Zoi

{Gabriela} Cards and Introductions

2009-10-22T10:22:51Z

September 21, 1805

For some time the third-floor salon had been quiet, the only sound coming from the fire as it popped and burning logs shifted. The quiet was broken as the door opened, admitting five boys of about sixteen.

“The lamps are lit already. Your servants are marvellously efficient, Rafael,” one of the boys said.

“I know,” the young host replied. “Fire's a bit low, though. I'll stoke it up a bit while the rest of you get the table ready.”

As he strode over to the fire place and put on another log, the sound of furniture being shifted was heard as the other boys set up. From where she was curled up in one of the large armchairs, hidden from view of the door by the chair's back, Gabriela watched her brother stoke the fire, a slight smile playing over her lips. When he stood and turned, that smile grew wider as he saw her and jumped.

“Gabriela! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in bed by now?”

Gabriela stretched and slid out of the chair to her feet as the others came over to see what was happening.

“Oh,” she replied, all innocence, “I must have fallen asleep, Rafe.” She glanced around at the boys, some of whom she'd seen at a distance before, others of whom she could guess by name, but not by face. “Are these your friends? What are you all doing? May I join you?”

Just as Rafael opened his mouth, one particular one of his friends that Gabriela recognised beat him to it. “We're playing cards, señorita. I don't suppose you know how to play.”

Gabriela gave him a brilliant smile. “I'm sure you could teach me how.”

He laughed, just as Rafael gave him a kick on the ankle. “Don't believe a word my sister says, Alejandro. Of course she knows how to play, I taught her.”

“And wasn't Aunt Isabella cross!” Gabriela added, and gave Alejandro another brilliant smile. “But, of course, just because Rafe tried to teach me doesn't mean that I have the experience of you wonderful gentlemen. Perhaps one of you could help out, just to begin with?” As she said this, she didn't once take her eyes from Alejandro, who grinned at her in return.

“Gabriela!” Rafael said. “You can't play! You're a girl, and you're not even chaperoned. Just imagine what people would say.”

“But of course I've got a chaperone, Rafe. You're here. What better chaperone than my own brother?”

“She does have a point there, Rafael. Come on, let her play for a bit. I'm sure she'll get bored soon enough,” Alejandro urged, giving a conspiratorial wink to Gabriela, who smiled back. “And introduce us to your sister.”

Rafael sighed. “Just this once, Gabbie, okay?”

“But of course!”

Giving his sister a “yeah, I'm sure” look, to which she only responded with an innocent smile, Rafael turned to Alejandro. “Alejandro, this is my younger sister, Gabriela de Villanueva y de Díaz. Gabbie, this is Alejandro de la Péna y de Nuñez.”

“Maria's brother!” Gabriela said, offering her hand and pretending that she hadn't known that this was her friend's elder brother. “Delighted to meet you, Señor. I've heard a lot about you from Maria.”

“The delight is mine, Señorita,” Alejandro replied, taking her hand and lightly kissing it. “I hope my sister only told you about my good qualities.”

Gabriela giggled. “Of course she didn't. But I promise I didn't listen too much.”

She turned away, then, so that Rafael could introduce her to the rest of his friends, smiling brightly as she felt Alejandro's eyes on her during those introductions, and made a mental note that she really needed to find a way to thank Maria properly for her advice on how to catch her brother's attention.

{Gabriela} An exchange between sire and childe, #3

2009-10-22T09:21:11Z

Gabriela,

I talked with someone last night. She is Kirsten Williams, the Bishop and Prince of Denver. You have not met her personally, but she is… like us. Or at least like me… the childe of self-destruction. I told her of my embrace, and of you, and of Roland soon after…

It was an emotional experience. I believe those words are the most accurate. I thought that I had forgiven you my embrace, and the abandonment immediately after… that I felt no ill-will towards you for those events, and that this entire argument was about Ivy.

It is not. I cannot say you are forgiven. I don’t understand you, and I don’t know how to do so.

My desire to know of your affairs in Australia is little more than a concern for your safety (which is beyond my control), and perhaps the equivalent to discussing the weather. What I want to know, I suppose, is why you did what you did… why you’ve repeatedly done what you’ve done.

Do you think you are saving us? Are you just drawn to those who would destroy themselves? Do you delight in watching the act? Is the embrace so that you can prolong it?

If I follow you down this path… am I too going to feel such things?

I feel as though I should have kept the correspondence professional. Perhaps I am not yet ready to discuss this without anger. But these are the questions I truly want to ask, I don’t know how long I have to ask them.

Charlie

Dear Charlie,

It is good to hear that you have met someone like us in your new home. It is good that you have her to speak with. It is only those like us that we can be most honest with, and anger...clouds things. I'm sure you've noticed.

I could be pseudo-philosophical and say that not one of us can truly understand another, but such a pithy statement is avoidant and dismissive. The truth is, I am unsurprised that you do not understand me. We are worlds apart, even in our likenesses. I do not know how to help you understand me, although I think that one day you may, at least in part.

I will try to answer your questions as best I can. I do not doubt that you will find these answers unsatisfactory, that does seem to be the way of things between us.

I did not save any of you, in the sense of God-given salvation. That is not mine to grant. All of you had damned yourselves before I Embraced you. The most I have given you is a temporary reprieve from Hell, so that you have the chance to serve God in guiding the kine to the salvation that we forfeited through our own pride.

Yes, I am drawn to those on the path to self-destruction. In my time I have seen thousands on that path, and have watched many of them follow that path to its conclusion - some by chance, many more because I sought them out to witness their end. Delight is, perhaps, an overly strong word, but to you I will acknowledge that there is a certain fascination in this. Pleasure, even, in investigating the pain of others, although some of us take greater pleasure in it than others. For some, I am sure, the act of Embracing another is to give a longer opportunity to investigate why they hurt so much that they would take their own life, but that is not my way. Only once have I Embraced someone to punish him. And once I Embraced someone for another reason. For the rest of you - it's hard to explain, mi niño, what it feels like when I saw each of you follow in that same path I took so long ago. It's hard to explain what it was that set each of you apart from all those others I witnessed, and left to slip away from this world to their judgement.

That you have asked me if you will one day feel this means you have not, yet. You will. It is the call of our blood to seek out those who are hurt and explore their pain, and to witness the deaths of the self-destructive; just as it is our blood that condemns us to know grief forevermore. This is the path only you, of all my childer, have followed me down, and this is why I think that one day, you will understand some of what I have done.

I do not expect you to forgive me, Charlie. But do you hate me?

Gabriela

{Gabriela} Jump

2009-07-16T11:17:23Z

June 16th, 1797

“Gabriela!”

Doors systematically open and shut throughout the large town house as eight year old Rafael de Villanueva y de Díaz searched for his little sister. Normally five year old Gabriela was hiding in her room with his old schoolbooks when he was with his tutor, waiting for him to finish his lessons so that he could then attempt to pass them onto her. Rafe lessons, as she termed them, were much more interesting than Gabbie lessons, but grown-ups didn't seem to think that she should have Rafe lessons. She wouldn't understand, they said. Rafael and Gabriela both knew that that was just silly.

Today, however, Gabriela wasn't in her room. Or in the playroom. Or sneaking into the salon to curl up in one of the big chairs where no-one would see her. Or in the kitchen. Or even in her brother's rooms. Rafael was starting to wonder if Gabriela was still even in the house.

Maybe trying outside was worth a shot. She had been begging him to help her learn to climb the big old tree in the back garden, after all. The little boy trotted down the stairs and slipped out the back door, the servants ignoring him as long as he didn't look like he was about to get into trouble.

“Gabriela! Gabbie!”

“Rafe?” came the quavering reply from up in the tree. Rafael ran over and looked up, spotting Gabriela clinging to one of the branches. Her face was white in stark contrast to her black hair, and her eyes were wide as she stayed very, very still.

“Rafe...I can't get down,” she said, her voice very small and frightened.

“It's alright, Gabbie, it's easy,” Rafael tried to assure her. “Just go back down the way you came up.” His sister frantically shook her head in reply, and clutched the branch more tightly.

“I can't, I'll fall!”

Rafael bit his lip, thinking. If Gabriela couldn't get down, he couldn't get her down himself. She was too heavy for him to try to carry, and she probably wouldn't let him, anyway. Their father was out, and besides, he'd be angry. The servants would likewise tell them off. But...their brother was home.

“I'll be right back!” he called up, and ran off back inside.

“Rafe! Rafe, don't leave me!” she shouted back.

“Stay there! Don't move!”

That was a stupid thing to say, he realised as he ran upstairs to the bedrooms. Where else was she going to go if she couldn't get down?

When her brother ran off like that, Gabriela almost started to cry, then blinked back tears. She was not going to cry. Rafael wouldn't be crying if he was the one stuck up in the tree. She'd just wanted to show him that she could climb it, too, so then when they wanted to hide from the grown-ups they could both climb up here. But it was a lot taller than she'd thought, and now she was so high up off the ground, and when she tried to climb back down she couldn't see where to put her feet...

So she stayed up here until someone came looking for her. She knew Rafael wouldn't take long to find her, but now he wasn't helping her, he'd gone away and she'd be stuck here forever. Unless she got down herself. She glanced back down, then swallowed and tightened her grip on the branch. That seemed like a very long way to fall if she slipped because she couldn't see where she was putting her feet.

“Gabbie?! I'm back!”

Gabriela peeked down, to see Rafael with their older brother, Miguel. She breathed a sigh of relief. Miguel was a lot older than his younger siblings – why, at fifteen he was practically a grown-up! - but even though he got impatient with them and scolded them he was more likely than not to help them out without telling the grown-ups.

“Gabriela,” Miguel called up. “It's going to be alright. Can you climb down the way you climbed...no?” He walked closer to the tree, so that he was almost below her, and held out his arms. “Then just let go and jump.”

Gabriela looked down at him doubtfully. “Jump? But...”

“We'll catch you, won't we, Rafe?” Beside Miguel, Rafael nodded.

“We'll catch you, Gabbie! You trust us, right?”

Gabriela smiled, no longer feeling quite so scared, and jumped.

{Gabriela} Letters and Distractions

2009-07-14T04:29:53Z

On any normal night, the haven would be full of the sounds and smells of habitation. Ivy’s perfume, Gabriela’s prayers, music that someone had left on, or the tap of keys on Ivy’s laptop. This night, however, was lacking in it all.

It’s not to say that the haven was abandoned. Gabriela remained there, in her cell, curled up in her chair of woven rope and wooden frame. Behind her sat an empty bed, in front of her a desk covered in sheets of paper, each with a few words or a few sentences scrawled on it before being crumpled and pushed away.

Pulling a fresh sheet of paper in front of her, she tried again. Dear Charlie, she wrote. A car door slammed outside and she paused, looking up. She listened intently to the fall of footsteps along the path, her shoulders slumping slightly as the footsteps continued past her gate. Not Ivy or Roland coming home, then.

Returning her attention to her letter once more, she found ink pooling from where she had left the tip of the fountain pen resting on the paper. Yet again, she crumpled the paper and tossed it with the other attempts, then took another sheet of paper.

Dear Charlie

{Gabriela} An exchange between sire and childe, #2

2009-07-11T05:14:16Z

Gabriella,

How are my siblings? It would appear most of the notables accompanied you. I am eager to hear details of what your purpose is in Australia, and how you plan on avoiding whatever strange fate befell those who last dwelt on the continent. A very primal part of me wants to know why you have brought Ivy with you… can you speak for her safety in your present situation?

I cannot say I approve or condone your present course of action, but I know that my stance on the issue could do little to change your mind, if, indeed, I had found out about it earlier. Perhaps my self-imposed exile from London did little to impress upon you how vexed I am at some of your activities in recent years.

But regardless, you are my maker, and I understand that I have no ability to compel you. Might I at least know my broodmates’ current situations, so that I rest secure in the knowledge that their requiems are safe?

I remain, Unconquered,

Charlie

Dear Charlie,

Most of my childer have also come here, it is true. Had I known how to contact you, I would have asked you as well – although I understand that your Order as a whole was asked to relocate many members here, so I suppose you had already been asked.

Those of your siblings who have come here are well. Ivy, as always, has many interested in her well-being, not just her family. The Invictus has long had a tendency to assign her a bodyguard, and this tendency remains. Archon Moran of the Order of the Thorned Wreath currently assists in watching over here – I am not sure if you know him from your time in that Order. He and Roland are old acquaintances.

I am not entirely happy with the First Estate’s interpretation of ‘safe,’ however, given that Archon Moran rather blithely told me that the ship several of them took here, which Ivy so badly wanted to go on, was attacked by pirates. While he took great pains to assure me that no harm came to her, I am disinclined to allow her to make any such journey without me in the future.

Roland initially came to Melbourne to assist me with rebuilding the Church here, and establishing ourselves. He has now gone to the city of Brisbane, where Ezekial and his childer have gone to do the same. All are well.

There were many reasons for coming here – almost as many reasons as there are Damned who decided to come – and you are quite correct in your assertion that neither your approval nor lack of it would have in any way altered my decision to come here. It would still be the same had you not chosen to leave London for some time after we last spoke. On the matter of that, I will accede that I perhaps should have been more persistent in attempting to contact you. I still do not think you would have been able to return home in time. But remain as vexed as you wish, mi niño, for I know that I am as unlikely to change your mind as you are to change mine. Like it or not, we two are, perhaps, too alike.

I shall, however, give you the information you sought for. For me, the reasons are threefold: I am ever a servant of God; and with all the Damned here gone, more of us needed to arrive so that God’s plan might continue on here. Three of my childer, for reasons of their own, wished to travel here and I wished to accompany them. Yes, even Ivy had her own reasons for wishing to be here, much as I would have preferred she remain safely in London. Finally, although I am loathe saying so, my grandsire called the House here and was most...insistent. You are fortunate to have escaped his demands.

Those who are skilled in the matter of investigations are working hard on what wiped out the Damned who formerly resided here. It appears to have been a form of contagion carried in the blood – steps have been taken to ensure that the contagion does not spread to the newcomers, and have thus far been successful. The former residents had been conducting their own research and studies but were not able to prevent their demise, however the notes left behind and since found have provided enough information to avoid a re-infection. The beginnings of their research are being worked on so that it may come to completion, and the matter put to rest.

The place does, sadly, seem prone to a demon infestation. These creatures, from what we are able to tell, are the spirits of some of the previous residents, bound here by some foul magic even though their Requiem should have met its end. One identified itself as the former leader of the heathen Crone of this city, and the current heathen residents colluded in aiding it to escape before it could be destroyed. It shall, however, be tracked down and destroyed like the rest.

But enough of what is happening here. How do you fare? I trust you are settling into your new home?

In nomine Deus et Longinus,

Gabbie

{Gabriela} An exchange between sire and childe

2009-07-11T05:11:11Z

My dear Sire,

I have heard of your foray into the wilds of Australia, and at this critical juncture, I would like to take the opportunity to wish your little crusade luck. Truly, you have inspired me, as I too shall leave the country of my mortal birth, to seek my own enlightenment in another former colony.

Upon hearing the news of your departure, I was informed that my broodmates, will accompany you. Surely, by this point you have already arrived in your Southern harbor, and trust that you will enjoy the company of your more cherished childer without the distractions you suffered here in Britain.

In addition to wishing your endeavor its due course, I would like to forward my contact information to you. Should you wish to correspond with me, I can be reached at the attached address. Should you wish to visit, I could arrange quarters, but should that unexpected event occur, please give me ample notice, so that I could finally prepare for my sire’s attention.

I until that time, I will cling to the decades of service I faithfully offered as its own reward. The time spent supporting you and your efforts, as well as your religion, was most enlightening. To properly thank you for all you have done for me, please accept of me a trivial boon – you have surely earned it.

Respectfully,

Sir Charles Beckett, OBW

Knight and Senator

Mi niño,

It has been some time, no?

Your information is correct, my journeying has brought me to Australia, and Ivy, Roland and Ezekial have also travelled here, to both Melbourne and Brisbane. I thank you for your well-wishes, and wish you Godspeed and good fortune on your own quest for enlightenment. I am sure that some day you will find what you seek. So too do I hope that your new home has not suffered the same extermination of its previous Damned residents that this strange country has.

Your missive has made its way to where I currently reside, so you may reach me at this address in the future. Should you wish to visit, do let us know. I am sure we will all be happy to see you again.

Such mention of boons is unnecessary. None of my childer owe me such - and that includes you, mi querido niño, who is the closest to my blood.

Be well, and may God watch over you and your endeavours.

In nomine Deus et Longinus,

Gabriela M Z y de la Lanza
Bishop of Melbourne

{Karly} The End

2009-07-11T02:13:20Z

She hadn't realised what it was she was feeling that night, until she walked into court and saw him there. He looked like her sire, he felt like it, through the blood, but it couldn't be...it couldn't...surely he would have told her if he'd returned when he had not expected to. She watched him for a moment - watched him move, watched him speak. It was all wrong. Then he glanced at her, and their eyes met. She saw that she was right, that whoever this was, wearing her sire's body, it wasn't her sire. She broke eye contact and went to give her report to the Prince.

They had spent all night avoiding each other after that - easy enough to do, for this night had been full of chaos and fear, blood and loss. Her cousin was lost to possession - to more than possession, for the ancient elder which had taken his body had expelled every trace of the younger Mekhet. Kindred in the court began spontaneously bleeding out, causing fear and panic - which was not helped when Britannia broke down in anger and grief upon receiving word that the previous Prince of the city and her dear friend had been murdered.

Karly stood back from the others, staying next to Ash as they both watched what was going on. The Bishop dragged himself from the court, pouring blood from his eyes and mouth, returning to his church to die rather than to bleed out and ash on the floor of Elysium. He was followed by others, if they were able to leave, while still more simply...gave up. Karly watched, knowing there was nothing she could do, and knowing that at some point she would also begin to slowly die from whatever this plague was - she knew she was infected, for she had already taken advantage of it's side-effect to free her two ghouls from their bonds to her. She was wracked by a sudden pain, raising her hand to her mouth to cover the cough it spawned. When she took her hand away it was covered in blood, and she glanced up at Ash, who just wordlessly patted her on the shoulder.

He came over soon after, whoever this creature in her sire's body was, requesting a word with Ash. Karly didn't look at him, pretending to be busy wiping her blood from her mouth and hand. When she glanced up, he was watching her but Ash was over with Britannia, speaking quietly and quickly. She straightened up and looked steadily back at him.

"You're not Finch."

"No," he agreed. "My great-grandchilde gave up his body so that I could return."

She crossed her arms. "You're claiming to be Tearlach?"

"I am Tearlach." She raised an eyebrow, and his demeanour didn't change. "Your sire knew I was needed back. He brought me back, and sacrificed himself to do so."

"So he's completely gone, then?" Her voice sounded very small, reflecting how she'd felt. She looked down. Even though she knew it wasn't her sire in front of her, a part of her had still hoped...

"Part of him is still here. He's part of me now."

She looked up again, quickly. "Can I talk to him?"

The look on his face answered before he spoke. "No. It's...I can access his memories. What he thought. He's not here as a seperate entity." He paused. "He loved you."

"I know," she whispered.

"Even when you betrayed him..."

"If I hadn't done that, he would have died!" she interrupted, her fists clenching.

"I know. He knew. He forgave you. You've always protected your family."

She looked away, trying to make sense of the jumbled emotions this conversation was bringing up. She saw Ash lead Britannia into a side room, and he followed her gaze.

"I have to do something," he said. "Will you help me?"

"Me? What? Why?"

"You'll see. We don't have much time."

He headed into the room where Ash and Britannia where. After a moment's hesitation, Karly followed him. He began a brief ritual, opening up a shimmering portal in the wall. Karly looked at it warily, remembering the last portal that had been opened, and watched Ash and Britannia step through it. Finch/Tearlach turned to her.

"Four can go through this."

"You're asking me to?" She looked at it. "What is it? Why?"

"It's too dangerous here. Kindred are dying - the other side is safe from the plague."

"Why should I trust you?"

"You have no reason to, it's true." He looked at her. "You have to decide for yourself, but I ask you to. He would ask you to. He told you about the duty he and I both held."

"Of course."

"The other side is where those spirits are from. Where they can be confronted. This is where our duty lies. I would ask you to - he would ask you to. But once you step onto this path, you can never turn back."

She looked at him, then at the portal, then back at him again. Even though she knew it was no longer her sire, her blood still sang in his presence. And what he had said, both that there was a trace of Finch still there, and about duty...

"I began to walk that path over two years ago. I wouldn't turn back now even if I could."

He nodded, and for a moment there was the briefest of familiar smiles as she stepped up beside him. They walked through the portal in step with each other, on to whatever fate awaited on the other side.

{Karly} Goodbyes

2009-07-10T07:26:59Z

The danger was over, for now. The three strange Kindred who had opened that portal and brought through the creature that had attacked lay slain, and the creature fled back through the portal. Those few of the court in attendance moved around quietly, speaking softly as they tried to understand what had just happened, and wonder if it had any bearing on ghouls suddenly being freed upon drinking their regnant’s blood.

Karly stood speaking with Prince Britannia, discussing the dreams they’d both had that give hints to the night’s events, as well as what little information Karly has got from using the abilities of her blood to glean information from the very portal and walls themselves. Once she’s relayed everything she knew, Karly leaned against the wall, no longer paying attention to Britannia as she turned her revolver around and around in her hands.

“Karly...are you alright?”

She bit her lip at her sire’s voice, and shook her head. “I tried to kill someone,” she said quietly, her voice anguished.

“Were you really trying to kill him?” She looked up – it was a serious question.

“I put my gun against his head and pulled the trigger,” she replied. Finch nodded.

“Then, was it for a good reason?”

“I...I don’t know. He had a sword, and he was between me and B, and I thought he was going to hurt her...” she trailed off.

“Then you did the right thing, Karly,” he tried to assure her.

“Did I?”

“ You were doing it to protect someone, not because you just wanted him dead.” She nodded. “You’re not a killer – you were just doing what was necessary.” He reached out and drew her closer to him, hugging her while she clung back and buried her head in his shoulder.

“It doesn’t make it feel any better,” she whispered.

“I know. And that’s why you’re you.”

He held her for some minutes more, then spoke again, even more softly. “I forgive you for your betrayal, my childe.” She flinched at that, making a half-sobbing sound. “Goodbye. Remember that I’m always proud of you.”

He let her go and walked towards the door while she stared at him, then almost ran after him. No-one else noticed, remaining focussed on their conversations. She touched his arm, and he stopped, turning to look at her.

“You’re leaving me.” While there was an incredulous note in her voice, it wasn’t a question. He was. Her sire, the one person she always relied on, was leaving. He looked at her for a long moment, then nodded.

“You won’t see me again,” he confirmed.

“Why can’t I come with you?!” I’d follow you anywhere. Don’t leave me...

“You can’t follow where I’m going,” he replied quietly. “We’re Khaibit. This is our duty. I won’t be coming back, so you have to stay here and keep going.”

She dropped her head, staring at the ground, and nodded. He took a step towards her, lightly touching her arm as she looked up at him, her eyes saying what her voice couldn’t. He hesitated for a moment, then kissed her. In that kiss was every unspoken word, every unnoticed look and misunderstood touch, every feeling never voiced to her. She froze for a moment, then she was returning the kiss, acknowledging and returning everything that was in it, praying for this moment to last so that she’d never have to lose him.

But such things aren’t to last, and he stepped back and smiled, a bittersweet smile at acting on deeply-held feelings and finding them returned only at the moment of parting.

“Goodbye.” He left then, leaving her standing there alone. She glanced around, seeing that what felt like forever had been only a moment, for not one other creature in the room looked up or seemed to realise what had just happened. What had just been lost. She looked at the door, then back at the Kindred in the room, and sighed. She had to stay. She had a duty to try and protect them.

{Karly} Online chat the week before the Winter Ball

2007-08-21T02:19:14Z

Arthur: Heya Karly.
How's your Vagina?

Karly: Hey Arthur! How're you?
And that's none of your business, k?

Arthur: I am alright. And you could have saved time with that question by writing "it's ok" rather then "And that's none of your business, k?"

Karly: Probably. But I live in hope that if I keep telling you that, one day you won't ask :-)

Arthur: Your hope is lost.
What's Melbourne like now days? Still under control of the Nazis?

Karly: I had a feeling that it might be. Still, it was worth a try, huh?
'Fraid so, yeah. Don't know for how much longer.

Arthur: Anyone else stepping up too the plate?

Karly: Well, we've got York busily making alliances to pit the Invictus against the Dragons...and from what my sources tell me, Gruber's completely aware that he's doing so.

Arthur: Hmm

Karly: I bet Jay'll step up if he gets the chance, too. He was going to last time till he was warned off.

Arthur: York is good at making deals, he just can't keep his mouth shut about them

Karly: Very true.

Arthur: I have an idea! Why don't you go up to Gruber and Rip his balls off while asking "What coil protects you against this?"

Karly: Because I'm not wanting to die just yet?

Arthur: You wouldn't die. What would he do? Use coil of blood against you?
Who do you want to see as Prince?

Karly: No, he'd set someone like the Ragman on me. I'm really not that good at fighting or anything.
Me? Finch. Or...anyone who's not a psycho maniac would be good.

Arthur: Hell, If I was there I would go for the position. Not that anyone would support me. I wouldn't mind Ragman in the seat now days

Karly: I would. You're not a psycho maniac.
Hell no, not Ragman.

Arthur: I am a psycho though
No one but a Psycho would stand up to Abidan
No one but a Psycho would crush the princes car with a 300kg Buddha
No one but a psycho would fight Lucian
You see my point?
Sometimes you have to be a Psycho

Karly: Yes, but there's a difference between being a psycho who doesn't, y'know, kill mortals and that, and being a psycho maniac like a lot of Kindred.

Arthur: yeah, different levels of insanity
How's Ella been? I hope she is getting into too much trouble

Karly: She's been alright. She's prince's harpy and seems to be enjoying that.
You hope she is or isn't?

Arthur: I hope she is. Heh

Karly: *grins*

Arthur: She's a fun girl. I don't want her harmed, but trouble is always fun

Karly: Well, it's the Winter Ball this weekend. She'll have plenty of opportunity to get into trouble there.
True. That's what Finch says :-) And it's more fun than sitting around watching people have slanging matches, at any rate.

Arthur: I was good at them
I was thinking about the Winter Ball. Maybe I'll have a presence there /grins
I have to get on my way. Look after yourself

Karly: *hugs*

Arthur: And your Vagina

Karly: You too. Don't get into trouble you can't get out of.

Arthur: I won't. I have already go into a lot of trouble. I called the Prince of Edinburgh "The runner up" 'cause There is a Prince higher then him

Karly: *giggles*

Arthur: I also tried to get the Bishop of London to sigh a contract stating the she had "A sweaty muff"

Karly: I take it the 'tried' means you weren't successful in that?

Arthur: she didn't know what a muff was, so I pointed it out with me finger. I could go on, but I don't have much time

Karly: Oh dear....*is giggling*

Arthur: I will speak with you soon Karly

Karly: I look forward to it. Any idea how long you're staying over there?

Arthur: Have no idea. I guess when the Ragman lets me back in. I'll catch ya later

Karly: *hugs* Later.

Arthur: I'll always send my love to you

Karly: Thanks.

{Karly} Winter Ball conversations - Alder Duke Ijon Hall

2007-08-19T14:40:46Z

She felt almost like a ghost as she moved quietly through the ballroom, past murmuring groups of Kindred, all of them clad in black with few exceptions, of which she was one, and she alone was in all white from head to toe. White, pale, quiet, unremarked, she passed through the ballroom hearing many things without being told them. On occasion se made eye contact with an acquaintance and exchanged nods of greeting, after one such the Kindred she greeted came over to her.

“Good evening, Miss Finch.” One of the Halls, this one was – publically an Invictus, although she knew his true loyalty lay outside of that Covenant.

She inclined her head again. “Mr. Hall.”

He cleared his throat, an entirely unnecessary action but one that showed how instinctual mortal habits were for many Kindred. “I have been speaking with my sire, Alder Duke Ijon Hall, and he has…reminded…me of my original name, and expressed his desire that I return to using it. As such, I am now known as Daniel Hall, not Winston.”

“Ah, I see,” Karly replied non-committedly. “And how is Lord Hall, Mr. Hall?”

“He is well. Would you like me to introduce you?” He indicated the far end of the ballroom, where the Duke sat in the corner with his Seneschal, Julius Hall, overseeing the gathered Kindred as though he still held his position as Prince of Melbourne.

“I should pay my respects on behalf of myself and my sire, yes.” She smoothed the white skirt of her dress and began walking, expecting the newly-named Daniel to follow her, as he did. She had slowly been making her way towards Ijon, but having his childe there to formally present her was much better, and more in keeping with the protocol the Duke would expect. He might not actually be the Prince anymore, but he was still a power in the city. The way the lines of power ran, she suspected very strongly that whoever the ‘official’ Prince of Melbourne was at any given time only ruled because Ijon was happy to let them have the position.

Reaching Ijon and Julius, Karly dropped into a deep and polite curtsey, murmuring out a quick greeting of “Mr. Hall” to Julius before Daniel began to introduce her.

“Sir, this is Karly Finch…,” he began, only to have Ijon cut him off.

“You are Finch’s childe, aren’t you?” The older Kindred looked up at her keenly, remaining seated as he held his own small court of sorts.

“Yes, Lord Hall, and good evening. I’m here to pay respects from myself and my sire, he is sorry that he was unable to attend tonight.” Not that Finch had actually told her to say any of this, but she’d found that the more polite you were with elder Invictus the better, and so she gave a modified version of the greetings she’d heard repeated over and over again by Kindred representing their sires at other formal events.

“Thank-you,” Ijon said, seeming pleased with what she’d said, to her relief. Just because she couldn’t feel his Beast didn’t mean that she didn’t know that it was strong, and that if he so chose he could squash her like a bug. It paid to be extra polite under those circumstances. “Hmmmm, last time I met you you were unreleased, weren’t you?”

Karly nodded. “Yes sir, but I have been released now.”

“Ah, good.” Gripping the handle of his cane, he leaned forward to study her. “Have you joined a Covenant?”

“Yes, my lord. I am a member of the Invictus.” She bobbed another small curtsey, even as Ijon leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smile.

“Excellent,” he said. “A wise decision. Who is your liege?”

“Lord Fenris Black, my lord.” Her eyes darted around, to Julius, to Daniel, then back to Ijon. Ijon always made her nervous as hell.

“Excellent, excellent.” Ijon seemed just as pleased with who she’d sworn to as he had that she’d joined the Invictus. “He’s one of mine. Welcome to the family.”

One of his? She blinked, but made no other reaction. “Thank-you, my lord.” I thought Fenris was sworn to the Ragman. I must have been wrong.

“I’ll make you the same offer I made him: you can swear an oath to me, and take the name Hall,” Ijon continued. Karly’s gaze flickered to Daniel and Julius again. Daniel also seemed slightly startled while Julius, as always, had a perfectly neutral expression on his face.

“Thank-you, my lord,” Karly replied, bobbing into another curtsey, “but for now I have taken my sire’s name.”

Ijon nodded. “So you are Lady Finch, then?”

“Yes, sir. Thank-you again for the offer, however.” She breathed a silent sigh of relief that Ijon didn’t even show a hint of taking offence at having his offer rebuffed by a newly-released neonate. It wasn’t something most people would have been annoyed about, but Ijon was Ijon, the head of the Hall family, and every Hall she knew was insane in one way or another.

“The offer is always open. Again, welcome to the family and to the Invictus. I am glad to see such wisdom in one so young.” His tone now turned to a polite dismissal, which Karly was only too glad to take up, curtseying deeply.

“Thank-you, my lord,” she said, keeping her own thoughts about the ‘wisdom’ of joining the Invictus out of her facial expressions as she backed away several steps with Daniel before turning and moving back into the ebb and flow of tonight’s politics and dealings.

{Karly} Monday, June 4th.

2007-06-21T13:16:37Z

Night after night it happened, for close to a week. It was the sense of someone watching her, someone following her, wherever she went and whatever she did. But she never saw them, never heard them, never smelt them, not even when she activated the basics of the Sight to sharpen all of her senses. She took turns she normally wouldn't, would glance over her shoulder suddenly, a few times even conducted a thorough search of the area, and yet not only did she not find anyone, but the hair was always prickling on the back of her neck. They were always there...watching. Unseen, unheard.

Except tonight. Tonight she hadn't felt anything, and there was an imperceptible relaxation of her shoulders as she went about her evening's work -- checking messages and mail at her company's offices, making sure the rosters were correct, then on her way to the local butcher's to pick up her evening supply of blood.

She left via the back door, out into the alleyway, carrying two bags of pig's blood. She was halfway down the alley towards the parking lot where she'd left her car when suddenly the bags were dashed out of her hands, one breaking against the rough brick wall and splashing blood over the alley. Before Karly could utter a sound she was grabbed by the throat and slammed against the opposite wall.

Her assailant was larger than her, stronger, and the flare of another Beast made her half-formed cry die in her throat. She couldn't alert mortals to this. She couldn't allow innocents to be involved in something that would kill them. She struggled, her eyes scanning it as she tried to identify it.

Male, more than likely, that's what the build said. Nondescript, shabby clothes. Bandages covering the entire face apart from the eyes, and most of the hands as well. Wide-brimmed hat pulled low over the face. The bandages and hat made a visual identification next to impossible, but Karly filed the details away in her head for later as she struggled to get free, to wriggle loose, to pry the fingers from her throat as she kicked at her attacker. He didn't even flinch as her foot connected with his shins and knees over and over again, and it felt to her as though she was kicking rock. Similarly, she was unable to move his fingers even a fraction, or get even the tiniest bit loose.

His eyes were cold, assessing her as though she were a bug under inspection, and also held more than a little insanity. The combination made her shiver, even more so than him casually ripping open her shirt. Then the fingers around her throat sprouted claws which dug into her skin, then dug deeper as he hoisted her off the ground by her throat. She kicked him in the groin, but he didn't react at all, merely gripped her throat more tightly as he reached forward with his other hand, claws extended from that one as well, and with expert precision made three straight slashes in her chest, forming three sides of a square. She managed to stifle the scream of pain so as not to attract the attention of any mortals, then bit her tongue to keep from screaming again as he seized the loose skin he had cut and tore it from her body.

She stopped kicking, stopped fighting, just hung listlessly from his claws as her mind and body tried to process the shock of what had just happened. He ignored her now, instead staring half in wonder at the square of skin he had just torn away, seeming to not even realise he still held her off the ground by her throat. Karly managed to pull herself together, her body instinctively starting to try to heal, and she took advantage of his distraction to struggle again, kicking him in the stomach. This time he reacted, glaring at her and growling slightly as he threw her down the alley, his claws scraping through her neck. She lay where she fell for a few moments, then pulled herself to her knees and looked at him. He'd gone back to just staring at the skin he held in his hand - her skin.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer," she snapped, pain and anger overcoming common sense. She immediately regretted her words as he looked up, then down at her, another low growl in his throat as he walked towards her. Karly was suddenly struck by an overwhelming fear, a fear so great that she couldn't move, couldn't scramble back to the illusion of safety that was anywhere where he was not.

"Your fault," he said in a low growl. "Your fault."

"What is?" she managed to force out.

"Your fault!"

As he spoke those words, there was a sudden silence, and in that moment Kary felt her blood connection to Finch snap. Shatter. She was truly alone, more alone than she had ever been before. The street was still there, at the other end of the alley, but she couldn't hear people there. It was empty. There was no-one there -- Finch was gone, everyone she cared about was gone, no-one would help her, no-one would care. Fenris, Marshall, Alex, Arthur, none of them were here. They'd all left her, abandoned her, alone and covered in blood in a darkened back alley.

She whimpered, crossing her arms over her bloodied chest in a futile effort to stave off the coldness she was feeling. Her attacker stopped advancing on her, instead carefully folding her skin and opening a small bag he wore at his waist. The movement drew Karly's eyes, and as he tucked her skin away in the little bag she saw Finch's face staring up out of it. A sudden rage filled her as the other Kindred began to scale the wall of the alleyway, moving swiftly up to the roof, and she gripped the crucifix around her neck firmly in one hand. With the other, she made the sign of the Cross over her chest. On the rooftop, her attacker stopped and turned, staring at her. Slowly and deliberately, she crossed herself again.

"No! You have no right!" he screamed down at her.

"I have every right!" she shouted back, gripping her crucifix more tightly and crossing herself a third time as her rage deepened.

"No! Dirty, wrong! Your fault!" The other Kindred disappeared from the roof line, and Karly drew on the powers of her blood to hide herself from view before scaling the fire escape, drawing on her blood again to increase her speed. Reaching the roof she saw her attacker scanning the alley, looking for her, then he ran across the rooftop and down the other side of the building. Still hidden, she followed. This bastard had her sire's face in his bag. This fucker had killed her sire, and she was going to make him pay for that.

There were suddenly people on the street again, and he moved into a crowd of mortals. He took a stick and pretended to hobble, becoming another crippled bum wandering the streets. A group of young men jeered at him, and he simply hunched his shoulders lower and kept going. He walked out into traffic, then scurried to the other side of the road when a car almost hit him. He went along main roads and side streets, through darkness and pools of light, with less and less mortals around as he wound along his path. Every step of the way Karly stayed with him, pacing him, hidden but always there, waiting for a secluded place where no mortals could get involved.

He finally ducked into an abandoned building -- or not so abandoned, as she followed him in and found he had turned it into a haven. A line with clothes pegged to it ran along one wall, a sewing machine with a...something...made of leather scraps on a table in one corner, and on another wall dozens of photos were pinned up. He looked around, took her skin from his bag, and then tenderly pegged it to another pair of lines, pulling it taught, then carefully cleaned it and trimmed the ragged edges.

As he did this, Karly wandered over to the photos, still hidden. The photos were all of an Asian girl, about the same age as Karly had been when she was Embraced, she guessed. There was a photo of the girl clad in graduation robes with her family and holding her certificate, looking oh so pround. Science/Law from the colours of her gown's trimming, an unusual combination. Other photos didn't look so official, and had the look of surveillance photos to them. Some ahd been taken at night, some during the day, showing the girl on trains, with her boyfriend, with her family, her friends. Karly reached out to touch the graduation photo and through the Sight felt the faint vestiges of pride from one person, almose outweighed by anger and jealousy from another person. Lightly touching other photos, she felt the same thing. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the other Kindred had left her pinned up skin to go to the seweing machine, his back to her, and she quickly removed one of the photos and slipped it in her pocket before going over to where her skin was.

His back was still to her as he fiddled with something. She unpegged her skin, folding it in her hands. Mine. I won't let you have this, I know what Kindred can do with bits of each other. God knows I've stolen hair for Ella before. I've sacrificed my own blood before.

He turned, and shrieked in rage when he saw the missing skin. He emptied out his little bag, and Karly saw Finch's face wasn't there after all. She took out her gun and held it to the other Kindred's head, and stopped hiding herself, He eyed her warily, his eyes flckering down to the skin she held in her hand.

"Why?" she demanded. "Why did you do this?"

No ansser. Her finger tightened on the trigger.

"You...," she began, then stopped. You killed my sire, she had been going to say, but in that moment she felt her blood connection return. No. Not return. She felt that it was there, it had always been there, she's just thought it had broken. He wasn't dead, she wasn't alone. It had all been...what? An illusion? She reached out to pull the bandages from the other Kindred's face, and he reacted with anger, slapping her hand with one hand while with the other he grabbed the wrist of her gun hand, forcing it up as she fired, the bullet tearing through bandages and flesh...but not skin. She could see now that under the bandages he had no skin. She'd barely processed this when he tried to rip the skin out of her hands, she refused to let go and the skin tore, leaving her holding most of it and him holding a scrap.

"You did this to me! Your fault!" he howled, throwing her into the nearest wall -- through the nearest wall, almost. She scrambled to her feet as he charged towards her, using her blood to make her move supernaturally fast out of the way as he punched the now-unstable wall, bringing it down on top of him and almost on top of her as she ran out of the way. She stood as the dust cleared, staring at the rubble.

"What do you mean?! I don't even know who you are!" she shouted at the pile of bricks, a pile that was...bricks only. He was gone, even though she'd seen the wall fall on him. She watched, and waited, then the rubble moved as a huge black wolf leaped out of it, and again she moved aside with supernatural speed as it charged through another wall. It stopped, and turned, and she hid herself again. It sniffed, prowling around to search for her, and she slowly moved around also, keeping out of its way.

It changed back into her attacker, who looked around again, the put the scrap of her skin into his little bag and ran from the building. She followed, shadowing him, though this time he knew he was being followed by a Mekhet and tried to shake the follower he couldn't see -- unsuccessfully. He lead her to a bridge over a small river, and jumped in. She ran to the side of the bridge and watched the ripples fade away, but he never resurfaced.

She waited until almost dawn, but never saw him again that night before she ran to find shelter from the coming sunrise.

{Karly} At the Toss of a Coin

2007-05-13T04:29:02Z

The coin fell, light twinkling off it as it spun and was expertly caught. Heads.

The laughter increased – heads meant yes. Ella stepped up her efforts in trying to convince Amador to follow the coin's directions and claim Prince, while he simply looked bemused and the others continued to laugh, barely-suppressed hysteria evident in their voices. Everyone here was on edge tonight, everyone could feel in the air that ‘something’ was going to happen. Asking questions of a coin and flipping it for the answer helped relieve some of the tension.

“Should I release Karly?”

Karly looked at her sire with a slightly raised eyebrow and an amused smile playing about her lips as he flipped the coin again. Heads. Everyone looked at him expectantly, and he laughed and looked at her. She shook her head, still smiling.

“What was it you just said about people following the coin?”

They were fools, he had said, when Ella had approached Amador after the coin said Amador should claim praxis. Finch grinned at everyone’s expectant looks, and balanced the coin ready to flip again.

“Is it my decision to make?”

The coin spun upwards again, then fell. Heads. Finch sighed, Karly grinned, and everyone laughed again before drifting apart.

“Do you think I should release you?”

Karly cocked her head to one side, a neutral expression schooled on her face. “Do you think I’m ready?”

“That’s up to you.”

She looked away then, glancing down at the floor as she bit the inside of her lip.

Yes. No. I’m not sure. I still need to run to you for advice, I need advice now, am I really ready when I don’t know what to do?

She glanced up, and he was still looking at her, waiting for her to reply. She shrugged and glanced down again.

I don’t know the answer to that. I don’t know what to say.

She was rescued, finally, by someone wanting to talk to Finch. She felt like heaving a sigh of relief as she followed him out of the room, able to avoid the matter for now. Maybe later, maybe once she’d been able to talk to him about the book, maybe then she’d have a better idea of what to answer.

*

So the coin’s first prediction had come true. The tension in the air had borne fruit. Praxis change. Britannia had stepped down and called an election to replace her, and now everyone moved around the Elysium. Talking, politicking, spreading rumours as everyone jockeyed for position and tried to predict who would nominate and who would be successful.

It had been suggested that Finch should, and he was tempted, she knew. She knew he’d be a good Prince…and the alternatives were driving him to seriously consider it. Ragman or Gruber. The court would go to hell with either of them in charge.

They had the support, from people who wanted them there, and from those like John Boneo who predicted that having one of those two hold praxis would reveal what they truly were to everyone. Some expected them to hold praxis, while others suspected that whoever replaced Britannia would fail spectacularly sooner rather than later. Even so, Finch’s ideals wouldn’t let him let them take it unopposed, not when it would so negatively affect the court. At the same time, he wouldn’t get the support for the same reasons why they would. Still, she suspected he would go for it regardless.

She’d been half paying attention to his talk with Boneo, picking up the important bits while she carefully watched Boneo for his reactions, when the conversation took an unexpected twist.

“John, with no High Councillor at the moment that would make you as a Council member one of the highest authorities currently, right?”

After a moment’s consideration, Boneo nodded. “Yeah.”

“Then I want you to witness that I’m releasing Karly.”

She barely caught Boneo’s affirmative response as she whipped her head around to stare at Finch in surprise, the ‘why?’ unspoken but hanging in the air between them.

“If I go for this, then no matter which way it turns out I’ll be a target,” Finch said to her. “Releasing you means that you’re not considered part of me, so they won’t come after you.”

Words of a fortnight before rang in her ears, a warning spoken in a soft voice that never failed to send a tingle down her spine.

”Your sire is getting into some dangerous politics. As an unreleased childe you are considered an extension of him, and some of the…older, more traditional Kindred would punish you along with him. While there aren’t many of them, they are the ones with the strongest arms.”

She’d passed that on to Finch as part of her report, that warning from Fenris Black, along with who had given it to her. Were those words something that had come to Finch’s mind when he’d made this decision?

She blinked, and glanced at the floor. “Oh…” What to say? ‘I won’t let anyone hurt you’ sounded like false bravado, even if she meant it, and she had a feeling he’d tell her to stay out of it if it came to that. That she couldn’t do, and so she said nothing, so that nothing would have to be said of it.

Released. Something she’d asked for, once or twice, and then after a short conversation with Finch realised she hadn’t been ready for. And now, having not asked for it – having avoided answering the question about being ready for it – here it was.

She wasn’t sure she wanted it.