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Post by jarahamee on Mar 8, 2024 1:02:10 GMT -6
Jen’s eyes were wide as she watched Faolan’s face. What was the part that he didn’t understand? There was so little of her left, she could hardly keep it together enough to finish a conversation. How would she go back to living a normal life? How could she begin to exist?
She sighed, her breath disturbingly cold on his face, eyes full of a lifetime of misery and woe. Had it changed her beyond repair?
The vampire paused, and then shook her head slowly. She knew, more than anyone else, that there was no chance she could start again.
Jen nodded. It wasn’t fair, and yet, that was how things had ended up. Unfair, cruel, full of pointless suffering. There was nothing that would improve their situation now.
“It isn’t fair, but I’m here to make it fair, you hear me?”
She rung her hands together, lowering her eyelids. Her jaw set as she spoke. She was determined, but she understood. He was soft, but that was why she was here. To protect his kind.
“You… If I find him… I’ll see to it that… he’s gone. What is he like? His name? His full name. What does he look like? What’s his line?”
Her intent gaze hyper-focused on him again.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Mar 13, 2024 22:43:59 GMT -6
The conversation was feeling increasingly illegal. Faolan twisted his hands in his lap, turning his bracelet over and over.
“Oh, you don’t - you don’t have to. You shouldn’t.” He said, and the concern in his voice was not just for himself. Warren was dangerous and powerful for his age. Violent. Aggressive. Wherever he’d ended up he was sure he’d have cultivated a dedicated following, as he had within the coven.
“But, anyway. His name is Warren Alvarez. He’s Otrava. He’s big…tall, broad shoulders. Dark hair. Tan. Red eyes. Uh. Handsome, I guess, in that kind of scary vampire way.“ Faolan winced inwardly at his description.
“…I have a picture it you want to see it.”
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Post by jarahamee on Mar 13, 2024 23:54:04 GMT -6
Jen turned her head, staring down at Faolan with hyperfocused, predatory intent. The more he said, the greater her interest in this mysterious man appeared to be. Her hands flexed like an eagle’s claws as he described the man and his concerns. Powerful? Cruel? A cult-like following?
She grinned, her sharp teeth adding an uncomfortable edge to the unnatural expression.
“I don’t ever have to do anything. I want to do something. For you, for me… for everyone. Justice… it’s within my grasp at last. I’m no longer powerless. If we cross, and he kills me…”
The woman smiled and shrugged.
“I suppose I would deserve it, wouldn’t I? But I’ve been successful. I’m strong. I’m ruthless, and they don’t see me for what I am until its too late.”
She was confident, cruel, self-righteous. From the rest of the rebel’s handiwork, it was likely she didn’t have any regrets about her deeds. Warren sounded like her kind of target. A vampire who could put up a good fight, and give her a thrill was always high on her list of priorities.
“Show me his picture…”
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Post by qhostqrowls on Mar 14, 2024 22:12:14 GMT -6
“You wouldn’t deserve that.” He protested, but he smiled, faintly, as she continued.
A small, pretty woman like her would be underestimated, especially by someone like Warren. She was cocky, aggressive, violent - but he supposed she’d earned that right.
He nodded, and pulled out his phone. On his lock screen, there was a selfie of himself and Edge holding a disgruntled looking cat, and as he swiped through his camera roll it seemed to stay on that theme. His cat, his partner, a work one here and there, a few of the beach. Documentation of a domestic, mundane life.
Finally, he found the one he was looking for. Warren had his arm around his shoulder, and they were both smiling - the vampires eyes narrowed in what seemed to be genuine affection. The Faolan in the photo had a different haircut, and softer, younger features. He wasn’t sure why he’d kept the photo at all, and sighed a little to himself before turning to show Jen.
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Post by jarahamee on Mar 15, 2024 3:40:43 GMT -6
Jen smiled faintly as she looked at the picture of his current boyfriend, and his pet. Her gaze was almost wistful. A tall, attractive man, dressed not unlike her if she had been a man. The two looked happy together. A part of her wanted to imagine what her life would have been like, had she had the same. Would she have found someone to marry her? Had a cat? Maybe a child? She tried not to think about it, but the thought drifted in the back of her brain. She interrupted her own thoughts, speaking almost to herself.
“You’re… a very nice couple…”
She felt the barest tinge of shame at her lust for this man, even though she had already decided not to pursue him. He was happy. He could be married to someone. He wasn’t going to share her fate.
And then came the picture of Dr. Mura’s Warren. She scowled, curling her upper lip as she took in what she saw. A very young man, and likely a very old vampire. Already a mature man by the time he was turned.
“…He’s… a predator. In every sense. If anyone deserves to be obliterated, it’s that thing in this photo.”
She turned away, trying not to think about what she knew all too well. How many young men and women had he preyed on, fulfilling his own selfish lusts. Controlling completely because they were too young and vulnerable not to know better. Her stomach turned.
“…If…I find him…”
Jen made a slow gesture, drawing her index finger across her neck horizontally. Slow, lingering.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Mar 20, 2024 19:21:35 GMT -6
Faolan half-nodded in apprehensive agreement. Had he just placed a hit on his ex? That was all kinds of illegal and morally wrong, and he watched anxiously as she drew a finger across her neck. Couldn’t make it more clear than that.
“You don’t have to.” He repeated. “I mean. I don’t…I shouldn’t condone any violence towards him.”
Even if he’d deserve every little bit of it, he thought privately. At least he’d managed to steer the violent focus of the conversation away from Domin, who she’d first approached him about.
“Uhm. Also.”
The doctor rifled through the glove drawer, drawing out a notepad and pen. He scribbled down his number, and tore off the page to hand it to Jen.
“My number. In case you need anything. Or if you just want to talk.”
There was still a sadness in his smile - he knew he hadn’t convinced her in the slightest - but also a tinge of hopefulness.
“I’m serious about everything I said. I’ll vouch for you if you change your mind. If you ever need help, I’m here for you.”
It felt stupid to offer help to a being so much more powerful than himself, but really, she did need it.
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Post by jarahamee on Mar 21, 2024 1:11:45 GMT -6
Jen reached out, probably forgetting that on some level, Dr. Mura was terrified of her, and patted his shoulder gently, as if to reassure him. On some level, he wanted this. Revenge. To protect others from what he had suffered, but he knew it wasn’t right to ask.
“If it happens to happen, it won’t come back to you. I’ll just be hunting one more predator. There are so many in this city, and I’ll kill every last one if I stay here long enough….”
She looked out the window wistfully. The sky beyond was dark, as the area beyond the strip mall faded out into the thick surrounding forests. The woods were dense, and people had trouble searching at the highest level.
The vampire’s mouth pursed in surprise as he handed her his number. His number? The second person who had offered their help freely. Within her chest, strangled by anxiety, was a shred of guilt. She had lost so much humanity, did she really deserve any of this?
She took the paper, turned it around, and then carefully placed it in her pocket. Her expression softened a little, and she patted his hand, like a dog that had done something good.
“Oh, don’t worry about me. I will be in touch.”
She opened the door, letting herself out in a smooth, felid motion. The light in the parking lot dimmed as the store officially closed, but she feared nothing. In fact, if some unlucky fellow happened to find her out here, it was his doom he’d be leading himself into. As for her new friend, Jen imagined that Faolan wanted to go on with his evening. Go home to his partner. Put away his groceries.
Jen allowed him on his way.
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Post by qhostqrowls on Mar 21, 2024 8:44:52 GMT -6
Faolan was still scared of the vampire - of her volatile mood, her penchant for violence, but mostly, unfairly, because of what she was. What she had unwillingly become.It wasn’t fair, but nothing about the situation was.
When she reached out he smiled back at her, feeling the chill of her dead skin against his hand. Despite everything, she still had the capacity to be gentle. To be kind. To be sympathetic. If only someone would do the same for her. If only she could see that in herself.
“Oh, I’ll worry anyway.” He said, with a self-deprecating smile. He turned his hand over, squeezing hers briefly . “Get home safe, Jen.”
When the door closed behind her, he let out a breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding. He sat for a moment, letting the dizzying rush of adrenaline pass, heart pounding in his chest. As her silhouette faded into the dark of the night, he felt nothing but a deep sorrow and a strange, heartfelt pang of guilt.
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Post by jarahamee on Mar 22, 2024 0:20:22 GMT -6
END
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