Duncan E. Creed

The bond with a sire was unlike anything else. Despite hundreds of years having passed, Ruby still frequently thought about Anne. She wondered if her sire, and lover, was still alive, and if she was, if Ruby would ever see her again. She mused about killing Anne sometimes, too, although that was complex. Being abandoned had done its number on Ruby, and until she met John, Ruby had often wondered if she were the only vampire left alive. It had been horrifically lonely, and the villages she levelled in her anguish and anger, well… Ruby didn’t regret that exactly. Vampires were created to cause chaos, and if she bothered with morality so black and white, she likely would have staked herself years ago.

“Is there a reason why I shouldn’t offer it? If there is, I am not aware of it.” Duncan countered, letting Ruby have a moment to rethink this entire encounter and regroup. After all, she was the one seeking him out. Duncan was a graceful man, he would not let a fellow vampiress get ahead of herself. In the meanwhile, he took short, puffing inhales off his pipe, fogging up the air around him with fragrant smoke. “Ah, how do mortals sometimes say it… ‘Unbothered. Moisturized. In my lane’, was it?” Things one could overhear with a supernatural hearing, even when one did not try. “And yourself?” He reciprocated then jutted his chin out at the sitting area in the room. “Care to sit yourself down? Or does nervously standing about make you feel more comfortable?”

He nodded his head, small smile quirking the corners of his lips. The casualness with which he asked the question almost felt amusing to him. It was a pretty normal sentence, but to him a divorce was something serious, something that hopefully only happened once, if at all. To imagine that it could be only the first time out of many was absurd to him, but that was only because of his romantic nature. He also wasn't immortal. He would live longer than humans probably, but that thought hadn't crossed his mind yet.

Duncan would’ve left Theodore to his own devices to explore to his heart’s content for as long as he wanted to, but the younger man seemed to have gotten his eye caught by a very specific piece and latched onto it. As he read what was engraved into the wood the bookshelf was made of, Duncan’s gradually released attention returned to Theo to be at his disposal. “Unfortunately not who J.W is. But Evelyn? Yes, I recall her. She was the one who brought this piece to me and left it to be sold.” Duncan revealed as he took slow, deliberate steps roundabout to where Theo observed the bookcase, his dress shoes clicking crisply every time they hit the wooden floor. 

His questions confused her, wondering if perhaps he had misspoken or used an incorrect word. In her mind there was no such thing as a willing donor as there were no such things for her, merely victims that were left with blank eyes and cut off life threads somewhere in a dark corner where they can be found in days. And she highly doubted that there was anyone who would volunteer for that. She was about to contradict him and say it when the air seemed to get denser. She did not need oxygen, not like a human may need it, not breathing for a very long duration was nothing to worry and in fact at the start she remembered learning how to breathe and appear as if she in fact did still need to do it. So that she could appear human enough, despite her bone pale skin and the dark redness in her irises.

It wasn’t the first time Duncan had seen people quite literally kneel on the ground in his presence although he’d never achieved a status that unquestionably required it. There were instances when he was the one kneeling too, although rare and far between. It was not his aim to bring this other vampire down to her knees but such a reaction was far better than none, so he took it as an opportunity. However, he hoped that this opportunity was taken wisely because it could determine how him and this particular vampire would coexist in this town. Besides, there was the human to think of as well. There was already a lot he had seen to erase. At some point it may become impossible, even for Duncan. So it was of utmost importance to have this done sooner rather than later.

duncan's response was predictably duncan, with jean-claude rolling his eyes in a somewhat fond manner at being told he shouldn't offer gifts without caring about what happens to them. it was a tone used with him many times before though, j.c could only really remember a handful of them, yet even now the urge to disobey the advice grew inside of him like an unruly child. "i know what'll though - you'll end up liking it sooo much you keep it for yourself instead of selling," j.c noted playfully, still rummaging through boxes.

“Of course I will keep it. Maybe you will want it back again after you regret giving it away to be sold.” Duncan responded absently, without any deeper thought behind his own words and how easily he had fallen back to looking after Jean-Claude and being a safety net under all of the younger vampire’s recklessness, even if just for a moment and out of thoughtless habit. After all, he currently had more pressing matters to pay attention to. It came as somewhat of an oddity that maybe the apparent hadn’t occurred to J.C - that Duncan had let a tear out. Or at least Duncan hoped Jean Claude had not considered this or would kindly pretend it was anything else but crying. It was such an inconvenience that he wasn’t able to produce clear tears anymore, instead leaking blood out of his eyes, their dark redness impossible to hide on a deathly pale face.

Okay, he jumped. Or rather, flinched. Jesse hadn't expected some deep dark voice from the depths of nowhere to come out, so it was only natural he jerked and twisted that direction to clear up that it wasn't a ghost. "Huh?" The human had no idea what piece was being referred to, but was that any surprise? This person sat with a level of sophistication that Jesse Cowen would never reach. All he knew was that his nose-- the tickles caused him to rub the area several times and right as he was ordered not to--

A soft, knowing and somewhat resigned sigh escaped Duncan’s lips - of course the thing will happen as soon as you warn of it potentially happening. It was simply the laws of the world. Yet, save for that single sigh, the vampire remained outwardly unbothered. Imagine, sauntering into a place that sold old things and not expecting to find dust? How positively naïve. “Of the shop? Yes.” Then he added, belatedly, as he closed the book he’d been reading, letting its hard cover rest upon a bent knee crossed over the other leg. “Bless you. How can I help?” The eyes that had looked up were eerily mismatched in color - one cerulean blue and the other with a pool of deep forest green around the iris. The contrast was made all the more harsh on a face as pale as a sheet of paper. Behind Jesse's back, a clean microfiber rag slithered across the table’s surface like a snake, silently and very diligently running over things the human had sneezed on. All on its own, without a person to hold and guide it. 

As afraid Min-Ji was of ghosts and curses and spooky things in general as a concept, it didn’t change that she also had a rather devious side to her that found such things thrilling. It’s why she always went to antique stores like this one and fancied that porcelain dolls were haunted and hair brushes held curses. It was terrifying as a whole, but what was more exciting than that. She gave the offered napkin a glance before she took it and used it to delicately and politely dab at her nose before she tried to hand it back to him, “No, you’re not wrong,” she replied proudly. The ruffling of her feathers behind her back gave an adjustment to the way her wings rested as she rolled her shoulders back. Besides, she didn’t think he’d let her come to any actual harm, at least, she was choosing to believe this. “What is it? Haunted dolls? I’ve always known that dolls are haunted,” she asserted with confidence.

Duncan motioned with a very polite gesture of his hand when the napkin was offered back to him, refusing it and allowing Min-Ji to keep it. “A painting.” Duncan revealed finally, turning back to the stairs that lead up to the last level of the house - the attic. “Of a man whose pursuit of eternal beauty had cost him his soul.” As he spoke, he ascended the stairs, opening the widened trap door to let himself pass through. He did give Min-Ji a glance and extended a hand for her to hold onto, should the young fae woman need any help going up. The stairs were pretty stable and converted to an actual staircase instead of the usual pull down stairs. But the faerie had her wings out which might influence her balance. Duncan had always been a gentleman enough to mind these details, even for a stranger, and she’d given him no reason so far to become intentionally neglectful of this. 

"Oh? It's... it's very beautiful," she said as she looked down at the cups she was holding to both look through the drawn on flowers and to observe the sugar the man said he did not want. She quickly turned back, complying with the request as she had learned to do, carefully putting them back in the bowl from which she had taken them, looking around the table for cream and carefully adding it to the items in her hands. She rarely though of her short time as a waitress or a bartender but it seemed like she didn't need to as he hands did remember what to do and how to balance things.

This was somewhat peculiar behavior. Instead of sitting down at the comfortably arranged sitting space around the coffee table to have the tea, she chose to bring both Duncan’s cup and the creamer to him, so they now stood awkwardly near the doorway with steaming cups held in hands. Even the old vampire had to admit that he found this highly odd, although his unchanging poker face never showed it. Once she stepped away from him, Duncan gave the woman a long look, then walked around her, his cup of tea perfectly balanced on the little tea plate he held pinched between his fingers. The surface of the cup barely stirred as he sauntered. “It is old, yes. It can be considered antique.” He admitted, approaching the sitting area and placing his cup down in front of the seat he’d take in the next moment. 

Kayla couldn't really fault him for the lack of prior connection, he was a old fashion soul trying to conform to modern society norms or at least that's how she had always viewed him, and even though she wasn't as old the transition from nothing to mobile hand held devices was a difficult one even from her but luckily for her she was around for the creation of most of them but some people might not have been so up to date with what had been going on and Duncan was always a person she expected a letter from even in today's society; "It's okay no big deal, I would have just hated to not have been home when you came over, I would have felt bad granted what you have done for me"

“Do not feel bad for me. All I do for you is done willingly. My choices are my own. No one can force those upon me.” Duncan reassured and although the phrases said would otherwise be comforting, his tone made them sound cold. But then again, Duncan rarely managed to truly sound warm and compassionate unless he was acting. He did not feel the need to act now, Kayla deserved the real him, his faults and practically non-existent emotional capacity alike. What was the point of acting in front of her anyway, she knew him well enough, as much as anyone could truly know Duncan’s mysterious ways.

Valentina could understand where Duncan was coming from as the lawyer didn't tend to voice her inner thoughts and monologue with everyone she met but it was a inkling she had and like flowers in the spring, it started as a seed, something that was planted there one day in the depth of her brain and over time the more she thought about it the more sense it made to grow into what it currently has right now; "it's definitely not a overnight thought but I wanted to make sure that this was something I wanted and that it made the most sense to me as a person before seeking you out. I know your time is valuable regardless of how much you have so I didn't want to meet with you without good reasoning"

Once again, Valentina displayed levels of polite sensibility Duncan could very much appreciate. After all, with Duncan’s bluntness and lack of emotional response, he very much valued another’s ability to remain concise, down to a point and considerate of time, place and purpose. He then patiently kept silent, to allow her to respond to everything he’d just said, speaking up only after she was done presenting her case and reasoning behind her potential request.

Hal was not a businessman. He disliked crunching numbers. He despaired over invoices. He didn't posses the magnetic personality all good salespersons curated, even if his trade depended on a calculated winnowing of a source's information.

“And placing a value on something otherwise priceless is diminishing it.” Duncan countered readily, a simple checkmate casually played. “An odd perspective, to think giving credit equates to putting a price tag on a masterpiece in the artist’s stead. Do tell me more about it.” Although the tone used did not at all sound like Duncan was excited to hear more about this point of view. It tends to get really old listening to people ramble away about things Duncan not only held in his store but actually seen being used at the time of their making.

Charlie watched Duncan for moment, as he changed the lamp over. He moved forward slightly, leaning his hip on the counter. "Just wanting to follow up on some reports we've had." Charlie said, with a slight smile. "Been reports of break-ins in the area, have you seen anything or..." Charlie looked around the shop for a moment taking in the inventory before he looked back to Duncan. "Or have you had anything stolen in a past few weeks." Charlie straightened up slightly, as he looked at the lamp again. "You have some nice things in here." Charlie moved over to where Duncan was standing and looked at the lamp. "I'm sure there are a lot of stories to go with them."

Done with the lamp, Duncan retrieved his hands off it, making sure that all was in its place first as this was an oil lamp - mishandling could mean a fire hazard. As he did so, he continued to listen to Charlie with his back turned to him. Eventually, he made a slow turn to give the detective a glance. “No one steals from this house.” He asserted, a claim as sure as the fact that the sun rises in the east and sets down in the west; there was no wavering of doubt in Duncan’s voice, as if this fact could not be changed even if the rest of the world ended up turned upside down. “I have, however, noticed something that could be related to the reports you speak of.” He added casually, almost as an afterthought.

Usually, Tony got a feeling about people.  It was one of the things they prided on themselves.  However, since coming into contact with Duncan, they still weren’t sure about the man.  Not in a bad way, just Duncan was shrouded in mystery and Tony wanted to figure the vampire out.  “Really?”  For whatever reason, it excited Tony. Perhaps because there was some small part of themselves that thought Duncan found them annoying.

“Really, what?” Duncan asked, genuinely unsure what Tony was asking. He remained indifferent in the face of their enthusiasm but then again, Duncan always appeared indifferent, it was not an exclusive behavior coming from him. “Yes to Ramones, nay for Germs. I am afraid that I was much less inclined towards the American punk rock bands. I was simply not on the continent as often to fully appreciate.” He answered truthfully.

Noelle nods as clarification." Yes, my friend, it is sarcasm." The vampire chuckles lightly." Not that pleasant? I should be offended that you do not want my company Duncan, but since we are good friends I will let it slide, I'm sure that I have a line of those that wish to hear me go over my many silly decisions. What shoes to wear in the morning, what to get for breakfast, the list is long and my worries great." They say playfully, the former witches mood far too high in spirits.

“Let us put it this way - would you spend forever letting me know when sarcasm is used and when not? Sure it is manageable for an afternoon but for a severely extended period of time? I doubt it.” That was the first knowledge Duncan had solidified during the long centuries of his life - the wants of now cannot be a promise for forever. Perhaps this was why Duncan’s friendships easily passed, his nine marriages all expired and none of his progenies remained by his side for too long. The older vampire had never bothered to maintain or hold onto anything and let all things run their course.

The firefighter was looking around, hoping to find something, but he didn't know how he was supposed to know what would be perfect for him. ''Not really, I mean, everything in here is interesting, but...My wi-ex-wife used to pick all the decorations. She didn't really like anything I picked so I thought I would prove her wrong by picking everything myself this time, but- Sorry. You don't know me and you didn't ask to know my whole life story,'' he laughed a little, realizing that he was talking way too much. It was strange, he felt like he already knew Duncan. His smell felt familiar, but he was probably just tired.

The old vampire was usually terribly dismissive towards anyone really - after all, why invest into mortals who would be around for merely a fraction of Duncan’s infinite lifespan or bother with someone who didn’t have Duncan’s mileage behind them. Even most humans would not go out of their way to hang out with children. Unless they were their own. Done staring and committing how Theodore had grown up to a fine young man to memory, Duncan proceeded to display interest and patience he rarely had for anyone, which to someone who did not know him would just come off as moderate politeness really, when in fact it was a rare honor. More important people had been in Duncan’s company and it had only earned them the vampire’s early exit out of the room they both occupied, no better treated than a piece of furniture collecting dust on the side. But the difference was with whether they were important to Duncan or not, and there was nothing more important to Duncan than family.