Bɪʀᴅs ᴏғ ᴀ Fᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 🕊 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ || Bᴇᴄʙᴏᴄ x Kᴇɪᴛʜ Lᴏɢᴀɴ ⁽ⁿˢᶠʷ⁾

[Keith Logan]

​

Cᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛs​ ⠀SYNOPSIS⠀ ⠀CHAPTER I⠀ I found you hunched in our bar called Moby's— same drink, same stance, same haunted stare. You vanished like summer from the edges of fall, now you're back with that look I still wear.​ But tell me your silence hasn't forgotten the spark— how we mapped the stars before life drew a line. I remember too well—we were gods in the dirt. You left me for dead, and mortal in your wake.​ I had to become what this town never held, even if that meant I lost what we'd built. And I had to stay when I wanted to run— your absence became the tongue I dreamed most nights.​ I'm not asking for yesterday— just a chance to begin, with eyes wide open, no chains on heart. Then say you'll stay through storm and not just spring— 'cause I don't fall twice — and I've already bled.​ So what are we now—embers, or flame? A second beginning, or slow-burning end? We are both—too wild to name, too known to escape. Maybe not lovers... but never just friends.​ ​ Themes: Dark romance, Drama, Dystopia, Alternate universe, Mafia, Jealousy and Obsession, Excessive Debauchery. ​

 

[Becboc]

ㅤ O ғㅤᴛ ʜ ᴇㅤʙ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ᴇ ᴠ ᴀ ʀ ᴅ ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦ There had always been a small part of Lily that wondered if she would one day traverse the streets of this city again. This city that had been her starting point in life, this city that had thrust her too young into its sharpened jaws, this city that at one point could have claimed her life... if she had let it. Pathetic fallacy was at play as the taxi trundled through the streets awash with shining grey beneath the dimly light streetlamps, the window-wipers singing a monotonous thud, back and forth, back and forth in an attempt to remove the depressive rain from vision. The driver chatted idly to his passenger as if he had known her all his life; he spoke of his wife, his two kids, the lady before her and how he'd drawn the short straw of a night shift. His words didn't warrant a response as olive green eyes flickered over the scene on the other side of the car window, how the city was turning into something else, something other the deeper into its heart they traversed. Her mind was filled with memories, of moments, of feelings; things she hadn't thought or felt in years... or at least so she liked to convince herself. Sounds and scents and pain and excitement and fear and pain and excitement and him. The reason she was here. The reason her heart was beginning to thud just that little bit harder, the reason for the uncomfortable twist that had started to knot into her stomach. "You alright, love?" The driver's silence following his question was what eventually pulled Lily from the brief journey of her mind, her eyes meeting dreary, watered blue in the rear-view mirror as they flipped between the road ahead and herself. Her own crinkled slightly at the sides in what she hoped was a convincing display of reassurance. "Yeah. Yes, fine. Sorry. Long journey." Her voice carried the soft lilt of someone local that had since lived elsewhere, a mix of familiar and distant all rolled into one. The driver hadn't noticed though and why would he when all he wanted was an acknowledgement, enough of a response so that he could grunt and continue on his tirade, as though he hadn't truly cared for her answer at all. They pulled up not twenty minutes later, in what appeared to be a cobbled back alley littered with dustbins and black binbags. The driver stopped the car at the entrance of it, a pregnant silence filling the space as he leaned frowards on the steering wheel and peered up at the red Bar sign that flickered a little above their heads. "You uh... sure this is the place? The map used the address you gave me but..." "Yep, this is fine," Lil quickly interjected, taking a breath and pushing flyaway strands of silken dark hair behind her ears before reaching into the holdall that sat on the seat beside to her. "Well, alright. Each to their own, I guess." "How much do I owe you?" "Twenty five." He tapped his finger on the red fare that lit up on his dashboard, to which Lily passed two notes through the gap in the plastic screen that separated them. The driver's large fingers wrapped around them as his passenger shuffled towards the door. "Word of advice, love?" She paused however, just as her hand met the yellow plastic to draw it open. "Don't linger around these parts too long. You don't know what might be lurking in the shadows." Her lips quirked slightly at that. "Thanks for the tip. Have a good night." Little did he know, was that it was those same shadows that she herself was born of, the very same ones that she sought rather than intended to avoid. Her phone pinged in the pocket of figure hugging jeans just as the security guy ushered her in out of the rain. For a moment she paused, squinting at the screen and drawing it closer to her face. Sent by Johnny, 9:21pm You make it your hotel okay, babe? Miss you already x It took only a moment before her thumbs were moving in response. Sent by Lily, 9:22pm Yeah, just. About to hop in the shower. I'll call you later. Miss you too x Lying to Johnny didn't feel great, she had to admit, but Lily was good at convincing herself that bad ideas were good ones; always had been. She was here on a work trip, a conference for all her fiancé knew. If he had known the true extent of what she was here for, he would never have let her come. This way alleviated his worry for her and all the baggage that came with that. Well, no, not baggae exactly, that wasn't the right word. Care, concern. Feelings that didn't have a place in this world she had entered, that should have been a reason for her not returning to Blackstone. Yet here she was, searching for something she had never found anywhere else. It was for this reason amongst others, that when her phone buzzed a second time, Lily didn't answer it as she readjusted the bag on her shoulder and then began down the stairs, almost as if she were descending into the gateway of hell itself. The scent of smoke and alcohol and more was as familiar as it was jarring. It floated through the air and clung to the leather interiors that now sat before her. Small groups sat in booths, some individuals sat alone, and scantilly clad women moved with trays of drinks held above their heads. Moby's had certainly gone up in the world from what Lily remembered. The floor was less... sticky for one. She wasn't naive enough to believe the place had truly changed though; the regulars had simply found some kind of success in an avenue that most likely was not legitimate, allowing them to buy better furniture... amongst other things. It was easy, almost too easy for her to focus on this rather than the familiarity of her new surroundings, of the memories that threatened, a past she had outrun now licking at her heels. She knew why she was here, knew what she was looking for; that she was detached from the life she had once had, the connections, the person she had once been. That person didn't exist anymore, or when she tried to? When she tried to break through the surface of reality and take a gulp of hair? Lily had become very adept at murder, again and again and again and again until the old Lily was trained to remain hidden in the depths of her misdemeanours, buried deep enough that nobody could revive them. Kohl lined green eyes traversed the room, clocking where people were, who they were with, if they looked important, if they might might recognise her, if she recognised them. There was one head in particular she was looking for though, one that she found sat at the bar itself, right where she had expected it to be; the slope of broad shoulders that she would recognise a mile away, the hair that she had tugged and pulled and stroked, now neater than it had been, but still threatening unruliness at the edges. She had hoped he would be here. No, she had known because it's where he had always been, where she had always found him. She hated how her heart skittered at the view, hated it so much that she used that feeling, that anger to push through and ride the adrenaline because she'd be damned before she let it get in her way ever again. Hips swaying slighty, perhaps not altogether unconsciously, Lily began towards the bar and came to a stop next to the figure, her hands gripping onto the surface before her. She looked different to the day she had last seen him; her hair was neater too, held up with a clip at the back of her head, bangs hooding her lash-lined eyes. She looked more grown up, more put together. She didn't look like her. "What can I get you?" "A small red. Thank you." And there it was. Her greeting, followed by a gaze that remained on the bartender but a voice that directed conversation elsewhere. Beside her. "Hey Eddie." A pause. "Long time no see." ​

 

[Keith Logan]

O ғㅤᴛ ʜ ᴇㅤs ᴛ ʀ ᴇ ᴇ ᴛ s ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦​ The county of Blackstone. The state of the region was apt in every sense to its name. Black - because the tendrils of the underworld had established a deathly grasp over the entire territory, a result of the slow, but steady influence that grew from beneath the shadows over the past four decades. Stone - because the growth of the region had been stagnated, a poignant reminder of a city that stubbornly refused to change its ways and evolve with the times; a city ladened with crime, exacerbated by massive poor rich divide, with most of the riches acquired through means of black money. With a lukewarm attitude and care for education, its people were drawn to the fast bucks, the promises and allures of sin, preferring short term materialistic gratification over working towards building a sustainable lifestyle which required far more patience and discipline. Proponents would argue it was in fact, the more logical option. The traditional route to mainstream success would often place many into debt with financial and educational institutions, becoming a slave to the systemic structure laid out by the incumbent. As a result, the people of Blackstone naturally found themselves sinking into a downward spiral of an endless abyss. As if almost genetically ingrained, this societal DNA was toxic, tenaciously aggressive in its infection of the heart and mind, and highly contagious. Over the years, ruling authorities had tried to curb the cancerous multiplicated growth of criminal activities. By the third decade, there were signs of fatigue and surrender. It was a near impossible war weeding out one black sheep, only to be replaced by two more. Catching the criminals was only tending to the superficial symptom of the defunct society. It was far more difficult to change the mentality of its people, which was the root cause of it all - imprison a mobster lord, and another would be more than eager to take over the power vacuum. And the government's eventual solution? To abandon Blackstone in a bid to cut fruitless spendings and resources. There was never an official word that Blackstone was off the map of the country. But ground sentiments could feel and all agree that Blackstone had silently been treated as a lost cause. As it turned out, it seemed to have worked for the best. For some inexplicable reason, the disease of Blackstone stayed within Blackstone, perhaps because the next county was at least almost a two hour drive away. Blackstone was secluded and quarantined by geographical misfortune. There were even rumours stating that dubious businesses and activities within Blackstone had direct or indirect influence to the country's domestic and international economic ecosystem, which was complex and profound, further complicating the desire for governance to interfere without needing to do an expensive and effortful overhaul of the county. Hence the eventual status quo seemed to be a win-win situation for all parties involved - authorities were glad that the devil spawns were contained and contented, whilst its people were glad to be isolated away from the influences from beyond. Stoners - a literal sweeping, cliche nickname casted upon the citizens of the county by god knows who, had taken over the reins of the city. The presiding mayor was nothing more than a puppet figurehead with a metaphoric knife perpetually held up against his and his family's throats, and its policing department, questionable. ​ By the fourth decade, Blackstone was functioning like an independent, thriving state by itself. The unique circumstance of Blackstone meant that it grew an identity over time that held a unique, eerie charm that set it apart from the other cities - it was the closest semblance to dystopia, impoverished and outdated not in essence but physical architecture, that remained like the 1990s, since the government had all but effectively abandoned the region. The underworld that took over cared not for aesthetics, preferring to be stingy pragmatic, aimed for bare essential minimum in the way that they limit funding to the municipal needs, instead focusing on the investments that could tangibly pull in the money. Edgar Levinson was sat by the far edge of the bar counter, six high stools away from the next nearest patron. He wasn't feeling particularly sociable that night as the man - who had risen up the ranks all those years to become the third in the chain of command of the Gummybears - had earlier been called in by the two only other seniors above him and gave him a proper verbal lashing over a recent breach of operations. Somehow, names of crucial logistical partners from outside of Blackstone had been exposed and apprehended, a fault that was attributed to a 'lapse in guard' within their very own system. Even if it wasn't directly the result of his lack of foresight, the power and authority he was granted meant that Edgar was responsible for the security and operational aspects of the day to day running of their underworld trade. The leak meant that the secrecy of their operation was compromised. That was a milder way of saying his life was starting to be perched on the precarious line. He didn't need reminding of how triad members of the organisation were brutally creatively punished for failing to meet the rocket high standard of expectations, because he had witnessed them first hand his entire life. Behind the admirable boozes and blings, was an eternally damned stressful life. It wasn't anywhere near perfect. But it was the life that he knew from young, a life that he could naturally settle in as opposed to the greater civilised society beyond Blackstone. The Gummybears seemed like a bizarre label for one of the country's most insidious and surreptitious organisation. The title served to disarm and deceive. But it was entirely relevant to the nature of their work and an accurate representation of its elusive members. Gummy was a double entendre, as narcotics were part crucial to their business, although they were also dealing with a wider range of exploits. Some went on to provide an alternative and more abstract take, as Gummy was a fitting descriptor of the people who dealt or were associated with the triad - mess around with them, and you'd find yourself in an incredibly sticky situation; or for an internal context, once a brother of the Gummies, always a brother, as the bond was unbreakably sticky for life, akin to selling one's soul to the devil. One could not simply pledge to be a Gummy, only to decide he or she wants out later on. For a fleeting moment, Edgar's mind wandered. Was this all worth it? He swirled his pint of beer as if it was a glass of whiskey on the rocks. This is what I am good at. This is what I was born into, born to do. "What can I get you?" "A small red. Thank you."​ He pulled out a cigg and lit it blatantly in front of a redundant no-smoking sign, taking a puff from it. His mind was still deeply lost in thought, not registering the voice kept perceptibly distant from his busy mind, nor caring for a certain individual who chose to take the stool right next to him even though there were many other empty options further away. What if I wasn't born into this? A second puff and exhale. What if, I took a leap of faith like… "Hey Eddie." "Long time no see."​ This time, that voice pierced into his consciousness. Speak of the devil even before her name was mentioned. Surreal was an understatement. Is that…? Edgar had to turn his head to the side to meet the source of that very familiar voice, a feat few could successfully pull as more often than not, Edgar was never one to speak with his eyes on the other's gaze. There was almost always a certain air of superiority intermixed with aloofness in his demeanor, whether he consciously meant it or not. Not this time. Lily Carter tugged a special string in his heart, a rare individual who never failed to captivate his attention, at least, back in the days. They virtually grew up with each other since a tender age, especially for Lily. She was one and he was seven years of age, when she was first placed in the very orphanage that he was in. It was destined, that Edgar formed a bond with Lily. For some inexplicable reason, he was quick to be fond of the little one. Perhaps his circumstance of the lack of familial love had him yearning to have a family of his own, and he adopted Lily as if she was his own very sister. That was until she turned fifteen. They were never blood siblings. They were also two incredibly attractive individuals. And when Lily began to blossom, it was only a matter of time before Edgar saw her in a different light. They cared not for the taboo nature of things, cared not for how others viewed them, especially in a society like Blackstone. The feelings they had for each other was real, undeniable and nauseatingly asphyxiating. On her sixteenth birthday, Edgar claimed her virginity. Sex became a daily staple in their lives ever since then. Those moments of passion were memories he still held dear to himself, even long after she drew enough courage to leave him and Blackstone to seek greener pastures. He blinked his eyes and took in the sight of her. Lily looked so different, yet still so recognisable. She was polished, dolled, refined like an uptown lady on the outside. But her gait and street demeanour never left her, rough like how he remembered she was a glorious lioness capable of pinning him down and then giving him a wild ride. One would be foolish to assume her petiteness translated to weakness. The feel good, flooding memories of the good old times were short-lived however, when he spotted the unmistakable shimmer of a large diamond by the ring finger of her left hand. That stopped him from breaking from his ambivalent stance, stopped him from reaching out to pull her in for a tight embrace. His ego wouldn't let him do so, not especially since she chose to leave him, only to return years on to land a proverbial spit on his face, in the form of her engagement to someone else. He held himself steady with the familiar nonchalant poise of calm collectedness, before breaking his gaze away from her to look up front, took a mouthful of his beer as if he wasn't all that surprised or thrilled at Lily's very unexpected reappearance. "Back here to waste my time?" Edgar couldn't be bothered to withhold his venom. He honestly could not believe she had the cheek to reappear like that, considering how bad a note they ended, much of it was down to her doing. It was funny how he was almost ready to forgive seconds before, until the presence of a ring refueled all his deep seated anger.​

 

[Becboc]

ㅤ O ғㅤᴛ ʜ ᴇㅤʙ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ᴇ ᴠ ᴀ ʀ ᴅ ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦​ "Back here to waste my time?"​ And just like that, Lily was eighteen again. She felt Edgar's eyes before she met them and when she did... for a moment, just one, everything else seemed to melt away. The distance, the time, the bar, the people. It was a look that transcended reality and normalcy, one that was designed, created and meant for her and her alone. Lily had seen Edgar look at others and he didn't look at them like this. She had missed it, that look. The one that only he could give her, the one that seemed to pierce through barrier after wall and peer through skin and flesh, right through into the core of who she was. And in return? Her own burrowed into him, those olive green eyes shining beneath dimly lit lights, communicating more than words ever could. An understanding, a shared history, a county, a city, a life. In the end, that look was gone as quickly as it had appeared however, when Edgar broke the spell and looked away. It was an effort for Lily not to flinch at the tone that followed and while she lingered upon his profile for a moment longer, eventually she turned, slipping onto the stool next to him. In some ways she supposed she deserved the venom, had expected it even. In others, pride and stubbornness reared their heads above her discomfort, just like they had that last time before she had left. Left home. Left him. The scoff that fell from her was immediate, reactive; indicative of who she had once been and not the person she was supposed to be now. "Apparently so." Yet even so, perhaps only a minute in Edgar's presence and she was already reverting back to that version of herself, needing, wanting to explain, to argue. It was not something she could afford to do if she was ever going to leave Blackstone with what she had returned for. And so she took in a breath, before exhaling and attempting to uproot the anger he had planted. "It doesn't have to be though. A waste." Her voice had already softened a fraction. "For either of us." Before she could go any further, the bartender returned from the shadows, flipping a white square napkin onto the wood before his customer, followed by a small glass of red wine. Lily thanked him quietly in dismissal, and reached out slender fingers for the glass stem to pluck. Her mind threatened to drown in memories, just as it had the moment she had left the airport and began into the beating heart of her city. Yet being here, with Eddie? She had prepared what she might say, what she wanted to say, over and over, not only during her journey but over months, years. In the end such words were empty, useless. She should have known better because when it came to him? It was incomparable to her imaginings and thus it was her heart that spoke for her in the end, even thought it felt as though it had long been suffocated by the leash she'd tried so hard to keep around it. "You know, I've imagined what this moment might look like for seven years, pretty much. In some versions you smiled when you saw me again, in the best ones you pulled me into a hug. Just like you used to." When he buried his nose into her neck and she clung to the back of his shirt. When he began to kiss and nip and suck along her throat and she surrendered to him with a breathy, needy moan. "But the version I was saw the most? The one I was scared of? Was the one where you spoke to me without looking at me. Where you treated me with that same, cold distance that you used to reserve for everyone but me." Because he had always spoken to, looked at and treated her differently. Because she was different. To him. And even though it shouldn't have mattered anymore? Because Lily was twenty-five, employed and engaged? His reaction hurt. Deep down in the depths of the void within her heart, his reaction had disturbed the landslide that she was still, even today, working to prevent from sweeping her away. She had never wanted to leave him, but he had never asked her to stay. "And now here we are, I guess." She pulled the wine glass across the bar towards her, her focus seemingly upon it rather than her company. She was all too aware that she had not answered Edgar's true question; that at least, was a conscious decision. If she wanted to keep him here, keep him interested, keep him talking to her? Then she needed to do what she did best and keep him guessing in that way she knew he found curious, infuriating even. Or at least, he had, once upon a time. "But despite all of that," Lily went on with a softer sigh. Despite his greeting, despite the ring on her finger she had chosen to wear as her own line drawn in the sand, despite the reason she was here, real or otherwise. Despite all of that, despite everything, she couldn't deny that... She missed him. "It... really is good to see you again, Ed. Even if the feeling isn't mutual." Her voice caressed the words and so did her expression as she glanced at him for a second time, allowing him to both see and hear the sincerity if he chose to. The sincerity that dangled, low and inviting, sent rocking only a moment later by a flash of the girl that he had once known in amongst her newfound deference. A reminder. A peace offering. Lily's lips quirked just a little, as she raised her wine glass to them in preparation for a sip, in an attempt to pretend that she wasn't a shell, that she didn't have an aching, gnawing space within her chest where he had one been. "Now are you going to bum me a smoke before we continue this thing or what?"

 

[Keith Logan]

O ғㅤᴛ ʜ ᴇㅤs ᴛ ʀ ᴇ ᴇ ᴛ s ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦​ "Back here to waste my time?" "Apparently so." "It doesn't have to be though. A waste." "For either of us."​ The cheek of her. One would need to understand the context and circumstance of the way she left him to comprehend the amount of gaslighting there was in those seemingly innocuous words of hers. Or perhaps it was so deeply ingrained in her, she hadn't even realise on the conscious level that this was one the longstanding problems he had with her. Throughout their relationship, they spoke of their future like they got a clue. Money really wasn't much of a problem, assuming he did not get caught. But Edgar was fairly confident that was a distant worry given the complex ecosystem of the underworld trade, and how their identities were concealed over multiple layers. Historically, the track record of the highest members of the Gummybear's echelons getting caught was zlich. And he wasn't going to be the first. He was too meticulous to be the first. That was what Edgar believed. They were set for a comfortable life for a long time. And then came that Harvard University acceptance letter. Fucking Lily Carter was the first ever student from Blackstone Community High School to secure a scholarship at the prestigious institution. Edgar knew his baby girl Lily was smart. But this? He wasn't exactly thrilled when he first heard of that. One - Lily applied for college and kept it from him the entire time. School wasn't necessary, because Edgar was already bringing in the money. Thus, he dropped out mid-Secondary since he saw no value in a piece of certification. Lily chose to continue. He thought it was a waste of time. But it was what she enjoyed. So he supported her endeavour. Studying was supposed to be a hobby - until it got too serious. They found themselves at a crossroad that fateful evening. They spent years planning for their lives. Then suddenly, the irony was that a piece of paper was standing in the way of them. Lily didn't sound like she was joking when she said she was considering a move across the country - the whole fucking continent, to be exact - to pursue a college degree. That wasn't the worst part of it all. He asked her if she was going to come back after she was done with the four years. She struggled to respond immediately and gave a non-committal 'I cannot predict the future'. That was what fucking hurt. Did what they share mean nothing to her? The promise of a non-tangible degree was all it took to toss their commitment to one another into the thrash. Even up till this date, he wasn't even sure what her rationale exactly was. Ambition? Material things? Boredom of her status quo? Bored of him, maybe? He was too irate at her to bother wanting to convince her to stay. He shouldn't need to have to beg her to stay - it should be a given! It should have been common sense that he should be in her life plans as much as she was in his every consideration. Apparently, he had wildly misread her devotion to their cause. On the night before she left without leaving a trace, they made love. It was hate sex to be exact, and it wasn't even planned. Edgar was sitting by a dining chair in their living room, before she swooped in most unexpectedly and bounded his wrists behind him against the metal grills of the back rest, with hemp rope that conveniently laid around in their apartment. He still remembered that night vividly. She was in a short floral sundress, bottom rim barely covering her upper thighs. She went on to sit on his lap, then took her sweet time, straddling on top of him, not riding, but grinding her pussy against his magnificent length, slow and steady. She was without a thong underneath alright, so he felt her slickness coating him. But he couldn't see beneath the fabric that was splayed out around her. She asked him to 'give her reasons as to why she should stay' with a grin on her face like it was some trivial matter that she could make a game out of it. He knew she loved a good tease. But honestly? Edgar wasn't in a mood to entertain her fun and games that night. He was still furious on the inside at how casual she had approached the whole issue. So he gave her no more than responses that missed the spot like 'because we had a solid plan ahead of us' and 'the grass is not always greener on the other side.' She wanted to fish a 'Because I want you' out of him after she made it seem like she wanted them, him, less than he wanted her? No fucking way his ego was going to let him do that, especially for a young man whose pride had a notorious reputation, though deservedly so given how he had managed to grit and rose through the ranks. The serial winner was not used to having his ego bruised. He certainly wasn't keen on letting it be bruised by the person he trusted the most. Instead, he managed to slip his hands away from the rope bonds after much abrasion from his painfully slow attempts at trying to break free from Lily's flawed, novice bondage work. The rest was history - she was pinned down helpless, and he made sure she was given a thorough fucking for hours on end, pent up anger coursed through his veins as he made good work of readjusting the lower half of her body internally. She came and she cried, over and over. Even up till this day, Edgar never knew what was exactly going through her mind during that ordeal, apart from the guess that it was the trigger to her disappearance the next day. "You know, I've imagined what this moment might look like for seven years, pretty much. In some versions you smiled when you saw me again, in the best ones you pulled me into a hug. Just like you used to." "But the version I saw the most? The one I was scared of? Was the one where you spoke to me without looking at me. Where you treated me with that same, cold distance that you used to reserve for everyone but me." "And now here we are, I guess." "But despite all of that," "It... really is good to see you again, Ed. Even if the feeling isn't mutual." "Now are you going to bum me a smoke before we continue this thing or what?"​ You really are still downplaying everything even up till this day, aren't you? How fucking convenient to use time as a way to placate and to avoid an apology. This is going to be some talk. He needed something heavier, wordlessly hand gesturing to the bartender, before he brought over a bottle of Bourbon. It was clear that Edgar was still a regular patron of Moby's. Edgar didn't loiter around for too long. But he did pour himself a double shot of the liquor, chugging it down in one gulp like a seasoned consumer, stayed long enough to make his thoughts known. "Why the fuck would you think I'd pull you in for a hug? You didn't seem interested to stay for one the last you and I were together." "You vanishing on me was the coldest thing you could ever possibly do. Most 'everyone' hadn't even been as cruel to me as you were. And you still got the audacity to expect grace and 'reserved' treatment from me? You of all people should know that I'm the farthest thing away from a saint." "What do you want, Lily? You didn't travel all the way back to the cesspool to tell me it is good to see me again." "Money? Favours? Got into an argument with your posh man? Fuck back to the high society you desired and take your first world problems with you." Oh he made it known that he had noticed the vulgar accessory around her finger, which was essentially seen as an insult to him. Edgar got off his high stool, poured a second round into his glass, then took it with him. He strode over to a group of girls, probably only around the ages of eighteen, but all dressed in skimpy hoe dresses most sane dads would disapprove with much aghast. He pulled a blonde that was sat between two others away from the table. "Brittany." He spoke with a soft grin. But there was a more subtle hint of melancholy and weariness in his eyes few could recognise. The teenage girl was myopic to that. She seemed esthetic and dumb struck in the manner she had her eyes glued to the man. "I'm actually finally free tonight." He spoke. But before the girl could reply, he was already pressing his towering form against the girl, sandwiching her against the booth partition. His palms wasted no time, reaching down to her ass cheeks, cupping a firm feel of them, which let to the girl squealing and jolting. The group of girls erupted into cheers, screams and whistles. Apparently, Edgar's exhibitionist streak was still very much unchanged. More exhilaratingly, he's got a lovely guest in the audience this evening. ​

 

[Becboc]

ㅤ O ғㅤᴛ ʜ ᴇㅤʙ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ᴇ ᴠ ᴀ ʀ ᴅ ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦​ She had moved too quickly and she realised it too late. She had been naive, as she always tended to be when it came to Edgar. Lily was smart but hope was so often her downfall; she had hoped he'd missed her enough that her return would be welcomed, she had hoped that if she put on a show for him that night before she had left that it would be enough to show him what she wanted. Words would have been too easy. Words were not the language that they preferred. Words were dangerous, a certainty of a wounded ego and a bruised heart. Lily hadn't wanted to risk either, yet here she was with both seven years later. Not that she would ever admit it - she hadn't then and she certainly wouldn't now. So she had left. She had taken her acceptance letter and gotten the hell out of Blackstone. Perhaps leaving without a word had been a step too far but— No, it hadn't because she had known that if she had seen Eddie again in the wake of that last night? The one who had brought her up as good as family, the only one she had everything to thank for; her plans would have crumbled and she would have lost her nerve. No, she had needed to leave after he had pushed her to the kitchen floor and taken her there and then, over and over again until she was a crying, fucked out mess beneath him. He hadn't been able to tell her how she felt and she hadn't him - so what more was there to say? The sad thing about it was though, that she had never wanted to change Eddie. He had always been enough for her and while she wasn't sure she would ever return to Blackstone after she had left, what was to stop him from leaving too? Leaving with her, when she had a degree and enough money for the two of them? Where they could be safe, stable, away from the dangers of their roots. That was what she had wanted for them, what she believed they both deserved. That was why she had prioritised her education. For herself but also for him too. And that night when he hadn't asked her to stay? That night had changed everything. Because why should she stay for someone who didn't want her enough to say it? The charged emotions flooded her system with the memories and Lily's gaze flickered when the bartender responded to Eddie's gesture. The silence he responded with was enough to stop her from going any further and she filled it by taking a sip of her wine, in preparation for what was to come. Although when it eventually did, she was taken aback by the force of it, even though she perhaps shouldn't have been. "Why the fuck would you think I'd pull you in for a hug? You didn't seem interested to stay for one the last you and I were together."​ Lily opened her mouth to protest but— "You vanishing on me was the coldest thing you could ever possibly do. Most 'everyone' hadn't even been as cruel to me as you were. And you still got the audacity to expect grace and 'reserved' treatment from me? You of all people should know that I'm the farthest thing away from a saint."​ "Oh come on Eddie, we both know that's not—" "What do you want, Lily? You didn't travel all the way back to the cesspool to tell me it is good to see me again." "Money? Favours? Got into an argument with your posh man? Fuck back to the high society you desired and take your first world problems with you."​ Those questions however, snapped her mouth shut again, enough to force her to look back down at the glass she was now skimming the rim of with her index finger, a frown nestled into her forehead. So he had seen her ring then, she realised as the diamond upon her hand glinted. She had worn it as her own reminder but she was realising now that perhaps she had misjudged her decision. Or perhaps… perhaps the real reason for why she had chosen to wear it was darker than that. Perhaps this was the real reason. His reaction. A test. A question. Did he still care? And what would it matter if he did? Shaking off that thought like one might swat at an incessant fly, hurt prickled along Lily's skin in the wake of it, hurt she possibly had no right to feel. Although that was nothing compared to what followed, as she jerked towards his movement without providing an answer, watching him slip away with the same fluid grace that had always enchanted her, right over to a booth of young girls who watched him like they were witnessing a god descend upon their presence. Lily knew of course, what was coming before it did. Eddie had done this to her only once before but fuck, if it hadn't seared into her mind like the scar that it was. The scene was difficult not to relive as he plucked the blonde from the lineup, and had her cornered within moments under the shadow of his height, to the cheers and whistles of her delighted friends. Lily could already feel something heavy settling in the pit of her stomach, like a stone dropped into an endless ocean, sinking down and down and down, growing ever heavier under the pressure. It shouldn't have mattered to her, not now, not now that she had Johnny and yet… something raw and predatory threatened like fire licking at the edges of her mind. An ingrained hahititude more than likely, she considered… which was a much easier theory than the alternative. Lily knew that this was her punishment, or at least a part of it. Expecting her to stay and watch while Edgar tasted and pressed and licked and savoured. The phantom twitch of her legs saw her taking another mouthful of red and reaching for her pocket to find her own cigarette, while the memory her thoughts redirected to was one of Eddie's streak of exhibitionism finding its home in her willingness to please. She could hear the high-pitched squawking from where she sat, the shuffling of bodies, the rumble of his voice and the sultry clamour of hers. "It's about time," Brittany giggled, her supine calves hooking around Edgar's waist. "So my place, or yours?" "It's about time." Lily had smiled against Eddie's ear as he had manoeuvred her from his lap and halfway across the bar towards the women's bathroom. He led her by the hand, his grip firm. Yet when they'd reached the first door, Lily had hauled him back again with enough force to back her into the wall beside it, with Eddie pressing her into it. Her hands had captured his hair as she'd tugged him down to meet her mouth, in full view of Moby's clientele. She had been seventeen at the time and they were both high on one of his more successful deals… amongst other things. Lily's eyes were dark and wide, her lips trailing along the slight stubble of Eddie's jawline. "Not in there," she had whispered by way of explanation. "Here." And then when she had pulled back to look at him again, her lips had quirked in that way they always did when it came to him. Teasing, knowing. A challenge. She knew how much he enjoyed an audience and he knew how much she was happy to oblige him.​ Lily flicked her lighter, once, twice, as if trying to extinguish the memory by igniting a flame elsewhere. Her body crowded her in a way that ignited her need to flee, to move away from the source of her discomfort but at the same time… Lily knew that's what Eddie wanted. He was doing this to spite her, to teach her a lesson. She knew it because she knew him; just like she knew he would expect her to stay and watch, to suffer. And while a part of her knew she didn't have to, not anymore, another part of her… another part of her was morbidly curious to see what her own reaction might be. "You can't smoke in here." Lily flicked her lighter for a third time but when it didn't catch a fourth, she looked up to see the bartender staring down at her, arms folded. She considered him for a moment and how usually, she would have lit up anyway, smoked the whole dann thing in front of him and then stubbed the stick out on the bar itself. But instead here she was. A shell of what she had once been. "You didn't say that to the last guy," she replied pointedly, as she reached to take the stick from between her lips. "Yeah well. You're not the one who has a hand in my pay check so. You'll have to go outside." "It's raining outside." This time, the man scoffed. "Not my problem." And with that he turned, as though he knew he need not argue any longer. "Asshole." Lily watched him go with irritation, not entirely put there by him but the result was the same. Her feelings over what was happening behind her were complicated at best, and she really hadn't needed a gods damned stranger to make the decision on what she needed to do about it. Her mind whirred as she dared another glance over her shoulder, at the show that was surely taking place. Brittany had her lips at Edgar's ear, her long nails curled into the back of his neck. Lily might have rolled her eyes if she didn't feel so weird about it, and weirder still about feeling weird in the first place. Maybe the bartender had done her a favour after all; he'd given her an out, a reason to leave that wasn't her own cowardice. And not only that but it was a reminder, that if Edgar wanted to play then so be it - but that didn't mean that Lily had to play by his rules. Not anymore. She didn't have to grin and bear it to get what she wanted when there were… other ways in which she could earn his attention. She wasn't eighteen anymore. The thought concluded her decision with a finality that saw Lily pocketing her lighter again, downing the rest of her drink and slipping from her stool. Her hold-all was over her shoulder in less than a minute and she began across the room, her eyes naturally trailing to where Brittany and Eddie were still locked together. Not once did her focus leave them as she started towards the smoking exit, ensuring to take a small detour en route. To anyone else Lily looked like a leaving customer, to Brittany and her friends, an approaching shadow on the periphery of their focus. But to Eddie… Lily made sure he would feel her shoulder grazing his back as she leaned in just enough to ensure that he would hear her. "Enjoy pretending she feels as good as I used to." A seed planted. A line drawn. And then she made to continue on her way, without looking back.

 

[Keith Logan]

O ғㅤᴛ ʜ ᴇㅤs ᴛ ʀ ᴇ ᴇ ᴛ s ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦​ They were young lovers, inexperienced, and lacked the grasp of the work that was required to keep a battered flame alive. It didn't help that they were each others' first, never knew what to expect, and could only play the game as it went. Unfortunately, Edgar and Lily were some of the most stubborn and opiniated individuals to exist. What happens, when two bulls were pitted against each other in a love affair? Theirs was passionately fiery, as it was agonizingly bruising after each battle of trying to impose their ways on the other. Lily was upset that Edgar seemed lukewarm and fell way short of feeding her need to feel wanted? What about him wanting to feel wanted and respected enough for her to at least, consider consulting something that would have profound impact on his life? It didn't help when Lily's first thoughts were to speak about her gloriously painted prospective future without first ever asking him if he was alright. The priorities were clear - at least, that was how Edgar saw it. He felt that it wasn't just her decision to make, but them. And Edgar was of the opinion that he could bet most certainly that Lily would attempt to convince him the legitimacy of her plans and if unsuccessful, would pin leaving Blackstone as a non-negotiable outcome, regardless of his concerns, if their battling history was anything to go by. She was an incredibly aspiring woman after all. Unlike Lily, Edgar was not academically inclined. Unlike Lily, Edgar was a true blue delinquent that would find it extremely hard to fit into a working society outside of Blackstone. Was he to give up all of his stability and abandon years of cumulative stellar work at Blackstone, to leave with Lily into the unknown? He was going to be a misfit, starting from scratch and disadvantaged with nothing to rely on, but Lily. It was colossally unnerving to be stripped off his sense of agency down to the bare bones, after being comfortably settled, and turned from being the kind of man that everyone looked up to as a figure of support that commanded respect, including Lily, to a nobody. Edgar wasn't thrilled about the shift in power dynamics, considering that he was contented and so used to holding onto that baton for so long. Diverting interests and priorities, lack of thoughtful communication which was further plagued by the self-interests of two young people, both desperately trying to find a place in this world. It was always going to be an uphill battle. And from his perspective, Edgar was pissed Lily chose to abandon the fight. That emotion was clearly still very raw in his ensuing tirade, which had Lily unable to put a word in for herself. He actually paused right at the very end, giving her just a narrow window to respond. But nothing came out of her. It felt that he had resoundingly beat her down, and by the gods that felt so fucking satisfying. But not satisfying enough. The presence of the booth of young women was thankfully opportunistic, of which, Edgar had always been one to be quick thinking on his feet to make the most out of his environment. "It's about time," "So my place, or yours?"​ "Not in neither." "Here." Deja vu, as if every part of the night was meant to mock Lily. It was curious to know if Edgar had remembered that very shared memory fresh in Lily's mind, in which he deliberately acted to reenact, rather than out of unbelievable coincidence. It was surreal both recollected the same memory at the same moment in time, which spoke volumes about how interwoven their history and thought processes were, how similar their wavelengths were, despite their other differences. Edgar was blind to the presence of Lily from where he was stood, back facing against where she and himself were previous sat. He knew she was still there when he first approach the girls. And he was making a risky assumption that Lily would stick around long enough for him to exercise his petty vengeance. In all honesty, Eddie was nervous - not because he didn't know how to approach a girl, because he had been trying with numerous girls since Lily left, but none led to solid long term outcomes. He was nervous, because he hoped she was back simply because she cared enough, because he had this profound urge to draw a long overdue reaction out of Lily just to get on level terms for all the pain she had caused it. Yet, the catharsis wouldn't even come close to that. And then... "Enjoy pretending she feels as good as I used to."​ If only she saw that oh-so-honeyed-smug grin that flashed across his face right after she brushed pass his back with a whisper. That grin curbed towards the end however. Because Lily also spoke the truth. The intimacy he used to share with Lily had evolved and transcended to a level that had ruined sex a great deal for him. They had done things that would make most people drop their jaws in catatonic silence, would make mums and dads dead set on suing him for exploiting their daughters in unimaginable ways. Their sexual chemistry was through the roof and they were able to do just about anything in the book and beyond their wandering filth-ladened minds, with each other without ever feeling morally or socially judged, anxious or awkward. They trusted and felt immense comfort and solace in one another. So much so that he allowed her to be used by his best mates - six of them to be precise - on a round robin as a gift on her seventeen birthday. He promised that it was going to be a night of euphoria. It was his gift of experience for her, and he had been proud of her for taking it like a champ with a smile on her face. Edgar could still remember the sounds of wanton lust interlaced by her moans that came with saccharine pitched voice that had always been naturally and immaculately seductive. He remembered her body in a frequent cyclical state of violent convulsions by early morning, her throat gone hoarse, and her face of perpetual ahegao - an irony because he remembered her saying one time that she hated that word. She was an extremely intelligent woman without a doubt. But that night, she looked silly, had been fucked silly. Like her many firsts, he was the reason why she acquired a new taste and subsequent addiction to gangbangs. Sensing how affected she was, a reminiscence of old times, Edgar grabbed hold of Lily's wrist just right before she could stride herself out of his reach to pull herself back in, before shoving her towards three of the girls sat on the bench on the other side of the table. Where did she think she was going? The fun only just begun. "Girls, meet Lily Carter, an old acquaintance of mine from out of town." "Would you mind showing her a bit of the Moby's hospitality?" "Gladly." The girls echoed in amusing unison, which led to a bout of giggles, before Lily's body was being sucked further into the booth by six pairs of hands that aptly resembled hell's pit. Edgar introduced her as if she wasn't local, when anything but. In a sense, all those years away had made her distant to Moby's or Blackstone entirely for that matter. The last time she was there, those girls by the booth had been too young to learn that Lily Carter once graced the premise as an esteemed patron, pacing side by side the up and coming Edgar the mobster. And so the way that they handled Lily by groping her all over, outraging her modesty by slipping hands to cup a feel of her endowed bosoms and her even fuller ass, fingers slipped beneath her blouse and lingerie, grazing buds top and bottom alike, toying much to their amusement. There was a clear blatant disregard of the woman who used to be near untouchable, when she was still his as he was hers. Edgar grabbed Brittany in and whispered into her ear. Her smile rapidly faded, and her gaze quickly redirected over to Lily, cold and piercing. The teenager didn't seem all too pleased. God knows what toxicity Eddie had spewed into her. The next moment, Eddie sent the girl crashing forward against the table, bent on a ninety degrees, as he pressed himself on her rear. His hands self-helped to her dress, lifting it until it was bunched up just above the level of Edgar's groin. His hands rummaged and fidgeted underneath the fabric of the girl's sundress. Muffled sounds of a zipper hinted of the obvious. The very next moment, Edgar slammed his pelvis forward, which led to a sharp shrill coming from Brittany, followed by her body shuddering. "Nnngghhh...!" "Oh shi-...!" Her brows and forehead were thoroughly creased, her cheeks tensed. Her teeth were gritting hard. Her contorted face looked confused, unsure if she should be screaming or moaning. She looked overwhelmed. Edgar's manhood was well concealed out of sight. But Lily was more than versed with Eddie's anatomy to understand why that might have been the case. With his hands grasping around her waist, he held the teenager down and began slow, but abrupt, deeply penetrative thrusts each time he rocked forward. Eddie was holding back, pacing himself only because any faster, or any deeper, and the girl could well tap herself out. But she did gradually ease over time, with her wetness pooling by the seconds. "Someone's getting ready, isn't she?" "... Ahh.. Mmhh.. !" "... ready enough to show that I will be your best yet." Her fingers, curled. Her nails, dug into the wooden grains of the table. Her eyes, struggling to decide between a dreamy or deathly stare towards Lily's direction. ​

 

[Becboc]

ㅤ O ғㅤᴛ ʜ ᴇㅤʙ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ᴇ ᴠ ᴀ ʀ ᴅ ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦​ It was quite possible, that Lily had fucked her return in a way that was becoming clear to her was something she was good at, rather than an accident. She had expected Edgar to play the game, to pretend that he was unbothered by her presence as she would pretend she was by his. They could start with some cat and mouse, a struggle for power, what they were best at, what had always worked for her before. Yet his reaction had been more visceral, more honest in some ways. And Lily wasn't altogether sure what to do with that. Not after so many months—No, years of feeling nothing at all. The numbness had started within her during her first year at Harvard, setting its roots and then gradually spreading like a disease that had no cure. She had expected, perhaps naively, to settle into the new life that she had wanted for herself, that she had believed she deserved and yet… the topics of her classes went over her head, the readings her professors set were in a language she didn't understand. Writing an essay wasn't simply putting your thoughts on a page; it required structure and references and that required reading and research and— Yeah. Lily had never really stood a chance, had she? The lure of parties and distraction, a world she knew better than most was a vice she could not deny. Time went to alcohol, to drugs and boys, and her grades dipped and dipped until she barely scraped a pass at the end of it all. And in a world that thrived on competition? There was no place for her in that, in any of it. So, the numbness had continued to grow and she had tried, she had really tried to find ways to solve it. Boyfriends, retail jobs, the gym, a gods damned fiancé. But the sex did nothing for her and the affection could only get her so far. Her mind was a void, one that had grown and grown until she couldn't stand it anymore. Until she was willing to go back to the one place, the one person that had always made her feel so alive. Except when she got there, he wasn't interested anymore because she had left him behind. And could she blame him, really? She had never spoken to him about her plans, never divulged what was going on in that pretty little head of hers. If she was honest, she had been fucking scared. Scared of his reaction, of what she might do if he didn't approve. Would he have stopped her from going? Or worse, would he have cut ties and let her on her way? He felt as though it had been their decision to make, but could he have done so fairly, without bias? Would he have thought about what was best for her, the way she believed she was doing the best for him? For them? Was he really so against letting her take the lead for a few months, a few years? Did he not think her capable? There were so many questions they should have discussed yet neither of them had put their egos aside long enough to do so. Lily could argue she had tried, she had opened the door; he was the one who had slammed it shut again in her face. The night he had gripped her arm and forced her to the kitchen floor, gripped her like he was now, holding her in place, stopping her from leaving. The parallels were clear. Olive greens flickered down to the point of contact and then back up into the face of eyes that spun everything that Edgar would not say. "Girls, meet Lily Carter, an old acquaintance of mine from out of town." "Would you mind showing her a bit of the Moby's hospitality?"​ Lily didn't look away as he forced her towards the booth of girls, as they swarmed her like ants upon waiting prey, their hands gripping and touching, along her chest, beneath her shirt, between her legs. Yet still, Lily didn't look away from the man she had once given everything to, as he pushed his lips to Brittany's ear and then crashed her forwards onto the table. This is what Lily had hoped would spark something within her; stranger's hands, tickling hardened peaks, caressing the warmth against her lacy black thong. She wanted to feel the stirring of anger, of outrage, of arousal as a zipper tore through the giggles and sighs, as Edgar pushed the girl's dress up to her waist and finally slammed into her without warning, gifting her the only feeling that Lily had ever craved. "Nnngghhh...!" "Oh shi-...!"​ A phantom twitch of her legs was gifted briefly upon hearing those sounds, upon feeling warm breath tickling her neck. It didn't matter whose it was, not when she could see Eddie in front of her, not when it was so easy to imagine that it was him. And she wondered if he was looking at her, watching her and imagining that she was the one beneath him too? Imagining how she used to feel curled around his length, how she used to fit him so perfectly snug it was as though she had been made for him – only him. His thrusts were deep and slow but it was Brittany's voice that broke any hope Lily had garnered of chasing the void away - that scraping, high-pitched drawl that dashed the illusion in her mind which so closely resembled the taste she had for multiple hands and multiple mouths. That voice, the gasped declaration settled within her, blocking her from feeling a damn thing. Eddie wanted her to suffer? This would have been a surefire way to ensure it in the past, but now? Now, Lily wanted more, needed more. And that in itself scared her. "... ready enough to show that I will be your best yet."​ Her lips curled at the death stare, but the smirk didn't reach her eyes, her eyes that remained on his. "Yeah. Good luck with that." She was moving then, shrugging out of the hold of the girls and putting herself back together as she went. Their attempts to stop her were futile and by the time she was out of the booth, her expression was resting neutral again. Empty. If she was bothered by the whole ordeal, she certainly didn't show it. "Who knows, if you repeat it enough times maybe it'll come true?" She spoke to Brittany but the words felt heavier, weighted, and as she picked up her bag from where it had fallen, Lily met Eddie's gaze again in a way that was pointed. You'll have to do better than that. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get the stink of fake tan out of my nose." Words that were childish, petty even but Lily was beyond caring about the curses of disapproval that were thrown her way in the aftermath, and it certainly wasn't enough to stop her from turning and resuming her path to the smoking exit, as though she had never been interrupted from it in the first place. The rain was still coming down as heavily as when she had entered Moby's, which forced Lily beneath the rotted, wooden awning that existed out back as a half-assed attempt to shelter smokers from bad weather. She let her bag drop to her feet beside her while she fumbled around in the pocket of her jacket to once more retrieve her lighter and a cigarette. Two flicks this time and it caught, allowing her to take a deep, much needed inhale that saw her settling back against the wall and exhaling a cloud between plump lips a moment or two later. Had seeing Eddie fuck another girl bothered her? Absolutely. Without a doubt. Had it affected her as much as she had wanted it to? No. No It hadn't. So that only begged the question then; what would?

 

[Keith Logan]

O ғㅤᴛ ʜ ᴇㅤs ᴛ ʀ ᴇ ᴇ ᴛ s ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦​ Then young Lily had a rep - the teenage girl who had one of the most promising man of the underworld wrapped around her fingers; the proverbial woman behind every successful man. Edgar was feared by most by the time he hit his twentieth birthday, an apparent understudy to the mysterious and elusive head of the Gummybears. Yet, there had been rumours from a few that unintentionally witnessed the mighty young Edgar on his knees, figuratively and in one instance, literally, to a mere seventeen year old. It boggled the mind in so many ways. The rumours floated. But virtually almost all that heard but not seen wouldn't believe. People just could not imagine, could not believe that the Edgar they knew, who had ruthlessly ruined the lives of numerous foolish enough to come in his way, to be under the influence of a girl who didn't even belong to the Gummybears hierarchy. At the heart of him however, Edgar could be mean, but he wasn't born to be mean. His trespass into the lives of those unfortunate few was strictly business - a man wanting no more than to do his job with conscientiousness, not much different to an executioner. It seemed difficult for two intrinsic alphas vying for the same spot of the podium, the sceptre of control over how their relationship should develop. It was a shame because they understood each others' egos like no other; understood that inherent basic need of wanting to exert a solid influence over the other like one would need to breath air. Control was a sanctuary that brought out a sense of comfort to these two highly ambitious individuals. At the same time, their perfect like-mindedness was also a double edged sword. Being able to read each others' mind didn't mean they needn't have to deal with each others' aggressively domineering approach to each other. Hence why their passion and bond for each other was telepathic, unbreakable, yet chaotically fiery. If only one of them could have enough grace to drop their ego and allow themselves to speak their minds to each other, free from judgement. Perhaps Edgar might have been more willing to ask Lily to stay albeit with arduous effort to suppress his heightened guard of self-interest. Perhaps he would have listened to her reasoning instead of completely shutting her out right from the get go. Perhaps he would have had the courage to tell her that it was not that he did not think she wasn't capable - she was getting into Harvard, for god's sake -, but that it was more to do with him being anxious about them risking their perfectly imperfect status quo for... potentially nothingness. Edgar much rather they took the safer option. Even up until then, he was mad at Lily for thinking all things sugar and spice, but failed to account for that possibility that things could also well fail for the worst. He was mad that she was willing to risk them, for some uncertain fairytale fantasy that most Blackstone realists would snigger at. What a way to ruin the anticipation of sex by having the thoughts of their past flood his mind while his cock was wrapped by the tight warmth of another. Lily's cool, if not, defiant gaze back up at him even when the hands of unruly teenage girls roamed across her body and underneath her clothes frankly sickened him. Why are you always so fucking stubborn? Brittany was undoubtably smoking hot - freshly eighteen, pretty face, pretty voice, fit body. How many boys would have wanted to be in his position. Yet, there was that look on his face, of neutral ambivalence that perhaps Lily had been more accustomed to since she once grew alongside him, as he sliced the teenage pussy apart with his seasoned manhood on a monotonous clockwork rhythm. Edgar tried to put on a grin. But it came off somewhat pretentious, as it was no easy feat given the emotional high of things and how everything was happening so quickly. Brittany's entire womanhood could barely take just over half of his length. It was clear the teenage girl was struggling to embrace the sheer monstrosity of his, while Edgar was showing rare signs of a man actually being the one to feel unsatisfaction for a change. He needed to feel more, physically, mentally. And there was someone else within vicinity that he knew could give him more. But he would mightily hate to have to beg ask of that someone, considering she had put him into misery, had yet to offer an apology. The need to preserve his self-respect was just too much. "Yeah. Good luck with that." "Who knows, if you repeat it enough times maybe it'll come true?"​ That was the Lily that he remembered. She had blossomed into such a fine grown woman. But her attitude was still as bullishly youthful and brazen as ever, not yet losing even an ounce of that spark. How could a woman be so bloody sexy? Fuck off, Edgar. Fuck off. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get the stink of fake tan out of my nose."​ "Bitc-. OHHH." Brittany was beginning to tear, her nails clawing against the table top, her eyes immediately went tight shut as Edgar mercilessly rammed his shaft in his trademark mechanic pounding that could well rip apart the uninitiated, that same intensity that had gotten Lily's mascara smudged on that very night by the kitchen floor. One could argue that Edgar was selfishly taking pleasure for himself. He would argue instead that he was giving his all. And the teenage girl simply didn't have the capacity to receive his all. Edgar's eyes remained on Lily's as hers remained on his as if nobody else were present in the little mental arena they had going. Lily bossed her way against the odds of three other girls to make a brief but strong enough impression and introduction to the booth of just what she - a foreign acquaintance - was all about. When she brushed pass him for the last time, the face of Eddie was that of the ever-present stoic front Lily had grown to love. And only she would know better that the stoniness was but a poor representation of the much more tumultuous storm that was raging inside of him. ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦​ "What a cunt. Wasn't he?" ​ Vaughn von Schwort was barely two body spaces away to her left. He had his own joint between his lips, a self-made roll up by the looks of it, as he lit it up against the bellowing of moderate winds. He savoured a long puff, before pulling it out to have it clipped between his fingers to the right side. "Not sure what you see in him all those years, to be honest." He smiled, finally turned ninety degrees to bring himself one step closer within touching distance of Lily, before he leaned against the bricked wall with his left arm. His eyes unabashedly scanned her body from tip to toe, comprehensively, like she was nothing more than a piece of... meat for purchase. That was how most guys of Blackstone stared at their girls, anyway. Like Edgar, Vaughn had worked his way into becoming the second hand in command of the Gummybears. He was only barely two years older than Eddie was. And for the longest time, the street rivalry between the two then up and coming hot shots was through the roof. Years on, they found themselves working with each other despite their vast differences and disdain for one another. Both possessed talents in their own rights that the Gummy head had somehow managed to get to the young bulls at logger heads to work in ice sheet-thin peace. Oh, the immense joy he felt when he had been placed one spot higher than Edgar, who purportedly lost by a fine hair's margin. Pettiness was an attribute that seemed to be apparent in the Blackstone community due to peer culture and influence. There was one thing he still regretted up until that very day - the envy jealousy he felt when Edgar used to parade Lily around by his side. Lily was a hot commodity. And Vaughn like many others, were snakes waiting for the longest time to lunge their teeth into a prize as fine as the lady of the boulevard. "I hate him." "You seem to hate him." "I figure we can work an amazing partnership." Vaughn then reached out to pull Lily's generic commercial cigarette most unexpectedly and then tossed it out onto the streets, which was quickly doused out by the rain. He then replaced it with the very joint that he previously took a puff from, sticking in into Lily's lips. It tasted of weed, generous amount of thick, quality weed. "I can even show you a good time along the way." His smile was bright. But those who had worked with him long enough would know his smiles almost always came with insidious intent. If it wasn't already clear enough, the mobster brazenly reached out his left hand to give Lily's ass a firm squeeze in lieu of a hand shake. For a man who despite being an excruciating thorn, had often been able to get away with things like that for being sly smart, dashing, rich, powerful. ​

 

[Becboc]

ㅤ O ғㅤᴛ ʜ ᴇㅤʙ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ᴇ ᴠ ᴀ ʀ ᴅ ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦​ Although she had appeared brazen at the time, stepping out into the unknown was one of the most terrifying things that Lily had ever done. She had been naive, she knew that now, in believing that a better life was possible. School had suckered her in, her teachers telling her that she was capable, that she could do so much more. Lily had never considered that about herself until someone else had told her as much. She had started to believe them, over time, but she realised now of course, that they had sold her nothing more than their own flimsy pipedreams and she had been stupid enough to fall for it. People like her, people from Blackstone? They didn't make it in the outside world. They were born of the streets, made of the streets and that would forever stand in the way of them amounting to anything more than the streets. And that wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was that doing it all away from him had nearly killed her in ways that she wasn't prepared to speak of to date. Some might have called her brave but she didn't feel it. She had left behind the comfort of control that day, the comfort of everything she had ever known. She couldn't deny that she had sought more than what Blackstone offered... but not more than Edgar. Never more than her Eddie, her Eddie who understood her, who saw her, the real her. Or at least that had been the case up until his actions had led her to believe that she wasn't enough for him, not really. He had chosen Blackstone over her and so in return, she had chosen to live over him. Something had died within Lily that day and it was something she was still trying to revive, seven years later. Which... is what made Vaughn von Schwort in particular, so much more dangerous to her than he ever had been in the past. Lily had always been aware of the tension that existed between him and Edgar; hell, most of Blackstone was in those earlier days. Their battle for the spot Vaughn had somehow managed to slip into ahead of his competition had been close, dirty and dangerous. But then how could it have been anything else between two men who were seemingly such polar opposites with a shared dream? Vaughn was charming in a more obvious way than Eddie, he was ruthless and powerful and he knew it. His arrogance had always been second to none and it had only worsened with his position. He and Lily had swapped words before, sometimes jovial, sometimes barbed but for the most part she stayed out of his way. Gummy business was nothing to do with her; the only thing that she was concerned with was Eddie and the impact that Vaughn had on the damned near only thing she truly cared about. It was for this reason, amongst others, that she didn't immediately notice his presence. The smell of substances was commonplace in wafting amongst the scent of commercial cigarettes and her mind... well, her mind was still on the interaction within Moby's rather than what was happening outside of it. "What a cunt. Wasn't he?" "Not sure what you see in him all those years, to be honest." ​ Once upon a time Lily would have clawed at the face of anyone who even dared to suggest that Eddie was less than he was but now? Now she was older and Vaughn was right; he was being a cunt. But then if he was then so was she and wasn't that just another part of the reason for why they worked? The familiarity of the voice caressed the shell of Lily's ear but she didn't turn to face the direction it came from as she took another drag, merely sensing the movement beside her. She didn't respond to his words either, didn't feel as though she needed to when the the void within her swallowed swallowed them, along with everything else. Lily didn't need to look at Vaughn to know how he was looking at her. How he had looked at her in the past. She could feel the hunger in his gaze as it raked over her profile; the likes of which did little for her when they hardly scratched the surface of the one that she had left inside. "I hate him." "You seem to hate him." "I figure we can work an amazing partnership." ​ Still, Lily didn't turn. She might have smirked at how wrong he was if she weren't so preoccupied with brooding. She didn't hate Eddie. Not even close. But how could she even begin to explain what was going on between them to someone who felt like they could summarise her feelings into one, single, ridiculous word? The first time that Lily did eventually acknowledge Vaughn, was when he forced her too. Her cigarette was plucked from her fingers, only to be replaced by a thinner, stronger self-rolled joint. The scent of weed tickled her nose and finally, she turned as she brought it up to her lips and inhaled, deeply. "I can even show you a good time along the way." ​ She didn't so much as flinch when Vaughn's hand reached down to grab her ass, as if to punctuate his seedy words, naturally tugging her closer towards him. Her eyes met his just as the first wave of the joint hit and she pursed her lips to blow out a soft plume across his features. When the smoke cleared again, Lily was leaning against the wall sideways on, wearing her own hint of a smile now, her head tilted slightly to one side in consideration. If Eddie wasn't prepared to talk to her, to accept her return? If Eddie wanted to play? Then oh, she would play. Anything to ease the ache of emptiness still growing within her chest. "That so?" Lily eventually drawled after what felt like too long of a silence, a question that was followed by her dragging a pink, pointed tongue along the pearly white row of her top teeth before they found rest in a plump, glossed bottom lip. "And how, exactly, do you plan to do that, Vaughn?"

 

[Keith Logan]

O‎ ғ‎ ‎ ‎ ᴛ‎ ʜ‎ ᴇ‎ ‎ ‎ ᴜ ᴍ ʙ ʀ ᴀ ‎ ‎ ᴇ ᴍ ᴘ ɪ ʀ ᴇ ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦​ There were only a few people who dared not to acknowledge Vaughn's presence respectfully. Relevantly, the head of the Gummies, and now, Lily Carter. She wasn't a threat by a long shot, didn't have the capabilities to threaten him. But her calm and composure was perplexingly inflated, as if she had total disregard for her own life, as if she believed herself an immortal, a goddess - ironically, what many men distinguished her as. How could someone possess such levels of reckless arrogance? She had the balls, literally and figuratively. That attitude of hers was what made men like Vaugh and Edgar so attracted to the femme fatale. These men who had lived their lives on the edge appreciated a woman who knew and lived by the same sword. These ambitious bulls who themselves were drawn to challenges, were drawn to a woman who seemed like she would give them a proper run for their money. The sense of accomplishment, ever so reliant on the difficulty of the chase. For the longest time, Lily had been one of few trophies in the wilderness of Blackstone that Vaugh had occasionally randomly fantasized how she would look like without clothes on, how she might perform beneath the sheets, as he rubbed his morning glories to ease. It happened not so much these days, but more so in the times when Lily had still been so casually and non-deliberately lurking around his vicinity frequent enough to hook his wandering and testosterone packed mind to thoughts as such. And now, seemingly out of nowhere, those fantasies teetered along the precipice of unexpected reality. Count on Vaugh's sharp instincts to know just how to grab hold onto opportunities whenever they arise. And to impose himself on the opportunity he did. He first treated her to a much more expensive joint despite the less presentable roll. It was the substance that truly mattered and not the paper that wrapped after all, just like how it was more important for a guy to know how to wield his manhood, than the size of it that mattered. What use was something pretty, if it still could not give one a sense of euphoria? Turned out, he seemed to have spoken her language, pulling just about enough of a draw to deserve her attention, her effort of simply turning her body partially to face him. "I can even show you a good time along the way." "That so?" "And how, exactly, do you plan to do that, Vaughn?"​ Vaugh tried to hold in a scoff when the lady bluntly blew a plume towards his face before he could respond. The audacity. How intriguing. How... exhilarating. "Congrats. On being the first person ever who dared to smother me like that." The grip of his palm against her ass cheek tightened, almost with a menacing force with the way his nail dug in, protected by the fabric of her jeans. He leaned in, even closer, his cheek grazing softly against hers, when Lily showed no signs of resistance, before whispering into her ear; his breaths, tingling against her pinna, coursing as far back to her mid spine. "That goes into the tab, darling." "No trespass against me goes... unpunished." "Looks like school had turned you astray." A soft smirk plastered across his face, before he pulled himself away, but only just barely. By now, he had assumed liberty over the lady's body, as if he had already claimed her for his own, as typical of a man who almost always seemed to get what he wanted, one way or another. His ass tugging hand adjusted, slipping higher until it was coiled around her waist to pull her into a lover's embrace, her stomach, pressed against what felt like a granite hard washboard abdominal form. His right free hand, running his fingers through her hair to push her fringe aside, allowing him a clearer view of her features. "Such a pretty little face." He balled his running hand into a fist after, brushing his finger joints and knuckles against her skin, sensually tracing her entire jawline, before flicking the weed roll wastefully onto the ground, so he could slip his thumb along the width of her lips, softly pinching it. "If Edgar doesn't know how to treat a woman like you right, I will. His lost." "It's Friday night. And I'm in the mood for some play." "Your ex-boyfriend on the other hand, has got his guard dog duty by our asset warehouse at Waterloo pier, commencing midnight." "Well..., he is not physically guarding, per se, but he should be within vicinity. He probably has one of his lackies stationed by the frontline. But I'm sure he will well be in the loop when his boy radios him of an unexpected visitor like yourself, requesting access pass the gantry at an unconventional hour." "Access to my villa has to go through the same gantry, before the path ahead divulges between the warehouse, and my residential space." "Why don't you, take the next hour to go back and doll yourself up, for me." "Make yourself look exceptional as much as you want that boy to regret being the cunt that he is." "Then, let me give you the best hospitality you deserve thereafter." "Game, Mademoiselle?" ​

 

[Becboc]

ㅤ O ғㅤᴛ ʜ ᴇㅤʙ ᴏ ᴜ ʟ ᴇ ᴠ ᴀ ʀ ᴅ ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦​ Lily had never been one for deference, certainly not where it was expected. She existed on the periphery of the Gummies, not enough that she was out of reach of their influence but enough that she could skirt the boundaries of their expectations, of acceptability. Given the status that Eddie afforded her, she wasn't untouchable per say, but she was certainly aware that she held status by association, status possibly higher than she had any right to, and it would seem that despite their separation, Lily had not lost enough arrogance to believe that she couldn't slip right back into that position as though she had never left it in the first place. Either that or she had some kind of death wish. "Congrats. On being the first person ever who dared to smother me like that."​ Although it would seem, that her estimations on this occasion were at least a little correct. She had spent enough time around men like Vaughn to know that a challenge was not something they often refused. She could play the game and she could play it well. This is what she had missed. This is what she had missed living for. The grip on her ass tightened to an almost painful pressure and Lily let her breath hitch, let Vaughn hear it as he leaned in closer, the scent of his cologne tickling her nose, his breath, warm and soft against the shell of her raising the fine hairs on the back of her neck. Daring to make her feel something other than her own emptiness. "That goes into the tab, darling." "No trespass against me goes... unpunished." "Looks like school had turned you astray."​ Had school turned her astray, or had she always been that way? The latter was true but how could somebody like Vaughn know that about her. It was Eddie's place to know, and anyone who he chose to share the information with. Vaughn had never been one of those people, not even close. Although, Lily had noticed the way that he watched her pass by sometimes, had felt the weight of his eyes as he drew them from her head to the tips of her toes, probably thinking about all of the things he wanted to do to her. Or let her do to him. Lily feigned nonchalance to such attention a lot of the time but that didn't mean she didn't see it, didn't relish in the knowledge that she provided Edgar with something that nobody else had. Except that was about to change. Perhaps already had. Lily didn't speak as she felt Vaughn's hand wandering higher, finding her waist and then curling her into an embrace, as though their deal was already a forgone conclusion. For now, she let him believe she was undecided. "Looks like it has," she murmured her response, flickering her eyes and long, dark lashes over each of Vaughn's features, as though she were considering something, considering him; even though he believed he had already won. "Perhaps I need a reminder of how exactly things work around here. It's been... a while, after all." She knew the double meaning in her words would not be lost however, the glimmer in her eyes, the hint of a smirk upon her lips was briefly snuffed out by his travelling hand as he caressed the sensitive skin of her face, brushing her hair out of her eyes, reverently holding her in place so that he could feel and stroke and then press this thumb to her lips. "Such a pretty little face."​ Lily watched him in return, watched him as he pulled the joint from her mouth, flicking it away so that he could sensually trace the line of her jaw. His touch was suggestively gentle, but she knew well the intent beneath and it was for this reason that after a few moments of waiting... She parted her lips slightly and tilted her head back just enough that he could feel the gap she made between them for him, hovering there with him by her entrance as she listened to his proposition with an unspoken invitation, anticipation warm and gentle upon his fingertips. "If Edgar doesn't know how to treat a woman like you right, I will. His loss." "It's Friday night. And I'm in the mood for some play."​ But his words... his plan... "Your ex-boyfriend on the other hand, has got his guard dog duty by our asset warehouse at Waterloo pier, commencing midnight." "Well..., he is not physically guarding, per se, but he should be within vicinity. He probably has one of his lackies stationed by the frontline. But I'm sure he will well be in the loop when his boy radios him of an unexpected visitor like yourself, requesting access pass the gantry at an unconventional hour." "Access to my villa has to go through the same gantry, before the path ahead divulges between the warehouse, and my residential space." "Why don't you, take the next hour to go back and doll yourself up, for me." "Make yourself look exceptional as much as you want that boy to regret being the cunt that he is." "Then, let me give you the best hospitality you deserve thereafter." "Game, Mademoiselle?"​ They triggered nothing. Lily could imagine the scene just as he'd played it out for her. The clicking of her heels along the pavement in front of the pier, the suspicious tone to the guard who wanted to know her business. The radio through to Eddie's waiting ear. That was one thing she hadn't expected of Vaughn's information at least. Edgar would not be spending the night with Brittany, so where he might be cock-deep within her now? It wouldn't last. It was never meant to last. A small glimmer of satisfaction sparked at that, at least... but it wasn't enough. It wasn't enough to chase away her shadows, it wasn't enough for her to feel the sizzle of excitement or need, or desperation, hunger. Lily knew she was treading a dangerous path, not because of who Vaughn was but because of what she was about to do with him. What Eddie would see; his baby girl, giving herself willingly to his worst enemy, without his permission. But even that, the thought of it... given his reaction to her presence only moments ago, whose to say that Eddie would even care? She supposed, nonchalantly, that there was only one way to truly find out; to see if even the lowest depths of depravity and desperation could let her reclaim at least a small part of the self she had lost when she had left her life in Blackstone behind. If Eddie didn't want to help her, then she had found someone else who would. Seconds ticked by in the aftermath of Vaughn's suggestions and Lily let them linger as she dipped her mouth so that the pinch of his fingers dragged her bottom lip between them until he let go. "You've put some thought into this, haven't you?" The words were spoken softly but the tease in them was undeniable, the acknowledgement of his interest before here and now. As she spoke, her mouth murmured against his fingers and when her eyes met his? She allowed them to gently close against his tips; sealed with a hint of a barely there kiss. "I'll think about your little proposition." A coy smile, but Lily made no move to touch, to feel, to do anything that would give away her intentions. "... while you think about me, and whether all of the rumours you've heard and dreamt about are true." Her lips curled properly then, showing a flash of white teeth before Lily inhaled and pulled away, as though nothing had happened between them at all. She turned away from Vaughn and picked up her bag, shouldering it and then pulling the collar of her jacket up and around her neck in preparation. Only a glance was offered to her company again before she stepped out into the still falling rain. "Maybe I'll see you in an hour, von Schwort." The rain didn't let up, not on Lily's way to her hotel, not while she was in her room and not when she left again a small while later. The hotel itself was average; not too fancy, not too Blackstone. It sat on a quiet street with little traffic and the desk staff asked no questions, as they had most likely learned to do through experience. It offered the kind of privacy that Lily appreciated, enough that she could be in her room very little and enough that she could leave, dressed in stilletto heels, a black coat tied at her waist and only lace beneath without raising any questions. The woman behind the desk ordered Lily a cab and parted from her with a dead-eyed smile, exactly as one setting out for more than just a meal or drinks might hope for. The cab driver this time around was thankfully less chatty than the first. He and his passenger sat in a companiable silence, give or take a few flickers of his eyes to the beauty he could now see in his rearview; the beauty with the kohl lined olive greens that fluttered when she blinked, the beauty with the dark hair now around her shoulders and pushed out of her face, the beauty with the perfectly plump red lips that smacked every now and again to keep them perfectly moist. The taxi dropped Lily at the front of Waterloo, an odd destination in the middle of a storm-ridden night but he had seen much, much stranger than a single woman with an umbrella in a destination many would shy from. She stood for a long few moments, looking up at the dilapidated entry sign, the one that was supposed to be inviting outsiders to fun, games, joy - and yet it seemed to do the exact opposite. Some of the letters no longer flashed and the lights that did buzz appeared sterile and unfeeling, as if warning those who looked upon them of Blackstone's true nature, once hidden, now celebrated. Lily let her eyes linger before they traversed the structure, moving slowly in a leftwards direction until there, in the shadows against a backdrop of crashing waves she spotted the gantry looming, her destination of choice, just before she finally began towards it and the guard she knew awaited her there. She saw him well before he saw her, but the clicking of her heels on concrete is what eventually gave away her presence. "Hey, stop right there." The guard appeared young, inexperienced and she wondered if there was another in the vicinity, and whether that other could possibly be Eddie. What an interesting prospect she considered, if he might find her before she ever reached Vaughn's invitation. "No access beyond this point." Lily looked him over. Maybe once upon a time she would have had her fun with a puppy like him but not now. Not tonight. Not when she had much, much bigger fish to fry. "Vaughn's expecting me."

 

[Keith Logan]

O‎ ғ‎ ‎ ‎ ᴛ‎ ʜ‎ ᴇ‎ ‎ ‎ ᴜ ᴍ ʙ ʀ ᴀ ‎ ‎ ᴇ ᴍ ᴘ ɪ ʀ ᴇ ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦​ "Looks like school had turned you astray." "Looks like it has," "Perhaps I need a reminder of how exactly things work around here. It's been... a while, after all."​ "And I need a reminder, or rather, to hear it first hand from the one and only Lily Carter, how wild her life used to be. I've heard some incredible stories. I just wasn't entirely convinced when I heard the rumours. Because some of them stories seemed completely out of this world." As he spoke of his grand plan, he was also paying keen attention to her non-verbal cues. Vaughn being the more outspoken, overtly charismatic and imposing individual, was the face of the Gummies, since the head was shrouded in mystery. Edgar on the other hand, was responsible for the key matters that happened behind the scenes. Edgar wasn't exactly an introvert, but a meandering ambivert whose strength laid in his keen and high levels of perceptiveness, meticulousness and ability to restrain himself from making rash decisions, which were key to the sustenance of the cog wheels that ran the systemic structure of the Gummies. Vaughn was the frontline berserker, while Edgar was the assassin behind the shadows. Their personality was the reason why they were assigned to their respective roles. For Vaughn, his years of front facing work had equipped him with a wealth of social experience, leading to a string of successes at sealing deals in his favour - he observed, practiced and relied heavily on the ability to read the nuances of every body language of his business partners, using them as vital cues to aid in his business decisions. But in Lily, he could read nothing. His hands were brazenly claiming her as his. Most girls would have faltered in composure and react in various ways. Fear, exhilaration, nervousness - Lily exhibited none, apart from the slight parting of her lips which wasn't telling much. She was such a hard read, and it was perplexing to say the least. That was another reason why the woman was such a subject of intrigue. She was different, like none other that he had ever encountered before. And that added to her appeal - this air of mystery. And even when she pulled away from his testing digits, she still seemed to be holding her cards close to her chest. "You've put some thought into this, haven't you?"​ "I've countless thoughts of how I can possibly, or want to ruin Edgar whenever I get the chance. Let's just say you are godsent." "Make no mistake though. This, is more about you, than it is about him." "Vengeance is but a sweet secondary to getting to know more about the legendary Lily Carter." "I'll think about your little proposition." "... while you think about me, and whether all of the rumours you've heard and dreamt about are true."​ Vaughn could not resist a titter and a smirk. He still couldn't tell if Lily was keen to be his partner in crime based on just her demeanour alone. But if he were to make a calculated guess based on context and circumstance, the odds were that it was in his favour. And in that, he was quietly confident that this was not going to be the last he would see and hear of her for the night. "Now now. Don't get ahead of yourself, Ms Carter. I know what you're playing at." As much as Lily was a lady to die for, that didn't mean Vaughn would plunge in blindly head over heels for the woman, who seemed too arrogant for her own good. She was teasing him. But the subtle underlying intent was her attempt at power play with him, as much as she was doing the same with Edgar. Vaughn was a serial winner and an addict at it. It was fun and games for the time being, until Lily ever accidentally eats more than she could chew. Vaughn was a seasoned enough veteran to understand that Blackstone was cutthroat, filled with people fighting for their own selfish agendas - himself included -, in a never ending war field where everyone was out for each others' neck, be it through games of cat and mouse, or more lethally, guns and knives. Lily the vixen was playing a precarious game teasing the cobra. She missed feeling alive all over again. But was she also ignorant, if not, underestimating the price she would need to pay, of needing to put her life back on the dangerous line - the same reason why she decided to leave Blackstone in the first place. "Maybe I'll see you in an hour, von Schwort."​ Her collaboration with Vaughn - if she decided to collude with the devil - might get her what she wanted, as much as Vaughn was in the arrangement to address a certain personal desire. And for a man as voracious as Vaughn? Lily might well not be aware what she was getting herself into. ◦ ∘ ————————— ∘ ————————— ∘ ◦ ​ "Hey, stop right there." "No access beyond this point." "Vaughn's expecting me."​ "Yeah I've heard that one before. Vaughn's women never needed to walk on feet." "Move along hooker. Lest I be trigger happy." "I'm dying for some action, to be honest." The tattooed young lad slightly on the scrawnier side was certainly pulling a front above his weight. "No fucking gun fight near the warehouse unless it is the last resort, Frank. I swear you'll be filling weekend duties for the foreseeable future if you ever so draw a reckless ammunition." "What's going on out there?" Eddie's voice came from around the bent, only appearing after he was done speaking. Dressed in a white singlet, a pair of dark brown cargo pants and a towel slung over one side of his shoulders, he didn't look like a patrol on duty. There were subtle soft, but clean looking sweat dews by his sculptured tanned skin despite the cool monsoon-esque weather. He looked to be involved in some sort of physical labour, but just so happened to be stopping by the guard house judging from the toolbox in his hand. His eyes first met the young lad, before turning his attention over to the incredibly familiar figure a short distance away, of which led to a droop of his eyes. "This lass is looking for Vaughn." A frown ensued. Eddie took a considerable pause, before he placed the toolbox by the nearest convenient table to walk over to confront Lily. He gave the night guard a wordless glare, which caused him to instinctively turn and shuffle a few steps away, enough to offer the duo some limited privacy. He turned his attention back to Lily with his over towering form sizing her up, so painful close as the heat of his body could be felt against her entire figure up to her face, but never touching. His every breath, gushed against her face. "... What is this?" His voice was lowered. There might even have been a hint of a soft growl. "Vaughn is expecting a woman, Edgar." Another man's voice chimed in from some distance behind. Eddie turned around to briefly inspect his rear, only to recognise the face of Vaughn's personal guard, accompanied by three others. "Have you forgotten your manners, squire?" "I only answer to Vaughn, Edgar Levinson." The lead guard grinned, his deliberate emphasis, clearly meant to mock. Frank could be seen slowly lifting his fingers towards the gun hoister of his belt, as with the other three guards, whose eagle eyes were keenly noticing the imminent threat. It seemed the rivalry between the two long standing rivals had influenced even the members of the respective camps. The tension in the air, suddenly raised to palpable temperature. Edgar was outnumbered four to two, and Frank didn't have the most reliable physique to be of extended assistance to Edgar. Physical altercation, which was not uncommon even within members of a triad, would most likely lead to one outcome, much less a gun fight, which was more so implausible and rash. In fact, throwing of punches and headbutts were often the norm to settle scores and disagreements, and not scorned upon so long as they did not compromise the organisational efficiency or security in anyway. He needed more time with Lily. But time didn't seem to be on his side. "Go back home, Lily." "I don't know or care what genius ploy you're up to right now. This is no place for you. So, Go. Home." ​