viragod:

                                ^❛  have  i  ^{finally  managed  to  pique  your  interest,  john  ?  ❜     counter  bred  from  the  forward  step  /  no  sooner  prompting  her  to  suggest  her  retreat  as  she  was  calling  it  abhorrent.  proximity  was  hardly  a  rarity,  oftentimes  work  called  for  closer  relations,  but  this  was  bred  from  a  different  beast.  she  smiled  into  it’s  face,  crimson  painted  petals  curling  into  bloom  /  the  verdant  twinkle  of  mischievous  intentions  shining  up  at  him  as  she  continued  to  muse.     ❛  a  little  hot  under  the  collar  ?  ❜}

       question  was  ^{left  to  take  up  space  as  she  shrugged  at  the  occupation  of  his  target  /  it  was  either  something  sinister  or  something  insane.     ❛  cut  one  head  off  and  you’ll  grow  three  more.  ❜     cant  of  chin  down  towards  vials  and  instruments.     ❛  but  this  will  certainly  do  the  job.  ❜}  

        _{tensions mount to a head not in explosive climax, but slow burning standoff between two souls, each with a foot dipped into a daunting abyss. death’s emissary – strangely enough – finds himself enthralled by such fearless tenacity. bold, audacious … john knows what he likes but he isn’t willing to let himself even consider indulging in it. even if she seems to be wholeheartedly interested in him, to an extent. so when she asks the first question, he stays silent. solid, iron framework keeps him still & he continues to listlessly hold her gaze. wondering how long it’d be before she looks away.}

        _{the second question she asks, though, almost gets a counter. but instead of letting the topic persist, he refocuses on the subject at hand.}

        _{john knows caden is right, but that isn’t his concern. the man’s an assassin, not a harbinger of lawful justice. so long as the heads keep growing, he’s got an easy source of income. “ it helps keep me in business. “ lifting a vial of the poison from the counter, he holds it up to the light.}