long way down

and if you fall... sebastian tietjen // 22

[sebxstivn-blog]

vspen:

Aspen let out a breath and moved a hand to his shoulder as Sebastian to help hold him up. It was so fascinating? How people were able to change their forms- that is. She could never imagine what that was like. Without thinking glanced down as he shifted back to a legged form, but quickly glanced back up once she realized what she was doing. He was very close to her. It was strange considering that there was such an ordeal to get the barrier of trust established. 

Her eyes locked on his as he thanked her. As small, tentative smile curved her lips as she looked back to him. “Yeah- yeah of course.” The hand that touched his bare shoulder dropped and turned away as he searched for his clothes. Her eyes wandered over the darkened trees and brush for only a moment before she felt the need to fill the silence. “You’re taller than I anticipated.” She smirked and shrugged a shoulder. “I guess the tail threw me off.”

“Yeah?” he supplied, glad that the silence was being filled, though he wouldn’t admit that either. This was beginning to be a series of things he wouldn’t willingly admit to himself. “You’re shorter than expected. The tail threw us both off, I guess.” He tugged on a pair of joggers, letting them ride his hips low and returned to Aspen’s side, still tugging a sweatshirt on. “Judging from how surprised you sound, I assume this is your first time watching anyone, er, y’know. Shift?”

Sebastian stood closer to her than even he anticipated. Maybe it was his cocky attitude or just enjoyment of the proximity, but it didn’t even bother him that they were this close. She’d showed very clearly that she wasn’t any threat and that was something Sebastian trusted, albeit too much.

[sebxstivn-blog]

vspen:

Aspen took the moment and looked over the hand that was extended to her. Not only did she hold some fascination for the webbing that connected the fingers, more importantly, this was the ultimate test of trust. There was no doubt that he had the power to drag her down in the depths of the water and kill her. Aspen had the power of harming him too. She wondered why she trusted him? And why did he trust her? He just called her hunter scum just a few moments ago. Regardless of the sudden worry that popped to her mind, she reached her hand out, taking his. 

With a small, yet excited smile Aspen gave his hand a shake. A shake to commemorate the trust they showed. She then remembered that the entire point of this was for him to meet her on two legs. “Oh- uh here, let me give you a lift.” She got a firmer grip and gave him a pull to help him up.

Sebastian pumped his tail to help him up out of the water. As he returned to two legs, he reached out his other hand and placed it on Aspen’s shoulder to steady himself. Here, nearly pressed against her, something felt too intimate. He took a small step back and a shiver ran through him, both from the cold air on his bare body and the proximity, though he denied the second mentally. 

“Thanks,” he mumbled, eyes fixated on Aspen’s. “You, uh--yeah, thanks.” He let his hand fall from her shoulder and turned away momentarily to locate his bag of clothes.

[sebxstivn-blog]

loveandlilies:

“Alright.” She nodded her head, thinking for a moment. “What our hammer to the knees will be is pretty simple then. We just figure who would be the most beneficial to take out- get them to the water’s edge, and let you have your fun.” Lilith jotted a couple things  down on a notebook that sat on the desk behind her before looking back to him. “If there’s anyone in particular that you’d like to be taken care of, just let me know. We can work that out as well- but we may be able to figure out a way to make this a two birds one stone kind of situation.. It’s just a matter of who the two birds would be is the only piece of the puzzle left.”

“What I need from you is assistance in getting them to the waterside,” Sebastian said, folding his arms across his chest. He had a target in mind, or at least one Levi wanted him to take. “How do I go about this? I’ve never done something quite like this before. I assume you’ve got more experience than me in this field?”

[sebxstivn-blog]

loveandlilies:

Lilith rose her brows as he came back with a surprisingly well worded argument. “Hm.” Lilith smirked as pushed herself up to sit on her desk. “Alright then, I see.” She nodded. “Fair enough. You’re interested in your own plan, and I can appreciate that honesty.” Lilith seemed to believe that maybe he was better at making plans than she originally thought, and maybe he just needed a push of guidance and resources. “What’s a good strike to the knees then? What’s a thread you can safely loosen? Tell me what you’re capable of, and we’ll make it happen.”

“My plan is to drown someone. That’s what I have to work with, those are my only resources. Water and the ability to take someone down with me. My cards are laid on the table, I assure you. What I need is you to fashion me a plan, or at least help me do so so that I might catch one in my trap so-to-speak.” He leaned closer, moving to the edge of his seat. “Help me with that and we got something going.”

[sebxstivn-blog]

lilbitchlevi:

“Only in the best ways.” Levi responded with a coy smile. They were really growing to like this kid the more he spoke. “I’d hate to see if you did and I’d really enjoy you taking down this one here.” The pointed to the picture of the hunter in the middle. “This sorry excuse for a shit shot on of my men because they were out passed this curfew bullshit. All I ask from you is to not make it quick. I want the bastard to suffer.”

“They’re the worst ways, I assure you,” Sebastian said, shaking his head. He liked this demon, as strange as it was and as strange as their newfound relationship was. He leaned forward to look over the hunter’s face Levi pointed at. His silent question of what this man had done was immediately answered. Sebastian could almost feel his blood boil over the thought that supers--people--were being killed thanks to these bastards. “No way in hell would I make it quick,” he said, picking up the picture and trying to commit it to memory.

[sebxstivn-blog]

vspen:

Just for show? “Yeah,” she nodded her head. “I hate guns.” She quickly explained as she stood and walked over to her tossed weapon, detached the already empty magazine, and tossed them in separate directions into the woods. As a hunter they were pretty much disposable, so she didn’t worry too much about what trouble she may get in for it. “Done, and lost.” She said as she turned back. “More comfortable, now?”

“You’re in the wrong profession if you hate guns,” Sebastian suggested, shaking his head. He watched her toss the weapons into the forest, almost awestruck that she would for him, especially seeing as they’d just met. “More comfortable,” he repeated in agreement. Sebastian tilted his head and looked up at the huntress before extending one webbed hand to her. If they trusted one another, this was just another show of that same level of trust.

[sebxstivn-blog]

vspen:

“Oh, it’s not even that soft, okay.” She retaliated with a laugh. With the suggestion, Aspen rose her brows, surprised that even through his disgust of hunters, he was still offering this. She glanced over at the holster she had tossed aside, then nodded her head. “Oh, uh, yeah- yeah. No problems there. Honestly it’s not even loaded anyways, so I have no issues ditching that.” Admitting that seemed stupid, but she wanted him to understand that she wasn’t a threat, and wouldn’t make him a liability. “I promise I can be cool.” She reassured with a smile.

“Still pretty soft,” Sebastian said. “Why do you carry it if it isn’t loaded?” he asked, gesturing to the holster again with his head. “Just for show? I mean, yeah, if you lose that, we’re cool.” He was a lot more comfortable just knowing she was less of a threat than he had originally anticipated, especially since he had plans in mind to really see how goody this kid was.

[sebxstivn-blog]

vspen:

Aspen smiled, a wide happy smile. “Thank you, that actually really means a lot considering your hatred for hunters.” It did mean a lot. It made her excited, maybe even a little giddy. “Your forte?” She echoed with a smile. “I’m guessing that you’re a party-er?” She asked as she pulled her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. It was kind of cold, but she didn’t mind too much with good company. “I don’t actually party too often- especially since coming here. When I do party, though, I’ve been told that I’m fun.”

“Ew, don’t get all soft with me. I still hate you,” Sebastian said, smiling through his words. He didn’t like her maybe, but hate was starting to prove to be a strong word. “I guess I party when I can,” he said, nodding. “Gotta find something to do around here. If you stay cool and ditch the weaponry,” he said, pointing at the weapon she’d tossed aside earlier, “I could slide something your way. Meet you on two legs. You gotta stay cool, though. I don’t want to be a liability.”

[sebxstivn-blog]

vspen:

Aspen looked over him as he sputtered. It made her a bit… nervous? She was worried that maybe he was clarifying for the simple fact that he didn’t want her to feel like he was defending her. She was always the worst in finding the most negative solution. It made her cheek heat up a bit, but she hoped that it was dark enough that it wasn’t noticeable. “Hah,” she shook her head and looked downward. “Nah, I am. The biggest mess you’ll ever meet.” She smiled as she brought her glance back over to him. “But I’m fun at parties so maybe it makes up for it.” She let out a little playful laugh. It was a stupid joke, sure, but she it wasn’t a lie, and she felt pressure to not fuck this up.

“No,” Sebastian insisted. “You’re not a mess, really, I mean. Yeah.” He breathed out a chuckle and shook his head. “You’re cool. Really. Even for a hunter.” He smiled, tight lipped as it may be, and meant it. “Fun at parties you say? Now you’re speaking my language. That’s my forte.” He had made a bad boy reputation for himself, it was the least he could say that he had a nack for partying.

[sebxstivn-blog]

vspen:

Aspen smiled down to the merboy with a wide smile. She was becoming more comfortable and even relaxed with his company. She was simply drawn in. It was already mind-blowing that she was talking to someone, but the fact that she wanted to keep this conversation going as much as she did was a big deal to her. Having a conversation was something that seemed so average, but it was something she hadn’t been able to comfortably do since she had moved into town. “Yeah, they can be.” She nodded a smile still curving the corners of her lips. It was actually seemingly good advice though; maybe cutting ties was what she needed to do? “But, I dunno. I’m not the best at cutting ties though. I mean, I’m not even good at keeping ties. I’m kind of just a mess,” she laughed and shrugged.

Sebastian hadn’t let himself get this close to someone in years, and that was saying something considering they hadn’t gotten that close. Even so, he was enjoying himself. He had these plots to kill hunters, how could he enjoy himself around one like this? He couldn’t doublecross Levi and himself like this, and yet here he was, doing just that. “You don’t seem like a mess,” he blurted out, not really thinking of how intimate that felt until he’d said it. “I mean, well, just--you know, just to me y-you don’t seem like one. But, uh, we just met.” Smooth, Sebastian.

[sebxstivn-blog]

vspen:

Aspen smirked and let out a little chuckle. “Woah man, I’m not asking for you to divulge life’s secrets. I was just curious of what was keeping you here if you had bigger plans. It’s nothing to me if you don’t wanna elaborate.” And it didn’t. She knew that this was still a stranger, and she knew that just because she was desperate for any kind of meaningful connection, didn’t mean that it was reciprocated. Aspen took a breath and let out a little sigh. She already had ties here that made it hard to leave, sadly. “Yeah it’s already a little late for that. I’m still considering leaving nonetheless though. Just gotta sort the timing and finances, really.”

“Good. I don’t know any of life’s secrets as it is.” He wouldn’t lie about that at very least. He hadn’t any idea what kept him going some days. Today it had been just being able to swim and then this conversation happened along. “Take me with you,” Sebastian said, chuckling. “You might be hunter scum, but any chance out of this town is a chance worth taking.” He smiled at her, head still resting on his arms in an almost dreamlike manor. “Ties can be broken.”

[sebxstivn-blog]

vspen:

Aspen nodded her head. She understood why he couldn’t trust her. She did, it was still hard though. Not trusted by hunters, not trusted with supers. It was something she hated feeling but knew she’d have to deal with. “Fair enough, fair enough.” The hunter sighed out. She did find it fascinating that he may go and find merpeople to stay with. She often forgot that merpeople had entire civilzations that where away from the chronically legged. It was kinda cool. Answering for herself was a whole different story though. Where would she go? She was sick of wandering and moving. She had done it for the last year, and her sense of direction never pointed her in the right way. The first couple towns she was at, she’d find wolf pelts on her door step, and now she landed here. Where -surprisingly- worse outcomes had unfolded. “Hell, I don’t know.” She shook her head. “Maybe I’ll just go to a big city. I’ve never tried a new start in one of those. I’ve always just done small towns for the affordability, but it’s not really worth it.”

“No offense,” Sebastian started, “but a hunter is a hunter is a hunter. Even if you’re not an absolute fuckwad, you’re still what you are. I can’t divulge my deepest secrets to you after just having met you. Keep up the nice act and we’ll see if I can’t tell you more about what keeps me grounded here.” In truth, would he ever? No. That was between he and Levi at the moment, and as nice as she was, the hunter needn’t know anything more than Sebastian had already told her. “Do it,” he encouraged of the talk to move somewhere larger. He’d only dreamed of it thus far. “It’ll be good for you, yeah? Some sappy shit like that. Get out while you still can why don’t you. Before you have more things tying you here than you can easily handle.”

[sebxstivn-blog]

vspen:

Aspen chuckled as he said that he was sorry for her sense of direction. “Ah, I like to see it as fate. A terrible fate, sure, but I have learned a lot since I’ve been here I guess. I just, uh, have a feeling I can’t let myself stay for long.” The huntress drew her brows in as he spoke. What was keeping him here, if he wanted to go? “Tied down?” She echoed looking to him quizzically. “What’s got you so tied down? A lover, or family? And when you do get out, where would you go?” 

“Me? Nothing, just ties. Ties I can’t go telling a hunter, no matter how kind you are.” Sebastian’s smile was genuine despite his words. “No idea where I’d go. Somewhere bigger where I can blend right in. Maybe I’d find my own group of merpeople and settle down or something stupid like that. What about you?” he asked. “Where would you go?”

[sebxstivn-blog]

lilbitchlevi:

They hummed tastefully at the word revenge. It was defiantly a favored word of theirs and the boy seemed to embody it almost perfectly. “Revenge, huh?” They chuckled. “I like the sound of that and I also love that look in your eye kid.” Levi took a final sip of their drink and slammed it down. “Tell you what. You’re making me feel a little more generous the more I talk to you. How about I’ll be there providing the protection myself when you and your people drown the bastards. Honestly I’d love to see it in person.”     

“You’re sick,” Sebastian said with a wicked grin. “That’s disgusting, but I’d be honored I guess. Or do you just not trust me enough?” He sat forward in his chair now, trying to decode them. “I won’t let you down. Honest. When are we doing this? Who would you most like to see me take down?”

[sebxstivn-blog]

vspen:

Aspen paused and thought about her answer. There were a lot of parts that she wasn’t sure how to phrase and talk about with a new acquaintance. “I honestly just moved to the furthest town the bus would take me.” She shrugged her shoulder and sighed. “I dunno if I’ll stay long though. This place just has too many bad vibes, and a lot of, uh, complications to it.” She explained. “Different is certainly a good way to put it. Do you plan on staying here, or moving?”

“Of all places, this is where you ended up? Sorry to your sense of direction, then.” He shook his head, huffing out a quiet laugh. “If I could leave, I like to think I would. I’m too tied down here, though. Maybe one day I’ll finally get out. Until then, I’ve been tearing up the town more or less here.”

[sebxstivn-blog]

vspen:

Aspen simply nodded her head as he explained that his family had been a big name. “Yeah, sorry; big names don’t mean a whole lot to me. I am new here, so the whole name game doesn’t amount to much.” The huntress explained. “I’ve been here for about a month now. I’m still kind of figuring everything out about this town though. It’s kind of different than a few of the other towns I lived in.”

“Figures,” he said, shrugging again. “Why’d you move here? A month isn’t very long. You plan on staying? I mean, yeah, sure, it’s different. But that’s not necessarily a good different either. That’s not a bad different, but it’s definitely not a good different.”

[sebxstivn-blog]

lilbitchlevi:

Levi held a sinister smirk upon their face thinking this boy had the perfect mind to mold to release unforgiving chaos into the streets. “Don’t you mortals have families you’re suppose to care for or something? Isn’t that your soul purpose of living?” It was a weakness most mortals had. Caring for others. The demon needed to know for sure if this boy wouldn’t let anything hold them back.     

“Yeah, well, most mortals have families that put forth a little more caring. It isn’t the soul purpose of living, though. There’s a lot of reasons one can find to live, I just haven’t discovered one quite like this before. Revenge.” Sebastian met Levi’s eyes, more fury held in his own eyes than he had before. He meant every word that he said, entirely prepared to do whatever it took.