Fantasy The Configuration - The Dygarian Mansion - Library - [CLOSED]

[Vampunk]

Florence suddenly tightening her grip caught Tess by surprise and almost made her stumble forward, the Serbian Vampire managing to regain her composure as her eyes fixed on her maker's own, having been widened in response to her underlying how serious the subject at hand truly was.
It didn't take long for Tess' thin lips to form a faint smile again, raising an eyebrow at Florence's threat.

"I've had enough of dying for two lifetimes, so I'd rather keep myself, and naturally you as well, out of trouble. Consider my lips sealed for anything other than what you've had to endure for this entire night, and probably a lot more to come." The fledgling vampire would reply with an expression that was the sincerest display of her grasping the severity of the situation, making sure that Florence knew that she would not regret recruiting Tess to their cause.

As Florence finally let go of Tess' hand, the Serbian would take a small step backwards, rubbing the back of her hand and flexing her fingers as she still felt the aftermath of her maker's vice-like grip.
Raising her eyebrow, her dark eyes would wander from her slender fingers to meet Florence's gaze, letting go of a soft chuckle.

"Damn, way to remind me to never get on your bad side, that is if it gets any worse than...that." Tess would joke as she'd straighten her lanky form, adjusting her form-fitting waistcoat as Florence explained the next course of action.
"Got it, chief. Playing it cool is my forte after all. Or is it just something that comes with dying and being deathly cold to the bone?" Her expression straightening for a moment, Tess gave Florence a quick nod.
"But yeah, I'll keep my end of the deal...And, thanks, I guess."

She didn't know what exactly she was thankful for, but there was a part of her that did feel that way about something. Perhaps time would tell what it was exactly, but for now the Serbian really just wanted to get a drink to calm her troubled mind.

"Catch you later, mom." Tess would bid Florence farewell as she made her way out of the office, glancing around as she tried remembering where the bar was supposed to be.

"Huh, where was it again?" The vampire mumbled under her breath as she decided that checking out the other rooms in the search of booze might not be too bad of an idea.
Besides, it was the other's fault for not keeping the good stuff close to the foyer.

Heading for one of the nearest doors, or rather the one that looked the most promising, Tess would find herself walking into the library as her dark eyes would wander around the insides, finally falling on a single woman being present in the chamber.

The door slowly creeping shut behind her, Tess would brush her fingers through the stubbly short hair on the sides of her head as she'd raise an eyebrow at the other vampire.

"Erm, sorry for just burstin' in, I was just lookin' for the bar. You guys really should put signs on these doors, god knows someone might walk into a couple doing, you know..." The Serbian would mumble as she'd take a closer look at the strange woman.

"Though I don't recall seeing you around before, didn't seem to attend tonight's main event, huh? Too bloody or just having the right idea and keeping as far away from guys like Ajax as inhumanly possible? 'Cause that's what I'd do, no offense to our host or anything, really!"

mothspit

 

[mothspit]

Gwen raised her head at Tess's entry. Just before she so gracefully burst in, she was deciding what to do with the man that just left. He was brash, and unsympathetically rude. Maybe he didn't mean it how it came across. Regardless, she would need to think about it longer. Now, there was another soul that had just crossed the threshold into her makeshift domain. And she was.. cute. Huh. Gwen laughed at the mental picture of someone walking in on a copulating couple-- Even in the face of something so disheartening, she made jokes. The elder vampire could admire that.

"..I take no offense. Please, sit." She gestured to the free chair opposite from her in front of the fireplace, "You are correct. I was not there. I do not care for such senseless displays of violence.. Not anymore."

Violence always had it's purpose, when utilized correctly. But kidnapping humans, only to torture them for others amusement? What purpose was there in that? Gwen remembered her game, well over 400 years ago. Back during that primitive age, when there wasn't such fancy inventions and flashy devices. When the weight of the victims death felt so much heavier, especially when it was taken by ones own hands. Over time, the game became less about the thrill of discovery-- Finding out who the culprit was, and removing a criminal from the world with frontier justice-- And more about the death in general. That's all that mattered to Ajax now. It didn't matter who was guilty anymore. Just as long as they died. Just death.

She shifted positions in her chair, leaning over to prop her chin up on one elbow placed on her knee. The fire was starting to die down now; Small embers floating into the open air before disappearing entirely. And as it died, so did the low lighting in the room; Now it was only enough to illuminate the two bodies that stood in front of it. Any other lighting in the room came from the dim wall sconces dotted about the walls.

"But.. I know what happened. I've been through many of these events. You grow tired of them, after awhile. How are you faring?"

Vampunk

 

[Vampunk]

Blinking in confusion at Gwen offering her a seat, Tess straightened her slender form, resting one hand in her dark gray trousers as the other brushed through her messy black hair as she eyed the women with apparent curiosity.

"Are you sure you're a vampire yourself? You're neither oddly eccentric, a kleptomaniac who steals cigarettes, some rude jerk or whatever strange creature you could encounter out there in the foyer." Tess would reply to Gwen offering her to take a seat as a chuckle escaped her thin lips.

"Though what does that make me if I don't even manage to introduce myself properly." The fledgling vampire continued as she'd creep closer to the chair, her fingers dragging along its wooden frame but her eyes never leaving the strange woman sitting in the other one.

"I'm Tess Lovrić, notorious smuggler nobody's gonna miss and the lucky winner of the vampire roulette, torn throat and a maker who's probably already sick of me included."
The Serbian would add with a toothy smile adorning her visage as she'd throw her long legs over the chair's armrests and sunk into its padding.
"And who would you be to be so keen on keeping away from the commotion out there?" Tess would ask, motioning over to the closed door leading into the mansion's many corridors.

"Not that I blame you, I'm still not quite sure this is even real. All's happening so fast, just a few nights before I was still peddling illegal stuff for meager pay and now I'm neck-deep in bloodsucking business it seems. Guess there are worse ways to wake up after having one's blood drained and put on a stage to some sick vampire's entertainment. Though I can't say it's all bad, seems fate's finally dealing me a better hand than it did in life." She'd remark with a very smug smile adorning her lips, leaning a bit forward in her chair as she'd raise an eyebrow at Gwen.

"But you know, I haven't had a taste of what this world really has in store for me anyway...which reminds me...shit, I thought this was the bloody bar, seems I'm just walking around like a headless chicken, huh?"
Tess would continue, eyeing the other woman, something about her was different than the other vampires she had met this evening, and whatever it was, the Serbian was sure to not pass up an opportunity at finding out what it was.

"But enough about me, what are you doing here all on your own?"
The vampire would ask with a grin that revealed her perfectly white ivories.

mothspit

 

[mothspit]

Gwen's hawk-eye'd stare drifted over to the woman who called herself Tess. A coy grin crept across her lips-- A handful of sentences in, and she was already spilling her life's story. Why couldn't Ajax be this open? Why couldn't any of those hollow shells? Humility.. It went a long way. Not to be exploited, but championed; Knowing a person still had emotions was nice, even after they went through the things Tess did.

"You've discovered my secret already. I am no vampire, Tess Lovric.. But a phantom, come to haunt you for your sins." She widened her eyes comically, and gave her words a raspy, dry tone-- All in good fun.

She chuckled at her own lame attempt at humor, "If only I were a ghost.. My name is Gwenhwyfar LaVey. Though If that is too much of a mouthful, I am content enough with just 'Gwen.'" She pronounced her first name like 'Gwen-hee-far,' as if it were coming straight from an old Shakespearean novel.

Gwen nodded at Tess' understanding of how quickly things were happening. So little time to adjust, but so many life-altering things being hurled at their heads all at once. What to do? "I understand how you feel quite well. You seem.. adept enough. I trust you will find your own routine soon."

The bar? So she wasn't the only one planning on drowning her mind, body, and soul in the wake of her undead life. Gwen couldn't blame here. Alcohol sounded pretty damn appealing right now. Had she had the opportunity to speak to the drunken man from earlier? If so, she wondered what Tess thought of him. And more importantly, she wondered how many of them planned on losing themselves on the first night.

What was she doing here? That was a great question. Gwen had only been in this room a handful of hours-- Quite some time before the newbloods arrived-- And yet, she had no memory of arriving to this place. Of course, that wouldn't make for good conversation.

"..I can't say for certain," She said, glancing at the alleged smuggler from head-to-toe, "Sometimes, you need to just.. detach. Remind yourself of the silence of the world."

Vampunk

 

[Vampunk]

"What's that, a sense of humour? Thought every vampire here had to sign a contract explicitly forbidding them to ever even try being fun. Guess you didn't get the memo, eh?" Tess let go of a hearty chuckle at the woman's joke, leaning forward with a wide grin adorning her sharp facial features, raising an eyebrow at her in the process.

"But if you're really a ghost sent to haunt me for my past sins you better get in line, I know a few people who'd love to dig up things I'm not too proud of doing. And I have the feeling it's only going to get worse the deeper I'm going to go down this rabbit hole filled with bloodsucking creatures of the night." Tess continued as her smile wavered for the briefest of moments, knowing very well that no matter how many jokes she could make about such things, the severity of them would not diminish however much she seemed to take things in stride. Covering one's insecurities and doubts with wisecracking had always been her forte and it seems that skill would come to be tested in the very, very near future.

Once the woman in front of her introduced her with a very important-sounding name, but soon enough would offer an alternative to it, Tess' rather happy smile would return, obviously enjoying having someone else to talk to in this mansion. And not that she disliked Florence, but she meant business, she stole her smokes and most importantly, she matched her snark with a healthy dose of sarcasm of her own. Oh what fun they would have...


"Happy to meet you, really, Gwen. I can call you that, yes? No one's gonna murder me in my sleep for doing so? You can't be careful enough around here it seems and I'd rather get acquainted with how things work around here before I found myself bleeding out in a ditch AGAIN..."
The Serbian would muse as she'd lean back into her chair, crossing her slender legs over each other.
"But thanks, I hope I get into some habits that'll make things easier soon enough. Though smokin' and drinkin' seem to be some favorite pastimes among the other vampires, being undead kind of reduces the chances of cancer I reckon, right?" Tess would remark with feigned concern in her voice.

It had seemed at first that she might have shared the same fate as the enthralled servants, just working for bigger fish, but an unlife of luxury at the top soon seemed the more likely future. And Tess was more than happy to have things go down that path if it meant that she could finally find some bloody happiness, even if it had meant having to leave some things behind that might come back to haunt her...


"Well, that's what booze's for, eh? Just letting yourself forget about...things. Though I feel it's far less dignified than just spending an evening in some fancy-lookin' library. Though that might get kinda lonely, no? So guess that's what I'm here for right now, being the booze to a dull night or what?" The Serbian joked as she let go of a faint chuckle, tilting her head slightly to the side as she rubbed the patch of flesh that a few night ago had been nothing more than vacant space and a fountain of dark blood.

mothspit

 

[mothspit]

Gwen could relate very hard to that sentiment. Too many people here were hell-bent on being brooding, sulking messes. Those who did have a sense of humor usually lacked the social grace to know when it was time for a joke at all. Still, she couldn't blame those who didn't find comfort in humor-- Sometimes it just wasn't enough. That's why half of them already drank heavily, or delved into more.. stimulating substances. Even she took to drinking at one point in her life.

The ancient vampire chuckled, "Even we can learn to laugh now and then. It's finding things to joke about that becomes a bit more.. difficult."

She shifted her position to better look at the the woman sitting across from her. Which family did she belong to, she wondered? Tess certainly wasn't Ajax's kind of woman, nor Adrian's for that matter. Speaking of, did Adrian even have children during this time? What number of them had been taken under the Archdeacon's broken wing? The fact he was still potentially alive after all this time was foreboding enough. Best not to think about him now, anyways. This woman was, strangely enough, her type. A long time ago, when Florence was her old flame, that's what drew her to her in the first place; Rough around the edges, and not afraid to get their hands dirty. There was something exciting about those particular traits. Especially at a time when Gwen was tasked with keeping up the facade of a pious, religious figurehead.

"The pleasure is mine, Tess." She said with a small smile and a bow of her head, "You may call me whatever you like."

She nodded,"That's right. No matter what you do, your body will survive most afflictions." 'Most' being the keyword, there. They could survive a long 3-day drug binge, or ingest however much alcohol they wanted, but that didn't mean it wasn't going to hurt later. It just meant they couldn't die from it.

"Oh? If you're my bottle here to comfort me, does that mean I get to take a drink?" She smiled a wide, toothy grin, exposing a set of sharp fangs protruding from the top of her pale gums.

Vampunk

 

[Vampunk]

"Oh, there's plenty to joke about, enough for eternity. What these poor sods lack is the creativity to do so." Tess would muse at Gwen's remark, the vampire's chuckle making her own smile widen into a toothier grin. Something about Gwen was different than the other bloodsuckers she had met throughout the evening. They all seemed so...stiff...so dead, which ironically was what they all were anyway, but for some reason they all felt more like hollow copies of what they could have been in life. And even if she did not want to do so, she would find herself thinking if that was how she'd end up like after a few centuries or so.

"Hey, maybe that's why I've been chosen, eh? Not because I'm just some low-life that nobody will miss, with some folk even glad that I've disappeared. Me apparently pissing off the wrong vampires when I tried stealing from 'em doesn't sound like the reason either, does it? Nah, might have been solely to bring some goddamn life into this crypt, eh?" The Serbian would blabber on, gesturing wildly with her arms as if reciting the plot of her favorite sitcom.

"Or maybe that's just me. The only tolerable people I got to talk to tonight was that bi...my lovely maker, some of my fellow ex-humans and now you. Could've been much, much worse if you ask me."
Tess added with a smirk, her lips shifting to bring forth that set of charming dimples that accented her otherwise sharper features.
She started to like this one, and not just because she didn't seem to follow the Configuration's creed...

"Huh, that's going to come in handy when I'm going to have to try drinking all the troubles of this new existence away...Or you know, survive whatever shit's gonna get inevitably flung my way. Doubt this stay in vampire land's all smooth sailing and bloody mary's in good company." The Serbian would joke before that grin of hers wavered for a brief moment as Gwen would ask whether she would get to take a sip...or more.

If she were still alive, Tess' pale cheeks would have regained some colour as the vampire would lean back into her chair, her fingers coming to brush through the stubbly short hair adorning the sides of her head as she raised an eyebrow at Gwen.

"Well, uh, I don't know..." She'd mumble under her breath, thoroughly considering that thought as her dark eyes would come to rest on Gwen's own fangs.
"Do vampires even drink from each other? And is it any different than what I got to experience from Florence? Having my throat torn open isn't exactly a pleasant thought, immortality or not, eh?"

"That is if you're actually being literal here..."
Tess would muse, slowly leaning closer as she'd prop her chin up on her palm, examining Gwen more closely.
"Because either way you can color me intrigued."

mothspit

 

[mothspit]

Gwen took a moment to drink in Tess's words, finding herself examining every aspect of the woman's frame-- From her face, all the way down to her feet. There was a suggestive twinkle in her eye, but for a moment she seemed to stop herself mid-thought. What was she doing? This wasn't the time for flirting; A cute face walks into the room and suddenly, all thoughts of revenge are pushed aside. And in the midst of that realization, she wondered.. was it worth it? Should Gwen pursue this path to fulfill a hundred-year-old vendetta? Who knows what has happened since her death-- Would she even be prepared. Yes, she finally reasoned, this needed to be done. It wouldn't stop with just her. There were undoubtedly more that have and would eventually fall under Ajax's fist. He needed to be stopped.

But despite that fact, that hard resolution she refused to let go of, it didn't mean there wasn't room for any fun. After all, he didn't know she was here. From what she could discern, he didn't even know she was alive. His time would come, but until then..

She laughed at Tess' theory, "How charming. I'm sure they could certainly use the laughter."

The mention of her interaction with the one that turned her piqued her interest. It didn't sound like it was Adrian, or potentially any other male figure she recalled from her vampiric glory days. They tended to turn the dainty ones; The ones that wore sundresses and floppy hats, not vests and dress pants. A shame, really-- They were missing out. So then, who?

"Well, it's not unheard of," She chuckled, using her fist to prop up her chin in a similar way Tess had done, "Though, I would say the taste is.. less than pleasant. I'm sure others find it quite enjoyable." ..Implying that she has, at least, tasted vampire blood. Huh.

And with that, there was the answer to her question. It was Florence. Suddenly, Gwen's smile fell, her plush lips curling into a scowl. Even she was still alive.. How unfortunate. Florence was slippery snake, capable of influencing even those with the most hardened of resolves.. The woman that, at one point, she could say she loved, only to be betrayed.. Could there be a bigger mood killer than that? Tess didn't know that story, so she supposed it wasn't her fault. Gwen shook her head, and simply smiled. There was no use in delving into that particular monologue right now. But, she knew that asking her to help Gwen would be fruitless-- Assuming Florence got to her first. For what, she didn't know, but the way Tess spoke about her.. it didn't sound promising.

"..And if it hurts? You're not going to cry on me, are you?" Her voice was dripping with velvety smooth confidence, her tongue just barely dragging across the fangs behind her lips-- Florence's mention might have thrown her off temporarily, but she shook it off with ease, like water off a ducks back. But did Tess notice that crack?

Vampunk

 

[Vampunk]

"Well, I think I get now why you're staying here in the library instead of joining the others for the evening. Pretty dry company indeed, and I doubt that'll change even after they've gotten tipsy from one too many drinks. Seems they really do need to lighten up, and I don't mean that in bursting into flame at the touch of sunlight...if that's a thing of course..."

Tess would muse as she realized that she had just been dumped into a new life without even knowing the true extent of her newfound powers...and all the weaknesses that probably came with that. She had always been big on horror flicks when she was younger, and when she was still living with her extended family, but she doubted that most of the things depicted onscreen were true for actual bloodsuckers. Crosses and Garlic for example were totally just silly superstition...or were they...she would have to really get to know what she could and couldn't do with her new body...

Which brought her back to the delightful company of Gwen, who unlike Florence didn't seem to just drag her from one silly situation to the other. Tearing of one's throat - resurrection in her claustrophobic room - Ajax's traumatizing game - the theft of her smokes AND her flask - an entire plot to overthrow Ajax - Florence really knew how to not let things get boring around her, huh...

At the mention of her maker's name, Gwen's smile seemed to waver and Tess couldn't help herself but to inhale sharply through her teeth.
Ouch, seemed like she had just bought up a delicate topic, but the Serbian smuggler decided not to further dwell on it.
Besides, some would say life was too short to hold on to grudges, but with vampires having eternity to think about all those who wronged them it seemed unlikely that they didn't keep an extensive shit list filled with hundreds of names.
Damnit Florence, seems stealin' smokes did earn you a spot on that list, eh? Tess would think to herself as she returned her attention to Gwen who seemed to have the same idea of keeping that skeleton in its rightful closet.

Instead Gwen continued her teasing and Tess would once again lean back as she crossed her arms in front of her chest, mirroring how one of her slender legs was resting over the other.

"Oh please, a little pain never managed to stop me. Much less cry, though I suppose if that is what you want, well...I'd say you'd have quite a weird taste yourself." The fledgling vampire would remark with a toothy grin, her thin lips spreading over her perfectly white ivories as she raised an eyebrow at Gwen.
She was enjoying their playful back and forth, having had few opportunities to enjoy such things when she was still alive, and most of her peers had simply not requited her teasing.

Unlike Gwen, which was keeping Tess more than just vaguely intrigued.
"But I guess that's part of the fun, no? Getting to explore different tastes throughout what seems to be an immortal existence, eh?"
The Serbian would coo with a playful tone as she'd let go of a soft chuckle.

mothspit

 

[mothspit]

And because if any of them knew I was here, they'd surely have my head.

Gwen feigned a smile. For a moment, she thought about planting a kiss on her right then and there; This Tess character was getting more interesting by the minute, but no matter how enjoyable her company, she had inadvertently buried Florence into her mind. Out of all those she planned to come after, how could she forget Florence? The one who was arguably responsible? This made things all the more difficult to genuinely engage with the woman in front of her. Florence needed to go first-- Ajax could wait a little longer. They would all eventually become worms under her boot, but this worm in particular.. really pissed her off.

Gwen fell back into her chair slightly; Gone was her teasing, flirtatious nature. Perhaps another night, this interaction could prove to be more.. fruitful. But right now, she would need to think things over. Come up with a plan. Maneuver her next move. She let herself become careless for a moment there, and a facade she had expertly crafted was slipping; Becoming vulnerable. And while that was something she could admire, not just in others but herself as well, it was foolish, if only for tonight. There would be a time for merrymaking, terrible jokes, and drinking later. She reached up to run a hand through the front of her long, dark hair and with a hardened, stern expression, she turned back to Tess.

"I.. am sorry," She said grimly, "This was fun, but unfortunately, this must be where it stops. You're an attractive woman, Tess Lovrić, but I think you should leave."

She made a gesture to the door. When her eyes fell back onto the dying fire, she sighed, and pressed two fingers to both temples. Why did things have to be so complicated? If she had aligned herself with Florence, continuing down this path could compromise not just her plans, but her life. But, if that was going to be the case, Tess deserved an explanation.

"..That woman, Florence, will lead you down a path you cannot return from." She said, slowly standing to her feet. She approached the fire place and, with two hands balled into fists, she turned her back to Tess, "Soon, you will look on all that you have done, and realize you could have avoided it. If you had only stayed away."

Tess would be another Florence. Someone whimsical, unafraid, and willing to do the difficult thing, all under the guise of becoming stronger. Obtaining what was rightfully yours. Evolving. She knew from experience that that kind of thinking could kill. Gwen wouldn't be sucked back into that-- Not again. This was going to be different.

"..I apologize. I cannot let myself be that person.. that thing.. again. I fear you would bring something out of me I have worked very hard to bury."

Revenge was no noble quest. It didn't make her a bigger person, or even a good one, but it was certainly much better than what she used to be.

Vampunk

 

[Reis]

Lucas looked around the library as its large wooden doors slammed shut behind him. He had just spent a moment wandering the mansion, letting his steps carry him through its incredibly spacious halls, and at last he found himself here. The large bookshelves around him were somehow comforting, shielding off the chaotic noise within the foyer. At the same time, however, Lucas felt that the looming shelves were ominous. It was a glaring reminder of why Lucas came here.

The bone-masked woman. Lucas's attempts at ignoring her were futile. In the end, he couldn't help but notice the feeling she left behind when she last appeared. She had left him with the strangest sensation, as if she were beckoning him to a place with books on every wall. This calling lingered in his mind like a bad scent, slowly spreading until it infected his every thought. Why had she called him? What message was she so intent on sharing?

Lucas stopped in his tracks when he saw the woman. Her clothes did not fail to convey a sense of glamour, but it was different from Emilia's somehow, as if it were made to go well with the old leather-bound book in her hands. Her place at the moonlit window was just as serene as the rest of the library, a stark contrast to her horrifying presence throughout his arrival at the mansion. Lucas almost felt like his entrance was wrong, somehow, as if taking just one more step would disrupt this strange peace like ripples on the surface of water.

But he had to act. He was compelled to, if only to avoid the terrifying threat of succumbing to the evils within this monstrous place. After mustering up the courage, Lucas took one more step forward and spoke. "Are you the one who called me here?" mothspit

 

[mothspit]

After her lackluster conversation with Tess, Gwen had indeed returned back to the window. She looked down at the table next to her, the mask laying there silently. She ran her fingers over it, a series of faint memories flashing in her mind as to where it came from. It was the mask forced upon her at the time of her execution-- What did the villagers call it? 'The eyes of the true devil.' How oddly fitting. Strangely enough, it seemed to travel with her from the afterlife. ..Whatever the afterlife was, anyway. It was nothing she could recall.

The book she had been reading was the memoir of one of the villagers present at the execution. It seemed that for the better part of a 100 years, her legacy had been reduced to nothing but faint whispers. Rumors. Not only did a rumor spark her death, but also the death of her legacy. She believed that was the definition of cruel irony. They wrote in graphic detail the events that occurred, the smell of burning flesh, Gwen's terrified screams of pain and agony..

"The harlot went up like dry kindlin', calling out for her demonic savior."

No demonic savior was begged for help, but rather someone to help her in general. She scoffed, and flipped a page.

"A boy rushes through the crowd. Young. Blonde. Screamin' at the oil man, callin' him a liar and monster.. like he was friends with'er.. He was too late."

Gwen's heart ached slightly at these faded words. Lance. The only one willing to stand up to Ajaxius' cruelty. She shook her head, mumbling to herself under her breath, "..I deserved it, old friend.."

Then, there came the sound of the door opening, and footsteps across the marble flooring. Gwen raised her head slightly, but hesitated turning around. This was the one. The soul she felt this strange connection to. Slowly, she closed the old book, and slid it back into it's place on the bookshelf. With her eyes fixated out the window, she smiled.

"Not I, Lucas, but our souls," She mused, speaking in a hushed, thoughtful tone. Even she didn't quite understand how it worked-- Something about the pure rawness of his emotions, the willingness to do a difficult thing, coupled with the intense jealousy for the truly dead.. They were two halves of the same coin. He called out to her in that void, albeit unintentionally, and her soul called back. No matter how useful it was in the moment, it didn't feel like she could recreate such an effect. It was gone.

"..I'm sorry if I frightened you. It seems that even I have a few new things to learn.."

She gestured to the open space next to her, beckoning him to come stand next to her in front of the window.

Reis

 

[Reis]

Our souls?

Lucas stared dumbly forward for a moment. Out of all the vampires he'd met so far, he had a feeling that this one was the weirdest of them all. The way she spoke, the way she dressed, her spontaneously appearing bone-masked visage...this woman somehow managed to stand out in a mansion full of narcissistic undead monsters.

Following the woman's gesture, Lucas stepped forward and stood beside her. He didn't dare to look at her face, choosing instead to scrutinize the soft flakes of snow drifting down from outside the window. Although eye contact was difficult enough by itself, Lucas avoided her gaze to block out the grim expression that he'd encountered before. That chilling, empty stare, the hollow sound of her lifeless voice...Lucas didn't think this woman would suddenly transform into something like that, but he also didn't want tempt.

"Our souls, huh? I guess that'd explain how you knew my name." Lucas would normally struggle to believe that her soul was capable of popping around out of nowhere like that, but in a place like this nothing was normal. "It's fine. I mean, I was startled, but...I've been through frightening things before." Compared to his lifestyle before now, a gut-wrenching ghost was almost nothing. He was scared, sure, but that surprise couldn't compare to the outright terror he experienced when under the care of his abusive uncle.

"I suppose we both have a bit to learn, miss--" Lucas tensed. He was about to turn his statement into a question about her name, but he ended up turning his eyes towards the woman. The accidental eye contact made him jump, his body already anticipating the grotesque mask he'd seen multiple times before. mothspit

 

[mothspit]

Rather than something harsh, Gwen only returned his stare with caring, sympathetic eyes. They were the same color as before-- That abnormal grey, but without a mask of bones to look beyond, she looked.. sincere. Gentle, even. At his startled jump, she giggled a light, lilting laugh. That was to be expected, she supposed. Despite what most others would have him believe, she meant no harm; Not to him, anyway. Her heart swelled with love and sympathy for all of these strange newbloods stolen in the night.. Because she was like them, to a frightening degree. If only she had gotten to some of them first. How different things could have been.

"Gwenhwyfar. You may call me Gwen."

She smiled, the skin around her eyes wrinkling with it's wideness. Her head turned back to gaze out the window and, with one gentle outstretched hand, she drew a small set of eyes in the condensation that had accumulated on the glass from the cold, "I'd like to think I'm not normally so.. unflattering."

Gwen's gaze shifted back to Lucas again. Though she looked to be around his own age, there was this glimmer in her eye.. Like the eyes of an elephant. Old, wise, and seemingly all-knowing. Of course, the truth was, she was just as if not more confused as Lucas. The powers that be had managed to bring her back, all the while escaping her grasp. Someone pressing unpause.

"I'm afraid I don't know much else beyond that. If you tell me a secret, I'll tell you one of mine."

Reis

 

[Reis]

Lucas looked at Gwen in confusion. He'd been expecting a horrific face to be glaring back up at him, but her expression was surprisingly...normal. In fact, it was almost too normal. Giggling in harmless delight at his tension, the difference between those two people was like the difference between night and day. He never would have guessed that this cheerful vampire and the masked woman were in fact one and the same.

He tilted his head at Gwen's sudden change of subject. Lucas didn't exactly know what warranted a trade in secrets. In fact, he doubted he had anything important to tell her in the first place. She already knew his name, so there was no telling how many other bits and pieces of information she had about him. His birthday, his place of residence...hell, he wouldn't be surprised if she knew something about his family life. There was no telling how thoroughly vampires studied their victims, and judging from the size of this library, he had a feeling they were surprisingly thorough.

Lucas wasn't about to turn down the ancient supernatural vampire's offer of a harmless game, though. Settling by her side, he stared back out into the snow-filled night and gathered his thoughts. "Not sure if this counts as a secret, but...when I was turned, just before Lance killed me, I'd been..."

Lucas paused for a moment. He could remember the moment he died like it was yesterday. The frigid wind against his skin, the dull pain of his feet hitting cold concrete again and again...his last moments in life had taken him to a dark place, a place filled with misery and hatred. Remembering the pain of that experience, some of that darkness seemed to linger even now.

"I'd been thinking about death..."

 

[mothspit]

Gwen's smile seemed to falter for a moment at the mention of Lance. If her dead heart could still beat, it would surely flutter. Her old friend lived after all. She assumed that after his failed rescue attempt, Ajax had him killed shortly after. How many of those from her youth still lived? What divine intelligence was leading them closer to each other? If anyone here would help in her quest, it was him. No one despised Ajax as much as Lance.

She listened intently to Lucas' words, her posture shifting and relaxing when he mentioned his fascination with death. They truly were kindred spirits. But, she could read between the lines. She didn't dare ask him to elaborate, however. Poor taste.

"..I see." She said softly, her head tilted to the side. She'd be lying if she said she didn't consider the easy way out at one point, too. At her weakest point, she was susceptible to many unholy pleasures. Easily swayed by the dark call of death's pale finger. And even though she didn't consider herself to be that same person anymore, it still clung there, itching to get out. There was no shame in it, though.. They were born in death, in blood, tears and cries of the innocent. It was their nature. But, sometimes, it was better to suppress.

"A fine secret," She reassured, leaning close to playfully whisper the words to him, "My turn, then.."

So many hidden treasures she carried. Which one to suit the interests of this man before her..

"..I hope to take the life of the only woman I thought could understand me. I will devour her heart as she watches, and God willing, it will be painful."

Gwen spoke very matter-of-factly, but there was an undeniable, palpable undertone of pure hatred. She'd been burned-- Figuratively and literally-- by someone she cared about. A deadly pact had been forged between them, and now, she planned to honor it. She gazed out into the snowy night, losing herself for moment in her emotions.

"..Tell me more," She said after a small pause in the conversation, turning her fascination back to Lucas with a curious stare, "Tell me more of your thoughts."

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Lucas blinked at the secret Gwen decided to share. She spoke with a strange intensity, making it hard to believe that she would fail in her quest for violence. The switch from innocent curiosity to insatiable bloodlust was surprising, yet at the same time it managed to sound familiar, almost as if he could relate to her desire to torture the people who hurt her most in life.

Lucas shrugged before speaking. "There's not much else for me to share. After being brought into the world of the undead, I was greeted by the others' welcoming game. Ajax..." Lucas stopped for a moment, realizing something. He clenched his fist. "...I guess that counts as a secret. I hate that man. Ajax, I mean. If I named all the worst traits in the other vampires and combined them into one, Ajax would be worse. He's loud, arrogant, selfish--"

Lucas's rant suddenly came to a stop. In his passionate annoyance towards Ajaxius, he completely forgot that he was mouthing off one of the most powerful, dangerous vampires in existence. It didn't help at all that he was doing so in front of a being who could casually peer straight into his soul. Shifting nervously, Lucas took the time to think before he spoke again. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to insult you or anything. When you told me to speak my mind, I got a little out of hand..." He trailed off, unconsciously slouching his back and slumping his shoulders in an attempt to decrease his presence.

Scratching the back of his hand nervously, Lucas silently prayed that the overpowered vampire before him wasn't about to get mad. mothspit

 

[mothspit]

She listened to him patiently. With her permission, he had quickly delved into his shameless feelings of hate toward Ajax. It was natural for him to assume she had some meaningful connection to the man, but she was quick to dispel such myths. With a certain twinkle in her eye, she reached out a dainty hand to rest on his shoulder, gripping it slightly.

"Don't ever apologize for such feelings, Lucas," Gwen said softly, "You have every right. He might not have made you what you are, but it is his furthering hand that will continue to rob you of your dignity."

Again, there was that same undeniable hatred. She spoke as if she could relate, and unbeknownst to Lucas, she could-- Gwenhwyfar could see a young version of herself in him, and if there was one thing she wishes she could still do, it would be to go back and rewrite history. Protect that younger self.. "They say the devil was made attractive for a reason-- To beguile the weak with his temptations. They are all charmed by his promises, but we know better. We are not weak."

She pauses, drawing back her arm to hold out an open palm. For a moment she remains silent, the pale skin of her hand exaggerating a series of dead veins. They were the same, and with his help, they could tear down all that Ajax has built. Liberate an enslaved hive mind. The question was, would he be willing?

Gwen smiled, "I would be lying if I said I didn't share your sentiments.

"Align yourself with me, and I promise you that no man nor beast will harm you ever again." Her smile falls, being replaced with a passionate, sympathetic look. This wasn't like the feigned charm of Ajax, clearly crafted to fool others. She meant every word.

"..I would stake my life on it."

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Out of all the other vampires Lucas met so far, Gwen was by far the strangest. Her personality was almost disorienting. A gentle, almost innocent woman on the outside, Lucas could see the unadulterated hatred boiling beneath the surface of her passionate stare. The way she seamlessly danced between purity and madness somehow reminded him of himself.

He knew that it would be unwise to trust her. Who knows how much time she spent here, bonding with the all the other manipulative bastards in this crazed society of undead? There was always a chance that she was yet another liar, always a chance of betrayal. But for some reason, he couldn't help but think she was being genuine. There was no logical reason to trust this woman he barely knew, but Lucas somehow knew she spoke honestly. Her hatred for Ajax was real, and so were her promises to support him in a time when he had nowhere else to go.

The burning fervor behind Gwen's promise of safety was even more reassuring. The world of vampires was a vicious jungle, and Lucas would need every ally he could get to survive. Although Lance had offered his support, the woman in front of him seemed like she was made of stronger stuff. Lance had spoken as though he was there because he had nowhere else to go, and he would rather accept his life of despair than have nothing. Gwen, however, showed that she would rather die fighting than live under Ajax's rule. She would fight with the inevitable desperation of someone with nothing to lose.

Lucas clasped Gwen's pale hand with his own. He was eager to feel safe by her side, but there was more to it than that. If he joined Gwen, the two of them could fight back, aiming to overthrow the evil that made life as a vampire sound as hellish as it did. He'd change himself in a way that he never could when he was alive, he'd become someone who could truly be respected and feared. "Together, we'll one day have the strength to make sure that nobody is hurt by the devil ever again." mothspit

 

[mothspit]

Gwen's expression lit up with the recognizable admiration something akin to a mother. A sense of pride and joy only brothers in war could truly understand having lived through the tragedy. With her hand tightly clasped around his, she raised it, pressing her cold lips to the back of his palm-- Like Emmulsia had requested him to do, except she was the one treating it as the honor. People like Emma, like Ajax, like so many of them, carried themselves as if they expected that admiration. There was no need to earn it; It was simply handed to them. But Gwen recognized the courage to put faith and trust in a complete stranger-- Especially in.. unique circumstances such as these. What wasn't to admire?

"Thank you, Lucas. I look forward to building a new future with you," She murmured against pale flesh of his hand, "I will not fail you."

She let go of his hand, and took a moment to inhale sharply through her nose. Her delicate face became difficult to read, her mind wandering into thought as her eyes remained on Lucas. It was relatively easy to sit and talk about dismantling Ajax's world, but in truth, that would take time. For now, the smaller fish would have to fry. Florence. She wouldn't ask him to participate in her petty and personal affairs, but maneuvering this modern world to achieve such a task would prove to be difficult on her own. So much had changed, this no longer felt like her home from all those years ago. Not to mention, if anything had remained the same in all this time, Florence was still valuable to Ajax. The only thing connecting Ramona to the valley. With her middle man severed, so goes one of his allies. And by the time she caught word of Florences death, it would be too late; Ajax would be long dead and buried with her.

Be that as it may, tonight would be too soon. She needed time to prepare, and they still needed to adjust. But in the meantime..

"..You spoke of Lance." She spoke finally, her brow furrowed, "He did this to you?"

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Lucas shuffled uncomfortably. After accepting his alliance with an old-school hand kiss, Gwen seemed to become lost in thought. He could only imagine the kinds of things going through her head. Who knew how much time she spent in this place, suffering alone with nobody to share her desire to change everything. He wondered whether or not someone like him would be enough to help.

When she decided to speak up, Lucas responded to her question with a sigh. "He hit me with a car. It was an accident, and he thought bringing me back to life was a good way to repay me. If I had known I'd be coming here, though..." He sighed again. There was no way he would have ever chosen to go on living in a place like this. Even without all the bloodthirsty, narcissistic, two-faced vampires lurking around, he would still be forced to live in the discomfort of overwhelming wealth. Being surrounded by money and power may be the dream for many, but that kind of life was not for him.

"Anyways, I'm not about to hold a grudge against him. Although he overlooked my choice in the matter, reviving me was something that he did with good intentions. I can't bring myself to hate him for that."

In truth, Lucas appreciated Lance's thoughtfulness. He knew that bringing him back was a mistake, but he was at least willing to help him adjust to his new place in non-life. Although this wasn't the best thing he could've asked for, it was certainly something. Given time, maybe he would even forgive the man completely for making his life that much more complicated when all he wanted was to finally be at peace. Unlikely, but possible. mothspit

 

[mothspit]

Gwen blinked. A.. car? It was as if Lucas had started speaking in another language entirely. Something.. had hit him hard enough to kill him? What a way to go. Though she didn't understand what 'car' meant, it didn't sound pleasant. No more pleasant than being burned alive, that's for sure.

"Ehm, perhaps I should explain," She said with a tiny half-smile, "I've lived a long time-- Well over 400 years to be more specific. I have recently.. returned.. from that time, and your new age is very strange to me. A car is..?"

She lets the statement hang in the air, as if she were requesting him to fill in the blank. Did that make any sense? She didn't exactly have the vocabulary to explain how she had been a corpse only but a few hours ago. Regardless, it didn't necessarily matter. His words about Lance revealed something she was very much glad to hear-- Lance hadn't been corrupted in all this time. He was still the big brother she came to know hundreds of years ago. All the better that Lucas couldn't bring himself to harbor hate for the man; If anyone could vouch for his character, it was her.

"Lance is a good man, and an even better friend. There was a time where he threw himself into Ajax's line of fire in order to save my life."

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. She reached over to an adjacent bookshelf, and plucked the book she was reading at his entry from it's perch. Opening it up, she flips a few worn pages, reaching the spot where she had left off. Gwenhwyfar offered the opened book to him. The book was noticeably old; The ink of the paper very much faded, but miraculously still legible. It looked to be like a journal of some kind, with vernacular similar to how she herself spoke. The passage in question detailed Ajax first lighting the fire, and a blonde man rushing through the accumulated crowd in order to stop him. There's some kind of struggle, and Lance is knocked unconscious, leaving Gwen to burn.

"If you had to be anyone's child, I'd argue you are quite lucky."

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