Fantasy Veiled City

[Pepsionne]

Theodore | Terra | Caelum
Location: Empty Lot in the Black Market​

Caelum eyed the newcomer while he spoke. His mannerisms seemed animated, but the nervous energy coursing through him was evident in the way his voice vibrated through the air. The angel’s expression was flat, uninterested, unreadable. He didn’t even turn when Francis and Terra reappeared from the thin fabric of the air. Francis’ loud, friendly chuckle earned a small glance from Caelum’s peripheral, but his focus stayed on the man before them all. So this was a Necromancer nowadays, huh? He wasn’t really sure when he’d stopped noticing them in the crowds of super naturals over the years, but seeing the man before him reminded Caelum just how long it had been since he had actually seen one in the flesh. A skittish breed, hated and hunted throughout the centuries and nearly brought about to their extinction.

Theodore turned his head to look in Francis’ direction at hearing his booming voice, the action giving him a full view of Mizuki’s smaller frame curled up into his side. She looked so small and fragile like this. His brow furrowed. Despite the initial instinct that argued for him to protect her, he knew that Mizuki was capable of defending herself. She was strong, fierce, with a dark violent streak that always ran low, hidden under the surface of her aloof appearance. As it had turned out so far, she was the one constantly protecting him.

He let out a deep exhale once she excused herself from their brief vacation sprawled out in the dirt of the empty lot. His blue gaze was hazy, distant as he stared up at the dark ceiling of the black market. Now that all the adrenaline and fear had run their course through his body, the exhaustion was settling in. A loud caw sounded from one of the buildings in the distance before the dark figure of the bird disappeared with a manic flap of wings. Right. His gift. Samantha hadn’t taken much time to explain anything about vampire gifts to Theodore besides acknowledging their existence, nor did he have much enthusiasm for finding out what his was. After all, most vampires lived at least a century before attempting to learn and master their gift. Theodore had only been a vampire for about thirty years. Hardly enough time to cover even the necessities. So, he was guessing his gift had something to do with--crows?

Terra’s brow was furrowed in worry as she looked over Mizuki’s figure. Her eyes darted back and forth between Mizuki and the strange new man that had descended upon the group. Her eyes grew large in sympathy and guilt. Mizuki had nearly mutilated herself with her gift to save them all. How could Terra ever repay her for that? Her fists were clenched tightly while she saw the woman wincing in even subtle movements. Their encounter here was a blunt reminder to Terra just how dangerous this hunt was for them. How could Cecil involve himself in this on a daily basis? The adrenaline was fun at first, but the nauseating worry and guilt that followed after was a brutal hangover.

Theodore had shot up from his lounging position upon hearing Mizuki wince, his hands hovering awkwardly over her arm. There was nothing he could really do for her to lessen her pain besides sit here and be present for it. The reality of that frustrated him endlessly. Would there ever be an end to her having to suffer on his account? If anyone here should be wounded it should be him, no? He grit his teeth, trying to stifle the growing rage he felt towards himself in the moment. If he had learned to control his gift, if he had focused on learning actual combat instead of dumb party tricks to woo diplomats and benefactors for the Vieru clan, maybe she wouldn’t be in so much pain right now.

He wiped the darkened look from his face when he looked up to respond to Mizuki, smiling softly. His face was bright, supportive, a complete mask to the ugly feelings that he struggled to swallow down. “Well, he saved us. I say that’s enough to earn my trust for the time being.”

Terra noted the man reference the scabbing wound on Caelum’s ankle, but the angel didn’t even seem to notice. His face was already buried in his phone, a subtle twinge of annoyance lining his features. Caelum muttered something about no signal and shoved the phone clumsily into the pocket of his jeans. Even now without a distraction, judging by the vacant look on his face, Caleum still wasn’t going to be a part of their conversation. So much for his input.

“I agree with Theodore, he saved us, the least we could do is thank him for his efforts.” Terra turned to the man with a soft smile on her face. “Uh--I’m Terra, I’m not sure if you’ve already introduced yourself.”

 

[Razvi-sama]

Mizuki | Francis | Antonio

Location: Black Market - Empty Lot - Antonio's Apartment​

It wasn't lost on Mizuki...the way Theodore reached out towards her when she was given the harsh reminder of the painful consequences of overusing her Gift. The vampiress turned to look at Theodore to address—maybe try to reassure him she was okay, only to pause when noting his general proximity. She saw how his gaze focused on her arm. His features seemed a little too sharp, a little too tight. What was he thinking about? She looked between the Necromancer and Theodore, especially after the witch insisted they could come up to his apartment for refreshments and an ice pack that could help her with her cramped tendons. She asked Theodore what he thought, clearly respecting his opinion.

Whatever distant, hardened look he had previously was gone when she spoke up. Mizuki only saw the look of a kind friend, smiling to her so sweetly. She couldn't shake away the feeling that something was eating away at him, but supposed now wasn't the time to ask him. He reasoned that since the Necromancer had saved them, then naturally that earned him their trust. There was no reason not to accept his help. She gave a slow nod, only to quickly perk up at the sound of Terra's voice. She looked at the fairy and smiled for the fae. If Terra's instincts told her he was trustworthy, then Mizuki would believe so as well. The vampiress looked between Terra and the Necromancer as the fairy began her introductions. In the meantime, Mizuki couldn't help but let her gaze drift towards Caelum...wondering what more she could do to thank him for saving her life. If it wasn't for his efforts...she sincerely didn't know how much longer she would have been able to hold back the demon. There he was, cursing at his phone for the lack of signal. He wasn't about to participate in...whatever this was. She swore she would find a way to make it up to him, for now, he's done enough for them tonight. He was allowed a moment with his phone.

Antonio watched as one of the vampires padded towards the couple on the ground, first reaching a hand out to help the male up before he turned to help the vampiress. He was careful where he grabbed her, earning a low grunt of discomfort from the woman as he helped her to her feet. She let out a low hiss, and once she was on her feet she took a moment to breathe. Allow her body to process the aches and pains. She thanked Francis in a low mumble, earning a weakened smile from him before he turned to join Terra's side as she gave the Necromancer his name. I’m Terra, I’m not sure if you’ve already introduced yourself.

Antonio's eyes widened as he was soon flushed with embarrassment, "A-Ah! Sorry, where are my manners?", he laughed nervously, before he cleared his throat, "My name is Antonio. In the heat of the moment, I forgot to introduce myself. It's nice to meet you, though, Terra. Latin for 'Earth'. A hearty name", he hummed, his voice kind. He paused when he heard a high-pitched chirp, quickly reacting to the source of the sound. He reached back towards his hoodie, "Sorry, forgot to introduce my best boy", he grinned. A tiny black flying fox crawled over his hand, perching himself up over Antonio's knuckle and letting out a tiny cry, "He says it's nice to meet you all. His name is Enzo and he's my familiar", he smiled, clearly proud of his tiny friend.

Mizuki's eyes widened in delight at the sight of the creature, finding him adorable! "It's nice to meet you too, Enzo", she smiled, before she shifted her attention to Antonio, "My name is Mizuki, that's Caelum over there", she pointed to the angel, "And, Theodore", she pointed to the vampire.

"And, my name is Francis...are you sure you're okay with letting five strangers into your apartment?", the vampire asked.

Antonio shrugged, "I'm sure it's fine. The five of you just went through a lot tonight, just doing my civic duty", he assured, "Come, I'll do what I can with your injuries", he promised, offering a kind smile to the small group before he turned around and began to lead them towards his apartment building.

Francis and Mizuki shared a small glance before Francis simply shrugged. He motioned to join Terra's side before following after Antonio. Mizuki took in another breath before she began to move forward. Her body was already processing her healing, bruises slowly disappearing...didn't take away how much she felt like shit, though. She really overexerted herself, this time. She did pause to wait for Theodore, though, turning to the vampire, "...are you okay?", she quietly asked him, hoping he wasn't severely injured. She also had to keep Caelum into consideration. His ankle had been gnawed at like a chew toy and she soon realized that...she had no idea how angels healed to begin with. Overall, she waited for the two boys before she moved forward, following Antonio into the building.

They went up a few flights of stairs and Mizuki had to take her time with each step...she apologized to anyone behind her, even insisting they simply go around her. It took her a little longer than usual, but she managed to hobble herself up and make her way into Antonio's tiny apartment. It was...literally nothing that she ever imagined a Necromancer to live in. Just like the previous house they had visited. Decorated in pastels and floating ferns. The smell of blueberry muffins lingering in the air...

No, for Antonio...it was simply humble living. One could describe his space as Chaotic Academia. Books piled everywhere, papers shoved within. There were anatomical structures and diagrams littered all over his walls and corners. There was even your typical skeleton and by the smell of it...it was real. Antonio's apartment was filled with the smell of coffee and warm spices. The smell of old books and dust still permeated despite the strong scents that enveloped the space. Mizuki described the apartment as an organized mess, and despite the smell of dust...not a single surface was dirty. At the very end of the apartment, though...there seemed to be a steel door. It looked thick and heavy, like that of a walk-in freezer. The smell of formaldehyde that occasionally wafted through gave her an idea as to what was behind the door.

Antonio quickly rushed through the apartment, moving away papers and books from the living area where he had a nice, antique leather sofa and a few love chairs facing the sofa, "Here, make yourselves at home", he insisted, smiling for his guests. He hasn't had people over for a very long time! "Do you want anything to drink? I think I have some tea, to help calm the nerves?", he asked.

"That would be nice", Francis assured, helping Mizuki down on the sofa so that she could rest.

"Might even have some blood stored away...", Antonio hummed, "It's human, though".

"A-Ah! That won't be necessary, thank you for the consideration", Francis quickly assured, earning a cheesy smile from the witch. Antonio began to rummage through his kitchen, leaving the five to settle down and get comfortable. Francis ensured everyone was inside and took a seat, asking Terra in a low mumble if she had the pictures of the sigils they had taken the other evening. Basically, the whole reason as to why they were there to begin with. They literally were dragged through Hell to find this Necromancer. They would be damned if they would let this opportunity escape.

It took Antonio five minutes to return to the living area, settling down a wooden tray with a delicate tea set he had inherited from his Mentor, "I only had Chamomile, since it helps with stomach aches. It was kind of the only thing nurses in my school would give us if we complained", he snickered, "I brought some honey, I know fairies have a bit of a sweet tooth? So, use up as much as you wish", he assured Terra, "I also brought a first aid kit and this ice pack for you", he pointed at Mizuki.

"Um...Theodore", Antonio quickly remembered the vampire's name, "Do you mind massaging the cramped muscles for her? Apply the ice pack for a minute and then remove it to massage for a minute. Then, repeat the process until the cramps have undone themselves. When you go home, I suggest you take a very hot shower", he told Mizuki before he smiled for the man, having assumed the two were close given how they were huddled up against the ground earlier, "As for you...", he smiled a little more sheepishly towards Caelum, "I can look at your ankle, patch you up?", he hummed, pointing at the kit, "I specialize in surgical procedure", he assured.

Francis had knelt down beside the coffee table, his gaze alit with amusement to watch the Necromancer try and convince Caelum to treat him, while having just ordered Theodore to massage Mizuki's arms. Quite the busy bee this Necromancer. Bleeding heart. The vampiress didn't seem to protest, her cheeks were simply a little warm. In the meantime, he was happy to serve Terra a cup of tea for her, quietly asking how much honey she liked, "Quite impressive, though it makes sense that a Necromancer would specialize in such areas of medicine", he hummed.

Antonio paused, looking at the vampire, "Ah, right. They do go hand in hand", he supposed, "So, what brought you all all the way down here. Don't really see many vampires in the Black Market", he stated, shuffling towards Caelum.

"We've been looking for you, actually", Francis said slowly...and noted how tense the Necromancer quickly became. His hand seemed to inch towards his flute, "Let me clarify. We need your help deciphering some sigils we found. We're not here to report you or turn you in. You don't seem to be hurting anyone", he assured kindly. Antonio's shoulder dropped, Francis practically able to hear the sigh of relief escaping the poor man.

"Sigils? Not sure what that has to do with me, but I can try", Antonio assured.

Spoiler: Antonio's Apartment

​

 

[Pepsionne]

Theodore | Terra | Caelum
Location: Abandoned lot, Antonio's Apartment​

Terra dipped her head in a small nod of acknowledgement when Antonio voiced the underlying meaning of her name. Really, she had picked it because it sounded warm and grounding, something she strove to be when she was first born. Something that fairies were supposed to be. Maybe she was trying to suffocate the adrenaline loving, quick tempered personality that had always been there, trying to ignore feeling like there was something wrong with her. She let out a lighthearted giggle once a small flying fox made himself known to the group. Her eyes sparkled with endearment when the little creature let out as big of a cry as he could muster.

She nodded fervently to Mizuki’s greeting of the familiar. Her eyes tracked over as Mizuki introduced Caelum and Theodore, the angel paying no mind to what was going on in their conversation and Theodore offering a simple nod towards Antonio. The tension that had overtaken the group after Naomi’s readings seemed to have been exerted in the battle with the demons, leaving the air around them relaxed and exhausted. If there was any danger in Antonio’s offer for lodging while their injuries healed, no one was concerned about them. They simply didn’t have the energy to. The only thing they had available to them now was trust.

Terra glanced upwards at Francis when he rejoined her side. Her curly hair was frizzy and tousled from being absorbed into Francis’ chest, the small baby hairs glued to her forehead from the sweat of adrenaline and worry. She offered him a bright smile before following Antonio, the apples of her cheeks full and rosy. After a full day of worry, despair and danger, it actually seemed like things would--work out for them. No one was seriously injured, they found a Necromancer during the one time they weren't actively searching. Maybe they could actually do this. Maybe she could actually save Cecil.

Theodore watched Francis and Terra follow Antonio, his eyes blank. His core still ached a bit from where Nyx had landed a blow square in his stomach, but compared to Mizuki and Caelum, he couldn’t complain. He glanced down at Mizuki when she addressed him. The worry and concern for his well being was clear in her features. Theodore recoiled in shock, staring dumbfounded at her. “Am I okay?” He said, his voice strained to remain low. “Mizuki I should be asking you that! You’re far more hurt than I am, please focus your worry on your own recovery. I’m fine, I promise. Let me be the one worrying about others this time, yeah?” He gave her a playful smile, but his eyes were pleading for her to listen to his request.

Antonio’s apartment was--unique, to say the least. No matter where Theodore turned his eye, there was a bounty of things to look at. It was like an explosion, yet everything seemed to have a rightful place. Nothing was dusty; every surface was clean. He shrugged off his momentary awe of their newest surroundings to join Mizuki on the couch. He looked back to Antonio who was moving around the apartment fussing with various objects to clear space and make room for his newest guests. He couldn’t help the instinctual tension that overtook his body when he heard Antonio mention blood--human blood, at that. Despite the warm, comforting atmosphere of the apartment, there was a tiny, dark chill that inched its way up Theodore’s spine. A heavy metal door, one that by smell alone Theodore could glean the implications of. The heavy presence of death weighed on him, mounting more and more pressure to the point that he began to shift uncomfortably under its weight. He snapped out of its dizzying whirlpool at the sound of Antonio calling his name.

“Oh--uh,” Theodore fumbled to regain his composure, opting instead to understand as much as he could of Antonio’s instructions. “Ice one minute, massage for another,” He mumbled under his breath, eyes turned down to the ice pack that already rested on one of her arms. He glanced up at Mizuki briefly through his lashes, his face still angled downwards at her arms. “Let me know if I hurt you at all, okay?”

Terra nodded fervently to Francis. “Right--yes of course,” She said in response, pulling out her phone to search for the images they had taken that night at The Archive. She rummaged through her photos before landing on the photos taken that night. The symbols looked so familiar yet so foreign at the same time. Maybe she was searching for some kind of connection to Cecil through them.

Caelum looked at the Necromancer as he began kindly suggesting to tend to the wound on his ankle. He glanced down, rotating his foot inward to inspect the deep claw marks that had scabbed over. The blood that had seeped out was already dry and flaking off his skin. “That won’t be necessary, the wound’s already closed itself up. There’s nothing you could really do for it at this point,” He said, his words flat and informative.

Terra nodded fervently in response to Francis’ explanation of their goals for the evening. A feeling of guilt stabbed her to see how frightful Antonio instantly became with the news that they had been looking for him. She remembered how they had barged in on the previous Necromancer, the desperation that urged them forward and the fear that had caused her to flee. She didn’t like the parallels that had begun to emerge.

“Like Francis said,” Terra added, standing up from her seat with her phone in hand. “The last thing we want to do is hurt you, if anything, we’d love to help protect you. We stumbled across some information that might put some powerful vampires behind the orders against necromancers in a bad spot. Could you take a look at these pictures and let us know what you think of them?”

Theodore glanced up from where he was gently working the knots out of Mizuki's arm while the group exposed their ulterior motives to Antonio. He saw the immediate tension tighten up the man's muscles, as if someone had pulled his core upright with a taut string, but the tension bled outward at Francis and Terra's reassurance that they weren't here to hurt him. Theodore switched the ice pack onto Mizuki's left arm, taking her right one which was closest to him to begin gently undoing the cramped muscles that were rigid beneath her cold skin. The action had felt useless at first, but over time Theodore could feel the muscles loosen up and become more pliable than before.

"We already had a Sorcerer look them over, the spells were taken from The Archive's most secret collection. The ones no one but the most elite know about. He said there was also one spell that--that could only be activated by someone with demon blood. Do you know anything about that?" Terra asked, her voice turning timid when she began recanting the facts about Cecil she was still struggling to cope with. After her encounter the vile demons just minutes earlier, the thought of Cecil being even remotely similar to them made her nauseous.

 

[Razvi-sama]

Mizuki | Francis | Antonio

Location: Black Market - Antonio's Apartment​

Mizuki waited for Theodore, quite...not ready to leave his side just yet. Ah, it was almost humorous how much she relied on him now, compared to how she would use every excuse to hide from him due to how embarrassed she would feel to just be next to him. Now? It felt as easy as breathing. She couldn't help but notice his tousled hair—hair that was usually so neat and combed through. She noticed his dirty clothes—clothes that was usually freshly pressed and up to date with the latest fashion trends. A dribble of blood here, and scuff over there. He was most certainly bruised from the pained look he'd make whenever he breathed. So, she asked him if he was okay. Physically...was a hard 'no', but how was he feeling? The question seemed strange to him, because he suddenly turned to her as if she had a second head growing. She grew tense, staring up at the vampire in a silent "what?". He was practically chastising her now, insisting that she worry about herself! Look at her! She was far more hurt, but...Mizuki didn't care. She just wanted him to be okay.

Mizuki understood the concern, though...her expression softening in affection as he asked her to let him be the once to worry for a change. She smiled, warm and tender, "Okay, Theodore. You win", she giggled, "I'm still going to take that as a way of you saying that you're fine", she grinned back a little cheekily, offering the man a wink before they pushed forward to follow after the Necromancer back to his humble abode.

When they stepped into his apartment...Mizuki didn't know what she had been expecting. Tinted window? Hanging corpses? She didn't know how your stereotypical Necromancer lived. When she first stepped in, the first thing she smelled were those rick, earthy spices. It spoke more of his person than his profession. He was a man who enjoyed bold flavors, and given the mild accent that laced his tone...she believed he came from a place that was proudly celebrated for their strong flavors and cuisine. Upon further inspection, there was a haphazard routine in the bones of this apartment. Messy habits born from such routine. Yet, oddly...Antonio still seemed to have time to clean and make sure everything was at least clean. The smell of disinfectant cut through the warm spices, and then...the smell of formaldehyde slid through.

It was mild. Thankfully what Antonio was brewing in his kitchen masked whatever was hidden behind that cooler. Ignoring the chill that ran down her spine, Mizuki couldn't help but enjoy a lived-in interior. She watched as he rushed to collect papers and books, clearing up space for them to sit and relax. She thanked the man quietly as everyone took their seats. Except Francis. He seemed to be buzzing with a strange energy and she doubted he wanted to sit down. She could respect that. Mizuki was about to sit down herself when she noticed Theodore had grown a little tense. His jaw clenched and sharper than usual. He seemed to be staring at empty space the moment Antonio mentioned human blood, lost in his thoughts. Mizuki was about to raise her other hand to help snap him out of his thoughts...but thankfully Antonio had called for him. The vampiress made sure to note his behavior and tuck it in the back of her mind for later.

For now, Mizuki motioned to sit, only to pause when she internalized that Antonio was...giving Theodore instructions to help massage her. She shifted her gaze away, seemingly a little bashful when he sat down beside her. She was cradling her right arm, not wanting to add too much pressure over the ruptured tendons. When the ice pack was presented, she initially winced and hissed, squeezing her eyes shut and simply allowing the pain to roll in waves. Once it numbed out, she let out a deep breath...turning towards Theodore who...had turned his attention on her. Eyes flicked upwards...hidden behind a curtain of his lashes. Her cheeks grew warm, and all she could do was nod a little dumbly at his question.

Antonio had brought tea for everyone and in order to help with his own nerves, Francis helped serve the tea and murmured to Terra about the images on her phone while Antonio turned to ask Caelum if he wanted help patching up his ankle. The young man seemed to politely decline and Antonio nodded. What a brave man, he truly wondered what he was...hopefully not another witch...Maybe it was a skinsuit. Who knew, "Alright, well, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Oh, and...", he looked about his apartment, before he padded over towards a small notebook and pencil he had on the kitchen counter to help jot down a grocery list for tomorrow. He scribbled down an alphanumeric code before he slid back to Caelum to hand him the piece of scribbled paper, "That's my WiFi password. Signal here sucks, so you have better connection with my router, at least", he offered before he turned his attention back to Francis who finally admitted they had been looking for him...and the fear in Antonio's expression was one Francis would never forget.

Thankfully, Francis quickly reassured Antonio that they were looking to pick his brain, not hurt him...and that immediately seemed to relax the young man. Antonio peeked down to Terra who backed up Francis' words with a fervent nod and he eased up. If they had been the Council, they wouldn't have a fairy with them...and like the old adage goes...wherever a fairy is, peace lives within. So, Antonio eased up, looking to Terra who stood and motioned towards him. She insisted that they didn't want to hurt him, maybe even protect him...He looked down to her as she insisted that whatever information they could get from him, could lead to them putting some powerful vampires in an uncomfortable position. The same vampires who ordered a death sentence over any and all Necromancer.

"Okay...", Antonio eventually muttered out, taking the fairy's phone. He peeked up towards Mizuki and Theodore, seeing the pained expression over the vampiress' face. Her brows knotted together with every circled rub that came out of Theodore's thumb as he melted away each cramped tendon. Eventually, she began to mellow out...the pain wasn't as acute. She even leaned into Theodore's side, as if out of relief. Antonio knew they weren't here to hurt him. He trusted Terra's assurance.

Antonio nodded as Terra explained where she had even gotten these spells from. His brows rose in surprise upon hearing they were from The Archive. She explained that the Sorcerer insisted that this was a spell that could only be activated with someone with demonic blood. However, they couldn't figure out what it was...

Antonio hummed, understanding her question. He shifted through the pictures, he'd zoom in and focus on certain symbols before he'd move on. He seemed focused, he was even quiet for a lengthy period of time. He took her phone and turned back towards the kitchen, serving himself a cup of coffee before he returned to the living room and sat down for continued inspection. He'd take a sip, his gaze barely leaving the images on her phone and even went as far as to shift through a pile of tomes he had perched beside one of his single sofas. He skimmed through a few pages, read some passages before he returned his attention to the phone.

His silence only seemed to build on the tension, as Francis and Mizuki were practically on the edge of their seats waiting for his response. It took several minutes and sips of coffee before Antonio sat the phone down and shifted his attention back to the group of eager onlookers, "The fact that you mention vampires is concerning. I'm sure you're all aware that the Coven has declared Necromancy taboo, and the Council has sent out a decree to eliminate any known Necromancer. They refuse to work with Necromancers as vampires are usually afraid we'll take advantage of their undead status and control them. Undead Manipulation...allows us to control vampires, zombies, phantasm, and demons. In the wrong hands, it can be a powerful and destructive tool", he stated, shrugging.

"Of course, the Council would rather see us dead than work with us...but what if a certain Councilman realized they could force control over other underlings if they allied themselves with someone who can practice Necromancy? Necromancers can be found in witches or anyone who has some sort of magical ability. Demon's blood is dipped in mana, but depending on their status and the type of demon they are, their mana might be weaker compared to a select few. If a witch were to have the blood of a demon, they would be a very powerful Necromancer...their range and mana would be almost never ending...but it can be destructive. If we don't have demonic blood, in order to help amplify a Necromancer's ability, we have the choice to make deals with the God of Death. So on and so forth...".

"Anyway, I'm getting off track. All of this to say that I would whole-heartedly believe a vampire teamed up with a supernatural with demonic blood. They could still fulfill whatever sick agenda they have why not living in fear of having to be associated with a Necromancer who most likely wouldn't have the same agenda as them. Children born with demonic blood are not fully accepted in the supernatural community nor in the demonic community. They're seen as abominations, so I imagine a person like that would want any sort of vengeance on both communities. The vampire gets control over his community, while promising a cushy and respectable life to the demonic child. Overall, they're easily manipulated by the vampire. This spell you have presented me...helps summon a large army of the undead and has ultimate control over these soldiers. As I mentioned previously...undead involves other vampires, phantasm, zombies, or demons. They can summon anyone they want. However. They're missing some ingredients. Some about fae, but I would need more time to analyze the documents", Antonio hummed, "What you have presented me is pretty scary, and sadly we can't turn to the Coven or the Council because neither or would believe you. Certainly won't believe me...".

Francis sighed, nodding, "You're well-versed in your subject", he noted, "...I had no idea there were so many layers to...working with the dead", he laughed weakly, a little dryly. What the hell was the Council up to? Control? Did Samantha know about this somehow and they framed her to silence her?

"Yeah", Antonio chortled out, "It's my passion", he assured, "Can you send these pictures to me?", he asked Terra, "I'd like to view them over the week".

Francis looked to Terra before he turned to Antonio, "...so, what can we do? Now what do we do? Everything you said seems pretty hopeless".

"....hm. Build a case against the vampire and present it to the supernatural community and the mortal government. Expose them, ruin their plans", Antonio shrugged, "But, I'm happy to help with any topic involving Necromancy. It seems you stumbled upon something pretty interesting", he hummed.

 

[Pepsionne]

Theodore | Terra | Caelum
Location: Antonio's Apartment​

Terra never let her eyes off of Antonio’s face once he took her phone into his hands. She watched every expression change with astute detail. The furrowing of his brow, the subtle squint in concentration and deduction. Her body was tense for all of it, trying in a feeble attempt to follow along his path of reason to somehow reach the same conclusion as him before he had even said anything. She swallowed hard when he began speaking, her nerves alight with adrenaline. This part was important to her, this part related directly to Cecil and his future wellbeing. Maybe a small piece of her was subconsciously grasping at straws to prove Naomi wrong. She’d be able to make it work with Cecil, she wasn’t looking at anything in a false light. They’d be able to find--happiness.

Theodore looked over to Antonio after the man broke his concentrated silence. He listened while he continued to help with Mizuki’s cramped arm. He wouldn’t say he was surprised that Antonio’s advice had worked to help with the twisted muscle, but he was eager to have found a way to help relieve her pain. Theodore could tell by her body language that even if by only a slight bit, she had begun to relax. Talk of the undead, magic and mana, it all felt so fantasy to him. Even after being exposed to the black market and all the magical wonders it had to offer, hearing things such as necromancy and dark magic still sounded blasphemous. It would take awhile to catch up. Theodore glanced over at Mizuki, wondering if she was feeling just as lost.

Terra sucked in a breath as the explanation continued. She stared, emptily, listening to Antonio describe the life of a child born with demonic blood. Not accepted into either community. Seen as an abomination. She tried to picture what Cecil was like as a child, tried to picture what he could have possibly gone through in life--but for some reason, it was impossible. Every time she pictured his face, the memories would stop and dip off into shadow. It dawned on her slowly that even though she felt like she knew Cecil endlessly, that he was one of the closest people in her life, she didn’t really know anything about him. He had never opened up to her about his past, not even in a slip up. Terra clasped her hands together. Was what he went through really that traumatizing? Was he so hurt that a life with her wasn’t enough? No--she was sure a cushy life wasn’t the force driving Cecil in this. It was power.

As soon as the word fae permeated the air, Terra’s attention snapped back to the explanation on hand. “Fae?” She repeated out loud, confusion taking over. She swallowed down the dread that began to bloom sickly in her stomach, turning her attention instead to Francis as he chuckled in response to something Antonio had said.

She nodded fervently in Antonio's direction, her dark curls bouncing with the movement. “Of course, I’ll just need your number and then I can send them your way.”

Caelum let out a deepened sigh once Antonio had finished his lecture on what they were working with. Francis and Terra were still conversing with him, but he had long since retracted his attention. The air felt heavy around him. He knew the Sorcerers had some powerful spells, but he never imagined they had any that were capable of this level of chaos. Normally, a spell would be no chip off of his shoulder, he could bargain with them for a deal on it, ensuring they’d never actually have the means to utilize something with such power in exchange for a blind eye every now and then. That wouldn’t work now. Not when they had a sorcerer with demon’s blood practically fall right into their lap, one that was manipulated and tormented by supernatural society in the perfect way as to be easy to bend to their will. They had their ingredients now, nothing he could say would be enough to persuade them into backing down. What a fucking headache.

His slim fingers reached into his pocket and slid a cigarette from the crushed cartridge. He scowled lightly, hoping none had gotten broken or misshapen in the fight earlier. Caelum placed the cigarette behind his ear, the thin white stick immediately becoming swallowed whole by his mass of curly hair. He needed a smoke--badly.

Up until this point, Caelum had been viewing this situation as something voluntary, a little bit of extra work he chose to put in to help out this poor group so that he could have a minute to himself without the overbearing pressure of enforcing the angelic contract. A vacation, you could say. With Antonio’s description of the spells, though, what lending a helping hand to a group of misfits had turned into was something--larger than him. He would have to contact The Order about this eventually. The thought brought a chill up his spine. He hadn’t been face to face with The Order in--decades, maybe even a century. It was a nauseating thought. But if he allowed a disturbance this large to occur in the underworld unchecked and unreported, he was in for much worse than just an uncomfortable meeting. The harsh, judgmental stares of archangels was something he was far too familiar with.

Caelum squeezed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose when a memory began to surface, a memory he had long since pushed down to the bottom of his consciousness and held tightly locked under layers and layers of denial and suppression. Normally he’d be able to block it out, but if it had gotten this far, there was nothing more he could do to stop it.
Loud, hateful jeers rained down upon him while he hung his head in shame, hair obscuring the self-hatred that filled his eyes. The cold presence of a hand gripped his shoulder. His ears stung with the sleek metallic unsheathing of an impossibly sharp blade, followed by nauseating pain. Caelum blinked, fingers shaking.

“I need some air,” He announced, standing up from his spot in Antonio’s living room without looking at any of the others. “And a smoke,” He mumbled mostly to himself as he moved across the crowded space with languid, clumsy strides. He was just barely able to conceal the heavy breaths that threatened to spill from his lips.

Caelum collapsed against the side of Antonio’s apartment building once making it outside, his body heavy against the rough brick. The scratchy texture pulled at the fabric of his clothes. With heaving breaths, the angel slid the cigarette from where he placed it behind his ear and began attempting to light the end. He fumbled with the flint on the lighter several times, low curses filtering out from his mouth in the process, before he managed to finally get the end to catch. He breathed in deep, melting against the wall with his head tilted upwards, gaze trained at the sky.

“You win again, you bastards,” He thought to himself, watching the thin haze of smoke stretch and grow thin as the air became clear.

Theodore’s eyes followed Caelum’s figure out of the room, caught off guard by his sudden declaration. He didn’t have time to process the angel's words let alone say anything in response besides ‘okay’. He placed the ice pack back on Mizuki’s arm with a gentle touch as if he was scared of increasing her pain in any way. “What if we don’t have time to build a case?” He asked, his leg beginning to bounce anxiously while his thoughts raced. “We have a goal that’s rather--time sensitive, I don’t know how long we could afford to spend fighting this out legally.”

 

[Razvi-sama]

Mizuki | Francis | Antonio

Location: Black Market - Antonio's Apartment​

She felt overwhelmed. Really, who wouldn't in this situation? They had just gotten into a brawl with a pair of demons and now they were in a Necromancer's apartment while he gave them a lecture about the many intricacies within his field of expertise. It was...fascinating, to say the least. Overwhelming, yes, but she assumed she felt that way due to the series of events they just experienced in a handful of hours. First Theodore's outburst, then the fortune teller's cryptic visions, then the fight, and now? But, sitting before Antonio...made her realize that all the stigma she had held towards Necromancers was completely wrong. Her first culture shock was when they barged into Poppy's home—with her pastel vision and blueberry muffins. And, while Antonio reeked of death...he was a bright young man who held a passion. His view on death must be a very beautiful one with how much care he put into his explanation, the brightness he held in his gaze. Mizuki wondered...what was her passion? Was it photography? Could she call that a passion? Or...was it...

Mizuki's fascinated gaze shifted from Antonio to Theodore, noting he had been looking at her. Oh! She gave the vampire a sheepish smile before she drifted her attention back over the Necromancer. A nervous gaze was cast towards Terra occasionally, and she could only imagine how hard this must be for her. She wanted to reach out to her, assure her everything would work itself out. But, how could she be so sure...when she hardly knew the fairy? Let alone this admirer of hers. She noticed that while Francis made sure to pay attention to the explanation they had looked all over the city for, he was also just as worried as she was for Terra. However, the word "fae" was like an unpleasant melody in this scenario. It felt misplaced. Mizuki and Francis turned to Antonio with the same confusion. It was Terra who actually voiced out how strange it seemed for him to mention such a term when they were talking about control, demons, and the Council.

"That's what it says", Antonio assured, "I have to read it under calmer circumstances, but there is a very large chunk missing in the document you found. It reads as if there was a continuation, but it stops at "fae". So, somehow...the Council seems to want to involve nature inclined supernaturals into their concoction. Whatever it may be. So, either we find the missing portion or you do some investigation", he stated, "I'm sorry, I wish I had more information than just a bunch of vague concepts mashed together. But, I promise to study this more. Maybe I'll find something else if I cross-reference with some other books I have stored in my morgue", he assured, "I'll get back to you".

Thankfully, Francis seemed to lighten the heavy atmosphere that had permeated the room. As nervous as he sounded, he still managed to laugh and in return...he managed to coax a bit of laughter out of Terra as well. That seemed to ease Mizuki's nerves, as she offered a kinder smile towards the duo. She sunk into the couch, supposing it was useless to worry over the spell. They simply had to come up with a plan to fight against it, lest their community be doomed. Mizuki sighed, looking down to Theodore's caring touch as he massaged the knots out of her forearms. She wondered silently what she had done before to rid herself of the discomfort. The disappearing scars that dragged over her skin gave her an idea. It wasn't something she had wanted Theodore to see, but she supposed it was inevitable at this point. Their lives were interlaced in a way she would have never imagined. Mizuki followed the movements of his thumb, itching to bandage her fingers.

Mizuki peeked up as Terra asked for Antonio's number, the Necromancer readily nodding for the fae and asking for her permission for him to simply input the phone number himself in her contact's list. It seemed the tensions had settled for now, the only disturbance to their general quietude was the sound of the digital keyboard 'tap-tapping' under Antonio's deft thumbs. She peeked over towards Caelum, wondering how he was. He was very quiet during the whole conversation, but she had assumed he was probably scrolling through some social feed or something. Probably couldn't be bothered to really pay attention. But, after focusing on him...she couldn't help but feel a heaviness coming from him. He seemed deep in thought, phone pocketed for the evening despite Antonio having given him his WiFi password. Was he still shaken from their fight with the demons? Was it hard for an angel to be around demons?

Mizuki continued to observe him, his thoughts seemingly becoming more complex as it visibly showed on his face and body language, how it weighed on his shoulders. He looked generally rather distressed. He closed his eyes, he was pinching the bridge of his nose as if he was trying to quiet whatever was in his head. Mizuki's brows puckered together in worry, motioning to stand up and gesture towards him, about to pull away from Theodore all together...when he suddenly was on his feet—announcing that he needed some air. Oh. Mizuki blinked back her surprise, staring wide-eyed at the angel as he excused himself. He looked at no one and said nothing else. In a flurry, he was gone.

Mizuki had the urge to rush after him, but decided against it. He seemed like he needed some time to himself, and it wasn't like she knew him well enough to check up on him. He probably could look at her oddly, tell her to get lost. Was the situation too much for him, in the end? She frowned as he closed the door behind him, thinking over what the psychic had said in his reading. His past still haunted him, after all. When she looked up, Theodore muttered out a weak 'okay' and Francis followed his gaze after the angel to acknowledge his departure. He then turned to Antonio, noticing the curious eyes that followed after Caelum. Antonio had questions, it seemed, but out of kindness he kept all of his curiosities to himself. Francis didn't think any of them had the energy to humor the Necromancer.

"If you need anything, let me know!", Antonio called out before he smiled down at the group and handed Terra back her phone. He looked to Theodore who was the first to speak up after Caelum's departure, his body laced with a rigid anxiety. Time sensitive? "Legally...", Antonio hummed out, rubbing his chin, "Then, do it illegally. Fuck it", he shrugged, seeing Mizuki's and Francis' eyes bulking out of their heads.

"If the Council is screwing around with Necromancy to get their way, then why don't you use underhanded tricks to get your way? Buy some time", Antonio insisted.

Francis blinked, not having...ever considered going against the Council's wishes. That would mean..."And...if we broke Samantha out? Posed as a group of rebels, as there are many factions who aren't really happy with the Council, right now. It wouldn't be too off-brand. They already branded Samantha a traitor, there really isn't much more she could do that would make things any worse for her", he insisted.

"...but, that involves...", Mizuki began to talk, though quickly paused...shaking her head and sighing, "Why don't we talk about this tomorrow evening? Circle back. We have done...a lot today and quite honestly? I don't have the mental fortitude to think about elaborate schemes. We've schemed enough", Mizuki insisted, earning a nod from Francis.

"That's true, yes. I should go back and check on Samantha, anyhow. I have work in the morning", Francis sighed, looking to Antonio who looked to the group with wide amusement, "I'm sorry we suddenly barged into your life like this, but we have been looking far and wide for a Necromancer who would assist us. Thank you for saving us, as well", he offered sincerely.

"Sure thing, don't mention it", Antonio assured, "Uh. Keep me updated, I guess, and I'll let you all know if I find anything else. Terra has my number, so...".

"We can add you to the group chat. If you're willing, I'm sure we'll need your expertise sooner or later, so if you want to stick around...I'm sure we would all really appreciate it", Mizuki offered kindly, earning a nod from Francis. They glanced towards their respective partner to see how they generally felt about involving the Necromancer in all of this, seeing as he already knew a little too much anyhow. But, again...they supposed that was a conversation for later. Right now? Mizuki wanted to lay down.

Antonio stood up, "No worries, we can pick this up later. You all look like you need a warm shower and some good sleep. I'll keep reading, in the meantime", he assured. It seemed like the cramps in Mizuki's arms had melted away and generally she seemed a lot more relieved. She stood up, sticking to Theodore's side while Francis stood beside Terra. Antonio kindly guided them out, assuring them they could come back anytime, and hoped their friend was doing okay. Mizuki nodded, hoping the same.

They stepped out of Antonio's apartment building, Mizuki moving around the front and following the smell of smoke to find Caelum...he really seemed to need that moment by himself, "Hey, we're heading out, but we might meet up tomorrow evening to discuss further what our next step would be...I think we all need the rest", she hummed, "Get home safely, thank you...for everything today", she offered sincerely, giving the angel a smile before she parted away and rushed back to join Francis and the rest.

"I'll walk Terra home, so you two go on ahead", Francis promised, earning a shy nod from Mizuki, "And, we'll see you later. Again, thank you", he turned to Antonio, offering the Necromancer and a smile and giving a tiny wave to Antonio's flying little fox. Enzo chirped out a mighty chirp, earning a giggle from Mizuki. She offered a kind goodnight to both Terra and Francis, insisting they both write to the group chat once they got home safely.

As the vampiress joined Theodore's side, she let out a heavy sigh...allowing the day's events to finally dawn on her, "Hey...", she started off, rubbing her hands together a little nervously, "...do you mind staying with me tonight?", she asked softly, looking up to the vampire a little bashfully. Cheeks red, "...after everything that happened tonight, I kind of don't want to be alone, but I don't want to go back to Lasombra tonight. I can take the couch", she promised, "Of course, i-if you have something more pertinent to attend to, don't mind me...only if you're free tonight", she hummed.

...meanwhile, Theodore's phone buzzed over and over again from calls coming from Katarina. And, messaging over and over again where he was.

 

[Pepsionne]

Theodore | Terra | Caelum
Location: The Black Market​

Theodore’s hand held a death grip on his knee the longer he listened to Antonio talk. Just, fuck it? Do it illegally? Even though they had attempted something much more illegal just a week earlier with that shady Sorcerer Cassius, the thought of doing something that was illegal on this scale made him feel dizzy. He gave a solemn nod in understanding to Antonio. He could only imagine what the man had gone through, being actively hunted by vampires and ostracized by what was supposed to be his own kind, witches. Theodore was sure the man would want to gut punch either organization in any way he could, even if it was someone else delivering the blow.

His gaze whipped over to Francis when he uttered the three words that had been bouncing around Theodore’s brain for days on end. Break Samantha out. His misty blue gaze turned dark, hungry at the opportunity to push this more drastic course his most desperate voices had been screaming for.

“We could leave New York,” Theodore rushed to add to Francis’ loose venture of the theoretical situation. “Cut ties, leave without a trace and always stay moving. I’ve done it before--when I turned the first time, I can do it again.” At this point, the death grip he had on his knee had turned his knuckles white, veins popping out from the pressure. His emotions had sharpened his fangs, the sharp white tips glinting in the soft light of Antonio’s apartment while he offered solutions to bolster the idea.

Mizuki’s voice beside him snapped Theodore back from his radical thinking, pushing him back from the ledge he was so eager to jump head first from. She was right--they had to think about this. If it was entirely up to him, if his skin was the only thing on the line, he would have no problem acting on his own whim. But his future was not the only one at stake here, Mizuki’s iced arms were a very clear reminder of that. Theodore loosened his muscles and sat back into the couch. He ran a hand through his hair messily, relieving any leftover frustration.

Terra nodded weakly, her eyes wide as she took everything in. They were talking much bigger than she had anticipated. Pose as rebels? Take off from New York forever? The gravity of the situation had begun to cement in her stomach and roll over, closing her throat from nausea. She could sense the frustration and anxiety suddenly wafting off of Theodore like an electric current. As he talked, she could see just how sharp the tips of his fangs were, something that elicited a jolt of unsettling fear to slide all the way down her body into the bottom of her feet. All she wanted out of this was to save Cecil and part ways, she didn’t sign up to save the world or rebel against it. What would Caelum even say about all this defection talk? Would the angels even allow for such a disruption?

The soft sound of a huff of air brought Terra back to the living room, back to their situation. Francis beside her had let out a long sigh. He looked--tired. Maybe not physically but emotionally and mentally she had no doubt.

Theodore sat upright when he heard Francis mention visiting Samantha. He wanted to see her, more than anything in his life right now, but he knew that if Francis and him were spotted together, it would put a swift end to the progress they had made thus far. He bit down on his lip, resisting the urge to ask about her any further. It would only cause him more pain in the end, anyways.

Terra offered a short, quick nod to Francis. “Of course, you’re welcome to our group chat. I would love to hear any findings you stumble across about the spells we’ve showed you. I have the closest ties to sorcerers at the moment, so if you have any questions, I’m your girl.” She smiled lightly, the action lighting up her features into a bubbly glow.

Theodore nodded as well, “You saved our lives, you’re more than welcome into our group chat. Uh--I’m sure Caelum won’t mind either, he just sends us shit posts in it anyways.” He shrugged, wondering if the angel was doing okay outside. He had noticed his behavior had shifted from its usual emptiness before he had left the room. Had something bothered him? It was hard for Theodore to tell.

He stood after Antonio, nodding appreciatively as he promised to continue researching the spells they had taken photos of. The cool air of the night felt like a cold reminder of their reality after being enveloped in the warmth and spices that filled Antonio’s apartment. Theodore was glad to be away from the spine chilling feeling of death that slipped through the cracks, though. He looked down towards the end of the apartment building to see Caelum’s figure slumped down on the floor, his arms resting on his knees and his head hanging. A dying cigarette spit out its last snake tails of smoke into the air in his hand, the ashed end having grown more than usual for someone actively smoking. Theodore wondered how long the angel had been sitting there like that. Whatever had happened to him must have really messed him up.

Caelum glanced up, shocked back from the empty void of thought he had been staring into at the gentle sound of Mizuki’s voice calling out to him from a small distance. He peered up at her, noting the group had all migrated outside. So they’re splitting up for the night. It had been a long day, he didn’t mind calling it quits right about now. They found their necromancer--they didn’t need anything further today.

The angel lifted up one hand languidly. “See ya around,” He gestured in a half assed wave before extending to his feet. He flicked the cigarette butt onto the floor and snuffed it out with his foot before shoving his hands into his pockets and slinking away into the shadows with a lethargic stride.

Terra watched Caelum’s back disappear into the shadows of the black market. She couldn’t help but feel a small pang hit her chest after they had come out to find him like that. He looked--sad, pained in some sort of way. She hadn’t liked him that much at first meeting, he seemed cocky and narcissistic. Now--she wasn’t so sure. Maybe his lack of effort had nothing to do with his ego. Maybe he was running from something. Shutting the valve off at the source to avoid dealing with whatever leaked out of the unhealed wound he had suffered from in the past. She remembered Naomi’s words in the reading earlier, that the past still haunted him. What could have possibly been so bad as to scar an angel? Goosebumps broke out across her arms at the thought. She didn’t want to know.

Terra smiled warmly to Francis. “I would love that actually, thank you. It’s been quite a night and I’ve never been this deep in the black market on my own.” She waved to the others behind her, her soft features warm as she regarded them. “Thank you again for protecting us--all of you. Get home safe and get some much needed rest. We’ll figure everything out as we go.”

“Ready?” she asked, turning to Francis. The thought of taking a warm shower and surrounding herself with pillows on her bed sounded heavenly at the moment. With Francis by her side, too, the walk to get there seemed less daunting than if she had gone on her own. There was a small pinprick of fear at the base of her neck though, the intruding thought of being alone with a vampire. No matter how hard she tried to fight it, there was no escaping innate and natural instinct. Trusting a vampire with their life never worked well for fairies, let alone doing it so deep in the black market. Terra shoved the thought from her mind after several paces.

“So what do you think?” Terra asked, clasping her hands behind her back as she walked. “About everything that happened today. We’ve been through quite a lot, no?”

Theodore watched Terra and Francis’ figures shrink smaller and smaller until the shadows of the market swallowed them fully. It was a bit relieving, after spending all day in a group to watch it slowly break up and grow into smaller, more comfortable pairings. He couldn’t say everything he thought with everyone around. He couldn’t be as vulnerable as he felt he could with Mizuki. Theodore still hadn’t figured quite why that was. There was something calming about her--it just felt right, being by her side. It was how he felt around Samantha. Which is why what she said next shocked him into a brief silence.

Theodore stared at Mizuki, pleasantly surprised at her request to stay the night with him. He broke out into a smile, waves of relief washing over him. “I would love to, actually. It’s been such a hectic day I really need to decompress with someone who knows exactly what I’ve been through. Not to mention, I can help you heal your arm further if you need,” He paused, his gaze travelling down to her fingers. “And I can help you rebandage your fingers--if you’d like.” Theodore looked away, flustered suddenly. Why was he offering to help her so much? She wasn’t a child, surely she was more than capable of wrapping her own bandages. Every time he had seen her in the past they were wrapped impeccably. “If--that’s okay with you, I don’t have to if you think you’ve got it covered.” Theodore rubbed the back of his neck in mild frustration, turning his gaze up to the air above them as they walked. “I don’t have anything dire, don’t worry. Layla’s holding down the fort at the Vieru and--” His brow furrowed at the feeling of his phone vibrating suddenly in his pocket, the device overrun by a series of notifications all at once. Theodore reached down to grab the sleek black device, its face igniting into a white blue glow. He stared down at the phone with a scrutinizing expression, eyes flicking back and forth as he read clips of messages that continued to pop up over and over on his phone. It was Kat. Theodore let out a deep sigh. God did she have bad timing. She was always pulling dramatic stunts like this in an effort to get his attention when he wouldn’t answer within five seconds. With a few swift taps of his thumb Theodore switched his phone to do not disturb and pocketed it once more.

“What’s wrong with the Lasombra, anyways?” He asked nonchalantly, trying to lighten the mood as they made their way through the shadowed alleys, back towards the more populated area of the black market. He could already hear the ambient sounds of the crowd wafting high in the air. “Too stuffy to relax tonight?”

 

[Razvi-sama]

Mizuki | Francis | Antonio

Location: Black Market​

We could leave New York. Theodore's words still echoed in the back of her mind, and it wasn't lost on her how incredible tense Theodore had become at the mere mention of doing something illegal. His anxiety and general frustration edged along the side of his body. It was hard not to notice. Breaking...Samantha out. Now, that was an idea, huh? But, before they regretted doing or saying anything that might compromise them further than they already were...it was best to sleep on it. The seed had absolutely been planted, and Mizuki couldn't help but...yearn to leave. The situation with the Lasombra had become so incredibly sticky. She couldn't confide in those she was supposed to call family. And, Maximus...well, he was watching her every move. Charlotte made sure of it. She was even afraid to approach Gabriella over the matter.

Mizuki had certainly tried. But, her resolve would falter and she would distance herself from the one person she could call a friend. Well, at this point, Gabriella was her first friend. Now, she had more friends she could count on her fingers. What a strange experience. Despite the hardships and the stress...well, she had the opportunity to meet such fascinating creatures. The most fascinating one was Caelum, of course. It made her sad to watch him part, sad that there wasn't more that she could do for him, because...well...who was she to do so? The best she could do for him was announce that they would be each going to separate way for now. He offered a soft "see ya around" before he turned and disappeared. It wasn't hard to see that there was something weighing on his mind ever since they left the fortune teller's shop and Mizuki wished something more than to do more for the angel. Maybe next time she sees him, she'll sit him aside and ask if he was okay. Reaching out and communication was always important, stranger or not.

Mizuki sighed, as she walked with Theodore in relative silence for a bit—collect her thoughts. Cutting ties did sound nice, though. Maybe one day she would find her way back to Gabriella, convince her to escape with her. But, Gabriella was beloved within the Lasombra. Enchanting, perfect Gabriella. Ah, Mizuki was deeply in love with her. In a...very platonic sense, but still. She knew that Maximus wouldn't put his grubby little hands on her. There was too many eyes over her, both mortal and immortal. Not her, though...if she were to disappear she doubted anyone would utter a peep. There was something both lonesome and liberating about that thought. Though, she was curious about one thing. Who did...Theodore cut ties with? His family? And, why was he on the move? She had assumed Samantha adopted him early into his Turning. Ah, these were the moments she was reminded of the fact that she hardly knew anything about the vampire. Now, that was a lonely thought. Thankfully, despite his desperation...he listened to her and had silently agreed that they better continue this discussion another day. She promised they would talk about this, she was determined to figure something out because she knew that he wanted nothing more than to save Samantha. Also, it seemed that Terra was naturally a little wary about the idea of running away. Which was understandable, considering they might be asking her to leave her home—...would she even agree?

Mizuki shook her head, reminding herself that right now was not the time to be thinking about such things. They would sleep on it and come to a conclusion, together, as a group. It was exciting to see that they included Antonio into this little group of theirs. Her phone chimed with the reminder that he had been added to their little text thread. At the mention of Sorcerers and shit posting from Caelum, the Necromancer seemed to light up...happy to have someone welcome him to their little rebellion. He had a fire to his gaze that Mizuki seemed fascinated by, knowing he would be a great addition to their cause despite her...reservations. Ones she prayed would dissipate the more she learned about this man. Hoping to prove Maximus and the Council wrong about his kind.

Mizuki continued forward, processing how she was feeling and in the end? She came to the conclusion that she didn't want to be alone, and she certainly didn't want to go to the Lasombra. It was just her and Theodore, once more. Just like in the beginning, it was just them against the world. Terra was being accompanied home by Francis, a notion that made Mizuki very happy. She didn't want the fairy to walk alone in such a seedy neighborhood. Though, she now wondered what she could do for herself. How could she fix this need for company? The vampiress peeked over to her side, looking to Theodore and...gathering the courage to ask him if he could spend the night. She quickly assured him it was because she would enjoy the company more than anything, and that she could sleep on the couch if that would make him feel more comfortable.

Thankfully for her? Theodore smiled and Mizuki returned it with ease, "Really?", she asked delicately as he assured her that he would love to spend the night. She nodded along as he admitted that he felt the need to decompress. She understood, today had been...a lot. Oh, she couldn't wait to get home to take a nice hot shower and into comfortable pajamas! Maybe tomorrow she could make him banana pancakes with a steaming cup of blood-coffee. The very thought made her mouth water. He assured her that this way, he could no help her heal her arms further...her eyes falling down to the subject at hand. She awkwardly rubbed at her forearms, a reminder that her hands were bare. No bandages, no band-aids. It was the last thing she wanted Theodore to see, but she supposed that was better than allowed a demon to drag him away and sell him off in part. That thought made her shudder.

But, she had to admit that...after lifting up her gaze to meet his own and upon further inspection...she didn't see disgust or discomfort. She found kindness and warmth in his gaze. Going as far as to offer to re-bandage her fingers as well as to nurse her sore arms. Mizuki knew she might need to explain a few things. Why her Gift caused her so much pain—? What it was to begin with...? Why her fingers were littered with deep scars...? But, not now...and he didn't ask her. He was simply a concerned friend and she was happy to let him be one, "That...if you don't mind, I would really like your help", she admitted, her hands finding her fingers and fiddling with them, "Seeing how sore my arms are right now, I rather keep my movements to a minimal for the evening. Your assistance is much appreciate, thank you", she said gratefully, offering a cheerful smile for the vampire.

However, Theodore was soon pouting for whatever reason and Mizuki's smile never left her. If anything, it became more amused than anything else. Why was he pouting? What was he thinking about? She did assure him that if he was busy with something else, he shouldn't feel obligated to...He assured her he didn't have anything holding him back, but seemed to pause when he pulled his phone out. She paused along with him, hoping it wasn't bad news...He sighed, seemingly a little overwhelmed. She was about to tell him she could give him some space if he needed to make a call, but he simply pocketed his phone and continued on with the conversation.

Oh! Okay. Mizuki stuffed down her own curiosity for the moment, especially as he asked about...Lasombra. As they now reached the heavy crowds of the Black Market, Mizuki stepped closer to Theodore's side...her small hand finding the hem of his shirt to ensure she wouldn't lose him, "A little", she sighed, "Maximus has been keeping tabs on me and it's becoming a little much, plus, I feel so distant from everyone in that house...talking about things that don't matter. Moving on with their lives as if we hadn't just wrongfully imprisoned Samantha. I just...don't feel at home and I'm paranoid enough as it is, I can't have another sleepless night", she stated. She was still worried about that cryptic message she had found in her sketch book the other day. "The fortune teller said there are "three forces out to get me". I don't feel safe on my own, but at least with you...I know I'll feel better. Plus, you...you really stepped up in that fight, by the way. The way you threw yourself against that demon, I really appreciate it. I think you saved my life", she murmured softly, her tone appreciative.

As they reached the exit, Mizuki smiled for Theodore in a silent reminder she was here for him as they went up that stuffy tunnel, "What about you? You seemed concerned when you looked at your phone", she hummed, remembering how it buzzed non-stop for a good while, "Seemed like someone was trying to get your attention. Layla? A...partner, maybe?", she added a little casually, looking up ahead with a pink hue dusted over her cheeks.


As they separated from the group, watching Antonio pad back towards his apartment building and Caelum slinked away into...what Francis could best describe as the shadows. He sighed, wondering what they were going to do with him. He assured Mizuki and Theodore he would look after Terra and walk her back home, an idea that seemed to relax Mizuki. The vampiress offered Terra a kind goodbye and a bow of her head as Terra sweetly thanked them before they all parted ways. Francis waved to Theodore and watched the two walk off, before he turned to Terra and offered her his arm to hold. Like a proper gentleman.

"Oh, so there are areas of the Black Market even you haven't visited", Francis smiled, "Well, I'm happy to do this.", he promised, winking for her. "Ready", he offered as they went on their way. He made sure to keep the fae close as they made their way down the intricate alleyways that made up the Black Market. As they passed by each corner, Francis made sure to peek around it as a precaution, as many robberies or assaults happen when the assaulter purposefully hides behind a corner, using your blindside against you. They normally jumped from behind and that was the last thing they needed, at the moment. They could fight delinquents tomorrow. Right now? Francis could go for a glass of wine, a hot bath, and sleep.

Unaware of Terra's natural and instinctual concern, Francis smiled down for the fairy as she asked him what he thought about their day, "Well", he laughed, "It was certainly an experience, but in the end? I like to believe everything happens for a reason. We learned a little bit about each other today, and I will always think that's a pro considering that we might be working together for a very long time. I also hope this served as a lesson for all of us...as I think we used our own stigmas against Necromancers to hurt some very innocent people. I know I feel pretty shitty...Antonio seemed nice, though. His familiar is very cute, as well. Kind of ironic that it's a bat, huh?", he grinned, winking for her, "It's been a long day, though...and no matter how much of a night creature I am and how much I love my moon...I cannot wait to sink into my bed right now. Sadly, I have a tiny stop to make, but...eh, duty calls", he shrugged.

Some pretty large orcs were coming their way and the alleyway wasn't big enough for all four of them. Francis quickly scurried to the edge to give them some space, curling an arm around Terra's waist to pull her flush against his side and stumbling as the two were shirked off further into a wall. The orcs grumbled a pathetic "excuse me", and a soft huff leaving Francis before he let the fairy go, "Sorry, didn't mean to grab you, mon cher", he promise, letting her go. Her frame was so small...

"...w-what about you?", Francis quickly cleared his throat, ensuring to keep his distance and hands to himself, "What did you think of today? You seemed...really sad at the fortune tellers", he admitted, "I know we hardly know each other, but if you ever want to talk...I'm sure any of us are happy to listen—well, can't speak for Caelum, but you know what I mean", he laughed.

 

[Pepsionne]

Theodore | Terra
Location: Black Market​

Theodore smiled broadly in response to Mizuki’s eagerness in allowing him to help. He wasn’t overstepping any boundaries, poking his nose where it didn’t belong. His help was welcome. It was the least he could do after everything she had done for him thus far. Would he have even been able to make it this far if it weren’t for her help? He doubted it. If it weren’t for the lucky run in at the café, at this point, Theodore would be rotting in a cell right alongside Samantha.

His face hardened when Mizuki mentioned Maximus. So he was keeping tabs on all his members now? That seemed a little gratuitous, but then again Maximus always struck him as a controlling man. The moment he had been introduced to the Lasombra, an eerie feeling had rose the hairs on the back of his neck. There was something about Maximus, something about Charlotte, that felt like it was missing. Something, off. Theodore never had any idea how Mizuki was ever able to settle in and call it home. Had she felt it too? The nauseating energy that emanated from the clan’s head duo? He glanced over at her, taking in her features as she continued to explain her sleepless nights spent worrying at home. He still wasn’t that clued into her past. Maybe her role in the Lasombra wasn’t even her choice?

Theodore blinked, flustered at her praise for his efforts during the fight. He tore his gaze down to his feet, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “Yeesh, I appreciate the gesture but I don’t really think I could call that my most valiant hour. I uh--flopped around a bit too much for my taste. But--” A soft smile slid onto his face, his gaze still trained towards the ground. “If it was enough to save your life, I’d gladly flounder around desperately with a bunch of crows again.”

The ambient sounds of the bustling black market square was now enveloping them in full force. The walk had somehow felt longer on the way there, the shadows of the market’s hidden alleys seemingly stretched for miles. Did danger really lurk that closely to the heart of the market? How could Terra stand to live here?

He took in a deep breath once they approached the exit of the market. God, he hated this part. Theodore shuffled up the stairs behind Mizuki, trying to pay mind to the feel of her presence in front of him rather than the unbearable tight panic that exploded across his chest. The feeling of being so closed in, of being crushed underneath all that weight, it was unbearable. As much as Theodore tried to circulate his thoughts to anything other than the suffocating narrowness of their surroundings, the more those thoughts pulled back to his discomfort. By the time Mizuki reached the top of the staircase, Theodore’s lungs felt like they would explode. One hand rested against the side of the tunneled walkway, pushing against the stone in a panicked attempt to alleviate the rising fear within him. He gulped the cool fall air generously once ducking to follow Mizuki out of the open door. He cleared his throat, looking over to Mizuki as she asked him a question. Her gaze was set in front of them, looking out at the shadowed park in the distance. The glittering lights of the city sat on the horizon, illuminating the deep navy of the sky into a lighter, dustier shade.

His brow furrowed at the reminder of his phone, thoughts of Kat’s desperation souring his mood. “God--I wish it was Layla. It’s an old friend--they need something from me I guess and it’s not really a good time. I don’t feel like dealing with them,” He shrugged, gesturing for them to begin walking again. “Why don’t we pick up something to drink on the way back to your place?” Theodore suggested, raising his brows playfully. “I think after everything we’ve been through today, the least we’ve earned is a drink, wouldn’t you say?”

---

Terra couldn’t help but smirk at Francis’ coy response to her anxiety being this far into the market. She nodded to his summation of their day, offering little hms in acknowledgement to parts she agreed with. “I’ve only heard what I know about Necromancers through my ties with Sorcerers,” She admitted. “I didn’t have a strong impression of them, they aren’t very common in the black market, well for obvious reasons.” Terra smiled to herself, tucking a loose curl behind her ear as she thought back on the Necromancers they had run into during the day. “Honestly, I’m kind of glad the Necromancers I met today were the first time I’ve had a real impression of one. They were both--really kind,” She smiled at Francis, looking in his expression to see if the vampire was in agreement.

She sighed dramatically when he mentioned sinking into bed after the day they’d had. “Honestly, I’m going to do the same. Adrenaline and fear really are energy suckers, aren’t they? I don’t even remember the last time I was this exhausted,” Terra looked at Francis sideways, her eyes studying his face when he mentioned another stop that awaited him. He had been rather cryptic about his duties since the beginning of their acquaintance, and they really haven’t known each other as long as it felt. Maybe extreme circumstance had a way of drawing people in close and deluding them into thinking they knew more about each other than they ever did, or--will. Terra was reminded of Francis’ entrance into their group. Coming in the other end of the Sorcerer’s bar, covered in wine and towing a chaotic energy behind him. He never actually explained what business he had down in the black market did he? Terra softened her eyes into their normal friendly gleam once she cast the scrutinous train of thought from her mind. She would find out what he opted to share soon enough, now was not the time to pry.

Terra’s attention was drawn to the sound of large, shuffling bodies aiming a trajectory that cut right through their path. She instinctively hitched her shoulders up in an attempt to make her frame smaller, a habit of working at the bar and squeezing through customers and coworkers on a busy shift. She let out a soft gasp, much to her chagrin, at the soft pressure of Francis’ arm curling around her waist and tucking her into his side to make room. The orcs grumbled their “excuse mes” with a lazy nod of their heads. Francis’ face looked less than pleased at their inability to even attempt to share the path. Terra cleared her throat once Francis let go, waving her hand dismissively at his apology. She let out a laugh to play it off as no big deal, the sound coming out more strained than she anticipated. Terra grimaced inwardly. “It’s alright, I’m used to getting pushed around in the market all the time. That’s why I usually fly when I get the chance,” She said with a playful wink. Terra swallowed, hoping to regain some of her composure as they neared the center of the black market. Why did Francis always seem to catch her off guard like this?

They continued walking towards the sounds of life that crawled down the alleyway, the patrons around them becoming livelier the longer they walked. Terra bit her lip at Francis’ question towards her. Right--the fortune teller. She was trying not to think of that. She giggled lightly at his mention of the aloof Caelum. “Oh-uhm. Right. It was just--news I didn’t want to hear, I guess,” She admitted, averting her gaze from him. “It’s something I just wasn’t expecting to hear. Something I never expected to hear, actually. It just kind of caught me off guard.” Terra clasped her hands in front of her while she chewed her lip absently. “It’s one of those things that you’d never think you’d hear, but once you hear it, it feels familiar. Like--too familiar. It’s something I’ve been worried about before, some kind of feeling that had never taken a physical shape yet--and once Naomi gave my reading, it suddenly all fell into place I guess. That’s why I was so sad,” Terra looked to Francis, her soft brows furrowed into harsh lines. “Do you know what I mean?”

 

[Razvi-sama]

Mizuki | Francis

Location: New York - Mizuki's Apartment | Black Market - Terra's Apartment ​

"They really were kind", Francis mused softly, looking straight ahead with his hands in his pockets. He's...met with many Necromancers, but it had mostly been under more dire circumstances that he never had the chance to really speak to them. Today, he spoke to one and they had more life in them than the whole Council combined.

The talk of beds and showers made him yawn. The thought that he had one last stop before going home exhausted him. Francis would make sure Samantha knew that she was exhausting him, a playful little quip he hoped would get her to smile. He nodded along as Terra mentioned that adrenaline and fear were "energy suckers". It was as if the day would never end. But, he did suppose...that being able to walk calmly alongside Terra was a nice little treat. It was quiet, her voice soothing. There was no danger lurking around the corner, and they weren't exhaustingly looking for some elusive creature. Just...accompanying a sweet lady home.

Due to his own exhaustion, though...naturally he was a little irritable. And, his irritability was directed towards the shuffling masses that were headed their way. Francis instinctively curled his arm around Terra, pulling her flush against his side as the two practically were forced against a wall. The ogres did nothing to accommodate for their size, and that made Francis scoff underneath his breath. At least they had the decency to say "excuse me". Then again, we shouldn't be celebrating the bare-minimum. He took in a soft breath as if to keep himself from further spiraling, especially when a sweet little scent caught his attention...he was still holding onto the fae. He let her go, but it didn't seem like he was in that much of a rush to let go in the first place. If it were up to him, he would have kept that arm there...He apologized, as it was the well-mannered thing to do. No man, or anybody really, should be laying their hands on someone else without their permission. She laughed it off, though...a laugh that came out a little broken, a little straight. His brows rose in slight interest. Oh? Had he somehow gotten through her cool exterior?

This made Francis grin roguishly for the fairy, his fangs glimmering under the warm and dim light of the Black Market, "You shouldn't get used to that", he practically cooed for her, "I'm sorry if you think that's something you should be used to...but flying does seem to be a more convenient mode of transportation. I wish the humans had got it right and that we did indeed have those leathery bat wings. Now, wouldn't that be a treat?", he chortled, continuing down their stroll through the abandoned alleyways, "I'm...sorry if I'm holding you back. Stuck down here on the ground with lil ol' me when you could have been soaring in the skies", he sighed, his head tilted back as he wondered what it felt like to not drag his tired feet across the uneven cobblestone, "At this point, it feels like you're accompanying me", he teased. Oh, but she hadn't regained her composure. That was a laugh Francis was going to slot in the back of his head for a very long time.

They escaped the lonesome alleyways only to find themselves walking along busier streets. He looked ahead, hands in his pockets once more, asking her what she had thought of the fortune teller. Terra took a moment to think over her answer. Her giggle was a sweet as a silver bell. "I see", he hummed. A vague answer, he could respect that. It’s one of those things that you’d never think you’d hear, but once you hear it, it feels familiar. What a beautifully complicated thought. "An inevitable truth you've been denying. I can understand that feeling", he assured her, finally turning to look at her. His expression had softened where hers had hardened, "Well, the thing about time and the future...is that it's always ever changing. Even fortune tellers are aware that their fortunes aren't accurate due to the simple fact that our actions mold our futures. So, chin up, mon petit...and if there is anything we can do to help you, just call. I'm always on call, day...or night", he winked, at this point simply teasing her in the hopes that it would soften those harsh lines of hers.

It wasn't long before they arrived to the small apartment complex Francis remembered kindly. She had a lovely home. Very her. He paused in front of the doorway, opening and holding the door open for her, "Well, here you are. Delivered safe and sound, as promised. Walking with you...lifted my spirits up, Terra. It was the exact thing I needed to destress after the day we had, so thank you for letting me accompany you". He brushed his knuckles against her hand in silent permission to touch her, delicately surrounding his hand around hers and bringing her knuckles up to his lips. Just a soft kiss of parting, "Enjoy the rest of your evening, Terra".

~​

If it was enough to save your life, I’d gladly flounder around desperately with a bunch of crows again.

That was enough to make Mizuki's knees grow a little weak, she even tripped over an uneven terrain. How embarrassing. Her praise had been genuine, though. Her sentiment of gratitude held weight and sincerity. She didn't see a man who flopped and tussled about. She saw her savior and a loyal companion. No one had ever...thrown themselves in front of a gun for her. Not that...she had really found herself in that position before to begin with, but still...She could count on one hand—nay...on one finger—the people she believed would perform such a heroic act for her. And, now? She had two fingers.

Theodore did make an excellent observation. The crows. Where had they come from? Why did they aid Theodore in his valiant effort to bring down the demon? Many had gotten injured, she felt bad. She seemed lost in her thoughts as they walked through the Market's center square, the vendors calling out their hottest deals and the patrons haggling down the price. It was chaos, but she found it charming despite the darkness that creeped along the edges. She shuffled closer to Theodore's side, afraid she'd get lost within the hustle and bustle of the Black Market.

When they arrived to the Market's one and only exist, Mizuki paused before the narrow tunnel, looking to Theodore who only seemed to stiffen at the very sight of it. He didn't seem to eager to take the first step, so she took it for him. She didn't rush him and she was patient. The only sound that echoed through the hallow tunnel was the shuffling scoff of their feet against the cobblestone and Theodore's heavy breath. It took them three minutes to arrive to the top. Mizuki eagerly pushed against the heavy wooden door that had initially led them down to this dangerous adventure in the first place, and a cool crisp breeze brushed right through them. Mizuki took a deep breath, looking back to Theodore and encouraging him to do the same. Once they had taken a moment for him to compose himself, she asked him...if he had anywhere else to be tonight. If he was sure. Maybe Layla, one of his...partners. She couldn't ask him such a prying question with a straight face. Her warm cheeks would give her away. So, she set her gaze off to the horizon. The city looked like a handful of fallen stars against the dark background of the coming night. Dusk didn't seem like it was quite ready for the curtain to close.

Theodore joined her side as the two looked off to the horizon together. His cologne enveloped her. Mizuki hummed as he confirmed it wasn't Layla who was so desperately trying to get his attention. An old friend, he called them. He didn't seem worried, though. Whatever "favor" this person wanted could wait. She couldn't help but wonder if this person was in trouble, though...Maybe it was the selfish part of her, but she silently hoped she had never gotten on Theodore's bad side...for him to one day look at her "caller I.D." and think 'I don’t feel like dealing with them'. Mizuki nodded, as that was all she could do, really. He started to walk and she followed along, ready to go home. At his next question, a playful little smile made its way to her lips as he asked if they should get something to drink, seeing the playful wiggle of his brows which made her laugh effortlessly. She nodded, "We have earned a bottle or two, my friend", she snickered, "How much do you like white wine?", she asked with a grin.

It was a night Mizuki would remember fondly, despite how much poison was about to enter her heart the following morning. They had easily gotten a cab, making a stop to a grimy little liquor store with poor florescent lighting where they had bought two bottles of wine. They picked up some bagged popcorn before they shuffled their way back out to the cab.

The cab ride was fairly quiet, Mizuki taking a moment to just sit with herself, process the day's events. She sat a little closer to Theodore compared to other evenings they had shared a cab. With each shake from the cab, their shoulders would bump against one another. She was content with the minimal contact, a reassurance that she wasn't alone. She hugged her bag over her lap as her gaze was cast sideways out the window. The artifical glow from the street lamps ghosting over her features. Her eyes bright from the city lights.

They split the cab fare, stepping out of the vehicle. Mizuki nearly deflated from the sight of her apartment complex, the tension built up from the day finally leaving her. She looked more of a used rag-doll than anything else. She looked back to Theodore, waiting for him to join her side before walking towards the front entrance, greeting the doorman and receptionist on the way in with a single nod and a smile.

As they stepped into the elevator, Mizuki stretched out her body with her arms above her head. A small yawn leaving her, her back cracking in the process. She began taking off her coat and her bag, leaving her only in the turtle neck she practically was swimming in and her slacks. She guided Theodore out of the elevator, making her way down the length and lonesome hallway before pausing in front of her apartment. Home sweet home.

After unlocked and stepping into the apartment, ensuring to give space to Theodore to pad his way through, Mizuki closed and locked the apartment behind her, finally letting out a breath she had been holding onto. Her muscles relaxed, and she took in the familiar smell of her apartment, her space...her. And, now? Theodore's scent mingled perfectly with hers.

A little sheepish that they found themselves alone, in an intimate space, Mizuki ducked her head and practically pushed herself off of the door, slinking further inside. She pulled out another pair of pajamas for Theodore from the box of donations she had hidden in her closet. She found a shirt with a hole and apologized, insisting it was probably the only shirt she had in his size. She gave him sweats and sent him off towards the shower, telling him there were clean towels in the bathroom Both were covered from head to toe in dust, grime, sweat, and dried blood. And, no one was going on her bed so dirty. She took the opportunity to put her bags away, her camera—making sure it wasn't scratched or broken during the fight, and her shoes. She changed the sheets, added a cover over her couch for herself. Checked to see if they had ingredients for breakfast tomorrow. Basically getting the apartment ready for the impromptu sleepover.

Once she felt like everything was in her place and she slid out pajama set for herself, Mizuki waited for Theodore to exit the bathroom, leaving behind a steaming mess. She instructed him as to where the wine glasses were before she slid in, locked the door behind her, and relaxed under the warm spray of the shower. Knowing she had a trusted friend outside her door made her feel safe enough to close her eyes. She came out with a towel around her shoulder, shoulder length hair dripping wet and feeling much better now that the warm water doing well for the sore tendons in her forearm.

Mizuki smiled for Theodore while she ruffled her hair dry with one hand, carrying a small medical kit in the other. They gathered their glasses, bag of popcorn, and bottles of wine before collapsing on her bed. She had cracked a window open before sitting next to Theodore to feel the cool autumn breeze before she served him and herself a glass of wine. With that, she clinked her glass of wine with his and then downed her drink in the blink of an eye...already pouring herself a second glass. She grinned a little playfully at Theodore, winking to him as if saying: "try to keep up, pretty boy". But, with her second glass, she slowed down. She had simply wanted to get a bit of a buzz on after the day they had.

Mizuki had assumed the evening would have been short, maybe even a little awkward. Instead, it was like sharing a night with an old friend. He helped her with her bandages, which meant he was able to see the scarring under a brighter light. Clearly made her feel some type of way as she kept looking up at him as if he was about to declare her a leper. But, he hadn't...and she was sure he wouldn't. If asked, she simply shook her head, said it was a story for another day. The bandages were wrapped around her fingers and hands tightly, just like she liked it. She felt as if she could finally let loose.

They talked. Until three in the morning. Mizuki hadn't felt this excited to share a conversation with someone since...well, Gabriela. They munched on bagged popcorn, topped each other's glasses with wine until she had a nice little red hue on her cheeks. She giggled a lot more easily, her words a little slurred. She wasn't entirely...drunk, but she had certainly hit that sweet little spot. She felt light, she felt warm...and everything was so goddamn funny and he was so goddamn beautiful.

They spoke of everything but the politics of the controversy they found themselves in. No more conspiracy theories, and no more Maximus. Fucking Maximus, she had muttered under her breath and into her cup, a little snort leaving her as if the word "fucking" was the most humorous word to exist in that moment. But, no...they hardly talked about the complications that littered their life. Instead, they talked about the arts, their favorite broadway show. She asked him what was his favorite column that he had worked on, and she spoke about her favorite photographer. Favorite hole in the wall, tea or coffee? Favorite color! Hers was brown. She asked if he remembered that time they had found one another in a ballet show, how she clapped in an inappropriate moment. Oh, she was mortified...she smiled as if it was a fond memory.

Mizuki rested her head back against the headboard, one arm draped across her abdomen, her other holding up her drink lazily as she tried to think what was her favorite book. They were down one bottle and a half, no more popcorn. Had to be between Wicked or The Kite Runner—Ow!

Mizuki winced. Ah, for a moment there, she forgot she was a creature of the night. Little habit of hers, playing with her lip with her fang. She accidentally nicked herself. A bead of blood began to draw itself out at the bottom left corner of her lip. She let out a weak "shoot" before she sat her glass of wine aside and excused herself as she fumbled to reach over Theodore and the box of tissues beside him, a true harrowing conquest...only for her to stumble and slip a little. She caught herself by grabbing onto his shoulder, bringing them surprisingly a little close...too close. The bead of blood broke and a red line began to dribble down her chin. She couldn't focus on that right now, though. She was too foggy to focus on multiple things at the same time, because right now...all she could think about was how striking his eyes were. And, how to keep her balance.

Until, she remembered she was practically all over him. How mortifying! Mizuki motioned to move away, a muttered 'sorry' escaping her until she felt a hand on her cheek...and a thumb wiping across the crimson streak that contrasted sharply against her alabaster skin. His touch was gentle and cool, she couldn't help but lean into it. One hand on his shoulder, another over his knee. Their proximity just as close and she noticed...him flicking his gaze down. Was he...? No, no...That would be silly, right?

 

[Pepsionne]

Theodore
Location: Mizuki's Apartment​

The rest of their journey back to Mizuki’s apartment was blissfully uneventful, much to Theodore’s relief. Not like they didn’t earn it, but judging by how his past two weeks had shaped up, he wouldn’t have blinked an eye if the sky started falling around them. It would be fitting for the anxiety and dread that he constantly swallowed down with every breath.

Mizuki’s apartment felt calmer than when he had last seen it. Maybe it was nostalgia from the comforting embrace his first encounter with Mizuki had served as. It was his first grounding presence since losing Samantha. A steady hand that kept him upright. He felt his muscles begin to relax in the warm space. His eyes followed Mizuki’s body once she began busying herself within the apartment, fussing around with gathering various things to help him settle in. He felt sheepish in being attended to, but the attention from her was--nice. He couldn’t deny that. She shoved him off towards the shower, insisting that he wash off first despite his protests. His eyes flickered down to her arms in concern. Were they still in pain or had his efforts to soften the knots worked?

Theodore stared down at the river of water running across the smooth tile at his feet before it disappeared in a swirl down the drain, eyes expressionless as he took in the streaks of dirt, blood and god knows what else he had become covered in after fighting with those demons. The memories from that fight flooded back to him unwillingly, the fear and stench of sulfur feeling just as suffocating as if he had been thrust back in the moment itself. Theodore closed his eyes. He focused on the warm trickle of water flowing through his hair, running in rivets across the planes of his face before free falling in small droplets from his nose and chin. He attempted to steady his breathing to ease back the involuntary shaking that had overcome his body. That drink sounded amazing right about now.

He emerged from the shower, releasing a subtle haze of steam in his wake. Theodore listened to Mizuki’s instructions of where to get the wine and the order of her cabinets for glassware. He simply nodded in response. She looked exhausted, she needed the shower far more than he did and he didn’t want to exhaust her further. When her figure disappeared behind the bathroom door, an outline of yellow light leaking from the doorframe and the soft ambient sound of the shower the only indications of her presence, Theodore began rummaging through her kitchen in search of the glassware she had described. He hummed lightly to himself, taking his time with a slightly wandering touch as he looked through the belongings in her kitchen. There wasn’t really a need for her to cook food, yet Mizuki had stocked it with all the utensils one would need for cooking nearly any meal he could think of. The small gesture washed over him warmly. Even as minute as it was, it was a feature that helped to heighten the feelings of nostalgia within him--feelings of what it was like to be human again.

He had settled on the couch when Mizuki eventually emerged from the shower. She looked more relaxed--soothed even--and he could only hope that the warm water from the shower had managed to help ease the wounds she had suffered from earlier. He followed her lead gently, still cutting his responses down to soft confirmations as to not overwhelm her while they got settled and processed the events of the day.

Theodore’s smile was broad, fangs peeking against his lips at the sound of their glasses clinking, the honey colored liquid inside swaying from their movements. His mood had begun to brighten. He choked on a sip of wine upon hearing Mizuki’s sly comment towards him, a flustered lump rising in his throat and making it difficult to swallow. Theodore’s jaw tightened as he pounded his chest with his fist, trying to recover from the coughing fit that overtook his body. “Pretty boy?” He echoed, amusement glittering in his eyes.

It was a playful start to a relaxing night. Although it was the first time he and Mizuki had ever spent time like this, it felt--familiar. As if they had drunk together at her window dozens of times, feeling the change of seasons ghost through the air with every slight breeze. Wrapping her fingers was a more tedious task than Theodore was expecting. Cutting the bandages to the right length, wrapping them around her slender fingers tight enough to protect the wounds while loose enough as to not cause discomfort. How did she do this daily? On her own, at that? Theodore struggled with navigating his hands around the narrow spaces that her fingers allowed; he couldn’t imagine having the patience to attempt it on himself.

Conversation wasn’t a concern of Theodore once he leaned back from wrapping her fingers, taking a long sip of wine to ease the frustration at being so inept at what had seemed like a simple task at first glance. They flowed from topic to topic easily, seamless, the silences that thread themselves through becoming unnoticeable and even--welcome, at some points. He had never heard Mizuki talk this much. Was she like this with people she felt most comfortable with? If so--he was happy to have become one of them. Her smile and laughter lit up her face beautifully, an aspect Theodore had noticed his gaze sticking to longer and longer the more wine poured into his cup. It was as if every small chuckle or upward gleam of teeth pulled him further into a trance--yet he didn’t seem to mind.

He rambled on wistfully in answer to her questions about his favorite artists. What he liked to see in art, what he appreciated and actively sought. Art and literature were the only hobbies that allowed him to forget, just for a brief moment, that he was no longer human. Losing himself in beautiful prose, connecting to the perspective of someone that was still human and feeling himself relate to those words were the only things tethering him to his previous sense of self. Theodore was terrified of the dark thirst that he had felt lurking within him ever since he had been turned by Celeste. But he didn’t speak of this to Mizuki. No, it would surely ruin the mood, so he buried it under questions of his own.

Theodore gazed at Mizuki’s expression as she thought over what her favorite book was. He tried to glean what she was thinking, anticipating what the book could be. You could tell a lot about a person by their favorite book. What was it about that one novel that set it apart from others? Books were--personal things. They spoke to deep feelings and long established views, their prose echoing thoughts that had convinced you into seeing the world in the light you do.

Mizuki winced instead of elaborating on her answer, a hand drawing up to her mouth where a puddle of blood had formed on her lip. Her brow furrowed softly, both in pain and surprise that she had nicked herself in the first place. Theodore leaned backwards to make room for her as she began maneuvering around on the bed, her scent overwhelming him as she rested a hand on his shoulder to steady herself from toppling over, other arm outstretched for something--past him. Theodore’s gaze lowered into a half lidded stare as he allowed himself to be consumed by her proximity, the wine thrumming through his veins and his thoughts beginning to churn sluggishly. He watched her as she glanced up at him, the expression on her face frozen into shock. The blood on her lip had broken and ran a deep crimson line against her skin, the contrast between the two stark and mesmerizing. Theodore’s eyes darkened momentarily as he ran his thumb along the red mark, swiping up the blood that had fallen. He felt her soft cheek lean into his touch at the contact. A bolt of shock ran through him at the action, but it was soon phased away as the scent of her blood overwhelmed him. In the swirling dizziness of alcohol and intoxicating effect of Mizuki’s blood, Theodore’s mind went blank. There was a brief moment where he felt frozen like that, paralyzed by her proximity and the sheer unchecked desire that washed over him without warning, held back by a thin thread of rationality that was withering rapidly. Then--it snapped. Theodore leaned forward suddenly, pressing his lips against Mizuki’s. Her smell and the flow of her blood were all that he could sense being this close to her--it engulfed his entire being. The timing of the kiss was off though, Mizuki had just begun to move when Theodore had leaned in, causing him to land more towards the corner of her mouth. But for a second, Theodore was sure, their lips had slotted together perfectly. The feeling had frozen itself in his mind, playing on repeat unashamedly.

Theodore pulled away suddenly after a beat, clarity rising through the hazy fog that he had succumbed to seconds earlier. “Oh god--I’m so sorry,” Theodore fumbled, his eyes wide as he regarded Mizuki. His pupils had been blown out, engulfing the blue color in an inky pool of black, but now with his sudden jolt back to reality they were rapidly shrinking back to normal. His gaze ping ponged around the room in a panic, unsure of where to settle but god, not Mizuki--he couldn’t look her in the eye. “I--I didn’t mean to do that--god I’m so sorry,” Theodore backed up, feeling perverted for crossing a boundary without Mizuki’s consent. “I’ll--I’ll sleep on the couch if you like. Actually, I think it’s for the best I’ll just sleep on the couch--unless, unless you want me to just leave and I can do that as well,” Theodore’s voice was panicked, the words spilling out of his mouth rapid and without sign of stopping.

 

[Razvi-sama]

​

Mizuki | Katarina

Location: New York - Mizuki's Apartment ​

When Mizuki stepped out of the shower, one towel curled around her shoulders so that she could ruffle through her hair, she paused by the door way to regard Theodore. He had made himself comfortable on her couch, and she knew now that for the rest of the evening...she would be enveloped by his scent. When she stepped out of the bathroom, the steam from her shower rolling out of the bathroom in waves, she found there were no surprises waiting for her on the other side. It was just Theodore, a friend she had grown perfectly comfortable with in the span of a handful of days. She supposed that's what trauma did to one another. Sped up the bonding process. But, in this case...she didn't mind it. Instead, she cherished it.

With their glasses of wine cradled in each other's hold, bowl of popcorn and first-aid kit between then, it was the start of a wonderful night. Mizuki downed her first cup quickly, needing to feel that buzz...well—now. She felt comfortable enough to tease Theodore, even going as far as to call him a "pretty boy", a sentiment that had clearly flustered him and she had fallen into gales of laughter as he even repeated her words back to her. As if in disbelief that she would even hurl them his way to begin with. She grinned, shrugging. What could she say? It wasn't as if it hadn't been common knowledge that Theodore, cherished member of the Vieru, had it all. The looks, the brains, the charm. Many vampires, both men and women, fawned over him. She had seen it at every clan event and meeting, the way people were simply drawn to him...always surrounded by a crowd of people as he entertained them with his grand stories and decorated choice of words. She could never get too close, but she was happy to watch from afar.

Now, she had a private audience with him. But, she had noticed a stark difference between then...and now. Right now? Theodore seemed a lot more at ease, a lot more...himself. A little more vulnerable, and a side she liked to believe only a select few were allowed to see. A side where...he could be seen flopping and flailing about in a grimy, empty plot of land within the Black Market...thrusting his body forward in order to ensure her own safety. It was the beginning of what she believed would be a wonderful friendship. That's what she had cheered for when their glasses clinked together.

Mizuki was happy to let Theodore pamper her, it seemed to mean a lot to him. Maybe it was the guilt that had surfaced occasionally, flashing over his gaze whenever he'd turn to look at her. Whenever she found herself hurt or overwhelmed by the adventure he had dragged her into. Plus, she supposed both could use the...physical touch of another being beside them, as if to ground them from a day that seemed to throw them into the unexpected over and over again. She sat beside Theodore with her legs curled up underneath herself, stretching out one hand towards him and keeping it steady as he cut through the bandages and medical tape for them to be an appropriate length, occasionally fumbling with the gauze but eventually finding his way. He'd ask if it was tight enough, and she'd nod...happy to simply observe someone taking care of her for a change. He never grimaced, he didn't seem to find her fingers unsightly. He never asked why or how. They simply existed for a moment. Just two undead heartbeats, side by side.

That was when the wine began to flow a little easier between them. The spoke for hours, unending, energetically. And, even if they had managed to web in a moment of silence between the two, it was between conversations and it felt...comfortable. They discussed their point of views, where they would meet in the middle. Never once did Mizuki feel like her opinion did not matter, never once did she feel the need to argue her thought. They were calmly sharing ideas and philosophies, and if they couldn't manage to agree? That was fine, because they respected one another immensely. They managed to joke and tease, nudge and graze against one another. She was positively glowing, and it was unsure if it was due to the wine...or due to Theodore.

They always found common ground when it came to the arts, though. Both great lovers and participators in that area. Mizuki would lean against the headboard, her knees pressed against her chest while she settled her gaze over the vampire with a warm affection as he answered her question as to who was his favorite artist with a lilt to his voice that made it sound like he was talking about his greatest love. She nodded, understanding the need to immerse one self in their craft, understanding what it meant for the world to break apart behind you. It was just you and your creation, nothing else mattered or existed. Not even the fact that they were no longer human. If anything, it made her feel more human...observing behind a camera, being able to be a part of someone else's day to day...She smiled as he explained what it meant to him to write. How he was still able to relate to the words he put to paper, and she found that to be a beautiful sentiment...unaware of the cruelty behind his own making.

Speaking of literature and writing, Theodore naturally asked what her favorite book was and she took this question very seriously. This could make or break them after all! She said that with a teasing giggle. So, she settled against the pillows propped up against her back, her glass of wine cradled in her hands as she focused between the option of two books in her mind. Her brows puckered together in concentration, as she began to tease her lip with her fang. If she had to choose, she would go with—...

Mizuki winced, feeling something pool over her lip while the familiar taste of blood coated her mouth. Ah. Shoot, she should take care of this before it stained her sheets. She rested her glass of wine to her side, mumbling out a muttered apology for Theodore before excusing herself and shifting towards his side where she kept her box of tissues. She fumbled towards him, resting her hand over his shoulder before she lean forward...only for her to lose her balance and having to quickly grasp onto Theodore for what felt like dear life. The sudden jerk cause the droplet of blood to break and dribble down her chin. Her hand on his thigh from the desperate attempt of catching herself, and the other over his shoulder. And, instead of pulling away from their sudden proximity...Theodore seemed to welcomed it. His hand rose to her cheek, nimble fingers brushing against her skin while his thumb swiped over the stream of blood that seemed to spill over. She naturally leaned into his cool touch, feeling a gentleness behind the action that she found herself craving. She couldn't bring herself to find the right words to say to Theodore in that moment. After hours of non-stop rambles, she found herself...mute. Theodore simply sat there, looking at her and she quietly wondered what he was thinking about. She should...move, shouldn't she? She didn't want to drag this on, she didn't want to make him uncomfortable.

So, Mizuki mumbled out a soft apologize, peeling her hand away from his thigh, raising the other up against the headboard as she slowly began to shift back while she muttered out a soft apologize. Just as she was about to shift away entirely, maybe call it a night...Theodore leaned forward, and she felt the unfamiliar feeling of someone's lips against her own. Perfect lips, perfect feeling. He seemed to be off by a mere millisecond, because the kiss eventually leaned more towards the corner of her lips. But, she didn't seem pull away. She even seemed to welcome it, beginning to lean into it when he suddenly pulled away.

Mizuki hadn't realized that she had closed her eyes. When she opened them back up, she found herself looking at Theodore...his pupils completely dilated. He looked surprised at himself, at the situation, and then...a form of guilt seemed to wash over him as he quickly began to apologize. He fumbled over his words, and there was a panic behind his tone. He could barely look at her. Mizuki sat there without saying a single word for a moment as Theodore only seemed to be digging a bigger hole for himself. She sat there with her legs tucked underneath herself, looking both amused and concerned as he began to offer the couch. He kept rambling, eventually concluding that he should just leave and that was when Mizuki snapped out of the mild daze she seemed to have found herself, because...Theodore kissed her, right? It wasn't an accident, there was intent behind his actions...right? And, if he had wanted to kiss her, what did that mean for the two of them?

A small, girlish smile found its way to her lips, a pink hue painting over her cheeks. Mizuki began to shake her head, shifting towards him while her small hands raised themselves up to his cheeks, "...hey", she cooed, hoping to stop his little rambles, "...hey, hey...come on, look at me", she coaxed, guiding his head back up to meet her eyes. When he finally looked at her, she smiled, "It's okay", she assured softly, her voice barely above a whisper, "...you're okay, we're okay. You...have nothing to say sorry for. I-It's...not like I pulled away", she murmured a little sheepishly, her gaze falling to the side momentarily from how bashful she suddenly felt. She couldn't help how big her smile was becoming, how the butterflies in her stomach tickled her with glee. Mizuki moved her hands from his cheeks to his hair...raking her fingers through the soft strands of his hair...before her hands migrated down to help smooth down his shirt. Heavens, look at him...blood on his thumb and lips...they really should call this a night.

Mizuki really sobered up after the...kiss. She leaned forward once more, a little more stable, and managed to grab the box of tissues. She slid out one tissue for his hand, and another for his lips. She helped cleaned off the blood, before she cleaned herself up, "Please, don't...leave", she begged him softly, "It's not necessary, and I still really don't want to be alone tonight. But, if it'll make you feel better, then sure you can sleep on the couch, but again...it's not necessary", she promised, hoping to make him feel better about the whole ordeal, "Let's get ready for bed, and we can...talk about this later", she assured him. She reached for his forearm and gave it a reassuring squeeze, before she leaned up...and kissed his cheek. She wondered if it would make him feel worse to know that this was her first kiss...

So, she kept that little detail to herself for now. She picked up the empty bowl, their glasses, and tissues, before she slid out of the bed to rest everything in the kitchen sink for tomorrow. Mizuki threw away the trash, made sure the couch was comfortable enough for Theodore and gave him a spare tooth brush. They said their goodnights, as there wasn't much else to share...except she took a moment before she turned off the lights, and looked to Theodore with a smile, "It's The Life of Pi, by the way...that's my favorite book", she told him sweetly, before she wished him sweet dreams...and turned off the lamp.

It was safe to say she had a hard time falling asleep. Her insides were a fluttering mess, and she simply kept replaying the feel of his lips against her own...Mizuki would raise her hand up, silently wondering if Theodore felt...a certain way about her. She had never even considered being anything more than just friends. H-He was her friend! Yet, here they were...on opposite sides of the room and her mind a mess with questions and "what if's". She hugged her pillow tightly, smiling into it...she felt...giddy.

The next morning, Mizuki woke up early and quietly, not wanting to disturb Theodore. It wasn't like she had managed to get a whole lot of sleep, but it was enough to keep her going. She tiptoed her way to the kitchen, where she readily brewed some coffee and mixed batter for banana pancakes. Just two disks for each, knowing that it was more to indulge themselves than to actually fill an empty stomach. Pancakes with a side of rabbit's blood, yum. She grabbed a mug of coffee, and made her way towards the couch where she knelt down beside Theodore and lightly shook him awake, waking him up with a cup of coffee in his hand. She wished him a soft "good morning" with a delicate smile, telling him the food was ready, but to take his time.

Once he finally managed to get up, Mizuki assured him the bag of rabbit's blood was all his, and if he wanted more butter or syrup, he was happy to indulge. He seemed a little quieter this morning, acting a little tense. His movements were rigid, and he could barely look her in the eye. She sighed softly, hoping last night hadn't ruined whatever friendship they had formed over the week. Especially since last night had been...wonderful. So, she decided to not address the elephant in the room, having realized that his actions could have been motivated by the wine, and probably a little kiss didn't mean much to him as much as it meant to her. So, she laid it to bed for now, simply trying to coax him into any conversation as a way to reassure herself that they were at least still friends.

Mizuki looked down to her watch and then her phone, stating she had a photoshoot to get to soon. He was allowed to stay in her apartment as long as he wished, take a shower, have more rabbit's blood. Laze around. Especially after the day she had yesterday. She slid the spare key his way, telling him...it was his. With that, she downed her coffee and excused herself. She went to the bathroom, took a quick shower, got ready for the day, and gathered her essentials for the day. She supposed this was good, thinking maybe he needed some space. Maybe they could...meet up later that evening and talk about it. Yeah! That sounded nice. She'd write to him later. For now? She got her bag, and turned to Theodore, "...thank you for last night, by the way. I don't think I would have survived yesterday if I didn't have you with me. I needed the distraction and I hope we're fine", was the only mention she made of yesterday.

With that, Mizuki slid out of the apartment and closed the door behind her, going down the elevator and telling the doorman that her friend would come down later. To not mind him, he was allowed to come in and out. She hailed a cab while she picked at her bandages anxiously, unaware of the fact that there was a certain someone hiding around the building's corner...waiting for Theodore.

Katarina had managed to track him down, and found that he had been with Mizuki. It was easy to get Mizuki's address from Charlotte: 985 5th Ave. Her main goal right now? Was to severe the ties between Mizuki and Theodore. It was...what Maximus wanted, and since Mizuki wasn't going to listen to his orders...they had no choice than to do it for her. She sighed, aware what this would do to any semblance of a relationship she had with Theodore. She pulled out her phone, and sent him a message:

'Seriously, where are you? I'm scare and I just got in a huge fight with my leader in the Assure Clan. He's threatening me over something I did, and I really need to be with someone I trust. I'm so scared, I think they might try to get rid of me and I have nowhere else to run. I got hurt in the argument and my hand won't stop bleeding. Please, call me. I'm near 5th Avenue, by 1214. I ran away. Where are you?'
​

And, sent. Now, she had to wait for an invitation now that Mizuki had left the building.

Spoiler: Mizuki Outfit

 

[Pepsionne]

Theodore | Terra
Location: Mizuki's apartment | Location: Terra's apartment​

Terra’s gaze wandered through the rough texture of the ground while the two walked. She listened to Francis’ words, wanting to believe them. The future is always changing. She really hoped what he said was true. Terra didn’t know if she could handle what Naomi had outlined for her in the near future. She glanced over to him once he was finished. Terra smiled, the action brightening her cheeks. “I’ll remember to keep you on the roster then, thank you.”

The bustling main streets of the black market were soothing in their familiarity. The scents, sounds and bumbling crowds were like a warm blanket welcoming her home, absolving any sense of danger or cold shadows they had dragged out of the deep alley. They stopped outside her door, Francis being ever the gentleman and insisting he see her into her apartment despite her protests. “Anytime,” Terra threw Francis a mischievous smirk, her eyes following him bend forward to lay a kiss on her hand. “I’ve been told my best feature is my uplifting spirit,” she jested. “Goodnight, Francis.”

She watched him walk down the interior stairs of her apartment building. His footsteps echoed in the cavernous stairway, the presence of him lingering after he had exited the building.

Terra walked into her bedroom, immediately beginning to shed her accessories with nothing more than the light of the living room to push back the creeping shadows. She froze after a beat, the presence of another inching its way up her spine until it stopped at the nape of her neck. Fear followed not long after. Her back was to whatever had managed to sneak into her room, letting out soft puffs of air and emanating ruffles of clothing from what was no doubt a languid shift in posture. Had one of the demons--followed them? Her heart hammered in her chest, out of the group she was the most defenseless. They were deeper in the black market than she ever dared to go, her fae blood drawing out the worst monsters from the dark. Terra closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath before whipping around, holding one of her earrings in her hand as if she could really defend herself with it. Her stomach dropped out as her eyes fell upon--him.

“Cecil,” Terra breathed, her knees buckling slightly as she took in his features in the dim lighting. He shifted to the side, resting his cheek into the palm of his hand while his dark eyes scanned down her body languidly.

“Hey Ter-bear,” Cecil smirked. His eyes glittered with mischief in the weak light that bled from the living room.

“You know I hate that nickname,” She managed to choke out, resting her palm on the dresser behind her. The wood was a rough texture against her palm, reminding her that yes, this was real. Yes, Cecil was in front of her at that very moment, alive and breathing steadily.

Cecil stood, slowly moving over to her with a softened glance. “Even when I say it?” He asked, leaning in and resting a hand on her waist.

“Where the hell have you been?” Terra cried, suddenly breaking and lunging forward, wrapping her arms around Cecil’s neck as she pressed her frame into his body. She gripped onto his clothing tightly. The sensation of being engulfed in his familiar scent brought tears to the corner of her eyes.

“Eh--out and about,” He said, dodging the question, which only made Terra squeeze him harder. “Why, you miss me that much?” He jested. Terra didn’t respond, simply pulling back to smother desperate kisses all over his face.

“Don’t ever do that to me again,” She said, her words broken up by her line of kisses across his cheeks. “Do you have any idea how worried I was?”

“I do, Cassius told me.”

Terra stopped, pulling away and holding Cecil at arm's length. “What do you mean ‘he told you’. Did that little shit actually know where you were the whole time?”

Cecil laughed, pulling Terra back closer into him to press a soft kiss to her forehead. “No, I saw him right before I came here to see you--actually.”

“Oh,” She breathed, taking the thought in.

“That being said, I can’t stay very long. I wanted to see you again—I missed you.” Cecil’s hands tightened around her waist and he buried his face into the crook of her neck. “I needed to tell you something important.”

Terra’s throat tightened. “Tell me what? That you have demon blood? What else are you hiding from me Cecil?” Her voice was shaky. Whether it was from her nerves or a thin coating of anger, she wasn’t sure.

Cecil lifted his head, moving to press his forehead against hers. “Terra, I should have told you—but my whole life, I had to hide who I was to survive. I was terrified of being hunted down and executed. I had to leave my home behind. Everyone who I met who knew who I was--what I was, they told me I was a blight upon the earth. I couldn’t—“ he swallowed hard, his grip on her waist tightening significantly for a brief second. “I couldn’t let you think of me that way. I didn’t want to lose you.”

“So you lied to me instead?” Tears began to gather hotly on her water line. “I thought I could trust you.”

“That’s why I’m here. I wanted to clear the air, tell you everything about me. My life, my real identity and family. No more hiding from you,” Cecil smiled weakly before pulling Terra over to her bed, urging her to sit next to him.

And so Cecil recounted his life to Terra. Of the supernatural society in South Korea, the struggles and conflicts that existed there. He told her of his family and childhood, his real name was Park Yun-Seo. He had no idea where his family was, if they were even still alive. They had scattered like marbles, skittering around the world to different places to escape the bloodhounds that chased after them. When speaking through this, Yun-Seo’s face grew wistful. A shadow of pain loomed behind his expression, memory of what was to come bleeding in to the brightness of what was.Terra carded a hand through his hair gently when he talked, a small gesture of affection that helped her feel more connected after so much time longing for him to come back to her. He had hid the truth about his blood to the Sorcerer’s Academy, hoping to hide in plain sight. His blood oath to Cassius, although unplanned, only strengthened his disguise. But the pull of the dark arts and what he could achieve beyond the Sorcerer’s world was too tempting. The Black Market was his playground, the demon blood within him serving as a pass of respect to those who sensed it. As his reputation in the market grew, so did his opportunities, allowing him to achieve and explore more magic than the Sorcerers ever dared touch. Which landed him where he was now.

When Yun-Seo finally finished recounting his history to her, Terra was silent for awhile. His expression was desperate as it searched her face, looking for any indication of acceptance to what he had poured out to her.

“Yun-Seo,” Terra said, testing his name on her tongue for the first time.

“Terra,” he responded back, the words barely audible in the air.

“I love you,” her voice was small, suddenly bashful at saying something she had said dozens of times to him before.

“And I love you,” Yun-Seo said. He pulled Terra in closer to him, enveloping her into a deep and long awaited kiss that she sighed gratefully into. He tried not to let his mind wander to the strange man he had seen Terra approach her apartment with, tried to block out the way his touch had seemed to linger on Terra’s just a little bit too long for Yun-Seo’s comfort. He pulled her in closer, tighter. Besides Cassius, Terra was the only one he had. And he had no intention of losing her anytime soon.

Terra said her reluctant partings to Yun-Seo, watching his figure from her window as it disappeared down the alley of the black market. She moved to her bed once she could no longer see his familiar stride, laying down on the soft mattress facing the ceiling. She smiled openly, grateful for the relief of seeing him. It erased the sting of Naomi’s words from earlier as if they were never uttered at all. Terra’s brow furrowed after a beat of reveling in her giddiness. She turned over onto her side, brow furrowing as she studied the pattern of shadows on the wall. What would she tell the group, now that her end of the deal had come to its own conclusion? It wouldn’t hurt to hear Antonio’s report on the research he was meant to be conducting. Yum-Seo hadn’t mentioned that to her. Even though he promised to be more open, he still was as vague as ever when it came to his sorcery work.

Terra sat up for her position in bed. That was it, she would stay with the group to find out more information about the pages Yun-Seo and Cassius had stolen, but after that, she would inform them she would be parting ways. Terra stood and began to gather items to take a long overdue shower, humming softly to herself.

Spoiler: Yun-Seo (Cecil)

——-


Theodore readjusted his position what felt like a thousand times, none of the placements of his legs feeling remotely comfortable. He didn’t even know what he was saying at this point, he was just rambling, hoping for some kind of response. Seconds felt like hours, the event of what he had done the only visual in his mind.

His breath hitched when he felt the soft touch of Mizuki’s hand, the bandages around her fingers rough in texture against his skin. His eyes made their way back to her face at her insistence, widening in surprise when he took in her amused expression. Theodore stared at Mizuki dumbfounded for a beat before what she said had fully processed in his racing mind. She was right. She didn’t pull away. He returned her wide smile with one of his own, the sheepish blush that was painted across her cheeks mirrored in his own.

Theodore looked down at the tissue Mizuki offered him, accepting it gratefully as he dabbed at his lips to clean the blood that had transferred there. He stayed silent, allowing her to clean off his thumb, the dark crimson of her blood still smeared there. “You’ve done a lot for me today,” Theodore said. His voice was low and soft. “The least I could do to start repaying that debt would be sleeping on the couch.” He threw her a lopsided smile.

Theodore nodded deeply to her suggestion. It was for the best. They had both been through an insane day, nearly met death and were under the influence. A clear head was necessary before they took any steps. He couldn’t help but notice a buzzing feeling in his chest--excitement.

He watched Mizuki shift to move off the bed, the ruffled sound of her movements loud in the silence that washed over them. The soft feeling of her lips pressed against his cheek, sending a bolt of goosebumps to break out across his arms. Theodore watched her walk away with a cheeky sway, his eyes wide. It was a sweet gesture, one that helped lessen the burning shame of his bold actions earlier. He appreciated Mizuki’s effort to make light of the situation. Theodore ran a hand through his hair to exert any leftover frustration before moving to the couch to settle in.

“ ‘It is true that those we meet can change us, sometimes so profoundly that we are not the same afterwards, even unto our names.’ ” Theodore recited, the hint of a smile in his voice. “An excellent choice. Goodnight, Mizuki.”

Theodore stared at the ceiling his eyes adjusting to the sudden darkness that pounced at the click of the lamp. He traced the pattern of the city lights that bled through the window and painted themselves across the wall. Shadow and light fought in an endless tumble as New York lived and breathed around them. He tried to still his mind, tried to think of something other than the feeling of Mizuki’s lips against his own. It was hard not to. It was if hidden feelings within him had begun to grow in his chest, slowly overtaking every free space and suffocating any reason away. The kiss had awakened him to the presence of it and now it was all he could focus on. What did this--mean? His draw to Mizuki was different from his draw to Samantha. He had thought they were the same at first, but now he realized they couldn’t be more different. Theodore closed his eyes, head pounding at the scenarios that flew through his mind. They were just--friends, right?

Exhaustion from their long day didn’t take long to reveal itself once the adrenaline from the kiss earlier had begun to evaporate from his body, leaving Theodore to fight through a muddled train of thought while he slipped closer and closer into unconsciousness. It wasn’t long after that Theodore’s breath steadied out into the rhythmic pattern of sleep.

Theodore opened his eyes to the feeling of rocking. He stared at the ceiling for a beat while his mind caught up to speed. It did several lazy laps before what Mizuki was saying to him registered. Theodore sat up and ran a hand through his ruffled hair while he regarded the mug in her hand. The hot steam that poured from the top was ignited into a thick fog from the morning light that bounced radiantly around the apartment.

His smile was warm in thanks, the rich aromatic scent of the coffee already doing wonders to awaken his senses. His eyes followed her movements with a lazy and unfocused look. Now sober, he had expected the feeling he had experienced last night would have faded, revealing a less intense, truer form this morning. Watching her flit around the kitchen to make breakfast, it was more apparent to him than ever that what he had felt all this time wasn’t just something for a friend. Every time she asked him a question, her expression soft and patient, he was overwhelmed with the thought of their kiss the night before. He wanted to do it again.

Theodore’s muscles were stiffened in panic the whole morning. How should he—regard her now that he realized this was truly how he felt all along? What was the right response? What if she didn’t feel the same? Theodore couldn’t look Mizuki in the eye. He had too many new feelings that were undeveloped and unrefined. He hadn’t felt this way about anyone since—Celeste. It was a thought that gave him pause. As charismatic as he presented himself to be, Theodore didn’t have the best luck with relationships. After Celeste, and his new life that resulted from it, he had decided to forgo his childish dream of a romantic love—casting aside the wistful narratives of Dracula and Romeo and Juliet. He had had his love story, and it had ended in tragedy. There was no taking it back.

Theodore wished Mizuki good luck on her shoot. He smiled patiently, listening to her parting confession to him with a gentle expression on his face. “Of course,” he responded, smile suddenly tight. What did she define as ‘fine’? Did she solely view him as a friend? Theodore didn’t know her well enough to be sure.

His entire body deflated with a heavy sigh the moment he heard Mizuki’s footsteps retreat down the hallway. He rested his forehead against the counter. A low groan escaped his body. Theodore was fucked. These feelings chose the worst moment possible to make themselves known, and now that they were apparent within him, it would take a lot for him to push them down to be manageable. He laid like that until he lost track of time, his mind beginning to engulf him and numb his attachment to reality.

Theodore’s attention drifted to his phone. The screen lit up with a vibrating buzz, the sleek black device rotating gently from the force of the vibration. Oh right, he had switched the do not disturb off when Mizuki was showering this morning. He picked the phone up, head still resting on the counter. A panicked paragraph from Kat greeted him on the home screen. Theodore sat upright suddenly. His brow was furrowed as he reread her text, eyes drifting up to the others before it. Shit. He had pushed her off, not wanting to deal with any of her usual antics, but this sounded serious.

Theodore rushed to put his clothes on from the day before, taking a pause to fix his hair into something that vaguely resembled its usually neat appearance. He sent a message to Kat as he walked down the hallway of Mizuki’s apartment.

Where are you? I’m on my way right now.

 

[Razvi-sama]

Francis | Mizuki | Katarina

Location: New York - Mizuki's Apartment ​

Francis paused right before Terra's door, gathering her hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. Her hand was tiny and soft compared to his own, and he was honored that the fae felt safe in his presence. Or at least, comfortable enough for the two to share small jokes between the two.

The vampire smiled for her and wished her a good night as she motioned to her front door, unlocked it, and stepped inside. As Francis walked away, he registered a new scent within her apartment that hadn't been there before previously, and silently wondered if he should be concerned. It smelled...human, in a way. A human with rotting flesh...A soft hum escaped the man as he stepped out of her apartment building, looking back in case he heard any sounds of yelling or commotion coming out of her apartment. But, he heard nothing. She seemed fine, and he supposed that tomorrow morning he could write to her to check in on her.

Francis stuffed his hands into his pockets and made his way back into the bustling Market, deciding it was a nice time to go visit Samantha to work on her case...

~​

It disappointed Mizuki to feel as if their friendship had somehow changed, or had somehow taken some damage due to their...shared kiss last night. She'd do anything to preserve this blossoming relationship of theirs, having always desired to grow close to the vampire ever since she read his articles—ever since she laid her eyes on him from across the room and Gabriela pointed and said: 'That's Theodore Griffith'.

To perceive him as distant and awkward had caused an ache in the vampiress' chest. What if he regretted it now that his consciousness wasn't clouded by the wine? What if she wasn't what he expected—what he liked? A tiny flutter of insecurity began to buzz around with every tight muscle, with every tight smile she coaxed out of him. She muttered a word, and he'd stiffen. He could barely look at her, and all she could do was internally sigh while she pushed around her pancakes. In the end, she concluded that the healthy thing to do was to talk things through. Give each other some space to fully process last night, and then come together to see how they could move forward.

Mizuki admittedly didn't have much time to process. Even as she made breakfast, she wondered what the blooming of butterflies meant from the previous evening. M-Maybe she was just nervous, considering it had been her first time. Would she be disappointed if Theodore were to approach her, and ask her to forget about the kiss? S-She didn't know. She did know she didn't want to lose him, so if he didn't feel that way about her as she liked to have believed...then that was okay. She would insist she was fine, and move on. The very thought tore her apart, and she didn't have enough experience to know what that meant. Would Terra know? Would Gabriela?

Mizuki didn't try to pressure Theodore, the two merely sharing in small talk here and there. Thankfully, she was given an excuse to leave, and an excuse to let him stay. She had...work. The notification popped up from her digital planner on her phone, and remembered she had a photoshoot shortly. She downed the rest of her coffee, sucked out the blood rapidly from the thin plastic film of the bag of blood, and gathered her dishes to rest them in the sink to soak. She told Theodore he could merely leave his dishes in the sink, as well, that she'd take care of them when she came back home for the evening. She still wasn't ready to go to the Lasombra, and she was already receiving a few messages from Charlotte.

After she got ready for the day, Mizuki gathered her phone and her bag, and turned to Theodore with a smile. She thanked him, and shared her hope for them...before she stepped out, never imagining how the day would truly unfold before her. Never imagining the snake that would soon slither into her apartment...

~​

Katarina was just around the corner and she knew very well that Mizuki lived somewhere in fifth avenue. The sighting of the vampiress confirmed the address Charlotte had given her the day before. Now, all she had to do was dangle bait in front of Theodore and hope for an invitation up to her apartment. Look for anything that might give away what Mizuki had been doing behind Maximus' back.

Thankfully, the vampiress left the building and Katarina was left with an ideal scenario. She pressed her back against the complex's building, hidden within the shadows of the alleyway adjacent to it. She rapidly wrote out a desperate cry for help, and sent it over to Theodore in hopes he would respond and act against her claims. Thankfully, the vampire was a bit of a softie, because in mere minutes...he replied back. Where are you? I’m on my way right now.

Katarina smiled, feeling some sort of warmth and giddiness at the fact that Theodore was willing to come to her rescue if she had truly been in danger. She sighed, silently apologizing to the vampire for the mess she was about to involve him in.

I don't know, I'm somewhere wandering down Fifth Avenue. Thought it was ideal to be around a bunch of humans in daylight. The nearest building says 1214. But, I'll come to you! Don't move, I'm already on the move and I don't want to walk any more. Where are you so I can meet you there?
​

A thought popped into Katarina's mind before she rushed down a few blocks and hid between two buildings. She sent Theodore her live location.

I'm somewhere here. How close are you so I can look for you?
​

And, sent. Katarina sighed, hoping this would work, and to truly sell the idea that her clan was looking to kill her? She slid a dagger out of her purse. It was an iron dagger laced with mild traces of silver. It wasn't enough to poison her and kill her, but enough to keep her wound from healing. She sucked in a sharp breath before she dragged the dagger against her palm, hissing out sharply from the pain. She quickly threw the dagger away by a nearby bin, not wanting Theodore to smell the silver on her person.

My hand hurts, where are you? Send me your location. I'm scared... ​

 

[Pepsionne]

Theodore
Location: Downtown, Mizuki's Apartment​

Theodore’s mind was racing as he waited for the elevator to make it to his floor. Here he was, obsessing over his feelings like a schoolboy while Kat’s life was being threatened. For a vampire, death was nothing to laugh at. Theodore kept his mind racing as he boarded the elevator and descended to the lobby below, throwing everything he could to keep his mind from thinking of the parallel between this situation and Samantha’s arrest. He hadn’t been there for Kat just like he hadn’t for Samantha, opting instead to chase his own selfish interests and stupid fun. Guilt ate away at the numbness in his chest and in its place agonizing dread began to blossom.

The city morning was bright and sunny, something that he winced at visibly. Theodore surprised a hiss of displeasure at the sensation of the burning sun against his skin, his index finger absently bending down to ensure that the metal band of his daylight ring still sat firmly in its place. He shrugged off the unpleasant feeling and began to walk down where Kat was directing him, racking his brain for the shortest route to narrow in on her location.

Luckily, Theodore’s panicked attempt at creating some type of short sighted plan for spotting his friend was halted at the feeling of a hand encircling his wrist desperately. Theodore stopped mid-stride, his posture tensing as if he had suddenly been turned to stone.

“Theodore,” Kat’s broken voice sounded from his side, her form hidden in the shadowed alley created by the tall skyscrapers around them.

“Kat?” Theodore’s voice was confused, unsure of itself as he uttered her name. Her texts hadn’t really made sense to him in the adrenaline of the moment. He had read what she sent him but very few words managed to stick and process properly. “I thought--what are you doing here? I thought you said you were on fifth avenue,” His blue eyes were narrowed in confusion as they searched her face.

“Fifth avenue is only a couple of blocks away,” She explained, pointing innocently to a street sign in the distance. Theodore’s features crumpled in confusion. Had he really walked that far? Nerves began to pile in his stomach. Had he accidentally walked faster in his panic and risked exposing his inhumanness? Theodore swallowed hard but pushed that thought from his mind. No, now was not the time to think about that.

“Kat, oh my god,” Theodore snapped out of his tunneling panic once the smell of her blood overrode his senses. “You’re bleeding,” he stated while taking her injured hand into his own with a tender touch.

Katarina leaned into Theodore’s touch, pushing her frame into his side purposefully. Her eyes were glossy with unshed tears to make her act more believable. “I’m really scared. Can we please get off of the street? I don’t feel safe here.”

Theodore nodded vigorously. “Yeah--yeah of course. It’s not safe here for you, fuck, especially if they were so willing to go for blood,” He said, eyes focused on her wound as he turned her hand from side to side to inspect it. “I’m sure Layla--”

“I can’t go to the Vieru,” Kat cut him off with a more desperate edge to her voice than she was intending. She cleared her throat when Theodore gave her an odd look, mouth still poised to finish his sentence. Fuck “I’m sorry,” She said, turning her body language in on itself to appear vulnerable. She withdrew her hand from his grip and tucked it into herself. “I just--don’t trust the Vieru at the moment. The Assur will stop at nothing to get to me and if they find out that another clan has been hiding me? It’ll cause too much violence Theodore, I can’t,”

“I--” Theodore’s brow furrowed as he racked his brain for some kind of solution. Mizuki wouldn’t mind--would she? He knew her and Kat hadn’t quite gotten along at the café, but this was--this was different. This was an emergency, surely Mizuki would put bruised feelings aside when a life was on the line. He had seen how generous she could be for others, how generous she was in helping him.

“I have a place,” Theodore stated, more confidently this time. “None of the clans are aware of it, it’s private,” He assured her, coaxing her to put one of her hands within his own in order to lead her. “It’s not too far from here either, it’s really lucky.” Theodore offered Kat a reassuring smile, hoping to offer her some feeling of safety. He was too late to save Samantha. He wasn’t too late with Kat, he’d be able to fix this and be this for her. He had to.

Kat feigned a look of hesitancy across her features as if she was weighing the security of his proposition. He reacted exactly as she had planned, it was perfect. “Okay,” She began hesitantly, setting her uninjured hand within his own. “I trust you.”

Theodore smiled reassuringly towards her, rubbing his thumb over the top of her hand. “You’ll be okay, we’ll figure it out together. I’ll bandage your wound and get you some blood. We can get out of this goddamn sunlight too,” He said, gesturing up to the wide expanse of sky that the tall buildings did very little provide shade from. She nodded tentatively in response, adding a relieved smile for good measure. Kat knew Theodore well enough to recognize the panic and attention for her that he held in his eyes. Right now? She had him wrapped around her finger.

The walk back to Mizuki’s apartment went by without a hiccup, almost too perfectly to be believable. They were walking through the lobby towards the gleaming elevator in what felt like mere minutes. Theodore’s mind had slowed from its original state of panic and guilt. He actually felt--a sense of relief even. He had managed to help Kat before something terrible happened to her. They’d be able to breathe in the safety of Mizuki’s apartment, he’d be able to bandage her up and once Mizuki got back they’d figure it out together. His stomach fluttered at the thought of seeing Mizuki again. In the panicked fumble to get to Katarina he had almost forgotten the kiss he had shared with Mizuki the night before and the feelings that were made blindingly clear because of it. Now that they were approaching her door, it was all his mind seemed to want to focus on. The smell of Mizuki’s apartment almost made his cheeks flush in memory of how her scent had washed over him when he had leaned in and locked his lips--

“Theodore,” Katarina said, tapping his shoulder to get his attention. “Is everything okay? This is the right apartment?”

“Yeah--yeah I’m sorry,” he fumbled, pushing the door open and ushering Katarina in after him. “You can take a seat wherever, let me grab the first aid kit first,” He said. Katarina didn’t miss how easily Theodore maneuvered through the apartment. She fought back a sneer from crossing over her features and spoiling the frightened look she was fighting to maintain. Just how often had he been here before?

“Got it here,” Theodore announced, wiggling the first aid kit triumphantly in one hand. Kat smiled gratefully in response, kicking herself inwardly for getting caught up in something that did not matter--would not matter after today.

Theodore was gentle while he looked over her wound. It was deep, and for some reason it wasn’t healing. He dabbed at the blood that pooled around the palm of her hand. “Did they cut you with something silver? This is really serious,” His voice hit an octave deeper as he spoke to her, eyes dragging up to Katarina’s face in search of her response. What he was greeted with instead was just how close they were standing together. Theodore swallowed hard. “Kat?” He asked again, ignoring how the added pressure of her body felt against his as she leaned in towards him to close the gap even more.

 

[Razvi-sama]

Mizuki | Katarina

Location: New York - Mizuki's Apartment ​

'Shit!'. Mizuki cursed sharply, bashfully looking up to the driver who seemed to have grown a little spooked. She offered him a kind smile, apologizing softly and insisting she had forgotten something back home. If possible, could they turn back and go to: '1214, 5th Ave'. The driver seemed mildly annoyed at first, but after seeing the woman's kind smile from the rearview mirror he simply offered her a nod and turned the cab around.

Mizuki had forgotten one of her lenses, and she couldn't continue with the photoshoot without it. She realized that due to how tense she was this morning, she had either grabbed the wrong lens and had a wide angle in her bag which was typically used for landscape. She needed a standard and a macro for their study in portraits and texture. She began to pick at her bandages, warily looking out the window. It also meant she got to see Theodore again, and the thought seemed to have brought a small smile to her face and a swarm of butterflies in her stomach to burst. Despite how awkward the morning had been, she couldn't help but still feel a little giddy. Every time she imagined their—what she could describe as "imperfect kiss"—it made her happy. She liked that it wasn't what great romance authors described the first kiss to be. After a day full of high energies, high tensions, high stakes...to be able to come home with someone she considered a good friend and share in a small, intimate moment...it was...perfect.

What it meant, Mizuki didn't care to find out right now. She was merely going to relish the feeling of her first kiss. With Theodore of all people! She giggled to herself and blushed, full of content sighs and hums.

When they arrived at her apartment building, Mizuki stepped out of the cab and apologized for wasting his time. She paid him, not wanting to keep the meter running, and slid out of the cab after grabbing her bag. She nodded to the doorman, who nodded back in greeting, confused that she was back so suddenly. Maybe that male friend of hers told her she had a visitor, and she came to check on her. Both friends had seemed so tense earlier, maybe it was an emergency. She stalked across the reception, feeling as if she was walking on clouds. She eagerly pressed the button to call the elevator, and silently wondered if she should just...throw caution to the wind! Make a grand, romantic gesture! Surprise him, hug him...tell him that while she was equally unsure as to where this could go, she was excited to explore it with him. That while this was her first time, she couldn't have imagined anyone better to share this with. Reassure him that she simply couldn't be happier, and maybe they could...build something together. Slowly, steady...maybe!

As she stepped into the elevator, Mizuki began to giggle to herself. No...that would be silly, right? Her cheeks were flushed with pink as she eagerly watched the numbers rise, indicating that she was moving up in floors. The elevator 'dinged' to announce her arrival, and she padded down the hallway to her apartment. The door was green, the handle painted in gold accents. She only had two active apartments around her. Two neighbors. One, was an elderly woman who loved to brag about her grandson to her. She was currently visiting said grandson in Florida. And, two, a young entrepreneur that occasionally asked if she had an 'egg' to spare. He was probably running a few meetings, already. Usually was out by five in the morning, back by late in the evening. It was just Theodore and herself on this floor.

Mizuki rested her hand against the doorknob, about to push open and walk in...when the smell of salt and iron filled her sharp senses. Blood. W-Wait, was Theodore in trouble?! She, in a panic, twisted the doorknob and pushed against her door. Practically barging into her own space with Theodore's name locked on her tongue, ready to call out for him and ask if he was okay...when she saw...Mizuki stood by the doorframe, shocked. She took steady breaths as she tried to process what it was that she was seeing exactly. Theodore...and Katarina...in her apartment.

The medical kit rested beside them. Mocking her. Theodore had one hand in Katarina's, some cotton balls to dab her bloodied hand...while Katarina took the opportunity to lean forward, arm curled around his shoulder to help prop herself up as the two had been sharing in a kiss right as Mizuki had stepped in. They separated with a smacking 'pop', and Katarina turned to regard the vampiress. At first, she thought she was done for...but soon realized she could make the best of this situation.

~​

Theodore had found her, and Katarina even had to dart a hand out just to stop him as he was rushing down the sidewalk nearly...frantic. For her. He was worried...for her. She acted as if her whole world had simply fallen all around her. She played the victim, and she played it well. She played the damsel, and she knew Theodore could not simply ignore a damsel in distress. He wasn't the type. She was vulnerable before his eyes, she leaned her whole body into him as he curled his arm around her. Uttering her name. Just her name. It made her heart ache momentarily with mild guilt, as she was technically using her to help improve her worth before Maximus' eyes.

The cut had done its purpose, and now Theodore believed her to be in immediate trouble. His touch was soft, tender, caring...and she melted into it...that part was genuine. She had always been one to summon tears with ease, not that she was known to cry...but she was known to act. She was the Snake of the Assure Clan, after all...they all knew to stay away from her wiles. Thankfully, Theodore fell for it. All of it. From day one when they fell into bed together, until now. Everyone knew and believed Theodore to be Katarina's property, but it was more of an unspoken rule whispered amongst the clans.

I don't feel safe here. I can't go to the Vieru. Perfect, he believed her...understood her. He sympathized, and he practically carried her to Mizuki's apartment. She was just so small before him, so weak...only he could heal her and protect her. That's what she projected. He had a place, and he took her there. None of the clans were aware of it, but now one vampire knew. She would make sure to share that information with other Assure members...just to fuck with Mizuki for being such an eyesore.

Theodore took her to Mizuki's apartment, the doorman was hesitant to open the entrance for them...but he did so under Mizuki's orders that this boy could come and go as he pleased. Maybe this young woman was a friend of Mizuki's as well. Katarina noticed how easy it was for them to enter the complex, how effortless Theodore was when finding his way, and how effortless he was when they walked into the apartment. He had a key. The thought flashed through her mind and she quietly wondered if he had visited this space many times, if maybe she had underestimated that feral and underestimated the relationship they shared. Any hesitation she had about ruining Mizuki's life? Had gone out the window the moment she saw Theodore reach up to grab the first-aid kit in one of the kitchen cupboards. Sickened her.

Katarina held back her sneer, and continued to flash Theodore those large, glassy eyes of hers in a look of fragility. Defenseless. He proudly showed off the first-aid kit as if it hadn't been salt to her wound...it's fine, she could win him back after this somehow. Mizuki would be out of the picture, and Theodore's need for reassurance and comfort and affection was something she could provide. Almost limitless.

Katarina had waited by the island, cradling her wounded hand as she sniffled up to him. She nodded dumbly to him as he asked if it was 'silver', which only added to his worry. Yes, yes, very serious...She pretended to wince as Theodore dabbed her cut, making her shuffle closer to him...pressing her chest to him while she tilted her head back to peer into his gaze. He called for her, in that sweet little nickname he had adopted just for her. Only he could call her 'Kat', only he could make it sound as if he was patronizing her. She snaked an arm around his shoulders and leaned up, "...Theo...you know what medicine I need the most", she whispered against his lips, "...you know I only need you and only you...I feel safest with you...please, make me feel safe in this bubble we have built for ourselves", she murmured, pressing their lips together in a perfect kiss. Her hand against the back of his neck to make sure he didn't try to pull away. She just needed to seduce him, tire him out, and when he was asleep she could rummage—!

~​

Mizuki stood before them, dropping her bag on the floor as her hand grew slack from the mere shock of finding a stranger in her apartment. A stranger that she could conclude very easily that Theodore had invited in. Her heart began to ache, as if someone had just stabbed her in the back and right through her chest. She blinked, licking her lips as she tried to form a sentence. Trying to gather her composure before she lost it entirely, "...um...", she cleared her throat, "What...What's happening?".

"Oh, honey", Katarina grinned, her vulnerable facade leaving in an instant, "Isn't it obvious? Theodore and I...", she rested a hand over his forearm, "...just wanted a private place to be with one another after we broke the news to you. Hm?", that soft hum was directed to Theodore specifically. Her Gift? Hypnosis. With a single hum, she could hypnotize her victims for a very short amount of time, and right now she just needed Theodore to be quiet and follow her lead for a single minute. She had one minute to convince Mizuki, and leave before Theodore snapped out of it.

"...what...news?", Mizuki asked, looking at Theodore with a pained expression.

"Oh, you really are as gullible as Charlotte insists!", Katarina giggled, "Look, whatever it is Theodore has been doing with you, just know it's a game", she stated, "All of this time he has spent with you? Has just been to see if you are truly loyal to your clan. Maximus asked Theodore to help him, as he has noticed how absent you've been as of late. You give the bare minimum for your clan. After sending you on a goose hunt, you have a lot to explain. Maximus wants to see you as soon as possible. I was just supporting Theodore in all of this, you know I don't care for silly clan drama, but you know how determined Theodore is. Maximus even promised to help Theodore build his name and become a true leader of the Vieru Clan, now that Samantha is gone", she stated, grinning as Mizuki grew sickly pale...The vampiress stumbled back into the doorframe, disbelieving of what was being said to her...While Katarina didn't have any idea what Theodore or Mizuki had been doing for the past couple of weeks, she knew it wasn't anything good if it caught Maximus' attention. She knew Theodore had been running around the city with Mizuki, especially since she tailed them yesterday. She got as far as the Brooklyn Bridge.

"...so, you're saying...everything I've been through with Theodore was...a lie? All of this, all of our efforts was Maximus' way of...of testing me? And, if Theodore succeeded he'd get promoted?", Mizuki asked.

"Bingo!", Katarina grinned, "And, you failed, miserably. But, we were just celebrating his win, he sealed the deal last night", she said, just spewing nonsensical news. But, to Mizuki...that seemed to mean something as her horrified gaze pierced the counter and the pads of her fingers pressed against her lips. She felt nauseous.

"Anyway! Sorry to barge in like this, I'm just going to take Theodore and run, and good luck with Maximus! I know how scary he can be. Say 'hi' to Samantha, because you'll probably end up in the same cell as her—agh!", Katarina choked as she felt her windpipe practically crash in on itself! She gasped sharply to try to force some air in her lungs, looking up in a panic as Mizuki had raised a hand to her, her hand closing itself in a tight fist. Her irises were a bloody red, and her pupils in thin slits...barely visible.

It was as if the cells in her body were actively trying to choke her! The sheer force of the hold was coming from within—! Katarina yelped as she suddenly found herself being flung across the room and outside of Mizuki's apartment! Darting past the vampiress and slamming into the wall opposite of Mizuki's front door. The sound of a bone crunching echoed and Katarina screamed as she fell like a rag-doll on the ground, clutching at her arm. Her arm! That bitch broke her arm! Katarina shakily tried to stand, but found herself being slammed against the wall a second time and even pinned down. It was getting harder to breathe, the tears in her eyes blurring her vision as her panicked gaze settled over Mizuki who barely looked over her shoulder to look at her. "T-Theo—! H-Help!", she yelled, choking, "S-Someone!".

Mizuki barely paid much attention to Katarina at this point, now looking to Theodore with her left hand raised his way, "G-Give me...one good fucking reason for me not to do what I just did to your girlfriend", she breathed out shakily, tears streaming down her cheeks, "You...bastard. You...traitor. I was so ready...so damn ready to follow you to Hell, basically. All your talk and quotes were nothing but nonsense...just like you. You're a fraud! A hack! If you invested more time in watching Samantha's back on the evening of the ball instead of playing footsie with that harlot, then maybe Samantha wouldn't be rotting in jail!", she snapped, simply wanting to hurt him, "A-And, to think I worshipped you! Idolized you! I was coming up to tell you I was willing to explore what we started last night, b-but...", her voice left her and began to waver. She swallowed thickly, "To think I gave you my first kiss...You're nothing to me, Theodore. You're dead to me. You want to play the part of Maximus' dog? Be my guest. I see you and the rest of our community have given up on Samantha, but I haven't. Now, get out!", she shouted, "Before I do something you regret...", she spat his way, loosening her grip on Katarina and not even daring to touch Theodore...because even now she couldn't bring herself to hurt him.

When Theodore was shoved out of Mizuki's apartment, Katarina forced herself up onto her feet and clutched onto Theodore almost desperately, "S...She's a monster", she growled, sniffling as she tried to tug Theodore away, "We have to get out of here...see? I told you she was bad news...see? Let's leave, book a room somewhere...get away from the world for a bit, because that was too much crazy for a day", she insisted as she tried to hurry. Charlotte had warned her, but she never thought Mizuki was capable of violence, "I just wanted you to see her for who she truly was".

Mizuki wouldn't hear his explanations and every time he tried to talk, she'd raise a hand as if to ask him to stop. She wouldn't hear it. Once he stepped out, she slammed the door behind him and finally...allowed herself to crumple on the ground, sobbing into her hands. She waited until she heard their receding footsteps to begin to wail, yelling out her frustrations. Her life was over. Maximus was surely going to punish her. F-Fuck...! If anyone were to ask her what she remembered of her interaction after Theodore, she knew she wouldn't be able to properly answer. All she knew...was that when she came to? Her apartment had been destroyed. Pillows ripped apart, furniture knocked over, plates utterly destroyed and in pieces...Her hands were a bloodied mess, and she knew it was her blood. A-And...someone else's, but she couldn't quite remember whose...

Mizuki...She...She stared down at her hands, looked at the time...suddenly the whole day had escaped her and before she knew it? She packed a bag, a big bag. She dragged herself out of the apartment, ignoring the pain and cramps she felt in her forearms for having absolutely overextended her Gift earlier that day. Her hair was in disarray, her makeup smudged and melted, her clothes wrinkled. Bloodied. She had sucked on the last packets of rabbit's blood to help with the healing process as she dragged herself out of her apartment building and hid her bag in a nearby alleyway. Mizuki then called a cab and gave the direction for the Lasombra's manor...deciding she was going to have a little conversation with Maximus.

As the cab pulled up into the manor's front entrance, Mizuki paid the driver and stepped out while clutching onto her forearm. In her disarray, she hobbled to the front door and practically kicked it open, chipping the wood and causing a scandal. Of course, Maximus' bitch came running out and Mizuki snarled her way, "Don't bother, I'm seeing Maximus".

"Mizuki!", Charlotte hissed, "What's the meaning of this?!", she yelled after her as Mizuki continued to stalk through the hallways with a determined frown. She brushed through members, even managed to shove one as they were in her way and they weren't moving fast enough. She ignored Charlotte completely who was running after her at this point, trying to get her to talk, trying to ask her to calm down—!

"Maximus, you asshole, show yourself!", Mizuki shouted, reaching his office and nearly bursting inside, unannounced. The statue next to the door? She immediately knocked it over and allowed it to shatter on the ground, pointing down at Maximus, "You!", she growled, slamming the door behind her just in time to smack Charlotte in the face causing the vampiress to yelp in pain and surprise. Mizuki locked the door, looking at Maximus with a crazed sort of look, "I'm done", she announced, "I am done. I hate this clan. I hate this house. I hate this community. I hate the Council, And more than anything! I hate you! You dare fuck with my life and screw around with me! No more...no more. You will rue the day you dared taint my pool with your grime-y little hands, a-and I swear it...I will make sure nothing but ruin comes to this house. Just you wait", she hissed cooly, "I am leaving, and there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop me. So, anything you want to say to me, say it now if you have the balls that I would happily cut off and wear around my neck...", she sneered, baring her fangs at the man.

 

[Pepsionne]

Theodore
Location: Mizuki's Apartment, various​

Theodore strained to recoil away from Kat’s touch the moment she pressed her lips to his own. He let out a strained grunt in dissatisfaction, anger flaring up at her bold violation of the familiarity between them. He couldn’t handle her advances, not when he was still handling his emotions for Mizuki since the night before.

Before the vampire could fully pull away from the kiss and chastise Kat for her actions, his words died in his throat. Theodore felt like a heavy blanket had been cast over him suddenly, drowning out his senses and making the world a blur around him. He couldn’t muster a full, coherent thought, some invisible force holding him down and blocking the way. The light of Mizuki’s apartment had gotten blurrier and unfocused. Even the sounds of Mizuki and Kat conversing between themselves sounded distant, like they were speaking in another room that was hidden behind thick layers of concrete. When he finally came to and was able to recover control of his senses, Mizuki was already screaming. He stared at her, blank, as she spit vile words in his face. His eyes drifted over to Kat, who sat like a crumpled doll in the hallway.

“Mizuki--I--I,” Theodore stumbled over his words, his mind scrambling to fully understand the situation. Had she seen them kiss?

Theodore could do nothing but stare dumbly as Mizuki began questioning him, her pupils narrowed so deeply that he could only make out the murky brown of her eyes.

If you invested more time in watching Samantha's back on the evening of the ball instead of playing footsie with that harlot, then maybe Samantha wouldn't be rotting in jail!

Theodore winced visibly. Ouch. It felt like a sharp knife had been thrust forward through his chest, making his breathing quicker and more labored. He couldn’t keep up with the accusations Mizuki was throwing around, couldn’t find a space to explain himself or talk her down. All that came out of his mouth were cut off ‘nos’ and ‘I didn’ts’.

He found himself ushered out of her apartment, door slammed in his face, before the scope of the situation had even fully presented itself to him. Kat--Kat had used her gift on him. The hazy cloud that had overcome him, it was her hypnosis. The kiss. Was it purposeful? He remembered the angry words scribbled in Mizuki’s notebook after they had met the first day, remembered the vile attitude Kat had greeted her with in the café. Did she set him up for this? He could think of no other explanation as he stared dumbly before him.

Of all the things to think of in that moment, of all people to think of--Theodore couldn’t help but become reminded of Caelum. Of the dull, empty look in the angel’s seemingly bottomless eyes. The dark pull his stare held while offering nothing in return. Theodore--understood now. The emotions pooling within him swirled and crashed together so violently that they created a placid, infuriating calm. His mind was screaming yet his body wouldn’t listen--wouldn’t process the scope of what just happened.

He stood with his gaze set on the smooth surface to Mizuki’s door for a brief second. Sounds of continued anger could still be heard inside, but it didn’t break his heart. He couldn’t feel anything despite wanting to. Kat was breathing heavy beside him, her arm already beginning to heal and set itself back into its place.

“Don’t ever speak to me again,” Theodore said, his voice disturbingly calm. “I never want to see you again.” His gaze had slid over to her, the blue color empty and flat. The vampire strode down the hallway. Theodore’s body felt light as he moved, almost like he was walking through a dream. The air was hazy but not suffocating. Everything in his surroundings looked fake, hastily crafted with barely any attention to detail.

The afternoon was still at its peak when he broke through to the fresh air outside. The sun’s rays were agonizing, but instead of shying away from the pain, Theodore welcomed it. It was at least--something. Some kind of relief from the empty void that had been carved out of his chest. With Samantha, at least the emotions were raw and immediate. He had time to greet and deal with them face to face. Right now, it felt like the pain and despair were waiting with bated breath to sneak up on him when he least expected them. Theodore could feel them, knew the general shape they’d eventually end up taking, but they refused to engulf him.

He began walking down the street aimlessly, his feet guiding him around the streets of New York towards whatever managed to catch his attention for a split second. He didn’t want to think about Mizuki’s face, the hurt that had spoiled her delicate features and twisted them into something sour and unrecognizable. He didn’t want to think about how her voice trembled when she had yelled, the anger and betrayal overtaking her tone.

Theodore walked like that until the daylight grew heavy and languid, the sun sinking into the horizon and wrapping the world in the embrace of a husky orange haze. Street signs for businesses began lighting up in the cool dusk, their soft buzzing filling his brain. He stopped before one that drew his attention. A bar. Dirty concrete stairs led their way downwards, stopping at a dingy red door that looked like it hadn’t seen water in years from the way a thick layer of dirt and grime clung to it. He found himself treading down those stairs before he knew it, pushing into the smoky atmosphere. The bar was instantly colder than the air outside, and goosebumps pricked across his skin.

The vampire sat down in one of the creaky wooden chairs that lined the bar. His nails dug lightly into the bar counter, embedding themselves in the thick plasticy sealant. The fabric of his shirt stuck lightly to the counter with every small shift. It seemed like he had blinked once, and suddenly there was a drink in front of him. Theodore’s hand wrapped around the cold glass, then it was empty. He didn’t notice how many drinks started to pile up until the bartender swept by to take some away, the look in their eyes darkened with worry.

“Mind if I sit here?” A soft voice chimed lightly beside him, managing to make itself known above the ambient bar music. The bar had filled up a decent amount since Theodore had first entered. He had apparently caught the eye of a group of friends, one of the bolder ones inching their way up to him to make contact.

The girl’s soft smile turned a fluorescent blue from the beer signs that cast a blueish white glow across the bar. He rocked his glass back and forth in his hand, gaze set on her as he watched her expression flicker in his silence. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her body language looking as if she was about to change her mind and leave--but Theodore’s vacant, distant demeanor suddenly melted into something magnetic and charming, and she stayed.

He threw her a coy smile, his eyes hungry as he replied, “You're the only girl I've seen for a long time that actually did look like something blooming."

The woman flushed a sheepish smile before moving to sit down beside him. “What?” She huffed in a bashful laugh. “What do you mean?”

“It’s a quote,” Theodore smiled back, shifting his body to face her. “Fitzgerald--do you read?” He raised a finger and flagged the bartender down, gesturing for a refill on his drink and whatever she wanted to order. He found his eyes trailing down to her neck, focusing in on the pressure point where blood flowed the thickest. Mizuki--had been right. He failed Samantha, because of his own selfish desires. He had sworn his life to the woman, been risen from a life full of suffering by her--and how did he pay her back? How did he fulfill his promise? By betraying her. By betraying Mizuki’s trust. The words she uttered to him earlier, her voice full of hurt finally began replaying in his head in full force. A tightening feeling overtook his chest, emphasized by the hazy thrum of the alcohol stirring in his system. Oh. There it was. The pain of what had happened.

The woman turned back to him and began speaking, but Theodore couldn’t hear it. His eyes were still latched onto the smooth skin of her neck, fangs sharpening an imperceptible amount. If all Theodore did was destroy those around him for his own selfish priorities--why shouldn’t he just destroy himself too? Finally give in to the ugly instinct that made his mouth water every time he smelled a drop of human blood. The insatiable desire that no other indulgence could sate.

The rest of his time at the bar was a blur after that decision. He could remember fragmentary pieces, the musical tinkling of ice within glass, the lingering warm touches on his skin. He breathed in sharply, overwhelmed by the foreign, distinctly human scent that washed over him. Theodore blinked once, looking down at the woman who stared back at him, her eyes half lidded and her expression dreamy. One of his hands had become tangled in her hair, the other settling at her waist. From this angle, her neck was impossibly close. The rush of her blood mixing with his intoxication was hypnotizing. Theodore cleared his throat, one singular, clear thought managing to push through the heavy weight of indulgence he was currently drowning in.

“I need to make a phone call,” He breathed, his gaze unsteady as it flicked across the woman’s features. How did he even end up here?
Theodore stood a bit down the street, far enough away so that the woman wouldn’t be able to hear while she attempted to flag down a taxi. The trilling sound of the phone line felt like it was ping ponging around in his brain before it finally came to a halting end. A monotone beep sounded after, prompting him to begin recording his message. “Francis,” Theodore said, his voice thick as it slurred over the syllables of the man’s name. “I--I want you to take care of Samantha for me,” He said, swallowing through a lump that began to form in his throat. “Just--I don’t want her to be disappointed in me, when they burn me for what I do.” He was silent for a beat, the sound of honking horns and cars audible in the background. “I don’t want her to blame herself. She did everything she could for me but I just think I--”

“Theodore!” A voice called for him in the distance, cutting Theodore off in his sentence. “Let’s go, I got us a taxi!”

Theodore cleared his throat, his attention dashed from what he had been speaking on. “Just tell Samantha I love her--and--and tell Mizuki I’m sorry.” The line ended with a soft beeping sound, and Theodore repocketed his phone. His eyes flowed lazily towards the woman who was waving him towards the taxi, her smile bright and welcoming. His fangs itched, and he ran his tongue over the sharp edges before motioning to join her. The ambient sounds of the city at night rushed in to fill the void of the space the two left as they entered the taxi and began to drive away.

--

Theodore pushed in the heavy door of the hotel room with the flat of his back, his hands busy roaming around the woman’s figure that was currently tangled with his own. Their kisses were sloppy, uncoordinated and drunk, but they were both too incoherent to care. The crisp air of the hotel room buzzed across his skin once they were inside. The air was light, carrying an unplaceable scent of well worn carpet and laundered fabric.

Before he knew it, Theodore was hovering over the smaller frame of the woman beneath him, the fabric of the comforter below them wrinkling with every small shift. She giggled, wrapping her hand around his wrist in an act of endearment. Theodore blinked, his haze momentarily lifted as he stared down at her. The smell of her blood hit his senses immediately, even though she hadn’t shed a single drop yet. He could feel the flow of it coursing through all the veins in her body, a steady, even flow of life that mesmerized him. He had never felt bloodlust to this extent. It was all encompassing. Theodore’s eyes were narrowed into thin slits, the darkened color of his iris appearing like a muddled grey. His fangs were noticeably bared, Theodore could feel their sharp edges pushing down into his lip. He brought his face down towards the woman’s neck, the feel of her blood hypnotic.

“Be gentle,” She giggled lightheartedly, wrapping a hand around his neck and pulling him down closer into her. Theodore’s body instantly tensed.

“What?” He mumbled, stomach dropping out in fear. He glanced at her features, blinking dumbly. In the dim lighting--she kind of looked like Celeste. A sickening feeling wrapped itself around his senses suddenly. The warmth of her body, the warmth of her blood, sent a vile feeling to dash through the trance he had fallen prey to. His mind was thrown back into the bloody mess of a hotel room Celeste had left him to die in. The smell of his own blood and the overwhelming freshness of the maintenance worker’s mingling together was brought to the forefront of his mind, as clear as if he was reliving it. Theodore backed away violently from the woman underneath him. His body fell down from the bed and crumpled down onto the rough carpet, its surface biting into his skin. A shuddering dry heave wracked his body before the nausea kicked in fully. He stumbled to the bathroom as quick as his limbs would allow, ignoring the loud buzzing of the fluorescent light. One of the bulbs began to flicker, on the precipice of burning out, as Theodore vomited into the toilet, his body doubled over and trembling. The quick flashes of light sent his head into a spiral. He was already having trouble seeing straight before, now there wasn’t a chance he’d even be able to pick himself up off of the cold tile of the floor.

Theodore rested his body against the bathtub, his head lolled to the side as full consciousness eluded him. He thought he could hear the door open and close quietly, but the buzzing of the light began to fully overwhelm his senses. It crowded in his brain, dominating every thought, feeling, and emotion. Theodore welcomed the numbness-- welcomed the buzzing cold emptiness that he was spiraling further into. It reminded him of what it felt like to die, before Celeste’s blood had kicked in and traded his humanity for this--suffering.

The vampire let out a low groan before his body shifted to lay on the ground. He slumped forward with an uncalculated movement to lay fully on the tile. In the movement his head head clipped the edge of the toilet seat with a sharp crack. He felt blood begin to pool at his temple, but he really didn’t care. He knew it wouldn’t be enough to kill him, but god did he wish it was. Theodore groaned again, nausea creeping up to shudder through his body once more. Darkness pounced upon him afterwards, a shallow warm water that just barely blotted out the environment around him. The full force of the reality and pain at the afternoon's events crashed against him, and he let out a choked sob. Impeccable timing, as always.

 

[Pepsionne]

Maximus
Location: Office within the Lasombra headquarters​

Maximus had his gaze concentrated down on the papers in front of him, pen gliding across the paper in a smooth fluid movement, when he heard the first sounds of commotion beginning downstairs. The flowing of the pen stopped, its line cut short, and his jaw was clenched. He did not like disorder--not one caused by a little bird that didn't know when she was to stay in line. It seemed that Katarina's scheme, whatever it was that she had promised, worked. He heard a sharp smack that was proceeded by a shocked gasp from Charlotte, and his gaze darkened. Mizuki seemed to be crossing many lines that were not drawn for her. He would have to remind her of her place within the Lasombra. He could be lenient, yes, even sometimes too easy on his clan members, but he didn't care much for dissent within his clan. It was the reason why the Vieru and Assur could never hold a candle to what he had spent the majority of his life building. Rules, hierarchy, and most of all respect, were all in place for a reason. If Mizuki had forgotten, he would simply have to remind her.

The man stared at the enraged Vampiress as she stormed her way into the room. The anger ripping through every vein, nerve and emotion in her body was evident. She had simply lost control of herself. He watched with apathy as she screamed at him, blaming him for all the things that she had lost in her life. Her breakdown almost resembled the tantrum of a toddler to him, uncalculated and emotional. Maximus simply sighed at the end of Mizuki's hateful rant, reaching forward to pull a cigar out of the sleek gold container that rested on his desk. With a bold orange glow and a cloud of smoke, the cigar flared to life. Maximus let out a long exhale of smoke, saying nothing, leaving Mizuki breathing heavy in rage after her speech to him.

"Are you done? Can you please take a seat so we can discuss this in a mature fashion?" He gestured with one hand to the seat placed in front of his desk, his gaze empty and cold. He crossed one ankle over his knee, leaning back to study Mizuki's movements before him. "I don't believe anyone will be leaving anything at this point in time. But I appreciate the dramatics." Maximus ashed the cigar off to his side of his desk where a small tray stood waiting.

 

[Razvi-sama]

Mizuki | Francis

Location: Lasombra | New York - Francis' Apartment ​

And, what did Francis' day consist of?

Francis blinked his eyes open, peering up at the ceiling before him a little blearily. His hands rose up to rub at his eyes sleepily only for them to drop by his side lazily and his head lolling to his left to find a tuft of red hair beside him. His evening never ended last night. After he saw Samantha, the two sharing in the same cynical, morbid conversation as always...he went to a bar to enjoy a quiet glass of wine alone. It was one of those high-end bars overlooking the city in one of its infamous towers. The redhead—now asleep to his left—had invited him to his second glass of wine and he invited her to her third. And, so on...

The rest of the evening was history as the two were soon found sloppily crashing onto his bed. The rest was fuzzy, but considering he wasn't wearing any pajamas under his sheets he could reason that it wasn't your average slumber party. He sighed, propping himself up before he discretely slid out of bed and trying to manage the least amount of movement possible. He didn't want to wake her up, after all. Not yet, at least. He tiptoed to the bathroom, managing a quick shower and shoving on some pants at least before he stepped out and made coffee for the two of them. Francis padded his way back, sitting on the edge of the bed and waking her up with a cup of coffee in her hands. She smiled, she was sweet. Easy on the eyes...Absolutely grateful that he simply didn't push her out the door when given the chance. Francis would chortle, shake his head, and softly assured her he wasn't that kind of man.

The two shared in a surprisingly peaceful morning. Casually talking about current events over the second cup of coffee. The two lounged in bed, as he wasn't needed for work in another couple of hours. As they were wrapping up and after he lent her his shower, Jessica—was her name—stepped out while she buttoned up her blouse and asked him the most bizarre question.

"Why didn't you bite me last night?"

Francis nearly dropped the two mugs he had in his hands, making his way towards his sink to rinse them, "Excuse me?", he had asked.

"I know what you are", she went on to insist, tapping at the corner of her lips as if to insinuate his fangs, "I've been with one of you before, it was kind of exhilarating. Thought I'd experience it again when I chose you".

Francis felt a little sick to his stomach, growing a little quiet as he seemed to be...processing this strange request. He didn't...enjoy talking about his current mortality—or immortality, in this case. "I've given up drinking human blood a long time ago, and that is all I will be discussing. I will now kindly ask you to leave", he said softly, a little insulted she was bunching him up with what sounded like a member from the Azure clan.

Jessica gathered her things quickly and quietly before she excused herself and left, a heavy sigh escaping the vampire as he leaned over his counter and glowered down at his sink. Curse these fangs of his...

Francis decided to not give it too much thought and simply got dressed for the day. He made his way towards the Council's American Headquarters, as they were manly branches within the Vatican. He ran errands and continued with his usual set of duties. He took time to respond back to Layla's emails and general fretting over what they were going to do with Samantha, and occasionally his mind would wander back to the vague suggestion made last night...that they would break Samantha out. Escape the Council...The very thought of leaving this godforsaken space seemed heaven-sent. He wanted nothing more than to escape. This was a Council founded in blood. Their King and Queen...Francis would shake away the thought before he even began, continuing with his tasks for the day.

Francis was just finishing his last errand and thinking about visiting Samantha when he noticed he had a missed call and voicemail from...Theodore! Oh, how exciting. The very thought of the young vampire brought a smile to his lips, soon realizing it was probably the first smile of the whole day. The first real smile. Maybe he wanted to go out to dinner together. Upon seeing the time difference from when he called him to the time now, though...he supposed maybe Theodore had retired for the evening or made other plans. Francis couldn't help but feel a little disappointed as he pressed his phone to his ear to listen to Theodore's voicemail.

Francis was anticipating a dinner invitation, but what it had ended up being...was far worse than he would have ever anticipated.

Francis...I—I want you to take care of Samantha for me...Just—I don’t want her to be disappointed in me when they burn me for what I do. I don’t want her to blame herself. She did everything she could for me but I just think I—Theodore! ​

Another voice cut through in the background, causing Theodore to swallow thickly before continuing, "Just tell Samantha I love her—and—and tell Mizuki I’m sorry".

...the line soon cut off and Francis was left to stare blankly at the wall before him. His hands dropped, forcing him to soon move his owlish stare at his own screen. W-What...the...burn me for what I do? Tell Mizuki I'm sorry?! What the fuck happened in the last twenty-four hours?!

Francis ran before he could even register he was running. He pelted down the headquarters ' lonely hallways and skidded through every corner until he reached their IT Department. He practically slammed his body against the door, having run so far and fast he could hardly control how much his shoes were slipping against the polished, marble flooring. It certainly spooked whoever was on the other side, because when he nearly ripped open the door like a madman the three vampires left inside were practically huddled up together.

Francis showed them his I.D Card and began to bark orders at them. They skittishly began to work, pulling up CCTV footage of the most popular areas of all of Manhattan that was recorded around the same time Theodore left his voice message. Every vampires' bank account was linked to their system as they were in charge of monitoring their spending and their personal, government issues identities. Especially so when someone is as well known as Theodore Griffith who was so close to Samantha Jones. Francis paced back and forth, biting the sharpened nail on his thumb. They managed to trace his card back to the bar he was in, and he certainly had run quite the tab between buying his drinks and the lady's drinks. They found footage of him leaving, making the call, and getting into the cab. They followed the cab all the way to the hotel and managed to confirm the name on what was registered on his card.

Francis thanked them, insisting it was an emergency and that he would personally tell Andrew about it. They nodded dumbly, watching him run off like a crazed animal. He gathered his things quickly, shoved on his coat as he rushed outside and desperately flagged down a cab, and furiously barked that he needed to go to the hotel down 31st street. To step on it, if possible! He fidgeted in the back nervously, feeling a bit of bile rise up in the back of his throat from the nerves. He hoped...no—he prayed...that he wasn't about to walk into a crime scene.

The world flashed before Francis and melted together in a singular blur of neon and artificial lights. There was nothing that he could do to make this cab go faster or make the traffic die down. All he could do was try to collect himself as he thought of a game plan and worst-case scenario. He supposed the worst-case scenario would be to find the girl, dead in the hotel room with Theodore hovering above her. There would certainly be a physical altercation, he'd have to pin Theodore down and somehow manage to drag him out without anyone noticing his potentially feral state or bloodied clothes. Best case? He would be getting there just in time.

Once they arrived, Francis pulled out his wallet and practically threw the dollar bills at the cab driver as he rushed out of the vehicle and rapidly made his way into the lobby. He swallowed thickly, looking around frantically for the receptionist, and realized he had to somehow convince her to give him Theodore's room number. He took a small breath, trying to calm himself down and brush his hair back. He smoothed his clothes down and sauntered over to the receptionist with a sultry smile gracing his lips. He leaned against the counter, asked her softly if she could be so kind to provide him the room number of his dear friend Theodore Griffith. They were expecting him, but they had...most likely started without him because they weren't answering their phones. If she knew what he meant. Francis winked at her, noticing the way the blood rushed up to her cheeks as she shakily looked for the room number and kindly gave it to him, as well as a key card.

Francis blew her a small kiss before he walked away, keeping up a cool façade until he arrived at the elevators. He watched them close, offering the receptionist a tiny wave through the slit of the doors as they began to close. Once it slid close with a soft 'thud', and the receptionist was out of sight, he quickly grew tense with anticipation and stared up at the numbers, begging them to somehow change faster.

As the door 'dinged', Francis practically shoved his body through the doors that were barely given a chance to open. He bolted down the hallway, hysterically looking through the signs that guided the guests down the correct path towards their booked hotel room. He desperately looked at each door number, skidded towards the end of a hall before dashing to the left or right. That was until he finally reached the door number printed on the key card given to him. The door was left ajar, either meaning the following: the victim left, Theodore left, or he was careless.

Francis swallowed thick as he press the palm of his hand against the hefty door, forcing it open while it announced his presence with its pained groan. He sighed, stepping inside, and immediately the smell of blood filled his nostrils. Thankfully...it wasn't human blood. He didn't know if that was better or worse.

Francis barged inside, pausing to take in the state of the room. The bed was in disarray, but no sign of blood in the bedroom. He cautiously padded his way inside, noted most of Theodore's clothes were on the floor...no sign of a secondary person, though. He guided himself towards the bathroom, and after sucking in a sharp breath...he pushed the door open and found...oh, Theodore. He sighed, his shoulders slumping. No crime scene, but...a very sad one. His heart broke for his brethren as he tiptoed his way towards the fragile figure weakly coming in and out of consciousness. An occasional sob escaped him, and Francis couldn't help but wonder what...what the hell happened between yesterday and today?

But, Francis was kind. Soothing. He motioned to kneel down beside the vampire, grabbing a towel on his way down and ever so delicately? He slid his arms underneath, pulling the fragile being close to his chest and practically cradled Theodore to his breast. He added pressure to the vampire's temple and simply held him...waiting for the wound to close up on its own. Francis didn't know how long he had spent in that bathroom, with the flickering fluorescent light, with the sob that occasionally ripped through this boy's body. Francis brushed back Theodore's sweaty, disheveled hair and lightly kissed his forehead in soft affection. Rocking him occasionally, until he finally settled and the blood had stopped.

Once Francis felt Theodore was strong enough to move, he nearly hefted the vampire up and had him lean against his side as he carefully dragged him out into the bedroom where he promptly laid him down on the bed. He helped him with his shirt, shoes, and pants before he padded back to the bathroom, cleaned up the blood, and stuffed the hand towel into the trash. That was when he dusted his hands together, gathered all of Theodore's belongings as well as himself...and life a thief in the night, he spirited Theodore away from this godforsaken place, skillfully dodged the receptionist, and made his way out where he promptly called down a cab. All while Theodore was molded to his side.

Francis took Theodore home, to his apartment. Once they arrived, Francis guided Theodore to the bathroom and coaxed him into a quick shower. He lent him pajamas before he guided him back to his bed where he promptly tucked him in with a cup of tea and a bag of deer blood resting on the nightstand. He kept the light dim and warm, and after he himself had managed to finally settle down and take a shower he turned to Theodore...sitting on the edge of the bed and looking to the young man who looked as if his soul had passed on. Leaving nothing but a vessel behind, "Theodore", he called softly, the first time he opened his mouth to speak to the man the whole evening.

"Theodore, can you tell me what happened tonight? Do you...want to talk about what happened? Do you...remember?", Francis asked.

~​

"Don't fucking patronize me!", Mizuki yelled at him, pointing a claw his way, "We are past mature when you decided to fuck with my life, you slimy bastard. Smarmy piece of shit!", she snarled, "Do you forget...Do you forget the monster you have adopted into this home? What this monster is capable of? I can pop your heart like a juice box if I so will it!", she boomed, keeping her stance where she stood. Not making the effort to go near him or sit down.

"I mean it when I say I am leaving, I want nothing to do with godforsaken place and this godforsaken community. I know about your deal with Theodore, I know what you promised him if he kept tabs on me. But, unlike Samantha? I will not go down without a fight. I rather die than to live another day in this h-hell", Mizuki choked softly, "You can't force me to stay, fuck...I don't know why you'd even care. I am nothing to this clan or to you, so to think you were keeping tabs...sickens me. I will admit that you've done...quite a lot for me in these years, but I think I paid off my debt to you a long time ago. I thought the most I could do was be courteous enough to show up and say 'goodbye'...", she muttered, looking to her left and nudging the vase off of its pedestal and watching it shatter. Oops, hope it wasn't valuable. "I promise you won't see much of me after this. I go out with a flare", she hummed, a little vaguely, "Goodbye, you jackass. Hope you live a miserable life in this miserable house with your miserable children. And, when you draw your last breath? I hope it's painful and lonely", she stated, "Goodbye, Maximus", she ended, before she turned around, unlocked the door and opened it. Charlotte was just collecting herself, her lips, chin, and chest smeared in her own blood. She tried to stop the nosebleed, but clearly, it was not enough.

Mizuki motioned to leave, believing Maximus wasn't "mature enough" to take her warnings seriously. She was going to put the Lasombra under the brightest, most obnoxious spotlight...just he wait and see...

 

[Pepsionne]

Theodore | Maximus
Location: Francis' Apartment | Location: Lasombra Headquarter's​

The remainder of his time spent swirling in darkness on the floor faded in and out of Theodore’s consciousness, like waves slowly crashing and receding against the shore. He had been coherent enough at one point to hear the panicked breathing of someone else that had joined him in the bathroom, but not lucid enough to make out who exactly that was. The next moment he could clearly make out, he was slumped over next to someone in the back of a taxi, his form heavily shifting with every bump and turn of the vehicle. He wasn’t aware that it was Francis who had taken him on as a burden until the heat and steam of the shower managed to pull him out of his drunken stupor enough to open his eyes and look at the man in front of him. Theodore hung his head down in shame at the man having seen him so vulnerable, leaning forward and letting his forehead push into Francis’ chest. He didn’t say anything to the man, just closed his eyes as he felt Francis’ strong but lean hands rinse warm water down his back. The hot air generated by the shower poured into his lungs, pushing out the toxicity of the alcohol and soothed the nausea churning in his stomach.

He clung to Francis’ side for stability once he was coaxed out of the shower and back into the apartment space to get dressed and in a more comfortable position. Francis’ apartment was nice from the brief glance Theodore was able to toss around. Modern, clean, but not so much that it felt cold instead of cozy. The vampire let out a deep sigh once situated in the bed cradled by blankets Francis had moved to circle around him. His eyes followed the thin trail of steam as it emanated from the cup of tea on the nightstand. The room still twisted every so often, but with Francis’ help, Theodore no longer felt out of control of his own body. His limbs felt heavy, achey, even though he hadn’t put any strenuous use on them. Was this the toll of emotional pain? His chest felt hollow yet full at the same time, the feeling within it screaming with extreme pain that somehow lacked tangibility. It was agony. Flashes from what had happened earlier played in his mind, causing Theodore to pinch the bridge of his nose and squeeze his eyes shut until the violent memory managed to pass.

“I--” Theodore’s voice came out broken as he began to explain himself. His eyes met Francis’, the look in them wide and filled with the innocent hurt of a child who couldn’t grasp the consequences of their actions. “I don’t even really know,” He finally managed. “Mizuki--Mizuki hates me. She thinks I--that I worked with Maximus somehow, and--and Katarina.”

Theodore’s brow furrowed in pain as he played through the venom laced words Mizuki had spit at him earlier, chest rising and falling quicker as the pain began to escalate. “Francis, I didn’t--I would never--you know I would never, right?” Theodore’s shaky voice cracked, and he swallowed hard around the sob that was rising in his throat. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”

---

Maximus winced against the shrill volume of Mizuki’s words, taking a moment to ash his cigar in the ashtray he had slid over on his desk. She was far angrier than he had anticipated--whatever Katarina had done seemed to be backfiring. It would be against his original plans to lose Mizuki, but she was a small pawn in his large plan. He would let her have her freedom now, but when he gained control of the Underworld, she would have no choice but to come crawling back to him. Maximus let out a deep sigh.

“If your wish is to really abandon this clan, this family and everything it has done for you, fine. I won’t stop you. But your choices, Mizuki, even those made in anger, you will have to live with them,” Maximus stated. His gaze flickered over her expression, taking in the storm of emotions that fought for control. “Because I care for you, I feel compelled to warn you. The Lasombra and Assur have made a motion with the Council to order the arrest of Theodore Griffith for colluding with Samantha in the murder of the councilman,” He shifted his posture to lean forward, resting his elbows on the wood of the desk before him. “That means, Mizuki, that the time you spent with him the last few days will come under suspicion as collusion as well. I had planned to protect you from the blame if you had stayed, but with a defection from the Lasombra at this time, you will immediately be found guilty as well. I anticipate the Council will move to order your arrest as well within the week.”

His eyes followed the vase that Mizuki pushed off its display while exiting, his deep sigh covered by the loud crash of ceramic against tile. He puffed his cigar, brow furrowed in thought as Mizuki’s form finally disappeared from his office.

 

[Razvi-sama]

Mizuki | Francis

Location: Lasombra | New York - Francis' Apartment

Because I care for you, I feel compelled to warn you. The Lasombra and Assur have made a motion with the Council to order the arrest of Theodore Griffith for colluding with Samantha in the murder of the councilman.
​

Mizuki took a breath at Maximus' strange warning. But, if Theodore was working with Maximus...why was he filing a motion against him? Betrayal? Or, all part of some sick, twisted game between the two? Whatever it was, Mizuki hated that she cared.

"Is that so?", Mizuki hummed, tilting her head back ever so slightly to glower at the vampire, "I'm not too worried. Throw your dogs at me, whatever. I have nothing to hide, and only a Council that finds me guilty? Is an unjust Council I do not wish to be a part of. Meaning, you're an unjust man who believes is above the law. Watch it, Maximus. The gods are always watching...", she added softly, almost in a sing-song.

Mizuki walked away, bumping shoulders with other clan members—ex-clan members. She gathered the last of her belongings from her room, those worth keeping, and stormed out of her bedroom and into the foyer and paused...when she caught the familiar gaze of her dear friend Gabriella. She offered her a tight smile before she simply walked away, knowing that wherever she was going...was not somewhere that she wanted Gabriella to follow.

On her way back to her apartment, to pick up her bags, Mizuki sent a late message to Francis: "The Lasombra is possibly looking to start a witch hunt against Theodore. I don't know what's true or not anymore, last I heard he was sleeping with the enemy. Do what you will with that information". And, send. She sighed, turning off her phone before throwing it out the window.

~​

Francis used the hand-held shower holder to help rinse through Theodore's hair which had previously been covered in a matted sticky mess of sweat and blood. He stepped into the shower fully dressed, while he slowly shrouded off pieces of Theodore's clothes. Peeling them away and tossing them into a nearby hamper. His touch was delicate as he lathered shampoo into Theodore's hair, watching as the blood and grime mixed with suds were being washed away and swirling down the drain. Francis scrubbed away the dried blood that clung to Theodore's neck and shoulders, while the vampire leaned his forehead against his chest...His shoulders were tense, Francis noticed...his body generally rigid. He understood that this particular situation might be a little embarrassing, but Theodore could hardly stand on his own two feet. Hardly able to process where he was, probably. Francis made sure to be gentle, though...as his deft fingers trickled down Theodore's back to help rinse him down. He was taking deep breaths, and Francis encouraged him by taking deep breaths with him...

Once Francis was sure all the blood had been washed away, he turned the faucet off and hook the hand-held shower holder back in its place. He curled an arm around Theodore to guide him out of the shower, grabbing a nearby towel and wrapping it around him. He leaned him against the sink's counter and ruffled his hair dry with another towel, making sure he was nice and dry before he stepped out to get a pair of pajamas for Theodore. The whole time, Theodore clung to him and Francis made no indication of shucking him away. He held the young vampire close to his side as he guided him through his apartment and to his bed where he carefully laid him down and tucked him in. Francis excused himself momentarily while he boiled some water before he stepped into the bathroom himself for a quick shower and a change of clothes.

Francis stepped out with wet hair and a towel draped around his shoulders. He motioned to the kitchen where the water had just finished boiling and poured two cups of chamomile and lavender tea, with a squeeze of lemon and a dollop of honey. He rested them over a tray, as well as a bag of deer blood before he padded towards Theodore who merely laid there, staring out the window emptily. He sighed, settling the tray beside Theodore and sitting on the edge of the bed while he watched the man pinch the bridge of his nose and squeeze his eyes shut. As if to shove away a memory that kept pestering him like an insufferable mosquito.

"Theodore, can you tell me what happened tonight? Do you...want to talk about what happened? Do you...remember?", Francis asked.

Francis looked at the man with great concern. It took Theodore a moment to respond, and when he did...it came out broken and panic-filled. He looked at him with a wide, desperate look while his chest rose and fell rapidly. Francis leaned forward and rested a hand against Theodore's chest, delicately rubbing circles against the smooth area and occasionally adding a bit of pressure. From what he could understand from the broken stream of words Theodore was shakily spewing at him, something happened with Mizuki, and somehow she believed that Theodore was working with Maximus to...to do what? It was hard to imagine Mizuki hating anything, really. She was usually so soft-spoken and kind, but whatever she said or did had shaken Theodore to his core, and the guilt was wearing him down.

That was when Theodore asked for his reassurance and advice, and Francis softened at the man's vulnerable line of questioning. The vampire reached for Theodore's hand, offering it a reassuring squeeze before he licked his lips and responded, "Of course you would never. I know...you would never dream of working with that snake of a man", he offered kindly, smiling for Theodore.

"Right now, there is nothing to be done. Right now, you will focus on getting some proper rest and drinking your tea. Tomorrow...we'll figure out our next step, but more than anything...this sounds like a miscommunication issue that can be resolved with a conversation. I'm sure if you approach her with honesty and sincerity, she'll listen. I'll make sure of it. Okay? I'm in your corner, no worries", he smiled, "For now, drink your tea, I'll join you in a second", he hummed, standing up and heading towards the kitchen to turn off the light and take care of any minor, but necessary cleaning.

Francis then joined Theodore in bed, slipping in and ensuring the man took gentle sips of his tea. He kept the bedside lamp on for some light reading, occasionally looking to Theodore to ensure he was okay, maybe even asleep. After another half hour, Francis rested the book to the side and turned off the lamp to wish Theodore a good night, "Normally, I share this bed with many of my partners...never had a sleepover with a friend before. I know the circumstances are tense and sad, but...this is kind of nice", he admitted. No pressure to perform, no awkward walk of shame. Just a young vampire he considered a good friend.

"Good night, Theodore...you'll see, tomorrow is a new day and we'll clear the air", Francis insisted with his most optimistic smile.

The following morning, Francis woke up first. Naturally, considering the night Theodore had previously. He slid out of bed, stretched out his body, and let out a silent yawn while he did. He padded across the apartment and towards the kitchen, where he began to tinker with his coffee maker. Added a few more cups considering he had a guest this morning.

As the coffee began to brew, Francis scrolled through his news app and read the latest articles from this morning.

There was one from The New Yorker, titled: "Woman jumps off from the Four Seasons Hotel".

Sounds kind of grim. Francis' brows puckered together as he continued reading.

"New York, November 28. A 24-year-old woman allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the Four Seasons Hotel located on 57th St. New York.

The body of the well-known photographer Mizuki Chiba was found in a pool of blood sometime after she jumped in the early hours of the day, startling passerbyers, the New York police station official said, adding that a probe is underway to find out why she took this step.

Investigators initially considered it a homicide but after some context clues..."​

Francis stopped reading. He slammed his phone down and covered his mouth while he hunched over his kitchen counter, trying to keep himself from dry heaving. Mizuki...Impossible, she couldn't die. The only way a vampire could die would be involving foul play and silver. Unless...Maximus or the Council made it look like a suicide...Not that they would have any reason to kill Mizuki, but—...

Francis quickly grabbed his phone and scrolled through his news articles for The Veiled City, a newspaper article written by supernaturals for supernaturals. They had also reported on Mizuki's death, knowing she was from the Lasombra and theorizing what exactly happened. Two Lasombra deaths in one month, and Samantha was in prison. So, it wasn't Samantha...all fingers were being pointed toward the leader of the Lasombra.

But, Francis didn't care...because...He looked up towards his bed where Theodore rested, not knowing how he'd have the heart to tell him. He was going to blame himself, he just knew. He quickly slid out of the news app and into his messenger app to find...an unread message from Mizuki.

With bated breath, he opened the message and found it was a warning for Theodore. Francis sighed, melancholy beginning to spread through his chest. He went into their group chat, "Guys, did you see the latest news? It's horrible".

That was when he pushed himself away from the counter, dragging his feet towards his bed where he sat down to delicately wake Theodore, "...Theo? Hey, Theo? Look, we need to talk...something bad happened, it's Mizuki...", he murmured softly, "I rather you hear it from me first, and I don't want to set false expectations for you", he murmured, resting his phone over Theodore's lap with the news article, "...I'm sorry".

 

[Pepsionne]

Theodore
Location: Francis' Apartment​

Relief flooded through Theodore’s body, washing away the panic and fear that lingered within his muscles. He pushed back into the pillows that Francis had propped up for him. The soft sound of rustling fabric filled his ears. Francis was smiling at him, having trusted Theodore’s choppy explanation of what had happened earlier that day. It felt validating to have his voice heard and understood after his weak protests were ignored earlier. He had almost begun to doubt his own intentions after letting Mizuki’s words spiral within his own thoughts all day.

His eyes flit to the tea Francis had gestured towards before motioning to leave. Theodore stared at the steam that curled softly into the air while the sound of footsteps faded deeper into the apartment. I’m in your corner. No worries. The soft words turned over in his mind, yet Theodore found himself hesitating from allowing them to fully quell the uneasy feeling churning in his stomach. What did Francis owe him to be this kind? Sure, he was friends with Samantha, but was that alone enough to justify him going to these lengths for him? Theodore wasn’t sure what the answer was to that, and he wasn’t going to figure that out tonight. He stayed silent even as Francis returned to the room after a handful of minutes, only glancing to the side as the other man slid into bed beside him.

A small smile betrayed his stoic expression once Francis confessed who his average bed partner consisted of, but he had to agree. Sharing a bed with someone like Francis was--nice. It reminded Theodore of what he imagined having an older brother would be like, allowing himself to be vulnerable and cared for. “Oh yeah? You’re more of a player than I thought huh?” Theodore huffed softly.

“It is nice,” He added after a beat of silence, letting a deep sigh escape his lungs and dissipate into the darkness of the room above them. Soft flickering lights shone dimly into the room from the city far below, casting a soft blue glow to penetrate the atmosphere. Theodore nodded his response of goodnight. He peered at Francis from the corner of his eye, noticing the bright gleam of a smile that the man tossed his way. They were kind words but they held no weight for him. It was easy to say that tomorrow would be a new day, simply because it would be. The moon would slowly drift away and the sun would rise, everyday like clockwork. No matter how long the sun hid behind the horizon, though, when it finally reappeared it would not change the fact that Samantha was still in prison and that Mizuki hated him. His chest began to ache in a hollow free fall of despair from the thought. Theodore shuffled around awkwardly, unable to get comfortable the tighter his chest grew. He eventually settled on his side, his eyes glancing up at Francis in a moment of hesitation before he pushed himself closer, pressing his forehead into the other man’s arm in search of some kind of physical contact to ground him from tunneling into an emotional mess. Theodore’s wavy hair, puffy having been towel dried from the shower earlier, pressed upward in a mess from the movement. He then stilled, feeling the solid presence of Francis close to him and not long after lost himself to sleep.

The next morning, he found himself being awoken to the sounds of Francis’ voice calling out for him. His voice was soft, so as to not startle Theodore awake suddenly, but there was a certain edge to it, some kind of barely concealed dread that had Theodore sitting upright uneasily. “What--what is it?” He asked, his voice scratchy as he rubbed sleep from his eyes. His head pounded, like it was filled with heavy sand bags that slowed down the process of each thought in his mind. God, this hangover was going to be a painful one. He winced against the bright light that filtered in from the large window on the other side of the room while Francis pushed his phone across the covers and into Theodore’s view. The vampire looked down at the bright screen of the phone, his vision taking a second to focus as he squinted to adjust to the bright light. When the stark words of the article finally registered in his mind, Theodore’s expression remained empty.

“What is this, some kind of joke?” He asked, brow furrowed. His blue eyes were steely in disbelief when they searched across Francis’ stern features. Theodore didn’t know what exactly he was searching for. Some kind of break in the act to catch Francis’ prank off guard and slowly unravel the joke? Even just a subtle twitch of literally any emotion besides the hollow look of somber horror that seemed to dull Francis’ usually glowing complexion would be enough. Theodore dropped his eyes back to the article to read further, but after a few seconds in, he abruptly switched the lock screen on, cutting the white blue light into an empty black. Theodore set the phone screen down onto the bed. He pinched the bridge of his nose to silence the onslaught of emotions that felt like they were bubbling in his chest, each one racing to be the first to overtake his body. Which was he meant to feel first? Anger? Despair? Sorrow?

Theodore’s bare feet hit the ground with a harsh thump as his body instinctively rocketed up from the bed. He said nothing to Francis as he raced to the bathroom, a cold sweat pricking at his brow and encompassing each of his limbs. Apparently, out of all the emotions racing up through his body, nausea seemed the first to reach him. Theodore vomited for the second time in less than twenty four hours, his body heaved over as the tremors of the act shook every nerve in his body.

“Vampires can’t die like that,” Theodore finally said after his body had finished ejecting whatever bile he had left in his stomach. His voice was hoarse, head still bowed down over the bowl of the toilet. He spit once with a heavy sigh before flushing the water. His body felt weak, limbs heavy and impossible to lift. Instead of rejoining Francis in his bedroom, Theodore simply flopped over onto his side, feeling the cool slick tile seep into the feverish clamminess of his skin. “No matter how badly they’re injured, unless there was silver involved there’s just--there’s just no way.”

Theodore looked over at Francis for confirmation, his body still a puddle of limbs on the floor of the man’s bathroom. A flicker of desperation clawed his body, and the loud thoughts that began to flood his mind were too strong for him to quell. “There’s no way someone could have killed her!” Theodore suddenly yelled, too impatient for Francis’ answer. “Right? Right?” A choked sob wracked his body, but Theodore swallowed down the sound. His body trembled against the cold tile, unable to keep his thoughts stilled for a second. Everything from excuses, explanations to walkthroughs of what possibly could have happened to Mizuki all demanded his attention at once, fragmenting his ability to focus and think clearly.

“I feel sick,” Theodore said in a weak tone, the soft warmth of his breath fogging the glossy tile briefly. "What am I supposed to do about this?"

 

[Razvi-sama]

Francis

Location: New York - Francis' Apartment | Black Market

"The Lasombra is possibly looking to start a witch hunt against Theodore. I don't know what's true or not anymore, last I heard he was sleeping with the enemy. Do what you will with that information"​

Francis rested a delicate hand over Theodore. He felt horrible to have to wake him with bad news. Though knew, that it was a necessary evil as he had to act quickly. He gently stirred him awake, allowing him to go through the motions of being woken up unexpectedly. Especially after suffering the evening Theodore had gone through. The elder vampire held a frown for most of the interaction, trying to soften for Theodore for when he managed to prompt him to wake and get him to sit up. He rested a hand behind Theodore's back, helping him up as he sleepily asked what was going on. Francis drew in a heavy breath and believed the best way to go about this, was to get it over with.

Francis slid the phone between Theodore's hands with the news article opened for Theodore to read over, insisting he had news about Mizuki. Even apologizing quietly, and waiting for the man's response. Theodore moved lathargically and slowly, the exhaustion heavy in his voice. He winced at any sign of light, looking more like a defenseless, kicked animal than anything else at this point. He squinted down at the phone that had been forcibly shoved into his hands, looking down to the news article titled: "Lasombra vampiress found dead outside of Four Seasons". He showed him the article from 'The Veiled City', believing that the mortal recantation of this tragedy was simply full of empty words and untrue statements. In this supernatural paper, made by and for supernatural, they went further in depth in their research and their retelling of the news. Even going as far as to remind the reader that this was the second Lasombra member to die mysteriously, and even going as far as to blame...Maximus. Surely, this would catch his attention, and Francis knew that he would spare no time in turning this against Theodore if they were to take Mizuko's warning seriously.

Francis sat patiently and waited for Theodore's reaction. Whatever it was to be, he would be there to help him. At first, it didn't seem like the young vampire was properly processing what he was reading to begin with. His expression remained blank, his gaze emptily reading over the words, and even going as far as to initially believe that...well, it was all one big sick joke. Francis rested reassuring a hand over Theodore's knee, his eyes wide and filled with concern. His body language read tensely, feeling uncomfortable with the fact that he was delivering such horrible news. He began to shake his head, as if to tell the young man that this...sadly wasn't a joke, "I don't think The Veiled City would ever take such news so lightly, especially considering how rare it is for one of our own to...pass. Nor would I...I wouldn't wake you if it wasn't important...", he murmured softly, squeezing Theodore's knee. He opened his mouth to add on to what he was saying, only to pause when he noted the rash manner that Theodore quickly locked his phone's screen and rested the device to the side. Oh? Francis remained silent, allowing for the vampire to process...whatever it was he needed to process in that moment. Allowing him to go through the motions.

Francis watched as a wave of emotions rolled through his features rather chaotically. They left as quick as they came, and for every new emotion Francis was trying to change his strategy and words of comfort. At this point, he wasn't sure how exactly to approach Theodore as the shifts in his moods were all so sudden, that suddenly he was turning to the side and abruptly bringing himself up to this feet. Francis leaned forward, trying to grab a hold of Theodore's hand to insist that he stay in bed and to talk to him, but he quickly slipped through his fingers and bolted towards the bathroom! He quickly rose to stand, whipping his attention back as he watched Theodore practically slam against the bathroom door, stumbling into space where the sound of bile splashing against the toilet bowl echoed through the apartment as well as Theodore's retching.

Francis let out a soft breath, giving Theodore a moment to himself before he padded through the apartment in a calmer demeanor. He grabbed his phone and first went to his closet, gathering a duffel bag and some essentials. A few plane t-shirts, sweats, jeans, and a couple of sweaters. He added some socks and a pair of shoes Theodore could borrow, before he turned towards the bathroom to gather some spare toiletries he had stored under his sink. He paused by the door frame, though...looking to Theodore whose body was violently rejecting this news. Shaking from head to toe, gripping onto the bowl as if his life depended on it.

Francis rested the duffle bag by the door before he stepped inside and knelt beside the young vampire, shifting to curl an arm around his shoulders. Trying to keep him still and somewhat warm despite their nature. Vampires can’t die like that, "I know", he whispered to Theodore's statement, reaching towards a spare cup he had in his bathroom, by the sink and motioning to pour a bit of water for Theodore...only to feel him slip through his grip and weakly flopping onto his side over the cold tile floor. He remained by Theodore, though, and rested the cup of water beside him while he soothingly ran his fingers through the young man's hair as he continued to ramble. As he continued to try and make sense of this abnormality.

Theodore insisted that silver had to be involved, that there was no plausible way that someone could have killed her, and he looked at him! With such...desperation and need. As if Francis' reassurance would be the breath of fresh air he needed to continue forward. He choked, he sobbed, he gasped, he swallowed, he...he processed. All he could do was process and try to come up with some logical explanation that couldn't somehow be pinned back on him. That he...somehow wasn't responsible for this. Francis sighed, nodding as the vampire insisted he felt ill, even going as far as to ask Francis how he should go about this.

"Well...first, you're going to drink some water", Francis began, pushing the cup towards Theodore, "Then, you're going to wash your face and brush your teeth, and get ready...because we're heading out", he stated, slipping out his phone a second time and looking for Mizuki's last text to him. He rested the phone next to Theodore's head, knowing that by shifting his gaze he'd be able to read the text bubble, "I don't know what it is that happened. I don't know if this is somehow foul play from the Lasombra, or any of the other clans. Hell, I don't know if the Council is involved, or if she truly...took her own life. It's not hard to find a silver dagger, Theodore, or injest some. A vampire taking their own life isn't...unheard of", he insisted softly, "But, I do know that she was thinking about you, and still worried about you in her last moments. Whatever you did to Maximus, it seems like he is looking to incarcerate you like he did with Samantha, and I am not letting that happen. So, we're going to the Black Market, where the Council hardly has any jurisdiction, let alone the clans. We can ask Terra and our friends for help, and we'll get to the bottom to what happened to Mizuki and ensure she gets the justice she deserves. But, let's not let her last moments be in vain. Okay? I packed a quick bag for you, I can get your other stuff from your house later. We should leave and then you'll have all the time to grieve, hm?", he offered softly, his tone kind.

Francis rubbed Theodore's back until the young vampire gathered the strength to sit up and stand up. He helped him to his feet, and gave him some privacy to compose himself at least long enough to leave, get in a cab, and make their way down to the Market.

It was certainly a trying and long morning, and Francis kept reading Mizuki's last message over and over again before shifting back to updated articles for to the development of the story. He saw only Antonio had read his message, and left him on seen...He supposed he only met them a couple nights ago, so maybe this wasn't such a big deal to him considering he was a Necromancer...

When Theodore was ready and he deemed himself ready, Francis offered his shoulder to lean on and used his other hand to gather the dufflebag he quickly had packed for Theodore with all the basic essentials as well as some for himself. In case he had to stay underground for a few days, himself. There were a lot of opinion based articles that spoke of a rift within their community, an uneasiness. Surely, this was going to be a tense time for the Council and vampires as a whole until the next big thing popped up.

Francis stepped out of his apartment complex and called for a cab, helping Theodore inside and asking the cab to drive them to the Brooklyn Bridge. The ride was quiet, as Francis tried to give Theodore as much space as he needed to continue to process the tragedy. Once they arrived, he once again offered his shoulder and grabbed the dufflebag before continuing to make his way towards the bridge where they approached the door that manifested itself to patrons of the Black Market. With Theodore's heightened sense of panic, he knew that going through the tunnel was going to be challenging, so he tried to help Theodore anyway he could. Whether it be speeding up or stopping all together to help him breath, until they finally reached the other end and continued their way through the plaza and bazaars until reaching Terra's apartment building as he believed they needed another friend to help guide them through this process underground. And, who best to ask than the one creature who has been living within the Market for years?

Francis felt at ease underground, feeling like there was a lot less survalence on him this way. Knowing this was the right move for Theodore until they figured something else out. He raised his fist, delicately knocking on the door, "Terra? Are you there? It's Francis and Theodore", he called out.

 

[Pepsionne]

Theodore | Terra
Location: Francis' Apartment, Black Market
​

The clammy hot feeling of his skin against the cold tile of Francis’ bathroom left him in a sick discomfort every time he moved. It was a refreshing contrast, but it made Theodore blindingly aware of how flushed and hot his skin really was. He shifted away from the water Francis set down in front of him with a grunt in disgust, his lip curling at the thought of consuming anything in his current state.

“Why would that be such a bad thing?” He whined. “Just let Maximus lock me up with Samantha. At least I can die with her.” The Vampire averted his gaze from Francis', knowing how childish his desperate demands sounded. He was just tired of it all at this point. Tired of trying, tired of clawing his way up an insurmountable mountain whose peak only seemed to get farther the longer he climbed. He just couldn’t care anymore. The past twenty four hours--no, the past three weeks since Samantha had been arrested had been such utter agony that Theodore couldn’t physically pull any more emotions from his chest even though he wanted to. His nausea began to numb itself out into a dull throb, as did the disbelief at the article Francis had showed him. After a beat of laying on the floor in a pathetic heap, Theodore let out a weak “Okay,” in response to Francis’ plans. Okay, he’d drink the water Francis had set out. Okay, he’d get dressed and ready to head into the black market. Okay, he’d follow along behind the man like a buoyant balloon that threatened to drift off into the atmosphere lest Francis let him go at any point.

It didn’t take long for Theodore to get ready. A ritual that usually would take hours to ensure every hair, fold of fabric and accessory was neatly squared away took him a total of ten minutes max. He brushed his teeth, splashed water on his face, and threw on whatever clothing Francis offered him as spares. He didn’t care what his hair looked like, whether his outfit matched or was perfectly pressed. Theodore imagined that if he had seen himself in a mirror a month before, he would be utterly appalled at what he allowed himself to turn into. When had he even become so high maintenance? What was the reason? Maybe he was running from the image of himself he had vowed to leave behind; the monster running around the forest feasting on the cold blood of corpses he would stumble across.

The taxi ride was silent. Francis didn’t offer him any conversation, Theodore assumed it was because the man was giving him his space, but he was much too exhausted to even come up with a topic to speak of. What could they possibly even say to each other during this time? That the weather seemed to be getting chillier? It felt asinine to even think about it. Instead, Theodore rested his head against the window, watching the crowded streets of New York blur past them. He never stopped to realize, to truly sit down and really look full on at how many people lived in New York. The streets were crowded with a fluidly milling crowd. So many faces and stories that would never collide with the world he and Francis lived in. Lucky them.

Theodore suppressed the dreadful groan that tried to escape from his chest once the cab pulled up to the familiar location by the bridge. The park was more crowded than it had been the last few times he had come here with Mizuki, the slightly warmer day driving more people outside in search of some fresh air and exercise. He walked alongside Francis as they maneuvered through the park in an inconspicuous fashion, but two men loaded with bags as if they were headed to the airport weren’t the most common thing to see enjoying the park.

The vampire gave a low sigh upon arriving at the weathered wooden door to the black market. Unlike previous times, however, the thought of making his way through the narrowed cavern-like stairway didn’t heighten his sense of fight or flight. Theodore just wanted it to be over with. Francis fussed around him on their journey down, the blond male turning back every handful of moments to ensure Theodore was doing well or to ask if he wanted to stop. It reminded him of a doting but slightly over caring father. Theodore remembered what Francis had said to them in the diner, that he had once been a father in his human life. Theodore watched the older vampire’s back as he descended the staircase. Was Francis used to this kind of grief? Theodore hadn’t really experienced loss until this point. No one he had been close to in his human life had even died yet, his parents were both alive and well somewhere in Britain. But Francis had lived decades longer than Theodore, maybe even a century or two. How many human connections had he experienced the brief flame of before they were harshly snuffed out?

They reached Terra’s apartment much quicker than Theodore had remembered it taking before. She really did live close to the main hustle and bustle of the market. He supposed it was necessary, Fairies were vulnerable and the protection of many was something they couldn’t afford to go without. Theodore shifted awkwardly behind Francis, his eyes moving around the halls of Terra’s apartment building. It was old but charming, the floors a well worn wood that gave way to soft creaking in certain spots. He waited patiently behind the older male, noting the relaxed slack that had overtaken the man’s posture since arriving underground. He was sure the idea of the council on the hunt was an oppressive feeling, something constantly pricking at the back of his neck with humid breath.

Some shuffling footsteps could be heard inside before Terra’s voice could be heard shouting “Coming!” From somewhere inside. A beat later, the door opened, revealing Terra’s form within.

“Come in, come in, please. I saw the article sent over in the group chat,” She said, her voice dipping into a solemn tone. “Francis, that can’t be true can it?” Her round eyes were widened and glossy, tears beginning to gather at the thought that Mizuki could have passed. Terra liked Mizuki. A lot. She had bonded with the woman much more than she expected, her presence a gentle strength in their small group. To think her life would be cut short by someone else’s hands--it was unthinkable. Had Naomi’s fortune really been right?

Theodore walked in silently, save a small mumbled ‘thanks’ in her direction before he moved to sink down in one of the couches in her living room. Terra knew they had been close before. She imagined him losing Mizuki was akin to her losing Yun-Seo. A sharp pain grasped at her lungs. No--she didn’t want to think about that. She didn’t have to imagine it to know what type of grief Theodore must be feeling at the moment.

Terra caught Francis’ elbow as he motioned towards the living room as well, guiding him over to the kitchen with her. She rested her hip against the counter that lined the wall, her eyes searching his face for any kind of answer to what was happening. “Francis,” She began, her expression turning serious. “You need to tell me. What’s going on?”

--

Caelum
​

Caelum listened to the late morning bustle of students milling about the street of his Brooklyn apartment. It was easier for him to live on this side of the city, blending in with the ever changing crowd of college students that never lived in their apartment long enough to notice the tenant next door never aged. He sat on the balcony clothed in only his boxers and a tank top, feet resting on the rusting iron of the railing that enclosed the small space. The angel tilted his head back, watching the intense blue of the fall afternoon sky begin to show itself. His phone vibrated on the ash littered glass table next to him, which also held his iced coffee. The force of the vibrations caused droplets of beaded condensation to break free and run in rivers to the small pool that had formed on the table..

Caelum sighed, pushing a hand through his frizzy mess of curls when the caller ID showed itself to him. If the Order was calling him, it means something important enough had happened that they felt the need for him to intervene. He could already feel the headache beginning to form from talking to them.

He let the phone ring a couple more times, knowing that it would guarantee to piss of the other person on the line before picking up with a lazy, “Yeah?”

 

[Razvi-sama]

Francis

Location: Black Market - Terra's Apartment​

It was hard to see a friend in such distress. It was moments like these that Francis was reminded of the fact that he didn't really know Theodore that well to truly be able to comfort him. How did he like to be comforted? With a hug or with words...or silence? At this point, he only did what he knew to do best. That was to be patient. If Theodore wanted to vent, then he would be there to listen. If he needed a shoulder to cry on, he could lean in. For now, he offered the vampire some space on their way to the Black Market, as there would be plenty of time to vent there and not in front of some mortal.

The cab ride over was quiet, the two on completely separate ends in the back of the car. Theodore was silently looking out the window, his head pressed against the glass. Every bump on the road seemed to jostle the vampire about, but he didn't seem to be able to muster up the energy to really care. He was solely fixated on the outside, his gaze weakly scanning over each passing mortal or building. He wondered what he was thinking about? His comment about having Maximus merely lock him up was a concerning one. It means he had given up, suffered too much loss at the hand of the Lasombra...and for a moment, it felt like they had won. Not yet, though.

Upon arriving to the Brooklyn Bridge Park, Francis paid the diver and thanked him before helping Theodore out of the cab. He gathered their belongings, which were two large duffle bags, and helped guide Theodore through the rather crowded park that rested near one of the colossal pillars that helped prop the bridge up. Many were sunbathing, others were posing for pictures near the bridge, while they shuffled off just out of sight toward the line of trees and shrubbery that helped disguise the weary door to the supernatural.

Francis carried the bags and guided Theodore through the door into the cavernous stairway leading to the market. Occasionally, he'd pause and look over his shoulder, having remembered the great pains Mizuki would take to ensure that Theodore was okay. There had been a moment, while they weaved through the market, that he had asked Mizuki silently as to why she worried over Theodore every time they made their way up and down the stairway, and she'd simply shrug and smile...insisting softly that it was clear that it distressed her friend, so she just wanted to make sure he was okay. He was already going through so much with Samantha being locked up, she just wanted to be supportive in any way she could. She would then look to Theodore with a sort of starstruck look that made Francis go, "Ah". She was in love.

Francis had no idea what happened between the two and he didn't know if he had the heart to ask Theodore. Not now, not when the wound was so fresh. And, even as they made their journey down the stairway, Theodore showed no sign of panic or fright. He was calm—or was numb the correct word to use here? Whatever it was, it pained him to see him like this. So disheveled, so...broken. The last twenty-four hours had been tough, and with this horrid news that a valued member of their little group had been found dead...it seemed like Theodore wasn't going to catch a break any time soon. Francis paused by the foot of the stairs and quietly waited for Theodore to join his side before the two made their way through the crowds. Francis had rested a hand over the middle of Theodore's back to guide him through and to ensure they weren't separated. However, of course, news of a Lasombra member dying had reached the Market and everyone was gossiping and throwing their theories about. And, each time they passed by a whispering bunch, they received odd sideglances.

Francis tried to pay them no mind, turning to Theodore to weakly murmur at him and softly assure him to pay no mind to these ignorant creatures. What did these goblins and fae know about Mizuki? Nothing. When they saw Terra's apartment building in their line of sight, Francis practically slacked in relief. He would be able to settle Theodore down, maybe get him some blood and a nice cup of something warm, and then...then, he wasn't so sure. He didn't know how to approach this, he didn't know what their next step was going to be. He imagined that due to the sudden attention the Lasombra had gotten and this sudden death, this could pause Samantha's trial as well as open up new evidence that could help her prove her innocence. Especially now that there was talk that Maximus was potentially guilty. Then again, the Council had played directly into Maximus' little pocket, so who knew for sure? He should check in with work and then they could regroup. For now...Theodore needed to sit down.

Francis made his way through the building's entrance, up the few flights of stairs that led directly to Terra's apartment...remembering the last time he had been here, he had smelled a scent he didn't recognize. He hoped she was okay. He looked over his shoulder to ensure Theodore stuck close, the smell of dust and moss heavy in the air. This was most likely a safe house for other fairies, now that he thought about it. He lightly rapped against the hard, worn-down surface of Terra's wooden door, bringing his hand back to himself and waiting for any sign of life. He was just happy to be away from the surface and in a space that no Councilmember would think to look. With the odd disappearances of many fae, fairies specifically, the Council tried not to bother such a frail specimen. Perfect to stuff Theodore into.

The shuffling of footsteps soon led to Terra's charming bell-like tone ringing through the air, assuring them that she was coming. Francis smoothed down his hair and clothes, only to quickly remember Theodore was...right beside him. He cleared his throat and offered Theodore a nervous smile, only for the fairy to suddenly open the door. Oh!

Francis offered his most charming smile, only for it to falter as...he saw how glassy her eyes were, how the tears seemed to build over. A-Ah. It seemed she was also mourning, which was understandable. He smiled at Theodore and offered him a small nudge, as if to encourage him to go on in. He'll take care of the bags. He stood still and quietly watched the vampire as he mumbled out a weak word of gratitude and made his way toward Terra's living room. Flopping down onto the couch, almost as if exasperated. He practically sank into the cushions and Francis couldn't help but give out a weak sigh. He wished he could do more for him...

Francis bobbed his head to Terra in gratitude as she invited them inside, nodding as she insisted she read the article and...Francis, that can’t be true can it? "It's very true, Terra. I'm so sorry...", he murmured weakly, excusing himself while he stepped inside and rested the duffle bags by the door. He closed it behind him, locking it, only to soon find himself being dragged towards Terra's kitchen—oh! What a lovely little space. He looked over the older stove, wondering if he could bake something for Terra, only for him to realize that she seemed to want to have a serious conversation by the way she said his name. Francis raised his eyes back down at her, seeing the way her expression hardened, "I...Terra. I have no idea", he insisted, leaning back to get a small peek at Theodore before returning his attention to Terra.

"It was crazy, Terra. Theodore called me last night and left me some cryptic voicemail about how Mizuki hated him and how he wanted me to apologize because he was about to be locked away for something he was about to regret doing. I-I...I panicked and searched all over the city for him using my resources, and I found him...curled up and bleeding in a bathroom. H-He hadn't done anything, there was no human blood, but...", Francis sighed, running his fingers through his hair, "...but he was distraught. I took him home, he slept over...and then I woke up to a message from Mizuki saying that Maximus is going to basically start a witch hunt against Theodore and to take care of him. Then, I saw the article. She...probably knew something or was involved with something she shouldn't have done alone, and it cost her her life. I need to keep Theodore safe, so I'm hoping he...we? Could bunk here for a bit until we find a more permanent space. As for what happened between Mizuki and Theodore? I have no idea and I'm afraid to ask", he admitted.

"We need to get Caelum and Antonio, maybe the two can help...somehow reach her soul? We could talk to Mizuki, and ask her what happened. We could give Theodore the closure he needs to move on...what do you think?".