Islington Nest Christmas Party, Dec 17 [Open to all Nest members and their guests]

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline has worked hard to put together the evening's event, which is not only a Christmas party but also hopefully a chance for the Nest to celebrate its new leadership. The room at the Angelo has been decorated with a winter wonderland theme which, while not exactly original, is quite lovely.

A string quartet is playing a selection of Christmas and other classical music. Any attempts to feed on the musicians will result in the perpetrator getting thrown out the party, or worse. But feeding on any of the hired help or performers should be unnecessary, since several varieties of "blood punch" are available to drink. There is also food and other drinks available for non-vampire guests and anyone else who wishes to partake.

There is a strict black tie only dress code and Caroline will tell anyone who is under-dressed to go home and change.



[The event is happening on Dec 17th but I wanted to get it up early so everyone had time to do get involved if they so desired.]

Comments

[dredefulchilde]

"I've seen you around quite a bit," Joscelin says to the tall (though all adults are tall to him) woman in the suit. "You supported Jean-Claude."

It is a blunt way to begin a conversation, but Joss has never been one for small talk.

"I should like to know you better. If Jean-Claude is to succeed as our leader, anyway."

[freelife]

The young vampire (physically, she reminds herself) catches her attention, and Evie nods. She's aways been careful to treat even the youngest as she would wish to be treated, and now is no exception. Vampires could be tricky, she knew.

"Yes, I've been around a bit more recently," she says carefully. Part of treating children the same as adults meant trusting them the same amount. Again, vampires could be tricky.

"I certainly hope he does." She gives him a careful glance. "Very well; Evie Frye." She extends her hand, not bothering with her titles. "And you are?"

[dredefulchilde]

"Joscelin Fitzthomas." His grip is surprisingly firm for one so small. "Joss."

Cesare had mentioned a 'Dame Frye' in the run up to their (successful) attempt to claim Newham. This further cements his desire to get to know the woman better. She is not young, that is certain, but she is also of the generation where his particular reputation may proceed him. No matter; he's had a century to get used to it and it's not that he's particularly ashamed of the way things had gone. It was all Millicent's fault, anyway.

"Hopefully this means a bit of stability for us."

[freelife]

Now that was a name Evie recognized. She'd first come to London in the 1860s, but had found her way back in the autumn of 1888. Though she had bigger things on her mind, she'd heard of Joscelin FitzThomas de Lisle.

"Your reputation proceeds you," she says with a smile. She means to judge him for herself, but she knew how many thousands he'd killed- though Evie had to wonder if her own body count wasn't nearly as high.

"Hopefully. I believe our community at large would benefit from it."

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin can't help a small smile at being recognized. It always makes things so much easier when he doesn't have to explain himself.

A mere child he certainly is not.

"Vampires do not grow to any great age with people like Raymond Harris in charge, that is for certain. It's hard to gain any sort of power if the rest of the world is trying to kill you all the time." He hardly agrees with all of Jean-Claude's policies--he's especially frustrated with the all-out ban on hunting for sport--but playing politics has its benefits.

[freelife]

Evie smirks, despite herself. "You need not tell me, Joss," she explain. How many vampires like Harris had she taken out? She remembers Starrick, how she and Jacob had killed him, even as Jacob slipped into vampirism. She'd aged a few more years, before it was her turn to be turned.

"Of course, it helps if we don't try to kill them all the time."

[dredefulchilde]

"It does at that," Joss agrees, nodding his head. "The world has changed in the last century and a half. Those who refuse to acknowledge it do so at their peril." That is why Raymond Harris had needed to die. They couldn't sit back and pretend it was still the way it had been in culenturies past, when vampires could hunt with impunity because no one bothered looking very hard for the dead.

[freelife]

Evie raises her glass to the thought. "I've been a vampire for near that long, and it's absolutely true." Adapt to the changing ways of the world, or you'd be left behind.

"You can't just throw a body in the Thames anymore; and people talk. With social media and the internet? We're a clever blog post away from discovery. The nest's actions should reflect that." So don't kill people for fun, okay?

[dredefulchilde]

"Everyone has a camera in their pocket, and nosy policemen are so much harder to dispose of than they were when it was just a night's watchman with a lantern." He sighs in fond remembrance. "Plagues and epidemics were always the easiest pickings, of course. With all the people dying in the street, who was to notice one or two more?" Ah, the good old days.

"We can't live openly anymore, the way we once did."

[freelife]

"I'm not sure I would put it that way." It's a very dark way of looking at it. But she knows it comes with the territory. They were vampires, the undead, walking and talking and feeding on blood. Feeding on life itself.

"We can't." Evie agrees. "Honestly, I find the resurgence of vampire fiction in popular culture a bit of a blessing. They get so many things wrong."

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin rolls his eyes. "Sparkling," he grumbles like the bitter old man he secretly is. "Zounds, what idiocy. And now there's no end to lonely housewives who want to join our ranks."

All looking for the tall, dark, and handsome vampire with a conscience to take them away from the drudgery of their lives. What a joke.

[freelife]

Evie lets out a small laugh. There were some vampires that could enjoy their rise in the public eye. Jacob, for instance, had never had any lack of admirers, but she wouldn't have been surprised if she found out he added a bit of glitter to his wardrobe.

"Would you have us all be fighters and schemers?"

[dredefulchilde]

"Why not?" Joss shrugs, signaling to a waiter for another glass of champagne. "It is in our nature to do so. Even Jean-Claude, who plays the romantic gallant better than the rest of us, is ruthless when he needs to be. We are not, by nature, a peaceful race. Our very survival depends on killing the innocent and draining their blood. Fighting and scheming comes with the territory."

[freelife]

"To some, perhaps." She was an Assassin. She'd killed thousands, easily without any issue. But she didn't like to drink the blood from the unwilling or undeserving. She had principals.

"I suppose it comes with the loss of what makes us human." Evie enjoyed her humanity. She was all too aware what sort of monster she had the capacity to become, and she did all she could to keep that at bay.

[dredefulchilde]

Joscelin has long since discarded what once made him human. Being human is weakness, and when you are an eternal child weakness means death. He has no use for kindness or mercy or any of the other emotions associated with humanity.

"But we're not human. We gave up our souls when we accepted the gift of immortality--or had it thrust upon us."

[freelife]

It makes sense- Joss is far older than Evie is, trapped in the body of a child. It's cruel. She can understand his willingness to abandon what made them human.

"Perhaps not. But I treasure that which once did, soul or not."

[dredefulchilde]

"Sentimental," Joscelin replies, sounding a bit disgusted. "You and Jean-Claude both. What maudlin foolishness."

And yet Jean-Claude is one of his only friends. The world is full of contradictions.

[freelife]

Evie lets out a small chuckle.

"Perhaps. But for me, it's what separates me from the Templars I was trained to hunt and kill."