angels fall

rose hathaway. twenty three. dhampir. non human. alicante. ❝ i'm really not good with impulse control. ❞

[klausmikaelsvn]

“ do you ever hear yourself? ” one of my actual chars, rose

question prompts.

"Of course I do. In fact, my siblings would argue that my own voice is the only one I listen to. You can hardly blame me, I'm the only man in this sorry excuse of a rebellion that speaks any sense. You should do yourself a favour, tune in. You might learn something."

[bellamysgriffin]

ULTIMATE SHIPS CHALLENGE - "I Love You's" Without Saying "I Love You" [5/7]

[alecllightwood]

“Alright, everyone listen up! I need your full attention.” Alec spoke with conviction, his voice carrying through their group's playful chatter. Whilst most in attendance had continued their training and actively put it into practice during the war, there'd been no official meetings during that period, no solid rules or guidelines. The responsibility to organise the resulting fallout now lay with Alec. He had to step up, fix the shattered dynamics, reassign them all a new routine. It would certainly come with an abundance of eye rolls and sarcastic backtalk, but he felt far more prepared than before. A few words of reassurance from Izzy and Jace had attested to that. He was the leading Shadowhunter, and the guardians that stood in wait in front of him now were his responsibility. Once the conversation had lulled into silence, Alec straightened himself, beginning to pace along the training centre's flooring, his confidence rising as he noticed the gazes of his peers following his movements. "I thought the rebellion would bring an end to our guardian practices. I'm grateful to have been wrong. Many of us have found our way here without instruction from one another, and I find that to be no coincidence. But Alexandria doesn't belong to us, it belongs to downworlders. This means that our responsibilities haven't lessened. We have to be prepared to protect our remaining Moroi." He cast his eyes towards Adrian and Neville, but his mind also wandered to those still in Alicante. They weren't whole, yet. As pessimistic as he was, Alec still chose to believe that they'd reunite eventually. Meaning that they had to take this seriously now. "The pairings assigned to us before the rebellion were well balanced, so I see no reason to change them entirely. However, there are absences and additions that need to be accounted for. Some of us also have lost time to... dire circumstances." Alec pressed his lips together in contemplation before continuing, hoping his peers would understand his decisions, considering he'd spent so much time pondering them since the Steele's arrival. "Eddie, you did an excellent job protecting Adrian on the journey here, so that continue as is. Mason, the same compliment applies to you, but Neville has now joined us, so you can revert to your original practice." With a nod, he continued on, smiling in his sister's direction. "Izzy, you're still with Elijah. I'll trust you to keep him on task." After the conversation they'd had regarding the youngest guardian, Alec knew it'd be pointless attempting to pair Isabelle with anyone else. He didn't agree with it, especially considering Elijah would need to siphon Isabelle in order to perform, but he respected her decision. "Now, I understand that Benji and Jace would usually be assigned together, but Rose and Juliet have missed out the last few years. So for today, Benji, I ask you to assist me in catching Juliet up to speed with our new methods and regulations. Rose, I'll do the same for you. Jace will oversee our progress and report back to me once the sessions have concluded. Is everyone clear?"

[rssehathaway]

Rose eventually quietened down when Alec asked for their attention, but not without rolling her eyes at Mason and Adrian first, finding the formalities ridiculous. Although, in a sealed corner of her brain, she really felt afraid, knowing her untimely death had cost her her abilities, and her charge. She was no longer a dhampir, no longer able to keep up with her peers or do the one job she'd been born to do, facts she’d been able to ignore when they weren’t by her side, but they’d now all found their way to Alexandria. And as relieved as she was to know they were okay, she felt like she’d lived another lifetime without them, without her abilities, without any training. Alec even inviting her along today felt condescending, especially when he knew she wouldn’t be able to perform like she used to. It was as if he wanted to embarrass her in front of those she used to dominate on the academy’s leaderboard. But there was no way, of course, that she’d ever voice that, not willing to share her grief with anybody. So, with all thoughts of Lissa shoved aside, she'd showed up, and with little to no stamina anymore, skipped the warm-up entirely and slipped into what felt comfortable instead — messing around with the boys.

She resisted the urge to talk back to their newly-appointed leader, to call out over him, but only because Isabelle looked so damn proud. Clearly, this was a big moment for their family. Whatever. But then he got to the pairings. Rose's smirk disappeared, and she attempted to swallow the nerves that arose, suddenly unable to hide behind banter. She was aware this wasn't a formal ceremony and nothing was permanent, they were just trying things out, but she still felt her heart hammer in her chest. Losing Lissa initially had been the Capitol's doing, but this felt like an active betrayal. But maybe Alec would understand that, maybe he wouldn't pair her with anyone, maybe he'd just let her train on her own, give her time to wrap her head around everything again.

The first pairing was announced and Rose stared at the floor, mind elsewhere. She supposed she had to have a partner for sparring purposes eventually, but maybe she could roam around? She'd really prefer Mason anyway, figuring she'd be able to get away with doing a whole lot of nothing in that case. Her jaw clenched when she heard Neville's name. So that plan was out, then. Surely Juliet was the best option left now, both of them years behind their peers. Then came her name. “— What?” This time, Rose was unable to bite her tongue, anxious and reactive. Alec Lightwood, their staunch leader, was the last person she wanted to be with. She'd even take Benji over him, at least knowing from years of betrothal how to handle his nature. The prospect of training with Alec was instead her worst nightmare.

Rose found him cold, a stickler for the rules, and she was still convinced this was all some elaborate plan to embarrass her for all the times she'd undermined him. Well, she wouldn't be party to it. Abilities or not, she was still Rose Hathaway, and nobody could tell her what to do. The second the other satisfied pairs cleared the room, Rose sauntered up to him, ready to bite his head off. “Uh, no, I’m not 'clear'. Why the fuck can’t you go with Benji, and I’ll go with Juliet? Or better yet, I'll oversee. Jace doesn't know shit about the course compared to me.” Just because she'd been out of the game for years didn't mean Alicante had changed — in fact, she'd put money on it. It was the most traditional stronghold in Panem.

[xrebelleader]

I promise

[sequenceofmind]

Scream (2022) Melissa & Mikey | dir. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett

[emziess]

I'm Buck. 9-1-1, S09E07

[adrianivashkv]

[stilesstlinski]

[lissadragcmir]

[stilesstlinski]

[stilesstlinski]

[stilesstlinski]

[izaaclahey]

Isaac laughed then, wondering why she’d even doubted herself. He’d never denied Rose of anything, not when she’d asked, and he certainly wasn’t about to start now. Whatever had happened between them in the Capitol meant nothing to Isaac, he fully understood she wasn’t in control. The same way Stiles hadn’t been when Void had taken over and attacked him, the same way Scott hadn’t been when Thredson had forced him to confine Isaac in the freezer. Those decisions, those actions, came with complicated reasoning, conclusions to a horrific spiral of events. Though he allowed his friends to be sorry, Isaac couldn’t hold them accountable. He had no doubt it’d be his turn one day, that he’d be the one seeking forgiveness. When that day came, he knew they’d be there with open arms, understanding him as he had them. Being in a pack had taught him that, unwavering loyalty. 

Isaac leaned on the counter, preparing to order another shot, when Rose spoke out over the music. Before he’d even had chance to respond, her arms encased him, and without even pausing to think about the closeness, his embrace went to meet her. “Oh.” The statement took him by surprise, and he tried to hone in on his senses to get a better judgement of her mood. Whatever it was now, it’d changed in a second. That worried Isaac far more than anything else going on around them. “I love you too.” 

[rssehathaway]

Unfortunately, what she’d put into motion she now couldn’t stop, Rose helpless as the tidal waves of guilt she’d spent months suppressing suddenly crashed to the surface. She’d gotten drunk to feel nothing, overwhelmed by her past catching up with her, but now she was left to feel everything, the closeness of him triggering the buried guilt and rage. It only got worse when he returned the sentiment, when she could feel him, the squeeze in her gut turning to a sob. She knew it hadn’t been her fault, her doing, but it didn’t hurt any less. She’d had everything taken from her, her former identity completely stripped, forcing her to start anew, only for them to turn her into a soldier, a mindless puppet capable of hurting those she loved. Rose hated that she felt guilty, that she could still hear the crunch of Isaac’s bones, that she could recall the look in his eyes yet hadn’t been able to stop it. That she’d watched Jackson turn to dust and simply walked away. It didn’t matter that she couldn’t sleep, she lived the nightmares over and over regardless. She despised who she was, who they’d made her, and was terrified to think there was only one solution.

Pulling away slightly to suck in some air, Rose found herself unable to meet his eye, sobs overtaking her. “I tried, Isaac, I- I really tried. I couldn’t - I couldn’t do anything. I was trapped. I am trapped.”

[stilesstlinski]

Stiles couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten drunk, at least not to this extent, and he couldn’t deny how much he enjoyed the simplicity of it. The voices and emotions he was often weighed down by, as Rose herself went on to point out, had blurred together and been supressed into his subconscious, allowing him to truly focus. And as the hand found his face, that’s exactly where Stiles’ direction diverted, blinded to everything but her. His breath caught in his throat, overcome by the intensity of it, the music numbing to nothing more than a dull vibration in his ears. His movements slowed, their swaying progressively coming to a stop, and Stiles gaze didn’t leave Rose’s, hanging on to her every word. “Yeah, yeah. I can feel it.” The playful tone disappeared from his voice, and his stomach formed a knot he didn’t have the sobriety to understand, one which caused his face to edge closer. Usually, he’d have been overcome with anxiety, stammering with a thousand questions, but the alcohol allowed him to settle into the physical touch. It softened the noise that so often held him back. “I can feel… us.” Whatever us meant, Stiles knew he wanted to delve further into it, the hand he’d slipped around her waist remaining there, gripping onto the fabric of her top. In his current state, he didn’t have to question his actions, or hers. It just made sense. “It feels good.”

[rssehathaway]

Something between them had shifted, something that had been lingering for a while but had never been acknowledged by them before. In her current state, Rose didn’t recognise what it was, but she felt the change, the sudden intensity, the way their shared gaze hadn’t been broken. And strangely, she didn’t feel afraid. She didn’t want an escape, a distraction from it, something to take her mind off things, not like her usual hook-ups. She’d come to the club for that initially, to find something to numb her pain, and in a way, she’d found it, this unspoken thing that had suddenly come to light. Nameless, wordless, it existed between them only, Rose suddenly acutely aware of his hand on her back, her hand on his face. It did feel good. His response felt like permission, the confirmation they’d both been waiting for, Rose moving to kiss him before she’d even thought about it, drawn to him without question. It hadn’t been planned, hadn’t been a means to an end, and she melted into it, her other hand moving to pull him closer, finding his hair, his neck, his chest.

[kolmikalson]

“None of the above. But it’s a delight to see that you’re taking such an interest in my personal life, darling.” 

[rssehathaway]

She huffed. “It’s not like there’s anything else interesting going on around here at all. You’ve gotta give me something to work with, Kol, or I’ll be forced to do some digging. And Hanna just did my nails, so I’d really rather not.”

[manny-jacinto]

DIVERGENT (2014) dir. Neil Burger

[stilesstlinski]

“I know, right? I’m a total dance pro. Totally missed my calling,” Stiles grinned, shuffling with a confidence he would never wear if he was sober. But this was exactly what nightclubs were all about, apparently, and it hadn’t taken Stiles long to adjust to the fast paced energy as soon as he’d taken a few shots. His only regret was starting his night alone, and not finding Rose sooner. “Well then shake it with me!” Stiles allowed Rose to guide him closer, the hand that she’d held a moment ago sliding around her waist, instead. He was too far gone to be nervous about the intimacy, and it wasn’t as if he and Rose hadn’t been close before. They’d just never danced. He found himself liking it, it felt natural, and fun. Something both of them had lacked the last few years. “You look pretty!” He commented, pulling back enough to see her face. “Pretty drunk.”

[rssehathaway]

“It’s not too late,” she laughed again, spinning around herself before pulling him in. Feeling his reciprocation, without hesitation, Rose’s arms snaked around his neck, chin resting against his shoulder as they moved together. Only moments ago, she’d wanted to jump around the room, get up on the bar and dance, but now, she was suddenly incredibly content just swaying, enjoying the feeling of his arms encircling her, the heavy thud of the music vibrating in her chest, overwhelming her weakened senses. It was a sensation so different to anything she’d felt for years, one of delirium and fun, even if she’d only come out tonight to drown out the pain. But perhaps that was exactly why it was so fun. She felt him close to her, felt the weight of his touch, but she also felt a million miles away, floating free from the guilt and grief that constantly weighed her down.

Feeling him move, Rose pulled back when he did, and she grinned at the comment. “Yeah. I’m free. We both are.” Sincere now, a hand slid from his neck to find his face, meeting his eyes. “You don’t have to worry about any of it now. All that shit, all those fucking - connections, all those voices inside you, they’re gone. It’s just us. Can you feel it?”