Home Truths [invite only]

[Velveteen]

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Velveteen: [Text] Doc, you busy?

Doc: Doc eyed the text and sighed. He hadn't done anything this time. He had been the perfect gentleman.. unless.. that skirt reported him for leering.. *text* No.. what's up?

Velveteen: [Text] I think we should talk. Can we meet somewhere?

Doc: Doc got a sense of foreboding. He wracked his brain, for anything he may have done. *text* Of course, Where ever you would like..I am at your service.

Velveteen: [Text] Meet me down by the river. Westwall end. I will see you soon.

Doc: *text* I Will be there.

Velveteen: It was barely minutes before Vel found herself standing at the edge of the icy waters. She had to admit, despite everything she did love the powers afforded to her by being vampire. having to live on blood and being constantly hunted was a fair trade. She dug her hands deep into her pockets and kicked at the ground as she waited and wondered why she was always delivering shitty news.

Doc: After he sent the text, he quickly checked his calendar to see if anything cause something to jump out at him. It hadn't. The only thing he could think of was fight night.. which he did try to attend but her couldn't get in. He didn't care for fight nights anyway, so he didn't bother to say anything. He should have checked ini. As he reached the area indicated, he saw Velveteen, and decide to come clean. Apologize, get it out in the open. "Vel.. Velveteen," he used her full name ou8t of respect, after a second thought, "I'm am sorry about fight night.. I should have checked it.. my apologies."

Velveteen: Vel blinked at the sound of her full name being used and smiled a little at his apology already shaking her head. "No Doc, no apologies necessary. They aren't mandatory." She tilted her head a little when it dawned on her that the only time the two spoke was generally when there was trouble. Dark strands fell about her face as she shook her head again. "No Doc...this is about anything you have done or not done so,...you can relax there."

Doc: "Well thank ****." He voice was relieved. "I've not had a great few weeks .. but am sure you noticed, quite relieved I must say." He felt immediately better. "So how can I help?" he even managed an affable smile.

Velveteen: "Yeah. I have noticed." She eyed the male, affording a moment of concern though he was not really the sort to share much. She wouldn't pry and figured he knew where she was if he ever felt the need to purge. "Well...I don't know. I was running my regular checks tonight and came across something curious in some memories. How are things with the wife by the way?"

Doc: Doc's face took on a closed look. Cyth had been avoiding him for weeks on end. Why? Hell if he knew.. but she had shown up today, used her 'pacify power' on him.. and was gone once more. "Strained."

Velveteen: Velveteen nodded and chewed at her lower lip thoughtfully. "One of the memories I was checking was Pratt's. Cyth had inspired him. I....didn't realize she was back. Out of curiosity I checked hers too, which I probably shouldn't have and I apologize for that but....It surprised me to learn that Pratt had summoned her. Also tonight." She waited and watched, curious as to what was going on there. For all she knew Doc might actually already know.

Doc: "What the hell?" Doc stopped. He took a step back..and stared at Vel, not really believing what he heard. "She ******* inspired him?!" He was so pissed, it took him a full minute for the rest of what Vel said to sink in. He turned his back, the anger displayed on his face showed lethal intent. He counted, he drew a breath, not because he needed it, it was a calming exercise. "Please repeat that last part?" His voice was soft and cold.

[Doc]

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Velveteen: Well it was obvious now that he had no idea and she felt a tinge of guilt but if it was her, she would want to know. "Robert Pratt summoned your wife to him." No sense in sugar coating it now. It was what it was.

Doc: All this time.. She had been avoiding him.. deigning to show up, 'pacify' him.. and go off to Pratt? He snort derisively, as the full implication of the 'pacification' hit him. "What .. the .. ****!" He hissed coldly. "She ******* pacified me... and went off to him? She told me.... " He stopped. He counted. Finally he turned to face Velveteen, his face a mask of coldness and resolve. "Thank you Vel. I am sorry you were put in this position. It could not have been easy." He paused, hell everything he, himself did, was now going to be suspect, because his wife, ******* inspired Pratt. Could Doc be in collusion with Pratt? As much as the thought revolted him, it would be the first thing he would think if it were someone else in this position. "I will understand, if you need to restrict my access.".

Velveteen: The woman shook her head. It was obvious by his anger that he was not aware of, let alone involved in anything to do with Pratt. "I don't think that is necessary, Doc. I am really sorry to have had to deliver the news honestly. Though..." She tilted her head curiously and narrowed her gaze a little, obviously contemplating whether or not it was her place to ask. "What did she tell you?"

Doc: "Not one ******* thing. She’s been avoiding me for weeks. Alright..I know, I am not the easiest person to live with, I get that... but Pratt? ******* PRATT?! She knows How I feel about ..." The anger leaked out at the last few words. He swallowed it back once more. He counted, and raked his hair back. "How many times did he summon her, Vel? How many times?"

Velveteen: "Only the once. her memories are pretty blank for a while before that. Like...she hasn't been around at all until tonight. Just her wages being paid every night."

Doc: "I told her.. I didn't like him, and that I didn't trust him. That she had to the power to block him. That he was a manipulator." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Apparently,... she felt she knew better."

Velveteen: "Seems a little odd though. That she would just show up and do that. I know you guys have a less than conventional relationship at best but still. Seems to be a bit more to this." She paused and furrowed her brow a little. "Is there anything I can do?"

Doc: "Yes there, I think I will be spending more time in Eyrie, if that is alright with you. I need a place to think."

Velveteen: She smiled a little. "Doc, you do not need to ask. Might be nice to see you around there a bit. If you'd prefer a bit more privacy I can give you access to one of the huts I keep spare."

Doc: I have hut one..

Velveteen: "Oh" She looked surprised. "Right. I forgot." She chuckled. "Well then you will have all the privacy you need. And if there is anything else. Just...let me know. Ok?"

Doc: "I will." He nodded absently. He needed to kill something.. anything. Zombies.. Ferals.. Mooncalves.. anything would work.

Velveteen: "Ok." She nodded more to herself than anything. There really wasn't much more to be said at that point. Her heel dug into the frozen ground absently. "I will...keep an eye on it. Let you know if there is anymore to be known."

Doc: Doc nodded slowly.. "Yes. Thank you."

Velveteen: She offered him a final nod and a part smile as she dug her mini-sized tome from her pocket and disappeared.

[Zodiac]

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Zodiac: *knocks on his door*

Doc: Doc opens the door and sees Zodiac, "Zodiac.. this is a surprise.. " He steps back, to allow her to enter, "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Zodiac: *inclines her head, smiles, and enters* good evening, Doctor. I had heard some disturbing things, and decided to stop by and see how you were.

Doc: Doc schooled his face to be passive. It had been habit when he was a human, he had fallen out of the habit of late, but he saw he would need to hone his skills at it once more. "Oh?" His voice politely inquiring. He gestured to a chair, and waited for her to seat herself, before he sat.

Zodiac: *takes a seat* you know in my line of things I hear odd things and after a time you can pick out what may be and what may not.

Doc: Doc sat, after Zodiac seated herself. He relaxed back in his chair, crossing his legs, looking quite at ease, for the most part. Though he may have looked at ease to the casual observer, his eyes reflected a hard coldness. "Yes I would presume you do.. what have you heard?" He tone passivel.

Zodiac: hints, rumors, nothing major, but I need to ask you something if I may, How is........... your marriage, Doctor?

Doc: Although Doc was ready to pull the plug on it, he was loath to admit it aloud. His sense of honor dictated that he should at least inform Cytherea first, before anyone else. So he decided to use the same word he used when Vel had asked him the very same question. "Strained."

Zodiac:: *nods* I had figured that much. This must stay between us, I must insist, but between rumor and more mystical means of learning things I’m coming to the conclusion that Mr Pratt is up to something again. I know, what else is new for that dumb ***, right? But several names seems to keep coming up. *looks at him* Cyth's was one of them.

Doc: "Keep.." he paused, "Coming up.. ?" Doc took a moment to make sure the disgust was not readily evident in his voice, "How often?" The question was asked quietly and slowly, his voice was not as passive or casual as before, it had a cold bite to it.

Zodiac:: so far? twice now, but considering what you have told me about her, I would be concerned if I heard her name and Pratt’s put together even once.

Doc: It took all his control, to keep his ‘somewhat’ calm demeanor, "Would you care to share the details..." He counted, "of those ‘two’ occasions?"

Zodiac:: I sensed she had pacified you. Now, talking straight here, I know you can be.....volatile? at times, but never the need for something like that. Then I noticed Pratt himself had summoned her to him. Not by a message but by the power, which implies they are allies of a sort?

Doc: Doc closed his eyes. When he opened them, he looked pointedly at Zodiac. "She's been avoiding me. Gone for days or weeks on end. No word, no explanation. No emails." His voice was flat. "When she does grace me with her presence, she always pacifies me." he smiled coldly, "She finds it amusing.. she's my wife... I felt it was a small thing.. I let it go. However, this particular information sheds new light on the subject does it not?" His smile grew contemptuous, "A few weeks back, I tried to summon her.. I failed. Apparently.. I am blocked from summoning her.. and yet Pratt is not. One could surmise, that should tell me where I stand, hmm?"

Zodiac:: I do not pretend to know the details of your relationship with her, but it does put an odd light on the whole matter I must admit.

Doc: "That is a rather polite way to put it." the cold smile faded to a grim line. He hated Pratt. Pratt was a manipulator and instigator who would be the death of all vampire kind. However it was clear his admonition to his own wife fell on deaf ears. He rubbed his brow. "Were you, in my shoes, what would be your next course of action?"

[Doc]

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Zodiac:: Me? Personally? *she thought for a moment* As crude as this may sound, if she were my woman I'd be demanding some answers and if she doesn't want to give any I'd be changing the locks on my house. This is what you want? Fine, but don't come back when Pratt fucks you over as he has done everyone else he has gotten near.

Doc: Doc listened and was deep in thought for a few moments longer, before he finally spoke. "What purpose do the answers really serve?" His voice was now blandly analytical. "Of course she will tell me what she 'thinks', I want to hear. 'That I misunderstood', or that 'We will look back on it and laugh', or 'It's not what it looks like..'" He lifted an eyebrow, "Do you know what bothers me the most.. not the pacification; but that she 'inspired' him. To me.. that clearly says she cares for him. Which is at odds with her words to me about him."

Zodiac:: *shakes her head in disgust* In the answer I just gave you? It would not be based on the fact she may care for another, but because the person in question is Pratt. He has systematically used everyone who comes under his influence then threw them to the side and denounced them to suit his whims. Anyone with a mind can see this, and if Cyth is that self delusioned that she feels she will be the exception to that, then she is beyond my help. Even his creations have backed away, severed and denounce him now, and his wife? *chuckles softly*

Doc: Zodiac's words summed it up succinctly. His anger, disgust, and revulsion were because the person in question was Robert Pratt. Yes their marriage had been strained. Yes, his eyes had wandered, but he had not broken Cytherea's trust, like she had just obliterated his trust in her. Even if the pacification had been 'bad timing'; or that Pratt's summoning of her was 'not at her request', she still chose to inspire him. She made that very conscious effort to to give Pratt the extra abilities to fuel his machinations against keeping the masquerade. That was worse to him. It shouldn't have been. There was no clear understanding why that bothered him so much more, but it did.

Doc: "I think, in regard to she and I,.. there is nothing left to be said." It was a simple statement. There was no emotion in the words. He could have been discussing the time or weather.

Zodiac:: *frowns* I sorry for your situation, Doctor. I wish I had the insight to advise you where to go from this point on. *honestly, in her eyes she truly did. the expression was overused at times but she did have a liking for this man and despite his bravado front Zodiac suspected a strange storm was brewing within him somewhere*

Doc: "The situation is, what it is. There is nothing to do now, except to accept it, as it is, and move on." The cold impassive look back firmly in place. His mind went back over the situation with Pi, and how he too was duped by her. His jaw tightened imperceptibly. Scores of violent scenarios played through his mind, while outwardly he reflected resigned acceptance. "Thank you, for having the courage to tell me. It is appreciated." He didn't tell Zodiac that he already knew, that someone had already told him. However for him, hearing it from two reliable sources, well it was corroborated evidence, there was no doubt left, was there?

Zodiac:: It was not courage that motivated me, Doctor, but concern. You are one of a few on a select list of people I actually care about. *she stood up, placed her palms together and inclined her head* if there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.

Doc: As she moved to stand, he also stood, it was the polite gentlemanly thing to do. Her words should have had a soothing aspect to them. Should have. But in truth, it was like pouring salt into an open wound. Here was someone not his wife, who cared more for his feelings, than his wife. He didn't trust himself to speak, merely nodding, and leading her to the door, which he opened and held for her.

Zodiac:: Have a good evening, as best as the circumstances will allow, Doctor. If I learn anything else, I will be in touch.

Doc: "Thank you Zodiac." He watched her walk away, before shutting the door.

Zodiac:: *pauses at the end of the walk and looks back. Sadly, Doc and his situation was only a corner point of a much larger thing she was suspecting when she added his situation to a few others she had gained clues on. She faced his place and made several passes in the air of blessing and protection before moving on*

[Zodiac]

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Doc: Doc checked his phone, and saw the updated details on one of his contracts. That was confirmation number three. How do you not accept, what is being flung in your face from all sides? How do make sense of not wanting to believe, but knowing it’s true? If this had happened in the past, he would have destroyed someone or something. But violence for violence sake fixed nothing. In fact it only served to cement the raw feeling even deeper. He needed to talk. He eyes his phone and scrolled down to Zodiac’s name. *text* You said if I needed anything.. I need to talk.

Zodiac: She was stirring her caldron when her phone trilled softly in her pocket. Zodiac checked the message and used her powers to form a reply and send via her cell. 'If you have the time, you can come here and we can talk while I work. Mind you, your nose may not like what it finds here.'

Doc: Doc could care less what he smelled, he was used to the smell of decomp, that was one of the most repellent smells there was. Chances were he wouldn’t even notice the smell of whatever she was doing. He was actually grateful she was free at this moment, as otherwise he might have talked himself out of it.. and ended up doing something stupid .. again. *text* I will be there shortly.

It was about ten minutes later, he showed up. He was impeccably dressed. The detail and care in his appearance was more an artifact of him focusing on anything, other than the pressing issue at hand, that he needed to discuss.

Zodiac: Jennifer looked up as the door chimes rang. "Good evening, Doctor. She is upstairs and said to send you up when you arrived." She held up a squeeze type of clothespin and offered it to him with a smile. "You might need this. Sorry, a silly joke."

Doc: Doc tried to manage a smile, and mostly failed. Nodding he went upstairs. He hadn’t ever been in the upstairs of the business, so he made sure to make note of it, never knew when it would come in handy later. At the top of the landing, he was faced with several rooms to which to chose from. He followed the smell and was rewarded by seeing the petite figure of Zodiac standing by a cauldron that was nearly as large as she was. “Zodiac.”

Zodiac: She looked up and smiled at the man. "Hello there. Welcome to my work room." She grabbed a cutting board covered with with layers of chopped animal parts and encouraged them into the bubbling brew. "And how may I be of assistance to you this night? Please, have a seat. We can talk while I finish this up." The girl took hold of the large iron spoon and began to stir again.

Doc: Doc didn’t feel like sitting, so he ignored her offer and moved to stand beside her, his hands thrust into his pants packets. “I got text from Lizzie last night..” He took a moment to focus, as the subject matter, namely Pratt, was a sore spot with him. “She’s dropped her married name. Guess she found out too.”

Zodiac: An eyebrow cocked as he mentioned Lizzie. "Yes, I imagine so, but possibly not for the same reasons you may think. She was here earlier this evening and we spoke." The mystic stopped stirring and picked up a cup of greenish power. "Step back, please," she encouraged her guest. Zodiac closed her eyes as her mouth moved without sound for a few seconds before pouring the powder into the brew. The liquid within boiled furiously and threatened to fountain out of the pot, but calmed down quickly.

Doc: Doc obligingly stepped back, absently watching her actions, as he took in the meaning of her words. “Really? Lizzie is the loyal sort. I do not know her well.. but she stuck by him through everything.. in my estimation of her, the only thing that would turn her from him.. is infidelity.”

Zodiac: Once the brew had calmed itself, she began to stir it again. "Yes, you are right to a point. Please do not press me further for details, Doctor. Some may think some of the things I do suggests I have mental issues, but like you I try to be a professional in my consultations. I do not not discuss our conversations with others, so by the same token I do not discuss other conversations with you." Finally satisfied, she sat the large spoon to the side, sat a small egg timer and turned down the heat on the large iron caldron. "But, I can say this much. Lizzie's problems stem from the root source as yours, but in a totally different situation."

Doc: “Alright.. Doctor Patient.. I get it. I wasn’t aware she came to you. It wasn't my intention to delve into her business through you.” He fell silent for a time. “However.. that wasn’t the crux of the reason I wanted to talk. What is the crux, is that .. this ‘binding’ of mine is irrevocably broken. I am not going to blame her for everything. I hold my share of guilt. But **** it all Zodiac.. I want to ******* kill someone.. and that’s a dangerous pastime.”

Zodiac: 'And Mini is not around to be your target of choice' she thought to herself. She excused herself and washed her hands in the nearby sink. "Everyone deals with stress in their own ways. I do understand that. All I could suggest is make the object of your rage fit the situation at hand." Zodiac looked up as she dried her hands. "I hope you are not expecting me to be a target for this" she smiled.

[Doc]

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Doc: Doc frowned almost appalled at her suggestion. “**** no.” It was an honest display of confusion as to why in the world Zodiac would even think that. “Every death should serve a purpose.” Though in his mind those purposes were usually his own particular purpose, it was still a purpose. “A masq violator’s death, is a teaching moment. Their actions will cause reactions.” His mind went to Minx very recent death, “At times others need to die to realize the situation they are in, and either accept it.. or stay dead.” A pause, “This situation is not a teaching moment. It’s an anger reaction.. situation. My calming techniques aren’t working as well as I would like.. I was hoping you could offer some insights in dealing with it.”

Zodiac: The mystic nods and exhales as she considers. "To be blunt, you have taken a major hit to your intelligence, ego and possibly heart right right now. Is not as easy a thing to bounce back from as most might think." She pulled a box from the shelf and began going through the jars inside, sitting a couple out onto the workbench. "I mean, you do, or did, love Cyth? Did you not?"

Doc: Doc rolled his eyes, “I cared for her.. alright..” To be honest, he did not know what ‘love’ was. He had feelings for her, but to call it love seemed trivial, because according to everyone else, ‘love’ should be this all encompassing and overpowering feeling of emotion. Hell, he care for his cat as much as he cared for Cyth. He wasn’t about to admit that out loud, stupid he was not. but to clarify he said clearly and distinctly, “I am not angry she’s ******* Pratt.. I am angry because I ******* trusted her!”

Zodiac: She holds up her hands hoping for calm now. "It is alright. That is a fair answer to the question. But love and trust do walk hand in hand. The ones we love we trust the deepest at times, and when that trust is broken it hurts beyond any trivial betrayal a friend or coworker might manage." She began opening the jars and measuring out several scoops of the various items. "Question if I may. When you are....upset as you are now. Does killing someone make the rage go away or does it just sooth or lay a mask over it making it more tolerable to deal with?"

Doc: Doc had a ready answer, but the point of this exercise was to learn and be better for it. So he bit back the ready answer, and thought about it. The truth of the matter was he liked killing. It gave him a rush that he couldn’t get any other way. The Rush was made everything else fade.. and it gave him time to think it through without the anger. “Killing takes the emotion out of the issue. It allows me to focus on the actual points of fact, versus the emotion it wrought.”

Zodiac: "Makes sense." She felt the same way when she chose to use her skills in such a way, although the gypsy's line for acting in such ways was more tolerant to abuse than the Doctor's was. "If that is the only thing that works, then I cannot suggest anything different. Most of my ideas tend to run to a more tranquil personality in nature." She spoke openly now. The Doctor might be insulted by what she was saying, but she never would lie to him on how she saw things. "So once you can see things properly, then what? What actually makes the pain go away for you?"

Doc: Doc was somewhat surprised by her answer, but upon reflection, a plan began to develop as to how he would do it. His eyes narrowed as the plan began to take shape in his mind. Her question was about pain. He turned his narrow eyed gaze to her, “Pain? What pain?”

Zodiac: "Pain? Anger? Is basically the same animal with different spots." she shrugs. "My point is, what actually sets a situation right for you. You say murder helps calm you to focus on the issue. Okay, then you do what?"

Doc: “I disagree.. Anger and Pain are not interchangeable.” He was a surgeon, he knew the difference. “Even emotional pain is different from Anger. Emotional pain can manifest itself with physiological symptoms.. as does anger, but they are completely different symptoms altogether.” He then turned his attention to her question, “I start a new project.”

Zodiac: "So in the end, the issue is totally gone and out of the equation?" the egg timer dings. She picks up the scoops and begins pouring them into the caldron. "I say what I say because sometimes anger is the result of pain, while pain drives people to anger. Maybe they are not the same, but one can certainly fuel the other very well." Picks up her spoon and begins to stir again.

Doc: Doc decided not to pursue that particular line of the conversation, due to the fact, if he pressed it, he would basically be admitting he was emotionally flawed, if not downright stunted, and he was loath to have that knowledge out there. “Yes fine.. agreed.” He muttered, though in truth he didn’t agree. He just didn’t want to argue it. “It isn’t ‘totally’ gone.. it’s manageable.”

Zodiac: "So we admit there is no real 'cure' for the problem? Just a way to tie a mental bandage around it and make it all feel better." She nodded as she reset the timer. "My point is, you know yourself better than anyone, Doctor. YOu what works and what doesn't. All I am suggesting is get the best deal for your actions. If you require a target, then make it one as close to central of the issue as you can."

Doc: Doc actually managed a smirk, as he imagined the look on his victim’s face right before the bullet pierced it’s left eye. ‘Psychologist’s orders.. if your death makes me deal.. I should ******* kill you.. so I am.’ The smirk actually grew into a lopsided grin.

Zodiac: Sees the changes in his face now. "Well, it has to be better than aroma therapy." she shrugged. She had made many suggestions before to the man, but his very mental nature could not use them properly. "So we have reached a conclusion then?"

Doc: His voice was amused, “Perhaps…”

Zodiac: "Then if I have helped, I am glad."

Doc: "Thank you Zodiac.. "

Zodiac: Places her palms together and inclines her head. "You are most welcome."