#gravitysrainbow

[themonstrovvs]

@gravitysrainbow​

Eivor had only been back in New York for a few short weeks, but he’d heard enough to dishearten him. There weren’t many vampires left his age -- or even quite close to it, and all the new blood (as he called them) had warped world views and senses of self. He frequented their clubs if only to be around other immortals and sate his curiosity. He was crestfallen when he heard of an intended massacre of a local pack of werewolves. He could remember vividly the first werewolf he had met and how well she had treated him -- and the ones he had loved and lost. If only these foolish, pale-skinned fiends could see the possibility. After hearing the plan, Eivor finished his drink and left, sniffing around for the targeted pack.

It didn’t take long to find them -- werewolves had a distinctive scent, and Eivor’s senses had been fine-tuned over the centuries. He watched and waited, watched and waited -- listening -- before devising his plot. He would approach the young alpha when he was alone and confess the New York coven’s plan.

He found the young wolf outside the place he took residence, smoking a cigarette in the cool night air. Eivor approached on silent footsteps, leaving a considerable distance between them so he could flee if the need arose. He was illuminated by a single street lamp that stood desolate and sagging in the alley. “Someone intends to hurt you -- and your pack.” He said, his voice carrying over the distance, tinged with an implacable accent. “They prepare to hit you the day after the moon, when you’re weakest. You should prepare yourselves -- they’re younglings, so not very strong. A serious fire could do away with them, or an explosion, but nothing less than that.”

[themonstrovvs]

@gravitysrainbow​

Roman Reznik had been a member of the Organization for some thirty-odd years, working his way up from apprentice, to assassin, to handler, and then he was offered a choice: promotion to managerial status in which he would help make decisions on contracts with a group of others, or cleaner. He chose the latter both out of distaste for working with others and out of the sheer pleasure he derived when taking the life of another human.

As a cleaner, things were a little messier. Typically, his contracts would spot him and run – recognizing him as a member of the Organization and assuming (rightly) that he was there to terminate their employment (and their lives). But he was good at what he did and, again, he enjoyed it.

He had been waiting for someone to slip up, to irritate the higher-ups within the Organization enough to necessitate his influence. It had been weeks since his phone had rung, and Roman was beginning to get a little antsy. Then came the call that he hadn’t really realized he’d been waiting on for almost fifteen years.

The voice on the other end was familiar and spoke French.

“Did you hear about the mess they made?”

“Who?”

“The prince and his lover.”

The phone call ended and Roman’s lips curved into a smile. So, the little prince has slipped up at last. He thought, waiting patiently for the rest of the information to come through. A few weeks passed and he was set – two names had been given to him and his partner and, out of them, Roman chose the lover – Dominic Sullivan, a weapons dealer who had gotten far too close to one of their assassins for the Organization’s liking.

Roman wanted to do it right, so he naturally followed the man – easily blending into his surroundings after years and years of practice at his art. He stayed far enough away to not arouse suspicion, but he got a pretty good handle on their routine. He spent the entire night parked outside of the luxury apartment Rian had gifted himself and watched as the beautiful assassin crept out of the building without the other man. It was almost as if Rian were helping Roman in his little adventure.

Roman left the car and charmed his way into the building with a passing tenant. He got to Rian’s floor and was not surprised at all to find that Rian was bold and confident enough to use nothing more than the apartment door’s lock to keep out unwanted visitors. He smiled to himself and let himself in as quietly as a spider crawling through a crack. He heard the motions of the other man in the apartment and followed them, always enjoying a little game with his victims. He stopped behind the man who was standing in front of the open refrigerator looking in no shape to leave the apartment. Roman had a switchblade concealed in his hand, ready to bring out the moment it was necessary.

He stood there for a moment, completely silent as Dominic contemplated his breakfast options, then he stepped closer, hardly a foot behind the other man and watched as his body tensed slightly – the way one’s body does when one senses something that wasn’t previously there. He breathed onto the other man’s neck as he spoke as if he belonged there, “Hello, Dominic, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

[themonstrovvs]

@gravitysrainbow​

He didn't want to go out on such a night, but Dominic had something he had to attend -- some meeting, something about business. And Rian knew that that required him on the other man’s arm.

He stood, staring out the window into the night as lightening cracked across the sky, illuminating it a brilliant shade of purple for a few seconds. There was no rain, no thunder to accompany the dry cracks of lightening, and each time a flash lit up the sky with its rapturous sound following, Chasse groaned, almost like a human, in his arms.

Rian turned, holding the sphynx cat against his body, to look at Dominic who was fluttering around the apartment like a bird -- looking for something, perhaps? “How long will we be out, mon nounours*? I don’t like this weather...”

[themonstrovvs]

@gravitysrainbow​

By now, the three of them had gotten into a sort of rhythm with things. Rian knew which days Dominic would be around (which were most days), but he also knew on which days Sebastian would appear. He cherished his time with each of them equally, but this time he had something special for Sebastian.

Many times had come and gone where Rian had dressed Dominic, casually, for this or that occasion, but he had never really had the opportunity to dig his hands into Sebastian’s (limited) wardrobe. There was a limited viewing gallery of a very low-key artist that Rian wanted to take Sebastian to see before it left the city. And, so, he had bought Sebastian an outfit for the affair -- a pair of charcoal grey slacks to match with a charcoal grey lambswool sweater, so soft that it felt like a cloud. He was incredibly pleased to present this gift -- inside a box, wrapped nicely, and tied with a bow -- to Sebastian as he hurried up the steps to the apartment, letting himself in.

“Hello?” He called out, “Mon chou*... I have plans for this evening, where are you hiding?” Rian let his cat -- Chasse -- down so that he could explore, and perhaps find Sebastian for him inside the large apartment. 

[themonstrovvs]

@gravitysrainbow​

Jesse wasn’t certain yet how he felt bout this Wyatt character -- some man the kid supposedly knew. Another mouth to feed, that’s how Jesse looked at it; another reason to sleep with one eye open.

The good days were followed swiftly and unforgivingly by the bad. Not only did Jesse have to force himself off his bed of old blankets every morning, but he had to deal with his own worst enemy -- himself. He was swallowed up by a cloud of dark thoughts and the incessant sound of his own voice, filling his head with a thousand thoughts he didn’t have the strength to combat on his own.

He was afraid they’d become comfortable and complacent; that they were sitting ducks. Of course, there’d been no concrete evidence that anything tumultuous would happen, Jesse simply expected it. He was quieter, more anxious, and fidgety. It was moods like this, back in the old days, that would have him looking for a tinfoil remedy to his problems. But those days were long gone, and he had to wait for the good moods to come back to him -- whenever they saw fit.

He’d kicked up such a stink about looking further that Wyatt had agreed to accompany him in the only direction left they had not searched -- Northwest. Jesse was almost positive the other man was only coming to get Jesse to shut up, but that suited him just fine. And he was up before the sun preparing for their journey.

He’d filled up some canteens for them and packed his backpack with water bottles, a first aid kit, and food. Then he waited patiently for the others to wake, what was left of the hog heated up on makeshift plates. Jesse sat with his back to the cellar door, picking at his food and readjusting the things in his pack until he heard the door swing open and turned to see Wyatt.

“Your breakfast is right there.” He said, jerking his head to a small metal tray with meat heaped on it. “I suggest you eat fast. I don’t want to burn any more daylight than I have to.”

[themonstrovvs]

@gravitysrainbow​

The coordinates from the postcard containing Rian’s target were for Paris, which was immediately a sore spot for him. He had looked at the profile no less than two dozen times, each time more incessantly wondering what deed this mysteriously handsome man had done to earn himself a death sentence.

He had learned the man’s habits and schedule, and had arrived in Paris just hours after the target, settling into a chic hotel that had, once upon a  time, boasted visitors like Oscar Wilde. Rian sat on the gaudy four poster, striking matches and letting them burn out as he stared at Dominic Sullivan’s photograph. “What did you do?” He asked, leaning back against the headboard, the worn wood cool against the bare skin of his back.

The next day, Rian went to the most expensive boutique and bought an outfit he knew he would stand out in. The shirt was lavender silk and fit him like a glove, especially where it tucked in at the waist to perfectly tailored charcoal gray slacks. He was beautiful, and he knew that would be his advantage for the gala his target would be attending that evening.

He spotted Dominic immediately across the crowded hall, but he kept his distance for a moment, figuring out which of the events’ bars the man preferred to visit Then, he very inconspicuously made himself available to be noticed by Dom... winding up on a stool next to the tall, dapper gentleman as he approached for another drink. The bartender had been wiping the same glass for some time, seemingly enraptured by a pretty young thing in a tiny skirt.

From the corner of his eye, as he took the last gulp of his own drink, Rian could see the minute signs of agitation presenting themselves in Dom’s demeanor. Rian very gently flicked his wrist so the ice in his glass would clink, prompting Dom to hopefully look his way. When Rian spoke, it was with a soft French accent -- the one he had laboriously tried to hide since he’d left his home country at eighteen.

“‘E is preoccupied, unfortunately.” He turned his head just so, the lights from the chandelier reflecting in his eyes, the smallest of smiles on his plump lips. “You might be better off refilling your own glass...”

[themonstrovvs]

@gravitysrainbow​

Rian had come back to town early thanks to rapid completion of a contract. The first thing he wanted when back in the city was a nice coffee from his favorite hole-in-the-wall cafe. He texted Dom while in line, hoping to meet up with the man since he’d come home early but imagining that Dom would likely fail to respond. He graciously accepted his order when his name was called and, as he walked toward the door, he saw Dom sitting in the tiny corner window seat. He was dressed more usually than Rian had ever seen him, but he was unmistakably the man that Rian had texted only moments before. With a sweet smile, Rian leaned forward.

“Hey, stranger!”

[antonioohno]

Hardcore #thomaspynchon #elarcoirisdegravedad #gravitysrainbow #booklover #libros #bookstagram #book https://www.instagram.com/p/CJpmiBUpgbj/?igshid=19cgnqmqqhilh