Water to Blood

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Relationship [[Characters]] [[Codex]] [[Content Warnings|menuwarnings]] <<if $ch2 is "unlocked">>[[Summary]]<</if>>

You're alone. Bloodied. Broken. Pain courses through your veins, weaving itself into the very fabric of your being. Movement is impossible, you stick to the floor, paralyzed. By fear. By panic. By pain. //[[You need to sit up.|P.2]]//

But you can't. The pain turns cold, but you still feel hot. Streams of blood trickle down your body, flesh that once held it back no longer there. Ripped from you. Torn from you. Messy. Careless. Nausea curdles in your core. It forces its way up your bones, spreading to your limbs and to your throat. It feels dry. You can't swallow. Your hands are shaking. Convulsing. Please, make it stop. //[[Please.|P.3]]//

But it won't. And it never does. [[And it never will.|P.4]]

The hunger and pain never leave your side. Your only companions. You do what you must. To deal how you can, to satiate the cravings until the next time. The next time you're gripped, choked, powerless to yourself. Weak. [[Pathetic.|P.5]]

But you get used to the hunger, you get used to the pain. You become numb to your tortmentors, used to their merciless punishments. [[All except one.|P.6]]

You're alone. Always alone. You never get used to the way your chest tugs and groans, trapped within you. Sometimes you're close, a brief respite. A moment for yourself, a moment you pretend that the urge wrapped around your neck does not exist. That it does not weigh so heavily upon your shoulders. //[[That you don't hate yourself.|P.7]]//

It is for a moment you think you're free. Once, then twice. Again and again, there are fleeting periods where you feel //okay//. You feel the burden lessen. Reoccurring moments in time you feel alive. But they are only moments. Moments that become singular. That become short. That stop. It always ends. And always in the same way. With pain. With guilt. [[With blood.|Ch1]]

//You look at your reflection. So much more than what you see but somehow so much less.// --- What are you pronouns? [[They/Them|CC.1.1]] [[She/Her|CC.1.2]] [[He/Him|CC.1.3]]

You go by they/them, is this correct? [[Yes|CC.2]] [[No|CHARACTER CREATION]] <<set $MCgender to "they/them">>\

You go by she/her, is this correct? [[Yes|CC.2]] [[No|CHARACTER CREATION]] <<set $MCgender to "she/her">>\

You go by he/him, is this correct? [[Yes|CC.2]] [[No|CHARACTER CREATION]] <<set $MCgender to "he/him">>\

//You weren't always unsure. Of your soul. Your purpose.// --- //Look at yourself. Look at the lifeless <<cycle "$skincolor" autoselect>> <<option "pale">> <<option "beige">> <<option "tan">> <<option "light brown">> <<option "brown">> <<option "dark brown">> <<option "almost black">> ... <</cycle>> shades of your skin. Any and all <<cycle "$skintone" autoselect>> <<option "coolness">> <<option "warmth">> <<option "neutrality">> ... <</cycle>> drained from it, leaving only a husk.// //[[How did this happen?|CC.3]]// <<if $MCgender is "he/him">>\ <<set $pgen = 0>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $MCgender is "she/her">>\ <<set $pgen = 1>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $MCgender is "they/them">>\ <<set $pgen = 2>>\ <</if>>\

!!Chapter 1: Aqua Vitae [[Next|Ch1.0]] <<set $chapter to "one">>\

//Look again. Closer.// //Crimson cracks through white.// --- //Veins writhe around and drown out the <<cycle "$eyecolor" autoselect>> <<option "brown">> <<option "hazel">> <<option "blue">> <<option "green">> <<option "gray">> ... <</cycle>> color of your eyes.// //[[Muted. Just like you.|CC.4]]//

//Disgusting.// --- //Raise your shaking, straining hands, check if this is real. Sweat and grime soak your// //[[scalp.|CC.4.1]]// //[[hair.|CC.4.2]]//

//Featherlight touches. Barely there. A mirror image.// --- //Slick, heavy, sticky. Adjourned to your head.// //[[Will it ever come off?|CC.5]]

//Featherlight contact. Barely there. A mirror image.// --- //You can barely touch the <<cycle "$haircolor" autoselect>> <<option "brown">> <<option "blonde">> <<option "black">> <<option "gray">> <<option "white">> <<option "red">> <<option "orange">> ... <</cycle>> shades of your hair. Normally of <<cycle "$hairtype" autoselect>> <<option "coily">> <<option "curly">> <<option "wavy">> <<option "straight">> ... <</cycle>> texture, grease has enveloped it. What is usually kept <<cycle "$hairlength" autoselect>>. <<option "short">> <<option "short, cut close to your head">> <<option "short, cut to your chin">> <<option "short, braided">> <<option "short, in locs">> <<option "a medium length">> <<option "a medium length, braided">> <<option "a medium length, in locs">> <<option "cut close to your shoulders">> <<option "long, past your shoulders">> <<option "long, braided">> <<option "long, in locs">> <<option "long">> ... <</cycle>> and <<cycle "$hairstyle" autoselect>>. <<option "pulled back in a ponytail">> <<option "pulled back in a bun">> <<option "pulled back in an intricate braid">> <<option "down naturally">> <<option "up naturally">> <<option "coiffed">> <<option "styled back">> <<option "short to your scalp">> <<option "virtually non-existent">> ... <</cycle>> has been devastated, mangled. [[A perfect reflection of inside.|CC.5]]

//You can't remember. --- What are you doing here? Where is your family? Do you even have a family? Do you have anything? Why can't you feel anything anymore? Try. Try harder. What's your name? <<textbox "$name" "Enter Name" "Entered Name">> <<textbox "$lastname" "Enter Last Name" "Entered Name">> [[The bare minimum.|Prologue.1]]//

Vibrations flow through the air and into your bones. The beat of the music replaces that of the heart. Bodies around you sway and part as you move through the crowd. Colored lights flash, illuminating the patrons as they become one with each other. Sinking into their surroundings, allowing their bodies to crescendo and decrescendo. Completely unperturbed. As they should. You've put together a perfect oasis. A haven. [[Next|Ch1.1]]

Liquor flows, specially catered to each of your guests. Hand picked by your compatriots, made to warm the mind and ease the soul. You may drink, enjoy the taste, imagine what others must feel as the expensive liquid coats their throats. Though you require only one drink to sustain yourself. And while liquid gold may line your pockets, it is not the color of most concern. No, what you crave, what you need, is of a different hue. Crimson ichor. [[Next|Ch1.2]]

Your poison of choice. Blood. The days of running from what you are, what was forced upon you, are long over. Those claws no longer scratch at your throat, they no longer beg or plead. Not with the same desperation. Where others fall victim to their hunger, you've learned to control them, snuff them out when they try and break through. Walking through your brand of sanctuary, you feel connected, warm, at ease. The constant torment and aches numbed behind music and drink. Children of the moon move as one with children of the night. Those whose appearances change at will stay true to themselves as they share spirits with others who do not mutter their incantations but instead chant to the rhythms of the room. [[Next|Ch1.3]]

A turbulent harmony. So many who live different lives, coming together, to forget the day and live in the lights of the night. Though, the doors stay open during the day for those who can only walk at night. A semblance of protection, not in any official manner. No one would dare disturb the symphony of peace you've worked so hard so compose. Because if anyone did, they would be met with vengence, of a force carved from centuries of pain and practiced control. //[[You.|Ch1.4]]//

Continuing your way through the crowd, you survey your kingdom. Tonight is a good night. The end of the week always proves fruitful for you. Although you can't credit //all// of the success to yourself, you see your reflection everywhere. Sewn in the cloth, chipped in the stone, wrought in the metal. Your essence is one with your night club. [[You leaned into the luxury. Chandeliers, arches, gold everywhere.|Gold theme club]] [[You capitalized on your nature. Blacks and grays. Gothic with a blend of modernity.|Goth theme club]] [[You preserved the classics. Neon lights, but better. Pinks, purples, blues but with none of the tackiness.|Neon light theme club]] [[You brought the safety of the night inside. Dark ambience, low orange lights, and shades of crimson.|Dark ambience theme club]] <<set $twins to true>>\

What is the saying? What didn't Midas touch? The white marbling in the low ambient light looks a burnt golden color, glowing highlights are painted on the surface's curves from glasses and bottles behind the bar. The arches that travel from spot to spot wrap together the dance floor, beckoning your guests forward to coalesce under the crystalline features that hang from the ceiling. Dark pillars are adjourned with golden cracks, separating the black and gold upholstery, providing space for those who wish for rest and gossip. A staircase dressed in amber leads you upwards, reflections of yourself encased in black marble bounce off either wall as you make your ascendance. [[Each step appears to illuminate like the sunrise.|Gold, level 2]] <<set $clubtheme to "gold">>\

Dracula, Van Helsing, castles and bats. While you prove the stereotypes to be untrue, that doesn't stop you from capatizing on misconceptions. With flare. gray stone arches surround the bar. White light reflected from the glassware onto the surface gives the monoliths an almost life like glow. The dark columns that travel around the dance floor stand as a beacon, beckoning your guests forward to accept the pull of the music under the crystalline features that hang from the ceiling. Onyx pillars are adjourned with white illuminated cracks, separating the black and gray upholstery, providing space for those who wish for rest and gossip. A staircase encased in dark masonry leads you upwards, white smoke dances up the walls as you make your ascendance. [[Each step appears to grow darker as you walk.|Black, level 2]] <<set $clubtheme to "black">>\

The low neon light aesthetic you've compiled may be common across the night scene, but no one does it like you. Strategically placed bottles and glass enhance the glow of the blues and pinks, illuminating the liquor racks behind the bar. An almost ethereal prescence is given to those serving drinks as they are back lit by softened light. Sleek columns curve around the dance floor, neon wrapping around the base guides your guests to the center, letting them choose their path forward to the music under the crystalline features that hang from the ceiling. White pillars are adjourned with neon illuminated cracks, separating the black upholstery, providing space for those who wish for rest and gossip. A staircase with patterning lights leads you up, reflections of yourself bounce off the mirrored walls as you make your ascendance. [[Each step blinks stronger as you walk.|neon, level 2]] <<set $clubtheme to "neon">>\

Red walls, ceiling, floors. It could be seen as intimidating, but that doesn't stop the line outside your door. A low crimson glow illuminates the bar which is lined with low red neon lines. Light reflected off the glassware burns like fire on the top of the bar. Black marble columns stand guard surrounding the dance floor, beckoning your guests forward to safety, to become one under the ruby glow of crystalline features that hang from the ceiling. Velvet like pillars are adjourned with blackened cracks, separating the leather upholstery, providing space for those who wish for rest and gossip. A staircase dressed in onyx leads you upwards, reflections of yourself encased in black marble bounce off either wall as you make your ascendance. [[Each step appears to bleed as you walk.|Red, level 2]] <<set $clubtheme to "red">>\

Runes decoratively carved into place hum low as the music gets quieter and quieter with each step. Emerging from the staircase grants you a view of the upstairs parlour, where the notes that hang in the air change to warmer and lower tones. Catching the eye of the bartender, you manuever your way towards her, avoiding the tanned leather couches and glass tables. The furniture is highlighted by copper lights, a muted tone of the downstairs ambience. The leather of the barstool creaks as you place yourself in front of the wooden bar. "Evening, boss!" [[Next|Ch1.5 Halley bar]]

!!__CODEX__ <<message 'Vampire' 'uniqueID'>> Vampires, also known as 'lamia' or 'vampyrus', are undead humans. It is theorized that the Curse of Blood is where vampires originate from, much like a plague spread from humans by humans; no vampire is ever born, only created. Origin: Unknown. Lifespan: Indefinite. Diet: Human Blood. Body Variances: Long, sharpened nails, fangs, super strength, super speed and super healing. Higher class: High Vampire Biology: The biology of a vampire is very similar to that of a human with several notable differences. The body still functions normally as long as it's fueled by blood, but when deprived of this resource, it starts to decay, leaving the soul and mind alive while the body reaches a state of 'undeadness'. It has been observed that young vampires must sleep during the day. The daytime proves harmful to them, the sun causing a migraine-like pain to spread throughout the body, often immobilizing the vampire until sunset. Older vampires, however, sleep significantly less and can openly walk in the sun. It has been noted that older vampires are forced into a dead-like slumber once a month; where they are most vulnerable as nothing will wake them. This sleep can last anywhere from one to three days. Vampire venom is a liquid that vampires produce, much like snakes, in order to placate their victims. The victim feels a sense of euphoria, whether this be of a sensual or cathartic nature depends on the victims themselves. Vampires can choose not to release their venom, letting the victim feel their fangs digging through their skin but the victim is still conscious. A human is turned into a vampire only if they die with a vampire's venom coursing throughout their entire body. The timing must be perfect and intentional for a successful transformation. Vampires have a tendency to go into a fugue state known as 'Blood Lust' or the lesser known colloquial, "lost". When a vampire does not feed frequently, their primal instincts of survival take over. Many have been known to kill friends or family in this state of confusion. Signs of blood lust may include colored over sclera and veins surrounding the eye region. It has been tested that vampires only die in one of five ways: Decapitation: the removal of head from body Burned alive Wooden stake to the heart (wood has been noted as a vampiric weakness, crippling the vampire wherever striked) Removal of the heart from body Werewolf bite filled with veru <</message>> <<message 'High vampire' 'uniqueID'>> High vampires are a subclass of vampires. These vampires are older, at least a century old, and much more dangerous. High vampires are capable of higher transformation and much harder to kill, as they are in control of their bodies. Origin: Unknown. Lifespan: Indefinite. Diet: Human Blood. Higher Transformation: Bestial form, Cloud form Lower class: Vampire Biology: The longer a vampire lives, the closer to a bat or the undead they resemble when experiencing heightened emotions. Only in older vampires will their skin turn to almost leather tightening around their body, face hollowing. High vampires are often most feared not only for this otherworldly appearance, but for the control they have over their bodies. Unlike younger vampires, high vampires rarely lose themselves to blood lust. Some high vampires are capable of higher transformation. Such transformations have rarely been studied but researches have observed two common forms: Bestial form and cloud form. Bestial form is when the body of the vampire mutates into a demonic, bat-like beast. Cloud form is when the body of the vampire dissipates into a black like fog, able to fly from point to point. When a high vampire transforms, it is said that all control the vampire once had is reset. No further information is available on this. It has been theorized that the mental state of high vampires is easily compromised, the mind not programmed to run forever. High vampires that surround themselves with a colony, or other people, have a high success rate of achieving mental stability. <</message>> <<message 'Werewolf' 'uniqueID'>> Myths all around the world claim werewolves to be half-human, half-wolf hybrids. This myth is simply not true. Werewolves are both human and wolf Origin: The first Lover. Lifespan: 150-200 years. Types: Alpha, beta, pack wolves Body Variances: stronger than humans, advanced healing, wolf transformation. Biology: Just like that of a human, werewolves are not part wolf, part human. Werewolves are full humans, capable of transforming into a full wolf. Though, their wolf counterpart is not like a typical wolf. While average wolves can stand up to three feet tall, werewolves can stand as high as five feet tall. The bulk body mass of a werewolf is over twice the weight of a normal wolf. Debunked through experiments, the myth of the full moon turning werewolves into uncontrollable creatures is one of fairy tales. Instead, it has been observed that pack wolves become extremely pliant or suggestable during the full moon, those with lesser willpower following the whim of those with more. This is why packs have Alphas and Betas, the will of the Alpha controls the pack during full moons, often protecting them from outsiders who would take advantage of this weakness. Alphas and betas are rare and are capable of higher transformation from their wolf form. While pack wolves are four-legged wolves, Alphas and Betas can further this transformation into large, bipedal wolves, often looking like the beasts from movies. Bipedal wolves are faster, stronger and more viscous than pack wolves. Their bulky arms hang low, knife-like nails protruding from their fingers. Their jaws stretch wide enough that it has been theorized they unhinge completely. While Alphas are always stronger than Betas, Betas can also take over as an alpha. One myth from the movies does prove to be true: their weakness to silver. Something within the molecular structure of this flimsy metal weakens the werewolves greatly, causing fatigue, confusion, and a lingering burning sensation. Werewolves also are able to excrete a liquid called 'werewolf veru', which is a natural poison to vampires and also contain healing properties. Werewolf veru is highly coveted for these reasons, the trade of them becoming illegal for the painful extraction process. <</message>> <<message 'Nephilims, cambions and demons' 'uniqueID'>> Nephilims, cambions and demons can all be classified under the human term, 'Otherworlds'. This term is used to describe these creatures as it is theorized that they do not originate from Earth. Not much is known about these species. Nephilims: Said to be born from a human encounter with a celestial creature. The true origins are highly unknown. Nephilims are widely known to hunt demons, their celestial presence protecting them from demon's persuasion. Nephilims have large, feathered wings and while they are capable of flight, often try to hide their presence. Cambions: Said to be born from a human encounter with a demon. The true origins are highly unknown. Cambions keep to themselves, rarely living out openly in society. It is said that their leathered wings and dark aura often scare humans, who out of fear, drive these creatures away. Demons: Origins are highly unknown. Demons often trick other creatures into creating deals with them, deals that often result in short lived victory and always end in agony or death. Demons blend in with humans quite easily, only Nephilims are known for being able to sense a demon's true aura. <</message>> <<message 'Witches' 'uniqueID'>>Witches are humans with magical inclinations. The origin of witches go back as old as time and are often known to be the catalyst of everything supernatural. There is nothing special about the appearance of a witch. Their powers range greatly and differ from witch to witch. How magic is passed down through a family is unknown. <</message>> <<message 'Weres' 'uniqueID'>>Weres is an over encompassing term to describe any animal shifter. Werewolf is the most notable example. Other types of weres include werebears or weretigers. Other types of weres besides werewolves are often rare and don't have any hierarchical system to their species. <</message>> <<message 'Shifters' 'uniqueID'>>Shifters are often confused with weres, but are completely different. While weres can transform into an animal or beast, shifters are humans that can only change their appearance. Shifters can change their face, their skin, their hair, but cannot change the size of their body. The mass of the shifter always stays the same, whether it means a shifter stays with the same body type or redistributes it throughout the new body. Shifters often go through an immense amount of pain to change their appearance. True shape shifters are extremely rare. <</message>> <<message 'High Council' 'uniqueID'>>The High Council is a group of high vampires that somewhat govern all vampires; there are two councils for the Earth. Originally, they kept the hunters from wiping out all vampires, showing the humanity of the creatures called blood suckers and creating treaties with humans and werewolves. Since that fateful year, the High Council has employed other high vampires to keep other younger vampires in check. The responsibility of these high vampires vary from place to place. Every year, the High Council meets with leaders from the werewolves, humans and the otherworlds to renegotiate and renew these treaties and expectations. Members of the High Council: //Redacted// <</message>> <<message 'The Packs' 'uniqueID'>>The Packs is an assembly of 'Alphas' that meet to discuss the power dynamics in differing parts of the world. Their job is to ensure no one pack gets too powerful and to keep the spread of alphas evenly distributed throughout packs. One alpha from each region is selected by the other alphas of the region to report their needs and interests to The Packs. <</message>> <<message 'Hunters and the Hunters Guild' 'uniqueID'>>Hunters are humans employed to take care of any supernatural disturbances to humans. In the past, anyone could be a hunter, simply pick up a stake or silver bullet and it counted. Modern days have advanced the hunter occupation and formed them into an organization called the Hunter's Guild. The Hunter's Guild has taken over regulation of the hunters and has locations in every major city. The guild has implemented intense measures to ensure the guild's success. ==Hunters must become specialized to be employed at the guild. Specialization occurs when the potential hunter injects a serum into their blood, corresponding to the supernatural creature they want to specialize in. Vampire or werewolf hunters must inject themselves with venom or veru, respectively, and if they survive the process, they become official Hunters. Their blood now allows the hunter to sense the supernatural creature, empowering their reflexes to be more effective in evading the creature.== //Redacted// The measures implemented ensure the safety of the human race, in a time of super powered beasts no longer hiding in the shadows. Any and all precautions to preserve life are taken. Any other questions about the Hunter's Guild can be found and answered on their website. <</message>> <<back [[Return to Game.|$return]]>>

"Hi there, Halley." Before you stands one of the two head bartenders. Freckles and long dark brown hair pulled into a ponytail do well to highlight her hazel eyes and golden tanned skin tones. Her black t-shirt is tight and accuentuates her slender arms. You watch as she starts preparing a drink, grabbing the cocktail jigger from behind. She twice pours a clear liquid into one end, emptying it into a slender glass. "How's it looking tonight?" She asks, quickly wiping her hands on a white towel that hangs from her waist. She reaches for a lime, relieving it of its liquids, and throws it to the side, next reaching for a bundle of green leaves and spoonfuls of sugar. Your nose is greeted by the fresh and crisp scent of mint as she muddles it. Delicately, she sprinkles the contents into the glass, long lashes raising up as she looks at a patron across the way. "We'll have a full night ahead of us. Don't wear yourself out too quickly." You send her a knowing smile and start playing with a toothpick to the side. Her gentle lips curve into a smirk, dimples revealing themselves, as she picks up a bottle of sparkling liquid. [[A small burst of mist floats out of the glass.|Ch1.5.1 Halley Bar]] <<notify 2s>>Characters Unlocked: The Staff<</notify>>\ <<set $halleykade to "unlocked">>\

She leans onto the counter, one hand supporting her face, the other stirring the drink with a wooden mixer. Light and inconsistent footsteps patter from behind you. An overwhelming smell of sugar and vanilla attack your senses as a blonde woman places her red painted hands on the bar. She looks at Halley, but before she can say anything, Halley slides the drink she'd just concocted over to her. The woman's green eyes widen as she looks to you and then back to Halley. Gingerly, she retrieves the glass and takes a sip. Her eyelashes almost stick to the top of her lids. "How did you know?" Still resting on her hand, Halley tilts her head, "I can't reveal my secrets //this// early in the night, now can I?" A mirth filled wink is sent her way. The patron stutters her smile for a moment while placing a large tip on the counter, then blushes her thanks and walks off. "Too easy," Halley muses while counting the money. She lifts her head and turns back to you, "I know you don't let us read your thoughts, so I'll ask, would you like your usual?" [[You drum your fingers across the bar. "Yeah, I'll take a whiskey"|Ch1.5.1 whiskey]] [[You smile. "Sure, I'll take a glass of wine, thank you."|Ch1.5.1 wine]] [[You think for a second. "If it's on tap- sure, thanks, Halley."'|Ch1.5.1 beer or cider]] [["I'd love a glass of water," you reply and flick the toothpick aside.|Ch1.5.1 water]] [["Not tonight, thank you though." You look over your shoulder for a second and turn back.|Ch1.5.1 no drink]]

"Yeah, I'll take a whiskey, please." She turns around to grab a glass, short black apron fluttering from the movement. "Sour, Manhattan, Rob Roy, Old Fashioned?" You're about to answer when she winks again. "Just kidding, I know what you like, boss." And gracefully slides your glass over, stopping perfectly in front of you. You're beginning to sip your drink when you see Halley's movements falter for a moment. [[You watch as her eyes glaze over.|Ch1.5.2 Halley Bar]] <<set $drink to "whiskey">>\

"Sure, I'll take that glass of wine, thank you." She turns around to grab a glass, short black apron fluttering from the movement. "Red, white, sparkling, dessert?" You're about to answer when she winks again. "Just kidding, I know what you like, boss." And gracefully places your glass down with a small //clink//. You're beginning to sip your drink when you see Halley's movements falter for a moment. [[You watch as her eyes glaze over.|Ch1.5.2 Halley Bar]] <<set $drink to "wine">>\

"If it's on tap- sure, thanks, Halley." "I think you're in luck." She turns around to grab a glass, short black apron fluttering from the movement. "Cider, ale, stout, bitter?" You're about to answer when she winks again. "Just kidding, I know what you like, boss." She pulls the tap then gracefully slides your glass over, keeping all the contents contained. You're beginning to sip your drink when you see Halley's movements falter for a moment. [[You watch as her eyes glaze over.|Ch1.5.2 Halley Bar]] <<set $drink to "beercider">>\

They twinkle with a golden sheen, each flake shining in her hazel eyes. "It's Kade," she puts her hands over her ears and frowns. "He's saying... crap." She scratches the patterned scar twisting its way through the freckles on her chest. "He can't focus, it's not clear," she rolls her eyes. "He said your name but not much else. You might wanna make your way back down there." [[You gnaw on your lip, "I hope he's okay."|Ch1 mc protective]] [["I'd rather spend more time up here," you give her a coy smile, "with my favorite bartender."|Ch1 mc silly]] [["Alright, I'll head over," you reply.|ch1mcneutral]]

"Actually, I'd love a glass of water." She turns around to grab a glass, short black apron fluttering from the movement. "Iced, tempered, warm, sparkling?" You're about to answer when she winks again. "Just kidding, I know what you like, boss." And gracefully slides your glass over, keeping all the water contained. You're beginning to sip your drink when you see Halley's movements falter for a moment. [[You watch as her eyes glaze over.|Ch1.5.2 Halley Bar]] <<set $drink to "water">>\

"Not tonight, thank you though." You look over your shoulder then turn back to face her. "Not a problem." Her gaze shifts back down to finish counting the paper in her hand. Clicking her tongue, she shoves the bills in the small black apron draped around her. "You know, I bet you I could do better-" [[Her eyes glaze over, interrupting her train of thought.|Ch1.5.2 Halley Bar]]

As you walk down, stairs reacting to your movements, you take a moment and adjust your clothing. Your outfits for the night depend on how you're feeling but you trend towards <<cycle "$clothingtype" autoselect>> <<option "smart and sleek">> <<option "vintage and classy">> <<option "artsy and creative">> <<option "grunge and edgy">> <<option "chic and elegant">> <<option "bohemian and unique">> <<option "sexy and strapping">> <<option "business but hot">> ... <</cycle>> and prefer colors and shades of <<cycle "$clothingcolor" autoselect>> <<option "beiges and creams">> <<option "blacks and whites">> <<option "all black">> <<option "all white">> <<option "warm jewel tones">> <<option "cool jewel tones">> <<option "warm pastels">> <<option "cool pastels">> <<option "brightness and vibrancy">> <<option "dark reds and crimsons">> ... <</cycle>>. The cloth looks amazing clinging to your body, you can't deny it. You are <<cycle "$height" autoselect>> <<option "shorter than most">> <<option "generally average">> <<option "taller than most">> ... <</cycle>> height wise and your clothing compliments it perfectly. When you reach the bottom the air becomes dense, heavy and a little moist. Then you're submersed again. The crowd moves as one, swaying back and forth, up and down to the beat of the music. Passing body after body, you come to a stop. The bar is packed, people not so much lined up, more sardined around the couple bartenders you have. You stand away from the crowd, trying to get eyes on Kade before you have to dive in. [[That's when you notice him.|Twitchy vampi]]

Anna Helena Aleera Gabriel Velkan

Double-click this passage to edit it.

You watch him for a second more, waiting to see if he discontinues his erratic behavior. But his fangs grow long, they stick out from his thick upper lip, dig into the flesh of his bottom. Blood drips from their penetrations, a stark contrast to his lifeless beiged skin. You watch as his blue-green eyes are eclipsed by the buldging red veins in his sceleras. Blood lust is clear enough. His eyes snatch on to a shorter person a few feet away. Their mousey brown hair is pulled up into a bun, sweat trickling down their honeyed tan neck. It's smeared in place as the patron wipes it away, dragging it around with the golden rings on their fingers. The body of the vampire tenses in on itself, preparing to pounce, preparing to hunt. His left foot leaves the ground. [[But so does yours.|Grab Him]]

His face is sleek and wet as you grab under his jaw. Pupils dilated so only a sliver of its previous colors remain. Sweat beads up on his forehead, breaking under the tension. Blood and salt drip down his chin and onto your hand. A reeking sweet odor assaults your face, smelling as if honey could spoil. The closer you bring his face to yours, in an attempt to hide the scene, the worse the smell gets. For a second, you wonder if it's worth keeping the customers feeling safe, but you quickly forget that thought. Your other arm grapples with his own, a struggle you're just barely winning as you try and balance him. His other hand comes up to pull his jaw free. And it begins to slip. The grease of his face inhibits you from keeping a firm grip. His nails grow into claws, cutting into your arms and tendons, making it harder to hold your grasp. His blue challenges your $eyecolor as he bares his fangs. The bones in your hand ache with a dull pain as your own nails turn to claws, tearing back into his skin. Reaffirming your dominance. [[All your teeth turn sharp, pointed and malicious.|rex]] [[Your top canines grow jagged and long, unatural and wrong.|hollywood]] [[Your top and bottom canines grow past each other, unsettling and with warning.|wolf]]

The wind hits your face, clothes fluttering from the change in pressure. Vibrations from the music leave your bones and float into the dappled sky. The quiet thrumming mixes in with the traffic of the night and you for a moment close your eyes and let the air touch you. The other man stands by the wall opposite the door, restraining the young vampire to the brick. His suit is barely wrinkled, black hair sweeping off of his shoulders and out of his face. The only sign of struggle is the few strands of hair tangled in his beard. Once you open your eyes, he throws the young vampire against a line of communal dumpsters, wet and sticky. The metal pangs and bends under the force, a pungent smell wafting past your nose, a mixture of sweet and stale. The young vampire's face crinkles in on itself. "He's lost to us," you make note. Young vampires can't control their blood lust once triggered. He's dangerous and will hunt until he gets his fix. Blue eyes look back at the two of you, pupils shot, green veins around his eyes prominent and buldging. With a snarl, his fangs grow even longer, top and bottom canines grinding against each other. Finger nails scratching at the metal with a long whine. A small quirk of the lips is the only warning you get. [[He takes off into the alley.|Running]]

The two of you are left standing there. You need to decide, now, if you are going to hunt him down. The city is large and he's fast. If you decide not to track him down, the city's hunters will find him and most likely kill him. As the High Vampire of the city, it's on you to protect vampires' reputations amoungst the humans. It's still their city, they outnumber you, so you play nice for a place to live. The stranger's dark eyes lock with yours as you silently deliberate. "I can help," he says. [[Hunt him.|Hunting lost tho]] [[Hunt him on your own.|huntingonown]]

You shake your head, "he'll learn to be a vampire the hard way." "Why is it my call?" You cross your arms to face this strange man. He throws you a small smile while placing his hands in pockets of his navy blue suit. "It's your club. Your patron. //Your// responsibility." Your lips purse out, "and how do you figure it's //my// club?" His smile evens out as he glances to the wall then back to you. "The air that surrounds you, the way you walk, how you carry yourself." You look at him and he gives a small shrug. [["Please, do tell, how is it that I carry myself?" ♥|Flirting w/strangersss]] [["Please, do tell, how is it that I carry myself?"|Friendly w/strangersss]]

You think for a second before taking out your phone. "I know someone in the police department, she can handle it." He smiles, "powerful and connected. I like it." -//''Hey, there's a blood thirsty vampire on the loose, just fyi.''// A second goes by before your phone vibrates back -//''Exactly what I want to hear on my Friday night off.''// -//''Why can't you take care of it?''// You bite your lip before responding. -//''I'm busy.''// ... -//''You're an ass.''// -//''Fine. But you owe me.''// One last reply and you can end this conversation. [[Thank you!!! <3 <3 <3 (Flirt)|Flrity textg [[Thank you!|normal texting [[Thanks.|asshole texting <3 <<set $amtext to "true">>\

Curiously, you tilt your head, a grin growing on your face. "Oh really? Please, do tell, how is it that I carry myself?" The evened smile morphs into something crooked, one end reaching higher on his face than the other. He glances at the ground and takes a step towards you, hands still in his pockets. "You carry yourself with the air of a volcano." His eyes lower and voice fills with gravel. "Capable of mass destruction, burning everybody you know and love, devouring them with your power." He looks back up. "However, you also withstand not just the slamming tides of the ocean but the howling of the winds that try, to no avail, bend you." He softens his gaze. "You carry yourself with the power of a volcano, humbling and breath taking." [[Flirt back. ♥|Flirt back]] [[Reject his advances, politely.|no flrity flirt]]

You saunter a step closer, close enough to smell the deep rain and fresh pine that drift off his body, almost losing yourself in the smell the same way people get lost in the woods. Memories come to you of wandering alone, surrounded only by the pattering of rain trickling off the leaves of the trees that encompass you, wet bark scratching against your fingertips, leaving only small prickly traces behind. The further you walk, the further you're lost. You blink out of your daze and watch him. "Those are mighty words coming from a stranger." And yet again, with the smallest of shrugs, he smiles at you. "It's just a hunch. But I'd love to see it proved right, if you'd have me." [[Forget about the fledgling, let's get back inside.|Oh hell yes mr stanger]] <<set $sflirt to true>>\

"You're telling me I have to choose between an evening with a handsome stranger or running around the streets looking for some blood crazed vampire?" You give him a dramatic incredulous look. He walks back towards the club, taking his hands out of his pockets and holding the door open. "I might be able to help with that decision" he gestures inside, "but it does involve me buying you the metaphorical, or literal, drink." "Who am I to argue with that." You smile at him and nod your head as you walk past. The music is clearer now, atmosphere once again sticky with drink and sweat. Before leading him to the bar, you hold a hand up for pause. He comes to stop slightly behind you, hands hovering, not touching, around your lower back. [["Follow me," and with a small smile, you lead the way.|Bar flirting straner]]

<<set $silly to 0>> <<set $prot to 0>> <<set $human to 0>> <<set $werewolf to 0>> <<set $vampire to 0>> <<set $rxt to 0>> <<set $pce to 0>> <<set $Axrom to 0>> <<set $Afrom to 0>> <<set $Edirom to 0>> <<set $Amrom to 0>> <<set $AEtension to 0>> <<set $Grom to 0>> <<set $flirtbold to 0>> <<set $flirtsub to 0>> <<set $flirtemot to 0>>

//Being undead has many vices. Consequences of such included guilt. And it ate at you more than the hunger. More than the fear of discovery or the fear of death. It became almost impossible to cope. Your mind began to give in on itself, tear itself apart, swallow itself whole. Leaving you barely a walking husk. Body moving only to feed, stripped down to its biological need for survival. Not because you wanted to. But because it made you. [[You weren't living.|Aflashback 1]]//

//Maybe it was because you became a nightmare by yourself. The living dead. Nobody to talk to. Nobody to communicate with. Isolated. Alone. A killer. [[How did you live with yourself?|Aflashback 2]]//

//You didn't. Couldn't. So you stopped. Stopped hunting, murdering. You let yourself starve. The last steps you took on your own were in a forest. Surrounded by the trees. Looming, judging, shaming you. The wind didn't blow, the river didn't flow. Silence stood by as you started to rot alive. [[But you weren't alone.|Aflashback 3]]//

//?aHe picked you up, took pity on you, fed you, forced you to live. And you talked. You shared about how it hurt, how you bled, how you hated yourself. How you were always alone. Always felt shame for your existence. ?aHe opened ?ahimself to you as well. Shared the burden. Shared the pain. ?aHe was much like you. [[Eventually you separated.|Aflashback 4]]//

//But you felt lighter. Not better. But lighter. In the same manner, you forced yourself to live. You taught yourself how to cope. Slowly. Not all at once. And only one problem at a time. [[Each year yielded new hurdles.|Aflashback 5]]//

//Some were harder, some were easier. The variance was never constant. Always changing. Always fighting you. And sometimes you would fall. You would fall and fall and when you thought the darkness would take you, you were pulled up. [[Again.|Aflashback 6]]//

//By pure chance. ?Arlo found you and ?ahe helped you back to your feet, helped you pull yourself out. And again the two of you shared in the pain. The guilt. [[Again you felt lighter.|Aflashback 7]]//

//The next time you met, it was ?ahim who was trapped. Buried in ?ahimself, rotting in self doubt, crippled by hunger. Then it happened. ?aHis skin started to lift from itself. Tear itself apart bit by bit. ?aHe was no longer whole. Bits of ?ahimself screamed in the air, swarmed and flocked. [[But you helped.|Aflashback 8]]//

//Just like ?ahe did. And when your skin hardened, calcified, ripped open. When protrusions tore open your back, jutted out from your head and claws bled through your fingernails. ?aHe was there. Time and time again, the two of you carried the weight of the other. The periods in between meetings were unknown but became shorter until you no longer left the other's side. [[You became companions.|Aflashback 9.1 just fenz]] [[You became companions. And then more.|Aflashback 9.2 more than frenz]]//

//You shared your lives for a time. Traveling and exploring. Watching as the world around you changed while you remained stagnant. You were living. Finally. The companionship you had was breathless, wordless. It was a loyalty you had never experienced before and neither had ?ahe. [[There was a mutual understanding.|Afrenz 1]]//

//You shared your lives for a time. Traveling and exploring. Watching as the world around you changed while you remained stagnant. You were living. Finally. But something more than companionship kept you two together. It was wordless, breathless. It didn't have to be. There was a mutual understanding. And then you shared more than just your pain. [[You shared yourself. You shared your body, your heart, your mind.|Apastromancesezz]] [[You shared yourself. You shared everything you wanted to give.|Apastromancepoetry]]// <<set $exlover to true>>\

//Your days and nights. Your mornings. And ?ahe shared ?ahers back. You became intimate with each breath ?ahe left on your skin. The marks left on your throat. The noises ?ahe made when you drank ?ahim in. ?aHe was quickly addicted to you too. Never fully satisfied, always wanting more. To feel how you burned for ?ahim, always chasing the buzz ?ahe felt after ?ahe was done tasting every inch of you. ?aHe became a drink that satiated you like no other and ?ahe too was parched. The sweet nothings whispered in your ears only served to fill you up more and more. Promises traded back and forth inebriated you, blinded you. Just as they did ?ahim. When you stumbled so did ?ahe. When ?ahe faultered, so did you. And it wasn't until you dried out that it became clear. [[It became clear how much it burned on the way down.|Auhoh 1]]// <<set $aintimate to true>>\

//Your desires, your fears, your hopes. And ?ahe shared ?ahers back. ?aHe became a drink that satiated you like no other. Your cravings for blood were outweighed by your need for ?ahim and the way ?ahe looked at you was mirrored and then some. What the two of you shared was not observed by others but felt in each other's prescence. Quickly, you were intoxicated, drunk on ?ahim. Almost addicted. The sweet nothings whispered in your ears only served to fill you up more and more. Promises traded back and forth inebriated you, blinded you. Just as they did ?ahim. When you stumbled so did ?ahe. When ?ahe faultered, so did you. And it wasn't until you dried out that it became clear. [[It became clear how much it burned on the way down.|Auhoh 1]]//

//Your throat scratched from the promises whispered. Promises that became just that. Whispers. Nothing more. The sweet nothings were empty. They were emptied. By ?ahim. All at once and without explanation. ?aHe was gone. [[Once again. You were alone.|a left wow]]//

//Time passed by without ?ahim. You moved on. Never understanding what happened or why. If ?ahe was dead. Or if ?ahe just left. Why you couldn't save ?ahim. Or why you weren't enough. Why you didn't get a reason. Why you deserved to be alone. How it was your fault. Because it had to be. Why else would ?ahe be gone. ?aHe was probably dead. Unless ?ahe wasn't. Unless you did something. What did you do, $name?// ''//[[What did you do-|Back to present.]]//''

"-$name?" Eddies hands are on your shoulders, concern furrowed in ?eher eyebrows, worry painted in the wrinkles on ?eher forehead. ?eHer hands are tight and steadying as your eyes refuse to meet ?eher own. You take a moment to collect youself, focusing on the single crease on the left arm of Eddie's pale blue button up. "Is ?ahe at the front?" Your voice cracks. Bury it. Again. Your eyes finally meet Eddie's. "Yeah, Kaylen is with ?ahim now." Eddie backs up, giving you space. "Do you want her to send ?ahim away? Want me to?" "No," you hesitate. "I'll go." [[End of Chapter 1.|end of ch 1]] <<set $ch2 to "unlocked">>\

//When ?ahe fell, you picked ?ahim up. When you stumbled, ?ahe balanced you. The two of you had something that was unspoken, felt, only between you and ?ahim. You would die for ?ahim and ?ahe would for you. In a sense, you did. When the hunters came, ?ahe played as the prey and you were the predator. Together, you evaded death until time allowed you to rest. You walked step by step, leaning on each other, helping the other adjust to the changing world. The dependency formed between you was an intense balance. It was more than a friendship, it was a perfect symbiosis. You weren't sure how much you would waver without ?ahim. [[But then you fell.|just one sentence tho?]]//

He walks behind you, both hands ghosting over your hips, keeping the two of you close so the bodies around you don't separate you. But not so close that you're touching. It's hard to manuever around them, the club being near peak hour. You're forced to back up as he's forced forwards and you feel his hands lightly grip your waist. He keeps the space between you, your back many inches from him. Mashings of leather, velvet and skin still block the bar counter. The strobing lights illuminate his face when you stop and turn around to check in. He smiles and offers his hand up. You place your own on top and he brings it near his lips, short hairs tickling your knuckles. "You are very intriguing and I wish to know more," he leans in towards your ear, eyes move past your own, towards the bar. "But it seems others require your attention." You look over your shoulder and see Kade throwing you an impatient look. Ah, yes. You had forgotten that Kade wanted to talk to you. The cloth on his chest is soft as you smooth it out, stepping close to him, "Looks like it." His eyes relax as you approach, dropping your hand. "My name is Gabriel. Here's my number," he pulls out a small black buisiness card and hands it to you, "call me. If you'd like." [[And then he walks away.|Kade finall <<set $gnumber to true>>\

The temperature gradient you feel walking back inside is anything but subtle. Hot air hits your face, causing you to slightly crinkle your nose before adjusting. You make your way around the perimeter of the dance floor, watching as the music makes puppets out of people. Mashings of leather, velvet and skin still mix into a multitude of color and sweat. The bar is blocked by a crowd of people, but you're able to make eye contact with Kade. His curly brown hair bounces as he acknowledges you and makes a path. [[You lightly push someone out of the way as you walk over

Once inside you are greeted by a thin, sharp, citrus odor. There are dark wooden filing cabinets tracing the outline of the office, papers stacked neatly on top of each. Laying in the middle of the room is a large oaken desk, complimented by a deep crimson leather chair. Straight lines and meticulous corners describe the layout of the items placed upon the surface. Monitor and keyboard sit exactly in the center, mouse approximately four inches to the right. A stapler, hole puncher and a single picture frame are positioned to the left. Standing in front of the chair is Eddie. [[The woman in charge of the numbers side of your business.|Edith]] [[The man in charge of the numbers side of your business.|Edwin]] <<set $eddieunlocked to "unlocked">>\

E. Reagan, or Edith Reagan, is carved on the rectangular metal nameplate that sits to the right of her monitor. Eddie is a werewolf and classically beautiful. Her face is symmetrical, teeth straight and white and muscles are well defined. If it weren't for the deep set of eye bags under her brown eyes and the top of a scar poking out behind her neck, at first glance you wouldn't think there's anything more to her. When you met several years ago, you wouldn't have imagined what an integral part of your life she would become. She stands in front of her chair with her arms crossed. Looking at the person standing just opposite her, you immediately understand why. While Eddie's facial expression is stone cold neutral, the redness creeping up her neck tells you that she's close to ramming them through the wall. Her shoulder length dark auburn hair, while usually holding a slight curl, is tossled in every direction, clear signs of stress. [[Hearing your entrance, said person turns around and yelps with glee.|suggestive comment setup - hale]] <<set $egen = 1>>\ <<notify 2s>>Character Unlocked: Eddie<</notify>>\ <<set $Edith to "Edith">>\

E. Reagan, or Edwin Reagan, is carved on the rectangular metal nameplate that sits to the right of his monitor. Eddie is a werewolf and classically handsome. His face is symmetrical, teeth straight and white and muscles are well defined. If it weren't for the deep set of eye bags under his brown eyes and the top of a scar poking out behind his neck, at first glance you wouldn't think there's anything more to him. When you met several years ago, you wouldn't have imagined what an integral part of your life he would become. He stands in front of his chair with his arms crossed. Looking at the person standing just opposite him, you immediately understand why. While Eddie's facial expression is stone cold neutral, the redness creeping up his neck and into his neatly kept short beard tells you that he's close to ramming them through the wall. His neatly styled dark auburn hair has become less than that, sticking out in all directions, a direct result from the exasperation the person in front of him causes. [[Hearing your entrance, said person turns around and yelps with glee.|suggestive comment setup - hale]] <<set $egen = 0>>\ <<notify 2s>>Character Unlocked: Eddie<</notify>>\ <<set $Edith to "Edwin">>\

Hale replaced a drink vendor you used to work with, but since replacing the last vendor... you've stopped using their services. Hale is a shapeshifter, able to take on any human form he likes. Tonight his eyes are brown, though the left one is clouded. His hair is long and blonde, skin a warm beige, and he wears a light blue button down shirt. His voice is light and airy. Sauntering a few steps towards you, Hale sends you a wink, "my favorite vampire, ?they who could bite my neck //anytime//." His eyes trail across your body, finally landing on your face. Eddie walks forward, around ?eher desk, arms uncrossed as ?eshe positions ?eherself in next to you. "Back off, Hale." ?eHer voice grows low and dark, the sides of ?eher jaw clenching down. For a second, you swear you can see sharpened teeth. You understand Eddie's frustrations when dealing with Hale, though something deeper always seems to bother Eddie. And not just Hale's willing ignorance to read a room. [[Hale always takes it too far.|sggst cmmts true]] <<notify 2s>>Character Unlocked!<</notify>>\

You flip it over, looking at both sides but flip it back to the front. At the center of the envelop is your name written in an immaculate cursive: $name $lastname Followed by the name of your club: <<textbox "$clubname" "Enter Club Name" "Entered Name">> "I don't understand, you went onto the floor to find me so I could open a letter?" You idly twist the corner of the envelope. [["Look at the return address." Eddie replies.|wuhoh HC]]

Placing his hands up in retreat, Hale looks at Eddie, "I'm not trying to get bit... today." Eddie crosses ?eher arms again, keeping a straight face and turning to you. "Hale is trying to sell us some //new// brand of nightroot concentrate." You look at Hale, "we already have a supplier." "I know a guy, can't tell you who, but they have //the// most concentrated mix." [[Eddie looks unimpressed and stares at Hale.|lol]]

You stroll around Hale and sit down in the deep wooden chair in front of Eddie's desk. Eddie follows your lead and sits down in ?eher leather chair, earning a small squeak from its joints. ?eShe readjusts the picture frame on ?eher desk and clasps ?eher hands together. "Is it Ezekial?" ?eShe asks. "It's Ezekial," you answer. "No, it's not," Hale counters. Eddie stares at Hale. He breaks, "it's Ezekial." [["Out," Eddie commands.|dum dum hale]]

Hale's shoulders slump down and he drags his feet out of the office. He stops momentarily at the door frame, looking as if he's going to protest. Just as words almost escape his mouth, Eddie sends him a debilitating glare and moves to get up. Hale scurries out the door before Eddie's knees unbend. "Is that what you needed me for?" You question Eddie, hand gesturing towards the door. ?eShe shakes ?eher head, "no." ?eShe reaches for a crisp white envelope on top of a pile of neatly stacked papers and passes it to you. [[It has your name on it.|Ypu have a letter]]

Your eyes float to the upper left hand corner to read the words written. "It's from the vampiric High Council," ?eshe states. Your stomach lurches at the thought of more correspondance from them. [["You know you don't have to wait for me to read these."'|HC letter - prot]] [["Thank you for saving this, let me just-" Toss it in the trash.|HC letter-silly]]

"Not likely, but good luck." ?eShe opens the door for you but stops midway. "One more thing. Kaylen mentioned there was someone waiting for you at the front. They were asking for you by name. Some vampire, said they're an old friend, I think?" An old friend? [["Arlo. He said that you'd know him."'|Arlo g et]] [["Aida. She said that you'd know her."'|Aida g set]]

Arlo. The one you lost long ago. The name you vowed never to repeat. A coldness washes over you. A trickling feeling dripping up your spine and around your neck has you paralyzed. You stand frozen as you try to wrap your mind around the words. //How? Why? No.// It has to be a coincidence. You feel yourself fidgeting in place, flicking your fingers together, playing with the hem of your shirt, shifting from foot to foot. It's been //so// long. You don't even know if he's alive, it could be someone else. It's probably someone else. He has to be dead. It has to be. Because why else- Unless- But why would they ask for you by name? How would he even know how to find you? Why would he want to find you? How long has it been? A dull pain shoots through your chest. Memories assault you as you try to stay balanced, but they come all at once and they come all too fast. //[[Within a second you are powerless to your mind as it forces you to remember.|Arlo Flashback]]// <<set $agen = 0>>\ <<set $Arlo to "Arlo">>\ <<set $Arlos to "Arlo's">>\

Aida. The one you lost long ago. The name you vowed never to repeat. A coldness washes over you. A trickling feeling dripping up your spine and around your neck has you paralyzed. You stand frozen as you try to wrap your mind around the words. //How? Why? No.// It has to be a coincidence. You feel yourself fidgeting in place, flicking your fingers together, playing with the hem of your shirt, shifting from foot to foot. It's been //so// long. You don't even know if she's alive, it could be someone else. It's probably someone else. She has to be dead. It has to be. Because why else- Unless- But why would they ask for you by name? How would she even know how to find you? Why would she want to find you? How long has it been? A dull pain shoots through your chest. Memories assault you as you try to stay balanced, but they come all at once and they come all too fast. //[[Within a second you are powerless to your mind as it forces you to remember.|Arlo Flashback]]// <<set $agen = 1>>\ <<set $Arlo to "Aida">>\ <<set $Arlos to "Aida's">>\

"Eddie, you didn't have to save this for me. I would've gotten to it." "It's not a big deal, $name, I just had it sitting on my desk." ?eShe motions to the multi-tier letter organizer on ?eher desk. "It's actually a really high quality heavy cardstock." You tilt your head at ?eher curiously before looking down at the letter. Then you open it. [[It's empty.|WHOAaaa MAJOR PLOT TWIST]] <<set $prot to $prot +1>>\

The wooden chair squeaks beneath you as you lean back. "You wrote me fan mail? That's sweet of you." Eddie groans, "very funny, $name." You laugh. "Let me just," you ball up the letter and overhand toss it towards the trash in the corner behind Eddie. At its apex Eddie snatches it out of the air and throws you a dead panned expression. She uncrumples it and hands it back. "Just open it." A shadow of a smirk crosses over your face as you make eye contact with Eddie and unfold the flap of the envelope. You look down. [[It's empty.|WHOAaaa MAJOR PLOT TWIST]] <<set $silly to $silly +1>>\

A young vampire. His eyes are frozen, focused but empty, unmoving. His head sways back and forth, but eyes remain balanced in place. Left hand hangs loosely to his side, twitching. Thumb. Index. Pinkie. Thumb. His foot taps to the wrong beat. [[His right hand fidgets to another.|Ch1.6.2 Intro]] <<if $height is "shorter than most">> <<set $height to "short">> <</if>>\ <<if $height is "generally average">> <<set $height to "average">> <</if>>\ <<if $height is "taller than most">> <<set $height to "tall">> <</if>>\

You raise your eye brows slightly. "It's empty." "Exactly. It was like that when I received it." Eddie reaches for it back. ?eShe gently places in its spot in the organizer on ?eher desk. "I can think of a few people who would have it out for you, but no one stupid enough to steal a council letter, or hell, //why// they would steal one." "Maybe they want the council to think I'm ignoring them, try and get me in trouble." You muse. "I say this with great respect, $name, but I don't think the council's opinion of you could get any lower." This is accurate. The High Council is composed of very old and very //set in their ways// vampires. Some members often look down on others simply because they can. Some turn their nose to living in a city mixed with humans and other supernaturals, often preferring the company of other vampires only. They think by living with only those similar to them, they are somehow more powerful. You simply disagree with this notion. Living in a diverse city gives you some sense of normalcy and persepctive. It's grounding. When immortal beings seclude themselves, it's only natural that their minds start to turn on them. It's the curse of time. They become stagnant, becoming the true reality of undead. Regardless of history, some of them simply don't like you. It's not deeper than that. [["Yeah..." you say, resigned.|HC h8 u, resignation]] [[You take that as a mark of pride.|HC h8 u, ass]] [[Just shrug.|HC h8 u, whatevs]]

"Hey," you start to say defensively, then relent, "no, yeah." Eddie stares at you before speaking. "I wouldn't blame yourself. Even if it is partially your fault." ?eShe smirks at you slightly. You shrug. "A lot of ancient vampires don't see a point to mingling with other supernaturals, or even humans." Eddie subtly moves ?eher head side to side while thinking. "You think it bothers them that we work together?" "Maybe, they might judge $clubname as well. But that's just that. Judgement from people who yield a lot of power." ?eShe looks at you for a moment before relaxing ?eher face, then ?eshe stands and heads towards the door. You respond in kind and follow. ?eShe crosses ?eher arms again. "Still, I'll try and narrow down some names, put out feelers, see who would steal a fucking letter." "Thanks, Eddie." You pause at the doorway and ?eshe continues to stare at you. [["What is your opinion of me?" Hopefully higher than the Council's.|Eddie opi friendly]] [["I hope your opinion of me is higher than the Council's." ♥ Bold|Eddie opi boldy flirt]] [["I hope your opinion of me is higher than the Council's." ♥ Subtle|Eddie opi subtle flirt]]

"I take that as a mark of pride." You set your elbow on the armrest of your chair and hide your mouth behind your hand, barely stifling a grin. "The opinion of a group of old ass vampires isn't exactly something I concern myself with." "Says you," ?eshe mumbles,"maybe not now, but I don't think it's in the best interest for $clubname to ignore. At the very least." "I don't see why they concern themselves with me anyways." You lean back in the chair. "The vampires of the city could be worse and this club is a place for them to blow off steam instead of going on a killing spree." ?eShe looks at you for a moment before relaxing ?eher face, "sure." Then ?eshe stands, clearing ?eher throat and heading towards the door. You respond in kind by composing yourself and following. ?eShe crosses ?eher arms again. "Regardless, I'll try and narrow down some names, put out feelers, see who would steal a fucking letter." You pause at the doorway and ?eshe continues to stare at you. [["What is your opinion of me?" Hopefully higher than the Council's.|Eddie opi friendly]] [["I hope your opinion of me is higher than the Council's." ♥ Bold|Eddie opi boldy flirt]] [["I hope your opinion of me is higher than the Council's." ♥ Subtle|Eddie opi subtle flirt]] <<set $ass to $ass +1>>\

You roll your lips into a sort of smile and shrug your shoulders. "It is what it is." Eddie almost looks amused and stares at you for a second longer than necessary before adjusting the red leather watch on ?eher wrist. A few moments of silence pass before ?eshe speaks up. "We should look into it still, just in case." "If that's what you want," you blink. "For us? Yes." ?eShe looks up at you and stands, heading towards the door. You respond in kind by following. ?eShe crosses ?eher arms again. "I'll try and narrow down some names, put out feelers, see who would steal a fucking letter." "Alright. Thanks, Eddie." You pause at the doorway and ?eshe continues to stare at you. [["What is your opinion of me?" Hopefully higher than the Council's.|Eddie opi friendly]] [["I hope your opinion of me is higher than the Council's." ♥ Bold|Eddie opi boldy flirt]] [["I hope your opinion of me is higher than the Council's." ♥ Subtle|Eddie opi subtle flirt]] <<set $apath to $apath +1>>\ <<set $Edirom to $Edirom +1>>\

"What is your opinion of me?" You match Eddie's posture at the door. Eddie's opinion of you has always been important. ?eShes one of the few people you can trust to have your best interest in mind. Not to mention that you trust ?eshe won't pull ?eher punches, tell you when you're being fucked up. ?eShe rolls ?eher eyes at you. "If you have to ask me if I think better of you than the Council does, you're being dense." You stick your tongue out, "says you." "$name, of course my opinion of you is higher than the Council's. We make excellent partners. And intimidating ones. The discounts we get just by being a vampire and werewolf are insane." ?eShe clears ?eher throat and a glint of mischievousness flashes in ?eher eyes. "Not that we've ever purposefully intimidated any vendors." "No, of course not," you slowly agree, mirroring ?eher expression. Eddie keeps ?eher eyes emotionless but a slight curl of the corner of ?eher mouth has you responding the same. "The fact that we work well together just sends us further than any other business could dream of." You nod your head in agreement. [["Okay, Eddie, maybe I'll see you out there."'|Start of Flashback]] <<set $charming to $charming +1>>\

You lean on the otherside of the door frame, crossing your arms to mirrors Eddie's posture "Well, I hope your opinion of me is higher than the Council's." Your voice lowers and you stare back with a secretive gaze. "Wouldn't want those working for me to think less." Eddie almost snorts, face othewise remaining impassive, "I definitely don't work //for// you." Your eyes become playful at that response but ?eshe continues before you have a chance to interject. "I could probably change the paperwork to claim me as sole share owner and you wouldn't even notice." "Maybe. But you would never do that to me," you push off the door frame and step closer to Eddie, "would you?" More of a statement than a question. ?eShe stands in place, face unreactive but eyes becoming, if possible, more serious. "Of course not. $clubname was an idea we made //together// and we will run it //together//. It would be wrong otherwise." You scan ?eher face for a moment before sighing and taking a step back. [["Okay, Eddie, maybe I'll see you out there."'|Start of Flashback]] <<set $charming to $charming +1>>\ <<set $flirtbold to $flirtbold +1>>\ <<set $Edirom to $Edirom +1>>\

You stare back at Eddie for a second before tilting your head. "I hope your opinion of me is higher than the Council's." Eddie's opinion of you has always been important. ?eShes one of the few people you can trust to have your best interest in mind. You're probably being insecure but thinking Eddie could share the same sentiments as the Council has you doubting yourself. You open your mouth to interrupt, possibly retract the question before ?eshe can answer but ?eshe beats you to it. "$name, of course my opinion of you is higher than the Council's. We're business partners, we've built $clubname up from the dirt. "I wouldn't work with you if my train of thought lined up with the Council's." You scan ?eher face, not quite sure what you're looking for. But you don't find it. [["Okay, Eddie, maybe I'll see you out there."'|Start of Flashback]] <<set $flirtsub to $flirtsub +1>>\ <<set $Edirom to $Edirom +1>>\

[[Next|teeny interlude]] <<set $ch2 to "unlocked">>\

Runes decoratively carved into place hum low as the music gets quieter and quieter with each step. Emerging from the staircase grants you a view of the upstairs parlour, where the notes that hang in the air change to warmer and lower tones. Catching the eye of the bartender, you manuever your way towards her, avoiding the black leather couches and dark wooden tables. The furniture is highlighted by copper lights, a muted tone of the downstairs ambience. The leather of the barstool creaks as you place yourself in front of the darkened bar. [['"Evening, boss!"'|Ch1.5 Halley bar]]

Runes decoratively carved into place hum low as the music gets quieter and quieter with each step. Emerging from the staircase grants you a view of the upstairs parlour, where the notes that hang in the air change to warmer and lower tones. Catching the eye of the bartender, you manuever your way towards her, avoiding the velvet couches and stone tables. The furniture is highlighted by warm copper lights. The leather of the barstool creaks as you place yourself in front of the cobbled bar. [['"Evening, boss!"'|Ch1.5 Halley bar]]

Your own grin softens to something friendlier. "You're very flattering, but I'm not interested." "Ah, well, no harm in trying right?" He sends a gentle wink your way and walks off towards the street. "Anyways, I believe I'll go find that vampire." You let him walk a few more steps before clearing your throat. "Don't worry about it." "Alright," he calls back and salutes you one last time. You watch as he dissapears into a crowd of people, hands in pocket and looking back one last time. [[Next|To bar]]

!!__A Collection of Small Shorts__ !!![[Aida Martin Moreno]] !!![[Arlo Martin Moreno]] !!![[Edith Reagan]] !!![[Edwin Reagan]] !!![[Amelie Cadman]] <<back [[Return to Game.|$return]]>>

[[Dark Liquor.|Dark Liquor Aida]] [[Back|Extras]]

[[Dark Liquor.|Dark Liquor Arlo]] [[Back|Extras]]

[[Your Fault.|Your Fault Edith]] [[Back|Extras]]

[[Your Fault.|Your Fault Edwin]] [[Back|Extras]]

[[The Library.|The Library]] [[Back|Extras]]

//"Eddie! I'm so glad you're here!" Blue eyes gaze back, full of life, full of love. "You did amazing! I'm glad we have each other." A smile that's contagious. "I'll support you no matter which path you choose." Warm words, undying loyalty. "Eddie... what's happening?" Streaks of red. "Eddie? Eddie, help me." Face drenched with sweat, contorted in pain. "Eddie, please. Where are you?" Cold and lifeless. "Eddie... Eddie... ''Eddie.''" ''"Your fault."''// Eddie eye's snap open, head shooting up, papers flying everywhere. Chest rising and falling as sweat that formed on the brow is wiped away. --- She let's out a long breath, checking the time on the leather corded watch adjourning her wrist. 3:30 am. She fell asleep at her desk again. //"It's your fault."// "Fuck." Eddie groans, bending over to grab the spare gym bag she keeps under her desk and leaves. There are only a few patrons left in the bar, Eddie ducks her head and walks straight towards the door. She's greeted by Kaylan, the head bouncer. She gives Eddie a smile while escorting a drunken woman out, who throws out a sultry smile. "Hey there, gorgeous, I'd let you take me home." The woman tries to grab at Eddie but is pulled back by Kaylan. "Why would I take you home?" Eddie gives the woman a confused look but keeps walking. Soon, she's at the gym. Thankful for the cool air conditioning that hits her face as she walks into the 24 hour fitness center. "Hi, Eddie! I set aside a water bottle for you. You know, since you always forget." A red tint washes over the night receptionist as they smile. This earns a short "thank you" and a nod back as Eddie heads straight to the weight bench. One pump. More weight. //"Eddie."// Another pump. Still need more weight. //"Eddie?"// Need more weight. //"Eddie!"// Max weight. //"Eddie, help me!"// Heavy clattering. Weights are thrown across the room, Eddie tears her hand through her hair. "Fuck." She gets up and picks up the weights and bar. She turns in place, looking for one that rolled off, and is met by a well built man holding said weight. "Hey, I think you... dropped this" he smiles and his teeth are white. Almost blinding. Eddie takes the weight and puts it back. "You know" the man lingers "I could spot you, if you want?" Eddie barely looks at the man, "no, I don't need help" and walks to the tread mills. Medium speed. This is good. //"Edith."// No. //"Edith..."// Voice cracking. Higher speed. //"Edith."// Anger. Betrayal. Why can't this go faster. //"EDDIE."// "I'm sorry!" Her voice scratches. The machine is slammed off and Eddie hangs her head between her legs, hands leaning on her knees, heavy breathing. Too heavy. "Eddie?" Soft. Kind. Light. She raises her head. Real. Glossy eyes are blinked away as she faces the receptionist. "I brought you a towel" they hand her the cloth. A whisper of a smile, one that doesn't meet her eyes, as she takes it. "Are you okay?" They ask. Silence. "I see you in here a lot..." they look down at their shoes, scuffing it on the ground, "I've um... Been told I'm a good listener. " A blush spreads across their cheeks as they start walking away, turning to quickly call back "you know, if you ever want, feel free to ignore." And tucks their head down as they head back to reception. Eddie stands there, breath evened out, unsure of what to say. If she ever wants what? [[Back|Edith Reagan]]

//"Eddie! I'm so glad you're here!" Blue eyes gaze back, full of life, full of love. "You did amazing! I'm glad we have each other." A smile that's contagious. "I'll support you no matter which path you choose." Warm words, undying loyalty. "Eddie... what's happening?" Streaks of red. "Eddie? Eddie, help me." Face drenched with sweat, contorted in pain. "Eddie, please. Where are you?" Cold and lifeless. "Eddie... Eddie... ''Eddie.''" ''"Your fault."''// Eddie eye's snap open, head shooting up, papers flying everywhere. Chest rising and falling as sweat that formed on the brow is wiped away. --- He let's out a long breath, checking the time on the leather corded watch adjourning his wrist. 3:30 am. He fell asleep at his desk again. //"It's your fault."// "Fuck." Eddie groans, bending over to grab the spare gym bag he keeps under his desk and leaves. There are only a few patrons left in the bar, Eddie ducks his head and walks straight towards the door. He's greeted by Kaylan, the head bouncer. She gives Eddie a smile while escorting a drunken woman out, who throws out a sultry smile. "Hey there, gorgeous, I'd let you take me home." The woman tries to grab at Eddie but is pulled back by Kaylan. "Why would I take you home?" Eddie gives the woman a confused look but keeps walking. Soon, he's at the gym. Thankful for the cool air conditioning that hits his face as he walks into the 24 hour fitness center. "Hi, Eddie! I set aside a water bottle for you. You know, since you always forget." A red tint washes over the night receptionist as they smile. This earns a short "thank you" and a nod back as Eddie heads straight to the weight bench. One pump. More weight. //"Eddie."// Another pump. Still need more weight. //"Eddie?"// Need more weight. //"Eddie!"// Max weight. //"Eddie, help me!"// Heavy clattering. Weights are thrown across the room, Eddie tears his hand through his hair and across his beard. "Fuck." He gets up and picks up the weights and bar. He turns in place, looking for one that rolled off, and is met by a well built man holding said weight. "Hey, I think you... dropped this" he smiles and his teeth are white. Almost blinding. Eddie takes the weight and puts it back. "You know" the man lingers "I could spot you, if you want?" Eddie barely looks at the man, "no, I don't need help" and walks to the tread mills. Medium speed. This is good. //"Edwin."// No. //"Edwin..."// Voice cracking. Higher speed. //"Edwin."// Anger. Betrayal. Why can't this go faster. //"EDDIE."// "I'm sorry!" His voice scratches. The machine is slammed off and Eddie hangs his head between his legs, hands leaning on his knees, heavy breathing. Too heavy. "Eddie?" Soft. Kind. Light. He raises his head. Real. Glossy eyes are blinked away as he faces the receptionist. "I brought you a towel" they hand him the cloth. A whisper of a smile, one that doesn't meet his eyes as he takes it. "Are you okay?" They ask. Silence. "I see you in here a lot..." they look down at their shoes, scuffing it on the ground, "I've um... Been told I'm a good listener. " A blush spreads across their cheeks as they start walking away, turning to quickly call back "you know, if you ever want, feel free to ignore." And tucks their head down as they head back to reception. Eddie stands there, breath evened out, unsure of what to say. If he ever wants what? [[Back|Edwin Reagan]]

Running. Running. Running. Stop. Breath. A page turns. Stale, old, leather. The library is still. Almost frozen. Another page. Amelie grabs a book. Another page. She watches dust float by in front of the sunset stained glass. She closes her eyes. And the page stops. Open. Duck. ''Now.'' She kicks her leg out but the vampire evades. Eyes red, veins bulging. No control. He swipes his claws, contact is made, blood poors down her cheek but she hits back. The back of the book slams into his chin, he hisses and disappears. Amelie wipes her cheek with the back of her sleeve, blue shirt now turned deep purple. She walks down the aisle, book in hand, leather binding barely dented. Warm rays soak through the orange facade, they kiss her face as she moves forward. The sun is eclipsed. The vampire lunges forward, teeth sharpened and jaw broken for blood. A concoction of venoms coursing through her veins allow her to dodge. Just barely. The book snaps up, contact is made, mandible. Broken. It's slow to heal. He's young. She's ready. But she's human. He grabs her by the throat, screams in her face and goes in for a taste. The book comes up, he bites into the spine tearing it from her grasp. It flies across the aisle hitting the shelves at the end and falls to the ground. Amelie follows behind the book, thrown across the aisle. Hitting the shelves. And then the ground. Books falling around her. She grips to them like a life line. He's on her again, no chance to tear out the splintered wood thats embedded under her arms and in her cheek. Again she flies. 100. 110. 120. She lands on flat mahogany, warm from soaking in the sun. Eyes closed again. Reveling in the heat. The warmth. And then it's cold. He's on top of her, smiling. Malicious. Thirsty. He dives forward and her arms raises up. Teeth sink in. Ready to break bone, but then they're out. Disgusting. Poison. The book comes comes forward, spine forced into his mouth. She hits it. One time. Then another. And another. They're raised off the table and his back is to the books as the spine is embedded again and again into his mouth. Words imprinted on his tongue, proses sewn in his gums. The book only ends when it's torn from his mouth, teeth bound in the leather. Amelie throws it to the ground, turns, grabs the leg of the table. Still warm. Raises her foot and breaks it. It flips in her hand as she turns around to meet the abdomen of the vampire. And she pushes. Harder. And harder. Until he's pinned to the pages behind him. Washed in orange light. [[Back|Amelie Cadman]]

He slams the glass down, wiping away the foam and sweat clinging to his upper lip. He lifts his boot up, the shoe sticks to the ground just as his sleeves stick to the counter. "Fucking disgusting." "Why are you even in here, leech? It'll take a hundred more of those." Arlo sneers at the frail man, "let's just call it nostalgia, shall we?" He motions for whatever the strongest, darkest brown liquor is. He's presented a small glass, water droplets sliding down the sides, placed onto the bar. With a delayed lift, the glass is picked up, one edge then the other. Within five seconds it is emptied and tossed to the side. The bartender glares "how long are you gonna be here. You're scaring off my usuals." Arlo ignores the bartender, he needs more. He needs to numb this chilling feeling that's crawled up from his stomach and into his throat. He knows it's not the alcohol that's causing the static to envelope his mind. His foot taps up and down again and again on the floor, if he were human he would surely cramp. "I need more." He stands, the barstool almost toppling over. "Just give me a bottle." He reaches over the bar, but is caught mid air by the bartender. Regret immediately fills the the room, fills the strangers face and the air becomes still. With a twist of his arm, Arlo pins the bartender down, face mushing with the mixture of spirits spilt on its surface. He leans close to the mans ear, lips grazing skin. "I said give me a bottle." A low hiss, filled with venom, with fear. Not of the human, no. But of uncertainty. All the what if's. The regret. A sour taste that's tainted every drink, every emotion since that day. He releases the bartender who peels his face off the wooden veneer, reaching back and grabbing the bottle, thrusting it into Arlo's hands. "Here. Just get the fuck out." With a two finger salute and bottle in hand, Arlo leaves. He closes his eyes briefly to feel the night sky hit his face, listen to the cars, the wind, to feel every sensation hit his skin. And then he walks away. [[Back|Arlo Blackwood]]

She slams the glass down, wiping away the foam and sweat clinging to her upper lip. She lifts her boot up, the shoe sticks to the ground just as her sleeves stick to the counter. "Fucking disgusting." "Why are you even in here, leech? It'll take a hundred more of those." Aida sneers at the frail man, "let's just call it nostalgia, shall we?" She motions for whatever the strongest, darkest brown liquor is. She's presented a small glass, water droplets sliding down the sides, placed onto the bar. With a delayed lift, the glass is picked up, one edge then the other. Within five seconds it is emptied and tossed to the side. The bartender glares "how long are you gonna be here. You're scaring off my usuals." Aida ignores the bartender, she needs more. She needs to numb this chilling feeling that's crawled up from her stomach and into her throat. She knows it's not the alcohol that's causing the static to envelope her mind. Her foot taps up and down again and again on the floor, if she were human she would surely cramp. "I need more." She stands, the barstool almost toppling over. "Just give me a bottle." She reaches over the bar, but is caught mid air by the bartender. There's a moment of hesitance. Of wondering if that was the right move. It wasn't. Regret immediately fills the the room, fills the strangers face and the air becomes still. With a twist of her arm, Aida pins the bartender down, face mushing with the mixture of spirits spilt on its surface. She leans close to the mans ear, lips grazing skin. "I said give me a bottle." A low hiss, filled with venom, with fear. Not of the human, no. But of uncertainty. All the what if's. The regret. A sour taste that's tainted every drink, every emotion since that day. She releases the bartender who peels his face off the wooden veneer, reaching back and grabbing the bottle, thrusting it into Aida's hands. "Here. Just get the fuck out." With a two finger salute and bottle in hand, Aida leaves. She closes her eyes briefly to feel the night sky hit her face, listen to the cars, the wind, to feel every sensation hit her skin. And then she walks away. [[Back|Aida Blackwood]]

//And ?ahe wasn't there to pick you back up. Gone. The scale had tipped. Tipped. Toppled. You were left to pick up your pieces. [[By yourself.|a left wow]]//

Runes decoratively carved into place hum low as the music gets quieter and quieter with each step. Emerging from the staircase grants you a view of the upstairs parlour, where the notes that hang in the air change to warmer and lower tones. Catching the eye of the bartender, you manuever your way towards her, avoiding the black leather couches and glass tables. The furniture is highlighted by soft cool lights, less harsh than the downstairs ambience. The coldness of the metal barstool greets you as you place yourself in front of the marble bar. [['"Evening, boss!"'|Ch1.5 Halley bar]]

<<set $fangs to "hollywood">>\ A low snarl reverberates out of your throat, you push him back a step. One. Then another. Slowly the two of you stagger towards the exit. He struggles with every step, resistance worn on his face as his eyes dart from yours back to brown haired person. A cat taken from his prey. Saliva drips down his mouth, tracing an outline of desperation. The dark hair stuck to his forehead protests with each contortion of his body. Focused on keeping a low profile, you don't notice his lower movements. He crushes your foot under his own. Bones breaking, you instinctively loosen your grip on his arm. He slips out, uneven nails aimed at your neck. [[But they don't make contact.|now intro ch]]

<<set $fangs to "wolf">>\ A low snarl reverberates out of your throat, you push him back a step. One. Then another. Slowly the two of you stagger towards the exit. He struggles with every step, resistance worn on his face as his eyes dart from yours back to brown haired person. A cat taken from his prey. Saliva drips down his mouth, tracing an outline of desperation. The dark hair stuck to his forehead protests with each contortion of his body. Focused on keeping a low profile, you don't notice his lower movements. He crushes your foot under his own. Bones breaking, you instinctively loosen your grip on his arm. He slips out, uneven nails aimed at your neck. [[But they don't make contact.|now intro ch]]

<<set $fangs to "rex">>\ A low snarl reverberates out of your throat, you push him back a step. One. Then another. Slowly the two of you stagger towards the exit. He struggles with every step, resistance worn on his face as his eyes dart from yours back to brown haired person. A cat taken from his prey. Saliva drips down his mouth, tracing an outline of desperation. The dark hair stuck to his forehead protests with each contortion of his body. Focused on keeping a low profile, you don't notice his lower movements. He crushes your foot under his own. Bones breaking, you instinctively loosen your grip on his arm. He slips out, uneven nails aimed at your neck. [[But they don't make contact.|now intro ch]]

<<if $height is "short">> A man's dark eyes briefly meet your own as he looks down at you.<</if>><<if $height is "average">> A man's dark eyes briefly meet your own as he looks down at you.<</if>><<if $height is "tall">> A man's dark eyes briefly meet your own as he looks to you.<</if>> You gesture towards the back door and the stranger nods in understanding. A cold, lifeless hand replaces your own around the young vampire. The man, the other vampire, carries the unhinged one out through the back with ease, his legs dangling above the floor, just barely lifted up by his face. As if by habit, you shake out your foot. The bones have begun uncomfortably shifting back in place. You take a moment as you watch the new vampire walk away. He's wearing a navy blue two piece suit, a white shirt underneath, top three buttons kept undone. Silky black hair falls past his shoulders, half tied up in a bun. Vaguely, you remember the sharp features of his face. A short, well kept beard didn't hide, but only enhanced said features. [[Foot healed enough, you covertly hobble out the backdoor.|Outside]]

He walks to the side of the bar, shooing away customers to make room for you. The runes on the side of the bar glow as you approach. The surface of the counter is smooth and dry when you lean against it. "Hi Kade." He crosses his arms, a wet white rag hanging down from his left hand. The black t-shirt he wears is tightly fitted, squeezing around his biceps. Freckles paint their surface, just like Halley's. Kade stands around the same height as his sister, similar dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He runs his black painted nails through the curls that top his head and shoots you a tiny pout. "Halley said you'd be right down but it's been a while. I needed you." Then his eyes widen and a flush of red covers his cheeks. "I mean, I didn't //need// you, but well, uh, I did also in a sense, require your presence. Professionally." [["Sorry about that, had to take care of some things," you apologize. "Are you okay?"|prtect]] [[Your voice lowers in a teasing manner. "Well, I'm here now."|Kade Flirt]] [["Uh huh," you ignore his floundering. "What is it that you needed?"|eddie will see u in their office now]]

"Right!" He straightens, "vampire's best friend was out here, scaring away all my customers." "My best friend?" "Yeah, Eddie was out here looking for you. You should've seen it, the disgust, the annoyance, //the indignation//. In fact, I almost ran away, would've too but I ran into the edge of the bar and bruised my elbow." He lifts his arm, attempting to show you a non-existent bump. "Kade, why was Eddie out here?" He spins the brown braided bracelet on his right arm again. "I think that's for you to go find out." <<if $silly gte 1>> "I guess it is. Thanks for the heads up." You send him a wink and prepare yourself to cross the club.<<elseif $prot gte 1>>You send him a nod. "Alright, thanks for the headsup."<<else>>You send him a smile. "I suppose it is, thanks for the headsup."<</if>> "Oh!" Kade interrupts before you leave and leans over the counter. "These-" he gestures towards the areas under his eyes, "where so deep that I almost fell in." Nodding your head, you tap the bar and say goodbye. [[You make your way back to the otherside of the club, where Eddie's office lays.|Finally Meeting Eddie]]

You lean slightly over the surface of the bar, an alluring smile finding its way onto your face. "I'm here now, how can I help you, Kade?" A light brushing of red deepens his tanned skin. He stutters for a second before crossing his arms. "Stop that." You bat your eyelashes innocently, "stop what, Kade?" The corner of your mouth becomes lopsided as you tilt your head in the opposite direction. "You wanted me, so here I am." Kade spins a tight ring with the towel he's holding and wraps it around his hand a few times before letting out a short breath. He places his hands on the counter and leans over, mirroring your own position. "You know exactly what you're doing and exactly what you're saying." Your eyes flick down to the small scar breaking the pattern of freckles on his nose, then slowly rise to meet his eyes. You hum a moment, as if thinking about what he said, then come to the conclusion, "alright, fine." He flares his nostrils and leans back, unwinding the towel from his hand. "Damn you." A laugh echoes out of your throat as you too lean back."What was it you needed, Kade?" [[He lets out a small snicker.|eddie will see u in their office now]] <<set $silly to $silly +1>>\

"Sorry about that, Kade." You furrow your eyebrows, "is everything okay?" His face flashes with guilt, "No, I'm sorry, $name, I didn't mean to worry you. It really wasn't anything urgent." Suddenly, a pushy customer yells at Kade for a drink, their drunken words slurring into rude remarks. Kades eyes widen. You quickly step forward, your own eyes flashing red, fangs lengthening out of your mouth. "Back off," you hiss. The customer sobers, bumping into other people as they run away. When you look back at Kade he's attempting to tame his smile, dimples prominent and face flushed. "You didn't have to do that for me." "Nobody talks to my staff like that." "Right," he says breathlessly. [["What did you need me for?" You question.|eddie will see u in their office now]] <<set $prot to $prot +1>>\

"Alright," you look him up and down, "let's hunt." Then the two of you take off. You tear down alley ways as you catch the scent of the younger vampire. The lights of the city blur all around as you and the stranger give chase. The stranger's hair flows behind him, movements graceful as he avoids obstacles with the fluidity of water. You pass food carts, lines of people standing, waiting. Heady, heavy smells of garlic and onion find their way to you. The aromas then shift to something more ambrosial and sweet, it coats the back of your tongue. You look over to the stranger who's already looking at you. "What's your name?" you call over the wind in your ears. He gets closer, "Gabriel, you?" "$name" you reply when suddenly an intense floral scent hits your nose, causing you to slow down. It reaches your stomach and you have to stop. All at once a cacophony of noise invades your skull. Cars driving by, heavy bass pounds against your ears, not the same bass that you've grown accustomed too, but a strange noise. It grates against your mind. [[You need to breathe.|sensory overload]] <<set $gabriel to "unlocked">>\ <<notify 2s>>Character Unlocked!<</notify>>\

The street is sticky under your shoes and your mind is stuck. Stuck grinding against itself as you struggle to find something to focus on. Metal scrapes against concrete, whistles blow and glass breaks. High pitched squeaking racks your thoughts. Sirens blare and the lights blur into one color. But you breathe in and out, calming yourself. Soon the fog clears. Your companion places his hand on your shoulder, accompanied by a sympathetic smile. "It never gets easier." His eyes travel across your face as his hand drops into his pocket, and he backs a few feet away. His eyes close and his chest rises as he inhales. A moment goes by then his chest falls. You watch as he repeats these motions, the gears in your head moving coherently once again. He opens his eyes and observes you longer before holding his hand out. "It's nice to officially meet you, $name." The smoothness of his skin makes contact with your own. "You're the owner of that nightclub, right?" [["How do you figure?" You cock your head and drop his hand.|inquisiirice]] [["Yep." His hand falls from yours and you cross your arms.|defensice]]

"How do you figure?" You cock your head and drop his hand. A small chuckle escapes his pink lips, the shoulders of his suit riding up as he gives a disarming shrug. "The way you carry yourself." "And how do I carry myself?" You ask. "With the air of a volcano." His eyes lower and voice fills with gravel. "Capable of devastating destruction but in the same breath able to withstand not just the slamming tides of the ocean but the howling of the winds that try, to no avail, bend you." He softens his gaze. "Humble and breathtaking." A loud beeping from the street catches your attention. Your eyes flicker in its direction then back to Gabriel, eyes never having left your own. "Sorry," he laughs, "my friends say I can be a little intense." [[You don't mind. ♥|ch1gabrielflirt1]] [[You're flattered but not interested.|ch1gabrejection]]

"Yes," you pull your hand from his, "why do you care?" A small chuckle escapes his pink lips, the shoulders of his suit riding up as he gives a disarming shrug. "There are rumors about you in the city. And further." A loud beeping from the street catches your attention. Your eyes flicker in its direction then back to Gabriel, eyes never having left your own. "I came to see if they were true." Your $eyecolor eyes scan his face, black eyebrows laying relaxed on its surface as he accepts your appraisal. "The way you subtly handled the vampire earlier in the club was very impressive. Not many young vampires possess the abilities to do so." Your own eyebrows furrow at the word choice. "I'm not young." The edges of his eyes crinkle as he smiles. "I concur." He motions for the two of you to start walking and you finally drop your shoulders to walk. Street smells come back to you gradually. Sour. Then sweet. Then savory. [[What rumors?|What rumors?]]

As the lights of the city change color, you kick a loose rock out the way in front of you. "What kind of rumors did you hear?" Gabriel kicks it back. "Rumors about a vampire and a werewolf owning a club together, but not just any vampire. A High Council appointed high vampire." "Ah yes," you roll your eyes, "some members of the council have been very vocal about their," you put up finger quotes, "//vampires only// agenda." "So you don't support that?" "No." He nods slowly, kicking a rock in your direction. "I have a confession," he says, "I didn't help you with that vampire because I thought you needed it. But I was, uh," he looks away and laughs, "hoping to get you my number. No worries though, something tells me you're not interested. It was nice to meet you, $name." [[That's not true, you're just a little guarded. ♥|ch1gabrielflirt2]] [[Let him leave.|gableave]]

Curiously, you tilt your head. "Oh really? Please, do tell, how is it that I carry myself?" The evened smile morphs into something crooked, one end reaching higher on his face than the other. He glances at the ground, then the sky, then back at you. "You carry yourself with the air of a volcano." His voice lowers, the conversation made only for your ears. "Capable of mass destruction, burning everybody you know and love, devouring them with your power." He looks back up. "However, you also withstand not just the slamming tides of the ocean but the howling of the winds that try, to no avail, bend you." He softens his gaze, eyes crinkling in a friendly manner and shrugs his shoulders. "You carry yourself with power, whether you know it or not." [[That's a little intense, huh.|lol intense]] [[How flattering, thank you.|thanks ig]] [[Oh, really? ♥|Flirt back]]

This game is rated 18+. The content warnings include, but are not limited to, the following: *Mature language *Sexual content *Violence *Blood and gore *Body Horror *Alchohol and Drugs *Allusions to alcholism *Intrusive thoughts *Self Starvation *Implied accidental self harm *Temporary loss of control *Depictions of loss and grief *Brief use of knives and razors ♥ = Active Flirtation [[Begin Story.|TITLE]]

!<<fadein 5s>> Water to Blood <</fadein>> <<fadein 5s>> [[Start.|CHARACTER CREATION]] <</fadein>>

Double-click this passage to edit it.

Your eyes narrow as you observe him. "Those are some intense words coming from a stranger." In response he scratches the back of his head and looks at you sheepishly. "Apologies, I've been told I come off strong." A small chortle breaks from your throat, you try and cough to cover it. "I bet you do." His eyes go flat but a polite smile decorates his face. "Well, I think I'll take my leave." He turns to escape the situation, "I'll find that vampire." You let him walk a few more steps before clearing your throat. "Don't worry about it, I'll take care of it." He sends you a nod of affirmation and takes off into the city. Now. Will you actually take care of it?

You suck in a cheek and mull it over for a second, dark eyes watching your every move. "Yeah- sounds spot on to me." He claps his hands once and lifts them in the air. "Perfect. I've been told I'm very good at reading people." A laugh escapes his throat as he turns towards the path the vampire ran down. "We should probably do something about him." The wind blows his blackened hair over his shoulder and you watch a strand fly away from the others before speaking, "don't worry about." Your own eyes meet his curious gaze. "I can get someone to take care of him." You shrug and he smiles back with a wink, "powerful and connected." You dip your head in response, "obviously," and start to head back inside. He waves you off and walks away. You pause at the door and watch for a second more before pulling out your phone and scrolling through your contacts. It doesn't take long before you land on the name you're looking for. Your contact in the police department. Someone with a reputation for getting things done.

You lead ?ahim to the rooftop and walk towards the railing. Your skin has long since stopped feeling, what should be cold feels like nothing as you bring your arms up to lean over, staring at the city scape. "$name..." ?aHe reaches out for your arm but stops just short. You turn your head away, trying to focus on anything but the stinging in your cheeks and the throbbing in your eyes. The lights all meld together and the wind is nothing but static in your ears. "$name, please. Please, look at me." ?aHis voice is low, cracked and strained. You turn further away, leaving ?ahim waiting, no where near as long as ?ahe left you. As ?ahe ripped ?ahis presence from you with no warning. All the warmth with ?ahim when ?ahe left. So you grew cold. Distant, from yourself. And you ran.

?aHe follows you at arms length, people weave in and out of the space you've created between the two of you. A safety net. Your gut tells you to walk away from the cliff, walk away from a fall you've already taken and a fall you already know ends in pain. But maybe it's because you're intimately familiar with the end, the pain, that dancing at the edge doesn't seem so bad.

You think you hear your name. You don't care. Faces. Look at the faces. Wrong. Not it. Wrong. No. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. [[The room takes you to the left.|totheleftll]]

!!Chapter 2: Sanguis Fidelis [[Next|gfight style]] <<set $chapter to "two">>\

Your hand comes down. Smooth. Warm. The front door opens. It's cold. The lights are low. The music trembles over your skin. [[It smells like honey.|nowitstehm]]

One word falls quietly out of your mouth. "?Arlo?" ?aHis hand comes up to cover your own, which still lingers on ?ahis shirt. A single response tumbles delicately off of ?ahis lips. "$name." [[Once again the world falls away.|ooudhsd]] <<if $agen is 1>>\ <<notify 2s>>Character Unlocked: Aida<</notify>>\ <</if>>\ <<if $agen is 0>>\ <<notify 2s>>Character Unlocked: Arlo<</notify>>\ <</if>>\

?aHis other hand comes up and brushes your cheek, tilting your head just the smallest amount so ?ahe can see all of you. Your eyes. Your $eyecolor eyes, almost on command, shut and you lean into the familiar feelings ?ahis presence illicits. ?aHis hand comes to rest fully on your face and holds you longer still. It's then that the warmth in your stomach churns and you understand better what you are now feeling: [[It boils into anger.|Angry]] [[It melts into relief.|Relief]] [[It tightens into embarrassment and heartache.|Sad]] [[It fizzles. To nothing.|Numb]]

It pours over you all at once. One last time you lean into ?ahis touch, until it burns. You push off. Tension squeezes your eyes and your limbs are stiff. "Why?" You demand from ?ahim. ?aHe looks lost. "$name, I want-" "Want what?" You spit, voice louder than before, "You're clearly fine-" But you find yourself unable to hold ?ahis gaze. [[So you look everywhere.|angry2]] <<set $arloreaction to "angry">>\

An unconcious burden is lifted off your shoulders. For so long you were stuck under a mountain of confusion. Guilt. Unsure of what to feel. What to do. The questions that have plagued you for so long, no longer matter. Not in this moment. Not now. Because in this moment you have your... See your... Your... //Your what?// Nevermind. Not now, it doesn't matter. ?aHe is here. ?aHe is alive. <<if $exlover>>Your hand slides smoothly over ?ahis shoulder, lightly tracing up ?ahis neck. Goosebumps follow your trail as ?ahe watches you intently. Your palm comes to rest on ?ahis cheek.\ <<else>> Your hand slides smoothly over ?ahis shoulder, skipping to his cheek. You cup ?ahim as ?ahe did you, analyzing ?ahis face, looking at ?ahim. And you can't help the small bout of relief that laughs out of your mouth. <</if>> Your foreheads meet as you bathe in each other's presence. Nothing else. Ignore all the questions that want to spill out. All the worries. The confusion. ?aHe is alive. And that is enough. [[For now.|eddie relieft]] <<set $arloreaction to "relief">>\

Your eyes stay shut. Locked. To lock in the reds, blues and greens. Lock in the emotions, the tears. They mix and combine, a single drop of the paint, the grief, drips down your cheek. Yet you still grip ?ahis hand to your face. Wanting to tear it away, a reminder that ?ahe is only here now because ?ahe was gone for so long. But you keep it there, because it also is a reminder of everything the two of you were. The warm feelings, the confidence inspired, the hope you gave each other when it mattered the most.<<if $exlover>> The way you held each other, gave each other warmth when the rest of the world was cold.<</if>> ?aHe steps forward, ?ahis other hand on your other cheek, wiping away the tear. ?aHis forehead falls to yours, "$name," but you shake your head. You release ?ahis hands, stepping back. You can taste the iron from your lip, please, to feel anything but the anguish. [[Broken, you take another step back.|sad but edi here]] <<set $arloreaction to "sad">>\

The warmth coming from ?ahis hand starts become just that, just a hand. The eyes you were so anxiously looking for become just eyes. ?aHis brows furrow as ?ahe watches your expression drain into something... less. You take a step back, letting go, "I'm glad you're okay." You say and smile. ?aHis hand hovers in the air, but drops it when someone bumps into ?ahis shoulder. "$name?" Your voice is steady, polite. "It's nice to see you." ?aHis lips twitch downwards, ?ahe stutters, "I-". You watch as ?ahis bottom lip rolls back. "It's... good to see you too. I, um, how are you?" Tension starts coiling in your stomach, momentarily your nose stiffens but you blink it away. "I've been fine," //you lie-// you reply. Voices from the people around you travel in the space between you. Neither of you speak. ?aHe puts ?ahis hands in the pockets of ?ahis black trousers and watches a woman drop her purse. "$name, this is, this not how I expected this to go." [["I don't know what to tell you." You shrug.|eddie numb]] <<set $arloreaction to "numb">>\

"Let me drive you." ?eShe all but commands. ?eHer eyes look heavy, skin paler than usual. <<if $silly gte 2>>You shrug your shoulders. "Sure." ?eShe nods ?eher head.<<elseif $prot gte 2>>You begin to protest, but pause. ?eHer eyes are slightly red, they sink in to ?eher face. "Fine." You won't argue.<<else>>You won't argue with ?eher. "Alright."<</if>> $Arlo stands there, ignoring Eddie, eyes stuck on you. "I'll be here." <<if $arloreaction is "angry">>You bite your lip, a headache officially establishing itself. Instead of a response you shake your head.<<elseif $arloreaction is "sad">>You can't look at ?ahim, head beginning to pound, so you look at Eddie.<<elseif $arloreaction is "relief">>You look at ?ahim, pausing for a second before wordlessly nodding your head.<<elseif $arloreaction is "numb">>Your eyes flit to ?ahis, briefly connecting, then you look away.<</if>> Eddie steps in again, facing $Arlo, "I know for a fact that you and I will be speaking when we get back." Then marches away, pulling Kaylen to the side and talking with her in hushed tones, eyes darting towards $Arlo. Quickly, Eddie comes back, placing ?eher hand lightly on your elbow, "come on." [[You follow outside.|car]]

$Arlo looks around you, tugging at the hem of ?ahis shirt, before meeting the fire in your eyes. "I-, I'm sorry." It's weak. Not enough. No where close to enough. Another tight laugh leaves your lips as you shake your head. "You're sorry? That's it?" "$name." The voice is calm, deeper. Eddie. ?eHer face is taut as ?eshe weaves through people, keeping ?eher hands up from touching anyone. ?Arlo watches carefully as Eddie places a hand on your shoulder, ?ahis eyes glued to ?eher hand. "Everything okay?" ?eHer voice is soft in your ear but eyes turn hard against $Arlo. "Why are you here?" Eddie briefly looks at you before taking back ?eher hand and crossing ?eher arms. [[Someone drops their purse.|EA arguech2 angry]]

?aHe takes ?ahis hands out of ?ahis pockets, twisting at the rings, looking away from you. ?aHis mouth flounders and ?ahe has to look away again. "Can we talk?" Again, your stomach tenses. You bite your tongue. "We can talk, $Arlo. Go ahead." Your arms wrap around your body, looking at ?ahis forehead, eyes drifting down to the strands that hang in front of ?ahis face. ?aHe tucks one behind ?ahis ear. ?aHis gaze drifts behind you. A hand comes down on your shoulder, firm. You turn and meet Eddie's brown eyes. "How's it going?" ?eShe glances at $Arlo, who's gaze stays fixed on the hand on your shoulder. [[It drops.|EAarguenumb]]

//Voices echo and the air is damp. Behind them, they leave traces of<<if $clubtheme is "black">> smoke.<<elseif $clubtheme is "red">> red.<<elseif $clubtheme is "gold">> gold.<<else>> blue and pink.<</if>> "Where you able to find it?" "Not yet." "It's okay, my friend. We don't need it." "I need it. I need this to be as painless as possible." "Yes... But-" "?aHe is working on it." "We don't have much time." "I know but-" "I will wait then. As long as I can." He takes their hands in the own, inclining his head, "but we cannot wait much longer." They look at him, he holds their hope for change. They are so close, the anniversary of her death is coming up. She will be vunerable. They will not fail him. They cannot fail her. "Of course, my friend."// [[Next|Ch 2]]

The deep sounds of cello, hauntingly complimented by the low tones of the piano usher you into the building. You follow the melody, letting it lead you past doors. Further and further in. The notes grow closer and louder with each step you take. A crescendo taunting you towards your destination. The last set of doors. You open them. And the music rips to a stop. [[Leaving you in silence.|inside theater rm]]

Suddenly, your phone rings. You look at the flashing white screen to see it's Amelie. "Hello?" you pick up. <<if $amelie is "friend">>"$name, it's Amelie. Where are you right now?" "Amelie, hi," You watch Eddie's head nod, recognizing the name. "I'm heading east, out of downtown, why?" "Perfect, meet me at the abandoned zoo just off highway five in a few hours." "Amelie, wait, what-" "Bye!" You sigh and look out the window before your hand buzzes again. ''Amelie: I'll owe you one!''<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>"$name, it's Amelie. Where are you right now?" "Why are you asking, Amelie?" You watch Eddie's head nod, recognizing the name. She sighs into the phone, "I need you to meet me at the abandoned zoo just off highway five in a few hours." "No? What?" But she's already hung up. Then your phone vibrates again. ''Amelie Cadman: Please. I'll owe you one.''<</if>> [[Eddie looks at you.|abonded zoo eh?]]

The gradual sloping of the floor leads you down the aisle. Dozens upon dozens of empty chairs sit vacant around you. Darkened velvet curtains waterfall down from the ceiling, cascading onto the polished surface, finally trickling off the stage and drifting onto the carpet. You looks up to the false heavens painted above and the room seems to raise itself taller the longer you stare. Sun in the form of crystal and molded metal break the dusted white clouds and your gaze falls to the walls. Smaller silk curtained compartments stack on top of each other, ascending back up to the sky. Faint nodes of wood, dust and potpourri dance around your face as you come to a stop in front of the stage. Then at once- [[The lights turn off.|theyrree heeruhh]] <<set $highcouncil to "unlocked">>\

Darkness wraps around you, all warmth leaving the theater as you stand there. Alone. Before your mind can take you somewhere you don't want to go, the overhead lights pop on. The stage is illuminated and a breeze blows past you as the curtains are drawn. Blaring light blinds you as the rest of the scene is illuminated. You blink the white out of your vision to be greeted by an empty stage. Dust particles float in the rays and you can just barely feel the heat of the lamps. A beat goes by and you try to listen. For any movement or any noise, but the only thing you hear is the buzzing of the electronics above. And silence. But again. Not for long. A voice reverberates down the aisle behind you. It commands you, "step onto the stage." //[[And the theatrics begin.|doube bahs]]//

The lights shining down on you prevent you from seeing their faces clearly, some sort power play on their part. But you vaguely know what they look like, having met some before. Heat beats on the top of your head. "Welcome, $name, this location is rather atmospheric. Is it not?" A smooth, sincere voice travels to you on the stage, the notes dancing in the air to meet your ears. You don't get a chance to reply before another voice commands you, "answer her." It's low, rough and husky. Again, you're interrupted before forming a thought. "?Their opinion does not matter." The theater is silent before the voice speaks again. "You're late." This voice is commanding, what could be velvety is instead reserved. Calloused. "Now, now, Ravenna, I'm sure ?they didn't mean the disrespect so clearly displayed." The last voice is warm and confident. //Cocky.// [[A small twitch flutters your bottom eyelid.|cut da litess omnira and sahir]] <<set $highcouncil to "unlocked">>\

You can't hear the music. You don't feel the vibrations. The lights are all one color. Morphed together. Blurred. A body tumbles your way. Sweaty. [[Keep on your path.|strung]] [[Move out of the way.|agile]]

But you don't move. You keep going. They crash into you. But you don't falter. You're stone. They fall backwards, back into the ocean of people. Lost to you. [[And you keep moving.|lobby]] <<set $fight to "strong">>\

Instinct guides you out of the way. Your head doesn't move. Eyes carving the path forward. Like the wind. The body falls by you. Dissapearing back into the ocean of people. Lost to you. [[And you keep moving.|lobby]] <<set $fight to "agile">>\

?eShe quickly takes ?eher phone out, typing a message then putting it away. "So, the abandoned zoo, huh?" You shrug, used to phone calls never being private around other supernaturals, "yup." A small snort catches your attention and you turn to see Eddie rolling ?eher eyes. "Sorry, just- A strange vampire shows up, meeting with the High Council and now you need to go to an abandoned zoo?" ?eShe glances at you and clicks ?eher tongue. You look back and snort too, "yeah, but it's better than that one year with the tainted blood problem." There was a period of time some vampires were selling tainted blood to others, it either not being //actual// blood or it was crossed with other things. Some young vampires would drop dead, others would lose control. Altogether, not healthy for the vampires. "Though that zoo, that sounds kind of interesting," ?eshe adds. In the past, you've helped Amelie a few times. Her persistence wearing you down or she genuinely had a cause you couldn't refuse for the sake of the city. Eddie continues, ignoring your thoughts, "let me know whatever it is you guys find." [[You hum lazily in response.|hand car thing]]

Cold air is mixed with moisture, small beats of water fall on your exposed skin. Small chunks of loose concrete roll against your shoes as you walk under a worn down metal arch. It smells hollow. Everything is, or once was, a rusted brown color. Green now creeps up the walls, broken by unnatural markings of graffitti. You follow a particularly colorful word around the perimeter of the zoo and it leads you to a broken display. Molded stuffed animals lay strewn about on the floor, marble eyes staring back at you through a tinted mossy glaze. [[A piece of glass falls in the distance.|amelie yet?]]

You turn towards the noise and watch the rest of the clumsy facade crumble onto the floor. //Where is Amelie?// You tug your phone out of its hiding place and call her, focusing yourself on any other noises hanging in the air. First you hear the wind, the differential changes in pressure, how it moves between the rusted bars, blows the overgrown grass. Almost giving life to a now lifeless place. Then you hear the dripping. Hollow pipes not flowing, but holding stagnant water. It leaks off of the top of a roof, pulled down by gravity and resisted by the air that surrounds it. Then you hear the birds. Further away from you. They fly quickly and suddenly as birds tend to do. Flocking in roads, barely moving away from trucks that pass them. You hear a secondary ring. It trills through the air, calling out to you. [[Then it's cut off.|uh ohhh amiii lion]]

Strange. You step into an open area and close your eyes. //Concentrate.// You're able to pick up faint nodes of fresh detergent and rose. Amelie. She's here. You know it. But a cold feeling creeps up the back of your neck. [[It starts to rain.|metal noisee]]

Quickly and heavily. The rain soaks through your clothes. Then you feel a low tremble. It's subtle, but it courses up your legs. And then you hear it. A metallic shriek that cuts through the air and tears into your head, doubling you over. "Fuck," you growl, covering your ears in an attempt to stem the scratching. Water drips off of your elbows. [[Then the noise stops.|amelie lion 1]]

And it's followed by heavy thumping. Fast. Repeated. Heavy thumping. [[You look up.|Amelie comes in on her motorcycle]]

Trying to follow the noises before rushing in to anything. Water drips off of your chin. Then you hear another sound. Revving. An engine? The revs becomes steady. [[And the noise grows closer.|Amelie! on a motorcycle]]

"$name!" You spin around at your name, the raining messing with your senses. Amelie races down the aisle of cages behind you on the top of a sleeked out black motorcycle. She's not wearing a helmet, strands of loose curly hair whipping around her russet brown skin, sticking to her face. The warm undertones of her face are dulled by the gray sky. Her brown eyes look dark as she races by. "Run!" She shouts. [[Your eyes widen.|liontinro]]

Your own feet now pound against the ground as you quickly catch up to Amelie, the best you can with your current attire. You send her a wide eyed look. //What the fuck?!// Astoundingly, she sends you a sheepish smile, turning her bike around the corner with practiced ease. She quickly looks back as the two of you trace the perimeter of the park. "Kill it!" She calls to you. Your only response is an exagerrated head flail, eyebrows and mouth twisted. //[[What the fuck?|motorcycle kill de lion]]//

You hear a large crash behind you as the lion turns the corner. The path in front of you brings you to a depressed performance stadium. Broken bleachers sit thrown about the arena, poles of iron rest dented. Fake white columns lay in halves, in thirds and fourths scattered about. You slide behind one half of a column, the lion quickly gaining. Amelie skips down the steps with her bike, jumping off and landing next to you. Her bike skids to a thump a ways away. The lion follows the bike, pouncing and ravaging it into scraps. Rain falls off the body of the lion, metallic pattering forming into a strange beat. The arena itself slowly floods with water. The lion rears its head back, throwing a tire across and letting out a silent roar. [[Amelie frowns at the bike.|just chating behind a column]]

Someone drops their purse, cards clacking on the floor. Friends argue over which sports team is best. A couple embraces, high on the night, holding each other tightly. When you and $Arlo part it feels like you're in a haze. It doesn't feel real. You'll blink and ?ahe will be gone. But a firm hand on your shoulder steadies you. Confirms this is real. An ever grounding presence in your life. Eddie. ?eShe stares at $Arlo but $Arlo instead stares at ?eher hand. A frown intensifies Eddie's face, "what do you want?" [[Their eyes meet.|ch2AEarguerelief]]

Silence has once again captured the car, the steady speed of the engine occupying your mind. A few cars have joined you on the highway, one red, one blue and one white. The white one gains on you, steadily picking up its speed. A large sign passes by overhead, you don't really read what's on it. "Fuck-" Eddie brakes, hard, the force would have pulled you forward if ?eshe hadn't reached out, catching you. The side of ?eher hand, pinkie to wrist, is planted firmly against your chest. <<if $Edirom gte 1>>The speed levels out, ?eher hand lingers for a second, dropping to your leg. "Are you okay?" ?eShe glances over, a small frown on ?eher face. You nod your head, suddenly aware of the weight on your thigh. ?eHer hand gently squeezes and pulls away.<<else>>?eHer hand drops away, but ?eshe glances at you. "Are you alright?" You nod your head and ?eshe nods back. Happy with that response.<</if>> "Fucking idiot," ?eshe grumbles. [[You sink back into the seat.|arrived]]

The four of you stand in silence, which is thankfully interrupted by the twins walking in. "And then they found the missing witch's body in a dumpster," Kade's eyes are wide as he gets in Halley's face. Kade is wearing a maroon t-shirt and black jeans, followed by Halley also wearing a maroon cropped top and baggy jeans. Both are tugging matching suitcases behind them. Amelie look slightly amused at their state. Halley pushes Kade away and looks at Amelie then you. "What happened?" Tears glitter your outfit, one particularly gnarly one spans from your shoulder to the middle of your chest. There's also the gaping hole around your belly. Everyone looks over to you, examining the carnage. "Amelie, I'll find you something," Eddie comments. "You," ?eshe looks at you, "should go change." $Arlo shrugs, "it could be a look." [[Amelie continues to stare.|sdkfsdf]]

?eHer car is clean, it smells like leather and cinnamon, with a small hint of citrus cleaner. Just like Eddie. The car is sleek, you sit low when you get in the passenger seat. The engine is quiet as the car pulls out of the garage and enters the streets of the city. Buildings become sparse as you reach the outskirts. Small drops of water streak across the windshield, wiped away by the wind. The roads take you onto a highway, it curves away from the city, close to the forest. Dark greens and navy blues loom around you, headlights barely leading the way. The trees grow taller and darker the closer you get. It feels as if your heart skips a beat. Something in your gut telling you not to go in. //The green starts to warp your vision, its vines squeeze your stomach. Turn back. The trees are getting closer. Too close. Lost. You'll lose yourself. It will be taken.// //[[Are you being watched?|oopsi by eddi]]//

"$name." The voice startles you out of the trance, you're back in the car. The blinker clicking clicking clicking. Eddie looks at you, longer than ?eshe should while driving. Your eyes meet and ?eshe looks away. "You okay?" The car goes over a bump as it pulls away from the forest. There are no other cars on the road, Eddie's speedometer higher than what you would assume is safe. [[You're fine.|eddie mom mode]] [[Just... Tired.|eddie relatable mode]]

As ?eshe turns the car with the road, you feel yourself sway with its inertia. "I'm fine, it's nothing." //Nothing. It's fine.// ?eShe glances over at you, one hand on the wheel and the other in ?eher lap. ?eHer hand twitches. "I'm not going to pry into your past." The trees start becoming scarce, scattered buildings growing in their place. "But don't lie to yourself." More buildings. "It's far too easy." The roar of the road almost muffles out ?eher voice, but you hear it. Of course you do. [[It's silent again.|eddie car question time]]

As ?eshe turns the car with the road, you feel yourself sway with its inertia. "I'm just tired." //That's all.// ?eShe glances over at you, one hand on the wheel and the other in ?eher lap. ?eHer hand twitches. A bitter laugh escapes ?eher throat. "I know the feeling." The trees start becoming scarce, scattered buildings growing in their place. "I won't pry into your past, but I hope you're able to work through it." More buildings. "At least better than I did." The roar of the road almost muffles out ?eher voice, but not quite. [[It's silent again.|eddie car question time]]

Nothing but the small whistle of wind that leaks in from Eddie's cracked window fills the void. For a while it's sufficient, you let it occupy your mind, the rest of your turmoil pushed back. Eddie shifts in ?eher seat and you can feel ?eher attention turn back to you. "I've never asked you this. How exactly //did// you become a high vampire? Besides the being old part." [[It was never a choice.|mcbackstoryish]]

<<if $exlover is true>>"$name, I- wait." $Arlo reaches for your hand, fingers brushing against yours.<<else>>"$name, I- wait." $Arlo reaches for your hand, but it falls away inches before contact.<</if>> "Look, just, here." ?aHe pulls a folded piece of paper out of ?ahis back pocket, handing it to you. Quickly, you glance at Eddie. ?eShe looks back at you, then steps forward and takes the paper. ?eShe unfolds it and laughs bitterly. "Here." It's the council's letter. //$name $lastname, The purpose of this letter is to serve as a summons for your presence. This is non-negotiable. Failure to show up is a breach of your High Vampiric Duties and will result in immediate termination and replacement.// The rest that follows includes more granduer reasons for showing and why you should be honored to hold such a position. And an address and time. [[They want to meet in an hour and a half.|gunne ba l8]]

Eddie takes a step closer to $Arlo, "why did you have this?" $Arlo takes a small step back, glancing at you then back at Eddie. Then ?ahe hardens ?ahis face and retakes ?ahis step. "It doesn't matter, look at the location." The vampire and werewolf are inches from each other, Eddie making no moves to step back. Instead, you read out the location and Eddie scoffs. "The Grand Central Theater?" Eddie looks at you. ?eShe runs ?eher hands through ?eher hair, making it messier. "You're already late." Oh. $Arlo takes a step back, eyes drifting to you. The line you dance with the council is a thin one and in person meetings are rare. You don't really want to test how far you can take them. This means you need to leave. Now. Whatever is brewing between you and $Arlo... And $Arlo and Eddie, needs to be tabled. [[Eddie turns towards you.|Eddie walking to car]]

Your arms wrap around your body, looking at ?ahim through glossy eyes. "How could you?" ?aHe restrains ?ahimself from stepping forward, hands hovering near ?ahis stomach. "I'm so sorry." Another whisper from ?ahis mouth. The ceiling is dark, the lights are dim, your eyes preferring to squint from the light rather that face ?ahis dark green. Your eyes finally find ?ahis again, but you recoil back. Too much of your own sadness is mirrored in ?ahis own. The room is too hot, it's too crowded. This conversation should not be happening here. It shouldn't have to happen. It's not fair. Your lip begins to tremble, it's too much. Your hand quickly coming up to cover your mouth, ?ahe doesn't get to see you like this. $Arlo moves to you, unable to stay back, but your other hand comes up. Stopping ?ahim. You turn around, you need air, and run into somebody. Somebody warm. Steady. [[Eddie.|eaarguech2sad]]

"Ilian, you're not helping." The melodious voice chimes in. "Omnira, I was not trying to." Ilian's voice lilts up and you can hear the grin carried in their voice. "Anyways," they continue, "?they can't even see us. Why must we resort to such //theatrics//." You hear a low snort followed by a hushed giggle, "Sahir!" But the cold voice, Ravenna, interrupts "I do not care. Cut the lights or don't." The heat leaves you, dimmed and tolerable. [[It reveals the vampires sitting scattered in the audience.|quickT]]

Ilian must sit on the otherside of the aisle, one foot on top of their opposite knee, arm resting on the chair and face leaning into their hand. They have black, short wavy hair, cut close to their head. Dark brown eyes and medium umber skin with warm undertones compliment their hair and voice. They watch you, in an almost knowing manner. Eyes steadily meeting your own. Standing in the aisle, evaluating you, is Ravenna. She has short black hair, falling to her chin. It's cut straight across, nothing out of place. The callousness present in her voice is reflected in her demeanour. Gray eyes stand cold against the pale background of her flawless skin. The power she exudes is the clear indicator of her age. There is one more council member you know of. Aleksander. Known also for his cold demeanor, rumors saying it caused the icy blueness of his eyes. However, you do not spot him amoungst the chairs. [[Interesting.|next messg]]

"$name, let's make this quick. " She paces forward, leaving the others behind her. "You may have heard rumours." //You haven't.// "That there has been doubt in my judgement as of late." //Only late?// "That there are those who would see me dethroned. They do not agree with my stances." //How is this your problem?// Her hands ball into fists as she continues, "these insurgents have a leader." She looks to the side, scanning the water stained seats. "He is here. In this city. I feel it." Her eyes snap to you, analyzing you. Finally, her gray eyes meet your own. "Find him. //End him.//" The last word quivers off her tongue, dripping into the air. [[Why does this matter to you?|hc meeting - ass]] [[Understood.|hc meeting understood - nice]] [[Just nod.|hcmeeting nodapath]]

You start, "I don't see how this is my problem-" but she cuts you off, raising her voice. It bounces off the walls and echoes throughout the auditorium. ''"You //will// do as I say."'' Her eyes begin to bleed black. "You fraternize with humans, other supernaturals. You capitalize off our species. You show no interest in protecting your own." The black drowns out the white. "You are only High Vampire in title. You will do this or I will remove you and your status, //damn the consequences.//" She all but hisses at you, eyes completely flooded with darkness, teeth still dulled, but her words are sharp and her head shakes. The last of her words still reverberates all around. Silence hangs heavy in the air. A chair squeaks, agonizingly long as Ilian stands and walks towards her. "Ravenna, this anger is misplaced." Their voice is softer than you've heard before. "$name understands. ?They will comply." Their voice drops in tone, looking at you, any humor drained away, but one quirk of an eyebrow. [[Her eyes drain out the black.|hc meeting ass 2]]

"I understand." You comply with Ravenna, a polite smile plastered on your face. In the background you notice Ilian's eyebrows raise, but Ravenna's face remains unchanging. It's silent. The ruffling of fabric draws your attention, Omnira standing and motioning you to her. You begin to walk up the aisle towards her. Sahir stands, placing his hand on Omnira's waist to steady her as she passes him. She wears a sly smile, which upon seeing, Sahir lowers his head. But Omnira stops in front of him, raising his face with the tip of her index. The sly smile turns into something gentle and Sahir looks grateful. [[Omnira finally meets you at the end of the row.|hc meeting omnira talks]] <<set $nice to $nice +1>>\

You simply nod your head, which Ravenna seems pleased enough with. Ilian smirks at you and walks towards Ravenna. The ruffling of fabric draws your attention, Omnira standing and motioning you to her. You begin to walk up the aisle towards her. Sahir stands, placing his hand on Omnira's waist to steady her as she passes him. She wears a sly smile, which upon seeing, Sahir lowers his head. But Omnira stops in front of him, raising his face with the tip of her index. The sly smile turns into something gentle and Sahir looks grateful. [[Omnira finally meets you at the end of the row.|hc meeting omnira talks]] <<set $apath to $apath +1>>\

Sahir stands as well, motioning you to step down from the stage as he speaks. "You will find the leader of the resistance and kill him." Omnira stands as you and Sahir walk up the aisle. "You have one week. Present his head to us at the upcoming gala at the end of the month. We will forgive all your misgivings and you can start anew." He hands you an invitation. It's thick and heavy, remaining unbent as you take it. [[Is that it? No details? Nothing? What the hell?|huh?sahir-asshole]] [[Any help would be great.|huh?sahir-apath]] [[Is there any kind of description available?|huh?sahir-nice]]

max nice points: 4 +1 = 5 max ass points: 4 +1 = 5 max apath points: 4 +1 = 5 charming or intimidating dispostion set agile or strong disposition set exlover set true or false max Edirom points: 2 max Amrom points: 2 max Axrom points: 0 max Afrom points: 0

As you walk, you realize that you were wrong earlier. Sitting in the back row of the room, in the last seat, is Aleksander. He stares at you and Ilian. His blonde hair sits in a low bun, strands falling forward to frame his face. Blue, almost white eyes stand out from his warm beige skin, piercing through you when his gaze snaps from Ilian to you. Ilian tuts their tongue as you level Aleksander with your own stare. [[Then you continue out.|adf]]

She reaches for your shoulder, smoothing out a small wrinkle on the fabric. "Find the leader, $name. Find him and bring us his head." Her voice is light, eyes bright. "You have until the gala, one week, to show us. Then the tension will be forgiven." She smiles sweetly at you, handing you an invitation, the light catching on her golden jewelry. [[Is that it? No details? Nothing?|huh?omni-asshole]] [[Any help would be great.|huh?omni-apath]] [[Is there any kind of description available?|huh?omni-nice]]

Both your arms are perched against the car door as Eddie rolls down ?eher window, leaning ?eher arm out. "Who the hell was that?" You just shake your head, bumping it down on the car and resting it there. Ilian's words replay in your head as you watch Eddie. "Ilian. A High Council member. They called you attractive. You should probably be flattered." A sour smile appears on ?eher face followed by a small sharp laugh, not directed at you. "Oh, should I now?" <<if $Edirom gte 1>>You gaze down at ?eher eyes, unintentionally leaning in closer, "yep." ?eShe looks back at you, a laughy breath leaving ?eher lips and ?eshe looks away, "if you say so."<<elseif $silly gte 2>> "Yeah! You know," you tap ?eher forearm, "if you're into the //older// crowd." This earns you a lighthearted eye roll. <<else>>You coyly shrug your shoulder, "if you're into the older crowd." This earns you a light chuckle from Eddie, "I'm not." "Don't knock it 'til you try it," you smile.<</if>> Silence comfortably settles in before you speak again. "They want me to find some insurgent." Eddie nods ?eher head as you continue, "they also threatened Halley and Kade." [[Eddie's face falls flat.|jygyjg]]

But perks up when she looks at you. "Creepy right?" Amelie wipes the sweat off her forehead with the back of her sleeve. Some hair sticks to it still. "It is and isn't, functionally, a giant lion." The two of you peer over to check. It walks in circles, sniffing the air. Searching. "It acts like a lion." She starts, just barely speaking over the sound of rain. "Stalks like a lion." You add, flicking the water off your face. "But not a lion," she finishes. "Claws and teeth are sharp, injured some other hunters." "So you needed me to cover for them?" "Sort of, I've got this," she holds up a glass bottle filled with a clear liquid, "a transfiguration potion." "Transfiguration potion?" You begin, "what are we-" //Oh.// [[Gross.|turnitrealscarescrow]]

"From who?" ?eShe asks. Halley retracts her hand. "Aspen or Vael?" Eddie shakes ?eher head, "no, who brought the mix?" "I-" She glances to Kade then back to Eddie, "Hale?" A disgusted noise comes from Eddie, "trash it, don't accept anything from him." Kade leans forward, starting to protest, "it's pretty good, Eddie-" "No." ?eHer jaw tenses. "Get rid of it." Then ?eshe looks at you and your eyes go wide. "Eat something, it's been a while." Then ?eshe leaves with the final command. Halley stands tense, eyes frozen on the ground. Amelie looks towards the corner of the room while $Arlo plays with the rings on ?ahis fingers. Kade shakes his head, putting a hand on his sister's shoulder. She looks up and nods. "$name, do you want to try it? It's actually really good, I promise." [[Drink it.|drink it]] [[Don't drink it.|dont drink it]]

<<if $flirtbold gte 1>>"Amelie," Your voice causes her to look over. Hesitantly. "Which would you like me to be?" A long smile grows on your face and you clasp your hands behind your back. "I'll take these off," Your eyes flicker down to your clothes, "if that's what you want." Your grin is now devilish as you tease her. No intention to follow through. Some water drips on the floor from where she squeezes at her shirt. "Ah, hilarious, $name." Her eyes flicker to the tear again then back to your eyes. Seeing them filled with mirth, she averts her gaze.<<elseif $flirtsub gte 1>>You roll your bottom lip under your teeth, trying to hold back a smile and failing. Then you look at her, water dripping on the floor from where she squeezes her shirt. "I know what you meant, Amelie." Her shoulders sink, sending a smile to you. "Thanks." She breathes out. "But I mean, if you really want-" You joke. "No! Ugh." She stutters and looks away.<<else>>You roll your bottom lip under your teeth, trying to hold back a smile and failing. Then you look at her, water dripping on the floor from where she squeezes her shirt. "Would you like me to..." you begin, toying with the hem of your clothes. "No!" She exclaims, "you know that's not what I meant." You can't help but laugh, Amelie groaning in response.<</if>> Halley smugly takes a sip of the drink she's been holding. Eddie looks at it curiously, stepping over and gently lifting her hand to sniff the drink, "that smells weird. What is that?" Halley flushes, "oh, it's a new mixed drink we're trying out." She scratches the back of her head. "I think it was from Aspen or Vael? It's a new mix." [[Eddie frowns.|halley has hale drink]] <<set $Amrom to $Amrom +1>>\

You smile, letting a short laugh out. Then you look at her, water dripping on the floor from where she squeezes her shirt. "I know what you meant, Amelie." She groans. Halley smugly takes a sip of the drink she's been holding. Eddie looks at it curiously, stepping over and gently lifting her hand to sniff the drink, "that smells weird. What is that?" Halley flushes, "oh, it's a new mixed drink we're trying out." She scratches the back of her head. "I think it was Aspen or Vael? It's a new mix." [[Eddie frowns.|halley has hale drink]]

<<set $drink to "MC">>\ "Sure," you reach out and take the cup. It's wet against your hand, condensation cold to the touch. The ice clinks as you tilt the cup back, it's cold enough that it temporarily sticks to your lips. Only unsticking once the colored liquid reaches you. Nodes of ginger and honey touch your tastebuds. Your mouth filled with a sweet aroma followed by a subtle burn. The tingling on your lips is quenched by the cubes falling forward, sliding against your skin. When you bring the cup down, you nod, "this is good." Halley's eyes are big, looking at you through her lashes, "right?" Kade turns his attention to you, giving a thankful nod. "Anyways, I need to change." You say. Amelie and $Arlo head in separate directions after you all say goodbye. [[Soon enough you're at your apartment.|drink effects]]

"I believe you, I just don't want any," you smack your lips. "I need a different kind of drink right now." She gnaws on her bottom lip, "alright." "Hey," Amelie butts in. "I'd like to try." Halley lights up and hands her the cup. Amelie's eyes widen as she takes a sip, a small drop running down her chin. "This is really good." She licks her lips and wipes away the drop. <<if $nice gte 2>>You're thankful Amelie stepped in.<<elseif $ass gte 2>>You didn't really care whether or not the drink was good. But you won't say as much.<<elseif $apath gte 2>>It's just a drink, you don't really understand the big deal.<<else>>At least Amelie stepped in.<</if>> "Anyways, I need to change." You say. Amelie and $Arlo head in separate directions after you all say goodbye. [[Soon enough you're at your apartment.|apartment thyme]] <<set $drink to "amelie">>\

♥ ♡

♥

"$name?" Muffled through the door. $Arlo. The door creaks open, you forgot to lock it, and your head starts pounding again. "Can I come in?" You wish that tale about vampires and houses was true. ?aHe lingers in the open doorway. Still waiting. But still inside. This conversation is one that is needed, but not now. Your mind //can't//. Can't focus on it. Can't give it the attention is needs, that you deserve. You're absolutely drained. You need to process. Recharge. Unfortunately, it's not time for you to sleep. [[Not yet.|rfdf]]

<<if $arloreaction is "angry">>The sudden intrusion accompanied by your headache has you glaring at ?ahim. But it's not enough to dissuade ?ahim.<<elseif $arloreaction is "sad">>The sudden intrusion accompanied by your headache has you closing your eyes. Trying to sooth yourself. ?aHe steps forward in worry.<<elseif $arloreaction is "relief">>Though it's a sudden intrusion, one accompanied by a headache, you bring a small smile to your face. It's enough for ?ahim to take a step forward.<<elseif $arloreaction is "numb">>The sudden intrusion accompanied by your heachache has your brain buzzing. Words don't form as you simply stare. ?aHe takes a step forward.<</if>> "I was hoping to see you." ?aHis eyes lock with your own, but soon flit around the room instead. ?aHis shoes tap on the concrete floor, echoing through the space, over the silence. ?aHe stops and looks at you. <<if $hobby is "reading">>[[But you say nothing.|ch2arloairda reading]]<</if>><<if $hobby is "piano">>[[But you say nothing.|ch2arloairda piano]]<</if>><<if $hobby is "painting">>[[But you say nothing.|ch2arloairda painting]]<</if>><<if $hobby is "cooking">>[[But you say nothing.|ch2arloairda cooking]]<</if>> <<if $exlover>>[[Fuck it. ♥|ch2DANCEARLOAIDA]]<</if>>

Ignoring $Arlo, you walk to the corner of your studio. The large, expansive bookcases perfume the area. The smell is organic, the chemicals breaking down the pages, almost faster than you can read. Almost. Your fingertips trace the leather, some rough, some smooth. Carefully, you pull one out. The pages creak as you delicately turn them. $Arlo steps besides you, taking in the books around you. ?aHe looks at what you've begun to read. "How many times will you read that one?" Of course ?ahe remembers. ?aHe did, afterall, help build your collection. These books have been held by ?Arlo almost as many times as they've been held by you. "It calms me." You don't look up as you answer, eyes glues to the yellowing pages, the faded ink. <<if $exlover>>[[The faded memories.|ch2Abooreading2]]<<else>>[[The faded memories.|ch2Abooreading2]] [[But you feel the stare. ♥|bookflirtfrien]]<</if>>

Honestly? //Fuck it.// You don't want to think. You don't want to talk. $Arlo is standing there, black shirt hanging loosely off ?ahis neck, collar bone exposed. Smooth. Soft. <<if $aintimate>>Strong under your bite. Pliable when you wanted. <</if>>You don't want to think. Just act. ?aHe looks surprised when you grab ?ahis hand, "$name?" You continue to pull ?ahis hand, "stop talking." So ?ahe does. [[Soon you're back at the club.|deddieoff]] <<set $Axrom to $Axrom +1>>\ <<set $Adance to true>>\

Ignoring $Arlo, you move to the black seat, moving to one side. The piano is smooth, cool against your skin. You let your fingers slide over the keys, their familiar grooves are comforting. The notes float into the air as you press down, the warm up tune lifting your shoulders an inch. You look over your shoulder, eyeing $Arlo. "Do you remember how to play?" ?aHe walks in your room, admiring your decorations. ?aHis presence is familiar next to you, the bench creaking under ?ahis weight. "Of course I do." ?aHis voice is quiet. You lay down the base of the rhythm, providing its structure. The notes flow naturally, as if you were born to only do this. Nothing but the deep, low notes filling the air. You feel ?ahis eyes on you, distracted. <<if $exlover>>[[So you repeat. Hands moving in memory.|arloaidapianoch2]]<<else>> [[So you repeat. Hands moving in memory.|arloaidapianoch2]] [[And you stare back. ♥|froeidfna]]<</if>>

Ignoring $Arlo, you walk over to the tarp laid upon the floor. An entire section of your studio is covered with this multi colored canvas, paint and oil from different mediums splayed upon its cream color. Paints ranging from water to acrylic lay in varying containers on tables and the floor. Memories of your fingerprints stain different surfaces, reminding you of different phases in your life. One particular canvas stands tall amoungst the mess, dry and ready for its additions. You start to collect your paints, ready to add to the darkened background. $Arlo walks over, examining the set up. Your paint brush splits as you dab colors of green over the back drop. In the background you hear sounds of brushes and materials clinking in their jars as $Arlo rummages through them. <<if $exlover>>[[The sound of pillaging stops.|ch2Aart]]<<else>>[[The sound of pillaging stops.|ch2Aart]] [[You look over, gaze drifting. ♥|dahandsA]]<</if>>

Ignoring $Arlo, you walk to the kitchen area, pulling out miscellaneous pots and pans. And a cutting board. You're fridge is stocked with your favorite ingredients. While vampires only need blood to survive, it doesn't stop food from tasting delicous. So long as you drink blood to keep your body functioning, it still works like a human body. For the most part. $Arlo steps in further, shoes echoing off the floor towards you. You continue to collect materials. Something simple. Not too much, not right now. Onions, garlic, tomatos, you mindlessly hand them to $Arlo as ?ahe stands next to the fridge. ?aHe places the vegetables on the counter, a tomato rolls off but ?ahe catches it. You grab the knife off its magnetic holder and hand it to $Arlo. Wordlessly, ?ahe starts chopping the vegetables on the cutting board you placed out. <<if $exlover>>[[The portions are exactly what you need.|spagetch2]]<<else>>[[The portions are exactly what you need.|spagetch2]] [[You find yourself staring. ♥|cookflirt1]]<</if>>

$Arlo follows you at arms length, people weave in and out of the space you've created between the two of you. A safety net. Your gut tells you to walk away from the cliff, walk away from a fall you've already taken and a fall you already know ends in pain. But maybe it's because you're intimately familiar with the end, the pain, that dancing at the edge doesn't seem so bad. You stop. ?aHe stops. [[And you let the music guide you.|ch2adancescene1]]

Starting at the top of ?ahis forearm, sliding your fingers down, you hook yourself in ?ahis hand and pull ?ahim towards you. Familiarity brings ?ahis hand out of yours and to your hip, ?ahis other hand mimicking. The distance between you is too much, too much for this space and this atmosphere, so you decide to let it close, temporarily. Your arms go up and bring ?ahis neck closer, loose, unrestraining not for ?ahim, but for you. Dancing comes naturally in this position. You let the music claim you, stop thinking. You let it pull you away and push you back. But everytime you feel yourself slip, you feel a tug back, hands tight around your hips. You're pulled in closer each time until your foreheads almost clash, hips almost bouncing off each other. <<if $agen is 0>>[[You turn him around in your arms, bringing you flush together.|ch2aisbottom]]<</if>><<if $agen is 1>>[[You turn her around in your arms, bringing you flush together.|ch2aisbottom]]<</if>> <<if $agen is 0>>[[You turn around in his arms, bringing yourself flush with him.|ch2aistop]]<</if>><<if $agen is 1>>[[You turn around in her arms, bringing yourself flush with her.|ch2aistop]]<</if>> [[You close your eyes and the two of you drift together.|ch2aembrace]]

You let the music lead, you let the atmosphere make your decisions. Hands find their way to ?ahis hips, turning ?ahim around and bringing ?ahim tightly to your chest. Immediately ?ahis hands cover your own and tangle themselves. Usuing you to bring ?ahimself even closer. You don't let ?ahim claim you, placing your hands over ?ahis, you grind back. ?aHe pushes closer, lower. Almost a battle for dominance. One that you both willingly participate in. You raise one hand. Brushing any offending obstructions, you clear your way a path to ?ahis neck, your breath ghosting ?ahis skin. When you feel the low gutteral growl vibrate from ?ahis neck to your mouth, you know you've won. Fingertips now dig into your hips not in posession but in a plea. Begging. ?aHe turns, gazing at your mouth, ?ahis own breath is ragged, quick, weak. ?aHis head leans closer, lips almost brushing against your jaw. Never touching. [[But, fuck, you want it. To dive in, to touch, to feel.|but you cannttt]]

You let the music lead, you let the atmosphere make your decisions. Turning around you feel ?ahis breath stutter against your neck, hands tightening even more around your hips. You don't let ?ahim claim you, placing your hands over ?ahis, you grind back. ?aHe pulls you closer, lower. Almost a battle for dominance. One that you both willingly participate in. You raise your arms. They curve around ?ahis neck, as instead, you pull ?ahim forward. When you feel the low gutteral growl vibrate from ?ahis chest onto your back, you know you've won. Fingertips now dig into your hips not in possession but in a plea. Begging. The breath on your nape is ragged, quick, weak. ?aHis head leans closer, cheek almost brushing against yours. Lips ghosting your jaw, never touching. [[But, fuck, you want it. To dive in, to touch, to feel.|but you cannttt]]

You let the music lead, you let the atmosphere make your decisions. You step closer, foreheads touching. ?aHis breath stutters and you feel the breeze on your lips. ?aHis hands move from your hips, one to your lower back and the other to your upper back. An almost embrace. You feel the restraint through ?ahis grip on you. Feel the breaks in ?ahis practiced breathing. Disruption in the flow. ?aHis chest brushes against your own and as it sinks back in, it too is jagged. For a moment you swear you feel something wet on your shoulder as you're almost pressed flushed against ?ahim. Your chest pulls against you. It's begging you to press back. Close the gap. Fall in again. Get swept up in the current, feel the rush, let it envelope you. [[And, fuck, you want it. To dive in, to touch, to feel.|but you cannttt]]

Do ?ahis lips taste the same? Bitter but addictive. Drink it long enough, it becomes sweet. Numbing. <<if $aintimatetrue>>\Do they still feel soft but rough? Rough only for you and just to your liking. The hot breath coalescing between the two of you is too good. //Too// familiar. //Too// reassurring. //Too// tempting.<</if>>You're slipping. Too close. You're becoming intoxicated, falling back into what burns just right and just enough. It's too wrong, it feels too right. Step back. Do it. ''[[Now.|mentalbrkdwn 2?]]''

You push ?ahim away, tearing yourself from an edge that you've tumbled off of before. But it's too much. The fall feels too thrilling. It's exhilarating, freeing, the kind of feeling that you could get addicted to. Again. You need to get out. Fresh air. Find fresh air, ground yourself, stop yourself from turning around and falling backwards into the abyss. [[You head to the roof.|to da roofch2]]

The air should be cleansing. The sky cold and crisp. The rooftop is empty, you're alone. The city below is small. Dots of people walk up and down the sidewalk, cars turn and pass each other, everything flows as a circuit. People wander, laugh, cry. Cars cut each other off, honk, speed. The same lights flicker on and off every day and every night in the shops below. The same buildings glow regardless of the time of day. It doesn't take long until familiar footsteps crunch behind you. ?aHe leans on the railing next to you. Silent. Watching the same monotonous pattern on the streets below. Nothing really changes. [[Does it.|arlroof2]]

Soon enough, ?ahe breaks out of ?ahis trance and joins you. Higher notes carry the melody. They compliment your own. ?aHis long fingers dance up and down the keys, similar to your own. The room is filled with only with the music. And it's beautiful. Imperfectly beautiful. A perfect reminder of how you compliment each other. <<if $exlover>>When one sinks, so does the other. When you rise, so does ?ahe.<<else>>When one sinks, the other rises. When one falters, the other stabilizes.<</if>> When your hands cross, it's too much. The music, the melody. ?aHis presence. Here. All of the sudden. Out of no where. You have to stop. You need air. [[So you leave.|to da roofch2]]

It's the same sentence, over and over again. You try and tune ?ahim out, but you can't. ?aHis clothes ruffle, ?ahe taps ?ahis fingers against the bookcase. ?aHis chest expands, inhaling the scent of the books. "I could never compete with your books," ?ahe turns to face you, "but especially that one." ?aHe blinks slow, watching you watch ?ahim from over your book. "But I understand it." ?aHe walks to the other end, green eyes looking over the collection. "You kept it." A whisper barely heard over the turning of your page, but your eyes follow ?ahis and they land on a <<if $eyecolor is "hazel">>greenish brown<<else>>$eyecolor<</if>> book. ?aHis favorite, though the contents weren't remarkable. ?aHe always said it was something about the cover that ?ahe loved, that ?ahe was drawn to. Of course you kept it. You couldn't throw it, at least not when you didn't know... Suddenly the air no longer calms you. The dust suffocates you instead. It's too much. [[So you leave.|to da roofch2]]

The stove top clicks on and you place a small pan on top to heat. Then you grab noodles out of the cupboard, placing them on the counter. $Arlo pushes them to the side, moving to the sink to fill the pot with water. You switch positions, grabbing the garlic and throwing it in the oiled pan. ?aHe puts the pot on and stands away, waiting for it to boil. The pan sizzles as the rest of the ingredients are added. You taste it, something is missing. You bite your lip, thinking about what it could be when a small container is bumped into your arm. You look at $Arlo, then to the spice. Opening it, you smell it, mentally combining the ingredients before deciding to add it for real. When you taste it again... it's perfect. It was exactly what the sauce needed. What you needed. That's all that was missing. The sizzling starts ringing in your ears, you stare at the pan. Long enough for the garlic to burn and $Arlo to look at you concerned, moving the pan off the stove. You say nothing. [[Instead you leave.|to da roofch2]]

?aHe stands holding the oil pastels you've long shoved away in storage. A small frown sits on ?ahis face as ?ahe stares down at an old, short stub. The darkened mixture of <<if $eyecolor is "hazel">>greenish brown<<else>>$eyecolor<</if>> smears on ?ahis index and thumb as ?ahe turns it over and over, brows crinkled. When ?ahe looks at you, ?ahis face is twisted, "you kept them." ?aHis voice cracks, face following. You're unable to find your voice, unable to explain why you still have them. Instead you stare at ?ahis hands, the color decorating ?ahis fingers. Unable to meet ?ahis dark green eyes. The inside of your throat starts to churn, something cold making its way up your throat. The paint brush mars the canvas, dropping as you step away. One step, then another. Further and further away from $Arlo. ?aHe simply stands there, unwilling to meet you. [[So you leave.|to da roofch2]]

$Arlo crosses ?ahis arms, a thin lipped smile appearing on ?ahis face, "none of your buisiness, //red//." Eddie takes a step forward, clenching ?eher jaw. "You're in my club, so it's my business." The crowd grows quieter. Coins abandoned as the tension in the air simmers the boiling in your veins, instead heightening your senses. Allowing you to smell the stark contrast between $Arlo and Eddie. Sharpened oak against a spiced sweetness. This will escalate if you let it. Pushing back down your own anger, you place your hand on Eddie. "Come on, let's just go." [[Eddie doesn't back down.|A has the letter]]

$Arlo crosses ?ahis arms, a thin lipped smile appearing on ?ahis face, "none of your buisiness, red." Eddie takes a step forward, "you're in my club, so it's my business." The crowd grows quieter. It allows you to smell the stark contrast between $Arlo and Eddie. Sharpened oak against a spiced sweetness. "Eddie, it's okay." You start, but $Arlo takes a step closer to ?eher, and ?eshe tenses. //Okay.// This will escalate if you let it. "Let's just go." You place your hand on Eddie's back. [[Eddie doesn't move.|A has the letter]]

"Amelie!" You charge over, throwing your body onto hers, the two of you rolling out the way. Blood and water splash all around you. Your teeth clack together, noses hit each others. The lion recoils, head banging against the ground, metal clanking turning into a fleshier thud. Your hands stay still, placed on either side of Amelie's head, as you watch the transfiguration. You turn back to Amelie only to find her eyes wide and glued on you. Hair floating in the water around you. Suddenly, you're aware of her hands on your arms. [[You look down at her, bewildered.|lionnoflirt]] <<if $amelie is "friend">>[[Move the hair off her face. ♥ Bold|lionboldflirt]] [[Her hands are warm on your skin. ♥ Subtle|lionsubtleflirt]] <<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>[[Something protective stirs in you. ♥|lionhunterflirt]]<</if>>

Why is she just staring at you. "Amelie?!" You hiss, moving off of her while squelching and growling rumble in the background. She gets up, wiping the water off of her face. Then her eyes flash with wonder, "I didn't think it'd start working immediately." She stares again, eyes wide and mouth slightly ajar. <<if $apath gte 2>>You watch her watch the lion and quietly wonder why she's not freaking out.<<elseif $ass gte 2>>//Why the hell is she just watching?//<<elseif $nice gte 2>>You hesitate for just a second, wanting to get her to focus but can't help but watch her watch the lion.<<else>>You watch as she watches the lion and can't help but think this isn't a normal reaction.<</if>> "Amelie," you snap her out of her daze. Finally, she starts backing away and you follow. [[The lion's pained roars envelope the stadium.|duofight]]

A knowing smile creeps onto your face, despite the situation at hand, and you gently move a strand of hair off of her face. You lean closer, the water from your nose dripping onto her face. Her hands squeeze your arms. "Amelie," you begin. The silence begins to fill with squelching and growling, yet she can't tear her eyes from yours. Her breathing is quick, stomach moving up and down beneath you. "Amelie, we need to move." She blinks twice and stiffens. Then she pushes you off, leaving you quietly laughing. Crawling away in the water. "Right, yeah, let's-" she clears her throat, "let's kill this thing." You hear a sort of mumbling as she adjusts herself. [[The lion's pained roars envelope the stadium.|duofight]] <<set $flirtbold to $flirtbold +1>>\ <<set $Amrom to $Amrom +1>>\

Her hands feel warm on your skin. Suddenly, despite the squelching and growling in the background, you find yourself mesmerized by her face. She's beautiful. You notice the smoothness of her skin, up until the rough edges of the scars that don't mar her face. But tell her story. You notice the soft curl of hair that is plastered over her eyebrow and fight the urge to move it off her face. You notice her staring back and wonder if she maps your face like you do hers. The intensity of the moment is interrupted by screeching roar. [[You roll Amelie out from under you.|duofight]] <<set $flirtsub to $flirtsub +1>>\ <<set $Amrom to $Amrom +1>>\

You open the door to your studio. Ignoring everything else, you grab a change of clothes and head to the shower. The shower head spurts on, water splattering on the tiled floor. Glass encompasses the steam that rises up from the ground. Hot and cleansing. Your clothes are discarded, landing somewhere, you don't care. Instead you let the water rinse over your body. The towel is soft, luxurious against your skin and soon enough you're dressed again. The steam dissapates into the rest of your studio when you open the bathroom door. [[You head for the fridge.|bluud]]

<<set $hobby to "piano">>\ The northwest area is furnished with instruments. Woodwinds, strings, brass, a range of instruments lay waiting along the wall. Most impressive of all, however, polished and tuned, is your grand piano. Sheet music litters the floor around it, some crumpled, some flat. None of which sits upon its rack. The wood is old, but stands strong. It's keys have been worn and replaced but always with the devotion of an artist. The keys beckon to you. [[But there's a knock at your door.|ArloAida comes a knocing]]

<<set $hobby to "reading">>\ The northeast wall is covered with dark bookcases. They reach floor to ceiling, books crammed on every shelf, of every color, of every language. A map of your life, every where you went, you took a piece with you. Given a piece. The places you have yet to walk sit on your shelves, waiting for you to visit. To learn. To explore. The pages beckon to you. [[But there's a knock at your door.|ArloAida comes a knocing]]

<<set $hobby to "painting">>\ The southeast area is decorated by a range of art supplies. You've tried your hand at many forms of expression but found the most comfort in physical art. Feelings scuplted out of clay, drawn in pencil, smeared across paper. Depictions of your life memorialized across the different canvases. Thrown out, saved. Given away. Each piece of yourself you've crafted. Now the paint calls out to you, beckoning to you. [[But there's a knock at your door.|ArloAida comes a knocing]]

<<set $hobby to "cooking">>\ The eastern wall houses your kitchen. Steel and iron decorate its surfaces. Stacks of books sit on the counter, pieces of different cultures. Different places you've been and places you have yet to travel. Recipes you've perfected and recipes you've vowed never to make again. The world changes little by little everyday, ushering in new eras. But food, the basis of food stays the same. The scents and tastes of your dishes bring you back in time, different parts of your life come alive through these flavors. Different dishes for different feelings. The metal calls to you. [[But there's a knock at your door.|ArloAida comes a knocing]]

You breathe out, finally feeling comfortable in your home. The door behind you closes. You take a deep breath. Did //you// close the door? You open it again. Then shut it. Tightly. Not tight enough. The door open and closes again, it's forced shut. The force echoes through the studio. It echoes and echoes. And echoes. //And echoes. And it won't stop. It just gets louder. Louder. Too loud. The grinding won't stop. It grinds and grinds and the blood, the blood flowing in your body, not your own, but the foreign blood. [[It starts boiling.|drink2]]//

Spots float around the room. Black spots. They dance around your peripherals, colors soon joining them. They bleed into one another. Blink once, then twice. The spots don't bleed. You bleed. You're bleeding. Whatever was left of your clothes has been shredded off, claw marks decorate underneath. Blood soaking the edges. You limp. Limp? Limp over to the full sized mirror near your bed. Just in time to catch the blackened veins receding from around your eyes. In time to watch the tears in your skin mend. Blood sticking to its surface. Everything around you stands still. Nothing out of place. [[Except the small puddle of blood in front of your fridge.|blewd]]

The shower head spurts on, water splattering on the tiled floor. Glass encompasses the steam that rises up from the ground. Hot and cleansing. Your clothes are discarded, landing somewhere, you don't care. Instead you let the water rinse over your body, red tainting the clear water. You watch and watch until the water is once again clear. The towel is soft, luxurious against your skin and soon enough you're dressed again. The steam dissapates into the rest of your studio when you open the bathroom door. [[You scan the room once more.|apt style]]

//Boiling and boiling and boiling. Something crashes. Loudly. It echoes and echoes. It's chaos. Or is it? What's falling? Nothing is. Everything is. It falls, everything is blurred, something feels numb. What's bleeding? It tickles. No. It's irritating. It won't stop, why won't it just fall? Why is it so slow? Too slow. Make it faster. Cut it deeper. Don't stop. Cut it deeper. [[Deeper.|end of drink rage]]//

Eddie's brows are furrowed, looking between you and $Arlo. "It's fine," you say but ?eher brows stay creased. "Right." $Arlo looks away from the two of you, arms crossing over each other. "Well," Eddie turns ?eher attention to you. "I forgot to show you some documents." [[Eddie gestures for you to follow.|A has the letter]]

Eddie is firm, hands holding onto your shoulders as ?eshe examines your face. ?eHer hands tighten, jaw clenching as ?eshe glares at ?Arlo. Instead of cowering, $Arlos gaze stays locked on Eddie's hands. It's only when Eddie releases you that ?ahis gaze breaks. Eddie places ?eherself completely in front of you, eyes sharp against $Arlo. "Get the fuck out," ?eshe growls. Any lingering emotion from $Arlo vanishes as a tight lipped smile appears on ?ahis face, "this is none of your buisiness, red." Eddie takes another step forward, neck burning with color. "You're in my club, so it's my fucking business." The crowd grows quieter. Tension in the air pulls away at the twist in your heart, instead heightening your senses. Allowing you to smell the stark contrast between $Arlo and Eddie. Sharpened oak against a spiced sweetness. This will escalate if you let it. "Come on," You place your hand on Eddie's back, pushing away your own feelings. "Let's just go." [[Eddie doesn't back down.|A has the letter]]

The bench creaks under the two of you, subtle shifts in movement called out. But you stare. The green in ?ahis eyes, the almost brown shades, ?ahis thick eyelashes. The small brushing of freckles, they're strategically placed to capture your eyes. Bring them forward, bring them towards ?ahim. The small crook in ?ahis nose. You stare. Until something shifts in your chest, in your stomach. Momentarily, but it shifts nonetheless. Something that makes you want to look away and something that has ?ahim turning away to stare resolutely at the keys of the piano. The wood groans under the motion. [[You continue playing to fill the silence.|arloaidapianoch2]] <<set $Afrom to $Afrom +1>>\

?aHis eyes on you. Watching your $eyecolor eyes stay on the same page, stay unmoving. Watching the movement in your mouth, your tongue skating over your right canine, back and forth. Back and forth. You look up, expecting to meet ?ahis dark eyes, the thick lashes that border the deep, almost brown, green that sits in the middle. You expect to see the small crook on the high bridge of ?ahis nose. But instead your met with the back of ?ahis head. Turned away, examining your collection of books. There's a twist in your stomach that has you diving back into your book. [[Untangle it. Not now.|ch2Abooreading2]] <<set $Afrom to $Afrom +1>>\

Arlo/Aida arrive a bit past peak hour, lets say 2-3 am The drive to the theatr is about an hour and a half, jsut say 2 Theater at 5 That takes at least .5 Exit at 5.5 Talk to eddie more and arrive at zoo by 6 Fight lasts probably an hour, so end that by 7 Amelie scoots you guys back to the city, so arrive at 9am so yeah mid morning is when the roof scene takes place but weird time for the club to be poppin for the dance scene...

$Arlo takes in a breath. The two of you learned long ago that the motion is relaxing. Your body and mind still functions as humans, the act of breathing sending signals to your brain to calm down. <<if $arloreaction is "angry">>"I know you're upset, rightfully so." ?aHe looks at the side of your head. "But," ?ahe sighs again, "I need a favor-" You scoff. Of course ?ahe does. "And then I can be gone forever," ?ahe hesitates, "if that's what you wish." ?aHe has been here only for a day and is already looking for a way out. "How could you say that?" You accuse. ?aHis eyes avert back down to the city below. "I don't know how to do this." ?aHe whispers back. "I'm sorry."<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "sad">>"I know you're upset, rightfully so," ?ahe looks at the side of your head, "but," ?ahe looks away, "fuck" ?ahe mumbles. "I need a favor-" Your eyes close. Of course ?ahe does. "And then I can be gone forever, if that's your wish." Why would you want ?ahim gone? Why would ?ahe offer that? "I don't-" You cut yourself off, opening your eyes, meeting ?ahis. "I don't know how to do this." ?aHe whispers to you. "I'm sorry."<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "relief">>"I can't begin to tell you how I relieved I was to see you, $name." ?aHe brings ?ahis hand up to the railing, rings clinking against the black metal. You don't quite meet ?ahis hand, placing yours a few inches away. "Me too," you whisper. "I don't intend on leaving again, if you'll have me." ?aHis knuckles tighten againt the iron, "but I need a favor from you." ?aHis eyes meet yours.<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "numb">>"I can't begin to tell you how I relieved I was to see you, $name." ?aHe brings ?ahis hand up to the railing. You don't move, intently watching the city below. ?aHis rings scrape against the iron as ?ahis hand drops back to ?ahis side. ?aHe sighs. "I need a favor from you." Finally, your eyes meet ?ahis own.<</if>> <<if $exlover>>[[Your heart is mangled.|exlovurroof]] <<else>>[[You don't know what to think.|exfriendruf]]<</if>>

<<if $arloreaction is "angry">>It's hard to look at ?ahim. There were days and nights you so badly wanted to feel ?ahim again, hold ?ahim, be held. When you were upset about ?ahim, it was still ?ahim you wanted. More than anything. But now? It's different. It just is and you don't know how to feel about it. Despite yourself, despite all the anger and betrayal you feel, you can't tell ?ahim to leave. Not yet. Not until you have more time to think. [[You'll help, because of your history.|favornororoof]] [[You'll help, because you want that time to think. ♥|favorromanceroof]]<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "sad">>"$name..." ?aHe reaches out for your arm but stops just short. You turn your head away, trying to focus on anything but the stinging in your cheeks and the throbbing in your eyes. The lights all meld together and the wind is nothing but static in your ears. "$name, please. Please, look at me." ?aHis voice is low, cracked and strained. There were days and nights you so badly wanted to feel ?ahim again, hold ?ahim, be held. When you were upset about ?ahim, it was still ?ahim you wanted. More than anything. But now? It's different. It just is. And it hurts. Part of you wishes to fall back in, fall back to what was safe. But the other part of you was betrayed. That part can't let go. It shouldn't have to. Not now. [[You'll help, because of your history.|favornororoof]] [[You'll help, because you want that time to think. ♥|favorromanceroof]]<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "relief">>You sigh, closing your eyes, but meeting ?ahis hand. ?aHis thumb sweeps over your fingers and you squeeze a little tighter. It's hard to look at ?ahim, even still. So many days and nights you wanted to hold ?ahim, be held by ?ahim. But now? It's different. As much as you want it to feel the same, it just doesn't. Part of you wants to fall back in, but part of you, the part that was betrayed, won't let go. And it shouldn't. Not yet. [[You'll help, because of your history.|favornororoof]] [[You'll help, because you want that time to think. ♥|favorromanceroof]]<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "numb">>There were days and nights you so badly wanted to feel ?ahim again, hold ?ahim, be held. Feel the warmth, the love. But now? There's no anger, no sadness. No relief. There's nothing. [[You'll help, only because of your history.|favornororoof]] [[You don't know why, but you'll still help. ♥|favorromanceroof]]<</if>>

<<if $arloreaction is "angry">>"Sorry?" You raise your eyebrows at ?ahim. "So am I, $Arlo." ?aHe turns to lean ?ahis back against the railing, you still lean forward. ?aHe itches ?ahis hair, hard enough that you can hear it. You let it go on for a few seconds before elbowing ?ahim. "Stop." $Arlo let's out a groan, turning back around, elbows leaning on the metal while ?ahis hands run through ?ahis hair. "$name, I can't tell you why I left. Not yet, even I'm still processing." ?aHe peeks out at you. You simply stare back. "But I can tell you that I ran into trouble and I can't get out of it without you." ?aHe stands, straightening fully, but biting ?ahis lip. Quietly, ?ahe adds, "It won't explain //why// I left, but it might help with why it was so long." ?aHe was always an idiot. But ?ahe was your idiot. Damn ?ahim.<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "sad">>You let out a bitter laugh, sliding your hand over the cold metal, "$Arlo, I-" you shake your head, huffing out a breath. "How could you just leave?" ?aHe looks away from you, body leaning away from the city below. ?aHe lightly runs ?ahis fingers over ?ahis thumb, jaw slightly moving back and forth. "$name," ?ahe breaths out, running ?ahis hand through ?ahis hair. Several strands fall in front of ?ahis eyes. "I can't tell you. Honestly, I'm still processing how to do all of this." ?aHe waves ?ahis hands in the general vicinity. Your heart twists. More than you thought. ?aHe continues, "but I can tell you that I ran into trouble." ?aHe looks into your eyes. "I won't be able to get out of this without you." Quietly, ?ahe adds, "It won't explain //why// I left, but it might help with why it was so long." Damn ?ahim.<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "relief">>You stare at ?ahim an extra few seconds, making sure you heard ?ahim correctly. "Need something? From me?" Your eyelid twitches down, head lowering. "Are you serious?" Any relief you feel slowly starts churning into a small tick in your head. ?aHis hand slides over, coming to rest on top of yours. "$name, I-" ?ahe stutters. "I need your help." ?aHis index finger twitches on your skin. "I ran into trouble and I need you." ?aHe lifts your hand off the railing, turning ?ahis palm and bringing ?ahis other hand over it, cupping your hand. "Please." ?aHe was always an idiot. But ?ahe was your idiot.<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "numb">>You stare a moment longer, jaw beginning to tense. "Fuck, $Arlo, are you serious?" ?aHe takes a step back, eyebrows scrunching together. "$name, what-" Your hand waves the rest of ?ahis sentence away. "You seriously come here after so many years and ask-" Nevermind. Fuck this. "Nevermind. What is it." ?aHe stares at you, thoughts clearly percolating in ?ahis head. ?aHe opens ?ahis mouth, closes it, then opens it again. "No, you should tell me-" "Stop, $Arlo, it doesn't matter." "It does." "It doesn't." You finalize, voice steady. $Arlo huffs, crossing ?ahis arms. "I ran into trouble," but then ?ahe drops ?ahis arms. "I need your help."<</if>> [[You'll help, only because of your history.|exfredfav]] [[You keep staring. ♥|uhohulykeem]]

<<if $arloreaction is "angry">>"God damnit," mumbles out of your mouth. The frusturation stems from ?ahis presence or your inability to say no, but either way you're shaking your head. "Fine." ?aHis shoulders drop by an inch, face a bit less taut. "Thank you, $name." You look at ?ahim again, frowning. "Don't just-" but you stop yourself. Don't just fucking leave again. That's what almost rolled off your tongue. But you can't bring yourself to say it. Say what shouldn't have to be said. When you bring your eyes back to ?ahis, ?ahe is already looking. Eyes flickering between your own, then at the city below. "I'm going to stick around for awhile," ?ahe decides, running ?ahis hands through ?ahis hair, "if that's okay with you." Again you don't answer, instead looking away back at the skyline.<</if>> <<if $arloreaction is "sad">>"I-" Your voice cracks, but you swallow down the pieces. "I'll help you, $Arlo." Because you can't say no. ?aHis hand bounces in the air, undecided but decided, it falls back down. "$name, I'm going to stay," ?ahe twists ?ahis hands together, "until you tell me to leave." Subtly, imperceptibly, you nod your head, words failing you. Instead you stare at the skyline, watching as more cars pass below.<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "relief">>"Damnit, $Arlo." You let out a breath of emotion, squeezing ?ahis hand tighter. ?aHe turns ?ahis hand in yours, cocking ?ahis head. "So you'll help?" ?aHis voice is quiet, peetering between playful and unsure. You half groan, sliding your hand away and turning to ?ahim. Then quietly, you slowly blink, "yes." ?aHis eyes quickly flicker down to your dropped hand and then back to your eyes. "Thank you, $name."<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "numb">>Your right palm starts to itch so you press down on it, also forcing a smile. "Sure." Your lips roll together and you look at $Arlo. ?aHis eyes flicker to ?ahis hands, pulling a ring on and off ?ahis finger. "Yeah... Thank you." Dark green eyes land on yours again, shadows highlighting underneath.<</if>> [[So what's the favour?|thefave]]

<<if $arloreaction is "angry">>And it's fair. "Okay. Fine." ?aHe visibly deflates, shoulders sink and face relaxes. "Thank you, $name." The wind tickles your skin. You stare at $Arlo, eyebrows tight together. "Don't fucking leave." You deserve that time. ?aHe grips the collar of ?ahis shirt, eyes intent. "I won't. Not as long as you'll have me." You nod your head, wordlessly.<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "sad">>And it's fair. You want to send away the source of your turmoil but you don't want ?ahim to leave again. "I'll help you." You breath out, eyes scaling the buildings across the way. The wind tickles your skin. ?aHis shoulders relax, eyes closing momentarily. "Thank you, $name." Still dejected, you meet ?ahis eyes. "Don't leave." You need time to think. ?aHis head sways, "I won't, $name. I won't as long as you'll have me here." You nod your head, wordlessly.<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "relief">>"Okay, $Arlo, I'll help." ?aHis head quickly turns to you, hand also turning in your own. "Just like that?" You can feel ?ahis eyes look over every inch of your face. You shake your head, a small smile pull at the edge of your lips. "It doesn't begin to unpack anything between us. But yes, I'll help." ?aHe squeezes your hand, turning ?ahis body fully to face you. "Thank you my-," A small smile breaks ?ahis face. "Thank you, $name."<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "numb">>The small of your stomach tenses so you press down on it, forcing a smile. "Sure." Your lips roll together and you look at $Arlo. ?aHis eyes flicker to ?ahis hands, pulling a ring on and off ?ahis finger. "Yeah... Thank you." Dark green eyes land on yours again, shadows highlighting underneath.<</if>> [[So what's the favour?|thefave]] <<set $Axrom to $Axrom +1>>\

You cross your arms. "And how the hell am I supposed to track him down? How do I even know he's in the city?" You just barely stop yourself from rolling your eyes. Ravenna's //feeling// isn't exactly a map, she can't know for sure he's here. Sahir crosses his arms as well, muscles tight under his shirt, "you're the High Vampire," then cocks his head. "Do you not know the vampires running through //your// city?" Venom drips from the singular word. //Your.// The annoyance must show on your face, Sahir frowns. "Useless. You should have been replaced long ago." "What would you have me do, Sahir? Let all the vampires know that there's a movement against Ravenna?" You drop your arms. "Let them decide who to support now that there's supposedly an opposition after centuries of unrivalry?" Sahir frowns but Omnira walks by the two of you, hand tracing against Sahir's back as she passes by. He drops his arms, hard creases on his face softening. Ilian looks to her from their spot next to Ravenna. Trading places, Omnira starts speaking to Ravenna in an old tongue you don't recognize. "Come," Ilian walks by, ushering you out. Sahir's eyes burn your skin on the way up. [[The carpet bends under your step.|hc meeting outside with ilian]] <<set $ass to $ass +1>>\

You stare blankly at Sahir, then clear your throat to speak. "So...Any details you can tell me?" Sahir looks at you, crossing his arms. "No." Alright then. Omnira walks by the two of you, hand tracing against Sahir's back as she passes by. He drops his arms, hard creases on his face softening. Ilian looks to her from their spot next to Ravenna. Trading places, Omnira starts speaking to Ravenna in an old tongue you don't recognize. "Come," Ilian walks by, ushering you out. Sahir's eyes burn your skin on the way up. [[The carpet bends under your step.|hc meeting outside with ilian]] <<set $apath to $apath +1>>\

"Do you have any leads I can follow?" You ask. Sahir simply looks at you, crossing his arms. "No." "Sahir," you reason, "you're telling me no council member has any clue about where to start?" He frowns at you, eyebrows creased. "Look, $name, Omnira has said our network of vampires couldn't find anything." He looks behind him, then back at you, frown increasing. "She insists that perhaps vampires aren't the way." You look at him inquisitively. Omnira walks by the two of you, hand tracing against Sahir's back as she passes by. He drops his arms, hard creases on his face softening. Ilian looks to her from their spot next to Ravenna. Trading places, Omnira starts speaking to Ravenna in an old tongue you don't recognize. "Come," Ilian walks by, ushering you out. Sahir's eyes burn your skin on the way up. [[The carpet bends under your step.|hc meeting outside with ilian]] <<set $nice to $nice +1>>\

<<if $Afrom is 1>>And you keep staring, because that feeling is back again. <</if>>You stare longer, enough for ?ahim to stare back, for you to see reflection of light in ?ahis eyes. Outwardly green, the light highlights the swirls of brown. It's not your eyes ?ahe looks at, it's everywhere else. You can feel it on your cheeks, your nose. Your lips. Then finally your eyes. For just a moment. But that's the moment you feel something stir. Something unfamiliar. <<if $arloreaction is "relief">>?aHe drops your hand, quickly, looking away. It cuts through you. <</if>>You're called out of it before you can determine just what it is. [[Before you can explore it more.|ohright]] <<set $Afrom to $Afrom +1>>\

"$name?" You blink and you're back. <<if $arloreaction is "angry">>"Fuck," you quietly growl, turning your head away. "Are you fucking kidding me, $Arlo?" ?aHe looks away, eyes closed, "I know. I- Fuck." ?aHe looks back. "I'm sorry." You want to push ?ahim away, you want nothing to do with ?ahim. You want- You don't know what you want. You want this to be easy. "Fine." Is all you answer.<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "sad">>You can feel your eyes sag, heavy in your skull. Slowly, you look at ?ahim. "I deserve an explanation." ?aHe winces. "You do. Please, just trust-" ?aHe cuts ?ahimself off. "Please. It will help." You shake your head, looking away. "Fine."<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "relief">>You look at ?ahim and ?ahis eyes look genuine. They're pleaing with you. "Fine." You give in. "But I deserve an explanation, $Arlo." ?aHis hand twitches up, almost reaching out. But ?ahe stops. "This will help."<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "numb">>Your right palm starts to itch so you press down on it, also forcing a smile. "Sure." Your lips roll together and you look at $Arlo. ?aHis eyes flicker to ?ahis hands, pulling a ring on and off ?ahis finger. "Yeah... Thank you." Dark green eyes land on yours again, shadows highlighting underneath.<</if>> [[So what's the favour?|thefave]]

You're in the lobby. People stand in lines, pens in one hand. Papers in the other. Apologies are thrown at you. People hurrying to get out of your way. Glares are tossed at you. Crowds refusing to part. You part them. [[The room tilts to the right.|go meet them]]

Too slow. Your hand is up. It doesn't feel right. Still wrong. Move. Out of the way. Still not right. [[The room pulls you forward.|its them!]]

And of oak. Sharp oak. Dark green eyes become all you see. The world around you becomes clear. The eyes, the eyes that are complimented by thick, black hair. Hair that falls no longer to ?ahis shoulders but to ?ahis chin, tapering up in the back. Dark green eyes that compliment warm tawny olive skin. Eyes that stand out against the lightest dusting of black powder that surrounds them, powder that subtly darkens a perfect complexion. Eyes that have stayed the same, despite everything else changing. Eyes that you wish you didn't recognize so clearly and you wish didn't evoke a comforting warmth in your stomach. [[A warmth that felt like coming home.|ouchie]] <<set $arloaidaunlocked to "unlocked">>\

?aHis eyes tremble as they take you in, every inch of your face is re-memorized and it triggers a range of emotions that all at once are expressed in those eyes. Those damn eyes.<<if $exlover is true>> //Comforting. Loving. Gone-// <<else>> //Comforting. Soothing. Gone-// <</if>> <<if $exlovers is true>>You take the moment to drink ?ahim in as well. Every detail, every note. Everything you once loved.<<else>>Your eyes travel all over ?ahis face like clockwork, moving from one point to another.<</if>> A light sprinkling of brown freckles still dot ?ahis nose, a nose that now holds a small golden ring on ?ahis left nostril. Eyelashes are still thick and dark. Still subtly resting at the corner of ?ahis jaw is a small patch of skin that is still barely two shades darker than the rest of ?ahis face. Your friend. Your companion.<<if $exlover is true>>.. Your... Your what?<</if>> [[The expression that looks at you is identical to your own.|ouchie pt2]]

Some time later you arrive. When you step out of the car, your joints ache but it quickly fades. The sun is hidden above you, clouds floating in the sky, gray and heavy. The parking lot is sprinkled with a meager amount of cars. In front of you stands a large, monument of stone. Squared at the corners, illuminated by yellow orange lights. Glass doors preceded by red carpet marks your entry way. "I'll wait here," Eddie calls to you. [[So you walk into the theater.|theater meeting for HC]]

$clubname is the ground level of a larger scale building. The level above serves as your homebase. Apartments line its floors, continuing on for a number of levels. There is an entrance on the otherside of the building leads straight to the office levels above the apartments. The building continues to scale up, housing these offices until it reaches its end. The roof is locked, only accessible from $clubname. You own a large studio. Concrete paints the floor, large windows create two of the walls. The studio is far larger than the other apartments on the floor, probably intended for open office use. Instead, your belongings make their home. Gray columns add to the stony interior, just barely dividing your kitchen and bedroom area. Your eyes, however, are drawn to... [[The northwest corner, where your musical instruments sit.|musichobby]] [[The northeast corner, where your personal library stands.|readinghoby]] [[The southeast corner, where your art supplies and easels wait.|panthobi]] [[The eastern wall, where your kitchen is, cookbooks strewn about.|cookhoby]]

The back of ?ahis head tilts back and forth, lost in thought. You watch as ?ahe rummages through your supplies. Nimble hands dancing through the brushes, delicately sifting through them. ?aHis forearms are exposed, shirt rolled up so as to not paint its surface. The muscle stretches as ?ahe moves on. Fingers skating over canvases, careful to float across the more fragile surfaces. Such care, dedication to gently caress the supplies. Your eyes strain as ?ahe moves further away, hiding the hands that once helped you. The hands that you find yourself almost shifting to see once more. Just once more. ?aHe stops moving. You stop. Before you can think further. [[Before your mind drifts without you.|ch2Aart]] <<set $Afrom to $Afrom +1>>\

?aHis profile is like you remember, but something is also different. ?aHis hair moves as ?ahe cuts, the dark strands sway back and forth. It wavers your view of ?ahis nose, the high bridge, it's small bump. A small share of freckles calling to you. Your eyes drift lower, to the knife, then ?ahis slender hands. Sleeves rolled up, it shows off ?ahis forearms. The muscle underneath moving with each slice. The chopping in the background fades as you focus in. Until you realize it has stopped altogether. Without looking up, without looking at ?ahis eyes, you turn back around. Pushing away the feeling in your stomach. [[Not now. Not the time.|spagetch2]] <<set $Afrom to $Afrom +1>>\

$clubname is the ground level of a larger scale building. The level above serves as your homebase. Apartments line its floors, continuing on for a number of levels. There is an entrance on the otherside of the building leads straight to the office levels above the apartments. The building continues to scale up, housing these offices until it reaches its end. The roof is locked, only accessible from $clubname. Concrete paints the floor of your apartment, large windows create two of the walls. The studio is far larger than the other apartments on the floor, probably intended for open office use. Instead, your belongings make their home. gray columns add to the stony interior, just barely dividing your kitchen and bedroom area. Your eyes, however, are drawn to... [[The northwest corner, where your musical instruments sit.|musichobby]] [[The northeast corner, where your personal library stands.|readinghoby]] [[The southeast corner, where your art supplies and easels wait.|panthobi]] [[The eastern wall, where your kitchen is, cookbooks strewn about.|cookhoby]]

You don't need her to explain. She plans on turning the metal lion into a flesh lion. <<if $amelie is "friend">>"That's a lot of..." "Lion?" She winks at you. "I did say that I'd owe you." You roll your eyes.<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>"That's disgusting." "I did say I'd owe you," she mumbles. You roll your eyes.<</if>> "It's just like killing a big dog or something," she says, though doesn't make eye contact with you. [[Unbelievably, hilariously not on the same level.|notthesame]] [[No, she now owes you way more than one favor.|sheowesyou]] [[Is she joking?|serisoubro?]]

The stars are covered, gray clouds lit by the city below, almost blended into the night sky. $Arlo turns away, ?aHis eyes are closed, taking in the breeze that floats by. "So," your voice cracks, "what do you need?" Slowly, ?ahis eyes open. It's not you that ?ahe looks at, attention still captured by the skyline. ?aHe takes another deep breath in, out through the nose. "We've travelled great distances together, $name." You say nothing, sensing a point. "I've always preferred the forest, though," ?ahe continues. "I've found many things in the forest, beautiful things. But it was the solitude that I enjoyed. "And then I met you." ?aHe looks at you. "You helped me find the confidence to venture out of the trees." ?aHe gnaws on ?ahis bottom lip. "Just tell me, $Arlo." You whisper. ?aHe sighs, "I need your memories." [[End of Chapter 2.|next2]]

You cross your arms, a wide grin spreading on your face. "How am I supposed to track him down? How do I even know he's in the city?" You just barely stop yourself from rolling your eyes. Ravenna's //feeling// isn't exactly a map, she can't know for sure he's here. She smiles at you, hands clasping behind her back. "You are the High Vampire, are you not? It would be strange if you did not know who was running around in your city." You actually do have tabs on the older vampires in the city. Some of them like you, sympathetic to your position; and others are bitter towards you for the power you hold. "I would think it's not a great idea to let all the vampires know that there's a movement against Ravenna. They're not stupid." She looks at you, a twinkle in her eye and her smile widens. Then Sahir walks by and Omnira reaches out, grabbing his hand. He suddenly stops, hard lines softening and smiles at her. Ilian looks to him from their spot next to Ravenna. Trading places, Sahir walks over and starts speaking to Ravenna in an old tongue you don't recognize. "Come," Ilian walks by, ushering you out. Omnira's strange smile stays on your mind as you walk out. [[The carpet bends under your step.|hc meeting outside with ilian]]

You stare blankly at Omnira, then clear your throat to speak. "So...Any details you can tell me?" She looks at you and smiles. "Perhaps." "Any you feel like sharing?" Her smile grows into a grin. "You have to be willing to hunt for it." You stare. "If you're not willing to ask your own network," she bites her lip, "then I'd //hunt// for the solution." Then Sahir walks by and Omnira reaches out, grabbing his hand. He suddenly stops, hard lines softening and smiles at her. Ilian looks to him from their spot next to Ravenna. Trading places, Sahir walks over and starts speaking to Ravenna in an old tongue you don't recognize. "Come," Ilian walks by, ushering you out. Omnira's strange smile stays on your mind as you walk out. [[The carpet bends under your step.|hc meeting outside with ilian]] <<set $apath to $apath +1>>\

"Do you have any leads I can follow?" You ask. Omnira simply looks at you, smiling. "No." "Omnira," you reason, "you're telling me no council member has any clue about where to start?" Her smile morphs into a smirk. "Our network hasn't come up with much." She looks around, then back at you. "You could try your own, but perhaps you have to be willing to hunt for it." You look at her inquisitively. Sahir walks by and Omnira reaches out, grabbing his hand. He suddenly stops, hard lines softening and smiles at her. Ilian looks to him from their spot next to Ravenna. Trading places, Sahir walks over and starts speaking to Ravenna in an old tongue you don't recognize. "Come," Ilian walks by, ushering you out. Omnira's strange smile stays on your mind as you walk out. [[The carpet bends under your step.|hc meeting outside with ilian]] <<set $nice to $nice +1>>\

It crashes around the cages, rusted bars shooting off like bullets, the brown stone walls crack and crumble around, turning to dust underneath its feet. Rain violently splashes off of it, puddles forming in its wake. Racing towards you, over seven feet tall, causing you to turn and sprint away. [[Is a large, metallic lion.|motor LIONNN]]

It's copper lips raise, exposing teeth as sharp as daggers. Teeth about the size of an average man's hand. You can see rust in its grooves, mold and moss between the gaps in its teeth. Blackened dents cover its body. Almost as if it was a sculpture. Then it lunges at you. Trapped by the scrap around you, you're thrown across the arena, slamming into the stairs. Beneath you the stone gives from your impact and you groan. Trickles of something thicker than rain pour down your arm. You leap to your feet, the water comes up to your ankles. You're sore only momentarily before your focused. [[The lion charges you.|fitiie]]

The veins around your eyes buldge, heat swarming the area. You don't need to see it to know your $eyecolor eyes have gone completely black. <<if $fangs is "Hollywood">>You feel your two canines grow long, tongue swiping along its edges.<<elseif $fangs is "Wolf">>You feel all four canines sharpen in your mouth, tongue swiping at the edges.<<elseif $fangs is "Rex">>You feel all of your teeth sharpen, tongue swiping along the tips.<</if>> <<if $fight is "agile">>Quickly, you dodge the lion, taking only a couple steps to bend out of the way. It comes back at you and again you twist from its range. It's almost as if you dance between the rain drops, deftly avoiding the lion's attacks.<<elseif $fight is "strong">>You grab its head with both your hands, bend your knees and push back, tossing it away. It's head flails in frusturation, lunging to you again. When it gets close enough you push its head to the side, grounding it. Continuously you push aside the lion, attack after attack.<</if>> You begin to tire, portions of your clothes begin to wear out, to tear. Some attacks land, you're thrown about. Clothes soaked all the way through. Red taints the water below. [[And you get irritated.|comeoneamli]]

"Amelie!" You shout over the rain. It thunders down on you, making hard to see. Mist shoots up, spraying everywhere. "Almost done!" An echo across the stadium. You can't pinpoint where. You're too slow and you're thrown again, this time hitting one of the white columns. The impact cracks your own bones, ribs snapping and shoulder popping out. You stagger up, torn flesh starting to mend, stemming the blood that gushes from your chest. Skin warm. "I can still //die//, Amelie!" There's a beat of silence, filled only with the screeching of metal. You're not sure which is more concerning. Finally, she calls back to you, "just a few more minutes!" The lion stalks towards you. Bones crack into place, you wince. Then hiss. With your free arm, you pop your shoulder back into place. [[Now you're pissed.|pissivamp]]

Time almost slows, the breath in front of your face visible. Obscuring your vision. The field blurs. Your blood begins to tingle. //Don't.// Bones vibrate. //Calm down.// Back begins to ache, protrusions tearing through skin. //Breathe.// And then they stop, retreating back into your body. [[Then you hear the sound of glass breaking.|nexutuh]]

The lion is no longer in front of you. Your vision clears and instead you see Amelie standing beside you, looking up. Metal and fur blur and mix together. Silence is filled with cracking, squishing. Low rumbles mixed with the sound of the rain. It twists, contorts. It's disgusting. Amelie can't look away. [[And then it jumps in her direcion.|lionflirtornah]]

The newly formed lion jumps and grabs you, teeth piercing your shoulder and throws you across the stadium. Broken down bleachers soften you landing. You lay in the pile of scrap metal and watch as the lion turns and corners Amelie. She runs behind pillars, rolling from one to another, attempting to dodge. But she's human. She won't heal. You need to get to her. When you stand you realize something is off. [[Something feels wrong.|lionfight3]]

An iron pole sticks out of your stomach, blood pouring out of either side. Amelie throws her dagger, piercing its eye, and it whimpers. It looks sad. But quickly, its face turns angry and charges at you. Amelie yells. You pull out the iron. Its nose comes inches from your face, breath sticky on your skin. But the pole digs through its skull, you strain, tensing every muscle in your body to plunge the iron through. The bones in your body weren't made for this kind of strain, but you hold regardless. More blood pours down, covering your arms. [[Coating your clothes.|lionded]]

It drops to the ground. Fur wet. The rain around you slowly washes the crimson stained from your clothes. Amelie sloshes to you, pulling out her knife and wiping it on her pants. "Damn." Her chest rises and falls. It pours. The hole in your stomache starts to mend. But you feel lightheaded. [[It's uncomfortable.|lionded2]]

With Amelie's bike effectively ruined and your phones crushed in the chaos, you don't arrive back to $clubname for a long time. You're exhausted. Low on blood. Tired. Your brain can't form any questions, just focused on moving. <<if $amelie is "hunter" and $Amrom gte 1>>Though from the corner of your eye, you can notice Amelie examining you.<</if>> The two of you stand in the heavy rain outside of the club. Light reflects on the puddles you stand in, reds flickering around your feet. Amelie wrings out the bottom of her shirt, hair wild, dried blood managing to crust on parts of her face. She doesn't complain. <<if $amelie is "friend" and $Amrom gte 1>>She manages to make the disgruntled, bloodied look work. <</if>>But she looks cold and tired. [[Eddie will find her a change of clothes.|back2cloob]]

When you walk into the lobby, warm air hits you, relaxing your muscles. Amelie sighs. Eddie and $Arlo stand across from one another. A vein throbbing out of the side of Eddie's head. $Arlo doesn't make eye contact with Eddie, looking at the ground but still somehow rolling ?ahis eyes. You clear your throat and the two other supernaturals look over. Eddie opens ?eher mouth but then closes it, pursing ?eher lips. $Arlo raises ?ahis eyebrows, looking you up and down. Amelie takes a step forward, waving a small hand at Eddie. "Hi, Eddie. Got ?them home safe, just like I promsied." "I see that. Do I want to know what happened?" ?eShe questions. Before you answer, Amelie does. "Nope." [[Alright then.|four supernaties walk into a bar]]

The patron to the side with the red shirt, the small stain on the floor in the back corner. Your shoes. Anywhere before you have to look back into ?ahis eyes. "What could you possibly want from me?" Your tone is harsh. ?aHe dares a step closer, trying to reach you. "$name, can we talk?" A bitter laugh erupts out of your throat, ?ahis face recoiling as the noise hits ?ahis ears. "Talk about what?" Your voice carries over the crowd. "You leaving? Abandoning me?" You throw your arms out, trying to work through the anger you feel. You laugh again, "I thought you were //fucking dead.//" ?aHe looks away. The crowd around you starts to waver off, giving you space. You feel their eyes burn on your skin, but that heat is incomparable to the one that boils in your limbs. You don't care about their judgment. [[They're just a blip in your timeline.|anger then eddie]]

"I'm parked in the garage a couple blocks away," ?eshe says. You nod your head, mostly lost in your thoughts. The air has turned damp, the smell of the street lifting itself into your nose. The blood in your veins lets you feel your heart pump. It lets you feel the weight of your eyes, their thumping against your skull. The dull ache behind them. "$name." A quiet word carried to your ears. You look up, Eddie stands a few feet away. A small droplet lands on the ground. Your shoulder. [[Then your face.|get in da car]]

To the left, two vampires sit side by side. The woman, Omnira, has long, ombred box braids. Her eyes are almost black, matching majority of her hair. A beautiful constrast to the lighter brown ends, which stand out against her glowing dark brown skin. Golden hoops fall from her ears, slender hands decorated with the golden accents rest on a dainty chin. Sitting next to her is a larger vampire, Sahir, who is the owner of the rougher, huskier voice. He is thickly built, muscle padding every inch of his tawny brown body. His jaw is firm, clenched in a passive stance. Dark brown and silver hair fall around his chin, half tied up. His short thick beard also contains the mixture of shades. The only soft feature on his face are his light brown eyes, which only melt when they glance over to Omnira. Her arm is placed over his and she leans in closer. This causes the other vampire to gently place his hand over hers, a small smile forming on his face before he pointedly looks away. [[Your eyes pull your attention to the right.|ilian and ravenna intro]]

Kade clears his throat and Amelie quickly moves her head away. You see Halley grin as she eyes Amelie. "I think Amelie agrees with $Arlo on this one." Kade nudges his sister with his elbow, a matching smile on his face. Amelie shifts uncomfortably under the scrutinization of all the supernaturals. "I don't see why my opinion matters. ?They will clearly change." She stifly turns to you, catching your eyes. "Clothed or unclothed, it doesn't matter to me." Your eyebrow raises as her eyes go wide. You can hear $Arlo, Halley and Kade snickering in the background. "I mean! That's not what I meant!" Her arms close around her body and she avoids your eyes. <<if $amelie is "friend">>[[Tease her. ♥|Ch2Amelieflirtclub]] [[Be nice about it.|ch2amelie be nice about it]]<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>[[You could care less about what she thinks. ♥|ch2ameliehunterflirt]] [[This is weird.|ch2amelie this is weird]]<</if>>

One thing you miss about being human. The ability to sleep and shut it all off. At least for a night. Now, when you sleep, you need at least a full day. You don't dream, either. It's just black. Nothing. Nothing can wake you. Not until you've fully recovered. Twenty four hours of full vunerability. You and $Arlo used to stagger your sleep cycles to watch over each other. Some vampires even used to sleep in metal coffins, claiming it was for protection. It was eventually proved to be more of a danger than safety. "I'm tired, $Arlo." You respond, somehow that's enough, because the door opens all the way and ?ahe stands there. [[A sigh escapes your lips.|arlojustcameinanywayswow]]

<<if $arloreaction is "angry">>"Fuck," you quietly growl, turning your head away. "Are you fucking kidding me, $Arlo?" ?aHe looks away, eyes closed, "I know. I- Fuck." ?aHe looks back. "I'm sorry." You want to push ?ahim away, you want nothing to do with ?ahim. You want- You don't know what you want. You want this to be easy. "Fine." Is all you answer.<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "sad">>You can feel your eyes sag, heavy in your skull. Slowly, you look at ?ahim. "I deserve an explanation." ?aHe winces. "You do. Please, just trust-" ?aHe cuts ?ahimself off. "Please. It will help." You shake your head, looking away. "Fine."<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "relief">>You look at ?ahim and ?ahis eyes look genuine. They're pleaing with you. "Fine." You give in. "But I deserve an explanation, $Arlo." ?aHis hand twitches. Up and down. "This will help."<</if>><<if $arloreaction is "numb">>Your right palm starts to itch so you press down on it, also forcing a smile. "Sure." Your lips roll together and you look at $Arlo. ?aHis eyes flicker to ?ahis hands, pulling a ring on and off ?ahis finger. "Yeah... Thank you." Dark green eyes land on yours again, shadows highlighting underneath.<</if>> [[So what's the favour?|thefave]]

This game is rated 18+. The content warnings include, but are not limited to, the following: *Mature langauge *Sexual content *Violence *Blood and gore *Body Horror *Alchohol and Drugs *Allusions to alcholism *Intrusive thoughts *Self Starvation *Implied accidental self harm *Temporary loss of control *Depictions of loss and grief *Brief use of knives and razors ♥ = Active Flirtation <<back [[Return to Game.|$return]]>>

"You mean, if you don't do it?" Now you nod. ?eShe lets out a short breath, "they'll stay with me until it's done then." "Eddie-" you start but ?eshe shakes ?eher head. "It's the safest place until this is all settled. You and I live on the same floor, remember?" "What about Kaylen, you think she needs to stay with one of us?" Eddie laughs as you look at ?eher in confusion. "You seem to forget Kaylen is a werebear." Right. That's why you hired her. "She's damn hard to kill." ?eShe looks at you, "are you worried?" [[Not yet.|noworryyet]] [[A little bit.|lilworry]] [[Yes.|yesworry]]

The air is wet, but it's still a refreshing opposite from the warm, stuffed indoors. The parking lot is large and empty. Eddie's car the only mar in the otherwise blank landscape. Ilian takes a moment to breath in the dew, eyes closed as they allow the small breeze to caress their face. They look back at you, a smile on their face. "$name, did you know that your bartender, the one with curly hair, teaches small human children to dance? Every afternoon." You freeze in place. "I've seen him teach first hand, he is very skilled. Art in this era is under appreciated." Your jaw clenches. "I think his sister's name is Halley? Is that right?" They don't wait for you to answer. "Every morning she grabs a iced latte with almond milk and two pumps of vanilla from that corner shop near $clubname. She buys it on her way to morning classes." The breeze flutters their eyelashes. "Psychology, I think, she's studying." [[Your eyes grow dark as you take a step forwards. "Keep them out of this."|intimidating]] [["Your threat is completely unecessary," you reason.|reasonable]]

You watch ?ehim drive off and take your phone out. Eventually you pinpoint the direction you need to go. Then you take off. Running feels like gliding. The inertia in your stomach tumbles as you leap far distances, your clothes do get in the way, but you manage. You're not sure how much time passes but building are again replaced by trees then again by concrete. [[Then you're at the zoo.|Amelie thymmwe]]

Pushing aside what's in there, you find a single blood pack. As if on cue, you start salivating and your throat dries up. A lot of your blood was lost earlier, so you need to replace it. Your age has allowed you to maintain composure this long on low levels of blood, but now that it's in front of you... Your hands shake. You take a deep breath in and out, trying not to tear open the package. You bite your lip looking for scizzors. //Fuck.// You find them and carefully, licking your lips, carefully cut the corner. //Hurry up.// When it oozes out, you bring it to your mouth. And drink. Almost immediately your throat is coated, no longer dry, no longer burning. It teases at your headache, almost cooling it off but it's not quite enough. Not quite enough blood. But it will do for now. [[You regain your composure and look around.|irinseoff2]]

You walk over and examine it. Suddenly you're aware of something thick and sticky on your lips. You swipe at it with your thumb to see that it's red. //Right.// When you open the fridge, ripped up produce falls out. Splatters of red are stuck to the shelves and a torn up empty blood pack lays on the lettuce. You nod your head in understanding, regaining your composure and clean the mess. Your last blood pack now lays empty in the trash. Typically your age prevents you from losing control when low on blood. You must've lost more than you originally thought. Once more you look around, ensuring you didn't stain anything. Then you're satisfied. //You just don't... You don't just...// You give up. [[Just take a shower.|rinseitoffbb]]

You can feel the beat dance through the hairs on your arms. $Arlo continues to trail you, silent. For a moment, you think about heading back. Stopping whatever you are about to do. And then another thought hits you as the two of you walk to a corner of the club. What would Eddie say? Does it even matter? Do you even want to know? ?eShe is always your voice of reason. [[But it doesn't matter.|danicgthymech2]] [[Walk by Eddie's office.|eddiofficeee]]

You reroute quickly, searching for an orange light to indicate Eddie is in ?eher office. But there's no light. You start to turn back towards the dance floor, but notice $Arlo isn't behind you. ?aHe stands in front of Eddie's office. Staring. But ?ahe feels your gaze and returns to your side, wordlessly. [[So you circle back.|danicgthymech2]] <<set $AEtension to $AEtension +1>>\

You stare at ?ehim a beat longer before answering. "Not yet." ?eShe slowly nods ?eher head, "not yet." "If I can get relevant information from some of the vampires, it won't matter." "I see... I'm going to go check on the twins anyways," ?eshe starts, "and help you if that means keeping them safe." You nod your head. "You'll be okay getting to Amelie by yourself?" [[Again, you nod your head.|rungforst]]

You run your tongue against your fangs, looking away. "A little, the vampires in the area aren't all that forthcoming with information." Eddie slowly nods ?eher head. You look back, silently. "I'll help you," ?eshe exhales, "you're not alone." You feel yourself smile. "Until then," ?eshe starts, a half smile forming. "I'm going to go back and check on them. Can you make it to the zoo?" You nod. [[The smile falls from Eddie's face.|rungforst]] <<set $worry to true>>\

You run your tongue against your fangs, looking away. "Yes." Eddie slowly nods ?eher head. "I'll help you. You're not alone." You look back, silently. The edges of your lips quirk up just a bit. "Thanks. I'm going to have to talk to a lot of vampires, old vampires, not all a fan of my position." "Fuck them. Until then," ?eshe starts, a half smile forming. "I'm going to go back and check on them. Can you make it to the zoo?" You nod. [[The smile falls from Eddie's face.|rungforst]] <<set $worry to true>>\

You look at her in disbelief. "These are no where on the same level." She scrunches her nose. "Oh, sure they are." Your mouth is left slightly agape at her nonchalance. But then darkness eclipses the ground you stand on, concrete scraping underneath. Amelie darts from behind the pillar, leaving you to stare down the nose of the lion. "Distract it!" She yells. It crushes the stone in front of you as you take a step back. [[That won't be hard.|lion descrip]]

"No, Amelie, you owe me //way// more for this." You gesture towards the metal giant. <<if $amelie is "friend">>She bites her lip and rolls her eyes. "So dramatic, $name." You start to protest but are cut off.<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>"Fine, that's fine. Just help." You roll your neck, readying yourself.<</if>> Darkness eclipses the ground you stand on, concrete scraping underneath. Amelie darts from behind the pillar, leaving you to stare down the nose of the lion. "Distract it!" She yells. It crushes the stone in front of you as you take a step back. [[That won't be hard.|lion descrip]]

You stare at her. "You're joking right?" <<if $amelie is "friend">>She looks like she's holding back a smile. "$name, why would I joke about this?" She gestures towards the lion. You start to reply, "that's not-"<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>She makes a face, "you're the high vampire, right? This should be fine." You start to reply, "that is not-"<</if>> But darkness eclipses the ground you stand on, concrete scraping underneath. Amelie darts from behind the pillar, leaving you to stare down the nose of the lion. "Distract it!" She yells. It crushes the stone in front of you as you take a step back. [[That won't be hard.|lion descrip]]

//The ghostly chorus hangs heavy in the air. The tap tap tapping of her finger nails calls forth memories that should otherwise remain dead. Quickly, she stands, instead digging her own path through the plush carpet. Every speck of dust, every gleam of grease she sees as an offense and takes it as so. "Ma sœur." She specifically requested a room with no windows so why does she now look out onto the city with disdain. "My friend." Why must she attend these frivolous socials, nothing will come of it, history only repeats so let it flow as it should. "Ravenna." [[She stops.]]//

!!Chapter 3: Deligere [[Next|feldgies]] <<set $chapter to "three">>\

It's mid-afternoon. $clubname is windowless, younger vampires sit around the tables chatting, seeking refuge from the streaks of sun that manage to pierce the thin gray clouds in the sky. <<if $clubtheme is "black">>The smoke and intensity has<<elseif $clubtheme is "red">>Sunsets and crimsons have<<elseif $clubtheme is "gold">>The luxury and sunsets have<<else>>The neon colors have<</if>> been turned off, the atmosphere still cool and dark, but subtle. Upstairs has been closed off to the public. You walk past the fledglings who idly gossip at the tables. //"Harry's late again, do you know where he is?" "No, but did you hear about the missing werewolf? Do you think Harry is missing?!"// You need to stop listening to the news, it makes you paranoid. When you get upstairs, Eddie sits at a chair placed at the end of one of the tables in the center of the parlor. $Arlo sits on the couch, in front of the shared low table. Halley sits at the bar, sending you a strained smile as you emerge from the staircase. [[You walk to her.|mems1]]

"I already told you, red, I don't know how to explain it." $Arlo speaks to Eddie and you hear ?eher sigh. You lean against the bar, listening. "Why don't you try one more time." Eddie says, running ?eher hand through ?eher hair. Now $Arlo sighs. "I need $name for ?their memories." ?aHe rests ?ahis forehead on ?ahis hand, eyes closed. "I need to retrieve something, a key or some crap, don't ask me what it's for because //I don't know//, but the location can be found in ?their mind." "But you don't //know// the location." Eddie questions. $Arlo opens one eye. "Correct." "But you'd know it if you looked in ?their head?" "Probably." ?aHe leans ?ahis head against the couch, eyes closed again. "Probably?" You can see Eddie's neck flushing from your position at the bar. "That doesn't make sense." Halley looks over to you. "They've been like that for the past twenty minutes." [[She twiddles a toothpick between her fingers.|memsd]]

After the discussion with $Arlo on the rooftop, you're still having trouble making sense of what ?ahe needs. ?aHe doesn't seem able to explain it either. ?aHe needs to look in your head, through your memories, together, to find the location of an object. Most of the time ?ahe says it's a key, sometimes a lock, sometimes a book. But ?ahe doesn't know what the object is for. Or where to look. ?aHe said it would //feel// right when you found it. Apparently it's somewhere the two of you have been, somewhere significant, but any other questioning ?ahe claims makes ?ahis head spin. "$name," Eddie calls you over, "why'd you agreed to help?" Part of you can never say no to ?ahim. The other part is worried that it isn't a coincidence $Arlo showed up last night. Yet the other part, the more hopeful part, wants to believe ?ahe showed up from free will. [[You truthfully say it's personal.|betruthful]] [[You say it might be council related.|councilrelted]] [[You try not to show that it's personal.|beprivate]]

You find it hard to meet Eddie's gaze, so you look to the side. "It's..." Your eyes find $Arlos and huff. "It's personal." <<if $exlover>>$Arlo looks back at you, eyes lingering on your form before looking at the floor.<<else>>$Arlo looks back at you. Upon seeing your eyes already on ?ahim, ?ahe quickly looks away.<</if>> "Okay," Eddie responds, "I guess the timing with your council meeting isn't a coincidence either." "Yeah," you say absently, distracted by $Arlo. "Maybe if your friend would tell us why ?ahe had the letter." $Arlo scoffs, "I already told you. //I can't tell you.//" Eddie rolls ?eher eyes. "I won't chance it," $Arlo glances at you. [[Eddie stares.|silenctmortrds]] <<set $Afrom to $Afrom +1>>\ <<set $AEtension to $AEtension +1>>\

No one speaks. Then you hear a small wooden //snap//. You all turn to Halley, she's biting her lip, eyebrows tensed together. Then she stands up, stool squeaking, and walks down to stand directly in front of $Arlo. "Let me in," she commands. $Arlo raises ?ahis head and blinks. "Excuse me?" "Let me inside," she says slowly and takes step closer. $Arlo looks to you then back at Halley, mouth slightly open, "what?" "What?" Eddie repeats. [["What?" You mirror.|halleymindread]]

"In your head." she taps on her forehead and sits down next to ?ahim. $Arlo looks like ?ahes about to run. Eddie looks vaguely amused. "Why is she just staring at me?" "I have a theory about why your brain is fuzzy, but I want to confirm," Halley explains. "It'll be fine, $Arlo," you say <<cycle "$feeling1" autoselect>> <<option "sympathetically">> <<option "tiredly">> <<option "softly">> ... <</cycle>>. ?aHe looks at you and nods ?ahis head. [[Eddie watches intently from the side.|hmr2]]

"We'll start with something easy," she says, "favorite color?" ?aHe rolls ?ahis eyes, "<<if $eyecolor is "hazel">>greenish brown<<else>>$eyecolor<</if>>." "Oh," Halley looks to you and then back at $Arlo. "$Arlo, you're a very abstract thinker, this is going to be harder than I thought." Eddie speaks up, "we don't know what you're trying to do, Halley." She ignores Eddie and continues to question $Arlo. "Tell me about a happy childhood memory?" "No." Now Halley rolls her eyes, "you and $name seem aquainted, how did you two meet?" "That has nothing to do with what we're searching for." $Arlo frowns and you look away. "I need you to tell me something about your past-" "I told you no," $Arlo snaps, "get out of my head." ?aHe starts to stand up. Halley bites her lip, looking to you and Eddie for help. [[Tell her to stop.|mcassist]] [[Let her push more.|eddieassist]]

<<if $feeling1 is "sympathetically">>You walk to $Arlo and place your hand on ?ahis shoulder, patting it twice. "Halley," you start, "let's just focus on the main task." $Arlo leans back and gives you a quick nod.<</if>><<if $feeling1 is "softly">>You walk towards $Arlo and place your hand on ?ahis shoulder. "Halley," you start, "let's just focus on the main task." You look down at $Arlo who is already looking up at you. "It'll be okay," you smile softly, "she won't pry." ?aHe looks at you, the right side of ?ahis mouth turning up in a tenative smile.<</if>><<if $feeling1 is "tiredly">>"Halley," you interject, "let's just focus on the main task." Then you look back at $Arlo. "She won't pry." ?aHe looks at you, nodding ?ahis head.<</if>> "Fine," Halleys mumbles, "let's just try this without any control variables." [[Halley scooches and fakes a smile.|riedmind]]

"Halley," Eddie interrupts, "don't pry." ?Arlo quickly looks at Eddie, just barely leaning back into the couch. Halley raises her hands in surrender, "alright, fine. We'll just go over the memory without any control variables. What could go wrong?" $Arlo leans ?ahis elbows onto ?ahis knees, breathing out, "fine." [[Halley plants a fake smile on her face.|riedmind]]

"Okay," Halley continues, "just take me through what you need $name and ?their memories for." Halley nods her head as $Arlo recaps. Then you notice that the small head nods turn into smaller twitches. Halley breaks her gaze from ?ahim and bites her lip. "?aHe was telling the truth." Eddie leans forward, "what do you mean?" "I get //physically// dizzy when ?ahe tries to remember," she adjusts her shirt and turns to you. "Everything is blurry, like static. As if there are fragments, not just missing, but taken violently from ?ahis mind." "How much?" You tenatively ask. "Not sure," Halley turns back to $Arlo. [[Wait.|wait]]

"Hold on." You're aware some witches can mess with memories. But what about your own? "How would we even tap into my mind?" "Well," Halley replies, "a witch could do it. Theoretically." "Can you or Kade?" Eddie asks. "No!" Halley's voice is shrill. "No, of course not," She itches her arm. "I'm not- we're not, nor have ever been, a witch." Her teeth clench tightly as she forces a smile. "But!" She straightens herself out, "I have a friend." "Great, can we ask them?" $Arlo speaks up. "In the meantime, I need to eat." Eddie stands up, dusting off ?eher pants. "Yeah, I also need to take care of something first." "Hold on," you interject, "while I agreed to help, $Arlo, I won't be able to anytime soon." <<if $agen is 0>>[["What do you mean?" He asks.|wait2]]<</if>><<if $agen is 1>>[["What do you mean?" She asks.|wait2]]<</if>>

You walk downstairs and $Arlo follows. ?aHe looks at you hesitantly, "$name?" "I need to buy more blood." ?aHe nods ?ahis head. The fledglings at the tables lower their voices to whispers. Though you can still hear them. "That's the High Vampire of the city." "I heard ?they told the council to fuck off." "Who's that other vampire? They seem just as old." $Arlo sneers, fangs visible, "shut up." They stop talking. [[Roll your eyes.]] [[Laugh.]] [[Ignore them.]] <<set $ch3pt1 to "ArloAida">>\

The two of you walk downstairs. "I need to get more blood," you casually say. "Almost out." Eddie glances at you, "I've always been curious, what does it taste like?" "It depends on the source and how healthy they are, what they put in their body, stuff like that." "That's actually really interesting-" Eddie cuts ?eherself off, glaring straight at the vampires that stare at ?eher. "Can't you tell them to stop?" [[You could... but you won't.]] [[You can't blame them. ♥ Bold]] [[You can't blame them. ♥ Subtle]] [[Just ignore them.]] <<set $ch3pt1 to "Eddie">>\

You get closer to ?eher, "I probably could." "I'm sensing a //but//," ?eshe says. "//But// it's fun to watch you squirm." You wiggle your eyebrows and ?eshe rolls ?eher eyes. "I'm not squirming," ?eshe counters, looking back at the fledglings, frowning. "Besides," you pat ?eher back, "you did a good job of scaring them off by yourself." ?eShe huffs. [[You nod to Kaylen as the two of you exit.|EddieMarket 2]]

You keep walking. "Just ignore them." Eddie scoffs, "like you do?" You send ?eher back a sarcastic smile, "yes." ?eShe looks back at them and frowns. "You already scared them off anyways," you shrug. "I guess," ?eshe sighs. [[You nod to Kaylen as the two of you exit.|EddieMarket 2]]

You nudge Eddie's bicep with your elbow. It barely gives. "Can you blame them? You're quite the sight." Eddie gives you a strange look, "because I'm a werewolf?" "Nope," you pop the P and give ?eher a coy smile. "Because you're hot." ?eHer square jaw tenses as you take the opportunity to check ?eher out. Then your eyes catch the start of a jagged pink scar on the back of ?eher neck and you look away. Eddie continues to stare straight forward, ignoring you, "they need to mind their own business." [[You shrug.|EddieMarket 2]] <<set $flirtbold to $flirtbold +1>>\ <<set $Edirom to $Edirom +1>>\

You shrug, walking closer to Eddie, gently bumping ?eher arm. "I can't really blame them." Eddie glares at you, "why not?" "Because," you tilt your head and look away. ?eShe stares at the side of your head, "am I missing something?" You have to bite your lip to contain your smile, ?eher direct attention lighting something up inside. Finally, you look back at ?eher and let the smile dress your face. "Because you're you." ?eHer eyes flicker to your smile and back to your eyes. "Because I'm //me//," ?eshe looks forward, nodding to Kaylen as you exit. ?eShe let's out an appreciative hum but still frowns. "Well, //they// still need to mind their own business." [[Your stomach drops a little.|EddieMarket 2]] <<set $flirtsub to $flirtsub +1>>\ <<set $Edirom to $Edirom +1>>\

The sky is gray, wet. The smell of musk and cigarettes fill your nose. The sidewalk is slick as you step in the shallow puddles. Deeper and deeper into the city you go. You pass business people wearing their formal attire, Eddie almost blends in. But the suits, heels and briefcases become scarce the longer you walk. Then you pass a large building. It's a deep gray, small windows crawling up its entirety. At the very base, above the rotating glass doors and in gold lettering reads: //Hunter's Guild//. Home of the city's hunters. [[You hate them.|ch3hatehunterseddie]] [[You don't like them but you can understand them.|ch3understandhunterseddie]]

"They did," you confirm. Images of fur, stakes and blood flashing through your mind. "Werewolves are the perfect vampire killers." Something must show on your face because Eddie falters for a second. "Sorry, didn't want to dig up old wounds." "It's one of the reasons our species still hate each other." You step in a muddy puddle, "plus, vampires can hold grudges for a long time," you add in an attempt to lighten the mood. "I wouldn't call two hundred years short either," Eddie says, remarking on the lifespan of werewolves. You look up at the gray sky, pushing away thoughts of your past. "As long as there's one werewolf I can trust." Eddie chuckles, "don't worry, I promise I won't go all werewolf on you." [[You smile back.|bacltomakrt]]

You continue to walk, stepping around gum and broken glass. A few blocks later, the two of you stand in front of an unmarked metal door. The lever shaped handle has no keyhole. Eddie sighs, pulling out ?eher wallet. From it, ?eshe extracts a small silver razor blade. It's perfectly clean and shiny, looking basically unused. Then ?eshe looks at you. "Why does everything in the supernatural world require blood?" You shrug at ?eher rhetorical question. Eddie squeezes the cut at the padding of ?eher thumb, then places ?eher hand on the handle. ?eShe waits a second before turning and opening the door, then steps inside. [[The door closes.|yourturn]]

Above the door handle there's an inscription: //To gain power, one must know weakeness.// You pat down your person, hoping that miraculously you'll find a stake or some knife laced with werewolf veru. When you inevitably don't, you sigh and look around your concrete and brick surroundings. [[There's a dumpster nearby.|dumpterduvingg]]

There's sure to be a piece of splintered wood in here, right? Delicately, you start lifting pieces of trash in a poor attempt of finding a wooden stake. Your mind is racing with different thoughts starting with //gross// and ending on //fuck it//. You need a stake. You're about to hoist yourself in when you hear someone walk by. The man is tall, black hair hanging to his shoulders. He has a neatly trimmed beard and is well dressed. He takes a stake out of his jacket and your eyes widen. You think you recognize him, did you meet him last night? <<if $gnumber>> Was his name <<textbox "$strangersname" "Enter Name" "Entered Name">>? [[You call it out.|gabriel?]]<<else>>But you never got his name. Quickly you try to think of something to call out, but it's too late and he's gone. [[Damnit.]]<</if>>

<<if $strangersname is "Gabriel">>"Gabriel?" The man, Gabriel, turns and smiles. His face morphs from happy to concerned as he makes his way over. "$name? What are you doing?" You kick a dirty wrapper away from yourself, "I need a stake." He hums in understanding, holding out his hand to help you over the trash. "I believe I may be able to help." [[You take his hand and grin.|MarketGabriel]]<<elseif $strangersname is "gabriel">>"Gabriel?" The man, Gabriel, turns and smiles. His face morphs from happy to concerned as he makes his way over. "$name? What are you doing?" You kick a dirty wrapper away from yourself. "I need a stake." He hums in understanding, holding out his hand to help you over the trash. "I believe I may be able to help." [[You take his hand and grin.|MarketGabriel]]<<else>>"$strangersname?" The man twitches, but ultimately doesn't turn around. And then he's gone. [[Damnit.]]<</if>>

Luckily, vampires don't need to breathe for long. So you stop and jump in. You're squished against the metal walls of the dumpster, juices getting on your shoes and clothes. Doing your best to ignore it, you start chucking out bags of trash one by one, until you find broken pieces of a wooden pallet. You grab it and jump out, dropping it to the ground. First, you wipe yourself off the best you can, flicking your hands around so bits of green mold fly off. The inside of your mouth starts to water and you feel your throat tense, but you shake it off, swallowing in fresh air instead. After pacing in circles for a moment, cleaning your mind of the slimy textures, sweet and sour smells, and get back to the wood. You make quick work, breaking it into a piece long and sharp enough to be considered a stake. You drag the tip across your palm, barely feeling a pinch, then place your bloodied hand on the cool metal handle. The blood steams underneath your grip and the door opens. [[You walk in.|eddiemarketfinally]]

He drops your hand as you walk back to the door. "Where you about to jump in?" he asks with a smirk. You shrug nonchalantly, "desperate times?" He laughs a hearty laugh, "cute." "Cute?" He shrugs. "Here," he motions for your hand. His skin is smooth and smells slightly of honey suckle. He takes out the stake and slashes across your palm, almost like a paper cut. Carefully, he presses in, pushing the blood out. It seeps onto his thumb, bright red against his cool pale skin. [[Wipe it off.]] [[Let him take care of it.|glick]] <<if $gnumber>>[[Lick it off.]]<</if>>

When you enter, the air is damp. Minimal lighting hangs from the cement walls. Venturing further, you manuever the twists and dead ends until the air grows fresher. The smells of food and iron greet your nose, cold air wafting to your face as you step out into the opening. Almost every square inch of the grand open room is covered with tarps. The superatural bazaar, the Market, is packed with people and stalls. The environment is warm, a result of all the bodies. The steady murmurs of the crowd and clinking of potions and poultices chimes in your ears. [[You spy Eddie at one of the stalls.|eddiemarket2]]

?eShe shakes the hand of the dark haired vendor. "Thanks, Xante, I'll see you around." Then turns and spots you walkng towards ?eher. "That took a while-" then ?eshe recoils, bringing ?eher arm up over ?eher face, "oh fuck." "Eddie," you take a step closer. "Nuh uh," ?eshe holds ?eher arm out to stop you, "stay back." Your eyes widen, "come on." "You smell disgusting," ?eshe starts walking away. "Five feet away at all times," ?eshe calls back. [[You glare and follow.]] <<set $smell to "gross">>\

The stalls you pass sell and trade various items. Rune books, herbs, daggers and crossbows, to name a few. But all of it has been declared illegal by the governing human bodies. A lot of it doesn't matter to you. You do, however, give the booth selling stake-shooting crossbows a wide berth. Another booth sells silver weapons, which Eddie doesn't glance twice at. "$name!" One voice stands out over the rumbling of the market, a slender hand calling your attention to its user. A smile immediately breaks out on your face as you forget Eddie and turn to wave back, "Atlas!" [[The vampire smiles back.|meeting Atlas]] <<set $at to "met">>\

"What do you say, wolf? Think these weapons will have your tail tucked between your legs?" The dealer speaks loudly and stands way too close to Eddie. When Eddie tries to side step her, the sales person just steps in ?eher way. A crowd starts to form, <<if $smell is "gross">>though people seem to avoid standing near you.<<else>>and you find yourself blending in, standing near the front.<</if>> You can hear when the vendor whispers, "come on, wolfie, I need these sales." Eddie's face stays neutral, "I don't care," and ?eshe tries to get away. The vendor takes a step forward. [[And throws the knife.|silverknife]]

<<if $fight is "agile">>The blade is intercepted, you catch it with one hand by its pommel. The crowd goes silent. Eddie stalks back, face still remaining neutral, while the vendor panic runs to her booth. She stops when she hits the table. Eddie only stops when ?eshe is a few inches from the vendor's face. ?eShe slowly reaches for a sword nearby. The crowd watches intently. Eddie's left arm morphs, ?eher bones crack and finger nails splinter into long furred claws. You can hear the vendor whimper. Eddie takes ?eher newly formed hand and scratches down the length of the sword. "Silver is a very soft metal," ?eshe states. "See how shallow these grooves are? Steel." Then ?eshe drops the sword, the clanking echoing. Eddie's voice drops low, intimidating, as ?eshe looks at sales person. "And steel can't kill werewolves."<<else>>It punctures Eddie's shoulder and ?eshe stops walking. Instead, ?eshe pulls it out, cracking ?eher neck and turning around. Eddie stalks back, face still remaining neutral, while the vendor panic runs to her booth. She stops when she hits the table. Eddie only stops when ?eshe is a few inches from the vendor's face. The crowd watches intently. Eddie's left arm morphs, ?eher bones crack and finger nails splinter into long furred claws. You can hear the vendor whimper. Eddie takes ?eher newly formed hand and scratches down the length of the dagger. "Silver is a very soft metal," ?eshe states. "See how shallow these grooves are? Steel." Then ?eshe drops the dagger, the clank echoing. Eddie's voice drops low, intimidating, as ?eshe looks at the sales person. "And steel can't kill werewolves."<</if>> [[You laugh silently.|vendordamn]]

The sales person mumbles a last "asshole," as the two of you walk away, the crowd dissapating. Finally, the booth you need, which calls to you with a subtle sweetness, pops into view. But you're stopped by a smooth, gritty voice. "$Edith, fancy seeing you here." "Fuck me. Can't catch a break." Eddie mumbles, turning around to stand by your side. ?eShe crosses ?eher arms as the man approaches. You glance him over, evaluating him. Raven black hair. Icy blue eyes. One is shrouded. Objectively, he is handsome, but there's something off about him. The man smiles, "Like what you see?" [[Maybe.|ewflirtwhale]] [[Not at all.|fukuhale]]

"Maybe I do." His arms twitch, flex, as you watch. Chest is steady, up and down, up and down. His eye brows barely arc, instead sloping upward. His lips are pink, almost too pink. His jaw is perfectly sculpted, almost like a statue. Every inch of his skin is smooth, clean. What can be conceived as conventionally attractive starts to distort in your mind the longer you stare. His eyes bring you back, one bright and blue. The other like snow. Then you hear a small gagging nose and turn to see Eddie glowering at you. "$name, you know that's Hale, right?" [[Oops.|hale-oopsieflirt]]

You hum in thought, looking around before meeting his eyes. "Not really." Eddie snorts from beside you. "What are you laughing at, Reagan?" Hale's arm cross, biceps flexing as he turns his attention to Eddie. Eddie's jaw tenses with a tight lipped smile, "just another one of your souless forms." Hale smiles, "you know what? I bet I have a form you'd like." Eddie's face falls, ?eher hands dropping into fists. ?eShe speaks quietly, "don't." ?eHer dark eyes are threatening, pupils engorged, anything but human. Hale takes a step back, looking to you. But you're not looking at him, you're looking at Eddie. You place a hand on ?eher shoulder. ?eShe blinks and ?eher eyes are once again brown. [[Eddie walks away.|eddieangymarket]]

Hale rolls his eyes. "I wanted to suggest you try the product at my booth." He waves his hand towards a booth a few feet away. In front of it stands.. Atlas? Next to him is a woman wearing a brown leather jacket. "No," Eddie rolls ?eher eyes back. "$name?" Hale asks. <<if $mcdrink is true>>"I've already tried it, Hale." "Oh?" His posture straightens. "And what did you think?" "Who cares" Eddie steps forward, "we're leaving."<<else>>"No, that's okay."<</if>> Eddie throws you a //look//. "We don't have time for this." [[Eddie leaves.|bluddmkt]]

Before you have chance to follow, Hale grabs your attention. He smiles, "I just wanted to stop by and suggest you try the new product I've decided to sell here." He waves his hand towards a booth a few feet away. In front of it stands... atlas? Next to him is a woman wearing a brown leather jacket. <<if $mcdrink>>"I've already tried it, Hale." "Oh?" His posture straightens. "And what did you think?" "It was fine." You say distractedly, watching Eddie walk away.<<else>>"I'm not interested right now," you look passed him, watching Eddie walk away. "I need to go."<</if>> [[Then you hurry to catch Eddie.]]

$Arlo keeps walking as you roll your eyes. "So agressive, $Arlo," you chide. ?aHe frowns, "I can't help it, I'm hungry." You raise your eyebrows. "They should keep to themselves." "They feel safe here." A flash of guilt washes over $Arlos face, "I guess this place would've been nice to have when we were younger." [[Kaylen waves as you step outside.|AMarket2]]

The fledglings look confused as you laugh. "What?" $Arlo pouts. "You're always so fussy when you're hungry," your laughter dies into a reminiscent smile. ?aHe looks at you in faux disbelief, "me? Fussy?" ?aHe places ?ahis hand on ?ahis heart, "never." You watch as ?ahe walks ahead of you, letting your smile fall as your chest pangs at the memories. You shake it off and catch up. [[Kaylen waves as you step outside.|AMarket2]]

The sky is gray, wet. The smell of musk and cigarettes fill your nose. The sidewalk is slick as you step in the shallow puddles. Deeper and deeper into the city you go. You pass business people wearing their formal attire, $Arlo and yourself stand out in the crowd. But the suits, heels and briefcases become scarce the longer you walk. $Arlo runs ?ahis hands through ?ahis hair while looking around, slowly tunring in circles. ?aHis hair falls back to the sides of ?ahis face. "So where is this market entrance?" "You don't know?" ?aHe shrugs, "we could always get blood the old fashioned way." ?aHis eyes grow dark for a second before ?ahe flashes a cheeky smile. "Just kidding, I don't want to work for it." "It further up, past the Hunter's building." "Ah, so follow the scent of murder and vanilla." [[You nod your head.|huntrbudgApath]]

Finally, you arrive in front of a tall building. It's a deep gray, small windows crawling up its entirety. At the very base, above the rotating glass doors and in gold lettering, reads: //the Hunter's Guild//. Home of the city's hunters. [[You hate them.|ch3hatehuntersarlo]] [[You don't like them but you can understand them.|ch3understandhuntersarlo]]

It takes you several minutes, but when you finally catch up, Eddie is standing in front of the blood booth, brooding. "Why the hell do you entertain him?" Eddie asks, crossing ?eher arms. You frown back, "I didn't know it was him." ?eShe drops ?eher hands to ?eher side. "Whatever, $name. Let's just get the blood and get out of here." [[The vendor smiles when you turn to her.]]

Her hair is bright orange, smile filled with sharp teeth. "$name, fancy seeing you here." "Lacey," you smile tightly, "I need blood. A gallon's worth." She sucks in air between her teeth. "Don't have that much. I've got maybe a half gallon left." Eddie steps up, "why so little?" "Hunters and police. Main location's under investigation. They've really been hammering down on the blood trade. Apparently some humans have been claiming they've been //forcibly// removed of their plasma." Her face tight with a smile. You sigh, running your hand over your face. "This can't be the only blood supplier in the city," Eddie says. You smile at Lacey. "She's the cleanest and the rest are part of shady corporations." "Let me guess," Eddie says dryly, "heavy terms and conditions?" "You got it," you respond as you pay the vendor. She hands you a bag and turns away. [[You leave the Market.|leavemarkEd]]

It takes you several minutes, but when you finally catch up, Eddie is standing in front of the blood booth, but ?eshe is brooding. "Don't," Eddie says, crossing ?eher arms. You frown back, "what was that?" "I said don't," ?eshe turns away. You raise your hands in surrender, "alright." "$name, I don't pry into your past and I'd appreciate it if you did the same for me." You're not sure what to say. "I didn't-" ?eShe sighs and drops ?eher hands to ?eher side. "Whatever. Let's just get the blood and get out of here." [[The vendor smiles when you turn to her.]]

A few more blocks and the two of you stand in front of an unmarked metal door. The lever shaped handle has no keyhole, a single sentence is engraved at the top. //To gain power, one must know weakeness.// "Fucking runes and their requirements," $Arlo starts patting down ?ahis person. "We need a stake to open it. You wouldn't happen to have one on you? Maybe some vampire poison, werewolf veru?" "Do you not?" You coyly counter. "This outfit doesn't have big enough pockets." "Shame," your lips start to twitch up as you watch $Arlo, a similar smile on ?ahis face. Then a wave of sadness washes over you, at how easy it was to fall back into a familiar rhythm with ?ahim. So you look away, instead looking for a tree or- "There," $Arlo points to the dumpster nearby. [[You sigh and head over.|dumpsterdivingwA]]

Maybe there's some discarded pallets in the trash. $Arlo looks at you and you look at ?ahim. Then you both look at the moldy food, black bags and broken glass bottles. "Not it-" "You-" Green meets $eyecolor. A silent challenge. $Arlo blinks ?ahis eyelashes at you. [[And you flutter yours back. ♥|dumpstercute]] [[You reply with a flat look.]]

You flutter your own eyelashes, slightly widening your eyes and pouting your lips. $Arlo places ?ahis hand on ?ahis heart, "cheat." "How so?" You tilt your head, still feigning an innocent expression. "You know how." Then ?ahe hoists ?ahimself into the dumpster, head and shoulders still visible, "//disgusting.//" ?aHe starts tossing trash behind ?ahim, bags and wrappers flying up into the air. The smells gets stronger with every movement and you find yourself drifting further and further away. "Found some- $name?" $Arlo turns around to find you far away, waving. ?aHe hops out, a broken plank of wood in ?ahis hands. Suddenly, you hear the door open and close, barely catching a glimpse of a foot. $Arlo swears. You walk back over and peel an old sticker off of ?ahim. [[The two of you can't help but laugh.|aftertrash]] <<set $Axrom to $Axrom +1>>\ <<set $Afrom to $Afrom +1>>\

$Arlo snaps the plank length wise, the tip becoming sharp and stake-like. "This is probably good enough." ?aHe walks up to the door, you trailing alongside, and stops in front. "Guess I will just," ?ahe clears ?ahis throat, "cut my hand and place the bloodied palm on the door and the rune will open." But ?ahe makes no motion towards the door, instead the newly formed stake shakes slightly in ?ahis hand as ?ahe stares at the other one. [[Offer to help.|Aislowkeysqueamish]] <<if $exlover>>[[Offer to help. ♥|cutyobooex]]<<else>>[[Offer to help. ♥|cutyoboopal]]<</if>>

Unamused, you respond with a look that communicates //you've been gone for a very long time, you owe me.// "Yeah... okay," ?ahe breathes out and hoists ?ahimself into the dumpster. ?aHis head and shoulders are still visible, "ewgh." ?aHe starts tossing trash behind ?ahim, bags and wrappers flying up into the air. The smells gets stronger with every movement and you find yourself drifting further and further away. "Found some- $name?" $Arlo turns around to find you far away, waving. ?aHe hops out, a broken plank of wood in ?ahis hands. Suddenly, you hear the door open and close, barely catching a glimpse of a foot. $Arlo swears. You sigh, walking back over to ?ahim and peel an old sticker off of $ahim. [[But the two of you can't help but laugh.|aftertrash]]

?aHis wrist is warm when you grab it, hand a little clammy. "$Arlo, how are you still squeamish?" A small blush brushes ?ahis cheeks, "I'm not, I just don't relish the feeling of burning alive." You shake your head and take the stake from ?ahim. ?aHe winces as you dig the tip across ?ahis palm, beads of blood bubbling up from the gash. ?aHe stares at it for a moment but you herd ?ahim into action. "Before it heals, $Arlo." ?aHe sticks ?ahis tongue out and heads inside. [[You pause a moment.|yAsqumy]]

?aHe seemed nervous. Briefly, you recall $Arlo laughing off a couple of stabbings, claiming they were only splinters. The insults ?ahe would spit at the hunters as they waved their pitchforks and wooden crosses. Always blasé in the face of danger. You shake your head and drag the tip of the stake across your palm, barely feeling a pinch, placing your bloodied hand on the cool metal handle. [[Steam rises from the handle as it opens.|marketA]]

When you enter, the air is damp. Minimal lighting hangs from the cement walls. Venturing further, you manuever the twists and dead ends until the air grows fresher. The smells of food and iron greet your nose, cold air wafting to your face as you step out into the opening. Almost every square inch of the grand open room is covered with tarps. The superatural bazaar, the Market, is packed with people and stalls. The environment is warm, a result of all the bodies. The steady mumrmurs of the crowd and clinking of potions and poultices chimes in your ears. $Arlo stands away from the crowd. [[So you walk over.|mA2]]

"Let's go." The stalls you pass sell and trade various items. Rune books, herbs, daggers and crossbows, to name a few. But all of it has been declared illegal by the governing human bodies. A lot of it doesn't matter to you. However, $Arlo widens ?ahis eyes at a booth and you look over to see canisters of werewolf veru. ?aHe raises ?ahis eyebrows, "that's creative." "And highly illegal," you add. "I heard extracting werewolf veru is painful process. Unlike vampire venom." $Arlo grumbles. "$name!" One voice stands over the rumbling of the market, a slender hand calling your attention to its user. A smile immediately breaks out on your face as you walk towards the voice, forgetting $Arlo. "Atlas!" You call. [[The vampire smiles back.|meeting Atlas]] <<set $at to "met">>\

You step forward, taking ?ahis hand in yours. It's warm and dry. Slowly, you drag the tip of the stake across ?ahis palm. Then you press down with your thumb, retracing its path. Bright red blood beads out of the open wound, fresh and untainted. When you look up, ?ahes already staring at you, eyes focused on your face. <<if $arloreaction is "numb">>You keep a straight face, pretending not to notice. Not to feel the twitch in your hand as you think of how to best drop ?ahers, how to best pretend- no, to feel- //to show// how unaffected you are.<<elseif $arloreaction is "angry">>Fuck. Your heart skips a beat and you feel blood rush to your cheeks. Why can't you just look away. Why can't you be done with ?ahim. //Why can't you just-//<<elseif $arloreaction is "sad">>Your chest //pulls//. Burning swells behind your eyes as tears suddenly threaten to form, to fall. It's the only reason you look away. Look down to ?ahis hand in yours. You can't hold it forever.<<elseif $arloreaction is "relief">>You keep your eyes on ?ahis, the hard palpitations in your heart becoming flutters as once again you rememorize ?ahis face. ?aHe makes no move to take away ?ahis hand but you know you can't stand here for long.<</if>> [[Let go.|exlovermarketAflirt]] <<set $Axrom to $Axrom +1>>\

"Hey! You!" A vendor steps in front of $Arlo. "What do you think of these daggers, think it'll tuck your tail between your legs?" She waves the dagger in front of $Arlo, inches from ?ahis face. "Nope," ?ahe gives the woman a two fingered salute, trying to step away. But the woman is persistent. "Come on, just hold it, perfectly balanced." "Lady, look-" She places a hand on $Arlos arm, "you don't know whatcha got until it's gone. These daggers won't be here all day." $Arlo stares at her for a moment, then ?ahis face morphs into something more charming, "alright, you got me, show me." ?aHe places ?ahis hand on her waist as she smiles brightly and they walk to her booth. [[You sigh impatiently.|erdfds]]

After a few more minutes ?ahe comes back, a satisfied smile on ?ahis face. You two walk side by side, letting people weave in and out until you're back next to each other. "Happy?" You ask. ?aHe snickers. "What?" ?aHe flashes you an engraved silver dagger. "You actually bought it?" "Yes, but I think I'll get a return on my investment." Then ?ahe pulls out a bright orange wallet. Orange is not $Arlos style: ?ahe stole her wallet. You bite your lip. "Think she'll miss it?" [[Hold back your laugh.|breufings]] [[Laugh.|nice]] [[Take the wallet.|foryourtroubles]]

Your eyes close for a moment, keeping your composure, and you just shake your head. "-$name!" A body again steps in front of you two. "Where's that wolf of yours?" The man in front of you stands around the same height as $Arlo. His similar black hair is slicked back, an icy blue and hazy white eye stare at you expectantly. "Doesn't matter," his muscled arms clasp behind his back, pecks tight against his white shirt. He smiles, the grin reaching high on either cheek. "I'm just glad to have you all to myself." "Not so fast, slick," $Arlo chimes in. "$name, will you introduce me?" "This is <<textbox "$halename" "Enter Name" "Entered Name">>." [[The man chuckles.|haleugh]]

You snort out a laugh and $Arlo beams at you. ?aHes about to speak when someone grabs your attention. "-$name!" A body again steps in front of you two. "Where's that wolf of yours?" The man in front of you stands around the same height as $Arlo. His similar black hair is slicked back, an icy blue and hazy white eye stare at you expectantly. "Doesn't matter," his muscled arms clasp behind his back, pecks tight against his white shirt. He smiles, the grin reaching high on either cheek. "I'm just glad to have you all to myself." "Not so fast, slick," $Arlo chimes in. "$name, will you introduce me?" "This is <<textbox "$halename" "Enter Name" "Entered Name">>." [[The man chuckles.|haleugh]]

"This," you grab the wallet out of ?ahis hand, "is for my troubles." Then wave it at ?ahis face. "-$name!" A body again steps in front of you two. "Where's that wolf of yours?" The man in front of you stands around the same height as $Arlo. His similar black hair is slicked back, an icy blue and hazy white eye stare at you expectantly. "Doesn't matter," his muscled arms clasp behind his back, pecks tight against his white shirt. He smiles, the grin reaching high on either cheek. "I'm just glad to have you all to myself." "Not so fast, slick," $Arlo chimes in. "$name, will you introduce me?" "This is <<textbox "$halename" "Enter Name" "Entered Name">>." [[The man chuckles.|haleugh]] <<set $wallet to "have">>\

<<if $halename is "Hale">>"I knew you could never forget me, $name, no matter the form."<<elseif $halename is "hale">>"I knew you could never forget me, $name, no matter the form."<<else>>"$name," he purrs, "how could you forget me like that. You don't like this form?" You stare at him blankly. "It's Hale." Right...<</if>> "I see, a shifter, huh." $Arlo skates ?ahis eyes up and down Hale's body, pausing on the hair. "Quite the body you've taken." "Like what you see?" "Guessing it's not the face you were born with." Hale frowns. "Can you even remember what you look like?" $Arlo taunts. Hale's frown turns into a glare, eyes sizing up $Arlo, "charmed," he says. [[Then he walks away.|dfdfa]]

"Friend of yours?" $Arlo asks. "Not really," you continue walking. "Shame you can't harm the shifters," ?ahe follows you. "What do you mean?" "Well, there's only like five of them left on Earth. They're immortal and basically protected by all the governing supernatural bodies." "Not quite sure //why//," $Arlo continues, "probably something in long lost ancient lore." Then ?ahe glares at someone passing by. [[Finally you're at the blood booth.|finfa]]

The orange haired woman smiles a sharp toothed smile at $Arlo, leaning over the edge of the table. "Hi there, how may I be of assistance?" "//We//," ?ahe gestures to you, "are in need of blood." "Hi Lacey," you wave sardonically. "Duh," she rolls her eyes and slaps blood bags on the table, "half gallon." She looks at you briefly, but lands back on $Arlo. "Convince me to part with them." There's a slight twinkle to her eye as she looks at ?ahim. Annoyance tweaks through you, <<if $wallet is "have">>$Arlo swipes the wallet out of your hand with a wink and thrusts it at the vendor, grabbing a paper bag from behind the table and shoving the blood in.<<else>>$Arlo thrusts the wallet at the vendor, grabbing a paper bag from behind the table and shoving the blood in.<</if>> "And I'm officially out," she says flatly. [[She sends you a tight lipped smile.]]

"Why so little blood?" You ask. "Hunters and police. Main location's under investigation. They've really been hammering down on the blood trade. Apparently some humans have been claiming they've been //forcibly// removed of their plasma." She rolls her eyes again, as does $Arlo "Is this the only supplier in the area?" $Arlo leans close to your ear and quietly asks. You shake your head, "no, but the rest are part of shady corporations. And there are //a lot// of strings attached." "Happy hunting," Lacey sarcastically says. [[The two of you leave.|leavemarkA]]

The sun is overhead, peaking out between the spaces in the gray clouds. Crows swarm in the sky, landing dozens upon dozens atop the buildings. The path you take back differs from your original, instead you opt for a more scenic route. Small purple leafed trees separate you and the road, a brick path under foot. Silence carries over the two of you as you venture back. Then it's interrupted. "Do you hear that?" Eddie stops, looking to the left. You stop walking and focus. Passed the cars, the birds and the wind. [[You hear a commotion.|fountainEd]]

The sun is overhead, peaking out between the spaces in the gray clouds. Crows swarm in the sky, landing dozens upon dozens atop the buildings. The path you take back differs from your original, instead you opt for a more scenic route. Small purple leafed trees separate you and the road, a brick path under foot. Silence carries over the two of you as you venture back. But it's interrupted. "Do you hear that?" $Arlo stops, looking up to the sky, then to the left. You stop walking and focus. Passed the cars, the birds and the wind. [[You hear a commotion.|FountainA]]

The noise draws you in, growing closer and closer as you and Eddie jog over. A crowd of people comes into view as you make your way into the plaza. A large fountain stands tall and strong at its center. A variety of stone animals lift its giant bowl. The bowl spurts to life with water which overflows into the larger circular pool. "Stay back." A voice echoes across the plaza and a hushed murmur falls over the crowd. Your eyes follow the commanding voice. [[It's Amelie.|fountainEd2]]

She kneels next to a crying woman, Amelie holds her neck with one hand, face with the other. Someone from the crowd steps forward and Amelie slowly passes the injured woman away. "Is that woman..." Eddie's words drift away. Your spine grows cold as your eyes instead focus on the stake next to Amelie. The base is metal but it transitions into wood, the point sharpened and bloody. You'll deal with that later. [[Instead, two more figures draw your attention.|dfjahf]]

A wolf emerges from the fountain, its gray fur drenched with water and blood. Both legs stand on the stone edge as it surveys the crowd, the muscles of the five foot beast shine slick as rain starts to pour from above. The second figure stands deformed with its back to you. Its left arm hangs clawed and below its knees, a leather like substance replacing skin. A stunted wing of some sort flaps in the wind. Patches of navy blue hair fly off as it swings its head to turn to you. Atlas. He screeches at you, jagged teeth interrupting streams of spit that fly out of his mouth. [[The werewolf lunges.|atlasfighting]]

<<if $ch3pt1 is "Eddie">>"And the hunters?" Eddie adds, then ?eshe registers the stake, "other hunters." "This started five minutes ago. Please, I need help," Amelie looks at you. Eddie doesn't wait for a response, "I'll take the werewolf," then raises ?eher hand to ?eher mouth, a sharp whistle piercing the air. The wolf and vampire momentarily separate, their gazes turning towards Eddie. White foam pours out of the werewolf's mouth and the vampire cracks his hand back into place.<</if>><<if $ch3pt1 is "ArloAida">>"At least the hunters aren't here-," $Arlo cuts ?ahimself off, eyeing the stake. "Nevermind." "This started five minutes ago. Please, I need help." She looks at you. A crash comes from the side. The werewolf rolls then jumps to its feet. It lets out a deep, curdling growl and locks eyes with $Arlo. "Fuck," ?ahe groans, slowly steping away from you and Amelie. The wolf tracks ?ahis movement, slow and steady. Then lunges. $Arlo dodges and leads the wolf away from the crowd.<</if>> [[You'll take the vampire.|Fountainconvergence]]

<<if $ch3pt1 is "Eddie">>Atlas leaps towards Eddie but you're there in a moment, catching him by his throat and throwing him the opposite direction. Eddie moves away and soon the wolves are forgotten. <</if>>Quickly, Atlas is up, hissing at you, his stunted wing twitching in the wind. You hiss back, teeth elongating and claws sharpening. Then he's in front of you and you're blocking his bite with your forearm. His teeth tear into your flesh, breaking bone. You twist, slamming him into the basin of the fountain. Water and stone splash around you. You think you hear Amelie yell. The second he releases your arm, you'll have an opening. [[Trust that Amelie will back you up.|ameliestake]] [[Subdue him yourself.|tearintohisthroat]]

His teeth release. With your opposite hand, you grab his jaw, shoving his head up. His left arm plunges through your stomach. But his throat is exposed. [[Then a stake pierces through it.|Amestake]] <<set $atlas to "dead">>\ <<set $pce to $pce +1>>\

His teeth release. With your opposite hand, you grab his jaw, shoving his head up. His left arm plunges through your stomach. But his throat is exposed. [[Then you bite down.|yummyblud]] <<set $atlas to "alive">>\ <<set $rxt to $rxt +1>>\

He struggles for a moment, his arm jostling the contents of your stomach but you focus only on Atlas. Focusing as your venom spreads throughout his body. And soon enough he grows limp and pliable. [[Then his blood touches your lips.|blud1]] <<set $blood to $blood +1>>\

It flicks against your tongue. Sweet, almost reminiscent of ginger. Thick, like honey, it coats your throat, dripping down the sides of your mouth. Everything around you blurs as euphoria spreads throughout your body. Everything melts away. Your limbs tingle. Buzz. Elation. Happiness. Everything you've ever lost, ever wanted. Ever craved. It's all satisfied. [[Like a weight has been lifted.|blud2]]

Heart thundering. Mind easing. You're relaxed. //Why did you ever stop?// It's so easily yours. Anything you wanted, you can have. //Drink more. Just a little. Only a little, you swear.// **Enough.** You interrupt yourself. The days of losing control are long in the past. Bloodlust no longer manipulates you. It no longer lays its claim. [[You release Atlas.|blue3]]

He falls to the ground. Dazed. Eyes open. Pupils dark and dilated. He stares at you with something more. With want. Addiction. And you, your venom, the source. A stray hand reaches out to you. [[It's always made you uncomfortable.|venom gross]] [[It didn't matter in the end.|venome dont care]]

The skin of his throat starts to sizzle. Peel back. Discolor. Burn. And then he slumps over, head still supported by your hand. [[Dead.|Amestake2]]

You drop to your knees as Atlas's body gives in to gravity. His lifeless blue eyes stare back as you peel his arm out of you. Muffled footsteps draw close as Amelie pulls the stake out of his throat. You stare as the hole doesn't mend. Above you Amelie's mouth is agape, she drops the stake, taking a step away from it. You stand up and slowly face Amelie. Frantically, her head shakes, eyes wide and mouth moving but words do not come out. "Hunter!" Someone calls. She regains her composure, picking the stake back up. His blood pours. <<if $ch3pt1 is "Eddie">>[[Another shout breaks Amelie away from you.|WolffountainEd]]<</if>><<if $ch3pt1 is "ArloAida">>[[Another shout breaks Amelie away from you.|WolffountainA]]<</if>> <<set $staked to true>>\

She runs over to Eddie, who's holding the wolf down by its neck. It barely squirms under ?eher grip, almost willingly staying immobilized. Amelie checks her belt and produces a large syringe, injecting whatever contents into the werewolf and it goes still. It's hair starts to recede, claws shortening, snout cracking. Soon enough a woman lays naked in its place. Eddie slumps off ?eher jacket and drapes it over the person. [[You walk over to them.|wolifeEd]]

Amelie turns her head back to the crowd. "You guys need to go," she quickly turns back, "now." "What?" She starts to usher you two the opposite direction, "leave," but you stop her in place. "Amelie," you say gesturing to her injuries. "$name, go-" [[Another murmur crosses over the crowd.|Huntersay]]

The noise draws you in, growing closer and closer as you and $Arlo jog over. A crowd of people comes into view as you make your way into the plaza. A large fountain stands tall and strong at its center. A variety of stone animals lift its giant bowl. The bowl spurts to life with water which overflows into the larger circular pool. "Stay back." A voice echoes across the plaza and a hushed murmur falls over the crowd. Your eyes follow the commanding voice. [[It's Amelie.|FountainA2]]

She kneels next to a crying woman, Amelie holds her neck with one hand, face with the other. Someone from the crowd steps forward and Amelie slowly passes the injured woman away. $Arlo steps next to you, "that woman is..." Your spine grows cold as your eyes instead focus on the stake next to Amelie. The base is metal but it transitions into wood, the point sharpened and bloody. You'll deal with that later. [[Instead, two more figures draw your attention.|FoutnainA3]]

She runs over to $Arlo, who's holding the wolf down by its neck and hind legs. It squirms under ?ahis grip, $Arlo barely keeps it still. ?aHis black shirt is torn as the shoulder. Amelie checks her belt and produces a large syringe, injecting whatever contents into the werewolf and it goes still. It's hair starts to recede, claws shortening, snout cracking. Soon enough a woman lays naked in its place. $Arlo dissapears quickly into the crowd, emerging a second later with someone's jacket and drapes it over her. [[You walk over to them.|wolifeEd]]

Double-click this passage to edit it.

It can't be that easy. To just look at ?ahim and feel... feel like you still want ?ahim. "$name," ?ahis voice creaks, hand hovering in place, "I still-" //It can't be.// You shake your head. "Before it dries, $Arlo. Please." ?aHe stares at you once more, but silently nods ?ahis head. ?aHe places ?ahis hand on the door and it opens. You take a moment for yourself. Then you drag the tip of the stake across your palm, barely feeling a pinch, placing your bloodied hand on the cool metal handle. [[Steam rises from the handle as it opens.|marketA]]

$Arlo is already taking a step back from you. Just a step. ?aHis eyes flicker to your lips but just as quickly leave them, ?ahe itches the side of ?ahis neck. Then ?ahe awkwardly chuckles, "thanks, $name," a strained smile on ?ahis face. "I should get in before the blood dries." ?aHe turns and places the bloodied palm on the metal handle. The door opens and then you're alone. Then you drag the tip of the stake across your palm, barely feeling a pinch, placing your bloodied hand on the cool metal handle. [[Steam rises from the handle as it opens.|marketA]]

Dust, leather and plants. The shop is small. While Raven easily manuevers between the long tables covered with dusty glasses and drooping leafs with ease, Eddie bumps into corners. The glasses rattle, some dried herbs falls off the edge. "Careful," Raven calls over his shoulder. Eddie grimaces and stops in place. Raven finally rounds around one last table and starts opening drawers. The paint cracks as each drawer is pulled foward. $Arlo lifts up a leaf hanging out of a large jar, inspecting underneath. <<if $ameliefriend>>Amelie's arms are crossed over her chest and she hovers around you while simultaneously looking to the back of the shop.<</if>>\ [[A glass breaks.|mem1]]

A flush is on Eddie's neck as ?eshe moves to stand elsewhere. <<if $ameliefriend>>?eShe stops next to you and hands you a flip phone. "This is for you by the way." You sigh and accept it.<</if>> As your eyes move back to watch whatever it is Raven is doing, you notice $Arlo put something in ?ahis pocket. You catch ?ahis eye and ?ahe smiles a toothy grin before disappearing behind another big plant.<<if $ameliefriend>> Amelie is no longer by your side, instead she flips through some old crusted book on another table nearby.<</if>> "Alright," Raven calls out, moving bowls around, "gather in front of the counter." "If what I was told is accurate, you two," he motions to $Arlo and then you. "Are looking for a specific memory, in your head, but can't remember what it is. I can help with that." $Arlo sighs in relief. "The older the memory the more effort required. I can also unblock repressed memories but it sounds like yours are completely wiped. Which is a type of magic that," they pause and tilt their head. "Surpasses my own." [[You crinkle your nose.|mem2]]

You don't look into it anymore than you need to. Atlas reacts soley to your venom, finding in it whatever he needs. It's not you. It's just the venom. It's how it works, it's how it always worked. [[It doesn't matter.|Ampanic]]

Their need for you. The undivided attention. Just for you. And only you. It makes you uncomfortable. [[But it doesn't matter now.|Ampanic]]

You meet Eddie's gaze and sigh. "Honestly? I..." Then you meet $Arlos eyes. "I couldn't say no." <<if $exlover>>$Arlo looks back at you, eyes lingering before looking at the floor.<</if>>\ "Okay, fair." Eddie responds. "The timing of everything seems a little odd though." "Yeah," you say absently. "Maybe if your friend here would tell us why ?ahe had the letter." $Arlo scoffs, "I already told you. //I can't tell you.//" Eddie rolls ?eher eyes. "I won't chance it," $Arlo glances at you then back to Eddie. [[Eddie stares.|silenctmortrds]]

"Well," you start, "I find the timing of everything a little odd." $Arlo quickly averts ?ahis eyes from yours, only to find Eddie's, who is already frowning. "Maybe if your friend here would tell us why ?ahe had that letter." $Arlo scoffs, "I already told you. //I can't tell you.//" Eddie shakes ?eher head. "I won't chance it," ?ahe quickly glances at you then looks away. [[Eddie stares.|silenctmortrds]]

"$name!" You look up, catching the eyes of the strangers nearby. They look mortified. Scared. Of you. "$name!" <<if $ch3pt1 is "Eddie">>[[You're shaken from your thoughts.|WolffountainEd]]<</if>><<if $ch3pt1 is "ArloAida">>[[You're shaken from your thoughts.|WolffountainA]]<</if>>

Footsteps, determined and fast, break through the crowd of people. Four or five pairs of feet, crossbows and guns at the ready, circle you and Amelie. You look back <<if $ch3pt1 is "Eddie">>to see Eddie frown<<elseif $ch3pt1 is "ArloAida">>to see a panicked look cross $Arlos face<</if>> as the hunters stand in the way. Amelie subtly shaking her head at <<if $ch3pt1 is "Eddie">>?eher.<<elseif $ch3pt1 is "ArloAida">>?ahim.<</if>> Finally, from the back, one last hunter arrives. Cavil. "Amelie," he calls. His skin glistend with sweat. He wipes at his forehead, moving the dark hair away, as he examines the scene. "What the fuck did you do? Are you hurt?" Amelie clenches her jaw, "where were you?" [[The man glares.|hunterfiasco]]

He walks forward as three hunters surround you, crossbows raised and cuffs in hand. "I was getting backup, like you requested." He steps close to her, but she doesn't budge. Then his eyes flicker to the stake at her side and he grabs it, "that's mine," he growls low. Your attention is turned to the extra hunters, the one going for your hands.<<if $instinct is "scary">> You scowl and the hunter stops in place.<<elseif $instinct is "charming">> "I don't think that's necessary," you smile sweetly and the hunter stops in place, confused.<</if>> Then you feel something sharp against your back. Slowly, you turn your head to look at the offender. At Cavil. And then Amelie, who's grip is tight over Cavil's wrist. "Amelie," he says slowly, "are you interfering with a hunter's job?" Your eyes grow dark, black and red flooding your scelera. "Please," Amelie turns to you and whispers, "please, don't." [[Like you're gonna let this asshole touch you.|makeascenebb]] [[Fine. You won't do anything.|fineyoullchill]]

Your pupils disappear, fangs grow and you hiss at Cavil. You grab the stake and squeeze until it splinters in your hand, burning your skin. You hold until the pain courses up your arm and you let go. Cavil tries to surge forward but Amelie shoulders him in the chest, elbow dropping into his arm, disarming him then pointing the broken stake at you. "$name," she reprimands, "what the fuck are you doing?" The stake glares at you, calls for your attention, demands to be noticed. <<if $amelie is "friend">>"Are you going to kill //me//, Amelie?" you spit. The words barely escape through your elongated teeth. Anger courses through your veins, hand and arm pulsing, back aching. "Are you going to kill me, $name?" she retorts. You shakily take breath and your eyes turn back to $eyecolor.<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>"Are you going to //kill// me, Amelie?" you spit. The words barely escape through your elongated teeth. Anger courses through your veins, hand and arm pulsing, back aching. "//If I have to,//" she retorts. You hear a sharp sob from the surrounding crowd. Then your, eyes turn back to $eyecolor. You hear her let out a breath.<</if>> [[Then Cavil speaks.|damintcavil]] <<set $rxt to $rxt +1>>\

Slowly you blink, clearing out the color, once again looking human. "Fine." <<if $amelie is "friend">>Amelie's shoulders drop and she mouths //thank you//.<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>Amelie sends a subtle nod your way.<</if>> You look the other direction. The other hunter's eyes are wide, knees slightly shaking. You can hear their heart beating heavily. Only Cavil stands steady, hands behind his back. "Let's go." [[Amelie motions forward.|cavilstops]] <<set $pce to $pce +1>>\

"Well, Amelie?" He cocks his head at her but she doesn't take her eyes off you. "?They won't resist, right, $name?" her eyes burn into your own. You glare and cross your arms. Cavil tries to get to you, but Amelie places her hand on his chest, "don't." "I don't trust this." "I don't care," Amelie grits her teeth, "we're not doing this in front of the crowd." He looks at you, then Amelie, then behind him. He leans in close to Amelie's ear, "this is on you." [[Then relents.|cavilstops]]

Amelie walks in front of you while Cavil walks behind. Only a couple other hunters hover a few feet away, just out of arms reach. Cavil's eyes roam your back, "so $name, High Vampire of the city, huh." You don't respond. "Maybe you can tell us why you've been setting up these supernatural attacks around this city?" <<if $amelie is "friend">>"That's stupid, Cavil," Amelie chimes in, "?they wouldn't do that."<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>Amelie laughs bitterly, "?they wouldn't do that."<</if>> You scoff, "you think I'm setting up attacks?" "I don't know that, Amelie." Cavil ignores you. "Vampire activity has been higher than ever." "And the werewolf?" "Part of it," Cavil states so obviously, "to look like self defense." [[You watch a raven fly by.|cailkeepstalking]]

"Considering that vampire wasn't the first." Cavil points behind him, "there will be more." Amelie shakes her head. "Does the //detective// have a different theory?" "I believe that the vampires wouldn't risk their already delicate relationship with humans." "So you're saying they'd starve instead of kill?" "No," Amelie briefly turns around to look at him, "I'm suggesting there's more at play. More in the background that neither of us could guess." [[The Hunter's Building finally comes into view.|adfsadf]]

"You always look for more than there is," Cavil says quietly, "it's going to get you killed." The group comes to a stop just outside of the glass doors. A sickly sweet aroma emanates from the building, making you scrunch your nose. "$name, we'll be going up the elevators." Amelie's voice is flat, voice barely inflecting. "When we get in, you will be escorted to a holding room and the Chief will examine you." Her eyes look devoid of life. Cavil looks between the two of you, but soon opens the doors and motions for everyone to enter. [[Air conditioning hits your face.|hbuilding]]

The ground floor is nothing notable. A granite desk stands alone before a hallway of elevators. Three on each side. The ceiling is high, windows climbing all the way up. There's no one in the lobby except the attendant at the desk. "Cozy," you murmur. Amelie greets the attendant who's eyes flicker over the small posse standing around you. The woman jots something down and smiles. The other hunters take a different elevator, leaving you with Amelie and Cavil. You lean against the wall, both Amelie and Cavil leaning on the other two. [[You wonder what would happened if you attacked them.|elevatorass]] [[This is boring.|elevatorapath]] [[If you smile, maybe things will go faster.|elevatornice]]

Your hands run over the metal railing that traces the perimeter of the elevator. If you really wanted, you could peel this off the wall and get both of them in one swing. <<if $amelie is "friend">>Though, you're a little conflicted about hitting Amelie. Maybe you could miss her. <</if>>You tap your nails against the railing, humming to yourself before a smile creeps up your face. "Tell me, Cavil, what would happen if I went full //vampire// here?" His eyes flit towards the immense rows of buttons. "Ah," you look over at them too, "let me guess, some sort of gas?" He smiles and winks. [[Then the doors finally open.|ifhsbafdsbkjdfskbj]] <<set $ass to $ass +1>>\

You sigh, letting your head fall back onto the wall. Your nails tap against the metal bar that lines the elevator car. Tap. Tap. Tap. "Is the public's safety boring you?" Cavil sneers. You smugly smile back, "no, you're right. Forced compliance usually leaves me feeling //giddy//." Amelie looks at the ground. [[Then the doors finally open.|ifhsbafdsbkjdfskbj]] <<set $apath to $apath +1>>\

You look around the elevator. Amelie looks tired, staring straight ahead at the doors. Cavil stares at you, switching between your eyes and forehead. Your nails tap against the metal bar that lines the elevator car. "So," you try and smile. "A bit gloomy today, huh?" Cavil's face twists in confusion, "what?" You shrug a little, "the weather, it's a bit overcast." He grunts in acknowledgement. <<if $amelie is "friend">>Amelie looks at the floor, biting her lip to hide a smile.<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>Amelie closes her eyes.<</if>> [[Then the doors finally open.|ifhsbafdsbkjdfskbj]] <<set $nice to $nice +1>>\

Amelie takes the lead. The grays and silvers of the lobby morph into blacks and dark blues. The tiles are a marbled combination of the two, dabbled with streaks of gold. Another reception desk waits, silver panels lining its front. Cavil takes a hard right, heading down a different hallway, leaving you with Amelie. "Where are we?" You ask. She looks back at you as you pass different offices of sorts. All the doors are lined with opaque glass, so you're unable to peer inside. <<if $amelie is "friend">>"The top floor which is meant for supernaturals of," she tilts her head back and forth, "higher status."<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>"Top floor is for supernaturals that Chief Nix classifies as //special//."<</if>> Finally you reach the end of the hall. It leads to a large waiting area with black leather couches. "Wait here," Amelie points to the couch and you walk in, "and don't cross this threshold." She points to the imaginary line you just walked over. As she turns to leave she frowns, looking back at you, "actually-" Then her name is called from behind. You see Cavil marching back towards her. [[Her eyes linger on you but she leaves.|wowthzx]]

The couch is stiff, you slide back onto it. There's a black cylindrical side table on either end. Perpendicular to the couch is a single black chair, metal arm rests and legs. You sigh and your leg starts bouncing. Maybe if you switch positions... But adjusting doesn't help, instead the bouncing is isolated to your foot. You take a deep breath, once again looking around the room. Your eyes settle on the floor, following the colored marbling. The longer you stare at it, the more the golden streaks seem to move. Almost like a stone river, twisting around other steaks, dodging corners. Parrallel lines moving in opposite directions, it's almost disorientating, your head lulling back and forth. //[[Back and forth.|amieisback]]//

//Something drips from your lips. You're happy again. Lethargic. A big meal often does that to a body. You throw your head back in bliss. The air is wet with blood. Humid. Fuck, it feels nice. [[What you wouldn't give to live like this.|aisbad]]//

$name. $name. "$name." You shake your head, tearing your eyes away from the floor, looking up to see Amelie, to see the table and chairs around you. Your lips dry and the air clean. Amelie frowns. "We can go now. The chief said it was fine." Then she walks over to you, extending her hand to help you up. [[You take it.|abouttoseesheri]]

She leads you out of the sitting area. <<if $amelie is "friend">>"$name?" She whispers. Her hand is warm, grounding. You look down at your hands, then notice her arm is bandaged and dry. The shirt she wears is different, it's new. When you look at her face she looks clean. No blood in sight. You look back at the waiting room then back at her. She looks down, "I'll tell you later." You <<cycle "$amhand" autoselect>> <<option "squeeze">> <<option "drop">> ... <</cycle>> her hand.<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>You look at Amelie, noticing her arm is bandaged and dry. The shirt she wears is different, it's new. When you look at her face she looks clean. No blood in sight. Guilt flashes across her face. "Come on," she says, grabbing your arm to lead you away.<</if>> [[She motions back down the hall.|apphie]]

As you and Amelie walk back to the elevators, you spot a <<if $egen is 0>>man standing near the front desk. Straight icy blonde hair is brushed back, perfectly styled for the gray suit he wears. He talks to the woman at the desk, frowning.<</if>><<if $egen is 1>>woman standing near the front desk. Straight icy blonde hair is slicked back into a ponytail, perfectly styled for the gray suit she wears. She talks to the woman at the front desk, frowning.<</if>> Upon hearing your steps, ?eshe turns and you vaguely recognize ?ehim. The right side of ?eher face is torn from the top of ?eher forehead to below the neckline of ?eher collared shirt. The lid of ?eher right eye sags down, ?eher cheek and neck gnarled by what looks to be claw marks. ?eHer jaw is still sharp, defined everywhere but where it blends into ?eher neck. Cheekbones still high except where they've been torn down. They're deep. Scars still discolored compared to ?eher pale skin. Amelie's hand is on your back as she guides you forward. [[But your eyes are locked.|apphi2]]

You're five steps away. Almost shoulder to shoulder. For a second, you think of stopping. ?eHer head turns and so does yours, stretching. Neither of you back down. And then you recognize ?ehim fully. The new Alpha of the werewolf pack outside the city, of Eddie's old pack. Sheridan. Never formally meeting Sheridan, ?eshe always stayed in the background of your annual meetings with the pack. Then about five years ago you had been notified in a letter that Sheridan would be taking over as alpha. Since then, any correspondance had been via letter or email. With your gaze of recognition, ?eher eyes narrow, creases lining ?eher forehead. You hear a small huff as you pass ?eher, walking into the elevator as ?eshe dissapears down the hallway. [[Then the doors close.|argu]]

<<if $amelie is "friend">>"?eShes the Alpha," Amelie says, trying to melt the tension a bit, "of the pack just outside the city." You listen to the dings of each floor you pass. "Sorry about Cavil. He's hard to like."<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>You listen to the dings of each floor you pass. Ding. Ding. Ding.<</if>> Still not at the ground floor, you stare at the doors until they open. A person steps in, smiling at Amelie. "Hey there, Cadman." "Emile." She nods back. They look between you and Amelie, settling their stare at the ground. When the doors open one last time they're the first to step out. <<if $amelie is "friend">>[[You follow.|arguem]]<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>[[You follow.|argueamhunter]]<</if>>

Finally you're back outside, sun peaking through the clouds, but you stop in front of the building and Amelie faces you. "$name?" "What the hell was that, Amelie?" You glare at her. "What happened?" "I-" she starts. You almost can't look at her. "What happened to my mind? Why was I taken in? Why didn't you stop it?" Amelie looks back into the building then back to you. "I can't explain it, not here." She tries to walk by you but you step in front of her. "How long was I in there?" Again, you look at her patched up wounds and her clean shirt. She bites her lip, unable to meet your eyes, "an hour." [[An hour.|yeesh]]

"What happened," you ask through your teeth. She speaks meekly, "it was a spell." Your muscles tense and you walk away. "$name, please," she says following, walking back in the direction of $clubname. "It wasn't anything permanent," she stutters, "it was to keep you placated to read through your intents." When you round the corner, you stop and Amelie almost runs into you. "So they went through my mind, without me knowing," you almost laugh as the words spill out. She's unable to respond so you keep speaking. "What kind of fucking agency do you work for?" <<if $hunterdisp is "hate">>[[Then you keep walking.|arguangry]]<<else>>[[Then you keep walking.|argufine]]<</if>>

"$name, come on." She catches up. "You have to understand." "Understand what?" You retort. "That you capture supernaturals, hold them there and drug them so they're compliant, and then read through their mind like a //goddamn book?//" "That's not how it works-" "And if you don't like their intentions, you fucking kill them. If you haven't already killed them on sight!" You're yelling now, unintentionally, but your voice is raised and shoulders tense. "Do you know how long I used to hide from hunters?" "$name, please." "Please what?! If whoever was going through my mind found something they didn't like, could you have stopped them from killing me? Would you have even bothered trying?" You spit the last part. [[She stares at you, mouth slightly agape.|arguangry2]]

"$name, come on," she catches up. "You have to understand." "I //have to//?" Your heartbeat picks up and you clench your fists. Then you take a breath in and slowly let it out. "Amelie, I understand it perfectly. I've seen a lot. I get it." She frowns. "I've been hunted. Staked. Shot. Cut through. I've seen friends murdered, Amelie. I get it." You take another breath. "Can you understand why I'm upset? Because up until an hour ago, someone I considered a friend let me get basically drugged and mind prodded?" "$name, I'm so sorry, I wanted to warn you but then Cavil..." Her eyebrows knit together as she takes a small step towards you. "I messed up. I'm sorry." [[You shake your head.|argufine2]]

"Can I even trust you?"<<if $amrom gte 2>> You look into her wide brown eyes, at the scarring on her face, the small downturn of her lips.<</if>> "How could you say that?" She whispers. "How could you not tell me?" This time your voice is low, matching her own. "I wasn't sure-" she looks away then back at you. "What are we? Are we collegues? Friends? Just two people doing each other favours?" Then she continues, "because if we're friends, then I'm truly sorry." She shakes her head. Your heart is racing. This feels like a defining moment, you're angry and hurt but you can't let your emotions answer. You must choose your next words carefully. [[You've always considered her a friend.|amfrends]] [[You're not sure anymore.|angrynotfirend]]

"And there's that," you take a small step back. "You're a hunter. Can I even trust you?"<<if $amrom gte 2>> You look into her brown eyes, at the scarring on her face, the small downturn of her lips.<</if>> "How could you say that?" She whispers. "How could you not tell me?" Your voice is low, matching her own. She brings her hand up to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry, I didn't know how to tell you. Everything happened so quickly and it was confusing and emotional. I just-" Her shoulders drop. "Are we still friends?" This feels like a defining moment, you're angry and hurt but you can't let your emotions answer. You must choose your next words carefully. [[You've always considered her a friend.|amfrends]] [[You're not sure anymore.|notsurefine]]

"Honestly," you make eye contact. "I'm not sure anymore." She bites her lip, nodding slowly. "I see," she says quietly. The two of you stand halfway between the Hunter's Guild building and $clubname. Amelie's head hangs low. "I'm going to go." She turns around and parts ways, leaving you standing there. An empty feeling in your chest. But you don't look back. [[You have so much other shit to do still.|talkingtovampstime]] <<set $amelie to "hunter">>\

You look her in the eyes. "I don't know." "I understand," she nods slowly. The two of you stand halfway between the Hunter's Guild building and $clubname. She looks at you one last time before parting, "I had hoped for more." Then she turns around and leaves. You're left feeling uneasy. But you don't look back. [[You have so much other shit to do still.|talkingtovampstime]] <<set $amelie to "hunter">>\

"We're friends, Amelie," you gesture with your hand. "That's why this hurts." Her mouth twitches up and she breaths out, "I'm glad. And I'm sorry. I'll do my best to make sure you're never in that position again." You shake your head, "yeah, well. I'm still pissed." "Understandably," she responds. "How did the hunter's even get magic that goes through minds?" You continue walking. "It was from a witch," she says. "Hypocrites," you mumble and notice she doesn't argue back. "Look, I have to go, I can't get into this right now." [[You have so much other shit to do still.|talkingtovampstime]] <<set $ameliefriend to true>>\

"Hold on," you stop her. "This witch can just go through minds?" "Yeah, why?" "Can I borrow them?" You look at the side of her head. Amelie kicks a pebble off the side walk. "What?" "I need them." You continues to walk and watch the pebble roll away. "Why?" "It's a long story." She hums as she thinks, "I guess I can give them a call..." [[Perfect.|Back AT Club ch3]] <<set $amcallsr to true>>\

The sun has started to set by the time you arrive at $clubname. Fledglings are now safe to roam around the city without fear of the sun. A line stands outside the door and Kaylen stands there checking ID's and forms. She waves you in. "They're all upstairs, by the way." A few more hours and that line will wrap around the block. On the weekends, Kaylen has to turn people away. But weekdays are always slower. [[You walk inside.|em1]]

Kade is counting bills, his tongue sticking out just a bit in concentration. He waves when he notices you walk by. You make it upstairs where Eddie sits next to $Arlo, back on the couches. $Arlos leg bounces erratically and ?ahe chews ?ahis nails. "Stop that," Eddie swats ?ahis hand away from ?ahis mouth and $Arlo glares. But as you make eye contact ?ahis leg stops shaking and ?ahis shoulders drop. Eddie turns around, nods and looks back at $Arlo. "Told you ?they would be fine." Eddie stands at the same time as $Arlo. <<if $ameliefriend>>"What took so long?" "Paperwork," Amelie shrugs.<</if>> "Are you alright?" $Arlo moves the groups attention to you. [["No scratches," you reply.|em2]]

Eddie crosses ?eher arms, "you worry too much. $name is capable of handling ?themself." "You've never been hunted before, red," $Arlo glowers at Eddie. <<if $ameliefriend>>"I wouldn't have let anything happen to ?them," Amelie protests. Now $Arlo crosses ?ahis arms, "you already did." You bite your tongue.<</if>> "Hey!" Halley calls over, catching everyone's attention. "This bar opens soon and I'd like to get this over with." [[You walk over.|em3]]

<<if $ameliefriend>>"Supernaturals and paranormals, please sit." She motions to the stools and you all sit down. "I have a friend, their name is Raven." Halley slides her phone in front of you. On it is a picture of a person, they have short hair which is half black half bleached. "They can help." "Actully I just called them," Amelie leans over, inspecting the photo. "We'll have to pay but we should be set to go over soon." "Huh," Halley grunts, "small world." [[Amelie smiles soflty, "we leave in an hour."|Start of Memories]]<<else>>"Supernaturals and paranormals, please sit." She motions to the stools and you all sit down. "I have a friend, their name is Raven." Halley slides her phone in front of you. On it is a picture of a person, they have short wavy hair which is half black half bleached. "They can help. It took a lot of convincing though, so you guys need to be on your best behaviour." She specifically looks and Eddie and $Arlo. "Thanks, Halley." Eddie pulls out a cheap flip phone and slides it to you. "That's for you, by the way." "Gee, thanks," you mumble. It flicks open in your hand and you scroll through your contacts- everyone from before has been transferred over. [[You get the number from Halley and dial...|em4]]<</if>>\

... ... ... "Hello?" A raspy voice answers the phone. "Raven?" "Maybe," there's shuffling on the other end. "Halley gave me your number." A muffled noise sounds from the phone. "Right," they say, "if you need a favor, I'll need one too. I'll text you the address, see you later." They hang up and you get a ding. [[It's the location and time.|Start of Memories]]

"Think of it like this," Raven stand up straight. "Memories and magic are like a river. The unknown memory you want is upstream and you are in a metaphorical canoe. This canoe can only be paddled by your own memories. So you have to offer up memories to paddle the canoe." They run their hand through their hair. "A wiped memory is a concrete damn that I cannot help you pass. A blocked memory is more like a toll booth." "Everyone following?" They don't wait for an answer. "This will be easier since there are multiple people here. $name, you can use memories that are not your own. So $Arlo can offer a memory to help $name paddle through ?their memories." Eddie frowns. "Let me get this straight. We offer up memories to obtain this unknown memory. Because that's just how magic works." [["Oversimplified, but sure." Raven says.|mem3]]

"I'm going to place these herbs in this cauldron," he motions to the small bowl on the counter. "And a steam like matter will fill the air, allowing me access into your mind without touching you." He bites his lip and shrugs, "I haven't done this before, but I'm sure it'll be fine." "Ready?" Again, they don't wait for an answer. The herbs are thrown into the bowl and immediately white steam rises into the air. It's spreads quickly, Raven coughs into his sleeve. The air turns heavy, wet. The light is blocked from the windows, a shallow darkness pooling over the entire shop. "Okay. This is good," Raven raises his arms, the fog swirling around them. "Who wants to go first?" "I will," $Arlo steps forward. "It's only fair." Raven nods and sends the fog towards ?ahim. "One more thing." The fog wraps around $Arlos legs. "The magic will take the heaviest memories first." It moves around ?ahis waist. "As those memories serve as that blockage in our river." And then around ?ahis neck. [["Wait, what does that mean?"|amem1]]

The room flashes green, dark green and brown. Everything has been tinted this deep forest color. The hair on your arm is still, but something akin to a breeze travels up your body. It rushes over your skin, filling your nose with sharp pine and honey. This smell, this wind, it overwhelms your senses until the rooms starts to spin. [[And then you see it.|amem2]]

//Rain. It pours from the sky, drenching the trees and grass below. Puddles form around a slumped figure. A clawed hand reaches up, scraping at the dead tree for leverage. But it's useless. ?aHes useless. A hand reaches out, grabbing ?ahis neck but it's nothing compared to the burning in ?ahis thigh. The figure slams $Arlo against the tree. Ice blue eyes hold ?ahim in place. [[A second figure steps forward.|amem3]]//

//"This is unnecessary," the figure's voice is warm, cocky. "We do not need to kill ?ahim." The first figure speaks, "you're right. Maybe not this one." They throw $Arlo to the ground. "Maybe the other one." "No," $Arlo croaks out, "anything but ?them." Tears. Desperation. It claws at ?ahis chest, numbs the pain in ?ahis leg, overpowers every sense in ?ahis body. Anything. Anything. Anything. "Anything?" The second figure sounds like they're grinning as they step forward. $Arlo falls backwards in retreat. "Too many loose ends. Cut them," the first figure growls. The second figure leans forward, dark brown eyes somehow shimmering in the rain, and crouches down in front of $Arlo. [[They smile.|amem4]]//

//"This one will be our insurance." White hot. Spots. Sweat. They pull a stake out of $Arlos thigh. Another low, gutteral growl. "We need more." Anger. Anger courses through ?ahis blood when ?ahis face it grabbed. "We will wipe the location from ?ahis head. The other will be our map." They examine ?ahis face, "how does that sound, <<if $agen is 0>>mon petit?<<elseif $agen is 1>>ma petite?<</if>> A trade." Fuck. $Arlo swallows hard, but nods. [["More," cold blue eyes demand.|amem5]]//

//Warmth trickles down $Arlos face as the second figure pities ?ahim. "Stay hidden. Stay away." The whites of $Arlos eyes stand out against the thrumming of the rain, wanting to speak, wanting to scream. "But-" Then the figure releases their grip, shoving $Arlos face away. "I will take care of your friend. ?They shall sit on an empty throne." The other figure steps over ?ahim. $Arlo watches as the two figures stare at each other, contempt thundering over the rain. "More," the blue eyes once again demand, but the dark brown steps forward and overpowers. "No." [[Enough.|backfromamem]]//

The tint of green falls from the air. White fog still circulates around the shop. Familiar faces materialize back into place. "Who," your voice cracks, "was that?" $Arlo looks at you with tear stained eyes. "I was coming back," ?ahis voice is barely a whisper. "But then..." Your breathing picks up, chest pounding and you repeat it. "You were coming back?" <<if $arloreaction is "angry">>Your face heats with conflict and you take a step forward. "When? Why? I- I don't understand."<<elseif $arloreaction is "sad">>A tear falls from your eye. "Is that why... I- I don't understand."<<elseif $arloreaction is "relief">>Your mouth twitches, brows knit together. "Is that why you were gone? Help me understand."<<elseif $arloreaction is "numb">>Your heart cracks, emotions you once held back start to trickle into your veins, squeeze at your chest. But you hold it back. Get it under control. "What does that mean?"<</if>> "We don't have time," Raven interrupts. "I'm sorry, but if you stop now, you'll lose progress. Who's next?" "I-" you stutter, "this is-" Overwhelming. "I can't-" [[Yours. Offer yours.|mcmem]] [[You look to Eddie in support.|edmem]] <<if $ameliefriend>>[[You look to Amelie in support.|amelmem]]<</if>>

You take a deep breath and collect yourself. One more breath. And then you're composed. "Mine. Take mine." You feel eyes on you but only look at Raven. Determined. Raven nods their head and brings their arms back towards their body, the fog that was once wrapped around $Arlo slithers off of ?ahim. With another motion, the fog dances towards you. It tickles your legs. Rises to your chest. [[And then your head.|mcmem2]]

Eddie steps up, "mine." Then ?eshe motions to you with ?eher hand. //Take a breath.// Raven brings their arms back towards their body, the fog retreats and with another motion it crawls towards Eddie. Eddie takes a step back as it attaches itself to ?eher ankle and starts the climb. ?eHer calf. ?eHer stomach. [[And then Eddie's face.|edmem1]] <<set $edmem to true>>\

"Here, let's do mine," Amelie chimes in and smiles at you with sympathy. Raven brings their arms back towards their body, the fog that was once wrapped around $Arlo slithers off of ?ahim. With another motion, the fog slithers towards Amelie. Amelie bites her lip as the fog climbs up her legs. Then her stomach. [[And then her face.|amelmem2]] <<set $amelmem to true>>\

The room flashes red then orange. The sunset cascades over your skin, heat crawling up your arms. Light is reflected off the glass bottles, flashing into your eyes. Eddie's eyes widen, "I change my mind." "It's too late." The warmth is borderline uncomfortable. Cinnamon fills your senses. "Please, I change my mind-" [[And then you see it.|edmem2]]

//The sun glares bright through the cracks of the trees. Crickets buzz under the heat. A car veers off the road, into the forest. It skids to a halt, miles away from the border. "Fuck." Eddie's eyes are red, swollen. ''"Fuck!"'' ?eShe yells, slamming ?eher hands against the steering wheel, smearing it with the blood. The same blood that coats ?eher arms, stuck under ?eher finger nails. Caught in ?eher hair. ?eShe drops ?eher head down. ?eShe cries. [[Sobs.|edmem3]]//

//?eShe slams the door shut behind ?ehim. The sunset bares down, heating ?eher head. Drying the blood on ?eher skin. The world around ?eher spins, blurs, and ?eshe falls. ?eHer hands scrape away the leafs, knees digging into the dirt. ?eHer hands paint ?eher face as ?eshe fails to wipe away the tears, the snot, the spit. ?eShe looks everywhere, for anything. Helpless. [[Guilty.|edmem4]]//

//Another wave comes and ?eshe can't hold it back. ?eHer body heaves and heaves. ?eShe whimpers, ?eshe can't help it. ?eShe panics. Enough. Enough. Enough. ?eShe can't process. Eddie stands, rising to ?eher feet. Rising and rising. ?eShe doubles in height, muscles expanding and bones contorting inside. Claws hit the ground. <<if $egen is 1>>[[And she runs.|edmem5]]<<elseif $egen is 0>>[[And he runs.|edmem5]]<</if>>//

The air feels cool, darkness blankets the shop once again. White fog floating off of the walls. The hard lines of $Arlos face are now soft. <<if $ameliefriend>>Amelie rubs her arm and looks at the ground.<</if>> You look at Eddie. Tears stain ?eher cheeks. ?eHer eyes are glued to the ground. [["That was sufficient," Raven whispers.|mcamem1]]

After memories - fallout with Arlo/Aida Get back to club and just be exhausted AGAIN check in on Amelie or Eddie, Arlo/Aida will check in on you Gabriel will text you or you do your hobbies Then on the date or doing the hobbies, when you have a semblence of fun, you'll think of the RO you want there or youre happy to find peace on your own if happy on your own, you can then think of a char you wish were here enjoying it in a platonic sense if you were happy on your own, no one romantic, yoou can sleep with gabriel then reconvene and decide what to do

Exhausted. Absolutely exhausted. Static buzzes through your mind, every thought and every feeling melding into a mesh of nothing. Vines of shag and lines of dust warp themselves over your shoes, dragging your feet down into the carpet. Door after door, perfect prints of the last, pattern down the hall until you finally reach your apartment. The door echoes as you slam it shut. Cold, the door is cold as you lean against it, letting your head rest on the metal surface. It feels good. [[And then you cry. [[And then you shut down. [[You need- you need to clean.

You need to stop these thoughts, or the lack of thoughts. Or- or. It doesn't matter. The

Gabriel stands outside, the wind flowing through strands of jet black hair. He turns around as you open the doors from the lobby. Immediately your eyes find the small bundle of lavender flowers wrapped in thin white paper. He slips one hand into his black pants and shrugs. "For you. I hope it brings some peace to your heart." The thought warms your heart. "So," he smiles, "There is a food cart about ten minutes away. It's delicous. Trust me?" [["For now," you wink.|Gdatebold]] [["We'll see," you smile.|Gdatesubtle]]

Another knock. Soft. Hesitant. You open the door, unsurprised when you see ?ahis eyes. ?aHis face is flushed, fist still raised. "Hi." "Hey." -you were just thinking about ?ahim "Oh," ?ahe breaths out. ?aHis eyes dart past you, then back to you. "Can I..." You step aside, letting ?ahim in. <<if $memories is "mc">> "How are you?" <<if $axrom gte 3>>"I wanted to explain." ?aHe runs ?ahis hand through ?ahis hair. "About the memories."

"For now," you step closer and wink. "I'll let you know the final verdict after the food." He chuckles, "fair enough." Instead of a two piece suit, he wears a navy blue sweater. Looks like cashmere. "This looks soft," you say. "I love it, here," he offers his arm. You run your hand over the plush fabric. [[Link your arm with his.]] [[Drop your hand.]]

"We'll see" you tilt your head and smile coyly. "I'll let you know after I taste that food." He chuckles. "Fair enough." Instead of a two piece suit, he wears a navy blue sweater. Looks like cashmere. Your eyes run up and down his arm and he offers it up. "It's really soft, I love this." Then you run your hand over the soft fabric and smile a bit. [[Link your arm with his.]] [[Drop your hand.]]

You run your hand up his arm to his bicep, running your hand around it and holding it close. He looks at you and smiles warmly, the sides of his eyes crinkling subtly. He leans into you, breath tickling your cheek as he asks you questions about yourself as the two of you start walking. In turn, you ask the same of him. Small, mindless questions but little by little you learn about each other. [[Then you arrive.]]

The drive is short enough. Gabriel chats with the driver who happily responds to all his inquiries. You learn about his family, his wife and three children. The youngest of the bunch wants to be an engineer and has started disassembling appliances around the house. Gabriel glances over at you time to time and you smile back, letting him lead the conversation. [[And then you arrive.]]

Warm orange light baths the wooden floor of the restaurant, savory aromas fill the air. White cushioned chairs sit on either side of circular tables. All surrounding a large stone fire place. The waitress takes you two to your table and you get settled in. "This is cozy," you observe. "I have to admit, I was a bit selfish in this choice of restaurant." You quirk your brow, "how so?" "They make amazing omurice. And katsu curry." His eyes are bright, flitting around as he thinks. "And karaage." Then he looks back at you. "I might be homesick." [[You laugh, "I think you might be."]]

You drop your arm and watch the cars drive by. Gabriel turns to you and smiles warmly, the sides of his eyes crinkling subtly. He starts to ask you questions about yourself as the two of you walk. In turn, you ask the same of him. Small, mindless questions but little by little you learn about each other. [[Then you arrive.]]

Silence falls quietly over the table as both of you peruse the menu. The waitress comes back and takes your orders. "It's weird, isn't it." Gabriel redirects his attention to you. "Being homesick?" You question. He nods. "And not remembering your home." A fact of immortality. As much as you want, memories fade. They disappear from your mind and become lost to time. At least you thought. And maybe it should be. When you catch his gaze again, it's incredibly soft. [[Open up to him.]] [[Keep it light.

"I'm familiar with that look," he speaks quietly. "Though it's rare. Only when you've lived as long as us does that look blossom." You let out a tiny snort, "don't you know it's rude to assume someone's age?" He smirks. "it's okay, you look good for your age." You roll your eyes but smile all the same. "But in all seriousness, if you'd like to vent, I'm more than willing to listen." The warmth of the fire reflects off his eyes and skin. [["I'd like that," you say.]]

The food comes and it's delicous. You open up about your experiences. Keeping it vague when it involves those close to you but pouring out the rest. Gabriel silently listens, only offering input when you ask.

You ignore them and keep walking. "So annoying," $Arlo complains. You simply shrug. "Just ignore them." $Arlo mumbles something but keeps walking. [[Kaylen waves as you step outside.|AMarket2]]

The room slowly fades into darkness. Until nothing is left. Then a flicker of a light. A flicker that turns into a nebula of blues and purple. The atmosphere turns cool and calming. The smell of saltwater rises in the air, you find your body almost swaying. [[And then you see it.|amelmem3A]]

//Heavy. Her chest is heavy. Words run through mind. Doubt. Disappointment. Confusion. Guilt. They manifest in her body. They slice through her veins, twisting in her arms. [[amelmem4]]//

//The straps burn against her wrists and ankles. Metal invades her arms, infusing a coldness with her blood. She feels relaxed, at peace. Her decisions are her own. She rides the high of her confidence, never again will she doubt. Warmth seeps into her other arm. She feels strong. Protective. Unstoppable. [[Then the coldness turns sharp.|amelmem5]]//

//Biting at her. Threatening to shatter her where she lays. The warmth starts to burn. Promising to consume her whole. Fire and ice meet and pull at every inch of her. Her body. Her strength. Her mind. Her willpower. She's tested, wanting to drown in the pain but pushing so hard to stay a float. [[A scream rips out of her throat.|amelmem6]]//

//Regret. Immediate regret. Anything to turn back time. To rip the needles from her arm. To rip the feeling, the craving, of death from her chest. The buzzing from her mind. [[Anything.|

The humidity in the room is almost too much to bear. It's suffocating. But it falls all at once and the lights in front of you flash dark blue. Then the dim lighting returns to the shop. $Arlo stares curiously at the hunter. Eddie frowns. You look at Amelie where her hand touches her cheek. [["That should be sufficient," Raven whispers.|mcamem1]]

The fog swirls around your face, obscuring your vision. But nothing happens. "Raven?" You hear the sound of paper crinkling and flipping. The fog begins to pull the air out of your throat. //"Raven?"// "Working on it." "Come on, witch." [[The crinkling pages stop.|mcmem3]]

"You're blocked," Raven says, "these memories have been blocked off." "Can we use different ones?" You cough, trying to adjust to the lack of oxygen. You try waving away the fog but it does nothing. "Apparently not, I can't control it like that" Raven says. "But I can unblock them." "Wait," you hear $Arlo interject. "I don't know if that's the best option, $name. I'm sure they're blocked for a reason." The room starts to spin and you squint your eyes. "We can move on to someone else too," Raven adds. "But hurry up and choose." "What do you know, $Arlo?" Eddie asks. "I can't- it's not your business." [["But it is mine," You counter.|mcmem4]]

"$name," $Arlo sighs. "You made me promise not to tell you." You can hear the hesistance in ?ahis voice. Your vision blackens and you lean against a table for support. Suddenly it all comes back and you shake your head as if it will help. <<if $ameliefriend>>Amelie looks slightly concerned.<</if>> "Trust yourself," $Arlo continues, "it would defeat the purpose of having your memories blocked if I told you." "We need to finish this," Raven says. "Choose now." [[Unblock your memories.]] [[Keep them blocked.]]

"No," you state firmly. "I want to know. Unblock them." "$name," $Arlo whispers. "Unblock it," you reaffirm. Suddenly, you feel a sharp pinch in your temples. Quickly it spreads to the rest of your head, digging further down into your mind. Then the haze drifts away from your head, flooding to the rest of the room until the floor is lost into the abyss. With your vision cleared you see $Arlo look at you with worry in ?ahis eyes. Smoke starts to fill your lungs. Everyone starts coughing. [[And then you see it.|mcmem5]] <<set $mcmems to true>>\

The room is quiet as you deliberate. But $Arlo is right. You trust your past self and now is not the time to delve into this. "I'll keep them repressed." "That's fine, who am I transferring this to?" Raven asks. [[You feel yourself turn towards Eddie.|edmem]] <<if $ameliefriend>>[[You feel yourself turn towards Amelie.|amelmem]]<</if>>

//Fire. It screams around you. The rain adds only chaos, louder and louder. Your skin is too hot. You're in a village, an empty village. Quiet save for the roar of the flame. [[A figure materializes in the distance.|mcmem6]]//

//It's large and <<cycle "$mc" autoselect>> <<option "shadow">> <<option "demon">> ... <</cycle>> like. Wings are spread high, horns protruding from its head. Its long, cracked claws drip with blood. Strings and strings of flesh. Doors of houses are splintered, hanging off their hinges. Red paints the wood. [[A noise echoes in the distance.|mcmem7]]//

//Another house. The door has been busted down. The $mc stalks inside, disappearing into the darkness. It's quiet again. The crackling of the fire dies down. The single house stays standing. And then a scream. Another and another until they form a blood curling chorus. [[A melody familiar only to you.|mcmem8]]//

//The $mc reappears in the doorway. With a sickening thud, it drops a body onto the porch, stepping over it and continuing onto the road. It stops in the middle of the street as houses rise once more around it. House by house, brick by brick, they form again and domino towards where you stand. The $mc stares at you. It spreads its wings. [[And it flies foward.|mcmem9]]//

//House by house, it races down the street towards you. Each house it passes, bodies fall one by one out the front door. Blood and fire trail after the $mc. Closer and closer. And then its on top of you. The last thing you see is its $eyecolor eyes before it dissipates back inside of you. [[Fire engulfs your vision once more.|mcmem10]]//

And the room is still. The memories come back. Flashes of blood, echos of screams. The horrified look of $Arlos face that will never be washed from your mind again. The village. The familes. The reality that you could //never// control what you really were.<<if $mc is "demon">> That you never really escaped it, instead you hide behind the walls of your club, the music, the drinks. All in hopes that you'll forget what you really are. A monster.<</if>> $Arlo is at your side, eyes running up and down your face. Your tongue is caught in your throat, tears wetting your cheeks. Eddie looks at the ground. <<if $ameliefriend>>Amelie looks to the side, chewing her lip.<</if>> "That's no longer you, $name, I-" $Arlo tries to comfort you but pauses and turns towards Raven. "Was that enough?" [[Raven nods.|mcamem1]]

"Last one," Raven promises. The fog wraps around you and $Arlo, intertwining between you two, until it connects you. The shop becomes damp, gray clouds form overhead. And it begins to rain. Though you never become wet. The drops vanish before they reach you. It pours and pours and pours. [[And then you see it.|mcamem2]]

//Hunters. Closer and closer. Pine cracks beneath your feet. Arrows fly past you. Wire strung from the trees trap you in. Beside you $Arlo skids to a stop, wide eyes flittering back and forth. You motion to continue, the claws on your hand growing and slicing through the metal. You continue running, further and further until you're sure you've lost them. Looking around, flowers bloom around you. [[Lavender.|mcamem3]]//

//"Wow," $Arlo breaths. The two of you walk further, watching as tombstones grow out of the ground. The sun shines down, casting a golden glow on the graves. You slump against a large pine tree and $Arlo plops next to you. Birds chirp around you, the wind blows on your face and you look at ?ahim. Then the two of you burst out laughing, ?ahis hair almost looks brown in the sunlight. "That was close." "Closer than normal. They're getting smarter." "That's the worst." "Yeah, I hate when that happens." [[You laugh more.|mcamem4]]//

//Then you hear a crack. In the blink of an eye, you're in front of $Arlo. A wooden bolt sticks out of your stomach. Then you see red. Fury. [[Anger.|mcamem5]]//

//Your claws grow, long and sharp. Teeth hang out, eyes black, your back pops. Twice. Bones grow out and leather hangs down. Quickly you turn, ripping the head off of the human that dared to step out of the trees. An inhuman screech scratches out of your throat. Your vision is blurred, a searing headache crosses your mind and you drop the body. Blood dripping off your hands. Your skull starts to crack, morph, and you scream again. Red. Red Red. [[And then you see green.|mcamem6]]//

//You're steadied, the pain coursing everywhere but two points on your shoulders. It's garbled, blurred, but you hear it. "$name." You convulse but you hear it again. Calling you from the start of a frenzy. "$name, look at me. Hear me." The red fades more and more. You feel your head start to mend. "I'm hear, $name, focus on my voice." Your back starts to lighten, to heal. There's pressure on your face, on your cheeks. [[Holding you up.|mcamem7]]//

//"It's almost over, you're in control," $Arlo speaks softly to you. Claws retract. ?aHis hand falls to yours, thumb running over the now smooth skin. The veins in your eyes clear. $Arlo wipes a drop of sweat from your face and your foreheads fall together as you catch your breath. "You're okay, $name." You nod your head and focus on ?ahis warmth, the hands that hold your own, the weight that balances against you. [[Your bestfriend.|realiatoinmem]]//

The air dries and the white fog leaves. Normal light returns and the shop looks untouched. Raven leans against the counter with his eyes closed, a pink flush resting on his cheeks. "You guys get it?" //Get what?// "The hunter, the grave site, the lavender," $Arlo thinks out loud, "I mean, that's where I realized-" ?ahe shakes ?ahis head. "That's not relevant though.... Is it?" ?aHe closes ?ahis eyes, brows furrowing as if forcing ?ahis brain to remember. Then ?ahe opens ?ahis eyes. "That hunter was after us for a long time... but why?" Then it dawns on you. "That key," you finish. "It's where you buried a key." "A key?" ?aHe questions, then ?ahe shakes ?ahis. "That's gotta be it." "Not to be rude," Raven interjects. "But we should talk about payment." [[They look tired.|ravenpay]]

"It's a pretty simple favor," Raven says. You sigh. "What is it?" Eddie asks. "I need you guys to find my friend for me." $Arlo looks at Raven hesitantly. <<if $ameliefriend>>Amelie's shoulders sag.<</if>> You want to groan. [[Not another fucking fetch quest.|ravenshopass]] [[You guess it's only fair.|ravenshopnice]] [[What's one more?|ravenshopapath]]

"No," you shake your head. "I can only handle one at a time." "What do you mean? No, it doesn't matter. I just need you to pick my friend up. Basically." Raven opens his eyes to stare at you flatly. "Pick them up?" "Yeah." "I don't need to search for them?" "No?" Raven sends you a strange look. "Why can't you do it?" Eddie asks. "Because it requires a certain prescence of person that I do not have," Raven explains. When you don't answer, he sighs. "I'm not scary enough to do it. 'Kay?" "Fine. Just text Eddie the details." [[Now Eddie sighs.|nowyouleace <<set $ass to $ass +1>>\

"Well," you cross your arms, "it's only fair." Raven smiles, but it doesn't reach their eyes. "Thanks. I'll text you the details. It's just picking my friend up anyways." "Why can't you do it?" Eddie asks. "I'm not //scary// enough," Raven crosses his arms. $Arlo quirks ?ahis eyebrow. "I'll text you the details," Raven repeats. [[Sounds good.|nowyouleace <<set $nice to $nice +1>>\

"Sure," you drawl. "What's one more on the list." Raven looks at you confused but shakes it off. "It's just picking my friend up anyways." $Arlo crosses ?ahis arms and frowns. "Why do //we// have to pick them up?" "Besides you owing me," Raven retorts, "I'm not //scary// enough to get into the place they're at." "Sounds promising," $Arlo grins.<<if $ameliefriend>> Amelie narrows her eyes.<</if>> "I'll text you the details," Raven says. [[Alright.|nowyouleace

A solid plan in place has your shoulders feeling lighter. You stay at the club as the night takes off, watching to make sure everything runs smoothly. Eddie retreats to ?eher office, wanting to digitize the documents you put together. After a few hours of chatting with Kaylen, watching Kade and Aspen bounce jokes off each other and talking a drunk witch out of the locked restroom, you decide to head back to your apartment for the night. While the night, financially, was heading towards success, you still have other things to worry about. Unfortunately, you can't act until the morning. <<if $hobby is "reading">>[[You need to distract yourself.|ch3reading]]<</if>><<if $hobby is "piano">>[[You need to distract yourself.|ch3piano]]<</if>><<if $hobby is "painting">>[[You need to distract yourself.|ch3painintg]]<</if>><<if $hobby is "cooking">>[[You need to distract yourself.|ch3cooking]]<</if>>

//Cool. Cool night air blows in from the opened window. Warm. Amelie lays between layers of blankets, fluffy pillows and stuffed animals. A well deserved rest. Content. Her dad opens the door to her room, "how was volunteering with the new neighbor? Sarah, right?" Amelie smiles, "good!" She sits up, curls sticking out everywhere. "She's really nice and funny... And cute." Amelie toys with the blankets as her dad chuckles. "I'm glad you two had fun. I'll see you in the morning." "Have fun saving lives," Amelie jests. [[Her dad leaves from view.|amelmem4A]]//

//Hungry. Amelie rises from bed and strolls to the kitchen. She grabs a jar of peanut butter and a spoon. Then she hears it. Screaming. Agonizing and wet. She drops the spoon and jar and runs outside. Louder. [[The neighbor's house.|amelmem5A]]//

//The door is left open. The screaming turns into wailing and Amelie can't stay still. She carefully pushes open the door. And then she sees it. A body staining the carpet red. A large splintered table leg sticking out of its chest. The flickering colors of the television illuminating its face. Amelie recognizes him from the photos on the mantle. Another wail. Down the hall. Quickly, Amelie scans the room, finding another broken piece of wood and grabs it. [[Then she heads down.|amelmem6A]]//

//The noises are coming from the bedroom. Amelie readies herself, wood in hand, and opens the door. The screaming pierces her ears but she examines the room to see Sarah cradling herself on the floor. Amelie rushes to her side, dropping to her knees and letting go of the stake. "Sarah," she whispers her name. Her body is covered in sweat, veins bulging from her arms and neck. Amelie isn't sure what to do, so she turns Sarah's body and her blue eyes snap open. "Amelie," she whimpers. Quickly, Amelie cradles her into her arms. "It's going to be okay," Amelie says. She pulls back to look at Sarah but freezes. Her blood turns to ice. Blood. Teeth marks. All over Sarah's neck. Amelie's hand twitches for the wood but she doesn't reach for it. Not yet. [["It burns," Sarah croaks.|amelmem7A]]//

//"I know," Amelie sympathizes, "it'll be okay. We'll- we'll get you help. We can call someone." Amelie curls her arm around Sarah's waist and helps her stand. Together, they hobble down the hallway and stop in front of the living room, where the movie still plays on the screen. Sarah stiffens in Amelie's arms, neck craning towards the body as Amelie tries to move her towards the front door. "Hungry," Sarah whispers, trying to push herself off Amelie. Hands turn to claws, but Amelie does her best to restrain her. "Don't, you'll regret it. Please, Sarah." But Sarah still struggles, a stray claw flies towards Amelie's cheek and immediately she starts to bleed. Then Sarah stops struggling. Instead, turning towards Amelie. Blue eyes are eclipsed by red and long, unnatural teeth hiss at Amelie. "Just a taste," Sarah whispers. Amelie pushes her away and Sarah trips over herself, falling to the floor. "Just a taste!" She roars and Amelie runs out through the front door. [[Cool night air hits her face.|amelmem8A]]//

//Stake, where's the stake. She forgot the stake. This is her fault. All her fault. She could never help anyone. Stupid stupid stupid. Sarah explodes out of the house and lands in front of Amelie. "Sarah, please," Amelie squeaks. "Please." Sarah cocks her head. She blinks a few times before the blue appears in her eyes again. "Amelie..." Amelie almost cries. "It'll be okay, just focus on my voice." Tears stream down Sarah's eyes, "I can't control it." "Yes, you can." Amelie counters. She can. She will. Amelie takes a step forward, determined to help her. She reaches out her hand. Sarah reaches out hers. Then a stake bursts through her chest. Sarah falls to the ground. [[And warm blood covers Amelie's hand.|amelmem7]]

The stand is small and modest. A sweet aroma fills the air around it and Gabriel's eyes light up. He turns his head to you and quickly speaks. "I might've been a bit selfish with the choice, but they have taiyaki that's almost as good as my sister used to make." He almost walks away from you but sheepishly pauses. "After you, $name," and smiles. The two of you order your own sweet treats and meander around the city until you come to a stop in front of the fountain. The night sky almost makes the scene peaceful, as if the earlier events never happened. [[Then you turn to Gabriel.]]

"Do you see your sister often?" You ask. His smiles turns solemn, "she's at peace." Right. "I'm sorry," you say quietly. Gabriel shrugs, arm bumping you. "No need, I'm sure you know how it is." That you do. "Besides," he adds, "I've found family in those around me." You nod your head silently.

The stool scrapes against the concrete floor as you settle yourself in front of your easel. Paints are ready, colored against the dirty white plastic. You recently peeled the dried colors off, throwing them in a jar for safe keeping. The canvas is fresh, so you first lay out your base. Finished with that, you begin to mix for your primary layer. The main design. Dipping your brush in the different colors, you let your it lead as a design appears. Stroke after stroke, the painting begins to take shape but your thoughts to drift to... <<if $ameliefriend>>[[Amelie. (Romance ♥)|setamelieromance]]<</if>> <<if $agen is 0>>[[Arlo. (Romance ♥)|setarloaidaromance]]<<elseif $agen is 1>>[[Aida. (Romance ♥)|setarloaidaromance]] <</if>> [[Eddie. (Romance ♥)|seteddieromance]] [[Everything you need to do.|setnoromanceof3]]

The smell of dead paper calls you forward. Up and down you look for a book to read. Finally you grab one, sitting down in the velvety arm chair in your nook. The book creaks open and you settle in. But the words don't make it to your head. Your eyes strain, pulling your focus from the book. You sigh and close them instead. Unfortunately, your mind can't help but drift to the events of today. But you try to think of something else and your thoughts drift to... <<if $ameliefriend>>[[Amelie. (Romance ♥)|setamelieromance]]<</if>> <<if $agen is 0>>[[Arlo. (Romance ♥)|setarloaidaromance]]<<elseif $agen is 1>>[[Aida. (Romance ♥)|setarloaidaromance]] <</if>> [[Eddie. (Romance ♥)|seteddieromance]] [[Everything you need to do.|setnoromanceof3]]

The piano bench screeches when you pull it out. You lift the key lid and look at the worn keys. Then you play. Nothing from sheet music, pulling the tune from inside. The notes seem louder, they scratch against each other, they clash. But you try and power through. The melody starts to take shape but then your fingers fumble and you sigh. You tap your finger against the b key, the monotonous tune grating at your head. Instead you lay your elbows on the small sliver of wood and balance your head in your hands, letting your thoughts drift to... <<if $ameliefriend>>[[Amelie. (Romance ♥)|setamelieromance]]<</if>> <<if $agen is 0>>[[Arlo. (Romance ♥)|setarloaidaromance]]<<elseif $agen is 1>>[[Aida. (Romance ♥)|setarloaidaromance]] <</if>> [[Eddie. (Romance ♥)|seteddieromance]] [[Everything you need to do.|setnoromanceof3]]

First you ready the oven, setting it to just the right temperature. Then you move to the sink. It sprays on and you plug the drain. Luckily, nothing else is in there. Clear blue soap is emptied onto a rag and you scrub it together until it lathers nicely. Then you reach for a heavy cast iron pan, softly soaping it. The last meal you made in this was absolutely decadent. You didn't think you could get better but you have. You quietly praise yourself as you dry it. You'll have to share that recipe. While you coat it with your favorite oil, the oven beeps ready. After laying a base of foil on the bottom, you place the pan inside, leaning your hip against the counter. Then your thoughts start to drift to... [[Amelie. (Romance ♥)|setamelieromance]] <<if $agen is 0>>[[Arlo. (Romance ♥)|setarloaidaromance]]<<elseif $agen is 1>>[[Aida. (Romance ♥)|setarloaidaromance]] <</if>> [[Eddie. (Romance ♥)|seteddieromance]] [[Everything you need to do.|setnoromanceof3]]

<<set $romance to "Amelie">>\ <<if $amelie is "friend">>Your phone rings. It's Amelie. "Hello?" "Hey, are you busy right now?" <<if $hobby is "cooking">>I have a pan in the oven but otherwise no."<<else>>"Not really, why?" you ask.<</if>> "I just wanted to check on you." You switch the phone to the other ear as she continues. "Today was... crazy." Sirens go off outside and you hear them echo through the phone. "Also, uh," she breaths out a small laugh. "I'm outside! If you wanted to talk or something." You do your best to bite back a smile but you're already imagining how she fiddles with her sleeves. "Are you now," you tease. "Just come down." The sirens start to fade. "Hurry up." [[You shake your head and say goodbye. Then make your way downstairs.|ch3amrom2]]<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>Your phone rings. It's Amelie. You sigh and watch the phone flash her name, over and over again. A part of you tells you to ignore it, but the other part, the one in control of your hand, answers it. "Hello?" "Are you busy right now?" <<if $hobby is "cooking">>You take the pan out of the oven and turn it off. "No."<<else>>"No," you respond.<</if>> "Great, can you come downstairs? I'm outside." //What?// You don't ask her any questions. "Fine, be there in a second." [[You leave.|ch3amrom_hunter]]<</if>>

<<if $exlover>>A quiet knock. You answer the door. $Arlo. "$name," ?ahe says. "$Arlo, come in." You move aside as ?ahe passes. ?aHis scent fills your nose. ?aHe doesn't walk far, stopping in front of you as you close the door. ?aHis face is unreadable. But ?ahe stands tall, shoulders squared back and head held high. <<if $agen is 0>>[[And he looks at you.|exArom1]]<<elseif $agen is 1>>[[And she looks at you.|exArom1]]<</if>><<else>>A knock. You answer the door. $Arlo. "$name," ?ahe quietly smiles. "$Arlo, hey." You move aside as ?ahe passes. ?aHis scent fills your nose and you watch ?ahim loiter around you. ?aHe does a couple turns, running ?ahis hand up and down ?ahis elbow, taking in the atmosphere of your current home. [[Finally, those green eyes land back on you.|friendArom1]]<</if>>

Maybe you should check on ?ehim. Yeah. You'll do that. You leave your apartment and walk down the hall to Eddie's place. A few knocks later and you're still standing in front of the door. //If Eddie's not here...// You sigh, knowing exactly where ?eshe is. Minutes later you're at $clubname, entering through the back. [[Then you go to the back office.|edrom2]] <<set $romance to "Eddie">>\

Then you look at all the furniture in your apartment. The bed against the wall, close to the bathroom. The expensive couch sitting towards the middle of the room. The lack of a dining table. You're only going to overthink if you stay in your apartment. Nibbling at your lip you decide to get some air. You place your hand on the door, pausing for a second. <<if $gdate>>[[You have a date to get to.|gdate]]<<elseif $gnumber>>[[You could text Gabriel instead.|textg]]<</if>> <<if $path is "vampire">>[[You leave, nose itching with the smell of cinnamon.|ch3walk_eddie]] [[You leave but get a phone call.|ch3walk_amelie]]<<elseif $path is "werewolf">>[[You leave, nose itching with the smell of pine.|ch3walk_arloaida]] [[You leave but get a phone call.|ch3walk_amelie]]<<elseif $path is "hunter">>[[You leave, nose itching with the smell of cinnamon.|ch3walk_eddie]] [[You leave, nose itching with the smell of pine.|ch3walk_arloaida]]<</if>>

A gust of cold night air brushes against you as you make it outside. The sky is black and gray. Smog highlighted and stars hidden by the city's light pollution. Across the sidewalk aways from you is Amelie, curly hair pulled back, black helmet in hand. She leans against her parked motorcycle and smiles at you. "Hey!" "What's this?" You ask. The last time you saw her bike it was being skipped across the pavement like a stone. "This," she waves to the motorcycle, "is a rental." She shifts the helmet from one arm to the other. "It's not as good as my old one, obviously, but it'll do for now." You run your eyes across the bike. "Wanna ride?" She asks with a small glint in her eye. [[You wanna to drive.]] [[Yeah, you wanna to ride.]]

"I'd much rather drive," you say with a grin. She looks you up and down, evaluating you. "Hmm, usually, I'd say no. But for you," she scrunches her nose, "I'll make an exception." You saunter closer and look her in the eyes. "You mean, //since it's a rental//, you'll make an exception." She laughs, full and bright, "you know me so well." You shake your head and hop on the bike. Amelie stares at you. "Are you gonna get on?" You tilt your head in question. Her eyes widen, "yes! Yup. Umm..." she glances to her helmet, "here-" "Nope," you cut her off. "And we're not doing the back and forth either." She slips the helmet on and climbs on. [[Then you take off.|motoride]] <<set $mcmotorcycle to true>>\

"Hell yeah," you smile back. Her eyes light up and she offers the helmet to you. You playfully roll your eyes, "I'm a //vampire, undead, immortal.// You take the helmet." "Right," she rubs the back of her neck. "Well, okay!" Then she puts the helment on and mounts the bike. You get on behind her, wrapping your arms around her stomach. You feel her tense for a second and you're worried you crossed a line. But she relaxes and tries to look at you over her shoulder. "Hold on tight." [[Then she takes off.|motoride]]

You open the door, revealing Eddie, face in hand, elbow resting on table and mouse clicking away. The lamp on ?eher desk glows a warm orange, but the screen of ?eher computer blares white. The intense contrast pales ?eher skin. You can see rows of data in the reflection of Eddie's glasses, ?eher brown eyes magnified in the lenses. Those eyes look up at you. "$name?" It's muffled, ?eher mouth squished behind ?eher hand. "You weren't home." You walk in, letting the door close behind you. The heat from the computer warms the atmosphere, though the cold from then night still seeps through. Eddie lowers ?eher hand, leaving behind pink imprints on ?eher face. "Everything okay?" ?eShe asks. [["You were just on my mind," you tease.|edromset1]] [["I wanted to check on you," you say sincerely.|edromset2]]

You plop yourself in your spot, the chair in front of ?eher desk and try to grin. "You were just on my mind." But your eyes are heavy, so the most you manage is a half hearted smirk. Eddie rolls back ?eher head and stretches ?eher arms, "sure," ?eshe groans out. "Why are you really here?" "I'm really here to actually check on you, believe it or not." Eddie stares at you over ?eher glasses, "I'm fine." Then starts typing on ?eher keyboard. You purse your lips and stare. "Actually," ?eshe looks back up, "come over here, I'll teach you how to use these spreadsheets." You find yourself regretting this visit. "Oh, I don't think that's necessary," you try to brush it off. [[But Eddie sits up straigher.|edrom1_1]] <<set $edrom to "1">>\

You sit in the chair in front of ?eher desk and try to smile. "I wanted to see how you're doing." Your eyes are heavy and Eddie seems to take notice. ?eShe stares at you over ?eher glasses, "I'm fine, $name. Thank you for checking." Then starts typing on ?eher keyboard. You purse your lips and stare. "Actually," ?eshe looks back up, "come over here, I'll teach you how to use these spreadsheets." You find yourself regretting this visit. "Oh, I don't think that's necessary," you try to brush it off. [[Eddie sits up straighter.|edrom2_1]] <<set $edrom to "2">>\

"No, no, come here," ?eshe beckons you over. You drag your feet, recalling all the times before that ?eshe tried to teach you how to use a computer "more efficiently". ?eShe stands from ?eher chair, "sit." The seat is warm when you sit down, suddenly enveloped in a sweet but spicy scent. In Eddie's scent. You clear your throat, trying to keep your mind from buzzing off of the close proximity. The fact that one of ?eher hands rests on the back of the chair, so close to your neck. "You see these cells?" ?eShe starts talking, pointing at the screen with ?eher other hand but honestly, you hear none of ?eher words. Maybe it's because ?eshes wearing ?eher glasses, which is big distraction for you, or maybe it's because of the small rasp you can hear in ?eher voice. <<if $egen is 1>>Or maybe it's because ?eher hair brushes against your shoulder.<</if>> [[Regardless, you don't care about what's on the screen.|edrom1_2]]

You follow Eddie behind the bar and ?eshe starts rifling around with some papers at one of the registers. It's not often you come behind the bar. Kade is busy at one end, but Aspen, your other bartender, smiles at you two. They flip a strand of their purple hair and they're called over by a customer, leaving you and Eddie alone. Then you hear it. A unique, particular voice that stands out amongst the crowd. //Hale.// Eddie looks at you, wide eyed, "I am not dealing with this." ?eShe tries to leave but is blocked by customers loitering around the bar. "Fuck," Eddie harshly whispers. [[Then grabs you.]]

"Eddie-" "Shut up," ?eshe cuts you off and pulls you down into a crouch. Various glasses and bags of ingredients dig into your back. Aspen glances down, confused, but continues to work. Then you hear Hale's voice. Eddie puts ?eher finger to ?eher lip and ?eshe looks at you. You shake your head in offense. //No shit you were going to stay quiet.// ?eShe rolls ?eher eyes. Hale orders a drink, to which Aspen responds with an easy smile. "Sure thing," they say, "just need some grenadine." [[Eddie tenses.|edromsplit]]

?eHer eyes flicker to the side and ?eher face drops. Aspen casually walks close, carefully bending down and reaching over the two of you. Simultaneously, Eddie leans into you, giving them the space they need. Aspen finally grabs it. But Eddie loses ?eher balance and fully falls into you. ?eShe tips you over from your crouched position, your ass hits the ground and immediately you feel whatever liquids were on the mat seep into your clothes. Eddie looks horrified as ?eshe awkwardly straddles you. Only one hand on the shelf behind you keeps ?eher from enveloping you altogether. <<if $edrom is "1">>[["What was that noise?" Hale asks.|edrom1mom]]<<elseif $edrom is "2">>[["What was that noise?" Hale asks.|edrom2mom]]<</if>>

You close your eyes, trying to make yourself smaller. Eddie's forehead falls forward to press against yours, you realize ?eshe must be doing the same thing. Now you don't dare move, forgetting about the liquids sticking to your skin. Everything you feel has become Eddie. This almost embrace. Your hand on ?eher bicep. ?eHer thigh over your lap, ?eher hand on your shoulder. ?eHer body is positioned to cover you, to protect you. Even when falling over, ?eshe thought of you. [[At least, you'd like to think that.]]

You close your eyes in an attempt to make yourself smaller. Obviously, it doesn't work, so you open them again only to find Eddie staring at you. You're a bit taken back by the proximity of ?eher face, but ?eshe doesn't seem to be. Instead, ?eshe studies your face in an almost curious manner. You open your mouth to ask, well, you're not sure. For once, the words stay trapped on your tongue. Eddie looks down at your mouth then back to your eyes and ?eshe shakes ?eher head almost imperceptibly. "Ice maker," a smooth voice, Aspen's voice, answers back. A single gray feathered wing from your nephilim bartender covers you from Hale's prying eyes. [[They calmly lean forward on the bar.|Blocking Hale's view.]]

You'd like to think that Eddie's protectiveness stems from concern for you. But concern that goes further than friendship. //You want Eddie to want you safe.// The same way you want ?ehim safe. Taken care of. For the same reasons that you don't mind this over reaction to Hale, that you don't mind your clothes getting ruined. It's at this realization that has your body tensing, blurring the background noises into a muffled static. It's not until you hear your name that you realize your lap is cold. Then you open your eyes to see Eddie crouching before you. "He's gone," ?eshe says and stands up. "$name, I'm," ?eshe looks over you and sighs, "I'm sorry, he just really- Come on, let's get you back to your place." ?eShe reaches out ?eher hand and you take it. Eddie grabs what ?eshe needs and drops it off at the office. [[Then you're back at the apartments.|erommom2]]

Eddie doesn't study you again, instead looking to the side until Aspen retracts their wing. ?eShe stands up and reaches both hands out for you. When you take them, ?eshe pulls you up quite easily, werewolf strength shining through. Then ?eshe brushes off your shoulders, more gently than expected. "All good?" ?eShe asks. You stare at ?ehim, "my ass is soaked." "You're fine," ?eshe responds. "Let's go back." Eddie grabs what ?eshe needs and drops it off at the office. [[Then you're back at the apartments.]]

Eddie's apartment is the first stop, just down the hall from yours. Your clothes are still fairly wet, you've tried to unstick them from yourself but it doesn't really help. Still, you stop outside ?eher door to say goodbye. "Well that was something," you comment. ?eShe sighs, "I'm sorry again, I really don't like Hale." "What's your history together?" You ask with genuine curiousity. Eddie starts examining you again, so you continue to stare at ?ehim. Briefly, you notice the lightest shade of sun freckles on ?eher nose. "I was having a bad moment at work," ?eshe runs ?eher hand through ?eher hair, leaving it messier than before. "Hale walked into my office and saw me," ?eshe looks away from you. "He saw me crying and decided to make it worse." "I'm so sorry," you start to say but Eddie cuts you off. "Don't. Please. Anyways," Eddie opens ?eher door, "Goodnight, $name." "Goodnight, Eddie." [[End of Ch 3.|endofch3]]

Eddie's apartment is the first stop, just down the hall from yours. Your clothes are still fairly wet, you've tried to unstick them from yourself but it doesn't really help. Still, you stop outside ?eher door to say goodbye. "Well that was fun," you say dryly. ?eShe scoffs back, "yeah." Then pushes ?eher keys into the lock and turns to you. "I just really hate Hale, if you couldn't tell." "I could, actually. What's your history together?" You ask with genuine curiousity. Eddie shakes ?eher head, "I was having a tough day once and he made it worse." You decide not to push. "Anyways," Eddie opens ?eher door, "Goodnight, $name." "Goodnight, Eddie." [[End of Ch 3.|endofch3]]

The wind whips at your face. But the ride is amazing. Lights blur past you, blending into a red, white and orange aurora of color. The air is crisp, refreshing. Different smells hit your nose, sweet and savory, one after the other, but never lingering too long. You look up at the buildings racing by, they climb up to the sky, up into the darkness. When you look back down, you approach a bridge, the overpass out of the eastern part of the city. It curves high and you let your body lean into the vertigo. Below you, the river is completely black, broken only by the reflection of lights. <<if $mcmotorcycle>>[[A smile flickers on your face.|mcdriving]]<<else>>[[A smile flickers on your face.|amdriving]]<</if>>

Amelie continues to guide you until you enter the forest that grows just outside of the city. She squeezes your sides twice, head popping out over your shoulder in excitment. The trees blur together and the light from the city starts to fade, making way for the light of the stars. Soon you're headed up an incline, the motor of the bike revving heavier until Amelie motions to slow down and pull the bike over to a dirt road. You drive further and eventually stop when the brush gets too thick. [[Then she hops off.|amromscene1]]

Amelie glances back, "enjoying the view?" she yells. You squeeze her waist in affirmation and watch her helmet dance happily side to side. "Check this out!" She yells again as the two of you enter the forest that grows just outside of the city. Her speed picks up ten fold and while it might've worried you, you trust Amelie completely. The trees blur together and the light from the city starts to fade, making way for the light of the stars. Soon you're headed up an incline, the motor of the bike revving heavier until Amelie slows down and the bike rolls over dirt. She drives onto a dirt trail and eventually stops when the brush gets too thick. [[Then she hops off.|amromscene1]]

Amelie takes off her helmet and fluffs out her hair. Then she turns to you and grins, "come on." She grabs your hand and pulls you forward. The thicket brushes against your arms, crunching of undergrowth under your feet. Amelie squeezes your hand and slows to look at you, "I'm really sorry about today, truly." Then she reaches over to pick a thorn off of your shoulder. You try to smile it off, trying to move on. As you walk, you notice she intertwines her fingers with your own, but doesn't look back. Suddenly, the dark trees and shrubs feel overwhelming, "Amelie, where are we going?" Then she turns around, "worried I'm going to //murder// you?" Her eyes grow comically wide and she cackles. "You couldn't take me," you comment. [[She smirks.|amromscene2]]

//"Yes?" Why have they disturbed her, she does not like to be disturbed. Not now, not when so much hangs heavy in the air. They take her hands in their own, "come back to me, to us." She blinks rapidly before she withdraws her hands, instead clasping them over their own. "It's pointless, Ilian. All of this." Their eyes are so soft, like tissue paper. "We must focus on the gala, mending these relationships." Stupid, stupid, stupid. "These people do not want relationships, they want blood. You have seen it just as much as I. Trying any other way is a waste of time," she spits. They simply watch, those soft brown eyes, they watch her. "You were thinking about her again." A simple statement that has Ravenna crumbling under the gentle touch of their voice. "I'm sorry." [[And the chorus fades away.|Ch 3]]//

"Oh," you raise your other hand, wrapping it around his thumb and wiping your blood off. "Sorry about that." There's a second of deliberation, determining where to wipe the blood that now sticks to your hand. Before you can decide, however, Gabriel catches your hand. He pulls out a tissue and cleans you off, "messy," looking at you as if about to scold you. You're not sure how to feel as he takes care of you like this, but he simply smiles and nods towards the door. "Before your hand dries, $name." "Right," you mumble. Then you place your hand on the cool metal handle. The blood steams underneath your grip and the door opens. [[You walk inside.|gmarket]]

A wicked smile crosses your face and you grab his hand. He makes no indication of stopping you when you bring his thumb up to your mouth. Slowly, while watching him, you lick the blood off of his thumb in one motion. A jolt of excitement travels up your spine as he reciprocates, using the same thumb to trail across your bottom lip, wiping away any excess stains. His smile is anything but sweet. "You don't have to do that," he murmurs, though the tenor in his voice tells you the opposite. "I wanted to," you counter, stepping closer to him. He breaths out a low, gravelly laugh, "you're trouble." He places his hand on your waist and pushes you towards the door, "open it before the blood dries, $name." "Right," you mumble. Then you place your hand on the cool metal handle. The blood steams underneath your grip and the door opens. [[You walk inside.|gmarket]] <<set $gthumblick to true>>\

"Oh, oops," you observe, though making no motion to help. He chuckles, bringing his hand to his mouth and quickly licking the blood off in one motion as you watch. "Tasty," he grins back. He then turns you, guiding you towards the door. "Now, open it before the blood dries." "Alright," you drawl. Then you place your hand on the cool metal handle. The blood steams underneath your grip and the door opens. [[You walk inside.|gmarket]]

When you enter, the air is damp. Minimal lighting hangs from the cement walls. Gabriel talks idly about the atmosphere. You don't listen, however, taking in his presence. Self-assured. In control. //Old.// "Gabriel," you grab his attention. He smiles at you, "yes?" "How long do you plan on staying in the city?" He tilts his head at you. "I //am// the high vampire, after all." <<if hasVisited ("inquisiirice")>>"And just how to do you figure I'm powerful?" He laughs, eyes crinkling at the sides. "Is it my //aura//?"<<else>>He laughs, eyes crinkling at the sides. "I'm going to take that as flattery and not that you think I'm old."<</if>> You roll your eyes and laugh lightly. "I don't plan on staying long," he answers your question. Soon the smell of dead air is replaced by food and iron, cold air blows on your face as you step out into the opening. Almost every square inch of the grand open room is covered with tarps. The superatural bazaar, the Market, is packed with people and stalls. The environment is warm, a result of all the bodies. The steady murmurs of the crowd and clinking of potions and poultices chimes in your ears. [[You see Eddie at one of the stalls.|byeg]]

"I love these Markets," Gabriel says, look around at all the stalls. "So many different supernaturals together." A witch's herb stand is set up next to a vampire's antiques tent. The bright leafs and teas are so colorful next to the deep metal tones of the jewelry and capes of the vampire's wares. Across the walkway you think you see a pair of large leather wings disappear into the crowd. "I almost feel at ease in places like this," he shrugs, "almost like $clubname." You try not to beam at the compliment but fail. <<if $gnumber>>"I've got some shopping to do, as I'm sure you do as well. What do you say?" He smiles, "can I see you again tonight?" [[Yes, it's a date.|yesgdate]] [[You're no longer interested.|noganymore]]<<else>>"Hey, how'd catching that vampire go?" You think back to that night and to the mess that was left under the highway. "Not great, but there wasn't much I could've done. There were too many... distractions." //Amelie.// "Sorry to hear that," Gabriel says, "hopefully it was quick." "Relatively." "That's good, well, it was nice seeing you again, $name. I'll catch you later." He waves goodbye and you go seperate ways. [[You walk over to Eddie.|byeg2]]<</if>>

A small sense of thrill shoots up your spine and you smile back. "Yes, you can." "Great," he grins an almost boyish grin and you swear you can see a hint of a dimple underneath his beard, "it's a date. I'll pick you up later tonight." "Sounds good," you reply. "Oh," you stop him, "meet me at $clubname, I don't have a phone right now." He opens his mouth but then shakes his head, "I'm sure there's a story behind that. Can't wait to hear it about it later." Eddie starts to walk away from the booth towards you. You smile and part ways with Gabriel, waiting until Eddie catches up. "Friend of yours?" ?eshe asks. [[You shrug.|You glare and follow.]] <<set $gdate to true>>\

Flirting is one thing, but pursing something more with everything that's been on your mind... You bite your lip, "that wouldn't be a great idea, actually, there's a lot that's been happening-" "Hey," he tilts his head and his eyes soften, "don't worry about, $name. You don't need to justify yourself." Eddie catches your eye and ?eshe nods at you. You nod back and look at Gabriel, "well, I should be going." "Of course," Gabriel says, "it was nice to meet you." You smile back and part ways. Eddie walks up and watches as Gabriel leaves. "Friend of yours?" [[You shrug.|You glare and follow.]] <<set $gnumber to false>>\

For a second, ?ahis composure breaks, shoulders subtly slouching forward, head tilting and pupils dilating. But with a small breath, ?ahe stands up straight and tries to speak. "I-" ?aHe croaks. "Do you-" Then ?ahe takes another small breath, but it doesn't hide ?ahis beating heart. It pounds through ?ahis chest, if you focus enough you can follow its exact rhythm. It matches yours. ?aHe takes one step closer. "Do you want me?" ?aHe looks away. "In the city, do you want me here, still, in the city?" [[For a moment, you're not sure what to say.|exArom2]] <<set $romance to "loverA">>\

<<set $romance to "friendA">>\ "$name," ?ahe says, "you're my best friend." Your mouth flounders, taken by surprise by the sudden confession. "I've been gone for a long time," ?ahe continues, "and I'm sorry. I'm so //so// sorry." Your mouth closes. $Arlo moves close, "I want to know if there's a path forward for us, to be friends again." [[You want to start fresh.|afriendtalking]] [[You want to but you're not sure.|afriendtense]]

<<if $hobby is "cooking">>Quickly, you turn the oven off and leave.<<else>>Then you're outside.<</if>> The city never sleeps. Sometimes you wish it did, that the lights would turn off and let you see the stars. You wish that you could sleep. Around the corner you see Gabriel chatting away with an old man wearing oversized headphones. Gabriel towers over him and you can see the contour of his lean frame as the wind pushes his sweater back. Half of his thick black hair is tied up, which you've noticed is his go to look. When he catches your eye, a goofy smile breaks out over his face and you almost roll your eyes in a kiddish embarrassment. The man he was talking to turns and look at you, looking back at Gabriel and patting his shoulder as he says goodbye. [[He walks the other direction.|gdate2]]

You smile a little at the thought of seeing him again. The history between you two is unwritten, the sense of a fresh start with someone is appealing. With two taps on your thumb against the door knob, you decide to call him. ... ... ... "Hello?" "Gabriel?" The sound of a car horn goes off in the background, echoing into the reciever. "May I ask who's calling?" You lean against the door frame, "it's $name." [[His tone immediately changes.|textg2]]

Once the man leaves, you immediately notice a small bundle of lavender flowers wrapped in thin white paper. Gabriel slips one hand into his black pants and walks over. "For you." You take the bundle and bring it to your nose to smell, the lavender scent makes it to the back of your head and for a moment you feel calm. Gabriel examines your face and you feel yourself glow at the attention. "I hope this doesn't come off as rude, but you look exhausted," he says. "I //am// exhausted," you reply, folding back some of the paper holding the flowers. He watches you some more and a tick of annoyance washes over you, but he speaks before it can grow. "When was the last time you slept?" "Not in a while," you quietly answer. He takes you into consideration, "so you're do soon?" [[You nod.|gdate3]]

"It gets worse, the older we get," he reflects quietly. "Hey," now he smiles at you, "I had reservations at a restaurant, but now that I think about it, I'd love to cook for you." A semblance of a smile appears on your face, "I'd like that." He smiles back, always smiling, you could get hooked on those. "How do you feel about eggs? Or what about tofu?" [[You like eggs.|gdateegg]] [[You prefer tofu.|gdatetofu]] [[He can choose.|gdateegg]]

<<set $meal to "egg">>\ "Perfect," he claps his hands together, "there's a corner store that way." He offers to hold the flowers as the two of you walk with accelerated speed. The door jingles as he holds it open for you. An old women sits at the register, pencil and magazine in hand. Clear bags of chips, dried vegetables and fruit line the first aisles. Gabriel leads you passed them, towards the back to the refrigerated section. [[He spots what he needs.|gdate4]]

<<set $meal to "tofu">>\ "Perfect," he claps his hands together, "there's a corner store that way." He offers to hold the flowers as the two of you walk with accelerated speed. The door jingles as he holds it open for you. An old women sits at the register, pencil and magazine in hand. Clear bags of chips, dried vegetables and fruit line the first aisles. Gabriel leads you passed them, towards the back to the refrigerated section. [[He spots what he needs.|gdate4]]

<<if $meal is "egg">>He hums and opens the glass door to take a carton of eggs out. One by one he checks them for cracks, tucking the lavender under his arm.<<elseif $meal is "tofu">>He hums and peers through the glass doors to look at the different packages of tofu. He squats down to get a better look at the tiny font and silently nods. He takes a package with red lettering out.<</if>> You watch as he carefully examines it. The light from the refrigerator highlights the fuzz sticking off of his navy blue sweater... is that cashmere? Even with the his high cheekbones and sharp jaw, Gabriel looks very soft. <<if $gthumblick>>Part of you thinks about earlier, how his eyes darkened and voice dropped low after you... cleaned the blood off of him. The heat of his thumb on your lip and the excitement that curled through your stomach.<</if>> "Would you hold this?" You blink as he offers the <<if $meal is "egg">>eggs<<else>>tofu<</if>> out to you. Nodding, you take the items, along with the flowers. He wanders to another aisle with you trailing behind him like a puppy. Something about mindlessly following him is relaxing, it allows you to check out while he reads the labels on jars and spices. Not the best behavior on a first date but he doesn't seem to mind, doing his best to accommodate you. [[He looks at you.|gdate5]]

Showing you two different oils he asks, "what do you think, left or right?" "Left," you point. He puts the other one back, "that's correct." "And if I said right?" He adjusts the pile of ingredients in his arms and shrugs, "let's just be happy it didn't come to that." The two of you put the items down at the register and the old women begins to bag them in a plastic bag. Her white hair has been pulled back into a bun, matching the color of the bag. Gabriel pays, insisting that he treats you and carries the bag. [[Then you leave.|gdate6]]

Back at your apartment, the smell of lavender fills the room as he organizes the ingredients while you get out various pots and pans for him to use. After you set him up, you lean against the end of the counter and watch. "So," suddenly the air about him changes, he turns serious and stands up straighter, <<if $meal is "tofu">>"on tonight's menu we have a vegetarian mabo dofu. It's very warm and comforting, my sister used to make it for me, so I figured it would be perfect."<<elseif $meal is "egg">>"on tonight's menu we have a omurice. It's very warm and comforting, my sister used to make it for me, so I figured it would be perfect."<</if>> He gets to prepping and cooking as you watch. The two of you make idle chit chat about your evenings. Soon he turns the stove on to heat the pan up and rolls up his sleeves. Hidden under his arm hair, you notice long pale scars. They wrap up into his sweater. "There's more on my back and stomach." Curiosity overcomes you, "How did these not heal?" [[You look at him.|gdate7]]

"Magic?" Gabriel laughs. "The weapons must've had runes or been laced with something that prevented vampiric healing. You can see the patterns better on my sides." "Would you mind showing me?" You ask. He smiles, "not at all," then lifts the side of his sweater to the top of his ribs, exposing some of his stomach and back. You step close and lean forward to examine the injuries. Pink faded lines drag across his ribs, either side almost splattered with what looks like small bubbled burn marks. Lightly, you run your finger close to the edges, following the path down his side and close to his back. When your finger dips down, a small burst of goosebumps dusts over his skin. "$name," he clears his throat and you stand, noting the blush on his ears.<<if $gthumblick>>His chest rises and falls, the same flushed look and dark eyes on his face from earlier at the Market.<</if>> [[Step away.|gaway]] [[Lean in.|gkiss]]

"Sorry, I should've asked," you say as you give him space. His smiles, eyes crinkling in the corners, "it's okay. I just wasn't expecting..." He looks at the pan. "What?" "I wasn't expecting your touch to be soft," he admits, looking at the stove. "It was nice." You chuckle as you lean your hip against the counter. [[He finishes cooking the meal.|gnice2]]

"Sorry, I should've asked," you say quietly. You place your hand on his bicep to indicate as much, but when your hand falls away he catches it. He gently pulls you closer, "I didn't mind." His dark eyes drop to your lips. He smells like lavender. <<if $gthumblick>>You tilt your head and smile, brushing your nose against his, "no door to push me through right now. No vampire to track down. No one to interrupt."<<else>>"I'm glad," you smile.<</if>> He quietly chuckles and brings his hand up to brush your jaw, tracing down to the back of your neck where it rests. Goosebumps follow his touch. "Now we're even," he says, voice huskier than before. Then he pulls your head closer. And kisses you. His lips are soft and pliant. His beard scratches at your chin but you barely notice, your hands on his hips, threading through the soft fabric of what is definitely cashmere. He pulls back and smiles, your hands still resting on his hips. "That was nice," then lets out a stuttering laugh, "really nice." [[You want more than a kiss.|gmore]] [[Step away.|gnice]]

You <<if $height is "tall">>lean back in<<else>>lean up again<</if>>, "it was really nice," and meet his lips. At first he doesn't respond, you pull away, slightly embarrassed. "Shit, I'm sorry-" "Fuck," he interrupts and pulls you back in by the hips. His beard scratches you harder and he runs his tongue over your lips, which are already parted for him. The kiss deepens, one of his hands scrambles as he turns the stove off and scrapes the pan away from the burner. It comes back up and firmly holds the side of your face. Stress melts away from you as you give yourself over to the ebb and flow that develops between you two. Tongues teasing the other, learning how much and how hard he likes it. Grips tightening, adjusting based on your noises and how flush you push yourself against him. Chests rising and falling, never really parting, air isn't important. [[Not compared to this new taste.|gmore2]]

The stove pops and he clears his throat, "I should probably get back to this." He places his hand on your back and lightly pushes you back to where you were standing. You grin and rest your hip against the counter. He starts to cook, glancing at you every now and then, with stupid grin. "Has anyone told you how attractive you are?" <<if hasVisited ("inquisiirice")>>"Flatterer," you flush, "what happened to the smooth poet a couple nights ago?" He closes his eyes and laughs, "guess you make it hard to focus."<<else>>"Flatterer," you flush. He smiles, "you make it too easy."<</if>> [[He finishes cooking the meal.|gnice2]]

You lightly tug on his tongue, eliciting a gravelly groan and he pulls away resting his forehead on yours. "$name-" he's cutoff by his own throaty noise as you brush<<if $height is "tall">> your leg<<else>> your hip<</if>> against him, feeling just how much he enjoys this. It's not overt, not yet, but what you feel has you wanting more. You run your fingers along the hem of his pants. "Do you want to..." you breath out but he cuts you off with another kiss. Then he brushes is lips over your ear with a low breath, "I think we should, uh," the vibrations of his voice has your mind completely unfocused on his words. "What?" You pull back, eyes finally opened to see his swollen lips. He chuckles, "I'd like to get to know you more before..." [[You understand.|gok]]

"I get it," then you run your hands over his chest. "Don't worry." He smiles as you separate, "thank you." His eyes linger on your body before he turns to pull the pan back on the burner. Then he bites his lip, "has anyone told you how attractive you are?" <<if hasVisited ("inquisiirice")>>"Flatterer," you flush, "what happened to the smooth poet a couple nights ago?" He closes his eyes and laughs, "guess you make it hard to focus."<<else>>"Flatterer," you flush. He smiles, "you make it too easy."<</if>> [[He finishes cooking the meal.|gnice2]]

The phone muffles with the sound of a sigh. "$name, I'm happy you called." "Are you busy right now?" Another car horn goes off. "No, well, I was about to go to the store for some food." You switch the phone to your other ear. "//Food// food or food?" He laughs into the reciever and a small sense of pride swells up in you. "Food ingredients for a meal, cooking helps me destress." "I was hoping we could see each other," you say. He hums into the phone then speaks, "what if I cooked for you?" [[You'd love that.|textg3]]

"Yes," you answer, "perfect. Come over." Your eyes begin to sweep over your apartment, noting anything that may need to be put away or cleaned up. Again he chuckles and you find yourself relishing the sound. "It's a date then. I just have one question for you. Tofu or egg?" You think for a minute then answer, "<<cycle "$meal" autoselect>> <<option "tofu">> <<option "egg">> ... <</cycle>>." A faint jingle comes from the otherside, "perfect," he says. "Text me your address and I'll be there soon." [[You say goodbye and hang up.|textg4]]

"Fuck," ?ahe whispers, briefly closing ?ahis eyes, retreating into ?ahimself. When you don't speak, ?ahe opens ?ahis eyes again. When they open, ?ahis brows are furrowed and ?ahe takes one more step forward, looking you straight in the eyes. "Do you still want me?" ?aHis hair is messy, disheveled, perfectly disheveled. Eyes such a deep green, always reflecting ?ahis emotions. Long fluttering eyelashes and that stupid nose ring. When did ?ahe get a nose ring? When did ?ahe cut ?ahis hair? That thick black hair you always loved to run your fingers through. That despite it looking a bit greasy, you'd still love to feel. Small patterned freckles still scattered lightly on ?ahis nose. The nose that looks really good with that ring through it. Fuck. ?aHe left you. For a //decade//. [[By yourself, no warning, no sign.|exArom3]]

<<if $arloreaction is "relief">>But despite that, despite all there is to unload, despite the hurt that has yet to heal- that you're not sure will ever heal. You still breathlessly answer. "Yes." $Arlo freezes, eyes wide, mouth parted. ?aHe shakes ?ahis head, ?ahis heart, you're now convinced, is about to burst out of ?ahis chest- though your own is no different. ?aHe lets out a shaky breath. Swallows hard and moves somehow closer. ?aHe brushes ?ahis knuckle over your cheek and immediately you lean into ?ahis touch, closing your eyes. ?aHis thumb traces its path down your jaw and you hold ?ahis wrist tightly. And then ?ahis forehead presses against yours. Your eyes burn with unshed tears and your other hand rests behind $Arlos neck. So badly you want to lose yourself in this feeling. You want to be consumed by it, by this fire that you've always caught from ?ahim. That you //know// ?ahe feels too. You know that ?ahe just as badly wants to engulf you, give everything ?ahe is to you. But you can't, not yet. Not until you unpack everything there is. Not until you can know that- [[Then there's a knock.|chatexA]] <<elseif $arloreaction is "numb">>And that's why you can only whisper back, "I don't know." With the words spoken into existence, hanging heavy in the air you feel a sharp pain in your chest. Your throat begins to constrict. "I-" you croak, "I don't..." You take a step back, almost tripping and $Arlo catches your arm, "$name?" ?aHis grip on you catches your attention, but instead of grounding you it increases the pressure building behind your eyes. You shake your head, "No, I can't-" Everything is too much. Everything you've dammed up threatens to spill out and you're not ready. $Arlo releases ?ahis hand from your arm, stepping back and giving you space to breath. "I can't do this right now," you turn around, "I need to get out of here." [[You open the door.|tenseexA]] <<elseif $arloreaction is "sad">>But despite that, despite all there is to unload, despite the hurt that has yet to heal- that you're not sure will ever heal, you still breathlessly answer. "Yes." $Arlo freezes, eyes wide, mouth parted. ?aHe shakes ?ahis head, ?ahis heart, you're now convinced, is about to burst out of ?ahis chest- though your own is no different. "That's the sad part," you look at the ground. "I never //stopped// wanting you." ?aHe lets out a shaky breath. Swallows hard and moves somehow closer. ?aHe brushes ?ahis knuckle over your cheek, wiping away a tear you didn't realize fell. Hesitantly, you lean into ?ahis touch, closing your eyes. ?aHis thumb traces its path down your jaw and you hold ?ahis wrist tightly. And then ?ahis forehead presses against yours, "I never stopped wanting you either." Your eyes burn with tears and your other hand rests behind $Arlos neck. So badly you want to lose yourself in this feeling. You want to be consumed by it, by this fire that you've always caught from ?ahim. That you //know// ?ahe feels too. You know that ?ahe just as badly wants to engulf you, give everything ?ahe is to you. You pull back and look at ?ahim, "then why did you leave?" [[Then there's a knock.|chatexA]] <<elseif $arloreaction is "angry">>And that's why you can only whisper back, "I don't know." With the words spoken into existence, hanging heavy in the air you feel a sharp pain in your chest. Then a tick of annoyance. It volleys into something you suddenly can't control and your blood begins to boil, "How can you just ask me that?" "I-" ?ahe croaks, "I don't..." You take a step back, almost tripping and $Arlo reaches out but stops just short. "I never stopped wanting you, you know that? Every fucking day I ached for you but you were gone. And now that you're here with your god-damned stupid face, I just don't know. "$name," ?ahe starts. You shake your head, "No, I can't-" Everything is too much. Everything you've dammed up is spilling out and you're not ready. "I can't do this right now," you turn around, "I need to get out of here." [[You open the door.|tenseexA]] <</if>>

<<set $axrom to "talking">>\ You let out a ragged breath and wipe your face. Then you open the door. It's Eddie. ?eShe looks at you, "we need to talk." Then to $Arlo, "but it can wait until the morning." Then back to you. "I tried texting you but... Just meet us at the club in the morning." Then ?eshe leaves. You close the door and turn back to $Arlo. "Eddie-" "I heard," ?ahe says. You motion to your couch and ?ahe follows. The two of you get settled, $Arlo grabbing a pillow and putting it on ?ahis lap. [[You take a breath.|chatexA2]]

<<set $axrom to "tense">>\ And come face to face with Eddie, knuckles held up in a knocking position. ?eShe looks surprised but quickly schools ?eher face. "We need to talk," ?eher eyes stray to $Arlo, "but it can wait until the morning." Then ?eshe looks back to you. "I tried texting you but... Just meet us at the club in the morning." Then ?eshe leaves. You close the door and look at $Arlo. "I'll go," the two of you change positions. "And when you're ready I'll tell you everything." ?aHe closes the door behind ?ahim and you can hear ?ahim just outside. "And I'll stay until the day you ask me to leave." Then ?ahis footsteps fade down the hall. [[End of Ch 3.|endofch3]]

"You look exhausted, $name," $Arlo places the pillow aside and leans forward, elbows on ?ahis knees. A small dry laugh makes its way from your throat, "I am exhausted." "Has it been long since you slept? Has your cycle changed?" You shake your head. $Arlo nods ?ahis in understanding, "you'll need rest soon." Then ?ahe stands, "I should leave then, let you relax." "We still have a lot to talk about." "I promise you, I will not leave. And we can talk." ?aHe hesitates at first, but runs ?ahis finger lightly across your cheek, resting under your chin. "Your head must be pounding." Again you nod and close your eyes. It's almost relaxing, the way ?ahe runs ?ahis fingers softly over your skin. "We'll talk more when you're ready and I'll tell you everything." When you open your eyes ?ahe drops ?ahis hand. [[You gaze up, head only a murmur now.|chatexA3]]

"You know," $Arlo looks at ?ahis hands, "I remembered why I buried the key at the flower beds." ?aHe smiles. "It's where we first kissed." A surge of warmth spreads in your chest, "I remember that. I was covered in blood." "And I had never been more enraptured," ?ahe looks at you the same way ?ahe did that day. "Goodnight, $name." You watch silently as ?ahe waves goodbye and leaves, with a promise to see you tomorrow. [[End of Ch 3.|endofch3]]

<<set $afrom to "talking">>\ ?aHis hair is messy, all product worn out, strands haphazardly brushed back and falling in all directions. You cross your arms over yourself and sigh, "I want to start fresh." $Arlos face morphs from tight and tense to surprised, eyebrows raised up. "I'd love that," ?ahe quickly says, "I don't deserve it but absolutely, $name." "No, you don't deserve it." You attempt to smile but your eyes feel dead, you're tired, and right now all you need is your friend. ?aHe smiles lightly. You skipped a few steps but it almost feels like a weight has been taken off your shoulders. Something inside of you has just let go and fallen to the floor. [[Even if it's temporary, you'll take it.|afriendtalking2]]

<<set $afrom to "tense">>\ "It depends, $Arlo." You wrap your arms around yourself. "I want to, really, but..." "I'l prove myself, somehow," ?ahe takes a step forward. <<if $arloreaction is "sad">>?aHe clenches ?ahis fists and you look back up at ?ahim, "do you know how much it hurts to look at you?" ?aHe flinches, looking away and clenching ?ahis jaw. Then ?ahe looks at you again, conviction firing in ?ahis eyes, and walks forward, taking your hands in ?ahis. "I promise, I will not ever leave again." ?aHis hands are warm, hanging down, intertwined with yours. The blood pouring through ?ahis veins, pulsing at the same rhythm as yours. Part of you wants to pull away but you just //can't.//<<elseif $arloreaction is "angry">>?aHe clenches ?ahis fists and you look back up at ?ahim, "do you know how much it burns when I look at you?" You let your arms fall down to your sides. ?aHe flinches, looking away and clenching ?ahis jaw. Then ?ahe looks at you again, conviction firing in ?aher eyes, and walks forward, taking your hands in ?ahis. "I promise, I will not ever leave again." ?aHis hands are warm, hanging down, intertwined with yours. The blood pouring through ?ahis veins, pulsing at the same rhythm as yours. Part of you wants to pull away but you just //can't.//<<elseif $arloreaction is "numb">>Another piece of you cracks, frustration bubbling beneath the surface and your arms fall down to your sides. "Do you know how fucking much-" quickly the words start to pour out but you stop it before it spills over. You bite your lip, almost so hard that it bleeds. You shake your head and look away. $Arlo steps in front of you, delicately taking one hand in ?ahis own. So badly you want to feel nothing, or to pull away or to pull ?ahim in, you're not even sure anymore. Instead you stand there, staring at your hand in ?ahis.<<elseif $arloreaction is "relief">>Your eyes connect with ?ahis own and you look for... something. You're not sure. You want to believe ?ahim, so badly you do. If you were to trust ?ahim again and something happened... but all that is is conjecture. ?aHe steps in front of you and unwraps your arms, taking your hands in ?ahis. "I'm sorry." "Okay," you whisper. ?aHe watches you, "okay?" You nod your head, "okay," and can't help the broken smile that falls onto your face. Every part of ?ahim you miss and if you have to dig through the broken parts of you to feel better, then you will, bloody hands and all. You tug ?ahim into a hug and absolutely melt. ?aHe wraps ?ahis arms over your shoulders and squeezes. Tears prickle the edges of your eyes and it becomes too much. They fall as you bury your face in ?ahis shirt. A small sob unwillingly escapes your lips but it's a sob of relief, of grief, of a mixture of unnamed emotions. The two of you stand there, embracing, for however long until you finally pull away.<</if>> Sirens go off in the distance, you're unsure of how far or close they are. Not that it matters. "There is one thing though," you say. "Anything." "Why did you leave?" <<if $agen is 0>>//[[Why did he leave?|ch3afriendtense1]]//<<elseif $agen is 1>>//[[Why did she leave?|ch3afriendtense1]]//<</if>>

?aHe walks up to you, grabbing your arms and uncrossing them. "I don't deserve you," ?ahe whispers. Your hands hang with ?ahis and you look down at them. The blood in ?ahis arms pour forward, veins protruding, you can hear ?ahis heart beat, as you're sure ?ahe can hear yours. ?aHe releases one of your hands, placing ?ahis free hand on your cheek to turn your face towards ?ahim. "I will make it up to you, somehow." Then ?ahe wraps ?ahis arms over your shoulders. Instead of hugging ?ahim back, you stand there, taking in the familiar aroma. $Arlo pulls back just the slightest but your body seems to move without your mind. Tears prickle the edges of your eyes and it becomes too much. You throw your arms around ?ahim and bury your face in ?ahis shirt. A small sob unwillingly escapes your lips but it's a sob of relief, of grief, of a mixture of unnamed emotions. ?aHis face mimicks your own, burying itself in the crook of your neck. And you melt, absolutely melt. You let yourself, at least for the moment, enjoy being in ?ahis arms. [[End of Ch 3.|endofch3]]

Thanks for reading! That's all for now :)

When you make it out of the trees, you're met with a large overlook. Amelie drops your hand and walks towards the edge. Blocks of darkness rise from the ground below, blotted with dots of reds and whites. The lights of the cityscape reflect off the river that runs at its edge, blending into the watery hues of its abyss. The night sky swallows the stray glow of the buildings until darkness floats in its place. The cold wind blows against your skin as you step next to Amelie. She wraps her arms around herself, closing her eyes and letting the breeze touch her face. Briefly, you do the same, closing your eyes and letting the quiet of the night settle in your mind. [[You hear crunching of dirt next to you.|amromscene3]]

When you open your eyes and look down, Amelie is sitting on the ground with her legs crossed. You sit next to her, dirt and rocks pressing into the palms of your hands as you lean back, closing your eyes. You can feel her stare, your skin buzzing where her eyes touch. For the moment, you let yourself bask in the invisible touch, but the moment is broken when she speaks. "Do you think I'm a monster?" Immediately, your eyes open, head turning to look at her. "What?" "I've killed <<if $atlas is "dead">> two vampires already this week." She turns towards you, eyes glossy. "One of them was your friend, I- I thought I could help people as a hunter but the more I see… I'm afraid I've lost my way."<<else>>once already this week, I was so close to killing again. I thought I could help people as a hunter but the more I see... I'm afraid I've lost my way."<</if>> [[She turns away, looking down at her hands.|ch3amromfriend4]]

Eventually, there's a knock on your door. You open and smile. Gabriel stands there, about a heads length shorter than the door frame. He wears a navy blue sweater, black hair tied neatly back in a half up half down style. In one hand hangs a white plastic bag, buldging with ingredients. The other hand holds a bundle of lavender wrapped in delicate paper. "For you," he motions with the flowers. When he steps inside he leans in for a side armed hug. The material of his sweater feels very soft, maybe cashmere. A wave of nervousness unexpectedly washes over you and you ring your hands together. You suddenly can't remember the last proper date you went on. When you look at him, he smiles and you feel calmer. [[You point him to the kitchen.|textg5]]

He organizes the ingredients while you get out various pots and pans for him to use, the two of you making easy chit chat in the process. After you set him up, you lean against the end of the counter and watch. "So," suddenly the air about him changes, he turns serious and stands up straighter, <<if $meal is "tofu">>"on tonight's menu we have a vegetarian mabo dofu. It's very warm and comforting, my sister used to make it for me, so I figured it would be perfect."<<elseif $meal is "egg">>"on tonight's menu we have omurice. It's very warm and comforting, my sister used to make it for me, so I figured it would be perfect."<</if>> He gets to prepping as you watch and talk. Soon he turns the stove on to heat the pan up and rolls up his sleeves. Hidden under his arm hair, you notice long pale scars. They wrap up into his sweater. "There's more on my back and stomach." Curiosity overcomes you, "how did these not heal?" [[You look at him.|gdate7]]

scene to go back inside bar

Blackness swallows your eyes, "keep them out of this." Ilian considers you for a moment. "Or what?" Anger causes your heart to palpitate and you take a step towards them but Ilian holds up their hand which you glare at. "$name, you will find that I am much more reasonable than my siblings inside. Do not act on impulses that you will regret in the years to come. Be reasonable, be in control. Please believe me when I say it is the key we need to unlock a happy future for all." "I find it hard to be reasonable when you threaten //my// people." "I understand but it will not come to that as long as you listen," they smile and cock their head. "I know that you will do whatever it takes to keep your family safe. As would I." Their eyes linger on the theater, smile faltering for just a second before looking back at you. "Now, go back to that attractive werewolf of yours. Their incessant tapping is grating." Without another word, Ilian walks away. A high pitched screeching fills the air and when you turn around you see them gone, leaving only a puddle of black smoke lingering in the air. [[You walk back to Eddie's car.|Eddie car thyme]] <<set $instinct to "scary">>\ <<notify 2s>>Characters Unlocked!<</notify>>\

"Ilian," you reason, "this is completely unecessary. I will find this insurgent." They consider you for a moment before sighing, "I know you will, much like myself, you would do anything for your family. But I need to stress the importance of this mission, it is the key we need for the future of this council." The parking lot is bare, except for the red of Eddie's car. "You haven't given me much time." Ilian's dark eyes stare straight ahead, "mors tua, vita mea." They look at you with a solemn smile, "excuse me, I must return and I'm sure your attractive werewolf is impatient to see you." They turn and walk away. Behind you a high pitched screeching flutters in the air and you turn to see a puddle of black smoke left in Ilian's place. [[You head back to the car.|Eddie car thyme]] <<set $instinct to "charming">>\ <<notify 2s>>Characters Unlocked!<</notify>>\

"I was alone." You look out the window, watching the clouds gather in the gray sky. Turning away from the road you let your eyes look back to Eddie and ?eher dark red hair. You breathe in. "I was approached by a member of the High Council, given some broken explanation of why they needed me to step up. It didn't make sense but I wasn't thinking straight. I was left wandering, confused, and in need of a purpose." "What about $clubname?" Eddie asks. "It was," you briefly close your eyes trying to remember, "I think a year before I bought that property?" Eddie hums. "Anyways, by the time I really realized what I needed to do as High Vampire, what it meant, I finally had something to lose, so they used that." "$clubname." You nod. "It gave me a sense of belonging which I had already lost once. I don't think I had it in me to lose anything else." [[Not again.|ch2mcbackstory2]]

"What do you mean?" ?aHe asks. "I need to do the shit the council wants me to do." You need to talk to vampires. A lot of them. $Arlo twists the ring on ?ahis finger. "But you'll be able to help soon, right?" "I don't know yet." "When can you know?" "$Arlo, if you could just tell us more we could help." "No," ?ahe looks away, "I'm sure- I'm sure it's fine." You sigh, "alright then, I do need to stop at the Market first though, for more blood." <<if $agen is 0>>[["I'll go too," Arlo says.|AMarket]]<</if>><<if $agen is 1>>[["I'll go too," Aida says.|AMarket]]<</if>> [["You can come with me," Eddie says.|EddieMarket]]

His white fangs stick out as he adjusts the tote bag hanging off his shoulder, apologizing to the winged woman he bumps into on his way to you. Atlas moved into the city a few years ago, coming without any of the biases that the other older vampires of the city had. He just barely makes the cut of the older vampires you keep track of, only having passed a century of age a year ago. "What are you up to today?" he asks, finally in front of you. "Needed some more blood," you respond. He hums, quickly twirling one of the navy blue strands of hair hanging from his head. "What about you?" [[His eyes light up as he lets the tote bag slip down to his hand.|atlastote]] <<notify 2s>>Character Unlocked!<</notify>>\

"Check this out." From it he pulls an old, purple crusted book. "I found this at that one witches stall, it's about the legend of the varcolyac. Oh!" He quickly puts the purple book back and extracts a torn up blue book. "This one has notes about vampiric abilities based off different regions and how that could affect transformations, you know I've been wondering if I'd ever get any, and then I also found this-" Once again he shoves the book into his corduroy tote and pulls out a small metal object. He looks back at you with twinkling eyes, "this is a fun little brooch in the shape of a cat!" Laughter bubbles up in your throat, extending your hand for a better look at the pin. He drops it in the center of your palm, "what do you think?" The bronze pin is the size of a button, negative space creates the eyes and elongated smiling mouth, two sharp pointed teeth protrude into the emptiness. The whiskers on the side are sharp enough to break skin, as are the two triangular ears. [["It reminds me of you." He smirks innocently.|Atlasbrooch]]

"Why?" "It's cute but hurts if you press too hard." When you look at him, his blue eyes are no longer wide, but crinkled on the sides. "Jeez, Atlas," you roll your eyes as he chuckles. Changing the subject, you decide to ask him about the insurgent. "Hey, while I've got you here, have you seen anything strange around the city?" "Anything weird?" He brings his hands up behind his head, feigning rest on them. The objects in his bag audibly shift with the movement. "Actually, yeah," his hands fall to his side, "I heard about a weird metal lion running around." [[Subconsciously, you clutch your side.|atlasquestion]]

"And then I heard about, oh shit! This one guy ran into me so hard my shoulder actually popped out of its socket. Such a dickhead, who doesn't stop to say sorry-" "-Atlas." "Right, uh, I did see some scary looking people crawling around down on the south side, but a lot of people down there are sketchy." He suddenly looks down at his watch. "Hey, why don't we catch up later, I only have an hour left before I need to get back to the clinic and I wanted to check out some other stands here." "Alright, I'll stop by tonight." He sucks air through his teeth, "how about tomorrow morning?" "Sounds good, thanks Atlas!" <<if $ch3pt1 is "Eddie">>[[Then you notice a commotion around the weapons booth.|silversale]]<<elseif $ch3pt1 is "ArloAida">>[[Then you notice a commotion around the weapons booth.|salefsdijf]]<</if>>

Atlas turns back and meets it with equal force, exchanging jabs, throwing each other away. They end up back in the fountain, cracking one side, water pouring out. You run to Amelie, circling the fountain to get to her. Only when you reach her, from her angle, do you see the bodies on the ground. The sickly sweet scent of blood reaches you. Your mouth starts salivating, eyes engorging themselves on the pools of blood drained from the bodies. Amelie looks at your sharply, her eyes filled with anger, "where the fuck have you been?" Long, bloody marks scar her forearm, the cloth of her shirt torn away. The smell starts just as sweet, but turns sour, causing you to scrunch your nose. "Never mind," she stops. "I can't get between them, not by myself." "Where's the pack alpha?" <<if $ch3pt1 is "Eddie">>Eddie asks.<<elseif $ch3pt1 is "ArloAida">>$Arlo asks.<</if>> Amelie scoffs, "busy." You scan the crowd behind Amelie. Many stand frozen with shock and fear. Scattered about them some lay on the floor, clutching arms and legs. [[Broken and scared.|dfdsf2]]

You step off to the side, leaning against an old brick building. Little bits of moss grow in the cement outlines and through the cracks of the old building. You take a moment to breathe in the air, trying to let go of what just happened to you. Let it go or compartmentalize it, one or the other, but you shift your mind to a different matter. //How to find a single person in a city of thousands.// Well, you're not trying to find a person, you're trying to find a vampire, a really old and powerful vampire. Not many would know how to spot one in a crowd. It's all about essence. Only high vampires would really be able to help you. Though, sometimes it's hard with all the noise of the city. Particularly strong smells or noise can mess with your senses. You tap your fingers on the cold brick. High vampires you //do// keep tabs on. Their influence and opinions much more important than those who've barely lived a human lifespan. Plus, they'd be a bigger pain in the ass to take down if it came down to it. You nod your head with a renewed conviction. The day grows tired, and you've already lost an hour, so you won't be able to visit them all. Mentally, you list off the closest high vampires of the area: [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<set $ancientvampires to "unlocked">>\ <<notify 2s>>Characters Unlocked!<</notify>>\

A darkened stone sidewalk leads to a black iron gate. Trees and bushes run tamed through the front yard, dirt and stone covering the ground. Flowers of every variety color where bushes do not. The stone path leads up to a purple door with a golden knocker. You knock. An older woman opens the door, gray hair pulled back into a bun. "Mrs. Torrez, how are you?" [[Her red lips crease into a frown.|torrez2]] <<set $human to $human +1>>\

Colorful shops filled with people line the bustling street. Antique stores with furniture and clothes from lives unlived, crystal shops who's shelves hold stones both empty and full and street stands selling flowers of every possible color. Further down the popular street, the crowd thins. Groups of three to four walk by the pale shop windows, pointing towards the noise, ignoring the quiet street. [[You turn the corner.|nolan2]] <<set $vampire to $vampire +1>>\

An elevator takes you all the way up the high rise, towering above the small buildings below. The glass gives you a picturesque view of the city. Two greeters open the double glass doors for you and your feet immediately step onto a deep bocote flooring, the striking grain pattern of the wood pulls your eyes towards the center of the restaurant, towards the center piece. Within the sunken center sits a large, dark rock, water streaming down its surface, trickling into a small clear pond. Small trees and shrubbery enhance the pool, flowers blooming on the branches. The large windows of the restaurant allow natural light to flood through during the day, however, tonight, warm lighting lifts from the panels along the windows. [[It's almost serene.|zian2]] <<set $vampire to $vampire +1>>\ <<set $human to $human +1>>\

The unlit sidewalk leads you under the overpass where a large, dilapidated building stands. Busted windows are covered with cardboard and plastic bags, unsavory letters scribbled on their surfaces. Loitering in front of the building is a group of men, vampires, hands in pockets all hunched over another plastic bag, this one leaking with darkened blood. One of the men, the one with a long gray beard, snaps his head to you. He wipes the blood from his lips with the sleeve of his coat, stepping over the dyed puddle to approach you. [[The whispered voices stop.|sam2]] <<set $sam to "visited">>\ <<set $werewolf to $werewolf +1>>\

The air is wet and the breeze crisp. The sound of the ocean breaking against the pier and seagulls squawking in the air are only second to the clamor of the rows and rows of stalls. The fish market bursts with life, vendors yelling and pointing towards their ice laid tables. Tanks and buckets of water sit brimming with shelled crustaceans. Small puddles splash under your feet as you travel past the food and fish, the odor strong in your throat but you simply nod to the people around you. Crab, lobsters, anchovy, bass. [[You pass them all until you find the sea urchins.|haruto2]] <<set $werewolf to $werewolf +1>>\

"Why are //you// here?" The man spits. "I'm not here for you, Damon." He spits a glob of something red to the side. "You gonna call the hunters on us again?" Your eyes grow dark, "are you gonna traffic werewolves for their veru again? Maybe sell tainted blood to fledglings?" Damon hisses, his eyes blocking out the light and crooked teeth growing into a shark like demeanor. Suddenly he's inches from you, "you have a lot of nerve coming here," bloodied spit lands on your cheek. You sigh, wiping it away. [[Calmly repeat yourself.|samcalm]] [[Grab his face.|samangry]]

"Sam," you call, "get over here." The man scrambles over, a bright red blush on his cheeks. Once he's in arm's distance, you grab the collar of his hoodie and pull him around the corner. "What the hell are you doing hanging with them?" Sam rubs the back of his neck, his familiar blue eyes refusing to meet yours. "Hey $name, how's Kaylen?" "She wouldn't be very happy to hear that her younger brother is hanging out over here." "I was hungry." "Don't drink that tainted shit." "I didn't have time to get up north, I was almost gone." You grab his face and examine it, looking at the blackened veins in his sclera, the shrinking fangs in his mouth and the life filling out his hollowed cheeks. "Don't let yourself get that low on blood again. Young vampires like yourself won't be able to control themselves past a certain point." "I almost killed someone," he whispers. "But you didn't." He nods his head, still resting in your gentle grip. You give him a final tap on the cheek and release his face. "Go get some clean blood, tell Lacey I sent you." "I hate Lacey," Sam pouts. "I don't care, go," you point. Sam sighs and leaves. - //Who will you visit next?// <<if hasVisited("Torrez", "Nolan", "Zian")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Nolan", "Haruto")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Haruto", "Nolan", "Zian")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Haruto", "Zian")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Nolan")>>\ [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian", "Nolan")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian", "Torrez")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian", "Haruto")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] <<elseif hasVisited("Nolan", "Haruto")>>\ [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Haruto")>>\ [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif hasVisited("Nolan")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif hasVisited("Haruto")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Torrez")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Nolan")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Haruto")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Zian")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <</if>>\

"What do you want?" She asks. "I, er, wanted to ask you a question." "Then ask." "Hey! Is that $name $lastname?" An older gentleman emerges from the hallway, a white handkerchief in his hand stained red as he wipes his fingers. "Mr. Torrez, how are you?" Mr. Torrez loops his hand around his wife's waist, the tight frown on her face morphing into something sweeter. "Mari here was just cooking some dinner, would you like to stay?" Graciously, you incline your head, "I'm afraid I can't tonight. I'm here on business." "I see," Mr. Torrez retracts his hand from his wife and buries them in the pockets of his corduroy pants. "Have either of you seen anything out of the ordinary lately?" [[Mr. Torrez glances at his wife.|torrez3]]

He runs a hand through his black and gray hair. "You'll have to be more specific than that, I may be immortal but my memory is just as bad." "No, we have not noticed anything strange," Mrs. Torrez tugs on her husband's shirt. "Amor, please." "My apologies, $name, we aren't too plugged into city life anymore. Not after moving this far from the center." "The food will burn," Mrs. Torrez mumbles, she leaves without looking at you. Mr. Torrez knits his brows together, "I must apologize. My wife still seems to be upset after you made-" he clears his throat-,"//convinced// us to stop feeding on live humans." You sigh, internally, then smile. "Human feeding is fine as long as they allow it." "It's not as good but I understand," Mr. Torrez quickly adds as his own smile strains. "Anywho, sorry we could not be more help." You incline your head, "thank you for your time." "Of course." - //Who will you visit next?// <<if hasVisited("Zian", "Nolan", "Sam")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian", "Nolan", "Haruto")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Haruto", "Nolan", "Sam")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian", "Haruto", "Sam")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian", "Nolan")>>\ [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam", "Nolan")>>\ [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam", "Zian")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam", "Haruto")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif hasVisited("Nolan", "Haruto")>>\ [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian", "Haruto")>>\ [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] <<elseif hasVisited("Nolan")>>\ [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] <<elseif hasVisited("Haruto")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Zian")>>\ [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Nolan")>>\ [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Haruto")>>\ [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Sam")>>\ [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <</if>>\

Immediately you spot Nolan's pale skin and dyed hair, brown and blonde patched together like a quilt. She stands underneath a large neon sign, NEPTUNE's COMICs, arguing with what looks to be... The Chief of the Hunters? "I didn't do shit, you didn't read me my rights." "I'm not accusing you of anything nor are those rights for you." The chief speaks calmly as she addresses Nolan's more erratic behavior. She wears a completely gray uniform, the only personalization is a golden locket around her neck which compliments her light brown skin. "Chief Nix," you flatly greet her. Her pony tail swings to the side, black hair tightly pulled back, as she nods her head, "High Vampire $name, how are you?" "Why are you talking to Nolan?" Nolan scoffs at the sound of their name. "I was simply in the area and heard a loud crash, thought I would check on her." [[You look over Nolan's shoulder.|nolan3]]

It's then you notice the glowing apostrophe hanging down from the sign above, black wires swinging back and forth in front of a shattered window. "I have this under control," Nolan interrupts, "both of you here are a nuisance and unnecessary." Chief Nix simply ignores Nolan, brown eyes staring at you. "I will take my leave then, seems like you'll be able to handle this." You cross your arms as she leaves. Nolan is already straining to reach the low hanging wire. "Why was she here? Have you been selling tainted blood again?" "No," they stand on their toes to reach higher but fails. "You made it clear last time, I got rid of my final batch and that's it." [[Nolan sneers.|nolan4]]

Finally they jump high, grabbing the letter but accidentally tearing down the rest of the NEPTUNE signage in the process. Quickly, you manage to catch the T, U, N and E while Nolan is able to catch the N, E and P, but the S is lost to the concrete. "Damnit, why are you even here?" She huffs You place the letters on the ground. "Have you seen anything out of the ordinary lately? Any weird vampires?" Nolan unceremoniously drops the rest of the letters onto the ground. "Why do you need me to do your job? I wouldn't tell you even if I had seen something." "So you haven't then." Nolan's face turns bright red, "when are you gonna be replaced anyways, seems like they're giving anyone this job nowadays. Maybe I'll go visit the council right now and ask." You step close to them, looking down while smiling. "You go ahead and do that. And while you're talking to them, why don't you mention who kept the hunters off your trail for months while you dealt with your tainted blood situation." Instead of waiting for a response, you turn and leave her fuming, standing in a pile of broken letters. //Who will you visit next?// - <<if hasVisited("Torrez", "Zian", "Sam")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Zian", "Haruto")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Haruto", "Zian", "Sam")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Haruto", "Sam")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Zian")>>\ [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam", "Zian")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam", "Torrez")>>\ [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam", "Haruto")>>\ [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian", "Haruto")>>\ [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Haruto")>>\ [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez")>>\ [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Haruto")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Torrez")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Zian")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Haruto")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Sam")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <</if>>\

After inhaling the impeccably fresh air, the low murmuring of the dining room sets in. You look towards the podium where a woman is dressed in a black silk shirt and dress pants. "Excuse me," you step towards her. "Good evening," she smiles, "do you have a reservation?" "No, I'm here to see Zian." She purses her lips, "I'm afraid that's not possible." "Is that $name?" [[The woman turns her head at the same time as you.|zian3]]

"It is! I thought I heard my favorite High Vampire," he runs his hand through his deep black hair, pieces falling perfectly into place back on his forehead. His wide smile is infectious as you grin back charmingly. "Zian, how are you?" "So good now that you're here," he reaches his arm out and pulls you in for a side hug. He keeps his arm around you as he turns to the women. "Caroline, did you know $name here helped me open this place?" "I- no, I didn't." He drops his arm and smiles even wider, dimples fully visible. "My place used to be a small hole in the wall. When I wanted to expand I ran into all kinds of red tape because I was told I couldn't employ humans. $name helped me get the right certifications and spoke to the right people and now here I am." He raises his arms, gesturing to everything. "I may look young, but out of my couple hundred years, I finally feel like I'm living." [[You had to charm your way through a mess of people, but it was worth it.|zian4]] [[You may have been more aggressive than needed, but Zian was worth it.|zian4]]

"Wow," Caroline replies. A group of seven walks in behind you, catching her attention and allowing you and Zian to step to the side together. "So, to what do I owe this pleasure?" He starts to roll the sleeves of his white buttoned shirt up, revealing more of his flawless warm brown skin. Small veins run up his arms and you notice droplets of sweat on his forehead. "Are you sweating?" You tease. He brings his hand up to his forehead, wiping away at the liquid. "Ah, no, I was in the kitchen steaming something when I heard your voice. Came out right away." "I see, well, I won't waste your time: have you noticed anything strange around the city? Anybody who looks like they haven't been here before?" Zian licks the corner of his lips in thought. "Hmm, well, we do get a lot of tourists here, human and not. Though," he leans in close, "I am aware that the High Council is in town." [["Yeah," you sigh.|zian5]]

"I'm going to assume this is related," he smirks. "Let's see... oh. We did have a reservation a few nights ago that was canceled, and not to brag but that is very rare. And there's a cancellation fee. I can confirm they were a vampire because they requested our //deep red// wine." You cross your arms, "I guess that's better than nothing." "Wow," Zian drawls out, "you have nothing?" You nudge his shoulder, "hey, I had a long day." He chuckles, briefly looking down. "Well, I'll let you know if I hear of anything. I'll also ask Caroline to look into that customer." "Thanks, though I'm guessing he didn't use his real name." He shrugs, "I'll see you at the gala." You stop in place, "what do you mean?" "I'm catering. It's a massive order." You smile, "nice, that'll be great for business." He moves in and shakes your hand, "exactly. Nice seeing you, I'll let you know if we find anything!" - //Who will you visit next?// <<if hasVisited("Torrez", "Nolan", "Sam")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Nolan", "Haruto")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Haruto", "Nolan", "Sam")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Haruto", "Sam")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Nolan")>>\ [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam", "Nolan")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam", "Torrez")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam", "Haruto")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] <<elseif hasVisited("Nolan", "Haruto")>>\ [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Haruto")>>\ [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif hasVisited("Nolan")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif hasVisited("Haruto")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Torrez")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Nolan")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Haruto")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Sam")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Haruto: has faced similar issues as your own, working with a werewolf.|Haruto]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <</if>>\

"Haruto," you call out, smiling at the black haired man across from you. The man puts down the knife and urchin he was holding and smiles, wiping his hand on a rag then extending it to you. "$name, it's nice to see you." You shake his hand. "How's business been?" "Better," he says and breaks the hold, "better since you helped Mavis with her boat situation. That werewolf could never hold her tongue, you didn't need to help her, but you did. So we appreciate it." You and Eddie aren't the only werewolf-vampire duo to face troubles. Unlike Eddie, however, Mavis couldn't talk her way out of anything. You happened to be passing by as she almost tanked the sale of their old fishing boat and helped out. She was surprised it was you who had helped her, but grateful nonetheless. "What can I do for you? $clubname finally branching out into the seafood business?" "No, actually, I'm looking for a vampire. I don't have a description though, someone new and old." [[He takes a second to consider your question.|haruto3]]

Haruto picks up the knife and urchin once more, cutting the knife around the base and pulling a piece out. "I have noticed some new faces around the pier." He begins to crack around the hole he made until the inside is visible. "A vampire, very well dressed, with a coy aura. Very loud. Another had with black hair, dark eyes, and seemed reserved." He hums to himself, pausing his hands before continuing, "There was another man too, angry aura, looked like he was searching for someone." He pulls out brown flesh and tosses it in a bucket to the side. "Let's see, there was also a woman, also angry, with short black hair, she was with a man who had light eyes and black hair as well." He puts down the sea urchin. "My apologies if that's not much help, I see new faces everyday. But those who I listed all had old energies." "You don't happen to know where to find any of them?" "Unfortunately, no," he winks, "they didn't tell me in their passing." "This was still helpful, thank you, Haruto." He inclines his head, "anytime, $name." - //Who will you visit next?// <<if hasVisited("Torrez", "Nolan", "Sam")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Nolan", "Zian")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian", "Nolan", "Sam")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Zian", "Sam")>>\ [[Actually, it's getting late. You need to head back.|postvampires]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Nolan")>>\ [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam", "Nolan")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam", "Torrez")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam", "Zian")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] <<elseif hasVisited("Nolan", "Zian")>>\ [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez", "Zian")>>\ [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] <<elseif hasVisited("Torrez")>>\ [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif hasVisited("Nolan")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif hasVisited("Sam")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] <<elseif hasVisited("Zian")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Torrez")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Nolan")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Sam")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <<elseif not hasVisited("Sam")>>\ [[Mr. and Mrs Torrez: Stopped them from feeding off unwilling humans.|Torrez]] [[Nolan Halstand: Stopped her from selling tainted blood.|Nolan]] [[Zian Bakshi: Helped him get around vampiric restrictions for his business.|Zian]] [[Dr. Paxon: Protected them when they were aiding werewolves.|Sam]] <</if>>\

<<if $atlas is "dead">>$clubname greets you with its flashing neon waves. Also standing by its entrance is Eddie, speaking loudly on the phone, face reddened by what looks to be anger. "This isn't a twenty four hour notice, this is a- no, that's ridiculous, of course not. Are you? Alright, bye." ?eShe puts ?eher phone away and gives you an exasperated look. Then ?eshe looks you up and down, "where have you been? <<if $ch3pt1 is "Eddie">> I figured you would've come back after today's earlier shit.<</if>>" "I've been talking to all the high vampires around here, asking if they've heard anything." "And?" "Nothing," you groan. "Nothing helpful, at least." "Well," Eddie points down to your stomach, "you should go home. You have a hole in your shirt." You run your finger around the gap, feeling the breeze on your skin. "Yeah." [[Time to go.|atlasded]] <<elseif $atlas is "alive">>Finally, you're back at $clubname. But instead of the brightly lit sign, flashing police lights greet you. Glass is scattered all over the sidewalk, the neon lettering of your sign cracked and fallen. In front of the smashed doors, you can see Eddie, face red, in a yelling match with one of the officers. "I don't give a fuck what happened, I saw you watching as-" Eddie meets your eyes and looks at you incredulously. The police officer looks at you as well. You walk towards them, scanning the ground, connecting the glass to the smashed door and other bits to your broken sign. "What happened here?" "An angry mob attacked the club and Officer Donut over here just watched as it happened," Eddie spits out. "Watch your tongue," the officer interjects, "we disbanded the group. You want me to take you in too?" [[Eddie grumbles, "I'd like to see you try."|atlaskikin]]<</if>>\

<<if $ch3pt1 is "ArloAida">>The sliding doors of your building open, revealing the spacious lobby. But it's not empty. $Arlo stands abruptly from a chair and is suddenly in front of you, throwing ?ahis arms over your shoulders. "I didn't know where you were, I couldn't find you." You freeze. ?aHis scent overwhelms you, the sudden touch, it shocks you. You can't move, you can't push ?ahim away, you can't reciprocate. "Sorry," $Arlo pulls ?ahimself away almost as quickly as ?ahe came. "Sorry, I just was worried after the hunters took you away." "Yeah," your voice cracks. "But you're okay, obviously," ?ahe laughs awkwardly, "so I'll just go now. Yeah." And then ?ahes gone. Back out the doors you just came through. [[Part of you wants to follow.|followA]] [[But you don't.|ch3nextmorning]]<<else>>The sliding doors of your building open, revealing the spacious lobby. No one ever loiters, the beige couches always sitting empty. The building is pretty nice. It still baffles you that you can live in a place like this, after years and years of running and hiding. The transition of supernaturals from myth to reality was tumultuous, to say the least. There were riots, burnings, mass killings- from every side. But now you call yourself lucky to have a savings account. Eddie even taught you how to move your money around so the "Immortal Clause" never kicks in. You're still not positive if it's legal but you don't really care. [[You step into the elevator and head to your apartment.|ch3nextmorning]]<</if>>\

"Okay!" you exclaim. Regardless of how you feel, Eddie's negative emotions are clearly in charge and you'd rather not bail ?ehim out of jail tonight. "Does anyone know //why// we were vandalized?" You look between Eddie's reddened face and the officer who's patience is just about done. "If I had to guess," the officer starts, "it's because of that vampire who murdered a shit ton of people but still walks //the fucking streets//." You had gotten word earlier that Atlas was taken and released from police custody while you were with the hunters. Apparently the hunters were too busy with you to remember his paralyzed body. Luckily for Atlas, the police didn't kill him. But since he lives, it'll be assumed that he is your responsibility. "Look, officer-" He waves his hand dismissively in the air, "we're done here. I've collected everything I need." [[Then he walks away.|astlaskikin2]]

Quickly, you're back out the doors. Wind hits your face, blowing through your clothes. Cold and crisp. You look up and down the street, searching for any trace of ?ahim. //Where is ?ahe?Where is ?ahe?Where is ?ahe?// And then your gut wrenches. You grab your stomach, you feel physically sick. You vision starts to blur and you don't know why. Instead of thinking on it, you turn back around. [[And go inside.|ch3nextmorning]]

//The next morning// - You hadn't learned as much as you were hoping to yesterday. Actually, you learned close to nothing. You need a new plan, something more than relying on purely gossip. The bathroom fan stutters. This morning you let yourself reset. Between dealing with the High Council, what happened at the Market and every single feeling, or lack thereof, of seeing $Arlo again, it's been a lot. Your headaches have gotten worse and your eyes heavier. All of the stress mixed with the lead up to your rest time, where you sleep as if you were dead, has made you a cocktail of emotions. [[You stare at yourself in the mirror.|ch3mctime]]

"Fucking idiot," Eddie says quietly. "I already scheduled someone to come out tomorrow to clean this mess up. We'll have to shut down for most of the day." You sigh, "we'll have to put a sign out." Eddie looks you up and down. "Where have you been all day?<<if $ch3pt1 is "Eddie">> I figured you would've come back after today's earlier shit.<</if>>" "I've been talking to all the high vampires around here, asking if they've heard anything." "And?" "Nothing," you groan. "Nothing helpful, at least." "Well," Eddie points down to your stomach, "you should go home. You have a hole in your shirt." You run your finger around the gap, feeling the breeze on your skin. "Yeah." [[You walk to your apartment.|atlaskikin3]]

When you turn the corner, you spot Atlas waiting one building away. He's wearing a large blue hoodie and paint stained gray sweatpants. He rolls his lips in a solemn smile, dragging his feet to meet you. "Hey," his voice cracks. Flashes of a broken wing, your teeth in his neck, blood covering his crooked arms flood your mind. His half hearted smile falls. "I saw the police over there, everything okay?" "With the police?" You gesture over your shoulder, "yeah." You don't intend on telling him why the police are there. Not when he's clearly on the brink of tears. [["Now's not really a good time," you say.|atlas1]] [["Can this wait until morning?" You ask hesitantly.|atlas2]] [["Are you okay?" You ask with concern. |atlas3]]

<<set $atlasalive to "leave">>\ Atlas tucks his hair behind his ear then shoves his hand back into his pocket. "You wanted to know about those sketchy people I saw. I know I said tomorrow morning but I was…" He looks away, biting his trembling lip. Then takes a shaky breath in. "I'm going to leave the city for a while, but I wanted to talk first." At least with him gone, you won't have to watch over him. "Let's sit on the bench over here." You lead him to an old wooden bench with black metal handles. [[He sighs as he sits.|atlasexplanation]]

<<set $atlasalive to "leave">>\ Atlas tucks his hair behind his ear then shoves his hand back into his pocket. "You wanted to know about those sketchy people I saw. I know I said tomorrow morning but I was…" He looks away and takes a shaky breath in. "I was gonna leave the city for a little bit, maybe for a week." "I think that's a good idea." At least with him gone, you won't have to watch over him. He nods, "yeah, so, um, anyways." "Let's sit on the bench over here." You lead him to an old wooden bench with black metal handles. [[He sighs as he sits.|atlasexplanation]]

<<set $atlasalive to "stay">>\ "Are you okay?" You ask with concern. Atlas looks away, tucking a strand of blue hair behind his ear. He shakes his head, closing his eyes while a single tear drops down his face. You place your hand on his shoulder, leading him to an old wooden bench nearby. He sits, covering his face with his hand and laughs bitterly. "I really fucked up. I really //really// fucked up. I don't even know what happened, I'm normally so in control. Everything was fine one moment and then suddenly-" he drops his hand and looks at you with reddened eyes. "I killed people," he whispers. "Atlas…" "And now you're being blamed for it all." His eyes look towards the club. You reach out and give his arm a squeeze, trying your best to smile reassuringly. Even if he has caused a lot of complications for you. He puts a clammy hand over your own, squeezing back. Then he sniffles hard and wipes his nose. "But that's not what I'm here for. I want to talk about what I saw earlier this week." [[He sits up straight.|atlasexplanation]]

Then his face falls hard and serious. "There was a man, a very handsome one- I'm talkin' styled black hair and super fit- chatting to that group of vampires that hang out under the overpass. They started arguing and someone pushed someone, then a fight broke out. The handsome guy stabbed this other one, some blonde dude, and he started bleeding out." "It was a huge wound, but the dude was a vampire so it healed, I think." Atlas looks over his shoulder and then back at you. "Anyways, this handsome fella walks off with a bag of something while the other vampires are drooling over the sight of this blonde guy bleeding out on the floor." "I went to get help but when I came back," Atlas shrugs, "they were all gone." "Was the handsome guy also a vampire?" you ask. "No, that was the weird part. I don't know any human who'd walk up to a //group// of us that confidently. Not even a hunter, had to be supernatural, maybe a werewolf." That is strange. While this doesn't sound related to your fetch and kill quest, you'll try to keep an ear out. "Thanks for letting me know, Atlas. I'll keep an eye out." <<if $atlasalive is "stay">>He smiles, and while it's small, it does reach his eyes. He stands up and pulls his hood over his head. "I'll see ya around, $name." <<else>>He stands up and pulls his hood over his head. "I'll see ya around, $name."<</if>> Atlas leaves the opposite direction of your apartment. [[You're finally allowed inside.|atlasded]]

Your $eyecolor eyes stand out against the white of your scleras. You bare your fangs, <<if $fangs is "hollywood">>the pointed top canines growing long<<elseif $fangs is "wolf">>all your canines growing long<<elseif $fangs is "rex">>all your teeth turning sharp and demonic<</if>>, and watch as the white of your eyes is eclipsed with dark colors. The hollows of your cheeks grow thin and calloused as you allow your bestial self out. The round tips of your ears start to stretch and thin and they grow towards the ceiling. You can feel the blood thundering through your veins. When the bones in your legs and arms start to crack and stretch, you stop. Then you quickly shake it off, human skin regrowing where it hardened over. Every sharpened tip dulling and all the stolen life that had faded comes flooding back. [[You grab your toothbrush and finish getting ready.|ch3mctime2]]

The club is closed this afternoon<<if $atlas is "alive">>. Eddie hired cleaners to fix up the outside after the small riot yesterday.<<elseif $atlas is "dead">> due to some surprise city inspection that Eddie was really pissed about.<</if>> That will take most of the day but it should be back open by night. Instead, you'll spend the daylight coming up with a plan. Your first thoughts drift to hunters which you immediately squash. You don't trust them as a whole<<if $hunterdisp is "hate">>, in fact, you loathe them<<else>>, even if you don't hate them<</if>>. But from these thoughts you then consider Amelie. What happened yesterday and the possibility of asking her for help. She technically owes you a favor since you helped out with her weird possessed lion. But she also helped violate your mind, even if she seemed to regret it. Then you think of Sheridan, the alpha of the pack outside of the city. You don't know much about ?ehim and whether or not ?eshe could help. What would the packs even offer? More eyes on the streets? Most werewolves wouldn't be able to tell how old a vampire is. The gears in your mind turn and you briefly consider that you are purposely being set up for failure. The High Council was vague, there's no getting around it. Then another thought pops up. $Arlo had your letter from them. You had completely forgotten about that and have yet to ask. Maybe you should. And then you groan. You just remembered the papers you have to sign for $clubname. There were a few items you wanted to look into before signing any agreements. Eddie will be expecting those later today, ?eshe needs to scan them onto the computer. Into the computer? You're not sure what ?eshe does with these contracts; everytime ?eshe shows you ?eher spreadsheets it goes right over your head. - //[[8 hours later.|8hrsl8r]]//

You're back at the club, deciding you want outside opinions. And to get those papers to Eddie. Halley and Kade are napping on one of the couches, most likely getting in some extra rest before their shifts start. $Arlo and Eddie sitting on their own couches, looking away from each other. Your stack of papers sit next to Eddie. "You can't ask for more details?" Eddie asks. You shake your head as $Arlo speaks, "the High Council are a bunch of selfish, pretentious pricks." $Arlo seems to have invited ?ahimself over again, but you can't find it within yourself to turn ?ahim away. "And then there's the matter of my witch," $Arlo looks towards Halley and frowns, "I need one." Then ?ahe gets up, "gonna get some air," ?ahe mumbles and heads towards the elevator to go to the roof. Eddie stands too, brows tented at an intense angle. ?eShe walks to the bar and starts pouring ?eherself a drink. [[Go to the roof.|arlosuggestion]] [["What about Amelie?" Eddie calls out.|Ameliesuggestion]]

<<if hasVisited("arlosuggestion")>>Back on the second floor of $clubname, you walk over to Eddie, still at the bar, refilling a glass of brown liquid. "Why don't you ask Amelie?" Eddie suggests, downing ?eher drink.<<else>> "Why don't you ask Amelie?" Eddie suggests, downing ?eher drink. You look at ?eher from your spot on the couch.<</if>> <<if $amelie is "friend">>It has crossed your mind. A hunter's job //is// to track down supernaturals. "I'm not sure if I want to get her involved," you confess. Helping you out in the city is one thing, but putting her on the High Council's radar is another. "We both know she'd be more than happy to." You quirk your eyebrow, "you know her very well?" Eddie shrugs, "we're friends." "Since when?" "Just call her," ?eshe rolls ?eher eyes. [[The phone rings.|ameliesuggestionfriend]]<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>Though it briefly crossed your mind, you don't trust her, especially after yesterday. She's a hunter, she kills vampires for a living. You cross your arms. She //hunts// vampires for a living. She might be able to find yours. "I don't like the idea of working with her." "But?" "But she might be our best bet," you sigh. "Fine, I'll call her." [[The phone rings.|ameliesuggestionhunter]]<</if>>

A familiar gust of wind greets you as you step onto the patio and see $Arlo leaning on the railing. You walk up to ?ahim. "Have you thought about it?" $Arlo twists ?ahis ring over and over again, referencing ?ahis earlier request of looking through your memories. To be perfectly honest? No. You haven't thought about it. After your meeting with the council, it felt that there was a more pressing matter at hand. "No, $Arlo, I haven't. I'm a little more concerned with the council threatening to kill my staff." "Come on, $name, think about it." ?aHe leans in closer, "does this feel like a coincidence?" No. Maybe. Nothing happening right now feels like a coincidence to you, but $Arlo has yet to say anything concrete. And it's too complicated with ?aher, everything you feel could be wrong, it's all clouded by- by ?ahim. ?aHis simply being here has your mind frayed and you can't in good conscience think logically. [[You look at the ground.|arlosuggestion2]]

"I don't know," you whisper, "you haven't actually told me anything. I can help you after, but it feels like you shouldn't be my focus." "Please," ?ahis voice cracks but ?ahe immediately clears ?ahis throat. "This is important." "Why did you have my council letter?" You ask instead. ?aHe looks at you, green eyes filled with conflict, "$name, come on." You can almost guess ?ahis next words and you almost want to vomit. ?aHe seems to sense it too. "I suppose asking you to trust me would be stupid." <<if $arloreaction is "numb">>"Yup," you roll your lips together.<<elseif $arloreaction is "angry">>"Yeah," you roll your lips together.<<elseif $arloreaction is "sad">>You smile sadly and ?ahe nods in understanding.<<elseif $arloreaction is "relieved">>"Sorry," you smile sadly and ?ahe nods in understanding.<</if>> "Okay," ?ahe says softly, "it's okay." <<if hasVisited("Ameliesuggestion")>> [[You leave, filled with more confusion.|eddiesuggestion]]<<else>>[[You leave, filled with more confusion.|Ameliesuggestion]]<</if>>

You find Eddie looking at you, brown eyes and dark brows staring intently. ?eShe inclines ?eher head towards the empty bar, indicating for you to follow. Eddie waits for you behind the bar, finished with ?eher drink and seemingly searching through the shelves Halley has organized. ?eShe meets your eyes and crosses ?eher arms. "I had to wait for Amelie to leave, but I have another idea." You lean against the counter, "what is it?" "Just know that I would never suggest this unless I thought there was a better alternative." Eddie's bluntness shines light on how dim your options are. Amelie's suggestion to check police reports paired with her refusal to sleuth around the Hunters or $Arlos cryptic memory quest, which you're still unsure how it relates to your predicament. And then your trapezing around the city collecting information had proved fruitless. Needless to say, you're open to anything. [["What is it?" you repeat.|eddiesuggestion2]]

… … … "Hey! Whatsup?" "Hey, Amelie. I need a favor." "Sure, yes, I can do that. Want me to come over?" "That'd be perfect, thank you." "See ya in ten!" [[You hang up. "That was easier than expected."|amsuggfriend2]]

… … … … … … … … "Hello?" "Amelie, it's $name." "I know. What is it?" "I need your help-" the word dissolves in the air before you fully form it. "What?" "I think you owe me," you say instead. Silence rings through on her end, until a static covered sigh reaches your ears, "I'll do my best." "I'm not asking over the phone," you point out, "come over to $clubname." "Okay, I'll be there in ten." [[She hangs up.|amsuggestionhunter2]]

– Her helmet is tucked under her arm as she emerges from the staircase. She smiles at Eddie, that same smile turning tense as her eyes find yours. You stare back. "Thanks for coming, Amelie," Eddie breaks the silence. Amelie's shoulders relax a little, "of course, what do you guys need?" She looks at you again. "I need help tracking down a vampire." Her face contorts, "okay, do you have any leads or anything?" "No." Eddie steps in again, "we have very little information. Just that he's extremely old and new to town. Would the hunters have any information available?" She shakes her head, "that's not something I have access to." You push. "Can you //get// access to it?" [["No," she frowns.|amsughunter3]]

"Not without breaking a lot of rules, which is not something I'm willing to do." You scoff, "you already break rules by working with me, //the High Vampire.//" "I've never broken a rule by working with you." "So all your colleagues think it's cool we help each other out?" She says nothing. "That's what I thought," you mumble. Eddie steps forward, a rare sympathetic smile on ?eher face, "is there anything you can do to help? Amelie looks between the two of you. "Hunters generally only act on cases that are reported by the people. But since we're privatized, a lot of people don't feel comfortable calling us directly. So we work with the police department. Anything supernatural related and deemed serious comes to us." "I didn't know that," Eddie says, "so you guys don't even hear every supernatural issue that happens in the city?" "Nope," Amelie replies, "a lot of people have biases against supernaturals, so the police department filters out the serious ones for us, or ones that they can't handle. It saves us resources." "Sounds like you guys might have too much faith in the police." [[You furrow your eyebrows.|amsughunter4]]

"Are you saying that the police have files of every human's complaints about supernaturals?" You ask intently. "Yep," Amelie nods. "If we could go through those files, we might be able to find something on our vampire." Amelie looks at you, tilting her head. "I was gonna suggest calling that hotline to ask." "I doubt they'd be able to help like that," you shake your head, "the files though..." "I'm guessing they're not gonna just hand us the files," Eddie adds. Amelie sighs, "no. But I can help you get them. I'm familiar with the anti-supernatural runes they use." You pause. "You're okay with breaking into the police station but not the Hunter's Building, where you already have access?" "Yeah, it's" she hesitates, "...easier this way." "Sounds like this could be a plan," Eddie looks at you, "what do you think?" It's a step further in the right direction. Though, it's extremely risky. If you're caught, you'll lose a lot of points with the humans in the city and easily flame vampiric hate. More than there already is. You don't answer. "I need to take off again but let me know," Amelie is already headed back to the stairs and Eddie back behind the bar. <<if hasVisited("arlosuggestion")>>[[You digest the information and turn around.|eddiesuggestion]]<<else>>Your eyes drift to the elevator, to $Arlo. [[You head to the roof.|arlosuggestion]]<</if>>\

– Her helmet is tucked under her arm as she emerges from the staircase. She smiles at Eddie and then waves at you. "Hey guys." "Thanks for coming," Eddie says. "Anything for you two, what's up?" She looks at you again. "I need help tracking down a vampire." Her face contorts, "okay, do you have any leads or anything?" "No," you say dishearteningly. "We only know that he's very old and relatively new to the city." "Do you have any hunter resources that might help us?" [[She crosses her arms as she thinks.|amsugg3]]

"None that I'm allowed to use or even have access to. But I might have another idea." Amelie looks between the two of you. "Hunters generally only act on cases that are reported by the people. But since we're privatized, a lot of people don't feel comfortable calling us directly. So we work with the police department. Anything supernatural related and deemed serious comes to us." "I didn't know that," Eddie says, "so you guys don't even hear every supernatural issue that happens in the city?" "Nope," Amelie replies, "a lot of people have biases against supernaturals, so the police department filters out the serious ones for us, or ones that they can't handle. It saves us resources." "Sounds like you guys might have too much faith in the police." [[You furrow your eyebrows in thought.|amsuggfren4]]

"Are you saying that the police have files of every human's complaints about supernaturals?" "Yep," Amelie nods. "If we could go through those files, we might be able to find something on our vampire." Amelie smiles, "I was gonna suggest calling that hotline to ask but that seems like a better idea." "I'm guessing they're not gonna just hand us the files," Eddie adds. Amelie shakes her head, "no. But I can help you get them. I'm familiar with the anti-supernatural runes they use." "You don't have any reservations with breaking into the police station?" A flicker of a frown flashes on her face. "Let's just say I have my own questions that this might answer." "Sounds like this could be a plan," Eddie looks at you, "what do you think?" It's a step further in the right direction. Though, it's extremely risky. If you're caught, you'll lose a lot of points with the humans in the city and easily flame vampiric hate. More than there already is. "You don't need to decide right now, I need to get back out there, but let me know soon, okay?" Amelie shifts her helmet to the other arm and you nod back. "Alright, see ya later, Amelie." She waves to you and Eddie and is back down the stairs as Eddie heads back to the bar. <<if hasVisited("arlosuggestion")>>[[You digest the information and turn around.|eddiesuggestion]]<<else>>Your eyes drift to the elevator, to $Arlo. [[You head to the roof.|arlosuggestion]]<</if>>\

?eShe sighs, "you know how my old pack is right outside the city? Well, majority of the roads that lead here first goes through them and we used to keep track of all the vampires headed through." You frown, "neither the old pack leader nor Sheridan has ever shared this with me." "Yeah, well," Eddie shrugs. "Maybe we can ask around. I'll… I can get us in. I still have a friend in there." You nod silently, Sheridan will probably be more open to trusting you if you show up with Eddie. [[You consider all your options.|finallychooseapath]]

Amelie, a hunter, she has the resources to help track down vampires. Instead, she's pointed you towards the police department, which could either lead to a big payoff or could ruin your reputation with the humans. $Arlo has been the opposite of helpful, insisting on going through your memories which will not help you get closer to finding the vampire. ?aHe keeps being cryptic and vague, even though ?ahe knows your current situation with the council. //Does this feel like a coincidence?// ?aHis words echo through your mind, but are immediately replaced with hurt and confusion. ?aHe has been gone a long, long time. Would it be wise to put off the council's request and help ?ahim? And then there's Eddie's suggestion. Never once has ?eshe led you wrong. The Pack, the new alpha, you're not confident Sheridan would help you. But a list of vampires going into the city? That could be huge, if it's accurate. But what if you're chasing a dead end? [[You'll go with Eddie's plan and go to the werewolves|edpath]] [[You'll ask Amelie for help, you'll work with a hunter. |ampath]] <<if $agen is 0>>[[You feel pulled towards Arlo, you'll help the vampire. |vampath]]<<elseif $agen is 1>>[[You feel pulled towards Aida, you'll help the vampire. |vampath]]<</if>> [AUTHOR'S NOTE: Keep a save here. Paths will come out one at a time. Order has not been decided.]

<<set $path to "werewolf">>\ You decide to go with Eddie's plan. If most roads into the city cross through the pack's territory, there must be a high chance that they've seen this insurgent. And you can discuss this list of vampires that Sheridan apparently has. "Okay," you say, "let's ask your pack about this list of vampires." Eddie bites on ?eher bottom lip, tapping ?eher fingers against ?eher watch. "Alright. I'll make a call. We can head over tomorrow." "Thanks, Eddie." ?eShe nods. [[You stay at the club for a few hours.|ch3clubtime]] [[You stay at the club for a few hours then head to your apartment. (Skips scenes)|nowyouleave]]

//Later// - The bass is deep, lights flashing <<if $clubtheme is "black">>white, a picture highlighting the stone and onyx with every beat.<<elseif $clubtheme is "red">>orange and yellow, dancing like a fire with every beat. <<elseif $clubtheme is "neon">>purples and pinks, with every beat the color changes, almost lifting the dance floor into the air.<<elseif $clubtheme is "gold">>gold and white, a scream of the sunset with every beat.<</if>> You watch as your nephilim bartender, Aspen, tucks their large, gray wings in to shimmy around the bar where Kade waits. Aspen takes a black band off of their wrist, tying half of their purple shoulder length hair up, out of their face. "Is that a new tattoo?" Kade points to a green, vine-like pattern twisting up Aspen's arm. Aspen nods, "yeah, just got it last night." The clear tape around their arm reflects the small amount of light shining behind the bar. "Cool," Kade gawks. "You know Halley gave me a rune on my hand once." Aspen's light yellow eyes widen with curiosity, "what did it do?" Kade smiles at a guest walking forward to the bar while simultaneously responding to Aspen. "Made my entire hand numb, I couldn't move it for like a week!" He then starts pouring a clear liquid into a shaker, followed by a squirt of soda. [[The he shakes it together.|ch3clubtime2]]

"How did you work with a numb hand?" Aspen pulls a couple hairs out to frame their face, then bends over behind the bar to sort through cups. The guest receives their drink from Kade, smiling widely, an intoxicated blush already covering their face. Kade smiles back cheekily, turning his attention to Aspen once more. "It was really hard, I felt bad for Vael. But it was especially hard turning the left side of my body away from Eddie everytime ?eshe came over here. Eyes like a hawk on that one." Aspen laughs, hiding their smile behind their hand. Their entire presence glows. "Did $name ever notice?" Kade laughs nervously, "I don't think so but only because I think ?theyre used to me acting weird around ?them." "Oh!" Aspen sets their hand down on the counter, "did you see Vael shaved her head again?" "Yes! It looks so good, she said her girlfriend did it." "I think she's a hairstylist or something, but the design on the sides look amazing." "I wish I had someone like that," Kade whines. "Someone who can shave your head or someone who, like, loves you?" [[And on that note, you decide to take your attention to the front.|ch3clubtime3]]

A group of five walk in, all wearing matching t-shirts, already drunk. They shout and giggle, pointing to the big crystal feature hanging from the ceiling. You make your way to Kaylen who's scanning IDs. Another bouncer, one whose name escapes you, checks waivers further inside. Kaylen winks at you as you step beside her. "How's it going, $lastname?" You lean against the wall, taking note of the line that forms outside. "Oh, you know, it's the usual. How about you?" [[She looks at you.|ch3clubtime4]]

<<if hasVisited("Sam")>>Her blue eyes flash with worry as she sends the next customer inside. "Sam hasn't called me in two days, I'm nervous for him." You recall your conversation with him earlier but smile at Kaylen. "I actually saw him today, he's doing fine, just figuring his shit out." "What does that mean? He got turned at only twenty three years old, how is he supposed to figure anything out? I could barely figure out how to not burn water at twenty three!" "Hey," you put your hand on her muscled shoulder, "he's smart and has an amazing older sister. I promise he will be okay. Just give him time." Kaylen relaxes at your words, "I know you're right, but I'll always worry. Hey!" Her face turns intense, glaring at the comparatively small man in front of her, "this is expired, get outta here."<<else>> "I swear I pulled something at the gym this morning," she rolls her muscled shoulder, the tight black tank stretches almost beyond capacity. "Can werebears stretch their muscles?" You ask. "Do you not heal similar to werewolves?" "Kinda, it's more like my skin is very hard to pierce and bones very difficult to break." You adjust your own shoulder, "That's interesting. Are werebears weak to anything?" Kaylen side eyes you but laughs, "are you planning on killing me?" Your eyes widen, "no, no, sorry. I've only ever met one werebear before you and he was not the biggest fan of mine." "Did you ask him what could kill him?" You smile devilishly, "maybe." She laughs again, "well, I'm not actually sure. I haven't been stabbed that much." Again, you hum in consideration, "interesting. How many times have you been-" "-hey!" She barks suddenly, looking at the comparatively small man in front of her. "This is expired, get outta here."<</if>> [[The guy starts rolling his eyes.|ch3clubtime5]]

"Tck, come on, I'm seventy years old, I'm just immortal," he pouts. "Then get a new ID that shows me that, 'cuz right now it's saying you're way younger." He crosses his arms, "this is bullshit, this place sucks." Kaylen stands up, towering at her full height, her massive stature and intimidating aura are enough that the guy takes a few steps back. "Alright, damn, I'll go," he mumbles and scurries away. You look over the continually growing line, "I'll stop distracting you, keep up the good work." [["Thanks!" She calls over her shoulder.|ch3clubtime6]]

You head back inside, past the dance floor only to see three people crowded around one of the bathroom doors. "Come on, Oceania, open up!" The blonde woman calls while knocking on the door. The orange haired man standing next to her rolls his eyes, "she's not gonna open, she's too drunk and emotional right now." You make eye contact with the third person, a woman with black and blue braided hair. She rolls her lips at you, "sorry, we're trying to get her out but her magic is keeping the door frozen in place." The blonde woman looks back at you briefly, "open up please, you're gonna get us kicked out." You've dealt with this before, be it by talking them through it or breaking down the door. Once your hand punches through the wood, a lot of people tend to give up. Though, Eddie hates when you do that. - [[Thirty minutes later, the witch is out and back with her friends.|nowleaveclubch3]]

The rest of the night looks to be heading towards a financial success, so you decide to go back to your apartment. You have other things to start worrying about. However, you can't act until the morning. <<if $hobby is "reading">>[[You need to distract yourself.|ch3reading]]<</if>><<if $hobby is "piano">>[[You need to distract yourself.|ch3piano]]<</if>><<if $hobby is "painting">>[[You need to distract yourself.|ch3painintg]]<</if>><<if $hobby is "cooking">>[[You need to distract yourself.|ch3cooking]]<</if>>

"$name, you're not even trying." "Eddie, when you reach my age, it gets harder to adapt to all these new technologies." You look up at ?eher and bat your eyelashes. ?eShe snorts loudly, the shadow of a smile playing on ?eher lips. "God, you're so old." "I am and you know what?" You turn the chair to face ?ehim, "you should really learn to respect your elders. I know how to log into things and pay stuff. What more do I need?" Eddie rolls ?eher lips at your playful banter, but you swear you can see them twitch up. "You're so annoying." "I forgot to get Vael's receipts from last night," ?eshe changes the subject, " wanna come out to get them with me?" [[You stand up.|edrom3]]

"Nope, come over here." ?eShe gestures with ?eher head. You drag your feet over, recalling all the times before that ?eshe tried to teach you how to use a computer "more efficiently". ?eShe stands from ?eher chair, "sit." The seat is warm when you sit down, suddenly enveloped in a sweet but spicy scent. In Eddie's scent. You clear your throat, trying to keep your mind from buzzing off of the close proximity. The fact that one of ?eher hands rests on the back of the chair, so close to your neck. "You see these cells?" eShe starts talking, pointing at the screen with ?eher other hand, but honestly, you hear none of ?eher words. Maybe it's because ?eshes wearing ?eher glasses, which is big distraction for you, or maybe it's because of the small rasp you can hear in ?eher voice. <<if $egen is 1>>Or maybe it's because ?eher hair brushes against your shoulder.<</if>> [[Regardless, you cannot focus.|edrom2_2]]

Then you feel ?eher fingers on your chin, sending your heart into flutters. ?eShe pulls your face towards ?eher. "$name, are you even listening?" //So close.// You can see yourself in the reflection of ?aher lenses. Calmly, you pull your face from ?eher hand and close your eyes to compose yourself. You play it off as banter, "yes, $Edith, I was listening." "You just use my full name?" ?eShe raises ?eher eyebrows. "Eddie, when you reach my age, it gets harder to adapt to all these new technologies." You look up at ?eher and bat your eyelashes. A shadow of a smile plays on ?eher lips. "Well, it's a good thing you have me, huh." "I guess it is," you smile back. "I forgot to get Vael's receipts from last night," ?eshe changes the subject, " wanna come out to get them with me?" [[You stand up.|edrom3]]

"No," you shake your head. "I'll do it myself." A siren goes off in the distance as he watches you. "Alright," he finally says. Then he turns, heading out of the alley way and the opposite direction of the vampire. You shift your focus back on the city. [[To hunt the vampire.|huntvampire1]]

You shake his hand and watch as he leaves. A siren sounds off in the distance and you frown, shifting your mind back to the task at hand. [[Hunting the vampire.|huntvampire1]]

Closing your eyes, you listen. Searching. Past the food trucks, past the traffic. To the voices. //Please, please don't bite me!// A woman's shrill voice echoes to you and you take off in that direction. Out of the center of the city, closer south. The roads turn cracked and buildings unfurnished. The voice leads you towards a dive bar, the alley to the side. "Don't!" It's followed by laughter, giggles. When you turn the corner you find the woman with her arms wrapped around another, kisses being feathered all over her neck. "Don't bite me, Logan!" the woman playfully reprimands her partner. You sigh and move on, walking towards the highway underpass then stop. [[Vanilla and iron.|ch1hunt2]]

Your eyes widen, chest suddenly thrumming with excitement. "That's not necessarily true." "Really?" His mouth twitches into a smile. Your eyes trail over his long torso and his well kept hair, to the charming smile that's finally fully formed. "Really." He chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. "Then I'd love to get to know you sometime, here's my number." He hands you a small card with digits on it. "It was really nice meeting you, looking forward to talking again." He holds his hand out and you take it, giving it a firm shake. "It was nice to meet you too, Gabriel. Have a nice night." You watch him take off into the night, shifting your mind to the task at hand. [[Hunting the vampire.|huntvampire1]] <<set $gnumber to true>>\

<<set $gnumber to true>>\ "I don't mind," you smile charmingly. He smiles back, "I'm happy to hear that." You start walking again, street smells coming back to you gradually. Sour. Then sweet. Then savory. But you're more focused on Gabriel. "You know, I've heard rumors about you." "Nothing but good ones, I hope." You kick a loose rock in front of you. Gabriel kicks it too. "I've yet to see anything bad." He sends a coquettish smile in your direction, hues of reddish light intensifying the atmosphere. You dribble the rock a bit before tapping it back his way. "Except for losing that vampire." [[Sirens ring off in the distance and you frown.|ch1gabflirt1.1]]

He stops walking, tucking a strand of black hair behind his ear. "I will admit that I didn't help you because I was concerned you couldn't handle it." He laughs breathily, "I was actually hoping I could give you my number." Then he holds out a small card with numbers on the front. You take it, tucking it away for later. "But I think I should stop distracting you." The edges of his eyes crinkle as he gives you a genuine smile. "It was really nice meeting you, $name, I hope you call." You feel a small flutter of excitement in your chest as you wave goodbye. The start of a smile lingering on your lips until you shake it away, shifting your mind to the task at hand. [[Hunting the vampire.|huntvampire1]]

You chuckle, rubbing the back of your neck. "It's very flattering, thank you, but-" "But say no more," he smiles, "I get it." The two of you start walking again, street smells coming back to you gradually. Sour. Then sweet. Then savory. "There are rumors, you know," he breaks the silence. "A vampire and a werewolf owning a club together, but not just any vampire. A High Council appointed a high vampire." You roll your eyes playfully, "ah yes, some members of the council have been very vocal about their," you put up finger quotes, "//vampires only// agenda." "So you don't support that?" You shrug, "no." [[He nods slowly, kicking a rock in your direction.|ch1gabrielrejection1.2]]

You kick it back and he smiles. "I have a confession," he says, "I didn't help you with that vampire because I thought you needed it. In fact, I found it impressive that you handled him so subtly. Most vampires would try and showcase their power. But I was, uh," he looks away and laughs, "hoping to get you my number. No worries though, I will not ask you. I need to go but it was really nice meeting you, and I have no doubts that you'll find him." He holds his hand out and you take it, giving it a firm shake. "It was nice to meet you too, Gabriel. Have a nice night." You watch him take off into the night, shifting your mind to the task at hand. [[Hunting the vampire.|huntvampire1]]

The scent leads you to the outskirts of the city, still within its limits, under the highway that leads out. Deep reverberations travel across you. The overpass stands tall and dark, shadows obscuring corners where concrete meets concrete. Your steps are announced, the small streams of gunk and water leading you to the young vampire. He's blanketed by shadows, moonlit from above. Face obscured then revealed again and again by light and movement, orange reds and whites. Flashes of crimson drip down his face, mixing with the green of the molded water below. A semi truck travels overhead, shaking the ground beneath it, covering the noise of a body hitting the ground, splashing in the concocted puddle back onto its owner. A crooked smile grows across the vampire's face. Strings of red caught between his incisor and cuspid. His painted fingers twitch. Blue eyes look completely iced over, bright but lifeless in the sea of veins strangling them. [[Inebriated with blood.|ch1hunt3]]

The blonde hair attached to the body buoys in the bloodied water, imitating the life it once had. The way the head lulls, broken to the side, everything spilling out. //It calls to you.// Saliva pools in your mouth, throat swallowing dryly. //$name.// A deep hunger echoes back, trying to rip off the primal vines that time has caged it with. "$name!" But you don't answer its call. Instead, you turn your head to see a woman, black boots crunching against the wet concrete, she holds a loaded crossbow pointed just past you. Her black curly hair is pulled back, though small stray curls stick to the sweat on her forehead. If the crossbow didn't give her away, then the subtle clanking of hidden vials and the sliding of metal against leather did. [[A hunter.|ch1hunt4]]

But not just any hunter. The same hunter who's been in the news almost every month for the past three years. Known for her high success rate of deescalating supernatural conflicts in her short amount of time in the city. Though, deescalating can mean different things to you versus humans. It's the same hunter that insists on creating a relationship with you, constantly checking in, asking how the business is. Amelie Cadman. She uses her shoulder to wipe a sweat soaked curl from her cheek, the warm brown undertones of her skin flashing under the street lights that flicker from above. She lowers her crossbow and grins. [[You grin back, having reciprocated her friendship.|setamelietofriend]] [[You clench your jaw, unhappy with the her presence. Unhappy with hunters.|setamelietohunter]] <<set $amelieunlocked to true>>\ <<notify 2s>>Character Unlocked: Amelie<</notify>>\

<<set $amelie to "friend">>\ "Amelie," you coyly smile, barely taking your eyes off the scene before you; the vampire diving into his prey once more. "I should've known you'd show up." Her grin fades into a frown as she listens to the slurping happening before her. "I wish I didn't need to." She raises her crossbow once more, "it's covered with a paralyzing substance. But once I shoot, I'll be taking him back to headquarters." Another large truck passes overhead, the vibrations momentarily dulling out the wet carnage. He'll be taken into custody at the Hunter's Guild. He'll be shown photos of his victim, her family might be there. And then he'll be killed. Or there's the other option. Instead of Amelie incapacitating him, you could. You restrain him, take him back to the club, sober him from his blood lust. As the High Vampire you would then take responsibility for his actions and any of his actions from this moment on. If the woman has a family, they would make demands of you and you would be responsible. Or you could kill him yourself. Spare him the shame of his actions, take him out while he's still buzzing. Avoid the politics. "Well?" Amelie asks, "my partner will be here soon and he always 'forgets' to coat his crossbow." [[Let Amelie handle it.|ch1vampiream]] [[You handle it.|ch1vampiremc]]

<<set $amelie to "hunter">>\ "Amelie," you state, barely taking your eyes off the scene before you; the vampire diving into his prey once more. "I should've known you'd show up." Her grin fades into a frown as she listens to the slurping happening before her. "I wish I didn't need to." She raises her crossbow once more, "it's covered with a paralyzing substance. But once I shoot, I'll be taking him back to headquarters." Another large truck passes overhead, the vibrations momentarily dulling out the wet carnage. He'll be taken against his will to the Hunter's Guild. He'll be forced to look at photos of his victim, her family might be there. And then he'll be murdered. Though, there is another option. Instead of Amelie incapacitating him, you could. You restrain him, take him back to the club, sober him from his blood lust. As the High Vampire you would then take responsibility for his actions and any of his actions from this moment on. If the woman has a family, they would make demands of you and you would be responsible. Or you could kill him yourself. Spare him the shame of his actions, take him out while he's still buzzing. Avoid the politics. "Well?" Amelie asks, "my partner will be here soon and he always 'forgets' to coat his crossbow." [[Let Amelie handle it.|ch1vampiream]] [[You handle it.|ch1vampiremc]]

You nod at her silently, motioning for her to take the lead. <<if $amelie is "friend">>The corner of her mouth twitches up. You pretend you didn't see it.<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>The corner of her mouth twitches into a smile. You hope you don't regret your decision.<</if>> Then her face drops, any lines ironing out, intent and focused. She raises the crossbow, not bothering to step any closer. She lines up the shot. And then a car honks. [[The vampire looks up and hisses.|ch1vampirefight1.1]]

"I'll handle it," you say, but at the sound of your voice the vampire stops eating. His engorged eyes lock onto your own, and he starts walking. You mirror his movement, keeping distance between yourself and the vampire. Amelie steps back, crossbow up and aimed, walking behind you. Your arms move instinctively out, keeping her shielded. The vampire launches himself up and at you. You quickly shove Amelie away, her back hitting the cement and crossbow dropping to the side. But you take a step back as he lands where Amelie was standing, hitting the ground on all fours with a crack of his ankle. He hisses again, swiping at you. His skin turns blue and leathery as his jaw dislocates further. [[Eyes filling with black ink and anger.|ch1vampirefight2.1]]

Amelie shoots but he dodges just in time. His skin turns blue and leathery as his jaw dislocates further, eyes filling with black ink. He sprints towards Amelie, claws tearing for her face. She just barely avoids the gashes. But he turns, tackling her to the ground, and biting into her neck. <<if $amelie is "friend">>You watch anxiously, afraid to rip her neck off if you rip him off of her.<<else>>You watch patiently for your opening, deciding to spare the skin on her neck instead of ripping it off along with him.<</if>> It doesn't take long, seconds and he hisses, stumbling back off of her. Lips bubbling and peeling as he scratches at his mouth. The hunter's poisonous blood reacts with the vampire and you grab the back of his neck, throwing him back into the shadows with a loud crash. <<if $amelie is "friend">>"Are you okay?" You call back, turning your body towards the vampire. Amelie groans, "I hit my head on the cement but not a concussion."<<else>>"Stay back," you call out, placing your body between Amelie and the vampire. She groans.<</if>> Suddenly, the vampire bursts from the shadows, leaping towards you. [[But it's over quickly.|ch1vampirefight1.2]]

Your claws are out to brace, but the momentum skewers him instead, an unlucky hand placement and you can feel his heart in your palm. And the breeze on your wet skin as your hand sticks out of his back. "Fuck," you groan in frustration. You didn't want him dead. Then you hear slow claps. "Well, well, well," a man's voice echoes over the puddles. "Monster killing monster, how fitting." Emerging from the shadows is a tall man, tan skin and black hair pulled back into a short low pony. Amelie is by your side, helping you deal with the body hanging from your arm. He slides off with a plop. "Cavil," Amelie picks up her fallen crossbow, "leave it alone." "Are you hurt?" He asks, walking up to her and lifting her chin up with his hand for a better look. She slaps it away, "I'm fine." She wipes the blood off of her neck, though it continues to bleed. Luckily for her, the vampire missed any arteries. Instead, she pulls out a rag from her pocket and places it on the side of her neck. [[Sweet and sour fills the air.|ch1vampirefight1.3]]

Cavil turns his attention back to you, petting the silver gilded stake hanging from his belt. "What," you flick the blood off of your hands, landing it inches away from Cavil. He smiles, a closed mouth, shit-eating smile. "Nothing," he walks towards the body, rifling through the vampire's pockets until he finds a wallet. He looks at the ID carefully before showing it to you. "Anybody you know?" "No," you answer. He throws it on the ground, "perfect. This kill will earn me the bonus I've been looking for." Then he places some kind of tracker on the body. "Don't worry, the hunters will come clean this up. You can go back to your little club." But you barely hear him, the thought of him earning money for this death has your blood boiling. "You get //bonuses// for killing vampires?" [[He smiles.|ch1vampirefight1.4]]

Amelie walks in front of you, holding one hand out. "I know, I know, it's disgusting. I've been petitioning for its removal." Your eyes flicker from Amelie's round, brown eyes to Cavil's leer over her shoulder. "Anyways," Cavil shrugs, his face turning from arrogant to concerned, "Amelie, we need to get you back." She looks at Cavil then back to you. <<if $amelie is "friend">> "I'll see you later, but you should go. The rest of the squad will be here for cleanup."<<else>>"You should go, the rest of the squad will be here for cleanup."<</if>> The hunters leave the small but bloodied scene behind them, leaving you alone with the two dead bodies. You take one last look before leaving, noticing how the wet streets blend perfectly with the darkened blood. By morning, no one will know what happened here. Not when the blood will be washed away so perfectly. [[Next|ch1mcmems]]

Suddenly, he crawls quickly towards Amelie, claws tearing for her face. She rolls out of the way but he's on her back before you can react, teeth sinking into her neck. You try to think of a way to rip him off of her without ripping her skin off, but he suddenly slouches over. Amelie wiggles out from underneath him, in her hand a blood covered stake. <<if $amelie is "friend">> She drops it, chest heaving and eyes wide, "I'm so sorry, I had to." You look at his body, smelling the familiar burn of wood on skin and shake your head. "Are you okay?" She blinks a couple of times before standing slowly, "yeah, no concussion." But that's not what you're referring to. The sourly sweet scent emanating from Amelie's neck. <<else>> She drops it, chest heaving, "sorry." You look at his body, smelling the familiar burn of wood on skin and shake your head, "you shouldn't have been here. Not when he was feeding." "It's my job," she gestures back to the other dead body. Your mind is distracted from Amelie's words by the sourly sweet scent emanating from her neck.<</if>> [[You scrunch your nose.|ch1vampirefight2.2]]

You walk over and turn the vampire's body over, looking at the burnt skin around his lips and the jagged hole torn through his clothes. Amelie's poisonous blood saved her from the vampire digging in deeper, and was also the reason you didn't pounce on him right away. Then you hear slow claps. "Well, well, well," a man's voice echoes over the puddles. "Nicely done, Amelie." Emerging from the shadows is a tall man, tan skin and black hair pulled back into a short low pony. Amelie is by your side. "Cavil," Amelie picks up her fallen crossbow, "leave it alone." "Are you hurt?" He asks, walking up to her and lifting her chin up with his hand for a better look. She slaps it away, "I'm fine." Then wipes the blood off of her neck, though it continues to bleed. Luckily for her, the vampire missed any arteries. She pulls out a rag and places it on the side of her neck. Cavil turns his attention back to you, petting the silver gilded stake hanging from his belt. [["What," you ask flatly.|ch1vampirefight2.3]]

He smiles, a closed mouth, shit-eating smile. "Nothing," he walks towards the body, rifling through the vampire's pockets until he finds a wallet. He looks at the ID carefully before showing it to you. "Anybody you know?" "No," you answer. He throws it on the ground, "perfect. This kill will earn me the bonus I've been looking for." Then he places some kind of tracker on the body. "Don't worry, the hunters will come clean this up. You can go back to your little club." But you barely hear him, the thought of him earning money for this death has your blood boiling. "You get //bonuses// for killing vampires?" [[He smiles.|ch1vampirefight1.4]]

//Back at at the club// - Kaylen greets you as you cut the line to get inside, line waiters frowning and pouting. The music rifts and the crowd bounces up and down. Lights flare and the bass settles at the back of your skull. You close your eyes, letting the music travel across your bones and the familiarity make peace beneath your skin. When you open your eyes, they're drawn to the bar, where you see Kade hustling to make drinks. The other bartender busies herself at the other end of the bar. [[You catch Kade's eye and he waves you down.|Kade finally]]

Something almost primal stirs in you. "//Watch what you're doing//," you hiss down at her, checking every inch of her face for injury. Anger suddenly courses through your veins. You don't understand it, the emotions you feel, but you'd be damned if she took that blow. You get off of her, "stay out of the way." She sits up, eyes wide while nodding her head. [[The lion's pained roars envelope the stadium.|duofight]]

You look away too, scoffing, trying to ignore Halley's implications. Though a part of your heart beats a little faster, which you only attribute to leftover adrenaline from the day. Halley and Kade look at eachother gleefully. Eddie clears ?eher throat, "can we move on?" Kade's face pales while Halley sighs dramatically, "I guess we could, Eddie, sure." Halley smugly takes a sip of the drink she's been holding. Eddie looks at it curiously, stepping over and gently lifting her hand to sniff the drink, "that smells weird. What is that?" Halley flushes, "oh, it's a new mixed drink we're trying out." She scratches the back of her head. "I think it was from Aspen or Vael? It's a new mix." [[Eddie frowns.|halley has hale drink]] <<set $Amrom to $Amrom +1>>\

"What?" you ask rhetorically. Amelie looks at you, briefly mortified, then back at Halley and Kade. "We're joking around, $name," Kade says, "at Amelie's expense." Halley sighs, "sorry, Amelie. Sorry, $name." Halley then takes a sip of the drink she's been holding. Eddie looks at it curiously, stepping over and gently lifting her hand to sniff the drink, "that smells weird. What is that?" Halley flushes, "oh, it's a new mixed drink we're trying out." She scratches the back of her head. "I think it was from Aspen or Vael? It's a new mix." [[Eddie frowns.|halley has hale drink]]

<<set $hunterdisp to "hate">>\ You make a disgusted noise, glaring up at the building. Eddie smirks at you, "not a fan of hunters?" You glower at ?eher, "why would I be? They're killers." <<if $amelie is "friend">>"What about Amelie?" You frown, "she's different." "That's true," Eddie says.<</if>>"I can't blame you, they've always hated vampires." ?eHer face levels out, "as far as I know, hunters have never treated werewolves as poorly as vampires. In fact, I think werewolves and hunters used to work together." [[You shake your head.|hunterswerewlfs]]

<<set $hunterdisp to "understand">>\ You gaze at the building. "Thoughts?" Eddie asks. You shake your head, "I understand why humans want them, but it feels so hypocritical." Eddie laughs, "That fair, I'm surprised you're not more upset about it." ?eHer face levels out, "as far as I know, hunters have never treated werewolves as poorly as vampires. In fact, I think werewolves and hunters used to work together." [[You shake your head.|hunterswerewlfs]]

<<set $hunterdisp to "hate">>\ You make a disgusted noise, glaring up at the building. "Tell me about it." $Arlo stands next to you, glowering up as well. "Witches, shifters, were's. Never hunted as much as vampires," ?ahe shakes ?ahis head. "Never a species, only a curse." That's what $Arlo thinks the hunter's use to justify their hate on vampires. Vampires are never born, the first one said to have originated from a curse. [[After a moment of silence, you continue.|dsfa]]

<<set $hunterdisp to "understand">>\ You look up, evaluating the building. $Arlo stops next to you. "Remember when they weren't corporate and didn't almost wipe out vampires?" You turn and sigh, "yeah. I get why humans want them but it feels so hypocritical." "Witches, shifters, were's. Never hunted as much as vampires," ?ahe shakes ?ahis head. "Never a species, only a curse." [[After a moment of silence, you continue.|dsfa]]

Finally you're back outside, sun peaking through the clouds. "$name, stop." Amelie stands in front of you. You cross your arms, "what." She bites the top of her lip, looking back at the building then back to you. "Come here," she walks a few blocks forwards, towards $clubname. You were already going to walk that way, so you follow her at arm's length. When she stops, you slowly approach her, "well?" She lets out a short breath, "they put you under a spell." "They?" "The hunters, they- //we//, have a spell to detect the intentions of someone." You narrow your eyes, "you prodded through my head?" She nods silently, guilt once again flashing on her face. //[[You're pissed.|ch3argumenthunter_1.1]]// [[You walk away.|ch3argumenthunter_2.1]]

"Are you kidding me with that face?" Amelie's eyes widen then suddenly morph into anger. "Excuse me?" "You have the balls to look like you feel bad after you lead me there." "I- I don't know, should I not feel bad?" She stutters. You scoff, "why did you even tell me?" She flounders for an answer, so you provide her one. <<if $hunterdisp is "understanding">>"Maybe it's because you know that the organization is corrupt. That once upon a time, hunters were needed so vampires or whatever supernatural didn't kill off small towns. But now? A whole high rise building with golden fucking letters? Spells that keep us placated so you can read our minds? It's out of control and you know it." She throws her hand out, "what do you want me to do? Dismantle the entire organization from within? I'm one person, doing my best to handle things correctly but they're all also doing their best." You laugh bitterly, "is that what you really believe?" "I-" she shakes her head, "it doesn't matter what I believe."<<elseif $hunterdisp is "hate">>"The organization that pays your bills also spills the blood of supernaturals everywhere. All they do is create a harmful stigma surrounding supernaturals that leads to violence." She throws her hand out, "if you haven't noticed, supernaturals are also harming humans in every city. Vampires with no inhibitions, werewolves unable to control their transformations, witches with spells that go wrong. Humans have no defenses against them without us." You laugh bitterly, "humans might not have a defense without hunters, but we don't make //money// off of dead humans. You're telling me that's not corrupt?" "That's not," she shakes her head, unable to look at you, "it doesn't matter what I believe."<</if>> "This is going nowhere, I'm leaving." [[You have so much other shit to do still.|talkingtovampstime]]

You walk away. Amelie catches up to you, "$name, wait," "What do you want?" You stop. "You have nothing to say about what happened?" You scoff, "what do you want me to say? I don't expect anything different from a hunter." "It wasn't my idea, I think the whole thing is messed up." You shake your head in confusion, "why are you telling me this?" Her mouth stays agape while she searches for an answer. "I don't know." "I'm not gonna save you from your guilty conscience," you say, "I have other shit to do." [[You leave her standing there as you round a corner.|talkingtovampstime]]

You step outside your building to see Amelie across the street, black helmet tucked beneath her arm. She crosses over, apologizing to a car she steps in front of on the way over. "New bike?" you nod your head over to the unfamiliar motorcycle parked across the way, internally scolding yourself for noticing. She shakes her head, "nah, it's a rental until mine gets fixed." You look at her in surprise, "you're gonna try and fix it? Looked scrapped to me." "I'm sentimental," she shrugs. She adjusts her hair in the low ponytail, tucking a few stray pieces back behind her ear. Then she stretches her arms downward, tucking her hands into the sleeves of her long-sleeved shirt, the helmet awkwardly held to the side by her bicep. [["Why are you here?" you finally ask.|ch3amromhunter1]]

On your way back, you can't help but feel pity for that vampire. You had once been like that. Subject only to your carnal needs, no self control and no sympathy for those you had to use to get what you want. It's so easy to remember. //Warmth. The still beating pulse as you devoured your victim. It was better when they were alive, warmer. Tastier. When they fell to the floor, the wet thud and the power coursing through you. Not just that of fresh blood but of a fresh kill. The adrenaline. So delicously addictive.// You feel your lips twist up into a sadistic smile before guilt shoots through your core. [[You wipe it from your face.|chmcmems2]]

It didn't have to be a club. It could've been anything. But nothing drowned out your thoughts the way the bass did; or obscure them the way drinking did. When you were alone, the day wasn't so bad. People out chittering about, the noise of the sun, it's distracting glare. You could focus on anything you wanted, the world buzzing behind you. It was when night came that you'd feel the weight of the world. Peaceful and serene, the night held no distractions for you. Forcing you to be with your thoughts, all the self hatred and guilt that was so easily harbored when you had no one to talk to or to lean on. Or when the high of a kill wore off. //Guilt. Loneliness. Your torturers. Maybe you felt guilty because you were alone. Or maybe you were alone because the guilt ate you alive.// Nights were unbearable. You weren't sure how long you could subject yourself to that torment. Then you stumbled upon a gross, sticky old bar. The drunk patrons threw you rude remarks and the shitty music grated against your ears. But you were distracted, suddenly focused on keeping the putrid outhouse fumes from your nose rather than drowning in your thoughts. Suddenly disgusted by the bar goers sweaty necks rather than delighted with their drunken distractedness. [[Then you tried their drinks.|ch2mcmems3]]

When you tried their drinks, it was met with a short-lived buzz, but a buzz in which you felt free from your curse, free from being a vampire. Quite a dangerous notion if you were human, but you weren't. Their drinks didn't affect you like it did them, and from this you thought of ways to extend the buzz. Though, you don't even need to drink anymore, your own club is enough to keep you comfortable. Creating $clubname became your sole purpose. You put all your energy into it, figuring out just the right music to tame the inner turmoil, the right lighting to scare away harmful thoughts and the right liquors to help soothe any aches or pains brought on by the human world. You always knew you couldn't keep this to yourself, that there were hundreds of supernaturals that felt just as isolated or guilt driven as you, and you wouldn't want to. You opened your doors, hired staff, met Eddie and suddenly, you weren't alone anymore. You had created your own sanctuary, no longer dependent on anyone, or anything, around you. [[You couldn't let anyone have it.|Amelie phonee cll]]

"I'd rather spend more time up here," you smirk playfully, "with my favorite bartender." Halley lets out a faux gasp before grinning back. "//Obviously//, I'm your favorite. Kade has no game compared to me." You let out an airy laugh, "didn't he outsell you last weekend?" "Hey. That was only-" she pauses to lean over the counter and point a finger at you, "that was only because of that engagement party. Also, I meant his personality." A smile grows on your face as you slide off the stool. "Alright, Halley, I'll make sure he knows that." "Oh, he knows!" She calls back. You give a small wave as you make your ways towards the stairs. The edges of the entrance to the staircase float off the wall a little bit. Runes in place ready to transition anyone from the calmer atmosphere of upstairs to the higher energy of downstairs. [[The low beat of music starts to pick up with each step you grace.|Ch1.6 Downstairs bar]] <<set $silly to $silly +1>>\

You gnaw on your lip briefly, "I hope he's okay, I should go now." "Nah," Halley waves her hand dismissively, "it's not an emergency." The stool stops squeaking as you stand. "It's fine, if he needs something I should go check." "Such a good boss," Halley flutters her eyelashes at you and you playfully roll your eyes. "That reminds me," you tap your fingers on the smooth bar top, "were you able to find those rune books? Halley's eyes light up, her whole body standing taller. "Yes! Thanks for the tip! I've already started digging through them. I'll be able to create some that'll get rid of that shit smell in the restroom." Your shoulders sag with relief, "good, that witch from last week did a number on that toilet with that weird spell. Anyways," you wave, "I'll check on you later." Halley waves back. The edges of the entrance to the staircase float off the wall a little bit. Runes in place ready to transition anyone from the calmer atmosphere of upstairs to the higher energy of downstairs. [[The low beat of music starts to pick up with each step you grace.|Ch1.6 Downstairs bar]] <<set $prot to $prot +1>>\

Eddie shakes the hand of the dark haired vendor. "Thanks, Xante, I'll see you around." Then turns and spots you walkng towards ?eher. "That took a while-" then spots Gabriel walking away. "Friend of yours?" [[You shrug.|You glare and follow.]]

The warmth of it spreads throughout your body. His eyes crinkles with a soft smile, something you think you could get used to. "$name, I didn't expect to get along with you so well." "Honestly?" You put your spoon down. "Neither did I." "I'd love to keep seeing you, on another date. If you'd like." You nod, your eyes brightening at that thought. He blushes pink, "I travel around a lot, I'll be leaving for a bit tomorrow, but when I come back-" "It's a date," you finish. The rest of the meal goes almost as easy as the conversation, paired with the guarantee of seeing him again, you find yourself relaxed and genuinely enjoying your time. Thoughts of tomorrow and what's to come taking a backseat to your current company. [[End of Ch 3.|endofch3]]

"What?" $Arlo whispers. You take a step back, "it's a simple question." ?aHis mouth opens but ?ahe remains silent. "Why did you leave?" You repeat, voice cracking unwillingly. "Why did you leave me?" "I don't, ah, I don't." ?aHe starts to clam up, eyes looking everywhere but your own. "I think I need some air." "$Arlo-" But ?ahes already out the door. [[You step into the hallway.|ch3afriendtense2]]

"$Arlo," you call out and ?ahe stops halfway down the corridor. Without moving, without turning around to face you, ?ahe speaks softly, "I can't." "Why," you whisper, "you said anything." ?aHe turns around and you can hear the frantic beating of ?ahis heart. "I'm not ready, ask anything else of me." ?aHe takes a step towards you, "ask for my life and it's yours," another step forward, "ask for my blood and it's yours," one more step. "Anything I have and it's yours but please, not that. I'm not ready." Again you repeat yourself, "//why//, $Arlo." "Because I can't lose you again." [[End of Ch 3.|endofch3]]

You open the door, shoes sinking into the soft worn carpet. The lights in the hallway always stay on and you follow their path down the hallway. Until you see Eddie rounding the corner. The scowl on their face is more intense than usual. ?eHer eyes flicker up at you from burning a hole in the floor. "$name," ?eshe says stopping in front of you, crossing ?eher arms. "Hey, Eddie." [[Ask what's wrong.|ch3eddie1.0]] [[Wolf got no howl? Or something.|ch3eddie2.0]]

<<if $amelie is "friend">>Your phone rings. It's Amelie. "Hello?" "Hey, are you busy right now?" <<if $hobby is "cooking">>I have a pan in the oven but otherwise no."<<else>>"Not really, why?" you ask.<</if>> "I just wanted to check on you." You switch the phone to the other ear as she continues. "Today was... crazy." Sirens go off outside and you hear them echo through the phone. "Also, uh," she breaths out a small laugh. "I'm outside! If you wanted to talk or something." "Stalker," you tease. "Just come down." The sirens start to fade. "Hurry up." [[You shake your head and say goodbye. Then make your way downstairs.|ch3amplationic_friend]]<<elseif $amelie is "hunter">>Your phone rings. It's Amelie. You sigh and watch the phone flash her name, over and over again. A part of you tells you to ignore it, but the other part, the one in control of your hand, answers it. "Hello?" "Are you busy right now?" <<if $hobby is "cooking">>You take the pan out of the oven and turn it off. "No."<<else>>"No," you respond.<</if>> "Great, can you come downstairs? I'm outside." //What?// You don't ask her any questions. "Fine, be there in a second." [[You leave.|ch3amplationic_hunter]]<</if>>

<<if $exlover>> <<set $friendship to "loverA">>/ And before you can step out the door, you stop. $Arlo stands in front of your door, a tinge of dark red dusting ?ahis cheeks. "Can we talk?" You nod, "let's take a walk." He nods too, fiddling with ?aher hands. The walk out of the apartment is silent, muffled steps sinking into the old plush carpet. The elevator ride down is similar, the silent rumbling of the machine filling the atmosphere until it roughly opens. [[You leave.|ch3exarlo]]<<else>><<set $friendship to "friendA">>\And before you can step out the door, you stop. $Arlo stands in front of your door, a tinge of dark red dusting ?aher cheeks. "Hey." "Hey?" "Hi." "$Arlo." ?aHe sighs, "I wanted to talk. Do you wanna go for a walk?" You nod, closing the door behind you. The walk out of the apartment is silent, muffled steps sinking into the old plush carpet. The elevator ride down is similar, the silent rumbling of the machine filing the atmosphere until it roughly opens. [[You leave.|ch3friendarlo]]<</if>>

The frown on ?eher face worries you. "Everything okay?" ?eShe scoffs, rolling ?eher eyes towards the wall. Then ?eshe sighs, slightly sagging ?eher shoulders. "I just had a run in with Hale." "I'm sorry, he's a douche." "He's more than a douche, it feels like he does whatever it takes to get under my skin." "Do you know why?" "No," ?eshe crosses ?eher arms. "Maybe. It doesn't matter." You nod in understanding, "you don't need to tell me if you don't want to." [[Eddie looks away briefly.|ch3eddie1.1]] <<set $friendship to "eddie2">>\

"What's got your tail in a rut?" You ask playfully, attempting to lighten the mood. Eddie rolls ?eher eyes. "Nothing, $name." "Now that's just not true." "I just," ?eshe sighs, "just had a run in with Hale, is all." You outwardly cringe, "he's the worst." "He's a fucking prick." You raise your eyebrows but don't disagree. "Sorry, I didn't mean to get really aggressive. I do not like him." "Sounds personal," you comment. "It is. Kind of. Don't ask. Anyways, I gotta get to bed." "Don't worry, Eddie. If I see Hale, I'll give him a good scare." The corner of ?eher mouth twitches, "thanks," ?eshe mumbles and waves goodbye. <<set $friendship to "eddie1">> [[End of Chapter 3.|endofch3]]

"We have a bit of history, but let's just say he caught me in a moment of weakness and decided to hurt me even more." Concern takes over your features but before you speak, Eddie shakes ?eher head. "Please don't say anything, I'm not looking for pity. I just wanted you to know that, yeah, it's more than surface level anger." "Thanks for telling me, Eddie," you say instead and smile. Eddie's cheeks turn a little red as ?eshe softly punches your arm, "whatever, $lastname," then starts walking away, "goodnight." "Goodnight, Reagan," you call back. "Actually try and sleep this time!" ?eShe flips you off as ?eshe walks inside ?Eher apartment. [[End of Chapter 3.|endofch3]]

Outside, onto the sidewalk is different. You lead $Arlo to the waterfront, along the river. Boats floating on creaky docks, the river itself lit up by the buildings that run its length. The crisp, wet air hits your face and you can hear $Arlo take a deep breath in. ?aHer exhale is steady. Once you walk a couple of blocks, ?ahe turns to you softly and smiles. "I know you don't feel for me anymore, at least not in the way I want." You itch your arm, "$Arlo, I-" "I've been gone for a long time," ?ahe sighs, looking out to the water. "I get it, I really do." ?aHe touches your arm, stopping you. ?aHe runs a hand through ?ahis raven hair and smiles again. "I want to be friends still, if you'll have me." [[You breathe in.|ch3exarlo1]]

Outside, onto the sidewalk is different. You lead $Arlo to the waterfront, along the river. Boats floating on creaky docks, the river itself lit up by the buildings that run its length. The crisp, wet air hits your face and you can hear $Arlo take a deep breath in. ?aHis exhale is steady. Once you walk a couple of blocks, ?ahe turns to you softly, face filled with emotion. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, $name." You stop walking. ?aHe has a soft, solemn smile on ?ahis face. "I've been so incredibly selfish, I hurt you and I hate myself for it. I'm so, so sorry. When I left, I, I was confused, not thinking straight. Clearly, and I left without saying anything. That was wrong of me." [[You're not sure what to say.|ch3friendarlo1.1]]

There was once a point in your life that you couldn't live or function without ?ahim. Everything you were was so intertwined with $Arlo on every level imaginable. ?aHe was your best friend, your lover, your partner, your family. It's why when ?ahe left, you spiraled. You were lost. You had to learn to take care of yourself, be by yourself and be in control. But you did it and while you're stronger for it, you've also live with a lot of unresolved emotions that will take time to work through. You want ?ahim to stay, for now, so you can talk and you can work through things. [[But it's still hard, you can't promise anything.|ch3exfriend1.0]] [[And you want to start fresh, as friends.|ch3exfriend2.0]]

<<set $exafriend to "tense">>\ "I want you to stay," you frown. $Arlo chuckles nervously, "are you sure?" "No. Yes. Maybe." "That's… fair," ?ahe says. "I'll stay and we can try and work through this. Minus any romantic crap." You nod. "And I think it would help if I gave you an explanation." The two of you start walking again, the calming song of the river traveling with you. "I'm not sure when it started, but I started feeling-" suddenly ?ahe looks over your shoulder, eyes widening. You watch as ?ahis chest begins to rise and fall rapidly. "I-" ?aHe shakes ?aher head. [[You furrow your brows.|ch3extofriend1.1]]

<<set $exafriend to "talking">>\ "I want you to stay, I want to start fresh," you say, and you truly mean it. The romantic portion of your relationship is over but before anything, the two of you used to be friends. And you'd like to keep that. $Arlo smiles for the first time since you've seen ?ahim, it's crooked and sideways and goofy just like you remembered. "Really?" You nudge ?ahis arm playfully with your elbow, "yes, even though you don't deserve it, I do." ?aHis smile turns toothy, exposing ?aher one front tooth that slightly sticks out further than the rest. "Knew you could never resist this," then motions to ?ahimself. Now you slap ?aher stomach, trying to tame down your smile, "jokes? We're joking now, are we?" ?aHe giggles, "it's just… nice. I know there's still a lot to talk about but I feel-" "A little bit lighter?" you finish. Something about this situation feels like a weight has been taken off your back. ?aHe nods, "yeah, a little lighter." The two of you continue to walk, talking about the boats, the river, the rats that scurry around the benches, about all your ripped clothes. It's light and fun, weighed down with no expectations or unsaid words. And for now, it's enough. You spend the rest of the night talking with your friend. [[End of Chapter 3.|endofch3]]

A subtle flash of yellow reflects off of ?aher dark green eyes, so you turn around to look at what seems to startle $Arlo, but you see nothing. Then ?ahe grabs your arm, "I can't do this right now, I'm sorry," and pulls you all the way back to $clubname. Buildings blur, people yell but you make it back within minutes. ?aHe drops you off at your building, "I just need you to stay safe," hastily ?ahe shoves the words at you, ushering you inside and taking back off into the night. You stand in the lobby confused. [[End of Chapter 3.|endofch3]]

__Main Character Summary__ Name: $name $lastname 200-300 year old owner of $clubname. Hair: <<if hasVisited ("CC.4.1")>>N/A<<else>>$haircolor $hairtype hair that is $hairstyle<</if>> Eyes: $eyecolor Facial Features: has fangs that <<if $fangs is "rex">>are irregular, all teeth sharpening instead of soley the cuspids<<elseif $fangs is "wolf">>rare, both top and bottom canines growing out instead of just the top row<<else>>are common, only the top canines elongating<</if>> Skin: a <<if $skintone is "coolness">>cool<<elseif $skintone is "warmth">>warm<<else>>neutral<</if>> $skincolor Misc: always wearing something $clothingtype Height: $height Species: vampire Pronouns: ?they/?them __Character Relationship Status__ <<if $chapter is "one" or "two">>\ Werewolf Partner: $Edith. Coping and alive. <<if $exlover>>Long Lost Vampire Ex-lover: $Arlo. Extremely anxious but alive.<<else>>Long Lost Vampire Friend: $Arlo. Nervous but alive.<</if>> <<if $amelie is "friend">>The Friendly Hunter: Amelie. Assured and alive.<<else>>The Hunter: Amelie. Assured and alive.<</if>> <<elseif $chapter is "three">> Werewolf Partner: $Edith. Coping and alive. <<if $exlover>>Long Lost Vampire Ex-lover: $Arlo. Extremely anxious, a little emotional, but alive.<<else>>Long Lost Vampire Friend: $Arlo. Nervous and skittish, but alive.<</if>> <<if $amelie is "friend">>The Friendly Hunter: Amelie. Assured? Alive.<<else>>The Hunter: Amelie. Doubting and alive.<</if>> <</if>>\ <<back [[Return to Game.|$return]]>>

Death itself is a grossly skewed concept to you. Your immortality, your age, you've become jaded. Though you try not to be. You frown, biting at your lip. You understand the gravity of each situation, life or death when it's your life on the line. Amelie would not kill unless she had to. You'd like to think the same of yourself, at least now. In the present. The past hangs to close for you to be sure. "I don't think you're a monster," you lean forward, hand inching closer towards her. And you can't help but ask: "do you think I am?" Her face contorts into a frown and she doesn't miss a beat, "of course not, I would never think that." [[She inches towards you.|ch3amromfriend5]]

"I've killed a lot more than you and for a lot less," you say. Guilt wins over in your mind. She puts her hand over yours, squeezing it tightly. "I guess it's a little hypocritical of us to be talking like this, to each other, when we still have our own shit to figure out," she says. You laugh quietly, savoring the warmth of her. Silence once again settles over the two of you, the view in front of you capturing your attention. And the view beside you distracting you from it. But you sit comfortable for the rest of the night, enjoying the small peace between you. [[End of Ch 3.|endofch3]]

When she makes eye contact with you, you feel your heart jump. Subconsciously, you bite your lip to refrain from confronting that. "I'm not a bad person," she says. Flashes of today's argument race through your mind. "I help people," she continues, "I saved a little girl from being stuck in a wall because a witch couldn't control his powers. That lion, that lion from a couple days ago, killed seven people before the hunters showed up." [[Why is she telling you this?|ch3amromhunter1.1]] [[Great. But she still murders people for money.|ch3amromhunter2.1]]

"Great, Amelie, I'm glad you saved them, but you also kill in turn." <<if hasVisited("ch1vampirefight2.1")>>"I only killed that vampire a few nights ago because he killed that woman. What did you want me to do? It was also self defense, he was going to tear me apart." As badly as you want to retort, blame her for even being there, you know down to your core that you would've killed that vampire before it happened. Amelie steps closer, continuing to justify herself. <</if>><<if $atlas is "dead">>"I only killed that vampire earlier today because-" "//That vampire// has a name," you interject. "Atlas was a good guy, he didn't deserve to die in front of all those people." "He killed five people and injured three, what would you have done?" She looks away from you, shaking her head. "I wasn't trying to kill him," she mumbles. "What?" "I wasn't trying to kill him," she looks directly into your eyes. "I asked about it later, any instances of a stake killing a vampire anywhere but the heart. But there was none." "Then how do you explain-" "It was Cavil's stake," she interrupts. "He coated his stake with a veru. It was werewolf veru that killed your friend. I had taken his stake by accident." "He was killed from a mistake?" Your eyes widen with disbelief. "Did you report it? Cavil should be dead, I'm gonna," you sigh, "what happened?" "I reported him and Chief Nix didn't care. That vampire had to die for his crimes anyways." Amelie looks away from you again. <</if>>"I don't relish killing vampires, $name. Taking someone's life away isn't something I carry lightly." You can relate to that. To your greatest disdain, you can relate to that. When you look at her, into her eyes, part of you recognizes that burden. The burden of taking a life to save a life. But in your case, you've only ever saved your own. Each human you drained when you were younger, hell, it was only a century ago that you learned how much blood to take in order to keep your victim alive. While you have control now, that wasn't always the case. "Maybe we're both monsters," you say quietly. "No," she whispers back, "you're better than that." [[You eye her.|ch3amromhunter2.2]]

"Is that why you came all the way over here? To tell me this?" "No," she waves her arm at you, "no, I came over here because I was already over here. I was on patrol, I thought I should stop by. I don't know. You're over here, so I thought I needed to come by." Your brows furrow in confusion, "you thought you needed to stop by?" "I- I didn't think I //needed// to." "You //wanted// to?" At that thought, your heart jumps again, and you try to compensate for it. Though you overcompensate, your face apparently shows disgust because her eyes widen fully. "God, fuck," she swears for the first time that you notice. You kind of like it. Then she sighs. "I- I do good things too, $name. I'm not just a hunter." "Okay?" "I don't want you to see me as a monster." [[Her confession takes you by surprise. |ch3amromhunter1.2]]

She's a hunter, at the forefront of your mind, she's always been a hunter. Annoying, relentless and always in the way. But never a monster. You've never seen her as a monster. And as you look into her eyes, you recognize what you see as you've seen it within yourself. Trying to justify your actions that harm others: //it's food, you need it//, that's what you told yourself. "I-" //Don't.// You hesitate, the words so quiet on your tongue that it would be so easy to keep them back. The realization reeling to you. So you do. It's now that you realize just how close you're standing. Her round eyes, how long her lashes are, the scar on her cheek. Her hand reaches up to touch it. //[[Were you staring?|ch3amromhunter1.3]]//

"I got it when I was eighteen. From a vampire, my friend, she couldn't control herself." "You don't need to," you shake your head hesitantly. What are you supposed to say? What do you want to say? Why isn't your blood boiling right now? Why do you only want to reach out and trace the edges of the scar? Amelie swallows hard. "I'm more than just a hunter." Instead of replying, you watch as she turns her head to look at her bike across the street. "I don't want to get a ticket, I just wanted to- I don't know. I don't know what I want." She looks back at you, giving you a half hearted smile and leaves without saying goodbye. She leaves you standing there, confused as to why she came to speak with you, and confused as to why you don't want her to leave. [[End of Ch 3.|endofch3]]

It's now that you realize just how close you're standing. Just how vulnerable she looks in front of you, her round eyes, how long her lashes are, the scar on her cheek. Her hand reaches up to touch it. //Were you staring?// "I got it when I was eighteen. From a vampire, my friend, she couldn't control herself." "You don't need to," you shake your head hesitantly. What are you supposed to say? What do you want to say? Why isn't your blood boiling right now? Why do you only want to reach out and trace the edges of the scar? Amelie swallows hard. "I'm more than just a hunter." Instead of replying, you watch as she turns her head to look at her bike across the street. "I don't want to get a ticket, I just wanted to- I don't know. I don't know what I want." She looks back at you, giving you a half hearted smile and leaves without saying goodbye. She leaves you standing there, confused as to why she came to speak with you, and confused as to why you don't want her to leave. [[End of Ch 3.|endofch3]]

Your best friend, your counterpart. Every time you lost control, ?ahe found it and every time ?ahe lost ?ahimself, you brought ?ahim back. You two were yin and yang, push and pull, until ?ahe left you. Always emotional and impulsive, but you never imagined ?ahe would leave you like that. It hurt. You had lost your only family. When you fell you had to pick yourself back up, by yourself. And while you're now better for it, it still hurts. ?aHes sorry, genuinely sorry, that you know. You also know that you want ?ahim to stay, for now, so you can talk and you can work through things. [[You want to start fresh, rekindle your friendship|ch3friendarlo1.2]] [[But you're still not ready for a full reconciliation|ch3friendarlo2.1]]

You're not sure what to say. Your best friend, your counterpart. Every time you lost control, ?ahe found it and every time ?ahe lost ?ahimself, you brought ?ahim back. You two were yin and yang, push and pull, until ?ahe left you. Always emotional and impulsive, but you never imagined ?ahe would leave you like that. That //hurt//. "I dunno, $Arlo, how could I trust you again?" "I'll work towards it," ?ahe steps closer, "over time. We have a lot of it." ?aHe tries to smile. You can't smile back. "I'll think about it, that's all I can say." "That's all I can ask, I guess." ?aHis shoulders sag, but ?ahe tries to shake it off. "I'll stick around and help where I can." [[You look away for a moment.|ch3friendarlo2.2]] <<set $afriend to "tense">>\

"I want to start fresh," you say, and you truly mean it. "I fucking missed you, $Arlo." $Arlo smiles for the first time since you've seen ?ahim, it's crooked and sideways and goofy just like you remembered. "I missed you too." You two stare at each other until ?ahe playfully rolls ?ahis eyes, "so sappy, $name." You nudge ?ahis arm playfully with your elbow, "please, we both know that between the two of us, you're the crier." "I'm the lover and you're the fighter." "I'm not a fighter!" You retort, slapping ?ahis stomach. $Arlo feigns pain, "oh yeah, that's a fighter right there." [[You roll your eyes playfully.|ch3friendarlo1.3]] <<set $afriend to "talking">>\

"Jokes? We're joking now, are we?" ?aHe giggles, "it's just… nice. I know there's still a lot to talk about but I feel-" "A little bit lighter?" you finish. Something about this situation feels like a weight has been taken off your back. ?aHe nods, "yeah, a little lighter." "Actually," ?ahis heart rate spikes, "have you thought about the favor I asked?" "I already told you I'll help, but after I sort this other stuff out first." $Arlo twists at the ring on ?ahis finger, not meeting your eyes. "Right, right, yeah, that's- okay." Then ?ahe itches ?ahis head, harder than necessary, messing up it's previously styled state. You pull ?ahis arm down. "$Arlo?" "Sorry," ?ahe says, "yeah, no, that's fine. It's fine." ?aHe regains ?ahis previous aura quickly. The two of you continue to walk, talking about the boats, the river, the rats that scurry around the benches, about all your ripped clothes. It's light and fun, everything connecting how they once did. But different. Different in a way no longer weighed down by expectations or unsaid words. And for now, it's enough. You spend the rest of the night talking with your friend. [[End of Chapter 3.|endofch3]]

Then turn to leave but ?ahe stops you, and you can hear the quickened beat of ?ahis heart. "Before you go, have you thought about the favor I asked?" "I already told you I'll help, but after I sort this other stuff out first." $Arlo twists at the ring on ?ahis finger, not meeting your eyes. "Right, right, yeah, that's- Okay." Then ?ahe itches ?ahis head, harder than necessary, messing up it's previously styled state. You pull ?ahis arm down. "Sorry," ?ahe says, "yeah, no, that's fine. I'll see you around. I'll see you tomorrow." Then ?ahe takes off abruptly, without any more words. [[End of Chapter 3.|endofch3]]

You step outside your building to see Amelie across the street, black helmet tucked beneath her arm. She crosses over, apologizing to a car she steps in front of on the way over. "New bike?" you nod your head over to the unfamiliar motorcycle parked across the way, internally scolding yourself for noticing. She shakes her head, "nah, it's a rental until mine gets fixed." You look at her in surprise, "you're gonna try and fix it? Looked scrapped to me." "I'm sentimental," she shrugs. She adjusts her hair in the low ponytail, tucking a few stray pieces back behind her ear. [["Why are you here?" you finally ask.|ch3amplatonic_hunter1.1]]

A gust of cold night air brushes against you as you make it outside. The sky is black and gray. Smog highlighted and stars hidden by the city's light pollution. Across the sidewalk aways from you is Amelie, curly hair pulled back, black helmet in hand. She leans against her parked motorcycle and smiles at you. "Hey!" "What's this?" You ask. The last time you saw her bike it was being skipped across the pavement like a stone. "This," she waves to the motorcycle, "is a rental." She shifts the helmet from one arm to the other. "It's not as good as my old one, obviously, but it'll do for now." You run your eyes across the bike then back to her. "So," you place your hands on your hips. "What's up?" [[She sighs.|champlatonic_friend2]]

She frowns, "I'm not a bad person, $name." Flashes of today's argument race through your mind. "I help people," she continues, "I saved a little girl from being stuck in a wall because a witch couldn't control his powers. That lion, that lion from yesterday, killed seven people before the hunters showed up." [[Why is she telling you this?|ch3amplatonic_hunter1.2]] [[That's great but she still murders people for pay.|ch3amplatonic_hunter2.0]]

"Is that why you came all the way over here? To tell me this?" "No," she waves her arm at you, "no, I came over here because I was already over here. I was on patrol, I thought I should stop by. I don't know. You're over here, so I thought I needed to come by." Your brows furrow in confusion, "you thought you needed to stop by?" "I- I didn't think I //needed// to." "You //wanted// to?" You say in disbelief. She sighs. "I- I do good things too, $name. I'm not just a hunter." "Okay?" "I'm not a monster." She sounds like she's trying to convince herself. But you've done the same exact thing, uttered the same exact words. Trying to justify your actions that harm others: //it's food, you need it//, that's what you told yourself. [[Tell her as much.|amhunterplatbonding]] [[Maybe you're both monsters.|amhunterplatbonding2]]

"Great, Amelie, I'm glad you saved them, but you also kill in turn." <<if hasVisited("ch1vampirefight2.1")>>"I only killed that vampire a few nights ago because he killed that woman. What did you want me to do? It was also self defense, he was going to tear me apart." It was her fault for being there, but you also know that you would've dealt that vampire before he got the chance. Amelie crosses her arms, continuing to justify herself. <</if>><<if $atlas is "dead">>"I only killed that vampire earlier today because-" "//That vampire// has a name," you interject. "Atlas was a good guy, he didn't deserve to die in front of all those people." "He killed five people and injured three, what would you have done?" She sighs, "I wasn't trying to kill him." "What?" "I wasn't trying to kill him," she repeats. "I asked about it later, any instances of a stake killing a vampire anywhere but the heart. But there was none." "Then how do you explain-" "It was Cavil's stake," she interrupts. "He coated his stake with a veru. It was werewolf veru that killed your friend. I had taken his stake by accident." "He was killed from a mistake?" Your eyes widen with disbelief. "Did you report it? Cavil should be dead, I'm gonna," you sigh, "what happened?" "I reported him and Chief Nix didn't care. That vampire had to die for his crimes anyways." The previous determination in her voice wavers. <</if>>"I don't relish killing vampires, $name. Taking someone's life away isn't something I carry lightly." You can relate to that. The burden of taking a life to save a life. But in your case, you've only ever saved your own. Each human you drained when you were younger, hell, it was only a century ago that you learned how much blood to take in order to keep your victim alive. While you have control now, that wasn't always the case. [[You stare at her.|asdkjfa]]

"Well," you breathe out, "I've told myself the same thing." Her brown eyes widen for just a second, "really?" You scoff, "of course, Amelie. //I drink human blood to live.//" "I've never looked at you as a monster," she confesses. That makes you pause, your heart jumping. Something akin to relief jolts through you. "What?" you say. Instead of replying, you watch as she turns her head to look at her bike across the street. "Look, I don't want to get a ticket, I'm gonna go."She leaves without looking back. And you just stand there confused as to why she came to speak with you, and confused as to why you're glad she did. [[End of Chapter 3.|endofch3]]

"You kill for a living. I've killed to live. Maybe we're both monsters, just doing what we have to to survive." She recoils a bit, shaking her head. "That's not true." You laugh bitterly, unsure if it's really directed at her. "Believe me or not, $name, but I don't see you as a monster." Your face twists with surprise, "what?" Instead of replying, you watch as she turns her head to look at her bike across the street. "Look, I don't want to get a ticket, I'm gonna go." She leaves without looking back. And you just stand there confused as to why she came to speak with you, and confused as to why you're glad she did. [[End of Chapter 3.|endofch3]]

"You kill for a living. I've killed to live. Guess we're both monsters." "No," she stands her ground. You laugh bitterly, unsure if it's really directed at her. "Believe me or not, $name, but I don't see you as a monster." Your face twists with surprise, "what?" Instead of replying, you watch as she turns her head to look at her bike across the street. "Look, I don't want to get a ticket, I'm gonna go."She leaves without looking back. And you just stand there confused as to why she came to speak with you, and confused as to why you're not angry she did. [[End of Chapter 3.|endofch3]]

And looks at the buildings around you. "I dunno, I just- with everything that happened earlier." She meets your eyes. <<if $atlas is "dead">>"I told the chief what happened with your vampire friend-" "Atlas," you interject. "I told her how I," she looks away from you again, eyes digging into the ground as if it held sanctuary. But she bites her lip and looks back at you. "How I killed him, with a stake to the //throat//. She barely flinched, said it didn't matter since he had to die regardless." Amelie continues, this time, her gaze burns into the ground. "I looked into it more, because I've never heard of a vampire dying with a stake anywhere but the heart. Have you?" She looks up. You shake your head, "no, I haven't." "Well it turns out the stake had been coated with werewolf veru." "Don't you guys have any regulations?" "We do," she defends, but her shoulders sink, "but not all hunters follow the rules." She itches her forehead. <</if>>"I don't relish killing.Taking someone's life away isn't something I carry lightly, supernatural or not." "You're a hunter," you say flatly. "I know, I know, and the lives that I do save help me sleep at night but sometimes…" "It's not enough," you finish. [[You can relate to that.|champlatonic_friend3]]

The burden of taking a life to save a life. But in your case, you've only saved your own. Each human you drained when you were younger, hell, it was only a century ago that you learned how much blood to take in order to keep your victim alive. While you have control now, that wasn't always the case. "You kill for a living. I've killed to live. Guess we're both monsters." You laugh bitterly, "sorry, I might not be the best person for this kind of pep talk." She smiles softly and pats your arm, "I don't think you're a monster." "Heh," you can't help but smile back, "monster isn't a term I'd use to describe you either, even if I don't always agree with what you do." [[Suddenly a sharp whistle catches your attention.|champ_friend_4]]

A group of men checking Amelie out. "Hey, mama, you can cuff me anytime!" It takes Amelie a moment to realize that they're cat-calling //her// and not you. She turns and raises her jacket, exposing the gun and knife at her side. "What was that?" "Oh shit," you hear one of them grumble, the group of them start stumbling into themselves as they turn the corner. "I don't think you can't flaunt your gear like that, hunter," you cheekily remark. She lowers her jacket, "probably not. I should get going, but hey-" she places her hand on your shoulder. "Thanks for talking with me." "Sure thing," you back away, watching from across the street as she gets on her bike and takes off. Leaving you to your thoughts and finally the walk you've been wanting to get to. [[End of Chapter 3.|endofch3]]

[[Next|Interlude 2]]

"Let me repeat myself." You talk slower, ensuring his understanding. "I'm not here for you. Where's Dr. Paxton?" Damon takes a step back, lessening the stench of iron and gasoline. "They're out of town, don't know where." "Perfect," you grumble. Then your eyes meet one of the other men. He stands up straight, pulling his black beanie further over his eyes. [[But it's too late.|sam3]]

Suddenly, you grab his face. His blood shot eyes widen as your compsure collapses. "Look, I've had a bad day, so if I have to repeat myself, I'm gonna rip off your beard one hair at a time," you growl. His skin feels like tissue paper as it tears under your nails. Blood trickles down your fingertips and the vampires in the background stand still. "They're out of town," Damon grumbles, "don't know where." "Perfect," you drop his face. When you sniff the blood on your fingers, you nearly gag. Then your eyes meet the fearful eyes of another's. The guy stands up straight, pulling his black beanie further over his eyes. [[But it's too late.|sam3]]

<<set $path to "hunter">>\ You decide to move forward with Amelie. She's trained to find vampires. If you can get a lead from the police department, you're betting Amelie can help out more. "Okay," you say, "I'm going to call Amelie tomorrow." "I'm with you. And I'm sure," Eddie sighs, "$Arlo will help too." "Thanks, Eddie." ?eShe nods. [[You stay at the club for a few hours.|ch3clubtime]] [[You stay at the club for a few hours then head to your apartment. (Skips scenes)|nowyouleave]]

<<set $path to "vampire">>\ You decide to help $Arlo. Call it a gut feeling. Call it intuition. Or call it a mistake. But whatever it is, you've decided that the council can wait. You laugh, possibly in disbelief of yourself. "I'm gonna help $Arlo, let's see where that leads." "Are you sure?" Eddie looks at you, concerned. "No. But I'm gonna do it anyways." ?eShe nods. "I'm with you." [[You stay at the club for a few hours.|ch3clubtime]] [[You stay at the club for a few hours then head to your apartment. (Skips scenes)|nowyouleave]]

"By the way," Halley adds as you dismount the bar stool. "I went to the library yesterday to find any rune books to help with our... //crappy little problem//." "Oh yeah?" "Yeah, not sure what the witch did to the restroom last week, but it's lingering." Your scrunch your nose. "Gross, good luck with that." "I'll expect a raise from this!" She calls back as you head down the stairs. [[You wave it off.|Ch1.6 Downstairs bar]]

Before modern technology, killing was so easy. One poor soul walking down an unlit street, a group of friends a little too drunk to run straight, a group of old hunters stupid enough to wander into the forest at night. Your throat constricts with hunger. Self control was almost nonexistent. You lost yourself to blood lust //so often//, tearing through villages like a match through paper. When villages turned to neighborhoods and towns it was still so easy. Especially for you. One neighborhood in particular is burned into your memory, no matter how much you'd like it snuffed. It left you questioning your sanity. Your humanity. Then your thoughts drift to… to the reason you're now able to control yourself. The one who helped you with control, even after you lost yourself so many times. The one that would always find you. The one who promised to always find you. The one you lost so long ago, so suddenly and unexpectedly that you don't even deign to think of the name. You can't. Suddenly, a familiar beat sings to you, pulling you from thoughts of your past. [[You're back.|ch1toclub]]

The Staff: <<if $halleykade is "unlocked">>\ <<message 'Halley Dario-Rivera' 'uniqueID'>>Twenty seven year old telepathic bartender and Kade's twin sister. Hair: Long, straight and dark brown Eyes: Hazel (Green) Facial Features: Freckles Skin: Golden tan Misc: Scarring across chest, freckles all over body Height: 5'-7" (170 cm) Species: Witch/Semi-Telepath Pronouns: she/her <</message>> <<message 'Kade Dario-Rivera' 'uniqueID'>>Twenty seven year old telepathic bartender and Halley's twin brother. Hair: Short, curly and dark brown Eyes: Hazel (Brown) Facial Features: Freckles and dimples Skin: Golden tan Misc: Wears a brown bracelet on wrist Height: 5'-8" (173 cm) Species: Witch/Semi-Telepath Pronouns: he/him <</message>> <<message 'Kaylen Reed' 'uniqueID'>>Thirty eight year old head of security. Hair: Shaved on the sides, short, straight and light blonde Eyes: Light blue Facial Features: Dimples Skin: Pale Misc: Often dawns an all black outfit combined with combat boots Height: 6'-3" (190 cm) Species: Werebear, light brown fur Pronouns: she/her <</message>> <<message 'Aspen' 'uniqueID'>>Calming twenty nine year old bartender. Hair: Shoulder length, straight and dyed purple Eyes: Light yellow Facial Features: Septum piercing, small mole on cheek Skin: Warm beige Misc: In progress sleeve tattoos on both arms Height: 5'-10" (178 cm) Species: Nephilim, gray wings Pronounes: they/them <</message>> <<message 'Vael' 'uniqueID'>>Spunky twenty six year old bartender. Hair: Buzzed with a fuzzy head of bleached blonde Eyes: Light brown Facial Features: Septum and dimple piercings Skin: Warm light brown Misc: In progress sleeve tattoos on both arms Height: 5'-7" (170 cm) Species: Witch, specialized in runes Pronouns: she/they <</message>><</if>> Main Characters: <<if $eddieunlocked is "unlocked" and $egen is 1>>\ <<message 'Edith Reagan' 'uniqueID'>>Thirty six year old werewolf business partner. Runs the club with you. Hair: Shoulder length, wavy, always styled and deep auburn Eyes: Brown Facial Features: Prominent eye bags Skin: Cool beige Misc: Pink scar tissue pokes out from the back of her shirt Height: 5'-10" (178 cm) Species: Werewolf Pronouns: she/her <</message>><</if>><<if $eddieunlocked is "unlocked" and $egen is 0>>\ <<message 'Edwin Reagan' 'uniqueID'>>Thirty six year old werewolf business partner. Runs the club with you. Hair: Short, wavy, always styled back and deep auburn Eyes: Brown Facial Features: Prominent eye bags Skin: Cool beige Misc: Pink scar tissue pokes out from the back of his shirt Height: 5'-10" (178 cm) Species: Werewolf Pronouns: he/him <</message>><</if>> <<if $amelieunlocked>>\ <<message 'Amelie Cadman' 'uniqueID'>>Thirty year old hunter, three years new to the city. Hair: Long, past shoulders, curly and black Eyes: Brown Facial Features: Left cheek and right eyebrow scar Skin: Warm russet brown Misc: Often pulls hair back in ponytail Height: 5'-7" (170 cm) Species: Hunter, vampire and werewolf specialization, human Pronouns: she/her <</message>><</if>> <<if $arloaidaunlocked is "unlocked" and $agen is 0>>\ <<message 'Arlo Martin-Moreno' 'uniqueID'>>The one who left you long ago. The one who has come back. Hair: Chin length hair cut long in the front, short in the back. Styled back, away from his face Eyes: Dark green Facial Features: Skin: Warm and tan Misc: Gold piercings along his ears and a single ring through his left nostril. Height: 6'-0" (183 cm) Species: Vampire Pronouns: he/him <</message>><</if>><<if $arloaidaunlocked is "unlocked" and $agen is 1>>\ <<message 'Aida Martin-Moreno' 'uniqueID'>>The one who left you long ago. The one who has come back. Hair: Chin length hair cut long in the front, short in the back. Styled back, away from her face Eyes: Dark green Facial Features: Skin: Warm and tan Misc: Gold piercings along his ears and a single ring through his left nostril. Height: 6'-0" (183 cm) Species: Vampire Pronouns: she/her <</message>><</if>> Side Characters: <<if $eddieunlocked is "unlocked">><<message 'Hale' 'uniqueID'>>Appearances can be deceiving. Hair: ? Eyes: ? Skin: ? Species: Shape Shifter Pronouns: he/him <</message>><</if>> <<if $gabriel is "unlocked">>\<<message 'Gabriel' 'uniqueID'>>Calm and collected demeanor. Well dressed too. Hair: Black shoulder length hair Eyes: Dark brown Skin: Cool beige Species: Vampire Pronouns: he/him <</message>><</if>> <<if $at is "met">><<message 'Atlas' 'uniqueID'>>Loves reading and thrifting. Hair: Navy blue Eyes: Blue Skin: Cool beige Species: Vampire Pronouns: he/them <</message>><</if>> <<if $ancientvampires is "unlocked">><<message 'Zian Bakshi' 'uniqueID'>>Easy going chef that absolutely loves you. Hair: Black Eyes: Dark brown Skin: Dark brown Species: Vampire Pronouns: he/him <</message>> <<message 'Mr. and Mrs. Torrez' 'uniqueID'>>'Til death do us apart. Literally. Hair: Gray Eyes: Brown Skin: Tan and age spotted Species: Vampire Pronouns: he/him and she/her <</message>> <<message 'Sam' 'uniqueID'>>Figuring out his twenties along with his new diet. Hair: Blonde Eyes: Blue Skin: Warm beige Species: Vampire Pronouns: he/him <</message>> <<message 'Nolan Halstand' 'uniqueID'>>Owns a comic book shop. Not that that's any of your business. Hair: Brown and blonde Eyes: Brown Skin: Pale Species: Vampire Pronouns: she/they <</message>> <<message 'Haruto' 'uniqueID'>>Fisherman happy to share his love of the sea with everyone. For a modest price. Hair: Black Eyes: Brown Skin: Warm beige Species: Vampire Pronouns: he/him <</message>><</if>> <<if $highcouncil is "unlocked">>The High Council: <<message 'Ravenna' 'uniqueID'>>Oldest and most powerful of the High Council. Hair: Black, cut straight to her chin Eyes: Gray Skin: Pale Species: Vampire Pronouns: she/her <</message>> <<message 'Ilian' 'uniqueID'>>Wears a nice suit and a knowing smile. Hair: Short, black wavy hair, cut close to their head Eyes: Dark brown Skin: Warm, medium umber Species: Vampire Pronouns: they/them <</message>> <<message 'Omnira' 'uniqueID'>>A sweet smile and melodious voice make her the most approachable. Hair: Long box braids, ombred from a black to light brown color. Eyes: Dark brown Skin: Warm dark brown Species: Vampire Pronouns: she/her <</message>> <<message 'Sahir' 'uniqueID'>>Hates you- well,hates everybody. Hair: Dark brown and silver Eyes: Light brown Skin: Tawny brown Species: Vampire Pronouns: he/him <</message>> <<message 'Aleksander' 'uniqueID'>>Only the chip on his shoulder knows his problem. Hair: Dirty blonde tied into a low bun Eyes: Light blue Skin: Pale Species: Vampire Pronouns: he/him <</message>><</if>> <<back [[Return to Game.|$return]]>>