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 Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 9:38 am
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"Asphodel...asphodel... Ah! There you are, love." With a gloved hand, a slender blonde plucked the herb from its branches and slipped it into her small silk purse. She was a stunning young woman, carrying all the fine features that attracted all sorts of men. Her glimmering, sun kissed hair that fell in waves was combed back to reveal her fine facial features. Two daring emerald green eyes sat atop high cheekbones and were framed by thick and dark lashes. A sturdy and elegant nose sat just above supple lips that seemed to be eternally the color of roses. Her slender neck and shoulders were accented by a low cut frock. Her unnaturally skinny waist was pulled in by a corset, her hips seeming larger in comparison.
Thus was the physical appearance of Clara Dashwood. The stunning Victorian aristocrat who was so vain and heartless that she convinced her husband to turn her into a vampire and then murdered him ruthlessly. Did she regret that? Of course not. Now she would be eternally graceful, eternally beautiful, eternally adored. This was her goal and anyone who stood in the way would soon feel the affects of a very potent poison concocted with a smile. Returning to her work after admiring herself for a few moments in a puddle, Clara began working on retrieving wormwood so as to make a very strong sleeping draught. If there was anything this woman loved more than herself, it was creating potions. She had sold them to countless people for countless reasons. This one was more for a personal reason. She always liked to carry a few files of sleeping draught, love elixir, and poison around with her. One never knows when they may need it.
Standing up after retrieving her goods, Clara ran her gloved hands over her skirt to smooth out the blue fabric. She always thought that the colors that suited her the most were deep blues, reds, and greens. After the fabric was more to her liking, the Victorian blonde roamed about the gardens, making sure she had all she needed. She wasn't exactly supposed to be here. That's to say she wasn't exactly not supposed to be here either. Clara just didn't have the patience to deal with store bought herbs, and her inability to be in the sun for any stretch of time over twenty minutes caused any gardens she tended to die. Stopping to sit on a bench, the blonde situated herself so that her good side was showing. It was just a habit of hers, always looking perfect. She sighed and smoothed back a stray hair. "Oh, this life is much to dull. I need something to happen-- some large drama."
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 11:53 am
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If it was drama Clara wanted, drama she was going to get.
A pair of perfectly shined leather shoes tread leisurely through the garden, a completely unnecessary walking stick tapping in time. James felt so claustrophobic in his rooms, going through his extensive collection of coins had not calmed him. He didn't want to be here at all, amid these vampires. He hated the fact that he was now no longer the one clearly on top of the hierarchy of power among them. At least with humans, he could feel safe, nothing a spell couldn't fix after all. But here, amid all these new factors, new faces, it was like being forced into a painful party his parents threw every season when they were still alive. Except he didn't know where anyone stood, what to say to anyone. And it was driving him insane.
He was dressed in a heavily embroidered gold vest over a black shirt with a sturdy leather overcoat and perfectly pressed trousers. His wavy brown hair was neatly combed and parted to the side, as it always had been for the past several centuries. How far from London he was now, strange how time had continued to flow by him so quickly while he had remained unchanged. Well, except the eye. And the leg. The faint clicking of gears could be heard whenever he took a step, he had lost his right leg from the mid-thigh down in Egypt nearly a century ago, his left eye to an infection even further into his past. Enchanted brass had replaced both, he always did have a fondness for the mechanical.
He had forgotten his hat back in his rooms, a sign just how anxious he was feeling, the idea of him appearing even slightly less than picture-perfect was rare, for it to actually occur was rarer.
But down the winding paths he walked, trying to gather his thoughts, to get the itching feeling crawling up his spine to disappear. He rounded a corner when he froze in mid-stride. His mechanical eye dilated far beyond a human eye's possible dimensions as he took in the sight in front of him. Impossible. Utterly impossible.
All the color drained out of his face, as he swallowed, his expression could only be described as "As if he had seen a ghost" complete and utter shock. "Clara?" he said thickly. Still not entirely sure if he was seeing things, that he had finally snapped, or if someone had slipped something into his tea this afternoon.
The woman his parents had almost forced him to marry, the woman who had disappeared out of his life just before the horror of the final Society meeting, the woman who was impossibly,standing right in front of him.
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 12:15 pm
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Hearing her name, Clara lifted her resting shin from her hand and looked around for the source of the sound. Of course, being a vampire, she knew exactly the direction of the sound. However, she had always thought that looking about an area in all directions showed off every angle of her face. Fixing her emerald gaze on the figure of a man, she took a moment to recall who exactly was standing before her.
Lets see. A cane...shock of brown hair.... Then it came to her. He was almost unrecognizable. A sweet smile spread across her porcelain skin as she spoke his name, her voice like a clear bell.
"James?" The blonde stood up, her hand placed over her heart in a theatrical performance of the emotion of shock. "Is that really you?" Clara moved closer to the man of whom had once courted her. He was one of the countless gentlemen who had attempted to marry the girl, but one of the few who actually stood in her memory. His family had been of good standing, he was relatively handsome, received well over £8000 pounds a year. Everything that could've been desired in a partner. All but the key to immortal youth, which was what Clara had desired most.
She had really been very harsh on the breakage of their relationship, with her fleeing to another young man and marrying. Even after her husband's death, she didn't stay in London. She had all but disappeared, desiring a clean plate for more admirers in different towns.
But, now he was here. Although, slightly different, he seemed like he had just walked out of Victorian era London. "Oh, you have no idea how lovely it is to see you." The blonde put on another charming smile, slightly confused as to why he was still alive. |
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 7:22 pm
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James confusion only continued to grow as she approached him and started talking. This was too perfect to be one of his brother's illusions. He had only known Clara in passing, certainly not enough to be able to replicate the way a British accent fades and warps slightly over time. Everything about her was exactly as he remembered, same face, hair, the slight sway of her hips, waist small enough for him to span with his hands... This couldn't be real, and yet it was.
"Clara, is that really you?" In his shock, he had even managed to forget his manners. Yes he had courted her, and yes, he had found her attractive (anyone with a functioning set of eyes would), and yes, he had felt his share of frustration and heartbreak when she left him for another, but his heart had mended itself long ago, with the curious comfort that wherever she was, she was happy. Not living in the limbo he and the others were, unsure of their future, that she had passed away at a reasonable time, probably a bit after the man she had married. That she had been mourned by a set of children. That she was gone, happy without him. The cold fact that she was simply no longer part of his life had helped him, it made her easier to forget. But now she was here, in front of him, and his heart that had been so sturdily repaired felt like it had been crushed back into gravel.
Why was she here? How was she here? How was she here? How was someone who was supposed to be dead here. His thoughts began to reach a frenzied pace as he tried to take it in, the gears of his eye clicking wildly as they spun. One of his hands ran through his brown hair as his expression began to grow almost desperate. This was too much too fast. Suddenly he began to ignore her, striding right past her and plopping down on the bench she had just risen from. His cane clattered to the ground as he he rubbed at his temples. "Oh dear gods, I've finally gone insane from all the metal I've exposed myself to. Next I'll be seeing my parents, and then I'll finally go. Weird way to die though. Very weird. I don't think I'm delirious with fever, or maybe I am and I can't tell because I'm delirious." his mouth continues to mumble his thoughts at an almost impossibly fast pace. "Good on my mind, making sure to bring up my biggest regret right before I kick the can. Maybe I'll finally have a chance to apologize to everyone..."
Finally though, his mouth stilled as his mind wrapped around the fact that he was dying now, after a very very long life. (even if it was completely false) His hands combed themselves through his hair, mostly righting the mess it had become during his little rant. He stood again, his expression calm. Quietly, his eyes, one inorganic, the other the same hazel it had always been, re-examined her. Then, almost inexplicably he drew her into a hug, much warmer than any stiff embrace he would have given her while they had been courting. He buried his nose in her hair. Dear gods, she even smelled the same. Softly, he began his apology to her. "I'm sorry for not being enough for you. I'm sorry for all the trouble my stupid brother caused that one afternoon in the park, I'm so so sorry Clara. But I'll be dead soon too, about three more hours. Heh. Maybe the next life will go a bit more smoothly." James was in for quite the shock once Clara started talking.
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 8:06 pm
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Clara watched on in genuine concern as James Pennyworth, the sophisticated, prim and proper mannered James slowly lost control. The fact that she even managed to feel any emotion besides self absorbed narcissism was a rarity, the fact that this was happening for a past semi-romantic interest was even more obscene. Although, that all but vanished when he walked right past her, as if she wasn't there. There could be nothing worse for Clara than to be ignored.
The wasp-waisted woman watched on in faux compassion as he started to talk to himself, his composure gone, his perfect appearance smudged. She was almost frightened by the sudden change in the waters as one could say. Usually if she had stumbled upon any of her past lovers, they were either in complete bliss, angry, or very old. Yet, here was James. He was shocked, yes, but he was here. He was sitting in front of her, head clasped in hands, breathing, heart beating.
Startling her out of her dreaming state, James stood himself up presumably back to his normal self (albeit a few strands of hair laying loose from his pomaded scalp). She didn't pretend to not see him looking over her, it was something Clara found thrilling. However, she was not ready for his very open embrace.
However, over the past decades, Clara had learned to roll with spontenuity as it almost always benefited her. She wrapped her delicate arms around him and rested her face against his chest, listening as he began to, of all things, apologize to her. She remembered that day very clearly, but her mind dwelled on different things. If James had lived this long, then he had to have collected quite a large fortune for himself. Clara was by no means low on money, but standing in her arms was the perfect opportunity for both admiration and wealth. A secret smile played on her lips.
Pulling back from James's embrace, the woman placed her gloved hands about his face. She moved a thumb over his cheekbone before offering a very kind--very fake-- smile filled with years of practiced charm. "James, love, you are not dying. I'm here, I'm really here." Clara adjusted the last bits of stray hair on his polished head before continuing. "If anyone should be forgiven, it should be me. I left you, you whom I loved most dearly, to please my parents. Oh, but that Henry was truly an awful man. He wasn't anything that he said he was, James. He was-- oh dear, I can't bring myself to say it. He was a vampire. He-he turned me into a disgusting creature of the night. At this point, the blonde's eyes filled with tears, her voice thick with rehearsed grief." Then he died and I couldn't bare it if I hurt anyone. So I left London. I left you. God knows how I've regretted it James. Now your here, in front of me. This can only be fate."
Once again running a hand over the man's slightly mechanical face, the blonde smiled through her fake tears. "I'm here, James. Please believe me. I couldnt bear it if you didn't believe me." Then Clara did her signature move, the one that hooked all of her deals. She first took his hands in her own and grazed his knuckles with her lips. Then she kissed him. On the cheek of course, but close enough to his own lips that it hinted at something more. |
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 7:24 am
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In a nearby tree, a muscular man was sleeping and snoring softly. He was dressed in Japanese style travelling robes made of cotton and linen, with a satchel hanging over his torso and a set of small spectacles balanced on the brim of his nose. One of the man's arms was hanging from the tree, a thick oak staff dangling by a thin leather cord attached to his wrist.
He wasn't well known, but those who knew him would say Jax was a true marvel of the world. He was one of the oldest Immortal Human's left and had been studying the arcane arts for almost as long as he'd been alive. The Magus had been raised by Elves, specifically Wren, the Guardian of the Elfen throne, who was like a mother to Jax.
The Magus stretched as he slept, almost unnaturally balanced on a single branch of the tree. He had no idea of what was happening almost right beneath him, and was content to sleep in his favorite tree in Sebastet's Garden. |
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 3:27 pm
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Down one of the pathways, in a more central area of the garden, there laid a pond. Though the pond had several trees obscuring it, the shimmering of the water under the light was enough to make it visible. The water lay still and undisturbed, a pristine surface of clarity. After a moment passed, the once pristine surface of the pond began to ripple. At first it was unknown as to whether this was by the wind or by a fish, yet a glimpse of shimmering amber under the water's surface made it clear. A serpentine golden tail, with wispy elegant fins at the end similar to that of a koi fish, soon broke through the surface of the water with a muffled splash. However, it quickly vanished as soon as it had appeared, and all was still once again. Two bright amber eyes peered up from the depths of the pond, a look of both content and curiosity swirling within them.
It was unclear as to how long Syrena had been here, but she felt as though it had been quite a while. The mermaid had been blissfully unaware of everything else, having been asleep at the bottom of the pond all this time within the sanctuary of the garden. I wonder how long it'll be till I have to shift back to my 'other' form, she thought with a soft sigh. Syrena had never liked being separated from the water for too long, and doing so made her feel uneasy. But with each day spent on land, she was staring to grow more and more used to it.
Syrena slowly emerged from the water, making sure she was at the edge of the pond before doing so. Now only half out of the water, her entire torso was obscured by the cascade of her wavy golden red hair. Her fish-like tail, still remained in the pond. From here, Syrena was able to see more of her surroundings. She could faintly hear the sounds of two people speaking from somewhere else in the garden, and when she looked up, she spotted the shape of what appeared to be someone sleeping in a tree.
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2015 4:58 pm
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The female remained still as she was addressed from someone. She ducked closer to the shade of a fern brush, so that it cast a shadow over the water, helping slightly to conceal the subtle shimmer that reflected off the golden scales of her tail. She glanced to the opposite side of the shore, which was less in plain view and would enable an easier way to exit the pond. "Thank you, but I am fine for now. I'll probably be done with my swim in a bit anyways." Syrena said with a kind smile in response to the other female who had approached her. She knew that once her serpentine tail shifted to legs whenever she reached land, a dress would materialize in place as well. For now, the red cascade of her hair fell past her shoulders in a way that covered her entire torso. Syrena began to edge deeper into the pond. Her serpentine tail swished fluently under the water, her wispy golden fins similar to that of a koi fish moving in the same mannerism. However, her shoulders and head still remained above the water's surface to mimic what ordinary human swimming would be like.
Syrena glanced upwards at the canopy of trees where she'd spotted someone napping earlier. For someone with legs, it did seem like a pleasant place to nap, though Syrena had always preferred to nap in the depths of ponds or the ocean. She could faintly remember how her homeland beneath the sea had been like, and for a brief moment, emotions of nostalgia entered her mind. That all seemed like a long time ago now.
Once Syrena reached the opposite edge of the pond closer to where the trees were, she was able to swim up atop the smooth surface of a stone. A sigh of content escaped her lips once she felt the warmth of sunlight hitting the reflective golden scales of her tail. This feeling was something Syrena missed, since her serpentine tail was something that she often spent time hiding.
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