Dhampir
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Extreme =&gt; Extreme Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: thebobmaster on 13-09-2011, 06:42:59</h2>
		<dl id="posts">
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>13-09-2011, 06:42:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Late night. Theresa sat in the abandoned apartment, thinking to herself. Six years now, ever since that day. She looked at her hand, still dripping blood after her less-than-neat entrance through the adjacent apartment's window. Still, no one was around the young woman. Acting on instinct, the dhampir moved to a corner shielded from any sunlight, curling her six foot tall frame slightly to ensure that the sunlight wouldn't hit her while she rested. Undoing her blonde ponytail, she closed her discolored eyes. As far as she knew, she was safe here. But even as she rested, she was constantly aware of any movement on the creaky floor, any sound from the door entering the apartment. She'd been attacked by vampires and humans alike before. Usually, the former seemed more...vicious...than the humans, but an attack was still an attack. And she was going to avoid one any way she could.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>13-09-2011, 08:03:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>Deep inside a laboratory under one of the federal buildings in the city, a vampire sits at her desk, scribbling notes for references to her ongoing studies in the various collections and ancient tomes that she keeps.&nbsp; The dim light of the lab bothers her not at all, her eyes having long ago adjusted to the dim light of the lab.<br><br>A soft tap comes from the door a moment before opening, her slender 'lab assistant' slipping in with a bag of various groceries and such.&nbsp; Tiphanie nods a bit, setting her things down and putting some of the items in the minifridge under the desk.&nbsp; "So...the rumors are running again..."&nbsp; the lab assistant murmurs while putting things away.<br><br>The elder vampire sighs and leans back in her chair, looking for a moment at the much younger mortal woman.&nbsp; "Rumors about <em>what</em>, pray tell?&nbsp; Or, dare I hazard a guess...the dhampir?"&nbsp; She quirks one perfectly sculpted dark brow to her assistant.<br><br>The woman shakes her head and smirks a bit, "you make it sound almost dirty, mistress.&nbsp; After so many rounds of rumors, there must be some truth to them.&nbsp; If you spent some time socializing with your own kind you might hear something about what's going on.&nbsp; You know...beyond the arguments about your budget and methods and sending me to meetings.&nbsp; Actual socializing?"<br><br>The vampire shakes her head and smiles a bit, "I have done so before, youngling, and I ask you to keep such in mind.&nbsp; And really, what is there to say about these rumors, hm?"&nbsp; She gestures at her collection of books in the room, standing in shelf after shelf, in stacks on tables and elsewhere.&nbsp; "The one thing that every one of these tomes agrees on is that such a thing is impossible, that nothing like what is proposed has happened before.&nbsp; The one and only exception is that," she points at a case with a lock on it, "tome which claims to be prophesies from a mad vampiric priest from the plague era.&nbsp; None of it is trustworthy, half of it is completely wrong or so incomprehensible as to be useless and the other half is cryptic, depraved, or impossible.&nbsp; Such as the idea of a human, vampire crossing."&nbsp; She looks back to her aid and rolls her eyes at the expression she gets from her.&nbsp; "Alright...Alright, alright, if it makes you feel any better, I will at least go out and seek the others and see what is going on.&nbsp; I am certain that there is something completely normal going on and I can get back to my work.&nbsp; I <em>do</em> have more important things to do with my time than chasing ghosts and talking with cults.&nbsp; Ghosts are notoriously uncooperative and cults have their own agendas."<br><br>With that, she slips on her long coat and gathers a few supplies, heading out into the dark of the night once more.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>15-09-2011, 16:03:17</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A busy night, but Carol had it under control.&nbsp; The lead bartender was more than competent, he was a wizard.&nbsp; The trainee wasn't too clumsy, had a decent memory and was learning fast.&nbsp; That left her a little time to do her real job:&nbsp; Scanning the crowd for customers who might match the annoyingly vague description of the people last seen with the missing girl, and listen to the bable of the crow for hints that somebasy had at least heard of a roumnor of what had happened to her.&nbsp; <br><br>She was certain she hadn't been made as a cop, she had been a regular to the bar for years, was known as a rather butch good tipper.&nbsp; Opinion was divided as to whether she was a lesbian, anybody who asked her out got a level stare in response.&nbsp; Carol Neathawk's cover was very deep and had taken her years to cultivate and strengthen.&nbsp; That level of security didn't leave much room for relationships.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>15-09-2011, 19:01:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				After a couple of hours of sleep, Theresa awoke refreshed. Looking up at the sky, she estimated the time to be around midnight. Time to get out and enjoy the night. Climbing to the rooftop out the broken window, she jumped over an alleyway, landing in a roll two stories down on another rooftop, tearing open the cut on her hand, dripping blood onto the rooftop. Ignoring the pain, she ran across the rooftop, jumping onto a drainage pipe on the adjacent building and climbed down to street level, wandering the dark alleys carefully, blood dripping behind her as she did so. She didn't mind the street level. But crowds were more dangerous for her than alleys, or so she thought.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>18-09-2011, 08:37:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The cool of the night air did not bother the vampire in the slightest.&nbsp; Time and exposure had worn away much of her concern about such minor things as moderately cool evening air.&nbsp; That, and the fact that she was technically dead and wearing a long coat went some ways towards mitigating it.<br><br>Once outside of the building she pulls out a pack of cigarettes and lights one, holding it loosely in her lips.&nbsp; It doesn't really do anything for her, beyond carrying something the persona she generally tried to present outside of the lab.&nbsp; That and it gave a visual reminder of her breathing; something that she had been getting out of practice of with so much time spent in the lab.&nbsp; Watching the glowing ember periodically brighten was an effective way to help with that.&nbsp; Shaking her head a bit, she walked quietly down the side walk with Tiphanie, hands buried in the pockets of the long coat.&nbsp; After a block or so of walking, she rolls the cigarette to the other side of her mouth and speaks quietly, "so...as you've been more out and about of late, what manner of rumors are circulating about this impossible creature?&nbsp; I'm curious as to what could be causing a resurgence of these kinds of comments."&nbsp; She smiles a bit at the expression from her assistant, "oh, yes...these rumors, or ones similar to them, have made the rounds before.&nbsp; Vampires with magical powers, werewolf vampires and so forth.&nbsp; The question is, what's bringing them up this time?"<br><br>Tiphanie shrugs a bit, looking up at the night sky.&nbsp; "Mostly it's comments about something that doesn't feel right.&nbsp; Someone who doesn't have the feeling of a vampire, but has that sort of vibe, you know?&nbsp; And no, not the kind of vibe I give off, either.&nbsp; There are plenty of mortal, um...assistants to vampires.&nbsp; Samantha, one of the assistants that I have lunch with on occasion, was saying that she ran into someone on the street the other day.&nbsp; Like, literally bumped into.&nbsp; The thing that startled her was, well...you know how some of us are sensitive to others?&nbsp; Samantha can generally get some idea what something is by touching them.&nbsp; The person that she bumped into on the street gave her the feeling of a vampire sorta'.&nbsp; Not a strong feeling, but like a watered down vampire.&nbsp; Given that it was the middle of the day, in front of god and everyone, in front of a mirrored store front, Sam was startled so much she just stood drop jawed for a moment.&nbsp; By the time that she came around to her senses, the woman she bumped in to was gone.&nbsp; And there have been other stories as well.&nbsp; The local hunter population seems to be a lot more antsy at the moment and have more people out on watch during the day than they usually do.&nbsp; People just...watching people.&nbsp; They didn't used to post watches in the day...sort of a moot point when the things that you're watching for only come out at night, but now something has them nervous."<br><br>Sabien takes in what Tiphanie says and takes a long drag of the cigarette, looking skyward herself for a moment.&nbsp; "That is <em>hardly</em> strong scientific evidence for something being a half vampire, half mortal cross breed.&nbsp; Where is the proof?&nbsp; Something like documentary evidence, medical data, dental records, multiple and collaborative witness reports, video evidence, blood samples...something more concrete than ones lunch friends feelings about someone that they bumped in to.&nbsp; Perhaps the woman had been severely drained by a vampire and survived with some manner of bleedover of the vampiric aura.&nbsp; There is not much documentation in the way of such, you know as well as I."&nbsp; She shrugs a bit and gives her assistant an understanding if somewhat patronizing smile when she suddenly stopped in midstep, sampling the air.<br><br>Glancing around, they were already a number of blocks from the lab, and the street that they were on was fairly quiet.&nbsp; Nothing around seemed to give any obvious reason for her distraction.&nbsp; Her nose twitched slightly and she turned slowly towards a nearby alley, stepping into the shadows of the buildings.&nbsp; It wasn't the best neighborhood by far.&nbsp; If she remembered properly there had been some furor about the state or the city talking about urban renewal plans or some such.&nbsp; That wasn't what had her attention though.&nbsp; Within a few moments, she comes to a stop looking at a relatively empty space of cement with a darker mark in the center of it.&nbsp; She mumbles softly, more to herself than anything.&nbsp; "Blood...recent...extreme oxidization, not wholly dried, limited clotting factor...pattern suggests fall from high altitude..." She looks up, considering to herself a moment, looking as if she is doing some math before looking down again.&nbsp; "Likely from the level of the roofs, give or take 10 feet...difficult to calculate precise fall without knowing method of loss, windage and lacking precise measurements...location would suggest local transient, though lack of signs of struggle and the indicated altitude of the loss indicate something else."<br><br>She kneels down carefully, touching the blood spot with a finger, dabbing a small amount of the not quite dried blood on her fingertip and holding it up for closer examination.&nbsp; "Texture and scent are consistent with human blood, though there is a further, more subtle scent, almost a sensation in aside of the scent that would indicate the essence of a vampire, albeit somewhat weakened from it's normal state.&nbsp; The sensation is...difficult to properly explain, though I suspect it may be some manner of resonance with my personal essence."&nbsp; She points at the drop spot to Tiphanie, "secondary analysis...would you touch the spot and tell me what you think?&nbsp; If what I am feeling is correct, we may have some evidence of your rumor." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>18-09-2011, 17:09:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Carol brightened just a bit at a hand sign from a newcomer to the bar.&nbsp; The man almost immediately went back out again.&nbsp; "coffee break."&nbsp; She murmured to the lead tender and ambled out the front door, down the front of the bar and stepped into an alley.<br><br>"Detective Tanner, always good to see you, Tom.&nbsp; What, do I not have Internal Affairs cooties anymore?"<br><br>Tanner snorted "You'll always have those, Neathawk.&nbsp; Until you stop the golden bullet, anyway.&nbsp; The department will give you a nice funeral, cops from all over will show up."<br><br>"Mostly to make sure I'm really dead."&nbsp; Carol countered.&nbsp; "So what's going on?&nbsp; Has the Captain decided I've spun my wheels enough on this missing person case?"<br><br>Tanner got an odd look on his face "You'd think, but no.&nbsp; They've expanded the investigation. I'm head of a small task force - very small - assigned to the case.&nbsp; You, me, four others, we can pull in limited backup from uniforms as needed."<br><br>Carol actually dropped her coffee. They both jumped back from the splash, swearing mildly. "Task force?"&nbsp; She spluttered "Girl missing for six years, we have only a first name of Theresa, no last name, no known family, the wildest eyewitness accounts imaginable concerning her disappearance, abduction, flight.&nbsp; Hell, Tom, we don't know if she was kidnapped, ran away from home or was just abandoned!"<br><br>Tanner listened to the mini-rant with mild sympathy.&nbsp; "I said all of that and more.&nbsp; Get this, the Deputy Police Commisionner was at the briefing with the Captain.&nbsp; Somebody with pull wan'ts this kid found."<br><br>"Why?"&nbsp; Neathawk said bluntly, "Is she a witness?&nbsp; Does she know something embarrassing to somebody?&nbsp; A case like this, finding her might not be in the woman's best interest."<br><br>Tanner just shrugged "That's why I'm lead investigator and not you.&nbsp; I've had those same thoughts, but I won't let them stop me from finding her and bringing her in.&nbsp; No offense."<br><br>"None taken."&nbsp; Carol snorted a half laugh.&nbsp; "Fine, I'll be a good girl."&nbsp; <em>When I'm being watched.</em> she added to herself.&nbsp; <br><br>"Sonofabitch!"&nbsp; Tanner had stiffened and was pressing a finger against the button in his ear. "We got a report of somebody falling from a roof, getting up and running away.<br><br>Carol froze at that as well, but said "We gonna get every weirdness tip comes in while we're on this case, you know that."&nbsp; They split up, Tanner to collect a couple of uniforms and check out the report, carol to dart inside and wrap up her shift, letting her boss know she might be scarce for a while.<br><br>She had the same thought Tom did:&nbsp; The six year old report of a tweenager shot at point blank range, jumping out a window ten feet off the ground and running away never to be seen again.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>18-09-2011, 18:33:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				After running down the alleyway for a bit, Theresa stepped back into the shadows, leaning against the wall and examining her hand. It was healing. Probably another two hours before she didn't need to worry about reopening the wound. Once it was healed enough, she was going back up on the rooftops. She'd had her taste of the street level and the alleyways by now. It was time to get back to safety, along with finding a place for the daytime when necessary. Holding her wounded hand with her uninjured hand, she let the blood drip down and pool around her as she planned her path back up to the rooftops.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>19-09-2011, 08:14:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The vampire waits a short while for her assistant to touch the blood spot and rub it on her finger tip for a moment.&nbsp; Tiphanie shrugs a bit, "nothing much that I can tell, but I've never really had a talent for that sort of thing.&nbsp; More your area of expertise."&nbsp; She gives the vampire a somewhat sarcastic smile and a shrug.&nbsp; Sabien just shakes her head and sighs slightly, moving down the alley a bit and following her nose.&nbsp; "At the very least, there is something interesting about this blood.&nbsp; It has me rather curious about the being that shed it.&nbsp; No struggle, but it appears almost out of nowhere then proceeds along, leaving a very faint trail of blood."&nbsp; She smiles a bit to Tiphanie, her fangs showing for a moment.&nbsp; "Shall we see where our mystery person has gone, dear one?&nbsp; Perhaps not a glamorous as the cults club of the week, I confess, but the alleys and slums have their own...je ne sais quoi that such places can never truly match."<br><br>With that she rummages in her long coat to make sure her knife at the very least is ready at hand.&nbsp; Mundane methods of...dissuading the locals were generally better than the alternative.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>19-09-2011, 18:04:31</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				After relaxing for a few minutes, Theresa straightened, grabbing a drainage pipe and climbing up it slowly, ignoring the blood dripping down the pipe from her hand. Before too long, she reached the roof of the building, 30 feet up. Now that she was here, she leaned against a vent to rest. At the same time, she reached over and tested the strength of the vent. Not too strong. She could easily take it off when necessary. But first, her hand needed to heal. She'd done enough damage to it for now.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>19-09-2011, 23:33:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Carol reached the alley after Tanner and his team had already lift.&nbsp; That was fine with her.&nbsp; She had hoped that the detour to her safe-drop had given her enough time to miss them.&nbsp; The detective secluded herself across the street and watched the mouth of the alley and the surroundings for a long time.&nbsp; Finally satisfies the coast was clear she crossed the street two blocks down and worked her way back up, then sauntered boldly into the alley.&nbsp; She silently stared at the mayby-blood patch while she knelt and opened a small box:&nbsp; A simple blood-test kit of the type used in classrooms by students for simple experiments, or just for the novelty of basic hands-on science.&nbsp; She pricked her finger and dabbed a small drop of her O-positive blood in a small dimple of plastic.&nbsp; Then - with considerably more care - she opened another small box and drew out a small glass vial holding what appeared to be blood - although the medical technicians she had allowed to examine very small samples of the stuff were not completely in agreement that it was in fact blood, there was something very odd about it. <br><br>For one thing, despite being six years old, it looked as fresh as the day it was spilled.&nbsp; The other samples had deteriorated if they got exposed to organic material, they broke down like any other blood.<br><br>Neathawk had taken fanatical care with the couple of CC's she had in the vial.&nbsp; &nbsp;She dipped an incredibly thin pipette into the vial, resealed it at once, then dipped the pipette into her own blood.&nbsp; Her blood curdled instantly, all samples of blood did that when exposed to the stuff in the vial.&nbsp; &nbsp;She unsealed the tiny container, dipped another pipette, resealed it, then scraped up a bit of mostly-dried blood from the pavement into another plastic dimple, and touched the pipette to it.&nbsp; No reaction at all.<br><br>Carol turned as pale as her olive skin allowed.&nbsp; "Fuck.&nbsp; Me.&nbsp; Bloody."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>21-09-2011, 06:20:01</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The somewhat petite vampire led her charge through the various alley ways of the city arm in arm.&nbsp; The scent was not something one would want to dwell upon, but it was where the trail of blood went.&nbsp; Periodically she would stop and check the blood again, checking its consistency and how dry it was before continuing on.&nbsp; Sabien's eyes wandered as she walked, taking in the surroundings, collecting information to hint at what this being was like.&nbsp; So far, the only thing she could conclude was that she bled rather profusely and had rather poor taste in neighborhoods.&nbsp; On the other hand, if one was wanting to dissuade pursuit these were rather ideal areas to do so.&nbsp; Between the smell, the liquid and solid refuse and the occasional inhabitants of such a place, well...she was rather over dressed for any kind of rendezvous here. <br><br>The trail seemed to wander almost aimlessly before they stopped and Sabien looked to Tiphanie, "well, apprentice...the blood trail ends here, rather suddenly.&nbsp; What are your hypothesis?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>21-09-2011, 07:30:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Theresa crouched down on the rooftop, looking down in the alleyway. Strange. There were a couple of women talking to each other down there. And one of them seemed badly dressed for the area. She watched as one of the women examined the blood she had left behind. Vampires, most likely. That would explain why the woman was interested in the blood. Stepping back, she went over to the vent, prying the cover off carefully before climbing in, hanging inside by her fingertips as she felt for the bottom of the vent. Nothing.<br><br>Holding her breath, Theresa dropped down. Luck was not with her, it seemed, as she landed on a flat surface fifteen feet down. Biting her lip to muffle a cry of pain, she checked her leg to see if it was broken, after hearing a crack. It was, and she felt wetness on her leg as well. Great. Might as well give the vampires a more clear trail to follow. Why not put a neon arrow sign outside the vent, pointing in? <br><br>Climbing out of the vent in a crawl, Theresa found herself in a large study, long since abandoned. Crawling to the desk, she tugged on it. Locked. Her eyes narrowed as she tugged harder, the lock breaking under her strength. Theresa gasped as it opened. "How...how did I do that?" she wondered aloud. Still, no time to think about it now. Looking inside, she found a letter opener. Grabbing it, she hid it inside her bodysuit. It wasn't great protection, but it would buy her some time.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>21-09-2011, 23:41:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Shit."&nbsp; A word repeated at intervals as Neathawk leaned against a wall, deep in thought.&nbsp; It anever even occured to her to share this with Tanner.&nbsp; Her reassignment to a case long abandoned had not been mere punishment detail.&nbsp; <br><br>"Shit."&nbsp; Somebody had decided to move on the case, somebody had gotten aline on the girl, then lost it, now they were flailing about for any possible leads, and Carol Neathawk herself was one of those leads.<br><br>"Shit." It had been a weird event, no lie.&nbsp; The witnesses swore the assailant, whoever the hell he was, had put a bullet into the girl, she had then decked him, jumped out a second floor window of a trilevel house, then ran like hell.&nbsp; But why was she in the house?&nbsp; It wasn't hers.&nbsp; It wasn't the shooters.&nbsp; Unfortunately, Carol herself had put him down two days later, and nobody had come up with any idea why he had wanted to murder the kid.&nbsp; trthe detective snarled something stronger under her breath and jerked away from the brickowrk andstarted to tuck the vial back into a small well-padded case, then froze.&nbsp; For just a brief instant the blood had puled like a red LED, and now it seemed to be sloshing back..Down?.. into the bottom of the vial.&nbsp; Almost like it had surged up on the inner wall.&nbsp; She really hadn't been paying attention, wasn't sure what direction the, the pull had been in.&nbsp; But maybe, just maybe...&nbsp; Carol looked more critically at the pavement.&nbsp; It was damned dark, but maybe more drops of blood led that way?&nbsp; Disturbingly close to the angle the slosh had been towards, maybe.&nbsp; Following would have to wait for morning.<br><br>Carol stared at the vial again before tucking it safely away.&nbsp; "Holy shit."&nbsp; Not a curse.&nbsp; More like a prayer.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>22-09-2011, 08:26:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The pair stand in the alley for a short while as the mortal of the pair studies the area around her, looking occasionally to the vampire.&nbsp; "Why must you insist on these little tests?"&nbsp; She asks as she looks about carefully.<br><br>"Life is a test, dear one.&nbsp; A test that far too many fail at, alas.&nbsp; It is good to hone ones instincts on occasion.&nbsp; To focus on something beyond the ordinary and push towards something new.&nbsp; To grow."&nbsp; She smiles, fangs glinting in the faint streetlight, "it is one of those things that is rather harder once one has died...growing."<br><br>After a few moments Tiphanie rocks back on her heels and sighs.&nbsp; "So...if we're in such a hurry to find this person, why stop and play this game?&nbsp; Surely you have an answer already..."<br><br>"Ah, of course.&nbsp; But it does little good to just hand someone the answers.&nbsp; They must know how to go about finding the answers themselves."&nbsp; With that she gestures towards the building that the woman escaped up.&nbsp; "Try there."<br><br>Given at least a quadrant to work in she was able to narrow down her work and started finding what she was looking for.&nbsp; Scuff marks on the wall, the slight bending of the drain pipe, and, of course, the damning trail of blood.&nbsp; Looking up she spotted more blood as things went up.&nbsp; She nods and looks back to the vampire, "she went up...probably to the roof."<br><br>Sabien smiles again, this time without the glint of fangs and nods, "very good.&nbsp; And from the sounds, I surmise that she slipped from there into the building.&nbsp; Faintly, but, it did sound liker rather a rough landing.&nbsp; Now then...do we pursue up the roofs, or shall we take the somewhat more civil route of kicking in the door?"<br><br>The laboratory assistant just laughs a bit and gestures towards the door, stepping out of the way.&nbsp; With a slight nod the vampire paused, slipped out of her heels, handing them to her assistant, then took two steps and struck the door with a solid side kick.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>22-09-2011, 08:32:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Theresa started as she heard the door slam open. They were here. She backed herself into a shadowy corner, clutching the letter opener to herself closely. Hopefully, when they got to this room, they wouldn't spot her. If they did...well, the letter opener would disarm them. After that...well, she'd improvise.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>22-09-2011, 15:34:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Carol Neathawk - Alleyway</strong><br><br>One more glance around, then she froze.&nbsp; Creaking hinges had caught her ear, the slightest of motions had caught her eye.&nbsp; She ventured deeper into the alley.<br><br>A door torn half off the hinges, interior deadbolt still on at the door, the groove the bolt had fit in torn right out of the door frame.&nbsp; Oh boy.&nbsp; She took a closer look at the ground, flashed her maglite briefly.&nbsp; And of course, a spatter of blood drops led straight to a drain pipe by the door.&nbsp; Some had climbed up, someone pursuing had taken the direct route.<br><br>"bloody hell."&nbsp; Carol flipped open her cellphone, called Tanner, voicemail of course.&nbsp; "Tanner, get back to the alley, I found a busted door and a trail of blood.&nbsp; I'm going into the building.&nbsp; Yeah, I know, but hey, it's me, what do you expect me to do?"&nbsp; Get here fast."&nbsp; She pocketed the phone, drew her 10mm and carefully, slowly began searching.&nbsp; Which way up, somebody had climbed...stairs here, roof access most likely.&nbsp; She could move like a ghost when she wanted, and she very much wanted to now.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>23-09-2011, 05:30:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The elder vampire wandered into the building, seemingly oblivious to the grime and filth that now encrusted itself into her stockings as she glanced around, hands in the pockets of her long-coat.&nbsp; A few steps inside, she sniffed around a bit and turned to move deeper into the building, her assistant close behind her.&nbsp; After wandering through another empty room she paused and looked up to where the woman had dropped in...the scent was definitely female.&nbsp; Rummaging around a bit, she pulled out a small, medical penlight from a pocket and shined it around and sighed.&nbsp; Standing up again, she slipped the light back into her pocket.&nbsp; "A voice at the door...female...uncertain to whom she is talking, probably a cell phone or a radio."&nbsp; She shrugged a bit and dusted off her hands.<br><br>She spoke a bit louder this time, "miss...I would hazard a guess from what I'm seeing here you are injured rather more severely now than when you were in the alley...either a severe cut from the fall or some manner of compound fracture or such.&nbsp; I do not wish you harm and give you my word of honor that I will not act to harm you if you act in good faith.&nbsp; To be honest, I am more curious as to what is going on in an academic manner than in any form of...political concern."&nbsp; She smiled, resting her hands behind her back and looking into the darkness ahead, "I would also add I have some medical training, and would be happy to offer assistance."&nbsp; Of course, her medical training wasn't wholly formal, and it was a few decades out of date, but she'd been keeping up with most of the pertinent information.&nbsp; Besides, bandaging and bonesetting hadn't changed much in the last century.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>23-09-2011, 05:42:55</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>Theresa heard the vampire's voice faintly. Promising not to harm her? That was a laugh. Although hearing that the vampiress was interested in her academically rang true. That didn't mean she wouldn't harm her, however. In fact, her interest could very well include harming her for "testing". And even if she was honest...there was no way for Theresa to get over to her in her current condition. She couldn't even walk. Still, she knew she couldn't hide forever.<br><br>Swallowing, she spoke in a loud voice. "How do I know I can trust you, vampire? I've had a bad history with your kind, both on the receiving end, as well as seeing their considerably more fatal attacks on others."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>23-09-2011, 06:06:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>She smiled slightly at the voice, distorted by the reverb from several walls.&nbsp; She could tell that it was somewhere in the building, relatively nearby, but that was about it.&nbsp; "I wasn't certain that you were aware of my nature...that would make things a bit easier, I suppose."&nbsp; She considered for a bit to herself, looking at the ceiling.&nbsp; "If you have had...negative experiences with others, I can understand your hesitancy.&nbsp; I also doubt you would desire to land in the hand of mortal officials.&nbsp; Too many questions and an eternity of being caught in a laboratory."&nbsp; She said the word in the official mad scientist way, lah-boor-a-tor-ee.&nbsp; &nbsp; "And I doubt that my word or oaths would mean anything to you."<br><br>She shrugged a bit and slipped off her leather trench coat, handing it to her lab assistant.&nbsp; "So you are aware, I am here with my assistant, Tiphanie.&nbsp; To show my earnestness, well...there is a decided lack of easy ways to go about this, so I will go with the simple solution."&nbsp; With that she began unbuttoning her blouse, "to show my non-violent intentions, I will prove my lack of weapons by removing anything that could conceal such.&nbsp; I'm certain you bear a weapon of some variety...if not, my assistant would be happy to provide you with such.&nbsp; She is currently in possession of a 6" switchblade.&nbsp; Rather pointless for anything serious, but I don't have a sword handy to offer.&nbsp; Would that suffice?"<br><br>By the time she's finished talking, she has removed and carefully folded her blouse, handing it to her assistant.&nbsp; One advantage of immortality and agelessness, at least.&nbsp; She didn't need nor wear a bra.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>23-09-2011, 06:38:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>Theresa spoke up again, her voice slightly shaky from the pain and blood loss in her leg. "That would be a good start. I can assure you that I am armed. However, I am also aware that even unarmed, you are a threat." She closed her eyes. "And how do I know that you wouldn't put me in a lab yourself? After all, you are interested in me academically. Finally, you may not be as much of a threat unarmed...but you just confirmed your assistant is armed. Why should I believe that she only has one weapon?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>23-09-2011, 07:49:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The vampire chuckles softly, shaking her head as she slipped off her long skirt.&nbsp; "What more would you like of me?&nbsp; Perhaps I should bind my hands behind my back and blindfold myself?&nbsp; You are already wounded and likely becoming weaker by the moment.&nbsp; There is only a finite amount that I can do to mitigate your perceived threat from me.&nbsp; As for my assistant, you will have to take my word that she is more a threat to herself than to you when it comes to such matters.&nbsp; You are in little danger from her unless you are a slide needing preparation or a doctoral student defending your thesis."<br><br>She stretched slightly in the darkness once she was naked and took a deep breath, "as for putting you in a lab, I should point out that I currently live in such.&nbsp; There are legends concerning those like yourself, which until I found your blood in the alley, I was more than willing to dismiss.&nbsp; All the empirical evidence to date indicated that those like you were, simply put, impossible.&nbsp; My curiosity is what traits you have inherited from your lineage and what ideas you may have as to how it might have occurred.&nbsp; I would like for you to come by the laboratory, as it is rather difficult to run tests accurately in the field, not to mention how difficult it is to drag such out via a hybrid car.&nbsp; I also have a rather extensive collection of pharmaceutical agents there that could cut back on the pain your experiencing."&nbsp; She considered a moment and fished out another cigarette, lighting it and disposing the match.<br><br>"If you're still concerned, and you don't mind lingering in pain for a while longer, perhaps I could tell you a story...one that might shed some light on my somewhat...unusual views for one of my kind, and perhaps put you more at ease, hm?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>23-09-2011, 09:01:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>"Fair enough, vampiress. It appears I must take you at your word. However, I must ask...what do you mean, 'those like me should be impossible'? What do you know about me that I don't?" Theresa tossed away her letter opener. It wouldn't do her any good. "I know I'm not normal. But you seem to know more than that. How can you know more about me than me?" She closed her eyes. "And what have you heard about my abilities that you would need to test?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>23-09-2011, 15:20:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Carol Neathawk</strong><br><br>Damned little light in the building, the minimal safety lights required by building codes, nothing more.&nbsp; No security system obviously.&nbsp; She thought she heard a voice, pivoted in place, then heard another voice,&nbsp; young woman, louder, starined.&nbsp; &nbsp;Hurt, scared, both maybe.&nbsp; too loud, though.&nbsp; Too many echos to get a fix.&nbsp; The softer voice again, but a little louder this time.&nbsp; that way.&nbsp; She slid forward.&nbsp; Heard the young woman again, caught the word "weapons", and started moving quite a bit faster.&nbsp; She fished out her cell and of course there was no signal.&nbsp; Older building, iron girders, thick walls, bad section of town so coverage was spotty anyway.&nbsp; <em> Shit.</em><br><br>She was much closer now, creeping along.&nbsp; <em>My kind, your kind. lab experiments, what the hell?</em>&nbsp; Carol could pick up most of the conversation, for the little good it did her.<br><br>Very close now, probably right around this next corner.&nbsp; Buildings, she hated building sweeps.&nbsp; A girl could get killed that way.&nbsp; 10mm in hand, .380 backup at the small of her back, knives in boot and belt sheathes, a decade of experience, she was ready for trouble.&nbsp; &nbsp;But all it took was some crazed kid with a cheap .22 and you got a nice official funeral.<br><br>She stopped at the turn in the hall, listening intently.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>23-09-2011, 17:11:06</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The vampire nodded to herself, taking a drag of the cigarette before beginning in the direction that it sounded like the voice was coming from, taking care <em>not</em> to move quietly.&nbsp; It went against her nature, but she did not wish to startle the girl.&nbsp; Speaking around the stub she called out, "so you are unaware of the allegations of your own lineage...curiouser and curiouser, as Alice was wont to say."&nbsp; She paused in the doorway, considering a moment before following the scent of blood.&nbsp; "You see...there are myths of my people and a number of so-called prophecies that claim that one would arise with an impossible lineage.&nbsp; For centuries, every time something strange or inexplicable was encountered, the unlearned would cry out that it was the legend, the myth...that the prophecies were true and that everything would end.&nbsp; Inevitably, though, it was usually found to be a magician or one who was turned, or a charlatan or similar such ilk."<br><br>She takes a long drag and lets the smoke out slowly, moving more cautiously as she comes closer.&nbsp; "Ah...and once more the rumors abound about the impossible, the foretold.&nbsp; Somewhere in the city, they say, there exists a being such as the world has never seen before.&nbsp; A child born of the world of light and of darkness, a child of eve, the line of man, but also a child of Lilith, the so-called mother of the night, the one mythically responsible for bringing my kind into the world so many aeons ago.&nbsp; Imagine the surprise I had in finding your trail of blood, even as I moved to downplay the rumors.&nbsp; Blood of man, yet not. Blood of vampire, yet not.&nbsp; Perhaps...could it be...blood of the foretold dhampir?"&nbsp; She smiled a bit into the darkness, "or am I yet here one some flight of fancy?&nbsp; Seeing things that are not there or missing some element of what has occurred?&nbsp; More likely, I suspect, that someone was merely fed on in extremis, giving some element of vampiric vitality without e'er actually causing one to cross the threshold between life and death.&nbsp; Would such be possible?&nbsp; Wouldn't your yourself wish to know more about what you are?" 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>23-09-2011, 17:18:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>Theresa leaned against the wall, starting to breathe hard. The vampiress was getting close. "A dhampir? how could that be possible? Everything I've seen indicates that your kind only looks to humans as food...or worse. They've never mated, at least not without the death of one afterwards." Theresa looked down at her broken leg. That was quite a bit of blood she was losing. "And if you didn't know you were a vampire, wouldn't you like to know about it, rather than just being an anomaly, a freak?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>23-09-2011, 18:19:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong> Carol Neathawk</strong><br><br><br><em>What.&nbsp; The.&nbsp; Hell?</em>&nbsp; It took everything she had not to yell that out loud.&nbsp; <em>Vampires?&nbsp; Bloodlines?</em> For a moment the detective felt what could have been fatal confusion.&nbsp; <em>Goddammit, if this is another Black Dog LARP, I'm gonna arrest fuckin' <strong>everybody</strong> here!</em><br><br>A sharp tang in the air caught at her nose.&nbsp; Blood.&nbsp; No,&nbsp; this was no game, Theresa - assuming she had left that stain in the alley - was losing blood, not hit points.<br><br>Carol had never seen the younger Theresa, never heard her voice, had no way of even guessing if the wounded woman sounded like the missing child-that-was.&nbsp; But she sounded more scared now.&nbsp; The detective quickly popped her head around the corner, ducking back at once.&nbsp; <em>Naked, she's naked?</em>&nbsp; Neathawk stared off into space a moment processing what she had seen.&nbsp; Two women, one nude, the other holding the nude woman's clothing, neither looking in her direction.&nbsp; But both of them staring fixedly in the same direction.&nbsp; Where the hell was Tanner?&nbsp; She checked her watch.&nbsp; Mere minutes had passed since the phone call.&nbsp; Damn.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 18:13:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The vampire laughed softly, shaking her head and causing the dim red light of the cigarette to wave back and forth.&nbsp; "Oh, there are a number of my kind that are that way, but you will find that there are startlingly few within about a days travel of here.&nbsp; I consider myself something of a knight among my kind and as distasteful as it is, I...deal with those that get out of hand.&nbsp; Survival is completely different from indulgence.&nbsp; As for killing partners after mating, you could ask my assistant Tiphanie if she is alive.&nbsp; After all, we have been lovers off and on since she began her internship at the university."<br><br>She sighs a bit as she steps into the next room, "as for not knowing what I am...that, alas, was never a chance.&nbsp; I was sold to a rather gentleman of a vampiric nature when I was still a young girl.&nbsp; I can only vaguely remember a time before living with him."&nbsp; One could hear the smile in her voice.&nbsp; "Ah, well.&nbsp; That is neither here nor there...that was all years ago.&nbsp; I believe, though, that I can help you to come to terms with what you are, if you are what is rumored..&nbsp; I'm certain that we can reach some manner of agreement.&nbsp; I don't kill you, you don't kill me.&nbsp; I teach you, you allow limited testing and experiments.&nbsp; I assume you'll wish to have your freedom to come and go as you please, I would simply wish to make certain you are safe when you go out.&nbsp; No guards, of course...just armed and trained, perhaps."&nbsp; She seems to be more contemplative as she walks, intentionally as noisily as possible.&nbsp; "Does such sound equitable, miss...ah, I do forget my manners.&nbsp; My name is Sabien Theunissen."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 18:30:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>"Theresa Van Derala." She leaned against the wall, using it for support now. "I'd be lying if I said I have much of a choice but to agree." She started to breathe hard. "And your assistant is a vampire, isn't she? I'm not surprised she is alive." She leaned her head back. "I suppose I agree to your arrangement. I'd walk out to you, but that's not an option for me in my current condition."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 18:43:54</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The vampire laughs softly, coming into the room where she believes Theresa to be, an odd sort of amused smile to her face.&nbsp; "Alas, no...perhaps someday she will be, but for the moment she still needs to attends classes, the majority of which are during the day.&nbsp; When I said alive I meant 'still mortal'.&nbsp; Now, will you permit me to see to your injuries?&nbsp; T'would be such a waste to have such a lovely conversation only to have you black out in the midst of it."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 18:56:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>Theresa pulled herself into a more lighted area, allowing her bloody broken leg to be seen. "This is the worst of my injuries. The one in the alleyway is almost healed." She looked up, blue and green eyes looking into the vampire's. "I'm not going to black out yet. Give me a few minutes, though...and that would change."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 19:14:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The vampire only looks the woman over briefly before squatting down to look at the injury, completely unselfconscious of her nudity.&nbsp; Taking a drag on the cigarette she looks side to side over the wound, then looks to Theresa's eyes, "I can set it now, if you like.&nbsp; Depends on how you are about pain, really.&nbsp; We really should do something though before bandaging it up."&nbsp; She stands again, looking around the room to see what is available.&nbsp; Old abandoned buildings were not precisely notorious for having sterile, clean materials around.&nbsp; Or many materials in general.<br><br>"If you would mind, it may be best to have my assistant bring in my clothes, at least...I can sacrifice some things for bandaging material."&nbsp; She looks about, taking another drag before walking over to an old steel chair, the cushion long since salvaged.&nbsp; She picks it up, turning it over in her hands for a moment, considering.&nbsp; "Yes, this should suffice I think."&nbsp; And with that she set it on the floor so she could leverage with her legs and began carefully breaking the legs off, murmuring something about old spot welds.&nbsp; "That should do for a splint at least."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 19:53:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>"Go ahead and set it. I'm not weak to pain. When you've fallen off of rooftops, you stop caring about a simple broken leg." She looked over the vampire, then looked away. She had a great form, and had no issues showing it, it seemed. "You seem unusually firm for your age. Is that a side effect of being a vampire?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 20:20:26</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Low voices, the girls and the crazy naked lady a couple of rooms down from the sound of it.&nbsp; The other woman was waiting patiently with an armload of clothing and shoes.&nbsp; Perfect.&nbsp; Carol's pistol was already cocked so no dramatic clicking accompanied her whispered "Police.&nbsp; Don't move."&nbsp; She slipped closer and prodded the burdened woman on the back.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Forward slowly and don't be stupid, stupid will get you shot."<br><br>Just close enough to her prisoner to graze her back with outstretched fingertips, Carol followed the other woman into the room where&nbsp; the young woman she hoped was Theresa was at bay.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 20:33:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>Sabien smiles a bit, chuckling at the comment and setting the makings of the splint aside and moving over to Theresa.&nbsp; "On the count of three, then?"&nbsp; She carefully took hold of the sections of leg, cautious not to move them before she needed.&nbsp; "One...two...th" in the middle of the word she pulled and twisted the break point, tugging the white of bone back beneath skin in one smooth movement.&nbsp; "There we are.&nbsp; That should help mitigate the bleeding significantly, at least.&nbsp; As for firmness...my body ceased aging effectively at the moment I became what I am.&nbsp; In essence, my body has remained about 24.&nbsp; My proper age is considerably more.&nbsp; Ah, Tiphanie...and guest?"<br><br>She quirks a brow at the person escorting Tiphanie into the room.&nbsp; She seems to shrug slightly and stands, seeming oblivious to the threat, and walks to Tiphanie to take her shirt and stockings.&nbsp; "I do hope you'll at least permit basic medical care?"&nbsp; She says in the direction of the officer before turning to bind the wounds with her stockings, tearing off strips of her shirt to use as bandages and material to hold the splint in place.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 20:54:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"GO ahead".&nbsp; Carol stepped slightly aside from Tiphanie.&nbsp; Her gun held in both hands, not quite pointed at anybody, but not lowered either.&nbsp; <em>Icy bitch,</em> carol thought, <em>Not shaken in the least.</em>&nbsp; Something about her, though.&nbsp; The short hairs on the back of her neck were prickling.&nbsp; She flicked her eyes at the injured&nbsp; woman "Are you-"&nbsp; She cut off and glanced at the nude woman.&nbsp; "What's your name, hon?&nbsp; If you don't want to say right now,"&nbsp; Another look at the crazy woman "I can wait for it."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 20:57:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>Theresa panted, mostly from the pain of her leg setting. As the bindings were wrapped around the splint, she looked at the armed woman. "My name is Theresa Van Derala. What does it matter? I haven't committed any crimes. And I don't have any family to report me missing." <em>Well</em>, thought Theresa, <em>at least no crimes that could be connected to me. Hopefully.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 21:14:49</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>Sabien finishes binding the wound, making certain that the break is at least stable.&nbsp; The legs weren't long enough for full immobilization, but they should suffice as an interim until something more appropriate could be done.<br><br>She finally rose, dusting off her hands slightly, then looking at the woman with the gun with a slightly raised brow.&nbsp; "I note you didn't take the time to introduce yourself, nor state what you are doing here."&nbsp; She smiles with some amusement, "could you simply be a concerned citizen?&nbsp; I do rather doubt that..."&nbsp; She looks the woman over and her brow lowers slowly, though the smile doesn't fade.&nbsp; "And I am Sabien Theunissen.&nbsp; I'm certain you overheard enough of what was said, so I suppose the question now is, are you going to shoot me?&nbsp; If so, I would rather not bother getting dressed...it leaves such annoying stains and causes too many questions."&nbsp; With that, she simply stood facing her, hands open and palms forward, though both held about waist level in a gesture of harmlessness.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 21:52:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<br><strong><br>Carol Neathawk</strong><br><br>Carol had her cop face on, no trace of her feelings crossed her features.&nbsp; "I'm a police officer.&nbsp; Detective Carol Neathawk.&nbsp; She sighed and holstered the weapon. <em>So now hat the hell do I do?</em>&nbsp; No Ms Van Derala, You are not wanted for any crime.&nbsp; You are, however, a person of interest to the department.&nbsp; You have been missing for six years, disappeared under some very unusual circumstances."&nbsp; <em>To put it mildly.</em>&nbsp; She motioned to Tiphanie to hand Crazy Lady her clothing.<br><br>"I think of myself more as a peace officer tnhan a law officer, I suppose I could come up with something to charge you with, but what's the point?"&nbsp; Carol leaned back against a wall in an apparently casual pose, but her muscles were tense, her hand very close to her gun, her eyes watching Sabien unblinkingly.&nbsp; "I do wonder what your interest in the young lady is, a case goes cold for almost six years, then reopens, and a private citizen or two show up with the missing kid?"&nbsp; Her dark eyes are placid, but there is a hardness in them.&nbsp; "It makes one wonder."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 22:01:23</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>She listened to the detective's words. "I suppose you were told to take me into custody, then? Well, I hate to disappoint, but I have no interest in being in your custody. I don't know what I am, but you can't get me answers. You don't know about the supernatural forces among us. One is in the room right now, and you don't know. You have no idea what is out there, and there is no way someone like that can help me."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 22:11:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>Sabien gives a slight nod to the officer and gestures to Tiphanie to step over allowing her to get dressed.&nbsp; At this point, though, she was barefoot and her shirt had been reduced to a bare midriff.&nbsp; A bit of tousling and playing with her hair and she was able to get that under control once more.&nbsp; Of course, her ciggie was gone by this point, but it was honestly more of a prop than anything else.<br><br>"Well then, now that that is out of the way."&nbsp; She straightens her coat a bit, "I should like, at this point, to get Theresa something more than simply basic medical care.&nbsp; I am personally disinclined to hand her to mortal authorities or civilian hospitals.&nbsp; It is her decision however, though I doubt that your hospitals would be willing to relinquish her save to your, shall we say, authoritative caretaking?"&nbsp; She tilts her head slightly the one side, "I am curious to how much you overheard, let alone what it is that you believe is going on..."&nbsp; She smiles with some amusement, "usually I would not discuss such matters, but these are somewhat extenuating circumstances and I suspect Theresa would object strenuously to anything untoward.&nbsp; A position, I hasten to add, that I intend to respect."&nbsp; She gives Tiphanie a nod, sending the lab assistant scurrying to stand behind her.&nbsp; She may not be able to protect the girl, but she could at least act as an ersatz bulletproof vest if the officer should open fire.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 23:38:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Am I mixed up in some weird cult internal business?</em>&nbsp; Carol wondered.&nbsp; "Actually, no.&nbsp; I was told to locate you, nothing was said about taking you into custody.&nbsp; For on thing, you're an adult, not a minor.&nbsp; I could come up with something to take you in on, sure."&nbsp; Neathawk tapped her fingers on her belt a moment.&nbsp; "But I won't."<br><br>A level look at Sabien ""I thought at first there was some LARP or something going on with props and all that.&nbsp; Now I'm wondering if this is some cult bullshit."&nbsp; Carol straightened up and glanced back the way they had come.&nbsp; "But right now, we need to get out of here, and I need to call off the backup I called in."&nbsp; She ran her fingers through her short, dark hair.&nbsp; "Lots of people are looking for you, Theresa.&nbsp; Right out of the blue, a task force gets set up for a long cold case, and wham, here you are in the flesh.&nbsp; Something's going on.&nbsp; I'm not sure it's in your best interest to be found."&nbsp; Neathawk's eyes swiveled to Sabien.&nbsp; "By anybody."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>24-09-2011, 23:46:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa van Derala</strong><br><br>"This isn't a cult business. Believe me, it would be a fatal mistake to write it off as something that light. As far as 'my best interests', it seems to me that, for the time being, I might be better off finding out who and what I really am. And I can't do that alone. I've been trying for six years, and always without success." She turned to Sabien. "I will go with you for now. But I need some answers before long, or I'm going on the run again. I spent six years doing that, and I don't mind doing it for twenty if necessary."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 00:20:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The woman snorts softly, "cult indeed.&nbsp; If only things were so simple...alas, were she to be found by others of my kind things would likely end badly.&nbsp; I have read the prophecies they have built their cults around, and I fear they would have little desire but to turn her.&nbsp; A wonderful step, though...from cults to vampire cults.&nbsp; Personally I have long thought they were somewhat touched."&nbsp; She gestures to Theresa, "given her actual existence, perhaps there is more credence to their lore that I originally gave credit.&nbsp; On the other hand, I would rather not see such happen."<br><br>She turns to Carol and gives a smile, her fangs dropped once more and gives her a gentle mock bow.&nbsp; "If you would like, madam officer, I shall have my assistant pass along information on how to get in touch with us.&nbsp; For now though, I will take Theresa to a safe location where I can get her proper medical care and an opportunity to rest.&nbsp; If you are still concerned about her well being, perhaps we can make arrangements to meet again on the morrow to sooth your worries."&nbsp; <br><br>She seems to consider a moment before continuing and quirking a brow as she looks to Theresa, "if you would like, I would be willing to give you some...private time with the officer before we depart."&nbsp; She rummages in a pocket and pulls out a card, slipping it to Theresa, "that contains my personal information.&nbsp; Should it fall to the wrong hands it could be rather devastating to my continued existence and the work that I do.&nbsp; As you have placed trust in me, so shall I extend my trust to you.&nbsp; If you wish to make...arrangements with the officer to cover any concerns, You have but to ask."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 00:25:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				[bTheresa Van Derala[/b]<br><br>"Others of your kind would attempt to turn me?" Theresa idly twirled the card in her fingers. "How would that work? No vampire I've ever seen was interested in biting me. Isn't that the way a human is normally turned?" She seemed lost in thought for a few moments, then continued. "In fact, every vampire I've seen and...dealt with, was rather more violent than simply trying to bite me."<br><br>Theresa stood up unsteadily, holding the wall to maintain her balance and staying off of her injured leg. "How do I get out of here?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 00:43:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Carol had a very good Cop Face.&nbsp; She needed it.&nbsp; Vampires?&nbsp; Vampire cults?&nbsp; Whatever, Theresa didn't seem in danger beyond her injuries...which seemed to bother her less now than when The detective had arrive, she could actually stand now.&nbsp; Her head turned towards Sabien as the woman turned toward her...and very nearly went for her gun when the upper incisors turned into fangs,<br><br>She didn't delude herself about tricks of light or shadow, those teeth had grown right before her eyes, eyes that had never, ever betrayed her.&nbsp; She felt herself going pale, an atavistic chill ran along her spine.&nbsp; But her reaction was different from most people.&nbsp; She went on the balls of her feet, shoulders loose, one hand on near gun, other on knife hilt, ready to go.<br><br>"I assume you deliberately let me see that."&nbsp; She said flatly.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 06:11:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>To Theresa she shrugged slightly, "there are those that would oppose the possibility that you represent.&nbsp; There are those who would embrace it.&nbsp; And there are those, like myself at the moment, who wonder if you died of causes, natural or not, do you have enough of our blood in you and the strength that you could awaken as a vampire yourself?&nbsp; It is a curiosity, though not one I plan on indulging.&nbsp; To many things to determine yet, and it is one of those experiments that one only has one chance at, and the results of failure would be catastrophic."<br><br>Looking to the officer she quirks a brow slightly, "with those of my age, one can safely assume that anything they do is intentional.&nbsp; I merely wished to make certain you were aware of the full depth of what you are involving yourself in.&nbsp; Besides, it is not as if any of your compatriots would believe you if you told them you encountered a vampire with your missing person in an abandoned building in downtown.&nbsp; Ah, and let us not forget, naked.&nbsp; I believe the result would be a rather lengthy stay in one of your psych wards."<br><br>Stepping back towards Theresa she shakes her head slightly.&nbsp; "Perhaps it would be best if I carried you, hm?&nbsp; Better to keep the weight off of the leg and not risk further injury.&nbsp; A...what is the common parlance for it...ah, a 'piggy-back ride' I believe?"&nbsp; She smiles again, "I'm certain you are aware that my kind are significantly stronger than our physical appearance would belie?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 06:24:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>"I am quite aware of the strength of vampires. I understand that you could carry me. Of course, there isn't much of a way to carry me that wouldn't result in one of us copping a feel, even if unintentionally." She looked at Sabien. "I take it you have no issues with that, vampire?" She frowned slightly. "And what do you mean 'if I died of causes, natural or not'? Do you mean that if someone were to, say, strangle me to death, I'd just be turned into a vampire, in theory?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 06:44:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The vampire smirks somewhat the Theresa's comment, taking a much longer, lingering gaze over the woman before commenting, "were you not the one that only moments ago was assuring me that vampires devoured those they mated with?&nbsp; As I stated before, Tiphanie is a frequent lover of mine but in no way permanent nor...monogamous.&nbsp; I would not complain if you were to ah...take advantage of the situation, though you must be aware that there would likely be consequences if you do.&nbsp; Perhaps even consequences you would enjoy."<br><br>"As for the other matter, it is more an intellectual debate.&nbsp; Part of the transition from mortal to vampire is believed to be, in part, the contact and saliva of the vampire, and more frequently than not, the mingling of blood.&nbsp; Now, if a mortal were born with those elements already in existence, namely the mingling of blood, if said mortal was of sufficient strength and fortitude to...for lack of a better term, survive the process of becoming, would their psuedo-death already include enough of the elements of the process that they would simply arise as a vampire on their own?&nbsp; Would their hybrid nature perpetuate them in some other semblance of life; not dead nor undead, but living beyond death?&nbsp; Or would they simply die the death of mortals, to go on to what ever eternal reward they have earned?"&nbsp; She shrugs a bit, "I cannot speak of the world beyond the living and the undead...I do not remember what happened between death and becoming.&nbsp; I cannot say that there is a heaven, though I do at least hope that there is a hell."&nbsp; She looks away a moment and sighs, "far too many of my kind deserve such a fate."<br><br>"All that, however, is more appropriate to a conversation at a much more comfortable time and place.&nbsp; I would prefer to get those bandages and splints replaced sooner than later, and perhaps an opportunity to examine the wound in more detail to make certain it will heal properly."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 06:58:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>Theresa looked away slightly, flushing slightly as the vampire looked her over, well aware that her curves, while not as well-developed as the vampires, were still quite firm, and emphasized quite well through her outfit. "So, er, how far away is our destination? Blocks? Miles?" She looked down at her injured leg, the bandages starting to tinge red. "I think we should get there soon. As for healing, that's not an issue. I heal more rapidly than most humans."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 15:10:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				A naked woman in a warehouse, oh they'd buy that all right.&nbsp; The fangs, though?"&nbsp; She shook her head, which was whirling enough already.&nbsp; "Whatever you decide, do it fast."&nbsp; &nbsp;She checked her cell again "Still no signal in here.&nbsp; But no sirens, either.. Hell, with the crappy reception-"&nbsp; She trailed that off.&nbsp; Great.&nbsp; Possibly backup wasn't coming at all.&nbsp; Wonderful.&nbsp; &nbsp;Primal fear was trying to claw a path through her mind, feral anger fought it down.&nbsp; She was almost paralyzed by the conflict between fight and flight, but tamped it down, down.<br><br>"Wherever you decide to go is fine as long as I go with you and know where it is."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 17:04:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The vampire shrugs a bit, offering her shoulder and arm to Theresa if she would like assistance or a piggy-back ride.&nbsp; "Only a few blocks, really.&nbsp; I was somewhat surprised to encounter the blood trail so close to my home."&nbsp; <br><br>She looks over to the officer for a long moment, her expression utterly neutral.&nbsp; "Tell me, mortal...in exchange for information on my home would you offer something of equal worth in turn?&nbsp; Oh, not your home, of course...something of similar value to you.&nbsp; Say, your mother's home for instance?&nbsp; My home is my sanctum.&nbsp; Those that know it is where I live do not know what I am, and those that know what I am do not know where I live.&nbsp; She," she gestures at Theresa, "I am willing to extend a large degree of trust due to circumstances.&nbsp; Or..."&nbsp; She considers, then smiles somewhat predatorily, "perhaps you would like to spend the day with us, hm?&nbsp; Of course, I would have to ask you to disable your phone and not let others know where you are..."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 17:10:07</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>Theresa wrapped her arm around the vampire's shoulder, lifting herself up onto the vampire's back, then wrapping her good leg around the vampire's waist. At the same time, she wrapped her arms gently around the vampire's neck. But after a brief pause, Theresa let her hands slip a little lower, copping a gentle feel of the vampire's breasts as she tightened her leg to remain on the vampire. "I'm ready to go when you are."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 17:52:47</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Carol Neathawk</strong><br><br>The detective went utterly still at the mention of her mother.&nbsp; "Not that.&nbsp; I'll go with you, out of contact with the department."&nbsp; She grinned fleetingly, "They're used to that."<br><br>She was very quite as she followed the others out of the building.&nbsp; The instant she got a signal whe called tanner.&nbsp; "You're just no9w getting, what?&nbsp; A meeting with the&nbsp; Deputy Commissioner?"&nbsp; She darted a glance at Theresa. "No, it was a false alarm, some drunks had a fight, I broke it up.&nbsp; No, no arrests, don't want the distraction.&nbsp; Yes, yes, look.. I'll be out of contact tomorrow, do not, repeat do not call me, I don't need&nbsp; a damn ringtone giving me away.&nbsp; I nfact, I'm...&nbsp; &nbsp; yeah, i know, popping the battery is against regs&nbsp; Bye."&nbsp; She promptly popped the battery out of her cell and pocketed it.&nbsp; "Will that do?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 18:21:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>Sabien smirks a bit as Theresa takes the opportunity to cop a feel, shifting her hands to help hold her up.&nbsp; If that means that her hands are back around holding her rear, well, if that's the only way to keep her stable then who would complain?&nbsp; Wandering out of the building she begins following the alley ways back towards her home, pausing to let Carol take care of her call.<br><br>"That should be sufficient, I think."&nbsp; She looks to Tiphanie a moment, "I suspect that you will want to rest the rest of the evening so you can help keep our guests comfortable, hm?"&nbsp; The somewhat anxious lab assistant simply nods and fidgets a bit, "as you say, doctor."&nbsp; With that, she turned and headed in the direction of the city's government district.<br><br>Only a few minutes later they come out of an alley between two buildings, across the street from the local federal building.&nbsp; She ponders things for a moment, then starts in the direction of the parking garage.&nbsp; Just to the side of the entrance, she opens a side door into a maintenance corridor, smiling a bit, "I think it may be best not to let security know that I'm coming back just yet...let alone bringing guests."&nbsp; With that, she starts walking the maze of maintenance passages.&nbsp; After descending a few flights of stairs and a few more turns in the corridor, those with a decent sense of direction would probably realize that they are moving under the federal building itself.&nbsp; <br><br>In the middle of one of the straightaway lengths, she stops and opens a door into an utterly mundane looking hallway.&nbsp; The wide spacing of night time level letting leaves the hall ill-lit, but the lowest bidder cheap linoleum tile with cheap rubber kick-boarding is a dead giveaway of a government building.&nbsp; Almost directly across the hall stands a large, reinforced door, wider and slightly taller than normal doors, with a sign stating "Federal Research Laboratory, lab #1156 Sertana City".&nbsp; Below that is another sign designating it as a classified - secret level, outlining myriad punishments for intrusion, dissemination, theft, etc.&nbsp; And below that is a name plate, "Head Researcher Sabien Theunissen" and below that, "Lead Assistant Tiphanie" save that the lower is done on paper rather than official name plating, and the i's are dotted with hearts, in pink.<br><br>"Here we are...home sweet laboratory."&nbsp; With that she pulls out a plastic ID badge, scanning it by the prox scanner and keying in an eight digit code to open the door.&nbsp; Inside is an odd juxtaposition of what one would expect of a modern research lab and what one might expect of an ancient order of monks.&nbsp; One half stainless steel, computers and modern reference libraries, with some facility space for experimentation and chemical storage.&nbsp; The other half of the large room is taken up with old wooden shelves, stacked floor to ceiling with ancient hard backed tomes and other printed works.&nbsp; In one corner there is another door that opens into what appears to be a normal seeming bedroom, complete with king size, four post bed and dove-grey silk draping visible through the door.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 18:29:11</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>Theresa's eyes widened as she saw the lab, her hands unconsciously squeezing Sabien's breasts more firmly. "This is a lot more sophisticated of a set up than I had first imagined. You don't lack for any equipment, do you?" She hissed softly in pain as her bad leg brushed against Sabien, her hands tightening even harder.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>25-09-2011, 22:08:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Carol Neathawk</strong><br><br>Carol said nothing as Sabien carried Theresa through the labyrinth.&nbsp; She saw a lot, and committed it to memory.&nbsp; <em>Sabien kjnows the underground better than the homeless d,.</em> she mused, <em>best way to move when on the hunt, eh?</em>&nbsp; She wondered how long she could keep going before she had to fully, emotionally confront the implications of those fangs she had seen.&nbsp; Later , later.<br><br>The detective was unsurprised to find the vampire had an official position - she had been thinking hard about various ramifications of, well, vampire existance the whole trip.&nbsp; "You sold them on the idea of living arrangements near your lab, hell, in your lab as a sign of your dedication to your work, right?"<br><br>Heer voice had a strained quality.&nbsp; She was a cop, a good one.,&nbsp; She knew that the senses could be fooled, but they hadn't been, not in that wrehouse.&nbsp; she had <strong>seen</strong> those teeth more than double in length.&nbsp; But... if vampires were real, what else might be?&nbsp; That was part of the maelstrom tearing through her head.&nbsp; <em>Forget about that., deal with it later.&nbsp; Right now, just deal with the fact that you're in a basement with a killer.<br></em><br><br>"What now?&nbsp; I have first aid training, but it may be best if I just stay out of your way while you treat Theresa"&nbsp; All said with a calm she didn't feel.<br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>26-09-2011, 01:45:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The vampire winces ever so slightly at the force of Theresa's sudden grip as her injured leg brushed against her own, but remains relatively silent.&nbsp; She looks to the officer and quirks a brow, "sold them on...?&nbsp; Ah..." she considers a moment before, considering, "no...when one has enough endorsements in their fields of research and enough sheets of paper testifying to their intellectual prowess, officials are willing to...be less concerned by a certain degree of eccentricity.&nbsp; As it stands, I have a number of degrees and published papers, particularly regarding the fields of cults and am one of the foremost in the field of 'inexplicable and metaphysical explanations'.&nbsp; If I happen to come to work before dawn and leave after sunset every day, then obviously I am simply a diligent employee.&nbsp; If my assistant stands in for me at most meetings, then obviously my work is too important to be distracted by suit wearing cretins.&nbsp; And if I have periodic evenings that I do not even leave the laboratory, why then, it is in their best interests to make certain I have somewhere comfortable to rest."<br><br>She smiles again, rummaging about the lab for various materials for bandages, splints and pain killers.&nbsp; "Were you aware that one particular civilian engineer was so qualified that when asked for his conditions of employment, one of his stipulations was a work place that was built of children's building blocks.&nbsp; They considered it a worthwhile investment in luring his talents to their agency, and thus had a desk commissioned of brightly colored toys.&nbsp; This is much the same way, save more comfortable and understandable."&nbsp; With that she takes Theresa into the bedroom and directs Tiphanie to lay out an additional white sheet to protect the bed before setting her down.&nbsp; That done, she sets about properly dressing and cleaning the wound and aligning things more properly, setting the pain killers and a glass of water on the nightstand by Theresa.<br><br>Dusting off her hands she looks to the officer with a slightly quirked eyebrow.&nbsp; "Is there something the matter, officer?&nbsp; You seem...anxious.&nbsp; One might even say tense.&nbsp; Is there anything I could do to help?&nbsp; I'm sure I could blend any number of concoctions to help with nerves, if there is something that you need.&nbsp; I believe that the officers on watch even keep an amount of bourbon on hand for those nights that they have...issues arise they do not wish to think about too deeply.&nbsp; And no, those do not involve my lab.&nbsp; Believe me, lady officer, there are far worse things in the world than my kind, and many of them are perpetrated by mortals and sometimes even condoned by your own government."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>26-09-2011, 02:24:43</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>Theresa lay on the bed quietly, sweating with the pain as her leg was worked on, only reaching for the painkillers after the vampire had finished working on her leg. "I shouldn't be off my feet for more than a couple of hours further, Sabien. Is it all right if I call you that?" She sat up, being careful not to jar her leg further. "You seem to have studied in many fields. Just how long have you been a vampire? Centuries? Millennia?" 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>26-09-2011, 04:31:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>She shrugs slightly, making a dismissive gesture, "if such makes you more comfortable, you may call me whatever you wish.&nbsp; As for my fields of study..."&nbsp; She considers for a bit, "I was sold to the gentleman who...made me what I am today at perhaps five years of age.&nbsp; I was there to study and tend to his library and care for the house.&nbsp; When I reached my mid-twenties, he decided I had reached what was likely to be my optimal age and made me his, how did he call it...bloodwife.&nbsp; As his wife I continued my duties as before, save with a handful of new additional duties as well, but books and study were still the majority of my life."<br><br>"After his...untimely demise at the hands of a group of hunters, and properly seeing to his blood price, I resumed my studies much as they were before, save that I've expanded my library to include a number of topics he could not have dreamt to see.&nbsp; That and swordplay have been my existence for over four hundred years now.&nbsp; Knowledge to save mortal and vampire alike, and violence to prune those that get out of hand."&nbsp; Her eyes slide over to the officer as she smiles, "much like yourself, I suppose, save that I operate as judge and executioner on those occasions that it is necessary.&nbsp; Something of a blessing and a curse, really.&nbsp; The ability to see the scales balanced, but the guilt of having done so."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>26-09-2011, 21:40:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Tense?"&nbsp; A snorted laugh. "Of course I'm tense!"&nbsp; Whatever Carol thought of Sabien's story was kept locked behind her teeth.&nbsp; "So, you're saying you're something oof a vampire , um, judge in the old Imperial Chinese sense, those guys combined judge and prosecutor functions, I'm told."&nbsp; Neathawk studied her surroundings with considerable interest.&nbsp; She never turned her back to either the vampire, Theresa or the assistant, but it seemed to be out of habit, not a deliberate action.<br><br>The detective finally settled against a wall where she could watch all three of her companions.&nbsp; Still tense, but not as tightly wound as when she arrived.&nbsp; She noted with interest and unease how quicly Theresa was recovering, the pain lines in the girls face were easing, the color returning to her cheeks with...<em>Inhuman speed.&nbsp; Admit it, at least to yourself.</em><br><br>"So now what?"&nbsp; The detective spoke after the tending was done. "Sabien want's to examine you, I've been told to find you.&nbsp; I have, but nobody knows that."&nbsp; Carol slowly reached into her hip pocket with her left hanbd and brought out a steel flask.&nbsp; She tumbled it in her fingers but didn't unscrew the top.&nbsp; "What to you want, Theresa?&nbsp; I meant it when I said I wasn't sure it was in your best interest for you to to be found.&nbsp; There is something very odd about the renewed official interest in your case."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>26-09-2011, 22:43:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>"Of course there's something odd about the renewed interest. As for what I want...I'm not sure. Right now, I'm interested in knowing what I am. I'm not human, obviously. Otherwise, there wouldn't be this many people, and species, looking for me. After that...I'll decide later." Theresa sat up, stretching the upper half of her form. "If Sabien can assist me in that, than that is a reason to stay."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>27-09-2011, 07:28:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The woman wavers one hands in a 'sort of' gesture.&nbsp; "Most would consider my role to be something more akin to vigilateism than any particular legitimate role."&nbsp; She shrugs slightly, "my husband was slain by a group of hunters out to...deal with a group of problem vampires who had decided that their blood gave them the right to lord power over the common people.&nbsp; They thought they had no need to conceal their natures and killed mortals without thought.&nbsp; Instead of the roving vampires, they found him, a good and honest man and attacked him.&nbsp; They followed him back to our home where he finally perished, but not before they discovered my existence and set fire to our home.&nbsp; So many irreplaceable tomes were lost with him that night.&nbsp; Then, to make matters better, the survivor left the vampires that had started the whole mess to continue their debauchery."<br><br>She smiles sadly before continuing, "it took me some time to learn the arts of the sword and to have one made that suited my build and style, having his ring forged into the weapon.&nbsp; Ten years later I found the man who killed Willem and brought him to justice.&nbsp; He made his choice, whether his blood would go to me or to the earth...I permitted him that much, and left his companions to contemplate his deeds.&nbsp; Later I found those who had drawn the hunters attention to our hamlet and..."&nbsp; Her smile becomes positively wintry, "ah...arranged for them to watch the sunrise.&nbsp; Or at least parts of them."&nbsp; She shrugs, "I have no qualm with mortals the seek to redress injustice or to balance the scales.&nbsp; Nor do I meddle in the matters of most of my kind.&nbsp; But if a mortal begins hunting even those that are reasonably innocent in the scale of things, or if a vampire begins leaving too many bodies...I seek to prevent things from becoming too out of balance."<br><br>She gestures dismissively, "I do not begrudge mortals and their feeding habits.&nbsp; I would hope that you not begrudge ours.&nbsp; Usually such things are...enjoyable to both parties.&nbsp; It is only those who become greedy or too weak willed to stop themselves that become a threat."&nbsp; She smiles and turns slightly, looking to Theresa, "as for you, give me a moment to locate a tome.&nbsp; I shan't be but a moment."&nbsp; With that she turned in place, her skirt flaring out slightly, before disappearing into her stacks of books for a moment.<br><br>A few moments later, the sound of a airtight seal being cracked can be heard, then resealing and a few moments later she returns, an aged, thick tome in hand.&nbsp; "Usually I keep this in a sealed chamber of inert gases to preserve it, but this is something of a special occasion."&nbsp; A few moments later she has the book open and almost reverently sets to book in Theresa's lap.&nbsp; "This is the original text, or as near as I've been able to locate and verify, to the original prophecies concerning dhampir.&nbsp; Do be careful...it is older than I am."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>28-09-2011, 00:29:41</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Carol Neathawk</strong><br><br>Carol perked up a bit "So, vampires as moral agents, no more consumed by their desires than mortals are?"&nbsp; She tilted her head back and studied Sabien through slitted eyes. "That's a new one."&nbsp; Feeding, the eyes shifted to the lab assistant at that word, lingered there. <em> Pleasurable?</em>&nbsp; Her Cop Face remained intact.&nbsp; &nbsp;But perhaps despite herself, she seemed be be relaxing slightly.<br><br>The book grabbed her interest perhaps despite herself, she loved books, was a heavy reader in fact.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>28-09-2011, 00:35:30</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>Theresa sat up, getting comfortable as she carefully opened the ancient book. Looking down, she read quickly, her mind absorbing the information on the pages with ease. Before long, she had read 30 of the pages, giving her an idea of what she was. "According to this book, I am the result of a joining of a human and a vampire in a relationship. However, everything I've heard says that vampires are sterile. How is that possible? Or is that another riddle yet unanswered?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>28-09-2011, 07:51:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>She shrugs slightly at Carol's comment.&nbsp; "I do not claim any degree of moral high ground compared to any other.&nbsp; Most have some reason for acting the way that they do, whether that is an overzealous hunter who was hurt by a vampire or a vampire with a mother complex sating some vacuous need, it matters little.&nbsp; I attempt to intercede when things become too much.&nbsp; The newly whelped vampire that has yet to come to grips with their new hunger should not be faced with lunatic, fanatical hunters mere hours after their first death, nor should vampires be permitted to simply kill and slaughter their way through the population.&nbsp; We each have our place, I simply aim to maintain that balance.&nbsp; As for desires..."<br><br>She smiles slightly, "I may give the impression of coldness, young one, but do not mistake such for a lack of desires.&nbsp; I would dare say that the passions of vampires runs much nearer the surface, restrained only by the strength of ones will.&nbsp; Imagine, if you can, having the strength and power of some of the strongest men in the world.&nbsp; Now, consider the one thing that you most value in the world, be that food, money, power or justice.&nbsp; If you had the strength that only a few could stand against you, could you resist the urge to take what it is you desire most?&nbsp; And if you had to indulge that desire or die from its lack, could you restrain yourself to only what you need?&nbsp; If it is something you want, that you covet, but also that you need merely to survive, could you stop yourself?&nbsp; And how long, then before your desires led you to break the fragile vessels that you took from.&nbsp; It is only by constantly chaining our passions by our will that the world is not bathed in blood and mankind slain...or vampires hunted to extinction.&nbsp; I am...perhaps not comfortable, but I am intimately aware of what it is that I am and have no miscomprehension of that."<br><br>She allows Theresa to read for a bit, then smiles, "that has long been a matter of discussion...I've heard a number of theories on such, but none that I would be willing or able to vouch for as, well...most of us are busy with our own personal matters much of the time and have little to spare for attempted breeding projects.&nbsp; Most of them were attempted at one point or another centuries ago, though most of us never stop indulging in passions of the flesh.&nbsp; I don't suppose you know your parents?&nbsp; Any pictures or documentation that might help with such?"&nbsp; She smiles somewhat amusedly.<br><br>"Yes, all evidence that I have found indicates that vampires, male or female, are utterly sterile.&nbsp; Males cease production of sperm as cellular mitosis comes to a halt, and menstruation ceases at the moment of death, the egg cells dying within the first day or so as the change overtakes them.&nbsp; The process of life after death seems...inimical to the process of reproduction."&nbsp; She begins pacing the room, her hands behind her back as she talks, "there are a great number of theories, though I cannot speak of all of them.&nbsp; A male who is changed in the midst of the act of intercourse and his death climax able to take root as it were.&nbsp; A woman, early in pregnancy, brought to the edge of death by a vampire, but surviving.&nbsp; Infusions directly into the umbilical cord or placenta of vampiric blood.&nbsp; A mortal brought to the very brink of death by a vampire, the change beginning, then somehow brought back from the edge leaving them partially changed.&nbsp; Then, of course, there are the more esoteric or unusual theories.&nbsp; A male vampire who manages to find themselves in true love with a mortal, wed within a sanctified church, blessed by a priest and so forth.&nbsp; A male vampire who dies by sunlight at the moment of climax.&nbsp; Various possible blessings, curses, enchantments, voodoo, magic, spirits and so forth causing such to be able to occur.&nbsp; The humor of a somewhat disturbed deity."<br><br>She shrugs slightly, still pacing, "as I said...more theories than answers, and without some idea about your lineage, I do not see that we would be able to answer with any degree of accuracy what it was that happened in your case.&nbsp; The only thing that I <em>am</em> certain of is that you mark the first and possibly the only one of your kind that I have ever heard of or seen with any degree of veracity in my life."&nbsp; She gestures at the book, "I have studied that tome, written by a mad vampiric prophet, and found a number of things that bore striking similarities to events both historical and modern, though it is all out of sequence and most of it borderline incomprehensible.&nbsp; That tome is responsible for at least one of the major cult factions of my kind.&nbsp; A group I was, in fact, on my way to meet when I found your trail.&nbsp; My assistant was adamant that there were a number of rumors going around, and to soothe her youthful eagerness I thought to go and show her the error of her ways."&nbsp; She smirks a bit, "in the future, though, I would appreciate the decency to not go proving me wrong before my lab assistant.&nbsp; Too much of that will go to her head and then where will I be?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>28-09-2011, 08:08:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>"My mother was no vampire. She was killed a year after I left home. Another victim of this city. Vampires, gang bangers...this city is not safe. As for my father...he disappeared a long time ago. I thought he died, and my mom did not react well to any mention of him." Theresa stood up, not showing any sign of her leg injury and pacing. "I always wondered about that. She was never a kind person, but mention of my father made her go from violent to...homicidal. As far as those theories, I don't know what to believe." She crossed her arms, lifting her breasts slightly. "And I find it odd. I've always heard vampires are cold, emotionless. But you seem to be anything but with your talk of justice and vigilantism, along with 'pleasures of the flesh' and your assistant." 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>29-09-2011, 19:36:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Your father disappeared?"&nbsp; Carol had an ugly thought about that.&nbsp; "How long ago?&nbsp; Somebody knew or suspected you were not the average bear six years ago, Theresa.&nbsp; How did they know?"&nbsp; <em>And was the man who shot you, the man I killed, your father?</em>&nbsp; An ugly thought indeed.&nbsp; <em>Or maybe one of his agents?</em>&nbsp; Not much better, really.<br><br>Carol was making a point of not ignoring the lab assistant.&nbsp; The woman could blend in very well, was hard to notice.&nbsp; Possibly why she had been selected as a renfield, it made her a use spy.&nbsp; "Misuse of power is something of an occupational disease for Cops, Sabien."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>29-09-2011, 20:45:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>"He disappeared 20 years ago. As for how anyone suspected me of being anything but human...I have no answer for that. I don't want to believe the two are connected. It's possible, but it seems a bit of a stretch. Why wait until I was 16 to try to turn me?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>30-09-2011, 08:10:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>"Many of the prevailing theories require that the father be the vampire.&nbsp; A male must only be at that edge for a moment...a vampire imbued with life for an instant or right at the threshold between life and death.&nbsp; A female, though...it would be significantly harder to manage such for even the better part of nine months."&nbsp; She raises a hand palm up and shrugs, "without knowing who your father was we cannot very well determine how things came about, and the dead are notoriously difficult to get straight answers out of...I believe it may be some form of rule for those that have passed beyond the veil."<br><br>She considers for a bit before continuing, "it is possible that the...nature of the relationship between them is part of what caused your mother to be the way she was.&nbsp; Some vampires have that effect on people.&nbsp; As for being cold..."&nbsp; She gives an amused smile, "it is far easier to restrain ones emotions and give an impression of coldness than to try to relax such control a measure and allow for a more 'normal' emotional range.&nbsp; I'm afraid that I have been at it for so long it is second nature.&nbsp; But there are those occasions when one can allow their emotions to kindle...places where there is some safety."&nbsp; She smiles affectionately to her lab assistant who slips over closer to her.<br><br>A moment later the vampires arms wrap about the woman and pulls her into an intense kiss, pressing their bodies together for a long moment and eliciting a soft whimper from Tiphanie.&nbsp; They pull apart after the better part of a minute, Sabien gently patting Tiphanie's chest in an affectionate gesture, the young woman blushing slightly.&nbsp; Sabien continues, "Tiphanie is someone that I am...safe with.&nbsp; I know she will not hurt me, and she knows what to watch for if things go...too far."&nbsp; She slides an arm about the lab assistant, half to keep her knees from wobbling and half affection.&nbsp; "She accepts what I am without constraint.&nbsp; She understands that it is inherently part of who I am and does not try to see one without the other.&nbsp; Besides,"&nbsp; she smiles somewhat more broadly, "my oaths to my bloodhusband said I would never be with another man, nothing was said about other women."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>30-09-2011, 18:08:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>"Using a loophole in your promise. That's clever." Walking back to the bed, Theresa sat down, reading the ancient tome again. "It does seem to fit. According to this tome, I'd heal from injuries more rapidly than humans, which is obviously true, and sunlight would burn me quickly, but not be fatal, which is also true. I'm not finding anything in the book that doesn't seem to fit me, in fact. Other than mentioning the dhampir in the masculine form, but that isn't so surprising. After all, everyone is referred to in the masculine until known otherwise." Theresa stood up again, her firm backside facing Sabien, only her tight outfit concealing the flesh underneath. "Thank you for showing me what I am, most likely."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>01-10-2011, 06:33:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>Sabien holds up an empty palm and shrugs slightly, "showing you what you are is one thing.&nbsp; Sharing with you the lore of at least some of your heritage&nbsp; is the least that I could do.&nbsp; If you're willing, however, I would like to...run some experiments.&nbsp; Not immediately, of course...it would take some time to get things established."&nbsp; She gives another smile, looking at the woman's backside , "I somehow doubt that what I've shared would be sufficient to establish sufficient trust to merit such things.&nbsp; On the other hand, I have been a scholar since my breathing days and the mystery of your lineage is intriguing."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>01-10-2011, 07:08:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>"What would provide the sufficient trust, then? Getting to...know each other better?" Theresa turned to face Sabien, a slight blush showing that she is fully aware of the deeper meaning of her words. "Not that I'm opposed to getting more familiar with each other, but I've no idea where to start. Unless you have some ideas."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>01-10-2011, 19:32:24</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Carol Neathawk</strong><br><br>Carol watched the passionate embrace with interest, but made no comment.&nbsp; No flush appeared on her face, but the vampire may have sensed her heartbeat pick up noticeably.&nbsp; She was alert to the dramtaic effect the kiss had on Tiphanie. <em> Is Sabien just that good a kisser, or is there something else going on, something vampirish?</em>&nbsp; Neathawk determinedly ignored the small voice in her mind that wanted to find out.<br><br>"Theresa, you're not alone in this.&nbsp; I'm not going to turn you in.&nbsp; You seem to want Sabien to do...whatever sort of tests she has in mind.&nbsp; I'm no scientist, but i have a nose for trouble." <em> Which smells a lot of it right now.</em>&nbsp; "I'll stick around, keep an eye on things, if that will make you feel better."&nbsp; <em>And if you are some sort of weirdo messiah figure, well, I'm keeping a hand in play for you on humanity's side.&nbsp; Just in case.</em><br><br>And then Theresa made it very, very hard for Carol to keep her detachment.&nbsp; The look on the kid's face, the predatory gleam in Sabien's eyes that glowed in response to the younger woman's blush...&nbsp; Carol felt her own skin begin to heat a little.&nbsp; She darted a glance at Tiphanie, the assistant looked ready to peel out of her clothes at any instant.&nbsp; <em>I don't dare lose control of myself like that.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>02-10-2011, 08:36:05</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The vampiress laughs softly and shakes her head slightly at Theresa's comment.&nbsp; "Sorry...I rather meant that the other way around.&nbsp; I did not think that you would be eager to be poked and prodded by so new an acquaintance."&nbsp; She shakes her head slightly, "at the very least it will take me some time to get the items I would need for testing, to say nothing of deciding what manner of tests are most applicable to the situation.&nbsp; While I've spent a fair amount of time documenting the particulars of myself and a few others, you, Theresa, represent a unique opportunity.&nbsp; The problem is seldom the doctor not trusting the patient, but the patient not trusting the doctor."<br><br>Her attention then goes to the officer, looking her over a moment, letting her gaze linger wordlessly, then quirking her brow.&nbsp; "Is there something you desire, officer...Carol, was it?&nbsp; You seem somewhat flustered...is something amiss?"&nbsp; She seems to consider a moment to herself before withdrawing her arm from around Tiphanie, letting her fingers linger as she does so.&nbsp; Her smile broadens ever so slightly, amusement touching her eyes as she ponders, then looking over to Theresa, her gaze lingering much more intently.&nbsp; &nbsp; She then looks back to Carol, her smile increasing again, "oh...my...you wish to...'keep an eye on things' was it?"&nbsp; The expression on her face says if she could, she would be purring like a cat.&nbsp; Her stance shifts slightly, from a posture of relative indifference to one a bit more...languid.&nbsp; Her eyes slide to nearly half lidded, taking a long, gentle scent of the air.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>02-10-2011, 09:24:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>"I'll be honest. I'm not sure I do trust you, Sabien. But you've given me no reason to dislike you. And I would do anything to know more about my capabilities." She smiled slightly, her face still flushed. "Anything at all." As the vampiress let her gaze linger on Theresa, she looked down, flushing even more, sitting on the bed.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Healergirl</strong> on <strong>03-10-2011, 01:04:38</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Carol Neathawk</strong><br><br>Neathawk blushed almost down to her collarbone.&nbsp; She didn't think \she was that easily read, but with someone like Sabien... "How old are you, exactly?"&nbsp; On the surface, she was thinking about how centuries of experience would give one quite the edge when it came to reading people.&nbsp; On a deeper level, centuries of experience meant she had likely forgotten more than Carol had ever learned about - <em>Stop that!</em> the detective thought angrily, then with a jolt wondered if she had said that aloud.&nbsp; "The way you move, more like flowing than waking."&nbsp; Oh, that was definitely out loud.&nbsp; <em>I feel like I feel like I did when I was sixteen and saw that cheerleader looking at the track squad.&nbsp; Then realizing she was looking at me.</em>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>03-10-2011, 08:17:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The half-lidded eyes slide across to Carol once more, "I thought I mentioned that before...though not a precise age, was it?"&nbsp; She smiles again, fangs barely evident, "is it not considered somewhat rude to ask a woman her age?&nbsp; Hm...we will have to find an...appropriate punishment later.&nbsp; But, to be exact, my body stopped aging at 26 years of age.&nbsp; That, in turn, was 427 years ago.&nbsp; About the time that colonization efforts began on this continent.&nbsp; Long enough ago to remember plagues and pestilence, war and strife and nearly ten mortal lifetimes of heartbreak and pain.&nbsp; And love.&nbsp; And joy."<br><br>Tiphanie bites her lip, then clears her throat delicately, "um...doctor?"&nbsp; She steps closer to the vampire, laying a hand gently on her arm, "you're beginning to slip...remember?"&nbsp; The vampire's head turns to glare at her assistant with the eerie smoothness and speed of the undead.&nbsp; "You asked me to remind you, remember?&nbsp; When you started doing it?"<br><br>Sabien stares, eerily still for a moment, then closing her eyes and taking a slow, deep breath.&nbsp; "You are right, of course...it is far too easy to...slip."&nbsp; She raises a hand and gently strokes Tiphanie's hair, smiling just a touch.&nbsp; "See how I am without your...moderating touch?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>03-10-2011, 12:00:19</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>Seeing&nbsp; the cold look on the vampiress's face, followed by the calming of Sabien through her assistant, worried Theresa. <em>What did I get myself into?</em> she wondered. "Beginning to slip? What does that mean? I&nbsp; thought&nbsp; you said vampires weren't all cold and emotionless, but they are like that normally, aren't they?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>03-10-2011, 18:22:35</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The vampire actually seems somewhat caught off guard by the situation, to the point that her cheeks actually color slightly.&nbsp; "It is...complicated.&nbsp; What my dear Tiphanie is referring to was more a...instinctive reaction, shall we say.&nbsp; Vampires are, by our natures, apex predators, akin to the great cats of the jungle or plains.&nbsp; If someone," her eyes flick over to Carol, then back to Theresa, "begins acting too much like, well...prey, our predatory natures sometimes come out."&nbsp; Her hand gently caresses Tiphanie's cheek, "Tiphanie has learned the difference between acting like prey and acting as a submissive member of a pack or group.&nbsp; The predatory instinct recognizes her more as a beta than prey, which leads to...awkward situations.&nbsp; Generally alpha's do not kill their beta's though, but they still discipline them on occasion."&nbsp; She shrugs a bit, seeming somewhat more calm, "as I said...the coldness is not our true selves...it is a control, a method to restrain our natures."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>05-10-2011, 17:53:50</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>"Was it me who you saw as the prey?" Theresa crossed her arms across her stomach, once again lifting her breasts up for easier view. "If it was, why did you see me as prey? And in what sense was I prey? Was it for food? Violence? ...Something else?"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>ShamshielDF</strong> on <strong>06-10-2011, 05:54:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Sabien Theunissen</strong><br><br>The vampiress gives a soft, amused laugh, "oh no, no dear dhampir...you are...confused, shall we say.&nbsp; Part of your nature is predator, part of it prey.&nbsp; You have not truly decided where you lie on that continuum.&nbsp; Our dear officer friend, though..."&nbsp; Her eyes slide over to Carol again, "she is afraid.&nbsp; She is uncertain.&nbsp; Only logical, really, considering she is dealing with somethings she was taught were impossible.&nbsp; Even if she is only somewhat consciously aware of such, part of her is aware that she is sharing a room with a predator and a potential predator.&nbsp; A more base part of her is screaming to fight or flee.&nbsp; And yet she stands, in spite of those instincts.&nbsp; Her heart beats faster, her breathing quick and shallow, her eyes slightly dilated..."&nbsp; She takes a deep breath through her nose, "can you smell the mixture of sweat, adrenaline, endorphins and a cocktail of hormones...the blend that indicates a fear reflex."&nbsp; <br><br>She gives Carol a polite smile, then looks back to Theresa, calming slightly, "I do apologize...the scent of her fear with the scent of your blood does tend to distract and bring out the worst in me."&nbsp; She looks to Tiphanie, "if you would dispose of the bloodied sheets and stained clothing?&nbsp; And...perhaps some peroxide for Theresa's clothing."&nbsp; She looks to Carol again and gives her a bow, "I should apologize to you as well, madam officer.&nbsp; I should not bring such matters up in conversation without discussing them with you first.&nbsp; On the other hand, I did mean what I said about the...distraction.&nbsp; If you should like, there is a shower in the next room.&nbsp; And..." she ponders a moment, then rummages about in one of her desks for a bit before coming up with a travel bottle of shampoo, conditioner and body wash.&nbsp; "And if you could find a towel for our guests, Tiphanie?&nbsp; Perhaps Theresa would like a shower as well."&nbsp; She shrugs, glancing back to the others.&nbsp; "There is already shampoo and such in the shower, but you may be more...comfortable with something else.&nbsp; While I am rather fond of the scent of melons and berries, I understand that not all are."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Dhampir</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>thebobmaster</strong> on <strong>06-10-2011, 06:21:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Theresa Van Derala</strong><br><br>"I thank you for your kindness, madam." She took the bottles. "Are there...any other clothes? I'd hate to shower, only to dress in my bloody clothes. N-Not that there is an issue if there isn't. I-I'll just...use the towel..." Theresa looked down, her face red, more uncertain of herself than ever.
			</dd>
		</dl>
		<div id="footer" class="smalltext">
			
			<span class="smalltext" style="display: inline; visibility: visible; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?action=credits" title="Simple Machines Forum" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF 2.0.19</a> |
 <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org/about/smf/license.php" title="License" target="_blank" class="new_win">SMF © 2021</a>, <a href="https://www.simplemachines.org" title="Simple Machines" target="_blank" class="new_win">Simple Machines</a>
			</span>
		</div>