Satis House

[XCandy and LunacyX]

She smiled in return, everything about her manner seemingly cold and cruel all of a sudden. "Love? I should think not. Have I not properly expressed my opinion of the people in this city? There's no one here fit for love, myself included." She paused and gave a small sigh, reminding herself that he would certainly know of her reputation soon enough, and then continued, "At any rate, what good would it do me?" Finally she gave a careless shrug of her shoulders to show that she just simply didn't care about that particular aspect of the conversation. "And to address your first question, there are indeed those who challenge the curse. But for a woman to do that is absolutely despicable. For a Mayfair woman to marry a non-Mayfair man is just like lopping off his head---it's murder."

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

She smiled in return, everything about her manner seemingly cold and cruel all of a sudden. "Love? I should think not. Have I not properly expressed my opinion of the people in this city? There's no one here fit for love, myself included." She paused and gave a small sigh, reminding herself that he would certainly know of her reputation soon enough, and then continued, "At any rate, what good would it do me?" Finally she gave a careless shrug of her shoulders to show that she just simply didn't care about that particular aspect of the conversation. "And to address your first question, there are indeed those who challenge the curse. But for a woman to do that is absolutely despicable. For a Mayfair woman to marry a non-Mayfair man is just like lopping off his head---it's murder."

He went quite still at her words, then--abruptly--"I have known those who felt it revitalized them. They loved, endlessly, unconditionally, to make something of their despair. You speak of it as a curse. It may make pretense at blessing as well, may it not?" He did not pretend it was selfless love; it had been to occupy the vampire, nothing more. Those brief intrigues had kept them happy, kept them from turning their interests upon the outside world. But it had been love, and they had been loved for it. "The Mayfair curse," he said thoughtfully. "Who set it upon your line? What placed it upon you?"  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

"That's just the thing," she said softly, folding her hands in her lap and directing her gaze to the floorboards, "We don't know. All that is certain is one effect rather than the true nature of the curse or who created it." She gave a very subtle sigh, hardly intentional, and again shifted her gaze so that she sat staring at the stars that shone through the veil of gray cloud. Finally, as if just gathering enough willpower to do so, she turned to face Vikteren, quickly running her eyes over him before speaking. "And I suppose you speak from personal experience as far as love is concerned?" She came quite near to hissing the word love, which though she did not mean to do she didn't at all regret.

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

"That's just the thing," she said softly, folding her hands in her lap and directing her gaze to the floorboards, "We don't know. All that is certain is one effect rather than the true nature of the curse or who created it." She gave a very subtle sigh, hardly intentional, and again shifted her gaze so that she sat staring at the stars that shone through the veil of gray cloud. Finally, as if just gathering enough willpower to do so, she turned to face Vikteren, quickly running her eyes over him before speaking. "And I suppose you speak from personal experience as far as love is concerned?" She came quite near to hissing the word love, which though she did not mean to do she didn't at all regret.

A look of pain crossed his face, oddly and exquisitely vulnerable-exquisitely human-- in that single instant of emotion. Then he turned his eyes to the window, and the look, the moment was swept beneath his impassive mask once more. She had not opened a new wound, after all; merely cut deeply into an old scar. “No--” he said distantly, watching the dark horizon through the dusty windowpanes, “No, I would not do that to a human. It would be cruel. What would you have of me? Some shameful great romance, a new lover for every decade? They grow old, Antha.” A brief, short laugh, with no humor in it. “They grow old and we remain forever young, and those sweet nothings change all too quickly to curses. They curse our name, they curse our race, and they lie on their deathbed breathing hate until there is no more breath to bear their rage.” He shook his head emphatically. “And I will turn no one. I will make no more of my own kind. I refuse it. As for the others, those who similarly bear such a taint as mine...I am certain they would not have me, as I would not have them.”  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

Antha found herself quite shocked at seeing the expression that crossed his face for even that brief moment and sat silently as he spoke, staring rather hard at his profile. She couldn't hide the fact that she was curious, but for common courtesy she ignored it. "I apologize if I said something I shouldn't have," she said finally, her voice infinitely soft, "I have something of a sick tendency to look for pain where love is concerned." She gave but one brittle, bitter smile as she leaned back in her seat, a strangely thoughtful expression to her face. As much as she was forcing herself not to, Antha finally had to give in and think over his words, a faint sinking depression taking hold of her mind. And she couldn't stand herself finally that she had lied. "A shameful great romance?" she asked softly, more a musing than an actual question. There was more she wanted to say apparently but it had become evident to her that the words couldn't be forced out. It was something laced with utter stupidity and fringed in agony. Without a word she recounted to herself the years that she had been secretly in love with her elder brother and the month after he was turned that she had cried. She had 'outgrown' these feelings of course, but that anguish still left her bitter. "Of all the emotions, of all feelings," she began again, "Love has the possibility of being the worst." Finally she just sat silently and gave a little wave of her hand as if to ward the subject away. "This is so ridiculously depressing. Let's move on, shall we? It's painful just to speak of this timeless, heartless matter and, in all honesty, it makes me want to set oncle Julien on fire and that wouldn't be good for anyone."

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

Antha found herself quite shocked at seeing the expression that crossed his face for even that brief moment and sat silently as he spoke, staring rather hard at his profile. She couldn't hide the fact that she was curious, but for common courtesy she ignored it. "I apologize if I said something I shouldn't have," she said finally, her voice infinitely soft, "I have something of a sick tendency to look for pain where love is concerned." She gave but one brittle, bitter smile as she leaned back in her seat, a strangely thoughtful expression to her face. As much as she was forcing herself not to, Antha finally had to give in and think over his words, a faint sinking depression taking hold of her mind. And she couldn't stand herself finally that she had lied. "A shameful great romance?" she asked softly, more a musing than an actual question. There was more she wanted to say apparently but it had become evident to her that the words couldn't be forced out. It was something laced with utter stupidity and fringed in agony. Without a word she recounted to herself the years that she had been secretly in love with her elder brother and the month after he was turned that she had cried. She had 'outgrown' these feelings of course, but that anguish still left her bitter. "Of all the emotions, of all feelings," she began again, "Love has the possibility of being the worst." Finally she just sat silently and gave a little wave of her hand as if to ward the subject away. "This is so ridiculously depressing. Let's move on, shall we? It's painful just to speak of this timeless, heartless matter and, in all honesty, it makes me want to set oncle Julien on fire and that wouldn't be good for anyone."

The vampire turned back to her and said merely, "As you wish. What would you have us speak of? Music, art, philosophy, poetry?--I have not spent my time on this earth in vain. We might waste hours pontificating to one another, if you so desired." And what a strange sight that would be--witch and vampire, experience of centuries contending with the combined knowledge of the greatest Mayfair talents. If nothing else, the experience would be insightful. The imagery produced brought the faintest of amused smiles to his lips, letting the thought slip over to her, intentionally or not.  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

A little smile touched Antha's lips as she scanned the outermost part of his mind for several brief moments. "How did you end up here?" she asked finally, voice calm and casual and infinitely sweet if you didn't pay enough attention to it. The softness of her accent tended to throw people off at times. "Most vampires come for the dark atmosphere or the power of the coven leaders. Some even come to glimpse the Mayfair witches or le Cirque du Graal Rouge." Her pronunciation was flawless, perfectly smooth, as she spoke the French title. "But you don't strike me as someone to come for the dark glamour."

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

A little smile touched Antha's lips as she scanned the outermost part of his mind for several brief moments. "How did you end up here?" she asked finally, voice calm and casual and infinitely sweet if you didn't pay enough attention to it. The softness of her accent tended to throw people off at times. "Most vampires come for the dark atmosphere or the power of the coven leaders. Some even come to glimpse the Mayfair witches or le Cirque du Graal Rouge." Her pronunciation was flawless, perfectly smooth, as she spoke the French title. "But you don't strike me as someone to come for the dark glamour."

His expression was utterly unreadable, his thoughts guarded from her. Well--no, guarded was the wrong word. Guarded implied perhaps a few watchmen stationed at a locked and bolted door. In comparison, this might as well have been the Great Wall of China. "Perhaps it is merely that I have an unappeasable wanderlust. Surely there are humans among you who act upon the same?" he inquired politely, neatly aligning the question along a different path. "I have been here but only a few days, and already I hear tales of the Mayfair's eccentricities--it cannot be so very odd."  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

"Not at all. I know many vampires who constantly move. Were it not for covens and territorial purposes, I don't think there would be a vampire left in Osiris City by now," she replied lightly, smiling softly. "But Mayfairs do tend to stay put. After all, family is everything." She paused, gave a little laugh at her own thoughts. "Besides, the closer they are to the main branch of the family the higher their allowance is bound to be. Greed can root people to a spot. And the eccentricities you heard of are mostly of a far different variety. For instance, my ancestor Marguerite had a nasty habit of keeping many people's heads in a room in Mayfair Manor after she had stuffed them into jars and stealing newborns away from her slaves, and my aunt Bianca hated old things so much that she would pitch a fit if anyone brought anything made before the year of her birth near her. She ended up setting her house on fire for that very reason." Her smile grew a bit, her eyes softening at the same time. "Again, it's all money. If you have enough money you can do whatever you want. Mayfairs deprive themselves of any kind of life beyond Osiris City for money while normal people kill, steal, and lie through their teeth just to get their hands on more. I think vampires are the only creatures I've ever seen who don't base everything they do on money." She gave a single little sigh and rested her cheek against her hand, hey eyes watching the window half-heartedly. "It's all just wretched, really."

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

"Not at all. I know many vampires who constantly move. Were it not for covens and territorial purposes, I don't think there would be a vampire left in Osiris City by now," she replied lightly, smiling softly. "But Mayfairs do tend to stay put. After all, family is everything." She paused, gave a little laugh at her own thoughts. "Besides, the closer they are to the main branch of the family the higher their allowance is bound to be. Greed can root people to a spot. And the eccentricities you heard of are mostly of a far different variety. For instance, my ancestor Marguerite had a nasty habit of keeping many people's heads in a room in Mayfair Manor after she had stuffed them into jars and stealing newborns away from her slaves, and my aunt Bianca hated old things so much that she would pitch a fit if anyone brought anything made before the year of her birth near her. She ended up setting her house on fire for that very reason." Her smile grew a bit, her eyes softening at the same time. "Again, it's all money. If you have enough money you can do whatever you want. Mayfairs deprive themselves of any kind of life beyond Osiris City for money while normal people kill, steal, and lie through their teeth just to get their hands on more. I think vampires are the only creatures I've ever seen who don't base everything they do on money." She gave a single little sigh and rested her cheek against her hand, hey eyes watching the window half-heartedly. "It's all just wretched, really."

His eyes, green as poison, narrowed slightly at her words. "They do not crave wealth itself, by virtue of mere avarice. They crave the security that it brings." Unbidden, the images rose in his mind--stick-limbed children, already more jaded than even the most hard-hearted adult, playing in the filthy streets. Hands that should have held dolls dancing instead among huge metal insects of machinery, that with the first false move could have lost them a finger. They worked from dawn to dusk, until they could no longer see their work and could not feel their limbs for the cold. Then they would stumble on numbed feet, back to a cramped, small apartment where their already-drunk father and family waited, to demand what little they had earned for drink or food. Who would not yearn for wealth in those circumstances? Who would not crave a warm home, full stomach, leisurely days?  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

"I'm not speaking of such people," she said softly, eyes distant and gloomy as carefully she probed into his mind, seeking only his current thoughts. "I'm speaking of certain people of this city, the ones who kill and cheat and lie through their teeth for the wealth and the power it brings. To be rich in Osiris City is to be the equivalent of a god and it's sick. That's my point. Yes, there are the countless people who are in dire need of money, but my words aren't directed towards them. Understand?" She sat silent for a moment after this, a bit angry with herself for the hasty fervor that had overtaken her voice, and remembered why she didn't talk much to anyone. Long conversations brought out the worst in her.

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

"I'm not speaking of such people," she said softly, eyes distant and gloomy as carefully she probed into his mind, seeking only his current thoughts. "I'm speaking of certain people of this city, the ones who kill and cheat and lie through their teeth for the wealth and the power it brings. To be rich in Osiris City is to be the equivalent of a god and it's sick. That's my point. Yes, there are the countless people who are in dire need of money, but my words aren't directed towards them. Understand?" She sat silent for a moment after this, a bit angry with herself for the hasty fervor that had overtaken her voice, and remembered why she didn't talk much to anyone. Long conversations brought out the worst in her.

"You did not specify," he said shortly. "I presumed. I beg your pardon for my arrogance." But although his words were not insulting, nor his tone in any way demeaning, he could not shake his sense of faint hostility. Vampires did not exist for long without venturing into the less respectable areas of civilization; Vikteren was no exception. While most of his kind only went into such places out of utter necessity, he had spent more than a few hours prowling those dark streets, had very nearly experienced all the cruelty and injustice they could offer. It had left him rather disenchanted with the entire human race, if he hadn't been already.  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

"No, I'm sorry, I got a little too worked up there." Antha smiled softly, brushing her hair away from her face in a paranoid fashion. "It's just a bit bizarre talking to someone who isn't affiliated with my family. None of the regular restrictions apply, but then again another dozen do." A soft sigh escaped her lips, not so much depressed as worn out. "Is it peculiar for you to be talking with someone like me?" she asked softly, remembering Khayman's amusement at their first exchanged words.

 

[Vikteren]

+Rotting Lunacy+

"No, I'm sorry, I got a little too worked up there." Antha smiled softly, brushing her hair away from her face in a paranoid fashion. "It's just a bit bizarre talking to someone who isn't affiliated with my family. None of the regular restrictions apply, but then again another dozen do." A soft sigh escaped her lips, not so much depressed as worn out. "Is it peculiar for you to be talking with someone like me?" she asked softly, remembering Khayman's amusement at their first exchanged words.

He glanced up. "A human? Or a witch? The latter, I've...no, I have not had many opportunities to speak freely with your kind. Only once before. But I have only spoken--like this, unfettered by the boundaries and expectations of each of our respective races--with a few mortals throughout my existance."  

[XCandy and LunacyX]

A certain ease overtook Antha as she listened. "You're different," she said softly, "I can't get over it. It's nice---a lot easier than trying to bear short-tempered monsters." Immediately she thought of Sleet, the King of blood-lusting beasts, and remembered suddenly that they were both in danger. Quickly she zoned in on him, watching him thrash around his filthy cell and the surrounding chambers in pure anger. She left this stream of images unguarded, allowing Vikteren to see it should he so choose. "Furious, yet unable to do anything. Anxious. He's doesn't dare to come after me because he knows you're here and he's afraid of you. He sees power as well as if it's tangeable." Finally she slipped and the vision was gone, vanished into the cloudiness of her energy drained mind. It was common when she looked so far away, broke through his many walls, and like always she doubled over with her hands pressed to her eyes as if to guard them. "Don't know when to quit!" she mumbled, furious with herself for her recklessness.