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Vincent was sitting in Elysium and reading Lovecraft, bemoaning the fact that such a great horror writer was a fucking racist, but he's not getting money for this so it's good right. . .although now he knows this shit is real he wouldn't doubt the man turned out to be some kind of evil mage or something. He was wearing one of his nicer suits tonight, thank god he fell into money.
"Do you think Lovecraft was an actual magic person?" he asks Maria who has been sitting next to him, "Like. . .dude had to be something right. . .oh shit now I'm thinking about Rasputin," he turns to her, "I'm not crazy am I?"
"Rasputin? I mean. Probably a ghoul with Resilience, right? And Majesty? I figure some bored Daeva in Nicky's court figured what the hell, good for a laugh, and suddenly we're toppling the monarchy about it." Maria's only half interested in the conversation, staring instead at the painting of Avery's. She's not a painter, herself. But she's got an eye for such things, judging from her continued interest.
"I think Lovecraft just hated Jews and black people, and deeply needed a good hard dicking. But." She shrugs her shoulders, "He's dead, so fucky darn."
"Is their anything he didn't hate and fear," he shrugs, "So, question, how do you know so much of this side," he turns and lowers his voice, place was a bit empty today but can't be too careful, "Like, you mentioned 'bound spirits' and 'feeding souls', so level with me, how much do you know about the supernatural and why cause looking back you where not shocked at all about me being a vampire."
"Cos I knew about Vampires, Vinnie. And fairies. And wizards. And fucking werewolves. I know about wraiths leashed to the living dead. I know about all sorts, Vinnie, because like I tried telling you in Red Bank? My family doesn't fuck around. It takes good deals when it finds 'em, and all you shadowy motherfuckers just love cutting deals. We cut deals, don't we? And me and Avery? And fucking everyone one of you is always cutting deals with each other. Back scratching goes on around here so much, you're lucky your knuckles don't have fucking mono." She has her usual brassy derisiveness that she gets when it's just the two of them. A rare thing when she's in Elysium.
"Any more I probably shouldn't say here, you never fucking know what douchebag is hiding in plain sight." Maria looks dead hard at a chair that might be able to have a person in it. Because that would be fucking amazing, wouldn't it?
Vinny looks at the chair and throws his book at it. . .just in case. "Ok, so theirs things I need to dig about the Philly Mob, that's fun." he chuckles a tad nervously, "I haven't met a werewolf but I don't think I'd want to, ya know, they sound like giant killing machines and I already died once." he muses shrugging, "Although now I am curious about 'bound spirits', does that mean we can get ghost spies, cause that's useful as fuck." he ponders the various ways he can black mail people using the dead, "What's the more accurate movie, Godfather or Goodfellas?"
"Ghosts are dead fucking people, Vinnie. I swear to Christ, is everything one big fucking joke to you? You want to know what's real, watch a documentary on Murder Incorporated. Read anything about how the five families ran New York through the 60s. Read about Vegas. Go read the book In Saint Paul, The Gangsters can Fuck in The Streets. What's real then is real now, power and money corrupt. You can have your hand up the skirt, or you can be the one getting your lips pinched. Power and money flow up, responsibility and blame flow down. You'd love it there, Vinnie, it's absolutely full of assholes."
"Ok, so necromancy is a no no," he replies, "Not everything's a joke, I just. . .ugh." he stomps his foot, "Ok, I get it, I'm a fucking asshole.", he turns to her,"Ok, so how the fuck am I supposed carve something for myself in the underworld while still being a decent person?"
"Do you have to be one to me, Vincent?" Maria snaps back at him, sharp as anything. "About me? About my fucking life? Sometimes I feel like a key in your pocket you just keep trying to force into locks to see what'll open. What pisses me off the most is I genuinely don't think you are half the asshole you make yourself out to be. I ain't real sure I ever seen the real you yet, if I'm being honest. And maybe I'm wrong. Maybe all you are is a powerhungry, angry little cumstain forever working the angle. But if that's all you're gonna be, Vinnie, this city has already got you figured out. I got elders coming to me about you. Cos of shit you say. They'll steer your frustrations and blunt you against their rivals until you're a spent round. I've seen about six dozen times in boxing, in sports, in the rackets."
"Maybe start by not asking which fucking hollywood movie is most like my fucked up childhood." Oh. She really angry.
he just stares for a second, "I'm. . .I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking and I was being an insensitive jerk," he sighs admitting wrong, "I just. . .I don't know what the fuck I'm doing, my sire must have been a shortsighted fool to embrace me." his hand curl into fists, "I don't know what I'm doing with my life at all at this point," he turns his head, "You want to real Vincent, cause the real Vincent is an angry and confused kid who just lashes out and seems to fuck everything up for himself."
"Yes, Vinnie, I really genuinely and honestly do. Because until I can find that kid, and make him feel safe and make him believe in himself, nobody he lies to about it is going to fucking believe him." Maria reaches out a hand and rests it on his, like it's her blood he needs. And she's the one in control, here. "And sure as shit not fucking me, baby. Okay?"
She searches for his eyes, which is a pretty dangerous game, given the givens. "Vinnie? Hey. Look at me, baby. You are my king shit. And I chose you for a reason. But, yeah. Maybe we should get out of here and you should do some opening up. It ain't gonna hurt you to cry on your ghoul's tits none."
"Ok. . .yeah, let's. . .let's talk then." he says getting up, "I think I need to talk to someone." he admits, taking her hand and heading to the door
(Later, at an abandoned building)
Vincent knew the building by heart, leading Maria through the decaying building, winding up the staircase and entering an apartment, all of Vincent's important and nicer things are either at the town house or penthouse but theirs still a crappy couch, some minor things, someone's been squatting here. he then plops down on the couch and looks up at her
"This is Vincent," he motions around the place, "At least where Vincent has been living for a the past few years." then he lays down on the couch like he's at the therapist, "So, do you really want this rabbit hole?"
Maria has a way of detaching herself from her experiences. Some might call it an unhealthy disassociation related to past trauma. She just calls it useful at times! So any uncertainty the surroundings give her doesn't really register as such. The room, once they're in it, doesn't seem to trouble her too much. It's clearly not her thing, and she's yet to sit down anywhere? But she leans against the doorway and makes it look like no big deal.
"Why do you associate this rabbit hole with you, Vinnie? I said show me you, you showed me this. If you're really an empty room, let me know. I'll walk out of here, and we can be done. I can just say, okay. You're a shitty squat. Thanks for the dick and the blood. And you and Avery can get back to it. You can even keep the penthouse. I don't give a shit. But this?" She gestures at him, not at the room. "Is sad, Vin. Cos this ain't you."
"No but this where I feel safe at least to be me, I did say 'at least where I was living past years,' ." he admits, "I never liked the place, heating sucks, rats are everywhere but I digress. . .ok, Vincent." he takes a breath, "Vincent was the accident of Nick Drake, high school senior who didn't pull out and then got shotgunned weddinged to the baby mama, they named their little mistake Vincent and never let him forget how he ruined their life, at least for them they found relief in the sweet arms of alcohol and a good high." he opens up, "Vincent managed to get by, year by year, until eventually helping out a local con artist and learned from him how to get something for nothing."
"So you're hurt. And you're angry. And you're pissed off at the world. Momma shoulda held you more. Daddy shoulda hit you less. You feel like nobody in the world can possibly understand the shit you've been through. Like every searing white painful moment of it is so uniquely agonizingly raw for you that you can't imagine that being someone else's everyday, too. You feel small so you try to get big." And this is where their stories start to diverge a little, and so she stops telling her own like it's his. "Any of it wrong so far, baby?" She's so calm, her voice so warm and reassuring. But she's over there by the door instead of with him, her head resting against the door frame.
"Nope, sound about right," he shrugs, "Then another mistake came in the form of Alice Drake and Vincent found a reason to keep going, taking the brunt of it so his sister didn't have to be scared of Mom and Dad. . .until Vincent decided to take her and run and has been running ever since." he gets up and looks around the room, "I just. . .I never mattered, I was a leech and a pathetic sack of shit, I want to be somebody Maria, somebody important."
"And you think money and power and sex and drugs and all the rest of that shit is going to plug the hole your fucking mom and dad left in you? That's not the way it works, Vinnie. I can't believe I'm the one telling you this, but what you need is some really good therapy for a couple years. A supportive, loving relationship wherein you're free to be yourself at all times, and express your true feelings. And have them validated. And-- and your worries, too! What you don't need are the moral and legal complications of becoming a crime boss in Philadelphia."
"That," she says, pointing towards the window and meaning the city outside, "Won't get you what you need, Vincent. And once we get you what you need, if you still want all of that, well? Then you'll finally be the kinda man capable of taking it." She finally walks away from the door, leaving her jacket behind her on the floor. She just straddles him on the couch and rests her hands on his chest.
"You don't gotta impress me any to keep me coming around, Vinnie. Just gimme you. The real you. All your fears and worries and hurts. And let me make you enjoy them, baby." Oh, she has fingernails! And they're scraping down his shirt a bit. Interesting!
he holds her, "I. . .I just want to have people who care about me, I want to keep my sister safe, I want to actually be liked and respected," he grips her a bit, "I want to be better than my dad, I'm worried about Avery, I'm worried about you," he sighs, "Like ok, is the crime boss dream a pipe dream maybe but it's something I might actually be good at. . .I just need to grow the fuck up and it's hard, like for all intents and purposes I am just a 24 year old whose now a movie monster."
"Vinnie, I am two goddamn years older than you. You're right, of course. It is fucking unfair. You shouldn't be in this position. But here we fucking are, Vinnie, you and me. Okay? I can't go back, and neither can you, and here we are." She curls up in his arms and sighs despite herself. She doesn't want to be comforted and soothed, but it's him and she can't help feeling it.
"You have two people trying real hard to care about you, but you've not been showing us-- or me, anyway. You. The real you. And now you are. So one we've gotten some of your shit worked through, not that we're talking about it? Then, Vinnie, I genuinely do think you'll go places. And fast. You're just your own worst enemy right now."
he runs his hand through her hair and breathes, "I guess. . .I don't know if it was a mental high after realizing, 'fuck I'm going to live forever' but I guess I was grasping." he admits, "I just. . .you and avy are the only one's I can feel vulnerable around it's honestly a fantastic feeling, you want Vincent fine, no more trying hard," he smiles at her, "You got the dumb kid now." he hugs her, "Ask me anything, tell me anything, it's just us right now."
"Well, see. That's my worry, Vinnie. Your sire ain't lived forever. There's ghouls around this town, vampires too, talking about dead regnants, dead sires. Hell, were't you trying to get in good with the big guys by snooping around about some friggin murders? You're undead, Vinnie. Immortal is a whole other class of thing. You just go ask Achilles." Maria squirms up in his arms to rest her forehead against his cheek. It's cozy. The couch is gross. But he's cozy.
"How'd your sister get mixed up in all of this?"
"She's not mixed up in this and that's what I want to keep," he says cuddling into her, "It's like, my friend Val was made a Ghoul, so it's already showing me my old life isn't safe and I don't want any of this to touch her, not my crime fantasy, not the undead. . .and I'm trying to come to the terms with the fact that she's going to notice I'm not aging and one day I need. . .well my bitch sire did say not everyone can see their own funeral." he gives a sad chuckle, "Ok. . .yeah I can still die, hell I almost did die if it wasn't for Avy, and then them saving me just hurt them more-" he breathes a bit to stop himself from spiraling. "Baby. . .I don't know how to keep doing this and I need your help."
"Okay," Maria says quietly, calmly. Taking him at his word. "I think you should talk one word for everyone ten someone older than you in this game says to you. It's a good rule. Ask polite questions, then listen. That's how you learn. And then you start applying what you're told. Like I said, Vinnie. I got elders, like real legit out of the past human relics walking up to me saying 'we're concerned about your man'. Which means these people actually do give more of a shit about you than you're letting on."
"I don't know how to keep your sister out of this, either. But if you want her out, and you want a funeral, baby? It's something we can afford. You can give up all this shit, this old life. If you want. Just step into something different. We'll still know, and we can still talk about it. But there's no reason your sister can't have a cute little bungalow down in Boca at twenty grand a month to enjoy it with. None. So let's take that worry out of your mind. When you are ready to say goodbye to her, we can do it in such a way she never needs anything from anyone ever again. If you get me her full name and maybe her social security number I can even have my lawyer draft up some trust paperwork. So in the event, all she needs to do is sign. So it can be short notice if you need."
There. That's one thing potentially solved. "How's that sound?"
"I want a few more years. . .she just got into college and I want to make sure she has someone to look out for her before I. . .but yeah, it's good to prep for that day, maybe find a way to give her money that won't look too suspicious, won the lottery before I went and all." he nods, "Elders. . .what are they saying?" he asks, "I thought I was getting better at this but. . .well I guess I'm not." he buries his head in her shoulder,
"Just the shit about the gods thing, Vinnie. And not for nothing, but read the room. The old greek guy has an altar to Artemis in his back room. He's the real deal, Vinnie. I sat with him while he prayed. We talked about the Goddess and what she means to him. And I made the choice not to join him in that prayer cos I couldn't promise what it asked of me. And he really respected me for that. That is the kind of person you've got both worrying about you and shaking their head about you. Just fucking accept his help already. He owes you for what I'mmabout to do to his body. So." Yes, she's hitting that. They've covered this.
"If he takes a shine to me, he's going to want you safe. Cos if I have to start using him as a sippy cup, it'll mean no more plush asses in pink panties for him. He's got rules about that. So you just play to that hand, Vinnie. You go to him and say, 'hey, I fucked up, I'm genuinely sorry. I'd like to start over. I worry about Maria, and she says you can help make me a better man. Will you help me for her sake?' And on the other side of that, I'll make sure all he knows how to say is the word yes. So."
"So I need to apologize for shit talking gods, ok." he sighs, "I just. . .I don't see how with this fucked up world how anyone can have faith in," he breathes, "Ok, I'm sorry, that's just my pessimism coming through. . .I'll say sorry, besides I want to ally with his group so being on his good side. . ." he chuckles, "Fine, I'll be friends with your other man," he teases, "I've been taking self defense lessons from another elder and got a town house from Titania. . ." he sighs, "I made a deal with her that she'd teach me how to shape shift and in exchange I'd be her blood bank, older vamps can only feed from other vamps apparently so I have that patron at least. . .Visigny is the one teaching me how to fight and hunt, also gives good relationship advice."
"And that's the wrong mindset. The trick is figuring out what they see in their faith. I've prayed to light things and I have killed for dark things, Vinnie. Dark, dark fucking things. Doesn't much matter if you call it Artemis. Or any other damn thing. People contextualize their horror to make their bliss a little easier to enjoy for a little longer. Maybe Gods are just the scapegoats of human caprice. All I know is when I put my blood down in a bowl for some shit, some shit takes the blood, Vinnie. So honestly? I don't fucking know. I just know that understanding why people believe and how and what they believe lets you better understand them. Right? Now I know Atalo's gonna like hunting. And appreciate gifts around that. I know he's Greek. I know he likes classical music. I know a ton about his morality and ethics and personal beliefs. And I know that because I sat next to him while he prayed. Respectfully! The whole time! With zero cracks or attempts to make it about me."
"So wait. How come Titania gets to bite your neck, and mine's off limits. Explain that one to me. I mean, I fully commend the play here, Vinnie. Fucking good move on that one. Absolute awesome move. Just. Now you're a hypocrite, and I wanna fang bang this town. So I'mma just point it out and hope you cave." At least she's honest. Blood bonds, you know?
"Ok, so maybe faith has some good-" he flinches, "Because it was a deal," he sighs, "It was a stupid deal that I made in the second week of doing this shit," he thinks, "Yeah, I'm being a hypocrite, I'm fine with you fucking around but the thought of someone else drinking your blood makes me mad and I don't know why, I don't want to be a clingly asshole, I guess I thought if I was the only one who fed on you that could be like 'our thing' but. . .if you want him to drink you that's your blood, your choice."
"It was our thing. Now it's our thing you also do with Titania. Right?" Maria looks up to him with raised brows. "I get what you mean, there. To be honest? It is really hot when I have to tell 'em no. And it's a pretty great self-defense again unwanted assholes. 'My Regnant says no' is a lot different than 'no way in hell' to some egos."
Taken in this new light, Maria seems willing to haggle. "How about this. It is our thing. And it's our thing you share with Titania. And I might pick one set of teeth other than yours. Not saying I will. And if you want, it won't be Atalo. But some night I'm gonna let someone else at my neck, and then I'm gonna come home and tell you all about it. And then you can show me who does it better." Her eyes sparkle, now that it's a game with more even rules.
"Cos you're right, Vinnie. I like our special thing. I like telling you yes. I just also like fangs in my thumbs. Sue me, you know?" There's a beat. "So what's the deal with Titania, exactly? Like. The terms, the arrangement you made. What's that deal."
he smiles at that, "Yeah. . .sounds fair," he says, "So, Avery can turn into a raven, I wanted to turn into a raven too, call me a hopeless romantic," he begins, "Titania taught how do so and in exchange she can use me as a blood bag since only vampire blood, I agreed to do so as long as she actively protects me, said she should protect her investment and so far she has done so, even gave me a town house." he shrugs, "Other than that. . .it was when I started out so I didn't really negotiate, so far it's been, she drinks from me and I get protection from a big scary elder." he explains, "Avery knows, they were upset but now it's just something we don't talk about." he sighs
"Why were they upset? It's more than just blood, or something? You got feefees for the Pale Bitch Queen of the Susquehanna? Or are they just not a fan of you being fed on. Which is weird. Since, you know. You feed on other people who ain't us pretty fucking regular." Maria slides her hand up under his tee shirt to start drawing curlicues with her nails on his belly.
"Titania and Avery had. . have, they don't get along, Avery didn't like how she had a raven familiar, it reminded them of their time overthere and they said Titania reminded them of the asshole who took them, Titania's a bitch so she just kept pressing Avy's buttons, she apparently apologized and tried to make up for it but yeah, it's much more a 'this is a person I don't like' then anything else, also a 'I know it feels good so she's making you feel good'," he sighs, "It was our first fight."
"I mean, that's not a bad thing to have a first fight about, hon. Can I be honest with you? Some people it's over what to have for dinner or leaving the toilet seat up. This is a real heavy big thing to have an argument about, and that's not a sign of you and Avery being bad for each other. The fact you just stopped talking about it, though? That ain't so good. You two should work this shit through. May stop making out with the two of ya until you do." She's grinning at that, more of a tease than a threat.
"I can try to talk to Avery about it? Maybe there's some nuance you're missing."
"Please don't stop," he says giving her a kiss, "If you want to talk to Avery about it be my guest. . ." he sighs, "Yeah know the shitty thing. . .I do want to fuck her." he admits, needing to get it off his chest, "I'm not going to, I'm never going to hurt Avery like that, but I want to and it's eating me. . .but I'm not crossing that line." he breathes, "I needed that off my chest."
"Right, because Avery would feel bad if you fucked Titania. Cos just to be clear, I'd watch. I'd help, even." Maria sighs, rolling over onto her back a bit more to rest her head on Vincent's shoulder. "What about her makes you want to fuck her? I'm not shy, and I am not gonna feel bad when you point out she has a nicer ass than I do, or anything. But if it's just some attributes and her demeanor, I'm happy to Sailor Moon her ass, too."
"Don't tell Avy," he says, "It's like. . .the albino goth witch vibe, it's fucking hot and the fact that it's not some stupid costume, that it's just her," scoffs, "Add the fact she can turn into this winged demon woman, the paganism vibes, the fact she just goes around acting like she's a goddess and want's everyone to know it," he sighs, "Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck, it just works." he exclaims, "like it's every nerds dream to fuck a goddess, that's been the dream the moment we made Ishtar." he laughs, "So yeah, I need to learn how to keep my lust in check. . .a friend of mine thinks I'm a sex addict."
"Don't tell Avy? Vincent, what was the first rule that you insisted upon when we got together. The three of us. 'No secrets'. That was your first rule. Now to be fair I haven't told you everything about me yet, either. But I'm working on it. You know about most of it, though, and the stuff you ain't know right now? I ain't telling you to keep you safe from stuff. Mostly yourself." The last two words are a sad confession.
"Cos here's what I think. Vinnie. I think a guy that insists upon no secrets and then tells me 'don't tell Avy' has a whole boatload of shit he just casually is keeping from both of us. To just flippantly ask me to be complicit in being a bad parner to Avery. Don't tell Avy?"
She starts to climb up off Vincent's lap, "Welp. You got disciplines and you got fists and you got a cell phone. But I'm walking to Avery to tell her, and if I get there before your confession does, it's gonna go worse for you." She heads over to collect her jacket from the floor and slide it back on. Seems she's serious. Really really serious.
"I. . ." he sighs, "Yup, no secrets. . ." he gets up, "But fuck if this is not something I'm telling them in person." he sighs, "See, this is why I need you, you make me a better person for both myself and Avy." he takes a breath, "I'm going to be a man, admit I have these feelings and hopefully they'll understand that thoughts do not make actions." he seems to steels himself, "Although now I'm a tad curious what your keeping but this is me owning up today." he says offering her an arm, "I't help if you where their with me."
"Vinnie, I'm bound to you. So when you don't wanna know stuff, you gotta not imply you wanna know it. I'm marked to die, okay? I have a fucking demon mark on me. I die, he gets my fucking soul. I get all this cool shit while I'm here living large. Only I know how I'm gonna die, Vinnie. I know how, and I know why. That's part of why I'm able to put up with your corny ass. I know fact certain you ain't why I start sucking on weeds. I got all my self-destruction all wrapped up in me already. No accessories required self-fucking-immolation. I'm trying to figure a way out of it but I know-- I fucking know --that your happy ass is going to try to become some demon fucker, or dominate my uncle or some shit. So now you know everything. You. Annoying ass." Maria smacks his arm once. Then his chest. This his face. Then his face harder. And then, frustrated, she kisses him again. It never works. It never fucking works, staying mad.
he stares at her for a second then holds her arms after she hits him, taking the kiss but then staring at her when she breaks it, "Maria. .. Maria look at me. . ." he looks right in her eyes, care, concern, worry, all are in his eyes as he stares at her, "We will solve this," he says, "I promise you right now, right here, I will never allow some demon fuck to take your soul, of it takes me marching into hell itself and going doom guy on it's ass, I will burn the world down just to see you smile, if it takes killing your entire family or just a demon," he holds her close, "Your soul isn't a demons, it's not mine, it's yours." he says in finality
Paradoxically, she just starts crying almost immediately, her face turning blotchy and red. "I fucking knew you were going to say that." She hisses it up at him, like it's an accusation. Like it was precisely the sort of words she was trying to keep him from saying in the first place. She looks genuinely upset now, not mad upset. But genuinely and truly scared. "I gotta go home, Vin. Go tell Avery or bring them 'round. I'll hold your hand and be there with you if you need me to be when you tell them. But I can't-- I have to go. I'm sorry. Please don't be mad."
And she starts for the door again, with more haste than the last time.
"Wait, don't-" he shouts as she makes for the door, then hits himself as she leaves, "Fucking Vincent fucking everything up for everyone again." he self berates
She makes it about fifteen yards down the hallway before her volition to keep going gives out. Wait. Don't. Maria's getting a face full of what it means to be blood bound in real time. She's really only semi-conscious that it's happening, too. Which really would upset her if she had the ability to still be upset at him. It just keeps washing away every time she tries.
So it's perhaps twenty seconds later when she timidly opens his door again and is standing there looking like she doesn't remember what she was doing. "Hey."
he just stares at her, "Please don't just run from me, I want to help you and I can't do that if you push me away," he walks over and puts his hands on her shoulders, "You told me to be my honest self around you and I did, but it's a two way street babe, if you get the real Vincent then you get him, including his protective side," he says staring into her eyes, "I want to help you get out of this, even if it means turning you just to prevent it but I don't want it to come to that." he kneels down so he's looking up at her, "Babe, I'm yours which means I'll protect you with every fiber on my being, even from Hell."
"You always think you know it all, Vinnie," Maria complains softly at him, staring at his eyes in a way that makes it clear she won't be trying to run off again with any speed. She lets herself be rendered docile, and to some degree it feels like a decision. She could slap him again.
And so she lays the rest on him. "I get happy. I get complacent. I let people in. I lose my focus. I take my eye off the ball. And I get clipped. A wilting black rose. Tulips silent in the night. So how are you gonna help fix that, Vinnie? With your love? And your protective side? Huh?" She looks him up and down, as though challenging him to justify having pushed past all of her soft boundaries to wind up here.
"I'm going to help you because I love you," he says, "Maria Angelica, I love you with every fiber of my being, If I was just a normal con artist and saw you in the street i'd fall for you, if you where a normal girl I'd fall for you, if we where reincarnated in some other period I'd find you and fall for you," he intones, "Your ambitions are mine, you don't need to get complacent around me because I'm here to aid you in whatever scheme or plan you have. . .and if I need to massacre an entire cult of mafioso fucks to make you happy, I don't need to be king of the underworld just laughing in it's ashes if it means keeping you happy." he says lifting up her chin, "I love you and if any demon thinks he can take you, I know hundred year old vamps, wizards that can bend reality, fuck you have a Changeling assassin who loves you, I'd rally them all against hell of you." he looks at her, "Or do you think I'm wrong to care about you so much?"
She looks nothing so much like a rabbit caught in a snare as the fox closes in. It's a terror that eclipses terror and has become a benign form of resignation. The body twitches and fights, but the eyes just hope it's over quickly. His words keep causing twitches and panics in her, but she just keeps staring at his eyes and toughing it out. She looks absolutely caught off guard by the last question. Her eyes widen just a touch, and the gaso of breath she takes in lets him know that question landed really fucking close to home.
"I think you're wrong to care about me like you do, Vinnie. To the extent you do? Yeah. I do. I am poison. I'm a fucking cancer. I eat through things I can't take over if I want them and can't have them. You barely know me. I have panties that I've worn for longer than we've been fucking. Which is like. What. Three weeks now? By the way? I'm scared Vincent. I'm scared you and Avery will make me happy and I will want this more. Or Atalo. Or Lamara. And then where am I? Withering, Vinnie. Is where. I don't know how to love. Or be loved. Not properly. So long as that black handed asshole has a mark on my neck. If you know of some other way of ripping the mark out of my head, let me know?"
"Ok, yeah, we've only been together a short time and I fall hard and fast," he admits, "But when I do fall I fall fucking hard, your alot of things, a femme fatale, someone who thrives on desire, a criminal mastermind sure," he grips her shoulders tighter, "But you are not poison, your not a cancer and even on their's a slimmest chance you are, well fuck babe I'm already dead so that's not going to do jack shit to me." he sighs, "I've met and befriended people who seem to do the impossible and I don't care if it's the Brotherhood of Nod, fuck this black handed asshole because you're Maria Angelica, you don't take shit from anyone, not even me." he stares into her, "Even if you're the poison you claim to be I'll drink down and die in bliss. . .because it meant I knew you." he caresses her check with every ounce of lovingness and tenderness, "You. . . I don't know what it is but I can't live without you, so if you die then I'll step into the sun, and if you go to hell then I'll step in the inferno just to be with you," he moves closer, only an inch from her face, "Don't push me away."
Her interior monologue has to be something else right now, given the twitching of her eyes over his face and the shivering of her lips. She closes her eyes and turns her head away from some of the nicest things he has to say about her, and does go so far as to squirm in his arms with a whine of at best token resistance.
Eventually the scared rabbit can't be scared any more, and her face takes on a doll like quality to it. She curls into Vinnie and seems to more or less capitulate. "Okay."
"I love you Maria. . .you wanted me to say that to you and I am," he just holds her, "I just. . .I just want to be the kind of man who deserves you, sorry I'm not a dilf but I'm who I am, and what I am is a stupid twink who has a thing for dangerous women and wants to be king shit and you're my queen shit." he holds her tighter, "and if the queen is upset, the king will burn the world to fix it. . .cause that what love does to you, it makes you think you can take on anything. . .so please let me help you."
"A twink would let me peg him," is all Maria has to say on this topic in her docile, sweet little voice. "I'm tired, Vinnie."
"If you let me in and allow me to face this cult . .. you can peg me all you want, I'll try it for you."
"You're already in me, Vinnie. No matter what I tell myself I want to do, your wants always win out. I get that now. I didn't before. I do now. I'm sorry I was fighting it. I'm sorry. Okay?" The further insistence that he should face them himself gets an almost disgusted sigh. "Vinnie. If you're gonna do this, please at least go talk to Atalo and Lamara. And tell them what you want to do. Okay? And then listen to them. Don't argue with them. If you're... If you're really doing this." She just looks at him like he's kind of stupid and she'll miss him, frankly. But she can't actually stop him in any fashion.
he holds her, "I'll call everyone I know," he says, "Avy, Atalo, Lamara, this changeling polycule that kicks ass from what I've seen, Titania, I don't care what favors I have to call, at this moment Vincent Drake declares war on whatever the fuck this demon and it's cult is called and I won't rest untill your soul is your own, the full force of my wrath is called down and hell hath no fury than a man in love." he kisses her, passionalty, lovingly, and deeply as if she is his reason for living and for fighting
Maria looks decidedly pleased to be kissed. She melts against him until any residual tension in her is gone. If you're going to let go? Let go. So she does. After coming up for air, she does finally relent some.
"Okay, Vinnie. I'm gonna. I'm gonna stay out of it, then. I don't... some stuff it's probably better I not know. I plan to meet with Henevi. Apparently she knows what's up, too, on the demon front. And has experience dealing with 'em. There's a wizard chick too that helped me out. So." It's what she's got. And when that's said she does point out.
"You still need to tell Avery, Vinnie."
"Yeah. . .yeah I do," he sighs, "It's going to be a tough talk and I'll need you for it, but it needs to be said, no secrets after all." he looks in her eyes, "You talk to Henevi, if you want me beside you when you do so I'll be their. . .your my Queen Shit, remember that, I'll call my Wizard pal too, we're in this together." he says as he holds her like someone's trying to take it, hell will never take her so long as he lives.
She smiles at that, and she very much look like she either believes him or desperately wants to. She shakes her head and laughs suddenly. This is so stupid, and she is probably going to die! But she feels fantastic. It reads on her dopey face. "Queen Shit, Vinnie. That's me. Heh." She's actually blushing a little bit. Of all things. She does spend a fair bit of time rubbing at the back of her neck, though.
"I'm gonna text Lamara, too. And see if she'll come over, maybe, soon. I'd like to get some molly from her, and I don't wanna text her that. So. Easier to ask after I'm serving her veal cutlet, or whatever."
"Invite them to the penthouse, Lamara, Henevi, Atalo, all of them, I want to be able to plan this. . .my queen is to be free." he smiles, "We're going to form our own Demon Slayer Avengers and kick ass and takes names, kill your dad and uncle, and banish that demon." he grins, "That sound nice?"
"And a Tom Collins while you're at it, Vinnie, thanks." Maria just keeps staring at him with an expression of continued disbelief. She lets out a dry laugh and mutters, "Fuck me," before getting to her feet. She pulls her phone out and begins tapping on it. "I'm, uh. I'm gonna have Tony V come and pick me up, here. Take me back home. I... don't really feel safe driving right now. Once I arrange a time, you gonna do the whole Nick Fury speech?" That was a joke, and she's starting for the door. One more time.
This time, though, she pauses at the door to look back at him. "And if my hand burns off or, like, some weird creature grows out of the back of my head, or whatever? And I die screaming in agony, cursing your name? I just want you to know it's been fun, Vinnie. Honest. Just. Please. Lemme go this time."
he sighs, "Sure. . .just be safe ok?" he aks/orders, "I'll gather a group with very particular set of skills." he chuckles, "Just remember. . .I do love you." he says as she leaves, after at least 15 minutes he heads out, between a hard talk with Avery and declaring war. . .he's going to have a rough week but he's a fool in love.
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