• location: bar in Brooklyn

The night had been relatively slow with just a few regulars, but thankfully there had been no coven drama so Logan could actually relax for the moment. Funning a hand through her blonde hair to get it out of her face, she grabbed the rag from under the counter and started to wipe off the bartop.  As she finished she flashed a smile at the person who had sat down where she’d just cleaned. “So you’re just going to throw all my hard work away?” She asked with a laugh. Pulling out a coast before she slid it in front of them. “So what can I get you to drink?”

@darkesthourstarters​

                what an exhausting day it had been already, and it wasn’t even over yet. francis had to meet with one last client, before she was officially done with work for the day. alas, the man was nowhere to be found, and having one drink truly wouldn’t hurt anyone, the brunette taught to herself. granted, she could’ve picked a bar where her older sister did not bartend, but she had a flair for the dramatics. “you call that hard work?” she arched her brows slightly; rosy lips curling into a playful smirk, as she placed her purse on the wooden surface of the bar, “whiskey. neat.” that was her usual go to drink; she always needed something strong. “hope it’s not too much trouble for you.” her smirk only widened with the words.

Elena sighed as she walked into her sisters office, she took a seat in the empty chair across from her. Tensions had been beyond high between them over the last few months with her becoming the supreme, but it wasn’t like she’d asked for it. If anything she had wanted to give it to her sister, but things had took a twisted turn. “So are you still avoiding family dinner or are you actually going to show up this time?” Elena asked bluntly. She figured that if she cornered her sister at work then she’d be less likely to run away from her. “Our moms keep talking about how we need to work this out, but can’t really work anything out if you stop showing up to things.” She commented, she twisted her hair around the ends of her fingers. “If you want I can skip out this time? You know make it extra spicy at the table and give them something else to talk about.” 

By the time the wooden door opened and Elena made herself known in the small office; Francis was doodling a doe in her notebook; surprisingly enough she had always found doodling relaxing; and clearly, judging by the sharp lines she was leaving on the pages, she had been quite on edge lately, without truly processing it. She wasn’t truly phased by her sister’s presence; or the question she had so bluntly asked. Francis was known for always having an answer; keeping quiet would only be a step back, and she never wished for people to see her as someone that couldn’t fight back. “I wouldn’t really call it avoiding.” She spoke up, finally placing the pen down and glancing up at her sister; back laid firmly on the back of the chair, “I had important things to take care of. As much as I care for  all of you - sometimes you’re really hard to tolerate,” She was honest; and truthfully, anyone would need a break from that family - from time to time. “You don’t have to do that, Elena. You, of all people, should be there. As for me - I’ll come along. Let’s just hope things go well this time. I’m not in a mood for anymore family drama.”

“Can you shut the fuck up?” Parker snapped at her sister as they sat across from one another while they waited for their brothers to show up. “I get it okay, you feel like I’m going this wrong and have tons of opinions.” Rolling her eyes at her sisters comments. She understood that she wasn’t the most likely of them to end up as supreme, if anything everyone had expected SISTER2 (since you don’t have her named) to take over. The ancestors had other plans though and instead had picked Parker which had made the normally thick family tension even worse. “I beg you, can we talk about anything besides witch law? Truly I spend most of my free time talking about it as is, the last thing I want to do is spend dinner talking about it as well.” 

Francis’s eyes remained on the pages of the book she was holding in her hands; ignoring her sister’s words, and focusing her attention on the story within the pages. One comment. She had made one comment, and as per usual, things had to be blown out of proportions. Yes, they had their diffferences, and Fran was only looking out for her sister; she was looking after all of her siblings, making sure they were safe and doing the right thing, only so she could see them succseed in life. Finally, once her sister was done talking, Francis looked up from the pages; locking her eyes on Parker’s own ones, “Are you done?” She asked, before closing the book in her lap and placing it on the table next to her, “I’m only looking after you. I want you to do good, can’t you see that?” She creased her brows slightly, “As supreme you would have to do a lot more talking about the witch law. Don’t tell me you’ve grown bored of it already.” 

“Mmm, can I answer that later? I don’t want to ruin the mood.” He murmured softly, knowing the one thing he was truly curious about was Jonathan’s family; he also knew it wasn’t going to be a subject Jon would probably like to breach whilst doing this. The curiosity had sparked in Harley when the other had spoke about the money his family had left for him, and how he seemed to almost begrudge it… and then when he found out a little more information about Jon’s mom but he only had snippets. It seemed there was more to the story. He smirked against the kiss as he felt the other pin him to the mattress, Harley only breaking the kiss so that he could remove the others shirt before quickly going back to kissing the man again; one hand rest on the back of Jon’s neck to pull him closer, and the other lay softly on the man’s torso. 

Jonathan only hummed in agreement. If he was being honest, he wanted nothing more than for Harley to forget all that ridiculous nonsense and enjoy what they had so far, which in Jonathan’s opinion was pretty good. Getting to know each other, was almost going to ruin everything, or complicate it, or anything that was the opposite of fun. However, he had allowed him one more question, and knowing Harley, he was going to bring that subject back around, sooner or later. Their lips parted only for Jonathan to remove his shirt, and throw it on the floor, as he did the same with Harley’s shirt; eyes scanning the man’s exposed torso with a sly smirk on his lips. Their lips reconnected again, and so did their hands, in order for Jonathan to pin them over the other’s man head; fingers intertwining in order to keep them in one place, as his lips moved down to his neck; tracing heated kisses down his collar bone and back up to his ear, nibbling gently on the soft flesh.

“I do. I also recall me insisting it would be a one time thing, Lund. I hate to disappoint, but that’s not happening again.” Fiona reiterated, trying not to get irate at that stupid fucking pet name. Pet name’s seemed to be drunk Fiona’s favourite thing, but sober? She hated them. Especially coming from Jonathan Lund’s mouth. “I’m just saying, you might think yourself an angel, but even angel’s fall, Jonathan. And even angel’s turn out to be far worse than anyone could have thought.” She was sure he was trying to get under her skin, especially with the pet names, but she wouldn’t cave that easily; not this time.

“Somehow-...” He began, only to pause for a brief moment, as he slowly circled the woman, casually, of course; there was nothing threatning in his steps, and his voice, despite being low and deep, carried a teasing tune, “..-I find it hard to believe you.” He whispered, a little closer to her, so she could hear his words. He was confident in himself, that he was going to make her crack; one way or another, she had already been marked as an easy target. If she had given in once, she was going to do it again. “It’s always that one crucial, first mistake that paves the path to the next one.” He spoke with utter certainty, as he stopped in his tracks, behind the brunette, “I’ve fallen a long time ago, Fiona. Took you some time to figure that out.”

He let out a small groan at the kiss to his neck, though he bit at the inside of his cheek to stop himself whining as the other pulled away; Harley had wanted nothing more than for him to carry on there. Breath caught in his throat as Jon’s thumb brushed over and pressed on his lower lip, the small and tiny movements seemed to be the one that got the immortals attention the most. “Y-Yeah, I guess you have, a little.” He uttered quietly, his eyes slowly moving over the others figure until their eyes met. Harley knew more than he mentioned, he guessed. He knew Jonathan had money from his family; a family he seemed to be heavily disconnected from, but equally as sensitive about. He wouldn’t bring that up though, not unless Jon did first. It likely wasn’t worth the risk. The immortal gasped as he felt the others tongue on his lips, his own coming out to meet it before pulling the other into a passionate kiss; his hand snaked underneath Jon’s shirt, fingertips exploring his torso.

“Is there one thing that you would like to know the most?” With his fingers tracing every outline of his face, and his gaze locked solely on Harley’s perfect shaped lips, the words slipped his own parted ones, as if he had not just sworn to himself, to not spill more personal information. It wasn’t completely out of his control, nothing truly was ever out of his control, but he thought, for a moment, that he could let him have one more question, and satisfy him with an answer, before satisfying him in another, more pleasurable, for both of them, way. He could only hope that that tiny slip up, was going to be enough for the other man, for now; it was more than he could offer, and by now, Harley should’ve known to take into consideration those tiny hints, because they meant, that he was trying. His teeth grazed his lower lip slightly, as he deepened the kiss, Harley had pulled him in. His heated palms rested on his chest, as he slowly pinned the other on the matress, and hovered over him; his mouth never leaving his.

“No information about you would ever have an effect on my insides, Jonathan. Sorry to disappoint.” The guard responded, a smirk of her own coming to her features that could easily challenge the residents’. Her brow raised as the blond moved closer, allowing the phone to fall from his hand between them. Fiona clenched her jaw, stopping herself from making a comment about how he shouldn’t litter the town with his shit, but she could already hear the snarky little comments coming from his mouth. “You’re definitely not capable of being anything close to Lucifer, Lund. Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Are you really that sure about that? Do we have to recall that one time at the cafe? I certainly seemed to have an effect on your insides back then, darling. Are you implying that you’ve somehow learnt your lesson?” The game they played was one he certainly enjoyed, and now, that he had another chance at taunting the brunette, he wasn’t going to pass on it. After all, he had a bet to win. One that the female seemed to have not forgotten about, cause it seemed to him, that she was trying extra hard not to give in to his ways. He kept their distance short, as he stood before her, towering over the brunette slightly, “Then what was that comment all about, Drake? I’m curious.”

“I guess I just want you to know that you can talk to me, if you want. That I’m here. I–” His words were cut off as a soft gasp left his lips, eyes flickering closed as Harley felt Jon’s lips on his jaw. The immortal would feel much better about not knowing too much about Jon’s personal circumstances if the other didn’t know about his, but there was no changing that now. It was out there, and whilst if Jon decided that someday he did want to open up to Harley, perhaps keeping it simple and fun was all the immortal needed right now. He felt like his head was about to explode with everything already going on; could he handle more than a simple friends with benefits? Could he handle getting to know all of the bone manipulator’s secrets? He doubted it. Harley swallowed hard as the lips moved to his neck, instinctively tilting his head slightly so the other had better access. “S-Simple sounds good. It, uh, it sounds fun.” He whispered, his arms moving so his hands could grasp at the fabric of Jonathan’s shirt.

Jonathan planted a kiss upon the skin of Harley’s neck, before moving away slightly, in order to lock his eyes on the other’s; one hand reaching to the other man’s face, his thumb resting upon Harley’s mouth, pressing slightly on his lips so they would part, “And have I not been talking to you?” He breathed out, his eyes tracing Harley’s features. Jonathan had already allowed Harley more access to himself, than he had allowed anyone else, in a long while. His actions, had always spoken louder, than his words. He would never admit it, at least not just yet, but Harley had grown on him, Jonathan had grown to care for him, and that was going to bite him in the ass, later, but as long as Harley wasn’t aware of it, just yet, everything was alright. His lips curled into a cheeky grin, as he felt the other man’s hands clutching his shirt;  “Mhmm...” He hummed; tongue gliding along Harley’s lips vertically. 

Harley’s brow furrowed slightly as Jon lay him down, and moved from underneath him. The question had him confused, wondering what he had done to have warranted the sudden mistrust from the other. “I don’t understand.” He spoke, sitting up and perching himself at the end of the bed, hazel eyes watching the bone manipulator. “I’m here because I wanna be your friend, Jon. I’m here because I wanna be a friend you fuck regularly; I’m here because I wanna know you. I opened up to you, granted more than you’d ever asked for; more than you wanted…” Harley guessed he felt a little vulnerable now, having opened up to Jon when perhaps he shouldn’t have done. It wasn’t something he usually did, telling people he barely knew about his past but it had happened with Jon. That wasn’t to say that was the reason he was befriending Jon, because it wasn’t. Harley just liked having friends. “You shouldn’t be the one with the mistrust here when I know barely anything about you. I know you like literature, fancy literature; the stuff that I don’t understand though I’m trying. I know you play guitar, you sing, and you like the same things I do in bed.” He shrugged, looking down and picking at his nails and the skin around them anxiously. “If you don’t wanna be my friend that’s fine, you can just say so. I’ll stop bothering you.” 

Jonathan stood by the bookshelf; hands sliding into the pockets of his shorts, which were not exactly deep enough to cover his large hands, so his thumbs stuck out; eyes focused on the books, as he listened intently to the man speak. The fucking he could do, and he could even be his friend, so far he agreed, but opening up to the other man, allowing him to get to know him was something he found difficult. There were only two, three people at most, that he considered his friends, people he considered letting close, into his personal life, and despite Harley’s efforts, and his good intentions, Jonathan wanted to avoid allowing that acess to the man. “I don’t mind you opening up to me.” He spoke, softly, tilting his head slightly in order to lock his eyes on Harley’s hazel ones. “But why would you want for me to do the same in return?” He moved closer with the words, his hands coming to rest upon the other man’s shoulders, “That seems like plenty.” He commented on the information Harley had mentioned that he gathered on Jonathan. “Why would you want to get to know me, when we can keep things...simple-..” He almost whispered, leaning in close; lips brushing against the outline of Harley’s jaw, “..light...” He breathed against his skin, tracing his lips down to his neck, “fun..” He continued.

He clicked the bottle back, offering a smile. “Consider that noted. Just thought I’d suggest it.” If there was ever another government vs residents fight, Brian could at least hope Jon might change his mind. Then again he knew Jon wanted to be free, more than anything and he wouldn’t give that opportunity up for anything. Why would he?

Brian gave Jonathan a confused look and joined in the laughter. “That is definitely not what I was suggesting. Takes a certain level of sophistication to pull off the attire that I do.” If you ignored the coffee and chemical stains on his shirt, it was fine. He grinned. “Although, if you really didn’t care about fashion as much as you say you do…it shouldn’t matter what you wear, no?” He shook his head. At least the drink had finally gotten to Jon. Brian was fed up of feeling like a lightweight.

“Aye, I did.” He gave a small, solemn nod. “You may not think it’s a science, but it is. Everything is. And I’m the only person that’s come even slightly close to piecing it all together. I had everything. And then I lost her. And then they took my research…my facilities…everything. Until Grimstone found me. Now I’m back on track. Almost.” Maybe explaining things to someone like Jonathan Lund would help the other residents to understand why he was doing what he was doing. For the most part. He had other objectives and results he needed to reach now. “Oh I’m sure I’d find someone. I step out of the office for half a second and someone is bound to get on my nerves. I just appreciate that you make a conscious effort.”

“Bold suggestion.”Jonathan chuckled. Of course, it wasn’t impossible. even someone like Jonathan craved human contact at times, even he wanted to have people who he can trust, not just friends, but people he can really, truly trust. Yet, somehow, Brian didn’t strike him as someone he could trust, at least not yet. He was still testing the waters, gathering information on the man, calculating everything, before he even considered calling the other man a friend, or even an acquaintance.