he supposed. “I feel like I should have known, why wouldn’t you tell me, Maris” he almost hissed this time, hands shoved in his pockets now. Liam felt awkward, it was like he could feel the heat of the twinkling lights, the candles, and the warmth all around. He shuffled about a bit, stepping back from her, he was too close and he felt more than awkward, it was now uncomfortable. His eyes were on her stomach, curious, angry, upset, concerned. Pups, his maybe...hopefully? Is that what they were ready for? Could they be ready for it. He could be, but could she make it work? They? Would it ruin them, was she better off without him...”Maris, answer me at least,” he added, nose scruntching up and his voice gruff.

[redzuigiberx]

Sting Like A Bee (7:16 AM)

[allthisandheavan-too]

Maverick watched the billowy woman leave, wondering again whether it was a rouse or not. No-one could really be that…happy all the time, there was no way. Snapping back for a second as Miss Hunt started to speak, Maverick collected himself as she strode off with all the finesse of a big cat and began following her like a new pup in the pack. He never liked the feeling of being new, of knowing everyone was going to treat him with a certain level of disdain because he would have to ask questions, that he would need to be shown the ropes, and that he was fresh meat in the zoo that was business. He watched her walk, hips swaying and heels clicking determinedly. She had confidence dripping from every pore, but even that was a mistake on her end. No-one in a position of power should over exert it, it would cause mutiny at some point, no matter how high on the social and business ladder one climbed. There was always someone on a lower rung who’d trip you without a second thought, but if someone was more relatable, well then, they’d be less inclined to take out the rung from beneath you. 

Watching her sit once they arrived in her office he assumed, Maverick had the good graces not to make himself too comfortable. Another rule he lived by if he chose to live by any, was not to be cocky and assume he could do whatever he wished. He needed explicit permission, he needed to show he was sensible and humble. Smiling softly, shyly even, Maverick watched her with icy eyes, thinking of the best response he could, but an honest one as well. “Well, Miss Hunt, I studied business administration at NYU, and I was looking for someplace where I could find a suitable boss to work under and learn from. I thought, well who’s better than a boss who works with different media and different people all the time,” he said easily, knowing that he sounded simple, but it was better than being simple than a dickhead on the first day. “So I applied here with the intent of working under you because I have heard from follow classmates that you were exactly that kind of boss. I also wanted to see different kinds of business expertise, So this is just another learning experience really.” He hoped that wasn’t a foot in his mouth…

[redzuigiberx]

Nodding easily along with his words, paying attention without paying attention was a fine art that she had learned when she was a student in NYU. A slight smirk crossing her lips at the mention of her Alma Mater. An odd sense of pride always surrounded the institution for her, stained as it was from memories of Dion, although that was not a thought that could cloud her vision in a work environment, oh no. “It’s good to see someone from my Alma Mater doing well,” She admitted with a slight approving nod, as if he was in some sort of special club. But wasn’t that how universities were treated in these arenas? Like special clubs that people were lucky to have gotten into. “I trust you know your responsibilities, along with the boring details that go along with any other internship, coffee fetching, call taking, the works, I’ll expect input in layouts, in how things are run. Whether that input is taken to heart depends on it’s quality,” She spoke smoothly, as if this was a speech she’d given a thousand times, he was her first intern. She’d always made it clear that she had no interest in having one. Once her day was over Tasha would find out just how he had slipped in under her radar.

“Have formal wear ready as well, your attendance will be expected at events. You’ll learn more about business there then you ever will in an office, frankly,” It was true, galas were more like battle royales, the wealthy trying to outdo one another desperate to be top dog when in all reality they were clumsy puppies. She would train him to be perfect however. She had no interest in having an intern, but if her name would be attached to him in any way, shape, or form he couldn’t be anything less than perfect. She would not allow herself to be stained because of a young man. “Simple tasks really, I trust you can handle them?”

[allthisandheavan-too]

It wasn’t much to take in, and he knew the tasks already. He had seen movies and televisions shows on them, and horror stories from other classmates who had done them during school instead of after like him. Maverick was sure he had this. Besides, what was the worse she could dish out to him? Telling him some extreme Starbucks order that he could only half remember when he got chocked up on the line with a million angry New Yorker’s behind him? No sweat, he hoped. Nodding briskly, icy eyes sharp and ready for the worst Maverick asserted what little dominance he had. “I am sure I won’t let you down, Miss Hunt,” he said with a slightly tern voice. He didn’t know when you stand, or if he should wait on her...or if he was supposed to jump into work just then and there. 

“Thank you again, for accepting the internship,” he said earnestly, going for the appreciative route, nodding a little. “I will take full advantage of what you’re willing to teach me,” he added, shuffling to the edge of his seat a bit, becoming a little stir crazy. “May I start my tasks? Any coffee this morning, papers or files to run?” Maybe it was better to just start, show her he was ready and willing to just dive in head first into the world of being a slightly, to sit paid intern in New York City. Thankfully his fathers weren’t poor or struggling...and he wondered if he had his sister if they’d struggle. Shaking his head a bit, trying to get the odd thoughts out of his head, Maverick focused on the directions that were about to be spewed on him.

[allthisandheavan-too]

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A.D. Miller; In The Pool; At Seven (6:03 PM)

[allthisandheavan-too]

Aussie tried as hard as he could not to laugh out as loud as he wished to. Marnie was funny, a woman with a good sense of humor after what had happened to her. He dare say that it was interesting when she came into the picture following after Lyle, a sour look on her face. He dear husband messed up the circle, and that was always what annoyed her the most about her death. The sheer idiocy of the man rather than the gall he had to kill her is his lapsed state of judgement. If he were in her shoes though Aussie figured he’d feel about the same. He was a droll perfectionist in life, and if something concerning his death with imperfect well, let’s just say he’d be just as sour as his fellow ginger. His green-blue hues landed on her as she spoke, seeing her sip her drink. She was bold, he would never place that junk hear his lips, annoyed at this job or not. He wondered vaguely how she would fair in his era, if she could handle the grain. But something inside him said she could, and he would’ve faired better than even himself. 

“Well I’m glad their not the headliner at all,” he muttered back to her as he watched the crowd once more with lack luster enthusiasm. Girl were eyeing him, and he could only imagine if his skewed version of himself could do this, what his actual face would cause these girls to do. He wasn’t a bragging man, but he knew he was miles better than the barely there competition around him. Swirling the drink in his cup Austin sighed a bit, chucking a bit again at his partner once more as she looked around. “I’m sure Lyle would be thrilled to know he’s going to have to deal with casualties with this job if Miller doesn’t have the good sense to show up and die already,” he added idly as she shuffled on his feet, getting tired of this venue quicker than he thought he would honestly.

[redzuigiberx]

She scoffed softly at the mention of Lyle. The blonde monstrosity that was their boss. He was a good man, awkward in all of his shows of emotion as if death took away all of his tact. She could still recall him looking over her corpse with a confused sort of wonderment, commenting that Jesse had been off with a single line in his runes. He’d laughed while she’d fumed, wondering vaguely if Jesse could have possibly summoned anything in all reality. Maybe, had been his only reply. “I wouldn’t be the first reaper to snap and start taking casualties I’m sure,” She mumbled, loud enough for only Austin to hear. The last thing she needed was for a human to wander up to her asking questions about things that they need not know. That would really cause the ginger to snap. “It’s more a matter of how than when, really,” She spoke with a slight shrug. It was always something of great curiosity, wondering when the foolish human would show up assuming that they’ll live forever only to be ousted rather spectacularly. The new girl was a front runner for best death. A space toilet to the face, she’d be the front runner for a while in Marnie’s book.

“Alex, slow down!” A girl shrieked in a shrill tone as a frat boy scooped her up, whooping and hollering, the name caught her attention. Bouncing about joyously along the edge of the pool without consideration for the water splashed across the ground. The boy was setting himself up for failure, tempting fate really. Nudging her partner slightly the petite red head nodded over in the direction of the pair, trying and failing to spot a graveling. They’d be here for a while, she thought grimly.

[allthisandheavan-too]

Looking in the direction of the pair of idiots, even Austin became hopeful that maybe, just maybe, something would happen to shorten this affair. But by the looks of it, that wasn’t the case. With no gravelings in sight, it would be hard to imagine this boy in any sort of mortal danger. Sighing a bit, Austin shrugged, letting his partner know he was as discontented as she looked. And for good reason too. He was growing too bored of this party, and honestly he would have been alright with any of these sorry excuses for humans dying right here and now. Looking at his watch, it seemed close enough to the time, or so he hoped for whomever this person was to die already. But he knew they would have to find them first, saving their souls and all. It was a tricky business, but rules were rules and he needed to follow them to move on. Quota and all.

Looking at the pool area again, Austin wondered who would it be that that fell to their deaths around the pool, maybe.  He couldn't remember if it was in, around, near...He just knew there wasa  pool, and there would be death, and someone would be touching a soul and moving on. “Do you think it’s a woman? There’s a drunk woman in the pool,” he muttered, half pointing her out, not wanting to draw too much attention to her just in case it was her. She was clinging to an inter tube for dear life, one hand clutched around her beer her eyes as glassy as the water of the pool. He hoped there was a graveling somewhere, anywhere.

[allthisandheavan-too]

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Whirlwind (4:16 PM)

[allthisandheavan-too]

The pair of them were cute if cute was the right word to use for them. Well dressed, obviously affluent, and very different than the cut of the people in this place. She was well dressed, young, and a new mother, and he was a bright-eyed boy intrigued with everything that moved with caution and shyness. So yes, Jean could say cute was an appropriate word to describe them. But it was a novelty for him to actually speak French with someone, and he silently hoped this wouldn’t be their last encounter, but that was awfully odd of him to want or think, seeing as their age was written on their faces respectively. He was a crotchety old man compared to the two, and they were probably just passer-bys. It didn’t upset him, but he would definitely need to get friends after today if these were the thoughts he was having just running into two new people. Nodding a bit in politeness, the little boy spoke again, a little squeak compared to his mother. But she was a squeak as well as far as he was concerned. 

“Il est un plaisir de vous rencontrer, jeune homme. Il semble que nous partageons un non. Comment bizarre, non?” he laughed as he bent a little, speaking to the boy a bit, not trying to come off as creepy, but an older man speaking to a toddler was always creepy if they were as awkward as Jean was in that moment. Looking at the mother he nodded again, the movement becoming a slight nervous tick, “Jean-Luc,” he said as she placed a hand on his chest, “C’est un plasir ausi,” he added with a slight bow to the lady. Again he hoped he wasn’t coming off as creepy, he’d die of embarrassment if he did. There was once a time when Jean was a smooth talker, but that seemed to be years beyond her time. How the time has passed.

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She didn’t bother to push back the giggle that came forth watching the man interact with her son. Maybe it was the homesick feeling of hearing French, or perhaps it was because Claude still hid behind her just slightly. She didn’t feel overly inclined to worry about this man speaking to her son. Granted it may possibly be different if she were asked to leave the pair of them alone together for an extended period of time. If only because she didn’t know the man beyond he had a beautiful face, and spoke French. “Katherine , appelez-moi Kitty,” She introduced smoothly, wondering distantly if her name would be familiar to him. She was a popular enough model in the states, more so in Europe. It had always been easier to work in Europe, Manny whined so much less when he was able to keep a close eye on her. His pretty Kitty couldn’t wander to far off from him and get into trouble. He had good intentions, she understood that, which was why she put up with it. Until he stopped showing up for dinner because he was too busy in the recording studio. If her work was at his beck and call, his work was at hers. And that was just one of the pettier fights.

“Il est un choc pour rencontrer quelqu'un qui connaît le français ici,” She admitted easily, a soft smile across her lips. It was in all reality a shock, she had expected to leave that part of her life behind on the island when she left both it and Manny behind her. “Vous parlez différente,” Her son pointed out, eyes wide with curiosity, it was true however vaguely rude her son sounded. He was from France that much was clear whereas the pair of them had their own accents tainting the language just slightly “Claude , rester poli,” The model scolded gently, offering up an apologetic smile to the man before her.

[allthisandheavan-too]

Chuckling a bit, enjoying the way the innocence just rolled off the boy, Jean-Luc nodded the apology away, looking at the boy with earnest eyes. “Well, my French is from a small part of France, and maybe it’s just how we were taught,” he said, finally finding his English tongue. He didn’t want to impose on speaking French all the time, assuming they were fluent like him. Maybe they spoke a sub-classed French, from Belgium, or even Haiti. They had the complexion for either. But then again he didn’t want to assume, again. Running a hand through his hair, Jean smiled apologetically. “I didn’t mean to take up so much of you time, I just haven’t met a French speaking person in a while. Felt like home a little,” he rattled on, knowing how stupid he seemed. And honestly he didn’t mean to take up so much of their time. It was quite rude of him, and he could hear his mother screeching in the back of his head. 

Nodding a bit, looking like a fool, he shuffled on his feet. Now that he made the conversation it would just be rude of him to walk away, but he wanted to for some reason. Usually he was smoother than this, and it was becoming increasingly annoying to him that he was so awkward around the woman and the boy. Trying not to look annoyed, not wanting to give off the air of being rude, Jean-Luc smiled sweetly. “Have you been here for long?” he asked awkwardly, adding to the conversation more rather than allowing her to talk. It made him look stupider, and he turned in sapphire eyes elsewhere, looking at the boys shoes instead. They were cute shoes, cuter than any shoe he had as a child by far. 

[redzuigiberx]

But I Love It (9:14 PM)

[allthisandheavan-too]

Alaistair was startled just a bit by how quickly and quietly he appeared. Lyle was a larger man, but shit did he move like some big cat stalking prey. Part of his was glad he wasn’t drinking, or else he would’ve sputtered out his drink. Looking at the man with anxious icy eyes, Alaistair listened to the words the poor kid rambled out with his croaky voice. He smelled of sadness and cigarettes. and that made Alaistair feel a little guilty. It wasn’t that he should, they were both grown men, and he was sure he wasn’t playing with the kid’s emotions, but the way he looked right now looked worse than some of his groupies when he had to leave in the morning. And for that Alaistair felt bad, because those women seemed to have their shit together better than Lyle did in this moment. Maybe this was a mistake, messing with some poet type. He was so emotion driven it was making it hard to be mutual with him. 

Alaistair couldn’t commit to a salad, how was he supposed to commit to a person. “I uh,” he started, voice low and a little distant as he shuffled in his seat, looking from Lyle to Lyle’s bare feet. “Well,” he started, trying to square his shoulders as he sat up a bit, hand letting go of his support system in the form of whiskey. “I don’t think it was a drunken mistake, but it is offensive to think I can get my rocks off to anything with a hole,” he said, a slight tinge of annoyance in his voice. Sure he got that Lyle was hurt, but that was a low blow even for him. “But you have to do what you have to do, you know how I am, and I can’t just jump into something fully,” he added, trying to be sincere with the kid despite his annoyance. 

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He could feel the flicker of a smile across his lips at the feeble defense placed before him. He was his mother’s son in the worst of ways, he had to cut it open, couldn’t leave it out in the air to dry. “Not just any hole then? C'mon man we’ve both seen the morning afters of the groupies you bring home, besides, you’ve been fucking your best friends little brother for almost a month now. That spells any hole,” He spoke with a shrug and a smirk that settled perfectly across his features. It was all he had going for him really. Mike had his stupid boyish grin that always got him out of trouble whereas Lyle had a smirk that could make women swoon, which was only entertaining if he was interested in any of them. Which very rarely happened. But he’d been bottoming, that never happened, maybe experimenting in what was even rarer for him wouldn’t be a bad idea over the next few weeks. He was acting over emotional and women always seemed to lap that up. Idiots wanting the most romantic man in the world, wanting their books to come alive in the streets. It was laughable in most cases.

It was easy to look as if he was in control even when he avoided eye contact, his face spelled out a broken man but he kept his shoulders and back straight. Kept his body language powerful. Something that had been broken into him as a boy, traits he and his brother laughed about. He wanted to spit out something venomous but held his tongue back in that regard. He wasn’t interested in losing a friend, nor was he interested in making the apartment awkward. “It’s a wonder how you can commit to albums, those have to impress millions, people just show up and come and go,” The blonde commented with a low laugh, trying to make a joke to keep his nerves from fraying too badly.

[allthisandheavan-too]

Alaistair stiffened. He didn’t expect this kind of reaction to come out of the kid, and it was slowly turning his annoyance into aggitation. Part of him wanted to leave, see if someone else will have him for the night. Icy eyes landed on the kid, never mind trying to avoid his snappy words now. His face was hard, and he didn’t know if he came across as too cold or uncaring, but he didn’t seem to care anymore. He didn’t like how Lyle was just assuming, making judgement calls on his character as if he really knew Alaistair. He didn’t. If anyone knew the confusing rocker, it was Mike, and even Mike could see that this was a difficult choice for Alaistair to make. And not because he was indecisive or cruel, but because he really honestly cared...and it confused him, a lot. Running a hand along his chin, he sighed, as if the sigh was supposed to make it easier to release his annoyance. 

“Think what you will, and make the jokes you want, but you don’t know me as well as you think you do,” he muttered, a sharp edge to his voice. Now he defintely needed Jack, a bit of support in this losing battle. It wasn’t going to get better, the kid was scorned and jealous, and that he knew how to deal with in a woman. But a man seemed like a whole different challenge that he was not ready for. Alaistair didn’t know why it made him so anxious, and maybe he and Mike needed to talk about it. Mike would know, it was his kid brother that was doing this to him after all. “Anything else to say, or will you just keep chastising me cause I can’t make a choice...” he snipped, cocking a brow attempting to give the air of not giving a fuck, and hoping to whomever that it was working. 

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Language Barrier (2:12PM)

[allthisandheavan-too]

It was almost instantaneous how her opinion changed of Axel the moment he actually opened his mouth at her. The level of mystery he held vanished and he became another face in the crowd. He wasn’t as smart as she had hoped, or as intellectual, but then again there lay the flaw in her logic; she hoped something out of someone who wasn’t capable, and she let herself down more than the actual being itself. Her forest green’s never took themselves off the other brother. He looked clam, but there was a storm brewing under his skin, under his dead eyes, and under all the hair atop his head. And that in itself made Riley intrigued again with the pair. She wondered how brothers like this came to be, how two very different people could occupy the same household, let alone the same parents. Blinking a bit, tilting her head to the side as if she were looking at the most fantastical of creatures, Riley continued to talk absent-mindedly to Axel as he spoke to her, never forgetting her manners. 

Which the older of the two brothers seemed to have to remind the odd one he had. It wasn’t that when he spoke it startled her, but she was so convinced he didn’t know how to articulate so she could understand. Blinking a bit more Riley found herself smirking a tad as she nodded to him. “Riley,” she said as simply as she took just a step forward, examining the boy a bit more before she squared her shoulders, curls bouncing a bit as she looked at Axel with a very determined glint in her eyes. “Well, it was a pleasure to speak to you, I don’t get to engage in conversation with the pair of you often,” she said with a cool edge to her voice. Riley was clearly bored with the eldest of the two, but she didn’t think the youngest was going to speak any more than his broken, strange language and staring at her, or past her. It was such a shame he was so reserved…”I’ll be heading off now, I’d like to take a stroll outside and enjoy the weather while I still can,” Riley muttered, looking at Psymon with a silent invitation, wondering  if he’d understand.

[redzuigiberx]

He could feel his brother’s pout long before he saw it, used to watching others. It was how he’d made it this far in life, Axel was erratic, but Psymon had him down to a science. He could see right through his siblings bravado and into the mania that filled his mind, grasping at straws to deny the life he had seen thus far. Then again was Psymon better off? Staying silent, allowing the world to happen to him and snapping when he saw fit. “Þú stalst verðlaun minn,” The older Valentine whined, receiving nothing but a shrug for his efforts. The blonde before them wasn’t a prize, she was a witch. One who seemed different from the other thoughtless girls Psymon had encountered. Then again she was still someone demanding his attention, why not? He had nothing better to do and she was attractive. Maybe in the time he’d begin to understand why her gaze felt different. That or he’d just do his best to scare away that gaze. Terror was easy to instill in most women. His childhood had taught him that at the very least. His mother’s lunatic screams still haunted him to an extent, something that lived in his dreams. Her pained screams, at least until she snapped, it was all laughter after that. “Sterkur heppni,” was all that he cared to offer up to his sibling as he broke away.

Casting a glance back at the blonde with all of her curls, eyes that mirrored a clear sky locking onto her. He kept his features expressionless, there was no point to playing nice and smiling pretty. She didn’t seem stupid enough to fall for it. Jerking his head slightly, an invitation of sorts. Although he didn’t bother waiting to see if she’d take it, he simply shoved his hands in his pockets and began a journey to one of the many doors that lead out to the grounds. The early October air wouldn’t require many layers which was a godsend in all reality. Psymon had never been very fond of cold weather.

[allthisandheavan-too]

Part of her was enthusiastic, and she knew she shouldn’t have been because it would create expectations, and those were never good things to have about someone when you were a Rothschild. Following the boy, trying not to let any emotion show on her face, Riley walked silently next to him. She didn’t want to be annoying or anything, and the last thing she wanted to do was show interest in the boy. Blonde curls bouncing along with the rhythm of her walk, her shoes clicked along the old stone as she followed him out. It was a lovely fall day, a little nippy for her, but she also wasn’t one to complain about it either. She could tell he wasn’t a man of many words, prior to their conversation, if she could even call it that, she didn’t know he could even speak at all. 

Blinking a bit, she took a few steps to get in front of the boy and found a reasonable place to sit. She thanked her lucky stars only a bit to see that the courtyard was empty. Probably everyone was at the Great Hall getting some sort of supper, or late lunch. Placing her books on her lap,Riley shifted in her seat, smoothing her skirt as she looked off into the sky, clouds swirling about. “It looks like rain,” she said, not really speaking to him, but speaking aloud. Forest green eyes looked bored, but usually everything seemed to bore her except a few classes, and a few people. A breeze tickled her nose as she sighed, pulling her cloak closer to her chest. It was getting chilly, and she regretted not bringing her scarf with her now. 

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But I Love It (9:14 PM)

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Michael would have barged in the room by now whining about some sort of stray dish that had been left in the sink, some small detail that only his brother could have possibly found. There was once a DeLuca, he was a deranged Martha Stewart homo, he’s dead now. It had to be Alaistair, the person he was praying it wouldn’t be. Alaistair would surely be the death of him, that much was for goddamned sure. Standing up he took in a deep breath, he’d been raised by Maris fucking DeLuca, a hell hound in the flesh. If he could deal with that psychotic bitch hounding him day in and day out, he could end a friends with benefits relationship with his brother’s best friend. He just wanted to know how he wound up in such a strange, fucked up situation. Mike would have a ball laughing about it all someday.

Wandering out of his bedroom, bare feet making no sound on the hardwood flooring, the tattered strings of his destroyed jeans dragging just a bit. Button down crinkled and only buttoned vaguely. He looked more like a saddened and downtrodden puppy than a grown man. Refusing to make eye contact as he made his way to the kitchen, choosing to stare at the bottle of whiskey in the rockstar’s hand. It would be easier if he didn’t actually look at Alaistair…right? Surely that would make this entire thing so much easier. “You know I’ve been pining after you for years now, right? Like it’s not something you’ve never noticed. You aren’t blind,” He began, voice raw from lack of use, or maybe it was all that he’d smoked that day. “I can’t do this anymore, and it’s not like you’ll have any trouble finding a hole to get your rocks off into. This was just a drunken mistake to begin with,” He was rambling, and doing his best not to sound like some bitter tramp that wanted to be his one and only. He just wanted to subtract himself from a situation before his writing took a hit. “Being in limbo is getting to my writing, either I sound like Sylvia Plath or I don’t write and I can’t keep that up,”

[allthisandheavan-too]

Alaistair was startled just a bit by how quickly and quietly he appeared. Lyle was a larger man, but shit did he move like some big cat stalking prey. Part of his was glad he wasn’t drinking, or else he would’ve sputtered out his drink. Looking at the man with anxious icy eyes, Alaistair listened to the words the poor kid rambled out with his croaky voice. He smelled of sadness and cigarettes. and that made Alaistair feel a little guilty. It wasn’t that he should, they were both grown men, and he was sure he wasn’t playing with the kid’s emotions, but the way he looked right now looked worse than some of his groupies when he had to leave in the morning. And for that Alaistair felt bad, because those women seemed to have their shit together better than Lyle did in this moment. Maybe this was a mistake, messing with some poet type. He was so emotion driven it was making it hard to be mutual with him. 

Alaistair couldn’t commit to a salad, how was he supposed to commit to a person. “I uh,” he started, voice low and a little distant as he shuffled in his seat, looking from Lyle to Lyle’s bare feet. “Well,” he started, trying to square his shoulders as he sat up a bit, hand letting go of his support system in the form of whiskey. “I don’t think it was a drunken mistake, but it is offensive to think I can get my rocks off to anything with a hole,” he said, a slight tinge of annoyance in his voice. Sure he got that Lyle was hurt, but that was a low blow even for him. “But you have to do what you have to do, you know how I am, and I can’t just jump into something fully,” he added, trying to be sincere with the kid despite his annoyance. 

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Whirlwind (4:16 PM)

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That was just about the last thing Kitty expected to hear. She’d gotten so used  to hearing nothing but English in the States, hearing French almost felt like home. Which was only slightly odd because she’d been raised speaking English. Perhaps she’d been in Haiti for too long, looking to it as a getaway from fame while she raised her son, even in the wealthy neighborhoods. But before she could respond she saw the glee light up across Jean-Claude’s face, he hadn’t heard a single person speaking French other than his mother from the day they’d arrived. Clearly excited to speak his native tongue, that which came easiest to the young boy he darted back to his mother’s side, almost shaking with his excitement. “Non, non. Tel est le nom de mon fils . Je suis désolé,” She spoke with a laugh shaking her head, long curls swaying easily. Now if she could only find someone who spoke fluent Spanish and didn’t question her lisp she’d be in business. “Jean- Claude , dire bonjour,” The model directed glancing down to the boy who still seemed to be vibrating with excitement, it was like a burst of home all at once. She knew the breakup had been tough on him, as amicably as they had tried to do it all, he missed his father, he missed his home. If speaking to a stranger in a grocery store for only a few minutes would cheer the boy up Kitty was happy to comply.

“Bonjour,” Came the soft voice from alongside her thin legs, excited or not he still seemed to be shy here. She’d figure out how to help him with it at some point. Although this would be good enough for now. Distantly she simply hoped that he didn’t take this as a reason to start speaking to strangers just because they spoke French. That would be a very important chat to have the very second that they returned home.

[allthisandheavan-too]

The pair of them were cute if cute was the right word to use for them. Well dressed, obviously affluent, and very different than the cut of the people in this place. She was well dressed, young, and a new mother, and he was a bright-eyed boy intrigued with everything that moved with caution and shyness. So yes, Jean could say cute was an appropriate word to describe them. But it was a novelty for him to actually speak French with someone, and he silently hoped this wouldn’t be their last encounter, but that was awfully odd of him to want or think, seeing as their age was written on their faces respectively. He was a crotchety old man compared to the two, and they were probably just passer-bys. It didn’t upset him, but he would definitely need to get friends after today if these were the thoughts he was having just running into two new people. Nodding a bit in politeness, the little boy spoke again, a little squeak compared to his mother. But she was a squeak as well as far as he was concerned. 

“Il est un plaisir de vous rencontrer, jeune homme. Il semble que nous partageons un non. Comment bizarre, non?” he laughed as he bent a little, speaking to the boy a bit, not trying to come off as creepy, but an older man speaking to a toddler was always creepy if they were as awkward as Jean was in that moment. Looking at the mother he nodded again, the movement becoming a slight nervous tick, “Jean-Luc,” he said as she placed a hand on his chest, “C’est un plasir ausi,” he added with a slight bow to the lady. Again he hoped he wasn’t coming off as creepy, he’d die of embarrassment if he did. There was once a time when Jean was a smooth talker, but that seemed to be years beyond her time. How the time has passed.

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A.D. Miller; In The Pool; At Seven (6:03 PM)

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The laughter that spilled forth almost jerked her tiny body. Enough so that she readjusted her wide brimmed hat with a careful hand, not wanting the sun to touch her face, add any more freckles that absolutely necessary.“Weed is harmless, I died just before the boom that was blow. Now that was wild. This is just a bunch of spoiled little babies swiping their parents money. I’ve no interest in babies,” She confirmed with a slight sneer. She wasn’t overly fond of having to blend in to any one crowd, she came from a time where it was all about being a beautiful flower, hippies running around trying to be artists and some other such nonsense. That had never really been her scene, she was much more concerned with looking after her family, and then hr husband. At least after her college days that was how she’d felt. Anything before that didn’t need to be revealed to Austin on this particular afternoon. “Worry about me when they roll out Sting, only then will I vanish while on the clock,” The ginger confirmed. These children probably had not clue one as to who The Police were, or what good music was.

Girls dizzly spun around, wriggling in what they called dancing. Earning a dark glare from the red head, keeping them from getting any closer to her. Humans these days were so dirty, they didn’t look like they showered very much and that was a shame. A few of the men would be alright with a good scrub. “Miller can’t come soon enough, I’ll start taking innocents if one of these children comes near me,” It was a muttered promise as she down yet another pull of the drink, feeling nothing. A panty dropper, it tasted more like pink lemonade gone awry. But it was dulling the awful setting that surrounded her enough for it to be useful.

[allthisandheavan-too]

Aussie tried as hard as he could not to laugh out as loud as he wished to. Marnie was funny, a woman with a good sense of humor after what had happened to her. He dare say that it was interesting when she came into the picture following after Lyle, a sour look on her face. He dear husband messed up the circle, and that was always what annoyed her the most about her death. The sheer idiocy of the man rather than the gall he had to kill her is his lapsed state of judgement. If he were in her shoes though Aussie figured he’d feel about the same. He was a droll perfectionist in life, and if something concerning his death with imperfect well, let’s just say he’d be just as sour as his fellow ginger. His green-blue hues landed on her as she spoke, seeing her sip her drink. She was bold, he would never place that junk hear his lips, annoyed at this job or not. He wondered vaguely how she would fair in his era, if she could handle the grain. But something inside him said she could, and he would’ve faired better than even himself. 

“Well I’m glad their not the headliner at all,” he muttered back to her as he watched the crowd once more with lack luster enthusiasm. Girl were eyeing him, and he could only imagine if his skewed version of himself could do this, what his actual face would cause these girls to do. He wasn’t a bragging man, but he knew he was miles better than the barely there competition around him. Swirling the drink in his cup Austin sighed a bit, chucking a bit again at his partner once more as she looked around. “I’m sure Lyle would be thrilled to know he’s going to have to deal with casualties with this job if Miller doesn’t have the good sense to show up and die already,” he added idly as she shuffled on his feet, getting tired of this venue quicker than he thought he would honestly.

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The First of Many (9:18 PM)

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She could hear him entering their home, she always recognized that sound, even if she was out could the blonde usually snuffled awake and greeted him sleepily when he came home late. But tonight was decently early. It was now or never, she had to do this before she forced him to be with her any longer than he had to be. If he could be happy somewhere  else she would have to bite her tongue and let him go. She would just wind up back with Brian or maybe Jon, someone would exist for her. As long as she knew that he got to be with the kind of mate that would make him happy. That would give him a family and could make him smile. Not a foolish little girl that was more trouble than she was worth. Her own self deprecating thoughts were starting to eat away at her before she even got out of their bedroom. Taking a shuddering breath she stood on shaky legs, grabbing a towel from the small pile of folded laundry as she wandered out to greet him. He always managed to get his unruly hair wet. Keeping her head down, acting so much more like a submissive than she’d ever allowed herself to seem the young blonde held the towel out to the wolf, “For your hair,” Was all that she could croak out in that second.

Taking a deep breath the second the towel was out of her hand, it would be like ripping off a band aid, she’d say what she had to say, and he would be better for it. That was it…right? Maybe it wasn’t that simple, but she could only pray that he would be better off without her. “Liam…I’m not sure this is working out. I don’t think I’m a very good mate for you. All I seem to do is upset you, mates are supposed to make one another happy. I want you to be happy and I keep fucking that up, I was too clingy a first, so I tried to keep my distance but it’s driving me crazy. I can’t even cook for you, I can just clean and that’s not enough, you deserve better than some stupid brat. Someone like Emily or Faye, someone older or smarter…” The words felt like an open wound now that they were out in the air, she wanted to take them back, but the most she could do was fidget and wait for a response.

[allthisandheavan-too]

He barely heard her come into the living room, and he knew for a fact he couldn’t smell her with all the shit that was around them. If there was a  negative to this holiday it was the fact that the scents messed with him so much it out him in such a sour mood that even the children in the clinic could notice it. Peeking up at her with one tired eye, Liam attempted a failed smirk at her. She’d understand his appreciation he hoped as he shuffled upwards to shake the towel through his hair. Snuffling a bit from behind the think fabric, Liam could hear her starting to speak again, dropping the towel a bit so he could hear her just a bit better. But when the words finally hit him, it was like he attempted to hide in the towel once more, wild hair peeking out instead of his annoyance. Why today? Of all the days this woman could’ve brought this up it had to be tonight. He was too tired to fight, to tired to even care. Liam could feel the rage bubbling like a luke warm kettle under his skin. Not enough to explode, but enough to show up on his face when he finally decided to look at her.

“Is this really the fucking time for this right now Maris?” he growled at her, a defeated and lack luster sound compared to all their other fights. His body was wary, but he could feel his skin tingling as he tossed the towel at her feet. “I can’t even begin to explain to you how idiotic this is, but if you feel that way then get the fuck out,” he barked, another lack-luster sound as he pointed towards the door. Something was off though, he couldn’t quite pinpoint it, his senses all muddled with rage, Christmas junk, and exhaustion. “I don’t have the energy to argue with you. Nor do I want to right now. I’ve had the longest fucking day, and I just wanted a normal fucking night. And here you come, with this bullshit because you want a pity party for Christmas,” Liam said, the words followed by a clipped snarl as he sat up, hands on his knees as he helped himself to his feet. “The last thing I need right now is my mate acting like a petulant child.” Pushing past her, he got an uneasy feeling once more; something was off...

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Sting Like A Bee (7:16 AM)

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Shaking the boy’s hand, and he was a boy, Tasha kept up her professional air. She had to keep in control, life was naught but a game of chess that she had to win. Dion used to laugh at her every now and again, tell her how clever she was, how it scared him every now and again to see the cogs turning in her eyes, he never knew what would be coming next. It had always burned like pride in her gut when he’d said that. But such trivial things were in the past…they hardly mattered anymore. The second she was able to Tasha was back to clasping her hands behind her back. Astrid nodded happily, pleased as punch clearly. “Well, I’m off back to editing, it was lovely to meet you Maverick, I hope you enjoy your time with us,” She chirped and with that was off back towards the elevator. If Tasha didn’t know the fake red head better she’d assume that Astrid was always high. No human being possibly had that much energy stored up so early in the morning. But she didn’t dwell, she had enough work to do, and now she had to worry about keeping this baby duckling under her wing and out of traffic. If she fell behind there would surely be hell to pay.

“So, Mister Michellson if you would follow me?” She prompted turning easily on her stilettos moving easily back to her office without wasting a single more second, this was enough of a waste. She didn’t want to deal with Serena’s smug little smile. Better than every one as per usual. Puta. Ushering the intern into her office and waving a hand to the seats before her desk Tasha acted the part of the doting boss for the moment. Closing the door and heading back to her own chair, sitting and sizing the young man up for a split second. He didn’t look too useless, but looks weren’t always to be trusted. He very likely could have a pair of daddies on the upper east side that dressed him. This was New York, who would be shocked? “Why don’t you tell me about yourself, why you chose Time?” She prompted, she didn’t want to spend her morning having a casual chat, but it was better than having a strange child darting under her heels for the next few months.

[allthisandheavan-too]

Maverick watched the billowy woman leave, wondering again whether it was a rouse or not. No-one could really be that...happy all the time, there was no way. Snapping back for a second as Miss Hunt started to speak, Maverick collected himself as she strode off with all the finesse of a big cat and began following her like a new pup in the pack. He never liked the feeling of being new, of knowing everyone was going to treat him with a certain level of disdain because he would have to ask questions, that he would need to be shown the ropes, and that he was fresh meat in the zoo that was business. He watched her walk, hips swaying and heels clicking determinedly. She had confidence dripping from every pore, but even that was a mistake on her end. No-one in a position of power should over exert it, it would cause mutiny at some point, no matter how high on the social and business ladder one climbed. There was always someone on a lower rung who’d trip you without a second thought, but if someone was more relatable, well then, they’d be less inclined to take out the rung from beneath you. 

Watching her sit once they arrived in her office he assumed, Maverick had the good graces not to make himself too comfortable. Another rule he lived by if he chose to live by any, was not to be cocky and assume he could do whatever he wished. He needed explicit permission, he needed to show he was sensible and humble. Smiling softly, shyly even, Maverick watched her with icy eyes, thinking of the best response he could, but an honest one as well. “Well, Miss Hunt, I studied business administration at NYU, and I was looking for someplace where I could find a suitable boss to work under and learn from. I thought, well who’s better than a boss who works with different media and different people all the time,” he said easily, knowing that he sounded simple, but it was better than being simple than a dickhead on the first day. “So I applied here with the intent of working under you because I have heard from follow classmates that you were exactly that kind of boss. I also wanted to see different kinds of business expertise, So this is just another learning experience really.” He hoped that wasn’t a foot in his mouth...

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Language Barrier (2:12PM)

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She didn’t seem apt to talk, however Psymon could see her brain ticking along as she dissected the situation, something that made the boy snort slightly. A quiet scoff of a laugh, trying to understand Axel? Good luck. Questioning eyes fell upon him and the Ravenclaw clammed back up all at once, not willing to try to find the words in English, or to fight through his accent he simply shrugged “Ekkert,” Was all that he bothered to force out into the hall, gaze wandering away as his brother began to speak, enigmatic and strange as always. It wasn’t shocking to him as to why women fawned over him, with his strange accent and wild laugh. Axel was interesting to the witches who’d only ever seen the same pack of wizards. Although somewhere along the white noise that was Axel’s banter his brother’s attention fell back onto him, sadly enough. Lanky arm tightening just enough to keep him in place, he was done with classes for the day and wanted to go study, or nap, anything to avoid human contact really. Anything would have been better than his brother trying to force words out of him. “Aren’t you going to introduce yourself? Faðir taught you those manners at least,” The mention of their father would have brought a glare across a weaker man’s face, Psymon’s remained blank as he settled his eyes on the blonde.

She was difficult to read, but her eyes bore into him in a way that made him feel at ease. Which wasn’t exactly logical. He was used to Dominik’s eyes bearing down upon him, the disgust that bubbled in his gut at the thought of that feeling alone. But this, he didn’t quite know how to place, and Psymon had a bad feeling his brother could sense that. Axel would not let this go and his only saving grace was the fact that his brother would never be able to barge into the Ravenclaw common room to bug him about it day in and day out. “Psymon,” At least he could say his own name, accent thick, but he was fairly sure the translation was accurate. If not, it wasn’t as if he cared.

[allthisandheavan-too]

It was almost instantaneous how her opinion changed of Axel the moment he actually opened his mouth at her. The level of mystery he held vanished and he became another face in the crowd. He wasn’t as smart as she had hoped, or as intellectual, but then again there lay the flaw in her logic; she hoped something out of someone who wasn’t capable, and she let herself down more than the actual being itself. Her forest green’s never took themselves off the other brother. He looked clam, but there was a storm brewing under his skin, under his dead eyes, and under all the hair atop his head. And that in itself made Riley intrigued again with the pair. She wondered how brothers like this came to be, how two very different people could occupy the same household, let alone the same parents. Blinking a bit, tilting her head to the side as if she were looking at the most fantastical of creatures, Riley continued to talk absent-mindedly to Axel as he spoke to her, never forgetting her manners. 

Which the older of the two brothers seemed to have to remind the odd one he had. It wasn’t that when he spoke it startled her, but she was so convinced he didn’t know how to articulate so she could understand. Blinking a bit more Riley found herself smirking a tad as she nodded to him. “Riley,” she said as simply as she took just a step forward, examining the boy a bit more before she squared her shoulders, curls bouncing a bit as she looked at Axel with a very determined glint in her eyes. “Well, it was a pleasure to speak to you, I don’t get to engage in conversation with the pair of you often,” she said with a cool edge to her voice. Riley was clearly bored with the eldest of the two, but she didn’t think the youngest was going to speak any more than his broken, strange language and staring at her, or past her. It was such a shame he was so reserved...”I’ll be heading off now, I’d like to take a stroll outside and enjoy the weather while I still can,” Riley muttered, looking at Psymon with a silent invitation, wondering  if he’d understand.

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But I Love It (9:14 PM)

It felt too familiar, sitting in Mike’s living room, just trying to get the words to flow. This time however wasn’t any normal writer’s block. This was writer’s block in the form of a short, blue eyed rock star. He couldn’t focus beyond the uncomfortable swell of thoughts in his skull. All swirling around Alaistair. The pipsqueak was going to ruin his fucking career at this point and Lyle couldn’t be bitter about it even if he wanted to. Only slightly sore from the night prior they’d been keeping this odd friends with benefits relationship going through November, and he was starting to lose it. Anxious over when it would end, but just waiting for the other shoe to drop. A shoe in the form of a big breasted groupie willing to do anything for him. Hell, how was he supposed to be sure Alaistair wasn’t already fucking anything that moved the second Lyle wasn’t around? A live in pity fuck, quaint.

Somewhere along this vast downward spiral of thought the blonde had dug his pen deeply into the notebook before him, hand shaking only slightly. His sigh was a heavy one as he scrubbed roughly at his face, it’d be better to end it now, to just shrug it off as an experiment in being a groupie. Find someone else to pine after pathetically, maybe then he’d be able to relax. Or at least use his broken heart to write. That would fair better than sitting alone in his bedroom trying to make poetry out of his murky thoughts. Anything would be better than that. The echo of an opening door sent nothing but dread through the blonde, which roommate was it? Was it time to rip off the band aid he’d craved for so long?

[allthisandheavan-too]

Alaistair sat on his bike for a while longer than he wanted, but his days were looking more and more like this after driving back and forth from the studio, or from a bar of his choice. He smelled of cigarettes and whiskey, and of perfume that got caught on his shirt of a lovely girl who just had the nicest ass. Letting the smoke cur around his tongue, the end of his cigarette flaring up like a lightning bug, Alaistair wondered how much longer would his anxiety taunt him as he felt guilty for his seemingly normal actions. It wasn’t like he made promises of commitment, and he was sure the kid knew by now what a righteous whore he was. It was his M.O. to be this way, after all he was a rock star and a fucking asshole. Spinning the butt around Alaistair snuffed it out on the asphalt as he looked up, icy hues a little hesitant. 

He fucking lived there too, it wasn’t like he was banned from the place cause his fucking best friend’s kid brother had the hots for him, and he wasn’t sure if he would even be into it, or the right guy for someone like him. He was a smart kid, could be some literary genius or some shit; the nest Robert Frost...He didn’t think he was god boyfriend material, but it wasn’t like he didn’t listen to the kid when he had the urge to pillow talk his ear off. Maybe he was being meaner than he should, and steeling his resolve Alaistair walked upstairs, letting himself in with an apprehensive sigh. Tossing his leather jacket and helmet to the floor, on a square specifically taped off for him for Mike’s sake, Alaistair found himself on the couch, looking idly at the powered down t.v. wondering if he should distract himself with shitty shows, or make it to the kitchen for more manly distractions. Jack...he never let Alaistair to stress, just bliss. 

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The First of Many (9:18 PM)

Winding her fingers around one another the blonde took a deep breath, closing her eyes and trying to push her thoughts from her mind. It was Christmas Eve and yet she was allowing herself to be bogged down by questioning thoughts. But they had always been in her mind, form the very second that he had told her that he loved her. It had been in such a gruff manner, everything with him was gruff. Maris wasn’t sure what to make of any of it. Her father protective as he was showed her mother all of the love in the world he did not bother to mask the fact that she was everything to him, that he would disgrace his pack if she asked. But Liam…she couldn’t be sure. He was not particularly loving, not that she wanted him to be a sap, she simply…She wanted to drop the foolish feeling that she had concerning him. She felt out of place in his life, as if she was nothing but an annoyance that weighed him down, that got in the way of him living his life. As if he would simply be so much happier without her there constantly begging for attention. But she had stopped that in the hopes of easing the thoughts in her mind. Easing tension that she was sure was there. Where she normally would have attempted to hold his hand, winding her fingers through his she simply kept her hands behind her back. Where she usually would have pushed up against him desperate and keening as if she were in heat, she avoided sex at all costs, not wanting to irritate him with something that he may not want from her. Where she usually curled up against him late into the night soothed by his presence she slept nearly on the edge of their bed, trying not to cling to him in such a childish way. She was trying to be the mate that he wanted, a good mate, one that would make him happy. She wanted to be better than anyone else for him but it was putting so much stress on her. She was brought to tears late in the night, curling into herself and shaking just slightly with the force of them. But she refused to speak about it, she wanted to correct herself, she wanted to be better for him. 

But maybe that in itself was childish, maybe she had to admit to the fact that this would never work. It was a fools errand of a relationship, they would both be better off if she simply stepped away from it all without word, if she left him to a better mate…like Emily. It ached to even consider that, but she couldn’t stop herself as she pulled her legs tight to her chest, fingers drawing patterns in the smooth skin of her calves. Maybe she should leave, simply vanish. But she couldn’t do that while he was at work. She wasn’t even competent enough to really cook for him so there was food on the table when he got home from work. Squeezing her eyes shut attempting to forget her tears as they slid down her cheeks, she was supposed to be happy, she was supposed to be in love. It was her first Christmas with her mate, there was nothing that could make her happier, his gift wrapped neatly beneath the tree that they had decorated together. All of it was supposed to make her so happy and yet she felt as though she was crumbling, falling to pieces alone in their bedroom. Sniffling she buried her face deep into her knees attempting to wish it all away, to tell herself that she had no reason to be so upset that he loved her no matter what she did and no matter how she saw the world. But how could she convince herself of this when she knew just how many things he didn’t like about her, when she knew how much she could annoy him, when she saw that he did not treat her the way that she had grown up being told she should be treated. She would have to tell him…she would have to ruin their first Christmas as mates…

[allthisandheavan-too]

It had been a long day at the infirmary. Pack pups coming in and out with the sniffles, which was normal for this time of year, but still a tedious and annoying task to deal with. Faye had come in and out to help, making sure that the pups were in line, and weren’t devouring candy in heaps. His ocean blue eyes were trained on the medical records in front of him, ticking off who was really ill and who wasn’t. sniffles didn’t count as an illness that needed immediate care, but influenza did, and if enough pups caught that, well wolves and pups alike would have a very unhappy holiday to look forward to. His fingers rubbed at his temples as he finished up the last of the paperwork, delegating the nurses to call any of the families who were in need, and set up follow up appointments within the next couple of days. He was beat by the end of it all, and all he could do was think about getting home to crash. It was a the eve, and he was here working away like a demented Santa. He never understood why he chose this profession, with his temper he was liable to snap a pup over his leg...But when he saw those runts with their big, sad eyes, all runny and in pain, Liam didn’t need any more reminders. 

Collecting his things and making sure everything was in place for tomorrow, Liam was ready to head out, saying his goodnights to the staff that remained to make sure the calls went out. Snow pelted his face as he trudged through the small snow squall that had the sick sense of humor to harass him on his way home, reaching the quaint little sack of shit he called his casa. Plowing through the threshold, Liam growled at the blast of heat, welcomed but unexpected as he shook out his hair, droplets of now melted snow spattering the floor. Much like the wolf he was, Liam tried to shake the rest of it out, placing his wet outterwear in a soppy pile near the entrance. Everything smelled like Christmas, and he wasn’t sure if he welcomed it, or welcomed the retch that was stuck in his throat cause of the over abundance of scents. Snuffling a bit, Liam padded over to the couch, feet up on the other side as he let his head fall back and groaned finally feeling the weight of the day pound through his legs. He wanted to call for Maris, see if she was smart enough to have some sort of food ready, but he was too beat and angry with the headache he now had to care. Closing his eyes, Liam wondered how peaceful his night would really be...

[redzuigiberx]

Sting Like A Bee (7:16 AM)

Maybe some would spend their time peering out the windows, massive things that showed off the city below her. But Tasha was not most people, Tasha did not care for the frivolous, she did not care for the sights, for the people, or for laziness. Which was what it was. Stop and smell the roses. Yeah, right. While other losers were smelling the roses she had been studying, never allowing her grades to drop below a high A. While they were smelling the roses she was being hired in one of the highest circulated magazines in America. Doing anything that wasn’t keeping her eye on the prize was a fucking waste of time. But that wasn’t to say that she had always been this way. There had been times in the past in which she’d thought about giving it all up. When in college, allured by dark skin and a smooth accent, he would have ruined her, left her without anything whatsoever. But she hadn’t been ruined, she was still standing, still powerful and still in control of all of the tiny details of her life. But perhaps giving it all up wouldn’t have been the worst mistake of her life. It could have been something that would have washed away the feeling of guilt in her gut. The notion that she’d left her mother alone, that she hardly ever called, that she was usually too busy to speak for longer than only a few minutes. She was too much like her father for her to handle while sober but that wasn’t something to think about as she went through various articles, simply assuring that everything in her department was being done correctly. She’d been known to march up to someone’s desk and scream at them about the piece of trash they’d sent to her attempting to pass it off as an adult writing instead of a middle school child. Tapping her nails across the surface of her desk thoughtlessly, the pointed tips keeping up with a perfectly steady pace, just like she so often did. Everything moved according to what she wanted, it never once slipped from her manicured fingers. The world was nothing but an easily moving clock under her watchful green eyes. Tasha never let it slip out of control, she never once allowed herself to be blindsided by any of it. She was above that, above being shocked and above being caught off guard, at least she thought she was right until the familiar gait of that lunatic brunette filled her office. She loved Astrid with all of her heart…but white women, they were fucking crazy. Astrid proved that easily with her manic behavior and illogical thoughts. But she had a heart of gold which was rare in this world, it was something Tasha coveted more than she’d liked to admit. 

“So you’re totally gonna want to have a fit, but I’m prefacing this with just how completely worth it is, and just how completely yummy he is,” She prattled, that intro meant nothing good for Tasha’s sanity and they both knew that. Narrowing eyes done up with both taste and a bit of edge, work appropriate but always on top of the trend. “Don’t give me that look Tash!” The brunette whimpered hints of a frown beginning to appear across crimson lips. That was Astrid in a nutshell, absolutely the sweetest thing on two legs, but also a total and complete loon in the wrong situation and this was apparently the wrong situation. Forcing her glare to relax Tasha slouched back in her chair, gesturing silently for Astrid to continue on with her rant, or with the godawful news that she was hiding under thick layers of pouting and odd promises of yummy men. “You’re getting an intern, but like I said totally yummy, and totally legal,” she chirped as if she were someone making it better, someone attempting to set her friend up on a sick office blind date.

Face gone blank, a dangerous sign the Carribean woman launched up from her chair, careful not to make it spin with the force of her movements. “You’re kidding me, I’m not playing with some barely legal idiot who is too hungover to comprehend how to give taxi directions let alone work under me,” She hissed sharply taking great care to keep her voice down, Astrid wincing automatically, a wave of guilt welling up in her gut, she should know better than to attack the messenger and this was a good sign if anything, a sign that she was trusted by her peers. She would teach this loser kid and look better for it. “Whatever…where is he?” She sighed in defeat only to be lead out of her office to the waiting area just down the hall.

He was attractive, a pretty young thing, but she had years on him she was willing to bet. But that was so far from the point it was almost painful, plastering a welcoming smile to her face she fell silent as Astrid spoke, “Sorry this is all so last minute, trouble with the paperwork going through. The last secretary was a bit of an airhead,” She giggled, seeming a bit too peppy. “But Maverick this is Tasha Hunt, the woman you’re meant to be working under,” She gestured, having briefly explained the mix up that had landed him in her department convinced that she was Tasha. 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maverick,” She greeted curtly, yet professionally. Always on her toes. 

[allthisandheavan-too]

Icy blue eyes were trained on his phone, looking through the last few messages between him and his father Edgar. He was a good man, a confused one, but a good man nonetheless. Edgar was always there for him no matter what the circumstance was, and for that he was a little blessed. He never went about life wondering who he was or craving things he didn’t need. Collin was just as supportive, if not more supportive because he found the donor and made him who he was, to an extent. Maverick Alexi Michellson, born to two gay fathers, raised in the most prolific city in the East Coast, finishing his degree in business administration at NYU, things were looking up for him, or he supposed at least. He was accepted for an internship at Times magazine, whether it just be an internship he specifically wanted one under a boss who knew how to run their people, and apparently they had just the woman for him. The subway was crowded, but it was his only means of transport in the crowded city, a car wasn’t going to cut it here in the city. Flicking through his phone Maverick decided he’d just text his father later, trying to focus on the task at hand. 

He was always told how important he was to them, that he was something to be proud about. But he never felt like he was some sort of special sunflower worthy of so much praise. He did have a sister who was absent of their lives. Apparently it was hard for Edgar to talk about her, his demeanor always changing when that fucking name is even uttered. Alaizabel was like a dark cloud for him, but he always said that she was just as important to him as Maverick was. So why wasn’t she here? Shaking his head Maverick had no time to think of his strange, estranged, absent sister and focused on getting out before the doors were mercilessly shut on him. He would be damned if he were late to this internship, or even worse, right on time. He had to make an impression on Miss Hunt. Apparently she was a Devil Wears Prada personality type, took no shit and would take even less. But he wasn’t scared, just a little apprehensive of the whole situation blowing up in his face. If he could face her then he was sure facing a regular business job would be a breeze.

It took him a bit of time to get there, but with him leaving so early in advance he was a cool fifteen minutes early to the first day under Miss Hunt. asking the lady at the front desk where to go, he was quickly sent to where he needed to go. He never took heed to people immediately, but apparently he had a charm and swept women away which was foolish when he thought about it. He was just a face, with features that lay on their just like anyone else. How was that worthy of praise? Reaching the office, Maverick looked around for who he assumed was Hunt, but apparently he was already lead astray, and that was a tick in the wrong list for him. Now he was playing with a weak hand as he was escorted to the right woman. The one who corrected him, Astrid, seemed like a billowy woman with her head somewhere higher than the floor they worked on. He’d have to pay attention to her, because she seemed close to the woman in charge. Hunt looked much younger than he imagined, and she was...shark-like. Startling eyes, pointed features, and she looked like she ate newborn hearts for lunch. Extending to her his hand, Maverick smiled politely, professionally even, and nodded, “The pleasure is all mine Miss.Hunt, it’s a great opportunity to be working under you here at the Times.”