Devil doesn&#x27;t bargain

it had been a delicate dance between the pair of them, hinting around what they truly felt. she probably would have continued that for god knows how long. afraid that speaking it aloud would bring calamity right to her doorstep. yet the world still shook and split, and buildings still came crumbling in her silence. it was incredibly difficult to keep from falling into despair at the unknown until her gaze had landed on him.

all of the tension in her body had evaporated, finally feeling some sense of calm. there was a small thought scratching at her brain that the earthquake was not the last dangerous situation they'd find themselves in. and if that were the case ? pj needed him to really know. how strongly she felt for him, even if things fell to pieces because of or regardless of it. at least he'd know. she wasn't certain what his reaction would be, while believing it wouldn't be a rejection. eyes searching his for any sort of response, until he gave his. a wash of emotions ran through her, twitch of a smile on her lips. ❛ and you have me, ❜ words leaving as if breathing.

#( thread | pj halliwell. )#( pj 002. )#( dynamic | rainier & pj. )#// if you need me I AM DEAD

What kind of happy end could ever await two such as them? But if the world was destined to burn and they with it, maybe now was the time to be selfish. Or maybe less selfish. She was kind meant for the paradise of Heaven, and he could only see the ways he'd drag her to Hell with him. She couldn't really save his soul, could she? She'd have to find one for him first.

Yet, her words. The feel of touching her, the subtle upturn of her lips, warm eyes full of everything, as if the power of these feelings could create a bridge between sides, could stop the apocalypse itself. He'd feared losing her today, and even if he'd wanted, he couldn't push her away. Not with this much desperation to be closer than ever. "You have horrible taste in men," he exhaled in something like a laugh. Damn his selfishness. Because he'd hear those words again, even as he meant to tell her you could do better. "Stay with me."

@rainicr

i almost DIED back there , and you’re laughing ?

"but you didn't." even as she disputed this the grin on her face was unyielding. it couldn't be helped. well no, she easily could have offered some help but she hadn't seen any incentive to. the focus had been stuck on rainier and amelia saw no reason to draw it towards herself. well, unless she felt like a fight but she wasn't in the mood currently. even if one might have been brewing due to her own amused response to his misfortune. "and you're being dramatic. you wouldn't have let yourself die so pathetically, come on." if he had been on death's door amelia would have probably stepped in. probably.

#( thread | amelia mears. )#( amelia 001. )#( dynamic | rainier & amelia. )

"I could have," Rainier snipped. Not that he didn't respect someone out for number one, and if the tables had turned, he'd not be any more inclined to step in and help her. That said, the laughter was unnecessary. And he was not going to be less dramatic. "That's true, if I'm going out, it's in spectacular fashion. Still wasn't funny--that was closer than I would have liked it to be." With an eye roll, he couldn't say much else about it without being hypocritical. "It's definitely starting to become clearer why this is where we landed. 2001 is a shitshow."

@rainicr

follow my instructions very closely .

maybe it came from all those years of buffy trying to keep her out of harm's way and away from the seedier elements of sunnydale. which, given it lived on a hellmouth, was most of sunnydale. even if those years were memories fragmented by such weird ancient monks they still impacted dawn and her way of learning, or more so, lack therefore of. "then give me better instructions." she exclaimed, more frustrated then she was meaning to be. "i just mean--- i need some clarity, less cryptic. no technicalities, just the technical." it was how she learned best. "i do want to learn." she added, hoping he didn't think she took such lesson for granted. she didn't. but if dawn was going to learn she wanted to learn correctly, and she couldn't do that if she simply relied on instinct.

#( thread | dawn summers. )#( dawn 002. )#( dynamic | rainier & dawn. )

The impressionable always suited his particular brand. His own particular ends. Even so, Rainier didn't wish her harm. A true rarity. Yet, she had seen him in a tragedy, taking advantages and unconcerned for the dead and dying, and she hadn't flinched. She had been curious, and even now, was curious still. "You have a lot more attitude when we're not under a mall," he observed, lips twitched up in a smirk. Another lesson may be needed on being less apologetic. "Plant that foot," he instructed, tapping the side of one thigh, "bring the other forward, toward me. Good balance matters in a fight because unless you're in a class, no one actually fights fair. So don't. Especially if they have powers and you don't. Find a vulnerability, same analytics as looking over the dead, just faster because live ones keep moving. Okay, let's practice. What vulnerability do you see in me right now? I don't have feelings, so you can't hurt them. If I were to be attacking you right now, how do you survive?"

pj was no stranger to loss, in fact one could consider the pair old friends. it was an entity that never seemed too far away, dancing in and out of her life in varying degrees. reminding her of its presence the second she found herself healing. lurking around every corner and tonight it had gotten too close to him. upon seeing his face once more she silently thanked the universe for not taking him from her. something she wasn't sure she'd be able to survive.

though here he was, alive, and in her arms once more. the dread that had been shouting loudly in her brain melting away at the sound of his voice now filling her ears. a sound pj feared she would never hear again.

wetness rimming her eyes, as the gravity of everything they'd both just experienced really starting to hit her. blinking them back, she refused to give way to any more negative thoughts or beliefs when he stood in front of her. squeezing his hand affectionately as their fingers intertwined, she reached up to place a soft kiss on his cheek. ❛ don't scare me like that again, okay ? ❜ the tease leaving her gently with a small grin pulling at the corner of her lips. taking a peak into the bag he'd pulled out she shook her head softly before looking back up at him. ❛ i don't need any of that, rain. just you. ❜ a vocal admission of the truth. nothing in that bag was worth more to her than he was

#( thread | pj halliwell. )#( pj 002. )#( dynamic | rainier & pj. )#// her calling him rain = cause of death #them just out here inventing love fr

His well-being had fallen second to concern over hers. Never had he considered someone above himself...and yet. One thing he knew, though, he could not be another loss in a long line of what's been taken from her. He had reason beyond his own self-preservation to be safe. Every look, every word, it held beneath the surface a promise he would not leave her. No earthquake, no act of man or Hellmouth, could separate them.

Touch uncharacteristically gentle, he felt as the emotions welled up in her sweet doe eyes. It was the last thing on earth he wanted for her, willing to fight to the end, to death itself, to make sure pain would never linger.

Lips against skin. Lighting up every nerve ending, surging through every fiber in his being. While his allegiance may have been to Wyatt and their cause, the true power over him was hers alone. In something as simple as gentle affection. "Yes, ma'am," he answered with a touch of a smirk, glad to see a little reprieve in her worry. The fact she took nothing did not surprise him, but her reason, her answer--though also no shock--was unexpected to hear aloud. Momentarily, he froze, uncertain of the processing needed for all he felt for her. "My darling...you have me."

museinspo

“we’re in love during the war. does it make each moment more precious, or does it make each moment more difficult?”

— the war will turn us to monsters (i no longer recognize you) [j.m] (via mythpoetrynet)

#( and i don't want the sun to burn without you | rainier & pj. )#// NO STOP IT HURTS

@rainicr

from the second she felt the earth beginning to rattle, her thoughts were of him. working along to aid those in need until she could finally ( and successfully ) locate him alive. as muscle memory had kicked in while she worked, her mind had travelled to terrible thoughts the longer her powers wavered, the longer she didn't know if he was alright. flicker of hope refusing to be snuffed out even in the darkness.

that tiny glimmer of faith burning into a raging flame in his arms now. warmth sinking down to the bone. still her grip of him never faltered, as if it was the only thing tethering the other to reality. not taking the chance.

i am now, now. the word echoed quietly. whatever he had been through had to have been categorically worse. trapped amongst the debris while she been lucky. the quip a remembrance of the ever growing loss surrounding them. she let it go, let the air sweep it away in the wind. thinking of it all now would consume her. ❛ none is mine, ❜ referring to her own blood stained clothes in reassurance. blotches gained from the chaos in the wake of the shudder. ❛ i'm okay, i promise. where i was didn't have a much damage. ❜ how that had been she didn't know, she'd have changed spots with him in a second. ❛ are you sure you're alright ? ❜ she presses once more, needing to be sure, unable to take that first answer while worry still gripped her.

#( thread | pj halliwell. )#( pj 002. )#( dynamic | rainier & pj. )#// oh look my beloved stolen goods for you. aren't you proud?? - rainier basically

How heavy a weight it must be to care deeply for others, when care for one threatened to cripple him. If he'd come out to a different outcome--no, he didn't dare. He'd vowed to himself to protect her from that first moment on, and it would remain an honored promise. His only priority in his trapped state had been to return to her, which he had now done. All else could be left to fade away.

He was a survivor, unsuited the uncertainty the caved mall had provided, but in a wave, in one glorious sight, the thoughts had vanished. She hadn't been hurt, landing in the safest place the city had offered. Maybe fate was on their side after all.

Breath flowed more freely through his lungs. Hand engulfing hers, resting on his chest over where a heart should be--where she reminded him a heart was. "You are unharmed," he stated as if that were answer enough, "I could not be more alright." Physical wounds would heal, but the loss of her--that would never. Reaching for the bag he'd smuggled out of the wreckage, he offered to show her its contents. Show he'd made use of his time, if not exactly in the way she had. Money stacked at the bottom as various pieces of jewelry (diamonds, emeralds, gold, silver, and the like) littered the top. "Whatever you like you can have."

fatefcked

head cocked. smile bloomed. feigned naiveté took a DANGEROUS edge : a look that could lacerate , a powder keg promise , an ill-advised invitation. they'd played this game before ---- brokered business or pleasure for WHATEVER their little heart desired ---- and they nearly almost won. he wouldn't of SURVIVED this long if he hadn't. an appraising hum. " you must have one hell of a trust fund , " they teased. what could they say ? they had a HEDONIST'S heart. how someone got what skylar wanted wasn't so important as that they had it. " we might . " he agreed. " -but i know lots of people. not many of them are INTERESTING. " a silent question : are you ? because demons were a dime a dozen and BLONDES weren't exactly their thing , so as far as skylar was concerned , this guy was going to have to WORK for it.

#( thread | skylar forbes. )#( skylar 001. )#( dynamic | rainier & skylar. )

What a great thing it was that Rainier loved a game. Immortality could so easily become dull otherwise. Sitting, waiting for the next move--or the world to end, it didn't suit. Not with entertainment wildly available if one only looked. "Something like that." Fund of mistrust may be a more fitting term, but semantics never concerned the demon. "It's limitless, let's just say that. With proper motivation anyway." Life was cheap, particularly human life. There were so many of them, and with last breaths, the law of finders keepers applied. "I don't disagree. Should probably keep better company." Interesting personalities were like little treasures, only found if looking in the right places. "Speaking of the uninteresting, some of them would like us to take our taste for being the ruling class and spit it out. Call that 'setting the world right'. Well, I'm not quite so inclined. You do not seem like a person who wants that decided for you either, so maybe we have the makings of a conversation right there."

willgrahamscock

they’re horrors to YOU, however i’m turned on by them

#( musings. )

xueyangapologist

“this is the hill you want to die on?” oh no i just love arguing. i fully intend to leave this hill once it gets boring. sorry for the confusion!

#( musings. )

fatefcked

detritus in the STREETS , bodies in the morgue , and still , they were nothing compared to the VICES OF MEN. ugly and warped as this little corner of paradise was , the alcohol flowed freely and the QUESTIONS were far and few between. so when skylar came in ---- stench of smoke clinging to them like a second skin ---- no one asked questions. another PRETTY thing fallen on hard times. another untouchable thing begging to be touched. whatever kept the drinks FREE. but when someone actually came to sit beside him ? a smile like a serrated blade. " you might want to start this conversation after a trip to the atm. i'd hate to see you start something you can't FINISH. "

@hellsmouthstarters

#( thread | skylar forbes. )#( skylar 001. )#( dynamic | rainier & skylar. )

There was something invigorating in survival, in watching chaos befall others. Victory was in the sights of the few. But few they were. The Resistance did outnumber them, and in a battle of good vs. evil, the numbers needed to tilt in the latter's direction. Light had too pesky a habit of illuminating darkness. PJ was right there, toe at the line she professed she would not cross, but maybe someone else would. Saddling up in the chair beside, Rainier met grin for grin, his own devilish and charming. In another life, he might have done well in sales. Or recruiting. "Oh, I always finish." But he also came prepared, revealing large bills held between pointer and middle finger but stopped short of belonging to the other. He'd escaped the mall with more than simply his life, having made use of his time to maximum self-benefit. Bribery: the language of man, beast, and everything in between. It was just a matter of finding out what they wanted. "I think we know some of the same people, don't we?"

the instability of her sensing powers caused panic lock into her system the entirety of the time it fluctuated. there were moments she feared that those she couldn't feel ( no matter how hard she tried to concentrate ) were gone. once pj felt her magic restore to it's full capacity she immediately tried to focus on him, needing to make sure he was okay.

in an instant she was amongst the crowds outside the mall trying to catch a glimpse of rainier through the throngs of people. anxiety of what possible condition he might be in, what he'd been through, held onto her heart with a vice grip. catching the slightest sight of him pj moved quickly pushing past the other bodies to bring her closer to him.

with arms snaking around him her face buried in his chest, hearing his heart beat, another reminder he was alive. ❛ are you okay ? ❜ she murmurs as one hand slides up to hold the side of his face. eyes now scanning over his features worriedly. looking for any injury that would need tending to. everything and everyone else fading into a quiet buzz around them.

#( thread | pj halliwell. )#( pj 002. )#( dynamic | rainier & pj. )#// imaginationnn lmao

A volley back and forth, a wavering of needing her there so he knew where she was and a hope that she was in a safer place, came to an end. He no longer had to wonder, to worry. There she was, safe and sound, in his arms. He had never held onto anything so tightly, nothing had ever been precious enough for him to truly fear losing.

Touch felt more real, nerve endings lighting up a direct path straight to his heart. Noise was surely still in the background, but Rainier could not hear a word of it. He cared nothing for any other frantic searching or reunions held around them, none of it mattered like she mattered.

He'd have to let go eventually, but her head pressed into his chest, the look in her eyes when she checked him for injury, all he could do was hold her. "I am now," he assured, the wounds he'd sustained were nothing in comparison to what could have been if she'd not made it through. Brushing off the still closing slices and bruises, it was hardly worth her concern. "You should have seen the other guys." It was a bit tasteless, perhaps, for a joke, knowing she would care that there were fallen. He decided to leave out that a mere few feet separated him and the impaling of a man. "Most of this blood isn't mine, and now that things are stabilizing, I'll finish healing." Taking the moment to check her over in return, he inquired softly, "where were you? Are you okay?"

magic had been warren's entire life, it was the only thing that made him feel whole. the only constant thing in his world and the fleeting nature of it now had his mind beginning to spiral. luckily distractions had always worked for him so with the focus of getting the hell out here he felt slightly settled.

❛ mhm, ❜ he hummed before continuing, ❛ i'll keep your donation anonymous, wouldn't want anyone to think you're of any actual use. ❜ perhaps without his magic at the tips of his fingers he shouldn't be as mouthy. though, if he was having performance issues, warren was sure the other was as well. ❛ you know, just because you say that doesn't make it true, ❜ everyone had a weakness, that he was sure of. ❛ yeah, your weak ass throw, ❜ murmuring under his breath. shrugging his shoulders, ❛ and miss the chance to ransack ? somehow i doubt that. ❜ chaos for the sake of chaos right ? his injury had been a slight set back in the means of escaping, that he already knew. eyes rolled as the other continued to toss thinly veiled insults his way. that he was used to, amelia never holding anything back. he ignored it all, ❛ what do you suggest ? we roam about till we find a gap ? ❜ the enemy you know better than the enemy you don't right ?

#( thread | warren mears jr. )#( warren jr 001. )#( dynamic | rainier & warren jr. )#( event: under pressure | group m. )

Getting out alive was all Rainier cared about. He was tired of jumping from one apocalyptic scenario to another, and there was no way in hell he planned to survive the disaster of 2031 just to die in 2001. In a freakin' mall of all places. What a lame way to go, so he didn't care what it took or who he needed to team up with to get out of this thing.

"Of actual use to you? Absolutely not. Though you certainly need the help." In better circumstances, Warren might have been made to regret the words. However, all they had consistently was the ability to sound like a couple of bitchy teenagers in the school cafeteria, and well, that'd pass the time. "Say it, mean it." As if doubling down would make it true, but to admit weakness would be to invite speculation on what--or who--it was. Approaching the other man, he gave his injured arm a 'friendly' pat. "Right, my throw," he hummed, tossing the bag of goodies over his shoulder with a self-satisfied smirk. He peaked out into the chaos of the mall, trying to mentally map a route. "Exactly. This is the mall in this town, I think people noticed when it came down. So as long as we aren't the only survivors in town..." a thought he didn't dare give more attention than a passing reference, "someone is making a hole somewhere. In the event of instability, I'd like to be the first one through, which means finding where they're coming in before anyone else does."

WHO: Rainier & PJ ( @calamitcs )

Fresh air met his lungs like an old friend. Chaos remained around him as loved ones rushed the space in hopes of finding their survivors, the wounded and expired all around. Rainier cared for none of it, pushing it all to background noise and periphery. He needed only one sight: her.

"PJ..." The syllable like a prayer, rushing more air into his lungs. All that time wondering: was she okay? was she worried? was she alive? The answer came to him screaming: YES. It didn't matter what anyone saw, what he should or shouldn't do, not when she was right there. His feet had never carried him faster.

Arms wrapped around her, he is engulfed by the warmth of her. He hadn't used his time wisely, not for good, not for anything worthy of telling her. It only proved how undeserved her love for him truly was. However, the moment dwindled down into its simplest form--what most onlookers would ascribe: two lovers reunited.

And wasn't that enough?

#( starter | closed. )#calamitcs #( thread | pj halliwell. )#( pj 002. )#( dynamic | rainier & pj. )#// post event REUNION owning my entire ass #and having the perfect gif for it!!

"Yes, my Ted Talks have known to inspire legions of men." Paige responded with a bite of bitter sarcasm. It couldn't be helped. She didn't know who she was annoyed at more, him for being such a little troll or herself for being so incapable. She liked being able to do things, she liked being accomplished, and the road there was always a rocky one. Paige wouldn't be satisficed until she got the hang of things, even if it was a long winding road she was stubborn to a fault. "You sure sound like one." She remarked, snippy as a young woman could be against someone who could easily take her out. She should probably be more wary, but Paige didn't do caution all too well. "Oh cool, my capacity for lameness is all that's keeping me alive-- just great." She should be more grateful, probably. Instead she sighed and sulked, frustration burning in her temple for her lack of aptitude. A pause, as a new realization crept in. "You know, you're the chattiest demon I've come across yet." Arms crossed, she looked over him. "Are you even a demon? Or one of those other things?" Too many monsters to count, usually variations of demons but still. There was a whole lot. Paige needed to study them, even if studying was the furthest thing from her mind in this moment.

#( thread | paige matthews. )#( paige 001. )#( dynamic | rainier & paige. )#// the sass battle is cracking me up lol

Very sassy for a woman who couldn't orb properly. "Wow, I should probably check those out," he retorted, "this preview has been enlightening." Okay, so maybe she wasn't the only sassy one here. Well, what else was he supposed to do? He couldn't kill her, not unless he got rid of these pesky feelings for PJ. Which were incredibly inconvenient. How did other beings do emotions and feelings all the time? "Have you met one?" She was pushing buttons on purpose, she had to be. Either she didn't think him to actually be dangerous or she had a death wish. Maybe both. "Sometimes we demons like to chat," he offered up in excuse, "especially when we have enough skill to not feel a lot of fear at the two-foot orb." He didn't need her getting nosy, not about him or PJ or him and PJ. The last thing she needed to know was that he never had any intent of causing her actual harm. "Are you actually a Charmed One? Thought you were supposed to be scarier."

She wasn't anything. Quite literally. A girl with false memories, created by strange ole monks trying to stop a literal hellgod from unleashing-- well, hell. Dawn wasn't real until a few years ago, well, more like one year ago. All her experiences, memories, everything that made her her was fabricated. Until the gate closed. With no gate she was no longer the key, and putting aside all the falseness of her reality she was just a girl. Just a girl who lived in Sunnydale, the hellmouth on which they stood. "Not enough for it to make a difference." Relatively she was human, even when she opened the gate to hell there was nothing quite special. She might have been they key but she still bled red. There was no super strength or laser beams. Just a lot of power she had no access to. "Sounds a lot scarier then it is," Dawn told him with confidence she herself was surprised with. She hadn't realized how normal it had become until she spoke of it. "Apocalypses are triggered, then they're averted, blah blah blah."

She looked over the corpse, hesitation to touch it more then she already head. It made her feel all types of queasy to be so close, but right now Buffy wasn't here to protect her. No one was. Which meant Dawn needed to learn. She needed to protect the life Buffy had sacrificed so much to save, make her sister's choices have meaning was something only Dawn could do. So she scanned the corpse once again. She thought of what she knew of the man who had taken his wallet, tried to think like he thought. "He..." She began. "... his watch. It looks expensive." Could probably make a lot pawning it off, but whether or not that was what the other was looking for was another question.