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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2017 2:27:03 GMT
"Still nothing." The Tremere looked at the feather she was still holding with a mix of frustration and disbelief. First, David gets kidnapped. And, honestly, based on her last vision, Rose had thought it had been a 'fake' kidnapping. The way Aisha and David had found to elope together and severe their ties with the Sabbat. It was very unlikely to be as easy but she couldn't blame them for trying. But almost two weeks had passed now since the news article had been published and still no news of David and Aisha. The Tremere Regent was not about to ask Mary for updates or the police for that matter. So she was left with only one option: use Scry again. Except... it didn't work. Not the tremor of a vision, not a murmur, nothing. It was as if the feather had lost its connection to Aisha altogether. But Rose couldn't think of a single spell that would have made that possible. Especially since this feather was literally a part of the witch. The only logical explanation was that Aisha was dead but she refused that possibility. Because she didn't want it to be true. And because the murder of a teacher at Hogwarts would be all other the Prophet. Unless Aisha had changed her mind and... No, she wouldn't have. She loved being a witch, maybe even more than Rose herself had. "I don't understand," Rose said out loud as Nikolaus pushed the door of the purple room. She didn't look distressed or even upset, but the other Tremere would easily see how confused his Regent looked. And Rose was not easily confused. ----- @nikolaus |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2017 0:39:15 GMT
It had been all over every newspaper in nearly every language, and all over his phone. An international celebrity kidnapped at gunpoint by armed pirates. Music industry stocks had tumbled, an international coalition of Navies on both sides of the Atlantic were on high alert, certain presidential Twitters were making threats... it was a real circus. Of course, just like any circus, Nikolaus too had suspected it was all an act, another elaborate hoax of David's own design. It wouldn't have been the first, of course. No sooner had the newspapers claimed he had been in a tragic accident, he had made a miraculous recovery and was visiting them in Knockturn Alley.
But the silence had gone on for too long. Even after Rose had tied Scrying and thought there was nothing to worry about, the deafening silence from both David and Aisha was worrisome. When Rose had said she was going to try again, he wasted no time joining her in the purple room once she gave him the green light. Opening the door to check on her, he was taken aback by her words. She doesn't understand? Doesn't understand... what?
And then it hit him. The feather. Her scrying wasn't working anymore. Nikolaus blinked repeatedly, looking from the feather, to the beautiful face of his Regent. "I--..." He tried to focus on the feather, and Auspex wasn't telling him anything, either. The connection to Aisha was severed.
Could she have--...? What other explanation is there?
"Tu sais, Rose," he began, choosing his words carefully. "... she was in love with David. Likely blood bound to him, as well." She should be able to see where he's going with that without even needing to finish.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2017 22:29:28 GMT
Rose shook her head 'no'. "She told me they'd discussed it together. She wanted to remain a witch and David respected that. If he was to embrace her, she wouldn't be able to..." She looked down at the feather she was still holding, "...transform anymore."
That would make so much sense. It would explain everything. Why the feather seemed not to belong to Aisha anymore.
But, at the same time, Rose remembered the smile on the witch's lips as she transformed, and the way she beamed as she turned back into her woman self. She also remembered the softness of her feathers against her cheek. Could she really have decided to give up on all that?
...Or had she been turned because her life was at stake, like Nikolaus?
The Tremere hated having so many questions without any definite answer to any of them.
"Maybe I should just try contacting her another way."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2017 21:56:12 GMT
Nikolaus listened in stoic silence. He was well aware that while Rose had no regrets about being a vampire per se, he knew she missed her magic still. Might have even become an animagus herself, if she had the chance. He would have liked to see what form she'd have taken. Instead, she was embraced into Clan Tremere, where she no doubt thrived and even had her own Chantry, at the cost of everything that made her a part of House Belmont. And much like the founder of their Clan before them, she wanted nothing more than to gain her magic back. Or failing that, surpass it with Thaumaturgy, a form of magic that few in the Wizarding World even knew existed anymore.
He took a few limping steps toward her, leaning down next to her, and gently attempted to place a hand on her shoulder if she'd let him. To her, it must be inconceivable that a witch like Aisha would willingly give up their magic like that. At least the Tremere could sort-of regain theirs, albeit in another form. Aisha didn't have that option. At least she likely didn't throw her lot in with the same Sabbat that tortured David and nearly killed her, right?
Right?
"Rose..." he said gently. "Yes. Perhaps we should set aside an entire budget for rental owls." He was trying as best as he could to lighten the mood. They'd been paying the owner of the Leaky Cauldron very generously so that he never even asked any questions. Fortunaly money was not a problem to them so far. The book shop was doing well. Also, the Pyramid had money to spend, especially on their first (overt) venture into the Wizarding World in centuries. Even if they weren't as rich as the Ventrue.
"Why don't you get some rest for now? You can send that message tomorrow."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2017 16:54:38 GMT
Rose snorted softly at Nikolaus' suggestion of setting aside an entire budget for rental owls. She could tell that he was trying to make her laugh, or at least set her mind on something different, and she decided to reward his efforts. So, the Tremere didn't move away as he placed a hand on her shoulder, she even leaned in, just a bit.
"Very well. I'll send it tomorrow." Rose agreed. Deep down, she was glad he suggested she waited. For her intuition told her she would most likely not going to like what she was going to find about Aisha. And, as was seen before, her intuitions rarely failed her.
The Tremere was already thinking of the implications of Aisha not being a witch anymore. If she wanted to be honest with herself, none of them were good. The worst of them being Rose would have lost a precious research partner, one she was already looking forward to working with. Also if Aisha was Sabbat too now... The chances of David and her severing ties with their sect would be close to zero.
The Regent shook her head and sighed. "And you're right. I think I do need to rest. Maybe listen to some music." She put everything back in place and then walked towards the door. She waited for Nikolaus to leave the room as well and, as she was closing the door behind him, she said: "I wouldn't mind some company. Unless you're otherwise busy, of course."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2017 19:04:00 GMT
Nikolaus would be sorely disappointed to learn that Aisha would have chosen to be embraced rather than go through with her promise to help Rose with her research. He'd be even more disappointed if she and David had decided to stay with the Sabbat, not the least of which because the Sabbat already had them outnumbered three to one. He had to suppress those thoughts, for now; Rose was accepting his advice to relax, and he'd make certain that she could.
Music? He liked where this was going. When she beckoned him to follow her, he did so without another thought, leaning on his cane as he pivoted to follow behind.
"Avec plaisir, Rose," he answered, his hopes rising. Perhaps now he'd have the opportunity that had been previously denied to him that night in Saint James' Park.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2017 0:41:46 GMT
Nikolaus had agreed to come with her in a heartbeat. And yet, she was pretty sure he had other things to do. Of course, he had always seemed to enjoy her company and to make a point of placing her wishes and requests before anything else. And Rose had always tried to convince herself it was mostly due to him being his Regent. But, deep down, she knew that was not all there was.
Lately, she had been more careful about the fluctuations in the other Tremere's emotions. Kindred were not supposed to have feelings, not the way kine did. But since that impromptu performance by Elezandra and David, Rose wondered if Kindred were actually able to retain the memories of those feelings. To the point that they would keep experience them long after the Discipline had stopped affecting them.
She looked back at Nikolaus over her shoulder. "You like Jazz, don't you? What's your favorite piece?"
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2017 23:16:54 GMT
He usually did. But all of those things immediately go on the backburner when Rose wants to do something, especially if said thing, for once, didn't have to do with business. When she said she wanted to listen to music, it went without saying that he'd go with her.
He had been told multiple times that kindred didn't have emotions; just the memories of emotions, which faded with time. But Elezandra and David's performance made him question that; he was fully aware of how Presence worked, with many a Tremere warning him about it on the rare occasion where he had to deal with Toreador and Ventrue, who weren't above using it to get what they wanted.
"I do," he replied, surprised that she remembered. "I enjoy the classics." He thinks for a moment... before deciding on one he was sure Rose would like. "Have you heard Louis Armstrong's cover of 'La Vie en Rose?'"
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2017 22:14:57 GMT
As he said the title of the song, Rose gave him a side glance that seemed to mean:Seriously? But instead, she simply replied: "I don't believe I've ever listened to this particular cover of the song, no. But I'd be happy to."
The most well-known version of the song was the one sung by Edith Piaf and you'd be hard-pressed to find a single French person who hadn't heard it at least once. Rose knew that song too, of course. And the fact that it might very well be one of the most romantic songs ever written was not lost on her. But since there would be no lyrics on this cover of the song, she figured she'd be able to listen to it with Nikolaus without feeling too awkward.
"I take it we'll find this piece of music among the records you own, right?"
Without waiting for his reply, she started heading towards the salon where the piano and the record player were.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2017 9:20:51 GMT
Yes, seriously. It was one of the most famous songs ever written in the French language; so famous, in fact, that American jazz artists had covered it, among them Louis Armstrong and Bing Crosby. He liked both, but especially the former. The fact that it had Rose's name in the title was just a coincidence.
Or was it?
"Bien sur," Nikolaus answered. He made his way over to the record player, but not before making a detour to the large wooden cabinet where he kept his vinyl collection. Dusting off the Louis Armstrong record, he smiled at Rose, and began setting the record up. "I heard it for the first time in a jazz club in Los Angeles, waiting for the first drunk patron to leave through a dark alley. I decided instead to stay and listen." Nikolaus replied, totally not making a La La Land reference. "I think you'll like it."
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2017 17:21:41 GMT
"Let’s hear it, then," Rose replied as she settled comfortably onto the sofa and waited for Nikolaus to put the music on.
Despite spending most of their nights with each other, the blonde realized there was still a lot about the Alsacian she didn’t know. It had never really bothered her so far. But lately, she’d caught herself wondering about it more and more.
"Sounds like a scene directly from a movie," Rose commented somewhat sarcastically. "Apart from Jazz, what other things did you discover and come to like while you were in Los Angeles?"
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2017 13:44:13 GMT
Nikolaus wasted not a second more, starting the vinyl record, and then joined Rose on the sofa as the music began playing. Taking a seat next to her, the music certainly brought back memories. He'd grown fond of the jazz clubs in Los Angeles; better crowd than places like Club Confession and especially Vesuvius. Less chance of the patrons getting you drunk after feeding upon them. He'd often find himself wanting to bring Rose to a place like that, when they'd met again. In a way, now, maybe he was.
"You'd be surprised," Nikolaus replied, in regard to the comparison to a scene from a movie. But at her next question, he thought for a moment. "I went to study under Strauss, the Regent of the LA Chantry, and now its Prince as well." As much as the title of 'Prince' can possibly mean in the largest Anarch Free State in the world. LaCroix had single-handedly undid every bit of progress the Camarilla made there, and now Strauss' role as Prince was relegated to damage control. "He's considered an expert in Thaumaturgical and magical artifacts, as I'm sure you know. And he's probably older than both of us put together. Studying under him was... fascinant. He was eventually called away, and I left shortly afterward due to a 'special assignment' in the United Kingdom. The rest, comme ils disent, is history.]"
He still resented the fact that he didn't get to hunt down the thin-blooded caitiff who diablerized Marco. Marco might have been an insufferable jackass, but he was still Tremere, and he had earned his place. At the very least, Case was going to have black streaks in his aura for years. And when the Tremere find him, Saulot himself wouldn't be able to save him.
"And of course, there's Hollywood. It's Anarch territory, Isaac Abrams might still be Baron there, but he's reasonable enough. If we ever go back... you should see it."
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