Merry Christmas, SoFamiliarAGleam: As If They'd Be Anything Else
@sofamiliaragleam (or @hamelinbound and @ringletsandpearls -- I can’t seem to “at” your main) -- I know you’ve currently got more muse for a different account, but I came up with what I feel is the perfect follow-up to your birthday fic starring Claudia in the “Londerland Bloodlines” universe. Alice and Claudia have made it to The Last Round and are chatting with Smilin’ Jack, and the topic of clans happens to come up. . .hope you enjoy!
Claudia blinked up at Jack in a way that could only be described as "doll-like" (meaning that, if anyone did describe it, they'd probably have their head ripped off). "My – what?"
"You know – what kinda vampire you are!" Jack clarified. "Brujah? Gangrel? Tremere?"
"I've – never heard any of those words before in my unlife."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? Didn't you live with your sire for, like, ages? Pal around with other vampires? How could you not know?"
"I'm not entirely sure the vampires who made and raised Claudia work exactly like we do, honestly," Alice admitted, leaning on the table. "I mean, there are a lot of similarities, but. . .clans just don't seem to be as important in Europe as they are over here?"
"Not among the ones in Paris, anyway," Claudia confirmed. "I mean, we had the theater group, but – they never referred to themselves as a clan."
"No, a clan ain't – well, I guess it is a group of vampires," Jack backpedaled, frowning. "But not like that – a group of vampires unlivin' and workin' together, that's what we call a 'coeterie.' Your clan is the blood flowing through you – the powers and curses you have."
"Huh!" Claudia leaned forward, interested. "Nobody ever told me about this. . .how many clans are there?"
"From what I've picked up, there's thirteen 'official' clans, and Caine knows how many smaller 'bloodlines,'" Alice informed her. "Most vampires tend to fall into the official thirteen, though. . .for example, I'm a Malkavian. I get extra insight into things, the ability to see auras, turn invisible, and inflict horrific hallucinations on people, in exchange for incurable mental illness." She sighed and leaned on her hand. "Fortunately for me, I was already used to that, but still."
"Brujah blood here," Jack said proudly, flexing a bicep. "We punch harder, run faster, and can hold the room when we need to. We make sure those assholes up in the ivory towers don't get too big for their britches. And if we have to smash open a few skulls to do it, weeeell. . ."
"And Skelter over there is a Gangrel," Alice added, jerking her head toward the Kindred's usual lurking spot. "Closer to all beasts, both inside and out. He can command spectral animals, grow a terrifying set of claws, and withstand most attacks better than any other Kindred – but apparently the animal stays with you if you lose control and frenzy, and they're a bit more prone to that than most clans."
Claudia frowned, nibbling her lower lip with her fangs. "None of those sound like me – even if I do have a temper," she admitted. "Can I just – not have a clan?"
"Eh – it happens, but not often," Jack told her, frowning. "Though it's been happening a lot oftener these days, which is kinda – getting people nervous." He held up two fingers and ticked them off as he spoke. "You got Thin-Bloods, which are so far removed from the good old 'Dark Father' that their blood's too weak to actually carry clan curses and powers. And then you got Caitiff – they're the sports, the ones where, for whatever reason, the curse don't take properly and they end up just – there." He waved a hand warningly. "Trust me, though, you don't want to declare yourself either of those. They're bottom o'the heap in vampire society – most of 'em end up killed by so-called 'proper' Kindred."
"Not that you need any reminders of how nasty vampires can be to each other," Alice said, shaking her head.
"Mmmm," Claudia grumbled. "So where does a clan come from?"
"Your sire, usually," Jack said. "What was he like?"
"Lestat? Total bastard," Claudia replied bluntly. "And a fop as well – him and Louis. They spent their nights lounging around in fancy clothes and having dramatic arguments about their status as damned creatures. Louis was always bemoaning his fate, while Lestat absolutely reveled in being as much of a jerk to as many people as he possibly could. Occasionally they'd go out to drink someone dry, or buy some shiny trinket for the house that we could all stare at while being moody." She glanced down at her outfit, which was rather frillier than was usual in The Last Round. "I – definitely got my fashion sense from them, if nothing else." She smirked up at them. "So, which of the clans is that annoying to be around?"
Jack laughed. "Oh, that's easy." He stuck out a hand, grinning. "Welcome to Los Angeles, Toreador."
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He’d been here once before. This lovely little home where Lestat had taken up residence with his progeny. Where humans usually would dare not tread unless called for ( lessons, clothing ) for the rule was always “ Never in the house”
Time had passed, years since he had last seen the vampire who let him live. The vampire whom he had grown a great fondess and attachment to. The vampire that was out taking a walk after having a small argument with Claudia and Louis.
But on this chilly December evening there came a knocked upon the door and a gentleman standing in a soldiers uniform stood outside waiting for a response. The uniform was neat and pressed and the gentleman wore a white wig because that was very much the style for the well to do.
The man that stood at the door was a man of status. What could he possibly want?
It was around 4am when he had given up on trying to sleep for the night. It was just going to be yet another occasion it evaded him.
So he had chosen to get up, put some warm clothes on, and head out for a jog. He set his coffee machine to start up in an hour and a half’s time. He was certain he would be back by then, if not sooner.
He had gotten a fair distance from home. He had been admiring the stars in the sky and enjoying the cool crisp air as it washed over his skin.
But then he stopped, certain he had just seen a pair of eyes watching him. He quickly glanced about, not daring to speak at first. He reached into his pocket, placing his hand on the switchblade he carried, just in case...
MORTICIA HELD A SPECIAL GIFT; one that allowed her to recognize slight differences in other people. It’s what allowed her to determine judgement and manipulative tendencies though in truth, it was really nothing more than a feeling. Had it been as accurate as she wished it to be, her family might have been spared its many disappointments when entrusting certain individuals into their lives. In this particular moment though, she can’t help but get that sudden perception now while surrounded by the many assortments of porcelain dolls. She had been in search of a gift for her daughter which inevitably led her to a shop downtown. Not often seen in such places on her own however, she doesn’t seem to mind the occasional stares made in her direction from passerby’s and store clerks. Her own attention eventually falling upon a young girl with golden curls that matched the display of an antique rarity hidden behind a glass casing. Something about the girl however, causes Morticia’s eyes to squint with uncertainty – a chilling feeling – and she’s intrigued. ❝ Do you collect them? ❞ She asks, coming to stand just somewhat behind her while gazing at a shelf adorned with a selection of unique figures, one of them capturing Tish’s attention as one Wednesday might adore.
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The grass was damp with evening dew and it muffled their already cat-soft footsteps as Louis lead Claudia into the woods behind the house. The moon hung low and rounded, as if she had a full belly and lit the forest like the sun for his vampire eyes, painting the hanging lichen curtains that hung about them in deep blue.
His heart was fluttering, sped to a human skip with what he could only describe as nervous excitement. Why was he so nervous? He glanced down at the little girl beside him, her little fingers wrapped around his hand. Because he wanted this to be perfect. He wanted everything to be perfect for her, for his new daughter, his new life. He had stripped her of everything down to her very life, and now he wanted to give her the world. To replace her loss with all of the love he could offer her, and everything her little heart could desire. He watched her eyes glitter in the moonlight and he felt a stirring of love as if she were his own flesh and blood. She was, in a way, now, wasn’t she? His? Theirs?
He felt silly, in a way. This little secret was so important to him, so dazzling in its natural beauty that he was almost terrified of sharing it. What if she didn’t like it? Oh well, he had to try. He had to give her this.
They entered the meadow clearing and thick grasses that smelled of herbs and wild flowers spread before them, carpeting thick along the damp ground and dampening the stockings at their ankles. Nearly each blade of grass was tipped by the glow of a firefly. Louis had found them beautiful in life, but now with the Dark Gift bestowed upon them they seemed to glow like lanterns through the forest night. Now instead of one glittering green he saw a multitude of colours in their tiny wings, and he could hear their gentle hum in the night. He felt he could almost share in their joy and their busy little lives simply by watching them, observing their patterns as they took flight. He could watch them for hours, he had in fact, spent many of his first nights as a vampire simply staring at them. Each tiny wing, each delicate antennae, they were nature’s masterpiece, her glowing jewels that hugged to her bosom and made him feel all of the joy that the dark gift could offer him and for a moment he could simply savour what he had been given and no longer be afraid of it.
He knelt down beside Claudia, still holding her tiny, perfect hand and lifted the jar with his other to offer it to her.
“Do you like them? If you like them, we shall catch them and bring them home with us.”
@ringletsandpearls said:“It’s alright to cry, you know.”
Rumple hadn't even realized the state she was in. Eyes wide, hands squeezing hard enough to draw blood from her palms, shoulders tense. Everyone had said the cave was fine with no chances of collapse. Of course once again “everyone” was wrong. The entrance had in fact collapsed and she had just managed to stumble out of a tiny second entrance while struggling to hold back a panic attack.
Oddly enough one of the first things, or rather one of the first people she saw was what looked like a girl and gazing into those ice blue eyes Rumple sank down onto her knees without thinking. The girl's face swirled in Rumple's vision for a moment becoming another girl, one long since dead and gone bring one faint whisper from the Fae woman. “I'm sorry.” The spell was broken just as fast as it came hearing the comment about crying. “What? I ummm... no, I don't...” Blinking several times Rumple shook her head. “I thought you were someone else for a moment.”
Going from her knees backwards onto her rear Rumple took a long deep breath pushing her hands into the cool dirt under her. “I really don't like being caged and trapped, but I should hardly cry.” Forcing an amused tone into her voice albeit a fake one her eyes went from the girl, to the surrounding area then back to the girl. “So what are you called hmm?”
@ringletsandpearls Tagging the RP blog because, well, the fic was inspired by it! Specifically, it was inspired by the short starter we had with Claudia meeting my Malkavian!Alice in the Londerland Bloodlines verse. I decided to take their initial interaction and run with it. The fic’s set in her “infant immortality” verse, where she escaped death in favor of exile, and touches upon a few things I found while looking her up on Wikipedia. No explicit gore, but there are a few creepy things mentioned, mostly involving decapitation. Not sure how that ended up a thing here. . . Still, hope you enjoy!
"So – your sire made you, and was promptly killed for it?"
"Yes," Alice confirmed as she and Claudia strolled along the sidewalk. "Not that I have any problem with that. I only knew Fish for a few minutes, but the impression he left – well. I tried to cut his head off before the Camarilla ever got the Sheriff's sword anywhere near his neck." She glared at her own clenched fist, remembering that terrifying moment where he'd grabbed her and rasped, "Not. . .deep. . .enough." "I wish I'd succeeded. Wish I'd been able to get away instead of being dragged, kicking and screaming, into this whole bloody mess. No pun intended."
Claudia chuckled anyway, blond curls bouncing. "I understand how you feel. I didn't ask for this life either." She looked up at the moon, its light dim against the powerful neon and halogen glow of the city. "The only reason Lestat saved me from Louis's thirst was so that he could force his beloved to play 'happy families' for a while."
Alice made a face. "A pawn in some other vampire's game. Yes, I understand that all too well myself." She glanced down sympathetically at Claudia. "At least Fish didn't find me when I was a child. I dread to think of what might have happened had he embraced me during my time in Rutledge."
"Nothing good, I'm sure." Claudia sighed deeply, kicking a rock down the street. "I still wish, sometimes, that they'd just let me die with my mother. That Louis had just drained me dry. That – that they had taken me in, saved me, but not turned me until I was older. Given me a chance to blossom." Her pretty little face twisted up with more-than-mortal rage. "It's not fair! I've lived for so long, seen so much – I'm as smart and powerful and cultured as any of you! But almost no one treats me like a person! I'm just a child to them! Just a doll!" She stomped her foot, fists balled up. "I hate it!"
"I would too," Alice said, trying not to think of the Dollmaker fitting porcelain limbs over her own. "You deserved so much better, Claudia. I'm sorry I don't have any way to fix it."
"You talking to me like an equal helps," Claudia replied, closing her eyes as her temper cooled. "And I know better to think that anything's going to change now. I was almost ready once to decapitate myself and try sticking my head on an older vampire's body, did you know that? Fortunately Madeleine talked me out of it." She let out another, heavier sigh. "Frankly, I suppose I should just be happy to still be – around. By all rights, I should have died in Paris years and years ago. Why Armand argued in favor of my exile instead of death by sunlight. . .I guess he just thought it the best way to get me out of the picture without Louis hating him forever."
"And you already told me how well that went," Alice said with a smirk, getting a giggle out of her. "But I don't blame you for still being bitter. I'm probably going to be angry about my Embrace my entire unlife too." She ran her fingers through her hair. "But what can you do but make the best of a bad situation? Find what happiness you can?"
"That's what I've tried to do," Claudia agreed. "With – varying degrees of success, but. . ." She shrugged, then offered a toothy smile. "For what it's worth, though, I'm glad I met you. It's nice to have another vampire to talk to."
"It's nice to have another vampire who isn't ordering me around." Alice looked left and right as they came to an intersection. "So – where to now?"
Claudia pondered a moment. "I want to go to the place where you'd be least likely to find any children at all. Any suggestions?"
Alice grinned. "Oh, I think I know just the bar. And I can't wait to see you tackle Damsel."
