Return to the Manor
The motorcycled roared up the long winding drive to the Manor, the powerful engine growled loudly as it tore up before the main doors and came to a stop. Talon cut the engine and set the brake and kickstand. He thre one massive leg over and dismounted the huge Motorcycle. He looked quite the wildman at the moment, his hair wind blown his leather jacket unfastened revealing the rippling muscles beneath since earlier he'd had to abandon his shirt. The scars of many a battle could be seen from time to time as he moved and the jacket swung open a bit at a time. The cord around his neck swung as he walked, the vampire teeth that hung there a reminder of his sinister prowess. The heavy leather pants that hugged his powerful legs made no noise as he walked, nor did his knee high motorcycle boots, thier soles long broken in to the manner in which he stalked.
Approaching the doors he pushed them open and entered into the foyer again, the second time this night. This time he walked right through it twords the scent of the kitchen which his well trained nose could detect with ease. He softly whistled a tune as he walked down the long and decorative hallway, it comforted him, appearing and feeling so out of place amongst the finery, there had been a time when he lived in similar environ's, once when he thought to live like an English lord, he had given it a good go, but could never quite feel comfortable. Besides he scared most of the elegant fops with his tendancy to growl. Needless to say, his lordship hadn't worked out.
He entered the Kitchen and honed in on the refridgerator. he walked up to it and opened the door. Selecting two beers from the sparse supply he closed the door and again let darkness fill the room. He twisted off the cap and stared out the window while he took his first sip, washing the stale taste of the nights kill from his mouth.
He found his thoughts wandering to Amberelle, perhaps she was why he was here.. Elise had always been a mysterious one, unlike any other Kindred he had ever met, he did not doubt that if she so willed it, she could infulence others even over a great distance, such was her power. Though she never used it overtly, if you never studied her you'd think he mearly a kindred of decent age with little or no power of her own. To be so mistaked had been the death knell of several of her would be enemies.
had she manipulated events to put them both here at the same time? no matter what, he had given his word to elise that he would protect her brood.. so all this musing really only served to frustrate him, what did it matter how it had happened, it simply had. Talon shook his head and tried to clear his mind, Vanni's wisdom crossing his mind.. 'Yours it not to Question, your purpose is to Do' this simple bit of advice had help shaped all that he had become over the years. At the same time Hideki's words burst into his mind '7 breath's my Gaijin friend, any descion can be made in the span of seven breath, to question yourself is the path of the fool'
'seems my age is catching up with me, i'm starting to think too much' he smirked at that thought, he knew several who would not believe he had the capicity for thought, some of which found out the truth the hard way.
Talon smiled out the window while he opened the next bottle, standing in darkness starting out into the night sky.
If it wouldn't be a bother? I know you probably need to be going soon. I'd offer to drive you but I don't think I'd have time to get back.
She beamed a warm smile at Thaddeus. The man was rather cute she was realizing, in a very cultured way. She'd never been a huge fan of slenderly built men, she preffered some muscle on them, much like Talon there.. 'Focus!' she scolded herself.
It is not as different as you might think here. Once you have seen more of the city for yourself I think you'll get a better idea of its...diversity.
He decided to leave it at that; he didn't want to be responsible for corrupting anyone, and the temptation to raise an eyebrow at Talon was becoming a struggle.
I'll speak to the butler about arrangments. Talon, shall I arrange for you as well? And while I appreciate the thought, I can take the sewers most of the way. There is time.
"thanks but no, I prefer my meals fresh and hot"
he said with a sideways grin..
with that he hopped off of the counter and stretched, first his neck slowly rotating his head then his back, by raising his arms into the arma and bending his back, his jacket almost falling off of him in the process.. he quickly straightened and walked back to the refridgerator for another beer..
he bent into the fridge and began to fish around for the bottles of beer "You guys want one?" he said with out turning his head to regard them, simply hold the bottle up over his shoulder so they could see it.
I shall return.
With a smirk, Thaddeus headed out of the kitchen in search of a butler. While time was of the essence, it was pleasent to spend time getting to know the two Anantya. He reflected that a couple of weeks ago, he probably would have preferred to stay in his quarters to sharing drinks with those two. And had someone told him he would be cracking jokes with 'the brute,' he would have given them a distainful snort.
/ooc Thaddeus is off getting blooood! You have a moment alooooone!
She heard the refrigerator door open with a soft clink of glass on glass. The light seemed to flood the dim kitchen with its white glow. She turned her head slightly and watched him from the corner of her eye. 'Mon dieu, he fills out his jeans nicely.' She felt the tip of her tongue lick her lips faintly.
'You guys want one?' he asked so casually. His voice.. he sounded like a cat lazily lounging in the sun, content after his feeding. 'He must have hunted well..' she mused. At first she nodded yes to him then realized her sillyness.
Sure, I'll take one.
She grinned at Thaddeus' refusal. 'I'm going to have to offer him some martial arts lessons. He looks like he wouldn't know how to fight off someone attacking with a wet noodle let alone a real assailant.' It never occured to her why she would want to offer him lessons. He was her clansman and she was already happily embracing that sense of belonging.
Talon grabbed two beers and handed her one. She took it silently with just a faint smile and nod of thanks. Amberelle popped the lid off and took a small sip enjoying the cold bitter taste. It had been a while since she'd had a beer, it wasn't a very common find in the house she'd grown up in. While she drank, Amby watched her clansman walk back to his spot and lean against the counter, casually stretching his legs out and crossing them at the ankles. She tried not to study him obviously, but instead dropped her eyes some and looked at him through her lashes.
((OOC oooo by all means let's jump on the counter and go at it! hee hee!)
"Elise never told you about me, did she?"
he crushed the stub of the cigar out in the ashen bottles neck..
"Oviously she didn't or you would have known what that necklace is all about.." he said almost to himself, thinking out loud..
he dismissive shrugged and said "Guess she has her reasons.. but then I guess you'd know that better than me. it's been awhile since I saw her, and when I did her greatchildren were all she talked about"
Once again he shrugged an sipped his beer
Amberelle chewed on her lip and took another sip of the cold beer. With her free hand she reached down and pulled the long, delicate cord and its silver charm from where it had been buried in her clevage. Holding it up so she could look at it, she studied the old and rather time-worn charm. It was a rough norse styled hammer, made of what looked like tarnished silver. It was something, from the time of her earliest memories, that had always been around her beloved Grandmere Elise's neck.
I remember.. once, when I was very young we asked her about it Amby's voice was soft, as she worked back through her memories. She laughed, a rare thing back then. I was excited since she seemed to sparkle with a secret as she pursed her lips and studied us.. She said 'It's the mark of an ancient warrior..' and she got this far away look. I think she would have gone on more but one of Gustav's men came in, and she was quiet. Finally when we were all clamoring for more of the story, she sighed dramaticly and whispered to us she would tell us more when we were older. Remembering back on how they had all groaned and thrown a fuss she smiled.
Just a couple of years ago, not too long after my turning, I asked her about it again. I thought it might be a happy memory we could share.. Amberelle sighed quietly. back then I needed them. She just patted my hand and pulled me over to lay against her and didn't answer for a long time. Finally I'd about given up when she said almost too quietly for me to hear that it was something that had infuriated my Grandpere, and best not spoken of or else he could end up taking his displeasure out on me instead of her.
She paused and sipped the beer again, turning her gaze back to studying Talon across from her. Tilting her head to the side, she looked at him with curiosity. What happened? How do you know her?
"Sounds like I may have to take a trip to New Orleans and beat his ass" he fumed..
he shook his head to clear away his anger.. "never could see how someone like Elise could let someone treat her that way... when we first met she was a spitfire.. anyway, thats a story for another time.."
he stared at the charm for a second more, lost in memory..
"this is a useless Nostalgia anyway.. it serves no purpose" he turned to look out the window..
This charm here Her hand holding the chain flicked, causing it to sway slightly and shimmer in the moonlight between them. You said she would have given it to me for protection. Why? And by who? You?
Her words now seemed to be infuriating him even more than her previous recollections had, but she pressed on. I want to know about my Grandmere, about this and about.. everything. She almost said about you but caught herself in time. Her eyes were feline slits, an almost glowing yellow in the darkness as she studied him with an intensely serious stare.
She whispered, trying not to plead too strongly, Please.. tell me.
"If you must know, yes that charm is a symbol of a vow I made to your Greatmother some time ago, I vowed to protect her.. to be there if she ever needed someone to do what it is that I do.. " he almost snapped out the words.. then seemed to catch himself and took a deep breath "I'm not angry with you, just the situation with Elise... she deserves better than that snake she married, he's beneath my contempt.. and he knows how I feel about him.. which is proabably why she doesn't speak of me.. your Grandsire knows that the only thing preventing my wrath is Elise, if she bid me I could end his miserable life and he could not stop me..." he said, his voice laced with a low growl..
"She earned that token when she saved my Life.. that is something I take Very seriously.. she was young then.. not much older than you are now.. but nothing like you.. Elise was 'born' a Titan.. her Sire was a true Ancient.. she had inherited his power when he turned her.. which is why its so frustrating to see her allowing her self to be treated badly.."
he stopped to light another Cigar
"We dont have time to go into the full story, but surfice to say I found myself in a bad situation, my strength spent and the sunrise fast approaching.. thats when she found me.. I was deluisonal at the time, due to the damage I had sustained, I thought her a Valkrir, come to take me to the sit at the table of my father.. she saved my life that night.. theres much more to the tale but suffice to say that's how she earned the token, which she has decided to give to you"
If you know Grandmere, then you do know why she allows Gustav to treat her so. She's a woman of her word.. even if the enculé doesn't deserve it. Amberelle shook her head sadly. Softly, more to herself than him she whispered, I wish you would have slaughtered the fucker for her though.
Amberelle shifted and leaned back in her chair. Unconsciously she fiddled with the charm, sliding it around on the chain as she sipped her beer in silence. She watched Talon as a thin haze swirled around his face from the cigar smoke. She admired the man's restraint. If it had been up to her she would have ripped the black heart from the vile man's chest the first time she'd seen him strike Elise. Of course she'd only been a child then but.. 'Best not to think of this much more or I'll make myself sick over it.'
A flash of reflected light caught his eye, and he saw that Amberelle was fiddling with a medallion around her neck. He wondered at its significance to her and wished he could sense it before shaking the thought off as rude. Asking to touch personal items was not something propriety permitted.
Still, the three Anantya made an interesting bunch; so different, but each of them wore a part of themselves around their neck. He thought of the jade turtle hidden beneath his shirt and couldn't help but smile.
A Butler will be by momentarily.
Still curious in spite of himself, he couldn't help but at least mention their similarity. He pulled out the red cord carefully and let the turtle rest in his hand. Then he looked up at the two Anantya and smiled.
Are we all so sentimental?
Thank you Thaddeus, I appreciate that more than you might think. Clearing her throat she turned sidways in the chair and leaned forward, trying to study the tiny turtle he had revealed. Sentimental.. perhaps. Myself I don't have much time passed to reflect on really. I think it may be more a trait of older kindred. With a smile and faint twinkle in her eye, her head nodded to Talon and the blond in the doorway. This charm was actually my Grandmother Elise's, it was given to me as a gift when I.. when she realized I was moving out on my own. Probably a token to remember something safe and comforting, you know? At least that's what I had thought.
It had been a long time since he had thought of his necklace.. so many years ago.. so much blood spilled.. but he had the feeling soon his collection would grow, hopefully he would wear Gustav's fangs before too long..
"I wear the fangs of a Vampire I killed long ago" he said simply, waiting to see if this would shock either of them..
The vampires he killed...long ago...
He blinked.
And then he felt rather foolish for not realizing before.
Talon, -the- Talon, was standing in front of him in the kitchen. Not an admirer, not a descendent, but the notorious Ancient himself. Mentioned in the Clan histories goodness only knew how many times. Thaddeus was actually reasonably sure there was a lithograph portrait of the Ancient in the very book he carried in his bag.
And it looked -nothing- like the man in front of him!
Except for the leather thong around his neck. With the fangs hanging from it.
And I call myself a historian.
Fortunately, his embarrassment was interrupted by the arrival of the butler, which brought him no small relief.
The Butler walked at an unhurried pace, tray in hand, up to the kitchen door. There he paused, listening, and winced at the big one's harsh words.
Creepy if you ask me. Which no one ever does.
Deciding this was as good a time as any to make his delivery, he swung open the door and placed the tray on the counter top, giving a little bow as he did, and turned to exit discreetly.
And the snot had the nerve to wave his hand in dismissal!
Insufferable Prick, I was leaving anyway!
And leave he did, without further notice.
Before she could ask him to elaborate further however, the Butler had walked in and she had turned to give him a brilliant smile of thanks but she doubted he noticed that or her softly spoken thank yous as he seemed to sniff and spin stiffly out past Thaddeus. 'Ahh, the man has the manners of one born and raised in privledge indeed.' she mused silently. 'Too bad no one ever told them back then that servants would be much more useful and loyal when treated well.' She glanced at Thaddeus with a faintly disapproving look and shook her head slightly.
Trying not to lick her lips, Amby reached out and took the drink with a faintly shaky hand. She hadn't realized just how much her hunger had built until she could smell this so tantilizingly close. She lifted the glass, nostrils flaring slightly at the sweet scent and took a slow gulp. A small shiver of pleasure rolled down her spine and she made a faint 'mmm' sound.
Her eyes drifted shut and she savored the thick nectar slowly passing over her tongue and down to her stomach, a wave of burning pleasure that was nearly orgasmic. Her free hand gripped the counter's edge and the other tightened on the glass. The men watching, the public place, the guilt from the source of this pleasure all washed away from her mind as the cool sustenance filled her senses. It was like an invisible lover caressed her, sending ripples of pleasure crashing over her. She drank deeply, the tip of her tongue darting out to lap at the cup until not even a faint trace was left in the bottom.
With a trembling, breathy 'ahhh' she set the glass down and eyes stayed closed as she enjoyed the warmth that seeped through her like the warm glow after lovemaking.
Ss-sorry, I didn't know I was so hungry.
"Thanks Jeeves" Talon said after the man as he exited
he couldn't help but stare as he watched her lithe form tremble and roll as she drank, something so....erotic about it.. it was all he could do to tear his eyes off of her after she finished the Vitea.. it took more than a few moments to get his pulse to slow. trying to shake away his Ardor he turned to Thaddeus and said
"Thanks for arranging that for her..."
and occupied himself with his cigar for the next few seconds..
'been too long since I had a woman It seems' he thought.. still trying to banish the mental images of amberelle's nude form rolling around in the throes of ecstasy..'
Rushed as he was, the world came back into focus quickly enough to see the female Anantya's own reaction to the meal.
Well. Good that she feels...better.
There is no need for apologies. I believe we have all been there at one time or another.
He smiled gently and turned to meet Talon's eyes through the haze of cigar smoke, somewhat surprised at the Ancient's thanks.
It was astute of you to notice the need.
With that, he lifted the duffel bag off the floor with one hand, tucking the jade turtle back under his shirt with the other, and nodded to his Clan mates.
I should be going now. I look forward to seeing you both again.
The words, though polite rote, came out with a sincerity that was surprising to himself. He wondered vaguely if it was the blood or the conversation he had found so refreshing, and decided the latter was more than a small factor.
He smiled again, and headed for the door.
/ooc not out yet, will wait for responses and all
Thaddeus spoke, and Amberelle looked up from staring into the empty glass in front of her. Impulsively she hopped up and hugged the man. Giving him a quick peck on the cheek she whispered into his ear.
Merci vraiment, mon frère aîné.
She stepped back a bit and smiled at him warmly, then straightened his shirt front where her hug had mussed it.
Bonsoir, Thaddeus and safe travels to you! She stepped back and sat down again, glancing over to see if Talon would comment as well.