enemies for centuries.

in the ping-pong match of constant desire i was never gonna get ahead 'cause i was looking in the mirror. now we've got that sympathy, what i'm to you, you are to me, let's go.

[thatsympathy]

 sundxrwhiispers:

He wasn’t listening ( which wasn’t exactly new ) but with his airpods in and his playlist running, Ghost didn’t hear what the lady who’d grabbed his sleeve had said at first. All that he heard his name: Casper. He furrowed his eyebrows…she didn’t look familiar. But then he shrugged. None of them did really. “Look, if we banged and you forgot something in my place—-” How else would she know his name? It was only saved for official documents and hookups ( because he felt Casper sounded a lot better than Ghost being screamed out during the big O ). “-— I leave all the shit with the Super, so just ask him.” He threw her a quick smile, before turning to leave.

She recoiled slightly, not so much from his assumption or his tone, but at the concept itself. No part of her expected him to remember her or recognize her -- she knew he almost certainly hadn’t been looking for her the way she’d been looking for him, but still. It was better than being pepper sprayed or something similar, though. So that was a silver lining. “N-no,” she stammered, before rushing forward and grabbing his arm. “I’m not an old fling. I’m...your sister.” Clara could only hope this was the first time that sentence had ever been uttered. “Half-sister, I guess. I don’t really think of you that way.” He was the only real family she cared to find or reunite with.

[thatsympathy]

 dusklaced:

      What did Thea care who knew about the night ?   The news was already all over it, though none of them had the first-hand experience like she did. Let Thea soak this up, those who had a sick fascination in disasters.   “ From what I know just the two deaths, and no people in the hospital. I mean there was a few ambulances there and everything, but it was mostly just to check on some burns people got. I didn’t see anyone wheeled away in a stretcher or something. “   The last question caught her off guard – Thea couldn’t help but laugh.   “ Not really, honestly. But it’s just not my thing. Though I mean, it had its moments. “  

She listened with rapt attention, though there was little to no information gleaned from talking to an eyewitness. In some ways, that was a good thing. Clara didn’t want additional doubts, but knowing so little was difficult, too. “You don’t seem too fazed by what happened. And I say that as a good thing.” It looked...awful from the outside, but Clara knew better than most the kind of people who had been at the gala. It seemed like two people who died hadn’t belonged there. “I understand completely. Free food and an open bar are always a highlight of any evening.”

[thatsympathy]

 swanmciden:

she was exhausted, she had been bargaining for a good part of her day because her sister just HAD to have this piece at her home. not to sell, no. of course not, just for her own liking. so after all the back and forth, rosemary found herself contemplating doing this scavenger hunt job as a part-time and finding a new one. however, she was too preoccupied. she was far too tired and too hungry to think about much. she was looking at the menu, unsure what to get. but this woman had spoken up and rosemary eyed her for a second and smiled. “please. i don’t think i can choose today, which is rather uncommon.” she said, facing the woman and ready to follow her gaze as she suggested to the menu and gave her opinion. however, the little pastry in the woman’s hand caught her eye and she mentioned towards it. “what’s that?” she asked, curiosity very much present in her expression.

"there are many options, which is overwhelming even with a familiar menu.” azra had tried nearly everything herself and she only hoped the staff would change frequently enough for her to return year after year without her agelessness drawing extra attention. “oh, this is açma. it’s similar to a bagel. i recommend it if you don’t want something too sweet. i usually get it when i’m not very hungry,” she lied. of course, there was only one thing that quenched her hunger and she didn’t believe in drinking from humans all willy nilly, so it wasn’t the sort of thing that could be found in a bakery.

[thatsympathy]

 dusklaced:

        Cassius flashed the woman a thin smile, taking a seat once more. Azra had a habit of cutting to the chase; it was really quite refreshing.   “ Typically when people try to scare us, it’s not as well executed, that’s for sure, “   he admitted, while a server brought over the two drinks he had ordered earlier. The vampire waited before they were out of earshot to continue.   “ I know we have a meeting with the rest of them later today, but I just… I needed to talk this over with someone first. “   Cas sighed, running his fingers through his hair.   “ Do you think it’s some kind of dark witch ?   First the tarot cards, then the earthquake. What other kind of creature can cause mini natural disasters ? “

"It’s almost commendable,” she said wryly. It would be one thing if the council was under attack, but none of them had been harmed. Their headquarters of sorts was destroyed, that was all. They could always rebuild, something familiar to any of them who had lived for hundreds or thousands of years. The loss of innocent human life was something Azra took seriously and she wasn’t willing to gamble more lives. “I think that’s what they’d like for us to believe. The tarot cards are a bit...on the nose, don’t you agree? Perhaps a powerful witch would want to leave an unmistakable clue behind, but it doesn’t feel right. And I’ve never known the magic of a single being to be capable of that. I wish the answer was more simple.”

[thatsympathy]

 louisgarroux:

@thatsympathy

( ✉ → Lydia ) Lydia, it’s Louis. We met at the deli the other week. I have been given extra tickets to one of my shows and wanted to ask if you would like to come and watch. I’ll even buy you a drink afterwards. 

( ✉ → Louis ) I’m flattered you thought of me, but also surprised, if I’m being honest. Are you sure there isn’t someone else you’d rather invite? ( ✉ → Louis ) But if you’re sure, I’d love to! 

[thatsympathy]

 ivy-durand:

Ivy had stepped outside for a breath of fresh air and possibly to find a place for lunch, but quickly regretted it. The air was hot and humid and she already felt beads of sweat forming on her forehead. “I knew I should have packed my lunch today.”

The heat was nothing new, but it was a change from Miami, where at least the beach was mere steps away at all times. Being trapped in a concrete jungle where trains and busses blasted the AC a little too liberally led to strange and sudden shifts in temperature. “Right? And people who eat outside in this weather are something else.” She looked down the street towards a small cafe teeming with people, both outdoor tables occupied. “I bet there’s a place with decent air conditioning and somewhere to sit inside, though.”

[thatsympathy]

 bloodisthelife:

“You know, Greer, sometimes I think not fitting in at events like that might be a blessing in disguise,” he says, and he means it. “All rich snobs who actually have no taste and think expensive wine tastes different from the five dollar kind. And yes—I’m including myself when I say that.” He smiles, hoping to make her feel better though he knows they have different senses of humour. Still, he’d like to see her smile. He feels a sense of relief when she says she won’t be going to any more events like that—that’s one less thing he has to worry himself about, but he supposes danger here lurks around every corner. “I hope you won’t consider this a weird invitation, but I was hoping to walk you home. Or to your train, at the very least. I suppose I am old-fashioned, but I can’t really say that I trust the people in this city right now.”

She doesn’t know this for sure, but Greer has always assumed Lysander came from money. Something about his manner indicates he is no stranger to galas, which appears to be true, but they may not be too different on their opinions of black tie events. Thankfully for Greer, she doesn’t anticipate many more in her future. “I think you’re just saying that to make me feel less stupid for how awkward I felt, but...it’s working, so thank you,” she says with an appreciative smile. “Not weird at all, considering...yeah.” Everyone knows that, even compared to normal, something dark seems to be lurking in the city. “My train is actually a few blocks away, so that would be great. As long as it’s not too out of your way.”

[thatsympathy]

 bloodisthelife:

Lysander laughs genuinely, and for a moment he remembers why the two of them had once been friends. Close friends, too—there was a time before he had even ever dreamed of conspiring against Leon. Sometimes he wishes he hadn’t been so spiteful and ambitious in his younger years, but he supposes such things were practically built into his DNA. He still holds some semblance of those desires, but he’s not about to go and start a war or kill a king nowadays. “No one’s ever accused me of being that before.” He smirks, then listens intently as Leon describes his years as a man of God. “That’s disappointing, though I suppose it doesn’t surprise me. Humans can be so dreadfully boring.” There are many things in his life that Lysander has let slip his mind, especially when it comes to his enemies, but he remembers fragments, and he recalls that his old friend had once been in love. He hadn’t known the boy well, or at all, but he’s still curious.  “What ever happened to that boy you loved so dearly? Is he still with you?”

Leon is certainly not someone who takes issue with accepting blame and fault. If anything, he accepts it too readily, undeservedly. Even in the cases where he feels he was not the problem (this one, for example) he can’t deny that, over the last couple thousands of years, he has managed to keep very few friends and rack up enemies through sheer, out-dated reputation alone. Many of the most powerful vampires in this city are no fan of his but it feels futile to try rectifying that now, even if they all have thousands of years left. Somehow he doubts Earth will stand the test of time. “I have to admit, that surprises me.” Not that he likes to admit it, but in many regards, Leon finds humans endlessly fascinating. The speed with which they change, with such a short life ahead of them, the seemingly insignificant things that consume most of their thoughts. Life was much simpler when he was one of them. “I envy them. Their guilt is rarely deserved.” Although he and Bellamy don’t speak much, or at all, their relationship isn’t fraught, at least not from where he’s standing. Still, he can’t help the annoyance at the question. “You think I’d still be with the same person 2,000 years later?” Not that anyone has ever come close to taking his ex’s place. “He lives here, actually. He’s taken up with the Lallemant family.” Leon didn’t have much respect for New York’s council, but at least with people like that, Bellamy would never be alone.

[thatsympathy]

 nightaloneunderstands:

He smiles and she can feel something pulling on her heartstrings. When he pulls her up and their hands intertwine, she feels nervous. This was the last thing she was ever expecting to happen. In the initial years after she left Haruto, she had often prayed that he would find his way back to her. But after almost six hundred years, such things settled their way into the back of her mind. Always there, just less present. “Wasn’t sure?” She raises her eyebrows, wondering why he would hesitate. She’s sure he has a few reasons, all of which they could get into later. Before he can answer her, she says: “Well I’m glad you decided to come. I don’t know if… getting reacquainted in an alley is the most ideal of circumstances…” she chuckles under her breath. “Would you like to get coffee with me? Or food, if you’re hungry? There are some places nearby or—or, my apartment isn’t too far. If you have time, of course, but if you have somewhere to be…” She trails off, knowing she didn’t particularly hide her disappointment well at that last part. 

It was difficult to explain, the way his life shifted once he gained the ability to take on a human form, and even more so when he met Cari. His existence was dedicated to a very specific task. The person he protected changed, but his duty never did, not in any significant way. And for the most part, after she was gone, it went back to the familiar tedium. With a life like that, it’s impossible to move beyond the one thing that shimmers against the tedium. Haruto knows that Cari’s life isn’t like that, she has options. “I would never presume...” He starts, but then lets it hang there. “Perhaps not for other people, but for us, I think it works.” Nobody can sneak up on them and do any real harm, at least. “I don’t have anywhere to be,” he says easily, because deceit isn’t in his nature and he can’t recall ever telling a lie. At least not purposely. “Do you have food at your home?” Haru is not an expert on vampires, though he has tried his best. There’s not much on the internet he can trust.

[thatsympathy]

 gentleheartd:

August had never been in this place before, actually he was just stopping into the closest place with sweets he could find among the busy streets hauling an overly excited two year old in his arms. The witch was far used to his daughter being the far more chipper of the two but after the events of the gala now sharing some scattered burns August was a lot more tired than usual. “ Yeah? I’ve never been, think she’s got more of a sweet tooth than me. “

She regarded the child with a tight smile, barely glancing at her parent for a moment. Azra loved children and that was part of the problem. She knew of other vampires with children, adopted through unconventional means, but that lifestyle wasn’t what she ever would have wanted as a human, and that hadn’t changed. Her eyes finally flit up to the father, and she tried to think of food that would be suitable for a young child. “They have various cakes and muffins, if you don’t mind spoiling her next meal. I’m sure you’d get bonus points if you gave her cake for lunch, though.”

[thatsympathy]

 catoavery:

Cato has always been a fan of trying new foods. One of his hobbies was frequenting cafes. Instead of his usual fix of iced coffee and croissant, he decided to check out Turkish bakery. It was a quite a sight, a confused thai person in designer clothing staring at a cafe menu.  His thoughts were interrupted by someone speaking to him. “Oh… yeah, I’m sure everything is good.” He added, “but I’m looking for something really sweet… I have a bit of a sweet tooth.” He stared at what she was eating. “What is that you’re eating?” Maybe he could grab some tea as well, since that seemed to be their most popular drink.

Azra glanced down at her plate as if she’d forgotten what she ordered, and shook her head. “Oh, this is...similar to a bagel.” She didn’t want to call it a Turkish bagel, though objectively that was probably true. “If you want something sweet, you’d be better off with a profiterole cake or ay çöreği.” They weren’t the things Azra herself typically got, but if she was feeling indulgent, there was really nothing like the cakes from this bakery. “And they have an assortment of cookies, but...” She shrugged. “Why not live a little?” There was nothing wrong with cookies, they just weren’t the most exciting selection.

[thatsympathy]

 audadvocate:

Audric had been sat for quite a time as he looked through the menu. His menu was different than the one everyone else looked at. His fresh sacrifice tonight would be needed, and so he waited for his gut to tell him the target of the night. There wasn’t a specific profile he sought or a distinct way he murdered his victims. He had to remind himself first was the meeting with Charlotte, and then he would have to look for a victim. Since he was here at the bakery he may as well order them both something to nibble on while they drank their work away. “Hm?” He blinked and refocused his gaze back down to her. “Actually yes, please do give me your suggestions. I’m also ordering for a friend. ” He let his gaze linger for a bit - he could see she had victim potential. Pretty was just as pretty after death before the nature absorbed the beauty.

She kept the pleasant smile firmly on her face, but his gaze was somehow disconcerting. There was nothing that could make Azra feel threatened, let alone in a public space, but she was having second thoughts about being uncharacteristically friendly. In this city, it was often a mistake. She was probably less jaded than most would be at her age, but some things were simply unmistakable. “What sorts of foods does you friend like? For almost anyone, I’d suggest one of the simit dishes. And it’s not exactly traditional, but I do love the salmon avocado salad.”

[thatsympathy]

 bloodisthelife:

@thatsympathy

He only catches Greer at the end of the workday, given the fact that he had been out at the museum through most of the morning and afternoon. He regrets that she attended an event where such an atrocious thing could have happened, but he is glad that she got out early, at least. He feels a sense of almost paternal care for her. She is young and, frankly, petite, and he simply would not forgive himself if she were to get hurt when he could do something as simple as escort her home. He approaches her desk and drums his fingers along the wood twice, giving her a sincere smile before he speaks. “I was glad to hear you left early,” he says. “It seems I came to New York at the wrong time.”

There’s no easy way to broach the subject of the gala and they don’t really have a Yahoo Answers thread on the topic either. Something was definitely very...strange about the night’s events, and she doesn’t necessarily think this makes Lysander suspect in turn, and hopefully he doesn’t think anything’s off with her. Her confusion over receiving an invitation was only strengthened by the deaths and unnatural natural disasters. Greer looks up at him, surprised to see him, somehow, even when there’s nobody else in the office who she knows too well beyond the basic pleasantries. “Yeah, it wasn’t really...for me. I don’t think I fit in.” Especially after spending an hour crying in the bathroom. “That goes for two of us, then. I won’t be following through on any more weird invitations.”

[thatsympathy]

@dusklaced

Still relatively new to the city, Greer still didn’t have many places she felt comfortable visiting regularly. There were no baristas with her name and order memorized and no waiters she was pseudo-friends with. When she walked into Riverdale Diner for the first time, she had no expectations of seeing any familiar faces. She sat down at the bar, which made her kind of nervous knowing it probably meant conversation with the waitress set up taking orders there, but she’d feel even more awkward hogging a table for just one person. It wasn’t very crowded, but that could change in an instant. She studied the fairly standard menu for a few minutes too long, waiting for someone to approach her. Greer glanced up when she noticed a figure emerge from the kitchen and leaned forward, squinting, not totally convinced her eyes were seeing what she thought they were. “You,” she blurted out, nearly falling off her stool and catching herself with a hand braced against the bar. “You were at the...um.” Greer wasn’t sure how to talk about the gala, what with both the tragic and insane ending to the event. “We met at that party, right?” Like that sounded any better. And how sad, she was always sitting alone at bars in his presence. 

[thatsympathy]

 bloodisthelife:

He scoffs, a half-smile on his face. Yes, optimism does seem to be a young man’s game, and he certainly doesn’t have much hope after the cards life has dealt him. “What you call cleverness, I call cheating.” He shrugs, though he can admit he hadn’t always been exactly fair in fights. In his younger years, he had believed in the fairness of a battle, especially considering he had been a skilled fighter himself. But as he grew as a vampire, he found the only way to defeat other monsters was to be less than fair. “Yes. Let’s hope.” It’s been so long, he’s not even sure if he feels any real hatred toward Leon. Maybe he did hold a little grudge, but he certainly doesn’t feel the need to try and kill him all over again. Put simply, he didn’t have the energy for that. And, honestly speaking, he has seen enough blood spilt to last ten thousand lifetimes. Lysander can’t help but laugh genuinely at Leon’s words. “A priest? Really?” He asks, raising his eyebrows in intrigue. “Pretending to believe in God really must have been dull, though I suppose five years isn’t very long for people like us. What was it like, taking confession? Hearing people tell you that the worst thing they’ve done is steal some bread because they were hungry, knowing that you have done far worse.”

"Sounds like something a loser would say.” And despite himself, he smiles. Leon doesn’t have quite the reputation on the battlefield as Lysander, but he proved his worth, to his own detriment. If he had been a less lethal Trojan, he hardly believed his sire would have taken any interest. The oldest chapters of his life are now so far removed, they feel as if they happened to someone else. Leon doesn’t expect Lysander, or anyone else, to know what he’s been keeping himself busy with for the past thousand years, but he likes how unexpected some of his past lives have been. One of the more unpleasant aspects of being immortal was the constant requirement of uprooting one’s life as to not draw suspicion after years of not aging. “No more dull than anything else.” It was cliché, but after living for a few hundred years, most things became monotonous if you chose not to change your circumstances regularly. “Less lurid than you’d think. Most people, especially religious people, are afraid of retribution. And the same people frequented the confessional, admitted to every slight they could think of. If anything, it was a slog most of the time.” He didn’t often compare their wrong-doings to his, because that would be comparing a monster to mere humans and what would be the point?

[thatsympathy]

 deathbittens:

             IT’S  NO  LIE  to  say  that  this  whole  debacle  has  had  her  on  edge  ,  hands  threaded  through  blonde  hair  ,  bold  lip  of  red  trembling  as  she  speaks  out  to  the  other  .  “  will  you  …  can  you   …  CAN  YOU  WALK  me  home  ?  i  —  “  hunter  family  would  be  disgraced  at  just  the  mention  of  her  needing  some  other  protection  other  than  the  knife  strapped  to  her  thigh  ,  but  that’s  the  least  of  her  worries  .  “  please  .  “

protecting people, shadowing their footsteps, is what haruto lives for, but he doesn’t usually take on the role of guardian for someone he doesn’t know. it’s an odd feeling threaded through a task he knows well, but of course, he agrees. “you’re clearly frightened of something -- who would i be to say no?” and he’s not sure what makes her think she can trust him, although many have in the past, with little proof that it was wise to do so. she could be the dangerous one, but he has a sense for these things, and even if his senses are off, he’s more than equipped to defend himself. “how far is it?”

[thatsympathy]

 nightaloneunderstands:

“No,” she snaps back, before frowning and readjusting herself. “Well, maybe. And I meant because you’re handsome, by the way, so people would just need to look at you to enjoy being around you. Which works in your favour, you grumpy old man.” She teases. She watches him carefully as he surveys the images she has sketched up. He’s so hard to read, damn it—half the time she was convinced he didn’t even like her. Which was quite irrational, but oh well. When he chooses the first one, she smiles. “The more difficult one to make… of course.” She doesn’t actually mind and, truthfully, it wasn’t the reason she asked him here tonight. She takes the sketches back and places them on the table before turning back to him, biting her lip. “I may… need another favour. You need to say yes before I tell you what it is… please.”

"...Thanks? I guess?” It would be impossible for Leon to live this long and not know what he looks like, or at least how other people perceive him. And while his looks used to get him certain things, like a boyfriend for two centuries, they don’t do much in the friend department. “That might just be a personal opinion, Cari.” It was disingenuous to say that Cari was too young for him, at least physically, but she would always strike him as naive no matter how old she got. “Well, what do I know? It doesn’t look more complicated to me, just more regal.” Which is something Leon once knew something about, but not so much in the modern era. “Those restrictions sound like a very good reason to say no. But I doubt you’d make me go sunbathing or try out the reliability of a guillotine, so...fine. I agree to your terms.”