Path of the Vampire forum

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--
Elliot:
Lancaster knew that he had to call Skylar. It didn't matter that Skylar herself had said that she knew he cared. The fact that she hadn't disagreed with Roderic still rankled. Roderic, who had accused Lancaster of not caring. Skylar had said it. She said that Roderic could and would of course speak on her behalf. What had she said about Lancaster to make Roderic say that he didn't care? But he couldn't call, not when he was in a fit of rage. He'd slammed the laptop lid. He'd walked away. For a few hours, he disappeared into the wilderness. Not as himself, but as the red-haired dingo. He vented that rage by succumbing to a wild freedom. Just for a few hours. And when he came back, the first thing he did after showering was pick up his phone; he did not check the forums. He picked up his phone and he dialled Skylar. And when she answered, he did not immediately plunge into rants or raves. He did not even say hello. The first thing he said: "Are you okay?"

Skylar:
My phone rings, Bowie’s Space oddity plays and I know just who’s calling without having to look. I pause for a moment wondering if I’m in the right headspace for this call but after a moment I pick up. I’m not gonna ignore Ellie, even if he is ringing to tell me I picked the world’s worst husband and shout at me.
“Hey Ellie.”
It’s all I say as I prepare to have my eardrums burst. I wince but the shouting doesn’t start. Instead he asks how I am. Well blow me. I hadn’t been expecting that.
“Yeah. I’m dealing. I know you probably won’t believe me but Ric’s being a real angel. I just feel pretty damn useless is all.”

Elliot:
A growl can be heard down the line. "Don't ******* talk to me about that prick," he said. "I'm talking to Patrick. In his head. Does he have the ability to answer?" he asked. He'd asked Patrick the same thing but he hadn't got an answer. And Lancaster couldn't recall whether it had come up in conversation.

Skylar:
I roll my eyes as he growls down the phone at me.
“That prick happens to be the guy I love Ellie. So don’t ******* growl at me.”
I give an audible sigh that I’m sure Ellie hears.
“But to answer your question… No. I don’t think he can reply. I just thought that maybe if he hears from his family and people visit him and stuff that he won’t feel so alone. Like abandoned and ****. I mean it’s not like we don’t love him and if I were him I’d be bored shitless down there. Maybe scared shitless too. I dunno.”

Elliot:
"Abandoned and ****. I'm sure he feels ******* grand knowing that his family - or those closest to him - all agree and support the death penalty for something akin to... to petty theft," he said. "Yeah, he's hearing from me. He's hearing how ******* angry I am. Who killed him, Skylar? Who was this person who thought it was a kindness to duel? Were they even fairly matched? How long has Patrick been one of us?"

Skylar:
I facepalm. Glad Elliot can’t see me. I knew this question was coming and while I wasn’t about to name names on the forums, I knew if Elliot asked that I’d tell him. Of course I’d tell him. He’s my Papa Bear.
“Look. I didn’t name names cos I don’t know what the rules are for their faction. But it was Doc that came to me and told me Pat was on the list.”
I know he didn’t ask that but I need him to understand my train of thought. If that’s possible.
“I asked him how to get him off it, and he told me someone had to duel him. And well it wasn’t going to be me. So rather than ask Doc to it. I asked Ric. And don’t go shouting at me. He didn’t agree straight away. He asked me several times if I was sure. And I’d asked Patrick before I asked Ric. So I didn’t go behind Pat’s back or nothing.”
I go silent. I know Elliot must be itching to chew me out and it’s probably best to let him say his piece now.

Elliot:
"Why, Skylar? Why would you just immediately trust what Doc has to say? Why didn't you come and ask for a second opinion?" It infuriated Lancaster. Whatever fury he had vented was returning tenfold. Of course Doc would think that Lancaster had no authority and no say when he wasn't allowed any. It rankled him that Doc was probably sitting over there, smug as ****, knowing that Skylar trusted his opinion more. It probably gave Doc great pleasure. "Ric just asked you if you were sure. Didn't tell you it didn't have to happen. If he didn't agree, what then? Who would have duelled him then? Doc? Some stranger? Someone still ten times ******* stronger than Patrick? How could you even possibly think any of this was fair, Skylar?! Did Patrick deserve this?
Did he do anything on purpose, maliciously? Was he sorry, regretful before he was forced to die like a ******* cub at a lion's jaw?" Now that he had started, Lancaster couldn't stop.

Skylar:
“I rang you Ellie. You never picked up. I assumed you left your mobile in a draw or something. I didn’t think it was the kind of thing that could wait.”
Yeah I could have run to Lancaster’s to see if he was there but my brain really wasn’t working that day. I’d killed two hunters earlier that night and I don’t take lives. I was pretty damn shaken up.
“Calm the **** down Ellie. Of course Ric would agree. He loves me and he’d do anything I ******* asked him to. He was worried I’d be pissed at him after. And yeah. I asked him to confirm what Doc said. He said pat would be hunted. It wasn’t a question of if he would die. It was a question of when. Isn’t it better that Pat handled all this with a bit of ******* dignity? He said he didn’t wanna be gang raped. And Ric’s been to see him since you know. Helping him with spirits or something.”
I’m talking quickly. I know I am. Ric’s not here to justify his actions. I can’t just hand over the phone and let him have at it. Not that I would. Ellie and Ric hate each other. I ******* hate that they can’t get along.

Elliot:
There had been a missed called from Skylar. But Lancaster hadn't got to the phone. There had been no message. He hadn't thought it was important. His jaw clenched. Did it matter if it was important or not? He should have called her back as soon as he saw the missed call. But he hadn't. And Skylar and Ric were attached at the hip. No wonder the ******* prick thought Lancaster didn't give a ****. Guilt rolled through Lancaster. Oh, that familiar boon buddy. Guilt. Had it ever actually gone anywhere? "Oh I know. I know Ric's been to see him. That's already been rubbed in ******* face, Skylar. How is it that through all this everything's been twisted so I'm the ******* bad guy? Just because I think the system is corrupt and that Patrick... you agree that he should have died, Skylar? How are you not angry? How are you not as ******* pissed off as I am? Had Ric brainwashed you into thinking that this... this is how it should be? I won't calm down. I can't calm down. I can't believe any of this."

Skylar:
I give a sympathetic sigh when Elliot calls himself the bad guy. I don’t see him that way and I’m sure Pat doesn’t either.
“You aren’t the bad guy Ellie. And no. I don’t agree that he should have to die but what could I do? It was going to happen no matter what. Both Doc and Ric said so. It was better for Pat to fight someone one on one and get it over with. Pat got to choose how and where it all went down. Kinda. I mean I helped. He didn’t see the point in dragging it all out. And I honestly offered to go with him but Pat said no.”
I don’t know what Ric would have done in that instance. Would he have killed me if I asked him to just so I could spend the week with Pat? Maybe. Maybe not. I mean Ric has that nifty little super power that lets him visit the place. He’d of probably tried to talk me out of it. The arse loves nothing more than to pin me with those ******* daggers of his but I honestly don’t think he does that to hurt me.

Elliot:
"You say that he is your husband and he speaks for you. ****, Skylar. Did you read any of it? Of course I'm the ******* bad guy. Patrick is a hero because he died with dignity and sure, yes, that's impressive. But it just reinforces it, doesn't it? He'll come out thinking he did the right thing and that he should have died for his ******* sins. It's a vicious circle. When will it end?" he stopped, then. Lancaster did not think that he was a leader. He did not think that he could lead any kind of political uprising. He hated politics. With a ******* passion. Doc was wrong. Lancaster wasn't afraid. He preferred an ignorant bliss. But it was all getting to be a bit too much. If you'd gone with Pat, Roderic would have joined you not long after. You have my word on that."

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--
Skylar:
“It would have been my choice Ellie. I wanted to go with him to keep him company. You know. Make sure he wasn’t alone and stuff. It wouldn’t have been Ric’s fault if it were my request. And yeah. I read it all. Ric can say what he likes. He wanted you to show you cared. That’s all. Which is something I’d already asked of you. I didn’t name you or nothing but I asked the whole family to do what they could for Pat. That’s what’s important. When he comes back I’ll talk to him. We’ll do our best to make sure he doesn’t end up back on that list. I promise you that.”
I know that’s not the point. I know what Elliot’s saying but I can’t change how Ric’s faction operates. All I can do is react to what I know is coming. Pat didn’t want me dying for him. He didn’t want me hurt. He’s a good guy. He wouldn’t want Tytonidae fighting their way through the family stronghold to get him.

Elliot:
"You're thinking too narrow. It would have been Ric's fault. In my opinion. He's in that ******* faction and he knows Patrick. Couldn't he vouch for Patrick's sincerity? Couldn't they give Patrick time? There are all kinds of things that Ric could have suggested that would have meant that Patrick didn't have to die. And if you'd died, it would only have been because you requested it. Because Patrick was dead. Get it? Ric is the one who could have stopped it. But the faction means more to him than family does. This just further proves it. This just further makes me believe that if you, Skylar, if you got on that list? It would be the same ******* option. Die, or die. And then he'll try make it all better by visiting you and summoning you spirits. You say that like it makes it all better. This... this is going nowhere. I'm not going to budge. I'll keep contacting Patrick like you asked me to. And maybe I'll do more besides," he said. But he didn't say anymore. Couldn't. He didn't know how to feel, but it was a lot. To Elliot, Skylar would always be second-fiddle for Roderic. That faction would always come first. It would have highest priority. And that wasn't good enough for Skylar. And she had fallen into the trap and was sedated by its sickly sweet scent, its taste. He still can't believe how calm Skylar is. But, she did forgive the guy for murdering her best friend. Why not this, too? He took a deep breath. He sighed. "If it were Pi telling me that you had to die, I wouldn't do it. Do you know that? I'd die to keep it from happening."

Skylar:
“Look. I don’t want to argue about this either. Yes. if I got on that list my options would be the same. The only difference would have been who killed me. As seriously. I know Ric won’t hunt me. He’s promised me as much. If I asked him to kill me. Well…”
I pause. I have no idea what he’d do then. I mean he wouldn’t want his faction beating the living daylights out of me. That much I know for sure. I know he’s more than happy to shove a blade through my palms or legs to in me down so he can have his way with me. But kill me? Actually slash me up something fierce and drive a blade through my head or heart. I dunno. Part of me thinks he might if I asked him to but if he did I think it would ******* kill him. I bet he’d join me in the Umbra. Not visit me, but spend the entire ******* week or whatever with me. I have to stifle a snort as I realise, he might just do that, but he might take a day or two to himself just to enjoy the silence.
“And you know what. Just like Pat wouldn’t allow me. I wouldn’t ******* let you. If I’m stupid enough to get on tape using my super powers or whatever, I deserve a good spanking. But that ain’t gonna happen unless I’m seriously shitfaced. And Ric, well he kinda doesn’t like me drinking. Especially not alone. He’s oddly more okay with it if he’s about. I guess he likes to know someone’s there to stop my crazy arse from doing anything stupid.”

Elliot:
"You're so ******* calm, Skylar. If he were to let you die in any way, shape or form, I would kill him. Because you're worth more than that. You don't bloody see it, do you? You're expendable to yourself," he said. He rubs at his face. This conversation was pointless. He was disappointed. He was angry. He was so ******* furious and if Patrick came back waxing this same calm lyrical ******** as Skylar was now doing, Lancaster would lose his ****. How tempting it was already to go and do some damage. To call Doc out on his ******** and kill that ****** once and for all. Lancaster had no doubt that he could do it. That rat-faced smug asshole would meet his ******* match. And then he can go on and say how weak Lancaster was. "Just forget about it, Sky.
You may as well go join them for all you seem to give a ****. I can't have this conversation with you anymore," he said. "Like I said, I'll keep talking to Patrick. I'll keep my phone on me if you need to call and I'll make a better effort to answer," he said. He paused, giving Skylar the courtesy to respond if she wanted to, even though he was so ready to just hang up.

Skylar:
“Yeah well, getting stressed and panicking my arse off wasn’t helping any. And after Pat died, I kinda drowned my sorrows and lost myself in Ric. He sat with me and helped me through it. I know you hate him but he’s not as bad as you think he is. He’s so ******* good to me. Honestly he is. He puts up with my damn tantrums, my drinking, my incessant chatter Seriously…”
I sigh and look at my phone. I don’t really know what to say at this point and hanging up isn’t an option. I’m not mad at Ellie. I love him. He’s passionate about what’s right and wrong and maybe he’s right. Maybe I am too calm or blasé or some **** but really. What can I do?
“Thanks. Ellie. For talking to him. For letting him know we’re thinking about him. I know you’re disappointed in me. I get it. I do. But I’m not joining up. I’m not drinking the kool-aid. ****. I wish there was another way. I wish Pat had a different option. But there was no other way to get him off that damn list.”
I sigh, pick up a gold ring from off my work surface and throw it across the room. The situation is fucked up. Ric thinks I did right. Ellie thinks I did wrong. Isn’t it just great to be me. Thankfully Pat didn’t seem to blame me any. I’d of been ******* crushed if I disappointed him too.

Elliot:
That's where the poison lay, in Lancaster's opinion. The very man who could have stopped it, the very one who had killed her best friend and now her childe, and he was the one she buried herself in for comfort. It was hard for Lancaster to not just scream down the phone. As if a pure, unadulterated roar could bring Skylar to her senses. With the way she could pick up emotion, it was a damned good thing that Lancaster had decided to call rather than to show up at her doorstep, or meet her somewhere in public. He was literally shaking with it. Again with that damned list. The be all and end all list. It was Lancaster, now, who felt like going and doing something stupid. **** that ******* list and everything it stood for. What could he do to make Skylar see that the stupid worthless thing should be ignored and other options sought? "Patrick is a good guy, you said. A good guy. How many other good people have to die for mistakes they didn't mean to make? You've already drunk the kool-aid Skylar you just don't realise it yet. I have to go. I'll talk to you later," he said. Maybe he'd call her back when he was calmer. Maybe he would go and do something stupid. Something childish and stubborn. Maybe he'd talk himself out of it and take a more reasonable path. Whatever the case, he couldn't talk to her anymore. He hung up.

Skylar:
I stare blankly at the phone after he hangs up. Damn. I mean. I’m not sure what I would have said to any of that anyways. I definitely don’t think that death is the answer. But what were my choices? I mean I don’t make the rules by which the faction operates. If I did, would I do it differently, hell yeah I would. But I’m just one person and while I can talk to Ric about it and tell him my ideas, I doubt they’d even listen to him if he did agree with me.
I put the phone on the desk and go to retrieve the ring I threw earlier. Ric’s kinda tidy and I don’t wanna stress him out any by leaving **** lying around on the floor that shouldn’t be there.
I shrug to myself. I’m not sure what I’m gonna do now. Ric’s off to visit Pat tonight. Ellie’s annoyed at me. Guess I’ll get blitzed. Or – perhaps the best and healthiest option – all night song writing session with the guys. I might actually turn out something decent what with all the crap I’m feeling at the moment.