Path of the Vampire forum

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

Doc: *Text* Call me dammit!

Catherine Nilson: *Cat frowned at her phone. Why did he text her to call him, why didn't he just call? Just when she thought she understood her dad a little more. She dialed his cell and waited.*

Doc: Doc: His phone rang and he recognized her number, He as soon as he saw it was Cat, he was relieved, but then who did the ash belong to... His eyes went to the security camera. His voice was distracted as he proceeded to rip Cat a new one. More because he had been worried she was dead, and when she was not in Eyrie, after Vel said they were all to rest in Eyrie and when he found the ash and blood, he of course, automatically assumed it was Cat. But it wasn't. "Did you not hear Vel say everyone rest in Eyrie!? What part of Everyone.. don't you recognize!? Do you have a ******* death wish? Tomorrow your *** better be in Eyrie or I may kill you myself!" He hung up abruptly and went to play back the security tape.

Catherine Nilson: "I'm hunt-" He hung up on her and she sighed. Bleh.

Doc stopped the security camera from recording immediately. It was set for loop recording. As long as there was nothing to save, the camera would record automatically over the top of the previous recording. He had not been back to the lab in over 24 hours. Jenny, Janet, Julie.. whatever the **** her name was, had left at lunch the previous day and had taken the afternoon off. While the recorder was keying up, He called his assistant, and told her there had been a biological accident, and lab would need to be vacated for 48 hours for cleaning. He made arrangements for her to follow up with all the doctors and the hospital while he arranged everything else.

Doc turned his phone off. He didn’t want to be interrupted as he watched the footage. It was just after 4am the previous morning when it happened. The main entrance of the lab burst open. The lab had been dark, so the recording was dark. He paused it and leaned in to have a closer look, no faces were visible, but he could make out at least three people. One of the three definitely had a sword. He hit play.

The scene played out, with a small figure being rushed and overwhelmed by superior numbers. There were at least three or four against one. It was readily apparent that the gang was hunters, and their target was a vampire. As the hunters surged around their victim, the vampire’s face lifted briefly, allowing the camera to capture it. Doc recognized the curve her jaw before it was obscured once more. He knew it was Lia. From the pile of ash, he now knew how the fight ended. She had not survive the fight.

Doc’s jaw clenched as he watched Lia take slice after slice from the hunters’ blades. She fought well, even took an arm from one of the attackers, which explained the blood pool and trail. His face took on a grim visage as the recording showed her losing ground, and the hunters swarming her. Wounded and losing energy Lia parried the flurry of blade thrusts until one hunter got lucky and got her in the neck. It was clear that the blow staggered her. It was a critical blow, and it slowed her down, giving the hunters the impetus to press their advantage and hammer her hard. Doc watched as she stumbled and fell to her knees. She never saw the blade that severed her head.

Doc knew he had to let Micah know. But this wasn’t something he could do over the phone. This needed to be done in person. He had made death notifications before, but that was not what bothered him. He knew Micah could be volatile, and he was prepared to take the brunt of it. In fact Micah’s ire would almost be welcomed, compared to having to tell Sparrow. He arrived at Eyrie, and sought out Micah. Once finding him, he asked, “Micah.. can we speak.. just you and I?”

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

Micah: Micah looked up from the laptop he had opened in front of him. It wasn't often that Doc sought him out and in fact he could probably count the number on one hand. He knew that he needed to remedy that, and try to be more social with the other faction members but now wasn't the time to dwell on that. He frowned and shut the laptop. "Of course." Glancing around the area he nodded in the direction of the balcony that wrapped around the tree. "We can step outside."

Doc nodded wordlessly, he made his way to the area pointed out Micah. Once outside, he schooled his face to be as blank as possible, but despite his best abilities, deep concern was etched in his eyes. “I have some disturbing news. Lia was killed…” He was going to say more, but He couldn’t.

Micah: He stopped dead in his tracks. Lia. He didn't want to believe Doc. Lia was a strong, capable fighter. Micah knew this and his first instinct was to rage and call him a liar. But then he looked Doc in the eye and he knew he wasn't lying. "Killed? When? Who? Why?!"

Doc: Doc held out his cellphone to him. He had beamed a copy to his phone. If it was his spawn, he would want to know how. He would want to see. There was nothing he could offer, that Micah would not be able to see for himself.

Micah: He took the phone from Doc noticing that his hand shook ever so slightly. It was like a scene out of a bad horror film, but it wasn't a movie. It was real. Lia had done her best but in the end it was just too much, too many and she too injured. He squeezed the phone just a little too hard forgetting entirely that it didn't belong to him. Pieces of plastic and metal fell to the ground and he squeezed his eyes closed trying to banish to images but it was if it was burned into the backs of his eyelids.

Doc: Doc knew there wasn't anything he could say to ease Micah's pain. He still had to break it to Sparrow. He pressed his lips together, and nodded in silent understanding to Micah before he left him outside alone.

Micah: He didn't even notice the man had left. He just stood there, staring at the ruined remains of the cell phone that had been in his hand for several long minutes. Finally his feet propelled him forward and he ran, leaping over the edge of the balcony managing to land neatly on his feet. His body shifted, a black wolf taking shape then he was gone, blending in with the night.

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

Doc: Doc had just left Micah on the balcony, after giving him the news of Lia's death. He could tell that Micah was not one to want to share his grief, and he had quietly left him on the balcony. He sighed slowly, the easy one was over. Now he had to tell Sparrow. Lia always mentioned her with such fondness, he knew this might not go well. He had spoken to Sparrow briefly, and she had inspired him several times, but he really couldn't say how she would react. He imagine what it would be like to tell Lia that Sparrow was dead, and he braced for 'that

Sparrow: Sparrow sat at the computer desk that was tucked into one corner of the Eyrie, skimming through a security system that seemed to be more simple than most to crack. She didn't hear the sound of footsteps approaching her over the clack of keys, but took pause when she heard Doc speak. She swiveled her chair around to look at the man and offered him a smile. He'd mentioned in passing last night that he wanted to speak to her. The short, thin woman logged out of the computer and abandoned her hacking attempt; there was nothing particularly interesting she'd run across anyway, and she had some time before her program finished creating a new script for her to use. Sparrow stood. "Wherever you'd like to go, I'll follow."

Doc: Doc motioned to the elevator, "The third floor,.. I have a hut." He waited for the door to open, allowed her enter to first, and then followed suit. He wasn't one for polite conversation. His conversation typically ended up getting his slapped, shot or glared at. So even though it was awkward, he allowed the silence to rule, while they rode up. When they exited the elevator, he silently directed her in the right direction to his hut. As they neared it, he stepped ahead to open the door for her, he again tried to offer her a smile, it wasn't the failure like his earlier attempt, however, it wasn't one the engendered confidence either. He moved to the chairs and sofa by the fireplace. "I have some distressing news.. " he said as he waited for her to sit and get comfortable.
Sparrow: furniture to her own hut for fear of the thing falling from the branches to the ground because of the added weight. She sat, then, on the sofa close to where Doc was. Distressing news? From him. She furrowed her brow and tried not to frown. "What's happened?"
Doc: Doc returned her gaze, his brow furrowing as the appointed time had come. He tensed. He wasn't one to do sympathetic hand holding, because as someone told him recently, he looked creepy even when he was trying to be sincere. So he silently willed Sparrow to understand, as he said quietly, "Lia was killed." He said nothing more, he had done plenty of death notifications as a doctor, and he learned in some situations, less information was better.

Sparrow: A frown happened this time, and the furrow in the woman's brow deepened. "Killed how, exactly?" she questioned, voice not yet carrying a hint of distress. She folded her hands in her lap, her brain slowly working through all the possibilities she could think of that would have lead to such news. "And when exactly did it happen? It wasn't all -that- terribly long ago that I last spoke to her." Or least it wasn't that long to her, anyway. She was a hermit. Several months between interactions wasn't 'that long' to her. She kept her gaze on the man as she waited to see how he would respond.

Doc: Doc allowed a small sigh of relief to escape as Sparrow stoically responded. His estimation of her crept up. He mentally reslotted her from the 'fragile female' he had previously taken her for, to a 'watcher'. Watchers were most often overlooked, but they saw more than people realized. They also liked to have information before reacting; they tended to have the ability to read other people's reaction much better than the average person. He backed off his previous thought, that he would lie if necessary, he would see how she reacted and adjust on the fly. "It happened yesterday. By hunters. A group..had it been one on one, She would have been fine."

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

Sparrow: The woman allowed her expression to shift to one of unmistakable distaste. Her mind went from working through her thoughts at a pace that allowed for contemplation to one that produced almost too many possibilities to keep track of. She thought Lia would be more careful than to get caught anywhere she could get ambushed. The fact it happened yesterday didn't help any, either. Had they gone after Lia because they had been hunting her for what seemed like ages now and couldn't keep a grasp on her? Had Lia been doing something to warrant their attention, and lead them to trying to draw her out by attacking her childe? "When yesterday?" Her voice still carried no real hint of emotion. She just needed to know if she had been found before or after Lia had been killed.

Doc: Doc imperceptibly lifted an eyebrow as her question. The timing was important to her .. why? He wouldn't ask her now, because the reason may come out on its own, but it was indeed curious. "About 4am." He could tell her the exact time. 4:12am. But he did not wish her to know his security camera had caught it all. If she knew he had access to the footage she may demand to see it. It was not pretty, far from it and he would keep that from her.

Sparrow: She'd been found after Lia had already been killed, then, and not by anymore than about two hours. She'd been skulking around, finishing up a couple of break ins before people started waking up and shift change happened in some of the industrial complexes she frequented. "And where was she killed?" If it was anywhere with a camera, she'd need to see footage. If the same idiot that had come after her was involved with this, she'd have some hunting of her own to do once the currently bandaged and hidden gash on her thigh healed up. She almost hoped at this point her sire had been ambushed inside a building, even though it would've lead to a lessened chance for her to escape.

Doc: She was tenacious, he would give her that. This slight petite female definitely wasn't the shrinking violet type. But he could be stubborn, and evasive. "Genesis Labs." It was true, he just failed to admit ownership of it, to her. Doc watched her face for a play of emotions. Though her voice was seemingly devoid of emotions, he recognized the posture. It was details and work first.. react in private. She was pinning down details, categorizing them for.. what? She was working on some sort of hypothesis of who the attackers were, or she did already know who the attackers were, and locking down proof? There would need to be a sharing of information it seemed.

Sparrow: "Is it safe to assume that you have access to the place, then?" It'd been a long time since she had asked anyone so many questions. "And if you do, would it be possible to see if you could get access to any security cameras that might be in the building? I need to see the footage if there is any." She paused for a beat, then, considering whether or not she should explain her theory to the man. Even though Lia had never explicitly explained anything to her concerning her relationship with Doc, she wasn't entirely unaware of the fact she'd had feelings for him, and had been a lot happier than she had been with... whoever it was exactly that she'd been engaged to before for so long. (She'd only met him once or twice at best. She was allowed to forget.) Sparrow pulled up the hem of her cargo shorts, then, the loose material moving to reveal the rather large, patched up wound on the lower part of the inside of her thigh. "Because if it's the same gentleman who tried paying me a visit last night and ended up... tripping, I'll have some hunting of my own to do."

Doc: Doc followed her movement to her leg. He had not even noticed. Normally he would have noticed a wound, but he had allowed himself to become preoccupied. And the answer to her question was easy. But those three little words, 'I own it' seemed caught in his throat. As though by acknowledging it out loud, he was confirming that he had not been there to protect or even help Lia when she needed it most. He had only given her access to the lab recently. Had Lia known she was outnumbered and purposely come to him for help? And by doing so, had she given up any other strategic chance at survival, but gambled on him instead? He steeled himself for her denunciation of him, he could already picture the accusing look in her eyes, once it dawn on her. "I own it."

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

Sparrow: The Russian stared at the man before her in silence. At least his response took care of both questions she'd asked and took care of any pussyfooting around that might have needed to be done. "Then where do you keep the footage stored? There, or somewhere external so it can't be messed with?" She wasn't too worried about why Doc wouldn't have been there himself. She knew Lia hunted late, and that a lab of any sort wasn't a place for anyone to rest, especially close to sunrise.

Doc: He sighed. She just thought he would show it to her? No. The last thing she needed to see was how Lia died. How she was brutalized, no. He shook his head, "I am not going to let you see it." He pressed his lips into a grim line before adding. "I will not let her see it either when she returns. It would serve no useful purpose."

Sparrow: She quirked a 'brow. "I don't see what use Lia would have in seeing footage of how she was killed. She was there to experience it, even if she didn't get to see who exactly did it. I, on the other hand, know how to pick a lock and get inside places without tripping security systems, and have been being hunted by the same guy for almost two months now. If he was hunting both me AND my sire, I need to know." She still sat with her hands folded in her lap, back straight. She wasn't making a threat to trespass, either. She was simply letting Doc know that one way or another, she would see herself who had been responsible for killing Lia.

Doc: Doc's jaw tightened, she made an argument, without emotion and without being rude. But she still did not need to see Lia’s full beat down. "Their faces are mostly obscured, I will supply you with screen shots of them. There were four of them. All males apparently, but the lighting, angle and movement was such that I find it doubtful an Identity could be made unless you know the person well." He paused, "This person attacking you.. why have you not told us? Tytonidae? I would have helped you hunt him. And I still will, whether he is or is not one of Lia's killers."

Sparrow: Dark hair bobbed as the woman nodded her head once again. "Thank you. And I've not mentioned anything to anyone because I've been working on finding out his habits and schedule myself. It wasn't long ago that Carisa finally got into his good graces as a favour for me. She's working on finding out where he lives, rather than just meeting him in cafes around town during the day. She's pretending to be interested in hunting us herself." She lifted one shoulder in a light shrug. "Once I had that pinned down I was planning on letting Vel know. There's no use having her quarantine me to the Eyrie when I'll heal from any damage he can do by himself in just a couple of days. There's always a price to pay for information."

Doc: "You know Vel will be somewhat Annoyed when she finds out, that you had not said anything sooner. So be sure to have the dates, times, locations of all attacks he has made against you ready for her. Also have a list of his known associates as well. When we hunt him, we may need to check his acquaintances locations to find him. The more information you can supply all at once the better." He canted his head slight as he gave her a knowing looking. "If he attacks you agian, I expect you to tell me, Sparrow. There will be hell to pay when Lia gets back and finds out I let you get attacked and did nothing."

Sparrow: 'The more information you can supply all at once the better'. No duh. That's why she'd been waiting to say anything. Blindly going 'He hurt me!' to her faction leader would have been an utter waste of time and accomplished nothing unless she could make sure he'd be able to be tracked down. "I might be a childe, with an 'e', but I'm not a little kid. I know how Ty works, too, despite the fact I make a point to not hang around with everyone while they're grouped together. If he attacks me again, though..." She paused, and countered the man's look with an almost intentionally defiant expression of her own. "What either of you don't know won't hurt you, but I will tell you when it happens, especially if it's more than just him."

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

Doc: "Thank you." He saw her look and actually smirked. Feisty. Good she would need to be around him. Yes he could be dictatorial, yes he tended to tell people what to do, even if it wasn't his job. He was used to doing so, from the hospital standpoint, and then more so with being surrounded by so many ****-for-brain vampires currently running around the city. Most of them cared more about having a good time and their next lay, instead of building a foundation for the future. At first he was genuinely surprised how stupid and self-centered most of them were. But as time went on, it was just ******* easier to presume they were all ****-for-brains, until they did something to warrant that label being removed. The smirk died, as he replied with brutal honesty, "You may not want to tell me..or anyone, because you want to have viable information to bring forward. However, not telling us, not letting us be informed of these attacks makes us all vulnerable. Lia was a formidable fighter and was taken out without a chance to even voice she was being attacked. The same could happen to Nemesis.. or Jesse, any of us, and we would not be prepared, because we were not on own guard. Because we were not aware of attacks against a Tytonidae member in order to put us on alert." He paused, "I understand your reasoning. I would want to do the same myself. But it is a disservice to the rest of the faction, keeping such information from them."

Sparrow: Sparrow crinkled the bridge of her nose at that one. "I understand that." And it honestly wasn't something that she had consciously considered, but, in a way, had been why she never physically walked into the Eyrie. She always, always went elsewhere and then tomed inside, and most often used one of the portals on the third floor to get anywhere else at all. Her own home was not something that was particularly difficult to get in to (which is why she had it so haphazardly decorated and had, at one point, trapped it all to **** before Nemesis had used the place to hide in one day), but she'd never had the intention of leading a single person, mortal or otherwise, back to the treehouse. She'd gone so far as to fuss at Carisa to not use the main entrance. The woman moved to pull her legs up under herself, torso leaning to one side and hands unfolding to accommodate her new position. "I've been to the shadow realm only once, by my own hand, but I don't want to go again. And I certainly don't want anyone else in the faction to have to suffer through something like that, either."

Doc: Doc nodded, "It's not pleasant. And Lia will probably need some space and understanding when she returns.. so we will need to be mindful of that.. " he said it more to remind himself than to tell Sparrow. His temper could get away from him, and the last thing he wanted to do would be unleash on Lia after being freshly returned from the shadow realm. But bring his thoughts back to Sparrow's issue. "However, You are an equal member of Tytonidae, and even if you feel you can handle the situation on your own, we as your faction mates deserve the respect of at least knowing of the situation. All you have to do is tell us you are handling it for the moment. If it escalates.. like yours may have.. we can then be rallied much faster to come to your aid." He sighed, "I don't mean to come down heavy on you.. I get the impression you have a firm grasp of things, and you don't act rashly.. But **** if I am letting Lia's childe get fucked up, while shes away. Whether you like it or not.. If you don't have a hut.. you can stay here. You can have the bed.. I''ll take the couch.. I'm ******* used to it.." he added.

Sparrow: Well, an invitation to stay in Doc's hut was the last thing she had imagined might come of things. "Thank you. I do have a hut, but.. I'm not comfortable staying in something supported only by tree branches for extended periods of time. It's a little too far off the ground for my tastes." Never mind the fact that her house was on stilts over a swimming pool in Swansdale. "I like to believe that my house is pretty safe from intruders. There are, um.. more than a few traps up there you typically have to look for when you go inside. I wouldn't want to impose, anyway. Your bed is your bed."

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

Doc: "I'm a doctor.. I'm used to sleeping on couches. Half the time.. I can't ******* sleep unless on a couch or I'm exhausted from.. " stops abruptly, this is Lia's kid.. shut the **** up. "Fine.. but I want you check in with me every ******* night. And I mean it.. or I will hunt the **** down and drag your *** back here. Fair?"

Sparrow: The Russian eyed the man for a moment. She had no doubt that he was serious, and it was a fair proposition, really, though... "What happens if I say that it isn't fair, and that you'd have a hard time trying to track me down if I was inside my house?"

Doc: "Darlin..I will have Velveteen ******* help me.. I will get Zippy to triangulate your ***.. and then I will go in take all your ******* traps..claim abode that puppy.. Don't test me."

Sparrow: She smiled this time; even giggled a little. "I can see why Lia cared for you as much as she did. I'd almost started wondering if I was going to get an engagement announcement anytime soon." Despite the fact she was being serious, she did allow herself to make it sound like she was teasing Doc. Having someone breathing down her neck wasn't something that was was particularly fond of, but she did appreciate the fact that the man was so adamant about wanting to make sure that she was alright while Lia was gone. "I told Lia that she and Cai could have their reception at my place if they felt like it. I might have to forget to check in one night, or tell you that I died and you'll have to try and get back to me later, so that you can see how you'd like the spare room."

Doc: Doc's lip curled contemptuously at the sound of Cai's name. He had no respect for the ******* waste of skin, mostly because he treated Lia like complete ****, then when Lia breaks it off with him,.. acted liked a ******* dick to her. The look cleared as he focused on her words, "I will be ******* pissed if you tell me you died.. and I call the ******* cavalry in.. and you're snug in your bed."

Sparrow: Sparrow shrugged her small shoulder again. "If I myself told you that I was dead and you took me seriously, I think I would have to laugh when you came bursting through the door. I'm not really sure how the whole communicating from the shadow realm thing works, but it didn't last time I was there." She shifted around a little, and got more serious. "Thank you, though. For telling me, and wanting to help me."

Doc: Doc nodded lightly, "Yes.. you're welcome. But.. yes.. you can communicate with those in the Shadow Realm. When Madison was killed I taunted her via crownet email and answered back. I love ******* with her.." he grinned, "So yea.. if you can head speak.. and you told me you got killed.. I would ******* believe you.." his brow furrowed slightly, "So can you head speak?"

Sparrow: "Nope. I have no idea what you're talking about." This was, obviously, a lie. She used mind speak to tell him as much, then offered up a grin. "I wasn't talking about telling you with any special powers, though. Just a cell phone. I suppose it's good to know that some form of communication can be kept even when you're walking around in hell, though."

Doc: "See.. you can. So yes I would have believed you. Then when I found you.. I would send you to hell myself.. just to prove that I don't like jokes." He smiled pleasantly. "I find people learn best from experiences.. instead of words.. don't you?" He nodded, "I have a spawn that learned that lesson the hard way."

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

==========
few nights later
==========

Doc: *text* I am presuming that is your 'check in'? And that I .. a doctor.. do not need to come track you down to render first aid?

Sparrow: Sparrow eyed her phone when it pinged at her, then grinned. Rather than respond via text, she used mindspeak again. "Oh, woe is me. This place is so weird, and jumbled up."

Doc: He she was fuckign with him. And it even amused him, but of course he would never admit it. His eyes narrowed into devious slits as he texted back, *text* Oh Woe is me..the Birdie died. Le Sigh. I suppose she will not need these source codes. Ari will like them though.

Sparrow: ...the mention of source codes gave the woman pause. She knew for fact that Ariadne didn't particularly need them, as she'd regularly advertised the fact that she was willing to make people sets of scripts. Creating her own set of scripts, though, was taking more codes than she had originally thought it might. She couldn't let all her precautions be for naught, though. She did respond via text this time, but sent a picture she'd taken of a fadebeast to the man. *text* So what is this, exactly?

Doc: Doc read the text and grinned. No head speak this time. She was using fingers. The little beast wasn't above tormenting him, he liked spirited personalities. And he had completely misread her. He had taken her for a quiet almost timid creature, and here she was taunting him; albeit in a non-derogatory fashion. He saw the photo and the question, and replied, *text* A fadebeast. They are are powerful, they can hurt you, but they should be killed. If you don't think you can kill it, tell me where it is and I will.

Sparrow: Well, pfft. It seemed like all that running around woud be for nothing today. If the man HAD attempted tracking her, he would have found that it'd be an interesting task. She'd created several decoys around Harper Rock, visited every single transit station around the place, had visited quite a few buildings near the stations, and had gone through every fade portal in the Eyrie that she knew about. *text* I couldn't kill one if I tried.

Doc: Doc read the next text and frowned slightly. All kidding and joking no gone. This was business. And important business. *text* This is discouraging. You should train harder. They are a major threat to the masquerade. Even if difficult, you should be able to take one out. But you are on the puny side. So therefore you must train harder. Where is this one, I will dispatch it.

Sparrow: She tutted to herself. *text* I am not puny, thank you. I'm just small, and 5'1" isn't THAT short in the grand scheme of things. Plus I've gained weight! I'm 87 pounds now! Oh, and I don't remember where exactly that one was. Somewhere in the Eyrie.

Doc: *Text* Puny was a compliment. My first instinct was to say you were a stunt little runt. But I was afraid you might cry yourself to death. Then Lia would be angry. So I chose puny. I can nice like that. And if it is in the Eyrie, then it is alright. Those are there to keep others out.

Sparrow: *text* Well, I don't remember where I took that picture of it while it was loose in there. The reason I know I couldn't kill one if I tried is because I shot at it and it started chasing me, and I ran to hide. I wouldn't go near your hut for a little while, just in case it's still lurking.

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

Doc: Doc paused as he read it. Damn if she hadn't pulled the same stunt he did with Meka the mouth. *Text* Not to worry I will go dispatch it. And as it dies, I will tell it the story of the Little Runt that tried.. and failed.. and how I had to come finish it off.

Doc: *text* No need to worry. It was all clear.

Sparrow: *Text* You know, lying to creatures of any sort is wrong. I wasn't trying to kill it, after all. It was just standing there being weird looking, so I shot it to see if it was alive. It was.

Doc: *text* You're absolutely right.. You aren't a little runt.. you are wee tiny speck of a runt.

Sparrow: *text* I don't mind being a small piece of candy loved by everyone. Can I be the strawberry one? Or maybe even the banana. Or both!

Doc: Doc frowned, what the hell was she talking about? Was there candy named Runt? Why? He texted back. *text* Lime. A key lime. A wee tiny key lime with an acidic bite.

Sparrow: *text* Key limes only have enough tang to keep your tastes satisfied, and make a wonderful pie. Which is also full of sugar. Try again!

Doc: *text* I never said you were pie. Far from it. Pie is something substantial and must be portioned out in sections. You are puny, and can eaten in one unsatisfying bite.

Doc: *text* I am sure you are.. I never said I was opposed to sour bitter little things.

Sparrow: *text* That's probably a good thing. Self-hatred can be dangerous, after all. Don't want you doing anything rash and jumping off a bridge into a hole in the fade. I wouldn't have someone with a place to hide fadebeasts in that way.

Doc: Doc shakes his head. This one was wily. *text* Indeed it can be. And like you, I would hate for you to feel so insecure and scared that you feel the need to hide yourself away .. all alone.. away from your faction mates.

Sparrow: *Text* Woops. Sorry, typo. I meant a fadebeast.

Doc: *text* Carisa?

Sparrow: *Text* She's a friend of mine I convinced to do my bidding. A thrall.

Doc: *text* I can't do that. It ******* annoys me too. She hot?

Sparrow: *Text* What the heck kind of a question is that! I'm telling Lia when she gets back.

Doc: *text* Tell her what? That I asked if she was hot? What the **** is wrong with that? Maybe you like ugly chicks .. I dont know.

Sparrow: *Text* My preferences are between myself and Yaweh. If the person He chooses for me is female, then I shall honour that decision, be she typically attractive or otherwise.

Doc: Doc grinned, struck a nerve. *text* Touchy much?

Sparrow: *Text* Being touchy would mean that I was like many of the other allurists in Harper Rock. I'll talk to you later and tell you I died again, though. I have to see a man about a dog. Hope you aren't too fond of your furniture! *end text* Sparrow huffed, but smiled. It seemed she would end up getting along with the man well enough.

Doc: *text* Dog?! No dogs. NO DOGS.

Doc: He ******* hated dogs.

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

Ariadne: "Doc..."

Doc: "Welcome back.. we missed you..."

Ariadne: "You adore having an audience, don`t you?" *eying Severina*

Ariadne: "To be fair, it always worries me when you show in interest in newer vampires."

Doc:*gives her a look.*

Ariadne: "They're just so impressionable!"

Doc: “She is ******* hurt, I check on her every night.”


Ariadne: "Fine. If you don`t like me being honest I can sit here quietly and work."

Doc: "*sighs* Apologies.."

Ariadne: Ariadne says: "*nods* No worries."

Ariadne: Ariadne says: "*taps quietly at her keys, determined to give Doc some space for the moment.*"

Doc: Doc turned on his heel without a word, stalking off to his quarters.

=======
Later…
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Ariadne: *knocks and opens the door, only to stop as she sees a very large gun* Uh, Doc? I hope you don't have that thing set to go off when someone who is not you comes in...

Doc: *is at his desk, says without looking up* It isn't activated. But if we need it.. we have it.

Ariadne: *slides along the wall to the right and stops just behind his desk.* You ok? You seem... depressed? I think. You feel different.

Doc: *Doc doesn't look up from the papers, that hes not really reading* Lia is dead.

Ariadne: Dead? But how? She was just at the weddi...

Ariadne: I'm sorry.

docs_dark_path: Doc was poised to answer her first question, when he nodded, "Thank you.. It's only a week, right?" But he knew Lia was fragile. It would damage her.

Ariadne: What's only a week?

Ariadne: Her stay in the realm?

Doc: He nodded. He was trying not to run the iterations of how damaged she would be when came back. How different. "Yes.. the average is 7 to 10 days.. right? And she will be back.."

Ariadne: *She nodded* It is but for her it may be.... harder, for her. It's always harder for us to climb out.

Doc: Doc stopped. He turned to face her. "Explain?"

Ariadne: *she sighed, knowing that what she had to say may be hard for him to hear but also knowing that it needed to be said.* Mystics. We feel the weight of the shadow realm more than others. It makes and kind of functioning harder. And when she comes back... *she paused* She'll likely be quite different, and I don't just mean in that she'll need a new body. She may come back as a male, or a child, or an old woman. No one knows...

Doc: "Well ****." Doc pinched the bridge of his nose. It was hard enough imagining how hard it would be to deal with her mental changes.. but physical? "****!”

Ariadne: Basically. yes. I went through what I did the last two years because I died and came back.

Ariadne: It isn't easy. Not at all.

Doc: It was bad enough he would have to deal with it.. but what about Sparrow? **** **** ****! "Will she act different to her spawn.. childe Sparrow?" Sparrow was a delicate thing, who loved Lia.