God    damn    !

e.r. fightmaster @ gleam studios

There was a little flutter in the pit of her stomach when Dante told her that he liked when she smiled at him. This really wasn't the time for her to be fixating on some offhand comment. The shop was in shambles. Her favorite customer was...certainly more than just her favorite customer. She'd seen plenty of infernal things in her day. She hadn't expected him to be one of them, but she supposed there were worse things that could happen. It was almost nice, really, the knowledge that she finally wasn't the only inhuman one in the room.

But this wasn't the time to enjoy that either. Even said with an edge of humor, there was dread in what Dante said next. He didn't think it was just an accident. On the contrary, he seemed to expected something more sinister. Given his clear offensive experience and her rather meticulous keeping that made accidents in the collection all but unheard of, she was tempted to agree. Things like this didn't happen here, not just a demon breaking out but anything, really. The idea made her stomach turn in a much less pleasant way this time.

And it gave her pause when he asked about potentially apocalyptic additions to her collection. Bradley thought about her eldritch roommates, about the prison her titanic mother had built that the two of them were standing above, about the doors to cells that defied time and space. She didn't want to be suspicious of him. Right now though, she was starting to get suspicious of everything. That wasn't information that she could hand over lightly. "Of course I know everything that I keep here." The nymph finally replied, deliberately only answering the first half of his question. She brushed past Dante to continue picking up pieces here and there that she could. "I-I need to start cleaning. I really appreciate you saving my life, but I-" she grunted as she tried and failed to start dragging a wrought iron wall ornament out of the barely there path left through the rubble. And continued trying even when the metal dug into her fingers. "Can you come back another day? I really need to take care of all of this."

His grin grew as she grinned back at him, she was getting under his skin the more he spent time around her. "I like it when you smile like that at me - it makes my day."Dante admitted without any hesitation. He was an honest man, always has been, plus it was cute to tease her and offer her well deserved compliments because when she blushed it made him feel a certain way.

Scratching along his forearm, it didn't pass him by the way she looked at him, and he had to bite his tongue back to continue with the teasing, there were times when he actually had to be a bit serious, to the best of his abilities. Dante hummed as Bradley explained how things in here worked, with her receiving contained supernatural entities and keeping them that way. Blue hues scanned through the mess, for a moment lost in thought before speaking up.

"There's gotta be some disturbing in the force."he pinched at his chin before looking back at her. "--- Sorry, been watching a lot of Star wars lately. What I mean is, something is definitively happening. There's been an increase in little portals opening up, demons being let into the human world... And this attack onto your shop didn't feel like an accident. I think that demon was looking for something - or testing the waters for someone else."Dante continued on, pacing around the wooden floor as he did so. "Do you know every thing you keep around here? Is there something you keep well hidden that could be dangerous if it'd get into someone's hands - like end of the world dangerous?"

Ffffffffffffffffffffffffff I wanna write so badly, so I'm gonna reblog some memes. I haven't finished my muse page, but I want to write here. Fight me about it.

𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝  ,  𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡  𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞  .     ݁˖ ❀ ⋆｡˚        a  series  of  romantic  gesture  prompts  inspired  by  historical  fiction,  period  dramas,  classic  fairytales,  poetry,  and  more.  will  likely  be  updated  in  the  future,  so  please  do  not  add  onto  this.

[   HAND   ]     ,     sender  kisses  receiver's  hand.

[   COURTESY   ]     ,     receiver  kisses  sender's  hand.

[   KNUCKLES   ]     ,     sender  kisses  receiver's  knuckles.

[   AFFECTION   ]     ,     receiver  kisses  sender's  knuckles.

[   TENDER   ]     ,     sender  kisses  receiver's  forehead/temple.

[   CARE   ]     ,     receiver  kisses  sender's  forehead/temple.

[   LIPS   ]     ,     sender  kisses  receiver  on  the  mouth.

[   SEALED   ]     ,     receiver  kisses  sender  on  the  mouth.

[   HUG   ]     ,     sender  hugs  receiver  close.

[   EMBRACE   ]     ,     receiver  hugs  sender  close.

[   KNEEL   ]     ,     sender  gets  down  on  one  knee.

[   REVERENCE   ]     ,     receiver  gets  down  on  one  knee.

[   OFFER   ]     ,     sender  offers  their  arm  for  receiver  to  join  them  somewhere.

[   JOIN   ]     ,     receiver  offers  their  arm  for  sender  to  join  them  somewhere.

[   ENVELOPE   ]     ,     sender  writes  receiver  a  love  letter.

[   LETTER   ]     ,     receiver  writes  sender  a  love  letter.

[   FLOWERS   ]     ,     sender  gifts  receiver  flowers.

[   BOUQUET   ]     ,     receiver  gifts  sender  flowers.

[   DANCE   ]     ,     sender  asks  receiver  to  dance.

[   WALTZ   ]     ,     receiver  asks  sender  to  dance

[   SILENCE   ]     ,     sender  and  receiver  enjoy  a  quiet  moment  together  without  conversation.

[   READ   ]     ,     sender  reads  to  receiver.

[   STORY   ]     ,     receiver  reads  to  sender.

[   CARRY   ]     ,     sender  carries  receiver  in  their  arms.

[   LIFT   ]     ,   receiver  carries  sender  in  their  arms.

[   HUG   ]     ,     sender  hugs  receiver  close. 

[   INTERLOCKED   ]     ,     sender  holds  receiver's  hand.

[   INTERWOVEN   ]     ,     receiver  holds  sender's  hand.

[   GENTLE   ]     ,     sender  holds  receiver's  face  in  their  hands.

[   CRADLE   ]     ,     receiver  holds  sender's  face  in  their  hands.

[   CONVERSE   ]     ,     sender  has  an  intimate  conversation  with  receiver.

[   SHARE   ]     ,     receiver  has  an  intimate  conversation  with  sender.

[   COOK   ]     ,     sender  cooks  a  meal  for  receiver.

[   CHEF   ]     ,     receiver  cooks  a  meal  for  sender.

[   POEM   ]     ,     sender  writes  a  poem  for  receiver.

[   ODE   ]     ,     receiver  writes  a  poem  for  sender.

[   GIFT   ]     ,     sender  gives  receiver  a  gift  (  specify  ).

[   PRESENT   ]     ,     receiver  gives  receiver  a  gift  (  specify  ).

[   HOLD   ]     ,     sender  and  receiver  cuddle  together.

[   BACK   ]     ,     sender  gives  receiver  a  back  rub.

[   MASSAGE   ]     ,   receiver  gives  sender  a  back  rub.

[   ASSIST   ]     ,     sender  helps  receiver  put  on  a  piece  of  clothing  or  jewellery. 

[   HELP   ]     ,     receiver  helps  sender  put  on  a  piece  of  clothing  or  jewellery. 

[   RAINFALL   ]     ,     sender  kisses  and/or  dances  with  receiver  in  the  rain.

[   DOWNPOUR   ]     ,     receiver  kisses  and/or  dances  with  sender  in  the  rain.

[   BASKET   ]     ,     sender  and  receiver  share  a  private  picnic.

[   WORSHIP   ]     ,     sender  kisses  and/or  touches  receiver's  body  with  reverence.

[   DEVOTION   ]     ,     receiver  kisses  and/or  touches  sender's  body  with  reverence.

[   ALTAR   ]     ,     sender  watches  receiver  walk  down  the  aisle  towards  them.

[   AISLE   ]     ,     receiver  watches  sender  as  they  walk  down  the  aisle  towards  them.

"Oh, trust me, it wouldn't be good for you." Mona practically purred. A part of her wanted to see him try though. She was always eager to not just to test her own mettle but to prove it. Undoubtedly, the man before her was one of the more powerful beings she'd come across. Whether she wanted to work with him or not, that made him a worthy opponent. If she could hold her own against Vergil, the gates certainly wouldn't stop her, She never got to enjoy a good fight anyway. Most of them were so easy to subdue that there was no satisfaction in it.

Risking her life by provoking him just to feel that thrilled would have to come later. Unfortunately. She had a goal. Whatever his reasons were, she'd heard rumors that he had the same one. Playing nice wasn't her strong suit, but she had to do it. Mona only hoped that he didn't need the sugary sweet kind of playing nice, that he wasn't going to expect charm and smiles. The only playing nice that she knew was the mutual respect that came along with the acknowledgment of power.

"No, I came to the right guy." Unable to stop herself from just a small show of defiance, she closed the distance between herself and his drawn blade. "You see, I've got a bone to pick with the gates of Hell. Word on the street is that you're trying to open them, and I'm sure you would've done it by now if you could pull it off yourself. Couldn't hurt to have a witch working alongside you, right?" She flashed a smile and held out her hand, arm running parallel to his katana. "Nice to finally meet you, Vergil. I'm Mona."

"Yeah, no shit."he grumbled, there was clear annoyance in the back of his voice, the icy blue gaze steady and firm onto her. He had no idea who she is, and it felt like a waste of his time already. Not that he didn't have time, he just hated being disturbed in the middle of something, but since she followed him around it was a matter of time before she finally shows herself to him.

Tall, skinny brunette surely had guts, was confident and even cocky a bit too much, as she stepped towards him, trying to prove a point. It amused him but he didn't let it show. For all he cares, he's seconds away from just turning away and leaving her be. But why not give her a chance since she's been in his shadow lurking for days. "I like a good challenge."Vergil said straight away about the pet part, and pulled out his katana as she continued to speak, and pointed it right in front of him, almost drawing a line at where she should stop - he absolutely hated having his personal space invaded.

She had a mouth on her, that was for certain. What did she even know of his progress and what his mission is? Something wasn't sitting right with him nor her words and he gripped at the handle of his katana tighter. "You know what bothers me? This conversation. I don't know who you are or what the fuck you want from me, less alone what you expect of me. You came to the wrong guy."Vergil said in a way for a warning almost.

If you see me ripping my hair out over trying to finish my muse page before I start writing, no you don't. But on that note, would you all be comfortable with me continuing threads in new posts over here, or would you rather start new things?

She thought she'd made some progress when he at least dropped the sword. Her fingers twitched at her side, threatening to curl into tight fists over the irritation of even having to make progress. Mona wasn't used to being so unknown, or to not possessing the upper hand. This wasn't some fellow witch that knew her as the scourge of their kind and feared her for what she was willing to do, for the power she'd been born with and grown by draining others. This wasn't a lesser being who she could crush so easily.

And maybe that had been thrilling a moment ago, but it was starting to bother her. She bent the world and everyone in it to her will on a daily basis. It existed with her boot on its neck, and she suffocated and squeezed it for all it was worth, but Vergil existed outside of her grip and just turned around to walk away from her. Like she was nothing. Rage burned in the pit of her stomach. "I don't give a fuck about my kind. I don't like being told what I can and can't do." She replied before her temper got the best of her and a flick of her finger blasted away the wall of one of the buildings lining the alley and sent chunks of debris heavy enough to crush a mortal man falling just a few feet ahead of him. "And I don't like when people walk away from me,"

Which was exactly why Mona stood her ground. She was done trailing after him. He was treating her the way she treated everyone else, and at this point, she would rather he just try to kill her than act like she was nothing. "Listen, asshole, I don't want to work with someone else either, but you either want to get this done, or you want to sit around jerking off instead." She certainly wasn't about to let his stubbornness get in her way. "I know there are a few things needed to open the gates, and I know how to get them. You have the balls to go kidnap a god?" Nymphs hardly counted as gods in her mind though, daughter of Zeus and a titan or not. She'd easily be able to subdue the keeper herself, but she was going to need Vergil for what came after.

She really was pushing his buttons. But Vergil knew better than to react right away. Something about her was putting him off, yet still sparked interest. The fact she's been following him around, and now has faced him with a pretty laid back facial expression made him realize there's something more behind all of this and he hoped, for her sake, she'll reveal it soon because his patience did run thin.

Vergil held his stance, gaze heavy and unbothered as he looked her down. But once the stranger woman began talking about gates of Hell, how he hasn't been able to open them yet made him groan in the back of his throat. At the mention of who she truly is Vergil's hand gripped tighter onto the handle of his katana. A fucking witch that wanted to work alongside with him? Once she finally introduced herself to him, another grumble followed - she knew too much for his liking.

Taking a step back in a swift motion he pulled back his katana, holding it straightened along his leg, still not talking and just piercing through her with his cold blue eyes. "Can't say I share the sentiment."he huffed, it wasn't a pleasure for him, that's for sure. Finally, with a deep breath and another quick motion he put the katana back into it's saya. "And I know better than to have a witch meddle in my business. I work alone and I can't state that enough."he commented and turned on the heel of his boot to start walking down the alley. But he knew, deep down, she won't back away just like that. And his curiosity did itch a little. "What does a witch even have to do with gates of Hell? I thought your kind doesn't work in that sort of direction?"he asked, loud enough for her to hear but not stopping or turning to grace her with his attention.

The disapproval was evident on his face the second Bailey said that she couldn't shut her mind off just because he wanted her to. He didn't like her disobeying in the first place, much less not even trying to comply at all. She simply insisted that she was incapable, and he couldn't have that. Because she wasn't. "Are you telling me that I chose someone incapable?" Asher challenged, his grip on her chin tightening. "You think that I chose poorly, that I was wrong when I saw something special in you? You think that I was wrong?"

Some part of him wanted her to say that she did think that. It wanted her to defy him so he could put her in her place. Bailey always danced on the edge of rebellion, spirited herself but never quite going far enough that he had to do something about it. That kept the beast inside of him that he tried so desperately to keep under control placated. As long as she obeyed, he didn't have to correct her. But he wanted to. God, he wanted to watch her will crumble as he bent her to his own.

"Go ahead. Tell me you can't. Tell me why you're so helpless."

there were still so many things about asher that she would never understand. especially his desire to paint her because she had thought he'd have grown tired of her. it seemed that she was wrong considering that he had once again wanted her at his studio. though it was a change in the time given he normally wanted her there at night. that usually worked out with her schedule given most of her gigs were in the day. she was just doing her best to remain in the pose that he had put her in. though she was having a hard time sitting still.

there had been the thought of canceling on him. the past few days had been insane for her. she thought that posing for him would be the perfect distraction. that was why it completely confused her when she realized he was setting his brush down. was he about to tell her to leave? she had no idea if she actually wanted that or not. instead she waited as he crossed to the platform that he had set her up on. sometimes he made her feel like a doll with how he seemed to want her posed and the entire look. it did help her that she was so comfortable in her own skin. otherwise she probably wouldn't have been okay with any of what he was trying to do. her breath hitched as his hand reached out to tilt her face up.

"i didn't realize you noticed," she told him, though her eyes narrowed at his demand," how am i supposed to get rid of it? i can't shut my mind off just because you want me to."

GEMMA CHAN British Vogue, october 2024

♡ MADISON BEER 15 minutes music video