Mara Mac Cnáimhín

Professor Mac Cnáimhín, RP blog for City of Ruin

[necrobabexx]

who: @vidya-aves Where: the Halloween rave

Mara slinked through the crowd, eyes roaming the shifting masses as she sought out fresh entertainment. She fed on the chaos and revelry that the rave offered, an opportunity to play with little consequence. Spotting a vaguely familiar face she began to quietly track the woman across the werehouse. The witch couldn’t quite place her face, but that didn’t quite matter, the uncertain chase was half the fun, so she tagged along.

The connection struck her just as Vidya slid up to the bar, as she came in close enough to feel the aura of blood that emanated out from her. She worked at the lovely restaurant Eris and Mara had made it a habit of dining at, at least once a week.

“Let me buy you a drink, you work at Bistrot de Ville don’t you? The food is to die for, and I hear you are a vital part of that." she offered in form of compliment, a knowing grin spread across her lips, leaning against the bar as she spoke. "Do you sample the food yourself? Or is that something only the chef’s do?”

[necrobabexx]

Mara loves Halloween, modern celebrations may not have all the macabre elements that she enjoyed in past lives, but she enjoys dressing up and is excited to spend the holiday with her wife ( @erisinblood ). She is particularly enjoying the confusion of going as the Goddess of discord, Eris, while her wife goes as Sinbad.

[therediegogoes]

"Ay, Dios mio!" Diego lets out, slipping into Spanish while his heart rate calms down. The woman seemed to materialize out of nowhere. He knew she was in the building, he had followed her in, stupidly, but he hadn't thought about if the building was hexed or charmed to protect the people inside. He knew he shouldn't run into things without thinking but the prospect of getting the grimoire seemed too enticing.

"I'm so sorry for barging in here," he blurted out, "it just I need help talking to a dead person and you're the only person I could think of." his heart was no longer trying to escape but he felt cold. Like someone had sucked all the heat from the air and opened a freezer.

[necrobabexx]

Mara tried her best not to laugh as the young man yelps, resisting the temptation to respond immediately in the same language she allowed him to calm himself, gesturing for him to join her at the table. She could feel the magic emanating from him, old, strong, if a little untested.

"No need to apologize, Obsidian is made for people like us." she assures him, taking a sip from her drink as the words tumble out of him. It's flattering, his fear and that he would bring a request like this to her. Take the time to track her down. "Talking to the dead is always an interesting request, but you would be surprised how many people make it only to be horribly boring. In those cases, the easiest way is to spill the blood of the living into a fresh grave, and allow the asker to live just long enough to hear where grandaddy hid the gold before joining the land of the dead themselves." She doesn't do anything to hide the grin spreading across her face, satisfied as a cat with a mouse between its paws. Young witches are so fun to play with, all that power waiting to be tapped, potential simmering beneath the surface. "Your request isn't going to be boring is it?"

[therediegogoes]

@necrobabexx

outside obisidan

Diego had been following the witch for a few minutes. He didn't start off the night with the intent of being a stalker but after seeing her, he needed to get some answers.

His abuela had left the hacienda to a Mexican Heritage Preservation group so he can't be mad about that but she hadn't told him where she left her grimoire. It had been left to him in her will but when he went through her things, it was nowhere to be seen. The phial witches had told him about her. A witch that specialized with death.

He had heard other whispers about the witch, that's the reason he's keeping a solid fifty foot gap between her and him. He's doing his best trying to keep to the shadows without letting her get too far but every time she rounds a corner and breaks line of sight, he almost loses her.

I have to get better at tailing people, Diego thought to himself as he watches the woman enter a building through a lamplit back door. Diego rushed across the street as he prepped a lockpicking spell with his hands but as he reached for the door, he noticed the door wasn't locked. He looked around the empty back alley before ducking into the building.

[necrobabexx]

Mara noticed the boy tailing her, and altered her path slightly, heading to Obsidian rather than home. He didn't carry himself like a hunter, too obvious, but it was always better not to confront someone in unknown territory. Besides, if she led him home Eris would probably eat him, and she was curious why he was interested in her and if Eris ate him that would take all the fun of mystery away.

Slipping into the bar was easy, it had become a regular haunt of hers after the young El-Amin had taken over. The atmosphere suited her, and it had enough of a reputation that even if she did run into a student, it wasn't somewhere most would feel comfortable approaching her at. She snagged a table close to the door, waving a hello to the server who likely knew her regular order by now, and waited. To his credit, the boy didn't leave her waiting long, just time enough for the server to deliver her drink, and then he appeared in the doorway. She used the time he took to orient himself to observe him, trying to place his face, to see if she could ascertain why he is following her. Mara leaned back in her chair, drumming her nails against the table as she watched him scan the room before spotting her. She waited until she saw the flash of recognition in the young man's eyes before speaking, grinning wolfishly as she asked, "Can I help you, boy?"

[necrobabexx]

☁️ CLOUD — my muse's past

[autumnshowell]

@necrobabexx tideview

"Uhm. D-doctor Cnáimhín?"

It's hard for Autumn to repress a wince just then; Dr. Cnáimhín's rules about saying her name put her on edge - and like, fair enough! Names are important. But she's heard the 'one chance' rumors, too, and this dead languages class is one of her favorite electives, so she doesn't really want to fuck up any impression she's made so far. Which is why she's been practicing.

The class is over, and she's waited kind of quietly for the class to empty out. "Do you have a minute? I'm going to be out of town for bit coming up, and I was wondering if I could make up anything ahead of time, or if there was anything I could do remotely while I'm gone? I-i- if that's okay."

[necrobabexx]

Mara noticed the young woman hovering, and had busied herself with shuffling papers as she waited for her next victim student to work up the courage to come speak to her. The stuttering was expected at this point, she knew the reputation she had and relished in it, it was fun, to watch the young students scramble to manage pronunciation. But really, if you were studying dead languages, an Irish name should be the least of your worries.

The witch had had her eye on the young woman for a few weeks now, noting the differences from her boring human peers, and waiting to see if she would approach or make their shared position outside the societal norm known. She was timid though, if Mara were to guess she was newly turned, though she had no way of knowing if the timidness came before or after that change.

"Everything should be outlined in the Syllabus." she reminded the young woman, and was tempted to leave it at that, but the young thing intrigued her, and it was fun to have students who belonged to the supernatural community in class. "Any in class activities will have to be made up. You can convince other students to have asynchronous or remote study sessions with you, which I highly recommend, or I can give you a number of prompts to write extra papers on if you would prefer that."

Glancing to insure no other students lingered in earshot. "I may also be convinced to offer extra credit if you were able to do something artistic, such translate a poem into Koine Greek or, better yet, complete an interview with a native speaker." Her grin was all too self-satisfied as she waited for the girl to put together the pieces. "Impress me, and I may invite you to office hours off campus, though that honor is bestowed only to the most dedicated of my students." She had a feeling Autumn would not disappoint her. There was something about the girl that gave her the impression that there was plenty of fun to be had, if Mara played her cards right.

[princejaya]

“I’m having a good time here, don’t worry about me.” They said, taking one of the drinks with a smile, mimicking the cheers motion she had done before drinking. “I doubt being young and gorgeous makes my research any less brilliant, and I fear Cait might actually kill me if I slip up looking for fun and lose any more of my blood tonight. I only just got back to having my runes be as stable as they should be, it would be a shame for them to go shaky again.”

He's considered the idea of looking for someone at the gala, but ruled against it. A distraction like that wasn't worth his life, entertaining as it might be. He'd resolved to be content with the drinks and the interesting conversations the night had to offer, and little else.

[necrobabexx]

"If losing blood is the issue you can always ask for some back, it comes with some added benefits that may not help with your magic, but they are enjoyable" it was hard to keep the canary eating grin off her lips. So many of the younger vampires seemed to forget that if you are going to feed off someone, and keep them, you have an obligation to make sure they still have enough blood to not be facing negative consequences and detriments to their daily function. But being fed on, feeding, and making sacrifices of blood were a mainstay in her magical practice, and she had to remember that not all witches chose to dip into crimson lifeblood to fuel their workings.

"Regardless, I am glad you are enjoying yourself, and hope you don't limit your enjoyment just to this evening. There is plenty of enjoyment to be had, and besides we hold a unique position within the supernatural ecosystem at the moment so we can and should be leveraging that whenever possible" She wasn't sure how the rest of Garnett felt about the daylight jewelry situation, but she knew for sure she would be making at least one piece of jewelry. And Hell, a few more vampires running around in full daylight would cause just the chaos that Mara fed on. "Have you gotten a look at the ritual yet?"

[necrobabexx]

Mara had seen firsthand the enchanted items of Wyrmwood Coven and their uses, she had been lucky enough to have items in past lives but had not had the opportunity to get her hands on something yet this time around. The conclave offered her that opportunity, and she did not waste time being coy or trying to cozy up first. As soon as the dinner portion of the evening, she tracked down a coven member and set to haggling, offering not only money but bits of her own magic and knowledge as well.

There was one item they held that caught her eye and she was determined to take home, an amulet that would benefit her especially. She ended up handing over a portion of her resurrection ritual as partial payment, not the reincarnation portion but a secondary ritual she had started three generations back when she realized that it was drawing more and more magic the more often she came back. Human sacrifice was an easy way to gain life force and power, but the sacrifice of a firstborn amplified magic in a way that would normally only be achievable with a considerable body count.

After her prize was won she sauntered off to find her wife, eager to show off her new magical accessory.

"This amulet may interest you, its uniquely suited for those who enjoy the company of vampires. It does not heal you per se, but it keeps you from running out of blood or becoming anemic. Your vampire can feed on you as long as she desires, and you won't ever have to worry about her getting too greedy."

[ofgarnett]

Garnett Gals, @necrobabexx @estelaruiz

where: The Conclave Gala, Outside Gardens

She needs them to know, even if the timing isn’t great. The three of them stand like some unholy trinity in the narrow garden just beyond the ballroom lights—Caitlin centered between Mara and Estela. Cigarette smoke wafts over from the patio, threading ghost-grey ribbons through trimmed boxwoods.

With a sharp flick of her wrist, Cait draws on the new current that runs straight from Tenebris, and a veil of violet witch-light snaps over their heads like blown glass. Sound compresses, air thickens, the ward vibrating with a deeper resonance than anything she could cast a week ago. Can they feel it? That she’s something new?

“Thank you for watching the coven while I was away,” she says, meeting their eyes one by one. A crooked half-smile tugs at her mouth—equal parts gratitude and apology. “If anything had blown up, I’d have hauled myself back in a body bag. That would’ve really killed the vibe.”

[estelaruiz]

@necrobabexx

Estela watches Caitlin flex her magic - notes how it feels. Different. She can't quite place it, but the energy thrums in the air and tickles along her skin in a way that reminds her of the way she feels when she sees a disturbed ant pile. Some sort of primordial discomfort, chills that go up to her face. It doesn't last very long, and she quickly gets used to it, despite the odd feeling.

She glances towards Mara, a slight laugh on her lips at Caitlin's joke. "That would have been a hassle for me, specifically, Siltshore, and you know it." Her fingers tap along her forearm, and her gaze shifts back up to the witch light above them.

"You just checking in, Cait? Or.. are we about to find out that you're fucking off to Italy for a year?" Another joke, easy smile on her features.

[necrobabexx]

It wasn’t Mara’s first Conclave, and she was already getting bored, so she welcomes the distraction when Caitlin ushers her and Estela outside. She was curious what their coven leader had been up to, she assumed her ritual that she had been successful, or she wouldn’t have been there, but she didn’t like to rest only on assumptions. She wanted details.

The magic Caitlin used to cut them off and offer privacy held hints and whispers of something familiar, something that nibbled at the back of her mind, a memory trying to surface not from this life. But the magic was there, cast and then gone so quick that she didn’t have time to snare some of it before the spell went off, and she let the thought fade.

“What’s a little death between friends” the older witch teases “A bodybag is plenty to work with, I can always bring you back if needed. I’ve got plenty of ways to pay the blood price banked here in Port Liery. Besides, I would hate to leave Estela with such a mess cleaning up after me and Siltshore.” She’s teasing, but watching how every word lands and how the other two react. “If you’re going to Italy you are required to give me keys to the guest Villa, Eris could use some sun”

@ofgarnett @estelaruiz

[necrobabexx]

closed starter : @princejaya location : Conclave after 9pm Mara had watched the young witch as she moved about the gala, had seen his tight conversation with their coven leader, the tension in Cait’s body as magic had simmered just under the surface. She knew Caitlin’s opinions on consorting with vampires, but it was fun, and that is what a young witch’s life should be all about. Fun and hedonism were two of Mara’s greatest motivators, and she felt it was her duty as Caitlin’s right hand to make sure she wasn’t stamping all the fun out of their newest members’ education.

She approached the young El-Amin witch as the performances began, two drinks in hand, and offered him one. “I hope you are taking this opportunity to enjoy yourself,” she offered as greeting, holding out one of the drinks. She tipped her own drink to him in cheers, before taking a long pull of the faintly reddish whiskey. “I know Caitlin has been focusing on the theory and ritual portions of being a witch, which is important. I’m not going to argue that it isn’t. But you are young, and gorgeous. You should be enjoying yourself, not just slaving away writing research papers all the time”

[necrobabexx]

Mara was enjoying the gala immensely. An opportunity to spend time with Eris, dress up and sew chaos among supernatural high society was her definition of a good time. She enjoyed being able to just step to the side and have Eris feed, no need to look over their shoulders or worry about using compulsion on anyone who happened upon her. Not that Eris would use compulsion, she would be more likely to grab the stranger and add them to the meal, but the sentiment stands. She had chosen her outfit carefully for her ease of access, wide low-cut neckline, flowing sleeves that could be tossed to the side, a slit on the skirt in case they wanted to really test the tolerance of the event. A key issue in this modern age was cameras, a constant surveillance and the chance that someone would pull out a cellphone and take a video exposing the existence of vampires to the world. The Conclave provided a unique opportunity to socialize and feed and enjoy themselves to the height of their hedonism without the risk of being exposed. 

They had barely been at the gala 15 minutes before she was dragging Eris to one of the designated feeding zones and tucking the cuff of her sleeve up into the shoulder of her dress, arm bared for the vampire who held her heart. She was gracefully slumped back against the wall, Eris feeding gleefully, when she noted one of the young members of Garnet coven lurking just at the edge of the room. She grinned, tilting her head to give Eris access to her neck, grinning lasciviously as she made eye contact with the young witchling. She let Eris feed there for a few delicious moments before tugging at her hair, holding her lover in front of her as she used her thumb to smear the droplets of blood lingering on Eris' bottom lip across her cheek. 

"Sorry love, coven duties call. It's time to teach these witches how to let loose and have a bit more fun" she murmured in Eris' ear, kissing her cheek gently as she stepped away, approaching the man. She tugged her sleeve back into place, not ashamed of the bite marks but hating to feel lopsided. "Interested in what you see? I know Caity dear likes to harp on letting a vampire feed on you 'giving away your magic' but I think all the leadership stress has gone to her head and made her a little boring and repressed." There's laughter in her voice, eyes sparkling as she teases. "Come, we can get a drink, let others enjoy the feeding zone"

@everroy

[necrobabexx]

Mara's tattoo is on display, curling up from underneath her corset. Her hair pinned in place by antlers, the rib bones she had planned to use ended up being a little too long and "too hostile" for the event.

MARA MAC CNÁIMHÍN arrives on the arm of her deadly wife @erisinblood, finally reuinited after all these years. She is representing Garnet Coven, eager to hear what had drawn Caitlin away from Port Liery. She plans to enjoy herself, never one to play by the rules and be proper so if she ends up causing a little chaos well... a gala is a party is it not?

[firstlomidze]

For: @necrobabexx When: Before Eris arrived at Port Leiry.

She's known for years, how infused with magic this city was. Overflowing with supernaturals, calling more each night like a beacon in the dark. She's lived enough lives to know it was something deep into the foils of this city that gave magic and took all at once. It shouldn't had been a surprise when she caught the familiar scent, of death and something more. Something sweet, a perfume she'd know anywhere. Clinging to them even when death did them apart. Until it didn't.

But it did, because of all the faces and people Lana's encountered in this city, Mara Mac Cnáimhín wasn't someone she expected to cross paths with. And she wondered almost amusedly, as she followed the almost eternal witch's scent, how long would it take for her darling wife to make an appearance. Eris seemed to have a sense to find the witch whenever she found her way back to the land of the living. So Lana knew the vampire would be around soon enough. A visit she looked most forward to.

"Don't you look young as always." She says conversationally, approaching the witch with hands tucked into her pockets and a knowing smile on her lips. The witch might had changed appearance, but Lana hasn't, and she knew the recognition would be soon to come. "Almost like you hadn't die at all, must be some kind of new cream, I'm sure."

[necrobabexx]

The first few years after Mara’s memories began trickling in, she had been patient. She had finished her studies, experimented with necromancy in thin mountain air, and gathered knowledge to fill in the gaps from the end of her last life to the first breaths of this one. Five years in and she was getting impatient. Ten years and she began traveling, searching every corner of the world for the Vampire who had never failed to find her before. Fifteen years in and she was starting to get angry.

When she had failed to locate her wife, Mara set her sights on another Vampire, one who always found herself at the thrumming heart of supernatural goings-on.

Oregon was not where she expected to find Svetlana, but she had long ago stopped trying to understand all of Svetlana’s impulses. She had watched long enough to confirm that Eris was not with her friend, before circling, crossing paths with Svetlana’s life often enough to begin to weave a loose web, and lead her to a restaurant she knew they could speak freely at. It was outside the winery that Svetlana found her, and she was more than happy to be found.

“And you not a day older” she greeted, leaning in to kiss the air on either side of the vampire’s cheeks in greeting. She fought to remain at ease, to run through the pleasantries that were expected. Svetlana may be a friend, but she was a Vampire nearly older than dirt and Mara would respect that, especially with Eris nowhere to be fine. “A cream, the blood of the young, and just a bit of grave dirt does wonderful for the pores. I’ll make you some, next time I go digging.” She joked, slipping her arm through the taller woman's and steering her lightly towards the building. “Will you enjoy some wine with me, old friend, there is so much you need to catch me up on”

[erisinblood]

For: @necrobabexx Where: Mara's Lecture Hall When: Just Before the Khaos Grand Opening

Port Leiry had become something of a beacon to Eris on this continent. Someplace she found herself returning to, half growing roots while she waited. Extended business had kept her away longer than she would have preferred. She was in town only a day when news reached Eris' ears about a persistent little necromancer had popped up in town. This time she was a professor, a small smile twisted at Eris' lips at the information. She was never one to do the same thing twice. Eris spent the daylight hours browsing the universities website, and websites like rate my professor. Mara Mac Cnaimhin. Eris let the name dance along her tongue, who was her heart this life? Mara, Mara, Mara. The name sang to heart. Just a few more hours of waiting, until the sun set below the horizon.

As the sun sank below the earth Eris set out for the campus. It hadn't taken much to find the class schedule online and college students were to easy to compel to ask for directions to the lecture hall she needed. Eris entered the lecture hall a silent ghost, sitting the back row and resting her feet against the chair in front of her. The vampire watched the figure move across the front of the classroom, what should be a stranger. Yet as the lecture continued familiar mannerisms rebuilt the figure into the women she had dedicated her immortal life to. The way her hand flicked at words that ended with a harsh sound, The way her eyes rolled when a man spoke louder than any of the other students. Most importantly Eris could hear her heartbeat. Steady and Familiar. Oceans of time could not keep Eris from that sound.

In a flash the lecture was winding down. Eris waited till the last of students filed out catching what she assumed was the teaching assistant by the arm before she left. "No one is to come in here until your professor leaves. Thank you darling." It was spoken low, the layer of compulsion woven into each syllable. Eris reached up and gentle patted the TA's cheek before sending her out the door.

Eris sauntered town the stairs. Taking each step to make a grand entrance. Hills clicking against the tile. Sharp blue eyes watched the necromancer, a wide smile stabled to her face. “Truly the most enlightening lecture I’ve attended” Eris commented as she sat herself down in one of the seats in the front row. Crossing her legs and Eris leaned forward, perching her elbows on her knees and then her head in her hands. "Did you miss me my little dove?" It was an invitation back into her darkness, back into to the flurry and chaos the two had made their home in for centuries.

[necrobabexx]

Most of the time Mara enjoyed working as a professor, it was a she got to have engaging conversations and research discussions. She had a very carefully constructed reputation, and level of expectations from her students which meant she rarely had to tolerate true idiots. She had gotten into a rhythm, work, farmers market, trips to Portland when she needed true anonymity, trips to the ocean when she just needed to scream. But always, always keeping an eye out for Eris. She spent every moment of every day searching for the vampire who held her heart, no matter the rhythm it beat. So to have her waltz in, like she wasn’t over a decade later than they usually met up, made Mara’s blood heat up. It wasn’t a question who was behind her, she always knew. Eris was her constant, her North Star, and her grounding force in every life.

She didn’t bother to turn around, to pause her lecture or wrap up early. She taught to the end of her lesson, dolling out assignments and instructing her TA with a flick of the wrist. It wasn’t until the last of her students had trickled out, the projector shut down, and her computer slipped into her bag that she turned around to face Eris. “That’s too bad, we are in the third part of a series I’ve been teaching. If you enjoyed today’s lecture you would have loved the last one in the winter quarter” she didn’t allow bitterness into her voice, but there were undertones of hurt there underneath the teasing that she couldn’t hide, not from Eris.

Even if she wasn’t showing it, every fiber of Mara’s being fine-tuned to Eris’ presence, like there was a rope tugging her back towards the vampire. Left without anything else to shut down, to busy her hands, she came around the table and set herself on its edge, letting her gaze drag up Eris’ familiar form before she met her eyes. “Every minute of every day, with every breath and every beat of this new heart” there was no hiding the sincerity of her words, the centuries of love, and agonizing decades of time spent apart.

[necrobabexx]

✚

Mara’s most prized possession is a ring made from her own vertebra, from her first life. Eris gives it to her each time she finds her, and is a symbol of her love and devotion to Eris to coming back after each death. They have a matching set.

[necrobabexx]

How easy or difficult is it for your character to say “I love you?” Can they say it without meaning it?

Easily, its the meaning it that is a little more difficult. She will tell you she loves you with full sincerity, and be desperately trying to remember your name.

[necrobabexx]

⚡️What order would you kill Garnett Coven in?

Well that depends on the why doesn't it? Am I doing a ritual? Bored? Mercy killing at the start of the zombie apocolypse? But in no particular order...

Summer Estelle Jaya Harley Cait