Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
whomthebelltolls) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
middaeg2019-09-09 10:09 pm
whomthebelltolls) wrote in middaeg2019-09-09 10:09 pm
Entry tags:
Don't look down into the eyes of the world beneath you
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![[plurk.com profile]](https://plurk.com/favicon.ico)
reslari or Reslari#9561 on Discord!]
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
goblin market
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. ]
no subject
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.]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
Otherwise, it would be simply... wise to exercise caution. It is difficult to determine the authenticity of anything in this place.
[The vampire looks like he wants to say something - Maria looks at him expectantly, and it seems to quell the look. It's fresh, he argues, finally. Fresh as but a few days old, and kept chilled to remain good. It is also guaranteed to be Witch blood - and no, they didn't cut it with any Monster blood to dilute the supply.] I wonder... there may be a type of magic to ensure it is the right type of blood. After all, blood increases the potency of Witch spells, but it doesn't seem to matter what kind of blood it is. Perhaps a Witch that has been here longer would know how to differentiate?
no subject
his fingers tap-tap-tap against the flat surface of the stand. impatient or perhaps simply considering maria's suggestion. ]
It always seems to come back to magic. [ he notes finally, glancing over at maria before turning his gaze toward the vampire again. ]
How much?
no subject
The vampire lists his price for the blood on display, and a couple other prices which catch Maria's attention - and perhaps his as well, when the Vampire talks about more premium varieties.] Hm? So there is a difference in the blood.
["Experience and potential," the shopkeep says. Maria frowns, and looks back to her companion.] ... Yes, caution would be very wise.
no subject
[ something that is reflected rather clearly in the prices on offer. kylo spares a moment to consider this, to wonder how the vampire might have come by it, but quickly decides that it's not his concern. doubtless the coven has rules for such things and people capable of enforcing them. all he cares about is getting his vial of blood.
he runs his eyes over the selection, debating. each vial looks much the same as the other. perhaps he should have brought rey. she would be able to pick out the difference and offer some insight into which type would be preferable. ]
The Merrow.
no subject
With that, she lowers it back to the table, and nods.] If you need a Monster alternative, perhaps merrow wouldn't be too bad. They have some magical capability in their water powers. It's probably very salty, though. [She is absolutely not speaking from any kind of experience whatsoever, she has not gotten into any bloody fights with merrow ever. Nope.]
no subject
[ and even if she did, he would find another use for it. according to his research, blood was a core reagent in a number of rather useful — if messy — spells.
but there's always the chance that rey could take to the stuff. and while it's not a perfect solution, it is a solution of sorts. or at least delaying the inevitable. ]
This is adequate, thank you.
no subject
[She's unsure of whom he speaks - she doesn't know Rey personally, so she can only speak in the most general and broad of terms.]
You are welcome. If whoever that is for likes it, then it might be worth it to expand tastes. If they want to experiment a little.
no subject
[ encouraging the blood thirst would either work out beautifully or terribly depending on the circumstances, and while he should be taking every opportunity to erode that self-righteousness, to tip her that much further into the darkness.
but instead, here he was. buying blood vials at a market nobody was supposed to know existed.
once a price is named, kylo removes and deposits several coins on the table and picks up the vial, tucking it into the pouch on his belt. ]
I think she would rather not have to rely on it at all.
no subject
Ah - there is a bar I have heard of, as well, frequented by vampires and humans alike. If a variety of living sources ever become preferable.
no subject
he's no biologist, granted, but he can recognize the traits of a virus when he sees it. which means there is the chance it can be reversed, provided it's halted before the transformation completes itself. as to how that can be accomplished, well... it's a work in progress. keeping her fed and rested. alive. right now that is the priority. ]
It should not surprise me to learn there are such places. [ brothels too, apparently; it's difficult to know which option is worse. getting rey to try the bottled blood is going to be trial enough. ]
Can you share the name?
no subject
[Brow furrowed, she looks up toward the vampire, but he seems to have been trying to grab the attention of others for their wares through that blip of conversation.]
I think asking around in that area should be easy enough to get to. I don't think they're trying to hide what they are, though I didn't try to go in. [Not yet. There's things she doesn't really admit about herself, and especially not in light of the general discomfort this whole town brings to her, but she's getting... more curious. More relaxed, and more open to the idea.
She never really hated the idea of 'vampires', after all. They just reminded her of home... and of another home she left long before that.]