The Theology of Guilt [Sia]

[Lancaster]

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

<Lancaster> If lives had a soundtrack, Lancaster’s would probably mostly be folk. Light alternative. Acoustic, rather than electric. Since he’d come back from the Shadow Realm, however, the music in his head wouldn’t sit straight. It didn’t give him one strong melody. It was raucous, all over the place. Heavier than usual. Heavier than it should have been. He’d had a lot of time to think while in the Shadow Realm. Too much time, to dwell on the things that he didn’t realise bothered him. Things that came back now to remind him. Where once he had been surrounded by progeny, now he had only the couple. One who had emailed him since his return, once. One who had not contacted him at all, though she must have known…

But that was all expected, right? He had accepted that outcome before he had even found the exit. He didn’t come back expecting a whole bunch of people to come smother him in their undying love and loyalty. That didn’t exist. He’d burned those bridges. But then, the majority of his progeny had come into existence by accident. Because he had somehow, inadvertently, killed them. Maybe if he’d gone about it in a different way…

The first two nights were spent catching up on all the businesses; making sure everyone was sent their wages; their pay hadn’t been submitted in his absence. Once all the bookwork was caught up on, however, Lancaster found that he couldn’t stay. He looked out at the pub and its occupants and he didn’t want to be there. For the first time since the business had been opened, he didn’t want to be there. So he pulled on his jacket, and he left.

His wandering feet took him the few blocks to the University. The majority of his customers were University students. There was a bookshop there on campus that sold the kind of books that he liked to read; they had the text books available for the students, which weren’t readily available at commercial bookstores. The book he bought was The Philosophy of Religion; at the counter, the girl told him about a free public lecture starting in ten minutes over in one of the halls, if he wanted to go join. A subject that might interest him. Lancaster nodded and thanked the girl. He would do just that.

In ten minutes, he was seated amongst the smattering of students in the lecture hall, letting the gentle buzz and hum of conversation swirl around him as he glanced through the pages of his new book, waiting for the lecture to start.


<Sia> Sia took a few deep breaths as she fixed her head wrap in the ladies room. She could hear all the chatter and movement in the halls just outside, that she had become all too familiar with. With a gentle smile she nodded to a girl she had known from passing around the school for years and bid her luck on her last semester. Finally she had made it this far, her parents would be proud, her cousins and aunts, sisters and brothers. At first they had all warned her about the states, and of course it had taken her time to settle in, but after she did she couldn’t think of anywhere better to be. There was opportunity here, that was hard for many people back home to see. The thoughts made her laugh slightly in appreciation, but not before a woman gave her an odd look at her head wrap.

Sure most thought it was for religious reasons, but it was about style and what looked nice on her. She didn’t need to explain herself, which was one of the first rules about university she learned from a professor. He had said people will always talk and assume things, but she never had to explain herself to anyone, unless academically of course. She gave it a little pat and nodded respectfully to the woman and went to blend in with the rest and to find her second class of the day. She would never be late, something she prided herself on, and with a glance at her watch she was grateful that she still had ten minutes on the clock to settle in. The classroom was full already, but she spotted one of the few last sets, closest to the front as she could possibly get. Wiggling her way through the aisles, it was hard to miss her with her height well above normal and the dark cocoa shimmer of her skin, which most people just didn’t have. She didn’t mind though, she had become one with herself and nothing after four years could make her feel any sort of way but proud and enthusiastic. The professor would be in shortly and just like every year that had passed, she readied her laptop and notes for his first lecture of the semester.


<Lancaster> Inside was warmer than it was outside. Lancaster had removed his jacket to lay it across the seat next to him, though he’d had to move it as the seats started to fill up. The smattering that had been there when he’d arrived grew to a rather large crowd. He tossed his jacket over the back of the chair, instead; his plaid shirt, rolled up at the sleeves, looked kind of out of place amongst all the younger students with their newer clothes and their newer trends. Lancaster had put his book aside in order to watch the people, instead; so many of them, and he felt so old in their midst. But they all looked the same. All sheep in a crowd.

A few of them stood out, of course; the girl with the bright pink hair, for one. The guy with the Mohawk. And there were a couple of hard-core goths in the back. The girl with the ebony skin and the headscarf. A couple of other different ethnicities, but she was the only one who seemed to dress differently.

The lecture was, as the screen behind the lectern pointed out, the Foundation of Theology. The bookshop girl hadn’t been wrong; it suited the book that Lancaster had bought, so he settled in to listen. He wouldn’t participate; he probably wouldn’t come back. But this was nice way to spend part of the night, away from his life. Pretending to be someone else. Somewhere else, with a different history and a different path set out in front of him.



<Sia> By the time the professor and the rest of the students had arrived , there was barely any room left to breath. Looking behind her, she had to take a double glance. Four years in the university familiarized her with most faces, especially in the honor classes, not many made it there, and the few that did had been on the long journey well together. The man was older that she spotted, perhaps he was a friend of the professor, maybe a new teacher, maybe just an inquisitive future student. At any rate, she had never given too much mind to meeting new people, she had her little circle with most people she had known from day one. Returning her attention, she nodded to the teacher as he welcomed the class to their final and well warranted class for this subject. He gave them all praise for coming this far, but didn’t make too big of a deal of it. Soon the room went silent and he began. Most of what he said she already knew, but this course was to sharpen her thinking skills and improve on her writing, which was something she welcomed gladly. Soon all that could be heard was the typing of keypads and the occasional hmm or ahh in agreements. The teacher seemed to have a knack for Sia, perhaps because she had been so dedicated all along, or maybe he just favored her slightly for her individuality. A question was raised and of course the first one to raise a hand and respond was her. The professor smiled while some others rolled their eyes and sighed. She wouldn’t say she was always right, but a fair majority of the time it was true. She answered the question with a perfect response.

The teacher smiled and nodded and went on about his subject. Had there been a class above honors he would have recommended her but she was so close to her goal and he was proud. Of course there were questions that others took care of and she was always learning something new, which she thrived off of. About halfway through, her mind went back to the out of place man, and she looked over her shoulder again to at least catch a glimpse of his face, thinking she would probably see him around campus at some point in time. There was never any harm in at least being cordial and welcoming.


<Lancaster> The topic was interesting to Lancaster, though of course there was plenty that he didn’t know. He hadn’t ever been to University. He never got further than high school, and even then he struggled to finish. It wasn’t that he didn’t enjoy learning, he just seemed to have a short attention span, sometimes, and at that age all he wanted to do was play his guitar. It was only with time that he realised he wanted to know more about the world. Travelling around the world afforded him a greater thirst for why and how it turned, and how people functioned upon it – past and present. He wanted to know how the mind worked. An Atheist himself, he still thought the birth and practice of religion by many different cultures to be fascinating.

The majority of the lecture, his gaze was faced forward. He didn’t fiddle and shift like the rest of them did. His body didn’t suffer cramps or uncomfortable clots of blood. He didn’t get pins and needles from sitting in the same spot for too long. He barely moved the entire lecture, listening to the lecturer and to the small bursts of conversation between him and the students. One particular student seemed to stand out amongst the rest; the ebony girl, who Lancaster caught glancing at him several times.

”Haven’t you seen an old person before?”

The accent was broad Australian. The tone was teasing. And the question was asked directly into her head; no voice was spoken out loud. The action surprised even Lancaster, who had begrudgingly kept the Masquerade before. But now? **** it. **** all of it. Why should he? Now, he shifted, the corners of his lips lifting in an amused smile as he turned his attention again to the front, staring ahead. That small smile the only hint that he’d done anything at all.


<Sia> She could tell the class was beginning to wind down, just by watching her teachers body reactions. So observant she was, always able to read body language, but never mind language. Sia thought she was downright crazy when she heard the thoughts that were not her own, floating through her mind. She dared to do an almost 360 in her chair, to strangely enough figure out what was going on. There was no possible way someone could speak to her through her mind...at least nothing that she had ever came across, and what she studied about telepathy along the years, nothing had ever been proven. Clearing her throat she returned her gaze to the front and watched as the teacher gave her an odd look, it just wasn’t like her. It spooked her, and for once she couldn’t wait to get out of that classroom and safely slide into another. Who was an old man? She thought in her head. The oldest one there was probably the guy that just arrived mysteriously, but he was just that...an older man. He didn’t look or seem to be anything special or mystical. Once the class was over, she wasted no time in collecting herself and her belongings and slowly making her way to exit. For some reason she didn’t even want to look in his general direction, just in case he was some sort of unexplainable super human. Silly she knew, but nothing she supposed was impossible. One of her classmates congratulated her on her spot in the class and she shook hands with another few before exiting. To her better judgement, she stood just outside the classroom to at least get a glimpse of this man without him seeing hopefully.


<Lancaster> The desired reaction was accomplished. Out of the corner of his eye Lancaster watched as the girl stared around her, confused. Her entire demeanour put off for the rest of the session. Lancaster couldn’t say that he could feel it from where he was sitting; he was surrounded by people, and his peculiar ability to pick up on the strong emotions of others wasn’t that focused. The main feeling he got from the room was a mix between enthusiastic interest and boredom. Why anyone would want to be here if they were bored, he didn’t know, but each to their own.

The room slowly started to filter out, and Lancaster followed slowly; he stood above most of the crowd with his six foot six height. He got a few looks, but that was normal. Once outside, he did notice the girl with the headscarf. She was the only one wearing a headscarf. How could he not notice her? With all its bright colours, too. He nodded in her direction, the crowd mingling and taking its time to disperse between them.

”You’re not going insane,” again, speaking directly into her mind. He assumed that might be one thought that crossed her mind, and chose to discourage it. ”But you seem like you might have an open mind,” he said with a shrug. Someone bumped him from behind; he muttered a baritone apology out loud, for standing in the way, and moved toward the edge of the crowd, glancing over his shoulder as he considered taking the archway that would lead him to one of the university’s coffee shops.


<Sia> Sia wasn't a rude person by far, but she was inquisitive, which was how she had gotten so far and with relatively great ease. Her head whipped around again, hearing more. So this was true...she was not going insane...then it must be some sort of demon and spirit in her mind. If so this could be a confusing breakthrough and make a remarkable end of year statement. Most people would have made an immediate call to their shrink, but she knew her mind well enough, to know this was something more than a nervous breakdown. Her mind was open and this person seemed to have already known that, as if he knew her forever. Open minded yes, easy to let people in...not. Something deep inside told her that the odd one out in that class may have had something to do with the strange happenings.

<Sia> She didn’t want to follow, it was rude, but she wouldn’t let the opportunity to be enlightened slip away as well. She watched him head toward the coffee shop and gave him enough space so that he couldn’t see her following. Even if he did notice, she could have easily just been going to get a cup and coffee and some relaxation between classes. Far between classes actually, as she looked down at her watch, realizing the next one wasn’t for two hours. Plenty of time to study or observe, both were one in the same for her. Walking by a group they all smiled and nodded at her, and said a few things in her native language, that she didn’t use much these days sadly enough. Bringing herself to the counter she ordered a plain black coffee and she and the barista had a quick chat in regards to new students.


<Lancaster> The lecture had gone for an hour, maybe longer. By now it was about eight, maybe eight-thirty. There still seemed to be quite a few students around, and Lancaster wondered how many of them were nocturnal. Had the University changed its policy, staying open for those who couldn’t be out during the day? How would they know? But then, wasn’t there a vampire controlling the current political leader? At least, those were the rumours. Who’s to say the entire University board wasn’t made up of vampires, too? Lancaster shrugged it off and as he lined up for coffee.

At the counter he ordered himself a long black and took a number, which he carried to a table out beneath the trees, with two seats available. One that was out of the way, out of earshot of any of the other lingerers. He dropped his jacket onto the back of the chair again, his sleeves still rolled up. It was around fifteen degrees Celsius, but the humidity was killer. It wasn’t cold at all, though the weather was slowly turning.

Out of the corner of his eyes he could see the girl. He opened the book in front of him and began to read; he didn’t speak into her head again. Instead, he waited to see if she would join him.


<Sia> "There aren’t any new teachers this year" the barista told Sia as she handed her the cup. "And in your class there is barely anyone that you haven’t met already." Sia nodded and shrugged, it wasn’t up to her she supposed to control who came and went from the university, but she just knew something was out of place. "Thank you," she nodded humbly to the woman and slipped outside. There was always a reason she wore the head dress, the humidity was one of them, otherwise her hair would spring into half curl and half frizz, and with the amount on her head, she would have been quite embarrassed. She spotted him right below the tree that she had claimed so many times. It all felt right to approach him and take her spot as well. Adjusting her laptop bag across her shoulder, she steadied her coffee and made her way over. "I seen you in my class today, I hope you don’t mind if I sit here with you?" far from abrasive she waited for his response. Manners were sometime misunderstood for humility, as most girls as she had seen, simply hopped around boys, proving themselves as rowdy or unlady like. She was this way with everyone, as she never wanted to give off bad vibes. "I'll only be here for a few moments," she smiled. Sia was obviously smart, and she knew she only needed a few moments to find out more about this man, though she had a good mind to know he was something special.


<Lancaster> It didn’t take long. He’d only gotten through a page and a half of his new book before he heard someone approaching. The same someone that he expected. He smiled as she took the seat; confident enough to ask his mind only after she’d taken the seat. But he shook his head anyway. “Of course I don’t mind,” he said, the very same tone, accent, and depth of the voice she’d have been hearing in her head. He closed the book and pushed it aside, leaning forward on the table that seemed far too small next to his tall, long limbs. He held out a hand.

“Lancaster. And no. I was just bored, sitting in. I’m not taking the class,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders. Such an ordinary conversation to have when surely she must have questions. He had no idea why he was acting the way he was. He hadn’t been lying when he’d told Skylar that the Realm had changed him. There was a difference in the way he approached the world, obviously, and this was one of them. The smile remained upon his features, easy and graceful. Like it belonged there; a true and genuine expression, even if there was a new darkness within that didn’t quite match. Old habits, as they say, die hard.


<Sia> "Thank you," she said quietly, and shook his hand. Tucking her skirt under her properly she sat down with a perfect posture and tilted her head slightly when she heard he wasnt even taking classes here. "Most people who aren’t enrolled in university, do not usually come to university," she stated but then with a tiny smile, she waggled a finger non-threatening like at him and laughed. "You must be a very smart man, theology is not for everyone and most do not understand it," that voice...there it was. How could he possibly do what he did? It was probably in her better interest to leave him alone, but as the old saying goes, ‘curiosity killed the cat'. "Is there a religion you associate yourself with? Perhaps I can enlighten you on more information?" she was being sly herself now.

How could she possibly ask someone how they spoke with their mind? If anyone heard they would to second guess her. Leaning back in the chair, she grabbed her coffee and waited to hopefully be revealed his true nature and being. He wasn’t normal she could sense that...but what was he if not a superhuman


<Lancaster> When Lancaster laughed, it was a low sound. It was barely threatening. Mainly self-deprecating. “Smart?” he shook his head. “No. Just curious. Interested. Just because I was there doesn’t mean I understood it all,” he said. But that was what the book was for. So he could read, and get a basic understanding. He figured if he now had eternity, he had a whole bunch of time to learn new things; to retain all the knowledge.

He picked up his coffee and took a small sip. The buzz was numbed due to his nature, but it was mind over matter. He enjoyed the taste. It was strong, and it was best when it was hot. He shook his head at the question. “I don’t adhere to any religion. No organised religion, anyway. I just find it fascinating that humanity created religion,” he said, that small smile playing across his lips. He knew she was trying to get at something. He was playing coy.

[Sia (DELETED 7173)]

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



<Sia> She watched his body language, he was too calm cool and collected, there had to be something about him, but she wouldnt pry...though she had to know. It gave her a bit of a headache, but she shook it off irrelevantly. "There are so many religions in the world," she shrugged nonchalantly. "I could not choose one, so i choose to learn them all," she laughed a bit, showing her nice white teeth and her signature beautiful smile. "They are all beautiful in my eyes, even the most strangest of ones," she stopped a bit awkwardly and looked him over. "There are religions that pray to statues, those that pray to gods, some prety to mother earth and others are their own religion in itself," on that note she nodded at him.

"I have heard you speak to me, but you say you are not of religion...how is this done then? Or have I indeed lost my mind in my very last year of school?" shaking her head, she knew it was not the later. "Not even witches that i know of are able to speak to ones mind, no warlocks or wiccans or anything of the sort," she sighed and shook her head. "So this must be a gift, unusual i would imagine, but one the world has never seen i would imagine as well," she could be quite the talker when she was trying hard to figure things out on her own, more talking herself out of confusion.


<Lancaster> Lancaster shook his head, that laughter still resting there at the back of his throat. He nodded in agreement; religion in and of itself could be a beautiful thing. “It can also be an ugly thing, too,” he said, thinking of all the ways people act in accordance to the way they think their God wanted them to act. All the murdering, the sacrifices, the judgments on those who didn’t follow the same religion. His own opinion was quite opposite to this girl’s. Beautiful, sometimes. Most of the time? Not. But that wasn’t a discussion to get into right now. He crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned back again.

“Who says what I can do has anything to do with any kind of religion?” he asked. “Maybe its evolution. The natural course of things,” he said. “It is a gift. A rare one but one that is shared by many people I know. A secret, which is why no one has heard about it,” he said, leaning forward again and adopting a hushed tone. “One people would kill for. Not to know it, but kill because it has been told. Because it is known,” he said. He, of course, was not one of those people. But it was a warning, of sorts – that if she ran off and told people what she knew, she would put herself in danger.


<Sia> She sat quiet for a few moments, sipping her coffee and taking it all in, her almond shaped onyx eyes, stared deep into his. Normally it would have made her uncomfortable, but for a second she didnt care, he was that interesting and worth studying. "Religion I must agree has ruined much in history, but has also kept many together in unity," she thought back to home and how bent her parents were about her learning other religions. They thought there's was right, but so did everyone else that followed one as well. "A secret is only a secret if only one himself has it, it is unlikely that if many know this same secret, that it wont slip out," she smirked at him, but not to anger him, just to show no fear in even his tone. " If this is so secret then why are you telling me?"

"Whose to say I wont let my profesor know what i have found out? My end of year thesis is coming soon, he would be beyond impressed with my new found knowledge," she would never divulge information without permission, but how did he know that? "Evolution is moving fast I will admit, but this far I can not say I have ever expected to see in my lifetime ever, not even in the next generation. Your people have already exceeded that? And have not shared? You could make the world a better place in the end result I believe," she looked down at her watch, but suddenly time didnt matter, it was as though she had been thrown into the future just sitting under the same tree she had for years before. "Does everyone share your gift where you are from?" she laughed when she refered to him as some sort pf alien or something, but it was only fitting. "I assume you are not from here?"


<Lancaster> Lancaster did not look away, when she held his gaze. There was something exotic about this one; she must have travelled so far. And if there was something that appealed to Lancaster in others, it was whether or not they were well travelled. He laughed, though, when she asked her questions. It was beyond amusing. “Most people wouldn’t believe you, and would instead require proof,” he said, arching his brow. “Yes. All Australians have the ability to talk to each other telepathically,” he said, shaking his head, obviously teasing. He sighed and considered how to continue.

“There are those who’d wish to share the secret but there are those who think it would bring too much unwelcome attention. Those… whose religions would think we are evil, for example, and would do whatever was in their power to banish us from this Earth. Forever,” he explained. “Those who don’t want the secret to spread are more powerful and organised. They are also violent. Immoral. If this were to spread, I think the greedy would take advantage. It would do more harm than good,” he said with a frown. Masquerade be damned, he thought. But then this was his opinion? Maybe because he liked to have hope, too.

“It’s not all as simple as you might want it to be.”


<Sia> "It was no simple matter when the witches were being burned in salem either," she nodded and winked in understanding. "I can see your fear and I suppose if it were my secret I would be cautious as well, but..." she paused and adjusted the bag on her shoulder. " You do not know me again, could this be why you are telling me? I don't know you, you dont know me, but you are eager to tell someone?" she was half joking but on another hand serious as hell. "Fear of the unknown has held humanity back for so long, left us with too many narrow minded people and wasted talents," she shrugged a little and studied his face. He was handsome, though she never took much time to look at men, she would perhaps when her studies were done, but right now there was no time.

"What is your intentions on telling me Mr. Lancaster? Why should I even attempt to hold your secret? " she felt as though she was sitting on the edge of the world, staring at something that was untouched and untampered with as of yet. How many people really did know about this? And more importantly how many others were like him?


<Lancaster> Why was he telling her? Was there a goal in mind? Maybe it was a subconscious need to rebel against the tyranny Tytonidae had claimed the city with. Maybe if he subtly told people and then let them go, one at a time, then there would be too many of them to control. Or maybe… maybe there was something else he wanted. Something… he couldn’t put his finger on. So he evaded the questions. He shook his head.

“I’m not telling you and then commanding you to keep the secret. I told you and then warned you about the dangers of knowing, which is different – but I wouldn’t keep you from doing what you wanted with it. Though I wouldn’t want to see any harm come to you,” he said, eyes drifting over her headdress and her attire. She was different, which was what this city required. She was smart, intelligent. She was…

“Where do your morals lay?” he asked. Had she given her his name in return? He didn’t think that she had. “If you had power beyond that of a mere mortal, if it could be used for good or ill… if you had within you a violence that was never there before… what would you do with it?” he asked.


<Sia> He stimulated her mind and that was ten times better than any other feeling she could possibly ask for.She narrowed her brows a bit as he spoke the riddle of her knowing with the possibility of not saying anything. "I do think you want me to tell others and for that I will not tell anyone, because this secret obviously holds much more meaning than you are letting on," she nodded as she adressed that to avoid confusion.He was telling her secrets and didnt even know her name or her city of birth. "I grew up with very good morals, my mother taught us right from wrong, taught us that God is the only way to live, she taught me everything that a young woman should learn to be a proper young lady," she stopped and leaned in to him to stress her next words.

"But those are not morals, those are rules placed by man as a way of keeping us tamed in society,"shaking her head she closed her eyes and thought. "No those are not my morals. I believe that there is good and there is bad. I do not wish for powers beyond my control, but only for those that i can handle and use for the good of my people or ones i love. We are already not mortal, there is so much more untapped power and energy in us that is natural, but we just are too blind to see this, these are facts," sitting back she tapped her chin. "We are in charge our feelings, rage, passions, happiness...same with violence. Perhaps you should simply shift this violence into something constructive, that can share the same passion but turn out for the greater good?"


<Lancaster> The gears shifted in Lancaster’s mind. The reasons for his being here, with this girl, slowly started to come into focus. Maybe he’d gone to that class on purpose, and maybe he’d picked this one out for a reason. Maybe it wasn’t purely just coincidence; because she stood out in the crowd, or because she kept looking back at him. There were other reasons. Others that he wouldn’t entirely admit to himself just yet, but he liked what he heard, when she spoke. Maybe he was looking for some kind of salvation.

“What if the violence is triggered by rage? It’s not something you want, but it’s there. And rage isn’t so easy to control. Not as easy as you make it sound,” he said, dubiously. “You do things in your rage that you regret later. You feel guilt. And it cripples you, because you have a curse to feel too much. And the guilt only makes it worse,” he said. If there was one thing that Lancaster did not have any qualms about, it was this. Opening up, without really opening up. It wasn’t really hard to see that he spoke about himself.


<Sia> This conversation was far more interesting than anything since she had arrived at university four years ago.She could clearly see he was struggling with something, but it was impossible to know, considering she barely even know what he was or where he came from. "They are all just emotions, that can be controlled, they are ours...no one elses', we hold our outcomes in our own hands," she tilted her head and smiled, almost feeling pity for him. It was like he was tormented or something, it nearly hurt her own heart to see anyone like this. She knew it didnt sound as easy as she made it sound. "It took me a long long time to be able to control myself and react the situations with a clear mind and light heart, but this was nothing I was taught, this is something I learned on my own."

"Guilt will only eat at you if you let it, as you are not responsible for how others receive your words and make them their own," she dared to take her hand in his only in a friendly gesture and smiled. "I am only one person, I am my own person, I am not responsible for anyone elses feelings, because i do not wish to carry guilt on my shoulders. I speak truth always and only hope that it falls on intelligent ears and minds," she hoped her warming smile and gentle touch could help. "My name is Sia Okoye, it is my pleasure to meet you,"


<Lancaster> Lancaster stared at the hand that curled around his own. His own hand would be cold, even on this balmy night. The coffee he had been drinking was forgotten. Of course he could feel the pity rolling from her, and he didn’t want it. But nor did he take his hand away. Maybe he did want it, and he was lying to himself when he said he didn’t. He swallowed the words she spoke and shook his head. It was clear he didn’t believe them. Guilt was an outside force. When a person had done something wrong, and they knew it, there was no way to change that. He smiled.

“The only cure for guilt is acceptance. A man has to accept that part of himself… and move on. Let the lessons be learned, and be strengthened, right?” he said. He didn’t want to talk about himself, as if he were in therapy. He had had enough of thinking about himself in the Shadow Realm, and now he wanted to move on. Changed, somehow more confident. Maybe he had accepted his own guilt. Maybe he was now stronger for it, without having realised it.

“Would you... could you ever possibly fall in love with a man who killed because he was ordered to? Killed innocent people who do not deserve to be killed because of a set of rules, as you put it. Rules made up by a tyrannical force, who then change those rules to suit their own purposes? Or is that something that you would stand up against?” he asked. Now, he knew there was a path that his questions were taking. A proposition, that this girl could take or leave at her leisure.


<Sia> She would never force her beliefs on anyone, which was why she went into theology and philosophy, she could only offer her opinion and that of which she had learned and worked for her. Here was this man, older, gifted, good with his words, everything a true man from the outside should be like, but eternally tortured. She thought of some witty words to turn the conversation into a lighter mood, but his words of love took her off guard. Her eyes squinted and now she took both hands in hers, she wondered if all this was due to some sort of heartbreak he was having, it would have made sense after all. She had never been in love, but she was told it was one of the worst pains to endure.

"If i were to fall in love with you..." she would have blushed if not so bronze. "I wouldnt base my opinion of my love for you on who or what you have done. I have never been in love and so i would imagine it is not built on past transgressions, but on the current and love that is offered back. Two hearts a magical force you know," she laughed and waggled that playful finger again. "Lancaster, you must fight for what you believe in, even if its only you that stands alone, but I feel there are probably more than just you ready for a revolution of sorts? Dont let anyone make you do anything you arent 100 percent behind, others will follow trust," she smiled and let go of his hand, noting how cold they were. "Tell me what you are please, I have waited long enough,"


<Lancaster> Lancaster thought about it. Pi had made him do a lot that he hadn’t wanted to; things that he regretted, now. Things that caused him guilt, but he had done them for her. Without realising why, he had done them for her. In moments of weakness, he had allowed his own morals and his own beliefs to slip. But Pi had changed since she had brought him into this world. She wasn’t as cold and merciless as she once was. That heart of hers had warmed and he loved her, now, for all that she was. He didn’t judge her for her past transgressions. But he had to laugh. Of course, Sia thought that he was talking about himself.

“I wasn’t talking about myself. And I don’t mean past transgressions,” he said. He would admit that yes. Yes, he could accept Skylar’s love for Roderic and Cytherea’s love for Doc if the two men had changed. If they gave up Tytonidae and realised that what they did was not moral. It was not good. It was an anarchist’s dream. But instead, Lancaster believed there must be something in the two women that equalled the men they loved. That they would, could join that faction sooner or later. That they were not changing their men, but it was the other way around. And it wasn’t mutual.

“I am… immortal. I can only come out at night time. My abilities differ from others of my kind. My… curses. I… have to drink blood to survive,” he said, listing all the things that would give the clues as to what he was. He didn’t tell her that he only drank the blood of his partner; that she had offered the path as a way to avoid taking the blood of humans, and thus assuage the guilt that weighed heavily on his shoulders. His gaze dropped, not taking his eyes from the woman’s face. Waiting to see what her reaction might be.


<Sia> Her mouth popped open a little but she closed it shut just as quickly. "I didnt mean to offend," was all she could manage at the current moment, as she felt a bit foolish. Her next expression took her completely off guard. Was he really referring to himself as a vampire...fantasy...true blood obsession or even twilight. She covered her mouth and laughed so hard that tears rolled down her face, which were completely turned into a set of real tears of surprise. "Vampires are not real Lancaster, some people try to live as ones, but reality is its impossible to actually live like that,"shaking her head, she collected herself. " I am sorry, so very sorry, my reaction was rude and out of line," she stopped and thought for a moment about what condition this might be. "Are you part of a club maybe because these things honestly dont happen," she looked at him now with a serious face. "Your serious about this arent you?" she smoothed her fingers over her face trying to really understand where he was coming from.


<Lancaster> Lancaster narrowed his eyes at the woman, before he arched a brow. “A club. Maybe it is a religion that you’ve just judged with your laughter,” he said. There were people out there who liked to believe they were vampires when they were not. Those two goths in class probably thought they were part of the undead club. There were rumours that flew around this city and it wasn’t unheard of that people would take them seriously. But of course, they were all laughed at. Lancaster smiled.

”Do you see why you shouldn’t tell anyone that people are talking into your head? They’ll laugh at you. Just like you just laughed at me,” he said, directly into her mind again. He bit down, hard, on the side of his tongue. The very slight taste of blood had his canines pushing from his gums. They weren’t there before, she might have noticed. But now he grinned at her, the sharp points glinting in the light. “I am very serious,” he said. “And talking telepathically is the very least I can do. It’s something that I could give to you, too…” he said, very clearly.


<Sia> "I am sorry..I didnt mean to offend," she looks away guilty herself, but quickly redeemed herself. "If what you say is true..." she stopped when she seen his teeth. He was telling at least part of the truth and it wasnt like her to push aside any new beliefs or religions for that matter. "I'm not sure i wont to change, and if i didnt I dont want to feel this rage and hate, i would want to help and educate people on the ways of the world and help them understand that there are more ways to deal with things rather than argue," she felt herself beginning to ramble on, so she stopped for a moment. "Telepathy is nearly everyones dream...if i had it, I could really become something special," she smiled in thought. "If you give this to me, I would need you to teach me," she sighed in thought.


<Lancaster> Lancaster shook his head, shaking away any offense she thought she might have made. There was no offense. It was everyone's reaction, and it was understandable. Lancaster reacted the same way himself. He thought Pi was absolutely insane, until he had to figure it out for himself. "There are different paths. You might not have telepathy straight away, but you could have other abilities. I can and would teach you to the best of my ability. And I would, for the exact reasons that you yourself have stated. Because you ... can be a salvation. For me. You could be good and noble and you could remind me that's all I want to be, too," he said, quietly. "This is information that I give to you freely. It's something that I would... give to you, if you want it. But I will let you think about it," he said. "And you can meet me ... there's a pub, called Lancaster's. It's mine," he said with a small smile. "Tomorrow night? If you don't come, you don't come. I'll leave you alone."


<Sia> She sat back and pondered the offer and nodded her head. "I will think about it," but she already knew the answer in her head, still no decision should be blindly gone into. "Lancasters? i think I've heard of it...IF i decide to I will meet you there tomorrow evening," she peeled herself from the chair, legs shaking and feeling a bit lightheaded. "Until then Lancaster, please take care of yourself and think of what I've said as well and ponder that if you think I will be any good for you at all, my aura never changes. This is true," she smiled and looked at her watch. "It was an amazing honor to talk to you," with that she slipped away into the night, with lots on her mind.


<Lancaster> Lancaster watched as Sia walked away, leaning back in his chair like a man who'd just survived a mealstrom. What had he just done? He had brought someone else into this world even though he hadn't done anything to her yet. She was not turned, but she had the knowledge. But there was no guilt. He felt no guilt. He felt excitement. He felt... what was that? There was anxiety, of course. But it would be different this time. Wouldn't it? And anyway. She might not even show up. Lancaster sighed, and remained. He finsihed his coffee and ordered another one, waiting for the campus to quieten around him before he went home.

[Lancaster]

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

<Sia> Sia went through the next day, just like most other days, often thinking about this offer, the still strange man had offered her. A few hours of talking and he was offering her a whole new lifestyle. She couldn’t decide whether this was a blessing or a curse; and she couldn’t exactly ask any of her friends their opinions either. That evening, Sia sat quietly in that classroom, her eyes on the professor but clearly her mind elsewhere. Glancing over at the empty seat where he had sat just the other night, she sighed and shook her head. " Ms. Okoye?!" the sound of her professor brought her back to life, making her head snap up in surprise. "I'm fine. I’m fine..." she looked around embarrassingly and made no delay in picking herself up to leave. She knew where she needed to go.


<Lancaster> It was business as usual at Lancaster's. The crowd wasn't overly large, but it was large enough to keep them busy. Lancaster evaded questions about where he'd been; regular customers still had a habit of asking. The smile on his face was in part genuine, in part mask; he couldn't outright lie, but he could lie via body language. That was easy enough. He didn't touch his instruments; he didn't go near the stage. He remained behind the bar, serving drinks and re-stocking fridges. And when he wasn't behind the bar, he was wandering the establishment, cleaning up the empty glasses and making sure everything was right. He glanced toward the door whenever someone new came in; but went about his work just the same.


<Sia> She wondered if he would even know who she was, when she would walk through those doors. It wasn’t far from the west side of the campus, she had seen it plenty of times in passing. The weather was decent, though on a chilly day she would have simply caught a bus. The building finally came into sight and she stopped and stared. Tonight could be the start of something amazing and new, she had the opportunity to be able to think and act in ways that humans couldn’t even begin to imagine. She would have demands though, there would be nothing to get in the way of her education, it meant everything to her. She didn’t need to prove anything to anyone, but she did want to make her family at least proud. Rubbing her hands together, she finally made the decision and made her way to the bar.

There was no headdress tonight and super baggy dress, she instead wore jeans and a big sweater, still casual and natural as always. Slipping inside, many eyes landed on her, something she had gotten used to over it. Looking around she smiled as she spotted him behind the bar. Raising a hand she waved over and scooted passed a little crowd of people. "Hello Lancaster, how are you this evening?" she leaned in over the bar slightly and spoke up just a little as a few behind were just loud enough to make the difference.


<Lancaster> Lancaster wore much the same attire as he had the night before; jeans, and a button-up shirt that was unironed, and which was rolled up to the elbows. There was a tea-towel slung over his shoulder, and black hair continually fell over his eyes, which he continually had to flick out of the way. Over the bar he pushed a full glass of beer, the head spilling over the rim, but that was the kind of establishment this was. Beers were poured messily. There was added authenticity. Although he’d been checking the door every five seconds, he missed it when Sia walked in. He didn’t see her until she was standing right in front of him.

“Ms Oyoke,” he said with a greeting nod, the smile on his face genuine, this time, and not the mask that he was showing for the clientele. He wiped his hands and stood up straight. “Would you like a drink?” he asked, gesturing to the display behind him. Just because she was here, it didn’t mean she was saying yes to his proposition. She might just want to know more. But that was okay, too. Regardless, she may want a drink to bolster her nerves. Lancaster just might pour himself one, too.


<Sia> Her smile grew even bigger when she finally got his attention, she could feel his smile was true and it made her heart warm. "Oh no thank you, but I don’t drink," she laughed and shook her head. "Alcohol alters my brain too much for me, so I steer very clear," she looked around the bar quickly and pointed over at the soda. "I'll just have a soda if that’s ok," she leaned back and was able to snag a chair from someone who had just gotten up. "So this is all yours huh?," she looked around a bit in awe. It was very nice and there wasn’t many people she knew that actually owned things, especially bars. It had never been her scene, she could be better found in the resource centre. "You must have worked hard for it?" she nodded in respect and returned her gaze to his.


<Lancaster> Lancaster nodded, reaching for a sparkling clean glass. He tossed ice into the bottom, first, before he filled it with the soda. He didn't pass it to Sia straight away; as he poured the drink, he had told the bar staff that he was leaving for the night. They could cover for him. He'd already made plans for it. When he came back to Sia, it was to pass her by and gesture behind him, to the office, indicating that she should come around and join him. "It was a gift," he said. Pi was the one who'd worked hard for the building and the business. Something to help Lancaster's restlessness. Something to help him want to stay. "But I've worked hard to keep it respectable, I suppose," he said.


<Sia> This went against everything school security ever taught them. Sia shook her head and laughed at herself as she picked up the drink and followed beside him. "In any event you must have done something to deserve it," her voice got a little softer as they moved away from the small crowd. "Either way hard work has been done for such a beautiful bar," Taking a few sips of her drink she cleared her throat a bit nervously. Tonight would more than likely be a night to be remembered, either way it went. "So are you surprised to see me Mr. Lancaster?" she smiled softly and walked in quietly behind him. "I watched the bar for about ten minutes before I walked over," she laughed nervously and set her drink down as her hands were already getting clammy with nerves.


<Lancaster> Lancaster thought about it; thought about the way she phrased her words. He closed the door behind them; he didn't lock it. Not yet. Not until he knew that anything might happen that would warrant a locked door. And in that case, he wouldn't do it here. Not in the office. Not anywhere that they would be interrupted. He gestured to one of the bucket chairs in front of the desk, and he took the other one, rather than the chair behind the desk. "You watched the bar for ten minutes? I am... pleased to see you," he said. "Which is a good thing. I told you to meet me if you wanted to give yourself time to think about it, but subconsciously I knew I had to think about it, too. But... you are here. And I am glad that you here. Even if no decision is being forced on you. Why are you here?" he asked, wondering if she'd come because she wanted what he could offer her, or for some other reason. "What conclusions did you come to?"


<Sia> Sia took the chair and draped one long leg over the other, her posture straight and otherwise looking comfortable. "This is everything they warn us against you know," she laughed and tried to make light of the moment. "No bars, in private, with strange men, with no one around," her hand went up to her mouth as she laughed harder at herself. Then why was she doing it? She collected herself, for this was a second time now in two nights he had seen the lighter side of her. “I’m here because what you said weighed on my mind the entire day and it was very hard to think this through," she leaned in and explained to him. "You see...I have worked hard to build for myself," she paused for a second and sat back up straight. "I work four nights a week, the money goes back home. I plan to move them here one day, when I can buy a house and support my brother sister and mother, so it’s important that meanwhile I make the most use of my time," tilting her head she felt a rant coming on so she slowed down. "I don’t want my life changed Lancaster, but I do want to be a part of a bigger movement, and I think you are the beginning of that," she nodded her head and hoped that was answer enough for him. "We can teach each other."


<Lancaster> Lancaster leaned back as he considered. When he was turned he was told that he had to give up his old life. It was something they were all told, it would seem; the best advice for a vampire was to move on, to not bring any danger to their families or to themselves by sharing secrets that they shouldn’t. He recalled the recent conversation with Aliyah and Pi; but he had faith that he could bring Pi around. He had to trust that she could, sooner or later, see his side. And if she couldn’t, to at least let him go about his business without hindering him.

“I’m not going to stop you from doing what you want. You have an education you want to finish, and you have an obligation to your family. My only warning would be the same as last night – the secret is not a safe one to share. If… you choose to become what I am, and they find out, then their lives could be in danger. You would no longer be able to go out in the sun. You won’t be able to eat or drink, unless you are gifted with the same abilities as me. And you won’t grow old. If you think they can understand, then…” he shrugs, palms spread upward. Lancaster was a changed man. He wanted things to be different, this time around.


<Sia> She couldn’t help but laugh when he spoke of the sun. "Mr. Lancaster I have spent my whole life in the sun, it has blessed me with beautiful sun kissed skin, however if I have to leave it behind I am quite fine with that, "she said jokingly. “Don’t most women want to be thin and young all their lives?" she answered that light heartedly as well. "I don’t wish for anyone or anything to get in between me and school, but I honestly cannot tell you that I will not tell anyone," she would never lie. "You told me...so I will follow you by example and use my discretion just as you have." She looked at him a bit more seriously now as her brows furrowed. "I know you are struggling with something and it is big, you might not want to tell me or ever will tell me, but I want you to know you can trust me. What do you we have to do?"


<Lancaster> Lancaster nodded. “I am struggling with the existence of a faction whose numbers outweigh any concentrated effort to throw them over. Follow my lead, but yes – use discretion,” he said. And for a moment was silent. Maybe this was it. Maybe this is what it all boiled down to. What Lancaster wanted, in the end – what had taken him to that University to begin with. What had drawn him to this woman. The need to surround himself with likeminded people. He leaned forward. “I was lucky to share the secret with someone who didn’t go shouting it from the highest mountains. But he nodded.

“You’ll have all the time in the world. You will heal. And if you die, you can back – but only if you die in Harper Rock. In order for the change to happen, you have to be near death, bled mostly dry. You then have to drink my blood. As much of it as you can take, so that your body can change. The… only hitch is that I… for reasons that I can explain now, or later – up to you,” he said, wanting to at least garner trust from the very beginning. “I can’t drain you myself. I can’t swallow the blood of humans. Only of vampires, unlike the majority of my kin. We’d have to think of some other way…”


<Sia> She watched his eye movements as he talked as she often did when dealing with people face to face. "Eyes tell a story from the soul, words tell stories from the mind," she knew it sounded random, but it all made sense in her head. It was all about communication and understanding to getting what you wanted all throughout life," she smiled and waggled that famous finger. "If you can’t overthrow them with physical force, then you have to think outside the box and start using your inner force," she lifted her eyebrow and shook her head. "I sound like that star trek tv show," there she was again making jokes to save the moment from getting too serious. "May the force be with you? Isn’t that what they say?" she thought for a moment and nodded. "Your brain has more power than a sword. Cuts will heal and as you say you can come back alive, but words can stay forever," she nodded and thought about the rest. "I'm not sure what to do about this dilemma...it wouldn’t be right to bleed my own self out, that’s like committing suicide, in a weird sort of way, I wouldn’t want to live with that on my shoulders," either way she would live with knowing she willingly died, but that made her more of a martyr...or did it? She looked up at him in confusion. "Have you other people you have done this to? How did you transform them?"


<Lancaster> If eyes tell the story from the soul, she would see in Lancaster’s stories that he didn’t particularly want to tell, as he glanced away at her last question. How had he done it before? In the beginning, he’d been able to enough to take the blood from his new progeny. He’d done that with Reilly. And with Asteria. But… lately? He unstuck his tongue from the roof of his mouth. “Skylar was the last one I turned. She was electrocuted. She was near death already. I… many of the others were the same. They were near death already. Those that … wanted what I had to give them, they came before. When I could drain them dry,” he said. He didn’t mention Lex – the man he had beat to death. Or Cytherea – the girl he had skewered in a rage.

“We could… equal exchange,” he said, lifting his gaze to her face somewhat anxiously, lashes lowered but brows arched. His hands clasped together in front of him. Sia was joking around, with her Star Wars quotes. He could have corrected her – that small ounce of popular culture that he knew well enough. But he was a tad too serious in this moment to really laugh along with her. Once upon a time, he’d been a happy man. He’d have easily laughed. But they were talking about changing her life forever.
<Lancaster> “You wouldn’t have to take your own blood. I could… God, it sounds ******* sinister saying it out loud. I could … and as you’re bleeding you can take from me. At the same time. If you trust me.”


<Sia> She swore if she believed in past lives, she would have sworn they had met before. She wasn’t anxious around him like she was with other people, joking came easy, a bit too easily, but it was only her way of trying to not make the situation much more insane was it was. They were talking about blood exchange. "Sometime you just have to sacrifice right?" she looked up at him and smiled softly. Too many jokes, not enough assurance. "Any how we do this it will hurt, so one way is no better than another," she held out her long arms and looked them over. Her skin was smooth and pure of any scars or marks, no tattoos, piercings or other major things. "I am not vain but I don’t just want anything to show...it’s hard to hide something when there is always an opportunity to bring it up."

"I suppose you could then..." she didn’t feel any more comfortable saying it than he did. “I guess anywhere," she was actually becoming frightened, an animal could "We can do it your way, just please I am not ready to die yet, I have too many things I need to do first," she took off the baggy sweater and revealed just a regular plain white t-shirt. Sia closed her eyes and turned her head away so she wouldn’t see it coming. It was always like that, even when she got shots or vaccines. Once it had happened it didn’t matter, but the visual infliction of pain turned her into a child’s tolerance. "What if I don’t like how you taste? Then what?" she winced without anything even being done yet.


<Lancaster> Now, Lancaster laughed. He laughed when she took off her sweater and held out her arms to him. He shook his head. “The wounds would heal. The change would take care of that,” he explained, chuckling under his breath. “And we’re not going to do it here. In my office. In the middle of a pub,” he said. That would hardly be… meaningful. Or in any way graceful. “We’ll go somewhere more private. Somewhere more comfortable,” he said. Here she was offering her arms to him when she didn’t even know what all this would entail.

“When I was turned, as soon as the blood hit my tongue it was like… magic. It didn’t taste like blood. It tasted like… like something out of this world. As if my body knew, instinctively, that it was what would save me,” he said as he stood, collecting his own jacket from the desk. “We can go upstairs. The third floor – it’s private. And comfortable,” he said. “If you are still sure you want to go through with it,” he said, giving Sia every opportunity to change her mind.


<Sia> She wasn’t sure what she should have thought. It didn’t dawn on her that her body would change from all this, her mind wasn’t the only thing. She opened her eyes and felt a flush fall over her cheeks. One thing that was a downfall, depending on the situation was her all too eager response. Most things she thought through, but sometime, only sometime did she throw caution to the wind a bit too soon. She might have been wise and book smart, but this was a world she knew nothing about and to take all into consideration she still was only 22. There was really only so much a young girl could know when compared to a vampire who lived for however long. "I want to do this...I do but as long as you plan to be my professor for these new classes," it wasn’t really a joke but she did smile sweetly.

She grabbed her sweater and reached back to pull her long hair into a tighter pony tail. She figured this could get a bit messy. Sia sighed and became a little light headed this was like a page out of a book, a fantasy book that teenage girls read and crappy directors made tv shows about. This was the real deal though and she was living it.


<Lancaster> Lancaster smiled down at the girl, though she was taller than most he knew. Still shorter than he was, though. “Of course,” he said. There was no way he would turn someone and then leave them out in the cold. He would give her all that she required to help the transition, and he would teach her all that was within his power to teach. “And if there are things that I can’t tell you, I have the resources through which you can find your answers,” he said. He hoped, anyway, that he could live up to the expectations that he was laying down for himself.

That said, he led Sia out through the door, nodding to the bar staff as he passed them by. Out through the pub, past the mingling crowds, to the stairs that would take them up; up first to the backpackers, through which he would lead Sia. A lounge, a brightly lit place with a communal kitchen, and doors that led through to bathrooms and bedrooms. But it was to the stairs that he took her, the ones that would take them up to the top floor. The attic, for all intents and purposes, but it had been cleaned up. It was where Lancaster took his extra work. It was a space that only Pi had access to, other than himself. But it was his own space, where he could be alone but also close to his main business.

Over in the corner was a claw-foot tub, screened off. He glanced toward the tub and then back to Sia with a bit of a cringe. “If this is going to be messy, I think the tub…” he trailed off. “Unless you have another idea, I’m all ears.”

[Sia (DELETED 7173)]

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


<Sia> She followed making sure she counted every foot and noted every door that opened or closed. She stopped for a moment on the stairs to steady herself, her heart was pounding and her legs shaky, and when they made it into the room she was taken back by the sight of the tub, though scrubbed and probably sterilized to no end, it all just looked so awkward and surreal. She looked at the tub and then back to him, her eyes now showing signs of fear and not just her body. "I don’t know any other way," she stood for a minute just taking in the room before she started walking slowly to the tub. She sat on the edge and then looked back at him. She thought about what she had on, jeans and a white t-shirt, they would be blood stained so quick, someone would think she had almost gotten murdered.

"I have a tank top under this and decent boy shorts under my jeans if you don’t mind...and then please just cover me with my sweater immediately after, I guess I might be cold after? Your hands were very cold the other night...all I ask is for my sweater the rest can be washed and salvaged," she said and motioned for him to turn about while she adjusted herself, in her clothes and in the tub.


<Lancaster> He could hear her heartbeat, of course. He could feel her fear just as clearly as she could. It thrummed in his own veins like a foreign melody and while he stood there, turned away from Sia in her modesty, he closed his eyes and he focused. He didn’t have to be touching her. He didn’t even have to be close to her, for the power to work; the power that Skylar described as a mental hug. A soothing effect. Others called it inspiration. Just a little something to take the edge off. He cleared his throat as he stood, toeing out of his shoes. The girl was afraid enough already, and Lancaster didn’t care about his clothes as much as she cared about hers. He had spares. And he was no creep; he wouldn’t have her thinking he was. He would remain fully clothed.

“I’d tell you not to be afraid but this will hurt,” he said. “But I’m going to try to be as gentle as possible. To make it hurt less than it needs to. And I promise I won’t let you die. That is a promise that I know I can keep,” he said, his voice strong and confident. He had done this numerous times before, and he knew he could do it again without a hitch. But this time was different. This time, he wanted it just as much as the other person. Not that he regretted any of the others; he didn’t regret saving their lives, and he didn’t regret their presence now. But there would always be something tainted, there. This would be different. From his boot he retrieved the small knife, and he waited until Sia told him she was ready.


<Sia> Her body was trembling, she could see that even more as she removed the few articles and folded them neatly, setting them on the floor beside the tub. Her clothes were basic and the black for the most part blended in with her skin. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she looked awkward in the tub. "Without pain, whether it be long hours of studying or hours of training for a marathon, comes no negative result. “I’m ready I believe, you can turn around now," she nodded at him and made sure she was decent for sure. "Remember now you promised," she wanted it to sound like a joke but it wasn’t at all. She was holding him to this, giving him her entire life. "And yes as gentle as you can please, I may look like an amazon warrior princess but I'm quite tender," she laughed but felt a pain in her.


<Lancaster> Lancaster turned around and approached the tub. He felt like he should duck, or approach at a lower angle. He didn’t want to look or seem threatening. He didn’t want to scare her more than he needed to. He stood for a second as he considered; she was in the tub. Would he get in, too, or would he stay out? In the end, he decided to get in, too. It was a large tub. Better to reassure her. Somehow, if he was in the tub he thought it would seem more like he was in this with her rather than just an outlier.

His feet looked odd, the only naked part of him as he sat opposite to Sia, the small knife in his hand. He shuffled a little closer, obviously unafraid of the blood, and that he might get covered in it. The dark hair had fallen over his eyes again, lending him a softer edge. “Look at this like a… it’s a ritual, okay? We’ll call this a religion. This will lead to a higher plane of existence. It’ll open your mind,” he said. He held out his free hand, palm upward, fingers clenched as he pressed the sharp tip of the knife to the vein. He cut himself first. The knife sliced through the skin like it was hot and the skin was butter; the blood was bright and vibrant as it oozed to the surface. Lancaster only just winced. The wound was deep, and
<Lancaster> wouldn’t heal for a few more minutes. Only then did he hold his hand out for Sia’s wrists, gaze holding hers. Steady. And remaining confident.


<Sia> She wasn’t really ready, but as ready as she would ever be in this moment. Holding out her wrist, she thought about jerking it back, but this was similar to a shot. Don’t move around and it won’t hurt as much...or something like that anyway. It was hard to think when the thought of pain had already entered her mind. "I'm ready please let’s do it," anticipation killed her and she wanted it over with, even though she should probably try and remember this moment forever as she would have forever to remember. Her gaze locked back with his and a tear already threatened her eyes. Just like before she closed her eyes and turned away, her entire demeanor like a child at a doctor’s appointment.


<Lancaster> When she closed her eyes and turned away, Lancaster did as he was instructed. He did as he said he would. With her wrists in his hand, his own blood already tainting her skin, he made quick, precise incisions. One on each wrist, slicing downward rather than side to side. He could hear her heart pumping, fast and thick with the bass-heavy melody of her fear. It helped the blood to flow. As soon as the gashes were made, Lancaster dropped the knife over the edge of the tub and quickly reached up, long fingers turning her face toward him, rather than away. His toes curled as his body leaned forward, as he offered up his own bleeding wrist. "Now drink. And trust me," he said, hastily.


<Sia> She thought she would just about faint and more than likely would if in any other situations where she might get stabbed or cut up. "I trust you," her words were followed by a trail of tears and sobs, that she was trying so hard to hold in, but it seemed the more she held it in her body tensed up and the blood flowed faster, it was quite distracting and made her panic. "It's bleeding too much," she whispered and tried desperately to pull her hands away, even while she looked him in the eyes. She went from pain to anger to sadness all in just a few moments. She had to snap herself out of it if she wanted to live, but she had totally forgotten through the waves of confusion and loss what she was supposed to do. She was convinced she couldn’t move. "I can’t," she whispered and closed her eyes to try and not be so dizzy. "I feel like I can’t move," she tried sucking up the tears.


<Lancaster> In all their discussions, Lancaster hadn't thought that it might be the other way around. He had promised that he would follow through but never had it crossed his mind that Sia herself might change her mind at the very last minute. "No, no, don't you flake out on me," he said. "It is bleeding. It's bleeding a lot, Sia, and it's going to bleed so much that you'll die. Don't make a murderer out of me, do you hear me? Don't you dare," he said, sharply. He acted on instinct. He shifted them both, a tight fit in the tub, until Sia's head was tipped backward. He wasn't rough with her. He was as gentle as he could be, just like he promised. And while he held her there, he forced his own bleeding wrist over her mouth. "You can move. You can speak, so you can live. I told you I wouldn't kill you. And I don't lie!"


<Sia> She was grateful, because there wasn’t really a doubt in her mind that she didn’t want to do this, but in that moment it felt like hell was being unleashed in her body. The pain was greater than her mind. "I won’t I let you be a killer," she said softly and her lips parted slightly to let his blood drip down her dry throat. The pain seemed to just become one with her body. She still felt it but she went numb more or less. "If you don’t want to kill you don’t have to," she still wanted to talk but could barely get the words out before her lips began to do more work than her actual voice. He was true it did indeed taste like something she couldn’t explain, but it was welcoming to her palates and she found herself eagerly needing more. One part of her was sleeping away, leaving an echo in her head.


<Lancaster> Lancaster nodded, relaxing just a little as her lips closed around the wound. "Don't talk anymore," he said. He wanted her to drink. To take as much as she could. He let her lay back against the porcelain of the tub. The colours contrasted; the stark whiteness of the tub, the ebony sheen of her skin, the vibrant red of her blood as it slowly swirled toward the drain. The scent of it thickened the air, heady and strong. "Take as much as you can. It'll fill you... it'll change you. You'll feel it. Your body... it will die. It's going to hurt. It will feel like you're dying but you're not going to die, okay? You're not going to die. It's just your body changing. You ... are being reborn," he said, talking to comfort her, his voice low and melodic, calming in its insistence.


<Sia> She nodded in response, still talking in her head to him, but not being able to make any sounds. His voice was calming but it didn’t change her thought on how death was starting to make her feel. She couldn’t keep her eyes closed any longer. Sia didn’t want him to see it in her face, but she couldn’t help but share it. Her eyes were undoubtingly nearly black as midnight. Her eyes widened as she stared back at his. Her body shook and she felt like she was crying internally. As badly as she wanted this she wondered if it were worth all this. The pain...it was just too much to handle, if she could just go back and have time to think on it a little longer to prolong, she would have been happier...maybe. She went from trying to fight it, to going slowly limp against the tub.

He said she would feel like she was dying but he also said he would make sure she lived and that is what she tried to look forward to, as she began to drift in and out of consciousness. She could see images of her family dance around in her head, she could see her first day of university, feel the pain when they found out her roommate after three years had managed to get mauled to death by a mountain lion, she felt and seen it all and it wasn’t fair is all she could think. No one should have to see these things or feel them all over again. Then it all went blank and for a few moments she could swear he had just left her there to die, thinking she had been lied to, but soon she tasted the warm sweet blood that trickled along the inside of her cheeks and into her throat.


<Lancaster> Everything that Sia could feel, Lancaster could feel too. His jaw clenched as he held her there, pushing his fingers soothingly through her hair. His wrist flexed, the wound gaping a little more to allow the blood to flow quicker. Faster. But she was swallowing, he could tell that much. She was taking it in. He glanced down at her wrists, where the blood flow had started to slow. It always happened this way, when they reached that crucial point. They teetered between life and death and though Lancaster had been confident before, there were tiny kernels of doubt that nagged at the back of his mind. But he wouldn't let it happen. His own clothes soaked up Sia's blood; his feet slid in the slick mess but he pulled her up. She wasn't limp against the tub anymore, but pulled over him, half laying against his chest. He'd wait there with her. He would make her keep swallowing until her own blood stopped flowing. Until her own wounds started to heal. He would only relax, once he knew that her body had taken the blood, and that the blood had taken her body. He tried to comfort her as best he could, with his arm around her shoulders, rocking her dying body against his. She wasn't going to die. He refused to believe that she would.


<Sia> She was only sleeping, which was what it felt like after so long. A tube force feeding but in a vegetated state, only for a few moments though, which seemed more like a lifetime for her. At first she couldn’t feel anything at all, not him holding her, not the cold of the tub, not even the constant trickle of blood that rolled down her arms. She heard a little voice in her head speaking softly to her, but it wasn’t his, it was like it was her mothers, perhaps subconsciously, but nevertheless she heard it. Come home it kept saying to her, cooing in her mind over and over. 'I'm trying' she said back just as many times, until she finally felt her body returning back to earth and the ache on her wrists began to lessen. The intensity of it was overwhelming, so that when she was fully aware and able to move again it was as though her body had been hit by an electric bolt, causing her to sit upright, taking them both off guard. She knew she wasn’t dying any longer, but she still felt a tug on her chest as though she was trying to breath but couldn’t, false gasping was what it was. "I'm trying," she air coughed over and over with tears rolling down her cheeks. "I can’t get there," she grabbed the edge of the tub hoping to crawl out like a mad woman, but she had little strength in her and what she had she used to thrash around just then and there.


<Lancaster> It hadn't been quite like this with any of the others, and Lancaster didn't have the wits about him right now to figure out exactly what it meant. She had died. And she had come back to the land of the living. He had no idea who she was talking to, but she had had enough blood. She must have, given her sudden movement, launching herself out of Lancaster's arms as if she were trying to escape. As if she had been drowning and was now gasping for air above water. As if she were stuck in the middle of a storm that only she could see. "Stop..." he said, quiet at first. “Stop!" he said, voice gaining force and strength as he reached out to grab her, to stop her thrashing, to get her to look at him. To hear him. To bring he back to the here and now. "Sia…You're here. You're alive. Calm down... it's going to be okay," he said, voice strained as he tried to get past her panic.


<Sia> Her body just didn’t understand what both his and her mind were trying to tell her, and whatever voice that was didn’t help her panic though it thought it had. Everything had an echo and everything looked weird, like she was a baby seeing for the first time. Her fingers held unto the edges of the tub for dear life, but settled down well enough that she wouldn’t harm herself or him for that matter. She gave herself a minute to recollect and realized that she no longer needed to gasp for air or feel that way, it was all there just not in the way it used to be, there was less effort in living was the best way to describe it. She had been so wrapped up trying to get her surroundings, she nearly forgot about Lancaster sitting behind her. She whipped her head around and gave him the oddest stare and uncomfortable one at that. "You promised me my sweater," hilarious but the most honest response, even though she was barely whispering, even her ears trying to get used to her voice again. She had the nerve to look at him as though he were crazy, when she was the one that looked like she had walked through the gates of hell. "I just need my sweater is all," she pushed herself away gently and held her knees to her chest, her elbows to her knees and palms on her forehead and rocked slightly. She wasn’t going insane it was just soothing for the time being, anything helped, as she tried to keep the sobbing down to a minimum that started again. She was truly being reborn again.


<Lancaster> Lancaster didn't laugh. He looked from Sia to the tub and back again. The blood was now everywhere. Where it had first calmly pooled in the bottom, it had been disrupted by both their movements, and more especially hers as she had thrashed around in the end. The blood was splashed up the edges of the tub, and smeared over her skin. It was soaked into Lancaster's clothes. And of course she might act in a panic, now sitting in a tub of her own blood. Maybe this could have been done some other way. Lancaster sucked in a breath and nodded. "Yes, but you wanted your sweater clean. And you're not clean yet," he said. He reached down past her, toward the tab situated at their feet. He turned it on, the water clear and smooth; hot enough to warm her skin, which would now be cold. "We'll get the blood off. And then you can have your sweater back. And you can rest," he said. He had needed rest, after his body had killed itself and then been remade, supernatural. Stronger. More resilient. He'd woken with a killer headache and a violent thirst. He stood, awkwardly, only now realizing his own dizziness, caused by his own loss of blood. He tried to extract himself from the tub; he was dirtier than she was. But he could just change his clothes.


<Sia> She only wanted her sweater, but he was intent on cleaning up. How could he even think of cleaning she thought to herself, though she made little sense, it was like the blood didn’t bother her, it didn’t bother her that she sat in a pile of it, that the entire room reeked of that of something from a horror movie. She seen him trying to stand and get out, but she was absolutely not having it. She grabbed his pant leg and pulled him back in. "I just want to go back to my room now," she said calmly, trying not to excite him with her words, there was no point in him panicking too. "There are showers at our hall, I'll just take one there and for now I'll just take my sweater please," she knew deep down he wasn’t going to let her, but it was all she really wanted. "You’re not leaving me."

[Lancaster]

"Calm down, Sia," he said, slowly unpeeling her fingers from his pant leg, trying his best to get up and out of the tub. Maybe next time he had a whim to sire someone he'd ask Pi to join him; Pi could do the draining, and he could do the feeding. At least there wouldn't be a mess. And it would save on introductions, later. That was assuming he had this kind of whim again. It would depend on Sia. It would depend on whether he could strike golden luck and find another one like her; and, of course, on whether she remained a good soul.

"You contradicted yourself. I'm not leaving you. And I can't come stay with you at the hall now, can I?" he said. He laid a hand on her shoulder while he reached for the nearby sponge, soaking it through with the hot water as he reached for Sia's arms and hands, wanting to wipe away the excess blood. And in so doing, show her the healed wounds underneath. He watched her, concerned.

"You remember what we talked about? I'm not going to take your life away from you but I need you to stay with me to begin with. Just a few nights, to make sure you have your bearings. Okay? So I can teach you what you need to know..."

[Sia (DELETED 7173)]

Sia slowly loosened the grip on his pants with his help, and instead grabbed her head, her fingertips gently massaging her temples for a second. If this wasn’t such a secret, she would suggest everyone experiencing this at least once in their lifetime. She could feel her body slowly becoming less tense and slowly being taken over by emotions and feelings. It was all so much.

“I’m fine,” she whispered, knowing full well she was anything but. “Please…” she shook her head and gently took the sponge from him, not at all comfortable with him wiping her up. There would be many things he would be responsible for, but this wasn’t one of them. Letting the sponge soak for a moment, she watched the blood seep into the drain. That was all hers wasn’t it? She had really just let someone bleed her out and then drank from him like some sort of wild pack animal. Shame but not guilt formed over her face and she hid it by pressing her knees to her chest again and covering her mouth with a shaky hand.

Even as she sat quiet for a moment, she could see live action her wounds begin to seal and heal themselves with no assistance. “My god…” she smiled and traced a finger over one of the previously deep gashes. Her onyx eyes looked back to Lancasters’, this time with a hint of bewilderness behind them. “Your blood is better than black magic,” she laughed a bit and then remembered when she heard him inside her head. If she could make these sorts of impacts on people’s lives….but she couldn’t. She would never be able to share these gifts with other humans, but it didn’t mean her journey had to end. Her doors had been opened to a whole new breed. A whole new world of unimaginable things.

‘ Because you ... can be a salvation. For me. You could be good and noble and you could remind me that's all I want to be, too’

He held her at such a high standard and that was even before he even “turned”her. Sia looked over and searched his face, wondering what kind of savior she could possibly be to a man like him. He was in her eyes and at the current moment and all powerful super human, commonly refered to as a vampire. It didn’t get much higher than that. What could she teach him that he didn’t already know? He must have seen something in her and if there was one thought she would always hold unto it would be, that everyone meets for a reason. She would be his savior if that was what he needed, he did after all give her the gift of immortality and a ticket to the fountain of youth.

She was snapped out of her thoughts when he began to speak of where she needed to stay for the evening. “I can take off a day or two, but I am afraid it is all I can sacrifice,” she paused a moment and began to clean herself off more thoroughly, but it was to no avail , there was just so much , it was in her hair and everywhere from thrashing around in her moments of confusion. “I will need someone to grab a few of my things at the hall,” she attempted to stand but found herself lightheaded. Taking it slowly, she carefully stepped out of the tub, balancing herself good enough to get to a nearby chair.

“I feel like a newborn in many ways right now,” she looked up at him hoping he understood. “You have much to teach me indeed,” her face went solemn , usually broken by a random smile or at least a gentle laugh under her breath; but the realness of the moment and change, even though she physically could feel it, she could feel it transforming her mentally as well.

“We can teach each other many of things,”

[Lancaster]

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

<Lancaster d’Artois> Lancaster could have told Sia that though she thought she was doing quite well at hiding her emotions and how she really felt, it would do no good. It was something he deliberated; tossing up between letting the girl force a kind of calm on herself or allowing her, in a way, to succumb to the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. Which would be better? Control, or none? And though he could speak to her mind, he could not read it. Reading emotions was sometimes kind of the same as reading one’s thoughts, however – would it freak her out too much if she knew? Instead of telling her straight away, he nodded.

“I can sent Roxette,” he said. Even as he said it, he was flinging a telepathic message to his thrall. She had a tome to the Den, and she’d make it here within minutes. He requested that she be quick about it, and she was forced to do as she was told. Most of the time, Lancaster felt guilty about what he had done to Roxette, normally twisting his words in her presence so that they weren’t commands, but suggestions so that she could make her own choice. Sometimes, though, he knew that she could be stubborn. And he didn’t want her to take her time, this time.

“Roxette is my thrall. That’s what they’re called. She has to do everything I tell her, but she’s still human. I didn’t know I had that power – it was an accident,” he said. “She’s on her way. She’s used to this. She can be your first… snack,” he said. It was often that he asked Roxette to be the willing donor for his newest fledglings; he was there to stop them if they tried to go too far, but it was a nice controlled environment to show them how to feed, or at least that they instinctively know how to, without having to be taught.

Lancaster himself didn’t take a seat anywhere; he was still covered in blood himself. He crossed his arms over his chest as he watched Sia carefully. “Sia… you don’t have to hide how you’re really feeling,” he said. “I know how overwhelming all of this can be. I won’t judge you. Though I hope you won’t have regrets,” he said with a lopsided smile.


<Sia> Sia listened to him carefully, not quite understand it all. How could someone control anyone? They called it enthrallment, but it was keeping someone prisoner in her opinion. Smiling softly, she reached up to pull her hair into a ponytail, but realized her hair had blood in it as well. "Very messy process," she laughed nervously, still trying to hide how she really felt. She was failing apparently, and she supposed it was ok that he could see right through her. He would share in this experience with her for an eternity, who else better than to see her like this. "I dont regret it..." she let her words trail as she thought harder about what it really was she was feeling at the moment. "It is a huge sense of," she paused for a minute and ran her fingers over her face with a smile.

"Its like an awakening," she whispered almost to herself. "The intensity almost outweighs the fear, but at the same time, fear is whats driving me to want more," shaking her head she glanced up at him. "It's very interesting to say the least." Even though she didnt believe in using people to one's advantage, she would sure be glad when Roxette arrived with her things. Perhaps she would feel better, once showered and changed and not smelling of old blood, though it did smell awfully delicious to her dismayal.


<Lancaster d’Artois> Lancaster smiled, glad that she would see it that way. As an awakening. This would be the difference, he assumed, between knowing and choosing to be turned rather than having it thrust upon you, with no choice in the matter. The musician didn’t know whether he’d have chosen this life. Chances here, he wouldn’t have. He’d have given a very vehement ‘no’ and would have continued on with his life. Immortality wouldn’t have tempted him. What fun was life when there was no fear of death?

Though, he now knew that he had a great fear of death. That even though he could come back, that week he had spent dead felt like an eternity. Maybe it had made him stronger; more resilient, more confident in his decisions. Maybe he’d think more, before acting. Especially if those actions could lead to death. Of course he didn’t think that Sia would regret her decision yet; she hadn’t lived this life yet. He’d ask her the question again, in a couple of months. For now, she just had to get settled.

It didn’t take long for Roxette to come through the door; all glistening and sweaty, like she’d just come from a rock concert, beaming like she was full of adrenaline. “Yo, Lan,” she said, glancing toward Sia, her hands on her hips. “Another one, eh?” she said, waggling her brows. Lancaster rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, another one. She needs you to go to her dorm at the Uni to get some of her things. Think you can manage that?” he asked, and Roxette nodded. Lancaster turned to Sia. “Do you have directions? Will she need a key?”


<Sia> She wished there was more she could have explained to Lancaster about how she was feeling, but most of it was so deep in her mind and head, that words couldnt explain. She fell into a brief daydream, but was brought to reality, when she seen the girl come through the door. Must be Roxette, she thought to herself and immediately felt sorry for her. Poor girl just trying to live life and have fun and here she was doing someone else's bidding. Guilt ridden, she lowered her eyes and reached down to search her pockets, pulling out a set of keys and handing them to the girl. "Its the main hall on the west side of the university. Room 414." She was on the edge of saying screw it and doing it herself, but she was smart enough to know she was in no condition to be traveling.

Lancaster more than likely not let her from his sight. She didnt blame him, she more than likely would have done the same if she took on the responsibility that he did. "My room mate Lana, will more than likely be there,"she stopped because she knew she would have to have the girl tell a lie. It wasnt as though she was completely innocent, of course she had lied before, but this was a big one. "If she asks where I am at, tell her staying at a friends house for a few days as I am not feeling well," it was the only thing the girl would believe. Everyone who knew her, knew she would never take off without any notice, especially with school just starting up again. It wasnt like her. "I only need a pair of jeans...any jeans and a few sweaters, any you can find and a bag of mentionables from my top drawer" Roxette was a woman, surely she knew what she meant. "There is a long robe like thing on the back of my door as well, please grab that too," she looked over at Lancaster and tried to smile. "Thank you Roxette, this means very much,"


<Lancaster d’Artois> Lancaster could feel the guilt rolling from Sia and it had him flinching. He made sure to thank Roxette, too – he didn’t order her around like she was some slave sent to do his bidding. He was thankful, and the girl was rewarded for her work. Anyway, Roxette appeared to be used to it. She pulled out her phone to type Sia’s requests into a list, and was soon out the door. The thing about Roxette was that she had no qualms; she had confidence beyond her ego, and she would have no trouble dealing with a worried roommate. As soon as the blonde had exited, Lancaster turned back to Sia.

“She was homeless before I found her. She was a street kid grown into a street woman, mixing with all the wrong crowds and on the path to complete destruction. I did what I did and the guilt was so overwhelming that I gave her all that I could. She is well paid. She has somewhere to sleep, that’s safe and not on the street. The only exposure she had to vampires is what I expose her to and I make sure no harm comes to her. I don’t ask her to do much,” he explained. He had mostly come to terms with his own guilt in regards to Roxette, but he could feel the way Sia felt about the situation and it was like slashing the wound open again.

He found himself leaning against the wall, not willing yet to perch on any of the furniture. His arms were crossed over his chest again. “We will discover what you are capable of, soon enough. We’ll know which path you walk,” he said. “There are six paths… and there’s a process of elimination,” he said.


<Sia> She listened and nodded. One beautiful thing about Sia's mind was that while she may not agree, she still respected others' ideas and personal thoughts and convictions. She herself coming from such a different background as compared to most canadian kids, growing up a certain way. "It is very kind of you to take care of her the way you do," she was sure he fought his own inner demons on the matter, she could almost see it on his face. It wasnt her business though and unlike her to judge based on only a few moments of knowing something. Sia stretched to relieve the tension in the air. It was odd not being able to take in deep breaths and meditate like before. "I do not want to kill anyone nor do i wish to enthrall anyone either," she stood now, finally reclaiming her legs back to normal.

"I just want to help and educate and perhaps even become part of a movement that will help others," she explained and walked closer to where he stood. "Is there a path for me? A path where other people like myself share similar ideas and have the same desires?" she stopped and glanced at him. "What path did you take?"


<Lancaster d’Artois> “The paths we take aren’t our choice,” he said. “The paths pick us, I suppose, depending on how we were as humans. I am what they call an Allurist,” he said with a wry kind of smile. “We get a bad rep. But we are the most human of our species,” he said. He’d wondered about it in the past, why he had landed on the path that he had. But it made sense, in the end. Like his body knew before he did that he would only ever want to go back to being human. Entirely. He took a deep breath as he summoned from memory the knowledge he had of the other paths; the knowledge he had learned over time.

“There are telepaths – they seem to be more technologically inclined. The longer we are vampires, the more chance we have of learning the abilities that other paths learn first. Which is why I can speak directly to your mind – that’s a telepath skill, but I am not a telepath,” he said. Wondering if he was making any sense.

“Shadows are good at staying hidden. They bleed black blood. Necromancers appear to be more dead than the rest; more corpse-like,” he said, gazing at Sia thoughtfully. She was blessed with dark skin. She would never look as pale as the rest of them. She would be luminescent in her own way. But, he couldn’t tell if she looked she worse for wear. Besides, she hadn’t fed yet. Her appearance could change, once she was refreshed.

“Killers are… well, they are how they sound. They’re good at killing. Mystics are more in tune with nature, I think. When they die, they come back in a different body. With a different face. They’re the basics. If you don’t bleed black and if you can’t see yourself in a mirror,” he said, standing up to go and find a mirror. “Then we can rule out two of the possibilities,” he said.


<Sia> Listening to him was like listening to a very wise professor. She hung unto every word, making mental notes. None of what he said really applied to her, all except for this necromancer. He hadnt divuldged on the subject yet, but there was something about what he said...being more dead than the rest. "Well I'm not into killing," she laughed as he should have obviously known that. "I dont bleed black," another thing they agreed on. "Back home, we never used mirrors, it symbolizes vanity and to my parents that is a sin," she rolled her eyes slightly. "Perhaps that was a bit extreme, but I still like to hang unto that one rule, only because it makes sense to me and keeps me humble," she explained feeling a little silly. "You say mystics change their faces," she shook her head defiant like.

"I change for no one, I am who I am, and would be no other," she said proudly. "Neither do I hide," she waggled her finger the way she had when she first met him. "That leaves me with telepath and Necromancer," she thought about it for a moment. "I am not technology driven, I am fine with what they call old fashion. Though our new age is wonderful, it doesnt apeal to me like it does for some," she stopped and raised a brow. "Explain to me more about Necromancer please? I admit it calls to me more than any other,"


<Lancaster d’Artois> Lancaster laughed. He didn’t think it was all that easy, even as he came back with the mirror and handed it to Sia. He wouldn’t stand in front of it with her; the image of his own rotting corpse would hardly be appealing, or calming in this situation. “Just because you don’t like to kill doesn’t mean you won’t lose control every now and again, and enjoy it when you do. Just because you were taught not to look in a mirror doesn’t mean you won’t show up in one. And just because you didn’t bleed black before, doesn’t mean you won’t bleed black now. Shadows didn’t always bleed black. They bled perfectly normally before they were turned,” he said.

“Mystics, I assume, don’t want to change their faces either. It’s something that’s forced on them, not a reason for why they are the path they are. I wouldn’t say that your reasons rule anything out, definitively. We should prick your finger to see what your blood looks like, later. And if you can’t see yourself in that mirror, you’re definitely not an Allurist,” he said.

“Necromancers. From what I know, they have a fascination with death. They are… drawn to it, and their powers revolve around it. They can… bring things back from the dead. They can make living things appear more dead. As a balance, though, they can also heal, to a certain capacity,” he said.

[Sia (DELETED 7173)]

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




<Sia> Sia gently grabbed the mirror and glanced over at him. "What if I do see something and I don’t like what I see?" she began to bring the mirror to her, but instead pushed it away and handed it back. "I would imagine even I do not see anything and it does narrow down my options, that I am not prepared to see myself as nothing," she hoped he would understand and perhaps it did make things harder for them to determine, but she didn’t want to scare herself for life. She was torn really, part of her wanting to know what others now saw and a big part of her wanting to hold onto her humanity that she had only let go not even an hour ago. Despite her feelings, she reached for it again and brought it to her face. Her eyes went wild for a moment, just as she suspected...nothing.

But then something did happen, which had her squinting her eyes and searching the background of what seemed to be an empty portrait. "What is that?" she whispered up at Lancaster, not able to take her eyes off the reflection. Then she realized...they were her. "How is that even possible," she was nearly lost for words as she stared in amazement.


<Lancaster d’Artois> Lancaster nodded, taking back the mirror. It was easy for him to step into the shoes of other people. What with his extra senses, those feelers picking up on the emotions of others; all he had to do was think about Sia’s reasons, and he could understand. He opened his mouth to tell her as much, but before he could say anything, she had taken the mirror back. Nothing, which could have been expected. There was a one in six chance that Sia would see herself in that mirror; Lancaster was kind of hoping that she would. It would mean that he could teach Sia properly. But, there was nothing.

But then she changed her tune. There was something that she could see, and Lancaster stared at the back of the mirror as if he might be able to see through it. As if he might be able to see what she could see. He shook his head, resisting the urge to go around and look. “I don’t know. What can you see?” he asked. He’d never heard of anyone seeing anything else in the mirrors, if they couldn’t see themselves.


<Sia> Sia was quiet for quiet for a few moments, her eyes widening and then narrowing again, then finally catching his gaze. "I think those are little me's," she laughed and brought a finger to the mirror, tracing lines across the dancing figures and even the mocking ones. "It is like they are my spirits trapped in the mirror," she moved it away and looked at him with her mouth gaped open. "Do you have any idea how amazing this is? Telepathy is one thing, but to actually see your spirits outside of your body...that is outstanding," she couldn’t resist the urge to look again. And again she was amazed, this time seeing other spirits, this time ones that weren’t so inviting; these ones were obviously mocking and feeding off her fears and insecurities.

Sia let out a laugh and then caught herself before it turned into a tear. "You have opened my eyes literally to impossible and amazing things Lancaster," she lifted her eyes from the mirror and handed it back to him. "I' have not lost myself at all...and mater of factly gained I would say. I would never have seen those," she said then went quiet while she thought. "You ask me not to tell anyone and so I won’t, but understand this information and revelation could change the world and everything we know...have you any idea?"


<Lancaster d’Artois> It was as if he was infected with Sia’s wonderment, and he knew that he hadn’t made a mistake. He took a deep breath that he didn’t need, a riot new things colliding in his chest. A smile spread across his lips and he nodded. “I know. I used to be optimistic but from what I’ve seen of our kind, I don’t think the world is ready. Maybe the world would be able to accept us, after a while, but I don’t think the vampires would be ready,” he said. He wasn’t sure he made any sense, but he was a little distracted.

The phone buzzed on the countertop nearby. Long strides took Lancaster to the device; Roxette. Given the use of portals, it wouldn’t have taken her very long to get to the University. Now she had what she needed and had texted to let him know she was on her way back. “Roxette’s on her way back,” he said, dropping the phone back onto the counter top. He gazed at Sia curiously, before he finally asked the question that was lingering at the back of his mind. “Spirits? You said you could see your spirits, as if it was something you… expected. You believe in a person having multiple spirits?” he asked.


<Sia> Never in all the years of her studies, did they ever prepare any of their students for anything of the sort. She was stunned. Silly as it seemed she picked up the mirror again and took a seat, hearing Lancaster speak of Roxette's return. She nodded quickly, and then shook her head as she was still trying to figure it all out. "I went into theology because I knew there was more out there than just Christianity," she stopped as she brought the mirror back up to her face, this time seeing just one staring back from the back of the corner of the room and to her right. Taking her eyes off the mirror and quickly to where she thought it was, she shook her head and looked back into the mirror. "They just disappear...it's like magic that I don’t even know I possess."

"I never thought about multiple spirits, but then again I never thought I'd meet a real vampire and even if I had, I wouldn’t have gone so far to imagine I would ever become one...and look where I am?" she was entranced by it and handed it back to him almost forcefully. "Please take this...I need to understand more. I'm sure there is something. Somewhere or even someone, someplace that can explain this," she stood up and looked herself over, then back around the room still in disbelief. "I have multiple spirits and so I have to believe," she explained and took her hair down, barely able to wait until Roxette came back. "I'm sorry Lancaster but I need to speak with my professor about this," she hoped he wouldn’t get upset. "I won’t mention anything else, but I do need a professional opinion. Don’t you want to know as well?"


<Lancaster d’Artois> Lancaster stared at Sia. It wasn’t in disbelief. There was fear, there, bubbling beneath the surface. He took the mirror from Sia and he glanced into the clear, crisp surface. The face that stared back at him caused him to grimace. By now, if he had died he’d be four years in the ground, almost. Not quite just bones but close enough. Like a zombie whose flesh had almost all fallen off, sliding away like melted butter in the sunshine. He tossed the mirror aside, face down, so he wouldn’t have to look in it. Slowly, he shook his head.

“I don’t want to know. Not really. I like to… know how people function. I like to know how they think, why they do the things they do. And how this life affects them. And why is affects most people badly, turns them into the worst versions of themselves,” he shook his head again, arms crossing over his chest as he cleared his throat.

“You’re not even an hour into this and you already want to tell someone else? What makes you think that he’s going to have any of the answers? You want to put not just yourself in danger, but him too?” he asked. “I’m not taking your life away from you but if you go around discussing this with everyone you… it’s not just you that it’ll affect, get me?”


<Sia> She stared at him for a moment, and then let her eyes divert. It was a good possibility that she was thinking unclearly and maybe he was right. There would never be anyone other than those of her kind now and especially Lancaster that would relate to the things she was seeing and experiencing. "I..I am sorry," she managed and tried to gather her emotions. She had lost it temporarily and was ashamed. "I've just never felt any of this, the information is new..." she stopped trying to explain and was happy to see the door open and Roxette come through with a bag full of her things. "Lancaster, I apologize," she looked over at him, hoping he could accept her humbleness. "I'm not sure anyone will truly ever understand how the human brain works and are far from figuring any other kind,"


<Lancaster d’Artois> Lancaster shook his head. “You don’t have to be so sorry,” he said, glancing up at Roxette as she came back through the door. She handed Sia her belongings, all shoved into a single bag; Roxette wasn’t the neatest person, nor the most considerate. She’d packed Sia’s bag in the same way she might have packed her own. It didn’t cross Roxette’s mind that it could have been offensive, to treat another’s belongings in such a way. The blonde lingered, knowing what Lancaster was going to ask her to do next. But Lancaster had to say what he needed to say to Sia, first.

“I understand your need to… understand, I do. I understand your need to let others know. It’s why I sought you out,” he said. “Not you specifically, but someone. Anyone. I do think that there is a force in this city that needs to be opposed. They want to keep secrets that shouldn’t necessarily have to be kept. But we can’t… come bursting out of the woodworks. If we’re going to push at the boundaries, we need to do it slowly,” he said, watching Sia carefully.

“I want you to understand. I’m not against you in this. We just need to be… smart, about how we do things,” he said.


<Sia> So he did agree that this wasn’t something to hide. The assurance brought a smile to her lips, the same one he had seen when he first met her. "We'll make them see," was all she said before she took the heap of clothes, trying not to show her annoyance in how messy they were. "Thank you Roxette, I hope my roommate was not too much of a hassle for you," she smiled and had to fight the urge to grab that mirror and run into a corner and study it for hours. It pulled to her like a plant would sunlight. She wanted to go on and on, but instead went silent while taking things out of her bag to refold and situate. Sia carefully took out a long dress that looked more like a huge scarf, splashed with different colors and patterns. "I am going to change," she looked at the pair and smiled.


<Lancaster d’Artois> Lancaster nodded. "You should shower, too," he said, striding over to the tub to turn on the tap at the wall. The pressure of the shower was fast, and hot; it washed away the blood that still lingered at the bottom of the tub. When he stepped away, it was to pull the screen across, to fully shield the shower. Sia may as well feel fresh, and be clean before she stepped into clean clothes. "Roxette and I will be over there," he said, pointing to the other side of the loft. Far enough away that Sia would have her privacy. "You're probably... thirsty. Roxette can help," he said with a small smile, before bowing and slinking away.


<Sia> She was grateful to hear the water running; her skin nearly screamed its mercy. "Thank you," she said softly and picked up her belongings, but not before he mentioned her unaddressed dilemma of thirst. He wanted her to snack on the same girl who had been so helpful as to get her things? It felt just as wrong as the first time she passed judgement on it all. "Thank you but..." she looked at the girl and sighed making her way to the screened area. “I will wait, I am not that thirsty at the moment," her stomach and nerve endings told her another story and hopefully Lancaster couldn’t sense those. Once behind and shielded from them, she covered her mouth as a little sob came from her lips. Had she made a mistake in hopes in finding some great hidden truths of the world?

Sia took her time stripping down and placing her body into the hot shower. The blood and dirt slid off her body, nearly making her sick as it drained into the tub. She would be unlike most other vampires, she could feel it and it was obvious Lancaster knew as well. Her skin tone alone would hide all the hidden facts most people would associate with the old legends. She shivered when she thought of being a part of urban legends and stories that only TV shows these days portrayed. It took her quite a while to get out, but she needed every second of that. The washing away of her past self and being reborn into her new self...it was a perfect symbolization.


<Lancaster d’Artois> Roxette rolled her eyes, a silent conversation passing between her and Lancaster as Sia said she wasn’t that hungry. The musician moved away from the screened area as he said he would, the thrall following along behind him. He, too, needed to shower. He needed to wash away all the blood and get dressed in clean clothes, and Roxette wasn’t shy about pointing that out. “You look like an axe murderer, Lanny,” she said with a snort, and Lancaster could only lightly slap her over the back of the head. So many thralls didn’t last, but Roxette had been with Lancaster for the better part of three years. She had grown accustomed to the blood, to the oddness of it all.

“You need to convince her, Roxette,” he said, and she nodded, eyes rolling

“I know. I will. Don’t you worry about that, old man,” she said. This time it was Lancaster’s turn to roll his eyes. Old man. He got that a lot; and he could understand why. His point of view was old fashioned, and he was more serious these days than he should be. Sometimes he had the point of view of an old man. He sprawled out on the ground as he waited for Sia, not wanting to dirty any of the furniture. Roxette sprawled on the couch, the two of them talking in what might seem like their own secret language. But really they just knew each other so well; their conversation consisted mostly of inside jokes.

At least Lancaster was laughing, though. Roxette always managed to make him laugh, in some capacity. Her lack of care about anything happening around her was kind of refreshing in that way.