It's Good To Be King

His lips pressed together as he attempted to hold back another smile. This was terrible for his image, all this cheery smiling. Still, the pup was funny in her own way and he appreciated that. “They are quite fresh, I assure you,” he promised, the smile breaking through to become a grin. “Baked them this morning.”

One hand moved to motion toward the stairs, his head bowing ever so slightly toward her. “Please, I understand this may be odd considering the circumstances, but it is rare I have company.” Rare was putting it lightly. He never had company that wasn’t business relates, and even then he certainly wouldn’t consider them company.

Her smirk turned into a laugh and a wide, bright smile when she saw Vlad’s expression. She was more than happy to take him up on his offer now that the air seemed to be cleared of their awkward first encounter, and she was, admittedly, a bit hungry. At his gesture, she headed for the stairs, only looking over her shoulder once to be sure that he was following her.

A heavy sigh of frustration escaped– he had told everyone on the Council he was done dealing with them until next week, so this had better be of the utmost importance– and he set his glass and book aside to go answer the door. A frown was solid on his features when he opened the door to reveal the intruder, horrible language bubbling up through him to toss at whomever had the audacity to bother him.

And then it all just– stopped.

He starer, a bit dumbfounded, at the woman on his front porch. He was quite certain he hadn’t seen her around town before, and even more certain she was a vampire. Surprise had replaced his sour mood, and he opened his mouth to speak. It honestly took a second, and he had to clear his throat and try again.

She waited patiently for him to find his words, feeling a rather generous confidence boost that she’d actually managed to render the man speechless. “Actually, sir. It is I who would like to do something for you,” she told him, an elegant lilt to her voice, a faint Italian accent having lasted the centuries.

He took the hand proffered, giving a small shake before bending and kissing her knuckles. His eyes remained locked on hers the entire time; both self preservation and more custom. Manners. Something he all but lost some days when faced with those on the council and others in town.

“No, Child. Stop that.” He said softly. “You are no bother. Here,” a gentle but firm hand turned her toward him and he expertly bandaged her arm for her. “There, much better. Now, you listen here. You are not a bother, not even a little. This might well be the safest place in town, right now, and I would much rather you here than on the street.” He tried to keep his tone gentle, but knew his anger had seeped through a little.

“Thank you,” she repeated softly, speaking around the large lump in her throat. “I just… for everything, really. Thank you.” She still felt a little bad, of course. She knew Vlad enjoyed his solitude, that he wasn’t exactly one to enjoy having anybody pounding on his door at any time, and especially not a blood-covered child in the middle of the night but… she was beyond grateful that he had taken her in and been so kind to her. She owed him everything at this point.

@sanguineousmaster

Giovanna had been in the small town less than a week, hadn’t even finished unpacking her things, but she knew she should make introductions. It was a small town, not exactly her usual choice of locations, and the woman she’d bought the home from had informed her about Vladamir, a man she said was nearly old as time itself. 

Now, Giovanna knew that had to be a bit of a stretch, but as the vampire was clearly older than she, and there was no way she could pretend she didn’t know he existed. This wasn’t San Diego, after all.

A heavy sigh of frustration escaped-- he had told everyone on the Council he was done dealing with them until next week, so this had better be of the utmost importance-- and he set his glass and book aside to go answer the door. A frown was solid on his features when he opened the door to reveal the intruder, horrible language bubbling up through him to toss at whomever had the audacity to bother him.

And then it all just-- stopped.

He starer, a bit dumbfounded, at the woman on his front porch. He was quite certain he hadn't seen her around town before, and even more certain she was a vampire. Surprise had replaced his sour mood, and he opened his mouth to speak. It honestly took a second, and he had to clear his throat and try again.

He smirked in amusement at the man’s reaction to him. He supposed he should have given some warning of his approach, but this was always more entertaining to him. At his age, and in a small town like Nightmare, he had to get his entertainment somewhere.

The Necromancer turned his attention fully on him, and Vlad turned his smirk to a smile and nod of greeting. “I’ve had a lot of Council work.” He admitted. “It often prevents me from the pleasantries I much prefer.”

He let his gaze roam over the scene, taking in the tools and bucket more clearly. He knew Jackson was far more interested in plants than most people, which certainly had to come in handy in the middle of the forest. “New specimens, Sir? I do enjoy seeing your final results.”

Jackson frowned at Vlad’s smirk and shifted his weight between his feet a few times. It always made him a little uncomfortable when people caught him gardening, as he was often accused of growing plants in order to create ridiculous death potions and spells to use on the town.

Finally, the smell of blood had faded greatly, which helped him calm himself. Master vampire or not, the blood of any ‘monster’ during a full moon was enough to get him salivating, and he really didn’t wish to add insult to injury in this situation.

He just finished getting a plate ready– sandwich and potato chips, in case she was hungry– when she came into the kitchen. The smell of blood hit him hard; not the blood of death and dying, drying on her skin that she had arrived with. It was fresh, flowing blood that had him wincing inwardly to restrain himself.

Granted, being a vampire he was probably awake anyways, but that wasn’t really the point. She tried to be polite all the time, especially when she was relying on him to keep her safe.

"No, Child. Stop that." He said softly. "You are no bother. Here," a gentle but firm hand turned her toward him and he expertly bandaged her arm for her. "There, much better. Now, you listen here. You are not a bother, not even a little. This might well be the safest place in town, right now, and I would much rather you here than on the street." He tried to keep his tone gentle, but knew his anger had seeped through a little.

Her response made him smile. He nodded and, despite the different emotions he felt from her, he was confident any difficult situation that may have occurred had been avoided. He shifted his stance slightly to glance back where the broken vase was. Pity, really. But it had been a gift and was nothing he cared too terribly about.

His attention shifted back to the young wolf as his features pinched together in thought. “You wouldn’t happen to fond of chocolate chip cookies, would you?” He had baked some that morning while working through some difficult thought processes. Usually they went to waste, but maybe this batch could have more use than calming his mind.

“Actually,” she paused. Was she really going to eat cookies offered to her by a vampire? Especially one that she had intended to steal from? It was a strange circumstance indeed, but she was no ordinary werewolf that was weak against silver. Sweets, particularly chocolate chip cookies, were her only weakness. She wondered if he knew, or if it was perhaps coincidence, but didn’t give it much more thought.

Emotions flowed around the girl in waves and he had to fight not to take a step back. Wolves were often very good at projecting their emotions, even when they didn’t mean to. Especially then. Being that she was clearly feeling a lot of different emotions at once, this little wolf was projecting heavily.

Vlad smiled gently at her, shaking his head slowly when she apologized, her fear still quite palpable. “Please, don’t fret on it. I can clean up the vase, and so long as you’re not harmed,” he raised a questioning grow and looked at her more directly. “Then all is well. I remember what it was like to be young and impulsive. You are in no danger, Lyra.”

It was surprising to her that he didn’t have a wild and violent temper as she had been taught to believe. And the fact that he was concerned with the well being of a would-be thief was something she didn’t see coming at all. His kindness served to calm her down considerably, and her urge to run away began to fade quickly as well. “No, I’m fine…”

@vilissimus

He didn’t quite know why he was out tonight. Nothing interesting, like the full moon, was going on. But he found himself unable to stay within his home this night. Instead, he wandered the streets of Nightmare, checking on his precious town and doing whatever needed to be done around. It was busy work, and something below him, but it was something he did now and then when he found himself restless.

He’d reached a part of town he knew better than most. Away from the chaos, bar and diner. It put him closer to the forest, and the mountains. It took him away from the racing sounds of blood being pumped through living veins. Of course, not everyone was busy in the center of town, and he soon found himself approaching another.

Jackson was someone he was almost happy to see. Almost. The Necromancer was one that he’d found interesting from his arrival in Nightmare. Unique would be the easiest way to describe him, but it wouldn’t do the man justice. There was just something about the young one that had Vlad’s skin crawling. Necromancers could be dangerous to most vampires– not Vlad, but others. Jackson, however, might have potential against Vlad is he wasn’t so damned skittish. 

“Jackson,” his voice touched the darkness and spread around like a spilled drink. He let a smile form as he stopped. “What brings you out this fine night?”

After being cooped up at home all day long, Jackson was more than happy to get out and take a moonlit stroll. He had a small shovel and a bucket with him and was looking for interesting and wild plants that he didn’t have in his garden at home. He had collected enough samples to keep himself busy for most of the following day and decided that was a good enough start and that he could head home.

He had just come out of the woods when a voice behind him pulled him from his thoughts. He jumped and dropped his bucket, shouting and turning quickly, holding the shovel as if it were a weapon. When he realized that it was only Vlad, he sighed and lowered the shovel and began to retrieve his plant samples.

The Necromancer turned his attention fully on him, and Vlad turned his smirk to a smile and nod of greeting. "I've had a lot of Council work." He admitted. "It often prevents me from the pleasantries I much prefer."

She seemed to take in the room and what he said through her fog, giving him indication that she had registered what he’d said. He was about to turn and leave her to her cleaning when the girl gasped. He spun with inhuman speed, ready to defend, but the child was spewing words out and he saw no danger.

She turned the water on and stripped down as she waited for it to warm up. She tossed her clothes into the trashcan, not wanting anything to do with them, and finally climbed into the shower as steam filled the room.  She lost herself in the hot water, scrubbing the blood off her skin. She stood under the stream until the water finally ran clear, then sunk to the floor. She buried her face in her hands and cried until she had no tears left to cry.

As the water began to cool, she stood and stepped out of the shower, drying herself off before padding to the closet and dressing in borrowed clothes. It was weird wearing clothes that belonged to somebody she hadn’t met, but she didn’t have much choice at the moment.

Finally, the smell of blood had faded greatly, which helped him calm himself. Master vampire or not, the blood of any 'monster' during a full moon was enough to get him salivating, and he really didn't wish to add insult to injury in this situation.

He just finished getting a plate ready-- sandwich and potato chips, in case she was hungry-- when she came into the kitchen. The smell of blood hit him hard; not the blood of death and dying, drying on her skin that she had arrived with. It was fresh, flowing blood that had him wincing inwardly to restrain himself.

“No matter, Child, no matter. You are safe here.” He said softly, moving to press a hand to the small of her back and guide her through the house. “I assume it is your family you speak of? She came to your home, then?” He didn’t need to know who the she was, he knew already. He’d be angry that the girl had come to him and likely let the Huntress there, but she knew where he lived.

She looked around the guest room, so much larger than her own bedroom, and nodded slowly as he told her to shower and get dressed. Clean was good, she didn’t like being covered in blood. She took a few shaky steps towards the bathroom door then stopped, a gasp flowing from her lips.

She seemed to take in the room and what he said through her fog, giving him indication that she had registered what he'd said. He was about to turn and leave her to her cleaning when the girl gasped. He spun with inhuman speed, ready to defend, but the child was spewing words out and he saw no danger.

So focused was he on his task that he didn’t hear the patter of feet approach his home. He didn’t hear anything until the pounding on his door began. Startled, the master vampire slammed a fist onto the wall a moment before he moved to the frantic pounding on his door.

Clearly disheveled and a bit distraught, he reached the door and got hit with scent of it. Blood. More than one person’s and it was tinged with magic. All too familiar a situation and he hesitated to open the door, but the voice drew him to do it. He flung the length of wood open as wide eyes gazed down upon the tiny witch on his porch.

Terrified, she glanced to the door. The vampire was one of the strongest people she knew, she’d be safe here, he’d keep her safe. Tris was also strong, but… she was currently mad at him and his home was on the complete opposite side of town.

"No matter, Child, no matter. You are safe here." He said softly, moving to press a hand to the small of her back and guide her through the house. "I assume it is your family you speak of? She came to your home, then?" He didn't need to know who the she was, he knew already. He'd be angry that the girl had come to him and likely let the Huntress there, but she knew where he lived.

Toni had just finished her shower, changing into her pajamas as she heard a crash downstairs. Confused, she finished pulling on her pajamas, making her way towards the top of the stairs. “Mom, are you okay?” she called out, her brow furrowing for a moment as she made her way to find her parents. There was more crashing and then a scream, and Toni’s heart stopped. “Dad?!

She walked into the living room to find a woman standing in the middle of the room, blood dripping from her sword, her Dad a crumpled pile on the floor. She screamed, reaching out with her magic to attack the woman before she even realized what she was doing.

The rest of the night was a blur of fear and blood, Toni had never been so terrified before in her life. Panicking, and covered in the blood of herself and her family, she ran from her home, heading for the trees and doing her best to lose the crazed woman that was hell bent on killing her.

So focused was he on his task that he didn’t hear the patter of feet approach his home. He didn’t hear anything until the pounding on his door began. Startled, the master vampire slammed a fist onto the wall a moment before he moved to the frantic pounding on his door.

Clearly disheveled and a bit distraught, he reached the door and got hit with scent of it. Blood. More than one person’s and it was tinged with magic. All too familiar a situation and he hesitated to open the door, but the voice drew him to do it. He flung the length of wood open as wide eyes gazed down upon the tiny witch on his porch.

Her words pulled a deep laugh from the master vampire, despite himself. Truth be told, he had a soft spot for the pup. With the mother she had, she couldn’t have many easy days, that was for sure. Why she was in his house at the moment, however, was particularly concerning. 

“I’m not going to kill you, Lyra. But I’d like to talk about why you’re here.” He said as gently as he could. He could feel her heart beating only feet away. It was like a drum against his aura, thump-thump-thumping with her fear of him. 

At least he still that going for him.

It was a relief that she wasn’t going to spend her final moments screaming in the dark hallway of a vampire’s house, but his amusement with the situation caught her off guard. She knew from what few interactions they had in the past that he was intelligent enough to know that hurting her would cause an all out war between vampires and werewolves on a scale that outmatched anything from the long, bloody history the two groups shared. And even though he said he wouldn’t hurt her, she couldn’t help her mother’s voice in the back of her mind telling her to run as far and fast as she could.

“I see,” he pursed his lips as he pretended to mull over the situation. “I just wonder; does it grow tiring for you to never get what you want? Or have you grown used it it by now?

“You think I really care that I didn’t get my way?” She asked, only wanting to leave. She had other pressing matters to attend to.