The year is 2020 and Seattle has quickly grown to become one of the vampiric society's finest cities.
The Camarilla rules the city with an iron fist, ensuring the survival of the Kindred, and with it, the
rule of the Masquerade: Their existence must remain a secret to humans, and the Prince of the City sits
at the top of the hierarchy, enforcing the laws of the undead.
The clans of the Camarilla fight for power: It's a game of chess and your next move might determine
the future of all. When push comes to shove, which side will you take - and as a character with the
potential to shift the game, what will your next move be?
SOME RULES ARE UNBREAKABLE
In the past few months, the rate of newly embraced vampires have skyrocketed - most of which has
not been sanctioned by Prince Algernon: The Camarilla have worked day and night trying to track
down the one's responsible, but where one lead ends, another begins. Unable to figure out the culprits
behind the mass-embrace, the Camarilla finds itself caught between trying to restore power and ensuring
that the laws of the Masquerade are not broken - again.
A Blood Hunt has been called, and the Scourge has been sent out - and so the Caitiff are being hunted
down: Nothing but Final Death awaits them.
Calliope enjoyed Seattle for everything that it was, but the fact that it was one of the cities in the United States that offered the less sun, it made blending in with humans easy: As long as the sun didn't gleam through the skies, she could usually wander freely during the daylight hours.
It offered a whole different look upon humanity, than walking among those who preferred the darkness and shelter of night. She didn't mind them, of course, as they were a huge part of why her club was as successful as it was, but there was a whole different kind of beauty to those who preferred day.
Sitting on a bench, Calliope studied the people passing by. Behind her, there was a group of parents - or perhaps nannies, playing with their children: She could feel a tinge of pain at the notion. While she had never really considered herself a mother, there was still something about the thought that she could never have any of her own. She quickly turned her gaze away and it landed upon an elderly couple sitting across from her. Another thing she would never have.
A silent sigh fell from her lips at that. But then, her head snapped up at the sound of someone playing... A guitar? She tilted her head curiously as she stood. Drawing closer to the mesmerizing sound of the notes passing through the air, Calliope's feet walked on their own volition, not paying much attention to where she was walking.
Overcast days were slowly becoming her favorite. With the promise of rain Aeron could pack up her pens and venture out into the day without worry of the fires she feared. Strangely these risky jaunts out into the world made her feel normal again. So much of the last year she has spent in the dark of her apartment, only venturing out for occasional... snacks. She shuddered at the thought. Her base desires were becoming easier to manage but the hunger still got the best of her from time to time.[break][break]
A break from her depressive state was necessary and she spent weeks preparing for every excursion. Making sure she was full and ready to blend with her people, the socialites running the streets and, in this case, parks. Maybe she over prepared, but it didn't matter. She loved being around people, making her relive the feeling of belonging from before this mess.[break][break]
Suddenly her mood soured again. If only she hadn't met... No she wasn't going to let herself ruin her good day. Positives only. Rain in the evening so her whole day was free and all she needed to find company was a busker. Any busker, even a bad one. She just needed...[break][break]
She caught her breath and began plotting her course. Bag over her shoulder, ready for inspiration to strike, though she doubted it would, she march toward the sound that she was positive was catching attention. It was good, great even, and it was exactly what she needed. An excuse to socialize. Music.[break][break]
It was a rare occurrence for Calliope to notice someone from a crowd: She often prided herself in being able to spot the beautiful things among the dirt and ashes of society and yet, that didn't always prove to be the case.
It was kindred reflexes that made her stop just as the blonde crossed her path, nothing else and nothing less. Halting her movement and forcing her body into complete stillness, blue eyes narrowed in on the petite blonde before her: No heartbeat. A fellow kindred, then.
Young, too if years of deduction had taught her anything: The old ones always carried themselves with a sense of importance, almost as if they were the only thing in life that truly mattered. In a way, she supposed that they were. When you lived long enough, things stopped mattering and you looked for new things to entice your bored mind.
Seconds passed and Calliope's body remained perfectly still, as if she was cut out of stone. Then, as if remembering herself, she let out a hollow breath: Years of practice that, too. "Childe." She spoke, as if tasting the words on her tongue. Her tone low enough that only the blonde would hear, and did she prove to be human after all, she would not catch the breathy sound on the air.
A breath. Among the cacophony of sounds Aeron was caught by a breath. Her muscles seized, forcing her to turn toward the sounds origin. She was still getting used to her new senses, and although she tried she couldn't force herself to walk away from the woman before her. For a moment Aeron almost mistook her for a statue, proportions too perfect, still as a mural painted in the air.[break][break]
She couldn't keep herself from admiring the beauty of the woman. She had never seen someone quite so perfect. "Oh. I'm sorry I didn't see you there. Are you on your way the the um..." she paused, the word finally dawning on her. Too late now. Catching her breath she continued. "There's a busker a little ways down. Care to join us?"[break][break]
Maybe she was wrong. Had she spent so long terrified they would come back for her that she had become paranoid? Possibly. Either way this was an excellent opportunity to get back into the swing of company. Besides what are the chances she'd run into another, Kindred she recalled, in the middle of the day?[break][break]
She offered another smile and gestured in the direction of the music, her feet inching their way along through the grass.[break][break]
A simple exhale of breath and her lips forming the word, ‘oh’. That was all it took - all she needed to know that she had, in fact, been right. This girl, this female, was kine. “Us?” she voiced curiously, gaze never leaving the young childe. The girl was nervous. Even without immortality’s gift of perception, that much was obvious.
Still, Calliope found herself curious. And who cared what happened to the cat. The girl plastered a smile on her face as she started moving, and Calliope too, found herself following, as if entranced by the curiosity that now pressed itself to the forefront of her mind.
Was the girl a caitiff or did she belong to a clan? Not hers, surely. She would have known had anyone sired such a beautiful thing. Nor did she reek of power, so she must have been relatively fresh. No more than five decades… no. She seemed far too young - far too...uneasy in her presence. Younger, then.
“I’m glad to see other of my kine, that does not share my blood, also find gems hidden in the dirt.” She lifted her gaze towards the musician ahead. “It’s a rather unusual trait I’ve come to find. It’s very often…” she paused, as if choosing her words carefully, “muddled and buried in favor of other…” she gestured her hand, “...pleasures.” She smiled sweetly at that.
Why were the simplest of things the most jarring. Among the words she struggled to find meaning, but a few questions nagged at her. "Kine? I think I've heard that somewhere before. Unless you're making a pass at me." She glanced back at the woman, before turning her eyes to search the park. She took a deep breath to still her nerves and let her anxiety bleed from her. Why was she so on edge? She had company! Time to capitalize on it.[break][break]
"Not that I mind of course." she paused, her eyes settling on a bench not far ahead of them."That was the 'Royal' we by the way, I think using it makes me sound more studious. Did it work?" She started a light jog to the bench before dropping her bag on it, swaying slightly to the music in the air.[break][break]
Pulling her sketchpad and several pens from her bag she turned on her heels, finally meeting the woman's eyes."You have a fabulous bone structure do you mind if I draw you?" She gives her best smile for a moment before her confidence begins to crack. The anxiety begins to creep back, first forcing her eyes to her materials before infecting her voice.[break][break]
"If that's okay of course. I don't mean to impose I just don't get out much anymore." Her voice changes completely, going from an almost flirtatious purr to being barely more than begging. Her confidence had lasted barely a minute but left her suddenly exhausted. Through her sudden onset shame she lifts her eyes to gauge her, albeit new, companion's reaction.[break][break]
Did the young one not have a sire who taught her all about the vampirc society? It was rare for a childe to be without a sire. For the most part, if they had broken the Masquerade, they were usually executed alongside their maker. But then, on a few occasions, the prince himself managed to scrounge up enough mercy to save the childe. Though, in all honesty, it wasn't much mercy to speak of, as for the most part, they were left without a teacher and got killed anyway. "If I were making a pass at you, you'd know without a doubt." She simply retorted.
"Not at all." Calliope replied without hesitation, but she still offered the girl a smile. "Especially not when it's so obvious you're all alone." Calliope folded her hands before her, fingers interlacing. "But fear not, fledgling, you have nothing to worry from me." Unless the girl's whole existence was a violation against the Masquerade. Without missing a beat, Calliope followed the young girl to the bench and took a seat, one leg lifting to rest over the other.
Calliope followed the girl's movements closely as she started pulling items from her bag: A sketchpad of sorts and some pens. An artist, then. It was only when the girl spoke again that Calliope's blue gaze lifted. Her head tilted curiously, but the smile remained. A nod was all she offered in turn.
Then as the girl rambled on, clearly trying her best not to step on any toes, Calliope issued a small sigh. "For a Kindred, you're awfully anxious." The change in voice and posture was not lost on her, however. "Tell me, young one, are you all alone?" As she spoke, Calliope gestured for the girl to go ahead with her drawing. Her gaze drifted towards the people around them, studying every single shape that crossed their path. "Where is your sire?"
She clapped excitedly and sat in the grass across from the bench, partly for perspective, partly to use her legs as a desk for control. "You say I'd know. I can promise you, I am more adept at missing signals than drivers on the highway." Her focus was barely grazed at first. Words she was just barely familiar with brushing with her psyche, drawing her focus closer and closer to the woman.[break][break]
"I... Yeah. I'm Alone. I had a.. A partner recently but... Well things didn't work out." Her breath was suddenly unsteady, a tightness in her chest grew more claustrophobic the longer she struggled with her focus. When she forced her eyes back to her partly finished sketch it was blurred, everything was fuzzy. It wasn't until drops hit the page that she spoke again.[break][break]
"I am... I have no sire. She didn't... Aeron shook her head and took a deep breath, distancing herself from her thoughts. "You don't need to hear about all that. What I'm interested in now is you. Oh! There's this night club down near my apartment. I think it's called 'Le Isle' or something french sounding like that. Have you ever been? I've never really been a person for the night life but I've found myself with an abundance of free time lately and I was thinking of going." She smiled again, slowly working herself back up the excitement that started today.[break][break]
No more tears Aeron. You need to make the most of this.
A chuckle passed Calliope’s lips as the female before her spoke. «There are worse fates in the workd than missing cues.» she offered simply. She studied her for a moment as the girl sat down in the grass. She seemed slightly more at ease. A good thing, Calliope supposed, though she hadn’t entirely let her walls go down yet.
The girl’s mood immediately changed upon the topic of her being alone with no sire. Calliope had seen quite a few fates like these over the decades and they never got any easier to look at. It was clear that the girl struggled with the topic and Calliope saw no reason to further antagonize her about it. It was simply the way of things. A very good reason as to why all the requests for making more childer had to go through the prince: to avoid fates like these.
The girl quickly changed the topic and an amused smile formed on the blonde’s lips. «L’Asile.» she corrected with perfect pronounciation. «It means the Asylum in french.» she explained. «And I do know of it.» she mused, her head tilting sideways. «After all, I own it.»
Her club was meant to be a safe haven for humans and kindred alike. She had refused to turn it into an Elysium for the simple purpose of not letting it become a feeding den. «It might be a good place for you to make some friends, and allies. No kindred should ever be left to fend for themselves, regardless of their situation.» Paying no heed to whether or not the girl had finished her drawing, Calliope rose to her feet. «Come, childe.»
With that, Calliope started moving in the direction of where her club was located. «Lets get you more familiarized with your kine.»
"Wait now? But I-.. What about-?" With a mighty huff the petite woman closed her sketchbook and rose to her feet. "Fine. You are so lucky you're cute." As she was packing her things away to hurry after Cali found herself wondering what the chances are that she meets another mons- kindred here. During the day. Seattle was a safe haven for them. Us. Shaking the thought away she turned to jog after the woman, taking another moment to admire her figure as she fell in line. [break][break]
"Actually now that I think about it how have I never met you before? I live like five minutes from a business you OWN. Kinda funny actually. A laugh, small but there, as she prattled on, trailing close behind the older woman. "You know my mom loved probable maths like that. One year for mother's day I painted her the solar system so she could have the whole..." A pause. Long enough for her to work out the words.[break][break]
"I just realized I'm talking to much again. Sorry about that. So how does this whole... Kindred thing work?" She tugged at the hem of her top and focused her eyes on her shoes as she listened for her response. She tried to speak as softly as possible but her enthusiasm from meeting a new friend outweighed the need for secrecy. While she had no understanding of Kine tradition she figured their was a reason no one thought they were real. [break][break]
At least the female still had enough guts that her first instinct was to argue with her. Quirking a brow in the girl's direction, a lazy smile formed on the blonde's lips. She could hear the girl shuffle her things together and follow suit. Perfect.
"I thought you said you'd never been to my club." Calliope threw over her shoulder before she turned her head to look at her companion. If the girl had never been, it was no big surprise that the two had never crossed paths. Especially with the girl having no sire to introduce her to the... Other half of Seattle.
Calliope remained quiet, offering the girl a chance to find the words to finish her sentence. "How does it work?" Calliope couldn't begin to describe the ire she felt around the whole process. How could any kindred be so irresponsible to get themselves killed and leave their childe all alone?
"Did your sire teach you nothing before their demise?" She asked, keeping her tone hushed. Calliope continued down the street leading to her club. "Tell me, childe. How long have you been... Dead?"
"Dead?" The words slid from her mouth like a discarded cloth. Nearly freezing her stride at the sound. After a long pause she spoke up again, it was with the same enthusiasm she had held before. "Something like five months. Sam -my sire, I guess- didn't get much of a chance to teach me aside of eating and avoiding... Gluttony."[break][break]
She let out a short sigh before moving closer to her new friend, dropping her voice to barely a breath. "About three months ago Sam had a run in with... She called him 'Prince' so I assume some royalty. It was... A tough night.."[break][break]
With that she drifted slightly away from her companion, staying close but letting her high energy facade fall. She held her breath as they walked, counting the silence while she gathered her composure. Her anxiety with this woman had all but vanished next to the fire sparked at the memory of her sire's demise.[break][break]
Amusement flickered across the blonde's features: While she had realized the girl was new, she hadn't expected her to be quite that new. "I see." She replied thoughtfully. She couldn't remember any Sam, but then, it wasn't as if Calliope knew every single vampire in the city.
Blue eyes followed the girl's movements as she drew closer, but she made no move to pull away. Instead, as the girl spoke again, Calliope simply offered her her undivided attention. "You have a lot to learn, then." Her sire hadn't even gotten the chance to tell the poor girl about the hierarchy of the kindred.
For a moment, Calliope studied the young girl: It was rather clear that she had cared for her sire, but in whatever capacity, Calliope didn't know. As she spoke, she kept her tone hushed, but loud enough for the girl to hear her. "The prince you mentioned is Hector Algernon - the leader of the Camarilla." She said while studying her nails. "We call them princes regardless of gender, but they are essentially what Americans would consider a president, but their jurisdiction is over a city, rather than a country." She continued, lifting her gaze to look at the girl. "Your sire very likely broke the Masquerade by siring you, and as such, was offered final death as punishment."
Eventually, Calliope would lead the two of them away from any listening ears. Opening a side door leading to her now closed club, Calliope gestured for the girl to walk inside. Inside, there was a small hallway with one door leading to the employee area behind the bars, one door leading to a staircase and one leading to a sort of waiting room. Calliope headed straight for the waiting room. The room itself was neatly decorated with no windows in sight. In the middle of the room, there was two couches and between them, a coffee table. Sitting down on one of the couches, Calliope waited for the girl to take a seat herself.
"Hector Algernon. I will have to remember that." The hollow feeling was back. But at least now the monster had a name. "So..." she paused taking in the change of scenery as they entered the back room.[break][break]
She whistled before taking a seat across from Cali. "I can't believe you really own all this. Well I mean I can, actually, you must have put a ton of work and probably a lifetime into this place. Safe have to the... Kindred it is." She stumbled on the word for a moment, her mind being more on her surroundings than her words.[break][break]
She pulled her legs up to cross under her in the chair before dropping her bag on the floor beside them. "So if I'm given a choice I'm gonna have to start with 'what in the world is the Camarilla?' Or whatever you called it. I guess it must be like a nation? A group of vampire city-states?" She laughed to herself for a moment before clearing her throat and stilling herself.[break][break]
