RP SFW splove: Homelander

"What do you like about your partner's characters or the way they portray them?"

HOMELANDER

"A lonely man with a broken heart who found his perfect match in Sara and who will burn the world for her."

Me: " I remember when I watched the show The Boys. As soon as I saw Homelander I knew that he could become one of N.'s characters. He is very N-coded for me to be honest.  He is multifaceted, with some depths and far more than you can see. The twist here is that he's an asshole and a villain. A real villain and it adds something new and exciting to our roster of characters.  I absolutely love the way N. is writing him because he is far from being a caricature. He's not one-dimensional (N never writes one-dimensional characters) and N. brought his own flavor to Homelander which makes him irresistible to me. I am already a fan of this character in the show. Not in the sense of "Oh my god, he's an anti-hero or a hero". Not at all. he's a villain through and through and I refuse to change that core aspect of him. N knows it and he respects that side of the character. His Homelander is a villain just like in the show but his Homelander is not one-dimensional like so many around these parts seem to think he is. Dude is a traumatized child who never went past his traumas. I'm not going to give my full analysis of the character but this should be enough to explain what I mean. I find Homelander in the show interesting because you watch him spiral and lose control, you know the traumas he suffers and you see him take every wrong decision at every turn to try and make it better. I also love that he is not stoic like so many villains we see on TV. He is going through it and we can see it! His face is very expressive and he barely hides his emotions.  I think that N. nails that part really well. It's so exciting to see. 

The thing is, despite being head over heels for Homelander (what can I say? I'm a slut for him! the actor and that mean and villainous blonde head), I'm even more a fan of N's version of the character! You see, it has something that others lack. (no no, it's not that it's written by N. Well.. yes, obviously but it's not just that).  N understands his characters. he respects them. He always makes sure that we know what's going through their minds so we can see why they did what they did (or didn't do). I think that it's very rare for a writer to dive into the psyche of his characters and to make sure they're faithful, to some extent because they would also carry a piece of the writer (and in this case, N.) and act as he thinks he would act in some situations. N's very careful when he writes and I love that about him. I love that he gives the best version of Homelander a girl could ask for and that he does it with me. I love his Homelander and my character, Sara, is definitely dependent on him. She's addicted, devoted, and clearly can't breathe when he's not around (well, she's also dramatic because obviously she can have a life without him lol. She still wants him around and that need, oh that need would only have happened with N's Homelander).  I love it a lot when his Homelander is having a hard time accepting new things but tries... he hates it but he still tries it. and then maybe, he would decide to try it again because he wants to make Sara happy. And maybe, he would eventually like it and it would be no big deal for him.  

He's trying. He's not perfect. He's sometimes very wrong too (most of the time) but this one genuine thing he has for both his son and Sara makes him endearing. N's Homelander pulls you in and you don't want to leave him alone. I know Sara doesn't want to leave him alone and she makes such a scene when she hasn't seen him in a while. She's the most vocal of my girls, the most demanding, the neediest and it wouldn't have been the case if N's Homelander wasn't giving us the urge to want to see him. You know what I mean?  I love the balance of vulnerability and the disregard for any frustration N's Homelander has. it's very entertaining and I have a lot of fun with Sara and Homie. A lot! I don't know how to say it without looking needy myself, but I have A L.O.T of fun with Homelander and Sara and while I don't want anything bad to happen to them, there would be. The Boys would know about her, and Butcher would be awful to Sara, (as in, he won't hesitate to kidnap and torture her), Her exes would come back to haunt her and break them apart, and he is going to have a hard time reigning in the Seven (given he was betrayed by A-train and firecracker is a stalker he doesn't want around him). I want Homelander to go through everything because I know N. would be able to handle it with grace, with skills, and with passion.  I can't even begin to tell you the shit-eating grin I have whenever I read a response from Homelander and I see that he's everything Sara (and I) wanted and even more!  N gets him. He really does and I love Homie when he's at his most unhinged or when he's actually in a playful mood. The way I melt and my chair with me! Arrh! I love him! "

RP SFW splove: Pride

"What do you like about your partner's characters or the way they portray them?"

PRIDE:

"The King destined to become an Emperor alongside his Light."

Me: "Pride will always be the OG for me. Not only was he the very first character I wrote with N. But also because he honestly kept me on the edge of my seat when we started writing together. Pride was always unpredictable and my Elpis/ Asma and I honestly never knew how he'd react if we did something or the other. He had very rough edges when we started this storyline, but he gradually softened them around Asma first, and later on around his goddess Elpis.  He conceded things, he started to take care of her, and he genuinely showed that he cared for her. She wasn't just something to possess. He genuinely wanted her by his side (and she genuinely learned to know and trust this new version of the Sin. The superior version of the Sin). He's very elegant, not only in the way he dresses but also in the way he speaks, the way he moves, everything he does. He made me swoon. I have never felt this way for a fictional character in a roleplay before (lol, I'm serious). 

I loved the way N. wrote him, the way he made a charismatic character, someone worth swooning over. I had dreams back in the days when he and Asma/ Elpis were our main characters. Oh, he always hijacked them and some of them were frankly hot too! Pride managed to become his own person and now when I see Chris Pine, I first think about Pride before I realize that it's the actor, not the character lol. I was (and still am) a rabid fan of him and would always swoon over Pride when I'm talking about roleplay. Pride grabs the most my attention when he's at his most intense. When he walks into a room all eyes are on him, when he commands the audience, just like a scene we're writing actually. Oh... mmhh. it's a very hot scene and Elpis and him are both larger than life here. They stole the show and are now running it!  I love when he's angry too and he gets his revenge. 

N. wrote a solo where he kills Leviathan and it was so satisfying to read. I had goosebumps because Pride was clever, powerful, clever, did I say he was clever?  and he used his powers and environment to perfection. I loved it! it's still something I love to revisit because of how well-written it was and how absolute Pride felt at that moment. He had just forged his blade, khaos, and he used it so well.  I think that N. is the only one who could have written a character like that. Interesting to read and follow, with depth, with charisma. A character you don't forget easily. A character you want to explore and see in new adventures. I want to see Pride when he's at war, when he's upset, when he's worried, or even worse when he loses his goddess because someone decided to take her from him. I want to see how he'll react and how deliciously evil he will be when punishing those who wronged him.  I think, and it's not a small compliment here, but I think that if he were a character from a book, he would have a lot of fans because he's well-written and intriguing. I am lucky to know he exists and to see his progression as time goes by. 

The day of the Jackal part 2

A/N: I really took a liking to these characters and this storyline. As you can see, the story isn't linear as I jump from the present to the Past. In this chapter, I'll explore why seeing that man is a big deal for Diane and how it impacts the Jackal.

---------------

"You should get some rest, Diane.  We'll talk about it tomorrow."

" I won't be able to sleep. Let's get some coffee instead." -She yanked her head back and pinched her nose bridge-

The Jackal stood up and walked towards the kitchen. There was no point in arguing with her because she needed to be active. Diane couldn't sleep, and now that he told her that he wanted to kill the man she crossed paths with, they would need to talk about it in detail. He went to the cabinets and took two cups of coffee. He rummaged through the cabinets and realized they lacked coffee, capsules, ground coffee, or even beans. There was some tea, so he turned on the water heater to face Diane. She had followed him and was standing in the middle of the kitchen. Her frame was barely covered by a short grey t-shirt and a pair of black underwear, but he didn't let it distract him. Instead, he watched as she put both hands on her sides. 

"You have to walk me through that encounter. What did you notice?"

"Alex..." she whimpered, biting her bottom lip hard enough to bruise her skin. It's a little foggy right now. I don't have all the details."

"I need to know if he lives here..."

"Alex..."

"I need to make sure he hasn't figured you out." - He was growing impatient and 

"ALEX!" She shouted. Both hands held onto her skin tighter and she shook her head- "Please!... For the love of God, stop!" She then covered her mouth with her warm palm and shook her head. He could see she was still shaking, and he felt his body stiffen at the sight. He hated to see her vulnerable like this. It was unlike her. It was... like a knife being twisted in his guts. He hated it but he didn't move closer to her. She didn't want him to.-

"Fine." That was all he said as he placed the cups on the table and returned to the water heater to pour some into a teapot. As he prepared the tea, Diane pulled a chair toward her and sat on it. The Jackal brought the teapot to the table, and he pulled the chair opposite her and sat on it. "We're running out of coffee, but there's some tea."

"I'm fine with it, " she replied in a soft voice. Leaning her arms on the table, she rolled her head to the side to look at him. He remained silent and observant, waiting for the teapot to be ready so he could pour some into their cups.- "I'm sorry for my outburst. I'm a nervous wreck..." -She admitted and chewed at her bottom lip-

"I know. It's okay."-His blue eyes softened upon staring at her. Diane shrugged and  started to scratch her  cheek- 

"I think he was here for a short time. He wasn't relaxed and kept looking at his watch. I noticed he took a phone call and then left the supermarket." -She then pinched the bridge of her nose with her left hand- "I would look into the files I have on him."

"When was the last time you updated it?"

"Two years ago... A short while after we met in Milan." -She confessed, scratching her cheek again- 

"Why is that?"

"I was... distracted...I was feeling good for a while, and I thought.... I thought I didn't need to enact my revenge. I could hold onto something better."

"What are you saying?" 

"I'm saying /you/ made me feel good. I felt good for the first time in such a long time. I was so happy I thought I could put my past behind me, Alex! That's what I'm saying!" She stared at him and chewed at her bottom lip. His heart skipped a beat as he hadn't expected her to speak about her feelings so clearly. He could feel his heart fluster and his cheeks turn red, but he didn't flinch. She kept talking to refocus their conversation- "So... I haven't updated the file for this long, but I'm sure we can find his whereabouts if we pick up where I left it."

"What was he up to?" -She leaned further into her  chair- 

"Last time I found him, he was in South Africa. He was cozying up with the leader of the far-right party there. I knew because I was working a job in South Africa and after a couple years of absence, he resurfaced in the country.  He always goes on a hiatus after his jobs to cover his tracks and cut all the loose ends of his last jobs. He never gets satisfied with just giving advice... He always liked to get his hands dirty that was one of the ways I could track him. I know his work."

"How would you proceed if you were tracking him down?" -he asked, trying to make her focus on something practical. She furrowed her brows for a moment; the little crease on her forehead suggested she was genuinely thinking about his question. How would she do it if she was alone?-

" Now that I know he's in the country, I would first search for him in South Africa. See what his job was there. See if I can find him in pictures like I did last time. Is he still buddies with the president of that far-right party, or was that man his target? Then, from there, if he's left South Africa for good, I would look into the big cases of the last years. I know his work; I would recognize it anywhere. I'll look into suspicious deaths or perhaps massacres. I'll look at the victim profiles and then search for testimonies. He never works alone. He is a mercenary, but he has a squad of faithful men who would follow him anywhere, including hell." -She took a deep breath and tilted her head to the side- "I'll also look into Budapest's recent crimes. Perhaps he came here for a job."

"It may be fruitless, but at least this is a start. I need to have access to your files Diane." -She pinched her lips together and nodded- " I'll look into South Africa. You can check for any recent crime here."

He outstretched his hand, waiting for Diane to give him her files. She always kept it around her neck, in a makeshift necklace of some sort. Her hazel eyes stared at him, and she pulled on her USB key and broke her necklace. She handed the USB key to him, and the Jackal nodded quietly. He knew it was asking a lot from her, and it was a testament to her trust in him. She pinched her lips together, and once he took the USB key, she slouched back into her seat.  There was relief on her face, he could tell. It was as if she was breathing for the first time in a long time. 

He left the kitchen for a moment and allowed Diane some space for herself. She covered her mouth with her warm palm and cried into it. Her body moved back and forth as she was furiously trying to keep the Jackal from seeing her in such a vulnerable state. Heck! She didn't want to feel vulnerable like that again, but meeting that man still made her react the same way. She froze and was unable to do anything but watch that man as he went about his day. She felt as helpless as she had been all those years ago, and panic mixed with anguish and disgust took over her. She cried into her hand, and despite her best efforts, Alex could hear her. He knew what was going on but he also knew it was best not to intervene and let Diane cry it out. What it did, however, was cover his skin with goosebumps and make him angry. 

Yes, he was angry. Angry at the man for what he did to Diane. Angry at the horrors she and countless other children were forced to endure at the hands of adults. He was angry but also determined to find that man and put a bullet in his head himself. He would do it for Diane. he would do it for himself as well. Her enemy was now his, and he would stop at nothing until he was sure that man was dead.  He started his research and after a while, as the sun had risen, he heard no more noise coming from the kitchen. He decided to check in on Diane, and upon entering the kitchen again, he saw her sleeping body. She fell asleep there, her head resting comfortably between her arms. So, he decided against waking her up and went to the bathroom to grab a bathrobe he could wrap around her frame. They would talk about what he found when she woke up. 

---

-TBC-

The Day of the Jackal: Part 1

A/N: Time jump of 2 years after the event of season 1. The Jackal has moved on from his life with Nuria and Carlito. He is in a new relationship with an old acquaintance, and her past is returning to bite them. Would they spiral? Would they fix the issue? We’ll see.

---------------

"Diane?" -The Jackal's soft voice echoed in the room as he felt a shift in the bed they were sharing-

She hummed her response and sat on the bed. The faint moonlight pierced the room, helping him guess her frame. His intense blue eyes stared at her form. He could only see her back from where he was. Diane didn't move from her spot, and he could hear her breathing get faster as if she were becoming uncomfortable. She tried to control her breathing and curled her fingers around the sheets. 

 

"Alex....He's in the city. I saw him yesterday while grocery shopping..."

"Are you alright?" -In one swift motion, the Jackal stood up and circled around the bed to face Diane. She chewed at her bottom lip and shook her head. No. She wasn't alright at all. He could feel her body shake as she was trying to collect herself. The hitman cupped her cheek and gently stroked it with his thumb, and Diane leaned into his hand.- "Obviously, you're not. Did he see you?"

"No. He didn't. I froze on the spot." -She closed her eyes, and tears rolled over her soft cheeks.-

 Her hand wrapped around his wrist gently, and he cupped her other cheek with his other hand. Diane had rarely lost her composure like that, and it was unnerving, to say the least of the emotions that crossed his mind. He was furious; his anger was bubbling under the surface of his soft eyes. He knew why she was afraid of that man and he hated the fact that it had happened to her. His icy blue eyes averted from her lips to her eyes, and he steadied her head, so the only thing she could do was look into his eyes. 

"I know you're frustrated but you shouldn't be upset at yourself for reacting the way you did. This man hurt you, Diane." -She tried to push him away but he held onto her hands with his- 

"No!" -She whimpered, the strength leaving her arms the more she struggled against him- "No!" -She bit back a sob and dropped her head- "No!... Alex...."-She whimpered again- "I would never be able to heal as long as he's alive.-

"I'll do it." -She shook her head- "I'll do it, Diane!" -She lifted her head to look at his face, her hazel eyes were wide open and while they were still in the dark, he could tell how tense she was.- "I'll do it for free! Don't you dare think about paying me for this job!" -He warned her calmly. Diane swallowed a lump and crossed her legs on the bed. She put her hands on her lap, her wrists exposed to him. She conceded.-

"Let me help you. I can't get close to that man, but... I can help you."

----

Milan, 2 years ago, Caffetaria Rocca.

"Is Enora your real name?"

"Are you seriously asking me this, /Charles/?"  -She lifted a brow and grabbed her cup of coffee-

"Do I look like I am joking?" He asked, shaking his head. "I've looked into you." -She grinned-

"Have you? Seems like we share the same mind then... /Charles/" -He flinched and clenched his jaw. He hated the way she sarcastically said his fake name. It irritated him so much that he couldn't stop himself from clenching his jaw. She laughed a hearty and genuine laugh that disarmed the Jackal. He liked it. Far more than he wanted to admit to himself- "I'm not new in the game. I know it's not your real name just like Enora isn't mine. I do like Enora, though,  and I like the way it sounds in your mouth." -He blushed and cracked his knuckles, betraying his lack of focus.-

"Touché! So, you've tried to look into me and what did you find?"

"As much as what you found about me. Let me tell you. You guessed my birth country right because of my faint accent. Probably figured out that I was an orphan of war. But nothing until I entered the game. You know about Ghost's exploits. You know what I'm capable of, and you know that I have principles but aside from that, you don't know shit about me. Am I right?" -She kept grinning and mind-absently started to stroke the rim of her cup-

"You guessed right. I don't have much info about you, and I can't be at fault for that." -He grabbed his cup of coffee and took a sip. She still looked amused by the whole situation, which, strangely enough, started to get to him as well.- "Give me your best shot. what did you find about me?"

"You're British. No matter how hard you try to hide it, you can't shake it off completely. Given your skills, I'd say you were ex-military.  I've followed your trail during the whole River affair, and I've noticed you really liked Spain." -He flinched again. She's cunning!-

It reminded him of Bianca Pullman and her deduction skills that took her to Spain as well, as to his family. What family? Nuria had left him and as he found out, she had moved on from him completely. Carlito was too young to remember his father, and he embraced Nuria's new fiancé as his own. The Jackal thought about tearing this new family apart. He wanted his wife bac,k but what stopped him was seeing her relaxed and happy. She did find an honest man who genuinely loved her and treated Carlito as his own. Didn't she deserve peace? Didn't she? Didn't he? Ghost's smirk was distraction,g and he couldn't help but focus on her soft and plump lips-

"What of it?"

"You tried to escape this life when you were in Spain. I understand that. What use would we have of the money we get from our jobs if we didn't live to the fullest? You had a family there. A wife and child... A brother-in-law who forced your hand and had you reveal your location to those who really paid attention. Yet, since the hit on UDC, you've never been back to Spain."

"I have no family. I thought I could have one, and I tried, but it failed." -He honestly answered. It took her aback, and she blushed. He watched as she blinked several times and pinched her lips together. She was flustered, and that gave him an edge, so he bent forward, invading her personal space-"So you've been looking into me, and you nailed it. Impressive!"

"Relax, Charles. My investigation led me to believe that you did something so foul that your government erased your existence from the world." -She had a knack for making him tense up, especially when her voice went lower rather than higher and became almost like a purr. Distracting!- 

"Is this the same with you? Why did you pick up the codename Ghost?" -She swallowed a lump and gave him a crooked smile. Why did he care so much about the reasons she picked her nickname? Her hazel eyes set upon his face.-

"This is all that is left of me in this world. I am but a ghost with no past, no present, and no future." She confidently claimed before she leaned into her chair- " I have a question of my own now, Jackal." She said, taking another sip of her coffee before she put the cup back on the table. He narrowed his gaze and lifted a brow-

"Shoot."

"Did we meet by chance or did you do it by design?" -His icy blue eyes stared at her gorgeous face.- 

He didn't say anything but leaned back into his chair. Why did he seek Ghost? Why did he go out of his way to meet with her? He couldn't admit it, but he had been intrigued with her work. Unlike Jackal, Ghost kills her targets up close and personally. She was a master of her craft, swift and efficient and he wanted to talk with her about their craft. No. It wasn't true. He was obsessed with her. What started like a simple research project turned into a bona fide obsession with her. He couldn't say it out loud. He couldn't answer her. His heartbeat started to go faster as his eyes averted from her lips to her eyes.  Ghost was a beautiful woman. He liked her hazel eyes, stern and calculating. He liked that she was staring at him, in an attempt to decipher the mystery that the Jackal was. He liked that she was staring at /him/ and no one else.  He loved her plump lips and the nice curves of her larger nose. He loved her smile and the whiteness of her teeth contrasting with her black skin and pink lips. focus! Jackal! Focus! 

---

-TBC-

Leona- You don't know what it's like to lose your loved ones!

"Why would you keep me here, Anne? I need to return to my pack!"

"And get yourself killed because you didn't think your plan through?"

Leona roared at the blonde woman before her. Her fangs protruded and a bit of saliva flew out of her mouth and landed on the floor. Leona had been restless since she decided to leave her tribe. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but she hated that her uncle took over after the slaughter of her parents. She hated that he stole her crown and became the leader of their clan. She hated the nonchalance with which he "led" the investigations into her parents' murder and the fact so many of her clan followed him enraged the princess who decided to find out the truth about the murder of her parents. 

During her trip, she met with Anna and her tribe and they welcomed her with open arms, allowing the princess to recover, properly mourn for her parents, and renew her vows to find those responsible for her parent's demise. Anna became Leona's close friend and always tried to keep her in check so she didn't take unnecessary risks. Leona knew that her friend meant well, but the frustration of being stuck with Anna's clan and not finding more clues about her parents' murder achieved to made her angry.  The werewolf ran her fingers over the huge scars on her face. She could feel the creases and the crevices left by the claw that disfigured her. She could heal them, given her werewolf powers, but the werewolf princess refused. It served as a reminder to stay humble no matter the situation. She was bested in a fight and could still be won because there always was someone stronger. 

"Leona! Get yourself together! it is unbecoming of you to let your anger take the best of you."

"Words! Words! You're only good at speaking words Anna! You don't know what it is to have your parents murdered and your clan led by a usurper! You don't know how betrayed and angry I feel!"

"Watch your tongue, Wolf! I know more than you can imagine and not rushing to my death doesn't mean I am weak."

"There is nothing you can do that can soothe my pain!" 

She hit the tree with her fist, making it shake from the blow before she shook from head to toe. She was at her wit's end, unable to find a way to channel her anger and frustration.  a pitiful moan escaped her lips and she turned into a wolf. She turned around and walked towards Anna who knelt on the ground. She opened her arms and gently welcomed her friend in a soft hug. Leona didn't resist this time. In truth, it was soothing for her to finally have loving arms wrapped around her frame. She longed for her parents' embrace and knew that she couldn't get it anymore because they were slain. All that was left was anger and despair. She wanted to cry but her tears couldn't fall. 

Anna understood Leona's need to lash out at her, so she didn't take offense to her accusations and diatribe. She knew Leona didn't mean them; it was pain talking rather than reason.  Leona knew she was wrong when she said that Anna had never known loss. She lost her mother during a battle against another clan and lost a brother to sickness when he was a young pup.  She knew pain and could relate to some of what Leona was going through. She petted her friend's head and stroked her wolf ears to keep soothing her. 

"I know your pain. I know what it's like to lose someone you care about. I understand your quest and I told you that I would be helping you. This still stands today. I am still going to help you. I just need you to know exactly what you're going to do and not take necessary risks. I don't want you to die, Leona. I want you to live!"

Leona leaned into that embrace, fully surrendering her anger to her friend's warmth. She wanted to be comforted and soothe her aching heart. Anna's gentle touch helped, and Leona was able to calm down fully—at least for the time being. 

-TBC-

Lux-anxious feeding

Slender ebony fingers squeezed the delicate neck of her willing victim. She tilted her head to the side to better access her jugular. Her bat fangs were protruding, ready to gouge away at her throat for blood. Lux would not have hesitated to drink, mostly because she always indulged herself. She would have sunk her teeth deep into the delicate human skin and fed on that beautiful woman without thinking twice about it. Yet, she wasn't at ease. She felt that someone was observing her and she couldn't locate them. Her hunger forced her to refocus on her blood bag. 

As she savored the delicious crimson liquid, she felt the uncomfortable sensation of being observed increase. She stopped feeding and focused her attention on the room. It was a beautiful ballroom, filled with hungry night-dwellers and humans. The place was known to be a nightclub for the upper class and few knew that it was a hot spot for the creatures of the night. It was supposed to be a safe place as the rules enforced in the club were that no fights should occur there. Murder wasn't allowed either and was punished by Death.  So for centuries, it was understood that the nightclub was sacred ground and no one violated the rules. So why did she feel oppressed? 

Lux licked the blood off of her lips and leaned back in her chair, assuming a relaxed position while she was busy scanning the ballroom. She could identify most of the well-known vampires gathered that night and most seemed to be minding their own business. Briefly, as the superb blonde woman she was drinking from came back to her senses, Lux was distracted. The woman held onto her hand and put it back on her throat as she wanted Lux to feed on her again. It was tempting and the vampire licked her lips for a moment but she shook her head and decided to stroke the blonde's cheek. 

"Give it a rest Kelly. I took a lot of blood from you."

"Lux... I probably shouldn't be telling you this but someone asked me to keep you busy tonight."

Lux flashed her fangs at her and grabbed her cheeks in a fit of rage. Why was she informed only now? Who knew enough of her habits to know she liked to feed on Kelly?  Kelly gasped and held onto the vampire's wrists. Lux's red eyes glowed as anger was slowly taking over. She remembered the rules of the club and released Kelly's cheeks.  The woman tried to soothe the pain she felt in her cheeks with gentle strokes before she resumed talking. 

"They told me that you needed some strength back and that I should let you feed for most of the night. I.. believed them. I thought I was helping you."

"Who asked you this, Kelly?" -Lux's anger was bubbling at the surface.-

 Kelly could tell that she was beside herself and trying her damnest to keep her emotions in check. Had they not been in public, in that specific place, perhaps she would have been tortured to speak or worse. It bothered Lux a lot that her most trusted ally had been approached and literally used against her. Who would want her to be busy? Did they know about her inquiries and private investigation? Aside from Alceste, nobody knew why Lux was trying to locate the elders. They believed she wanted to find their resting places to pay her respects. They believed she was a history buff who wanted nothing more but to know about their origins for her own knowledge of Vampiredom. 

It wasn't unheard of, some vampires were attached to old traditions and still lived like a couple centuries ago. Some even went as far as going on pilgrimage to the places their ancestors lived, akin to humans visiting places where their most illustrious kin were born or grew up.   Vampires still wanted to keep a trace of their civilizations and history throughout the ages. Perhaps, a long-lost human trait. perhaps... That was beside the point, however, because while her interest in Elder Vampires wasn't new or shocking, the fact someone was trying to keep tabs on her was.  

"He... It was a male vampire. I know he's a French vampire because of the accent. Frederic! I think his name is Frederic!"

"Does he have long blonde hair?" -She nodded- "And does he have green eyes?" -Kelly frantically nodded-"Thank you, Kelly." -She cupped her cheek once again and stroked it with her thumb.- "I appreciate your loyalty to me. I will make sure that nothing happens to you and pretend I don't know Frederic is the one spying on me right now."

"Should I know who this Frederic is?" -Lux shook her head- "Thank you, Lux. He scared the hell out of me and I don't want to meet him ever again.  I assume you're not hungry anymore?"

"You're spot on. I think we can entertain a conversation while I gather my thoughts and think of a way to intercept Frederic to ask him what he wants from me. Please, Kelly, tell me more about your family drama!"

And while the blonde woman started to talk, Lux's attention focused on her surroundings. now that she knew Frederic was the one observing her, she was able to focus on finding him. Vain as he was, he definitely would have been the one observing her. He believed he was superior to her because he was older but like she said to her sire, they had the blood of an elder vampire rushing through their veins, therefore they were far more powerful than even older vampires.  Lux was underestimated by most of her peers, who believed that her oddly shaped teeth made her a runt, easily overpowered by the rest of them. they were mesmerized by her uncanny beauty, even to vampire standards with her red hair and black sclera, but aside from thinking she was an exotic creature, most didn't consider her to be their equal. 

It forced Lux to beat them at their own games. Her sire ensured she was well-read, well-traveled, and well-accustomed to their customs and traditions. He wanted to make sure that whatever it was they challenged her with, she was up to the task and even better than most of them. Of course, even Lux had limits and while any young or mediocre vampire could easily be outclassed and outsmarted, some posed an actual challenge and forced Lux to push herself beyond her limitations. Her capacity to always go further earned her some respect but she couldn't shake off the disdain and sense of superiority most older vampires had when it came to her. Frederic was no exception. He was one of the most vocal about rejecting Lux as Aurelius' offspring but he was forced to accept her which always left a bitter taste in his mouth. If he knew she was looking into the elder vampires, perhaps he saw an opportunity to ruin her reputation? She had to figure this out as fast as possible if she didn't want him to become a hindrance in her investigation. 

When Kelly decided to leave the party, Lux followed and both went their separate ways after they bid farewell to each other. Lux walked in a dark alley, badly lit by public lighting. She could still feel uneased like in the club and knew that Frederic was following her. She decided to take a turn to a small alley and stopped walking when she was deep into it. She then shrugged and slowly turned around. She was hoping that her guesses were right and that she was indeed followed by the French vampire Frederic. It was a gamble but she was ready to play that game and mentally prepared herself for a fight that night in case she was wrong. 

"Perhaps now would be the best time to reveal yourself, Frederic."

-TBC-

Vanya- campfire

Vanya chose to sit on a tree stump a couple footsteps away from the majority of the soldiers. She was not a good company to have at the moment and she refused to be distracted by their chants and other shenanigans. She couldn't bear their overwhelming joy and even less their desire to force her into dancing and chanting with them. So the elf isolated herself from her band of brothers. She took her knife and a wooden stick she started to carve when she heard the muffled sound of boots walking on the soft ground. Someone was coming closer. She quickly changed the way she held her knife to prepare herself for an attack and lifted her head.  Richard was standing in front of her. He was just dressed in a loosely fitted black shirt a pair of black pants and his old trusty pair of leather boots. Because their last mission took several weeks, Richard was sporting a scruffy beard and his hair was long enough for him to be able to tie it into a loose low ponytail.

"What are you doing alone, Vanya?"

"I needed some time for myself."

"Seems like you always need some time for yourself. All these years and you still don't want to spend a full night with us? Are you afraid of getting drunk?"

She rolled her eyes and shook her head. How ridiculous that statement was! She wasn't scared of getting drunk, as a matter of fact, she always got shitfaced whenever she indulged in drinking. What bothered her was that she tended to speak of things she would rather keep to herself.  She didn't want to spill her guts and expose her weaknesses to the greedy eyes of friends who could turn into foes with a hefty load of money. She pursed her lips together and twirled her knife in her hand. 

"Nope. I'm not afraid. I just don't feel like getting drunk with you guys." She shrugged, planted her knife into the tree stump, and tilted her head to the side to look at him straight in the eyes. "What do you want, Richard?" 

"Why do you assume I want something from you?" -He asked, furrowing a brow as he was curious about what she wanted to say. Vanya sighed and put both hands on her knees-. 

"Because I know you never ask something without wanting something in return. So... Tell me, what do you want to know?"

Richard knew little about Vanya except that she was of noble ascendance and, for some reason, became a gun-for-hire. He knew her parents were dead and she was angry but he didn't know why. He shouldn't be bothered with her past like he was because so many of them had awful pasts. So many of them were orphans, products of war, forged with fire and hardened by battles.  Vanya's unwillingness to share elements of her past, her aloofness, and her rough exterior piqued his interest. Perhaps that was the reason for his interest in her He shrugged, closed the distance between them, put his foot on the tree stump, and bent a little forward. 

"Why did you leave the royal court?"

"Why do you care?" -She almost bit her tongue while trying to reply to him. The question made her blush as he didn't expect her to retort with her own question. He furrowed his brows and looked at her with a confused look on his face.

"Why wouldn't I care about you? We've been together for 15 years now! It's a very long time in human years, Van." She pursed her lips and wrapped her arms around her leg. "I'm serious. You're my friend, and I know when something is on your mind. It's the only topic that gets you all defensive."

"I don't want to open old wounds, Rich. I left the court because I wanted to! I /had/ to!" -She tried to defend herself but it didn't come out as very convincing. So Richard's blue eyes stared at her with a harsher glow.

"And yet, you still cover your face when we walk into the royal city. If you didn't care about being recognized you wouldn't do this. So, I have to ask, what is it that you are so afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid. I am /angry/!" -She pointed out, unable to stop herself from speaking to him. Richard tilted his head to the side, now certain that he was starting to have the real answer to his question. She was angry and immediately he started to wonder who or what made her angry. Was it the court itself? Was it someone peculiar? She realized it was too late to backpedal and she was way too angry to think about lying. So she ran her hand over her face and moistened her lips.- "My parents were framed, I don't know who or why but they were framed and I can't do shit about it except find the people responsible for it. Because they were of noble ascendance, they were disgraced and marked as criminals instead of killed. My mother couldn't deal with the shame and she killed herself, well she let herself die when she got sick. My father took all the odd jobs he could to provide for me but that killed him. I left the court because all I could think about was finding the one responsible for the slander to force them to admit the truth or kill them if they didn't want to." 

Her orange eyes set upon Richard's face as she wanted to study his very reaction to her words. She was taking a huge risk by confiding in him but she trusted Richard more than anything else. He was her friend, perhaps the only friend she ever had in her life and she knew she could trust him. They had each other's backs for so long that it became second nature for them to care for each other. Still, she felt awfully vulnerable at this instant because she didn't know how he would react to her answer.  The elf expected anything from the human,  from laughter to a lecture but he did nothing of the sort. The mercenary sat next to her, his frame looking in the same direction as she was. His attitude was friendly, which made the elf relax next to the soldier. He glanced at her and quietly laid his arms against his thighs. 

"Do you have any leads?"

"Not yet.  I know that it's not an average noble who started the rumors. It came from a very powerful noble. I would... I just need to ensure it's not who I think it is."

"Who do you have in mind?"

"The King." -Vanya whispered, almost unsure of her words. Richard blinked-

"The What???" -Vanya's ears flipped and lowered and she covered her face with both hands.-

"You heard me well. He was a prince when that happened... I know it's a big accusation but you really have to trust me and my guts. They're telling me that it's him but I need to know for sure that he is involved in my family's disgrace." -She held onto his hand and squeezed harder- "Please, Rich... Swear to me that you're not going to tell my business to the others."

"I  swear on everything I hold dear!"

"Thank you. I appreciate it. "

" I'll help you in your quest. I know how hurt you are and I want to wipe the smug grin off of the king's face anyway. So count me in. I'll help you." -She pinched her lips together and nodded slowly. It was settled then. They would investigate and give her justice.-

It was settled.