And so it ends. Quite bittersweet, as the energy has been more than it has ever been. New faces, new stories, new people - an exercise in perseverance it seems. And yet I prevailed! With all the extra tasks I placed upon myself, with all the tiredness that accompanied it: I wrote. I wrote and wrote and wrote and the words came again and again and again. In those moments of reading and writing, I feel at home. Writing still drives me, even on those long days and suffering nights. And now, surrounded by others who share similar passions, I find it even more true. This journey was markedly rougher than before but absolutely a journey that I will make… … again. --A. Castle. Journey’s End

Day Thirty of #30dhs2k25: 121/100

I did a reflection/remake of last year's final piece and the difference I felt during 30dhs last year vs this year. I have been teary eyed for the last hour : ' ) I don't want this to be over, but like all good things... it must come to an end.

Today is Day 30, the final day of #30dhs2k25! The last optional prompt of this event is actually two: "Journey" and "End"! Feel free to pick one or use both. Is your subject reflecting upon the journey they were part of? Or focused on the end of something? Excited to read : ' )

“Jesus fucking Christ, Ethan!” Kai pushed into the small bathroom behind him, quickly shutting the door. “What the fuck was that?” The vampire looked at him through Kai’s reflection in the mirror before flickering his slate eyes back to his own injuries. “Don’t worry about it.” “Don’t worry about it? You just tried to jump two Fang members!!! Jack had to throw you against a fucking wall!” Kai was now at his side, also looking at Ethan’s injuries in the mirror. Ethan didn’t respond, just wet another paper towel to mock up the blood that was leaking from the bite wound on his neck. “Oh my god.” Kai sounded exasperated as he turned towards the vampire proper. “Please just fucking talk to me?” That caused Ethan to pause, holding the paper towel to his wound and make eye contact with Kai. “I lost my cool, I’m sorry.” Kai’s face calmed a little when Ethan gave him part of an answer. “I… I mean the Fangs are shit but they’re not someone you should pick a fight with!”

Ethan looked away again, back towards the mirror, moving the collar of his shirt out of the way to see how deep some of the scratches went. His eye was already looking puffy where he was clocked. “I knew them.” “Jesus Christ, you were involved with the gang, Ethan? Why the fuck are you-” “Kai.” Ethan’s eyes locked onto Kai’s in the mirror and shut his next ramble up with the firmness in which he said the siren’s name. “I knew them from a decade ago. I killed their boss.” “...What?” Kai managed, despite his shock. “It’s why they fuck with Jack.” Ethan paused with his wounds for a moment before slapping the blood socked paper towel down in the sink. He gripped both sides of the sink and refused to meet Kai’s eyes for a minute. “A decade ago… the Fangs were killing random humans. Just to show off, stick it to Spotlight, be fucking vampires, I don’t know.” A beat. “They killed someone who was… important to me. And Spotlight wouldn’t do a fucking thing about it. So I did.” There was a long pause as Ethan just stared at the blood oozing out of the paper towel towards the drain before Kai found his voice and asked. “What was their name?” Ethan looked up slowly, meeting Kai’s dark eyes in the mirror. “Jasper. His name was Jasper.”

With slow, deliberate movements Kai approached Ethan as if he was an animal about to startle. The vampire just watched him cautiously until Kai wrapped himself around Ethan to give him a little awkward hug. “I’m so sorry, Ethan.” Ethan’s eyes slipped away from Kai’s in the mirror and he felt the wetness build up. As he shut them, it leaked down his damaged face cutting through the blood that had begun to dry. Kai squeezed him tighter from behind, likely feeling the slight tremors that went through the vampire as the kindness Kai showed him cracked a little into that aloof facade Ethan always put up. They stood like that for a while: Kai burrowing his face into Ethan’s shoulder blades and just being a small comfort to the other man, letting him be vulnerable on his terms. When Ethan raised his head back up, he looked at the nearly hidden form of the other man hugging him and a memory rose unbid in his mind. “God you always look so grumpy Ethan!” Jasper’s bright laughter rang out as he snuck a hug around his boyfriend’s waist. His head popped out from around Ethan’s midsection as he crinkled his nose in the mirror. “I swear you have the world’s worst case of RBF!” “RBF?” Ethan couldn’t help but give a scoffing kind of smile at the mess of reddish brown hair that was now under his arm. “Resting Bitch Face!” Jasper proudly explained. “Like look at that!” he jabbed a finger at Ethan’s face and the other man just laughed. It was a rich sound, accomplished by a smile that would look foreign to almost anyone else who knew Ethan. But it only made Jasper crack a wild smile “There! That’s much better!”

Ethan’s hand came to rest on the two that were encased around his waist. Said hands broke apart at the motion with a “Oh sor-” but Ethan just spun around and pulled Kai into a proper full hug. He held the siren’s face against his chest and kept him there for a moment. “They uh…”Ethan’s voice broke a little when he spoke again and he took a moment to fix that before continuing. “They taunted me with his death. That’s why I hit them.” Kai pulled away and looked up at the other man, his eyes were clearly filled with tears now too. “Then they fucking desereved it.” Ethan reflexively laughed, the sound startling Kai whose face then broke into a wide grin at the noise. “Yeah, fuck them.” Ethan said, with the smallest ghost of a smile on his face. Kai’s eyes sparkled, partly with the tears that were still in them and partly with something Ethan couldn’t quite place. “Let me help you get cleaned up, vamp boy. Gotta support my champion fighter.” Ethan scoffed slightly at the comment. “I’m a fucking mess, Kai.” “Glad messes are my speciality.” Kai winked.

Day Twenty-Nine of #30dhs2k25: 895/100

This scene WENT places I was not thinking it was going to go but I'm happy it did. I just wanted to show Kai finally getting through to Ethan and it's... beautiful. It's like wrapping up a main throughline of Ethan pieces... I'm not crying, YOU'RE crying...

Welcome to the penultimate Day 29 of #30dhs2k25! Today's optional prompt is "Reflection"! Are you reflecting upon this challenge as a whole or is your subject reflecting upon something themselves? Or literally a reflection (or lack thereof) in a mirror? Excited to read what you write!

“Are you able to stay tonight?” Autumn was frantically packing something in the background as Ethan lounged on the shop chair behind the register. “Yeah…?” Ethan replied, brows pulled low in confusion. “Well I just didn’t want to interfere if you had plans with that boyfriend of yours. I know you don’t stream tonight so I thought maybe you’d want to hang out with him.” Autumn didn’t even look at him as she continued to rummage through things. “... What?” Ethan blankly looked at Autumn’s moving figure. “I mean it is like your night off. I didn't want to assume that I could borrow you to watch the shop. So if you guys have plans I can call around to see if I could get someone else to-” “He’s not my boyfriend.” Ethan cut Autumn’s rambling off with a blunt, flat response. That caused the witch to look at Ethan for the first time in the last few minutes. “Sorry, what?” “He’s… not my boyfriend. We’re just…” Ethan trailed off and looked off to the side.

“No, silly me. Ethan Peryal can’t have a functional relationship, has to juuuust be fuck buddies.” Autumn put her hands on her waist and gave him a look. Ethan looked back with a sour expression on his features. “I’m not ready to-” “Ah yes, allergic to feelings!” Autumn threw her hands up in the air. “Can’t risk having those again.” “Shut the fuck up, Autumn.” Ethan snarled out. The two of them just glared at each other for a moment before Autumn snatched her bag up. “Well thank-you for being emotionally constipated enough to watch the shop Ethan.” Ethan rolled his eyes but gave nothing more than a “Hrmph.”

Day Twenty-Eight of #30dhs2k25: 284/100

Got inspired to write how emotionally constipated Ethan (hence the prompt). Autumn asks mostly like an older sister to him, but they're just friends. Will Kai and Ethan ever get out of the toxic situationship they're in? Say tuned!

Today is Day 28 of #30dhs2k25! Only a few days left in the challenge, good job for making it this far! Today's optional prompt is "Together". Is your subject dating something? Just hanging out with someone? Or are they simply doing something together with someone else? Excited to read!

Consciousness returned to Isaac slowly, heavy and painful. He made to move before something pressed into his torso keeping him still. “Ah! No, no, no…” a familiar voice swam to his ears. “Stay still, Hunter.” Amber eyes flickered open before shutting once more against the harsh light that bathed across his face. Everything felt like it was underwater, heavy and offkilter. “Crow?” Isaac’s own voice sounded broken as he tried to figure out what was happening. “Shh, it is alright, Hunter.” It was said Crow that responded. “You are safe, I have you.” “Wh-what…” even inhaling to speak felt painful. “You were thrown from the guard's tower by a Beast - I have sent for the Herbalist, she comes soon. But Agape will not have you, this I know.” Isaac couldn’t quite tell if the Crow’s rapid talking came from the speed of his natural tongue or from some sort of panic in his voice. But everything was painfully difficult to keep track of… and Isaac slipped out of consciousness once more.

Day Twenty-Seven of #30dhs2k25: 171/100

There were a ton of OCs I was picking between for a scene like this but decided I didn't do a lot of Isaac and Roderick so you get to have them : )

Today is Day 27 of #30dhs2k25! Your optional prompt for today is "Recovery"! Is your subject recovering from an illness? And addiction? A horrible moment in their life? Or maybe they recovered a physical thing? Excited to read what you come up with!

Dr. Emil Faust stared at the whiteboard in the middle of the bullpen as if letters were about to rearrange themselves into the answer he needed. He leaned against the - currently unoccupied - desk of one of the Detectives, arms crossed as he begged his mind to find something he was missing before. When Emil blinked, he hissed slightly in pain, realising that the lingering headache behind his eyes was worsened by the dryness of staring. He took his glasses off with one hand and massaged his eyelids with the other. “Figure something out there Doc?” The slightly blurry figure of Detective Nicolae Riviera sharpened when Emil put his glasses back on. “I wish. Did Forensics have anything?” Emil looked at the file that was in Riviera’s hands which was being set down onto the desk he was leaning on. “Nope.” Came the response from Detective Wesley Forbes, as he sat down at the desk butted up against Riviera’s. “Same as all the others, meticulously clean.” His sort of singsongy response was paired with a theatrical set of jazz hands. Emil sighed, eyes flicking back over to the whiteboard. “The long cooling off period means he doesn’t get sloppy. I keep thinking the next body that drops is where he is going to make the mistake but… he’s not impulsive. Everything is so… planned, so calculated.” Emil forced the bridge of his glasses into his nose as he placed a knuckle there. “The victim is never a lead, the forensics are never a lead. It’s just… the crime scene.”

“Maybe the long cooling off period is because he’s planning.” Riviera suggested. “Yeah but like… don’t serial killers get off to this shit? And then the cooling off periods get shorter and shorter?” Forbes rebutted, giving his partner a confused look from across their shared desks. “Yes but… I’ve been toying with the idea that maybe killing isn’t the Headhunter’s main goal.” Emil didn’t look at either Detective but they both turned to look at the back of his head. “Every time a body drops… These scenes get more and more elaborate.” Emil pushed himself up from the desk to walk over to the whiteboard. He runs his finger across one of the crime scene photos - a headless woman suspended by wires lit by a single spotlight. “Maybe the excitement of building this idea in his mind keeps him satisfied. The planning is just as exciting as the actual execution and then… the release?” He turns his head to Riviera and Forbes “It’s the publicity. It’s the thrill of the victims being named, the press that comes out after, the scant details being released to the public and their reactions to it. And maybe - like with Emily Lewis - looking for the leaked photo of the crime scene.” Both Detectives who were sharing a look, one that he was used to before Riviera spoke. “A serial killer that doesn’t… enjoy killing?” “No he’d enjoy it, but… it’s a tool not the goal.” Emil tried clarifying. “This.” He pointed a finger at the crime scene. “This is the goal.” “Like he’s looking for an audience?” Forbes asked, sounding slightly unsure of himself. Emil snapped his head to look directly into Forbes’s eyes. “That’s it. That’s it, Wes. An audience.” Emil waves a hand to the whole board. “It’s theatrical, it’s macabre, it’s attention seeking. This is his work and he wants everyone to see it.”

“Yeah but why show the whole world his work and then go through all the steps to conceal his identity? Why not just go ‘Hey it’s me, I did this!’ and get the credit for it?” Riviera counters. “Because if he was found, he couldn’t keep doing his work.” Emil sighs, pushing his glasses up and rubbing once more at his eyes. “And we gave him a name: The Headhunter. He’s not going to need a real one after that. That one is more than he could ever get with just being himself.” There was a pause as everyone let Emil’s sentence hang for a moment. Then Forbes spoke up again. “So uh… any of that actionable or…?” “It proves he’s a narcissist but we already knew that.” Emil responds, tiredly. “And it’s far too late with this body to hold back anything. Even if we could, I don't think that would… work. He’d likely leak the information to the press himself if he thought we weren’t giving them the info he wanted. There’s no… winning in this particular situation.” “Well the goal isn’t ‘winning’, Doc.” Riviera sounds a little pointed in the way he talks. “It’s trying to make sure he doesn’t chop another girl’s head off and string her up like she’s a mannequin.” Emil gives a harsh exhale and makes eye contact with Riviera. “I am aware of that, Detective.” “Hey if Doc wants to be a little bit of a sore loser, I’d let him.” Forbes interjects, seemingly trying to bring some levity to the situation. “This shouldn’t go down without a little bit of a fight.” Both of the other men turn to look at Forbes who grins at the attention. Emil seems to stifle a smile as he replies. “Well, a fight is what he’ll get.

Day Twenty-Six of #30dhs2k25: 873/100

The first piece in a REAL long time that I felt absolutely great to write. Where the descriptors were pouring out of me and the scene just kept going naturally. Probably because I was talking about my #1 blorbo through a cool creative lens ngl...

Welcome to day 26 of #30dhs2k25! Today's optional prompt is "Sore"! Is your subject physically sore? Mentally sore? A sore loser? Or Is it a sore subject you're writing about? However you want to write it, I'm excited to read!

“That bad?” Stefano gave a bemused smile as Emil pushed his glasses up into his hair to rub at his face. “I have barely slept in the last 24 hours and…” Emil flipped his phone over to check the notifications before resuming rubbing at his eyes. “The M.E. STILL hasn’t gotten back to me for an identity.” Stefano tsked, sipping at the wine he held in one gloved hand. “Idiots. How long could it take for them to run the DNA?” “You would think not very long given the high priority of this case.” Emil let his glasses fall back onto his face before leaning back in his chair. “And now they’re forcing me out of the precinct because they think I can sleep. At a time like this?” “Prehaps they think sleep will help you think clearer.” Stefano offered, nonchalantly. “What would help is information. Not being treated like I’m incapable.” Emil gave a heavy sigh. “I’m so sorry, Stefano, you don’t need me ranting at you.”

“Oh, caro.” Stefano shook his head slightly. “As I’ve told you before, your work…?” he waved the hand with the wine glass around almost absentmindedly. “Does not bother me.” Emil offered a tired smile back at his boyfriend. “Still…” “Caro mio.” Stefano cut him across with a raise of his free hand. “Just talk. That is why you came here, no?” Emil laughed, a little embarrassed. “Read me like you’re the shrink.” “A photographer must know his subject to capture their essence fully.” Stefano offered a coy smile over the top of his wine glass as he went for another sip. Emil smiled broader at that. “You’re too good to me.”

Day Twenty-five of #30dhs2k25: 280/100

I picked this prompt because work has been lousy for me the last few days and so I gave Emil a lousy day at work too : ) No one tell him that the serial killer he's chasing is his boyfriend sitting across from him!!!

Welcome to day 25 of #30dhs2k25! Today's optional prompt is "Lousy"! Is your subject having a lousy time? Is lousy at something? Or is something (or someone) around them lousy? Excited to read what you come up with : )

“Why t’fuck do I gotta be there?” Jack sat up at his desk and looked over at Thomas who was leaning his face into his hand instead of looking back. “Jack, you need to represent the Laundromat in front of the High Council.” Thomas’s voice sounded as if he had explained this six times already, and truth be told it might have been. “Ya the fuckin’ lawyer! Why can’t ya do it, Counselor.” Thomas looked at him blankly for a moment, so Jack tacked on a “What?’ “You want me to represent the bar.” “Yeah.” “In front of the High Council of Nine.” “Yeah…?” “Of which I am also a member.” Jack fell silent after that. There was a beat when both men were looking at each other before Jack spoke again. “Guess ya can’t do that, huh?” “No.” Thomas gave a tired smile. “So please attend?” “Aye, aye. Yeah, yeah. I’ll come.”

Day Twenty-Four of #30dhs2k25: 153/100

This prompt was just made for my character Thomas (aka Ace). He's a lawyer on a council! A Counseling Counselor!

Anyway, this is just a fun interaction between him and Jack... I had to write at least one Jack piece, be unfair to leave him out!

Today is day 24 of #30dhs2k25! Today's optional prompt is "Council"! Is your subject before a council? Being counseled? Is a counselor? However you interpret the prompt I'm excited to read!

“Hmmm busy tonight.” Kai leaned across the counter, flashing Ethan a dazzling smile.. “Sorry I don't have time for you handsome.” Ethan shrugged. “It's whatever.” But he held the eye contact of the siren who in turn didn’t make a move to continue whatever task he had interrupted. “Awww don't be like that….” Kai started until someone slammed a hand down on the counter next to them. “HEY you getting us that beer or what?” Ethan and Kai’s attention was turned to a man Ethan's right. The vampire’s eyes narrowed at the other man, part of the rowdy bunch from over the other side of the bar. “Oh yes, sirrrr.” Kai purred out, all sarcastic charm. “I'll get right on that.” but he didn't move. “Don't need you flirting with anyone else before taking care of me. Didn't anyone tell you to treat your customers with respect.” Ethan scowled at the other man, but before he could Kai spoke up “Oh you know what, I think I missed that lesson. How about I get my boss and we discuss that with all three of us?” Kai's eyes looked all dangerously charming. The mention of said boss sobered up the uncouth man. “Hey now, no need to get him involved…”

“Didn't think so. Now go sit down, Fang boy. And I'll get your beer when I can.” Kai's smile was all perfect customer service as the other man walked away with a scowl. “Hmph. ” Was all Ethan managed as he watched the man walk away. “What? Didn't like me setting that guy in his place?” Kai feigned hurt. Ethan looked back confused, but shook his head.. “Why is Jack allowing Fangs in here?” Kai sighs. “He really isn't. But if I call Jack to kick them out… it'll cause another fucking scene that Jack doesn't need.” There was a pointed look at him as Kai reached for a pitcher for the beer. Ethan frowned, sucking his fangs in subtle embarrassment. “Right.” “So don't put your nose in it again, OK?” Kai was filling said pitcher with beer. “I'll call him if they get worse, don’t you worry about me vamp boy.” And with a wink, the siren was off to give the men their drink.

Day Twenty-Three of #30dhs2k25: 374/100

Managed to crank this out while waiting 20 mins for food and I'm glad I at least got this done after this exhausting day! Kai and Ethan are just easy to reach rn, even if this piece is a nothing burger in their overall lore!

Today is Day 23 of #30dhs2k25! Your optional prompt for today (suggested to me by a friend) is "Uncouth"! Is your subject lacking in manners? Or is someone they are talking to the unsophisticated one? Or is the situation your subject finds themselves in the uncouth thing? Excited to read!

Welcome to Day 22 of #30dhs2k25! Today's optional prompt is "Crush"! Does your subject have a crush on someone or being crushed on? Did your subject get crushed by an event that happened? Or maybe they're literally crushed by a physical thing! However you want to interpret, I'm excited to read!

Syrus could hear the movement of something in the shadows. He raised a hand up to his earpiece, “Slow moving, Sparks” he said in a hush voice “I don’t think that thing can see but it can definitely can hear-” but Syrus didn’t finish his sentence because at that exact moment he heard his own voice echoing back through static in the distance. Shit. The older agent thought. They left the main comms on. Whatever they were chasing made a sound something like a roar and went running towards the sound of the radio. Syrus’s heart leapt into his throat as he made off after the thing, clicking on his flashlight to not trip as he went. “FUCK!” came the shout at the end of the hall followed by a few gunshots. “FIND COVER!” Syrus shouted back causing the monster chasing his younger charge to whip towards him instead. Syrus barely got a look at the wretched thing before it was leaping towards him. A few well aimed shots with his handgun before he was forced to roll off to the side. The damn thing didn’t even seem affected by the bullets, only the noise of the gun. The older agent barely got to his feet before the damn thing was running at him again. “HOLT, DUCK!” Syrus reacted reflexively at the command, hearing rather than seeing something of the monster rip apart with the high caliber of his partner’s weapon.

He spun on a dime and rose to his feet, sidearm trained on the now unmoving heap of meat that was the former monster. “Good shot, Sparks” Came the praise as he kicked the monster to make sure it really was gone. “Shit… Sorry, Holt. Didn’t realise the main comms were on.” Kit also had their weapon trained on the unmoving meat pile. “Well, your marksmanship made up for the mistake you made. Consider it a learning experience.” Syrus offered the teenager a small smile. “Can fire a M4 on a moving target but apparently can’t turn off a fucking radio.” Kit sounded mad at themselves. Syrus holstered his weapon before walking towards his partner. “I’m just glad you can fire that M4.” He put a hand on their shoulder, forcing the kid to look up at him. “We were likely going to have to take that thing out whether it was your radio, me kicking an object, or the victims in here making a noise. You did great under pressure and that’s the right thing to take away from this situation. Shit will go wrong on this job, we can’t account for everything.” Kit looked suspicious at first when Syrus started talking to them but as the older agent continued to talk, their shoulders loosened and their confidence replaced self-anger. “Thanks, Holt.” “Anytime, kid.” a small shoulder squeeze. “Now reload and let’s move out again, we got people to find.”

Day Twenty-One of #30dhs2k25: 482/100

Went from "idek what I'm writing today" to 400+ words REAL quick. Also spent 30 mins with my brother to figure out what sort of weapon Kit would have which was Too Much Info About Guns but at least I figured it out! Syrus and Kit make a good little team, imo.

Today's Day 21 of #30dhs2k25 and today's optional prompt is "Experience"! Is your subject new and learning some valuable experience? Or are they already experienced and maybe too old for this shit? Or are you writing about a specific experience your subject went through? Excited to read!

Our last goodbye was hasty, a regret I have to this day. That when I go to replay the images of that goodbye in my mind that I cannot remember the words you say. And it haunts my dreams that that last kiss wasn’t longer or with all the passion we both hold at bay. For my last image of you is far too fleeting, faded, and grey. Did I even say I love you? I must have, I always do. But the memories of the moment are hazy making horrors rise anew. What if I forget your face, your smile, your sparkling baby blues? What if that moment finally fades with all I’ve done too? We kissed under the departure sign, that much I know is true. But all the rest, maybe for the best, in these books is where they stay. --A. Castle Departure

Day Twenty of #30dhs2k25: 143/100

This piece started out sorta as a normal Castle piece and then went fully off the rails. It makes sense though, there's supposed to be multiple notebooks of Castle's where his poetry is chaotic, truly tortured poet (tm). And given the subject, it fits!

Today is Day 20 of #30dhs2k25! Thanks to Sifen Yamishi on Gaia for today's optional prompt of "Departure". Is your subject the one who is leaving? Or did someone recently leave your subject's life? Is it temporary or permanent? However you decide to use the prompt, I'm excited to read!

There is a weariness deep within my bones that haunts my every step. That behind the bright smiles are tired eyes with nothing really left. The world has overlooked the lack of light that once was in my eyes. But who of them would have noticed when that part of me had died? I often find myself beseeching the man I once was, could have been. But truly who am I to judge this man for his past and present sins? I have made peace with my weary self And allowed him to be spent. No longer will I speak of the “could have been”s— I have become content. --A.Castle Weary

Day Nineteen of #30dhs2k25: 110/100

Poem verison of Castle writing because the first line stuck out so hard and then I realised it was metered lol. I think this piece has a lot of good bones that with a little more tweaking could get that meter and rhyme scheme sharper but it's still pretty good!

It was crisp this morning after a handful of terribly hot September days. It’s like the universe decided to make the weather your favourite to stir melancholy memories to the surface - I suppose that in and of itself is inspiring this writing. I sit here in the chair you used to read to me when I was a wee lad and pen this nonsense piece in your memory. I promised I would; every year I would stretch my writing muscles and make sure your memory was never forgotten. That even as I age and those fond moments of you fade into watercolour rosy pictures, they will being here in this journal for me to look back upon. I read last year’s again this morning, hence the familiar start. I’ve noticed a pattern in these last few years, wondering if you both would be proud of me, proud of the man that I became in your absence. Perhaps I am still that wide eyed child looking for his parents approval when I read books beyond my years, stumbling over the words. For it might no longer be books but I am stumbling over the world just the same. And maybe if I pen down enough of my thoughts, your answer will be staring right back up at me. Foolish? Maybe. But in these moments with your favourite tea, in your favourite chair, with my favourite journal, we are as close as we ever were. --A. Castle Anniversary

Day Eighteen of #30dhs2k25: 243/100

The 18th of Sept is an important day in Castle lore and Castle is at his best here in melancholy reflection. "Make the painful words beautiful" is a line I always love to use about when writing in his style. Having fun with the journal styled piece : )

Today is Day 18 of #30dhs2k25! A very important date for my writing muse so today's optional prompt will be "Anniversary"! Is it a celebration of a relationship making it another year? Or the somber remembrance of someone's loss? However you want to take it, I'll be excited to read : )

Monster hunting was always terrible business, especially when it was your nine to five. Even more so when it was a “Secret American Government Agency” - all the bureaucracy was enough to make anyone hate it. The DAP (Defense Against the Paranormal) was one Men in Black and one part military police - emphasis on military for this was America after all. Syrus Holt had gone into this thinking he could be providing a community service, helping the local people of New Jersey against the Paranormal threats they faced. Instead he got trained into a glorified coverup cop, with his main purpose to keep Americans from knowing the truth. The only thing that kept him going after several years in this shitty job was his partner, Wyatt McAllister. Mac, as everyone called him, had actually been the one to train him. Apparently his training was to serve as some sort of punishment for the older Agent, but the two had clicked so quickly that it was hardly a punishment at all. Now nearly a decade in and the two wouldn’t pick another partner for the world.

Day Seventeen of #30dhs2k25: 184/100

Writing this scene is like pulling teeth. I'm just trying to get a sort of backstory for Syrus down talking about his partner (and the trauma that goes with it) but NOTHING is working. So have this glorified exposition : (

Today is Day 17 of #30dhs2k25! Our optional prompt for today is "Mentor"! Is the subject of your piece a mentor to someone else? Or are they being mentored by someone? Or maybe BOTH! Whatever you decide to write, I'll be excited to read : )

Cafe Encounters [Day 3/30] by Vampyre-neko on DeviantArt

Posting late but I did finish it before midnight I swear~
formatting and character creation just took a minute lol anyway! 3 days down! 🥳 www.deviantart.com/vampyre-neko... #quoteworthy #30dhs2k25

The flat, red plains of the desert made seeing the small blip of the helicopter in the distance easier to spot. “On your feet.” Kit said to the older man at their side, despite the man already standing. “The offer is still on the table.” The man began again as Kit slid their warm brown eyes to meet his. “The Agency will protect you and get you out of here.” Kit scoffed. “If I leave here, they will kill me.” They roughly gestured to the others on the ridge. “They’ll shoot the helicopter down before it gets off the ground.” “I would like to think your Colonel is smarter than that, Sargent.” the Agent replied. “I might not have as much military experience as him, but I have been in enough tactical battles to know that would be a mistake.” Kit turned towards the man, their brows drawing down in part confusion, part defiance. “They would rather have me dead than your Agency having a drop of our knowledge.” The older man set his face in a grim line. “I doubt they’d want the entire strength of ‘my Agency’ to be dropped on their heads in retaliation. I think that would be a ‘tactical error’, Sargent.”

Kit pushed the Agent’s shoulder and advanced on him. “Keep yourself in check, Agent.” That title was spoken like an insult. The older man rolled with the hit and didn’t give the teenager the reaction they were looking for. Once Kit’s initial aggression wore off, a small flickering of consideration was appearing on their face; the tiniest of cracks in the mask they had been wearing this entire time. The helicopter was becoming more visible by the second, the sound of radio confirmation came in garbled on Kit’s shoulder where the walkie talkie was. The silence stretched on between them as the sound of whirling helicopter blades started to fill the air. Then Kit finally spoke. “You better make trusting you worth it, Grandpa.” It took everything in the Agent to not show an outwardly visible reaction to that, lest he trip off Kit’s fellow soldiers behind them. “You have my word, Sargent Sparks.”

Day Sixteen of #30dhs2k25: 360/100

More vague, technically fanfiction about my hyperfixation podcast. I think I did a good enjoy job about keeping it loose enough to stand alone, but it's there if you squint.

Not where I was gonna go with the prompt, but the other piece wasn't materializing...

Today is day 16 of #30dhs2k25 and the optional prompt is "Trust"! Is your subject trustworthy? Or are they the kind of person you wouldn't trust with anything? Is your subject trying to gain the trust of another or did they to break the trust of someone they hold dear? Excite to read what you write!

The door of the Laundromat opened with a loud creak as both Ethan and Kai ushered themselves into the dingy alley. “The side door?” Kai said with a mischievous look in his eyes. “Well, well, well vamp boy… I think-” but the man cut himself off, eyes going wide. Ethan reflexively looked over his shoulder, seeing two men aggressively moving from the mouth of the alley towards them. He made to move in front of Kai, to bare fangs and tell the others to fuck off, but Kai had him beat. “Hey, we don’t want trouble.” He stepped to the side and showed his hands. The two men stopped in front of them, but from the way they held themselves (and, ironically, their smell) Ethan could tell they were both vampires. “Kai, get behind me.” Ethan replied, voice taking on a more growling edge to it. “It’s alright, vamp boy, I got this.” Kai murmured only low enough for the vampire to hear him. Then he raised his voice to address the other two. “Seriously, if this is your alley we’re just leaving.” “Yous ain’t going nowhere.” Said one of the men, taking a step towards them. “This alley is in our territory, you’re trespassing.”

Fangs, the vampire gang that had its teeth in this part of Brooklyn. Ethan would consider ripping them apart just on principle, let alone in self-defense. “No worries…” Kai was now walking around him. Ethan’s eyes flickered over in disbelief, ready to grab the other man and pull him back but Kai was… pink? A weird magenta glow had started to emit from the other man’s eyes and when he opened his mouth to speak again it was also coming from his mouth. “How about you just leave us alone, OK?” There was a different edge to Kai’s voice that Ethan picked up on and as the light continued to shine an irresistible smell started to come from the other man. Ethan had to clamp down his jaw to stay focused. But clearly, whatever Kai was doing was having an effect on the other two vampires too. “Uh… yeah? Yeah that actually sounds like a good idea…” One of them said, looking towards the other. “Yeah we should… go.” The other responded. And as if compelled, the two vampires left the alley without much further ado. Ethan stood there dumbfounded for a moment, eyes darting from the retreating vampires and then back at Kai. “The fuck was that?” he gritted out, that smell was still lingering on the other man. Kai’s face split into a wide grin showing razor sharp, sharkline teeth in that still glowing mouth. “Magick.”

Day Fifteen of #30dhs2k25: 443/100

Literally an excuse to write about what kind of creature Kai happens to be. I'm sure I'll be more purposeful with his descriptors going forward but I wanted to give another chance at guessing to the people interested lol. Happy guessing : )