"I agree, we're different," Ysabel reiterated. "Perhaps we're both guilty of generalizations. I shouldn't simply say that our race on the whole is superior. However, we have the tools to become superior."
She tilted her head a bit and explained herself. "Physically there can be no question. We are stronger, faster, and have keener senses. Not to mention the abilities we inherit. But mentally, as well, we are given what we need to succeed. Not only do we have the impulse of humans, the feelings, the emotions, and moreover, the memories of being human, but we are able to look at things from a much different perspective as well."
Ysabel had to admit, she was enjoying the debate. Ambrose didn't seem to be put out at not being one of the key players in it, so she continued with a spirited little grin at Alex. "The turning point, then, lies with the individual. Since we're set up for superiority, how do we handle it? It is interesting to see which of our kind allow their human selves to vanish, to fade away and be replaced by something very foreign, and which of our kind swing in the complete opposite direction, and refuse to admit what they are, or embrace it. A very Evenhet mindset, perhaps.
"In hindsight, that could be part of the reason I do enjoy spending time with humans, and why I never objected very strongly to my way of life, or having relationships with humans. They keep me seeing both sides of the coin, and while I am under no illusions as to my own race or abilities, they remind me that we are different but compatible."
She smiled once more, this time a softer expression as she looked back over the years. "I considermyself lucky," she said. "How many vampires can claim to have raised children? I don't think I would give up human interaction or human relationships for anything, although they will never surpass our race."
Glancing over at Ambrose she squeezed his hand. "Well, some things, perhaps."
Messenger's Report ((attn. Ambrose))
Alexander sat at the desk and reread the report. He checked and rechecked for spelling and grammatical errors and made certain that everything was proper.
The interrogation of Jessica Patterson by Ambrose Townsend and Alexander Westmoreland wouldn't exactly be a best seller but it covered everything that had transpired that night. Alexander had even transcribed the tape and included it, along with everything that he had done with Miss Patterson after the interrogation. Hindsight was a wonderful thing but Jessica Patterson had been business. He felt a twinge of regret as he thought about Amberelle, but pushed it aside.
The findings on Jessica Patterson weren't conclusive in Alexander's eyes. There was no reason to doubt that Jessica had lied under the use of Command. She hadn't been at the Mayoral function, and her company hadn't catered the event.
Jessica had provided several names and the name of the company that had catered the event. Being a banker had its advantage. Alexander had been able to track down the people behind the names through their credit records.
It was disappointing however, that Jessica hadn't reacted in the least to the subtle dropping of the Clan names. And that had led to Alexander having to deprogramme Miss Patterson. Liberal amounts of alcohol, sex and the subtle use of Command should leave her none the wiser. Mr. West couldn't commit to a function due to security concerns, but he had indulged her impressions and feelings towards him. She got a night to remember, and Alexander got to toy further with an interesting human.
All of this had been included in the report. If it was worth doing, it was worth doing thoroughly.
Alexander hole punched and bound the report in a vanilla folder. He put it to one side and returned to his laptop.
Rupert had been kind enough to provide Alexander with details on how to get to Ambrose's quarters - and Ysabel's - in case Ambrose could not be found at the former.
In short order Alexander had made his way through the mansion and stood outside Ambrose's quarters. He gave three short knocks on the door and waited.
Ysabel
17 years ago
Ambrose
17 years ago
Granted he hadn’t had a lot of formal schooling, but Ambrose wasn’t completely dim and to him it seemed like both Alex and Belle were arguing the same point and just fine tuning the semantics. At least it was entertaining them and he was happy Belle was taking a stand on something, anything. That was a good thing.
Over all though the argument didn’t matter much to him one way or another; he’d been human he was a vampire. He had been a killer and he still was potato, potato let’s call the whole thing off.
Belle would have been a good mother, that he was certain of and the image had a certain appeal. If it hadn’t been for one stray bullet he would have been a father eventually. Did he feel deprived that he wasn’t and never would be? No, not really, he’d been offered something else another path and he liked it.
At Belle’s hint he grinned lopsided, and slightly lecherously, at her half flashing a fang.
“Like ya’ll said advantages and disadvantages no reason to not take advantage of the one and exploit the other. That’s how life has always worked why should it stop after you’re dead?”
He didn’t give Belle her hand back, he’d claimed it, it was his. He returned the light squeeze and was content to let these two crazy Brits talk until they were blue in the face. Well maybe not quite that long, he’d never been overly patent.
Over all though the argument didn’t matter much to him one way or another; he’d been human he was a vampire. He had been a killer and he still was potato, potato let’s call the whole thing off.
Belle would have been a good mother, that he was certain of and the image had a certain appeal. If it hadn’t been for one stray bullet he would have been a father eventually. Did he feel deprived that he wasn’t and never would be? No, not really, he’d been offered something else another path and he liked it.
At Belle’s hint he grinned lopsided, and slightly lecherously, at her half flashing a fang.
“Like ya’ll said advantages and disadvantages no reason to not take advantage of the one and exploit the other. That’s how life has always worked why should it stop after you’re dead?”
He didn’t give Belle her hand back, he’d claimed it, it was his. He returned the light squeeze and was content to let these two crazy Brits talk until they were blue in the face. Well maybe not quite that long, he’d never been overly patent.
Alex West
17 years ago
Not particularly well phrased, but Alexander shared Ambrose's sentiment.
"Well put. The world turns on predators and prey, be they two legged or from the Animal Kingdom. The hunting areas may change, but the principle remains the same."
Alexander raised his glass and saluted Ambrose before downing the contents of the scotch.
"And speaking of members of the Animal Kingdom, I would still very much like to go riding with you sometime Ysabel if the offer stands, and with Ambrose's permission of course. And I believe Amberelle has mentioned some interest in learning to take to the saddle."
"Well put. The world turns on predators and prey, be they two legged or from the Animal Kingdom. The hunting areas may change, but the principle remains the same."
Alexander raised his glass and saluted Ambrose before downing the contents of the scotch.
"And speaking of members of the Animal Kingdom, I would still very much like to go riding with you sometime Ysabel if the offer stands, and with Ambrose's permission of course. And I believe Amberelle has mentioned some interest in learning to take to the saddle."
Ysabel
17 years ago
Ysabel followed the ebb and flow of conversation easily, and though it seemed their debate had drawn to a close (regrettably, she realized with some surprise - it had been interesting), she still found Alex to be an amiable companion. When the subject of riding was brought up, she nodded enthusiastically.
"I would be more then happy to take you both out," Ysabel said. She almost added that the four of them could go, but she hadn't yet had the right opportunity to give Ambrose his 'present' yet. The horse she'd chosen for him had been in Nachton now for about a week, and was settled in.
"I am sure Elegy will be a more than suitable mount for Amberelle. He's the oldest of my three, and I believe Ambrose can attest to his reliability."
She briefly wondered how Amber would feel, being displaced from the horse that had become, in essence, his personal mount in the last few months. Ysabel, however, had a feeling that once he understood her motives, any disgruntlement would disappear.
"When did you have in mind?"
"I would be more then happy to take you both out," Ysabel said. She almost added that the four of them could go, but she hadn't yet had the right opportunity to give Ambrose his 'present' yet. The horse she'd chosen for him had been in Nachton now for about a week, and was settled in.
"I am sure Elegy will be a more than suitable mount for Amberelle. He's the oldest of my three, and I believe Ambrose can attest to his reliability."
She briefly wondered how Amber would feel, being displaced from the horse that had become, in essence, his personal mount in the last few months. Ysabel, however, had a feeling that once he understood her motives, any disgruntlement would disappear.
"When did you have in mind?"
Alex West
17 years ago
Alexander put his hands in his trouser pockets and smiled.
"How about early next week, sometime? I'm not sure what Amberelle's schedule is like and I have business interests to take care of this week. So next week would probably be best."
Alexander's smile widened slightly. "And I'm sure the two of you have other plans that won't broker interfering with. I'll collect that report tomorrow night Ambrose. But for now, I think it's best if I take my leave."
Alexander bowed his head at Ysabel, and gave Ambrose a shorter nod. "I haven't ridden in at least a month. I'm certain you'll put me through my paces."
Alexander opened the door and graciously exited, closing it shut with a quiet click announcing his departure.
((ooc - Alex out))
"How about early next week, sometime? I'm not sure what Amberelle's schedule is like and I have business interests to take care of this week. So next week would probably be best."
Alexander's smile widened slightly. "And I'm sure the two of you have other plans that won't broker interfering with. I'll collect that report tomorrow night Ambrose. But for now, I think it's best if I take my leave."
Alexander bowed his head at Ysabel, and gave Ambrose a shorter nod. "I haven't ridden in at least a month. I'm certain you'll put me through my paces."
Alexander opened the door and graciously exited, closing it shut with a quiet click announcing his departure.
((ooc - Alex out))
Ambrose
17 years ago
Fortunately Alex had the good sense to include Ambrose in the discussion about riding before he had a chance to get too cross. As it was he more closely regarded the other gentleman and unconsciously straightened himself. So he was a little possessive, so what. He felt he had a right to be. Although he wasn’t sure about riding with anyone other than Belle. He was getting the feel of things again and regaining a great deal of confidence. That didn’t mean he wasn’t waiting to lose his balance and crash to the ground, or even better, have his leg fall off. Of course Belle would undoubtedly say it was good for him and he’d wind up talked into it yet.
He frowned and shot Belle a sideways glance, she was giving away his horse. Well her horse but he and Elegy had developed an understanding and Ambrose had grown quite fond of him. Maybe she thought he was ready to move on to some one else. Hrmph.
“He is a bit of something special. She’d do fine on him.”
In a vague semblance of manners Ambrose pulled himself to his feet as Alex left. He liked the guy well enough but there was company and then there was Belle. It was a pretty easy choice.
“I’ll give it another go through. It’ll be ready for ya.”
With Alex gone he half fell back on the couch and greeted Belle Properly. It was fortunate that neither of them needed to breathe much, but it was damned satisfying to have her to himself.
“Putting people through their paces without me? I can’t say I approve of that.”
He muttered into her neck, teasing. He had absolute trust in Ysabel, it was just about any other male, living, dead or undead he had issues with.
He frowned and shot Belle a sideways glance, she was giving away his horse. Well her horse but he and Elegy had developed an understanding and Ambrose had grown quite fond of him. Maybe she thought he was ready to move on to some one else. Hrmph.
“He is a bit of something special. She’d do fine on him.”
In a vague semblance of manners Ambrose pulled himself to his feet as Alex left. He liked the guy well enough but there was company and then there was Belle. It was a pretty easy choice.
“I’ll give it another go through. It’ll be ready for ya.”
With Alex gone he half fell back on the couch and greeted Belle Properly. It was fortunate that neither of them needed to breathe much, but it was damned satisfying to have her to himself.
“Putting people through their paces without me? I can’t say I approve of that.”
He muttered into her neck, teasing. He had absolute trust in Ysabel, it was just about any other male, living, dead or undead he had issues with.
Ysabel
17 years ago
Ysabel rose as Alex left, curtseying gracefully and then giving a tiny squeak as the door closed and Ambrose pulled her back onto the couch with him. What followed was definitely a good sight better than the little kiss they'd shared when she'd arrived, but unfortunately her hoops were getting in the way of anything else.
Ambrose's teasing made her laugh, not just because of the silliness of his comment, but because of the tickle of his rough skin on her neck. She pulled away from him just enough to look into his warm brown eyes and smiled with a little mischief. "I had such a success with you, don't you think I should move on to others?"
Wrapping her arms around his neck and silently cursing her clothing, she took the opportunity to broach the subject of her gift. They could wrestle a bit more later.
"I wasn't truly planning on leaving you out," she pointed out, knowing Ambrose was more than capable of doing the math himself. Four riders, three horses. perhaps he'd thought she would get one of her mares and ride her herself. "I wanted to show you this at Christmas, but I just couldn't get it done in time. Will you come with me to the stable?"
She gave him her most convincing expression, knowing full well he had other things on his mind at the moment. "It will be worth it!"
Ambrose's teasing made her laugh, not just because of the silliness of his comment, but because of the tickle of his rough skin on her neck. She pulled away from him just enough to look into his warm brown eyes and smiled with a little mischief. "I had such a success with you, don't you think I should move on to others?"
Wrapping her arms around his neck and silently cursing her clothing, she took the opportunity to broach the subject of her gift. They could wrestle a bit more later.
"I wasn't truly planning on leaving you out," she pointed out, knowing Ambrose was more than capable of doing the math himself. Four riders, three horses. perhaps he'd thought she would get one of her mares and ride her herself. "I wanted to show you this at Christmas, but I just couldn't get it done in time. Will you come with me to the stable?"
She gave him her most convincing expression, knowing full well he had other things on his mind at the moment. "It will be worth it!"
Ambrose
17 years ago
He loved her laugh and that look she got in her eyes when she was teasing him. He liked them better that this damned dress of hers, he couldn’t figure out how it worked or where to put his hands.
“Calling me tamed? Give me an hour or so and I’ll prove you wrong.”
It was hard to concentrate with her arms around his neck, but she was keeping him rather focused. So he settled for pulling her into his lap and brushing her hair back of her neck so his fangs could lightly graze her skin teasing her, tempting her.
“How worth it and do we get to come back here?”
All she had to do was get up and start for the door and he’d grab up his cane and follow her, or try to tackle her, what ever worked. Both sounded good.
“Calling me tamed? Give me an hour or so and I’ll prove you wrong.”
It was hard to concentrate with her arms around his neck, but she was keeping him rather focused. So he settled for pulling her into his lap and brushing her hair back of her neck so his fangs could lightly graze her skin teasing her, tempting her.
“How worth it and do we get to come back here?”
All she had to do was get up and start for the door and he’d grab up his cane and follow her, or try to tackle her, what ever worked. Both sounded good.
Ysabel
17 years ago
Ambrose was doing his best to make it difficult for her, but Ysabel was bound and determined to have her way this once, so she suppressed a pleasant little shiver when Ambro'se fangs brushed over her neck and slid from his lap - not an easy feat in a hoop skirt!
"It's going to take you an hour just to figure this dress out," she teased back with a little grin, "much less prove you're untamed."
Her gentle jibe was meant in jest; she was learning to enjoy teasing Ambrose. Prickly though he may be, he had a playful streak under it all and Ysabel was figuring out how to bring it out.
From across the room, back by the doorway once more, she leaned back against the door frame and batted long eyelashes at him. "More worth it than you can imagine," she said coquettishly.
It didn't take long for him to start over to her, but she was ready with the door and out into the hall before the inevitable tackle, and leading the way happily toward the stable.
((ooc: Belle and Amber out))
"It's going to take you an hour just to figure this dress out," she teased back with a little grin, "much less prove you're untamed."
Her gentle jibe was meant in jest; she was learning to enjoy teasing Ambrose. Prickly though he may be, he had a playful streak under it all and Ysabel was figuring out how to bring it out.
From across the room, back by the doorway once more, she leaned back against the door frame and batted long eyelashes at him. "More worth it than you can imagine," she said coquettishly.
It didn't take long for him to start over to her, but she was ready with the door and out into the hall before the inevitable tackle, and leading the way happily toward the stable.
((ooc: Belle and Amber out))