marseilles ♔ swallowing the pill til i breathed my last

[likedillinger]

We Carry On - Portishead

WHO || Dean, Rose, Gus, Ashley, Elijah [closed]
WHAT || The Knights head to speak with the Carmilla
WHERE || Marseilles, France
WHEN || Mid April 2016
HOW || Actionspam

Last fall, two Knights were killed in action while investigating a group of rogue vampires in Paris - Sir Dragomir and Sir Rast. While the vampires were brought under control, the mystery of who exactly killed the Knights remains up in the air, and to that end, Wynn has decided to establish contact with an ancient vampire known as Carmilla, leader of a vampiric coven of Elders who dictate the rules by which most nearby covens live in order to maintain their existence without bringing humankind down on their heads.

Also of interest to the assigned Knights is the strange abrupt departure of Sir Helen Magnus, who stayed behind in Paris and sent an unusual letter to her daughter Ashley that refused to explain what she was doing, but left the woman more concerned than ever.

Wynn has made arrangements with the coven, who have reluctantly agreed to meet with the Knights, and so a few days after their briefing, Dean pulls their rented vehicle up to the gates of the creepy manor where the Elders have at least agreed to rendezvous. While the grounds are well kept, there's an air of emptiness to the whole place.

Comments

2/3

[roux]

[ the one who laughs last - downplay

at that moment, the doors are pushed open by a dark haired man in a long black coat, who is flanked by a a younger dark haired man and another very familiar face...

he pauses there in the doorway as all the vampires turn to look that way. ] Forgive the interruption. [ he freezes a bit as his eyes land on the non-vamps, an inscrutable look crossing his face for a moment ] I wasn't aware you had other... company, Carmilla.

:) also 3/4

[daredtobelieve]

[To Dashiell's right is a familiar face indeed. Helen is dressed to the nines for this meeting, but that's not terribly surprising (disguise 29). She was eager to learn a bit more about vampire culture, and she would have hated to have offended anyone by being too casual. There's an ease to her, a small trace of a smile as they stride in.

But it fades the moment she sees just who they've walked in on. Shock covers her expression, and she freezes in place, eyes wide as she scans the mostly familiar faces. She pales a bit, the consequences of her selfish actions have seemingly caught up with her. There's a flicker of too many emotions that rush through her. Guilt, mostly.

And for the first time in a very long time, Helen has no idea what to say.]

♫ 4/4

[does_not_sparkle]

[to his left, Kiance was dressed up and walking with the saunter of someone who hid his nerves behind a mask of arrogance and indifference (bluff 30). Anyone can take a Pop Culture Check and a 15+ will allow them to recognize the face of Kiance Masters, the lead singer of an early 2000's alternative music boyband Blood Lust.

He looked over to see Helen pale and that puts him a bit on guard. If she could stand to be around Dashiell, these people causing her to be anxious was not a good sign. He took a step to the side, planning to protect her if he is needed to.]

[littledhampir]

[At the sound of the new arrivals, anyone looking at Rose would see the immediate shift in her, the sudden tension that radiates through her body. Her hand already reaching for the silver stake at her side as she turns around to face the trio.

She pays no mind to the Vampire who seems concerned for Helen's safety and it is not Helen, that Rose is now glaring at.]

You. [(Intimidate 39.)

It's Dashiel.]

[bagsthem]

[Ashley is stunned into silence for a long handful of moments, her expression shifting from relief, to horror, to fucking pissed.

Her hands curl into fists, white-knuckled as her nails sting into her palms.]

What the fuck is going on?

[Is she being mind-controlled? Did she really stay with these vampires this whole time? WHO IS SHE SUPPOSED TO BE MAD AT RIGHT NOW.]

[druidisms]

[ gus says nothing, ostensibly because he doesn't care, but the little bear at his side has less self control and whines at the sight of helen, trundling forward on her lil' paws as if to greet her before looking back at gus and abruptly stopping. ]

[ofmyword]

[Elijah hasn't particularly cared about anything that's happened so far -- beyond fulfilling his duty -- and he isn't about to start now. So while he stays silent, he's watching with interest because it looks like things are about to get fun.]

1/3

[likedillinger]

[ it's rose's reaction that really throws dean off here. he looks between helen and company and her, eyes growing wide ] You know this guy?

2/3

[bloodqueen]

Dashiell. [ there's a warning note in carmilla's voice as she speaks through gritted teeth ] Bad timing.

3/3

[roux]

[ dashiell stares between them all, rose's terrifying aspect drawing his attention most of all. ] So it seems.

Helen. Perhaps you'd like to tell them that this is a simple enough matter for us to discuss calmly.

[daredtobelieve]

[Helen glances towards Dashiell, still looking more than a little caught off guard. But she knows that if anyone is going to calm this group down, it's going to be her. Still, that's no easy task to undertake.

She steps forward, moving away from both vampires she arrived with, all but ignoring the Carmilla to let her gaze shift across those faces more familiar to her.]

I can explain. But... [Whatever was going to come next is swallowed as her throat tightens and tears spring to her eyes. Seeing Rose and Ashley is a slap of reality right across her face. Nothing against Dean or Gus, but her guilt is rooted more in her failings as a mother. (Diplomacy crit fail)]

[bagsthem]

But what?

[Her eyes look desperate as she looks at her mother, completely not understanding any of this or what it means, but they harden as they flick over to the vampire who spoke her Mom's name.]

What did you do to her? If you did something to her, I swear to God...

[But she's way too shaken up to actually be very scary (intimidate 12).]

[does_not_sparkle]

[Yeah, Kiance is really confused at all of this, and going to just keep himself close enough that he can protect Helen or his sire if he needs to. Otherwise he is so not the interesting person in this trio. Totally not at all.]

[littledhampir]

[Rose exchanges a significant look with Dean, his words the only ones that truly register at first but as Helen speaks? It's the first time she even realizes that the woman who's with them is familiar to her. Rose's head slowly turning to stare at her. Silent accusations flying through the air as the grip on her stake tightens.]

No. You can't. [Rose holding her ground right now by sheer will alone (WS 28).] Did you know.

[Unwilling to take her eyes off of the trio in front of them and yet, it doesn't seem like those words are meant any of them.]

Did you?! [Spitting out those words as she turns her head just enough to catch a glimpse of Carmilla in her periphery.]

[bloodqueen]

Did I know what? [ the queen snarls, clearly unamused with rose's aggressive questioning ]

[littledhampir]

[The stake continues to shake in her hand as the tension rolls through her body, Rose pointedly refusing to even look at Helen as she drags her gaze back to Dashiell (WS 27).]

That while insisting those responsible for the murders of our Knights had been dealt with, you were about to meet with one of them!

[druidisms]

Helen. [ it's sharp, but low, and very obviously indicates "bring yo ass over here, you fucking trollop, before shit firmly meets the fan". ]

[roux]

[ he doesn't look away from rose, a coldness in his features at his words ] Have there been more murders?

[bagsthem]

[Ashley's too mad to think straight apparently, because she bombed the fuck out of her wisdom check.]

Mom, what the hell is going on!?

[daredtobelieve]

[Her gaze shifts to Gus when he speaks her name, knowing what he's saying with that single word, but finding herself unable to move. Rose's accusations cause Helen to shake her head. But it's Ashley's insistence that forces her to speak.]

No, Rose. Dashiell saved me from the young ones who killed them. [She can't bring herself to use names and imagines that it won't help matters much. In fact, it will likely make them so much worse.] He's the only reason I'm alive right now.

[The rest, though? It's complicated and more difficult to explain than she feel comfortable doing in this setting. Her hand may well be forced, though.]

I stayed with him. Willingly. We have...an arrangement of sorts.

[littledhampir]

[Rose's head finally snaps to Helen, the acknowledgement likely less than welcome given the fire that burns in her eyes.]

You know. Nothing! [Spitting those words out like an accusation.]

I saw it! I felt her fear. Her pain. I watched as he - [Flinging her finger out in accusation.] Drained the life out of Max.

[Disgust contorts her features, Rose able to pick up on what Helen is getting at. (Wis 19). Her control on her rage weakening, voice cold to match her glare.]

He killed them for sport! He condemned me to death and you became his Bloodwhore.

[does_not_sparkle]

Hey!

[probably the first contribution he's given to the room as he removes his glasses and steps forward, strategically a step around Helen and putting him in the pathway between both the group and both Dashiell and Helen in case he needed to protect them. He flashed a smile though, the performer stepping up to the plate (Diplomacy 30)]

We're not going to get anywhere yelling at each other. All that's going to lead is risen heartbeats, frustrated vampires and tension that will eventually break and I don't want to be on either side when that happens because it will not end well.

Now please, you're pissed. We get it, you got your reasons and they are valid ones. But right now is not the best place for you to approach it like this.

[he looked at Rose, his eyes sympathetic in a way, but firm]

Please.

[bagsthem]

[She can see Kiance's point, but all that makes Ashley care about is the fact that her mother is still on the other side of the room with an apparent murderer.]

Mom, get away from him. Please.

[They can figure everything else out later.]

[roux]

Helen knew what she was getting into. Knew precisely what I was. That is, actually, what prompted her to make this ... arrangement in the first place.

[daredtobelieve]

[Rose's continued accusations and the insistence on Ashley's voice cause Helen to take a step away from both of the men she arrived here with. Her gaze is locked on Dashiell, though.]

Knew you were a vampire, yes. But what she's saying is something else entirely, isn't it? Does she have it right? Did you play some part in their deaths?

[Preemptive sense motive 28.]