Path of the Vampire forum

Backdated Sept 2017

Doc: Entered the flower shop in the Honeymead market. He meandered through looking at the different exotic plants to the floral bouquets. He wasn't a flower expert, but he did recognize the pairing of certain flowers. Today people put flowers together because of color of the flower or the look of the blooms. But this particular bouquet that he stood admiring was made with the significance on the meaning of the flowers.


Liz: Elizabeth had been preparing an assortment of floral baskets for a business banquet most the evening when she had heard from Diederik about the mysterious present at her door. Elizabeth had tomed home, opened it and had replied to the sender. As promised, she would be where she claimed to be, given the baskets for the two dozen tables had not been completed yet. She hadn't heard the front door open, due to her being in the cooler and taking a tally, so it had been a few minutes after Doc had entered that Elizabeth had realized it. When her blue eyes landed upon him, she offered him a small smile and dipped her head in his direction. "Charles. You are in one piece. I had wondered at some point..." Elizabeth knew he was not dead, but a vampire could be in half a dozen pieces at least before it became drastic.


Doc: Doc nodded, his smirk was lackluster, "My body is whole." He sucked it up. He hated apologizing. She might not think it was a big deal, a simple apology. But even in the best circumstances, it galled him to have to admit he was wrong. But right now? The way his emotions were fluctuating, he felt like throwing up. "I am sorry I have been unattainable." He swallowed. "My emotions are not right. I don't know what is going on. So I may look fine. But I am not fine." There he said it. He apologized. He laid his failing out there in the open. The hand that was in his pants pocket, was fisted tightly, as though he thought it would help help stay in control.


Liz: Elizabeth imagined that apologizing was not easy for Charles and it seemed to be something he had to do every so often with her. She nodded her head, blue eyes flicking over him quickly before returning to his face. "I understand your reasons for being unattainable. Some of us prefer our own company at times, while others prefer that of others. I understand that people react to things differently, Charles. I just do not know why you did not say such a thing. It would not have been that big of a deal...and perhaps, it is not that big a deal anyways." Elizabeth countered as she moved to grab some red and orange flowers for the next basket she would make tonight. "In truth, it was unfair of me to say what I had said in the email missive. In retrospect, you do not owe me any explanation." Elizabeth grabbed a shears and lopped off a good portion of the stems for the flowers, before glancing at him. "I do not have many friends for various reasons, I was a little worried..." She trailed off. "You think I have not noticed things have been 'off' with thee lately? or that others may not know? I am positive most do, Charles."


Doc: Doc looked at her horrified. "Not a big deal?! It is a huge ******* deal! It is an admission of weakness. A weakness that can be exploited. Used against me. Used against my spawn. Or anyone I care about." He sighed and lowered his voice, "That is the first thing I look for when I am going to go **** someone up.. find their weakness. Use it. Exploit. If I cannot find a weakness, I find their loved ones and I **** them up. I **** them to the point that the person I am really after submits to my will. That is what I do, and I do it well. And I just gave you my weakness." He counted, and while he counted, she shrugged it off like it was nothing she cared about after all. "What? Oh **** no." He have her hard angry look. "You do not make a demand like that.. and then backpedal. What are you saying Lizzie? I'm not worth your time? You've been slumming maybe?"


Liz: She had been snipping away at the stems for the next five baskets she would need to make, before there came a certain point where she stopped and listened to what he was saying more carefully. Specifically, at the point of any admission of being seen as 'weak.' She sighed softly, then almost rolled her eyes before her lips parted and then closed at his inquiries. The shears came to rest on the granite table surface, nestled between it and her open palms. 'Slumming' was not a term she was used to and so it took a few seconds for her to understand what he was suggesting, before her blue eyes narrowed into daggers. "I..." She didn't waste another second talking before she threw the shears at him, more specifically, at his chest. It wouldn't kill him, but if it stuck it might sting a little. Hopefully, a lot.


Doc: Thankfully Doc's reflexes were not impaired, so he was able to deflect them enough so they did not do major damage. His suit and his arm took a nasty slice. "Oh we can throw things now? Fine." He picked up the first thing that came to hand, which was terra cotta clay tray, and threw it at her. "How does that feel? Great huh? It's alright for you to blithely to admit you don’t care; but call you on it, and a guy gets skewered. First I am wrong for not ******* sharing, something that is.. Difficult.." He practically snarled at her, ".. then after I do.. bare my ******* soul.. I get brushed off when I do? And YOU throw **** at me?! I do not understand you!"


Liz: "Don't you-" Elizabeth warned as she saw the pot being lifted and then thrown at her. Did it bother her more that he threw it at her, or that he was throwing her things? Both. Perhaps the first. Things could be replaced, even though they were her things. She twirled to the right, but still managed to get hit in the side before it thunked against her frame and fell to the floor and shattered. "I do not understand you!" She snapped back, before grabbing a glass vase from the shelf behind her and threw it in his direction. "I am not a breakable trinket! So who is it you are worried about someone hurting? Amalea? Mortll? Ariadne?" She spat at him, before taking a deep breath in. "Do not dare assume my feelings on anything, for you could not be more wrong." She grabbed an ordering book and threw it at him for good measure too.


Doc: He successfully dodged the vase, but got hit by the order book. He grabbed it after it hit him fore square in the face, at which point he flung it right back at her. "You're not breakable?! ********! You are just as breakable as I am. Only I don't care if I get broken! I care if YOU do!" He grabbed the next thing within reach and hurled it at her, only to have it waft to the floor several feet short of its target. "******* bows. You can never ******* trust a ******* bow!" He snarled, uncaring that it make no sense. "Who am I ******* apologizing to? Mortll? No. Ariadne? No. Amalea? No. You! I am apologizing to you! And for your information.. not that you asked.. but by god, you want to know.. Ari and I .. Platonic. Period. Amalea.. also not sexual! Mortll.. is also ******* pissed at me. Only, I am not apologizing to her.. Now am I?" Both hands clenched, as he really wanted to hurt someone, but he was counting. "There I told you. Now .. please enlighten me.. why do you not want my apology anymore? Because I feel ******* used. Toyed with. Played with until.. the toy isn't so shiny anymore, then pushed aside."


Liz: The book came back in her direction, but Elizabeth remained where she was and took the hit. What was the worst that would happen? A paper cut? A bruise? It came fluttering at her, grazing the right side of her neck and shoulder. The fingers from both her hands came to rest simultaneously on the granite surface behind her as Elizabeth stood there and listened to what he had to say. Of course she was breakable, or..killable, if that was what he was worried about, but if a holocaust couldn't keep her tucked away in the void forever, neither would anything else unless Elizabeth decided it.

Her eyes moved to the ground, attempting to see what he had thrown at her this go around, trying to understand where bows came into play. When did she get bows in the shop? Elizabeth frowned trying to piece together what he was saying and what Doc was actually meaning, until he continued. Did she want to know, as Doc stated? That hadn't been her full intent, but Elizabeth was....relieved? “You feel used? I did not disappear without a word, Charles. That was all you! I have been here, waiting for you. You are your biggest enemy, not some other potential enemy that may or may not be out there.” Her blue hues remained on him, narrowing a little more.

“You vanished, quite literally, the night after our date. Left me wondering so very many things.” Elizabeth turned her head to the right to glance at the pot on the floor. “I want an apology, a genuine one, but how can I expect such a thing? It is wrong to force such a thing, given one of us has stronger feelings for the other, than the other does for them. And in case you are wondering, that person is me, Charles. Which makes me the biggest ******* idiot in the world.” Elizabeth glanced up at him, then shook her head. “Did you not think for even a moment how I would feel when you vanished? If not, then you are no better a man then he is.”

Doc: “First.. I did not vanish. I went home. By myself. Alone. Period. Why? Because there is something fucked in my head. And I wanted to try and sort it out. Except ..it’s still fucked and I do not know why.”

He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. He still wanted to throw things; maybe even choke her, except he knew it wouldn't have the result he wanted, because she wasn't human and did quite well without breathing. He took a deep breath, and slowly released it several times. He was still angry, but he wasn’t at the point of doing bodily harm to anyone, .. hopefully.

“You’re not an idiot, Lizzie. I didn’t want you to see me.. Like ..” he gestured by throwing his arms open, “This. But that point, is moot now.. I am ******* mess. That was the last thing i wanted you to see.. **** me though.. You’re seeing it now! Hope you like what you are seeing!” He paced in a small circle before stopping across the table from her and said, “And you are right. I should have called. Emailed. Something. And I did not. I am sorry.”

Doc snarled to himself deep in his throat, “I am not making excuses.. However, at the time.. I thought.. In my fucked-upness, that it was the right course of action! But I was fucked up.. Still fucked up! I am not not happy about it.. I am trying to fix it.. Its not working!” He took another few calming breaths, and said, “Since we are being honest.. And open.. You can be ******* needy Lizzie. I compartmentalize. There is going to have to be some give and take, Lizzie, if we are going to make this work. I would like to make it work.”

Liz: He was being particular, and she suspected they both knew it. Her arms crossed at her waist, as Elizabeth listened to what he said. Something was ‘wrong' with Doc, and he couldn't figure it out. Even many nights later.

He was frustrated, it was evident in his tone and body language. She sighed, but remained where she was while her blue eyes watched him pace. “Like what, Charles? Needing help? Heaven forbid anyone sees you needing any help? You think that asking for help, what? Makes thee less attractive? Weak? You could not be more wrong. Allowing others to see you as vulnerable, makes one stronger. It shows others that you are strong enough to endure any potential hardships, or hurt that may come with exposing those vulnerabilities.”

Elizabeth moved back to the station she had been working at, and placed both palms on the counter. “I believe my definition of needy and yours are very different. It is concern and care, Charles. I could quite easily track you down, slip into your thoughts and memories, but I did none of those things for the respect of your privacy. Wanting to know you are fine, is not needy “ her blue eyes narrowed as Elizabeth thought of all the things she could say about him, but she suspected nothing she would have said would have surprised him. And so she left her next set of words vague. “and since you feel the need to be honest, it is not as if you have no unsavoury characteristics. Yet, for some reason, here I am, giving a **** about you.” Her eyes softened a little before she leaned back with a small shrug.

Doc: Doc nodded each time she asked her rhetorical questions. Needing help? He nodded adamantly. You think that asking for help, what? Makes thee less attractive? Again. Yes. He nodded. Weak? “Yes!” It had been beaten into him at an early age that the first sign of weakness, his father would seize it and beat him until he couldn’t stand. Yes. He learned that lesson well. And even as she said he was wrong, he could point out incident after incident in nature where predators always went after the young and weak. Sharks took out the young or weak seals. Lions took out the weak antelope. Dolphins, bullied their prey by stunning them, and then eating the weakened stunned fish. But he was aghast and muttered ‘the ****..’ when she said, letting others see you when vulnerable, makes you stronger.

He continued to stare at her, as she added that their definitions were not in agreement. He was about to let loose with another tirade when he forced himself to calm down. Normally.. Someone disagreeing with him, wouldn’t have phased him at all. He would have snorted, said ‘**** you’ and moved on. But he didn’t like Lizzie disagreeing with him. He didn’t like it all. ******* feelings were rearing their obscene heads again. He tried to focus on the words, not the emotions they were causing, until she said she gave a ****. It was like the floodgates of tension suddenly eased up.

Doc nodded. “Alright.“ He took a few minutes to let the thought settle in. “Thank you. I care about you as well. I don't want to see you get hurt. It isn't that I don’t think you can handle yourself. It isn’t that at all. I get a..” he frowned, then blurted out, “helpless feeling. And I don’t like it.”

Liz: He didn’t agree with her and that was fine. To each their own perception of things and Elizabeth was old enough to understand that what she thought or felt, wasn’t always what others, or the majority thought and felt. Either way, she didn’t care in those instances. Doc seemed to believe that showing any form of emotion was a weakness on his end, but she chose to believe differently.

Suddenly, he seemed calmer. Elizabeth moved to the side of the counter as he spoke, listening to what he said. “It is not a good feeling, is it?” Elizabeth countered, expecting it to be more rhetorical than anything. To impress upon that, she continued her thoughts. “One has to realize that everyone gets hurt in some respects, Charles. And the fault would not be yours if anyone were to get hurt and nothing could have been done by thee.” She waved a dismissive hand, focusing on him. Or more specifically, his problem. “When did you start noticing these differences in your personality? How did the changes first represent themselves?” She finally finished moving around the counter so she could stand next to him, but did not reach for him. “And I too would like to figure out things at some point. To make this work.”

Doc: He started intently at her as she spoke. Her seemingly simple question, uttered without anger or derision, had an affect on him. She continued and airily brushed it aside as though, it were something she had long come to terms with. And it did make sense that she should be more easily understanding, and forgiving, as she had centuries to see and recognized what does and does not matter.

Doc felt somewhat sheepishly ashamed and embarrassed. Yes, sure she said it wasn’t a weakness. But he could not help but feel utterly exposed. Having not felt that way since childhood, it was a devastatingly realization. But one he was going to attempt to soldier through. If he looked at this logically, it would not kill him. It was only debilitating, if he allowed it to be so.

His gaze had been locked on her until she asked him, ‘when did he start to notice to differences’. Focusing on her question, his gaze drifted off as he attempted to pin down the event in question. He had been fine in Italy. Fine at the townhall meeting. Fine, when he and his Kid, had the talk. He frowned suddenly and his eyes narrowed, as he seemed it pinpoint the timing. But.. that was illogical. His face now wore a perplexed look as he turned his regard back to her face. At that precise moment, Doc remembered quite vividly the suddenly burst of anger when he felt when he thought Lizzie had been belittling Amalea’s accomplishments. From that point on, it had been a rollercoaster of happy, sentimental, angry, irrationally morose, and despondent feelings. Had those feelings been there before? But to a lesser degree? However, it then dawned on him what she said about also wanting to making it work, and his emotions took another swing toward a more positive feeling, but this time he recognized it as a mood swing.

“I am not saying it means anything.. But .. I began to notice the issues around the time of the eclipse.”

Liz: As he stood there thinking, trying to work out the timeline, Elizabeth finally moved around the granite workspace and stood in front of it. She didn't move to touch Doc, she just stood there and offered him her presence.

“That was weeks ago.” Elizabeth pointed out, before sighing softly. “Charles, you are a man of trials and errors, but...And I say this kindly. Whatever you are doing, is not working. You need to take a different approach. Please, let me help you, as you have helped me so many times.” It was then that she moved forward and placed both her hands on his cheeks. “You need help, only if you take but a little help tonight, you may feel better.” Elizabeth stepped back while she dropped her hands from his face. “Please. Think about the future and the next meeting. You will need your wits about thee. Allow me to help thee with one of your small burdens. What has one got to lose?”

Doc: Nodding in agreement with her. “I know it was three weeks ago. It feels like a lot longer.” He was suddenly very tired, when minutes before he was full of energy gearing up for a fight. But as had happened for the last three weeks, he went through periods of being keyed up, to crushing listlessness; from being in a fairly decent mood, to wanting to kill the person he is talking to; all for not specific reason. The swing of emotions, and the rise and plummet of energy levels was brutal.

Doc rubbed the back of his neck. “Lizzie, if I knew what to do I would try it..it is all I can do to make it one night to the next, without killing someone. “ He gestured absently, “killing someone without covering my tracks.. “ he clarified.

Part of Doc wanted to grab her offer and hold it close; but the cautious, wary side of him, railed at him about weakness.. And being seen a pity case. He had already admitted his foibles, and she was still here, trying to help, that was a good thing right? He wanted it to be the good thing. But wariness still argued. Perhaps she wants to get his achilles heel.. And hold it over him? If this wasn’t his achilles, what was? She already knew this. How much worse could it get?

His voice was weary, resigned, and yet firm when he finally agreed. “Alright…” He looked like he wanted to add more, but what could he add that would be of substance? Nothing.

Liz: If a problem, or multiple problems remained unsolved, Elizabeth knew all too well that the duration of time seemed to be longer than it actually was. His admission of wanting to kill something, or rather someone didn't even get a raise of a brow from Elizabeth. She could hardly judge, yet the inability, or desire of not wanting to cover his tracks was problematic on many fronts.

The eclipse may very well be the problem, or potential solution….something Elizabeth kept to herself for now. When was the next eclipse? Finally, Doc agreed to her proposal, but offered nothing more. He was hesitant, and she could understand. Doc led a complicated life; his profession, his desired profession, apparently had a knack for killing and at times getting paid for it. Elizabeth imagined getting him to share anything, even something so small to most, would be complicated and require a fair bit of trust.

“Have I ever told thee the year in which I was born? I do not believe so...fifteen hundred and three. I have been alive, in a sense for half a millennia. Only a vampire for about four hundred and ninety...give or take a year or so.” She held up a finger, then moved to a table with three chairs. She usually met with a client, or clients here, when they placed their order. Elizabeth extended a hand to the chairs across from her. “The point is, that when one lives a long time...longer than twenty or thirty years, they have done many of things. Some good, some..bad, I suppose and some things because they had to. I, like anyone, even you, Charles, are no exception to this. I am here to help, not judge, for none of us have the right to at the end of the night, do we?”

Doc: Doc managed to smirk at her last comment, “Do we have the right? No. But do I? **** yes, I do.” He followed her to the table and chairs, not exactly reluctantly, but also not fully emphatically either.

Now seated across from her, Doc gave her a caged look. He gazed was locked on her. It was a look that was both wary and defiant at the same time. She had a point, a very valid point about time and experience. He could see things so much clearly than those barely two decades old could. How much more so could someone who had lived and experienced centuries of events and history?

This was not going to be easy for him. He had promised not to lie to her. And he hadn’t. ****. It just hit him, what he had admitted to her a moment ago. ****! That was not the type of slip he can let happen.. And yet he just did. ****. What would she do? Had he just ruined every positive move forward, with one giant step backwards? She said she wouldn't judge, not to his face. But once he left? What then?

He broke eye contact, he looked down. Either he was all in, now. Go for broke. Or he needed to leave. He looked at her once more. “What do you want to know?”


Liz: Everyone judged, even she did. Silently, but she suspected Doc was a bit more vocal than she was, or ever had been. She smirked right along with him, still smirking while he sat across from her. Elizabeth could still gather some hesitation from Doc, even though he sat and seemed willing to attempt to share his problems with her.

She caught his glance downwards, which caused her to frown and tilt her head. It was almost a glance of submission, almost like a sullen child...or something she could not quite place her fingers on. Whatever it was, it was again, uncharacteristic of him. Elizabeth leaned back in her chair and then attempted to provide Doc with some sense of openness, by sharing with him a bit of her history. “You know of James, but you do not know of Abigail. She was born about two years after James, but did not live to see her first birthday. In truth, she did not live past four months. As soon as she fell ill, I did everything that I could to reach out to her father to return. He did not. Yes, he was a man of the sea, but what you do not know is that even when he was not fishing, he was a very difficult man to find. I had not ever loved him, nor he, I, there was no kindness in our home and perhaps that was why he was seldom home. Still, she was his daughter. “ Elizabeth crossed her legs at her ankles and dropped her hands on the table in front of her.

“After the death of both our children and his inability to help me move past the loss of our children, I took what money and other valuables we had and fled. Isabella found me less than a year later. I had still not recovered completely from the loss of both our children and from so many other things. You may find this difficult to believe, but in my first year or so as a vampire, I had murdered many, many people. Men and women. I was, as what some would say, judge, jury and executioner. It provided me with a temporary happiness and closure to some extent, but...eventually I had to face my own demons, so to speak. It had not been an easy thing to do and still, at times…” She shrugged and did not finish that train of thought. “I had only ever told that story to one other person, and so...it is something I am entrusting you with.” She looked at him pointedly. “I want you to share with me what you want to. I am not asking for something so dire, if you are not ready or willing, but we all must face our demons at some point, Charles.”

Doc: He had stared at her so hard, while she spoke. Some ‘thing’ in what she had said struck a chord with him. Maybe it wasn’t the eclipse. It was the test results. The results that has staggered him. At the moment it had not meant that much. But now, as Lizzie spoke of a baby daughter, and her loss, some of it seemed to make sense.

“I have a daughter.” He blurted it right out. “Not Phoenix.. Another one.” He gazes seemed to dart this way and that as pieces were falling into the place. “I found out recently.” He paused as he was remembering dates and matching events up,.. “But I found out before the Eclipse.” He sounded disappointed. He had wanted the information about the daughter to the be the source. And now that he had found out the source, and thus it would be known, the emotional roller coaster would go away. But he knew that wasn’t the cause. Perhaps a precursor; but not the cause.

Doc looked at her again, “I never wanted to be a father until later in life. I was about 45, when I realized I wanted children. I wanted to leave a legacy. But I didn’t want a son. I wanted a daughter. I wanted her to grow up strong and secure, I was going to make sure she was strong.”

“My mother was weak.” He clenched his teeth. “Weak and abused. She refused to leave my father. Not out of fear. But because she loved him..” He sneered. “What is love if it keeps you tied to your abuser? It isn’t love. Its dependence on a psychotic scale.”

Doc went silent for a moment and changed the subject back to his daughter. “My daughter is strong and capable. But she did it on her own. I never knew about her. Had I known, I would have been in her life. But she is an adult now. There isn’t much I can do, that I would have wanted to do.” He shrugged. “I would love to pay her mother a visit..” There was an ominous threat in that last comment.

Liz: Elizabeth nodded her head. She knew of Phoenix, which was still something she blinked at whenever it was mentioned. She supposed she could see it in a sense, but this wasn’t the daughter he was referring to. The open confession of not wanting children didn’t phase her, in fact, it earned Doc points, unlike her mortal husband who didn’t want children, yet was all too happy to have them.

The mention of his mother had Elizabeth tilting her head and nodding. She knew there was no love loss between he and his parents. It was something Elizabeth could relate to, in the sense of her mother. She had no love for that woman, even centuries later. “I am assuming this daughter knows of thee. What was her response? Does she want you in her life? Has she rejected you, in some respects? While one cannot turn back time, one can be here for her now.” It was the only solace she could offer him. “And perhaps, one should visit the mother...however, one must also take into account her feelings on the matter. It is what a father would do.” Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders, then once again relaxed in the chair.

Doc: “She does. But I have warned her.. Being related to me, once it is known, she will be painted with a different brush.” He gave Lizzie the first genuine smile of the evening. “No she is very accepting of me. Supportive? Yes. She is why I am here. She is the one that made me see your side. While I am ******* wallowing in self pity,” He said the words about himself with such derision, “She kicked my ***.. Nicely.. But she kicked it. I told you.. That someone made me see it.. And then you got angry..”

“I do not say things well. The only time I am able to use words to my advantage is when I’m lying to someone. But we.. you and I .. we have a pact. And I am keeping it. But in return I **** myself over because I tell the truth.. because the truth can be brutal. And the truth can hurt.” He sighed.

“She has been good for me. She has been better for me.. Than I have for her.”

Doc looked at Lizzie, “I am sorry you lost your children. I don’t think I can ever come close to knowing what you felt. But I understand the anger.” He canted his head to the side, “Your children’s father did not care. The mother of my child hid her from me. Why do they deserve respect?” It was a genuine question. In his mind, they deserved a harsh penalty. As a father, he should reign retribution down on the mother, in the name of his daughter.

Liz: “You care for her.” Elizabeth stated as she saw the smile, not looking for confirmation from him, before she continued. “I did get angry.” Elizabeth admitted, before she leaned forward. “Because you believed yourself to be...worth so little.” Elizabeth shook her head. “And you are doing the same with her. You believe that only the negative will be associated with her should she ever reveal her connection to you. As if you have so little value, or worth to anyone, Charles.” Elizabeth frowned, then sighed. “Everyone has their baggage. Everyone has their good and their bad. And you too also have good qualities about you, Charles. And I suspect that if she wants you to be a part of her life, then she sees that in you too.”

Doc had a point, and one that was so tempting to give in to, but there was one thing that needed to be said. “It is not respect for either of them, but respect for the child. If she harbours even an ounce of love for her mother...imagine what may very well happen if you kill her mother and she finds out? You may very well push her away...forever.” Elizabeth retorted, before smirking wickedly. “However, I am certain with enough time and your clever wit...her mother could be miserable and suffer in other ways. It is not always about death, but suffering.” Elizabeth’s blue hues lit up with deviousness as her thoughts shifted to her wraith and the ways in which he suffered and would continue to do so.

Doc: The look he gave her was one of sly admiration. Yes. His go to action was to kill the mother, that hid his child from him. But then as Lizzie spoke about how the child would feel, it did bear rethinking. Doc wanted revenge. It was that simple. But would his act of revenge, thought cathartic for him, help or harm his daughter? Would she pull away from him? Yes it was quite likely she would. And he would only have himself to blame.

However, to make the woman suffer, while his daughter thrived, and he maintained a strong, healthy relationship with his daughter? Yes that -could- be just as satisfying. So he decided at that moment, that out of respect for his daughter, he would re-evaluate his plans, and play the long game. Doc’s appreciative look brightened as he imagined how well he would age, vs. the mother of his child; in turn how much it would gall her, to see him still healthy, while she aged by the day.

He chose not to address his plans for the mother’s complete and total destruction, mainly because he wasn’t sure about how he was going to go about it. So instead, Doc focused on her previous comment. “I know the value of things Lizzie. I want no pity. I do not need ‘understanding’. I need.. My ******* head sorted out. I need things to go back as they were.”

Liz: “You mistake my words for pity. I do not pity you, and I doubt any other person in your life pities thee. You want to fix your problem, but how can one fix a problem without understanding one's nature?” she shrugged before continuing.

“It seems to me as if the problem is not rooted with your daughter, Charles.” Elizabeth pointed out, suspecting he already knew that. “Perhaps it is the eclipse, but if it is….the only solution may be patience. I know not when another eclipse is….But I have never heard of a sun or moon phase affecting someone for such a long duration of time. Which then begs the question….If not your new found daughter, or the eclipse, then something else must be burdening thee. So, what may it be?” It was mostly a rhetorical question, but one that could be answered if he so desired.

Doc: Doc sighed inwardly. He was frustrated. He had asked himself what was different over and over. Was it his daughter; letting go of the day to day businesses; or the eclipse? What else was there or significance? The only difference was Lizzie. He had been spending time with Lizzie. That wasn’t the issue. And if it was, he wasn’t going to admit it. It couldn’t be Lizzie. It’s not like they had a volatile relationship. Or even arguments.. He looked at Lizzie, alright. Perhaps, maybe they argued.. occasionally. But He and Chain tried to kill one another, that had to outweigh things completely.

While trying to listen and be helpful, Doc could not help but be snide as he commented, “Maybe the laundess has changed her detergent? Or Perhaps the purveyor of contraband blood packs has changed his preservative.. “ There were so many ******* options, “****.. maybe it’s the German wool in these suits? Or the Italian weave.. “ he rubbed the back of his neck. His patience was not is full supply of late.

Liz: She could hear the irritation in his tone and it only made her sit back in the chair and smile, somewhat bemused. Yes, it could be anything, so there was only one way to go about finding out what it might be. “Perhaps. Or perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps one needs to speak with their daughter to eliminate the possibility of it being a problem with said daughter. More than just the superficial conversations of ‘how are you?’ Perhaps if you address some thoughts or concerns you may be having, that may alleviate some of the issues you are having. If not, then you will gain two things. A better understanding of what it is she wants of you, and a better understanding of what the problem was not.” She shrugged, then sighed softly. “Whatever it is, I suspect there is no easy fix or solution if you wish to go back to the way things were. However, instead of longing for what you may have lost, perhaps this is an opportunity to embrace what it is you may have gained during this...peculiar scenario.” Her thoughts shifted from the possibility of it being the eclipse, to his daughter, to another variable within Doc’s life. Her. It was possible, and something she had considered, that she was perhaps the reason to these changes. A temporary frown formed on her features, before it was replaced with a tight smile. “Though, one may think nothing has been gained at this time…” She trailed off, before glancing towards the small mess she had initiated in her shop tonight.

Doc: “No.. I have gained.. I.. “ he stopped, thought quickly, “.. have a daughter. Who is strong, capable, intelligent.” He sighed, “She became all that, without me.” That was a close one. Doc almost said too much. The last thing he wanted now, was for Lizzie to get horrified by his thoughts about her. She was very much her own person. The last thing she wanted was someone getting possessive.

Doc frowned. Was that it? Did he want to be possessive of Lizzie? No. He shook his head at his silent question. Possessive was not the feeling he felt. He liked seeing her interact with people. She had her own way with people, he found it fascinating. He had watched her for a long time. No, he would never want to take her free spirit away. And could Lizzie ‘possibly’ be the issue? No. he dismissed that option easily. If anything she had a calming effect. Not that he would tell her that… at least at the moment. She had just thrown things at him, not like he was about to give her an ego boost, at this precise time. If he did that, it would be work work work.. Every other time they had a snit. And he planned on them having future snit events. But the outcomes needed to be equitable. Even. Fair. He wasn't stupid.

“I really don't think it’s A.. the kid.” He thought for a moment, “She and I have never had a fight. We discuss things logically.. And she has some valid points. Points that require further study. So.. no it’s not the kid.”

Liz: Doc had openly admitted that his daughter wasn't the issue, as Elizabeth suspected. She nodded her head, then smiled. “She sounds wonderful. And someone you should most definitely keep within your life, Charles.” Elizabeth stated, before adding on. “And yes, she did become those things without you, however, I am very well aware of attributes and traits which are passed down from bloodlines of vampires, and I suspect the same could be said about the blood shared between human kin. Perhaps some of who she is has everything to do with who her father is.” Elizabeth countered with an even bigger smile.

“So, if not your daughter, then perhaps the eclipse after all.” She conceded, but then followed up with, “However, has such a thing happened to thee before? There had just been an eclipse earlier in the year, I believe.” Her mind wandered to verify that, and then nodded. “February, in fact. And before that there have been some during your duration of being a vampire. So, if such a thing has never happened before...then it must be something else.” Elizabeth pointed out, because it made the most logical sense. Why one, instead of all, affecting him?

“But if not the eclipse and not your daughter, then we must look at other variables within your life.” She continued on, while she crossed her ankles once again. “Recently you mentioned shifting your attention off your own private affairs to that of kindred. In Italy, you did not seem to mind leaving your business behind for our endeavours. I suspect the problem does not lay there...However, taking on the burdens of all vampires can be quite stressful. Still, you seem to be managing just fine, unless...that is the image which one wishes to portray. Yet, you wish to seek a position of subtle power among the humans on behalf the vampires, and so, I am skeptical it is either of those things.” Once another variable was eliminated, there were only a few left within Elizabeth's mind. “Have you ever thought that perhaps...our time together has affected thee?” Her head tilted to the left as she looked at him, her face blank of any personal feelings or emotions.

Doc: Doc was very still for a moment or two, then he took a breath, and slowly released it. “Has the thought crossed my mind? Yes. I did question it. But I dismissed it. Much as I dismissed it being about .. the kid. It isn’t you, or the Kid.”

Crossing his legs, he linked his fingers around his knee, “I even wondered about the coalition i hope to have created for Vampire kind. I thought, what if it is human politics? What is the worst thing that can happen in either case? I get sent to the Shadow Realm, have a week long migraine, and come back with a list of names.” He smiled ever so slightly, “The list of names and back back thereafter.. Actually sounds rather fun. No stress there.”

However Doc shook his head. “I have thought about it. Several times. But, no..it isn’t you or her.” He was able to say it with an easy tempered assertion, because there was no feelings in regard to either of them, that he did not understand.

Liz: More variables eliminated, which only caused Elizabeth to nod and feel a sense of frustration. It felt as if she were taking a step forward, then two or three back once a variable had been eliminated. It wasn’t her, it wasn’t any new found pressure in regards to the vampires or human ‘alliance’ of sorts. It wasn’t any other variable already offered either. There was something she was missing, but nothing Doc wanted to openly offer, or perhaps...something he did not know himself. “Then it has to be something else.” She stated, though it was probably unnecessary as Doc was quite capable of making conclusions in regards to the obvious, himself.

Elizabeth went through all the things he had mentioned before. Ariadne. Unlikely. “You mentioned Mortll earlier. How you upset her. Perhaps that is bothering you more than you know.” Elizabeth backtracked to other things he had mentioned, even as briefly as they were mentioned. “Perhaps, one should apologize for whatever the grievance is in regards to her. Or at least try.” She offered a small smile, then moved onwards. “Whenever you are ready...if that night comes.” Elizabeth offered gently, as to not come across as forcing his actions. “And if you think that is not it either….then in truth, I do not know what else to suggest without…” Elizabeth trailed off for a moment, before looking in his eyes. “Digging past the things stated.” She brought a finger to the right side of her temple and gave it a quick tap, before allowing the finger and the hand to rest within her lap.

Doc: Doc counted to ten. Not because Lizzie annoyed him. But he was going to be brutally honest with her, and she might not like it. And if she didn’t, that would be alright, because it meant she cared. But then again it would also mean he really fucked up. Again.

“I am not mad at Mortll. And she didn’t upset me. I fucked up.” He looked at her, “Enzo.. her husband.. Is gone. Has been gone a year now. That was one of the reasons I wanted to go to Italy with you. To see if I could find that ********.” His voice was even, no emotion expressed, except when he called Enzo a ********. That was said with hint of affection or admiration. “But I found nothing. His family had not heard from him. And if they had, they were good liars.” He sighed a long slow, this-is-going-to-hurt type sigh. “I came back.. No news to tell her. She was a wreck.. We slept together.” He stopped. It had gotten worse after that night. It had been bad.. But it gotten worse after that. “It wasn’t her. Nothing she did .. All I could think was how I fucked over Enzo. One of the few people I trust.. And I fucked him over.”

Doc stared at her, trying to read her face, and finally added, “I am not good at personal relationships.”

Liz: Doc had mentioned there were two or three reasons he joined her when they were in Italy. Elizabeth nodded her head, recalling that quite well. Enzo was not a name she was familiar with, so she remained quiet to see where the story was going. Slowly, pieces were filled in, and Elizabeth understood his true intentions for going to Italy. She had always known Mortll to be on Doc's list of...something since he used one of her properties for kindred oriented things. He had always seemed...comfortable there.

He took a breath in, and her blue eyes peered at him questionably. Then, he confessed something Elizabeth hadn't expected and she felt her lips shift from a small smile to a frown. Her blue eyes narrowed for a brief moment before Elizabeth looked away. She didn't have the right to feel, or think the things she was feeling and thinking. Yet, she couldn't help but think, and feel them. Was it because of her feelings for him, or due to past experiences? Elizabeth took a deep breath in, and then returned her gaze to him. “I see.” She said mechanically, before she slowly nodded one too many times. “You did not **** him over. No one has heard from him in a year. Speaking from personal experience, it is unlikely anyone ever will.” She said quietly, but it had to be said. A month turned into a year, then two, three, and then five. In her opinion, it was unlikely he would come back. He would have reached out to someone by now.

Elizabeth suddenly stood, then excused herself. “I need some tea.” Elizabeth moved to a counter with a black keurig machine and grabbed a Twinnings English breakfast tea. She shoved it in the tea maker rather forcibly, before Elizabeth took a deep breath in and remained with her back to him. “Earlier, you said you wanted this to work. I expressed the same desire...But…” she turned to finally look at him. “I do not know how to have this,” she gestured between him and her, before continuing. “And you have a wife, and another..whatever mortll is to thee. The wife...I can deal with, but….” Her fingers went to the material of her dress, then continually smoothed it out.

“Two women are now three, but will there be four or five? If so, then why? What does that mean?” the frown appeared again, this time more evident than the last time. “This is...unfamiliar territory that usually ends up badly. I suppose before any more is said on the matter, any decisions made...I need a better understanding of how something like this works. Would I have the same freedoms as you?” She asked, before turning to the machine and grabbing a coffee cup and setting it under the spout while she kept thinking to herself.

Doc: To be honest, her lack of exploding bothered him. She threw things at him, because he had been absent.. He gets ‘cool disdain’ when he admits that he slept with Mortll? He would never ******* understand women.

“Elizabeth..” He wasn’t even aware he hadn’t called her Lizzie. Maybe it was because he was wary, or unsure, but whatever the case, he was going to make an attempt to explain, something he rarely did. “We both said.. Only minutes ago.. We wanted this to work. I am trying to be open and forthright .. now. Not later. I wanted you to know now, what happened. in.. the.. past. No good comes from ignoring or hiding it from you. Better you know now. Up front.”

Doc would have understand irate anger, but this cool reception was outside his realm of ‘how to deal with a female’ on the best of days.. And this could be classified as a ‘worst of days’. Every thing he had been trying to avoid, was happening right here. Right now. Fuckin Joy.

“Mortll means a lot to me. I will not dispute that. She accepted me as I am, for me, without trying to change me. One of the few who ever did.” He frowned as he tried to sort thing out in his head. “I had done what I could to find Enzo. And I failed. She was hurting. I thought it would help. I was wrong. I realized it as soon as I had done it. I fucked over Enzo.. You.. myself. I was trying.. To be something I am not. And this is where it gets me, so it’s only fair you know.

“If you’re still willing to make this work.. It won't happen again. But know this, I am who I am. I won’t change. I have times where I get involved in a job, and other things leave my mind. I don’t do it on purpose. On the other hand.. if you want your freedom, I will keep my distance. I won't like it. But I will stay away.”

Liz: : Her back remained to him while Elizabeth processed everything he shared and everything she was thinking. And there was a lot she was thinking...and feeling. Still, he had said she had been needy before, even if Elizabeth begged to differ and said so vocally. She poured the tea into the mug, eyes glaring down at the dark substance that started finding its way to the top as he spoke her name. Only, not in the way he normally did. “Yes. I understand and appreciate the honesty.” Elizabeth grabbed the full mug, and finally turned, but made no move to sit down while she listened and processed to the rest of what Doc had to say.

The hands around her mug tightened as he spoke about Mortll and other things. A frown appeared once again, before she tipped her head in thought. “You feel as if you need to be something you are not with me? Because if you feel as if I am trying to change you, then…” She trailed off, then shook her head. Elizabeth had already come to terms with the fact that Doc often ‘lost’ himself in projects and his thoughts. Why was he bringing this up now? “I am aware.” Elizabeth sharply stated, the sound of mild annoyance in her voice now apparent.

“Freedom? Stay away?” Now she made a move to approach the table, though she did not sit. “I do not want you to stay away. But, since one is being open and honest, then it is only fair that I too, am honest. There are some things and ways in which I am willing to...share the people I care about. Romantic interests and all things associated with such a relationship are not something in which I am comfortable sharing. I understand that some people and relationships work very well in that sort of aspect, but...I have been on the side in which I found myself in a situation where I often wondered if one eve there would be a new woman in the house to take my place as a mother figure. Or if one evening, I and my children may come to learn we have nothing but the clothing upon our backs...So, while I understand things in society and relationship dynamics change...it is not something in which I think I could change. I feel as if one is no longer desirable then such a thing could be stated before the addition of another.” Her shoulders lifted into a small shrug, blue eyes on him.

“And so, while I want this to work, you know that I cannot share you, Charles. It is not because I am needy. Have your friends...male, female. Your co-workers, male or female...that bothers me not. But….There cannot be another in our bed, shower, kitchen counter or anywhere else in that regard.” There was a flicker of amusement on her lips, before she moved to sit across from him. “If that is agreeable to thee, then that is something that I will hold thee to, starting tonight. Because tonight is where we both agreed to wanting this...us work. The past may shape us, but it does not define us.” She concluded, while setting her tea down on the table, without having touched it yet.

Doc: Somehow it was easier for him to speak his mind while her back was turned. It seemed to alleviate some of guilt, angst, and doubts he constantly had welling up at the worst times in last few weeks. Now she had turned to face him, to penetrate him with the steely blue gaze of hers. Yet instead of the recriminations he expected, she said she understood. As much as that should have relieved him, he still felt as though she was saving her killing blow for the moment it would do the most damage.

As Lizzie spoke, lingered briefly as she pondered something, and then continued with brief acceptance; but she still stood, not taking her seat. It was a small thing, standing. He did that, when he was on the offensive. His throat seemed clogged with doubts, and a feeling he had a hard time putting a name too. He could not have spoken, even if he wanted to, it seemed as though his throat had seized up. It was only after her words had actually seeped in, that some of the tension holding him silent had eased up. She was still willing to make it work, then she finally sat.

A pent up breath, that he had been unaware that he had even been holding, slowly escaped and the tension in his neck and shoulders eased. “I didn’t really want to share you. But if it was what you wanted, I was willing to. I’m much more agreeable to a no sharing policy.” As he said the words, the feeling in his chest eased as well. He felt the oddest sense of contentment at the ‘no sharing policy’. It was odd because he never felt that way the Chain, and he hadn’t been faithful. He had been faithful to Mortll, but only because that was her requirement. But with Lizzie, it was what he wanted. “It is agreed.”


Liz: What Elizabeth set out on the table for Doc to potentially agree to, could go any number of ways. He could have refused her expectations, which was what Elizabeth somewhat expected. The idea of monogamy was not everyone’s cup of tea, and Elizabeth was well aware of it. He could have laughed, looked astounded...any number of things. Or he could have agreed with some of his own terms and yet...he did none of those things. Though, she was unaware of his relief, Elizabeth also felt a sense of relief. There was no back and forth debate, or attempts to gain something that the other could not have. There was a clear understanding that neither wanted to share the other with someone else. She nodded her head, smiled and then stood.

Elizabeth pulled the table in her direction, before she moved around it and then slowly sank into his lap. Both her hands found each side of Doc’s cheek, as she turned her neck to look at his face. “You did not **** me over. I want you to know that and for you to stop thinking that in regards to me, or us. While, it was a shock and...I was not overly thrilled at the revelation, we had only gone on one date, Charles. And neither of us gave the impression that we would not date anyone else, or sleep with anyone else. And so, I will not tell thee that I forgive thee, because there is nothing to forgive.” Her forehead came to rest against his, before she continued. “Rest easy in knowing things are fine between us and I hope that in knowing that, eases one’s burdens.”

Doc: Doc couldn’t help the look of relief that flickered briefly over his face. He was almost hesitant to touch her at first as she nestled into his lap. This was going far too well. Sure, it started badly. They threw things at one another. They yelled at one another, and then it changed. He wasn’t really sure how or why it changed, because he was so used to things escalating to much more destructive level before they cooled off. But he wasn’t going to question this. This was much nicer, even if it was the eye of the storm so speak, before round two started. It was quite nice.

He shifted her on his lap, pulling her closer, holding her firmly to him, as she said there was nothing to forgive. Nothing to forgive? Nothing to forgive! My god this woman was a saint! His hold tightened. Yes it was a two-fold action, the closer he held her, the less range of motion she had, if she did decide to bash him upside his head; and second, it felt nice to have her there. He loosed his hold with one hand, in order to hold the back of her head as he kissed her. Thoroughly. Again, twofold reason, first, she was fun to kiss, and second, if he was kissing her, he wasn’t ******* things up by speaking.

When he finally broke the kiss, Doc said sincerely, much to his own surprise, “I am going to do my damnedest not to disappoint you..” He wisely chose to stop there. Less is more. Don’t **** this up.


Liz: At about the time Doc stopped talking, Elizabeth pressed a finger to his lips. “You will be you and I will expect nothing less from thee.” She said with a nod of her head, before removing the lip from his finger, only to replace it with a gentle kiss from her lips. “Because that is what I like. So shall we just agree to that?” Elizabeth questioned as the quick press of her lips to Doc’s ended, the telepath vampire slowly moving to stand. To not expect any form of disappointment was an unrealistic expectation on Doc, let alone anyone. When her back was turned to him, she frowned briefly, before drawing in an unnecessary breath and sat in the seat across from Charles. “I suspect there will be some disappointed wo-people in town in regards to your current predicament.” Elizabeth said, her tone slightly amused, as she leaned forward and dropped her chin in the palm of her right hand.

Doc: Doc gave her a slightly perplexed look. ‘Disappointed people?’ What did she mean by that? He had been a moody piece of ****, according to some of the people close to him. So this would be an improvement. He was already less stressed. He was still dealing with some weird ****.. But that should go away now.. At least.. He hoped it would. “I think it will be the opposite? I won't be so irritable. I won't snap at people.. For no reason.” He held up a finger, “However, I say, I had reason. Troy fucked up the electron microscope again.. Because he was watching a client instead of watching his test. Those things are not ******* cheap!”

He cants his head slightly to the side, as he went back to the subject at the heart of the matter, “And I do not consider it a ‘predicament’. I consider it a happy thing.” He sighed and made a face, “That sounded lame. But suffice to say, I am extremely pleased at this turn of events. The only one that might have an issue with it is Chub.. but she has an issue with everything I do. The kid doesn’t do well with change. But it is a fact of life, and I am not clearing my calendar with her every ******* day. But that is between she and I.. not you or anyone else.”

Liz: Regardless of what Doc said, thought, or felt in regards to certain people in his life, there were some people who would be disappointed, or upset should the night come that they came to learn what Doc meant to her and vice versa. Elizabeth would not bring any names up, but two or three came to mind, and they all had some form of history with Doc. “That is a very solid reason.” Elizabeth had no idea how much an electron microscope cost, but that was not the point. If it were five hundred, or five dollars, there was some form of incompetence going on with whoever Troy was.

Chub was a name she had heard a couple of times, but had not had the privilege of meeting; at least Elizabeth did not think so. It was curious as to why the woman was so concerned with Doc’s schedule, but Elizabeth did not venture to question it. Perhaps, some other night when she met the woman face to face, or learned more of her. “I am pleased too.” Elizabeth said with a smile, regardless of how ‘lame’ they both may have sounded then and there. “And it sounds as if your ‘Chub,’ cares about your well being and safety. I think it is sweet, to an extent.” Elizabeth concluded. “It may seem annoying or overburdening at times, but I would prefer an overbearing childe, or grandchilde, than those that could allow weeks or months to go by without questioning your wellbeing. You would miss it. Perhaps not at first, but in time.” Elizabeth said before her blue hues glanced around the flower shop. “I should clean this up, and then it is closing time…” A subtle hint was placed before Doc, should he be interested in taking it up.

Doc: Doc glanced about the shop. She wouldn’t have to clean it up if he hadn’t been such an ***. He shed his coat and set to roll up his sleeves. “I helped make the mess.” It wasn’t such a large mess to clean. It could be easily cleaned within an hour. He slid a look at Lizzie, and looked around for a broom. “I remember this one time.. When the toilets exploded.. Now that was a mess… “ He slid a look at her, “This… this is easy.”

Finding a broom, he started sweeping, occasionally stopping to pick up an item that ‘inadvertently’ ended up on the ground, like a spool of ribbon, scissors, and stack of cards. He took his time to roll the ribbon up neatly, and to not bend the cards. While he worked, he spoke “Chub is a good kid. She had to grow up fast. But she also wanted to grow up fast. She hasn’t learned how to be judicious in her requests. She expects me to tell her personal ****.. That she has no right to demand.” He swept and spoke, it was more for his benefit than Lizzie’s. It helped him sort out feelings. “She wants the perfect family. With a perfect father.. Perfect mother. She thinks I am that father. I am not. I will be there for her. But I cannot be someone in her fantasy.”

Doc swept the trash into the dustpan. “I distracted you.. You had orders that needed filling, I apologize.”

Liz: There was a twist of her lips as Doc mentioned toilets exploding and what a mess that created. Elizabeth was positive between exploding toilets, spray guns at the bar and whatever else transpired in the kitchen...it had been a very big mess. While he swept, Elizabeth picked up what she could, that hadn’t broken, from throwing at him. “Still, she cares. Boundaries just need to be set and reminded from time to time.” Elizabeth offered, not really knowing how demanding Chub could or could not be in what it was she wanted to know about Doc’s life.

“You did.” Elizabeth said as she looked at the few vases that needed to be filled, her head nodding to confirm her train of thought. “But, it was a needed distraction, and one I would gladly have, if needed.” Elizabeth offered a small smile to Doc as he apologized for something that did not need an apology in her mind. “But, you are right. I do have to finish these arrangements for tomorrow…” She sighed and offered an apologetic smile. “Perhaps a rain cheque for another night, should you have a free one in the future?”