all that hard glossy armor

cordelia selwyn | pure | safiq industries 

[cordelianselwyn]

where: valentine’s carnival when: 7:30ish pm who: cordy, the twins & OPEN

“Two more games?” Cillian raised her eyebrows in a perfect imitation of her father, and had Cordelia not been playing the stern parent at this time she would have laughed. But as Nel had wandered off with the instruction to find her the strongest drink available while she wrangled their fussy children to send them off with her parents.

“One,” Cordelia responded. Cassian smirked at his sister who scowled quickly. “One more game and then you have to leave with your grandparents.” Cordelia could hardly believe she was in a standoff with two five year olds, but then again she was softer for her children than anything else in the world. “Daddy and I need adult time, my loves.”

The twins let out matching cries of disagreement when they suddenly smiled at who ever had interrupted this little tantrum.

[cordelianselwyn]

carneliancselwyn​:

Carnelian never hung around his own home on the nights of the full moon. He always made sure that their children were sent elsewhere and that he gave enough distance to protect Cordelia. Even if he had more control of his own thoughts and actions than the average werewolf, nothing was worth risking when it came to transformation days. Being alone was a small price to pay to ensure the safety of the only people he cared about. The next day was always difficult, as it was incredibly draining to undergo such. When the morning rose after each full moon, Carnelian would come sauntering home, stumbling a bit as he leaned against the door frame until regaining his balance to push it open. 

Naturally, he was stubborn, and never enjoyed letting himself be seen vulnerable, even in the moments that it was genuine. Taking a moment to collect himself each time before opening the front door was important to him, slowly turning the handle and stepping forward into their home. When he heard Cordelia’s voice call out to him, he closed the door and hummed. 

“What would you do if it wasn’t? I should hope you weren’t expecting someone else,” he spoke low and slowly, turning the corner to find her.

Cordelia knew he hated being seen in a moment of weakness, even after all these years of baring their deepest selves. And so she let him have that, have his pride and let him be the one to comfort her and her fear, even when she could only guess at how much he was hurting.

“The only others who could get through the wards without a warning are Kit or my father, and then I’d fear something happened to you or the twins,” her hands shook slightly as she stood and crossed the room quickly, the ending of her sentence getting lost as she buried her face in his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. After what might have been a moment or hours, Cordelia pulled back just enough too look up at him, eyes wide with relief. She could see the exhaustion in the lines of his face, and was sure her own stress was written in the deep circles under her eyes. But she no longer felt it,

“Any trouble? Are you hurt? Can I get you anything?”

[cordelianselwyn]

eliaslxna​:

A conversation between was needed. Inevitable. And yet, Elias was done trying to get it to happen. They were both mature enough to know that if their relationship was to continue, they both needed to sit down and hash it out. Even though it wasn’t her fault that their last meeting got interrupted, Elias couldn’t help but feel as if she was avoiding him still. That their short rendezvous on the balcony of Slughorn’s manner was nothing but Cordelia getting her fill of affection before disappearing again. Elias decided to put the ball on her court. If she wanted to keep seeing Elias again, she needed to take the first step and talk to him.

Elias immediately dropped his tools on the table before him but he didn’t move from his seat. “It’s about time, I would say.” He paused, waiting for her to continue. “Is there a particular reason why you wanted to see me?”

~

He was angry, or at the very least still upset. Cordelia had learned from a young age to be wary of men who held their anger in silence. The uneasy way her father had always masked his own, hallmarks of which she’d only recently come to recognize. The witch blinked, clearing this line of thought from her mind in an attempt to focus on the present. She was sorry for how long it’d taken her to come back to him, she was not sorry for her choices - but Cordelia knew how to make it seem like that.

“I know, I’m sorry,” this was almost a whisper, apologies had always been difficult for Cordelia, as proud as she was. “I don’t like how we left things,” she stepped fully into the garage. She had a bone deep desire to close the space between them, circle around the table and sink into his lap, but she knew instinctively that he wouldn’t give into her need for affection without some sort of explanation.

“I don’t really know what you want me to say,” she twisted her wedding ring around her finger. “I’m not upset or frightened that you bit me, I asked you to remember? I liked feeling important, needed and wanted.” Cordelia took a short breath, then looked away from him. “I thought you hated me for what you saw, for the mark.”

[cordelianselwyn]

kit-shafiq​:

Kit hummed in recognition and nodded slightly as she said not to apologize. Still, part of him was going to feel bad about this. It wasn’t exactly a conversation he wanted to have. 

Sitting down, it was almost like it used to be. Cordy’s hair had always been somewhat wild but it was easy enough to tame. He’d learned along the way to fix it gently, not to tug to hard and to take the tangles one at a time and not all at once. He hadn’t meant to learn how to do hair, but it always seemed like something he should do. Cordy couldn’t run around with knots and his mother wouldn’t do it. 

Perhaps they were a bit too old for this now, but he still felt somewhat soothed by the repetitive action. At the question he sighed slightly moving one of the curls to the side. 

“Father told me.” He said simply knowing that she’d probably understand what he meant. “Cordy you know I can’t protect you in that organization. I can’t help you there.” 

~

Cordelia sighed contentedly with the soft affection from her brother. All of the very best parts of her childhood involved Kit – him reading to her, showing her simple magic once he went to school, finding some way to distract her when their mother was dismissive. It wasn’t until she was much older that she realized exactly how much Kit did to protect her from the tension between their parents.

But then he ruined the quiet and ease of the moment. Cordelia jerked away from him as she’d been burnt, or he’d tugged particularly hard on her hair. So their father told him, she wondered if it was in pride or to wound Kit – no she shouldn’t think such things about her father. Cordelia was still seated on the floor and so she stood quickly and retreated across the room.

“I don’t need you to protect me – I am not useless,” She’d meant to sound confident, but it came across much more like petulant and almost hurt. “Why did he tell you? He’s proud of me, he told me so. And I won’t be alone, I have Nel. You have to stop treating me like I am still five years old!”

[cordelianselwyn]

when: jan 29, 1983 just after dawn where: selwyn home who: @carneliancselwyn

She never slept on the nights of the full moon, as she was sure he didn’t. In some ways it was her guilt, the penance she paid for having forced him away from her so cruelly that first night. For keeping him from being there for the birth of his children - Cordelia felt the rawness of that guilt every time he left for one of these nights. The twins were with her parents, sometimes with Kit. She wasn’t sure if they’d caught on by now, they were quite clever for five year olds. Honestly, Cordelia didn’t know how to tell them.

She spent the night pacing, watching the hours tick away on the click atop the mantle. Nothing she would do or read could hold her attention for longer than a few hours, but she would not let herself rest. With the first rays of the sun streaming through the window, Cordelia relocated her vigil to the front hallway. In some ways, the day after the moon was her favorite however cruel that may be. It was the softest they ever allowed themselves to be with each other and she cherished this time.

The front door creaked. Cordelia looked up from where she sat on the bottom step, standing quickly to see if it was him.

“Love? Is that you?”

[cordelianselwyn]

eliaslxna​:

where: his garage when: after the Halloween Party who: Elias Asistores and Cordelia Selwyn ( @cordelianselwyn​ )

Elias’ attempt to talk to Cordelia at the Masquerade party had been an utter failure. He managed to steal a kiss, sure, but in the end, he failed to do what he intended which was to confront Cordelia. About ignoring him after he fed on her. About her Dark Mark. About everything. Unfortunately, just as he was about to begin, a stranger joined them on the balcony. The overdue conversation was put off once more.

Days later, there was still no message from Cordelia. To take his mind off the matter, he spent his free time in his garage tinkering with stuff, letting days just pass by. When someone finally knocked on his door, Elias lazily looked up.  “Who is it?”

Cordelia waited longer than she normally would have to seek him out, and he seemed to know to give her space. This was a conversation she wanted to have, something they needed to talk about - but in her defense, the Masquerade was not the place to have this discussion. Her mind had been else where that night, perhaps where many would argue it should always be, with her husband. He always needed her so around the full moon, the way she wished he needed her all the time.

But Carnelian was who he was, and she wouldn’t want him any other way. So she sought attention elsewhere. It was this need that drove her to Elias’s door, that and the memory of how much he seemed to care for her. When there was no answer, the witch wandered around to where she knew he had a workshop in the garage, lingering uncertainly in the door before knocking.

“It’s Cor, are you busy? I don’t mean to interrupt, I just -” she looked down, almost uncertain, “I wanted to see you.”

[cordelianselwyn]

eliaslxna​:

Elias only felt slightly better once they were out of sight, but he couldn’t shake away the feeling of cautiousness. He had always looked after Cordelia. Sometimes even better than how she looked after herself. Her recklessness was worrisome, but even Elias couldn’t deny that the excitement of getting caught turned him on. 

The warmth she gave him as she held him close was nice. But that wasn’t enough for Elias to shake away everything he’s been feeling since the last two spoke. Elias had fed on her. And in the morning, he saw the mark on her arm. He felt like Cordelia has been avoiding him ever since then and yet here she was, acting like she can’t get enough of him. 

“You’re telling me that nobody knows who you are even with your mask on tonight?” Despite everything he’s feeling, Elias wrapped his arms around her and relished the moment. Even if it was just for a few seconds. Slowly and very gently, Elias pulled away. “We need to talk, Cor. You’ve been avoiding me.”

~

Her recklessness was a peculiar thing, born of the arrogance and privilege of her blood status and wealth. Cordelia was sure somewhere, it bothered Elias the way it likely did her husband, but she wasn’t about to change. In many ways she had already grown up and changed so much with her marriage and children, she had to have somethings that were just hers. Like Elias.

But, as suspected, there was something hanging between them. Some kind of tension evident in his every movement and word. Cordelia should have expected this. She thought back to the last time they’d been together – the exquisite pain of his teeth in her neck, the heady intimacy in the aftermath that lead to falling asleep and staying the night, the look on his face in the morning when he saw the mark on her arm. Elias pulled away from her embrace and made a remark about the mask, Cordelia scowled and stepped back herself, crossing her arms protectively across her chest.

“Maybe I didn’t think you’d want to see me anymore after the way you reacted.”

[cordelianselwyn]

carneliancselwyn​:

When Cordelia asked if that was the nicest thing that he could think of to say about their children, he gave a mere shrug. “No. I suppose the nicest thing I could say is that they haven’t burned the house down yet,” he replied with a nod. Love was a complex emotion for Carnelian, and one that he didn’t use a lot. Or at least, he didn’t use the word. His relationship with his wife was formed on the consensus that they both understood the love was there, even if it wasn’t being said on a daily. “Sensational. That is, a very descriptive word for it.” A small chuckle escaped his lips as he shook his head. 

Carnelian wasn’t deaf. He heard the noise sooner than Cordelia, likely, on account of his good hearing. He had chosen over the years however to tune certain things out, and ignore others. This was a case of ignoring, though when his wife suddenly turned in his lap, he knew that she was up to something, and played along. He kissed her back, amused at the loud groans coming from their children in the door way. “And this is precisely why the two of you ought to be in bed.” His tone was firm now, looking past Cordelia’s shoulder and to their two small children, giving them the raised eyebrow that meant business.

With two echoing gasps, the twins rushed out of the doorway and back up the stairs, two house elves chasing after them. “More like meddlesome children,” Nel turned back to Cordelia, his hands moving down her sides to her hips.

She loved his laugh, she loved his smile. Fuck, Cordelia loved him. They didn’t say it much, if ever. Feelings were so gauche. Be she knew, and he knew – at least she hoped he did – and for them, that would be enough. She sighed softly with contentment, an almost unfamiliar feeling. She wasn’t one to crave soft and quite moments, attention – absolutely, but this simple domesticity was rare. And, if she were being honest, wonderful.

Cordelia laughed into his kiss at the sound of their children in the doorway. It was strange how similar the twins were to her and how much they were tiny versions of Carnelian. She couldn’t recall ever seeing her own parents be so openly affectionate, or even warm with each other. Mother favored Kit, and Father doted on Cordelia but expected the very best from her brother. She didn’t like to really reflect on the messier parts of her childhood, the half-forgotten maybe dreams of curses and fear in Kit’s eyes, hatred in her mother’s. But sometimes she couldn’t help it when her own little family stood in such stark contrast to them. She brushed away these thoughts, burying her face in Nel’s neck to hide her amusement as he scolded their children.

“Yes, but imagine how boring it would be around here if they weren’t?” She shivered slightly with want as his hands slipped down to her hips. Cordelia leaned forward and pressed her forehead to his, softly closing her eyes for the briefest of time. She pulled back with a peculiar look on her face and held his gaze for almost a moment too long before speaking.

“Ok, promise to be honest, no bullshit. And please don’t read anything into this, it’s literally just a conversation, I would tell you if it was anything more,” she spoke quickly and then looped her arms around his neck. “Do you want more children?” With this, her eyes fell, something like guilt gracing her features, “I mean, you weren’t there, and I know that’s my fault. And if you wanted more, wanted to be there, we can.”

[toomucharitime]

[cordelianselwyn]

kit-shafiq​:

Kit wasn’t exactly cross. Anger was a strong emotion, and although he felt it often it wasn’t directed at Cordy. There wasn’t much that would make him angry at her. However, he was annoyed and scared. She was so quick to prove herself and to keep poking at things that he didn’t really know if she realized how dangerous it was. These weren’t games, and joining a war wasn’t something she should have done because she wanted to prove herself. 

He didn’t even have to ask to see if it was true. He knew her well enough that she wanted to prove herself, and - that made him nervous too. 

“Sorry for pulling you away then. I didn’t mean to disrupt something” Kit said truly not wanting to have impose, but knowing that the note would have done that anyway. So he carefully poured a drink out for her as he looked at anywhere that wasn’t his sister for a moment trying to find words that expressed what he wanted to say. 

Handing over the glass he settled and looked at her as he spoke, “Lets sit down. Come on I’ll fix your hair if you want. But I need to talk to you.” 

~

Cordelia smiled softly at his apology, he should know by now that she would drop everything for him in an instant. Following him further into the townhouse, the younger sibling was suddenly struck with an overwhelming sense of unease. Something was wrong, she could feel the tension in the air and the anxiety radiating off of him. Then again, her brother was usually anxious about one thing or another, but this seemed particularly worrisome to him.

“Don’t apologize, I am always happy to come see you, and you didn’t interrupt anything.” She tried to keep her tone light, easy, as if it would push away any of her brother’s fear or soften whatever happened that made him so tense. Cordelia took a sip of the drink right away and instantly stopped fussing with her hair, sinking to sit on the floor in front of him and lean against his legs like she had as a child.

As a child, Cordelia was like a little doll, long dark curls and wide deep eyes. But she was still a tornado in the shape of a girl, a twirling mess of tangles and energy, and her mother had wanted nothing to do with the child. It was Kit who patiently combed through her tangles before she was old enough or patient enough to do it herself, telling stories and letting her play with whatever small item of his she’d coveted to distract her from tears. After he left for school she’d been so upset she’d gotten into their father’s office, cutting away at her long hair until it hung jagged and limp around her chin. Of course, her mother had no choice but to pay attention to her then, Father blaming her for not watching the child close enough.

“About what? You’re being weird.”

[cordelianselwyn]

carneliancselwyn​:

Carnelian laughed. How ironic it was, for her to question the issues he had with his own family, when hers was just as messy. Shaking his head, Carnelian pushed past her. “You have quite the nerve to talk to me about daddy issues, Cordelia.” He had issues with his entire family, but no more than they seemed to have with him. If anything, they had more. If her words were meant to sting, it was a piss poor attempt. 

Focusing on making his tea, Carnelian didn’t have time for Cordelia’s childish attitude right now. She had brought another man into their home, into his home, without mentioning it, and thus was looking to get a rise out of him. Not only had she gone against what he asked of her, but she was purposely trying to make him mad. That was precisely why he had chosen to give her no attention for it. “Sure they can. If they don’t desire help, why should it be forced upon them?”

When she touched him, however, he stopped only for a moment. Standing still for the first time since he’d gotten back, Nel stared down at the counter as Cordelia spoke, not answering her right away. “What fun would that be if you don’t even care what happens?” he asked, throwing her questions back at her. He knew she cared, that was the difference. Carnelian grabbed her wrist and removed it from touching him, whipping around to face her. “I don’t have anything to prove. Not to you, or anyone. This is who I am.” In his other hand, he pulled his wand back out and pointed it in the direction where the other man had been, almost as if he were going to actually do it. However, instead of killing the man, Carnelian flung the front door open, and summoned a large snake to chase him out of the house. 

He let go of her wrist only once the man was gone, and turned back to his cup of tea, waiting for the kettle to whistle. “My damage, is non of your concern, if you’re going to choose to act like a child.”

His laughter, cruel and biting, caught her off guard. The words that followed even more so. For a moment, Cordelia forgot she was supposed to be furious with him, forgot the taunting and anger and armor, and let the shock and pain slip through her mask. What did he possibly mean by that? She was her father’s favorite, everyone knew that was the reason her mother resented her and nothing else. Her heart rate shot up marginally with panic, perhaps he was just being cruel as she was, throwing off wild accusations to see what would cause her the most pain. Or – did he know something she did not?

“What the fuck does that mean?” Cordelia had been aiming for aloof and dismissive, but her pain and desperation were clear. “I don’t have daddy issues, I’m the favorite, everyone knows this.”

She ignored his retort, it was essentially what he’d already said before. They both had a deep stubborn streak, hers perhaps from always getting her way and his from never really having to consider others. Cordelia’s hand only just ghosted over his, an olive branch maybe, cloaked in poisonous barbs and frustration. Carnelian froze. She didn’t move her hand and opened her mouth to reply when he suddenly shifted, grabbing her wrist and turning to face her. The flinch was unintentional, her breath coming in shaky gasps. When Carnelian pulled out his wand again, Cordelia squeezed her eyes tightly shut and turned her face from his, waiting for the inevitable spell that meant she’d utterly misjudged him. It was bound to happen, eventually, Cordelia was too arrogant for her own good and could never resist poking the bear.

A briefest flash – some repressed memory from more than fifteen years ago. Another man from whom she’d tried so hard to win his attention holding a wand to her face. The same shock and fear and sickening realization that she’d put her trust and devotion in the wrong hands. No – it wasn’t real, just a nightmare.

Carnelian let go of her wrist and the memory vanished, pushed from her mind with self-preservation. The door was open and her lover gone, herself seemingly unharmed. Cordelia stepped back, clutching the counter for support and biting down on her bottom lip to keep from crying.

“I’m sorry.”

[cordelianselwyn]

eliaslxna​:

Cordelia’s touch was far from unwelcome, but it did surprise him. It has long ingrained in him that all of their contacts were supposed to be private. Hidden away. Even if he understood that the Selwyns basically had an open marriage, it still wouldn’t look good for either of them if she was found with another man. Now that she was touching him so openly. Elias couldn’t help but flinch back until he finally relented. He quickly looked around to check if anyone inside could see. 

“Aren’t you afraid that people might see?” he asked right before he felt Cordelia’s lips on his skin. Elias closed his eyes to relish the feeling. “I was uh… wasn’t hiding. I’ve been looking for you in fact.” Cordelia’s passionate kiss caused him to step back. He held unto Cordelia for support, inadvertently pulling her closer to him until his back hit the wall. Even then, Elias didn’t pull away. “We shouldn’t do this,” he whispered when he finally gasped for air. “Aren’t you with your husband?”

Cordelia was caught off guard, and a bit hurt from how he almost flinched and pulled away. She was a very physical person, affection and affirmation necessary to make the witch feel like she matter, like people cared that she was around. Maybe she was being uncharacteristically reckless, being forced into a false persona would do that to a girl. She felt the kindred anxiety from her brother, her mother’s wordless rebuke still stung like a slap to the face – and maybe, maybe she was doubting. Nel was only being soft because it was the night before the moon, he didn’t actually want her.

“Fuck it,” she whispered, but allowed him to pull her back until the were flush against the wall and deeper out of sight. Elias returned the kiss and she felt a bit better, but pouted slightly when he pulled away and asked about her husband. Cordelia sighed. “Nevermind that, no one will know – that’s what the masks are good for.” She pressed her forehead against his chest and held her breath for a count of ten. “You were looking for me?”

[cordelianselwyn]

lizarosier​:

One of her favourtie thing about these kind of events was looking at all the pretty outfits that people on. Of course, tonight was not nearly as interesting though considering some of the riff raff that were here. Not everyone was dressed well, and it was clear. Liza believed that she was very well dressed, and she liked her outfit. Of course, it was very over the top, but she loved being able to dress up, and that was exactly what she had done. Someone else who looked pretty great was Cordy.

The brunette grinned as she approached her, sipping at a glass of champagne. “You look hot” She murmured, the little grin still on her face. Cordy did look hot. She was probably among the only few females that could get away with wearing a pant suit. “I wishI could pull off that kind of outfit”

@cordelianselwyn​

She’d spotted Liza early on and wondered how long it would take her to realize that Cordelia was in this particular outfit. Masks were good for that, obscuring identity and thus allowing for far bolder choices than one might usually make. Not that Cordelia thought she was too bold at all – she knew how good she looked and she knew that Nel wasn’t going to care what she wore, if he noticed at all. And maybe she wanted to pick a fight, to force her mother into saying something about the potential for scandal. Alas – the woman proved to be too stubborn to take the bait, which was likely for the best.

“Thank you darling,” the older woman beamed with delight, taking a sip of her own drink. Cordelia was deliberately not keeping track, but she wasn’t concerned. Her brother, husband, and lover wouldn’t let anything happen to her – Kit particularly knew what kind of moods she got in around their mother and could be counted on to keep them apart. “You absolutely could with legs like yours, or is it the scandal factor that concerns you?”

[cordelianselwyn]

lizarosier​:

freyasavery​:

@lizarosier​

In a way she felt sort of guilty.  This was the sort of thing that Brenton would have enjoyed and he was sad.  But he was with Noah, who seemed quite boring on the outside, but she was sure was capable of something fun.  Maybe he could cheer Brenton up.

This was a job for the ladies and the many lighters she had gotten for her birthday.  She passed one to Liza and one to Cordelia.  “I know it’s really easy to do this with your wand, but that’s easy to trace – the Muggles will know it was done on purpose, but if we wipe down and toss these little fire starters somewhere they won’t find them they won’t be able to tell who did it.  And if we’re lucky.”  Or if they had some imagination and made sure.  “the fire will spread to another house.  Buchanon’s is empty, but maybe the other one won’t be and they’ll occupy their time there.”  

She paused to pull her hair up, not wanting it to get in her face.  “I have some of their fancy fire starter.”  She pulled a smelly container the Muggles used to burn things from a bag she wasn’t going to be able to use anymore.  “We need to do it this way, unless you want to target a house that’s not his and make sure it spreads this way?  I’m open to suggestions.”

—

Liza had to admit that she didn’t really get why the Dark Lord didn’t want them to just get rid of Isaac. She was sure that one of them was bound to find him, and it would have been so easy to dispose of him. But she also knew that maybe Voldemort wanted to do it himself. Isaac had royally messed up and their master was furious. Hopefully they’d find him soon, because she really did not want to be at the tail end of their master’s fury.

Getting to burn down something was fun though, and when Noah had passed her Isaac’s address she had known it was a must. The Order were going to be all over Isaac’s house, but what a shame it would be if they suddenly found the place to be burnt to the ground. It was an opportunity to not be missed. A nice death eater girls bonfire was also quite an opportunity to not be missed.

“It could easily just be muggles that set fire….” Liza added to Freya’s words, a wicked smirk on her lips. Of course, she knew the Order and the Aurors would probably know it was them. But knowing it was them, and providing it, where two very different things. “Spreading would help it not look targeted….” Not that that mattered too much. Liza was just excited to burn something to the ground. She liked bringing chaos to a scene. It was so thrilling.

She took the lighter from Freya, and grinned. She tilted her head, thinking about it. “Maybe…. we set his on fire….. but spread some of that to another house? So it spreads for sure……” She mused with a shrug. “We don’t want to risk not setting his on fire”

@cordelianselwyn​

Liza and Freya, though wonderful and darling in their own ways, were making Cordelia feel rather old at this particular moment. As game as she usually was for all manner of chaos and misfortune, she was also a planner – and this seemed distinctly unplanned. She watched as they debated the particular merits of each different method of fire-starting with almost an air of disinterest before sighing.

“Ladies,” Cordelia mused, summoning the lighter with an errant flick of her wand. “Has anyone taught you fiendfyre?”

[cordelianselwyn]

carneliancselwyn​:

Over the years, Carnelian had learned to recognize disappointment on the faces of others, and it was clear that Cordelia was disappointed. He had also grown to understand when she was looking for an explosive reaction, and truthfully decided that not giving her any reaction was a natural consequence in and of itself. Refraining from giving her what she wanted seemed like a decent punishment. 

When she laughed at his statement, he turned around swiftly but calmly, raising a brow. “If you think I’m merely bluffing you could always ask my mother what happened on the night I left my parents house for good. You might be willing to risk the body parts of your poorly selected liaison, but don’t you think he deserves a say in the matter?” Nel asked, turning back around with a blank expression. 

Nel pointed his wand at the cupboard to take down a mug and started to make himself a cup of tea, as casual as though he had just gotten home from a long day’s work. With another flick, the kettle dragged itself over to the stove as a blue flame appeared beneath it, and Nel sat the tea bag gently into the cup. “Not true. I care immensely about how hot a perfect cup of tea should be,” he replied, giving a shrug. “I don’t need people to care about me. Simple as that. If something isn’t needed, you don’t seek it, and if it’s not sought, you cannot be upset that you don’t have it.”

~

Part of her knew he must be doing this on purpose. The way she demanded reactions and poked and pushed intentionally until she got something, anything. Because anything was better than this blank nothing he constantly presented. By now he had to know how much that drove her mad, and maybe he was doing it on purpose in order to get this from her. In some twisted sense Cordelia was almost pleased. He had to at least care some.

“I know exactly what happened, you described it to me in great detail.” She tried to match his deadpan expression, but was unable to keep the emotion from her face. “And you know why you did that? Because you actually cared enough to be hurt by them. Is that why you don’t let anyone in? All your daddy issues?” These words slipped out with a practiced cruelty, Cordelia stepped forward in almost a challenge leaning her head back in order to continue glaring at him.

He pulled out his wand and for a moment Cordelia thought he might actually do something. She wasn’t afraid of Carnelian, he wouldn’t attack her. At least she didn’t think so. But all he did was summon a pot for tea. She huffed in irritation and briefly considered smashing both the kettle and the mug, but that would be a bit childish of her and likely not contribute to her cause.

“No one can do everything alone, Nel.” She softened slightly, curling her hands into tiny fists to resist reaching out and touching him. “What’s your damage?” The venom returned. “I don’t give a fuck about him. Kill him, do whatever you want. Or don’t and prove you’re as empty and lifeless as everyone thinks.”

[cordelianselwyn]

eliaslxna​:

Elias had many lovers throughout the decades. Usually, the more meaningful ones were with women. But no matter whom he was with, Elias has always been consistent. He never promised more than he could give. And what he could give was his present. Time and time again, it’s what he gave to Cordelia. At times, he wondered if he could give even more. But he was convinced that she would never let him. No, she loved her family too much.

He thought that it was best for him to leave the room and he was just about to do so when Cordelia asked him to stay. Would you like to? It was such a simple question in theory and yet, Elias found it impossible to answer. Every cell in his body wanted to walk over and drink the crimson liquid that just exuded life right from Cordelia’s body. But did he, himself, want to?

“I don’t think you know what you’re asking,” he replied with his head still turned. He heard, or rather, smelled Cordelia approach him. He didn’t step away this time. He slowly turned his head to look at her hand. Instantly, his throat turned dry as his craving intensified. He was sure that he could control himself… but the act of sharing her blood would forever change what they have and Elias didn’t know if he was willing to risk it. Slowly, he rose his eyes to meet her level. “You have to know what you’re offering, Cor.”

~

He didn’t step further away when she moved closer, which she supposed was a good sign. Cordelia wasn’t entirely sure what was stopping him, perhaps fear that she’d run or that he’d lose control. But Elias was over 100 years a vampire, she trusted his control and affection for her would win out over whatever instincts. And maybe, now that she’d latched on to the idea, she needed it. Needed to feel like she mattered, that he desired her in every single way, and the intimacy and importance that would come from knowing he’d needed her to survive.

“I trust you,” she soothed, waiting for his eyes to meet hers. “I’m offering you what I always have - me.” Cordelia couldn’t give him everything she thought he might want, she had her family, and besides she was far too much to be handled by one alone. But she could give him this, a part of her that no one else could have. And maybe that would be enough.

“Do you want me?” He was finally looking at her and Cordelia let his shirt fall from her shoulders, careful to keep her still bleeding hand from staining the white sleeves. She did not move to touch him again, instead she stepped back sinking onto the edge of the bed. The uninjured hand gathered her dark curls, brushing them over one shoulder. Cordelia met his eyes again, holding his gaze as she brought the bleeding finger to her own lips. Warm and almost metallic, she trailed the blood across her bottom lip and then down her chin, marking a faint red path towards her neck. Eyes closed automatically at the sensation, the light pressure of her nail against the sensitive skin of her neck. El could likely here her elevated heart rate, notice the pretty flush to her cheeks and across her chest. But maybe he didn’t want her, maybe she was still all too much.

“Tell me to stop and I will. Tell me to leave and I will.”

[cordelianselwyn]

carneliancselwyn​:

While it wasn’t Carnelian’s idea per say to attend this event, he had been tasked with sleuthing for information, therefore he took it very seriously. If there was one thing that Nel was good at, it was finishing a job, no matter who started it. That was why he often got asked to hang around for things such as this, and what with the full moon being less than a day away, he had Cordelia by his side. There wasn’t a decent enough way to explain his need to have her around with the days prior to the shift change. It wasn’t a choice of whether he wanted her there or not, but rather an indescribable, unavoidable necessity. Without her around, spending the few days by her, it made the transitions harder, and took Carnelian longer to come back to his senses after a shift was over. Almost as if she was what was keeping him human.

Giving a mere shrug of his shoulders, Nel didn’t pay much mind to the comment. “Why can they not be tears of joy? I’m sure I’ve heard of that before. Anyone who thinks that is obviously jealous, you look good.” He wasn’t the best at this stuff, though he could tell by Cordelia’s tone that she had wanted him to disagree and compliment her. That didn’t mean he was going to be the best at it, however. As Cordelia pressed a kiss to his neck, he turned into her so that her cheek brushed against his when she pulled away. “Thus far,” he responded with a nod, pulling her in a bit closer. “I’ll let you know if something changes.” With that, he pressed a small kiss to her forehead, which he normally wouldn’t have done. It wasn’t that the two were against PDA, but Nel had never really gone out of his way to blatantly make it known that they were together, nor did he typically kiss her like that less they were alone.

~

Cordelia flushed with pleasure as he gave her exactly what he knew she wanted. Perhaps she was easy to please, but this was a big improvement from the Carnelian she’d first married. He knew he couldn’t give her everything she needed, all of the affection and affirmation she needed to keep from losing herself. But he was trying. She knew she looked good, she’d seen the wanting looks following her across the room. Cordelia loved it, sought it out. But tonight she would be good, and just for Carnelian. He pulled her closer and pressed an almost too soft kiss to her forehead. She sighed with delight, she loved when he was soft with her, when she felt like he needed her as much as she needed him.

“All for you, lover.” She whispered, sliding one of her hands inside his suit to be closer to him, savoring the warmth of his chest on her hand. “We can leave whenever you want, we already said hello to Daddy and I saw my brother, no one else really matters.” Cordelia took another sip of her drink, smiling at the bubbles on her tongue. Maybe she’d send for the elf to take the twins to her parents or Kit. One less distraction or worry for him, a night of peace before he had to change. Cordelia was a deeply self-centered person, but would do anything for the very few that she loved.

“I’m surprised my mother didn’t say anything about what I am wearing, but then again that would require actually talking to me.”