SAINT GABE

[rosalie-starfall]

[aestheticschaos]

Male Dream Witch aesthetic

requested by @i-dont-even-know-im-lost

[diego2do]

[gabrielxmcclainx]

helena-theriot​:

Helena got the sense she wasn’t exactly wanted there but he was being too polite to tell her to leave. She had thought her differences would help her fit in given the hold the supernatural had on the town but it appeared even there she was an outcast. “Don’t worry, all candles are encased and there’s no ritualistic sacrifice.” It was partially a joke but also kinda serious. She hadn’t taken part in a sacrifice in years and it usually wasn’t the best way of meeting people.

“Oh.” It was then that she realised she was probably on claimed ground. The coven being nearby was probably why she got the vibe she shouldn’t be there. “You’re wearing white to a water based cleansing ritual?” Helena pressed her lips together to try and suppress a smile. “Is there really much of a difference then between the two of us or is the translucent nature of wet white fabric part of the point?” Her current state of undress seemed to make him uncomfortable which was a little bit of a culture shock for her. It was always expected back home. Modesty in the home but the gods shouldn’t be hidden from. 

Stepping out of the light she moved to where her things were picking up her dress and wrapping it around herself, not caring about what was on her body. She tied it at the waist, the skirt brushing against the ground. He didn’t share her practices so she wouldn’t subject him to having to avoid looking at her. “As you know yourself cleansing rituals are usually done as a coven but I don’t have one. Audiences are expected, I just wasn’t aware there would be others out tonight least of all the church of light.” He seemed to warn her about the woods but it also felt a little too much like chastisement. “I can take care of myself, Gabriel. I’m not foolish enough to go out alone without knowing to take precautions.” Helena looked down at herself when he asked if the blood she was using was animal. “Chicken. Easily bought from butchers. Like I said, i’m no fool.”

Helena wouldn’t fool herself into thinking that he cared about her well being, his mind seemed to be on his coven where it should be ideally. Watching him practically put a wall between her and where his coven was a bit of an insult though. She felt it, the barrier. Helena wondered if people just thought she was playing at being a witch because she didn’t follow their ways. She knew how to properly dispel bad energy. She had already trapped it on her skin, letting it settle into the blood and dirt. All she needed to do was let it wash away. Like he was planning to do.

She tilted her head as she watched him repair a plant he had damaged. It was an odd thing to do really. He’d only stepped on it, there were likely plenty more. Did the church of light separate themselves so much from nature they considered any actions of their own to be unnatural? Why worship nature if that was the case? If she had burned something or left pollutants out she would understand. Church of light witches were strange. “These woods won’t remember my presence when I’m gone past a few prints in the dirt. I don’t need to rescue every green thing I walk on to honour that.” She held out her hand, her fingers curling in after a moment and as a result each candle blew itself out leaving them with only the moon. “Now if you’re done vaguely treating me like a threat, I have to wash this off.”

Gabriel rolled his shoulders, trying even now to maintain that typical sense of forced composure. Still, when he spoke up, rather than launching into a tirade on the intricacies of ritualistic bloodshed, he seemed to try to match her wry joking with some of his own. “What’s magic but ritualistic sacrifice anyway, hm? Burning up a candle. Trading away your time. Everything takes in its own way.” He hummed distantly, still staring into the darkness overhead and speaking into the ether. However, as Helena continued, a genuine break seemed to overcome his posture. He laughed, despite himself, perhaps taken aback by the remark. And while he tried to stiffen his upper lip, the smirk was still tugging at its corners as he continued.

“Yes, well, maybe I’m wearing a swimsuit under all this.” He huffed, rolling his eyes. “The white is symbolic. Unmarred. That’s all. It’s a physical representation of the clean slate.” He shrugged, pretending now to examine his fingernails. “So many rituals are like that. On the nose, I mean. In your face. For the better, of course. Why risk over-complicating? As above, so below, as I believe the world to be, so it is. All that.” Somewhere in this, he seemed to have lost his point, but as Helena dressed herself, he, catching the movement of fabric from the corner of his eye, turned to properly face her, quirking his brow.

“We use these woods. The Church of Night uses another. I know. I know. Arbitrary binaries and territories and rules. Not your craft.” Saying this, he put his hands up in mock arrest. “I assure you, though, it’s mostly practical. Healing herbs grow here. Medicinal plants. The sorts of things we’d use with regularity. But I’m not really so into foraging myself.” Gabriel did things like purchase plants at the supermarket for ritualistic use if it meant avoiding the dirt. He was a frequent face at the local florist. “And...again, Fae gather here. I’ve never seen it myself, but there’s a door somewhere, they say. Point is, their power imbues the place.” He clicked his tongue, hands still up. “I know you’re more than capable. I’ve just lived here all my life. Take it as friendly local advice.” He smiled in his usual sinister way, but he did appear to find genuine amusement, a slightly askew camaraderie, in Helena buying her blood from a butcher. Modern witches in a capitalist world and all.

And he meant it to some degree. Of course, he quite naturally regarded Helena with wariness, an uncertainty surrounding someone with no ties to the structures in which he had been raised. And he had no doubts she was quite powerful in her own right; she would have to be to set out without a coven’s backing. Perhaps it was the awareness of his own’s proximity then that allowed him to spar with her like this.

“The woods remember everything.” He rolled his shoulders as he said this. “I was just correcting my own callousness. That’s all. I’m a guest here.” Brushing himself, off, he tucked away his handkerchief as he glanced around himself. And taking a step forward, he closed some of the distance between them, as if readying to continue on his way. He pursed his lips, though, cocking his head to one side. “It’s in my blood, you know. Eons before the Church of Light. Druidic magic. Nature preexisted me and is distinct from me. All one big natural balance, sure, but I tipped the scale. It was wrong of me to step on that plant.” He sniffed the air, looking about himself as the candles went out. He smirked, looking down at himself. “I know where there’s water.” 

[gabrielxmcclainx]

helena-theriot​:

Helena had felt complete out of sorts since the founders ball. It was the first time she’d really needed to use any power since she had arrived at Hazelgrove. In the nights since she had found herself washing her clean hands as if the blood was still there. Clearly some of the energy dispelled in the act had clung to her and she needed to cleanse and ground herself in her new home. She wouldn’t be able to rest right until she did and the new moon seemed like a good enough time to do it. 

So, as usual, she drew her circle and prepared her candles. There wasn’t much in the way of a breeze out there in the woods and she had tried her best to keep herself away from any areas she thought might be used by anyone. She had bathed before going over, making sure there was nothing between her and the earth when it came to it. Her hair was still damn when she pulled her clothes off, already coiling up into the curls she was so use to hiding. There was a small chill but nothing more than she was use to. 

She knelt down in the centre of the candles, sitting on her heels as she too the bowl of blood she had prepared earlier and started painting her face and body. The blood was still warm, kept that way with a charm as to not coagulate. “Air an talamh seo far a bheil mi nam sheasamh.” She started, setting the bowl aside she rest her forehead against the ground before sitting back up. “A ’cladhach mo fhreumhan gu domhainn san fhearann.” Helena pushed her hands into the dirt before bringing them back to press the dirt against her skin, letting it catch against the blood and stick. 

“Lìon mi leis an lùth cho soilleir.” Helena held her arms out, her face up towards the endless dark sky. “Agus lìon mi le do chuid-” Hearing a voice, Helena stopped her prayer and turned her head to look into the shadows where the voice had come from. Gabriel. Again. Dressed in white he stood out against the dark of the wood. He looked almost too crisp and the urge to push him over and spoil the stark white was one Helena had to fight. 

“I can’t imagine I’m in your way. You don’t look dressed for the type of ritual i’m performing.” Knowing she’d have to potentially start again she got to her feet. “It’s just a cleansing and grounding ritual. Nothing nefarious, I promise. Bad energies were lingering around me and I needed rid.”

Gabriel seemed to cast his eyes upward to the trees, narrowing them into the darkness and trying to find shapes in the leaves. However, even as he averted his gaze from the ritual unfolding, he could still feel the beginnings of magic beginning to swirl. And so, he rolled his shoulders at the sensation, as if breathing it in, before speaking nonchalantly into the nothingness overhead. “I’m just passing through. But this is open wood. You can do what you like here. Within reason, I suppose.” He said this with an odd casual politeness, but in truth, he did feel some possessiveness toward the area. It was, after all, Church of Light territory. And by the same token, he would not go wandering into Devilwood Valley. But then again, even by her very existence, Helena seemed intent on pushing the boundaries the local covens had put in place. 

“Cleansing,” he repeated. “The New Moon. Of course. My coven is nearby. We submerge ourselves tonight. Clarifying waters. That kind of thing.” An earthbound Baptism of sorts. Still, these words came more softly, perhaps with surprise that they had arrived that evening for the same purpose. All the dirt felt counterproductive, though. Still, Gabe stiffened, intent now on being troublesome. He spoke over his shoulder, still shading his eyes. “Again, I don’t mean to intrude. I feel as though this is not meant for an audience. Certainly not my eyes. But...fae gather here, you know. I’d be wary about dabbling in anything too dark-sided.” He sniffed the air in that moment, catching the slightest whisper of sickly sweetness. Blood? He coiled up on himself to avoid a shudder. “Fortunately, vampires typically don’t. Is that animal?” 

He allowed the question to linger in the air before opening his bag and retrieving a vial.  “I won’t begrudge a witch for grounding, but well...I hope you an appreciate that whatever you’re washing off, I do need to keep it from coming in our direction.” Saying this firmly, perhaps with suspicion, he opened the glass bottle to dump some of its contents, a mixture of crushed herbs and flora, into his palm, before beginning to gingerly draw a sigil on a tree trunk. This was, of course, the equivalent of making a line in the sand, setting a barrier to split the woods in half. 

With that, however, hand still stained, he sighed deeply, ducking down a little, careful not to mess his pants as he hovered over the healing herb he had crushed underfoot. The witch closed his eyes and muttered something under his breath, and after a beat, the plant seemed to regain some of its vitality, stem supernaturally straightening in on itself. “We try to leave the place the way we found it.” This was an almost uncharacteristically thoughtful gesture, but Gabe interrupted it by pulling a handkerchief from his pocket with an audible whoosh. He wiped his fingers clean.

[gabrielxmcclainx]

helena-theriot​:

“You don’t look like a pacifist,” Helena observed as she looked him over. “It’s not the vibe you give off at least. You smile too wide. Like a shark. We both know what happens when Sharks smell blood in the water.” She knew she was an outlier in this town, that they existed within a specific binary system that didn’t exist the further south you went which was interesting. “It wasn’t a rejection. This witch led subdivision of Christianity and Satanism isn’t the world I grew up in. I accept that our practices may have had similar origins but my people don’t believe in a monotheist belief system. Moloch can call himself whatever he pleases but he is only one of many. If he cared, which it doesn’t seem he does, all of those that practice under the umbrella term of pagan would have been eradicated centuries ago if not a millenia ago.” It was easy to talk about herself and what she was. It took her mind off of other things, like the fact she was using most of her focus to hide sight and smell of blood on her dress. “Yes. Voodoo. My mother was a practitioner.”   When he quietened his voice she made sure to look him in the eye. His words are a threat and she knew better than to not listen to them. Clearly he thought it was in the best interest of the town to do so. Her eyes trailed down to the mark on his arm. For a second she almost wanted to touch it, if only to ensure it was real. The last time she had seen one had been the last time she had been allowed to take part in coven rituals. “I think…” She looked back up at him. “You have a very outdated and perhaps misguided view of the dark. Dark magic isn’t meant only to harm, at least not the way I use it. Even if it is used for harm, that harm is sometimes justifiable. You said earlier Hazelgrove was a haven for those rejected from human society and that you look to guard them. Would it not be good of me to use my power to defend and protect residents regardless of what type of magic I used? Light and dark don’t line up with good and evil. Life doesn’t fit into binaries.”

“Sharks get a bad reputation. Most of that’s made up for horror movies. They’re just territorial, is all.” Even saying this, Gabriel maintained his usual jarring grin. In truth, his teeth were an odd point of pseudo-pride, something for which he had paid out-of-pocket and of which he took particular care. He usually arrived with a cloud of peppermint surrounding him. Perhaps another witch would use a simple glamour, but Gabriel preferred the stability of concrete presentation. As Helena continued, however, he shook his head. “Christians.” He said the word with some displeasure. “Oh no. They’ve been the worst offenders through history. Witches were healers. Midwives. Medicine workers. Did that matter to them? They’d throw me in the rest of the diabolical lot.” He sighed, shaking his head. “Monotheism. Sure. Maybe we believe in an innate, central good...the intrinsic fabric binding all creation...the all-powerful Light, lifeblood of the Earth itself.” He seemed unwilling to directly call it a God or associate himself too closely with any mortal belief systems. “But Moloch, huh?” He hummed. “Well, we agree there. The Dark Lord goes by many names, I suppose. But I don’t think he’s quite so powerful as his followers believe, what with our simple coven standing guard and all....” He pretended to examine his fingernails, and if this shark were meant to smell actual blood, he remained oblivious.

Meeting Helena’s eyes, however, he stood his ground, allowing their gazes to lock. He tried to remain nonplussed, but the standoff evidently enough gave rise to hidden thoughts racing behind his eyes. “A traditional view. We, the Church of Light, are not the Church of Night. They would have us all undone for their own benefit.” He cleared his throat, but her words seemed to somehow breech his defenses, striking some pivotal point. But he retreated quickly. “Good, evil. Light, dark, it all sounds like a binary to me. But...this town needs its guardians. I can admire that.” He seemed to back off, satiated at least by her supposed motives, even if not her unfamiliar craft. He smiled. “Protectors fair well on the Path of Light. Do let me know if I can ever...fill you in, hm?”

[gabrielxmcclainx]

unhclynights​:

Mateo fumbled with the keys as he waited for Gabe to claim them. He was still thinking over that offer Gabe had. Mateo had to admit the guy did like to chatter. As he waited for Gabe to meet up in the office, Mateo could feel his wolf scratching at it’s walls. During most of the month, Mateo had good control over his wolf side. However, the night before a full moon it was hard to keep it at bay. He stood in his office, clenching the edge of his desk focusing all his energy to remain calm.  

“Yeah, yeah.” Mateo nodded.  He was honestly happy to help. But tonight he wasn’t in the mood. He turned and leaned against his desk, keeping his cool complexion. “I’ll keep that in mind. I’ve heard things about you.” It wasn’t hard to know about the witch lawyer that helps supernaturals. Mateo had been smart so far about hiding his illegal fighting right in the back. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t slip up. And having a lawyer in his back pocket was something he liked to have. “You help supernatural residents right?” Mateo held out Gabe’s keys. “ ‘ight, now I got to open the garage. Then we can both get out of here.”

After lingering a few moments, Gabriel straightened himself out, smoothing down his jacket and tie before stepping inside. His eyes seemed to adjust to the shop as he made his way into the office. If Mateo was waging some mighty internal war, the witch did not notice, or at least did not bring it up. 

And so, still smiling in his usual, almost manufactured way, he waltzed over and took the key from the mechanic’s hand. He did a quick swing, along the chain to whip around his finger, before catching it in his hand. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much it means.” Cocking his head to one side, however, he flashed his teeth. “Only good things, I hope,” he replied, offering something of a laugh. Quirking his brow, however, he offered a short nod, features hardening into something more serious. “I try to, sure. Though, they usually call me in when they’re looking to clean something up. A case with no mortal explanation, you know? Hush, hush from Uncle Sam.” He trailed off. “Human, laws, though, they’re not really designed for us, hm? Criminal. Real estate. Politics. Hard to run for President when you have to hide your true nature. But we still have to play by them, for better or worse.” For now. “So if you ever run up against, you know, the strong arm, give me a call, sure. I’ll see what I can do.” He seemed to mean this. “Perfect. I’ll get the car started then!” 

[gabrielxmcclainx]

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Pristine shoes squeaked through the overgrown Golden Willow Wood, arching forward and crushing a particular medicinal herb underfoot with a dull crack. Gabriel winced at the noise, but in his defense, he had not meant to. The night was dark. The New Moon. The blackened sky, now hanging overhead, poking softly through the glistening canopy, was not foreboding. Rather, it bore the promise of rebirth, of new beginnings, and of a figurative “washing clean” to be made literal that evening.

Gabe, hat pulled low and linen bag slung over his shoulder, was dressed oddly for being out among nature at that time. The suit was starched, pristine, immaculate in his usual way: a visual metaphor for the purification ritual to be performed by him and a handful of others that hour. The events of the ball still hung heavy, but the Path of Light would cleanse it, they had decided, project their healing magic onto the very spirit of the town itself, to wash away its poisons.

The witch had not expected to come upon another figure in the wood as he made his way to the planned site. Eyes adjusting to the shadow, he caught only the slightest glimpse. He watched, hidden among the brush for only a second before ducking his head to avert his eyes. And he spoke up to reveal himself only because he felt his coven’s corner of the forest was being intruded upon.

“You and I, we’re like moths to a flame.” He raised his hands as he said this in a strong voice, a disarming stance. “I don’t mean to interrupt.” 

@helena-theriot​

[gabrielxmcclainx]

independentines​:

“Thanks,” she said, feeling her face flush in embarrassment that someone had witnessed her good. Picking up one of the last books, she slid it back onto the shelf while shaking her head. “I’m not usually that clumsy,” she explained, looking to the man who had helped her. “Thanks again. It doesn’t look like any harm’s done. Unless someone’s trying to study nearby,” she said sheepishly, though when he brought up that good point she looked to the shelf. And then to the remaining book in her hands. “Oh…Yeah, I actually was…” she said with a sigh, putting the book in her hands back on the shelf before pulling down the book she wanted after a moment’s though. “Thank God I remembered which one it was.”

“You’re very welcome. Are you visiting town? I’m around here pretty often, and I don’t think we’ve run into each other before.” Gabriel offered the question politely, smiling as he waved a nonchalant hand. But he had perhaps been on higher guard than usual following the events of the ball. And after all, he liked to keep an eye on everyone, outsiders included. Especially outsiders. He shook his head. “I’m sure they’ll forgive us. If I remember college, they’re all too tired or caffeine-addled to notice.” Gabriel laughed. “I’m sorry about that. I should have asked. Looking into some history? Me too.” Scanning the shelf, he plucked a book of his own from the top. “Believe it or not, our little town can be a little behind on digitizing things. Hardcopy is usually the best place to start, hm?” But she was certainly not going to find any real history on these shelves. 

[gabrielxmcclainx]

independentines​:

Ines browsed through the shelves of the library, looking for the history section. Every town had a library and in those libraries, there should be books about that town’s history, right? She knew her father was here in Hazelgrove, but why this place? They had family in other cities, but why did he choose to come here? Letting her fingertips run lightly across the various book spines as she browsed, she pulled a history book out at random though cursed softly in surprise as she accidentally knocked a couple other books off the shelf. “Shit!” she said sharply, trying to keep quiet as she gathered up the books.

“Ah! Let me help you there.” Offering a small smile, Gabriel ducked down to begin gathering up some of the toppled tomes. He himself had been prowling about the secure sections of the building, with permission, of course, hoping largely to find historical reference to some protective spell or another. He gingerly began placing books back on the shelf. “There. No harm done, hm?” He offered Ines a short nod. “Uh, you weren’t meaning to check out one of those, were you?” He knit his brow, just realizing he had not actually been keeping track of titles as he reshelved them. 

[gabrielxmcclainx]

helena-theriot​:

“Who said anything about tradition?” She turned to face him a little more. “I’m talking about the way I practice and I don’t just mean that you’re apparently a light witch and I’m a dark one. I don’t follow a church. I’m not part of a church of night and I don’t intend to be. I’m a pagan witch so while I appreciate and honour demons I don’t really care about big L. If he even exists because lets be honest all the power comes from the princes.” Helena’s eyes moved around the room making sure their conversation wouldn’t be overheard. “I believe heavily in ritual but I have more than one god. If half the strict church practitioners found out I also practice voodoo I might get run out of town.” She smirked, feeling proud of her heritage. 

“I just mean the witches in this town have been doing things one way for many, many years. Tradition.” Gabriel smiled placidly, and in that moment, he almost looked sincere in the display. “Yes, yes, I understand. I’ve heard of witches like you. Can’t say I’ve ever met one, but well...like you said, the churches like to maintain a sense of order around here. The Church of Light is pacifistic, of course, but the Church of Night....” Gabe was not a pacifist. Still, he kept up appearances for his more earthy brethren. “A Light Witch is a good thing to be. And if nothing else, it lets me know where my loyalties lie. There are those who will be perturbed by your lack of them. But, well, you know that.” He shook his head, curling up his lip. “And while I admire your rejection of the Dark Lord and his Church, I can certainly say a coven provides ample protection from his...tempers.” Gabriel was not afraid of Lucifer, per say, but he knew better than to directly challenge the diabolical without numbers to support him. “Voodoo?” Gabe knit his brow. The expression was perhaps surprise, but not exactly distaste. He continued in a private, hushed tone. “I’ll be candid. Friend. I’m wondering what brings you here. Hazelgrove is a haven, yes. We look to guard those human society would reject. I hope one day we will integrate with it, but until then....” He trailed off, clearing his throat. Thinking better of himself, he pushed up the sleeve of his jacket to allow her to see the witch’s mark. “You and I, we clearly walk different paths. I’m a worshiper of the Earth. I believe in the innate goodness of our existential life force, and it’s from there I draw my power. And so, I do have to ask. I have my opinions on demons and those who honor them. I have my opinions on Dark Magic. On any craft meant only to harm. Do you mean harm here? I mean no harm to you.” Yet. 

[gabrielxmcclainx]

unhclynights​:

Mateo’s eyes flickered to Gabe. He didn’t want to stay out here any more longer than he had to. He did recognized the man from earlier in the week. Prior to him coming to his shop, Mateo knew about the witch lawyer. He had heard how he got his verdicts out of his cases. Mateo didn’t often associate with witches, light or dark.“You know when we close right? You were cutting it real close.” The alpha shook his head, still thinking over the man’s offer. Mateo was the owner, so he had no real issue of doing this. But did he want to. Mateo sighed looked over at the basically pleading man.  “Just this once, man. I can’t be doing this for everyone.” Mateo lifted back up the metal garage door. The rattle of metal chains echoed through the night.  “You’re lucky. If it was one of my other boys, they would have sent you off. Wait here.” Mateo was big on helping customers. And maybe this would save his ass later on. He went to the main desk and checked for keys. His shop was very busy and many townspeople come to him. Opening the drawer, Mateo saw a dozen few keys. “Ay yo!” The alpha called back to the witch outside. “What did you drive? Was it the Audi?”

“I know. I really am very sorry. I just, I was at work late, and ran into a lot of...well, I’ll spare you the whole story. I’m sure you’ve heard it before. I don’t want to waste your time.” Gabriel offered an apologetic smile, clasping his hands together in front of him. He regarded Mateo without encroaching, evidently trying his very best not to insist upon his presence. After all, the witch did not involve himself in werewolves’ interpersonal affairs (only the gossip), but he knew enough not to get on their bad side. Not that he truly believed this meeting would go in a dire direction, but if nothing else, it never hurt to remain in neighbors’ good graces. Likewise, Gabe had enough enemies among certain local covens; he certainly didn’t need them across packs. “Oh. Thank you! Really. I promise, I won’t tell a soul.” He put his hands up in mock arrest, offering a short nod. He watched Mateo reopen shop, lingering in place before taking a few small steps forward. However, he did not try to enter behind him, standing instead just outside the door. “They..uh, they always do good work. Your crew, I mean. They’ve been very helpful.” He offered this distantly as something of a generic compliment on the shop’s quality. But Gabriel did not actually know enough about cars, even his own, to elaborate. He cleared his throat. “That’s me!” Because of course it was. “I really can’t tell you how grateful I am for this. You’re really saving my neck. I would have had to walk home.” Not that Gabriel was afraid of that. He had enough capability to defend himself as necessary. It was more the dignity of it. “I’ll pay it forward, I promise. You ever need a favor, you can count on me, hm? Filing paperwork. Zoning issues. I go all the way up the county.” This mostly seemed to be a joke, but the witch did play politics well enough. Perhaps he’d stay true to the offer. 

[gabrielxmcclainx]

vampireroxy​:

Roxy watched the scene a little bit scared. She knew about witches and their mojos,  how they talked to spirits and she knew demons, mostly, were basically mean spirits that found a vessel to live. Which means: Red alert. They were capable of anything and everything. Sure, she was friends with some demons and stuff, but she always felt a little bit uncomfortable at the thought of spirits messing with her. So whoever was there, talking to Gabe, she just hoped in silent that they just left her alone. Once Gabe spoke, the vampire cleared her throat and slowly approached him. “Hey, Gabey. It’s me, Roxy. I really hope I didn’t bother those spirits, if anything could you please tell them I’m all good and I mean no harm, maybe?” She gave him a half-hearted smile as she stood right in front of him.

“Ah, Roxy. Don’t worry. They’re gone. I’m sure you know...most ghosts are just bluster. Especially this one. He doesn’t want to talk, and he won’t show himself. But I’m not clairvoyant.” Saying this, Gabriel climbed to his feet, brushing off his pants and gesturing at his setup. He turned to offer the visitor a sincere smile. “And I don’t convene with inhuman spirits.” Gabe said this with some layered distaste; his strong feelings about demons were not exactly a secret. But he had no real reservations about convening with vampires. “I’d usually do something like this at home, but even I can admit that when your power comes from the Earth, sometimes you have to get in touch with it. I wore the wrong outfit, though.” He held out his arms to show off his wrinkled dress clothes. 

[gabrielxmcclainx]

thesirenia​:

She let out a soft chuckle at his reply as they walked to the dance floor. “So my feet are safe, that’s really good to know. Well said.  Etiquette is key.” She agreed. She waited for his bow to return it, smiling politely at him. “Only a few bow to their partner here. As I said, etiquette is key.” As she started the dance, she put her left hand on Gabriel’s shoulder and hold his hand with her right, moving slowly, enjoying her company and the music.

“Ah, well, I’m sure people think it’s outdated. A remnant of ages past. Times change, though. Trends. They used to think the waltz was going to be our moral undoing,” Gabriel laughed heartily. “I’ll tell you one thing, though. I certainly have no plans of keeping up with it. As soon as new things are scary and confusing, I’m bowing out.” He shook his head, taking easy, gliding steps. “Personally, though, I think the bow is part of the dance. If you skip it, you’ve bounced right over the opening step.”

[gabrielxmcclainx]

loganoshea​:

“i was hoping to impress someone, but i haven’t seen them yet.” he frowns a little, pulling the tie down in defeat, figuring he might as well just shove it into his pockets now. “i took a few minutes out on the porch, but uh – like i said, i’m looking for someone.” he glances around the room once more, still unable to catch the scent of the person he’s looking for. “you been to one of these before?” logan asks, still feeling very much out of his own depth. 

“Well, I do know a lot of people here tonight. Maybe I could help? Let you know where I saw them last?” Gabriel made this offer with a wide smile, but it did seem sincere enough. He gave a short nod, watching Logan as he cast his eyes about the room. “Oh, I go to things like this all the time. They’re sort of...old-fashioned, I guess. Not for everyone. But there’s nothing wrong with that, of course. But I enjoy them.” He flashed his teeth. “Were you supposed to meet someone here?”

[gabrielxmcclainx]

sugarhoneyrobin​:

“I thought I saw one of them wandering about, but he looked so stuffy that I wasn’t worried.” He said, sitting down and smiling to the other as he spoke. “We may all be friends here tonight but I can’t shake my anxiety. It’s possible that I may not have slept last night due to having made the sweets for this ball, and maybe my anxiety is stemming from that.” Fiddling with his cuffs to make sure they were in the right place, he nodded at Gabriel’s question and enthusiasm for the event. “It’s a lovely ball. Back home, I went to a few and it was lovely. What I’m wearing reminds me of home so I feel most comfortable in it. What about you, though? Besides this one, have you been to any others?”

“Did you? Well, the Wessons are lovely people, really. Stuffy, though. That’s a good word. Sometimes, they, uh...they rub certain people the wrong way. I don’t say that to be a gossip.” Gabriel flashed a smile, but he did not yet know Robin well enough to be more than vague about the hunters that called Hazelgrove home. But he did not trust them; they meddled in supernatural affairs. And whatever their motives, pure or not, they would target even his ilk if given proper chance, he knew. He nodded, however, listening sympathetically. “Ah! Everything’s going wonderfully, and I’m sure they’re a big hit. That’s...really rather impressive, though. And I’m sure it was a big order. Thank you for your work on making the event a success, in any case. You’re a real Hazelgrovian, and we’re lucky to have you here.” He laughed, but that was not a word anyone ever actually said. He seemed to have just made it up, but he did take Robin’s hand to shake and punctuate his point. “You look quite dashing. I could never pull something like that off, but I have no eye for pattern or color. It suits you, though, I think. Me? Oh, well, my family goes to things like this all the time. Political benefits. Fundraisers. Black tie, this, that. My mother’s something of an old-school socialite. And I’ve been thinking of running for proper office some day soon. So...I see a lot of parties in my future.”

[gabrielxmcclainx]

bringthedemonout​:

“You don’t drink? So you don’t have champagne during weddings or a glass of brandy with some of your colleagues?” He asked, crossing his legs at the knees as he looked up to Gabriel with a smirk. The man was so fucking uptight, he definitely needed a good dick in the ass. That helped Raine often enough, even if he preferred being a top at times. Gabriel’s words, however, didn’t seem genuine when it came to his words. He knew the Light Witch was following his every move and it was no surprise it was happening at this fucking ball. Rolling his eyes, he placed his glass down onto the table while leaning forward so his right forearm was resting against the table and his head slightly closer to the Witch. “I’m used to heat, just not my ‘body’, if you catch my drift. I still need to regulate even if I get sweaty from dancing and enjoying my time.” Nipping his bottom lip with a fiendish smirk, he chuckled as he read the other’s body language. “But you’re far more Wrath-induced right now. Did someone not want to dance with you? Or are you like me who sees a rather irritating presence like an ex-boyfriend who’s ignoring your very existence?”

“I think it’s important to keep my wits about me. That’s all,” Gabe replied with a thin smile. He spoke in an odd, openly cheerful way, as if putting on a masquerade so the other partygoers would not pick up on his distaste for the demon. “Witchcraft, as a rule, requires so much focus. Clearness of purpose. Purity of intent. When witches get too loose, well, that’s a recipe for disaster, don’t you think? Who knows what they’ll conjure up?” He cleared his throat, still smiling. Still, there were no moves for protection this time, no incantations or charms. Perhaps it was the security of the crowd or the awareness that he was not thinking anything Raine did not already know. Largely that he did not care for him. To that end, he also did not waiver when his space was encroached on, intent on maintaining the facade of normalcy. There were humans in the room. “Ah, yes, the temple. But I am glad to hear you’re enjoying. It is such an important event and all,” he continued on, meeting Raine’s smirk with a furrowed brow, a crack in the picture. “I’ve certainly never been wrathful.” This was a lie. “But my dance card has been full all night. So few people know how to anymore. Dance, I mean.” This was almost defensive. But of course, he had been spying on his Dark Witch sister much of the evening, still nursing the wounds of her familial betrayal. But he would not bring that up. “You have ex boyfriends? I didn’t know demons were so keen on mortal commitments. But then again, my Church isn’t as keen on diabolic social mores as certain others.”