otherways_tosee (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} otherways_tosee) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} madisonvalley,@ 2024-07-05 22:13:00 |
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What: Vane arrives
When: his arrival
Where: a street
Rating: Pg-13
Status: completed via doc
Vane chose one of the leather bound books to settle in and read for a bit. He’d claim his place on the couch, their Darling Queen would settle her legs in his lap while leaning against Bash. Pan would smoke and Kas would do whatever puzzle intrigued him in the moment. They’d be one happy and fucking dysfunctional family. And for once Vane allowed himself to feel something besides pain and brokenness.
He no longer found himself in the fucking treehouse. No, the Dark One landed, unceremoniously, on a too bright street that smelled too much like the Mortal Lands. Where the fuck was he? Where was Darling and Pan.
Suddenly his eyes landed on a couple, the man apparently having the sense to yank the woman out of the way of Vane landing on her.
“Where. The fuck. Am I?”
Matt didn’t mind that his girlfriend wasn’t corporal half the year. Sure, some things were a bit…difficult with the fact she was dead, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t take her out on a date. Or go for a walk. He’d decided the pair should go enjoy some stars in the park. Or the woods. Or somewhere. No, he couldn’t see them, but Matt liked the quiet sometimes.
Because work was never quiet. Especially not with Sav and Alex working in the same law firm together. Matt kept expecting the pair to stage a coup and honestly? He would probably be amused and submit to it.
He sensed…something, and yanked Eve before the something landed on her. “You okay babe?” Matt asked. Though he turned, with some sympathy, to a newcomer. “Welcome to Madison Valley?”
Eve liked a little attitude only because it meant that person would probably be handle themselves on their own. People who were too nice, unfortunately, did not do well in life. Some like Paige had to learn how to be a little harder and Eve thought it was for the best in the end.
“I'm good” She eyed the man, not hiding the fact she looked him from his shoes to his head. “Well you know how to make an entrance. Seems like this place took you from your world pretty abruptly.”
Vane always had women looking at him. Before the Darling arrived, Lost Pussy, especially Cherry, wanted Vane. Of course, he tended to break them, so Vane avoided most of them, out of sheer sanity and also because women throwing themselves at him did absolutely nothing for him. His eyes took her in and he liked the attitude. Reminded him slightly of Winnie Darling. Whom he’d very much like with him at the moment.
“Pretty abruptly feels like the understatement of the fucking …whenever.” Vane felt around his pockets and pulled out a cigarette, complete with a lighter. He’d managed to show up without a fucking shirt, barefoot except for a pair of jeans riding low on his hips. “Where the actual fuck is…Madison.”
Matt just stood there, arm resting lightly around Eve’s waist. “Uh it used to be in Indiana and now it’s on a planet with…two suns?” Honestly, the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen could use a beer right about now.
Before he opened his mouth again, the Welcoming Committee arrived, said their usual spiel, and then left. Somehow, Matt didn’t think that would be helpful for … “I’m Matt and this is Eve.”
She couldn't wait to describe the guy to Matt later. Eve was just happy he didn't have a lethargic emo California accent. But he had power. She couldn’t tell what, though she couldn’t help thinking this is what the coven would have thought she’d turn out to be eventually. Eve stayed close to Matt just in case she needed to throw up a shield or something in case he got too pissed off.
“How familiar are you with the idea of different worlds or universes?” This was either a question for someone who was from a ‘normal’ world and the idea of multiverses and string theory or for people from stranger worlds they might already know of different realms existing. “It’s like that except it seems to be a one-way door to this place with no discernable way out. It’s July right now. 2024.” In case he was from a much different time.
Vane would 100% not understand the reference, because most references from the mortal world came from Win and she hadn’t shared that particular charm with them. He possessed half of the Neverland Death Shadow, the other half choosing Win. And underneath he still had his hunger for blood, though no one would call him Devourer of Men like his younger brother, The Crocodile.
“I come from Deathland, call Neverland home, and I know the mortal world exists.” A shrug. “So fucking familiar enough.” Fucking fantastic. “This place better have fucking kidnapped Pan, Win, and the goddamed twins.” Vane’s one violet eye remained as was for now, but the Death Shadow felt unsettled, as though searching for its other half.
Matt inwardly sighed, until he recognized the name Pan. While he never pried into the life of the other employees at the firm, he obviously knew that Pan lived with Savannah. And that the pair were dating..or something. Not that he’d say anything since he still didn’t know if he was supposed to…well know. Eve could take the driver’s seat when it came to her daughter. Especially because she seemed to have a handle on things.
But either way the guy seemed…not particularly friendly.
‘Deathland’ wasn’t very creative was her first thought, but it did bring her to the world she knew. There were levels of the ghost world and she’d been to levels in hell too. She’d faced some pretty terrible things.
With the mention of Pan, Eve went on full alert. The only indication that things shifted was she crossed her arms over her chest. If Pan wasn’t connected to Savannah, she wouldn’t care, but he was. Of course, she was sure her daughter would be annoyed she even let herself worry like that, but only when and if Savannah became a mother would she realize you can never stop worrying.
“What if I said Pan was here, but he’s been here for a while and has a life here. Is that going to be a problem for you?”
Matt could tell Eve went on high alert. The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen moved slightly closer to Eve, but he could hear the man’s genuine surprise by the heartbeat change. And then his emotions seemed to radiate…anger? Disgust? Confusion? Perhaps a mix? Eve would always be concerned when a situation involved Savannah and the possible safety of her.
The isles weren’t named creatively. Vane could admit to such things, considering Winterland and Summerland were…what one would expect of isles names for fucking seasons.
He first noticed the defensive stance, which reminded him briefly of Win. This woman was not their precious Darling, though. Vane swallowed his rage for the moment. Though his voice sounded cold. “Define a while and a life. Then I’ll decide if I have a fucking problem or not.”
She resisted the urge to narrow her eyes because she didn't want to antagonize the guy more. At least right now. She also had to resist the urge not to lean into Matt.
“He's been here for like six months.” She wasn't sure if she was entirely accurate, but it was something like that. Eve wasn't about to sound unsure to the guy.
“He lives in a house. Has a girlfriend. And has a job.” She wasn't sure if she could remember his job off the top of his head, but that wasn't what mattered.
Matt thought he’d shown up before Christmas, so the estimation seemed close enough. He didn’t want his girlfriend to sound unsure with someone who gave off strange vibes. “Security. He works security.” Thanks to being around Savannah most work days he knew where her boyfriend worked.
The house didn’t exactly strike Vane as a surprise. Pan wouldn’t live on the fucking streets. And treehouses didn’t seem like a thing in this place. Based on his whole five minutes of living here. A car pulled up and a man in a business got out of the car, said some words to Vane, before he handed the Dark One what he needed to live and left.
And a job certainly didn’t shock him if they only had $1000. Who the hell lived on $1000? Then he recalled Darling would think that amount a lot. But a girlfriend. What the actual fuck? Had Pan just forgotten Win?
“A…fucking girlfriend. Well, he better hope Darling doesn’t show up or she’ll cut off his balls and shove them down his throat.” And that didn’t involve what she’d do to his girlfriend. “You know the girlfriend.” Not a question based on her concern.
She had to decide how she wanted to answer. She decided that admitting she was the mother might work better in her favour since mothers were often protective. Of course, if he was from a place with Peter Pan, maybe they didn’t have experience with the fierceness of a mother.
“I’m her mother.” She didn’t really think about how it might be confusing since she looked around the same age as Savannah since she had died young.
Matt kept silent. He didn’t see a reason to add to the conversation at the moment. Though depending on how things progressed, he might change his mind. Though he remained close to Eve, for any support she might need or want.
He came from a world where people and creatures didn’t tend to age. So Vane didn’t question someone who looked late twenties-early thirties having a daughter who might be in the same age range.
“Well, if she looks anything like you, I suppose I see the attraction.” He’d just taken a drag and sounded stilted, as he hadn’t yet exhaled. Vane didn’t know how he felt about Pan with a girlfriend. Not when they had Darling, but he supposed if she wasn’t here, then he could hardly blame Pan for moving on and shit. Though he didn’t like the fact. Finally he exhaled.
Probably she should have clutched her pearls or something, but Eve wasn’t the type. Instead she replied with. “Well at least you have good taste.” And maybe the comment meant she didn’t entirely want to turn him inside out with a spell. But she could sense he could be dangerous when he wanted to be and she had no idea how actually stable he was. She would have to let Savannah know when they parted ways.
“I’d start by contacting Pan on the network.” She wasn’t going to tell him where Savannah lived before she could give her daughter a heads up. “Or you can drink yourself into a stupor which some new arrivals do. You might like Lou’s.” He seemed to be the sort who didn’t need a lot of fancy stuff. “Or the Den if you like booze with naked bodies.” Neither were places she and Matt were heading tonight which was an added bonus.
Vane planned on seeking out Pan immediately. He had questions, thoughts, fucking comments. But when didn’t Vane comment? Usually sarcastically or cruel, but Vane was rarely nice. Maaaybe with the Darling, but he could let down his guard with her.
“Where would be the fun in not surprising my best friend?” He didn’t desire to see any naked bodies besides Win’s.
He decided to offer a deal. “How about you tell me where I can find him? I don’t hurt your daughter. You go on your way. Which is probably more to your liking than the alternative.”
Matt really just wished that they hadn’t run into the guy. He considered what he might do for the alternative.
“Pretty sure Pan wouldn’t be thrilled if you hurt her.” Matt shrugged and sighed. “You seem smart. Don’t start anything here.”
Which is when someone he didn’t know, but apparently knew Savannah walked by. “Oh! She has that cute house over on (***). If she ever sells, I will completely buy it.”
The person kept walking. Oh boy. Vane smiled.
“Have a great evening and he took to the sky.”
The Devil of Hell’s Kitchen groaned. “That…you can’t murder the person, babe.” His arm tightened around Eve. “Call Savannah, but she can handle herself.”
Eve had to ball her hands into fists so she didn’t send a spell at him while he was flying away, though she glared at him like her glare could kill. “I almost started to like him.” Now she had to decide of the kid was on her shitlist or not.
She sighed. “I know she can handle it, but it won’t stop me from being worried.” She reached out and squeezed Matt’s hand before dialing Savannah. Because she had no idea how fast the emo-Pan could fly. “Fuck.” The phone went to voicemail and Eve left a message.. “You’re about to have one of Pan’s friends from home showup. You have permission to knock him on his ass and if you need help hiding a body, you have it.” Okay so the second part was her just letting off steam, but if there ever was a body, she would help Savannah bury it. Eve quickly sent a message to Kristoff.
Rubbing her temples, she sighed. “I’m going to need a drink and a distraction not to go straight to Savannah’s house.” Once a mother, always a mother, even if your child was a powerful witch all on her own accord.
“Come on. Let’s get you a drink. As much as I know you want to get to Savannah’s house, you need to give her and Pan a chance to sort this out. And something tells me, Pan is very much the touch her and die type, so he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.” Sometimes he heard more about her relationship than he wanted, even with filtering out conversations. His arm squeezed his girlfriend’s ass before he steered her to their destination.