a private sideblog for ' Ι΄α΄κ±κ±α΄ κ°α΄Ι΄Ι’ ', formerly known as ππππππππ πππ’ππ, deposed prince of seattle & member of the camarilla. set within the world of vtm. follows back from aronessa.
i keep thinking about how nessa, an almost thousand year old elder, is stuck working for an anarch baron (whoβs like maybe 150??? years old) so she can pay for her and julien to have an apartment with a front desk worker and iβm cackling
πππ ππππ ππππππππππ πππππ unto bounty. naught rivaled the beauty of an elder's humanity. emmrich keenly regarded young nessa fang. she was brave.
"former, madam. past test. my loyalty belongs elsewhere of late," said emmrich as someone would discuss weather, polite interest shaping their brow, "i'm familiar with primus tachonis. his is a reputation one mustn't dismiss. why do you ask?"
the younger nods at the elderβs words, fingers twining themselves again and again in the lining of her coat pockets. she does not look at them, eyes instead fixed on some point in the distant sky. a star brighter than the rest.
β curiosity. β she lets out breath as she speaks, one that doesnβt freeze in the chilly air. β i knew him well once. β OR YOU THOUGHT YOU DID. β but we are not on the best of terms now, so it is prudent to know who and who doesnβt know him. β
when nessa died, she had welcomed it with open arms. there had been no fear in death, for what lay before her was the promised path to salvation. golconda, her sire had called it. it had been a violent death, her soul cleaved from her body. but to pursue that which she had lost, to chase after it, would make her not only whole, but holy. if only she had done it. if only she had dedicated the past thousand years to the pursuit of enlightenment instead of grasping for what little power she could amass, maybe she wouldn't be staring at the arbitrator of what was sure to be her final death.
you did it in the name of protecting the salubri who were left. so that they would not meet the same fate as your sire, as callowyn. but that was all a lie, wasn't it? you wanted power and now where has it taken you but into the arms of someone far more dangerous than you can comprehend.
" whatβ " her words, always so carefully crafted, fall like ash upon her tongue, falter at the kindred before her. it is hard to make out their features, let alone their intentions as the shadows seem to move at their command. nessa takes a step back and then another, her hands rising in supplication. yes, beg. that will surely save you, you idiot. " i don'tβ he? thjazi? if this has something to do with him, i don't know anything. i have no idea what he's doing or, or what he's planning to do. or primus, is this about primus? he tried to blot me out, i have no part in his schemes! "
Vaelus suppressed the movement of her eyes, although her mouth pressed into a small line. She cannot quite make out, if it is all a ploy to remove some heat from her person, or if she's genuinely as clueless as she appears. An imposing figure, though she has not interacted that directly with kindred matters in a long time. βPrimus has no use for you. I am certain he'd rather you met the Final Death, but chasing you out of what he thinks is his territory will suffice for him.β
LOOK AT HER, TREMBLING LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER. RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. THAT IS NOT THE TALES YOU'VE HEARD OF HER. βI, nor my sisters, have a stake in that matter.β YOU DO NOT KNOW WHETHER THAT IS TRUE, BUT IT WORKS IN YOUR FAVOR FOR NOW. βSo drop the clueless act. It is unbecoming of the power you once wielded.β
Scarred long fingers reach to hold her chin, in a firm but not yet painful grip. Her sharp nails not yet piercing skin, only caressing the cold flesh underneath. βYour belovedβformer beloved what you wish to call itβand that fae kindred of his have stolen something of mine. And I thought even Brujah knew not to cross the shadows of elders. Certainly not Ventrue, so would you like to rethink your answer?β
the beast inside of her has begun to fear and worry. it gnaws at the inside of her head, pounding, as she imagines her heart would if it were still able to beat. ( sheβs going to eat you, the ancient one. sheβs going to taste your blood and when she realizes what you are, she is going to feast. ) it is all nessa can do to keep her features composed as the old one reaches for her, as her mind begins turn.
β heβs stolen something from you?ββ its enough to shut the beastβs maw. fear overridden by hatred. thjazi, always acting without thought for how his actions would spill down to those beneath him. once again, putting her in harms way in pursuit of her own interests. ( why wouldnβt he? ) her face twists despite herself, disgust at her former paramore plain.
β i would never take something that didnβt belong to me, β the conviction in her voice is evident. she never takes what doesnβt belong to her. no power, not money, not vitae, β and if i had, i would never be so foolish as to think my betters would not come for me. but thjazi β¦ he is coward and a fool. if you say he has stolen from you, he has. β ( he has taken so much from you and now he has left you to die. ). nessa tries desperately to search the others face. to gauge if her words strike anger or annoyance or anything at all. but there is nothing for her to see. no way to tell if she is hopelessly failing. β how can i prove to you i was not involved? what can i offer you besides my word? β
anyway, i'm about to be gone for the next six days, so if their was ever a time to write diabolic stuff for me to scream about while i'm on a boat in the middle of a river, now is the time.
i feel like writing the frenzy mechanic is a little harder than it is playing it. but like the fact that itβs not just hunger related. the fact that things which the beast fears at its core (sunlight, fire, etc.) can just send you into a blind panic where you can do nothing else but run away as fast as you can. even if it costs you everything. even if i means you leave people behind.
There is a slight curl of her lips underneath the veil. Black, as dark as shadows, concealing part of her face. Where others would see a pious figure, she knows deeply the reason besides its existence. And it allows her certain room to further conceal any reactions. A CENSER REMAINS ON HER PERSON AT ALL TIMES, AND IT HAS BEEN AS RELIABLE AS HER FANGS HAVE. The veil is such a contrast to her full white hair, and skin so dead and old it appears violet under certain angles. She has not seen it in decades, but it is what she's been told.
She was embraced even longer than the kindred before her. βYou did not have to, my Lady Aranessa.β THE QUESTION STILL LINGERS OF WHAT BUSINESS PRIMUS WISHED WITH HER SISTERS. BUT IT IS NOT THE REASON SHE IS HERE. THE CAMARILLA AND THE SABBAT HAVE NOT BEEN ALIGNED FOR A LONG TIME. βOr should I speak of you as Nessa, as he wishes to?β Shadows pour underneath the covering of her hair and veil. Techology might not be easily at their disposal but they've perfected other ways of finding their information. βThere is much of us to discuss, so I urge you to relieve yourself of anything you ought to confess before we do.β
when nessa died, she had welcomed it with open arms. there had been no fear in death, for what lay before her was the promised path to salvation. golconda, her sire had called it. it had been a violent death, her soul cleaved from her body. but to pursue that which she had lost, to chase after it, would make her not only whole, but holy. if only she had done it. if only she had dedicated the past thousand years to the pursuit of enlightenment instead of grasping for what little power she could amass, maybe she wouldn't be staring at the arbitrator of what was sure to be her final death.
you did it in the name of protecting the salubri who were left. so that they would not meet the same fate as your sire, as callowyn. but that was all a lie, wasn't it? you wanted power and now where has it taken you but into the arms of someone far more dangerous than you can comprehend.
" whatβ " her words, always so carefully crafted, fall like ash upon her tongue, falter at the kindred before her. it is hard to make out their features, let alone their intentions as the shadows seem to move at their command. nessa takes a step back and then another, her hands rising in supplication. yes, beg. that will surely save you, you idiot. " i don'tβ he? thjazi? if this has something to do with him, i don't know anything. i have no idea what he's doing or, or what he's planning to do. or primus, is this about primus? he tried to blot me out, i have no part in his schemes! "
He falls to his knees coughing and heaving for air for a second, and he would laugh if he could, at the idea of being welcomed into his family's cold embrace just by delivering them the prince. But you would like that, don't you? Your father's approval, at long last... Such a shame it is an impossible. He grits his teeth and fists his hands before speaking again: " My father made... quite sure... I understood my place... in his inner circle, " he speaks slowly, bruised throat protesting at every word, always so delicate, poor little Occtis.
He takes a few seconds to breathe. Of course, she'd figured Thjazi had something to with this and while it was true he had asked him to keep an eye on her, the truth is so much simple. So simple it's disgusting... Sentiment.
He uses the brick wall to help himself into an standing position again and decides to dodge the question for now. You really think you're clever, don't you? " Where is @sangu1no? Royce and Davinos is what they said. If he's not with you... "
julien. of course. if there was one kindred more popular than her at the moment, it was him. he had many connection in l.a., far more that she had realized. it was both incredibly useful and, in moments like this, frustrating. her jaw unclenched. " he's not met the final death, if that's what you're asking. " julien had been the one to pull her out of the carnage primus had released upon them both, as difficult as it had been for him. eyes wild, covered in vitae, he had fought against the beast itself to bring her to safety. for that, he was in her debt eternally.
he could call upon that debt at any time and if he were smart, he would ask for your vitae. i don't need to tell you how dangerous it is, owing a debt to someone like him.
" where he is tonight i do not know. i am not his keeper. " it was safer that nessa didn't know where julien went most nights, though it ate at her. she worried for his safety, always. worried he would do something dangerous without warning her. " i do know he has plans to visit the hallowed round at some point. perhaps you could wait for him there. and, while you're at it, you can tell thjazi that the next thinblood he sends after me will not be as lucky as you. "
@wulfhart whispers: " donβt you know how dangerous this is ? "
" of course i do, i wasn't embraced yesterday. " and yet, she has placed herself directly in the line of fire. some might call it heroic, the way her empathetic nature presses her to help old people cross the street and save childer from burning buildings. but in reality, it is some sick compulsion the beast has to right the wrongness of her embrace, penance for her very existence.
it is this need that compels her to accompany him in her high heels and pantsuit to another baron's territory. a young brujah, one of thjazi's, had talked their way into some trouble and needed a way out and it just so happens that nessa is very good at convincing people to do what she wants. ( a ventrue trait, one she has be honing for years. )
look at how low you've fallen. once a prince, now one of thjazi's errand runners. it would just be easier to rip his throat out and lap up his blood.
the receptionist at the front desk talks quietly into her desk phone, presumably to some lacky of the valley's baron. " just, follow my lead. we'll be in and out in twenty minutes. "
The pain almost blinds him and if he wasn't for his blood, weak as it is, he's sure he'd be dead the moment his back hit the wall behind him. You must have know this would happen, right? You're friends with his ex, the son of her greatest enemy, of course she was gonna mistrust you. " Does it look like they ever fill me in their plans? " He rasps with difficulty. He luckily doesn't need to breathe much to live, but talking while having your trachea squeezed is so much harder than it looks. " I heard them talking, behind close doors. " He tries to explain, his hand grabbing at Nessa's wrist as if he could move her, God, aren't you supposed to be smart? " The end of Royce and Davinos, they said. I didn't stayed much longer after that. " He had run to her haven as fast as he could and clearly wasn't fast enough, when have you ever been enough?
His eyes are filling with tears by the lack of air, his tell-tale heart beating so fast he hears it in his ears. " Why would I lie, Nessa?! " he tries to scream, feeling faint, " Why would I...? " She cuts any chance of speaking, by pressing harder. Well, let it not be said you didn't tried your best.
she waits another ten seconds before releasing her grasp on him, stepping back to the other side of the alley. on her face, she wears a mask of annoyance boarding on rage. inside, the beast twists, coiling itself around her mind again and again.
see, he had nothing to do with it. now you've gone and bruised him up for nothing. always breaking delicate things, nessa. perhaps you should just finish the job you started. i bet he tastes divine.
" why wouldn't you lie? i bet he has a pretty reward for my head. status. prominence. a place within his inner circle. " her arms move to brush dirt off of her coat, fingers lingering over a small tear in the hem of her blouse. she'll have to get that fixed. " but if he didn't send you, that means someone else did. " he wouldn't be stupid enough to come after her of his own accord. or maybe he was. her time with him in the past had been so limited. " thjazi. " she spits his name out like it is some kind of curse, " is he the reason why you're stalking me? "
@nessfang said: β you are being used , azune , as was i . but i escaped , so can you . β
A scoff echoes in the silence of the night. That is a lie. The night is still alive. Ξ€here are always people walking around the streets. Loud, drunk groups of friends. A couple wanting to steal as many hours of a day until life catches up with them. Few lonely ones, walking without purpose. He can't help them, nor give them the purpose that was once given to him. Even the Hallowed Round downstairs is bursting with unlife. But the rooftop is silent save for Nessa's words.
βIt's not the same,β he says, looking out into the night and watching all the colors he couldn't see before, swirl in it. βAnd you know it.β Azune tilts his head slightly to the side. He could pretend it was only the blush of life that made his heart beat every night all he wanted, but he was sure Nessa could read through him. He wasn't entirely sure if she meant Thjazi or the Camarilla, and with her past it could be either.
Is it not, really? Aren't you tired of always pretending to be someone else too? You can leech as much vitae as you can but it doesn't make you one of them.
βMy only leverage in the night is power through knowledge.β And surviving long enough to use it. βThat's the thing about people underestimating you; seeing you like a pawn. They get arrogant, and things slip through.β
You know you're supposed to bring their apocalypse. It's what they whisper when they think you can't hear.
nessa has closed her eyes. up here, the thump of the base from the party below is quieter. but she still hears it. a steady thrum. like a heartbeat. " oh, it isn't the same? " the breeze catches her voice, blowing it around him.
" a cub wades into the deepest part of the river. ' i will catch the biggest fish, ' she says, ' the one the other bears are too old to grasp and let slip through their paws. the one the other bears are too stupid to notice. i will get it and i will fill myself to bursting so that when winter comes, i will outlast them all.' and the young cub, woefully underestimating her ability to keep her head above the cold waters, scrambles to grasp something life changing in her hands. " her shoulders drop, as if some of the weight of what she carries, whatever it might be, is freed by the story.
" for what the cub does not see in her youth is the craftiness of the older bears, who know it is a fool's errand to go where their paws slip on stone. and they, never having to lift a finger, watch as the young cub loses herself to the water and the cold. they watch as she drowns and they laugh. " nessa opens her eyes, leveling her gaze to the back of azune's head. " a bear cub. a young ventrue. a thinblood. our stories are all the same in the end. knowledge is power, yes. but at the cost of what? "
π·πΏ. π΅π΄π±. π·πΈπΎπΈ, local parish records indicate she was born to farmers and was their only child. names have been lost due to water damage.
π·πΉπΆπΈ, local parish records indicate she was married. names have been lost due to water damage.
π·πΉπΆπ», local parish records indicate her husband dies due to illness. she has no serviving children.
π»π°ππ΄ π·πΉπ·π½, falls in with heretical offshoot out the catholic church. relocates outside of london. heretical sect lead by [ππ΄π³π°π²ππ΄π³] and looked into by members of the inquisition.
πΉπ°π½ππ°ππ π·πΉπ·πΎ, the sect is raided. in his last moments of unlife, [ππ΄π³π°π²ππ΄π³] slaughters his human followers, turning them into undead in an attempt to reach golconda. nessa and another follower, π²π°π»π»πΎπππ½, escape the raid and flee to france.*
πΉππ½π΄ π·πΎπ½πΈ, arrives on π΄π»π»πΈπ πΈππ»π°π½π³, π½π΄π ππΎππΊ under the name 'π°ππ°π½π΄πππ° ππΎππ²π΄'. place of origin noted as πππ³π½π΄π. destination noted as ππ΄π°πππ»π΄, ππ°.**
π·πΎπ½πΉ-π΄π°ππ»π πΈπΆπΆπΆπ, builds up an economic empire, first through the trade of timber and coal via the railroad, then moving to shipping ports. able to maintain cover via usual death record and subsequent 'offspring' identity. helps to establish and maintain the camarilla sect within seattle, existing as a member of the noble lords of seattle for some years before moving up in rank. [πΌπΎππ΄ πΈπ½π΅πΎππΌπ°ππΈπΎπ½ π»πΎπ²π°ππ΄π³ πΈπ½ π°π³π³. π΅πΈπ»π΄]
πΈπΆπ·πΆ, established as seneschal to the prince, [ππ΄π³π°π²ππ΄π³]. [ππ΄π΄ πππΏπΏπ»π΄πΌπ΄π½ππ°π» π½πΎππ΄π π΅πΎπ πΌπΎππ΄ πΈπ½π΅πΎππΌπ°ππΈπΎπ½ ππ΄πΆπ°ππ³πΈπ½πΆ ππ΄π³π°π²ππ΄π³]
π»π°ππ΄ πΈπΆπΈπΊ, assumes role of prince when [ππ΄π³π°π²ππ΄π³] moves west.
*π½πΎππ΄: this file is missing large gaps of time due to the destruction of the vatican's european records post-16th cent. after 1318, it is assumed the aranessa moves from place to place with her brother, callowyn. as she arrives in the united states without him, it is assumed that they either part ways or that he met the final death. there are no additional records or mention of callowyn after 1318.
**π½πΎππ΄: there is reason to believe aranessa was made aware of the economic boom that would take place in seattle not more than a year later. records indiciate that she was one of the first kindred to arrive in washington.
@bleedsthrough / occtis spits out: " you have to believe me , i didnβt do this ! "
" then why risk showing your face at all? " it took her thirty seconds to spot him, ten to pin him to the cracked cement of the alleyway. her fingers wrap around his neck, nails digging into the soft flesh of his throat. it would be so easy for her to dig them in, to draw blood. it would be the ventrue thing to do. but nessa is not a ventrue. and somewhere in the back of her head, behind the anguish and the rage, behind the beast itself, a small voice poses a question: what if he's telling the truth?
" why are you here, occtis? you really cannot expect me to believe you weren't involved in what he did. " nessa can feel him, squirming beneath her, grasping for some sort of leverage. she presses down harder. " answer me and answer me true or i will rip your throat out! "
