from ashes to ashes

pulvis et umbra sumus.

[casonirvine-blog]

elpisxelysia :

           Perhaps fear wasn’t what she should call it. Wariness, maybe, or dreadfulness, a slight terror of what was undoubtedly to come, was more suitable. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say that,” she admitted, though with a hint of a smile. He was exaggerating, obviously, but it worked. “I would so hate to become a gray, sad, scared old woman at the age of twenty-four.” But then, unbidden, she couldn’t help but wonder. “Aren’t you… Worried, then?”

“It would be a waste of good looks, I’ll tell you now.” There was nothing worse than a beautiful woman condemning herself to a life of swooning out of fear. Oh gods, or crying. He nearly shuddered at the thought. “Me? Worried? The most I’ve worried about was when I spent a night in the crypt --- wild night, and one I’d rather not repeat. If it gets too bad, I’ll leave. I’d recommend the same for you.”  

[casonirvine-blog]

celinereece :

“Actually, they introduced themselves to me as Richard and Jacob.”

If she was going to deal with the presence of another annoying man, she may as well get rid of her current distractions. ( This one wasn’t bad-looking, but he was a smidge young for her taste. ) Celine sighed and swept the two furry little bodies off the table, allowing them to turn into a pair of men who knocked painfully into each other as they hit the ground. She watched idly as they scrambled away, a few of the bar’s patrons laughing at what they thought were foolish drunkards. “So, who are you?”

Two men fell to the ground. Men --- not rats. He looked at his drink. What was in it? Could he have another? He burst into loud laughter, which quickly settled into a broad grin as he took another swig. “If I wasn’t committed to my bachelor lifestyle, I would propose to you right now, woman. You are a natural showman. Have you thought of performing? My sister and I have an act that could use your talents.” He gave a small, flourished bow in his seat. “Cason --- you’ve probably heard of me.” 

[casonirvine-blog]

celinereece :

This was it. This was how her life was going to end.

                                   She was going to die of boredom.

Celine sighed as she gazed down at the ale sitting in front of her, ankles crossed neatly beneath her dress and elbow resting on the tabletop. She was going to die. They’d been stuck in Westedell for far too long with nowhere to go, and now… There was nothing left to do. 

She sighed again, heavily, and dropped a couple crumbs to the men she’d turned into mice earlier that night. 

“I know the city’s dirty, but it certainly seems you’ve accepted the dirt more than most --- ” Cason nodded towards the mice on the table, taking a seat across from the woman. No, she hadn’t asked him to sit down, but it was a public place and he deserved a drink. He always deserved a drink. “Let me guess their names: rat one and rat two?” 

[melancoliedesames]

[casonirvine-blog]

elpisxelysia :

         “What… What do you mean, I look scared?” Elysia raised a brow. “I am scared. Can you blame me? The rumors…” A shudder ran through her, which she tried to hide, but it didn’t quite work.

“Do you know what they say about rumors?” Anyone who was actually scared about all that was occurring could at least pretend they weren’t. That was his motto. “If they aren’t about the scandals taking place, why bother listening? Your hair will turn gray, all your friends will leave, and you’ll be a sad, scared, lonely old woman. Not worth it, in my opinion.”  

[casonirvine-blog]

nenikhkamen :

Norah forced her rusted knife across the belly of yet another fish to skillfully remove its guts out, staring at the man as she did so. “What’s wrong, pretty boy?” She spoke with a half-smile. “Don’t you like fish? This one looks like you.” 

“I have two things to say on the matter.” He turned his nose upward at the stench. He had eaten enough fish to last a lifetime, and if he had to see one more, he might tip over the whole stand. “One, thank you for acknowledging that I am, in fact, pretty. Most overlook this, which is a crime in itself that personally offends me. Two, if you’re saying that fish looks like me, you are clearly drunk. I’m more of a shark. Now, direct the damn guts in another direction.” 

[casonirvine-blog]

thaddeusthornton :

“Don’t take kindly to thieves,” Typhon spat to the fool, hands fisting into another’s threadbare shirt before he slammed the offending gentleman into the tavern wall. “If I ever catch your dirty fingers near my person again, I’ll split your head right open and spill ‘ya all over this floor. Understand?”

Satisfied that his warning was heard, Typhon shoved the boy to the side, turning to Irvine as the thief stumbled away quickly. “FRIEND,” he greeted, a smile smoothing away the scowl. Flicking two coins his way, Typhon nodded towards the bar. “Fetch us a few drinks, eh?”

“Right... Thieves... They are truly the worst of the worst.” Cason made a note to slip the poor boy a coin for taking the fall for him --- not that he had much of a choice in that regard. Cason could not help himself, and the boy was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. As soon as the thought crossed his mind, however, he immediately shrugged it off. Why should he give that boy a coin? The boy should have been quicker. At the suggestion of drinks ( and the grin that accompanied the word friend ), Cason let out a relieved sigh and nodded vehemently. “I still say I can out drink you any day of the week, and I am still willing to bet on it. If I’m wrong, I’ll give you my sister. If I’m right, I’ll still give you my sister, but I ask that you carry me across the threshold in victory.”

[casonirvine-blog]

elpisxelysia :

              Whereas her gaze had first been on the indeed mentally scarring sight, it now flickered towards the man again. “How can we out-indecent that?” she questioned, slowly and deliberately, as if she was actually considering—which she promptly realized and an embarrassed smile, matched with a rosy blush was carefully hidden from his sight by a dainty hand. She didn’t think he was being serious, so she shook her head. “You can’t possibly think it would be that easy, now can you, sir?”

“Do you really want me to give some suggestions? I have an entire book of suggestions --- drawings, really. I can jog home and grab it, if you wish.” He gestured in the vague direction of his home, ready to sprint if she said the word. “If you think you might change your mind before I return, I’m certain I can remember a few things that would cause anyone to blush. It’s my greatest pride.” 

[casonirvine-blog]

elpisxelysia :

          Elysia turned her head—she thought only she had seen it happen. It had seemed too indecent to be true. “So… I wasn’t just seeing things? That really did just happen?”

“The way I see it, we have ourselves two options. One: we continue onward with our lives and the mental scars of that horrific image, never to leave. Two: we try to out-indecent them, so that we’re the ones leaving the mental scars.” His eyes lit up, and he grinned as another option came to him. “Oh, or three: we seek comfort with each other. That would be fine too.” 

[bohemiancolia]

[casonirvine-blog]

“Did you really have to do that in front of me?” 

[terpsikhore-dreaming-deactivate]

Are You My Master? || Tania && OPEN

Tania sat silently within her lamp. She knew she could look outside if she so wished, but she did not so wish. Her first venture outside had been in the hands of a fisherman who had wished for positively horrible things. It was better that he was dead now. He had ended up as nothing more than ashes on the pavement of the alleyway in which her lamp sat now. She could hear the sound of rain pattering on her lid - she had so missed that sound. The bottom of the ocean had proven to be cold and silent. 

How she hated silence.

The familiar feeling of her lamp being lifted very nearly made her cry. Who was this next person? Were they going to be rude? Were they going to ask for power too? Were they going to keep her as a pet? She felt herself being drawn out, but she kept her form as a heavy cloud of smoke. She had already lost what little patience she still had.

“What is it you seek?”

[casonirvine-blog]

He let out a holler as she came forth. All his time dealing with the annoyances of this whole supernatural, and it had never paid off --- until now. He had to be smart about this, of course! He couldn’t just...

“Well, I’d ask for a kiss, but I”d think I could win that one fair and square.” He was nearly giddy with joy at his discovery, and he clasped his hands behind his back, beginning to pace a short path. “Alright, alright, alright. Any rules to this? Should we introduce ourselves? You aren’t going to, you know, make a fool out of me, right?” 

[ladybxlor]

“You look Divine Darling. I bet you taste just as good too…”

[casonirvine-blog]

Cason had to look around at least twice before determining the woman spoke to him. ( She had the look of a predator, and he could appreciate that in a woman. ) After determining that of course, it was him she spoke to, he put on a broad grin and puffed his chest out in pride. “Well, you wouldn’t be wrong. This is definitely an instance in which judging a book by its cover pays off.” 

[casonirvine-blog]

rheaxrafaela :

               It looked like the man was about to win what must be a brawl caused by something utterly ridiculous, but Rafaela let out a chuckle or two, anyway. Amused, she placed her hands on her hips and watched the fight unfold. “Cheer you on?  If I were you, the fight would be over already.” Likely. But she didn’t necessarily play fair.

“Yes, yes, you’re super strong with rippling muscles, I can tell. Alternatively, you can help me cheat and give this man a firm kick to the ribs,” he returned, glancing at her while still retaining his hold on the other man. “I can promise you that I am entirely in the right in this situation, and he’s a very bad man.” 

[casonirvine-blog]

hectorclayton :

Hector wrapped his arm around Cason’s, that had snaked around his neck, “Let me go!” He gasped, the stupid oaf was crushing his windpipe and he was finding it harder and harder to breathe, “I told you more than once, I do not fight for my family name as I once did,” He slammed his foot down on the other man’s, rolling to the side and taking Cason with him. He slammed his elbow backwards with a grunt.

“And I’ve told you more than once, you idiotic giant of a cow --- I don’t care!” He stumbled backward, letting out a loud curse when his attack was returned to him. “You owe me gold. I am mostly positive that I bet you about this whole wildling showdown, so don’t think you can get away from paying it off now that I’ve come collecting!” 

[terpsikhore-dreaming-deactivate]

Finders Keepers || Tania && OPEN

[casonirvine-blog]

terpsikhore-dreaming :

The feeling of arms moving to hold her caught her by surprise. She’d honestly expected some form of resistance, but this man seemed to be perfectly fine with it. A little too fine with it. His lewd offer made her arch a brow and a low smirk tug at the corner of her lips. Thank goodness her face was hidden by the cloth of his shirt. “Though I’m most certainly a bed kind of woman, I hear that tables can be surprisingly sturdy.” Tania retorted, doing her best to keep her tone as serious as she possibly could. When she was confident that the men would not circle back around, she raised her head to scan him over with curious brown eyes but seemed perfectly content to remain in his arms. “You’re clearly not that much of a legend, considering I haven’t the faintest of who you are, sir.”

“A bed kind of woman? Sturdy tables? I might swoon --- do you think you could hold me up? You’re speaking straight to my heart, ensuring that yes, I actually have one.” Cason would have fanned himself if he was not busy enjoying every moment of having a beautiful woman shy away from the world in his embrace. At her acknowledgement of not knowing who he was, he pulled away and scoffed, striking a pose. ( You never knew what gods might be watching. ) “Me? I’m Cason, and no, that’s not a fake name. Cason, you know! Dead man, come back to life. Dashingly handsome. Thief and lover both, but mostly lover. Cason!” 

[felicia-parker]