ONGOING//CLOSED [also known as: curiosity did not kill the Valei! (though it might have)]

[powerofgod]

Characters: Closed to: gotyourwallet and powerofgod
Location: Sergei's.
Date: Present!
Rating: PG at most. For drinking blood out of a coffee mug? He's a vampire, come on.

Comments

[gotyourwallet]

She was late. From the staircase at the end of the hall came Vie, breathing a little heavier from the run between decks and very obviously rushing to get to Sergei's. It hadn't been her intention to make Godric wait, nor had she planned on falling asleep, but the large and rather mundane text she'd been forcing herself to read through in the library had overcome her ability to stay alert. As a result, Vie had fallen asleep amongst a pile of books.

Her footsteps were not as light as usual, and her approach was rather easily heard. Reaching her destination, Vie searched for Godric. He wasn't hard to spy, and the mug in his hands received a curious glance before she remembered her manners and dropped to a low bow. It was one she saved for her master and the few that she held on that same respect.

"My apologies, Godric. I hope you've not been waiting long."

[gotyourwallet]

She was quietly thankful for Godric's meal to be over, regardless of how much cleaner it was than the other. Vie nodded. The library had turned up a great deal of information, but as for what was fact and what was fiction was another story.

"That you feed on blood, walk by night and perish in the sunlight. A wooden stake to the heart will turn a vampire to dust, just as a lack of blood will leave one weak and vulnerable."

It was a start. Vie stopped there, awaiting a sign of confirmation that what she had said was true or false.

[powerofgod]

"Not dust," he said, with a minute shake of his head. It may have evoked a prettier picture than the explosion of decaying organic mass that was a vampire dying by stake, but the end result was no less final.

It didn't surprise him that the books in the library were so close to so many integral truths about his kind. Vampire lore was far-flung and varied, but a few core facts endured the distortion of time and the tempestuous nature of misinformation.

He was utterly still, save to flick his attention to her. "If you wish to revenge yourself against Eric, I would suggest something less permanent than his death."

[gotyourwallet]

"Not dust? A wooden stake would work then?"

She stopped there, realizing her words and the heaviness of the question asked. If she reversed the conversation, it would be like Godric asking her what would happen if a Valei were stabbed or gutted, or something far worse. "I forget my manners," the woman muttered, regret evident.

The mention of Eric caught her attention and Vie raised her eyes to meet Godric's. "I've no intention of killing him, and will not try unless he attempts the same on my life. But I do wish to face him."

[powerofgod]

He merely nodded acceptance of her words. She had an interesting habit of speaking with more temerity than strictly suited her situation, and being repentant about it afterwards. Her curiosity, then, had been held in check for much of her life, and the freedom she spoke of - to exercise it? - still occasionally got the better of her.

He tipped his head to one side, an oddly human gesture. "And I forget mine. Would you like something to eat? They cater to less dubious diets than what I require."

[gotyourwallet]

Keeping her curiosity under control was a lesson Vie would take time to master. Just because she was able to question freely didn't necessarily mean that she should. Care and affection for those she encountered would aid her in finding that balance.

"This particular venue is not one I've eaten at. Food is no issue for now, but I might take this chance to get a drink."

She rose to her feet, movement smooth and relatively silent. Having things done for her was not something she was used to. Vie glanced to the mug Godric had been drinking from. "Another?"

[powerofgod]

"No, thank you." He nodded to her as she stood and looked to the entrance to the bar, rather than watch her walk away. It was an old habit, knowing his exits, and the entry point for anyone who might be a threat. Even if there was very little now that threatened him.

But things had not always been so, and one did not achieve any sort of impressive age by reckless abandon and disregard alone, though he'd no shortage of both when it suited him. He had grown into wariness rather than possessed it outright. That growth had saved his life - and that of his progeny - enough times to make the responsibility of it worthwhile, however, and if it did the same for Vie he bore no complaint.

[gotyourwallet]

She moved quickly, more out of habit than any real need and stepped behind the counter towards the fridge. Never did she turn her back fully on Godric. Vie might of trusted him more than most, and thus far he had proved worthy, but experience taught her not to give in too easily.

A bottle of vodka caught her eye and before she knew it, Vie was smiling. Twice now she'd encountered the drink and both times she'd rather enjoyed herself. Being able to drink real alcohol, as opposed to the weaker liquor she had access to every now and then on her home world was another new addition to her life.

Amused as she was, Vie did not take the vodka, choosing water instead and turned her attention back to Godric. "What of Dracula? There were quite a few mentions of him in my reading."

[powerofgod]

"Dracula."

For just a moment, he looked like the sixteen-year-old boy he hadn't been in centuries. It was something in the set of his mouth, the suggestion of amusement unuttered. Those that knew him well would have taken it as laughter's replacement, and been right to do so.

"Dracula was the first mainstream representation of my kind to appear in popular literature. It is... nothing to be taken as truth."

[gotyourwallet]

Vie laughed at that, smile broadening to an amused grin. Part of her joy came from his words, the rest from the look on his face. There was something victorious in making one like Godric almost smile.

"I assumed as much, but if I didn't ask I would be bothered whether it was true or not."

[powerofgod]

"There are vampires who have gone by the name, for amusement's sake," he allowed. It wouldn't surprise him if Eric had been one of them, perhaps on the day of Samhain's modern equivalent.

[gotyourwallet]

"Lestat and Marius fall into the same category then? I found quite a few books that were questionable. As for whether I'll read them or not is another matter."

Still smiling to herself, Vie sipped at her drink and made the move for her previously vacated seat. "How does one become a vampire? I understand you were not born as you are."

[powerofgod]

"I've always found that fictional vampires don't have enough bite to hold a candle to the real thing."

Yes, that was a pun. They were once the highest form of hilarity, did you know? However, with his deadpan delivery, it was almost hard to say whether or not he was aware of the presence of humour in his words.

To the second part, though, all amusement - self-evident or otherwise - dissipated. The question was not one lightly answered, for no matter that they were away from his world, it was still a guarded secret of his kind. He had told Marco at his query, but had first sworn the man to silence and promised retribution were the silence to ever be broken.

"First I would require your word that you will relay the information to no one."

[gotyourwallet]

Her own mood shifted as quickly as his, first amused at his joke and then deathly serious. Vie could tell that this was serious, that her question was again, perhaps more than she had the right to ask. Godric was entitled to his secrets and that Vie could respect. Still, the question had been asked and she would leave it to him whether or not he gave an answer.

"You have my word, Godric. I will not speak of what you say, nor this nights conversation without your permission. If you request silence, I will keep it."

[powerofgod]

He watched her for a moment, though he was relying on senses other than strictly sight to observe her. Her heart rate did not fluctuate, nor did her pupils contract. Her body language held as much sincerity as her voice.

He nodded once, and spoke. "The process is a delicate one. Many things can go wrong. It is required that the human be drained of blood, and drink of their maker. They die."

That was the part that people like Nan Flanagan, who so carefully cultivated the rumour of a 'virus' that gave one the appearance of being dead, didn't want society becoming too acquainted with. Corpses were not people any longer.

"For the transformation to be complete, you must shelter together in the ground. There are magics involved that we do not pretend to understand."

[gotyourwallet]

While she couldn't prove it, Vie had a very strong feeling that Godric was testing her. As for how she had no clue, only that he was. It didn't worry her. Vie was a loyal creature by nature and the vampire that sat across from her was worthy.

She listened intently, watching him carefully and holding to his every word. The books had told her similar, though the finer details were new to her. Sleeping in the ground was a strange thought indeed. To discover that technically Godric was dead surprised her. She had known he was different, so still and unmoving that it was clear there was something unnatural happening, but death had never crossed her mind.

"That is... Then you mean to say you are..." Words failing, Vie stopped to recollect her thoughts. "Never did I expect an explanation quite like that."