Whose afraid of little old me?

Vampire Elder * Sisters of the Night * Psychiatrist * 1000+ * Not to be Trifled With

[chris-elkar]

"I don't think I heard the list part." Or maybe he had but that hadn't been the part that stuck out the most to him. He also hadn't thought to ask Teddy about that, but presumably the rosu clan already had all the names they needed, but Chris wasn't sure he liked someone else having that information. "I... yeah." Everything she was saying about this setting up vampires to 'take the first shot' definitely sounded reasonable. "Are they going to refrain from attacking us until something actually happens?" After his own experience he would appreciate some peace, even if it was temporary.

[isabellexlaurent]

"How about the restriction of magic?" Glamour being restricted was bad enough, but the want of Artemis was essentially denying parts of who certain supernaturals were. She had been heavily against almost all the demands if only due to her lack of faith in the peace. "Or that the human representative himself is part of Artemis?" Apparently the Council was ever talented at keeping the wrong secrets. She didn't know if Chris met Howell, but she wanted him to be on guard. Belle was still forming her own opinions about the representative. "That is the ultimate question. We have peace for now, but it is tentative and fragile. It only will take a hair to tip the scale."

[dorianwells]

A genuine laugh escaped him this time. "A snack?" Dorian repeated, turning the words over with obvious amusement. "I'll take that." His gaze lingered on her, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. A meal sounded dangerously close to permanence, and there were certainly worse things than being considered tempting. Isabelle herself seemed to fall rather neatly into the category of dessert—the part of the meal people anticipated most, even if not everyone was fortunate enough to have it.

"Sometimes," he countered with a slight tilt of his head, holding her gaze without offering any further argument. At her question, Dorian's face darkened. His jaw tightened as his attention drifted to the whiskey in his glass. For a moment, he said nothing. The silence stretched between them. When he finally spoke, the easy confidence had been replaced by something far more severe. "Have you ever had something stolen from you?"

"You're not wrong." By the time he looked back at her, the edge had receded beneath his usual composure. "And too much charity isn't charity at all. At some point you're no longer helping someone—you're simply making them dependent." There was little hesitation in the opinion. He'd long since made up his mind on that. Then the corners of his mouth lifted again. "Though some charitable acts are rewarding enough to justify the investment." His gaze lingered on her just long enough to leave little doubt which sort he meant. "I'd be hard-pressed to complain about this one." His answer to her final question came without a trace of uncertainty. "Yes. Always."

[isabellexlaurent]

"Someone that satisfies a desire rather than a need. Someone that someone would want or finds highly attractive. I think it suits you." Or at least that is the way that she heard some of the younger generation using the term. Hopefully her age was not showing. At least he took it as a compliment judging by his reaction. She certainly wouldn't mind a nibble.

She watched the way his eyes darkened. The change was rather abrupt, but clearly she'd hit on a sensitive spot. "Everyone has endured the heartbreak of loss, but I sense that yours is greater than stolen trinket." She leaned forward, giving him her full attention. Whether he was ready to speak on the matter or not, whatever he was hiding piqued Belle's interest. The smooth talker seemed rather shaken by the theft. What it could be baffled Belle.

"An astute observation. Dependency becomes a handicap that can be wielded against a person when none were there before." Even the most independent people could fall under the right set of circumstances. She chuckled lightly, enjoying the banter. "I must say that your act of charity turned out rather fortunate for me as well." She didn't even noticed whether or not the nuisance of a man from earlier this evening was still in the bar. Her focus had narrowed solely to the gentleman in front of her.

[leon-blachedone]

The sentence alone was enough to sour Leon's stomach. The rise of human powers. What an utterly ridiculous thought.

He smirked, able to easily get what Isabelle was implying with her words as she assured it was a vampire party first and foremost.

"Duly noted," he responded back with an appreciative nod. "Very well then.. I'll play by your rules tonight, no worries. We'll be there," he responded back with a nod towards the other's in Leon's entourage nearby. "And perhaps we can have a chat later as well.. I'm curious for your take on matters here since I've been gone. We can save it for post festival of course too, if you'd prefer not to kill the mood."

[isabellexlaurent]

"Just don't stain the painting, darling. Other than that, have fun." What happened in the darkness of the Sisters' home would stay there. It was a night of celebration rather than worry. The vampires deserved to have a bit of fun after all that occurred since the last wine festival. "We shall have that chat when you are ready. Tonight is a celebration. I'll leave you to your enjoyment." She pressed a kiss to the air next to his cheek, grabbing her glass of wine and leaving the private room with the knowledge this was far from over.

[howellmaxen]

“Well.. honestly?  Of course, there, should be no other way,” He mumbled to himself.  “But…” He paused rubbing his chin mildly perplexed how to put it without garnering the return of laughter. “Balance, maybe even unity one day.” Howell didn’t desire wiping out a species, as he suspected some within the community believed. To be fair, he wasn’t unconvinced that some in Artemis desired such an outcome. He wanted to believe he was a realist. There was no need to start a war or drive out nonhumans, and hell they’d have a time doing it if they tried. No working together with a sense of purpose was better than whatever was happening now.

“That is an interesting conundrum.” He sipped his drink, fingers tapping at the glass he sat back on the bar. There was a chance he had got in over his head, fairly more than just a chance. “I assume in this scenario I am the pig.” Howell wasn’t as offended as some others might be, he made it part of his personality to assume all supernaturals wanted to let him know how little he was in the grand scheme of things. “The problem I have with the idea of purpose in life is that it’s subjective. Too many in human politics have recently used that same narrative as a desire to strip women of their rights. That their purpose in life is to have children and it should make them happy to do so.” Considering vampire use to be human, he hoped that some part of her still remembered what it was like to be trapped by such horrid values. “So no I can’t say it’s right to eat the pig but I’m not at the point I can call said person a monster just over their dinner prefences.”

[isabellexlaurent]

"Balance requires the scales to be even. Humans vastly out number the supernatural community. Some would suggest the power imbalance makes up for the sheer numbers." That and the fact that most needed humans to survive couldn't hurt. "I have a friend named Arjun. He is a deity. During the opening night at his gallery, a starved vampire was let on the loose. People were injured and died. Artemis made a movie of the affair. Two more friends who I will not name were injured terribly by Artemis. Buildings burned. Lives ruined or ended. You will forgive me if that doesn't inspire peace in my mind. Some of us aren't looking for a war, yet battles were brought to our door."

"If we are speaking in terms of reality, you would not be the pig unless you are offering yourself for my consumption." She swirled her wine to aerate the blend. "Humans tend to think themselves the only one that are seen as food, but, speaking from the vampire existence, we are not quite so discriminate as to shun anyone willing to offer a vein." There were those who disliked the taste of wolves or certain creatures, but that was more personal taste than moral superiority. "Yet the rules are that vampires cannot prey on humans without consent. They did not think to extend the courtesy to any other species." Inherently selfish but that was not something that she was ready to argue about. "Yet that is all neither here nor there. We are speaking in terms of hypothetical and you are venturing far from the topic. The pig in the experiment was raised for consumption. This isn't Charlotte's Web. There is no questioning what its life goals are. They were made clear from the moment that it was born into an agricultural setting, and the pig agrees with its supposed purpose according to the story." The philosophy of life could patter on for days. The purpose was to make him see the vampire perspective. "Alright so we agree the diner is not fully a villain. Let us get rid of vegetarianism as an option and genetically engineer the pig some more to regrow any bit of flesh chopped off of it. Is it still a sin to eat the pig?"

[henrycallahan]

for: @vievecorcitystarters

location: at a blood drive in a district of your choice

The blood drive had been running since morning, and although Henry's scheduled shift had technically ended half an hour earlier, there were still more people than hands. He didn't particularly mind.

He'd given up his chair to another medic a little while earlier, rolling his shoulders as he stripped off a pair of gloves and dropped them into the clinical waste bin. The donation area remained busy enough that he couldn't quite bring himself to leave, so he settled for restocking supplies, carrying boxes, and stepping in wherever another pair of hands was needed.

Returning with another tray of juice and cookies, Henry noticed someone lingering near the registration desk. "First time?" he asked. "Or are you still deciding whether to bolt?"

[isabellexlaurent]

"Checking the numbers." There might not be a blood shortage at the moment, but one could never be too prepared with the new rules in place. Most of this blood would indeed be used for medical purposes, but there was at least a few bags that she knew might go missing or to a completely different storage facility.

"It's quite a turn out this year. I'm surprised. We've had times when there was more of a need, yet the community is only recently rising to the challenge. It is quite an achievement for all involved." She was truly curious given that Crimson Vale never had these numbers. "Do you think it's the cookies?"

[chris-elkar]

Damn. He'd had a hunch that Isabelle would disapprove of the new rules but she was madder than he'd expected, at least outwardly - and with what he'd seen from Isabelle this was a lot. Was that a sign that she trusted him more if she was willing to be more openly angry around him? Or was this just that much of a sensitive question? Chris decided it was better not to voice any of his own opinions on the rules and he just nodded to show that he was listening. "So, what do you think is going to happen? I could see it being a bit controlled in some places like in the shard, but outside of that I don't see it ending. So I guess it'll have to be covered up" He was conflicted about that last part.

[isabellexlaurent]

"How many of the rules were revealed to you? Do you know they want lists kept of every supernatural being?" Treated no better than animals in a zoo even if the lists were kept by the respective representatives of each species, it was still a danger to have all the information available. She was thankful Elijah helped put the protections around the list of her sisters. "No, darling. This is a way to declare war while looking like the good guys. They are setting up rules that they know will eventually be broken leading to retaliation. It's a very smart move on Artemis's part, and stupidity of the Council."

[dorianwells]

"Dangerous under the right circumstances?" A quiet laugh escaped him. "So you do like your meals with a little spice." His thumb traced the rim of his glass before he lifted it, this time making a conscious effort to focus on the cool weight of it in his hand. "Color me intrigued." His eyes flicked back to hers. "If he was junk food..." A beat passed as Dorian swirled the whiskey around his glass, the corner of his mouth lifting. "What does that make me?"

He settled back into his chair, studying her over the edge of his drink. "You're not wrong. Risk is what keeps life interesting." Interesting... and, lately, exceptionally inconvenient. A faint frown creased his brow as his thoughts wandered somewhere less pleasant. The whole situation was still too strange to fully grasp—too absurd to accept and too real to ignore. Somewhere, someone was walking around wearing his face. Had stolen his life out from under him. And when he got his hands on them, there would be hell to pay. Though, for the moment, there were more immediate matters to concern himself with. "If the outcome is guaranteed," he continued, leaning in slightly as though sharing a secret, "someone else has already claimed the reward."

He mirrored her gesture with a small shrug, the expression on his face suggesting the answer was obvious. "I've always believed in community service." The faint curve of his mouth made it clear he was aware of the irony, though not enough to let it humble him. "Though I suppose not everyone is willing to make such a generous contribution of their time." At her question, he tilted his head slightly, considering it. "Jaded?" He rolled the word around as though deciding whether it suited him before dismissing it with a slight shake of his head. "No. Bored, occasionally. The world isn't short on opportunity," his chin lifted with quiet conviction, "it's short on people willing to seize it."

[isabellexlaurent]

"Guilty." She chuckled, swirling the wine in her glass. Tapping her chin, Belle feigning thinking of exactly how she would describe the man before her. Her lips twitched. "I believe the word is a snack." Some would describe him as the whole meal. He had Isabelle hungering for something other than a nibble.

She raised a single brow, leaning forward the slightest bit. "Interesting is one of those words we use when the truth is not so pretty. It is a rather bland word attempting to make something more palatable than it really is." Nothing worth having was ever something safe. The thrill of that risk only made the reward that much sweeter. She'd lived far too long to not notice the predictability of the daily choices one makes. The patterns of the universe, while chaotic, still existed in an alarming regularity. "Something troubling you?" He looked as if he spoke from the experience of having his treasure snatched from beneath him.

"There is a certain selfishness to doing good deeds. Some wish for the acclaim while others do so for the simple feeling of a job well-done. Either way, there is self-gratification in the acts of charity." It was difficult for any one act to be truly selfless when the motives often were so self-serving. "But then again the benefits of said acts are hardly worth complaint." She hummed, taking a moment to process his remark. "And you are one to always seize an opportunity when presented?"

[howellmaxen]

“Yes, hmm. Well to be honest I didn’t notice his eyes as he was storming away from me.” The man leaned into his drink taking a deep breath but waiting to consume the barrel aged liquid he so desired. He had hopes it would take away the awkwardness of it all, the pressure but alas he wasn’t one to fall easy to it no matter how wild his anxiety and thoughts ran.

“Well like with here, I had hoped to enjoy conversation about the human population along with the entity known as Artemis but my hopes were dashed there….I hope here we could continue?” He tsked, more at himself for allowing the question to be asked than at the powerful woman before him. “Personal Injury. I’m a doctor by trade so I don’t actually enjoy seeing people hurt, personal property on the other hand, well insurance can cover many losses in that department.

Howell turned with his attention fully to her. Had she just asked about his reading preferences? What an odd interrogation, because by this point he was sure ever supernatural that had heard of him wanted his ear. “My apologies, did you mean the author?”

[isabellexlaurent]

Matthew certainly possessed a flair for the dramatics. His exit saying more than any argument could have in a far more succinct manner. The fact that the meeting hadn't lasted more than a few minutes afterwards caused a tizzy in the community. Howell remained an unknown variable whose loyalties were questionable.

"Ah a man's motivational machinations. I should have known." She put her own drink down, giving Howell her full attention. If he wished to speak to her regarding such pressing matters, the least she could do was listen. It was after all the easiest way to allow the enemy to make a mistake. With his ties to Artemis, Howell leaned more enemy than friend. "What exactly is it that you desire to speak of?" The friends who were injured certainly deserved justice, but righteous anger without a target would only lead to more bloodshed.

"The very same." Her lips curled. "He proposes an interesting thought experiment. There is a pig. Now this pig is an intellectual being with thoughts and feelings. He has been breed in such a way that he can freely communicate with others. But the pigs entire purpose in life is to be eaten. It would make him happy to be consumed. Is it still right to eat the pig? Is the person who eats the animal a monster or just someone having dinner?"

[chris-elkar]

"I think it'll be fine." Chris wasn't completely sure how it would all work, but he was willing to be one of the guinea pigs for it because it was Viv, and it sounded like Isabelle was on board. "Honestly, you're getting to the end of my knowledge about it. I'm working on helping get the process right, but it's her project."

He shifted in his seat and leaned towards Isabelle. "What do you think about the stuff from the deal with artemis? Like the stuff where any vampire feeding on a human has to be consensual, or the stuff that apparently came up about turning people." Even though their conversation was private enough, he still felt like this sort of thing shouldn't be discussed loudly.

[isabellexlaurent]

She would need to have a long discussion about the project with Vivianne, although she had faith that Chris was being humble. He probably contributed far more than he was willing to admit. Then again it was interesting to see that there was a limit to his scientific knowledge. Belle would need to fund more research into the field.

Belle pressed her lips together, shoulders growing stiff. "They know not what they do." The idea of consensual feeding was nothing more than an ideal of those without knowledge of how the world worked. Feeding on only those that knew about the existence of vampires would severally limit the pool, especially considering the rules against glamour. "I voted against such restrictions of course, but the idea of the greater good triumphed over common sense."

[miralblue]

Mira watched as his drink was being made and felt a little bit of excitement rise in his stomach. He loved the creamy taste of the coconut and the whipped cream on top. The sweet cherry on top just added a little something. He grabbed the drink and nodded a polite thank you to the bartender before turning his attention back to Isabelle. She looked beautiful. He'd always had an appreciation for gorgeous woman with dark hair and porcelain skin. And she as being very flirty with him. Miral knew it was all an act and that she merely wanted to get away from the man at the bar, but he couldn't help enjoying the attention from her anyway. "Miral, but you can call me Mira, like a mirror, but with an Ah at the end." He said the A sound in a silly accent, trying to make her laugh. He felt her hand brush against his and wondered if she did it on purpose or if it had all been a part of the act. Mira giggled again and took a sip from his straw. "Mmmm. So good." He smiled and offered his elbow to her so that she could link her arm into his as they walked back to their table. He offered one last glance back to the man, now sitting alone at the bar, and gave him a cheeky wink as they walked away together.

[isabellexlaurent]

Was he playing some sort of elaborate joke on her? Surely someone didn't act that excited over a drink, especially not a well drink. When his attention turned back to her, Belle took his arm as they made their way to a private booth where they would be able to speak freely rather than having to deal with the noise of the crowded bar top. "A unique name. I don't think I've ever met another Miral. Is there a story behind it?" Most names had some thought put into them be they from mothers or self-anointed.

The giggle was... something. She hadn't come across anyone quite so emotional in ages. Her usual crowd tended to be more reserved. He was different. Very different than those usually frequenting Kline. She did wonder if another vampire had glamoured him to be so optimistic. "So what brought you to Liber?"

[dorianwells]

His gaze lingered on the red imprint she'd left against the rim of her glass before drifting, unhurriedly, back to her mouth. "Did I save you?" he countered smoothly. "You don't strike me as the damsel-in-distress type." One brow arched. "If anything, I may have saved him. A few more minutes and I think you would've eaten him alive." His smile sharpened. "Skin, hair and all."

His hand moved toward his drink and for the briefest instant, his fingers slipped cleanly through the glass. Right. The reminder of that particular inconvenience arrived abruptly and unwelcome. A muscle tightened in his jaw before he withdrew his hand as though he'd never intended to reach for it at all and returned his attention to her. "Isn't that what they say?" he continued, entirely unfazed. "That the most beautiful things in nature are usually the most deadly." His eyes held hers for a moment longer than necessary before he tried again, this time successfully lifting his glass for a sip.

"Ah, but what a shame." The corner of his mouth curved upward as he shook his head in mock regret. He'd heard that complaint before—that everything became repetitive eventually. Usually from people decades older than she appeared and far less striking. "It seems I'll have to spend more time with you to find out what such a novelty might be." There was an easy certainty to the statement, delivered with the confidence of a man accustomed to getting his way. "A sacrifice I'm prepared to make," he added, sounding thoroughly unconvinced by the hardship of it.

[isabellexlaurent]

"Observant. That could be dangerous under the right circumstances." It would have taken little more than a bit of glamour to send the man on his way, but with the new rules courtesy of Artemis, Dorian's rescue offered a far cleaner alternative. She chuckled. "I never did have a taste for junk food. Refined pallet."

Isabelle understood the difficulties of adjusting to a new life. It might have been well over a millennia ago that she turned from human to vampire, but the transition had been fraught with problems. Problems similar to what the spirit before her was experiencing. "Dancing on the daggers end keep the adrenaline pumping. If you are not on the edge, you are not truly living. At least that is as the old adage goes." She leaned forward ever so slightly. "I get the impression that you are the sort who enjoys high risk, high yield investments."

She smirked, touching her hand to her unbeating heart. "How very noble of you." Normally she might have shaken off the savior when their use expired, yet Belle found something genuinely intriguing about the man from the way that he carried himself to the playful touches in their conversation. "What about you? As a man of the world, have you become jaded by it all?"

[leon-blachedone]

"They'll sign whatever you wish. Formalities... Legalities... It won't be an issue," Leon calmly replied, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at how locked down Isabelle had her matters... It was polished and protected from post-event bullshit which he could appreciate. Simultaneously however, it felt restraining in a way he loathed, finding the idea of paper permission to drain a mortal dry almost hilarious. "Will this be primarily our kind in attendance then? Or will this be a diverse gathering of the city's finest?"

[isabellexlaurent]

"Thank you, darling. It is so tedious, yet with the rise of human powers, the paperwork is a necessary evil." She did miss the days before Artemis rose to power. There might be one or two humans worthy of being a pet or changed into a vampire, but they were the exception rather than the rule. She imagined that Leon learned of the new human representative through his network. It was a pity that humans were now demanding complete equality. "Diversity is key when catering to the pallets of the many guests. Of course as hosts, there might be a slight imbalance towards our kind."

[sizzy-dumisani]

Lost in the Music // Open

Where: somewhere @ winefest

Who: open @vievecorcitystarters

Sizani had been moving to the beat for longer than she knew. She'd lost track of time and where she was at. The music was moving her and she got lost in the moment. Before she knew what was happening, she'd bumped into someone on the dance floor. Sizzy opened her eyes and looked up at the cage dancers on the celling and then to whoever she'd managed to dance into. "Sorry, I kind of got lost in the beat." She giggled softly and hoped the other person would be understanding.

[isabellexlaurent]

Belle chuckled at the exuberance of the dancer before her. Were it anyone else aside from a fellow elder, she would have some sharp words about paying more attention to one's surroundings. Yet the state of hypnosis from the music and the high of the party favors worked in the vampire's favor. There would be less cleanup come morning. "That's quite alright, darling. I take it that you are enjoying the festivities."

[leon-blachedone]

Leon's lips slid into a flattered and amused smirk, nodding as he took the envelope, holding it for a moment to glance over it before he held it up with a flick of his wrist for one of the other vampires in the room to pluck from his grasp instantly. "A personally delivered invitation? I'd be remiss to say no." He couldn't help but think of how insanely different Isabelle was from Izak with regard to manners, willing to bet the council just ate this kind of shit up. Isabelle had the patience of a saint compared to most of their kind, or at least she was good at pretending as much. "Would it be alright if I brought some party favors with me? Or will the sisters be seeing to everything in that regard as well?"

[isabellexlaurent]

Belle noted the associate who took the invitation. She'd been surprised Leon even read it given the hedonistic paradise a private room provided in the midst of a party like this.

"The Sisters are excellent hostesses, always catering to the needs of their guests, but if you are more comfortable with bringing your own, I shalln't stop you provided any organic favors sign the waiver before entering." Leon was an enterprising man himself, she doubted that he would hold the legal protection against Isabelle when she was inviting guests to dive into their deepest desires under the cover of darkness.

[leon-blachedone]

Leon glanced up from where he sat in the private room, several other vampires and a few familiars relaxing and minding their own business as the syndicate head noticed a new presence join them.

“Ah,” he greeted with a devilish grin, making eye contact with the individual. “And to what do I owe this pleasure? Surely you’re not intruding just to say hello.”

[isabellexlaurent]

"As if I would ever be so dull." She took a seat next to him, extending a black envelope towards Leon. "After your exit from the city, I figured you could use some fun. Your personal invitation to the after party thrown by the Sisters." It had been too long since they chatted, but the reunion could wait when it was time for a celebration. Belle knew that this room was for more than a few moments of privacy.

[isabellexlaurent]

OOC: This will be a Blackout After Party held by the Sister's of the Night

[dorianwells]

A corner of Dorian's mouth lifted. "Have you?" He settled back in his seat, attention fixed on her as though the rest of the room had ceased to exist. "There goes my easy option."

Most people were impressed by helicopters, private rooftops, sports cars, a view money couldn't ordinarily buy—but her response suggested she had already seen that particular side of the world. Which made her all the more intriguing. An equal.

"Isabelle Laurent," he repeated her name slowly, deliberately, as though he was savoring it. Women tended to like that sort of thing. It made them feel special. Seen. Whether it worked or not, Dorian saw little reason to abandon a strategy that had served him well for years. Her name was one he recognized. Attached to the right circles. The right kind of people. "That's better than sweetheart." His smile deepened a fraction as he touched a hand to his chest in an easy, habitual gesture. "Call me Dorian. Please."

His gaze drifted briefly to the untouched martini before returning to her. "Now you've made me curious," he continued, folding one arm across the back of the booth, entirely at ease in the shadowed corner he'd claimed for them. "What does an interesting night look like to you?"

[isabellexlaurent]

She hummed her concurrence. She'd been to the top of skyscrapers that challenged the heavens and on planes that allowed her to trapse the earth in hours rather than days. She could buy herself the experience that he offered. Besides the last thing the vampire was was easy.

She raised the glass to her lips, her lipstick leaving a vivid red mark upon the rim. "So Dorian, do you make a habit of playing prince charming to the maidens in need?" The way he practically purred her name suggested a certain familiarity with the game that they played. She was no pawn on the board nor did she ever wish to play with one. It was far more interesting to be challenged by an equal.

"Indulging in the unknown. I'm certain you must understand the lack of thrill when everything becomes so trite and repetitive." In her time upon this earth, she had seen empires rise and fall. She'd heard every joke, every pickup line, every supposed novel idea. True singularity was something that she rarely encountered.