Pest Control: Attn Aishe (private)
Christian waited silently by the van with the "Bugs B Gone"Â? logo emblazoned on the side. The equipment had already been loaded and the other two members of his team were inside the back of the van checking the instruments and arranging everything securely. Now all they needed was the star of this show. The human that he could be putting into danger.
She wanted to be a part of the clan and to him that meant helping the clan. It was best to see if she were willing to do that now instead of finding out that she had no interest in Evenhet later. Aishe had agreed quickly enough and that was encouraging. So far he had been quite impressed with the young human who had so boldly walked up to one of the most ancient of them and said she wished to be made an immortal for the sake of love.
Christian snorted silently to himself. It sounded like a romance novel and if he had not seen the Egyptian woman and spoke with her then he'd have been skeptical of her true intentions. She seemed very grounded despite her lofty goals and that was reassuring.
She was also on time. Another plus.
"Good Morning. Ms Nevrat."Â?
Aishe
18 years ago
Christian Bern
18 years ago
Christian nodded slightly ,never amused by those who force an issue, even one so minor. It was the nature of his job and military training to speak formally to people while he was working and he was currently doing just that.
One of his people appeared at the doorway to the van and announced that everything was ready to go. He nodded.
"Thank you, Mr Williams."Â?
Turning to Aishe, he stepped closer and inspected the ear piece. It was correctly positioned and seemed to be in working order.
"Ms Marshall, if you would be so kind as to give us a sound check so that we know the ear pieces are working?"Â?
"Yes, Sir"Â? Came a female voice from inside the van.
Soon enough he could hear her voice through his own tiny device announcing her check. Stepping closer to the van so that he could see inside. He pointed to the team.
"Richard Williams is one of our criminal specialists who will be surveying the information you supply via camera. Stacey Marshall is our equipment specialist who will record the data for further inspection."Â?
The man appeared to be in his late forties with greying hair and bifocal glasses. There was a quickness about his gaze that suggested he was intelligent and observant. He was somewhat out of shape physically but not terribly so. Stacey Marshall was a no nonsense type of woman. She was seated in a very trim aerodynamic wheel chair specially made to allow her the best mobility possible in tight spaces. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a pony tail and the light of the computer screen in front of her lit her clean clear features; She was not a believer in cosmetics or complicated morning routines.
Williams smiled brightly at the newcomer and gave a little wave.
"Mornin Ma'am."Â?
Marshall barely looked up from her equipment.
"Hi."Â?
Christian stepped inside the vehicle and glanced at the darkened partition that would keep him in a sunlight free environment for the duration of this mission. Pushing down the customary qualms about traveling during daylight, he took his seat and then leaned out to Aishe.
"If you would care to take the driver's seat. Ms Marshall will give you directions to the location via your ear piece."Â?
With that Williams smiled at her again and then shut the back doors.
One of his people appeared at the doorway to the van and announced that everything was ready to go. He nodded.
"Thank you, Mr Williams."Â?
Turning to Aishe, he stepped closer and inspected the ear piece. It was correctly positioned and seemed to be in working order.
"Ms Marshall, if you would be so kind as to give us a sound check so that we know the ear pieces are working?"Â?
"Yes, Sir"Â? Came a female voice from inside the van.
Soon enough he could hear her voice through his own tiny device announcing her check. Stepping closer to the van so that he could see inside. He pointed to the team.
"Richard Williams is one of our criminal specialists who will be surveying the information you supply via camera. Stacey Marshall is our equipment specialist who will record the data for further inspection."Â?
The man appeared to be in his late forties with greying hair and bifocal glasses. There was a quickness about his gaze that suggested he was intelligent and observant. He was somewhat out of shape physically but not terribly so. Stacey Marshall was a no nonsense type of woman. She was seated in a very trim aerodynamic wheel chair specially made to allow her the best mobility possible in tight spaces. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a pony tail and the light of the computer screen in front of her lit her clean clear features; She was not a believer in cosmetics or complicated morning routines.
Williams smiled brightly at the newcomer and gave a little wave.
"Mornin Ma'am."Â?
Marshall barely looked up from her equipment.
"Hi."Â?
Christian stepped inside the vehicle and glanced at the darkened partition that would keep him in a sunlight free environment for the duration of this mission. Pushing down the customary qualms about traveling during daylight, he took his seat and then leaned out to Aishe.
"If you would care to take the driver's seat. Ms Marshall will give you directions to the location via your ear piece."Â?
With that Williams smiled at her again and then shut the back doors.
Aishe
18 years ago
Aishe stood still while Christian checked her earpiece, and then shook her hair back over it when he was done, paying special attention to the voice of the woman she now heard transmitted softly but clearly into her ear. It reminded her of 'hearing' Kem's thoughts, only in a more artificial sort of way. It wasn't quite the same as having a set of headphones on.
She nodded to each person as she was introduced and repeated their names as she nodded to each with a smile, fixing names to faces.
"Mr. Williams, Ms. Marshall."
The man seemed friendly enough; the woman didn't really seem to care one way or another, but Aishe didn't take offense. They were here to work, after all. And even though she was here to work as well, it was clear that she wasn't 'one of them.' Perhaps that would change at some point, but for the time being she simply focused on the task at hand and doing her job properly.
Christian had climbed into the van; they were all waiting for her now. Aishe rounded to the front of the van, climbed up to the driver's seat, and adjusted it and the mirrors. The keys were in the ignition, and once she had everything all set she backed carefully out and followed the voice commands in her ear.
She was particularly careful not to drive roughly; Aishe had been transporting artifacts from dig site to labs for years now, and as a result she was used to having to go easy on her cargo, whether it was alive or long dead. They wound their way through the back streets of Nachton, into an area Aishe hadn't dared to walk through on her own. It wasn't that it was poorly maintained, but the whole area seemed to have an edge about it, as if the residents weren't exactly used to the soft and easy life.
She parked alongside the kerb when directed, and slid out of the driver's seat, grabbing her mister and clipboard with the invoice on it. Standing outside in the sunlight, she tipped her head back for a moment and looked up. Right address. At least it wasn't a highrise. That could have taken a while.
Showtime!
She nodded to each person as she was introduced and repeated their names as she nodded to each with a smile, fixing names to faces.
"Mr. Williams, Ms. Marshall."
The man seemed friendly enough; the woman didn't really seem to care one way or another, but Aishe didn't take offense. They were here to work, after all. And even though she was here to work as well, it was clear that she wasn't 'one of them.' Perhaps that would change at some point, but for the time being she simply focused on the task at hand and doing her job properly.
Christian had climbed into the van; they were all waiting for her now. Aishe rounded to the front of the van, climbed up to the driver's seat, and adjusted it and the mirrors. The keys were in the ignition, and once she had everything all set she backed carefully out and followed the voice commands in her ear.
She was particularly careful not to drive roughly; Aishe had been transporting artifacts from dig site to labs for years now, and as a result she was used to having to go easy on her cargo, whether it was alive or long dead. They wound their way through the back streets of Nachton, into an area Aishe hadn't dared to walk through on her own. It wasn't that it was poorly maintained, but the whole area seemed to have an edge about it, as if the residents weren't exactly used to the soft and easy life.
She parked alongside the kerb when directed, and slid out of the driver's seat, grabbing her mister and clipboard with the invoice on it. Standing outside in the sunlight, she tipped her head back for a moment and looked up. Right address. At least it wasn't a highrise. That could have taken a while.
Showtime!
Christian Bern
18 years ago
Christian reflected that they should make the woman a driver if nothing else. Aishe could teach some of their men a thing or two about driving in Nachton traffic with a car load of equipment and passengers you didn't want to bang around in the back.
He hoped he was doing the right thing by letting her be involved in this. Christian felt that she needed some place in the clan both before and after turning. Turning was something he took seriously, many people would argue that he took everything seriously, it was something that needed to be thought through, hopefully by both parties. Whoever turned Aishe would want to know about her character and by including her on this minor mission he might be able to give testimony on it. That she was willing to go at all spoke well of her, now it was just a matter of seeing how she was on the job.
The van pulled to a stop and Chris turned to watch the mini cam that showed her walking up,clipboard in hand, to the front office of the apartment complex. This was one of the easiest ways for them to gain access to these kinds of places so hopefully she did a good job of the actual spraying. He'd hate for the complex to file a complaint and stop using the pest control company. Then they would have to work their way into another one. It wasn't difficult but why waste energy if you didn't have to?
Leaning forward, he spoke into the microphone that Ms Marshall had been using.
"Tell the clerk you've come to spray the rooms. The form that they need to sign is right there on the top. RG 71. They should either give you a master set of keys..if they are lazy or have someone walk with you and open the doors. Either way works for us."Â?
He hoped he was doing the right thing by letting her be involved in this. Christian felt that she needed some place in the clan both before and after turning. Turning was something he took seriously, many people would argue that he took everything seriously, it was something that needed to be thought through, hopefully by both parties. Whoever turned Aishe would want to know about her character and by including her on this minor mission he might be able to give testimony on it. That she was willing to go at all spoke well of her, now it was just a matter of seeing how she was on the job.
The van pulled to a stop and Chris turned to watch the mini cam that showed her walking up,clipboard in hand, to the front office of the apartment complex. This was one of the easiest ways for them to gain access to these kinds of places so hopefully she did a good job of the actual spraying. He'd hate for the complex to file a complaint and stop using the pest control company. Then they would have to work their way into another one. It wasn't difficult but why waste energy if you didn't have to?
Leaning forward, he spoke into the microphone that Ms Marshall had been using.
"Tell the clerk you've come to spray the rooms. The form that they need to sign is right there on the top. RG 71. They should either give you a master set of keys..if they are lazy or have someone walk with you and open the doors. Either way works for us."Â?
Aishe
18 years ago
Aishe shook her long black hair out, temporarily covering the tiny earpiece and even tinier camera in her earring. She'd move her locks away from both when she was alone, but for now there was no point running the risk of their being detected.
The apartment building had 3 stories. There were 4 apartments on the 2nd and 3rd stories, and 3 plus an office on the 1st. Aishe knocked on the door of the office, affecting an appropriately bored air. "Bugs-B-Gone. I'm here to spray."
An elderly man heaved himself out of the tattered couch and away from his TV show. He gave her a noncommittal grunt, handed her a set of keys, and turned back again.
"Just need you to sign here," Aishe reminded him. When he did, she clipped her pen back into the clipboard and said, "I'll be out of here in no time."
Out in the hall, she brushed her hair behind her ear with her fingers and slowly looked around, then began to make her way from room to room starting on the bottom floor. She remembered not to hum; grown men tougher than Christian had been reduced to tears by her humming. She did, however, make sure she gave each room a thorough misting. They looked like they could use it. She was perfectly comfortable with the sprayer. It was just as she'd suspected, exactly like misting water onto a dry excavation unit in the middle of the summer.
Huh. Not that I'd relish excavating some of these apartments, she thought. They weren't exactly... posh.
It only took her about ten minutes to do each apartment, her careful and thorough approach serving the double purpose of giving the team back in the van a good long look at her surroundings. So far they'd been pretty quiet, and she hadn't seen any evidence that might lead her to believe any one of the apartments was being temporarily occupied by vampires either.
Most of the tenants were out for the day, having received prior notification that she would be there. Most of them. On the top floor, she unlocked one of the doors to find a man in what looked like his mid 30's reclining on an old boxspring and mattress set in a corner of the darkened living room.
"I'm sorry, I'm just here to spray," she called. "May I come in a moment?" She shook her hair back down over the earpiece, but not before making sure she gave Christian and the team as good a view as possible of both the interior and the man.
The apartment building had 3 stories. There were 4 apartments on the 2nd and 3rd stories, and 3 plus an office on the 1st. Aishe knocked on the door of the office, affecting an appropriately bored air. "Bugs-B-Gone. I'm here to spray."
An elderly man heaved himself out of the tattered couch and away from his TV show. He gave her a noncommittal grunt, handed her a set of keys, and turned back again.
"Just need you to sign here," Aishe reminded him. When he did, she clipped her pen back into the clipboard and said, "I'll be out of here in no time."
Out in the hall, she brushed her hair behind her ear with her fingers and slowly looked around, then began to make her way from room to room starting on the bottom floor. She remembered not to hum; grown men tougher than Christian had been reduced to tears by her humming. She did, however, make sure she gave each room a thorough misting. They looked like they could use it. She was perfectly comfortable with the sprayer. It was just as she'd suspected, exactly like misting water onto a dry excavation unit in the middle of the summer.
Huh. Not that I'd relish excavating some of these apartments, she thought. They weren't exactly... posh.
It only took her about ten minutes to do each apartment, her careful and thorough approach serving the double purpose of giving the team back in the van a good long look at her surroundings. So far they'd been pretty quiet, and she hadn't seen any evidence that might lead her to believe any one of the apartments was being temporarily occupied by vampires either.
Most of the tenants were out for the day, having received prior notification that she would be there. Most of them. On the top floor, she unlocked one of the doors to find a man in what looked like his mid 30's reclining on an old boxspring and mattress set in a corner of the darkened living room.
"I'm sorry, I'm just here to spray," she called. "May I come in a moment?" She shook her hair back down over the earpiece, but not before making sure she gave Christian and the team as good a view as possible of both the interior and the man.
Christian Bern
18 years ago
Christian listened and watched as she went through the various rooms in the apartment complex. They knew which one was the correct one but it never hurt to check the rest for interesting finds as well. One of the tenants that was actually home appeared tired and listless. It could have been the flu or it could have been a bite from a vampire that had over fed. Unfortunately they did not have more of the people at home to inspect for signs of similar weakness but the fact that they weren't home probably meant they were doing well enough to work. That or...
"Williams check the local hospital records for people being admitted listing these apartments as their address in say the last 3 months."Â?
Aishe was coming up on the home they wanted, just one more. Christian noted the Mr Williams was rapidly typing away and had a secure line with MARI going as well. Good, she was faster at getting the information he wanted than anyone else. Her voice came back at the same time that Aishe entered the apartment.
"There are seven cases of hospitalization from this complex within the last three months. Alcohol overdose combined with loss of blood in 5 cases. One case of severe injuries and loss of blood and one case of pregnancy."Â?
Raising an eyebrow at the last one he mentally ticked it off the list. 'We can safely say neither of our targets caused that one.' But the others all spoke of vampires to him.
He was about to ask MARI if the injury with loss of blood caused reports in the medical record as an unusually high loss for the type of injury sustained.... that is until he saw the camera output.
"Damn."Â?
Christian leaned forward to the mic.
"Go about the spraying as you've done before, no cause for alarm, you'll be out of there shortly."Â?
He could not in good conscience fail to tell her the trim, distinguished looking man that reclined so casually but who was watching her like a hungry hawk was indeed a vampire. Evidence showed he would not likely kill her, it was not very sensible, especially considering she appeared to be a working person with errands. She would be noticed far more quickly than most. LaMaitre wasn't stupid. The man had been one of Megan's top body guards for centuries along with Herail. He wouldn't cause a stir. Christian was frankly surprised at the number of traceable incidences. It gave him an uneasy feeling, a feeling like his team was being reeled into a trap. That LaMaitre wanted to be found.
"Aishe, the man in the room is a vampire but he's an intelligent man. He shouldn't do anything stupid. Be alert and get out quickly but try not to look too nervous."Â?
"Williams check the local hospital records for people being admitted listing these apartments as their address in say the last 3 months."Â?
Aishe was coming up on the home they wanted, just one more. Christian noted the Mr Williams was rapidly typing away and had a secure line with MARI going as well. Good, she was faster at getting the information he wanted than anyone else. Her voice came back at the same time that Aishe entered the apartment.
"There are seven cases of hospitalization from this complex within the last three months. Alcohol overdose combined with loss of blood in 5 cases. One case of severe injuries and loss of blood and one case of pregnancy."Â?
Raising an eyebrow at the last one he mentally ticked it off the list. 'We can safely say neither of our targets caused that one.' But the others all spoke of vampires to him.
He was about to ask MARI if the injury with loss of blood caused reports in the medical record as an unusually high loss for the type of injury sustained.... that is until he saw the camera output.
"Damn."Â?
Christian leaned forward to the mic.
"Go about the spraying as you've done before, no cause for alarm, you'll be out of there shortly."Â?
He could not in good conscience fail to tell her the trim, distinguished looking man that reclined so casually but who was watching her like a hungry hawk was indeed a vampire. Evidence showed he would not likely kill her, it was not very sensible, especially considering she appeared to be a working person with errands. She would be noticed far more quickly than most. LaMaitre wasn't stupid. The man had been one of Megan's top body guards for centuries along with Herail. He wouldn't cause a stir. Christian was frankly surprised at the number of traceable incidences. It gave him an uneasy feeling, a feeling like his team was being reeled into a trap. That LaMaitre wanted to be found.
"Aishe, the man in the room is a vampire but he's an intelligent man. He shouldn't do anything stupid. Be alert and get out quickly but try not to look too nervous."Â?
Aishe
18 years ago
Why was it, Aishe wondered, that every time someone ever said 'no cause for alarm,' it usually meant, 'be alarmed?'
Still, a job was a job, and when the man nodded her in she gave him a cheerful smile and entered the seedy-looking apartment all the way. The man in there was out of place in this setting; the two-room apartment boasted very little furniture save the mattress and boxspring that the man lay so casually upon, a ramshackle night stand, and a TV with a coat hanger for an antenna. The second room, the bathroom, and the teeny kitchen didn't promise to be in much better shape.
In contrast, this dark-haired man was fairly sleek and definitely fit. The light was too dim for her to see his features, and she didn't look too closely, but from what was mostly a silhouette she could make out a strong jaw and fairly bold nose.
She'd get right on that.
"Nice day isn't it?"
Aishe winked and looked directly at the shadowed figure, trying to give the team in the van the best view possible. He hadn't said anything to her, but he nodded curtly and sat up as she looked around the room.
"I'll just be about ten minutes, it won't take long," she assured him, moving into the second room, which was no more nicely furnished than the living room. She paused in the doorway, not at all happy about having her back to the stranger, and then moved all the way in.
Turning back to the doorway, she gave a soft yelp. The man had moved with impossible silence and now occupied the space she'd just vacated. He was looking at her with a very peculiar expression, and Aishe was suddenly very much aware of how the weak little gazelle must feel when it sees the stalking lion at the last minute.
"Did you... not want me to do this now? I can come back another day, although there will still be an additional service charge..."
She was prevented from saying anything else as the man... no, the very big, suddenly very scary vampire, closed the little space between them faster than she could react to.
Still, a job was a job, and when the man nodded her in she gave him a cheerful smile and entered the seedy-looking apartment all the way. The man in there was out of place in this setting; the two-room apartment boasted very little furniture save the mattress and boxspring that the man lay so casually upon, a ramshackle night stand, and a TV with a coat hanger for an antenna. The second room, the bathroom, and the teeny kitchen didn't promise to be in much better shape.
In contrast, this dark-haired man was fairly sleek and definitely fit. The light was too dim for her to see his features, and she didn't look too closely, but from what was mostly a silhouette she could make out a strong jaw and fairly bold nose.
Christian
"Aishe, the man in the room is a vampire but he's an intelligent man. He shouldn't do anything stupid. Be alert and get out quickly but try not to look too nervous."Â?
She'd get right on that.
"Nice day isn't it?"
Aishe winked and looked directly at the shadowed figure, trying to give the team in the van the best view possible. He hadn't said anything to her, but he nodded curtly and sat up as she looked around the room.
"I'll just be about ten minutes, it won't take long," she assured him, moving into the second room, which was no more nicely furnished than the living room. She paused in the doorway, not at all happy about having her back to the stranger, and then moved all the way in.
Turning back to the doorway, she gave a soft yelp. The man had moved with impossible silence and now occupied the space she'd just vacated. He was looking at her with a very peculiar expression, and Aishe was suddenly very much aware of how the weak little gazelle must feel when it sees the stalking lion at the last minute.
"Did you... not want me to do this now? I can come back another day, although there will still be an additional service charge..."
She was prevented from saying anything else as the man... no, the very big, suddenly very scary vampire, closed the little space between them faster than she could react to.
Stranger
18 years ago
Henri didn't move when the woman from the pest control company walked in. He'd been woken out of a sound sleep but he knew it didn't show on his face. She was brightly cheerful, entering at his nod and commenting on the weather. She was short, she was here to do a job, and best of all...
...she had a pulse.
Feeding off the human vermin who lived in the apartments was not a difficult task, but Henri was tired of junk food. This woman was fresher and far less worn by life than any of the building's residents, and it had been several days since his last meal.
On cat feet, he filled the doorway of the second room, blocking her exit unless she really wanted to go out the third-story window. His fangs pressed against his lower lip, aching to drive into the soft dark golden skin on her neck. He'd been around long enough to give it due consideration, though. He paused for a moment. The apartments were mostly empty, and this woman was by herself. With a little suggestive nudge, he could take what he wanted and leave her to wander downstairs and out. He wasn't worried too much about being discovered; they'd been safe here for a while now.
The woman turned and yelped when she saw him. Poor human hearing. She stammered something about returning another day, but Henri was already moving, diving in, driven by hunger.
He wasn't prepared for her to be so... slippery. She squirmed the moment he grasped her arm, but he had her in a vicelike grip, heedless of the bruises he might leave or the tiny cuts his nails left in her skin.
With a none-too-gentle hand, Henri swept the fall of black hair from her neck, wrapping it around and using it to jerk her head to the side.
"It's been a long time since a meal was delivered to my doorstep so easily," he whispered into her ear. Then he struck, like a coiled cobra. His head dove down and he sank his fangs deeply into the flesh of her neck, ready to savor the sweet blood that immediately gushed from the wounds.
Still she squirmed and struggled, little cries of pain lasting longer than they should, but soon enough the effect of his bite took hold and she went rigid in his arms, trembling but complacent. Still her blood flowed smoothly down his throat, rich and warm and so alive. Her taste was untainted by the effects of smoke or alcohol or drugs, such a welcome change from the residents here, who used what they could where they could in the name of seeing another day.
He drank deeply, relishing the unexpected fortune of such a delicious meal. When he finally withdrew his fangs, reluctantly, he used the rope of her hair to jerk her head back again so she looked straight at him wide wide, green, terrified eyes.
"I suggest you forget this ever happened," he said softly, voice mesmerizing and compelling. "It is time for you to go back to work." Indeed, there was no small amount of suggestion behind the words, so he slowly let her hair fall and backed away, releasing her and standing to the side.
Christian Bern
18 years ago
Christian watched for one horrifying moment in disbelief. Henri was going to bite her, the arrogant bastard was just going to attack her and trust his abilities to cover it up.... or he didn't care. There was that brief thought once again that they were walking into something.
He grabbed one of the thick wool blankets that had been folded up out of the way as part of the general equipment stashed regularly in the van. Not waiting to throw it over himself, he threw open the door, hissing in pain at the light.
Christian tugged the blanket hurriedly over his head as he ran for the building entrance. It seemed like eternity before he felt the sweet relief of the enclosed walls. Moving up the stairs, he ignored the smoldering and burning that made his skin feel like he had recently been deep fried. Artemis's nickname was now very unfortunately accurate.
The door came into view and he was about to burst through it when Marshall's yelling reached his ear.
<"Wait! Chief, she's okay. You'll blow her cover if you go in there now."Â? >
He stopped just to the outside of the door, leaning against the wall and asked quietly.
"He is no longer draining her?"Â?
The answer came back immediately.
<"Â?That's correct, Sir."Â?>
Christian slumped a little in relief, closing his eyes for a brief moment. He wondered how many years of psychiatric bills they were going to have to pay for this. Aishe would likely never forgive him. Not to mention Kem. So long as she was alright enough to hate him though he'd consider them both lucky.
"How is she doing?"Â?
<"Â?So far, she seems to be doing okay."Â?>
LaMaitre would pay for this. He had attacked an Evenhet and that was something Christian would never let rest, no matter what clan the man used to belong to.
He grabbed one of the thick wool blankets that had been folded up out of the way as part of the general equipment stashed regularly in the van. Not waiting to throw it over himself, he threw open the door, hissing in pain at the light.
Christian tugged the blanket hurriedly over his head as he ran for the building entrance. It seemed like eternity before he felt the sweet relief of the enclosed walls. Moving up the stairs, he ignored the smoldering and burning that made his skin feel like he had recently been deep fried. Artemis's nickname was now very unfortunately accurate.
The door came into view and he was about to burst through it when Marshall's yelling reached his ear.
<"Wait! Chief, she's okay. You'll blow her cover if you go in there now."Â? >
He stopped just to the outside of the door, leaning against the wall and asked quietly.
"He is no longer draining her?"Â?
The answer came back immediately.
<"Â?That's correct, Sir."Â?>
Christian slumped a little in relief, closing his eyes for a brief moment. He wondered how many years of psychiatric bills they were going to have to pay for this. Aishe would likely never forgive him. Not to mention Kem. So long as she was alright enough to hate him though he'd consider them both lucky.
"How is she doing?"Â?
<"Â?So far, she seems to be doing okay."Â?>
LaMaitre would pay for this. He had attacked an Evenhet and that was something Christian would never let rest, no matter what clan the man used to belong to.
Aishe
18 years ago
This wasn’t supposed to happen, Aishe thought frantically as her head was roughly yanked to the side. Fear rose up unbidden to the surface of her conscience and she fought the urge to cry out, even as the vampire’s fangs sank into her neck.
Squirming and struggling only caused more pain and she whimpered helplessly. She didn’t want this! Aishe wanted to call for help, but somewhere in the back of her head she clung to the reminder that she was on a job. Calling for help would give away the fact that she wasn’t what she seemed and that would endanger those in the van below.
This was nothing like being bitten by Kem, or Alfarinn. This was far fouler, this was rape, this was theft. This, she wanted to get away from – a fact which perhaps kept her from feeling the euphoria of Kem’s bite, or the peaceful lethargy of Alfarinn’s. Instead she settled into a sort of trance. Her body remained rigid, shaking, as her blood pumped from the wounds in her neck. In her mind however, she allowed herself the freedom she couldn’t take out loud.
‘Christian! Help. Please. Don’t let him do this. Make it stop. I don’t want this, this isn’t right. Please make it stop. Make it end.’
No one could hear her; the world slowed and came to a standstill and all that was left was the sound of her pulse in her ears and the presence of this grabby, greedy stranger whose attentions she had not wished for.
'Let it end let it end let it end let it Christian where are you make it stop you said it was safe please make him stop please…'
She sank deeper, losing track now of even the sound of her own heartbeat.
'Don’t want this make it stop please go away let it end.'
And then, suddenly, she was back and the vampire was pulling away and there was blood trickling down her neck from the now-closed punctures.
"I suggest you forget this ever happened," he said softly, voice mesmerizing and compelling. "It is time for you to go back to work."
"I suggest you forget this ever happened," he said softly, voice mesmerizing and compelling. "It is time for you to go back to work."
His words were odd. They made her feel… fuzzy. She simply stared at him, still shaking, and now feeling more than a bit weak in the knees. Forget? Not hardly likely. But go back to work, yes, please, she would love to.
An odd sort of hazy feeling settled over her. Time to go back to work. For Evenhet. Right? The hand that had clamped around her arm released her and the room swam. She wanted to go now.
Still in a fog, she grabbed her equipment with shaking hands and exited the room, with an almost eerie calm that belied the complete panic just under the surface.
Christian Bern
18 years ago
Christian wared with himself which was a rare thing. He should go in and get her but if he did Henri could kill her before he had a chance to stop him. Waiting seemed wrong but Marshall's voice had assured him that it was over in the time it had taken him to run out of the van and up to the apartment.
Over so quickly and he couldn't stop it, couldn't protect her like he had promised. The wave of guilt pressed down upon him with its smothering weight.
Christian reached for Aishe's mind timidly, not wanting to startle her but even more worried by what he might find when he got there.
[Aishe, I am just outside. Has he let you go? Do I need to come in?]
Are you alright seemed like a poor choice of words and he dared not utter them even mentally. Her answer would tell him more than that crude question was likely to get him. She seemed less alert than he would usually have expected. There was a certain amount of resistance when sending within a sharp focused mind. This had the feel of someone in a daze of shock, near sleep, on pot... or under the effects of suggestion.
Marshall spoke in his ear again.
Christian noted the hint of admiration in his team member's voice. He thought about suggestion and feeding and what LaMaitre was likely to have told her under such a straight forward attack. You don't want to tell anyone. You want to leave. Those were the most likely guesses. The first went directly contrary to Aishe's purposes for being there, and with her knowing that he was a vampire, that was likely going to be a hard sell. Under normal circumstances it would likely have worked, the person would have gone out of the room in a rush. Remembering that something had not been right but it was human nature to want to forget the bad things that happened and eventually the suggestion would have worn down the horror of the moment, the further the person got from the scene the more they were likely to forget, until it was nothing more than a vague unease with the apartments.
There was nothing to do but wait for Aishe's response, seconds seeming to extend into eternity.
((OOC: Aishe's mental state with teh l33t permissions))
Over so quickly and he couldn't stop it, couldn't protect her like he had promised. The wave of guilt pressed down upon him with its smothering weight.
Christian reached for Aishe's mind timidly, not wanting to startle her but even more worried by what he might find when he got there.
[Aishe, I am just outside. Has he let you go? Do I need to come in?]
Are you alright seemed like a poor choice of words and he dared not utter them even mentally. Her answer would tell him more than that crude question was likely to get him. She seemed less alert than he would usually have expected. There was a certain amount of resistance when sending within a sharp focused mind. This had the feel of someone in a daze of shock, near sleep, on pot... or under the effects of suggestion.
Marshall spoke in his ear again.
Christian noted the hint of admiration in his team member's voice. He thought about suggestion and feeding and what LaMaitre was likely to have told her under such a straight forward attack. You don't want to tell anyone. You want to leave. Those were the most likely guesses. The first went directly contrary to Aishe's purposes for being there, and with her knowing that he was a vampire, that was likely going to be a hard sell. Under normal circumstances it would likely have worked, the person would have gone out of the room in a rush. Remembering that something had not been right but it was human nature to want to forget the bad things that happened and eventually the suggestion would have worn down the horror of the moment, the further the person got from the scene the more they were likely to forget, until it was nothing more than a vague unease with the apartments.
There was nothing to do but wait for Aishe's response, seconds seeming to extend into eternity.
((OOC: Aishe's mental state with teh l33t permissions))
Aishe
18 years ago
It took every ounce of concentration Aishe had to keep herself moving rather than just collapsing on the floor, but she still had a cover to maintain. The fog in her head kept her from focusing on much more than that. Keep moving, get to the door. The vampire's voice echoed in her head, urging her to forget, confusing her and muddling her thoughts, fading into other voices that were far more familiar...
[Aishe, I am just outside. Has he let you go? Do I need to come in?]
[Aishe... Aishe, where are you? Aishe!]
She knew those voices. She couldn't seem to formulate a coherent response to either one, much less pin names to them.
Aishe exited the apartment, calmly turning and closing the door behind her. Only when it clicked shut did she look over at the figure leaning against the wall and recognize Christian... Christian!
The sight of the short blond vampire drove a good deal of the fogginess out of her mind. Aishe let her equipment drop, staring at him for a very long moment...
...and then hurled herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face against his chest with a muffled little sob.
Fortunately Christian wasn't that much taller than she, for she had the distinct impression that tipping her head back to look at him might make her pass out. She did so briefly, though, just long enough to make sure that her eyes hadn't fooled her.
"How did you get..." she whispered, and then noticed, even in the dim light, the redness of his skin. She suddenly felt guilty, for making him worry, for causing him concern enough to have run out into the sun.
"I'm so sorry."
Trying to hold herself both together and up were taking most of her concentration now but Christian was here, and his presence alone filled her with feelings of safety and security. She was grateful to him for being there, no matter how he'd done it.
[Aishe, I am just outside. Has he let you go? Do I need to come in?]
[Aishe... Aishe, where are you? Aishe!]
She knew those voices. She couldn't seem to formulate a coherent response to either one, much less pin names to them.
Aishe exited the apartment, calmly turning and closing the door behind her. Only when it clicked shut did she look over at the figure leaning against the wall and recognize Christian... Christian!
The sight of the short blond vampire drove a good deal of the fogginess out of her mind. Aishe let her equipment drop, staring at him for a very long moment...
...and then hurled herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face against his chest with a muffled little sob.
Fortunately Christian wasn't that much taller than she, for she had the distinct impression that tipping her head back to look at him might make her pass out. She did so briefly, though, just long enough to make sure that her eyes hadn't fooled her.
"How did you get..." she whispered, and then noticed, even in the dim light, the redness of his skin. She suddenly felt guilty, for making him worry, for causing him concern enough to have run out into the sun.
"I'm so sorry."
Trying to hold herself both together and up were taking most of her concentration now but Christian was here, and his presence alone filled her with feelings of safety and security. She was grateful to him for being there, no matter how he'd done it.
Kem`Raaisu
18 years ago
Kem bolted upright, blanket falling away, eyes staring wide at the wall. What the hell? Jolted out of a sound sleep by something he couldn't define, it took him a few moments to get his bearings before realizing with a start that what he had just felt, even in his sleep, was sheer terror. And it hadn't been his.
His feet hit the floor running as he raced to the door and flung it open, hitting a wall of sunlight that brought him up as surely as a brick wall.
"Damn!"
He slammed the door shut again before his skin could even begin to smolder and pressed his back against it, breathing hard, sliding down until he was sitting on the floor.
[Aishe... Aishe, where are you? Aishe!]
It had to have been her. If he'd been awake he'd know for sure but even as it was, what had felt like paralyzing fright was nearly gone. She didn't respond to his sending; then again she didn't know how. He'd probably just confused the hell out of her, thinking she was hearing his voice out of nowhere now.
It had to have been a dream. Nothing more.
Kem dropped his head into his hands, brow lined with worry. It must have been a dream but for a moment as he was waking, he could have sworn there was something... that she was so close he could touch her...
He couldn't keep doing this. It was going to drive him insane. He needed to find her.
After a few moments he returned to his blissfully dark room and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling until by some chance he actually managed to fall asleep again, still feeling a strange sense of uneasiness.
((ooc: Kem in and out))
His feet hit the floor running as he raced to the door and flung it open, hitting a wall of sunlight that brought him up as surely as a brick wall.
"Damn!"
He slammed the door shut again before his skin could even begin to smolder and pressed his back against it, breathing hard, sliding down until he was sitting on the floor.
[Aishe... Aishe, where are you? Aishe!]
It had to have been her. If he'd been awake he'd know for sure but even as it was, what had felt like paralyzing fright was nearly gone. She didn't respond to his sending; then again she didn't know how. He'd probably just confused the hell out of her, thinking she was hearing his voice out of nowhere now.
It had to have been a dream. Nothing more.
Kem dropped his head into his hands, brow lined with worry. It must have been a dream but for a moment as he was waking, he could have sworn there was something... that she was so close he could touch her...
He couldn't keep doing this. It was going to drive him insane. He needed to find her.
After a few moments he returned to his blissfully dark room and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling until by some chance he actually managed to fall asleep again, still feeling a strange sense of uneasiness.
((ooc: Kem in and out))
Christian Bern
18 years ago
Christian had a moment of panic when she didn't answer his sending but then she was outside and turning back to shut the door. He stood there a moment amazed at her collected demeanor. He could see her fear and confusion in the dark muddy grey colour that dominated her aura and yet she was still finishing the job.
That was all he had time for before she threw herself at him. Christian wrapped his arms around her out of reflex but once he had it felt right, not awkward as he would have imagined. The immediate rush of relief that she did not hate the sight of him was quickly pushed aside in order to concentrate on her.
For a few moments he simply held her tightly, offering whatever support he could. No one would harm her while he was right here that he was certain of. Loosing his hold but not letting go when she leaned back, he smiled.
"Oh you know... I went out for a little walk. Thought I'd try to get a tan. I'm afraid we Swiss vampires just burn rather quickly though."Â?
He sobered at her statement and brushed some of the hair back from her face, with a sad smile.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. I am the one who did not protect you like I promised I would."Â?
Christian wondered how long this was going to eat at his conscience, probably not long enough. Years of making these kinds of decisions made something like moral mush out of his guilt ages ago. He would not be able to function if he continued to remember the losses and the mistakes that he made for eternity. Though sometimes they came back to haunt him, he was rather good at sweeping them out of his mind.
He was not a heartless bastard though, no matter how he had to abuse his psyche in order to function. Christian felt the guilt and impotence that came from not being there to protect Aishe like he should. A human, no less, he promised she would be safe. She was not even half a century old.
So very young. She had been very brave in there and level headed in a crisis. Christian felt something like shocked disbelief that she was an archaeologist of all things! Were the situation different and he had not likely lost every ounce of trust she had in him or that she had somewhere to be and someone there to be with, he would have offered her a place on his team, as a human or vampire, her choice.
"You did very well. For what its worth. I am proud of you."Â?
That was all he had time for before she threw herself at him. Christian wrapped his arms around her out of reflex but once he had it felt right, not awkward as he would have imagined. The immediate rush of relief that she did not hate the sight of him was quickly pushed aside in order to concentrate on her.
For a few moments he simply held her tightly, offering whatever support he could. No one would harm her while he was right here that he was certain of. Loosing his hold but not letting go when she leaned back, he smiled.
"Oh you know... I went out for a little walk. Thought I'd try to get a tan. I'm afraid we Swiss vampires just burn rather quickly though."Â?
He sobered at her statement and brushed some of the hair back from her face, with a sad smile.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. I am the one who did not protect you like I promised I would."Â?
Christian wondered how long this was going to eat at his conscience, probably not long enough. Years of making these kinds of decisions made something like moral mush out of his guilt ages ago. He would not be able to function if he continued to remember the losses and the mistakes that he made for eternity. Though sometimes they came back to haunt him, he was rather good at sweeping them out of his mind.
He was not a heartless bastard though, no matter how he had to abuse his psyche in order to function. Christian felt the guilt and impotence that came from not being there to protect Aishe like he should. A human, no less, he promised she would be safe. She was not even half a century old.
So very young. She had been very brave in there and level headed in a crisis. Christian felt something like shocked disbelief that she was an archaeologist of all things! Were the situation different and he had not likely lost every ounce of trust she had in him or that she had somewhere to be and someone there to be with, he would have offered her a place on his team, as a human or vampire, her choice.
"You did very well. For what its worth. I am proud of you."Â?
Aishe
18 years ago
Aishe sagged against Chris, the only thing keeping her from turning into a boneless heap being the objectionable state of the apartment building they were in.
"I'll do better next time," she mumbled, a sleepy sort of complacence settling over her that she welcomed warmly in place of the alternative 'abject fear.'
Then she remembered she'd only signed on to help with this one task. She'd been hoping to be able to keep helping out, but after this she wasn't sure if she'd be seen as more of a liability than anything else. Certainly she couldn't do this at all if she wasn't able to pull her weight.
Looking up at Christian again, who somehow seemed a bit further away, she meant to ask him about 'next time,' but recent events were still impacting her ability to form coherent sentences, apparently. Her practical nature, already reasonably telling her that she hadn't expected to walk around in Nachton without incident forever, was still a very small voice in the midst of everything else going on in her head. Too spent to argue, she indulged her body for once and figured she deserved a good breakdown once in a while. Just... maybe she could hold off on that until they got out of there.
Which was another thing to be thinking about. Her mind reacted sluggishly to it. They couldn't stand in this hallway forever. Aishe didn't relish the idea of Chris going back out into the sun again, any more than she imagined he was looking forward to it, but she didn't see any other way... unless one of the team down in the van could possibly back it up to the sidewalk on the side of the road the apartment was on. At least that would limit the exposure. She mentioned as much to Chris, hoping he wouldn't think she was running away, but it wasn't even noon yet and it had been one hell of a long day so far.
"I'll do better next time," she mumbled, a sleepy sort of complacence settling over her that she welcomed warmly in place of the alternative 'abject fear.'
Then she remembered she'd only signed on to help with this one task. She'd been hoping to be able to keep helping out, but after this she wasn't sure if she'd be seen as more of a liability than anything else. Certainly she couldn't do this at all if she wasn't able to pull her weight.
Looking up at Christian again, who somehow seemed a bit further away, she meant to ask him about 'next time,' but recent events were still impacting her ability to form coherent sentences, apparently. Her practical nature, already reasonably telling her that she hadn't expected to walk around in Nachton without incident forever, was still a very small voice in the midst of everything else going on in her head. Too spent to argue, she indulged her body for once and figured she deserved a good breakdown once in a while. Just... maybe she could hold off on that until they got out of there.
Which was another thing to be thinking about. Her mind reacted sluggishly to it. They couldn't stand in this hallway forever. Aishe didn't relish the idea of Chris going back out into the sun again, any more than she imagined he was looking forward to it, but she didn't see any other way... unless one of the team down in the van could possibly back it up to the sidewalk on the side of the road the apartment was on. At least that would limit the exposure. She mentioned as much to Chris, hoping he wouldn't think she was running away, but it wasn't even noon yet and it had been one hell of a long day so far.
Christian Bern
18 years ago
Christian looked down at Aishe in surprise at her statement, tempted to ask her more about it but they were standing out in broad daylight, or far closer to it than he cared to be. It could wait until they were safely within the confines of the windowless van.
He needed to explain suggestion but he would respect her privacy and not do so while they both were wired for sound. Chris was not sure whether it was a comfort to know others were around during the attack or to find that more disturbing. He was a private person and he was not sure that he would have wanted witnesses even if they were supportive. Not knowing her feelings on the matter he decided not to potentially cause more harm by discussing part of the details within hearing of others, even members of his team.
"Shall we take a stroll around the park?"Â?
Christian smiled at her and then took her hand and headed back down the stairs towards the sunlight. Williams was backing up the van and it seemed that it was not causing much of a scene. In these apartments people come and go often which meant steam cleaning vans were a common sight. He doubted many stopped to read the side of the vehicle. One thing he was certain of, it was cause less of a scene than a man running across the lawn with a blanket over his head.
He still pulled the cloth back over him but at least all he had to was open the door and climb in. Turning to Aishe.
"Ready? It really isn't so bad. I'll go first. How's that?"Â?
With that, he opened the door and quickly climbed into the van, pulling the door shut as soon as Aishe entered behind him. Once inside, Chris leaned back with a sigh of relief and told Williams to drive them home. He reached out a blanket covered arm to Aishe before they started moving.
((OOC: Permission granted to move Aishe ))
He needed to explain suggestion but he would respect her privacy and not do so while they both were wired for sound. Chris was not sure whether it was a comfort to know others were around during the attack or to find that more disturbing. He was a private person and he was not sure that he would have wanted witnesses even if they were supportive. Not knowing her feelings on the matter he decided not to potentially cause more harm by discussing part of the details within hearing of others, even members of his team.
"Shall we take a stroll around the park?"Â?
Christian smiled at her and then took her hand and headed back down the stairs towards the sunlight. Williams was backing up the van and it seemed that it was not causing much of a scene. In these apartments people come and go often which meant steam cleaning vans were a common sight. He doubted many stopped to read the side of the vehicle. One thing he was certain of, it was cause less of a scene than a man running across the lawn with a blanket over his head.
He still pulled the cloth back over him but at least all he had to was open the door and climb in. Turning to Aishe.
"Ready? It really isn't so bad. I'll go first. How's that?"Â?
With that, he opened the door and quickly climbed into the van, pulling the door shut as soon as Aishe entered behind him. Once inside, Chris leaned back with a sigh of relief and told Williams to drive them home. He reached out a blanket covered arm to Aishe before they started moving.
((OOC: Permission granted to move Aishe ))
Aishe
18 years ago
Aishe managed to keep enough of her head on her shoulders to stop back in the office on their way out and drop the man's keys back off to him, as well as a copy of the forms she'd filled out. If they were ever going to be able to search this place again under the same alias, it made sense that everything seemed in order.
When the van was backed up, she found herself wincing in sympathy but Christian didn't seem to mind the short hop into the back of the vehicle any more than before. He did appear to be all right, and although she didn't know if his carefree attitude regarding sunlight was simply a coverup for her sake, she appreciated it anyhow.
Aishe followed him up into the back of the van, still feeling somewhat shaky. She had no idea how much blood she'd just lost since the incident had seemed to last an eternity as far as she was concerned. She was willing to bet the reality had been less than a minute.
Already her usual levelheadedness was helping to restore her equilibrium and she found herself analyzing events in detail, a bit less detached than she would have liked, but at least she was able to recall everything with only a few shudders of distaste and mild alarm.
As the van pulled away from the sidewalk Aishe leaned into Christian's outheld arm, reaching up and removing the little earpiece and the tiny camera as she did so, holding them in her hand. The darkness of the van and the warmth of the blanket were calming, and surprisingly, she found herself still feeling safe and secure next to Chris, who seemed so completely capable of handlng whatever trouble might arise.
"Thank you for coming in for me," she said softly.
When the van was backed up, she found herself wincing in sympathy but Christian didn't seem to mind the short hop into the back of the vehicle any more than before. He did appear to be all right, and although she didn't know if his carefree attitude regarding sunlight was simply a coverup for her sake, she appreciated it anyhow.
Aishe followed him up into the back of the van, still feeling somewhat shaky. She had no idea how much blood she'd just lost since the incident had seemed to last an eternity as far as she was concerned. She was willing to bet the reality had been less than a minute.
Already her usual levelheadedness was helping to restore her equilibrium and she found herself analyzing events in detail, a bit less detached than she would have liked, but at least she was able to recall everything with only a few shudders of distaste and mild alarm.
As the van pulled away from the sidewalk Aishe leaned into Christian's outheld arm, reaching up and removing the little earpiece and the tiny camera as she did so, holding them in her hand. The darkness of the van and the warmth of the blanket were calming, and surprisingly, she found herself still feeling safe and secure next to Chris, who seemed so completely capable of handlng whatever trouble might arise.
"Thank you for coming in for me," she said softly.
Christian Bern
18 years ago
Christian pulled Aishe closer and sat down with her in his lap wrapping the blanket about them both. She had done an admirable job, even going through and finishing up by handing in the keys and paperwork. She definitely deserved a rest after today's adventures in the less than savory side of clan life.
Perhaps though an explanation would be of comfort. Aishe seemed the type who, like himself and many of the team, would be uncomfortable with their reactions being off from what they expected. Nor were they the type to want someone to comfort them by not telling them the truth of the matter. He could be wrong but there was only one way to find out; Chris just resolved to do so slowly.
[Aishe, I can send to you and hear your answers psychically. We can discuss what happened this way if you prefer.]
He looked down at her and waited, watching carefully to make sure it wasn't too terrible a shock.
[It is simply a mental conversation. I can't rummage about for the secrets of your childhood, rest assured. ]
Perhaps though an explanation would be of comfort. Aishe seemed the type who, like himself and many of the team, would be uncomfortable with their reactions being off from what they expected. Nor were they the type to want someone to comfort them by not telling them the truth of the matter. He could be wrong but there was only one way to find out; Chris just resolved to do so slowly.
[Aishe, I can send to you and hear your answers psychically. We can discuss what happened this way if you prefer.]
He looked down at her and waited, watching carefully to make sure it wasn't too terrible a shock.
[It is simply a mental conversation. I can't rummage about for the secrets of your childhood, rest assured. ]
Aishe
18 years ago
Aishe found herself being bundled into Christian's lap, surprised but not entirely displeased. She'd been terrified in the apartment building and the extra attention went a long way toward keeping her calm. She didn't think she'd have argued with that even if she were feeling just fine. She curled up comfortably, resting her cheek against Chris' chest and closing her eyes. Ironically, she thought, she could hear the sluggish beat of his heart, not rhythmic and regular like a human's, but a good deal slower.
When he spoke inside her head, she didn't mind that either. She'd experienced it once or twice before, now, and in her sleepy anemic state she was just lazy enough to wonder how this 'focused thinking' response thing worked.
[This is fine,] she thought, concentrating on that phrase and mentally superimposing Chris' face over the whole thing. [Am I doing it right? Can you hear me?] She wasn't sure if she'd done it properly, but it seemed the way to manage it.
Supremely comfortable now, even in the bouncing van, she nestled against Chris and entertained brief fantasies of very hot baths and fuzzy slippers with the small corner of her mind that wasn't actively attentive to what he was telling her.
[I don't have any childhood secrets either,] she added. [I was boring.] Even if she had childhood secrets Chris was welcome to them, she decided right there. It didn't occur to her that she perhaps trusted a bit too quickly, and Chris was no exception to that part of her nature. He was teaching her patiently, he was safe and comforting, and he was, she found, immensely likable when the pretense of formality had dropped a bit.
When he spoke inside her head, she didn't mind that either. She'd experienced it once or twice before, now, and in her sleepy anemic state she was just lazy enough to wonder how this 'focused thinking' response thing worked.
[This is fine,] she thought, concentrating on that phrase and mentally superimposing Chris' face over the whole thing. [Am I doing it right? Can you hear me?] She wasn't sure if she'd done it properly, but it seemed the way to manage it.
Supremely comfortable now, even in the bouncing van, she nestled against Chris and entertained brief fantasies of very hot baths and fuzzy slippers with the small corner of her mind that wasn't actively attentive to what he was telling her.
[I don't have any childhood secrets either,] she added. [I was boring.] Even if she had childhood secrets Chris was welcome to them, she decided right there. It didn't occur to her that she perhaps trusted a bit too quickly, and Chris was no exception to that part of her nature. He was teaching her patiently, he was safe and comforting, and he was, she found, immensely likable when the pretense of formality had dropped a bit.
Christian Bern
18 years ago
Christian adjusted both of them slightly so that he was comfortable and leaned back in the seat. Aishe had her eyes closed and seemed to be far more relaxed than she had been and she would probably be able to focus on her answers better this way.
[Yes, I can hear you. This is one of my abilities like the bonding it would seem Kem has though that allows him to connect more intimately with select people. This allows me to send to anyone though certainly being familiar with them helps. There are many abilities that you will need to learn about.]
He looked down at her a moment but then continued on.
[One that is common among Evenhet is an ability called suggestion. Vampires with this ability can -suggest- things they want to happen and they have the power to give it that extra mental push so that you really want to do it unless it is very against your nature. ]
Christian decided it was best to let that sink in and wait to see if she had any questions on it before going into a long detailed explanation that was likely not wanted at this time.
[You might want to know more about the other possible abilities of not just our clan but the others...for the -next- time you go on a mission.]
Again he looked down at her, smiling slightly to see if she were truly interested in a next time or if her words before were simply just an automated answer in a time of confusion.
[If that is something you want to do, of course. There are certainly other means of singing for your supper, so to speak.]
Which reminded him, she really shouldn't sing if her humming was any indication of her ability to carry a tune. If she would let him give her a job though, she wouldn't need to.
[Yes, I can hear you. This is one of my abilities like the bonding it would seem Kem has though that allows him to connect more intimately with select people. This allows me to send to anyone though certainly being familiar with them helps. There are many abilities that you will need to learn about.]
He looked down at her a moment but then continued on.
[One that is common among Evenhet is an ability called suggestion. Vampires with this ability can -suggest- things they want to happen and they have the power to give it that extra mental push so that you really want to do it unless it is very against your nature. ]
Christian decided it was best to let that sink in and wait to see if she had any questions on it before going into a long detailed explanation that was likely not wanted at this time.
[You might want to know more about the other possible abilities of not just our clan but the others...for the -next- time you go on a mission.]
Again he looked down at her, smiling slightly to see if she were truly interested in a next time or if her words before were simply just an automated answer in a time of confusion.
[If that is something you want to do, of course. There are certainly other means of singing for your supper, so to speak.]
Which reminded him, she really shouldn't sing if her humming was any indication of her ability to carry a tune. If she would let him give her a job though, she wouldn't need to.