we make this world our hell

[katerinapetrova]

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

[katerinapetrova]

i could try to smile to hide the truth, but I know i was happier with you

[skarsgardaddict]

(ღ˘⌣˘ღ)

[lmnpnch]

Alexander Skarsgård by Hunter & Gatti for Vs (Fall/Winter 2016)

[skarsgardaddict]

“ I don’t quite see why seeing a nipple is so bad? And I find it hypocritical that parents find that more damaging and more offensive than violence. I don’t have kids myself but I would rather see someone shirtless on screen than see someone beating another guy to a pulp with a baseball bat. But for some reason that’s OK, but not nudity which is beautiful. ”

[skarsgardaddict]

Alexander Skarsgård in Disconnect (2013), directed by Henry Alex Rubin

[yafictionquotes]

[juliettelikethesun]

@diabolics

[maledictuscrack]

Maledictus Incorrect Quotes

Percy: You know what they say about love and war.

Philippe: Yeah, one involves a lot of physical and psychological pain and the other one’s war.

[diabolicxl]

juliette.

Maybe it was a personal weakness, Juliette thought, that hearing this man’s voice and seeing him offer her even the barest of smiles made it feel like her heart had jumped into her throat. She refused to believe that she should be ashamed that she still felt a connection with a man that had held her heart for the better part of four decades. That still held a piece of it, even if she had managed to reclaim the rest of it when she had branched out on her own. She had never stopped loving Philippe just because they had time and distance between them. She had never resented the man or the time she had shared with him before she had decided to try out life on her own. Perhaps some small part of her held on to the bitter feelings of scorn, that she had loved him so fully and so completely and those feeling had never been returned. At least not fully returned. She refused, even now, to believe that she never meant anything to the man.

A soft laugh left her, and she couldn’t help but shake her head a touch. “A hopeless romantic, with a way with words, if book reviewers are to be believed. It helps to have a bit of knowledge in the supernatural. Humans with no knowledge seem to be absolutely enraptured by the idea of falling in love with a vampire. I can understand the appeal.” She kept her words casual, even if both of them were well aware that they held much more weight than all that. “Don’t you dare knock America, Philippe Ballard. I got to watch an entire country build, fall, build again in it’s earliest stages. Taste aside, there’s something beautiful about a young country making itself something from nothing.” 

When the man began to speak on his own adventures, she felt question after question bubbling to her lips, but forced them back, allowed him to finish his thought before she cut in. And his final thought caused a laugh to leave her yet again, a bit louder this time, hidden behind her hand. “I like to think that it would have been a balance. I would have allowed you to drag me into many a fire, darling, but I was always quite good at tending to your burns.” She offered him the slightly hip check as she gave him a cheeky little grin. “I must admit, I’m rather glad that you didn’t die in those intervening years. I don’t think the world is quite ready to say goodbye to you, yet.”

Nor was Juliette herself, but she had also just found him again, and she had learned how to be rather selfish.

She wasn’t quite sure how to mask the small gasp that left her when she felt his hand close around hers for a brief moment, but she settled on another bubbly giggle, one that seemed to taper off as she entered the club and looked around. She felt her own eyes widen in surprise and awe as she took it all in. The entire look and feel of the club was like walking back in time and Juliette was absolutely positive that this would become her new favorite place in town in no time at all. She allowed herself to be led to the table, but the soft sound of jazz music had her itching to dance, and she wondered for a brief moment if she could convince her companion after a few drink. Slipping into the seat, she couldn’t help herself as the smile on her face dragged to the edges. It was a wonder her face hadn’t split completely in two. “It’s magnificent. I might actually be in love with it. What are you drinking, Mon ange?” 

A discreet wrinkle appeared between his brows as he processed her words and the cadence of her tone. Philippe couldn’t tell whether she meant to say only the ignorant humans were capable of falling for such a dreadful creature as a vampire, but it certainly came across like that. He didn’t like that very much, and in just a moment he was reminded of their many fights over his so called vampiric lifestyle. She had never been too fond of what she had become, and he was convinced there was a part of Juliette that resented him for turning her into what she had become. She was all smiles now, but how long would it take her to wipe them off her face around him again? Philippe shouldn’t be thinking about that so early on into their reunion. He focused on something else.

“I find that the farther you get from the Mediterranean, the duller life becomes. America was built by protestants --- the only interesting places in there are the ones full of immigrants. Why not go straight to the source then?” Philippe made a vague gesture. “I have lived around New Orleans for a good six months and, swamp lands aside, it wasn’t terrible, but it is an area ridden with vampires and witches so I’m calling it an exception. I was pleasantly surprised.” He had to give her that much, if only for the jazz. Glancing down at her, he caught her eye when she spoke about tending to his burns. “You don’t think I’m old enough to die?” Philippe curled his lips into an amused smile. “Don’t worry, I am not ready to go just yet.” Though all of his motivation to live had been stripped off him in that place. 

What new wonders could he possibly witness trapped in Ashbourne? After all those centuries, he was caught in a cage, helpless. Embarrassing at the very least.

Juliette giggled at his touch. Philippe had always liked how her laughter sounded, he had almost forgotten about that. The club’s lighting was dim and comfortable and there was a singer on stage putting on her best performance, a lively song, and many couples danced to it. “The only drink worth having other than blood.” He flagged down the waitress and ordered their best bottle of wine. Ashbourne had its limitations so he would settle for whatever was best in town. “What do you say? Will you drink with me?” The waitress stood by the table, waiting to take her order. 

[diabolicxl]

charlotte.

Charlotte furrowed her brows at his request, processing it and thinking of where they might have any tourmaline crystals. “I think we should,” she nodded, taking a sip of her coffee, “though someone did come in last week asking for a bunch of it. If anything, we could always put some aside for you next time they’re in stock but let’s see if we actually have any some before getting to that.” She smiled, gesturing for him to follow before letting out a slight laugh at the inquiry, “depends on what you define as just.” For vampires, decades may have seemed like the briefest of moments whereas for someone mortal, like her, they felt like lifetimes. 

Though, she didn’t think he was going that deep. She’d started working at Herbs & Hexes under Bernard’s tutelage a decade ago and had since inherited it altogether. “But, uh, no, didn’t just start,” she answered, glancing over her shoulder and giving a sheepish smile as she led the way down the serpentine aisle, "I’m actually the owner.” And there was some pride in the way she said it, not the sort of arrogant pride some might’ve had–– it was the sort of pride a parent might’ve taken in their child’s accomplishment. Charlotte was proud of Herbs & Hexes and how it continued to thrive, and she was proud of herself, for helping it last.

“Are they popular?” They should be in such a place, the vampire thought, wondering whether the townsfolk were used to protection spells, charms and crystals of any sort. Philippe followed after her, intrigued by the blonde’s presence in the shop. He felt like he had been around enough times to know the staff, and his brows shot up higher on his forehead when she announced herself as the actual owner of the place. “You are younger than I expected.” A well-established store like that, Philippe figured it had been around for quite some time. Then again, there was no guessing the freakish things that happened or didn’t happen in Ashbourne. A young woman owning an old store was the least shocking news he’d heard in a while there. 

“Do you have a good relationship with your employees?” He thought of Ariana again, and how she didn’t seem to be the most popular witch in town. Still, this woman offered her a position in a store that catered to their own kind. Interesting decision. The two looked roughly around the same age, perhaps there was an unlikely friendship involved. “You have a very nice place here. Have you inherited it from your family or built it from the ground up?”

[diabolicxl]

allison.

She couldn’t even bring herself to smile at Philippe’s face as he set down the tea, clearly not a fan. This was never something she’d had to worry about before – what was the point of making a cursed object? Shouldn’t this have been in somebody’s basement or collection and definitely not tucked away on a dusty old shelf where anyone could pick it up. Fear twisted into anger and Allison could feel it begin to ache in her chest. “Let’s hope this works then. I don’t exactly have an exorcist on speed dial,” she said, her words sharper than the glass still safely packed away in the brown bag. 

Leading Philippe from the kitchen, she headed into the living room and gestured towards the stone fireplace nestled away in the corner, a small stack of dust covered wood next to it. She began to build the fire, rooting around in a nearby drawer for a match once everything was set. Pulling out the small box, she went to strike it and then hesitated – if she was already possessed, she didn’t want to take any more chances with the universe. “Do you mind?” she asked, softer than her earlier comment and held out the small matchbox towards Philippe.

Her words were sharp, irritation seeping through every syllable, but he blamed it on her apparent exhaustion. If the situation was reversed, there would be quite a few bodies decorating his floors. “I know there is at least one in town, but there is no need to worry about that yet, love.” 

Philippe followed her into the living and watched the girl build the fire. He didn’t expect her to ask him to light the match, but he took the box without hesitation. “Absolutely.” Lighting one up, he started the fire. Small to start with, but the more it reached for the wood, the more it grew. “Pass me the bag,” he asked for next, ready to put this spirit to rest. There was a part of him that was disappointed for losing the object, it had belonged in his collection for quite a while, and now there it was, in pieces and about to get cleansed by fire. Philippe took the brown bag where she kept the shards and emptied it in the fire place. The fire wouldn’t be hot enough to melt glass, but he didn’t think that would be necessary. Just enough to take away her blood, that he believed to be binding the spirit directly to the girl. “Grab another mirror, but do not look into it. Keep it covered for a while.” He looked at Allison, who seemed nervous, and offered her a comforting, “It will work.” There was no way of knowing that though.

[diabolicxl]

vivienne.

Viv felt the vampire appraising her, but she didn’t mind. It was understandable, what with the fact that she’d not only asked for a sample of his blood to run tests on, but she wasn’t exactly forthcoming in her reasons why. Her lips curled into a smile, just around the edges. “If you have questions, you can always ask. I’ll have most of mine answered soon.” Viv waved the vial before quickly pocketing it. 

She was baiting him, she realized. Viv had many questions about Phillippe and his kind, questions that wouldn’t be answered by the full panel of blood tests she was about to perform. While the professor felt herself itching to get back to her lab, eager to see exactly what pieces of ancient DNA her new friend was made of, she couldn’t lie and say she wasn’t almost as interested – not quite as interested, of course – as what was behind the parts and organs that made him what he was.

“Oh, please. Give me a tad more credit, Philippe.” If anything, Viv was more likely to beg the vampire for more samples than to do anything with those samples to get him in trouble. Intentionally, at least. “I have a strict doctor/patient confidentiality,” she joked, the jovial expression feeling odd on her cold features. “I promise to do nothing so terrible as not inviting you to my next black tie soiree.”

For a second, Philippe gave her offer some thought, but in the end settled for her silence. “I don’t have questions.” He decided that he didn’t care enough to worry. Ashbourne was seeping through his skin and making him feel almost apathetic about his present and the future. If she was brewing a weapon to use against vampires and his blood was the secret ingredient, so be it. What did he care? So long as he survived, then others may perish. He wouldn’t bat an eyelash. 

The taste of her blood clung to his lips. Vivienne was an odd creature, but he didn’t fault her for her curiosity. Philippe had always seen that as a sign of life and strength. “Good, my social life is stale as it is, I don’t need to be shunned for flirting with the enemy.” Not that she was the enemy, exactly, but vampires tended to think themselves above other creatures and to them, specially to Regium, any other creature was an enemy. Specially werewolves, and the feeling was mutual.

“Is there anything else I can do for you tonight, love?”

[diabolicxl]

juliette.

“Perhaps you’ve simply been keeping the wrong company. Even the most depressing place can have a spark if you know where to look.” Her tone might have taken on a teasing tilt, but she tried her best to keep it as subtle as possible. Perhaps this Philippe was more somber a creature, and she couldn’t help but wonder if that had anything to do with her. She couldn’t exactly hope for it, however, hope that perhaps her leaving had some effect on the man. It might have just been a matter of time. 

Fingers curled around the hand offered to her, and she tossed the paper she’d been reading carelessly on the table as she stood up, let the man lead her out into the street. He could lead the way and once again, she would be following him. a flashback to a more naive time in her life. She would have to be careful as this evening unfolded, keep her heart guarded. She had no doubt in her mind that spending enough time with Philippe would have her drowning once more in those feelings she had spent nearly 90 years trying to move beyond. 

The poor man, she thought, stuck once more with the woman so besotted with him. Perhaps she would have to take great pains to avoid him around town moving forward, protect her heart and spare him from her, in general.

“I’ve not had the pleasure. Am I dressed appropriately? I would hate to embarrass you, darling.” A split decision had Juliette tucking her hand into the crook of the man’s elbow. She could tell herself it was simply to keep pace with him. Nothing wrong with that. She shot him a bit of a grin, teasing once more, hoping, almost praying, that she might draw at least one smile from the man to take with her before they parted ways again.

His question gave her a moment of pause. She had been up to quite a bit. Wandering, exploring, searching for happiness in fictional worlds and dark establishments with strobe lights. “I wrote a couple of best selling novels. Best selling with mid-western housewives, anyway. Romance novels. Wandered around America for a while, dipped into Canada, tried out a couple of tropical islands. Have you seen Hawaii? Beautiful place. Nothing for more than a few years. What have you been doing to occupy your time?” Was it the same thing he had done to occupy his time when they had been together? She wasn’t quite sure she wanted to hear those details.

“Perhaps I have.” There was something about the way she looked at him that made him feel exposed, like she knew him better than most and he couldn’t hide himself from scrutiny. There was something about the way she smiled at him that made him feel like making bad choices, falling into a terrible pattern with her like he had almost a century ago. A voice at the back of his head argued that he had changed, he was no longer the unreachable monster she once loved, who drove her away with a broken heart and a pile of regrets. No one had stayed with him for as long as Juliette had, and no one wanted to be with him even as they left, hoping he’d give them a reason to stay, no one but her. Maybe she had loved him. Philippe knew he had loved her in his own, selfish way, as well as he knew he couldn’t give her what she wanted. Just for a moment he wondered whether he could give it to her now.

Juliette tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and he glanced down at her. Even as a vampire, she had always had a light about her. Bright eyes, warm smiles. A beautiful creature in every way, womanly, both strong and delicate. There was a reason she caught his eye to begin with. Beauty without fire was nothing but a hollow husk, and she was full of life. If he didn’t know what she was, he would’ve never guessed a vampire. “You are perfect just as you are, love.” Philippe offered her a small smile and wondered what she would feel like if she knew he had found her, and set her free from the misery he would’ve inflicted upon her. If she had stayed, he’d have snuffed out that light, wouldn’t he? He was good at that, taking something beautiful and tearing it apart. His decision had been the right one to make. Here she was, better than he’d ever seen her, all by her lonesome. Well done, darling. 

“A novelist?” His brows rose on his forehead in surprise and he let out a soft chuckle. It wasn’t terribly far-fetched however. “You have always been a romantic. I can see that.” Philippe wrinkled his nose at her choice of venue. “America of all places on Earth? I imagined you’d go somewhere more tasteful.” The teasing tone on his voice matched her own, though his smile wilted away when the question was turned around on him. “Life has been a wild ride since you left. I have been everywhere, met many people, almost died a few times... Not a dull moment.” He glanced at her again, assessing the look on her face, always sweet and sunny, even when painted with melancholy. Big blue eyes, nose cute as a button, small delicate chin. “I like to think you’d have kept me out of trouble, but I would most likely have dragged you into it with me, wouldn’t I?”

The Black Diamond Club was just ahead of them, across the street, and he placed a hand atop of the one at his elbow, keeping her from letting go before reaching the front door. “Oh, uou will like this.” There was a lopsided smile on his face as he pushed the front door open and motioned inside. “After you.” The place reminded him of the 20s, and who knows? Maybe it was built around that era. Ashbourne history was still fuzzy to him. The small round tables scattered around the room were occupied, but a couple exited a booth just as they stepped in and he led the way over to take a seat at the table. “So? What do you think of the place?” 

[tvgods]

The OA: Part II

[juliettelikethesun]

@diabolics

[diabolicxl]

juliette.

“Philippe.”

How long had it been since that name had fallen from her lips, whispered almost like a prayer? How long had she dreamed of what this meeting might have been? It was with mild disappointment that she didn’t have the right words to say. There might not have been right words to begin with, but Juliette had made a living out of using words to her advantage, and the idea that they might simply not be there wasn’t quite the right position to take. Her fantasies would tell her that this would be a good meeting, that perhaps there could be a path to take that could heal both of them. The tug in her heart reminded her that she might be the only one cradling a heart that was still harboring cracks in it.  

A hell on earth, he called it. Juliette knew very little about this place she had found herself in, but she did know that Ashbourne, so far, proved a very interesting place indeed. If nothing else, it had one thing that she was quite interested in now that she had found it in the man standing in front of her. What would the next chapter in their story be? It was unpredictable, and that was the most exciting part. But she didn’t quite brush off his words, either. Apparently, it was a place that held on to the people who found it, without a chance of escape. Problem, but it didn’t necessarily make it hell. Purgatory, perhaps. She didn’t bother opening her mouth and correcting him. 

It took her a moment to realize that he was still standing. She almost couldn’t blame the man. He might not want anything to do with her at this point. The fact that she was here at all might have been a terrible thing for the poor man. It might not have mattered at all to him, but the expression on his face told her a different story. A hand reached out, slim fingers lightly brushed across the back of his hand as she tried to keep the vestiges of a smile on her face. More than ever, she wanted a script to read from, instead of having to find the words on her own. 

“Tu m'as manqué.” 

It wasn’t quite the point, but it didn’t have to be. It was simply a statement of fact before moving on. “I’ve found it to be rather quaint, charming in it’s way. And perhaps if I’m to be trapped in hell on earth, at least I can take solace in the fact that the company is better than expected.”

She wasn’t quite sure what she had expected Philippe to say, either. The problem with this not being a story, not her own fantasy, but real life, throwing the woman more off balance than she had really expected it to. It definitely hadn’t been… that. She offered a small shake of her head, less of a smile than just the simple curve up of her lips at the very corners. “I have not had the pleasure. I will be quite sure to introduce myself at my earliest convenience.”

But now the doubt crawled in. Should she ask him to sit? Should she allow him to have his turn at walking away from her? The latter hurt in a very real way, but it would be the his every right. She hadn’t given him a choice in the matter when she had left, she had gone when he had been out and hadn’t even offered him the right to see her walking away. Just a letter. She wondered if he had even read it, but she couldn’t ask. Her fear of the answer held the question on her tongue. Instead, she pulled in a breath and put on a smile. “I would hate to ask you for more of your time than you can spare, but perhaps you would allow me to buy you a drink?”

She wouldn’t blame him if he said no to her, and she wouldn’t let the sting of hurt hit her. She had practice at hiding those little stings of hurt from the man, after all, even if she was years out of practice. Regardless, she could only hope he would say yes. She would like to meet this Philippe, so many more chapters into his own story. 

Juliette reached for him, brushing her fingertips against the back of his hand. Tu m'as manqué.  He never expected her to say something of the sort. It had been a while, perhaps she’d forgotten why she left him in the first place? Now she reached for him again, like a beautiful fool. Didn’t she know he could only hurt her? “I’m afraid I am not much fun these days. This place is rather depressing.”

Philippe was surprised to see her, and even more so to hear her ask for his company. Drinks. He knew he should’ve turned her down, for her sake, but selfishness was hard to shake, and he could use an old friend around. Even if said friend had once broken his heart. Perhaps his loneliness had reached a peak high above his pride. Then again, she didn’t know the truth, and he certainly wouldn’t tell her.

“Since you are buying, I can spare some time.”

He offered her a hand to help her up, then led the way outside. “Have you been to the Black Diamond? I think you would like it.” The setting paired with her company would bring him back in time. Philippe wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear the answer, but the question had to be asked. “What have you been up to? Before this place.” There was a selfish part of him that hoped she hadn’t found happiness without him.

[diabolicxl]

Percy ---> Philippe

Percy: So what you're telling me is

Percy: Trash my diet and vampires won't want to eat me?

Percy: Solid, A+ advice. Thanks, Philippe! Time to go load my cupboards with poptarts and ramen!

Philippe: I certainly won't.

[diabolicxl]

Percy ---> Philippe

Percy: Its not an unfair assumption to make.

Percy: Great, I'll be sure to carry around a stick to beat off the vampires aching for my sweet, sweet blood.

Percy: Does blood type actually matter to a vampire?

Philippe: It doesn't make that much of a difference.

Philippe: Your diet would make more of a difference than your blood type.