The Birth of Something New {Aurin}

[Dreyfus]

Company: His people| Thoughts: A new arrival| Mood: Content

⚔ He stopped momentarily to take in the words of the man, as he hadn't been in the city for some time, only knowing what Victor's scouts relayed to them. It seemed things were definitely getting underway to normalcy again. "I see, well that's one contingent we won't have to deal with now. However, that still leaves the anarchists that are within the city. I plan to deal with them eventually." he noted, finishing his preparations of the man's bath.

Leaving the washroom he posted up against the wall as the other man continued, explaining his traveling situation. Dreyfus could understand that. "I too traveled with someone whom I thought was my ally in this world, but he proved my aversions to most humans, betraying me in the end. He left me no choice but to make his death swift. A choice I'm not proud of, but found it to be necessary in the moment." he noted. When Klein spoke of where he was when everything went to shit it made Dreyfus smile.

"I was near the Knob, helping with the defense of those seeking refuge. I went from there into the rift and met the king of gods, among others of the Path." His eyes looked to the floor as he relieved that moment, standing before those enigmatic beings and being in awe of their sheer presence. It was something that he aspired to even now. "You said you were among the witches of the covens, I'm curious as to how they were. Before becoming what I am now, I was a member of the Order of Reconciliation, as was my mother before me. I never had the opportunity to encounter the covens, save for the Red Witch herself. She is the reason for my current affliction. I however have been pro-mage and with my newfound power, I wish to see the mages of Zaichaer liberated from their persecution. I plan to with the Dornkirks at some point if they respond to my letter that is."

His eyes may have held an intensity to them, but he looked to the man with genuine curiosity as he ate his meal. ⚔

"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Aurin]

Ernst was only too happy to let Monteliyet take the lead in the conversation. He filled his belly, trying not to wolf it down, but eager to assuage his hunger. The talk of murder made him pause for a moment, and then he nearly choked as he aspirated food.

"You met—" He paused, realized he was talking with his mouth full, and a hand came up to mask it as he chewed quickly and swallowed, blinking back tears. "You met the Dragon King?"

His incredulity was not feigned. The Kalzasern Shinsei might be Arcas reborn, but Eikaen was a horse of a different color, not just a god of a different magnitude. But Monteliyet kept talking, and so he kept eating like someone afraid the food would be taken from him before he finished. He was finished and washing it down when the Vampir turned questions toward him once more.

"Ah, they were a sight better before the sky opened up an' vomited mists..." He sighed, looking suddenly haggard. He rubbed a hand over his face, not enjoying the memories. "Sunsingers fought. Railrunners evacuated. They did what they could. Best they could, s'pose. They weren't ready, but who is? Market's... safer than most places. Still have to be on your guard. Well... perhaps you don't," he allowed. His smile was weary. "Menagerie is locked behind some... mist... thing. There was damage to the death eaters' healing halls. Lots scattered... a few stuck around. They seem to have made some sort of peace with the airborne powers now. Least, they aren't being routed and burned at the stake. Don't know if that's Dornkirk's doing or his brother-in-law the Watcher..."

When the Vampir didn't immediately ask follow-up questions, he grunted softly as he rose, beginning to unbutton his shirt and edge toward the washroom past where Monteliyet stood leaning against the wall. Ernst had a peasant's lack of care about his body; if the man wanted to watch another man bathe, well, it was a small price to pay to immerse himself in hot water. The scent of steam was calling his name, as while it was Searing, it wasn't warm.

Bloody rift, bloody eclipse...

[Dreyfus]

Company: His people| Thoughts: A new arrival| Mood: Content

⚔ It was shocking to hear another zaichaeri speak so fondly about those with magic, and he was almost delight, a small smirk forming on his face. He allowed the man to finish his food and he took a moment to feel the space around them. He then watched the man intently now, his body language and listening to the beating of his heart as he spoke, When he was finished with his food he adverted his eyes for a moment, going to close the door to his room as the man undressed.

He turned to see the man as he discard piece after piece of clothing, stifling the urge to undress the man himself, but decided that wouldnt be the best option right now. Instead he would collect the man's clothes to be washed and go to collect a towel and somethign for the man to wear. "So tell me Sir Klein, how do you feel about mages, about magic. Ive come to be curious of those who have survived opinion on the matter. Given that you've seen the mages of the covens fight to protect the people, your viewpoint intrigues me quite a bit."

More so to determine if he would have to cull him with the other narrowminded fools who would try to put them back into the dark ages of Zaichaer. "I ask this because like most of those who reside her dont have any qualms with the fact that a mage rescued them and is their protector. Color me curious about your point of view." his eyes came to behold the man as he slipped into the tub, Dreyfus making a mental note of the curves and scars of his body.

Placing his belongings on a chair he went to go rummage around his large wardrobe within the bathroon for something for Klein to wear. "I could heal those you know, the scars." ⚔

"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Aurin]

The man of the manor seemed to leave him to it, but as soon as Ernst had lowered his travel-weary body into the hot water, he returned. By his own admission, Monteliyet had been a member of the Order of Reconciliation; he supposed it was only natural for the unnatural man to continue interrogating him here where he was even more vulnerable.

But he remained friendly enough; Ernst had to scoff at the unearned honorific. Sir, as if he were some foreign knight or a dragon-rider of Antiris. For all that Zaichaer claimed no peerage, no landed titles, Monteliyet seemed like many other of the oligarchy. The royal and noble lines of yore had remained the most prestigious families in blueblood society, keeping the highest ranks of military and government to themselves. Perhaps his time abroad had kindled his old fashioned manners.

"I'm no sir, sir," he assured him, lathering away with the soap. If he had the opportunity to get clean, he was going to get squeaky clean.

He paused at the questions, then slowly returned to his ablutions.

"I mean, they was protecting themselves. Cleavin' to the covens, you might say. Not leaving normal folk to suffer, but in the madness... they were just doing what they could. Can't say as I'm not fearful of magic. Magic gets us rifts and mutants hungry for brains roaming the streets. But magic builds shields to shelter behind, too. That's your Order, isn't it? Our shield from danger? And sometimes sword? Don't know if magic corrupts like they say... but they say power corrupts, too. Any kind. I don't know. I'm not a wise man. Not goin' to find a silver blade to cut off your head now you've fed, bathed, and clothed me, but can't say as you don't... trouble me."

[Dreyfus]

Company: His people| Thoughts: A new arrival| Mood: Content

⚔ Rifling through the wardrobe, he listened as Klein explained his point of view and it caused the vampyre to nod in his direction. "Color me impressed sir Klein as I have met very few zaicheari who is as open minded as you, though you have spent some time among mages, so you have seen the good they could do." he noted as he found a few piece to give to the man once his bath was done. The last bit of his explanation caused the vampyre to stop, and smirk a bit.

"I can assure you that even if you wanted to, it would be to no avail." he smirked, holding out his left arm and sharpening his right hand, sliced it off. In a matter of moments however, his arms regrew right in front of the man. "I tend to get that reaction from people. My newfound powers are rather unsettling at first, but you get use to it. I have become quite the boon for the people who have have come to call this place home." he noted, taking the clothes he felt would fit the man and sitting them in a chair new the tub.

He placed a towel there as well, before sitting in one of the other chairs in the bathing room. "I am the one thing they rely on and so I have no choice but to act as their shephard." his eyes looked to the man with intense curiosity but made sure to keep his eyes above the water, though he very much wanted to join the man, and wash his hair. ⚔

"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Aurin]

"Well, sir, I wouldn't—" he began, but his mouth fell open as one of Monteliyet's arms sharpened and dismembered the other. Even as the sharp arm returned to normal, it seemed as though the injured arm stayed connected via blood, and that blood pulled the ends together and quickly knit the flesh back to wholeness

The silence didn't last long as Monteliyet continued to speak, but the plop of soap into the water broke the spell and Ernst shuddered, glad the Vampir was looking at clothes and likely didn't see it. It wasn't like he could help his atavistic reactions. There were reasons a man was horrified by things, though his conscious mind reminded him that Monteliyet had been nothing if not kind and generous.

Whether there were hidden strings attached or a bill to be paid, he didn't know yet. He scrubbed at his nethers while the voyeur was otherwise occupied, then blinked at the fine clothes brought for him. Well, he supposed he could wear those until his own, hardier things were laundered. The fine clothes wouldn't do well on the road, and he hardly knew how to wear them.

"They seem well content," he allowed. While he considered protesting the man's own wardrobe, he was learning that Monteliyet would only insist. Best not to argue too much, not with a man who could maim himself without flinching, and immediately reverse the self-inflicted damage. He was clearly not somebody to fuck with.

The water was still relatively hot, so he sank down into it until the water hit the ginger scruff under his chin. He supposed he ought to get out if his host was going to eschew his other duties and pleasures to ensure he was fed, watered, bathed, clothed, and all. But it was so comfortable. It was always so cold anymore since the Eclipse. Ten fingers peeked out of the water as he perused them, then, sheepishly, showed Monteliyet.

"Prunes."

[Dreyfus]

Company: His people| Thoughts: A new arrival| Mood: Content

⚔ He smiled as the man seemed to revel in the warmth of the water. He was glad he could give him some sort of solace in such dire times and now that they had settled into the estate. He watched the man bath with some semblance of satisfaction in the slight show Klein was giving. His furnace of eyes peered eagerly over the edge of the tub as he mentioned his extremities being that of pruning.

The vampyre smiled noticing something. "If you will allow me, you seemed to have washed everything but your hair." he offered, coming over with a chair and sitting it behind the man. He would take a cloth off the sink and lathered up some perfumed hair shampoo as he encouraged the man to lean back as water was poured onto his head. With the cloth, he lathered up the man's locks, the faint scent of magic coming off of him.

He was almost certain now, that the man had ambient magic coming off of him, and he wondered why. He found that there was no harm in i so he allowed it to go unquestioned, but there was no mistaking it now. As he continued to clean the man's scalp he figured he would continue to probe the man's mind. "SO what happens now for you now SIr Klein? Do you plan to live your life for yourself, or enlist in the armed forces? Or maybe work with the coven mages you seem to be so fond of?"

He inquired, keeping his touch gentle and light, but making sure to scrub every part of his scalp clean. ⚔

"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Aurin]

"Oh," he murmured, but didn't protest when the monster with the long blond locks twined his fingers into his shorter, ginger hair. Ernst worried he might end up smelling like an expensive West End tart, but that ought to confuse predators when he returned to the wild. Monteliyet must have enjoyed it, as well, for he took his time and was thorough about it. Ernst relaxed, even making the occasional soft sound of pleasure. There were few such carnal delights on the road or in the trees.

"I was going to check in on the Market when I found your people," he admitted, "or they found me. Either way, I suppose once my traveling kit is laundered, I should complete that journey. I could bring them a message for you if you wish..."

His hand came up to touch Monteliyet's briefly, gratefully.

"I don't know if I'll settle," he admitted. "No place is safe for long."

Still unsure how to express his gratitude fully, his hands came back up, took Monteliyet's, and kissed his ring as if he were some lord of old. Then, nervously, he released him, and fell silent, hoping he hadn't offended.

Even this place wasn't safe. Monteliyet was kind and generous to a stranger, and here inside they were safe from the Dread Mists, and if there were an attack, they would have alarum screams from his other people to warn them, but Monteliyet was admittedly a monster, even if he seemed a benevolent one. Ernst was wary, but the constant wariness made him weary, and he closed his eyes, focusing on the simple comfort of the heat in the water seeping into his bones.

[Dreyfus]

Company: Klein| Thoughts: A new arrival| Mood: Content

⚔ Fiery crimson eyes looked down with curiosity as the man whose hair was in his hands mentioned the Coven Markets. He had not been given the opportunity to venture to them before the disaster hit the city. He wondered if any of the coven mages even survived the fallout, but there had to be some as from what he remembered they were the ones shielding the innocent from the horrors that spilled from the rift in the sky.

"A simple introduction would be nice. I have been meaning to seek out the covens, or what remains of them. I wish to be among my kind.......mages that is." he said with a chuckle as he continued to wash and pamper the man. His soft moans of enjoyment stirred something within the vampyre, but he wouldn't act on them unless prompted by the other party. He knew better than to force himself on the unwilling, no matter the circumstance.

Though he could do it, he could feel the magic within his rune stirring, hungry to be used, but he stifled it like he did his hunger most days. Even now he was hungry for the man's aether, but he knew he couldn't draw from him without permission, and he would keep himself in check, he had to. "I can attest to that, as even this estate is not safe, but the goal is to remedy that in due time. It's no Floating Isles with the Dornkirks, but it will suffice until it can't, and then we will move from there."

With a soft chuckle, he moved to dry his hands, before returning to the seat across from the tub. His eyes settled on the man as he soaked in the warmth of the tub. ⚔

"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Aurin]

"Then you shall have one, Lord Monteliyet..." he murmured. The water was obscuring, clouded with the detritus of soap and all the grit of the road and off-road, as well, but Dreyfus knew what he was doing and Ernst knew what he was doing, though it didn't seem as though Drefyus knew that Ernst knew. The sembling trick truly was a prize, especially so when trying to survive a monster's den, a monster whose hungers and thirsts roiled under a civilized seeming.

Ernst thumbed his nose at "lords" in a meritocracy as much as any Zaichaeri, but he seemed to have forgotten that prejudice just as he had forgotten Monteliyet wanting to be more informal.

It was probably a good thing he walked away. If the massage to his scalp coupled with blood magic had continued, he might have turned his face into his hands to nibble upon them. As it was, he had the man-shaped monster in his sights again, which cooled down the engine of lust in one way—he wasn't being touched—but not in the another—now his eyes could roam. He watched his host from under his brow.

The touch of magic had bade him submit, but there was a flare of the predator within him now. He wondered what it would look like if he wrapped that long, blond hair in his fist and pulled back, exposing that fair neck. Foxes were opportunists, sure, but they were predators still. His sharp smile looked at odds with his sweet, albeit weathered face. It was gone quickly, though, as he looked down at the water, flushed.

"I will return to the city and seek out the covens, then I will send word back..."

fin.