Waking in StRaNgE Places (Shay Sylvar)

[Aviana]

Aviana could not help but laugh, with mention of a sheriff, donkey and priest; and the reaction of his that followed. The longer they spoke, the more comfortable he seemed to be around her. Aviana herself felt her anxieties lessen, the longer they spoke. As he explained how it felt to use his powers, she could relate. Recalling her first few weeks after being turned and having to figure it all out on her own. That was over five years ago, and Aviana still felt as if she were figuring things out. She knew other vampires, but powers and weird happenings were not top on the list for conversation. Perhaps had she not pushed her sire away at the start, things would have played out differently for her. She found herself wondering if Shay and his sire were close. It was not an issue she would touch on. Aviana knew Mortll was a helpful person to know. But that also being turned was a lot to handle, especially when one became a telepath.

Her smile would perk up, as he agreed to join Zaylee and her. * Oh it's no trouble at all! The more the merrier, or however the saying goes.* Her smile held, as he shared his view on glitter for the holidays. Knowing Zaylee would completely agree with him. Though Z was a fan of glitter despite holidays. The two often did crafts together, and Z's artistic works usually included glitter. The sparkles were beautiful, but had a way of getting in and on everything. It was never fun to be covered in glitter and be mistaken for an exotic dancer; getting off work. She had nothing against such a profession, but it was creepy when a stranger at the station tried to stick money down the front of her shirt.

As he stood, Avi would shoot a text mentally to Zaylee, to let her know they were going to have company. The thrall seemed excited over the idea, and would send a few texts inquiring information about the guest, but Avi said nothing more on the subject. With mentioned to lead the way Avi would turn in the direction she had come from. She knew there was a way to go up and out, now that the mausoleum was no longer locked down. The sewer entrance just felt familiar for her, and this was where she led him to first. With the glowing white orb still in hand, they could easily see. As she walked on, a few questions would be asked in thought. * So, are you opposed to taking the bus? Or we can easily navigate the sewers, to the sanctuary.*

From the catacombs, they would enter the sewer. It was just a short walk to an exit near a station, but walking on they could easily find a way, underground, to the sanctuary. She was fine with either way. The sewers were a place she had become familiar with. As they went, she would make small talk. * So what sort of stuff were you into, before being turned? I used to do painting restorations, but that changed after being turned. I still enjoy art, but just make my own now.* He would see some of her works soon enough. The walls of her apartment were covered with canvases she had painted. Her style varied from realism, to impressionism. Most of the paintings at her place were of people and places she knew around the city. Then there were the sculptures, made of metal.

[Shay Sylvar]

.

Shay shuddered at the thought of taking the bus, not that there had ever been anything wrong with buses, just that they have a tendency to be full of sentient beings with headsful of very loud thoughts and he wasn't entirely convinced yet about this 'music-method' of mental control.

"We could walk the sewers." he nodded and grinned. "Why spoil a nice chat with ten thousand disembodied voices eh?" He could soon enough spend a little time practising these new skills so that operating above ground in crowded places wouldn't be such difficult task in future but for now was content to walk alongside Aviana and actually get a chance to talk to someone that wasn't himself or the zombies he cursed freely during the kill.

A subject he had no knowledge of but sounded interesting. "Painting restorations?... Whoa! I can't even begin to pretend I would know where to start, art isn't something I've ever really been given much time for, Dad was like, study, get a trade, useful stuff, blah blah!" He feigned a toffee nosed face of heirs and graces before grinning toothily.

Her question made him pause for thought before replying. Not because he had anything to hide, more because he realised he'd never really found anything to be into. "Well... hmm... Dad worked in the design office of the family business, my Uncle ran the business, when I left college I used to work there..." he began to laugh lightly. "Well I say work... my Aunt would give me errands to do, Uncle would find jobs that would keep me out of trouble and the like." He shrugged and shook his head." The kind of things that drive a lad barmy. I'd sneak off to the fabrication and machine shops and chat to the lads there and coerce them into letting me have a go on the machinery or welders... and most didn't mind that, they'd get a ciggy break while I ran a few jobs or tacked stuff together for them. I loved welding, something quite therapuetic about melting metals together to make a different shaped piece!"

Dwelling on that thought for a moment before he snapped back to the here and now. "So you make your own art now? Painting?"

[Aviana]

*The sewers work for me.* Having spent a good deal of time in the underground, it was easy to navigate her way. Especially with the light held in hand. So when the turn came up to the street exit, they would pass on. Continuing on foot would take time, yet possibly prove a good opportunity for getting to know more about Shay. *The voices can be overwhelming at times. More so around holidays I find. Like now, with all the last minute holiday shoppers.* This contributed to her decision to spend the majority of the holidays indoors at home. Her surroundings were familiar, so the mental noise was easier to keep at bay.

She found his reaction to her past profession amusing. Noting how different the two had grown up. With the loss of both of her parents, the grandmother who raised her had heavily supported different aspects of creative expression. As he spoke, the mention of welding caught her attention. When he inquired about her art, she happily shared how, * Welding can be very enjoyable. Therapeutic in a way. I enjoy working with several different mediums. Some involve welding. Have always dreamed of running a gallery of my own. Something small, featuring local artists and works of my own.* Aviana had several ideas, it was simply a matter of how to put them into action.

* Mostly I paint. Anything and everything really. A large majority of my work resides at my main apartment. Some are portraits of people but many are city inspired featuring the monsters found around the city. This feels to be a historic time. Maybe a time will come where something like zombies no longer lurk.* A life hard to imagine, one without monsters at nearly every turn. This in mind, she was on high alert. You never knew what to expect, it was best to always be on guard. Not to mention the focus needed to navigate the underground. One wrong turn, and they could easily end up lost. This now rare, but once where getting lost within the city was an easy occurance of hers.

* Have you ever painted before? Fun way to clear the mind. * Thinking particular of something Jackson Pollock inspired. Splatter paintings were always entertaining to create. Over the years Avi had discovered many ways to calm her mental thought. A journey she had to figure out on her own. Everyone was different after all. As they walked along, she would spot a rat or two, but kept a constant eye out for the wild vampires known to live within the sewers.

[Shay Sylvar]

.
Avianas mention of welding in an art capacity piqued his interest and he nodded animatedly, he'd made tiny biker pieces out of bits and bobs found around the workshops back in the day and one of the lads had mounted them on wooden plinths to be raffled off for charity, so he knew where She was going with the therapuetic comment.

Shay could see that Aviana had a real passion for many types of art and he honestly hoped She got her dream come true gallery. He found himself looking forward with anticipation to the portraits and 'life' captures of the citys inhabitants and although very new to the area couldn't help but agree on this being an historic time. "I think now that I know... you know... about the fact Vampires are real and that there are other far more feral crawling nasties in this city, I most definitely concur that this is indeed a most unusual time and place... can't believe that just a few months ago I stood laughing with mates back home about idiots claiming that vampires walked among them in Harper Rock." He shook his head. "Who'd have actually thought it was real?"

He turned to look earnestly at her as he replied to her next question. "Painted?.. Errmm not as such. Only like, door and window frames... for work." He seemed suddenly taken aback, he was actually searching his memories. "I can't even remember if I painted as a kid, I did like to do pencil drawings... not particularly good and some were just straight up copies of things I'd seen and liked... record covers and such. Don't think I've ever really given painting much thought." Deep in thought for a few moments before he continued. "Maybe I will try it one day!" He gave a grin and nodded. "I might even tell you when I do.. just don't ask to see it!"

Noticing her eyes consistently searching the path in front he too now kept alert. "You run into much down here? Always seems pretty much deserted... just far too close to the street above for me normally." He realised that although they had been chatting away quite freely, the focus of his mind was still playing the music and to that end his journey so far had been a particularly stress-free one. He found himself incredibly glad of that nugget of info that Aviana had imparted tonight.

[Aviana]

Her eyes held to him, with unspoken sympathy. What a horrible way to discover the truth about vampires. She thought, as he held her full attention. Back when Avi was turned, vampires were not common knowledge. Had it been so, she never would have moved to the city. Heartbroken and alone her sire had found her. Something about her tempting the vampire to turn her. To this day she didn't fully understand. As they walked further, Aviana would eventually pull out her earbuds. Stuffing them away within one of the many pockets her jacket contained. The music easily shut off with just the thought of doing so. It was always nice to be underground. The longer she conversed with Shay, the more at ease she became. Social settings tended to make her uncomfortable; especially with larger groups. One on one not nearly as bad. The better she knew a person the less anxiety a situation would hold.

Quietly she listened as he answered her question about painting. Holding a smile, as she found his comments amusing. "Oh, I bet it would not be that bad!" Her comment about him painting, spoken aloud and not to his mind this time. With a voice that sounded light and at ease. She was about to speak more on the subject, but his question caught her attention. " I have run into trouble a time or two in the sewers. Best to always be ready for anything in this city. Not sensing anything close. I'm a half decent tracker. Nice to know what nearby sometimes." She spoke aloud still. At times using her voice felt odd, as she was known, as of late, to have gone days without speaking a single word aloud.

"Life experiences have a way of shaping our behaviors. My time within the city, over the past few years has left me on guard." Stopping her words before the conversation got depressing. Shay knew how dangerous the city could be, not like he needed her to remind him of all the darkness; he was living it. The struggle of being new to the world of vampires and monsters. "So what brought you to the city in the first place? If it's ok to ask.." Finding herself curious, but not wanting to press any conversation he might find uncomfortable.

[Shay Sylvar]

.

They walked steadily as the conversation continued, he noted Aviana putting away her earbuds and wondered if this area was quiet, however not wishing to risk the coccoon of peace that enveloped him, he allowed the music to continue it's low level back ground hum.

Shay nodded and gave an almost embarrassed grin. "Promise you won't laugh?" but before the woman had time to reply he began to regale the events leading upto arrival. "This year has been an eye opener, I guess the whole world has had a roller coaster ride with the virus knocking at everyone's door etcetera..." Looking sideways at Aviana he gave a shrug. "so why was it any different for me?" Pushing his hands into his pockets. "I discovered that I was rapidly approaching 40... my twenty two year marriage was falling apart... a kid at Uni, the other already flown the coop." Once again he looked towards her and gave a faint shrug. "I'd always wanted to travel... somewhere.. anywhere.. and yet here I was, just like my parents, holidaying in England and doing little else with my life." He looked down to the floor briefly to check the path and spying a largish pebble gave it swift kick to send it bouncing and spinning along the brick paved floor of the sewers eventually coming to a stop quite some way ahead in the water that ran in the very bottom of the tunnels arc. "I had something of a revelation after a particularly heavy night of drinking with friends... we talked about this place and a month later I had got myself a passport and was on a plane here under the guise of work... " Turning to her he grinned and pulling his hands from his pockets and turning palms upwards, his shoulders lifting again into a shrug. "Who'd have thought a few short weeks later I'd be hiding in shadows wishing my passport application had been denied eh?"

Realising how comfortable they were conversing as he'd probably just exposed more of his previous life to Aviana than anyone else on the planet including his now ex-wife, he gave a nervous laugh. "I bet you wished you'd never asked?" he joked before turning the same question to his companion. "And what about you... what brings you to Harper Rock?"

[Aviana]

As he began his tale, Shay asked her to promise not to laugh. Avi offered a node, paired with a straight face to say she had no intentions of laughing at his story. As he went on to tell it, she certainly found no amusement in his words. Definitely agreeing with his comment about the craziness of the past year. It seemed his troubles started long before arriving in the city. Of his failing marriage and grown children who were now so far away from him. As they walked along, Avi glanced back and forth from him to the path ahead. He went on to mention travel, then to how a drunken night with friends had prompted a trip to Harper Rock. With his question, of if she regretted asking, she offered a sympathetic smile. "No, but I can't even imagine what the past few months have been like for you. For what it's worth, I'm sorry all of this has happened to you. Hopefully in all this darkness, you will find some light of purpose through it all ."

As he inquired of why she had come to the city, Avi took a moment before answering. It felt so long ago now. Like a lifetime. "Hm, where to start… I moved to Harper Rock over five years ago, from Chicago Illinois. My grandmother had passed away. She was the only family I had left and my engagement had fallen apart." Thinking back on it all now, it was crazy to think of how broken up she had been over her break up. "I was embarrassed to discover my now ex fiance had been sleeping around with every female friend I had, and then some. Just wanted to get away. Have a new start. Vampires in Harper Rock were not a known fact at the time. It seemed a decent city, and I had received a job offer in the area."

She left out how depressed she had been over it all. In a matter of weeks she had lost everyone she loved and cared about. "I was not in the city long, before a vampire turned me. It was no accident. I had never met the vampire before, but he purposely made me what I am." Her words trailed off, as she recalled meeting up with the others he had turned around the same time. She was the only one left of the three. "I harbor no ill feelings twoards my sire now. It took awhile for me to warm up to the idea. We have not spoken in a couple years, but I keep mostly to myself. It's not easy being a telepath. Thinking on it now, you might be the only other telepath I have spoken with. It doesn't seem the city has very many vampires like us."

[Shay Sylvar]

Shaking his head as Aviana explained what had brought her to the city. "Five years? You must have seen quite the list of changes in your time here!" As he thought about her fiances infidelities: "Why do people do that.. sleep around and stuff?" Remembering his Dads old saying he repeated it for Avi: "Why go out for a burger when you have Steak at home?" He gave her a smile. "My Dad always said this about Mum... She is his little piece of steak!"

'Telepath' Shay had never actually said the word aloud before at least now he had a definition for what he had become, besides the vampire title.

Once again he flexed his telepathic power: ~ To be honest I had no idea that there were differing types of vampires, so our chance meeting has been incredibly illuminating for me. To be honest, I can only imagine that many telepaths would go mad in a short space of time... all those voices... all the time? ~

Giving her a grin as he mused on their positions now though. "At least you made peace with your sire... I have a feeling mine may be a little more difficult to placate!"

They were coming to a junction and Shay wondered which way they'd be heading. "Left or straight on?" He motioned ahead with a nod.

[Aviana]

Aviana had seen many changes within the city. Most of that time had been spent hidden away. With reference to his parents, she found his story endearing. As his words touched her mind, Avi could not help but smile. He seemed confident with his ability. "It is quite the burden to bear, but perhaps it's to balance out the powers we have. When first turned, thought I had gone completely mad." Most days she still felt this way. With mention of his sire, she felt compelled to confess knowing her. "Surly things can be worked out with your sire. To be honest, I know her. For a short time I worked for Mortll. She would be a good ally for you to have. That's up to you though, all things must happen in their own time." With his inquiry of what way to go, Avi motioned to continue straight.

The closer they got to the Sanctuary, the more turns were made. Soon they came to an area of complete darkness. Avi walked in, the light held in hand making things easy. Soon they found themselves on the bottom floor of the Sanctuary. A work out area could be seen, and there was also a pool. "Welcome to the Sanctuary. Here you will find two portals. One takes you to Lancaster`s, the other will take you to Corvidae Flats." Motioning to each portal, as she led the way to the elevator. "I'm on the fifth floor." Pressing the 5, as she made way into the elevator. The background chatter had picked up, but it was a familiar noise; Avi had lived here so long.

"Be warned, Zaylee can be a little much at times. She's very…. Extroverted." Spoken with the play of a smile. Z was very dear to Avi. She could not wait to hear how the woman managed to get a live Christmas tree up to the apartment.

[Shay Sylvar]

.

He had to agree, the constant hubbub of incorporeal voices was certainly a difficult thing to come to terms with! As She continued he had a small fit of panic... Aviana knew Morts? His head wondered if he wasn't walking into a trap... but his heart said no. The girl seemed way to genuine and he knew that this wasn't the first time paranoia had attempted to intrude on his thoughts. As She continued to speak he settled his nerves again and nodded.

"You're right of course... it probably would be good to have her as an ally." He grinned sheepishly at Avi. "Sadly my mouth sometimes thinks it's smart and it full on trash-talked her in the family hangout.... I know.... you don't need to tell me... I feel like a pillock about the whole thing now!"

Shay was glad of the orb that Avi was carrying, even though his eyesight was perfectly accustomed to the dark, this was absolutely pitch black! Her words took on a feint echo as they entered the bottom floor of the sanctuary and She gave him the tour.

"Fifth floor" he repeated as if to make sure he didn't forget and as She offered the warning to him about Zaylee he couldn't help but grin. "Okay... I'll consider myself warned.... extroverted.. mhm okay!" he nodded and made a mental note as the elevator doors slid quietly shut. "Will She be upset, I don't come bearing gifts?" and with that thought he tried to remember if there was anything gift-like in his bag.
It had been quite some time since Shay had socialised and to say he was feeling some trepidtion would at this point be an understatement but it appeared that today was a day of firsts and he was quite happy to go with the flow.