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Vampires - Blog Posts
Bloodraven Hause
Residential
40x30
$371,050
6 bedroom, 6 bathroom
Traits: Registered Vampire Lair, Vampire Nexus, & Creepy Crawlies
Bloodraven Hause has been a staple of Forgotten Hollow for hundreds of years. Once home to a family of pacifists the home has some more sim friendly elements even though those pacifist vampires have changed their tone in the last hundred years.
WWDITS S4 JULY 12 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jeff going into gregor is literally thor odinson.
guillermo slowly realising that he’s almost certainly related to van helsing and then realising he ate garlic for lunch. pure comedy.
Alternatives To Sleeping in Coffins
An Illustrated Guide For Vampires
1. Privacy Tent
2. Antique Chinese Wedding Bed
3. Victorian Box Bed
4. Canopy Bed
5. Full Body Wearable Blanket + Novelty Halloween Mask of Choice
6. Hyperrealistic Black Bear Sleeping Bag (with built in ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature)
7. Tinfoil Bodysuit (For maximized UV protection)
8. Blackout Curtains You Fucking Vampiric Dumbass
in conclusion why in fuck’s name are you sleeping in coffins to begin with you utter shitmuppets
here are some more quality pics of the popup book i made for 3d design class! it was extremely time consuming but id love to make more. there are a bunch of little easter eggs like tiny openable books with ophelias writing and drawings inside!
materials: bristol board (so so much of it), mat board, faux suede, gold ink, markers, graphite, small bits of acrylic paint, and a lot of school glue
theres also a vid of what it looks like when opened, forgive the shaky camera hand
some oc stuff <3
𓂃 ࣪˖ ཐིཋྀ CIAO AMORE!
𓂃 ࣪˖ ༒︎— VAMPIRE! FEM READER X HUMAN! DAZAI OSAMU
𓂃 ࣪˖ ཐིཋྀ — SUMMARY: Night emerged and Dazai Osamu, a known thief who just ran away from patrolmen, was looking for somewhere to hide for a while. It was pouring and he wore a white ruffled poet shirt that showed his neck and collarbones, some black trouser with a golden button that had an intricate embellishments on it, a black coat and some leather black leather shoes. He used his coat as cover from the rain as he ran through the streets to the forest till he outran the patrolmen and stumbled across a cave that lead him into a strange "deserted" manor, where he met his romantic demise.
๋࣭ ⭑♡♱— HORROR + FLUFF + VERY SLIGHT ANGST + SUGGESTIVE + 19TH CENTURY AU + VAMPIRE AU
A/N: Another fic about vamps 4 fun(✦ ‿ ✦)! I hope you guys enjoy this one because in this one, reader is the vampire :D! I also might write a chuuya version where he's the one that is a vampire, and for today i wanna make dazai submissive because normally i always try to write him as near as the real him as possible so i dont mischaracterize him, but I'm gonna give into the 𝖋𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖐𝖞...needs that people have and make him abit out of character.
WARNINGS! : BLOOD, DEATH, CURSING, NOT PROOFREAD!
He ran through the street, slipping a few times due to the wet groves and rocks but he manages to always get back up and run. He was Dazai Osamu.. An infamous thief, known for being promiscuous and leading wealthy women on just to steal their wealth (and hearts.)
He breathes heavily as he ran farther and farther, he ran across multiple dimly lit streets and dark alleyways as the rain poured, "STOP! STOP! GRAB HIM!"— the patrolmen yelled as dazai fleds to the forest and running in different directions, he really did not know where he was going.. He ran deeply into the dimly moonlit forest till he lost the patrolmen...he looks from behind and sees that there were no more yells and he takes a deep breath.
His coat was wet and he was abit damp too, due to the times he tripped and landed on the wet floor. He covers his body with his coat as he seeks for shelter, atleast a vacant cave to stay in for the night, he looks around the forest, the trees were tall and it was pouring, he runs farther and he looks around but as he got deeper, fog was appearing, he must be in a high cold place then? He thought.
He stumbles over a few rocks and he lets out small curses and grumbles from the obstacles he faces, he walks farther and sees a cave.. Perfect! He thought, the cave was pretty small but it could fit atleast 2 people and it was small enough that a bear wouldn't be hiding in it, the cave had a cover on the front entrance, it was leafy vines that acted like a curtain. He pushes the vines to the side and enters the cave, it was dark and deep which made a wary feeling creep down his spine. The inside was abnormally long.. But as he walks deeper he sees another curtain of leafy vines that had a small light that showed the silhouette of the exit. He thought about stopping there and just rest up but he had this curious adventurous feeling that made him want to go deeper.
He moves the leafy green vines to the side and goes in, it was foggy and windy but the sky had a luminous hint of red.. It was weird.. The sky was blue but the moon was bigger and it had a red glow. He looks down and sees faint fogs. There on the ground laid down a graveyard with tombs that had no names. This creeped him out so he decided to look more further, near the graveyard was a big manor..it had towers and a big coffin shaped window, the roofs color was black and the building itself was bricked grey with ingrown red flowers and dark green leaves on the walls that looked like it has been here for long periods of time. The exterior of the manor had 2 columns on the entrance that had 2 big lit candles on each, it had a pathway that lead to the round top wood door that had silver embellishments, and the door knob was the shape of a spade, and the door was also oddly big, taller than him.
He looks around to the side and sees a bush maze.. Based on the gothic architecture, he felt like somebody rich must be living here, he needed a place to stay.. Or hide for a while so he knocks at the door— Knock! Knock!.. No response.. He tilts his head to side and tries to knock again, but as he was about to knock, the door opened on its own and his eyes goes wide, "this must be some fancy contraption then?" he thought, leaving a small giggle before going in.
The interior of the manor was lit with candles, the floors were a shade of crimson red and it had intricate gothic patterns, the tall ceiling had silver 3d patterns like spades and more, the patterns that left a gaping space had a color of deep red, and in the middle od it all was a big black chandelier, it was lit with candles and it had little dangling ruby bats as a design. Over all the place was already big and the walls had gothic patterns, decor and candle stands on the walls with already lit candles and European like gothic marbled pillars. There in the middle was a brown staircase that showed a huge portrait in the middle of the staircase, a portrait of a lady, a lady that had an attractive appearance that had his attention.
He sees a clothing rack near the door and he hangs his coat, looking around and walking to find if anybody was home. The candles were lit so he was sure someone was home, "anyone home?.. I uh.. I let myself in if that's okay!" he announces loudly, he looks to the side to see anothed door, and as he walks closer to it, he hears a female voice. "Halt. What are your intentions here? And where did you find my manor." you say in a calm but strangely intimidating tone as you walk down the stairs, wearing a gothic royal style gown with a ruby necklace, he slowly turns his head to you with slightly wide eyes, he stands straight and smile softly, trying to make himself look more friendly since you are a pretty thing, "I'm here to ask of you a favor, and that is if i could stay the night? And i found your manor through a cave in the forest. I just need somewhere to stay for a while since it is raining." he replies back, looking back at you with truthful eyes, he analyzed your face then your body and you looked like absolute royalty. He was pretty sure you were a noble, based on your clothes and the architecture of the manor.
"What is your name?" you ask, your hand on the staircases handrail with your head tilted as a gesture of questioning. "Dazai osamu, m'lady." he replies back while looking straight at you with a soft smile, you noticed that his clothes were damp and the ends of his pants were dripping from the rain water, you walk closer to him and expect him, you were still wary but it's been so long since the last time you've hunted for a meal, you grin and look at him softly, your aura coming off as seductive but mysterious, "Perhaps i may let you stay for a while.. You're hungry, aren't you? Let us have a chat as you dine." you say with a soft grin, he smiles back and you turn to go to the dining room, which is the big round top door to the left. You turn both handles and it opens up to a big long dining table with already cooked food on the table, there were mashed potatos, a turkey, soup and vegetables on the table.. It is cliche but dazai did not care, he was too hungry to think about trusting you.
The dinner room had 3 big chandeliers lining up and a big on the side, you offer him to sit down on one of the chairs that already had a plate, utensils and a napkin. You sit down infront of him and he looks over at the food in awe as you rest your chin on the palm of your hand.
"i must say, your place is beautiful. And the food smells delicious." dazai says politely with a smile, he looked over at your expression then around the dining room, it was incredibly detailed and fancy.. And that meant one thing.. You were loaded, and he know just how to lead you own and eat up your wealth.
"Why, thank you young man." you smile warmly at him, "May i ask.. What the pretty ladys name?" he asks as he puts food on his plate, looking down at the food and looking back at you from time to time. "[Your name].." you grin as you tilt your head, your chin still resting on ur palm. "pretty name.." he says as he takes a bite of mashed potatoes, though he wasn't particularly born from richness, he learned how to please women for their wealth, and he knew what a gentleman he could be, so he remained calm while eating, trying his best not to stuff his face with the delicious food all laid out for him.
"What were you doing in the forest this late at night?" you asked, dazai looked at you and he didn't wanna tell you the truth, that he was a thief, because if he did, he was sure you'd be wary of him. "I was camping and i lost my campsite." he replied calmly, making it more believable. He was a true master at lying, he knew the tactics of a liar and he knew the power of his charm.
"Ah.. I see, you are free to stay in my manor if you please." you reply calmly, your hand leaving your chin and making your hand clasp together, dazai smiles warmly but in him he thought this was an opportunity to steal your richness— "Really? I appreciate your hospitality alot, miss [Your name]."
± ⁺‧₊˚ஓ༻♱ 🦇 ♱༺ஓ˚₊‧±
After dinner, you show him to his room in the 2nd floor and it was a guest room, it had a closet, canopy bed, a nightstand with a vase of thorned roses and a candle, candle holders with lit candles on the fancy gothic patterned wallpaper and a chandelier. It was just as fancy as the whole manor, obviously. He was pretty cold and you noticed his damp clothes once again.
"The lavatory is right down the hall of your room, my dear." you mention, he nods and smiles warmly, "I see, thank you once again." he replies back, feeling a little bit interested in the way you called him, "my dear", it was weird, since he was the one always saying pet names to the people he stole from.
You leave his room and the second you left, he immediately looks around the room, checking if there was anything valuable in there, he checked the closet and the night stand if it had anything valuable in it, but it had Nothing but towels and some pajamas. He looked at the vase and he grins, "this looks quite nice.." he mutters, thinking about stealing it after he steals your wealth.
He takes a bath and looks around the bathroom, the bathroom had diamond black, white and red patterned floors, a silver and gold chandelier, gold candle holders, and overall a gothic vibe. Again, he was quite astonished by the beauty of your manor, it was different from the others. He did quite enjoyed the dark vibes but something about you intruiged him, you were awfully mysterious but welcoming, could you have different intentions? Or were you just being nice? He was questioning as he washes up abit and leaving the lavatory. He walks around the hallway and he sees the paintings you had. All of them looked Renaissance and the frames were so detailed, he wondered what was your hierarchy in royalty and how come he hasn't heard your name before.. But whats weird was the placement of your manor. He wondered why were you so isolated? He needed to know, after all he was a man that was not just hungry for wealth but also knowledge.
Suddenly, he heard a sound of something opening which made him run back to his room and silently closing door, he sighs and sits back on his bed, going to the closet and grabbing one of the towels inside and patting his face and his self dry before getting on the bed, he sighs once again and he stares the canopy bed ceiling, analyzing you and formulating a plan. It was still raining outside and the moon glowed red with fog.
He thought about you more.. Was he abit creeped out by you abit? Yes. Does he find you attractive, indeed he does. He place the back of his hand on his forehead and it felt hot..he has been so busy thinking about a plan that he didn't even notice that he may have fallen sick, he grumbles and he whines abit, "why do i have to get sick at the worse times!?.." he mutters as he gets under the sheets and trying to sleep to ignore it, hoping it would go away.
⁺‧₊˚ஓ༻♱ 🦇 ♱༺ஓ˚₊‧⁺
The next morning, it wasn't bright. It was just a dim foggy light, it wasn't a warm colored sky but a cold one. He slowly opens his eyes and he feels a hot feeling and a headache, he was sick alright... He sighs and he slowly sits up, he then hears a knock, "come in.." he says groggily. You enter the room holding his coat, it was dry and neatly folded, he looks at you softly, you analyze his state and you walk closer to him. "Morning, my dear. I dried off your coat and came to return it. you say, staring into his eyes with a soft smile, occasionally glancing at his pale bare blood pumping neck and wondering what his blood would taste like.
He stares right back at you, noticing how much you resembled something extraterrestrial.. It was already weird to him how morning did not look morning here, a weak smile formed on his lips and he announces something, "Ah.. Thank you But i think im kinda sick right now to thank you properly, belladonna." he says with a small chuckle and smile as he stares up at your eyes, keeping his eyes off of your collarbones or lips.
You bend down abit so your face is the same level as his, talking in a reassuring tone. "How unfortunate.. I'll get you some spare clothes and a damp towel." he nods and he stares at how the top of your dress was hanging off your chest, seeing more of you collarbones, "ah.. Shit." he thought and immediately looks to the side and ignores it, internally smacking his self after you leave to retrieve the items he needed. After all, you need to prep your meal and season it all the right ways to make it more appetizing.
You walk down the hall and you obtain all the things you needed to take care of him, you think about his appearance and you weren't going to lie but he was quite a handsome young man, a man who wasn't naive but he wasn't easy to manipulate either. You brought the things you needed to him and you give him another set of clothes, a white ruffled silk poet shirt and some high waisted trousers, along a bowl of water and some cloth to use for his forehead.
⁺‧₊˚ஓ༻♱ 🦇 ♱༺ஓ˚₊‧⁺
He changes into the new clothes and the damp cloth was on his forehead, there you were sitting on the edge of the bed near him he was sitting up abit, leaning onto the headboard.
Your head turned to him as he looks into your pretty face, he stares at you with his hand on his lap..quite interested at how you are taking care of him when hes sick, which felt new to him but in a comforting way, the light outside wasn't bright but not dark either, it was a perfect cold foggy color that he found comfort in, "How are you feeling?" you ask, your hand close to his, "I'm feeling okay, thanks to you of course." he gives a soft but seductive smile with half lidded eyes, the soft dim light from outside reflecting in his brown eyes. "If you need anything, feel free to ask me okay?" you added while pushing his bangs back. a slight reaction came out of him, abit taken back from your action.. "Of course, bella." he replies back with a sly smile before you get up and leave the room.
He looks at the window that showed a soft glow and fog and he thought about you, not quite why he felt different. He hasn't even spent 3 days with you and he already felt drawn towards you, maybe it was how mysterious you were or how a dark vibe you were but you were oddly different. He has met countless other women, different faces, bodies and personalities but something drew him to you, he loves all types of women but there was this one thing about you that stroke him really well, which made him want you more.
⁺‧₊˚ஓ༻♱ 🦇♱༺ஓ˚₊‧⁺
2 days pass and you took care of him, always giving him nutritious meals and soft touches the somewhat made him flustered.. Which was rare for him since, he has been with other women before, but why do you affect him so much? He thought as he laid down on the bed, looking at the bandages on his arms and hand, it was already nightfall and he needed sleep but he couldn't. He had alot of questions in his mind and one of them was, "why do i feel like im being watched?"
Cold sweat dripped down his back as he tries to erase the feeling, but he sits up and sighs, he wanted to see you once again, it was a weird feeling and he feels like he was lovestrucked.. He decides to sleep it through and just get it over with, he lays down flat and getting under the covers, trying to feel warmth and trying to fall asleep. Eventually he slowly falls asleep.
The next morning, he felt better and he stands up it was already about 11 am since he slept pretty late, he leaves the room and goes down the hall and checking out the paintings and vases, walking down the stairs he meets your big gorgeous portrait in the middle of everything. He stands there in awe, looking how they way you were positioned and how bewitching you were, he smile softly and he touches the frame of the portrait before leaving and exploring around your manor. The gothic architecture and interior truly hit the right spots in his brain, he really did enjoy your aesthetic, thinking about how it reminded him of a vampire. He thinks more about the topic and he notices how he hasn't seen you around the manor yet.. And what a coincidence it was that it was a morning.
He continues looking around and exploring, finding skulls used as vases, a grand piano, a collection of violins and few chess boards. He looks around and sees a dagger on the middle of a coffee table in the library of your manor, as he was about to grab it, you whisper something behind him "hello.."
He jumps up abit and turns to you from behind, "oh.. Good morning bella.." he says with a soft smile, walking closer to you with a sly smile, "What are you doing here?.. Are you feeling any better?" you ask, slowly snaking your hand to his neck to his forehead to check his temperature, "im just exploring your manor.. And I'm feeling well and i don't feel sick at all."
"Wonderful.. Since you're better, would you like to spend time with me? I could really used the company." you bat your eyelashes at him with a soft smile, he looks at you and chuckles, liking your demeanor and nods before you grab his hand and lead him to spend time with you, doing multiple activities to get closer with him.. Because trust needs to be obtained before capturing prey.
Eventually, the relationship between you two got close, but the difference was that the only person that got close was dazai. You just stayed in place, letting him get closer.
You let dazai doll his self up with the prince clothing you had, that he really matched the vibe of one, bit by bit he got more obsessed and inlove like he was a kid in a candy store that couldn't get enough that his teeth were already rotting.
One night.. The two of you were dancing around the ballroom, it had silver chandeliers and black marbled pillars with ruby linings in the cracks and a golden framed mirror on the side. As you and dazai danced, his hand on your waist and yours on his shoulder, it felt like fire to him, getting to hold a pretty little like you on the dance floor made his heart pounce, he twirls you around as you both talk, you smile softly as you both talk about common interest, flashing him your white fangs, which he immediately noticed but did not seem to care from how lost he wad with you.
The movements between you two were elegant and graceful, giving him the freedom to hold you close and burying his face in your neck as violins and an orchestra played on your record player, the music that was fast turned slow slowly, he held your body close against his from behind and he kissed your neck, his hand creeping up from your waist to your chest before the music drops and returns to the usual fast tone and he twirls you around, continuing the waltz that you two both got fond of, the music slowly fades away and he holds you closely, hand in yours and he looks to the side where the mirror was placed, he sees that you had now reflection. His eyes goes wide and looks back at you, "bella? Huh? Why can't i see your pretty face in the mirror?.." he says, tucking your hair behind your ear and caressing your cheek, you chuckle and push back his bangs, moving your hand to his head to his neck but while you caress his neck, dazai felt uneasy in someway, it felt like his neck was bleeding and slit open.. But he looks at the mirror but nothing.. You weren't in the reflection and nothing was dripping dowm his neck.
You get on your tip toes and cup his cheek, pulling him in for a deep kiss, his eyes qent wide before returning the kiss, you bit his lip, making it bleed, you lick his bloody lip and pull away, his cheeks went in a deep shade of red. "Perhaps you're just seeing things osamu.. I bet you're tired from all the waltzing, aren't you? My dear." you smile softly, he looks at you with obsession in his eyes before nodding, "of course mia cara." he replies back submissively before you lead him back up stairs to your room.. At this point, he already completely forgot about stealing your wealth and now he sees you as the only one he wants.
⁺‧₊˚ஓ༻♱ 🦇 ♱༺ஓ˚₊‧⁺
You led him to your room where you removed your outerskirt, petticoat, corset, shoes, and bloomers, leaving you in a silk thin dress that was above your knees. He followed, removing his coat, shoes, gloves and other accessories, his poet shirt and his high waisted trousers were the only thing left.
He stares at your figure with a neutral but blushing expression that showed obsession, he never really thought he'd be this madly enough with a woman, let alone a woman who he met randomly. He walks closer to you and smiles softly, "Can i hold you? Please?" he asks with pleading eyes, he didn't wanna invade your privacy so he asked for permission. The second you nod, he swoops you up and holds you tightly, burying his face in between your bosom, leaving light kisses as you pat his head, you sit down on the bed as he still holds onto you, eventually on his knees as he hugs you tightly, finding comfort in your presence.
Sometimes, he wondered how your relationship between you and him came to this..
As you pat his head, he looks up at you with glossy eyes and he leaves a kiss on the tip of your nose.
"I'll go to the washroom for a second, okay bella?" he stands up, "i see. You may go." You reply with an eerie smile, as he leaves and closes the door behind him, he walks around and goes through very rooms. Since it was your room, it was in the highest floor, a floor where he has not explored yet. He opens each door quietly, always checking the surrounding area if you were around.. He opens each door across the hall way and he reaches the end of the hallway that had this wooden door that had a design like a card of The ace of spades (also known as the Spadille and Death Card) he opens the door slowly and what revealed within the room made his stomach drop, the room reeked of a scent of rotting meat and something old, the inside of the room revealed coffins and cadavers on the ground, each body was pale, had sunken eyes, cheeks, and it almost looked like it wasn't even a humans body. It looked abnormally skinny and the hair already fell out of the head, leaving leftovers of different hair colored strands.. Brown..black..brunette..
Truly, it left dazai stranded of the scene, the cadavers on the ground were already decomposing and as he looked to the side, there were jars of liquids that had eyeballs that looked like it was staring right at him.
He looks back at the decaying blood drained bodies before silently closing the door and walking back to your room, he needed to talk to you.. Or needed to escape, someway somehow.
You already knew he was gonna find out about the bodies sooner or later, but it was more appealing to see shocking looks on the faces of the men you preyed on.
He starts to silently run across the hall, looking around if you were there but as he ran, he felt arms wrapping around his body. Your arms. He looks down and he turns to you, "ah..belladonna." he says, trying to play it off, you hold his close, he didn't want you to let go but the lingering feeling of death by his door was near. But didn’t he want this? He thought, dying by the hand of a beautiful woman happily?
He wanted to be a use for you, he lets you hug him and he wraps an arm around you, you were quite surprised that he did not resist. A grin crept up your face as you grab his hand, leading him back to your room that had a black, red and white laced canopy bed, a big vanity that was bronze and had a big coffin shaped mirror that had candles.
pearls and rubies were on the open red cushioned jewlery box which was on the side of the vanity. The ceiling had paintings and intricate 3d gothic patterns for texture. Then there was The coffin shaped stained glass window from the back of your room that led to your balcony had the moonlight shining through.
The pale red glow that strangely emitted from the moon shined upon your body, dazais breath caught in his throat after seeing your figure once again. You treated him so nicely and so comforting that he might as well just die happily.
You laid him down the bed and he holds your waist, you smile warmly and kiss his neck, whispering sweet nothings before smirking and sinking your fangs deep into that beautiful vein across his neck, your fangs were deep into his neck that made him let out a soft moan, blood poured on his neck down to his chest, he breathes heavily as you suck his blood dry, he felt comforted by your presence since he has been all alone in his life.. This somehow gave him a melancholic feeling since this was his last moments. his hand was still on your waist, admiring the beauty that was infront of him.
He then started to feel light headed, he turns his head to the side, his eyes met with your vanities mirror, you weren't there in the reflection, it was just him bleeding from his neck down to his chest, he didn't want to die not seeing your face one last time, so he moves back his head to your figure as he leans his head to ur head as you drain his blood.. He had this one shameful feeling inside of him that made him wonder what caused all of this?
Ah.. Maybe perhaps the reason was because the more he stole, would leave him less than anything he have ever stolen. Maybe it was fate that brought him his greatest pleasure and also his greatest death. He kisses your forehead one last time.
"Good night, bella."
A/N: wehehehe i love the ending of this one, sorry for yapping about the surroundings more than the actual fic but thanks for reading! ♡＾▽＾♡ three cheers for sweet revenge for me plssss!!
© All works by @Verlaineszz. Do not copy, redistribute, or repost on other platforms.
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CAN YOU STAKE MY HEART?
༒︎ VAMP! Chuuya x GN! Sick Reader ༒︎
ANGST(?) + SLIGHT HORROR + FLUFF!
𓂃 ࣪˖ ཐིཋྀ — SUMMARY! : Ashes and Snow filled the cities of yokohama, the undeads servants rise above the ground, thirsty to sink their fangs into something, news reach you and your lover, Nakahara Chuuya.
You and Chuuya have to survive without getting bitten, trying to survive whilst recovering.
it's one hell of an apocalypse
(inspired by: "Vampires will never hurt you" — my chemical romance.)
A/N: first post!! :D, hey i haven't written in a long time and I've been into vampires, mcr and chuuya for a very long time. This is just a fic i wrote on a whim so don't take it personally since i didn't really think it through enough :<.. It's not very long since i unfortunately am going through something right now but rest assured, i am really trying my best. I'm currently trying out gothic themes
Warnings! : blood, slight g0re, death, swearing
NOT PROOFREAD!
Home is where the news came. You and chuuya got home from work and watched some tv, the news flashed photos of dead bodies with bite marks on their necks. Weird? Right? It was something serious, and bit by bit hundreds of people are already dying and sucked dry, all of the victims skins were pale and shriveled up, as if they have been under the tomb for decades. It was winter and cadavers are on the ground and caskets are in high demand.
Chuuya and you listened in carefully, worry and curiosity filling in the both of you. Chuuya stood up and decided to go cook dinner while listening to the news, it was said that it might be the work of a bat?
No bats around the area have been seen though? So what have caused it? This piqued the curiosity between you and chuuya so you and him, after dinner, decided to do more research about it.
"It must be a virus that infected those bats or something because drinking humans up dry is not normal." you theorized at the dinner table, eating with chuuya as he listens in, occasionally adding more stuff in to conclude atleast an answer that sums things up.
"I dont think so, bats ain't around our area. It could be somethin' else." chuuya adds into the conversation.
The conversation goes on, you and chuuya formulate some theories and one led to vampires, you and chuuya decided to get prepared just in case it was true.
After eating, you go wash up the plates and get ready for bed with chuuya, you took your injections that made you atleast go through the ongoing sickness that was in your heart. You were binded to a demon when you were born, it gave you an ability. Mimicry. The ability to mimic someones voice or appearance for a certain amount of time and that includes their physical attributes as long as you touch their chests but it can only be done once per person, it was an ability like asmodeous Or.. Something like that since you could take on many forms, but the demon that was binded to you was unknown since it was generational, and as time passes by, the demon slowly infects your and the people around you when you hit a certain age, but not chuuya. Since he already has a tenant in him. it infects you inevitably but you only had one suppressant, it was one that was highly expensive and only chuuya had connections to get it.
⋆｡‧₊°♱༺𓆩❦︎𓆪༻♱༉‧₊˚.
The moonlight was bright and it shined upon the both of you on the bed through the balcony, he wraps his arms around your waist and he he gently kisses your hair, he thought about the whole vampire and bat thing and he was praying for it to go away since he only had you by his side, melancholy would've hit him like a dagger through his heart if you were one of the victims, he couldn't let you be one of them.
You look at him with a small smile and he looks at you with eyes of admiration.
The night was quiet and you and chuuya held eachother through it, but agonizing screams were heard outside. Obviously this attracted both you and him, he stands up and look through the balcony, you followed behind him, analyzing what is going on around your surroundings, but nothing was there.
Weeks pass and the situation got worse, more and more people are dying and funeral parlors are getting rich, word about the deaths reach the news and everyone was freaking out in the internet, it was said that a vampire was discovered while mutilating a body, after that news spread it became an apocalypse. Vampires came out everywhere and preyed on anything during the night. Everybody wished it was morning all the time because when the sun goes down into the ground, they immerge from the darkness to suck lives out of human beings and animals.
Chuuya and you currently have been boarding up your shared house and stocking up your injections and food. Everything came to a halt that it was eerie.
⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺
You and chuuya held eachother every night, he'd hold you and caress your hair, whispering — "I'll never let them hurt you, i promise."
He was worried and so were you, you sit down on your bed as he holds your hand and kissing it, he really was the only one you had, this was like a nightly ritual. Every night he'd pamper you with affection.
One day, he goes out to buy more of your medicine and to stock up on the food since the last time someone had to stock up was you, he goes out during the morning and the buildings around were mostly deserted from how much people has died that it felt like a ghost town, he goes and buys food and goes over to the lab to get your injections, but the lab that he normally goes to was empty and was only left with one person that had pale skin and black hair. "Wheres the doctor?" chuuya asks. "he is currently on break, for now."— the person in the lab replied. Chuuya had a sketchy feeling but decided to ignore it and just get the injections for you and leave, he goes do testings to get you your medicine and as he was about to grab the medicine, the person lunges their fangs into neck "agh! Fuck!" chuuya curses as he tries to push the person away but the person was incredibly strong. This was the last thing he wanted to happen. He didn't want you to lose him, after a few tries he successfully pushes them away, tearing off a long piece of skin from his chest, crimson liquid drips out of his chest from the damged skin but made a run for it, he hides his neck. And just runs back home, how could a vampire be active at this time when they're nocturnal? This baffled him but he arrives home and patches himself up without you being aware of the whole Situation.
Days pass and he tries to hide it from you, slowly avoiding you but he craved for you, you noticed this and couldn't help but talk to him. You grab his shoulder and talk to him with a worried look, "Chuuya? What's going on? Why have you been avoiding me? Did i so something?" you ask
He looks at you guiltily but he finally opens up, he grabs your wrist and puts you on his lap, caressing your face and looks down on your neck, his hearts pounds and the thought of just sinking his fangs into you filled him, but he couldn't. He wouldn't. He could never let you get hurt. He holds himself together and just kiss your neck, you let out a surprised noise before Patting his head.
"im sorry." he muttered. The vampirism was already getting to him and he couldn't let you get hurt so he reveals everything to you, your eyes widens and he caresses your hand, kissing it and looking up at you.
"i need you to do something for me and it's for you to stake my heart."
"what the hell are you talking about!?" you replied, shocked and nervous
"it'll save the both of us, remember what i promised? I'll never let them hurt you, doll. " he says as he caresses your waist and looks at you.
He needed you to do it for him, he rather have your hands finish him than his own anyway.
"i can't.. Do it." you reply, he takes out a dagger and he hands it to you, "put the spike in my heart. Please." as much as he wanted to be with you, he wanted to protect you. He blamed himself for getting bitten. And he would never forgive himself.
He says with a serious tone, you couldn't. You and him argued about it that you were crying, he held you close but the lingering feeling of just drinking your sweet blood just filled him up. He holds you close and wipes your tears, his humanity was slowly slipping away due to the vampirism. "it's the sake for the both of us, cara mia." he says as he kisses your nose to your neck, you held the dagger as you decide what to do. He was your lover, you couldn't just kill him!? But this what he wanted. You thought that you shouldve been the one that got bitten.
He kisses your neck and he whispers something, "do it, please.. You have no idea what you're up against,Because I've seen what they look like, they're like ghosts in snow."
Your eyes widens but as he kisses your neck, you feel something cold touch your neck, something sharp... And that trigger your reflexes and you lunged the dagger through his heart. Your eyes widens and you shake in horror to see a dagger through his chest, he was bleeding but he smiled at you proudly and weakly his hand on your waist and his other caressing your face and wiping yours tears with his thumb.
"You know, you still look beautiful, doll."
Your eyes widens but as he says his last words, he was already gone. But you felt something dripping down your neck.. You touched your neck and see pitchfork red.
© All works by Verlaineszz Do not copy, redistribute, or repost on other platforms.
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You hear that? That's the sound of my vagina clanking shut at the sight of those nails.
i wrote about stigma around fake nails in the queer community, and about how i won’t take off my long nails for sex. tinder link in bio.
faster, heated in this sweet space.
(for the staytisthiddenhaunter2024 event in twt!)
(Comfort Characters part 4.) Elena Gilbert from The Vampire Dairies.
Me and my mom have been watching Vampire Dairies together for years now (my dad loves this show too, esspecially Damon). I'll be honest and say I sometimes find the drama boring and even cringey at times (do like delena however even though it's kinda problematic) and the older I get the more I'm like "what a weird and kinda dumb writing choice" but I love the intense lore and storytelling of this show and how much sorcery and magic there is, like I love that if I zone out for ten minutes when I zone back in I'm like "woooahhh, what the hump is going on?". I'm emotionally attached to so many characters on this show but Elena's been my girl since the first watch.
I am forever in love with the fact that in buffy the vampire slayer they present vampires as these sexy degenerate creatures but then their faces morph into something that looks like a gargoyle made love to Voldemort and I think that is just 👌 perfection
EXCUSE ME MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, SIRS, I THINK YOU SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO POST THINGS LIKE THIS UNLESS YOU GIVE US SOME MORE SONGS OFF BULLETS IN THE GODDAMN SETLIST.
Thank you.
A lot of the substances we think of as protection against the supernatural (e.g. salt, silver, garlic) are actually antibacterial, and would have helped stave off infections and illnesses that people once attributed to supernatural influence.
Based on this, I want to see a story where vampires are repelled by hand sanitizer.
Unleash Your Inner Vampire: Tips for Writing Vampire
1. Study Vampire Legends and Lore: Immerse yourself in vampire mythology and folklore from various cultures. Familiarize yourself with popular vampire tales, historical references, and the diverse interpretations of these immortal creatures.
2. Immortality and Eternal Life: Explore the themes of immortality, longevity, and the consequences that come with eternal life. Delve into the existential questions, moral dilemmas, and emotional complexities that arise from living through the ages.
3. Supernatural Abilities and Weaknesses: Define the unique set of supernatural abilities and weaknesses your vampires possess. Consider powers such as superhuman strength, speed, heightened senses, and the need for blood as sustenance. Establish the vulnerabilities, such as sunlight, garlic, holy symbols, or wooden stakes, that can be used against them.
4. Bloodlust and Temptation: Portray the powerful and primal urge vampires have for blood. Describe the inner struggle to maintain control, resist temptation, and reconcile their predatory nature with their humanity. Explore the psychological and moral conflicts that arise from their insatiable thirst.
5. Immortal Society and Clans: Create a complex social structure and hierarchy within the vampire community. Develop vampire clans or covens, each with their own traditions, rules, and relationships. Explore the dynamics between older, more influential vampires and newly turned ones.
6. Nighttime Environments and Atmosphere: Craft a vivid portrayal of the vampire's nocturnal world. Describe the allure of moonlit nights, mysterious gothic settings, and the ethereal beauty that accompanies their existence in the shadows.
7. Vampire Origins and Transformations: Establish the origins and methods of vampiric transformation in your story. Explore the lore behind their creation, whether through a bite, a curse, or a supernatural event. Consider the physical and emotional changes that occur during the transformation process.
8. Hunting and Feeding Rituals: Delve into the rituals and methods vampires employ when hunting for blood. Describe their seductive charm, mesmerizing allure, and the art of choosing and mesmerizing their prey. Showcase the duality of violence and sensuality that accompanies their feeding.
9. Humanity and Redemption: Allow your vampire characters to grapple with their lost humanity and the possibility of redemption. Explore their desires to reconnect with their past, form meaningful relationships, or find purpose beyond their existence as predators.
10. Vampire Hunters and Threats: Introduce conflicts and adversaries that challenge your vampires' existence. Include vampire hunters, rival factions, or other supernatural creatures that pose a threat to their secrecy and survival.
Remember to infuse your writing with atmospheric descriptions, emotional depth, and explore the complexities of the vampire's existence. Let your imagination soar as you delve into the captivating world of vampires.
If you eat a vampire is it cannibalism?
They are basically undead humans with super powers.
Is the inverse the same?
Vampires but they’re based off mosquitoes?? I’m not really sure about the logistics of this so please don’t ask me to elaborate
just a bite
We love a chaotic vampire aesthetic
My Chemical Romance - Vampires Will Never Hurt You
Armand is not an iPad Baby, he is an iPad Grandpa and I will stand this mistaken understanding no longer.
Season One, Episode Two
I think it’s very fun actually, to have a historian fall in love with a nerdy vampire.
A Discovery of Witches, Season One, Episode One
If you haven’t seen it yet, try to make it at least half an hour in.
The dialogue gets better.
Also:
This is one of those times something get’s compared to Twilight and it’s not lying. This has strong Twilight-isms, for better or worse.
I don’t care for vampire vegetarianism. It feels like an awfully strange thing to desire demons just to defang them.
A Discovery of Witches, Season One, Episode One
If you haven’t seen it yet, try to make it at least half an hour in.
The dialogue gets better.
Also:
This is one of those times something get’s compared to Twilight and it’s not lying. This has strong Twilight-isms, for better or worse.
I love the idea from the bottom of my heart, but I don't see it as possible. For me the transformation is an optimisation of the body as a weapon, more solid, more beautiful and more dangerous. Unfortunately the gender doesn’t fit in those parameters. And transformation only implies reparation as far as we know, we haven't heard about the regrowth of a limb if someone whithout leg for exemple was turned, so I don't think it could change organs. But it would be cool if it was possible 😁
Forgive me for making a Tw*light post, but if a trans person gets bit by a vampire, they definitely turn into the Ultra Hot form of their desired gender rather than their birth one, Stephanie Meyer eat my ass.
ℭ𝔯𝔶 𝔏𝔦𝔱𝔱𝔩𝔢 𝔖𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯; III
{poly!lost boys x fem!reader}
♱ 𝔯𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔤: explicit
♱ 𝔰𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔶: Michael's sudden change is unwelcome in the Emerson household. After an apparent prank that scares you and your brothers, you take matters into your own hands and confront David's gang head on.
♱ 𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰: emerson!reader, fem!reader, reader is 18-19 (middle child), reader wears glasses, foul language, sibling dynamics, mentions of divorce, stuck-up?reader (she's prissy at times), teasing, temptation at its finest, mentions of stalking, flirting????? at the music store???? get your act together girl,
♱ 𝔞/𝔫: there are a few new scenes in this chapter because I wanted the reader to have more interaction with the boys before giving in. Side note, but I hate when I find a good song and it's released after '87, because it would be perfect for this series. So, the unofficial song for this chapter is Give In to Me by Michael Jackson. Also, if this were a movie, Runaway would start playing as soon as the reader storms out of the house to confront the boys on the boardwalk. OG word count: 2432, revamped word count: 4250
[1] [2] ... [4] ... [8] [9]
Michael is acting weird.
Okay. To be fair, your brother is always weird, but this is different. He's mean. He sleeps all day and wakes up at sunset, then hops on his bike and drives off to God knows where.
At first, you thought he was avoiding Mom after the boardwalk incident. Pissed was not an accurate rage descriptor for how upset she had been when she learned what he did. At first, you defended Michael. You did tell him it would be okay. But when he started acting like an ass, you became less sympathetic.
The night after that, David's gang came to the house. They didn't come inside—but they did tear up the driveway. They revved their engines, jeering Michael's name, goading him to go outside.
Mom had caught Mike on his way out and encouraged him to bring them in.
"They might like a nice, home cooked meal." she said, peering at them through the curtains.
"Maybe next time," was his reply.
There was no next time.
Another notable incident occurred when Sam forgot to untie Nanook and bring him inside.
You chased Michael to the front door, fuming. "What? You're too cool to let the dog in in front of your friends?"
"He's not my dog," said Michael.
"But Mom asked you to do this."
"I don't have to do everything she says. Neither do you, you're an adult."
"And you're being an asshole."
Michael stepped outside, and, of course, David's gang was waiting.
Michael rolled his eyes, "Why can't you get the dog, four-eyes?"
"Because you're already outside!"
Michael narrowed his eyes like he gained the power to see through your bullshit and laughed cruelly: "You're scared of them."
And, for the first time that night, you spared a glance behind him toward the boys. They said nothing, but you're sure they heard every word, considering they watched your squabble unfold like a soap opera.
For the record, you're not scared of them.
You're annoyed. Disgusted. (A little scared of how they make you feel, but that's neither here nor there.)
And you could tell Mike this, but instead you said, "Oh, fuck off." before storming into the lawn.
Nanook, who had been barking at the boys, calmed when you approached; however, you were too distracted to give the dog more than a head-pat. You were conscious of your every movement as soon as you stepped outside—your walk, the sway of your hips, your posture, hell, even your clothes. You liked your clothes, but you almost resented how dowdy they were. Why hadn't you worn something more revealing? You usually hate having people leer at your body but with these guys ...
Michael said something to them, and they laughed. It could have been nothing, but you swore they were talking about you, so you rushed inside and didn't look back.
After that, you did everything you could to avoid seeing them when they came around.
You lie and say these weird feelings began after that dream, but you know that's not true. Those boys have been burrowing in your brain since the beginning. The sound of their bikes roaring up the driveway makes your heart skip a beat.
Sometimes—and you're reluctant to admit this—but sometimes you place yourself where they can see you. The upstairs window, the garage, the doorway—places far enough that they can't call out to you but close enough for them to look.
It's stupid. You don't understand why you do it. These guys are strange and probably dangerous. You shouldn't want anything to do with them.
But that doesn't stop you.
Weirdly, you like being watched. It's like being under a microscope, but you've put yourself on the slide and control the outcome. A shrink would tell you that you're acting out because of your parents' divorce. That's the savory answer, so you refuse to believe there's another reason.
A bird keeps leaving you gifts on your windowsill.
You haven't seen the bird in action, but you know it has to be one. It leaves you items at night. Random things.
The first one you find is a shell. It's beautiful—one of those shells you can't find on the beach, only in tourist shops. It's as big as your palm and bone-white. You assume the bird had placed it there after deciding it was unfit for its nest, so you brought it inside.
Two fluffy yellow dandelions were placed in the same spot the next day. The day after that, a flat stone with a hole in the center. Then, a feather.
On and on the little gifts came. You're not sure what you did to befriend this bird, but you're grateful. In the midst of so much turmoil with Mike, David, and Mom, the gifts never fail to make you smile.
"Honey?"
"Yeah, Mom?"
She quietly thanks the customer for coming and passes the plastic bag across the counter. When they're gone, she turns to you again.
"Why don't you grab a bite to eat?"
"I'm not hungry."
"Oh, please!" Mom shakes her head, giving you that knowing smile. "You've been with me all day. Go and get yourself something to eat. Better yet, stretch your legs."
You flash your 'new' (secondhand) paperback at her. "I already did."
She says your name in warning, but there's no bite to it. You know she's just looking out for you. With a sigh, you tuck the book into your bag and kiss her cheek goodbye.
If this was any other day, you wouldn't have bothered to come with your mom to work, but Max had called and asked if she could work a double because Maria was sick, meaning she would be here until dark. You know she's a big girl and grew up on the mean streets of Santa Carla without you, but today was also her and dad's wedding anniversary, and well...
Mom won't admit it, but you know she's struggling. It's the big reason she took the extra shift; it helps her not think about her failed marriage.
The door swings open, and you barely glimpse who is in your periphery before you swear.
"Shit."
"What is it, honey?" She greets the new group with a big smile. "Hello! If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask ..." She pauses. Squints her eyes, looking, really looking, at the group. "Have we met before?"
"We're frequent flyers," says an all-too familiar voice.
David.
"Oh, alright," Mom cheers.
"Bye," you mutter. You turn fast and nearly collide with Marko, but you dodge at the last second. "Excuse me."
You exit the store and thrust yourself into the night crowd. Of course, the one night they take off from terrorizing Michael, they come after you.
Actually—you glance at the nearest clock—it's too early for them to be at Grandpa's house. (Yes, you have their schedule memorized. No, that's not weird.)
And, no, you don't have an inflated sense of self-importance because one glance over your shoulder told you the four of them left the video store as soon as they came in. You don't know if they're following you or if this is their childish idea of a prank, but you refuse to find out.
You duck into the nearest store before they see you—a music shop. The walls are lined with albums, cassettes, and CDs. Band posters cover what little space is left; somewhere in the corner, a rock song wafts from its boombox.
You don't frequent music shops; you might if you're with Michael or Sammy, but most of your cassettes are inherited from Mom. Still, you wander toward the folk-rock section and figure you have a few moments to kill before you seek out food.
But good things never last.
The door opens, and you don't have to look this time to know.
"So, you're stalking me now?" you ask.
Paul snatches the tape from your hand. "Midnight Voyage? C'mon, girl, you gotta get with the times."
You grab it back. "I like the Mamas and the Papas."
"That song's as old as you."
You cross your arms. "I thought you, of all people, understood good music doesn't have an expiration date?"
Marko, Dwayne, and David snicker, and Paul has the decency to look sheepish. You rest your hip against the display and raise your chin.
"What do you guys want?"
"We're here to look at music," says David.
"Uh-huh. Videos, too?"
He challenges you with a sarcastic look. "It's Friday night."
"Whatever."
You snake around them and move to a different display, but they follow.
"You have to like some rock," Paul tries again.
You fight a smile. He's ... almost charming. "I didn't say I didn't."
Marko joins in, "Who?"
You flip through the singles, not paying them any mind as they throw out different band names.
Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Depeche Mode, Van Halen - tell me you like Van Halen, baby?
You find what you're looking for and flash it to the boys with a grin. "Iggy Pop, The Passenger."
Marko frowns, but it's more appreciative than judgemental.
Dwayne nods in agreement. "Not bad."
Your answer pacifies Paul, but he's not satisfied. "We need to find you some music that you can dance to, baby."
"I don't dance," you say. "Especially in front of other people."
"Are you always this serious?" David asks.
For some reason, that hits you where it hurts. You glare at him, dropping the single back in its slot. "Do you always stick your nose into other people's business?"
David has the audacity to smirk. "It's just an observation, princess."
You scoff and try to shoulder past him, but David is fast. He catches your bicep. His grip is barely there, but it stops you in your tracks. You hold your breath, all too aware that you're sandwiched between him and Dwayne.
"If you keep running off like this, you're gonna make us think you don't like us," David teases.
"I don't," you lie.
He cocks his head. "You sure?"
You swear he can see through you, but you're unwilling to give in. Not yet.
You step closer, looking him dead in the eye. "I've never been more certain."
Jerking away, you make a b-line for the door. David can't let you have the last word, though.
"Tell Michael we'll see him later," he calls out.
You shove the door open and shout back, "Bite me!"
You're in the kitchen helping Mom with dinner when Michael stomps down the stairs, sunglasses tucked in the neck of his t-shirt.
Mom rushes to meet him. (Even she's aware she only has a finite amount of time before she loses him again.)
"Michael, do you want to take the night off and have dinner with your family?" She reaches for him, but Michael keeps walking. "We haven't eaten together in a while. It would be nice."
He snorts. "Yeah, right."
Michael opens the door without another word, and the roaring of motorcycle engines fills the house.
Mom shrivels the tiniest bit. Had you not been watching her, you wouldn't have noticed, but you did, and it pisses you off.
You sit the bowl down a little too hard and chase after him.
"Michael." He ignores you. "Michael!" You latch onto his stupid leather jacket and yank him back."Look, I don't know what's gotten into you, but it doesn't give you the right to be an ass to Mom."
He smiles, "But I can to you, right?"
Michael tries to walk away, but you hold firm.
"Why are you acting like this?"
"Listen." Michael faces you head-on. "Unlike you, I've got friends waiting for me. So, why don't you run back inside, little sister? Hm?"
Tears burn the back of your eyes, but your anger burns brighter. You release him with a push.
"Well, at least I'm not pretending to be something I'm not."
Michael frowns. For a moment, you think your words hit their mark, and you see the faintest glimmer of the old Michael in his eyes. He opens his mouth to speak.
"Michael!"
"C'mon, Michael!"
"Mikey boy!"
You flinch as they rev their bikes. It works its charm because all traces of remorse are gone from Michael's face.
He looks at you coldly. "I gotta go."
"Michael, you're making a mistake," you say.
He rolls his eyes. "Don't wait up."
"Hey, baby!" Paul shouts. "Don't you wanna come party with us?!"
You flip them off, and they erupt into a chorus of laughter.
You toss the phone onto Michael's chest, startling him from his mid-day nap.
"... What the hell?"
"Mom's on the phone. She wants to talk to you."
Michael cracks his eyes open, wincing. "What time is it?"
"Two o'clock. You slept all day. Again." You don't even try to mask your rage. If he's going to be a jerk, you'll give it right back.
Michael motions for the sunglasses on his bedside table. "Hand me those, will you?"
You scoff but throw them at him, too. "You need sunglasses to talk on the phone? Are you high?"
"Fuck off," he mutters, and picks up the phone. "Hi, Mom..."
You faintly hear her voice drifting from the receiver. "Michael are you still in bed?"
"No. I'm up."
"Can you do me a favor this evening? Will you stay home with Sam tonight? I'm meeting Max for dinner."
"I watch him all the time, Mom," he says unsympathetically. "The only time I have for myself is the evening." He locks eyes with you from behind his sunglasses. "Can't you have her watch him? Or Grandpa? They stay home all the time, anyway."
"I want you to do this," Mom says. "You come home late, sleep all day—Sammy's always alone."
"No, he's not!"
"Michael, please! Your sister should not have to do everything all the time. Now, you always do whatever you want, and I don't stop you ... tonight, I want to do what I want for a change. Do you know how long it's been since someone has asked me out to dinner?"
Michael works his jaw and says nothing.
"Please, Michael?"
He presses his lips into a thin line. "Okay. Fine. I'll watch Sammy."
He hangs up with a groan, rubbing his eyes. You tsk, yanking the phone off his chest.
"I guess it sucks to be you," you say.
"Get out of my room," Michael grumbles, drifting back to sleep.
You leave, but you don't close the door. Sometimes, being petty is better than a middle finger.
Grandpa strolls into the kitchen wearing a khaki-colored jacket and a loud bowtie. He has a pep in his step and another one of his furry creations tucked under his arm.
"Look at you, Gramps!" you coo. "Lookin' all spiffy. What's the occasion?"
"Can't an old fart like me dress up for fun?" He playfully adjusts his bowtie, and his eyes twinkle with mischief. "Anything in here that might pass for aftershave?"
Sammy hops out of his chair and plucks a bottle off the windowsill. "How about this Windex, Grandpa?"
"Ah!" The old man gratefully accepts the bottle, squirts some in his hands, and pats it on his cheeks. Sam exchanges a knowing look with you. "Thanks."
Unfortunately, Michael chooses this time to come in. (And he's still wearing those stupid sunglasses.) He appraises Grandpa, his mouth twisting cruelly. "Big date, Grandpa?"
Grandpa wiggles his eyebrows, smiling slyly. "Just dropping off some of my handiwork to the 'Widow' Johnson."
He holds up a taxidermy dog. Its beady marble eyes stare into your soul. You repress a shudder. Stuffed animals (the kind that used to be alive) aren't the way to your heart, but if this woman likes it, who are you to judge?
You pat him on the back. "Good for you, Grandpa."
Michael peers over the rim of his sunglasses. "Oh, yeah? What did you stuff for her? Mr. Johnson?"
Grandpa's smile falters, then fades away altogether. He grips the stuffed dog a little tighter. "I'll see you kids later."
As soon as he's out of sight, you smack the back of Michael's head.
"Hey!"
But Sammy's on your side. "That wasn't funny, Michael."
Grandpa honks his horn, and an off-key version of La Cucaracha plays as he peels out of the driveway. Sam resumes his task: dinner duty.
"I'm making you a sandwitch," your little brother grumbles.
"Don't bother."
Michael moves, and you catch sight of something shiny. There's a dangly chain piercing his earlobe, and you know for a fact that it wasn't there last night. You wrinkle your nose. "Lose the earring, Michael, it's not happening."
He crosses his arms. "Piss off."
Sam's eyebrows shoot all the way up. "Wow—you have a great personality, Mike! You should open your own charm school."
Michael starts to go in on Sammy, ready, aching, to deliver his retort when the house shakes. A harsh, howling wind rips through the windows. The curtains flap like frantic bird wings; the ground shakes. Outside, motorcycles roar up the driveway and circle the house. Headlights burn through the windows so bright that it's like sunrise.
You grip the table to keep from falling over. Dishes and cutlery fall from their cabinets and smash into the floor, shattering into hundreds of pieces.
"What the hell is going on?!" You can hardly hear your own voice over the noise.
From outside, you hear their voices, shouting, clamoring over one another, melding into a horrific symphony of Michael, Michael, Michael!
Steadily, the noise grows louder. You know it's impossible, but you swear the motorcycles are climbing the walls.
Michael rushes to the front door, and Sam is hot on his heels.
"Don't open it!" Sam cries.
Michael! Michael! Michael!
Michael throws the front door open, and ... it stops.
Everything stops.
All that remains is a faint breeze rustling through the trees and the dainty jingle of wind chimes.
You grab Sam's hand to ground yourself, and he squeezes back, utterly petrified.
No one is outside.
You exchange a look with Sam. "That was real, right?"
He nods, but he doesn't look sure.
You trust your judgment, and Sammy's for that matter, but as you peer into the night, you can't help but doubt yourself.
Was it a shared hallucination? An earthquake? But what were those voices?
Grimly, you realize there's only one answer, and it wasn't a natural phenomenon. You know who's behind it.
Michael shuts the door and locks it, resting his back against it like he alone could prevent them from coming in.
You clench your jaw and storm up to Michael, poking his chest. "Look—I don't know what kind of game you and your friends are trying to play, but it's not funny."
Michael dares to look offended. "I didn't do this."
"The hell you didn't!" Rage boils your blood, and you see red. "I have had it, Michael. This is the last straw."
You shove past him and throw open the door. The night is calm, but you are not. You've played the passive role for too long. No. Fucking. More.
Those four morons could mess with you all they wanted, but not your family. Not their home.
Your brothers call after you, but it's Sammy who asks, "Where are you going?!"
"Out!"
Your anger leads you to the boardwalk.
People laugh, their conversations overlapping until it's nothing but white noise buzzing in your ears. Overhead, Runaway by Bon Jovi crackles through the boardwalk's sound system, but the music is distorted as if filtered through a tunnel.
You find David and his gang easily, almost like you have a homing beacon guiding you straight to them. You don't overthink it. Really, you don't think about it at all. All you know is that you're past your limit for bullshit, and tonight, you'll make it stop one way or another.
Paul is the first one to notice you. He greets you with a cocky grin. "Hey, baby—"
You punch Paul in his stupid, pretty face. It wasn't hard—and the odds are, he's taken worse—but sheer surprise knocks him off his feet into Dwayne.
You only realize what you did when the pain kicks in.
"Sunova—!" You bite back a scream, cradling your fist against your chest. You wish someone would have warned you: punching hurts.
"What is with you Emerson's and punching without provocation?" muses David.
You glare, filling it with as much hate as you can muster. David isn't affected in the least. In fact, he's amused. He grins like he's watching a newborn puppy learn to snarl. He pushes off the railing and invades your personal space.
"Let me see your hand." David reaches for it, but you step back.
"Don't touch me," you snap.
The boys laugh.
Marko throws his arm over your shoulder and nuzzles your hair. "Baby's got teeth, huh?"
You try to shrug him off, but he hangs on. "Stay away from Michael." They murmur his name like it's a private joke. It makes you angrier. "He's a good guy, and he doesn't deserve to be dragged down by a group of dirty degenerates like you."
David bends at the waist so he's eye-level with you. "Did big brother send you here?"
"No," you say, "I came myself."
"So you can go down on dirty degenerates like us?"
"To get you to fuck off," you sneer.
You shove David back for good measure, but he captures your wrist—your injured hand—without blinking an eye.
Gingerly, he looks it over, paying close attention to your knuckles. His leather gloves are soft and worn. They must be thick, too, because you can't feel his body heat through them.
What the fuck. No, you're not thinking about that.
He grazes his thumb over the hills and valleys of your knuckles; he turns your hand over, coaxing you to spread your fingers.
"It's not broken," David says. "You're lucky."
… Huh?
He manipulates your hand into a fist again. "Next time, don't tuck your thumb under your fingers, or you will break it. See?"
"Stop it," you stammer.
"Stop what?"
"Being—" Nice "—weird!"
David releases your hand, and you bring it back to your chest.
"I think you better apologize to Paul," David continues. "You hurt him real bad, and, well, we don't want him to pout all night, right?"
You glance at Paul, who is indeed pouting theatrically. "Can you kiss it better?" He taps his cheek.
You sneer. "Look—just leave Michael and my family alone. That shit you pulled tonight was not cool, and Mike hasn't been acting like himself since you came along, so I know you're the cause. So, back off, okay?"
David smiles. "Okay."
You pause. Then blink. You wait for the punchline, another witty remark that David has locked and loaded, but it never comes.
"Wait, seriously?"
"Sure." David shrugs, "But you've gotta take his place."
"Excuse me?"
David doesn't repeat himself. He gives you a look similar to the one he gave you over a week ago. Daring you, begging you with those unfathomable blue eyes. Paul leans against your other shoulder.
"C'mon," Paul purs. "Join us."
Marko and Dwayne pile on, chanting with Paul, "Join us. Join us. Join us."
David only stares, his hypnotic gaze locked on yours as the chant grew louder. People are starting to stare.
"You know you want to," David says. "Stop lying to yourself."
Marko giggles, "We promise we'll be good."
From behind, Dwayne mutters, "Extra good."
"Don't leave us hanging, baby," Paul whines.
This isn't what you came here to do. All you wanted was to get them to back off before someone—like Sam or Mom—got hurt.
But that teeny-tiny part of you, the one you've been trying to smother since you arrived in Santa Carla, pipes up. You didn't have to come. You could have let Michael handle this. You could have ignored them instead of walking into the lion's den. You knew, deep down, that this would happen. You wanted it to.
Your rage evaporates with every passing second and is replaced with that familiar fuzzy feeling in your abdomen. They're so close.
They pet you—your arms, your hands, your neck. David is content to watch like he knows they're steadily chipping away at your resolve. Dwayne's hands migrate to your hair, toying with the ends. Cool breath fans over your neck. Leather kisses your exposed skin.
You remember too late that you're not wearing your usual maxiskirts but instead a pair of cut-offs that reveal far more skin than you typically like to show. But ... you don't care. If anything, it makes that fuzzy feeling more intense. You want them to look.
"I..." Your breath catches. You don't know what to say, and even if you did, you don't think you can admit it out loud.
David sees this. He knows you. So, he offers his hand instead. Open. Ready. Accepting. You don't need words with him.
Your fingers twitch. It was only a matter of time before they wore you down and coaxed that yes from you.
Slowly, painfully slow, you place your hand in David's. He curls his fingers over yours, sealing the deal.
The boys erupt into cheers, and that hazy bubble of something bursts like fireworks, an explosion of euphoria. Your skin tingles, and you grin. Dwayne wraps his arms around your middle and spins you around, eliciting a surprised shriek from you.
"C'mon, boys." David tosses his cigarette to the ground and stomps it out. "Let's go."
