under the moonlight

[cfmoonglow]

lilit.​

Vespertine | Emiko

Time: 9pm on 8/25/20

Location: The Mansion

Character: Emiko

@cfmoonglow​

“It’s Macedonian, my accent.” Laughter topples over the brim of her glass. Lilit’s  mannerisms radiate with foriegn grace and dignity. Her company, their eyes reflected Lilit’s own ambition and desire. “My grandfather was a Byzantine Emperor, my mother was his daughter and my father was a Macedonian Statesman. I will not bore you with my long forgotten humanity.” Lilit imagined herself with them in every way. She recalled the observations, a fledgling vampire, new yet refined. Lilit walked near enough to watch them progress without being noticed. She stalked their presence from a distance until their eyes locked and she saw someone she could drown herself in. It was her moonstone eyes that reflected Lilit in perfect clarity. It was only natural for someone so immersed in themself to love their own reflection. 

“In over 900 years I have not found someone like myself. I have been watching you, waiting for the opportunity to speak in private.” Lilit’s devilish smile crept across her lips. “You came to me. I knew you would. You have kept me waiting far too long.” The mansion was cozy but still too open for Lilit’s liking.

“Trust me,  you will never be a princess. The ambitions you have will never be taken seriously. I have tried for 906 years. What makes you think that they will ever liken you to pure blood? If I seem harsh to you, remember that I was created just as you were. How do they say…I have been around the block before?” In order to build an ally, they must be wounded. Lilit’s words were painful for herself to hear. She could only imagine the frustration they would cause the neonate vampire so close to her. 

“Forgive me.” Lilit swirled the glass in her hand as her eyes dipped to examine the vampire fully. “My words are not a discouragement.” Lilit touched her fingers to their cheek. “The threat of failure drives us farther into our own success.” Lilit smirked, the seriousness fading from her aura like a dissipating fog as she swept from the room in her long flowing gown. It would be their move now. Would they follow her to speak alone?

if asked, emiko would admit that she was not the most flexible type of person. she made plans and she stuck by it, no matter the adversaries that she had to go through. and ultimately, her number one plan was to make it to the top. how she’ll get up there was a different matter, one that had her flouncing and stumbling in her attempts to keep herself afloat along the way. what she needed was guidance in this new life of hers, with a world so different from what she was used to. 

she stood stiff and patient as she listened, only a slight narrow of her eyes at the mention of her ambitions. "I'm not looking to be a princess." not anymore. "but I will be something." a force to be reckoned with. but she understood what the elder vampire meant. two years in the coven showed her enough that she was but a small speck to the rest of them. and one death with no explanation showed her that she was... e x p e n d a b l e. she knew that bloodlines held great value, but they all bleed the same. and that was what she wanted. 

there was no question that she would follow the woman as they turned away from the room. she wasn’t sure where she would be led to, but this was a start wasn’t it? to be shown something that a fledgling such as her would have never had the opportunity. “you said that you have been watching me. waiting to speak with me.” she started, careful with her words because there are risks associated with trust. “why?” what for? was the underlying question. “is there something the coven wants with me?” though it was unlikely, she had to be sure to proceed. 

[cfmoonglow]

michel.​

— they want to see us, want to see us alone

with the insertion of her harsh question, michel nodded hesitantly in response. he could sense some resistance to what he was saying, which he only assumed was because of how intense the content of his words were and its relation to the coven. “in all honesty, i don’t think you should leave either.” and he meant it. as much as he would come to loathe many of the figures in the coven, he also realized he would be lost or even dead if he didn’t have that resource. “it is a bubble, but i agree — that’s exactly what you need right now.” he nods along to his words, licking his lips. “but look, just… be careful. question it all. everything. because that’s the one thing they’re harping on you not doing.” he offers as a warning, hoping it’s something she would consider. because for him, it was something he wished he realized a hell of a lot sooner.

a small smirk came upon his features involuntarily as he took a hesitant step forward, coming a little closer to the other as he brought his gaze from the concrete to her hues. “you know i’d tell you anything about me.” and the smirk eventually grew into a smile, because honestly, this is what he’s been waiting for ever since he met her years ago. to get to know each other for who they are and not the lies he had no choice but to tell. it was the conversation he thought they’d have on the street, but michel understands that the universe’s timing is always right and he has to hand it to her — a rooftop, underneath the stars is a much more beautiful place than in front of a deli in the middle of the street. “so, what will it be?”

almost instinctually, he finds himself moving the slightest bit closer to her as he slowly allows himself to get comfortable in the situation, finding it hard to remove his eyes from the woman in front of him. “i mean, maybe don’t ask how i died, though. unless you have a ridiculously high tolerance for secondhand embarrassment.” he jokes light-heartedly, chuckling at the thought, the memory being something he’s eventually been able to make light of.

this time, she didn’t take a step back. this time, when he moved closer, she let him. but god, did emiko want to hit him. for dumping all this information to her and still say she should stay. for smiling at her and making jokes as if it were that easy, for giving her everything she wanted before she could even ask. the thing with never getting what she wanted was that she didn’t know what to do when she actually got it. she would never know what to do if she could not work for something, anything. essentially, he gave her a warning; one she was able to take to heart too quickly with her faith in the coven was already wavering. and essentially, she should be grateful that he cared enough to do this. people who cared didn’t come in many batches for her. perhaps that was also why she gave this a chance. 

“if I did ask.” her words were measured, but much softer than her earlier outburst. “what do you want in return?” as much as she appreciated it, she didn’t think he would just give everything away without wanting something as well. and she had to be prepared for it, if this would be worth it. “if I asked what were the lies and what were the truth you told me back then. if you really are a bartender or if you were just there to feed.” it was probably unfair for her to ask for so much of the truth from him, but she tested her limits. “what exactly you were planning when you spoke to me, when you decided that you were still going to interact with me knowing that I was a mortal.” this question she was most afraid of the answer slipped right in between before she could stop it, and she could only scramble to cover it up with something a little less personal for her, “if I asked what you have done as a vampire, how much have you done, and if you’ve ever turned anyone.”

emi looked him in the eyes then, challenging, letting him have the chance to leave now and give her nothing else. gaze guarded if he did choose to leave, though she probably would not fault him much for it. “if I asked all these questions, what do you want from me?”

[cfmoonglow]

sinclair. zaiden.​

THIS TIME WHEN SINCLAIR HAD THE IMPULSE to roll his eyes , he didn’t bother holding it back . he raised a finger to the bartender behind him , quickly leaning over to murmur a request for a tray of vodka shots . he peered over at emi , eyebrows together at the sudden sullenness of her tone , & the way it contradicted with her words . sea - green hues cut over to zade , flashing him a glare , even if it was a relatively weak one , somehow managing to plea with the same look . he hoped the other , through his alcohol - induced haze would see the seriousness in it — clair knew what it was like to be in emi’s shoes . it was one last request for zaiden to , perhaps , go a little easier on her . 

in the next beat , his grin was back on his lips , his face turned so they both could see ; that drop - of - a - pin energy shift that clair was getting oh so good at . he chuckled slightly , a forefinger raised as he spoke , “ first of all , emi knows the truth in that . she also knows , ” he paused, cutting his gaze to her then , “ that growing with the coven will require respect to those above her . ” the words were said as though he’d made a lightly despite their weight , in an effort to alleviate some of the tension building between the two of them . he turns as he hears the bar keep place down his tray , a good 25 shots spread out across it , rippling slightly as clair’s long fingers reach out to pull it closer to him . he passes one to each of the grumpy vampires at his side , & then grabs his own to raise it . “ here’s to me ! charming enough to have not one , but two , extremely finicky immortals that dislike each other , put up with one another at his behest . ”

he spared himself a laugh before he downed his drink . @kingspavvn​

THERE  WERE  TIMES  WHEN  HE  TRULY  regretted  how  easily  swayed  by  clair’s  antics  that  he  could  be  –  the  current  situation  unfolding  at  hand  being  one  of  them.  he  eyes  the  other  vampire  with  thinly-veiled  annoyance  etched  across  his  angular  features  and  though  blue  hues  remain  clouded  by  the  haze  of  alcohol  coursing  through  his  veins  at  present  ,  there’s  no  mistaking  that  his  irate  demeanor  would  hardly  waver.  in  spite  of  himself  ,  though  ,  zaiden  groans  loudly  ;  the  sound  is  dramatic  ,  far  more  animated  than  the  death  dealer  often  allowed  himself  to  be  had  he  been  far  less  intoxicated  than  he  is  now.  he  hardly  even  registers  the  small  shot-glass  pressed  into  the  palm  of  his  hands  ,  inked  digits  curling  around  it  out  of  instinct.  he  merely  grumbles  under  his  breath  in  response  before  tilting  his  head  back  to  polish  off  the  clear  liquor  in  one  fell  swoop.  the  trail  of  fire  snaking  down  his  throat  doesn’t  register  as  the  elder  vampire  licks  his  lips  ,  setting  the  small  glass  back  against  the  table  with  a  sharp  clink.

❝  i’ll  believe  it  when  i  see  it  ,  ❞  he  concludes  after  a  moment  ,  his  voice  little  more  than  a  low  ,  unimpressed  drawl  as  his  gaze  slowly  moves  to  study  emi  with  intent.  ❝  because  when  you’re  not  here  ,  ❞  zaiden  continues  ,  tapping  clair’s  wrist  with  a  careful  finger  with  a  surprising  amount  of  delicacy  ,  ❝  she  likes  to  run  her  mouth  because  she  thinks  i’m  mean.  ❞  his  tone  takes  on  the  slightest  hint  of  petulance  now  &  an  eye  roll  follows  suit.  ❝  don’t  know  where  she’d  get  that  from.  do  you  think  i’m  mean  ?  ❞  he  gives  clair  an  imploring  look  with  the  slightest  hint  of  a  pout  before  tearing  his  gaze  away  in  favor  of  plucking  up  another  shot  –  and  another  ,  and  even  a  third.  he  downs  them  all  consecutively  ,  grumbling  under  his  breath  before  running  inked  digits  through  dark  hair.

❝  emi  never  talks  to  me  with  respect  ,  now  do  you  ?  ❞  he  questions  again  ,  directly  addressing  the  other  now  with  a  smack  of  his  lips.

when the shot glass was passed to her, emiko surrendered to the fact that her excuses weren’t going to pass nor would she be able to refuse sinclair again and again. she still wanted the older vampire to like her, the desire for acceptance bled through her for the very few who could make life at the coven that much more bearable. “I suppose I can stay for a drink or two,” she conceded as she took her seat once again. there were worse things, she tried to convince herself, and while she had no doubt in sinclair’s ability to befriend anybody, it would be... something to see what would happen. at the very least there was a witness if things took a turn. not that she would do anything to cause it, she had resolved to be even more careful. 

it was like the tip of a knife had ran down her spine, sharp and chilling, and it made the hairs on her arm stand. emi knew of their relationship, but never in detail and never had the chance to witness it either. she would never have pried either, preferred to pretend as if she did not know. but then zaiden was... complaining, for a lack of better word, to sinclair, and her eyes filled with alarm. both in fear to lose their friendship and in perturb at the unnatural attitude coming from the elder death dealer. a combination that ended up with a weak, “don’t call me that.” because as much as she hated it, she would have preferred being called fledgling than e m i. the familiarity of the name should not be used by him. a quick glance at sinclair, and she remembered that she was not there to cause conflict. “I mean.” she covered up her wince with a cough at the suggestion she was about to offer, “emiko is fine. you don’t have to call me ‘emi’. suzuki would work as well.”

“and I guess, I’m sorry that you have a problem with me speaking up?” she shrugged, as if it didn’t bother her much. but her grip on the glass did tighten just a little, because she just couldn’t win. when she was silent, she lost to her sister and now that she’s louder, she’s still losing. 

[cfmoonglow]

zacharie.​

                    Of everything he knew about the baby leech sitting next to him, Zacharie could admit that he’d never quite seen this side to them before and as a result found himself much more intrigued than usual. Usually their interactions were much more volatile than two people sitting at a bar discussing drinking games, he had never before passed up on a chance to teasing the young vampire for being just that. A baby vampire, but in the spirit of neutrality, he figured he could see where this went. 

                    Picking up his glass he threw back the rest of his drink, ordering another before turning back toward the vampire sitting next to him. “I’ve dabbled,” his voice was low as a smirk playing on the edges of his lips teasingly. “I’ll let you pick though, which one is your favorite?” He didn’t have a preference, being familiar with all of the options that she had suggested. It had been a while since Zac had done anything like this, and to say he was already looking forward to it would be an understatement.

emiko couldn’t quite imagine what the elder lycan may have been doing to dabble in some of these games. her short years were nothing compared to all that he could have done in his time. but she shrugged that behind as there were other matters at hand. “alright. let’s start with truth or dare. if one of us chooses not to answer or do the dare, that person takes a sip. sounds fair?” and there isn’t really anything to stop either of them from lying, but she wasn’t about to make promises on it either. “I’ll even let you go first,” she offered as an act of truce, since she wouldn’t go as far to offer him anything in an act of kindness. emi took her time to take a sip of her drink, giving him plenty of time to back out if he wished. though she secretly hoped he didn’t, because then she would truly be on her own with no distractions to her unforgiving thoughts.

[cfmoonglow]

michel​.

— they want to see us, want to see us alone

hearing emiko use the same talking points that the coven had been spewing felt equally disappointing as it was understandable. michel doesn’t blame her for being involved with them, if anything he’s sure they have offered her some level of comfort and security which is all you want when you’re new to this world. but all of that doesn’t come for free, and it still hurts him to know that even the rhetoric and ideology have also been extended to her. he licks his lips in preparation and raises his gaze to meet hers once again. “when you’re in the coven — especially as a fledgling — there’s many things they keep away from you. even as a royal, there was shit happening that i didn’t entirely know about. at all.” he shakes his head at the memory, heart slightly dropping almost like it did as he realized the reality. “because i was absorbed in the comfortable distraction of the coven. and when you’re in that distraction, you seem to miss the families being slaughtered. and the children being murdered. and the systematic takedown of an entire species.” and he pauses to take a breath he doesn’t need, because he doesn’t want to get too riled up again. not here, and certainly not in front of emiko.

“and when you realize all of that is happening just so that a few vampires can stroke their superiority complex… it starts rubbing you the wrong way. i wasn’t willing to have the wealth or the mansion or the false sense of security if it came at the expense of someone’s life or expression of one’s culture.” his eyebrows come to meet in earnestness, guilt reading across his features. because truthfully, he was. he loathes the fact he ever benefited from another immortal’s misery. it disgusts him each time he thinks about it. “so, i made my points known. i said what i had to say and i was exiled because of it.” he finishes, saying so very matter-of-factly as he had already come to terms with this fate.

michel takes a moment with his words, peaking out to the distance consisting of various apartments. in that moment, he can’t help but think about how much simpler mortal life is as he redirects his eyes back to his very complicated immortal situation. “i’m not a bad person.” he makes sure to say, because even if it’s a weak response, it’s all he wishes emiko takes away from this conversation. if nothing else. “i’m just not a fan of the coven and the blind complicity. and… they’re not a fan of me.” he releases a humorless chuckle, shrugging slightly. for a couple beats, the slight breeze that glides between them is the only one willing to make a sound before michel opts in to add more, half hoping to reassure the other and probably half out of nervousness. “and it’s not that i think everyone involved in the coven is bad either. i just wished more people didn’t look away at these kinds of things.” he notes, now redirecting his gaze towards his converse-covered feet, unable to read emiko’s expression and at this point, he’s too worried to look.

the more he spoke, the more she wanted to stop him - to yell at him for what he was saying, but she had no right to, and her blind loyalty to the coven was something that had started to crack with malik’s death. so it was hesitation that she felt, the fear of being uncertain with what she knows. the confidence she had put to make sure she would rise in her new life was shaking, and she did not like it one bit. ‘families being slaughtered. and the children being murdered.’ more and more, it made her head spin. a shiver ran down her spine, not just because of the chilly air. briefly, she wondered in minkyu approved of this, if sinclair had participated in this. but she also knew that survival was not as easy as black and white. 

“is that everything?” the words came out harsher than she intended, and she would have taken them back if the rest didn’t fall out too much, too easily. that was what she had been afraid of, old habits where michel - the one mortal emiko knew - had been so easy to talk to. “I’m not in the coven for fun. these things– they’re not ideal. none of it is. not for the lycans, but it certainly isn’t any safer for us either. I’m there because I have to be. it’s my place and I cannot leave.” she turned away from him and started to pace. nanakorobi yaoki, nanakorobi yaoki, nanakorobi-nanakoro-nana-nana… her mantra only managed to calm a bit of her distress. but it gave her a minute to breathe, and when she turned to him again, she saw the glimmer of worry, of nervousness and uncertainty.

and the next sentence fell from her in a whisper, almost drowned by the wind, “I don’t think you’re a bad person.” because she didn’t want to believe that, no matter what the coven members said. the problem was that there were so many things that emiko wanted, she knew she should be more than prepared to know that she rarely got what she did want. she worked, and hoped, and worked some more. but in the end, she sought to save herself first. she was selfish like that. hardly deserving of a person like michel, she’d reflect later on, as someone who fought for better ideals that weren’t about them. which was why she already knew that she’d come to regret what she continued with, especially if he chose to leave after, “but I don’t know who you are, either. this doesn’t change that.”

[cfmoonglow]

sinclair.​

DESPITE HIS PUSHING & TAUNTING , the satisfied grin he sported nearly cracked his face in two . he’d always heard zade speak about what it felt like to be on the other end of training , & clair could agree entirely - he felt alive in a new way , the rush of having someone learn to unleash on you was unique from any other thrill . watching emi give in , watching the way her blows became more precise without sacrificing speed . seeing the gears turn as she found that place where she could listen go her instinct but still process what worked & what didn’t . he’d never had a younger sibling , or anything like it to be proud of , but sinclair was dipping his toes into the ‘ feeling things ’ pool , & proud was exactly what he was in that moment . 

& oh - she was quick when she wanted to be . he could’ve dodged the blow to his knees , but only barely , so he let it connect , not rushing to get out of the way . one of his knees came in contact with the pavement below him , & he laughed , but not at emi ; simply in his pleasure at her progress . clair stayed down long enough that she would see him have to rise from her smart move , & his hands came to grab either side of her face , placing a light kiss on her forehead in his elation . “ mon cher , i am laughing because you are amazing ! i cannot tell you how many weeks it took me to get to a point where i was able to let it all fall away & just move . ” his hands came down , turning her with a pull at her elbow , making her circle before him so he could brush off any debris from the street she might’ve missed , & to make sure she was okay . after a good once over , he was grinning down at her once more . “ what you are doing is learning , & learning quickly & efficiently . there’s no right way to do anything past putting in actual effort . progress never feels like progress in the beginning , but trust me . i was watching , & your muscles are already snapping in place faster than they were before . you’re gonna be a scary little thing when i’m done with you , don’t you worry . ”

she had frozen in place, when sinclair had grabbed her face and placed the light kiss on her forehead. he didn’t seem fazed by the action at all, and that disturbed her a little less than the foreign feel. it wasn’t that she didn’t know what it was, something she had seen often between parents and children and on rare occasions siblings she supposed. but she had never been on the receiving end of them. ( or she had, a very long time ago, that she wasn’t sure if it had been a dream, a wish, or a memory. ) she wouldn’t know any of it, her familial relationships had deteriorated as time went on and only the resentment stayed the same. but then sinclair kept speaking, praises and approval, and emi could feel herself breathe with the warmth that exuded from him. she let go of the tension in her preparation to build up her walls, a small smile formed on her face instead. “I can put in effort. I will put in effort.” it’s what she was best at, after all. “I don’t mind - whatever you can teach me. I’ll take notes, and practice.” her eager excitement slowly formed as it seemed that she was allowed to. it was another thing as an overachiever, people don’t quite trust desperation. but if sinclair was willing to give her a chance, she would give him one too. trust was a delicate thing, she’d come to learn. “I’m ready. and I won’t let you down.”

—FIN.

[cfmoonglow]

kaz.

THEY  WATCH  THE  ENTIRE  THING  from  a  bit  of  a  distance.  oh  how  they  craved  a  bag  of  french  onion  sunchips  ,  and  oh  how  disappointing  it  was  that  they  were  unlikely  to  get  it.  kaz  would  admit  that  they  found  it  amusing  later  ,  but  for  now  they  keep  it  to  themself.     “     one  hell  of  an  accident     ”     they  comment  offhandedly.  everything  in  them  is  telling  them  to  just  leave  ,  find  another  vending  machine.     “     are  you  going  to  fix  that     ?     ”

“it wasn’t as if I meant to hit it that hard,” she remarked rather defensively. “I just wanted the cherry twizzlers, no one even really gets those.” emiko gave a dirty look to the fallen machine, and in her mind it deserved to stay down. but with a sigh, she knew she couldn’t leave it there. not with the witness around at least. “yes, yes. I’ll put it back to it’s place. but I can’t promise it’ll give you what you want, since it’s decided to keep my candy along with my dollar.”·

[cfmoonglow]

alchara.​

an involuntary wrinkling of her nose would counter the question without wording. Emiko could note a couple of giggles hidden behind Alchara’s hand as she attempted to veil just how humorous the idea was. “A leecher. Little ole me?” a couple of more amused expressions would continue to make light of an otherwise dangerous interaction. crossing her arms over her chest an over-exaggerated moue curled her lips into a pretty pout as she spoke, “Is that it then? Do I look like a warrior to you? Perhaps that’s where I’ve come from– a couple of trainings to further my rank and counterbalance the likes of your kind? –so that I may join the overcompensating dogs who continuously bite the hand that feeds them–?”  from her pocket, she’d reach for single carton of cigarettes, only to be disappointed and learn that she’d apparently left those somewhere on a bar countertop “Fuck–“ throwing her head to the moon, her drunken word vomit would cease momentarily as she’d offer a curse to the marvel in the sky.

only after a hiss towards the sky, she’d continue to speak to Emiko, “I’d never subjugate myself to such nonsense.” as she, instead, turned out her jean- jacket pockets, a deck of cards were collected in fingerless-gloved hands. “I leave the fighting for people who have something to fight for. As for myself?” she’d take a glance upon the flight of stairs that would lead to a fire escape as she nonchalantly shuffled her the deck of major arcana aspirations. “I like to think of myself as a drifter. I don’t see the harm in leaving quietly when you think your jig is up.”

“you can never be too careful.” emiko regarded the woman with exasperation, not finding any amusement in their antics. it gave her half a mind to turn around and return to the mansion. if she locked her door, no one would search for her anyway. but it was cold there, and the warmth of the past, no matter how bitter, felt easier to breathe in rather than the suffocating coldness that surrounded her in the mansion. and alchara, no matter her disposition, was someone close to a.. friend, perhaps. if emi picked up anything from the tirade, it was that she had no allegiance either. of course, it would be foolish to believe that wholeheartedly, and she could hardly trust a person with no loyalty. but as she glanced at them, looking a tad pitiful ( alone, just like her ) on the floor, she opened her door a little wider as an invitation. 

“don’t loiter around all night, the other tenants won’t like that and the neighbours will talk. you might as well come in and-” her nose wrinkled at the smell of alcohol emitting from the other woman. “-get yourself cleaned up.” it wasn’t the most warm of a request, more of a demand if anything, because emiko couldn’t get caught helping a lycan. she gave excuses to hide the fact that maybe she just didn’t want to be alone either.

[cfmoonglow]

alchara.

𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐜 & 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 || @cfmoonglow​

she wasn’t in the mood to be a lycan. –not that she ever was. perhaps that was the point of the whole get up– the mask, the gloves, the cloak, the pretty dress that didn’t belong to her… it was a disguise and it was working, for the most part, for the strangers that didn’t know her. she had borrowed the pretty tule garment from that little old neighbor of hers, and she was grateful, so grateful that if she had any money on her, she’d have bought emi a drink ( despite the obvious reasons why they shouldn’t be in the same vicinity ) 

in fact, Talc knew that she was borderline inappropriate in even looking in Emiko’s direction. it wouldn’t stop those drunken eyes from attempting to catch her gaze. if there were friends in that place that she could call her own, the vampire was surely one of them. 

“You can have my drink.” she spoke haughtily, even as the ice watered down the bloodied vodka in the glass. “I don’t think I’ll take this one. The smell of metal and rust kind of ruins the shot– next time I’ll have to ask for a tequila without the scarlet letter.” she held the glass out to emiko. “enjoy. it’s the least I could do for you.”

emiko didn’t know what she was thinking when she let alchara borrow a dress for the event. her old neighbour and her had a civil relationship, she would say. before her transformation at least. they weren’t the best of friends, but she was alright. one she didn’t mind exchanging greetings and lending some salt. which was probably why she let talc pick out something from her old closet. in return, she didn’t ask for anything of monetary value. maybe an iou was implied, but it was more that the lycan didn’t tell anyone where she got the dress. 

so it was with a frown that emiko eyed the vodka in front of her. in the mix of the crowd, they were safe to interact, but not enough that this would change everything for them. “I.. appreciate the thought, but you can keep it.” punctuated with a silent glare, a warning. “I have my own.” she lifted her drink, hardly drunk at all, and without the scarlet letter. 

[cfmoonglow]

michel.​

— they want to see us, want to see us alone

as he made his way up the steps, his mind drifted back to the night after their reunion, and how he couldn’t help but play both of their words repeatedly in his head. it was then he realized how much more he needed to say. how much more context he was ready to give — his own perspective. after his expulsion, the proper context was anything anyone wanted to talk about for weeks, which eventually led to several different (and very untrue, mind you) rumors spreading about what happened and why it went down the way that it did. so with anyone else, he withheld this precious information, because his family and this life moment was truthfully, no one’s fucking business. but for him, no matter how much he pushed it down for years, emiko wasn’t just anyone else. and if explaining his side of things meant that she would want to talk with him just a five minutes longer, fuck it, he was ready to throw everything out the window.

the night felt fresh across already-chilled skin and he brought his gaze above him, eyes drifting from one small star to the next like each piece made up a larger untold story. and there wasn’t a moment he didn’t appreciated the naivety of nature and its beauty. how it would come to know all the little details from this clandestine meeting. but then he felt another presence come from the stairs and he bravely decided to steal a glance, the smallest smirk appearing in response. and her first words to him stung. they did. but it was hard to be hurt for long when the night was this breathtaking and the two were in each other’s company once again. in their own bubble.

“you look beautiful.” he says simply. because it’s the first thought that crosses his mind and he was never good at thinking before he speaks. he turns his entire body towards her and takes a couple cautious steps, before bringing his gaze momentarily to the ground, because even if he wasn’t good at having a filter, he wanted to especially make sure he got this right. “look. i…” he begins, eyes once again meeting eyes. “just want you to know that… if there’s anything. you want to know about me. i’m happy to answer. all you have to do is ask.” he says with a bit more confidence, which can most likely be contributed to the time he’s had to think since their last encounter and of course, the adrenaline from the blood he just consumed. and it’s never explicitly said, but it’s exclusively implied that he’s referring to his ostracization and his time at the coven. and although he has hardly spoken of it since then, at least to the level he is anticipating, he’s ready. after all, he rather her know the truth than any of those soulless ostentatious weasels that occupy most of the coven.

breath caught in her throat, she almost laughed at his opening words. any other time, any other place, any other occasion, and she might have found herself flattered. but at this time, it seemed more like he was trying to soften the blow for whatever he actually wanted to say. and emiko’s had a lifetime of that, the good news before bad news, a sense of vindication before the reality set in. her parents never bothered to mince their words, and hoshiko will always be on top. she should be used to it by now, and yet she still hated it. emiko was about to turn around and leave just for that, because she couldn’t stay and have it linger, when he spoke again. and what he offered was a lot more than she could bear. what she had always wanted from those she sought after and yet given this chance, she was at a loss. 

“you’re talking about being a traitor to the coven.” she pieced it together in disbelief, he was asking for an acceptance that wasn’t quite hers to give. at least, she didn’t think. of course she didn’t want to be on his opposing side, but she couldn’t leave either. not yet. she still had plans she needed to fulfill. and she knew this was important. this could tell her more than anybody did, the detailed insides that were kept from fledglings.  “if I.. asked, will it matter?” will you tell me the truth? “some members of the coven have spoken about you, I’ve heard their stories, their warnings,” she admitted. “you abandoned...” them was too distant, us was too personal. “...the coven. and you chose to be on the lycans’ side instead. why?”

in all honesty, these weren’t the questions she wanted to ask. hers were more personal, along the lines of who he actually was if not the person she knew all those years ago, if she ever truly knew him or if it was all a disguise. hers edged more personal, more selfish, to only her as emiko suzuki and not as a member of the coven. but she kept that all in, determined to keep him at an arm’s length as long as she could. 

[cfmoonglow]

zacharie.​

                    As the little baby vampire slipped into the seat next to him Zacharie found himself hiding his amused smirk behind the martini glass in his hand. Perhaps the little leech had mistaken him for Zaiden, or she was at the point of the evening where she just didn’t care about who she was seen sitting with. Part of him hoped for the latter as he silently sipped from the glass in his hand, it was time to just relax and enjoy the evening. His night had been enjoyable so far, and there was no reason to ruin it by getting into any kind of argument. No matter how enjoyable poking a little fun at the baby vampire tended to be. He listened as she ordered her drink, his gaze on his own drink stirring the olives around the glass silently. He nearly missed her question, turning after a moment with a small grin. “A game? I’m always down for a game. What did you have in mind?” He asked as he turned himself to face her properly. “Will I need another drink for this?” He added raising his nearly empty glass in a slight toast. “I’ll order us another round,” he decided after a moment, grinning as he places his glass down on the counter. “Dry martini right?”

to say she was surprised that he so readily accepted the offer would be an understatement. then again, she remembered that in all their encounters, he had a habit of what seemed to be mocking her. she was the little leech, and though tonight would be the worst night to pick a fight, a game was a different matter. and emiko was competitive at her core, so she nodded. “we’ll play a drinking game,” she declared. “get whatever drink. martini, dry or not, whichever you prefer.” she wrapped her fingers around her own glass that just arrived, but it was implied that they’ll have more drinks by the end of the game. “truth or dare, never have I ever, or two truths and a lie. ever played any of them?” she had never made it a habit to play these games either, but she knew how it went and that was enough.

[cfmoonglow]

sinclar. zaiden.​

OH , CLAIR DIDN’T KNOW IF HE loved or hated the way the air was tense around the three of them . he was leaning closer to loving it , honestly — emi & zade were so much alike , it almost made sense that they hated each other , & the irony only served to amuse him . with the way zade was all but draped over his lap as he leaned against the bar in his seat , he knew emi was probably uncomfortable , but he felt the need to help her see that it was uneccesary . they were both a part of his lives , in ways sinclair was not willing to give up - so the both of them were just going to have to deal with each other , at the very least . he would jump for joy at the prospect of them being friendly with one another , even though the possibility seemed far off . 

he snorted lightly , wrapping a wrist around emi’s as she turned to move , keeping her there with a light grip ( if she really wanted to pull away , she could ) . his other passed over the remainder of his whiskey , placing the glass between her tiny fingers , the blood having pooled at the bottom with the way he’d been sipping on it . “ first of all , it’s great to see you too ! i absolutely love the look , emi . second of all , finish this off . i promise you’ll feel better after it . a positive , my second favorite , & crown royal , my favorite whiskey . you can’t go wrong . ” there was a pause as he looked down to give the death dealer perched on his lap a pointed look , brow raised , gaze full of intent , before turning back to emi , “ have i ever told the two of you , that nothing would make me happier , for my love & my childe to be nice to each other , hmmm ? respect to our elders , understanding for our fledgelings , “ he paused , nudging zaiden , “ -think of how unstoppable a force the three of us could be ! i demand that you indulge me . ” the words were light & playful , but he knew the both of them knew how much he meant it , & he was just buzzed enough to chuckle at his own joke , eyebrows raising as aquamarines darted between the two of them , his smirk daring either of them to ruin his good mood . @kingspavvn​

LONG LEGS ARE HOOKED LAZILY over clair’s lap as head bops ( somewhat off-rhythm ) in time with the steady bass reverberating through his bones ; inked digits are wrapped snugly around his own glass – a classic gin and tonic tinged crimson by the addition of A POSITIVE , his particular favorite of the numerous blood types coursing through the veins of mortals. truth be told , the elder vampire had been rather impressed by the fresh , metallic tang coating his tongue with each deliberate sip ; the rose had spared little in terms of providing their vampire clientele with only the most upscale & freshly-harvested liquid. the biting warmth of alcohol continues to linger as it slips down his throat , sending pulses of pleasant warmth coursing through his veins as it works its way through his system – and as another hum of quiet but certain acknowledgement slips from his lips , there is not a single doubt that zaiden adrian hendricks is irrevocable & unimaginably drunk. perhaps his sudden state of inebriation is the only thing quelling his tried & true patience from turning and snapping at the fledgling seated uncomfortably before them with sudden & heated distaste.

head tilts back as he takes a long , slow , and languid gulp of what little alcohol-and-blood remained in his glass , exhaling a pleasant sigh as the fire chases itself down his throat before he sets the now-empty container down against the bar with a harsh clink. he doesn’t wince at the intense amount of force behind the action , merely reaching to run slender fingers carefully through clair’s chestnut locks in absent appreciation. his attention , after all , is far better spent on someone he actually cares about rather than being wasted on an ungrateful & untalented fledgling. in fact , his attention only shifts to rake an accusatory glare over the other when clair’s body moves enough to grasp emiko by her wrist. the look of betrayed annoyance at being disturbed from his comfortable perch is palpable and , in spite of clair’s plea for indulgence , a scoff of annoyance slips from his lips. ❝ i don’t waste my time on disrespectful kids who don’t know when to keep their mouth shut. ❞ his complaint borders petulant as he casts clair a look of irritated but huffy indignation. finely done brows furrow as his head tilts. ❝ so once that one – ❞ he gestures vaguely in emiko’s direction with a free hand , ❝ learns that i can kill both of you with my pinky if i so desire , i’ll begin to indulge. for christ’s sake – why is my glass empty ! ❞ he grips with an ill-tempered sound. he motions to the barkeep for another & the moment his glass is brimming once more , he wastes no time in polishing it off in a few short gulps. / @cfmoonglow​ 

the glass felt heavy in her hand despite it being half empty. she kept her eyes on the red swirl of the drink while the two death dealers went back and forth in a conversation she had no place in. a small smile given to sinclair at his compliment and she was almost willing to play along, if only for him because there was no way she was doing this for the other one who so blatantly spoke as if she wasn’t even there. the glare directed her way was met with a raise of a brow and a light shrug. she had tried to leave, so he can’t exactly blame her for what sinclair chose to do otherwise. it only went downhill from there, with every word from zaiden felt like a stab to her. emiko did not have to stand for it, she had decided that previously and she bit down on the inside of her cheek hard enough to push through with it, to not give her own two cents of what she thinks of him in return. it was the least she could do for sinclair, after all, given everything he had done for her. she lifted the glass for a sip, the taste on her tongue somehow more reminiscent of her fateful night ( was it the combination of alcohol and blood? ), and she swallowed it down along with the memory. “it’s good,” she said instead, and it wouldn’t be much of a lie after the third and fourth sip when she’ll have gotten used to it. 

her smile was as genuine as she could make it, the stiffness all on her back and grip of the glass, as she continued to give her attention only to sinclair. “I’d like to stay, I really do. I haven’t been to a scene like this in a long time, and it would be so much more fun with some company. but also without some others.” if zaiden could openly insult her, she’ll allow herself a subtle snark. there were just some things she couldn’t let go of. “I just don’t want my night to be ruined as much as I don’t want to ruin yours.” because she would have cared enough to try, but she wasn’t going to bark at a wall.  @enpcssant

[cfmoonglow]

where: the midnight rose when: even later night  who: zacharie (@wlfbitcs)

with how her whole night was going, emiko had little hope for the rest of it. she strode to the bar, flushed and exhausted, in the need of something more. something else. she was done with feeling lost and inadequate and it felt alarmingly similar to a certain time as a mortal. that should have been the biggest warning of the night, yet when she stumbled upon zacharie at the far end of the bar, she chose to sit down next to him. she did not show any acknowledgement towards him, just went straight to order a dry martini with a scarlet letter. even as she waited, she did not turn to him, and probably would have ignored him the entire time. it wasn’t as if they were on friendly terms, a cat and mouse game always emerged with most of their interactions. but three more taps of her nails on her lap, toes wiggling in her shoes, and emi was feeling restless. if sinclair didn’t have zaiden attached to his hip at the moment, she might have sought him out for a lesson. or at least a suggestion as to where she can punch something. her current company was only a lycan, whom she finally turned to on a whim. “do you want to play a game?” she offered as a greeting. in truth, she wouldn’t be surprised if he turned her down, herself startled as to why she bothered to ask. maybe it was the agitation, the need for a distraction to push down the rest of her emotions that she did not know how to handle. 

[cfmoonglow]

where: the midnight rose when: night who: sinclair (@enpcssant), zaiden (@kingspavvn)

seated beside sinclair, emiko tried not to slouch too much or glare too much, for that matter, at the person on his other side. if she knew zaiden was going to be there, she might have made up some excuse to be elsewhere. but perhaps sinclair knew what he was doing when he called her over and had her sit. her drink half empty in front of her, she wondered if she should have ordered one with a scarlet letter first to get her through this. but the last thing she wanted to do was say something or do something that would get her in trouble. the air around them was tense, annoyance and awkwardness all rolled up. her gaze flicked upwards and she had to resist a wince when she caught the blue eyes across her. she had also pretty much avoided zaiden since their last interaction, so she sought to find safety in sinclair. and then she noticed a peculiar look that had her pause. 

“well,” she began, careful and unsure of her own presence with the two death dealers. “it was nice seeing you here. you both here,” she corrected herself a bit reluctantly after a brief look toward sinclair. “but it seems that you’re busy, or something. I’m sure you are.” this time she didn’t bother to hide her distaste as she gestured at zaiden. “so I think I’m just going to go get another drink-” a stronger drink. “-and leave you to it.” 

[cfmoonglow]

michel.​

— they want to see us, want to see us alone

starring: emiko suzuki, michel de la rue setting: the midnight rose

say what you will, but michel truthfully did plan to go to the midnight rose tonight strictly on liberation business. he knew that, despite being an exiled son and a polarizing figure in his community, he was more trusted to vampires than any lycan. and he also had a feeling he wasn’t the only one that felt more positively than negatively towards the liberation. so, if he would be able to get any intel regarding the event and even convert a few fellow bloodsuckers, he was down to help. even if that meant stepping into the lion’s den. taking a seat at the bar, michel decided to maintain a low-profile for as long as he could and raised a finger for the bartender, settling on a vodka tonic with a scarlet letter.

quickly glancing around to take a peak at the other attendees, trying to mentally note who to actively avoid right off the bat, his breath hitched as grayed out blues unexpectedly greeted his greened out hazels, though admittedly he was already much more collected than he had been when they saw each other previously. because even if some of his actions say otherwise, he isn’t a dense guy and he is very well-aware of how vampire-friendly tonight would be. but even then, for some reason, emiko just provoked this visceral response out of him that he had trouble defining. his attraction to her immense beauty aside, it felt like every time they spoke, even now with their immortal states known, he could see her soul — see her for who she really was. and he felt like she could see the same. maybe it was only the memory of her that he wouldn’t cease chasing, but of everyone he knew right now, he felt like she would be able to understand him best. in their own little way. like they just did two years ago. because he recognizes how lonely the two felt within their own circumstances and maybe that’s the largest reason to why he held out hope, even despite the less-than-ideal way their last encounter ended. he just wanted to hold on to her for as long as he could.

michel took the drink the bartender placed in front of him and gradually made his way towards emiko at the other end of the bar. he kept his gaze from her and his back towards her as he so carefully whispered, hoping her younger immortal ears would pick up on it. “look, i know you hate me, but i just want to talk. promise. i’ve missed you.” and maybe it came off slightly more aloof than he wanted, but he feared that if he spoke too sincerely in that moment, she would be able to hear his heart cracking and pick up each one of his vulnerabilities. in case she hadn’t heard clear enough before, though, he made sure she would now as he leaned slightly further back though unnoticeably and told her: “i’ll be on the rooftop.” he took a final sip of his drink, half to prepare for her not showing up and half to prepare if she did and made his way for the stairs.

dark nails tapped on the wooden counter in sync to the beat of the bass that surrounded the place. it was a remix of a song or some sort, something she couldn’t fully wrap her head around. gaze subtle but clear, emiko eyed her vicinity for anyone she might know, might want to avoid, and might approach. the drink in front of her remained untouched for the most part, a scarlet letter manhattan. perhaps it was the reminder of what happened previously that made her reluctant, but she was also not here to get drunk. she could not afford that recklessness in this setting, when the last event had resulted in a fledgling’s death. but she would not deny her curiosity at the affair that aleksander himself provided. it seemed to be too sudden, not even a few months in, under the pretense of a break. if there was something she could gather here, she would not want to miss it.

lifting the drink at hand, she took a sip, eyes rounding the place once more and landing on a familiar figure. too familiar in fact, if she closed her eyes now it might feel as though she had gone two years back. she forced herself not to blink. reality had to be dealt with in the present, wistful dreams of the past had to stay there. but it seemed that her past had a way of catching up to her, though admittedly michel was not the worst part of it. still, he was a dangerous aspect to her plans, as a traitor to the coven, a disgraced royal, as one who had a semblance of an idea to who she was ( one who wanted to know, which was the most dangerous factor of all ). because if he asked, she would answer and she was almost afraid of what she’ll say. emiko should have left when he was making his way towards her, but she stayed, as if rooted, though she did not lift her haze to acknowledge him. thankfully, it seemed that he had the same idea, with his back to her even as she knew the whispers were meant for her. fingers gradually tightened around the base of her glass as she listened, of hate and talks and promises and misses. glare directed towards her drink as if it had given her this impossible request, emi should leave instead. find sinclair and zade, who, despite their differences, was at least more or less on the same side. or minkyu, she was learning more about him after the compulsion incident and he surely won’t turn her away, or- she’ll take lena at this point.

but she still found herself at the top of the stairs, crowd and music behind her, and she hated how she felt more at ease away from it all. just ten minutes, she promised, and then she’ll leave. maybe she’ll get something out of him about the other side, even though that didn’t particularly made her feel better. before she could doubt herself further, she pushed the heavy door aside and was greeted immediately by the cool air. heels clicked on the ground, signaling her approach. “you wanted to talk.” straight to the point, the faster this will be over. “I don’t have- I didn’t think there was anything else. what is this about?”

[cfmoonglow]

                   “𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙖𝙩, 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙣.                                     𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚, 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙮 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡. 𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝙪𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨.” 

— natalie diaz, “soiree fantastique.”

[cfmoonglow]

minkyu.

His patience is wearing thin and with every word that comes out of her mouth, he’s closer to boiling. The only thing that keeps him calm for now is the cat in his arms. He could put it back on the ground but Minkyu knows its owner and wants to make sure it gets home safely. Much like the misbehaving fledgling at his side. He keeps walking, bites down on his tongue until one of his fangs draws blood from it. But then something inside of him just snaps and he can’t control it anymore. The cat jumps from his arms and Minkyu turns around all at once, looks her straight in the eye. He’s not yelling but he might as well be. “You stay safe by staying inside, by trusting us to fight for you when you clearly cannot fight yourself yet. If you’re not ready to kill, you have no business to be outside. Whoever that killer is, lycan or not, they’re not going to go easy on you. Fucking trust me and stay inside.” Somewhere along his heated rant, he had grabbed her arm and is currently squeezing way too hard. It’s not even necessary when the last part was most definitely said with compulsion dripping from it.

she had taken a step back when the cat suddenly jumped from minkyu’s arms, but she was even more startled when he turned around to face her. his words were a garble in her ears, her own emotions rising, and arguments on the tip of her tongue. “I did! I trusted all of you, but it still happened. even if it was just bad luck, I will not sit around and do no- do n..” the arm that she had been pulling fell slack, a haze coming onto her, and emiko went silent. everything else that she wanted to say retreated into the back of her mind, her brows furrowed in confusion as new thoughts filled her. it wasn’t exactly out of the ordinary, doubt tended to move fast in her. she trusted the coven, just as minkyu said, but that wasn’t it. he said to trust him. and how could she trust someone she didn’t even know? the urge to do so pulled beyond her incapability, and she nodded. “..fine. okay,” her voice small and dull, devoid of any of the emotions she had felt before. it was as if they had evaporated, and she couldn’t grasp them. ( somewhere in the back of her mind, she shivered at the loss ). “I’ll go- stay inside.”