Old Blood [Elizabeth]

[Alaric von der Marck]

OOC: ALL SPEECH WITHIN THIS ROLEPLAY IS IN FRENCH, WRITTEN IN ENGLISH FOR THE EASE OF THE PLAYERS.[/B]

E L I Z A B E T H
It was by sheer 'luck' Elizabeth supposed that she was browsing the various forums she had access to, that she came across a reply from Alaric finally. She had believed to have chased him off, or perhaps a figment of her imagination, really, but finally, he had responded. The location had already been sent and so, with her mind switching gears to that of her familiar path, her mind slipped into his. Tonight is fine, if it suits thee. I will be at the ranch, as discussed. Elizabeth moved from the mirror that she had been starring into while her mind wandered and out her penthouse and to the fadeportal room where she could get from her tower, to the ranch in not more than a mere five minute walk. When she arrived, the woman instantaniously raised a shield, guarded over the individual she knew nothing about, nor believed fully.

WEARING

A L A R I C
Clothing was always an issue with Alaric. He was going out to meet a stranger -- it was a social meeting, and thus in his mind it required that he dress up. According to his family, however, given that he was not attending a ball or some five star establishment, he did not need to wear a suit. He was stripped of his tie, vest and jacket, and left only in his slacks, button up tee and leather shoes. He required assurance, three times over, before he left the house. But leave the house he did, and with plenty of time to spare lest he lose his way. The ranch was dark when he reached it, a few lights guarding the entrance. There were lights in some of the barns, too, and assumed there were people around. But not enough to overwhelm his senses. He was there with enough time to see the woman arrive; he pushed himself off the fence that he was leaning against and bowed, affording her all the manners she deserved. "Good evening. You are Elizabeth?"

WEARING

E L I Z A B E T H
Elizabeth actually had no idea whom she was meeting or how she would know the person when she saw them, but hopefully he did. Though she supposed she looked as if she were a tourist or simply a lost soul, given the way she was dressed and the location choosen. Her steps were slow, primarily due to her hesitation, and the heels she was wearing, wishing now she would have changed into something more fitting as they occasionally pressed further into the earth than she imagined or anticipated. A male from her right made himself stand out when he bowed and spoke in French, the woman's tongue clicking slightly at the words. She knew well enough she was going to have to speak French the entire evening, but hearing it spoken caused Elizabeth mild irritation. It wasn't his fault, but still. She returned the greeting with a dip of her head, followed by a nod and a reply in kind. "Indeed, I am. And you must be Alaric." She said as her eyes flicked over his frame, taking in as much as she could both physically and mentally about the male as she could in those initial first few seconds.


A L A R I C
Just as he felt the touch of another mind against his, mental fingers reached out to explore hers in return. What he saw was a vampire of greater strength than he; the conclusion he had come to regarding his waning strength was that somehow, stuck in the realm for as long as he was, his strength was sapped from him. If he had remained much longer he might never have been able to return. He had to be thankful for what he had left. What he realised, now, was that he was dealing with another vampire like himself -- a telepath. Either that, or she was strong enough to have stretched her abilities. He nodded. "I am he," he said, glancing around. "I do not know this place. Is there somewhere we can sit?" he asked. He was not fond of the idea of standing around the entrance to chat.


E L I Z A B E T H
Her hesitation and guard had dwindled just a little when Elizabeth assessed Alaric. Not much, but a little. She knew all too well how those younger or less powerful even, could outwit an older and stronger vampire should it be their main focus and mission. A brow raised as Elizabeth fought back a look of amusement. If he believed she were familiar with this place...well, would they not both be surprised? "There very well may be." Elizabeth said after some moments had passed. Her eyes moved away from him then, searching for some place else to go. There appeared to be a store of sorts, a sign offering a dozen eggs for a price Elizabeth couldn't quite make out due to the lack of light. A place to eat, which was still lit up, another shop that sold hand crafted items and then right before another building, there were some picnic benches. "Do you eat?" She asked, taking the first step in the direction of what would either be the all day breakfast place, or the picnic tables that were seen just well enough due to the outside lights of both the home goods store and the other not yet identified.


A L A R I C
Alaric shook his head. "I do not eat. Food that we would have consumed as humans now, still, makes me sick," he said. He did not sound sad about it. Once upon a time he had lamented the lack of an ability to fit in. He had missed the taste of certain things. Now, however, he could not remember what anything tasted like in order to miss it, and the scent of food cooking only made his stomach turn. He, too, had seen the picnic benches, and it was toward those he now led them -- assuming he understood why Elizabeth had asked the question. After they were seated, he cleared his throat. "I thank you for meeting me," he said. For what other reason had he suggested the meeting other than to stretch his list of acquaintances? If this woman was also sired by Isabella, it was a new thing to meet one's bloodline. It was something that he had given up on only a couple of decades after he'd been turned. To be presented with this gift now seemed like a miracle he should not waste.


E L I Z A B E T H
Elizabeth nodded her head. "Nor I. I have had no desire to learn such an ability either. I prefer to spend my time, even if we are afforded with a large quantity of it...on other things." Elizabeth confessed as the pair moved past the place that served breakfast and burgers, according to the sign. "You are most welcome...though perhaps I should be thanking thee, as well." Elizabeth's eyes narrowed as she kept walking, her gaze fixed on the tables. "Though, I have to confess....I find this both interesting and unbelievable, if I am honest." She said at last, before Elizabeth sgrabbed at the skirt of her attire, lifted it just a bit and then slid into the table, one leg at a time. "It has always been just us sisters." Elizabeth said absently as she watched Alaric with slightly narrowed eyes, uncertain how to feel and what to think about him still.

[Elizabeth]

A L A R I C
Elizabeth was wary, and Alaric couldn't blame her. He himself had been betrayed by his own blood; from the beginning, from the night after he'd been awoken he should have told those that were gathered that he would prefer to keep to himself, that he would prefer that his existence not be spread amongst strangers. It would perhaps be too late now to put out the flames that had already begun to spread, but it was a discussion he would soon have. For now, he had decided to let his guard down -- this new world was too big to not be curious about those that inhabited it. "Isabella did explain, on the internet," he said. "You do not believe her?"


E L I Z A B E T H
Elizabeth waved her hands as her shoulders rolled. "I suppose it matters not." Elizabeth said, wishing to avoid the topic of Isabella as a whole. "It is just difficult to adjust to, is what I meant." Elizabeth concluded before moving past the topic. "What will you do now? The world has changed greatly since...the nights of old." Elizabeth thought back to her own struggles when she emerged, which would not be nearly as bad as his. "Things have changed significantly, even in the last handful of years." She tucked her strands of long blonde hair behind both ears, her eyes focusing on the stars in the night sky, as she pondered what she might do in the evenings to come.


A L A R I C
Alaric watched the woman carefully. Often he wished that his telepathic powers allowed him to read thoughts. He was certain that some of his descendants thought that was the case -- it amused him to let them think it. For now, it was a fun game. "It is difficult for the both of us. I lived centuries with no knowledge of my sire," he said. The words would speak for themselves. "I will continue what I started before my death. I will put the pieces of my human bloodline back together, I will help them to strengthen the Estate that their ancestors started. We will move forward together, united," he said. "I will do my best to adjust to the changes, to learn all that I can. I am concerned that the humans will not accept us, but perhaps there is hope," he said. Having just returned, the last thing he wanted to do was be banished back to the shadows.


E L I Z A B E T H
The more and more Alaric spoke, the more Elizabeth was starting to believe this whole...story. His whole existence. Being a Noble wasn't that far fetched in Elizabeth's mind, or rather, the bloodline that both Staus and Isabella shared, prior to their sire meeting his demise. Everyone fit in so perfectly, with the exception of Elizabeth. Isabella and her sister from Nobility, Staus, the ever prodigal pet project of his sire and Elizabeth....was none of these things. "That sounds like a lovely plan. I wish thee luck with that endeavour." Elizabeth meant in too. In more than one way. "Perhaps." Elizabeth pondered over the possibility of hope in regards to the humans. "If not, well I am positive you and yours will adapt." Elizabeth's gaze moved off the ebony colored sky with the small explosions of light placed here and there and returned them to Alaric. "I have discovered that there is a company working on a device. A translating device. It translates dozens of languages. I saw it advertised once, but know not if it is released yet. It seems promising. It translates in real time, anything that is said, as long as it is one of those dozens of languages it is programmed to know."


A L A R I C
Alaric's head canted to the side. He did not know his sire's history yet -- not beyond the basics. The entirety of it would take house to relate, especially if he too were to relate his in return. He gave a curt not, hoping too that he and his would adapt. So far, those he had met within his bloodline were loyal, and they were trustworthy. They built a good home base, one which could act as an anchor or a beacon. Judah was doing wonders contacting distant family members. "I am currently trying to learn English. I think that my mind is stubborn. It is harder than necessary. For the descendants that do not know my language, for them I will learn," he said.


A L A R I C
Alaric's head canted to the side. He did not know his sire's history yet -- not beyond the basics. The entirety of it would take house to relate, especially if he too were to relate his in return. He gave a curt not, hoping too that he and his would adapt. So far, those he had met within his bloodline were loyal, and they were trustworthy. They built a good home base, one which could act as an anchor or a beacon. Judah was doing wonders contacting distant family members. "I am currently trying to learn English. I think that my mind is stubborn. It is harder than necessary. For the descendants that do not know my language, for them I will learn," he said.


E L I Z A B E T H
Elizabeth nodded. "It was but a suggestion. I was fortunate that my familiar tongue is English." She said with a small smile before her eyes drifted to where a sound of laughter could be heard from inside the diner of sorts. Elizabeth scooted to the edge of the bench that she sat upon, inching further from the noise. "I know not if Antigony is around, but if she is, I think she would like thee. You should try and reach out to her." Elizabeth offered as she looked down at her sapphire colored painted nails. A chip in the middle finger caused her to frown, Elizabeth making a mental note to touch it up later. "There is an abandoned Mansion north of the city. It once housed Noble. Isabella could take thee to it, if you request it. A place to learn the starting of the bloodline, I suppose. If that interests thee at all." Elizabeth smiled, thinking of the few trinkets she had found within hidden areas of the mansion that were now in her possession. Still, being there might spark some old stories Isabella could tell better than she since Alaric missed those nights.

[Alaric von der Marck]

Alaric nodded. The information that Elizabeth offered was stored away to be used at a later date. He would contact his sire, he would see whether this Antigony was still within the city, whether there was a way to contact her, an address to which he could send a note. For now, he would focus on the blood he had sitting before him -- a woman who was as skittish around too much noise as Alaric was. His head canted to the side as he watched her skoot away from the laughing customers.

"You spoke directly to my mind earlier," he said, echoing the power as he spoke directly into Elizabeth's.

"And I felt your mind touch mine. You are a telepath, or has your strength grown over the years?" he asked, this time out loud. He knew that Elizabeth could have been dead nearly as long as he had been. He had been informed of the previous holocaust -- that all vampire-kind had died, only a few to have escaped the tangles of the realm in the last half decade or so. And yet, Elizabeth would have had a five or six year headstart on regaining her ablilities, on honing them to become the best that she could be. And Alaric could not help but be curious.

[Elizabeth]

The reply inside of her mind didn't bother Elizabeth in the slightest. Once upon a time, it was her preferred way of conversing, given her background. Nowadays, very few, if anyone spoke to her this way. It seemed that people either cared not about privacy of certain topics, or believed whatever was said would not find its ways to the wrong ears. Occasionally Alexandrea spoke inside her mind, but even those nights were far and few between.

She nodded her head, but expanded further on his words. "Yes. I was born of the same path when sired, however, I suppose I consider myself a student of everything. I believe that is the bigger picture and purpose to our existence and of our species. To be the very best at our own path and to continue to learn that of the others." Elizabeth said as she brought both hands down to the seat of the bench and then wiped at the grain of the cut on the wood. "I do not know how old you are, but things are different now in this time. What I have learned in just a mere handful of years, I had not in but a few centuries. I believe it has something to do with the fade...the tear, so to speak." Elizabeth professed with a slow nod of her head. "Or so, the rumours say. Who knows what is true and what is not anymore, unless you saw and heard it with your own eyes." She laughed softly, as her hands came to rest on the table's top, along with her forearms. Her right was crossed over the left as Elizabeth closed her eyes and focused on Alaric and not the occasional noises heard from within the building. "In time, anything you wish to learn, will be but at your fingertips." The woman concluded as her eyes reopened and she focused on him once again.

[Alaric von der Marck]

It was daunting to Alaric, to hear this woman speak of what she believed, of the things that she had learned. He had barely got his feet on the ground in the past few months. He couldn't yet roam into the city without wanting to turn around and run back to the still and calm solitude of his estate in the wilderness.

"I was born in fifteen-seventy," he said. She had not asked the question, but it was a query he could answer. It was one thing that he knew as fact, and it was comforting to be able to state the facts, to cling to them like they were anchors in this unfamiliar and alien world.

"Could it no tbe because of our age, that we are able to learn more, and faster?" he asked. The German was ignorant as to the power of other vampires, of younger vampires. He did not know that they could learn as quickly as he and Elizabeth could. He did not know that there were plenty who even surpassed him in ability. Alaric did not get out much, and he was surrounded by humans. Contact with his own kin, thus far, was limited to his own sire, and now to Elizabeth. He cleared his throat.

"Forgive me, I do not know as much as I could. I have not had the company of other vampires. I have been on my own, with my human family. Some of them were, and are sorcerers. I know that there is magic here, I know that it surpasses the magic elsewhere. I have not yet had the time to learn more. I think that I would not like to have the knowledge so ready at my fingertips. Is it worth having if it has not been worked for?" he asked. That was how he had got by. Everything he knew, he had learned on his own, and it had taken hard work and willpower. But then, he supposed, he would not wish the same fate on any person. Perhaps, for them, ready knowledge was a boon.

[Elizabeth]

There were things to be careful of when dealing with Alaric. The first being the most obvious. She did not want to overstep the bounds of her sire and what she wanted Alaric to know and not know. What she wanted to share with him; be it the city's history, Isabella's own history or that of the entirety of all things Noble. In truth, it wasn't really her place to play a sire or mentor figure. Their sire was around and Elizabeth had stopped taking in those that had been abandoned by others for some time now, due to her inability to keep those she sired tied to her, or interested in her life. Many of those that had been 'adopted' by the woman had either passed into a plane of existence she knew nothing of, or had moved on to other things.

Alaric was roughly sixty-five to seventy years younger than she was. She wondered how much he had learned in his time while he was alive, but wouldn't ask him such a thing. Not at a first meeting, anyways. Not that she supposed it mattered anymore, because he was not anywhere near where he might have been. The same as she had been when Elizabeth had emerged from the realms a handful of years ago. The woman nodded her head, indicating she was listening, but offered nothing about herself up to Alaric.

When he asked a question about their age being a contributing factor to their rate of learning, Elizabeth just lifted her shoulders in a shrug. She knew the answer was no, but again, that was something Isabella should be telling him. She instead smiled and replied with a small, "Perhaps." Elizabeth had learned years ago to not put forth an opinion due to the younger generation of vampires. Nothing the elders said or did was appreciated or taken lightly. Most of it had been twisted and used as forms of attacking them or their loved ones.

"There is nothing to forgive. I believe the answers in which you seek would be better answered by Isabella. She is, after all, older than us all and led our species here so many years ago." Elizabeth said as she turned away to look out into the darkness that was beyond the fencing of the ranch. She thought about his question and slowly felt herself disconnecting from the conversation as Elizabeth peered at the vast darkness the outside limits provided. "Perhaps not." Elizabeth stated, half agreeing with Alaric's thoughts on things. "It is a blessing you still have family around. What an amazing feat." Elizabeth turned the conversation to a more positive upbeat one before she glanced in his direction. "Forgive me, but I am not comfortable resting in one place for too long. May we walk?" Elizabeth inquired as she stood. Her mind had been made up, she would walk with or without Alaric.

[Alaric von der Marck]

Each feature of the woman’s face was scrutinized. From the hair, to the eyes, to the lips, over the smooth planes of the porcelain skin. Every tiny movement, and the sudden shift to stand – all of it was assessed. Every person was but a puzzle, and though they may look put together on the surface, they are, underneath, still in pieces. Alaric so often sought to put those pieces together. But even his telepathic abilities could only go so far.

Elizabeth was proving to be a harder puzzle than most. Though Alaric had opened the conversation inviting her to indulge in a deeper discussion, she instead evaded answering any questions. She did not open up about herself, nor did she provide and insights on what she had learned over the centuries.

Alaric, too, stood. He cleared his throat and nodded.

”I believe that I will learn much from Isabella, given time,” he answered, slowly. His observations was not so much calculated as it was fact. These were things he believed to be true. He, too, had lived centuries – and although his knowledge was missing bits and pieces, there was plenty that he, too, had learned. A person could not live for as long a she had without learning the intricacies of human nature, and of history itself. And that one single person’s logic and opinion could never be flawless.

”But I also believe that every person learns differently. Even if two people experienced one event in the exact same way, they will come out having learned different things. One cannot learn all that there is to know from one person. Many different histories should be sought in order to gain a greater understanding of the world,” he said. He was not trying to pry, but it was, he hoped, an invitation that Elizabeth would accept. If she did not – well, there was time.

One did not live as long as Alaric had, and not learn a little patience.

”This city has expanded, since last I was here. Where would you like to walk to?” he asked, even as he offered an arm. It was simply habit.

[Elizabeth]

Elizabeth mulled over everything Alaric said, slowly picking apart everything. Primarily wondering about his sincerity about the things he said. His arm was offered, and her eyes fell to it, but it took her a few moments to accept it. "Thank you." Elizabeth said, her tone not friendly, but not unfriendly either. "Or perhaps greater confusion." Elizabeth countered as she glanced around the ranch, pondering where they should go. It appeared Alaric was not eager to go near the city, and Elizabeth had some minor reservations about going into the woods. But perhaps...

Elizabeth stilled her steps, while her hand slid down Alaric's arm and came to a rest at just about his wrist. She then turned to face him before speaking. "I hope you are fast, should the need arise." Elizabeth said as she focused her telepathic abilities and encompassed Alaric with a shield that would aid him with an added deftness to his dodging abilities. With the extra assistance passed onwards, Elizabeth returned back to Alaric's side and once again reclaimed the arm with the same hand, in the same position.

The other hand pointed past the ranch and into the woods. "There are fast creatures that come out to play at times. The fae. What do you know of them?" Elizabeth inquired as she started to move in the direction in which she pointed. It was more of a rhetorical question, not expecting Alaric to know much of anything about them, so she continued on with her thought. "They despise our kind. If we let our guard down, they will attack us, with the desire to try and do us great harm, or perhaps even kill us." Elizabeth glanced at Alaric, offering him a wayward smile. "Perhaps I blame them not for their disdain. We are after all encroaching upon their homelands." And with that, they reached the point of outer city limits, to the wilderness. The point of no return.

[Alaric von der Marck]

Alaric smiled as Elizabeth began to speak about the Fae. He knew that in many respects he did come across as one who knew nothing. And in many regards he did know nothing. This modern world was a constant dilemma for Alaric, even in the way people spoke to each other, the way they dressed. Even the simplest things had changed in such vast ways – it was hard not to ask questions.

About the history of vampires he was uncertain, and about many other things besides. Whatever he had learned in his history as the undead, it had been a halting and scattered education, and was mostly learned by experience. One night he had stumbled across one of the wraiths while exploring the outer edge of the city. From that wraith he gained a greater understanding of the ‘paths’. There were things he already knew, of course, but he had never known there was a collective name for them.

The Fae, however, were a different story.

”Of the Fae, I know,” he said. He was more intrigued by them then afraid. They were at least an enemy that he was aware of. One he knew how to handle. It was a familiar evil, rather than a new one.

”When human, I was overseer of a vast farm. We had many men and women working for us, tending the land,” he said. He was one of the estate owners. A land owner. He paid them well, and treated them better than most. In doing so, he got to sit with them sometimes, and hear their stories. Growing up as a boy, those stories had terrified him.

”They were afraid of the spirits in the grass. They did not like me to know it, but they would make sacrifices to appease the spirits. I did not believe them. I thought it was nonsense,” he said. He even laughed, thinking back on it. If he had only listened to his workers, he might have learned a thing or two. He might have had a head start.

”When I was turned, I returned home. I did not stay long – I was too much of a danger. But while trying to find somewhere to sleep, I was attacked. The spirits were real. They were ferocious. And they did not like what I had become,” he said. He kept the story simple. By this time, they were out of the ranch and his eyes scoured the wilderness ahead of them.

”I do know that there are Fae in these woods. I did encounter them, too, while building the estate. It was once much further out than it is now. The city has grown. Though I do suppose they might have changed over time…” he said of the Fae. If a city could morph and change and grow at the rate it had, there was no saying how the supernatural occupants of the surroundings woods might have changed as well.

[Elizabeth]

Elizabeth listened to everything Alaric was saying, trying to pick apart the other telepath. Or most specifically, trying to piece together his life. Fill in the gaps of what wasn't being said or told, so to speak. Elizabeth smiled, thinking of how people would pay tribute to the fae. Why wouldn't they? As far as Elizabeth knew, the fae did not mind the human population-which was quite the wonder to the blonde haired woman. Elizabeth both believed and found that humans built far more buildings, and overpopulated the world far more than vampires did. Perhaps ruining their woods and forests were not entirely the root of the cause for their dislike of vampires.

"When I was a child, making sacrifices to any creature or god would have ended up with an unruly label, banished or perhaps even killed." While she said perhaps, Elizabeth was positive that it was an absolute certainty. After all, had she not suffered a fair bit in her human life just for being perceptive of things that seemed obvious to the young woman then? "And I do not doubt your claim. It just indicates that our walk will perhaps be a brief one." Elizabeth countered the thought of fae being in these woods not really a surprise. "And so we must make the most of our time now, yes?" Elizabeth slowly withdrew her hand from Alaric's arm so that she could place the now free hand on a fallen tree, using that hand to climb over it. The petite woman waited until Alaric either did the same or walked around the fallen trunk completely, before she continued.

"It is wise to keep to yourself. Or those of your family. Isabella, Antigony, their husbands...but I would not waste my time or efforts on the rest of the kindred. Very few-if any-care about anyone or anything then themselves and their desires." Elizabeth rolled her shoulders into a shrug before her steps started once again. "The city is destructive and dangerous. I would leave it and never return again if we were not benefited with the gift of every-lasting immortality here, and here alone."