jukejoint: (pic#17918149)
π„π‹πˆπ€π’ πŒπŽπŽπ‘π„. // "π’π“π€π‚πŠ" ([personal profile] jukejoint) wrote2026-01-10 04:40 pm

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WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK

USERNAME:
STACK


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nishtha: (pic#17235177)

text

[personal profile] nishtha 2026-01-12 09:21 pm (UTC)(link)
You're making a lot of noise. Should I take that to mean you're awake at last?
nishtha: (pic#17203680)

[personal profile] nishtha 2026-01-12 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Rather than text back, he just opens the door from the bathroom into Stack's room and stands there, looking at him. He's in a loose, vintage floral silk shirt worn over a tight black turtleneck, tucked into high waisted trousers; apparently recovered from his difficult week, plainly not planning on spending the night in his room.

His hands slide into his pockets, his eyebrows lifting.
]

Do you often sleep so late, fledgling?
nishtha: (pic#17235166)

[personal profile] nishtha 2026-01-12 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Armand's gaze slides from the bloodstains to the window and back again, returning to linger on Stack with an air of long-tested patience. He stays where he is for another beat, then moves into the room, stepping carefully over the wet parts of the floor. Babou eels in after him, slinking along the skirting until he finds a patch of blood that Stack's missed and crouches to start licking at it. ]

You are a fledgling. A young vampire. Still making a mess of the nest.

[ He picks up the pack of cigarettes, extracts one, holds it to his own lips. Waits until Stack is looking at him to light it with the Fire Gift, a tiny snap of air combusting at the end. The faint smile on his face suggests he knows he's showing off and doesn't care; a goad for Stack to rise to. His eyes are dark, no sparks giving them away.

He takes a drag, tips his head back a little to blow out the smoke.
]

Come here.

[ He can put it into those blood-wet hands, but he'd rather put it into his mouth. ]
nishtha: (pic#17203676)

[personal profile] nishtha 2026-01-12 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Mm.

[ Murmured agreement, his focus on slotting the cigarette into Stack's mouth, a careful gesture he follows up with a swipe of his thumb over a stray spot of blood out from the corner of his lips. His hand lingers, fingertips touching cheek and jaw. ]

You should be feeding from your maker, gaining strength.

[ But she left you behind, he doesn't say, though he's seen it in Stack's thoughts. Hints of that deep night, the air full of music and the rising promise of the unfulfilled. A loneliness like a paper cut that doesn't hurt until you start to notice it.

So Armand is gentle, gentle.
]

I thought I would take you hunting.
nishtha: (pic#17340522)

[personal profile] nishtha 2026-01-13 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That flopping arm, tucked away like a child's attempt to tidy his room, earns a silent sigh and a roll of Armand's eyes while Stack has his back turned. As he helps himself to another cigarette, he makes a mental note to inform Giles that their suite needs to be cleaned again, with the necessary apologies for the unexpected depletion of the house's population. He's not looking forward to spending his time cleaning up after yet another messy fledgling, but certain standards have to be kept if they don't want to end up living in the woods. And he prefers to remain on the good side of the household staff.

Cigarette lit, he moves over to Stack to fuss over him one-handed, tugging the lapels and cuffs of his jacket until it sits straight on him, smoothing down the front of his shirt. They're the same height, the two of them; he can look into those blue-spark eyes and wonder at the depth of his hunger, his strength. A formidable creature.

He keeps his palm flat on Stack's broad chest for a few moments.
]

Sometimes. It's safer that way, with more than one. But it can be done alone. I'll show you.