TCOHS-RPs

Continued from here.

Primm welcomed the kiss- or at least; tried to welcome it. They feared Julian, and his obsessive nature was only leaving every touch like a hot iron against their skin. They whined; trying not to squirm from his suffocating presence. The touches were too tight- too frightening to let any of their muscles relax beneath his grasp.

They pulled away after a moment, looking up at him with pleading eyes. “Please let me touch you- please.” They tried their best to seem needing- wanting if anything.

@tcohs-rps

When they pulled away he only followed, dipping closer to capture their lips in another suffocating kiss. It almost seemed as though their words fell on dear ears, at least for the time being, as he straddled them and held their cheeks in a firm grip.

After a moment, their kiss finally broke again, one hand still holding their cheek while the other traced down and over their hip, down the leg they had once been feverishly holding onto. “Touch me- you really want that...” Julian gave one last nibble to their lip before pulling back and easing them up to wind a hand back and undo the knots in the rope.

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

Primm felt a cold shudder run down their spine; unsettled and afraid. They had to convince themselves that they could do this; that there was a fighting chance to run to safety. Even call Asra- that would be a good option. He had made Julian a monster- something un-killable. He should be able to fix this- if that was what it would take to stop Julian.

“Julian…” They feigned a soft voice, need behind his name. Hesitantly they pressed their lips to his, easing when Julian relieved them from the awkward angle. Everything seemed more difficult with their hands behind their back. “Julian- I need you.” they urged, looking for that weakness in his eyes. They tried their best to coax him without the lack of hands; nuzzling his throat and letting their leg rest between his own.

@tcohs-rps

They were playing a severely dangerous game, one where not even Julian knew what consequences or twists would happen. But god he wanted to play the game either way, especially when they were so close and so willing.

“You need me? You need me...” Those words felt so good on his tongue, he had to say it twice. He savored it, playing it over on repeat in his head whilst he looked back over them, gaze wrought with desire. Julian wasted not another minute to pull them tight against him and smother their lips with his own. His fingers dug in bone crushingly hard against their shoulder, keeping them in place despite their apparent own need.

His leg hooked possessively over their own, nearly bounding them up in his body along ith the ropes.

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

Primm pouted, grimacing when Julian touched them. They tried to hide it, not wanting to suffer any more damage then already done. They seemed a little stunned at Julian proposing Weston had over stepped his boundaries. Weston? the man who was like a brother to them more than anything possibly romantic.

Romantic.

They thought about it for a moment. If Julian adored them- if he even had just blinded himself to adoring them. Could they use that to their advantage? The second thought was to play passive until Asra came home- but Primm had begun to realize there was no hope in waiting on others; they had already done Weston wrong by doing so.

His touch was frightening, but they tried to keep calm. “I’m sorry I ran.” They admitted quietly, looking up with wide eyes. They let themselves get closer, noses brushing for a moment. “I’m sorry.”

@tcohs-rps

#the arcana #julian devorak #fan apprentice #rps

Julian’s gaze softened immensely, a look of pure adoration and supposed love swirling in his eyes. Along with this, his hands held their cheeks, thumbs rubbing away the tears that had collected there. “Oh love, I know. I know you’re sorry. It is nice to hear but- please don’t cry for my sake. I forgive you.” One might wonder then, with the way he spoke, if he was mocking or truly delusional at this point.

But the way he pulled them close and held them like a lover would make anyone assume the last option.

Now seeing that their tears had dried, his pride swelled even more. The tired look in their eye could easily be mistaken for longing- longing for him? Well of course! Julian snuggled closer, way too close, and pressed a line of kisses from their crown down to the tip of their nose. “I know it is true- despite the lack of time- I’m in love with you. Madly in love with you...”

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

The adrenaline of the situation had begun to wear off, Primm staring blankly at Weston as they stepped around him. They were exhausted- the amount of crying and panic they’d managed to do within the past few hours had been a draining feat. The thoughts of who would find Weston like this plagued their mind- was he was really dead? They couldn’t be sure. He couldn’t be. Just as Julian turned to leave, they wanted to believe they saw him breathing- as if he were just asleep.

He had to be just asleep.

They were relieved to see the shop come into view, knowing that at least this way Asra would come back eventually and find a way to stop this nightmare. Primm reluctantly rested their head against Julians chest, looking to just close their eyes and let this end.

They didn’t listen to the world around them, more focused on the fact that they could hear the faint beat of Julian’s heart. Would it ever stop? If they were to slice him open and grasp it in their own palm- would he die then? A knife to the neck had done nothing to hinder him- so what would it take? They opened their eyes when they felt the familiar feeling of their bed beneath them, brows furrowing as they looked up to see a cold cup of coffee on their table. They didn’t look at Julian, back to him as they tried not to cry once more.

@tcohs-rps

Julian smiled sweetly, dragging a hand through Primm’s hair as he began to relax with them. He laid down slowly, holding them much too affectionately than what was appropriate. “My love- oh my darling Primm- I’m so glad to be back home with you at my side.”

His hands drifted, moving up to tuck their hair behind their ear. From then, he noticed their tear-stricken features. “Oh- love! Why are you crying?” Julian moved, laying down in front of them and holding them closer to him. “It’s okay my sweetest, darling, my love of my life. Just you and me now, it’s just you and me. But I understand- I know why you’re so upset...”

He grew uncomfortably closer, one hand holding their cheek while the other massaged mall circles into their hip. He looked them over from head to toe, like examining a cut of meat. “That man didn’t come onto you, did he? He did- didn’t he. He overstepped his boundaries- I’m glad I disposed of him...”

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

Primm whimpered, scared that with the gentle touches would come more violent strikes. When he walked away they tried so hard- they tried so. Damn. Hard. To break free. They listened carefully- trying to call for Weston only to see part of his body as he toppled to the ground like a doll.

They were openly sobbing by the time Julian came back, refusing to look at him as he picked them up. The didn’t want to know where they were going.

@tcohs-rps

Julian held them close, pleased that they now seemed relaxed against his chest (or maybe just didn’t struggle because of the ropes). He saw it to be way too romantic, holding them in his arms like that of a groom holding their new spouse after a wedding. God- it was so romantic...

They passed by the very still body, once full of life and now merely stilled. Julian paid no heed to it, not even noticing the wilted and drooped succulents that once adorned the shop. It was a nice shop- surely- but there was no way they could stay here. They would be found too quickly- customers loved the tea.

With no other place to go- he went back to Primm’s shop.

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

Primm hadn’t expected it- who would have? Before they had even processed everything properly, they were wide eyed on the floor. It felt as though the life had been knocked out of them, unable to actually comprehend what was going on until they tried to sit up.

They couldnt.

When they realized they couldn’t move their arms, Primm panicked; looking over their shoulder at Julian with a petrified stare. “J-Julian please.” They half managed, finding no comfort in the look they received. “J-Julian please dont- Please-” They didn’t even understand what they were begging for.

@tcohs-rps

Julian hesitated, expression morphing into one that almost looked endearing. He leaned over, gently pressing his lips against their forehead, then their cheeks, but then stopping before their lips. “Don’t worry, It’ll be okay. It will be just you and me soon, and I can show you how much I truly adore you.”

He got back to his feet and explored out, going down the stairs and halfway horrified to see the no longer wounded Weston waiting for him. Thankfully though, he did find the man, heavily leaning on one of the chairs beside the tea reading table, holding a knife. Julian gave a bemused laugh and came closer, truly, irrevocably humored by the defensive position he took on. “Weston- you know damn well that knife will do nothing to me... now- a knife to you-”

Weston didn’t even seem to fight as Julian pulled away his dagger and, in turn, shoved it directly where his heart was held. He barely made a sound either, weakness having taken over him with ease. Julian held him close, letting the blade sink deeper before the body wouldn’t be held any longer, finally collapsing to the floor, lifeless. “Oh a knife will certainly do a lot.”

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

Primm’s eyes went wide, scanning the area with fearful eyes. They were slow, trying to process everything as the tension remained in the air. They looked down at Weston again, Kissing his forehead. “I won’t let him hurt you again.” Primm put the knife in his hand, gently putting his head down and getting up.

They grabbed another knife from the drawer, looking around warily.

Where was he?

@tcohs-rps

Julian was still, just watching- just waiting. A stab in the throat was nothing- and he was quicker, faster, more diligent. He admired Weston for a few things- clearly a hard working man and he invested in a lot of physical labor. This was easy to tell by the multitude of lifting hooks, crates, and piles of rope lying around.

Primm rounded one corner, then one more, before coming face to face with him. “Hello love, I’ve missed you.” Before they had much of a chance to react, he slapped them hard, making them reel back enough to grow disoriented. Julian took that fiber rope and made fine work of it, tying them up several times, more than what was necessary.

Weston, of course, could barely get to his feet. Even his grip on the knife was flimsy as he stumbled out, towards the tea room and then back to the bookshelves. He found no one- not even Jennifer.

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

Primm shuddered, eyes wide as they stood in the doorway to watch Julian plunge the knife- not once-

twice.

Twice.

They wanted to scream. Before thinking- they ran forward, arm gripping Julians shoulder and forcing the knife into his neck. They finally found the voice to scream, pulling out and stabbing him in the back. Every moment of contact between the knife and the resistance between his flesh was agony- unsettling and wrong- and eventually they felt his body begin to slump under their grip.

Primms mouth was agape with a silent scream, hands bloodied as they dropped the knife and watched blood pool around the doctor. They immediately crawled towards Weston, pulling him closely and inspecting. “W-Wes- Wes stay here! Wes come on- Come- it’s okay-” They hiccuped- brushing his hair away from his face and looking around manically. He was only trying to help- he had only been trying to help.

They ran out of the shop- slamming the door open to their own and grabbing the first potion they saw; already knowing of its contents. They sprinted back, moving close to Weston and carefully pouring the contents onto the wounds. Once they started to patch- Primm carefully raised his head to force him to drink more of it- hand so shaky they kept nearly dropping the bottle.

They held him close, turning around in horror to see Devoraks body missing.

@tcohs-rps

In the short time they were gone, Weston was horrified to see the doctor slowly stand, the wound on his throat disappearing with ease. This was no man, it couldn’t be, this was a demon. Jennifer yowled, propped on top of her owner’s heaving chest in the most defensive position she could muster. But then the doctor approach, only bringing out her loudest growls yet.

Weston could only sputter, blood finally dribbling out of his mouth as his pet was kicked away and a heavy boot was pressed on top of his chest, surely crushing ribs. “You bastard- I’ll teach you not to interfere, you’ll...”

You’ll?

He wasn’t there when Primm arrived, holding Weston in their lap like a lover would. Although the potion did wonders, the deeper lacerations were still torn and very sore. “Primm- he’s still... still here. In the shop-”

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

Primm grabbed Jennifer and ran to the bedroom, closing the door and praying. They trusted Weston- they knew he was strong. They huddled up at the door, adjusted the warm robe and waiting while trying to calm the poor cat. The air was heavy- near suffocating even from here.

They didn’t like this.

They didn’t like waiting. “Wes?” The called from down the hall, opening the door and waiting. “Weston?” They called out once more- not getting an answer. Hesitantly, they gripped the knife and slowly walked back down to the scene, too scared to turn and see what may have happened.

@tcohs-rps

Weston never really believed in deserved killing- no one really deserved it, right? But seeing exactly what this man had put Primm through had slowly begun changing his mind. His magic did what it did best, seemingly keeping the doctor incapacitated as Weston wrapped a hand around the man’s throat. “You are going to leave- you are never going to come back- if you value your freedom at all.”

“Free-dom-” Julian wheezed, hands falling to his sides and digging, pulling at his pockets. “I-- was- never free-”

The mage glared, teeth bared, and then- everything was gone. Weston sighed, strength and breath slowly dipping as the dagger plunged deeper into his stomach. As he grew more weak, Julian pushed him back, letting the man slump to the floor in a slowly bleeding mess. The air, too, had grown light- completely void of any energy that it once had.

Julian knelt beside the man, strangely feeling no guilt whatsoever for what he had done. But at the slowly squirming, struggling body, just a little too lively for his liking, he plunged the dagger again, this time into the chest, oddly pleased with the pained groan the man gave.

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

Primm sat with Jennifer, washing the dirt out of their hair and finally getting out as the water turned cold. Just as they were starting to feel better- they heard a crash coming from the front.They wrapped on of Westons robes around their shoulders, walking to the front with a worried look.

“Wes- is everything-?”

They let the robe fall around their frame, eyes wide as they gripped the edges to keep themselves decent. Immediately they backed against the wall, fingers reaching for the closest thing to throw. “Get out!” They grabbed the knife from the counter, wet hair dripping down their back. “Leave me alone!”

@tcohs-rps

Weston got to his feet, breath suddenly very heavy as he stood firm under Julian’s harsh gaze. “Primm- go to my room. I can handle this.” He gave Primm a soft smile before turning suddenly sour towards Julian. “And you- can get out of my fucking shop.”

Within only a few seconds, the air around all three of them grew thick and tight, oppressive and squeezing all of them in its aura. Jennifer, too, sunk under its aura with tail puffing up and ears flattening. She hissed, a very unlikely action for her. Weston wrapped a hand around Julian’s collar, backing him towards the door and nearly holding the doctor up by just that.

Julian could feel his breath growing weak. The air affected him too, almost crushing his skull. But he remained oddly confident, holding tight onto the hand that was holding him. “I’m- not going anywhere-”

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

Primm let themselves be ushered away, locking the shop before cautiously following. Weston was kind- and they trusted him more than anyone right now. Jennifer welcome them once inside, and Primm scooped her up to nuzzle wild fur. They wiped the tears from their eyes, sniffing and holding Jennifer as the sweetheart of a cat began to groom her cheek with a rough tongue. Primm laughed, looking up at Weston with a weak smile. “Thank you.”

After calming down, they found themselves seated comfortably in Westons lap; whether or not he wanted them there. They leaned against Weston for awhile, head pressed against his chest as they held their cup. They were tired, looking up to Weston before looking down at their leg. “Weston- I was called to the palace to find doctor Devorak….and he found me first. I thought- he seemed so…” They sighed. “I was stupid Wes. He’s not right- I put my trust into him and I was wrong to do so. He’s dangerous- the rumors are true.”

For the rest of that day they didn’t leave Westons side.

@tcohs-rps

“It’s okay- it’s okay...”

Weston repeated the words as often as needed, letting Jennifer soothe them while he prepped tea and a hot bath. When they started washing, he departed to organize the shelves and water the plants. Jennifer, of course, remained poised by the tub, slowly dozing and not daring to leave Primm for even a second.

By the time night had fallen, Weston hadn’t even noticed the drifting off time. He didn’t bother them as they finished their bath and, instead, started up dinner. It was a stew, freshly chopped and harvested from the day before. Just as he set the fire lower to let the stew simmer, a soft knock sounded. He didn’t invest too much thought into it, having wiped his hands free of any sauce before opening the door.

“Sorry to bother you this late-”

Weston landed back with a loud groan, clutching soon after at the arm he had landed on as the person who shoved him back entered the shop. “But I’m here on business.”

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

Primm’s eyes widened in fear, watching as the wound slowly dissipated. They looked back up in confusion- and they swore they could see a flush on his face.

The knock made them jump- and the voice was instantly recognized.

“Weston!” They scrambled for the door before they could be stopped, opening it up and instantly wrapping themselves around the man. “Wes-! Wes- he’s- there’s-” Their lip trembled- tear stained cheeks and wild eyes not only being the first sign of something being wrong. Weston, a savior to them in this moment. They pleaded with their eyes for him to understand how scared they were. Primm refused to leave his side- eye’s scanning for Julian. “He’s- Julian in the -” They couldn’t formulate properly- and it was showing.

@tcohs-rps

#the arcana #rps #fan apprentice #julian devorak

Weston stared wide eyed at Primm’s small frame, shaken to the core by their frazzled being. Scared, they were actually scared- he had never seen them this way. A loud crashing noise interrupted his thought process, and Weston snuck slowly inside the shop. Glass covered the floor, the broken window revealing exactly what had happened. “He’s... gone...”

Julian- the doctor? Was that what they meant?

With them still clung to his side, Weston shifted and held them close. He didn’t have to think for more than a second on what to do. “You’re coming to my shop- you’ll be safe there, don’t worry.”

It was true, the atmosphere in the shop was imbued with homey memories, like that feeling of being in a parent or loving guardian’s arms again. Weston closed the door and locked it before turning the sign over to closed. He sat with Primm at the tea table, holding them close, “What happened?”

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

Primm yelped when they were dropped, stopping their head from colliding with the floor. The shoved him away, head falling back as even breathing felt difficult for some reason. They felt dizzy, looking over to the other side of the shop where there were healing potions and other things that they knew by this point they must need.

They groaned, rolling over to try and stand up. even their hair was stained with the bloody mess. They shot Julian a glare, gripping the wound to try and steady themselves. They felt sick, head leaning against the nearby table for support.

They had passed Weston. When they tried to fully sit up, their head seemed to light. When Julian came near, they tried to shove him away with a whine.”Stat away.”

@tcohs-rps

Julian growled, legitimately growled, and moved to grab them by the ankles and drag them back. “Stay away? You don’t want me anymore?” His healing mark glowed, and he pressed his palm just to the side of their wounded thigh. Within moments, the thigh was leaving their skin and ripping into him instead. Despite the effort he gave to keep himself silent, a soft groan pressed past his lips, quickly going silent as the pain melted away into nothingness.

When the wound was gone, he pulled his hands away. “There we go, love- all better. No need to be mad at me now-”

A deafening silence filled the shop after a hard series of knocks. Julian stilled, eyes going wide and staring hard at the front door. When nothing else came to light, the knocks came again, this time more insistent.

And then came the voice, firm yet gentle, “Primm-? You okay in there?”

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

Continued from here.

Primm tried to call out as they passed onlookers; people who wouldn’t see them. Why won’t they look? They had beaten at his arms and sides, slowly growing weaker as the adrenaline wore off. The would groan against his hand every so often when their leg was brushed.

“When you don’t listen”

Primm hated that. Hated this entire situation. They realized they were being brought back to the shop- and some relief washed over them as they remembered Asra would be home in a few days.

They just had to wait.

For how long? Maybe if they were going back to the shop they could contact him.

@tcohs-rps

Julian focused, stumped for a moment at the now sealed door. Of course, they could always break in through the window like before. He knew they wouldn’t open the door willingly for him, so he rounded the shop and pushed open the window that he’d crawled through nights before.

It was just as the two of them had crawled in through the window that the man a few shops down had finally let out a bated breath. He turned, concerned eyes trained at the tarot shop and wondering what exactly he should do. Encounter a potential murderer? Well- obviously yes... he did have someone trapped under his arm.

Weston wasn’t known to just let someone suffer like that.

Inside the shop, Julian finally dropped Primm unceremoniously, quite soon just about toppling on top of them. “Now- finally- you’ve got no where to run...”

@hiccuping-ghost-rps

The knife had caught them off guard- the sudden bright pain leaving them in shock for a moment. The foretold ache in their dream was now a reality- all too real and unwanted. They tried to cry out, tried to scream as Julian covered their mouth. They grabbed for their own knife once more- just out of reach as they were easily scooped up like a child having a tantrum.

There were hot tears running down down Primms cheeks now, along with muffled cries of pain as they were pulled from the passage to safety. They looked down, only to see their nightgown torn at the thigh and bloody. Their blood.

The path that Julian took was becoming much less recognizable, and they tried to scan it and keep track of where they were going. They were hyperventilating behind Julians hand, dizzy and scared as they feared the worst to come.

@tcohs-rps

It was true that he wasn’t sure where to go. For a while, Julian merely walked down whatever new path was presented to him. In time, though, he realized he had only one place to take them- the shop.

Surely, he could keep them there with ease. Perhaps not his home, sure, but he could house them there. So Julian began traversing back to the shop, all the while with Primm slowly growing weaker in his arms. “It looks like we’ll have to patch you up- this is what happens when you don’t listen to me, Primm,” he scolded them almost like a child.

Unfortunately for him, the street wasn’t as bare as it usually was. A few vendors were starting to set up shop- but he was more so concerned about the tea shop just opening up with the man out front adjusting signs and the like.

Then again, he did have a knack for going unnoticed. Julian saw it fit to merely stick to the shadows, tugging Primm along as he pleased before finally arriving at the shop.

@hiccuping-ghost-rps