benjamin walsh

we sleep to forget, and they visit our dream• 99 • vampire • security •

[k-harding]

who: open

where & when: around 8pm, Town Hall

It was long after sunset, and Kemper still had more work to do. The interruptions throughout the day had seemed never ending, and he knew he was really just there to sign off on things, to make sure the city wasn’t going to bankrupt itself. He couldn’t imagine what the ERT headquarters looked like right then, but he was sure chaos would have been an apt descriptor. Most of the people who’d ended up in his building had been lost, looking for an office with much more power than his own, so when he heard the knock at the door Kemper didn’t even look up from the reports spread across his desk.

“You’re in the wrong building.” He said, the final signature scratched against an approval form for a chunk of funding to go towards an expansion of the Motel. “ERT is next door, and everyone here had already gone home.” It was only then that he tipped his head up, actually looking to see who it was darkening his doorway. 

[walshbenjamin]

Benjamin wasn’t thrilled that this was what it came down too, but he also wasn’t one to leave a job half finished. There was thing he needed and he was going to get it. He wouldn’t allow anything to come in between Bella and her safety, and someone had come dangerously close to that today. Which had lead to a lot of commotion at work and a mountain of paperwork to follow up and meant Ben was left to file a restraining order after a very long day of work.

He was tired but as he walked in he realized his mistake when he saw who was in front of him. “Right, sorry. I’ll just get out of your hair then” He went to walk out again when he stopped, hesitating just slightly before turning back to the man. He didn’t dislike Kemper, but he was jealous of him. And he was pretty sure the other man knew that. But, still he felt like he should try and be civil. “Just so you know, there was a small incident at work. I’m having a restraining order filed against someone Bella wasn’t harmed, but maybe you should check on her tonight.” He finally was able to make eye contact after he said what he needed to.

[callxaxspadexaxspade]

Spencer pulled a seat out at the black jack table, and smiled to the dealer, glancing around the table. He pulled took the cards dealt to him and started to play. Was he in a habit of playing in his own playground? No, but on the rare occasion like this, he was. The idiot besides him, thumbing through his cards was a counter. Intelligence not needed, just a guy that saw patterns or was good at maths. Or at least, thats what Spencer thought, because no intelligent person would be trying to rig a game in his place.  When the guy won, Spencer let out an amused laugh, folding and rubbing a hand over his forehead, itching his eyebrow. He looked to the man and chuckled “All’s fair in love and war.” he said and pushed his house tokens towards the man. But he wasn’t really going to let him get away with that.

Standing he leaned a hand on the mans shoulder and leaned in “You’re going to take a walk with me!” he said quietly, and the man got up, thanks to his powers of persuasion. He’d of liked to call it charm, but it was more than that and he knew it, he just didn’t like to tell people about it. Walking the man to the door he paused “Now, you’re going to take all your winnings, and donate them to charity, every last dime. Then, you’re going to go home, and never come back here.” he let the man go and stepped back with a smile “Have a nice day!” he said louder than his persuasive tone, and watched him start to leave before he turned and almost bumped in to someone “Fuck! Shit, sorry!” He was definitely distracted “Leaving so soon?”

[walshbenjamin]

Ben had been standing back from one of black jack tables as he sipped on his scotch, doing what he did best and observing. He watched the dealer, looked at his habits and how he held the cards before his eyes flicked around from player to player. They hesitated though as he saw the man thumbing through the cards, he knew what he doing. He was counting his cards. He finished his drink and placed it on the table next to him before moving closer to the table, still watching the counter, intrigued to see if he’d get away with it.

He slowed his pace and tilted his head curiously a as he watched the arm be placed around him, and a slow smirk formed on the tall man’s face. Justice was being served. He intended to walk away but was caught off guard when the man suddenly turned into him. He offered a polite tight lipped smile before shaking his head. “Nonsense, you’re fine.” He paused, “actually I was just trying to get a better view. Seemed like you had an issue but I’m glad to see it was taken care of.” The head of security really had no off switch.

[jamesoncollins]

who: open

where & when: town center farmer’s market, early morning

Each week the park in Town Center boasted a farmer’s market the likes of which Jamie had never seen before. The stalls were overfull, boasting the mundane and the magical with equal presence, Jamie just as likely to pick up spell ingredients as he was fresh vegetables for dinner. He’d made connections with various vendors over his time in Opulence, traded goods and services and rarely left the market wanting for much of anything.

Hastalik’s reappearance had meant a restocking of his fridge and pantry was now suddenly overdue, and explained the large wooden crate on his hip, balanced by an arm draped across the top.

“Thanks, Vic.” He offered a grin to the vampire who’d just set three jars of honey on the wooden counter between them, Jamie carefully taking each one in turn and settling them down into the crate he carried. “See you on Tuesday.”

With the vampire’s goodbye behind him, Jamie turned to move on to the next stall, a normally graceful action made unwieldy by the addition of all the extras he’d picked up so far. The crate started to slip, and in his effort to readjust and not drop everything, Jamie’s elbow bumped into a passerby, a less than gentle interruption in their day, he was sure.

“Sorry,” He offered immediately, blue eyes looking up from his haul for the day to see who it was he’d hit.

[walshbenjamin]

Ben stroller through the market with a slight smile on his face, an unusual look for the often stoic man. But being in the farmers market and walking past the stalls, heading the chatter and smelling the wares reminded him of his childhood. Of shopping with his mother and being told little tips on how to pick the right pumpkin or look for the best prices. He found himself lost on his own world, half in a day dream of when things felt normal and his guard was down. The other half in the present where he was keeping tabs on how many people were here, what could be used as potential weapons, who was talking to whom.

He was abruptly pulled out of his day dream and focussed on the present as he felt a forced knock against him and the would be traced of a smile were wiped away. He quickly held his hand out though to help steady the box he saw slipping and offered a flash of a apologetic smile and nod before he spoke. “I’m sorry, I was in my own world. Are you okay?”

[yashicanandarchive]

Missing Posters || Yash&Open

       It felt a little silly putting up the posters for the missing people, Yashica running sticky tape over the top of pieces of paper so they stuck to various poles, walls and windows around the town. Everyone knew who was missing by now, anyone who cared anyway. Some people didn’t and in a way Yash could understand why. She wasn’t simply sticking up missing person signs, she was sticking them over signs for others. It was heart wrenching.

        “I really thought this would make me feel better,” she stated to the person beside her as tape stretched over the top of the paper against the wall of the post office. “I thought it would make me feel like I was contributing but in all honesty it feels like I’m just wasting time…” A shameful thought and yet she said it aloud anyway.

[walshbenjamin]

Ben had been walking on his break to get a coffee when he saw a woman putting up posters. He knew what it was before he even got close enough to read the small print, a missing persons poster. Ben knew who was missing, he knew who they were, what they did, any over lapping similarities he thought maybe he’d be able to solve it. But all that did was frustrate him more. He came to a stop just behind the woman, looking at the face on the poster as she talked.

He hesitated as he searched for the right words, “it would be easy, to give up. And I think it’s normal to feel like somethings a waste of time when you don’t see results.” He pointed at the picture as his gaze shifted to the woman, “but by doing this, you’re keeping the attention alive. you’re not letting them vanish without a trace, you’re showing them people do care.” He dropped his hand as he looked back to the poster and nodded, “and I think that’s important. It’s more than most people seem to be doing anyway.”

[thebellamybarnesarchive]

New Security || Ben&Bella

        Bella stood by the base of the ladder Ben was on in her entrance way, he was putting up the last few cameras in her home, she’d always had some, mostly on the outside of the home, pointed at the various entrances to it that Ben could access by Bella’s request - that was why he was hired - but since Valentin returned it seemed unwise to leave the place with those alone. Ben had sensed that, not only from her call after she had left Valentin’s estate that was - technically - Bella’s now but seeing her at work. Even now, nerves read across her face and only Ben could really fathom - he too had killed those who made him, people he had trusted at the start of it all.

         “Thanks for doing this, I know I kind of delayed our dinner with my paranoia,” she stated, words quieter than they tended to be, the young woman usually so ready to throw herself at anyone with eagerness and joy like she had upon Ben’s return to the town. “Plus I know you don’t really feel the most comfortable watching me in certain rooms,” she acknowledged, though Ben had done a relatively good job of creating angles where he would avoid anything too exposing for him to see. “And that’s for coming with me this weekend to the event, I know it’s…unfair of me to ask.”

@walshbenjamin​

[walshbenjamin]

Ben shook his head as he finished his work, “you don’t need to thank me. I want to do this, you should feel safe in your own home.” He finished setting up the last of his equipment before pulling out her laptop he’d asked her to have our and setting up the program on it, “I’ll have this on mine too, but I thought it would make you more comfortable if you can see what’s going on too.” With a few last clicks all the panels came on the screen, showing a live footage of her house. He’d done his best to cover every entrance or possible break in point, and also to avoid certain areas and views. “So this screen will allow you to see the whole house, but if you right click and pick a number it will bring that room up full screen, like this.” As he explained he pulled up the camera pointed on them. “I’m sure dinner was worth the wait anyway.”

Turning to her he gave a soft smile and shrugged, “the cameras aren’t facing anything too bad, i didn’t put one in your bathroom and the ones in your bedroom are only on the window and the door. He swallowed a little as his mouth felt dry, his current plan of action to get over his stupid feelings for the blonde woman was to just act like he didn’t have them. He’d heard the ‘fake it until you make it’ motto somewhere and thought it might be worth a try. “What do you mean wasn’t fair? It’s my job to keep you safe, and I do consider us friends.” He was okay with friends, but at least it meant he hadn’t ruined everything completely, she was still in his life in some form.

[marsdenlee]

{benjamin & marie-therese} . . .

Place: Crema Coffeehouse With: @walshbenjamin

The world was laced in an overlay of cold haze, a soft wind blew frigid air through the streets and down thin alleys between buildings, thick gray clouds hung aloft and no doubt made it feel colder out than it was, blocking out the potential of warmth from the sun which hid behind them. There were few out on the street at this time, early dawn, only those who were returning from a late night or were normally early risers like herself. She could smell the werewolf leaning against the black brick wall before she saw him, heard the stifled inhalation of breath as he took a drag from a cigarette, felt the heat from his body radiating as she neared and tasted the nicotine and other chemicals that lingered in the air after he exhaled. Each city she’d been to was both strange and familiar but this one in particular had a strange hum about it that made her feel for the first time in a long time, alive.

“Pardon me,” she spoke to the werewolf as she passed him, her head dipped in polite greeting and he reflexively did the same though seemed confused by the action. A small bell rang as she pushed open the scarlet red door to the coffee house, announcing her entrance so the workers behind the counter didn’t need to lift their heads to sound out a greeting. The smell of freshly roasted coffee beans filled her senses, such a potent scent that it almost drowned out the metallic sweet scent of warm living bodies that she smelled wherever she went. Almost. 

Inside, it was already more lively than the street had been, a coffee house the one place in the early mornings such as this that would be bustling, everyone seeking out the drug in the beverage that their body craved. Marie-Therese had no such craving but rather it was the ritual of starting her day slowly with a hand dripped coffee while she observed the world waking up and shaking off the previous night’s events that drew her to always come back to this very human routine. After ordering her drink, she found an empty seat and settled herself in it to wait, facing not the window beside her but the interior to watch as the individuals inside lived their lives. A pair of students huddled in front of a laptop, iced coffees in their hands, pretending to be immune to the cold. A man in a suit sat in the back corner with his laptop and headphones on speaking in some Chinese dialect, apparently in some business meeting across the world. Then her gaze fell upon another man, one that looked familiar and yet different. It was his eyes that struck her. Those eyes she had first met a lifetime ago. 

Her name was called to the counter and she rose to retrieve her drink and once she had, did not return to her original seat but instead approached the  man with familiar eyes and said, “You have been staring at me since the moment I walked in.” Her head inclined toward the empty seat across from him, “May I join you?”

[walshbenjamin]

As Benjamin sat in the coffee house, a mug of black steaming brew before him his eyes scanned the room. He was an observer, and a watcher. He took in everything from the number of people in the room, to the number of doors, the number of windows, and the number of emergency exits. He knew for a fact it would take him twelve paces to reach the counter and a further fourteen from there to reach the restroom, while the front door was only seven paces. He took a sip of the dark beverage as his eyes fell upon a strangely familiar face.

The face triggered old memories of a childhood that felt like lifetimes ago. The woman had a look about her that was so familiar Ben swore he was looking at a doppelganger or a ghost. But as she grew closer he started to realize this wasn’t a hallucination, especially when she spoke to him. It was like not a moment had passed from when he saw her last.

Clearing his throat he nodded, “please, of course. I do apologize for being so rude, I just. For a moment I thought I’d seen a ghost, but I suppose that’s not the best word for it.” He hesitated a moment and stalled by taking another sip of his coffee, “Mrs Robinson?”

[walshbenjamin]

recreation task - 002

Simple Man // Lynyrd Skynyrd Every You Every Me // Placebo Kryptonite // 3 Doors Down Seven Nation Army // The White Stripes Already Dead // I Prevail SAD ( Clap Yoiur Hands) // Young Rising Sons Enemy ( with JID) // Imagine Dragons Pray For Rain // Polaris Every Time You Leave // I Prevail, Delaney Jane again&again // Against The Current

[walshbenjamin]

recreation task - 001

Ben ran a hand through his hair before dropping it onto his desk and slowly rapping his fingers against the dark wood. He lent back in his chair and stared at the paper before him. It has been a long day with problem after problem to solve and yet the head of security still looked impeccably put together. His suit jacket was crisp, his tie was firmly and neatly situated around his neck and even his hair that felt a mess still resembled the shape he had aimed for at the beginning of the day. He pushed one of his sleeves up slightly to view one of the numerous watches he collected and noticed that it was Bella’s time to head home, so if he left now he could walk her to her car before she was driven home.

He grabbed a pen and opened the notebook he kept on his desk and quickly jotted down a reminder for tomorrow, ‘tell Anderson to use the E section and play number 3.’ He took his job very seriously and never trusted leaving anything just lying around which is why he even coded his personal notes in his office, and switched routines and patterns of security every day. Should they fall into the hands of someone wishing to cause harm they still wouldn’t know his plan. He nodded to himself before putting his pen down and standing, making his way to escort Bella to the driver, ready to pretend like he had just been ready to leave himself and simply performing his job.

[walshbenjamin]

nickymatheson​:

      “I try and be a decent one, think I’ve been doing a shitty job lately but I got some inspiration to try and do better,” Nicky admitted. People could do that, inspire you. In this case it had been a tiny human girl who might have been a decade younger than him but had some solid advice.

          “Someone heavy in your head?” he asked. It was usually the reason people came and either spent everything that had or glumly in a corner. Ben’s thoughts were right, this was not the kind of place you got over someone, it was usually just a reminder of what you were missing out on. “Because if that is the case neither a drink nor a dance will get you where you need to go with that.”

.

“The fact you’re even trying speaks volumes to your character. You should be proud of that.” He took a sip of his drink and looked up, of course the man would realize what was happening, quicker then Ben had even figured it out himself. “Well.” He started, not entirely sure he should dump his problems on the stranger, but he had also never talked to anyone about his feelings on this. “There’s this girl. I really like her, but I was too late. And I missed my chance. So now I’m trying to get over her, and thought maybe a distraction would be good. But I just-I just can’t do it.”

[walshbenjamin]

theduskstern​:

.

        “They’d probably have at least one or two brands, it wouldn’t make sense not to,” Dusk acknowledged, but realistically since it was half wine half blood there was always that option for Ben if he wasn’t inclined for wine specifically. “I do that with my daughters sometimes, granted, they’re a little older now so I’m not sure I’d be able to convince them to come with me but I do love a corn maze in the night, fun but scary all at once. You think you’ll go if the city puts one up?”

.

“They probably do. But I was given this drink so I feel rude not finishing it.” His words were polite but he stared in distaste at the drink itself. He chuckled, “might be a little hard to convince them but I’m sure you’d be able to. If they do one in town I would definitely like to go. Night even ask for time off work, which I never do.” Unless it’s for a life of death situation, he mused to himself but didnt vocalize.”

[walshbenjamin]

dahliasilva​:

“I’m…I’m sure. I don’t think I could live off dog food. The smell alone…” She scrunched her nose slightly, before following his lead in chuckles. Despite feeling like she was laughing at a joke she didn’t quite understand, she still wanted to make it seem like she belonged there, and as far as she knew, she would be okay. She was lost in thought for her own moment, trying to not sense him in any way as she figured a more natural start to things was the way to go. As he pulled her out, she shook her head and blinked a few times before looking back to him. “Of course, yeah—” She paused, watching him go through the doors of the store, quickly catching up to him with a more knowing smirk spread across her lips. “Now, that’d be a riot if there were actual doggie doors to get in and out of places. I guess werewolves must get quite the dog reputation around these parts then.”

.

He nodded, “maybe I make a few too many, I guess it’s a bias thing.” Truly the man had nothing against werewolves in general. However the two people he had been most jealous of in his life were werewolves. So part of him liked to make little digs. For the most part however it was all in good fun and he wouldn’t mind if anyone made vampire jokes to him. “But those doors wouldn’t last long, say what you want about werewolves but they’re proud folk.”

[walshbenjamin]

thebellamybarnes​:

.

        “Right,” she said simply, looking away from him because Ben said it as though it was simply obvious but to Bellamy it wasn’t. To Bellamy everyone eventually left and only ever came back so they could do it all over again. Isaiah had left, Miles had left, friends had left, and a part of her still worried one day Kemper might to. Ben had once, maybe he would again. It was silly she’d hoped he’d be more comforting about it, Ben didn’t owe her that and honestly she knew it was unfair of her to expect it from him.

          “What should I promise?” Bella asked, her eyes still low.

.

He waited forever a moment, arms still across his chest. He wasn’t sure how to word this or what to tell her. Because he was always going to make his way back to Bella, but he didn’t know how to prove it or make her believe him enough out over stepping. “I just need you to promise me, that if I have to leave again at some point, if another brother ever needs.” He hesitated before looking back at her. “I need you to promise me you won’t blame yourself.” He uncrossed his arms to grip at the bench. “Because I can guarantee it wasn’t you, and that I’ll always find my way back.”

[walshbenjamin]

theduskstern​:

.

          “No? You more of one of those guys who loves scotch?” she asked, still pouring herself a glass and stopping when it was only a centimeter from the top. Dusk placed the glass down and gave him a once over with a soft smile, it didn’t really seem like his kind of place, he also didn’t seem the type to really do ‘fall’ things but she figured she’d ask. “If it’s not wine drinking, what is something you enjoy when autumn comes around?”

.

“Scotch is much better, I also love a good rum.” He added with a small smile. He thought did a moment, he didn’t do the chai spiced drinks, he wasn’t a wine fan, he tried to think for a moment before he smiled. “It’s kind of stupid.” He started before he paused slightly. “But I like going to those corn mazes and I like picking out pumpkins.” They we’re both activities he used to do with his parents as a young child, they reminded him of home and of family, as childish as that might seem. “And I like carving the pumpkins.”

[walshbenjamin]

nickymatheson​:

.

        “Appreciate it,” Nicky smiled as the man accepted the drink. He’d seen him around before but not recently and couldn’t quite place where from but he wasn’t ever one to turn down company. 

         “Not sure the dancers feel the same way, harder to keep on beat when you can only hear half the song,” Nicky acknowledged, no one presently dancing because it was a little too early but some girls who were ready going around and offering private dances for those who had already arrived. “Trying to bring the place out of the dark ages honestly. Place hasn’t been updated since the seventies. Figured it was time. Right now they’re working on about half of the private dance rooms, would love to close and get it all done in a few weeks but not exactly what would work for the employees so we’re working around it.”

          “How about you? Come in for anything other than a beer?” Nicky asked, his head gesturing towards the various dancers milling about.

.

“Well that’s nice of you to actually work around and with your employees. Not every boss would do that, so they’re luck to have you man.” He said sincerely before taking a drink of his beer, licking his lips as he placed it down. Why had he come here? He could’ve had a beer at any place in town, but for some reason he chose this one. He hadn’t actually been inside before, but he thought maybe it could be what he needed. A way to try and force himself to move on. But the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable it made him feel.

“Well I was kind of planning on getting a dance. But I don’t think I can do it.” He stared down at his drink for a moment and shook his head. “No I think I’ll just stick with the drink for now, thank you though.” He knew he had to move on, but not like this.

[walshbenjamin]

thebellamybarnes​:

.

          The way Ben held her was not as she’d expected, though perhaps she should have. Hands she presumed would press to her back were instead around her waist but she didn’t think when he was upset like this that it would be helpful in the slightest to scold him for trying to maintain some sort of comfort. The last few months for him had surely been hard.

          “That you’ll come back,” she requested. If he left and had no intention of returning then in her mind he owed it to her to say goodbye but…if he had to, if he had no other option than to go and help the vampires he considered brothers and couldn’t tell her then she hoped he’d at least promise her this. “Because if you left and didn’t…I’d have to worry forever.”

He brought his arms up and folded them over his chest. Not wanting to be closed off, but needing the distance in a way. He made sure to keep eye contact so she would know that he was pulling away but not pulling away from her…if that even made sense he mused fo himself. Her words sunk in and he gave her a soft look, “of course I’ll come back Bella. I’m always going fo come back.” This was his home, his love where he could be himself and he wasn’t giving that up. And of course, he couldn’t just leave her behind now that he had met her. But vocalizing that seemed to be a bit too much at the moment. “As long as you promise me one thing in return.”

[yashicanandarchive]

The House || Nicky&Open

         “It’s on me,” Nicky said, pushing the beer towards the person who sat at the bar of Supernatural’s, the foam on the top spilling over the edge from the movement.

          It was early in the day, just having opened, but admittedly things weren’t as busy as they usually were. This was probably because there was some construction being done to the private rooms. He’d bitten the bullet, decided to get the place looking modern and not like it was still the seventies. His talk with Dahlia had helped him pluck up the courage, especially with Gemma staying with him. If he wanted to start having a real life he needed to get out of his rut.

          “I might even join you,” he said, picking up another glass and taking a sip, the foam sticking to the scruff above his lip when he drew it back. “Hopefully the noise isn’t too distracting.

[walshbenjamin]

It wasn’t often that Ben allowed himself time to sit down and relax, usually at work. But he thought since being back a few days here and there would probably be good for the man. He took the beer and offered the man an appreciative smile, “thank you. But I’ll cover my next one.” He wasn’t going to turn down free beer, but also not wanting to make a habit of it.

He looked around before shrugging, “it’s not too bad. A little noise never hurt anyone.” Ben knew that was a lie, having been tortured as part of his training but he didn’t need to bring that up and spoil what was meant to be a light moment. “What all are you getting done in here?”

[xanderxmoorex]

Park Musician || Open

Singing come second nature the wolf, whenever he was upset, or angry or hurt, Axel would take to his music to make himself feel better, and angry, hurt and upset seemed to be the three emotions that linger on him the most lately one thing Axel never minded at all either was to take to the park or whatever other public place he would find, sit down and play, people would stop to listen sometimes, others would not even bother looking, but as long as they didn’t give him crap about it, he was fine.  And that was what the wolf decided to do in that moment, sit dow at the park bench, pull out his guitar and start playing.

“And I thought you’d feel the same as me It’s time that I come clean But, but for now can we Just both pretend to sleep Sometimes the one you want is not the one you need What goes around, don’t come around You should know me by now”  He was lost in his song when he felt something hitting him on the leg, breaking his concentration, Axel looked down, noticing a ball the kid had accidently throw his way, “Shit,” the wolf muttered, softly kicking it back to the kid, looking to his side he noticed someone standing next to him, “Sorry were you listening? I kinda fucking lost my place,” he smiled a little, pushing the hair away from his face, “Were you enjoying it though?” not that he doubted that, Axel had a big ego when it come to his music and his voice.

[walshbenjamin]

Ben didn’t need to workout or go on daily runs in order to stay in shape, he hadn’t needed to for years now. But he found he still did, just to help connect himself to his humanity and feel as normal as he possibly could. So as he got to the park his breathing was still normal, the only sound of his approach the heavy footsteps. Hearing music though he slowed himself down to a walk. It sounded nice, Ben appreciated music were you could hear the actual instruments being played, and the voice was nice to. He hadn’t meant to linger so long and was only snapped out of his daze when the singing stopped. Ben went to move away when the voice spoke up instead of singing again. He offered a small smile, “it was good, you play well, and have a nice voice.” The compliments fell quickly, and simply. He was stating facts after all. “And you were talking about how someone should know you by now.” He offered hoping it would help.