Truth and Books (invite)

[Lancaster]

The path they had travelled to the shop was a meandering one, but the way had been clear. From the road, the paved path to the house, the stairs up to the second floor. That was where they were now. The whole place had a vintage feel to it. Beyond vintage, really. It was like stepping out of time, and when confronted with the woman who owned the place Freddie understood why. She was dressed as if she were from another time, Victorian, the dress definitely not of a modern make.

As Hannah had said, the two knew each other; Hannah’s maybe triggered a memory. She had trouble. She had launched herself at him in the sewers when he hadn’t been himself. Hell, he still wasn’t himself. But then she hadn’t been herself, either. Now that he knew her, he knew that she had a problem with control. Freddie was ready to wrangle Hannah should she launch herself at the other vampire. She’d assumed what Iris was, and now it was confirmed by Hannah’s reaction. It was all written, the pieces falling into place.

Was Hannah accustomed to him, now, always around her? Was she immune to his specific scent, and now craving something new? Questions to ask her later. She kept her distance as she introduced Freddie to the woman who might be able to help. He nodded, confirming Hannah’s story.

”Freddie is a name I gave myself, yes,” he said, stepping between Hannah and Iris – a subtle act, not blocking each from the other but putting himself in the way regardless. ”I’ve got a bit of an issue. Hannah here said you might be a vampire. Like me. That you might be able to help me with some answers. Is that okay? Can we ah… go somewhere to talk?” he said, aware that they were standing in the middle of the shop. He half wondered whether he should have brought a pen and paper, to write things down. He’d have to endeavour to remember it all.

[Iris von Drol]

Iris watched the two with growing interest. As the tall and appealing self named Freddie admitted to having an issue her eyes floated briefly to the one he appeared to be shielding in some way or another. Her fine natural shaped brow lifted as he mentioned that he was informed she perhaps was a vampire just like him. Her lips stayed in a closed line so the bows of pink flesh refrained from pulling apart. That was nothing that she shared with her employees. Such was a very intimate and rather inappropriate thing to discuss especially with such ease that it is no more out of line than bringing up one is diabetic and adding “I hear you are too.”

“I see.” Her voice surfaced as she watched Hannah briefly. She was still in her posture giving no sign as to how this news from a stranger was taken. Not a muscle was moving and despite the two standing before her she was hardly concerned by the revelation, the telepath was not to be underestimated. Her demonstration of complete control was a signal that was to be taken into account. “What gives you the impression that I am, Hannah?”

It was more than a fair question to ask.She certainly had a right to know to what extent Hannah had been working around her to come to this conclusion. Not only that she was comfortable revealing this to a stranger. A stranger to her. Now she was left to eye both equally and wait for the answers. Go somewhere and talk? The suggestion sat for a few moments without an answer. Instead she first spaced herself further from the two with a few steps back and felt the sensation of a shield of protection forming around her.

“The next room shall serve the purpose of carrying on a discussion if there is a need to not do it here.” She glanced around to find no one currently present in the upstairs or to be counted down on the main floor. “I need to clean up after the repair work completed earlier.” With that she dipped her head once then turned lightly on her heels and took lead down the hall that would have them arriving in the place that Hannah may remember from her time spent in there.

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

Hannah listened to Freddie and then glanced over at Iris as she waited to see what the woman would say. Did Hannah know beyond a shadow of a doubt the woman was a vampire? No. Not one hundred percent sure, but she was pretty sure the woman was. When Iris asked how she knew, Hannah raised a brow and then pointed at her with her entire hand. As if saying, 'look at you.' Hannah wasn't overly judgmental on what people wore, but Iris screamed 'really, really old vampire.' The woman had to be at least one hundred years old, pushing on almost two hundred in Hannah's mind.

Iris mentioned the next room, and then turned to go into the repair room. “She didn't deny it.” Hannah pointed out, stating the obvious. If Iris wasn't a vampire, wouldn't she have said as much? Well, to Hannah, there was only one way to find out. Let Iris get close to her and Hannah would love for her to deny it, if the woman set off her 'fang boner.'

“Let's wait and see?” Hannah was almost willing to risk everything to see if the woman was in fact a vampire-even upsetting her. Iris had been nice to her and was nice, but Freddie needed help and if she wasn't going to help him, not because she couldn't-but because she wouldn't Hannah was not above forcing the woman's hand. In the only way Hannah knew how to. Exposing her for what she really was.

[Lancaster]

The way Hannah had talked about Iris, it hadn’t been negative. Freddie had been warned that Iris was a little left of centre, but he hadn’t seen that as a bad thing. In fact, he thought it might make the woman more approachable. She was dressed like she was hundreds of years old and held herself with a cool calm, like that of a strict school mistress. It wasn’t obvious that the woman was angry, but nor did she seem happy. Even reaching out with his extra senses, the vampire found the woman hard to read. It was disconcerting. He’d come here for help, and he wasn’t sure whether he was going to get any. It his him like a bag full of rocks to the gut, this feeling that people might not be so willing to help others, that they might not be giving. There was a voice somewhere in the very back of his head that reminded him that he should not be surprised. It saddened him.

Rather than voice any of this, or jump to conclusions, Freddie merely shrugged his shoulders at Hannah’s comment and followed Iris through to the other room. Whether she intended to clean up while they chatted he didn’t know – he was imagining couches, somewhere, even a desk and some chairs. It just seemed more… formal. Maybe he didn’t need to be formal, and maybe he didn’t need to talk to anyone. Looking at some of the spines of the books around him he wondered whether all his answers couldn’t be found in their wise pages.

Once they’d reached said room, Freddie cleared his throat.

”Yeah… I ah. Came to my senses in the sewers somewhere with Hannah here—“ he stopped pausing as he glanced at Hannah and realised he maybe shouldn’t reveal how she’d tried to sink her teeth into his neck. ”Well, she convinced me to come home and have a shower. And since then have realised I don’t remember my name, or where I came from. Or how I … became a vampire. I know that I have to drink the blood of other vampires, I know that I’m dead to the world during the day and that’s about it. I was hoping you might be able to… I don’t know, put me on the right track,” he said. He was open and honest, there were no lies upon his lips. If this woman, clad in black and outdated garb wanted to keep herself closed as tightly as a fly trap consuming its prey, then so be it.

[Iris von Drol]

“There will be a few issues if this is amnesia.”

Iris glanced over to Hannah and then back to Freddie while clearing the table of the minimal supplies that had been abandoned earlier in the evenings work. While the two stood in the room her repeated attempts to reach his recent memories left her with nothing in return for her efforts. Just to be sure it was not due to anything on her end she checked in on Edith Aubrey. She discovered what she expected then returned her focus back on Freddie. One last time left with the same results as before.There was a significant barrier or resistance of sorts keeping her out of any memories he had outside a recent crossing of paths between he and Hannah.

While pondering her options she refrained from digging around in Hannah’s head because whatever there was not in question. Most telepaths were at ease in rummaging through the heads of those around them but Iris was not the typical mind reader. She was a firm believer, as she was taught, that just because one had the power to do something did not necessitate or condone doing it. She took pride in her self-discipline and would hold true to the expectations of her sire.

“Which he seems to have.” Cornflower orbs moved over him slowly as if assessing him for some sort of measurements. “You are unable to remember anything at all, Sir?” As she did her uncanny ability to appraise one's strengths and energy flooded her with a return of awareness over just what type of vampire she was looking at. “It appears you are what you say you are and quite impressively more. I dare say that whatever brought on your memory loss likely was far more powerful than any of us.” She eyed him curiously then Hannah. “Freddie, do you find anything familiar about this?”

She stepped around the length of the last work station she tidied up. As always each of her movements were orchestrated with a specific purpose. The current series would be to reveal the ritual altar hidden beneath the work table that she pushed forward with relative ease. In the city they were a dime a dozen and more accessible than ever she was known to keep hers hidden. It wasn’t a visual confirmation she was planning on as much as if anything about it, including contact with it, would stimulate any sort of memory in the one who obviously was robbed of his identity. Rituals happened to be something he would be well suited for based on what she discovered about him.

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

Disappointment washed over at iris using the word 'amnesia.' Hannah wanted so badly, for Freddie to remember something...substantial. Find his place where he belonged. Not that she minded him staying in her guest room, but there was always this feeling of...what if?

What if someone knocked on her door some night, looking for him? A girlfriend? Boyfriend? Husband or wife? What if she was holding him back from something? He wasn't a hostage by any means, but Hannah didn't really want him going wandering around too much. Who knew who, or even, what he might encounter? He had no idea what he was, or wasn't capable of. He had no money, and very few clothes. She would probably be frustrated, and if he was, at all, Hannah had very little sense of that from Freddie.

Iris confirmed that he had amnesia, that she was unable to do much for him in terms of telling him who he really was. The frown grew in size from her, and Hannah's blue eyes glanced over to Freddie to see how he was taking it all in. Her hand reached out for his and she all but forced their fingers together, so that Hannah could give him a reassuring squeeze. They might not find out much-or anything tonight, but eventually they would. if he wanted to, that was.

What was revelaed by Iris had been seen by Hannah before, but she hadn't given it much, or any thought. It looked different when things were moved from above and around it. Her jaw opened a little, as brows furrow, while Hannah tried to figure out what it was. She shook her head, even though Hannah hadn't been the one to be asked-he had been. Again, her eyes moved to Freddie's face, hopeful, they would walk away with something new, or familiar for him.

[Lancaster]

Freddie wondered if he should feel it, whatever this Iris was doing. And then he wondered whether he really did feel the fingers pushing through his brain as if it were dough being gently kneaded to rid it of air bubbles, or whether he was imagining it. Regardless, he felt like Iris was a ye olde magic doctor and he was currently under examination. Except it didn’t feel like a scam. It felt like he could, and should, take her seriously.

What she concluded, however, left Freddie with more questions than he had arrived with. She confirmed his amnesia, as if she could call him out on a lie. How did she knew? How could she ascertain that? A glance was spared for Hannah, as if the answer might be written upon her face. Of course it wasn’t. And then Iris suggested that whatever had done this to him had to be very powerful indeed. Why? Because he himself was ‘impressive’. Impressive. What did that mean? On a scale of dull and boring to monumentally extraordinary, where did ‘impressive’ fit?

And then she was revealing a table, the name for which came immediately to Freddie’s mind before it slipped away again – something so every-day and familiar about it and yet…

Bright hot pain, white as the midday sun in the middle of summer, lanced his frontal lobe and for a split second of a split second there was a face. A lovely face, dark hair, blue eyes, porcelain skin and a crookedly amused smile. The face belonged to a woman, who stood in front of a table just like the one currently revealed to him, in her hand a small book or thick sheaf of paper. The image came and went so quickly he couldn’t be sure that he’d imagined it, whether it was a real thing. And as soon as it was gone, it was gone. Freddie hissed and pressed the heel of a palm against his eye, taking one step back from the table and glaring at it warily. A dull ache was left behind.

”…not really. No. I mean I… I don’t think I…” he shook his head and searched for a chair, and as soon as he found one he dropped down into it. ”Let me just sit for a second,” he said.

[Iris von Drol]

At first it appeared it would not register. With it came a brief disappointment. Him being unfamiliar with the ritual altar would confirm the amnesia holding him hostage was denying him any recognition of who and what he was. Self-imposed? Most likely. If that was the case there was little anyone could do until he alone set himself free. Then he brought his hand to his face and stepped back. It was as if she could see the barrier between Freddie and the world around him shiver in his response.

“Take all the time you need.” A subtle dip of her head was followed by the soft tapping sound of the soles of her boots. She made her way around the altar taking her time as she did. “If you will kindly pardon me I will make tea for two.” She announced as she merged with the door way. Apparently she was comfortable with proceeding whether they granted it or not.“It will refresh both of you.”

Iris nodded a second time then disappeared into the hallway. The soft hiss of material gliding over the hardwood beneath her steps followed her as she approached the stairs. Freddie was missing. There was no question about it in her mind. Someone somewhere in the city was missing a tall, dark and powerful vampire. Perhaps a sire as well. It was rare that those who had grown to the degree Freddie had chose not to sire. Iris herself had not but she was nowhere close to developing to the degree he had. Currently it was not something she was prepared for.

In Freddie’s case she was certain that he wasn’t turned the night before or the week before. More than months had passed since he was claimed by one of her kind.Chances were that the one Hannah brought into her walls was soon going to be sought out whether Freddie liked it or not. When that happened not even he would be able to deny the truth that they would be delivering to him.

[Hannah Lynn (DELETED 8242)]

The hiss partnered with the sound of being in some form of pain brought out a reaction from Hannah as she moved around Freddie and in front of him. As if he needed protection from the altar, as insane as that sounded. As if the altar was an enemy so to speak and had spurned Hannah into a offensive reaction for him. Freddie needed to be shielded from the inanimate object in Hannah's mind, as crazy as that sounded and seemed. It couldn't hurt him, not without a person using it, and yet, here she was, ready to be a barrier from any form of attack from it.

She turned when he spoke and watched him go sit. Away from the fixture she had never really paid any attention to before now. "Maybe...this was a bad idea." Hannah suggested as she moved towards him, yet still remained in front of the altar, blocking Freddie's view of it. "Too much, too quick." She looked to Iris as the woman mentioned tea, and nodded her head. It wasn't Iris' fault, but Hannah's. "Are you okay?" Hannah asked as she crouched down in front of the chair, looking up at him. "I'm sorry. Maybe this wasn't the right idea..." Hannah offered, her hand coming to rest on one of Freddie's thighs, then moving to his knee as she second guessed where to place her hand exactly. "Iris has been a big help...but maybe this is just something we need to figure out on our own together? We could go..." Hannah suggested as she glanced over at the altar in question, wondering if it did have something to do with Freddie's loss of memory. Or was it part of a memory that wasn't one of the best he had?

[Lancaster]

Freddie should have called after Iris; he should have told her that one cup for the tea would be enough. He was not sure that he could drink it – or that he would. Honestly, he hadn’t tried. He hadn’t craved human food or beverages since he’d come to his senses – only the blood of vampires. And that wasn’t a craving. It came and went like regular hunger – or how he supposed regular hunger came and went. It was something that he could control.

But then she was gone, and Freddie was not given the time to think of a way to decline the drink in a friendly way; Hannah was there, crouched in front of him, the concern rolling from her in waves. Freddie grinned at her, laughing the concern away, pushing it aside like a feather from a countertop. It was strange, how easily the laughter came to him, how easily that one memory and all the pain and sorrow that it had inspired simply just… vanished. And it took those feelings away with it.

He himself did not look back at the altar. It wasn’t the exact altar that he might have used in the past – or the one he’d witnessed other people use. But it was an altar that was similar, and just like he subconsciously avoided the places his memory knew best, he was subconsciously avoiding the altar now, too. There was even that itch in his feet like he wanted to get up and follow Iris, suggest helping her with the tea – or just wander into the next room while they waited. Just so that he could get away from it, banish it from the corner of his vision.

But it didn’t matter, regardless. Even if he went up to the piece of furniture, that’s all it would be to him now. A dead hunk of wood. He could run his fingers over its runes but nothing would come to him. Like every other memory that had come before it, this one was shredded and gone forever. It wouldn’t bother him anymore.

”I’m okay, Hannah. This was a good idea. I’m already learning things. We came here to learn things. I think we should stay,” he said. He still had questions he could ask Iris. And he didn’t want to leave until he had done so.