Path of the Vampire forum

This is a true story....only the names haven't been changed to protect the guilty....


Lionsheart Steel: *Slaps her *** playfully* ....... That's what you get for trying to rob me whilst I sit there snoozing!
karinadocere: *giggles when he slapped her bottom.* Well...I figured that if you were asleep in the doorway then you were probably so drunk you passed out and might have cash in your pockets.
Lionsheart Steel: Ha! You know full well I'd never go out and get drunk without having you around to be my designated driver!*Presses a kiss to her lips*....but all the same....you are forgiven...next time just reach in a little further and give the 'jewels' a bit of a tweak eh?
karinadocere: Damn...I though I did. I must have been too quick this time. *she rolled her eyes and chuckled as she hip bumped him.* And you know that your magic carpet is only a message away. Oh!! *she smirked boldly and sent him a telepathic message.* 'Look what I can do.'
Lionsheart Steel: *Grinned widely and returned her message telepathically* Oh! Who's a clever girl then?!
karinadocere: *she waggled her brows at him and nodded her head as she carefully circled around him while her fingers danced along his shoulders to tease him. She kept up the telepathic conversation.* Indeed. I thought you would like this so we can have our secret conversations in gatherings and meetings without having to text.
Lionsheart Steel: *His reply was just as excited*Hell yes...now we can tease the merry hell out of each other whilst looking like we're completely paying attention!
karinadocere: Damn straight and I think that's amazing. I can't wait.
Lionsheart Steel: Hmmm so which paths have wraiths then?...I think I'd like a wraith....maybe I could get one to keep an eye on Mabitch.
karinadocere: Summoner
Lionsheart Steel: *Coughs* Hmmm....maybe not then! I can't even imagine getting that bloody skilled!....Damn my wasted youth!*Grins*
karinadocere: Pffft...it's not wasted. Never is your youth wasted and just think...you're forever young now.
Lionsheart Steel: I know I know....*He smirked*... I'm just referring to my time in the wilderness after being turned.....I think I was out there for the better part of a year or so just about doing enough to survive....If only I'd had a good sire or some guidance...Still....I did manage to get myself a Very Beautiful Duchess to share eternity with... so I'm certainly not unlucky!
karinadocere: See then not all has been wasted and besides...it's not like I can't help you where your sire has failed. Just because you were lost of that times doesn't mean that you are at a loss. *she winked playfully at him and kissed him.* I love you, my Duke
Lionsheart Steel: *Revels in her kiss and smiles as it breaks* I'm never lost or at a loss now I have you in my life my love..... But I've noticed... your paintball gun still has wonky sights.... let me take a look at that for you... *Slips the gun out of her hand* ...you've made a right mess of that wall haven't you? *Tinkers with it mometarily before handing it back* Now try it....
Lionsheart Steel: *Moves a step away allowing her the space to shoot*
karinadocere: *she perked a brow and looked behind her as he took the gun from her. Tilting her head as she looked at the wall and laughed as she came up with a quick excuse. * Well I just thought that it needed a creative coat of paint. *Taking the gun as he passes it back, she smirked.* Okay...let's see...
Lionsheart Steel: *Giggled as the paintballs whizzed past narrowly missing his shoulder and head* Careful Hun.... you'll have me eye out! Lemme take another look... *Made another round of adjustments*.... okay... again...
karinadocere: *As the paintballs went past him, she grumbled.* I think you are purposely tweeking it so I can't hit you.
Lionsheart Steel: Would I? *Guffaws*
karinadocere: I think you just might
Lionsheart Steel: Maybe I'm just looking forward to helping you shower all that paint off ...... *Winks cheekily*
karinadocere: *she couldn't help but laugh as she shot again and the balls hit the wall.* It's broke!! It's a defective piece of crap.
Lionsheart Steel: *Nodded and giggled*Hmmm....maybe.....or maybe you just need to keep practising on this here moving target? Either way..... You're it .... *he shot in her direction with paintballs and fled*
karinadocere: *she perked her brow and laughed.* You know damn well that it's not my aim. *She couldn't help it. Pulling out the MZ that she used for hunting and shot him. If she missed him this way then she was just going to quit. Blowing him a kiss as he turned just in time for her to pull the trigger and missed every shot.* I quit...
Lionsheart Steel: Ohhhhhhhh shiiiiiiiiiiii *He took a dive for cover.... and just in time! Bits of plaster exploded spinning off in all directions. The sound of a ricochet had him covering his head now too *Whoa.... whoa.... I think you may have picked up the wrong gun by mistake? *His tone was questioning... but he guessed by Rina's tone that frustration had already set in*
karinadocere: *she growled deeply as she shook her head. *No...no that wasn't by mistake. I rarely, if ever, miss with my gun... I was going to prove that it wasn't my aim but noooooooooooo.... clearly, I just ******* suck. You even inspired me and I am over here shooting as if it's a toy and it's a cap gun. This is ********.
Lionsheart Steel: *Was both equally glad and bloody annoyed that he'd been ramping up his dexterity of late as well as spending long hours down at the range improving what had been a poor target hit average* Whoa...... okay okay Rina... We can fix this Hun.... *He winced*... and I -do- mean without me taking a spell in the Shadow Realm Sweetheart!
karinadocere: I wasn't planning on killing you. That would just be wrong. I planned on healing you but clearly...that was a wasted thought because I missed.
Lionsheart Steel: *Popped his head up from behind cover* You do of course realise I've been concentrating on getting quicker and improving my aim recently don't you?..... After getting shot by one of our marks and then not landing a clean hit for weeks I thought I'd better shape up a bit.... I'll take a bit of healing though.... maybe the nurses uniform?* He tried to lighten her mood a little*
karinadocere: No, I didn't know because you didn't tell me. *she snickered and shook her head as she looked at him.* You just want an excuse for me to dress up.
Lionsheart Steel: Yeah well..... *sighed*... I didn't want to make too much of a fuss about it... everytime I missed... you just kept assuring me it'd be fine... I just didn't want to keep disappointing you..... but all's good now.... I took some pointers from Ev and made use of them..... Now.... back to talk of you dressing up... * He grinned and stood up coming out of cover*
karinadocere: But that's the thing, you don't disappoint me...ever. I went through my stint of not being that great at attacking others and I used to get so pissed about it. I even went from using swords to using guns, thinking that would be better. I'm glad that Eve helped you. *Looking down at her phone.* Seems Nemesis is having a get together if you want to go.
Lionsheart Steel: I could stick my head in for a few minutes... *Grins*.... and I -do- mean to Nemz'z get together before you read anything dirty into that statement!
karinadocere: I knew what you mean but thank you for clarifiying just incase. We can pop over. She gave me her address.
Lionsheart Steel: Yeah yeah.... I know how you like to 'accidentally' misconstrue what I'm saying just to get me to unlock the fancy dress cabinet! *He laughed loudly*.... I'm kidding! *Before the MZ came back into view*
karinadocere: *she couldn't help but laugh with him as she pulled on her coat.* Well...we do have a lot of fun outfits in there. Who could blame me?
Lionsheart Steel: So where we headed to?
karinadocere: *** *******
Lionsheart Steel: Okay....you're the designated driver
karinadocere: Okay


Both were found to be...Guilty as charged.

Karina woke the next evening to her sound asleep husband. Still reeling from the previous night, she got out of bed without bothering to wake him up. Both of her gun seemed to be broken and it pissed her off. Even if he had been training to dodge attacks better, she still should have hit him and yet...missed every damn time. She was pissed but more so annoyed. Going out into the living room, she stared down at the MZ and the paint ball gun and tapped her bare foot against the floor. Something needed to change but wasn't exactly sure what.

Sitting down at the ritual alter to do a few rituals as she thought over her options, she rarely needed to focus anymore unless the Demi-Fae was feeling jealous of the lack of attention and pounded on the barrier as hard as he could to get her to pay attention to him. Rolling her eyes, she paid him the attention he demanded and sent him off to complete the task that she summoned him to do. A few more followed before Zodiac slipped in and sat down at the alter herself. Thinking to see if the gun was the one with a problem, she slipped out of her spot to give way for Zoey, only to grab her paintball gun and shoot at Zoey. Every shot missed only for the Demi-Fae to laugh at her from inside his barrier. Glaring at him, she stormed off to try and shoot Lions awake only for every shot to splatter against the wall behind him.

Now she was completely annoyed with her inability to make a simple shot but also the fact that she needed to repaint her house at Docere Enterprises. Maybe this was something they should have done at the warehouse that she acquired after Neville's disappearance. Business was still doing great there but there was plenty of space to shoot off paintball guns. Maybe they could go to the hunting grounds too but if she missed...the trees and animals would be awfully colorful. No, she would sit down with the pair and figure out a place but this aiming issue even at point blannk range was for the birds and needed to be fixed. She was Karina Steel and would prove that she was good at something other than telling a Demi-Fae what to do.

Soon she was brought out of her thoughts from the the squeek and the plastic bouncing off the back of her head from the toy inflatible hammer that Zoey carried around with her. Laughing as she turned to look at her.

"Maybe that should have been my weapon of choice...better control. Help me think of a plan to get Lions back...I keep missing my shots and even pulled my MZ on him last night. He noticed last minute and dodged that bullet, leaving me to pick plaster out of his hair at the Andras gathering last night."

The Skewed Moral Compass

He'd owned the shop for a while now, all the time collecting and making connections, dealing with suppliers and all manner of middlemen in an attempt to get everything to come together.
That evening sitting there amongst the array of cardboard boxes, stacked carefully, almost floor to ceiling, he couldn't help but afford himself a pretty damn wide, very ferkin' pleased with himself grin.
You see, all the time he'd been planning to start his own business, he'd teased Ree about how he'd rope her into wearing costumes etcetera. This however, at the time, had been little more than a gentle leg-pulling. Now however he'd just been refused the relevant permissions to take on a paid employee, bloody agencies and their damned bureaucracy and red tape!
He really was going to have to rope that pretty wife of his into helping out if the place was to be anywhere near ready to open on time .... and also, if it was to remain fairly well stocked too. Afterall, he couldn't be in two places at once now could he?
This was going to be fun .... something else they could do together on a part-time basis until his permits were upto scratch, his grin still firmly afixed he leant forward to peer around the boxes and into the general direction of the room he knew his sultry spouse to be in before calling out to her. "Ree? ....... Ree? ....... Can I get you to come and gimme a hand for a few minutes?" He nodded as her head appeared around the door post. "Wanna help me unpack a few bit's and pieces?"
Her eyes fell upon where he sat looking hopefully towards her and smiled as She proceeded to quiz him about the type of help he required. "What do you need help with? Unpacking? What'll I be unpacking?
Pulling open the flaps of the nearest box and reaching in he couldn't help but giggle as he suddenly felt like some sort of perverted magician .... as his hand reappeared from the box he held a rabbit aloft .... but it wasn't a fluffy little, pink eyed bunny. No .... it was indeed quite a ways from that .... the latest version of the world famous Rampant Rabbit vibrator. "Care for a test drive?"

Rina was excited that another company started using the warehouse for their shipping needs. Granted the new customer was her husband but that was still a new customer. The warehouse was newish but had been ran by her ex who she had hoped would have stuck around for her but she understood his work and how it would take him away. He was gone for good now, leaving behind a few random things for his sire, Zodiac and herself to take care of.

Rina inherited the warehouse that Neville used to ship in all of Zodiac's needs, that most warehouses would freak when customs would check the merchandise. Rina on the other hand found some shady contacts that would get all merchandise cleared through, no matter what was in the boxes. It kept Zodiac in business and now her husband with his fun little costume and sex shop. She laughed once when her employees misread the labels and one of her boxes of leotards and ballet slippers were sent to the Skewed Moral Compass but it got her sucked into helping him unload a few boxes.

Walking in the door, she placed the missing box on the floor and grabbed her box for the ballet studio, placing it by the door. Looking around, she realized that he hadn't gotten very far in unpacking and it made her chuckle to herself as she was sure that he was off daydreaming about which outfit he could get her into next. Shaking her head at the thought, she popped open one of the boxes and began to start placing items on the shelves. Each box she emptied, she would break down the package and have a stack of cardboard off to the side.

Looking up when he called out her name, she smirked. He in fact was still alive and broke himself of his daydreaming. Quickly she finished up the box she was working on before breaking it down and walking into the other room. Peeking over his direction, she couldn't help but laugh as he asked for her help with unpacking. Yep...he was out of his daydreaming and on to more devious ideas. Slipping into the other room. As he pulled out the vibrator, she burst out into a fit of giggles.

"Ahhh....yes....you have reached your playtime stage." She looked around the room and perked her brow at how much she realized they had taken home for themselves because he wanted to 'test drive' the merchandise. Walking over to him, she leaned down and kissed him deeply and passionately. Pulling back, she looked him in the eyes. "Only if you promise that we can get this store cleaned up and running in a weeks time. We have to get you in business or we will have too much fun and you will never get opened."

Quiet Contemplation

It had been more than a year since he'd started this new direction in his life, more than a year since he'd been placed upon the bridge by Velveteen, more than a year since he'd first met Rina. It hadn't taken long. Just a couple of meetings, a mere few hours in her presence and he'd been smitten by her.
He'd attempted to keep his feelings to himself initially, pretty soon however, he found himself unable to resist being in her presence. Her entrance into his life had been like the flicking of some soul-uplifting switch and the quality of his existance had seemed to increase ten-fold. It was true to say, he totally believed them to be soul-mates.
Lifting the glass of plum purple coloured liquid to his mouth, he took a quaff, savouring the taste allowing it to dwell on the tongue longer than was strictly neccessary, before the swallow and accompanying satisfied grin. Placing the vessel on the arm of the chair, he allowed himself to slide into it's sumptuous comfort, his elbows too rested on those broad chair arms. The thumb of his left hand provided a platform that his chin chose to rest on, index finger rubbed lazily against the almost imperceptible stubble that grew there. Meanwhile the thumb and forefinger of the right hand toyed idly, spinning the wedding band that adorned his ring-finger.
They'd dated, become engaged and then in September they'd made everything official, the tree-house binding was presided over by Rina's long standing friend Zodiac, their colleagues from Tytonidae had been the witnesses.
There had been no honeymoon as such, the heigtened state of alert surrounding the Eyrie at the time prevented either of them from expressing a desire to sneak off for what they both would only see as selfish reasons..... Besides, the rest of eternity could throw up many opportunities that could at a push be branded as a honeymoon!
His thoughts now though were surging towards the future, their anniversary to be more specific. It was only right that he try to do something a little special to celebrate, it didn't have to be austentatious surely.... not if it came from the heart. He closed his eyes and mused over some possibilites, the fact that Ree's path didn't allow her to ingest mortal food certainly muddied the waters somewhat. He'd have loved to have taken her to some romantic, candlelit restaurant and spent the evening spoiling her rotten with fine food and wine. Oh well.... Scratch that eh!
His next idea had been a custom weapon. After getting some prices, all of which were way beyond the bounds of his wallet, he'd dismissed this idea too.
Whatever he came up with.... It was going to have to be special maybe even unique.....

Look before you leap....

TATATAT! The gun chattered into life and milliseconds later Lions felt the white hot fury of the bullets as they seared through the skin and into his groin. The impact and the pain should have doubled him over at this point and he wasn't sure if it was shock or incredulity of what had just transpired that kept him there, bolt-upright and almost defiant.....

(Several hours earlier)

The cellfone gave it's usual cheerful chirp from it's perch in it's comfortably safe position on the shelf of the crafting bench. Eyeing it lazily at first and then with more interest as he realised it was faction business, reaching up he slid the screen and read the text, that was more like it he thought to himself! Targets! and more than one it would seem!

Checking the magazine on the MZ he slid the weapons strap over his shoulders and pulled the gun around to sit snugly alongside the Enchanted Blade which hung vertically like some kind of metal back support. The 40's era military greatcoat hung at the end of the bench on aged iron nail and was quickly swept up and pulled on but left un-buttoned, rummaging in the left pocket brought out another two full magazines which were duly mentally noted. His right hand then began to burrow into it's pocket and eventually located the comms headset. To be honest he hated these things and prefered to converse mentally .... but not everyone could .... and even some that could didn't like the intrusion! Still ... the comms headset was what had been issued and it was what he would wear, he adorned the device and pressing the button a low crackle denoted that the unit was functioning and with that he headed for the door.

The transit ride to the first target was uneventful right up until exiting the transit station.
It was at this point that the headset began to scream and howl like the feedback from a Marshall stack at a Who gig! Removing it and checking it over Lions turned it off and back on, hearing the reassuring low crackle he refitted it ..... Just in time to learn the target had been bagged.

"Bollocks!" His curse was to no-one in particular, it had just been a while and he'd have liked to at least have got a bit of blood on his blade. Giving a shrug he took a look around and clocked a decent enough looking bench seat in a secluded corner and headed towards it.
He listened intently as the team went about the business of locating the next target, it was something he could sit back quietly and admire, the team were good and results were very rarely a long time in coming.

True to form, the excited chatterings began to uncover the next destination and seconds later Vel gave the co-ordinates, sliding easily off the bench Lions made a bee line back to the transit station, all available hitters were en-route.

Somewhere between stations the headset began it's unearthly howling again .... Yanking it from his ear and resting it on his skull he came to the conclusion it must be something to do with the transit announcement system interfeering with his signal. Changing his mind about the transit he opted to use his celerity and closed his eyes, imagined the co-ords and seconds later was stepping into the location ..... and there was the target too.

Unaware they were a marked target in anyway they had just continued about there business, Lions grinned as he realised he was actually the first on the scene, his right hand drew the blade as he came to within a few feet of the target as his left hand plugged the headset back into his ear, the sword made a perfectly smooth swinging arc slicing into it's mark, catching them completely off guard before continuing it's cycle just as speedily back into it's scabard. The grinning assailant was walking away congratulating himself on a clean hit as the headset began to go wild .... Lions had missed the command to stand ready whilst his headset had been off....

"Get back to The Eyrie Lions......" Vel sounded none to pleased. Not one to question a command decision normally He did as he was told. The wait was to be a long one was his best guess and so he took off the war torn Greatcoat and hung it and the MZ back on the crafting bench before pacing the floor in contemplation of what would be said.

The days had been relaxing but today was one where she finally decided that she needed to unpack from her couple month long vacation that she had taken while the faction was at a moment of peace. She was saddened to hear upon her return that several of the faction had fallen to repeat offenders that constantly seemed to not learn from their previous lessons. Hiding out in forts only to try and ambush her fellow owls only for them to fall through duels. She wished she had been around to help but now she was and as her phone rang to life with the message of new targets and that they were to gather, she slipped on her knee-high boots over her skinny jeans and pulled on a sweater over her tank top as it was a semi-chilly night.

Her hut was just Northwest of the elevator in the Eyrie. She met up with the rest of the group and made sure that she had everything that was needed for the hunt. Once she was ready, new clips full ammo in her pocket, and her wraith, Lovely at the ready...Rina was ready for orders.

The first target was given and she was quick on her feet to get there. The relaxation of her vacation seemed to do her some good because once she reached the target and pulled the trigger on her custom gun without a second through, she stood in awe as her bullet went straight into the targets heart and fell instantly to the ground, dispersing to ash. FATAL STRIKE! She stood in disbelief while she was congratulated on her first actual kill. She had always either missed or dealt damage but never dealt the fatal strike until now. Even her sire, Velveteen was surprised and asked if she had been practicing. With a shake of her head, Rina had expressed that it was a lucky shot and maybe all the relaxation she had gotten was actually proving to be for the better.

Rina was completely on Cloud 9 at the fatal blow that she had dealt that she was completely ready to go again for another. The next target was located and everyone was at the ready, gathering a few streets away to ensure that they didn't tip off their prey that they were being hunted. She sat quietly next to her sire as she waited and watched. The order to strike would soon come and she would be ready. What she wasn't ready for was what happened next. Lion's seemingly ignored or missed the order to wait back until the go was given and had rushed up, striking the target. Her eyes were wide and she had instantly fell from her high as she looked to her sire and her sire's husband only to see the sudden rage fill them both. A direct order was ignored and Lion's was clearly in-trouble.

As the order was given for him to get back to the treehouse, she sighed knowing that he was in for it and might even get shot but her own irritation had filled her because it wasn't like him to miss an order. Her own thoughts of punishment filled her mind as she rushed in as the order was given to strike the target. Another good hit was given but it wasn't the kill which was fine to her. She already had one and it was nice if others had gotten a turn.

The hunt turned to their third and final target of the evening. This was a target that was required to those that were handy with the sword which meant she was to sit out until told otherwise. This was fine for her, it gave Lovely something to do as she helped look for the new target. Rina even got to use powers that she didn't often get to use and were completely new to her. It was and all around exciting night for her though the irritation still filled her from her husbands actions.

The hunt ended in disappointment when the target sought out another to kill them so that Tytonidae didn't get the kill. It was annoying to her and it always seemed like a cowards feat to avoid falling to the enemy. It never ceased to amaze her. Completely irritated, she looked to her sire after the nights discussion and debate finished. A simple motion and her hand was in the air. As those brilliant eyes rested on Rina, her mouth opened and the first thing to fall out was "Can I shoot my husband?" It surprised her but then again it didn't at the same time. The full surprise was when her sire and faction leader had given her permission. She gave a simple "Thank you" and went back to the treehouse.

Looking at the clock as she slipped up next to her sleeping husband. She had time before the new day started. Instantly pulling the trigger the bullet whizzed right by him. This annoyed her though it was completely normal that she missed him but only a few minutes to wait until the new day began. Her eyes watched the clock as it ticked by and waited. She knew that she had a ritual to do but she would shoot her husband if it was the last thing she would do.

The clocked ticked over the top of the hour and she smirked as the new day had begun and her hunger filled her body letting her know that it was time to feed. Pulling the trigger once again, the bullet flew toward him and she thought she would get him in the chest only it seemed her aim was a little too low and hit him square in the jewels. Her eyes shot widely open as she looked at him in disbelief. Yes he would be able to learn from this lesson but she clearly was punishing herself for his mistakes. Cursing to herself as she quickly performed her nightly ritual, checked to see how much blood he had lost and giving him what he needed, texting her sire and then turned her attention full on him.

"OMG!!! Please don't be pissed!"

He wasn't sure if it was shock or incredulity of what had just transpired that kept him there, bolt-upright and almost defiant.....



"Ree?" Finally he found his voice. "What the hell are you doing?" The pain was becoming more intense, he supposed it was an adrenalin come down or similar. Lions watched as Rina began blood healing him frantically, sadly for them both the effort seemed wasted, for as quick as the girl could give him blood, it ran in a warm torrent down his leg. Had he been in a better place mentally right about then, he'd have found some silly quip about maybe 'pissing' himself laughing or somesuch.
The telepathic link they now shared had been bombarding him with glimpses of his wife's anger and embarrassment at what can only be described as his schoolboy error throughout the rest of the hunt. Oh, he knew she'd be mighty annoyed with him for his actions and rightly so...... but to shoot him? In his frickin sleep? Whilst he leant obliviously deep in sleep by the crafting bench... on the second floor... in full view of any that may have been around? This was new ground in their relationship....
His hand balled tightly in his pocket and applied pressure to his groin, the healing would soon take over and stem the flow... Attempting to make eye contact with her only left him still more confused, her eyes had a look of... worry? Her face however had the hardened expression of a woman scorned and he couldn't bare to see her like that. Standing almost statue still, he wondered if the shooting had finished... or was a trip to the Shadow Realm on the cards? Afterall... this was just Rina's reaction.....
Fearing anything else he said might only serve to annoy Ree yet more, Lions decided to just take whatever punishment came his way and hoped that afterwards he'd be able to make things up to her... He had a feeling the night was going to be a long one...

"What the hell am I doing? What the **** was wrong with you today? I get that my sire and possibly Micah will have more than a few words with you...maybe shoot you."

She stormed toward him from the ritual table, a fire in her steely eyes as she looked at him. Rina had felt bad about where she had shot him but his reaction only fueled the fire that burned within her. She was never angry with him but his actions made them both look bad...or at least in her mind anyway given they were a pair. Those heated eyes never left her husband as she stopped before him, not paying attention to who was around or could hear them.

"You have never made a mistake like that before and you have never had issues listening to orders. Hell...you have never continued to ignore them either. Why would you even question going back to the Eyrie when you were told too, let alone be persistent about it? Did you feed from a human that was high and drunk or anything else could be wrong with them? There has to be some sort of explaination for what happened..."

The anger was building inside of her and she needed to take a step back for a moment. Closing her eyes, she took one step back away from him as she tried to keep her blood from boiling. Rina took into account that she was being too hard on him and it wasn't her place to be. Her job as a wife was to support him and be there when he needed her. Running her hand through her hair, she sighed, giving her a moment to relax. Opening her eyes to look at him, her features softened with a groan to follow.

"Look...I'm sorry but that wasn't like you. The whole time I have known you, you have never acted like you have tonight. What's going on?"