🐝  *  ―  𝑷𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮 / 𝒀𝑬𝑨𝑹𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑻𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬

e.r. fightmaster @ gleam studios

python mv behind

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."

Blasphemy! Heresy!

Save me from the monster that is eating me.

Betsy. 29. she/her. green-haired leftist and lover of all threads fantasy, horror, and romance based. 21+ selective blog, sporadic activity and mood-based writer.

rules. muses. wanted plots. wanted opposites.

Had her mind been more settled after the commotion, she would've blushed furiously when Dante called her 'a sweet little miss', but there was still some panic polluting her thoughts. He was talking, at least. He was breathing. He was alive. That was the only thing that she needed to know right now. She never would have forgiven herself if she killed anyone, least of all him. Dante always made the usually quiet days interesting when he came in, sure. More than that though, he made her smile. He made her laugh. A quieter creature herself, it had taken a while to adjust to the unending snark of him. It had been a bit jarring at first, but now she was always hoping that he would come in.

Thank the gods he had today.

Once she was satisfied that he was just as fine as he had been when he'd strode in earlier, Bradley finally began to survey the damage. Shelves and cases had crumbled to the floor in shattered bits. There were trinkets strewn out in every direction. Some had survived. Most hadn't. Luckily, she didn't keep anything particularly valuable out on the floor. Luckier still, she didn't keep anything with any kind of real power out here either. That was too risky. It wasn't as though she was going to sell those things anyway. They were safest in her care.

So she waved a hand when he offered to have other people come handle the damage. "Don't worry about it. You saved my life and I...shot you. I think we're even. Besides, it's a delicate ecosystem in here." Even if the items out here weren't particularly significant, they still needed to be placed thoughtfully, which was why the disaster was so odd. Bradley never put anything in proximity of another object that would agitate it. She couldn't understand why there was a reliquary holding the teeth of a saint still standing next to where the shattered pieces of the demon's vessel were lying. That was a rookie move, and she wasn't a rookie. She made a mental note to check up on the poltergeist she kept bound to a puppet in the basement.

She reached for the reliquary before turning to look at Dante as he began explaining himself. "Don't worry, you're hardly the scariest thing within these walls. I'm not freaked out. Well, I'm not freaked out now." She certainly had been a few moments ago. That hadn't necessarily been his fault though. With a small sigh, she set the divine item back on the remains of a shelf. "No, I'm not hurt. I'm just... Do you know about me then?"

The look on her face was genuinely horrified that she actually pulled the trigger. He didn't see her as a type to do that, anyway, even to own a gun for that matter. It seemed like his words didn't register as she rushed to his side and looked at what was left now just a hole in his clothes and a few stains of blood on the white shirt underneath the coat. Evidently she was in shock, but once Bradley is able to take a breath, she'll realize it all herself.

"Just got my ego bruised a little that such a sweet miss like yourself shot me."Dante said with a half smirk and a chuckle. "I'm alright, Bradley. Just peachy - another demon has been put in a shithole it crawled out of. I'm sorry for the, uh... mess."he then hummed and pursed his lips as blue hues scanned her cute little shop. "I know people who know people who can take care of it. It'll be like I was never here, swear my heart and hope to die."he said a bit too dramatically with the hand over his left side of the chest.

Dante cleared his throat and scratched the back of his neck. "So, assume I have some explaining to do. Hopefully I didn't freak you too much when I, you know, took onto that other form. I know it looks freaky, the wings, horns, all that shenanigans. But I need you to know I'm fully in control and it's still me - I don't always change like that but I had to, in order to protect you and react quickly."he elaborated before looking her over. "You're not hurt or anything, right?"

god    damn    !

Ohhey.

"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.