wizzrobe
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Post by wizzrobe on Apr 4, 2016 23:20:15 GMT
Another night, another time of Drinks, Sex and Heavy Metal at "The Castle". James had invited out his new friend to his club to talk. Graffitti art littered the walls, and she was assaulted by a barrage of smoke and lights, but less so than the general public. James was worried that he was going to do the same mistake he pulled with Janette, and had a whole pathway cordoned off for her. This way she could avoid bumping into any unsavoury types, and was well out of the way of the smoke and lighting, though the music still blistered on. The Guard would approach her when Jaci showed the pass James had given her. "Ah! You must be that girl James was going on about. He's been getting awful charitable with VIP these days, *Chuckles*, well at any rate, have a nice evening dear, and don't go causin' trouble for dear ol' James, or I'm gonna have to show you all the wrong kinds of bear hug!"
*He gives a hearty chuckle at the joke*
"Have a nice one."
*The guard then passed back through the entrance waves Jaci off, and rather quickly gets his arms around a rather boney looking man.*
"Back of the line asshole."
After Jaci makes her way through the club, the room she enters could not be in starker contrast to the main dance floor. It was muted in here, almost silent, and she was met by the gaze of a gentle twilight, with James sitting just underneath.
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quima
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Post by quima on Apr 5, 2016 10:44:19 GMT
Jaci was stunned by the contrast and for the faintest moment started wondering which was the real James; the man sitting there now who seemed to be the one she had met at the gallery, or the one who owned the club as they seemed to be completely different people. She would have to be on her guard, not that that was anything new.
She smiled at him however, unsure of what to say though.
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wizzrobe
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Post by wizzrobe on Apr 5, 2016 12:31:41 GMT
James leapt up from his seat, seemingly bursting with joy at her arrival.
"Hi there! I'm so glad you could make it! Did you make it in ok? I know this place isn't to everyone's tastes..."
James rubbed his back in embarrassment and smiled warmly. He even looked a little guilty, but about what is anyone's guess.
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quima
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Post by quima on Apr 5, 2016 19:05:11 GMT
"I admit I was worried when I arrived." Jaci admitted. "But I've seen worse."
The difference being the owners, managers and guests of such places weren't really people she'd ever wanted to get to know any better. She didn't say so though, but she did look a bit concerned.
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wizzrobe
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Post by wizzrobe on Apr 5, 2016 19:53:05 GMT
James smiled at what he hoped was a compliment.
"Thanks! I know this place can look a bit intimidating, but we keep a tight ship here. No harassment, no drugs, no weapons. I want people to feel safe here. I'm glad you had a nice trip."
James gave a look of slight concern himself
"Hey, take a seat with me. Are you ok? You look a little flustered... Would you prefer we go somewhere else?"
His look of concern seemed to grow graver for her as he softly puts a hand on her shoulder and draws a little closer to the troubled Native.
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quima
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Post by quima on Apr 6, 2016 10:37:46 GMT
"I'm alright." Jaci replied and forced a smile. "I'm not really used to being cuddled." She paused. "To tell you the truth I've learned to expect the worst from your world, I may not look it but I can take it." Another short pause as she took in the scene. "I'm sure you didn't suggest meeting up just to apologize for or justify your property though, we can skip that."
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wizzrobe
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Post by wizzrobe on Apr 6, 2016 11:59:19 GMT
James was beaming back in Jaci's direction as she spoked. This was the James that she knew, most assuredly.
"Yeah, that's true!"
"Well if you're gonna be around me you better get use to being cuddled!"
As if to demonstrate the point, James wraps his arms around her and hugs her.
"I'm sorry our world has treated you so poorly... But you're not alone..."
His arms wrap around her a little further, and the hug tightens a little.
"...I've seen... I... You're not alone."
He begins pulling back and releases her, his hands running down her arms to her hands as he lets go.
He gives her a soft smile, but it struggles to hold together, and his eyes glisten a little, almost as if tears of blood are about to let loose. Whatever he's talking about it's either a long wound or one that's recent enough to leave him barely holding himself together.
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quima
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Post by quima on Apr 6, 2016 13:06:48 GMT
Jaci was confused and looked behind her, if someone had followed her since she didn't quite understand his words. "I'm alright, and... we are alone here, you don't have to worry."
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wizzrobe
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Post by wizzrobe on Apr 6, 2016 14:20:21 GMT
James looked surprised as he stifled a bit of laughter.
"Nooooo silly I meant that you're not alone when it comes to the world having treated you poorly!"
He smiled at her, his former sadness having vanished from view, and he guided her over toa seat, and sat with her.
"I grew up in a care home. A lot actually, got moved around a lot. Had to take care of all the kids there because no one else would. It got... Pretty bad sometimes. But things are better now, and... Those kids are doing better too. I wasn't gonna let them skyve off school and rob shit on my watch! So that's what I mean when I say you're not alone... And thanks. For reassuring me, I mean. You're sweet."
That same soft smile. He feels warm to the touch as his skin begins to brighten and he appears to be blushing slightly.
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quima
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Post by quima on Apr 6, 2016 19:19:13 GMT
"I get you." She smiles awkwardly. "It's important to take care of innocents who can't fend for themselves. I suppose it's my inability to do so that bothers me the most."
She pauses for a while, thinking, remembering.
"It's why I tend to isolate myself, if you care for no one, it won't hurt to lose anyone."
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wizzrobe
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Post by wizzrobe on Apr 6, 2016 20:02:32 GMT
Upon hearing of protecting innocents James's face turns to that struggling smile again.
"No-one should be alone. So don't isolate yourself. there are good people out there, we still have a shot at happiness, we shouldn't stop just because we're allergic to the sun. If you remain alone, you miss out on so much, you lose the colour from your eyes. It may never hurt to lose anyone, but you'll never feel by being with someone."
James takes a moment, an internal debate seems to rage inside his head before he seems to come to a conclusion.
"I chased down some Sabbat the other night. We tracked them down to a homeless shelter. They had been draining and killing people, making them fight like animals. I found two, that were still alive. I found their kids. They had turned their children into monsters. We had to kill them. One was chasing after his mum. He wanted his mum. It was horrible..."
He takes a deep breath, but it doesn't appear particularly forced.
"And in spite of all that, I would still like to have a kid one day. Because... If you think about it... We're not really vampires. THEY are. They need the blood to care now. They're gone, and we can't save them, not from us, not from each other, and certainly not from themselves. But we can still feel. We don't need the blood to feel. We can still be happy. We can still be good. And that's why I think no-one should be alone. Because we can still be happy, and should be, even if sometimes, that loss makes us sad."
"And if I can make you happy..."
He blushes.
"That would make me happy too."
He doesn't look at Jaci in the eye, he seems to be blushing wildly upon that statement. He's too embarrassed after just that. But it's a real smile, the largest he could fit onto his face.
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quima
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Post by quima on Apr 7, 2016 9:15:45 GMT
Jaci listened to his tale and stayed silent for a while, thinking. When she spoke, her voice was shaky yet became determined the longer she spoke.
"I may not want to be hurt again, but that doesn't mean I don't care at all. What you describe sounds truly horrific but my first response would be to make sure the kindred in question are not in a position to do it again, to anyone. That's how I stay sane."
She paused, when she spoke again, her voice was softer.
"The parents, did they make it?"
She shrugged, as if she didn't really care, though she obviously did, there was no hiding it.
"If they did, they're going to need a lot of help. I cannot give it, but I can give you an idea of what they are going through and maybe how to get them through it."
(Not sure if you want to/should roll to get what's behind her words)
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quima
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Post by quima on Apr 7, 2016 11:56:14 GMT
(With that roll)
It's clear to James that Jaci has been through something terrible, likely involving the loss of a child. Although there's obviously more to it than that, what the rest is is a mystery.
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wizzrobe
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Post by wizzrobe on Apr 7, 2016 13:29:51 GMT
James's heart sinks.
"Three... Three adults... One parent..."
"Morgan... The Malkavian Primogen... Is taking care of them... I asked them to... clear their memories... They saw it, the Masquerade.... Lucas wanted to kill them..."
"...The Sabbat, they're all DEAD. Monsters, animals, child-killers! I hate them all! Who would do that to a child!? I don't... "
"...I don't..."
Tears begin streaming down his face.
"...I don't understand..."
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quima
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Post by quima on Apr 7, 2016 13:42:39 GMT
Jaci hesitantly but her right hand on James's arm.
"It's good you didn't let him kill them, they didn't deserve that. I don't know who this Lucas is, but he's definitely not someone I'd want to associate with. There is another problem however..."
She paused, this was hard.
"It's a good idea to alter their memories, both for their safety and ours, but they've been through a lot, and lost their children in the horror. I think it would be naive to think a simple memory alteration is going to fix the entire problem. They need more help than that. It might be a good idea for someone to keep an eye on them and help them out. Someone who knows what happened even if they don't. Someone who cares."
Jaci hoped James got the hint. Who knew, maybe helping them would also help him.
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