hazy shade of winter - january open post

[freelife]

[Another open post for both Evie and Nancy. Starters are in the comments, feel free to grab me at sheakespeare if you want something specific, or write your own starter, I'm not picky.]

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Training Montage- Caroline, early January

[freelife]

Evie had told Caroline to meet her at one of the last safehouses in London. It wasn't her flat, to say, though upstairs there were beds in case she needed them, it belonged to the Assassin's. The small mark on the door said so, to anyone who knew what symbol to look for.

When Caroline arrives, Evie's dressed in a pair of work-out leggings, trainers, and an open hoodie over her sports-bra. She's got bottles of water for the two of them, a little diluted with a few drops of blood to help keep Caroline's energy up.

"We're not going to do anything too crazy today," Evie tells her, and gesture for her to follow down to the basement. The basement is completely free of natural light, and surprisingly comfortable. A punching bag hangs in the corner, in addition to all sorts of fun work-out and training items. A few free weights lay about, and it's quite clear that this is where Evie does a lot of training. "Have you stretched?"

Without waiting for an answer, Evie tosses Caroline a pair of fingerless boxing gloves. "Because I want to see what you can do, first."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline has no idea what symbols to look for and is just happy to find the place okay. Her London navigation skills are definitely getting better.

She's dressed similarly to Evie, with a yoga pants and an old t-shirt she's pretty sure she stole from Tyler at some point. She studies the water bottles for a moment until she realizes what Evie's put in them. "Neat trick."

The basement work-out space is pretty impressive and this whole thing is beginning to feel very real. Caroline's excited but also worried about the bruises she sees in her near future. But it will be worth it, to be able to better defend herself - or others - if necessary.

"Yes," she replies. She even jogged a bit on the way over, just to limber up. And so she puts on the boxing gloves and gets as ready as she's going to be for a bit of sparring.

[freelife]

"I find it's a bit of a vampire equivalent to Gatorade," she says, and picks up her own pair of gloves. Hand-to-hand is coming first, before any weapons are added. That would help teach her how to move.

She slides them on, then rolls up the sleeves of her hoodie.

"Come at me. Whenever you want. Don't be afraid to hit me. I'll only be blocking." She knew her strength, and she knew Caroline was far younger than her, and subsequently, she wasn't worried about her hitting her.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"I'll have to remember that one."

She raises her hands in fists and tries to think about what she should do. She doesn't really have a style or know any strategies. Which probably meant she was now overthinking it.

Finally, she decides to just rush in as quick as possible and see if it worked. She lunges towards Evie, aiming a punch at her head.

[freelife]

Caroline pretty much telegraphs her entire attack, and Evie steps to the side, holding a hand up to block the punch easily.

"Keep a hand covering your face," she tells her. "Black eyes take a while to heal, even with our abilities." She recovers, coming to face Caroline again.

"Again."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline readjusts, keeping on hand in front of her face. This time, she goes in on the left, only to veer right at the last minute, hoping this punch might get a bit closer to landing.

[freelife]

The punch doesn't land- sorry, Caroline, but you're sparring with a trained Assassin who has been training for over one hundred fifty years. She mirrors Caroline with ease, stepping in behind her.

"You're telegraphing. Don't think. Again." She's happy to continue for as long as Caroline needs.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

This is going about as poorly as Caroline expected but she keeps trying. She slowly gets closer to Evie, looking for any weak points. She's not surprised to not see any - even if they are there, she's not really trained to notice. So instead she aims a punch lower, at Evie's stomach.

[freelife]

There's a drop in Caroline's shoulder, and this time Evie isn't quite so nice when she rushes her. She gives her a small shove down to the mat.

"Don't drop your shoulder."

We Need To Talk- Cooper, early January

[stauncherhearted]

There are two tumblers full of whiskey on the coffee table when Nancy finally gets the courage up to say what she needs to. Wordlessly, she hands one to Cooper, and takes a nice long drink of her own. When it's mostly gone, she sets it down and looks at him.

"I love you," she promises, her eyes locked with his. Instead of the usual bright green, though, her eyes are stormy, unsure.

He was running for the Night Council. And she knew what that meant. "And I don't want to do this, Cooper. I don't. But- I can't-" she presses her lips together, looking away. She's never broken up with anyone before. Hell, she and Bill never even officially broke up. But she has to do it this time. For Cooper's sake. For the sake of the election-

Who the hell would vote for a candidate whom so many of the nest had pretty much been cuckolding, in a manner of speaking?

"I want you to win this election, Cooper." And for him to do that... She couldn't be his girlfriend.

[emotioneater]

Cooper had gotten back later than he had expected to. He'd been out talking with small groups of vampires all over the city. He's never been one for big speeches, so he relies more on his natural charm and frank nature to win people over. He doesn't make empty promises or tell everyone that things will change immediately if he's elected. But he does try to be honest, saying he'll do his best to do the right thing for vampires and humans alike.

When Nancy wants to talk, pulling out the god whiskey, he feels like something bad is coming. There's a tight feeling in his chest as his fingers curl around the glass. She's in trouble somehow is all he can think of. He has to fix this. What she's trying to tell him doesn't fully register. "I don't understand, sweet-pea. What's goin' on?"

[stauncherhearted]

She's so proud of him, the way he's been campaigning. She wants to be out there with him, but she can't, and so she's held back, working behind the scenes. She'd copied how many fliers, now?

Besides, he had her vote. Out of all three candidates, he had her vote.

"I want you to win, Cooper. And that means-" she finishes her glass and starts pouring more. "No one's going to vote for someone who's girlfriend they've drank from. I know we try to separate them but- but others don't. And I can't do that to you. I'm not selfish enough and- and I love you so much, Cooper." Tears spring to her eyes. "But for your sake, I can't be with you."

[emotioneater]

Cooper has always had ambitions within the nest. Being a possible candidate has been a huge step for him. It's given him a chance to stretch his political skills as he hobnobs with vampires of all ages and skills.

He finally begins to understand what Nancy is saying. A cold lump forms in the pit of his stomach. "What? Nancy, are you--" He swallows, eyes sad as he reaches out to take her hand. "--are you tryin' t'break up with me?"

He knew what her job meant. He'd known that from day one. While it had gotten them in trouble before, he thought they were past that point. To think that her profession could affect the outcome of an election where his opponents operated a strip club and were a Borgia was something that hasn't even crossed his mind.

[stauncherhearted]

He actually says it, the words she can't manage. Yes, she's trying to break up with him.

Her cheeks burn and she looks down, her throat tight as she manages a small nod.

"I- I love you. So much. But you can't win if I'm here. And- and I know what it means to you. I have to, Cooper. I'm so so sorry."

She can't bring herself to take her hand away, instead clinging to him like a lifeline. "You'll thank me when you're on the Night Council." He had to win, now. Otherwise, all of this would have been for nothing.

[emotioneater]

"No." His voice goes hard and his blue eyes go flinty. Rather than getting sad, he's getting upset. It's rather like the feeling he had when he saw her with a client and nearly put him through the wall. It's a irrational sort of possessiveness, the kind that doesn't make any sense, but that engulfs him entirely.

"Nancy, you walkin' the streets isn't gonna affect this much one way or the other. Jean-Claude openly runs Guilty Pleasures and Cesare....well, Cesars is a Borgia. 'Nuff said right there. So don't do this t'me. Please." His voice softens just a little. "It's gonna be a bitter victory without you by my side."

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy recognizes the change in his voice, in his eyes, and she stills, her back rigid. Like if she moved too suddenly, it would all be over. If she had enough cause to actually examine her actions, it was clear where they were rooted.

"And if you win? What then- you can't be on the Night Council and date a fucking whore, Cooper." She hated when others called her a whore, but when she said it- when she said it, it was different. It was right. "You're the best one for the job, but you won't win if you're with me."

She took a deep breath, still holding on to his hand.

"I don't want to do this. I love you."

[emotioneater]

Hearing her call herself a whore just stabs a shard of glass right into his heart. He's heard others call her that before. Most of the time, he usually wants to beat the crap out of them. But now here she is using it herself. He wants to shake her by the shoulders until she understands where he's coming from.

"Dammit, don't do this!" He slams his fist down on the table hard enough to form a small, fist-shaped dent. That gets the worst of his anger out. It leaves a trail of worry and concern in his mind. How could he make her see that their association wouldn't cost them the election?

"I love you too. Look, we'll find another way around this. I know you're thinking this is the best solution, but it's not!" He ran his thumb over her knuckles. ""Please, sweet-pea. The power I get won't be worth much without you by my side."

mid-jan? for evie!

[ghoulaid]

The politics here are out of control. Ghoul isn't sure what to make of it all yet.

His uncertain fascination is no doubt how he's ended up here, at one of the many points of contact between Islington and East End territory. It looks odd, no doubt. A lone wolf prowling up and down the boundary line as if on some sort of patrol, albeit a pretty ineffective one. What could he possibly do on his own?

He stops at an area at random, facing Islington's side as he plants his hands at his hips and squints across the invisible line he's apparently not allowed to cross. He may not be able to touch the other side, but that doesn't mean he can't stare at it and think. With early evening slowly darkening the skies, he's got plenty of peace and quiet to do just that in.

[freelife]

Part of being a countess, Evie believes, is taking patrol. She wants to make sure that her territory was safe. She'd sworn an oath a long time ago to protect the people, and she wasn't going to let that change.

Tonight she's on the roofs, as she was most nights, when she catches sight of a young man (something about the way he dressed reminded her of the charming young artist Party) starring over into their territory. A scent on the wind informed her of what he was. A wolf.

She's not mad, she's not upset, what she is is curious. With little trouble at all, she descends in the shadows, landing on her feet silently. Removing her hood, she takes a step into the light.

"Hullo," she says- there's a hidden blade up her sleeve, but she appears unarmed. It was harder to pack heat on the street these days. Not everyone carried swords around anymore. Thank goodness. "What brings you out here tonight?" It's conversational, not accusing him of anything. Just simply curious. He's a young thing. And he's alone. She's not afraid.

[ghoulaid]

A quick snap of adrenaline draws Ghoul's attention over to his new companion. It isn't enough to be classified as panic, although he's definitely alert now. She's pretty, he notes, but pretty doesn't mean safe.

Especially considering the tickle in his nose is telling him she's a vampire. He's a little wary, as he has reason to be. He's heard all about it by now, and if even half of Islington feels the same amount of hate towards werewolves as East End's alpha does against vampires, he's in some serious shit.

But this one hasn't done anything threatening yet. He figures the least he can do is be civil. He waves a brief greeting to her, then shrugs as he hides both hands away in his jean pockets. "Nothing. Felt like lookin' at stuff." Speaking of looking at stuff... he tilts his head, curious as to how long she's been lurking. He hadn't been able to pick her out, honestly. Everything over there smells like fresh vampire anyway. "You been followin' me?" His tone is much the same as hers. Nothing accusatory, just interested.

[freelife]

Hands in his pockets, alright. Evie keeps hers in the open. They're gloved, against the cold. Though she'd be lying if she said they didn't pack a little extra punch in the knuckles.

"No," she says simply. "If I were following you, I assure you we wouldn't be having this conversation." There's the tiniest flicker of amusement in her eyes. This man, he's American. So she doesn't assume he knows much of anything about their little world. For all she knows, this could just be a random encounter at the border.

"You been in London long?" She asks, conversationally.

[ghoulaid]

That gets an odd look. He's not entirely sure what she's implying there, but whatever it is, he feels like it's probably dangerous. Then again, he could be off base completely. Lately his imagination has been running about as wild as one belonging to a kid who's just been read Stephen King before bedtime.

Doesn't mean this girl has to suffer for it, though, so he makes an effort to wipe the slightly sour look off his face. "Uh, not really. I got here a couple weeks ago now, I guess." After a moment, he adds, "You're all real weird," with a fleeting hint of a smile.

[freelife]

Very dangerous. If she had been following him, either he'd be dead by now, or she would never have let herself get caught.

"I've heard that about Americans, too," she says. "Welcome to London. You'll love it here, despite the weirdness. In time, it'll seem normal."

[ghoulaid]

"I dunno..." He sounds unsure. He's making a bit of a playful production out of it, but there is genuine concern there somewhere. "I've heard some wild shit. You plannin' on tackin' my skin on a wall at any point?"

[freelife]

"No." Evie doesn't hesitate. "I think the whole practice is tacky, and not to mention, fur doesn't go with my design choices."