Politics and Gossip [Zane Vermillion]

[Lancaster]

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


<Zane Vermillion> Sitting down at the bar he smiles over at Elliot, a small smile on his face as he fixes his new grey jacket making sure there isn't the slightest disturbance on it. Sitting up straight and looking around the place with new eyes he thinks to himself. Well I died but came back something else. Ghouls ghosts and goblins all real. "Hello there Sire, it's good to see you. I would like to tell you I proudly didn't kill anyone in my lust for blood and have been keeping on the path for good. Did you know they sell blood packs at the store? I have been finding those pretty useful even if it's not the same as biting into the neck of a human." Faking a shiver he laughs a bit before looking at the drinks with a sigh. "I will miss the stuff though, harder to drown your worries away when you are like this. "Oh crap!" He looks around from side to side and then lets out a sigh of releif. "Gotta watch my tongue here.. Sorry got too excited. Damn though, how careless of me."


<Elliot d’Artois> It was the same time, really, as it had been the first night that Elliot had met Zane. He tossed the tea-towel over his shoulder and glanced left and right as soon as Zane called him 'sire'; the same greeting he'd heard from Cytherea not long beforehand. When Elliot ascertained no-one was listening, he calmly placed his palms against the sink and leaned forward, one ankle crossing over the other. The shirt he was wearing was red, tonight - still button-up and collared, still rolled to his elbows. Elliot nodded. "Pretty sure I told you about the black market stores the first night," he said. He distinctly remembered it. He smiled, though: "I forgive you - it was a big night, you were bound to have forgotten certain things," he said.


<Zane Vermillion> A light chuckle escaping then as Elliot tells him that he is forgiven. His mind wandering with all sorts of things he wants to tell him as well as ask him. Closing his eyes then he looks around once more. "I learned a neat trick by the way, I was walking on water. It was pretty cool.I felt like jesus. I even did the whole act from the bible." Laughing a bit he shakes his head once again before opening his eyes and leaning closer. "I found the quarantined zone and guess what I found?"


<Elliot d’Artois> Elliot laughed, too. Zane's excitement was a breath of fresh air - there were so many whom he had turned who weren't so enthusiastic or excited. Instead they blamed him, and their accusation filled him with guilt that he would never be free of. He was relieved to see Zane so happy, and he'd like to keep the guy from discovered the dark, twisted bitterness that seemed to be the core of this city. He leaned forward a little more to make sure the conversation was just between them: "Zombies?" he asked, and then added hastily: "Walking on water is all well and good but just don't be seen, okay? I wouldn't want you to get yourself killed by those in this city who think they are all righteous and holy."


<Zane Vermillion> "I was sure nobody was looking Elliot. Not a human in sight as far as the eye could see. I just had to do it when I tried it out, it was awesome. I think I spent a good time just walking on it." Laughing lightly a smile lighting his face he shrugs a bit. "The answer was zombies that's correct, you still drink right? Want to have a scotch for me?" Looking around he gives his shoulders a shrug. "I tried fighting a feral vampire earlier.. I am glad I was faster then it and could run away."


<Elliot d’Artois> Elliot chuckled under his breath and nodded. "Before you know it, you'll be slaughtering the monsters left, right, and centre," he said. Elliot had not long since come to terms with his own abilities; that he could kill any monster that faced him, almost, and he could do it easily. And he enjoyed it, too, though that was something he wouldn't admit to anyone. He leaned down below the counter and retrieved a bottle that looked like red wine, but it wasn't. It was one of Ariadne's special brands of blood, hidden in a cabinet that only the staff in the know had access to. Elliot poured the blood into a cognac glass, pushing it over to Zane. "Give this a go. Ariadne is a colleague, of sorts - she owns Arbor Vitae winery. She has all sorts of ah... specialized blood," he said. Elliot didn't ever ask how she procured the blood. He preferred not to know.


<Zane Vermillion> Looking at the wine bottle he purses his lips for a long moment reaching out he takes the glass swirling it around slowly. He looks into the glass for a long moment suddenly remembering that night he brings the glass up to his nose inhaling the liquid slowly, before letting out a stuttering breath. "Oh it definately passes the smell test.. " wetting his lips then he gulps before bringing the glass to his lips and carefully taking a long sip, showing some self control though he puts the glass down whistling. "Taste test too. How is it made do you know or is it some deep vampire secret that goes back thousands of years.?" Chucking a bit he takes the glass quickly and takes another sip.


<Elliot d’Artois> "I have no idea," Elliot said. The blood had to be kept at a moderated temperature, and was always delivered the same way. He himself had only been able to try it in the beginning, but since that had completely forgotten. "I don't particularly want to ask," he admitted. He got a vision of some human farm somewhere, where blood was taken periodically from the vein. He hoped it was just a blood giving service that people came to willingly, under some guise. While Zane tasted the blood, Elliot procured a glass for himself. He didn't pour Scotch, though. He poured Whiskey instead - his poison of choice.


<Zane Vermillion> Finishing his glass he closes his eyes, savoring the aftertaste for a moment before placing the glass down and rubbing his stomach. "Couldn't drink another drop, thank you for that. "Opening his eyes slowly he looks around slowly and carefully before speaking in a low voice. "One day we should go out hunting monsters together, it would be fun to see how a pro does the job. I am sure you could handle a feral vampire. Maybe you can introduce me to some of the family or something too. Would be nice to do something together if you wanted to." Taking off his jacket he places it down revealing the black shirt underneath. "Clothing is getting expensive, tempted to fight in the nude to be honest with you. I bought my clothes in bulk though. So I shouldn't have to buy anymore for a while... Maybe, at this rate I am going to be having to make another trip sooner then I expected."


<Elliot d’Artois> Elliot nodded. It wasn't a bad idea. He'd given Zane the weaponry, but hadn't taught him how to use it properly. Elliot himself had picked it up on his own, bit by bit. He was sure his swordplay was sloppy, but it now felt as if that sword were an extension of his own arm, and when he fought, it was trance-like. Frenzied, even. He got the job done, regardless. "There's a forum you can go to," Elliot said, in regards to family. "A Crownet forum. If you go say hello there, you can organise to meet a few people yourself," he said. "But you are right. I'm pretty... slack. I should try and organise a get-together. We're a.... disparate group," he said with a wry smile. It used to be a matter of high regret to Elliot - yet another thing he blamed himself for. But he could hardly control other people, and if they didn't want to stick around or try to be social, then there was nothing that he could do. "But yes. We can go slaughter a few things. Could be fun."


‹<Zane Vermillion> › Zane listened to Elliot closely as he mentioned the forum and gave his head a slight nod. He would do just that in the future. He really wanted to meet up with more family and get to know them, he was just very curious to see what they were all like. Closing his eyes he let out a little laugh as all he could think of is more vampires like Elliot. "Is the rest of the family as nice as you?" He asked, curiousity dripping from his words. He shook his head then when Elliot said he was slack. "No it's fine, if you don't want to trouble yourself getting something together then don't. I am sure I can be a big boy and meet them on my own." He thought for a moment about slaughtering things with his sire knowing it would be fun. "Yeah it would be very fun, perhaps we can schedual it in the next time we meet up. Not quite sure I have the energy to go out and do it tonight, just feeling a little lazy." He thought for a long moment then, just sitting there tapping his fingers on the table. What did he want to do right now... Something lazy but he wants to spend time with his Sire. "Well.. Why don't we spend the rest of the night educating me? I am thirsty for knowledge and you are a fountain for it. Tell me about the dangers of the world in a little more detail?"


<Elliot d’Artois> "Hell, no," Elliot said in reply. Sure, yeah, there were some in the family who were nice. But there were also reasons why Elliot avoided them, sometimes. They were so full of drama. He laughed, and then shook his head. "No, well, if they like you, they're fine. I'll introduce you to Pi, for sure - she's my ah..." he coughed, "...better half. And the woman who sired me. Reilly is probably as nice if not nicer than I am. Asteria and Aidan most of the time come as a pair - Asteria probably more approachable than Aidan, but again - if she likes you, you're fine. Jia! Jia is a happy thing. You definitely have to meet her..." Elliot rambled. Again, he laughed. "So I suppose it was a lie. They're all pretty great. You just need to force them to come out and play," he added. He nodded, happy to organise some slaughtering for the next time. It seemed as if Zane were willing to settle in for a nice long conversation. Elliot nodded to this, too - he called to one of the other bartenders and said he was going to go have a break, and gestured to one of the booths, indicating that he and Zane should sit in private. When properly seated, Elliot answered: "Well, tell me about the dangers you already know about first, and then we'll go from there," he said.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › He was a bit surprised by the aggressive no but it only made him all the more curious as to what they are like. He bit his lip though hoping they would like him, he will need to make a good first impression so he can get on the family's good side. If they are just fine if they like him he doesn't want to know what they are like if they don't. A small smile curved his lips though at the mention of being introduced to his better half. "Why the cough? Something else about Pi? I can't wait to meet her though, especially since she is your sire. She must be a very poud of you, you seem like a very successful man." He listened as he noted all the names in his head, picking out some people he really wants to meet one of them being Jia. "Yeah, I will bug them later and tell them I want to meet with them." Getting up he followed Elliot into the booth and sat down. He thought for a long moment before looking towards the door. "Honestly not much, I know zombies and feral vampires can be dangerous but I can handle them pretty easily now. Other then that.. Nothing really specific, I know some vampires might be dangerous and probably some humans as well. It's why I want a more in depth explanation of it all."


<Elliot d’Artois> "Yes and no. Pi has a different of success than you might. We have some very different views on specific things. But more about that later," Elliot said. There was a whole gamut of bad and uglies in this city that Zane had yet to learn about, and Elliot ticked over them all in his head before he took a breath and started to explain. "Right, well. In the sewers you'll get the Hunters and the Paladins. They all think Vampires are evil demons that deserve to go to hell, and won't budge on their opinion. Best to just kill them rather than try to question them - I've tried that. It didn't work. In the catacombs up North West of the city, and the Mausoleum - I have an apartment there I'll give you a key for, too - there are the Mooncalves. Big ******* ugly creatures that look like a science experiment gone wrong. The ancient zombies - like regular zombies, but older. Tougher. Every now and again, in random places, you might come across a Fadebeast. They're like something out of Lord of the Rings - you know, Balrog? Made up of old flesh and stitched together with shadows. Probably a little more suave than the Moonies. Fadebeasts are born when two vampires bump uglies without protection. No pretty sparkly vampires are born, just monster that tear their way from the torso. So avoid that, if you can. Got all that? Want me to keep going?" Elliot laughed.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › Zane listened intently noting that Paladins and Hunters need to be killed on sight and if he isn't strong enough to run like his life depends on it because it probably will. He was ready to accept that some people would hate him just because he was a vampire. He also notes that he has a safe place to stay for the day if he ever decides to go hunting ancient zombies and.. Mooncalves.. Sound like some demonic cow or something. He really wanted to see one now and would probably take the time to go out and test his might against one, just so he knows what they really look like. He laughs a bit as Elliot says bump uglies but also realizes it's no laughing matter. He will have to be careful about that in the future if he ever finds a vampire who he would like to spend eternity with. "Yeah I got it all just wondering how we die and what happens when we die. Is it all over or can you take the ashes of a fallen vampire and ressurect them? I think I seen that in a movie somewhere I know it's probably bs but.. Just as an example"


<Elliot d’Artois> "We can die, sure. We can come back, too. Some people choose not to, I suppose. I've never been there. Different paths die in different ways. Most disperse into ash. Most come back, waking up in the morgue. Don't ask me how it works, it's just really strange. Unless you're a Mystic. Mystics seem to come back in different bodies - they look different. There's probably a whole philosophy behind it," he said, pondering, almost ready to delve into an in depth philosophical discussion about the soul and the physicality of the body - or is anything physical at all, ever? "As far as I'm aware you have to find a door that'll bring you back to the real world. But I'll give you a tip," Elliot said, leaning in conspiratorially. "You just ... not die," he said with a grin and a wink.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › He leans in towards Elliot his curiousity peaked and was barely blinking at all. Taking in every word the man said each one a treasure cove of knowledge to him. He wondered if he would turn into ash if he ever died, he hope he never had to go through the misfortune of dying. It was a bit of a relief though knowing that he would come back to life if he found some door. He suddenly was very glad he wasn't a mystic, it would suck so much to come back in a different body. Where would that body of come from anyways? Just some random fresh body in the morgue? That really isn't for him. As soon as Elliot said he would give him a tip and leaned in he also leaned closer towards Elliot expecting some amazing trick to be told. "Huh?" He sat there a little dumbfounded before a smile lit his face and he laughed lightly. "Good one, don't worry I don't plan on dying anyways."


<Elliot d’Artois> Elliot nodded, glad that Zane didn't plan on dying. Though sometimes, given the assholes who liked to patrol the streets (and the Crownet), sometimes dying isn't part of the plan, but it ends up happening anyway. "Well, to that end, I can recommend a few things. Don't ever be seen feeding. Or performing any....tricks. Don't do anything in large crowds that'll give you away for what you are because if someone sees you who shouldn't, you'll be in a world of trouble. They'll hunt you down and they will kill you. I don't agree with it. At all," Elliot said, a hard edge to his voice - one of the vital things that he and Pi disagreed on. "I'll be stubborn sometimes and will do small things. Like wear a t-shirt in the height of Winter, because I can," he said with a laugh. "But in the grand scheme of things, best just to stay off their radar. It's a gang, called Tytonidae. They relish killing people for breaking the Masquerade," Elliot explained.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › Zane nodded slowly, he already knew not to break the Masquerade. It would be very dangerous if someone found out about him and gossip would spread quickly and soon every baddie out there would be hunting him. He closed his eyes and imagined the entire city chasing after him with torches and pitchforks and shivered visibly. "Yeah, it's a shame we can't do things because we can. I can imagine I will have to watch out, walking on water could get dangerous at times even though I love to do it." He furrowed his brows though as he mention the Tytonidae again. "Can you tell me how they go about doing it? Do they go out in a group or come after you one at a time.. Tell me more about this Tytonidae group.."


<Elliot d’Artois> Elliot nodded. He remembered, now, that he had already warned Zane about not breaking the Masquerade. But one couldn't be too careful. He took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes, staring into space for a second or two before recalling the things that Elliot himself had learned about how Tytonidae hunt. "They hunt in a big group. They have all sorts - they have trackers and telepaths, and they have wraiths. Meaning they have near inexhaustible energy and resources to track you down - no matter how safe you think you are, hidden at home - and kill you. They teleport you out, to some deserted place. And then they slaughter you like a prize cow," he said. Yeah, that was about how it worked.

[Zane Vermillion (DELETED 5241)]

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




‹<Zane Vermillion> › His eyes went wide at what Elliot told him next. They really were a force to be reckoned with then, he never planned on breaking the Masquerade but just in case someone spotted him doing something when he was careless he started thinking of places to hide. "I wonder if I would be safe from being teleported if I was standing in the middle of a river or something. Probably not though, they will be able to walk on water as well. So if I get caught doing something I am pretty much boned is that what you are saying. Is there anything I can do?" He looks into Elliot's eyes then searching them for an answer.


<Elliot d’Artois> "Not really, no," Elliot said. He sighed. He knew he sounded defeatist, but he wasn't sure he'd heard of anyone hiding from Tytonidae for very long. "You'd only be prolonging the inevitable, no matter where you hid. And you'd be hiding forever. Because you're new - if somehow you do slip up, you come to me and you tell me. I can tell Pi. She is friendly with the leader of the group - maybe they'll hear you out, if you admit to it," he said. It wasn't ever something that Elliot would do. He was too stubborn. But he wouldn't want to see Zane hurt, either, and so would not suggest that he be stubborn, too. "We have a fort, I suppose you can call it. It's underneath an abandoned railway - all the tunnels in, every single entrance, is trapped to the wazoo. You'd get yourself killed just walking through those traps. The only way in is by toming in - special scroll, things, that take you directly to where they're bound. Madison was hiding in there. She was still found. As I said, it's only a matter of time," Elliot explained.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › Zane gave a little nod at that, he would admit it right away to them and hope to be spared. If he did slip up, he had no intentions to but accidents happen sometimes he would run straight to Elliot and probably beg for his life. He isn't a coward but by the sounds of things it would be either beg or die and he didn't want to die. "I will definately come straight to you so we can work something out Elliot." He stopped talking though quickly as Elliot mentioned a fort hoping it would be a place to hide and then his hope rose as he was told how trapped it was and hard to get into then blinked rapidly. "What? How the hell did they get in there then without dying?"


<Elliot d’Artois> "I'm not really sure of the specifics, if I'm going to be honest with you," Elliot said, his expression twisting into something resembling regret, and disgust. "The entire incident... well, afterwards I figured the Den wasn't really a safe place. I think there was someone on the inside. This is what I mean - Pi and I don't agree on everything, and I think she may have..." Elliot sighed, shook his head. He wasn't certain on the facts, and so he would not gossip. "I avoided the place. It's kind of tainted," he said. "Quite a few traps were destroyed, so I think one or two of them might have been nursing a few heavy wounds for a while," he added with a smirk.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › He shook his head slowly, the den didn't seem safe at all for him now either that he knew. He wouldn't like to be there either after a story like that and the implications it held. Someone on the inside? Yeah that is the most likely answer which irks him even more. The thought of family turning in one of their own disgusts him. "Why would family turn in one of their own, that is so wrong on so many levels. I hope I never find out who did that. I am not sure I could keep my cool around someone who would do that. I am glad though that quite a bit of those traps were destroyed and they got hurt though. Vampires hunting other vampires..."He shakes his head and his face twists looking sick just at the thought of it. "Someone should get a group together and show them what it's like to be hunted and make a game out of keeping them dead whenever they pop back on grid."


<Elliot d’Artois> Elliot shook his head. "It's more complicated than that," he said. Yeah, it pissed him off too, but he'd always been a man who liked to put himself in someone else's shoes and try to see the other perspective. "Madison was a repeat offender. This time, she didn't do anything other than speak out against Tytonidae in a public forum, and they started hunting her. She retaliated. But they'd sent her to the Realm for breaking the Masquerade before. Her hiding in the Den, and Tytonidae showing that they were willing to try to break through our defences - more people could have got hurt. You'll find there are those in our family - Doc, and Catherine - who are also members of Tytonidae. Pi herself tried. She didn't get in, because she cared too much about her family. Thing is, what I'm trying to say, is that there's conflict even within our small group. We don't all see eye to eye all the time," he tried to explain.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › Reaching up Zane started to rub his eyes with his fingers, still shaking his head. "I don't care about that, family should not turn on other family members especially when that gets someone killed. Repeat offender or not she can speak out against them if she wants to, that's not a crime and them doing what they did is just an abuse of power. They deserve to get hurt for that, the family should of banded together and protected her. I don't care if we have members of that gang in our family but when push comes to shove family should always come first. Be upset with eachother, cause drama do whatever.. But in situations like that where someone's life is on the line you don't turn your own family member in and you help protect them." He lowers his hand then clenching his fist tightly and his teeth gind together angrily before hitting himself in the leg rather hard. "I don't want to know who betrayed Madison, is Madison still around or did she just give up living after that incident? If she gave up living I am just going to go out on a rampage right now. I am so pissed off. My father was in the loonie bin and everyone was laughing at me calling him crazy and stuff.. Did I give up on him? No never, I never gave up on him and beleived him." Zane stands up slowly shaking with anger.


<Elliot d’Artois> Elliot laughed. He wasn't laughing at Zane's passion; in fact, the rant made him prouder than he knew he could be. He held out a calming hand. "It's alright, Zane. Calm down. A few of us did band behind Madison. I wasn't around as much as I could have been, but I'm not sure she holds it against me. I tried to help her, while she was gone. As far as I am aware, she is back, yes. Her contact is on the Crownet, too - I'm sure she'd appreciate someone tracking her down. I can even tell her, if you like, that you'd like to say hello. She'll be able to tell you the story better than I can. I'm not sure anyone DID screw her over. Don't go on a rampage on false information. Make sure you hear all sides of the story, first," Elliot said. It had always been his philosophy, anyway. "I'm glad you feel that way, though. But just wait until you get to know them, first, and come to your own conclusions," Elliot said, warily.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › He took a deep breath, sitting back down he just closed his eyes for a long while breathing in and out and counting to ten. He listened to Elliot though and nodded his head slowly. "Yeah, I want to talk to Madison about it. Meet the family and come to my own conclusions but.. I swear I won't see them as family if they put that gang over family. I just won't be able to, I will never recognize them as family and if I do.. I will feel sorry for them. Sorry that they don't know what it really feels like to have a family. Even some homeless families have more pride and.. I am just going to stop talking about it until I can think on it with a cool head. But I don't want to figure out if they are traitors and backstabbing.. Ugh!." He closes his eyes tightly again feeling rage bubble up again. "I can already tell you that I hate that gang. I hope they all end up burning in hell. Can't take someone lashing out at them on a forum and kill someone over voicing their own opinions."


<Elliot d’Artois> "I know, my sentiments exactly," Elliot said, pondering himself for a few seconds before continuing. "You want to know what I've learned in this city, being what I am? The 'families' aren't like human families. Sure, we might share the same blood but it's not the same. We haven't grown up together. We all have different backgrounds, different opinions. This... becoming this, it changes people, and a lot of the time for the worse. Some people you'll meet and you won't want to consider them family. Trust me. They'll be so beyond what you'd consider a respected, reasonable person. You decide who you want to consider family, even if they're from outside d'Artois. And you stick to them. You cling to whatever loyalty you can find, to whatever goodness you can find. Because there's not much of it around," Elliot said. Perhaps a little bitter, but it was the truth. And Zane deserved to hear the truth.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › His head drops and he looks to his lap shaking his head slowly. "Elliot, that doesn't matter... Blood is thicker than water. It doesn't matter how much you hate someone in your family when the time comes you put your life up on the line though and go back to hating them after it. Even good close friends those ties can fade but family ties.. They aren't ever supposed to. Family isn't chosen I was born into this world just as I was the last when I was human. I have a blood family here.. I desperately want them to be family. You have no idea what that means to me. " Letting out a sigh he shakes his head sadly. "Oh well, I will speak to family members and find out who I like and trust and give them my loyalty. Others that think that family comes first.. The ones that don't, I won't trust them but will still love them like family."


<Elliot d’Artois> Elliot's lips press into a thin line. Zane reminded Elliot of himself, when he was first turned. Oh, the things that he would do because hew as naive, and because he didn't know any better. Listening to Zane now, Elliot realised that there was nothing he could do to stop Zane from walking the same path. Zane would just have to figure it out for himself. Elliot hadn't grown up with a huge family; he'd been travelling the world for over half his life. The entire world had been his family, and he'd treated it as such. Blood didn't mean anything, when it came to civility. But he'd lost a lot of his zest in this city. He'd lost a lot of his love for strangers. Trust wasn't as instantaneous as it once was. "Good. When I see them, I'll shove them in your direction," Elliot said. He didn't want to rob Zane of his need for a family. Maybe he would find one, in the misfits that made up d'Artois.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › Letting out a long sigh he looks up and nods. "I am glad, I hope I can meet them but I am happy to say that you are my family Elliot. I really wouldn't of wanted anyone else to turn me, thank you for that." He wanted more family though, he wanted to meet his blood even if they ended up horrible people they still are family and that is something he holds sacred. "I am fairly certain I will like Madison though, anyone who would die then come back and voice what they have to say.. I respect that and it takes a lot of guts to do that. I am not sure I would of been able to do that if I was in her shoes." He nods his head slowly, yeah he definately wants to meet her and gain her respect. "Say, knowing me a little better now who do you think I should look into meeting before the others?"


<Elliot d’Artois> "I had the opportunity to do what Madison did. But I didn't. It was complicated - I love Pi, but I followed in Madison's footsteps, I think I'd lose her," Elliot said. It was a point of contention. And anyway, he was happy doing this, what he was doing. He was happy to offer support and advice when it was needed. But in the end, he'd never been much of a leader. He didn't like to lead. Not really. And he loathed conflict. "Madison, for sure. Asteria, Cytherea - both definitely good sorts. Jia Li, if you can track her down. And Reilly - though he's a bit of a recluse. That's where I'd start, if I were you," Elliot said with a nod.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › He gives his head a quick nod and leans back relaxing. "Alright, I will definately look them all up. So we were talking about baddies before we got sidetracked with family. A nice sidetrack though, one I want to talk about more in the future but what else is there out there that goes bump in the night that I have to watch out for?"


<Elliot d’Artois> Elliot takes a breath, shunting his brain back into a different pattern, recalling information not about family, but again about the things that Zane should look out for. "Right. Okay. Uhm. The wilderness? Don't go out there, if you can avoid it. There are Fae. Fae dislike vampires - a lot. They will attack, and it's not pretty. There are also ah... Government Agents. Thieves. Gangsters. And Blood Thieves - they want to take your blood and sell it. Generally a no-no - that'll get you on Tytonidae's bad list," Elliot said. He stopped, lost in thought for a second, mouth slightly ajar. "I think that's it? Unless you go into the raids - sometimes clusters of things come together and all the vampire gang up to go and ... well, they call it 'killing the boss' as if they're playing some kind of video game," he said.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › He freezes as the man mentions Blood Thieves and his eyes go a little wide as he looks worriedly down. "I didn't know that would get me on thier bad list... I um.. Well I saw one of them already when I was walking down the street and they offered me money for some blood and I.. Well I knew I could just feed on some blood later and I wanted to make a couple bucks and. I am not on thier bad list am I? I won't do it again ever, I didn't like the process anyways and didn't plan on doing it again. It was rather unpleasant giving blood to it.. I just wanted to try it out. I am sorry."


<Elliot d’Artois> Elliot laughed and shook his head. "I'm sure it's fine. I haven't seen you on the list. I did it myself a couple of times back when I was desperate for some cash. I've got three flourishing businesses now, though, and have got more money than I have ever had in my entire life. Put together," he said. "I'm not gloating - but I have more than I need, more than I know what to do with. So if you need some, don't hesitate to ask. You'd be doing me a favour, taking it," he said. And then, suddenly remembering - "Reilly? He's the one you should talk to you if you ever need anything desperately. We've got over a million dollars put aside for family, if they need any of those big ticket items. It's required that you pay the money back, if you borrow it from the family funds. But it's there. And it's Reilly you'd need to talk to," he added.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › He lets out a long sigh of relief as Elliot said he wasn't on the list. Thank everything that he isn't, he was about ready to crawl to them and beg for forgiveness. "I am good for money now, I don't really want anything and I need to learn to make it for myself anyways.. I can't have you buying everything for me I would feel bad. I am not even sure what I would want. I have been doing bloodpacks mostly lately though, it's time and energy saving. It lets me focus more on training. I am thinking I might want to start stealing things though soon enough... I am not sure my path is really good at much else. What do you think I should do?"


<Elliot d’Artois> Elliot gave a long shrug. He'd settled back in the booth, long legs sprawled out beneath the table, and even a little out over the edge. Long fingers started to play with the coaster that had been left behind, picking at the cardboard corners. He always had to have something to do with his fingers. It was the curse of being a musician. "That's completely up to you and what you're comfortable with. What you think you're good at. I don't know you well enough to tell you what you should do, and even if I did - well, I was always told to do what made me happy," he said. "It's advice I gladly pass along."



‹<Zane Vermillion> › Yeah, it's good advice. I don't think I would really be happy with the life of crime to be honest. Maybe I should just focus on getting stronger and when my fighting skill is sufficient then focus on starting a business or something of my own. I don't know time will tell. Sure it would be nice to start walking down the right path and plan for the future but.. You never know what tomorrow brings right?"


<Elliot d’Artois> "Yup. Don't force anything. Just let it happen," Elliot said. "I came to this city with no skills, bar music and tending bar. I never stayed in a job for more than two months. That's pretty much how I did it - I slaughtered things and practiced and got good with a sword. And then Pi bought me this place, as a surprise. Thought I might like it. I thought I'd screw it up, but turns out I'm actually an alright boss," he chuckled. "And then opened two more businesses. They take up the majority of my time and energy, and that's fine. I like it like that," he said.


‹<Zane Vermillion> › He gave his head a slight nod before standing up and stretching. "Well I better get going Elliot, gotta find myself a place to sleep. Still trying to get a decent sleep schedual going. I am tired though. If you around tomorrow though I would love to come back and hang out for a while if you would like."


<Elliot d’Artois> "Sure," Elliot said, standing too, and frowning. "You know you have plenty of places you can stay, right? In the Mausoleum. And if you can find the Grigori Watchtower - there's a huge complex in there, devoted just to d'Artois. Or you can just stay upstairs, if you want. There are rooms with bunks in them," he said, pointing to the roof, and then gesturing to the stairs at the back of the pub, near the toilets. "You're welcome anywhere that I've given you a key to," he added.