Finders Keepers (A Starlequin and Beatrice Black Production)
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		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Bondage, D/s, S&amp;M =&gt; Bondage: Exotic Solos =&gt; Topic started by: Starlequin on 04-01-2013, 10:10:09</h2>
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				Title: <strong>Finders Keepers (A Starlequin and Beatrice Black Production)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Starlequin</strong> on <strong>04-01-2013, 10:10:09</strong>
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				Vampires don't need to breathe, but that didn't stop Edgar Townsend from heaving a sigh of relief as he fell through the door into his city apartment. He crawled into the kitchen, aching from the many wounds the hunters had inflicted with their damned blessed sabers and holy water; his only solace lay in two facts: that the Circle of St. George was now short two more troublesome slayers, and his refridgerator held an ample stock of freshly acquired blood bags to sate his gnawing hunger and speed his recovery. Edgar clawed his way across the tile floor, dragging himself along with his only working arm until he reached the fridge and threw open the door, grabbing carelessly at the crimson packs until one fell within his reach.<br><br>Foregoing the usual straw and napkin route, Edgar sank his teeth into the plastic and ripped the bag open, letting the chilled, thick vitae slide down his gullet like mana from heaven. <em>'Ahh, that's the shit,'</em> he thought, eyes rolled back in his head as he savored the flavor of three-day-old B+. Already he could feel his wounds closing, the beast within abating for another night. Edgar remained on the kitchen floor for several minutes, reflecting on the night's events as his undead body stitched itself back together. It was all that asshole Leon's fault, that's what had gotten him into this mess. He replayed the vampire's week-old message behind closed eyes and marvelled at his own stupidity for getting involved.<br><br><span class="bbc_u">"Edgar,<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Found a lead on an interesting artifact in your city. No notion yet on its capabilities or history, but rumor paints an intriguing picture. Sources say it's being held in a Circle-fronted research sanctum; thought you might want to swing by and pick it up, see if it's worth your time or my money. Will be dropping by next month to inquire further if you manage to procure it before then.<br><br>Toodles,<br>L.B."</span><br><br>Bastard had forgotten to mention one or two trivial details. Like how the 'small' sanctum had been covered with more security than the damn Vatican, or that the 'artifact' was clearly not just enchanted, but full-blown hexed. Edgar dug through the satchel that lay beneath him and extracted the small totem, a strangely carved wooden pendant that seemed to shine with its own inner glow. He watched the light swirl in fluid, hypnotic patterns across the wooden surface for several seconds, then shoved it back into the satchel. Whatever mojo was contained within the pendant, it didn't appear to affect vampires. But with all the protection the Circle had laid down on its hiding place, Edgar had a feeling it worked just fine on people with a pulse. Which meant as soon as his body was finished self-repairing, he was going to change into something a little less battle-worn and head back out to find a suitable...test subject.<br><br>~Two Hours Later~<br><br>After a half hour of recovery, Edgar's real agony began as he dug through his closets looking for an acceptable outfit. Hardly a single item appealed to him, nothing fresh whatsoever. In the end he elected to settle for a more sedate look, pulling down a pair of black denims and a smart buttoned bone-white shirt with a royal purple jacket. <em>'It's practically new, really; I don't think I've worn any of these more than twice,'</em> he thought glumly, awash in the unpleasant sensation of peasantry. <em>'Ah, hell, who cares? This is a testing expedition, not an evening on the prowl. Besides, the night I can't pull some dim-witted morsel out of the clubs no matter what I'm wearing is the night I visit a 24-hour tanning salon.'</em><br><br>Edgar grabbed the totem and looped the thin leather cord around his neck, tucked the little amulet under his shirt and headed back out. It took less than ten minutes to find a club still jumping at this relatively early hour, and with a brisk nod to the lumberjack-sized doorman he was inside, the hunt on once again. The trouble now was, who to select? Edgar still didn't even know what the damnable thing <em>did</em>, let alone how to activate it. But the tone of Leon's message had given him the impression that it was some kind of weapon, and that gave Edgar a few ideas on how to start.<br><br>Most of the Circle's slayers were men, and if Edgar was going to use a weapon against <em>anyone</em> it would be those god-thumping hypocrites. Ergo, he would need a male test subject. A little more complicated than his usual fare of bar scene bimbos and bachelorette party stragglers, but nothing he was unfamiliar with at least; one <em>does</em> develop curiosities to satisfy over the centuries, after all. None of the gents here seemed too open to his kind of charms, however, and Edgar was still mentally drained after the earlier encounter with the slayers. He decided to give himself an hour or so; if no one came in who seemed particularly pliable, he would just have to ramp up his efforts and persuade one of the prettier boys to broaden their horizons for the evening...
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				Title: <strong>Re: Finders Keepers (A Starlequin and Beatrice Black Production)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Beatrice Black</strong> on <strong>05-01-2013, 06:20:20</strong>
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				Martin Bryce sat in the car across the street from the brownstone where the vampire apparently made its lair. Its expensive lair, he thought irritably.<br><br>He had been on the outer edge of the sanctum when the thing attacked, and able to discreetly follow as it stumbled away. Good thing too, the blood trail had stopped after ten feet or so - they only had so much blood in them, after all.<br><br>There it was, heading out on the town like nothing had happened, like it hadn't had its throat cut just hours earlier, hadn't had its hand scalded by room-temperature holy water... hadn't killed Simon and Philip... Just change its clothes and off it went.<br><br>It was important to think of the vampire as "it", not "him" or "her", as the Order's leadership instructed. This one had the body of a man, but it was not human.<br><br>Martin wasn't a believer, not like the hunters. He had just seen enough at the age of 28 to know some things that should only be stories were real, and that included the living dead.<br><br>Anyway, this one was out for the night. He left a message, passing the information on to the next observer along.<br><br>He looked over at the apartment building, grey eyes narrowing, ran a hand through his short brown hair, and got up out of the car, pulling his coat closed around his lean frame. A vampire this powerful could probably wake during the day if they burst in, so when it was out was the best bet to retrieve the idol. Whatever it was...
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				Title: <strong>Re: Finders Keepers (A Starlequin and Beatrice Black Production)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Starlequin</strong> on <strong>07-01-2013, 02:37:43</strong>
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				Waste. Of. Time.<br><br>Edgar rolled his eyes so hard he could practically count the threads on his shirt collar, he was so frustrated with the evening's lack of success. His usual vampiric charms were still out of commission, it seemed, and besides that none of the club's patrons had struck him as particularly suitable for testing purposes. Of course, he'd noticed several that were more than adequate for...less scholarly pursuits, but he was in no mood for fun tonight. <em>'Hell with this. I'm going home, cracking open a nice '87 La Fitte with a fresh pack of Type O and watching <span class="bbc_u">Dancing With the Stars</span>. And this fucking thing can rot in the safe until Leon comes to collect it, I don't give a damn <strong>what</strong> it does!'</em> Edgar thought, scowling as he fingered the warm totem through his shirt.<br><br>The irritated vampire stalked out of the club and headed back to his apartment, blithely ignoring any possibility of surveillance or ambush; indeed, he was almost hoping another damn slayer would appear to give him something to take his annoyances out on. No such luck was on Edgar's side, however, and he reached his lair without incident. At least, he thought he did. The tiny scuff marks around the lock on his door and the tell-tale scent of fresh blood mingled with adrenaline and fear indicated that his evening wouldn't be without further entertainment, after all. A ghost of a grin slid across his face as he 'unlocked' the door and entered the apartment, casually opening himself to attack from whoever had decided to trespass into his home. Anyone stupid enough to challenge a vampire in his own territory clearly needed all the help they could get, and Edgar was nothing if not a gracious host.<br><br>"Dee da dee da dee da do do, Dee, da didda do," he sang to himself as he flicked the lights on and headed back into the kitchen, still intent on his earlier notion of blood and wine. He pulled the totem off his neck and twirled it lazily around one finger as he moved, presuming to taunt his 'guest' with the baited prize they were doubtlessly after; why else would anyone attempt to penetrate into his lair? Edgar added a slight stagger to his motions, as though he were still weakened from the earlier battle with the two slayers. Satisfied that the target he was presenting of himself was too tempting to resist, the vampire bent slightly to rummage through the refridgerator, patiently awaiting his would-be assailant...
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				Title: <strong>Re: Finders Keepers (A Starlequin and Beatrice Black Production)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Beatrice Black</strong> on <strong>10-01-2013, 00:24:45</strong>
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				After twenty minutes, Martin concluded that the idol was nowhere to be found. The floor safe was the only area of the apartment he couldn't check. Sure, the vampire could have hidden it somewhere clever - in the cistern of the toilet, say - but it hadn't had time, surely. He had been surprised to find food as well as (doubtless stolen) hospital blood bags in the refrigerator while searching, did the vampire consume it or keep it for victims? No matter, he had a best guess for the idol's location - <br><br>He froze as he heard the key turn in the lock.<br><br>The instinct to run rose up and he made for the window leading to the fire escape, but then he heard the grunt of pain and the shuffling feet, and against his better judgement, he stepped towards the kitchen again.<br><br>There was the vampire, holding the idol.<br><br>He turned to run again.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Finders Keepers (A Starlequin and Beatrice Black Production)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Starlequin</strong> on <strong>16-01-2013, 04:53:05</strong>
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				<em>'Hmm, smarter than the average juice box, are we?'</em> Edgar thought as the intruder turned to make an escape. Before two more steps hit the floor, a slight gust of wind blew through the apartment and the intruder no doubt felt a graveyard chill down his spine as the door and fire escape window seemed to slam shut and lock simultaneously. Edgar smirked to himself, more than a little pleased with his little speedrun, and resumed his original position in the kitchen. He whirled upward as though startled, and affected a slight quiver in his voice as he called out 'nervously'.<br><br>"H-hello? Is there someone there? I, um...I'm warning you, I h-have a knife! P-please, I...look, just take whatever you want and go, or...or I'll c-call the po-police!"<br><br>The vampire barely held back a groan at his own bad acting, but pocketed the totem and backed himself up against the sink counter. On almost any other night, Edgar probably would have already attacked and subdued the uninvited guest, but after the shit he'd gone through tonight he had no interest in walking into another fight with an unknown opponent. If this (admittedly pathetic) ruse didn't draw the thief out, though, it looked like that was exactly what he would have to do. <em>'Please, <span class="bbc_u">please</span> just be a little dumb, just an eensy bit of stupid is all I'm asking...'</em>
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				Title: <strong>Re: Finders Keepers (A Starlequin and Beatrice Black Production)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Beatrice Black</strong> on <strong>16-01-2013, 05:01:29</strong>
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				Martin shivered at the icy breeze as he pulled at the window latch, to no avail. Then he heard the voice... human? No, this was the vampire, trying to trick him.<br><br>Letting go of the latch, he turned, reaching into his jacket for the .22 hidden inside. It wouldn't drop one of the monsters, but a kneecap would slow one down. <br><br>He headed for the apartment door, knowing he would have to pass the vampire. He took a breath to steady his nerves, to speak forcefully.<br><br>"We want the idol." Emphasis on 'we' there. Let it think he wasn't alone. "Drop it, throw it out. Stay out of sight. I'm not interested in you..." And not interested in risking meeting the vampire's gaze either...
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: Finders Keepers (A Starlequin and Beatrice Black Production)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Starlequin</strong> on <strong>01-02-2013, 02:50:09</strong>
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				Edgar's shoulders fell as he realized his guest was intent on doing things the hard way. A grin almost made it across his lips as he took in the intruder's threat of numbers; there was only one heartbeat in the apartment, and by its speed its owner was clearly unprepared for a real confrontation. The scent of oil and gunpowder tickled his nose, and his eyebrows almost shot through the roof in disbelief. <em>'A handgun? And not even a decent cannon, he thinks he's going to fight me with a fucking <span class="bbc_u">peashooter</span>?! Who <strong>is</strong> this idiot?!'</em><br><br>Silent as snake hunting its prey, Edgar seemingly evaporated from the kitchen using his inhuman speed and appeared immediately behind the failed thief. No sound, no pressure to give himself away, the vampire took a few seconds to study the back of the man's head. Hmph. Clearly, nothing special. He folded his arms over his chest and relaxed into a nonchalant sort of pose, the totem still dangling carelessly from his fingers.<br><br>"Now that's a rather rude manner of introduction; if I didn't know better, I'd think you went through all the trouble of breaking into my home just to make me feel bad. After all, I'm quite interested in <em>you</em>..." Edgar leaned forward, whispering his taunt directly into the pitiable hunter's ear.
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				Title: <strong>Re: Finders Keepers (A Starlequin and Beatrice Black Production)</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Beatrice Black</strong> on <strong>03-02-2013, 02:05:56</strong>
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				Martin jerked away and stumbled as a cold voice whispered in his ear, trying to bring the gun around, his finger slippery with sweat on the trigger.<br><br>Did he drop it, or did someone slap it out of his hand? He couldn't be sure, but either way, it fell to the floor, thankfully not going off, and skidded away - did someone kick it?<br><br>He was starting to drop and reach for it when he saw the vampire standing to one side, arms folded. The idol in his hand.<br><br>Martin's heart went cold. There it was, in easy reach... and in the hand of a thing that could use it.<br><br>"Let it go. That's all I want." He tried his best to steady his voice. "You don't know how dangerous it is."<br><br>He hoped that was true. If this monster had any inkling of what the idol could do to a human being, there was little chance that anyone would ever see him again...
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