hismasterpiece | 2. LAMBING.

Tonight, just after sundown, there is a ruckus on one of the farms northeast of the village. When the bleating dies down, several dead lambs might be found in one of the enclosures. The ewes paw and nose at the bodies, dumb terror still fresh in their eyes.

Forest animals just have not been cutting it for Drusilla. But the vampire has been too wary to approach the village and feed there -- not without her Family, those who strengthen her. She stalks the journals during the day when she's not sleeping. Two slayers? A vampire hunter? All sorts of overpowered freaks and heroes and demons? She might be mad, but Dru is not stupid enough to attempt any kills in the village. Yet.

As she tears through the last lamb, the vampire laments to herself how much more fun this would be with Spike. And then she convinces herself in a long, drawn-out argument with a curiously red evening star -- which she quickly names Ethelind -- to spy on the sleeping village. Find out where the sweetest victims lay their heads. Her tattered white new-feather sundress, covered only by a black lace shawl, is stained red with lambs' blood. The dress of her porcelain doll, which she is carrying with her, is also stained. Perhaps she can stop at the shop for a new frock, and one for dolly, too.

When she glides through the village, Drusilla will dare to peek into some windows. She cannot enter any homes without an invitation.

[Dru will not be lingering around anyone she has identified as a threat. She is a powerful vampire but far more bold when working with lackeys or her "family" -- Angel, Spike, Darla. IF YOU WANT YOUR CHARACTER TO DIE OR BE INJURED AT THIS TIME JUST TELL ME IN A SUBJECT LINE, otherwise she won't be killing or hurting anyone in this post.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hand tightening around knife kept hidden by her side Sabriel frowns faintly at the woman on the other side of the window, the cold feeling in her gut concentrating. This woman was Dead, one way or another and no smiles were going to hide it but Sabriel has met and spoken with some Dead residents and they hadn't shown themselves to be a threat. However...and forgive her for judging but Dead things don't creep around late at night for no particular reason. Not where she's from.

In the shade of the night Sabriel can't make out the stain on Drusilla's dress to be blood but something about the pattern of it disturbs her, reminds her of the marks on the broken Charter stones at home...

After a moment Sabriel simply nods her head in recognition and greeting, not presenting herself as hostile but not welcoming either.]

[Dru nods back, which is Good Manners. And then she points at Sabriel before drawing her sharp-nailed fingertips across her own throat. A thin red line appears against the ivory skin of the vampire's neck.

She grins up at the woman in the window before pressing one bloody fingertip against the glass pane.

Soon enough it might become clear that she is writing the words C O M E P L A Y in her own blood upon the glass.]

[Aaand that's where all of her doubts of the woman's intentions and mental state get shoved firmly in the direction of dangerous and crazy. That thin line or red across such a pale neck brings unwanted memories to the front of her mind; the bodies of Charter mages sacrificed to break the Charter stones, necks gaping in an eternal scream-

Gritting her teeth Sabriel's will is the only thing keeping her from shuddering at the memories, her disgust and horror at the 'invitation' scrawled across the window showing through in a hardening of her eyes as she firmly shakes her head.

She has a feeling she knows exactly who this woman was, even if the video had been short and her face distorted, the Dead and Free magic creatures could often hide in realistic enough skins.]

I know your face.

Do you think it pretty? [Her high tones are probably quite muffled by that glass window.] Is it lovely, like your favorite dolly? Or your mummy, safe in her narrow bed? Safe underground?

[How curious, that the woman doesn't try and break into the house to outright attack her...perhaps she is waiting for something. That is not an altogether comforting thought.]

I couldn't say, it's different than I remember.

[But the rhythm of her speech and how it swept childlike playfulness to somewhat morbid was all to familiar to that written conversation she'd had on her first day here.]

You remember this face? [Her features shift into the horrible twisted mockery of humanity that his vampire face.]

...Yes, that would be the one.

[Suspicions confirmed. With the mask falling away she tenses, ready to attack or whistle, half conjuring Charter marks that aren't there out of habit but instead her fingers curl all the more tightly around her knife.

What she wouldn't give for her sword and her bells.]

[Dru's features lapse back into the rather innocent-and-mad-looking face of a human woman. She resumes tapping her fingers against the window pane.

Tap tap. Tap. Tap tap tap. Tap tap. Tap.]

... [Is she seriously going to stay here all night just to do that? Sabriel's almost tempted to try and command her away using Saraneth or Kibeth...but best not lose her temper just yet.]

You're being a little rude don't you think?

Not going to open our window, duckie? Wouldn't you enjoy prowling about with me? Grrrrr! Wouldn't you like to join my pack and bite?

No, I would not.

[And her window is staying closed thank you very much. Her urge to try and whistle the woman away is rising too. >_>]

[EVENTUALLY...eventually Dru is going to give up. She is easily bored and distracted and this girl is NOT going to cooperate.

But the next morning, Sabriel will find a message scrawled in more blood just beneath her window. It reads, simply: P I T Y. ]

[Sorry Dru but Sabriel is quite fond of Life and doesn't much care for what you have to offer.

The next morning she can be found grumbling under her breath as she takes to the messages with a bucket of soapy water and a wash rag. Ugh, she could almost smell the familiar metallic stink of Free magic off of the blood...and she's all the more thankful that she didn't open the window last night.]

...Sabriel? [Adele unlocks the window and lifts it, blinking at her from inside.]

What are you washing?

Mm? Ah, Good morning Adele. [Not gonna lie, with Dru creeping around all night she had a rough sleep, her Death sense shaking her awake every hour or so until the sun finally creeped out from the treeline.

With a sigh she rubs her eyes as she squeezes out the cloth into the bucket, the water tinged slightly pink from the blood.]

It had been a message to me.

...from who.

[A statement and a question. A message scrawled on the outside of their home could be many things, but with the water as it was? It left very few possibilities.]

I never got her name but I will show you who she is in the journals. As for what she is... [With the message properly cleaned she looks up at Adele, serious and so tired. She had hoped her fight with the Dead had been left behind with the world but obviously that was not the case.]

She is not human and she is not alive. I don't know what sort of creature she is but she is powerful and dangerous.

...No more wandering around after dark. [She motions for Sabriel to come back around and inside the house.]

If it is what I think it is, there are those in the village better equipped for dealing with her. You need not worry so long as you are somewhere safe before sunset.

You don't have to tell me twice. [Dumping the dirty water out at the end of the lawn she gives it a quick rinse out before slipping back inside.]

She sounds like the Dead I'm familiar with but she has powers more like the Free magic monsters I know...you know what she is?

2. LAMBING.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject