_{MARCEL .}

_{❝   mmm, yeah, yeah. i hear you. victory’s yours, d.  ❞    she invokes humor in him like no one else, riddled with fondness.    ❝   don’t get too comfortable.  ❞    one of the many lessons he’s acquired over time from a family made up of monsters slips through the cracks of his jest and a show of white teeth, and he regards her with an amused, endeared expression.} 

          OCEANIC   GAZE   NARROWS    _{;    though   not   in   spite .}          only   playful   retort ,   _{pinked   petals   curling   at   the   corners   akin   to}     WORN   PAGES    _{of   the   grimoires   such   lithe   digits   splay   across   day   after   day .} 

_{❛     ───     come   on ,  marcel .         you   taught   me}     EVERYTHING    _{i   know .          you   don’t   think   i   could   do   it   again ?    ❜}

_{MASON .}

HE  WANTS  THE  HELP,       _{but  he  also  wants  to  convince  himself  and  everyone  around  him  that  he  doesn’t  need  the  CONSTANT  PROTECTION.       it’s  hard,      being  forced  into  the  structure  of  the  perfect  killer  and  yet  somehow,}      coming  out  unscathed   _{——-      yet  it’s  not  that  simple,       his  mind  still  haunted  by  what  he’s  almost  lost.      he  couldn’t  survive  alone;       he  needed  them  to  help  him.       and  by  that,}        he  could  nearly  kill  them  all.        _{he  couldn’t  ALWAYS  rely  on  their  help    —–    sometimes  he  had  to  fend  for  himself.} 

_{but  it’s  clear  he’s  not  getting  anywhere  now,       and  that  she  isn’t  going  to  give  up      (     it’s  refreshing,      knowing  that  she’s  not  the  type  who  WOULD  just  leave.     )      ❛   late  advice,    ❜          he  insists,       a  small  smile  on  his  lips  even  if  he’s  in  pain    —-    he  always  looks  for  reason  to  be  positive.       ❛    okay,}      caught  me.       _{i  didn’t  want  you  to  leave.   ❜        he’s  not  protecting  his  pride  so  much  anyway.        he  lifts  his  shirt  to  reveal  the  wound,      eyes  quickly  darting  away.        ❛    if  you  tell  me  i’m  gonna  be  okay,     i’ll  believe  you.}      i’m  not  difficult  to  convince.  _❜     

         INNATE   BENEVOLENCE   BOUNDS   HIS   BONES .          _{that   much   she   can   tell .          reminds   her   of   who   she’d   once   TRIED   to   be     ;}    hidden   away    _{for safety   though   all   she   strived   for   was   NORMALCY .          LOYALTY .          ability   to   protect   those   she   loved .          to   be  brave   in   the   face   of}    supernatural   war .          _{instead ,   she’d   been   made   a}    WEAPON .

_{teasing   smile   renders   one   of   her   own ,}     INSTANT   RELIEF    _{that   the   pain   isn’t   so   great   he   can’t   muster   a   joke .          ❛     ───     you’re   gonna   be}    FINE   _{.          i   promise .    ❜          sincerity    ^{rings   true}    in   tone ,   crystalline   gaze   wide ,}    serene   _{at   the   state   of   the   injury .          fingertips   stay   steady   at   the   edge   of}     blossomed   wound ,    _{pearl   incisors   pulling   at   bottom   petal   in}     contemplation    _{before   countenance   morphs   to   one   of   realization .         ❛     ───     i   don’t   have   a   spell ,   but   .  .  .   i}     DO    _{have   an   herb .          the   most   i’ve   used   it   on   is   a   swollen   ankle ,   but   it’ll   heal   you   faster   than   waiting   it   out .   ❜}

_{ISAAC .}

 _{isaac  was  absolutely  sure  his  information  regarding  the  things  that  creep  within  shadows,  the  horrors  that  go  bump  in  the  night,  was  AMPLE.} 

 _{more  than  ample,  actually.   he’s  dealt  with  homicidal  revenge  lizards,  he’s  dealt  with  twin  alpha  werewolves  who  do  some  weird   anime  morph  to  become  a  giant  douche-wolf.  he’s  seen  some  shit.   he  thought  that  he  knew  enough  about  the  supernatural  that  nothing  could  leave  him  shocked,  let  alone  flabbergasted.}

 _{but  no.}

 _vampires.

 _{fucking  VAMPIRES.}

_{‘  you’re  fucking  with  me.  witches,  fine.  witches  are  cool.  ’    he’s  tempted  to  say  witches are  hot  but  he’s  really  only  met  one  ————  but  to  be  fair,   the  one  witch  he  has  met  is  fucking  gorgeous,  breath  taking   actually.    ‘  but  vampires?  is  asthon  kutcher  about  to  jump  out?  am  i  on  punk’d?  i  can  already  see  the  trailer.  SUPER  CUTE  WEREWOLF  BOY  PRANKED  BY WITCH,   what  happens  next  will  shock  you.  ’}

          LITTLE   SHOCKS   HER    ANYMORE .          _{least   of   all   new   discoveries   of   mythos    ;    once   thought   only   lore   but   rings   TRIED   AND   TRUE .          arches   rise   on   tender   brow ,   chin   coming   to   rest   upon   palm   with   a   smile   in   mock   offense .}      scoff expels .          _{to   hail   from}     BEACON   HILLS    _and      JUDGE     _{new   orleans   truths   is   half   comical ,   half}     ^{absurd .}          _{lashes   dust   rosette   cheek   in   exasperation ,   head   shaking   in   the   slightest   as   verbiage   tumbles   with   laced}    wit .

_{❛     ───     oh ,   because   beacon   hills   is}     SO   NORMAL    _{?          what ,   you   believe   in   fox   spirits   but   you     DRAW   THE   LINE     at   vampires ?    ❜}

_{mirth   falls   in   accordance   with   widened   gaze   at   sheer}    vanity  _{,     (    even   if   feigned    ) .          petals}    seal   _{puckered   in  amusement .          ❛     ───     wow .          and}      HUMBLE    _{too .    ❜}

                        eyebrows  bumped  together  in  a  scowl ,   _{olive-kissed  features  hold  worry  strewn  within  them.   they  made}   him   _{loose  control ?  figures  the  ancestors  would  continue  to  place  such}   wrath  _{upon  the  shoulders  of  a  young  girl  ———–  all  because  she  chose  to  live.  it  was  times  like  this  bonnie  despised  being  a  witch.  there  were}   too  many  _{loopholes  that  ended  up  with  you  right  back  where  you  started}  —–  hell.  _{her  own  shoulders  were}   slumped ,   _{the  image  of  defeat  evident  as  you  gazed  at  her.  yet ,  it  seemed  as  if  she  wasn’t  the  only  one  on  the}   verge   _{of  defeat.   the  other ,   forcing  back  the  tears ,  looked  empty.  impulsively ,  long  arms  outstretched  &  embraced  the  other  this  time.  arms  held  the  other ,  green  eyes  staring  off  into  nothingness  as  even ,}   she  ,   _{attempted  to  hold  back  her  own  emotions.} 

                        “  _{davina ,}   i  promise   _{i’m  gonna  get  you  out  of  here ,  okay ?}  ”   _{while  she  knew  it  was  a}   hearty  _{promise ,  bonnie  didn’t  care.  of  course  the  red  devil  hung  on  her  shoulder   teasing  her  about  the}   epic   _{lie  she’d  just  told  the  other.  yet ,  she  was}   determined.  _{she  was  going  to  get  them  both  out  of  there.  one  way  or  another.  all  she  needed  was  time ,  which  in  her  case  she  had  plenty  of  it.}   “  _{it’s  gonna  be  okay.}  ”

          FEATURES   SO   FREQUENTLY   STEELED    _{shatter   when   out   of   eyesight ,   and   only   then .          arms   stay   locked   in   place ,   nose   buried   into}      gentle   frame .          _{the   ancestors   have   punished   them   both}     TIME    _and      TIME   AGAIN     _{//    neither   girl   breaking   until   the   limit}     too   far   pushed .          _{porcelain   to   steel   may   they   be ,   even   steel   can   warp   and}     ^{rust .}          _{tenuous   inhale   rattles   through   parted   petals ,   pulling   from   the   embrace   only   to   deflect    ;    ever   present   and}   habitual .

_{gaze   flits   down   and   comes   up   forced ,   dejected   semblance   of   a   smile   as   crown   shakes   in}   negation .          _{❛     ───     it’s   okay .    ❜          much   as   she}    wills   _{to   believe   white   lies ,   there   isn’t   a   way   back   this   time .          not   with   the   plane   destroyed .          she’d   need   a}     NEXUS   VORTI    _{for   a   glimmer   of   hope .          hands   reach   for   the   other’s ,   holding}    tight   _{with   wrecked   concern .          ❛     ───     bonnie ,   how   are   you   here ?          what   happened   to   you ?    ❜}

          _{@magicallyused    (    cont !    )}

_{MASON .}

HE  DOESN’T  BLAME  THEM,      _{not  with  what  he’s  been  through,     not  with  the  way  he’s  so  recklessly  willing  to  fight  any  creature  even  knowing   he  doesn’t  have  the  ability  to  PROTECT  HIMSELF  the  way  the  others  do.        it  doesn’t  matter  to  him  that  he’s  only  human;      it’s  what  he  wants  after  his  nearly  fatal  fate,     but  he  refuses  to  let  that  hold  him  back.       he  will  protect  the  others  in  whatever  way  he  can,      even  if  he  gets  himself  burned.      he  grunts  as  he  allows  her  to  help,      hand  holding  onto  hers  as  the  other  holds  his  waist  tightly  from  the  wound  that  he  had  collected.}       

_{❛   hunters.    i  fell  into  one  of  their  traps  when  i  was  trying  to  look  for  some  kind  of  CLUE.       it  was  stupid,       liam  told  me  not  to  do  it  alone,       but  i  had  to  know,   ❜        he  explained,      shaking  his  head  quickly  to  show  just  how  disappointed  he  was.       ❛    i’ll   be  fine    ——-     i  just  don’t  want  them  to  feel  like  they  need  to  heal  me.      you  either,      don’t  worry  about  it.    ❜}

          SIGH   EXPELS   FROM   PUCKERED   LIP    _{;    gaze   cast   toward   blossoming   sanguine   stain .          unfaltering   instinct   to}    protect   _{swells   in   bone ,   dialogue   slipping   in   one   ear   and   out   the   other .          he   may   not   want   aid ,   but   she’ll   not   leave   him}   unattended .          _{frame   adjusts   to   shift   the   other   into   a   chair ,   all   protestations   blatantly   ignored .} 

_{❛     ───     are   you   serious ?          i’m   not   just   gonna}     LEAVE    _{you .    ❜          careful   observation   finds   ^{delicate   fingers}   prying   his   hand   away ,}   wincing   _{as   if   garnered   wound   were   her   own .         ❛     ───     it   doesn’t   look   good .          probably   should’ve   listened   to   your   friend .    ❜}

_{ISAAC .}

_{‘  vampires.  ’     he’s  not  sure  whether  he’s  shocked  or  just  plain  irritated  by  the  mere  existence  of  the  species.    werewolves  he  knows  well,   believes  in  them  fully,   kitsune’s?  fine.  kanima’s?  annoying,  but  fine.  banshee’s?  sure.    but  fucking  vampires?   cue  him  ready  to  exit  the  supernatural  world  with  a  salute  &  a  promise  to  never  return.   ‘  like …  blood  sucking  freaks,   glorified  mosquito’s,  dracula,  edward  cullen,  all  that.  ’}

_@sacrife​

          KNIT   ARCHES   QUIRK   UPWARD      _{at   the   query ,   followed   closely   behind   with   the   slow   bloom   of   upturned   petals   in   quiet}     amusement .          _{lashes   brush   rosed   cheek ,}     pulling   open     _{after   with   assuring   gaze   at   opposite   hues .}        ❛     ───     and witches ,     ❜        _{comes   sly   reminder ,   frame   adjusting   to   toss   dark   tresses   behind   shoulder .} 

_{❛     ───     no .   they’re   …   nothing   like   what   you’ve   seen   in   movies .          holy   water ,   crucifixes ,   it’s   all   fake .    ❜}

_?

—  HELL  WAS  DIFFERENT.       _{he’d  expected  the  cycle  with  tara  to  be  permanent  but  now,  surrounded  by  blue-tinged   graveyard  he’d  grown  curious.  he  couldn’t  understand  what  brought  him  to  the  half-destroyed  ancestral  plane;  the  chimera  part  of  him  was  only  part  witch.  unnaturally.  blue  eyes  found  the  female  with  a  small  smirk.     ❝     who  are  you?    ❞       curiosity  filled  the  chimera’s  features  as  he  raked  her  form  in  head-to-toe.         ❝   I  haven’t  seen  anyone  in  the  whole  city.. ❞}

    _@sacrife

          IT   COMES   AS   A   SHOCK    _{;    a   voice   directed   toward   her   counts   as   a}      rarity      _{here .          she   may   not   know   ALL   WITCHES ,   but   only   so   many   reign   here   and   this   is   a   figure}     unfamiliar .          _{lonesome   frame   stops   in   her   tracks ,   boots   crunching   over   crumbled   gravel   and   mist   hues   narrow   at   the   intrusion .          weight}       SHIFTS ,      _{arms   crossing   over   one   another .          consider   confusion   an}    understatement .          

_{❛     ───     who’s asking ?    ❜}

_{MASON .}

_{❝   if  my  friends  know  i’m  HURT,      they’re  going  to  make  it  a  bigger  deal  than  they  should.   ❞        they  always  did    —–     and  he  couldn’t  blame  anyone  after  what  he  had  been  through.      a  human  with  a  soft  heart  and  warm  personality,      turned  into  the  PERFECT  KILLER  in  beast  form  all  because  of  how  truly  good  he  really  was.      surviving  that,      returning  to  who  he  was,      even  being  able  to   to  adjust  again  without  being  haunted  by  what  his  fate  was  supposed  to  be.       but  he  wouldn’t  give  any  of  this  up,     he  was  far  too  invested  now    —–    which  was  exactly  why  he  wouldn’t  let  them  hold  him  back  just  because  he  was  HURT     (     he  refused  to  be  seen  as  fragile  just  because  he  was  human.    )         ❝    i’ll  be  okay,     i  promise.     i  might  just   —–   need  some  help.   ❞} 

 _@sacrife.

          A   CONCEPT   SHE   KNOWS   RATHER   WELL .          _{overprotective   friends .          sometimes   silently   translated   to   undermining    ;    those   who   believed   size   and   age   equated   to}     fragility .          _{refusal   to   see   him   the}     same   way   _{strikes   strong   in   her   bone ,   hands   placed}     delicately   _{‘ round   his   arm   to   help   taller   frame   to   his   feet .          ❛     ───     i’m   not   gonna   tell   anybody .          i   don’t   exactly   have   a   spell   for   this ,   though .   ❜}

_{❛     ───     what   the   hell}       HAPPENED       _{to   you ?  ❜}

_{BONNIE .}

                     a  sigh  of  relief  is  exasperated  out ,   _{the  familiar  childlike  face  sends  a  crushing  wave  of  comfort  over  the  newly  deceased  witch.  tiny  arms  are  thrown  around  her  &  she  can’t  help  but  embrace  back.  yet ,  the  moment  she  pulls  away ,  eyebrows  bumped  together  &  her  forehead  puckered.  she  was}   too  young   ,   _{too  young  to  be  trapped  between  heaven  &  whatever  else  was  out  there.  her  story}   couldn’t   _{have  already  come  to  an  abrupt  ending.}

                  “  _{it  happened  so  quick ,  y’know ?}  ”   _{shoulders  shrug  upwards ,  lips  pulling  together  to  the  side  of  her  face ,}   sorrow   _{beginning  to  settle  over  soft  features.  her  chest  extends  out  as  she}   attempts   _{to  gain  hold  of  her  breathing  before  tears  could  fall  once  again.  a  raspy  cough  is  taken  as  she  clears  her  throat ,  attention  going  back  to  the}   young   _witch.   “  _{davina  —————  what  are}   you   _{doing  here ?   you}   shouldn’t  _{be  here.     not  you.}   not  now.  ”

          EMBRACE   IS   CUT   FAR   TOO   SHORT .          _{a   moment   on   this   side   feels   like   a   lifetime ,   familiar   faces   rare ,   if   any .}          stone - weight      _{sorrow   strikes   delicate   features   with   every   word   from   the   other’s   lips    ;    she   wasn’t   meant   to}   be   here .          _{neither   were   meant   to   be   here .          eyes   are   glazed   with   ready   mist ,   fingers   rising   to   sweep   at   the   corners   before   any   can   fall .} 

_{❛     ───     um  …   ❜          words   slip   shakily ,   an   exhale   punctuating   silence .          ❛     ───     it   was   an   accident .          the   ancestors   hate   me .          everything   that   happened   last   time ,   they}     hate   me .          _{they   made   him   lose}     control .   ❜          _{hair   is   swept   behind   her   ear ,   countenance   cracking   under   the   words .          and   still ,   steeled   control   forces   a   halt .          she   won’t   cry .} 

_{STILES .}  

 ^{okay  maybe  he  doesn’t  know  his  way  around  town  yet  and  maybe  he’s  not  the  best  with  direction  but  he’ll  figure  out  along  the  way  because  there  is  no  way  he  is  going  to  allow  her  to  get  out  of  this  one.  a  smile  spreads  across  lips  as  he  watches  her  get  ready  as  he  mentally  pats  himself  on  the  back  because  that  was  a  lot  easier  than  he  expected.} 

 ^{“ honestly  didn’t  think  this  was  gonna  work  so  i  don’t  know  where  we’re  gonna  go  but  we’ll  figure  it  out.  i’m  like  the  king  of  fun. ”}

          BROWS   QUIRK   AMUSEDLY ,      _{standing   on   newly   adorned   feet   as   arms   cross   one   another   in   curiosity .}          fate      _{appears   to   have   thrown   her   the   reigns   this   time    ;    an   opportunity   to   take}      the   helm      _{of   night’s   events   herself .}          crown   tilts ,   _{frame   shifting   weight   to   gaze   with   an   offer .}

_{❛     ───     mm .          does   the}       KING       _{of   fun   need   a   tour   guide ?     ❜}