4. Loss

[hismasterpiece]

[Action -- After Nightfall on the 11th]

[A pale young woman wanders into the village, twisting her hair round her fingers compulsively. She's hungry.


She's STARVING.

A whimper escapes her lips as she collapses by the fountain, and she calls out weakly:]

Spikey? Love sundae? The jaws can't bite; the claws can't catch.

[/Action]


[Drusilla has returned from death. Her DP is that she has lost the ability to go gameface and, therefore, to feed on victims using her fangs.]

Comments

[Action]

[bloodwaif]

Saleh. [She knows him well; she can still smell the familiar scent of his blood within his veins -- veins that she can no longer access with her sharp teeth.]

I need a knife it would seem.

[Action]

[mountain_sage]

A knife...? Why...?

[She must have just returned from death, feeling weak. He's certain that was what was wrong with her.]

[Action]

[bloodwaif]

A knife to draw what I need, good sir knight of the moon. A fang for a sick dolly.

[Action]

[mountain_sage]

Is it...blood...that you need?

[And she needs a knife to draw blood?]

[Action]

[hismasterpiece]

It is blood that I need. [This affirmation is punctuated by heavy breaths.] Or again I shall dance away into dust.

[Action]

[mountain_sage]

I see...so you need it to survive...

[He had been afraid of her before, but now that he knows more about her and her kind, he can understand the reason for her biting him. Her general insanity, on the other hand, not so much. But if he can help satisfy her appetite and calm her down, he can spare her the need to force herself on other victims.]

I should have one on my person...

[Setting down his back and digging for it. And surely enough, he does have a knife. An essential outdoor tool, since he spends so much time outdoors.]

[Action]

[hismasterpiece]

[She watches the magic-user locate a knife, and her teeth click together with excitement.

No fangs -- just even, pearl-white teeth of which any fine lady might be envious.]

Why do you do this?

[Action]

[mountain_sage]

[Saleh stares at the blade for a moment, the moonlight glistening off from it. He's not sure where to draw blood from, exactly. It probably wouldn't matter, since he can easily heal himself afterwards, but he doesn't want to risk losing too much blood either.]

Because...I understand now. If only a little...

[Action]

[bloodwaif]

You could not ever understand. [She sounds a bit haughty, then stops herself.] You should not understand, my lord.

[Action]

[mountain_sage]

...Why not?

[As he asks, he sits beside her, still holding the knife in one hand.]

You were drinking my blood because you needed it to survive. Is that not so?

[Action]

[hismasterpiece]

Beautiful men do not offer their lifesblood unless they wish to be turned.

[She peers at him, curious.]

You want to be my family?

[Action]

[mountain_sage]

[He shrinks back a little.]

I...I wouldn't go that far. I just...don't want to see you suffer from starvation. Nor do I want you to be slain again for your natural instinct.

[Action]

[hismasterpiece]

[The loneliness and separation from her family are making this ordeal so much more worse for Drusilla. She misses Angel. She misses Spike. Hell, Darla would be welcome right now, or even that chit Harmony.]

Then feed me, Saleh. My natural instinct thirsts.

[Action]

[mountain_sage]

[Saleh raises the knife again, still uncertain.]

...How? From my hand, perhaps?

[Action]

[hismasterpiece]

That...that will do. [She has her eye on that knife. It can't really hurt her unless he severs her head with it.] A sip?

[Action] Warning, self-harm

[mountain_sage]

...Perhaps a few sips. As much as you need, so long as it will not endanger my life.

[He brings the knife to his palm, pausing for a moment to brace himself. And then he drags the blade hard across it, cutting into his flesh, drawing out a handful of blood. He winces in pain throughout the act, trying to hold in his cries, but is only partially successful as he does let out a few groans. Once finished, he pulls back the knife and holds his bleeding hand out to the vampire.]

So...you are unable to bite people anymore...?

[hismasterpiece]

Cannot...cannot bite. [The smell of blood is overwhelmingly delicious. Falling forward against Saleh, the vampire greedily seeks out the wound with her mouth. Desperate. Desperate to feed.]

[mountain_sage]

Easy...!

[He almost loses his balance as she falls against him, but he pushes to keep her upright. He then brings his bleeding hand to her mouth.]

Here...drink this...

[It feels awkward to say it, but he had to ease her hunger as well as he could.]

[hismasterpiece]

[With her lips set firmly against his skin, the vampire drinks. Oh, the relief -- warm blood flowing into her cold, cold body once more, bringign heat and unlife and energy to her limbs and unbeating heart. Skin that felt cracked and papery takes on a warm softness; lips that had been dry became lush and moist; sunken eyes filled out into beautiful dark pools.

His blood nourished her. And it was delicious.]

[mountain_sage]

[He watches in disbelief as the woman's condition significantly improves so visibly and so quickly.]

...Better?

[He seems bewildered as he asks the question, as the answer should be obvious.]

...We need to work something out. Some way to keep you fed. I highly doubt that many people would be willing to feed you like this. What will you do?

[hismasterpiece]

I will do what I must, beautiful Saleh. [She licks her lips; a new strength is springing up through her body. But she won't finish him off -- he is clearly more useful to her alive than dead, and not even in thrall!]

What do you propose?

[mountain_sage]

[The question gives him pause. He's not entirely sure what to propose, aside from something vague.]

There must be some sort of compromise. We'll need to find a way to keep you nourished without the need to attack other residents. Perhaps I could help you feed on the wildlife...and I could offer my own blood from time to time.

[hismasterpiece]

You would do that? [She looks at him, and there is such appeal. A handsome face. If only he would succumb. If only she could make him family. He could be her consort, then. But she knows him well enough to know that he has magic, and that in this state she would not last long against it.]

I accept this compromise. It smells of iron and feathers, but I accept it nonetheless.

[mountain_sage]

[A sigh of relief.] Thank you. I know this will be difficult for you, but I do not wish for you to be slain again. Nor do I wish to resort to forceful measures to contain you. So I believe this would be a peaceful compromise, to keep everyone safe.

[hismasterpiece]

[She relaxes slightly. Perhaps there is still time to change his mind about becoming her consort, but for now she is content with the decision.]

So you are a neutral force, then. Not one of the Powers; not one of the shadow children. Your blood, though -- flavored with goodness.