Our Lady of Lowtown

Kinga 616/MCU Indie RP, 21+ only, mun and muse 25+

[ourlxdy]

@patrxn

In an elegant envelope, a piece of black designer cardstock and a smaller item of unopened plastic wrapping that crinkled when opened.

waktu dan pilihan tindakan amal yang disesalkan

whoopsie

hugs and kisses

[ourlxdy]

The stammering, and Kinga’s eyebrow wasn’t going aaaanywhere but quirked up where it was. A misunderstanding?

“Really?

Usually misunderstandings don’t survive long enough to clarify to him. Or anyone else for that matter.”

But then hearing his reasoning made Kinga feel the need to hold back a piercing shriek of laughter. “The best deal to make?” Oh honey, I highly doubt it.

She kept it to a mild chuckle, tossing back the blonde hair.

“You know you’re in The Sovereign right? And you know who deals here, in anything that matters?” She frowned, leaning forward and ignoring the boy’s question she studied him. He already looked flustered.

“—Anyone trying to encroach on that business is a dead man walking.

Do you take me for an idiot?”

[theo-ry]

The Sovereign.. Right.

Throwing another look around the place, there was another danger to add to the list of dangers of coming back here. Not only might the Patron have issues with him being on the island, but pulling this on someone else's turf was not smart.

uh. sir i don't know you. "n-no. no you look like a very, handso- hands on, kind of dude."

fuck. wait. Who was the person in charge at the Sovereign? Ugh, should've paid more attention when the Patron was lecturing to him about it.

happy for u man yeah im happy for me too!

"Listen, I... pssh," shrugging and waving his hands slightly, he made a face to show he was just, messing around. Fighting with Gabe in his head was making him lose focus. "i was just, stopping by. Checking out the vibes..

I like your, uh, vampire look. drippy."

COOL LIFE THEO CONGRATS ON THE FREE WILL

shut up shutupshuTUPPP FUCKIN' COME AT ME

I WILL. FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO MURDER YOU

GO RADIO SILENT

The argument doesn't go as he wants, not that he wanted to do it all over again. But there he stood, features tight in frustrated anger as the conversation with Mr Vampire was completely set aside.

And then suddenly he stills, like a calm washing over him. A sadness cut into him so deep he can't even express how much it hurt.

i miss you

"okay."

[ourlxdy]

He looked even worse than last time, Kinga noted as she watched the boy stammer and come apart in disorganized pieces of.. flirtation? Flattery?

Something like nerves on fullll display, and with a look of morbid curiosity she sat to lean more forward to watch him.

Oh-

And what was that there? Some kind of still release, a look so sad in the destroyed young man’s eyes followed by some kind of voiced acceptance.

Okay??

Okay what?

Ugh, and see, they all could have avoided this bummer of a meeting if he’d been a good little runaway and gone home when he was supposed to.

It had started making Kinga… maybe sad to look at him. Sad like it was now. Ugh, intolerable.

“Oh, dollface. They broke you.” A broken doll was not so fun.

She twisted a lock of her blonde hair until it coiled up in a bouncy brown ringlet, letting out a quiet sigh she let the rest of the disguise drop away.

“What am I supposed to do with you now?”

[theo-ry]

And now he's crying. But only because he can feel Gabe having gone radio silent again and that gives him a moment of switching off like a blue screen. The tears stream down his face, like a leaking faucet with no emotions.

Just, drip drip drip.

So now he's standing in front of a handsome vampire, crying, forgetting where he was or who he was with or what he was doing there—

Your brain ran into a problem and needs to restart. Collecting some error info.

1%

[ourlxdy]

A flicker of something across the mutant’s face, her own face, staring at the broken thing across from her. Something indiscernible in the light scrunch of her brow, the frown and recoil as she watched tears drip drip down his frozen face.

A raising of her shoulders and dropping them in a soft sigh, she turned her head to look away from Theo.

Ohh, Abel. If you’re anything you’re thorough.

What a bummer. She hated those, they didn’t fit at all. She’s glanced toward one of her security, just an alert that they’d probably be called over in a moment.

“Cutie pie..”

“You were supposed to listen to what I told you.” About what was good for them.

Honestly she should kill him for even trying to come back, but it’d just be a mercy. She’d already done pity. What a disappointment.

This child? The state he stood frozen in, was not enough threat or power to be of anyone’s interest to kill. Hardly worth the trouble and cost of the poison it would take.

“Why’d you come back?” She asked, resting her cheek on her hand.

[theo-ry]

HEY

HEY WAKE UP

The softness of the voice speaking him to now caught him off guard to the point of actually getting him to look at Kinga.

It was actually her.

Round wet eyes stared at the beautiful mutant, before they resumed leaking. It was like it couldn't shut off.

"i thought-- i wanted to talk, to you," sniffling and choking on his snot, he can't get his words and meaning out but he just knows he missed how things were - because besides all the BAD, there was something....life changing happening here.

"you shut me out and you-- you, LIED TO ME." well it was mostly Damien though. "And- and my uncle took me from, everything here!

Why did you... Let him??"

[ourlxdy]

The disappointment on her face melted away to something more relaxed. Neutral, maybe.. bored. Everything she was seeing and hearing so predictable.

All just repeated confirmation that she’d been right- she always was.

Well. Enough of this then. The entire mood of the night was being ruined, and that was unacceptable. However much fun a broken doll might’ve been once, you still had to throw it out.

“—baby,” she chuckled out softly. You never belonged here.

“I told you exactly who I am. You’re shocked??

oh come on honey you were never exactly bright, but..”

What, did he expect her to regret any of these things? “I’ll tell you what. I was right to shut you out.

I wasted good money and favor with the patron to send you away from eeeeverything you love here, honey.

That’s how much I wanted you gone. And sure, I lied. I could’ve just killed you.

…frankly should’ve.” Let’s not forget the wasted money and effort.

“You think you fit into this world? My world? It’s sad to look at you, Chico, it really is. It’s a buzzkill.

And I told you, anyone who wants to spoil my good time? Gone.” She snapped her fingers. “Do you know how many little dummy boys and girls with sweet faces and wiiide eyes I’ve seen, come through trying to find themselves in Lowtown before you?

Do you know how many of them make it?” She held up her hand in the shape of a big fat ‘0’.

The only people who made it in this way of life, were the ones born to it, the ones with no choice but to climb through to survive.

“Tourists. Sweet babies like you fleeing their ushy cushy lives to see what Madripoor can do for them. You never stand a chance, we eat you for breakfast.” She laughed.

“You never needed to come here. It’s why you were never going to last.” She reached an arm out, knocked her hand playfully on that hollow head of his.

“I did a kind thing this time. Happened to have spare change to throw at your uncle and a plane. Lying to you was charity sweetheart.

You wanted kindness? You got it. You got it, you wasted it. Blew it. Now you’re back.”

Sigh.

Stony faced, she blinked at him. Watched the kid with just a good

long stare.

“Did you think anyone would be happy to see you?”

[ourlxdy]

The stammering, and Kinga’s eyebrow wasn’t going aaaanywhere but quirked up where it was. A misunderstanding?

“Really?

Usually misunderstandings don’t survive long enough to clarify to him. Or anyone else for that matter.”

But then hearing his reasoning made Kinga feel the need to hold back a piercing shriek of laughter. “The best deal to make?” Oh honey, I highly doubt it.

She kept it to a mild chuckle, tossing back the blonde hair.

“You know you’re in The Sovereign right? And you know who deals here, in anything that matters?” She frowned, leaning forward and ignoring the boy’s question she studied him. He already looked flustered.

“—Anyone trying to encroach on that business is a dead man walking.

Do you take me for an idiot?”

[theo-ry]

The Sovereign.. Right.

Throwing another look around the place, there was another danger to add to the list of dangers of coming back here. Not only might the Patron have issues with him being on the island, but pulling this on someone else's turf was not smart.

uh. sir i don't know you. "n-no. no you look like a very, handso- hands on, kind of dude."

fuck. wait. Who was the person in charge at the Sovereign? Ugh, should've paid more attention when the Patron was lecturing to him about it.

happy for u man yeah im happy for me too!

"Listen, I... pssh," shrugging and waving his hands slightly, he made a face to show he was just, messing around. Fighting with Gabe in his head was making him lose focus. "i was just, stopping by. Checking out the vibes..

I like your, uh, vampire look. drippy."

COOL LIFE THEO CONGRATS ON THE FREE WILL

shut up shutupshuTUPPP FUCKIN' COME AT ME

I WILL. FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO MURDER YOU

GO RADIO SILENT

The argument doesn't go as he wants, not that he wanted to do it all over again. But there he stood, features tight in frustrated anger as the conversation with Mr Vampire was completely set aside.

And then suddenly he stills, like a calm washing over him. A sadness cut into him so deep he can't even express how much it hurt.

i miss you

"okay."

[ourlxdy]

He looked even worse than last time, Kinga noted as she watched the boy stammer and come apart in disorganized pieces of.. flirtation? Flattery?

Something like nerves on fullll display, and with a look of morbid curiosity she sat to lean more forward to watch him.

Oh-

And what was that there? Some kind of still release, a look so sad in the destroyed young man’s eyes followed by some kind of voiced acceptance.

Okay??

Okay what?

Ugh, and see, they all could have avoided this bummer of a meeting if he’d been a good little runaway and gone home when he was supposed to.

It had started making Kinga… maybe sad to look at him. Sad like it was now. Ugh, intolerable.

“Oh, dollface. They broke you.” A broken doll was not so fun.

She twisted a lock of her blonde hair until it coiled up in a bouncy brown ringlet, letting out a quiet sigh she let the rest of the disguise drop away.

“What am I supposed to do with you now?”

[theo-ry]

And now he's crying. But only because he can feel Gabe having gone radio silent again and that gives him a moment of switching off like a blue screen. The tears stream down his face, like a leaking faucet with no emotions.

Just, drip drip drip.

So now he's standing in front of a handsome vampire, crying, forgetting where he was or who he was with or what he was doing there—

Your brain ran into a problem and needs to restart. Collecting some error info.

1%

[ourlxdy]

A flicker of something across the mutant’s face, her own face, staring at the broken thing across from her. Something indiscernible in the light scrunch of her brow, the frown and recoil as she watched tears drip drip down his frozen face.

A raising of her shoulders and dropping them in a soft sigh, she turned her head to look away from Theo.

Ohh, Abel. If you’re anything you’re thorough.

What a bummer. She hated those, they didn’t fit at all. She’s glanced toward one of her security, just an alert that they’d probably be called over in a moment.

“Cutie pie..”

“You were supposed to listen to what I told you.” About what was good for them.

Honestly she should kill him for even trying to come back, but it’d just be a mercy. She’d already done pity. What a disappointment.

This child? The state he stood frozen in, was not enough threat or power to be of anyone’s interest to kill. Hardly worth the trouble and cost of the poison it would take.

“Why’d you come back?” She asked, resting her cheek on her hand.

[ourlxdy]

The stammering, and Kinga’s eyebrow wasn’t going aaaanywhere but quirked up where it was. A misunderstanding?

“Really?

Usually misunderstandings don’t survive long enough to clarify to him. Or anyone else for that matter.”

But then hearing his reasoning made Kinga feel the need to hold back a piercing shriek of laughter. “The best deal to make?” Oh honey, I highly doubt it.

She kept it to a mild chuckle, tossing back the blonde hair.

“You know you’re in The Sovereign right? And you know who deals here, in anything that matters?” She frowned, leaning forward and ignoring the boy’s question she studied him. He already looked flustered.

“—Anyone trying to encroach on that business is a dead man walking.

Do you take me for an idiot?”

[theo-ry]

The Sovereign.. Right.

Throwing another look around the place, there was another danger to add to the list of dangers of coming back here. Not only might the Patron have issues with him being on the island, but pulling this on someone else's turf was not smart.

uh. sir i don't know you. "n-no. no you look like a very, handso- hands on, kind of dude."

fuck. wait. Who was the person in charge at the Sovereign? Ugh, should've paid more attention when the Patron was lecturing to him about it.

happy for u man yeah im happy for me too!

"Listen, I... pssh," shrugging and waving his hands slightly, he made a face to show he was just, messing around. Fighting with Gabe in his head was making him lose focus. "i was just, stopping by. Checking out the vibes..

I like your, uh, vampire look. drippy."

COOL LIFE THEO CONGRATS ON THE FREE WILL

shut up shutupshuTUPPP FUCKIN' COME AT ME

I WILL. FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO MURDER YOU

GO RADIO SILENT

The argument doesn't go as he wants, not that he wanted to do it all over again. But there he stood, features tight in frustrated anger as the conversation with Mr Vampire was completely set aside.

And then suddenly he stills, like a calm washing over him. A sadness cut into him so deep he can't even express how much it hurt.

i miss you

"okay."

[ourlxdy]

He looked even worse than last time, Kinga noted as she watched the boy stammer and come apart in disorganized pieces of.. flirtation? Flattery?

Something like nerves on fullll display, and with a look of morbid curiosity she sat to lean more forward to watch him.

Oh-

And what was that there? Some kind of still release, a look so sad in the destroyed young man’s eyes followed by some kind of voiced acceptance.

Okay??

Okay what?

Ugh, and see, they all could have avoided this bummer of a meeting if he’d been a good little runaway and gone home when he was supposed to.

It had started making Kinga… maybe sad to look at him. Sad like it was now. Ugh, intolerable.

“Oh, dollface. They broke you.” A broken doll was not so fun.

She twisted a lock of her blonde hair until it coiled up in a bouncy brown ringlet, letting out a quiet sigh she let the rest of the disguise drop away.

“What am I supposed to do with you now?”

[ourlxdy]

“—Watching you make a fool of yourself? Yes.”

The blonde face pursed their lips, swinging one leg resting against the other and tilting their head at the boy’s face. Their eyes.

The ones that used to have such a sparkle about them. And yet, here he was again.

Silly boy.

“Who is it you’re looking for?” She asked, watching him watch her.

[theo-ry]

A fool?

"—i'm, just trying to.." the stammering only showed how nervous he suddenly got, being read by this stranger.

At a very luxurious hotel.

Pulling his gaze away from the stunning looking guy, Theo stopped for a moment to think about what he was going to say. Knowing what he knew now.

"nah, 'm just.. looking for a good time, i guess." whatever that meant to the other, whatever they could offer, or not offer as a process of elimination.

"what you got?"

[ourlxdy]

Oooh not such a little fool anymore was he?

Mm, but he was though. Because if there was a thinking brain in that cute little head, he would not have come back here.

At least it was High Town, but still. Come on.

“Oh-“ The blonde man chuckled, giving the young man a simpering smile. “Far more expensive than you can afford. Techno, right?

You fell on bad terms with the Patron.” A lifted brow. Just some information known by a wealthy stranger at The Sovereign.

Plenty of people here made it their business to know things.

“I’m not sure who in their right mind could afford to do business with you.”

[theo-ry]

great idea—

No sooner did he push the intrusive thought away when he's being read yet again. This time the young mutant had the smarts to look taken aback at their name being known, worried the Patron or his entourage might show up - or already be here - but he does his best to hide it. Jittery.

free will. He had it.

"no i— i didn't." No not him, it was all Damien's fault. "i wasn't the one, it was... a misunderstanding."

One very big fucked up misunderstanding. And now he was back and had no rules no one to tell him shit.

you forget i listened to you talk about star wars.

Theo' felt his face heat up like he was staring at the sun, you good?

"fu- fine.

it's fine." What the hell was he talking about again?

"well if.. not a lot of people can say they survived the Patron. So maybe dealing with me is, the best deal, to make."

Who was this guy anyway?

"You know my name. So what's yours?"

[ourlxdy]

The stammering, and Kinga’s eyebrow wasn’t going aaaanywhere but quirked up where it was. A misunderstanding?

“Really?

Usually misunderstandings don’t survive long enough to clarify to him. Or anyone else for that matter.”

But then hearing his reasoning made Kinga feel the need to hold back a piercing shriek of laughter. “The best deal to make?” Oh honey, I highly doubt it.

She kept it to a mild chuckle, tossing back the blonde hair.

“You know you’re in The Sovereign right? And you know who deals here, in anything that matters?” She frowned, leaning forward and ignoring the boy’s question she studied him. He already looked flustered.

“—Anyone trying to encroach on that business is a dead man walking.

Do you take me for an idiot?”

[ourlxdy]

“—Watching you make a fool of yourself? Yes.”

The blonde face pursed their lips, swinging one leg resting against the other and tilting their head at the boy’s face. Their eyes.

The ones that used to have such a sparkle about them. And yet, here he was again.

Silly boy.

“Who is it you’re looking for?” She asked, watching him watch her.

[theo-ry]

A fool?

"—i'm, just trying to.." the stammering only showed how nervous he suddenly got, being read by this stranger.

At a very luxurious hotel.

Pulling his gaze away from the stunning looking guy, Theo stopped for a moment to think about what he was going to say. Knowing what he knew now.

"nah, 'm just.. looking for a good time, i guess." whatever that meant to the other, whatever they could offer, or not offer as a process of elimination.

"what you got?"

[ourlxdy]

Oooh not such a little fool anymore was he?

Mm, but he was though. Because if there was a thinking brain in that cute little head, he would not have come back here.

At least it was High Town, but still. Come on.

“Oh-“ The blonde man chuckled, giving the young man a simpering smile. “Far more expensive than you can afford. Techno, right?

You fell on bad terms with the Patron.” A lifted brow. Just some information known by a wealthy stranger at The Sovereign.

Plenty of people here made it their business to know things.

“I’m not sure who in their right mind could afford to do business with you.”

[ourlxdy]

The hotel bar was swimming with all the usual big fish, far be it from Kinga to try to blend in with a crowd that meant keeping a low-profile. What a waste of her talents that would be.

A quick glance to see that an automatic transfer had gone through, and a smile spread across their lips. “—Much better.

Next time I’ll need you to send the Bentley. The climb into that thing, in these shoes, baby it was so steep I considered just staying home tonight.”

Turning their head to accept a kiss on the cheek, their eyes landed on an unfortunately familiar baby face.

Seriously.

After all she’d done for him? She watched the young man approach the stranger like the little fool he was, and she sighed.

Waited for him to learn that he had indeed guessed wrong, and for him to spot her waiting eye contact, monitoring him over with a twist of her finger.

[theo-ry]

Watching the stranger turn around only to give him a confused frown, Theo watched their smirk grow slowly like a predator locking into their prey, too familiar with where that could lead.

Theo took a step back, away from the stranger's approach. His eyes scanned the room once more until he locked eyes with another.

Hesitant, he didn't move towards them at first, carful about the beckoning. This was a room full of people who knew what they wanted and how to get it.

But he finally walks over, his eyes studying the next stranger.

"Are... are you..?"

[ourlxdy]

“—Watching you make a fool of yourself? Yes.”

The blonde face pursed their lips, swinging one leg resting against the other and tilting their head at the boy’s face. Their eyes.

The ones that used to have such a sparkle about them. And yet, here he was again.

Silly boy.

“Who is it you’re looking for?” She asked, watching him watch her.

[theo-ry]

Casually stepping into the luxurious hotel lobby, looking the part of someone who belonged in Hightown, the young mutant's usual active demeanor was significantly scaled back, keeping himself in the background as his eyes scanned the room.

Busting in and shouting for their attention, like last time, wasn't going to do him any good. He learned that. The painful way.

If she saw him there, then at least that could initiate some kind of invitation. To talk..

They could be any one of these people.

However, agitated enough, he stepped up to a stranger and he tapped them on their shoulder to get them to turn around. And as they did, Theo waited for some kind of recognition from the other, the question of having guessed right at the edge of his lips.

@ourlxdy

[ourlxdy]

The hotel bar was swimming with all the usual big fish, far be it from Kinga to try to blend in with a crowd that meant keeping a low-profile. What a waste of her talents that would be.

A quick glance to see that an automatic transfer had gone through, and a smile spread across their lips. “—Much better.

Next time I’ll need you to send the Bentley. The climb into that thing, in these shoes, baby it was so steep I considered just staying home tonight.”

Turning their head to accept a kiss on the cheek, their eyes landed on an unfortunately familiar baby face.

Seriously.

After all she’d done for him? She watched the young man approach the stranger like the little fool he was, and she sighed.

Waited for him to learn that he had indeed guessed wrong, and for him to spot her waiting eye contact, monitoring him over with a twist of her finger.

[mcflymemes]

PROMPTS FOR COMMANDS AND DEMANDS *  adjust as necessary

stop following me!

get out of here.

get some rest.

kiss me.

cool it.

shut your mouth.

get off the computer.

walk back out the way you came.

stay low to the ground.

hold this for me.

stop doing that!

hang this up.

fill this up.

don't you dare.

don't look at me.

make your bed.

say something!

keep it clean.

go find someone else to bother.

get back or i'll shoot!

quit doing that.

go to bed.

turn around.

tell me the truth.

trust me on this.

stay here.

get your hands off me.

eat this.

try this and tell me if you like it.

hold me.

get lost!

don't ever speak to me again.

head down this road.

stop the car!

don't say that to me.

stop it right now.

get over yourself.

quit talking.

hide with me.

throw this away.

be here by nine.

get this to me as soon as possible.

don't delay.

tell me how you feel.

talk to me.

touch me.

clean that up.

go date someone else.

hold my drink.

tie this for me.

go take a shower.

wrap yourself up with this.

be here early.

tell me you're lying.

pour me another one.

take my hand.

put your phone down.

go to hell.

stay close to me.

get back here.

shut the door behind you.

stay away from me.

go cool off.

talk to me.

turn left here.

stay the night.

don't do this to me.

leave and never come back.

don't say another word.

pick that up.

speak to me!

clean yourself up.

sleep if you need to.

turn that off.

put that back.

get back in the house.

[ourlxdy]

I’ve killed people for less than this.

For Kinga this felt more like a tell; of showing his hand. Yes, she watched him, and yet here I am. But maybe to challenge him directly on this front would be over playing hers, and The Patron would be pushed to act.

She could only imagine what he was grappling with now, as to what to do about this.

What was she thinking?

Lips pulling into a frown, she shrugged a shoulder. Leaned her head back against the wall and watched him.

“He didn’t belong here, Abel.

You and I both know that.”

This place had already begun to eat him alive. And if he survived, there was really only one way about that.

“And maybe I didn’t want him to live, see him become..” A wry smile, a sigh. “Like us.”

[patrxn]

He scoffed, began to pace, his angry energy keeping him unbalanced, his options few and warring with each other. Nobody belongs anywhere until they make it their place. Their kingdom.

How could Kinga of all people forget that?

"..Like us?"

Turning around, there is disbelief on his face, a kind of offence.

"You mean having survived in a place where all odds were against us? Coming out on top instead of being the dirt under people's shoes??

Maybe you only see the ugly side of things, but I don't. Maybe that has always been your problem, Kinga, unable to grasp how others see you - the good things.

Maybe that's why you settled on being a drudge in someone else's factory when you could've- had more!"

[ourlxdy]

Kinga couldn’t remember the last time she’d ever seen him this angry, this livid, this unbalanced by it. Come what frustrations may, the Patron’s approach was always far more.. measured.

It only solidified for Kinga what she questioned in her still being alive to have this conversation with him.

What little leverage she may still possess, was in play.

A weakness.

“—A drudge in your factory?” Kinga burst out a huff of laughter, exhausted to the bone though she felt her vanity unable to contain itself at that. Was that what he saw? Was that the good he liked seeing?

“Oh baby, I’m not one of your employees.

I have, and I take, what I want.”

She stared at him.

“Maybe I see good too.

I think, to become what’s good about us..” She made a face, the weariness showing through for a moment. “He’d have to kill what’s good in him.

And that,” She shook her head.

“You know, Abel, I just didn’t want to see it.” Bummer.

So. And more pressingly.

“What do you want?”

[patrxn]

"...I didn't say that.." he tried to correct but the ignition had been turned on and whatever energy Kinga had he didn't want to dampen it.

Fuck.

She didn't want to see it? So what made Theo more special than everyone else who couldn't handle the diamond? She didn't care about them. Didn't care if those sons got back home to their families once the fun went a little too far in a overpriced nightclub in Hightown.

"What I want?? Well I don't know, Kinga! Maybe my fucking asset back!"

With a hard bang on the freezer's wall that made one of the guards flinch, Abel stepped away to try and collect himself, though his anger evident and huffed through his nose.

With a nod at the guard, the door to the freezer was opened. And with his back to her, the Patron spoke.

"Get out of here. Don't come back to my club."

[ourlxdy]

The hard bang against the wall brought a minuscule flinch from the shifter, eyes watching him a little sharper now.

Well, the asset was gone.

The control, in this moment and this room at least, lay in his hands. His back turned to her, and something in her expression cracked. Maybe the exhaustion showing through, the heavy chill of the room.

Maybe a passing memory of a boy who came searching for a way, to build a place in the world not just for him.

The door opened.

Grasping against the wall to help get herself up, she doesn’t take the directive with any hesitance or skepticism.

The click of her heels stepped past the man with his back turned, stopping for just a split second, did the shifter turn to look for his face. Ever so brief, a reach to touch his chin.

“Hm.”

A short hum, and then went on walking, the clicking steps eventually picking up speed to vacate the club as quickly as possible, lest there be any trap or change of heart.

[thatbitchsimone]

[ourlxdy]

I’ve killed people for less than this.

For Kinga this felt more like a tell; of showing his hand. Yes, she watched him, and yet here I am. But maybe to challenge him directly on this front would be over playing hers, and The Patron would be pushed to act.

She could only imagine what he was grappling with now, as to what to do about this.

What was she thinking?

Lips pulling into a frown, she shrugged a shoulder. Leaned her head back against the wall and watched him.

“He didn’t belong here, Abel.

You and I both know that.”

This place had already begun to eat him alive. And if he survived, there was really only one way about that.

“And maybe I didn’t want him to live, see him become..” A wry smile, a sigh. “Like us.”

[patrxn]

He scoffed, began to pace, his angry energy keeping him unbalanced, his options few and warring with each other. Nobody belongs anywhere until they make it their place. Their kingdom.

How could Kinga of all people forget that?

"..Like us?"

Turning around, there is disbelief on his face, a kind of offence.

"You mean having survived in a place where all odds were against us? Coming out on top instead of being the dirt under people's shoes??

Maybe you only see the ugly side of things, but I don't. Maybe that has always been your problem, Kinga, unable to grasp how others see you - the good things.

Maybe that's why you settled on being a drudge in someone else's factory when you could've- had more!"

[ourlxdy]

Kinga couldn’t remember the last time she’d ever seen him this angry, this livid, this unbalanced by it. Come what frustrations may, the Patron’s approach was always far more.. measured.

It only solidified for Kinga what she questioned in her still being alive to have this conversation with him.

What little leverage she may still possess, was in play.

A weakness.

“—A drudge in your factory?” Kinga burst out a huff of laughter, exhausted to the bone though she felt her vanity unable to contain itself at that. Was that what he saw? Was that the good he liked seeing?

“Oh baby, I’m not one of your employees.

I have, and I take, what I want.”

She stared at him.

“Maybe I see good too.

I think, to become what’s good about us..” She made a face, the weariness showing through for a moment. “He’d have to kill what’s good in him.

And that,” She shook her head.

“You know, Abel, I just didn’t want to see it.” Bummer.

So. And more pressingly.

“What do you want?”

[ourlxdy]

The weakness in her body left Kinga needing to sit, feeling the cold floor beneath her.

The chill, a thick and heavy stillness that seemed to bear down and slow even thoughts. But at the sound of crisp footsteps she recognized, her eyes lift to lock onto the Patron.

“I liked my old room better.” At least wearing the pilot’s face she’d gotten to enjoy a room with champagne and single malt.

Now what??

She turned her head slightly to the side, some form of curiosity pulling the side of her mouth into a dubious smile.

“More of a question for you, isn’t it?”

Was he not in clear possession of the upper hand?

[patrxn]

The moment Kinga's softened voice broke through the silence, he stopped in his anger, watching her. Less energetic than he was used to seeing her, there was no dulling that sharp tongue.

"I've killed people for less than this."

Stating a fact, or a threat, he doesn't sound too happy about it.

"What the hell were you thinking??"

[ourlxdy]

I’ve killed people for less than this.

For Kinga this felt more like a tell; of showing his hand. Yes, she watched him, and yet here I am. But maybe to challenge him directly on this front would be over playing hers, and The Patron would be pushed to act.

She could only imagine what he was grappling with now, as to what to do about this.

What was she thinking?

Lips pulling into a frown, she shrugged a shoulder. Leaned her head back against the wall and watched him.

“He didn’t belong here, Abel.

You and I both know that.”

This place had already begun to eat him alive. And if he survived, there was really only one way about that.

“And maybe I didn’t want him to live, see him become..” A wry smile, a sigh. “Like us.”

[patrxn]

@ourlxdy

The freezer - the small space big enough to fit one person at a time had come to be a very helpful tool along the years. It hadn't been too long since he'd last used it, to mold the perfect follower, keep their head straight, teach them what was really at stake.

A place where the occupant is neither dead nor really fully alive.

At least, that's what he'd been told..

The sound of a heavy door that opens and closes is followed by the Patron's quick crisp footsteps on the steel flooring, coming closer to the chamber.

"--You had your fun, now what??"

[ourlxdy]

The weakness in her body left Kinga needing to sit, feeling the cold floor beneath her.

The chill, a thick and heavy stillness that seemed to bear down and slow even thoughts. But at the sound of crisp footsteps she recognized, her eyes lift to lock onto the Patron.

“I liked my old room better.” At least wearing the pilot’s face she’d gotten to enjoy a room with champagne and single malt.

Now what??

She turned her head slightly to the side, some form of curiosity pulling the side of her mouth into a dubious smile.

“More of a question for you, isn’t it?”

Was he not in clear possession of the upper hand?

[graveyardfullofstars]

[dradothehobbit]

Que mulher linda, na moral

[ourlxdy]

How are you? Holding up against the creeping cold, the kind that seeps into your bones, leaves you weak,

leaves you feeling like life is being pulled away from you.

... are you dying?

It’s so cold.

Hands grasped around her shoulders, she sits against the wall, always scanning, searching for some point in the room- some weak point, a way out.

But Abel was smarter than that.

Is this what it feels like, dying?

Not yet, she wanted more. There was still more, there were still so many things she’d yet to grasp in her hands.

More people, more parties, more gemstones and rare gemstones, more excitement, more warmth, more life.

Life.. fleeing, her body.

Let glamour, the subtler manifestations of her power, a seeming radiance had dimmed, an extra streak of golden shimmer across her eyelids faded away along with the perfectly flattering flush on her cheeks..