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[ Lucian remained perfectly still as she closed the distance, his sharp gaze tracing the subtle tightening around her eyes. The scent of warm spice drifted between them, but he didn't give her the satisfaction of stepping back. A quiet, almost imperceptible chuckle rumbled in his chest at her mention of 'insurance' and her doubt that he'd find a better dealer. She had teeth, and he could appreciate a wolf in a tailored suit. Slowly, he tilted his head, his dark eyes locking onto hers with an intense, calculating focus. He could give her a crumb, if only to see what she would do with it. ] " You want a name for your records , Fine. You can call me Lucian. " [ The name left his lips like a smooth, quiet confession, but the warmth ended there. His expression hardened into something entirely unreadable, the atmosphere in the room instantly dropping a few degrees as he took a half-step closer, reclaiming the space. ] " But that is where your ledger ends. Who I work with, who commands my blade, and the shadow I walk under do not belong to you, nor will they ever. You don't get to track my connections, and you certainly don't get to manage my employers. " [ He glanced down at her manicured fingers resting against the table, then brought his piercing gaze back up to her eyes. ] " My word is the only guarantee you get, and my coin is flawless. Now, tell me ... is that enough insurance for you to show me what you're selling ? "

@bloodshed    ( … )    [       anastasia   didn’t   flinch   when   he   stepped   forward.   if   anything,   the   faintest   smile   curved   at   the   corner   of   her   mouth — one   of   those   slow,   knowing   expressions   that   suggested   she’d   already   weighed   every   possible   outcome   and   found   them   all   equally   entertaining.   the   weapons   dealer   drummed   her   manicured   fingers   once   against   the   table’s   edge.       ]      oh   please.   it’s   not   pride.   it’s   insurance.    [     she   pushed   off   the   table   with   a   graceful,   unhurried   motion,   the   soft   click   of   her   heels   punctuating   the   silence   as   she   closed   a   fraction   of   the   distance   between   them.   her   perfume — warm   spice   and   something   sharper   beneath — drifted   into   the   space   he   occupied.     ]    I   need   your   name   for   my   records.   I   like   to   keep   track   of   who   buys   what,   who’s   connected   to   whom,   who   might   be   working   for   a   rival   or   law   enforcement.   I’ve   been   doing   this   for   a   long   time,   draga.   rivals   asking   for   weapons   can   be   tricky,   but   manageable,   when   I   know   who   it   is   I   am   selling   to.     [    she   narrowed   her   eyes   at   his   last   remark,   the   subtle   shift   in   her   expression   making   it   clear   she’d   taken   it   as   a   threat — and   that   she   wasn’t   impressed.     ]    when   I   make   a   deal,   I   don’t   break   it.   so   you’ll   have   to   trust   my   word. or   you   can   walk   out   that   door   and   try   your   luck   with   another   dealer.   but   I   doubt   you’ll   find   one   as   resourceful   as   I   am.

[ With a practiced, effortless motion, Lucian returned the blade to its resting place on the shelf, the metallic click echoing softly in the quiet room. He turned around completely, slipping his gloved hands deep into the pockets of his black coat as he fixed his gaze back onto her. Tilted slightly to the side, his head stance gave him a calculating, predatory look. He didn't miss the way she leaned against the table, nor the proximity of her fingers to what lay hidden underneath. He didn't mind a woman who was careful; it meant she was smart enough to stay alive. ] " Letting pride get in the way of profit is a quick way to go out of business, Anastasia. " [ The deliberate use of her name was a subtle reminder that while he remained a ghost, she was very much visible. He took a single, slow step forward, the calm intensity in his eyes never wavering. ] " You don't need a name to know if my coin is good. Besides, trust is earned in our line of work, Give me one good reason why I should trust a stranger with a name that could get me killed. [ He let the challenge hang heavily in the air before giving his final ultimatum. ] Until then , You just need to decide if you'd rather have me as a regular customer... or an uninvited shadow. "

@bloodshed     /     TYYYY !   I’ve   had   her   for   ages   but   haven’t   been   active   for   a   while !   I   need   to   get   on   here   more ! 

[ as she mentions the confused look on his face he quickly smiles it off, shaking his head. ] i just didn’t expect you to be so candid with me… usually you’re so mysterious when we talk about what we are. [ he doesn’t say whether or not he feels the same just yet, his smile only grows, a glimmer of satisfaction igniting sterling hues. his hands grip her thighs, gliding up and down and stopping to trace hearts and circles on her skin. ] if that really the case then… i think it’s only fair that you do bite me. we should have matching marks, if you meant what you said about biting back— my love. 

@wiccaanways    ( … )    [      her   head   tilted   to   the   side,   her   brunette   curls   brushing   against   her   cheeks   as   her   jade   hues   glinted   with   mischief.   she   forgot   how   little   he   knew   of   her   language.   a   smile     graced   her   lips   as   she   lifted   her   hands,   one   brushing   a   few   strands   off   hair   out   of   his   face,   the   other   resting   on   the   side   of   his   neck.     ]       in   loose   translation,   it   means   partner.   it’s   a   term   of   endearment,   but   if   you’d   rather   hear   me   say   it   bluntly,   I   said   ‘ boyfriend ‘ .    [      she   leaned   over   to   the   side   casually,   picking   up   the   glass   she   had   just   placed   down,   taking   a   measured   sip   from   it   with   slow   and   deliberate   movement,   as   if   to   let   that   final   word   sink   in.   her   lips   curved   around   the   rim   of   the   glass,   and   she   raised   a   brow   over   its   edge.     ]       what ?    [     she   asked   innocently,   eyes   sparkling.    ]    you   / did /   ask.

[ the siphoner hums as she settles on top of him, a ghost of a smile tugging on lightly reddened lips. his eyes shamelessly trail down her body before he speaks, holding her waist. ] good.  [ the siphoner says lowly, an almost proud look in his lazy eyes. there was a form of contentment to be found when he was around her, it was so easy and comfortable; more so that he ever felt with a mortal. she wasn’t afraid of him. his brows furrow slightly, the translation of the romanian phrase on the type of his tongue. ] what does that one mean? i’ve never heard you use that one with me before. 

@wiccaanways    ( … )      [      a   faint   smile   formed   on   her   own    lips   at   the   sight   of   his   grin,   taking   her   attention   momentarily   away   from   the   reason   she   was   down   there   in   the   first   place.    ]     I’m   fine.      [       she   reassured,    her   hand   lifting   to   gently   place   on   top   of   his,   which   was   resting   on   her   cheek.   her   thumb   would   graze   briefly   over   his   knuckles   as   her   head   lifted   to   meet   his   eyes.    ]     only   a   few   hours.   I   couldn’t   sleep.    [      to   be   perfectly   honest,   anastasia   wasn’t   sure   if   that   was   a   lie   or   the   truth.   she   had   lost   track   of   time.   she   thought   if   she   kept   shooting,   maybe   she’d   stop   seeing   their   faces.   but   they   always   came   back.       ]       just   needed   to   remind   myself   I   still   know   how   to   aim.  and   I   thought   if   I   kept   my   hands   busy,   my   mind   would   follow.
            
            /   so   sorry   this   is   so   late

[ his expression instinctively softened as she spoke again, eyes watching the way she pulled herself together quickly. part of him wondered if she heard him or made out what he said but he decided to ignore that for now. his head shakes at her apologetic tone barely able to suppress a grin at her question. ] a little. but i’ll allow it. [ he gives a nod, as he finally takes a good look at her face. she notices the redness in her eyes and the darkness under them and can’t help but be concerned. gently lifting her chin, his hand runs against her cheek. he couldn’t help himself, the subtle admiration of her features had never changed. ] how long have you been down here? 

@wiccaanways    ( . . . )     [      anastasia   hadn’t   intended   to   snap   at   him.   he   was   only   trying   to   help,   offering   a   gesture   of   kindness,   and   that — that — was   how   she   responded?   she   set   the   gun   down   with   deliberate   care,   her   fingers   tightening   against   the   edge   of   the   table   as   she   drew   in   a   slow,   measured   breath.   keep   it   together.   her   pulse   thundered   in   her   ears,   drowning   out   the   first   part   of   what   he   was   saying.   his   voice   drifted   through   her   thoughts   like   sound   muffled   by   water,   distant   and   warped — until   one   question   cut   through   the   haze.   her   eyes   slid   to   the   side,   landing   on   the   box   of   weapons   resting   on   her   workbench   a   few   steps   away.   she   swallowed   hard,   lifting   a   hand   to   pinch   the   bridge   of   her   nose,   grounding   herself.     ]      you   don’t   deserve   that.   I’m…   sorry.      [      she   murmured   at   last.   she   took   a   tentative   step   toward   him   before   faltering,   catching   herself   mid-motion.      ]     I   am   happy   to   see   you.     [     she   added,   softer   now.    ]    I   just—   does   it   sound   painfully   cliché   if   I   say:   it’s   not   you,   it’s   me?
            
            

@wiccaanways    (  . . .  )      careful,   jack.   you   keep   talking   like   that   and   i’ll   think   you’re   trying   to   seduce   me.       [   her   tone   was   teasing.   her   eyes   never   left   the   mirror,   watching   the   contrast   of   their   silhouettes—   her   in   black   silk,   him   in   his   ever-present   charm   and   mischief.   as   his   lips   ghosted   over   her   skin,   her   hand   came   up,   not   to   push   him   away,   but   to   slide   along   his   jaw   with   featherlight   familiarity,    eyes     briefly   closing.    a   soft   chuckle  slipped   from   her   throat—   dangerous   and   intoxicating,   like   the   perfume   clinging   to   her   skin.       ]      fashionably   late,   hm   ?   well,   I   / do /   have   a   reputation   to   uphold…    it   depends   —   does   this   little   scenario   end   with   this   dress   in   tatters   and   the   two   of   us   tangled   up   in   those   sheets   again  ? 

long enough to admire the view. [ jack walks over to her with a small sly smile. one hands holds her waist and the other pulls the zipper up her back. his eyes meet hers in the mirror, winking. ] you look stunning. how comfortable are you with being… [ his chin rests on her shoulder, before turning his head slightly. his lips press against her neck, trailing kisses along her skin. his voice goes into a deep whisper, ] “ fashionably ” late? 

@wiccaanways    ( . . . )     [      anastasia   glanced   up,  into   the   reflection   of   the   mirror,   seeing   him   leaning   in   the   doorway.  a   small   smile   painted   her   lips   as   she   finished   hooking   on   her   necklace,   before   adjusting   the   straps   of   her   dress.   ]      how   long   have   you   been   standing   there  ?      [       she   chuckled   as   she   glanced   over   her   shoulder   at   him,   moving   her   hair   out   of   the   way.       ]    thank   you.    ever   the   / gentleman / .