this is the way the world ends.

twenty-seven twin montague captain

[valentina-rising]

What does home mean to you?

She’s not one for overly emotional speeches. Long thought out words passioned for what she wants. So the answer should be simple.

If you’d asked her ten years ago, she’d have laughed. Home was a place where parents kept you safe, tucked you in at night and kissed away the nightmares on tear stained cheeks.

She’d never truly had a home, had she?

If you’d asked her five years ago, it would be the small life she’d built with Santino. Odd jobs for rent money, the two of them in a small apartment trying to survive the city that was verona.

And now? She’s realized through the loss and pain and gaining a family she calls hers that home doesn’t have to be a PLACE at all. In fact..

“Home is wherever the people I love are. It’s not a place to sleep, or where I spend my time. It’s knowing at the end of the day I can go somewhere and find someone who has my back, no matter the outcome. Home for me is trust, understanding. Caring. The physical sense of home doesn’t mean shit to me. But the people? They’re the only home I need. Cheesy as fuck, right?”

[ask-the-lady-in-green]

Come ask my character really hard questions about themselves, their past, or their relationships.

[laurelances-deleted-deactivated]

[inspofromanotherroom]

Visit Original Link

And I, know, you don’t love me so but please say it once before I go

[phoebefashionarchives]

[valentina-rising]

✧ lia started it

I would kill you. ✧ I would physically hurt you. ✧ I would attack you unprovoked. ✧ I would manipulate you. ✧ I dislike you. ✧ You annoy me. ✧ You scare me. ✧ You intimidate me. ✧ I hope I intimidate you. ✧ I pity you. ✧ You disgust me. ✧ I hate you. ✧ I’m indifferent toward you. ✧ I’d like to get to know you better. ✧   I’d like to spend more time with you. ✧ I’d like to be friends with you. ✧  I’m unsure what to think of you. ✧ I’m unsure how I feel about you. ✧ You are my friend. ✧ You are my best friend. ✧ You are my mentor. ✧ I look up to you. ✧ I respect you. ✧ You are my hero. ✧ You inspire me. ✧ You are my enemy. ✧ You make me happy. ✧ I wanted to protect you. ✧ I would fight by your side. ✧ I consider you an equal. ✧ I think you are beneath me. ✧ I think you are above me. ✧ I would lie for you. ✧ I would lie to you. ✧ I would sleep with you. ✧ I would sleep by your side. ✧ I want to hug you. ✧ I should have kissed you. ✧ You are family to me. ✧ I might die for you. ✧ I would kill for you. ✧ I would trust you with my life. ✧ I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ✧ I would trust you with a secret. ✧ I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ✧ I love you (platonically). ✧ I love you (romantically).

[valentina-rising]

✧ fight me!

I would kill you. ✧ I would physically hurt you. ✧ I would attack you unprovoked. ✧ I would manipulate you. ✧ I dislike you. ✧ You annoy me. ✧ You scare me. ✧ You intimidate me. ✧ I hope I intimidate you. ✧ I pity you. ✧ You disgust me. ✧ I hate you. ✧ I’m indifferent toward you. ✧ I’d like to get to know you better. ✧  I’d like to spend more time with you. ✧ I’d like to be friends with you. ✧  I’m unsure what to think of you. ✧ I’m unsure how strongly I feel things for you. ✧ You are my friend. ✧ You are my best friend. ✧ You are my mentor. ✧ I look up to you. ✧ I respect you. ✧ You are my hero. ✧ You inspire me. ✧ You are my enemy. ✧ Thoughts of you make me happy. ✧ I wish I could protect you. ✧ I would fight by your side. ✧ I consider you an equal. ✧ I think you are beneath me. ✧ I think you are above me. ✧ I would lie for you. ✧ I would lie to you. ✧ I wished I could sleep with you.✧ I almost slept by your side. ✧ I would have held you close. ✧ I would have kissed you. ✧ You are family to me. ✧ I would have died for you ✧ I would kill for you. ✧ I would have trusted you with my life. ✧ I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ✧ I would trust you with a secret. ✧ I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ✧ I love you (platonically). ✧ I think I loved you in a dream (romantically).

[valentina-rising]

If it came to a choice between saving Santino or Roman, what would Valentina do?

I choked when I saw this, legitimately choked on tea RIP to my throat.

The thing, Valentina is rarely selfish with the things that matter. Her entire life she and Santino have only ever had one another and she did whatever it took to make sure that even if she didn’t make it through whatever they faced, he would. Because he’s always been the good in her, her conscience, the voice in her head to remind her what happiness can be, what life can be for those who deserve good things. Even if she hasn’t believed those things were for her, she would have done anything to ensure they were for him. 

Bringing them in to the mob may have saved his life, but she feels she’s doomed him in one fell swoop. Saved from death one day just to wonder when it would return for him, or them both.

Working for the Montagues (and in turn, Roman) has helped her discover that maybe beyond the anger and blood, she can be something. A life filled with half empty nights and fueled by fists didn’t feel like much a life at all anymore. She worked well with purpose, she worked well for him.

If it was a question as to who she’d die for, the answer would be both, a thousand times over, both.

But this is the one thing I don’t think she could be seflish about. She knows without Roman the Montagues might burn around them, she knows how important he is to them, to her.

But Santino is her world. The one person who if he dies, it’s not really a world she cares to live in much longer. There is no moving on past his death, not that she can see. He’s half of her heart, half of her. Losing Roman might devastate her more than she even realizes, but losing Santino would KILL her, undoubtedly. 

So even though admitting it out loud is impossible, Santino will always be her choice. Her one selfish need, her one fault.

Valentina can push past desires, feelings, anything. But he’s her achilles heel, and the easiest weakness she has to her name.

[valentina-rising]

starter call !! (ish?)

like this and i’ll write us up something cute (or not) just to get some threads going! Im dyin to get back into the swing of things and come bug you gorgeous people.

[valentina-rising]

#

send me “#” for cell phone headcanons about our muses including:

what your muse’s name is in mine’s phone

orion ♔

what your muse’s picture is in mine’s phone

sometimes it feels easiest to watch him when she knew he wasn’t looking back. When his gaze was anywhere but meeting hers. Sneaking the picture was easy enough, a reminder.

 some would consider it a moment of weakness, seeing him without the suits that clung and a confidence that exuded from every fibre of who Orion was. Maybe Valentina visited because he’d seen her at her worst, lying in a bed pale and alone. She wouldn’t leave him the same way, though he was rarely alone. Words were not her strong suit, but she could smile. Doting in expensive liquor he was warned against drinking, books she’d seen and thought of him while perusing. It was enough, she hoped. So he stared out the window, and she watched for a sign of what he needed. A terrible dance for two people that ended long ago, that were anything but complacent partners. A friend? He was a friend.

what your muse’s ringtone is in mine’s phone

RIP to my Youth- the neighborhood

R.I.P. to my youthAnd you could call this the funeralI’m just telling the truthAnd you can play this at my funeralWrap me up in Chanel inside my coffinMight go to Hell and there ain’t no stoppingMight be a sinner and I might be a saintI’d like to be proud, but somehow I’m ashamedSweet little baby in a world full of painI gotta be honest, I don’t know if I could take itEverybody’s talking, but what’s anybody saying?Mama said if I really want to, then I can change.

my muse’s last text to your muse

[unsent] ✉ still alive?[unsent] ✉ your nurse scared me off, does one need so much beauty rest?[unsent] ✉  you asked me if I resented you. I don’t. But I won’t forgive you if you die. Not for them.[unsent] ✉  i wish I understood you, massetti.[unsent] ✉  im finding ways to bide time tonight, blood for blood. Wanna play? House arrest must be boring.[delivered 22:10] ✉ i’m glad you’re alright. you know where to find me if boredom strikes.

[valentina-rising]

# who's gonna cease to exist first?

send me “#” for cell phone headcanons about our muses including:

what your muse’s name is in mine’s phone

leonessa ♤ 

what your muse’s picture is in mine’s phone

she hates the way she smiles when it flashes across the screen. it hurts just as often.

a rare moment when the world felt like a high, neither aware of what was coursing through their veins. Just two women who got lost in laughter and fun, reality world far far away. 

what your muse’s ringtone is in mine’s phone

what about angels- Birdy

how unfair, it’s just our luckfound something real that’s out of touchbut if you’d searched the whole wide worldho oh oh would you dare to let it go?don’t give me up

my muse’s last text to your muse

[unsent] ✉  if he kills my family, i’ll kill him too. you know we will. I wont have a choice.[unsent] ✉  what has he done for you to deserve you? You could be so much more with us. me[unsent] ✉  i hate this. and i want to hate you to. [unsent] ✉  you scare me calina. how do you do this?[unsent] ✉  sides change and people change. I’ve changed. Is it so different to hope the same?[unsent] ✉  the things I told you. what i said [unsent] ✉  you’re the first person i’d ever told them to. Not even my brother.[unsent] ✉  and it all meant nothing.[unsent] ✉  I want to forget you. tell me how[delivered 22:10] ✉ i’m sorry it had to be this way. 

[connectivitty-blog]

cell phone headcanons

send me “#” for cell phone headcanons about our muses including:                              - what your muse’s name is in mine’s phone                              - what your muse’s picture is in mine’s phone                              - what your muse’s ringtone is in mine’s phone                              - my muse’s last text to your muse

[valentina-rising]

Birthday

SEND ME A “BIRTHDAY” AND I’LL WRITE A DRABBLE ABOUT THEM SPENDING THEIR FIRST BIRTHDAY TOGETHER

it had seemed like a good idea in the briefest of moments.

Not that she knew much of birthdays. She and her brother celebrated together in their own way, quiet and private and a reminder of who she had in this world, who mattered. 

But surely he had people who’d showered him with reminders of his worth, his importance.

So why was she here? Why had he come when she called? 

             So.

“stop reading into it, Taravella. Blow out the damn candle.” 

Despite the strain of the days and the set of her shoulders, her eyes were nothing but bright as she gestured to the cupcake between them, perched on a plate. The rooftop was a new one for them, the top of Montague headquarters. Another reminder of just how much the world had turned on it’s head.

“No one knows we’re up here. I’m better than that. You’re better than that. Plus what can they say? We’re all supposed to be playing nice until this truce ends with another murder.”

The almost surprise on his face amused her more than anything, her plan as easy as grabbing the pastry after hearing an off-handed mention of the date from one of his people. It felt easy, simple. A moment of normalcy. 

“I’m not really big on birthday formalities so singing is out though. Plus, consider it a present that I don’t try.”

She turned back to the horizon, the sun having set and the soft shades of purple looming through the clouds as dusk settled upon them. A peaceful time, if there was one.

Valentina heard him move then, only a few moments before he stood next to her. Gazes set outward, her eyes flickered to him and back.  She could joke about making it this far, hoping he’d see the next one, hoping she’d be around to see him blow out another candle. So many things she could say. Did they matter anymore?

“…Happy Birthday, Priam.”

[valentina-rising]

hold!!!

SEND ME A “HOLD” AND I’LL WRITE A DRABBLE ABOUT ONE CHARACTER JUST WANTING TO HUG THE OTHER

There was a shaking to her hands these days, a trembling of fingers that appeared no matter how hard she pressed them to her sides.

So much so that if Valentina wasn’t careful, her aim swerved, she missed shots. And with everything burning around them. Missing wasn’t a luxury she could afford.

So pride be damned, she’d told her advisor. 

Deep down she knew his consideration of her might never be fully earned, the man she looked up to might never truly see her as anything but the girl they’d pulled from the streets, scrappy and young and weak. But if she was alive–he could think what he wanted.

There were no sweet words, no promises things would be alright. They’d have been empty if so. Valentina did what she did best in times where she could see no way out. She fought until she found one. 

“again.”

the word felt like another weight to her shoulders, as she spun out with a kick, missing him as he side stepped her. One punch, two, barely landing. It felt like hours since they’d begun, the tell tale shaking of her hands only hidden by the fists she clenched with each throw.

“Alexander can’t I–”

“again. Gallo.”

“I just need a minu–”

“AGAIN.” The word was not shouted, far from it. The weight in its softness almost felt twice as deadly. A warning. But she was too far past it. Shaking apart.

“You’re supposed to be a captain.”

A title of pride, dripping with contempt. “Yes, and no one’s done a god damn thing since! We all just fight when we can until we die, you know! There’s been no time to learn, to watch you or Marcelo and try and figure out my place. I’m too busy trying to kill before they kill me!

And so she struck. Over and over and over, only growing silent as blows missed, punches went wide and kicks glanced of his side. Ducking right she turned, aimed a fist for his face and–it was swiftly grabbed in his own, pushing with enough force to lower her hand downwards, away from her intended target of a broken nose, a bruised jaw.

It was in his clutch the trembling was apparent, she knew it. Knew he could feel it, see it. 

Her head fell downwards, body drained as for the briefest of moments she swayed. The sudden urge to rest against him was there, wrap her arms around him and feel his strength, the solid confidence that seemed to exude from every part of him. For a moment let herself feel what he did, to rise above. He was strength, and oh how she needed to feel strong again. To lose the phantom feeling of running against time.

But she knew herself, knew the words he wouldn’t say. What she couldn’t quite be. Another weakness. Always weaknesses. It made her human. It made this horror show real.

She let him push her back to standing, let his gaze fall down on her with it’s condemning blow. Maybe he saw what she couldn’t. But right now Val couldn’t let him be right. Maybe she’d fail again. Fail him, Santino, Roman too. Fail them all. But her head would be held high, her hands would shake no more. That much–she would promise.

It was all she could do to burn herself to the ground, and pick herself up from its ashes.

Clenched fists raised to eye level, feet returning to their stance. Her own voice rough in the quiet of the room. 

“again.”

[valentina-rising]

odessavernon:

Date: May 6th Time: 2am Location: Local Gym, boxing ring Status: Open

Punch. Faron. Kick. Calina. Push. Lillian. One by one, the Spades fell, or at least, they did in her imagination. It was a beautiful image - and one she hoped would materialize soon. The natural order of things was imbalanced - and their city was in the clutches of another party, near strangers whose greedy hands had grabbed what was not rightfully theirs. The world had to kick back - and she intended to be in the vanguard, at the front of the charge. For too long, she had been falling flat on her ass, losing to people who didn’t sling a gun across their back and march to the tune of war. Fighting Lillian? It was a form of humiliation. Now it was her turn to fight back - to be better, stronger. 

Hence, the nights spent boxing in the ring.

Usually left alone, Odessa raised her head in surprise at the entrance of someone else, eyes scanning across the room as they approached the ring. Emboldened, she called out towards them. 

“You want to spar?”

It had felt like a curse as of late. The bone deep exhaustion that ran through her and yet with no inclination to sleep. Never quite able to fully sleep. Even now, moon high in the sky and there was no chance she’d rest any time soon. So, she wandered. Met with some of the others to try and figure what came next--what to do next. Read, walked the city, trained. It was on her way to that last one that she saw Odessa. Val had heard the woman was spending more and more evenings here, the motivation one she understood.

She glanced over, the surprise on the other’s face making it clear she was the first to interrupt. 

“Hey.” Her bag was dropped onto a chair, dark tendrils of hair pulled up and away off her neck as to not impede. 

“Sure. You been at it long?”

[xcherrycolaar]

Visit Original Link

[valentina-rising]

push

Send me a “Push” and I’ll write a drabble about one character pushing the other against a wall and kissing them

She hadn’t actually meant to follow through with it. Any of it.

It was easy enough to know the comments he made held little weight, had no intent to harm. Just teasing, reminders of the things he partook in that she just…didn’t. Well, not as frequently. Not that he’d know, she’d never tell. Her words never revealed those things, just continued a game she hadn’t quite remembered starting.

They walked back to Montague headquarters now, her to report in to Roman and Orion to–she actually didn’t know why he was here. The voice that echoed quietly into the space around them talked of anything but the oncoming trouble. Wine, flowers noticed in the distance, mentions of men and their lovers, his voice lulling her to and from her thoughts like the water across the river’s edge.

There was a need now, to will away what had come before and just FORGET, even for the briefest of moments. She’d been stabbed, beaten. He’d been shot. Friends of theirs, enemies too, all killed between one moment and the next. Moments that lingered now. So, she took one.

“Stop talking” Valentina muttered, lips quirked as her hand pushed him with easy force into the brick of the wall. He looked startled, but not quite surprised. Was there nothing she could do to shock him? 

“I know I’d mentioned wanting to speak of anything but whats coming but my head is just screaming you know? And I just– I just had to..” Leaning in, their lips were a breadth apart. Voice lowered now, and if it was to not startle him or her, she didn’t know. His gaze gave no answers, no permissions. Did he ever give them? Did it matter? She’d been told to take what she wanted. 

It was then she closed the distance, pulling him to her sharply and their mouths meeting in the silence. It was easy enough to lose herself in the sensation, let a hand wander into the hair at the nape of his neck, other coming to grip the front of his coat as she took what she wanted for once in her life. Push and pull, give and take. Take…take..

Forget forget forget—

She broke it as forcefully as she began it, releasing him with unsteady hands, guarded gaze. “I…” she didn’t know. Her head fell, dark curls tumbling towards her eyes until fingers pushed them away, needing to speak the only things she knew. “I just wanted to forget. Even for a minute. I wanted to forget it all.”

But that was the crux of it. None of them would. Val took a few steps back, letting the warm air rush over her and bring the return of clarity. Teeth worried her lip, torn between continuing on to her meeting or just wandering off, getting lost in the streets for a bit longer until her head felt like less of an enemy to herself. “Jesus.”

Her eyes met the sky, closed in annoyance.

“…….admittedly, I probably shouldn’t have done that, hmm?”