[Pathday 3] Two steps forward, one step back (Enver)

[Keara Aithne]

A night out was exactly what they needed and even if they didn’t have any real plans, at least none that Keara knew about, it was still nice to just take a moment to appreciate the world outside of their familiar four walls. Keara was almost dressed and ready to go, her usual seasonally inappropriate outfit already on as she perched on the edge of the bed and began the somewhat arduous task of lacing up her new boots. Gizmo was acting oddly like a cat and was trying to catch the laces every time they flicked in front of his cute little snout, something which actually made Keara smile, as if he was content with the lacs, it meant he wasn’t chewing on the leather.

“Well…erm…Told you this I had already…Yes?” she replied, her head down as she concentrated on the task at hand. “Though perhaps not…Not sure I am that any this story I have told…Hmm” Keara stopped what she was doing for a pensive moment and then went back to twisting the laces around the hooks. “Story not one is that like I do of to speak. As well…in my right mind I was not.”

Enver had asked her why she had bought the Asylum. There were many building in the city that should could have chosen to purchase, some in equal need of refurbishment and yet she had chosen a home that had once housed the mentally insane.

“Fitting place seemed it did for me,” she continued.

Keara had little to hide form her husband and he had only a week or so ago witnessed one of her episodes. So it was perhaps a little easier to explain now than it would have been, as while her episodes were few and far between these days, there was always the possibility that she might get lost within her own mind again.

“Talked I did then Nox. Quite often. The moon my friend was. My comfort. As were the walls. The floor. Lampposts even. Like those I do…though…” a colour rose in her cheeks slightly, “perhaps noticed that you had not, as by the time that met we did, able I was myself a little better to control.”

Enver knew she wasn’t perfect, hell she even drove him mad some of the time, so it probably wasn’t hard for him to believe that his wife would have at some point believed herself to be crazy and would therefore have considered the Asylum to be the perfect place for her and her kin.

“Found this place did one day…and day too I do mean. When first emerged I did, sunrise a mystery to me was. So long had I that orb not seen that found I did it hard for the timings once more for to adjust. And senses that me would have told that dawn close was…well…worked so well then they did not. Quite often sought I refuge for the day too late and the suns kiss upon my flesh did feel before I a space found for to rest and darkness my mind did encompass. One of those days it was, when I this place did find. Next night explored it I did. Think you not that this place quite something is? Know I do that much changed has since then and that saw that you did not but still…exterior alone extraordinary is. Beauty there is in the architecture. Yes?”

She wasn’t sure if Enver had even considered the exterior of the building but she had. She’d touched every stone of the walls that she could possibly reach, both inside and out. She admired the place, as much as one could admire a building. Keara wasn’t one for getting attached to people or things, or at least she hadn’t been in her first life and so would likely not admit just how much she adored the place; especially now that it felt much more like a home.

((Memory 1))

[Enver Marshall II]

They were going out tonight to spend some time together. Time that didn't include the **** they'd dealt with the last month. It'd be nice and just because they were married didn't mean they couldn't go out on dates. Enver was busy figuring out what shirt to wear when he had asked her a question that had been on his mind since he had met Peter and tried to scare the kid about Keara. He had mentioned that she had lived in an asylum to get the kid to high tail it away from the couple the night he was sired, but he hadn't been fortunate enough to shake them or get the idea in his head. Or, Keara had been that adamant, which was probably what the case was. Still, he'd been curious after he tried to run Peter off before he had a hand in his siring as to why, of all places she lived there and made her family home it too.

He just shook his head at the question, grabbed a white shirt with a two word saying and some blood splatter on it,because the shirt was more or less what he ended up saying a lot since being with Keara (not that he minded). It was more or less his answer to anything when he was wounded, no matter the wound. As he slipped it on, Keara relived the reason as to why she picked this place, which caused him to frown. Sure, he said and thought a lot of the things she did was crazy, but it was more in the sense of he couldn't believe she did it, not actual, actual crazy. "The place?" He looked around and nodded his head. He hadn't given it much thought until now, but it did have some decent structure to it. "Yeah, it's not in too bad of shape, considering it's age and how long it was probably not being used or anything." Enver agreed with her, though it had been recently renovated.

Once the shirt was on over his head and torso, he moved over to his wife and sat on the edge of the bed to do his sneakers up, shooing the dog away with his hand as he tried to give Enver the same run for his money as he did Keara a few minute ago. "What was it like coming back out for you after all that time? Sure it's a hell of a lot different then coming out after a week or a few handful of days. In my case." Enver looked over to his wife as he bent moved to the other shoe, wondering if she'd talk about it.

[Keara Aithne]

Thankfully for Enver while Keara had a talent for hearing meanings in his words that were not there; the idea that he might have been talking about her rather than the building did not cross her mind, as it was true to say that she too wasn’t in bad shape for age either. Instead she took the words as they were intended and gave him one of her quirky smiles by way of appreciation; she liked hearing him say nice things about the building, even if they were vague as this was his home too now.

The question that he then posed took her back slightly. Keara wasn’t too fond of recalling painful memories, though she was decidedly better at it now than she used to be, and this memory was of a slightly sensitive nature. Unlike her husband, Keara had few issues these days when it came to opening up to him. It was probably true to say that she was an open book to most people, as she would happily discuss anything with anyone, if they were curious enough to actually come and speak with her.

“I…well…” she wasn’t sure where to begin and as she finished up on one boot, she took a moment to scratch Gizmo behind the ear before starting on the next one. The small critter had slunk back to her after being ushered away by Enver and was half hiding from him as he settled between her feet. “Confusing time it was. When returned I did. Know I do that you that place do not like and spent you have not the time in there that I have,” a soft sigh escaped her lips. She closed her eyes and collected her thoughts, her hands trembling ever so slightly as she recalled what was by far the worst time in her life to date.

The shadow realm had been her home for the better part of two centuries and in that time she had been tormented beyond her breaking part. Keara had considered herself to have had a purpose in her first life and to have had that stripped away from her was what really begun her mental breakdown. In those first few months and years she had kept hope and had searched as far as she could go within that realm. She had but one goal and that was to find her sister and more importantly her sire, a goal she never obtained. When she began to realise that she was alone, that was when the madness first took a hold of her, as she was a soldier without orders, without a family. A small part of her longed to give in and let the darkness swallow her and yet it never happened. As time crept on she lost her skills, her connections to her family faded and she was left with nothing more than her own mind for company. If she saw another in that place their contact was brief, as Keara found the only way to keep herself alive (if one could consider themselves to be alive in there) was to keep herself away from others, for she feared losing anyone else and knew that to let someone in, was to open herself up to pain.

She’d been quiet for a moment too long, and knew if she could not force the words from her lips soon that her husband would begin to worry. Gizmo, sensing the shift in her emotions was wriggling around on his back as if itching, as he tried to get her attention and perhaps try to cheer her up.

“When returned I did,” she eventually continued, her shaky hands continuing to work her laces as best she could, “everything changed had. The city unrecognisable was. The lighting my eyes did sting and at times still does. Unnatural amount of light there was. Remember that clearly I do. Knew I did not where I was for I the stars in the sky could not see. Naked I was. Alone…Stayed I did in the shadows and by the wall of the Morgue. The world changed had and knew I did not if I the strength to survive it had. The scents, the sounds, there nothing was for me that familiar was…save the moon. Perhaps that why spoke I did to her. Stayed I did by the water too…for a while…as water constant is and changing. If that sense makes. Drew I did my strength from which us does weaken; nature. Told you I did that I a child of the forest was…yes? When I human was. Much peace to be found there is in the world, if know you do where to look. So looked I did…and listened.”

As she told her story her voice changed a little, as the nerves and fear she’d felt changed into one with a lighter more hopeful tone. As much as it had been a dark period in Keara’s life, those first few days back in the real world had been the start of a new life and a new path and one that had led her to the man she now sat beside.

“Clung I did to that which touched could be. Know you do not how good it was for that sensation once more to have. Ran I did my hands over anything that held or touched could be…so long as it not living was. Feeding a strange sensation with it too brought, as while feared I did for so close to a frail being to be, euphoria I felt when I from their veins did drink. Even now some issue do I have…if honest I am. Learned I did for to feed again. Stalked I did the city. Turned I did my first few childer. Childer had I never had in my first life. Wanted them I did not. But here, in this time…a necessity they were. Needed I did for this era to learn. Their help had I need of. Know you cannot how strange it is for cars and phones for the first time to see and know not what they are. First rule of survival Enver. Important it is.” Keara looked to her husband as she finished tying her shoes. “Adaptation. Learn we must always to adapt or die we surely will.”

((Memory 2))

[Enver Marshall II]

Enver never really doubted the elders had been gone for as long as they claimed to be, just some of the **** they spewed out of their mouths, minus what his wife told him. She didn't have a reason to lie to him, there was really nothing she could gain from lying to him in his mind. He sat there and listened, then frowned when he tried to imagine what she would have been like when she escaped as Keara described it. It seemed impossible that his wife, the woman he knew would be anything like that. So confused and lost. If anyone knew her, those certainly weren't traits he would associate her with. Sure, she wasn't always sure about the lingo he used from time to time and other various things, but she eventually got what he was meaning or saying from other sources or from him personally.

The male stood when she was done talking, and collected her hands in his and tugged her to him with a small grin. "Think everything turned out alright. Even if it didn't seem like it would back then. Speaks about your strength, that your family sees when they meet with you or see you posting in the family area." He captured her lips for a quick kiss, then nudged his head to their bedroom door. "Come on. We're going to be late." Not that his plans couldn't allow for them to be late, but the conversation had been deep and caused something to stir in his wife. An emotion that he hadn't intended on bringing up in her. So he turned the conversation on himself as he wrapped an arm around her lower back and tugged her in the direction of the door.

"You know, I think I was a handful of months when I died for the first time. As a vampire that is. Had River kill me. Too many people were making it a blood sport. Trusted her to do the job and not take pleasure in it." He gritted his teeth, cleared his throat, then continued on. "Had a hard time feeding. Think it was because I was so new to vampire life and who I was. Press was on me a little. Wondering what I was doing here and wondering about certain rumors." He shrugged his shoulders. "River visited me in there once or twice. Along with a few others. Made the time go by faster, I guess. Made the time not so bad and kept me from going crazy, I guess." He pushed the button to the elevator to call it to them before he continued on. "Think it's crap someone has to ask someone to kill them so they don't end up getting *** ra-mobbed by a group or three groups. Heard one of the groups sort of retired and one went defunk or whatever. Still doesn't matter or change things. Anyways," He paused as the door opened and took a few steps in before he continued. "Not much of a fan of that place, as you know. First few times wasn't real nice to me. Wasn't sure I wanted to come back, truth be told." He cleared his throat, thinking about the number the place did on him. "Think if some of them ever spent the day in there, you know after being killed, they'd think twice about ****."

Enver nodded his head and pushed the G button, telling the elevator where they wanted to go. "Guess that's why I'm feel so strongly about that place. Does things to people. As you just said from your own experience." Just then a cheeky grin pulled on his features. "I ever tell you about the time I sort of played a masked vigilante, more or less? Was after I came back the first time..." His eyes held a devious glint to them, as he waited to hear from his wife if he had told her about some of the things he did back in the day.

(Memory 1)

[Keara Aithne]

His touch made her smile and she was pulled up from the bed in a commanding and yet tender movement. Enver’s words were comforting but it was the kiss that cleared her mind of all the negative emotions that had welled up within her. Gizmo protested the display of affection in his usual manner and chased them to the door, whereupon he went quiet as he didn’t want to draw any attention to himself as he snuck through the door at the last minute and waited for the elevator with his owners, his little tail wagging. Keara knew he was on their heels but didn’t mind as he would be just as safe on the main floor of the Asylum. As he would be in their room. He was such a cute little character that even if someone did break in, they’d likely leave him alone.

She’d not hear the story of his first death before, at least not in detail. She knew he’d died a couple of times, as he had mentioned something about not being a stranger to the dark realm but she’d never really pushed him for specifics. She knew a little of how his last experience in that place had been for him and yet they’d never really discussed that either. So as he spoke, she listened. The thought of Enver in that place was not one she was overly fond of either, so as he continued she brought the hand that wasn’t wrapped around his back to his chest and clung lightly to his t-shirt.

“Oh no…” she shook her head slightly. “Believe I do not that you me of that have told. Wish of course I do that to hear but first question for you I have.” Keara turned to face her husband, wrapping her arms around his neck, her head tilted slightly to the right as she looked into his dark eyes and very almost lost herself before she begun to speak once more. “Think you that that place changed you did? Does? Every time that go there you do?”

Gizmo gave himself away by barking again, his tiny paws pulling at Enver’s pant leg. He was jumping up and trying to either tell him to let his mother go or he was trying to get Enver to instead focus on him. Keara and Enver had yet to decide the reason for the small creature’s jealousy, but they were certain he was happier when he was the one in the spotlight, so to speak.

[Enver Marshall II]

"Well, yeah. I mean, every time you do something you don't want to do, or go some place you don't want to, how couldn't it?" Enver shrugged as he looked down at the dog, the twinkle still in his eyes, as he moved past the question. Obviously, he had something to share and was either quite proud of it, or was amused by it. Maybe both. "Was some of my best work, a while back." He started out, eyes moving back to his wife.

"Think it was after my second death that I did it. Seems about right. Thought it would be funny and sort of a last, stick it to the man bit." Enver cleared his throat as a small chuckle escaped him, trying to retell the tale as serious as he could. "Second death, was mobbed by a couple groups, while I was out and about. First death, took care of myself before anyone had to step in. For my offenses." He clarified. "Second death, wasn't smart of me. Got in to some trouble with some cops for what I guess is the wrong reasons, now." He shrugged, not bothered by it as he pushed open the door to the home. Then stopped short of pushing it open, thinking better of it.

"Anyways, came back and started watching the obits people were posting. Some first time offenders, some posting it as what seemed like sport. Well, saw some guy who posted an obit once and took a swing at me too the last time I died. Not far from Wicksbridge bank, probably checking his blood money in his account." The males teeth gritted together as he cleared his throat. "Learned some new tricks by then. One in particular." His sly grin pulled on his features again as he relived the tale. "I knew the person he killed that night. We were acquaintances, you could say. So dressed up as him and attacked him. Did that for a few people and bounty hunters back in the night. Since a lot of bounty hunters had taken a swing at me, I knew what they looked like and was easy to take on the appearance of some of the people I knew and had been good to me back in the day.Was like a last laugh sort of thing. Bet they wondered how someone they killed a day or two before got out and attacked them. " He lost his serious tone then and barked out some laughter, remembering how posts were even started on Crownet about it years ago. How no one ever suspected and still didn't, to this day that he was the ghostly vigilante that ran the streets of Harper Rock, sticking it to the man; or in this case many of men and women. "Haven't done that in a long time, but was worth it back then." His head nodded before he shrugged his shoulders. "Just felt like all those people who were killed while sleeping in their beds should get a bit of revenge, even if it wasn't from them personally. I'd be pissed and god knows what I'd do if someone came and yanked you out of our bed."

He pushed the door open then, once his tale was told in the privacy of their own home and held out his free hand, down to the dog. "No. Stay. We're going out." Enver then looked at Keara, "Ready to go?"


(memory 2)

[Keara Aithne]

He skilfully evaded the question and that fact didn’t go unnoticed, though she did nothing to bring him back to it as he excitedly began telling her of his previous exploits. She knew his past was a colourful one, in more than one way and so she listened, shaking her head occasionally as he spoke. She had a smile on her lips, so it was clear that she wasn’t angry at him for what he’d done in the past, in fact, if he’d of pressed her for her opinion on the matter she might have told him she thought the plan to be quite clever. While Keara thought her husband to be a saint (most of the time) she was quite aware of the fact that he was not, though she’d likely not admit that. His faults and failures where as much a part of him as his strengths and triumphs and she had no desire to change him. (Though she desperately hoped he’d learn from his mistakes and prioritise his own safety a little more often). When his story was nearing completion, she pulled his hand to her lips and pressed her lips lightly to the back of it.

“Hope I do that that day also never comes I do. Though worry I do for you in the same regard, and ease my mind you do not with such tales.”

She was perhaps chastising him with her words, but they were as light-hearted as they were serious and she pressed herself against him as he opened the door and claimed his lips as her own. This action of course sent Gizmo into one of his doggy tantrums and he barked or rather yipped his disproval until they parted.

“Takes he does after you,” she said as she stepped back and glanced down at the pathetic creature at her feet. “Wondered I did where learned he did for so naughty to be. You his role model must be. If find you chewing on my boots I do, surprised I shall not be.”

Keara didn’t joke very often, but she had become more playful with her words. The thought of Enver biting her boots made her laugh and she paused at the door just long enough that she began to feel bad for leaving Gizmo when it was quite clear that he wanted to come with them. With this thought in the back of her mind, she bent down and scooped the critter up into her arms.

“Tell daddy then,” she said holding him out to Enver. “Wants he does for with us to come,” she said after a moment’s silence in which the pup was supposed to be communicating his wishes. In reality however he wasn’t so much trying to communicate as he was trying to lick Enver’s face and squirming franticly in Keara’s hands to get at his target.

“Well My Love?” she asked, her tone laced with hopeful optimism. “Think you not that he fun in the catacombs shall have? Likes he does at creatures to bark…almost as much as likes he does at us to bark.”

[Enver Marshall II]

"Yeah, well you never know." He said. "Seems people are being killed left and right without anyone even knowing what's going on." He shrugged his shoulders. "Could be nights before someone knew you were dead." That might have been a bit of an overstatement, because Enver highly doubted his wife would let half a day go by without wondering where he was at and truth was, he was more or less the same. He didn't comment on his habits or way of life, because there was nothing to comment on about it. He was too damn busy with work and doing these crazy situations with people shooting at him all the time whenever him and his wife entered some buildings that had some people in it that were up to no good.

He didn't comment on her kissing the back of his hand either, even though his brows raised high at the gesture. It still wasn't something he was used to, but so long as no one else was around, it wasn't something he was going to make a big deal about. A scoff escaped him when Keara compared the dog to him, his head giving a single shake. "Barely see the thing. He's always following you around." Enver pointed out, as if denying it and more or less saying Gizmo took after her.

"I don't know.." Enver started out, resisting a groan that was working its way up through his throat. "Might be nice to get away from him for a while. Let him explore some stuff in here on his own. Maybe meet some new family members." Enver was regretting getting a dog with each night that past and tonight, was one of those nights he wouldn't be too sad if Gizmo got left behind.

[Keara Aithne]

Unwilling to discuss or think any longer on the idea of one of them dying, she turned her attention fully to the squirming ball of fur in her hands. Gizmo was pulled back to her and petted gently while she mused over the idea of him not coming with them. After a few moment’s reflection, she placed him back on the ground and bid him to sit, which surprisingly enough he did.

“Back later we shall be Gizmo. Behave. Yes?” she asked as if expecting some sort of reply and then before the critter could get back to its feet, she closed the door, shutting him in. “Are we hunting going?” she asked.

Keara was still unclear what the plans were for the evening and half hoped that they were going hunting and that that was the real reason Enver didn’t want the pup tagging along, as he could easily get lost or injured in the catacombs. This thought however didn’t last long as his words seemed to suggest, yet again, that he had no real love for the creature.

“Enver? Do you Gizmo not like?” she asked outright and without hesitation. “As say you do that wish you do time away from him. If wish you do not for a dog to have, find him perhaps we can a new home? One in which thrive he can. Likes you he does. Or so to me it seems and yet…well…treat him you do like an annoyance.”

There was a part of her, possibly even the larger part, that didn’t want to give her puppy up and yet the offer was made regardless, as she’d do almost anything to keep her husband happy and it was a small sacrifice to make in the wider scheme of things. He had brought her the puppy, that much was true and she hadn’t wanted him at the time but now there was something about the creature that drew her affection and she actually enjoyed spending time with him. Gizmo was even learning to hunt…whenever Enver wasn’t around that was. If left alone for even a few minutes, Keara would begin chasing the tiny thing around the room and winding him up, until he began to chase her. She’d even gone so far as to buy him little clockwork cat toys he could pounce on, though he wasn’t very good with those yet.

[Enver Marshall II]

He didn't answer her question on what they were going to do. If he did, he'd probably give away what it was they were going to do and truth was Enver liked surprising his wife when he could, however that was. The male wrapped an arm around his wife as they walked, only to be stopped by another question from his wife. It made him snort lightly at the question before he glanced over at her from the side. Enver's gaze fell on her eyes and remained there, lost in her set as he focused on the words home, thrive and family.

For some reasons those words and perhaps standing besides his wife in this moment, knowing where they were going brought Enver back to the night he decided to act on what he knew. Or more, what he felt. The various internet sites Enver looked at, trying to sort out what it was he, or rather, they needed. He wouldn't admit it, but a small part of him had Deanna to thank for that, being she blabbed her mouth (as usual) about something he didn't know and should have known about his wife and what it all meant. Countless hours were spent searching and validating things he found online, discarding things that he only saw once or twice, or wasn't quite sure were true or needed for the ritual that was so important to his wife, which would, in time, become important and mean more to him than the ritual of the modern day marriage he took part in as a human and the ritual with his second wife, as a vampire.

Was a broom, any broom acceptable? Did colors for the knot matter or could he pick what he liked (which he ended up doing anyways based off what his wife liked and what he had found meant for color schemes). Then the most difficult part. The nights he spent trying to figure out a ring he knew his wife would like, one that fit her personality, one that her style. He had the rings narrowed down to three choices at most before Enver was sure he had it figured out. And so, the male bought it, professed his love for her in his odd way, confused the hell out of her, and now here they stood. A chuckle brought him out of the thought, before Enver cleared his throat and shook his head no.

"I like him just fine. Even if he is sort of spoiled." Enver dropped his arm from around his wife, grabbed at her hand and rubbed a quick thumb over her wedding ring. "Besides. He's family. Even if he can be a pest, can't just up and get rid of him. He's ours." Enver yanked her in to him to steal a kiss, before he looked in the direction of his theatre. "Maybe we'll hunt. In a bit. Got the whole night ahead of us." He nodded his head in the direction of the Cherrydale district. "We're heading that way, so anything is possible." He slapped her ***, gave her a wink and dragged them off to his theatre.

(Memory 3)