Don't look down into the eyes of the world beneath you

[whomthebelltolls]

Who: Lady Maria whomthebelltolls and YOU (all prompts on log open - closed prompts will have starters)
When: Septeurilmber
Where: Mostly Dorchacht, but bookended by Stuff in Aefenglom
What: September shenanigans!
Warnings: Potential violence, Maria's PTSD, and the general Dorchacht warnings

[1: - Boat]

[Maria hates boats. She absolutely cannot stand the ocean, being near or on it, or anything of the sort. Still, after all her affairs are in order, and it's too late to back out now, she boards the ship, pulling her hat down closer over her eyes. Once they disembark and start sailing away, she immediately makes for below-decks. No, she doesn't want to know how to work the rigging, nor does she want to climb to the crow's nest. She doesn't care how the ship works, she wants no part of any of it. She sits there, in the creaking below-deck area, ignoring the slight sway back and forth of the ship as it cuts across the ocean; occasionally reading a book, occasionally talking some of the crew into sharing the strong grog with her - it won't cure seasickness, they try to say, but she shakes her head because that's not what it is.

Clearly, of course, this means she should be bothered, right? Especially once the Merrow outside start singing, and she bares her teeth (her fangs) and slaps her hands over her ears, dropping whatever she's doing to sit there, tense and irritated. It must be irritation. After all, nothing scares Maria, right?]

[2: - Dorchacht, General]

[Maria takes a slightly different stance to anyone else. Any time she is expecting to have to make an impression - whether it be because she's going to sit in on the negotiations, or because she's going to talk to some of the locals in a very friendly manner, almost like she's one of them, she's come equipped with some... new duds. That's right, rather than her very #aesthetic but also very well-worn Hunter attire, she's come equipped with something a bit more befitting her position as a noble. She dresses in something like the typical Cainhurst fare - black and blood red, with lots of intricate designs in the fabric, and trimmed in fancy patterns, made of high-quality fabrics and lined in blood-red silk. Without the neck ruffles, though, as it's been a bit more "modernized" to something more fully Victorian. However, there's a symbol of heraldry embroidered into the waistcoat she wears over all the rest of her clothing, and into a handkerchief she carries with her when the coat is off and she's just in her vest. No hat, for now, but she does cut a striking figure - one that really does seem to evoke a sense old, practiced nobility.

She mingles among the aristocrats and coven members, those days, and is perfectly open to be approached by other Mirrorbound - though, almost immediately, she suggests-] Let us speak somewhere more private.

[3: Dorchacht - Coven]

[As in the dream, when Maria is not trying to learn about the culture of the Dorchacht people and how they work on a day to day basis, what their priorities are, and all that, she is in the Coven, rubbing elbows with the student witches. For these, she's dressed down a bit - just a fancy off-white shirt and a vest in the Cainhurst style (black, with more shiny silver decor around the edges; this time without her family's symbol on it). Must command respect at all times, after all. She brought her sword and her Hunter gear with her, but she prefers not making herself a total threat just yet.

The library, though...

... There's nothing here. And she's growing more frustrated the longer she's here, and the more people tell her there's nothing of the past here. That Dorchacht is a city of the future. The Witches of the Coven and the people in the town both. Like... like it's not just the Monsters here that are under some kind of thrall, though they are obviously getting the worst of it.

She's so disappointed in finding yet another row of useless books, she almost misses a dodging side-step to the person that just walked past some of the shelves, as she strides her long-legged stride out of the aisle of shiny new books, and in fact, might either bump them, knock the books out of their hands, or just otherwise make them draw up short to avoid her.] Mn. [That was not an apology, they can live with it, or they can try to demand one.]

[4: Aefenglom - Maria's home/residential district]

[And, of course, the boat ride home was just as bad or worse than the one out to Dorchacht. Maria is not in a great mood, and she just wants to get back to the bed she's claimed as her own, in the house that she has claimed as her own with her other quiet, antisocial roommates, and get back to her garden...

... Except her garden, as she finds when she returns, is ruined. Many of the sunflower stalks have been broken, and the flowers are wilting and sagging. The smaller plants have been trodden upon, or stomped purposefully down. There's a message, painted on the wall as well - "Bonding is unwelcome here".

Well.

That's just great.

Maria turns, and she walks off her property - frigid rage emanating from the stiffness of her shoulders, the set of her jaw, the way her lip keeps twitching as she fights the urge to snarl like a Beast. She ignores whatever startled questioning backlash she gets across her Bond, because it doesn't matter right now.

They like painting on the walls, hm? She wonders - how much will they like painting when the message is written in their own blood, behind their own head on a pike? She will find those responsible, but her irate mood also means that she's suffering two things: "threat assessment", and "not being threatening to even innocent people", so uh. Sorry about the fact that noise behind her made her whirl around and thrust her sword right into whoever was there's face.] ... What do you want? [And, if she doesn't recognize you:] ... Did you vandalize that property beyond the wall?

[5: Aefenglom - Goblin Market]

[On today's edition of "weird Bloodborne character doing weird Bloodborne things" there is Maria, looking over a sampling of what appears to be various types of Witch and Monster blood. Honestly, she's curious about the Black Market people keep hinting about, the shady figures at the corners of the Goblin market and some of the darker looking deals that go down, but for today, she's mostly in the market for blood. She's somewhat more calm after the vandalization of her house, but mostly, she's just trying to keep her mind off of it.

Which, she's getting a few strange looks from the bundled-up Vampire behind the counter - she looks like a vampire, alright, and she's been talking shop of blood with him like an expert, but when she admits she's a Witch, it just seems to confuse him even more. As for anyone looking...]

It's always better fresh. Or specifically cultivated... [Back to the vampire] ah, what do you treat your blood saints - ah... those who you harvest the blood from - with? [When he doesn't have a really good, ready answer...]

... Mm. Perhaps we should find somewhere else.

[6 - Wildcard]

[For all your Wildcard needs! Hit me up for other prompts here, or we can hash things out reslari or Reslari#9561 on Discord!]

Comments

For Alex - Closed

[whomthebelltolls]

[The temporary bond thing was... well, it wasn't ideal for Maria, and it's still kind of awkward to get used to feeling someone else's emotions, but it's not quite as bad as she was expecting. Maria is naturally very closed-off, and so keeping the emotional strain she'd put Alex under is very, very easy for her, and dealing with anything she gets back on her side is... honestly just about as muted. Like her partner is fighting this drawback of it as hard as she is. Though, there is one thing she likes - the relief from those plaguing headaches she'd been having. The hallucinations were starting, as the Coven said they would, but now it was all... gone. And, like some kind of finely-tuned circuit, the magic flows back and forth without fuss. In fact, Maria does feel more powerful, if she thinks about it.

She'd almost want to test it out... except that's not why this Bond was forged, and nor will it last long enough for her to find out, she doesn't think. It's there for more practical reasons.

And it is for those reasons that Maria sighs as she lifts up the collar. It's a replica of the ones many of the Monsters of Dorchacht wear as slaves; there's even some powerless replica runes etched onto the side of it.] They'll question your presence there as "mine" otherwise. [Alex doesn't even need to ask the question, and Maria doesn't even need to be Bonded to her to know exactly what the first thing is going to be the other woman will say. Okay, so maybe she's making an educated guess instead, but she might as well get herself out of hot water first.]

[sing_for_me]

[ As reluctant as she's been about bonds, even Alex couldn't deny that it would be safer, considering how long it has been since she had arrived at Aefenglom. For her to lash out in a foreign place (or..more foreign), especially one where they were trying to repair relations with, would not be ideal.

She trusts Maria enough, but it was also because of that that she was wary about the exchange. What if something were to come out because of that? Would Maria still be okay with her?

Well, right now, Alex wasn't so okay with Maria.

Her brow furrows at the collar, then she frowns up at the one holding it. She knows Maria knows what she's thinking, or feeling. Looking at it again, Alex can also see that she has a point. Even if she think it didn't matter whether other people could tell or not, maybe it would make the citizens of this place more comfortable around Maria. But still..]

Is this really going to help?

[whomthebelltolls]

[It's a fair question, she supposes. It's also one matter to know Alex is displeased, and another entirely to be able to feel it herself, so acutely.

She tries to school her reaction, as she always does - cool and calm disattachment, because if she doesn't do that, then she might have to deal with the implication that Alex's reaction hurt her feelings, and more than that, what Alex will do with the information that Maria even has feelings to hurt - or that she cares enough to have them hurt. Can't have that.

She turns the collar over in her hands, once, still holding it out in vague offering.] I will not force you to wear it. I will not force you to do anything you do not want to do.

[Just going to put that out there, first.] However, the place we are going... if they think you are an "untamed" Monster wandering about, they may try to find out whom you do belong to. Or, perhaps they will call the authenticity of my presence into question, and then we may be denied information, if they do not think I, as a Witch, have control over you. Or perhaps none of that will happen - the issue is we do not know for certain; and the safest path remains for you not to accompany me at all.

[She presses her lips together, and tilts her head a little.] I understand it is a sleight to your dignity; I do not blame you for being upset by the idea. But... [There's a distinct shift in her tone - or perhaps it is just the genuineness of her offer that comes across the Bond as she continues,] in an unsafe situation, I would like to take as many precautions as possible. [She genuinely does want to keep Alex safe.

So oops, she does care, and now it's obvious in a different way.]

[sing_for_me]

[ A pause, and then a sigh.

Well, when she puts it like that, it’s hard for Alex to dispute it. It’s not like she hasn’t had to ‘put on a show’, so to speak, to help out with a task. She also knows Maria is coming from a good place. ]

I believe you…

[ She glances at the collar briefly before looking back up at Maria, a slight quirk of her lips in an attempt to make things a little more light-hearted. ]


I guess it’s not the worst thing I’ve had to put on.

[ Alright, maybe that didn’t come out as well as she thought it would. ]

Um..in terms of being..weird..is what i meant.

3

[beariot]

[ Ursula was often accused of being clumsy and dumb-footed back home when it came to things like this anyway, so of course she's knocked ass over tea-kettle and drops all of her books, one hitting her right in the foot and making her wince loudly. But having not seen the tall person that she'd bumped into, she's quick to just assume it was her fault, stammering out a hurried apology as she tried to gather up the books and ignore the pain in her foot. ]

S-sorry, I was holding too many and blocked my view and...

[ And then she looked up.

Oh.

It was her. ]

[whomthebelltolls]

[Well, she wasn't really expecting it to end that way, and perhaps a more graceful person could've solved it - the same way Maria is now - though she is a little surprised to see a familiar face on the ground. Well, maybe not entirely surprised. She can't be the only one of the Aefenglom contingent to look into the library to find out what kinds of things are here in the waking world.

It's no matter. She eyes the books on the ground for a moment, trying to discern where Ursula's interests are in this place and if she's having any kind of luck finding books that Maria is not. In fact, she even bends over to pick up a few of the books, silently, turn them over in her hands, as a way of also helping clean up this mess. She was born in a place with a huge and extensive library. The books are far more important than the person on the ground.] Nothing here, either... none of these books are very old, did you notice?

[beariot]

[ Ursula wasn't entirely certain what to say to her, after all that had happened before. She knew Kaede was upset about the situation, and that more than anything motivated Ursula to try and at least be polite, but... ]

Looks can be deceiving... [ Something all Witches should keep in mind. ] But you're not far off the mark, either way. Even in how they describe magic that should well have some root in ritual and mana source is spoken of in absolute vagueness. Anything not just before the arrival of you-know-who, but anything before she came into power, is either absent or simply gestured to as granted.

2

[long_live_the_queen]

[Before leaving the Coven's main building, Maria was accosted. Not by a Witch or a thinly veiled admirer, but by a slightly harried and brightly feathered Chimera. Most of Kaede's posture was schooled into a slouch of indifference, but her ears were angled back like an irritated cat's.

She showed no fear at approaching the taller woman, though she was quiet about it. And, while Kaede didn't mention it out loud, Maria's outfit was quite something to look at.

There was the beginnings of an Order in Maria's voice, too--but with the enchanted ring cool on Kaede's clawed hand, it simply slid away like water.]

Please.

[She's so fucking bored. Save her.

In a lower voice pruned of a whisper's loud hissing, Kaede continued.]

We'll have to get rid of my nanny first.

[A guard was stationed not too far away--silent, not looking in their direction, but conspicuously out of place considering the rest of the foyer's furnishings.]

[whomthebelltolls]

Hm... my apologies. [Maria looks first to the dignitaries, then over to the guard, and finally to Kaede, before returning to the other nobles a short distance away.] It seems I have a pressing engagement somewhere else. Perhaps at a later time, we can talk more. [She nods to her initial companions, calling over to them as though Kaede is just some kind of messenger from a different Witch who is holding her in thrall, and then turns and walks away with a very pointed look at the guard. She sees what they're doing there. They're not that stealthy.]

Around to the back will be our best shot, I believe. [Maria replies, then walks as though she's merely escorting someone else's property away, and challenging the guard to try to do anything about it. She isn't even wearing her swords and she can put that fool down.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede didn't mind playing the role of a silently obedient servant. Those watching didn't need to know that she was silent by nature and followed Maria by choice. She didn't expect warmth from Maria to begin with, and the tall woman's standoffish formality didn't trouble her. The Chimera waited patiently for Maria to finish her business, the image of a well behaved messenger--with an unbroken intensity in her gaze.

The guard stayed stock still--or, more accurately, somewhat petrified. Kaede wasn't entirely sure he breathed while Maria approached, then passed him by.

She didn't chuckle and break the facsimile of cover they'd attained--she had been quite the pest earlier, heckling the guard sent to hound her back into this diplomatic prison. Maybe the Chimera was just acting out because her handler wasn't around, that was all. Kaede did look a little smug when they passed by the guard, tail swishing at the end.

The Monster's ears stayed pointed back after they passed, still alert to the sounds of creaking leather and hobnailed boots that always accompanied the guard when he walked.]

He isn't following.

3-ish

[sageprincess]

[Zelda did not come along with Nerissa's official ambassador mission, and thus despite a part of her thinking she could probably pull off sneaking in, she decides to err on the side of caution and avoid Dorchacht's Coven for the time being. It is infinitely frustrating to do so, however, as precious few of the "dignitaries" she knows have the right level of insatiable curiosity to snoop around the dark Coven in a way she can vicariously live through in a satisfying way.

There is one who could, though. It would be a stretch to call them friends, but she hopes "kindred spirit" is enough to entertain a watch message.]

Anything of interest to be found in the "waking world"?

[...]

This is Zelda.

[hi what is texting etiquette.]

[whomthebelltolls]

[She peruses the text for a moment, looking over it, then slipping away from any prying eyes that might read what she's about to text back - a little slip into a side study room affords her the privacy she seeks.]

None of the books are very old. For a coven that should have the same storied history as Aefenglom's, there is nothing here older than perhaps a couple decades.

[sageprincess]

Much the same as the people outside, then. None seem willing to speak at length about the city prior to Morgana's arrival here, even insisting that there essentially was no Dorchacht to speak of before she came.

What would you suppose she has worked so desperately hard to hide?

[Because there has to be something, right. No one goes through that much effort to retain power without some skeletons in their closet.]

4

[alienwear]

[ Poor Peridot is just passing through, on her way back from running a few errands. She, of course, recognizes Maria, both from that night out in the woods AND from her terrifying video on the Watch network. So this makes three for three encounters that have involved the witch scaring the absolute bejesus out of her. The gem squeals and stumbles back a step, flaring out her tiny new wings in alarm, as Maria whirls in a flash and shoves a sword in her face. She nearly drops her cargo in the process, a little basket containing some new houseplants on one arm and a bag of groceries in the other. ]

What are you talking about I live near here!

[ The explanation is half shouted in the tone of someone who is obviously terrified, but is also EXTREMELY cross and indignant about being made to feel that fear in the first place. Just this loud, defensive yelling that comes out in a panicked rush. ]

[whomthebelltolls]

[Poor Peridot, indeed. In fact, Maria does recognize the dragon from an earlier time - only once, though, she didn't see the reaction to her post, thankfully. One less dissenting voice to have to mention she didn't care to. And now she looks... more... dragon-y. Though that shouldn't be a surprise, either, given the way some of the Mirrorbound have been transforming.

Maria pauses, then sheathes her sword. Apology? No, but...] I am on the trail of vandals. Did you see anyone suspicious leaving from the house over there? [She motions to her abode - the big, dark red brick house that looks forboding and haunted, despite the fact it's perfectly well-kept and free of decay. Just the way she and her roommates like it.]

[alienwear]

[ Peridot's gaze follows Maria's gesture over towards the house. The dragon's ears and wings both sag sadly when she realizes what's being indicated. ]

Oh. Mmm... I take it that ruined garden was yours, then.

[ She exhales harshly through her nose when she says it, the brief look of sympathy she'd been wearing giving way to irritation. How dare anyone destroy an innocent garden full of plants of all things? It makes her sick, and it also leaves her feeling grateful that all of her own precious plants live indoors. She folds her arms at her chest, brow furrowing thoughtfully. ]

Hnnn... Sorry, but I haven't seen anything or anyone lurking around there. What I can tell you that it still looked fine when I passed through here yesterday evening, but it was completely wrecked by the time I left the house and walked by this morning.

goblin market

[warfares]

[ perhaps it is a strange sight, but aefenglom is full of strange sights — the market, itself, being one of them.

so kylo ren observes the woman for a long moment, listens to her talk shop with the vendor, even noting the vendor's confusion when she identifies herself as a witch rather than a vampire (an understandable mistake given her pallor) before finally interjecting, more curious than not: ] What impact does the treating agent have? [ the freshness, he knows, is important; rey had been very particular about that and given that she was the one that needed it to survive he was inclined to take her at her word, but that didn't mean that he wasn't open to alternatives. ]

[whomthebelltolls]

[She's ready to pack up, to leave. Being fresh, of course, always makes blood more potent, but in her experience (and the Healing Church foisted a lot of it onto her) there were other things.

She wants to correct 'treating agent' first though. It was all blood begetting blood... and the people who were groomed for the role.]

Potency, mostly. Ensuring the proper care and grooming of your blood saint... or "donor", I suppose you would call them... you would ensure the Blood to be strong, to be potent, to be... free of flaws, vermin, corruption. Or, perhaps, you would ensure those things are present, for the different effects they can present.

You also would have to make sure you have the right type of blood.

[She does have a pretty impressive knowledge of these things... but sadly, only part of them are even relevant anymore. The Blood the Church administered - all the different types - didn't really exist anymore, and Maria... well. Maria's blood is of a different variety, last she checked. A heretical type.]

[warfares]

[ it's a lot of terminology. this, in itself, isn't a problem, but it does open up a number of questions that he's not sure the lady would be willing to answer.

a pity, though. she certainly seems knowledgable. and this conversation has already given him plenty to consider when it comes to his own predicament. ]

And how would that be determined?

[ so far all he's managed to glean is that witches blood is more flavorsome than monster blood; the magic, he expects, or perhaps it's simply a matter of taste.

vermin and corruption ... well, neither of those things sound particularly welcome. which again brings them back to the need for it to be fresh, pure and as close to clean as possible. ]

5

[chainveil]

[ Liliana enjoys shopping, especially when it's with someone else's money. Unfortunately for her only friend and housemate, that's mostly been Chandra's purse she's been delving into. (Liliana will fix that. Really.) But as the days have been going on, she's found that the snacks and pies in the house aren't really satisfying the way they used to. She has a feeling she knows where this is leading, but...

But she doesn't really want it to go that way. Still, when Liliana is window shopping in a sketchy market (as one will do), she's drawn to a stall that is starting to smell very nice. Of course, when she realizes what's caught her attention, she wrinkles her nose.

Blood. Of course.

And someone she recognizes from a less than pleasant (but still curious) conversation through those silly watches. So Liliana strolls right up and picks up one of the bottles with a little flair. ]

Wrong vintage?

[ The vampire--recognizing another one of its kind in the works--straightens a bit to a potential customer. But Liliana turns it around her in hand before setting it down dismissively. ]

It looks like molasses. How long has this been out here?

[whomthebelltolls]

You could say that, yes. [It's not wine, but Maria probably could drink such things interchangeably. Or, she could before - she's not sure about it anymore. Honestly, it makes her a little sick just thinking about imbibing too much. Perhaps the Vileblood really was cleansed from her - or at least some of the old Yharnam madness faded away. It really does mean alcohol is her only chance for it, now.

The vampire looks a little indignant - it's fresh, he insists, and Maria shakes her head, as well.] I don't believe you can trust anything here. Blood is tricky - what source did this come from? Who was the donor - all of these are difficult for you to answer, I see, which makes it hard to be trustworthy. And... was it mixed with Monster or human or animal blood to dilute it? To make it seem more powerful to be able to create greater quantity?

[Now that seems to make him squirm.] ... I see.

[chainveil]

[ Well, Maria is clearly the connoisseur between the two of them so Liliana will use the opportunity to absorb that knowledge. It's not like she spent much time chatting with Olivia about her preferences, after all. (The Voldaren really only mattered as much as they served her own purpose, which seemed to be what Olivia thought of Liliana in turn.)

So she raises a brow at the other vampire and gives a disappointed sigh. ]

If I wanted sewage I'd sit in a gutter.

[ Okay, maybe a little harsh, but she does like her dramatics. ]

I'm sure you've got something worthwhile back there, don't you? A vampire running a second-rate blood bank would be terrible for business. If anyone was to hear about it, of course.

4

[thirdbeauty]

[The startled little 'eep!' from the smaller girl is probably Maria's first clue that this presence is entirely nonthreatening. The next one is Natsuru's wide eyes staring up at her - eyes that look unusually large and doe-like, compared to the last time they met. Those Fae traits are really starting to kick in - not only are her eyes different, but her ears have developed nice little points that occasionally peek through her hair, and she's grown quite noticeably smaller. She was already at least a head shorter to begin with, but the top of her head might only barely reach Maria's chest now...

She's also seriously reconsidering her life choices at the moment. Having a huge scary lady pointing a sword at your face will do that.]

I-... I was just walking by! I saw the writing, and then I thought I recognized you walking out...

[whomthebelltolls]

[Maria... okay, barely notices. She notices, but now she feels more vindicated that the assessment she levied at the weddings was true. So the girl is a Monster. It's alright at the moment, though, because Maria is very thoroughly incensed at someone who is not Natsuru at the moment. Once she realizes she won't find her target here, her sword is lowered, and then sheathed.]

Did you happen to see any vandals or suspicious people leaving that property in the last few days?

[thirdbeauty]

[Okay, good, the sword is down. Now she just needs the adrenaline to calm down. She's not trembling, honest!]

No... at least, I don't think so. [A pause, and she adds:] I haven't been out here a lot.

[She glances to the side, at the obvious vandalism of the garden and the painted message on the walls.]

Is this where you live? Why...?

[She trails off without completing the question. Partly because she doesn't want to push Maria back into a rage, but mostly because that one word summed up her feelings. Why would anyone do something like this to someone's home? It being something to do with Bonds just didn't make sense, either.]