Joscelin Fitzthomas (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dredefulchilde) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
undergrounds2016-02-17 10:18 pm
dredefulchilde) wrote in undergrounds2016-02-17 10:18 pm
Entry tags:
If I had my way I would stay up here forever and never look down - February Open Post
Leaning from the balcony
Islington Nest, Early February - OPEN to vampires and vampire allies only
One hundred twenty years, almost exactly. That was how long it had been since Joscelin Fitzhomas had last been allowed in the Nest. He was surprised by how much had changed--he saw far more new faces than old--and how much had stayed exactly the same. Everything was so familiar; with the notable exception of the clothes everyone wore and the cell phones most now carried, it was almost as if he had not been deposed in a violent coup, been made to watch as every vampire he'd ever sired was killed in front of him, and had been banned for life.
Huh.
Well, plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
He initially cast about for a familiar face, but quickly changed his criteria to a friendly one. He recognized many faces, of course, and he also recognized the openly murderous glares he was getting from every quarter. His reputation as a monstrous tyrant had apparently preceded him, because even vampires sired after his spectacular downfall didn't look terribly pleased to have him there.
Ah--a friendly face at last. Finally.
"Rough crowd tonight, hmm? It's almost as if they all remember my rather disastrous attempt at leading the Nest."
As if without a care
Kensington High Street, 14 February - OPEN
Ah, Valentine's Day. Chocolate and cards and plenty of soppy young couples drunk on wine and love and blissfully unaware that they were being watched by a small figure lurking in the shadows. After his embarrassing failure to feed on the American the previous night, Joscelin found himself quite ravenous. He stood a little away from the entrance to the Underground station, looking for an easy mark. It had been far too long since he'd had human blood, and even as old as he was his strength and speed were rather diminished because of it. Ah, there.
Quietly, he approached his chosen victim.
Wondering should I take the fall
Guilty Pleasures, 20 February - CLOSED to Kenzi
News around the Nest was that Jean-Claude had recently turned a pretty young girl. A former witch, even, to hear some of the younger ones tell it. How very interesting.
Joss felt it was his duty, as Jean-Claude's associate and even sometimes friend to investigate these claims and, if necessary, impress upon the newly made vampire the importance of her new situation as the progeny of the Earl of Poplar.
But mostly he was curious.
As strange, or even appalling, as the presence of a prepubescent boy in a strip club might have looked to the casual observer, this was hardly Joscelin's first time in Jean Claude's establishment. In fact, a nod to the bartender got him shown to his accustomed booth, hidden in a corner, and a large strawberry milkshake. If he was going to suss out the baby vampire, Guilty Pleasures was a good place to start.
And apparently his hunch had paid off. There she was, really not very far from where he sat. The others had been right--she was pretty.
"So it's you, then, is it?" He asked, more demanding than anything, putting out his small hand. "Joscelin Fitzthomas de Lisle, at your service."
Or should I take the stairs
The Jolly Roger, 29 February - OPEN
Leap years were somewhat less extraordinary to the admittedly ancient but Joscelin had always found himself fascinated with the idea of it, which came about far earlier than his own long-ago time. It was Aurelia who had first sparked his interest in all things antiquarian, when she was still alive, and in between telling him stories of Claudian Rome and her eventual journey to the newly established outpost of Britannia improved his paltry church Latin with the real thing.
He'd never admit it, of course, but he missed his sire desperately.
Because it was leap day, and because he still had yet to find a human surrogate parent who fit his exacting standards in brainwashed blood donors, Joss decided to debase himself by going to the local watering hole. Blood workers weren't ideal, but he had a bit of cash at the moment and it was far preferable to random drunks and stray pets. Despite his apparent age, certain others of his attributes had him quickly admitted to the back room.
Where he waited.
Islington Nest, Early February - OPEN to vampires and vampire allies only
One hundred twenty years, almost exactly. That was how long it had been since Joscelin Fitzhomas had last been allowed in the Nest. He was surprised by how much had changed--he saw far more new faces than old--and how much had stayed exactly the same. Everything was so familiar; with the notable exception of the clothes everyone wore and the cell phones most now carried, it was almost as if he had not been deposed in a violent coup, been made to watch as every vampire he'd ever sired was killed in front of him, and had been banned for life.
Huh.
Well, plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.
He initially cast about for a familiar face, but quickly changed his criteria to a friendly one. He recognized many faces, of course, and he also recognized the openly murderous glares he was getting from every quarter. His reputation as a monstrous tyrant had apparently preceded him, because even vampires sired after his spectacular downfall didn't look terribly pleased to have him there.
Ah--a friendly face at last. Finally.
"Rough crowd tonight, hmm? It's almost as if they all remember my rather disastrous attempt at leading the Nest."
As if without a care
Kensington High Street, 14 February - OPEN
Ah, Valentine's Day. Chocolate and cards and plenty of soppy young couples drunk on wine and love and blissfully unaware that they were being watched by a small figure lurking in the shadows. After his embarrassing failure to feed on the American the previous night, Joscelin found himself quite ravenous. He stood a little away from the entrance to the Underground station, looking for an easy mark. It had been far too long since he'd had human blood, and even as old as he was his strength and speed were rather diminished because of it. Ah, there.
Quietly, he approached his chosen victim.
Wondering should I take the fall
Guilty Pleasures, 20 February - CLOSED to Kenzi
News around the Nest was that Jean-Claude had recently turned a pretty young girl. A former witch, even, to hear some of the younger ones tell it. How very interesting.
Joss felt it was his duty, as Jean-Claude's associate and even sometimes friend to investigate these claims and, if necessary, impress upon the newly made vampire the importance of her new situation as the progeny of the Earl of Poplar.
But mostly he was curious.
As strange, or even appalling, as the presence of a prepubescent boy in a strip club might have looked to the casual observer, this was hardly Joscelin's first time in Jean Claude's establishment. In fact, a nod to the bartender got him shown to his accustomed booth, hidden in a corner, and a large strawberry milkshake. If he was going to suss out the baby vampire, Guilty Pleasures was a good place to start.
And apparently his hunch had paid off. There she was, really not very far from where he sat. The others had been right--she was pretty.
"So it's you, then, is it?" He asked, more demanding than anything, putting out his small hand. "Joscelin Fitzthomas de Lisle, at your service."
Or should I take the stairs
The Jolly Roger, 29 February - OPEN
Leap years were somewhat less extraordinary to the admittedly ancient but Joscelin had always found himself fascinated with the idea of it, which came about far earlier than his own long-ago time. It was Aurelia who had first sparked his interest in all things antiquarian, when she was still alive, and in between telling him stories of Claudian Rome and her eventual journey to the newly established outpost of Britannia improved his paltry church Latin with the real thing.
He'd never admit it, of course, but he missed his sire desperately.
Because it was leap day, and because he still had yet to find a human surrogate parent who fit his exacting standards in brainwashed blood donors, Joss decided to debase himself by going to the local watering hole. Blood workers weren't ideal, but he had a bit of cash at the moment and it was far preferable to random drunks and stray pets. Despite his apparent age, certain others of his attributes had him quickly admitted to the back room.
Where he waited.
no subject
Is this what he's reduced to? Is he this rusty at hunting after months of living fat and happy off a blood bag that he can't even manage to procure a meal without it trying to confront him about it? Joscelin wonders if having blood on demand for so long has dulled his instincts, made him weak. Maybe he needs to be forced to scavenge for a while.
And maybe he's really fucking hungry.
He eyes the man's neck, considering. How easy would it be to just close the distance and tear out that throat? Surely, he doesn't need to be as rigid when it comes to not killing humans now that he and Coward have their little arrangement. It's been a few decades, yes, but wholesale slaughter is something that comes as naturally to Joscelin as breathing. Really, he should be commended for how well he's controlled those urges. Rewarded, even, with food that doesn't try to confront him.
He sighs. If only. "It'll be painless. You don't even have to remember it."
A beat.
"Or I could just kill you."
no subject
He's willing to bet that it's the latter.
"Alas, I have a feeling that the man I serve would not be very happy if you did something like that," Childermass says, very matter of fact, nonchalant despite the fact that they are discussing the possibility of killing him. "And I don't think that it would do the vampires' alliance with him very good either. And we mustn't have that, now, have we?"
no subject
Maybe it truly is time for Joscelin to start paying for his blood. This whole going it alone business is too obnoxious.
"I've an arrangement with Lord Coward as well, actually. But it's no matter." He smirks. "Go back to the man you serve."
no subject
Childermass spreads his hands wide in an almost apologetic motion. "Then it would do neither of us any good to tip the balances on our agreements. Though I must admit," he continues. "I am curious as to what arrangement you might have with him."
no subject
"Mortals so rarely have a proper grasp of vampire politics." And vice versa. Joss has no idea who the current Prime Minister is, nor does he have even the slightest inclination to learn. "Your lives are too short for that."
And his life may get even shorter if Childermass keeps asking pointed questions.
no subject
"Perhaps so," he says. "And yet your friend is curiously keen on our business. Why is that, do you think?"