The High

Ivan Kuznestov | 29 | Witch | Regeneration and Telekinesis | Bartender at the Saloon

[ivanxkuznestov]

tessa-nicole-ward‌:

The dark haired girl looked up at the man next to her who was speaking aloud. Looking down at the paper he’d just extinguished his death stick on, she couldn’t help but let her curiosity get the best of her. “Won’t change what?”

“People dying,” he replied simply as he brought his next cigarette to his lips and lit it up.  He took his time to draw it in, before releasing a cloud of smoke.  “The Clave attacking again and the town trying to take the moral high ground every time.  Welcome to the merry go round.”

[ivanxkuznestov]

beckettcooper‌:

Beckett didn’t really understand what had happened that was making everyone so antsy all of a sudden. He’d only been in Hollow Grove for a few weeks, and he knew that he would feel like he was missing some things… but this was more than he’d imagined. It was just so much - what even was the Clave, anyway? He’d never heard of such a thing until he arrived in town and had to be interviewed. Even then, they’d only sort of skimmed over what it was, and he left the interview with more questions than he had before. Trying not to let it bother him, though, the blond headed for the cafe, and was just about to reach for the door, when someone near him spoke. He glanced over, eyes flicking down to the paper that he seemed to be eyeing. “I’m not the right person to talk about that with.” He admitted softly. “I’m pretty new to all of this.”

“Educate yourself,” he said and with a flicker of his gaze the smouldering cigarette butt went flying and the paper floated up towards the other.  In his opinion it was a pretty stupid idea to move to a place and not check out its latest news.  Even back when he had arrived, before there was any sign of the Clave resurfacing, back when they were simply a name in the history books he had looked up the daily headlines.  It was boring back then, he had to at least give the radical group credit for spicing things up.  “You should probably update yourself, otherwise you’ll probably be in for a very nasty surprise shortly.”

[ivanxkuznestov]

gillesezra‌:

Ezra pursed his lips. He couldn’t help but agree with the stranger. From what he understood, the Clave was basically a hydra. It seemed like what they’d be doing now, at best, was cutting off just one of the heads. “I have a bad feeling about this trial anyway,” he said. “I mean, we can’t always get through town events without people being hurt. A trial just seems like a detonator of sorts.”

“I’m inclined to agree with you completely,” Ivan said, though he wasn’t particularly worried.  Yes, it crossed his mind as well but it excited more than worried him.  The witch thrived on violent situations and he almost looked forward to what might be coming.  “I mean you could say that the current trials are the cause of bring Dominik here, all it’s going to do is create more.”

[ivanxkuznestov]

grey-arthur‌:

Arthur raised an eyebrow at the poor James Dean impression sitting before him and shrugged. “Then it’s a nonentity,” he commented absently. “And so you shouldn’t waste your time…” The pause was clear – or mine – before he went on. “Talking about it. Why waste time on something that evidently doesn’t matter?”

“Would you rather I talk about the weather?” he posed, sticking the fresh cigarette between his lips.  “Real autumnal of late isn’t it?  You can practically smell the decomposing leaves.” He paused for a beat, much like the other had.  “That less of a nonentity for you?”

[ivanxkuznestov]

rydrx‌:

“It’s all a fucking show,” Ryder agreed, inhaling his cigarette deeply before letting the smoke spill out from his lips. “They call this place a safe haven, but it’s the perfect target for the Clave to terrorize. And these trails are a fucking joke, the Clave won’t even blink an eye.” The organization was large, losing a few handful wouldn’t affect them.

“It’s bait is what it is,” He agreed with everything his boss said, lighting up his second cigarette and inhaling it deeply.  “It’s basically dangling a tasty morsel above their heads,” he added, sniffing slightly.  “I wonder what they’re actually after with Hollow Grove?  I mean, why not just do a Summerdale on us, you’d probably get everyone but the originals.” 

[ivanxkuznestov]

itskarasykes‌:

Kara’s head bobbed slowly, considering Ivan’s words and the prospect of his proposal. Truly she didn’t think either option was flawless. Keeping it out of the limelight, so to speak, wouldn’t send any messages to the Clave that they wouldn’t take this shit. But keeping them guessing…was there an advantage in that? They had been pretty close lipped about it all since that night, locking up the Clave members and interrogating them but keeping it quiet. Getting rid of them for good without any fuss? Kara wondered if that would rev up the Clave on the offensive more or less than the current plan. 

“Yeah I mean, maybe…I guess it’s not really up to us.”

“No, I guess we’re supposed to give our complete trust into a group of individuals who you hope after this long know what they’re doing,” he replied, though he had very little faith in most of the council.  So far objectively he didn’t think they hadn’t done much to make the town feel safe.  Especially as it was supposed to be a safe haven.  “Hell if we let one or two go maybe we’d actually find out where they’re hiding.” 

[ivanxkuznestov]

isabellecresswell‌:

“Yeah, that’s what they tell me.” Isabelle joked with a shrug of the shoulders. She wasn’t a seasoned supreme by any means but she’d taken a good position on this one. Sit back and observe how the originals played this one out. If it all went to shit all Issy cared about was looking out for the witches, lord knew the originals would look out for their own. “How do you know we’re announcing every move? “ Issy challenged with a shrug. “I think we both know people keep hitting here because the heavy hitters are here. You can’t tell me after a thousand years on this earth that they haven’t wracked up more than a few enemies?”

“Fine, but it’s enough that it’ll anger them and cause them to hit back again.  Or try and bust them out before they can go night night,” he said with a shrug.  Ivan wouldn’t be surprised if any of the members showed their faces again.  “Valid point, maybe they should stop pissing so many people off.  Gotta hand it to the Clave though, they have some interesting methods of trying to take over the world.” 

[ivanxkuznestov]

nathanielxgreyson‌:

Nate turned at the sound of the other person’s voice, able to take a guess as to what he was talking about. When he saw the paper with the thin trail of smoke coming from it, he knew he’d been right. “Not overall, no. The Clave is too large for one trial to fix that. But this will bring closure to some, and it’s the necessary next step to take.” After they’d killed Dominik, Nate had every intention of seeing this group brought up on the proper charges. “Just because it doesn’t eradicate the Clave as a whole doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done.”

“So what, we’re just going to capture a few and hold a trial every time they attack and hope we get them all?” he posed, lighting up the cigarette and taking a draw.  “That’s almost enough to drive people to join.”  Sometimes it was surprising that Ivan hadn’t been questioned himself about ties to the Clave, not that he had any.  Ivan genuinely couldn’t care less about whether supernaturals were in charge or not.  “Let me guess, it’s all about the moral high ground?  Cos sure as shit they wouldn’t give any of us a trial.” 

[ivanxkuznestov]

mendozaxmaya‌:

“Hell no it won’t,” Maya scowled at the paper. The news of the Clave reached her offices and honestly, at first…she really didn’t care about them. They’re the Clave, who Maya thought would be terrified of at first, then she realized as she looked at them again, that she didn’t really care. “If they die or go on trial, so goddamned what-the world will go on and no one will give a shit anymore.”

“The Clave will,” he observed, lighting up his next cigarette and blowing out a steady stream of smoke.  Stretching slightly he lent back in his chair, tipping it onto its back legs.  “And then it’ll be a nice little circle of them attacking and us holding trials.  Fucking stupid if you ask me.” 

[ivanxkuznestov]

geogmorgensen‌:

Geog grunted in noncommittal agreement as he perused his own copy of the paper and idly turned to the finance section next. “The dead are dead, the grieving still without whomever. Killing a killer doesn’t fix it.”

“No, but it does feel pretty good,” he replied with a shrug, watching as the smouldering remains of the cigarette butt began to create a hole in the face of one of faces.  “Only going to drive them to do it again though.”

[ivanxkuznestov]

nickxadler‌:

The vampire merely smirked, though the action didn’t reach his eyes, as he merely came to a pause just before the other man. “I was going to suggest you put it out of your own accord, but if you’re going to have to force me, I’ll warn you my version of making is usually quite bloody, and I would hate to ruin that pretty face of yours.”

“It’ll heal,” he said with a shrug, though it would still leave the scars it would on someone without his ability.  Still, he reluctantly extinguished the cigarette, dropping the butt in his empty glass.  Before Hollow Grove he probably wouldn’t have thought twice about taking on the challenge, but even if he had an ever so slight advantage over his fellow witches it would be stupid to take on a vampire.  “What crawled up your ass and died anyway?”

[ivanxkuznestov]

theresaxrutherford‌:

‘Amen,” was the only thing Theresa could say as she glared at the paper. She was honestly happy that someone was going to happen to the Clave members. “I hope they get what they deserve for what they did that night.” she angrily drained her coffee and crushed the cup before she threw it in the trash can.

“Of course they will,” Ivan started, watching as she crushed the cup and tossed it.  Clearly she had been hurt that night if her anger was anything to go by.  Ivan himself had been present at the ball but had found his entertainment by watching the small fire that started and managed to catch several people on fire.  “And then the Clave will attack again and we’ll hold another trial.”

[ivanxkuznestov]

isabellecresswell‌:

The news was spreading through town like wildfire, as a member of the council Issy had been a part of the decision but it still felt surreal given the fact that her father would be one of those prosecuted. Issy just chalked it up to another part of her life that was beyond her comprehension. Hearing someone she turned, seeing the newspaper before them. “You aren’t fucking wrong there,” Isabelle muttered. “Maybe they’ll get what they deserve in the end, at least. I can’t imagine there will be much mercy in any of there sentencings.” 

“Aren’t you part of the council?” he questioned, recognising the supreme as she piped up from a table nearby.  If even she thought that it wouldn’t change anything then clearly it had been a majority vote rather than unanimous decision and at least their kind had an ounce of intelligence about them.  “I guess, but they could get that anyway without announcing every move to the Clave.  And people wonder why they keep hitting here.”

[ivanxkuznestov]

farrenloset‌:

@ivanxkuznestov

Sunlight peered through broken glass, illuminating the decomposing house around the witch that had become slowly taken over by an overgrowth of plants. Located deep in the forest and away from prying eyes, the house was a safe haven for Farren, where any sense of morality, right or wrong was left behind. That alone had given her more peace than any silence would. There was no internal war fighting for what she wanted to do and what she has known her entire life. Just like the aged book opened in front of her, what happened next was left to her own devices. Lit candles scattered among the cold and creaking wood floor surrounded Farren who knelt in the middle. Her breaths were shallow and her hands shaking. What she had done, what she had been doing for nearly a month was foul and wicked. Yet, she felt no remorse for the selfish sins she committed. Attempting to harbor power from another, cripple their abilities to gain the strength and power to control herself, it was abhorrent. Yet again the witch had prepared herself to turn her conscious off and look the other way and it all started with the silence as blue eyes fluttered shut and the internal chants had begun. 

It was curiosity that had caught Ivan’s eye, watching as the redhead came and went from somewhere deep in the woods surrounding Hollow Grove.  He would have thought her a simple hiker if it wasn’t for the way she looked about herself uncertainly, as if afraid that someone might be watching.  Ivan knew immediately that it meant she was doing something or going somewhere she shouldn’t be.  It was almost impossible for him to resist and so after only the second time he had caved and followed after her.  Considering her jittery persona leading the way off the regular path she was pretty terrible at spotting the fact that someone actually was following her this time.  Clearly her mind had been already ahead focused on her goal and making her blind.  He did keep his distance, but towering at 6′4 he wasn’t hard to spot.  He had stayed outside for a short while when they reached the cabin, letting her go ahead and drop her guard before he quietly slipped in from the back.  She was in what had obviously once been main living area, surrounded by candles and a feeling in the air that practically called to him.  Leaning casually against the door frame he watched her for a few moments before speaking up.  “And what do we have here?  What a naughty little witch you are.”

[ivanxkuznestov]

wrenxaaker‌:

Wren tried not to eavesdrop but she couldn’t help it. She picked up her coffee and turned her attention to the man that just spoke. “Excuse me?” She asked him. “What did you say? Is there something going on around here?” She glanced down at the newspaper and slowly picked it up. “Oh… Uhm, I should probably pay more attention around here…” Wren sighed. “I don’t mean to sound ignorant or oblivious, I just…” She shrugged. “Being human, kind of, well..” She trailed off. 

“There usually is,” he replied, watching her as she noticed the headlines on the paper in front and began to read it.  “Probably, otherwise you’ll be nice easy bait for anyone looking to break a few rules or worse.” It was a matter-of-fact statement from him and as he lit the new cigarette he lent forward with his arms on the table.  “Kind of thought all this stuff was irrelevant to you?” he questioned.

[ivanxkuznestov]

itskarasykes‌:

Kara didn’t really know what to think about the upcoming trial of the Clave members from the attacks during the Blood Moon. On one hand, they weren’t going to get anything further out of the Clave members they’d captured, and letting them rot in their cells really wasn’t that gratifying. But what would they really get from digging things back up? She’d managed to get over the pains of the Blood Moon, to recover alongside Nate and the rest of the town, to figure out how to begin again. She was happy - and remembering the Blood Moon did put a bit of a damper on it. “Oh?” She exclaimed as she overheard the comment as she left the cafe, a warm coffee cupped in both hands. She wasn’t sure whether she agreed or not. Would it change anything? Maybe not, but it had more likelihood than no action at all… 

“What is your proposal, then?” 

He turned his head lazily towards the owner of the voice, raising his brows slightly as he waited for what would come next.  She wanted his answer and the way she posed it implied that she likely thought the trials the best method and the decisions of the council the smartest.  “Keep it out of the public limelight where the rest of the Clave will be watching to see what we give them.  Just get rid of them without the hoo-ha and keep them guessing.” 

[ivanxkuznestov]

mamawclf‌:

Andromeda didn’t know how to feel about the trial. She’d come to Hollow Grove to discover what would become of her father, but to hear the call for anyone who’d been hurt by these people? She had decades of information on him. She couldn’t do it. Not unless they could guarantee her daughter’s safety. “It never does,” she agrees, lighting up her own cigarette. “It didn’t change anything last time.”

“Exactly, they still attacked again,” he agreed, flipping open his lighter and holding it up to his next cigarette.  Ivan honestly wouldn’t have been surprised if the previous actions against the Clave only spurred on the Blood Moon attacks.  Violence begets violence.  “Gives them further drive.  Forget the trial and public bullshit, just kill them quietly and be done with it.”