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 Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 10:54 am
Pushing the door open with her foot, she entered dressed in casual's today - a long shirt, baggy pants, and a silly hat hiding her hair. The hat apparently had eyes.
Setting the tray of drinks down, two pitchers on it already tonight, including caps to keep the heat it, she took a seat by the window, overlooking the lawns.
"So, how are you doing? Jan says you've not asked for much, is everything ok?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:03 am
Nines nodded as she entered, and took a seat on the bed facing the window as well. The towel was casually discarded onto the pillows.
I don't think anything about my present condition can be described as "okay", but I'm as close to it as I can be.
Slowly the youngling rolled his right shoulder, issuing a series of bony pops as the joints in his shoulder and elbow cracked.
Why, worried?
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:08 am
"Truthfully? Yes. I saw the state you were in when you got here, and I know Ice... I'd say I've been on the receiving end and empathise, but I'm female and thus, I'd be lying. Ice's preference is male. I have however experienced Bailey's handiwork.
Like you say... the situation is less than ideal. There's a lot to be worried about, and come to terms with.
but equally, I would hope your immediate needs ARE being catered to. The staff have been instructed to make this place as comfortable to you as possible... yet I have the sense you haven't found it to be so?"
She crossed one leg over the other, leaning forward earnestly as she spoke. Her tone remained even and light, but her eyes did seem to search his face, as if looking for answers he might withhold.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:15 am
...I'd rather not dwell on that.
His expression soured for a moment, and his eyes grew distant and glassy for a second or two. He snapped out of the pause given quickly, though, with the change in topic.
It's hard for me to. This place...it just doesn't sit well. I'm not comfortable with large houses like this.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:20 am
"Heh... modern city dweller, eh? I grew up in a place even bigger than this. That said though, we don't use half of the rooms we have here.
Still, it maintains the eccentric batty old bird illusion well enough and I feel at home here at least.
What can I do to make it feel more comfortable to you? I don't want you to feel like your in a glass cage."
From her point of view, the mansion was perfect. Spaces set aside for all things, plenty of room to find privacy, and a rose garden many horticulturists would die for. One of her few passions, roses.
yet nines was uncomfortable, and she didn't want that. The house had already undergone a ton of changes to make it more modern, a few more wouldn't hurt if needed.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:35 am
Not so much that. It's just too...well, big. Too big, too blatantly wealthy. Last two places like this I stayed in, the stay ended badly. Incredibly badly.
Again, Nines didn't explain much, but hinted at a rocky background. In truth, he just hated big houses, because of the scale involved. SHady background and schizoid styled voices in his mind only served to make him very uncomfortable.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:40 am
"... I see...."
Accepting his words without prying further, Roan sat back, steepling her fingers to her lips as she thought. There had to be something she could do...
A-ha. A thought occured.
Digging into her pocket, she pulled out a small set of keys. One of these she started pulling off the ring.
"This is a master key to the house. It opens every door except those on my personal suite.
It opens the main door, the french doors, the garage doors... just about everything, including trade entrances.
This is my home, I cant make it smaller, and I wouldn't want to. But that key will not only let you IN... but also let you out. From just about any point in the building.
Im hoping giving you this will make you feel safer, but there is going to have to be an exchange of trust.... this key also opens the door I warned you away from. I trust you will resist going there. I hope you will trust me enough to try to come to terms with the house."
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:49 am
Nines blinked momentarily, then held his hand up, palm out.
No, no. No point. Last I checked, I'm an internationally wanted terrorist thanks to the freakshow, and despite my best efforts I can't just disappear well enough to get around that. I'm stuck here until something comes up. I...I do appreciate it, though.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:54 am
"You didn't watch the news this evening, huh?"
Smiling, Roan reached out, took his hand, and forcibly pressed the key into it.
"Nines Ruddle was found dead at a safe house at 3pm this afternoon, in Canada. Apparently, he was killed by one of his leuitenants, as the FBI wanted status made him a liability.
Police are saying his real name was Marc Woolbridge, and he was wanted in the UK for murder. Apparently, he'd had plastic surgery to change his features...."
In short: Nines was off the wanted list. As easy as he'd been put on it, it had been ended. Assuming of course he didn't do anything to warrant the attentions of Syn again.
"I said I'd work on things, I just need time. Its a start, right? Keep the key. But don't run. Please."
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:10 am
He sighed, and shook his head slowly. So now he was "dead" so far as the world was concerned...again. That just made his day to hear, even though he knew it should have been a relief.
I don't know if I can promise you that. God knows right now I'd much rather disappear and stay that way than stick around where that...thing can keep tabs. As much as I think you're on the level, aren't you under its thumb too? I don't know if I can stay in this house if that's the case. Not if an alternative is presented.
He smiled, then lightly grabbed her wrist with his off hand and tried to press the key back to her palm.
I appreciate that you're trying to help me out here. Honestly, thank you. But it's likely better I'm stuck for the time being, more so you don't have to worry about trusting me than the other way around.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:31 am
"Nines... he found you before, and this time, he'll find you even easier. If you're here, I can protect you somewhat. If you run... you'll be on your own and you WONT win."
She took the key back with a sigh, flopping back in the chair, head turning to gaze out the window at the garden beyond. A full moon caused the roses to show their colour in pastel shades, an effect the Lady DeSeer found pleasing.
"Ice is known as Deceit for a reason. I don't think I've yet met anyone who has managed to elude his schemes. He modifies fast, and he thinks ahead well - he's had far too long to get used to how people react.
I'm still not entirely convinced you aren't just here to make me play nice. If that's the case, you'll be able to go on your merry way soon enough. But even if not, believe me it's a lot safer here where I can fend him off to a degree, than out there where he can and WILL find you, and do whatever he pleases.
As and when you change your mind about the key... let me know. I don't know what else I CAN do to make this place more bearable to you."
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:34 am
All part of why I ask that you keep the key. You know better than I do what's going on, so rather than trusting me to make good decisions blindly...
It was an expression charged with a little meaning between the lines. He was putting a great deal of faith in Roan and her ability to look out for him, something that was not easy for him to do. All the same, he leaned back until he was laying on the bed, and sighed.
Man, this ain't anything like what I signed on for. I want a refund.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:37 am
"DID you sign on for it though? Being Kindred, I mean.... I know I didn't. Been bitter for a long long time... but maybe this is always what I was meant to do. Can't be angry forever... much better to bottle it up, and use it when needed, rather than constantly.
I dunno.
Will you tell me about it? Your Embrace? Even if not the whole story. It really would help."
Those odd, mismatched eyes slowly turned back to Nines, softly, quietly. She knew she was asking about what was very very likely to be an extremely touchy subject, but nevertheless... she asked.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:44 am
Nines quirked a brow. She was right, to a degree. Still, he shook his head, rolling his hair around on the bed.
Aight, sure. I'll bite. I assume by embrace you mean the onset of a nasty case of being dead?
He chuckled softly and feebly, before he reached up to scratch his chin.
I was eighteen, just out of school, and glad for it. It meant work could take priority, and maybe, just maybe I could go somewhere. Girlfriend was being supportive...she was a rich little number, real nice and didn't like to show it off. She knew better, I s'pose. Well, we were going to do the nasty for the first time since we'd met about a year previously. Yeah, that ended really swell. I woke up bloody, exhausted, and when I tried to open the window to get some idea of what time it was I got horribly burned by the sunset. Fun times, no? s**t went to hell from there; never saw the b***h again, good riddance.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:52 am
"Rich little number that wasn't willing to move out with what she had to support boyfriend who had family troubles.... you must have had it bad, kid. Of course, vampires are just sparkly things in stories today, so I guess you didn't stand much chance.
I'm surprised you woke up alone... let alone had enough wherewithal to check the time, instead of going bonkers with hunger straight off..."
She was watching Nines a little harder now, though only because she was puzzled. Oh well, start the teaching now...
"The Embrace is the Kindred word for making someone else into a vampire. The bite for food purposes is referred to as the Kiss. When a new vampire is created, the first night they wake up, they have very little vitae....blood... left in their veins, and so they frenzy. That's when the darker, animal side takes over, called the Beast, and goes into all out aggressive survival mode. When sated, it subsides and the Man - our more human selves - reasserts itself.
So either your Sire - the person who made you Kindred - gave a s**t ton of her own blood in turning you, or you're of a particularly thin blooded line, very far descended from the progenitor, Caine.
I suspect the latyter, of course. Suffice it to say, I don't think much of your ex-girlfriend.
Sabbat, the sect that isn't us, tend to Sire willy nilly and leave their progeny to work things out alone, but it's just bad form. It's irresponsible too. And cruel.
...how long ago was all this, Nines? For all I know, you;ve been 18 for 100 years or more.... though I doubt that...."
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