to fight and fall

   acherons lips twisted when she questioned the new member, did he want to dive into the secrets that erebus had. hell he was the heir of this house and he still didn’t know the story of erebus, sometimes he wondered if the other vampire even remembered his previous life, they all liked to look at the vampiric choice of living as some kind of rebirth. erebus made it almost romantic in that way, “you make it sound like there is a war to prepare for.” he responded, a shrug following the words rather innocently – uncharacteristically.

  “from what i gather it’s been at least a hundred years, perhaps erebus was bored. he does make decisions like that most often on his own.” a hand rested over his heart, acting slightly wounded by her words. “i dare say you are the most interesting thing on this planet right now.”

.

“I always find it exciting when one of my favorite Houses adds to their family.” Much less militant sounding, words carefully chosen as not to betray that thought again. Yrsa always wondered when certain vampires, certain Houses, added to their ‘family’. To some, they’ve found, it does mean they’re preparing for war and Yrsa would rather not bare witness to another conflict of the species.

-

He takes her hand without hesitation and the offer to lean against her, as well. She’s one of the few witches that he doesn’t mind being so close to, though there’s still a small part of his brain that reacts when they’re close. Still, he pushes past it with the reminder that they had grown quite close over the years - as odd as it was. “I was actually wondering about the magi that was hurt at the ball, and if you’d heard anything.. or seen.” He cleared his throat, “Siobhan and I could go talk to them, if it hasn’t been done yet.”

     She had heard the distinguish steps long before she heard her name. And an easy smile reached her lips. “Yrsa… I must say I was quite disappointed I didn’t get to… admire your beauty at the ball, I’m quite sure you were a sight to behold, a true tragedy that I missed you.” In all honesty, Narcisse was more than confident the sorcerer had been preoccupied with the witches in matter she held no care for. She fell effortlessly into step with them. “I do hope you enjoyed it? Despite the devastating news.”

  “the beauty of the school is the hands they offer to help, surly the magi will be fine.” eventually, if not it wouldn’t be exactly great. knowing well that would take the situation to the next level though it would offer some interesting events beyond the academies offers. “well - i’m assuming, i haven’t spoken with a good number in a few weeks, we’re all rather caught up in our own thing though i know there’s a new member at the estate. i’m sure they’ll find their way here given the chance. we’re far from interesting in comparison to you though yrsa.” 

.

Wanting to move on from the talk of the attack at the ball, Yrsa just nods her agreement absently and listens to his answer about the House. Erebus, an old and lasting House- one she hadn’t truly expected to make it this long. Now very established and powerful, the witch wonders if he might be slowly making a grab for a throne that doesn’t exist. All the more reason to keep an eye on Acheron, though that might just be an added bonus. 

closed starter for @seidrbond​

It wasn’t often that he made the trip out to the grounds where Yrsa stayed, and for good reason. The graveyard itself made the hair on the nape of his neck stand at attention, and though he couldn’t really prove it - it always gave him a chill. The things he does for those he cares about .. With a sigh he moved through the brush until he spotted them. Cane in hand, he raised his other to grab their attention. “Hopefully I’m not interrupting, love.”

   “you always are – alright i mean.” he clarified, hands crossed behind his back.  sure everyone was some what safe inside, no one would ever be as ‘safe’ as yrsa. between the rotating lifetimes and the fact it was her home if anyone were to survive something within these walls it’d have to be yrsa. most of the time he stepped from people that weren’t house members when they were touchy, yet acheron stayed where he was as yrsa reached out. “well a family friend spoke of the importance of looking well and no one looks well injured or worse.”

.

Finding the beautiful vampire had not been a struggle when Yrsa used a simple tracking spell. “Narcisse.” Calling out to their friend, the sorceress approaches quietly. The darkness around the campus always settled them, the stars blinking brightly above the tree tops. “Walk with me? I could use the company tonight.” Admittedly, Yrsa remains on edge from the events of the ball. 

"I love you."

“Do you blame nature for killing things? Do you place blame in natural disasters taking innocent lives? Do you place a blame on the wolf killing the sheep? No, because that is nature. You place blame on me for vampirism out of fear, maybe shame, but I am no more responsible for those lives than the earthquake is for splitting the Earth.”

She welcomes almost any form of question, her life no real secret from those around her. When it's displayed for all, it's hard to keep private things for just them. This had been one of those things that Yrsa had been able to keep private for so long.

“Of course.” His shoulders fall just ever so slightly, knowing exactly what’s coming before they even say it. Nathan shifts his gaze from Yrsa, over the crowd, eyes narrowing a bit as they naturally find the girl in question. Tearing them away, he looks back down at his companion, “What’s the difference, exactly? I’m of the opinion she’ll get herself hurt if she keeps the trajectory she’s on. Ambition like I’ve never seen in a new blood. If it weren’t me, it would be any professor with power to give her.”

@seidrbond

the news made them feel uncomfortable and exhausted all at once. brows pull together, crease forming between them. what idiot would do something to this magnitude when some of the highest ranking supernaturals were around. they hear murmurs of ‘ new blood ‘ and feel the urge to pinch at the bridge of their nose.   “  great a fucking witch hunt…  “   is muttered under their breath not noticing their proximity of the professor they’d been passing by.

@seidrbond​ .

   “shouldn’t you be with the rest of the witches?” he questioned in a soft tone leaning low to yrsas ear. a lingering ghost of a smirk on his face till he was in front of her, barely a sign of emotion other than a lifted brow. “as they say safety in numbers and apparently there is a hungry vampire, yrsa.” her name slipping out in a tone far different that the rest of his words, it was an unnamable thing. the thing that earned an odd gaze from anyone who knew them both. 

.

His eyebrows raise at the shift in topic, immediately allowing confusion to color his features. At first, he has no idea what she’s talking about - not able to place the Magi in question for a moment before he realizes who exactly she means. “Oh. Yes, Uehara. She’s a shark.” It’s not a compliment. “Determined and very bold, at that. How is this a happier topic, exactly?”

“That I do know.” He murmurs, though the idea of sitting still while they wait for the other shoe to drop makes him uncomfortable. Inaction always has, and though he knows it’s for the best, he still wonders if there isn’t something he could do to put himself and her at ease. “To be honest with you, I can’t remember a time where they weren’t in attendance either. If you hear or see something, I’d ask you to keep me aware of the situation. Something is off.”

@seidrbond​

setting: we don’t talk about Bruno Fight Club

Nikandros’ father was a talented alchemist, introverted and withdrawn, he wasn’t a man who’d had much interest in procreating but had gone through it for bloodlines’ sake. Nik had affinities of his own, but following in the very large footprints of the witches who came before him was a daunting task. Yet, it was something that children of the old blood had to become accustomed to, it wasn’t enough to be strong, or willful, or diligent, you had to be all these things and more to scratch at an impossibly high standard. A standard that felt like a weight at times, but he was a sorcerer and his coven had given him advantages that those born without would only be able to dream about. Nikandros had always been on the in, and because of that he knew it was better to grin and carry that weight rather than be left on the out.  

Professor Yrsa’s secret but elite club was another of these weights, another burden, another expectation, but where this one differed was that Nik found himself looking forward to it. Nerves might find their way to get the better of him still, but at least he could say that magic was the thing that made any burden worth suffering. Ultimately it was magic that would be his escape, and if Yrsa was as old as they said then if he really applied himself then maybe he’d get more out of her lessons than those who’d come before him. 

“Professor?” Suddenly Nik’s throat had gone dry and he had to resist the urge to abandon this pursuit entirely. He felt his palms beginning to sweat, his heart beat kicked up, but he ignored the nervousness that threatened to sabotage him. “My dad- uh,” Fuck, he sounded like an infant. Nikandros cleared his throat, he’d never been great with speaking up to figures of authority but he wasn’t a kid and while this was his first time out in the world without his coven looming over him, he could feel their presence still. “I wanted to talk to you, privately, if that’s okay.”