The maddest woman this town has ever seen.

THE VIXEN

Character name: Ethel Edwards

Age: 500+ (42)

Species: Vampire

Occupation: N/A

Face Claim: Ruth Connell

“Yeah, I did. My parents love each other. I was loved, supported, had plenty of experiences. I can’t complain about my childhood, no,” he said gently. “No? But it gets easier?” he asked her. “I can imagine… it’s a lot of temptation in the earlier years?” Felix nodded. “I can imagine it wasn’t always easy.”

Ethel nodded. It sounded idyllic, many in the present day didn’t understand how lucky they were. “It is a thirst that never...goes away. But you become better at shutting it out or at quenching it at the right moments. There are more ethical sources once you know how to find them.” 

“Mmm it was the word she used to say, purpose. Duty. My life was different. I had no father to marry me off, no family name or money. I watched a lot from the outside though.” She nodded. “I don’t believe she was unhappy either. She was good to me. She gave me opportunities many didn’t back then.” She gave a sad smile, looking up at the sun for a moment. “Not many could deserve to die so brutally. Was it anyone you were close to?”

Ethel tilted her head, wondering what that was like. “And how were those opportunities? Were you happy?” She quirked an eyebrow, nodding for the woman to sit. “One of my sisters.” She replied gravely. “You know how it is when you share blood. No matter how you feel about them... there is an undeniable bond.” 

Ethel smiled, the man did not realise it but perhaps he himself was a childish view with his hopes. But she admired that and she enjoyed the company of anybody who wished to see beautiful things. “A beautiful thing indeed. Many great works of art try to depict such things. The mirror image.”  She smiled gently. “You seem to admire such things yourself.”

     Sunny was not a swimmer, getting her hair wet was absolutely not an option after she spent so long styling it every day and well, if she was going to wear a swimsuit she wanted to be admired in it, not splash around in a pond like some childish oaf. Looking out at the people playing around in the water, eyebrow raised in ire, her attention was drawn by a voice and she turned to look at the woman. “Hmm, quite” she replied, looking down at her manicure indifferently before turning her gaze back when she was asked a question.      “Yes, I ‘ear it is quite ze beautiful sight to be’old and so I wish to ‘ave the best view” she nodded, words lilted in the french accent that still held thickly in her dialect.

Ethel smiled gently, chuckling slightly at the way the woman had retained her accent after so many years. “Look at us, anybody would think we melt at the touch of water...you do not swim?” 

“My lady was forced to marry, were you the same?” she asked, wondering what the other’s life had been all those years ago. They had both come so far. “I do believe we retain some of our past selves. I agree you were probably very similar. And no, women were not allowed to be as open as we are now. My life was very different indeed.” She nodded. “I have no seen it but I have heard. I would not like to.”

Ethel shrugged. “Forced is a strong word. It was my purpose, it was what i was raised and trained for. I had no other options no... but that does not mean i was unhappy with that life.” She rested herself on her sun lounger. “No... you are right there. It is a terrible thing to befall a vampire. A fate not many deserve.” 

Felix nodded, she’d been nothing but polite to him and there was something oddly settling about her presence despite her being a vampire. Maybe it was the way she held herself. “It is nice, I always liked the town stuff as a kid.” He gave a slight smile. “Though my brother always had it easier than me. The not turning into a wolf thing once the sun set.” He laughed a little. “You’d think you would get used to it and you do in a way. Though it still always leaves you that little bit nervous.” Her words were nice and he sat beside her. “No? You’ve never been as a vampire? Ah, no girls with their stomach’s showing?”

“You had a nice childhood then?” She asked raising her brow. “Being a vampire is much the same. You never get used to the thirst.” She rubbed her lips together. “We rather try to stay out of crowds in those early years and afterwards we have duties to look after the younger ones.” She shuddered at the thought. “Back when I was young girls were disinherited for less.” 

Lucy returned the other’s smile, her movements both strong and elegant as she took the spot beside her. “Nothing was met with approval. I remember the lady I worked for, she may have had more luxury than I but I believe she had even less freedom. And I did not have much,” she laughed a little. It was almost comforting in a way, talking to someone who understood. “Well, I don’t think I am completely useless. I can hold my own. Still wouldn’t want a bite.”

“I was one of those ladies.” She thought back to her past. “I like to think i was much the same as now... people just accept me a little better these days. I was before my time.” She chuckled, knowing that it wasn’t exactly the truth. The girl before her was likely much younger when she had been reborn. “No... i have seen sister’s fall to such a fate. It is not a pleasant way to go.” 

Felix felt on edge. Every part of his body heightened as he stood at the back of the town event. He could feel the sun on his face, he was aware every time the wind blew, sticking up the hairs on his skin. He heard the voice, turning towards her. “People often look like fools when they’re happy.” He nodded, half laughing. “Hmm, a nice privilege though.” He rubbed his lips together. “I am just… here. For now, been a while since I’ve been to one of these. Reminds me of being a kid. I’ll not be here tonight.”

Ethel glanced up, she certainly wasn’t expecting to see a wolf today. “And it is a pleasant sight to see.” She looked back out at the water. People had brought their children, met up with neighbours and yet they had no idea what would befall the isle when the sun finally set and the moon began to rise. She wondered if the wolves had planned around the moon. “Bless your heart. You must be nervous for the night to come.” She patted beside him. “I have not been to one of these since i was born. Well... reborn. Things were much the same then. People just wore more.” 

Lucy heard the vampire’s comment long before a human would have, laughing as she stopped beside her. “Fools yes, but happy fools,” she replied, a slight smile on her lips as she glanced around the mortals. “And to think I would’ve killed for such freedom as a human,” she said, amused for a moment at the choice of her own words. “Yes, always fascinated by it, thought I would play my part in the community. That and we should all be careful tonight. The full moon.”

Ethel smiled. She could not explain the way that she sensed Lucille, she did not hear her; the woman’s step’s were silent. But nonetheless feeling one of her kin was nice. “Oh darling, i did my time of playing in springs back when i was mortal... of course it was not met with approval.” She gave the woman a knowing glance, there was something comforting about being with one from her own time. The pretence was easy to drop. “Mmmm... i think we can handle those wee wolves. Don’t you?” 

@theislestarters

Emel couldn’t help but laugh, both the simple answer and the confidence of the delivery got to her.  “You know I should have guessed that, but it’s good.”  She shook her head but quickly got her wits back together when Ethel introduced herself.  “It’s nice to meet you Ethel,  I’m Emel.”

Ethel smiled. There was always an innocence around younger vampires that she found charming. Perhaps it was all of that immortality and they hadn’t yet had the realisation of how long eternity was? “Ah my sense of humour has not aged well, it still gives me a good giggle.” She smiled, tilting her head at the young woman. “It is very nice to meet you. I don’t believe i’ve seen you around before... not around our kind of circles anyway. How old are you my darling?” 

Felix gave a small laugh. “Don’t people usually say normal doesn’t exist? We’re all a little odd. I just have to take that odd a little further,” he joked. “Have you spent a lot of time in Summerset?”

Ethel was enjoying the company of the young werewolf, but perhaps that is what truly made him special? He wasn’t dull. She was commending herself on her own thoughts when he spoke again. “Normal exists. And it’s dull.” She corrected. “I have lived here for many centuries. My mother and sisters call this home. I suppose i have come to do so also...” 

Leave it to him to offer a whiskey to a vampire. Oh yeah, he could smell her and the wolf that lingered just under its human skin didn’t like being so close. It was an age old story, vampires, werewolves…no one probably even remembred how the dislike for eachother had happened. But he’s offered and she was some sort of company to distract him from the wanderlust he felt. “Shots it is then.” He signaled to the bartender, gestured to the empty shot glasses and then between himself and her. “What’s you name?” He asked. 

Ethel was not one for shots, but now someone had offered she was not one to argue. She lifted the glass, watching the man carefully. “Ethel. You may call me Ethel. And yours?” 

Location: Pete’s

Tag: Open to all ( @theislestarters​ )

This close to the fullmoon, the shots of whiskey that he was knocking back at pete’s hardly did anything. Werewolf metabolism as the phasing of the moon slowly transitioned him from the six foot two human to a large wolf on four legs. But this close to the fullmoon and he was a little stir crazy. It was his week off from work, so he didn’t have that to preoccupy his time and going home would have made stirrings worse. He downed the last of shot glasses and turnedthe empty glass over on the counter just as another joined him. “I’m ordering another round, care for a whiskey shot?” 

Ethel’s eyes looked over the younger man. She didn’t make it a habit to drink with mortals, and definitely not of the wolf variety... but whiskey was her one weakness. She pouted her lips, nodding reluctantly. “I think you can just about twist my arm young man. You look like you could do with it.”

Emel was surprised that someone would actually turn down a free drink but she didn’t question it.  But as soon as she started up a vampire joke, Emel was immediately paying attention.  “I don’t know what?”  Her brows raised and her lips already forming a smile.  She knew she needed a good vampire joke right about now.

“Blood red, of course.” Ethel knew the joke was bad. But it was delivered with every ounce of confidence of one who had lived for centuries. Her eyes looked over the girl, wondering how old she was. Surely not very? She didn’t know of any over a century old that still worked in bars and saw this life as charming. “I don’t believe we’ve met. I am Ethel.” 

      “Intrigue. Combine records of myth and mystery with records of death and tragedy… who wouldn’t be curious to see the place for themselves? To know what secrets it keeps and why it reoccurs?” With its appeal and lure to be very thing that continued the process. Atticus realigned their shoulders to stave off the uneased nerve twitching up their spine. “The answer isn’t as interesting as the appeal, dirty laundry and all, but I suppose that’s common for any location.”

      Prove themselves? A bitter curl to their lip almost gave a smile, almost sneered at yet another who demanded worthiness, that gave way to a shake of their head and a bite to their lip. They spent a lifetime of doing that already “I can’t lay myself barren for all to see. That makes it far too easy for everyone else and no fun for me. Besides, any secrets are safe with my indifference.”

Ethel smiled turning the page once more. “Normally, I would agree with you young one.” She laughed again, slipping the book to the side. “But this isle is special, you cannot tell me you haven’t seen it?”

The vampire rested back in her chair, crossing a leg over the other. “Indifference can be feigned. And i barely know you. What is your name?”