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Vincent Drake:
Vincent was currently at Maddy's no Mt. Dew today and. . .was painting. To be specific he had about seven little miniatures on the table and had some brushes, small paint bottles and a pile of napkins under the mini's, adding some purple to a model that seemed to be a four arm androgynous creature, the top arms seemed to be crab claws, around it where some horned warriors and rat people, he was currently in jeans and the 'sorry I'm teething' shirt.
Bones:
Wind whipped through the portal, and a few menus and the like flew from the burst. They then appeared in the booth across from Vincent. Today they wore an all white dress with a cardigan over the top of it.
Once visible, and slowed down, they looked over to the waitress on duty and smiled with a wave. It was enough to get their regular.
Then she looks over to Vincent and smiled still, "Hi."
Vincent Drake:
"Evening," he nodded, adding some blots of red to the crab claws, as if making them blood stained, "I really wish they would just come out with a updated N'kari and Kugath, they have Skarbrand and Kairos, just give us the whole set, cowards." he muttered, deciding to add some pink sigils to the creature, "Penny for your thoughts Merlin."
Bones:
"...I know an N'kai, though I don't think you do. To what do you refer? As for me, I just combined two Arcana and have gone faster than ever."
Vincent Drake:
he gestures to the purple four armed creature, "Keeper of Secrets, Greater Daemon of Slaanesh," he said, "Chaos Gods, Slaanesh is pleasure and excess, Khorne is murder and rage, Tzeentch is change and fate, Nurgle is plague and despair," he lists, "But in fantasy and even more in 40k, they are what they are because of us, they are thought form gods, every act of sentient agression fuels, feeds, and becomes embodied by Khorne, in warhammer, Daemons are the embodiment of our sins, not causing, the result of. . .is that how it really is, just curious, are demons and that spirtual shit just a reflection of our minds?"
Bones:
"Ohhhhhhh Warhammer. That makes more sense. Never got into that one myself. And it depends on who you ask. Demons do exist in GOetic conditions, there's also Demons like... " made a sort of motion to a subject not to be talked about, "and then there are also capital D Demons somewhere, I'm sure."
Vincent Drake:
"Ok, so their's three kinds, then what are actual demons and what just take the name ya know," he said, going back to painting the Keeper of Secrets, "Like, you said you've talked to a certain one eyed bastard, my partner has their own experiance, no way it's the same so, you've also said you've met Ra, Zeus, so what is the sun a great ball of gas, a barge outrunning a cosmic snake, or a chariot being driven by a sexy blond dude," he sighs, "Like. . .their are so many myths and explanations, so many cultural differences between creatures, so like, what's the original and what just saw the myths we've made and took it on, are they all thought forms," he leans back, "My head hurts."
Bones:
"Unawakened Souls aren't meant to understand some layers of it. It's why the Awakening occurs."
Vincent Drake:
"I'm still confused how I even have a soul," he blinks, "Can you see my soul?" he asked
Bones:
"Do I have your consent to study your pattern to find it?" he says loudly enough for staff to hear.
Vincent Drake:
"Yes, yes you do cause I am really fucking curious." he nods
Bones:
They focused on Vince, who felt something push into his ... not his mind, but something internal... not his body either. Somethign deeper.
Vincent Drake:
"So, how does it differ from a normal human soul?"
Bones:
"Is it okay if I link our minds to tell you?"
Vincent Drake:
"Go ahead. . .that bad uh?"
Bones:
They focused on the mudras of telepathy, and the sacred symbols they connect. Then they make an'after you' motion, and connected to Vince's mind.
~It's not that, per se, I just... Something like this seems much more personal. Never know who's listening. And do you really want the staff to know?~
Vincent Drake:
~True, that's true I'm just. .. hella curious.~
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
THUD
A phone goes flying into the portal, followed a minute later by a Valeria, rubbing her nose. She makes sure her phone is okay like its the bigger priority (hell yeah otterbox cases), then looks around, spying her bestie and another cutie, and hopping over the back on the booth so be sitting on the back of the booth, legs crossed right next to Vinny.
"Note to self, don't text while walking through magic portals, especially in alleyways when you have potential to trip and fall on your face."
She was dressed...kinda nice actually. A t-shirt with a gymnastics competition on it, one Vinny went to, black slacks, and nonstick shoes...where sneakers were way more her speed.
"Anyway, that totally didn't happen, what are you two up to?"
Bones:
As the phone was flying through the portal, her supernaturally enhanced reaction time allowed them to throw an extra force cushion beneath it... and then when it was Val, it made sense.
"Bonita..." she shakes her head and laughs, "As to what we're doing... I was studying his soul... here let me loop you in, I think you're family enough to both of us for this conversation..."
Vincent Drake:
~Welcome to the mind meld, today's class is, what the fuck is up with my soul. . .surprised I still have one, not going to lie~
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
Her face goes blank and then a huge grin hits her face. And then she gets to show just how much she slows down her thoughts.
~HolyFuckThisIsSoFuckingCool. WaitWaitWait, IThoughtVampsDidn'tHaveSouls????~
Vincent Drake:
~Iknowsameright!?~
Bones:
~Everything that is human or human enough ... basically those of us that can be here? They all have souls. Some have less or more... the Lost that I've studied have rips in their soul or the Bound have their Geists in place or ... but most things have a soul, it's more about how it looks.~
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She nods, just listening in for now.
Vincent Drake:
~you know, being undead, assumed my soul got vaporised, so this. . .this is kinda good news, right?~
Bones:
~So, Vincent's soul,~ and they begin to show the mental images they saw, with on the fly interpretations of the supernal symbols and mandalas and equations that they saw through their magic, ~is still mostly human. The way that I see it? It's like a piece of the soul was broken off of it... right there,~ mentally pointing towards a mark where the mostly white (and black) soul, is cut off and replaced with red, ~I'd wager that's more... where the Beast came into the soul. It's still full, still active, still all good, but it's not a human soul.
~Over here,~ a more mental prodding, ~I've seen a much more... branched out version of these... I see it as a black vein, resonating with magic, a ley line within the soul or something... black and red marbling almost... and that red... that's what her magic looks like when she uses it... the black... reminds me of her servants.
~Given all this, I'd say you've learned Cruac from her, especially since I already know that you did.~
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
Val's eyebrows raise, a little in shock.
"That...oh wait."
~That's interesting...like a lot. What do normal, uh...human souls look like instead?~
A pause.
~And what is Cruac?~
Vincent Drake:
~what's the normal black parts, like my vices?~
Bones:
~Maybe. the positive and negative aspects of someone's personality, or what drives them to learn more magically... or in your case, what drives your personality which isn't the same exactly as a Sleeper, Sleepwalker or Awakened, are all more Mind based studies. I think they're more of where you've... hurt your soul? Maybe did something too inhuman, pre or post embrace.~
Daniel Hawthorne:
As the trio mentally conversed Daniel slipped through the portal without much fanfare, dressed rather sharply in a well-made dark grey suit and his customary sunglasses. After scanning the room and spotting the others at the table he gave a nod and a brief 'mind if I join you?' sort of look.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
Val's eyebrow raises, she's just listening along and has NO clue what any of this means.
"Hey Daniel, save me, they're doing smart people talk."
Vincent Drake:
~Cruac is. . .Val I learned Blood Magic, ain't that cool!? also don't say that out loud, keep to yourself~
Bones:
"Ah, Daniel, please join us. We're discussing something that you may find of interest. A Vampire's soul. I just studied Vincent's, and found some interesting elements to it."
~Cruac is also related to blood sacrifice. To be fair. And is specific to the Circle of the Crone. Though since he's worshipping at an altar of one of the Crones, he's allowed to learn a little, as I understand it.~
Daniel Hawthorne:
Daniel's eyebrow arched high at that little tidbit, moving to join the trio at the table. "Really...do tell."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
~Wait like the shit Titania or Henevi do? Oh...well I'm glad you're out of the Invictus in all honesty. I think it suits you, blood magic or whatever.~
She shrugs, smiling at Daniel.
"Heya Daniel! I don't understand jack shit but now I guess I should learn cause..." she waves a hand vaguely. "Am...I allowed to even say that stuff or...is that a close to the chest thing?"
Bones:
"The exact specifics, would be up to Vincent to allow me to share. However, if you'd like, I could study yours and share what I see with you."
Vincent Drake:
"Evening Daniel, how's things going." he nodded, "I'd rather keep my details close, you understand." then turned to Val shaking his head, ~I am still a proud member of the Invictus Val~ he thought to her with a 'watch it sis' tone ~an ally with the Crone, privileged to learn the basics. . .but still a Scion of the First Estate, a future Lord of the Night~
Daniel Hawthorne:
"That's safe enough to mention, I think." He replied to Val as he sat down, pausing briefly at Bones' offer before nodding. "Sure. Color me curious."
"Going well enough. Just got out of a meeting with a few clients, nothing too exciting."
Bones:
The telepathy between the original trio drops.
She focused on her Shadow Name and the rote she was about to use, and the Supernal Truth that they represented. They made an after you-motion and brought forth the ability to mentally communicate, and see Daniel's soul.
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She frowns, then nods in understanding.
~Ah gotcha. Hope you're enjoying yourself at least.~
"So uhhh, after talking with Guy I'm now an honorary member of the Ordo Dracul. Mostly just learning like... basics of all the supernatural stuff, cause I'm a bit of a meathead." She shrugs, looking excited.
Vincent Drake:
"Yes, Val, butch lesbian Lara Croft of the Dragon, I can see it now. . .fuck that actually would make a cool video game, not going to lie. . .going around, raiding tombs for vampires. . .could even make Rasputin the main villain, dude had to be some kinda vampire or mage," a turn to Bones, "So, I'm going to assume these kinda people are hella evil, but are their mages who do Lovecraft kinda shit?"
Bones:
"Define which kind of Lovecraft shit. I've seen Racist Mages. I've seen those who summon abyssal things... which make Cthulu look weak... so on and so forth."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She laughs at Vinny's discription, and waggles her eyebrows at Bones.
"Id raid some tombs, I got no problem with that."
Bones:
"You've raided a lot of tombs. Including mine, so I know this," her tone was even but that blush did rise.
After studying the soul a bit, they mentally sent the vision to Daniel.
Daniel Hawthorne:
"I think you'll be a quick study." He commented to Val, a small smile on his face. "If you have questions on anything that Guy's not able to answer the rest of us are able to help."
As the mental connection set into place he sat up a little straighter on reflex, watching what was revealed with a look of intense curiosity on his face. His thumb idly rubbed the side of his finger for a few moments before he sat back in his seat, giving Bones a small nod. "That was...enlightening. Thank you."
Vincent Drake:
"Yeah know like, summoning unseen horrors from beyond the mortal plane, cultists growing tentacles and shouting shit in tongues that would make mortals insane. . .that kinda Lovecraft stuff."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She winks at Tommy.
"Later."
A nod of thanks at Daniel.
"I'm hoping, I typically learn pretty quick. Just don't wanna look completely lost."
Bones:
Said in both verbal and mental communication, "~You are Welcome, my friend.~"
Then the spells drop.
In reply to the summoning, "There's so many ways to get those things. Goetic, Supernal, Abyssal, Spirits that look like that. Probably Geists or other strong Ghosts... "
A hand through the hair, and then adjusting the cardigan, "Honestly. Most of the Left-Handed stuff, my experience ends up with diffusing it or recently... restoring the world to it's natural state, which is partially restorying the Lie, which makes my head hurt."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Most of us started out at the same place, you'll be fine." He said to Val, then turned his attention to the back and forth between Vincent and Bones. The unfamiliar terminology made his eyebrow arch but he made a few mental notes nonetheless.
Vincent Drake:
Vincent tried to follow the terms, "Left-Handed. . .is that like, Dark Arts kinda thing, is their such thing as Dark Magic?"
Bones:
"Anything you'd like me to define, Daniel? I'm happy to share. Especially if you and your colleague wish for me to be at the research center sometime. Could start sharing now," she said happily at the Dragon.
Then Vince asked for a definition which made the PhD happy, and she bounced in her seat, "Oh yes. Left-Handed, which is insulting as a lefty, is an old belief that good magic came from the right hand and evil from the left. Similiar beliefs thought the Left Hand, the Idle Hand, was Satan's Tool. Things like that."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"True enough. Supernal in particular is a new one, the others I can follow easily enough."
Bones:
"The realms that Awakened magic come from are known as the Supernal Realms. There are five of them."
Vincent Drake:
Vinny looks down at his mini's, "So Val, want me to teach you Warhammer, offer is still on table."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
Val blinks and shakes her head, looking at Vinny.
"Sorry, sorry. Tuned out. What's going on?"
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Ah hah...interesting. So is your magic more of an external force that you're able to channel from those realms, then?"
Vincent Drake:
"Warhammer, at least that's what I've been doing," he gestured to his mini's, "Gonna paint so Skaven," he picks up a ratman and adds some brown for the fur
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"You know I do not have the patience for that." She laughs.
"Especially painting all that shit. Good luck with that."
Bones:
"I would say that our souls join with those realms, and become one with them, one of them at least. Then through our connection we can make magic. It's in our soul, and not like some, drawn down from another power."
Daniel Hawthorne:
Daniel nodded quietly, the gears turning slowly as he let that thought simmer in the background. "Right. The bonding point is more of a catalyst to allow further development than just acting as a conduit. Interesting."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Once again, not at all surprised you're a wizard. You've always been a smart cookie." Val shrugs. "Ooo do they have cookies here? That sounds great."
Vincent Drake:
"If they have cookies and not blood bags, I'm going to be pissed."
Bones:
"They do. And there are a lot of dumb Awakened. Those who are more physically minded and socially accepted, I guess."
They simply reached over the table and put their wrist infront of Vinny's face.
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Have you asked about the blood bags?" He inquired to Vince with a small smirk, motioning to the suggestions box on the counter. "Like I said before I'm sure there's a health safety reason not to, but it can't hurt."
He paused for a moment as Bones offered her wrist to the Daeva, watching the pair without comment.
Bones:
"For me, I think the biggest part... like... humans need it, and not many would take away from an injured human who needs it for ... this."
Vincent Drake:
"Yeah. . .so my Clan Curse activated and. . .if I drink from a human more than once, I risk being emotionally dependent on them . . .like the Bond." he reveals his new issue, "So. . .if I drink from you, I'm running that risk."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Nah nah, can't do blood bags in the same space. Health inspectors would have heart attacks. Also like...a lotta other people. And what Tommy said, some people need that."
A nod to the Mage.
"Makes sense I guess. Popular media always shows the eggheads but." She shrugs. "Cool to know."
She instinctively rubs at her wrist, then looks at Vin. "Ah...that...complicates things, huh."
Daniel Hawthorne:
Daniel remained quiet for the moment, not having much to add that he hadn't already said before on the matter.
Bones:
She retracts her hand, and curls up her knees under her to sit on them in the booth. Then she drank some of her coffee and looked outside for a moment.
Then refocused on Vincent, "I think that was the point, of permission, was it not? Limiting it to your partners, me, and a few select others? Or your herd?"
She reached next to her to squeeze Daniel's shoulder in support for something.
Vincent Drake:
Vincent seems to think, "Yeah but that's like. . ." he thinks, "I don't want to be blood bonded to someone. . .not that I don't trust you, but. . .your like my friend, yeah we have fun but it's nothing romantic, that effect. . .could make me think it is, ya know?"
Bones:
"Your mind, your heart, your call. NO worries whatsoever."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She taps her fingers on the back of the booth.
"Not if you set that boundry to never cross? Like...that's what I do. You can think Tommy's super cool, which she is, but you don't gotta be romantic, dude."
Daniel Hawthorne:
Daniel looked to Bones as she reached over, smiling a touch and giving her a nod. "It can feel that way, at least for the normal bond, but it doesn't have to. It's a thing of devotion overall; they become the center of your world, for good and bad."
Vincent Drake:
"I guess. . ." he thinks, "It's not like Bones would take advantage of that fact," he sighs, "I like this blood deal we have, it's useful due to what I do to people. . .if your still willing give me your wrist please."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Hey, Tommy. Mind if I text ya a thing?" She taps her phone.
Bones:
"May I study you afterwards to see the difference, if I can help?"
And the wrist was extended either way.
Then to Val, "If you permit, I can just read your phone from here and it doesn't need to send."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
"Yeah sure." She starts typing.
Daniel Hawthorne:
Daniel watched quietly as the wrist was offered once again, keeping an eye on Vincent in particular. Having been on the receiving end of that connection he was admittedly curious to see what it might look like from the outside.
Vincent Drake:
Vincent takes the wrist, giving his usuall added sensuality of giving a few tender pecks, it's not needed but at this point has become a reflex when feeding from somone he's playing with, and then bites down, slowly and methodically, then drinks
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
Val puts down her phone and looks at the Kiss, biting her lip and looking away, towards Daniel. Not watching the exchange.
Bones:
The Mage sends a message to Vincent's phone right before the bite.
As the Kiss takes over, she sighed happily. It was so worth it, in its way... even as the mind warped inside of her by the Curse...
By the duration, they would know it was quite a bit. And she looked quite pallid by the end of it.
Daniel Hawthorne:
When Val looked his way Daniel offered her a hand, giving hers a squeeze in solidarity if she chose to take it. A small frown formed as Bones became visibly drained, eyeing Vincent but keeping his thoughts to himself.
Vincent Drake:
"God I needed that," Vincent sighs as he seems a tad more, refreshed for lack of a better word, "Thanks Bones, been healing all of last week." he chuckled, noticing Daniels frown but thinks nothing of it, "Good news is, Wanton Curse has not struck."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
Val takes the hand, closing her eyes and not looking at her bestie or oldest friend. She takes a deep breath.
Bones:
Color began to return slightly, and then they made a zig-zag motion and focused on that Mudras with their Seeker's Truth.
"Good for you..."
Magic knit inside of their pattern, and suddenly they seemed wide awake, healthy and hale.
Daniel Hawthorne:
Daniel leaned over to Val, a quietly whispered "You alright?" meant for her ears alone. He blinked as Bones refreshed herself as rapidly as she did, once again in awe at what these willworkers could do. "Impressive."
"You should be careful letting yourself get that low, though." He added to Vincent, once again eyeing the young Daeva. "Losing yourself to the Beast out of hunger never ends well."
Vincent Drake:
"And that is why I love drinking mages, they can just refill." he smiled, "It was less losing to hunger and more, I needed to heal some legit burns and scars."
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
Val shakes her head. Not as quiet.
"Need a minute. Just...setting thoughts straight."
Bones:
"Sorry. I should... Sorry... I wasn't thinking Val."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Still, you burned through enough that you needed to take that much. The closer you are to being completely out the easier it is for your Beast to take charge in the wrong moment." Spoken from experience? Perhaps...
He nodded to Val, giving her hand another squeeze before looking to the table as a whole. "Anyway...change of topic?"
Vincent Drake:
"Chaos Dwarves are coming to Total War Warhammer 3!" he said excitedly, it is a change of topic
Valeria Rolan-Ruiz:
She bites her lip.
"No no, you guys are good. I should uh...I was gonna go to the gym anyway so... Ima head out."
She swings her legs around, standing behind the booth.
"Be good or else, Vin!" And she walks off quickly.
Bones:
After a few minutes of everything calming down, he pulled out his phone and smiled, "She says she's feeling better now with some air."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Never got into Warhammer, I'll admit. More of a Magic guy myself." Daniel commented, giving Val a nod as she headed off with a note of concern in his features. He glanced at his own phone when a message came through around the same time as Bones', smiling a touch as he sent off his own reply.
Vincent Drake:
"Chaos, it is the only way and the in 40k, the most moral option." he said. . .chaos, the most moral option, oh dear, "I got a text, she's heading to the Gym."
Bones:
"Daniel, what you saw is why I offered without hesitancy the other day, for the record. I am able to heal myself more efficiently than many, evne other Awakened. Not a Master by anymeans but I have my ways."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Noted." He nodded quietly. "My former regnant made a point of ensuring that I never offered such without his consent, so seeing it done so freely is still a little odd."
Vincent Drake:
"I've cultivated a small group to help me with it, I would not like to say Bones is part of my herd, she just donates blood when she can and she can refuel herself with magic, so I can drink a good sum."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Right. I have my own circle on that front but we're not...close, outside of professional work."
Vincent Drake:
"I have a few people I'm not close to, but let me drink and play as it where, fang-calls."
Daniel Hawthorne:
"That's one way to put it." He smirked a touch. "I've always viewed it as a more formal and transactional thing, not something to play around with."
Vincent Drake:
"Formality is not my style, if I'm going to have some folks on call, might as well be people I can play around with, maybe that's a me thing, maybe it's a Daeva thing." he shrugged
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Maybe. My regnant is a three hundred year old Ventrue, so that likely factors in." He nodded. "To each their own."
Vincent Drake:
"Ventrue, haven't met many, self styled kings and leaders right?"
Daniel Hawthorne:
"At the base level, yeah, although most gain the actual positions to back up the ambition."
Vincent Drake:
he shrugged, standing up and putting the mini's in a bag, "I got to get going, got more to paint at home." good seeing you, he nods and walks off
Daniel Hawthorne:
"Good seeing you as well."
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