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Post by Raphael Augustus on Dec 30, 2006 0:41:55 GMT -5
Raphael glanced around, his cloak thrown over one shoulder, and a large brimmed hat sitting on his head. A large feather swept from the hatband, and extended backwards. The left side of the brim extended upwards, revealing part of his hair, and some of his ear. His white hair fell down his back, and the steady fall of rain prevented most people from knowing fully well who he was. This brought a smile to his lips.
Why he had come to Azia though, it was more on a whim. He knew he needed to ally with Damian in the coming storm, but he was unsure as to why. He knew Damian would be a strong ally, but he was unsure as to the demons true intensions. Sure Asyut was an out of the way city, with nothing more exciting happening, than the random fights that break out. Yet it was still a city, and one that would need to be taken if one wanted to conquer.
He grabbed the front brim of his hat, tipping it to a woman as she passed by, and then he entered the bar. Inside were many races, orcs, humans, demons, and even a few dark elves. Raphael, however, could smell the vampires there though, the ones who made the other think them human. He smiled as he studied them, one was a female, and was even now trying to get a male elf upstairs. How amusing, the others were two males, who were now watching him, their eyes now slits, they were unsure of what he would do. Raphael himself deduced they were with the female, and they didn't want to share. Raphael only gave a mock salute.
He then took a seat at a table, almost in the heart of the bar. He never tried to hide, he loved remaining in the open. As a waitress passed by, he tapped her elbow, and she turned to regard him. Not a bad looking female, he admitted to himself, but he was not here for sex, he was here for something far less fun. Instead he only asked for a drink, a shot of rum, and she nodded her head then headed for the bar.
Tipping his chair back, so that it rested on the back two legs, he put his feet up on the table. He slowly started to hum to himself, a long forgotten elvish love song. The woman soon returned, a slight smile on her face, and redness came to her face when he winked at her as she lowered the mug to him. When she left, he turned the mug in his hand, and slowly started to sip the drink. However, this was meerly a tool, as he was watching the group behind him in the mirror of the rum.
Where was Damian, or one of his lackies.
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Post by Raven Von Winter on Dec 30, 2006 1:45:44 GMT -5
*Raven stood in the shadow of the doorway with her arms folded across her chest, just watching the scenes unfold in the tavern. Drunk humans and other creatures, were asking for another beer, only to be turned down by the bartender, arguing that they'd had to much. The very same people being thrown out of the bar for becoming too rowdy. Men were hitting on women, and women were turning them down. Women were seducing men, and the men were thinking they'd be getting lucky. All normal bar behavior, nothing of interest.*
*Her eyes then settled on something more plesant...Raphael, and she smiled. She continued watching him, sure that he hadn't sensed her...yet. Raven held back a small laugh as he tried to get the waitresses attention. The female looked at him with great interest, and Raven snickered. She caught herself, surprised and wondering where the strange feeling of jealousy came from all of a sudden. She shook her head to rid herself of the feeling, hoping to god that Damian wasn't hearing her thoughts at this moment. Once she figured that she'd spyed on him enough, she left her place in the doorway and moved towards Raphaels table. She ignored the drunken cat calls, and turned angrily at a human who grabbed her ass. Her eyes glowed for a second and she showed him her fangs as she slapped him across the face.*
"Men..."
*Once she finally reached Raphael's table, she was sure he had noticed her, but she wasn't trying to be stealthy. She tilted her head and smiled at him when he looked at her.*
"Is this seat taken?"
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Post by Raphael Augustus on Dec 30, 2006 2:01:58 GMT -5
Had Raphael not been sitting in demonic city, he may have known Raven was there almost imeditatly. However, he was in a demonic city, and it smelled like rotting meat in the bar, and his sense of smell was obsolete here. But the colors then caught his eye, and he turned slowly, only to see her already at the table. Standing there, waiting to sit down. Raphael's smile brightened as she stood their, his golden eyes piercing the heart, though he knew his own looks were empty on her.
"Welcome m'lady Von Winter. I have not seen you in some time, I feared we parted badly before, what with that fox and all. And yet, here you are, alive and well." Something was wrong with her, no, not wrong, something was different. That was the word. Different, as though she had changed. But then again, it may just be Raphael thinking to much again, he had a tendency to do that.
He then made sure to point to the seat, issuing her to sit, and then raised his hand for the waitress. The woman slowly started to come to the table, and Raphael set his sights back on Raven. He had set his chair down, and had placed his hat on the table. Many of those around started to mistake him for a female, but his masculine voice gave that away, and his eyes. Like mouths, taking in all that there was, and everything that could never be. "So what is new with you m'lady?"
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Post by Raven Von Winter on Dec 30, 2006 2:25:34 GMT -5
*Raven carefully pulled the chair out, and sat down, keeping her eyes on Raphael. It was good to finally be with her own kind, and not demons. She shuddered at the thought of her connection with Damian and Cyrax, trying to push them from her mind. She also tried to block her mind, hoping there was some way to stop Damian from hearing her every thought. Expecially now that Raphael was here. She couldn't let him know that she was thinking about Raphael...and she refused to let Damian use him to get to her. He couldn't hurt her without hurting himself, but he could hurt people she cared about without harm. She scowled at the thought, concentrating now more then ever at masking her thoughts.*
"What's new you ask...well...a lot has happened since we last spoke..."
*Raven sighed, and figured that telling Raphael what had happened would probably be the best...but how to begin....*
"I guess I'll start at the beginning... After I left Babylon I traveled to Kyrtos to meet with Cyrax. Stupidly, I met him down in his lair, and fought him. The only way I could think of to get away from him, because he had his nasty arms around me, was to bite him and put him into a trance. That's what started it all. I ended up killing two of his clones, and his pet monster, Minumanombie, and stealing his gold. I then went to meet with Damian here on Azia. I wanted to know if I had killed Cyrax's clones, or he himself. Damian answered my question, though he used magic on me. Me, having the temper I do, got pissed at him and shot him with a spell, only it was Cyrax's Dark Emanations. Cyrax was also able to take control of my body. Panicked, I thought that if I drank from Damian, the connection with Cyrax would go away, well, I was so wrong. I share Cyrax's power, and Damian and I can hear each others thoughts, though I've been working on controling that. We have become a Dark Trinity, where if one of us dies, we all die. I can't kill my biggest enemies!"
*Raven slammed her fists down on the table, frusterated about her current situation. She looked up at Raphael with hope.*
"I feel like I'm losing myself... I can't think alone, and Cyrax might pop in anytime and control me, though I'm trying to block that too. Do you know how to break the spell?"
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Post by Raphael Augustus on Dec 30, 2006 2:46:46 GMT -5
Raphael pressed his lips together as he listened, he gently waved his hand, telling the woman, server, to bring more rum. He knew Raven would need it. He then heard her speak of trying to face down Cyrax, which seemed like a foolish notion to Raphael. Even he knew to bring in help when fighting to demon, Raphael always did favor being overpowered. He laughed into his hand when he heard of the name of the beast. Demon's were always pathetic when it came to names. He then leaned back in his chair when she started to talk about Damian. It was odd that she would think to take on both those two, and that she would win. While she might be strong, undoubtedly, those two were stronger, but it was her choice.
Now it seemed she wanted something from him, and while she was no where near to tears. She was certainly emotionally strained. Trying not to think was something that most people accomplished on a daily basis, but Raven was smart, and used her brain almost all the time. So he tapped his chin, and thought about what she was asking him. It was odd to be sure, a Black Trinity. He could remember reading about that in the Razor Cliff's library, he thought it was something that was more amusing than anything, but to have it put into action. That was beyond strange. He had his own trinity, him, Stratus, and Zjevha, but that was different, that was far worse. He had almost let Zjevha once again walk the earth, but that was the past.
"M'lady, you are looking at this all wrong." He started, a smile back on his face, his eyes showed of cunning unparrelle. "You are looking at how this affects you, not how it affects them." He winked at her, and paused as the server placed the rum in front of the two, he then pushed it in front of Raven. The waitress herself quickly rushed away when she took one look at the vampiress, Raphael only lightly laughed at the cowardence, though it was to be expected. "You now have a chance to annoy your enemy, to become a thorn in their foot. To cause them great pain, or to overload their thoughts. Stop seeing how this effects you, see how it affects them."
He then took a look at the other vampire leading the man up stairs, and the two males that soon followed after. He was tempted to join, but thought better of it, instead he turned back to Raven. "I have a most insidious idea, force them to feel what a woman must feel when she is in the heart of love." Wink, he placed an arm around the back of his chair, and then interlocked his fingers, so that one arm was across his chest.
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Post by Raven Von Winter on Dec 30, 2006 3:13:52 GMT -5
*Raven looked down at the rum in front of her, wanting it badly. She managed to wait until Raphael pushed it closer before grabbing it, and letting the liquid slide easily down her throat. It was a flavor very different from that of what she normally drank. More harsh, as it were, but she didn't care. Maybe being drunk was what she needed right now. She gazed up to look Raphael in the eye as she spoke to her, and she listened lazily at first, but with more intensity as he continued. What he said interested her. She wouldnt really be able to mess with Cyrax, but Damian....she could send him things that he wouldn't want to hear, feelings that he shouldn't know, but she would send him just to annoy him.*
*Raphael mentioned the word love, then smiled at her. Did he....? She was surprised at his sudden attitude towards her. He had always been kind to her, treating her like a gentleman should treat a lady, but besides the one moment where he had his arm around her, she didn't think he felt anything for her, but she could be wrong...after all, she couldnt hear his thoughts. Well, she had a way of finding out. Slowly she stood from her chair, and walked the small distance between the two. She positioned it so each of them had one leg trapped between the others. She placed both her hands on his chest, and glanced down into his eyes, a look of guarded affection could be seen through them.*
"This love thing...I've forgotten how...It's been a very long time..."
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Post by Raphael Augustus on Dec 30, 2006 3:27:55 GMT -5
Raphael laughed, though he made sure that it was more of a scoff than a laugh. He gently pushed her shoulder, so that she was sitting back in her chair. Though while he was attracted to her, as any sane man would, Raphael never let his emotions drive him. Everything he did, he did it for a reason, though of course, sometimes, he did it cause he could. He then rested his back against the chair, again. He was not sure if she was testing him or not, but he truly didn't care, he was not the same man he was twenty years ago, when he would have tried to sleep with her in a heart beat. No, he had long passed that stage, he is far more mature now.
Instead, he just smiled, placing his elbow on an arm rest, he glanced at Raven. Her dark hair shimmering in the pale light of the dinky bar, and her eyes seemingly a glow with beauty. Yet he knew to hold back. "I know you have slept with more men than I am old, and undoubtedly killed them after, however, love is something that I can never share, for I have none to give." As he spoke, his face became stern, and although he was still smiling, it was not in humor.
"Long ago, I had the same problem. I had two beings in my head, still do, Zjevha and Stratus. Ask Damian about them, I am sure he would love to talk about it. The thing is, I was in control of the voices, mainly because I was to stubborn to think that they belonged to someone else. I am still unsure, but I care little, what I do know is that they can help me when I want them to. How? Because I have long since learned how to use them." He pointed at Raven.
"You now have a chance to inflict pain upon the two, but not hurtful pain, a different kind of pain, one that they can't describe, and one that might even humilate them." His face relaxed, and became smooth again, much like before. "What you do now is up to you, only know that I would be more than happy to 'help' you out." He took a swig of his drink, and then procced to lick his lips.
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Post by Raven Von Winter on Dec 30, 2006 16:31:03 GMT -5
*Raven glared at Raphael and scowled, obviously not happy with him. He had given her mixed signals about how he felt, and she tested him to see if those feelings were true, and they were not. She was about to open herself to him, something she hadn't really done since Alexander, and Raphael basically tells her to go away. She sits back in her chair, still giving him the evil eye, wanting to leave, but staying for self preservation. The door to her heart slammed back shut, never to be reopened again. He would pay someday. But he was her ally now, so unless he did something to betray her, she would be loyal. She was a vampire, and a temptress, but she still had dignity, and she would stay true to her word. But once he broke it....well...*
"My sex life is none of your concern...Monsieur...Nor will it ever be."
*She proceeded to listen to him talk about his own Trinity, or whatever he had, with a disinterest. She heard everything, but drummed her fingers lazily on the table, while she rested her head on her other hand, thinking. If she could learn to control this, then what he was saying could be true. She could wield unimaginable power. Granted, she'd have to learn to live with the fact that she'd never kill every demon. Maybe, just maybe the three could learn to work together, then nothing could stand in their way. They would be the most powerful force in the world. She already considered herself to be stronger than Raphael, and Cyrax and Damian were the two most powerful demons. Now..if only co-existance were possible...*
*She glanced back up at Raphael while he droned on and on about making the two demons life hell. She could very well do that, and probably would as much as she could, but the chance of having power excited her even more. Having the entire world under her command...and she would start with Babylon.*
"You know...pissing the demons off more than I already have might not be in my best interest..."
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Post by Raphael Augustus on Dec 30, 2006 16:44:44 GMT -5
Raphael raised an eyebrow, now quite aware he had done something upsetting. He smiled as she gave he smart retort, she seemed more than a little uninterested at the moment. Something had gone through her, something had run through her mind, and Raphael had missed it. Then again, he never truly did understand the female completely, emotional beings who always failed to see reason. But he only held his smile, he could only think it had something to do with the fact of her not likeing to be pushed about.
Maybe she was trying to open herself up to him, maybe, but he cared about her, at the moment, and didn't want to hurt her, in the end. He knew hell hath no furry like a woman scorned, and with this woman, not even hell could be used to compare. So maybe he was protecting himself. Though he was of course, in no way frightened she could do anything to him, he had survived suicide attacks against demons, a fight against a dragon, and a giant war against the Order, he could surive a vampire temptress. But he didn't need enemies at the moment, and one more would mean extra work.
He shrugged and turned back at her, a smile back on his face. He knew it would now be awkward for her, but Raphael lived for this stuff. When the mind was running so fast, trying to figure it all out, and the heart racing, it drove him to be supiour, better, stronger.
"I am not here to tell you how to think, that is something you must decide on your own. And don't forget, you came to me, you came looking for my help. Don't get all cold because I decided to spare you, that is very childish." He knew that would only anger her more, but he thought nothing of it, he would rather have her mad, than her wrathful.
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Post by Raven Von Winter on Dec 30, 2006 17:05:20 GMT -5
"Spare me?!"
*His words brought her out of her dreamlike state, and her thoughts on taking over the world, and using the two demons to help her. She slammed her hands against the table for the second time that night and almost jumped out of her seat. He was doing it again, messing with her, giving the mixed signals, but she would see through them this time. He was a ruthless vampire who cared for no one but himself. Not even she could change that.*
*She did sit down when she became aware that she was drawing attention to herself. The men's eyes burned into her, some just wanting her, others wondering if she was okay and if they needed to jump in. Raphael wasn't causing a scene, he was just sitting there, silently laughing at her, and she shot another look at him. Then she looked at him, with something else in her eye, not anger, or affection, something else entirely. Her gaze wandered from his eyes, down to the vein pulsing in his neck. He was a scorned one too, and he spoke of the power he got from his Trinity. What if she drank from him? Would she gain his power too? She didn't bother masking that thought, Damian could listen in all he liked. One taste of power and now she wanted more. But would the vampire lounging in front of her let her drink from him. Probably not. It was something worth considering though. She wouldn't try anything yet, she first wanted to ask the other two in her trinity what would happen. Raphael wasn't to know what was on her mind, so she blinked her eyes and let them travel back up to meet his own, and grinned.*
"I did come to you with a question, and you've done the best you could to answer it, and I thank you."
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Post by Raphael Augustus on Dec 30, 2006 17:32:21 GMT -5
His face was a smile as she burst again, her veins rising to her face, and her teeth clearly seen. She was in a rage, and undoutedly made more apparent by Raphael's calmness. Or so he thought, what she was truly think was unknown. But now she had her guard up, which she had previously let down when she bit the neck of two of the most powerful demons on the planet. He knew this was her choice however, and one she now had to live with. Why she thought that he would be able to tell her what to do, he had no answer to that. But it was her choice to make, not his, and she had made it.
"You don't know me, and the little you do could be a lie, so don't pretend that I am going to be as open to you as you might be to me. Yes spare you, I like you, but over time, I will grow bored, why? Because I have never been able to stay still." His eyes had become hard, and the more one would look into them, the more one might feel the ants crawling up their legs. He began to run his gloved fingers along the bottom of his lips, his smile seemed to contradict his eyes, yet evil could be seen clearly in the vampire. Many demons didn't even come close to the pure darkness in the man's heart.
He then grabbed the top of his mug, and again let the harsh liquid fall down his throat, it felt like hundreds of pebbles tumbling, and it felt good. But now he need to turn to Raven, and find a way to cool her down. Though he doubted the woman could be controlled, he had lost that by turning her down. But he had felt he had done the right thing. "What are you going to do now, m'lady Raven? Your path is much more clouded than before?" He said, he was more than relaxed.
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Post by Raven Von Winter on Dec 30, 2006 18:36:03 GMT -5
*Raven blinked at him in disbelief, he was so unpredictable. He just told her that he liked her, but would get bored with her. He didn't know that for a fact. Everything that she knows about him might be a lie, but Raven didn't care. She hadn't opened up to anyone like this since her Alexander, and her heart told her that she was willing to take that chance. As the old saying goes, it's better to have loved and lost, than never have loved at all. Raven had settled down a little, still watching Raphael. She called for another glass of rum, and drank it slowly when the waitress set it on the table. She didn't normally drink, but right now it felt good, and she savored the flavor. The alcohol was calming to her, and thats what she needed right now, so when she finished this glass, she asked for two more. If she had wanted, she could have stopped the alcohol from affecting her, but she wanted to get drunk. As it was she would sober up much more quickly than a human would, but she'd still get to feel some of the affects of the drink. She then lifted her gaze lazily to Raphael and spoke slowly.*
"You like me, yet you are afraid of hurting me. I'm a big girl Raphael, I can take it. Besides, I don't open to just anyone. You may be a lie, but I was willing to take that chance. But I guess now we'll never know what could have been huh?"
*She could feel the affects of the alcohol setting in and she folded her arms on the table and layed her head down on them. Silently, she cursed herself for ever thinking about another man. Even though her Alexander was long dead, she still felt loyal to him. Her purpose in life was to avenge his death, nothing more. Though her head was on the table, she looked and saw another glass of rum in front of her. She reached for it, and without moving her head upright, she instead tiped the glass, thinking it was the sideways one, spilling it. Laughing, she realized her mistake, picked her head up, and brought the glass to her lips, drinking that which was not spilled on the table. Normally she'd be embarrassed, but she only laughed, and glanced up to see Raphaels reaction, not that it mattered though. Grinning, she reached over to snatch another glass of some sort of alcohol off a waitress's tray, and finished it off before the waitress could even protest.*
"I'm going to see my new friend Damian!"
*Raven responded when Raphael asked where she was going, and she tried to stand up, but fell over as soon as she left her chair. She proceeded to sit where she was on the ground, afraid that she would fall on to the celing if she dared move an inch. Her drunken stupor would not last long, but long enough, and she layed back on the floor with her arms spread, grinning stupidly at nothing.*
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Post by Raphael Augustus on Dec 30, 2006 20:50:31 GMT -5
He rolled his eyes as Raven spoke, she sounded more and more like a spoiled girl, than a vampire queen. He sat back as he listened to her rant and complain, about how she could take care of herself, and how she didn't need protection. He shook his head, knowing very well it was a good thing that he did what he did, if this was what to be expected, than he was better off. She was talking about taking a chance, he could only assume she meant with her heart, and if she hadn't done that in the millenium, that seemed pretty pathetic.
He then watched as she started to absorb nearby alcohol, rum, gin, and anything else that came by the table. She was taking this more than a bit hard, he was still on his first glass, while she was jumping on her fourth. And although vampire could take alcohol better than humans, it could still affect them, and he watched as the woman across from him seemed to sway back and forth. He heard a thump, and looked down to see Raven's head on the table, she was still trying to consume the liquid before her, even the stuff on the grubby table. He laughed lightly to himself, taking it all in as amusement, not even trying to stop her, as she said, she was a grown woman. She mumbled something about needing to meet Damian, than attempted to stand. Figuring she was leaving, he turned back around to get the waitress, then he heard a thump and a little giggle. He then heard some of the patrons laugh at a "drunken idiot".
"Please don't be my drunken idiot." He then turned to see Raven on the ground, making no attempts to get up, simply laughing to herself. Raphael rolled his eyes and looked at the bar owner. "Room?" The man pointed upstairs, Raphael nodded his head, and then flipped Raven into a sitting postion, than lopped an arm around Raven, and pulled her left around him shoulder. Hosting her up he started to drag her towards the stairs, she was rather light, even with all the muscles that seemed to tighten and loosen as he moved. As he got closer to the bartender, he flipped a few coins with his free hand.
Up top he kicked one of the doors open and it slammed open, inside was a bed, and a chair and desk. Placing Raven on the bed, he made sure that she was on her back, and then fluffed one of the pillows. He then brushed some of the hair out of her face, only to have her belch in his. He smiled at the smell of alcohol.
"Raven, what are you trying to do? We both know very well that you are to smart for this, so what are you really doing? Are you trying to get me to do something?"
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Post by Raven Von Winter on Dec 30, 2006 21:15:30 GMT -5
*Raven didn't remember much at all, just a little bit about Raphael helping her up and moving her somewhere. When he layed her down on the bed, she was already passed out, and didn't even hear him speak to her. But she dreamed, and in the dream was Damian, and he was mocking her... His words made her angry, and she began yelling at him, though what Raphael would hear was her talking in her sleep.*
"Damian...if you were paying any attention you would realize that there will not be a third date with Raphael, there wont even be a first, and expecially not kids!"
*She then awoke with a start, still feeling some effects of the alcohol, but almost sobered up. Her thoughts and speech at least were coherent. It was then that she realized her dream wasn't actually a dream, but Damian speaking directly to her. She wasn't hearing his thoughts, but exactly what he wanted her to hear. She then sat up in the bed and looked around the room.*
"Where am I...?"
*The room she was in seemed to be one above the bar, because she could still hear people below, and could smell the alcohol. Her eyes then settled on Raphael, and widened in wonderment. She then looked at herself, to make sure she still had clothes on, relieved to find out that she did. Looking back at Raphael with a glare, she started on him.*
"Who in the hell do you think you are?! First you turn me down, now you have me in a hotel room! I refuse to sleep with you!"
*She was up off the bed and walking in Raphaels direction, with her finger held out accusingly. She stopped before she got to him and threw up her hands in frusteration, then sat back down on the bed, glowering at him.*
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Post by Raphael Augustus on Dec 30, 2006 21:41:29 GMT -5
Raphael heard her mumering in her sleep, and now that he was away from the partons below, he could now 'feel' her, much like he could with demons, thanks to the blood running through his veins. He was never sure how drinking the blood entered his blood stream, and entered his husk of a heart. He then raised his head as he watched Raven stir. He himself was now sitting on a chair, waiting for her.
This time, the back of the chair was facing Raven, and Raphael was resting his chin on it, watching her. Finally she awoke, and laid their for a few seconds, he then laughed when he heard her mutter something odd, about him, her, and kids. He then raised his eyebrow, and then she awoke completely, utterly dazed. Her eyes were hard and stubborn. He smiled when she asked where she was, and then smirked when she stood and saw him. The two locked eyes and it seemed like the fire would grow around her, she snapped at him, about him trying to get her to sleep with her. He only shook his head, and she sat back down when she tried to stand.
He through up his hands. "You mistake me m'lady Von Winter, I only intended to spar you further embarsement, and by you, I meant me. I can be seen having my, allies, fall on floor, and just leave them there. Think of how that would make me look." He then took a small flask out of his jacket and threw it Raven. "Drink, it's blood." The flask itself was magic, as it was able to fill it with lifeblood almost instantly, not the blood of dead corpses. Something he had stolen from the tomb of Shak'Ta, a vampire king from long ago. That was not the important thing he stole, but it was certainly useful. It let him hide in a human city without having to feed off humans.
"You claimed, back when you were drunk, that you needed to see Damian, when you told me you merely need to think of it, and you can speak with him. So tell me, what is really going on, and don't spill some demonspawn talk about you were going to open yourself up. You are a strong woman, and don't open yourself up to anyone." His hat was back on his head now, and pulled over his eyes, but he could clearly see Raven, but he could not guess to her next move.
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