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Vincent Drake:
Vincent walked to the feeding spot, in one of his suits today. He breathed, not sure how this would go but Ella's words where clear in his head, it has to be done. He looked at his phone to the text he sent Titania, We needs to talk
Walking into the usual spot he took a second to breath, this was a step forward, this was evolving
Titania:
Titania took a long time to even respond to the text and a longer time to turn up.
She doesn't have the anxiety about those words.
She is wearing something a little more formal. Flowing dress on the bottom but a button up jacket on the top. Business on top party on the bottom.
There is a flapping as she arrives. Her own wings carrying her and she lands behind him with her tail flicking through the snow.
Her presence even more than normal, supernaturally so. She looks everything the creature of desire tonight.
"Hello Vinny."
Vincent Drake:
"Fuck." he mutters and sighs, "Evening Titania." he begins, "I. ..we need to talk, about this." he gestures around them, "I'm going to be frank and honest, do you think this arrangement is healthy, for either of us?
Titania:
"Oh I don't know dear. I don't think you want to break this arrangement now do you?"
A tilt of her head.
Vincent Drake:
"I. . .I don't want to," he admits, "But this isn't about what I want, it's about what I need." he breaths, "Titania, your bond to me, this isn't good for you either." he shakes his head, "I talked to Ella, she said your trying to regain your humanity, I've talked to her on my own issues as well and she's helped me see this is bad for both of us."
Titania:
"Thats nice. This isn't something you get out of."
Then a tilt of her head and looking him up and down. A glance to the ledge behind him.
"Sit!"
Vincent Drake:
he stands, "I love Avery, I love Maria, I consider you a friend but this is going to ruin us," he says with a look of determination, "I'm asking this because I care about you, the bond is clouding your judgement and it's going to last a year, if I become bonded to you I'll lose them." he closes his eyes and opens them, "I don't know when, maybe when the year is up, but I know I want Avery to be my spouse one day and the more we do this the more chances I'll fuck up, I'm sorry, I wanted to keep my word but Ella is right, this is a bad situation for both of us, please, with your wisdom you have to realize this is not going to end well if it continues."
Titania:
"You made a promise. Are you now going to break it? Even Avery said you have to keep it."
She steps forward her voice losing all softness and turning harsh. Columba fluttering from the forest above and Mei from behind her.
"Dont do this. Boy."
Vincent Drake:
he takes a step back, tripping on a root and falling, eyes wide as he tries to fumble back, "I'm sorry," he quickly begins, "I. . ." tears start forming, "I want to marry them one day, Maria probs won't be one for marriage but Avery at least I want to make Avery Drake," he admits, "I don't want to break this deal, but what happened with Bones the other night, it can't happen again," he stands up and wipes his eyes, "If we're going to continue this, just us, Bones can't come to another," he sighs, "I consider them a friend, I asked Avery if benefits could be a thing and they said no, so I don't want to be tempted like that." he shakes head, "I just. . .I just want to do right by them." he sighs, "Your older and more powerful than me, I can't force you to do anything so if I must honor the deal I will, just. . .just please, don't toy or tempt me."
Titania:
"Boy."
She steps forward as he falls. When he rises she pushes him back down.
"You dont get to make demands. You get to make requests. You can ask nicely. 'Titania I would really prefer if Bones didnt turn up again.' or 'Titania I would really prefer if you didnt try to tempt me.'"
A tilt of her head and a boot placed upon his chest.
"Now. You are in your place." Her tail tracing his face. "Why dont we try this again?"
A pause.
"Just remember you are trying my patience tonight. I may just deliver you to Avery."
Vincent Drake:
"Ishtar, goddess of love and war," he tries, "Please don't allow Bones to come again, oh great Ishtar, Queen of Heaven, please, don't tempt me to betray my beloved." he says, little flattery can't be bad, right?
Titania:
A tilt of her head, a minute nod.
"Good boy."
She presses down her foot, enough to be uncomfortable but not enough to break anything. Yet.
"Now. Why don't we try again. Properly. Make it feel real for me Vinny boy."
Her tail strokes his face again.
"Last chance."
Vincent Drake:
"Titania, I desire you, I want you to squirm beneath me," he says, "But I can't, not only will I betray those I love but one cannot tame the night," he begins, years of watching fantasy and sci-fi really paying off with flowery language, "Titania, Goddess of the Wood, I pray to thee, if I must offer my blood at your altar, please take it knowing it's for our contract." he sighs, thinking of the bond and playing his trump card, he stares into her eyes, having his face become one of care and admiration, "Titania, please, don't let me destroy myself, help me grow as a person, help me overcome and please, aid me in my rise to be one of the gods of night, I'm no longer the son of man Nick Drake, I'm Vincent Drake of Clan Daeva, Childe of Cynthia, Scion of the Invictus," he sighs, "I'm not human, I'm a vampire, and I need to remove the flaws of the human Vincent Drake, including his enslavement to his base desires," he puts a hand on the foot on his chest, "I want to evolve and I want to do right by my loves. . .but I also want to do right by the Goddess who took a chance to help the orphan of the daeva. . .I want to do right by you, that is where my change of heart came from."
Titania:
Titania tilts her head. Then shakes it slightly. Pulling her phones from her pocket and texting Avery. Speaking out loud as she does.
Avery, come and get your useless fucking pet.
"I do not seek flowery words or poetry."
She presses her foot down with enough force to start doing damage.
"Try! Again! The next time you fail, Avery will be collecting you in Torper."
Avery Frisk:
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HIM
Vincent Drake:
"Titania, please, don't kill me!" he cries, "Please l'm scared of how the Kiss makes me feel and don't want to fuck my life up, I'm asking you as a friend, please help me stay true to myself."
Titania:
"Better. See. That isn't so hard now is it."
She continues texting not moving her foot. Speaking out loud as she does.
Putting him in his place for trying to break a deal.
Vincent Drake:
"Titania, I do respect you, I'm afraid of what I'll do, not what you do, I'm making progress with personal bullshit, I'm sorry for disrespecting you."
Titania:
She doesn't respond. Foot stating in place as she waits for Avery to arrive.
Readying herself for the likely attack.
Vincent Drake:
"I'm sorry for this drama, I'm figuring out things and thought it would help us both." he chuckles, "I overthink things, don't I?"
Avery Frisk:
Vinny wouldn't see him coming, but Titania, an elder vampire, was far more used to these kinds of tricks. Avery stuck to the shadows until he was right over Titania, and then leapt. To Vincent, Avery would have appeared the moment he struck, but Titania saw him way far before that.
That said, Avery did an unexpected turn that SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE, and ends up stabbing upwards instead of downwards INTO her midsection. Any human would be dead on the spot, or inches from it. The shadows around Avery lashed out for more stinging cuts as the pissed off Changeling knocked the pommel of their off handed weapon into Titania's face.
Avery practically hissed while standing over Vincent (which as a bonus gave a great view of his ass!) "Get away from him."
Titania:
Titania kept her eyes and ears tuned to the wilds. She felt him approach. Then smelt him. Then heard him.
She expected the blow but was still a little hurt. She absorbed some of it with the blood then her flesh began knitting itself around the wound even as the knife began to withdraw.
Her fangs extending as she enters a controlled rage. Just wanting to make sure she stay alive.
Her foot remaining on his chest all through the attack. She finally moves forward. "Don't! He chose this path. You don't break a promise. Back off or die."
Vincent Drake:
"It's my mistake Avy, I'm at fault, please stand down."
Avery Frisk:
That gives Avery legitimate pause, looking down at Vincent. "You broke a....VINCENT." The wrath is immediately split between the vampires. "You don't break a promise!"
Titania:
Titania moves with the speed only afforded to those with Vitae. A punch square to Avery's chest. With all the rage and anger behind it. The anger and power of an elder vampire.
Vincent Drake:
"PLEASE STOP!" he shouts standing up, "Don't fight I tried to back out of our deal, I'm at fault, please for the love of everything be at peace!"
Avery Frisk:
See, the thing about being a bird is you are LIGHT, and your bones are hollow. And so Avery FLEW. The strangest thing was that...for the briefest moment, part of Avery's body turned to feathers and absorbed some of the blow. It would likely have been lethal otherwise.
However, they slam into a tree and just...crumple. Forehead bloody and a dribble of Avery's same lifeblood trailing from his mouth.
Titania:
Titania grabs Vincent by the scruff of the neck. Feeding, taking her blood. Leaning back and howling to the sky. She drags him over to Avery.
"This is your fault. Boy!"
She drops him and then goes to Avery making sure that he doesnt bleed out. Applying pressure to the wound. The rage dropping from her eyes.
Vincent Drake:
he hurries to Avery's side and craddles the, "Everything I touch I ruin," he mutters, "Avery, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he starts spiraling
Titania:
Titania watches Avery's eyelids flutter. "Who do you know that is your kind and can fix this?"
There is no kindness to her voice as she speaks.
Avery Frisk:
Avery weakly grasps at Titania's hand, coughing and weakly getting it out. "Petra."
Titania:
"No. Not Petra. Who else. Vinny be useful. Who do you know."
Vincent Drake:
"Petra is their healer," he says, "Bones is a good mage, but Avery does not care for Bones," he looks to Titania, "Ella is also a good healer and one of the Lost," he says, "Please don't die, don't you fucking die," he starts tearing up
"Wait," he pulls out his phone and calls Aurelio.
Avery Frisk:
Avery winces and tries to grab their phone.
Aurelio Menegi:
The phone was picked up after a ring or two. "Menegi speaking."
Vincent Drake:
"Avery is hurt bad, texting you the location!"
Titania:
Titania smiles at that looking to Vinny.
"See you can be useful."
A pat to his head with her tail.
Vincent Drake:
Vincent just cradles Avery, muttering how it's his fault, words 'don't deserve' can be heard now and then
Titania:
Titania just leans back watching the two of them.
Before slowly pulling out her own phone and making a small text to Bones.
I think I fucked up.
Tommy Shanks:
Like... I spilled wine on someone's shirt fucked up, or I broke someone's favorite toy fucked up, or you killed someone fucked up?
Titania:
I almost broke one of my toys and nearly killed someone.
A pause as she looks around to wait for the other Ling to arrive.
"Can they all move as fast as you and Vorpal." Looking to Avery.
Aurelio Menegi:
Vincent received an "I'm on my way" from the Torrent before the call dropped, Aurelio heading for his bike most Ricky tick.
Vincent Drake:
Vincent held on the wound, helping stabilize them, he's crying, "Please, please don't leave me, don't leave Maria," he starts saying, "I can't live without either of you!"
Avery Frisk:
Avery was sitting there dazed, alive thanks to Summer's power...but isn't doing wonderful. He holds onto Vincent's hands to ground himself and keep focused.
Vincent Drake:
Vincent's eyes flare red, he growls but he shakes his head and fights back, he won't fail Avery, Avery will not die!, "Where the fuck are they!?" he growls
Tommy Shanks:
Another text reply came in:
What's broken and who's almost dead?
Titania:
Vinny and Avery. In that order.
Tommy Shanks:
.... Oh.
Titania:
We are waiting for someone to come. I. I'll need a hug later. And probably a talking to.
Avery Frisk:
Avery looks confused at vinny, not quite understanding and his head swimming from pain and confusion.
Aurelio Menegi:
There were probably a few speeding laws being broken during the trip between his apartment and Titania's place, but time was of the essence and Aurelio was not one to dawdle when a life was potentially on the line. The rumble of his motorcycle could be heard by the trio as he approached, quickly dismounting and heading towards them.
Vincent Drake:
Vincent turns to Aurelio, "Help us, please!" he begs
Titania:
Titania nods as he arrives.
"Thanks."
Avery Frisk:
Avery is against a tree, covered in blood but...stable. it looks bad.
Aurelio Menegi:
Aurelio crouched down beside Avery as he looked over the wounds, speaking quietly in his mother tongue while he rubbed the first two fingers of his right hand and thumb together. When the contract took hold he dabbed the faintly green ointment that formed between his fingers onto Avery's forehead, the most grievous wounds reduced to simple cuts and one lesser changed to a wicked bruise.
Avery Frisk:
Avery sighs faintly in relief, Summer still keeping them mobile... but they're no longer on death's door.
"Thank you."
Vincent Drake:
Vincent stares at them "I'm so sorry love. . .this is all because of me."
Titania:
Titania just watches them. Taking her time to calm her beast. It got let out of its cage and didn't kill. It's always a struggle after that.
Aurelio Menegi:
"You are welcome. I can use it again if you wish; there is still much to heal."
Avery Frisk:
Avery stares at Vinny. "Yes...it is. We need to talk. You don't break promises. This isn't a game."
Avery shifts and grimaces. "Yes please. What can I offer that you need in return, Aurelio?"
Vincent Drake:
Vincent says nothing, just hanging his head in shame
Aurelio Menegi:
"No need. Is what we of the Verdant do, no?"
He focused again on Avery's wounds, speaking softly under his breath and calling forth the healing ointment in short order.
Avery Frisk:
Avery gives another contented sigh, the Wounds still...pretty bad but better.
"It is...yes. Thank you."
A look at Vincent, and a look away from him.
Vincent Drake:
Vincent has nothing to say, nothing to make anything better, just silent shame
Titania:
Titania walks over and squats down beside the whole situation. There is still blood on her fist and she still looks like she took a wound though is unaffected by it.
"So. How are we moving forward."
Avery Frisk:
Avery looks at Aurelio with a thankful look, then focuses on the vampires. Anger pushing down the anxiety.
"What were all the terms of your deal?"
Vincent Drake:
"There where no terms, just that I would be her blood bag." he offers meekly
Titania:
"He feeds me. I teach him how to be a Raven. I've kept up my end of the bargain. Gone beyond it even. Provided him a house, a haven. Tried to settle things with his lover."
Avery Frisk:
Avery frowns. "Then you are stuck in your deal Vincent. The Wyrd enforces all deals, even bad ones."
Vincent Drake:
"Ella advised me to end it," he says, "She said it was unhealthy for both of us. . .because Titania is bound to me." he admits, "I thought she would agree with the assessment. .. I was wrong." he sighs, "I thought breaking it off would be a mature and 'self improvement' choice and would be good for Titania to, in that I was also wrong."
Titania:
"It is unhealthy as it currently is. See if you'd led with 'Hey please stop trying to seduce me' or 'Hey I don't think we can daisy chain from Bones again.' Things probably would've gone better."
She then shifts her eyes to look at Avery.
"So. Are we even from tonight. You tried to kill me. I retaliated with equal deadlines. Yes?"
Aurelio Menegi:
Aurelio remained quiet for the moment, eyes narrowing a touch at the mention of Vincent trying to go back on a bargain but otherwise making no comment on the matters discussed.
Avery Frisk:
"Who is Ella? I thought...you were supposed to talk to Maria or me..."
A frown. "I don't like you seducing him. Or hurting him. But...yes... I'm sorry I hurt you before learning why."
Vincent Drake:
"One of yours," he says, "Therapist type." he says "I'm facing my problems and thought this was going to be constructive. . .it wasn't and I just fucked things up even more," he grabs his own head and looks to Avery "I don't deserve to be with you or Maria, I ruin everything I touch!"
Titania:
Titania nods.
"That's fair. And not healthy for me. It's not a thing I will attempt to do further."
She pauses then nods again.
"Im sorry you nearly died. Let's not do that again. Okay."
Aurelio Menegi:
"You speak unkindly of yourself." Aurelio chimed in, eyeing Vincent. "Mistakes are to be learned from, and actions speak more than words."
Avery Frisk:
Avery frowns. "You keep saying that. I hate it...do I not deserve you? Does Maria not? You deserve us if you put in the effort, but you keep going back to this. Trying to solve things on your own...we are your partners." Avery starts crying.
"If you do not hurt my partner, we won't do this again. Please don't hurt him, Titania." A hand reaches to Aurelio. "Can I have help to get to the Freehold? I...cant hold Chrysalis like this."
Vincent Drake:
Vincent goes to, "I. . .I don't want to hurt you," he says tears forming, "I love you. . .but I don't love myself." he hangs downs his head, "I don't know why you love me. . ." he admits and collapses, sobbing
Titania:
Titania stands.
"If he keeps up his end of the bargain. I won't hurt him. No backing out. No flirting."
A nod then a whistle. Her two pets coming back to her.
"I will see you in two nights time Vinny."
Then her form shimmers and a Raven flies off with her pets.
Avery Frisk:
"You...do hurt me Vinny...whenever you hurt yourself it hurts me."
Avery watches as Titania leaves. "You'll... be here in two nights Vinny. That's your deal. If you break your deals... why should I trust you with my deals?" Avery looks away.
Aurelio Menegi:
"Of course." He nodded to Avery, taking their hand and helping them onto their feet. As Vincent sank down he looked the young Daeva over, his features passive. "You know what promises mean, even if the terms are poor ones. We are wary of those who break them, even for 'good' reason. One of ours should not have told you to do this."
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