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Mingle - Emergency Potluck

Pumpkin Hollow Community Bulletin

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WELCOME POTLUCK

Greetings, residents! Those more observant sorts among you may have noticed a large influx of very crowded ferries. In order to welcome our new residents en masse, Town Hall is holding a potluck in Town Square. Please bring a dish if you are able and make a new friend!

All of our newest arrivals need only bring themselves. We look forward to welcoming you all into our community, and may your lanterns always be lit.

This event is open to all! In light of our new influx of prospective players following the Great Sail Migration, we've decided to offer a small public event to tide everyone over until the TDM this weekend.

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Caution. His opening steps match. He takes it as a good sign. He is not, truly not, interested in restarting the politics of his home here. He doesn't wish to squabble over hierarchy but neither will he submit to her authority if she attempts to assert herself above him. So they dance. They must, to find where they stand.

"Better state of affairs than that. In my world, we are no secret. We exist alongside humans, in a peaceable contract with them. There are no hunters now. And here, too, I have carried on that arrangement. These people know who and what I am, and they do not fear me. They welcome me, and they acknowledge me. There is no reason to hold ourselves separate from them."

"I probably confused some of the people here, trying to be circumspect..." Keziah muses. She glances down at the mug she's still holding, gives a little shrug, and drinks it down anyway. "No idea what that nice man gave me, just that it's non-alcoholic." She sets the empty mug aside on the nearest table.

"In their welcome and acknowledgement, do they volunteer to feed you?" One eyebrow arches. "Or is there something else there?"

By 'something else', Keziah means mental influence on a human's will, but Erik is welcome to take that opening and run with it to explain his own feeding setup.

"I'm discovering that not all vampires I meet here have the same sets of attributes, so I was not going to make any assumptions unprompted." He nods his head in the direction of the cup. For all he knew, she really could taste it.

"Yes, they do. Some of them. I work as this town's premier whore, and I accept blood as a form of payment. I get on quite well that way. In times of scarcity, however, I recommend you visit Calloway's Curios to pick up a few blood fruit. They are strange but perfectly nutritious. And there are always animals to hunt in the forest."

The idea of mentally influencing a human's will doesn't even enter his mind, since that is not something any of his kind of vampire are capable of. They do their charming the old-fashioned way. He considers himself quite accomplished at it.

"Of course not all vampires have the same attributes," Keziah replies. Her brows furrow slightly in confusion. "Do your lines not change, in accepting those of mystical heritage, or turning your dhampirs?"

What would be the point of a new House or Clan in such a world, other than territory? What she listed are only two examples for an avenue of change, but the conversation moves on.

"I can survive on animal blood and life force, but not solely that. It would... not end well. Some portion of the blood must be human." She makes a mental note to see what arrangements can be made. And there's a note of amusement when she says, "I wonder what life force is in a fruit."

The blood is a convenient medium, really, not the actual sustenance that Keziah takes.

"Do they not?" That is a genuine surprise to him. The only thing that could be called close is a vampire crossing the line into wereanimal territory. That's a one-way trip.

"Vampires of my kind do not create progeny by any other means than turning. And, once turned, any supernatural abilities the human Medium might have had are lost. Or, rather traded for the powers that being a vampire provides." This unfortunate fact led the to unwilful turning of a lot of Mediums in older times in order to neuter such abilities as telekinesis or mind reading.

"Life force? You mean something of a more spiritual nature? I wouldn't know. Animal blood is very nearly as nutritionally satisfying for me, but I do have a preference for human and, recently, elf."

Keziah is so very placid, so very calm in listening to his explanations. What a strange world. Though come to think of it, has his heart beat at all during this conversation? There are some who hew closer to death, for whom change is more difficult... but many of those lines have been wiped out by hunters.

If a vampire's strengths and weaknesses could not be altered by various means, if cross-breeding with the living wasn't possible... maybe all vampires would be wiped out by now.

She opens her mouth to explain about the blood, and then he speaks of his preferences.

And then he says elf.

Keziah's eyes seem almost to glow with the change from dark brown to orange, and she draws back, back, away from Erik. Horror and sorrow are obvious in her voice when she next speaks: "I am so sorry."

'Run, before the Gentry find out you're here,' her basest instincts scream. 'Attack, subdue, don't let him tell them about you. Maybe it's early enough that he's not addicted,' comes the contradictory thought. Keziah shakes her head, backs further away. No. Such vampires are a lost cause. Experience has taught her that.

"I suppose the Gentry think themselves kind, letting you keep your title. Or maybe clever, that it would have us dropping our guard when we meet you." Keziah's orange eyes dart around, taking in the assembled guests, then back to Erik, then scanning again. Two sets of fangs, upper and lower canines extended and sharp, flash white as she speaks -- human guise crumbling, and attack expected. "No doubt you would offer a half-human as oh-so-helpful and willing to be fed from. You will not break me as they broke my sire."

The change is so abrupt that it freezes him in place as she backs away. Why is she looking him like that? Why is she acting as if he might go rabid at any moment? What does elf mean to her? It can't be the same as what he knows. River said that elves were sometimes hunted to be slaves but could that really be it?

"Keziah..." he says uncertainly. "Whatever ploy you think this is, you're mistaken. This must be yet another difference in our worlds. I haven't the faintest idea what you are talking about. I am referring my girlfriend, River, who is here at this event now and in perfect health I assure you. It's not my place to offer her or any other person to you in such a way. Please, compose yourself. This must be a misunderstanding. I have no intention of harming you. My word as a vampire."

Edited 2024-03-21 18:47 (UTC)

"Is that what she lets you call her? Sweet on her slave, is she? Calls you her hero instead of her attack dog, when she slips into your mind and sets you on her enemies?" Keziah snarls at the thought, though she makes no move to attack or harm. She's still backing away from Erik, from the gathering entire. "Ibtihaj, my sire, thought herself in love with the Faerie Lord that enslaved her, too."

The misunderstanding here runs deep. Elves and other fae are dangerous for vampires in Keziah's world. She doesn't think you're running the show, Erik.

"The fae can't control us unless we drink their blood. And their blood is addictive."

Edited (spelling error) 2024-03-21 19:07 (UTC)

"What?" The more she says the less sense any of this makes. "I am no slave." Heat, finally, joins the confusion in his voice. He will never be a slave again. NEVER.

"Fae? River is no faerie. She is an elf. The two are not the same." And a necromancer but he has a strong suspicion that will not make Keziah calmer if she hears it.

"I cannot be controlled through my blood. Not by her or anyone. I have no addiction. If that is how things are in your world then I am very sorry for you."

"Elves fall under the rule of the Faerie Courts in my world. They are the same when it comes to the danger they pose." She repeats, "In my world."

What she means: the danger that they pose for me and my kind of vampire. But what she also means: I understand that it is different for you.

She does not resume her human guise. If everyone already knows vampires exist, then let them see. She gives another shake of her head. Her voice is soft.

"The Gentry wanted protection from lycanthropes. Werewolves. The disease can be spread to faerie species, but not vampires. If they had asked, my sire would have helped. The Houses would have debated it, but the Faerie Courts would have had willing protectors. Had they asked."

They did not ask. The Faerie Courts take what they want. In Keziah's case, it was the Spring Court specifically -- they subverted the will of each individual vampire they kidnapped, and made it so those vampires could never leave again -- controlled by physical addiction and mental conditioning.

"I dare not risk feeding from any who might have a connection to the fae. I dare not. I have seen... a terrible outcome for if I do."

"I hear you."

He almost wants to point out that vampires and werewolves have the same origins in his world but she is already so tender. That discussion can keep.

"No member of this town is going to force you to feed from anyone you do not wish to. Quite the opposite. I won't let that happen. Things are very different here than what either of us seem to be used to."

"I couldn't save her, though I tried. She is as lost to me as any mortal in my past." The mourning in Keziah's tone, that she lets it show for Erik to hear, is a vulnerability. To be a vampire, same as a loved one, is a chance for forever... to have it snatched away is a world-shaking pain.

She firms her jaw, lifts her chin... and when she next speaks, her tone is back to that calm, controlled voice. Her 'society' voice. "That is what spurred me to establish my own House, take my own power and have respect for it. So that I could protect those I cared for, and any who crossed me would understand what a grave error that is.

In my discussion with the goddess who brought me here, I said that I would take these people under my protection. I see that my ignorance of this place may hinder me in doing that well." She holds out a hand, but it is angled in an unusual way -- if he pulled her hand closer, her wrist would be on display. Available to bite, actually. This is likely the intention -- to seal an alliance by blood exchange.

(She wonders, though... they are so different, would he even feel her emotions upon the exchange? That is the purpose of the gesture in her world, in her society. If he even understands what he's meant to do. They are so different.)

"Will you forgive my lapse, Lord Erik Osborne, and help me to instead understand how I can best serve our common goals?"

Keziah decides that even if their agreement here isn't sealed in blood, she will honor it as such. Exceptions have to be made for different cultures, don't they?

"I am sorry, Keziah. I do understand that pain. I had a twin sister; she and I were turned in the same year. She is no longer with me, either." The circumstances differ, of course, but the fact remains that he thought she would be with him for eternity and she is not.

"I, too, created my own clan so that I would always be in control. No one who comes to my territory looking for refuge is turned away without due cause. I am not Lord of this territory, but these people are still mine to protect. It seems you and I are well-aligned in attitudes even if our words differ."

He tilts his head questioning at the way she offers her hand. He can guess it might be an invitation to bite, but to him that is still something very taboo. To feed on another vampire? It's one of the worst crimes he could commit at home.

"Of course I forgive you. I approached you as cautiously as I did because I did not know how we may differ, but I did not want it to come between us. We will have much to discuss, I believe--for instance, I do not fully understand the gesture you are making to me now--but so long as you mean no harm here, we are united in our goals."

At that questioning look, Keziah withdraws her hand.

She listens to his reply, then says, "Another difference. Cultural, I suppose." She smiles. "Among my people, agreements are often sealed in blood. It's an exchange of a few drops, nothing more. In our case, sharing blood also gives us temporary insight into the other vampire's emotional state, as between sire and child."

A small shrug, and then, "How do your people 'seal the deal'? I will follow your lead, sir."

"Insight? I have no such ability unless it is purely through observation. Not even with a Childe I've sired." Not that he has sired more than just the one.

"We operate on honor. Our word is binding when we give it, and that is enforced by rigorous punishment for breaking such an oath. When I give you my word, that is binding."

"No insult is meant, Lord Osborne. I would not want you to think I doubt the strength and bond of your word." She bows her head for a moment.

"Perhaps it would be best to arrange a meeting time, when we can discuss our similarities and differences in a less crowded venue. There is some information about myself I would like to control the spread of, for my own safety."

"I understand. Know that whatever you tell me will be treated with the utmost respect and care. I also have things I do not wish for all to know. Who in this town does not?"

Now that she knows word is law in his culture, he hopes it will help convince her that she truly can rely on his confidence.

"I have a home in town. You are welcome to come for a visit there. If you would like to try one of those fruits I mentioned, I have one I can let you to try."

"Thank you," she says. "Perhaps when you are available, you can reach me on my sending stone? Then I will know when to visit. And I will appreciate your hospitality, as well."

"My schedule does tend to vary, so that's a wise idea. I'll contact you when I have an opening. It will be my pleasure to host you."

Keziah resumes her human guise, so that her smile doesn't look so threatening. And she mimes a proper curtsy, despite the fact that her new arrival linens are a shirt and trousers.

"Obliged, sir. Until then." She gives a wink when she straightens up, and then saunters away as if there'd never been a slip in her composure. (As a vampire, one has to recover quickly, after all.)

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Mingle - Emergency Potluck

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cw: mention of non-con vampire turning

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cw: mention slavery

cw: slavery

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good place to wrap?

wrap!