Fantasy Uncaged Blood [Closed]

[AnimeGenork]

A Meeting of Rebels...

It is time for the weekly meeting of the Uncaged Birds. This time, however, they will welcome two new members: Princess Lyllith Violeta Fonteyn and Prince Phoenix Edmond Fonteyn. Much to the surprise of some members, their leader has accepted members of the vampire royal family, their very enemy, into their ranks.

There is no guarantee the rest of the Birds will fully accept Lyllith and Phoenix right away, but the royals are in fact their key to taking down the monarchy. Now, the Birds shall gather in a tavern one of their members owns to discuss future plans with their fledgling vampire members...

Back at the castle, Lyllith and Phoenix attempt to escape unnoticed by their parents as well as their brother, Aleron. After all, he is the one they are plotting against...

Aukanai arkadia Bellz Yennie Tori Bradley Kirito Kei

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Coding by AnimeGenork
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Navigation
Character Sheet: https://www.rpnation.com/threads/uncaged-blood-characters.323557/
OOC: https://www.rpnation.com/threads/uncaged-blood-ooc.323497/​

 

[Yennie]

Duncan Mauntell

Duncan Mauntell sat towards the back of the Hooded Veil, one of the few pubs that acted as a safe haven for him and his Birds. He was mulling over a mug of beer, a plate of mititei sat in front of him untouched. He wasn't hungry nor particularly thirsty but this place had always provided him with the space to think. The chatter and general ruckus of the other patrons served as a comforting back track to his thoughts- it was nice to just hear people being people. Away from all the seriousness and the plotting and the planning at their headquarters; really it was just an abandoned house that connected to a series of alleyways that crisscrossed all throughout the city but calling it 'headquarters' made things much more official; here at the pub he could just relax as much as his body was able to and let his mind run through the workings of various plans he was yet to set in motion. But today he wasn't thinking of plots to liberate the human race and assassinate their vampiric overlords. No, today he was thinking about a girl. A princess to be more exact.

This princess in particular was the youngest daughter of the very family he planned to overthrow and hopefully kill. And somehow she had infiltrated into the deepest layers of the Uncaged Birds operations without anyone realizing she was a vampire until it was far too late. And she still lived.

Duncan had been on the verge of ordering her execution when that little snot Kentin, as he most affectionately called him, had thrown himself in front of her asking for her life to be spared. Duncan had spat and cursed for a full minute before one meaningful look from Lyra and he'd given in. He wasn't sure why his second in command was so sympathetic to their enemy but both she and Kentin had given him good reason to keep the princess Lyllith alive. He would never trust her solely on the grounds that she was a vampire and he a human but he couldn't argue that having some inside help would improve the chances of them succeeding. Of course it could all be a ploy and Lyllith was just keeping tabs on their operation to see how much of a threat they were to the regime. And then of course she'd have all the information the vampires would need to mercilessly and ruthlessly crush their rebellion. Duncan was ashamed to admit that although he'd thought of this possibility many many times, he still had no plan to counteract it.

Elbows on the table, Duncan leaned forward pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes. It was an incredibly stressful position to be in. He was responsible for so many lives, the sheer amount of which startled him every time. And they all believed in him and counted on him to make things right. To make it safe to be a human. Duncan was deathly afraid of falling short of glory because he knew the price for failure.
It was blood. A lot of blood.
And it wouldn't just be his that would be shed though he knew his death would be most brutal as they had to make an example of him. That was what scared him the most, the retaliation against the people of the kingdom who had nothing to do with the rebellion or even knew who Duncan Mauntell was. The suffering of innocents...

He groaned and grabbed his mug, draining it's contents before slamming it rather unceremoniously down on the table. He drew a few concerned looks but a quick glare from him sent most people back to their conversations or meals. A serving girl came by with a pitcher and refilled his mug, a rather suggestive grin on her face as she did so. It wasn't uncommon for bar wenches to double as serving girls and prostitutes. She was rather fetching as well, long curly black hair and pretty blue eyes with a sweet smile to match. Her waist cinched tight in a bodice with the her breasts barely kept from spilling over the top. She was tempting but no, Duncan had work to do. He gave a half smile before declining, his tone kind and apologetic. "Not today love, just the beer will do." He raised his mug to her as she shrugged before moving onto other customers.

No Duncan could not indulge himself too much as he was expecting his Birds to arrive shortly. They needed to have a discussion about Lyllith and the extra "package" she'd be bringing with her, as in her brother Phoenix. One vampire was bad enough but two would certainly cause unrest. He wanted to assure his people that everything was still under his control and that this wasn't really as terrible an idea as it seemed. Even though it was. It definitely was. Oh boy he was in for a long evening.

 

[Bellz]

Lyra

Not a moment later, Lyra came walking through the doors. The cloak placed on her shoulders was blowing erratically in the wind as she struggled to shut the door. "Nasty Weather." She spoke to herself as she tried to look around the busy tavern for her leader.

In the back corner, where they normally met, was Duncan. A small smile played on her lips as she moved to hang up the cloak on the coat rack and made her way through the crowd. There was nothing like drinking at the pub after a long day of patrolling and training. But of course, sacrifices would have to be made and today was not one of those enjoyable moments. No today, they were meeting a princess. Not just any princess....but a Fonteyn. And she was bring something with her.

Luckily for her, she was still not discovered. And she truly hoped that she never would be. Given the look that was on Duncan's face right now, she would hate to be on the receiving end of his hatred. Just as she walked up to the table, she found a rather promiscuous looking bar wench making eyes at her leader. Rolling her eyes, she sighed in relief as he sent her away and moved to sit down beside him. "You can do much better than that hag." She told Duncan honestly before inviting herself to take a long sip of his beer. The look on his face was priceless and it took all of her strength not to spit her drink.

"What? Share!" She demanded of him before playfully swatting his shoulder and wagging a finger at him like a mother would to a child. Lyra was just like that, maternal. No funny business....except in these rare cases when she could let her hair down for a moment. But it seemed that because of today's events, she would not be able to. Pouting slightly, her lower lip protruded as she set the mug back down in front of his and sighed.

"I don't like seeing you like this." Lyra murmured and pointed to the faintest little wrinkle above his brow. He often scrunched his brows together when he was worried or stressed. "Its permanent now!" She fussed and looked down at the table for a moment. "Patrolling went well today, and the new recruits seem to be getting the hang of things rather quickly..." Her green eyes moved to focus on him and she offered him a small smile. Trying absolutely anything and everything to get him to return it.

 

[Tori Bradley]

Kentin Monteacute
Kentin leaned back in the saddle, gripping the rains in his right hand as he and his horse made his way down the hill. It had rained recently, leaving the ground muddy and soft. It was much easier for the horse to slip and hurt itself, which ultimately end in a gunshot to the head. Lame horses had no place in Fontenell. There was nothing man could do for them but put them out of their misery. But Kentin had a bond with this horse. He'd been with this horse since he'd joined the rebellion. Rebel was Kentin's closest ally, and that wasn't something the young man could let slip away so easily. As they neared the bottom of the hill leading into town, where cobblestone streets and dim lanterns waited for them, Rebel's hooves slipped slightly. The horse jerked, but continued. "Easy, boy," Kentin cooed.

Finally they reached the bottom of the hill and Kentin let out a sigh of relief. He didn't pick up speed, even though his destination was on the other side of the village. He had no reason to rush. Rebel huffed, swinging his head back and forth as if to shake his head at his mount's careless attitude. Kentin patted the animal's neck gently, chuckling. "Oh, hush now, Rebel. You'll get your run soon enough," he murmured in an amused tone. Raising his eyes, he nodded at a few passing townspeople. Most were brothel girls or prostitutes out looking for a man to give them work. The rest were men. It was very unlikely to ever see a wife or daughter outside of the home without the patriarch of the household. The dim lanterns lighting the uneven cobblestone streets gave Kentin and the village folk just enough light to find their way around, rats skittered in and out of the pools of light, scavenging the waste littering the streets. This was not one of the most cared for or wealthy villages in Fontenell. Kentin knew because he had seen the ones that were.

Thinking of the places and the people he'd seen led the young man to remember the events of previous night. He'd been sent on an ordinary scouting mission, searching for the location of any vampire warehouses where blood slaves and supplies were kept. On his way back, he had spotted a girl, a girl no older, if not younger, than he himself was. He'd been concerned. It was very late at night, and she did not look to be a brothel girl. It wasn't safe for a girl of such beauty to be out alone, not with the vampires skulking through the shadows like the bloodthirsty demons they were. So he'd approached her, taken her back to headquarters. Never had he considered, had he noticed, that she was a vampire. That she was not the innocent human he believed her to be. And not only was she a vampire, she was the Princess of them all. Princess Lyllith Violeta Fonteyn.

Upon first finding out, he'd been all for killing her on the spot. But given a split second to think, he realized her use. They needed someone on the inside if they were ever going to win this war. And they had to win this war. Kentin needed the vampires to suffer, to die for what they had done. Lyllith was perfect for the role. He knew of the risks, but at the moment they hadn't mattered, and that was what drove Kentin to throw his body in front of the barrel of Duncan's gun. That was what had gotten him to convince Duncan, with reason, to spare her life. Of course, some of it may have been personal to Kentin. Standing under the light of the lanterns in the street, she had seemed so innocent, so....human. A part of him simply couldn't believe she was like all the others. It didn't help that she was almost unnervingly beautiful in the young warrior's eyes.

Kentin dismounted his horse and tied off the reins on the hitch post outside of the Hooded Veil, the tavern where the Birds had been called to meet. Rebel bumped his companion with his head, nuzzling him slightly before huffing and leaning down to drink from the trough in front of him. Kentin smiled before stepping into the rather busy pub. It took him less than a second to spot a stressed Duncan and an ever-maternal Lyra sitting at the usual corner table, talking in low voices. A slightly cocky smile spread over his face as he remembered Duncan's never-ending irritation with him. Everyone knew Kentin's reckless attitude irritated the leader to no end, that the man referred to him as a "little snot". The fact made Kentin laugh, and he strutted over, spinning a wooden chair backwards before straddling it, resting his arms atop its back.

"Lyra," he said respectfully, giving the maternal woman a polite nod. Then he turned to Duncan. "Sir," he acknowledged.
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Yennie Bellz​

 

[arkadia]

• CASSIANA ALINGTON •​

Cassiana moves freely through the cities main streets; being in plain sight so late in the evening was an opportunity for the past to repeat itself but she was no longer the same hopeless girl as before. Now she was equipped with a crossbow that was slung across her back, hidden by the cloak she wore and with a dagger at her hips. Her hand rests on the hilt as she strolls down the cobblestone paths, daring anyone to try her.

It took only a few more minutes of walking before arriving at the Hooded Veil, a tavern the Birds often used for their weekly meetings. It was safe, owned by one of their own. She pushes the door open and ducks inside, greeted by glasses clinking and drunken cries echoing off the walls.

Cassiana ignores the patrons, searching for one person in particular - Duncan. Her lips stretch into a smile when she sees the Birds' leader in the back, mysterious as ever. Lyra is beside him and Cass' mood sours slightly. A serving girl is walking away from them both, pitcher in hand and Cassiana calls to her as she moves towards their table - "One for me too, thanks."

Nudging Kentin aside and shooting him a teasing smirk, she perches herself atop the table surface and shakes the hood from her head. Cloaks were necessary when walking the streets, but they remained a constant thorn in her side. She inclines her head towards Duncan, "You've looked better. Rough night?"

LOCATION Hooded Veil Tavern WITH Yennie Bellz Tori Bradley
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[Yennie]

Duncan Mauntell

Duncan's looked up as Lyra slid into the seat next to him. The frown that had previously dominated his features dissipated into an easy smile. She'd always had that calming effect on him, her mere presence soothing some of the turmoil inside him. She made an off color remark about the serving girl that had him snorting. "Oh? Can I?" He quirked a playful eyebrow at her hoping she'd continue that line of thought but she preferred instead to grab his mug and take a sip of his beer. He really ought to be used to it as she'd been helping herself to his things since the moment they became comfortable with one another. Still he glared, snatching his mug back after she released it, clutching it protectively against his chest. "Buy your own you freeloader." He might have playfully stuck his tongue out at her had she not changed the tone of the conversation.

He sighed in response to her comment about his appearance. Not much could be done for it really. "I know." He murmured softly as he raised the mug to his lips for another swallow. He sat the mug down, his own hand lifting to his brows to smooth away the worry lines. His position came with a lot of stress, that much was obvious. The fact that it was beginning to show in his appearance was troublesome but to be expected. Even still Duncan would not give leadership to anyone else. Surely there were more capable leaders in his ranks than he was but he wouldn't wish this burden on anyone. He had stepped up to the plate all those years ago and so he would continue to endure it. "Stop your fussing woman, I'm fine." He reached over the table to temporarily take her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. When she made eye contact with him Duncan gave her his best most convincing smile. "Really I am." He released her hand then with an awkward clearing of his throat. As comfortable as he was with her, being affectionate was always a difficult thing for Duncan. He was glad to hear of the good report about their latest recruits. "Great. Thanks again for mentoring them Lyra." Normally Duncan was responsible for that but wonderful beautiful Lyra had volunteered so he could focus on their more pressing issues. And he had a feeling she liked the job as well - the nurturing motherly side of her always showed up when dealing with the younger members of their ranks. It would do the new recruits some good to have her as their mentor.

Speaking of younger members, Kentin and Cassiana had arrived with the younger male entering first. "Kentin." Duncan returned the acknowledgement but kept his gaze on the young man. He was difficult to read at times and Duncan really wondered what went on inside that head of his. They were cut from the same cloth the two of them which was probably why he found Kentin both insufferable and endearing at the same time. His attention turned from his towards Cassiana who saw fit to seat herself on the table rather then in a chair. He rolled his eyes fondly at her. "You could say that." He answered with a shrug. He hadn't had much sleep the previous night, mind ablaze with thoughts of how everything and anything could go wrong. But that was nothing they needed to concern themselves with or worry about.
"Off." Duncan swatted at her thigh instructing her to move from the table and pointed at an actual chair. "And don't think I didn't hear you ordering a beer Cass. You know you're not allowed." Duncan was the last person to chastise someone but he couldn't help himself when it came to her having known her for years and watched her grow into the young lady she was now. He felt extremely protective of her as Cass was like the little sister he'd never had.

More members of the Uncaged Birds began to flood in, all greeting Duncan and Lyra with the respect of their stations before finding seats near by. The tavern owner had already begun to usher out the regular patrons, many of whom knew of the Birds and even supported their cause. Duncan stood from his seat which almost instantly called for quiet around the tavern. "Alright everyone, we'll wait a bit longer for our... guests to arrive before we begin. Carry on."

Bellz Tori Bradley arkadia

 

[Bellz]

Lyra

Lyra rolled her eyes at his attempt to make her stop fussing and he took her hand in his. Their eyes met for a moment before he squeezed and released her hand. Clearing his throat awkwardly, there was a small bit of silence before he thanked her for helping him out. "Its no problem at all Duncan..." She trailed off, wanting to say more. But that's when the younger members of the group walked into the pub. She nodded her head softly at Kentin and smiled. "Lovely to see you." She murmured to him and watched as Cassiana blatantly ignored her. Sighing, she kept her eyes on the little girl for a moment before turning away and ordered 3 beers. Were they for anyone? Well if Duncan wanted one, he could take it.

As soon as they got comfortable with each other, there had been more than once case where they both ended up sharing each others things. On a friendship level of course. It would be very unprofessional to be anything other than that. She watched as the 3 beers were quickly set down in front of her, along with Cassiana's beer. "Ah ah ah" She said quickly before the girl could even think about reaching over for the glass. Her finger wagged in front of her face before she grabbed the mug and set it down in front of Duncan. "You know the rules Cass." She warned the girl in a cool tone before sitting back down at the table. Ignoring any sort of glare that she was sure being sent her way.

Taking a long sip of her own beverage, she sighed. Her eyes closed for a moment and she let herself actually taste for once. Being a vampire surrounded by humans was not easy. A lot of things were for appearances. Breathing for example, wasn't necessary. But if she just stopped taking breaths, she would surely be killed by her own family. That's what they were to her. Family. Since she lost hers almost a half a century ago, she felt rather empty. Up until she found Duncan of course. Her emerald eyes dared to glance his way and she could see the sleepless nights starting to settle in.

Still waiting for the guests to arrive, she continued to sit back and listen in on the conversations around her. Finishing off 2 mugs of beer to take the edge off. She was hungry, and she hoped that this meeting wouldn't last terribly long. Hunting was something that she usually does at night. But she had skipped the night before and her jaw and throat were starting to ache. The beer was numbing the sensations but it didn't seem like enough.

"I can take your patrol shift tonight if you want. " Lyra said finally and looked over at Duncan. "You look like you could use some rest." Before he could try and object, she crossed her arms and shook her head once. He knew what that look meant. "Duncan. No. You will get some rest tonight."

Yennie Tori Bradley arkadia

 

[AnimeGenork]

Lyllith Violeta Fonteyn​

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Lyllith hadn't been in the mood to deal with her parents or her brother, not today of all days. Tonight she'd be attending her first meeting of the Uncaged Birds, the group she'd joined by some twist of fate the previous night...that is, after they tried to kill her. That wasn't exactly a plus in this whole situation.

She hadn't even meant for any of this to happen. All she'd wanted was to enjoy one night of freedom away from the judgmental stares of the aristocracy and most especially her family. So yes, she hadn't told Phoenix where she was going, but she didn't want to get him in trouble for her actions. At the first chance she got, she took crept out of the service entrance of the castle and out into the night.

Little had she known that she would actually come across someone, a boy, who would take her back to a nest of rebels that her parents certainly didn't know anything about. Sure, they were loud and rambunctious...but they felt warm and familiar, a feeling Lyllith didn't often experience in the castle. Of course, someone had stepped on her cloak, yanking her hood back to reveal her gaping mouth and, of course, fangs. The rebels had immediately reacted, taking out their weapons and aiming them at her. Their leader, whom the boy had been introducing to her, was glaring at her, his gun aimed straight for her face. At this point, she didn't even try to defend herself. It was no use, anyway. They wouldn't listen to the pleas of a vampire. So she closed her eyes, accepting the death that would come.

But it didn't come. Opening her eyes, she saw the same rebel boy defending her to the rebels, to the Uncaged Birds. He explained her use as an insider in the castle, a source of information. Raising her eyebrows, she confirmed that she knew just about every bit of gossip about the court and aristocracy that there was to know. Then she agreed to help them, in exchange for her life.

Of course, Phoenix chose that moment to dive in. Lyllith loved her brother, but sometimes he was just too much. She had to quickly explain that her brother shared her same ideals, and the Birds reluctantly let him join as well. That didn't mean Lyllith didn't scold him later.

Now, Lyllith sighed, staring at herself in the mirror. As per her station, she was wearing a fancy gown with all sorts of complicated embroidery. How she hated these gowns. Her maids helped her dress for bed, and she bid them good night. Her eyes flashed as she smirked and threw off the nightgown, finding the pants she'd hidden under her bed and pulling them on. She tucked them into her boots and pulled open a small case full of casual clothes. Tunic or corset? Screw it, she'd wear the corset. It's not that she wanted to look pretty, but the corset did make her seem slightly more dangerous. She threw a cloak over her exposed shoulders, throwing up her hood to hide her face. Her hair was already tied back in a ponytail with two curls framing her face.

The hard part would be getting out. Peeking outside her room, she looked for any guards. Thankfully, the floor didn't creak when she stepped outside, and she crept down to Phoenix's room and knocked on the door to let him know it was time. Using the shadows cast by the night, Lyllith made her way through the castle down to the service entrance near the kitchen. As soon as her brother joined her, she swept out of her home.

The streets were somehow livelier than they had been. This time, at least, she wasn't alone. She licked her lips to remind herself that she had already eaten this week, that she didn't need any blood tonight. Perhaps joining a group of rebellious humans was a bad idea, but she'd do anything to take down the ideology of her ancestors. Finally, they reached the tavern, the Hooded Veil.

Lyllith stepped inside and threw back her hood, keeping her lips firmly pressed together. A few of the Birds glared at her while others gave her admiring glances. Damn. She didn't want that type of attention. That could only lead to bad things. Her blue eyes scanned the tavern, skipping over regular patrons that were leaving as well as the barmaids that seemed to have no shame. At last, she spotted the Birds' leader, Duncan Mauntell, as well as his lieutenant, Lyra Coffyn. Heh. Ironic that her last name was the word rumored to be vampires' resting places.

She made her way over to them, registering the boy from the previous night with them. Kentin. That had been his name. However, she didn't look at him, but at Duncan, determined to prove her usefulness. Only when she saw his face did she regret her decision to wear the corset. It probably made her seem like she was trying too hard to impress them all.

"We're here now," she announced, crossing her arms and resisting the urge to take out her letter opener. "Sorry to keep you waiting." She clamped her mouth shut, not wanting to showcase her fangs any longer than she had to. It was one of those times when she wished she were better at retraction.

Every passing moment was another she wished she could escape.

tagged: Yennie Bellz Aukanai arkadia Tori Bradley Kirito Kei | location: Castle > Hooded Veil Tavern | scenario: First Meeting | mood: Extremely Nervous​

codings; allrightsreserved deer ​

 

[Aukanai]

PHOENIX EDMOND FONTEYN
Location: Castle > Hooded Veil || Mood: Neautral || Tags: AnimeGenork Yennie arkadia Bellz Tori Bradley ​

From that night he had followed after his sister, without her knowledge of course, things has definitely changed. And Phoenix wasn't sure if this change was a good idea, for the consequences were greater than the rewards.

For some time, Phoenix had merely thought she was out for a stroll. He knew that she disliked having the castle guards watch her every move, so it was understandable that she'd want spend some time out of sight of those watchful eyes. But he had not expected for her to be meeting up anyone? Was she meeting up with someone? Phoenix wasn't sure, but when he had seen the guy approach Lyllith, it almost seemed as if it had been planned. And, even from this distance, Phoenix knew clear as day that the man was human. Was his sister siding with humans? Not like Phoenix thought that to be awful, but rather, he felt taken aback that Lyllith had never told him.

And yet, the more he followed her and her new companion, the more Phoenix found that it really had not been planned. It was just a surprise encounter, and Lyllith would have probably jumped on board with it all. Even with the whole rebellion thing. Yes, Phoenix was there, but he wasn't. He saw them chatting away, and them in a gasped moment, seeing Lyllith's cloak fall. The cloth hadn't even hit the ground when all those dangerous weapons were aimed and ready. Phoenix had almost sprung out of his hiding spot to go to his sister's rescue, but the same man, he had seen walking Lyllith to this rebellion's little hideout, had taken that place. And Phoenix could not be more grateful to that man than anyone.

Ultimately, Phoenix had forced his way into the rebellion alongside his sister. He was not going to let her do such alone. He was suppose to be the big brother protecting his little sister, at least he thought so. Of course, Lyllith hasn't been happy about him following her.

-----

It was the night after, and the two siblings were to join the Bird's little club meeting. Phoenix merely sighed at that, but knew Lyllith might have been excited to go there.

At this point in time, Phoenix was in his own chambers, awaiting his sister's arrival. Or, so he hoped. He wouldn't have known if she was sneaking off without him, and that thought made him bite his lip. But, that soft knock at the door certainly put him at ease. Opening the door ever slightly, he checked to so if it really was Lyllith before opening the door further. The Prince hadn't even changed out of his day clothes, having been laying down and staring at the ceiling for the past hour or two.

Not much was said between the Lyllith and Phoenix, they didn't need to say anything, and they shouldn't for they might awaken the others within the castle. They didn't need anyone seeing them sneak out.

Their walk to the tavern didn't take long, and they quickly stepped inside. Phoenix might have actually found this place more interesting, exciting than back in the castle. He..could get used to being here, if this was their regular meeting spot. Yet, when the two siblings approached the rebellion group, Phoenix didn't say anything. Rather, he should keep his mouth shut. He was already in a bad position, and had made some bad impressions. So, Phoenix merely nodded in greeting, keeping a few steps behind Lyllith.

They had reluctantly allowed Lyllith to join, but Phoenix hadn't been of the first agreement. They were more likely to show at least more decency to Lyllith, and Phoenix was going to at least try not to talk back or make snarky comments. But, of course, that was not his strongest point. The Prince could only try.

code by Aukanai ​

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[arkadia]

• CASSIANA ALINGTON •​

Cassiana pouts as Duncan as she slips off the table and into the chair he pointed at. She crosses one leg over the other, tapping her fingers against the leather fabric at her knee.

With both Duncan and Lyra cautioning her about the beer she ordered, Cassiana sighs heavily. "It's just one." Not like she hasn't had one before at this very tavern after a long day of training and teaching newer and less experienced members how to properly swing a sword without flinging it into the wall. Drinks had become a staple during her moments of pure frustration. But she knew the rules, and Duncan seemed in no mood to banter with her so Cassiana concedes with a nod.

"Guests?" She echoes Duncan, all the more curious. New members were hard to come by, not everyone wanted to go up against the most powerful vampire family in their kingdom.

And as if summoned, those guests swept into the tavern - the girl was the first Cassiana noticed, wearing an outfit very similar to her own only much more detailed and of better quality. An uneasy feeling takes over. Who are these people? She looks to Duncan expectantly, silently asking for an explanation.

LOCATION Hooded Veil Tavern WITH Yennie Bellz AnimeGenork Aukanai Tori Bradley
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[Yennie]

Duncan Mauntell

Duncan gratefully took the beer Lyra sat in front of him taking his time with sipping it down. He shook his head no when she offered to take his patrol. Normally he wouldn't argue with the stubborn woman but he was actually wanting to do his shift tonight. "I appreciate it Lyra but I could use some fresh air tonight. I can get some sleep after my shift." He had some plans for tonight that not even she knew about and her taking his shift meant she'd likely see him and he couldn't have that. At least no until he was certain everything was going to work out the way he envisioned it.

Cass had done as he asked and for once didn't argue about it, instead pouting as she settled herself into a chair. "Remember my promise to buy you your first drink on your birthday? Wouldn't want to spoil that right?" He offered as a kind of concession for not allowing her a drink tonight. Though he kept a good eye on Cass it wasn't possible for him to watch her all the time so he'd really had no idea whether she'd already dabbled into drinking or not. He honestly would not be surprised if she had already but he still wanting to keep his promise to her.
Just as she mentioned their 'guests' the tavern door opened and in walked the lady of the hour. With who he assumed to be her brother not far behind. Lyllith addressed the small crowd of higher ranking Birds that gathered for the meeting and Duncan couldn't help but notice the way the vampire commanded their attention moreso with her presence then the fact that she was one of those hated creatures. She seemed to be minding her fangs, immediately closing her mouth after she spoke as if not wanting to show them more then was necessary.

Duncan drew in a few calming breaths before rising to meet them. He first addressed his people, "Birds, as I'm sure you know this is Lyllith and Phoenix Fonteyn, members of the royal family. I've decided to enter a tentative... partnership with them as it appears we have the same goals. But as you all know I make no major decisions without consulting the whole of our organization so that is the purpose of this meeting tonight. The Fonteyn's will state their case and we'll discuss as a whole how we should move forward." Though Duncan would have the final say it was important to him that people felt as included in the decision making process as possible. He didn't want anyone going around saying it was a dictatorship nor did he want to make a decision and have everyone hate him for it. Duncan always felt like he was a coward in that regard but it was who he was at his core.
"So Lyllith if you would, explain to my Birds why they should trust you." Duncan didn't really bother addressing Phoenix as he considered him to merely be apart of the package.

AnimeGenork Bellz arkadia Aukanai Tori Bradley

 

[Tori Bradley]

Kentin Monteacute
Kentin shifted awkwardly in his seat during the moment of silence between the three of them before Cassiana arrived. He scowled playfully at the younger girl when she shoved him, rolling his eyes when she ordered herself a drink she would never touch. She knew Duncan's rules. The youngster's weren't allowed to drink until the age of maturity. Kentin himself probably could've had a drink if he'd wanted one, but he had no desire for alcohol. He knew the way it affected a man, and he never wanted to put himself in such a vulnerable position. He wanted his mine sharp at all times.

Kentin's head snapped in Duncan's direction when his leader spoke to him. There was suddenly a lump in his throat. nervousness running rampant through his veins. He shifted uncomfortably, avoiding meeting his eyes. He knew that was cowardly, but Duncan had always intimidated him, especially when he looked at him the way he was now. Duncan had this way of looking at you that made you feel like he was peeling away your layers, stripping you bare until your deepest secrets were clear to his eyes. There were some things Kentin didn't want him to know. He supposed he should trust him, but he couldn't bring himself to reveal his demons. Not to anyone.

Kentin relaxed when he felt Duncan's gaze shift to Cassiana and listened as he spoke to her. His eyes found Lyra when she spoke to him and he smiled softly, trying to keep the pain out of his eyes. He slumped in his seat when she turned away, resting his head on his arms. His breath was shaky as he exhaled. Lyra reminded him so much of his mother. She had the same endlessly kind, maternal nature while still being strong and confident. Endearing, but intimidating. He went out of his way to avoid her just for that reason. Being around Lyra had sent him on a downward spiral for a year, during which he had not said a single word, looked a single person in the eye. So he stayed away as much as he could.

Kentin froze when he heard her voice behind him. His spine went ramrod straight, his head jolting up as his entire body tensed. He didn't bother to turn around and greet the Fonteyn Vampire Princess, as he knew she'd not acknowledge him. He could practically feel the nervousness emanating from the girl, which only hardened his resolve that she was different from the other vampires. She was simply too human. It scared him that he thought that. He wanted to hate her. God, did he ever want to hate her. She was a vampire. The princess of the very species that had murdered his entire family, destroyed who he was, made his life empty, his soul void of any love or hope. He wanted to hate her. But he couldn't. Not unless she gave him a reason to.

Kentin waited for Duncan to finish speaking before he finally stood from his seat and turned around, spinning the chain he'd been sitting in forward as he did. His eyes skipped over Lyllith to land on the man behind her. He recognized him as her brother, Phoenix. The second-born Prince of the Fonteyn Vampires. He nodded briefly at him before his gaze turned back to Lyllith. He still found her just as inhumanly beautiful as he had the night before. He could tell she was deliberately concealing her fangs, and he was curious as to why she had not yet learned how to retract them.

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[Bellz]

Lyra

Lyra immediately noticed the sadness in Kentin's eyes. The pain. It was something she had seen in her own many times before. Her heart reached out to him and wondered if there was anything she could do to help him. Though, she never saw much of him. He was normally not in any of her groups...and when she really thought about it. It was almost like he was avoiding her. Why though? As she brought the mug to her lips, the familiar sensation spread through her jaw. Does he know? She wondered as she took a long drink of the bitter liquid. After slamming the mug down on the table a little too harshly, she avoided eye contact with him.

Her breath quickened and she looked down at the table for a moment. Is he going to tell them? She was terrified. If he knew her secret. She could be killed. And by the people she cared about most. Her only hope was to know that they could put aside their differences and let the two royals in. If they could do that. There might be hope for her yet.

And just like magic, they appeared walking through the doors. The girl announced their arrival and all was silent. She was a youngling, Lyra could tell that she was uncomfortable about showing her fangs. And she had yet to learn to control them. Lyra had learned within a few days, her coven forcing her with conditioning. Every time they were shown, it was either a stake to the shoulder or whipping. This girl clearly was allowed the freedom of being who she was. Lyra envied that somewhat. The uncomfortable ache in her jaw reminded her who she was. The one thing that this whole team was against. The monsters.

After Duncan spoke, her attention turned to the man behind the girl. The Prince. He didn't seem all too thrilled to be here and Duncan didn't even acknowledge him. She sympathized with the two for a moment. She could sense the fear on them. Behind her, she heard one man behind her call the young princess a "Bloodsucking Whore" Lyra only saw red. Knowing that even from where the the princess was standing, she could hear those harsh words.

Standing up in her chair, it fell back and hit the wooden ground. "Now unless you want to lose your tongue, I suggest you keep your mouth shut." She growled out towards the man, who was a newer recruit. "Early morning washroom duties are yours for the next two weeks, if you can't learn to clean you dirty mouth, maybe cleaning something equivalent to that will help your clean up you act!" She would not tolerate such behavior even towards vampire. She then turned around in her seat, knowing that everyone would now be respectful.

Lyra smiled up at the Princess, "i do apologize for the ignorance that one of our men has displayed, please continue." She said in a smooth and calm voice now.

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[arkadia]

• CASSIANA ALINGTON •​

Lyllith and Phoenix Fonteyn. Vampires. In their makeshift headquarters.

As Duncan explains his reasoning, Cassiana stares at the table blankly. It was hard to stomach that this was even being considered an option to run with when they could just take them prisoner now, leaving the Fonteyn's family rule sorely fractured. She has half a mind to ask Duncan exactly when he lost his damn mind - but she trusts him enough to wait for a full explanation.

She does and says nothing, just stares at the table - even when Lyra jumps to Lyllith's defense, lost in her thoughts. Finally, she peels her eyes away from the wood to regard Lyllith carefully. What were the chances this was a trap? That the Fonteyn's before her were playing their organisation for a fool? Highly probable.

Cassiana's hand drifts under the table to rest on the hilt of her dagger at her hip. She makes no move to pull it out and threaten either of them, but glares at the female vampire. She didn't trust either of them and no matter how much she believes in Duncan's ability to see through treachery, she was not going to risk anyone here getting hurt.

LOCATION Hooded Veil Tavern WITH Yennie Tori Bradley AnimeGenork Aukanai Bellz ​

 

[AnimeGenork]

Lyllith Violeta Fonteyn​

.

The good news was, the situation was far less awkward than Lyllith had thought. The bad news was, it was still extremely awkward. She tried not to shrink under the suspicious gazes of the Birds, instead focusing her eyes on Duncan, who stood to address the rebels gathered around them. He turned to her and asked for an explanation as to why the Birds should trust her.

Just as she opened her mouth to respond, she heard a man mutter, "Bloodsucking Whore," and Lyllith stiffened. Of course, she'd heard worse, but it still hurt. What a classic thing to do, she thought, judge someone before you even know anything about them. But to her surprise, Lyra came to her rescue, punishing the boy with chores. The even greater surprise was when she smiled at Lyllith and asked her to continue. She nodded and turned to cast her gaze over the rest of the rebels.

"I'm not saying that you should trust me, nor do I expect you to." Pausing to take a deep breath, she continued, "However, unlike my parents and eldest brother, I am strongly against the policy of oppressing you. What my family has done for nearly a millennia was terrible and wrong. We have no excuse for our actions, and I know that a mere apology from a fledgling princess won't mean much." Taking time to meet the eyes of all the rebels gathered there, including the small group at Duncan's table, she finished, "But right now, I'm your best shot at taking down Aleron."

Despite her pretty words, she knew she'd still be hard to trust. Reaching into her pocket, she added, "If you choose not to accept me into the Birds, that's perfectly fine." Whipping out her letter opener, Lyllith held the blade up to her throat. "But I'll need somebody to burn my body and dispose of the evidence. Better to kill me than let loose knowledge about your organization, right?"

Yeah, she didn't want to die. But realistically, they'd have to kill her anyway if they didn't need her. Probably easier if she did it herself, right?

tagged: Yennie Bellz Aukanai arkadia Tori Bradley | location: Hooded Veil Tavern | scenario: I'm One of You | mood: Defensive/Determined​

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[Aukanai]

PHOENIX EDMOND FONTEYN​

The tension.

He could feel it as soon st their presence was made known, and Phoenix had been certain that such tension would come. For, they were vampire, and these humans certainly hated them for what they were. It would seem they were all just a little bit prejudice. But, that did not seem to strike any cords within Phoenix, for he simple did not focus on their unfair impressions and views. If anything, it stung the prince, for he was worried about how his little sister would feel about such. Even he couldn't protect her from their judgement. He could say all he wanted, but words were merely words, and words were easy to fill with lies and deception. It had to be proven by action.

And action was exactly what Lyllith did.

He knew his sister desperately wanted to join this little rebellion and help them accomplish their goal the she too might share. But, he hadn't expect her to go so far as to threaten her own life. Something like that was outrageous and uncalled for. Or perhaps it was just that Phoenix was scared she was completely and utterly serious.

"Lyllith.." the prince stepped forward to grab his sister's hand gently, guiding that letter opener away from her throat with a sort of uneasiness, "..don't."

He wouldn't have been surprised then if his sister scowled at him for interfering, but he wasn't going to let her do something so rash. He would give his sister a soft look before he turned his gaze towards the rebels seated and standing around them.

"For one, I really don't expect any of you to trust me, and frankly, I don't care if you don't," Phoenix would begin, glancing at Lyllith to ensure that she wasn't planning to do anything more, "but my sister's intentions are true, as is her word. Or are you all so full of hate that you're not even going to give her a chance? If that was to be the case, that would be rather sad that my sister can show more humanity than you humans."

-----------------------Location: Hooded Veil || Tags: AnimeGenork Yennie arkadia Bellz Tori Bradley

 

[arkadia]

• CASSIANA ALINGTON •​

After Lyllith's stunt with the letter opener and her brother talking her down, Cassiana relaxes in her chair. Anyone willing to risk their own life to prove a point gained a lot of respect in her book, even a Vampire.

Phoenix was giving an impressive speech and it didn't sit well with her at all. Every word causes more doubt. 'I don't expect any of you to trust me, and frankly, I don't care if you do,' 'my sisters intentions are true,' Cassiana narrows her eyes. Perhaps he's just here to spy on their organization and be sure his sister doesn't end up in more trouble than bargained for.

That ball of distrust flares up - filling her every sense as she adjusts the grip around her dagger. Cassiana lurches forward, one hand grabbing at the lapel of his coat to hold him in place and her other angles the dagger at his jugular.

"I know what you're playing at," she hisses, eyes searching his; liars are easy to spot when you maintain eye contact.

LOCATION Hooded Veil Tavern WITH Yennie Aukanai Bellz Tori Bradley AnimeGenork ​

 

[Yennie]

Duncan Mauntell

The "blood sucking whore" comment both externally and internally made Duncan cringe, his immediate reaction was to check the fool who'd uttered the words but Lyra had already handled it with far more skill and tact then he ever could. He smirked to himself as she let the man have it and made no move to correct or undermine his punishment. All of the Birds knew Lyra's word was just as much law as his; if she said do it then it would be done. Lyllith didn't seem particularly affected by the words but he had to feel that if she were as sympathetic to their cause as she claimed to be the insult must have hurt her somewhat. She soldiered on proudly though, delivering her speech with conviction and emotion. Duncan was quite frankly impressed with her flair for the dramatic. When she whipped out the small knife and held it to her throat he barely suppressed his disbelieving snort.

"Well done Princess." Duncan clapped his hands together loudly slowly in a mocking applause, a smirk spreading across his face. "Really, I mean it. The theatrics with the knife were a nice touch." He placed his hands behind his back as he strolled easily about the tavern, eyes cast down to the floor as he walked. He stopped in front of Lyllith, his eyes meeting hers. "Unfortunately I haven't quite bought what you're selling yet." He considered himself to be a good judge of character but when he searched her eyes he found no hint of malice, no real sense of distrust. Was she possibly so naive that she was actually being honest with them? It unnerved him. The girl was young he could see that much but royal were taught how lie and surely she knew she'd get much further in whatever her little game was if she played her hand closer to her chest. Just what was her aim? Duncan was puzzled and being confused didn't make him happy.
Furious, Duncan turned abruptly away from him to address his Birds. "Have you Birds?" He asked loudly and immediately was greeted with jeers and boos. Most of them weren't exactly discerning or capable of dissecting a persons character but they weren't total fools. Raising a hand to quiet the raucous crowd down Duncan turned his attention back towards Lyllith. "It's going to take a bit more then just threatening yourself love. You'll need to prove it. With actions. Show us what you can do for us." He raised his eyebrows as if to ask her if she understood. It'd be up to her to decide what actions to take to show she was in this for real.
As for her brother, Duncan did not miss the way Phoenix had moved forward with very real concern for his sister. He felt a slight pang at that, visions of his own sisters drifting through his mind. But he also did not miss the remarks made that Duncan found to be quite frankly stupid. "Oh no vampire, you don't know a single thing about what humanity is; what being a human is like. You have no idea." He spat in the mans direction. It was obvious Phoenix did not care much for their situation or their cause. He'd just followed his sister because he was nosy dog. It seemed Cassiana shared his sentiments as the girl was up across the room in a blink of an eye. She held a dagger to the vampire's throat and he did not doubt she would spill his blood if he made a wrong move. But Duncan couldn't have that. Not tonight at least. They were not prepared for the awful retaliation of the royal family should one of theirs be slain in such a place as this. Duncan moved behind Cass, his hand curling gently over hers as he guided it away from Phoenix's neck. "I understand Cass, believe me I do. But not now." He murmured softly in her ear as he guided her arm to rest at her side. The girl was an uncontrollable fireball at times and Duncan did love her spirit but it would simply causes them too many issues he'd be unable to sort if he let her go off now.

"If I were you I'd care about gaining our trust." Duncan narrowed his eyes at Phoenix, hopefully conveying the message that next time the princes life should be in danger he might not be present to stop it.

 

[Bellz]

Lyra

Lyra stood up almost immediately at the sound of Duncan's loud and powerful voice. She could see the fire in his eyes and knew that he was at a loss for why the vampires wanted to join them. But she found herself gripping the table harshly as he spoke to them. The words that came out of his mouth reminded her that she was one of them. Each word stabbing into her heart like a knife and she found that her intense strength was beginning to crack the wood off the table. Taking a calm and deep breath, she released it and ignored the splinters that were stabbed deeply int her hand. Curling it so the blood couldn't be seen, she walked forward quickly. "Enough." She said looking towards Cass and Duncan. She knew it was crazy to stand up for once and try to undermine her leader, but this was just a risk she had to take.

Looking towards the two vampires, her eyes scanned them closely. Her eyes were neither kind or unkind. She was simply observing. Then she looked towards Duncan. "What is humanity exactly?" She started, feeling as though she had to defend them....and herself. "The only thing that really separates us from them is the fact that they acquire a different...more...cannibal taste." Her eyes slowly moved to observe her peers before sighing. "I understand that you may not agree with me, but surely these two are showing some sort of humanity by even wanting to join us. The walk upright like us, they speak the same language, read the same literature, and I'm sure feel the same emotions...." Lyra's eyes glanced towards the pair for a moment. "We cannot simply judge them for the actions of others. If that was true, we would be no better than the true enemy."

"I am sure that they are not. Too young to even control the retraction of their fangs! Babies according to what I've read about the life cycle of them." She looked towards Duncan a final time and met his eyes. "Now Our fierce leader has the final say, I simply wished to state what I felt had to be."

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[AnimeGenork]

Lyllith Violeta Fonteyn​

.

Leave it to Phoenix to ruin the moment. Lyllith supposed she was being a touch dramatic, but the situation called for it, unfortunately. How else was she supposed to convey how damn serious she was about this? Although…it seemed like the lot of them didn’t quite get the message. Pity.

Phoenix made a speech as well, though his wasn’t as dramatic or desperate as hers. Her scowl in his direction softened into an admiring glance. His words were powerful in a quiet way. And, in its own way, seemed to help her case. A little. Maybe.

However, despite the impressed look on the face of the other girl at the table (which was surprisingly directed at her), she soon threatened Phoenix with a dagger at his throat. Lyllith was tempted to make a snarky comment about him making a scene similar to hers, but considering the tension in the room, the humor probably wouldn’t be appreciated. Still, she didn’t intervene. Her brother could take care of himself.

What really made her angry was Duncan’s reaction to her speech. The guy seemed arrogant, which reminded her far too much of Aleron. Her eye twitched the tiniest bit at his words. If he wasn’t the leader of the Birds, she would’ve bitten him by now…but she’d fed earlier, so she didn’t. Not to mention that would look bad in front of all these people.

The jeers and boos didn’t exactly help her self-esteem either. He wanted to her to prove it, did he? “Fine, I’ll prove it.” She whipped around and glared at a boy hanging back from the crowd. Something about him seemed familiar…and when her gaze zoomed in on the crest peeking out of his collar, her suspicions were confirmed. “For starters, there’s a spy here.” The boy’s eyes widened as she whipped out her letter opener and threw it at him, hitting her mark right in the middle of his chest. “That was the crest of one of the most prominent aristocratic families, the Blakeley clan.” Rolling her eyes, she muttered, “Pompous asshole, that one.”

Turning back around, she saw Duncan basically save Phoenix’s life, guiding the girl’s knife away from his throat. She nearly let out a huge sigh of relief. He’d probably done it for reasons regarding the safety of the Birds, but she was grateful nonetheless. Ignoring the hard look the Birds’ leader gave her brother, she interjected, “It may seem useless, but you won’t find anyone else as in tune with the gossip of the nobles as I am. That spy won’t be the first, either. Blakeley and the other nobles would do anything to improve their status in the eyes of my parents and Aleron, including taking down a rebellion like this.” She lowered her eyes and muttered, “He’d love nothing more than to see you all executed for daring to defy the crown.”

It was then Lyra chose to enter the conversation. She defended Lyllith and Phoenix, turning Duncan’s spat words about them not understanding humanity against him. The bit about her being a baby stung, but it was pretty close to the truth, so she didn’t comment on it. There weren’t enough words to express how grateful she was to Lyra for her support. Lyllith didn’t normally dole out the words very often—as she was “too above” everyone she would normally say them to—but she mouthed Thank you to her subtly.

Fixing her gaze on Duncan once again, she urged, “I may not be human, but you can be damn sure I have the same feelings a human does. I feel embarrassment and hurt from comments labeling me as a whore, I feel anger at my brother and parents for trying to marry me off to some rich boy simply because I’m a girl, and I sure as hell feel determined to take down the monarchy, no matter what it takes.”

Lyllith stared him down a few moments before murmuring, “And to take down a family as powerful as mine, you need someone on the inside. Take down the source of their power—the nobles and the army—and you take down the entire operation.”

She only hoped her words this time would be convincing enough.

tagged: Yennie Bellz Aukanai arkadia Tori Bradley | location: Hooded Veil Tavern | scenario: More Pretty Words | mood: Defiant/A Wee Bit Angry​

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[Aukanai]

The blade of the dagger was cool against his neck. But, Phoenix didn't flinch. In a surprising twist, he had smirked at the girl who had him at her mercy, supposedly. The Prince knew his place well enough but that didn't stop him from making some bad impressions, intended or not. He simply was daring the girl on though, a sort of encouragement for her to fulfil her threat.

"I already know that you detest my existence," Phoenix's smirked remained, even as he grabbed the girl's hand and leaned into the dagger slightly. "You don't need to make it even more clear than it already is, thank you" And with that, Phoenix stepped back and quickly spun Cassiana around, shoving her towards the rest of the Birds and away from him.

"It would be most appreciated if we could all play nice here and keep our hands to ourselves".

For a moments more, the Prince would have continued on giving Cassiana a rather daring look and an amused grin. But, for however long that lasted, it didn't seem to stick on Phoenix's mind as he tuned his attention and focus towards Duncan. Of course, the man had wise words backing him up. Phoenix wasn't entirely sure how he viewed the man. Though, of course, Phoenix was somewhat wary of him, for the Bird's somewhat biased hatred toward vampires.

"I suppose so," the Prince might have began to back off a bit, referring with a more pleasant tone and seeming to show a bit more respect, "If anything, I ask for you to give my sister a chance. I don't expect the same, do so as you wish. I know, I am merely some rat that squeezed its way in, but I will not let you harm or threaten my sister for she merely wants to help you with your case. So much so, that she has made a great risk by stepping foot inside this tavern. At least try to show some courtesy."

The Prince would have fallen into silence as the others seemed to begin talking among each other then. A discussion on whether to allow them in, perhaps. Though Phoenix didn't listen in on it, regardless of what it might have been about. He had to show them respect, show them that he knew his boundary and the he wasn't a threat.

Lyllith seemed to have that in mind too, for when she spoke up, she blew the cover of a spy. Yes, his sister was always quite observant, and had a great knowledge in that mind of hers. Phoenix let a smile curl onto his lips then. Yet, he stepped back, putting a distance between him and the Birds again.

"Quite a good selling point, no?" He might have smirked smugly at Duncan then, but the Prince tried his best to keep a placid expression.

-----------------------Location: Hooded Veil || Tags: AnimeGenork Yennie arkadia Bellz Tori Bradley