like a virus

[juliettelikethesun]

tonysinclair‌:

Tony, as it seemed Jules was beginning to understand was a particular brand of complicated. While there were many desires and interests that he held they were dialled back and kept under close lock and key. Even then once you got the padlock off you were faced with an iron grid before even beginning to near any answers about what might lie within. A lifetime of being a tool enacting another person’s plans, serving a greater purpose than his own silly little wills and whims left him guarded in more ways than he cared to admit. 

Juliette had admitted herself on their first meeting that she was tactile – willing to revel in the experience of emotions and feelings to better understand another. Tony, by comparison, had presented himself exactly as the sort of person he was - reclusive and intensely private. Willing to engage in thought-provoking debate but less inclined to share any part of himself through stories or passing touches unless there were other factors involved. Alcohol being one such item that could occasionally tip the balance. For now Tony was settled, the quiet hum of magic about the place washing over his skin like a warm blanket and he wasn’t quite sure if it was the alcohol or the music. Either way, it felt good and he was contented with how things were.

“I’ll keep the advice in mind, though I doubt there’s much to be done concerning my mortality and the imperfections it brings about,” he tipped a brow as her fingers skirted and danced over his skin. He was well aware of signs of his ageing, but unlike most he wasn’t quite so vain to feel the need to cover them up explaining the slight dusting of grey at his temples amongst the otherwise raven shade of his hair. 

“Granted that’s entirely dependent if you can afford to entertain such a notion, if I lived by that set of standards I’d barely make it past the front door…” Heck, he didn’t even have a front door still presently between places considering a part of him still held out hope that perhaps he’d find a way out of this town. Though with each day that passed he wondered if it was foolish notion to continue entertaining on. “I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again I doubt there’s much you couldn’t pull off chérie.” Despite this being said he laughed softly his eyes crinkling a little in amusement, “now who’s to say I’m the one who has to play my cards right? You do seem very intent on propositioning me after all belle – it leads me to wonder if you’re the one that needs to play your cards right.” It hadn’t escaped his attention how her gaze continued to wander, and idly he found himself scanning the crowd. “Is there someone you’re looking for?” 

“You’re a foolish man if you think for a single moment that I believe you would turn down any offer I handed to you, Anthony. If I thought you weren’t interested, I wouldn’t play games with you, pet.” She didn’t bother to hide the grin that turned her lips, almost cheshire in how large it grew. Perhaps he was not one to give all of his cards away, but Juliette was not a stupid woman. She, in fact, prided herself of being an extremely intelligent one. She knew when to play and when to step away from a situation, and while she might still be trying to read the man beside her, she was well aware that the quirk of his brow and the turn of his lips were a clear enough sign that he was interested in what she had to offer. Even if he dragged it out, it wasn’t as if Juliette didn’t have all the time in the world to play.

Fingers tapped lightly against the side of her glass as she let out a soft hum, head twisting a bit as she forced her eyes away from the crowd, put her attention solely back on the man in her company now. Errant thoughts of the man she wanted to see in the crowd disappeared for a moment as she studied the features on the man beside her instead, took to drinking those in and appreciating them. They would change and twist with age, which was an unfortunate side effect of mortality, but for the moment, he did have something beautiful about the twist and curve of his face, the way his eyes lit up despite the features remaining smooth. 

Finally, an answer to his question fell from her lips easily, half a lie wrapped up in a bit of truth. “No, simply watching the crowd. There’s a world of fascination lingering about out there, and I like to see it unfold. Though, I do find my gaze drawing back to this particular spot, so perhaps I have found something I like in your poor, aging face, after all.” The grin on her face never waivered as she let out a soft chuckle behind the rim of her glass before taking a quick drink.

With a small nod to the bartender to refill there drinks, she gave the man beside her one more once over before finishing the one in her hand with a quick gulp and resting the glass on the table beside her. “That’s two drinks, I believe. I think you could grant me the honor of telling me that you missed my brilliant company, now.”

[juliettelikethesun]

tonysinclair‌:

Perhaps it was arrogance or perhaps it was a general curiosity about how Juliette would react to being close to a potential source of sustenance for her. In Anthony’s mind it was simply another challenge, the question here being would Juliette show restraint against something he supposed she instinctively wanted on some base level. It was a question of who would move to give space first, give and take, push and pull - each decision and reaction teaching him a little bit more about what made up the woman presently crossing into his personal space. 

And yet, where typically he would shrug the person off. Tell them to mind their own his posture remained relaxed even as she practically draped herself over his shoulders. The pause stretched out as she contemplated his proposal and he busied himself with taking another sip of his drink. “It might not to you,” he allowed tone a lazy drawl as he felt her nails scrape at the nape of his neck the act making him want to stretch and roll his neck but he remained still. He raised his glass and tilted it a little the liquid inside pooling to one side in emphasis of his point “but an answer might well constitute several more before my tongue’s feeling sufficiently loose enough to be chatty.” 

The weight at his shoulders was gone soon enough, and she was slipping into the seat next to him. Only then could he turn to actually look at her properly and his eyes subtly swept down and back up taking her in with his typically inquisitive gaze. “Ah,” he sounded knowingly a wry smile edging one corner of his mouth up in amusement as he swirled his glass lazily, “so we’ve reached the stage of our relationship at which you choose to compliment and insult me in the same sentence to cover for the sincere comment beforehand? Good to know… Though I’ll have to say unfortunately this is the face you’re stuck with since it isn’t going to be changing any time soon.” 

He turned his attention back to the drink at hand, Juliette never failed to entertain him and on this occasion he would happily do as instructed. “So what brings you here all dressed up to the nines tonight? Don’t tell me you made the effort just for me,” there was a slightly teasing lilt to his words and a glimmer of a childlike humour in his eyes as he glanced aside at her.

Little, graceful touches seemed to not have an effect on the man. He didn’t lean into her fingers or angle his body toward hers in a way that suggested he was paying any mind to her taking over his personal space at all. Fascinating, though Juliette felt a touch bitter that her wiles were not so easy to melt this particular block of ice. Her eyes danced down to the drink in his hand, and she wondered if it truly would be liquor that would have him leaning into her and returning easy affections with fleeting little brushes of his own. Stoic men, it would seem, were a type that she favored, and watching them crumble and break was a pass time that she would happily use to waste many an hour in the day. 

Eyes rolled playfully as Juliette lifted her own glass to her lips, using the action to hide a smirk as she took a sip of her drink and surveyed the little crowd. Some couples were draped around one another, swaying to the soft sound of a husky voice on stage, lights were low and almost dreamy. The steady beating of several hearts, some syncing up to the thrum of the music, others just slightly off beat, it was all enough to have her relaxing a bit more, letting out a soft sigh as her attention was drawn back to the man beside her.

“It isn’t the worst face I’ve seen in this town, though you could stand to moisturize more often, cher, to prevent yourself from aging so rapidly.” As she spoke, soft, icy fingers reached over to dance across his cheek, up to the corner of his eyes where she could faintly see the signs of wrinkles beginning to form, back down to tap lightly at frown lines around his mouth, also faint and barely a whisper against his skin, though she offered only a small grin as her hand danced away from his face again and fell to rest against the table, leaning back just a bit to show off more of the dress from her sitting position. After all, what was the point of being dressed so wonderfully if it wasn’t fully shown off.

“No point in leaving the house if you aren’t going to try and look your best, in my humble opinion. Luckily for myself, looking my best is rather easy. Clothing is more of an enhancement than the thing that makes or breaks how I appear. I wear clothing just as well as I wear my bare skin.” Eyes trailed around the room again as she took another slow sip of her drink, some small part of her still holding out hope that she would spot a different familiar face in the crowd, but not getting hopes up, not wanting to feel that sting of disappointment too hard. “Though I dress for myself, not for anyone else, I’m glad to hear that my efforts are not in vain. Perhaps if you play your cards right, however, it can be just for you before the night ends.”

[nataliedormersource]

[juliettelikethesun]

ariafcwn‌:

Aria paused, brows lifting at the question. She had… not exactly known the other was a Regium. But thinking about it now, made her lips quirk up in a subtle smile. “… I didn’t actually,” she responded honestly, her subtle smile becoming a bit of a cheeky grin. 

“Witches get the vague idea. I knew you were a vampire, but… Regium might have been my first guess, anyway… you remind me a bit of one I know already.” There was definitely something Philippe-y about the woman… Pretty words, face and posture that reminded her of movies with old timey aristocrats. She had that pretentious princess vibe about her - but far be it from Aria to judge too harshly too quickly. She’d almost made that mistake with Philippe. He turned out to be the most interesting vampire she’d met thus far.

“Mmm,” she considered, humming thoughtfully at the question. It was more a joking moment of thought. Aria was pretty certain of her answer. “Spoken like a true newcomer. You get over it. Once you’ve lived here long enough, the species just kinda… blend together. It’s a melting pot of chaos. Lucky for you, Regium are in charge of a… whole ton of it. You should fit in just fine. Juliette, was it? Yeah… Definitely.”

Juliette couldn’t help the answering smile that appeared on her face when Aria pulled her cheeky grin. It was contagious, and it was also a bit funny that the girl had pegged her so quickly. Though, her explanation for her wild guess caused Juliette to let out an easy laugh, head shaking a bit. “I suppose I can appreciate being pegged for what I am, rather than you thinking I’m some sad orphan or something.” Her shoulder lifted in a slight shrug, curiosity getting the best of her as she watched the girl for a long moment. “Who is this Regium that I remind you of, though? I’ll have to seek them out and make a new friend if we’re so similar.”

An eyebrow lifted, and Juliette watched the girl carefully. It seemed an extremely bitter sentiment that she had, and Juliette could only wonder why, but then, that would be digging a bit too much and even the vampire knew when she was pressing her luck a bit. A soft hum of her own, simply acknowledging that the girl had gotten her name right, and she considered what Aria had to say. Regium were in charge of a lot, were they? A pause, and Juliette looked square at the girl again, firmly resolved as she nodded her head. “Let me take you to lunch? I have more questions, and it seems that standing in the middle of a grocery store aisle would make no sense. You appeared to be getting food, anyway.”

[juliettelikethesun]

tonysinclair‌:

While the idea of having to settle here didn’t particularly appeal, Tony was beginning to come to terms with the fact of the matter. That being, he was stuck here and it would take longer than he hoped to find a solution to that particular issue. Unfortunate really. Though after meeting Harlan early doors the man in question had mentioned his owning a club in town, the spaces weren’t typically to his taste. Nightlight these days in his opinion was too centred around the heavy thud of bass that left you deafened by the time you left unless you were too high to notice. But after visiting the Black Diamond after he just happened to be passing it last week he’d figured it wouldn’t hurt to stop by. He had a standing invitation after all.

It had proven a rather surprising and tasteful change of opinion and more often than not when he wanted to get a drink and vanish into his own thoughts for a while without being disturbed this was where he ended up. He still had the persistent symptoms of a flu that just didn’t want to shift and a few of the needle marks itched to the point he’d broken skin with the scratching he’d done at them. It was all stacking up, so he chalked his similar drained energy levels to being under the weather and ill. He’d get better soon enough it was just a matter of time.

Tonight he’d ended up deciding that drinks would be a good way to numb some of the bone-deep ache he’d been feeling recently. Perhaps it would even be enough that he might sleep tonight when he got home. Mostly, he’d been anticipating that he would fly under most people’s radar with his back to most of the crowd in the place. Apparently he’d been mistaken in his belief, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he felt a pair of eyes on him. He waited for it to pass but found a lingering sense of unease which he quietened with another sip of his almost empty drink choosing instead to adjust his positioning just enough that he could scan one side of the bar. But with so many people milling about there was only so much luck you had of guessing who was watching you. He didn’t know any of these people, and honestly he cared about them even less.

The brush of a hand against his arm and cool whisper of a pair of lips against the shell of his ear sent a ripple of tension through his form, hands balling in front of him. An act of pure anticipation that he would need to get out of a dangerous situation fast. Paranoia was rather conducive to the development of certain defensive habits. Though as fast as the tension braced his muscles he relaxed as he recognised the voice. His neck tilted back a little, angling just a fraction when he spoke again “well,” he drew the word out slowly “that answer depends on one particular outcome… That being will it get me more drinks if I say yes?” There was a lingering sense of humour, curiosity and genuine seriousness to his question as he slowly turned on the stool. Grey-blue eyes met her own with an edge of a smile touching his lips and softening some of the more severe lines in his features.

Juliette wondered if Anthony was aware that it could be a dangerous habit to expose his neck to a vampire. Her eyes darted down the column of his throat, watched muscles move flex under skin, marked a few spots with her eyes before they slowly rose to meet the ones looking back at her. There was humor in his expression, the sharp lines softer, especially around his mouth where they turned up slightly. It was almost appealing, though his question had her own lips quirking slightly to the side, somewhere between amusement and thoughtful contemplation. Of course, if he would allow her the joy of his company, she would be more than willing to supply the drinks, but with this particular man, it couldn’t be quite that easy. 

Anthony was a puzzle, and they were playing a game. Juliette had realized that during that first philosophical conversation in the dark of the night. Simply offering the man free drinks in exchange for company would be absolutely boring, but there were ways around that. Her arm came up and rested gracefully on the man’s shoulder, her own head tilting a fraction. “Whether or not you missed me is contingent on free drinks? I don’t believe that’s quite how that works, cher.” The corners of her own lips quirked up, not quite a smirk, but the essence of. Fingers tapped lightly against the back of his neck where her arm rested, and a manicured eyebrow lifted.

“I would think, perhaps, whether or not you’re happy to see me would be contingent on if I keep the drinks flowing, but not if you missed me before that.” Swiftly, her arm pulled away from him and she slipped gracefully into the seat beside him, crossing one leg over the other and letting her eyes roam the room, instead. “I’ll allow you the small victory that I missed you, if only for the decent conversations, and not so much the face you wear.” This time, the smirk appeared in full force, and she glanced his way and lifted the drink to her lips before the eyes twisted out toward the room in full again.

“Finish the one that I brought you first, from there, perhaps we can decide if you’ve earned another.”

[juliettelikethesun]

fleurchenery‌:

“I suppose that would make sense given what you are. In my experience, rulers often let their emotions guide them as much as they do anything else.“ Of course, kings and queens had always fallen for one reason or another. Just as the Regium would one day – not permanently, just in mere recognition that they were not all they thought themselves to be. They were too humane. “But I suppose you were born more on the end of the monarchies, weren’t you? Other than Britain. It’s always been an anomaly.” She waved her hand dismissively. What was the point of the monarchy there if they did not hold all the power? It seemed pointless to her.

“I always found Russia to be a bit of a bore, outside of Saint Petersburg. It’s very European. I was around when they founded it and Peter was quite a man of The Enlightenment. Much better looking than most of the rulers of that time, too.” Cold didn’t bother her, though. Being further north just meant that the nights were longer particularly during the winter. It gave her much more time to play. “When the walls of this place come down, you’ll have to see Asia. Most people just focus on East Asia, but there is much more to be seen in the south.” Fleur smiled. “I enjoyed that for comfort and travel. The 15th century in Europe was enjoyable, as well. Silk was very popular. It was when the V-neck started. It was quite fashionable to have scandalous little cuts to show what you were wearing beneath.”

It was still strange to Juliette, to be referred to in terms like ‘ruler’. It was often lost to her that her bloodline was meant to be rulers, leaders, meant for greatness. She absolutely thought that she was meant for greatness personally, being the kind of person who sought out bigger and better things at every turn. But she would never personally aspire to actual leadership. But then, perhaps her idea of leadership was whispering in a leaders ear, guiding someone else in that role while she simply smiled and stood behind them. Possibly because it was far easier not to take the fall if something when wrong, it she wasn’t the face. It was self-preservation at it’s finest, she thought. It was smart, even if it wasn’t particularly brave.

She offered a soft hum under her breath as she listened to the mini lesson in fashion, something that she actually found quite fascinating. “I will make sure that it is the first stop on my list. Perhaps you could even come with me, show me around a bit before you make off to something else.” She offered the woman a small smirk, slightly lift of her eyebrow, almost teasing, almost flirtatious. It was all in good fun, after all. Though, crazy and pious as the woman might be, she was beautiful and Juliette appreciated it. “Perhaps, until then, you can show me around town a bit more, help me orient myself between your work trying to find who burned your beloved holy house.”

[fmalice]

Hit it Fergie

[juliettelikethesun]

fmalice‌:

Fergus surveyed what was around them in this alley. The best thing about alleys were their endless supplies of improvised weapons. Especially if one possessed the creative mind that he did. He counted the small snap of her finger bone a victory. The knee between his legs? Not so much. In different circumstances this whole exchange might have even turned him on. He was always a sucker for someone besting him. 

That was far from his mind, instead he used the wall to smear the declined blood against it. It would do better there than on his chin that’s for sure. Every second he closed his eyes he could feel the throbbing pain of his hand. The stiffness grew up his arm the more he idly searched for more digs he could do to this bitch. Who hurt him? Were all these ancient shrews this insane? Fergus took it as a rhetorical question since she had been the one to break his hand. 

He struggled against the hand still over his that had the gun. No doubt he would have fired a single bullet if he knew it wouldn’t end up in his spine. Instead he used his brittle arm that he knew he would regret. Fergus jumped upwards feeling part of his shoulder pop out of place. He tightens this thigh muscles and tries to deliver a blow with his elbow to any part of her body. 

The hand on his gun loosened the grip ever so slightly to slid open the chamber. Grabbing one of the bullets between his fingers, inching it between his thumb and the center of his palm. If he had to break both of his fucking hands to get away from her then he would.The bout of stamina coming down just as quick it hit him. Though it never stopped that mouth of his. 

“Tis all kinnae a blur. I believe it would go well with an old wive’s tale t’at ye probably wrote ye self called  None of ye fookin’ business.” 

Juliette decided that she was bored with this little game. It wasn’t fun anymore, listening to his stupid accent and rambling on and on like he was actually important and worth something. The man was less that useless, with the pretense that he mattered to someone or something other than himself. He thought himself some great harborer of light in the darkness, her assumption being that he was a stupid hunter, as opposed to just a stupid human. He was not any fun if he was going to keep spouting off the same three insults over and over and not come up with anything original. Hell, at this point, Juliette wouldn’t even call him a decent snack before dinner.

“I’m done with your game.”

The hand not holding that gun away from her and against his spine reached up, gripped that stupid hair again. She held firm for a long moment, let him feel her nails scratching at his scalp, her fingers twisting in the locks of hair before she used the hand in his stupid hair to slam his head forward, once, then again, before finally releasing him and shoving him to the ground. If he wasn’t completely knocked out by now, he was close enough, and besides, she had super speed on her side. “Goodnight, little mouse.” Without another word, she took off into the night. Let him recover and stumble his way home. 

[juliettelikethesun]

Since that first time she had visited the Black Diamond, she found herself a frequent visitor, nursing a drink and watching, enjoying the soft jazz music and the aesthetic of the place in general. It was like walking back in time, a trip through her own nostalgia. Occasionally, she would find someone to sit in a booth with and chat for hours, other times, she would sit and people-watch. Sometimes, she was asked to take a turn on the dance floor. No matter what she decided to do in the bar, it was the perfect excuse to throw on a beautiful dress, an excuse to curl her hair, to pull out one of her favorite pairs of high heels and turn heads.

She loved those chances when they came to her. 

Perhaps, she would quietly admit to herself, she was also hoping to run into Philippe as well. The man had been the one to introduce her to the place in the first place, and she hoped that he might be a regular patron himself. She had refused to purposefully seek him out, in case he wanted his space, but if they happened to run into one another, well... wouldn’t that just be lovely?

He wasn’t here tonight, that she could see, but as eyes did a slow scan of the room, another familiar face piqued her interest, and she watched him for a moment before pointedly slipping around the other side of the room to avoid his gaze, to the bar to order a couple of drinks before she made her approach, and moving carefully so that she could slip behind him, place the drink in front of him in a way that cool lips could brush his ear, the now free hand resting gently against his bicep and giving it a light squeeze. “Did you miss me, mon chéri?” 

@tonysinclair

[beautiful-celebs-24]

NATALIE DORMER

[juliettelikethesun]

Juliette Brodeur + text posts

[arthurjdrake]

juliettelikethesun·:

Juliette had never been shy about expressing her feelings. Even when she was a human herself, she had been a hopeless romantic with dreams of flying from the gilded cage and exploring everything that life had to offer. That was always her dream, to soak up every ounce of life that the world had to offer to her. Before Philippe, it had never been a realistic dream, the predestined path had been layed out for Juliette from childhood. She was going to be a wife and a mother, a lady that was pretty and soft spoken and gentle. She had resigned herself to such a life because it was simply what young ladies did at the time. After she had been liberated from that life, everything and anything was possible, and Juliette took advantage of every chance life had given her.

Travel, hobbies, love, nothing was outside of the realm once she had been freed from the soft, fake happy songs she had sung from her birdcage. 

This man was an interesting creature. Something exciting thrumming under an exterior of perceived superiority and stoicism, fire dancing behind eyes glazed over with boredom. There might have been something extremely dark about him, it added to the mystery. He might be dangerous, or might be a kitten hiding behind the cold facade. Either way, he would be a fascinating thing to pick apart, to open up and find secrets in. To crack like a nut, if she were to use such a common phrase for such a thing. 

A soft hum left the woman as fingers idly trailed from his collar when she deemed it smoothed enough, tapped lightly against his chest before she withdrew the hand completely, rested it against her own hip gently. “I suppose I will have to wait and see.” She offered, just as noncommittal as the man was content to be. Juliette had never aspired to be the cat in cat and mouse games, but there was something absolutely thrilling about being the mouse, being the one chased down and trailed after. Eyes sparkled with mirth, and she offered a casual shrug of her shoulders as she watched him. “I’m exciting, beautiful, witty. You said it yourself. I am blessed, and while I will never be a prize, I am quite a catch. Perhaps I’m presumptuous, or simply immodest, but I think it would be rather easy to fall in love with me.” 

An easy smile remained painted on her lips as she took another small step forward, a hand resting lightly against the man’s arm. “Perhaps you’ll get to decide that for yourself, on our next meeting, if I truly am gifted at wearing anything. As for this one, I’m afraid I must bring it to a close for now.” Leaning up, she pressed a soft kiss to the man’s cheek, lingering there for a moment, letting her lips lightly brush his ear as she delivered her parting shot. “Do try not to forget me, Anthony.” And without another word, she was slipping from the dirty little alley, back out into the street, back out to continue exploring the little town.

Perhaps one day they might learn a little more of their respective pasts. They had each escaped their own cages, though Juliette’s appeared to be far more refined and golden than that of Tony’s childhood. As it stood presently though they were still nothing more than strangers passing in the night, and while they shared a great many similarities in their opinions and point of view it didn’t bring them closer on any level than an intellectual basis. Or so he told himself.

They presented a challenge to each another. A riddle and complexity that defied initial expectation and left each with an individual curiosity to learn more. And yet there was no desire to rush such an intricate pattern of movement and understanding, after all, when was true satisfaction ever granted with immediate reward? Anthony personally found delayed gratification to be a far more entertaining and rewarding experience. So, as Juliette’s nimble fingers rose to smooth the collar of his shirt he finally pushed off the wall, straightening to his full height and observing her curiously. “I suppose we will,” he agreed just as vaguely no clear indication that he would be willing to take up the bait for this chase. It wouldn’t be quite so easy as that and a part of him was curious to see how things may progress from here. “I pity any fool who sees you as a prize ma chère,” yet he passed no comment on anything else she had to say. Perhaps it would be easy, but Anthony didn’t plan to linger long enough to test her theory. 

A small smile remained on his lips, not as excessive as her own as he stood quite still. His heart beat steadily and eyes remained attentive as they had for the duration of their conversation. Though the parting kiss to his cheek and cool breath of words against his ear was enough to draw a low chuckle from him. He watched her slip into the darkness of night before he shook his head, “alors, laisser le jeu commence chérie.” 

[juliettelikethesun]

//END

[juliettelikethesun]

tonysinclair‌:

“A part of me thinks the day you stop learning from the things you feel is the day life loses its meaning. There’s always something new out there to learn from. You just have to find it.” No one could truly ever know everything. The world changed on a daily basis and there was a certain pleasure that came from discovering those things you didn’t know and learning a little more about them. He had little doubt that she had experienced her fair share of heart breaks over the years, he’d been at the root cause for a great many of his own but when you changed faces and lives as frequently as his position required it ultimately became a part of the mantle he was tasked with. 

The fear of disappointment and abandonment were large driving factors in Anthony’s own life. After all, if he moved on before other people did it saved him from experiencing the pain quite so acutely, because as he told himself each and every time - it was for the greater good. Better to break something off sooner than let it grow and fester into something uncontrollable. And while Jules pulled her porcelain features into their perfect semblance once more, it did little to conceal the plethora of emotion that had played out over her expression moments prior. “That’s courageous of you, I doubt I can I say that I know anyone who is willing to let themselves be so open with such things.” In fact, he couldn’t say he’d ever known anyone in his life that was so inclined. A life of secrets and lies did not provide the positive developmental environment required for a healthy emotional state of mind and being. Perhaps that was why he dug his heels in rather violently when things began to get too personal. 

“Perhaps,” he allowed, slowly and noncommittedly in his response which was accompanied by a slight shrug of one shoulder “perhaps not. I suppose you’ll have to wait and see won’t you?” There was a flicker of something mischievous in his features, “now now,” Anthony tsked under his breath though there was nothing chastising about his tone, in fact his eyes sparked a little more brightly in his amusement at the presented notion. “Who said anything about me falling for you? And, I’d say it’s rather presumptive to think I’d mind your…” he paused, elongating his pause to subtly emphasise his next word “wilder… side wouldn’t you say?” She was right in her earlier assumption, vampires didn’t scare him. There was a certain fascination and respect that he held for any creature that held their own respective strength, and certainly in the physical sense that carried over to vampires. 

“You said it yourself, I’m a talented observer. Why let those skills go to waste?” Still, he didn’t bother to stop himself from laughing at the notion she presented. While her own observation was more overt his was more subtle, a little glance here and there while he entertained the thought she presented. “I’m sure you’re gifted at wearing anything cherie,” the nickname almost purred as it rolled past his lips and he grinned a little more slyly. Not that he advanced, remaining propped for the time being where he was. Give and take, and he found himself thoroughly enjoying the game at hand. “There’s magic for anything if you know where to look.” Considering she hadn’t yet claimed to have clocked him for any specific species he stuck to his vagueness enjoying them too much. It was entertaining to plant ideas after all.

Juliette had never been shy about expressing her feelings. Even when she was a human herself, she had been a hopeless romantic with dreams of flying from the gilded cage and exploring everything that life had to offer. That was always her dream, to soak up every ounce of life that the world had to offer to her. Before Philippe, it had never been a realistic dream, the predestined path had been layed out for Juliette from childhood. She was going to be a wife and a mother, a lady that was pretty and soft spoken and gentle. She had resigned herself to such a life because it was simply what young ladies did at the time. After she had been liberated from that life, everything and anything was possible, and Juliette took advantage of every chance life had given her.

Travel, hobbies, love, nothing was outside of the realm once she had been freed from the soft, fake happy songs she had sung from her birdcage. 

This man was an interesting creature. Something exciting thrumming under an exterior of perceived superiority and stoicism, fire dancing behind eyes glazed over with boredom. There might have been something extremely dark about him, it added to the mystery. He might be dangerous, or might be a kitten hiding behind the cold facade. Either way, he would be a fascinating thing to pick apart, to open up and find secrets in. To crack like a nut, if she were to use such a common phrase for such a thing. 

A soft hum left the woman as fingers idly trailed from his collar when she deemed it smoothed enough, tapped lightly against his chest before she withdrew the hand completely, rested it against her own hip gently. “I suppose I will have to wait and see.” She offered, just as noncommittal as the man was content to be. Juliette had never aspired to be the cat in cat and mouse games, but there was something absolutely thrilling about being the mouse, being the one chased down and trailed after. Eyes sparkled with mirth, and she offered a casual shrug of her shoulders as she watched him. “I’m exciting, beautiful, witty. You said it yourself. I am blessed, and while I will never be a prize, I am quite a catch. Perhaps I’m presumptuous, or simply immodest, but I think it would be rather easy to fall in love with me.” 

An easy smile remained painted on her lips as she took another small step forward, a hand resting lightly against the man’s arm. “Perhaps you’ll get to decide that for yourself, on our next meeting, if I truly am gifted at wearing anything. As for this one, I’m afraid I must bring it to a close for now.” Leaning up, she pressed a soft kiss to the man’s cheek, lingering there for a moment, letting her lips lightly brush his ear as she delivered her parting shot. “Do try not to forget me, Anthony.” And without another word, she was slipping from the dirty little alley, back out into the street, back out to continue exploring the little town.

[juliettelikethesun]

fleurchenery‌:

“Oh, I feel plenty. There is no shortage of that.” Rage. Disappointment. Frustration. There were plenty of negative emotions that coursed through her veins when it was appropriate but rarely did they manifest themselves in a form of sadness. Perhaps that was due to her bloodline. “But it’s been at least two or three hundred years since I’ve felt something like that. And I should think if I were going to shed tears of blood, I’d be even less inclined to do so.” Perhaps it was because most things other than her church were held at an arm’s length so that they did not break at her in such a way. But the only thing that had come close to causing her to breakdown like that was the church being burnt. She hadn’t felt a heaviness like that in a long time and she had no desire to feel anything like it again. All of it was better to be kept at a distance where she did not truly have to confront the way that she felt.

Memories momentarily wandered over the many decades that she had been alive and how the scene of fashion had changed. It had been vastly different any time that she had traveled between the continents. “Perhaps you would have enjoyed some of the trends that came in East Asia. I spent bits of time in Cambodia, India, China…” A fond smile as she briefly trailed off. “Modesty was not shoved down women’s throats in the same way. Clothing was much more freeing and comfortable, beautiful, particularly for those with money.” She had always made sure of that, through charm or compulsion.

“Perhaps I’m simply more prone to softer emotions.” Juliette offered patiently. It wasn’t necessarily surprising that Fleur felt the way that she did. While Juliette wouldn’t pretend to be an expert on the woman’s bloodline, she thought that might be a bit par for the course. Of course, she wasn’t even an expert on her own bloodline. She didn’t delve too deeply into what she was, besides the very clear rules and guidelines that she had to live by. She held herself with an air of grace and sophistication, because she was a Regium, but also because she was simply a lady. “I suppose we can’t fault them for something they’ve no control over, though. It wouldn’t exactly be fair.”

“Unfortunate that I haven’t had a chance to visit East Asia. I don’t think I ever made it past Russia. Beautiful country, that was, as well, but far too cold for anything to be truly fashionable, it was all function there.” Perhaps some day. Juliette refused to believe that she was forever damned to be in Ashbourne. She had enough time that eventually, there would be a way out. And then she would go back to visiting all of the places that she had always wanted to see. Perhaps Asia, perhaps somewhere South of the equator with warm breezes and glittering oceans. “It sounds fascinating, truly. Did you have a favorite style of clothing from your life? Was it that one, or something else? I was rather fond of the flapper style in the twenties, with the fun dresses and fancy hats. It was simply a fun time to be alive.”

[juliettelikethesun]

tonysinclair‌:

“Bodes well for us mortals then doesn’t it?” the faint lines at the corner of his eyes deepened a little as he grimaced a little at the prospect. But it was what it was and little could be done about it. He didn’t really mind half so much, he was on earth to do greater things than wallow about what might come about at any point. He didn’t have super human strength or capacity, wouldn’t live for thousands of years to come. He simply was, and that was enough for him. At least it was at the moment who could say how opinions might change in five or even ten years. But he understood the role appearance could play in changing other’s opinions or estimations of what to expect. Society was fickle, it always had been but so much stock was put on how a person looked these days it was no real wonder why there were so many issues with younger and even older generations. 

The insight she gave of herself was exposing, blindingly honest and if he was honest he wasn’t quite sure what to make of such transparency. It was a curious sentiment. And while he’d never thought or given it much thought a part of him realised that he subscribed to a similar way of life. Perhaps not willingly, but when a wrong move could cost you your life you learned to be wary and distrustful of other people. You learned that the only person you could truly ever rely on was yourself, and perhaps a few select others but even that had gone to pot recently hadn’t it? It was the reason he’d ended up here, and the inadvertent reminder caused his lips to thin a fraction a subtle change, anger veiled by thoughtful contemplation. How was he supposed to find the truth here? Would he ever know the truth now? He shifted a little, moving to idly rub his wrist where his coven mark formerly lay, now just a faded white scar on otherwise smooth skin. He took a moment to gather himself, using the act of stubbing his cigarette out on the brick before dropping it and grinding it under the heel of his boot to allow dreary thoughts to clear . “I suppose it’s a testament to you as a person, the fact you allow yourself to be attracted to people in that way – the willingness to be open to feeling these things in order to better understand the person. But does it not expose you to the pain of it too?” His question was genuinely curious, mostly because he could never truly see himself allowing himself to be in such a position. It simply wasn’t in his nature. 

His head tilted a little, the insights into Juliette’s life and her character were intriguing. The restlessness of his magpie instinct stirred, not to thieve, but to pick, to question, to understand the depths of these parts of herself she offered up so freely. Few were so willingly and he found it strangely refreshing.  “There’s not a boring thing about you cherie,” the words were softly spoken more a statement of fact than any sort of come on. She was fascinating, charming, and, quick. All of which left him invested in learning more about her. “I get the feeling many in this town live in the fantasy of their past, and so would also fit the trend, in that I doubt you’re alone,” he couldn’t say for sure but something about those he’d met gave him that impression, “being trapped here no doubt makes people dwell on the nostalgia of what once was.” Of course, the question was returned in kind and Anthony made a low contemplative noise humming under his breath. 

“I don’t know if I ever had a choice in it,” he never really had but he wasn’t too bothered by this fact and he wasn’t about to outright say he made a living on deception and thievery so the words spoken were carefully chosen. “I occupy myself with solving people’s problems… I’m hoping to potentially set up shop in town.. If I’m stuck here now I might as well make use of my services.”  They were the truth, he fixed problems perhaps not in the sense most would think but they served the purpose of answering the question at hand,

“I think any God or Goddess’ whim is as changeable as the tides, but I suppose it depends how you choose to interpret such things.” He had his own beliefs, but that was perhaps a conversation for another time. Some might consider him lucky, he’d escaped one life for another that have provided him with opportunities that most could only dream of. “Well,” there was a slight air of mystery that came with his witch vagueness, non-answers were a speciality of his. “I do suspect anyone that walked a mile in my shoes would understand the reasons for why that’s rather true.” Not to say he didn’t get scared, plenty of things had over the years but to display that fear was more often than not in many of the situations he’d survived as good as signing his own death warrant.

“Pain is, in my humble opinion, an essential part of existence. I have had my heart broken hundreds of times before, and each time it felt like a sharp kick to the stomach, or a quick jerk of my heart from my chest, but I have learned something new about myself from each and every one.” Her eyes trailed away, something guarded and hurt shielding them for the first time. Her mind was like a reel of film, replaying moments throughout her own history, little moments of heartbreak. Friendships splintered and love lost, all the way back to that very first heartbreak, the one that she would say defined the woman she had become. She would always remember those moments, when things felt at their lowest and how she would force herself to move past them, to grow and change, adapt. Perhaps the luckiest part of the whole thing was that Juliette was able to travel, to move from place to place with little trouble. It made it more simple to push past the heartbreak on to the next great love and adventure waiting for her.

Perhaps that would be the downfall of the town that she found so quaint and charming now. How long would it be before she found herself hopeless distracted by the love she would grow to feel for the people here? How long before disappointment snowballed into something so painful that it physically hurt. In Ashbourne, she didn’t even have the comfort of knowing that a new place, new people, were merely a pack and a move away. Already in this town her heart ached for another, and she had barely been around for a couple of weeks. The unexpected reunion with her Sire had been the first taste of heartbreak that this town had to offer. Knowing that he was so close, but so distant in many ways.

A sigh left her, and she shook her head, pulling that easy smile back to her lips. “I’ve learned over the years that I can’t allow the fear of pain hold me back from the beauty of love in any form it may take. Besides, I am a rather tactile creature, I love hugs and I love touch, and to isolate myself from the pain would be, somehow, more painful.” Her smile widened a touch at his compliment, and she finally dragged her eyes back to the man, her own voice matching his in tone. “I would be more than willing to bet that the sentiment could be returned to you, Anthony.” A pause, and that smile turned up at the corners just a touch, a bit more devious as her next teasing words fell from her lips. “But do be careful. Don’t fall in love with me so quickly. You haven’t seen my fangs, yet.”

Not that he would. It wasn’t a threat that she spoke. This was not the kind of man that Juliette would go hunting for. Her fangs were reserved for the truly heinous that the world had to offer. The people that would willingly harm another person for fun, the human woman that would harm her own child, the man who would not take no for an answer, the vile creatures that held a claim to humanity that they had no right to. 

“Bit of a private eye, are you?” The smirk on her face lingered as she allowed her eyes to drift up and down his form once more. She would argue that he didn’t quite fit the stereotype of PI that flitted through her imagination, but she wouldn’t begrudge him his chosen path. It was an interesting route to take. “If you’re in the need for a noir style secretary, I am quite gifted at wearing a slim fitting dress and pin curling my hair. Not sure how we would manage to turn the world black and white, but perhaps there’s some kind of magic for that.”

“Depending on which false deity you place your blind faith in, I would have to agree with you.” Perhaps Juliette was jaded in one way, and that was definitely religion. She had seen it destroy more than it should have to ascribe to any form of thought in that realm of human existence. She wouldn’t fault anyone for their beliefs, but she would find them rather silly personally, for as long as she walked on this Earth. She had seen the rise and fall of enough to not allow something as silly as a God police her actions. She offered a hum of her own, an eyebrow lifting as she took an experimental step closer. “You don’t show your emotions. A curious route to take.” As a manicured eyebrow lifted, she reached out to gently smooth down the collar of his shirt, ears straining to hear the tale-tell change in his heartbeat. Any kind of indication of a shifting emotion. “Good enough to fool most people, I would think, that you’re a rather collected and stoic man. An exciting trait to find in someone.” 

[juliettelikethesun]

finnblackthorne‌:

Finn leaned back, giving a halfhearted shrug in response. “I’d say most answers lead to more frustrating questions around here.” He could feel himself being the downer that he hated, the kind of person he would normally be clamoring to help. But didn’t he always tell his brothers and sisters that it was okay to have days like this? Hadn’t he told Peter that a million times? Just don’t let it become your norm. Give yourself a day, just one day, to wallow, then pick yourself back up. He could almost feel Mari’s disappointment from beyond the grave. She wouldn’t want him to be this sad sack in a bar when a stranger was trying to be perfectly nice, even treating him to a few drinks. 

“I’ll take you up on that,” he smiled, raising his glass in a small ‘cheers’ gesture. The downside to heightened senses was the ability to feel emotions shift around you. He supposed it was a canine thing, like how dogs always seemed to know when you needed them to cuddle up on you. But for Finn, at times like this, it was just reminding him when people were pitying him. More than anything, he wanted to be the shoulder people cried on, not the one who needed to cry. He gave the woman a small smile, appreciating her concern and kindness. “Most days, I like to think that too.” 

Quickly jumping on the next topic of conversation, Finn took a long sip of beer as he listened, nodding in agreement. “I guess there’s always something you’ll feel like you gotta hide, right?” His eyes followed the woman’s gaze, landing on a few vignettes of strangers in the bar, each living their own lives with their own problems, drinking the night away. Some he recognized, others had probably recently stumbled into town. He felt a pang of sadness for the new faces. It seemed this place was always growing. 

“Oh, I think I’ve played this one before,” he smiled, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table, grateful to take the attention off himself. “Let’s see….the woman, Larsa van Woofelhauser, used to be a test pilot before she got stuck here. It’s killin’ her that she can’t fly anymore, so she came here to forget.” He nodded at the man with slick black hair crowding his fictional Miss Woofelhauser. “And him, well he used to be a car salesman. He’s a bit oily and creepy, but he reminds her how exciting town is, even if she can’t fly above it all. But he also knows she wayyyy out of his league, so he tries way too hard to prove his worth.”

He smiled lightly, leaning back in the booth. “Or I could be wrong,” he grinned, nodding for his companion to take a whack at it. 

It felt right, moving away from the brooding man and whatever made him sit alone in a bar and drink. Juliette was not above pressing the right buttons if she thought it would lead somewhere interesting or a bit deeper, but she also wasn’t cruel, and she could almost feel the tension in the man’s shoulders, could almost hear the wheels turning in his head as he maneuvered the mine-field that was his own emotional turbulence in the moment. She was also not quite in the mood to ruin her own night or the night of someone else by dragging out things that were, by all rights, none of her business.

So her little game would suffice, and when the man agreed to play along, and even came up with a fascinating story, Juliette was almost wishing that she had a pen and paper on her to take notes. It wasn’t a bad idea for a story. She might have polished up a few things, like the woman’s name, for starters. But she wouldn’t fault the man for an interesting imagination.A few tweaks, and it could be a good story. The next best-seller.

If she ever did decide to write it, she would dedicate it to her new friend from this dirt hole bar.

A grin played at the corners of her lips as she watched the couple for a moment before her eyes closed and she tried to focus in on their heartbeats. It was difficult trying to pick them out in the crowded room, the thunder of hearts pounding all around them was almost overwhelming, but she thought she might have picked them out after a few moments. 

“They were lovers once, before Ashbourne. Ended up here at different times. I think that she is relatively new to town, and he’s trying to help her get used to things. The flames are fanning, slightly, but neither of them are quite sure if they want to take that leap again.” Her eyes opened, and she offered a wry smile, head shaking a bit. “I’m a bit of a hopeless romantic, I’m afraid this game always ends in some tragic romance for me. You’ll have to forgive me that fault.”

[juliettelikethesun]

tonysinclair‌:

The praise seemed to be just enough to tip the balance in her favour, disinterest finally broken by the faintest touch of a smile gracing his features consequently softening a little of the calculation in his gaze into something more approachable. “Well, you know, I try. Though the same could be said of you cherie. Quite the analytical mind you have.” Observation was something that had saved him by the skin of his teeth too many times to count, it was more fact by now that in his line of work a sharp mind was just as important as deft fingers. “We all play with the hand we’re dealt, though some of us play better with it than others, tell me, what’s the most interesting perspective you’ve developed over your life?” Immortality was not something he so desired, his power too much a part of himself that he would ever be willing to give it up. Immortality through other potentially magical means though… well, that was something else entirely.

One thing his former mentor had ensured with his daily practise of asking questions on everything and anything while Tony was in the Sanctuary meant he could only fake something for so long before he’d get his knuckles rapped. Les Fers demanded he know how to grift unnoticed on a street corner or adapt himself to passable rub shoulder with the upper echelons of society. Skills and talents that had been put into practise over the years that had served to passably allow them to pull off the contracts they were hired to complete. Faking got you so far, but the best lies were those based almost entirely in truth where you didn’t even have to think about them before you spoke them. But presently there was no need to lie. 

“But even altruism can be argued to be based on some ground of selfishness, at least in some cases” he countered with a good-natured grin but his cynicism was well founded. He’d seen too many selfish people to believe altruism was truly the driving fact for any person. “Many people still do altruistic acts because it makes them feel good about themselves for doing the right thing, but I concede you make a reasoned argument in the defence of your point. So I suppose the question then to ask is what life do you choose to lead cherie?” Perhaps some might consider his forwardness impertinent, but if Juliette hadn’t minded his behaviour thus far he saw no issue in asking.

“A reasonable point, though I’d contend it would still be useful if only for having reference points.” Still, what she said next had his eyes snap back to her and a moment passed before he snorted under his breath a more genuine look of amusement passing his features, “merde, smart, witty and beautiful? You’re quite blessed aren’t you?” In his mind a person’s features were one of the last factoring points of judgement. People could be tricky like that and Tony found a mind to be more interesting than the features it was hidden behind. “I’m not sure quaint and charming would be the words I would choose…” his smile turned mirthful “it’s…” his eyes drifted as though searching for the right word to choose to describe how he’d found the town thus far and when he had it looked back at her “unique.” Though her question about gilded questions caused him to take a drag from his cigarette that had been burning in his fingers up to this point still calm and collected, “do I look frightened to you?” Perhaps a deflection, but also a genuine curiosity on his part. The answer to her question was that he still wasn’t quite sure what to make of the place it was too soon to say.

“I assure you that it took nearly a century to truly cultivate.” Juliette offered, a hint of humble under the facade of the cool and collected, the brilliant that she wore around her like a warm jacket in the winter. Juliette had learned that many a door would open for her throughout her long life simply because she happened to be blessed with delicate features and good skin. She was also well aware that some of those doors would close rather quickly if she didn’t prove herself to be worth more than the pretty face she wore. It was one of many reasons that she kept herself pretty and well-dressed so often. It was either an easy way to open a door or it was the easiest way to assure that people would underestimate her and she could surprise them. She had been a pretty set piece in someone else’s story once in her life, before she had run away and forged her own path. She knew how to be humble, to be quiet, when the time called for it. It didn’t mean that she wasn’t always taking mental notes.

His question gave her pause as she considered it, head still resting against the cool brick, eyes trailing up to catch sight of the strange stars in the sky. Not anything like the constellations that she was used to, but pretty none the less. After a moment, she allowed her gaze to fall back to the man again with a small shrug of her shoulder. “I suppose that the hardest lesson that I’ve ever learned is the perspective that I tend to color everything with. There’s only one person in this world who will truly, wholly, and completely be devoted to you and your best interest, and that is you. It’s not a reason to shut out the world, but it is a daily reminder not to let love and companionship blind you to what is best for you.” A pause, as she pulled another drag from her cigarette. “It’s still a lesson I have to remind myself of daily. I fall in love with people far too easily. Not necessarily romantically, not always, but with their minds and their hearts and their spirits and the essence of who they are. Even now, I can let it blind me momentarily.” 

A soft hum left her chest as she allowed the butt of the cigarette to fall and she crushed it under her foot easily, twisting her foot just enough to make sure it was completely snuffed out before she returned to the conversation. “A fascinating question, but I’m afraid I have a rather boring answer. The life I choose to lead is simply one of careful and patient observation. I value human life more than I think most of my kind do, and am careful when dealing with human’s who have proven to be worth more than a quick meal. I like to write stories about love and live in the fantasy of my own past. Unfortunately, I think I fit perfectly in the trend of desperation.” A pause, a soft sigh as she gave him a once over. “What about you, cocotte? What life have you chosen for yourself?”

A laugh left Juliette, nothing hidden under her breath but full and loud. “I suppose that even a vengeful God, if you believe in such a thing, can be kind to just about anyone. Won the lottery, one might say, though it could be just as much a curse as a blessing.” A hand lifted to brush blond locks from her eyes, trailing them around the little alley as the man considered his words, drawn back to him once he seemed to have said his peace, and she couldn’t help that she laughed again, though she managed to keep it a bit more subdued. “I doubt you would look frightened even if you had your head in the mouth of a bear, cocotte. You don’t quite seem the type of man to wear your feelings on your sleeve.”

[juliettelikethesun]

ariafcwn‌:

Aria knew Latin and enough of high school Spanish to understand the French. She thought it sounded quite nice but this was hardly the place nor the person to let herself get completely blinded by intrigue and curiousity. This was a vampire, as Aria was starting to realize - though she’d never been particularly good at picking out the different species auras. Vampires were bad news. She had enough of those in her life and was trying to cut herself off of any new ones.

Good-looking people who talked to her couldn’t be werewolves, witches or merfolk? Or even human? Was she so unlucky? Aria pursed her lips after the interesting explanation of where Juliette came from turned into the insinuation she wanted advice and possibly even a tour. The witch was stressed enough she could barely afford her groceries that day, she did not want to add tour guide into her list of things-that-were-making-today-hard.

“I do,” she admitted carefully. “But- like I said,” she pursed her lips and subtly shook her head once. “I’m not a paid tour guide. Yup, so… I’d go to the Hub to find one of those. It shouldn’t be too hard for a vampire to get a place. There are a lot of your lot in town, especially those that prefer just to help each other out. So after the Hub I’d just stop by wherever the… fancy Regium or whatever lay out all your rules. Get a pamphlet there or whatever they give you as a welcome package and maybe you’ll get lucky with connections.” 

Juliette lifted an eyebrow, patiently, as the girl spoke. Interesting. Defensive, perhaps a little bitter. The tone was too careful to pick out distinct notes, but-- Ah, there it was. The girl had sussed out that Juliette was a vampire, and perhaps she was not a fan of the species. She wouldn’t fault the girl, there were plenty of reasons for a mortal to dislike a vampire. The fact that the girl would make a tasty snack was probably even the least of it. She tilted her head a fraction, never let that patient smile waiver as the girl spoke.

“Perhaps, but I have to ask a question before I go anywhere.” She offered, tone just as careful, though a touch more amused than Aria’s might have been. “How, pray tell, did you know that I was a Regium?”

It could have been a lucky guess, to the girl’s credit. If the girl had, in fact, grown up in Ashbourne, had learned enough about the bloodlines over her time, it would be easy enough to pick out certain traits that set her apart from other bloodlines. A soft chuckle left her, and she waved a hand to brush the question away. If the girl didn’t want to answer, Juliette wouldn’t force it. She just found it rather fascinating. “Perhaps connections to other vampires would be in my best bet. I’ve already got a pretty decent one, if I play my cards right, but tell me, Aria... What fun is life if we don’t branch out and get to know more than just people like ourselves?”