Sib...lings? [Charlotte Ruse]

[Peter Parkman]

[OOC: This RP is backdated to the 1st of March]

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

<Charlotte Ruse> Charlotte slipped from the factory she'd been burglarising and looked around. It looked like the sun was about to come up, and having already been caught in the sun once, she didn't fancy repeating that experience. Which meant, she needed to find somewhere to shelter, and pretty swiftish.


<Peter Parkman> Although Peter had hired Jersey to walk the dogs, it was a luxury that he himself wasn't quite willing to give up. He'd intended to go for a light, predawn stroll. Only Lady - who Peter assumed might have some kind of dog form of ADD - had decided to go and chase something. Wrangling five dogs wasn't that easy, and so the little imp had easily slipped from his grasp. He'd had to chase her down - again, not so easy a feat with five dogs straining at their leashes. By the time he'd finally caught her, the sun was close to rising. He could feel the foreign anxiety kicking around in his chest - that instinctual need to get somewhere inside. Immediately. He rounded a corner, and he and his five dogs came into direct contact with another woman. A... vampire, he could tell, even upon quick inspection. Somehow familiar, too, though he knew he'd never seen her before. "Ohgod," he said, hastily. "I'msosorry..."


<Charlotte Ruse> She wasn't looking where she was going as she was looking around for a doorway or something she could get into. So when she suddenly found herself tangled in leads that were wrapping around her legs and threatening to tip her over, she was surprised to say the least. She squeaked softly and grabbed the building to keep herself upright and then looked to the owner, who seemed to be rattling off an apology. "It's.... ok. I'm sorry. I, well, I wasn't looking where I was going. It's my fault and...." She didn't get any further because one dog moved which tightened the lead around the back of her knees and ended it there and then. Her knees bent and she toppled backwards, landing in a heap.


<Peter Parkman> "Hunter!" Peter yelled. The docile Great Dane looked at Peter in a way that asked 'what did I do?' In a fluster, Peter quickly moved to untangle all the leads and get the dogs out of the way, though of course they kept walking around. He held out a long-fingered hand to help the woman up. "They're not usually like this..." he said. "They're just a bit excitable tonight..." he murmured. "I'm really sorry," he added, pained expression painted clearly upon his features.


<Charlotte Ruse> She began to panic when he shouted 'hunter'. She didn't realise it was the name of one of the dogs and she thought it was either a warning or an accusation. "Oh my god. No. Please no...." She was scrambling to her feet and backing away from him with her eyes wide. Her head was darting from side to side as she tried to look to see if someone was coming for her as she plastered herself to the wall. "No. Please. I don't want to go away! Don't let them get me!"


<Peter Parkman> For a second Peter had no idea what was going on. Had no idea why the woman was so frightened. He then realised what he'd said, and what they were. He ended up hunching over, to make himself look less threatening. He held his palms up, as best as he was able while holding all the leads. "No! No, I mean the dog. The dog's name is Hunter. There isn't one... oh god I'm sorry, I'm not going to hurt you. Nor will they," he said, gesturing to the dogs who were now all staring at the panicked woman.


<Charlotte Ruse> She was as flattened to the wall as she could possibly get and there was still a lead or two round her ankle and leg. She eyed the man before her suspiciously and looked around furtively. He'd known what she'd meant about the hunters, which meant he probably knew what she was. She groaned slightly and put her hand to her forehead, dropping her head in defeat. "I.... did it again. Didn't I? I broke a rule and you know what I am. That.... oh dear.... that means I'm in more trouble than before!" Tears pricked her eyes as she looked at him and whispered. "Please! Please don't tell anyone!"


<Peter Parkman> "I'm not going to tell anyone!" Peter said, getting slightly defensive and panicked himself. He took a breath that he did not need and the next time he spoke, his voice came out smoothly, like honey. "Calm down. Just stop. Look at me. Really just... look at me. You can do it too. It's there, like a sixth sense. You can't tell?" he said. He didn't take a step forward. He didn't want to startle her any more than she was already startled.


<Charlotte Ruse> She looked at him, not sure what she was looking for. Her eyes roamed his face, taking in all of the details from the crack and crevices, lumps and bumps, stray hairs and stubble trying to grow. Down over his body and clothes to take in the details. But she honestly didn't know what she was looking for and trying to sense. She'd met Keara when she was turned, and she was too busy dying and freaking out to ipck anything up from her. Then there was Jonah, who just LOOKED like a vampire, so she'd never had to try and sense who was who. "I.... what? I don't know what you're talking about!" She admitted, sagging in disappointment from letting down someone else and failing their expectations.


<Peter Parkman> Peter frowned. Maybe it wasn't a thing they could all do. "I'm sorry. I just... I just knew you weren't human. Lack of a heartbeat, maybe. A sort of... pallor to the skin when humans have a sort of ... aliveness. The small things. It's kind of instinctual," he said. The woman looked positively dejected. Peter glanced down a the dogs, sort of twitching his head as he tried to get Ellie and Jack to slip back around behind the woman's legs so that their leads no longer tangled her. Of course the dogs didn't understand. "It's okay. We really should get inside, though," he said, again very calmly, trying his best to sooth.


<Charlotte Ruse> She nodded her head quietly and reached down her legs, stretching the leads so that she could step out of them one after the other. It wasn't the easiest thing to do in a pencil skirt because of the tightness of it and how it restricted her knees, but she managed it and then got to her feet. She brushed down her skirt and found that when she'd fallen over, she'd sat in 'something' and now had a big damp patch on her rear end. She sighed and shook her head, despairing of herself and then looked at him again. "I'm sorry. I'm just, very new to all of this. You talk about humans like you're not one? Are..... are you like me too? I'm sorry. Keara, the woman who killed me, hasn't been around and I've been a bit lost. But someone's teaching me bit by bit. I'm just.... well, I'm just a bad learner! I'm sorry!"


<Peter Parkman> Peter laughed, the sound like the riff of a blues song. "You've got to be kidding," he said, almost under his breath. The mention of Keara distracted him from the realisation that he had talked about 'humans' very offhandedly, like he'd already separated himself from them. It was a scary thought, and one that he didn't want to dwell on "Keara Aithne? Who owns an Asylum?" he asked, only to make sure. Keara probably wasn't a rare name, and he had to be sure. The coincidence seemed far too much. He licked his lips and shifted all the leads to one hand, so that the woman wouldn't get all tangled up in their leads again. He started to walk, hoping that soon they'd come across some safe haven.

[Charlotte Ruse]

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

<Charlotte Ruse> She blinked as he laughed at her and then walked off, but she couldn't help but follow out of curiosity. Her heels clipped at the pavement, a few quick steps to catch up with him before she matched his pace. She nodded her head when he asked about Keara, still curious and now a little suspicious and on edge as to why he was laughing and questioning her on it. "Ummm, yes. She owns an Asylum. I don't know her surname though I'm afraid. It's just beside a park? Do.... you know her?" Her hand reached down and scratched absentmindedly at the ear of what looked like a husky that was trying to get her attention.


<Peter Parkman> "This is just gold..." he said, under his breath, before nodding. "Yeah I know her. I suppose you could she killed me too. Though technically she was the one who brought me back to life. Kind of. Enver killed me," he stopped talking, and frowned, then shook his head. "They both kind of did it," he said. "I'm surprised I haven't seen you around there yet," he said. "How long have you been...." he trailed off. He didn't really quite know how to say it out loud.


<Charlotte Ruse> "Dead?" She finished for him very matter of factly, then chuckled at how insane it sounded. "A week.... and wait. She brought you back?" She stopped in her tracks and stared at him. "That means, we're family? Like, brother and.... sister? And I'm there regularly, in and out to hide and what not."


<Peter Parkman> Peter snorted. "I suppose you could say that. Technically..." he screwed up his nose. "No. But makes sense. See? Not going to hurt you," he said, as if that kind of blood bond would physically keep him from harming her. He did feel a burgeoning of curiosity, however. "I don't think we're dead, either, by the way," he said. They'd stopped walking. He gestured that they should keep going, and pointed to the sky. "We might be, though, if we don't get inside somewhere. Got any ideas?" he said. The dog had got off the leash, and he'd gone running off after her. Now he had no idea where he was.


<Charlotte Ruse> She kept walking again and looked around, nodding her head and pointing to a warehouse she frequented regularly. "Yes, come with me." She didn't watch to see if he followed, but when he'd pointed to the sky she could see the first signs or orange lighting the clouds and it had worried her. "I've been burnt before, and it's really not a pleasant experience I assure you!" She said to the world around her, not knowing if he were there or not. Her handbag opened as she reached the door and out came her lockpicks. After a furtive glance around at the cameras and surrounding area, she crouched in front of a door and set to work until she heard a little click in the lock. Pushing the door open quietly, she looked around and was glad to see there were no guards near. "Here, look, we can rest in here. The guards have finished their patrols of this bit for a while, and there's usually a corner or two we can shelter in when they do come by later. Can the dogs keep quiet? They won't give us away will they?" She stood there waiting, holding the door open and turning around.


<Peter Parkman> "Uhm...." Peter had just stood and watched, completely ill at ease, as the woman broke in to the warehouse. He was a good little boy, and had never done anything wrong, had never got on the wrong side of the police. Had never broken the law. It was the law that protected him now, from people who'd want him dead. "I don't really.... maybe I could..." he walked into the warehouse, his baritone dropping to a barely concealed hush. He shook his head. "They're dogs. They're like children. They're unpredictable," he said. He fingered the phone in his pocket. Jersey would find it odd, that the dogs aren't there for her to walk. But he couldn't tell her to come here and get them, could he? He'd have to explain far too much. But maybe she wouldn't ask if he told her not to? "I don't know if this is a good idea..." he said, clearly paranoid.


<Charlotte Ruse> She pointed to the sky as she closed the door behind them. "I'm not sure we have the opportunity to get anywhere else though" She said and looked worried as her eyes found the dogs. "I, well, I don't know what else to do!"


<Peter Parkman> "They've had a long night. I'm sure they'll be fine," he said, though he did so with a grimace. They were dogs. They'd get hungry, and thirsty. They'd need to pee. He was lying through his teeth. Inwardly, he cursed Keara and Enver for being 'away'. He'd have called Keara, would have asked her to summon them all back to the Asylum. But would that even work on the dogs? "Does this place have a back door? Could I tie them up out the back? Maybe they won't be noticed there..." he said. Even as he said it though, he was uncertain. The dogs were like his children, and if anything happened to them, he would be devastated.


<Charlotte Ruse> "I.... we came in the back door." She said, pointing. "The front is where the guards office is." She looked around and frowned. "I think, 5 dogs tied up all day - would make people ask questions. Don't you think? They'd be taken by animal control, to the pound." She looked down at the obviously loved dogs and smiled at them. "I think, we're stuck."


<Peter Parkman> "Okay well then...." Peter huffed, defeated. "Then we find a room and we hide and we hope they don't find us, then," he said, still wondering whether there might be some better place for them to go, though knowing, rationally, that there was no time. "Please let there be a room. Just a small one. If we can lock them in with us, it will be fine," he said. He could feel that fuzzy feeling in the back of his skull; he knew the sun was coming up because every day, as soon as it did, he was out like a light. Dead to the world. His eyes were wide and desperate.


<Peter Parkman> "Okay well then...." Peter huffed, defeated. "Then we find a room and we hide and we hope they don't find us, then," he said, still wondering whether there might be some better place for them to go, though knowing, rationally, that there was no time. "Please let there be a room. Just a small one. If we can lock them in with us, it will be fine," he said. He could feel that fuzzy feeling in the back of his skull; he knew the sun was coming up because every day, as soon as it did, he was out like a light. Dead to the world. His eyes were wide and desperate.


<Charlotte Ruse> "There's.... no rooms here." She said softly. She really was a failure at everything and she wondered why she even bothered getting out of bed sometimes. "I'm sorry, its just, a big open warehouse with loads of shelves. There are different areas, but they are still just, big open rooms that the guards check all of. But, there are corners?" She said hopefully


<Peter Parkman> Peter gave a defeated shrug. "A corner will have to do," he said. There really were no other options and the two of them would just have to deal with the consequences as they occurred. The optimist within him told him that it would be fine. The dogs would sleep all day. They might go to the toilet nearby, but that was something the two vampires would have to deal with - not that they'd really know. "I don't know about you but I kind of just... pass out," he said. He hadn't ever had to test himself like this. He really hoped that if anyone were to come near him, that he'd wake up. That he'd be able to manage some kind of consciousness.


<Charlotte Ruse> "You..... what?" She asked, leading him into a corner she knew was hidden from the sight of the guards and looking around for something tomake it more comfortable.

[Peter Parkman]

[OOC: The following RP was set two days after the last.]

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

<Peter Parkman> After the conversation with Keara, Peter felt a little ruffled, and more than a little overwhelmed. Not only was he deprived of food and drink and sunshine--things that he had formerly taken for granted--he was now certain that he would never have sex again. Although he wanted to go to the library he avoided it, just in case he were to run into Jersey again. Not that he didn't want to see her, but because he was afraid of what might happen. He sat in the lounge with a book on his lap and a fire burning in the grate - a shudder of horror passed down his body, causing his whole body to shake. He tried to focus on the book.


<Charlotte Ruse> Charlotte headed down from Jonah's cell, feeling really rather hungry. Her bare feet padded over the tiled floor and towards the shop where she browsed all of the various merchandise for sale. Pointing to the blood pack sign, she asked if they came in rabbit as opposed to human and was told no, and no amount of questioning got her another answer. She sighed softly and turned to go back up when she heard the crackle of a fire. Curiosity getting the better of her, she pulled her dressing gown tightly around herself and wandered into the lounge to have a look.


<Peter Parkman> Peter was seated so that he had a good view of the room - always seated so that no one could possibly sneak up behind him. He caught the movement and snapped his head up - though he wasn't as startled as normal. He felt safe in this place, and so he should. He offered the woman a welcoming smile. "Hey, Charlotte," he said, the name rolling easily from his tongue.


<Charlotte Ruse> She hadn't seen him sitting there when she'd first walked in because she was too enthralled by the fire. So when her name was called out she jumped in surprise and turned to see him. It took her a minute, with the firelight dancing on his face and the lack of dogs making recognition more difficult, but she got there. Her smile grew on her face and she bobbed her head to him. "Hi Peter. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude. I can leave if you want the privacy?"


<Peter Parkman> Peter laughed and shook his head. "If I wanted privacy I'd have gone somewhere more private. It's a public space. And Enver seems to keep hinting that I need to ... meet more people. Want to come sit?" he said, gesturing to the numerous couches around-about.


<Charlotte Ruse> She smiled and nodded her head, stepping more fully into the room and taking a seat close by him but not too close. She curled her bare legs up onto the seat beside her and then covered them and the rest of herself with her dressing gown, because all she had on underneath was her teddy, which was barely decent. "You mentioned him before. Enver. Who is he?"


<Peter Parkman> Peter arched a brow, his mouth opening and closing in a dumbfounded expression. "I talked to Keara today. I told her she needed to contact you," he said with a concerned frown. He didn't like the way Charlotte seemed to have been turned and then dumped. He chose to believe Keara had good reason, and that she would make up for it. "She never shuts up about Enver, I'm surprised... he's Keara's husband," he said. He put the bookmark back into the book and put it aside, willing to fill Charlotte in on the things she might not know.


<Charlotte Ruse> "Oh! Ok!" She scratched at her knee absentmindedly, feeling really stupid in front of this man. It was like Jonah all over again, with her showing how little she knew and them looking at her in that way that she read as them thinking 'idiot'. "You didn't have to tell her to talk to me. I know I was a mistake, one she probably just wants to forget happened. It's fine." She stared into the fire, smiling at the dancing flames within. "I hope you're well though?"


<Peter Parkman> Peter had learned all about Charlotte's turning, and he didn't like that she thought she was a mistake. "I'm pretty sure if Keara didn't want you, she'd have just let you die. She's not unfeeling, Keara, I think she just has something going on. She won't tell me what it is, but she won't let anyone see her but Enver," Peter explained. "I'm good. Fine. I think. A bit.. overwhelmed," he said with a snort.


<Charlotte Ruse> She ignored what he said about her not being a mistake. Keara had even said as much at the time, that she'd not meant to stab her. She was only around because of guilt, and she'd forever be a reminder of that woman Keara had hated so much that she'd wanted her dead. What she did concentrate on, was him saying he felt overwhelmed. "You only think you're fine? What's.... wrong? Why overwhelmed?" Then she suddenly realised how forward that might have seemed so she hurriedly added. "I mean, only if you don't mind sharing. I.... I don't want to pry!"


<Peter Parkman> There were certain secrets that Peter had that he couldn't share. He wouldn't mind people asking. He'd decline answering, apologetically. But in everything else he was an open book, and didn't mind in the least. "You can pry as much as you want. I'm not much 'older', really. Three weeks maybe. It's all a little bit overwhelming. I was turned because Keara and Enver were arguing and they kind of... fought over me. I should really be dead. And then today..." he shuddered again, and grimaced. "... I find out that if we ... if I were to impregnate a woman, it would produce a monster that would rip itself out of her and probably kill her."


<Charlotte Ruse> "Oh my god!" She said, shaking her head. "What's with these people and telling us these things!" She shivered and curled a little tighter on the chair. "I got told the exact same thing last night, from Jonah. It was..... awkward, and horrible, and awkward." She shivered again and stared at the fire. "but, I was told - it's just if you have sex." She'd forgotten that in the whole thing, Jonah had said the word pregnant. But she'd been so horrified by the entire conversation that there were chunks of it missing and only the gist remained.


<Peter Parkman> "Well yeah obviously," Peter said. "And I suppose it can be prevented by the normal means, you know. Protection, whatnot. But the possibility is just... I can't even...it's going to kill and desire that I might ever have," he said, shuddering again. Though he did have to add: "Wouldn't you prefer to be told? I'd hate to have assumed you know, just because we're *dead*, that it couldn't happen. And then killing someone that way...." he shook his head. "I'd prefer to know that not."


<Charlotte Ruse> "Yeh, well, slightly different here" She mumbled, looking up to him. "You'd be killing - I'd be the one dead." She knew it wasn't possible, and she had nothing to worry about from these fadebeasts. But she had a part to play, and she couldn't deny that it was a horrible and very disturbing thought. But then, she wondered.... how it worked. Because nothing was the same as a vampire, cause there were powers and all sorts. He seemed to be well versed, so maybe he'd know.... "Do you know? If either person were..... infertile. Would it still happen? So, you know. Get yourself the snip - and you're fine?"

[Charlotte Ruse]

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




<Peter Parkman> Peter appeared to think about it for a second, and then shook his head. "I don't know..." he replied. "I remember I...when out with the you know, the zombies, I wasn't so great. They wounded me and i healed almost immediately, back to the way I was. I'm not sure it would work. I think we'd just go back to the way we were, heal as if it never happened. Wouldn't we?" he asked. Yet another question to ask Keara. "I just imagine my sperm now being a hoard of little... gnashing toothy alien god-knows-what and it almost makes me want to neuter myself," he said, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.


<Charlotte Ruse> "Yeh, I was shown the zombies last night" She said, shuddering. "But a hunter got me so we had to...." Her voice trailed off as he talked about his sperm and thinking about being neutered. She couldn't help but shift slightly in her chair, pressing her thighs together just a little in remembrance of those thoughts and wishes.


<Peter Parkman> He wondered whether he was making Charlotte uncomfortable. Peter was oddly comfortable, given the way he'd been the last few days. It was nice to be able to talk about these things freely, and not have a mild panic attack every two seconds. His finger found a hole in his jeans and he fiddled with it idly. "Sorry. But see? Completely overwhelmed. I like it here. I can hide away from the overwhelming things and just... become a recluse," he said with a laugh.


<Charlotte Ruse> "Except when a 'sister' comes and disturbs your hideyhole" She chuckled softly, trying to shove aside the thoughts in her mind that were threatening to take over. She looked up at him and offered him a small and friendly smile. "I know what you mean. Every day I learn something new that just.... blows my mind and knocks me for six! I mean, in one night – last night - I learnt about zombies and fadebeasts, within a few hours. This is why I've not been able to rest and sleep properly! My dreams were filled with.... things!"


<Peter Parkman> "Well see that's different," he said, with a philosophical edge to his voice. "'Sister' says it all. You're like me. We don't have to be a secret to each other. One bit of advice I'll give you - don't make friends with humans. It's a constant challenge to keep what you are a secret," he said. "Or maybe Enver's right and that's just me, over-analyzing everything..." he said with the furrowing of a frown. "I suppose we'll get used to it, sooner or later?" he said, hopefully.


<Charlotte Ruse> "Well, if you're like me - you're a survivor." She said, with that same philosophical edge. "Things change, and you adapt and survive as best you can. And, friends with humans isn't an issue. I'm... not the most sociable. You and Jonah are the only ones I've spoken to in weeks - unless you count the customers in the shop that is."


<Peter Parkman> "I'm not sociable either but sometimes things just happen that you can't help because you can't change who you are," he said, matter-of-fact. "I doubt either of us would be here now if we weren't survivors. "I could say the same - I can count my solid acquaintances on one hand. I don't mind it. It doesn't bother me."


<Charlotte Ruse> "It would be nice to have some good friends though. People to shout on in a time of need. It's something I've never had, but, you know, always looked appealing when you see it in films." She looked at him thoughtfully. "So, what brought you to Harper Rock?"


<Peter Parkman> There it was, that question that he had to lie to answer. He gave the same line that he gave to Jersey. "I was married. I got a divorce. I tried to stick around but couldn't. Felt like I needed a change, and they had a job for me at Harper Rock University. So I took it, and I moved. Maybe six months ago," he said. "And you?"


<Charlotte Ruse> That sounded like a rehearsed list to her, but only because she herself had something very similar when asked that question. "Came here almost a year ago now I think, to go to the university. But with the fees they were asking, I couldn't afford them so dropped out. But just, hung around."


<Peter Parkman> Peter nodded. "What were you studying?"


<Charlotte Ruse> "Beauty" She said quickly. "Hair, make-up, that sort of thing" She'd certainly been to classes to learn, so it wasn't a complete lie.


<Peter Parkman> Peter frowned, just a tiny bit. He hadn't know the University offered that kind of thing. The University was more of an academic place, and beauty, hair and make-up seemed more like a trade than an academic pursuit. But then he did suppose he'd been ensconced in one school of the University and had no idea what went on outside of it. "I suppose that's still something you could do now, if you really wanted to," he said, vaguely.


<Charlotte Ruse> There was a slight frown onhis face, but she just took it to mean that he didn't think she'd be doing that - because she looked such a hot mess. However, she just smiled a little smile at him and nodded. "I could, but I'm quite enjoying working in the bookshop just now. When it's quiet, I get to read anything I like. And there's some really fascinating stuff there!"


<Peter Parkman> "Aha," he said, and then pondered for a moment. "Do you think they'd have any vacancies? I don't think the University is going to support me for much longer. I cut down to just doing night classes, but I keep calling in sick. I could keep writing papers, I suppose..." he said, but the idea of working in a bookshop sounded mighty appealing. Maybe it would be a step backward, but what did it matter? He needed some simplification in his life right now.


<Charlotte Ruse> She smiled fondly at him and nodded her head. "Yes, I'm sure I can ask for you. The boss is family, so I'm sure he can find you a place. So, you know, shouldn't be an issue with the hours and such"


<Peter Parkman> "The boss is family?" Peter asked. "Jonah?" he asked, jumping to the conclusion.


<Charlotte Ruse> She nodded her head, still smiling. "Mmm Hmm. That's him. You know him?"


<Peter Parkman> "Vaguely. Not really," Peter said, glancing toward where the cells were, remembering the first time he'd 'met' Jonah. That had been a rude awakening, if any.


<Charlotte Ruse> She followed his gaze to the cells and wondered how long she'd been chatting for. She was beginning to feel a bit more settled and relaxed after talking with Peter, glad she wasn't such a freak in totally spazzing out over these new experiences, as he was doing it too. She yawned and then looked back to him. "I'm sorry. I didn't sleep well last night. Would you excuse me? I think you've settled me enough that I can maybe sleep some more? I've enjoyed this though. Perhaps.... perhaps we can meet again?"


<Peter Parkman> Peter laughed and nodded. He quite enjoyed his knack for calming people down, even when he himself might be having a bit of a mental breakdown. "Of course. And I'm sure we'll definitely see each other around. "Ask Jonah about the bookshop," he said. If he ended up getting a job there, too, they'd probably see each other so often they'd get sick of each other.


<Charlotte Ruse> "Of course." She said, standing up and making sure she was all wrapped up. "I'll ask him next time I see him. You take care until then!" She smiled, bobbed her head at him and then padded back the way she'd come.