br Rupa entered the lobby, immediately regretting it- from what little she could see, Jacen and the other Tremere of his group were standing next to Father Dorsey, them and the rest of the full room gathered around Seaton and what looked like Natalie on the ground. Unable to see most of the scene, she stood en poiné, on the tips of her toes, to gain a better look.
br For a few moments, she got her first look- Seaton was lying on the ground, staked in torpor until Jacen swooped down to give the large splinter a sharp tug free. A few more people moved in the way, she moved through most of the crowd on the wall, concentrating on remaining a person of no notice. By the time she got another look, Seaton was standing, draped in Father Dorsey's robes with her face red and poor from crying. He was talking in low tones to her just before she cried out, "I would rather die than live as I am!"
br More voices rose around her, causing even her enhanced hearing unable to thin out the different tones- except when the shout came from the main door.
br "What has happened here?!"
br The room was in near silence as a path was cleared from the door to the spot on the ground where Natalie lay. He paused a moment, as if to take in the whole situation before acting, before stalking over to the area. For some unknown reason, Jacen suddenly walked over to Natalie and bend low, only to have his face slashed by Queotyl's claws.
br Jacen stayed bend over Natalie as his blood trickled onto Natalie's lips. He stayed frozen for many moments, letting his blood drop into her mouth until her eyes fluttered open. Rupa once again stood en poiné, as more moved in her way, able only to catch Father Dorsey say something about the women, his torn shirt revealing a tattoo? On his back- she knew Queotyl knew something about it, too, judging by the way he was eyeing it.
br Shaking her head, she decided it best to await for the ordeal to be done with and Jacen free for her own to speak with- but she didn't have to wait much longer. By the time Rupa got to him through the crowd that had decided to break up, Queotyl was gone, and Seaton...
br Seaton was gone.
br She knew it the second she glanced from the floor to Jacen. He mourned more for her than she has
expected. She wondered if it should bother her.
br "Come, we should pay our respects and thank our host, then we should leave," she nearly whispered, her voice hurried by her fright. She had no one she could trust in town besides him at the moment, he at least had to speak with her every once in awhile.
br Jacen watched her a moment before nodding, walking towards the other side of the room. Laurell, the lead Toreador in the city, was speaking to Father Dorsey, who was looking at her expectantly. She fidgeted slightly before speaking, her southern speech quiet, "He's.... He's gone, Father Dorsey...."
br Shadows blew around the area, the man's form expanding- and stopped just short of eleven feet tall. From inside the shadows forming the man, and the ebony mists surrounding, a deep, strained voice boomed across the room, "Diego is dead?!" Tendrils of the darkness slithered out towards Laurell, snakes that seemed to hiss and snap in her direction.
br Issac, on the other side of the room, had enough. He narrowed his eyes on him, concentrating on his form, before shouting. "Father Dorsey!!"
br Laurell shook her head and nervously shook a hand towards Issac, "No, no it's okay... uhm... He's just trying to scare me, Issac, it's alright."
br By the time Rupa glanced back at the Father, the corner of the room had gone black, at this time she buried her head into Jacen's back. She only returned her gaze to that area when Jacen's voice broke through her peace, "I am sorry Father, I was just going to ask you about your offer."
br Father Dorsey was sitting in the classic office chair, rubbing his temples, his ripped shirt unseen. "Of course. Yourself, those there..... And the lady, as well?"
br Jacen looked at her. Rupa swallowed a gasp, moving more so behind Jacen so the Sabbat could only see one eye. She nodded, wondering what they were talking about, "Where Jacen goes, I go."
br "What is your name?"
br "Rupa," was all she said.
br The man nodded, apparently satisfied with the name. Rupa noticed he was slumped deeply in the chair, as if pulled down by some heavy weight on his shoulders. "It is already arranged. You may stay there for awhile if needed," he sighed, handing the Tremere a business card.
br Jacen bowed shortly, "I thank you."
br The Father only nodded again before Jacen walked away with his small Tremere band. She glanced back at Dorsey, seeing that the newest member of the Tremere hadn't left with the rest, and could be bothering the man, and decided as her last major act of kindness to Jacen would be to at least get the vampire's attention to something else, despite the slight fear she still felt when around him- she was sure the Tremere had enough problems lately, anyway. Besides, she had yet to thank her host.
br The neonate had just finished being told something about Natalie and why she was involved before Rupa kicked enough nerve in her system to speak, "Is there anything I can do for you, Father Dorsey?"
br The man looked up at her slowly, watching her for a second before giving a short nod, "Escort me outside."
br
centerbr~*~
brleft
br "May I ask you a question, Father?" Rupa said as she sat next to him on the steps leading into the theatre.
br "Of course."
br "You were so upset earlier... Who was Diego?"
br The man pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it- Rupa often smoked, too- even though it was pointless, the act itself seemed calming. "Diego was a friend of mine."
br Rupa nodded softly, accepting the answer as it was really none of her business. Silent for a moment, she glanced around to see that no one else was outside except for Frederick. Setting her gaze back at Father Dorsey, she saw him slowly take the rings from his fingers off, one-by-one, and letting them hit the ground with a soft clink.
br "A gift from Diego," he said as he picked them all up in one hand, crushing them and throwing them far, far from sight. "Would you rather sleep in a bed, or traditional coffin?"
br She blinked at him for a moment, surprised that he would be worried about her comfort- as far as she was concerned, she was an imposition on him, forced upon her by the Tremere who were probably
annoying enough to him. "Ah... A bed, preferably."
br "Large?" he raised a brow at her, taking a long drag from the cigarette. "What I mean to say is, will you need to be with your... lover?"
br Rupa swallowed hard, forcing the words from her mouth, "Single, I'm afraid.... I don't think he could be considered my lover, honestly. I'm more of a personal assistant anymore."
br She thought she saw a flicker of a smile, which would be understandable, since the rest of canite society that associated with them probably assumed they were bonded. "I'm sorry to hear that."
br "Don't be," she shrugged softly. "It's been like this for awhile. "
br Moments of silence passed. A few cars drove by on the street, Fredrick took a few steps in some direction, and somewhere a block away a man was yelling. Why was she still bothering this man? She sighed at herself, don't try to help Jacen. Every time she did, he acted more distant, but that wasn't why she wanted to walk away. She wasn't so afraid of Father Dorsey anymore, and ... She thought it best not to think of it.
br "Smoking will kill you, you know," Rupa said, smiling slightly at him. He paused and raised a brow at her, causing her to swear to see another trace of a smile. Has she not seen him smile before? She thought about it a moment, unable to bring forth a single memory..
br "Diego must have meant a lot to you."
br Father Dorsey sighed, "He was under my protection."
br "Your childer? Ah... Forgive me, it's none of my business."
br He offered a shrug, "It isn't a problem........ Most sires love their childer, and vice versa, but as I'm sure you know it isn't always blissful sireship."
br "I understand," she chuckled softly. "Believe me, I understand."
br "Personal experience?"
br "You could say that." When he raised a brow at her, she offered more, "My own sister, my mortal sister, Embraced to care for her daughter. I guess you could call it sibling rivalry."
br Did he chuckle? The sound was passed before Rupa could tell if it was her mind or an actual noise to be heard. After more silence passed, Rupa glanced back over at him- Diego, dead, Seaton, dead? Was there not another one, died, or had that been a rumor? "Can there be no peace in this city?"
br "You must have realized the powers.... the scuffling lately?"
br She shrugged, "I try to not involve myself in politics, but I suppose I must. I want peace here, no more fighting, or at least not as much. The Camarilla could help with it, I think."
br He smirked, "I want to leave the politics- you wish for me to leave the city? You, of all vampires, wish for the Camarilla?"
br She blinked for a moment in thought, then shook her head, "I'm not Ravanos. I wish I was, though, with the blood that flowed in my veins I should of been. No, I'm a dancer, a Toreador." She didn't mention that she wasn't chosen strictly for her dance. Rupa was a true Toreador, her main weaknesses being the dreams and ideals of her mortal self that stuck with her despite her vampiric advantages. "You wouldn't be allowed in the city at all? There was a Sabbat or two in Georgia, even in Camarilla-controlled areas."
br "No, actually. I'm afraid in smaller cities like our own, Sabbat would be forced to steer clear from, since it's pointless for diplomacy in a place of this size."
br He'd have to leave the city, and not return unless the Camarilla lost control- which would be unlikely if they got it back again. Though, from what Rupa had heard, titles of Princedom had been in many hands in the days prior to the Triumverant, Sin and Oz among the few, one she was wary of and the other she wondered about his honor. "No, not if you have to leave the city. This bickering and fighting has got to stop. I don't have much that could help you," Rupa sighed, biting her lip in thought for a moment. "But what I do have is at your disposal."
br After a moment of silence, Dorsey looked over at her, "Are you certain of this?"
br "Of course," her mind calmed, ready to assist.
br The tall man pushed his weight from the steps, looking down at her with his dark eyes, "Are you sure?"
br Rupa tilted her head up at him, giving him a short nod, her mind fixed on him and him alone and what she could do- though the idea of her serving such a man of power seemed odd, she wasn't worthy- lost to the rest of the world, "I am."
br He moved down a step and stood directly in front of her, his voice softening, "You are certain?"
br "Anything, anything at all."
br Dorsey reached down and grabbed Rupa's shoulders, picking her up into a standing position. Pulling her to his lips, he kissed her- kissed her as if not a kiss had been shared by either of them for a millennia. A feeling seemingly miles away, Rupa felt her knees almost go weak and limp- did that happen to the Embraced?!- was she being held by him or held up by him? She tilted her head against his, suddenly feeling a rush everywhere, yet feeling nothing more than his lips.
br Picking her up in his arms, Father Dorsey took a step into the sudden enveloping shadows, and disappeared.
br Frederick, still standing near the door, let his mouth drop open.
br For a few moments, she got her first look- Seaton was lying on the ground, staked in torpor until Jacen swooped down to give the large splinter a sharp tug free. A few more people moved in the way, she moved through most of the crowd on the wall, concentrating on remaining a person of no notice. By the time she got another look, Seaton was standing, draped in Father Dorsey's robes with her face red and poor from crying. He was talking in low tones to her just before she cried out, "I would rather die than live as I am!"
br More voices rose around her, causing even her enhanced hearing unable to thin out the different tones- except when the shout came from the main door.
br "What has happened here?!"
br The room was in near silence as a path was cleared from the door to the spot on the ground where Natalie lay. He paused a moment, as if to take in the whole situation before acting, before stalking over to the area. For some unknown reason, Jacen suddenly walked over to Natalie and bend low, only to have his face slashed by Queotyl's claws.
br Jacen stayed bend over Natalie as his blood trickled onto Natalie's lips. He stayed frozen for many moments, letting his blood drop into her mouth until her eyes fluttered open. Rupa once again stood en poiné, as more moved in her way, able only to catch Father Dorsey say something about the women, his torn shirt revealing a tattoo? On his back- she knew Queotyl knew something about it, too, judging by the way he was eyeing it.
br Shaking her head, she decided it best to await for the ordeal to be done with and Jacen free for her own to speak with- but she didn't have to wait much longer. By the time Rupa got to him through the crowd that had decided to break up, Queotyl was gone, and Seaton...
br Seaton was gone.
br She knew it the second she glanced from the floor to Jacen. He mourned more for her than she has
expected. She wondered if it should bother her.
br "Come, we should pay our respects and thank our host, then we should leave," she nearly whispered, her voice hurried by her fright. She had no one she could trust in town besides him at the moment, he at least had to speak with her every once in awhile.
br Jacen watched her a moment before nodding, walking towards the other side of the room. Laurell, the lead Toreador in the city, was speaking to Father Dorsey, who was looking at her expectantly. She fidgeted slightly before speaking, her southern speech quiet, "He's.... He's gone, Father Dorsey...."
br Shadows blew around the area, the man's form expanding- and stopped just short of eleven feet tall. From inside the shadows forming the man, and the ebony mists surrounding, a deep, strained voice boomed across the room, "Diego is dead?!" Tendrils of the darkness slithered out towards Laurell, snakes that seemed to hiss and snap in her direction.
br Issac, on the other side of the room, had enough. He narrowed his eyes on him, concentrating on his form, before shouting. "Father Dorsey!!"
br Laurell shook her head and nervously shook a hand towards Issac, "No, no it's okay... uhm... He's just trying to scare me, Issac, it's alright."
br By the time Rupa glanced back at the Father, the corner of the room had gone black, at this time she buried her head into Jacen's back. She only returned her gaze to that area when Jacen's voice broke through her peace, "I am sorry Father, I was just going to ask you about your offer."
br Father Dorsey was sitting in the classic office chair, rubbing his temples, his ripped shirt unseen. "Of course. Yourself, those there..... And the lady, as well?"
br Jacen looked at her. Rupa swallowed a gasp, moving more so behind Jacen so the Sabbat could only see one eye. She nodded, wondering what they were talking about, "Where Jacen goes, I go."
br "What is your name?"
br "Rupa," was all she said.
br The man nodded, apparently satisfied with the name. Rupa noticed he was slumped deeply in the chair, as if pulled down by some heavy weight on his shoulders. "It is already arranged. You may stay there for awhile if needed," he sighed, handing the Tremere a business card.
br Jacen bowed shortly, "I thank you."
br The Father only nodded again before Jacen walked away with his small Tremere band. She glanced back at Dorsey, seeing that the newest member of the Tremere hadn't left with the rest, and could be bothering the man, and decided as her last major act of kindness to Jacen would be to at least get the vampire's attention to something else, despite the slight fear she still felt when around him- she was sure the Tremere had enough problems lately, anyway. Besides, she had yet to thank her host.
br The neonate had just finished being told something about Natalie and why she was involved before Rupa kicked enough nerve in her system to speak, "Is there anything I can do for you, Father Dorsey?"
br The man looked up at her slowly, watching her for a second before giving a short nod, "Escort me outside."
br
centerbr~*~
brleft
br "May I ask you a question, Father?" Rupa said as she sat next to him on the steps leading into the theatre.
br "Of course."
br "You were so upset earlier... Who was Diego?"
br The man pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it- Rupa often smoked, too- even though it was pointless, the act itself seemed calming. "Diego was a friend of mine."
br Rupa nodded softly, accepting the answer as it was really none of her business. Silent for a moment, she glanced around to see that no one else was outside except for Frederick. Setting her gaze back at Father Dorsey, she saw him slowly take the rings from his fingers off, one-by-one, and letting them hit the ground with a soft clink.
br "A gift from Diego," he said as he picked them all up in one hand, crushing them and throwing them far, far from sight. "Would you rather sleep in a bed, or traditional coffin?"
br She blinked at him for a moment, surprised that he would be worried about her comfort- as far as she was concerned, she was an imposition on him, forced upon her by the Tremere who were probably
annoying enough to him. "Ah... A bed, preferably."
br "Large?" he raised a brow at her, taking a long drag from the cigarette. "What I mean to say is, will you need to be with your... lover?"
br Rupa swallowed hard, forcing the words from her mouth, "Single, I'm afraid.... I don't think he could be considered my lover, honestly. I'm more of a personal assistant anymore."
br She thought she saw a flicker of a smile, which would be understandable, since the rest of canite society that associated with them probably assumed they were bonded. "I'm sorry to hear that."
br "Don't be," she shrugged softly. "It's been like this for awhile. "
br Moments of silence passed. A few cars drove by on the street, Fredrick took a few steps in some direction, and somewhere a block away a man was yelling. Why was she still bothering this man? She sighed at herself, don't try to help Jacen. Every time she did, he acted more distant, but that wasn't why she wanted to walk away. She wasn't so afraid of Father Dorsey anymore, and ... She thought it best not to think of it.
br "Smoking will kill you, you know," Rupa said, smiling slightly at him. He paused and raised a brow at her, causing her to swear to see another trace of a smile. Has she not seen him smile before? She thought about it a moment, unable to bring forth a single memory..
br "Diego must have meant a lot to you."
br Father Dorsey sighed, "He was under my protection."
br "Your childer? Ah... Forgive me, it's none of my business."
br He offered a shrug, "It isn't a problem........ Most sires love their childer, and vice versa, but as I'm sure you know it isn't always blissful sireship."
br "I understand," she chuckled softly. "Believe me, I understand."
br "Personal experience?"
br "You could say that." When he raised a brow at her, she offered more, "My own sister, my mortal sister, Embraced to care for her daughter. I guess you could call it sibling rivalry."
br Did he chuckle? The sound was passed before Rupa could tell if it was her mind or an actual noise to be heard. After more silence passed, Rupa glanced back over at him- Diego, dead, Seaton, dead? Was there not another one, died, or had that been a rumor? "Can there be no peace in this city?"
br "You must have realized the powers.... the scuffling lately?"
br She shrugged, "I try to not involve myself in politics, but I suppose I must. I want peace here, no more fighting, or at least not as much. The Camarilla could help with it, I think."
br He smirked, "I want to leave the politics- you wish for me to leave the city? You, of all vampires, wish for the Camarilla?"
br She blinked for a moment in thought, then shook her head, "I'm not Ravanos. I wish I was, though, with the blood that flowed in my veins I should of been. No, I'm a dancer, a Toreador." She didn't mention that she wasn't chosen strictly for her dance. Rupa was a true Toreador, her main weaknesses being the dreams and ideals of her mortal self that stuck with her despite her vampiric advantages. "You wouldn't be allowed in the city at all? There was a Sabbat or two in Georgia, even in Camarilla-controlled areas."
br "No, actually. I'm afraid in smaller cities like our own, Sabbat would be forced to steer clear from, since it's pointless for diplomacy in a place of this size."
br He'd have to leave the city, and not return unless the Camarilla lost control- which would be unlikely if they got it back again. Though, from what Rupa had heard, titles of Princedom had been in many hands in the days prior to the Triumverant, Sin and Oz among the few, one she was wary of and the other she wondered about his honor. "No, not if you have to leave the city. This bickering and fighting has got to stop. I don't have much that could help you," Rupa sighed, biting her lip in thought for a moment. "But what I do have is at your disposal."
br After a moment of silence, Dorsey looked over at her, "Are you certain of this?"
br "Of course," her mind calmed, ready to assist.
br The tall man pushed his weight from the steps, looking down at her with his dark eyes, "Are you sure?"
br Rupa tilted her head up at him, giving him a short nod, her mind fixed on him and him alone and what she could do- though the idea of her serving such a man of power seemed odd, she wasn't worthy- lost to the rest of the world, "I am."
br He moved down a step and stood directly in front of her, his voice softening, "You are certain?"
br "Anything, anything at all."
br Dorsey reached down and grabbed Rupa's shoulders, picking her up into a standing position. Pulling her to his lips, he kissed her- kissed her as if not a kiss had been shared by either of them for a millennia. A feeling seemingly miles away, Rupa felt her knees almost go weak and limp- did that happen to the Embraced?!- was she being held by him or held up by him? She tilted her head against his, suddenly feeling a rush everywhere, yet feeling nothing more than his lips.
br Picking her up in his arms, Father Dorsey took a step into the sudden enveloping shadows, and disappeared.
br Frederick, still standing near the door, let his mouth drop open.