Path of the Vampire forum

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

This RP takes place on Wednesday 14th May 2014.

Robert: Robert stretched as he woke, and flinched as his neck still hurt. Fingers explored his body and found that everything had healed - except for where the bullet had gone through his neck. Getting out of bed, he quickly showered and then dressed, putting on his usual dark jeans, T-shirt, shirt, leather jacket and black shiny shoes. He turned his collar up to hide the wound and then sent Dea a telepathic message. "Dea, Robert. Are you well? I know there's a raid going on, so you're probably busy. But if you'd like to see me, I'll be in Solace for the day at work." As he'd been sending it, he'd headed out of his apartment by teleporting to the wilderness near Solace.

Deanna: Deanna smiled to herself when she heard his voice. “Yeah no **** Sherlock. I’d recognise your voice anywhere.” She looked around and wondered if she should go and find Keara, the answer to which was probably not. The woman was in a foul mood because she’d sustained one too many injuries to actually be useful to her family and was thus a failure in her own eyes. Dea didn’t see it that way but there wasn’t much arguing to be done with Keara when she got like this; she would Enver’s problem for the day. Had she the ability to skip she’d of likely done that all the way to Solace as she was quite excited to see Robert. She was so excited in fact that she didn’t even care to tell Keara where she was going. It wasn’t long until she approached the already familiar building that was practically her second home. Breezing through the doors, she stopped and looked around wondering where Robert might be? His office? With the plants?

Robert: He walked in the doors and looked around, smiling at the familiar sights, sounds and smells and feeling like he was 'home'. He headed for his office, to find his messages and to see what needed looked at first. So there he went and sat down in a comfy chair, after grabbing the pile of messages from his desk, to go through it all and see what had happened while he was busy. What he found most interesting, and which he stared at for a while, was that Velveteen had popped on by the night before. How intriguing.

Deanna: His office was as good a place as any to start, so she headed there first. She could have easily shown herself to those she passed, nodded and said hello but she wasn’t feeling all that sociable and so breezed on past. “Robert!” she called out, having moved through the door and found him at his desk. “Hey. Hi. You’re alive.” She sounded a little hyper as she spoke. “Are you alright? What happened? Why did those people attack you?” She floated over to his side and positioned herself as if sitting on his desk as she looked him over, mentally inspecting the way he was holding himself to see if he was still injured or not.

Robert: He looked over to the door as she floated through and called out to him, grinning and watching as she went over to the desk and seemed to perch on the edge of it. He leant back in his armchair and put his feet on the table, rolling his head on his shoulders - which flashed her a view of the bullet wound. "Evening Dea. Keara was able to spare you was she? Well, good. How are you? I'm alive for now, though Leyna's not...." He frowned and sighed. "I don't have the oil to get her back, yet. And those are the minions of the Darkness, sent to snuff out her Light. They're constantly trying to kill me and ruin all I've built and done here."

Deanna: “Pfft. Keara’s not going to miss me unless she needs me and for her to need me she needs to do the impossible…So I’m safe to midnight more or less.” The mark on his neck hadn’t escaped her attention and she moved closer to him, half wanting to pull at his collar so she could check the wound for herself. It was times like this, when she really wanted to move something that her own form infuriated her. “Leyna’s not alive?” she asked, trying not to pay too much attention to mark on his neck, which was easier for her considering there was no discernible gaze. ”And what do you mean for now? They gonna try again? What do they think you did?”

Robert: "Mmm, good. Means you're all mine then. For now." He smiled, looking up at her as she came closer. However, his smile dropped when she asked about Leyna and he shook his head. "No. She was attacked in the raid, and so retaliated the only way she could. I'm sure you're the same - she's not too appreciative of people dispersing her and sending her across the city, so lashes out if it happens. Next thing she knew, she'd been banished back to the realm of shadows." His nose curled, seeing the darkness before her and around her, hearing the screams and cries of anguish and his eyes closed to try and block them out and ignore them. "I need oil to bring her back, and I have none. Until I get some - she's lost. Because trying to use my powers to summon her - won't work. I'll summon someone else, as there's no way to pinpoint who I want to summon - and Lux knows what I might end up with!" He sighed, shaking his head before looking back up at her. "And yes, they're always after me. As for what I did - existed seems to be the answer to that one"

Deanna: “Oh,” She let it all soak in. He had said that people hated him before, it just seemed odd that they’d attack him now without reason. If pushed, Enver usually had an idea of what he’d done wrong. Really pushed, maybe, but pushed nonetheless. “Well I’m sure you’ll get her back when you can. I know Keara would summon half the damn realm looking for me if she had too. As much as she might threaten to send me there herself when I’ve upset her precious husband of hers, I know she doesn’t mean it. Well… She might mean it but she’d spend the rest of her life trying to get me back. Family’s family.” Her form shrugged. “And I’m not allowed to retaliate like that. Told you. Keara says vampires are not to be harmed. Apparently unless they are Enver in which case she can smack him around till dawn. Though I’d agree with her logic if it wasn’t majorly obvious the guy gets off on it.”

Robert: "Yeh, ok. TMI on that one Dea. I don't really want to know about Keara and Enver's sex life!" He chuckled, shaking his head. "Unfortunately, I don't have the power reserves that Keara does to find Leyna again. Doing the ritual, is the only way to get her back."

Deanna: She face palmed when he said the words sex life. She hadn’t thought of it like that but it obviously did carry those kinds of overtones. “I wasn’t talking about their sex life. If they have one. It’s none of my business and I wouldn’t want to be around to see it. Seeing Enver starkers. Not an image I want in my head. But great,” she sighed. “There is it anyways. Quick change the subject. Something nice. Kittens. Puppies. No. No puppies. That ball of fur is evil.”

Robert: He just guffawed at her reaction. "What do you mean 'if' they have one? Of course they have one!" Still chuckling, he shook his head. "Maybe I should get you a pet....."

Deanna: “Oh hell no,” she protested. “Ain’t no way in hell I’m being responsible for a life. It would be a huge frustration and probably hate me too like Gizmo. If it were ill I wouldn’t be able to do jack. I couldn’t pet it or nothing. And yes ‘if’. In case you didn’t know there’s a rule that says no to that kind of thing. You know the kind of rule guys like to ignore and that women suffer the consequences for.”

Robert: He just snorted and shook his head. "I assure you, no-one in this city gives a toss about that rule and I can just about guarantee you, about 98% sure that Enver and Keara are ******* each other." Her reactions were just priceless, and it was really interesting to see. "And yeh, I think you need something of your own. Something special, just for you. I'll have to have a think."

Deanna: “No. No. And…erm…no. No pets. No something special. Nothing. I can’t take care of anything. I can’t carry anything. It’s a waste of time, money and brain power.” She was glaring at Robert, something he might of felt if he was sensitive to the energies of others.

Robert: "We'll see." He just smiled at her in what was probably a very infuriating manner.

Deanna: “No. Robert. No. No we’ll sees. Besides,” her form shifted as if she were squirming a little. “I already have something special.”

Robert: "Oh?" He asked curiously. "What have you got?"

Deanna: “One highly infuriating pain in the *** that apparently doesn’t take no for answer.” Was her reply as her arms folded across her chest.

Robert: "Nah" He said, smirking and teasing her. "Enver belongs to Keara."

Deanna: “Urgh. She’s welcome to him. I wouldn’t touch him if my life depended on it… Okay maybe I would touch him…If I had to be. But only like if Keara made me do it. And then I certainly wouldn’t do it in any kind of sexual way,” she shivered. “Eww.”

Robert: He laughed softly, shaking his head in amusement. "So cute!"

Deanna: “I’m beginning to think you want me to be in love with Enver so I’ll leave you alone,” she tease. “You know you can always just tell me to get out. Go away. Don’t come back. That kinda thing. I may miss subtle hints but if you phrase it like that I’ll hear it.”

Robert: "I know. And if I ever want that - I'll let you know. Oh! I have an idea...." He grinned, sending Keara a telepathic message.

Deanna: “Why does that phrasing fill me with dread rather than excitement, hmm?”

Robert: "Because you're suspicious and distrusting?" He chuckled.

Deanna: "Yes. That could be it. Maybe I've spent too long shadowing Enver, eh? So...you gonna tell me what this idea is, or do I have to guess?" She was watching him for any clue she could get but doubted that his body language would give anything away.

Robert: He shook his head, still smiling. "It'll be a surprise for you. I told you, something special."

Deanna: “Oh lord,” she rolled her eyes. “Right. So… What do you wanna do? Or rather what you got planned for the night?”

Robert: "Well, avoiding those who walk the path of darkness would be top of the list. I can't be assed with those idiots wounding me some more. And if they see me with you - they might banish you too!" He frowned, not wanting to do that to her or Keara. "What would you like to do?"

Deanna: “Erm…I dunno. I guess we’re staying in if you wanna lay low. Not that I mind that but our choices of what to do are kinda limited. So watch tv or have me follow you about while you do stuff. Up to you.”

Robert: "No, they're more likely to come looking for me here to be honest. Best to be elsewhere. So, anything you want to do."

Deanna: “Oh. Right. So what we doing here then. Come on. Let’s get you out of here. And erm…guess we’re going somewhere people won’t notice or care if you’re talking to yourself.”

Robert: "Well, your choice. Whatever you want" He smiled, forcing her to make a decision for herself.

Deanna: “Guess we could just wander around together. Talk. I mean I’m not good for much else. So we should go somewhere pretty. There are woodlands round here right? Some call it the Hunting Grounds. We don’t have to go hunting though.” She floated up and went by the door. She didn’t care where they went so long as they left and left soon.

Robert: He set his messages back on the desk, after getting up from his chair and then followed after her. "Sure, a walk in the woods sounds like a plan."

Deanna: “Yay! I like the outdoors even if it generally doesn’t like me. It’s weird ya know living in a city like this when you are used to small towns and pokey villages. No-one tells you that vampires are going to be hounded by the fae if they stray into their areas. Kind of makes hanging out in green spaces a bit dangerous.”

Robert: "For you too? Do they hunt you and attack you?" He asked as he opened the door for her, following after her

Deanna: “I dunno to be honest. I don’t stick around to find out. Keara told me what they did to Peter. Sounded bad. Besides. I may not be a vampire but you are. So you have to be careful anyways.”

Robert: He just waved a hand and shook his head. "They've never bothered me when I've been walking before." It was a half a lie. They'd never caught him, but only because he could run bloody quickly when needs be.

Deanna: Deanna started laughing. “You know what’s funny…I said let’s talk but I have no idea what to say. I mean it’s not like I’ve done much recently.”

Robert: "Then tell me about before, before you were....... killed. That would be really interesting to me. To know the whole of you"

Deanna: “Honestly it wasn’t that different. Now I follow Keara where she goes. Then I followed Keara where she went. Well Keara and Ven. I guess I’m destined to be a third wheel. I wasn’t much use back then either. My training had really only just begun. They wouldn’t even let me carry a weapon.”

Robert: "That's not you though. That's just what you did." He chuckled. "Didn't you have friends? Hobbies? Interests?"

Deanna: “I had Ven and Keara. That was it. You don’t really get to stop and make friends and pick up hobbies when you have to keep moving and such. I’m not as accomplished as Keara. I mean there was no need for them to teach me to play the piano or anything growing up. I read. Remember. I’m sure I told you that. That’s about the only hobby I had.”

Robert: "Well, you must have seen some really interesting places? Where did you go, what did you see and experience? And why were you moving all the time?"

Deanna: “You’re joking right? Why was I moving? It’s not like vampires get much of a choice. In a village of fifty people you kinda stand out. The fae are on your doorstep and if something happens, it’s always the outsiders that are blamed. I know Ven and Keara settled in some places but he owned those places. He didn’t own anything over this side of the world. Travelling was also problematic. Keep moving or get hunted. In those last few years we really had to be quick. Oh and we all had to live in one room. Cos you know. People did that then. So even back then I could have told you Keara talks in her sleep when she’s stressed.”

Robert: He chuckled, because it was a little like pulling teeth trying to get her to talk about her past in any sort of detail apparently. "Well, she must have said some funny things while she was asleep? Then and now? And wasn't that weird? Being in the same room as them while they were getting down and dirty?"

Deanna: “What kind of woman do you take my sister for? We lived by the code. Fought for it. You didn’t break the laws then. Not if you wanted to live. I may not have been a vampire for long but I learned that lesson pretty early on. Sex then was death sentence.” She was angry at Robert for being so crude. While it might have been a natural assumption by today’s standards, it was offensive to Deanna. She still didn’t like the idea of her sister doing it now.

Robert: "And what exactly is the point of these codes? They make no sense and are laughable!" He asked, honestly curious about them. All he knew about, was the one liners on the CrowNet. Habren had apparently had more detail at one of those joke meetings, but they were such a joke - the meetings - that he'd not paid any attention. They couldn't answer his questions, and refused to listen to his point of view - so he'd seen no point in any of it.

Deanna: “Well if you’re going to be rude. I can just leave. You don’t have to insult me,” she said taking it personally.

Robert: "I.... what? How am I insulting you?" He'd stopped dead in his tracks, the leaves rustling all around him as if the wilderness was taking note that he was there and spreading the word

Deanna: “Laughable? What I believed in, fought for, in my own way, and died for is laughable. You think that’s not insulting? If I said your religion was laughable you wouldn’t be too impressed with me either I’m sure. And the no sex rule. Pretty damn important. Fadebeasts could decimate a village. Females died. Yeah fine. Here you have another woman within spitting distance but back then, not so much. Vampires didn’t live crammed into one place like we do here. We were spread out. We were careful. You chose who to sire carefully.” There was a passion in her voice that was akin to Keara’s, Ven had obviously done a very good job of instilling the importance of the code in his daughters.

Robert: "Ok, let's have a look." He said, pulling out his phone and bringing up the listings. "Betray vampire kind. What does that even mean? What one person thinks is betraying, another would think is benefitting. Number 2 - communed with the fae. Well, every single ritualist communes with a sort of fae! Then and now. Number three - Exposed vampires to humans - I do that in Solace all day, every day. Number 4 - Everyone feeds every day. You saying Keara goes hungry one day to then feed twice as much the next? Ridiculous. Number 5, Disobeyed your sire." He just snorted at that. "Everyone would be dead there. Keara included I'm sure." He looked back to the phone and continued. "Number 6, killed without need. There's never a need in my opinion, but again - I know for a fact Keara would be dead for that one. Number 7 - mated. Yeh...... Everyone's dead again. Number 8. Sired without permission, well, I don't think anyone asks their sire before making another. So that's just stupid. Sometimes it's a matter of timing. And number 9 - in touch with your human family. I am. As are others I'm sure. So as I said, those codes are stupid in this day and age"

Deanna: "Right fine. Let’s see. You shall have no loyalty before vampire-kind. Simple. Don’t turn on your own. Don’t think that needs explaining. You shall not commune with the Fae. No idea why but who’d want to. They hated us. Made travelling difficult and we had to travel…a lot. It didn’t mean rituals. In rituals you tell them what to do and they do it. It meant you don’t make nice with them. You shall not utter the name of our kind. Again. Common sense. If people don’t know what you are they can’t hate you and you won’t be hunted. We were careful to hide what we were. You shall not feed on the sixth day. Ven said this was to ensure that we didn’t become overzealous in our feeding habits. Cos you know. You get blood thirsty, people die, bodies draw attention, we get exposed. You shall honour your sire. Even Christianity has that one. It’s about respecting your elders. You shall not kill without need. Didn’t cover humans. Though Keara always tried to tell me it should. Basically. Don’t kill each other over petty stuff. You know how you like to say these people kill you for no reason. In my day They’d of needed a damn good one. He looked at me funny, and I didn’t like his shoes, weren’t exactly acceptable reasons. Christianity has that one too. You shall not mate. Explained that one. Fadebeasts. Death. Of course you know wasn’t as bad for the guy. So I guess that’s the side of the fence you’re on. Still. Showed Ven loved Keara. Right? He never let his feelings get the better of him. If you really respected your partner, you didn’t want to kill them. Cos you know. Death then. Kinda permanent even for our kind. You shall not sire recklessly. Common sense. Bit hard to keep your race a secret if you sire the village idiot. You shall not reveal your mortal name. Kinda an odd rule maybe but you didn’t get to choose which laws to obey. Basically. You were starting a new life and it was best to leave behind everything that you were. A new name kinda symbolised that. I chose the name Nevaeh. Did I tell you that already? I don’t remember. Anyway…let me see…” She counts the rules in her mind. “Oh yeah. You shall not covet the blood of our kind. Ven said you went crazy if you drank the blood of your own. Something like that anyway. Basically. If a person eats another person it’s kinda frowned upon. Same thing for us.”

Robert: "Simply put. Vampires suck. My loyalty is to the blood thieves and humans, because they have treated me with kindness. The vampires have shown me nothing but violence and hatred. Commune means to talk, to command them, you have to talk to them. As I said, I utter the name vampire all the time. I make sure people equate it with good and kindness. Not violence and hatred. The elders - other than Keara - are dicks. The people they've sired and who they've sired and such - they're mostly younger than me. And again, idiots. Not a chance I'm honouring them. Yeh, ok, I like the kill without need. Though in Christianity - it's thou shalt not kill. Full stop. That, I prefer. As for the mating - condoms. They work wonders." He chuckled softly. "And apparently, I'm the village idiot in this city. If you ask certain folks. I like the name Niamh. It's pretty. So where does Deanna come from?"

Deanna: “Nevaeh. My name was Nevaeh. It’s heaven backwards. You know. Like the place I was denied the moment Ven made me what he did. Deanna’s my birth name. Much like Keara that’s what I use this side. No way in hell it can harm my family nowadays. Keara thinks her vampire name became her true name so that’s the life she’s leaving behind. Me. I dunno. And I wasn’t telling you, you had to live by the rules you idiot. Cos yeah. Let’s be honest you’d make a great fool. I was explaining the rules as we saw. Why we lived by them. Even Keara’s changed her mind on a few. Says society changed and so should the rules. But the main ones she still keeps too. You know like no killing without need, keep our secret kinda stuff.”

Robert: "Wow. Ok then" He just blinked at her as she, well, it could only be described as a rant. "Well, I think I have some paperwork to do. It takes me so long, what with me being such a fool and an idiot. I'm sure Keara probably has some more people for you to hunt down for her to kill." He turned away, and just started to walk back to Solace again, having had enough of childish tantrums from those he'd sired and recently dated. He certainly didn't want to get into another relationship with someone prone to them. He'd thought she was better than that. Different. Seemed not though after that little rant for no reason.

Deanna: “Yeah lie to me. Nice. I’m sure she could use my help. At least she doesn’t belittle what I believe in.” Deanna felt awful. In her eyes Robert had started it. He’d been the one to suddenly get judgemental about her beliefs. She hadn’t asked for that. He was the one that wanted to know about who she was and what she’d done. She wanted to kick something, but of course that wasn’t possible, so she’d have to settle for helping Keara track down and kill creatures in the building she was currently playing in.

Robert: "I haven't lied" Was all he said as he wandered off.

Deanna: “Paperwork? You start this and then you walk away citing paperwork as your reasoning. Yeah wonderful. If I could throw something at you right now you can be damn sure I’d of done it,” she said as she followed on behind him.

Robert: "There's always paperwork needing done. That's not a lie. You've seen the place, you know what I do there. Think of the paperwork not only internally, but also for the council and the government. It's a massive charitable organisation, sponsoring people through school, university, adult learning, subsidising jobs just to get people into jobs, all sorts of charity events and then the buildings, the Sanctuary, the Orphanage, everything. You don't think there's a mountain of paperwork every day? And you've already thrown names around. Isn't that enough?"

Deanna: “Oh come on Robert. The worst I can do is call you names. Don’t take that from me. If you’re being an ***, I should be able to call you one. As for the paperwork you weren’t all that bothered a few minutes ago. So what’s the real issue? Did the mean and nasty wraith hurt your feelings?” She was teasing him bad and speaking to him like she would have done to Keara and Enver if they were acting this way; well, more Enver, since he was the one that generally required this kind of response.

Robert: "Indeed you did. So if that's what you were aiming for - congratulations. I thought better of you Dea. But seems you're just a petulant child like a number of others I've dealt with in the past"

Deanna: “Yeah well you hurt mine first. Maybe you need to stop and consider why everyone around you acts like a petulant child. Maybe you bring that out in people. Ever stop to consider that? Hmm? Yeah probably not. Too busy thinking you’re better than everyone else. You may look down on my sister for what she does but she’s never said a bad word about you. Says you’re a good man. Well a good man doesn’t insult and belittle people and then run away when they do the same in return.”

Robert: "I'm not running, I'm walking. And maybe I do. Maybe it's better then if I'm alone, so that I don't drive people back to being children."

Deanna: “Says the boy before me.” She moved to block his path, wanting him to stop and realise that what she was saying was true; though if he really was anything like Enver, this was going to take a while.

Robert: "Dear, I've lived more than you have!" He chuckled, pulling up as she blocked his path and not willing to just walk through her.

Deanna: “Not if you count the two centuries I spent in the shadow realm. You do know you are aware and conscious while in there right? So of the two of us…I am actually the older one here.” She folded her arms and looked him over, though he likely didn’t notice.

Robert: "That's not living, experiencing things, dealing with people, learning, aging, maturing. That's just..... existing."

Deanna: “Well then I’ve existed longer than you. Still makes me older. And again. You’re looking down at me. I can’t possibly be as great and wonderful as you are. Well suck it up Robert, not everyone is like you. I’m me. You know, if you were really as wise as you think you are, you’d know that if you’d just said sorry when you hurt my feelings that we wouldn’t be arguing like this now.” She was still ranting as she was mad. Robert was infuriating and stubborn and although her mind didn’t drift that way…just like Enver.

Robert: "I'm not sorry. I did nothing wrong. I expressed an opinion about some idiotic rules that have been forced upon us in this day and age by a being that doesn't even exist and is probably just an 'elder' trying to control us. To which you took offence and called me names. Perhaps if you hadn't taken my words as a personal attack as opposed to the observation and opinion that they are, then we wouldn't be having this argument with you continuing to insult me with every sentence you speak."

Deanna: “You just did it again! Opinion or not Robert there are ways of phrasing things without pushing people’s buttons. By calling the rules that I lived by idiotic, you are calling me idiotic. Don’t you get that?”

Robert: "Nope." He shook his head, looking right at her. "Think about what I've said each time. Idiotic rules FOR THIS DAY AND AGE! Nothing about them being followed back in your time. It's all about them as they are, for us as we are. They are stupid and make no sense. You're not listening to me, and it's like you're actually looking for a damn fight!"

Deanna: “We weren’t talking about this day and age Robert. We were talking about my day and age. The past. You could have asked what the rules meant now. We could have discussed how and why you think most don’t apply to now. Hell Keara would have the same god damn conversation with you. She’s more lenient on the damn things than I am and she helped enforce them for two hundred years.” She would have clapped her hands over her mouth, only without an actual for the gesture wasn’t quite the same. Still. She’d said way too much, at least she shouldn’t have phrased it that way.

Robert: "Nope. We were talking about the here and now. Which is why I said what 'IS' the point of the codes and not what 'WAS'. Is denotes here and now, was denotes the past. And what do you mean she helped to enforce them? What did she do?" He was looking at Deanna carefully now, trying to discern features on her face while wondering how to ask Enver if he knew he seemed to once again be married to a Tyt style thinker!

Deanna: “I’m not talking about Keara no more. And you’re playing word games.” She went quiet as she wasn’t sure what to say next or if she should try and change the subject. She was still debating storming off, as for all the charm she saw in him he had a way of speaking this night that just rubbed her up the wrong way.

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

Robert: "I'm not playing any sort of games. Simply explaining more clearly what I meant, as you seem to have missed it the first time. Which has caused a massive misunderstanding and for you to become abusive. And I would like to know what sort of person Keara is. My friend and brother is married to her, and if she's not what she says she is - he needs to know."

Deanna: “Pfft. Whatever. You insulted me, whether you meant to or not and refuse to even apologise for the fact. I definitely insulted you but I was pretty damn sure you deserved it. And if you think Enver doesn’t know who he’s married too, you’ve never spent time around them, as I’m pretty sure she’s told him everything about who she was in her first life. Just because someone was one way once doesn’t mean they can’t change. Anyway. She’s got nothing to be ashamed of. She may have been a bit of cold ***** back then but she still had a good heart.” She was grumbling something about duty and Ven but it wasn’t really clear what she was saying.

Robert: "I didn't insult you. You insulted yourself, using my words, by misunderstanding me. That, is not my fault."

Deanna: “Yeah fine. Whatever. Why do you care so much anyway about what my sister was like before? Is that the real reason you’re being so nice to me, to get dirt on Keara? Cos if your master plan is to break those two up it’s gonna fail. Believe me. I tried.”

Robert: "Oh my Lux! Really? I mean, really?! If that's how little of me you think, then I don't know why I thought this might be worth it and might work!" He stepped around her and then continued on his way back to Solace

Deanna: Dea sighed and rolled her head back realising she’d pushed him too far. “All right. Look. Okay I’m sorry. I should have said that. You just kinda wound me up and you do say stuff about Keara at times that I don’t like. It makes me defensive.” It wasn’t much of an explanation but it was about the best he was going to get.

Robert: "Well, when Keara is the only thing you're interested in talking about and giving detail on - then we're going to talk about her a lot and her faults, failings, successes and good points. It's all just opinions, and you're giving me little to nothing about yourself."

Deanna: “There’s not all that much worth knowing about me,” she shrugged.

Robert: "Then what sort of relationship are you looking for where you don't tell the other person anything about yourself?"

Deanna: “I’ve told you plenty about me. I’m just not all that interesting. I spent most of my life just existing remember?” Dea sighed, this was not the night she had hoped it would be.

Robert: "Yet you said 'just like Keara' before. Yet you keep revealing more and more of Keara. Which would indicate there's more to you. You can't have simply woken up, fed, stared into space, read, slept, travelled all day, every day. There had to have been more for those 20 odd years"

Deanna: “Twenty years? You think Ven turned me when I was eleven years old?” she asked in surprise.

Robert: "You said you were 31, with the two years of being a wraith here. So 29, which is 20-odd years before you were killed, both as a human and as a vampire"

Deanna: “Oh. You mean like that. Well yeah. Twenty-nine years total,” she wasn’t about to volunteer her human age, she’d gotten away with it this long. “I thought I told you that my early life was spent in preparation to become a thrall. After that I was pretty much learning to be a vampire. I wasn’t that keen on my “gift” at first, but they helped me adjust.”

Robert: "Yup. And that's all the detail I got." He said, still walking to Solace.

Deanna: “But that’s all there is. Really. I didn’t do much but follow orders my entire life. I went where I was told. Did what I was told and learnt was I was told. You can’t punish me for that. That’s not fair.”

Robert: "What things did you do? Where did you go? What did you dream about in your down time? What sort of vampire were you? There's so much detail to add that you haven't. All about you and who you are"

Deanna: “I’ve told you all of this. I have. I follow people. I listen to conversations. Nothing important just random people in crowds. I like to hear the way people speak in this day and age. Why do you think I sound the way I do? I go where I please. Unless Keara needs me and then I’m usually skipping across town to track Enver down or trying to navigate one of the raids. I dream about a lot of things, though I’m not sure I really sleep. I dream about my past. The realm. Ven. You. I walked the path of the Shadow like you do. Only I wasn’t half as skilled as any of the so called fledglings of this age. God I mean I didn’t even have the ability to bridge and I was a vampire for twelve years. That’s it. That’s me.” She hadn’t realised what she’d said, as she was too busy trying to stop Robert from going back to Solace and leaving her.

Robert: "Wait. You dream of me?"

Deanna: “Of course I do. It’s not like you can just switch all the thoughts off at the end of the day. Dreams are like the subconscious’ way of working out issue and well you are a pretty big issue.” She couldn’t help but laugh at how that sounded, as it was meant in several ways, so no matter which way he took it, it was going to be true.

Robert: He just blinked and looked at her over his shoulder. "That's.... well.... I don't know how to take that." He laughed, shaking his head.

Deanna: “Take it any way you like. I’m pretty sure there’s good and bad in that statement,” she laughed. “See. I’m not all that secretive. I don’t like talking about my past as it reminds me what I lost and well, some of it involves Keara and I know she doesn’t want people to know her true name and what she did. And no. You don’t need to worry. Enver knows everything. I’m pretty sure there isn’t a single solitary secret she’d hiding from him. Now him from her. That’s a different story.” She caught herself before she went on another ‘I hate him’ rant, something Robert was already beginning to see wasn’t entirely true.

Robert: "Well, how about from now on - Keara and Enver are banned from conversation between us?"

Deanna: “I’d say yes but I’m not sure that’s a promise I can keep. So how about I say I’ll try and you stop pushing me for information about my first life if I get all vague and cagey around a subject?” Things seemed to have calmed between them for now, which was good but it didn’t mean she wasn’t going to insult him again, as she probably would at some point.

Robert: "I can try. The only reason I push, is because I want to know you."

Deanna: “Can I use the same excuse while I confess that I snuck back and watched you sleep for a bit after our movie night?” she asked in a kind of cheeky way, hoping that the fact she’d done that would show she liked him and wanted the same thing.

Robert: He stopped in his tracks then and blinked, looking at her in surprise. "You.... what? That's a bit creepy Deanna."

Deanna: She shrugged her shadowy shoulders. “Depends how you look at it. If you see it as me stalking you then yeah I guess it’s creepy. But it if you see it as me being me and going where I want, when I want and you know kinda wanting to make sure you’re okay. Well then it’s not so bad. I mean I waited for the sun to come up and everything. I wasn’t like watching while you changed or anything and I can’t exactly peek under the covers. Well…That’s technically not true. I guess I could but that would have been crossing a boundary and you’d likely have felt me “attack” you.”

Robert: "I've told you before. You're welcome to my power. It's not an attack. And it's kinda sweet, in a creepy way." He chuckled.

Deanna: “Depends were I chose to look,” she bit back without really thinking her reply through.

Robert: "Oh?" He smirked at her, raising an eyebrow. "And where would you choose to look?"

Deanna: “Nu uh. Ain’t no way in hell I’m answering that question. That’s a “damned if you do, damned if don’t” kinda deal. Let’s just leave that up to your imagination cos this conversation has me kinda nervous already.”

Robert: He just laughed and shook his head. "You brought it up, so now I'm interested. So I guess, you're already damned. So no harm in admitting your thoughts."

Deanna: “Erm. No.” Deanna turned herself around and looped behind him in an effort to get him moving back towards the woodlands. “Nu uh. Not gonna happen. I start telling you stuff like that and then you’re gonna wanna know about my dreams. And that’s just not something I think you want to hear right now.”

Robert: "Oh? Damn right I want to know." He grinned. "If your past if off limits, then your present it is! So, spill!"

Deanna: “Are you sure you don’t want to know what year I was born instead?” She floated a little further away from him hoping he’d follow. “I’m not telling you. You can’t just keep embarrassing me you know. I think you should have to tell me something embarrassing for once.”

Robert: "You haven't told me anything embarrassing yet!" He chuckled, following her. "You answer my questions, I'll answer yours."

Deanna: “Oh yeah right. Whatever. So it’s not embarrassing to admit you broke into a guy’s place to watch him sleep. Or that you liked him in the first place. Or have you forgotten how you tortured me in that conversation.”

Robert: "Yup. There was definitely no torture involved at all. I have been sweet and kind and understanding throughout. Now. What do you want to see and what have you dreamt of about?"

Deanna: “If you can’t work those two things out on your own. Your imagination is sorely lacking,” she teased. “I’m not gonna pander to your ego. You want an ego boost, I’m sure you have more than enough sycophants hanging around Solace that would be willing to oblige. Hell even Enver has those and we both know what I think of him.”

Robert: He shook his head, chuckling. "Means nothing coming from others. Means everything coming from you. And yes, my imagination can come up with all sorts. However, it doesn't mean it's true. The only true thing, is what would come from your lips. So............"

Deanna: “Where do you think I’d look? God if you didn’t have the ability to see me I’d of probably watched you shower or something,” she admitted; once more making herself sound like a crazy stalker. “You wanna know me. I wanna know you. Only this is about as naked as I get,” she said swishing her shadowy form, making the hem line of her period dress move from side to side as if she were showing off her fashions.

Robert: "And why haven't you watched me shower?"

Deanna: “You’d know I was there. Kinda awkward for both of us don’t you think if you step out of the shower and find me there. Hell you said it was creepy that I watched you sleep.”

Robert: "Well, what if you had an invite?"

Deanna: Deanna almost chocked on the nothing in the throat when he said that. “I’m sorry. What. I think I fell asleep and started dreaming,” she laughed.

Robert: He laughed and shook his head. "No, you didn't. You heard right"

Deanna: “I feel like this question is another trap,” she laughed a little more nervously. “If I accept you get your ego boost and I get labelled a pervert. I decline and you think there’s something wrong with you and I’m evil.”

Robert: "Sounds like win win for me" He laughed

Deanna: “How is me being evil a win win?” she asked. “I don’t see a good answer to this question.”

Robert: "You're not. Which means you'll pick to accept." He snorted, highly amused.

Deanna: “Damn you and your logic. Wait. Hold up. What if me saying yes makes me evil. Like you know a whole sins of the flesh kinda deal. You could warp my innocent mind and strip me of my virtue. Is that what you want now?”

Robert: "Yup." He nodded, smirking "Might lighten you up a bit and help you understand us whippersnappers"

Deanna: “Whipper what? Now you’re just making stuff up. Fine corrupt me. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. If you wake up and I’m there, you’ll have to deal with it. You’d of brought this on yourself.”

Robert: "Mmm. That sounds nice. Waking up beside you. If only I could see your face..."

Deanna: “Yep. Not much to be done about that I’m afraid. And…wait…what…you wouldn’t mind that? One minute it’s creepy the next it’s nice. You change your mind pretty damn quick mister.”

Robert: "It's creepy that you did it without me knowing and left before I woke so I didn't have a clue you'd been there. But being there and me knowing about it - that's normal."

Deanna: “Well I kinda didn’t have a choice. You walked me to the door if you remember,” she laughed. “And you kinda didn’t know I like you then. So…yeah. So…your turn. I want to hear something embarrassing and make it good.”

Robert: "You have to ask the question" He grinned. "That's what I said"

Deanna: “That’s cheating. I don’t have any questions. I just wanna know something that would embarrass you. It’s kinda a question. Like a request.” She nodded thinking she was in the right.

Robert: He just chuckled and shook his head. "Nope. Specific questions and you will have your answers."

Deanna: “But Robert,” she whined his name. “That’s so unfair. Fine. I guess I’ll just phrase it like a question. Have you ever felt embarrassed in my presence? There. That a good enough question for you?” She floated a little further away from him, still trying to get him to head back in the direction of the forest.

Robert: He followed along easily, grinning as he walked and shook his head. "No. I've never felt embarrassed in your company. You're easy to be around"

Deanna: “Damn. Never? Well that sucks. I’m gonna have to try now. You know that right? Think I’ll be able to embarrass you if I put my mind to it. But seriously? Never? I swear I feel myself blush sometimes and yet that ain’t possible. I don’t think you really like me. You can’t do if you don’t feel that kinda thing. Right?”

Robert: He chuckled again. "Why should I feel embarrassed? I am who I am, and if you like me - you're going to like me regardless of how I mess up or look and such. I'm very easy going and relaxed really. It's why I don't get embarrassed. It just, is what it is."

Deanna: “Pfft. Everyone gets embarrassed sooner or later. It’s only natural and all that. So…hmm…questions for you…Oh I know. What happened between you and that girl in the photo? She’s your ex-wife right?”

Robert: "Mmm Hmm" He nodded his head, his smile fading a touch. "We broke up"

Deanna: “Now who’s being vague. The ex part kinda says that. And yeah I know people don’t like talking about things like this but I want to learn from her mistakes.”

Robert: "Well...." He sighed. "She fucked someone else, while I was dead in the shadow realm. And when I returned - her personality changed numerous times and she wasn't the woman I'd fallen in love with anymore"

Deanna: “Okay well I can’t do the first part for a starters so you’re safe there. As for the personality thing. I dunno. I mean people change over time. It’s inevitable. Keara says “we adapt or we die” and well you know, she kinda has a few years on me so I taker her at her word in that.” She wanted to see Robert smile again but she wasn’t really sure how to cheer him up, he’d told her to ask her questions and so that was exactly what she was doing.

Robert: "Oh, I don't mind people changing and adapting. But this, was a complete reversal of personality. She was a different person who'd lost everything that made her her."

Deanna: “Right so no quick changes. Not sure I can promise that one but I’ll try.” Dea looked about them wondering if she and Robert would be able to sustain a relationship like this. “Any pet hates I should know about? You know like things that I could do to make you never wanna speak to me again…besides lying. I know that one already.”

Robert: "Hurting people. That's how she changed. She became violent and wanted to kill people. You know how I abhor violence!"

Deanna: “Again. Not gonna be an issue with me unless you’re gonna get a bug up your *** cos I follow other people around. I do that you know. Randomly follow people. Though they aren’t all like totally random. There’s this one guy I shadow sometimes and he’s really weird. He makes stuff out dead things.”

Robert: "No. You can follow who you like.... but wait. What? He makes things out of dead things? Does...." He frowned, thinking it over. "Does he kill them, to make them dead?"

Deanna: “I dunno. Maybe. I’ve been a bit pre-occupied following someone else. Though he probably does. He seems the sort. You know he broke into the Asylum once. I scared the crap out of him them but he was human then. He’s a vampire now, so wraiths and such…not so scary. He says everyone wants something. Do you think that’s true? I can’t believe that’s true. I mean you don’t seem to want anything from the people you help.”

Robert: "He sounds like a very sad man who's not seen or experienced any good in his life. Because no. Not everyone wants something. I don't want anything from the folks I help, other than to just - help. I have the ability to make others’ lives better, happier. Why wouldn't I want to do that just for that fact?"

Deanna: “I dunno. Anyways. Change of subject. This seems to have upset you a bit. You wanna ask me something? It’s probably your turn now anyways.”

Robert: "Ok." He smirked, wickedly. "What dreams have you had about me? In detail!"

Deanna: “You sir are not the nice guy you pretend to be,” she teased. “You’re pretty evil in fact. I mean, how mean are you. What a question? Really. That’s not the kinda thing you should ask a lady.”

Robert: "You do these days!" He chuckled at her, bounding ahead and sticking his tongue out at her. "Come on. Full disclosure. Ask what we will of each other and we have to answer truthfully."

Deanna: “Once more I say that sounds like a trap. You’ve heard the adage ‘be careful what you wish for’ right? Well you may not like the answer. And I’m not going into details about my dreams. I like you. I think you can kinda work out what my dreams were about. Only I was me and not this,” she gestured to her shadowy form. “All right? I’d ask if you dreamed about me but I’m thinking the answer is no considering you’ve said there’s more to a relationship than sex and well…you hadn’t even thought about me like that till I told you I liked you. Right?”

Robert: "Awww, Dea. Surely you should be able to be honest and open with me, not keep secrets?" He teased gently, chuckling. "And maybe if I knew how you looked, I'd be more inclined to dream and imagine? I mean just now, all I know is that you're a bit of a shapeless greay blob. Unfortunately."

Deanna: His words stung and Dea visibly shrank away from him. “I could ask Keara to draw you a picture if you want. She’s really good. She’s drawn plenty of pictures of Enver and Ven and one of her own family too. Her human one. She knows what I look like.”

Robert: "Mmm Hmmm" He nodded, smiling and totally unaware that she'd shrunk away. "That's an idea."

Deanna: “See. I told you. I’m not as talented as she is. She was taught to paint years ago and has had centuries to perfect her talent. She’s working on tattoos now. Enver’s influence I think. She wasn’t all that interested in body art before she met him.” Her voice had quietened slightly, but she kept moving in the right direction.

Robert: "Well, I'm sure you have your own talents which would surpass Keara's if you'd had the same opportunity as she'd had"

Deanna: “Thanks but I doubt it. Besides it’s not a competition. She never looked down on me or anything. Once she accepted me she was really kinda supportive. I’ll ask her to paint me…as I was.”

Robert: He nodded and smiled, kicking himself as he'd now have to think of something else special for her - as that was going to be her surprise. A beautiful portrait of her done by someone. "That would be cool"

Deanna: “Yeah. Then maybe you can dream of someone you’ll never meet,” she said a little defensively. He’d said it didn’t matter what she looked like or what she was, or at least he’d hinted as much and yet now she knew it did matter what she looked like, as he could never be attracted to her the way she was to him.

Robert: He caught what she said and frowned. "What do you mean? I've met you!"

Deanna: “Yeah but you can’t be attracted to a shapeless grey blob can you?” She was obviously feeling sorry for herself and her arms were folded across her chest, not that she suspected Robert would notice.

Robert: "I'm attracted to your mind and personality - usually" He laughed, trying to make her laugh too. "Gaining a visual, just adds to who and what you are."

Deanna: “Yeah all right. If you say so. I’ll make sure she does the picture though. Before you like loose interest in the bits of me you can have.” She sighed, or rather huffed, already mentally preparing herself for the fact that this relationship wasn’t going to work.

Robert: He sighed and rubbed his temple. "I fucked up didn't I?"

Deanna: “Only if you mean did you say something that upset me and plays on my insecurities, then yeah, you fucked up. I mean I know you say the physical stuff doesn’t matter or it’s not that important but seriously. Do you really think it’s not so important that you wouldn’t miss it? You don’t think you’d be more interested in a real woman…you know the kind you could feel up and dream about as they are?”

Robert: "Honestly? I don't know. But, I don't care."

Deanna: “Don’t care about what?”

Robert: "The physical side of things. I can do without if needs be. It's not the be all and end all."

Deanna: “Yeah you say that now.” Dea sighed. “I just hope you still think that way like a month from now…or rather a year or century from now. Cos like…it’s a long time to go without if we work on the other levels of the relationship thing.”

Robert: He chuckled and held up his hand. "Don't worry. Old faithful has never let me down before!"

Deanna: “Huh?” Dea said clearly not understanding what Robert was on about.

Robert: He just chuckled and shook his head. "Nothing. It's ok love"

Deanna: “Oh hell no. If I’m not allowed my secrets. You sure as hell aren’t allowed yours,” she said perking up a bit at the challenge.

Robert: "It's crude" He grinned, watching to try and see her reaction

Deanna: “Sounds like you’re too embarrassed to explain it to me.”

Robert: "Not at all." He lifted his hand again and showed her it, palm up. "I can easily have a wank."

Deanna: “A what? You’re making up words again I swear.”

Robert: "Wank" He repeated, looking at her curiously. "You must have come across that word in your creepings?"

Deanna: “Just because I may of heard it doesn’t mean I’d understand it. S’not like I can look it up online or whatever and find out what it means. And if you ask people…they tend to freak out. And I’m not supposed to let myself be seen…remember?”

Robert: "Mmm True. Well....." How in the HELL did you explain this one to an ancient wraith who was kinda prim and proper in her own way sometimes. "You take your hand, and you wrap it around your penis and then rub back and forth until it gets hard and then, you.... you know." He presumed she'd know, what with being around Keara and Enver.

Deanna: “Oh. Oh God. Oh…right…erm.” Even in her shadowy state it was easy to see she was flustered. “Okay. Wow. You like really don’t get embarrassed do ya? I’d be bright red right now if ya could see me.” She was waving her hands at her face.

Robert: He chuckled, feeling just as uncomfortable as she was acting. "Well, I did tell you it was crude....."

Deanna: "You could have said it was like self-relief or something. Jesus Robert. That was a mental picture I did not need."

Robert: "I thought..... you'd enjoy that image?" He managed to chuckle, feeling wicked.

Deanna: “Yeah well… I... Damn… You’re gonna tease me for like ever aren’t ya? Cos that’s like wicked. Seriously. That’s like Enver eating in front of me and Keara. It’s just rude. I mean it’s not like we can do that.” She was rambling nervously.

Robert: He just laughed, though it was a kind laugh. "You ok?"

Deanna: “Me?! Oh yeah. I’m grand. I’ve just got an itch I’ll never scratch. Nothing painful about that or anything. Seriously?!” she waved her hands around as she spoke, randomly gesturing. “Evil. You’re just evil. Bet you’d be embarrassed if I watched you do that eh? Not that that would help me any. Damn.” She was floating around him now unable to actually stay still.

Robert: "Would you like to?" He asked simply, his eyes following her where she went.

Deanna: “Sure. Why not,” she laughed. “I’m just gonna hang around your place and watch you do whatever it is you’d normally do. See if I can make you blush.”

Robert: He chuckled and nodded his head. "Right. So we've got you watching me in the pool, in the shower, having a wank.... What else do you want - or dream - of seeing me do?"

Deanna: “Oh my god. Shut up. I swear you’re trying to make me die all over again… Hang on… What? Pool? I never said I wanted to watch you in a pool…Did I?”

Robert: He shook his head, chuckling. "Nope. But imagine it. Me in my trunks, water glistening on my body as I cut through the water, how tight the trunks are, and how they cling when wet....." He smirked, loving her reactions

Deanna: “Screw you,” she bleated and turned her back to him in a huff before turning back to face him. “So help me god Robert, I’m gonna learn to possess people and then I’m coming for your ***. I’ll possess your body if I have too and I’m gonna make you pay for teasing me like this.”

Robert: "Mmmm. How..... kinky!" He laughed, hard. "You're so adorable! I can't wait to hear from Keara about this one!"

Deanna: “Hear from her about what? What’s she got to do with this. So long as I leave hers alone she won’t care what I do. She’d probably love the idea of me possessing someone.”

Robert: "Oh. I usually hear from her - telepathically - when you go home, or see her. She tells me..... your mood. As it were."

Deanna: “Yeah well with you winding me up all the time, pissing me off and upsetting me, what do you expect? You are evil I swear. I mean damn. The things you want to talk about. You’d never say those things to my face if I had one. I bet you wouldn’t.”

Robert: "Course I would. Probably more so, just so I could see the look on your face!" He grinned.

Deanna: “Yeah well I don’t like violence much myself either but if I had a body I’d of probably slapped you a while back,” she laughed. “And I’m serious. I’m gonna get you back. I don’t know when and I don’t know how but I will.”

Robert: "Well, I'll look forward to it." He grinned, blowing her a kiss.

Deanna: “Gah! Even when I’m threatening you, you think it’s cute don’t cha?”

Robert: He nodded his head, grinning. "Yup. Cause you are. That's not my fault. That's all you babe!"

Deanna: “Fine. Whatever. I’m gonna haunt your *** for eternity. And you better not piss me off, co I can be a real pain. You just ask Enver. He’ll tell you.”

Robert: "I look forward to it hun!"

Deanna: Deanna started laughing. “We haven’t even gotten where we’re headed and you’ve insulted me, upset, embarrassed me and made me laugh. You’re a bit twisted aren’t ya? I mean you have to be to even consider dating this,” she gestured up and down her body.

Robert: "Right back at you!" He grinned. "And hey, if we can't do anything physical, it will all have to be mental. And I'd say all those emotions, in one evening, is pretty good going eh?!"

Deanna: She went quiet and considered it, her shadowy skirt swishing about her. “Hmm… Maybe. But I think you owe me something for everything you’ve put me through.”

Robert: "What would you like love?"

Deanna: “I want to feel you,” she said holding out her hand to him. “In the only way I’m capable of.”

Robert: "Of course. You know you don't have to ask." He closed the distance between them and held out his hand to hers, letting them merge into one as he directed his chest to her hand, as if her hand rested on his chest, above his heart.

Deanna: Dea was smiling, though he couldn’t see it. “I like to ask though,” she practically cooed. “I’d of asked you to kiss me but I doubt you’d even know where my lips were.” She didn’t sound as sad when she said this as it was just a statement of fact and she was feeling kind of warm and fuzzy from the energy she’d taken from him.

Robert: "Well, I would. If you'd asked."

Deanna: The pair continued on towards their destination, chatting and teasing one another as they went. Whatever it was between them, they were enjoying it and in Harper Rock, you took what you could get, especially if you were as prone to being attacked as Robert was.