enshrouded

to envelop completely and hide from view. as imagined by rider. aff. with unveilhq.

[nohomodotcom]

Harry Fang

[enshrcuded]

@southernsyxs; for ezra to help brianni unwind.

he'd become something of a regular at the the diner ever since he'd first decided to stay. the food was good and decently priced. and it didn't help that the view was wonderful too. so there he was, after a late night run in just his hoodie and running shorts, seated in a booth and enjoying the air conditioning. his hoodie was half zipped (or unzipped depending on how you looked at it), allowing the cool air to reach his naked sweaty skin.

there wasn't anyone left in store, no customers nor servers, but the cook who was about to close when he'd entered. graciously they'd attended to his request for a meal and the incubus couldn't be more grateful.

"thanks sweetheart." ezra gave brianni a small smile when they came over with his usual: a classic steak burger with eggs, no fries. "you didn't have to do this." he took a bite of the burger, moaning as the juice from the meat spilled directly onto his taste buds. before he'd completely finished his bite, ezra had to raise his appreciation, wiping his mouth as he spoke, "impeccable as always, bri."

[beyonddeveil]

Ezra... whose last name Andy doesn't even remember (maybe he was never told?), was a fling. It should have been a fling. Except at the end of that week it didn't feel like a fling... Or maybe that was just Andy. Once that week was over, Ezra was gone and didn't even leave him a number. Was Andy disappointed? Maybe. Did he spend a few days being a crying puddle in a bathtub listening to Celine Dion? Also maybe. But it was a big deal to him. Andy never did have anything steady or solid since he, well, became sexually active. Sure, he enjoyed and still does a great deal of meaningless sex but, he felt like he and Ezra had a connection. That had never happened to him before and it never did again... But again, that could have just been Andy. There was a plenty of time, a year or so, actually, to overthink this.

His name rolling off the tongue like that, mi Andres, it shocks his system still, however. Andy can feel his face burning all of a sudden. He has done so many things he perhaps should be embarrassed or ashamed of but they never hit him like this. Without thinking, he jumps back and takes a few steps back like a skittish cat. Of course, then he bumps into the table behind and lets out a yelp.

Graceful.

Finding his footing, Andy suddenly grows extremely self-conscious. He forgets completely that he was about to do a strip tease and grind onto that visible erection on Ezra's laps, showing him what he's got. "What are you doing here?!" He asks back, though the feral part of him, the extremely horny insatiable part of him that just... appeared one day, wants to get down on his knees. To taste and worship Ezra again. He visibly and audibly swallows, and clears his throat. "I-I work here now? Moved here like... 2 months ago. And you're... you're here. You booked a private room? With me?" His brain fails to compute because his eyes are too busy staring at Ezra and, well, the bulge.

"I... are you passing through here? That's some coincidence. How long are you staying– when are you leaving?" Andy rambles, jumping to several conclusions at once and finds himself blurting out, "do you just wanna catch up after I give you head?"

[enshrcuded]

he adjusted his pants, trying to get a little bit more comfortable. he spread his legs giving himself room to breathe. 2 months... so the same time he did. what were the odds. or perhaps something a little more supernatural. honestly, ezra was a little surprised it took this long for them to meet... considering his hunting grounds.

andres was not someone he would have forgotten. what they had was uncharacteristical for ezra, he almost never stayed with the same person for anything more than a couple of days and a week was stretching it. not only that, it wasn't just sex as it usually was with him. they burned hot in that one week, fucked like rabbits (or supernatural creatures) and if ezra was being honest with himself, it didn't fizzle out for him. even after leaving.

he let andres ramble on, though the grin on his face grew wider as the younger man talked. "miss me that much you'd rather give me head first than talk?" ezra chuckled. he couldn't help but notice how cute the other was being. the contrast of his outfit (or lack thereof) and his sudden change in demeanour.

his legs are long enough that he can extend them and hook his shoe behind andy to give him nudge forward. leaning forward, ezra used his hand to pull andy back the rest of the way by his waist. "don't go acting shy on me now, querido. who says we can't do both. you were about to give me a lap dance." his arousal wasn't going down anytime soon. in fact, in the presence of andy and remembering what they both did before only seemed to have heightened it. "i've been here two months same as you. sticking around for now, the mountains are entertaining enough for me, there's a lot to scale and free climbing it so far has been fun... but might be travelling about for my next stunt." his roots have been pretty firmly planted here for now, still trying to discover and learn more about himself. and... now that he’s been on both sides, the incubus was starting to notice certain things — the telltale signs, of the supernatural and of the other being unaware. he couldn't figure out what exactly but maybe that was why they were so drawn together. still, ezra figured it was best not to let andy know about that just yet; it could be a little jarring and shocking and he didn't want to overload the poor boy more than he already had... though he obviously had a different kind of load still ready for him.

[thisyearsgirls]

[hexblooded]

the magicians meme: [1/6] spells - Alice’s glass horse -

[enshrcuded]

now i'm down bad, crying at the gym. everything comes out teenage petulance. fuck it if i can't have him. i might just die, it would make no difference.

[beyonddeveil]

"Oh, please, you're still sprightly for your age, grandpa." Hugh teases with his trademark crooked smile, punching Rictor lightly on the shoulder. Despite their complicated relationship (and the fact that the other occupant in his head would drink Rictor's bathwater if given opportunity), they are childhood friends and like brothers to each other. So it is his god-given right to make fun of Rictor at every turn. "You still can't be skipping your meals if you wanna make it to your eighties." Hugh does care for Rictor and wants what's best for his friend; it's just that he can't tell if that is actually what he feels or that is what Monrad feels and it's just bleeding over. Hence the snark and snide comments. 'Does it matter? You and I share many things already.' He can hear Monrad's laugh which causes him to shake his head to shut that out. Monrad gets more talkative around Rictor.

Hugh chews slowly, not realizing he ordered the same sandwich as Rictor's. And he hates mayonnaise... It's too meaty for his taste too. But at this point, who cares what he wants, right? "Didn't know you were playing sheriff too." He remarks before getting dragged to a spot by Rictor's arm. To tell the truth, Hugh is not very sensitive to magic, his specialty is blowing things up; but Monrad definitely is. 'Some kind of a shift? Or is it a residue from magic? But excellent work, Master Attano, your sensitivity to magic is as always superb.' Hugh, of course, just translates all that as "yeah, sure. Weird. Why are we investigating this?"

The sudden thank you hits Hugh when he is least expecting it. This is why he can't hate his friend. Even though his life is forfeit to Rictor, the fate he didn't get to choose, Rictor has always been good to him. Which makes everything worse and even more confusing, but at the same time, Hugh can't help but feel appreciated and wanted. "That's what I'm here for. Always at your service." He says with a soft smile, though the words didn't quite sound like his own, the smile not the kind he would wear. Once that realization sets in, Hugh reverts to his usual sour, exhausted resting face. "...so what do you need me to do? I don't got all night." He grumbles, obviously trying to swallow that smile.

[enshrcuded]

"well technically, i'm not skipping them." not with hugh around at any rate. and he wouldn't have it any other way. rictor took another bite, this time larger than the first. again, he waited till he was done chewing and swallowing before he spoke. "i don't want the town i'm living in to suddenly explode. considering how mystical this place is, it'd be easy for something like this to go unnoticed." he'd only been here for seven months but he'd come to enjoy this quaint little magical town. certainly felt more homely knowing there were other supernatural creatures all living around each other.

the tone shifts a little then, just as subtle as the disturbance where they were. it was easy telling the two apart... at least he thought it was, till they started acting like each other just to mess with him (and each other rictor suspected). "you know, you really should cut each other some slack. can't believe it's fun arguing in your head all the time." hugh and monrad were two very different people but rictor knew them as one: he grew up with hugh, knew hugh as himself before he'd merged with monrad. and before he grasped what it really meant he'd come to think of them as together. monrad was with him his whole adult life, guiding and supporting him in his endeavours, just as hugh was. to the witch, from that point it was as if hugh and monrad were a singular entity, intrinsically intertwined, equals sharing a body, even if his feelings for each of them differed. he didn't know everything that was going inside their heads, only catching glimpses of it when he was allowed to or given insight to unknowingly, but it did not take much to know that sometimes they had warring opinions and wants.

"stand there and look pretty." hand on the other's chin, scratching at his familiar's scruff. rictor took a step back, hands moving as he weaved magic around his familiar, trying to pinpoint a source and failing that, a trail to follow, a thread to pull. "be a dear and let me know when the last time something like this suddenly accelerated and got way out of hand." magic anomalies were not too common but happened often enough. he had some general and niche knowledge of it. but not the vast knowledge that hugh and monrad as his familiar had. mostly they fixed themselves out. but sometimes disastrous things could happen if they were left unchecked or worse, exploited. "last i recall, there was that incident a couple of decades ago in poland but... it didn't wipe out a whole town so i wouldn't call that too out of hand. though the trees were warped beyond recognition. can't imagine the druids and dryads were too pleased about that."

[ormymarius]

no thoughts, head empty. only him with his arms crossed.

[cinemaspam]

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) dir. Joel and Ethan Coen

[beyonddeveil]

LOCATION: Streets MUSE: Hugh Higgins STATUS: Closed | @enshrcuded

The raven flaps its wings, carrying a doggy bag that is obviously slowing it down. It circles the neighborhood as if looking for something or someone, until it finally spots one particular blonde witch. Cawing, the raven descends toward Rictor and its feathers suddenly change color into pearl white. It drops the bag on Rictor's hands before landing on his shoulder.

And a second later, the familiar transforms back into the human form, and Hugh stands beside Rictor with his hand on the shoulder. Thankfully, the charm he wears almost at all times transform the clothes with him when he shifts. "You're turning 40 soon, Rictor. I shouldn't be babysitting you to–" He pauses mid-sentence, grimacing as if he is having an acute migraine. 'It is not babysitting, it is our duty to assist him in any way possible, including attending to his wants and needs,' the voice in his head echoes and drowns out his own thoughts, like it has been for the last hour. Hugh pushes down the urge to scream 'shut up' at Monrad talking inside his head, and continues to speak with a forced smile. "–babysit you to eat your dinner in time."

Sighing, Hugh grabs the doggy bag, opens it and hands Rictor a sandwich. Rictor's favorite, of course, because his favorite menus are just something Hugh knows. Or at least Monrad does. He grabs his sandwich and takes a bite out of it. "...so what are we looking for?"

[enshrcuded]

"you don't have to make me feel old." being forty felt like a very real thing. a little bit frightening if he was honest with himself. there was so much work to be done. skipping meals and rest was par for the course for him. maybe he should let a vampire bite him or something. live forever so he'd have the time to do all he wanted and needed to do. hugh though. that was a different story he'd have to think about at another time, if he was even seriously entertaining of wanting to live forever. there were so many pros and cons to list down and weight against and together with each other. but again, a problem for another time.

rictor hummed, raising his hand and concentrating on the magical energies in the area. "i've been tracking a disturbance. it's very subtle." he took the offered sandwich, turkey, ham, cheese and bacon, with a healthy dose of mayonnaise. the ease in which hugh (and monrad) provided from him could have been something he would have come to take for granted if he hadn't been raised a certain way: to be grateful, to be gentlemanly. some would say it was expected for a familiar to take care of their witch, especially one with such long intertwined history that ran deep into bloodlines and spanned generations. but if rictor learnt anything in his life it was to treasure every moment and everything — no matter how jaded he felt about how bleak life could get sometimes. he stopped moving then, feeling that minute shift in magic. and pulled hugh towards his exact spot with an arm on his shoulder. "here. feel that?"

the witch then took a bite of his dinner while let his familiar sense the strangeness of that precise position. once he finished chewing, rictor swallowed before expressing his gratitude, "thank you for dinner by the way. don't know what i'd do with you." it was no hot meal but it'll have to do since he was busy working.

[lvxrvi]

brady ervin

[beyonddeveil]

LOCATION: Back alley MUSE: Fred Falkner STATUS: Closed | @enshrcuded

After a long day of work, Fred is ready to head back home and get some rest. Well, after his daily training. He can't skip that. But he definitely could use some shower after working over the greasy stove all day. After picking up some groceries (because he also can't just skip doing chores), he takes a short cut through an alleyway toward his car. There is barely any light after the sundown, but Fred has gotten used to this path after taking it almost every day for the last six months or so.

And since he has arrived in Alexandria, no one has tried to get a jump on him or mug him. Tonight is different, apparently. Fred picks up a set of footsteps following him from behind and matching his pace. He takes a turn to see if they follow, and they do. So Fred turns another corner, stops and readies with his knife thrown. As soon as the pursuer comes into his view, Fred tackles and pushes them against the wall– at least that was his plan. He somehow finds himself thrown against the building wall and held up against there. The groceries fall to the ground. The person holding him there is all too familiar to him. The darklighter.

"You." Fred growls, "what are you doing here? I thought this was a nice, reputable town." Had he known Zav, one of the marks he has failed to kill, was here he would have approached this town with more caution. But there is no point in regretting now. "So to what do I owe the displeasure?" He goes through the list of their past encounters, most of which involve Fred trying to kill the darklighter or when that failed, to get in the way of whatever Zav was doing at the time. "Is this about the time I planted a bomb in your car? You don't even need a car."

[enshrcuded]

he was modestly dressed, as he usually was, plain shirt and black hoodie, though one would not expect someone of his wealth to be. but xzavulon preferred the facade it presented — it made it easier to blend it. the simpler things in life were not his cup of tea, for it you have all of life, why spend it not indulging yourself? all that to say that yes, he did have a plethora of fancy clothes, some that probably cost more than people made in their whole lives, but there was never much reason to wear them. besides, no point in wasting a good piece of clothing if he was going to get rough and dirty tonight.

a fun little game of cat and mouse. the darklighter hadn't had this much fun in ages. fred fashioned himself the cat, always determined to chase him down. the other might think he was someone who could go toe to toe with him but to xzavulon the were was entertainment. he was an ancient and the wolf nothing more than a kid in the grand scheme of time. no threat, not really; but he'd be a fool to completely discredit the younger supernatural, however misguided he was.

cornering his prey, acting before the other could, pinning him against the wall. the darklighter's blood was pumping with the thrill of it all. he could have done it telekinetically, but there was something about the act of physicality that aroused xzavulon. they've put each against walls more times than they could count, surely at this point. he heard the man growl and all it did was put a grin on his face. "i've been here for centuries, wolf. your senses must be dulling." he wouldn't lie, he was a little miffed at the needless loss of such a nice vehicle but... "yea, but i would think the car would carry a little sentimental value for you. considering the amount of times i've fucked you in it."

[unveiledvagabonds]

closed starter draekov x xzavulon

his time was often spent traveling, chasing after pleasures and excitement rather than wasting away in the quaint little paradise eve had created for herself-- and them. still. alexandria had been where he claimed his home was for the past two hundred years; give or take. it had almost become tradition, at this point, that whenever he returned to his sprawling estate he would host a hedonistic dinner party to celebrate his return. delicacies from all over the world, from varying species and their cultures; men, and women, at the prime of their lives eager to eager to engorge themselves on food and wine, and cum. his dinners became synonymous with sin and the celebration of it. many clamored for his attention just in hopes that they would, one day, receive an invitation for themselves so they could indulge in the vampires grace and pleasure seeking. yet even with the most delicious morsels in attendance, xzavulon was often the only draekov gave his full attention.

their relationship was long lasting, convoluted, and tangled-- and draekov wouldn't have had it any other way.

"you're either lost, pet, or you're more bold than i previously thought." stepping into the upstairs hallway of his home, the glorified orgy raging below in the dining room, draekov was surprised to find one of his snacks standing in the doorway; peaking in on his xzavulon. rather than being annoyed with them for straying, the vampire was amused. "be a good pet," he commented as he wiped some fresh blood from his lips, "and find your way back to the others. for now he's mine... but if i feel inclined to share, i'll come find you."

pushing past the guest, who stumbled away back to the party, draekov finally stepped into the grand bedroom he had told zav to wait for him in. "sorry for keeping you waiting, i had to wade through your fans. funny, they are normally desperate for my attention but tonight more of them seem drawn to you... not that i can blame them."

he didn't say it outright but there was something in his eyes, something in the way they shown in that dimly lit room as his lips threatened to hint at a smile, that said it for him. he had missed xzavulon.

@enshrcuded

[enshrcuded]

like draekov, xzavulon frequented the 'outside world', never staying in the confines of alexandria too long. while the town was what he'd come to call home for nearly the last three hundred years, place his roots so to speak, it wasn't the first place he'd done so, and he suspected it wouldn't be his last. sometimes he'd travel with the vampire, sometimes he'd meet him around the world (planned or otherwise), but if there was one place they'd always cross paths it would be here.

their relationship was completely non-conventional, spanning millennia, abiding by no rules other than own, which were few and far between. it was transcendental. and they were creatures of a certain type and thus acted a certain way.

the darklighter lounged on extravagant bed. his shirt, completely unbuttoned, hung on his bulky frame in a tease, skin and a little bit of fuzz showing. he couldn't help but notice the stray lurking, watching. and he made no move to dissuade the voyeur, eyes not trained directly on the other and yet xzavulon couldn't help but open up his legs wider, casually palmed his clothed crotch as he did so. then the spell was broken by the arrival of his lover and most gracious host. with the man admonished and being made to return downstairs where he no doubt would have the time of his life anyway, draekov's full attention was now solely on xzavulon. "i'm a different face." he wouldn't exactly say fresh since he'd been part of these parties before. but there were definitely other new faces that had never seen him before. curious little things. "they desire something new. that curiosity eats at them. consumes them like you would them. they desire something they can't have. well, yet anyway if what you say turns out to be true." he looked at the vampire, taking him in, committing the image to memory, right next to all the others he had of draekov. even as he wanted the other in bed now (and he had been waiting), xzavulon made no move to rush either of them — though his thumb did toy with the zipper on his pants, "but the great draekov not participating in his own orgy. what would the rabble rousers say?" he teased, his lips fashioned into a grin.

[unveiledvagabonds]

"he was nice. it was... nice." while he wasn't lying, the man was easy to talk too and even easier on the eyes, the night didn't exactly go off without a hitch. dinner was incredible. they spent a few hours over a nice meal getting to know each other and laughing as they shared embarrassing memories and experiences. the drinks that followed were even better. even though keagan knew how to play darts, he didn't stop the man from holding around him so he could show keagan the best stance to use while playing. they flirted and bantered for what felt like hours until the other finally made the offer to take keagan home.

"he was super sweet, and easy to talk too. we had a blast, really, we did leofwyn-- you haven't lost your mojo." the lie lingered for a minute or two in silence, as if keagan was trying to make himself believe it only for the witch to let out a sigh and crack.

"okay, i still don't think you've lost your mojo-- this one was almost perfect-- but once we got back to my place? he kept calling me his ex's name and was concerned more with getting himself off than making it pleasurable for the both of us." but that wasn't leofwyn's fault. "when he left this morning he said he'd love to take me out again when i'm less distracted, which was hilarious." in his defense, keagan had spent most of the night telling stories about leofwyn; about his best friend and how much he loves spending time with him, and how he genuinely just can't imagine doing things without him around because even just having him to talk to makes things feel easier for the witch. "i don't know. i just... i think we were a good match on paper but not in person. maybe it was just a bad time for the both of us, which has nothing to do with you. we messed it up, not you."

keagan was trying to be nice.

[enshrcuded]

he almost had a visceral reaction when he heard keagan talk. conflicting emotions warred in him but he managed to school his face into something neutral barring a slight wince. one easily covered by taking (this time) a gulp of coffee from his cup.

then came the little twist.

he cursed in french. the witch was toying with him clearly. no reason for him to put leofwyn through that pendulum of emotions. the cupid genuinely thought the match had been ready to move on. if he wasn't so lovelorn himself, and if it didn't break all the rules, just maybe he'd give the match a chance himself. "i’m sure you’ll find someone someday to that'll finally treat you well." leofwyn tried to comfort his friend. he was disappointed at the outcome and sad for the witch. and yet... a sick part of him was glad it didn’t go too well. and then he hated himself for even thinking that. keagan deserved happiness.

"did you... you know, get to finish in the end at least?" he raised his eyebrow. was this too much information? considering they've basically shared everything together, the question wasn't surprising. there were no secrets between the two. well, none but the one he kept locked deep in the depths of his guarded heart. he frowned, "you know, i think i should talk to him. if it's not me." though he seriously doubted that, considering just how he reacted to this conversation alone, "then he fucked it up, cause i know it's not you. he's clearly still hung up on his ex if he's calling their name instead of yours."

[theojamesunofficial]

Theo James by Greg Swales for Variety’s Actors On Actors

[beyonddeveil]

Oh. Ed didn't realize it was supposed to be not obvious. He forgot humans are far less sensitive to the presence of magic than hellhounds. He slowly turns his head, as if he suddenly finds the wall of his shop the most fascinating thing in the world. "...I barely noticed it." He lies, "sometimes humans like me, can notice things." And though Ed thinks he covered his track, it's obvious that he is lying.

"Hum–" Ed stops himself, remembering how his kid told him calling people 'human' is weird and off-putting sometimes, "–people like that come here all the time." And he has learned how to be patient. Sometimes they make the most ridiculous, unreasonable demands and he has to go along with it, because they pay him. That's called capitalism, he learned. "You still did me a favor. I will remember it." He says, staring at the guy intently so he can remember the face and the scent.

Ed nods, "feverfew... Please wait." Although he has gotten pretty good at growing and maintaining different plants, names are still difficult for him. So he usually keeps a notebook full of names and descriptions of the flowers, and nametags on the pots. The problem with that approach is that it takes him a while to find something based on a name. After rummaging through his scrapbook and the shelves, he returns with a pot of feverfew. The tiny egg flowers, as he remembers them. It was difficult to find it without the flowers. "Should start seeing flowers during summer." He adds before handing it to the customer. "And I'll give you a discount. Unless you want the favor repaid in other forms."

[enshrcuded]

humans like me. humans could be heightened that was true, whether in the traditional sense, or them just being more attuned to the supernatural. but he doubted that the man was. he was acting too odd, too uncanny — too inhuman.

wren observed the man as he shuffled around, digging through shelves before returning with his prize. feverfew. the witch smiled, glad that his search had come to an end. the advice was appreciated but wren being wren couldn't help but speak up; waiting for plants to grow was not in his dictionary. no, he'd coax them to sprout and bloom for him by imbuing them with a little bit of magic and life. "oh, it's fine. i can get them to bloom in a bit. i don't need to wait for summer." then came the mention of a discount as the pot was given to him. the offer was tempting but would have just defeated the whole purpose of wren effectively chasing that annoying customer away. even if the intent was certainly different. "i'd be no better than the guy who tried to rip you off if i took that discount."

"still, you could do something for me. see, i was thinking about getting some coffee later. and not having a companion there would be kind of bleak." was he asking him out for coffee? maybe. even if only to find out more about the man and what exactly he was. he's not asking the guy out out. but wren was not denying he wasn't easy on the eyes either. the other was very attractive to look at. he leaned forward a little, "so. what'd you say. sign says you're closing soon. you could accompany me."

[scratchnsniffpits]