Gannen's all pissy today like, what gives? was it because i chopped off a bit of his hair as he slept? who knows!
Claire Keane
Sade Olutola

JVL

Andulka

@theartofmadeline
we're not kids anymore.

⁂
Stranger Things

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styofa doing anything
i don't do bad sauce passes

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wallacepolsom
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open

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Kiana Khansmith

Love Begins
Cosimo Galluzzi

tannertan36
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@lord-leonard
Gannen's all pissy today like, what gives? was it because i chopped off a bit of his hair as he slept? who knows!
But no for real though rescuing me after all that was the plan right? Like you weren't just gonna leave me with Darren... right?
Of course not, after we’d finish dealing with the important matters, Gannen would eventually come get you.
... Did I not count as important matters?!
Do I really need to explain this to you like you were a baby?
It’s as simple as this; war is like chess. There are few crucial figures and then there’s the pawns, both serve the King. While it’s important to look at the other side’s pawns and be aware of them, your own pawns are only there for sacrifice. In this war, Gannen was like a bishop, or a knight. RV and Morgan were rooks. You were a pawn.
Does it make sense now?
......
You could’ve just lied and said yes. It’s not like you ever had problem doing that before.
Oh well
But no for real though rescuing me after all that was the plan right? Like you weren't just gonna leave me with Darren... right?
Of course not, after we’d finish dealing with the important matters, Gannen would eventually come get you.
... Did I not count as important matters?!
Do I really need to explain this to you like you were a baby?
It’s as simple as this; war is like chess. There are few crucial figures and then there’s the pawns, both serve the King. While it’s important to look at the other side’s pawns and be aware of them, your own pawns are only there for sacrifice. In this war, Gannen was like a bishop, or a knight. RV and Morgan were rooks. You were a pawn.
Does it make sense now?
Hey dad I have an important question
what
and i cannot stress this enough
the fuck?
What?
But no for real though rescuing me after all that was the plan right? Like you weren't just gonna leave me with Darren... right?
Of course not, after we’d finish dealing with the important matters, Gannen would eventually come get you.
; ooc ; for whoever requested that pumpkin thing, i’m almost done with it! <3
;; right so I lied but I’m ON IT
; ooc ; for whoever requested that pumpkin thing, i’m almost done with it! <3
Eerie Atmospheric Settings: Plot Starters
Instead of a specific plot to work around, here’s a list of settings that all feature a melancholy, moody, or creepy atmosphere. Simply send me a symbol for a setting you want to RP in, and I’ll either make a starter or approach you to plot!
🌕A full moon night with wind whistling through the trees
🌊The seashore late at night, with lightning over the water in the distance
🏤Stepping into a house that gives off all the wrong vibes
🍁A cold day in late autumn, which is silent and deeply lonely
🎹Nighttime in an ancient house/manor, with the tinkling of piano keys from the next room
💧 Rain in the early morning, so dark that there’s hardly a sunrise
⛪A church right after a funeral, a small handful of people dressed in black hanging their heads in silence
🌳A maze-like forest at dusk, with a sense of anxiety as the sun disappears
⛵On the beach before dawn as remnants of a ship wreck wash onto shore
🍂A chilly, overcast autumn afternoon
🌃Midnight in a busy city, sirens blaring a few blocks away
🎃After dark on Halloween night after trick-or-treating ends
🚘Sitting with a popped tired on the side of a long stretch of road, waiting
⚡Distant thunder from a massive storm headed straight this way
🥀An overgrown garden of nothing but poisonous (or dead, dry) plants
🌾An eerie plot of farmland with seemingly no one around for miles
🐊Murky swampland with posted warnings to keep people away
🔥 A roaring bonfire in the distance on a pitch black night, with dark silhouettes crowded or dancing around it
🚧Standing near old, abandoned train tracks when the bell starts to ring
🐟Taking a swim on an uninhabited plot of beach, noticing ripples in the water
🌿An old-fashioned plantation with secretive locals and a bitter history
💀A cemetery full of dead, dry flowers as if all of the plots have been forgotten, some of the stones cracked or sinking into the dirt
🚇A dingy old subway station, walls chipped to pieces, while waiting for a ride home
🌈The sad silence after a violent storm, debris and wreckage everywhere
👗An attic full of musty clothes and antiques belonging to someone long-dead
❄ A snowstorm locking everyone in their homes, with electricity flickering
🍄An enchanting plot of forest or stream, tiny whispers cutting the silence
🌑Inside of a re-occurring nightmare had time and time again
☔Taking a long walk with an umbrella, struggling with a low, low mood
☕At a quiet cafe, but unfamiliar folk are whispering and staring
🌵A winding road through the desert with only one dingy hotel, its ‘vacancy’ light flickering red
💤Dreaming of scraping nails gainst the window glass, and waking to still hear it
🐕A quiet night, the only sound being the call of coyotes/wolves in the woods
dad can you please stop blasting taylor swift i am trying to SLEEP
then you will sleep listening to Cardigan, normie. anyway stream Folklore ✨🧚🏻♀️
"Hey dad... I found this puppy and... can we keep him? Please?" (Darius is baby and you already made him shoot his uncle let him keep the dog Steve lmao)
“ A puppy? Hm....sure, you can have him, although I think it would be better if you got an adult dog. They’re more useful.”
You had sex with a serial killer?
“I was the serial killer.”
(From @they-called-me-cryleen) Her parents taught her it was rude to stare and that stuck with her. But this called for at least some inconspicuous glances. Something about him was familiar. Not that she could really get a decent look at him on a busy street. But the way he carried himself and the distinctive light hair had caught her attention... "Wait... Shit-!" She hissed, realizing why he was familiar and ducking into an alleyway so he (hopefully) wouldn't see her. "Shitshitshitshit-"
Sometimes, in his excitement, Steve tended to overlook things. It was natural, really. Even a genius like himself could get too wrapped up in thoughts that made his brain feel like it was soaking in dopamine.
And in those moments of his, Gannen Harst proved very valuable.
A soft tapping on his shoulder made him stop in his tracks, turning to look at his mentor, eyebrows raised but lips sealed.
“My Lord….someone follows.”
Steve’s brows furrowed, more in curiosity than annoyance.
Who the hell could be stalking him?
“Did you see what they look like?”
“I could only make out that it was a girl. She is currently hiding.”
A girl?
What in the hell?
Steve looked around briefly in the not-so busy street, the lampposts flickering to life as the sun began to drown and shadows of all kinds danced in the lonely streets.
Then he felt it.
A pair of eyes on him.
Suppressing the smirk that was threatening to break on his lips, Steve shared a knowing look with Gannen.
Then they flitted - together- to position themselves on the roof of a building from which they’d be able to directly see the stalker.
To whoever was following them, it would’ve only appeared as if the two had vanished.
Steve crouched low, getting ready to make his move, but not before studying the prey for a bit.
Gannen shadowed Steve silently.
Eileen may as well have seen a ghost, heart pounding in her chest with anxiety as she walked briskly through the alley.
He didn’t see her. She would be fine as long as he didn’t notice her. And even if he did, what was there to care about? A nobody-nothing teenager in a grungy hoodie with curious eyes? Not likely something that raised a red flag.
And speaking of red, if she could just get back to Mr. Crepsley, she’d be a lot more at ease. In her state of panic, she was unaware that she was being observed. Something her mentor had frequently chastised her for. Above all else, having mistaken him for her Steve. Her dad’s best friend who she considered an uncle from the moment she was born. Instead- one of the most dangerous men to cross paths with, given who and what she was.
When she came to where she last saw Mr. Crepsley, he was gone. Likely having tried to find her because she’d wandered off too far. Again.
“Come on, Old Man!” She hissed her frustration, kicking a crumpled tin can on the concrete. He rarely went after her whenever they’d argue- especially with how often it was. She wasn’t even mad at him; she just wanted time to herself. And, well, she certainly had it now. “It just doesn’t get better than this, does it?”
The two men followed the girl, eventually climbing down from the rooftops to tail her amidst the shadows.
Usually, they wouldn’t have had bothered with a kid staring at them. They got that a lot, even when Gannen painted his skin to match an average human’s. Maybe it was the aura they brought with them or perhaps Steve was just too good looking, but being eyeballed was something they were pretty used to by now.
Why, then, did this girl spike Steve’s curiosity? Was it the strange vibe she was radiating? The way the air shifted around her differently than it did around everyone else? What had drawn him in? He himself had no idea, but he knew he wasn’t going to just let her slip out of his hands.
Before his thoughts could deepen any further, the girl had stopped a good distance away prompting Gannen and Steve to paus as well. They observed her silently, adept eyes and ears alerted.
She seemed frustrated, they noted, as she grumbled something and kicked a can. It clanged and rolled away noisily, giving the two Vampaneze an opportunity to close the distance between them and the girl without immediately attracting attention.
“Geez, what did that poor can do to deserve such treatment?” Steve spoke once they were closer, rather casually. Although his tone dripped with feigned friendship, there was a bite to his words.
Steve leaned against a nearby wall as he said this, arms folded across his chest, eyes narrowing as he waited for the girl to turn around.
Gannen, still quiet, had strategically placed himself so that if any attempts to run were made, he would put an end to them.
Of course, she immediately regretted not listening to her mentor right then.
Eileen all but jumped out of her skin when she saw that Steve had followed- yet she hadn’t noticed Gannen Harst. Only knew he couldn’t be far away.
Still, she had one thing as an advantage: he’d never seen her before. “I just…” She was a terrible liar. “I’m looking for my dad. We had a fight, and…”
Maybe she could just feign ignorance. The thought sounded like it could work- at first anyway. If he had already followed her here, it wasn’t likely to end well.
“I’ll find him, if you’ll excuse me,” she continued, trying not to sound nervous. She wasn’t much of a fighter yet. Mr. Crepsley still kicked her ass whenever he trained her. Underneath her baggy sweatshirt, a fixed-blade hunting knife was kept strapped to her belt loop. So she tried to walk away from him, hand ‘in her pocket’, but really settled on the handle of the blade.
The kid was lying. Steve almost sighed at how obvious it was, but he went along with it, letting her finish.
The way she fidgeted and in the manner which her voice came out, Steve understood she was nervous.
How delightful!
Frantic prey was the best kind of prey.
It was in that moment Steve caught a whiff a strange smell coming from her, something quite familiar but at the same time, rather distinct. The reason Steve couldn’t pin was probably because he was still half Vampaneze, and because the smell was so vague, almost like it wasn’t even there.
Before Steve could continue the conversation and investigate further, however, she was already blurring past him.
He didn’t move to stop her, though. He didn’t have to.
Gannen appeared in front of the girl, sword not drawn but stance offensive, blocking her path.
From where the older Vampaneze had observed, the way she had buried her hands in her pockets had seemed rather unnatural- so he had reason to believe she was hiding a weapon. He also had reason to believe Steve hadn’t noticed this at all.
So when he appeared out of nowhere abruptly, Gannen was expecting her to lash out, which was why he had taken an offensive stance, so he could counter if she tried.
Steve chuckled, his own hands finding their way into the pockets of his pants, still leaning against the wall as he regarded the girl.
“Why don’t we help you look for him?” He said, rather darkly and with no actual intention of doing so.
He didn’t notice Gannen’s eyes widen momentarily- because he’d realised something Steve still hadn’t caught onto yet.
Eileen, recognized Gannen immediately- face painted and all. Though even she could tell it was makeup. How did he get around like that? Despite not raising a hand to her yet, she felt distinctively threatened. By then she at least knew better than to be the one to start a fight. But if they so much as slightly reached for a weapon, she wouldn’t exactly have a choice but to make a move. “Wait, what-“ she was caught off guard by Steve’s offer, just as Gannen had been. “Noooo thank you?“ That sounded a lot less certain than she’d intended. So mustering up some force- “I don’t talk to strangers. As childish as it sounds, it’s kept me alive this long. But thanks.“ She tried to edge around Gannen again, hand still at the handle of her weapon. She’d never had to stab someone before- but she knew better than to hesitate. And she was fast when she had to be.
Gannen’s hand flew out, it was at level with the girl’s waist and managed to stop her in her tracks.
His eyes narrowed as he studied her closely. Steve, who had been about to say something else, was now silent and observing the scene.
“What are you really doing here? And why were you following us, vampire?”
Steve was in the process of rolling his eyes at Gannen’s boring interrogation when Gannen finished his sentence, making Steve pause momentarily to make sense of what was happening.His smile fell, expression hardening and a fog of rage clouding his eyes.
It took a moment, but he blinked and composed himself, his eyes devoid of any emotion again.
Oh this made so much more sense….
That distinct smell Steve hadn’t been able to recognise before….it was the vampire scent.
“Really, is it a vampire thing to blood children? Are child servants that big in the vampire community?” Steve spat, obviously not expecting any answers, pushing himself off the wall and walking towards the duo.
This girl….she could also be a potential hunter…couldn’t she? Maybe, maybe not.Perhaps it depended on whether or not she knew Darren and his little gang.
Steve stopped in front of her, resting an arm on Gannen’s shoulder, smiling again- however, his smile was less playful now and more…..cruel.
“So what were you doing following us around?”
Well… Crap. Game over. Eileen eyed Gannen with a clear look of annoyance before turning back to Steve. “I wasn’t following you, I just happened to see you,“ she motioned to Steve. “I thought you were my uncle- you look a lot like him.“ To say the least. “But other than that, I’m not up to anything. You, however…“ Oh good going, what was she even gonna follow that up with? “We aren’t supposed to be talking. Whatever you’re doing, I can’t take any part of it.“ If they were there, what did that mean for the Steve Leonard of her reality? How did these two even get here? Or did she just blink and end up in some parallel universe? Regardless of what had happened, she knew which fat little man in a yellow suit was to blame for it.
Steve scoffed.
“He looks like me? I bet he’s not even half as handsome as I am.”
Gannen deadpanned, staring ahead in disappointment and briefly losing his entire will to go on, his eyes held the patience of someone who had to deal with this daily….and the patience was slowly running out.
The mentor spoke, beginning to divert the topic and ask her why she said she couldn’t take part in what they were doing. Steve had already moved past that and interrupted.
“Why do you say t-”
“No, of course you can! I have a rather important role in mind for you…” Steve purred, leaving Gannen’s side to slide next to the child, an arm wrapped around her shoulder as he walked forward, slowly dragging her with him.
He motioned for Gannen to remain close by with the hand that was on the child’s shoulder, the one out of her immediate line of sight.
“My Lord, what could you possibly have in mind?” Gannen asked.
They could openly discuss whatever they wanted to do. What was she going to do? Run? She wouldn’t be able to escape.
“She could keep Darius company…he doesn’t tell me but Ive noticed he does get bored amongst adults. He is a child, after all. And also, we could use her as a hostage or something to lure the the enemy out, don’t you think?”
“I suppose so. But they probably do not know her.”
Steve looked down at the child, “Yo, do you know someone called Darren Shan? Or Larten Crapsley?”
btw the Larten of this universe won’t know her either, right?
Eileen could see the anguish in Gannen’s expression and actually sympathized a little bit. She knew all too well what it was like to have to be the sensible one.
She thought maybe she could get away with calling herself a neutral party like Evanna- who couldn’t interfere with destiny’s plan in anyway. At least, she thought she could until Steve began to direct her away- and mention using her as collateral.
She tried to jerk out of his grip, but he had a firm hold on her. And even if she had gotten away, what then? She was an amateur fighter. Gannen was well out of her league. Steve, however… Eh, maybe she could land a hit or two if she fought dirty. But until she had backup, it was either die immediately or bide her time.
“No,” she lied. And though she sounded firm, the way she tensed at the mention of their names was a clear indication. “And if I did, I doubt they’d go out of their way to save some no-namer.”
Nah, he wouldn’t know her. But he might notice some resemblance between her and Darren. Particularly the part where they just mess everything up.
Steve sighed, throwing Gannen a look.
She could just be nervous because she was in the company of two adult Vampaneze, one who seemed unstable and willing to do anything for shock value.
“No matter,” Steve chuckled dryly, “even if they don’t know you, I doubt they’d want to watch a child- especially one of their own kind- suffer a fate possibly worse than death.”
“Stop calling me a child,” she sneered, finally ducking away from him.
An idea came to mind- with Darren and Mr. Crepsley, she might stand a chance at freedom. Three against two were better odds. She didn’t look like much, but she could fight. So she’d play his game for now.
“What ‘fate worse than death’?” She at least could strategize if she knew what was coming. “Does it involve listening to you talk?”
Gannen stiffened and readied himself to pounce on the new hostage if she made a run for it, but thankfully she was smart, for she made no such attempts.
Steve cackled at what the child had pointedly said, shaking his head as he put an arm around her again, this time holding her in place with force.
“You’ll see….you’ll see….”
After that he fell silent, and the trio continued walking in the darkened streets. They went on for a bit without any more disturbances, the silence settling upon them thickly as they strayed from the lamp-lit paths and began trekking into the dark woods.
The moon stood at her full height, in her most glorious form, casting her glow upon the world below. The air had a certain chill- a warning, an inkling, Steve could feel the vibrations, excitations buzzing in the atmosphere.
It reminded him of a certain night…
The quiet alley. The run down buildings. A scared boy standing on the windowsill, about to jump…..
Steve came to an abrupt halt, making the other two companions of his journey stop as well.
“Do it now.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Before the child could question, Gannen opened his mouth and a strangely coloured gas diffused out, rapidly spreading around them.
Steve stood back, watching the smoke engulf the child and waiting for her to fall asleep.
Though Eileen had expected being forcibly moved in one way or another, she hadn’t expected to be incapacitated as well. So when Gannen knocked her out, she had been caught off guard. She breathed in the gas and was soon passed out, dropping to her knees on the concrete and then falling face-first in a heap. She would later wake up with scrapes on her cheek. And when she finally opened her eyes, she jolted up with a sharp gasp. On the floor. She scooted backward until her back came to a wall. In the dark, no less. Weapon gone. No doubt either the Vampaneze Lord or his faithful bodyguard (babysitter) had confiscated it. … Now where the hell was she?
Since the guards positioned outside the girl’s cell chamber had lenient orders regarding checking up on her, it was around 30 minutes after she’d woken up that a guard popped his head in, wearing the expression of someone who was expecting the same thing he had seen when he previously checked in.
But his expression turned to one of mild surprise as he regarded the bundled girl in the corner of the room. He muttered a “finally” under his breath and closed the door again, making his way to where Steve was to deliver the update.
Coincidentally, Steve had just finished teaching Darius how to shoot an arrow gun when the news came, and so he decided to take his son along with him.
Maybe Darius could befriend her and then manipulate her to further trick Darren and co? She WAS a vampire, after all, and they would most likely trust her.
But then again...she seemed like the annoyingly self-righteous types....typical vampire.
Once outside the chamber, Steve cleared his thoughts and threw open the door, standing in the doorframe as he regarded the girl on the floor.
“Slept well?” He smirked, as Darius curiously peered from behind him, expression hard and cold- unlike the casual one his father was wearing.
uwu just finished my theme and it looks bomb asf i’m v proud
i’ve even made a rules page owo
now i guess all that’s left to do is make the headcanon and portrayal page but honestly i shouldn’t be doing these things rn my CIEs are in less than 10 days
(From @they-called-me-cryleen) Her parents taught her it was rude to stare and that stuck with her. But this called for at least some inconspicuous glances. Something about him was familiar. Not that she could really get a decent look at him on a busy street. But the way he carried himself and the distinctive light hair had caught her attention... "Wait... Shit-!" She hissed, realizing why he was familiar and ducking into an alleyway so he (hopefully) wouldn't see her. "Shitshitshitshit-"
Sometimes, in his excitement, Steve tended to overlook things. It was natural, really. Even a genius like himself could get too wrapped up in thoughts that made his brain feel like it was soaking in dopamine.
And in those moments of his, Gannen Harst proved very valuable.
A soft tapping on his shoulder made him stop in his tracks, turning to look at his mentor, eyebrows raised but lips sealed.
“My Lord….someone follows.”
Steve’s brows furrowed, more in curiosity than annoyance.
Who the hell could be stalking him?
“Did you see what they look like?”
“I could only make out that it was a girl. She is currently hiding.”
A girl?
What in the hell?
Steve looked around briefly in the not-so busy street, the lampposts flickering to life as the sun began to drown and shadows of all kinds danced in the lonely streets.
Then he felt it.
A pair of eyes on him.
Suppressing the smirk that was threatening to break on his lips, Steve shared a knowing look with Gannen.
Then they flitted - together- to position themselves on the roof of a building from which they’d be able to directly see the stalker.
To whoever was following them, it would’ve only appeared as if the two had vanished.
Steve crouched low, getting ready to make his move, but not before studying the prey for a bit.
Gannen shadowed Steve silently.
Eileen may as well have seen a ghost, heart pounding in her chest with anxiety as she walked briskly through the alley.
He didn’t see her. She would be fine as long as he didn’t notice her. And even if he did, what was there to care about? A nobody-nothing teenager in a grungy hoodie with curious eyes? Not likely something that raised a red flag.
And speaking of red, if she could just get back to Mr. Crepsley, she’d be a lot more at ease. In her state of panic, she was unaware that she was being observed. Something her mentor had frequently chastised her for. Above all else, having mistaken him for her Steve. Her dad’s best friend who she considered an uncle from the moment she was born. Instead- one of the most dangerous men to cross paths with, given who and what she was.
When she came to where she last saw Mr. Crepsley, he was gone. Likely having tried to find her because she’d wandered off too far. Again.
“Come on, Old Man!” She hissed her frustration, kicking a crumpled tin can on the concrete. He rarely went after her whenever they’d argue- especially with how often it was. She wasn’t even mad at him; she just wanted time to herself. And, well, she certainly had it now. “It just doesn’t get better than this, does it?”
The two men followed the girl, eventually climbing down from the rooftops to tail her amidst the shadows.
Usually, they wouldn’t have had bothered with a kid staring at them. They got that a lot, even when Gannen painted his skin to match an average human’s. Maybe it was the aura they brought with them or perhaps Steve was just too good looking, but being eyeballed was something they were pretty used to by now.
Why, then, did this girl spike Steve’s curiosity? Was it the strange vibe she was radiating? The way the air shifted around her differently than it did around everyone else? What had drawn him in? He himself had no idea, but he knew he wasn’t going to just let her slip out of his hands.
Before his thoughts could deepen any further, the girl had stopped a good distance away prompting Gannen and Steve to paus as well. They observed her silently, adept eyes and ears alerted.
She seemed frustrated, they noted, as she grumbled something and kicked a can. It clanged and rolled away noisily, giving the two Vampaneze an opportunity to close the distance between them and the girl without immediately attracting attention.
“Geez, what did that poor can do to deserve such treatment?” Steve spoke once they were closer, rather casually. Although his tone dripped with feigned friendship, there was a bite to his words.
Steve leaned against a nearby wall as he said this, arms folded across his chest, eyes narrowing as he waited for the girl to turn around.
Gannen, still quiet, had strategically placed himself so that if any attempts to run were made, he would put an end to them.
Of course, she immediately regretted not listening to her mentor right then.
Eileen all but jumped out of her skin when she saw that Steve had followed- yet she hadn’t noticed Gannen Harst. Only knew he couldn’t be far away.
Still, she had one thing as an advantage: he’d never seen her before. “I just…” She was a terrible liar. “I’m looking for my dad. We had a fight, and…”
Maybe she could just feign ignorance. The thought sounded like it could work- at first anyway. If he had already followed her here, it wasn’t likely to end well.
“I’ll find him, if you’ll excuse me,” she continued, trying not to sound nervous. She wasn’t much of a fighter yet. Mr. Crepsley still kicked her ass whenever he trained her. Underneath her baggy sweatshirt, a fixed-blade hunting knife was kept strapped to her belt loop. So she tried to walk away from him, hand ‘in her pocket’, but really settled on the handle of the blade.
The kid was lying. Steve almost sighed at how obvious it was, but he went along with it, letting her finish.
The way she fidgeted and in the manner which her voice came out, Steve understood she was nervous.
How delightful!
Frantic prey was the best kind of prey.
It was in that moment Steve caught a whiff a strange smell coming from her, something quite familiar but at the same time, rather distinct. The reason Steve couldn’t pin was probably because he was still half Vampaneze, and because the smell was so vague, almost like it wasn’t even there.
Before Steve could continue the conversation and investigate further, however, she was already blurring past him.
He didn’t move to stop her, though. He didn’t have to.
Gannen appeared in front of the girl, sword not drawn but stance offensive, blocking her path.
From where the older Vampaneze had observed, the way she had buried her hands in her pockets had seemed rather unnatural- so he had reason to believe she was hiding a weapon. He also had reason to believe Steve hadn’t noticed this at all.
So when he appeared out of nowhere abruptly, Gannen was expecting her to lash out, which was why he had taken an offensive stance, so he could counter if she tried.
Steve chuckled, his own hands finding their way into the pockets of his pants, still leaning against the wall as he regarded the girl.
“Why don’t we help you look for him?” He said, rather darkly and with no actual intention of doing so.
He didn’t notice Gannen’s eyes widen momentarily- because he’d realised something Steve still hadn’t caught onto yet.
Eileen, recognized Gannen immediately- face painted and all. Though even she could tell it was makeup. How did he get around like that? Despite not raising a hand to her yet, she felt distinctively threatened. By then she at least knew better than to be the one to start a fight. But if they so much as slightly reached for a weapon, she wouldn’t exactly have a choice but to make a move. “Wait, what-“ she was caught off guard by Steve’s offer, just as Gannen had been. “Noooo thank you?“ That sounded a lot less certain than she’d intended. So mustering up some force- “I don’t talk to strangers. As childish as it sounds, it’s kept me alive this long. But thanks.“ She tried to edge around Gannen again, hand still at the handle of her weapon. She’d never had to stab someone before- but she knew better than to hesitate. And she was fast when she had to be.
Gannen’s hand flew out, it was at level with the girl’s waist and managed to stop her in her tracks.
His eyes narrowed as he studied her closely. Steve, who had been about to say something else, was now silent and observing the scene.
“What are you really doing here? And why were you following us, vampire?”
Steve was in the process of rolling his eyes at Gannen’s boring interrogation when Gannen finished his sentence, making Steve pause momentarily to make sense of what was happening.His smile fell, expression hardening and a fog of rage clouding his eyes.
It took a moment, but he blinked and composed himself, his eyes devoid of any emotion again.
Oh this made so much more sense….
That distinct smell Steve hadn’t been able to recognise before….it was the vampire scent.
“Really, is it a vampire thing to blood children? Are child servants that big in the vampire community?” Steve spat, obviously not expecting any answers, pushing himself off the wall and walking towards the duo.
This girl….she could also be a potential hunter…couldn’t she? Maybe, maybe not.Perhaps it depended on whether or not she knew Darren and his little gang.
Steve stopped in front of her, resting an arm on Gannen’s shoulder, smiling again- however, his smile was less playful now and more…..cruel.
“So what were you doing following us around?”
Well… Crap. Game over. Eileen eyed Gannen with a clear look of annoyance before turning back to Steve. “I wasn’t following you, I just happened to see you,“ she motioned to Steve. “I thought you were my uncle- you look a lot like him.“ To say the least. “But other than that, I’m not up to anything. You, however…“ Oh good going, what was she even gonna follow that up with? “We aren’t supposed to be talking. Whatever you’re doing, I can’t take any part of it.“ If they were there, what did that mean for the Steve Leonard of her reality? How did these two even get here? Or did she just blink and end up in some parallel universe? Regardless of what had happened, she knew which fat little man in a yellow suit was to blame for it.
Steve scoffed.
“He looks like me? I bet he’s not even half as handsome as I am.”
Gannen deadpanned, staring ahead in disappointment and briefly losing his entire will to go on, his eyes held the patience of someone who had to deal with this daily….and the patience was slowly running out.
The mentor spoke, beginning to divert the topic and ask her why she said she couldn’t take part in what they were doing. Steve had already moved past that and interrupted.
“Why do you say t-”
“No, of course you can! I have a rather important role in mind for you…” Steve purred, leaving Gannen’s side to slide next to the child, an arm wrapped around her shoulder as he walked forward, slowly dragging her with him.
He motioned for Gannen to remain close by with the hand that was on the child’s shoulder, the one out of her immediate line of sight.
“My Lord, what could you possibly have in mind?” Gannen asked.
They could openly discuss whatever they wanted to do. What was she going to do? Run? She wouldn’t be able to escape.
“She could keep Darius company…he doesn’t tell me but Ive noticed he does get bored amongst adults. He is a child, after all. And also, we could use her as a hostage or something to lure the the enemy out, don’t you think?”
“I suppose so. But they probably do not know her.”
Steve looked down at the child, “Yo, do you know someone called Darren Shan? Or Larten Crapsley?”
btw the Larten of this universe won’t know her either, right?
Eileen could see the anguish in Gannen’s expression and actually sympathized a little bit. She knew all too well what it was like to have to be the sensible one.
She thought maybe she could get away with calling herself a neutral party like Evanna- who couldn’t interfere with destiny’s plan in anyway. At least, she thought she could until Steve began to direct her away- and mention using her as collateral.
She tried to jerk out of his grip, but he had a firm hold on her. And even if she had gotten away, what then? She was an amateur fighter. Gannen was well out of her league. Steve, however… Eh, maybe she could land a hit or two if she fought dirty. But until she had backup, it was either die immediately or bide her time.
“No,” she lied. And though she sounded firm, the way she tensed at the mention of their names was a clear indication. “And if I did, I doubt they’d go out of their way to save some no-namer.”
Nah, he wouldn’t know her. But he might notice some resemblance between her and Darren. Particularly the part where they just mess everything up.
Steve sighed, throwing Gannen a look.
She could just be nervous because she was in the company of two adult Vampaneze, one who seemed unstable and willing to do anything for shock value.
“No matter,” Steve chuckled dryly, “even if they don’t know you, I doubt they’d want to watch a child- especially one of their own kind- suffer a fate possibly worse than death.”
“Stop calling me a child,” she sneered, finally ducking away from him.
An idea came to mind- with Darren and Mr. Crepsley, she might stand a chance at freedom. Three against two were better odds. She didn’t look like much, but she could fight. So she’d play his game for now.
“What ‘fate worse than death’?” She at least could strategize if she knew what was coming. “Does it involve listening to you talk?”
Gannen stiffened and readied himself to pounce on the new hostage if she made a run for it, but thankfully she was smart, for she made no such attempts.
Steve cackled at what the child had pointedly said, shaking his head as he put an arm around her again, this time holding her in place with force.
“You’ll see....you’ll see....”
After that he fell silent, and the trio continued walking in the darkened streets. They went on for a bit without any more disturbances, the silence settling upon them thickly as they strayed from the lamp-lit paths and began trekking into the dark woods.
The moon stood at her full height, in her most glorious form, casting her glow upon the world below. The air had a certain chill- a warning, an inkling, Steve could feel the vibrations, excitations buzzing in the atmosphere.
It reminded him of a certain night...
The quiet alley. The run down buildings. A scared boy standing on the windowsill, about to jump.....
Steve came to an abrupt halt, making the other two companions of his journey stop as well.
“Do it now.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Before the child could question, Gannen opened his mouth and a strangely coloured gas diffused out, rapidly spreading around them.
Steve stood back, watching the smoke engulf the child and waiting for her to fall asleep.
(From @they-called-me-cryleen) Her parents taught her it was rude to stare and that stuck with her. But this called for at least some inconspicuous glances. Something about him was familiar. Not that she could really get a decent look at him on a busy street. But the way he carried himself and the distinctive light hair had caught her attention... "Wait... Shit-!" She hissed, realizing why he was familiar and ducking into an alleyway so he (hopefully) wouldn't see her. "Shitshitshitshit-"
Sometimes, in his excitement, Steve tended to overlook things. It was natural, really. Even a genius like himself could get too wrapped up in thoughts that made his brain feel like it was soaking in dopamine.
And in those moments of his, Gannen Harst proved very valuable.
A soft tapping on his shoulder made him stop in his tracks, turning to look at his mentor, eyebrows raised but lips sealed.
“My Lord….someone follows.”
Steve’s brows furrowed, more in curiosity than annoyance.
Who the hell could be stalking him?
“Did you see what they look like?”
“I could only make out that it was a girl. She is currently hiding.”
A girl?
What in the hell?
Steve looked around briefly in the not-so busy street, the lampposts flickering to life as the sun began to drown and shadows of all kinds danced in the lonely streets.
Then he felt it.
A pair of eyes on him.
Suppressing the smirk that was threatening to break on his lips, Steve shared a knowing look with Gannen.
Then they flitted - together- to position themselves on the roof of a building from which they’d be able to directly see the stalker.
To whoever was following them, it would’ve only appeared as if the two had vanished.
Steve crouched low, getting ready to make his move, but not before studying the prey for a bit.
Gannen shadowed Steve silently.
Eileen may as well have seen a ghost, heart pounding in her chest with anxiety as she walked briskly through the alley.
He didn’t see her. She would be fine as long as he didn’t notice her. And even if he did, what was there to care about? A nobody-nothing teenager in a grungy hoodie with curious eyes? Not likely something that raised a red flag.
And speaking of red, if she could just get back to Mr. Crepsley, she’d be a lot more at ease. In her state of panic, she was unaware that she was being observed. Something her mentor had frequently chastised her for. Above all else, having mistaken him for her Steve. Her dad’s best friend who she considered an uncle from the moment she was born. Instead- one of the most dangerous men to cross paths with, given who and what she was.
When she came to where she last saw Mr. Crepsley, he was gone. Likely having tried to find her because she’d wandered off too far. Again.
“Come on, Old Man!” She hissed her frustration, kicking a crumpled tin can on the concrete. He rarely went after her whenever they’d argue- especially with how often it was. She wasn’t even mad at him; she just wanted time to herself. And, well, she certainly had it now. “It just doesn’t get better than this, does it?”
The two men followed the girl, eventually climbing down from the rooftops to tail her amidst the shadows.
Usually, they wouldn’t have had bothered with a kid staring at them. They got that a lot, even when Gannen painted his skin to match an average human’s. Maybe it was the aura they brought with them or perhaps Steve was just too good looking, but being eyeballed was something they were pretty used to by now.
Why, then, did this girl spike Steve’s curiosity? Was it the strange vibe she was radiating? The way the air shifted around her differently than it did around everyone else? What had drawn him in? He himself had no idea, but he knew he wasn’t going to just let her slip out of his hands.
Before his thoughts could deepen any further, the girl had stopped a good distance away prompting Gannen and Steve to paus as well. They observed her silently, adept eyes and ears alerted.
She seemed frustrated, they noted, as she grumbled something and kicked a can. It clanged and rolled away noisily, giving the two Vampaneze an opportunity to close the distance between them and the girl without immediately attracting attention.
“Geez, what did that poor can do to deserve such treatment?” Steve spoke once they were closer, rather casually. Although his tone dripped with feigned friendship, there was a bite to his words.
Steve leaned against a nearby wall as he said this, arms folded across his chest, eyes narrowing as he waited for the girl to turn around.
Gannen, still quiet, had strategically placed himself so that if any attempts to run were made, he would put an end to them.
Of course, she immediately regretted not listening to her mentor right then.
Eileen all but jumped out of her skin when she saw that Steve had followed- yet she hadn’t noticed Gannen Harst. Only knew he couldn’t be far away.
Still, she had one thing as an advantage: he’d never seen her before. “I just…” She was a terrible liar. “I’m looking for my dad. We had a fight, and…”
Maybe she could just feign ignorance. The thought sounded like it could work- at first anyway. If he had already followed her here, it wasn’t likely to end well.
“I’ll find him, if you’ll excuse me,” she continued, trying not to sound nervous. She wasn’t much of a fighter yet. Mr. Crepsley still kicked her ass whenever he trained her. Underneath her baggy sweatshirt, a fixed-blade hunting knife was kept strapped to her belt loop. So she tried to walk away from him, hand ‘in her pocket’, but really settled on the handle of the blade.
The kid was lying. Steve almost sighed at how obvious it was, but he went along with it, letting her finish.
The way she fidgeted and in the manner which her voice came out, Steve understood she was nervous.
How delightful!
Frantic prey was the best kind of prey.
It was in that moment Steve caught a whiff a strange smell coming from her, something quite familiar but at the same time, rather distinct. The reason Steve couldn’t pin was probably because he was still half Vampaneze, and because the smell was so vague, almost like it wasn’t even there.
Before Steve could continue the conversation and investigate further, however, she was already blurring past him.
He didn’t move to stop her, though. He didn’t have to.
Gannen appeared in front of the girl, sword not drawn but stance offensive, blocking her path.
From where the older Vampaneze had observed, the way she had buried her hands in her pockets had seemed rather unnatural- so he had reason to believe she was hiding a weapon. He also had reason to believe Steve hadn’t noticed this at all.
So when he appeared out of nowhere abruptly, Gannen was expecting her to lash out, which was why he had taken an offensive stance, so he could counter if she tried.
Steve chuckled, his own hands finding their way into the pockets of his pants, still leaning against the wall as he regarded the girl.
“Why don’t we help you look for him?” He said, rather darkly and with no actual intention of doing so.
He didn’t notice Gannen’s eyes widen momentarily- because he’d realised something Steve still hadn’t caught onto yet.
Eileen, recognized Gannen immediately- face painted and all. Though even she could tell it was makeup. How did he get around like that? Despite not raising a hand to her yet, she felt distinctively threatened. By then she at least knew better than to be the one to start a fight. But if they so much as slightly reached for a weapon, she wouldn’t exactly have a choice but to make a move. “Wait, what-“ she was caught off guard by Steve’s offer, just as Gannen had been. “Noooo thank you?“ That sounded a lot less certain than she’d intended. So mustering up some force- “I don’t talk to strangers. As childish as it sounds, it’s kept me alive this long. But thanks.“ She tried to edge around Gannen again, hand still at the handle of her weapon. She’d never had to stab someone before- but she knew better than to hesitate. And she was fast when she had to be.
Gannen’s hand flew out, it was at level with the girl’s waist and managed to stop her in her tracks.
His eyes narrowed as he studied her closely. Steve, who had been about to say something else, was now silent and observing the scene.
“What are you really doing here? And why were you following us, vampire?”
Steve was in the process of rolling his eyes at Gannen’s boring interrogation when Gannen finished his sentence, making Steve pause momentarily to make sense of what was happening.His smile fell, expression hardening and a fog of rage clouding his eyes.
It took a moment, but he blinked and composed himself, his eyes devoid of any emotion again.
Oh this made so much more sense….
That distinct smell Steve hadn’t been able to recognise before….it was the vampire scent.
“Really, is it a vampire thing to blood children? Are child servants that big in the vampire community?” Steve spat, obviously not expecting any answers, pushing himself off the wall and walking towards the duo.
This girl….she could also be a potential hunter…couldn’t she? Maybe, maybe not.Perhaps it depended on whether or not she knew Darren and his little gang.
Steve stopped in front of her, resting an arm on Gannen’s shoulder, smiling again- however, his smile was less playful now and more…..cruel.
“So what were you doing following us around?”
Well… Crap. Game over. Eileen eyed Gannen with a clear look of annoyance before turning back to Steve. “I wasn’t following you, I just happened to see you,“ she motioned to Steve. “I thought you were my uncle- you look a lot like him.“ To say the least. “But other than that, I’m not up to anything. You, however…“ Oh good going, what was she even gonna follow that up with? “We aren’t supposed to be talking. Whatever you’re doing, I can’t take any part of it.“ If they were there, what did that mean for the Steve Leonard of her reality? How did these two even get here? Or did she just blink and end up in some parallel universe? Regardless of what had happened, she knew which fat little man in a yellow suit was to blame for it.
Steve scoffed.
“He looks like me? I bet he’s not even half as handsome as I am.”
Gannen deadpanned, staring ahead in disappointment and briefly losing his entire will to go on, his eyes held the patience of someone who had to deal with this daily….and the patience was slowly running out.
The mentor spoke, beginning to divert the topic and ask her why she said she couldn’t take part in what they were doing. Steve had already moved past that and interrupted.
“Why do you say t-”
“No, of course you can! I have a rather important role in mind for you…” Steve purred, leaving Gannen’s side to slide next to the child, an arm wrapped around her shoulder as he walked forward, slowly dragging her with him.
He motioned for Gannen to remain close by with the hand that was on the child’s shoulder, the one out of her immediate line of sight.
“My Lord, what could you possibly have in mind?” Gannen asked.
They could openly discuss whatever they wanted to do. What was she going to do? Run? She wouldn’t be able to escape.
“She could keep Darius company…he doesn’t tell me but Ive noticed he does get bored amongst adults. He is a child, after all. And also, we could use her as a hostage or something to lure the the enemy out, don’t you think?”
“I suppose so. But they probably do not know her.”
Steve looked down at the child, “Yo, do you know someone called Darren Shan? Or Larten Crapsley?”
btw the Larten of this universe won’t know her either, right?
Eileen could see the anguish in Gannen’s expression and actually sympathized a little bit. She knew all too well what it was like to have to be the sensible one.
She thought maybe she could get away with calling herself a neutral party like Evanna- who couldn’t interfere with destiny’s plan in anyway. At least, she thought she could until Steve began to direct her away- and mention using her as collateral.
She tried to jerk out of his grip, but he had a firm hold on her. And even if she had gotten away, what then? She was an amateur fighter. Gannen was well out of her league. Steve, however… Eh, maybe she could land a hit or two if she fought dirty. But until she had backup, it was either die immediately or bide her time.
“No,” she lied. And though she sounded firm, the way she tensed at the mention of their names was a clear indication. “And if I did, I doubt they’d go out of their way to save some no-namer.”
Nah, he wouldn’t know her. But he might notice some resemblance between her and Darren. Particularly the part where they just mess everything up.
Steve sighed, throwing Gannen a look.
She could just be nervous because she was in the company of two adult Vampaneze, one who seemed unstable and willing to do anything for shock value.
“No matter,” Steve chuckled dryly, “even if they don’t know you, I doubt they’d want to watch a child- especially one of their own kind- suffer a fate possibly worse than death.”
(From @they-called-me-cryleen) Her parents taught her it was rude to stare and that stuck with her. But this called for at least some inconspicuous glances. Something about him was familiar. Not that she could really get a decent look at him on a busy street. But the way he carried himself and the distinctive light hair had caught her attention... "Wait... Shit-!" She hissed, realizing why he was familiar and ducking into an alleyway so he (hopefully) wouldn't see her. "Shitshitshitshit-"
Sometimes, in his excitement, Steve tended to overlook things. It was natural, really. Even a genius like himself could get too wrapped up in thoughts that made his brain feel like it was soaking in dopamine.
And in those moments of his, Gannen Harst proved very valuable.
A soft tapping on his shoulder made him stop in his tracks, turning to look at his mentor, eyebrows raised but lips sealed.
“My Lord….someone follows.”
Steve’s brows furrowed, more in curiosity than annoyance.
Who the hell could be stalking him?
“Did you see what they look like?”
“I could only make out that it was a girl. She is currently hiding.”
A girl?
What in the hell?
Steve looked around briefly in the not-so busy street, the lampposts flickering to life as the sun began to drown and shadows of all kinds danced in the lonely streets.
Then he felt it.
A pair of eyes on him.
Suppressing the smirk that was threatening to break on his lips, Steve shared a knowing look with Gannen.
Then they flitted - together- to position themselves on the roof of a building from which they’d be able to directly see the stalker.
To whoever was following them, it would’ve only appeared as if the two had vanished.
Steve crouched low, getting ready to make his move, but not before studying the prey for a bit.
Gannen shadowed Steve silently.
Eileen may as well have seen a ghost, heart pounding in her chest with anxiety as she walked briskly through the alley.
He didn’t see her. She would be fine as long as he didn’t notice her. And even if he did, what was there to care about? A nobody-nothing teenager in a grungy hoodie with curious eyes? Not likely something that raised a red flag.
And speaking of red, if she could just get back to Mr. Crepsley, she’d be a lot more at ease. In her state of panic, she was unaware that she was being observed. Something her mentor had frequently chastised her for. Above all else, having mistaken him for her Steve. Her dad’s best friend who she considered an uncle from the moment she was born. Instead- one of the most dangerous men to cross paths with, given who and what she was.
When she came to where she last saw Mr. Crepsley, he was gone. Likely having tried to find her because she’d wandered off too far. Again.
“Come on, Old Man!” She hissed her frustration, kicking a crumpled tin can on the concrete. He rarely went after her whenever they’d argue- especially with how often it was. She wasn’t even mad at him; she just wanted time to herself. And, well, she certainly had it now. “It just doesn’t get better than this, does it?”
The two men followed the girl, eventually climbing down from the rooftops to tail her amidst the shadows.
Usually, they wouldn’t have had bothered with a kid staring at them. They got that a lot, even when Gannen painted his skin to match an average human’s. Maybe it was the aura they brought with them or perhaps Steve was just too good looking, but being eyeballed was something they were pretty used to by now.
Why, then, did this girl spike Steve’s curiosity? Was it the strange vibe she was radiating? The way the air shifted around her differently than it did around everyone else? What had drawn him in? He himself had no idea, but he knew he wasn’t going to just let her slip out of his hands.
Before his thoughts could deepen any further, the girl had stopped a good distance away prompting Gannen and Steve to paus as well. They observed her silently, adept eyes and ears alerted.
She seemed frustrated, they noted, as she grumbled something and kicked a can. It clanged and rolled away noisily, giving the two Vampaneze an opportunity to close the distance between them and the girl without immediately attracting attention.
“Geez, what did that poor can do to deserve such treatment?” Steve spoke once they were closer, rather casually. Although his tone dripped with feigned friendship, there was a bite to his words.
Steve leaned against a nearby wall as he said this, arms folded across his chest, eyes narrowing as he waited for the girl to turn around.
Gannen, still quiet, had strategically placed himself so that if any attempts to run were made, he would put an end to them.
Of course, she immediately regretted not listening to her mentor right then.
Eileen all but jumped out of her skin when she saw that Steve had followed- yet she hadn’t noticed Gannen Harst. Only knew he couldn’t be far away.
Still, she had one thing as an advantage: he’d never seen her before. “I just…” She was a terrible liar. “I’m looking for my dad. We had a fight, and…”
Maybe she could just feign ignorance. The thought sounded like it could work- at first anyway. If he had already followed her here, it wasn’t likely to end well.
“I’ll find him, if you’ll excuse me,” she continued, trying not to sound nervous. She wasn’t much of a fighter yet. Mr. Crepsley still kicked her ass whenever he trained her. Underneath her baggy sweatshirt, a fixed-blade hunting knife was kept strapped to her belt loop. So she tried to walk away from him, hand ‘in her pocket’, but really settled on the handle of the blade.
The kid was lying. Steve almost sighed at how obvious it was, but he went along with it, letting her finish.
The way she fidgeted and in the manner which her voice came out, Steve understood she was nervous.
How delightful!
Frantic prey was the best kind of prey.
It was in that moment Steve caught a whiff a strange smell coming from her, something quite familiar but at the same time, rather distinct. The reason Steve couldn’t pin was probably because he was still half Vampaneze, and because the smell was so vague, almost like it wasn’t even there.
Before Steve could continue the conversation and investigate further, however, she was already blurring past him.
He didn’t move to stop her, though. He didn’t have to.
Gannen appeared in front of the girl, sword not drawn but stance offensive, blocking her path.
From where the older Vampaneze had observed, the way she had buried her hands in her pockets had seemed rather unnatural- so he had reason to believe she was hiding a weapon. He also had reason to believe Steve hadn’t noticed this at all.
So when he appeared out of nowhere abruptly, Gannen was expecting her to lash out, which was why he had taken an offensive stance, so he could counter if she tried.
Steve chuckled, his own hands finding their way into the pockets of his pants, still leaning against the wall as he regarded the girl.
“Why don’t we help you look for him?” He said, rather darkly and with no actual intention of doing so.
He didn’t notice Gannen’s eyes widen momentarily- because he’d realised something Steve still hadn’t caught onto yet.
Eileen, recognized Gannen immediately- face painted and all. Though even she could tell it was makeup. How did he get around like that? Despite not raising a hand to her yet, she felt distinctively threatened. By then she at least knew better than to be the one to start a fight. But if they so much as slightly reached for a weapon, she wouldn’t exactly have a choice but to make a move. “Wait, what-“ she was caught off guard by Steve’s offer, just as Gannen had been. “Noooo thank you?“ That sounded a lot less certain than she’d intended. So mustering up some force- “I don’t talk to strangers. As childish as it sounds, it’s kept me alive this long. But thanks.“ She tried to edge around Gannen again, hand still at the handle of her weapon. She’d never had to stab someone before- but she knew better than to hesitate. And she was fast when she had to be.
Gannen’s hand flew out, it was at level with the girl’s waist and managed to stop her in her tracks.
His eyes narrowed as he studied her closely. Steve, who had been about to say something else, was now silent and observing the scene.
“What are you really doing here? And why were you following us, vampire?”
Steve was in the process of rolling his eyes at Gannen’s boring interrogation when Gannen finished his sentence, making Steve pause momentarily to make sense of what was happening.His smile fell, expression hardening and a fog of rage clouding his eyes.
It took a moment, but he blinked and composed himself, his eyes devoid of any emotion again.
Oh this made so much more sense….
That distinct smell Steve hadn’t been able to recognise before….it was the vampire scent.
“Really, is it a vampire thing to blood children? Are child servants that big in the vampire community?” Steve spat, obviously not expecting any answers, pushing himself off the wall and walking towards the duo.
This girl….she could also be a potential hunter…couldn’t she? Maybe, maybe not.Perhaps it depended on whether or not she knew Darren and his little gang.
Steve stopped in front of her, resting an arm on Gannen’s shoulder, smiling again- however, his smile was less playful now and more…..cruel.
“So what were you doing following us around?”
Well… Crap. Game over. Eileen eyed Gannen with a clear look of annoyance before turning back to Steve. “I wasn’t following you, I just happened to see you,“ she motioned to Steve. “I thought you were my uncle- you look a lot like him.“ To say the least. “But other than that, I’m not up to anything. You, however…“ Oh good going, what was she even gonna follow that up with? “We aren’t supposed to be talking. Whatever you’re doing, I can’t take any part of it.“ If they were there, what did that mean for the Steve Leonard of her reality? How did these two even get here? Or did she just blink and end up in some parallel universe? Regardless of what had happened, she knew which fat little man in a yellow suit was to blame for it.
Steve scoffed.
“He looks like me? I bet he’s not even half as handsome as I am.”
Gannen deadpanned, staring ahead in disappointment and briefly losing his entire will to go on, his eyes held the patience of someone who had to deal with this daily....and the patience was slowly running out.
The mentor spoke, beginning to divert the topic and ask her why she said she couldn’t take part in what they were doing. Steve had already moved past that and interrupted.
“Why do you say t-”
“No, of course you can! I have a rather important role in mind for you...” Steve purred, leaving Gannen’s side to slide next to the child, an arm wrapped around her shoulder as he walked forward, slowly dragging her with him.
He motioned for Gannen to remain close by with the hand that was on the child’s shoulder, the one out of her immediate line of sight.
“My Lord, what could you possibly have in mind?” Gannen asked.
They could openly discuss whatever they wanted to do. What was she going to do? Run? She wouldn’t be able to escape.
“She could keep Darius company...he doesn’t tell me but Ive noticed he does get bored amongst adults. He is a child, after all. And also, we could use her as a hostage or something to lure the the enemy out, don’t you think?”
“I suppose so. But they probably do not know her.”
Steve looked down at the child, “Yo, do you know someone called Darren Shan? Or Larten Crapsley?”
btw the Larten of this universe won’t know her either, right?
(From @they-called-me-cryleen) Her parents taught her it was rude to stare and that stuck with her. But this called for at least some inconspicuous glances. Something about him was familiar. Not that she could really get a decent look at him on a busy street. But the way he carried himself and the distinctive light hair had caught her attention... "Wait... Shit-!" She hissed, realizing why he was familiar and ducking into an alleyway so he (hopefully) wouldn't see her. "Shitshitshitshit-"
Sometimes, in his excitement, Steve tended to overlook things. It was natural, really. Even a genius like himself could get too wrapped up in thoughts that made his brain feel like it was soaking in dopamine.
And in those moments of his, Gannen Harst proved very valuable.
A soft tapping on his shoulder made him stop in his tracks, turning to look at his mentor, eyebrows raised but lips sealed.
“My Lord….someone follows.”
Steve’s brows furrowed, more in curiosity than annoyance.
Who the hell could be stalking him?
“Did you see what they look like?”
“I could only make out that it was a girl. She is currently hiding.”
A girl?
What in the hell?
Steve looked around briefly in the not-so busy street, the lampposts flickering to life as the sun began to drown and shadows of all kinds danced in the lonely streets.
Then he felt it.
A pair of eyes on him.
Suppressing the smirk that was threatening to break on his lips, Steve shared a knowing look with Gannen.
Then they flitted - together- to position themselves on the roof of a building from which they’d be able to directly see the stalker.
To whoever was following them, it would’ve only appeared as if the two had vanished.
Steve crouched low, getting ready to make his move, but not before studying the prey for a bit.
Gannen shadowed Steve silently.
Eileen may as well have seen a ghost, heart pounding in her chest with anxiety as she walked briskly through the alley.
He didn’t see her. She would be fine as long as he didn’t notice her. And even if he did, what was there to care about? A nobody-nothing teenager in a grungy hoodie with curious eyes? Not likely something that raised a red flag.
And speaking of red, if she could just get back to Mr. Crepsley, she’d be a lot more at ease. In her state of panic, she was unaware that she was being observed. Something her mentor had frequently chastised her for. Above all else, having mistaken him for her Steve. Her dad’s best friend who she considered an uncle from the moment she was born. Instead- one of the most dangerous men to cross paths with, given who and what she was.
When she came to where she last saw Mr. Crepsley, he was gone. Likely having tried to find her because she’d wandered off too far. Again.
“Come on, Old Man!” She hissed her frustration, kicking a crumpled tin can on the concrete. He rarely went after her whenever they’d argue- especially with how often it was. She wasn’t even mad at him; she just wanted time to herself. And, well, she certainly had it now. “It just doesn’t get better than this, does it?”
The two men followed the girl, eventually climbing down from the rooftops to tail her amidst the shadows.
Usually, they wouldn’t have had bothered with a kid staring at them. They got that a lot, even when Gannen painted his skin to match an average human’s. Maybe it was the aura they brought with them or perhaps Steve was just too good looking, but being eyeballed was something they were pretty used to by now.
Why, then, did this girl spike Steve’s curiosity? Was it the strange vibe she was radiating? The way the air shifted around her differently than it did around everyone else? What had drawn him in? He himself had no idea, but he knew he wasn’t going to just let her slip out of his hands.
Before his thoughts could deepen any further, the girl had stopped a good distance away prompting Gannen and Steve to paus as well. They observed her silently, adept eyes and ears alerted.
She seemed frustrated, they noted, as she grumbled something and kicked a can. It clanged and rolled away noisily, giving the two Vampaneze an opportunity to close the distance between them and the girl without immediately attracting attention.
“Geez, what did that poor can do to deserve such treatment?” Steve spoke once they were closer, rather casually. Although his tone dripped with feigned friendship, there was a bite to his words.
Steve leaned against a nearby wall as he said this, arms folded across his chest, eyes narrowing as he waited for the girl to turn around.
Gannen, still quiet, had strategically placed himself so that if any attempts to run were made, he would put an end to them.
Of course, she immediately regretted not listening to her mentor right then.
Eileen all but jumped out of her skin when she saw that Steve had followed- yet she hadn’t noticed Gannen Harst. Only knew he couldn’t be far away.
Still, she had one thing as an advantage: he’d never seen her before. “I just…” She was a terrible liar. “I’m looking for my dad. We had a fight, and…”
Maybe she could just feign ignorance. The thought sounded like it could work- at first anyway. If he had already followed her here, it wasn’t likely to end well.
“I’ll find him, if you’ll excuse me,” she continued, trying not to sound nervous. She wasn’t much of a fighter yet. Mr. Crepsley still kicked her ass whenever he trained her. Underneath her baggy sweatshirt, a fixed-blade hunting knife was kept strapped to her belt loop. So she tried to walk away from him, hand ‘in her pocket’, but really settled on the handle of the blade.
The kid was lying. Steve almost sighed at how obvious it was, but he went along with it, letting her finish.
The way she fidgeted and in the manner which her voice came out, Steve understood she was nervous.
How delightful!
Frantic prey was the best kind of prey.
It was in that moment Steve caught a whiff a strange smell coming from her, something quite familiar but at the same time, rather distinct. The reason Steve couldn’t pin was probably because he was still half Vampaneze, and because the smell was so vague, almost like it wasn’t even there.
Before Steve could continue the conversation and investigate further, however, she was already blurring past him.
He didn’t move to stop her, though. He didn’t have to.
Gannen appeared in front of the girl, sword not drawn but stance offensive, blocking her path.
From where the older Vampaneze had observed, the way she had buried her hands in her pockets had seemed rather unnatural- so he had reason to believe she was hiding a weapon. He also had reason to believe Steve hadn’t noticed this at all.
So when he appeared out of nowhere abruptly, Gannen was expecting her to lash out, which was why he had taken an offensive stance, so he could counter if she tried.
Steve chuckled, his own hands finding their way into the pockets of his pants, still leaning against the wall as he regarded the girl.
“Why don’t we help you look for him?” He said, rather darkly and with no actual intention of doing so.
He didn’t notice Gannen’s eyes widen momentarily- because he’d realised something Steve still hadn’t caught onto yet.
Eileen, recognized Gannen immediately- face painted and all. Though even she could tell it was makeup. How did he get around like that? Despite not raising a hand to her yet, she felt distinctively threatened. By then she at least knew better than to be the one to start a fight. But if they so much as slightly reached for a weapon, she wouldn’t exactly have a choice but to make a move. “Wait, what-“ she was caught off guard by Steve’s offer, just as Gannen had been. “Noooo thank you?“ That sounded a lot less certain than she’d intended. So mustering up some force- “I don’t talk to strangers. As childish as it sounds, it’s kept me alive this long. But thanks.“ She tried to edge around Gannen again, hand still at the handle of her weapon. She’d never had to stab someone before- but she knew better than to hesitate. And she was fast when she had to be.
Gannen’s hand flew out, it was at level with the girl’s waist and managed to stop her in her tracks.
His eyes narrowed as he studied her closely. Steve, who had been about to say something else, was now silent and observing the scene.
“What are you really doing here? And why were you following us, vampire?”
Steve was in the process of rolling his eyes at Gannen’s boring interrogation when Gannen finished his sentence, making Steve pause momentarily to make sense of what was happening.His smile fell, expression hardening and a fog of rage clouding his eyes.
It took a moment, but he blinked and composed himself, his eyes devoid of any emotion again.
Oh this made so much more sense....
That distinct smell Steve hadn’t been able to recognise before....it was the vampire scent.
“Really, is it a vampire thing to blood children? Are child servants that big in the vampire community?” Steve spat, obviously not expecting any answers, pushing himself off the wall and walking towards the duo.
This girl....she could also be a potential hunter...couldn’t she? Maybe, maybe not.Perhaps it depended on whether or not she knew Darren and his little gang.
Steve stopped in front of her, resting an arm on Gannen’s shoulder, smiling again- however, his smile was less playful now and more.....cruel.
“So what were you doing following us around?”