A VAMPIRE LOSES WHO HE IS IN JUST ONE LIFETIME

Name: José (Has many names) 

Age: 400(ish)

Gender: Cis Man

Pronouns: He/Him

Species: Vampire

Face claim:Alfonso Herrera

Affiliation: (Coven/Pack) N/A

Length of stay in Holloway: 30 years. 

Ren laughed gently, taking the glass of wine and slipping it to the princess. She was different then what he had expected when the guild had asked him to approach her, that was for sure. “I trust no one without secrets.” he stated simply, lifting the sweet wine to his lips. “For those without secrets are the ones who do not even know their own truths.” He chuckled, knowing that he was speaking in riddles. “I hear of such things yes, although look around you...” He glanced around the tavern. “I have little interest for politics or the wars of kings. I own a tailor’s shop. All that matters to me is that whoever wins that war... wants to be dressed by me.” He winked, trying to keep the mood lighthearted. He had certain talents he had little interest in advertising out loud in a crowded room. 

Ren continued to smile, partly because he wanted to and partly because he wanted to keep his eyes on the prize. He raised a brow, taking the empty glass she had spilt along with his own empty glass. He gestured to get her another drink. “I will not allow it, you are my guest and friend.” He smiled gently. “Who would be looking for you... and more importantly why?” He acted surprised, fishing for his own information. “You know you can trust me... don’t you?”

“It is market day, after all, is it not?”, she gave him a smile, unsure if she truly wanted to unload her sorrows on a man that had only advanced a few steps away from complete stranger. “The entire city seems to be in a rush. There is so many people here, strangers everywhere. I hear even from up North”. And there it was, the problem she had with all of this. Aleera wondered if he would take the bait and maybe tell her if he knew any rumours. 

Ren smiled, putting on his best charm. As he often did with people of Aleera’s status. “Up North?” He exclaimed in a mocking fashion. “Whatever will we do with people from up north?” he grinned at the young woman. “Was there someone you were looking for?” 

Lu nodded, trying not keep herself composed. She suddenly felt a little silly for saying such a thing out loud. Though she would not let a man see that. “Oh, I suppose you are right. It is getting warmer. A busy time of year,” she replied. “You enjoy the market?” she asked, before pausing. “What do they believe is going to happen out here to increase safety so much?”

Ren nodded, swallowing and pulling his jacket tighter around him. He glanced at the lady, another woman with pretty dresses and not a lot else going on, he assumed. “Probably ladies such as yourself, walking around unaccompanied. Someone must look out for your safety. No?”

In the three months she had already spend in Brassbridge Aleera had developed a liking of The Cob Web, a big inn at the crossroads between the outskirts of town and the city proper. There were always so many merchants, travellers, and a townspeople from all parts of life. One more stranger never caught anyone’s eye. And it was that anonymity that she longed for, that silence that brought her peace. For now. News of the diplomats from Thule had travelled through the city on fast wings and she was lost in thought that day, unsure how to react. Was queen Brunhilde sending them to bring Aleera’s head back on a pike?  She flinched when someone stepped too close, already seeing assassins around every corner. Her sudden movement send her crashing into the other person, drink splattering onto her dress and the already dirty floor underneath them. “I am sorry, I never saw you there”, she swallowed down her fear, “Would you like me to repay you for that?”

Ren grinned, laughing as the drink went over the floor of the room. “If it was anybody else I think i would be swearing profanities right now.” He wiped the liquid off of his white shirt. “I’m sure I can afford a new dress shirt.” He chuckled, winking as he did. “but never the matter... why are you in such a rush?” 

@fallenstarter​

The young widow spend the majority of her life reading. Her own home was filled with books but her great pleasure was the old library. She was making her way to the city square, enjoying the morning sun and the busy stress that came with people shopping, working and socialising. Her life had changed so much in such a short space of time. Being married so young to an older man, her husband passing and yet, she had more freedom than she ever had.  Though she was stopped in her tracks, glancing around her. “Are… there more guards than usual?” she asked a nearby person.

Ren enjoyed the market place, he enjoyed travelling to the square to sit by the statue and watch the sun rise, and set. It was peaceful. He looked around as the woman spoke. “Oh i hadn’t noticed.” He of course, had. He had noticed the guards on every corner and in the busy streets the moment he had sat down. “I suppose it is to increase the feeling of safety.” 

A nightmare, flashbacks of what had happened, made it hard to sleep and if she was honest… Adrienne did not know how she had ended up out on the quiet streets of Holloway, in the middle of the night. She stepped through the dark streets, her throat was raw, her voice almost gone so she could not really scream for help, but her eyes were searching every shadow, every corner. Adrienne was still in the same shirt she had worn on the night of Halloween - a week ago? She could not say, time had turned into something strange and twisted while she had been… While she was gone. And now the fear that clung to her heart made it heart to think, to really know. “Hello?”, she saw movement, prayed that it was not the creature, after her again, “Is there someone? Please, can you help me?”

@hollowstarters​

Jose’s eyes darkened, watching the young girl. He had glamoured her; of course she did not remember anything. But he knew better then to tempt fate. He had intended to stay out of her way to be safe. He caught her in his arms nonetheless, it would now be too suspicious not to help her. “Are you okay?” he called, his eyes searching the huntresses face. “What is going on? Is someone chasing you?” He knew the answer. 

“Have you seen the Mummy? Being a librarian ain’t a bad thing”, she scoffed at him. The urge to growl her anger out at him was growing stronger with every thing he said. But the closer he stood, the more her instincts told her to turn around and run. Maybe she should get a good sniff… “Listen”, Esmèe took a step back, finally having enough of this conversation, “If you want to talk to someone in charge of the museum itself I can bring you to the right office, if you don’t have anything helpful to tell me about my co-worker I can also escort you towards the exit, but I guess there is nothing else to do here for you. We have a great exhibit on polar expedictions coming up next week though.” And with that she turned, motioning towards the exit. 

“Books are easily burnt.” He responded quickly, he had seen it over and over as knowledge led to the world in flames. He tilted his head. “I bother you.” he stated again, his dark eyes looking over her. “I am just trying to decide if you feel personally or professionally threatened.” He smiled, moving towards the door. “What makes you think she’s in town?”

“I am an archivist”, she said between gritted teeth, her eyes now glaring at him. “I am paid to find what others deem lost. And besides, with people I care about being in danger it is no longer a question of should and shouldn’t but of having to.” She knew that the guides were doing a great job, at least in this place, but her training had been special - magical artifacts and supernatural reports were not always something easy to handle. Esmée even went to Europe, to a more than esteemed institute in London, to finish her training. She was no guide. Already talking herself into a rage mentaly she quickly shook her head. This was not what was important right now. “The detectives had a week to find Adrienne, they did not do it. I at least need to help” And she was a wolf. Her nose was better than any police dogs, no reason to tell him that though. Besides, he was giving off a rather strange scent. 

Jose chuckled. “Isn’t that a special word for a librarian?” He joked, folding his arms. He knew that he was supposed to play nice. But he couldn’t help it. “Ah yes, you’re right. Knowing the dewey decimal system qualifies you for this job. I’d recommend looking under D.” 

Esmée did not truly care about running the museum itself. Her realm were the archives. Right now she cared a lot more about finding out what had happened to Adrienne and, hopefully, being able to help that girl. Even if they had never been friends to begin with. It simply felt right to worry. “An instinct from a past life? one of her eyebrows rose up. In a town like this such a sentence was not too unusual. But right now? She had no time for games. “I can show you the way to the director’s office, if that is what you need. I am sure she will be more than happy about any help in that regard. I for one will focus all my efforts in finding my missing colleague. So if you can’t help me with that-”, she shrugged to keep herself from being rude. Please don’t waste my time.

Jose’s head tilted naturally, although there was very little natural about any of his movements. Every gesture, tone and word was copied from what he knew the humans had come to expect from him over the years. Warm and sensitive made more friends then the man he could be, he knew that. He raised a brow. “Find your missing colleague? The last time i checked, you were a museum guide. Not a detective. Should you not leave that to the people who get paid for it?” The last thing he wanted were people sniffing around. 

She crossed her arms in front of her chest, giving him a once over. “You heard of my stresses?”, she did ask around town for help so it was no surprise that the rumours had gone through this small city faster than the wind itself. “I would appreciate some help, yes. I think it’s a shame that not most of the city is already on their feet, searching” she huffed, the anger clearly on her face. Esmée had thought that in a place like Holloway a disappereance would have made more waves. But the way he worded his sentences… it made her wrinkle her nose. “So do you actually know something? Where she went? And who are you? I don’t think we have met before…” Then suddenly she remembered, “You were at the ghost tour on Halloween, were you not?" 

Jose shrugged his shoulder, his eyes on the young woman. It was a small town, it was not beyond reason that he had heard of the trouble that had befallen the museum during Halloween. “I’m a simple enthusiast of your institution, believe me i listen with nothing but good intentions.” That wasn’t strictly true. But then as you began to age, morality became a lot muddier. “I was...” Of course, he wasn’t about to share that his reason for attending was that he was trying to assess the quietest parts of town. “I assure you, I know nothing. But i do know. a thing or two about running a museum. Call it an instinct from a past life.” 

“I am simply tired of people acting as if I am completely overreacting! It has been an entire week and there is no sign of half my department, so could you please-” Esmée saw the face her superior made and so she simply sighed and stopped herself. “Or I shall continue to do it myself, thanks for nothing I guess”, she stood from her desk and left her office without looking back. Right in front of it she stopped, realising someone else was in the hallway. “I am sorry you had to overhear that”, a forced smile crossed her lips, “Is there anything I can help you with?”

@hollowstarters​ 

Jose chuckled, the child had played exactly into his hands. It had given him an in, into the very building in town he had been trying to get his cold shoes into for weeks. “Please... do not worry. I have heard something of the stresses you have been enduring since Halloween. I was wondering whether perhaps i could help... relieve the pressure.” 

Joey looked up at Jose and wondered if he was thinking the same that she was… why hadn’t anyone come looking for her? “She won’t just be at the museum will she?” she asked quietly, not wanting the child to hear. “I try to be,” she nodded. “Wow, that is really brave. They’re creepy. But that… has been a few days?” she said, looking back at him.

The man shrugged. “Perhaps I am a pessimist. But usually when a child is missing somebody notices... i do not think it is the child missing... but perhaps her guardian.” He looked around, now aware they may be being watched. “Yes. it has. I fed the thing and let it watch television. I’m not monster.”

He nodded once again. Although he somehow doubted it would be that simple. If she had simply been separated from her guardian, why had the woman not come looking for her? He had been undead for a long time, but he was fairly certain that your child was something you would come looking for. “Then you are a smart woman.” He nodded, he knew all too well the things that could go bump in the night in this town. “In the grounds of the fair. She has quite the brave face. She wasn’t at all phased by the chainsaws.” 

Joey could feel the nip of the November air as she stepped out of the store. It had been a long day, exciting but long and she was ready to get home. She was heading towards her car when she felt the hand… a cool hand and she turned. “Jose,” she replied, her eyes falling to the child in question. “I saw her at the Halloween night. I think, the girl from the museum? Maybe. Is she out here alone?”

The vampire looked down at the child. He’d found her some clothes from the local boutique, anything that would get her out of the ridiculous outfit her caregiver had put her in. “Hmmm that would make sense.” He raised a brow, his eyes twinkling at the mention of the museum. Could this child be his key to get in there? “Perhaps i should pay the museum a visit.” His dark eyes glanced in the direction. “Hmm? Yes it appears so. It was rather late when i crossed her paths. I don’t meet many children...I thought it odd.”

@hollowstarters​