earlymorninstar

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

She had eyed him carefully as Jaden had not moved at first, and then it seemed as if he had risen from the dead. Clara couldn’t help but raise a brow as she had seen his initial look, but she had chalked it up to her waking him up so suddenly. It was odd, the way he suddenly stared at her and yet it was gone in an instant as he rubbed his eyes - as if there had been something more beyond that gaze, something she couldn’t even begin to guess. Her arms remained crossed upon her chest as he grinned at her, still looking less-than-pleased that she had to come and drag him out of bed. Should this be any inclination as to how the night was going to go, she might as well already plan to drink it away and separate as soon as she had gotten there.

Clara couldn’t help the soft huff that fell from her lips at his excuse. It was nearly every night that she hadn’t quite gotten enough sleep, although, she was one to bury herself in bed until he dragged her away -- now that the tables had turned only temporarily, she was far from pleased. “Whatever…” She murmured, her gaze following him perhaps too long as he slipped out of bed, and before she had been caught, she quickly turned on her heel to head back to her room.

She wasn’t terribly sure how long he was going to take, but all she had to do was shimmy into her dress and slip on her heels, and she had been good to go for the evening. She dropped her robe as soon as she was back in her room before she reached over to her bed and pulled the dress from the hanger. Clara stepped into it with ease, pulling the tight fabric up and around her smaller figure, pulling it down and situating her breasts so that everything fell exactly where it should. It was one of her favorites, and honestly, she couldn’t remember the last time she wore it -- a shame considering it cost a pretty penny and had been shoved into the back of her closet. The dress complimented her figure, covering all of the right spots to give just a little peek of what might lie beneath the layers of black lace. She looked herself over in the mirror before she slipped on her high black platform heels. A spritz of perfume and a bit of dark red lipstick, and Clara was ready to go.

Her heels clicked down the hall as she headed back towards Jaden’s room, her clutch under her arm - right away he had apologized. Clara sighed as she looked him over, quite impressed with how quickly he’d cleaned up. The outfit that his friend had chosen for him really had been quite the choice, but as she caught herself looking him over for far too long, she waved him off with the same attitude. “Cut it out --” She began, turning on her high heel to soon step out of the room with him. “And it’s not as if I’ve not done my hair like this before -- You’ve just never paid attention.” She corrected him. Whether that was true or not, she wasn’t terribly certain, but a part of her was a bit pleased that he’d complimented her, considering how long it had taken to get ready.

They soon had headed to the car -- probably the worst part of the entire trip. Why he had not given over the reigns and allowed her to drive was beyond her -- Most of the ride had been spent clutching the handle of the door and her seat. “You really might want to give up on the driving…” She murmured once they had arrived, miraculously in one piece. “Or at least not drive in the city… I could have brought us here, you know… Or are you too old fashion to let a woman take the wheel?” Clara prodded at him, straightening her dress as soon as she had gotten out of the car.

She couldn’t help but notice how he’d been suddenly high strung -- his hand ran through his hair numerous times and he seemed the most fidgety that she had seen him in a while. Lord, maybe she just needed to get a bit of alcohol in his system -- he would only stand out further if he continued to show his nerves. “You need to calm your shit, for one…” Clara began, eyeing him at her side as she walked next to him, the click of her heels loud against the pavement beneath them. “Because you’re going to be stuck against a damn wall with nothing to do but drink if you continue fidgeting like that…”

She breathed a sigh, her clutch tucked under her arm again. “I don’t know why you’re so damn nervous anyway. It’s a club -- all you do is drink and dance and hope to hear any bit of conversation over the loud music that they usually play... “ Clara shrugged, intending on making a beeline to the bar as soon as she had gotten there. “What else do you need to know? You just have to… go with it.” She continued with a little scrunch of her nose.

“...You look handsome, by the way.” Clara murmured reluctantly, not one to give compliments, especially to him. She hadn’t bothered looking at him, her gaze only set ahead of them as she walked. “So I wouldn’t be nervous if I were you. You’ll do fine.” Was that a mistake to speak up? Probably. "But don't think you're getting anymore compliments from me." She added as an afterthought.

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

No problem. Thanks for letting me know!

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

Clara had not protested when he had left – at least it would give her further time to herself. She'd opened a bottle of wine for a reason and she intended on finishing it – and it was probably best if Jaden had been far away from her during the process. Although it calmed her, she could not help but admit that she tended to grow a bit emotional after a long while, and she'd rather keep herself locked up in her room in the meantime. Jaden didn't need to know half of the things she had kept to herself, the emotions that she tried to lock away. They'd only managed to twist into anger and bitterness as of late, but who could exactly blame her? Despite the years between when it happened and then, nothing had faded; nothing had melted into the past and stayed there. Her anger and distain would not dwindle as the time passed by. She'd grown to lean on the prospect of liquor to dull her thoughts; to help her fall asleep at night. She'd depended on the use of men to try and make her feel once more. Neither had been terribly satisfying a the end of the day; nothing to appease her and distract her for more than a quick drink and a quick romp in the sheets.

It frustrated her so terribly so.

As soon as Jaden had departed, Clara had scooped up her bottle of wine and her glass before she made her way out of the kitchen and eventually up to her room where she shut the door soundly behind her. She had placed both the bottle and glass down on the nightstand next to her bed before she undressed, slipping from her heavy skirts and corset before she hung them carefully back in her closet. She'd grabbed her glass once more as she headed to her bathroom, filling the bath tub before she sunk into the hot water, allowing it to encase her before she breathed a slow sigh.

Why she'd agreed to go with him the next night was beyond her. Perhaps she knew full well he would end up dragging her there one way or another. He would probably fight tooth and nail until she ended up there. Or perhaps she was intrigued, although she didn't want to admit that. It would be quite a sight to see, Jaden mingling in the gyrating crowds of a night club. Lord, he would either stick out terribly or perhaps land himself some attention. The thought didn't settle well with her, for whatever reason, and her features twisted in a moment of frustration before she took another sip of her wine. Surely she would find herself a toy or two to keep her busy – and the liquor always flowed at places like those. She would at least try to have a good time, if that was worth anything at all.

She had spent a long time in the bath, her glass of wine already empty as the water began to cool around her. Reluctantly she had washed herself and had gotten out, tossing a towel around her before she slipped into some shorts and a t-shirt. She wouldn't sleep until her bottle had been finished, and even then it took her a while to find solace.

Inevitably her night would be full of the terrors that continued to plague her, and she hardly had gotten the sleep that she so desperately needed.

Clara had kept herself in bed for far longer than she should have, and she was surprised that Jaden hadn't come looking for her. She wouldn't complain, however, content to curl within her blankets and drift off every so often. She had gotten caught up with one of her books that had been stacked up on her nightstand, and had simply relaxed for quite a time before she knew the sun would be slipping and she would have to inevitably get ready for the evening. What to wear had certainly been a pressing topic, and she spent quite a while in her closet, rifling through dresses new and old to find the right one.

She had spent quite a long time in a shower, drying her long hair and carefully styling it – long, messy curls falling down to her waist, just barely pinned up halfway to keep most of the tendrils from falling in her face. Clara had slipped on a black silk robe in the meantime, meticulously applying her makeup until she was satisfied with her look. All she needed was her dress and heels, and perhaps a drink beforehand – and she'd be good to go. But still, she had not heard Jaden stir, although she was certain he had returned the night before. She'd heard him shuffle through the hallway at some point.

Scrunching her nose at her own reflection, she brushed her long hair from over her shoulder before she slipped out of her room and down the hall towards his. She'd been used to barging in once and a while, but this time she at least knocked before she poked her head in, making sure she wasn't disturbing much of anything. "You alive…?" Clara asked quietly as she pushed the door open a bit more, crossing her arms upon her chest while she leaned against the doorframe. "Because, if you've made me get ready for something that you're not intending on going to, you know full well there will be hell to pay." She added with a tilt of her head as she eyed him on his bed, biting the inside of her cheek as she realized he was shirtless. "You don't have much time to get ready, you know…"

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

Clara could not help but scoff at his words, rolling her eyes. “How magnificently classy…” She murmured with a small sigh before she took another slow sip of her wine. “Your friend seems like he’s quite the charmer…” Lord knew what kind of trouble she could get herself into whenever this party was - she was in need of at least some form of entertainment after a while, especially considering the foul mood she had gotten herself into ever since they arrived. A change in pace most certainly would be welcomed as long as things had went in her favor. And yet - how could she argue a night of music, dancing, and most importantly - liquor? How Jaden would come to fare in that environment had yet to be seen, but she absolutely was interested in finding out. Perhaps things had become a little mundane as of late, but it was what Clara was used to. The scenery changed, but her habits remained the same - each night wandering about sniffing out trouble before Jaden would eventually come looking for her to drag her back home for the evening. Why he continued to bother was still beyond her.

She scrunched her nose as he continued, before she shook her head. “Lord -- please do not say that again.” Although, she couldn’t help but be humored over his choice of words - clearly he was still struggling to get used to the ever-changing world and he was quite a few decades behind, if she guessed correctly. “I don’t think anyone has described themselves as ‘groovy’ since the seventies…” Once more she sipped at her wine as she studied him rifling about in search of the phone that he soon pulled out.

“Well- you seem quite prepared for this event -- I feel as if I didn’t quite have a say in the matter on coming or not. You probably intended on dragging me there either way.” Clara commented as she leaned a bit closer to eye the outfit on the small screen that he held. “Not bad -- at least you’ll blend in better than I’d hoped.” She teased, clearly the wine had calmed her down at least a bit. She would have to figure out something to wear as well, but given her extensive wardrobe that she continued to grow, she doubted she would have any trouble at all. Heels and a little black dress were the usual go-to for a night club, and although she hadn’t squeezed herself into one for quite some time, there was a part of her that was looking forward to getting dressed up in such a way. Maybe she could make a positive out of this…

At his mention that he would go out for a walk, Clara had waved him off rather quickly. She hadn’t intended on going back out that night, not while she had already opened up a bottle of wine and intended on finishing it. Her ghosts of the past had still haunted her down each path of the town, she’d rather avoid any unwelcome memories stirring should she venture out that evening. At least he had something to hold on to -- which, to this day she still wasn’t terribly certain what had been here for him. She’d seen the look on his features before - that distant stare, that sad gaze hidden deep within his eyes. She’d never known what had been the cause, and she’d never thought to ask either -- If he hadn’t told her up until now, she didn’t want to pry, just as she wouldn’t want him to pry either… Her wounds were enough, she didn’t need to continue the night opening up another’s.

“I’m alright-” Clara began quickly enough. She hadn’t needed to feed, nothing was terribly urgent for her to leave for the evening. “I’ll just be here--” Like usual. “At least one of us doesn’t mind this place…” She shifted and placed her glass down before she had moved to perch herself atop the counter, crossing her legs under her skirts. She reached over to the bottle of her wine, pouring more into her glass before the bottle was placed back down and she took another sip. This place was where her demons had been given life -- she did not need to roam further than she had, most certainly not alone.

[Beneath a moonless sky] 18+ [Arista x Earlymorninstar]

Clara had caught his smile, but to be honest, she hadn’t felt much like smiling back. She bit the inside of her cheek after a moment longer as she approached the group, her hands still stuck deep into her back pockets. This was a distraction - she had to keep telling herself. No matter how much she wanted to simply stow away to the kitchen, have a drink, and lock herself up in her room with her own thoughts, this was probably much better for her. She could get some fresh air and she could find anything else to keep her mind off of every little thing that had happened in that house as of late.

They had all stepped outside and were soon trudging through the snow towards town. A fifteen minute walk wasn’t terrible and the cold didn’t bother her in the least. She simply eyed the snow beneath her with each step, listening to the crunch her boot had caused as she pressed forward, drowning out most of the chatter between the rest of the group. Christian had probably wondered where she went off to, but she hardly cared. He was used to her flippant ways anymore and it was a wonder that even he had kept her there with all of the danger that continued to loom around them. Whether or not he thought it was a good idea that she was near her sire was to be seen -- but he hadn’t pressed for her to leave just yet.

Clara breathed a quiet sigh as she trailed along towards the back of the group, wondering if she could break away a bit from them once they had gotten into town. Their list was long enough, and the idea that they could split was rather appealing -- although, she would have to tuck away the urge to simply break away for a long while. It probably wasn’t the best idea, not with the risk of whatever that shadow mage had up their sleeve… But lord, she just wanted to be on her own and far away with her own thoughts. Ryanair had certainly stirred up far too many things within her that couldn’t very well be settled until Kieran was in his right mind to talk about it. And whether or not she had the courage to ask him about everything still was much a mystery to her. Part of her hadn’t wanted to know the truth.

All she wanted to know was what she needed to gather for them and then they could be on their way… As long as everything went smoothly enough.

@Arista

[Beneath a moonless sky] 18+ [Arista x Earlymorninstar]

Why Clara had decided to go along with them all was beyond her. Lye had asked her, and she felt almost guilty should she say no. It was probably good for her though – good to get out of that godforsaken place at least for a little while, especially while her mind was racing the way it was. Everything Ryanair had told her was spinning through her mind and playing over and over again, and all it did was pose more questions that she needed answers to – answers that she wasn't certain she was going to get, not if Kieran couldn't push through everything that had been happening as of late.

She still had left a bit light headed from the transfusion, but she made her way out of her room regardless. A small sigh fell from her lips as she made her way down the hall and down the stairs carefully, catching sight of the group that was to head into town. She wasn't quite in the mood that she had been in earlier that day – that morning had been much more carefree and part of her had wished she could simply rewind and go back to that, instead of mulling over everything that had just happened.

He hadn't meant to change her…

Those were the words that stood out the most. That it had been a spur of the moment, emotional decision to change her – that he left not to simply run from her, but he left to keep her safe. Everything she had assumed, that had driven her anger over the centuries that passed, hadn't quite been right.

Clara dug her hands into her pockets as she reached the base of the stairs and she glanced to Ryanair for only a moment. "Ready when you are…" She murmured quietly, not exactly looking forward to interacting with the rest of them, but feeling relieved that she would be away from the house for an amount of time.

@Arista

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

It was inevitable that Jaden would follow her into the house – she had gotten used to it by now. It was how it typically went, wasn't it? Each night she'd head out into the town, wherever they may be, and for the most part he tended to find her. Almost like a game of cat and mouse. And yet, he would somehow manage to get under her skin, she would rip into him like she usually would, and both would eventually end up home while she drank herself to sleep. It was a toxic little routine that Clara would love to break, and on occasion she had been able to, however, she usually slipped right back into it give or take a few days.

She had heard him enter the kitchen moments after her, longer than she had expected of him, but she hadn't entirely paid attention to his musings just as she had gotten the cork out of the bottle with a satisfied sigh before she poured the wine into her waiting glass. What had he been going on about? Something about the youth of today –probably still upset about the state of the home when they had arrived: the same thing that was keeping her there much longer than she wanted to be there. If it were up to her, Clara would have simply given the task to someone else and had been on her way just as quickly – she didn't want to stay long enough to hear the echoes of her past down each and every alleyway.

Clara placed the bottle down on the counter before she lifted her glass to her lips to take a slow sip, tilting her head over her shoulder slightly as he continued on. No – she couldn't imagine ever acting like the young ones did today – she would have never seen the light of day had she ever run rampant like they had. Even when she was young, her biggest concern was her etiquette and the need to please mommy and daddy and keep their family inheritance going. That last bit of worry had been what had finally set her off to run far away from any of those simple troubles. The trouble she had gotten herself in thereafter had made her wish she had simply stayed home and indulged, married who her father wanted her to, so that she could grow old, have children, watch them grow, and then be done with it all.

Instead, she ended up immortal, unhappy, and quite on her own despite Jaden by her side – unable to ease the ache that clenched at her soul every night.

Hell, she'd kill to marry that controlling asshole of a Duke if she had the chance to do it all over again.

Clara had turned so that she was leaning against the counter, half tempted to steal some of the cake that he'd pulled out. Still, even that wasn't worth the effort. She just wasn't in the mood to toy with him that evening. She supposed having to roam the streets where she grew up and inevitably was ripped away had that effect on her.

She had been sipping at her wine when Clara finally listened and heard his next question, and she'd almost spit it out at the thought. Oh, she'd been to plenty of night clubs in his absence – That, of course, was essentially a hot spot for her to pick up whomever she wanted for whatever she wanted. And to think Jaden was invited to one was almost laughable. "Darling – you will stick out like a sore thumb at one of those…" Clara began with an amused look on her features. Clearly she was able to calm herself from earlier now that she had a bit of alcohol at her disposal. "You're going on and on about how the youth of today lack in manners – most of which tend to manage themselves in these nightclubs." She continued with a raise of her brow. "You're actually humoring the idea of going?" She had asked with another sip from her glass. Hell, she'd go just to see how he could handle it. "And what, pray tell, do you expect to wear to this party?" She prodded further.

"I mean – If you wish me to accompany you so terribly then I suppose I could go…"

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

He'd answered her question just as she had assumed he would, and he was correct. Had he left her back at the last estate, she probably would have lingered at least for a day or so… But she would have inevitably found herself far away come his return. She couldn't help it, when she was by herself it was too easy to find herself trailing off in thoughts and memories that she wished not to recall. It was too easy to feel the echoes of pain that continued to surge through her whenever she hadn't meant to allow it to happen. Everything was too easy when she was alone, so she sought out trouble in her own way. Whether she could indulge herself in liquor or men – it depended on her mood that night, and regardless of the brief distraction, at the end of each night the truth still held firm – she was very much alone.

Clara did not deny his words as he spoke them, but her gaze had broken from his to look out towards the ocean once more. She could feel it more so here – the salty air brushing against her skin, coupled with the echoes of broken waves before her thrust her back to that night – the feel of his touch, the promise of his words – the pain of his bite. Everything lingered here, no matter how different her surroundings had seemed; no matter how long it had been. The ghost of what had happened still haunted that shore and she couldn't run from it.

She had seen him shift out of the side of her view and she tilted her head to see his outstretched hand offering her the shoes that she had abandoned as soon as she had reached the sand. Clara breathed a quiet sigh before she took them, crossing her arms upon her chest as she held them carefully, but his words had nearly caused her to scoff. How was it terrible for him? That he, perhaps, had to remember that day just as much as she had? He hadn't needed to save her – he could have very well left her there to either be consumed by a passing thief, or by her own hunger which would inevitably run her into the wrong person. But he had decided to take her in – to allow her to feed from him when necessary – to nurture her where he could.

To say she wasn't thankful would be a lie – Sure, she had a terrible way of showing it, but Clara really did owe him everything for that night. Perhaps that was why she really hadn't run too far when she did stray… She was still there by his side even when he'd brought her to this awful place – really, did he stand a chance if she truly had decided to run and make herself disappear from his life? She wasn't so certain.

Clara didn't follow him at first. She allowed him to walk away from her before her gaze focused back on the waves before her for a long while before a defeated sigh fell from her lips. It was going to be a long night that was for sure, one of many if his words had rang true. She was going to be trapped in a town that held so many ghosts and so many demons wherever she stepped. Things had changed, but the skeleton of what she had once lived in had remained, and the memories of her youth seemed to taunt her at each corner.

She needed a drink.

Determined to at least grab a bottle once she returned, Clara had reluctantly turned to follow after Jaden, noticing how he had turned to make sure she would be following him. His words, however, once she had finally reached him had hit a chord. "Do not think for one instant that he, of all people, still controls me." Clara suddenly snapped back as she continued, her steps pushing her forward quicker than Jaden had been walking. "I am not one to be controlled." She reminded him, despite the fact that his words were true in their own way. Each drink she indulged in, each lustful night she sought out, each bout of trouble that she wanted to bury herself in had been because of her sire. She wanted to feel something more than the anger that continued to surge through her over being slighted so many years before… She wanted that more than anything.

As she soon reached the road, she had paused to slip on her shoes under her dress once more before her steps quickly led her through the town, weaving through the drunken few who had begun to pour themselves out of the bar. It hadn't taken long for her to reach the estate at the end of the main strip of road in town, and she had nearly slammed the door behind her, knowing full well Jaden would eventually be behind her and he would only find her once more in the kitchen, fighting with a cork before she filled another glass with white wine to calm herself.

@Raijinslayer

[Leave the hurt behind] Raijinslayer x Earlymorninstar [18+]

No problem!

[Save Me From The Dark] freedomliveson x earlymorninstar

No problem! Thanks for letting me know!