She happily walked beside him as they made their way into the quiet mall. It was getting closer to closing time, meaning less people. This was a good thing. It meant they would be left alone.
Kaelyn was taken a little aback when he asked her for a favor...a surprise. She looked up at him questionably. What sort of surprise could it be? Chewing on her bottom lip, she nodded. "Ok...what's the favor?"
Blood and Whiskey
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Stagger Lee
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Re: Blood and Whiskey
Reaching the second floor, he took a few steps away from the escalator. Then he reached into his pocket, producing a new, clean silk handkerchief, one of those that were quite popular among the citizens of Harper Rock.
“Will you trust me to lead you there?” He spoke, “it isn’t far from here” He now carefully folded the handkerchief into a blindfold, holding it up towards her when finished. “The shop I am leading you to is a place of many wonders, and I want them to be a surprise to you.”
Even though the mall wasn’t crowded now they weren’t alone in it, at all, there were always a few other visitors, some hurrying to get their shopping done before closing time, while others were carrying their bags to the escalator or stairs.
“Will you trust me to lead you there?” He spoke, “it isn’t far from here” He now carefully folded the handkerchief into a blindfold, holding it up towards her when finished. “The shop I am leading you to is a place of many wonders, and I want them to be a surprise to you.”
Even though the mall wasn’t crowded now they weren’t alone in it, at all, there were always a few other visitors, some hurrying to get their shopping done before closing time, while others were carrying their bags to the escalator or stairs.
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Kaelyn
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Re: Blood and Whiskey
She watched him produce the handkerchief and turn it into a blindfold...he really did want this to be a surprise. This was oddly sweet, she thought. Maybe the fact that she was under the spell hid exactly how dangerous this could be. Putting her life, her secrets, into the hands of a stranger. However, she pushed another kiss to his cheek and nodded her head.
“I trust you, Stagger.I’m excited to see what you have to show me.” Her back turned to him so he could easily tie the blindfold around her. She could hear a few people scuttle by. They probably found this a very odd sight indeed. It wasn’t very often you saw a man blindfolding a young lady in the middle of the mall.
“I trust you, Stagger.I’m excited to see what you have to show me.” Her back turned to him so he could easily tie the blindfold around her. She could hear a few people scuttle by. They probably found this a very odd sight indeed. It wasn’t very often you saw a man blindfolding a young lady in the middle of the mall.
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Stagger Lee
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Re: Blood and Whiskey
“I promise I won’t lead you astray”, he spoke softly, placing a little kiss on the back of her neck. Then he took her hand leading her towards the shop, walking past Mayari’s Moonlight Spa and Put A Leash On It. A few people turned their head in surprise, but honestly, if they lived in Harper Rock they most likely had seen much weirder occurrences already. And learned to accept or ignore them to keep their sanity intact.
It was surprising how much she trusted him. They barely knew each other, and yet she had allowed him completely without hesitation to blindfold her, and lead her. In the past he had been to places where the women had learned never to trust any man because those that did ended in a bad way pretty soon. Harper Rock was not exactly like these places. It still seemed like an ordinary provincial Canadian town. But that was just at first glance. Behind that nice facade it was at least as dangerous as Tijuana or Nuevo Laredo.
And still she trusted him. He didn’t understand this young woman yet. But maybe soon he’d know more.
They had reached the shop now. The Countess was sitting at the entrance desk, reading one of her vampire novels. Soon she’d most likely ask him again, which clan from one of these fictional vampire worlds she’d fit in best. She asked that a lot lately. “Do you think I am more like a Toreador or a Ventrue?” He had no time for that kind of talk right now. Putting his finger to his lips, he gestured her to leave them alone and close the door, then lead Kaelyn to the showroom area of his shop.
“You may remove the blindfold now”, he told her, standing between an open coffin, a cabinet with weapons and one with ancient books of vampire lore. “I hope you really like the supernatural.”
It was surprising how much she trusted him. They barely knew each other, and yet she had allowed him completely without hesitation to blindfold her, and lead her. In the past he had been to places where the women had learned never to trust any man because those that did ended in a bad way pretty soon. Harper Rock was not exactly like these places. It still seemed like an ordinary provincial Canadian town. But that was just at first glance. Behind that nice facade it was at least as dangerous as Tijuana or Nuevo Laredo.
And still she trusted him. He didn’t understand this young woman yet. But maybe soon he’d know more.
They had reached the shop now. The Countess was sitting at the entrance desk, reading one of her vampire novels. Soon she’d most likely ask him again, which clan from one of these fictional vampire worlds she’d fit in best. She asked that a lot lately. “Do you think I am more like a Toreador or a Ventrue?” He had no time for that kind of talk right now. Putting his finger to his lips, he gestured her to leave them alone and close the door, then lead Kaelyn to the showroom area of his shop.
“You may remove the blindfold now”, he told her, standing between an open coffin, a cabinet with weapons and one with ancient books of vampire lore. “I hope you really like the supernatural.”
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Kaelyn
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Re: Blood and Whiskey
She kept close to him as he led her blindly to the shop. Little did she know, it was his shop. Kaelyn had absolutely no idea what she’d see when he removed the blindfold. It had her a little nervous but very excited. She was always a big one for surprises. She wanted to give them, to receive them. Her fingers entwined with his as they walked, hand squeezing his gently. Once they had finally come to a halt, she started to chew on her bottom lip and fuss with the hem of her shirt.
With his permission to remove the blindfold, she reached behind her and tugged at the knot in the handkerchief, removing it from her head. Eyes blinked a few times, adjusting to the lighting they were in. Her head turned to the left and the right, stopping, staring at the objects that adorned the room. If she had a working heart, it would be racing a million miles per hour right now. Kaelyn felt like she was about to have some sort of vampire panic attack. Her gut had dropped and there was a lump in her throat. Mouth was completely dry and her nails started picking at her inner arm as they typically did when she was nervous.
The girl couldn’t look at the man next to her. She knew how close he was though, knew exactly how many steps she’d need to take or inches she’d need to lean to grab the smaller blade she was carrying and slit his throat. But this was Stagger...maybe there was an explanation to this...to this place. Her left hand rested on her hip, just where the blade lay beneath her skirt. She trusted him, but this...this was scary. Did he know about her? Was he just interested in the supernatural? What was he going to do if he did no...maybe he wanted to be like her and that’s why he has gone through all this trouble. A million thoughts were running through her mind.
Eyes quickly glanced up at him and then back to the room. “How long have you known?”
With his permission to remove the blindfold, she reached behind her and tugged at the knot in the handkerchief, removing it from her head. Eyes blinked a few times, adjusting to the lighting they were in. Her head turned to the left and the right, stopping, staring at the objects that adorned the room. If she had a working heart, it would be racing a million miles per hour right now. Kaelyn felt like she was about to have some sort of vampire panic attack. Her gut had dropped and there was a lump in her throat. Mouth was completely dry and her nails started picking at her inner arm as they typically did when she was nervous.
The girl couldn’t look at the man next to her. She knew how close he was though, knew exactly how many steps she’d need to take or inches she’d need to lean to grab the smaller blade she was carrying and slit his throat. But this was Stagger...maybe there was an explanation to this...to this place. Her left hand rested on her hip, just where the blade lay beneath her skirt. She trusted him, but this...this was scary. Did he know about her? Was he just interested in the supernatural? What was he going to do if he did no...maybe he wanted to be like her and that’s why he has gone through all this trouble. A million thoughts were running through her mind.
Eyes quickly glanced up at him and then back to the room. “How long have you known?”
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Stagger Lee
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Re: Blood and Whiskey
He felt remorse when he saw her reaction, saw the utter panic in her eyes. Saw her reach for her hip. He now knew she was armed, even though she didn’t draw her weapon. But so was he. Always. If she attacked he’d dodge, draw and counterattack. Not only with his weapons but also his paladin powers. He just hoped he didn’t have to.
“When I was new here, I ended up waking up in strange places pretty often” he replied, talking as casually as possible, as if he didn’t even notice how tense, how ready to run or attack, she was. “I may like my whiskey, but I never get THAT drunk. There was that pain in my neck too, and I started to investigate. It wasn’t that hard to find out what was going on. Not all of you guys even bother to hide what they are.”
He didn’t actually know for sure she was one of them. No real proof. But that kind of reaction really was quite telling, so he decided it was worth to try a bluff.
“Don’t worry. I like you. I have no intention to harm you.” He added. “I’ve got plenty friends among your kind.” Well two exactly. And one of them was rather his servant than his friend.
“When I was new here, I ended up waking up in strange places pretty often” he replied, talking as casually as possible, as if he didn’t even notice how tense, how ready to run or attack, she was. “I may like my whiskey, but I never get THAT drunk. There was that pain in my neck too, and I started to investigate. It wasn’t that hard to find out what was going on. Not all of you guys even bother to hide what they are.”
He didn’t actually know for sure she was one of them. No real proof. But that kind of reaction really was quite telling, so he decided it was worth to try a bluff.
“Don’t worry. I like you. I have no intention to harm you.” He added. “I’ve got plenty friends among your kind.” Well two exactly. And one of them was rather his servant than his friend.
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Kaelyn
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Re: Blood and Whiskey
He had said ‘Not all of you guys...’ He knew...He knew what she was. How did he know!? She hadn’t let on to anything, at least she hadn’t thought she had. Maybe something slipped somehow. Looking around the room, she felt as if she were going to be sick. This place gave away so many secrets. It was true, many vampires sucked at keeping the Masquerade...she in fact had struggled in the beginning. It’s why she was killed. But this...to blatantly put them on show. Her arms crossed over her stomach. Did other vampires know about this place? How could they not? So many had been traipsing the city, searching for those...those gouges in the rift not too long ago. Surely every inch of this city had been unturned. Why hadn’t anyone put a stop to this!?
His words were barely audible at the moment, but she caught the part about him having friends among vampires. Her body turned towards him and she lashed out with words. “Friends!? You have friends among my kind, yet you do...you do this!? You put our lives, our secrets out on display for the world to see. You’re offering us up to those who wish us harm! You’re putting us in danger...You’re putting ME in danger! I love you Stagger...I love you...why can’t you see that this place isn’t safe for your friends, or for me? Don’t you love me too?” She just confessed her love for this man she barely knew. How could she love him? He was human...a stranger...quite a bit older than her...not her normal type at all, not that she really had a type, but she did...she loved him. Her heart belonged to this stranger.
His words were barely audible at the moment, but she caught the part about him having friends among vampires. Her body turned towards him and she lashed out with words. “Friends!? You have friends among my kind, yet you do...you do this!? You put our lives, our secrets out on display for the world to see. You’re offering us up to those who wish us harm! You’re putting us in danger...You’re putting ME in danger! I love you Stagger...I love you...why can’t you see that this place isn’t safe for your friends, or for me? Don’t you love me too?” She just confessed her love for this man she barely knew. How could she love him? He was human...a stranger...quite a bit older than her...not her normal type at all, not that she really had a type, but she did...she loved him. Her heart belonged to this stranger.
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Stagger Lee
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Re: Blood and Whiskey
Her angry outburst didn’t come unexpected to him. He had expected a reaction like that, and was now glad the door of the showroom was closed. In his mind he was already preparing his reply while calmly listened, was about to explain the situation in this city from the point of view of a human. But then she caught him by surprise by confessing her love to him.
Love? How could she claim to love a man she hardly knew, a man she after a rather pleasant start into the evening now accused of jeopardizing herself and her kind. Well she was young, but not that young. And how should he answer that last question of hers? After a moment of confusion he stepped forward towards her, gently placing his hands on her arms.
“Kaelyn”, he softly spoke, “I like you a lot. You are a sweet and wonderful young woman. I do not have the slightest intention to put you in any kind of danger.” He looked into her eyes now. “Give me the chance to explain all this.”
One hand reached out to close the lid of the open coffin. “Let’s have a seat and I’ll tell you more about this place and the reasons why I run it.” He paused before he added, “Lovers shouldn’t fight each other.”
Love? How could she claim to love a man she hardly knew, a man she after a rather pleasant start into the evening now accused of jeopardizing herself and her kind. Well she was young, but not that young. And how should he answer that last question of hers? After a moment of confusion he stepped forward towards her, gently placing his hands on her arms.
“Kaelyn”, he softly spoke, “I like you a lot. You are a sweet and wonderful young woman. I do not have the slightest intention to put you in any kind of danger.” He looked into her eyes now. “Give me the chance to explain all this.”
One hand reached out to close the lid of the open coffin. “Let’s have a seat and I’ll tell you more about this place and the reasons why I run it.” He paused before he added, “Lovers shouldn’t fight each other.”
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Kaelyn
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Re: Blood and Whiskey
Even without the effects of the Siren’s spell, it’s not unheard of a girl her age thinking they are madly in love with a man they hardly knew. Kaelyn was changed into a vampire at the age of 16. She has had one birthday since then, so she is technically now 17. She had been told many times her brain would never develop further than that of a 16 year old girl...a very sheltered 16 year old girl at that. But experiences makes one grow and learn. She had experienced a lot in her short time as a vampire so far. The biggest life changing experience to date was her own death. Being a mystic, her body was not here waiting for her on her return from the Shadow Realm. Rather, she had to take the life and body of another. The young girl now lived her life in the body of a 19 year old. She didn’t look quite as young as she truly was.
His ramblings on about not intending to put her or her kind in danger had her head reeling. He wanted to explain...maybe she should let him. But how did he not see that all of this WAS putting her in danger? She’d let him explain, see what he had to say. And then she would tell him exactly what it was that he was doing. Maybe he would stop.
Kaelyn looked up at him, a frown tugging at her lips. Eyes looked sad and frightened. But she listened. She offered a slight nod of her head and looked around to find a seat. “Ok...I’ll listen. But then I will explain why it’s bad.” She leaned against him a moment and then sighed, finding her seat, pulling her legs up criss cross. He had referred to them as lovers...maybe this would all be ok in the end. Glancing over to him again…”Why do you have this place? What good does it do you and others, other than to let others know about us?”
His ramblings on about not intending to put her or her kind in danger had her head reeling. He wanted to explain...maybe she should let him. But how did he not see that all of this WAS putting her in danger? She’d let him explain, see what he had to say. And then she would tell him exactly what it was that he was doing. Maybe he would stop.
Kaelyn looked up at him, a frown tugging at her lips. Eyes looked sad and frightened. But she listened. She offered a slight nod of her head and looked around to find a seat. “Ok...I’ll listen. But then I will explain why it’s bad.” She leaned against him a moment and then sighed, finding her seat, pulling her legs up criss cross. He had referred to them as lovers...maybe this would all be ok in the end. Glancing over to him again…”Why do you have this place? What good does it do you and others, other than to let others know about us?”
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Stagger Lee
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Re: Blood and Whiskey
“How do you yet know its bad what I do?” He asked, looking at her. “You are a vampire now”, he spoke, “but I guess that not that long ago you were a human, too. Do you still remember that time?” he asked having heard that some people lost their memory - or parts of it - upon turning.
“Do you remember what it felt like being a human? Not knowing anything about vampires? At least not more than you learn from books like that one.” He pointed at Bram Stocker’s Dracula on the shelf nearby. “And then suddenly get confronted with the supernatural. Getting preyed upon without a chance to retaliate. Seeing the corpses of victims of feedings that went wrong.”
He reached into his pocket for his mobile phone. “I’ve got a number of recordings on here, of some rather messy feedings. Turns your stomach watching them.” He pushed a few buttons on the touchscreen, starting a video of a mother with two young children, getting attacked by a frenzied, obviously inexperienced vampire. The video wasn’t of good quality but what one could see was bloody and horrid enough. And then there were these screams, screams that had haunted even him for days afterwards. And he had seen and heard a lot of atrocities even before he came to Harper Rock.
“Now think of yourself back when you still were a human” he stopped the video for a short time to look into her eyes. “Would you want something like that to happen to you or one of your friends?”
“Do you remember what it felt like being a human? Not knowing anything about vampires? At least not more than you learn from books like that one.” He pointed at Bram Stocker’s Dracula on the shelf nearby. “And then suddenly get confronted with the supernatural. Getting preyed upon without a chance to retaliate. Seeing the corpses of victims of feedings that went wrong.”
He reached into his pocket for his mobile phone. “I’ve got a number of recordings on here, of some rather messy feedings. Turns your stomach watching them.” He pushed a few buttons on the touchscreen, starting a video of a mother with two young children, getting attacked by a frenzied, obviously inexperienced vampire. The video wasn’t of good quality but what one could see was bloody and horrid enough. And then there were these screams, screams that had haunted even him for days afterwards. And he had seen and heard a lot of atrocities even before he came to Harper Rock.
“Now think of yourself back when you still were a human” he stopped the video for a short time to look into her eyes. “Would you want something like that to happen to you or one of your friends?”