Path of the Vampire forum

Pi had the sneaky feeling she knew Abelle, had spoken to her somewhere but for the life of her she couldn’t place it. The problem with being the owner of a bar were the sheer numbers of people who populated her world. Some nights the sea of faces numbered in the hundreds, especially if there was an event on at the bar.
Music brought the punters in droves, the auction drew a smaller crowd, a niche. The precious few vampires who understood what these auctions hid, the black centre at the heart of the beast.

No matter how long she pondered how she knew the woman, Pi couldn’t make the connection in her brain. She stepped onto the stage, with no more information at the ready, other than what Abelle had placed on her auction card.

“Tonight we welcome a woman who has a talent for many things, business, fighting and is up for… most anything. Always good.”

“Please join me in welcoming Abelle to the stage!” Pi announced with flair she really didn’t have, and enthusiasm she was becoming more comfortable with.

Stepping back from the microphone she gave the woman a welcoming smile and left the limelight to her.

(ooc: Auction card is approved and bidding can now start. Please note auction order and Rp with that in mind.)

Having entered the venue late, when the bidding on the previous auctions already was going its course, Patrice had quietly taken a seat in the back, watching the events unfold. Only when his sister's name was called up, he looked at the stage with an increased interest.

Until recently, his sister had seemed missing from the city, and he was unable to find out anything about whereabouts. Now she was back though, and the gun shop that he owned together with his sister open and running again. Yet they didn't get to spend much time together so far.

Of all the sisters that had come to the city, his relationship with Abelle had been the most complicated. It had been rather hostile at times. But yet they were able to operate a business together successfully. Was it the bond of blood that made this possible? Or just the love for guns they both had in common?

He'd find out. With a smile on his face he raised his hand to place the first bid on his sister. "One thousand", he said to get the bidding started.

Sit up straight they told her, quit looking down at your phone they all said. Why did she decide to do this auction even? For the love of money. She guessed some people could understand that about her, but that wasn’t it. She had been feeling a bit lost since she had returned and was eagerly trying to fill the void with anything worth of time that she could. The only person she even remotely had contact with was Mortll, and that was when the girl decided to take her “flying”.

The picture for the entry came out lovely the photography told her, and she had no problem admitting. The makeup, lights and fancy fabrics definitely gave her a new confidence boost; but it wasn’t at all what she was comfortable with and definitely no new type of fashion statement. The feeling had definitely been confirmed the moment she stepped out on to the stage. The same people that had also told her to look pretty for the camera were also the same people that said some exposure in any way would be good for business. Everyone thought she was gone for good and it was like she had returned from the grave, well at least that’s what the humans thought.

Awkwardly Belle walked across to meet Pi and gave her a small smile before the woman walked away. She really didn’t even know her, but she wished she would have stuck around for a few extra minutes. She wasn’t ready for the spotlight yet...too late much too late. What an ill feeling that was feeling vulnerable all of a sudden. So she would stand there waiting to get bid upon? What if no one bid or worse…

The worst thing that could happen and was happening was seeing a sibling in a crowd. She and Patrice ran an entire business together and still hadn’t spoken any words since she had returned home. She didn’t do it on purpose, it just simply didn’t happen. She supposed a call to her elder would have been in order, but the look on his face tonight just wouldn’t have been as priceful just then. Their relationship had been a fragile at most times so she couldn’t even begin to imagine why he would even want to buy her.

Belle gave him a half smile half concerned glance when he raised his hand to bid. She had not foreseen this coming, so perhaps entering wasn’t going to be such a bad idea after all.

Pi had learned last year that it wasn't such a great idea for her to bid on a male of any sort. As much as she didn't see the issue she put herself in Elliot's shoes and what she would think of him bidding on another woman and realised one of two things. Either she had to sort out her issues with him and other women, or she needed to realise it was a two way street and that two way street meant for her, bidding on men, were out.

And this person was someone she felt she should recognise and she was curious where in her present past the person came. It wasn't even that Pi expected to know everyone in the city, because the truth of that matter was the fact she definitely didn't. She just knew a lot. Curiosity too, was a complicated beast. She was definitely curious.

Raising her hand she smiled around the bid she placed. "Five thousand."

Patrice didn't have the slightest idea yet what to do with his sister if he should end up winning this auction. But he knew he'd come up with something for sure. For a moment he smiled slightly to himself pondering the possibilities. But then he was outbid by someone. Of course he was. One thousand dollar was a pretty low bid in a city afloat with money like this one. He was sure that there were at least a few who were willing and able to bid a lot more than that for Abelle.

He looked over to the bidder - Pi was her name he believed - wondering what her motives might be to bid on Abelle. Was she one of his sister's friends? Enemies? Or just bidding because she was here anyway and involved in running the auction? Maybe he'd find out, maybe not. But of course she wouldn't win Abelle for 5,000 Canadian dollars.

Patrice raised his hand, "15,000", he said.

Belle waved at her brother mischievously, wondering if he knew what he was doing. She hadn’t been that much of a terror growing up….or perhaps she had. Either way spending time with Patrice would prove to be interesting. They were opposites in every way. He had bonded with Isidora and she had bonded with Andre. There had been so many of them, that it was only natural that some cliqued more than others; but Patrice was someone whom she always had wonderment of. He was refined, smart, collected and looked like their mother. Belle took on her father’s genes to the fullest, ending up with reddish hair and blue eyes. What half Asian looked like that? It always had her insecure. She put on a strong, determined face as she thought back. She was important now, she owned things, and a lot of people knew her name. She supposed she proved something. But to who?

She had been so wrapped up in thought, that when she heard Pi bid, her eyes shot over to her. Now, that was something she never in a million years expected. The two barely knew each other, and she was far from opposed to learning more about her, it had just came as a shock. She supposed being a hermit since she had come back wasn’t really working for her anymore. She had no one to hang on to, not that she needed someone, but perhaps some new faces and new endeavors would serve her well. Right now she was as free as a bird, no partner, no faction, no nothing. Nodding her head toward the woman she smiled, but couldn’t help but give her brother a cheeky grin, nearly poking out a tongue. That was until he bid again. So he’s serious? She laughed and preened.

Doc had not been aware of the auction until he saw the post that Dawnie made, the night Cytherea and he had returned from their three week European tour. Had he known about the auction before they had left, he would have told all his spawns, in no uncertain terms, that he would not bail their *** out if some miscreant or pervert bid on them. But he didn’t know, and of all his spawns to put themselves on it.. it was Dawnie. Dawnie, his baby. his innocent. She did not have a suspicious bone in her body. She couldn’t see the evil in people. She saw only the good.

Raking a hand through his hair, Doc headed toward Lancaster’s. He wasn’t going to bail her out. But he might have to introduce himself to someone, just to ensure she was dealt with fairly. Pulling open the door of the bar, he was surprised that the crowd wasn’t as large as in past years. Glancing at the stage, he saw Bella had just taken her position on the chopping block. Finding a discarded auction listing, he realized he had missed Dawnie’s auction altogether. After asking a few patrons if they knew who won the auction for Dawnie, he came up cold. Apparently she had been far earlier in the evening and no one knew or remembered.

Taking a position closer to the stage, he looked up at Bella. He gave her a perplexed look. Why did she auction herself? To get back at Chain for divorcing her? Or to tell the city.. ‘I’m back!’? Doc’s thoughts were interrupted when his sire bid five thousand for her. He lifted an eyebrow, what was Pi up to, again, however, his thoughts hit pause as the five K bid was quickly followed by a fifteen K bid. Tracing the bid to it’s source, he frowned. He didn’t recognize this guy. He looked from the guy to Bella, and back to the guy. Bella seemed to enjoy the guy’s attention as she preened for his benefit. Interesting.

Doc smirked darkly as he pondered just how bad this guy might want her. Casually he lifted hand and called out, “$25,000.”

Belle was having a bit too much fun up there. The fact of course that her brother had seemed to adamant on buying her, was a constant amusement. Who knew this sort of public parading would cause her such joy? And there was so little of that nowadays. She felt like a pageant queen or something. Was this what it felt like really? Everyone starring and judging all at once. Her eyes widened as she spooked herself into feeling insecure. Too late now.

Thankfully her emotions were broken when she heard a familiar voice pipe up in the crowd. Doc? Seriously? What did he want to do with her? Regardless, he was offering a pretty penny to have her for three days. She couldn’t see him being harmful, maybe they would talk and have sleepover’s for a couple days and part ways. Psh…harmless, she knew better. This was probably some sort of scheme to bring her back to her family or friends. Again too late now. She groaned slightly in the back of her throat, hoping in this case her brother would outbid him and she wouldn’t have to worry.

With a forced smile she waved at him, but the look of worry on her face went a long way.

Being outbid, Patrice had a look at the man who hand just stepped into the room just to bid on Abelle. Did he know him? He might have seen him before? The vampire society of Harper Rock wasn't that huge a circle, at least when you only count the regulars, those that have been around for a number of years. This bidder certainly was. What were his plans with Pat's sister?

Pat wasn't that eager to find out. He never had thought he would get carried away with it. But now he was actually getting keen on winning Abelle. Not so much to protect her from anything. She was a big girl now, even though she still was his little sister and always would be. But she already had started so much trouble that he knew that protecting her was a futile endeavor. And she was part of that group after all. Tytonidae. Most likely they'd be more able to protect her than he was. But did he want anyone else to win on a Broussard? Win his sister? He didn't like the idea of a True Broussard being slave to anyone. Not even for three nights.

"$35,000", he raised the bid again, trying to look as calm and disinterested as possible behind his dark sunglasses.