Path of the Vampire forum

Elliot dArtois wrote:[OOC: The following RP is the introduction of the curse ‘Dark Night’: You are made weaker by a lack of moon, and find yourself unable to use powers (roleplay only) during a new moon.

The following RP is also a repost because the original RP partner is no longer around - and it's something that I want to play out.]

The sky overhead was almost completely dark. That was, of course, if you weren’t looking properly, or if you were in the middle of the city and were burdened by light pollution. For Elliot, however, the sky, though mostly black, was a velvety sheen of dew drops, dancing and sparkling—stars, shining bright and happy to have all the attention because the moon was nowhere to be found. Of course, she could be up there somewhere. But tonight, she was not kissed by the sun. She was completely dark, and invisible to all.

Elliot found himself out on the street, feeling somewhat nostalgic. Nostalgia was always at the back of his mind, but for some reason on this night, it was stronger. At first, he attributed it to recent arguments he had had with Pi. Emotions were always stronger, these days, ten times so. He found them hard to deal with at the best of times, let alone when he had a woman stomping all over them. That’s not to say she was doing it on purpose, but nevertheless…

He didn’t agree with any of the decisions she was making for herself, but there was no way to talk her out of them. She was set in her ways, and she had her reasons, and she believed in them. Elliot admired her for having such strength, but in this matter they were like an immovable object against an unstoppable force. Neither had an effect on the other, and so it sent each of them stuck in a mire of their own steadfast morals. It didn’t do them any good, not really.

But still, they found themselves coming together at the end of the night. Ever since Elliot had found Pi bleeding and broken in the Den, after he’d nursed her and patched up her wounds, he’d realised he couldn’t possibly stay away from her any longer. There was one thing upon which they could not agree, but in every other aspect, they loved each other. They were Yin to each other’s Yang, and to be apart was doing more harm than good.

Still, Elliot didn’t know what to do. He preferred it when his life was simpler. When he travelled from one city to another, living only with what money he had in his pocket, leaving friends behind because they, too, travelled from city to city. It was an unspoken agreement, to not ever be anchored. But here he was, anchored. He was not unhappy, but he was still coming to terms. Even after two years, he was still coming to terms.

It was freezing out—truly getting into Winter—but he was being stubborn. He didn’t wear a huge jacket like everyone else was. He knew that this might give him away as something more than human, but he didn’t care. Recently he’d been host to all kinds of foolish ideas, the least of which was to go get himself into all kinds of trouble so that Pi would realise the mistake that she had made. He wouldn’t go quite as far as revealing himself via powers in public, but he was still feeling stubborn. And so he would go without true winter attire.

The first clue that he had that something wasn’t quite as it seemed was how cold he really did start to feel. His hands were shoved deep into his pockets, his jaw set, as he contemplated the ice that had started to form in his bones. Sure, he still felt the cold as a vampire, but he felt it in the way that one immune to it would feel it—like an observer, rather than as a participant. Now, however, he could feel it right down to his very marrow. So much so, that he actually began to shiver. He hadn’t felt this kind of freeze for so bloody long…

The second clue became apparent as he entered the blackmarket store. The shopkeeper didn’t look at him as he usually did. The shopkeeper was not swayed by the melody of Elliot’s voice; was not convinced by his slick way with words. For the first time in a very long time, Elliot did not get a discount.

Exiting onto the street, Elliot was confounded. He paused on the footpath. He stared left, and then he stared right.

”What the ****…” he mumbled, under his breath.

He was not only confounded by his seeming lack of vampiric power. He was confounded by his seeming lack of relief.

[Attire]

Kira buried herself under her covers, she knew by the time from her phone that the sun was going down. She was far too tired to bother getting up. Wasn't like anyone would notice if she bothered to go out into the town. She heard items fall from her nightstand, followed by an angry voice.

"Get the **** up!"

Kira sat up straight in bed. "**** you!" she snapped, all she could tell was that damn shadow of her's was flickering around, like an angry cat tail. It was good she sound proofed all her rooms, otherwise Dru might be asking why she was shouting curses. She could play that off as a bad phone conversation, even though Dru knew about Warrior taking over her shadow.

"You don't get up, shows just how weak you are."

Kira growled, "Bite me you *****." she hissed, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. Carefully looking to see what she knocked over. Her bare feet touched the floor and she knelt down to pick up some jewelry and daggers. Putting the items back in their place, Kira got up, grabbing some clothes and went downstairs to take a shower.

Some time later, she was ready to leave. Not that she had any idea what she was going to do tonight. She put on a jacket, which was about all she put on that was winter related. If one was to fight, one could not be weighed down by bulky clothes. As she left the house however, she felt like she needed a hat and scarf, neither she owned. The only hat she did wear was the one she used to cover up the fact she had a head wound, it was not for winter, it would not keep her ears warm.

She looked up to the dark sky. She hated it when there was no moon, even though it was part of a cycle. A time to reflect on emotions, and the inner self. Emotions she just didn't have. She always felt better during a Full Moon. It made the night better, the light she enjoyed since she was scared to death by the Sun.

Kira looked around, she had been walking as she thought on that all. By the direction she wondered if she was heading for her home that had the recording studio but she wasn't sure if she was really in the mood to make music.

"Hey lady.."

She turned around, raising an eyebrow at a group of four behind her. By the weapons, she figured this was nothing good. "Just leave me alone." Kira said, trying to use her powers to make them do just that but they weren't effected by it as one pointed their gun at her and the other three came closer.

"Hand over your money and jewelry."

"Did you not hear me! I said leave me alone!" Kira tried again, with the same result. She sighed, she was sure she hadn't been mind blocked, so what was going on. "I don't carry cash on me. And I'm attached to my jewelry so no.." she said. "Seems its your fate to die then. Good riddance." she took out her weapon, grabbing the first man by the arm, twisting it back and kicking his leg in. She noticed that her hits did not have the same power as they normally did. The damage should have been more. She drove her blade into the man's chest, hearing a gunshot ring out and not able to move fast enough, she felt it go into her arm.

"****.." Kira muttered, she lashed out at the nearest man, getting him in the arm but she wrapped her arm around his neck, using him as a shield now as the man fired again but hitting his friend in the chest. The dead weight was getting heavy so she wasn't able to use the body for much longer. She dropped her blade, taking out her gun and fired at the other two as she dropped the body to the floor. She missed her other gun but it had broke, not that she liked guns but she hated being filled with holes more.

She put her gun away then picked up her discarded blade. She looked to her wounded arm, trying to heal it. "Damn it, nothing is working." she said. She kicked the nearest body out of frustration. If nothing was working, she wouldn't be able to mind message anyone for help. But what could anyone else do, blood boost? This better be a temporary thing. She grabbed one arm of the dead men, dragging them off into the alleyway. Normally she could drag two at a time but she was sure she would have trouble doing that right now.

Kira moved away from the bodies, not taking the time to get rid of them properly. She shrugged off her jacket, taking out a handkerchief and wrapped her arm with it before putting on her jacket once again. "See, I knew I should have just stayed in bed."

Elliot lingered on the footpath, staring into space with a hard set to his jaw. His blue eyes were glazed as he pondered the predicament; wondered what he could do to test the theory that slowly percolate in the back of his brain. Somehow, for some reason, he’d lost all his vampiric abilities. It was a drastic theory, a far-fetched one. He was curious, and a little bit anxious. And to begin with, he didn’t move. He stood right where he was, freezing, knowing that he should get inside, get somewhere warmer, but staying put. Once again, he turned his thoughts inward. He was questioning not only the theory that he was without power, but also his own urge to test it.

He should be happy. He should be wanting to do what he could to make it last. Had he somehow, unwittingly, got himself a cure? His blue eyes travelled skyward; there were a few stars, but no moon. He narrowed his eyes at those stars, as if they might somehow give him the answers he desired. He did not know where to start. And what happened if it turned out that none of his powers worked? Should he put himself in the sun’s way as it came up over the horizon? And how would he feel, if those rays of sun did not cause his skin to blister and break?

There was a sinking, cloying, ponderously frantic feeling in his chest. The discovery of that emotion—of dread—caused a domino effect. Shock and surprise at his own unknown inclinations, for a start. And a mounting anxiety that soon pushed him into action.

Actually, it wasn’t just the anxiety that pushed him into action. Around the corner, down the street, there was the sound of gunshots. Elliot should have ignored them. They were not uncommon in this city. But he didn’t ignore them. Uncaring of his own wellbeing (he never did really care about his own wellbeing) he approached the sound of violence. He rounded the corner. There were some shadows in the distance; a couple of crumpled shadows on the ground, and one being dragged into an alleyway. Elliot paused, assessing the situation.

Someone exited the alleyway; someone who was now approaching him. The blonde stepped under a street light, passing through the illuminating beams of warmth. A woman he recognised. He stood, frown settled upon his face, as she moved closer; in her current trajectory, she would soon have to look up and see him standing there, hands shoved into his pockets.

He wasn’t sure whether he should say anything. And wouldn’t say anything about his predicament to begin with, anyway. He simply nodded a greeting.

”Kira,” he said. One of the women who’d been there the night of his siring. One of his oldest acquaintances in this city, though he couldn’t claim to know her too well. Figured, that he’d run into her now.

”Doin’ alright?” he said, gesturing to the crumpled shadows in the distance.

Kira moved her arm a little, really wishing she could just heal it. She hoped for no more trouble. Then she was aware that someone else was approaching. Her first thought went to that it was a cop, she was either going to get shot up or she was going to have to kill that one too. Neither option she wanted. Her hand reached for her bladed tonfa, she moved forward out of the light of the street light as she was sure the cops were set on shot Britney Spears lookalike on sight.

However she didn't see a cop, it was someone she knew, barely but not a complete stranger. "Elliot?" she said. The last time she ran into him, it had been the first time she ran into a blood thief. "Glad you're not a cop. Would be caught quite red handed." she said, relaxing now.

She looked back at the bodies after he gestured to them. "Yeah, I guess." she said, turning back to him. "Just some punks. Was trying to convince them to just leave but...something's wrong." she said, her forehead furrowed as she thought back on how they didn't react at all when she tried to sway them.

"Elliot.." Kira said, focusing on him again. "Do you know of the telepaths getting a better Mind Block? One where one doesn't even know they are mind blocked?" she asked. She was a telepath, not a true one but bridged. Normally when one got mind blocked, that tended to mean trouble was coming. She didn't see why she would be mind blocked now, unless David was messing with her. She wasn't even sure he had that power. She shoved her hands into her jacket pockets. She had always been used to the cold, but even then she had gloves in New York. This feeling wasn't normal for a vampire though, mind block didn't do that. "Or maybe a ritual...that blocks powers without one knowing and makes you feel the cold again."

It had to be a ritual, that made more sense but then David didn't do rituals so who would have used it on her. "Sorry, I'm being rude. I hope you've been well...and you're night has been better than mine so far." she said. She had been so focused on what was wrong with tonight, any manners she had went out the window. Considering her circle was so small, she really didn't know how to talk to other people. If it was David, that normally was lots of shouting, cussing, and bloodshed. With Dru it was mostly talk about movies, clothes and music.

The offhand remark about ‘some young punks’ disconcerted Elliot, but he wouldn’t lecture people he hardly knew about their habits, or the way they were able to just brush off a slaughter like it was nothing. Maybe they deserved it, but maybe they didn’t. Elliot didn’t like it, how easy it was for others—and himself included—to just kill without a thought. Easily, and they were able to get away with it. The system seemed to deeply flawed; but here he was, anxious because he had lost those abilities that made him what he was—a being with the swift ability to defend, and to kill.

The frown that furrowed his already deeply creased brow was not only spurred by Kira’s easy brush-off of the ‘punks’ dead on the pavement behind them. The frown was also indicative of Elliot’s inner struggle; Kira, too, must have been feeling weaker. Less able to do things. He shrugged his shoulders and shook his head—though before he responded he shifted, hand hovering behind Kira’s back as he silently suggested that they walk and talk. They should put distance between themselves and the bodies (again, he was being stubborn, and didn’t suggest they hide them properly). And, besides which, he thought maybe by walking, he might be able to warm himself up a bit.

”I wouldn’t say my night has been bad, but it’s been different,” he started. He didn’t see the harm, now, in admitting his predicament. Though, he never really was careful. He was a trusting person, who didn’t hold grudges and who gave second and third chances. And he didn’t think he’d ever change, no matter how many people might turn on him, or break that trust.

”If that was the case, I think it would be way too much of a coincident that both you and I are victims of a new power… or ritual, on the same night. At the same time,” he said. The frown deepened. ”Have you seen anyone else tonight? Is this a widespread thing?” he asked. What if some spell had been cast over the entire city? The wraiths had been doing weird things lately. Crow had gone haywire. It wasn’t too far a stretch of the imagination to think that maybe something bigger was afoot.

Kira noticed the gesture of trying to get to move on. It was the right thing to do, standing by a pile of bodies wasn't going to look good if someone came by and she couldn't spin a story and make it stick in someone's head right now. She would be really screwed ending up in jail right now. Not being able to make a decoy, not able to teleport or mind speak to someone to summon her. Her one phone call would be to ask Dru to do so.

She looked up at the man. What if Dru had no powers right now too? Could it be a wide spread thing? Made more sense than just two vampires being without powers right now. "I haven't talked to anyone.." she said, Warrior didn't count. "If its a wide spread thing...maybe the paladins or those other guys, the humans with powers are behind it." she said. She could ask Windy if he knew anything but he wasn't exactly the social butterfly of the paladins so he may not know anything. Her thrall did know who was a human with powers but that would be an odd conversation to have with people you didn't really know. Her face went blank, was Dave even her thrall right now? What about wraith Lady Baron?

"Let me ask my sister if she has powers." Kira said, taking out her phone and quickly typed out a simple message of Do me a favor and mind message me something. Then text me to ask if I got it.

Moments later she got a mind message of You have odd favors then a text saying Did you get it? Why you asking for a mind message?

Kira sighed softly. "She can mind message so she has powers. Not city wide but still leaves why us." she said, replying with a text of I'll explain later. She wasn't sure if she wanted to get Dru involved with whatever what this was going on. She shoved her phone back into her pocket but kept her hands in her pockets. "Really want some hot coco right about now." she said, distracted by the cold. She would have said she knew a paladin she could ask if they were doing anything but that might bring some questions she didn't want to have to answer. She didn't want to be on a list to kill just because a paladin had an obsession with her.

Mind Message and Texts provided by Dru's player

The blonde proceeded to follow up on the inquiry Elliot had asked, picking up on the train of his thoughts and running with it. He kept his hands clenched in his pockets as they walked, his hard gaze cast ahead of them as Kira mucked around on her phone. For a moment his mind was preoccupied by the use of the term ‘sister’; he wondered whether Kira actually had a sister who had been turned—and the pros and cons of such a situation—or whether she was one of those who were inclined to call their vampiric ‘siblings’ by traditional familiar terms. He himself was not a fan, especially given the fact that were he to call Doc, for example, his brother, that would imply that Pi was his mother. And that was far too awkward and problematic, if one were to apply the traditional taboos.

Hardly convenient to the topic at hand, however, and all such thoughts were banished as Kira addressed him again. Not city wide, then. There were plenty of other experiments they could try, of course; Elliot, for a moment, imagined he were in the middle of some blockbuster conspiracy movie. What if it were some scientific gone awry, only in this area of the city? What would happen if they just kept walking, into another suburb?

”Come back to the bar?” Elliot asked, instead. They could talk this over somewhere quiet and somewhere warm. He was no detective, and already he wondered whether talking was the only thing they could actually do. At least, he knew, for now, it’s all that he would do. He was the type to wait it out. To see what time would tell them. To ignore it, and hope that it went away, and only deal with it when the problem compounded to an insufferable pressure.

”We’ve renovated, and put some bunks and a kitchenette and things on the second level. We don’t have to sit in the bar—we can go upstairs. I’ll make some Cocoa,” he said. The events of the night of his siring were crisp in his memory—and one such event was Kira, at a bar, eating. He knew that she could. Cocoa was a possibility for the two of them. He perked and inquisitive brow, waiting for her reply. She may wish to go home, to deal with this on her own, with her own ‘family’. And that would be okay, too.

Kira was thankful that Dru was not effected by this. Maybe it was her being over protective for the only family she had and having no human family made it worse and their sire was gone. Maybe if she had a human family she wouldn't have viewed Dru as her sister. She never called her that in front of humans, it was quite clear they were not related.

Thinking on how much attention she had gotten from paladins, she wondered if Elliot suffered the same. Before she could ask, he brought up the bar. She was confused for a slight second, but she had been in there before the remodeling. She was curious what it looked like now. She sure didn't remember another floor but maybe she hadn't been looking hard enough. "That sounds good." she replied, recalling where it was located and headed in that direction.

"Have paladins taken an interest in you?" she asked now, thinking about who could be behind this. Maybe they were only targeting only a few vampires then would later ambush them when they no longer had any powers to fight with. She could see that, really she could but still. What were the odds of both of them being targeted at the same time. "Suppose that's too far fetched. This is frustrating.." she said, maybe it would have to be waited out like a 24 hour flu.

Kira’s confusion flickered brightly in the air for a moment or two, before dispersing. It was a bright flash of unmistakable light; one that only Elliot could see, a vibration in the air that only he could hear. Kira started in the general direction, though as they crossed a road Elliot soon took the lead—easily doing so not because he intended to, but because it was a natural progression for him. Redwood was only the next suburb over, and the pub not too far away. They’d shifted to Redwood because having the Necropolis Nightclub right next door had become somewhat inconvenient. They did have Nightmode to deal with now, but at least the building was completely separate, and the clientele of Nightmode did not mistake Lancaster’s for their usual haunt.

Kira’s confusion had abated and was replaced by frustration; an emotion that Lancaster could feel vaguely across the space that parted them, and it wasn’t an emotion that she tried to hide. In fact, she told him, blatantly, that she was frustrated. The question about Paladins was not expected, and caused a frown to settle deep into Elliot’s brow. He slowly shook his head, and took his time to answer, not only because he was wondering whether he actually knew any Paladins, but because he was trying to think whether he’d got on anyone else’s bad side recently.

”Met a paladin in the bar months ago. It was clear she didn’t agree with my existence, but I don’t think… I mean maybe?” he shrugged. He couldn’t remember whether he’d even ever got the woman’s name. He supposed it wouldn’t have been hard for her to get his. His heart sunk in his chest, dread spreading poison through his veins. It disconcerted him that someone should judge him so quickly, just because of his species. It was even more disconcerting to think that she might do this to him, months after meeting him. When he’d never done anything to her.

”…that was months ago though. I don’t know her name. I figure they’re insane zealots who wouldn’t give a **** though, right? I can’t think of any other enemies I might have…” Elliot said. Enemies were not things that he had in spades. He tried to avoid gaining enemies. They weren’t a healthy thing to have.

Kira looked at him when he said he had met a paladin. Maybe the idea wasn't so far fetched. "Did she have dark hair?" she asked. "I didn't know this paladin at all and she suddenly cracked my skull all of the sudden. From what I was told of her views of vampires...not very good. Not that I can blame them, really but humans, vampires, all bad and good. Sure don't like be put in the bad category just because I'm am what I am." she said. Sure she wasn't an angel, but she wasn't that bad either. She could be out killing random humans every night but she only killed dangerous ones. "Their leader targeted me quite a bit.." she said, it had gotten to the point she swore she attracted paladins.

She bit her lower lip, debating on if she should contact Windy or not. Well surely if he did know that this was going to happen, he would have already found her by now. She was sure he would want to test his skills against her while she wasn't as strong as she normally was. Then again...maybe he wouldn't fight her. It was hard to tell with that man. He may just try to get cozy with her, which wasn't going to fly.

"I do know a paladin...who doesn't really give a **** about what the paladins want but I'm not sure if he would know anything. Even he thinks the paladins are a little nuts on the whole anti-vampire thing." she said, which was why when he brought up that they let Ivy join them made no ******* sense. If they were all hardcore all vampires must die then what the ****. Which was why she helped him with information about the fact she was playing both sides. No wonder so many people hated her.

"But if we are a target for them for some reason...I'm pretty sure he'd be on my side of the fence." she said, she would so be using him as a bodyguard if he offered, even though she knew it was because to him he was the only one allowed to hurt her. She wasn't wanting to find out what happens if they died tonight, going against a group of paladins didn't sound pleasing at all.