<![CDATA[Blood Ties - Lake Front Residential]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:03:16 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Business Updates]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=282 Sun, 06 Mar 2022 16:09:09 +0000 Aislin Moore]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=282
She entered the room and quietly moved down the length of the pool, enjoying the view that Rafe gave in only shorts as he cut through the water with ease. He had been muscular and utterly ripped when he was Turned and the enhanced strength and lack of breathing required made him a powerful and beautiful swimmer. The exercise wasn’t needed as his body would never change shape again but Aislin knew from asking decades ago that Rafe enjoyed the activity but it was also a time for him to both unwind and think. If time allowed, he started most nights with a swim.

When she reached the table that held his towel, Aislin took a seat and waited for Rafe to emerge. They could converse mentally as he swam but it wasn’t an emergency and she could wait. There was no question that he knew she was there and he would finish when he wanted. In the meantime, Aislin tucked her legs under her and enjoyed the music and view—especially the view a several minutes later when Beethoven faded and another almost angelic piece began and Rafe gracefully climbed up the steps, water dripping deliciously from his body. Oh, he had definitely timed that with the music, Aislin was sure of it.


ooc: The real playlist I came across recently that inspired Rafe's current playlist https://youtu.be/XCBwOgTYFAI]]>
She entered the room and quietly moved down the length of the pool, enjoying the view that Rafe gave in only shorts as he cut through the water with ease. He had been muscular and utterly ripped when he was Turned and the enhanced strength and lack of breathing required made him a powerful and beautiful swimmer. The exercise wasn’t needed as his body would never change shape again but Aislin knew from asking decades ago that Rafe enjoyed the activity but it was also a time for him to both unwind and think. If time allowed, he started most nights with a swim.

When she reached the table that held his towel, Aislin took a seat and waited for Rafe to emerge. They could converse mentally as he swam but it wasn’t an emergency and she could wait. There was no question that he knew she was there and he would finish when he wanted. In the meantime, Aislin tucked her legs under her and enjoyed the music and view—especially the view a several minutes later when Beethoven faded and another almost angelic piece began and Rafe gracefully climbed up the steps, water dripping deliciously from his body. Oh, he had definitely timed that with the music, Aislin was sure of it.


ooc: The real playlist I came across recently that inspired Rafe's current playlist https://youtu.be/XCBwOgTYFAI]]> <![CDATA[Netflix & Chill]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=262 Mon, 28 Feb 2022 15:55:05 +0000 Rhys Evans]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=262
The next few days had been met with a good mood and renewed focus on his training, though Rhys mostly couldn’t wait to get through the days and get to the date. It had been a while since he had properly dated thanks to his focus on his career goals but it made him feel normal again. But when the day came, Rhys found himself calm, which continued all the way through picking Audrey up, driving her to his place, riding the elevator together, and finally escorting her to his door. But once inside the condo, he suddenly became nervous and wondered how she would view him based on the minimalist décor and few personal touches. Maybe it was too pretentious? Would explaining his parents owned the condo and bought the furniture help or hinder his cause?

In the end Rhys just kicked off his shoes and offered to show Audrey around so she could find her way to the bathroom if nothing else. By the end of it, she was told to make herself at home and led her to the couch while he dashed off to the kitchen. Thanks to her healthy appetite and glass of wine at the restaurant, Rhys had stocked a few bottles of red wine, chocolate-covered pretzels, a bag of cookies, a bag of his favourite brand of white cheddar popcorn, a couple bags of chips, and a veggie tray—that would most likely be solely his snack. All of that was brought out and spread across the long glass table before the couch with a smile. “Just to start us off with,” he promised as he joined Audrey on the couch. “I already placed an order for three large pizzas that should be here by the time we find a movie to watch.” And with that, he turned on the large TV, booted up Netflix, and prepared to scroll until they agreed on something or gave up and picked something silly.]]>
The next few days had been met with a good mood and renewed focus on his training, though Rhys mostly couldn’t wait to get through the days and get to the date. It had been a while since he had properly dated thanks to his focus on his career goals but it made him feel normal again. But when the day came, Rhys found himself calm, which continued all the way through picking Audrey up, driving her to his place, riding the elevator together, and finally escorting her to his door. But once inside the condo, he suddenly became nervous and wondered how she would view him based on the minimalist décor and few personal touches. Maybe it was too pretentious? Would explaining his parents owned the condo and bought the furniture help or hinder his cause?

In the end Rhys just kicked off his shoes and offered to show Audrey around so she could find her way to the bathroom if nothing else. By the end of it, she was told to make herself at home and led her to the couch while he dashed off to the kitchen. Thanks to her healthy appetite and glass of wine at the restaurant, Rhys had stocked a few bottles of red wine, chocolate-covered pretzels, a bag of cookies, a bag of his favourite brand of white cheddar popcorn, a couple bags of chips, and a veggie tray—that would most likely be solely his snack. All of that was brought out and spread across the long glass table before the couch with a smile. “Just to start us off with,” he promised as he joined Audrey on the couch. “I already placed an order for three large pizzas that should be here by the time we find a movie to watch.” And with that, he turned on the large TV, booted up Netflix, and prepared to scroll until they agreed on something or gave up and picked something silly.]]> <![CDATA[Forces of Nature]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=253 Sat, 26 Feb 2022 17:11:36 +0000 Rivalee Mitchell]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=253
It was a mundane club, or at least a club that was open to all species, but it was giving off the right vibes that night. She wanted some dancing but also a bit of conversing and the music was always played at a level where you didn’t have to yell against someone’s ear. Rivalee made her way to the dance floor and let herself fall into the groove of the music though she still kept an eye out for someone to target. As the song faded away into the next, she had spotted someone at the bar that intrigued her.

He wasn’t giving off a magical aura, that she was certain of as she approached, but there was something odd about him. He glanced at her and then did a double take, giving her a look that had Rivalee convinced he had to be a mage after all and wondered if he wore a charm of some sort. She’d find out soon enough. “You look like the type of man who knows how to give a lady a good time. I’m Rivalee,” she smiled and leaned casually against the bar beside him.]]>
It was a mundane club, or at least a club that was open to all species, but it was giving off the right vibes that night. She wanted some dancing but also a bit of conversing and the music was always played at a level where you didn’t have to yell against someone’s ear. Rivalee made her way to the dance floor and let herself fall into the groove of the music though she still kept an eye out for someone to target. As the song faded away into the next, she had spotted someone at the bar that intrigued her.

He wasn’t giving off a magical aura, that she was certain of as she approached, but there was something odd about him. He glanced at her and then did a double take, giving her a look that had Rivalee convinced he had to be a mage after all and wondered if he wore a charm of some sort. She’d find out soon enough. “You look like the type of man who knows how to give a lady a good time. I’m Rivalee,” she smiled and leaned casually against the bar beside him.]]> <![CDATA[Moonbathing Interrupted]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=192 Thu, 21 Oct 2021 05:58:39 +0000 Gavin Piers]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=192
It was the day before the full moon and the perfect time to enjoy the beach with how brightly that cold light shone. Sure, it was perhaps a bit cool out to be wearing only shades and earbuds but he had to make sure he got an even colour. Besides, it wasn't like the cold bothered him or that the beach was populated at that time of night or season for anyone to complain or, more accurately, ogle him.

He reached for his phone to skip the song that had started playing. He loved Gaga as much as the next person but he didn't want a song about being rained on. No water like misery for him, not that night! "Ah, perfect," Gavin nodded in approval when the next song on his shuffled playlist was ABBA's Mamma Mia. He had to admit, he hadn't been entirely sold on disco when it first came out but it had grown on him and he had a soft spot for it now.

As he was about to burst into the chorus along with the fabulous Swedish quartet, Gavin frowned instead as he sensed and smelled something out of place. "What do you want, wolf? You're interrupting my 'me' time." When an answer didn't come, Gavin turned in his recliner just enough to find the man standing fifty feet back from him and simply staring at him. "This isn't your night, wolf. Go away." Sure, he knew the days surrounding the full moon energized wolves and many mages but they still typically kept their head and didn't purposely go looking for trouble, especially with a vampire. Gavin made sure to keep his distance from the beasts around the full moon as he hated getting into such messy tangles that often left him sick for days because of their accursed bite.

Maybe if he ignored the boy he would go away. Gavin tried that, getting comfortable once more and turning up the song. It didn't seem to help as by the time Mamma Mia came to a close, he sensed the wolf was still standing there. "The strong and silent type, are you? Maybe perfecting your brooding? Which teen drama did you pick that up from? Is it Teen Wolf? No, I bet it was the Vampire Diaries. I love Damon Salvatore, possibly because he was based loosely on some of my exploits, though they gave my ripper days to his pathetic brother, but you really shouldn't use TV for a role model, especially TVD's wolves. Although Klaus... now that is a fine example of creativity and badassery but I suspect you have neither of those in you."

Gavin turned back around to check on his visitor and noticed the boy was foaming at the mouth a bit. Joy, a rapid wolf. He was likely without a pack, which made things considerably cleaner as it was more likely no one would miss or mourn him. He could see the moment muscles tensed, preparing to perhaps shift first but certainly to attack him. Gavin wondered how new to the life the wolf was if he hadn't realised he was stalking a vampire or that vampire didn't taste that great.

"Don't you dare look back," Gavin mumbled the start of the chorus to the current song playing as he still sat on the lounge chair. "Just keep your eyes on me," he finished with his hand now in the young man's chest, gripping the beating heart.

"I told you to go away. I gave you the chance to see more moons but now I wonder if this was your intent all along," Gavin pondered aloud as he pulled his hand--and heart--free of the body. As the man crumpled to the sand, Gavin shook his head. "I've killed to worse songs than this," he muttered and stared at his trophy. Normally he would have happily dined on the heart but he wasn't in the mood for indigestion and simply dropped it for the original owner to have once more.

"Zeddy is going to be so annoyed with me," Gavin grumbled as he walked to the water's edge to rinse off his hand. But he couldn't leave the little wolf on the beach in that state as far too many questions would be asked. As he flopped back down in his chair, Gavin reached out to his trusted right hand.

Zeddy, there was an... incident at the beach. Bring some gasoline and marshmallows for a nice bonfire, won't you?

"Shut up and dance with me."]]>
It was the day before the full moon and the perfect time to enjoy the beach with how brightly that cold light shone. Sure, it was perhaps a bit cool out to be wearing only shades and earbuds but he had to make sure he got an even colour. Besides, it wasn't like the cold bothered him or that the beach was populated at that time of night or season for anyone to complain or, more accurately, ogle him.

He reached for his phone to skip the song that had started playing. He loved Gaga as much as the next person but he didn't want a song about being rained on. No water like misery for him, not that night! "Ah, perfect," Gavin nodded in approval when the next song on his shuffled playlist was ABBA's Mamma Mia. He had to admit, he hadn't been entirely sold on disco when it first came out but it had grown on him and he had a soft spot for it now.

As he was about to burst into the chorus along with the fabulous Swedish quartet, Gavin frowned instead as he sensed and smelled something out of place. "What do you want, wolf? You're interrupting my 'me' time." When an answer didn't come, Gavin turned in his recliner just enough to find the man standing fifty feet back from him and simply staring at him. "This isn't your night, wolf. Go away." Sure, he knew the days surrounding the full moon energized wolves and many mages but they still typically kept their head and didn't purposely go looking for trouble, especially with a vampire. Gavin made sure to keep his distance from the beasts around the full moon as he hated getting into such messy tangles that often left him sick for days because of their accursed bite.

Maybe if he ignored the boy he would go away. Gavin tried that, getting comfortable once more and turning up the song. It didn't seem to help as by the time Mamma Mia came to a close, he sensed the wolf was still standing there. "The strong and silent type, are you? Maybe perfecting your brooding? Which teen drama did you pick that up from? Is it Teen Wolf? No, I bet it was the Vampire Diaries. I love Damon Salvatore, possibly because he was based loosely on some of my exploits, though they gave my ripper days to his pathetic brother, but you really shouldn't use TV for a role model, especially TVD's wolves. Although Klaus... now that is a fine example of creativity and badassery but I suspect you have neither of those in you."

Gavin turned back around to check on his visitor and noticed the boy was foaming at the mouth a bit. Joy, a rapid wolf. He was likely without a pack, which made things considerably cleaner as it was more likely no one would miss or mourn him. He could see the moment muscles tensed, preparing to perhaps shift first but certainly to attack him. Gavin wondered how new to the life the wolf was if he hadn't realised he was stalking a vampire or that vampire didn't taste that great.

"Don't you dare look back," Gavin mumbled the start of the chorus to the current song playing as he still sat on the lounge chair. "Just keep your eyes on me," he finished with his hand now in the young man's chest, gripping the beating heart.

"I told you to go away. I gave you the chance to see more moons but now I wonder if this was your intent all along," Gavin pondered aloud as he pulled his hand--and heart--free of the body. As the man crumpled to the sand, Gavin shook his head. "I've killed to worse songs than this," he muttered and stared at his trophy. Normally he would have happily dined on the heart but he wasn't in the mood for indigestion and simply dropped it for the original owner to have once more.

"Zeddy is going to be so annoyed with me," Gavin grumbled as he walked to the water's edge to rinse off his hand. But he couldn't leave the little wolf on the beach in that state as far too many questions would be asked. As he flopped back down in his chair, Gavin reached out to his trusted right hand.

Zeddy, there was an... incident at the beach. Bring some gasoline and marshmallows for a nice bonfire, won't you?

"Shut up and dance with me."]]> <![CDATA[The Hunt]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=179 Thu, 07 Oct 2021 10:12:40 +0000 Asher Bishop]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=179 Twilight brought with it the crackle of flame as Asher set alight the kindling of a fire he’d built outside the hall on his property. It was here that the pack congregated, their ‘home base’ so to speak, only a few acres separate from the alpha’s personal lodgings. This fire was ceremonial; not a large bonfire, but rather a small source of light, contained in a drum, that would last the majority of the night and, with its end, signal dawn. Once done, he took a seat on the stump he often sat upon to wait, whilst the smoke called his pack to him.

They arrived one by one - a small group, for now, containing no other means of leadership. Asher had yet to take a second in command, nor to find any elder worthy of guiding his decisions. For now, the buck stopped with him alone, and he carried the burden well, he thought. Perhaps this was because there were only two to his pack for the time being; two women, youths to be sure, though Audrey had flourished in leaps and bounds since he chose her. Gazing upon her now as she approached the fire, he felt a sense of pride swell in his chest.
      ”Audrey,” he greeted, looking up through the long threads of hair that fell around his face. “You’ve been meditating, I hope?” The ghost of what might have been a warm smile twitched at the corner of Asher’s lips before he turned to the other presence apparating from what had become a tentative darkness. “Cassidy.”

He exchanged nods, then proceeded through what was not dissimilar to a briefing. “This isn’t the first time we’ve met before a Change,” he began, before gesturing to the fire. “Like before, this will signal the length of our Hunt. Only, tonight, we have a specific target - at least, more specific than before. I want a mage. I’m curious about the effect that the Turn will have on them - preferably more than one if we can manage, just in case there’s a death.” He said these sorts of things in an offhand manner that he usually managed to pass off as compartmentalisation; death was a necessity that he didn’t particularly enjoy - or, at least, that was the image he wanted to maintain with his pack for now. They were ruthless, but not because they wanted to be; because they had to be. He found that the guilt could be mitigated in the newer, more naive members, if choice was removed from the equation. “Audrey, you know your target. We don’t have all the intel on him and that’s okay, but I want you to try and find him, alright?” He levelled his gaze on hers and awaited assent before continuing.

      ”Remember that if you do not secure your prey, there’s a chance that we will be exposed. It is expected that, if there is no chance of getting your target back to the Hall, you kill them. If there is an escape, you are expected to report it immediately, and secure assistance from the pack. Our safety in secrecy is paramount, understood?” Asher paused to accept their agreement, which he clearly expected within the very brief timeframe that he allowed. “Of course, fun is a primary objective. I know you understand this,” he directed at Audrey, another small smile gracing his lips, “Being a wolf is our natural state - what we’re meant to be. If it weren’t, the Change never would have taken. Revel in it, in your power, in the wind as you run. Stretch your legs. When we go, we go together - we’ll split off in the usual place.” His spiel wound down at just the right time, as darkness encroached upon their little makeshift campsite, and the Moon began to make an appearance. “Shall we?” For the first time over the course of the night, a wolfish grin lit up Asher’s face, and he looked ten years younger - but no less terrifying.

He stood from his perch, stretching as he prepared for the pain that would inevitably come with the Change - but he was used to it by now, and all was forgotten once he was on four feet. Personally, Asher preferred not to strip before a change; his excessive wealth meant that a new pair of pants every month didn’t put too much of a dent in his budget, but he did come to every Moon shirtless. It wasn’t a lewd state of undress - rather, he looked very much as though being shirtless was entirely natural to him. Somehow, it suited him. He stepped past his pack members and turned his face up to the sky, the two others each on his flanks so that they formed a triangle between them, with him at its point.

As the Moon crested the tops of the trees, Asher closed his eyes and let it bathe him in the white light, feeling at first the pinpricks of a tingle, which escalated from pins and needles to a vibration across the entire surface area of his flesh. Soon, that escalated until the skin could no longer hold itself together, and began to bubble, then tear apart. The audible groaning and cracking of bones filled the night air then, and the wolves emerged, fur sprouting from bodies, limbs elongating, snouts forming.

Paws hit the ground; first Asher’s, and then his two pack members, almost in sync. Briefly, the alpha paused to shake off the pain, then he lifted his chin and howled. It was a sound of glee, of anticipation - an undercurrent of malice. Like a warcry, it echoed through the lakeside landscape and was joined by Audrey and Cassidy’s melodious voices. Then, they ran.

The soft thudding of paw pads as they loped, nearly silent across the expanse of Asher’s land, around the lake and through the sparse trees. The enhancement of scents, hitting them as one, a joined mind buzzing with the shared pleasure of the Change. Each sensation rippled through the three of them almost in unison, passed between them via the mental link that they shared only now. Asher didn’t push into their minds to determine whether or not they were following instruction or to gauge their level of excitement - he simply assumed it, and likely correctly. There was a shared freedom in being this creature, this pack. And likewise, a shared sense of duty and community. Upon approaching a rocky outcropping, the three of them split ways, though their minds remained entwined, intermittently flashing scenes to one another as they went.

Asher considered following Audrey in order to help her, should she actually sight the man they were after - but she had been impressing him lately and so, with his mind made and never wavering, he let the physical image of her fade. Occasionally he’d request updates, and be met with a particular street name, smell, or landmark. But for the most part, he put his nose to the ground and stayed out of sight while tracking his prey and allowing the girls to do the same.

***

The smell of magic was not dissimilar to a glass of lemon lime and bitters, to him. Fizzing, sweet, and tangy, it tainted the air and remained ingrained in the footprints left behind by those imbued with such talent. Each sort of magic seemed to have its own additional bouquet, but Asher wasn’t as attuned to those; he could simply tell them apart if ever given the option between two different kinds. So he found a trail that reminded him of his favourite non-alcoholic drink and set about finding the one who left it.

He tracked her for three hours, maybe four, on her roundabout meandering through the streets of Greenbrooke. Perhaps she was a delivery girl, or some kind of extreme socialite; Asher could have sworn he caught her scent on every residential front door he passed. It was at a business, though, that he finally came to the end of the trail; a small herbalist, with no scent leading away. Either this was where the woman worked and lived, or she’d be exiting the building at some point in the night. With the practised pragmatism he was known for, Asher took a post not too far away that meant he’d be out of sight while maintaining vision of the exit. Here, he laid in wait for another hour.

When she came, Asher noticed before she even got out onto the street; the flicker of the front light and the creak of the door urged him to his feet. He watched tentatively from his crouch in the bushes as a woman dressed all in black exited the building. She carried a basket, presumably of supplies that, at this point, left the alpha to assume that she was some kind of late-night courier. Briefly, he considered that she would be known by many - perhaps missed. He avoided what pleasure he might find in that sentiment, shoving the thought aside before it made its way to his pack members, and instead waited for her to head down a nondescript alley.

Over the years, Asher had determined a method which prevented his victims from making too much noise, and it was beautifully simple, if he could say so himself: he tore out their voice boxes. If they were to die instead of Turn, they wouldn’t need them anyway - and if they were to Turn, their wounds would heal and regenerate as necessary - albeit not without a barely-visible scar. And so, this is what he did to the poor mage he’d chosen as his target tonight.

Dark and silent as a shadow, Asher stalked her into the night, down an alley. If she did have time to make any sort of noise, most people would be hard-pressed to hear it.

***

Back at the camp, both of his members returned too, Asher looked down upon the bodies each of them had produced. None were the man he’d hoped for, but all had that same fizzy, tangy smell to them - one stronger than the others. Perhaps this was because she was the only one still breathing, still potentially amenable to the change.
      ”Well done, Audrey. Not exactly what we hoped for, but a good runner-up…” They all looked down upon the mage as she twisted, beginning to writhe in the pain that would likely have overcome the threat of death - a pain worse than any she would ever have felt before. And then it began; the crunching, popping, bone-breaking symphony that would ultimately lead to the reveal of a wolf.

Her fur was white, her eyes frightened and rolling, and she no longer smelled of lemon lime and bitters. Nor did she survive the fight that followed.]]> Twilight brought with it the crackle of flame as Asher set alight the kindling of a fire he’d built outside the hall on his property. It was here that the pack congregated, their ‘home base’ so to speak, only a few acres separate from the alpha’s personal lodgings. This fire was ceremonial; not a large bonfire, but rather a small source of light, contained in a drum, that would last the majority of the night and, with its end, signal dawn. Once done, he took a seat on the stump he often sat upon to wait, whilst the smoke called his pack to him.

They arrived one by one - a small group, for now, containing no other means of leadership. Asher had yet to take a second in command, nor to find any elder worthy of guiding his decisions. For now, the buck stopped with him alone, and he carried the burden well, he thought. Perhaps this was because there were only two to his pack for the time being; two women, youths to be sure, though Audrey had flourished in leaps and bounds since he chose her. Gazing upon her now as she approached the fire, he felt a sense of pride swell in his chest.
      ”Audrey,” he greeted, looking up through the long threads of hair that fell around his face. “You’ve been meditating, I hope?” The ghost of what might have been a warm smile twitched at the corner of Asher’s lips before he turned to the other presence apparating from what had become a tentative darkness. “Cassidy.”

He exchanged nods, then proceeded through what was not dissimilar to a briefing. “This isn’t the first time we’ve met before a Change,” he began, before gesturing to the fire. “Like before, this will signal the length of our Hunt. Only, tonight, we have a specific target - at least, more specific than before. I want a mage. I’m curious about the effect that the Turn will have on them - preferably more than one if we can manage, just in case there’s a death.” He said these sorts of things in an offhand manner that he usually managed to pass off as compartmentalisation; death was a necessity that he didn’t particularly enjoy - or, at least, that was the image he wanted to maintain with his pack for now. They were ruthless, but not because they wanted to be; because they had to be. He found that the guilt could be mitigated in the newer, more naive members, if choice was removed from the equation. “Audrey, you know your target. We don’t have all the intel on him and that’s okay, but I want you to try and find him, alright?” He levelled his gaze on hers and awaited assent before continuing.

      ”Remember that if you do not secure your prey, there’s a chance that we will be exposed. It is expected that, if there is no chance of getting your target back to the Hall, you kill them. If there is an escape, you are expected to report it immediately, and secure assistance from the pack. Our safety in secrecy is paramount, understood?” Asher paused to accept their agreement, which he clearly expected within the very brief timeframe that he allowed. “Of course, fun is a primary objective. I know you understand this,” he directed at Audrey, another small smile gracing his lips, “Being a wolf is our natural state - what we’re meant to be. If it weren’t, the Change never would have taken. Revel in it, in your power, in the wind as you run. Stretch your legs. When we go, we go together - we’ll split off in the usual place.” His spiel wound down at just the right time, as darkness encroached upon their little makeshift campsite, and the Moon began to make an appearance. “Shall we?” For the first time over the course of the night, a wolfish grin lit up Asher’s face, and he looked ten years younger - but no less terrifying.

He stood from his perch, stretching as he prepared for the pain that would inevitably come with the Change - but he was used to it by now, and all was forgotten once he was on four feet. Personally, Asher preferred not to strip before a change; his excessive wealth meant that a new pair of pants every month didn’t put too much of a dent in his budget, but he did come to every Moon shirtless. It wasn’t a lewd state of undress - rather, he looked very much as though being shirtless was entirely natural to him. Somehow, it suited him. He stepped past his pack members and turned his face up to the sky, the two others each on his flanks so that they formed a triangle between them, with him at its point.

As the Moon crested the tops of the trees, Asher closed his eyes and let it bathe him in the white light, feeling at first the pinpricks of a tingle, which escalated from pins and needles to a vibration across the entire surface area of his flesh. Soon, that escalated until the skin could no longer hold itself together, and began to bubble, then tear apart. The audible groaning and cracking of bones filled the night air then, and the wolves emerged, fur sprouting from bodies, limbs elongating, snouts forming.

Paws hit the ground; first Asher’s, and then his two pack members, almost in sync. Briefly, the alpha paused to shake off the pain, then he lifted his chin and howled. It was a sound of glee, of anticipation - an undercurrent of malice. Like a warcry, it echoed through the lakeside landscape and was joined by Audrey and Cassidy’s melodious voices. Then, they ran.

The soft thudding of paw pads as they loped, nearly silent across the expanse of Asher’s land, around the lake and through the sparse trees. The enhancement of scents, hitting them as one, a joined mind buzzing with the shared pleasure of the Change. Each sensation rippled through the three of them almost in unison, passed between them via the mental link that they shared only now. Asher didn’t push into their minds to determine whether or not they were following instruction or to gauge their level of excitement - he simply assumed it, and likely correctly. There was a shared freedom in being this creature, this pack. And likewise, a shared sense of duty and community. Upon approaching a rocky outcropping, the three of them split ways, though their minds remained entwined, intermittently flashing scenes to one another as they went.

Asher considered following Audrey in order to help her, should she actually sight the man they were after - but she had been impressing him lately and so, with his mind made and never wavering, he let the physical image of her fade. Occasionally he’d request updates, and be met with a particular street name, smell, or landmark. But for the most part, he put his nose to the ground and stayed out of sight while tracking his prey and allowing the girls to do the same.

***

The smell of magic was not dissimilar to a glass of lemon lime and bitters, to him. Fizzing, sweet, and tangy, it tainted the air and remained ingrained in the footprints left behind by those imbued with such talent. Each sort of magic seemed to have its own additional bouquet, but Asher wasn’t as attuned to those; he could simply tell them apart if ever given the option between two different kinds. So he found a trail that reminded him of his favourite non-alcoholic drink and set about finding the one who left it.

He tracked her for three hours, maybe four, on her roundabout meandering through the streets of Greenbrooke. Perhaps she was a delivery girl, or some kind of extreme socialite; Asher could have sworn he caught her scent on every residential front door he passed. It was at a business, though, that he finally came to the end of the trail; a small herbalist, with no scent leading away. Either this was where the woman worked and lived, or she’d be exiting the building at some point in the night. With the practised pragmatism he was known for, Asher took a post not too far away that meant he’d be out of sight while maintaining vision of the exit. Here, he laid in wait for another hour.

When she came, Asher noticed before she even got out onto the street; the flicker of the front light and the creak of the door urged him to his feet. He watched tentatively from his crouch in the bushes as a woman dressed all in black exited the building. She carried a basket, presumably of supplies that, at this point, left the alpha to assume that she was some kind of late-night courier. Briefly, he considered that she would be known by many - perhaps missed. He avoided what pleasure he might find in that sentiment, shoving the thought aside before it made its way to his pack members, and instead waited for her to head down a nondescript alley.

Over the years, Asher had determined a method which prevented his victims from making too much noise, and it was beautifully simple, if he could say so himself: he tore out their voice boxes. If they were to die instead of Turn, they wouldn’t need them anyway - and if they were to Turn, their wounds would heal and regenerate as necessary - albeit not without a barely-visible scar. And so, this is what he did to the poor mage he’d chosen as his target tonight.

Dark and silent as a shadow, Asher stalked her into the night, down an alley. If she did have time to make any sort of noise, most people would be hard-pressed to hear it.

***

Back at the camp, both of his members returned too, Asher looked down upon the bodies each of them had produced. None were the man he’d hoped for, but all had that same fizzy, tangy smell to them - one stronger than the others. Perhaps this was because she was the only one still breathing, still potentially amenable to the change.
      ”Well done, Audrey. Not exactly what we hoped for, but a good runner-up…” They all looked down upon the mage as she twisted, beginning to writhe in the pain that would likely have overcome the threat of death - a pain worse than any she would ever have felt before. And then it began; the crunching, popping, bone-breaking symphony that would ultimately lead to the reveal of a wolf.

Her fur was white, her eyes frightened and rolling, and she no longer smelled of lemon lime and bitters. Nor did she survive the fight that followed.]]> <![CDATA[Minty Fruit]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=151 Tue, 14 Sep 2021 14:30:53 +0000 Nocturne Jackson]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=151
He wasn’t the only one with the idea as two people were in line in front of him so Nocturne pulled out his phone to check the few messages he had received while driving his bike. Nothing was urgent so he left everyone on ‘read’ and stuffed the phone back in his pocket. The line crept forward as one person left the counter and the petite pink-haired woman in front of him approached. Most people would have spent the time in line deciding what they wanted but Noct already had his unusual order ready to go, though he was debating if he should go all out with three scoops or not.

As he debated that, he caught the girl’s order of mango, mint chocolate chip, and vanilla bean. His gaze snapped from the scenery to her head and he smiled. It was just as odd as what he liked and it propelled Nocturne into action as he stepped up beside her while she started to pay. “I’ve got it. And get me the same but instead of mango, do watermelon sorbet, please,” he told the attendant and handed over the twenty.

While he waited for the change, Noct turned to the woman with a shrug. “Not every day you find someone else who appreciates the delightful combination of mint and fruit.” He accepted the change only to put it all in the tip jar. He wasn’t trying to impress the woman but Noct could only imagine how awful it had to be to serve people all day and felt such people deserved to be recognized more than they were.]]>
He wasn’t the only one with the idea as two people were in line in front of him so Nocturne pulled out his phone to check the few messages he had received while driving his bike. Nothing was urgent so he left everyone on ‘read’ and stuffed the phone back in his pocket. The line crept forward as one person left the counter and the petite pink-haired woman in front of him approached. Most people would have spent the time in line deciding what they wanted but Noct already had his unusual order ready to go, though he was debating if he should go all out with three scoops or not.

As he debated that, he caught the girl’s order of mango, mint chocolate chip, and vanilla bean. His gaze snapped from the scenery to her head and he smiled. It was just as odd as what he liked and it propelled Nocturne into action as he stepped up beside her while she started to pay. “I’ve got it. And get me the same but instead of mango, do watermelon sorbet, please,” he told the attendant and handed over the twenty.

While he waited for the change, Noct turned to the woman with a shrug. “Not every day you find someone else who appreciates the delightful combination of mint and fruit.” He accepted the change only to put it all in the tip jar. He wasn’t trying to impress the woman but Noct could only imagine how awful it had to be to serve people all day and felt such people deserved to be recognized more than they were.]]> <![CDATA[A Lesson in the Art of Shifting]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=98 Wed, 18 Aug 2021 05:07:42 +0000 Asher Bishop]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=98 Since moving out of his family’s estate, Asher had managed to maintain a relatively covert lifestyle whilst also obtaining some sense of opulence when it came to his living arrangements. To the larger population, he was likely considered somewhat of a hermit whose true location was unknown, but assumed to be “that big place on the lake”. This, essentially, was true. But the property was far-reaching and spanned at least ten acres and three dwellings - the smallest of which was where he lived, perhaps surprisingly. Despite his penchant for the finer things, Asher didn’t particularly enjoy large expanses when he wasn’t on four legs. The second residence was a guest home, decked out with multiple bedrooms for new members, and the last was a large hall right on the waterfront, often used for congregating the pack when the need arose.

Currently, the alpha was headed to that hall, dressed casually and barefoot. He’d sent a message to one of his members: a newer woman - or, a girl, really. A child in his eyes. Either way, he’d organised to meet Audrey for one of the first times since her initial induction. Though he tended to treat his pack as his family, Asher had an admittedly confusing relationship with the concept itself. He was still aloof and distant, even cold at times. But that didn’t mean he didn’t care; he just wasn’t entirely sure how to show it. One of the ways he attempted to, however, was this: teaching.

Asher was a mentor to his members, and he took that role very seriously. One of the most important things about living as a werewolf was intentional shifting and, within that, controlling one’s mind. And so, with his lesson plan mentally inscribed, he took a seat on a tree stump out the front of the hall, propped his ankle up on the opposite knee, and settled in to wait, checking his phone intermittently.]]> Since moving out of his family’s estate, Asher had managed to maintain a relatively covert lifestyle whilst also obtaining some sense of opulence when it came to his living arrangements. To the larger population, he was likely considered somewhat of a hermit whose true location was unknown, but assumed to be “that big place on the lake”. This, essentially, was true. But the property was far-reaching and spanned at least ten acres and three dwellings - the smallest of which was where he lived, perhaps surprisingly. Despite his penchant for the finer things, Asher didn’t particularly enjoy large expanses when he wasn’t on four legs. The second residence was a guest home, decked out with multiple bedrooms for new members, and the last was a large hall right on the waterfront, often used for congregating the pack when the need arose.

Currently, the alpha was headed to that hall, dressed casually and barefoot. He’d sent a message to one of his members: a newer woman - or, a girl, really. A child in his eyes. Either way, he’d organised to meet Audrey for one of the first times since her initial induction. Though he tended to treat his pack as his family, Asher had an admittedly confusing relationship with the concept itself. He was still aloof and distant, even cold at times. But that didn’t mean he didn’t care; he just wasn’t entirely sure how to show it. One of the ways he attempted to, however, was this: teaching.

Asher was a mentor to his members, and he took that role very seriously. One of the most important things about living as a werewolf was intentional shifting and, within that, controlling one’s mind. And so, with his lesson plan mentally inscribed, he took a seat on a tree stump out the front of the hall, propped his ankle up on the opposite knee, and settled in to wait, checking his phone intermittently.]]> <![CDATA[On The Grape Vine]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=67 Thu, 22 Jul 2021 10:52:13 +0000 Jasper Jacobs]]> https://blood-ties.net/rp/showthread.php?tid=67
Jasper took another drag on his cigarette, and blew smoke rings into the crisp early night air. The moon was halfway through the journey it made from new to full, and that put Jasper back on the track of his lack of supernatural education. Next weekend the werewolves would be out to play. Such a strange thought. How was it he had lived without knowing they were real? How did he still have trouble comprehending their existence when he now lived a life where his primary intake was blood.

Another drag. Another ring of smoke, and Jasper sighed irritably. He felt stupid for not trying to enthral the young mage he’d picked out the night before; if he had, he would have realised something was off before it got to the point where he was drinking – and then puking up – the man’s disgusting blood. A shudder travelled down Jasper’s spine at the memory of how awful it had tasted, and he took another drag on his cigarette, flicking the ash over the side of the railing and tilting his gaze to the stars.

“You know, you could knock,” he said suddenly, turning from the balcony to look at Aislin, smiling at his friend who had let herself in once more uninvited and unannounced. Not that Jasper minded; he’d invited her in before he’d Turned, when he and Jake were still living together. Furthermore she’d been a comforting shoulder to cry on when Jake left him, because he was different after the ‘employee retreat’ he went on. Jasper took a last drag on his cigarette and flicked the dying butt over the edge of the porch railing.]]>
Jasper took another drag on his cigarette, and blew smoke rings into the crisp early night air. The moon was halfway through the journey it made from new to full, and that put Jasper back on the track of his lack of supernatural education. Next weekend the werewolves would be out to play. Such a strange thought. How was it he had lived without knowing they were real? How did he still have trouble comprehending their existence when he now lived a life where his primary intake was blood.

Another drag. Another ring of smoke, and Jasper sighed irritably. He felt stupid for not trying to enthral the young mage he’d picked out the night before; if he had, he would have realised something was off before it got to the point where he was drinking – and then puking up – the man’s disgusting blood. A shudder travelled down Jasper’s spine at the memory of how awful it had tasted, and he took another drag on his cigarette, flicking the ash over the side of the railing and tilting his gaze to the stars.

“You know, you could knock,” he said suddenly, turning from the balcony to look at Aislin, smiling at his friend who had let herself in once more uninvited and unannounced. Not that Jasper minded; he’d invited her in before he’d Turned, when he and Jake were still living together. Furthermore she’d been a comforting shoulder to cry on when Jake left him, because he was different after the ‘employee retreat’ he went on. Jasper took a last drag on his cigarette and flicked the dying butt over the edge of the porch railing.]]>