Path of the Vampire forum

Velveteen’s head canted to the side patiently as she waited for Rion to respond. Her smile stayed true and she sat with her hands in her lap, and her spine straight. If it wasn’t for the current situation and the absolute mess of herself and the room around her she might even look regal in her posture; A benevolent queen coming to the aid of her subjects. The blue haired woman’s lack of response brought Velveteen to her feet and concern coloured her features as she stood before the woman whose cheeks were stained with tears.

It was obvious she had not heard the question and was lost in some moment of her own. Realisation dawned on her and she bobbed her head slowly at the mention of Malachai. The man meant well and was only doing what any good childe do but she did wish he had have gotten his facts straight first. “No what, Rion?” She asked softly though irritation was start to blur her thoughts. Rion kept ignoring her and was rambling on about something. It wasn’t Vel’s fault. She had tried to be...consoling. Hadn’t she? If she had come here just be negative then she could go. Neither Velveteen nor Micah needed it at the moment. Someone else could help her with her crazy.

The raven haired Necro began to turn away when her name was uttered from the other woman’s lips. She really was just being weird now but just maybe she had been so lost in whatever was going on she really couldn't see him. How she could have missed the seven soot something male laid up in bed she had no clue but Velveteen indulged the woman and stepped back. “Jesus christ, Rion. Dramatic much. He is right here and perfectly fine. A few scratches but that’s about it.” Yes...three bullets had burst through her husband’s head and painted the walls with fleshy pieces of brain matter and bone fragments but i was just a scratch. She stood beside him then and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. “Yes babe...soon. Everyone is in a panic and just want to know you are ok.” Her words soft and directed to the lifeless body at her side. She chuckled softly and nodded in response to something she thought he said and took his sunglasses off and set them aside.

No sooner had she set his glasses down then her phone began to vibrate noisily. “Why don’t you two talk while I get this. Rion looks like she could use some reassurance my Babe.” With that she silently excused herself and made her way out onto the balcony. Her thumb moved across her screen and she answered with a rather light and cheery hello. “Athena? Hi! Rion just arrived to visit with Micah. How are you? Is everything ok?” She leaned against the wooden railing and watched through the window, hoping that perhaps now some of the rumours could be put to rest.

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--
Scott:After having cleaned up the ashes, something he would never get used to he was given instructions to go find Malachai and get some parts. He couldn't but look at his mistress a little oddly as she sat having a conversation with her dead husband. He knew better than to ask questions but some **** couldn't be ignored. He was glad to be out there in all honesty and with phone in hand he rang Malachai's number to arrange a meet up.

Malachai: *he paid for his cup of hot chocolate and took a sip just as his phone rang. Somehow, he managed to juggle the cup to his other hand and grab his phone without burning himself* Este es Malachai, digame...****, sorry. English. Sometimes I forget. This is Mal, what can I do for you?

Scott: "Mal..this is Scott. I was told you were expecting to hear from me. She said you were Micah's childe. Look I think we really need to talk man. I am at Cherrydale station. Where would you like to meet?"

Malachai: Hey Scott, I was expecting a call from you. I can meet you wherever you want. I'm only a block southeast from Cherrydale. What about Micah's crypt? You know where it is? OR do you just want to grab a brew or coffee or something and talk?

Scott:A drink sounded good, he had heard that some of these creatures could do that. He didn't recall ever meeting this one but figured he wouldn't have asked if it wasn't ok. "Yeah I could really use a brew, man. Met me at that little tavern up here not far from the station. I forget the name of it. You know the one?"

Malachai: I know the one, it's called Grey's Saloon. Look for the Mexican guy with the tattoos and duffel bag. That'll be me. I'll order a couple of brews, what's your poison? *Here he was, being social...sort of...after finally having become a "normal" Shadow. He stepped onto the train and rode to Cherrydale where he hopped off and walked the two blocks to the agreed upon meeting place*

Scott: "Yep sure man. Just a beer, thanks. Be there soon." He ended the call and stuffed his phone away as he made his way to the place in question. He had seen and been through a lot of things since meeting the woman named Velveteen but this was....beyond his realm of comprehension. Perhaps someone that was more like her....and yes that meant vampire, would have a better understanding of it. Once inside he had no trouble locating the table where Malachai sat and was sliding into a chair opposite him in no time. Scott looked both tired and distraught. What he had seen would likely haunt him for some time yet.

Malachai: *Mal watched as an unfamiliar male approached his table and sat down. He'd taken the liberty of order a couple of Corona's for each of them. When the man sat, Mal pushed two of the bottles toward him, wondering if he should have ordered something stronger for both of them.* You must be Scott. I'd ask how it's going, but I have a feeling your nights been pretty shitty so far, yeah?

Scott: Scott immediately took up and downed one of the offered beers. **** never tasted so good as that amber fluid did in that moment. He nodded in answer to Malachai's question and pulled the full bottles closer. Her drew a deep breath and swallowed, savouring the taste. "Thanks man. I really ******* needed that." He laughed, though it wasn't an amused sound but something more...ironic. "You could say that. Velveteen has lost her ******* **** and lucky me....got to witness it." He put the bottle to his lips and drank down a good portion of it before setting it on the table once more. "Both Micah and Eve are dead. "

Malachai: *A quick motion with his hand to a passing barmaid and more bottles are brought to the table. Mal knocked back one bottle in a few smooth swallows, then drained the next one before replying to the man. He hated hearing those words now as much as he did a couple of hours ago. His sire was dead and while he knows the truth of it, part of his mind can't seem to absorb the enormity of it. A heavy sigh and a heartfelt wish that he could actually taste his beer follow him setting the second empty bottle down* I know, you're the third person to tell me that. What can I do to help? I've alerted the family, offered to help Vel if she needs anything, which is why you're here. To take this bag to her for me.

Scott:: The male nodded and finished of the remains of the bottle that was held tightly within his large hand while the back of the other was dragged across his mouth. "She said you had stuff for me to grab. But **** man....the place is a mess. She dragged the big man's body off to the bedroom and bandaged him up. I could hear her talkin to him and answering back like he was talkin to her." Scott stopped speaking and shook his head. "There was shooting. It woke me up. I don't think she saw me, she was lost in her own little world. I can't go back up there, man. It's fuckin disturbing. Like some silence of the lambs **** or....somethin."

Malachai: *the ghost of a smile touched Mal's lips as he listened to Scott speak* I like that movie. *Mal said without thinking, then smiled at the man apologetically* Well, maybe stay at a hotel or...I guess you could stay at one of my places for a while if you want. *He gave a faint shrug* Sorry for what you've been through, but I can assure you it isn't the norm. Well, not for Micah and Vel or anyone I know personally. I can't speak for the rest of the population though. *He paused and took a thoughtful sip from his beer before continuing on* Sounds like Vel is having a hard time dealing with the current reality to me. So the question is, do we try to snap her out of it, or leave that job to Micah when he gets back?

Scott: Scott nodded as he twisted the empty bottle in his fingers. He supposed he could crash at pandemonium but if she call he would have no choice but to go to her. That was how it worked and he had come to accept that much. Gave up trying to explain it. His brown eyes widened fearfully at the possibility. "Every tried to tell her and she ended up dead too so I dunno man. Your call but I ain't gonna be the one to do it. "

Malachai: *Mal held his hands up and shook his head* I don't expect you to be the one who tells her jackshit, man. I'm thinking there are going to be others who try to force that reality on her, and if they do, then what follows is on them. For myself, I think I'll play along for now and just let Micah deal with it when he gets back. That seems to be the best bet in my opinion. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that you can't force someone into reality if they don't want to be there. It just makes things worse. *he toed the bag that lay at his feet beneath the table across the space between them carefully, he didn't want it to bruise the guys shins or clank and draw suspicious glances for that matter* Vel shot Eve because Eve killed Micah. That's my theory anyway.

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--
Scott: Relief washed over Scott and he slumped back in his seat, thankful that that was not something he would have to deal with. "Thanks man, maybe if she is keeping her hands busy with these she will have less time to play tea parties with a dead guy." He used his booted heel to drag the back a little closer inconspicuously. "Well yeah. She shot her because of that but....Dude...she ripped the chick's throat out with bullets because she tried to apologise for killing him." He shook his head and took another gulp of the amber fluid. The memroye disturbing but glad to be able to share it. "Every was lying on the floor. Wrote something on the floor in Micah's blood. It was hard to tell exactly what cause Velveteen tried to scrub it out with her foot once Eve was gone but Dead was there and I think she was trying to say sorry. Vel looked at her and was all...."No he isn't, but you are" and then Bam!"

Malachai: *Mal tried to picture the grisly scene is his head and figured he did a passable job of it when he found the hair on his arms prickling and standing up. The scene was chilling, but he supposed if his wife was faced wth a similar situation, she'd likely have a similar reaction. Then again, Echo could be coldly analytical as well, so maybe not. He just hoped the occasion never rose where he, or anyone else, would have to find out.* So first she kills Micah, tries to apologize for it, then writes in his blood?! Well this story just gets happier and happier...jesus ****, no wonder Vel snapped.

Scott: "Yeah. She just aint buyin that that big guy aint home right now. I missed that actual....killing part but from what I heard. There was a lot of bullets flying around and I mean a lot. The walls are full of bullet holes....and covered in Micah brains." His shoulders slumped at the last part knowing he was the one that was gonna have to clean that **** up. "She either can't see it or doesn't care. Called it ...a little mess and man....there is blood and stuff all over the damned place. Never mind that she made it worse by dragging him into the bedroom. I haven't even been there." He shook his head, no way he was gonna either. If he could help it. "I hope she snaps out of it. I had just kinda gotten used to her. I don't wanna be no slave to a female Hannibul Lecter, Jeffrey Dharmer love child. **** that ****."

Malachai: That was a mental image I coulda gone my whole life without ever picturing. My sires brain splattered on the wall like some creepy texturizer. *Mal shuddered and tried in vain to push the image from his mind. That was going to give him nightmares for weeks to come. He shot the man what he hoped was a positive looking smile as he gave him some small bit of good news.* Well, at least Every shouldn't have made much of a mess since she's a Shadow. So that's a...plus? Sort of. I could send Anna to help clean if you think you need it. She won't say anything and by the time she's done, you'll never know anything untoward happened in there.

Scott: Scott looked at the male across from him and gratefulness would have surely shone on his features. "I would really really appreciate that help. Thanks man. Actually the company would be good too. I haven't seen Bunny, I haven't heard from her either. But.....it's not something I could ask of her either. She worships the ground the big guy walks on. I'll have to sneak her in but that's ok. I can work something out. Thanks." He smiled very slightly and shook her head. "Nah she didn't. Left like some weird black shadowy type substance but it kinda just wipes off...like smoke damage. Jesus....they'd lock me up and throw away the key if they knew." Her rubbed the side of his face wearily , not expanding on who 'they' were.

Malachai: No worries. Anna was my grandma before I enthralled her. Well, not that that's changed since then, she's still my grandma, obviously. She's pretty no nonsense, keeps her mouth shut and cleans up messes without commenting. Unless I made the mess, in which case she bitches me out in Spanish, gives me a smack upside the head and hands me a bucket and a scrub brush. And no one is ever going to lock you up. Vel wouldn't let that happen. I don't think. *he tried to sound reassuring, but he wasn't sure he'd managed it. Seeing the way the man rubbed his face, made Mal realize the human was probably exhausted* Dude, why don't you head out, drop that off and get some sleep? I'll have Anna text you later.

Scott: If Scott hadn't been so exhausted and feeling like he was caught in an alternate dimension he might have made a friendly joke about enthralling ones grandmother or some humorous remark about mexicans being the best cleaners, but for now humour escaped him. "I don't think she would either. Well..not a s long as I do whats needed and stay of the drugs which...I tell ya...at times like this is fuckin hard. But she done some hoodoo voodoo crap on me and even if I try I cant get the damn needle in my arm." He leaned forward as if to stand and looked apologetic. No one wanted to hear his problems. "Thanks again man. I really appreciate it. Just...if you go see her? Be careful."

Malachai: Been there, done that. The whole drug scene. It was part of being a musician. Sex, drugs, rock&roll. Partied my *** off, probably have a few little Mal's running around that I don't know about....and there I go, oversharing. Sorry about that. And any time you need to talk, unwind, have a few beers or just hang out, gimme a call. I'm down for the whole normal **** guys do, ya know? Sometimes a little normal goes a long way. *He smiled faintly* I'll probably pay Micah a visit first, then go see Vel. But thank for the warning, and I'll be cautious. An ounce o prevention is worth a pound of cure, right?

Scott: For the first time Scott felt a little life seep into his weary bones. "We should jam sometime man. I miss the music. I couldn't go back to my band after what happened happened. She would have never let me anyway. She is pedantic when it comes to that masquerade thing. But...if ya ever got some spare time and wanna...that would be cool." It was refreshing to have found a kindred spirit and whilst Scott wasn't one to reach out right now seemed as good as any to start. "Tell the big guy I am...trying. I aint his favourite person but I will do my best for her. For both of them...and Blondie too."

Malachai: I'll let him know, and I'm up for a jam session anytime you want. My nights are pretty open. Probably more than yours are. Just gimme a call or shoot me a text, and I'll bring my guitar or bass, and maybe some beer. *Mal stood up and held out his hand to Scott to shake* Go get some rest, dude, you look like you could use it. This'll all be over soon, a week, tops.

Scott: Scott stood and shook the offered hand a little surprised by the coolness of it but not terribly so. "It was really good meeting you and I definitely will, when things get a bit back to normal. Whatever the **** that is these days." He leaned down to grab the bag and hefted it over his shoulder. "And thanks for the brews , man. My shout next time yeah? Stay creepy." He said without a thought and sighed. Time to head back to his personal little house of horrors.

At first Velveteen could ignore the telltale rumbling and the growing shadows in the corners that pulsated with energy but when **** start breaking and Micah toppled over onto his side, that just was not gonna fly. Before Athena could even respond, Velveteen lowered the phone from her ear and sighed. She had tried to be nice. She really did. “For **** sake, Rion.” Her voice reasonably calm amid the chaos as she stepped through the open door. “Do I come to your place and break your ****? Calm your ******* tits, woman.”

Immediately she went to the bed and set her phone down, tutting like a nurse tending to a difficult patient as she grabbed her husband’s arm and hauled back up into a sitting position causing his head to roll back and thud heavily against the wall. “You are really not helping here.” She growled at him grabbing his head by the hair, none too gently, and holding it upright as she tried to fluff and place the pillows at his back with one hand. The sunglasses that were perched on his nose had also fallen off though she left them where they lay beside him on the bed. “No. You don’t need them. It’s night time.” She snapped, obviously quite irritated by the events that were unfolding.

At that moment she thought he chuckled though knew straight away it was in her head. “She doesn’t mean it. She is just upset.” His thoughts gentle as they were pressed softly in to mingle with her own. She simply nodded. Of course he would use mindspeak. Something they did quite a lot when with company. “Yes well maybe not. But still rude. Seriously Babe. What the **** is wrong with your childer. They are losing their ****. Not like you aint ever been shot before. Now sit up straight for **** sake. You aren’t helping me here.” His head was shoved roughly against the pillow until she was satisfied it would stay there, both hands were held either side of his face as they silently willed stillness.

“ How the **** do you expect me to sit up straight when I am ******* DEAD!”

Velveteen jumped at the sharpness of the words that penetrated her mind and she looked around at Rion all wide eyed. The blue-haired woman was still lost in her little outburst so she knew immediately it wasn’t Rion ******* with her. She turned to look at her husband in shock. The words falling from her mouth softly as she sat on the edge of the bed. “Oh. My. God. They have you believing them? This is no good. I thought seeing them and them seeing you would help but it isn’t.” The crazy realisation drove Velveteen back to her feet. Deep crevices were forming in the wooden structure as the wood twisted and splintered; the tree itself was taking some damage too. Smaller items of furniture had fallen over covering the floor in whatever items might have been in or on them. Closet doors popped open and speakers fell from the walls. The place was a bigger mess now than it had been prior to Rion’s visit.

“RION! Snap the **** out of it. You are upsetting your sire and quite ******* frankly...you are embarrassing yourself.” Velveteen stood in front of her, her bloody crusted hands curled into fists at her side. “Ask yourself this. WWMD? Yes. What would Micah do? I will tell you what he would do and it is not throw a ******* hissy fit!”

The dark haired vampire turned away from the woman and fetched a packet of Bandaids that Micah had purchased recently from the floor. “This!” This is what he what he would do!” Using both her hands, that were beginning to shake with anger, and teeth she ripped open the box and one by one began to slap Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Bandaids across the male’s bandaged brow before facing the woman and glaring at her. “There! You can go back downstairs now. We will let you know if we need you.” Her tone was icy and her silver orbs dark as she reached out to touch the younger Necro on the shoulder, instantly sending the woman back downstairs to where she dragged her from not to long ago.

Her eyes fell on the phone at the foot of the bed and she snatched it up, her voice changing almost immediately as the crazy smile she had been wearing returned and she attempted to smooth out her tangled mess of hair. “Athena! Sorry about that. Umm….Micah needed me. Now..where were we?”

Athena’s mouth had opened, she was ready to speak. To ask if she were okay, if her siress was with her and if she could do anything since she was home at the hotel. How could she find everyone? How could she help but then she heard the woman yelling. Even if it wasn’t at her she had to keep her will from tossing her phone across the room and running from the sound. The woman was ******* scary. She was yelling at Rion and that changed everything for Athena. Her posture changed and she was protective despite her fear and obvious lack of being anywhere near the situation to be helpful to anyone. It was quick but she pushed that down to listen. To say Athena was worried for both the matriarch of her family and her siress was putting it lightly. Athena was in a dead panic. Would they hurt each other? Would Micah and Eve not be the only one’s dead after tonight ended? She didn’t know what to do. But what was that sound? What was going on? What the actual ****!

She could hear the yelling, the confusion about Micah’s death - but what? What the **** was going on there? Athena began to scream. “Velveteen!” Over and over again, trying to get the woman to pick up the phone again. She hadn’t hung up yet. There was still a chance. Things only got worse and every muscle in Athena’s body tensed when she heard Rion’s scream. It wasn’t that she was screaming it was how- it was the sound of it. It was agony. It was loss. It wasn’t right. It didn’t fit her and Athena’s eyebrows knitted together in her frustration to put together what was happening over there.

Then she heard it. The breaking of things. More yelling and now Athena yelled louder and louder. Now bent over with the phone clutched in her hand and pushed roughly against her ear. She felt like she was going to throw up. She was overwhelmed. Athena never did well with emotions. They just didn’t get her and she didn’t understand them. It drained her. But she was yelling both of their names over and over again in a loud plead for someone to answer. For something to happen that didn’t sound like utter destruction. Someone. Anything.

““Athena! Sorry about that. Umm….Micah needed me. Now..where were we?”

Athena paused still bent over, her body staying still for a moment. With a hard swallow, she wouldn’t throw up tonight. At least not yet. A shiver went straight up her spine at how cheery Velveteen sounded now. That didn’t make any bloody sense. She went from screaming bloody murder at Ron to sweet? No, no sense at all. Licking her lips she tried to choose her words carefully. She felt like she needed to be there. Where they alright? “Hey, Velveteen.. you mind if I come over?” Slowly Athena began to righten herself, standing up straight. She needed to be okay for them and she would be.

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

Earlier that evening….

<Bunny> She couldn’t get the stains off the floor. No matter how hard she scrubbed her Master’s blood just wouldn’t come off. The last thing she had wanted to do was clean up the mess left behind but Scott had left to tend to other matters. Bunny lived on the top floor of the Eyrie. Wasn’t it bad enough that she’d stood there and watched Master Micah take those shots to the head? Seeing that tall form crumble and hit the floor….her blue eyes closed but no matter what she did she couldn’t banish the memory.

Master wouldn’t want her to dwell. No she could hear him as if he were standing behind her. “What are you doing Destiny? Get up and walk that **** off.” More tears spilled from her eyes and streaked down her cheeks. She had so much to thank him for. He’d saved her when she had needed it the most. When she had confessed to him that she was running from an abusive partner he had instantly taken her in. Enthralled her, to protect her. And there wasn’t a thing she wouldn’t do for him. He’d given her a new life, a new name - a reason to go on. Now he was gone. The thrall knew he’d return, but his absence was painful.

Wiping her cheeks she got to her feet and went to the bathroom. She filled a bucket with hot soapy water and grabbed a washcloth, along with some towels. Bunny was pretty sure that his wife hadn’t cleaned him up. She had watched Velveteen drag him into the bedroom but the woman hadn’t been seen since. People had come and gone, there had been gunfire but Bunny found her courage and stopped in front of the closed bedroom door. Raising her hand to knock, she hoped that she wouldn’t be turned away. Her master needed her.

<Velveteen> The woman was agitated and her words were angry as she paced back and forth. “This is getting ridiculous. You need to stop this **** and heal yourself and *******….just stop it!” Every now and then she would stop to straighten a trinket or or the remote by the television like she had already done more times than she could count. To her the place looked pristine and clean and that was how she wanted it to stay. Her internal reality was now so far out of touch with the real world she could no longer see it through her own eyes. “If you would just feed, it would all go away but noooo...not your stubborn ***.” She turned to face him and placed her hands on her hips. His silence was finally starting to get to her.

She opened her mouth to let him have another piece of her mind when there was a knock at the bedroom door. Her brow furrowed and she glared at him. “Expecting someone?” Sterling orbs rolled upwards and she took a deep breath, expelling it slowly as she counted down from ten. She needed sleep. That’s all this was. Exhaustion. She smiled softly and set her gaze back on the lifeless body that lay in the tangled and bloody mess of the bed. “I’m sorry Baby. It’s not your fault and I shouldn’t be taking out on you.”

Her bare feet carried her across the floor so that she could place a gentle kiss on his brow. “I wont let them stay long.” She whispered at his ear before calling out to whoever was on the other side of the door. “Who is it and what do you want?”

<Bunny> She frowned a bit. Was she not even going to open the door now? Did she mean to keep everyone away from him? Well Bunny wasn’t going to have that. For the first time since her Master had been killed the small blonde felt angry. First she’d sent Scott on some silly task, taking him away from the job of cleaning up, making her go past those reminders every single time she used her tome. Now she wasn’t even going to open the door? Velveteen wasn’t the only one hurting over this. She was being selfish.

“It’s Bunny Miss. I want to see my Master.” She tried not to cower away from the anger she heard in Velveteen’s voice. The bucket in her hands was heavy and the awkward grip she had on the towels was making it difficult to hold on to everything. Unfortunately she wasn’t gifted with the strength of vampires.

<Velveteen> She didn’t know who she was really expecting but she relaxed upon hearing her husband’s thrall. She wasn’t the tiniest bit surprised either. She was generally never too far from Micah and when he wasn’t well she stayed even closer. “Oh Bunny. It’s open. Come in!” Velveteen took a moment to wonder where Scott had disappeared too. What she had asked really shouldn’t have taken that long. Her brow furrowed slightly and she figured she would ask Bunny when the chance arose.

The raven haired woman sat on the side of the bed, the lifeless hand of her husband clasped in hers and she was nodding her head and making sounds as if listening to and agreeing with whatever it was he was saying to her. “If it’s too noisy we can go to the cabin if you like?’ She suggested. Her focus on him as the other woman made her way into the room.

<Bunny> Somehow she managed to open the door and when she did the bucket fell from her fingers and hit the floor once she got a good look at her Master. Hot, steamy water burned her bare feet but she didn’t pay much attention. She burst into tears and the towels she had been holding under her arm fell, landing in the puddle of soapy water on the floor. Whatever she had been expecting it certainly hadn’t been this.

He was sort of...propped up against a mound of pillows. His head was bandaged so the worst of the wounds were covered but she knew they were there. Blood had dried on his face….Velveteen hadn’t even bothered to try and wipe it off. His shirt was saturated and stiff, the holes from the bullets plainly visible. And he was so still. This...this wasn’t the strong, fierce protector she knew so well. “How can you sit there all happy?? I don’t understand!! WHY HAVE YOU NOT CLEANED HIM UP!!!!”

<Velveteen> Velveteen frowned and half stood as water was dumped all over the floor. She could in part understand some of the reaction. The woman was human after all but she had seen way more than most too. This really should have not have come as the shock it so obviously had. Again irritation burned at the edges of her frayed mind. She remained indecisive for a split second between standing and sitting and instead chose the former. “Jesus Bunny. Really?’ Though whether the question was in relation to her over reaction or the water that spread across the floor, disappearing between the boards wherever it found an escape , one couldn’t really be sure.

Her perfectly curved brows furrowed as she looked at Micah and then back to the petite blonde. “I did clean him up. What the **** are you talking about? You really think I wouldn’t?” Her shoulders rolled back indignantly as velveteen started to feel somewhat insulted. “What? You think you are the only one capable of ******* looking after him properly or something?” Her gaze narrowed as she pinned the woman, angrily.

<Bunny> What was wrong with this woman? “Do you not see my very DEAD master laying in that bed like some kind of macabre marionette?? He is still wearing the same clothes he was KILLED in! Are you blind to the blood staining his clothes? Can you not see the blood on his face?” She wanted to take the woman by the shoulders and shake her back to reality. Bunny had heard whispers throughout the Eyrie about Velveteen losing her grip on reality but seeing it was something entirely different.

“Obviously you can’t be trusted to take proper care of my master,” the blonde seethed. She bent down to retrieve one of the sopping wet towels and the bucket. “I don’t know why you refuse to see that he needs to be cleaned up and put in clean clothing, but if you can’t even do that then get the **** out of my way and I will do it myself!!” Very rarely did Bunny ever swear but when she did it was proof that she was well and truly pissed off.

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

<Velveteen> Velveteen heard the words. Every last one but somewhere between that and processing them something happened. All that registered was a whole lot of noise with a very few keywords making it past the wall of insanity that had been constructed to allow her to deny the reality that she refused to acknowledge. “Of course I can see his face. He will be healed soon and I aint refusing anything.” The vampire side stepped placing herself firmly between his corpse and the irate little woman before her. “You will do nothing of the sort Bunny. You are his thrall. I am his wife. Now….”

She held up a hand , palm facing the woman, to prevent her advancing from where she stood before pointing towards the floor at the Bunny’s feet. “Clean up your little fuckfest there and get out. No one is to come in here. Got it?” Velveteen spoke as if she were speaking to a child though her face was a mask of complete seriousness. She couldn’t believe that Bunny had just spoken to her that way and when Micah woke he was certainly going to be hearing about it.

<Bunny> “And I was here LONG before you were darlin and I will be here for a good long while so get used to it.” Her small hands curled into fists at her sides as the bucket and cloth hit the floor once more. “You have no authority over me. You are not my mother, my wife, my husband OR my master. I don’t care if he married you. You’re locked in a ******* delusion and you need to snap out of it.” She pointed to the man who was quite obviously dead. “He would be ashamed of you. Of your behavior. You aren’t even CRYING! If you love him so damn much, why have you not shed a tear over his death??” She was screaming now, angry tears streaking her cheeks, and she didn’t care who heard her. “If you won’t do right by my master then I will. Now. Are you going to get the **** out of my way or am I going to have to forcibly remove you?” Not that she would be able to but she would damn sure try.

<Velveteen> “Well aren’t you cute.” The words hissed out over clenched teeth. The girl had struck a mighty raw nerve and Velveteen was in no mind to play her ******* games. “We are all dead here Darlin. Have been for quite some time. Did you miss that part? Now...who the **** is delusional?” Her left eye twitched ever so slightly and she laughed. As much as that would be fun to see, she really wasn’t in the mood for it. A certain and obvious calm washed over her and her smile returned as she tilted her head. Her eyes shining with sympathy for the crying female in front of her.

“There there.” She said taking a step forward as if to pat her on the shoulder and giving her a sharp shove instead as she attempted to usher her towards the door in the most congenial way she could at this point in time. ‘When he is awake you can visit. Until then...get the **** out!”

<Bunny> “You are. YOU ARE!” She stood on her tiptoes and screamed in the woman’s face. The fact that her Master was lying there dead wasn’t the point. Bunny had seen him, she’d tried to do right by him as was her duty but his crazy, mentally imbalanced wife refused to let her to do that. She jerked away from the touch but her reflexes weren’t quite as quick and she was sent flying. The blonde’s face connected with the doorframe and her hand flew up to assess the damage. She was going to have a bruise there. “*****,” she hissed, turning on her heel. “You are an embarrassment. DO YOU HEAR ME!?!” With those words, Bunny turned around, took two steps forward and brought up a balled fist. Pulling her arm back she swung as hard as she could hoping to connect with the woman’s face.

<Velveteen> The vampire sighed and shook her head. For all Bunny’s anger and guts she was still human. That made her slow and clumsy in her attempts to fight back but for a moment, Velveteen couldn’t help but silently impressed. Her hand came up and curled about the fist as it flew through the air, stopping its momentum just shy of her cheek. Her own ice cold fingers tightened about the small ball of warmth. Her intention wasn’t to harm but more of a warning.

“Name calling, Bunny? Really?” Her head snapped around then and she looked at Micah, her expression shifting as she listened to words that were never uttered. She frowned a little and nodded, the muscles about her jaw tensing and then relaxing as she weighed up her options. “Lucky for you that he loves you.” Her red lips twisted in a macabre mockery of sweetness as she mouthed the words ‘Bye bye’ to the blonde woman before she vanished. “Well maybe that will cool her jets a little. She could use the ******* fresh air.”

”She will just tome back you know.”

“Why the **** do you always do that? You could have said something while she was here you know!” She growled, the inner working of her psyche starting to turn on itself. “But you are right. I will be right back.” Velveteen disappeared through the door before returning with not only just a couple of blood bags but the entire ******* refrigerator which she set down and shoved up against the bedroom door right after closing it. The wet towels and bucket were gathered up and tossed over the edge of the balcony.

<Bunny> She fought to get her hand back but Velveteen’s grip was too strong. Of course she couldn’t be so lucky as to break her jaw as she so wanted to do. She deserved it, for her shoddy treatment of Master Micah. Bunny had come to the conclusion that the woman was beyond help now. And that was proved to her when she was set through time and space out of the Eyrie. She stood there in shock for a few minutes, before starting to reach for her tome. No. She wouldn’t go back there. Not until her Master returned. No she would look for someone who could visit her Master and Eve in the Shadow Realm. She wanted to tell Eve that she missed her. And she wanted her Master to know that his wife was a lunatic. Now to find a volunteer. Turning on her heel she started to make the trek to the hotel. Surely someone there could help her.

<Velveteen> She dusted her hands together and turned to go back into the bedroom but stopped in the doorway. Her gaze washed over the length of the familiar form that sat up oddly in the bed. Something somewhere wasn’t quite right and for the briefest of moments she thought she knew what it was but before she could fully understand it had had evaded her grasp. “I think I would know if you were d….if you were gone. I’d feel it. Right here.” Her voice soft as she moved forward and placed her hand over her chest where her heart lay lifeless beneath. “I can still feel you. I can still hear you. Why would I cry?” She asked while a tear escaped the corner of her eye and rolled slowly down her cheek, a tear she refused to acknowledge existed. “Why would I when you are still here?”

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

<Rion> This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening. She tried to calm herself down, she tried to think through the haze that had clouded her mind – but she couldn’t. All she could feel was the rage as it bubbled and boiled inside of her, threatening to spill over. The moment the woman began to speak, all she wanted to do was shut her up. In her mind, she heard his voice. She wasn’t sure what he was saying – but she could hear him. He was warning her, begging her to reel it in, but she couldn’t. The room began to dim and darken, a red haze filling her vision as she tilted her head back and narrowed her eyes on the other necromancer.

Before she had a chance to speak, to tell her that she was the one acting like an outright ****, she was reaching for her. Her body tensed automatically, and she waited for the pain - but it never came. Instead, her body was propelled outward, the room spinning and changing until the quiet of the night greeted her. The necromancer sank to her knees on the ground, her fingers curling into the grass as she released a low, dangerous growl. She didn’t bother to lift her head as she clawed at the ground – and suddenly, she was screaming. She was screaming until her voice was raw, the words clear and precise – words that she knew would reach the woman still inside. “He is DEAD, you ******* delusional *****!”

<Osiris> Blood black as midnight dripped between clenched fists, spattering the earth beneath him in a steady, oozing drip. The dark sludge pooled before him as his knuckles turned white as bone. It was becoming more and more difficult to keep the beast in check. The box jarred violently inside his mind. He could almost feel the lock begin to rust and weaken, threatening to break. His reason rested on a razor’s edge. One tip in either direction would send him tumbling into the maw of madness. It took all of his concentration, all of his focus to keep the demons at bay. He was fighting a losing battle from the start, and each moment made him weaker while his foe’s strength was fortified.

Almost, the sound of a body tossed against the dirt went unnoticed. Almost.

His body threatened to snap into action, to attack the source of the sound. The same instant, a wash of despair crashed against him and he knew. Black eyes lifted, ringed in a shimmering line of blood that trailed down his face. He could see, and it was like seeing for the first time. Even in her rage, she was a sight more welcome than he could imagine. Instantly, he felt a stone lifted from his chest, and he breathed.

“Rion. Rion… yelling at her isn’t going to fix this, Duckie.” Slowly, he made his way onto shaky legs. The shock was still working its way out of his limbs, his arms trembling as powerful hands lifted to her beautiful face. He shook his head and he held her, the touch soothing him as much as ice water would soothe a damned soul. The lake of fire had gripped him tight, and she had pulled him from the flame. “We need to think about this. Be rational.” He said quietly, his voice finding strength in her. He took another slow breath. He had to be the rock. Between the two of them, one of them had to have the strength to set their minds on the right path.

“We need to think about what we need to do, to help him when he rejoins us. He’s coming back, Duckie. I know he is. You know it, too. He wouldn’t leave any one of us behind, no matter what.”

<Rion> Her mind was lost in utter chaos. Everything she had worked so hard to build for herself, every wall and every stone that had been so perfectly put into place had been shattered in an instant. Velveteen thought her irrational and dramatic, she thought her nothing more than an insolent child – and in some ways, she was right. Despite the maturity that she had gathered in her years, this was new to her. This entire world was one that she had no idea how to navigate. She had one of the brightest minds in her field, and yet she was brought to her knees by this new, rare darkened world. She dealt in death daily, and she knew – she knew better than anyone – dead was dead.

There was no turning back, no returning. Only a select few had a second chance, and hadn’t Micah already used his? That was where she lost it. That was where the solid grasp she had crumbled into ash. She didn’t believe he would return. She had stared at him, his skull ruptured with bullets and his wife looking like someone had dosed her with an elephant dart filled with happy pills – and she saw nothing. There was nothing in his lifeless face, nothing in his eyes. He was gone, his soul ripped from his body. “He’s dead. He’s ******* dead,” she repeated as she twisted her nails deeper into the ground. It was then she felt the grass sink at her side, it was that moment that she felt the only touch allowed.

The second he gripped her small face, she tilted her head back and met his eyes. Hers, filled with anguish and confusion, his opening and brightening as if he had finally found home. For a moment, the loss of her sire was forgotten, and all she saw was him. He was beautiful in his darkness. He lit her soul aflame and just the mere sound of his voice was enough to soothe the monster within. Slowly, the walls began to rebuild in her mind, and she reached out to curl her dirty fingers violently in his shirt. “He’s dead, my love. He’s dead. Dead is dead.” She knew she should be rational, she knew she should listen to everything that he had to say – but she couldn’t.

Even though his presence was breathing life into her, acting as aloe to her burning soul, she couldn’t think rationally. He knew that, she could see it in his eyes – it was clear how well he knew her. He knew that her mind was shattered, he understood that there was no saving her. He welcoming all the hell she had to offer and he healed her the best to his ability. Without another word, she lifted her hand and curled her fingers into his hair, yanking his tattooed form down to press their lip together. Her tears soaked his skin, and when she pulled back, her blood had stained his cheeks. “He’s dead. He’s dead, and she won’t accept it. He’s dead. He left us, he’s gone…”

<Osiris> Soft, deft hands cupped her face, framing her features in his grasp as she nearly leaped onto her toes. Her fingers were a sharp, twisted knot in his shock of dark hair.