Realistic or Modern The Witching Hours [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

Pia laughed outright as Emmett asked what smut was, as Asher got more red. “You said it, Asher, you explain,” and Pia turned her attention right back to what she was, indeed, writing.

Asher buried his face in his hands.

He knew he'd regret it.

He managed to lift his head, wondering if it would be better if Emmett was playing dumb. His research had to know her alter ego, right? “Pia is…her pseudonym is Piety Amoroso. She is a…prolific writer of harlequin romances. Smut is…erotica. I–you know that word, right?” He didn't want to have to get explicit.

Pia didn't correct him. The explanation was good, though she did sigh, “You didn't need to give my pen name away, you know.”

“Maybe he'll tell the Institute and you'll get more fans,” he rolled his eyes, still burning red.

 

[awkwardradish]

“Oh.” Emmett was nonchalant. He didn’t understand why Asher and Jasleen were so flustered. “I didn’t realize people read their porn. Is it supposed to be more sophisticated that way?” It was a somewhat serious question, though there was a soft smirk on her lips.

“What are you, celibate?” Emmett’s smirk only grew. “Sex isn’t a bad word, you know.”

Jasleen made a face. This wasn’t a conversation she was keen on having with any of them.

“Besides, I heard there’s like, a huge market for romance books. I bet you make a killing.” Emmett commented to Pia.

 

[Lucyfer]

Asher let out an agitated groan at Emmett, pretty sure then he’d been led on to say it. “I know it’s not a bad word, and I’m not celibate,” he had to fight an urge to look towards Jasleen, and he succeeded. Why did he want to look towards her? For a reaction to not being celibate? Why should that matter?

He wasn’t going to go down that train of thought right then. “Most people don’t talk about porn with people they barely know.” That was as good a defense as he had, and he really didn’t want to talk about it.

Pia, of course, wasn’t flustered at all. “I do,” she said, “it’s such an easy genre to break into if you write even half-way decently,” and she did more than that, though she had to keep it dumbed down to a certain degree.

Her audience wasn’t scholars, after all. She wasn’t writing for the Masters of Rome audience, although she was half-tempted sometimes to break into historical fiction, just because she knew so much about the crusade period.

One day.

Maybe.

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett’s attention turned to Pia when she spoke. He no longer had an interest in antagonizing Asher. At least not for the time being. “I’d bet Terrance’s wife has some of your books. She’s into that weird shit.” He smirked a little. “Maybe I’ll have to read up on your work. They say that… oh, what was it? Men written by women? They say they’re hot.”

Emmett didn’t exactly consider himself lacking in that department, though. He was always nice to girls who came looking for sex, but that’s all it was. Sex.

That’s all he wanted it to be.

Jasleen scrunched her nose again. She was very much aware at how not-celibate Asher probably was. He probably had girls hanging off his arms.

Or he could, if he wanted them.

“Do you think he realizes how obvious he’s being?” She leaned over to Asher to whisper about Emmett, like they were old friends. She knew Pia would hear her, but she didn’t care. She was sure Pia was just as painfully aware of Emmett’s attention.

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia was painfully aware, as she did indeed hear Jasleen’s comment about Emmett, but she’d give her mercy for the moment and not call attention to it right then. “You like hot men?” she countered, “I can recommend several good books, and several trashy ones, depending on your preferences,” she had to know what was out there, after all.

She had to have the pulse for it, and werewolves were definitely in, so she was glad to have the idea sparked by all of this nonsense to write for a witch and a werewolf. It probably wouldn’t be sell-out to a film great, but she wasn’t trying for that level of fame.

“My own, and others. I don’t write the same type in every book.” She’d get way too bored if she did that.



Asher frowned a bit at the question. He wasn’t entirely sure, but he nodded anyways. “Pia’s not usually stupid about that.” And usually good at disentangling herself. For someone who wrote horrendous romance novels, he never knew her to actually…hook up with anyone.

Or perhaps she was far more subtle about it than he gave her credit for.

He preferred not to know, and hoped he would remain ignorant of her love life. He shook his head a bit, “Sorry for that – she told me she got an idea for a novel from all this,” he rolled his eyes, “I knew it was going to be a bad idea as soon as I said it.”

It was probably a bad idea to mention this had inspired the story, too, he belatedly realized.

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett grinned wryly. If she was trying to imply he was gay, it wasn’t the insult she thought it was. He wasn’t- but he’d tried it a couple times. And could tolerate other men in the room.

“I like hot women who are attracted to hot men.” He countered right back with a smirk.

He absolutely didn’t care how obvious he was being. It wasn’t like he was trying to marry her- he just wanted a good time. And Pia seemed like the type who could provide that.

“Oh? And what’s your type?” He leaned forward onto his knees. “Trashy?”


Jasleen blinked. She seemed confused for a moment. Pia was writing a book inspired off this scenario?

“Doesn’t she write…?” The pieces began to click into place slowly then. “Wait, she’s writing about you? And-“ she glanced around, and realization struck her face as red made it’s way up her neck and to her cheeks.

“Oh.”

That was certainly… something.

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia laughed, ‘Isn’t that every woman ever?’ Well, not every woman was hot. And some of their tastes…she knew beauty was in the eye of the beholder, but Benedict Cumberbatch? Really? She just couldn’t see it.

She knew it was all in the character he played, though. That, and the money he had. Ah, fame! Making mediocre people seem incredibly attractive!

“Depends on my mood,” she answered, fairly honest in that, “sometimes trashy just hits the spot,” she wouldn’t deny it. It wasn’t anything she was looking for long-term, but ‘slumming it’ had its perks. And she could see where this was going, “But they do have to be trashy-hot. There’s a difference between fresh out of the Alabama trailer court, and fresh out of the Chicago tattoo parlor trash, you know?”

Which easily led to raking him with her gaze, “Do you have tattoos?” it was atrociously forward, but it was fun in that way.



Jasleen didn’t even need him to spell it out. He could have claimed Pia was writing about the hunter – but no. She figured it out by the fact Pia divulged it to him and he nodded, “It’s because the werewolf genre is apparently hot right now,” he tried to make it seem like it wasn’t them, not really. “I know she won’t use our names. Or even likeness. She’ll probably just use a wolf shifter in the story.”

Werewolves didn’t really sell, apparently.

Wolf-shifters? Absolutely!

Werewolves who couldn’t control the shifts and bit their partners? Not so much. Unless that partner was the extra special snowflake who they’d never bite. Which…she might go with that angle. Even if Pia admitted to loathing all things soulmates.

“You are very welcome to talk her out of it.”

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett allowed Pia to take him over. In fact, he’d been raking her over all night. It wouldn’t hurt for him to take another long look, though.

“Mhm,” his smirked only widened into a shit eating grin. “Fortunately for you, they’re only visible unless my clothes are off.”

He didn’t care how forward he was being. She started it- and then flirting beforehand was half the fun!

Especially when it was with somebody who could hold her own, like Pia. He never much cared for quiet, mousy types. He liked the fire.

And he could see fire in Pia’s eyes.


Asher was trying to reassure her, which was appreciated, but the fact that Asher and Jasleen had even given Pia the inkling of an idea… did that mean something?

“Nope.” Jasleen was quick to answer, though her face was still red hot. “I’m not stupid enough to bring up that topic in front of her.”

Jasleen wasn’t intimidated by many people. But
Pia? She knew Pia would hand her ass to her. And normally, she didn’t even care about that. She could take a beating and a tongue-lashing.

But something about Pia was… respectable. She didn’t want to make an enemy out of her for no reason.

Besides, she was sure she’d only say something to make it worse.

“U-Unless it makes you uncomfortable. Then I’ll totally talk to her.” Jasleen added. “N-Not that, uh, it doesn’t make me uncomfortable. I mean, I’m not- Not that it does!”

There went the nervous rambling again.

“I’m just saying, I’d ask her not to if you wanted me to.” With that, she clicked her jaw shut.

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia chuckled and leaned back, “I see, trashy in private and debatably not in public,” her body couldn’t hold tattoos. One of the downsides of vampirism, not that she’d ever seriously considered one, but she’d gone through many phases of being violently pissed off at everything and everyone, and wanting to do the impossible.

A tattoo was yet another impossibility with vampire healing.

How far did she want to take this? That was ever the question, ever the concern. And was he truly willing, or caught in the aura of charisma? Given they had to deal with each other for longer than a night, it complicated things.

“Are your designs really so good that I’d want to see them?” She wasn’t asking about tattoo designs, but the designs his mind was weaving, as her own debated if she wanted to deal with the hassle of the potential fallout if this was just the damn charisma aura.

Or even if it wasn’t.

Obsession was…never enjoyable. Only in fiction.



Asher could at least laugh at how quick Jasleen was to answer, although he tempered it just as quick, not wanting to upset her with that sort of amusement. Sombered quick. Her nerves were obvious, and he knew his were, too.

He knew what it could mean, but they only just started to know each other!

Sure, he obviously liked her. Cared for her already. But he hadn’t gotten into the dating mindset with everything going on! ‘Can you?’ The thought spiraled others that he pushed back, and he cleared his throat.

“I’ve already made my displeasure known,” he said, “but she said it wasn’t going to resemble how the….”

He was about to use Pia’s words.

‘How the actual romance unfolds.’

And he’d sputtered at that, too. He wasn’t about to say that now, “how the actual situation goes. So. I guess. We can still make our own story.”

Wait.

Fuck.

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett could sense that Pia was entertaining the idea of taking him to bed. He could also sense her hesitancy, and he understood.

They were working together now. Lines could get blurred.

But it wasn’t like Emmett was trying to date her. He was a firm believer that sex could be casual when both parties wanted it to be.

And he so wanted it.

“You’d have to find out.” His eyes roamed over her again, then back up. “But I’ve been told they’re worth it.”

A euphemism.


‘We can still make our own story.’

Did that imply he wanted a story with her?

Her breath caught a little at the implication. For a moment, she looked like some sort of feral animal again, backed into a corner.

But that quickly shifted. She wasn’t scared of Asher. In the time she’d known him, she’d found him to be a gentle giant. Something she appreciated.

But she was terrified of the fact that Asher was slowly working his way past her defenses.

“We’re… writing a story?” She almost sounded dumbfounded, but it would be hard to miss the tiny sliver of hope in her voice.

 

[Lucyfer]

Although Emmett blatantly looked her over, Pia held her gaze on his face this time. That impossible to know thing – was he charmed? – repeated in her head. Once upon a time, she hadn’t cared. Once upon a time, of course, she’d been a genocidal murderer, so consent was the last thing on her mind for, well, anything.

As it was now, Emmett seemed quite enthusiastic, and Pia hadn’t used much charm on him. Not consciously. So, she opted to roll with it. “Well then, good thing we’ll be at a hotel soon,” that might not actually go well, but she refused to let thoughts of how that damned oath was going to impact her right then.

“I’m rather impatient to find out,” and tempting as it was there, she would spare Asher that much agony. The plane was private, and small for that fact. She wasn’t going to inflict that on his sensitive ears.



Asher heard that little hope. He’d also seen that shift from fear to curiosity – however timid it was. And he wanted to feed that hope.

Hell, he wanted that hope for himself, even if he didn’t know what it entailed. “Aren’t we?” he countered with a soft smile, “Ever since we met, thanks to Oliver, I think we’ve been writing a story together. I’m not sure how long it’ll last, but I am interested in seeing where it takes us.”

That little hope, this time more clear: he wanted to know her.

He wanted to see where this went, whether it was just good friends, or…well, what Pia seemed to see in them.

He didn’t know, but he was hopeful it had a good outcome for both of them. That they’d both contribute positively to their stories, for however long they were together.

 

[awkwardradish]

A satisfied grin broke onto his face. He was sure Pia wouldn't make it that easy, but he didn’t mind at all. After all, the chase was the fun part for him.

Not the actual chase. He wasn’t that crazy.

The flirting. The anticipation. That was fun.

“I didn’t take you for the impatient type.” He hummed playfully.

And he hadn’t. He was sure Pia could get her fix wherever and whenever she needed too.

“Luckily for you, I can keep myself composed until we’re in private.”


Jasleen couldn’t help the tiny smile that broke through her usual mask of apathy.

Fuck, this was bad. Bad bad.

“You should know… well, I mean, I’m sure you can tell that I’m not great at this.” She motioned between them.

Whatever this was.

“But… also, you should know that… uh, being seen with me. In Salem. As a… male.” Her face was flushing again at the implication. “It may put an even bigger target on your back. Landon was… er, is a bit… possessive.”

It was why she’d never dated in Salem. Afterwards, her personality had simply gotten in the way.

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia chuckled at the comment. She didn’t come off as impatient, and she supposed, in many ways, she wasn’t. Her idea of time remained different. After all, they’d be at the hotel a while – but she didn’t have such plans to drag it out needlessly. She’d always loathed that in narratives. Miscommunications that could be easily wrapped up. Unnecessary delays.

“Well, when you’re used to getting everything you want at the drop of a hat…,” she trailed off, making it obvious why he should expect her to be impatient.

And that she’d maintain things on her terms. He’d just have to learn what that meant, of course. She had been honest – her type depended on her mood, and sometimes, she enjoyed being fickle. “But I have very important work until then, so I trust you’ll entertain yourself,” she let her gaze leave him, retreating back to the Very Important Work.

Work only made easier by how pathetically adorable Jasleen and Asher were when they thought no one was paying attention. Which, she wasn’t, but vampire hearing was a bane sometimes.



“Yeah, it’s been pretty obvious since we met,” Asher agreed. Obviously, he hadn’t been run off by her behavior yet, and he wasn’t planning to be any time soon. As for the Salem situation? He just let the disgust on his face show.

“I don’t really care. I’m going to have a target on my back regardless,” he was arriving with Pia, someone those in Salem were likely quite afraid of if they were trying to resurrect this warlock. After all, she was going to stop that, and take them down. “If it helps draw Landon out, I’ll call it a target worth wearing.”

Though it would likely just be his goons, if he was as cowardly as Jasleen said.

Either way, he’d run out of goons eventually.

And it’d make their lives a hell of a lot easier to whittle down his forces.

Asher could handle it.

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett smirked to himself as Pia turned her attention back to her important porn writing.

He thought he’d scour Terrance’s wife’s bookshelf when he visited them next. Or the library.

Did the library even carry things like that?

He leaned back once more, stretching his legs. He’s be happy to allow Pia to call the shots here- he wasn’t so fickle in his manhood that he wouldn’t.

Jasleen looked a little relieved, but she still worried. Asher was the first friend she’d had, in well… ever. The thought of him getting hurt because of Landon made her sick to her stomach.

“Don’t do that.” Her voice wasn’t harsh as it was with the others. In fact, it was barely above a whisper. “Don’t… be glad. Or whatever. I don’t know.” She admitted.

“Just don’t get hurt, not because of me.”

She wasn’t sure she could live with herself if he did.

“I can draw Landon out myself.”

 

[Lucyfer]

“I didn’t say I was glad, “Asher said, although he supposed it was close to it. He’d be contributing in this way, “and we’ve already decided, you’re not being bait. Not directly,” he said. “But I am happy if I can contribute in any way. The sooner we get this done with, the sooner we can look at a better life, right?”

One free from Landon, and Salem.

One where he could truly start…living. He could come out from his shelter and figure out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. So could Jasleen, she wouldn’t have to be in hiding any longer.

They both had a lot to look forward to. “I’m not going to get hurt because of you,” he added. He was probably going to get hurt. That was unavoidable. They were all, probably, going to get hurt. “Don’t worry. It won’t be your fault, no matter what happens. You’re not the one taking action to harm, so it’s not your fault.”

It was such a hard lesson, for anyone to learn.

He almost hated that bit of being human. How easy it was to take on blame for things like that.

He noticed that Pia and Emmett seemed to have stopped talking to each other. He wasn't sure why, but suspected it meant nothing good for his own peace, or Jasleen's.

 

[awkwardradish]

Asher was correct. Emmett took it upon himself to butt into the ongoing conversation.

“He’s right, you know. Whatever happens, you can’t make it out to be your fault. We’re going to Salem because Landon is a sadistic fuck that apparently should have been dealt with ages ago. It’s time to death with him.”

Emmett shrugged. He couldn’t deny that he felt oddly defensive of Jasleen, and Asher, when it came to this. He wanted them to have the chance to get out and see what life had to offer.

“But we will all probably be injured.” He was nonchalant about that. “That’s the job, and it sucks, but we’ll figure it out.”

Jasleen looked between them, her gaze noticeably softer when she locked eyes with Asher.

“I know.” She shifted in her seat. “I just… I don’t know. Landon is easily provoked.” When it came to her especially.

“Most fickle men usual are.” Emmett said. “There’s four of us and one of him.”

“There may only be one of him, but the entire coven does his bidding. So don’t think of it like that.” She warned him seriously.

 

[Lucyfer]

“We’re not,” Asher said with a sigh, “as I recall, they are thinking of salting the Earth,” an analogy he still didn’t like, but one that made it obvious they were going to look at this as a whole situation, and not just one man.

Even if cutting the head off the snake was likely in the books to impact the ability of the others to achieve the main goal, which was reviving Frederick.

“We know we’re technically outnumbered,” Asher said, “but we’re still going to handle this and deal with the coven, so you won’t have to worry about them again. No one will,” which would be good for humanity all around.

They just had to make it into Boston, and then into Salem.

 

[awkwardradish]

Emmett smirked a little. He could definitely see where Pia was coming from- Asher so blatantly cared for her and he didn’t even realize it.

“Yeah, see? Your guard dog is going to make sure you’re all safe. What a hero-“ he faked gasped. “He really is Steve Rogers, ready to sweep the damsel away from danger!”

Jasleen’s cheeks turned dark once more, but she leveled a glare at Emmett.

She decided to throw something at him.

The closest thing to her happened to be a worn copy of one of her favorite books, and she aimed for his head.

“Hey-!” Emmett laughed, barely managing to dodge the flying weapon. He fill into his lap, and he picked it up to examine it. “To Kill a Mockingbird? Kind of cliché, don’t you think?”

“Eat a dick.” She held out her hand for the book back.

“Finder’s Keeper’s.” He flipped through it.

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia did look up in annoyance when a book was thrown, “No violence in the plane or I'll ask the attendant to take you to the private quarters.” It was nice, but it was also isolating. And the attendants were certainly capable of it.

Asher gave a glance at the only attendant he'd seen, sitting near the cockpit doors, reading their own book.

“And he just gets away with the book?”

Pia shrugged, “Don't throw things you intend to keep.” Likely rich coming from her with her throwing knives, but she made sure to kill those people to reclaim them.

Asher grumbled, but with the threat of isolation, he wouldn't attempt to take the book back right then. “It's not a bad book.” He couldn't say he'd enjoyed it. He was forced to read it in middle school. It was hard to enjoy any book in that situation.

 

[awkwardradish]

“At this point, isolation would be better than putting up with him.” Jasleen grumbled, but she just crossed her arms in defeat.

“Ouch.” Emmett deadpanned, but smirked as he handed the book over to Asher, so he could hand it to Jasleen. “Oh please. You’re only agreeing with her because-“

“I swear to god, do not finish that sentence, or I will end up in private quarters.” Jasleen practically growled.

She did not want to have that discussion in front of Emmett and Pia.

Emmett smirked and held his hands up in surrender. “Just saying. I couldn’t stand it.”

“Yeah? You probably missed the entire point.” Jasleen grumbled, but the malice had disappeared from her voice.

 

[Lucyfer]

Asher didn’t hesitate in offering the book back to Jasleen, even if he looked annoyed to be the one given the book instead of her. The two bickered about the book instead.

“You can also willingly go into isolation,” Pia noted, though Asher was sure she was considering it for herself. That, or putting in the other earbud to tune them out completely. Earbuds just didn’t block the visuals, like books thrown across the room.

“The only reason I remember the point of it is because my teacher wasn’t very subtle about it,” Asher murmured. Also, it had been obvious, but it wasn’t a book that would have stood out in his memory if it hadn’t been for class. “You ever read—”

“Yes,” Pia didn’t even need to wait to be sure he was addressing her. She didn’t offer an opinion, though.

“In one of the college courses, or willingly?”

Pia did chuckle at that, “Willingly.”

 

[awkwardradish]

“She was probably around when it was written.” Emmett pointed out. “Well, no probably about it. Isn’t it just about like, racism being bad?”

“That’s one of the themes, yes, but it also highlights the goodness within the bad. You know, the pretty parts of humanity. Not just the warts.” Jasleen shrugged.

Emmett blinked. “Are you nerding out about a sixty year old book right now? Were you one of those teachers pets or some shit in school?”

“I didn’t graduate high school, asshole.” She didn’t sound too offended.

“Wait, what? Then how-“

“My dad was well educated. He taught literature at the human college. He was reading me shit like The Odyssey and Augustine’s Confessions as my bedtime stories.” She snorted a little.

Emmett studied her, then turned to Pia, as if to change the subject. He didn’t want to antagonize Jasleen about actually painful subjects. That was just rude. “So, since you’d live all this shit, and you’re on the scene, what’s the greatest book written of all time, hm? Give us your insight, oh ancient one.” He smirked.

 

[Lucyfer]

Pia audibly groaned at Augustine’s Confessions. She had that practically memorized. That, and St. Aquinas’s writings. Considering her faith in God was…well, she believed in God, but she had several issues with Him, but considering that – she couldn’t say she was a fan of the old theological writings in the least, but she definitely knew how to weaponize them.

Which, was probably a bad thing.

Pia frowned as she called upon to answer what the greatest writing of all time was, “You realize that there are different standards to this, right? A book, like The Divine Comedy, can absolutely change the course of an entire language and religion, but be utterly dry to read…although I am a fan of how every section ends on the same word,” that was just…charming. She’d given Dante that.

“Not considering worldly impact. Just the best narrative to read,” Asher suggested, and saw the pain at that. She was no doubt thinking of Shakespeare, even if Shakespeare didn’t write books – many of his screenplays were still treated as them.

“With my bias,” she insisted, “I lean into science fiction and fantasy for greatness. Writing about the mundane misses much, so for the sake of argument, I’ll posit At The Mountains of Madness by Lovecraft as at least one of the greatest books out there. I’m not sure it’s the greatest, but it’s the main one coming to mind right now.”

 

[awkwardradish]

“Figured you’d have a soft spot for Dracula.” Emmett smirked jokingly.

Jasleen listened to Pia, clearly interested. If there was one thing she could hold a conversation about forever, it was books.

And she wanted to pick Pia’s brain.

“Fair points.” She agreed. “All the books that changed society and language and all that are torture to read.” She shifted. “Okay, so, what’s a book written in the recent past that you think will be one of the greats in the future? Something they’d teach in school, like Mockingbird.” She held it up as reference.

“Hopefully nothing Pia writes.” Emmett grinned wryly.

 

[Lucyfer]

“I didn't say Dracula…but Quincey Morris is the best character in that entire novel,” Pia noted. Obviously, she'd read Dracula. Considering the impact it had on popular opinion on vampires, it was practically necessary reading.

She did cant her head at ‘recent past’, considering Lovecraft felt recent to her. Asher clarified, “Past thirty or so years,” he said.

“I'm sure Harry Potter will be there,” she didn't sound thrilled about that, “Stephen King may, if only for a study on writing characters. I'm not sure either count as greats, though.” King was predictable, and Harry Potter had many issues. “If I had to pick one I think deserves it, it would be The Buddha in the Attic by Otsuka, though.”

“I haven't heard of that one,” which didn't really surprise Asher. He didn't read nearly as much. His life was still finite, and there were often other things he'd rather do.