Video Unseelie Locked

[huntedby]

[Vanessa turns on her locket, placing it on the table. She looks...much better than she had before. In fact, people can catch glimpses of a wedding dress.

She looks resigned, tension in her face, her chin held high. And yet...well.]

As of this morning, I am no longer Lady Vanessa Ives.

[She looks down at her hands for a moment, then back at the screen. She taps into her ability to remain stoic in the face of horrible things. The public does not need to know how much this angers her, or how helpless she feels.]

To better Arachne's Eye, Queen Morla has decided that it would be best for me to marry.

I agreed.

[As she was given no real choice.]


Henceforth, you would do well to refer to me by my husband Balem's last name, Abrasax.

[Yep. Lady Vanessa Abrasax. Wife to Balem. Lovely. She knows very well who is getting the most out of this deal. And it is not her.]

We have worked out the logistics, and while we are married, I will still spend a great deal of my time at my Spire, and will continue to be open to any of those who need to speak with me.

My plans...to make sure the Seelie pay, are unchanged. Just delayed.

[Her goal is still a fixed point.]

...apologies who anyone who wished to attend the wedding.

Comments

[huntedby]

You do know what causes the demon within me to rise, don't you?

[She smiles.]

Excellent.

[withbite]

No, but I have a feeling you're going to tell me.

Wine? Or do you not drink, either? Or maybe you want something with more... bite?

[huntedby]

Sex. So truly, it would be better for me to be with someone bloodless.

[She rolls her eyes.]

I enjoy wine a great deal. I doubt you have any marijuana, do you?

[She has missed smoking it]

[withbite]

I don't know how you have any fun at all, if that's the case. You're missing out on the best parts.

[But that? That was probably the first thing she'd said that had him genuinely surprised. It showed in the lift of his brows and the laugh that followed quickly.]

I can have some here if you're so inclined. My, my, Charlotte. What a tangled little web you weave.

[huntedby]

[She chuckles.]

You judge me too quickly, my dear.

And I am infinitely grateful to hear you have some.

[withbite]

Can you blame me. You might as well wear a sign that says "I'm uptight and probably have a stick up my butt." But... it you can unwind enough to enjoy yourself without giving me dirty looks, then I can make an effort to be a decent host.

[huntedby]

I enjoy myself, Damon. I simply don't show it to everyone.

But yes, I will enjoy myself, with you. [And check on Javik.]

[withbite]

Color me thrilled. I'll have Fernando waiting for you by the ring.

[huntedby]

[ooc: handwave or action?]

I can teleport into your Spire, you know. Unless you have warded against it.

[withbite]

[ooc: Up to you. I'm flexible.]

I... don't think I have? Fernando. Fernando!

[He called off the locket screen, muttering to his right hand man about teleportation and--]

Nope. Not warded against that.

[huntedby]

Then I will be there once I change.

[And after she is out of her wedding dress, she puts on something simple.

She arrives without much show, waiting patiently at the door of the Spire.]

[withbite]

[As Fernando is up near his master, he cannot come to the door right now, but there are plenty of others that work and bustle around the spire and one of the guards recognizes the Baroness. With a sharp clack of his heels (because wow, Damon had cracked down on smartmouthed asshole guards after a few incidents), he bowed and gestured for her to enter, calling for one of the maids to lead the Baroness up to their Lord. He did not meet her eyes as he did, for even those around Raven's Wing had heard tell of the Mistress's possession and that unpredictability was fearsome.

Somewhat telling for folks that lived and worked among vampires.

The maid who met her curtsied deeply, as careful as the guard not to cause offense, though more for the sake of her Baron than for fear of the woman in front of her. Most in the spire knew, but not everyone seemed to care. Especially ones that were trying to bed a vampire (unsuccessfully).]

M'Lady Baroness. My Lord has set a feast for your approval on the upper balcony. He thought you'd like the view. This way?

[huntedby]

[Vanessa nods her head at the guard, pursing her lips at his reaction. Perhaps it is just as well. This world needs viciousness, now. Perhaps she should just play the part now.]

And he is right, of course.

Damon does know me well.

[She'll use his first name. At this point, they are past formalities. She follows the maid, absently wishing she had brought Neith. But Sothis was here, still by Javik's bedside. It would be see the varren.]

[withbite]

[Whatever the maid might have thought about the use of his first name, she wisely kept to herself. One didn't live long in a town filled with vampires if the let every little thought flit out of their mouths, even if the vampire lord in question was harsh with abusers.

The maid led her up to the top of the tower, pausing at a split in the corridor.]

My lord said you wished to visit the sleeping Captain. Would you do so before dinner or after, Baroness?

[huntedby]

Before, please.

[She didn't want to be distracted at dinner. And the weed would be necessary to calm her after seeing Javik, she is sure. So seeing him first, before dining with Damon, would be better than the other way around.]

[withbite]

[With a sharp nod, the maid changed course, leading Vanessa up to the top of the spire. Damon's chambers were on this floor as well, but Javik was being housed in Ivy's old room, evidenced by the sheer mass of greenery that greeted them when the door was opened.]

Mind that large red pitcher plant in the corner, Lady. It has a wicked bite.

[She stepped back, moving to wait outside for Vanessa to be done with her visit.]

[huntedby]

...it won't harm me.

[She dismisses the warning. Ivy had been fond of her, and she had no doubt that the plant would leave her alone.

Vanessa moves over to where Javik is laying, reaching out to clasp one of his hands, while the other moves to brush along his face.

This is all her fault.

She should protect her privacy and Javik's too. But she can't help but settle in more. She can't stay here, forever. But she will give herself an hour, at most.

[withbite]

[The maid would wait the entire time. She knew which side her bread was buttered on and the more she made herself useful, the more, hopefully, the baron would notice her beyond peripherally. That and, for the most part, people here had it good. They were protected. They'd had a spot of nothing turned into not only a town, but a relaxation location not too far that led to more business in town. Keeping the baron happy was in everyone's best interest -- that extended to the other barons, especially ones he was friendly with.

So when Vanessa was ready, the maid would be standing outside the door, ready to lead her to dinner.]

[huntedby]

[She had spent enough time. In a perfect world, in a fairytale, Javik would have awoken simply because she was there. But that was not the way their worlds worked.

Giving his hand another squeeze, she pulled herself upright, and gave the maid a nod.]

Thank you. Lead the way.

[And she will follow.]

[withbite]

[A peck at his hand let him know that his company was coming and he left off with the forms he was looking over, moving to leave his office and head out to where he'd had the dining table set up on the balcony. He'd beat her there, looking as if he'd been lounging for hours.

The maid would lead her to be seated and Fernando would hold her chair for her, then set a smallish wooden box down alongside her before moving to go stand by his master. If she opened it, she'd find not only ten nice fat rolled joints and a lighter, but a few large, sticky buds and a grinder, along with a small pipe.]

Sorry, but they didn't have bongs at the Station and I didn't have time to have one made for you. I hope that suffices. Wine?

[There was a server that came over to her end with a bottle of red, waiting for her say so to pour her a glass.]

[huntedby]

[Vanessa takes the seat; she opens the box, and sets herself to lighting up a joint. She takes a long drag, holding in the smoke, before exhaling. The calmness slowly starts to settle within her.]

I don't know what that is, in truth. This is how I have always smoked it, so it is more than sufficient.

and yes, wine, please.

[She leaves the glass untouched for now, while she works on the weed.]

[withbite]

Really? Well, now I'm going to have to have one made and sent over. We can call it a belated wedding gift.

[Sufficient or not, you were getting a bong, Vanessa.

The server half filled her glass, then went back to being quiet at the side of the balcony, waiting for more orders as Damon reached for his bourbon.]

I take it you're happy with buggy's care?

[huntedby]

Well I'll certainly be able to handle Balem's ridiculousness if I'm high.

[She laughs lightly and finally takes a drink.]

He's...doing as well as I could hope. Thank you, for saving him.

[withbite]

He has more glitter on him than a six year old girl's birthday party.

[He grinned at her, then remembered something.]

That's a lot, in case the sun doesn't shine and glitter doesn't exist where you come from.

[Another sip of his drink and a shrug to go with the thanks.]

He's one of the few I can tolerate here. It'd be a shame to lose him because of... what? A misunderstanding?

[huntedby]

I have heard of something similar, but thank you for explaining to the poor Victorian.

[Vanessa offers him a toke, because that is the only polite thing.]

...more than a misunderstanding.

Amunet saw him as an obstacle. Since she knows he is willing to kill me, to stop her.