16, 17

16. what is/are your muse's love language(s)?

Her current love language is to always do as she's told, never disobey or say things that could be inappropriate. (i believe if she were ever to manage to get away from Alexander her love language would be to always take care of her partner and trying to make sure they are happy)

17. what are some of the signs that your muse shows their care/love without saying

Currently she has no specific way to do this as she doesn't really love or care for Alexander and had a very strained relationship with her family. So definitely something to find for herself in the future.

romance & relationship headcanons!

i know this topic is a bit overdone, but i wanted to make a more sfw romance & relationship headcanon meme! most if not all of these questions are related to romance and topics that may arise within romantic relationships, but without explicit nsfw topics!

1. what is your muse's sexual/romantic orientation? 2. has your muse been mainly attracted to masculinity, femininity, androgyny, or an even split (between two, many, or all of the options specified)? 3. has your muse been mainly attracted to men, women, non-binary people, another identity not specified, or an even split (between two, many, or all of the options specified)? 4. does your muse find any specific features particularly attractive? 5. what is your muse's ideal first date? 6. would your muse kiss on the first date? 7. where is your muse most sensitive? 8. is your muse a good kisser? are they experienced or inexperienced? 9. is your muse monogamous or polyamorous? would they be interested in a polyamorous relationship? 10. has your muse ever been cheated on? would they ever cheat on their partner(s)? 11. how comfortable is your muse with their appearance and their body? 12. does your muse get flustered easily? how would they typically react to compliments from someone they are interested in/dating? 13. what traits does your muse value in a romantic partner? 14. what traits does your muse want to avoid when it comes to choosing a romantic partner? 15. how does your muse feel about valentine's day? 16. what is/are your muse's love language(s)? 17. what are some of the signs that your muse shows their care/love without saying they love/care about their partner? 18. how does your muse feel about marriage? would they ever want to get married? 19. how many serious relationships has your muse been in? are they experienced or inexperienced when it comes to dating? 20. how does your muse feel about public displays of affection? would they engage in them? 21. is your muse more flirtatious or shy, or does it depend on the context? 22. does your muse tend to take on a more dominant or submissive role in the relationship, or does it vary based on circumstance? 23. would your muse be good at recognizing their partner's needs right away, or would it take some time? 24. is your muse proactive in communication with their partner(s), or is this something they need to work on? 25. does love and romance mean a lot to your muse? do they seek it constantly or let it come when it does? 26. is your muse more likely to be loud and proud about being in a relationship, or are they more quiet about it at first and open up about it over time? 27. is your muse more confident or shy when it comes to approaching someone they like? 28. would it bother your muse if they had differing interests from their partner(s), or would they delight in it? 29. how important is having (a) physically attractive partner(s) to your muse? 30. would your muse ever be in an open/non-exclusive relationship? would it make them insecure, or would they be open to trying it? 31. does your muse develop crushes easily? would they be open about it to a friend or keep it to themselves? 32. does your muse have an ideal "type"?

@thad-spaulding

The sun was finally here, the bugs were finally gone and Alexander was finally back, all things that eased her anxiety that had been building up almost to a point of breaking, if there was anywhere further to break... as far as she was concerned her mind had broken a long time ago and so she had accepted that and all the strangeness she saw whenever she was outside in Greywood.

Sitting on a bench in the park, she was nursing an already cold cup of coffee in her hands when she saw a familiar face. It was a nice feeling, seeing faces that she could recognize around the city, however little their number was. She rose a hand to wave, hoping that she wasn't interfering in an afternoon activity, wondering where his little girl was. "Hi... hello, good to see you again," she said as she looked up from her seated position.

It was another night of outings where she was given a beautiful dress to get into and taken by the hand with a smile to following to the car and then out of it and into the building. She was surprised it was a visit to Elysium, knowing Alexander usually did prefer to conduct his work meetings which she was there for in the vault. And there he also did not leave bite marks on her neck like he did in this place, something she hadn't thought would be happening today considering the white fabric of the dress. But she was always surprised and had long ago learned not to have expectations so she only followed inside, getting a peck on the cheek before he asked her to order him a drink and went to a face that was already familiar to her from the months.

She had a usual smile on her face, though she was quite tired as she had asked him to go out more in the afternoons before he woke up so that she could do things like sit at cafes and do groceries, things she had liked doing while he was gone every time in the past months. She had even met with people a few times, though she wouldn't always say that to him. He had come home a few nights ago from his longest venture yet, seemingly happy with whatever it had been he had been doing when away, and it did seem that he was in very high spirits, currently chatting away with the person whose table he had joined for now. She sat at the bar to make the orders and wait for him to call her over whenever the topic was suitable for her.

She looked around at the man behind the bar, another slightly familiar face, though she was surprised he called her by her first name. This led her to believe that over the past visit Alexander had gotten to know the man and thus they were now on first name basis. "Good evening, Mr Beckett," she said, herself too nervous to use the man's first name when her husband was within ear shot. Christmas' incident was still fresh in her head. "Yes, please, he does like what he likes," she added with a smile to her lips, hoping the presentation of a perfect wife was as decent as usual.

Location ➠ Elysium Status ➠ Closed to @the--helen

Sitting quietly at his own bar, John was feeling nostalgic tonight.

It was La Guma who first gave him the idea, albeit indirectly. John had been in a library far from Greywood, killing time in that utterly aimless way known best by immortals. He picked up a book at random, prepared to idle away the hour or so until night fell, only to be absorbed in the stories of bloodshed and human suffering. The author's description of a bar amused him, however, a bright speck of humor in a deluge of lamentation. La Guma called pubs "a place of discussion for views and opinions...a forum, a parliament, a fountain of wisdom...where the disillusioned gained temporary hope, where acts of kindness were considered and murders planned."

It stuck with John as he left the library and later the town, coalescing into a place like that for him and by gradual extension, other vampires. They needed a place to be themselves, a place that was all of those things without fear. It sounded like a paradise, and soon after John had heard of Greywood, Elysium itself was born.

That was a decade ago. Time flew and things changed, but not all. With regulars like the Leslies coming every now and again, perhaps some things would remain the same.

"Good evening, Helen," John greeted when she appeared in his line of sight. He glanced down at the empty seat between them. "Shall I prepare Alexander's usual?"

"I do hope that is the case for you, finding someone better. Maybe there was a lesson to learn so that you... maybe you could know what to avoid in a future meeting," she spoke slowly, hoping that what she was saying wouldn't offend him. She was not one to speak on relationships as anyone would be easy to judge were they to know what her marriage was and how it had come to be. But Theo seemed like a good person and she was sure that for good people there was something good waiting out there.

"Of course, that would be the sensible thing to think, I believe. Wishing someone to suffer... so that you could have a thing to do might be something to make you question yourself," she tried to say it as a joke, but her tone kept at the flatness it had gained with his shared story, as it made her wonder and thing too much. "Oh, that might be true. I do like the feeling of being good at what I do though... it gives a sort of accomplishment," she continued speaking in a slow thoughtful way, both trying to measure her words and thinking over what her answers might be if there was a follow-up question like she had started learning to do.

With Alexander, there was rarely a need to think hard about what she might want to say, when they spoke she usually did so freely, as long as there was no complaining and wishes for different things she didn't deserve. When he asked her questions she had learned what the best answers were for most scenarios. But she had found out that with people she needed too many excuses and too many answers so she always tried to say things that she could quickly think of examples or excuses for. It was a hard way to communicate but it was something she was learning, slowly but surely.

She looked up thoughtfully from the mug which she hadn't realized she had glued her eyes to for the past few seconds and tried to smile once again, hoping it would stick back again. "Oh, I don't work. We don't have a need for me to and so I stay at home to take care of it," she said, a true enough statement though the state of their rented apartment was not the best and she could only imagine the ways she could make it so much prettier. If, for one, she was allowed to remove the always shut blinders from the windows and bring some light and flowers with it.

''I mean, yeah, me too. I thought she was the one and all, but it's okay. It was probably for the best. I like to think that everything happens for a reason. It made me stronger and now maybe I'll find something better with someone else?'' He shrugged because he wasn't so sure. He liked to think he wouldn't let anyone else treat him the way she treated him, but he could be kind of naive sometimes. He also saw some good in everyone, even when they didn't deserve it. He just had to trust things would be alright.

''I agree! I don't like when people get hurt, I like to help, but I wish I never had to,'' some people would hope for more work in his line of work, firefighters, doctors, cops, he wasn't like that. He used work to distract himself, but he always found something to keep himself busy at the station.

''Yeah! It's okay to not be good at everything. At least you try and have fun...hopefully?'' He thought hobbies weren't really a competition. He wasn't good with many things and still did it for fun. Like puzzles, or reading apparently. He always was too distracted. ''I'm rude, I didn't ask whats your job?''

She observed for a bit as the man seemed to be looking for something and her mind at first went to a paper and pen and she wondered if he would write down an address that she wouldn't really know how to reach before a phone was put in her hands which made her feel silly. The idea of technology had never been prominent in her life, her parents of whom she thought so rarely now, had always been against its excessive use, so she had mostly had evenings while pretending she was asleep to be online on their family computer. When she was on her own she had gotten a phone that was now long gone. But since her meeting with the girl at the cheese shop... Maya, she had had the good idea of finding out her own phone number and writing it down as a contact in her phone.

"Oh, okay, yes," she said as she herself had to go rummaging through the deep coat's pocket to find her own relic phone and click through the contact and then proceed to copy it into the other phone. It was comfortable to do so on a familiar device. "Daytime would be preferable for me. Maybe enjoy the sunshine that seems to be finally coming through with spring," she answered as she slowly got through the typing of her own name. She didn't want to mention that she was very bad at texting since she was sure it would be okay even if her replies came late. "It's ready, I believe," Helen smiled as she handed the phone back and smiled again at the mare next to them, raising a hand for another pat on her neck. "I might reply at a different date than when you do reach out, I do hope that is okay. I'm not always looking at this thing," she said, thinking it was a better offer of a reason than her just not having the phone on her most of the time when Alexander was home.

her hand was offered out, small and warm, and abraham shook it with a smile on his face. "oh, ya, o' course," the vampire began to pat at his trousers, as if looking for something before turning to andalusia's saddle bags, letting out a little noise when he'd found what he was looking for. "i live in the outskirts, big tent, can't miss it," abraham explained to helen before passing the woman his mobile phone, an archaic and small thing with buttons and no camera. abe only used it for work, after all, no need for it otherwise. oh - and reaching his friends. "here. pop yer number in, i'll give ya a text an' we can arrange somethin'? i do a lot of evenin' work so it's probably gonna be daytime but - y'know, we can figure it out,"

"No, no, please, it's okay," she quickly reassured the other person and raised a hand as if to show a stop sign. "It was my fault. He would understand and maybe help me out or take it to the dry cleaner if it does not work," she quickly added, though she had yet to see Alexander do something as mundane as this. And she hoped he would understand and wouldn't be angry with her, but that was an always present hope for her and in her daily life, so she was too used to it to currently get too worried. It was something to think about later. His next words however got her out of the calmness she was trying to put herself in, her heart picking up its rate quickly.

It was true, she had gotten somewhat used to the idea that some strange things existed in this town, she sometimes saw things that looked like tiny fae folk, magic tricks on the street and with the half year of experience she had come to find things about her husband and his nature she still found hard to admit... and that there were others as him. But a part of her still thought that all these things were simply in her imagination, a product of the loneliness of the past years. So the idea of endorsing it around her or for her was not on her wants list. "That's okay, really... there's no need," she said, with a smile while she looked at him, trying to return the serene expression he had, but as she turned forward again she bit her lip.

If Minho were being honest, he did not know the first thing about washing out stains, it had always been done for him in one way or another, so he couldn’t rightfully advise there. It made him feel all the more bad to hear that this was a precious gift that was now ruined and his facial expression clearly showed it. “I feel awful, I am so very sorry!” He groaned with a dramatic but still very genuine sigh before an idea struck him and he raised a hand to ask her to stop briefly. “Would you be terribly against me trying something to remedy it? I have magical ways that could mask the stain ‘till you are home! A magic trick, if you will!” He announced with a flourish, positively beaming at her.

Helen's lips tilted downwards and her brows went up as he explained his situation and why he was currently looking for a new home. The concept of a separation was foreign (except from some childhood memories of movies and books) to her and so she thought it must have been heartbreaking with what had happened with her more than not having a home to go back to, especially when you had family to help you. "I'm really sorry that you have had to go through that..." she began, unsure of a way to console and unable to match the smile that he gave, obviously ready to stop talking about it which made her think that the smile itself wasn't quite earnest. She wouldn't ask questions, of course, knowing that putting her nose in others' business usually ended badly.

Trying to get a grip back of her seemingly cheerful mood, she brushed a hand through her face as if to school it into a response to the smile. "I do think that it's a good thing to be bored at your line of work... it means no one is hurt," she said thoughtfully, looking down at her coffee mug, and considering the next words, thinking too long whether what he said was correct and concluding that it most likely was. "I may, you are right... I have all the time in the world to be patient with it, so maybe I could. But even if not, that would be okay."

''Well...'' he usually would've been unsure to know if talking about his problems was a good idea. But he thought talking about his ex girlfriend might let her know that he was also in a bad relationship in the past? Maybe it could push her to talk about her own situation? If there was even a situation at all. Maybe he was imagining it all. He wouldn't mind being wrong this time. ''I'm going to be oversharing right now, hope it's okay. So I used to share a house with my ex wife, but then we broke up. I kept the house, but then she called me and I was an idiot and I dropped everything to be with her. So I kinda...sold the house. She broke up with me again and I found myself without a home. But it's okay, sharing with my sister is fine at the moment.'' He wasn't as hurt now and wasn't feeling as bad about it. He shrugged, gave her a smile and moved on from this topic.

''We don't always use the sirens, but honestly it's not bad lately. We spend a lot of time on small calls or bored at the station. I'll never complain about that.'' It meant people were staying safe. He would never wish for more work. He finally took a sip from his chocolate that wasn't too hot anymore.

''Too clumsy? I don't think I would ever have the patient, but I'm sure you'll get it with some practice!'' He tried to be positive about it.

"Oh? It's... it's very beautiful," she said as she looked down at the cups she was holding to both look through the drawn on flowers and to observe the sugar the man said he did not want. She quickly turned back, complying with the request as she had learned to do, carefully putting them back in the bowl from which she had taken them, looking around the table for cream and carefully adding it to the items in her hands. She rarely though of her short time as a waitress or a bartender but it seemed like she didn't need to as he hands did remember what to do and how to balance things.

Helen quickly returned towards the shopkeeper, giving the cup and the creamer while looking down and trying not to spill as she unhooked the milk jug from her pinkie finger. As she stepped back a respectable distance, Helen held the plate with one hand and the handle of the mug with its golden details. "Does the bracelet look as something that might be... antique? I just wanted to... to make sure everything is alright with it I suppose," she asked, keeping her voice low as the music - now in the other room - was faint and she didn't want to sound as nervous as she felt.

She had already turned to head into the living space by the time he was done putting the bracelet away and Duncan turned to watch her leave with a quiet stare to her back. He did not plan to confiscate her bracelet - after all it was her property and he was no thief or a person of authority. However, he felt like the bracelet should not be in her vicinity. As to why he had that hunch, he was looking to find out soon. Perhaps a brief conversation with the woman would do the trick - without the bracelet on being the key point there. He followed after her at his leisure, folding his hands neatly behind his back and remained standing near the entrance to the living space of the shop, watching her pour the tea.

“It’s Royal Albert’s Old Country Roses, a one hundred and twenty year old collection.” He informed, noticing her interest in the set. “Return the sugar, please. I drink mine with cream only.” He advised her as she began to walk back with two cups in her hands. The blend brought out was black tea and the set had a little cream jug on the side for those who preferred it.

"Mine? Like topic I like talking about?" Helen asked with a nervous smile, deciding to go with the first thing that she had thought of as she had made that statement. "I like discussing books. I like reading," she added quickly, though she didn't really discuss books with anyone. She sometimes talked about them with Alexander as he was the one getting most of them and they reminisced about the past and the way of life then. But that was about it.

As she got her phone back she pressed the green key to call and waited as Maya's phone lit up. Helen smiled and nodded, slowly typing in her name down with the contact and having... the third contact in her phone. It was still nice to have so many. Though she doubted she'd call, she had been nervous enough when she'd invited Xiomara out once. "There we go I suppose. Thank you again for your help here, I will do my best to not ruin what I bought."

"Yeah? What's yours?" she asked, not realizing the landmine she could be stepping on, "Seems only fair to return the favor."

Maya watched as Helen seemed to struggle with her phone. It set off something in her head. There were certain species that had been alive much longer than smartphones. There were other possible explanations too. It was another strange thing that she tucked away in her mind. Her expression though remained pleasant and easy. "Yeah, no problem," Maya replied, taking her own phone back. Helen's phone was older than most. Although, it was probably therefore indestructible too.

She was lucky that she had been able to get her old phone number when she had gotten a phone again in Montana. Maya rattled off her number for Helen, so that the other woman could call her and let the phones sort out the number.

(c)

She listened with a nod and wondered how bad the housing market could be and if it were anything like what it had been where she had been living on her own, barely affording a studio apartment. But it has been hers... She let the thought of that drift away and didn't show on her face anything that might ruin the current seemingly lighthearted mood. "That's a good thing. I do hope you manage to find a place. Was there something wrong with your old or is it a moment of change, simply?" she asked, hoping that it was okay to put her nose in this. "And I haven't heard too many truck sirens around downtown so I do hope your job is boring and safe. It's awful to think of people entering a burning building," she noted, though she couldn't know that most of the time firetrucks didn't really put on the alarms in residential streets.

She wondered if saying so much would deter the question pointed at her and sat for a moment, putting the mug down and leaning her face on her hand. "I'm okay, I did try to pick up knitting last month but I am too clumsy with my hands for that it appears," she said finally, thinking that this simple and silly thing from her daily life might be a good enough answer.

He would feel terrible about it if he knew now how she was truly feeling that day. Especially if he had been able to fully see her face, but he could barely see her in the dark, not that she minded. He smiled too, this conversation was already going well. He was just happy that he was able to catch her alone like this in a good moment, away from her husband, but also away from the whole town being submerged by so much water. He waited as she left the table, reading a few pages from his book, but he wasn't good at focusing on one thing. Probably why it was still mostly unread.

''Thank you,'' he said when she placed his hot chocolate on the table in front of him. He took a sip from it and obviously got burned, as always. He was so impatient. He tried to hide how his tongue was hurting a little. ''It's going well,'' he realized in that moment that she didn't know a lot about him, so he would need to give her a bit more information. ''I've been trying to find a new place lately, but the market is just horrible at the moment. I've been working a lot, but it doesn't bother me. I like it. How was your month? Or months?''

"Yes, it really would," she said, the smile still there as she walked ahead slowly, letting her eyes wander through the different sweets, trying to see if she would be able to find the same one that she had made the man drop. But then she had to quickly shake her head. "Oh, no, no, I can't. This was a gift from my husband, I wouldn't want to admit it's ruined. I'll wash it at home, I'm sure the spot will come off," she spoke quickly, reminding herself to look in front of her and not at her feet so she wouldn't repeat the scene.

Minho smiled softly at her. “Alright, if it would make you feel better.” He would otherwise still try to dissuade her but it seemed like it would really do more damage than good. Instead, he extended a hand, swiping it elegantly in the air to cue her to proceed and lead the way for him. The least he could do was let her take a pick of the stalls available. “Maybe in return for your generosity, we could find a clothing stall, see if they have some coats on display to replace your ruined one. Please, allow me that. I cannot leave you to walk around with a stain on your coat front!” He insisted as he began walking, maintaining a polite distance from the lady. Minho was, after all, a royal - his manners were impeccable.

"I will, I promise," she assured the man and gave her hand for a shake as if to both say goodbye and solidify her agreement with the proposal. "Though I wouldn't know where to look if I were to decide that I can take the day. Or if you are available. I wouldn't want to impose on you if you are busy at any time," she added these while keeping a smile on her face, the idea exciting for her though she was sure that once at home she would be very worried about this decision. But this seemed like a problem for Helen of the next hour, currently this was more Helen of her childhood, excited that she was allowed to go ride and maybe be in nature.

if anything, her pause only made abraham more suspicious of helen and her supposed husband, even though the cowboy knew very little of their situation. maybe he was a good feller, and she a doting and dutiful wife. maybe it was simply years upon years of doubt that festered deep within abe, and made him project it onto everything else. "ya should at least think about it," was his final offer regarding it, deciding to not push it any further.

"Oh, I get it, we all have our things we would love to speak about," Helen said and returned the smile, though if she were honest she wasn't sure what that would be for her anymore. Books? Maybe, or loneliness seemed more fitting albeit it being an awful topic to bring up in a conversation. She looked at the phone she was handed, feeling strange holding it, though she could remember how to work with it. It seemed like riding a bike would be, or a horse for her. Something you pick back up on right away. "Oh, I don't really know my number, it's very new," she said as she also reached in her pocket for her old phone with its black and white display and keyboard. "It would be more helpful if you entered yours. Maybe... uh ring me and I will save it?"

It was easy and familiar to order ingredients at the market. She had been doing it since she was a teen. Some of her foster families had appreciated it more than others. Now, it was mostly her coworkers at The Den who benefited from her frequent trips to the market. Soon enough, both Maya and Helen were standing off to the side, cheese in hand. "I'll take any chance to talk about cheese," she replied with an easy shrug and a smile.

There was still something tugging at her mind. "You know what, let me give you my number. In case you have any other cheese questions or change your mind about the invitation or anything," she said, pulling out her phone to take down Helen's number as well.