vi. video. unseelie locked. night of the 7th.

[vrykolakas]

[News has reached the front lines. The Brucolac has rubbed his face clean for this broadcast, but his pupils are blown, blood drying in his eyebrows, and he hasn't taken off any of his armour.

He looks like cold hell.]

Those at Caer Scima who got out. The Ninth Spire has room for you; if you need to avoid the sunlight, the cellars are ready. Blood, food, medical aid, a place to sleep, whatever you may need. Go via fairy ring, or else follow the Criostal down to where it meets the sea.

I can't meet you. [He grits his teeth, rubs at one brow with a spike-gauntleted hand, sounds like he's furious at himself for it.] Needed at the front lines. Give me some days. Until I return, my captains have orders to take you in and treat you well.

Comments

-> private

[vrykolakas]

You got far.

[His voice is subdued, careful, as soothing as a grave-rusted whisper can be. He pauses, and alters the privacy settings. No need to blare kin-business all loud and clear over the network.]

Loch Noa or Loch Sluagh. Switch the settings on the locket so I can see what's around you.

(retconning the 10th to the 13th if that's ok, holy jeez did I mix up location and travel times aaa)

[gehennawind]

Yeah. Okay.

[The reply isn't private unless the lockets default it to piggyback off of the settings he picks; Paloma won't want to broadcast their anything either, but nobody's taught her how to lock a darned thing unless it's by saying a name.

She isn't so locket-challenged that Paloma can't provide him with a clear visual of Loch Noa's moonlit shore. Nothing unusual for the area is happening. It's a vision of peace apart from the war, and that is exactly why she's been caught here instead of digging another night's grave. Horses need watering and are unable to cope with certain challenges posed by the terrain. Paloma only needs quick feedings and she can run in a line without ever stopping. So she has until tonight.] How far did I go?

THAT'S FINE c: ...though it means he may end up directing her towards jabberwock, whoops

[vrykolakas]

That's Loch Noa, kinling. [With some serious relief. Clearly the better option.] You need to head east and move around the edge of the loch until you're on the opposite side; then east-south-east along the hemline of the forest, and you'll hit the Station and its fairy ring. Step into the ring, say The Ninth Spire, and it will take you there.

What's your name?

OH BOY

[gehennawind]

Paloma. [Some moments of fiddling see the visual deactivate on the locket, before it occurs to her that she maybe ought to show her face and wave or something. Oh well.]

Who are you?

B)

[vrykolakas]

I'm the Brucolac. Baron of the Ninth Spire.

NOW LOCKED

[gehennawind]

[The. The. Normally it would sound pretentious to give oneself so much importance that one's name needs The in front of it. But she doesn't hear the self-importance some would attach.]

The Brucolac. I wish we weren't meeting like this.

[vrykolakas]

[The Brucolac's smile is sudden and genuine, crooked—he surprises himself with it.]

So do I. But fuck it, only sycophants and the unimaginative can say they reliably get what they wish for.

[gehennawind]

You're not wrong. Ahh--

Since you've been offering safety from sunlight and blood to people who need it, do you know if the Kindred Aindrea or Mandli have shown up? I met them my first night in Caer Scima.

[And they were more gentle with her than anyone had been for several terror-infused weeks.]

They were very kind. They deserve better than to be left behind.

[vrykolakas]

Mandli fought at the border with me. He keeps company with Ariadne, the Baronness of the Third Spire.

Aindrea I've never heard of. I can inquire.

[gehennawind]

[Thus resolving one of two gaping pits in her gut. Mandli is hopefully in good company. Paloma survived Caer Scima by virtue of a friend rolling her up in drapery like a big dead caterpillar and stashing her in the basement; Aindrea could have done the same, maybe. Probably.

Why should she get the good luck and Aindrea none?]

Mandli said something about them swearing to the Baroness. Okay. That's good. Okay... [moving on, keep moving]

Has anything like this ever happened here before?

[vrykolakas]

We're in the Last Days, if that's what you're asking. A mortal lifespan from the end, if that.

They say High King Reul may be dead. That's... [...ssss, the Brucolac's long, thin forked tongue flicking out. He twitches it as if to express vexation and upset.] Serious shit, serious arcane apocalypticism. Like murdering the moon or the sun.

[gehennawind]

[Paloma laughs in a bursting exhale, but it's full of fear.]

We'd all die if somebody killed the moon or the sun, no getting around it. Is that what's going to happen? We're going to die, again? [She doesn't want to. She did before. Not now.]

[vrykolakas]

[That hooks him under the ribcage. Startles him into saying,]

No.

[Don't make promises you can't keep, you old monster, he castigates himself.]

Not if I can help it.

Paloma, the first step to not dying again is to get to my spire, to eat, to rest.

[gehennawind]

[She has the presence of mind to appreciate the amendment. So much more honest with themselves.]

Yes. Yes, sounds like a plan. No Final Death tonight. [promising:] I'll run fast.

The other people you're taking in know there's going to be Kindred rubbing shoulders with them at night? Anyone who's heard your call, obviously, but if there's going to be trouble at the first sight of fang-- it would be good to brace for.

I know not everyone will be... predictable.

[vrykolakas]

[Grimly:]

They know what I am. They should not be surprised if I try to shelter my kin. If they are, a predictable punishment for their foolishness will follow.

The native kin of this world have made an alliance with Dorchadas; some of their refugees will be arriving shortly. Those fighting here have...distinguished themselves. While any kin who step into Glaschu are hunted, all Northerners owe them a debt of gratitude. Hopefully, quick sentiment towards us should be positive. I am...working on establishing an official means of supplying necessary blood. A tax or a reward system. For now, my captains organise donors from within the ranks.

I have certain rules. You do not infect others, and you drink what is alotted you, no more. How safe is it for you to drink from the vein? Will you pass on the condition?

[gehennawind]

[Those are good rules. That he has any soothes a portion of her anxiety at new people in new surroundings.]

I can't sire unless it's on purpose. They don't even need to feel pain if I wouldn't like them to, it... may actually be worth looking into rotating the donors out.

For more than just keeping their strength up. It's, ahh, addictive.

[vrykolakas]

—hm.

[Heavens.]

Donors will be rotated. Would it help not to drink from the vein, or will that not fulfil your hunger?

[gehennawind]

It won't matter. [Even as she says it, Paloma realizes it's a lie. Yes, she can survive on packaged blood, but it won't be nearly the same experience. The Kiss is addicting for the vampire giving it, too.]

But please, I can hunt outside the ranks to make it easier. Bring back, uhh, game. Blood is blood and if supply's that limited...

[vrykolakas]

Can you?

[With great surprise. Animal blood, in his experience, has only ever been a placebo. Something to ease hunger for a few hours, while the vampir drinking it continued to waste away.]

I'll keep it in mind. Hunt how you will. But the human stuff must be better for you; take, at least, some advantage of the offered donors. I'll manage matters of supply.

[gehennawind]

[She was never that good at refusing temptations if they're being insisted upon. Tragic.]

Alright, Bru-- the--

... how may I call you?

[vrykolakas]

[He does alright at hiding his grin. It's not malicious, at least.]

Brucolac. Brucolac will work well.

[gehennawind]

[Her smiling is more the embarrassed kind.]

Brucolac. Thanks. ["I owe you." Paloma doesn't say it aloud, she is afraid to give that leverage away freely, but it's plain fact. Who knows how long she would be running in this direction for if he hadn't provided an alternative?]

So I, ahh, I'll see you at your spire?