sweet escape

[xfmanipulation-blog]

jamesconnollyxf‌:

She was studying him with an intensity he was decidedly unfamiliar with.. usually his looks - something he wasn’t afraid to admit - or his piercing stare made them drop their gaze. This girl was… different. James was intrigued, like a lion catching the scent of prey. Something gave him the feeling she was going to be far from easy game, however.

“A stunning name to match the face.” He mused, returning the gentle grasp on his hand before placing a gentle kiss on the back of her knuckles - a mere brush - before withdrawing. He takes his drink, neat scotch, before sipping it. The warm liquid burning down his throat was familiar, giving him a moment to assess the situation. Assess his quarry. “Just admiring the local scenery.” He replied simply.

It just so happens that scenery is different from what I expected.

“And yourself?”

“Well, thank you.” She eyed him, his lips on her hand before her finger was circling the edge of the glass to her side. A change of scenery. She could identify with that--except for her the change had been rather forced. Idly she found herself watching him, thinking of a reply that wouldn’t give too much of herself away.

A sharp, painted nail tapped at her lips. “I live here.” Her shoulder rose and then fell, her attention shifting to the drink as she brought it up to her lips.

[xfmanipulation-blog]

jamesconnollyxf‌:

James had long since gotten past the vague surprise that someone actually did what he wanted. He had realised the nature of his power, realised how he had an effect on people… but everyone was different. Words could be interpreted different ways. He had a hazy memory of a past fling that had - upon being asked to retrieve a drink - filled a glass with vinegar and brought it to him. It was technically a drink… just not a tasty one. This obviously wasn’t one of those times.

The voice was husky, confident. Glancing over at the source, he found he wasn’t surprised - she had reason to be. A gentleman would have introduced himself, perhaps scorned the notion of her buying the drinks. James was not a gentleman, though he often wore the facade of one. “Allow me to pay, I insist.” He purred in response, a confident smile perking the corners of his lips as his gaze returned to the bar. Women like her knew they were beautiful and it often annoyed them to not be gawked at like a roadside attraction. James had seen many like her - he would not drool like some passing hound.

That said, she does look delicious… Down boy.

He smirked at the thought. “James, though, is what the gesture will buy you. Seems fair enough payment for you offering to pay.” He turned to face her a moment later, extending a calloused hand. In this bar, he refrained from mentioning his last name lest any expectations be placed on him. “And the name afforded to your beauty is…?”

It wasn’t much longer before two glasses were sat in front of them and Carmen’s lips tugged to form the smirk she used so frequently. Her eyes watched him carefully, still trying to get a good read on him, but the more she watched the less she was able to figure it out. Something was just... off about him. Unsure whether it was good or bad she indulged herself.

“James,” she repeated his name back. It helped her remember while also giving her a chance to feel the name and connect to the person. Her slender fingers gripped his hand, squeezing and then dropping back to grab the drink. “If you insist--I’m Carmen.”

This was going to be fun, he was going to be fun.

“What brings you out all alone?”

[jamesconnollyxf]

(TW: Smoking)

Inhale. Hold. Exhale.

The burning sensation and itching at his throat had faded ten years and several hundred packs ago, leaving behind the simple warmth and flood of pleasure that now came as a result of the cigarette held loftily between index and middle finger. That’s the stuff. James felt his stress sloughing away like melted butter, pushed into the deeper recesses of his subconscious where they could be dismissed until a later date… or never. 

The bar was exactly the kind of place James pictured his brother Jack occupying. A sleek wooden construction modelled after the pubs of their homeland, it arose simultaneous feelings of disappointment and homesickness. James decided to focus on the former as he flicked the spent butt of his cigarette to the side before entering. Cloudy blue eyes cast around the dim interior, hands finding the pockets of his blazer jacket. He was overdressed and found he didn’t particularly care, to hell with their standards.

His brother was not behind the bar at that particular moment, perhaps out back retrieving something… even more disappointment. With a sigh, Jack wandered to the bar and leaned his weight against it with arms crossed in front of him. “Fetch us a drink won’t you?” He said to nobody in particular as he heard the tapping of footsteps approaching from behind him. He didn’t know who it was but was obviously accustomed to not hearing ‘no’. Far from due to his charisma, he was well aware the effect his powers had on people. They often bustled to accommodate him as if he were passing royalty. Usually he refrained from using it on people he didn’t know but, more often than not, his power was unconscious. Unintentional. 

This was not one of those times. He was simply thirsty and lazy.

[xfmanipulation-blog]

Carmen needed out. The place she chose was a local bar of course, somewhere she had gone many time’s during her year in the house. Though her time in the area had been only a year she still managed to find local hangouts. Anything to keep her from going completely mad.

She approached the bar, heels clicking against the floor, but barely audible over the bustle of people chatting. The voice was charming, alarmingly so as she chose the seat nearest the man. Something about him was--off. His energy was strange and the aura around him wasn’t exactly legible in the scenery, mixing with too many of the other patrons.

Still, confident as she was Carmen held up two fingers, signalling for a bartender down the way. While she waited for her drinks she crossed her legs, turning back to the man who smelled freshly of smoke. “Does the lady buying get a name, darling?”

[xfmanipulation-blog]

fryabrndtt‌:

Freya was still doing what she could to adjust to the house even after a few months. She doubted that she’d ever felt as if she fit in but it was nice being around people that often had the same beliefs that she did. She knew of course that she was still a stranger to most of them, but he hoped after awhile they’d see her as a family.

She hadn’t noticed the woman as she had begun to go up towards her room with a book in hand until she was a few steps down from her. “How are you?” She asked knowing she should have gotten to know the woman by now but she wasn’t use to just intruding on others.

Even silence wouldn’t last long with so many others living in the house. She would have to find somewhere more hidden from then on she decided. She only took a slight look at the woman before turning back to watching the figures move below them. “Fine.” Maybe if she was short with her she’d just move along. Then, she realized something, she recognized the face. Her roommate of the last few months. “You?”

[xfmanipulation-blog]

One year was enough time to learn the house, but not nearly enough to make it comfortable for herself. It wasn’t that she was uncomfortable per say, but that it wasn’t home. Home was where she wanted to be. Instead...she was here. Sometimes it didn’t bother her as much, but other times she sulked--quite a bit.

The only thing that kept her going was a spot on the staircase that was perfect for viewing the main floor. She could sit there for hours watching other housemates go about their chores or just mill about. She liked watching way more than she liked interacting.

[xfmanipulation-blog]

Is that { SHE/HER + CHRISTIAN SERRATOS } walking through the door? Oh no, that’s just  { CARMEN ELITA GOMEZ }. They’re { TWENTY-EIGHT } and room with { FREYA BERNADOTTE }. Sometimes they might remind you of { SILK SHEETS TOSSED ABOUT, RED LIPSTICK STAINS, STAYING UP LATE AND SLEEPING IN LATER }, and they’ve lived in the house for { 1 YEAR }.  [ rae, 21, they/them, est ]

✧ Carmen was lucky enough to be bred into a pure bloodline that had practiced well in the arts of witchcraft, though on her father’s side the ability skipped a generation.

✧ Carmen’s innate form of practice is in Energy Manipulation and Reading. Sensing energy fields, cleaning the energy in a room and grounding are all talents that fall under her belt. She has dabbled in energy trans-morphing and exchange, but hasn’t quite gotten the gist of it yet.

✧ She doesn’t make great company, usually a very sassy and snippy person, but if you can get past that she’ll adore anyone who bites back.

✧ Carmen used to be a committed person, was in a relationship for 6 years until she saw the true colors of the man she had loved. When he had wronged her she believed it was something in herself that was imperfect and thus began to make herself better, perfect.

✧ more tba when I’m not exhausted from writing papers