call me val!! i’m mexican, a lesbian, and autistic!! i am 19, so therefore 18+ only interact please!! this is a sideblog where i can post/ramble about whatever!!
i will tag my posts under #val speaks 𐔌՞. .՞𐦯
also, here is what i support/believe, just so you know who i am and what i stand for:
- fuck ice!!
- fuck trump!!
- free palestine, the congo and sudan!!
- no one is illegal on stolen land!!
- i love gay, trans, and queer people overall!!
- i love abortions! and free healthcare!!
- please do not interact if you do not align or agree with any of these values, thank you!!
main/writing blog: @ilikepuns
white boy of the week: daniel molloy from interview with the vampire 2022!!
this is concept is actually so perfect for his new look in season 3!!
note: oblivious!obsessed!mer!reader, armand is REALLY confused abt everything, sant*ago is a bitch in this one, ambiguous/bad ending for armand ngl, mentions of fish killing, sharks are scared away but not harmed :)
The deck was quiet. His crew were strewn about near their posts, boredom plastered on every one of their faces.
From his spot at the wheel, Santiago scanned his ship. It was a sunlit day with little in sight other than the blue waves reflecting the equally empty sky. His eye squinted as a ray hit his face.
They had been drifting for what was close to two weeks. The last ship they plundered had little cargo of value. The men on board were cowardly and too attached to the life on land, nothing like the true sailors on board the Theatre.
And so, their Captain demanded they be left behind. Originally, Santiago voted to kill them instead but was outvoted by the rest of the crew. He despised how easily everyone was so quick to obey to the man who secluded himself from the rest of his sailors.
Suddenly, one of the sailors on board, by the name of Sam Barclay, let out a shout from his spot. It gained the attention of everyone.
"What is it, Sam? " Santiago questioned. Sam looked at the steerer, maw agape and eyes as wide as saucers.
"I-I coulda sworn I saw a creature! " He managed. Celeste, one of the more easily disgruntled members, scoffed.
"Not again with these lively claims, Samuel. How many time must we say it? " Her and her close friend Estelle spoke in unison.
"There are no! Such! Thing! As-!"
"Sea creatures! I know! " Sam finished, swinging his arms about. The other crew members opted to ignore the commotion, even going so far as starting a card game in a secluded part of the deck. The shade of the billowing sails shielded the playing sailors as Sam attempted to explain what he saw.
"It was a tail! And not the ones like from a whale or a dolphin! " He insisted, but his explanation fell upon deaf ears. As starved as the crew was for entertainment, no one was interested in the ramblings of an exhausted, hysterical Irishman.
—
In the captain's quarters, Armand sat at his desk, pouring over the nautical charts in front of him. While it was never a priority to kill, he couldn't help but ponder Santiago's attempt to appeal to the crew's darker impulses.
He massaged his temple, unused to the strain now required with the loss of his eye. It never occurred to him that losing a sense would happen to him. What was once a distant possibility was now his reality.
The migraines were infrequent and intense, such as the one he was experiencing now. Hiding away in his quarters became more of a common occurance in an attempt to remedy his newfound restrictions.
He couldn't assist in navigation as he once did, and he found himself slower with a sword. The pride he once clung onto for talent with sparring was no longer there.
A hand tenderly grazed the black fabric covering the scarred flesh. He still hadn't brought himself to look at a mirror, relying on one of the sailors, namely Eglee or Celeste, to fix his appearance whenever he prepared himself to emerge on deck.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Armand lightly groaned. "What is it? "
"Begging your pardon, captain, " Santiago's grating voice pierced through the wooden door. "But you might be interested in what we have discovered. "
Armand stood from his seat, chair legs grinding against the floor with restrained anger. Santiago's smug face, likely due to Armand's deshelved state, made the pain in his cranium pulse.
"This way, capitán. " Santiago began to walk.
"I hope this is not another petty squabble you feel compelled to drag me into. " Armand sighed.
"Au contraire, mon capitan. " They both shielded their eyes from the sunrays simultaneously. Santiago continued forward as Armand paused to adjust to the brightness of the world above deck.
The entire crew was silent, for a change. Everyone, from Sam to Romaine, was glued to the edge of the railing, searching the ocean.
"What is all this? " Armand began asking, before being abruptly shushed by Santiago. A glare and smirk was shared between the two of them before Santiago beckoned his captain towards the crew.
Looking out, there was nothing special. A ring of rocks poked from the deep blue, not far out from where the ship was momentarily stopped. Armand hadn't even noticed their pausing in movement, now growing even more exasperated by the unexpected stop.
"Right there! There, captain, do you see?! " Samuel whispered excitedly. Armand followed Sam's finger to what he was referring to.
For a moment, there was no sign of anything. And then-
Splash!
A blue tinged tail slammed against the water from behind the rocks. Unlike most creatures that beared seafaring appendages, this one was different in the sheer size. It was larger than any animal Armand had heard of or seen otherwise.
His eye widened even further when a hand. A five-fingered appendage with claws and scales crawling up to an attached body.
A body with an otherworldly beautiful face. Its pupils were slitted, almost glowing despite it being midday. Armand briefly registered a hushed gasp leave his crew.
"That's the most its shown since we stopped. "
"Do ya reckon its a mermaid or one of those sirens? The kind that eat humans like us? "
The whispers faded as soon as the creature lifted itself onto the rocks, the upper half of its naked body on full display. There was no hostility in its demeanor, but it was clearly aware that it was being ogled at.
"Captain, " Estelle whispered, ignoring the slight flinch that left Armand. "What are going to do? "
"What do you mean? "
"Do we kill it? Sail the other way? "
Armand turned his good eye towards her. "Unless there is good reason to do either of those things, we will. For now, " The rest of the crew watched him with baited breath.
"We will wait for it to leave. "
"What?! " Santiago whispered agitatedly.
"Are you questioning your captain, Francis? " Armand reveled in the way his sailors entire face twitched at the usage of his birthname.
"Mermaid or siren, both possess the same ability. " The crew looked at their captain confusedly. "If the tales are true, and they appear to be now, with this creature appearing before us; there is a great possibility that the being before us has the ability to provide whoever captures them superior luck. "
The crew began to buzz. Good fortune meant never again wondering when the next adventure would come, or whether they would have to drink themselves to sleep because food provisions were low.
With the promise of luck beyond one could ever dream of, the sailors began to disperse to different sides of the boat. They scouted out the rest of the waters in search of any other sea creatures that could double, triple their luck.
Armand remained fixated on the being, still exposed in an attempt to regulate its body temperature. He ignored the lingering eyes of Santiago, who was clearly going to attempt to undermine his authority one way or another.
It was going to be a long day.
—
In the dark of the night, you had noticed a hulking mass glide overhead on the sea surface. It was unlike anything you had ever seen before, and clicked as much to your family.
Your sisters scoffed, your brother swished sand in your face.
"Do not bother yourself with the machinations of humans, sibling. It leads only to death. "
That was what your family repeated, stuck in your head like a delirious fish swimming in circles. You had agreed…to an extent. You didn't bother the humans, per se. More like observed from a safe distance, a blip on the wide seas that could easily be waved off.
Your eyes and ears picked up on the slightest movements on board. The way the humans moved, with their shaky legs and their vacant eyes, it was a wonder how they made it this far out to sea.
You preferred the man with the funny accent, the one who ran away screaming when you decided to pop your head out of the water to scare him. It was an impulsive choice on your part, and for a while, the taunting and teasing was worth the risk.
Until you pushed your luck a little too far.
On one particular morning of you taunting Sam (the funny accent man), you made the mistake of sticking around to see how the rest of the crew reacted to his claims.
One of the women, a Seal-est, you think, saw you swim away. Then a chase ensued, of very little stakes considering the ease in which you slid through the water, and you were cornered into a circle of rocks.
You shielded yourself from the prying eyes of the humans on board, your inner voice degrading yourself for being seen so openly. You took little peeks from around the bedrock, immediately shrinking back when you saw the crowd of human's ooh and aww.
Then you saw him.
His tan skin glowed in the sunlight, the dark curls framing his face making him look like a gift from the heavens. And his eye…not even the brightest bits of gold you came across on the seafloor compared. You gripped the rock you were hiding behind so hard you felt bits of gravel in between your webbed fingers.
A burst of energy, a need that you couldn't describe overtook you. You were willing to do anything to capture that mans, the one they called Cap-tan, attention.
And what better way to do so than by begininng the first phase of your mating ritual?
You lifted your upper half up and out of the water, waiting for the Cap-tan to reciprocate and reveal himself as well. He made no movements to do so, but there was a slight hiccup in his demeanor when Est-el began whispering to him.
There was little you understood from the language they spoke, but you could tell that by the way Cap-tan responded, he was open to continuing the ritual with you.
Everyone else had dispersed, cupping their eyes and scanning the water (clearly looking for predators that could attack at any moment), but not Cap-tan. Perhaps because of the nature of his physique, the ritual needed to be conducted in a way that suited the both of you.
Now, it was time to move on to the next phase. You bared your teeth at him (an obvious display of strength) before splashing back into the ocean.
You couldn't have your future mate thinking you were weak, now could you?
—
The moment the mer-creature disappeared into the sea, the crew was beyond disappointed. Groans rung out, but Armand acted quickly.
"Lift up the anchor! " He pushed passed his gobsmacked sailors and placed himself at the wheel. "We're following them. "
The crew acted with immediate obedience, with Santiago as the only member unwilling to fulfill his assigned task.
Sam whispered to him, arms full of rope. "Don't make this any harder than it needs to be, for Pete's sake! Just listen to the man for one stinking moment and we'll be set for life-! "
"I will not, " Santiago growled. "Obey the one you call master. No one controls me. "
There was a beat and a blink from Sam before he responded. "Alright, suit yourself. " And he was gone. Santiago flitted his two working eyes to his Captain and swiftly retreated below deck. Inspecting the cargohold would be a well-enough excuse to use, despite the flogging he might have to endure.
The ship began to sail as fast as it could to keep pace with the quick moving shadow beneath the surface. It flitted this way and that, but ultimately kept continously moving north.
"Captain! " Estelle shouted amongst the moving chaos on deck. "We can't kept up this pace much longer! " She stumbled, but regained her footing. "If we continue giving chase we'll risk taking on damage to the hull! "
Armand casted his gaze out to sea again, the swimming creature leading the way. Then he looked to his crew. They were working in tandem to follow after a promising legend, but he knew in his heart of hearts that they were not meant to succeed.
The information about recieiving luck from the bounty of mermaids was only a myth. But it gave him a temporary sense of purpose he hadn't felt since the loss of his eye rendered him useless. But perhaps it would be best-
"SIR! " A sailor shouted, pointing to the ocean once more. A few other members paused their work to see what was there.
Two more shadows had joined the mermaid.
Sharks.
"That thing lead us into a trap! " One person exclaimed.
"Stay calm and continue your stationwork, crew! " Armand commanded. There was no room for showing weakness. He made a mistake, but they had been through worse situations at sea. And this would be no different.
"Sam! "
"Aye, captain! "
"Tell Santiago to fire a cannonball as far away from us as possible! "
The man paused in his movements, seeking any type of reassurance from his crewmates. "SAM! "
"Okay, okay! " The man rushed below deck, leaving a trail of fabric behind him as the rest of the sailors attempted to steer the ship away from the figures while still being in pursuit.
There was a brief moment where Armand considered bringing up a vote to desert Santiago on an island with no supplies, but a large boom went off just minutes later. The vibrations from the impact of the cannonball had visibly shocked the mermaid and sharks alike, but it sent the true threat swimming away.
Now a safe distance away, the ship and its crew were exhausted. The ship's hull groaned to a stop and the sailors on board almost collapsed with the anchor.
The creature hadn't moved since the cannonball fired and Armand looked over the bannister to watch in emerge from the surface.
Its face was pinched in pain; their eyes were blinking rapidly. He almost felt sorry for it, were it not for the inhuman quality of their features.
"Captain, " A breathless Celeste appeared beside him. "With all due respect, let's just net the bastard and be done with it. "
Armand was unresponsive, only snapping out of his trance when Celeste shook him.
"What? Oh, yes, the net. " Armand suddenly felt out of sorts. Like a fog had entered his mind, numbing him to the words of his crewmate.
"So is that a yes to the net, Captain? " Celeste sounded leagues away, despite only being less than a foot away from him. Armand turned once more to the mermaid, only this time, its eyes were the sole feature visible from the ship.
"-tain? Captain?! It's that thing, I know it is! " Celeste began to call out to the rest of the crew, but it was too late.
Armand leaned his entire body over the railing, tumbling overboard and landing in the ocean with a splash.
From the moment his form made contact with the water, the dull pain from behind his eye disappeared. His lungs were unprepared for the sudden lack of oxygen, but he made no moves to try and swim to save himself.
A steady stream of nihlism creeped its way through his skin, underneath to his veins and flowing directly into his soul. His body was sinking, slowly and surely under the pressure of the ocean, and there was nothing him or his crewmates could do to save him.
Those were going to be his last thoughts.
But out of nowhere, he felt something staring at him. He managed to crack open his eye just a tad and was met with the illuminating eyes of the mermaid he and his crew were just relentlessly tracking down. It was then that he accepted his fate, of becoming yet another meal to an unforgiving creature.
However, the mermaid had other plans. Instead of baring its teeth in a display of aggression, it cupped his face to bring him close. The feeling of its lips against his own was foreign, but not unwelcome.
He found himself subconsiously gripping onto the waist of the sea creature, and it returned the gesture by wrapping its tail around and around his legs.
When they parted, the mermaid had an almost fondness to its face. And in a split second, they unwrapped their tail from him and began swimming at a pace that made Armand's head slam forward into its chest.
Occasionally, with Armand signaling that he required more oxygen, the mermaid emerged to the surface to allow him to take in air. It was during those brief moments with a squinted eye, that he realized he was far from his ship and everyone on shore.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the mermaid, after a certain amount of time had passed, they either refused or ignored Armand's signals for oxygen and relied solely on pressing their lips to his to pass air.
It was not long after this that Armand passed out. The last thing he wondered before black started creeping from the corners of his vision to completely overtaking it was, "I hope it does not ruin my face any more than it already is. "
—
Once arriving at your den, you ensured that your soon-to-be mate was comfortable. You crawled on the surface of the cave, carrying your limp mate's body in one arm, to the nest you created. Originally, you had no intention of ever mating, but your Cap-tan had changed your mind entirely.
You wiped his wet curls away from his face, retreating back underwater to properly breath, grabbing a stray fish and biting its head off. You placed the dead animal next to his face, in hopes that he would be content enough to eat your offering and complete the mating ritual.
Obviously, if he responded to your calls, it meant he was willing to mate with you.
You contented yourself with watching him sleep the day away. Watching his chest move up and down was hypnotic, so much so that you mimicked his breathing pattern to feel even closer to him.
As time passed, however, you were feeling insecure about the puny fish you had offered to him. This was the last stage, the final thing that meant he was choosing you to be his. It had to be something more than any common thing you could kill and bring to him at any time.
And so you began piling more and more things for him. Shells were arranged in a messy smile, stray bottles of rum were also added, as well as a couple of bones here and there.
It wasn't until you turned around, a skull in hand, that you realized that his eye was open. That he was watching you. Again, that instinct overtook every fibre of your being, and you crawled towards him, teeth bared.
You stopped just a foot away from him, nodding from the stack of tribute to him. Eventually, he sat up, eye wide and head shaking. The noises he had suggested a frightened nature, making you want to curl around him until he felt nice and safe.
You continued nodding your head, steadily growing impatient and nudging a bottle towards him.
Slowly, ever so slowly, he reached for the bottle. This caused you to chirp in excitement, tail slapping on the cavefloor.
Now the real fun could begin.
author’s note: just wanted to make it clear that i have watched exactly one (1) video about a historian talking about pirates and just went from there LMAO. i wanted to leave the ending open to interpretation bc as much as i admire monsterfuckers, i cannot find it in myself to fully commit to writing about interspecies relationships, i truly apologize :'(. i took a lot of inspiration from envy-of-the-apple's jjk!mer fics, which i highly recommend!!! sorry for the cliffhanger, but thank you for reading!! i'm working hard to get the other two requests out sometime soon!!!
watched one (1) video about pirates for a request because i had no clue what pirates acutally did, and lemme say...hollywood was right for embellishing them a little bit bc the reality was rather underwhelming
FINALLY watched season 3 episode 1 of iwtv and i just have to say…Jesus H. Christ Lestat is everything i wanted to see him be and more. He’s crazy, he’s great.
Also, if i decide to post more of my thoughts, i will give fair warning for spoilers!! I will also be cautious with my tags as well, so don’t worry!!
hiii can i request armand x older vampire!reader :)
OH BOY CAN YOU!,!;? YES INDEED!!!
note: Oh Dear God this is long, yellowjackets!inspired coven, armand is Weird, mentions of self-harming during a psychotic episode, doomed yuri, reader should be at the club, blood-drinking with dubious consent, shitily translated French, unedited so i apologize for any mistakes!!
There was only one way to determine whether or not you would get a night to yourself. It was the way things had always been done and will continue to occur long after you were gone.
During the early hours of the night you and the rest of the coven had drawn cards. Instead of the usual fifty-two card deck, there was three missing, all of the queens except one. The queen of hearts. If you so happened to draw that specific card, that meant you had earned your night off.
The early years of your childhood and subsequent formative years faded from your mind decades ago. One of the only things you can recall is the feeling of someone, likely your mother or father, tucking you into bed. An overwhelming feeling of acceptance and care was also low in abundance.
Four hundred and seventy-five years.
What a life you have lived, almost half a milennia. You acclimated to vampirehood relatively well, by your maker's standards. She affectionately referred to you as 'my sweet one', due to your first years as a fledgling.
It was also your maker that appointed you as coven leader after a successful reign of at least several centuries. You had no clue how truly old she was, only that you looked back on the terms of endearment and favor she showed towards you with suspicion.
If she truly loved you, why wouldn't she have taken you with her? The neverending amount of pressure you faced while being coven leader had you contemplating abandoning coven life altogether.
The double-edged nature of being a leader was taking its toll. You ate less to provide more blood for your members, you upheld the laws with a solemn obedience, and mentored the younger, less experienced members. It was exhausting.
Your members, your supposed family no longer looked at you as an equal. They revered the very ground you walked on. You sensed their fear every time you entered a room.
Regardless, this was no longer the case. At least for the night.
You left your second in command, an older vampire named Dawn, in charge of the coven as you entered the Parisian night air.
You admired the artistry of the city, its lamplights illuminating the cobblestone streets and passerbys. You contemplated on what you would do with an entire night to yourself. The opportunity presented itself in the form of a younger man's thoughts as he passed you.
"Je ne peux pas attendre de voir une autre représentation ce soir! J'ai entendu de bonnes choses à propos de ce théâtre! "
Despite your many years on Earth, you never had a chance to further your formal or impersonal education. Most of your communication with the Paris coven was through Dawn. She had learned the French syntax through force. She had many conversations with victims and friends alike, and she was always willing to extend her services to assist you.
You were grateful for her. Your accent left much to be desired and you could never quite figure out how to translate certain words from your native language, often because there was never a proper word for it.
Thankfully, you did have context clues. Representation and theatre were the couple of words you manage to parse through. That meant there was entertainment nearby. You contemplated whether you were still socially capable of attending a soirée, but you put those thoughts to the side.
This night was for you. And you would spend it how you wanted.
Newly determined, you followed after the young man and his date. The two of them reminded you of contented puppy dogs, clambering all over each other with little regard for how they were percieved. They were…cute. You couldn't remember the last time someone willingly showered you in praise and love.
The walk to the theatre was not far, and you stopped in your tracks when you realized who operated it.
Armand. The Parisian coven leader. The leader who Dawn recounted spoke with a terrifying amount of control and coldness. He reigned over his coven for centuries and with an iron fist.
Despite being only a handful of decades older than him, you felt intimidated. You heard of how ruthlessly he upheld the laws, and how callous his coven could be to outsiders.
Turning on your heel, you began to walk away as casually you could. But a shout of your name stopped your movements entirely.
"Ah, yes, I thought that was you! " An Irish accent slipped through the small crowd of people entering and exiting the theatre. You turned around to see a man with curly hair parted down the middle, face painted white and faux fangs sticking out cartoonishly. This must have been the Sam Barclay Dawn told you about.
At your confused look, he bowed his head in greeting. "Good evening to ya! I hope you were coming to watch us perform on this fine night. " He propped his fists on his hips, cocking his head to the side.
"Or did your boss tell ya not to dilly-dally for too long? "
You blinked. "Boss? You mean Dawn? "
He breathed out a slight laugh in disbelief. "Well you sure are a cocky one, aren't ya? " He flicked one hand to beckon you to the entrance. "C'mon in. Fellow…artisans such as ourselves get half off on tickets. "
You followed him to the ticket booth. "May I ask what show is being performed tonight? " You handed him the euros as you asked.
Sam's eyes sparkled in the moonlight. He ripped off the ticket stub as his fangs, his true fangs, poked out.
"The best kinda prize is a surprise, darling. " He winked as he handed your ticket to you. "You enjoy the show, y'here? "
—
You had no idea why a vampire as young as Sam would talk to you so casually, but you chalked that up to his nature. Perhaps he simply spoke to everyone like that.
The interior of the theatre was heady with the sensations of mortals mingling. Their excitement and eagerness for the show intrigued you.
You settled into a seat in the far back, not wanting to draw any more attention than you already had. While waiting for the performance to start, you probed the minds of audience members for an idea of what was in store.
There was a handful of repeat attendees, the passionate ones gaggling at the very first row.
Before you could reach more than a vague understanding of what would soon occur, you felt a shift. A presence attempting to grasp your attention.
You looked up and there he was. Armand, the coven leader and 'artistic director' in mortal eyes.
"Eyes to the front, puce. "
You complied quickly. It was an instinct driven by a long-forgotten compulsion to obey when faced with authority. A feeling you hadn't felt since your maker's departure.
"It is always a pleasure to welcome a new vampire to our humble theatre. " His word were laced with a practiced politeness.
"And since you are not accustomed to the customs of other covens, I will forgive your informality. " So it seems like it wasn't just Sam's nature.
"Thank you for being so forgiving, sir. I will do my best to respect you and your coven to the best to my ability. " It seemed like that answer satisfied him. Barring your mind from any other influence, you reached out to Dawn. The only sign you received that signaled she was listening was a sharp feeling of fear resonating from her side of the psychic link.
"We have much to discuss when I return, Dawn. If I suspect you will flee, I will send the others after you. "
With that message recieved, the show began.
The lights were dimmed and a live band began performing a fanfare for the opening act. Screams echoed throughout the room and the lights flickered on cue.
"Ladies and gentlemen! " A voice rang out. "Madames and messieurs! " A figure appeared on stage, draped in a black cloak to thunderous applause. You gazed out among the sea of humans and looked at their unassuming enthusiasm.
His face was handsome, if a bit weathered. The brightness of his eyes was only compounded by the spotlight that appeared as he continued to monologue.
The melodramatic nature of the play mixed with the jaunty music playing was jarring. You had truly never seen anything like it in your life. Even the silliest of plays paled in comparison to the Theatre de Vampires. Santiago, you learned through the shouts, was a good opener.
You could truly see yourself enjoying your evening.
"Um..boss? Dawn tried to climb out of her window. But don't worry, I stopped her! What do you want to do with her? " Missy. One of, if not the most devoted of your members.
You sighed through your nostrils before responding. "Restrain her in the cellar, but do not harm her. I have some things I need to ask her. " You paused before adding, "Good job, Missy. "
You could feel her preen with joy at your light praise. "Of course, boss! You're so good to me-I mean us! Uh, I'll go ahead and do that thing! Right away! " She had more to say, but you cut off the mental conversation early.
Discreetly as you could, you stood from your seat at the end of the row and circled back to the exit.
"Leaving so soon? " Armand's voice permeated your mind. You paused in the threshold of the doorway.
"My master beckons me. I do hope that you will allow me to leave to avoid any possible conflict. " You hoped that your excuse would suffice.
"Of course. Do give your master my well wishes. " You tilted your head up at where you assumed Armand to be, and nodded. You could only assume that he returned the gesture, since you left and sped away back to your coven faster than any human on the street had enough time to process.
—
"Is she conscious? "
Missy met you at the door, and you sidestepped her instantly. She made no complaint and simply responded.
"Yes, boss. The other girls wanted her to draw cards, but I told them to wait. "
"Good. " You turned, bypassing the vampires bowing to you. Finally, you made it to the stairway leading to the cellar holding Dawn. You opened the door, almost tearing the hinges off in the process, but that barely registered to you.
Right before you began your trek down, Missy lightly tugged on your shirt. You turned to look, eyes ablaze.
"I hope you don't mind me asking, boss, but…make it hurt. " She met your gaze briefly before lowering it once more. "I don't know what she did, but if it's something that made you angry, then she deserves it. "
You almost pitied the way she trusted your judgment wholeheartedly, if that wasn't exactly what she was meant to do. You said nothing and gingerly removed her hold on you.
The stairs were rotting and creaky, but you made no attempt to hide your fury as each step you took increased in force.
In front of the staircase was Dawn, tied up with no light behind her eyes. The sight of her would have made you sick two days ago. But tonight flipped everything you once thought about her on its head.
You kneeled to meet her dull gaze.
"Dawn. You and I both know something is very wrong. Now, I have an idea of what you did, but I need you to tell me everything. From the very beginning to now. If I even suspect, if I feel like anything you say is embellished in any way whatsoever, I swear to God, I will drag you up those steps and light you on fire in front of the entire coven. Do you understand? "
She gulped. You motioned for her to start. She licked her lips and began.
"I didn't think that you would mind. It started back in England, when you had that run-in with the bear? You needed rest and they were so cruel, and we couldn't look weak so I just blurted it out that, " She choked up, but you grabbed her face, nails digging into her cheeks.
"What did you tell them, Dawn? "
She blinked, and you saw tears brimming. "That I was the coven leader. " She whispered. Your unbeating heart clenched. "And? " You urged.
"It was just supposed to be one time! I-I just wanted to protect you, protect the coven! And-and then after we starting going to foreign places you said you didn't speak the language of it just kept going and going! I am so so so so sorry. I promise, I won't ever-I'll take it all back! I'll make it known that I am nothing, nothing compared to you! " By the end of her rambling, you had stood, looking down at your once trusted lieutenant.
Her snivels and groveling had you questioning whether you truly knew her at all. You held out your hand and she stopped her pleas.
"You are going to be punished for this. I'm not sure how, I'm not sure when, but you will pay for this transgression. " You tried to keep your voice as level as you could to hide the fact that you were fighting tears.
"No…"
"NO!? " You grab Dawn's hair and force her to look up at you. "You parade as a coven leader for God knows how long, and you have the gall to tell me no?! Have you lost your fucking mind?! " Dawn was shaking her head, but only barely, as the grip you had threatened to scalp her entirely. You only stopped as you heard her whisper.
"I deserve to die for this. Please, just kill me. I can't live with the guilt any longer. "
You dropped her as she crumpled onto the ground, hard. Her sobs ricocheted throughout the space as memories filled your head. How had this brave, intelligent, and loyal individual you once called your friend devolved into this mess?
She screamed at you to kill her as you ascended the stairway once more. The coven had gathered, crowding you to ask for an explanation on Dawn's confinement. You faintly registered Missy's voice demanding the rest of the girls to stay back and allow you to space, but everything was muffled by the blood rushing your ears.
You ignored the faint cries of confusion as you left them behind you, out the door onto the streets of Paris once more.
—
"Armand, sir? Are you there? I'm afraid we're going to have to talk. "
"I prefer the term maître, puce. And why would I allow an audience with you, perchance? "
"Because it is I who is coven leader, not Dawn. I would like to explain the situation face-to-face, if it's not too much of a bother. "
"…Not at all. Please, allow yourself in when you arrive. I will be waiting in my office. "
"Thank you, maître. "
—
Sam met you once again, but that air of playfulness was gone. Only formalities and stiff demeanors were what you were met with at the empty theatre. Except Santiago had a thinly veiled smirk, and you could've sworn you saw him wink, but that was of no importance.
You and Sam stopped in front of a door. "This is it. " He said, lacklusterly.
"Thank you, Sam. Please tell the rest of the troupe that I'm very sorry I couldn't stay and watch the performance. " He stared at you open-mouthed for a moment before nodding once and walking away.
You were about to knock, but was met with a soft 'come in' from inside.
As you opened the door, you made sure to keep your eyes downcast. Perhaps he would be more likely to listen to you if you made yourself smaller.
"A strange strategy you are employing, " His voice made you swallow.
"Sorry, I don't know why I'm not more…assertive. You'd think with how old I am, I'd be more comfortable bossing people around. " You laughed humorlessly.
You couldn't tell, but it seemed like Armand was intrigued.
He hummed. "Please, sit. " He gestured to an empty seat next to where he sat. You obeyed and sighed, suddenly feeling the weight of the situation settle on your shoulders.
"I can't believe this is happening. "
"And what exactly is happening? "
You flickered to him, making contact with his chest covered by a crisp button-up before looking down again.
"It seems like my second in command has gotten a little too comfortable in giving orders. So much so that she decided to act as leader in the faces of other covens. " You rubbed a hand over your face.
"When she told me I was devastated. And then she asked me to, " Your voice broke unexpectedly and you saw Armand cock his head as you continued. "She asked me to kill her. " You finally made eye contact with him. He had a look of slight disbelief.
"I know that everyone is looking to me for answers but, " You shook your head. "I don't have one for this situation. I still lov-I don't want to hurt her. I know I have to, but I just can't. "
Armand pursed his lips. "And what would you have me do about it? "
You blinked, eyes blurred with tears. "What? "
"Are you asking me to do your duty as a coven leader? That would mean defying the very laws we keep in place-"
"Oh, no! No, I'm sorry, that's not what, " You deny. "I would never ask someone to do something like that for me. I just wanted your guidance. "
He looked genuinely stunned for a brief moment before you continued. "Dawn told me you are, forgive me for saying this, a ruthless leader. I thought that once I explained everything to you, you could tell me what to do or where to go from here. " That last part spilled out of you accidently, and you could tell Armand was speechless.
In a last ditch effort to appeal to whatever sympathy he still had, if it even existed, you laid a hand on his. You felt him stiffen, but you remained.
"I have never, in my over four hundred years of life, would have expected to be faced with something like this. Punishments, solitary confinement, starvation, yes. But destroying my closest friend? I'm sorry, but I can't do it. I won't. " You finished, feeling resolved in your choice.
"Then you are a fool. " Your eyes widened, and Armand realized what he said and began to backtrack. But it was too late, you stood from your seat and he quickly followed suit.
"Forgive me, I didn't mean to offend, I simply meant-"
"I understand what you mean, maître. " Your eyes held slight hostility that gave him pause. "Forgive me for taking up your time. I will take my leave, now. " You bowed your head and exited the room.
Armand was frozen. A small part of him, a remnant of his human years expected you to lash out. That coldness reminded him that there were still beings much powerful than him.
But almost none of them were as hesitant to kill disobedient vampires as you were.
—
Your trek back to your coven was suffocating.
On one hand, if you killed Dawn, you would solve the problem. No more misconceptions would happen, your authority would no longer be questioned, and you would be upholding your status as coven leader.
But that would mean killing your closest friend. The one who had been there almost since the beginning. The woman that helped you rise the ranks and convinced the other vampires to join. You told Dawn everything, and she in did in turn.
You couldn't imagine a life without her. But you were being forced to now.
You were met with Missy outside the door, hands clasped and head hung low. Immediately, you were on edge, practically flinging yourself to her. You grabbed onto her shoulders, forcing her to look into your crazed eyes.
"What happened? What did you do, Missy? "
Her mouth gapped, eyes blown. "W-When you left, everyone was so scared and worried. No one was calming down even though I told them to! We-we didn't hear her until it was too late. "
"Too late? Missy, what do you mean too late? What does that mean? " You didn't realize you were digging into her flesh until she lifted your hands to guide you inside.
You smelled her before you saw her.
Dawn. Your best friend and trusted confidant, burned to a crisp on the floor. Your coven went silent at the sight of you. Most of them hid their faces, some were emotionless.
The last thing you remember was falling to the ground and screaming.
—
You aren't sure about how much time has passed before you wake. You were back in the room you shared with the rest of your coven, you recognized it from the wood pattern of the ceiling. But something was wrong. You couldn't sense anyone from the coven in the building.
A hand began stroking your hair and tilting your head back to coax flesh into your mouth. You just assumed it was eager Missy wanting to bring you back to health, and started suckling.
The hum that came from the person you thought was Missy, however, was masculine and low.
Your eyes shot open, pausing your feeding to look at who it was.
Amber pupils stared down at you.
"Armand? " You croaked out, throat sore from unuse.
"Yes? " He tilted his head.
"What are you doing here? " You tried to sit up, but a splitting pain burst from behind your eyelids. He shushed you and once more guided you to drink. You were deeply, deeply perturbed, but in an effort to appease him that you didn't fully understand, you complied.
"I was retrieved by your member, Missy. She was distraught, saying you were 'out of control' and 'going crazy', " His voice changed to mimic Missy's cadence, and you were disturbed by how easily his accent faded.
"When I arrived, you were catatonic, covered in blood. " Your eyes widened, but he continued. "No one was hurt. Except yourself. You were bleeding seemingly from everywhere, I've never seen anything like it. " You were about to open your mouth to apologize, but he kept his arm firmly in place.
"Me and Missy took it upon ourselves to nurse you back to health. " He shook his head, likely reminiscing on Missy's tendency to suffocate with love. You unlatched your mouth from his wrist, hoping he would allow you to talk. He obliged and you began.
"Maître-"
"Armand, for you. "
"…Armand. Thank you for helping me get better, I truly appreciate it. But now that I'm awake and better, I think it would be best if you returned to your coven. I'm sure they're wondering where you are by now-"
"You mean our coven? " His eyes were surprisingly playful for someone who spent a good amount of time watching over an unconscious vampire.
"What? " Your tongue felt like lead in your mouth.
"For the time you were out of commission, I have taken it upon myself to integrate your coven and mine as one. Now, it wasn't my idea, Missy does have a way with words-"
You stopped his explanation by wrapping a hand around his throat and bringing his face uncomfortably close to yours.
"Armand. How long have I been unconscious for that you made the decision to combine our covens? "
His throat made a slight gurgling sound. "Two months. "
You gasped and released him from your hold. You ran your fingers through your hair, grasping the strands tightly.
"This can't be happening. This can't be happening. This is a dream, a big, nasty dream-" His hands wrapped around yours, gently guiding you to let go of your scalp.
"This is no dream. You are awake and alive. Listen to me, " He tilted your head up and his face was so fond you almost flinched away.
"Everything is going to be fine. Everyone has acclimated to this change rather well. And your members have missed you very much. " You controlled your breathing before responding.
"What does this make me? " He furrowed his brows. "Am I even a coven leader anymore? Or are you.." You trailed off, unwilling to ask the question just yet.
Armand smiled. "I was under the impression you wanted a hiatus from leading. But I am open to sharing the position, if that pleases you. "
You gulped. Finally, a chance to break from this position that has caused you so much pain and heartbreak. It only took losing your best friend to get you that.
You should've never come to Paris.
author’s note: istg i blinked and this popped out LMFAO uhhh yeah i have no excuse for this, i really wasn't expecting to write this much, i just really like the concept!! might do a part 2 if there's a demand, but other than that, thanks for reading!!!
my parents fry me bro why are we at a party and they’re sitting in front of me watching a soccer game😭LETS PACK IT UP AND GO HOME PEOPLE PLEASE like why are we still here??😭😭😭
pls pls pls devil’s minion x short!fem!witch!reader I BEGGGGG
hello!! thank you so much for this request! i did a a good amount of research for this one, i hope you enjoy!!
note: mentions/descriptions of witchcraft practices, daniel is legitimately toxic, armand is a single mom with two badass kids (and is also a little toxic), reader is stressed and needs a drink, rather fluffy and fun near the end, though!
"Hey, Danny, can you pass me that incense really quick? " You currently had your hands full with setting up your alter. The offerings were purposefully stacked, each object having a distinct meaning in the pursuit of appeasing your God.
Daniel obliged, albeit with an air of curiousity. It had been persistent despite your growing annoyance and late night explanations about your practice of choice.
It seemed like no matter how much time you dedicated to answering his many, many questions, there always seemed to be more.
Armand was the exact opposite. From his place on the couch in your living room, he was quietly tapping away on his iPad. You could sense he was listening to each exchange you and Daniel had, but you opted to allow him to think that he was more mysterious than he was.
He never had many questions for you, outside of asking what items you required to continue your worship. From crystals, to candles, even the more niche items like what you required for rituals, you were always able to rely on Armand to get whatever you needed with minimal resistance.
Unlike Daniel and his blatant ogling.
As you were putting your incense away, you felt him eyeing your movements. You sighed, dramatically flaring your nostrils before turning to him.
"What do you want now, Daniel Molloy? "
He grinned, "Ooh, using the full name, are we? " He perched his elbow on your head, making your eyes widen. Unfortunately, your height was always a source of entertainment for him and endless irritation for you.
"I'd like to watch you do that ritual you were talking about this morning, " He continued. "And before you get all riled up, I just wanna say straight up, " He crosses his heart theatrically. "I won't be an asshole. You won't even know I'm there. "
"No. "
Daniel tilted his head down to look at you. One would think that the expression you had on your face told him exactly why.
"Why not? " He said with faux-innocence.
"Because! " You exclaimed, pushing his elbow off of your head, but he put it right back. You tried twice more, but failed.
"I just don't feel comfortable doing my spells in front of people, okay? Stop asking, you're really starting to piss me off. " You hoped that now he finally got the hint.
At first, you were hopeful. He lifted his arm from your head, and put his hands up in surrender. As he walked back, you turned your attention to your crystals. You picked a couple you thought were necessary for tonight, right as you heard Daniel speak.
"Not even if I'm in a different room, just listening? "
You slammed your hands on the armrests of your chair, spinning around to where Daniel sat next to Armand on the couch.
"Armand. " You said sternly. "Get your fledgling! " You stared at his face until he finally met your gaze. His golden eyes were filled with confusion. You flit your eyes in Daniel's direction, who was now currently scrolling on his phone with not a care in the world.
Armand turned to look at Daniel.
"Beloved. "
"Hm? "
"You may think that you are free to poke and prod to gain whatever knowledge you seek, but that is not the case at all. " His face minutely altered, almsot doll-like in nature. "It's best to respect that not everything needs to be stared in the face to acknowledge its existence. "
"Hey, I'm not saying what she does isn't real. I'm just a little curious- "
"Just say nosy. You're nosy, Daniel. "
He smacked his lips before continuing, "All I'm asking is to see my girlfriend in action. Is that a crime? " He was asking Armand, but you felt like it was your place to respond. Unfortunately, Armand had a habit of saying what you thought before you.
"It is not. But that does not grant you the right to break her boundaries in favor of your wants, Daniel. "
You sighed, pinching your brows. "Thanks, Armand, but I really don't need you to speak for me. I can do that just fine by myself. "
Armand looked like he disagreed, but kept his mouth shut. Daniel was unreadable, but had finally stopped scrolling. You pointed at him.
"You. Drop it. " You moved your finger to point at Armand. "Thank you for backing me up. But please refrain from reading my thoughts to do so, okay? "
You turned your attention once more to your items, focusing on writing in your journal for your intentions in your ritual tonight. You didn't notice the way Daniel's annoyance spiked. But Armand did, and he quickly tugged Daniel by his curls before returning to his iPad. That set Daniel hissing, but otherwise he got the hint.
The slam of the door ten minutes later following Daniel's departure didn't make you or Armand flinch. You sighed.
"He'll get over it, dear. You'll see, there's no need to feel guilty for establishing a boundary. "
"Armand, what did I just say about reading my mind? "
—
You were starting to get worried. It was day three of Daniel's petty tantrum, and there was no sign of him returning. You had asked Armand if he sensed his fledging, considering the severed psychic connection didn’t allow for direct communication, but he came up empty-handed.
You paced in your bedroom, Armand already in bed, iPad still in hand. You were starting to bite your nails when you finally spoke.
"I think I'm gonna do a finding spell to figure out where he is. Maybe not now, my amber's not properly charged. " You nibbled your thumb. "I'll go ahead and get it so I can use it tomorrow. " You rushed out of the room, asking Armand as you left,
"It's a full moon tonight, right, Armand? "
Tap tap tap, "Yes, darling, I'm sure of it. " He responded.
You returned, amber in hand, setting it on your dresser alongside your many other crystals. You made sure to leave the curtains open just a tad, to allow a trickle of moonlight to wash over the gems.
Satisfied at the sight and a glimmer of hope in your eyes, you settled under the covers next to Armand. The side of the bed where Daniel slept next to you was extra cold without his stupid, solid frame teasing you as you tried to fall asleep.
Armand finally set his iPad to the side in favor of offering his arms to hold you. You hestitated before settling into his arms. Your stature made it easy for him to spoon and coddle you. One of your favorite pastimes (and Armand's as well, you suspect) was spending hours in his embrace. The way his fingertips traced your features over and over, memorizing each mole, freckle, scar, or otherwise distinct characteristic was reverent. He made you feel so loved, his unblinking stare unnerving to most, but something you found to be especially intimate.
You sighed into his neck, inhaling his scent before saying, "Maybe I could've told him I was fine with describing it instead of flat out rejecting him. "
Armand's hands found the back of your head, stroking it as he hummed, "But were you fine with it? He has been especially demanding as of late. "
You half-heartedly shrugged, "I know he doesn't mean any harm. It's just…this is an important part of me. And I appreciate how interested and nonjudgmental you both are, but it just gets to a point, y'know? " You nuzzled his chest, and you smiled at how that must've startled him, at least based on the way his movements halted before continuing.
"There are still things I don't feel comfortable sharing, at least not yet. You've always been good about understanding, why can't Danny? Is it cause of the age difference? " You muttered, sleep beginning to overtake you, but not entirely.
Armand sighed, "Daniel has always been exceptional at pushing boundaries. He views it as an act of love, the way he endlessly pokes and prods to learn more about you. "
You snorted before Armand continued.
"I truly do not think that his journalistic instinct will ever be hindered. If anything, it has only grown in intensity since his turning. " At the sound of your eyes rolling, he began rubbing your shoulders, instantly making you melt.
"But I have a feeling that he will see the error of his ways and allow you to continue your craft in peace. " He finished.
You made a noise somewhere between a scoff and a hum, "Psh, yeah, right. The day that happens will be the day Hell freezes over. Or the day he admits he was wrong. Both of which will never happens. " It was the last thing you remember saying before finally passing out due to Armand's magic touch.
"You never know, darling. You never know. "
—
You woke up still in Armand's arms, but you felt something else pressed against your back. You lifted your head to look behind you as far as you could.
It was Daniel. He was in his classic sleepwear combo, an old t-shirt of his from the 90's and a pair of comfortable pants. If you didn’t know any better you would think that he was just another old man. But his lack of blood circulation and piercing yellow eyes said otherwise.
You loosened yourself from Armand's hold to face Daniel. You stared at his sleeping face, the rise and fall of his chest moreso instinctual than necessary for survival.
You poked his face. He twitched, but didn't stir.
"Daniel. " You whispered. Nothing, not even a stutter of his breath.
"Daniel, wake the fuck up or I swear I'll push you off this bed. "
Golden pupils met your furious gaze. You felt your heart rate steadily increase. The sight of Daniel carefree and relaxed in your bed after you were ready to start chasing him made your rage steadily ramp in intensity.
"Where have you been. " You said, voice still drowsy despite your best efforts to sound stern.
"Out thinking. " He responded quietly.
"About what? I hope it's about what you plan on doing to make up for making me worried sick. "
Surprisingly, he looked rather..remorseful? It was strangely sincere, so unlike the unabashedly humorous way Daniel often navigated scenarios like these. He kept his eyes down, and propped himself up on his elbow. You stared at him like he was an extraterrestrial, and he spoke softly.
"I don't want you to think that I'm just using you for entertainment. That's not why I'm with you. " You blinked, searching for any hint of this taking a sarcastic tone, but found none.
"I shouldn't have pushed for you to reveal everything about being a witch right away, that was…stupid isn't even the right word. More like ignorant and entitled. "
You wanted to interject and say that was already his default way of existing, but you held your tongue. His other hand found your cheek and began to rub.
"I won't up and leave like that again. I promise. " He leaned down to press a kiss to your forehead before laying back down. You blinked a few times.
"Danny, was that your attempt at an apology? "
He didn't respond, but the light smirk on his face told you all you needed to know. You scoffed.
"That was the shittiest apology I've ever heard in my life. I would say I can't believe it, but I guess now I can! " You shook your head in disbelief.
"I'm gonna go back to sleep and when I wake up, you better have something good up your sleeve. "
Daniel didn't respond, but you thought you heard him whisper 'okay, short stack' before you angrily turned and buried your face in Armand's chest.
Armand opened his eyes right as Daniel rubbed a hand over his face. They ensured you were unconscious before either spoke.
"Shame on you for preparing such a subpar apology for our beautiful partner, Daniel. " Armand whispered. Daniel quickly whispered loudly.
"You were the one who helped me with that 'subpar apology', don't even start trying to blame this square on me! "
"Hush, Daniel. Lest you wish to make her morning even worse than it already is. " Armand traced his fingers against your spine, reveling in your subconcious shiver.
"Well I don't intend to be hexed, not today, not ever. " Daniel responded before flinging the blanket off of his body and getting up.
"What are you planning, Daniel? " Armand questioned.
"Homemade food always puts her in a good mood. Maybe that and a workshopped apology will put me back in her good graces, too. " Daniel said before heading to the kitchen.
Armand looked down at you, so still and innocent.
It was a miracle you hadn't hexed either of them, he thought as the sound of Daniel's ruckus caused you to flinch awake and groan.
author’s note: i truly hope i have properly represented the witch community and their practices! if there is anything at all that has been misconstrued, please let me know!! a huge thanks to @lestattdelioncourtt for providing me with info regarding witchcraft!! thank you so much for reading!
