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Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2022 9:56 pm
It was bitterly cold wandering the cobbled streets this late on a winter night, but Ace didn’t feel it. In fact, he kind of liked nights like these. Devoid of any souls except those up to nefarious intent. Generally, they left him alone since he didn’t smell like prey, nor was he interested in meddling in their devious affairs. It was a good arrangement. The cherry of his cigarette, perched gingerly between his lips, glowed in the darkness as he inhaled. Eyes dancing over the surrounding town with only vague, passing, interest. He was headed out, and his mind traveled faster than his legs were willing. He was miles away from here. The Elder had been contemplating taking another long trip with one of the many Kumpania roaming the hills of Hemlock. There wasn’t much left to do in this town anyway, he might as well find some adventure while he had the time. Currently there was no real clan business to attend to and everyone older than him had been so quiet lately doing who-knew-what that he wasn’t getting bossed around. Unsupervised. The word had a nice ring. He’d try it on for a while. What was the worst that could happen? Now, where was he going? Ace paused to reorient himself. Right. Find a Kumpania. Travel. He just had to get to one first.
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 11:40 am
Up on a rooftop ledge along the street, a little sheet ghost sat, with a biting wind pulling at the edges of the fabric and billowing it out around her. She did not seem phased by this, the form beneath the sheet completely still otherwise as red eyes peered down, watching for passersby. Sometimes she liked to just sit and take everything in from a perch up high where nobody would think to look. Sometimes she did it to find herself a victim someone to play with. She could get so bored, cooped up at home with her family doting on her yet no longer indulging in her odd behaviour as they once had. She was no longer a young childe, and they tried to instead encourage her to grow up and move past 'childish' things. She was not interested in becoming someone different. So here she sat, for what could have been minutes or hours, she could not say. She was searching for something, for someone, and she knew she would recognize them when she saw them. A new friend, or maybe someone to torment, or perhaps just a bite to eat? She would know. She would know. Ah. There. Her gaze was drawn first to the glow of a lit cigarette, but then to the way he moved along, an easy stride that seemed somehow both filled with purpose and relaxed at the same time. The ghost tilted her head to the side as she watched, and when he paused, she was already standing, the ghost sheet rising up, elongating, before jumping down. The red-haired woman landed first upon the cobbled ground on soft feet, the sheet followed, nearly caught in the wind, but then, swirling round, settled down over top of her once more. She had to adjust it a little so she could see again, red eyes soon peering out from two large holes. She could tell the man was about to move along again, so she made a little sound, something oddly like a chirrup, to try and get his attention. And if he turned and looked, he would see the little ghost staring back, perfectly still.
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 12:23 pm
In truth he kinda wished he could travel on his own. You'd think, after so many years as a vampire, he'd be more well off. Except it wasn't the case. His brow furrowed thoughtfully as he mulled over his situation. What he really needed was to get himself a Vardo and maybe a couple Faesteeds to pull it. Then he'd be set. Imagine. His own private Vardo. Just like a fancy Baro. He chuckled to himself, the idea bordering on ridiculous were it not for the fact he actually wanted one. Raising his arms he laced his claws behind his head and meandered a bit farther, lost amid images of grandeur, until something caused the fur on his neck to stand upright and knocked him out of his daydream entirely. He wasn't quite sure what it was. He didn't see or smell anything suspicious. But he felt something. You didn't live as long as he did without picking up on things like these. The Ravnos pretended he hadn't noticed that he was no longer alone. He didn't have to pretend for long. The little chirp caused his ears to swivel in her direction and he stopped dead in his tracks. Well, so much for leaving quietly. His cigarette still perched between his lips, claws still laced behind his head, the Vampire turned his body at the waist to get the source of the noise in eyeshot. The confusion replacing his previously detached expression was plainly displayed, he didnt bother hiding it. A ghost? He let one arm fall back at his side as he turned his frame fully to face his guest, the other coming down but pausing to remove the smoke from his lips as it went. Ace didn't speak for a minute, simply observed. It was impossible to pick up anything from whatever this thing was. It sure as s**t wasn't mortal, he could sense that much. Quirking a brow he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back on one leg. Raising the cigarette for another drag. "What can I do for you, little ghost?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 6:40 pm
Even before he had looked toward her the ghost took a few steps toward him, swaying with the movement, and stopping only when he finally turned his attention fully onto her. She stilled, the wind that rippled across the sheet the only movement, and large red eyes painted all around with dark makeup stared out from behind cut-out holes in the billowing white sheet. When he crossed his arms over his chest, she mimicked the motion, the sheet wrapping around her arms as she did so, making them easier to perceive and revealing that yes, whatever was beneath that sheet did indeed have arms. When he leaned back on one leg, she did the same, though she could not mimic him raising the cigarette, so she did not bother. Ah, so he was going to play along. Good. The small smile that alighted her lips was hidden from view. "What can I do for you." She parroted back, her voice soft and lilting, an almost haunting sound.
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 8:07 pm
Ace was, for lack of a better word, baffled. Watching the strange creature mimic him he didn't know whether to chuckle or worry. It wasn't every day a stranger dressed as a ghost decided to mimic you. In fact, in his entire life, he didn't believe it had ever happened to him specifically until this very moment. What a milestone. Ace took another long drag on his cigarette, contemplating, the cherry illuminating his stunning blue eyes for a moment. "I mean, I suppose you could do plenty if you happen to have a Vardo." He smiled an absolutely charming but roguish smile. Finding himself quite clever. Why was, whatever this thing was, under a sheet? Was it horribly disfigured in some way? He could tell it had limbs from the way it was mocking him, or, copying him? Was that the same thing? A brow cocked, perplexed. He supposed he should probably just.. keep going. "Well, be careful out here, little ghost. There are monsters out you know." He turned and waved a hand in farewell.
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2022 10:47 pm
It was when he spoke again that the ghost finally changed positions so that she was no longer standing in mimicry to the gentleman across from her on the street. Her head cocked to the side, a curious motion, and stayed that way when she took a step closer. She was studying him, eyes almost aglow though this area was only dimly lit. There was something about this man that was oddly familiar, in a way that was similarly delightful, yet strange. It was in his mannerisms, how he spoke, the language, that cigarette that he continued to smoke, and in that way that he smiled, somehow charming and at ease even faced with something so strange as her. She had gotten so wrapped up in just looking at him that she did not quite process what he had said next. Wait, he was leaving? So soon?? She felt strongly compelled to stop him in some way, and so, without much thought, she blurted out the first thing that came into her head. "What is a Vardo?" Maybe she did have one. Who was to say if she did not even know what one was?
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2022 2:18 pm
Ace sort of slowed his pace and then stopped entirely, one ear swiveling back to capture her words. The cigarette cocked at an odd angle as he smiled. Ah, all right then. It wasn't just a parrot in a sheet. He spun around on his foot, shoving one hand into the pocket of his black jeans as the other came up to pull away the cigarette again. "A Vardo?" He repeated, his eyes shifting skyward for a moment as the clawed fingers holding the cigarette tapped his chin. "I suppose Gajo's don't really know about these things, do they. Ah, well then.." He flicked the tip of the cigarette, the ash falling like snow. "It's a house on wheels, in a way." The description didn't seem to quite capture whatever it was but he wasn't sure how to really describe it. His eyes fell back onto the ghost. The situation felt strangely normal somehow. Why? He couldn't say. "Maybe more like a wagon? Sometimes they sit still and sometimes they are pulled by steeds. But either way they are usually beautiful. You can't go wrong with good craftsmanship, you know?" What the hell was he doing explaining all of this to a sheet? He'd lost his mind. Maybe he was losing his mind and this was some Horrid Reality he'd conjured up. If so it wasn't really so bad.. compared to others anyway.
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2022 2:51 pm
Without even thinking about it she had begun to follow behind him, with quick strides so that he would not get far away, but when he turned she came to a halt, wide eyes staring into his until his gaze moved up toward the sky, and hers followed, as if the answers were somehow up there and not right in front of her. Wait. What did he just call her??Her gaze tilted back down as her eyes somehow opened even wider in bewilderment. She wanted to say something, but he had begun talking again, describing to her what a Vardo was, and while she was trying very hard to listen, she also had something very important to say but had always been told it was polite to wait until someone was finished speaking, and to not interrupt. She bounced on her heels a little in impatience until he was finished, and she even waited for another few breaths just to make sure. When he did not say anything else she lifted up a sheet-encased hand and pointed it to herself. "Not a Gajo. Gh-Oh-st." She drew out the last word as if it had 3 syllables instead of just one. Ya. She sure told him what was what.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2022 9:27 am
The look of confusion that spread across his features was impressive. A frog chirped from somewhere in the night and broke the silence before he managed to respond. He had to backtrack on his words to figure out what had happened, why did it say...? O-oh! His laughter broke the silence then. Warm and friendly as he wiped away a tear. "You had me there for a second. No, no.. Gajo means.. well in the nice way it means outsider. But I can see you are certainly a one-hundred percent pure bona-fide ghost. And a very spooky one at that." The glint in his eyes was one of good spirits. Still, he had to wonder what it was this creature wanted. And why it had started to follow him. He didn't think he owed anyone any money, he'd stopped gambling a long time ago. But maybe he'd pissed someone off and this was their attempt at a curse? The possibilities were endless. Anyway, it didn't really matter. He had a Kumpania to catch, and wasn't one to dance around a subject for long, so it was time to get down to the point. "What do you want, little ghost?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2022 10:14 am
From beneath her sheet, she wrinkled her nose a little. outsider? That seemed a bit rude, considering she had spent all of her short unlife now feeling like she did not belong. How did he know? Had someone told him? Her eyes noticeably narrowed, but only for a moment. She realized quickly that he was not, in fact, trying to be rude. Maybe a tad bit condescending, with how he humored her, but still..nice, in a strange way. She'd certainly experienced her fair share of unkind words, and he did not seem unkind. Besides, he could have told her to go away by now, and yet he had not. At his question, she moved closer to him, just a few scurrying steps followed by a pause, and then closer still should he stand his ground and not back away, until she was within arms reach of him if he would allow her to get that close. A tail lashed out behind her from beneath the sheet before it curled back under. "A new friend~." She said, the voice still soft, lilting, almost melodic in its sound.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2022 7:10 pm
Ace was oblivious to the fact that his attempt at being charming, or rather funny, was making him look like a bit of an a**. Especially since he couldn't read the other creatures' expressions at all. To him, saying they were an outsider was natural. This creature wasn't a Ravnos and he highly doubted they were from the Kumpania. If it had been a mortal he wouldn't have been so bold but being something else it was highly unlikely they were part of his clan or the mortal family/troupe. He was waiting for an answer when he spotted it. Was that? A tail? Yes. He caught a glimpse as it swiftly peeked in and out from under the white sheet. So, it wasn't a monster after all. It was then he realized the other had gotten closer. He brushed it off at first, not really paying attention. But now it was right in front of him. How did that happen? He could have reached out to grab it if he wanted but he refrained, unsure what chaos that might cause. Instead, he chose to hold perfectly still, regarding it with his rich blue gaze like someone trying to decipher hieroglyphics. He was about to ask it why it was so close but then it spoke. A new friend. A new friend? That was certainly.. different. He hadn't expected that. The voice was soft. He felt a little strange once the words had gone. Almost like he wanted it to speak more. Whatever that was all about. What Ace? You like it when sheets talk to you, huh? Aye, he was losing his mind. He gave the creature a rather friendly smile and nodded his head in acknowledgment. "I see. And what kind of a friend are you hoping to find in a dark alley, little ghost?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 1:31 am
The little ghost's red eyes seemed somehow to glimmer excitedly as they gazed back into the brilliant blue of the man now looking down at her. He had not backed away from her, which she found quite nice of him, and up close she was able to see him much better, while also smelling the faint scent of the cigarette that he was holding. She even seemed to rise up a little, as if standing on her toes as she leaned toward him more, waiting for his response. Ah. There it was! "A friendly one, of course!" She laughed, and her laughter was as soft and melodic as her voice. "And maybe one with a little...hmmmmm...bite?" She winked one of her eyes when she said that last word and clicked her teeth together loudly from behind the sheet to emphasize her point.
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Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 10:58 am
Friendly and with a little bite, hmm? It didn't take Ace long to put two and two together and he grinned. "Aaaah, I catch your drift. Very clever." The Elder chuckled as the sound of snapping teeth came from beneath the sheet. He felt it again. That weird warmth when the vampire spoke, and now the laughter. It was lovely. There was a kind of strange innocence to it he found refreshing. He hadn't come across an Immortal in some time who had an energy like that. Ace was getting more curious now about this little mystery, but he still made a mental note to be careful. He hadnt encountered behavior like this before and it could still very well be a trap. He wasnt without enemies, as shocking as that might seem to some. He had enough common sense not ask about the attire, he was sure they'd had the question asked many times before and it didn't bother him enough to break with common courtesy. The Ravnos, whether through sheer curiosity or the bloodline drive to push his luck, shrugged. "All right then. Come on, little ghost. Let's go have an adventure then." Ace turned on his heel and pointed his claws off into the night, the cherry from the cigarette glowing brightly. "Maybe we can find a Patshiv. Now there's a good party." He turned his head and winked down at her, his spirits generally high. Whatever this vampires intentions were he'd figure them out on the way. He wouldn't risk bringing an outsider to the Kumpania unless he felt sure they weren't up to something. And it was a long walk to the nearest Kumpania.
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Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:14 pm
She had been bold in her statement, perhaps a little bolder than she would normally have been, but she had been very sure from the moment she had spotted him from her spot on the rooftop. She was an observant one, or maybe she just had a good sense for these things, having grown up in a family that was a mix of both mortal and immortal, or maybe it was the little bit of God in her blood, but somehow, she had just known. He was like her. He was a vampire too. The little ghost was absolutely delighted when he seemed to catch on, and another light chime of laughter rang out from behind the sheet. She liked this guy, so far, and felt that she had chosen her target well. And yet, there was still a moment of uncertainty. He had not said anything about actually wanting to become her friend, just yet. Whatever pause there was between his words, it felt endless for the ghost, who wondered if she might soon be going home disappointed. His sudden shrug of acceptance had her clapping her hands in excitement. She was so incredibly pleased that, just as he turned around, the ghost threw herself forward and wrapped her sheeted arms around him in a hug that would encompass as far around him as she could reach, her face pressing against his back. No words could describe her happiness at that moment. Whether or not he had truly accepted it yet, Ace had most assuredly made himself a new friend that night. She pulled away after a brief moment and moved around so that she was standing beside him as his words registered with her. A party? While it sounded like it could be fun, it also sounded like it could be incredibly busy, and loud, which were two things that she generally had an aversion for. But he had also said ]maybe, which did not mean for sure. She could always just accompany him on this adventure and see how things went! "Okay!" She was grinning, but he couldn't see it, though her eyes still held that same excited shine they had before. "Lead the way..." A short pause. "What do I call you?" She asked, quietly, realizing that she had been so focused on achieving this goal of hers, that she had forgotten to find out his name.
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Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2022 11:39 pm
Ace's entire body froze in that moment. In fact everything felt like it had frozen. He felt the press of this strangers body against his back, those arms wrapping almost completely around him, and instead of tearing himself away or hitting them, instead of fearing he was being attacked, all he felt was something completely foreign to him. Connection. Their touch felt so familiar and yet he knew he didn't know this person. Deep inside he felt a mixture of several emotions all at once. The intensity made him want to remove himself from the hug but the thought of it ending made him strangely lonely. What the hell was going on? Maybe it was the sight. Many people in his family had it, he'd never thought himself one of the ones who possessed any kind of gift like that. And yet here he stood being hugged by a vampire in a ghost sheet and all he knew was that it felt like this moment had opened up some path bigger than any he'd ever walked before. Ace took a drag off his cigarette, keeping his exterior completely detached, before looking down at them as they hugged and released. He kept his mouth shut. He wasn't about to try and relay any of that.. whatever it was. Hell he didn't even know what it was. Their laughter lit up the night and Ace smiled again. He was out of his mind. "All right then! Let's go. It's going to be a bit of a walk, we have maybe.. an hour or two until we reach them." As the ghost asked his name he looked down again, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Ace. And what can I call you, friend?"
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