A rose by any other name

Anais Lablanche; former Dark Brotherhood assassin (Wayrest order). A vampire seeking purpose and power, and perhaps, a nice dress to go along with it, too. "Always be wary of the thorns on a rose." Independent Skyrim RP blog • Mod is 18+ • May contain NSFW content • No mutli-verses or AU's, please. • Please see the guidelines.

[vampirevendetta]

There is no reason not to start immediately. I am fine.

[bloodiedlace]

Very well. When you are ready then. And I hope it is sooner, rather than later.

[constructionset]

Tell us about your...Finish the sentence!

[vampirevendetta]

This is where I have to be. I have to end this.

[She takes a slow, even, unnecessary breath.] …Fine. It…it could be useful.

[bloodiedlace]

Good.

You know some magic, you can learn this. Harness it.

We don’t have to do it now, but when you are ready, I will be here to help.

[vampirevendetta]

[Still shaking with emotion, Hunter doesn’t move. After a moment of silence, she speaks again, trying to restrain her voice and her emotion.]

…Where would I go? There isn…is not anywhere else to be.

[bloodiedlace]

[ Anaïs gestures to their surroundings. ]

You’ve convinced me to come all the way here, with you. Don’t start telling me there’s not anywhere else to be.

We have to make the best of our situation.

[bloodiedlace]

I’m beginning to think Azarath’s forgotten all about me.

I wonder if I shouldn’t pay that miserable lout a visit.

[vampirevendetta]

[Hunter jerks her arm away, taking a step back, startled. But she stops trying to leave.]

What? Wait for what? [There’s panic creeping into her tone.]

[bloodiedlace]

Don’t go.

[ she frowns ]

I won’t bring it up again.

[vampirevendetta]

This is what he wanted me to be. He made me this.

I don’t– [Her voice cracks, and then she moves for the door.]

[bloodiedlace]

Hunter-- Sister, wait.

[ she tries to grab Hunter by the arm ]

[vampirevendetta]

[Hunter seethes, but it isn’t directed at Anais. It’s focus-less, impotent, and so she paces.] I am not him. I will not become more and more of him, what he planned for me to be.

[bloodiedlace]

You aren’t him. You won’t be.

There are people who all wield swords but not all of them are the same. This is a tool. An extension. It doesn’t have to make you into something you don’t like.

[vampirevendetta]

Because I am uncomfortable.

[bloodiedlace]

[ she frowns ] Why? I thought you wanted to be stronger. I’m trying to help.

[bloodiedlace]

But I’m not weak.

Why are you being so stubborn?

[vampirevendetta]

Why is this so important to you?

[bloodiedlace]

You’re dodging the question.

[bloodiedlace]

You’d be more in tune with your powers, you’d be able to control it better.

There won’t be another moment of weakness for you again.

[vampirevendetta]

I highly doubt that. You are not invincible.

[bloodiedlace]

But I’m not weak.

Why are you being so stubborn?

[vampirevendetta]

And what is it good for?

[bloodiedlace]

You’d be more in tune with your powers, you’d be able to control it better.

There won’t be another moment of weakness for you again.

[vampirevendetta]

The other magic came naturally.

I do not know where to start with this.

[bloodiedlace]

There are nights when you want to give in to senseless violence. You feel like you’re a hunter and everyone else is just helpless prey, there for your taking.

[ a laugh ] I’m waxing dramatic, but it’s those nights where I feel the most in tune with the corvid.

[ and here, she gives a quiet confession ] After that night... a witch of my Wyrd found me. She taught me how to change, I can show you how, too.

[vampirevendetta]

By becoming some sort of mangled, twisted avian?

[bloodiedlace]

Hardly mangled, hardly twisted.

[ and here, she was... sympathetic. It wasn’t what Hunter wanted, it wasn’t what she wanted. ]

But I can’t keep complaining forever, neither could you. We are what we are now, I want to think I can own this affliction.

[rambleinnrose]

Oh, well, thank you!  That’s very nice.  So’s your hair.  How do you get it like that?

[bloodiedlace]

[ Oh! What a charming thing! A little simple, but charming all the same ]

Why, thank you, dearest! 

My hair? [ and here, she gives a sly wink ] Magic, of course.

[vampirevendetta]

[There is a pause, and when Hunter speaks again, she sounds almost offended.]

And you think I should embrace that?

[bloodiedlace]

A little too late to ask that question, don’t you think? You’re what you are now, you might as well make the best of it.

[vampirevendetta]

I do not follow.

[bloodiedlace]

Your wings, our wings are not borne of magic from a witch’s grimoire.

It comes with our... affliction.