TEDDY BYRNE

Vampire | 135 | Sired to Vicente Guerra and head of security at The Shard building

[nakatomi-ayumu]

Ayumu trailed after them and reached out to pick up the dazed vampire's arm before letting it drop back down. "I don't know. What reasons does anyone have to do anything? Artemis least of all..." the spirit commented with a light laugh as they quickened their steps to come in front of the affected vampire.

"They could if a vampire asked them to," they pointed out and shot Teddy a look. "But I suppose there would be little reason for you to glamour your own..." Ayumu mused as he reached out to poke this Aidan on the cheek. "What song were you singing, Aidan? Was it Artemis' theme song?"

[teddy-byrne]

Teddy exhaled, having already come to terms with things not going quite his way this evening. The bar they were headed to could not be far now, but somehow all he could focus on was what Ayumu was saying. Their voice was ..hard to ignore. "What reason do they have to risk the pact they fought so hard for? Gee, I don't know, Ayumu.." Blue eyes narrowed, disapproving of the way Aiden was being spoken to. "I know they don't like us. Especially vampires. But I want to think this is different.."

The Rosu listened as Aidan tried to recall the song and forced the three of them to stop. "..what about the security cams at Ware? Would they have ..caught anything?"

[teddy-byrne]

[nakatomi-ayumu]

"Can't remember?" Ayumu moved closer to look at the other vampire Teddy was currently so flustered over. There was a dazed look on his face and was very curious.

"Is it mind control? Psychic magic?" they asked, still not quite helping as they bombarded Teddy with questions. "Do you think it could be Artemis messing with us again? We know that they have witches in their ranks..."

[teddy-byrne]

"He was in a trance, alrite?" Teddy exhaled, feeling Aidan crane his head back, towards the docks --whatever kind of magic this was, it was strong and unfamiliar. "For fuck's sake, Aidan. Don't play games with me." Teddy yanked the other vampire back using his grip, and steered him right past the spirit, leaving it up to Ayumu to follow.

"What reason could Artemis have to do this? We just signed that stupid pact, didn't we?" Even if the Rosu did not agree with the demands, he could still appreciate the peace it promised. Take advantage of it until they found a loophole of sorts to give vampires a chance to feed. "No. This was not them." Teddy looked at Ayumu, frowning. "You ever known any glamored person to be singing a song?"

[nakatomi-ayumu]

Ayumu had been passing by that evening, walking along the water in Klin as they made their way back to the Shipyard. The spirit enjoyed taking walks because one could see the city much better this way and it made encountering interesting things that much easier.

And encountering something interesting was definitely on the cards for them that evening when they spotted the vampire Teddy in the distance. He looked to be with another one of his kind, but Teddy also looked a little flustered. It was a good look on him and the spirit could not help approaching.

It did not take Teddy long to realise that they were there and they smiled, their eyes glinting in the low light. "What a horribly rude way to say hello, Teddy Byrne..." Ayumu pointed out with a sigh. A gun was of no use to a spirit like them and they barely flinched when it appeared in Teddy's hand.

"I didn't take you for the firearms sort either. How curious..." The spirit eyed the other vampire who looked a little worse for wear and they stepped closer. "What's got your panties in a twist, Teddy? You're looking rather flustered."

[teddy-byrne]

Of course. Of all people, out of every creature in Vievecor, Ayumu was the one Teddy had come across. It made sense, considering Ware was probably not too far from here, but the Rosu still found his luck lacking, especially because there was no way he was getting away with this by himself any longer.

Lowering the barrel of the gun with some hesitation, Teddy rolled his eyes at the spirit. "..that's a lot of surprises in one evening. Are you sure you can handle it, Ayumu?" Even if it would not harm a spirit it should have been obvious why someone like him had chosen to carry a weapon. Much more sense than him expecting Artemis to have put their own 'guns' down.

"As for me," Byrne continued, stepping just enough to keep himself positioned between the spirit and the other vampire, "I'm tryin' to get my friend here away from the docks. If you care to know, I found him near the water there, said he can't remember how he got here or the last hour. I don't want to jump to conclusions yet but I don't want to risk it either."

…so yeah, unless you're planning to help, we're moving."

[teddy-byrne]

A piece of the puzzle @ Teddy & Ayumu

Follow up from HERE.

"Right. Lost," Teddy huffed. A vampire who knew the district like the back of his hand didn't just "get lost" two streets from the docks. He didn't...forget time just like that. This was the bit that Teddy's own mind couldn't reckon with as he stood in front of the other vampire.

He had no way of knowing whether they were really alone, but if his instincts were right, pushing for details out here in the open was definitely not a good idea. He needed to find them both a safe place. Somewhere where private, far away from any prying eyes, so that he might maybe begin to understand what really happened..

Teddy's initial thought turned to a quiet bar just a few streets over. He knew the owner well enough that asking for a private back room wouldn't raise any eyebrows. It would give him an opportunity to arrange for a cab or..something. "Let's get you out of the damp first, yeah? I know place where you can clear your head, work out what happened..c'mon." The vampire slung a casual arm around the vampire and was steering him in the general direction of the bar when they stumbled upon a pair of glowy, fox-like eyes.

Teddy didn't hesitate, his hand moving on instinct as he drew the gun he’d taken to carrying everywhere, until he realized who this was. "Fuck..what the hell are you doing here, Ayumu?"

@nakatomi-ayumu

[teddy-byrne]

A Strange Encounter...

You walk past an alleyway near the water’s edge of the island in Klin and notice a lone figure standing at the far end. They are swaying on their feet, looking dazed and mumbling something under their breath.

As you draw closer and reach out to touch them, they startle and turn towards you. It is someone you recognise from the supernatural community, a fellow vampire, and the dazed look on their face clears up as their eyes focus on you. You ask them what they are doing in the alley and they tell you that they got lost, which is strange because they know this district very well. They also tell you that they do not quite remember getting to the alley and the last thing they remember was the tail end of a song before you found them in this alley…

What are you going to do about this?

OOC: Your character has come across an NPC who seems to have had part of their recent memory wiped. You are welcome to come up with the NPC’s name and their relationship to your character on your own. You are also welcome to involve other characters in the finding of this NPC as your character decides what to do next…

[gabe-moore]

The truth was, Gabe had worried, but not for the reasons Teddy probably suspected. Hearing about the vampires that had died of thirst, the demands from Artemis making life hard and fueling anger, those were the reasons for his worry. He knew that Teddy would take it upon himself to look after the clan, and try to keep the peace between vampires. It was a heavy burden to carry. But he didn't want to give Teddy the wrong idea, it wasn't like Gabe thought his one hundred years old boyfriend couldn't take care of himself. So he shrugged in response. "Was there something to worry about? I figured, I would be more likely to go full Notting Hill." He hummed the beginning of the song 'Ain't no sunshine when she's gone'. "I know you have good people around you," he added with a fond smile.

"Were you worried about me?" He asked, although he had a feeling that being away from VC had actually been a far safer place. A chill went over Gabe's naked skin and he felt it prickle from the cold. "It's a little chilly in here. Will you join me under the bed sheets?" He asked coyly and slid down under the covers.

[teddy-byrne]

Teddy's fingers continued their exploration, gliding over Gabriel's soft skin as their conversation slowed down, becoming just about the two of them. Had there been something to worry about? Sure. Byrne felt like he was constantly pushing his own luck. Trying to form an alliance with all vampires, pushing for others to find leads that would help them figure out where Artemis was hiding, but it was his scarce feeding and shitty mood that probably qualified. To Gabriel, anyway. "..I..might have neglected by feeding a bit," Teddy admitted quietly as he dipped his head to press a gentle kiss on the human's chest "But I knew you were coming back eventually, so I tried to keep that in mind-" A soft smile touched his lips at the mention of people, followed by a nod. "She's great."

Gabriel pulled the sheets up over himself, and Teddy paused, taking a beat to settle his thoughts before joining him. In fact, he made sure he was on top of him, easily settling in the gap between his thighs. "..I'm always worried about you." he hummed, hoping that his efforts to distract the other were working, his hand brushing and cupping Gabriel's rear. "..but none of this Artemis nonsense could reach you there. I..have to admit I was starting to find comfort in that."

[oliverrflynn]

Once Oliver had cleared some of the static from his mind and actually focused on what the man in front of him was actually saying, he understood what he wanted immediately. He shook his head and closed his eyes for just a moment. "Right. Sorry. It's just been kind of a long week. I haven't had much sleep. These fluorescent lights and having my eyes glued to the charts on the computer screen aren't helping either." Oliver quickly added his signature to the release logs, sliding the pen across the page neatly for probably the hundredth time today. He was amazed at how much of his job was just signing off on things. Then he turned his attention back up to Teddy. "Is there anything else you needed?"

[teddy-byrne]

Teddy pulled the release log back, folded it into a square, and slid it into the interior pocket of his linen suit. That was Oliver's part done, or at least that's how the vampire had intended it when he walked into the hospital this morning, but of course he couldn't help but let curiosity win. It was in vampires' interest that all their businesses ran properly, was it not? Maybe he could spare a few minutes, after all. For everyone's..and his sake.

Not collecting the cooler right away, Teddy rested both hands on the edge of the desk, leaning in just enough to force Oliver to meet his gaze. His blue eyes tracked the tremor in the demon's hands almost instantly, taking in the faint, unmistakable smell of exhaustion he'd mentioned hanging off him. "If it ain't obvious, we need you sharp, Flynn." he scoffed, as if something was funny all of a sudden. "A man staring at a screen until his brain turns to mush makes mistakes. And in our world, mistakes can cost you."

"So stop making excuses about the lights and tell me what's actually going on with you, mh?" Teddy practically demanded, "You're starving, aren't you? When was the last time you actually fed?"

[oliverrflynn]

Just Another Day II Oliver & Open

Location: Crimson Vale Hospital

To: @vievecorcitystarters

Open starter

It had been a long day and Oliver's eyes were starting to blur over from staring at his computer screen so long. It had been too long since he last fed and he was feeling weaker than usual. He knew he would have to do it soon, but just the thought of absorbing another soul was making him feel sick to his stomach, so he was trying to focus on his work. The beeping of the machines around him and the clicking of his keyboard. When someone walked up to him it took him a second to register what they had said, but he smiled at them the way he always did, playing the good nurse with the nightmarish past that he couldn't even remember. "Sorry, I was a little distracted by my computer. What can I do for you today?"

[teddy-byrne]

Teddy set the heavy transport cooler on the sleek reception desk with a dull thud, giving little thought to the demon or his frazzled nerves. It wasn't custom for him to give anyone an explanation these days, not when it came to retrieving his reserved stash of O-negative from the hospital's blood bank. Instead, he would give whoever was in reception a look, push pen and paper, and be on his way. Yes, that's how he preferred it...but it seemed like Oliver here here had his head so far in that glowing monitor he hadn't even noticed who was standing in front of him.

"Release log, Oliver," the Rosu instructed. He slid the clip-board and pen over, tapping it at the dotted line two fingers. Jesus. What the hell was wrong with this one today? "I need you to sign. Are you always so distracted or is there actually something wrong with you today, mh?"

[teddy-byrne]

"..am I trying to go around Vicente? No," Teddy began, dismissing the part he got wrong with a quick glance to the ceiling, "I don't think that's what I'm doing, Leon. I think...I'm looking out for all of us. I want to do more. Be prepared for what is to come." It might well have been an impossible wish, but the brit did have faith on whatever semblance of an alliance they could build. Vivian had provided the blood substitute, Rosu and The Sisters had manpower and the syndicate..well, it had a much wider reach and access to resources that weren't usually available to them. "I want to focus on finding out where that gun came from, and then, let them see that if they mess with one of us, they might well be messing with all of us. You in?"

[leon-blachedone]

"I think it's obvious where the gun came from," Leon replied. "But yes. I'm interested in seeing who concocted it... Found a way to advance weaponry against the supernatural community." Anti vampire weaponry was certainly nothing new to their community-- legends of vampire hunters even permeated the mortal myths and storytelling. The gun however was a large advancement, and if it could take down a demon, Leon presumed it was only a matter of time until deities were impacted as well- and without either of those species, he knew it was only a matter of time until the rest of them fell like dominos if Artemis was left unchecked. He very much believed it was only a matter of time before they made more demands or threatened further action. "You can count on my cooperation, should they prompt a response from us."

[teddy-byrne]

End.

[gabe-moore]

The clouds of sleep were dispersed by the soft touch against his skin. Gabe stirred awake and opened his eyes to find the most beautiful person in the world lying down next to him. Oh how he had missed waking up next to that man. And now with the content little smile on his face, the familiarity with which their bodies moved next to one another, it was hard to imagine their time apart and the loneliness. It was only the strong yearning, the ache to feel his touch again, that reminded Gabe of how long it had been since they last slept together.

"Here I am, as promised," Gabe grinned, happiness beaming from him like light from a bulb. "But, I seem to have lost the rose," he said absently, only giving a half-hearted attempt to look for it before his eyes returned to Teddy. "I've missed you so much," the words left his lips like a sigh, directly from the heart. He heaved himself up on his elbows and stretched out a hand to caress Teddy's cheek. The urge to wrap his arms around his boyfriend was hard to resist, and he longed to feel their bodies connect, but he also didn't want to rush in case Teddy needed to talk or rest. "How have you been?" he asked softly, a loving smile resting on his lips.

[teddy-byrne]

There was so much distracting Teddy right now: the flush on Gabriel's skin, the faint but steady pulse, and that quiet rush of blood humming just beneath, calling to all his senses. He was such a sweet boy. Perfect in every way that mattered, and it had been so difficult without him around. More than Teddy would ever be willing to let on. Holding back his instincts, the vampire shook his head lightly, "It's on the nightstand, love. It's fine, I've already got what I wanted anyway...right here." Cool fingers glided against the detective's skin again before Teddy made some room for Gabriel to move, watching him as he did.

Teddy leaned heavily into warmth against his cheek, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief second just to soak it in. To soak up the sound of him saying he had missed him, and wonder how on earth he could have gotten so lucky to deserve this. "..mh?" Could he have been distracted again? "..I've been..." Oh, yes. That's right. "I don't really know, if I'm honest." the vampire exhaled, not quite meeting his eyes. "Working my ass off, I guess? Missing you too. Why? Were you worried?" Did Gabriel Moore not have full confidence he could manage without him? How rude.

[leon-blachedone]

“Are you trying to go around Vincent?” Leon quirked an eyebrow in surprise interest. “I’m not council either, need I remind you… But if you would sleep easier under some sort of legal agreement reassuring none of us are buying their horse shit, I’m listening.” Leon’s last straw had perhaps not been Artemis, so much as the synthetic blood alternatives his own kind had produced, so he could understand the desire for reassurance of support from fellow vampires. After all, their own kind were showing they could turn on their basic instincts and nature quite willingly, which would only lead to it being vilified.

[teddy-byrne]

"..am I trying to go around Vicente? No," Teddy began, dismissing the part he got wrong with a quick glance to the ceiling, "I don't think that's what I'm doing, Leon. I think...I'm looking out for all of us. I want to do more. Be prepared for what is to come." It might well have been an impossible wish, but the brit did have faith on whatever semblance of an alliance they could build. Vivian had provided the blood substitute, Rosu and The Sisters had manpower and the syndicate..well, it had a much wider reach and access to resources that weren't usually available to them. "I want to focus on finding out where that gun came from, and then, let them see that if they mess with one of us, they might well be messing with all of us. You in?"

[howellmaxen]

“Wales indeed, but don’t tell my grandmother that, she was determined to make us as WASP-y as possible.” Howell found himself without a drink but after what Matthew had warned him about he was a little to conscious of his state of mind. Normally a little liquid courage did a lot to help him but when surrounded by vampires he had decided if he was going to look like cattle he should at least be a smart one.

“Yes he is very open indeed though not that civil about it.” He had the thought that maybe a powerful being of that age didn’t have the slightest idea that civility was still important as they had aged out it. Many of the doctor’s older patients, who were just average humans certainly didn’t keep up with appearances.

“Ah..Artemis. I find I’m always talking about her, them. Well not that I really bring them up but here we are…” He shuffled for a moment so that he could look more at the man this time. “It’s, well I do want to apologize myself. I was not involved in the incident so it may sound hallow but I am sorry, I am not one to want the loss of life no matter what is at stake.”

[teddy-byrne]

Teddy didn't particularly mind Howell's opinion of Matthew's manners, nor did he care that the doctor was tiring of the Artemis subject. But he had wanted an apology; ever since the very night of the attacks. It was something he was not sure would ever come, and, while this came a minute too late, arriving after that absurd list of demands had been approved by the council, hearing the words pass the human's lips was a welcome surprise.

"Very noble. Then again, I suppose that's why you decided to join our council. To prevent more loss of life?" Byrne rolled his eyes at that, tracing the rim of his glass as he spoke, "I sincerely doubt they would approve of you apologising to us, doctor. I mean, why would they? Her people came into our territory, spilled blood on our floors, and then sent a committee with a clipboard to tell us how to live." If it hadn't been at his expense, Teddy might have actually considered them quite clever. He stopped tracing the rim, returning the look, "How do you see the future, Howell? And, please, do order yourself a drink. On us."

[teddy-byrne]

ribcage, radius, fibula

ribcage. who/what are they trying to protect ?

Already answered.

radius. who/what do they reach for first in a crisis ?

It depends on what type of crisis it is. If it is vampire related, it would probably be Vicente or Isabelle. Otherwise, it's his partner...or Chris, since he gives Teddy the impression that he would not judge.

fibula. do they ever feel overlooked ?

Not usually, no.

@isabellexlaurent, @gabe-moore, @chris-elkar

[teddy-byrne]

phalanges. what is their relationship with touch ?

In most of his day-to-day interactions, touch is transactional. Teddy rarely engages in casual, relaxed physical contact and doesn't welcome unsolicited pysical touch from anybody, unless of course, it's in initimae spaces, with the people he's allowed to see the real him. Only then he lets himself go.

[teddy-byrne]

cheekbone. what makes them smile ?

Already answered, but he also finds himself smiling whenever he watches reruns of 'Father Ted' on Tv.

[teddy-byrne]

skull, cheekbone, ribcage

skull.   what memories/thoughts do they guard the most from others ?

Teddy rarely shares memories of his human life or the day he became a vampire with anyone. It’s all in the past, or so he likes to say.

cheekbone. what makes them smile ?

Daphne does. Teddy isn't sure how but it's happened a few times since he has known her.

ribcage. who/what are they trying to protect ?

Gabriel, his family and friends and, of course, his kind. Teddy also protects his privacy and doesn't like to be too vulnerable in front of others.

@daphne-blackwood, @gabe-moore