❝ we won't forget where we came from. the city won't change us; we beat to the same drum. no, we won't forget where we came from. the city can't change us; we beat to the same drum. [...] hey, no matter where we go, we always find our way back home... !! ❞Just some closed roleplay multi-muse blog, not affiliated with anyone or anything seen here unless otherwise credited. Please don't reblog and/or reply to content posted here unless you are part of proximaesthq. Thank you!var sc_project=11746845; var sc_invisible=1; var sc_security="6bf276a9";
His eyes flicker to the other two that enter the scene soon after he speaks with the shopkeep, looking both of them over for a moment before he’s nodding and verbally agreeing with the male. “Yeah – the more people looking at this together, the better. What’s that saying? Two heads are better than one? OR THREE -” He hums a little, shrugging one shoulder. “Marco, by the way-” he introduced himself to the two, as well as the shopkeep.
His attention wanders more fully back to the shopkeeper, stuffing his hands into his pockets before he was following him towards the back – his eyes looked to the door in question for a few moments; but he could do little to nothing to examine it as he was not magically inclined. And, since they seemed to have found an alternative forced way of entry, he supposed that it didn’t matter too much.
He follows the clerk into the back – glancing fleetingly behind to ensure that the others were in tow before letting his gaze take in the ransacked area, a deep frown against his features as his arms fold over his chest. It wasn’t an accident; it wasn’t a random robbing. And it made him angry, even if outwardly he merely seemed discontent ; eyes skimming over the remains before returning to the one speaking – his attention moving to the note in question.
“It almost seems like whoever this was isn’t just stealing to steal, or else they wouldn’t have left a message. They would’ve just taken the supplies, and left.” He then looks to the other two when he stops speaking, waiting to hear them weigh in.
@bcautifullybrokcn‘s turn!
Admittedly, the elf stifled a small chuckle at the other nurse’s remark -- though she didn’t work at the clinic often since she usually answered house calls, she did vaguely recognize him. “Three heads would make a difference, or so I’ve heard,” she commented before nodding, “Alex. Pleased to meet you both.” Though not quite noticeably, she did keep a bit of distance from the clerk as she’d never been that one; he kept to himself outside the borders of town all these years, and Madame Thibodeaux wasn’t too fond of the loud noises that sometimes emitted from the shack he kept.
It took a bit of energy to keep up with everyone given her diminutive size, but she managed well enough. While fairly adept with magic, the door didn’t really faze her since the enchantments were hardly touched. Whoever attempted to break in was certainly a novice in the arts, and was no match for the lock. What ended up picking up her interest the most was the entryway the thieves created for themselves. She dared not to admit it, but she was versed in incendiary devices from her time spent with her warrior mother. Alex lagged behind while the others went to look at the ransacked supplies, examining the blast marks and tracing her fingers on the blackened spots in hopes of gaining information on the type of explosive used and anything about the perpetrators. Not much was used, that she knew already and, by the size of the holes created, they didn’t seem like they needed much room to make it inside...
Keeping an ear on what the males were talking about, she finally caught up as Marco finished speaking about the findings thus far. Pursing her lips as she saw the note left behind, it left a bad taste in her mouth. “From the sound of it, they intend to come back so long as we still have food to spare, no matter how badly we need it to survive the winter,” she remarked, looking at the others, “They immediately want to distinguish themselves as a threat to be reckoned with. Which means they’re either strong, or they’re faking it in order to appear as such.”
His eyes flicker down to the bottle the other was drinking from for a long moment – a strong whiff of a smell hitting the jaguar’s senses – before returning his gaze back up to the merchant. Marco almost felt like he could still be more useful back at the clinic; but there were limited hands coming out to volunteer – and he wanted a hand in helping the town that he lived in. “A tour would be nice – yes.”
Alex would normally spend the holidays in her room, coming out only when Madame Thibodeaux forced her to be social and enjoy Hannukah festivities. However, she took personal offense at the fact that someone broke into the warehouse to steal precious resources -- especially since it meant she couldn’t make the usual plethora of goodies for the town. “Taking a look at the scene? Hope you don’t mind if I follow along,” the elf spoke as she walked up, a bit louder about her presence than usual since she kept getting jostled around by taller policemen around them.
Frances hadn’t seen her son in a couple of days and was starting to miss him. Even though he was an absolute pain in her ass, she still loved the kid and needed to see him a couple times a week. She had yet to be informed that Ruby had applied for the Hunting Club, so she wasn’t grumpy just yet, just needed to see him. “Son?” She called, knocking on the door a couple of times. “Open up, it’s momma.”
With the afternoons being shorter during wintertime, Joshua found it easier to be awake longer, though naps were still nice before work. Getting up from the couch as he heard the knocks nearby, he opened the door and left room to let her enter. He couldn’t help the little thrum in his heart as he beamed, “Should’ve known to expect you sometime today or tomorrow.” He sincerely loved his mother, even if he didn’t approve of every decision she made.
“Joshie!” Ruby called, stepping through the doors of the Hunting Club and walking toward the back where she figured her brother was. “I have to tell you something,” She’d applied to be allowed a second job and had been approved, so she wanted to hand over an application to Josh. “And ask you something!” She rambled, finally stumbling across him and tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention.
The spare hour that Joshua always had before the doors opened for the evening and the first rush of customers flooded into the club was the most enjoyable in his opinion. This was the calm before the storm and, if there was any moment he lived for, it’s these. Baby blues roving towards the familiar voice, a grin quickly cracked his features. “Hey there, Rubik’s Cube,” the older male chuckled before tilting his head, “Oh? Well, go on. Shoot.”
Hallie was at a loss for words. Christ, she’d never been this, awkward before. Sure, she’d assumed that she might been off her game. After all, it’d been, what, fourty odd years? But this? This was just ridiculous.
After staring at the girl, mouth opening and closing like some kind of dumb fucking fish for who-knew-how-long, she finally managed to open her damned gob to say something.
“What, uhhh, do you want? To drink?”
Usually, the baker would already be at home, retiring for the evening and getting ready for another early shift. However, the holiday season required her to be more flexible with scheduling, and so she now had lunchtime shifts so there were enough pastries by the time students got out of school -- thankfully, Alex hadn’t been called in for any house calls by Doctor Dubois lately. Still smelling like buttercream frosting and flour, she thought she deserved something for all the hard work she did today.
In fact, she didn’t really mind that she’d gained the attention of one of the bartenders, though she remained visibly mum to the fact as she tried to keep her gaze on the drink menu. The young elf hadn’t tried anything since leaving England over twenty years ago and didn’t really know how to deal with the sudden attention. Eyes flickering upward to look at the other female as she finally spoke, she replied with a little smile, “Some of Neal’s finest mead, if you don’t mind?” It took a lot to try and not look after her as she walked away. She was cute, admittedly.
As a creature of the night, both species-wise and due to habit because of the establishment he ran, his eyes were sharp where others would be blinded by the cloak of darkness. It was on one of Joshua’s breaks that he’d sighted a seemingly fledgling vampire, and recognized the familiar nervousness and self-hatred for what they had to do to survive. Tailing her was easy enough, making sure the lights were out before slipping in the business card that held the directions to get to his place under her door.
Eventually, he knew she’d come to seek him out, knowing that she’d need to feed again.
His podium lay just beyond the top of the stairwell, the joint busy as always. As the host, he had a certain mannerism to maintain, and it remained -- though the grin was perhaps broader than usual as he welcomed the newest guest. “Welcome to the Hunting Club. I’ve been expecting you, ma’am. Hope it wasn’t too much trouble finding this place?”
WHERE: Elijah Jett’s Cabin, Neal Family Properties
WHEN: 22 November 2040, Evening
After a panic attack brought Salem to her imprint in order to care for him, Elijah successfully tempts her to engage in a one-night stand which ends in a brief discussion about what they are to each other.
Originally written on Discord.
He hated feeling... this way. He was disgusted with how easily he could break out into a cold sweat, be brought down to his knees, hands desperately clutching his chest. All from another episode, another flashback that still made his ears ring. Elijah had decided better of his physical sensibilities, letting himself sit on the floor with his back against the wall, forcing deep gulps of air. A knock at the door broke the tense silence in the otherwise cozy wood cabin, and he yelled out, “Just come in and be done with it, Frost.”
The painful and very sudden anxiety and panic that coursed through her blood were enough to make her world spin and every hair on her body stand on end. She had been lazily mixing a cup of tea, potions book in hand, when the spoon dropped from her grip and caused the cup to crash to the floor. Her breathing was ragged and her chest felt tight, and all she could think of was what Elijah was doing to make him feel like this. As fast as she could, Salem trekked up to his cabin, knocking almost furiously. When he said to come in, she nearly stumbled in looking pale and frazzled. “What the fuck is going on?”
From the way he peered up at the witch, it was obvious that he was very much wounded - while not physically, mentally was ensured. Grimacing as he steadied a large palm against the wall, the werewolf slowly lifted himself up. “The rest of the iceberg I worked so hard to try and not let you in on. Welcome to a week in my shoes... or well,” he huffed, shifting his weight slowly from one leg to another, realizing it’s become dead weight from sitting so long, “an essence of what my panic attacks feel like.”
The tightness in the wixen’s chest felt like a ten-pound weight was sitting on it, making it hard to breathe. Wild and confused eyes watched as the wolf struggled to stand, and she instinctively tried to reach out for him. She was about to say something snarky about it hurting her but realized it was far too crass considering the situation. “What can I do?”
It really wasn’t normal for him to be so open and vulnerable. In fact, if anything, Elijah did his best to keep his emotions in check, especially around others that he didn’t trust. But he knew he had to make a special case for Salem. She was now aware that something was up with him, and not in the usual way that he could excuse. “A, ah, pot of tea. That will help ease the muscular tension. I just need to... catch my breath.” What normally was a few steps was now a mission, but he did his best to reach the couch.
Salem’s fingers shook as she searched the cabinets for tea bags and sugar. The fear at the back of her mind lingered, causing terror to bubble in her chest. Pulling down a box of tea, Salem busied herself with preparing it, while trying to keep herself out of his business. ‘but it’s my business now too,’ she thought to herself, storing in some milk into her own cup. “Is this something that I’ll be experiencing often, Jett?”
Upon reaching the couch, the male was able to firmly grip the arm of it, relieving a bit of tension that still ran through him like an aftershock. “No, but it’ll be regularly enough. It’s always been hit or miss if I can stop it from reaching you...” Though it was at a snail’s pace, he managed to seat himself, body slumping into the cushions. God, the cool leather against his skin was what he needed right now.
Walking over to the male, Salem took hold of his wrist, trying to ignore the small spark in her chest, and turned his palm upright to receive the cup of tea. “Drink.” She commanded in an unusually soft tone, eyeing him before she left back for her own tea. “What happened?”
If this had been a regular scenario, he would be sniffing out the tea in case something was slipped in, but now wasn’t the time to doubt. Taking Salem’s ministrations in stride, he raised the mug to his lips, letting the familiar mix he’d crafted warm his insides. Taking a moment to let the liquid settle into his system, he automatically felt much more at ease as it seemed to melt away all leftover discomfort. “Nothing out of the ordinary. I was working out, but my mind drifted some and fixated on a certain point,” Elijah reflected. He was unwilling to talk about what plagued his mind.
Salem could tell, deep down in her, that he didn’t want to talk about what had caused the panic attack. Her guess would have been something that happened when he was out in his own, or maybe just a squick of his had weaseled into his mind. Taking a seat next to him on the couch, she sipped at her own tea. “I still feel like I can’t breathe.”
It only took a few sips for the entire cup’s contents to disappear, and that was him taking it slow. Feeling well enough to set the ceramic down by the side table on his own now, he glanced over at Salem as she spoke. “Hold still,” he murmured, turning towards her. Extending two fingers, he gently laid them against the base of her neck, feeling for her pulse more clearly. “Follow my breath.” Making it more pronounced now, he slowly built up the air in his lungs, following the exercises he’d learned from others, then expelling it in a controlled manner, gauging her beat all the while until it matched his.
“Wait- no sto-“ Salem, on instinct, tried to move away from his touch. Years and years of avoiding Elijah had taught her better, yet. The warmth that spread from his fingertips at the base of her neck had her sucking in a breath. “I could follow it if your fingers weren’t messing with my breathing.” Eyes low while looking his way, she began to match his breathing, and felt her wits come about. While her breathing returned to normal, her pulse was still quick under his fingers.
Admittedly, a small chortle threatened to bubble up as she squirmed. It was a reaction he’d been familiar with from their youth, but to have it occur now seemed comical. He did his best to remain professional even though a smirk slipped past the facade as Salem remarked. “Probably, but it’s easier for me to feel you this way given my senses are out of sorts right now.” After a couple of quiet minutes, Elijah cocked a brow. “Something on your mind?”
“No.” A simple and short reply, as to maybe throw him off the path he was going on. The lump in her throat made her mouth dry, warmth radiating over her body, his fingers, the source. “Nothing’s on my mind.” Shrugging away from his fingers, the wixen set her cup down and stood up on wobbly legs, trying to get distance between her and the incredibly lewd thoughts bouncing around her head. “Are you good?”
While he very well knew that it was impolite to push into her mind, having learned early in his years the hard way through his pack siblings, Elijah felt compelled to check. Perhaps a work of his own doing, perhaps fueled by the crackle of energy that disappeared when she scooted away. “Were you... thinking about me just now, in my own home?” He looked coy now, practically amused.
goddamnit.
Salem’s cheeks colored pink, brows furrowing some at his question. “Hey! I don’t go digging around in your head. I haven’t learned how to block you out yet!” She was caught, and wasn’t denying it, which was her first mistake. “And no, I wasn’t thinking anything. You’re just imagining things.” Looking at Elijah, Salem found the thoughts racing once more. “I’m... you’re doing this. You and your dumb wolf mind thing. I can see you’re clearly fine, so I’m gonna go.”
It was practically confirmed for him the moment she tried to defend herself from his intrusiveness. Letting a chuckle fully manifest now, he now knew what it was like for an elder to catch a pup stealing purely by mind link alone. Reaching out to grab her wrist, the beast inside couldn’t help but reply, ‘Oh, come on. Not interested in tempting fate, even just a little?’
Salem looked down to his fingers encircled around her wrist, feeling that familiar, unfamiliar burst of warmth radiating from the point of contact. She swore she could see stars as blood rushed to every important part of her body. 'don't. We don't want to do this.' She looked up, catching his eyes, and in doing so, she felt their souls connect for the slightest of moments. "Fate's playing jokes, Jett."
Even though his muscles were still tingly from his earlier panic attack, he found that, through their touch, he could override the sensation. The small taste of euphoria seemed to strengthen Elijah, and he wasn’t going to argue against it; as long as it could better push away the darkness in his mind. Gaze leveling with Salem, there was another spark and he could feel the sudden need to be pulled together. The thought was much more... enticing.
“Even if it’s having a laugh, why not laugh along? Once.” The werebeast would never admit to being hungry for attention, but a little satiation never hurt anyone. Plus she had been on his mind.
Salem would never admit to the wolf about her thoughts, even though he had already seen and felt what she was thinking. To tell him her thoughts would mean she felt something for him other than the general disdain she's fostered over the years. Yet this new to her link was something completely foreign and it was twisting her feelings into something she didn't quite understand.
"I guess..." The wixen replied, eyes following his every move. Salem shifted closer, her leg brushing up against his thigh as he did. "Just once."
The best way to describe what it was like to be affected by contact with Salem while holding this mind link was like being washed over with the first moment one enters a hot bath, repeatedly. It engulfed them, set his nerves ablaze, and he relished it even though he knew he’d otherwise try to push away. Especially since his time outside, Elijah dreaded physical contact, but this was different. Special. He didn’t want to solidify it by saying it aloud, but it was true nonetheless.
The second she finally let go of her inhibitions and complied, he could feel his inner self almost roar, tending his muscles again with the desire to pounce. It took everything to keep his emotions in check, letting go of the witch’s wrist in favor of her waist. ‘This will be the only time I ask, I swear.’
His hand on her waist sent chills running up and down her spine, goosebumps flowering over her arms, and her breath catching in her throat. 'Okay. one time.’ It was all the permission she needed. One time. One time to let her mind wander and be completely and unabashedly unbothered by what the outcome might be.
In one movement she had come to rest on his leg, a leg on either side of him as her fingertips ran up his arms to rest at the nape of his neck. She could swear she felt the action mimicked on her own skin, and it pulled the corner of her lips into a soft smile as she rested her forehead against his.
Though he’d run through the process of sating himself with a temporary companion more times than he could count, this time was unlike any experience before. Everything she did ghosted along his flesh, bringing goosebumps with it. The affair had only just begun and Elijah was already overwhelmed, but he didn’t mind.
As Salem pressed her face against his, their eyes met again, and he could see the marbling of green and gold in them. Though he couldn’t physically reach out to touch, he did the next best thing, brushing his lips against hers as if asking for permission. Meanwhile, his other palm rested on the empty space at the curve of her hips, gently tugging her closer.
Salem sucked in a soft breath, as if her lungs could never get enough, and every little thing he did stole it away. His eyes were so unique, one different than the other, yet so completely him. She wondered what had happened to it, but stored it at the back of her mind as a question for a later time.
As Elijah's lips brushed against hers, her fingers pushed through his hair at the back of his neck, curling into the soft tresses and pulling to bring them closer together. Their lips locked, breath intertwined, and Salem couldn't get enough. Those stars she saw earlier had turned to full on fireworks now as her heart pounded in her chest, and every nerve in her body began to fire off.
Had he been something more feline in origin, the way she grazed her hand through his hair would’ve been a cause to purr. Instead, what came out was a low rumble, a sort of animalistic hum that begged to be more. He could taste the dredges of dried blackberry from his tea on her lips, feel her strong heartbeat run through her smaller frame, smell the last potion ingredients that clung to her clothes at this proximity. It was all very intoxicating.
It seemed foolish to want more, yet here they were. Elijah’s hands at first scoped the perimeter, getting acquainted with every curve. As they met at the small of her back, fingers brushed under the hem of her shirt, blunt nails meeting soft flesh. He had to pull away from the kiss to suck in a breath as the sensation reflected onto the base of his spine. “Shit...”
It was like the wixen couldn't get close enough to him. Every touch was magnified, yet she craved for it to be more. That in of itself was a problem, a cause for an addiction that she didn't need, but definitely wanted. One time, she had told him one time, yet in the back of her mind she knew it wouldn't be.
His nails across her flesh caused her body to quiver, a soft noise escaping her hips slowly and steadily began to move against him. "This is a lot." She responded against his ear, taking the delicate flesh of the lobe between her teeth. 'don't stop.’
All it took was a slight grind against his thighs for the butterflies - which had been remaining caged in the pit of his stomach - to spill out and create a chasm of warmth. Elijah forced himself to nibble at his bottom lip, unwilling to be verbally undone by a replication of her ministrations and the work on his ear. ‘As you wish.’
Emerging at half the force his hands fully skimmed the underside of her shirt, roaming to overtake every nerve on Salem’s skin, meeting up again at her navel before crawling upwards to her bra. It didn’t take long to find the clasp, pressing the sides together and letting the hooks undo themselves with a bit of wriggling. Slipping under the now loosened piece, his palms found they could easily cup her breasts, replace the cups if they wanted which brought a rogue smirk to his features.
Everything felt so sudden and so rushed, but in the good kind of way. She couldn't wait to get closer to him, couldn't wait to feel his lips on her skin. She was having a hard time pacing herself, and she had a feeling so was he. She nibbled at his lobe a second longer, just enough time to feel him unhook her bra in one try.
Pulling back ever so slightly, she crossed her arms over her body before pulling her shirt off in one swift motion. She sat there on his lap, chest heaving, eyes wild and hungry, before she pulled at the hem of his own shirt. "Off." She commanded, her fingers leaving the hem of his shirt in order to explore the vast expanse of the skin hidden underneath.
It brought satisfaction to see her react so quickly, just as eager to jump in as he was. While the decision might be poorly made, they knew that it was something the other had been craving since they first made skin-to-skin contact in Salem’s shop. Had their younger selves known what fate awaited them, they’d be thoroughly disgusted.
Momentarily leaving her barren before him, a hand grasped at the nape of his shirt while the other raised, lifting the article of clothing smoothly over his torso before tossing it aside. Elijah’s skin prickled, leaving a trail as her hands roamed while he leaned in to pepper kisses along her neck, feeling her heartbeat through the thin layer of flesh covering her veins. It thrummed so delightfully for him, his breath catching in his throat as he nibbled at her collarbone.
Salem nuzzled her nose into Elijah's hair, taking in his scent and how he smelled so much like him. It wasn't even any particular scent, but it felt familiar and warm, and she wanted to drown in it forever. Soft breaths caught in her throat as he nipped at her collar bone, causing her back to arch against his hands, breast pressing against his chest.
Her hips picked up their pace again, slowly building the friction between them as one hand travelled down his spine, the other pulling the hair at the nape of his neck. Her words were caught in her throat, but the noises she made got the point across that she was needy.
He’d forgotten himself for a split-second there, his canine being a tad sharper than a normal human’s. Luckily, Elijah didn’t pierce through, but the effect was strong even on his end. He was quite pleased that she reacted positively, feeling her nipples pebble slightly at the sensation.
Suddenly, the werebeast grumbled some as Salem began to work against his lap. The pool of warmth at his center throbbed, and he knew that if she kept on like that, it’s physical counterpart will want to be freed from his gym shorts. Hands firmly grasping at her hips to slow her down as he forced a steady breath. ‘Fucking hell... you want me that bad, huh?’
Salem ran her hand through her hair, pulling the locks away from her face and shaking the short hair out behind her shoulders. She tried to steady her breathing, cheeks flushed, losing total control.
As he gripped her hips, she glanced to his hands before catching his gaze. She slowed, but didn’t stop her hips moving her body against his. ‘im not the only eager one here.’ she smirked, tracing her fingernails down his front, dipping below the hem of his gym shorts.
God, he could only wish to capture this little moment in history; of his former rival, now somehow imprint, losing herself in her own desires. He caught himself staring perhaps a bit longer than he should, though the wolfman didn’t tone down as her eyes caught up to his.
Hips instinctively shifting, he knew immediately that Salem was close to finding her prize. It now strained against the fabric of his boxers, wanting to be touched, to be freed from its confines. ‘Don’t tell me I have to say please.’
‘I’m not that mean, Eli.’ Salem took her bottom lip between her teeth, smirking as she did so. She really wasn’t that mean, but the thought definitely had crossed her mind. ‘Or maybe I am, and you’re just as desperate as I am.’
Salem traces the outlines of his member with her fingers, enjoying the way his muscles tensed as she did so. ‘having you say please is the cherry on top.’
It was funny really, drawing out conversations without a physical word. Though he’d experience much of it before his time in the wastes, Elijah found it strangely comforting to be talking this way again. ‘I guess either could be true enough,’ he thought, still squirming a little as she teased, ‘I’m not begging.’
Instead, he found his way to one of her breasts, tongue peeking out to lick the very tip of the mound before lips enveloped the areola, sucking gently. As much as he wanted to tend to, he could get it by getting Salem high off the lust instead of vocalizing his need.
‘come on, it’ll be fun~’ Salem would never admit to it, but the thought of sharing dialogue through nothing but the voice in your head was an intimate journey. As much as she had hated it when she first discovered this magical link, she had grown to enjoy the silence in a full conversation between the two.
Salem’s head dropped back slightly, pushing out her chest so he had better access. His mouth around her nipple sent electric shocks through her body, causing her muscles to tense and release. Her nails pressed into the skin and muscle of his shoulders, dragging slightly as if to bring him closer to her.
It was weirdly interesting to feel the same thing he was doing to her, especially given that receiving this variety of pleasure was foreign to him. Now, at least, the werebeast understood why it brought such a feeling of ecstasy for his companions.
The corner of Elijah’s lips quirked upward as she encouraged him, his own muscles tensing as the witch no doubt left a mark on his shoulders. Tugging Salem even closer to him, he purposefully brought their cores together, letting her create more friction against his length knowing that she’d crave it the more she was exposed to its presence.
Salem could feel the familiar warmth in her core setting fire to her inhibitions. She was needy, and she knew it, the link between them making everything feel more sensitive. Her breaths grew into moans as her hips moved against his, feeling his excitement through his shorts.
Eagerly she moved her hands between them, working her fingers under his waistband to brush against the sensitive hot flesh. ‘you’re already rock solid.’ She joker, peppering kisses along his shoulder. ‘I must have some effect on you.’
Though he was enjoying teasing her breasts, Elijah stilled as she brushed at the exposed tip of his cock, mouth letting go of the nipple he’d been toying with to let out a growl. ‘What can I say, Frost - you’re effective at what you do. It’s been hard keeping myself away from you ever since I came back.’
His hips thrust against her fingertips, rutting against the layers of clothing between them in protest. Unable to hold back any longer, he let out a low grunt, loosening his grip on her hips. ‘Take off those pants, now.’ Though he normally would’ve torn them away by now, he thought that maybe Salem would better appreciate her clothes remaining whole.
It sent tingle down her spine to know that Eli was having a hard time resisting her since he had come back into town. It gave her a special pleasure knowing she had that kind of effect on him, regardless of if it was because of the link or not.
She could feel Elijah's excitement against her fingers, feeling his body react to her touch. It made her shiver, sending pleasure to all the right places. As he pulled back, commanding her to take off her pants, she obliged. Not only because the tone he used was laced with dominance an authority, but because she was eager to feel her skin against his.
Sliding off his lap, she eagerly tugged at her pants, pulling them off her hips before stepping out of them. She also discarded her bra, tossing it to the side before her fingers reached out to trace his jaw, thumb running over his lips. ‘What are you gonna do now, wolf?’
While Salem worked on her pants, he looped his thumbs at the hem of his shorts, slipping them off with ease and kicked them aside. Even with the boxers on, it was apparent that his member was practically at full attention from the extra sensitivity in their interactions. Already, a bit of precum stained the cloth near the waistband.
Grinning now at her query, Elijah reached out. Grabbing her by the waist again, he pulled her onto the couch, laying her flat against the leather seat while he loomed over her. ‘Depends. What do you want me to do?’ His teeth glinted slightly in the light of the fireplace, eyes slightly aglow.
Salem allowed herself to be handled, shivering slightly as the cold leather hit her hot skin. The sensation caused goosebumps flower over her skin, causing her nipples to harden into stiff peaks. From above her, he looked like a predator, ready to claim his prize and take a bite. Slender hands reached out on instinct, one hand going back to his mouth, her thumb pulling at his lip to see his teeth, the other wrapping around the back of his neck to keep him close. She bent her leg, her knee pressing softly against his hardened member. ‘you got me right where you want me, do what your instincts want you to do.’
He’d always known that his size was intimidating for most, even those he’d laid within the past. For her to reach out in almost innocent wonder, letting Elijah reveal his canines to her while still keeping him close brought momentary confusion, but he took it in stride. Another quiet grumble erupted from his chest as the witch unashamedly brushed against his concealed length. He couldn’t take it anymore and, rushed by her unspoken permission, a finger morphed, forming a crooked claw shrouded by fur. It traced her skin momentarily at the hip before quickly slashing at the pretty material, transforming back into human fingers and ripping the rest of her panties away before doing the same to his own.
Salem sucked in a breath as his finger turned into a claw. She watched as it traced down her pale skin, and gasped as it sliced the fabric of her panties with ease. “Hey!” Her own voice startled her for a moment, having already gotten used to their unspoken conversations. ‘I really liked those!’ Yet, she wasn’t about to protest with him looming over her, as he was clearly the one in control.
When the fabric on his body was slashed away, falling to ribbons on the floor, she eagerly reached for him, almost forgetting her ruined panties. He stood at attention, throbbing and warm in her hands as she swiped her fingers against his tip, feeling the slight stickiness of his precum.
A chuckle resonated within their shared mental space in reply to her frustration. While he knew deep down inside that Salem had a right to be frustrated with the expensiveness of new clothes in this post-apocalyptic society, it still amused him nonetheless. ‘I can get you much better ones~’ He instinctively twitched a little, bringing his hips forward to create friction against her hand as she handled his member. In turn, a curious Elijah brought two fingers to the eager opening between her legs, stroking along swollen lips. ‘How bad do you want it?’
‘you better. I really liked those ones.’ Salem’s legs instinctively fell open, her hips shifting up slightly to meet his exploring fingers. Every slight touch was electric, causing a new wave of euphoria to wash over her senses. She moaned, unashamed at showing her please, and began a slow and steady pace while stroking him. Licking her lips, Salem couldn’t help but imagine how he’d taste, and how much he’d like having her lips wrapped around his dick.
‘Don't tease me.’ She whined, grinding her hips against his fingers, legs already starting to quiver. She was already wet, dripping over his fingers.
The combined pleasure of his roaming hand and her steady wrist was incredible. It was already comparable to the feeling of being inside, and the way his counterpart throbbed between Salem’s fingertips were more than enough proof. ‘Says the one stroking my cock.’ He snickered aloud, leaving himself momentarily vulnerable to letting out a groan. “Fuck...” Elijah’s nose crinkled, taking in the scent of her juices alongside the sound of her desperation. ‘I said how bad do you want it? Do you want it later, orrr... ?’
‘says the one with their fingers in my pussy.’ She retorted, even though she was the one who was grinding her hips up against his fingers.
Salem smirked when she heard his moan, enjoying the confirmation of his pleasure by her hands. Every single touch was followed by a rush of warmth, and she could see how addicting that would be. ‘if you’re trying to get me to beg, it’s not gonna work.’ Yet, every breath was met with a soft moan, her cheeks red, body aching.
It took every bit of willpower left in him to not just take her straightaway, let alone keep from sounding his own pleasure at Salem’s work. ‘What? It just might be the cherry on top~’ The mocking undertone brought a sense of satisfaction, though it was short-lived as he dipped a finger past those dripping wet lips. God, her walls were holding on so tight already, threatening to take his whole hand. Elijah couldn’t hold out forever between them, and he wanted to at least give her a real taste of what it was like to lay with a werewolf so that it’ll haunt her anytime she’s in need after tonight.
Salem’s body reacted so absolutely whenever he touched her. A guaranteed response due to the bond they both shared, but this pleasure was otherworldly. The combined pleasure from him and her were driving her almost up the wall. If he teased her any further, she’d climb on him and take what she wanted.
‘maybe you should give me something to beg about.’ She teased, picking up the pace of her stroking, making sure to get his whole length.
There was nothing that could stop the frustrated snarl that rippled through his body as his hips rutted for a couple of moments in her hand. ‘How about the fact that all it takes is a few words to get this big, fat bone...’ The wolfman’s finger managed to slowly pull away from her warmth to only have it paired with his already-soaked second digit before thrusting in painfully slow. ‘... buried deep inside this sopping wet hole of yours?’
Salem’s body shivered, the walls of her core clamping down around the intruding fingers in electric pleasure. ‘Tempting. Very tempting.’
Her heart thrummed in her chest, her pulse rapid under her skin. Salem presses her legs against his side, toes curling with the familiar pleasure building in her core. “Fuck,” she moaned, unable to keep her thoughts straight. ‘please. Please I want it.’
Maybe it was borne out of turning the tables in their mental conversation, or maybe he’d been wanting to hear her saying that she wanted him after all this time, but it brought a triumphant smile on his face. ‘Now that wasn’t so hard, mm?’ Retrieving his fingers once more, Elijah lifted his hips just enough so his member left her grip before using her own juices to coat his shaft. Then lowering himself close to Salem’s core, the tip brushed against her slit as he lined himself up, taking a steady breath before plunging his member in. Knowing how wide it was, he took it very slowly, only sinking a little over an inch in before pausing to give her time to adjust.
The moment Elijah entered her, it was as if fireworks were going off. She could see stars (in a good way) and felt a shock of pure pleasure ripple up, starting at the very base of her spine. She threaded her fingers through his hair, gripping and tugging at it slightly, while her other hand steadied herself at his shoulder.
He indeed was large, very girthy for her small passage. She was thankful he was taking it slow for her, but she was also frustrated that he didn't just shove himself in right to the hilt. ‘Fucking hell,’ she whimpered, thighs quivering as her ankles locked in place around his waist. 'I'm okay, keep going.'
Lips pulled tightly together to keep from snickering at her remark, he carefully gauged the witch’s other reactions. Though her thigh squeezed around him, cinching his hips forward some more and sinking his shard further in, the male did his very best to not go all the way in until she gave him permission. He was a lot to take in and, while he would love nothing more than to absolutely ravage Salem, this was her first experience with him. If everything goes okay, he won’t have to deal with even further growth because... well. That’s a whole other set of problems. Feeling her adjust as she egged him onward, Elijah pushed against the tight fit of her pussy until he was all the way in. He was mildly surprised he managed given her small frame.
Salem closed her eyes, pressing her head further back into the couch cushion as he pushed himself further in. She could feel him stretching her to her limits, but instead of pain, she felt only pleasure. She wanted to test how far she could go before she felt pain, but that was for another day at another time.
Wrapping her arms around the back of his neck, the female began to slowly move her hips, moving him in and out of her sopping entrance to gain a little bit less friction. She moaned as she did, pulling him in closer so she could silence her own moan with his lips.
His earlier thought that them teasing each other at the same time was overwhelming to the senses? Completely dethroned and replaced by this feeling instead. Now that he was flush against Salem, that pit below his stomach felt like it completely shattered as her heat surrounded his probing muscle, whiny moans and the thump of her heart like music to his ears. The werebeast could no longer control his own labored breath, grunting as she grinded without any needed encouragement. As he hungrily leaned in to embrace her kiss, doing his best to fit against her ministrations, he thought, ‘You’re so tight, your pussy feels like it’s sucking me in...’
Salem felt so full and so erotic that it was hard to think of anything else but him stretching her to nearly her limit. She took his bottom lip between her teeth, pulling at it slightly, before hungrily going back for another set of messy and rough kisses. ‘it's not that I’m tight, it’s that your cock is fucking huge.’
Salem held him close, filing away in her mind about how every inch of him felt against her skin and the way she mewled under him. She slid her nails down his back, her hands finding home on Elijah’s ass. ‘Fuck me, damnit.’
'I’m flattered.’ Chuckling quietly, the laugh mixed in with a moan of his own as she tugged at the bottom half of his mouth before another onslaught of kisses. Back muscles flexing some, Elijah pulled away from their sloppy embrace as he felt the work of her dragging fingers, trying not to howl at the pleasurable pain.
He then smirked. Two could play at that game, especially now that he was fit snugly between her legs. ‘As you wish~’ It took more effort than the wolfman would like to admit to raise his hips - not for the sheer effort itself, but the fact that she was so warm and wet for him. Thrusting in once more brought a wave of pure euphoria, and he set to work at a moderate pace. The wooden walls around them echoed with the sounds of his labor as he buried his nose into the crook of her neck, grazing his teeth along the wanton flesh, nibbling here and letting his heaving breaths warm her skin.
Salem didn't know what to do with her hands. She was constantly at odds at where to put them. The pleasure caused her to grip on tight to whatever she could, yet she wanted to explore the peaks and valleys of his skin. To feel every scar was to paint a somewhat clear picture of his time outside the barrier. Her solution was to wrap her arms around his neck to keep him close, her moans echoing against the walls of his cabin.
Her thighs quivered as he found his pace, hit every single electric spot within her. Raising and lowering her hips to meet his, she turned her head to his, whispering dirty nothing's and encouragements into his ear. One of which was telling him how she'd loved to switch the roles and get him under her.
Finally indulging themselves one of the physical ramifications to their permanent mind link was incredible, to say the least. Even though the werewolf very well knew he promised this being a one-time event to Salem, he hoped that she’d be severely tempted to do the asking next time. There certainly was an addictive quality to being able to feel both sides of their pleasure at the same time that he could easily get hooked to, especially given the way she reacted to his winding hips.
In his own eagerness, Elijah didn’t even register that he was going a little faster, ensnared by the quality of the slit between the witch’s legs. He’d busied himself in his mouth’s labor anyways, huffing between little bites and kisses. He finally anchored his teeth at a spot near her shoulder, sucking greedily at the supple flesh, sure to leave a mark. ‘Do you think you can handle pumping yourself on this cock, Frost?’
Salem’s skin blossomed with goosebumps, her muscles tensing and quivering under her warm skin. Her breathing was labored, eyes rolling to the back of her head with each pump of his thick cock. Pressing her forehead against his neck, she clamped her legs hard around his waist, body arching up to meet his.
‘do you think you can handle watching me pumping myself on your thick cock?’ She retorted, moaning softly into his hair. ‘I just think you’re scared to let a tiny girl take over you.’
‘Oh, I can do more than manage, darlin’ - I just gotta know if you’re ready for what you’re asking for since it’s such a tall order~’ Keeping a hold on her skin for a few more moments as he slowed his thrusts, he finally pulled away to look her in with a cocky glint in his eyes as he smirked.
His hands moved from where they rooted themselves on the seat cushions at either side of her waist, taking a hold of those curved hips as rutted into her one more time, burrowing deep inside. “Alley-oop,” he snickered, throwing his weight around to flip them so she was on top. As his shoulders sunk into the dark leather, ass cheeks flexing while he adjusted so he properly fit on the couch, he could feel Salem’s walls convulse slightly to keep an airtight hold on his throbbing shaft.
It was all such a sudden movement. One moment she was on her back, and the next the world was spinning until she was sat on his lower half with him beneath her. It was a delicious sight to see, as she could now see him a little more properly. Letting herself settle down completely on top of him had her toes curling. Salem’s body shivered as she slowly began to move, feeling his thick shaft stretching her in all the right places.
Taking Elijah’s hands in hers, she guided them up her body before placing them over her breasts. ‘Just because I’m on top now, doesn’t mean you don’t get to do anything.’ She smirked, finding a steady rhythm that hit them both in all the right places.
While he severely enjoyed dominating from on top of her, there was a beauty to being ridden and having a sweeping view of the action from beneath. Salem didn’t even pause for command once she got her bearings, though he certainly wasn’t complaining. In fact, he was so amused, he watched in awe as she occupied herself with the business end of him.
Grinning some as she snapped the werewolf out by taking ahold of the hands that were at her waist, he squeezed the round globes of flesh now under his fingertips, running his thumbs over rock-hard nipples. ‘Aww. And just when I thought I’d gotten away scot-free.’ With every rocking motion of her body, his back arched a little to meet her hips, and one palm left their ministrations to smack her ass. This sent a delectable wave of electricity to them both, making him groan as the phantom sting ripped through him and caused a threatening twitch of his hips.
Salem basked in the electric shock that ran through her as he slapped her ass. It stung, which no doubt he could feel. But it was the reverberations from him feeling the pain and pleasure that caused her to clamp down around him, letting out a moan of near ecstasy.
Placing palms on his chest, Salem raked her nails down his front before she eventually placed her hands on his thighs behind her. In this position, he had a clear view of her, and everything she was doing. 'I never knew it would feel this good,’ she thought, her hips finding a faster rhythm.
The werewolf could’ve sworn that the tingle running through their nerves almost drove him mad for a second, but he kept it together. He neither wanted to cum just yet nor to go off the deep end tonight post-panic attack. The latter was asking for trouble and he knew it. Forcing his mind to lose itself in the sensory-blinding experience between himself and the witch, he found himself wriggling as her manicured fingertips trailed angry red lines on his torso. ‘God... you’re telling me...’
Bolting upright as she concentrated her movements on their satisfaction, he saw an opportunity to make her climax first - he knew, if he let Salem keep on like that, he wouldn’t make it for much longer. The culprit hand sinking his nails into the meat of her reddened ass cheek to provide leverage while the other continued to knead her left breast, his mouth greedily began to suck at the pert nipple, rolling it with his tongue every few moments. Her skin tasted vaguely like the herbs she used every day and, mixed in with sweat, gave a savory taste he almost was tempted to bite.
As he shot up into a sitting position, he had brought himself to sink deeper into her, causing her to moan. With his lips around her nipple, and his nails pressing into her ass cheek, she couldn't help but let herself climb further and further to her own climax. A slight sheen of sweat graced her body, her muscles tensed as the familiar warmth grew in her core. 'I'm almost there, keep going!'
Salem slung an arm around Elijah's shoulders, bringing him in close, her toes curling in anticipation. One more thrust was all it took before Salem was completely melting around him. Tensing every muscle in her body for a few seconds, she let the orgasm build before she dropped over the edge, body quivering in his embrace.
The fire beneath his belly had continually been stoked, the intensity rising to levels harder to control as his length ached at her bouncing. Yet he egged her on in her release despite knowing that it’d be his downfall, secretly craving the reaction bound to happen... It was probably Elijah’s favorite part of any encounter, admittedly. It didn’t take long for Salem to arrive, feeling every little tremble as he continued to piston his hips, thrust meeting her sweet spot every time as she climbed higher and higher until a sudden ripple of heat washed over both of them.
He did his best to continue, darting in and out a few more times before his mind blanked, white-hot flashes causing the tip of his member to erupt several times to fill every crevice inside of her with his seed. Involuntarily, the werebeast rocked into her a couple times, body daring to pump some more so he could fully empty himself into the cavern that she’d willingly carved to accommodate him. What started as a muffled growl against the tender skin at her breast turned into a soft moan, which quickly dissipated into slow heaving, chest rising and falling as his skin clings against hers.
It was hard to catch her breath, chest heaving against his as she basked in the ebbing glow of the orgasm that had been multiplied by 2. She could feel his release within her, hot against her walls, threatening to spill out at the slightest movement, so she opted to stay still. Lowering her head, she pressed the side of it to his cheek, riding out the waves of lingering passion.
‘wow.’ Was all she could think, her mind completely blank, yet scrambled with new and unresolved feelings. Closing her eyes, the wixen wet her lips before taking a few breaths to steady her breathing. Salem pulled back to study his face, letting out a giggle that surprised even her. ‘I can’t believe we just did that.’
It took some mental thought to remember that he still held her breast in his mouth, having temporarily forgotten in their conjoined climaxes, but he let go with one more lick knowing that their shared oversensitivity would cause a shiver down their spine. Peering up at the witch’s gaze in the aftermath of their temptation, Elijah was pleasantly surprised to see her laugh, feeling a little tingle run through him. ‘Oh, we definitely just did that.’ Giving off a breathy snort, he extended himself at his full sitting height once more to press his forehead against hers, looking deep into those hazel orbs once more. ‘How are you feeling right now?’ Perhaps it was a little soon, but it seemed fitting. He knew he was a lot more relaxed and had gotten to know a very different side to Salem in the past hour or so.
Every little movement sent crackles of electricity through her body. It was different now, it was warm and inviting, tingly and familiar. She didn’t want it to stop, and that was going to be a problem. Even her joy and laughter from it felt different. All in a good way.
Hazel eyes looking into his, she searched the depths, finding nothing but her reflection staring at her, and it caused her already flushed cheeks to go and even darker shade. ‘I don’t know.’ She admitted, taking the pause to move her other arm around his shoulders, keeping him and his body heat close. ‘Confused? Happy, definitely. Sexually satisfied. This is a one-time thing, but I...want to feel that again.’
Now that he wasn’t completely blindsided by their activities nor his former mental and physical ailments, Elijah was able to fully take her in as she was. The benefits that the imprint brought with it heightened his already extrasensory instincts, and he was able to observe the witch in the warm glow from the fireplace. The marks he’d left on her shoulder were now fully blossoming and her skin colored quite prettily, which brought a smug look to his features. While they hadn’t necessarily gotten along as children, now that she was with him in private, her presence made him feel safe and warm, light-hearted for the first time in a number of years.
Though the steel blue pupil, now taking on an ocean-like quality in this lighting, tinted with concern at her words, the golden hues of the other eye shone brightly as if strengthened by her reply. ‘At least we’ve now both reached a moot point... this is how I’ve been feeling for quite a while now. Well, replace the satisfied bit with frustrated, until today.’ His hands slipped from their former spots, now skimming gently over every curve along her back. Her skin was so much softer and smoother than his.
Salem could feel the effects of their little escapade, the tenderness of her breasts, and how every little breath of air or skin on her sensitive nipple caused her to suck in a soft breath. She was sure the bruising from the hickeys and the nail marks on her ass would fade with time. But for now, she liked the marks he left on her, and she was quite proud of the ones she left on him.
'You mean to tell me, I've just been walking around here while you've been THAT sexually frustrated?' She thought, legs now relaxed around his waist, fingertips softly tracing the angry red marks down his back. 'You could have told me about this sooner, and you could have been much more satiated.'
‘Mm... maybe. It comes and goes depending on how close you are in proximity to me. Or sometimes when I let my mind wander too long.’ He gave off a little half-shrug as if it were nothing. In reality, the wolf had gotten used to not having things his way all the time. The wilderness was unpredictable at best, and he’d gone days before without the proper amount of food, water, sleep, let alone the cravings Elijah had sometimes on late nights when it was just him and the moon overhead.
Eyes softening a little as he looked off to the side, he suddenly was very concentrated on where he’d left his claims to Salem’s body, calloused fingers tracing where his teeth had been. ‘Plus, I thought you didn’t take too kindly to my being around again. I know your brother certainly doesn’t. Though I guess I played my part on being prideful too.’ There was more than that he could say, but he stopped his thoughts there.
Salem winced as his fingers ran over where he had bitten her, feeling the all too familiar sting of a wound on tender skin. ‘I didn’t.’ She admitted with a soft shrug of her shoulders. In reality, when she saw he was back in town, it was like the world came crashing down around her. Annoyed he was back, she had shut herself in her home for days, unwilling to admit that he was back.
‘My brother can be rough around the edges, don’t worry about him too much.’ leaning into his touch, she blew out a soft puff of air while pushing strands of hair from her face. ‘I don’t know what this means now. I don’t....feel the same way for you as I did this morning. It’s like the world tilted on its axis, and all that hatred turned into something more, different.’
Her admittance was all Elijah needed to be assured of his own instincts. Then again, they didn’t get along when they were young, so of course, he should’ve known the feelings would transfer over. The two were just like their parents in their own distrust for the other species; it was natural to them and would have to be worked on in this new world that relied on cooperation. Would it ever be fully successful? Who knew.
Chuckling softly at her remark about her brother, his chest reverberated slightly as it stayed pressed against hers, unwilling to move as their breathing slowed to a matching pace. He leaned in to press his lips on Salem’s shoulder, doing his best to soothe the tender flesh with little kisses that brought warmth to them both. ‘Something more positive, I hope?’ He was genuinely curious. If anything, the werebeast could better tolerate her now that she had a glimpse into what he deals with regularly and saw that she had heart enough to help.
‘Weirdly positive.’ Salem rested her head against his shoulder, lazily running her fingers up and down his back, feeling the wide expanses of it. In his embrace she felt protected and safe. She had never thought that the two would end up how they were, tangled in each other’s limbs, yet she wasn’t bothered by it. In fact, it gave her butterflies in her stomach. ‘How are you feeling?’ She asked, her breathing having returned back to normal now. ‘About this? About tonight? About all of it?’
A small shiver crept up his spine as her hands explored the ruined tapestry of his skin, especially every time she made passes at the jagged slashes extending from right shoulder to left hip. He never felt more vulnerable than when he was shirtless and, now that the scars were out for her to explore, there was a tinge of insecurity blooming within. Yet a part of Elijah knew that she was okay with all of him, maybe even curious to hear his stories. He just had to get over his own trauma.
‘I feel comfortable. That’s the best way I can put it. When I first sensed that we were connected, I actually wanted to ignore it; pretend it didn’t exist and try to move on. But the more it lingered, the more I wanted to seek you out. I... kind of want to keep this now. Keep you around and give it all a shot.’ He sat up again to look at her, gaze soft. ‘Well, of course, depending on how you feel.’
'I feel comfortable too.' It was an odd sensation, to feel comfortable around someone who you only held bad feelings for. To suddenly feel so at ease, however, felt like a weight had lifted off her shoulders. She could breathe a sigh of relief, and she could finally move on. It was as if their childhood had been washed clean.
She caught his eye, hers looking into his as the fire crackled in the fireplace behind them. 'Give what a shot? Like...us together?' Tilting her head to the side, the wixen found it hard to not let out a nervous, yet happy, bubble of laughter. Covering her mouth, she then hid her face in her hands. The movement totally unlike her, her face turning almost crimson.
It brought a little shine to his eyes as she made light out of his poor choice of words, and he couldn't help but chuckle along. 'Yeah, that's what I meant. I'm fully aware of the repercussions but I think you'd be worth the fight.' A hand raising up to brush his fingers under Salem's jaw, tilting it slightly as he smiled warmly now, he thought, 'Plus, though don't count on me saying it aloud - you're really good at taking all of me in. And I'll admit that that's a rarity for my size~'
It had been a normal occurrence for him to show his face around the club. It was helpful, not only for feeding his own desires, but also for keeping up somewhat of a public appearance. Hiding away at home or in his office made him look cold. That wasn’t the Dominic he wanted to show the world. Even if he felt the intense need to keep himself away from others, he knew it looked bad for him.
A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he approached the podium. Head tilted to the side, golden curls falling to the side somewhat. It was typical for him to put on a charming guise. At this point, it had become second nature to him. “Let’s say a mix of both,” the words fell off his tongue smoothly, eyebrows arched upward. “More on the pleasure side of things, though.”
“Excellent,” the word seamlessly slipped through pearly fangs with a look that returned some eagerness as his hand disappeared under the inside of his coat, extracting a small leatherbound notebook. Though the business model of his establishment was unsavory to most, he found he could make the most profits off of finding subjects for the predatory types in town to feed on. After all, while they maintained a great public image and proactively sought other means to obtain blood and souls in a fair manner, the reality was that it tasted better when it was illegal.
Glancing through the notations on regular signed-in members, Joshua smirked a bit as he inquired, “Any preferences tonight?” Just like how he favored the richness and more syrup-like qualities found in AB types, especially if they’re of the Bombay blood group, he knew his favored guests had different tastes. The halfling was a special case and the vampire was quite aware. It would prove interesting to see what kind of morally gray individual was looking for.
Frances tended to need a drink at least once a week now. Ruby stressed her out, being the teenager and pain in her ass, but she didn’t like to drink alone. Hunting out Elijah and dragging him out seemed to be her best option for a drinking buddy right now, because she certainly wasn’t going to drink with Russell. “Whiskey, neat, and a margarita.” She ordered, knowing that her whiskey would be gone just a moment after it was given to her. Being alive for as long as she had, had made her immune to the sting of alcohol going down the throat. “I’m glad I could talk you into coming out with me, darling, I need a night out sometimes.”
The former nurse hadn’t changed much since he was a child, then again that was just the kind of thing he appreciated; in a reality that changed itself up almost every waking moment ever since the apocalypse, Elijah liked that a few things in this town remained the same. Fishing out the appropriate change, he slid them across the counter for the bartender to take before they went off to make the drinks. “It’s nothing -- we all need a night off every now and then,” he murmured, gaze shifting for a few seconds as the hairs on the back of his neck raised. He could vaguely sense someone watching, but forced himself to concentrate on the conversation. Probably going paranoid again. “How’s everyone been doing?”
Ruby had never tried meditating. Despite the slight irony of it, her family was catholic. They weren’t very active in the church, and hadn’t been since she was a young child, but holidays drug them to Mass. She supposed their beliefs came from the times of war that both of her parents had participated in, when they needed something to believe in, but she often questioned her faith in whatever spiritual being was out there, if there even was one. “I’ve never tried it,” She shifted a bit, tilting her head to the side, questioning. “Only ever prayed before, honestly. How do you meditate? I mean, I know you said it’s kinda like praying, but it isn’t actually praying.”
It was curious to see someone young take interest in foreign concepts outside the overarching Christian, Jewish, and Satanic traditions that populated the town. She often felt like one of the outliers as far as religion went, being one of few that didn’t ask for strength from the mysterious Powers That Be. “Have you ever gotten lost in the rhythm of the music you like, or maybe even a book or game you’re concentrating intensely on, so much so that it drowns out the rest of the world around you?” It was always the launching point she started at since people related to it easiest. “That same feeling that comes with letting yourself go mentally is what happens in meditation. I go about it by getting comfortable somewhere -- preferably in nature, clear my head by concentrating on my own breathing, and let the thoughts flow as they will so I can reflect on them in a calmer state of mind. Some others do what’s best for them like listening or reading to achieve the same goal because it helps them think better.” She purposefully let out a couple of details, but they probably weren’t relative to the other female anyway.
Every opportunity they had to be themselves instead of reporting to work, they definitely savored. Today was a more tame day, tentacles in a mess beneath them as they rested on the sandy edge of Lake Salvador. Atop the nest of limbs, they had their sketchbook balanced in front, a box of charcoal sticks to their right. They’d spent quite a lot of time contemplating about their subject today, opting to draw the cranes fishing and circling the sky. Lost in their daze, they didn’t really consider anyone watching or considering finding them until they heard a voice. “Huh? You rang?”
One of the biggest components that keeps the Hunting Club in business was its discretion clause that held the members together by all the misdeeds they commited here. Though it’d remained illegal even after the world ended, Joshua held onto one connection that could provide as much cannabis as the public really wanted to ease their various aches. With still an hour or so before opening, Joshua had been waiting on a delivery that came in the form of the familiar witch climbing up the steps. Clapping his hands together with a cheeky look, he motioned over at the hookah maker as he exclaimed, “Ah, the hero of the hour arrives. I pray the delivery went smoothly?”
After being the sole proprietor of his club for almost thirty years, it had become easy as pie to host; arrange reservations’ arrival as needed, act refined, smile, say proper greetings, serve, seat. And, of course, always be on top of the guest log and the little notes made. Just for fun, he carefully crafted a persona for when he was on the clock as the Huntsman because it amused him for guests to see a different side to the normally wholesome male. Plus it was in theme for the side venture Joshua conducted.
When a certain regular sidled up to his podium at the top of the stair of his converted home, an easy grin crossed his features. “Table for one, I reckon?” he quipped, the twang in his voice still prevalent no matter what, “Business or pleasure tonight, Blackwood? Or a bit of both?”
