Practically Human

Blood so thin you'd think it was her own. A thin-blooded alchemist struggling with her place in the night. VTM OC // Mod is 21+ // Art in icon/blog drawn by memaidraws

[urazakh]

Wanderlust

[thethinnestblood]

urazakh

The man grinned in a way that came off as nervous despite his attempt to hide it, falling into step beside Brielle. The truth was…dipping into the weird ‘I’m not entirely human anymore and haven’t done normal human things in years’ bit and he wanted to steer away from that. Have normal conversation, keep to what Brielle was more comfortable with.

…maybe a little disclosure would clear things up…she hadn’t said no to seeing him again…and besides, she wasn’t ‘normal’ either. Maybe more ‘normal’ than him, but…weird enough to understand the unique plight any once-human supernatural being had. Allen let out a slow breath to try and calm the anxiety wiring its way up his back.

“I guess…practicing being normal? I uh…had my furry little problem pop up when I was still a kid, like…high school… And after that…” The wolf sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“The short version? I know more about field-stripping assault rifles and cooking up explosives than like…making conversation beyond…well, you know already.” Allen offered a slightly more genuine smile.

“So uh…you’re kinda the most normal person out of the weird club I’ve talked to beyond fucking or fighting. …congrats?”

“Well, there’s lots of reasons for that, part of it because I’m fangless.” She pulled back her lips with a hooked finger in an exaggerated manner, comedically showing off her extremely normal teeth a brief moment. “But, yeah, I can see why that’d mess with you. Sorry. But if it’s cool to ask about it, let me know. Otherwise I’ll let it rest, ‘cause I know that kinda event can be, well, traumatic?”

Brielle paused, considering. “Well, I don’t know, exactly, I’m making an assumption. So, let me know if I’m off the mark.”

[thethinnestblood]

lostfledgling

It may have been because Saaleha was still used to the blood bank back home that she assumed it would go smoothly enough here as well. That she overlooked that because she was a ‘ghoul’ to someone very important that there was no fuss or buss when she collected blood here and there, and that it was already paid for as well.

For once she just assumed that the system worked, naive.

Saaleha soon tilted her head as Brie spoke of ghouls, already she caught the hint on how the woman before her felt about them. Saaleha found ghouls to be a very tricky subject, most kindred treated them like property. Very few saw them as people.

Even less had a bad taste in their mouth over how ghouls were treated, especially to the point of being uncomfortable talking about them…Saaleha wondered if the woman before her fit in here.

“Of course not, whatever makes you most comfy” Her voice was still cheerful, soo bouncing off after the other. “and thanks again for taking me around, it’s always nice to get out. A smidgen of freedom”

She hoped the places along Pike Place were Halal, or at least Kosher.

That little setback aside, Brielle pulled up the bus schedule to triple-check she had it right. This needed to go well; she couldn’t really afford to upset what seemed like a rather affluent and powerful lick. Saaleha was friendly, but that could also be a cover for less sincere motives.

While she did that, checking periodically the ghoul was in tow, Brielle settled into a familiar pattern of small talk. “This is your first time in Seattle, right? Or first time in a long time?”

[urazakh]

Wanderlust

[thethinnestblood]

urazakh

Allen went along more than willingly, glancing over the trail map as well. He hadn’t been here before, but it would be easy enough to follow their scents back to the bike on the slim chance they did get lost. Places like this tended to have a map every fork of the trail to minimize losing the directionally-challenged anyway.

“Iunno…maybe check out the trails, make awkward conversation once we get bored with trail-related small talk… Then feel relieved when we get to some scenic overlook because I’ve probably said something stupid or made things weird, and hopefully by then the stars are out so I can shut my mouth and let us enjoy the view in peace.” He grinned almost apologetically, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I’ll do my best to keep it to normal conversation. I’ve been practicing.” It was close enough to the border of truth and teasing that it could be passed off as a lame joke if needed. He was just happy Brielle was willing to hang out with him again. It didn’t sit well with him to just…not talk to her again after what happened, even if she said she was okay afterwards. The wolf shrugged, hands automatically going to where his jacket pockets usually were out of habit, only to pause and redirect them to his jeans pockets instead.

“I’m open to suggestions, honestly. Especially if it cuts in on the awkward conversation parts.”

“You need to relax.” Brielle rolled her eyes, kicking at rocks along the path. Practicing? What a dork. Endearing, in a way, but tonight could only be an improvement from the last time if he didn’t ask about her past. That was still pretty taboo, but he’d likely learned his lesson. “It’ll be fine.”

She found a path that looked like it went a ways out before looping back. Hopefully it’d satisfy them both--a long stroll in the woods for the wolf, a guaranteed return for the baby vamp. She tugged him again in that direction.

“Like, this is the second time we’ve met in person. Sometimes it takes a tick to fall into a groove and get a feel for someone. So,” She looked up at him, cracking a fangless grin, “what’ve you been practicing?”

[thethinnestblood]

lostfledgling

“You can eat…Food food?” Saaleha asked, looking rather curious and inching ever so closer. She seemed suspicious now, eyeing Bri up and down before something seemed to click in her head. “Ah well, don’t push yourself to fit in with me. This is gonna be a night of chill fun and we can stop by the blood bank if you need. I can get a smoothie and we can get you that good good stuff” Saaleha chuckled, she hadn’t connected the dots properly and just assumed that the other was willing to suffer for her comfort. Well, not on her watch! Comfort would be had all around for everyone here. “And look, if you don’t tell I won’t tell” Saaleha winked, that chuckle turning into a giggle. “But really, whatever you want to do, I’ll follow along. As far as it’s concerned, I’m kinda like your ghoul tonight.”

Breaking into a blood bank was not compatible with a night of chill fun in Brielle’s book, but that was because if blood banks were lick-friendly, they were either expensive or out of reach for a thinblood like herself. It was a lot more convoluted than just walking in and passing a chunk of cash for a bag.

“Yeah, I’m not big on...” Brielle cut herself off before she either insulted the ghoul next to her, or her master. “I’m not one to keep a ghoul. Do me a favor and just, uh, don’t bring it up.”

Loosening the scarf a bit more, Brielle nodded for Saaleha to follow her. “We’ll just head to Pike Place. You see something you want to look at or eat, it’s fine.”

[urazakh]

Wanderlust

[thethinnestblood]

urazakh

Allen peeked over his shoulder, giving Brielle a playful two-fingered salute.

“Aye aye, captain; back before dawn. Think I can manage that curfew.” While he didn’t mind watching the occasional sunrise, sunrises usually signaled the end of a long, grueling night on a hunt or patrol, and had a tendency to make him feel sleepy. Not the best idea with a bike, much less with someone else on the back.

Once he felt Brielle’s arms wrap around his middle, Allen couldn’t help the giddy little grin on his face, starting the bike back up with a loud roar, walking it back a step or two, and then taking off into traffic.

Maybe he was going a little over the speed limit, but they got to the National Forest safely, cutting the bike off in the parking lot and leaving his ears ringing a little until the sound of the nighttime critters became more and more noticeable. He let Brielle get off first before dismounting himself, kickstand sinking a bit into the gravel, but holding the bike up just fine.

“See? Kickass trees.” he teased, gesturing grandly up at the heights of the ones visible from the parking lot itself with a grin.

“I’ve been a lot of places, but not so much west coast until recently. Trees are more than worth it, honestly.” He left out the part that it made hunts feel more primal, like civilization was a million miles away and it was just him and Elias hunting down prey in an untamed wilderness. Somehow, reminding her of what he was under the skin seemed like it would be a bit of a mood-killer.

Kickass trees. Sure, she could see it. They were big and treelike and if you liked the wonders of nature they would steal your breath away. Or if you had a werewolf’s heightened senses. There was a majesty to them, and an isolation from the city that sheltered and threatened her.

“They are, yeah.” Her boots crunched through the gravel as she headed for the informational board, not intending to read it beyond checking out the paths. “I had family who lived backwoods east coast, and I did too for a short stint. Wasn’t ever my thing for too long, but it was nice to visit.”

She reached back to grab his sleeve, tug him along with her. “What’s the plan?”

[thethinnestblood]

lostfledgling

“I’ve been told that that stuff tastes awful for you lot, I wouldn’t want you to like, suffer or anything just to make me comfy…Plus won’t you just throw it up?” Saaleha made sure to keep her voice low as she took a few steps towards the door, keeping her attention on the thinblood, curious for answers. 

One twin did their best to fill the girl in on what Kamilah approved, while the other gave her what they felt was needed for her survival. Knowledge could translate to literal power and Wilhelm felt that Saal needed all the boons she could get.

“Aw, no real ghosts?” Saaleha gave a fake little pout before something twinkled in her eyes, already testing her limits here. “So, you mean to take me on like, one of those bus tours through the graveyard or something? Why not, like, you know, go somewhere more interesting? Like a real haunted spot, every place has at least one”

She spoke as innocently as she could, already ignoring the fact that the last time she did this she bumped into a werewolf…Hell, her Imbuement had involved chasing ghosts and running into a Samedi and werewolf. There was a legit chance that as Tremere was drawn to her sister, garou was drawn to her.

Troublesome.

“I can eat food. It’s fine.” Bri shrugged, though she also didn’t feel she needed to give further information. She didn’t know how much had been explained to Saaleha about Brielle’s ‘situation’ and she didn’t want to give the ghoul too much to report back to the little group. “So, just let me know if you want to stop somewhere.”

As for Saal’s other recommendation, Brielle’s smile went lopsided. “I believe I’m supposed to be keeping you out of trouble. Haunted stuff’s not my forte.”

[urazakh]

Wanderlust

[thethinnestblood]

urazakh

He understood the appeal of bikes better now that Brielle was sitting behind him, a grin plastered on his face at how huge his jacket was on her. Allen bit his lip to temper his amusement before turning his head enough to peek over his shoulder at her.

“Better now.” He rolled his shoulders a little to help crick his neck as well as getting used to the slight chill left from the absence of his jacket.

“Have you been to any of the woods around here? Fuckin’ huge-ass trees, who wouldn’t want to go take a look?” His eyes flicked over the bike’s controls. While it wasn’t a kick-start like he was more familiar with, the presence of a choke was enough to assure him that he’d know how to start it back up when it was time to part ways again.

“Besides, I love the woods. It’s calmer and quieter than the city, and you can actually see the stars at night.”

Brielle was more of an indoor type, city kid, but she could get the idea of someone wanting to get out of that and into the wild. The few times she’d gone camping had been fun even if she’d fled back to a shower the minute she got home. Wandering around in the dark, with a werewolf, was bound to be a bit better.

“As long as we don’t stay out past morning, sounds good to me. Or you’re gonna be driving one sick vampire back into town.” Brielle did errands in the sunlight often, but she didn’t care for how it felt when the sun slowly rose over the horizon. It was like an oncoming dread mixed with a rising fever. She’d rather step out into the sun full-force than feel it creep in like a blanket.

[thethinnestblood]

lostfledgling

“I always feel weird going to a place with others and eating alone, I suppose i’ll just have to eat my packed lunch” Saaleha teased before pulling a date out to pop into her mouth.

She looked decently tired as she has been up all day for Ramadan but all at the same time she refused to miss out on new adventures and possible friends. That and she didn’t like sleeping alone in new places, so if her sis wasn’t around to curl up near she worried she wouldn’t get any sleep anyways.

“Ghost tour you say~?” Saaleha now cooed, her attention fully got as she slid a little closer with that somewhat mischieve grin of hers, heck even if she didn’t see any ghosts she did love looking at gravestones. Some of them were just so pretty.

“Either way. If you need me to drink a shake or something while you grab a bite, it’s fine.” Brielle hadn’t brought much cash with her, but a milkshake wasn’t out of the question. “There’s diners all over the place once everything else closes.

“I don’t think you should get your hopes up if you’re thinking actual ghosts.” She wasn’t perturbed as the ghoul took another few steps into her space. Ghouls were at least more human than kin; she could probably handle whatever happened. “It’s very tourist-y. The tough thing is most stuff around here will shutdown after midnight, so we’ve only got about four hours or so before we’re limited to just a walking tour of the city.”

[thethinnestblood]

lostfledgling

Like the mother hen that she was Kamilah took a small moment to fix the scarf before stepping back to admire her work, it would have looked much nicer with a matching outfit but this would do for now.

“If you get into any trouble now do be sure to call, I’ll be back before the morn, hopefully around 4am but if I am late you may simply drop Saaleha off here, and truly, thank you again” Kamilah bowed her head before giving both a warm smile and walking off, leaving the two for the night.

Once she was gone the young woman seemed to relax a little more, her posture was not so upright, her shoulders slouching just a little as she chuckled.

“She can be…what’s the word here, overbearing? Sometimes but she has good intentions. Now, I heard you were like her so, no eating oooooor?”

“You’re welcome to eat if you’re hungry.” Brielle shrugged. “Where we’re going there will be restaurants and such. Since I’m supposed to show you around a bit, I thought a good place to go would be around the Space Needle and the Great Wheel.”

With Kamilah out of sight, Brielle tugged the scarf looser around her neck. Hopefully she could find an excuse to take it off. “That’s around Pike Place Market, so plenty of places to eat. And a ghost tour if you want to learn about Seattle’s first mortuary.”

[thethinnestblood]

lostfledgling

Saaleha watched closely, those eyes of hers attempting to catch every detail they could without piercing through. With the use of Second, Sight Saaleha had found that even without using it that she could pick up more details than before she had become Imbued.

Or perhaps, she started to know what exactly to look for from the kindred she commonly dealt with in the past.

Even now she picked up small things here and there but given that Bri was thinblooded there were some confusing signals and she didn’ feel like using Second Sight to help her figure this out, gaze too wicked a headache.

“You” Kamilah spoke cheerfully, her eyes held such a look of contempt. She loved giving things she made to others, originally to truly help them, to give them things they had not but now…The Beast was already starting to taint her intentions without her knowing. Now she was helping, but also when people wore what she made it openly marked them to others as hers.

The overdress Saaleha wore, the red scarf Wilhelm dawned from time to time, Aboiye’s vest lined on the inside with gold, even the french Tremere Primogen had things made special for him. In her mind, it was a kindness but there was also pride in seeing it as well. The Beast could be a terrible thing, even the best intentions would become twisted with time.

“It will help you blend in, especially in the colder months. How many have I seen roaming the streets in thin clothes during a snowstorm? Too too many, plus this one is thin enough to where it can be worn in spring and fall as well” Kamilah held the air of a proud hen mothering over her chicks while Saaleha chuckled a little, behind them the elevator dinged as the twins got off, Abioye lightly bowed his head Brielle’s way while Wilhelm was trying to remember how to put a scarf on, completely ignoring the situation here before the two walked out, waiting for their ‘master’ out front.

“...Thank you.” Brielle’s smile came slowly, politely. There was little she could do but accept the gift from the kin, no matter any protests or misgivings she might have. She barely knew this woman, and she was Camarilla, or Camarilla-adjacent. Not someone to offend, or to be in debt to.

Gently, she put the scarf around her neck. “I don’t want to keep you if you have places to be. It’ll take a little while to get around Seattle at night and be back before morning.” Looking briefly at the twins’ quiet retreating backs, her focus turned back to Saaleha. “If you’re ready to go, too?”

[thethinnestblood]

lostfledgling

“A tour around town” Kamilah spoke with a little smile, knowing that that would keep Saaleha interested, that the girl liked to see new places and this seemed safe enough. 

Saal simply nodded, this seemed fine to her though it was not as if she already had mischief planned. 

“Saaleha, Botros” With this the ghoul put her hand out, offering to shake as Kamilah seemed to remember something and soon went through the bag Saaleha held yet again.  

The Toreador would wait though until the greeting was exchanged to pull out a thin silk handmade scarf, soon holding it out to Bri.

“Here you go dear” she seemed so pleased as she held it, the silk had circles of gold swirling around the white pattern. It didn’t really fit with what Bri was wearing but if anything it did look soft.

Brielle tried to hide her surprise when the ghoul introduced herself, shaking her hand and making sure to keep her face under control. Botros. That was the last name Kamilah had introduced herself with. The kin had made a ghoul out of her own family.

The scarf was a momentary distraction from the horrible implications, and she gently took it. “Er, it’s lovely. What is it...for?”

[urazakh]

Wanderlust

[thethinnestblood]

urazakh

His grin, if possible, grew.

“Good t’see you again. And here.” Allen held out the helmet for her to take, then took off his leather jacket to hand that to her as well.

“Even though I don’t plan on it, if we got into an accident, that hoodie ain’t gonna do shit.” He’d left his gun in his bag back at the den, which meant the jacket was a lot lighter than usual, and already pre-warmed to a cozy werewolf temperature. Between the two of them, he’d bounce back a lot quicker from a bad case of road rash. His grin calmed to a crooked smile.

“So how you doin’?”

Brielle accepted the loaner gifts with no reservation, unaware that one of the two had been stolen. Her smaller frame was dwarfed by his jacket, but she didn’t have the heart to tell him she had her own upstairs. She didn’t feel like explaining the copious amounts of fetish gear tonight if he followed her upstairs.

“If you’d told me we were riding the bike, I’d have dressed better.” Sticking her tongue out at him, she held her arms out in a T-pose to demonstrate the different proportions comically. “Thank you for your consideration, all the same.

“I’ve been alright.” She got up behind him, leaning away from his back to get the helmet secured. “You? What’s got you wanting to go into the woods?”

[thethinnestblood]

Sex Work | Philosophy Tube

tw for discussion of sexual assault and police violence, but the framing of the video is education and there is no graphic imagery (this disclaimer is spoken in the first part of the video as well)

[urazakh]

Wanderlust

[thethinnestblood]

urazakh

It wasn’t too long before Allen pulled up to Deep Well, grinning under the helmet when he saw Brielle already waiting for him. He slowed to a stop, turning the key to silence the growling bike before pulling the helmet off. He couldn’t help the head shake, he wasn’t used to helmets and honestly? He needed a haircut soon. He rested the helmet on his lap, folding his arms over it.

“So, does this count as a car?” he asked, grinning cheekily. He was glad to see that Brielle didn’t look any worse for wear, considering how he’d had to leave her last time. A mistake that hopefully wouldn’t repeat itself.

“No, it doesn’t, but it’s close enough to work.” Brielle laughed when she saw him. He looked eager. He also had Bad Idea written all over him. But had that ever stopped her before?

“Did you bring me a helmet, or should I see if I can borrow one off Amalia?” She’d walked up to him, checking out the motorcycle and the man on it. Despite working in a biker bar, her eye for the machinery was completely unpracticed. Pretty, though. She shot him a smile. “Nice to see you again.”

[thethinnestblood]

lostfledgling

“Oh, no worries darling” Kamilah cooed as she turned towards Brielle, there was a pep in her step tonight as she allowed her eyes to wonder over the thin-bloods attire. 

Hmmm, it could be worse. Probably perfect for hanging out with Saaleha, especially since such an outfit wouldn’t draw too much attention unlike the twins who stood out wherever they went, even when they ‘dressed down’.

Saaleha gave a little wave towards Bri, her eyes had so much more light in them than her sisters though there were still many similarities between the two given that they were siblings.

“Looks like we’ll be spending the night together, a peaceful no drama boring night” Saaleha teased, only smiling more when she got a little look from Kamilah.

“Boring is safe” The toreador reminded before moving closer to Brielle, a list in hand of all the things Saaleha could and couldn’t eat just in case she didn’t pack enough foods, which she did. It almost felt like she was dropping off a child at daycare minus the child leash.

Though it was not like Saaleha did not draw this upon herself with all her adventures and mischief.

Brielle didn’t know what either had planned for the night, really, so she simply kept a neutral smile on her face as they fussed at each other. Money was money, and she would see whether or not it was worth it before the end of the night.

She accepted the list, giving it a brief look over before nodding to the Toreador. “I can do boring. Did you have anything specific in mind?” Her gaze drifted briefly to the ghoul, pocketing the list. They seemed pretty cognizant of their surroundings. An introduction wouldn’t go amiss, then, probably. “I’m Brielle, nice to meet you.”

[lostfledgling]

Closed starter for @thethinnestblood Kamilah waited patiently in the lounge of the hotel that she had picked, which probably came as no surprise to anyone that she had picked the nicest one she could find in the nicest part of town. The idea of ghouled bedbugs simply just got to her to stay anywhere else, much less the mess most places held. She even brought her own blankets and sheets and bed cover if that said anything. Luckily the one Brielle would be watching was much less of a germaphobe, also waiting with Kamilah as the Toreador fixed little things about Saaleha’s outfit along with filling the side bag Saal had with things like water and snacks for the night. This would continue until Bri arrived.

[thethinnestblood]

Brielle had tried to look decent this time around, though there was nothing in her closet that could even be called ‘Sunday best,’ let alone rival what Kamilah and the twins had worn when she first met them. Still, a decent flannel button-up, jeans without scuffs or distress, and a pair of tennis shoes would have to do.

She did her best. In the end, she was watching a ghoul, not the kin.

It took a few hours to get where she needed to go by bus, and so she started before sundown. Night did wonders to perk her back up from the drain of public transport and waning sunlight. By the time she could climb the steps and enter in the double doors of a hotel she could never afford, the color had come back to her cheeks.

She spotted the pair, moving quickly to join them. It was a treat to watch the kin fussing over her ghoul.

“Hey, I hope you didn’t have to wait long.”

[urazakh]

Wanderlust

[thethinnestblood]

urazakh

Allen huffed, dragging the drunk fuck just into the alley, enough to keep him from getting hit by a car, but not so much that his boots didn’t stick out into the sidewalk in case someone wanted to play Good Samaritan. He picked the helmet he’d used to knock him out off the sidewalk, dusting it off a bit before going to the still-grumbling bike. He took the key in the ignition off the ring of keys, tossing them at the drunk before straddling the bike and checking his phone. He didn’t know what was with the water drops and purple…whatever it was, but-

…oh. Probably a dick. The man couldn’t help but laugh as he set the helmet in his lap for the time being to respond.

Once he hit send, he pulled the helmet on to avoid trouble on the way to Deep Well before backing the bike up and pulling out into the street.

Brielle didn’t send a response back other than a brief ‘Okay, cya soon.’ If he was driving, she wasn’t going to be even tangentially responsible for his swerve off the road. He was so impulsive, just from what she knew, she didn’t know if he could resist the siren song of a text alert to watch the road. Condoms, lubricant, cellphone, small flashlight, cell battery, cable, all fit into a hip bag looped through her belt. Then, carefully, a few elixirs were packed carefully, secured by rubberbands and thin sheets of packing foam. Couldn’t be too careful.

With that done, she stepped outside to wait for him, sitting her butt on the sidewalk and ignoring the few kine who were getting to the bar early. Wasn’t dark enough yet for kin to be out of their homes.