killerwidows

" Consequences, hm ? " [ A slow, genuine twitch of amusement pulled at the corner of his lips. He let out a soft, breathy hum, nodding slightly as if silently appreciating the sharp edge of her words. Instead of pushing closer, Jasper took a deliberate step back. He gave her just a fraction of breathing room, though his hands remained buried casually deep in his pockets, his posture relaxed but entirely locked onto her. As he shifted, the low, pulsing neon lights of the lounge caught the sharp angles of his face, making the silver piercings along his right eyebrow and the dark studs lining his ears glint under the dim glow. He tilted his head, his dark eyes scanning her face with a quiet, magnetic intensity that felt almost tactile. ]
            
            " I like a woman who keeps a tight schedule ," [ he murmured, his voice dropping into a low, velvety register. He glanced briefly over his shoulder at the thriving, chaotic dance floor of his lounge, then brought his gaze right back to her, dismissing the rest of the room entirely. ] " But you don't need to worry about my establishment. Everything out there runs exactly the way I want it to. Besides... the crowd is predictable. You ? You're a rarity. " [ A playful, self deprecating smile played on his lips as he recalled her warning. ] " And my apologies, " [ he added, dipping his head in a slow, mock-respectful gesture, though the tease in his eyes remained. ] " No more ' sweetheart. ' If I'm going to refer to the most dangerous person in my lounge, I should at least do it right. What should I call you instead... or do I have to earn that, too ? "

@crimsonhour     ( … )     [      her   head   angled   slightly   as   he   leaned   in,   closing   the   space   between   them.   her   fingers   curled   almost   imperceptibly   into   her   palm,   though   her   arm   stayed   draped   over   the   headrest   in   a   posture   that   looked   relaxed   but   wasn’t.   the   rest   of   her   remained   unreadable,   a   wall   of   cool   restraint.   kalina   lifted   a   single   eyebrow   at   him,   unimpressed   by   the   proximity.      ]      others   create   their   own   trouble.    [     she   said,   voice   smooth   but   edged.     ]     I   simply   make   sure   the   consequences   arrive   on   time.     
            
                 [      her   answers   remained   vague   but   firm,   not   falling   for   whatever   charm   he   was   currently   trying   to   worm   his   way   through   her.       ]      as   the   owner,   I   would’ve   thought   you’d   use   your   time   to   oversee   the   rest   of   your   establishment   rather   than   sitting   here   in   the   company   of   one   person.      [      her   finger   tapped   once   on   the   couch.      ]      and   don’t   call   me   sweetheart.   [    she   didn’t   raise   her   voice.   she   didn’t   need   to.   the   warning   lived   in   the   stillness   around   her,   in   the   way   her   eyes   held   his   without   flinching,   daring   him   to   test   the   boundary   again.     ] 

" Don't be so sure, hm ? " [ A faint, amused smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he tracked the slow, calculating path of her gaze up his frame. Jasper let out a soft, dry chuckle, the sound vibrating low in his chest. He didn't shift his stance; his hands remained buried casually in his pockets, the dark fabric of his rolled-up sleeves tight against his forearms. Most people in this room gave her a wide berth, but Jasper only found the hostility radiating from her corner entirely enticing. He tilted his head slightly, leaning a fraction closer to let the dim neon lights of the lounge catch the sharp line of his jaw. His dark eyes locked onto hers with a quiet, knowing intensity, completely unbothered by her coldness. He murmured, his voice low, smooth, and laced with a trace of playfulness as he tasted the words. ] " Fair enough. But a pretty face sitting alone in the dark, watching my lounge like a hawk ? You'll have to forgive me for getting curious. This is my house, after all, and usually people only look that hard when they're trying to find trouble ... Or make it  " [ He glanced down at the empty couch opposite her, then brought his gaze right back to hers, his expression shifting into something effortlessly charming. ] " So... am I allowed to sit, or am I going to have to keep looking down at you, sweetheart ? "

@SUNSWALLOWING   ( … )     [      he   was   already   wading   into   perilous   waters,   and   he   knew   it.   the   assassin   lounged   at   the   edge   of   his   desk   like   a   predatory   bird,   gloved   fingertips   tapping   a   slow,  deliberate   rhythm   against   the   wood.    kalina   angled   her   head,   a   shard   of   darkness   flickering   through   the   frost‑pale   hue   of   her   eyes.      ]      I’m   glad   to   know   you’re   keeping   up.      [        she   responded   dryly,   before   her   lips   tightened,   patience   thinning.      ]       explain.   you   have   three   minutes. 

@killerwidows 
            
            [  He parted his lips to say something but opted for silence instead. Carefully, he folded his hands behind his back, his gaze averting, scanning his office, before settling on her figure perched like an omen of death on his desk. Swallowing did not ease the weight of the tense silence, and he decided to try nonetheless to defend, to ease the situation, with a quiet murmur. ] And an apology won't do anything, correct?

@SUNSWALLOWING    ( … )      ‘mad’   doesn’t   even   begin   to   describe   how   I   feel,   arsenyev. 

@crimsonhour    /   yeah,   I   know   one…    you   ;)

/       uh han , takes one to know one   ;)

@crimsonhour    /    coming   from   youuuuu ;)

@bloodshed     /     possessive   much   ;))) 

/      not as enemies of course  !

/      she needs him only & so do he  , no one is allowed    ;)

 [ The walk back is a quiet blur as Kalina’s exhaustion completely takes over. Lucian carries the brunt of her weight without a word, guiding her through the cool night until they reach her door. Shifting her flush against his chest with one arm to keep her steady, he uses his free hand to search through her pockets. His fingers carefully brush past her until they find the cold metal of her keys. Pulling them out with a faint jingle, he unlocks the door, nudging it open with his shoulder to guide her into the quiet warmth of her apartment. ]
            
            /  2/2

[ A quiet, low hum vibrates in Lucian's chest as her hand grazes his cheek, his dark eyes darkening just a fraction as he holds her gaze. For a man who survives on hyper-vigilance, the feather-light touch of her fingers on his skin should have triggered an instinct to pull back; instead, he finds himself leaning imperceptibly into the contact. He lets out a soft, breathy chuckle at her proud claim, entirely unbothered by the reminder of how lethal she is in fact, he prefers her that way. ] " Is that a threat or a promise ? Because I'd highly advise against testing that theory while you're swaying on your feet, " [ he teases softly, his voice dropping to a private whisper. ] " I'll make sure to alert the local guard that you're still a menace, then. " 
            
            [ But the pride in her posture evaporates in real-time, the combination of booze and sudden exhaustion dragging heavily at her limbs. When she leans entirely into his frame without a shred of hesitation, completely unguarded and heavy-lidded, his lethal instincts melt away. The sudden trust makes something tighten in his chest. Lucian doesn't hesitate; his arm sweeps around her shoulders, his palm settling flat against her back to hold her securely against his chest so she can absorb his warmth and stability. He reaches down with his free hand, gently taking the box of nachos from her hands before she drops it. Looking down at her face, his thumb traces a slow, comforting circle on her shoulder. ] " Alright, killer. Time out. Your eyes are practically glued shut. Stay awake just a little longer for me, Kalina... let's get you home before you fall asleep right here on the pavement. "
            
            /  1/2

@bloodshed    ( … )     [     he   was   an   anchor,   not   just   for   supporting   her   weight.   he   was   a   constant   in   her   life   that   she   could   not   afford   to   lose,   even   if   she   couldn’t   bring   herself   to   admit   it.   her   gaze   drifted   to   his   hand   as   he   brushed   a   smear   of   cheese   from   her   lip,   the   simple   gesture   disarming   her   more   effectively   than   any   blade   ever   had.   when   her   eyes   lifted   to   meet   his,   something   rare   flickered   there — a   warmth   she   usually   hid.   kalina   didn’t   realise   how   much   in   that   moment   that   she   wanted   to   kiss   him.   her   mouth   curved   into   a   small,   genuine   smile   as   she   reached   up,   fingertips   grazing   his   cheek   with   a   tenderness   she’d   never   dare   name.    ]     you’re   far   too   good   to   me.   as   for   taking   me   home   safely,   you   know,   I   can   still   kill   a   man   when   I’m   like   this.     [     she   purred,   far   too   proudly   as   she   popped   another   nacho   in   her   mouth   with   a   crunch.   but   the   more   she   ate,   the   more   she   realised   that   perhaps   the     combination   of   the   booze,   the   jalapeños   and   the   melted   cheese   wasn’t   such   a   good   idea.   exhaustion   seeped   into   her   bones,   dragging   at   her   limbs,   softening   her   posture   until   she   leaned   into   him   without   thinking,   eyes   heavy.       ]

@killerwidows 
            
            [  The weaponry clicked in the dark as he adjusted, moving closer to the edge with seemingly no fear for his own life. As the target moved so did the scope; following it like a shadow till space seemed to show around it. His pawns had moved a few steps back from him as they negotiated. The Russian pressed his finger gently against the trigger, ready to fire, but his attention was all hers to keep. He sucked a calm breath in, and spoke just as softly as she did, as if the men below could hear a sound above a whisper. ] a word means everything in our work, Kalina. [ His head tilted towards her. The mask obscured his face but he looked at her for a brief moment before settling against the gun again. ] tell me when you're ready.

@SUNSWALLOWING    ( … )     [       she   didn’t   blame   him   for   that,   she   supposed.   after   all,   she   was   a   rogue   assassin,   one   who   tended   to   follow   by   her   own   rules.   the   hint   of   a   smile   twitched   at   the   corner   of   her   lips.      ]      tried ?   if   I   wanted   to   kill   you,   you’d   be   dead.     [      there   was   a   slight,   rare   tease   to   her   tone   as   she   spoke,   and   kalina   then   shook   her   head   subtly,   lips   pursing.      ]       I   won’t   stab   you   in   the   back.   you   can   have   my   word   on   that,   even   if   my   word   doesn’t   mean   much. 

@killerwidows 
            
            [  Her shadow turned his head towards her. The mask hid his tight jaw, and only his eyes gave his features away. ] sometimes. [ He replied in a voice like gravel, and tilted his head again towards the scope of his sniper. The target did not move. ]  you argue so often that I wouldn't be surprised if you tried to kill me.

[ Lucian’s gaze narrowed slightly, his eyes tracking the subtle movement of her hand toward her blades. He didn't miss the faint tension in her shoulders, a tell he’d learned to read all too well. Stepping a fraction closer to catch her low murmur, he let out a quiet breath, his gloved fingers lightly brushing against her wrist not to stop her from drawing a weapon, but to steady her focus. ] " It’s the quickest way to clear the perimeter. But if your gut is telling you something is off... " [ He paused, a ghost of a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips, though his eyes remained deadly serious. ] " ...I’m not about to let you get careless without me. So, what do you want to do ? We stay together, or do we stick to the plan and stay in earshot ? Your call. "

@bloodshed     ( … )     [       kalina’s   icy   hues   stayed   fixed   on   him,   tracing   the   lines   of   his   face   with   an   intensity   that   carried   a   surprising   undercurrent   of   softness.   her   gloved   hand   drifted   to   the   straps   across   her   abdomen,   fingers   curling   around   one   of   her   small   blades   as   though   the   familiar   weight   steadied   her.       ]      is   it   truly   wise   to   split   up.      [       she   murmured,   the   words   slipping   out   on   a   low   breath   that   fogged   faintly   against   the   mask   covering   the   lower   half   of   her   face.   the   assassin’s   posture   remained   poised,   but   something   in   the   angle   of   her   shoulders   hinted   at   unease — an   instinct   honed   by   too   many   missions   gone   sideways.      ]     something   about   this   doesn’t   feel   right. 

@SUNSWALLOWING    ( … )     [       kalina   squinted   at   the   other,   lips   pursing   into   a   vaguely   frustrated   line.        ]     I   take   offence   to   that,   considering   that   I‘ve   been   trained   in   the   art   of   deception   since   I   was   five.     [      she   muttered,   glancing   briefly   over   her   shoulder,   before   back   at   him   again.   her   eyes   trailed   over   his   mask   for   a   moment,   before   the   assassin   straightened,   brushing   a   smear   of   blood   from   her   sleeve   as   if   the   gesture   alone   could   erase   the   moment.    ]      it’s   barely   a   graze,   arsenyev.   there’s   no   need   to   panic.