paris ♔ tried to save myself but myself keeps slipping away

[necessaryevil]

♬ Facade (reprise) - Jekyll & Hyde

WHO || Faith Lehane, Max Rast, Lissa Dragomir, Helen Magnus
WHAT || The Knights investigate a string of vampire attacks in France
WHERE ||Paris, France
WHEN || April 11th, 2015 [backdated].
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread.

One vampire attack is cause for worry enough, but when bodies are found with telltale puncture wounds and heavy loss of blood become a recurring nightmare across any city, alarm bells are raised.  Such is the case recently in Paris, where Wynn suspects that either a careless clan has moved in, or some lone vamps are stirring up trouble.  With the locations of the bodies marked out in the eight block radius where the deaths have been occurring, the team arrives in the late evening, staring at the rows of apartment blocks, small businesses, and pubs that comprise this section of town.

Comments

[daredtobelieve]

[The question seems to throw her for a moment. She glances down before forcing herself to meet his gaze and give him a simple, honest answer. He deserves that much after saving her life.]

My daughter.

[roux]

[ rather than ask her to elaborate on that, he seems to consider a moment before nodding, and adding: ] And John?

[daredtobelieve]

[Super complicated questions for 800, Alex! She doesn't want to lie. It isn't as if he purposefully meant to pull her haunted past out in the open.]

Her father. [Not anything to her. She won't refer to him as such, even with past tense.]

Someone I haven't seen in a very long time.

[roux]

Certainly his loss. [ this johnny depp motherfucker smooth as fk tho. with his 40 charm check. i feel like any sexy descriptors i could write just pale next to the fact that he's johnny depp and it's all like self-explanatory. ] How are you feeling?

[daredtobelieve]

[You would think that after hanging out with Des and his hubby for as much as she has recently that Helen would have built up some sort of charm immunity.

You would be so wrong.

She rolled a 2 which gives her a whole 9 for a will save. She's not even trying, but who would if they were in her shoes, right? Her face flushes, which just sounds dangerous, considering the massive blood loss she had recently. She needs that blood elsewhere Dashiell.]

Better. The room has stopped spinning at least. That's a start.

[roux]

A promising one. [ he gets to his feet, moving to look out the narrow window, pushing aside the curtain slightly. ] Tell me, Helen. What brought you to Paris?

[daredtobelieve]

[The fact that she has to think about how to reply likely says something. She's not exactly on her best game here.]

Business. [Secret organization business... But for the lie of omission she rolled a whole 10.]

Seems I got a fair bit more than I bargained for.

[roux]

You didn't strike me as the sort of woman who conducts her business in dangerous back alleys. [ he drops the curtain, turning back to her with a teasing glint in his eye that makes it clear he recognizes she's leaving something out. ]

[daredtobelieve]

Perhaps you're a poor judge of character. [She counters, her lips curving into a smile. Still, she knows she owes him some amount of an explanation.]

My colleagues and I were investigating the murders in the city, hoping to find the cause and put an end to it.

[roux]

Were you aware that they were vampires, before your arrival?

[daredtobelieve]

Yes, we had our suspicions- which were quickly confirmed upon our arrival.

[roux]

Then you are hunters as well. [ his eyebrow arches, a question ]

[daredtobelieve]

Not exactly. But we are of the mind of protecting innocent lives. [She just can't bring herself to call herself a hunter.]

Despite what my poor showing earlier might have lead you to believe, I'm quite capable of handling myself.

[It's not said with any sort of defensive edge, not acting as if he had said anything to the contrary. Honestly, she's a bit embarrassed that she needed rescuing in the first place, but she's making a joke of it to try to mask that.]

[roux]

I've little doubt of that. [ he turns back to consider her, walking slowly across the room towards the door. ] Given the unfortunate turn of events, will you have other allies joining to assist you?

[daredtobelieve]

Faith. She's still out there in the city. Last I saw, she was leaving the bar with a man- likely another one of them. I'll need to find her and reach out to our employer to let him know what's happened. Whether he sends back up or asks us to return home with those who have fallen, I'm not certain.

[Telling Wynn that she failed to keep the team alive is not something she's looking forward to. She's trying to do her best to steel herself from the onslaught of guilt she knows she'll feel for quite some time (will save nat 20)

[roux]

I see.

[ he stops in front of the door for a moment. ] Perhaps you and I can come to an arrangement, of sorts.

[daredtobelieve]

[Pushing herself to sit up straighter, she regards him quite seriously.]

What sort of arrangement?

[roux]

You'll send word that the threat has been disposed of. Which, in a great way, it has. She was nearly the last of these upstarts, and I intend to finish what I have started. A task that I believe I am much better equipped for than you.

[daredtobelieve]

[She's quiet for a moment.]

I'd prefer to be there to see it finished. I feel as though I owe them that much. [Meaning Lissa and Max.]

[roux]

You will be. I'm asking you to remain behind with me. To prevent further bloodshed, in a way.

[daredtobelieve]

Then, yes- I should say we could easily strike an arrangement. [She's willing to bend the rules a little.]

[roux]

[ taste of blood - archive

he turns to face her, his face mostly shadowed in the very dim light. ] At my age, I need feed less often than the young. And I have only very recently had my fill. But in time, I will require fresh fare.

If the victim is willing, I can often prevent myself from taking their life. You would stay, seek justice for the deaths of your compatriots, and then remain with me, providing sustenance that I require, and sparing the life of more innocents in doing so. [ his words have a measured, more-than-reasonable cadence to them, and he makes them sound particularly appealing with a 45 charm check ]

[daredtobelieve]

[There's more going on than just what's happened here, tonight. There's more about conversations she's had with dear friends who have made her wonder just if she's truly meant to remain with the Knights, if their beliefs were ones that she could stand behind, unwavering. The appearance of Ashley had banished the thoughts from her mind for a time, but now she's being coaxed into staying behind, at the side of this man-- who is apparently a vampire. She should say no. She should refuse and tell him that she couldn't possibly.

But there's a part of her that was maybe looking for this opportunity, not to be a supernatural snack, but to have the chance to walk away- at least for a time. (Will save crit fail)]

Alright. [Her voice is quiet, but very sure.] I'll do it.

[roux]

[ once she's given her word, he begins moving towards the bed again, where he perches on the edge of it, looking down at her with a pleased expression in his eyes. ] I had hoped you would. [ he brushes the hair from her bandaged neck with the back of his hand lightly. ] You won't regret your decision, Helen.

[daredtobelieve]

There are things about me you should know. [She says, face tilted up towards him as he stands at her bedside.]

I'm human, but...it isn't as simple as that. [Apparently a crit fail will save means tell the vampire all your secrets.]

I'm over 200 years old. [In case her blood is expired... jk jk she just feels like he should understand this is a thing in case it does alter her blood in some fashion for him.]