The Story of Embra~Detective/Vampire RP, Closed RP

“Have you ever seen or heard of anyone not getting their asses handed to them on the first day? Alternatively, do you have stories of anyone getting their asses handed to them when they deserved it for being overconfident?”

Lucas opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something and closed it upon realizing that Selena was correct. He didn’t need to become a master of controlling fire overnight, or anytime soon for that matter. He did, however, need to know the basics. He could live with hurting himself in just about every scenario, but he couldn’t live with hurting anyone else in any scenario - not Selena while they were training and certainly not anyone involved on the mission.

Ah, it seemed the training was tailored toward a vampire’s powers. It made sense that the courses were designed in that manner, but it wasn’t anything Lucas would have thought about prior to today. Upon the change in Selena’s demeanor, he turned his head to look at her, sensing that the upcoming topic was heavier than what they had been discussing prior. “No, I’m not familiar with it.” There was a pause before he added, “If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to. I know there’s some things that can be hard to talk about even long after they happened.”

~~~

“Likewise, the Embrian Court thanks you for completing the exchange without any issues, and we look forward to working with the Wolves Den again.” Hannah’s body language mirrored Anna’s. For all the nervousness Hannah had noticed, Anna had done well with the exchange, and the experience was far more pleasant than it could have ever been if Selena had been present. “Please extend our thanks to High Seer Volkov.” Hannah took the key from Anna and handed her the other one, relieved the exchange was coming to a close. Soon, she would return home and spend the rest of the day in bed. Home. The Court would truly become her home soon, now that she was comfortable going through with the courting process.


featherleg

((OKAY I am making a new years resolution to tab in more. Despite being tired, busy and occupied. But it's so hard when I'm creating Role-Plays for my lessons at work lmao. But this is my decloration, i'm gonna hustle!))

Leaving the room, made Rowlin feel like his first day in the military. He was shaken up, but unlike that time many years ago he had learned to keep it in and keep a warm smile on his face to divert those he came into contact with. Maybe I should have not come... period... should have stayed anywhere. Even Ohio sounds like a better situation right now.. He closed his eyes for more then a brief second to the sight of little Viola. He couldn't help but wave at the little girl after Derrick gestured for them to return to dinner. "Actually.." With one hand he snapped his fingers, and then clasped his hands together, "I visited a few places and I think you'll really like this." He waited a second for the suspense, then opened his hands, to reveal a tiny packaged music box. It had the South Korean flag , with a cherry blossom on top. "If you turn the flower, it plays a song. I picked it up from the museum in South Korea." He reached out to give it to her.

Derrick kept his smile beaming in this interaction. "Thank you Aika, please enjoy yourself with the others." Rowlin giving the gift was a bit of a surprise, mostly because he couldn't even tell where the music box had come from. Magic, but he has restrictions? Unless he used something else? Next he turned to Viola, "Head back to dinner with these two trouble makers, and try not to get into trouble." He winked at her, with a smile.

---

After dismissing himself from his peers, he walked towards the door and opened it. He wasn't sure exactly what had happened, but something seemed amiss, and hopefully that was just a feeling and not reality. Quietly he walked in, curiously looking around to find Celestia alone, he closed the door behind him and approached slowly. "So..." He softly spoke. He tried to speak up again, but his eyes scrolled the room. The open package, the scattered papers, and Celestia made him feel like he missed something big time. "Uh.. what happened?"

featherleg

featherleg

Derrick raised a brow in concern, it appeared like in the short time he stepped out his wife had run a marathon or more like the marathon had run her. He wanted to make a light joke for the moment, to brighten the room but what came out of Celestia’s mouth, wiped any such ideas, driving him into silence.

He looked at her, with his eyes widening as she reached out to hand him the first piece of paper. His eyes looked at the writing, an instant nostalgic feeling overwhelmed him. When Celestia pointed to the selection addressing the group he blinked rapidly in disbelief to what he was reading.

“Vincent…” he muttered deeply from the depths of his diaphragm. He looked at the writing once more before turning his head to the other papers on the desk, and those still housed within the mailing envelope. He listened to his wife, while being taken aback. He couldn’t help but close his eyes to take in a deep breath. “That man is still pulling strings long after death.” He approached the desk now and placed the letter down.

He looked directly into Celestia’s gaze when addressed directly. Her could hear her concern as clear as day. “He’s not clairvoyant.. cunning but not an individual who can see into the future.” He hovered his hand over the desk skimming the contents. “At least I hope not..” His voice lowered at the thought. “Vincent was a cautious individual, always building a plan over a plan. He lived the contingency plan life. I doubt he knew we would be alive, this is probably one of his multiple contingency plans. He wrote this alongside a large variation of letters with other names, possibilities and alternatives. That was his style, always striving to be one step ahead. The fact that this letter looks like the day it was written was because someone he trusted, or someone he known prior was entrusted with this. Something along the lines of ‘deliver this to said person in this many years under the condition that they are alive…’” He couldn’t help but rest a hand against his chin. “Once one of the many letters written has been delivered, the others are meant to be disposed of. Failing to dispose the unused knowledge, lead to consequences upon the holder and any involved…” He paused now , being handed the next bundle of letters.

“This is just like him… so anxious, determined and ready to sink the ship at any time.” Derrick shook his head. “He doesn’t know his brother is alive… The letter indicated most likely, therefore this is just one of his contingency plans that has been triggered. What he does know fully well is the restrictions, their lifespan, and how they work..” He bit his lower lip. “While Vincent’s death came prior to his brother’s supposed awakening, the restrictions were certainly pre planned and prepared with a lifespan in place but not indicating how long Rowlin would live.” He took in another deep breath.

“My worst fears had come to pass…” He bit his lower lip again. “I remember those words so clearly as yesterday..” He shook his head. “This means.. that..” He took in another deep breath. “This means that…” He grit his teeth. He was shaking from head to toe, with one hand he struggled to raise it, shaking his arm as he rested it against his chest. Next he proceeded to shift his head upward, “-May the light… guide my path…” He winced upon saying it, feeling pain as he recounted the wars of old something he considered long gone and forgotten.

He returned his attention to Celestia, with an apologetic gaze. “I-I’m sorry…” He began. “The phrase ‘My worst fears had come to pass’ is not a statement, it’s an order…” His gaze softened. “Vincent spoke in riddles, he spoke in words that sound normal to you and I yet, have a meaning between the lines. When I worked under his wing, it was always important to take everything into account from his words to his mannerisms.”

“I-I don’t know anything about this ritual written. He never talked about anything of the sorts but a basic ritual…” he shook his head. “That sounds typical of the man who made everything a ritual..” he took in another breath. “The deadly part especially sounds like him. Like I said before, he isn’t afraid to take a ship down, and collateral is all in the negotiation table.” He read the next half of the letter, which instructed the ritual and he couldn’t help but inch closer to the table, where the rest of the contents laid. He put the letter down and started to pull out the other contents within the heavily stacked envelope, there were more papers, maps, keys and a book. Yet he took everything out, until the envelope holding everything in was empty. “Sange.. it’s a word that refers to blood. A word I learned quickly to survive Vincent’s hell…” He turned the envelope around and started shaking it as if something were stuck inside yet nothing came out. “Historians and the council still wonder to this day how Vincent’s team was able to carry out so many successful missions without making mistakes. Yet the biggest mistake, is how 99% of his team all vanished in one night.” He looked at Celestia directly while still shaking the empty envelope, his hands not pressing against the paper yet nothing came out. “Do you find it odd that the night Vincent’s body was found, Rowlin was there? Furthermore, an entire team gone from existence? The poor lad would later be accused of murdering Vincent, while nobody knew they were siblings to begin with.” He was now crushing the delicate paper. “I don’t know what happened between the two that night." He paused briefly still crushing the paper. "I am only allowed to talk about the events that led to the mistake that cost the 99%.” His eyes grew watery “I am the 1%..” His grip lightened on the now crushed, lovely paper, and in that instance a clear gemstone fell out of the envelope, and landed on the desk.

His head turned to see the gem, but instead he retuned his full attention to Celestia. “The world of old will forever know the Solai as peoples who created atrocities using their gifts granted from the heavens. I know the Solej, I worked with them, and I got to know a different side to them that no one will ever remember.” A tear shed across his face. “The Solej served the Hakuryuu family as healers, star gazers, alchemists, and provided the world with knowledge. They wanted nothing more then to teach others for the better. The group…” He bit his lower lip trying not to loose his composure. “-The defectors… were those who were tempted by the viles of envy. They-They herd her whispers through the dark and… they bought every bit of her promise.”

“They keys he provided… they open the door to his personal study.” He couldn’t help but shake his head. “Before his death, he made a big deal about loosing his keys. He tore the camp up, to find them then dismissed it when they couldn’t be found.” He couldn’t help but chuckle, but it appeared like he was choking on his tears. “Damn him… he mailed his own keys in anticipation.”

“Anyways…” He used a hand to clear some of the tears in his eyes. “I don’t have the answer to the ritual, but maybe your observant eyes can pick up clues based on what comes next.” He turned his attention to the crystal on the table. “That, will take us to Vincent’s private quarters. A place separate from time, and space. We can spend the next thousands of years in it, and only a few seconds will have passed.” He couldn’t help but shudder. “I can show you how to enter, it’s the same way we did everything under his wing. Maybe the answer to this riddle lies somewhere in his routine.” 
“M-Maybe while we are in there… I can finally share the story of how I met the crazy lunatic, that everyone would remember as a hero.”

As Selena spoke, Lucas’ thoughts drifted toward their other sister. She had seemed quite comfortable in the Court environment, but where had she started? He doubted that Selena knew the answer. Even if she did know, the hostility between the two women discouraged him from asking. What did it even matter, anyway? Both women were years ahead of him in training, but only one of them was willing to help him.

“Whenever you want to share, I’ll be here to listen,” Lucas offered with a smile. He knew Selena would do the same for him.

“I got it, I got it,” he assured her. “I think I’ll keep training for a bit.” Lucas felt that he could continue to train for at least another half hour, maybe another hour if he was still feeling up to it. “You don’t have to worry about me regarding that. I’m taking this seriously.” Hell, he was even going to eat a post-workout meal. He wasn’t entirely certain what humans ate after an intense workout, but pasta didn’t seem like a bad choice given that it was high in carbohydrates - maybe with a protein too. “

~~~

With the exchange concluded, Hannah’s co-workers stood, murmuring among themselves about wrapping up things on their end. As one approached Hannah, she spoke before the other vampire could. “I’m afraid I can’t assist further. I have a meeting back at Court that I cannot be late for.” It was a flimsy excuse, but she needed to get home and rest for the remainder of the day.

She slipped her coat on and headed outside, only half-hearing the response to her statement as she took out her cell phone to begin warming up her car. Her reputation amongst her co-workers would take a hit for her sudden departure, but she had to prioritize her health - and the secrets she kept from them. When she reached her car, she rested a palm above the window as she felt a sharp pang and lowered her head to the back of her hand. The pain was growing worse, and she could only hope that the drive would be uneventful.

Hannah unlocked the car and got inside, immediately turning on the seat warmer to its maximum setting. She grabbed the heated blanket from the passenger seat, wrapped it around her chest, and turned it on. She took a few moments to take in all the warmth before taking out her cell phone again to send a text message to Dasco.

Everything went well. I’m on my way home <3

Hannah pulled out and began the drive home, and unfortunately for her, it didn’t take very long for the drive to go downhill. The batteries in her heated blanket died less than ten minutes into the drive back to Court, and she swore for a good minute about how ridiculous it was that the batteries had died. Without the additional warmth on her upper body, the drive would be less comfortable but bearable - so long as the headache pangs remained at a minimum and nothing else major went wrong. But, of course, something else major went wrong. The car’s heater stopped blowing warm air, getting Hannah to swear once again.

By the time Hannah returned to Court, her core temperature had dropped low, and as a result, her head was throbbing. With a groan, Hannah turned off the car and got out - did she grab her things? - and headed toward the entrance, albeit much slower than she should have been moving. As soon as she crossed the threshold, she collapsed.

featherleg

Damien was certainly amused with what everyone had to share downstairs but seeing that Viola was gone for what appeared to be forever, he couldn't help but zone out and think about where she was. Viola thinks she's sneaky, but I saw and because I been there and done it I don't want to rat her out He pondered now, what was she doing? Was she with Dad or Mom?
Either or, he smiled at Urian and Leila as he listened to the two and continued to ask questions about their life experiences.
At some point, after what felt like forever appeared Viola with Aika and Rowlin. "Looks like the search party found two survivors." He pointed out to Leila and Urian. "Though I don't see my folks, so maybe the search party might have to continue." He crossed his arms now, "Either that or they are checking to access the situation." He knew his dad Derrick on was in firefighting, so often he liked to imagine his dad and mom were doing some tag team rescue when they walked away. Sometimes it was to fix viola's toys, sometimes to sneak in a snack, sometimes to surprise everyone. It was always treated like a firefighting training.

Rowlin glanced at Aika with a soft cheery smile, he was still guilty of souring the evening. First Tom, then the letter and now the stress and anxiety that comes with everything that had just happened upstairs. Yet, he still put on a smile, and if he couldn't he would of forced one on himself, he knew how to mess with his own muscles and nerves so why wouldn't he?
His green gaze looked down at Viola who guided them back to the others. "Thank you friend for guiding us back. Without your help, I would of been lost." He cheerfully complimented the little girl.

featherleg (Replying with Rowlin & Damien in the meantime.)

Hannah wasn’t sure how long she was lying on the ground before she heard sounds in the lobby. It could have been seconds, minutes, or even hours before she heard anything, and she couldn’t make out the nature of the sounds. Was it someone approaching her to see if she was okay and to assess how they could help? Was it someone asking if anyone had seen what happened to her? Was it someone standing around, contemplating who to inform of the incident in order to quickly circulate rumors and gossip?

“-away from the doors.”
Someone gently grabbed Hannah and moved her away from the doors so they could close and keep the warm air inside the lobby. Had it always been so warm in there during winter?
“-the infirmary to-”
“-emergency contact-”
She opened her eyes, but everything was blurry and out of focus, so she opted to close her eyes again. She braced her palms against the floor, intending to sit up on her own. Instead, she yelped as her elbows refused to bend the way she needed them, and there was a pair of hands on her shoulders, gently pushing her back down.
“-down-”

“-away, now.” She yelped again as someone helped her sit up and had her upper body supported worn their knee.
“-my love.” So, that someone was Dasco. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned into him, pressing the right side of her face against his chest - all while wincing with each movement “Dassscooo,” she slurred. Even in her disoriented state, there was no hint of surprise in her voice that he had come for her. Hannah opened her eyes and tipped her head to look up at him. “I, I-” Before she could finish her thought, he was carrying her up the stairs and, she assumed, toward their bedroom where she could recover in peace without too many people fussing over her. Had Dasco always been so warm, or had he increased his body temperature for her sake? Regardless of the reason, she was grateful. The warmth was easing some of the stiffness in her body and clearing the brain fog. She placed a hand on his back, gently digging her nails into his back to test her range of motion in her fingers. She winced as she flexed her wrist, still too stiff for her to comfortably move it.

“Don’t cry,” she whispered. “I’m, I’m fine.” She slowly reached out her hand to touch his knee, hesitant to move much more than that while her body was still so stiff. Perhaps her only saving grace was that the headache hadn’t quite come back in full force, though she knew from experience that it wouldn’t be long until it did. “It’ll be fine.” Her voice broke with the lie. Tell me it’ll be fine.

featherleg

Derrick blinked at the thought of Vincent being afraid, he agreed with his wife about someone he came to call a friend being paranoid, but afraid? He looked down at the thought wondering if he ever was afraid, maybe? He shook his head quietly pushing a meaningless thought. "Afraid, or Concerned.." He softly mentioned.

"T-Thank you..." He turned his head towards Celestia who moved towards him for support. Being this close to Celestia always made him calm no matter how dire the situation. "Thank you.." He repeated letting out a hefty breath that felt like relief. "Thank you for always being by my side." He couldn't help but also mention that. He felt like he hadn't brought that up enough times but maybe he did and it still didn't feel like enough.

"I never asked more for Vincent's past nor did I ask about Rowlin's past even after being briefed about their relationship." He looked down briefly "Maybe he didn't trust either of us but it's odd ya know?" He took in another breath, "It's odd to explain but it feels like he truly did trust us just in a distant way."

"What I do know is that some of our answers lie on the events of that night. It just doesn't make sense ya know? Rowlin was supposed to be obviously somewhere else so that clearly brings more questions then answers." He turned to Celestia and embraced her in a gentle hug. "I'm sorry I too can't be much of help. I know I have been ordered previously to not say much but if this letter says what it says, I can share what I can... later of course..." He rested his chin on her head. "I just don't remember that night no matter how much I try." He paused then released her from his hold. "Alright.." he smiled at her, "Let's continue this another night. Let me know and I'll help to the best of my abilities."

featherleg

“No, don’t leave me,” Hannah begged. She lifted a hand as if she could grab Dasco’s shirt and prevent him from leaving her. The bed would be so cold without him even with the additional blankets that he had draped over her to keep her warm while he started running a warm bath. They had found that a warm bath was one of the best ways to raise her body temperature after it had gotten dangerously low, though Hannah preferred to hold onto Dasco while they were lying in bed or sitting on the sofa, snuggled beneath a warm blanket - but that method wasn’t quick enough to raise her body temperature after it had gotten dangerously low. It was better used to keep her warm and to relieve some of the headaches and pain in her neck and shoulders.

She groaned as she tested how much movement she had in her ankles and feet. It was about as much movement as she had in her hands and wrists - and it wasn’t as much movement as she wanted to have. Hannah turned her head to look toward their bathroom, unable to immediately determine who Dasco was speaking with on the phone between the running bath water and the lingering brain fog.

“Selena, your sister collapsed-!”

He had called her? Hannah rolled onto her stomach, the goal to push herself up from the bed and sit up so she could let Dasco know what she thought about him calling her sister for help - but she yelped from trying to get her hands in position. It was too much movement far too quickly, and it left her shoulders aching from the strain she had put on them. She swore, her voice breaking again before she started sobbing. When had her condition gotten this bad? It didn’t seem like it was all that long ago when it was far more manageable, when exposure to the cold while suffering a flare up didn’t mean she was going to lose consciousness and her body was going to freeze over.

Hannah was lying in bed, her dark brown hair pulled away from her face to expose her forever young facial features and mismatched eyes that she was so careful to change while she was outside this room. She pulled the thick blanket over her head as the fire in the fire place crackled. She wished it were warmer in the room, but that was a typical desire for nearly every winter day. She turned her head toward the door as she heard someone approaching. From their gait alone, she recognized them as one of two people she would permit to see her in this state. Hannah pulled the blanket down and sat up in bed as they opened the door and entered the room.
The man who had come inside approached the bed, stopping at its foot to rest a hand on the post there. He looked old enough to be her grandfather, though Hannah remembered when he had looked much younger. “I had almost forgotten what you looked like without the glamour.”
Hannah raised a hand to touch her cheek, though she kept her eyes looking down. “Father, you know why it’s necessary. Everyone believes me to be dead,” she said quietly. “And it needs to remain that way.” She half-expected him to question why she had even returned if that were the case. It was still a sore subject between them, and one they didn’t talk about.
“Are you feeling any better today?” Alright, it seemed they were going to avoid that subject for now.
“Mostly. I don’t have very much pain when I move, though I haven’t tried to get out of bed. My head still aches, but it’s not unbearably painful.” Hannah looked up at her father. “It feels too cold for me to leave the room.”
Her father chuckled at her last statement. “You always did hate the cold. It’s actually quite nice in here.”
“You and I have different definitions of ‘nice’ regarding temperature,” Hannah mumbled under her breath. Her father didn’t indicate that he had heard her.
“Is anything different from last winter when you first experienced this?”
“I had a better idea of what to expect when things flared up again, and-”

…maybe it had been that long ago. Her parents had been buried for most of her life, and each flare up seemed to last longer with more severe symptoms than the previous one. Hannah’s own research on her condition hadn’t been enough to result in a remedy, and now it seemed she would have to cooperate with Selena and explain everything she knew about her condition, all without actually trusting her sister. It had taken time for her to fully open up to Dasco, and now she was expected to do the same with Selena, but without feeling safe.

Hannah turned her head so that she wasn’t going to speak into the mattress. “I will need a lot of help getting into the bath. I still can’t move my shoulders or my knees as much as I would like to.”

featherleg

There was an apology in his eyes as he turned back to her. He gently took her hand in his, placing a kiss on top of it. “I’ll be right back, I promise. I’m not going anywhere.” With that, he had left her side for the time being.

Now, having returned to her side in the present moment, he had begun untucking her from the bed, nodding to her as he took into account how limited her mobility was. “We’ll take everything one thing at a time.” With that, he had collected her into his arms and made for their bathroom.

A few minutes had passed since Dasco had aided Hannah into the heated tub. He now sat in a chair he had pulled from the living room to keep an eye on her whilst going over a pile of documents. The formal jacket and vest he normally wore has been discarded and placed back in their closet, the sleeves of his white dress shirt rolled up to his elbows as he reviewed what information the two of them had been able to gather about Hannah's condition. Hopefully, it would provide some insight to Selena when she arrived. He had gone over these papers a handful of times, and yet here he sat, knowing nothing new would jump out at him, but he had to do something to keep himself occupied.

Dasco wasn’t the type of person to get nervous or frightened that often. As the Sovereign of the Third Court, he had to have the displicine to lead those he held jurisdiction over. He was known to be courageous, charming, witty, and cunning. Someone who always played his cards well. And yet here he was, with little to nothing in his deck to gain the upper hand against an opponent he had next to nothing about.

He knew neither sister would want to see or speak to each other. Selena was already annoyed that he had contacted her. Hannah would feel betrayed that he had told her about such a deeply personal secret. But...what choice did he have? He couldn’t allow Hannah to keep suffering like this. Dasco knew, or at least felt, that this ailment of hers had gone past what he could treat. His flames could only do so much. So now he waited and prayed that maybe, just maybe, the two sisters could work together. It was a shot in the dark. He knew it was. But he had to try.

Misty

Damien turned to Leila and Urian with a brow raised at their optimism. At this point it was appearing more and more that their father Derrick dipped for a fire fighting emergency. It was rare when his parents were absent for a lengthy time. However he just shrugged it off and rested on the couch admitting defeat to the situation. "Yea..." The teen softly muttered.

The teenager was hoping to melt in the situation until Aika approached and asked him a question. Indeed he had been asked questions all night but this lady... er his aunt was seen in high respect by both of his parents. He blinked quickly leaning off the couch he intended to melt into with the upmost attention. He swallowed quickly hoping it wasn't noticed-well his lack of attention.
"I am doing okay." He started his sentence. "School is throwing challenges at me but my dad says to take it head on while my mom tells me to take it gracefully one step at a time." He crossed his arms now to gaze up, "Aside from academics our Magic Club is competing at a regional magic contest. At the moment we are looking into some of the best magicians in history to see if we can replicate or create a new presentation that can hopefully take us to the state level. Making it past the county was difficult so we know that the road ahead is going to be a slippery one."

Over with Viola, Rowlin couldn't help but chuckle at the little girl's determination. She indeed had her mother's spirit. "I appreciate it Viola and as Aika mentioned as well, we are both grateful." He waved at her as she sat between Urian and Damien. Now with Aika walking away he thought it would be a good time to sit down himself, he was shaking on the inside but that could be left for a meditative session long after dinner.
He found an area along the side of one couch and sat on the floor. Though this was the modern age old habits die hard, and no one knew that better then the child who grew up sitting on floor. He leaned his head against the couch's side and watched the gaming session from the side view.