𝚆𝙷𝙸𝚂𝙿𝙴𝚁𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝙵𝙰𝚃𝙴 .

fortune favours the bold .

[mystxcmxn]

he's not pushed away so he leans in letting their shoulders touch. "you are hot and fucking was good" he paused for a second "Dont like the walls or the better then you attuide but not like im asking you on a date." he paused. his brand of not caring maybe being to much for the moment. "unless you ment something else."

[queenwraths]

⟣  ─  ˑ  〃  ۫ " so it was good then , " there it is : the admission . a flirtatious , feline - like smile cuts through fine features of hera ' s chosen as he turns to look into the blues of ares' s son . he ' s won . " not . . . what did you call it earlier ? forgettable ? "

[mystxcmxn]

he still leans closer to the other letting his body still offer the other some warmth. Protection maybe he didn't know the other still looked frazzled. "I get it a lot has happened" he spoke taking a drag. His arm resting on the banister behind nick wrapped around him bit not really. "Ive been chilling don't have any attachment to aaron besides friend ship." he raised his brow "gonna admit that you wanted to sit in my lap now."

[queenwraths]

⟣  ─  ˑ  〃  ۫ " you fucking wish . " he half laughs as he feels the ghost of matty ' s arm behind him -- instinct says to move again . but his warmth is comfortable , and the protectiveness of the gesture . . . feels nice . " you really do -- don ' t you ? "

[mystxcmxn]

Loctaion: outside during the smoke break. He tuts as Nick pulls away from it. It wasn't hard to catch the wall go up and down as the night moved on. Wasn't really sure what had caused it, didn't even know nick liked him. Still he felt a little guilty about the shift in his mood. "Here" he spoke as he handed him a smoke "Looks like you need one" he waited till the other put in his mouth before strking his lighter. "Feeling better?"

[queenwraths]

⟣  ─  ˑ  〃  ۫ " no . " he takes the cigarette regardless , and leans in to his light -- and ah , maybe he does feel a little bit better -- the cold air , and the smoke coming from his lungs . " i ' m fine . . . it ' s just all a little " confusing . overwhelming . too much , too fast . he leans against the wall . " how are you feeling ? . . . now that your emotional support lapdog went upstairs for the night ? "

[ichabodsam]

samael has been to many parties, has seen plenty of faces. seen them mix, mingle, seen people drunk and high and out of their minds. he has shared a dance or two, or three, with men of all sorts.

that doesn't make it less intriguing when someone can match his attitude, when someone moves towards him pulled by the web he weaves by accident or purpose. but nick is not lost in it, he is making his own moves, pushing his own dares as if he doesn't know--

samael grins, a shrug as he feels the ghost of fingertips tracing the bare skin of his arms, the way his eyes flutter down towards his lips. he can almost taste all the tension in the air and he feels it folding onto itself, pushed out into the party, making it all the livelier. dangerous, but he is not paying attention.

"do you like playing with fire, nick?" he asks, leaning into him as he approaches, the ghost of a kiss against his lips, chasing as his eyes close and he grunts. deep and low, his eyes darkened when he opens them again.

"you should know i'm usually the one that makes people forget themselves." he moves them swiftly, gently, but surely. pressing him against the wall, as he seems to want, but not yet fully in his space. not yet taking or claiming.

his nose brushes the sensitive skin of his neck, takes in his scent as he crowds his fellow chosen, leaves him no escape. face moving up, he lets their skin meet, warmth shared, as lips press against neck, then chin, teasing touches that barely scratch the need to sink his teeth into the other.

bad idea.

"are you sure you want to risk that?" he whispers hotly against his mouth. lips brushing against nick's slowly, letting him feel them, letting him know how easily he could plunge in.

if he only dared.

[queenwraths]

⟣  ─  ˑ  〃  ۫  nick ’ s  grin  is  a  mess  of  heat  and  haze ,  uneven  and  reckless ,  like  it  might  tip  too  far  and  spill  into  something  dangerous .  the  world  swims  around  him — bright  lights  streaking  across  his  vision ,  laughter  and  music  warping  into  some  distant ,  muffled  hum . . .  but  samael  is  sharp ,  vivid .  too  vivid .  his  gaze  slices  right  through  the  fog ,  and  nick  can  feel  the  thrum  of  it  in  his  chest ,  too  fast ,  too  loud ,  echoing  with  every  breath .

“ risk ? ”  nick  echoes ,  the  word  rolling  off  his  tongue  like  a  dare ,  drawn  out  and  slick .  his  laugh  is  soft ,  almost  breathless ,  caught  somewhere  between  a  rasp  and  a  purr .

his  head  tilts  back  against  the  wall ,  neck  arching  just  enough  to  bare  a  sliver  of  skin ,  an  invitation  wrapped  in  defiance .  the  lights  catch  on  the  sheen  of  sweat  at  his  collarbone ,  and  there ’ s  a  rawness  to  him ,  like  he ’ s  burning  from  the  inside  out .  his  hand  drifts  up  samael ’ s  chest ,  slow  and  deliberate ,  fingers  curling  in  the  fabric  just  enough  to  pull  him  closer .

“ you  talk  a  big  game , ”  nick  murmurs ,  voice  low ,  roughened  with  too  many  sins  and  not  enough  regrets .  his  lips  hover  close  to  samael ’ s  ear ,  the  words  a  spark  meant  to  catch  fire .  “ but  if  you ’ re  the  one  making  people  forget  themselves ,  why  am  i  still  here ,  thinking  about  how  you ’ re  gonna  break  first ? ”

his  breath  hitches ,  a  half - choked  laugh  that  turns  into  a  shiver  as  samael ’ s  lips  graze  his  skin ,  teasing  and  dangerous .  nick ’ s  fingers  tangle  in  his  hair ,  tugging  lightly ,  his  grip  tightening  as  he  drags  their  faces  closer ,  their  breaths  mingling  in  the  charged  air  between  them .

“ go  on ,  then , ”  he  breathes ,  and  his  grin  splits  wide ,  shameless  and  electric against samael ' s lips .  “ show  me  what  you can do . ”

[heroicfolklores]

𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘦 to the guy he both admired and wanted to see shattered. like an ornate mirror, reflecting everything in perfect clarity ── he absently wondered if the shards will do the same. but the dark thoughts at the back of napoleon's head receded the instant he felt lips ghost over his earlobe, whispering ... the sea born laughed. yet as his eyes turned towards nick, the sea glass sheen of them had now taken on a more focused look. past the haze of drunkenness, he studied the other. arrogant, self-assured, ravenous. all extremely attractive qualities that now pooled together and made napoleon take a step forward in return, cornering the other against a wall, bodies hairsbreadths apart. "oh, how i love a challenge, amore," he all but rasped, tone gritty like coarse sand. "introduce me to you. what do you like? ... what are you hungry for, beautiful?"

[queenwraths]

⟣   ─   ˑ   〃   ۫  nick  tilts  his  head ,  the  faintest  curve  of  a  smirk  tugging  at  his  lips .  his  posture ,  already  lazy ,  softens  further  as  he  sinks  back  against  the  wall  napoleon  had  so  graciously  cornered  him  against .  sharp  eyes  trail  the  other ’ s  face — catching  on  the glint  of  his  gaze ,  the  rasp  that  clings  to  his  words  like  sandpaper .  nick ’ s  heard  this  kind  of  charm  before ,  smooth  and  jagged  all  at  once ,  but  rarely  has  it  sounded  so  convincing .

he  lets  the  silence  stretch ,  heavy  and  deliberate ,  tongue  darting  out  to  wet  his  lower  lip .  " a  challenge ,  huh ? "  it ’ s  lazy ,  dripping  with  faint  disdain ,  like  he  already  knows  how  this  is  going  to  play  out .

his  hand  lifts,  brushing  against  napoleon ’ s  side  in  a  languid  tease ,  fingers  ghosting  just  enough  to  provoke  before  retreating  entirely .  " i ’ ve  been  called  a  lot  of  things , "  he  murmurs ,  voice  velvet - soft  but  razor - sharp .  " but  ‘ beautiful ’ . . .  that ’ s  a  new  one .  flattered ,  really . "

he  doesn’t  drop  his  gaze ,  letting  it  linger  with  an  unshakable  arrogance ,  half - lidded  and  electric .  " hunger for , hm ? "  he  echoes ,  like  he ’ s  tasting  the  words  for  the  first  time .  a  scoff  follows ,  low .  " maybe question is : do you think you ' re enough to satisfy it ? "  his  lips  quirk ; a challenge onto itself  " your move , amore . "

[heroicfolklores]

napoleon was nursing his drink, eyes scanning the room like a shark on a hunt. the blood scent of an interesting person ... you had to learn how to catch it, lest you end up with a tedious fellow. no offense to the wallflowers, but he wanted a little fun! all of his parties had a tried-and-true formula for success: sex, food, and alcohol. all men could rarely refuse it. in the same way sailors used certain baits to lure prey into their nets, napoleon did for his parties. that was how he ended up with such a motley crew of handsome faces, but all paled in comparison to a chosen, especially the dark-haired beauty he'd seen on his previous mission. the smirk across his lips as he saw the other was pleased, amused, "well, what can i say? i throw a good party." he followed the other's arm to the packed living room, eyes gleaming at the room before they turned back towards their point of interest. "stand? oh no, i'm giving others like you a chance to warm up." his smirk unfurled. "plus, i prefer not to dance alone. some activities are best done in a pair, or more."

[queenwraths]

⟣   ─   ˑ   〃   ۫  nick  let  his  fingers  trace  the  rim  of  his  glass ,  the  sharp  edge  of  it  grounding  him  as  the  world  around  him  blurred  just  a  little  more  with  each  passing  second .  the  high  was  making  everything  feel  just  a  bit  too  vivid ,  and  as  he  turned  toward  napoleon ,  the  buzz  coursing  through  him  made  his  smirk  feel  sharper  than  usual.  he  leaned  in ,  close  enough  to  let  his  breath  ghost  over  napoleon ’ s  ear ,  voice  low  and  dripping  with  something  dangerous .

“ warming  up ,  huh ? ”  he  murmured ,  his  gaze  sweeping  over  napoleon  like  he  was  something  to  be  tasted .  “ i  don’t  need  warming  up , ”  his  voice  a  teasing  drawl .  “ but  i  wouldn’t  mind  a  good  partner .  think  you  can  keep  up ? ”

he  let  the  question  hang  in  the  air  for  a  beat,  long  enough  to  make  the  tension  stretch .  nick  stepped  back ,  not  quite  out  of  reach ,  his  eyes  meeting  napoleon ’ s  with  a  look  that  was  too  sharp  to  be  anything  but  hungry “ show  me  what  you’ve  got ,  napoleon .  or  are  you  all  talk ? ”

[divinesons]

"Tch." He'd hated school while he was in it, but whatever science was behind magic would've been easier to get a handle on if he could do what he'd done back in twelfth: paid someone to study for him. Well, less paid and more under intense and founded threats of violence you will do this report for me. "Spoken like Hera's prodigal bookworm."

Conan extended a hand toward one of the books that had been dropped on the desk, abandoning the one he was looking over to skim the title of another. A calloused finger traced the embossed script and Conan could feel his eyes glazing over all over again. "Go on," A heavy hand reached to the back of his head as he scratched at the den of hair there with a few idle strokes. "anything good?" Read it to me, went unsaid.

[queenwraths]

⟣  ─  ˑ  〃  ۫  " prodigal . . . big word , " nick  flicked  through  the  book  with  a  deliberate,  almost  bored  air ,  his  fingers  turning  the  pages  faster  than  he  actually  read .  " seelie  follow  rules ,  unseelie  don ’ t , "  he  said,  his  voice  laced  with  a  hint  of  disdain ,  as  though  this  was  all  a  bit  beneath  him .  " chaos ,  destruction — nothing  too  complicated . "

he  felt  conan ’ s  eyes  on  him ,  the  weight  of  them  making  the  corners  of  his  lips  twitch  into  something  close  to  a  smirk .  nick  shifted  his  posture ,  leaning  against  the  desk  with  an  ease  that  suggested  he  belonged  there ,  like  he  was  above  all  of  this .  and  maybe ,  in  some  ways ,  he  was .  he  wasn ' t  yet sure  where  he  fit  in  on  this  island ,  but  he  sure  as  hell  wasn ' t  going  to  let  anyone  think  he  didn ’ t  know  what  he  was  doing .

" you’re  gonna  have  to  dig  into  it , "  he  continued ,  snapping  the  book  closed  with  a  little  more  force  than  necessary .  " answers  don ’ t  just  pop  up . "

he  looked  over  at  conan ,  the  smirk  curling  up  further .  he  leaned  in  just  slightly ,  close  enough  that  the  tension  could  be  felt ,  but  not  enough  to  cross  any  lines — yet .  " i ’ ll  help , "  he  said ,  his  voice  almost  purring  now ,  still  teasing with  an  unmistakable  superiority .  " but  i’m  not  exactly  free . . .  so ,  what ’ s  in  it  for  me ? "

nick ’ s  eyes  gleamed  as  he  held  conan ’ s  gaze ,  his  expression  challenging ,  almost  daring  him  to  answer .  “ you ’ ll  owe  me .  and  trust  me ,  i  know  how  to  collect . ”

[sibyllicson]

open to anyone setting the apollo bedroom, early morning

his adventures as a chosen demigod didn't start the way percy expected. he'd been ineffective and useless in combat. none of his attacks seemed to hit and that doubt was starting to seep into his mind, this wasn't what he thought it would be... hopefully it was just his nerves that would shake off once he got more used to all of this.

as the morning light shun through his thick curtains the following morning, percy woke up in his bed with a headache. when did he get here and where did his clothes end up? the last thing he remembered was after cleaning sewage shit off himself, the son of apollo grabbed a bottle of wine that he quickly emptied out. anything after that was a blur.

pulling his frame up and rubbing his eyes, it took percy a moment to realize someone was laying there with him. it must have been whoever joined him to wallow in his own self misery. "fuck.." he mumbled to himself, looking around for his clothes.

[queenwraths]

⟣  ─  ˑ  〃  ۫  nick  stirs  at  the  rustling ,  the  noise  creeping  into  the fog of a sleeping  brain.  the  ache  in  his  head  is  immediate ,  sharp ,  like  someone ’ s  been  pounding  on  his  skull .  he  blinks ,  struggling  to  get  his  bearings ,  the  room  around  him  spinning  in  slow  motion .  too bright . the bed  too  soft ,  all of it too  unfamiliar .

he ’ s  shirtless ,  just  in  a  pair  of  tight  briefs ,  and  the  cool  air  bites  at  his  skin .  he ’ s  not  sure  how  he  ended  up  like  this .

the  guy  next  to  him ,  brown  hair  messy  and  eyes  half - open ,  is  scrambling  for  his  clothes .  nick  rubs  his  face ,  trying  to  shake  off  the  confusion . " what  the  hell . . . ? "  he  mutters  under  his  breath .  his  voice  is  hoarse ,  thick  with  the  remnants  of  whatever  had  him  so  messed  up  last  night .

" listen -- did  something . . .  happen  last  night ? "  the  words  come  out  slowly ,  his  gaze  flicking  between  percy  and  the  disheveled  state  of  the  room .  it ’ s  more  of  a  question  to  himself ,  a  hazy  realization  he  doesn ’ t  want  to  deal  with .  he  leans  back  against  the  pillows ,  the  headache  pressing  in  as  he  waits  for  an  answer  he ’ s  not  sure  he  wants .

[ssweeneys]

Alperen Duymaz in Çukur

[wixcrafting]

confidence isn't something that is lacking around the island. each encounter with a different chosen is showing that to casimiro. hazel eyes stare at the other, the confidence dripping from each word, oozing out of him like a wave of unbridled heat. casimiro only hums, playful, thoughtful.

"oh, i'm sure you know that they would enjoy it." he turns his head just a bit, for their gazes to meet, and he holds it. unwavering eye contact, almost unsettling. he goes without blinking for quite some time. "i'm sure you know there's plenty of things they'd enjoy watching you do." he waves a hand toward the crowd. "go, entertain us." it's a challenge, a dare. "or try to at least." he grins, wicked and divine, and waits to see what the son of hera might do.

[queenwraths]

⟣ ─ ˑ 〃 ۫ nick ’ s  grin  spreads  wider ,  a  little  too  sharp ,  a  little  too  aware .  the  high  hums  under  his  skin ,  sharp  and  electric ,  everything  around  him  moving  in  slow  motion  and  yet  in  a  blur .  his  eyes — dilated ,  too  bright — flick  over  the  room  like  they ’ re  tasting  the  air ,  each  breath  slower  than  the  last  but  with  an  undercurrent  of  restless  energy .  he ’ s  drunk ,  but  it ’ s  the  high  that  makes  him  feel  like  this  moment  could  slip  right  through  his  fingers  if  he  doesn ’ t  grab  it .

“ oh ,  i ’ m  sure  they ’ d  love  that , ”  he  murmurs ,  his  voice  low  and  velvet - smooth ,  but  the  slur  is  barely  there ,  hidden  beneath  the  edge  of  something  dangerous .  his  body  leans  into  the  chair ,  half - melted  but  never  completely  passive ,  the  energy  still  humming  under  the  surface ,  quick  and  insistent .  he  picks  up  his  glass  again ,  swirling  the  liquid  inside  it  with  a  careful  precision  that  makes  his  hands  look  too  steady ,  too  controlled  for  someone  this  deep  in  the  zone .

his  gaze  flicks  back  to  casimiro ,  sharper  now ,  the  kind  of  focus  that  cuts  through  the  haze .  “ but  you  know,  i  think  i’d  make  a  better  show  if  i  had  a  little  help , "  he  says ,  voice  almost  a  whisper ,  thick  and  sultry ,  pulling  at  something  in  the  air  between  them .  he  stands ,  the  movement  languid  but  with  an  undeniable  confidence ,  like  he  knows  he ’ s  the  one  in  control  here .

he  steps  toward  casimiro ,  his  pace  a  lazy  glide ,  everything  around  him  moving  in  slow  bursts  of  color  as  his  brain  buzzes ,  high  on  the  high .  when  he  reaches  casimiro ,  there ' s  something  heady  in  the  way  his  lips  curl  into  a  knowing  grin .  he  leans  in  close ,  his  breath  warm  against  the  other ’ s  ear ,  and  the  words  spill  out  with  the  kind  of  easy  command  that  comes  with  confidence — no ,  with  power .

“ you ’ re  not  just  gonna  stand  there  and  watch  me ,  right ? ”  he  murmurs ,  his  voice  low  and  thick ,  sliding  under  the  skin .  his  hand  moves  out ,  brushing  against  casimiro ’ s  arm  with  a  deliberate  slowness ,  the  touch  far  too  suggestive  for  a  mere  passing  gesture .  the  contact  lingers  a  little  too  long  before  he  pulls  him  into  it ,  a  sharp  tug  that  pulls  casimiro  out  of  his  seat  with  a  careless  kind  of  force .

“ come  on , ”  nick  adds,  voice  teasing  but  with  a  bite  to  it ,  a  tug  of  something  else ,  the  high  thrumming  through  his  veins .  “ you’ve  got  a  front-row  seat  now .  don’t  waste  it . ”

[orxngehues]

Charlie rolled his eyes, " I mean, it like layman's terms it's just meat in stuff, but like it's ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, onion, and a whole bunch of seasonings, you should try some!" He placed the plate on the counter in from of Nick, " But no worries if it's not your thing, I can totally make something else," Cooking was never really a chore for Charlie. Sure there were some days he didn't want to cook and just have time to himself, mainly when he had his summer breaks, but he just loved making food for people. " I do make more elaborate things than this, this was just quick and easy."

" What did you get, in your room?" He asked, " Mine is this log cabin, it's very nice and cozy, and it has this ah-mazing bathtub, but then I hear that Samael has a hot tub in his? Maybe when I go back to my room there will be one." The room did change to their desires, but how much did it change?

[queenwraths]

⟣ ─ ˑ 〃 ۫ nick  glanced  at  the  meatloaf ,  his  face  unchanged .  " i’m  good , "  he  muttered ,  eyes  sliding  over  the  dish .  " ground  beef ’ s  not  really  my  thing .  i  prefer  leaner  cuts . "  he  leaned  back ,  arms  folded ,  showing  his  disinterest  without  a  word .  " besides ,  i ’ m  sure  you ’ ve  got  something  better  on  deck  for  later ,  yeah ? "  he  didn ’ t  even  need  to  ask — he  already  knew  charlie  would  whip  something  up  more  to  his  taste  sooner  or  later .

his  gaze  slid  around  the  kitchen ,  a  slight  raise  to  his  brow .  " so ,  you ’ re  the  cook ,  huh ? "  his  voice  was  a  little  flatter ,  but  there  was  no  real  malice .  " could  be  worse .  at  least  you  know  what  you’re  doing  in  here .  that ’ s  something . "  he  gave  the  meatloaf  one  last  look  before  nudging  the  plate  aside,  careful not to make it look like a total rejection .

" my  room ’ s  fine , "  he  added ,  tone  dismissive  but  with  a  hint  of  reluctant  approval .  " looks  kind of like  a  suite  at  the  ritz  or  something .  marble,  velvet — typical .  a little generic ,  but  whatever .  it  works . "  he  shrugged ,  uninterested ,  but  the  luxury  wasn’t  lost  on  him .  just  felt  out  of  place  here ,  with  all  the  weird  magic  and  shit .

" you  been  here  longer ,  yeah ? "  he  asked,  voice  light,  like  he  was  just  making  conversation .  " what ’ s  the  deal  with  the  room-changing  thing ?  like ,  is  that  part  of  the  ‘ chosen ’  gig  or  something ?  seems  like  a  lot  of  extra  for  no  reason . "  skepticism  edged  his  words ,  but  there  was  a  glimmer  of  curiosity .  about  charlie ,  about  the  whole  place .  and  yeah ,  he  couldn ’ t  lie — getting  in  charlie ’ s  good  graces  would  probably  pay  off .  who  knew  what  kind  of  meals  he  could  score  from  this  guy .

[crimehunted]

deep  down  ezrah  never  quite  lost  the  feeling  that  what  he  did  was  wrong.  it  happened  a  few  times  when  he  was  a  child  &  the  sisters  ensured  he  understood  that  him  growing  claws  in  the  middle  of  bible  lesson  was  inappropriate  or  that  doing  the  same  thing  when  the  older  kids  bullied  him  to  scare  them  off  wasn't  allowed  either,  so  maybe  there  was  that  lodged  inside  his  psyche  somewhere,  which  made  him  feel  like  he  had  to  hide  what  he  was  up  to  in  the  preserve  most  of  the  time.  he  couldn't  quite  tell.

but  when  he  found  someone  had  seen  him,  he  did  feel  that  same  old  shame  &  shit  i  got  caught  bubbling  up  within  him  first  thing.  one  thing  was  clear,  though,  he'd  been  there  long  enough  to  see  it  all.  good,  great.  what  a  wonderful  way  to  start  this  chosen  thing.  his  question,  though  -  seemingly  his  only  concern....?  had  the  older  man  tilt  his  head  to  the  side.  oh.  "they  don't  shift  with  me,  so  if  i  don't  take  them  off  they're  gonna  tear  and  i  gotta  walk  back  naked.  as  for  the  way  they  look,  you  ever  try  getting  wrinkles  out  of  a  suit?  gotta  care  for  your  clothes  or  what's  the  point?"  clothes  were  money,  clothes  were  status.

ezrah  dressed  for  work,  sure,  but  he  also  liked  his  clothes.  suits  -  even  without  the  proper  jacket,  had  to  be  cared  for  &  treated  with  respect.  the  fact  he  may  or  may  not  have  a  thing  for  order  &  folding  clothes...  was  of  no  concern  in  this  case.  while  he  spoke,  he'd  bound  his  tie  &  fiddled  the  holster  he'd  hidden  in  brush  behind  the  log  onto  his  shoulders,  gun  secured.  he  was  whole  again.  "i  don't  see  a  lot  of  us  in  here.  i'm  ezrah."  it  seemed  like  demigods  generally  didn't  hang  out  in  the  preserve.

[queenwraths]

⟣  ─  ˑ  〃  ۫  nick  raises  an  eyebrow,  looking  him  over  with  a  faint  smirk  as  ezrah  gets  dressed ,  clearly  unbothered  by  the  situation .  he  notices  the  care  ezrah  takes  with  his  clothes,  and  for  a  second ,  there's  a  flicker  of  respect  in  his  eyes .  he  hadn’t  expected  a  guy  who  could  turn  into  a  fox  to  be  this . . .  well ,  put  together .

" so  you ’ re  all  about  the  sharp  look ,  hm ? "  he  asks  casually ,  nodding  at  the  neatness  with  which  ezrah  dresses .  " suit ’ s  looking  sharp . "  he  looks  up  from  the  well-pressed  clothes  to  meet  ezrah ’ s  eyes ,  offering  a  half-smile .  " ezrah ,  huh ?  i ’ m  nick . "  he  pauses  for  a  moment ,  then  adds  " hera ' s chosen . " 

[goldencrownss]

Valentine's smile doesn't drop when the other speaks, his head tilting as he enjoys the tone of the others voice and that affectionate tone. "Hm, stealing your moments when you can in this place does seem like a fine plan. Relax- I'll keep that plan a secret." The Frenchman waved his hand again, settling back into his seat with that same smile that could light up a city.

"Oh? Are you telling me you don't want to hear about napoleon's latest conquest?"' personally Valentine wasn't minding all that much between the various godlings children. Though he was a little more use to dealing with such strong personality's than most people- between the island and his own childhood in France.

His eyes did drift back down towards the paper on his lap with a little sigh, however. "Well that's the trick. Normally I wouldn't have to put much thought into it. But it's just..." he tapped the page a few times. "Not happening today." which was beyond annoying when he felt like usually he'd blink and suddenly the picture would be there.

'I suppose I'm...undecided on what it should be. Rather feels like a lot of my life, actually." he pointed out with a little wave of his pencil around at the house.

[queenwraths]

⟣  ─  ˑ  〃  ۫   nick  lets  out  a  soft  chuckle ,  his  lips  curving  into  a  grin  as  he  leans  against  the  garden ’ s  low  wall ,  keeping  the  cigarette  tucked  away  for  now .  “ appreciate  the  discretion .  don ’ t  want  anyone  thinking  i ’ ve  gone  soft ,  sneaking  away  like  this . ”  there’s  a  playful  edge  to  his  tone ,  but  his  gaze  lingers  on  valentine ’ s  sketchpad ,  curiosity  piqued.

" napoleon’s  latest  conquest ,  yeah . . . "  he  echoes ,  shaking  his  head  with  a  faint  smirk.  “ i  think  i’ll  pass .  something  tells  me  he ’ s  doing  just  fine  without  my  applause . ”

his  dark  eyes  flicker  back  to  valentine ,  tracing  the  faint  line  of  concentration  on  his  brow ,  the  easy  way  the  evening  light  catches  on  his  features .  valentine  is . . .  distracting ,  in  a  way  nick  can ’ t  entirely  place .  it  makes  him  a  little  more  careful ,  a  little  more  deliberate  with  his  words.

nick ’ s  gaze  shifts  back  to  the  sketch ,  his  expression  softening  as  valentine  speaks  about  his  struggle .  the  metaphor  isn ’ t  lost  on  him ,  and  for  a  moment ,  he ’ s  silent ,  considering  his  words .  finally ,  he  shrugs ,  offering  a  half - smile .

" sounds  like  you ’ re  overthinking  it .  sometimes . . .  you ’ ve  just  got  to  let  it  happen .  doesn’t  have  to  be  perfect ,  right ? ”  he  gestures  vaguely  at  the  garden  around  them .  “ maybe  the  answer ’ s  already  here ,  and  you  just  haven ’ t  noticed  it  yet . ” there ’ s  something  sincere  in  his  voice ,  a  rare  moment  of  vulnerability  slipping  past  the  polished  facade .  he  crosses  his  arms ,  tilting  his  head  to  study  valentine .  “ undecided  on  the  sketch . . .  or  the  life ? ”

[mystxcmxn]

Mateo looked at the other with not but look of pure disinterest. He had come up just to offer a friendly hand and was meet with was just a mean girl facade for no reason. He took another drink of his beer as he looked at him with a small smile. "are you saying that you know how the island works what the chosen do on the island." his face not faltering for even a second. If nick wanted to play this game then they can play.

"if that's the case," he paused his grin growing wider as he teased, "how do the wards work? What age do we start training for those born on the island? How do the chosen tie break a vote on the council?" Most of these Mateo had learned from just living his whole life here but it was the basic know how of the island. He leaned against the wall waiting for the other to answer at least one of his questions.

After a while he took another drink, "It makes sense that you don't know any of this you just got here, but if you want to run back the sarcasm and accept the help that was offered too you we can try this again." His cocky smile never flattering, "If not i can let you drown in the chaos of all this."

[queenwraths]

⟣  ─  ˑ  〃  ۫  nick's  smile  sharpened ,  the  kind  that  didn’t  reach  his  eyes  but  looked  good  in  photos .  tequila  still  burned  at  the  back  of  his  throat ,  and  the  weight  of  the  night  dragged  on  his  shoulders .  "  charming ,  “  he  drawled ,  taking  a  deliberate  sip  of  his  drink  and  meeting  matteo's  grin  with  a  raised  brow .  ” i  '  m  flattered  you  think  i  '  m  up  for  a  pop  quiz . "

but  matteo's  cocky  smirk  didn’t  waver ,  and  the  quiet  confidence  behind  it  stoked  something  raw  under  nick ' s  skin .  he  hated  that  . . .  hated  being  underestimated ,  hated  the  reminder  of  just  how  little  he  knew  compared  to  these  kids  who ' d  grown  up  in  this  absurd  world  of  gods  and  monsters .  his  mother ' s  voice  echoed  in  his  head :  don't  let  them  see  you  falter  .

"  listen  ,  golden  boy,  "  nick  finally  said ,  leaning  in  just  enough  for  his  words  to  take  on  a  conspiratorial  edge .  "  i ' m  new ,  sure .  doesn ’ t  mean  i  need  your  lectures  or  your  charity .  maybe  i  didn ' t  grow  up  on  this  rock ,  but  trust  me ,  i ‘ ll  figure  it  out .  "  his  tone  softened  ,  the  arrogance  giving  way  to  something  playful ,  even  dangerous .  "  besides ,  if you’re  right  .  .  .  and i  am  drowning ,  the  view  from  the  water ?  fucking spectacular .  "

[queenwraths]

where : the big house when : new year ' s party featuring : @crimehunted

⟣  ─  ˑ  〃  ۫ the  party  had  bled  into  the  edges  of  dawn ,  its  reckless  rhythm  softening  into  something  slower ,  more  fragile .  nick  leaned  against  the  balcony  railing ,  holding a cigarette and staring  out  at  the  faint  streaks  of  pink  and  gold  creeping  across  the  horizon .  the  sky  felt  too  close ,  the  air  too  sharp ,  and  the  static  under  his  skin  had  soured  into  a  restless  ache .  he  swirled  the  last  inch  of  gin  in  his  glass ,  but  even  that  tasted  wrong  now ,  the  burn  doing  nothing  to  ground  him .

he  almost  didn’t  hear  ezrah  approach — quiet  footsteps ,  a  presence  that  didn’t  really demand  attention  but  still  filled  the  space .  nick  glanced  over  his  shoulder ,  catching  the  faint  silhouette  of  the  older  man  framed  by  the  soft ,  growing  light . " should’ve  guessed  you’d  end  up  out  here , "  nick  said ,  his  voice  rougher  than  he  meant  it  to  be .  he  turned  back  to  the  skyline ,  his  smirk  faint  and  tired .  “ can’t  imagine  the  mess  in  there ’ s your  scene . ”

[queenwraths]

where : the big house when : new year ' s party featuring : @napobythesea

⟣ ─ ˑ 〃 ۫ the  house  was  alive ,  a  pulsating  mass  of  music  and  bodies ,  all  spinning  on  the  chaos  napoleon  had  orchestrated .  nick  leaned  against  the  counter  like  he  owned  the  place — because , in a way ,  he  did — along with fifteen other men . but  it  felt  different  tonight ,  like  every  inch  of  the  party  had  napoleon’s  fingerprints  on  it .  his presence larger than life . drunk  and  riding  a  sharp ,  shimmering  high ,  nick  cannot  decide  if  it  annoys  him , or  . . .

he  slides  up  next  to  him ,  close  enough  that  their  shoulders  almost  brushed .  " you ’ ve  outdone  yourself ,  napoleon , "  he  said ,  voice  carrying  a  teasing  edge.  " but  all  this ? "  nick  gestured  toward  the  packed  living  room  with  a  lazy  wave ,  his  smirk  growing .  " feels  a  bit  wasted  if  you’re  just  standing  here . "  he  leans  in  closer ,  tone  dipping  low ,  conspiratorial .  " come  on ,  show  me  what  you’ve  got --- or . . .  are  you  afraid  you ’ ll  be  outdone  on  your  own  dance  floor ? "

[ichabodsam]

samael soaked in the drunken haze, the revelry as people intoxicated themselves with one thing or the other. dancing and drinking, and flirting, drawing each other in, he took a step back. to look and enjoy and not fear.

even so, it seemed like his presence was made known, felt. it felt stronger now, and perhaps the saving grace was that he was mostly around just as powerful chosen now.

"i do?" he chuckled gently, leaning into nick, eyes trailing over his face and his body. all that draw, and magnetism directed towards him now, samael was too high on the evening to avoid that now "it seems like you have ideas of how you'd like the night to end." he teased.

"i can almost see it. the dirty thoughts running through that mind of yours." he leaned even further in, the scent of him heavy on his nostrils. perhaps nick wanted to get intoxicated in something other than the booze they had provided for the evening.

"how about you tell me, and we can see about making them reality, huh?"

[queenwraths]

⟣ ─ ˑ 〃 ۫ nick’s  grin  curves ,  languid  and  knowing ,  the  kind  that  says  he’s  tasted  something  sweet  and  isn’t  letting  go .  he  feels  the  weight  of  samael’s  gaze  like  it’s  carved  into  his  skin ,  the  noise  of  the  party  fading ,  each  laugh  and  cheer  becoming  distant  white  noise  as  everything  sharpens  into  the  two  of  them.  his  fingers  skim  the  rim  of  his  empty  glass ,  but  the  liquor’s  long  gone ,  the  taste  of  it  nothing  more  than  a  distant  memory  as  something  far  sharper  courses  through  him ,  like  fire  under  his  skin .

“ you  think  you  can  read  me  that  easily ? ”  he  murmurs,  his  voice  low ,  rougher  than  it  should  be ,  the  words  dragging  like  a  tease .  his  hand  drifts  casually  to  samael ’ s  arm ,  the  touch  light ,  just  enough  to  feel  the  warmth  of  him ,  to  let  the  heat  between  them  simmer.

“ i’m  sure  you’ve  got  your  own  little  fantasies , ”  nick  continues,  eyes  dropping  to  samael’s  lips  for  a  split  second  before  meeting  his  gaze  again.  the  way  samael  leans  into  him,  the  scent  of  him  intoxicating,  fills  nick  with  a  sudden  hunger,  a  craving  he  hasn’t  let  himself  feel  in  a  while.  a  thrill  hums  through  his  chest  as  his  hand  finds  its  way  to  samael ’ s  arm once more ,  fingers  grazing  lightly ,  his  thumb  tracing  idle  circles  on  the  skin,  feeling  the  warmth,  imagining  the  tension  under  it.

“ but  if  you  want  to  know  what  I’m  thinking . . . ”  he  says,  voice  low  and  close  now ,  almost  a  whisper ,  “ i ’ m  imagining  you  up  against  this  wall ,  feeling  every  inch  of  you  as  you — "  he  cuts  himself  off ,  leaning  in  so  close  that  his  breath  mingles  with  samael ’ s ,  voice  barely  above  a  murmur ,  " — let  me  make  you  forget  where  we  are . "

he  pulls  back  slightly ,  eyes  flicking  over  samael’s  face,  letting  the  tension  build,  leaving  just  enough  unsaid  to  make  the  moment  feel  like  a  slow  burn .  the  party  rages  around  them ,  but  it’s  the  two  of  them  locked  in  this  charged  silence ,  a  game  only  they’re  playing .