Midnight Mayhem [closed]

[Mordechai]

Sitting with his back to the wall, Mordechai kept one eye on the strange blonde that had sniffed Pru, as he watched the red head walk away. He had yet to figure her out. She seemed human like, but he knew that from the way she was with Pru that she must be turned. Pru would never let a human that close, or do those things, it was too dangerous. The massive killer was still unsure as to why Pru had called him here, She knew he was not a socialite. The only calming affect on him at the moment was his kennedy in the room. He nodded and exchanged short pleasantries with the leader of the Dragomirs as he watched the fledgling that had arrived with Azraeth settle next to the odd blonde. Mordechai had heard her introduced as Lori. Although he had seen her a few times acting out some weird fixation on his titian haired friend, Pru had never seen fit to introduce them, almost as if one of them was some sort of dark secret.

A low rumbling growl slipped past clenched lips as Azraeth enthusiastically greeted his kennedy. A slight trembling ran through his body as he forced himself to stay seated. Closing his eyes for a moment he lowered his head struggling for control. Finally raising it, a small smile was plastered to his lips, but it made it no where near the flint like glimmer in his eyes. He knew he had to learn control, and today was as good as any to work on it. He would stay seated, and he would not cause a scene. If he could help it, that was. When Azraeth finally released kennedy, he introduced the fledgling, Andrew. From the side play Mordechai assumed that the fledge had been turned by Az, he had a seeming pride over the young vampire. Slowly his trademark stoicism returned, and by the time Azraeth called his name, he was able to reach out a hand in greeting. "Hey," he replied,"If you are in need of more oil, I will have some soon."
The presence of his kennedy in his lap had gone a long ways in bringing peace to him.

Momentarily tucking his head against kennedy's he spoke into her mind on their intimate pathway, "Dresses... are for you, I will commission kevlar for her, when I get back to the office. I can arrange for violet, but she needs something that leaves her a little dignity. Stylish, yet functional." Pru's whispered words in ken's other ear were the final balm, kennedy had not know who Azraeth was. Both eyes now focused on the titian haired killer as she placed the beer pitchers around the table and sat. Finally she settled, leaning forward and beginning to speak, maybe now he would find the reason for his summoning.

[Lorelai]

When the one identified as Andrew sat by her, she shuffled uncomfortably in her seat. He wasn't anything to be afraid of, none of them were, accept maybe the huge male and even then she didn't fear him because she didn't fear death. Death hadn't concerned her as a human, so there was no reason to fear it now when one could return to the plane of the living.

"Hello. I'm sorry but I'm honestly not sure. I suppose it could be. Prudence asked me to meet her, so I came. She's the only one I know here."

The mention of ghosts made her sit up a little taller and she begun to look around the bar. Were there any there. She couldn't always tell the living from the dead, so it was possible. With Pru here though she was at least better able to ignore them. Her eyes fell on Pru as she looked about her and she smiled.

Stop staring.
I... I wasn't.
You were. And stop looking for trouble too. There are people here that may want your attention. The last thing you need is to catch the eye of some wandering spirit with issues for you to solve.
Oh... Okay.

Lorelai settled herself back into her seat, her hands neatly folded in her lap. Though not for long, one of those hands was soon raised up near her face. The hand curled in a fist and she began to gnaw on the fingernail of her index finger. She didn't mean to do it, didn't know she was doing it, it was a nervous habit she didn't have any control over.

As Pru took her seat again, Lorelai reached out her free hand briefly rubbed at Pru's arm. There was no good reason for her to do this other than to perhaps re-connect with her sire and let her know she was there; though it was highly unlikely that Pru didn't know this already. The physical connection did seem to ease Lorelai's mind however, as she soon stopped chewing at her fingernail and placed both hands back in her lap.

[Azraeth]

It seemed that DD, or Kennedy as it seemed she went by now, did recognize him, so Az offered a nod at her invitation. “I would love for us to meet sometime. You have my e-mail? I have an abundance of free time these days, so whenever works for you, just give me a couple of day’s notice and we can set it up.” He suspected the catching up though, would be more on her end than his. It seemed that Kennedy’s life had flourished into something beautiful, and he was happy for her, in that. She deserved it, that connection to someone special. If memory served, CC had always been on the possessive side when it came to the woman, so he wondered what she had to say on the subject. Oh well. He might ask another time.

He shook Mordechai’s hand when it was offered, attempting as firm a grip as he could without coming across like he was trying too hard. Physical strength never really had been one of Az’s points of pride. He knew there were a lot of guys who believed you could tell a lot about someone based on how well they could grip during a hand shake. He mused about what his said about him to Mordechai. As for the killer, he was solid. He suspected that meant the other vampire was dependable, hard working? Raeth would have wagered those two things were very true from what he knew of the other man. “I am good on oils right now, but if I need more in the future, I know who to go to. Again, thank you so much for your kindness. I don’t intend to forget it.” Or let it go unrewarded. But time would tell when he might have the chance to pay Mordie back.

And then it seemed that Nikolae was chatting a bit with Andrew, who had drawn Lore’s attention as well. It made the mystic happy that his progeny seemed to be doing so well. At least, if he was feeling nerves, they didn’t seem all that evident. Which was good, it was important to understand the bond that held a lineage together. It was something that could only be really understood in the midst of them. “That freaky mystic mojo has saved my *** more times than I can count.” He cut in briefly with a chuckle. Nikolae always had been more grounded in pragmatic, immediate reality, and Az more…all over the place. His mind was this winding maze one moment and a wandering cloud the next. While he always did what had to be done for those he loved, it came with work. He was naturally abstract in his thoughts.

Prudence returned with the drinks a second later, and he thought he heard her whispering something to Kennedy. Of course, with the noise in the bar, he couldn’t really make it out, but he did peer into her eyes when she looked up just a second later. He held her attention only for a moment. It was still surreal, being flesh again. He could see it in the way she looked at him, she felt the same. Like the two of them had become ghosts to each other over that distance in which they had not spoken. It was a lot like re-learning how to talk. Being haunted by someone you cared about.

“Better short notice than not at all.” He said when she was seated. It seemed the whole party was there. The vampires of the round table, or something like that. He couldn’t drink alcohol, or anything save for blood, but he reached for some anyway. Appearances and all.

[Kennedy]

Seeing Pru put up a single finger to her silent questions, she nodded and patiently waited until she could answer them. Looking around the bar, she wasn't sure how many humans were there so Kennedy put it in her mind that she would drink any refreshments that were provided to put up the front that they were human just like them. There was enough chaos in the city with those that broke the masquerade and those that tried to figure out if vampires really existed. That chaos made her glad that she had the power to look human to alleviate an questions as to if she was a vampire or not. Her eyes looked at the male that had just embraced her with a smile. "Sounds perfect. I don't really check my email often but I always have my phone on me so you can always call or text. I'm free most of the time unless I'm working but Mortll seems to understand when I want or need to duck out for a while. She's been a really great boss."

Mordechai seemed to be a bit uncomfortable but she knew that he would be okay if she stayed close by. Staying silent as they spoke so that she didn't interrupt or seem at all rude, she slipped her hand into his that wasn't extended to Azraeth for a shake. Business talk was good especially for Mordechai because that meant that he was distracted from everything that typically made him uncomfortable, social gatherings included.

A bright smile shown upon her lips as the man greeted her in return. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well." Family was family to her and Worthingtons....well there was more than enough family to go around and plenty of drama. This was a small bunch which she liked much better. Small meant that you could get closer to them and actually have a friendly relationship over getting lost in the crowd. Petting the puppy that rested in her lap. It wasn't long before Pru had rejoined the group and leaned down toward her while placing the pitchers on the table. "Thank you. I didn't know where we were gathering and I thought it was more of a party type. I can go home and change if you want." Her eyes looked over to Azraeth as Pru finally answered the questions that were silently asked. A shock look bounced across her face as she turned to look at Pru, speaking as quietly as she could. "Wait...I don't get it. Bee was a chick and well...he's a guy. How does that work?" She was highly confused, so she passed the puppy back to Mordie so that she could lean forward and pour herself a beer without the puppy making a crash landing onto the table and soaking up as much beer as it possibly could. "Not at all. It's only a little ways down the street from where Mordie and I live. Pretty simple to find."

As Mordie's familiar voice fluttered upon her mind to answer her question about Princess' dress, she couldn't help but laugh and look up at him. "What does she need kevlar for?" A light look of embarrassment slipped upon her face as she realized that she responded to Mordechai and the room could only hear one side of the conversation. A silent groan slipped through her as she made another mental note that she really needed to figure out how to learn that creepy telepathy power. It would make it easier for conversations especially when they were around others.

[Nikolae]

"I've never been here before." He paused. "Or seen it before. Is it new?" Nikolae replied to Prudence's hostess question as his serpentine golden gaze passed around the noisy room again. He eyed the drinks on the table and after a moment pulled one in front of himself. He looked down into the frothy glass with a regretful expression that was there and gone so fast it would have been hard to catch. He remembered alcohol. He remembered frat parties and doing a lot of things he was sure would get him killed, or arrested. Now he doubted anything could ever truly kill him - that thought was more frightening than anything he'd faced as a mortal. The very short lifespan seemed to make life that much more enjoyable, and now with eternity threatening to sprawl out before him the Dragomir found himself more melancholy than anything else. Odd that a simple glass of alcohol could bring his existence to a needle-point, and then abruptly bring him to a decision. Time to live like he was dying, as the expression went. Long past time. What a waste of immortality to spend it avoiding people, avoiding duties, and avoiding life. Ironic.

"Yes, I'm sure the mojo has helped you out plenty, Merlin." Nikolae drawled to his first-borne, golden eyes sparkling with humor. He cupped his hands around the cold glass for something to do with them. Better that than fingering his favorite dagger like trouble was just around the corner. Though, with Prudence's band, all the trouble in the city was likely right here at this table. He snickered under his breath.

The Dragomir leaned back in his seat, casting his gaze now and then toward the door with prickling awareness. Whatever this establishment, it was clearly something other immortals frequented. So long as it was only the blood-drinking variety, he was just fine with that. Maybe a little wary, but nothing a well-aimed gun couldn't soothe. If it were Fae, or any of the other creepy crawlies he was likely to shoot first and not bother apologizing later. Nikolae didn't take chances - especially where his blood was concerned.

[Andrew Belanger (DELETED 5843)]

“Andreas, this is Nikolae. He’s the head of our bloodline. I think the two of you will get along wonderfully.”

Andrew rose quickly from his seat to greet the new-come male before the blonde girl spoke, his eyes widening slightly as all else was momentarily forgotten. This was the head of the lineage who Az had mentioned here and there, but he didn't know the guy was going to be here, too. A smile appeared after a beat, to take the place of nerves and surprise, as his gaze swung from his Sire, to Nikolae, and he held his hand out to shake the other male's.

"Hello, Andrew. Always a pleasure to see another dragon. I trust Raeth is teaching you all the best ways to tear someones throat out? I hope he hasn't been doing too much of that freaky Mystic mojo... the ghosts don't always follow him around, but he does so love that trick."

He nodded once, releasing the man, a stirring of interest growing within as his brain finally caught up to his eyes and ears. Az had been teaching him a great deal, and it was exciting to meet their blood kin and learn from those among them who were willing, too. And it wasn't until that moment that he realized how true that thought was - how much he wanted to learn and get to know and figure out more of this new life, tearing throats out or otherwise, though he remained much the same as before and mostly disinclined toward violence. "Yes sir," he answered once the Dragomir leader had fallen silent. "A pleasure to meet you, as well. Azraeth is an excellent teacher... but I haven't seen many more of the ghosts so far," he said with a quiet laugh, having only seen that trick the one time to date. A brief recollection of how it had freaked him out washed through his mind and he had to laugh - he'd seen a lot more freaky **** than that in the few short weeks since he'd been made, and he supposed it was only the tip of that particular iceberg, so far.

But then as Az spoke of the mystic abilities saving him, Andrew's brows rose again - these were the sorts of tales he'd hoped his Sire would tell him more about in the days and weeks to come, things the young vampire could hold on to and remind himself that death was now so incredibly far away...

Before his thoughts could get too far away from him, though, he nodded to both and took his seat once more as they fell into listening, more joking, and other interactions with those gathered of their own as the girl he'd seated himself beside finally piped up.

"Hello. I'm sorry but I'm honestly not sure. I suppose it could be. Prudence asked me to meet her, so I came. She's the only one I know here."

Andrew nodded a bit at this; a shrinking violet if he had ever seen one, and such a thing put a smile on his face - took one to know one, he supposed. And so, he was mostly undeterred, hoping to make at least one new friend this night. Do the Sire proud and all that. After all, wasn't that the point of being literally dragged through time and space to this gathering?

"Yeah, same here with Az... I don't really know anyone else yet... I, uh... haven't been this way for more than a few weeks. Name's Andrew. Nice to meet you."

[Prudence]

Prudence had grabbed a glass and then poured herself a cup of cheap beer when she felt something rub up against her arm. It drew her attention for a second, the redhead turning her attention from what she was doing to who was the culprit. Lori. Prudence smiled at her before passing the cup to Lori. "It's a ruse." She said before grabbing another cup and pouring her own glass.

Blue eyes looked at Kennedy when she asked how Bia wasn't Bia anymore. But was Azraeth. How didn't she know this stuff? Surely someone told her about mystics? If not CC, then Mordie? Prudence's eyes moved to Mordie for a brief second before returning to Kennedy. "He's a mystic." She said as if that answer were good enough. And it was in her mind. From there it should be obvious how he wasn't a she anymore. Or was it? "Bia died." Prudence said with more emotion to it than what she anticipated. Her tone low, quiet and sullen. As if she were talking about a family member that died. "And so now she's, a he." Prudence wouldn't say anything more about it for a few reasons. Azraeth and Kennedy were planning on getting together to talk at some point. Or email. And the fact that Bia wasn't around anymore nagged at her. The thought felt heavy in her mind.

She was grateful for Nikolae's question when he asked it. Even if the question didn't wash away the feeling, she didn't have to talk about it anymore. Or more importantly about Bia or Azraeth. "I think so. A couple months maybe?" Prudence looked around the bar then, sizing up the clientele in the place. It was always good to know what places attracted what crowd in her mind on the business front of things. Her eyes stayed on a fixture in the bar. A dart board. "Anyone play darts?" Prudence popped up out of her chair, all too eager to move away from the table and the sense of loss that loomed over the table. Or maybe, just her.

Her eyes moved to Lori as she listened to Andrew talk to her mini, sizing the guy up. Was he hitting on Lori? It was hard to tell. But he seemed very interested in Lori. With the sitting by her and talking to her specifically out of everyone in Pru's entourage. Prudence didn't mind, but still. Prudence didn't let just anyone near her mini's. Mordie knew this all too well. Prudence bit at the inside of her cheek as she stood there, awkwardly, waiting for someone to say they played darts or for everyone to decline. Her timing was odd, being the group just sat down, but the desire to move away from them was strong. At least until they moved way past the topic of Bia being dead.

[Mordechai]

Pleasantries exchanged, the killer settled back in his chair drawing his kennedy closer so that each unneeded breath drew in the light scent of lilacs. His arms wrapped about her, one part protective, one part possessive, as his eyes once more began their relentless roving, surveying and categorizing each body in the room. Friend, foe, unconfirmed, each was rated by a combination of his experienced eye, and a light touch of his mental powers. His eyes moved across the gathered party seated around the table taking in little nuances here and there, as he nodded at the appropriate times in the conversation. He saw the timid blonde mouse reach out and rest her hand on Pru's arm, seemingly drawing strength and comfort as she visibly settled, nervous tics disappearing. Surprisingly to him, it almost appeared as if her closeness helped Pru as well, judging by the smile that graced her face when she turned to the one that must be her childe.

The fledgling brought by Azraeth, seemed to have settled a bit as well. Meeting the leader of his household had seemed to unnerve him just a bit, but now, he was attempting small talk with Pru's mouse. Nikolae, was his customary aloof self, but received a knowing nod from the killer when it was apparent that the elder Dragomir had the presence of mind to keep the room under a watchful eye as well. Obviously experienced and most likely a valuable asset if trouble came knocking. Mordechai had witness his prowess with titans, and nothing the city could offer was a match for those. Azraeth seemed the appointed social leader, keeping conversation flowing, and including everyone in his attention. Oddly, his attention seemed to fluster the titian haired killer pouring beer and passing mugs.

A low rumbling chuckle emerged when kennedy responded verbally to his telepathic missive, then pressed into him in embarrassment. Choosing to speak aloud instead of using the more intimate form of communication he preferred with her, the gravely sound of his voice filtered between his lips. "You know that anyone, or anything, that spends time with me, ends up wishing they had kevlar, if they didn't when they met me." A slow smile graced his face lightening the stoic countenance "You look beautiful as you are, it would please me if you remained here with us, dressed as you are". Lowering his head he brushed the top of her hair with his lips.

"Anyone play darts?"

Pru's question came out of nowhere, and caused him to turn his head towards the dart board. Mordechai had never played, but how hard could it be? The center, the bulls eye, was larger than a human eye. He would have taken wagers that he could hit if from here with one of his Fairbairnes. The players stood much closer. He would try this. Knives, darts, it all came down to muscle memory and the ability for the hand to hit what the eye could see. With a gentleness that belied the size and strength of the muscular frame, Mordechai lovingly lifted his kennedy from his lap and settled her into the chair beside his. "I would try this, this 'game' " he whispered to her.

Giant hands slid inside his duster, making sure the MZ and his Equalizer were secure in their custom carrying pockets, before releasing the clasps of the Uncle Mikes and his spine sheath. Well practiced movements removed everything with the duster, keeping all concealed as he stood and draped the ensemble over his chair back. The claymore held the collar up a bit, but luckily the seat had a high back, so concealment was achieved. He still carried the four knives, he would be prepared if trouble cam knocking.

"Explain the objective, I will endeavor to play this game." One hand rested on the shoulder of his beloved kennedy. He was loath to leave her side with this many males at the table, and inside the establishment, but he would not be going far, and something seemed to have set Pru on edge. Perhaps the real reason she had reached out to him this eve was about to be revealed. Absently his finger stroked over the swhrt9bs strapped to his forearms and concealed beneath the sleeves of the black silk shirt that encased his torso. As his fingers reached his wrists he surreptitiously slipped the cuff links out, and snapped the cuffs up one turn. The action of a normal man preparing for an entertaining evening, set the handles with in easy reach. Glancing around the table he wondered if any others would join, and cocked an eyebrow.

[Lorelai]

"I'm Lorelai."

She introduced herself to Andrew and offered him a warm but somewhat shy smile. It took her a moment to take in what he said and she had to try and work out when she died herself. She wasn't as weak as a newborn vampire, not that she knew this, as she'd been a sorcerer before she'd died but she had not been a vampire for very long. She was just over two weeks in this life herself and so ventured to say so.

"Me either. I still look like me... To others. I just don't feel like me."

This much was true. Lorelai for all intents and purposes appeared to be human. Her colouring and aura were completely normal and yet she was a dark and twisted version of what she had been on the inside. She felt it too. That corrupting influence had tainted her soul and she hated how it felt. She scratched at her arm, a subconscious tic perhaps, as she certainly wasn't itchy. Just the thought of what she was, was enough (at times) to make her want to claw at her own skin.

Stop that Lorelai. Your nails are going to rip through the cardigan if you aren't careful and we like this jacket. Remember?
Oh... Oh yes. I'll stop.

Her hand came to rest back in her lap and she allowed herself to look to the group once more. There were many people gathered, more vampires than she'd ever seen gathered together in one place but only just. The raids were usually filled with vampires, only before they had been indistinguishable from humans to her. Now she could quite clearly see the true nature of each and every one of them. And while she could easily touch their minds, she was unable as yet, to sense anything about them beyond what they were.

Lorelai pushed the glass a little further from her. It may be a 'ruse' as Pru called it but she didn't drink alcohol. Not before she came to the city. Vodka had been her poison of choice in those last few months before she died but even then she hadn't enjoyed the taste of the stuff, it had been a means to an end. A crutch on which she came to rely, and a possible stepping stone to the path she now found herself on. As such, she hated alcohol now more than ever. Especially since it's only redeeming quality had been lost to her in her turning.

Pru's movement had startled Lorelai, but not noticeably so. The question shed asked almost lost on the blonde who was more concerned by her sire's behaviour than her words. It put her edge and she pulled her cardigan tighter around her waist, folding her arms defensively across her chest. A question had been posed though and while it wasn't directly aimed at Lorelai herself, it did require her to answer. To reply however, Lorelai would have to leave her seat. Prudence had moved away from the table and while some may have been content to call to her across the room, Lorelai wasn't the sort to even raise her voice in an argument, and so she was forced to get to her feet and go and join Prudence.

"I don't know what that is Pru, darts."

Poor Lorelai had left a very sheltered life, but at least she was used to not understanding things in this new world. The new world being the city itself and nothing to do with the unnatural life she now found herself to be living.

In need of something, Lorelai reached out and took a hold of Pru's hand. The woman likely wouldn't let her keep it long but she did it anyway. She did it because she wasn't really all that sure about this place, not when sober. The only times she'd been in here was when she was already so drunk and/or high off pain medication she could barely stand under her own power. She looked about her with sad eyes, as she recalled the reason she knew this place and then looked down to the floor, as the memory was too painful to think of and she didn't want anyone to see her eyes begin to tear.

[Azraeth]

“I’ll text you then, expect something in the next few days.” He offered to Kennedy, before allowing her to get back to spending time with her partner. Of course, he noted the way in which she and Prudence carried on a conversation that was a little too low in volume for him to pick up, but he made the assumption that it was something to do with their branch of the lineage, or not his business. Either way, his gaze was drawn at that point to the standing Andrew, who seemed intent on making a good first impression on Nikolae. Az didn’t say anything, but the smile he wore by the time his childe took a seat again spoke volumes of how pleased he was that it had been so…simple? Wasn’t that how it was meant to be with family? Maybe his headstrong twin had made him more cautious than he ought to have been.

He shot his sire a wry look. Merlin. And likely because the man fancied himself an Arthur. He was about to fire back a soft retort when Prudence called for a game of darts. Good. Sitting around a table was nice and all, but Az wanted to see everyone having fun, and a friendly game was likely to lead just to that. He moved to stand, about to volunteer to keep score or something (he didn’t claim to be a good aim or particularly athletic), when he saw a red dot Andrew’s forehead. He moved without thinking, stepping between the boy and the beam. There was a sudden burst of pain in his chest and blood immediately began to pour, staining his shirt. He grabbed his jacket with one hand and used the edge of it to cover up his wound.

The next series of events happened nearly instantaneously. The smile on Raeth’s lips disappeared, because someone had tried to harm his blood, his kindred – his childer. But when Az got angry, he didn’t run hot in the way that many people did. He didn’t rage, or rant, or scream, no he went deathly cold and those serpentine eyes of his lost their levity. Pupils became slits and his gaze followed the trail of the laser all the way back to where it was concealed under the coat of a man with a cap and hood that obscured his features. He hadn’t noticed it before, but several just like that, men and women with bulky clothes had made their way into the establishment. They were effectively surrounded on all sides, but the racing of hearts told Az that they were not vampires.

He jerked Andrew up to stand and hissed right into his ear. “Grab Lorelai. When people begin to run and scream, I want you two behind the bar.” His instincts told him it would have just been safer to teleport the both of them out of the fight, but he was not the type to coddle his fledglings. Andrew needed to see first-hand just how violent the life he had come into was. Besides, Raeth did not want to tap out of that spiritual energy when he very well might need it. He wasn’t sure exactly how many of them there were, how many were…assassins? He had no clue exactly why they were there, but the first move in the chess game had been made. So he shoved Andrew towards Lorelai and released his jacket, so that both hands could lift to either side.

It was time to separate out the enemy.

The ground began to shake, the building itself trembling under the force of it, and immediately those who were not with the group of hunters began to flee. The scene became a sea of screaming and running bodies. They were a storm all their own, and they congested the exits to get out. During that time, Azraeth let himself slip into the shadow. He was there one moment, and then a few people darted past him, and he was gone. The mercenaries themselves drew weapons more openly.

It seemed the hunt was on.