The wilds (Open)

[Mordechai]

The killer stood ready. His legs bent, the mighty sword above his head. A slight forward lean, legs braced, either to charge, or provide anchor to a deadly swing of the claymore, yet he saw nothing. Sensed nothing. His acute ears heard nothing but the roar of the newcomers rifle. Another growl slipped thru his massive fangs, as he searched for a target, anything, to release this coiled vengeance on. He saw the female sling her rifle and draw a blade, weaving and slashing as she danced the dance of blades.... with air. Was it possible that fae could hide themselves from the senses of vampires? Or was this multicolored female delusional, an escapee from that asylum in Honeymead. Finally she stopped, and surprisingly, seemed to give him some variation of a salute, as she wiped her dagger on her leg and sheathed it. She walked towards the fledgling, smiling, and seemingly no longer concerned about danger. Mordechai's eyes followed her as his other senses still searched out an elusive foe.

Finding nothing, the massive male slowly released the hold on his mutated form, and as the claws disappeared, and fangs shrank, he sheathed the claymore once again along his spine. Finally turning he saw Alex, dwarfed in his duster, flashes of pale flesh revealing the lack of any other covering as the blonde looked around, seemingly as confused as he was. The newcomer had reached the fledgling, and it was evident they were acquainted. She turned to him, say 'it' was gone. As he had never sensed 'it' he thought it just as well that it was gone. Seeing his Equalizer still laying at her feet untouched, Mordie moved to Alex and bent to recover it. As he stood the firearms aficionado in him had him meticulously cleaning dust and forest litter from it before cycling the action of the custom creation to ensure that all was as it should be. Too many times his life had depended on this special masterpiece he had made, to allow it to be carelessly fouled. As he cleaned he listened to Alex introducing herself to the tall fledgling ... and yes, it seemed the female was his sire. Mordechai had started to sling the Equalizer when he saw the fledgling redrawing his weapon. Vile words started to spew from his mouth as he moved to his sire, his weapon held in a jittery hand. A low rumble sounded as Mordechai took a half step forward, sliding Alex into a protected position behind him as he nonchalantly brought the shortened rifle around, held casually in his immense hands till the barrel was casually pointed at a spot between the two unknown vampires. Simultaneously he touched Zo's mind, knowing she was much more in touch with the pulse of the city, and the fae, then the killer would ever be. and spoke to the fledgling
''Is there a problem I should know about?'' ''Zo, what the **** is going on here, do you know these....?''

[Zodiac]

Perspective was a curious thing. To hear Sepsis tell it, she was fighting for her life against something even vampires like Mordie had issues with. However, her eyes still could not see whatever it was the younger vampire was (supposedly) dueling to the death. She felt empathy for the poor trees being shot up in the process. It was a combination of shadow boxing and bad disco steps armed with an automatic weapon. It was like one of Sepsis' attractions suddenly come to life. No rhyme or reason in it-it was just happening.

Once the woman had (apparently) vanquished/chased off her foe, she was back to being her usual smart assed self.

"You want sparkles? You'll see sparkles with my fist upside you head!" she glared down and shook a fist at the girl before she turned to face the others. "Or lock you in a closet with Marie when she is having a bad day!"

After a few more seconds to assure herself the impromptu floor show was over, she stood up on the branch and stepped out into the air around her. Rather than falling like a rock, she drifted down like a falling leaf. One hand against the front of her makeshift outfit to be sure the hoody stayed a dress, rather than a parachute. As her ability to levitate slowed her descent, she heard Mordechai's question in her mind.

"I know the woman, sorta. This is the first time I have encountered the male. Was there a Fae here and was she fighting it? Maybe in her own mind. I saw nothing from up there to suggest anything was on the other end of those bullets except her imagination."

As the tips of her toes brushed the grass she wondered if Mordie had managed to cast an partial illusion of himself for a second till she saw the blonde hair peeking out of the collar of his long coat. The mystic drifted closer as Tobias began to get louder.

"Oh my. Someone is not happy to see you, Alex." she teased as she took a spot next to her opposite Mordie as she recognized who was now wearing his coat (or trying to wear it) "Was that you going all Little Bunny Foo Foo earlier? Be glad I like animals. I was tempted to sample a bunny ear earlier. See if they tasted like chocolate." she jested.

She cocked her head at the youngling's actions. The boy was actually afraid of Alex of all people. "What did you do to this poor man?" she turned and looked directly at Alex with an accusing look. "He is trapped between pissing himself and shooting you so you had to do something to him."

[Sepsis]

Fear.

It radiated from Tobais like heat from the fires of hell. And she didn't like it one bit. Sepsis head swung from her Progeny, to the woman behind the claymore wielding vampyre, and back to her chylder once again. Even Zodiac's mention of Marie was not enough to distract Sepsis. (although usually the mere mention of Marie would leave her stammering and looking for a window to crawl out of). Uncaring of her own safety, Sepsis openly glared at the small woman. "What did you do to him." She glowered, unable to contain her unhappiness. She had no desire to return to the Fade, but she would if it would prevent her chylder from travelling to that accursed place.

Her eyes swung to Zodiac, trying to make sense of the sudden change in Tobais's demeanor, and she mentally spoke to the pyress once more. "Is he in danger here?" Sepsis queried, ready to grab her chylder and run at the first sense of hostile action.

[Alexandrea]

Everyone seemed to be staring at the naked woman as she stood behind the giant Killer wrapped in a coat 12 sizes too big for her. Alexandrea's eyes still kept checking the woods periodically even though it seems nothing else was going to be arriving anytime soon. Like Mordechai, Alex had no clue who Sepsis was and so she still believed that something had been chasing the other woman. Perhaps one of those bullets had found their mark or maybe the fact that Sepsis was now in a group whatever had been pursuing her had yielded to greater numbers.

Standing with her friends on either side of her, the Allurist didn't feel too afraid. At least not of Tobais and Sepsis. She was still rather anxious about whatever it could have been out in the wilderness. But Alex did feel terrible. Hesitating as she tried to reply to Tobais, the others had begun asking her questions as well. And Alexandrea found herself not knowing what to say to anyone. Something that had never used to be a problem until pretty recently.

The normally lighthearted blonde would have been making jokes along with Zodiac, there were so many opportunities just begging to be taken, however the young man and new fledgling's feelings were Alexandrea's main focus. She knew her words and actions had harmed Tobais in the past and Alex felt strongly that addressing his concerns had to come first.

Mordechai and Zodiac should be reassured that Alex would be alright as well, she knew. So placing on small hand on the Mystic's shoulder, Alex gave it a squeeze and then moved the hand to the huge Killer's arm that wasn't holding the large sword for a brief moment. The blonde looked up at both in turn with a soft smile before stepping in front of her friends to face Tobais and his Sire. *You'll see some enough* the Allurist sent to the Mystic's mind to answer her question about what has Alexandrea done.

Meeting the young vampire directly in his eyes, Alexandrea took a deep breath and then spoke up. "Well. I guess you do remember me after all. So I can't blame you for not being glad to see me. I want to offer you my deepest apologizes for how I behaved when we were kids. I was stupid and acting out but those are not excuses. They don't excuse how I treated you. There is no excuse for that. All I can say it that I am sorry and if I can? I'd like to make it up to you some how."

[TobaisCorbin (DELETED 5748)]

Tobais glared at the vampire that huddled down in the killer's large coat, looking almost like she was swimming in it. She did not look threatening but he remembered what she did not so terribly long ago. He slowly shifts behind his sire and taps her on the shoulder, he than taps his head. He was fairly sure she would get the idea.

"Mother, i do not like this person. She used to get great pleasure out of tormenting me. Her and those she traveled with, they did such cruel things. The memories of back than flash back and he shudders a bit, trying not to let them bother him, he was failing at that quite wonderfully. "They called me names...said i was a freak, threw things at me. They locked me away..in a strange house, refused to let me leave" He thinks her her shaking with rage.

He slowly puts away his gun slowly and looking down at Alex with firm eyes he speaks to her slowly "Im nobody's freak to torment anymore, nobody's punching bag. I dont care if you are a vampire now, i wont take anymore **** from you..or anyone"

[Mordechai]

Mordechai watched the two unknown vampires, the barrel of his weapon unwaveringly held between them, as he awaited the answers to his queries. One he already knew had a predilection to littering the ground with empty brass, but the other now held a pistol in a shaking hand, the worst sort to hold one, aimed at one he called friend. The message from his sireling proved out his own thoughts that the trigger happy jack might not be in full control of her thought processes. Alex seemed to know the fledgling, though from the story she told it was apparent that in the past, as children, bad blood may have flowed between them, and this was apparently the reason for the fledgling's unseemly outburst of childish angst. The killer slowly shook his head as he took in the words of all that were speaking. Mordechai watched silently as the fledgling let his sire know that he wished to speak mentally with her. A slow smile crossed his face as he mentally prepared himself for the apparently upcoming contest of speed and strength, and accuracy. Mordechai sent out his own message, for Zo to be prepared. As they always did when they were together, the killer would step forward for the frontal assault, providing cover for his mystic sireling. "I do not trust them, I will block you from their initial assault."

Letting his preternatural senses of hearing and smell draw in all that they could, he insured that the five of them were alone for the moment. Bring his full focus on to the others, he watches as Tobais lowers than holsters his gun. Knowing full well that weapons were not the only means of causing harm, the killer never lowered his readiness, even though the barrel now pointed at the ground. Tobais spoke. His words, combined with Alexandrea's earlier confession and apology finally painted the full picture. Mordechai looked from one to the other before finally putting the last of his weapons away, and turning slowly to face Zodiac. Holding out his hands to her, showing both supplication, and that he held no weapons, he lowered his head. "I apologize Zo, for what i am about to do. Please do not shoot me." Slowly the killers body began to shake. Progressing from a slight shudder until his whole body was shaking violently, suddenly he threw back his head and opened his mouth. Nearby avians flocked to to the skies their wings beating as their shrieking calls mixed with that that came from the throat of the massive male.

The killer laughed.

[Zodiac]

"If he was in danger, he would already be swiss cheese," she sent the quick thought to Sepsis as she listened. Her eyes grew wider as Alex clarified what it was the fledgling was going on about. The mystic knew both sides of this particular coin all too well. Tormentor and tormented. It was always curious to her how the ones who tormented never understood why those they tormented simply did not accept the apology. Likewise the victims would always be uber suspicious of their oppressors. She sighed a bit. She could not, would not judge a situation like this. This was well before she had ever met Alexandrea to say if she could be even remotely like that and as far as the childe went, she had known him all of....five minutes? Absently she reached up and patted Alex's shoulder in sympathy for a moment.

"Not my circus, not my monkeys" she thought to herself. Instead she chose to take her clues from Mordie on how this was to go down. The proud part of her was insulted when the giant suggested he would play shield for her, but she said nothing. Instead she readied herself to unleash a few of her more aggressive powers if needed. If he wanted to do such a thing, so be it. There was plenty of room to unleash a sidhe or a shadowstrike from behind him if necessary.

When Mordechai looked at her and apologized she was confused, but she also saw Tobias put away his weapon. Curiouser and curiouser now. If she had money on her person, she would have been certain enough to bet that someone besides those poor trees would be shot this eve. Why would the big man think she would shoot him? She didn't even have a gun at the moment.

It took her a moment to realize what was happening, but when she did her smile threatened to split her face in half. She bounced and clapped as she basked in a sound she would have to describe as one of the rarest she would ever hear. Who would have thought the man could actually laugh. She was blessed this night.

She turned to face Tobias and spread her arms to show nothing was in her hands before she spoke. "I would never insult you by asking you to forgive her for past wrongs, however I will ask you to consider this much. People do change. She is not the same person she was before and neither are you. From what you are describing to me, it does not sound like the person you were before would have the brass to stand up to her, let alone be holding a gun in the process, and telling her how things are going to be now. So you are different, and so is she. Take that for what it is worth, young man. Holding hate like that only hurts one person, and that is you."

She stepped closer and gently brushed the tips of her fingers over the back of his hand. "As I said, forgive her? That is your concern. But she cannot hurt you anymore, so don't let this anger consume you." she shook her head softly then stepped back again. "Learn from it, and move on. You will be much happier in the long run. Trust me."

[Sepsis]

Sepsis watched intently as Zodiac spoke, listening to her words, but as she herself knew first hand...it was sometimes much harder to let go of past ills than one would believe. There were those whom Sepsis would love to bring harm to herself for the ills they had done to her while she was human. But that was another subject, and she focused once more upon her Progeny.

"She speaks wisely." Sepsis said simply, but did not move from her protective stance in front of her chylder. Her eyes shifted once more to the small woman, Alex, and she did her best to with hold the sneer that desperately wanted to appear, choosing instead to speak stiffly. "He is newly made, and has not yet given up his mortal woes." Her eyes flicked to the massive claymore wielding man before continuing. "I'd suggest another time, and another place, when cooler heads will prevail, to continue this conversation."

Sepsis shifted her treasure egg in the crook of her arm, wanting nothing more than to spirit her chylder to safety. Turning her head towards Tobais, she nodded her head in the small woman's direction. "The choice is yours, my dear Tobais."

[Alexandrea]

Alexandrea was at a loss for words at first, even with Zodiac's comforting gesture before she had stepped forward the blonde felt pretty alone at the moment. She had no one else to blame for her actions years ago and knew she had to face the music. An apology seemed like trying to put out a wildfire with a can of air but the Allurist had felt she had to at least try.

Toby's words made her frown and Alex felt even worse; "You were never a freak, Tobais. I am really truly sorry I ever made you feel like one. But I m very glad to hear you say that you won't let anyone abuse you ever again. And I meant what I said. I would like to make it up to you somehow."

The Allurist jumped a little when Mordechai began to laugh and looked at the large Killer with her head slightly tilted to the side. She had no idea why he was laughing but it felt like an occasion worth making a note of. Alexandrea couldn't recall ever hearing Mordi laugh before, she wondered if she ever would again.

Zoey as always had gems of wisdom to share and the one called Sepsis seemed to agree with the Mystic. Alex relaxed a bit and turned to address Toby's sire. "Hello. I'm Alexandrea Quartermaine. But please, just call me Alex. I was unkind, to say the least, to you new childe in the past and would like to make amends. My shop is called Quartermaine Custom Creations and it's in the 8th Dimension Mall. I'd give you my card but... " The blonde chuckled awkwardly and pulled the borrowed duster a bit more closely around her. "Anyway. Bring him by or... come by for him and we'll see what I can do to at least give him a head start in his new life?"

Alex shifted her weight from foot to foot as she waited, an hare's breath from shifting back into her furry form and bolting like a jack rabbit out of Dodge.

[Mordechai]

The laughter didn’t last long, just five to ten seconds before the killers face recomposed into his normal blank slate, though one corner of his lip did keep twitching. Mordechai watched carefully as Zodiac drifted close to the fledgling and be can to speak. His eyes reading her expression and judged she was doing what she often did. Peacemaker. Advisor. Councilor. He watched her hands on him, and studied his eyes, looking for any sign that there was a threat to his sireling. The fledgling Tobias seemed to have calmed slightly, and as his apparent sire spoke up, it seemed to have even more affect on him. He did not speak, nor answer in anyway, but he was also no longer shuddering and his weapons were sheathed and holstered. The killer sheathed his own weapons, picking up the ignored equalizer at Alexandrea's feet and slipping it into its holster as well.

His eyes still wandered the treeline as he guarded against whatever it was that the one known as Sepsis had been firing at. He had still seen and heard nothing, and the smell of cordite covered all others as slight wisps of smoke still drifted the area. In large quantities, 'smokeless powder' still left smoke, and Sepsis had fired large quantities. The woman still cradled her prize, tho it didnt look like much to him. She did bring a valid point up that he could agree with. It would be best to let time salve the wounds, now that introductions had been made. He slowly moved back, to a less threatening position as Alex began to speak.

Mordechai listened as the small blonde allurist tried to make peace. Her entreaties, and apologies sounded heartfelt and truthful, even to the jaded killer. He watched as she shifted nervously, and knew that she was worried not for herself, but that the past would be held against her. A past that was no longer a part of her. Deciding that there was nothing left for him to do, see, or hear, the killer growled out to Alex, ‘’Keep it or leave it’’ Then turning he took two running steps leaping into the air. His body shimmered, and once again the screech of the harpy eagle was heard as the powerful seven foot wingspan lifted him into the sky.