Path of the Vampire forum

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

Velveteen: Her anger rose several notches with every word she read and she began to type a reply but her clumsy fumbling and typos saw her phone tossed on the table before she snapped the device in half through frustration. Instead her thoughts were projected into her childe's mind. "How the **** dare you! When you see Phoenix on that list then you can call hypocrite until then you can shut the **** up and try listening for once!"

<Meka> Ugh ***** is in my head! Meka slammed her hands to cover her ears and she gurgled her response then flipped her finger up into the air and gave her sire the great big middle finger. "Eat my **** you ***** and get out of my head!" she yelled into the empty catacombs, which was only helpful in that Meka got to say it but satisfying since she didn't feel like getting into it with her sire again. Her husband was a weak *** and Meka didn't respect him at all and it just looked like her and Vel would just disagree that he really wasn't just a raging *** lick.

Velveteen: "Your ungrateful, ignorant and you never ******* know when to shut up. I try to help you and every ******* turn you behave like a rebellious teenager." She was pacing now...she might not get a response this way but it was one way of guaranteeing that Meka would actually hear and not be able to talk over her. "It's ******* ******** Meka. ******** and I wont tolerate it. You really think you are so ******* badass that you can throw everything we have done back in our faces with your disrespect?"

<Meka> Meka's eyes rolled into her head and she wondered if there was a way to stop hearing what she really didn't want to hear but it looked like ranting Vel was there to stay and the worst part was, Meka couldn't respond which now, was more a problem than the other. Slumping against the wall she settled in to get reamed by remote and wondered really how she could block this **** next time. It really was something she needed to research

She sat against the wall uttering in a litany of response a repetitive "**** you, **** you, **** you... **** you in my brain.. fuuuuuuuuuuuck you."

Velveteen: "You have no ******* clue how this **** works. You don't even know what half your own ******* powers for let along **** that no one else has. You don't know what my husband or I have to deal with. Things ******* bigger and way more important that you Meka."

She had no clue what the woman was doing right now and knowing Meka she was likely sitting with her fingers in her ears and lala'ing like a ******* child. "How can you expect anyone to ever actually listen to you when you never shut the **** up. Why would anybody try and explain **** when you are so obviously happy in your ignorance. Time to ******* grow up Meka."

<Meka> Closing first one eye and then the other Meka sneered at the wall opposite and sneered. Sure must feel good to say **** to a person who can't respond, you can't see and can't say anything back and the more Vel continued the angrier Meka got. Why ask for opinions if you're only going to turn around and **** on them? If they didn’t' want to hear what people actually felt then they could have had a meeting of themselves and **** everyone else. It was ********. They didn't like what she had to say? Then they didn't like what Doc said, Zodiac said, or Dulce. Vel could kiss her *** or just next time, not invite her. Tough **** for all of them, if yes men was what they wanted, then Vel sired the wrong damn female.

Velveteen: The raven haired woman was irate and she was on the verge on breaking ****. She did her best. Everything she could do and more for those she cared about and this is what she got in return. She kicked out as a nearby chair and then swore under her breath. Fuuuck. With that she took a moment and counted to three before summoning Meka to her. This was going to be said one way or another and she wanted to make sure she was heard.

<Meka> She was expecting it. You don't get to this level of mad without wanting to do it face to face. But Meka didn't get off the floor, instead she stayed where she sat, scooting to the wall and stared up at the diminutive woman and narrowed her gaze. "You got that out of your system?"

Velveteen: Her narrow gaze made it very obvious that she had not and she shook her head slowly as the muscles around her jaw tensed. "No..no Meka I haven't. You ******* owe me an explanation and I want to know when you became so ******* awesome that you don't even need to me hear me out anymore and then think you can insult whoever you ******* please?" She didn't scream, in fact she barely raised her voice but the sneer that curled her lip and the way she spoke through clenched teeth meant she was far from happy...just in case the other woman hadn't picked up on that yet.

Meka wasn't a yeller or a tantrum sort of person, she iced out and when she got quiet, her brothers knew to get the **** out of her way. She was quiet now, and her voice was soft, almost questioning. "What makes you think you can just ask for an opinion and then lose your **** because it's not one your husband don't want to hear. You really gonna give me **** all because Micah is having a ******* tantrum cause I told him he was a hypocrite? Don't ask for something if you don't want to actually get it. Aint nothing I said that weren't the truth and if you didn't want to hear it then you shouldn't have damn well asked for it then. This got nothing to do with me being awesome... it's about you defend the waste of space you're married to."

Velveteen: Something dark flashed in her usually siler orbs as she glared at the woman. The tree house began to shake beneath her feet barely noticeable at first though it steadily increased. "Excuse the **** outta me?" Her tone had become deathly quiet. "You don't even know what you are talking about. It wasn't about disagreeing, it was how you did it. And call my husband a waste of space one more ******* time and will stick my gun up your arse and blow the top of your idiotic skull off."

<Meka> "Yeah, cause that's how you deal with ****... go the **** ahead. Your husband is an asshole that only has his groupies around him pissing in his ear **** he wants to hear. If Every got any closer to his *** she'd be crawling up in it. Shoot me, what the **** do I care. It's all you all ever do.. EXCEPT shoot the ***** who invades your house and steals your ****. That’s the ******* hypocrisy. And you know it." Standing she faced Velveteen, her eyes blank. "Well get on with it... I got **** I need to do and it aint standing here listening to you get *** mad about no ******* thing when the ***** who steals your **** aint gettin' a damn thing."

Velveteen: A hand shot out and slender, translucent fingers wrapped around the others neck in a vice like grip as she drove Meka into the wall with such force that the wood buckled and splintered. The look in her eyes was murderous and before Meka could even flinch Velveteen cut her off and mind blocked her making any escape that much harder. "I'm beginning to think your problem with my husband is simply that he wont **** you. Isn't that why you like to piss him off and get him all rawr? Because it get your black *** all in a twitch?"

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

<Meka> Meka stretched her neck up, the position reminiscent of what Axel liked to do to her, her chin tilted uncomfortably north. Her voice was harsh. "Yeaaah, cause it aint got nothing to do with the fact he's been an asshole to me." Meka stared at the woman and shook her head wondering if the white chick really thought that many women really wanted her *** lick of a husband. Did white girls really get their rocks off from an asshole like him? "Nah, must be cause I want him to stuff me with his hard dick mustn't it? What the hell ever... cause, if that's all you got for that and this, then that's all you gonna get. Next time you want honest opinions, how about you just call the people you know agrees with you and save yourself all this ****... for reals”

Velveteen: Her face was an expressionless mask and she barely noticed the low rumbling and protesting groan from the wood that warped beneath and above them. "I thought you were smarter than that. It seems all you are good for is ******* and running your mouth. Tell me Meka, how do you shut up long enough to even give a decent blow job?" Her fingers tightened and she spun on the spot to toss the woman across the room, following immediately after her. "Or do I need to stuff your mouth so you actually shut up long enough to listen. It wasn't that you disagreed. It was because you were a loud mouthed ****." As if on cue a nearby light bulb exploded and a shower of glass shards littered the floor.

<Meka> Meka slid across the floor, getting her feet under her and pushing herself up. She was crouching her hands spread across her knees before she straightened. "What the **** is your problem? You and Micah, got yourself all wound up about whatever the **** I do in bed. It was all just fun until Micah blew me the hell up, cause that was funny wasn't it... blowing me up? You guys get a bit ******* ha ha about that when my legs got blown off? Then he shot me, for nothing more than speakin' and what does Nix get? **** all. That's what? Micah wants to INVITE HER THE HELL back.. that's bull ****. And if it's being a **** to tell him he's a hypocrite. Then **** me, guess I am. Just that. But who the hell knew you were too. ***** you aint real at all...”

Velveteen: Velveteen moved fluidly and before she reached the other her gun was in her hand and coming up level with Meka's forehead though at the last minute she lowered it slowly and twisted her wrist so the that the gun laid on its side making it easier to force it into the other woman's mouth, possibly cracking a tooth or two in process but not caring either way. "There. Is that better? Do you feel more at home now? Or would you like to get on your knees?" She almost smiled then, though not quite. "Now...I'm going to say this nice and slow so perhaps you can understand it. No one. Wants. Her. Back." She paused then and tilted her head slightly. "Do you understand that or is it too many syllables at once?"

<Meka> Fear flashed in Meka's gaze but it was quickly followed by rage of her own making. One borne of no choices and little avenues to go, of a family she would never see and of a friend whose life she'd just taken and of this woman who had taken her whole life and twisted it into this ugly thing she now lived and inside that rage she hated the woman, hated her and hated what she had forced her to become, how much she had to change just to survive. But she'd found her straw and it was her back it broke on and with a look of contempt she spoke around the barrel her lips making the sound a mere gurlgle but the words abundantly clear. "F...ughk G...ough."

Pulling he face away she bat the gun aside and sneered, turning her back on the woman and walked away, heading to the elevator.

Velveteen: "You really that retarded that you can't even listen?" She kept her gun pointed on the woman. "Or do you just love being a stupid ***** that much?" her voice rose for the first time. "Walk away from me Meka and I will make your existence so ******* miserable you will wish you hadn't. I'm sure your family won’t be too hard to find....especially if they are anything like you."

<Meka> Meka stopped mid step and turned slowly, her eyes blank, her lips turned down in an expression that screamed a bone deep reluctance. She didn't guess it was hard to figure out her Achilles heel. It wasn't like she had ever tried to hide how she felt, about anything. And she'd never hid how much she loved her family and she supposed it was only a matter of time before Vel clicked to using it against her. Meka felt what free will she thought she'd had ripped out of her white knuckled grip and she wondered then, if she'd really had any real choice at all. "What do you want from me?" she asked dully.

Velveteen: "All I have asked of you is to simply listen and stop ******* insulting people." She held her gun steady and her eye twitched a little at the corner. She really wanted nothing more right now than to see the woman bleed. "You wanna go all batshit crazy and ******* nuts at someone that disagrees with you and then throw a ******* wobbly because they wont listen while you talk over the top of them? It did not have to be like that. It does not have to be like this."

<Meka> Meka stared at the woman and wondered what this would be like 10 years from now. 20 years or 100. They have a lifetime upon lifetimes to sort their **** out but her Momma and Daddy only had another 20 years max. Meka could do lots of **** for 20 years if it meant they got to live out their lives how God intended them to. "Fine.. then that's what I'll do." she answered flatly, her expression still and watching.

Velveteen: She stood quiet for a moment and she watched the other while she surveyed her sincerity, then slowly she dropped the gun until it hung loosely in her hand at her side and simply nodded. As her hand came down so did the earlier movement of the treehouse seem to just cease. "Good. Meet me back here tomorrow night. And come without the attitude please."

<Meka> Nodding Meka turned again, her shoulder's dropping as she walked to the elevator and carefully pressed the button, waiting for the doors to open and stepping inside letting the doors close behind her before turning and pressing the button for the ground floor and leaving. She didn’t go to her hut or to the Alpha apartment that was wrecked with the damage it had sustained in the fight that had seen the death of her friend and walked instead into the city, into the night and towards the house she had been raised. She wouldn't be allowed to go inside but she'd watch through the windows to view like voyeur her parents whose lives she'd protect with every last drop of blood she had in her.

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

Doc: Doc enters the apartment. "Let me see.. and who did it?"\

Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis left the door open for him, then slowly peeled off her jacket to reveal her left shoulder soaked in blood. Before she made to grab anything to patch it up, she dug out her cigarettes and lit one.

Zoey Jane Andras: Pi.

Zoey Jane Andras: I wasn't even in the hag's way.

Zoey Jane Andras: Everyone just started fuckin' shooting.

Doc: Pi ******* shot you..? *he sighed* Did you shoot her back?

Zoey Jane Andras: No

Zoey Jane Andras: I was too busy getting this.

Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis grabbed an expensive burner phone from her jacket, and tossed it to him. On it wasn't much - just evidence of a wire transfer.

Zoey Jane Andras: I was sitting at the docks and a bunch of people started showing up. Pratt was there, too.

Zoey Jane Andras: Oria. Ripper.

Zoey Jane Andras: At least five others, including Pi.

Doc: Doc caught it and tried to make sense of what he is looking. "I'm lost.. what is this wire transfer for.." Pratt's name got his attention. "Aw **** no.. dont tell me Pi has hooked up with Pratt?"

Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis paused her story long enough to take a drag and shake her head. "No. She shot the **** out of him."

Zoey Jane Andras: And I'm getting to that.

Zoey Jane Andras: So all those vamps show up, and then this boat pulls in, alright? Boat ten.

Doc: Doc grinned, Pratt getting shot was awesome. Getting shot by Pi was ******* awesome. 'Go on.. I am listening."

Zoey Jane Andras: And there's some chinky looking assholes that come to pull it in.

Zoey Jane Andras: A bunch of the women - Pi included - try to get on the boat, right? I tried to follow, but I didn't get very far.

Doc: Doc 's brow furrowed by the term 'chinky looking' but he let it pass, as he listened.

Zoey Jane Andras: About ten minutes later, the men come back off the boat with a few others. They're holding some sack... Which apparently must be really ******* special.

Zoey Jane Andras: Because some vampires I didn't recognize came out of nowhere, grabbed them, and took it.

Zoey Jane Andras: And then hell broke loose.

Doc: And that's when you got shot?

Zoey Jane Andras: Yeah. But what happened right before that is interesting.

Zoey Jane Andras: I managed to get one of the men. He was a sorcerer.

Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis took a much longer drag than before, and closed her eyes. This time, when the smoke plumed from her lips, she spoke with a hoarse voice. "I read his memories. Tried, anyway."

Doc: Doc stopped.

Doc: A sorcerer? Human or Vampire?

Zoey Jane Andras: Human.

Zoey Jane Andras: And I'm not at the interesting part yet.

Doc: ****.. Human Sorcerers.. working with... or against us?

Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis ashed her cigarette into a glass ashtray that was sitting on her coffee table.

Zoey Jane Andras: I'm going to go ahead and guess against.

Zoey Jane Andras: He kept spouting off at me about how the Crow had his path planned.

Zoey Jane Andras: He was getting visions of it.

Zoey Jane Andras: That's what I saw in his head.

Zoey Jane Andras: And the way he spoke to me was like... I was naive.

Zoey Jane Andras: Like we're all missing a huge part of the picture.

Zoey Jane Andras: And I don't ******* like it.

Doc: Doc pondered this. "The Crow had his path planned.. thats what he said?"

Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis took another drag from her smoke. "I told him that if he answered my questions, I'd keep him alive. He laughed and said the Crow already had **** planned for him."

Zoey Jane Andras: That's not verbatim, but that's the gist.

Zoey Jane Andras: And…

Zoey Jane Andras: He -let- me kill him.

Zoey Jane Andras: Just gave up.

Doc: "In his thoughts.. did you see the 'Crow'?" he was running through the iterations.

Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis looked up at the man and frowned. "I just saw a crow."

Zoey Jane Andras: It was in his dreams. Visions, you know?

Doc: "He was a dead man walking.. better you kill him than him be tortured to death.. " He said absently, "He knew too much.. he knew.. he knew too much.. better to die with secrets.."

Zoey Jane Andras: It was significant. But I didn't get deep enough to understand -how-.

Zoey Jane Andras: HE knew too much?

Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis rubbed her face.

Zoey Jane Andras: Robert took off with something.

Zoey Jane Andras: And it was more than Pi shooting at him.

Zoey Jane Andras: -He- knows something.

Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis looked at Doc through her fingers. "Do you see why I have to talk to my dad?"

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"
Doc: Doc nodded absently as he continued
to run through scenarios. 'Why else would he just give up he's
trying to buy time for someone..or something..big"
Doc: And with Pratt involved.. its not
good.
Zoey Jane Andras: No... not good at
all.
Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis put her
cigarette out and made her way to the bathroom to grab her
first aid kit.
Doc: So.. two things.. why was Pi
shooting at you? And what does this wire transfer mean?
Zoey Jane Andras: I don't know. She
probably wanted whatever information I had.
Zoey Jane Andras: And this... They
were trading something. The pouch.
Doc: Pi know you are tytonidae?
Zoey Jane Andras: I'm not Tytonidae -
yet-... But no, probably not…
Doc: ok fine,.. not yet.. so Maybe ..
she thought you were working with Robert.. since you werent
with her.. Dont know.. It just doesn’t sound right.. she's
usually more logical than that..
Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis eyed her
phone. "My dad's on his way. And maybe?"
Zoey Jane Andras: But…
Zoey Jane Andras: I was shooting at
his posse, so probably not on that, too.
Doc: How many were with Robert? And did
you recognize them?
Zoey Jane Andras: Ripper.
Zoey Jane Andras: K... something.
Zoey Jane Andras: Brown hair, kind of
wiry?
Doc: What the ****? Ripper was working
with Pratt?
Zoey Jane Andras: He was working with
the wiry dude.
Doc: Killian? Assholey know it all
type?
Zoey Jane Andras: Him.
Doc: Yea.. so Pratt, Ripper and Killian
against Pi. Pi.. and who was with her?
Zoey Jane Andras: Some blonde chick
who looked really stupid.
Zoey Jane Andras: A black chick…
Zoey Jane Andras: Who looks shockingly
like Beyonce.
Doc: Honestly.. *doc makes a face*
Don’t all blondes look ******* stupid? 'Cept maybe Dutch.. but
shes just ******* mean.
Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis sat down on
the couch and started peeling her bloody shirt off. Clearly,
she was modest.
Zoey Jane Andras: No, this one looked
-dumb-.
Zoey Jane Andras: Timid.
Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis grabbed the
tweezers from the kit and eyed the bullet hole…
Zoey Jane Andras: This ****'s gonna
hurt…
Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis stuck the
tweezers in and started digging around for the bullet, letting
go a stream of curses that started out English and quickly
faded into French.
Doc: Doc watched her. "Do you want me
to do that..? I was a doctor.. "
Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis handed him
the tweezers and squeezed her eyes shut.
Doc: Doc took the tweezers, and took
her her med kit. He was looking for a scalpel. Not finding
one, he pulled his pocket knife out and flicked it open. "You
make it by not opening it up.. " He took the blade sliced the
hole open more. "relax.. its almost over." He held the newly
made cut open with one hand as he used the tweezers to get the
bullet with the other. He pulled it free. "See?"
Doc: "All that poking and digging, just
irritates the surrounding tissue. Quick cut.. Spread it open,,
get foreign body.. let go.. " He took some gauze and swabbed
the area.
Zoey Jane Andras: Nemesis simply rolled
her eyes up to the ceiling and put all thought of pain out of
her mind. She thought of anything else. Kittens, flowers,
dragonflies... Girly ****. And when it was over, it was like
no time passed at all. She looked down at the wound and smiled
a little. "Thanks."
Doc: "It will heal fine.. " He put a
butterfly bandage across it, that he got out of her kit. "Its
gonna be sore though."
Zoey Jane Andras: Zoey nodded, then
stood to move over to a laundry basket full of folded clothes
that was sitting on a chair. She grabbed one of the baggier
shirts and pulled it on. "Thanks. Sorry for freaking out...
Tonight was just intense."
Doc: "Its not everyday, you stumble on
a plot that could compromise the masqueradew, kill a sorcerer
and get shot inthe process.. I would say it's
understandable.."
Zoey Jane Andras: "Oh! I remember who
else was with her." She squinted, trying to form descriptive
words. "... All I got is drag queen."
Doc: Doc looked at her skeptically "A -
drag- queen? Are you ******* serious?"
Zoey Jane Andras: "No. She just looked
like one."
Doc: "Oh.. " he smirked.. "describe the
drag queen.. manish features.. but female.. I am presuming?"
Zoey Jane Andras: "Mhm, and blonde."
Doc: "yea I am drawing a blank.. " He
frowns. 'And she was with Pi?"
Zoey Jane Andras: "Yep."
Zoey Jane Andras: "She shot Robert,
too... There was some hate-love **** going on there."
Zoey Jane Andras: "There was a darker
guy, too. But not with Pi."

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

<Velveteen> The pad of her thumb glided smoothly over the dark screen as the woman stood in quiet contemplation in the stationary elevator. She couldn't say she was too happy about what she had heard earlier in the evening and she wasn't even entirely sure how she felt about it. It was only a matter of time before Jesse found out and she wanted to be the one to tell him. Not out of any malicious intent but because she thought it would be better, she could be there for him should he react badly or.....she had no idea really. She was going to send a text but instead decided to drop in on him unannounced. Having made her way to his front door she knocked lightly before pushing the door part way open. "Jesse! You here?"


<Jesse Fforde> The hut was a place that Jesse called his own. A place no one else could claim ownership of. A place where, though he might have visitors, he was the only one who actually lived there. In most other aspects of his life Jesse was a bit OCD about cleanliness, but in the hut - maybe because there were plants overgrown in each of the spare rooms - he didn't bother too much with cleanliness. Sure, it was kind of clean, but in a bachelor kind of way. Velveteen wandered in, and Jesse was sitting on the stool in front of a canvas, half blank, half filled with sketch - he was attempting a Jormungand piece. The world snake. All he could do was swivel, and wait for Velveteen to see him, rather than actually answer.


<Velveteen> The movement caught her eye and a small smile curled her lips though it didn't touch her eyes. "Hey..how are you? Busy by the look of it?" She drew a little closer and eyed the canvas. She was jealous of such artistic ability not being able to draw a decent stick man herself. "Hope ya didn't mind my dropping by." She stated casually and dug her hands in her pockets allowing her gaze to wander the room, obviously avoiding looking at him for too long.


<Jesse Fforde> Jesse has no problem watching Velveteen's every move; noticing the way she doesn't look at him for very long. Maybe he should be embarrassed by the state of the hut--because really, he wonders, he never did pay for it. It does rightfully belong to Velveteen. Perhaps he should treat it a bit better. He doubts this is a real-estate inspection, however. He waits until her gaze drifts back to him before he shrugs. Drawing is a hobby, rather than a job. Sure, it bleeds into his job, but that doesn't mean he's busy. If he didn't want visitors, he wouldn't leave his door open. He gives a smile - a genuine one - an indication that's he's fine and dandy.


<Velveteen> The scent of the many different plants filled the hut and while it was like a jungle inside the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable though she attributed that to the fact that Jesse himself seemed always to be relaxed and comfortable, no matter the situation. She turned a little and perched on the edge of the nearby desk. "How is everything going? Did you take care of that other thing yet?" It was obvious she had something on her mind and was hesitating a little as she made small talk.


<Jesse Fforde> Jesse perked a brow. He wondered whether this was why Velveteen had come. This was her way of inquiring about his wellbeing. Jesse remembered his talk with Phoenix. Remembered the way she had treated him. Felt a miniscule twinge of suspicion, of anger. Was this Velveteen coming to prod him about talking, just like Phoenix made a habit of? He took an unneeded breath and smoothed the twinge. Of course it wasn't. Velveteen wasn't like that. Slowly, he shook his head. No, he hadn't care of that just yet. He wanted to take his time with it. Do it just right.


<Velveteen> The dark haired woman simply nodded and dragged the sharp edges of her teeth across her lower lip. "Be sure to let me know when you do and....if you need anything just let me know." She looked down to her hands that were clasped lightly in front of her and frowned ever so slightly. She had no idea how he was going to react and knew full well if it were here she'd be pissed to know end. She brought her gaze back up then to meet the blues of his own, certain he was wondering just what it was she wanted. "I heard something today. Something I think you should know and probably will hear about eventually. I thought it best you heard it sooner than later so as not to be blind sided by it elsewhere."


<Jesse Fforde> Well. That didn't sound good. The pen that Jesse had been twirling between his fingers stopped its movement. He reached behind him to find the lid. He pushed it onto the pen with a decisive click. He then put the pen on the edge of the desk. He remained where he was, seated on the stool, but his hands were fold over his knees. Once he was still, he levelled Velveteen with a steadfast stare--one that clearly said I'm listening.


<Velveteen> She drew a breath and released it in a rush of air that was more a sound of resignation to the the fact that was she in fact about to do this. "I don't know too many of the details. Exactly when it happened , how many times or if it is still happening. I just know it happened prior to the allurist party that happened recently but word is that Axel has been ******* Phoenix." She let her silver gaze fall away as she picked up a pen that had been lying on the desk nearby and tapped it against her thigh rhythmically as she waited for that much to sink in. "Doc told me today. Apparently Cat confronted Nix at the party and Nix didn't deny it. In fact she said it was good. Zoey was present too. So.....I don't think that it will be anything that will stay quiet for too long."

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

<Jesse Fforde> The ball dropped, and at first Jesse didn't react. And then there was a twitch of an incredulous smile. A scoff, as if it couldn't possibly be true. But from the look on Velveteen's face, from her hesitation, he knew that it was true--at least as far as she believed. Jesse slowly stood. But what exactly was he was going to do? And was his anger even justified? Axel was a big boy and could do what the **** and who the **** he wanted. Still, though. Still. Somehow, it smacked of betrayal. Definitely smacked of something not quite right, especially if it happened prior to... He paced, just a little. Kicked at a soccer ball. It ricocheted of the wall, and knocked over the watercolour - the one Jesse had done months ago, of the Phoenix with a broadsword through its heart. He stood with his hands on his hips, staring at the wall, still shaking his head in slight incredulity--not knowing what to think, or how to think, or why.


<Velveteen> Velveteen just sat quietly letting the man alone with his own thoughts for a moment though she wuold stay, stay as long as she felt he needed her to. There wasn't much more she could say beyond what had already been spoken. She eyed the knocked over painting for a moment. "Doc seemed a bit pissed about it and I dunno.....I'm kinda disappointed in Axel I think, though its not really any of my business." She fell silent once more and frowned. She had no idea what was going through Jesse's mind right now, she couldn't even begin to imagine. "It just....seems kinda off after all that has happened."


<Jesse Fforde> Jesse wonders if he would care, if Axel were not in Tytonidae. Maybe he would. Thing is, it depends on how long it's been going on. If it happened prior to Phoenix's apologies, prior to her little cowardly sojourn into the Shadow Realm, then yes. Jesse felt it was an affront against him, against Fforde, because that ***** kicked them both out of Altaire. Jesse shook his head. No, what the **** **** does he give, anyway? It's not as if Axel owed him any kind of respect right? No, Jesse reasoned tha this anger was ultimately on behalf of his faction. That Axel was his responsibility. And now Axel was sleeping with the ******* enemy. Jesse returned to the desk where he found a blank piece of paper. He wrote:

"If I'd suspected he'd ever turn his back on this faction for a piece of ***, I wouldn't have encouraged him to join. I'm sorry."


<Velveteen> Her brow rose a little in mild surprise as she read what he had written. That was not what she had expected, not even close. Dark, raven coloured strands fell about her pale face as she shook her head before giving the man a pointed look. "You have nothing to apologise for Jesse. Axel is a big boy. I guess I'm just....surprised. I thought his loyalty to you would have ....you know. Made him think twice on that. I don't know how others will react." Her shoulders came up in a shrug and she set the pencil that she had been twirling her in fingers aside. "But my main concern right now is you."


<Jesse Fforde> The smile the Jesse gave was twisted, nothing like the genuine one he had given to Velveteen earlier; the gleam in his blue eyes was nothing short of murderous. He could have been hurt. Could have felt hurt, but he wouldn't show it. No, that would be a weakness, and he didn't like showing weaknesses. Instead, he turned that hurt into fury, because he didn't like that he had such a weakness. It was only fury at Axel, but at himself. Letters hard and sharp-edged, he wrote:

"I'm fine." He resisted adding I'm a big boy, too. He was at least mature and reasonable enough to know that his anger was not at Velveteen, and thus she did not deserve the sarcastic lashings.


<Velveteen> She barely turned her head, instead letting her eyes move between paper and the object of her concern. Her silver orbs narrowed a little, even the way he wrote was an indication that he wasn't fine. "You know Jesse, it is perfectly ok to feel. In fact one of our biggest weaknesses now is that we actually feel more than we used to. Have you not noticed that?" Her eyes never left his face and she tilted head a little. "Though if you don't want to I can respect that too. We all need someone sometimes, just know I;m here if and when you do."


<Jesse Fforde> Velveteen, of all all people, should know that Jesse is capable of feeling. His head canted to the side. That was probably why she was still here, still trying to persuade him to open up. But he wasn't about to start sobbing like a little boy. Wasn't about to start harking on about 'woe is me'. Truth was, he wasn't entirely certain about what he felt. He leaned over to underline what he'd already written. I'm fine. And then he tried that smile again; once more, with feeling.


<Velveteen> A crooked grin curled one corner of her mouth and she nodded. "I know. Just saying. You probably don't really know how to feel about this right now and thats ok too." her eyes wandered his features, certain that he probably was fine. He had a strength that was rare. An inner strength, the ability to self discipline to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders if need be. He would and he had. "I care about you, Jesse." It was said so matter of factly, words that she said so rarely. Words she had not even imparted to some of her own. Though the woman wasn’t the kind to make a huge fuss either. "You know how to find me should you need me." She stood then and moved towards the door. stopping momentarily before tipping her head towards the sketch he'd been working on....

"Can't wait to see it finished."


<Jesse Fforde> There were mixed feelings all around, as far as Jesse was concerned. He had a habit to rebel against motherly figures, against people who'd look at him with big, sad, sympathetic eyes and tell him it was okay. The only time he'd heard those words had been from people who didn't mean them--psychiatrists, doctors, teachers. Assholes, the lot of them. He rebelled because he didn't like the way the looked at him, that soft tone to their voices as if he was just a kid. His jaw had tightened, but the muscles relaxed as she said those words. I care about you. With genuine feeling, too. He believed her, down to the bone. It was a foreign feeling. He watched as she left; returned his attention to the canvas. But he wouldn't be doing any more of that tonight.*

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

‹Phoenix› After a few long hours of searching the internet for the perfect, horrible 1920s dress, I realized that regardless of what I wore to the part next week, I would still be missing something: a date. Most everyone hates me, so that really narrows down my options. So... who to ask? It took me a few minutes to decide who the lucky (or not so lucky, as it were), first choice would be. I pull out my phone, type out the text and send it to my childe. "If you haven't found a date yet to the Ty thingy next weekend, how do you feel about coming with me? Could be fuuuun." Did I expect him to say yes? Not really.

* Jesse Fforde || I am in the middle of a homemade tattoo, needle against the skin of my thigh, when the phone vibrates across the table. At first, I ignore it, and keep my focus on the tattoo. I am in the zone, and I do not want to stop. It's half an hour later, as I'm peeling away the glove and admiring my work when the thing rumbles for the fifth or sixth time, reminding me of the message it has stored. I finally pick it up, swipe the screen, and frown at the message. I've hounded her on the bridge, and the last time we met, though we left on amiable terms, I did not think we were yet this amiable. And the Ty event? I haven't even thought about it. Still frowning, I type back: "Not even sure I'm going. Don't rely on me."

‹Phoenix› Once the text was sent, I wander from the computer to pick up the novel I just started reading. It was one of the stack Malachai had given me years ago that I'd still not worked my way through. When the phone vibrated at my side half an hour after I started reading, I'm not sure what to make of it - I'm absorbed in the literary world and have momentarily forgotten that I'd texted someone a bit ago. At least until I read the reply. He wasn't going? Lame excuse. "Well, hypothetically, if you do go, is that a yes?"

* Jesse Fforde || My immediate reaction is an instant recoil. Not because it's Phoenix. It's not personal. It's me. I don't want a date. Normally I'd jump at the chance to string someone along, to tease them; but not now. Not this week. Not next week. Maybe not ever. I'm reluctant to let anyone close, even if just a stupid date to some dress up party. Not one to let Phoenix know any of this--to let anyone know any of this--however, I reply: "Prefer to go stag. Get more girls."

‹Phoenix› I snort when the phone vibrates and roll my eyes in amusement. He wasn't going to 'get more girls' at a Ty party - far from it. Pointing out the obvious probably wouldn't be the best course of action, but I went with it anyway. I wasn't upset that he'd said no - I have a backup plan at this point, though it would probably go far worse than asking Jesse had. "If you were going to get the Ty ladies, you'd have got 'em all by now. No problem, though. I'll see you around <3"

* Jesse Fforde || The little love heart emoticon is a bit much. I stare at it in open disgust. Way too cutesy. I shrug, and stretch. And then type: "Maybe I'm taking my time. You know, delayed gratification." Truth is, out of the Ty 'ladies' I knew, the best ones are already taken. The remaining are too immature. I think there's one who might be a conquest, but she doesn't seem to like me too much. But it's an excuse that I'll stick to, regardless.

‹Phoenix› A number of replies cross my mind, but each gets rejected faster than the last. I don't need to poke or prod - I'm trying to be nice, so I decide to go back to my book book and leave the message as it stands, unanswered. That's the thing about sappy, corny romance novels: they give me something to think about that isn't my crappy excuse of a life. If Plan B failed, I could just go alone - it didn't matter that much to me one way or another.

* Jesse Fforde || I stare into space for a while, phone lazily held between my hands. I miss having that creepy kid around--******* Jordan, got under my skin. And now he's gone. Forever. Never to return. I grind my teeth together and toss the phone back onto the table; at least when tattooing my own skin, it provides a distraction. The pain is bliss, and all other woes, all other thoughts, even the unending thirst is discarded. The gun whirrs to life in my hand; I continue shading, the little mermaid coming to life.

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

Zoey Jane:: [Text] out of curiosity. do you have a twitch?
Jesse Fforde: [Text] A twitch?
Zoey Jane:: [Text] in your eye.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] you do that thing a lot. =|
Jesse Fforde: [Text] No twitch. You know exactly what it is, otherwise you wouldn't be doing it back.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] it was only once! and i was testing. or something.
Jesse Fforde: [Text] Sure.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] when are you free to start the tat? and maybe while you're not working on me we could do something besides that and hunting.
Jesse Fforde: [Text] Whenever. And like what?
Zoey Jane:: [Text] mm.. smoke, watch a movie? go driving? whatever people usually do for fun. i'm a college student so i'm easy to entertain.
Jesse Fforde: [Text] So cute.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] excuse you?
Jesse Fforde: [Text] Sketching, tattooing. Hunting. Sex. These are the things I do for fun.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] so open. hunting is good. so is sketching.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] you get a lot of women, don't you?
Jesse Fforde: [Text] I try.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] huh.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] too bad micah likes you.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] ... and you're a bit of a player.
Jesse Fforde: [Text] I'm not following.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] nevermind.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] let's just chill. smoke and talk?
Zoey Jane:: [Text] no sex. probably ever.
Jesse Fforde: [Text] I can chill and smoke. Talk is overrated.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] do you watch tv.
Jesse Fforde: [Text] Not really.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] video games?
Jesse Fforde: [Text] Sometimes.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] ... so you really just **** and kill all the time when you're not working
Jesse Fforde: [Text] Do you have a problem with that?
Zoey Jane:: [Text] no.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] i'm just trying to decide whether or not i'm a slut for wanting to **** one of my dad's friends. =|
Jesse Fforde: [Text] 'Slut' is an archaic expression invented by traditional men who who didn't like their women to have the same freedom they had.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] ........
Zoey Jane:: [Text] and you're smart. ****.
Jesse Fforde: [Text] ;)
Zoey Jane:: [Text] stop that you devil.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] sigh.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] when you start being interested in more than sex, let me know.
Jesse Fforde: [Text] As in, a relationship beyond sex? Or just other interests?
Zoey Jane:: [Text] the latter. ... and dating. though i can't imagine you would be mentally interested in a twerp like me. =P
Jesse Fforde: [Text] You would be a 'twerp' if you took my non-interest personally.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] i haven't.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] you're a pretty attractive man. intelligent, with talent. if you're going to be interested in someone it's probably going to be someone extraordinary. that's just a fact, not me beating down on myself. and if that's not the case, it should be.
Jesse Fforde: [Text] Shucks.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] oh yes. so bashful. eyeroll.
jesse.fforde is typing...
Jesse Fforde: [Text] Modest wink.
Zoey Jane:: [Text] lmao. jerk.

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

* Jesse Fforde || The hunt the other night was successful, as far as I was concerned. I had to slip out early, and didn't stay to the end. Maybe I had my own reasons. Maybe I have a mask that I wear, whereby I like to make people think I don't give a ****. Maybe I do give a ****. I don't really know. All I know is that I'm not looking forward to the questions. The shock and surprise exhibited by those present was fun. But I was glad that the questions were halted, that the hunt took precedence, as it should. I suppose I'm not surprised to get the text from Ariadne, asking me to meet her at the Winery. I'm not surprised that someone has come to seek me out - as I only assume this has to be about the speaking thing. I am surprised that she's the only one, thus far.

I haven't had many interactions with Ariadne in the past. I actually don't remember a time that she and I have been alone together. She is a trusted second in command, however, in a faction that I call home, that I call family. I'm not going to say no. So it's only twenty minutes later that I wander into the winery, hands in pockets, glancing around and searching for the owner.

* Ariadne was, as usual, puttering around after hours and setting things in the shop to rights. Business had been good lately and, as with all good things, there was the downside of having to devote more time to work. Between her businesses and Ty she'd have a very full plate over the last week and she was worried that some things had slipped through the cracks. Namely, the surprise of Jesse speaking at the Ty hunt a few nights ago. It seems like a significant development that should be addressed, at least slightly. She had invited Jesse here because the winery felt like it was a safe place. She did love the tree but she had the feeling that so many ears might have been a detriment to true conversation.

The front room of the winery had a few sets of comfortable tables and chairs set throughout the area. She nodded to Jesse as he entered and gestured to a nearby set of chairs set with a bottle of blood and some glasses. "Thank you for coming, Jesse. I hope all is well?"


* Jesse Fforde || As always, I revert to old habits. Just because I have the ability to speak now, doesn't mean that I do so at every given opportunity. I still think it's overrated. Though underneath it all, I think I'm still just not used to it. When you go over a decade, never saying a word, you don't just start conversing like every other ordinary Joe. Ariadne greets me, and gestures to a set of chairs. I saunter toward them peeling away the heavy jacket as I do so. It's there just for show, really. I'm not cold, not at all. I drop the jacket over a spare chair, and begin to roll up the sleeves of the white, button-up tee as I grin, and nod. Everything is dandy. I don't sit until Ariadne does.


* Ariadne sat and crossed her legs under her as she opened the bottle and poured equal amounts into the two glasses. SHe hoped that it would be viewed as a hospitable gesture regardless of ingestion. From the table at her side she produces a pad of paper and a pen, setting them next to the bottle of blood before sitting back and resting her arms on the chair. "I hope you don't think me dismissive for what happened at the hunt the other night. I was quite surprised to hear your voice and I was worried that if we all became distracted with questioning you it would make a mess of things."


* Jesse Fforde || The scent of blood is intoxicating. It arouses that desperate itch in the back of my throat, the thirst that never goes away. I'm too quick to reach for the glass; I realise this as I hold it, hesitating, deliberately pausing before bringing it to my lips. Though of course, as soon as I take one mouthful, I drain the glass. I can't help myself. A delay tactic, I suppose. My gaze lingers on the pad and pen, curious as to why she has produced them. But I don't comment. I clear my throat as I put the glass gingerly back onto the table. I shrug. "No foul. I understood," I tell her, voice still a husky rasp as it claws its way from my throat.

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

* Ariadne started at her glass as she swirled the blood. It was a new vintage she'd bee playing with. Some rich housewife. She found it so be a bit more sugary than many of her regular stock, so it was saved for special occasions. "If you don't mind, I'd like to ask a few questions. You're under no obligation to answer but I have to admit that I am slightly curious as to what happened. I could assume many things, but I really prefer not to assume if facts are available."


* Jesse Fforde || I know that these are the questions that I expected. I lick the last vestige of blood from my lips as I cant my head to the side. My jaw tightens, just that little bit, as I'm sure that stubborn hardness becomes apparent in my eyes. Velveteen knows everything. She trusts me. She is happy for me. That should be all that matters, right? "Is this detrimental to my place in Tytonidae? If I don't answer. It's personal. It's just curiosity?" I ask. It seems a bit forward, that she would call me here, that she would speak as if this were official business - but she does so only because she is curious. I will admit my reaction might be a bit hasty. But I can't help it.


* Ariadne shakes her head quickly and sets down her glass, leaning forward and looking directly at the man. "No. It is no way detrimental to your place in Ty, and you should put the thought out of your head immediately. I just... " She paused. It wasn't like her to open up to people or to really talk about herself in any way. This, however, seems like it needed to happen, possibly more for her then for him. "I don't really have a sire either, and I thought you may want someone to talk with. I've actually been looking into psychology a bit since I've had some unfortunate occurrences of my own and it can make things... hard."


* Jesse Fforde || I don't bother telling her that I have had someone to talk to. That Velveteen has taken that place in my life; and that generally, anyway, I don't really want or need anyone to talk to. I don't tell her that to do so would be opening myself up to vulnerability. I do not want to be vulnerable, ever again. I don't want people to get attached to me. I do not want to get attached to anyone else. She doesn't need to know any of these things. There's a hard edge to my tone - the first time even I've ever heard it - as I speak. "You think I'm in need of psychological help?"


* Ariadne pauses, a bit taken back by his hostility. Granted, she had thought him a bit of an arrogant prick while he was on the bridge, but they hadn't interacted much after that. It was a risk for her to attempt to take an interest in another person and, judging by the way Jesse responded, it was a bad idea from the start. She carefully placed the cork in the bottle and picked it up, standing with some small amount of grace. "No, but I thought I would offer an ear if it was needed. I see now that it is not and I promise not to make the mistake with you again. Please do stay and finish your glass. It would be a shame to waste it. I'm sure you can see yourself out when you're done."


* Jesse Fforde || I smirk at her, staring at her as she corks the bottle and stands. I still don't know what the pen and pad were for. I narrow my eyes as she speaks, a hard edge to her own voice. There is a small voice telling me to stop her. To explain, in part, why I don't need her ear. To at least thank her for her concern. Politeness dictated at least that much. I should feel bad. She hasn't accused me of anything, and I got defensive for no reason. I know that I should apologise, but I don't. Why? Maybe Ariadne could figure it out, if I allowed her inside my head. But that's never going to happen. I don't try to analyse my own actions. I don't try to figure out why I act the way I do. Why should I bother? I don't move, except to lean forward a little, and gesture to my glass. "It's empty already," I say, canting my head as I slide my gaze back up to the woman, almost wishing she'd leave the bottle behind but assuming she wouldn't.


[/i]* Ariadne picks up the second glass and adds it to her stack. With a final look around the shop and nods. "I suppose we're done here. The bloods are in the basement if you care to shop by and purchase some at any point. If not, I'm sure I'll see you around the tree. Goodnight, Mr. Fforde." [/i]