Circinus

Lachlan | Vampire | Editor at Blackwell Media

[lachiexemerson]

noah-blackwell‌:

“You never know.” Noah’s thumb traced over the edge of his coffee cup before he took another sip, watching Lachlan consider his strange concoction over the rim. “Perhaps this is one of the great waves of the future, a new finding that everyone will get into - like pumpkin spice lattes or whatever it is these days.” He doubted it. “But perhaps living flowers might add a better texture.” 

“Huh...” Lachlan considered the other vampire’s words carefully.  It would be very strange indeed if Lachlan was the one to start a worldwide trend.  He didn’t think he would quite know what to do with himself if that was the case.  “I should probably ensure they’re edible flowers if I patent it...” he trailed off, before taking the dive and lifting the mug to his lips and taking a mouthful, pulling a face.

[lachiexemerson]

@clara-ellis

Lachlan had arrived at the address given by the receptionist over the phone and glanced up at the building.  He had taken a few weeks to settle into Hollow Grove, but now that he some sort of routine figured out he knew that he needed to find a new psychiatrist.  It had first been recommended to him by a co-worker back in the 90s when therapists became all the rage (or so he was told).  He knew it was a good idea to stick to it, even if he didn’t go religiously.  It seemed important to keep hold of what little of his mind he had left.  

Pushing open the door he walked inside and up to the front desk.  “Hello.  Lachlan Emerson.  I have a first appointment?”

[lachiexemerson]

noah-blackwell‌:

To be honest at this point, Noah didn’t find anything particularly surprising about Lachlan’s behaviors. Good for him to existing to his own beat - or whatever that phrase was - but the last time he’d checked, dead flowers weren’t exactly an additive to coffee. Noah let his shoulder press up against the door frame, his own coffee mug rising to his lips without a word in response when Lachlan noticed his presence. 

“I take it that wasn’t what you were going for,” he finally remarked, tapping his thumb thoughtfully against the side of his mug and raising an eyebrow curiously. A light smile grew on his lips. “I mean, I’m all for trying new things, but I’m not so sure about this one…” 

“No... it wasn’t,” he replied, frowning deeply at both of instances in front of him.  With a sigh he picked up the glass box and brought it to his lips, tipping it back and taking a long draught of the blood.  There was no use wasting that and it might make his thoughts a little clearer.  Then he was peering over the mug and watching the floating petals, brown but already less crisp and more soggy.  “How bad do you think it’s going to be?  Worthy trying?  Could I pick them out do you think?”

[lachiexemerson]

@noah-blackwell

It had been a slower, if interesting start to the day for Lachlan.  He had arrived at work with a vivarium in his hands and a tortoise in his pocket after adopting it from Monster Jam.  He had set it up on top of a low standing bookshelf that had held a makeshift vase and some very dead flowers in it and he had place his new friend in it before getting to work.  Nearing lunchtime he decided it was definitely time for a coffee and a blood bag and headed for the lunch room, taking the almost disintegrating flowers along with him.  The problem Lachlan possessed was the fact that these days his brain didn’t work very well with multitasking.  So as he stood at the sink with a rinsed out square glass box he managed to pour his blood lunch into there while dropping the deceased flowers into his coffee.  All for the fellow vampire to witness.  “Oh... shit.” 

[lachiexemerson]

what one thing would you change about your past?

“Only one thing? That is hard, many mistakes have been made. Maybe that I would have been braver.”

[lachiexemerson]

everleighking‌:

“Well.. yes. I’m also a veterinarian. Did you think I meant something beyond that?” Her smile was full of cheer, a little bit of fun as well. Still, she stayed silent and poured him a glass and offered it. “Please feel free to sit if you would like.”

“A veterinarian who can turned into the creatures she treats.  I guess that’s one I’d trust with my pet.  But I suppose I did,” he commented.  Taking the glass she offered he sipped at the wine finding it delightfully sweet and he took up her offer and sat himself down.  “So this is daisy wine.”

[lachiexemerson]

geogmorgensen‌:

“I didn’t think it was very good in the first place, but I grew up listening to the man.” Much to his absolute horror, listening to the so-called King was like being submerged in constant nightmares over and over. If he played “Hound Dog,” Geog was going to leave. Quickly. “I’ve never heard of a fattened vampire. Are they common?”

“It is fascinating how he has lasted so long, across generations.  By all means I should have been there through his rise but I... was otherwise preoccupied for those decades,” he said, scratching at the scruff along his chin idly.  “Normally they’re already fat, but drink enough and yes it can happen.”

[lachiexemerson]

harlowxharding‌:

“I–” Harlow could see that he was very much undead, that her portion of the plan with him suffering for an eternity was been fulfilled. However, she hadn’t imagined how seeing him, after all of this time, would make her feel. The absolute hailstorm of feelings inside of her were impossible to control, and yet she needed to look as if she still held control. She stilled herself, not wanting to seem weak in the face of someone who could have every intention of destroying her yet again. “Yes.” She took a step towards him, barely one, pushing back her desire to run. He would not get her fear. She was no coward. She was stronger than before, faster than before, and if he attacked her, she could take him down. “You stole much from me and you didn’t care. Why should I have?”

Now everyone we know is dead, and we’re still here. Perhaps Harlow should have considered that when she turned him. That, one day, they’d be the only two people who understood each other’s stories. What a pathetic idea. “I suppose we are.” She took a moment to steel herself, memories of them on a different beach flooding her mind. She’d thought he was so different, but she knew now the truth. She had just been young and naive, and then she was enraged, and now they were both stuck. And he was here. “What are you doing here, Lachlan? Thirty years of this town being a safe haven, and you just show up?”

“Yes,” he echoed, his eyes tracing over her as she stepped forwards.  His body was tense, ready for action at a moment’s notice should it need it.  He fought like a madman but he shouldn’t underestimate her, she too had survived the war which meant she either knew how to fight or was intelligent enough to get out of it.  With her words his eyes narrowed.  “You should not mistake young stupidity for not caring you know.” Maybe she wasn’t as smart as he remembered her being.

“Maybe I just followed the music,” he pointed out, after all there were many strangers and visitors in the town currently for Monster Jam.  He was surprised she didn’t presume him a fleeting ghost.  “Hollow Grove is not the only safe place you know.  I’ve been working for the Blackwell’s in Canada and took a transfer.  Didn’t realise you would be here.”

[lachiexemerson]

everleighking‌:

“I am and I was,” she agreed, fun twinkling in soft eyes as he seemed to process. A clever man who adapted, Everleigh thought and folded hands in her lap at his surmising. “Among other things, but yes, I am.” She smiled a little and waited with her infinite patience, although watchful. Quietly, she pulled two bottles from the basket. “Would you prefer daisy wine or the more traditional red?”

“Are you trying to say you are more than just a witch?” he asked, questioning his understanding of her statement rather than her belief that she was.  He supposed their status was still only one part of who they were as people.  Sometimes it seemed like it was all he was though... it certainly had been for twenty odd years.  “Daisy wine?  I’ve never had that before, maybe I’ll try it.” 

[lachiexemerson]

geogmorgensen‌:

“Trick question, wouldn’t you think?” Geog smiled only slightly. He didn’t know the man, not to his recollection. “It could have been both, but honestly? I don’t think he’s held up well anyway. Not up to the hype, I mean.”

“Maybe,” he murmured, frowning slightly.  “You don’t think so?  Do you think his voice isn’t as good anymore?  He does look a bit more... portly than what I saw in pictures.  Clearly he has overindulged in blood over the years.” 

[lachiexemerson]

runavollan‌:

Runa was making her way around the festival, trying to avoid most people. She had very little interest in small talk and was mostly there to make sure that nothing went poorly. Her eyes scanned the crowds of people, looking for anyone who stood out as being particularly suspicious. Her track took her away from the stages and towards the carnival area, circling the rides, food stalls, and games. At some point, she found herself by the turtle races. She was inclined to continue on, having almost no interest in the event, when a voice stopped her. “They’re….turtles.” she replied, studying the man. Her gaze flickered to the animals in question. “They’re turtles. They all look the same to me. And i’m pretty sure none are particularly athletic. What are you seeing that i’m not?”

The woman’s reply was less than satisfactory.  If they were just turtles than why were they racing them?  If they were just turtles then they would all finish the race at the same time or not at all.  No, clearly there were differences.  “They must be slightly different.  Look this one seems leaner, more agile,” he started, holding up the one that he had stated looked more athletic.  Then he brought the other one forward.  “And this one as a kind eye and almost smiles.  So do I go a friend or acquaintance?  Do you think they would let me keep it after?” 

[lachiexemerson]

harlowxharding‌:

Harlow could feel herself shaking slightly as she stared him down, unable to turn her gaze away from him. The pair of them seemed to be stuck in this flux, everything changing before them. He was here, in her town, and he could kill her just as easily as she turned him that fateful day. The pair would be evenly matched in a brawl, and, for the first time, she wondered if now they could see each other plainly. But it wasn’t that simple, and her hand trembled at her side as she watched him.

“I thought you were dead.” There was a certain softness, a desperation to Harlow’s voice as she repeated her words, though she’s not sure where it came from. Perhaps it stemmed from seeing a familiar face from her youth, from someone else ago. Part of her yearned to reach out and touch him, see if he was the hallucination. Perhaps her sister would have loved the same honor, being able to touch him. Pearl. Rage filled her as she remembered her sister, remembered her screams, remembered how she’d looked sitting prettily next to Lachlan in her mother’s dining room. “You stole from me.” In more ways than one. He’s taken her life’s work, her reputation, her virginity… the life of their child. She paused. She could take him outside of the town lines easily, if she wanted to. Her respect for the Blackwells would be the only thing stopping her from killing him where he stood if he tried anything. Part of her wished he would.

He could see her shaking, his vampiric vision sharp despite the darkness but he couldn’t tell if it was from fear, rage, or something else.  Perhaps once upon a time he could have done it.  There was a time where they hadn’t needed to talk to convey words.  That was gone however, as was his ability to read situations or emotions properly in general.  She took that.

“Well your thoughts were incorrect, I’m very much undead,” he replied, jaw tensing as he forced his hands to unclench.  He straightened his fingers one by one even though they still stayed awkwardly by his side.  He was starting to see flashes of memories that he had long ago forgotten; moments on a beach very much like this one.  She had said so much about the stars above them and for a long time he had forgotten what they were, what had been his words and what had been hers.  He remembered now though.  “And so you stole back.”  Pearl, his life, his sanity.  They really were as bad as each other.   “Now everyone we know is dead and we’re still here.” 

[lachiexemerson]

harlowxharding‌:

Harlow stared for a long time at Lachlan, and, despite herself, a flood of emotions ran through her. Her handle on her humanity faltered. She could remember the last time they’d met on a beach, one similar to this beach. He’d been so handsome that day, so kind, and now all she could see when she looked at him was the man who’d effectively destroyed her life. Despite herself, one of the first emotions to hit her was a crippling fear, one that she found she couldn’t shake so easily. Ninety years, almost a century, and he hadn’t managed to find her. Her luck must have been something rotten, because, with all that time passed, she’d assumed that he’d died in that cellar. Falsely, she’d assumed she’d been safe.

She took a step back from him, unable to keep her eyes off of him. That’s when his words hit her–You’re real. Her eyes narrowed and she stilled, as she tried to take in his differences. The clear shock on his face was evident, sure, but he’d followed her. Surely he’d known who she was? Did he mean to harm her? Have all her demons come back to torment her, now when her son had just returned home? “–I thought you were dead.” He should’ve been dead. She’d hardly expected that he would have it in him to feed from the maids of her old home, much less survive this long on his own. “You should be dead.”

At first she didn’t respond and he wondered if maybe she was an hallucination after all.  He was just about to reach out and see if she was solid when she took a step back.  Still solid though and he was beginning to realise that she actually was real.  This long and it was here that they had crossed paths again.  He hadn’t thought she was dead, of course it was entirely possible with the war but he had seen her leave very much alive... or undead.  

“I should be dead... then why did you change me?  You should have just killed me.  The thirst is strong in the beginning, you should know,” he pointed out.  He did not think she wanted him as dead and she said she did.  “You stole my life without taking it.”  His fingers twitched at his sides.  Standing before him was the woman who had made him this monster, who broke his soul and his mind.  He could wrap his hands around her neck and be done with it.  What would it solve though, it wouldn’t change him back.

[lachiexemerson]

harlowxharding‌:

Harlow was never much one for music festivals. The crowds unsettled her, the music was far too loud, and the energy there was always wrong. Monster Jam was probably her least favorite part of every year, when the crowds in Hollow Grove grew excessively big and people felt the need to do foolish things. Typically, she’d lock herself away in her Observatory, studying the stars and getting some serious work done while everyone else lost their damn minds. She’d go home to her apartment, play her piano, maybe have a drink of whiskey, and mind her own business.

Which is why it would shock most townsfolk that she was out and about one gloomy Sunday morning, hours before the crack of dawn.The beach had called to her, and, given that most of the miscreants who came to her town would be asleep, she figured it was as good a time as any to get some fresh air. She could remember moments when, with her humanity on, the sound of the waves crashing would soothe her. Had she the wherewithal, she would miss it. What she didn’t miss or account for was the sound of footsteps coming up behind her, and, as she turned to tell the person off, it felt like all the oxygen left the air.

Lachlan.

@lachiexemerson

Since the start of the festival Lachlan had slept minimal amounts.  He had gone exclusively for the camping, to live closer to nature as he had done for years.  Staying by the edge of the site meant that he avoided most of the crowds, only submerging himself when he was in the mood - or for the alcohol.  He had spent the first two decades of his supernatural life living by moonlight only, not knowing that such things as Daylight Rings existed.  Which was why in times like these he usually stayed up through night and slept for a few hours after the light of dawn.

He had decided to walk that night, anywhere his feet took him and it was towards the end of the night that he found himself headed towards the beach.  Old habits clearly died heard.  When he first saw the figure in front of her he thought it an hallucination.  It wouldn’t be the first or last time he would have them, which is why he followed the figure.  She still looked exactly the same as she did the night of that fateful dinner party.  He preferred that memory of her to the one where she was covered in blood.

Usually when he got close enough they disappeared and so when she turned around and he saw her face his eyes widened.

“You’re real?”

[lachiexemerson]

everleighking‌:

Everleigh quietly set food on the blanket, humming pleasantly along with the band. She wasn’t a fan, but the occasional listen didn’t break her heart or threaten to have her walking off. They could have been better, she conceded with a secret, small smile that stayed, along with her dreamily cast eyes when someone spoke and she assumed it was towards her.

It was, she reasoned, kind assurance echoing in the smile she offered to his apparent confusion. “I am real, but I was also a bird a few moments ago. A robin,” she clarified, more for herself than him. “I don’t like whiskey, but you are welcome to some of my wine, if it would help you cope with the confusion.”

“You are real... but was a bird...” he echoed, trying to wrap his head around it all.  Despite being thrust into the world of the supernatural many decades earlier, new revelations threatened to send him back over the edge.  Lachlan took several minutes to try and rationally think about things.  “Witch?” he asked, it was the only thing that made sense.  Either way he definitely felt the itch for something stronger than the bottle of water he had still clasped in his hand.  “Wine sounds good.  I will take you up on that offer thank you.”

[lachiexemerson]

geogmorgensen‌:

Geog caught the statement and glanced over, offered a sympathetic wince. “Age has not treated him well, if that is any condolence.” Personally, Geog would suffer just fine with that disappointment, but it was also fairly amusing to see the others react to it.

“Has age treated any of us well?” he mused, some might say the same about him, if anyone he used to know was still alive.  “Does anyone know if he faked his death because he was turned, or because he couldn’t get away with not ageing anymore?” 

[lachiexemerson]

@runavollan

Lachlan was truly astounded and enthralled by the idea of turtle racing.  There was just something about the lethargic animals all grouped in a circle and put to the test.  It always made him think of The Hare and the Tortoise tale that he first learnt when he was a child.  Only there were no hares in this ring, even though he thought that perhaps that would be even better.  Standing by the container that housed all potential participants he studied them carefully, looking to the figure beside him as he plucked two of them up.  “Which do you think looks like a winner?  I’m thinking that this one on the right looks a little more athletic... but this other one looks like something I could be friends with.”