_amaranth_
...coffee_addict...
code by low fidelity.
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Multiple Settings The Preying Seasons | Main
- Thread starter apolla
- Start date
_amaranth_
...coffee_addict...
code by low fidelity.
apolla
❛ it's only love, nobody dies ❜
VICTORIA ZABIELSKI
Completely unaware of the irony of the necklace she was wearing, Tori continued to bitch and gripe at Art, demanding that he take her home. That demand was, of course, refused, which only made her angrier. While the necklace was beautiful, she didn't want it if it meant that she couldn't go home. The necklace wouldn't even come off, which was a strange thing in itself, but she couldn't put her main focus on that when the main issue was location. Tori was a summer girl-- this was far from her comfort zone. Heels, short skirts, tank tops-- that was her uniform. Scarves and snow boots? Absolutely not. Not that there weren't good ones out there, but she'd always preferred the warmth to... this. Not to mention, if this had been a repeat necklace and she found out, she would have been way more pissed. But that too was beyond the point.
Another thing Tori didn't want to admit was how much Art's touch still affected her. Even now, sitting on the couch across from him, she could feel his strong arms as they'd been wrapped around her, holding her tight. She remembered them dancing together, drinking the cheap champagne, how he'd stood up to her father and literally swept her off of her feet like nobody had managed to do before. From the beginning, Tori had known there was something different about Arthur. From the way he carried himself to the way he talked and acted, something screamed different. She'd attributed it to his age, but now she clearly knew that wasn't the case. As she tore herself away from him to move to the couch, his words echoed in her mind. Check. Her face wrinkled in annoyance because... he was right. Yes, she hated Maple Grove, and her father. Who in their right mind liked small town life? Of course she'd wanted to leave. He'd done exactly that. Taken her away, like she asked.
When she finally looked back up at him, he was heading her way, two crystal glasses in his hands. He set one of them in front of her, her eyes dipping to eye the liquid inside suspiciously. But then he spoke, and her eyes were drawn back to him as he took a seat opposite her. The glass in front of her remained untouched, her lips spreading into a thin line the more he talked. Her fingers twisted together in front of her, though when he spoke about being in a different world, one hand finally shot out to grab the glass. She lifted it to her lips and downed the contents entirely, nearly choking on the drink with how strong it was. But she forced it down, slamming the glass back down on the table harder than she meant to. "Considering it was summer when I went to sleep, the dress was, at one point, appropriate." She hissed, pushing herself back to a standing position. "Good for him. I'd probably like his kingdom better."
She turned on her heel, marching to the door, though she stopped in her tracks when she heard the term 'merfolk'. As much as she wanted to just walk out of the door and slam it shut behind her, her own damned curiosity wasn't about to let her do that. Slowly, she turned to face him, her expression uncertain. "Merfolk?" She asked, her eyes darting to the window as though she'd see them outside of his own window. When she didn't, she looked back at Art, trying not to look as curious as she was. "There's... mermaids here?" She realized too late that she'd already shown interest, which was the exact opposite of what she'd wanted to do. Glancing down, she slid her fingers over the material of the dress, waging an internal war with herself. But finally, she spoke again. "Fine. You can tell me about this place after I change. But first, I want you to take this off." She lifted her fingers of one hand, touching the jewels on the necklace again. "I really think it's rather summer-y, don't you?"
Another thing Tori didn't want to admit was how much Art's touch still affected her. Even now, sitting on the couch across from him, she could feel his strong arms as they'd been wrapped around her, holding her tight. She remembered them dancing together, drinking the cheap champagne, how he'd stood up to her father and literally swept her off of her feet like nobody had managed to do before. From the beginning, Tori had known there was something different about Arthur. From the way he carried himself to the way he talked and acted, something screamed different. She'd attributed it to his age, but now she clearly knew that wasn't the case. As she tore herself away from him to move to the couch, his words echoed in her mind. Check. Her face wrinkled in annoyance because... he was right. Yes, she hated Maple Grove, and her father. Who in their right mind liked small town life? Of course she'd wanted to leave. He'd done exactly that. Taken her away, like she asked.
When she finally looked back up at him, he was heading her way, two crystal glasses in his hands. He set one of them in front of her, her eyes dipping to eye the liquid inside suspiciously. But then he spoke, and her eyes were drawn back to him as he took a seat opposite her. The glass in front of her remained untouched, her lips spreading into a thin line the more he talked. Her fingers twisted together in front of her, though when he spoke about being in a different world, one hand finally shot out to grab the glass. She lifted it to her lips and downed the contents entirely, nearly choking on the drink with how strong it was. But she forced it down, slamming the glass back down on the table harder than she meant to. "Considering it was summer when I went to sleep, the dress was, at one point, appropriate." She hissed, pushing herself back to a standing position. "Good for him. I'd probably like his kingdom better."
She turned on her heel, marching to the door, though she stopped in her tracks when she heard the term 'merfolk'. As much as she wanted to just walk out of the door and slam it shut behind her, her own damned curiosity wasn't about to let her do that. Slowly, she turned to face him, her expression uncertain. "Merfolk?" She asked, her eyes darting to the window as though she'd see them outside of his own window. When she didn't, she looked back at Art, trying not to look as curious as she was. "There's... mermaids here?" She realized too late that she'd already shown interest, which was the exact opposite of what she'd wanted to do. Glancing down, she slid her fingers over the material of the dress, waging an internal war with herself. But finally, she spoke again. "Fine. You can tell me about this place after I change. But first, I want you to take this off." She lifted her fingers of one hand, touching the jewels on the necklace again. "I really think it's rather summer-y, don't you?"
coded by natasha.
apolla
❛ it's only love, nobody dies ❜
ADRIAN BECK
Outfit: shorts, no shirt! | Mood: hesitant | Tags: Mari (
Desert_Blossom
)
Desert_Blossom
) Adrian was probably taking this as hard as Mari was, only not in the exact same sense. To him, this was his home. Always had been and always would be. He knew this castle and this kingdom-- the waters included-- like the back of his hand. Earth was somewhere he visited once every hundred years to find a queen, somewhere he could watch from afar if he wanted. And he did, because he liked learning about the humans and their ways. It fascinated him to know that they were fascinated with his kind, and the kind of creatures his brothers were, and others. It was almost like an inside joke they didn't know they were a part of, honestly.
For Mari, it was the opposite. Earth was her home, Maple Grove was her home. And he'd just taken her away from it, brought her to a strange land and told her she was going to become his queen. It was alot to take in, and he knew that. Seeing her hurt, hurt him. Out of all his brothers, he was probably the one who connected the most with a majority of his wives. And that wasn't a slight against his brothers, not in the least. It was just the way he was. Sensitive, he'd been called. Other names too, but he didn't mind. He just took it all with a grin and let the teasing insults fall right off of his broad shoulders. But this wasn't something he could let roll off of his shoulders, because that wasn't the way hurt worked. The look in Mari's eyes told him this was going to take time. To be fair, he had all the time in the world. But she... she might not.
His heart clenched uncomfortably at the thought. He saw her body tense when he mentioned James, and almost regretted saying it at all, but the words were out. Tears flooded her eyes and Adrian's heart tightened even further. His hand immediately lifted to touch her, wanting to give her comfort, but suddenly she said she needed air and started to take a few steps away from him. His hand fell back to his side as he watched her second guess herself, starting to go the other way. She stopped again, turning to face him, her small please making him just want to sweep her into his arms all over again. "Of course." He told her, his voice still soft as he offered her a small smile. "Come on." He moved towards her, gently placing a hand on her back to guide her through the halls.
"Don't worry. Before long, you'll know this place better than anybody." He told her, a bit of his cheek returning. "Well, maybe not me, but I'm up for a challenge." Grinning widely now, he led her down some stairs. The stairs gave away right to a sandy alcove that led out to the beach like it was their backyard. Which it pretty much was. "I was told that the sea air is really good for stress. That's why they make so many candles with ocean scents." He stepped out onto the sand, turning to face her, holding out his hands to see if she'd place hers in his. "But if you'd rather be alone..." He trailed off, lowering his hands some, though they were still there if she wanted to take them. "I'd understand that, Mari."
For Mari, it was the opposite. Earth was her home, Maple Grove was her home. And he'd just taken her away from it, brought her to a strange land and told her she was going to become his queen. It was alot to take in, and he knew that. Seeing her hurt, hurt him. Out of all his brothers, he was probably the one who connected the most with a majority of his wives. And that wasn't a slight against his brothers, not in the least. It was just the way he was. Sensitive, he'd been called. Other names too, but he didn't mind. He just took it all with a grin and let the teasing insults fall right off of his broad shoulders. But this wasn't something he could let roll off of his shoulders, because that wasn't the way hurt worked. The look in Mari's eyes told him this was going to take time. To be fair, he had all the time in the world. But she... she might not.
His heart clenched uncomfortably at the thought. He saw her body tense when he mentioned James, and almost regretted saying it at all, but the words were out. Tears flooded her eyes and Adrian's heart tightened even further. His hand immediately lifted to touch her, wanting to give her comfort, but suddenly she said she needed air and started to take a few steps away from him. His hand fell back to his side as he watched her second guess herself, starting to go the other way. She stopped again, turning to face him, her small please making him just want to sweep her into his arms all over again. "Of course." He told her, his voice still soft as he offered her a small smile. "Come on." He moved towards her, gently placing a hand on her back to guide her through the halls.
"Don't worry. Before long, you'll know this place better than anybody." He told her, a bit of his cheek returning. "Well, maybe not me, but I'm up for a challenge." Grinning widely now, he led her down some stairs. The stairs gave away right to a sandy alcove that led out to the beach like it was their backyard. Which it pretty much was. "I was told that the sea air is really good for stress. That's why they make so many candles with ocean scents." He stepped out onto the sand, turning to face her, holding out his hands to see if she'd place hers in his. "But if you'd rather be alone..." He trailed off, lowering his hands some, though they were still there if she wanted to take them. "I'd understand that, Mari."
coded by natasha.
MadiRaiCat
Wine Aunt
Jolene
werewolf bride
nine lives
MadiRaiCat
Wine Aunt
Asher
elf king
nine lives
Desert_Blossom
Nobody's Perfect...
Marissa Locke
It had been four years since Marissa last cried. Four years since she spent what should have been hers and James's first anniversary sobbing over his grave until she could hardly breathe anymore. Four years since her parents found her in the cemetery and had to bring her back to her childhood home so Marissa wasn't alone in her flat. The only thing was that despite being in her childhood home, surrounded by family and friends who were mourning with her, Marissa still felt utterly alone. James’ absence consumed everything and left a silence in her life she couldn’t escape.
The feeling of loss felt insurmountable to the twenty year old who had to bury the man she was supposed to grow old with. And while time somehow continued on and Marissa somehow survived her heartbreak, she was only a ghost of the once vibrant and fun-loving woman she'd been. The blonde lived in fear of ever letting herself be hurt like that again... and then Adrian came along.
Panicked tears slid down Mari's cheeks as she prepared herself for the tidal wave of emotions that was barrelling towards her. Despite finding herself in a grand hallway nearly the size of her entire flat, she felt like the walls were closing in on her and she'd suffocate if she didn't escape. Her pride went out the window as she looked to Adrian for help. Of course. The warmth of the Summer King's hand as it rested on her back had a calming effect, and Marissa was finally able to inhale deep enough to catch her breath. Submitting to his touch, the blonde allowed Adrian to guide her through the palace towards fresh air as she tried to grapple with her emotions.
Mari was distracted from her turmoil though as Adrian relaxed into his usual cheeky self. Don't worry. Before long, you'll know this place better than anybody… Well, maybe not me, but I'm up for a challenge. Marissa glanced up at the merman with damp lashes, surprised by the carefree way in which Adrian could speak about a future she was so upset about. Part of her wanted to be angry at his optimism, but the return of his wide grin had a peculiar way of making her forget her troubles. At least momentarily. "Because that's what I'm worried about..." Mari replied sarcastically in an attempt to hide how easily Adrian was still able to disarm her, despite everything.
The blonde wiped away what was left of her tears and let out the shaky breath that usually came after crying. She knew there would be more to come later, but for now she'd hold on tightly to anything, or anyone, that could keep that tidal wave at bay a little longer. The merman’s hand left Mari’s back as he started down a set of stairs, and she followed after him, beckoned by the smell of the ocean and promise of open air. When the sea came into view though, the blonde faltered on one of the steps. Her blue eyes widened and she let out an awestruck “Ohh…” as she took in the beauty of the cove and the dazzling water beyond.
A warm breeze swirled around Mari, tussling her hair as she shut her eyes and inhaled deeply. Adrian was right- while the sea air couldn’t erase her worries and fears entirely, it did help soothe the sensation that the walls were closing in on her. The ocean had always been one place Mari felt the most at peace and free. Even after James’s passing she had sought solace listening to the waves crash against the shore long past sunset. If she was going to truly be stuck here, at least she'd have this escape. “I burned through a lot of those candles…” Marissa sighed before opening her eyes once more as Adrian turned to her with outstretched hands. But if you'd rather be alone...I'd understand that, Mari.
What was left of the blonde's pride and sensibility urged her to reject Adrian since this was all his fault... but she never wanted to feel as alone as she had when James passed ever again. And while Adrian made her feel a lot of things, alone was not one of them. Perhaps that was the reason she'd gotten herself into this mess in the first place. He'd filled some of the void that James had left and made Marissa feel alive again. The high that came with being around Adrian was addicting and hard to deny herself of, even it would hurt her in the long run.
Mari descended the few steps between her and Adrian, pausing on the bottom one as she studied his opened, albeit lowered, hands for a moment. Inked designs covered them entirely, before sprawling up his arms and to his bare chest. Her gaze followed the permanent art until she met his eyes, and she slid her hands into his. "You have a lot of tattoos for a King..." She noted, a hint of curiosity in her statement. She'd never heard of a king, or hell, even a president, with any visible tattoos, let alone an entire body's worth. Of course, she'd never heard of an actual kingdom of mermaids either, so...
A hundred questions bubbled up once more as Marissa let Adrian continue to lead them along the shore towards the water. The sand gently gave way with each step, and Mari silently relished the sensation as her energy was grounded. Her thoughts and emotions seemed to slow to the rythym of the crashing waves, giving Marissa more time to process Adrian's earlier words. "How does me being your..." She began, trailing off when it came to her future descriptor, unable to refer to herself as either a wife or queen. "I mean, how does me being here help keep the world in check?" Mari rephrased, glancing away towards the horizon. “Why me?”
The feeling of loss felt insurmountable to the twenty year old who had to bury the man she was supposed to grow old with. And while time somehow continued on and Marissa somehow survived her heartbreak, she was only a ghost of the once vibrant and fun-loving woman she'd been. The blonde lived in fear of ever letting herself be hurt like that again... and then Adrian came along.
Panicked tears slid down Mari's cheeks as she prepared herself for the tidal wave of emotions that was barrelling towards her. Despite finding herself in a grand hallway nearly the size of her entire flat, she felt like the walls were closing in on her and she'd suffocate if she didn't escape. Her pride went out the window as she looked to Adrian for help. Of course. The warmth of the Summer King's hand as it rested on her back had a calming effect, and Marissa was finally able to inhale deep enough to catch her breath. Submitting to his touch, the blonde allowed Adrian to guide her through the palace towards fresh air as she tried to grapple with her emotions.
Mari was distracted from her turmoil though as Adrian relaxed into his usual cheeky self. Don't worry. Before long, you'll know this place better than anybody… Well, maybe not me, but I'm up for a challenge. Marissa glanced up at the merman with damp lashes, surprised by the carefree way in which Adrian could speak about a future she was so upset about. Part of her wanted to be angry at his optimism, but the return of his wide grin had a peculiar way of making her forget her troubles. At least momentarily. "Because that's what I'm worried about..." Mari replied sarcastically in an attempt to hide how easily Adrian was still able to disarm her, despite everything.
The blonde wiped away what was left of her tears and let out the shaky breath that usually came after crying. She knew there would be more to come later, but for now she'd hold on tightly to anything, or anyone, that could keep that tidal wave at bay a little longer. The merman’s hand left Mari’s back as he started down a set of stairs, and she followed after him, beckoned by the smell of the ocean and promise of open air. When the sea came into view though, the blonde faltered on one of the steps. Her blue eyes widened and she let out an awestruck “Ohh…” as she took in the beauty of the cove and the dazzling water beyond.
A warm breeze swirled around Mari, tussling her hair as she shut her eyes and inhaled deeply. Adrian was right- while the sea air couldn’t erase her worries and fears entirely, it did help soothe the sensation that the walls were closing in on her. The ocean had always been one place Mari felt the most at peace and free. Even after James’s passing she had sought solace listening to the waves crash against the shore long past sunset. If she was going to truly be stuck here, at least she'd have this escape. “I burned through a lot of those candles…” Marissa sighed before opening her eyes once more as Adrian turned to her with outstretched hands. But if you'd rather be alone...I'd understand that, Mari.
What was left of the blonde's pride and sensibility urged her to reject Adrian since this was all his fault... but she never wanted to feel as alone as she had when James passed ever again. And while Adrian made her feel a lot of things, alone was not one of them. Perhaps that was the reason she'd gotten herself into this mess in the first place. He'd filled some of the void that James had left and made Marissa feel alive again. The high that came with being around Adrian was addicting and hard to deny herself of, even it would hurt her in the long run.
Mari descended the few steps between her and Adrian, pausing on the bottom one as she studied his opened, albeit lowered, hands for a moment. Inked designs covered them entirely, before sprawling up his arms and to his bare chest. Her gaze followed the permanent art until she met his eyes, and she slid her hands into his. "You have a lot of tattoos for a King..." She noted, a hint of curiosity in her statement. She'd never heard of a king, or hell, even a president, with any visible tattoos, let alone an entire body's worth. Of course, she'd never heard of an actual kingdom of mermaids either, so...
A hundred questions bubbled up once more as Marissa let Adrian continue to lead them along the shore towards the water. The sand gently gave way with each step, and Mari silently relished the sensation as her energy was grounded. Her thoughts and emotions seemed to slow to the rythym of the crashing waves, giving Marissa more time to process Adrian's earlier words. "How does me being your..." She began, trailing off when it came to her future descriptor, unable to refer to herself as either a wife or queen. "I mean, how does me being here help keep the world in check?" Mari rephrased, glancing away towards the horizon. “Why me?”
nine lives
Desert_Blossom
Nobody's Perfect...
Alarick Vernon
It was clear that the Southern Belle wasn’t thrilled to see Al, or be saved by him, but Alarick ignored that. The years had made him pretty good at letting those kinds of reactions from his wives roll off his back, and he had a feeling he’d endure many of them from Jolene. He was satisfied though that the blonde dropped her weapon when he asked to examine her wounds and placed her wrist in his outstretched hand. “I don’t know who Doolittle or Thornberry are,” Al replied when Jo inquired into his ability to talk to the wolf. “But of the two of us, I’d say you’re more Cinderella in this scenario…” He retorted, offering her a smug grin as he avoided admitting he was a werewolf a little longer. “You’re the one who unknowingly fell for a King after all.”
The blonde didn’t appreciate that comment, and continued on about not being a damsel in distress, eliciting a chuckle from Al. “So you think I’m strong and handsome, huh? You’re insults aren’t hurting quite as much as you like, Jo…” He pointed out, once again omitting the other parts of her quips. “And yes, I can see how well you take care of yourself…” He added, turning his attention to her disheveled appearance. “Now let me see the damage…”
Alarick let his fingertips graze the torn sleeve of her shirt, before gently lifting her arm so he could examine her wounds better. The tears in the shirt were edged with traces of fresh blood, but when Al slid the sleeve up Jolene’s arm, expecting to find angry scrapes and cuts, her skin was surprisingly pristine. His brow furrowed deeply as his mind tried to find a reasonable explanation for the inconsistency.
Huh, could've sworn I got all scratched up on the way out here. The werewolf looked up at Jo as if she was a stranger. He’d thought he had a general idea of who, or rather what, she was when he brought her to his kingdom… but no human would heal that fast. What magic was this?
No longer worried about being gentle or scaring Jo off, Al reached up and cupped her cheek, wiping off some of the dried blood where a gash should have been with his thumb. But once again, her skin was untouched, as if the blood had simply been painted on instead of drawn. The werewolf had seen almost everything in his thousands of years of life, but this… this was a first. At least when it came to the woman he intended to marry. “How is this possible?” Al asked, a little harsher than he’d intended. She was supposed to be human. She had to be human to keep the seasons in order… right?
His irises filled with gold as he went on the defensive, dropping her arm and taking a step back from Jolene. He studied her for any sign that this was a trick or ploy to bring an end to the world, but the blonde looked just as surprised at him. Either she was a great actress, which she’d have to be to get this far while pretending to be ignorant of who Alarick was, or she really didn’t have any idea that she wasn’t entirely human. And he just might have accidentally fucked the world over by making an improbable choice of wives. Sure he’d been participating in the matrimonial ceremony for thousands of years, but he couldn’t remember what the fine print was. Did he and his brothers have to choose a human bride? Or did she just have to be from Earth? Or did she simply have to be selected during the week of the festival from Maple Grove?
A frustrated growl issued from the back of Alarick’s throat as he roughly ran a hand through his hair. For the first time in a long time, he didn’t know what to do. Should he try to contact Mother straight away for guidance? Or was there a way to fix his potentially fatal mistake? He felt like a child trying to decide whether to fess up or hide a broken vase. Only these stakes were higher.
“What is the meaning of this? Who are you?” He asked, trying to keep his voice steady to hide his inner turmoil.
The blonde didn’t appreciate that comment, and continued on about not being a damsel in distress, eliciting a chuckle from Al. “So you think I’m strong and handsome, huh? You’re insults aren’t hurting quite as much as you like, Jo…” He pointed out, once again omitting the other parts of her quips. “And yes, I can see how well you take care of yourself…” He added, turning his attention to her disheveled appearance. “Now let me see the damage…”
Alarick let his fingertips graze the torn sleeve of her shirt, before gently lifting her arm so he could examine her wounds better. The tears in the shirt were edged with traces of fresh blood, but when Al slid the sleeve up Jolene’s arm, expecting to find angry scrapes and cuts, her skin was surprisingly pristine. His brow furrowed deeply as his mind tried to find a reasonable explanation for the inconsistency.
Huh, could've sworn I got all scratched up on the way out here. The werewolf looked up at Jo as if she was a stranger. He’d thought he had a general idea of who, or rather what, she was when he brought her to his kingdom… but no human would heal that fast. What magic was this?
No longer worried about being gentle or scaring Jo off, Al reached up and cupped her cheek, wiping off some of the dried blood where a gash should have been with his thumb. But once again, her skin was untouched, as if the blood had simply been painted on instead of drawn. The werewolf had seen almost everything in his thousands of years of life, but this… this was a first. At least when it came to the woman he intended to marry. “How is this possible?” Al asked, a little harsher than he’d intended. She was supposed to be human. She had to be human to keep the seasons in order… right?
His irises filled with gold as he went on the defensive, dropping her arm and taking a step back from Jolene. He studied her for any sign that this was a trick or ploy to bring an end to the world, but the blonde looked just as surprised at him. Either she was a great actress, which she’d have to be to get this far while pretending to be ignorant of who Alarick was, or she really didn’t have any idea that she wasn’t entirely human. And he just might have accidentally fucked the world over by making an improbable choice of wives. Sure he’d been participating in the matrimonial ceremony for thousands of years, but he couldn’t remember what the fine print was. Did he and his brothers have to choose a human bride? Or did she just have to be from Earth? Or did she simply have to be selected during the week of the festival from Maple Grove?
A frustrated growl issued from the back of Alarick’s throat as he roughly ran a hand through his hair. For the first time in a long time, he didn’t know what to do. Should he try to contact Mother straight away for guidance? Or was there a way to fix his potentially fatal mistake? He felt like a child trying to decide whether to fess up or hide a broken vase. Only these stakes were higher.
“What is the meaning of this? Who are you?” He asked, trying to keep his voice steady to hide his inner turmoil.
nine lives
_amaranth_
...coffee_addict...
code by low fidelity.
_amaranth_
...coffee_addict...
code by low fidelity.
apolla
❛ it's only love, nobody dies ❜
VICTORIA ZABIELSKI
No matter how much attitude she threw his way, Art's demeanor while he sat on the couch remained unchanged. It almost irked her further-- no, actually, it did. She hated feeling as though she were being ignored, and while Art was talking to her, she felt like her demands were being ignored. Which... they were. It made her feel out of control in a way she hated, and honestly, it terrified her. Maybe it was a bit childish, throwing a tantrum to try and get her way, but most of the time it worked. With Art, though, she was quickly learning that that wasn't the case. Things were spiraling, and she was ready to ditch him and this conversation in general, until he dropped the word that made her stop.
Turning to face him, her eyes widened when he confirmed what he'd said. Her lips parted in surprise, but for once, no words came out. Instead, she just watched as he shifted his position, setting his glass on the table before he brought his fingers up to his face. The coldness in his voice didn't escape her, and she sucked in air. As though she didn't have control over her feet any more, they were suddenly moving, and she found herself in front of the couch again. Sinking down onto it, she couldn't take her eyes off of him as he spoke. Declaring that she was his, about to become his wife. She would never admit it, but he had a point. She had wanted to leave Maple Grove, but... this was outside of her wildest dreams. Something she'd never even dared to anticipate. And now he was telling her that there was more?
Still quiet, her expression turned confused, her head tilting when he stated she'd find his kingdom cold-blooded. "What-" Her eyes darted towards the window, and the ice and snow she could see outside of it, before they flicked back to him. Just in time to see his eyes flash red, and a pointed fang protruding from his lips. A gasp caught in her throat and she jerked backwards as though he'd made a move to strike her, even though he hadn't moved. In a flash, he was back to normal, but she couldn't forget what she'd seen. The image was burned into her memory, and she kept staring at him, trying to convince herself that it'd been a trick of the light. Even though a part of her knew it wasn't. Not after everything else that had happened up until this moment.
"You're... you're a..." Her human brain didn't want to understand what she'd seen, almost couldn't. But as much as she wanted to get up and run, her body was frozen to the seat, a look of horror on her face. And even if she didn't want to admit it... there was a note of curiosity within her, too. "Vampire." She finally breathed out, her eyes flicking towards the door, though she still didn't move off of the couch. Suddenly the necklace made sense, though that was the furthest worry on her mind now. Swallowing heavily, Tori squeezed her eyes shut, trying to work herself off the ledge she suddenly found herself at. When her eyes opened a few moments later, she found that Art was still in the same position across from her. Drawing in a shaky breath, she uncurled her legs and placed her feet on the ground, pushing herself off the couch. "Okay, okay." Glancing down at the ground, she steadied herself before she stood, her movements slow as she crossed to him and stood before him. "Will you please take it off? So I can change?"
Turning to face him, her eyes widened when he confirmed what he'd said. Her lips parted in surprise, but for once, no words came out. Instead, she just watched as he shifted his position, setting his glass on the table before he brought his fingers up to his face. The coldness in his voice didn't escape her, and she sucked in air. As though she didn't have control over her feet any more, they were suddenly moving, and she found herself in front of the couch again. Sinking down onto it, she couldn't take her eyes off of him as he spoke. Declaring that she was his, about to become his wife. She would never admit it, but he had a point. She had wanted to leave Maple Grove, but... this was outside of her wildest dreams. Something she'd never even dared to anticipate. And now he was telling her that there was more?
Still quiet, her expression turned confused, her head tilting when he stated she'd find his kingdom cold-blooded. "What-" Her eyes darted towards the window, and the ice and snow she could see outside of it, before they flicked back to him. Just in time to see his eyes flash red, and a pointed fang protruding from his lips. A gasp caught in her throat and she jerked backwards as though he'd made a move to strike her, even though he hadn't moved. In a flash, he was back to normal, but she couldn't forget what she'd seen. The image was burned into her memory, and she kept staring at him, trying to convince herself that it'd been a trick of the light. Even though a part of her knew it wasn't. Not after everything else that had happened up until this moment.
"You're... you're a..." Her human brain didn't want to understand what she'd seen, almost couldn't. But as much as she wanted to get up and run, her body was frozen to the seat, a look of horror on her face. And even if she didn't want to admit it... there was a note of curiosity within her, too. "Vampire." She finally breathed out, her eyes flicking towards the door, though she still didn't move off of the couch. Suddenly the necklace made sense, though that was the furthest worry on her mind now. Swallowing heavily, Tori squeezed her eyes shut, trying to work herself off the ledge she suddenly found herself at. When her eyes opened a few moments later, she found that Art was still in the same position across from her. Drawing in a shaky breath, she uncurled her legs and placed her feet on the ground, pushing herself off the couch. "Okay, okay." Glancing down at the ground, she steadied herself before she stood, her movements slow as she crossed to him and stood before him. "Will you please take it off? So I can change?"
coded by natasha.
apolla
❛ it's only love, nobody dies ❜
ADRIAN BECK
Outfit: shorts, no shirt! | Mood: hesitant | Tags: Mari (
Desert_Blossom
)
Desert_Blossom
) Adrian never cherished the feeling of betrayal that his wives felt when they realized they'd been taken away from everything they knew. Everybody they loved. Forced into a life that they might not even want, and had every chance to reject. While a part of him thought that accepting it might be the easier path, he couldn't speak from their side. He didn't know what they were feeling, beyond what he could see and read from their body language. Meri was no different in that sense. He could see the mixed emotions playing out in her eyes, in the way her body tightened and grew stiff, and he knew enough to know that a panic attack might be in her near future.
What she might not realize though was that he did understand that feeling. And whenever he felt that way, he used his kingdom to ground himself. He was the summer king, after all. Ice and frozen ground wouldn't help him; he needed warm sands and the ocean air. Hoping that the same could help Meri, he led her through the hallways towards one of the many exits that led out to a private area of the beach. Her sarcastic comment back to him didn't bother him, and that smile remained on his face until he reached the sand, turning to face her and offer her his hand. It was only then that his smile faltered some, thinking that she might take him up on that offer and ask for some time alone. He would understand, of course, but the thought of leaving her alone... he didn't like it.
The silence after his statement was almost deafening, but finally, she descended the steps and slid her hand into his. Her comment about his tattoos made him chuckle, a deep sound almost akin to a large wave. It suited him. "And where is there a rule that a king can't have tattoos?" He eyed her, an almost playful look in his eyes as his fingers tightened around hers. Turning, he started walking towards the water. The silence wasn't as loud this time, though he did glance at her a few times before she even opened her mouth to ask her question. He sensed her hesitation, but his steps didn't falter until they reached the wet sand, where the water could reach their feet. It might surprise her to find that the water, instead of being freezing, was as warm as the sun beaming down on them.
Turning to face her, he reached for her other hand, bringing them to hang between them. Why me? She asked. It was a question he was familiar with, but every answer he gave was different. "Meri..." He sighed, glancing out in the direction she was looking before he slid his gaze back to her. "When I first saw you, I could tell that you were hurting. You'd been through something incredibly painful, and even though you tried to pretend it didn't affect you, you still carried that burden on your shoulders. It's heavy, and it was weighing you down." He gave her hands a squeeze, his voice dropping some. "I wanted you to know that it's okay to let that burden go. It's okay to be happy, and to smile again." He let go of one of her hands, sliding it around the back of her head, sliding it down to her neck. "And maybe it's a little selfish, but... I wanted to be a part of that."
What she might not realize though was that he did understand that feeling. And whenever he felt that way, he used his kingdom to ground himself. He was the summer king, after all. Ice and frozen ground wouldn't help him; he needed warm sands and the ocean air. Hoping that the same could help Meri, he led her through the hallways towards one of the many exits that led out to a private area of the beach. Her sarcastic comment back to him didn't bother him, and that smile remained on his face until he reached the sand, turning to face her and offer her his hand. It was only then that his smile faltered some, thinking that she might take him up on that offer and ask for some time alone. He would understand, of course, but the thought of leaving her alone... he didn't like it.
The silence after his statement was almost deafening, but finally, she descended the steps and slid her hand into his. Her comment about his tattoos made him chuckle, a deep sound almost akin to a large wave. It suited him. "And where is there a rule that a king can't have tattoos?" He eyed her, an almost playful look in his eyes as his fingers tightened around hers. Turning, he started walking towards the water. The silence wasn't as loud this time, though he did glance at her a few times before she even opened her mouth to ask her question. He sensed her hesitation, but his steps didn't falter until they reached the wet sand, where the water could reach their feet. It might surprise her to find that the water, instead of being freezing, was as warm as the sun beaming down on them.
Turning to face her, he reached for her other hand, bringing them to hang between them. Why me? She asked. It was a question he was familiar with, but every answer he gave was different. "Meri..." He sighed, glancing out in the direction she was looking before he slid his gaze back to her. "When I first saw you, I could tell that you were hurting. You'd been through something incredibly painful, and even though you tried to pretend it didn't affect you, you still carried that burden on your shoulders. It's heavy, and it was weighing you down." He gave her hands a squeeze, his voice dropping some. "I wanted you to know that it's okay to let that burden go. It's okay to be happy, and to smile again." He let go of one of her hands, sliding it around the back of her head, sliding it down to her neck. "And maybe it's a little selfish, but... I wanted to be a part of that."
coded by natasha.
MadiRaiCat
Wine Aunt
Jolene
werewolf bride
nine lives
MadiRaiCat
Wine Aunt
Asher
elf king
nine lives
Desert_Blossom
Nobody's Perfect...
Marissa Locke
Had Marissa found herself in this situation with anyone else, she would have been crying, screaming and kicking to fight off her kidnapper and find a way to return home. Her life had been turned upside down, inside out and then shaken a bit more for good measure. And yet the man responsible for it all- the man she should hate with a desperate passion- was the only one currently keeping her from being swallowed by a panic attack. Adrian was an enigma that neither Mari’s heart nor brain could contend with. In the storm of all the emotions battling to drown her, he remained a safe harbor. It wasn’t rational, or logical, or practical, but then again Marissa now found herself in a world where mermaids existed, so nothing made sense anymore.
The Summer king basically defied Marissa’s concept of a king in every way. He was young, and spirited, and inked, and rough around the edges, and playful, and not at all like the monarchs she’d learned about in school. “There might not be any rules here… but I’m pretty sure some countries do have them.” Marissa replied when he chuckled, pretending to be immune to the charms of his playfulness while they walked through the sand. She kept her gaze averted as she asked her first of many “why’s” even as he took her other hand in his larger one.
When I first saw you, I could tell that you were hurting. You'd been through something incredibly painful, and even though you tried to pretend it didn't affect you, you still carried that burden on your shoulders. As Adrian began to speak, Marissa could feel her defenses going on high alert. Her lips pressed into a firm line so she wouldn’t betray any vulnerability, even as Adrian called her out for doing just that. The blonde stared hard at the horizon, unable to meet his gaze and risk seeing the pity in his eyes that so many people looked at her with. It's heavy, and it was weighing you down. The Summer King squeezed her hands and Marissa had to shut her eyes to hide the emotion that his keen observation and small gesture elicited. I wanted you to know that it's okay to let that burden go. It's okay to be happy, and to smile again.
Adrian’s words hadn’t been meant as weapons, but they were still a direct hit, fracturing the walls Marissa had built to hide how fragile she was. The blonde finally turned towards the Summer King, her guarded expression quickly giving way as rogue tears glistened in her blue eyes. How could he see through her so easily? He’d only spent a few days with her, yet seemed to know what her family didn’t… That she stood in her own way of being happy. They all blamed James’s death, but really it was the heavy weight of Mari’s fear and guilt that was crushing her even after all these years. She was afraid that being happy again meant letting James go… Afraid that even if she found happiness that she would lose it once again… Or worse of all, afraid that if she let herself hope for happiness, she’d discover she really was too shattered to be put back together. Remaining in her sorrow was safe- she couldn’t be disappointed or hurt any more than she already was.
Adrian’s hand slid around her neck, his warmth settling into her skin immediately. And maybe it’s a little selfish, but… I wanted to be a part of that. Marissa’s mouth parted silently as her heart tightened. Another direct hit. The blonde’s fingertips rose to tenderly brush against his forearm, and for a moment she wanted nothing more than to hope that Adrian could be…. But then the voice in the back of her head reminded her that hope was dangerous. Adrian was dangerous. He’d offered her tastes of happiness, and just when she began to let herself feel something again… he took everything from her. Her friends, her family, her home. Adrian might have the power to make her happy, but he could take it all away. He’d already been her undoing once. Imagine the pain he could cause her if she gave him her heart too…
Guarding herself once more out of self preservation, her expression hardened as she closed her hand around Adrian’s arm, ready to push him away. “So I’m a project you think needs fixing?” She replied, going on the defensive. “And what if I’m too broken to- ” Mari’s counter was cut short as the first wave reached their spot in the sand, washing over her feet. The water was invitingly warm, but it was the inexplicable tingling sensation the wave sent through her body that distracted the blonde. It was similar to the way she’d felt waking up this morning- like a shot of energy or new life running through her- and Marissa’s brows furrowed slightly as she glanced down at her feet. Their conversation was already forgotten as blue eyes then curiously swept out to the ocean. Consumed by the foreign sensation, she stared out for a few moments, before letting Adrian go as she slowly stepped away from him. Turning, the blonde moved further down the beach, wading deeper into the waves as if being pulled by an invisible thread.
“Do you hear that?” Marissa asked, her gaze transfixed on the cerulean water.
The Summer king basically defied Marissa’s concept of a king in every way. He was young, and spirited, and inked, and rough around the edges, and playful, and not at all like the monarchs she’d learned about in school. “There might not be any rules here… but I’m pretty sure some countries do have them.” Marissa replied when he chuckled, pretending to be immune to the charms of his playfulness while they walked through the sand. She kept her gaze averted as she asked her first of many “why’s” even as he took her other hand in his larger one.
When I first saw you, I could tell that you were hurting. You'd been through something incredibly painful, and even though you tried to pretend it didn't affect you, you still carried that burden on your shoulders. As Adrian began to speak, Marissa could feel her defenses going on high alert. Her lips pressed into a firm line so she wouldn’t betray any vulnerability, even as Adrian called her out for doing just that. The blonde stared hard at the horizon, unable to meet his gaze and risk seeing the pity in his eyes that so many people looked at her with. It's heavy, and it was weighing you down. The Summer King squeezed her hands and Marissa had to shut her eyes to hide the emotion that his keen observation and small gesture elicited. I wanted you to know that it's okay to let that burden go. It's okay to be happy, and to smile again.
Adrian’s words hadn’t been meant as weapons, but they were still a direct hit, fracturing the walls Marissa had built to hide how fragile she was. The blonde finally turned towards the Summer King, her guarded expression quickly giving way as rogue tears glistened in her blue eyes. How could he see through her so easily? He’d only spent a few days with her, yet seemed to know what her family didn’t… That she stood in her own way of being happy. They all blamed James’s death, but really it was the heavy weight of Mari’s fear and guilt that was crushing her even after all these years. She was afraid that being happy again meant letting James go… Afraid that even if she found happiness that she would lose it once again… Or worse of all, afraid that if she let herself hope for happiness, she’d discover she really was too shattered to be put back together. Remaining in her sorrow was safe- she couldn’t be disappointed or hurt any more than she already was.
Adrian’s hand slid around her neck, his warmth settling into her skin immediately. And maybe it’s a little selfish, but… I wanted to be a part of that. Marissa’s mouth parted silently as her heart tightened. Another direct hit. The blonde’s fingertips rose to tenderly brush against his forearm, and for a moment she wanted nothing more than to hope that Adrian could be…. But then the voice in the back of her head reminded her that hope was dangerous. Adrian was dangerous. He’d offered her tastes of happiness, and just when she began to let herself feel something again… he took everything from her. Her friends, her family, her home. Adrian might have the power to make her happy, but he could take it all away. He’d already been her undoing once. Imagine the pain he could cause her if she gave him her heart too…
Guarding herself once more out of self preservation, her expression hardened as she closed her hand around Adrian’s arm, ready to push him away. “So I’m a project you think needs fixing?” She replied, going on the defensive. “And what if I’m too broken to- ” Mari’s counter was cut short as the first wave reached their spot in the sand, washing over her feet. The water was invitingly warm, but it was the inexplicable tingling sensation the wave sent through her body that distracted the blonde. It was similar to the way she’d felt waking up this morning- like a shot of energy or new life running through her- and Marissa’s brows furrowed slightly as she glanced down at her feet. Their conversation was already forgotten as blue eyes then curiously swept out to the ocean. Consumed by the foreign sensation, she stared out for a few moments, before letting Adrian go as she slowly stepped away from him. Turning, the blonde moved further down the beach, wading deeper into the waves as if being pulled by an invisible thread.
“Do you hear that?” Marissa asked, her gaze transfixed on the cerulean water.
nine lives
Desert_Blossom
Nobody's Perfect...
Alarick Vernon
Typically it was the young woman Alarick had selected to be his bride who was filled with questions and turmoil her first day in the Spring Kingdom. But this time, Alarick found himself in the undesirable position of being in the dark when it came to Jolene. At least when his wives-to-be asked him about their new lives he almost always had answers- even if they weren’t ones the women wanted to hear- but the Southern Belle didn’t seem to have any for Al as to what she was. Rather, she only flung more questions back at him. How is what possible? What on God's green Earth are you talking about?
The pair stood a couple meters apart, both seemingly out of patience with the other. Jolene’s annoyance with Alarick’s accusatory questions dripped from her voice like her Southern twang, but he didn’t care. He was just as irritated by her ignorance as to who, or what, she was. Because it certainly wasn’t human. A brisk laugh escaped Jo’s lips as she crossed her arms over her chest, and Al narrowed his eyes as she chided him for expecting her to know what was going on. He resisted the urge to shoot a biting retort her way, and thankfully so because Jo finally offered up a tiny sliver of information that could be useful.
Up until this morning, I was just some semi-normal orphan from Tennessee trying to live her life, to survive. Jolene continued to chastise Al for kidnapping her, but he didn’t react, too focussed on the new line of reasoning the tidbit of Jo’s origin opened up. An orphan?! She’d mentioned her father during their time together over the past week, but it hadn’t come up that he wasn’t blood related before. Who knew who her parents actually were then.
So just let me go home, and we can both be out of each other's hair, alright? Alarick’s brow furrowed, for the first time wondering if one of his brides would get their wish and have to be returned home. The feeling of dread that he’d doomed the Earth flooded him once more and he bristled. “No matter how many times you try to convince me to let you go home, it’s not up to me anymore. Even if I wanted to send you back, the moment you accepted that necklace you sealed our fates.“ He replied honestly, though it gave him no satisfaction to admit he wasn’t in control of everything. The only one who might have a say in things was Mother, but he needed more information before he went to her.
Studying Jo, Al replayed the morning’s events in his head, collecting all the moments that felt out of place- her golden gaze, her suspicious speed, her ability to heal quickly… Those qualities were all ones he was quite familiar with, possessed himself even, but how could he miss it if Jolene really was a…
The wolf closed the space between him and his bride-to-be in an instant. His hands gripped each of her shoulders tightly, keeping her from escaping as he leaned down to inhale her scent from the base of her neck. She could lie to him, but her blood and body chemistry could not. Al had obviously missed something due to his ignorance and blind belief that she was human, but he wouldn’t again. Breathing in deeply, Alarick ignored the more primal urges Jolene’s scent aroused in him, focusing instead on deciphering its profiles. She smelled overwhelmingly of her life on Earth and living as a human, even if she wasn’t one… But there, buried deep and almost undetectable was the truth of her heritage. Jo smelled like that of werewolf babes born in their human form- pure, their feral side still dormant and untapped.
A more guttural growl escaped Al as he processed the discovery that his chosen bride was of his kind. If not for the order of things, this would be the most natural match he could hope for… but there was the matter of keeping the balance, and fear that he’d be the harbinger of the end chilled the hot blood running through his veins. Releasing Jolene, Al turned away from her, pacing for a moment as he did his best to collect himself before coming to a stop. “Do you know anything of your birth?” He asked evenly, facing away from her. He paused for a moment, debating his next question, before glancing over his shoulder at her. “You really don’t know what you are? You never noticed you were different until now?” Another pause as the wolf cocked his head to the side a little, weighing whether he wanted to open the next can of worms. “Do you want to know what you are?”
The pair stood a couple meters apart, both seemingly out of patience with the other. Jolene’s annoyance with Alarick’s accusatory questions dripped from her voice like her Southern twang, but he didn’t care. He was just as irritated by her ignorance as to who, or what, she was. Because it certainly wasn’t human. A brisk laugh escaped Jo’s lips as she crossed her arms over her chest, and Al narrowed his eyes as she chided him for expecting her to know what was going on. He resisted the urge to shoot a biting retort her way, and thankfully so because Jo finally offered up a tiny sliver of information that could be useful.
Up until this morning, I was just some semi-normal orphan from Tennessee trying to live her life, to survive. Jolene continued to chastise Al for kidnapping her, but he didn’t react, too focussed on the new line of reasoning the tidbit of Jo’s origin opened up. An orphan?! She’d mentioned her father during their time together over the past week, but it hadn’t come up that he wasn’t blood related before. Who knew who her parents actually were then.
So just let me go home, and we can both be out of each other's hair, alright? Alarick’s brow furrowed, for the first time wondering if one of his brides would get their wish and have to be returned home. The feeling of dread that he’d doomed the Earth flooded him once more and he bristled. “No matter how many times you try to convince me to let you go home, it’s not up to me anymore. Even if I wanted to send you back, the moment you accepted that necklace you sealed our fates.“ He replied honestly, though it gave him no satisfaction to admit he wasn’t in control of everything. The only one who might have a say in things was Mother, but he needed more information before he went to her.
Studying Jo, Al replayed the morning’s events in his head, collecting all the moments that felt out of place- her golden gaze, her suspicious speed, her ability to heal quickly… Those qualities were all ones he was quite familiar with, possessed himself even, but how could he miss it if Jolene really was a…
The wolf closed the space between him and his bride-to-be in an instant. His hands gripped each of her shoulders tightly, keeping her from escaping as he leaned down to inhale her scent from the base of her neck. She could lie to him, but her blood and body chemistry could not. Al had obviously missed something due to his ignorance and blind belief that she was human, but he wouldn’t again. Breathing in deeply, Alarick ignored the more primal urges Jolene’s scent aroused in him, focusing instead on deciphering its profiles. She smelled overwhelmingly of her life on Earth and living as a human, even if she wasn’t one… But there, buried deep and almost undetectable was the truth of her heritage. Jo smelled like that of werewolf babes born in their human form- pure, their feral side still dormant and untapped.
A more guttural growl escaped Al as he processed the discovery that his chosen bride was of his kind. If not for the order of things, this would be the most natural match he could hope for… but there was the matter of keeping the balance, and fear that he’d be the harbinger of the end chilled the hot blood running through his veins. Releasing Jolene, Al turned away from her, pacing for a moment as he did his best to collect himself before coming to a stop. “Do you know anything of your birth?” He asked evenly, facing away from her. He paused for a moment, debating his next question, before glancing over his shoulder at her. “You really don’t know what you are? You never noticed you were different until now?” Another pause as the wolf cocked his head to the side a little, weighing whether he wanted to open the next can of worms. “Do you want to know what you are?”
nine lives
