The Harlequin

She should have remembered that people have given everything they own, everything they are, to be taken care of, and to have their pain gone. It's the lure of cults: the promise of a good family; it's what people think love is, but love isn't absence of pain, it's a hand to hold while you're going through it.

You take insult where none is intended, but if you will find insult where none is meant, then perhaps I should try harder to insult on purpose.

In chains and darkness, wherefore should I stay, And mourn in prison, while I keep the key.

Oui , but if all the men in your life are happy, you are happier, and it makes my life easier." - Jean-Claude

Revenge was always the easy part; the hard part was living with it afterward.

It may be a crush, or hero worship (...), it may not be love, but if you've never felt anything stronger, how do you tell the difference?

Where both deliberate, the love is slight: Who ever loved, that loved not at first sight?

want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not.

It is vampire trickery, but as Richard said things he truly believed, so I think Anita and I have come to an understanding. We are tired of this, Ulfric. We are tired of you making us the villains. If we are the villains, then let go. If we are not the villains, then hold on, but either way, you know what I must do now. If you do not wish to be part of it, then you must separate from us.’ ‘Let

Jean-Claude’s voice whispered through my head, ‘I am sorry, ma petite, there is no time.’ I thought he was apologizing for the fact that they were going to shoot Richard, until I felt his power. It didn’t wash over me, it didn’t press against me like Richard’s had; his power simply was there and did what it wanted. I felt it almost like a series of tumblers in a lock: click, and he took Richard’s blood lust, like a cup in his hand; click, and he turned that blood lust into another kind of lust; click, and he spilled it into me. There

I’d had Jean-Claude drive the metaphysical bus before, but I’d never felt it like this, never been so aware of how terribly aware he was of his power, of my power, of the power we all offered him. He was vampire, which meant he was a cold power, a thing of logic, because emotions do not trouble the dead. He shifted through our talents, like Edward would have looked through his gun safe. Which gun will do the job? Which will make this shot?

«Benissimo. Il tuo peccato è la lussuria, Anita, cioè lo stesso del tuo master e di tutti i suoi vampiri.» Scossi la testa, sentendo un sorriso sgradevole incurvarmi le labbra. Lo stesso sorriso che lascia freddi i miei occhi e di solito significa che sono davvero incazzata. «No, non è questo il mio peccato. Non è quello più vicino e più caro al mio cuore.» «E qual è allora il tuo peccato?» «L'ira, Malcom. L'ira.»

«Allora perché sei qui?» chiese Micah. «Sono stanco di scappare da me stesso.» Non mi parve una risposta, benché Richard sembrasse pensarla diversamente. Comunque sentii Micah annuire dietro di me. «Smettila di scappare», disse il mio Nimir-Raj. «Non sono sicuro di sapere come fare.»

Edward annuì e, nello scrutarmi, i suoi occhi s'intenerirono un poco. «So che secondo te dovrei lasciare Donna e i ragazzi. Hai sempre pensato che fosse una pessima idea.» «Può anche darsi... Eppure tu li ami, e loro amano te. L'amore è difficile da trovare, Edward, e non bisogna mai gettarlo via soltanto perché è una pessima idea.»

«Secondo alcuni testimoni, quel tipo...» Dolph sfogliò il taccuino, poi lesse un appunto. «Quel tipo ha detto: 'Mi lasciate andare alla mia macchina, vero?' E gli agenti hanno risposto: 'Sì, certo'.» «Merda! Gli ha tirato un Obi-Wan!» «Cosa?!» chiesero Edward e Dolph, in coro. «Be', come in Guerre Stellari... 'Questi non sono i droidi che state cercando'!» Edward sorrise. «Certo! Mentre io e Otto facevamo a pezzi l'altra vampira, il tipo ha tirato un Obi-Wan!»

It was one of those hugs when it feels almost like you’re trying to meld yourself into the other person. Sometimes it’s sexual, but sometimes it’s because the world has gone too wrong and you need something to cling to.