The New Normal ( Tag: Death Family)

H O P E . D E A T H - R E I G N - M A T A S H I N A Vampire || Wraith Profile ​ The condensation built up on the window pane as Hope nursed the coffee in her hands. The sun was starting to come up over the city, and with it, the people who lived for the night were disappearing inside. Hope glanced down at her watch as she heard the alarms upstairs going off in unison. She sighed as her solitude was coming to an end. She always woke up before the kids, using the time to write or study, trying to figure out a way to bring her brother back. He had missed so much; Mori was a young woman now and only knew her father as an unconscious body. Nik was a young man who was unaware of his Dad's lineage, and Hope planned to keep it that way. She had seen what Hal's family was capable of, and Nik wasn't ready for that; she wasn't prepared for that. She moved away from the window and headed towards the cold marble kitchen. She placed her mug on the counter; she had hardly drunk it while rooting in the cupboards. She pulled out a basket with various cereal bars and put them beside the fruit bowl. She had been caring for the kids for the last five years and still hadn't mastered the art of cooking. There were far easier alternatives and plenty of places to order food that Hope had managed to do without. She turned and opened the fridge, where there was an unusual lockbox. Hope pressed her thumb to the lock, and the door popped open. She reached in and grabbed a couple of blood bags, the New Hope Clinic labels across them. Hope rolled her eyes, regretting agreeing to her mother naming the building. " Nik! Move! " Hope shouted, knowing Nik often required a firmer nudge in the morning than his cousin. " Now!" she added until she heard his feet hitting the floor. She poured the bags into three plastic tumblers to disguise the contents within. She poured the different blood types into the various cups making sure not to mix up Nik's favourite type with Mori's. The last time she made that mistake, Nik had sprayed the blood all over her kitchen in a rather dramatic fashion and found it hilarious. It took Hope days to get the blood stains out. She placed the three cups in the microwave and set the timer for ten-second intervals. Each had their temperature preference, and she couldn't help but compare their childhood to hers. Images of young Marcus filled her mind, his smile, his laugh, their antics and the trouble they got into too. She closed her eyes for a moment, pushed the thoughts away, and the microwave pinged beside her. Karma was a bitch, and she was certainly paying for those antics now as she was faced with raising two kids were seemed hellbent on pushing every single one of her buttons. Speaking of hellbent, Hope pulled out her phone and put the first glass of blood on the counter. She quickly typed out a very straightforward message to her sister. " What time are you arriving? " Hope swiped up and sent the message, knowing they couldn't be that far away. She took out the last blood bag and set the cups beside the food. She took her own bag and poured it into the glass. Even now, she found the formality of drinking from a cup strange. She remembered a time they were lucky to drink it straight from the bag cold. Her mind wandered back to Marcus; she wondered if he would approve of how she had raised her. It wasn't perfect, Hope had never dreamed of children or parenthood, but she had been dealt this hand, and she had done her best. Although she was certain, the kids didn't see her that way. She was more of a drill sergeant than a mother, but the kids were safe, trained, and, given the circumstances, relatively happy. She wished she could assure the kids that it would always stay this way, but the kids were born with targets on their backs, and all she could do was prepare them for when the first shots were fired. Word Count: 703

M O R I . A K I R A - D E A T H - R E I G N Dhamphir || Elemental Profile ​ Mori was up long before her alarm went off. She didn't sleep as well as she should-never had. But it didn't bother her. She liked being a night owl. For as long as she could remember, she had found peace sitting by her open window, content to watch the sunrise. She felt peaceful with the elements and fresh air. Apparently, she was like her father in those respects. Not that she knew first-hand. Her father was nothing but a ghost that brought her misery and longing. He haunted their lives, like a ghost that would never be free. She often thought he would be better off dead and gone, like her mother. That being said- Mori still visited her father as often as she could. Usually taking one of the many small flowers she had grown herself for him. She had Maylin to thank for that, the wolf had shown her how to be a green thumb, and Mori excelled at it. Mori had showered and stood combing her wet hair through with her fingers when the alarm went off, followed by Hope's voice as she called for Lazybones Nik to get up. She smiled, with a small shake of her head, wondering if he would ever get up without his mother's nagging. Today was going to be a good day. Their aunt and uncle were coming home after spending half a year in Italy. And that meant Octavian was coming. She missed him when he was away, it always felt somewhat empty without him, he was needed to complete their little trio. She got dressed quickly, pulling on some fitted black jeans with a purple tank top and black pumps, before she exited the room. "Morning!" she laughed, seeing Nik rushing down the stairs in front of her, a mess of blond hair and aftershave. The smell of blood wrinkled her nose as she walked into the kitchen with her stomach rumbling. "Good morning, aunty," she smiled. Every morning was the same. She collected her drink and grabbed herself a cereal bar and an apple before she sat down at the counter, tossing her still-damp hair behind her, as she moved to sip her drink. "I hope they get here soon" she sighed, as she sipped her drink, the liquid staining her lips crimson. "It's been so long. Maybe Nik and I can take Octavian out tonight?" she peered at Hope over the top of her mug, her eyes large with expectation. "We haven't been out for so long. It would be nice to take him out to the movies or something?"

N I K O L A I . D E A T H - R E I G N - M A T A S H I N A Dhampir || Shapeshifter Profile ​ " Now! " Nik groaned as his mother pressured him from his sleep. He hated mornings, and it wasn't just because he was part vampire. He rubbed his eyes and stretched in his bed as his hand reached out, fumbling for his phone to turn off the alarm. He yawned and scratched his head, smirking as he could smell the warm blood. He swung out of bed, grabbing a loose pair of joggers and a t-shirt that smelled of his aftershave. He heard Mori stirring from her room, no doubt showered and perfect, having been up for hours already. He smirked as he bolted out of his room and just about managed to get ahead of his cousin. " Morning, cuz, " he laughed as he sat on the bannister, slid down the stairs, and then landed at the bottom. He strode into the kitchen, seeing his mother nursing a cup of coffee she had never drunk. " Morning, Mum! " Nik said, immediately realising his mistake as his mother's eyes shot daggers at him. " Sorry, sorry ..Hope," he said with a smile and his hands up in the air. His mother knew it wasn't a mistake, and he just enjoyed pushing her buttons. He reached over the counter and grabbed a plum biting into it. The juices ran down his chin and onto his shirt, but Nik just brushed it into the fabric, shrugging, not caring much. He would be changing after his run anyway. " I hope they arrive after my run. " Nik chuckled as he sat beside Mori, grabbing his glass and chugging it. He stopped drinking when Mori started testing the waters with Hope. He looked between her and his mother, making an internal bet that Mori would lose but hoping he was wrong. He was long overdue a night out, and although, on a rare occasion, he and Mori had gotten permission, he doubted the three of them would be allowed to go. His mother was very protective of their identities as humans, and Octavian was the furthest thing from a human. Still, it could be fun. " Yeah, Hope, we could go to the movies, although are we going to have to see a G movie, you know, 'cause we're five, or can we get upgraded to a PG with Octavian? " Nik took a second bite out of the plum and smiled as he clearly exasperated his mother. He already knew the answer, so there was no point in thinking it would change now; he may as well have some fun trying to break the tension between the two women in his life. They were both too alike for their own good, and one of these days, it was going to end in an all-out cat fight. His money was on Hope. Word Count: 471

O C T A V I A N . D E A T H - R E I G N Vampire || Demon Profile ​ Octavian was in transit with his parents to visit the rest of the Death family. Taking out a platinum pocket watch he checked the time while his mind wandered. He was excited, or, what was the word. Ah Hyped. He was hyped to see his cousins and wonder what they could get into in this visit. He loved the fun they had in and out of the house. It was so exciting to be among others and get a chance to practice his English. He just hoped that the strange outbursts of words that found their way to him when he was overstimulated didn't case that much trouble. Last time they were mucking about he had happened to have been pushed over by mistake by the boisterous Nik. What were the words he spoke again? Naz zmy... something or other. Either way he was all upset about falling in mud but he must have been mistaken about the ground. It was dry earth in the end and his clothes remined unmuddied. It seemed like he found more of that strange language when he was around his cousins. He wanted to know more about it but didn't want to bother anyone with the burden of asking them about it. The excitement started to grow the more the moments passed. "Not to be cliché but siamo chiusi? Are we there yet?"

R O M A N Vampire Profile ​ " Pazienza figliolo. " Roman said as he glanced in his back mirror at Octavian in the backseat of their black Alfa Romeo Giulia. He had wanted white; white always reminded him of Destiny, but it would stand out too much in the streets of Saints Strand. Not to mention it would get filthy on the roads. Roman had never hidden the fact that the six months a year they spent in Saints were his least favourite. He missed the clean sea air, the good food and his home. But he had made a promise to Destiny after the attack, and he kept it dutifully as any good husband and gentleman would do. He drove through the streets and glanced over at Destiny, his thoughts consumed by her. He always worried when he brought her back here; he refused to call it home. Her family were toxic whether they meant well or not, and he feared that one day they would be the catalyst that drove her to Mayhem, never to return. " Are you alright il mio uccellino? " he asked as he took her hand in his and pressed it against his lips with a cheeky glint in his eye as he intertwined his fingers with hers. His thumb played with her wedding ring that kept her anchored to him. He pulled up outside the apartment and sighed as he faced his home for the next six months. " Octavian, help us bring up the bags before running off with your cugini. " Roman warned as he stepped out of the car and walked over to open the door for Destiny, and held his hand out for her to take. Once she was out of the vehicle, he shut the car behind them and grabbed a couple of bags. They usually did not bring much from Italy as the clothes were not suited to Saints Stand. He would miss the cool crisp linen suits, but it was a small price to pay if it made Destiny happy. He walked over to the door, and dug out the key card from his pocket; he pressed it against the pad. It flashed green, and they stepped into the building. " Why don't you head to your sister's mia mossa, I'll catch up. Octavian, go with your madre. " Roman said, holding out his hand to take the bag from Octavian. Although Roman wasn't Hope's biggest fan, she had raised a couple of good kids, and there was no doubt how close the three cousins were. However, he never failed to notice how differently Hope treated Octavian compared to her niece Mori, but he tried to put it down to the fact Hope raised Mori. He hoped they were past the days of treating Destiny and Octavian differently because of their lineage, which neither of them chose. He pecked Destiny on the cheek as they ascended the building in the elevator. Their apartment was a floor below Hope's and across the hall from Cass's, although Roman couldn't remember a time he saw her there. The elevator pinged, the door opened, and Roman stepped out. " I'll join you soon," he promised as he watched the doors close. He turned and headed for their apartment. He sighed and stepped in, the dusty smell filling his nostrils. He placed the bags down and walked over to open the windows. Thankfully this high up, the smell of the street wouldn't seep into the apartment. He looked over the city he would call home for the foreseeable future. " Only six more months, " he muttered to himself as he left their apartment to join his family upstairs. Word Count: 613

D E S T I N Y . D E A T H Vampire || Demon Profile ​ Their six months in Italy always went too quickly for Destiny's liking, but she could never ignore the pull of home. She had promised herself that she would spend half the year with her family after the attack. Hope had never recovered from it, and Destiny felt the need to be around her sister with more frequency, even though it pained her. She hated the way Hope pretended everything was alright. She hated that she still kept Marcus's half-dead body comatose in the clinic after all these years. But Destiny understood when no one else did. Octavian always looked forward to going back to Saint's, and that always warmed her soul. She was glad that the cousins got along so well. She was proud of her family for protecting the children so well. They were getting the chance that Hope, Marcus and Destiny were denied. And Des would fight until her last breath to protect the trio. Roman's voice broke her out of her thoughts as she settled their excited son with a few gentle words. She smiled feeling love blooming in her chest as she often did. Destiny knew how lucky she was, with her perfect husband and equally perfect son. Roman looked at her then, almost like he knew she was thinking of him and he took her hand up, kissing the back of it, which renewed her smile as she nodded in reassurance for him. He disliked her family, she knew that. They had a lot of history and had not always treated Destiny very well, she understood his dislike. The fact he still chose to follow her home for six months of the year despite that made her love him even more if that was possible. "I'm fine, my love," she smiled, but she didn't ask him in return. She knew how he was, and didn't want him to have to lie to her. A few minutes later they were pulling up to the house. She glanced into the mirror, laughing quietly to herself as she saw the excitement on her son's face. "Do what your father asks," she nodded before stepping out of the car, her hand moving into Roman's hold as they gathered their things and made their way to the apartment complex. They moved into the building before Roman pressed a kiss to her cheek, suggesting she go and find Hope. It was probably for the best, it would give Roman a moment to collect himself before throwing himself at her family's mercy. "Of course," she smiled "We will see you soon," her smile faded as she watched her husband take his leave. "Well!" she held her hand out to her son, wanting to link her arm through his as they stepped into the lift that would carry them up into Hope apartments. "Isn't this exciting?" she coaxed her son, knowing he lived for these moments. "I am sure they will be very excited to see you," she mused, realizing just how much she had missed her niece and nephew. The lift door pinged, and she stepped inside, hearing the voices of her family coming from Hope's Kitchen. "Hey guys!" she called ahead, unhooking her arm with his son so he could run ahead of her. "It's good to see you!"

Rensa was already in the apartment making sure everything was tidy before the rest of the family entered. He placed a couple of plants onto the living room window sill. He loves taking care of plants. It shows he can be gentle and not harm smaller things. With that done he patiently waits for the Death family to enter.

Once they do Rensa greets them with a smile "well hey there, stranger. Let me get those bags for you." He takes hold of the luggage and carries them to their according rooms. He lets the family have their reunion and stays away from them so he doesn't interrupt. Instead he separates the luggage into neat piles so they can be moved around easily to how the resident prefers.

Once that was done he murmurs a demonic saying before appearing onto the alley of the apartment. He walks out into the street as inconspicuous as he can to keep an eye on anyone who enters or tries to break in. He doesn't stick in one spot. Instead he walks around different parts of the area close enough to see the entrance of the building.

Rensa knows that Destiny doesn't really like when he excludes himself but he remembers how some of her family despises who he is so instead of causing more problems he just excludes himself whenever he can.

H O P E . D E A T H - R E I G N - M A T A S H I N A Vampire || Wraith Profile ​ As usual, Mori was up and about well before Nik, and as usual, Nik managed to slide his way past his cousin. Their predictability was a small comfort, the same thing every day, and the only thing that changed was their height. Hope never thought she would choose such a mundane life, and if it had just been her, perhaps she wouldn't, but when she lost Marcus, she lost a part of herself and gained two kids. She owed it to Hal and Marcus to try to do the right thing. If that meant going through the same thing day in and day out, then so be it. At least they were safe. " Good morning Mori, " Hope turned, looking at a strange blend of herself and Marcus. Hope had to consciously hide the pain looking at her niece caused her. She was so like Marcus in some ways, and in other ways, she was too much like Hope. Marcus would have adored her, and she would have been such a daddy's girl, and they were both robbed of that. " Morning, Mum, " Nik chirped and Hope shot daggers in his direction. Her son was too clever to make that mistake, and he was trying to push her buttons, his favourite pastime, it would seem. " Nikolai... " she said in that tone that was reserved for her son when he was pushing it too far, and the fact that she used his full name was threatening enough. Hope grabbed the mug of now lukewarm tea and held it in her hands as she leaned against the counter. The oversized black sweater with one exposed shoulder was almost too hot for the season they were entering, but it was practical, a word she never thought she would associate with her wardrobe. She stared out the window again, waiting for Destiny to arrive when Mori decided to test the waters. Hope sighed as Mori made what should have been a reasonable request, but it wasn't that simple. In no realm would Octavian pass for human; if Ox Corp spotted him, Mori and Nik would never leave him to fight alone. She taught them to fight for each other because that was all they had. Of course, Nik had to joke about the situation, and admittedly it was funny, but Hope's stone-like facade wouldn't crack. She couldn't allow herself to be happy when Marcus was dying over and over again. She stayed silent for a moment while contemplating a compromise to appease them. " Maybe we can organise a movie night in the Hide or at Romals for a change of scenery? " Hope suggested knowing neither would be satisfied; after all, Hope was that rebellious teen. Sneaking out to go to nightclubs, bringing dragged out by Knigh... Knigh... "You are the strongest of us all, but let yourself be weak sometimes. Don't end up like me." She could still hear his voice like he was standing beside her, with his hand on her cheek. At least he was in a better place and couldn't see what had become of her and the family he had died protecting; they had all died protecting. The vines on her arm tightened, but Hope ignored them and had done for the last five years. She had never forgiven Ajax for dragging her into the Earth while her brother lay dying alone. He had died alone. "Hey, guys!" Destiny's voice snapped Hope out of her trance as she looked towards the front door. Octavian entered first, and Hope could see how happy Nik and Mori were to have him back. Hope didn't move, allowing the kids and Destiny to exchange their pleasantries while Hope refrained from receiving any affection. " Hey, Des, " Hope said as she moved towards the fridge again. They had a long journey, and getting blood across borders wasn't easy. She pulled out three more glasses and removed the remaining blood she had stashed from the fridge. She began pouring the blood into glasses giving herself an excuse not to be hugged. " They missed you, Octavian. " Hope commented on the kids as she slid him a glass. The last thing she wanted was a hungry demonic vampire on the loose. " Help yourself to breakfast. " she offered and then looked back at her sister and noticed that Roman had somehow managed to pry himself from her side. A miracle. " How was Italy? " Hope asked, trying to be polite. She had never visited despite the offers from her sister. She needed to be in Saints, near the clinic, near Marcus. Glancing down at her watch, she was preoccupied with the time as she mentally calculated how much time was left before the last batch of tests was done and she could return to her brother. Word Count: 809

MORI

M O R I . A K I R A - D E A T H - R E I G N Dhamphir || Elemental Profile ​ "Shush, Nik you twerp," she murmured out of the side of her mouth as she made a move to kick him beneath the table. There was no chance in hell Hope would ever let them do anything with Octavian if Nik kept goading her. He was their worst enemy at times, even if she did love him to death. She continued to look at Hope with expectant eyes, hoping that for once she would let them take their cousin out to show him a good time. She wasn't stupid, she knew the risks, but what was the point in living without taking some? She got the answer she was expecting and sighed, her shoulder sagging as she thought about the two options. "The Hide will do," she relented not concealing the disappointment on her face as she lifted her glass to drink down the rest of her morning blood. Hope was always so strict, but there hadn't been an Ox incident in so long. She was starting to think Hope was just being paranoid. But she remembered her father and his vacant stare and decided not to argue with her aunt. She had a reason to be afraid. She didn't have to wait long before a happy distraction came along in the form of Octavian and Destiny. "Hey!" A smile stretched her lips and she stood up, eager to see her cousin. She made it to him before Nik did, elbowing him in the process so she could wiggle her way to greet Octavian with a huge hug. She hated it when they went away. He completed their little trio of misfits. "We've missed you!" she smiled, giving him a squeeze before she finally gave way for Nik to see him. She ducked under her cousin then and went to her aunt, hugging her in a much calmer manner. "Hey aunty," she smiled glancing over the blonde's shoulder as she looked for her uncle Roman. "Is Uncle Roman here too?" she asked peeking at the door. It was strange to see the two apart, and she hoped he was around. He made things softer somehow. Destiny reassured her and she smiled "Great!" she laughed, finally feeling like summer had come. She went back to the breakfast bar and opened her cereal bar, eating it quickly so the three could plan out the rest of their day.

N I K O L A I . D E A T H - R E I G N - M A T A S H I N A Dhampir || Shapeshifter Profile ​ Nik smirked at Mori's jibes as he dug into his plum, getting juice all over the counter beneath him. Mori may have technically been his cousin, but she was really like the big sister in this relationship. He didn't know a life without her and couldn't imagine what it would have been like without her. His mother wasn't exactly what someone would call maternal. Sure, she fed them, gave them everything they needed and trained them, and she cared for them in her own way, but it was painfully obvious to anyone with a set of eyeballs that his mother had lost a few screws somewhere along the way. But he always could depend on Mori; it was him and her against the world, and their duo was a trio for six months of the year. He watched Mori's shoulders sag with disappointment as she accepted his mother's compromise. He knew she wanted more freedom; hell, they all did, and maybe with Octavian, he could make that happen, but he would fill Mori in on his plan later. For now, he leaned over and nudged her shoulder, giving her a dazzling smile hoping to lift her mood. However, he failed in comparison to their other cousin, Octavian arrival. Mori jumped up, and he followed, only to be elbowed in the gut so she could get a head start this time. He dramatically grasped his stomach and bent his knees as though she had gravely wounded him before straightening up and laughing. He allowed Mori and Octavian their moment, stepped forward, grabbed his hand, and then pulled him in for a hug. " Hey, big cuz! " he said, smiling and taking in his cousin's features. They all grew so fast in a short space of time that it was hard to know how anyone of them would look from one month to the next. " I see that bad boy emo look is still working for ya. " he teased as he ran his hand through his perfect blonde locks. Despite how closely related the three were, they all couldn't have been more different. Octavian looked more like his Dad, Mori looked more like his Mum than he did, and Nik could only presume he looked like his Dad. He learned a long time not to ask about him. " Hey, Aunty D! " Nik smiled, charming as ever. He kissed both her cheeks in a very European way, like she would be accustomed to in Italy. " Looking stunning as ever. It's a wonder Uncle Roman can put you down," he smirked as he turned and joined Octavian's side and nudged his side. " It's a wonder you can stomach it. " he joked as he grabbed some strawberries from the fruit bowl. Octavian's life couldn't be more different to his and Mori's. Two parents who were like lovesick puppies, a life in Italy surrounded by sun, food, and wine... Italian women. Octavian was a full vampire, unlike him and Mori, who was half-human. The kid had it made. Still, Nik's life wasn't so bad; he had Hope, he had Mori, and soon, they would have some freedom. Word Count: 529

O C T A V I A N . D E A T H - R E I G N Vampire || Demon Profile ​ Oct normally had his share of patience but it was a hard virtue to have now that he was so close to his second home. But as his father called his mother by one of the many pet names they had for one another he couldn't help but smile and calm his restlessness just a little. Still, when they pulled up to the house he couldn't get out of the car fast enough!  The first thing he was going to do was find Nik and Mori and-- bring the bags up. He sighed but before he could protest his mother backed up his fathers words. They were always on the same page so there was no getting out of that one. “Si Papa.” he said and grabbed the bags. Even though they weren’t all that heavy he still made a small show of strength by getting as many in one hand that he could at a time. Following behind quietly he took in all the scents of their new home. It lacked the clean salt smell of the sea but smelled comfortable all the same. There was a faint but present scent of blood in the air that no doubt came from the kitchen. He licked his lips at the thought of a nice drink after being in the car for so long. As his father stepped away from them he bid him a farewell. “Ci vediamo tra pochi Papa!” Oct could tell his father wasn’t as quite as enthusiastic with these visits and he hoped that he’d settle in comfortable soon. What was better than being around family? Before they got much further in the house a large demon appeared before them with a polite greeting. The polite servant took the bags and Oct rolled his shoulders acting as a great but not too heavy burden was lifted. “Thanks Rensa. Good to see you again!” The young half demon always had a fondness for the servant. The half demon side resonated with him a way that Octavian did not consciously notice. “Let’s catch up later, ok?” Oct saw no reason to treat a servant any lower than any other member of the household so was just as comfortable talking to him as he was to any of his family. Going on he liked arms with his mother. “It’s more excited that I  had ina while Madre! I can already see their smiling faces! Fangs and all!” He didn’t have to imagine long as they entered the kitchen. Aunt Hope spoke first and slid him a glass. “Grazie.” He waited until the greetings were done to make a reach for it though, he didn't want to spill it while the hugs were going on. Not only would it make a mess and likely stane, blood was too valuable of a resource to spill. It was well worth its weight in gold. Nik and Mori made a bit of a contest getting to him with Mori making it first. Welcomeign he hug he smiled wide. “Missed you too. Have you gotten taller?” He laughed before Nik made it over after his little dramatic show. “Emo is in agin, it is, ‘fetch’ I believe the word is.” He was far from up to date on his slang but at least he was confident in his words. Oct laugh as Nik mention his parents loveie dovie addatite. “After watching one too many soap operas  where the relationships are all drama drama drama, it’s refreshing.” Picking up his glass then going to the table to grab an apple he wolfed down his food with the energy of a new made fledgeling. Looking at his cousins he gleaned at Hope and his mother. They couldn’t really talk about everything they’d want to do while the adults while present incase any fun they had involved some sort of sneaking out and teenage rebellion. “Any plans for my first day back?” He asked nonchalantly, they could talk more of whatever fun they could get into once they were dismissed from the room.

R O M A N Vampire Profile ​ The doors of the elevator shut in front of him, and Roman had that awful pit in his stomach he always felt when he was in Saint's City. There weren't many reasons for Roman to put himself through this for six months a year, but the two most important reasons were standing in Hope's apartment. He would do quite literally anything for his wife and son, even if it meant tethering himself to the Queen of Mayhem. Yet, somehow that seemed easier than having to deal with her sister. Thankfully, the kids didn't take after her, and he always enjoyed seeing and spending time with his niece and nephew. The elevator pinged and opened into Hope's sterile and clinical apartment. It looked like nobody lived here, and you could perform surgery here, but thankful they didn't have to stay here. Still, there was no warmth in this place, much like Hope. He thought she was cold when he first met her, but since Marcus had died, she was a different kind of creature. He often wondered how his darling Destiny inherited Mayhem and not Hope. She seemed more suited to that title, but Roman would never express such an opinion. Despite everything they had done to her, Destiny loved her family, and so Roman moved them too. " Hello, Bambini, " Roman called out as he followed the sound of his family into Hope's kitchen, which looked like it had never been used. Roman was certain Hope didn't even know how to operate the oven. Those poor kids were deprived. Roman walked behind Destiny as he heard Nik commenting on their affection for one another and smirked. " Yes, it is sweet torture to be apart. " he laughed as he wrapped his arms around her waist and dramatically kissed her neck, laughing against her skin. He understood that affection might be foreign in Hope's household, but it was the primary language in their multi-lingual house. He kept his arms around Destiny and placed his head on her shoulder, wanting to protect her from her sister's coldness. He thought that losing Marcus might bring the two closer, but Hope just seemed to distance herself from everyone further. Still, Destiny tried to make this crazy little family work, and he loved her for it. Octavian asked about the plans for the rest of the day, and Roman had already concocted a plan that he knew would mean the world to Destiny. " How about a family dinner? " he suggested knowing it was probably unheard of in Hope's house. Not eating, of course, but actual cooking. " I'll cook and organise the whole thing. How about Tagliatelle al Ragu? No... Carbonara? Risotto? " Roman was clearly passionate about his Italian cuisine, but he wasn't feeling the same enthusiasm from the kids. " Bene... " he sighed. " Pizza? " he suggested, and he could see the excitement in the kids' eyes. " Ok, Pizza it is," he promised. " I'll head to the market later... " he stopped mid-sentence as Nik laughed at the mention of a market. Ah yes, his little fresh markets were thousands of miles away now. " The supermarket. " he corrected. " But there will be none of those pineapples on my pizzas," he warned, his eyes going straight to Nik, who pouted. How Hope gave birth to that child, he would never understand. Word Count: 568

D E S T I N Y . D E A T H Vampire || Demon Profile ​ Destiny walked further into the pristine flat, her smile remaining despite the coldness from her sister. She was used to Hope being closed off, yet it still bothered her. She was always somewhat aloof, but the last five years had emptied her of all softness. She reminded her of how Cass used to be towards her, and she hated it. But she understood her sister's unwillingness to open up. Hope was so full of pain that the floodgates would never close again. Destiny looked away from Hope, who was trying to keep herself busy, so she didn't have to show an ounce of emotion to anyone. She looked at Mori and Nik, laughing softly to herself as they raced to Octavian. She loved to watch these reunions. Her son came to life in a different way when around his cousins. It was hard for him to be apart from them, and Destiny was grateful to her son for never complaining about their decision to split their time. "Italy is as beautiful as ever," she smiled, tearing her eyes away from the children for a few seconds to answer Hope's question. "The weather was in our favour," she pursed her lips, looking back to the kids. Once upon a time, she would have asked Hope to join them. Maybe even begged her. But those days were done. Hope would never leave their shell of a brother, no matter the consequences. "Hey baby," she smiled, wrapping her arms around Mori, her expression filling with love as she looked over the young woman their Brother's daughter was becoming. "You look lovely," she smiled, running her hand along the child's face as she inspected her. She looked so much like Marcus, Des often looked at her with wistful sadness, yet she didn't have time to as Mori stepped away from her to look for Roman. "He's coming. He is just putting our stuff away with Rensa," she smiled, making a note to check in with her demonic companion. "Nik!" she smiled, as he took Mori's place, planting two kisses on her cheeks as he made his jokes.  "Thank you. You look great, really strong," she laughed, patting his shoulders as he retreated to join his cousins. She was about to join Hope at the breakfast bar when Roman arrived, sweeping her willingly into his arms as he pressed against her back, his soft lips claiming her neck. She joined his laughter, rolling her eyes at the children's disgust. "Such torment," she wrapped her fingers around his forearms, running her thumbs against his smooth skin as his chest vibrated against her back with each word. Roman broke all the tension she felt, he had a way of saying or doing the perfect things at the exact moment she needed him to. His suggestion of dinner had her beaming, especially when he reeled off the options to the children. She knew their decision would be pizza long before her long-suffering husband admitted defeat. "Perfect. We can go shopping while the children settle?" she asked glancing firstly to Hope, almost looking for permission. Until she reminded herself that she needed none. She turned in Roman's arms, stretching onto her tiptoes so she could press a short kiss against his jawline. "What a great idea, my love. Thank you."

H O P E . D E A T H - R E I G N - M A T A S H I N A Vampire || Wraith Profile ​ The cousins greeted each other and cracked jokes, filling the space with laughter and excitement. Whenever Destiny and her family returned, it was always like Christmas morning. It was at times like this she remembered just how young they were. They may have looked like young adults but were only five and six years old. Octavian being the eldest, always seemed more mature, but on the other hand, her son was the youngest; he took nothing seriously. But even Hope had to admit that his joke regarding his uncle and aunt's public displays of affection was funny. She often found their need to constantly be wrapped around each other a little over the top, and she was relieved to hear Nik felt the same. Maybe there was a part of him that was her son after all. Her sister spoke of Italy and its beauty, and Hope nodded. From the stories she heard, she did not doubt that it was lovely. But Hope couldn't be too far away from Marcus; she needed to be around when he died again to put his soul back in his body. One day she would see it, but Marcus would be with her, and he could show his daughter the country. Until that day, Hope would remain in the city with her brother, unable to leave him behind or let him go. But Destiny stopped asking her to visit or take the kids a few years ago. Hopes stubbornness had won out, and Destiny backed down. It's what she had wanted; it's what she thought she had wanted, at least. She owed this to Marcus, and Destiny would understand when they had their brother back. Roman joined them, notably only greeting the children, avoiding her entirely. Hope brought the mug to her lips, but no coffee passed them. Instead, she inhaled the bitter aroma and watched Roman grab her sister affectionately. They played and giggled, putting on a show for the kids. Hope had to remind herself not to roll her eyes. She didn't want to start their visit with a fight. There was plenty of time for that over the next six months. She would at least try to go one day without clashing with her sister, but that was easier said than done, and her sister was literally the Queen of demons,  and Hope was... well, Hope. A fight was inevitable. " How about a family dinner? " Hope's eyebrow raised as Roman made the suggestion and ran with it. The kids lit up at the proposal as Roman began calling out various Italian dishes. If she said no now, she would look like the bad guy, and Roman would look like a saint. She felt eyes on her as they were gauging her reaction, probably expecting her to refuse, but if Roman was organising the whole thing as promised, she had no reason to say no. She could spend her afternoon in the clinic and come home to fresh pizza. So, she remained silent, a universal sign of her acceptance as she watched Nik smirk as he was forbidden from having pineapple on his pizza. Hope wondered if Roman realised the challenge he had set her son; if her house smelled of anchovies or olives, Roman would find his pizzas flying from the top of the building. Destiny turned and worshipped Roman for the simple idea of making a dinner, and Hope wondered if she was always so easily impressed. "  You can use my apartment. " Hope spoke, attempting to contribute in her own way to make them feel welcome. Besides, their apartment wouldn't be ready; they had just arrived.   She glanced at her watch again and moved the mug into her other hand. She wondered how long she would have to stay and entertain her family before she was accused of being rude. Word Count: 644

M O R I . A K I R A - D E A T H - R E I G N Dhamphir || Elemental Profile ​ "We're all taller," she laughed as Octavian commented on her height. Every time they saw one another, the difference always shocked her. It was different with Nik. She saw him every day. Octavian was gone for six months at a time. Every time he returned, he looked like an older version of himself. Destiny reassured her that Roman was close by, and she smiled. She liked Roman and Destiny together. They brought a warmth to the house that didn't exist when they were away. It made a nice change from their usually muted-down, cold life. Mori loved Hope. She appreciated everything Hope did for her. But she did miss the affection when Des, Roman and Octavian were away. Roman entered the room with a greeting and Mori waved to him enthusiastically, "Hey Uncle!" she called across as he tried to embarrass the boys by being affectionate with Destiny. Mori didn't care. She thought it was nice. She made her way back to the breakfast bar, hopping back onto her seat so she could finish her breakfast. She was excited, and couldn't help but shoot Hope expectant glances. They were older now; at least they looked older. And she hoped that her Aunt would start giving them a little more freedom now, though she doubted that she would. "A dinner?" she almost gasped, her eyes instantly shooting to Hope. She couldn't remember the last time they had a family dinner. Come to think of it she wasn't sure they had ever had one. 'Come on, don't ruin it,' she thought to herself as she watched Hope raising her eyebrows. "Pizza!" she called out with a laugh. He could make all these fancy foods, but nothing would beat a good pizza in her book. "Pineapples are gross," she agreed with a wrinkled nose as she dared to get excited about the whole thing. " You can use my apartment. " Hope chimed in, "Really?" Mori jumped up again with a huge grin. "This will be great! Maybe Nik, Octavian and I can go on a walk after?" she tested the waters again. "We will be careful!"

N I K O L A I . D E A T H - R E I G N - M A T A S H I N A Dhampir || Shapeshifter Profile ​ " Fetch? " Nik replied, laughing and slapping Octavian affectionately on the back. " Wrong decade O, but nice try. " he teased. His cousin could speak multiple languages fluently but still struggled with slang. Nik had six months to educate him though before he went back to Italy, though. Uncle Roman would hate it, but that was part of the fun; their uncle would get annoyed when Octavian didn't use proper ' English ', but Nik would often see him smirking at them when they spoke. Roman was the only father figure that any of them knew. Niks father was dead, according to Hope, and Moris was a vegetable. Uncle Romal was cool and had been there for them, but Roman was the only example of an actual dad Nik had seen. His uncle then swooped in like a breath of fresh air, if fresh air smelled of Italian cologne. Their apartment was suddenly filled with laughter as Roman wrapped himself around Destiny. The place already felt more like a home with them here. It was almost like they were a ' normal ' family. " Geez, guys, get a room, preferably a different one. " Nik laughed teasing the most love-sick couple he had ever met. He found it a little over the top compared to what he was used to, but seeing some semblance of normality in their family was nice. He admired Roman for having survived so long and not ended up dead... yet. Then again he was an in-law and not technically a Death or any weird variation, so maybe that had saved him so far. " Dinner? " Nik perked up at the thoughts of a home-cooked dinner. Hope never cooked, and Nik had a huge appetite. Unfortunately, they mainly lived off takeaways or pre-made food they could reheat in the microwave. But his uncle was known for his talent in the kitchen, and Nik was already salivating at the thought as Mori practically buzzed with excitement. She needed to learn to play it cool, especially around Hope, but seeing her like that was sweet. Sometimes she was too much like Hope, so to see her happy about something made him smile. Roman started rhyming off all sorts of fancy Italian dishes but nothing appealed to them more than Pizza. Nik smiled and his uncle read him like a book as he immediately dismissed the idea of pineapples. Nik wouldn't have cared if there was or wasn't pineapple on them, but he knew it would have driven Roman mad; for now, his aunt rewarded his uncle for his idea. But nothing was set in stone yet as his eyes darted to his mother to see her reaction. She was hard to read, and her face seemed to scream with disapproval, yet she appeared to cave in and offer to host the dinner. Maybe she was getting soft after all these years? But Mori's request would be the real test of that. Nik took a large bite of his peach as he watched his mother's internal debate. He always wondered what went on in her head in moments like this. Cass, their grandmother, had told them some stories of Hope's escapades when she was their age, so he knew she wasn't against partying; she was just against them partying. " Come on, Hope; it's just a walk. " Nik added, winking at Mori. He had her back, and if Hope wouldn't budge, there was more than one way to get what they wanted. It just depended on how much trouble his cousins were willing to get into for a night of freedom. Word Count: 607