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Post by Vythmiirik on Jan 31, 2022 12:34:15 GMT
Vythmiirik moved a little so Kara could get a better look, she seemed pleased that Kara was impressed by her machines work.
"Well a dragonborn's breath weapon can completely disintegrate a person; so the local law figured that was too extreme, though my parents told me if it's a life or death thing to burn them to ash and bolt" she shrugged; it wasn't as big a deal to her, because most of the time she didn't get into those kinds of situations. Sometimes she wished she'd inherited her mother's ice breath; but flame was what she had and she was used to it.
She watched the machine work and kept an eye on the stats on the tiny screen in the corner, so far nothing had gone wrong, but it was a delicate piece of kit and she wouldn't be pleased if anyone touched it whilst it was working. The timer was now 3/4 of the way through, the tiny jets had slowed down and started to stop. A small extraction fan had started up to start the process of draining excess chemicals and gently drying the fabric.
Vythmiirik hmmed as she watched her work and mentioned "That's fair, she'd know anyhow, besides the elders will talk with her. As I said, we'll find an arrangement that works for all of us. No need for people like us to worry over it when we can't do anything about it." She was pretty sure that Kara's mistress would figure out the situation quickly enough and carve out her own niche. "Besides, from what you've said about her, I don't think you need to be concerned."
"Bit more than a gang, more of a militia from what mother said, but yes you're not wrong." Vythmiirik picked up on Kara's unsureness so she decided it wouldn't hurt to explain a bit more. "He turns up around here sometimes, a pure white werewolf. My mother believed the moon goddess had heard her pleas...well, mother doesn't get desperate easily, or beg, so I'm sure you can fill in the blanks there." She paused and stared off the distance for a moment before continuing "Besides Mother got her own back then and I finally managed to give him an appropriate gift of thanks a month or so ago."
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Kara
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Post by Kara on Jan 31, 2022 21:17:06 GMT
“I wish I could breathe napalm,” said Kara with a smirk. “Carrying one of those shoulder-fired HOT launchers gets tiring. But I get it. Can’t end every with bodies – or ashes that used to be bodies anyway.”
Kara could live with leaving the diplomacy to better people. Wasn’t that always the way it had been? She’d never had much say in politics and when she had, it was only because of the challenge of explaining to certain backwater primitives how their new weapons worked and what targets her senior leaders wanted dead.
Though she frowned as she watched the machine work. Would that change? It was different now. She was closer to her mistress than anyone and perhaps the only person who Lady Talisa could fully trust. What if Lady Talisa wanted her opinions on things? Could Kara even trust that her advice would be any good? It was an uncomfortable conversation and one that Kara wasn’t ready to pursue.
Better to focus on tactics – and on this werewolf who Vythmiirik had just mentioned. A white werewolf – “pure white.” That confirmed it. The kinds wolves she knew who were white had lost their fur color and long ago been kicked back to senior command, training, or any number of support duties.
“Then it is him,” she said. “That…” She almost called him a rude name before remembering that he was Vythmiirik’s namesake. “…werewolf has been mistaken for us a hundred times over. Not that he’s evil, but he’s running his own agenda like some kind of character from those ancient westerns. And frankly, I doubt he appreciates being mistaken for us either.”
But he was in town. That news hit her like a bullet. In an instant, her mood changed from jovial to morose. If he was roaming the wastes, he was a funny story about mistaken identity, but here, in her new neighborhood, she would have to be more cautious of him. The kind of do-gooder might not think much of highborn vampires.
As her mistress had told her, local vampires ganging up and preying on the weak were treated as a manageable public problem like trash or stray dogs. But one of the noble families moving in was like a corporation buying land – an act of power that was both welcomed and dreaded. The last thing that she needed was this werewolf deciding that he needed to stick his beak in.
“What’s he doing here?” she asked. “And where was he last – and what kind of gift did you give? Anything dangerous or important?”
Kara realized that she was probably overreacting, but worry had seized her and couldn’t be stopped.
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Post by Vythmiirik on Jan 31, 2022 21:59:57 GMT
Vythmiirik shrugged "It isn't napalm really; as it's not chemical flame, it's basically magic fire, I can show you if you want sometime" she explained, "Huh don't know how heavy that would be, but it does sound a little awkward"
She watched the machine, not really concerned about all the diplomacy that would be going on over her head; as she would be informed as to what she would need to know, when she needed to know it.
Watching Kara's reaction Vythmiirik was a little surprised though she hid it well and kept her focus primarily on her machine.
"I wouldn't know what his agenda might be, I don't know a lot about him to be honest" Vythmiirik replied quite blasé about it whilst watching Kara out of her peripherals and filing things away mentally. "I only met him once, he was on guard and I was really nervous" she added thinking back and wondering how much she should say.
"He was working in a pub as a singer, and part-time bouncer by the looks of things. And really...a dangerous gift of gratitude?" she sounded slightly incredulous at that "I am a weaver and a gift of gratitude must be hand-made by the person who seeks to give thanks. It is an important tradition so I made him a cloak, waterproof, warm and carefully stitched...but I doubt that would be dangerous" she did sound mildly offended at that, but did realise that she didn't know the full story here and that Kara probably didn't know how gifts of gratitude worked. Or the clan's policy not to give out anything that could be used to cause harm.
The machine finished it's cycle and beeped, Vythmiirik looked to it and opened the door her concern for her work outstripping her mild offence as she checks it. "Needs a moment to settle then we can take it out to check and make sure you're happy with it" she pauses for a moment in consideration "It'd be best to attach the broach to the edging part rather than the actual silk, it's stronger and easier to repair that way if some idiot grabs it"
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Kara
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Post by Kara on Feb 1, 2022 3:34:17 GMT
Kara did make a note – Vythmiirik was clearly as dangerous as she looked. Dangerous enough that she would need to treat cautious around the dragonborn because she no longer had the benefit of going to the nearest ammo dump and requesting as much thermobaric plasma weaponry as she wanted.
Their conversation had become suddenly heated, Kara becoming more and more concerned about an actor who she knew just enough about to be cautious.
“He works in a fucking bar?” she said, her brow arching in utter disbelief. “If even a tenth of what I’ve heard is true, he should be selling his skills or fighting for some agenda or warlord, not dealing with unruly drunks part time.”
Though she supposed that she’d taken her skills and simply given them away. Lady Talisa didn’t even pay her, just bestowed her with favors, but she was a mistress to serve and a cause to follow. For a moment, she thought that Vythmiirik’s gift might share some kind of insight about what the werewolf was up to, but it struck her as almost agonizingly mundane. Or at least as “mundane” as things in Vythmiirik’s shop might get – fine embroidery and the best threads.
She was prying for information that Vythmiirik about a werewolf who was practically a rumor. Why didn’t she quit interrogating someone in debt to the werewolf and go face him herself? Besides, Vythmiirik was in debt to him – likely forever. Maybe a gift would square things, but she would never see him as anything other than a savior whereas Kara viewed him as an unknown variable. Maybe he would be an ally, but… she knew how the “normal” viewed vampires. Either way, it wasn’t her place to be hassling Vythmiirik.
“No… no, you’re right,” she said, shaking her head. “That wasn’t fair. I’m sorry. I’m just… I do the worrying for my mistress about these things. And more and more…”
The ding of the machine cut her off and she was thankful for it. She’d almost said that she was starting to feel like Lady Talisa should’ve never left the coven, where it was safe, secure, and they had nothing to do but love one another. Having to return to the “real world” with real dangers had damaged her patience.
“I’m sure I’ll be happy with it,” she said, peering into the machine to check on the fabric. “And can you show me how to wear it properly with the collar? I’m not shy. You can touch me if you have to.”
She smirked, bemused at the comment. There was little room for personal space in the Army and even less in the coven.
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Post by Vythmiirik on Feb 1, 2022 21:26:37 GMT
Vythmiirik probably wouldn't consider herself dangerous, but she's quite a sheltered; so Vythmiirik's not aware of how dangerous she might be.
"Yeah, or at least part time. He's not a bad singer really" she added and watched, "Hmm, doesn't seem like the type to work for a warlord, but then I don't know him all that well" truthfully from all the rumours that Vythmiirik had heard and researched, he seemed more the type to keep to himself for fear of loosing people; but at the same time not able to resist helping people in danger. Still she did not mention this, for she had no reason to do so.
Vythmiirik sighed "No it wasn't fair," she huffed and rustled her wings making a sound like rushing wind "Would it help if I leant you a book on local customs and the whose who of the city?" she asked reminded of the books produced for her clan's young to keep them out of trouble. It had been an interesting course and Vythmiirik kept an updated copy of the book at all times to make sure she didn't get into any wrong crowds.
Still she waited the pre-requisite amount of time and then reached in and gently grabbed the scarf. Then she opened her mouth slightly and breathed over it, no flame came from her mouth, but the scarf did seem to shimmer strangely and Vythmiirik nodded in a approval. "Good, it worked just fine. All done!" She held it out so Kara could see it "what do you think?"
"It's not about touching, it's about what's proper, regardless I can put it on for you" she pauses for a moment and frowns "though I will need to see where your collar was secured so I can position it in a way it won't catch. The binding on it is well done, but silk is finicky." She seems speaks as she checks the collar's width by eye and starts doing mental calculations; she grabs a step stool and drags it over. "Sit down, and if you get uncomfortable tell me and I'll stop"
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Kara
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Post by Kara on Feb 1, 2022 22:41:51 GMT
Kara raised her brow at the mention of the werewolf’s singing skills. She’d forgotten that. It was impossible for her to tell at that point if the travelling vigilante had added music to his repertoire just because every great warrior had at least one art they practiced or if it was all some kind of massive mistaken identity.
Kara decided to keep the latter to herself for fear of further offending Vythmiirik.
“You have a book like that?” said Kara. “I mean… I was never much into reading personally, but… is that werewolf in there too?”
And she supposed it wouldn’t be long before Lady Talisa was added too.
Kara watched as Vythmiirik removed the skirt and… blew on it? Kara tilted her head, unsure of what that did, but she thought it looked pretty. No, perhaps it looked even better. She smiled and nodded to Vythmiirik’s question, sitting down on the stool.
“So, uh…” she grabbed the ring of her collar, turning it on her neck to show where the two halves had been forged together. “Yeah, there’s no buckle for that to snag on. This is one of those ‘permanent upgrades.’”
She smirked, but her ears had turned pink. As proud as Kara could be of her golden collar, there was something about showing it to outsiders that still made her nervous. It was such an obvious and extreme display of her thralldom – and the reason why she’d come for a scarf in the first place. But she reminded herself that Vythmiirik was a rift-sider and such things weren’t unknown to them.
“If you’re comfortable, I’m comfortable,” she said simply. “That’s not enchanted… well, it sort of is maybe since I know it’s ‘special,’ but it’s not going to shock you or whatever.”
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Post by Vythmiirik on Feb 2, 2022 19:39:03 GMT
Vythmiirik nodded "It's considered a part of our education so the younger ones don't attract the wrong kind of attention. It's updated every so often." She tilted her head "I think so, though we don't have a picture of him, only a drawing"
She folded the fabric carefully and moved her tail round in front of her placing the scarf on it, balancing it just fine. Vythmiirik grabbed a pair of gloves out of her pouch and pulled them on, she then runs a finger over the join making sure there's no-where it can catch. "That's fair, don't mind me. I'm just checking to make sure the sealing was done in a way that the edges aren't sharp. Thankfully they're not, so looks good." Vythmiirik showed the collar the attention it deserved and made sure to keep her claws from scratching the metal.
"Well I'm glad it wont shock me, but it is still a matter of courtesy. Anyhow watch what I do" she takes the fabric off of her tail, pulling her tail back behind her as she does so. Vythmiirik holds it out and then folds it in half; indicating where the coven sigil was, she then puts her hand through the loop she'd made and pulling it taught looped it over Kara's head and feeding the other end through the loop she'd made. She then nimbly used her fingers to hook the velvet edging under the collar on one side, ducking her head balancing at a strange angle using her tail and wings as counterbalanced as she deftly tucked the other end under the collar, making sure it sat on the velvet edging. Vythmiirik then took the end with the sigil that she had positioned to be on top and carefully manoeuvred it so it would sit over the collar loop at the front. "There; what do you think of that? I can attach the broach to hold it in place if you're happy with it?"
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Kara
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Post by Kara on Feb 2, 2022 21:01:42 GMT
Kara was certainly curious about seeing the book, if only because in her experience, local intel was less of a story and more of a patchwork detective narrative pieced together from different, sometimes contradictory stories. She’d have to ask about the book later.
“Huh,” she said, noting how Vythmiirik carried the scarf on her tail. “All mine does is wag. Looks handy.”
An examination of her collar would reveal that it had been masterfully crafted, a fusion of newer technology and ancient magic from the rift. There were no rough edges and nothing to snag, not even on the runes that had been engraved along its surface or the weld between the two halves. Kara smiled as Vythmiirik checked it, remembering the day that it had been put on her neck. Lady Talisa had held her hand, whispering words that were engraved into her memories: “A good collar should be the same price as the thrall wearing it. Truly a challenge since you happen to be priceless.”
“I don’t mind,” Kara said. “Honestly, when you’re in a coven, there’s not much of a sense of personal space for anybody.”
Though Kara hadn’t been exaggerating about the shock. Lady Talisa could’ve shocked her if she wanted, not that she’d ever had to use that particular function beyond a test. Kara hadn’t particularly minded. It was just another reminder to keep her own discipline.
But for now, she watched with care as Vythmiirik folded the scarf, trying to memorize each movement as if it was a manual of arms for a new weapon. She was surprised by Vythmiirik’s deftness as she wrapped the collar tightly, carefully placing the sigil right at the center.
“…have you ever done that before?” she asked. “I mean, you know what you’re doing. Like an honor guard putting up a flag.”
She touched it gently, noting how it wrapped so tightly that it looked like a fashion statement rather than concealment of a secret.
“I love the collar, don’t get me wrong, but… I could get used to this.” She smiled in spite of herself admiring the scarf in a mirror. “Do you think it’s good? Because the rest of me needs some classing up just to match the collar. And yeah - the broach, please.”
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Post by Vythmiirik on Feb 2, 2022 21:35:09 GMT
"Hmm, well it's not exactly fully prehensile; but I can use it for balance and to hold things on it. Helps it's so long, good for flight too" Vythmiirik replied as she examined things.
"It's not so much about personal space as it is that I am separate to your coven, there are ancient laws regarding such things. So asking for permission is generally considered wise as I don't know your mistress" she explained, quite factually and not at all bothered by such things.
"Once or twice, as I said the clan has dealings with many different peoples and cultures, so as far as we are concerned as long as everyone in the equation is happy; then we're content to lend our aid when needed" Vythmiirik had given various patrons scarves, or other items, in order to conceal markings or the like. She followed her clan's laws and helped in her own small way to maintain their place in the city's hierarchy, there were a few people she couldn't stand though. Still it was strict policy in the cases of people like thralls, that the clan only intervened when people wished escape and asked for aid. Vythmiirik never really questioned it as it was what she'd be raised on all her life.
Vythmiirik tilted her head "It looks good on you" she told Kara after giving her a critical but quick once over. "Hmph, don't worry too much about it, I'm sure you'll get dressed up to match it pretty soon. I just hope your mistress likes it too." She picked up the broach that Kara had picked out and secured it to the velvet edging "Don't put it through the silk because it'll mess it up, but the velvet is strong sort so it'll hold it nicely. There you go, give yourself a twirl out front to make sure it stays in place, but it looks secure to me" she indicated the shop front room, where she dealt with her customers rather than her workroom, where Kara's tail might damage any of her equipment on accident.
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Kara
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Post by Kara on Feb 2, 2022 22:13:52 GMT
Kara supposed that Vythmiirik had a good point. She hadn’t thought of things that way – that the right to touch her so freely was a privilege among the coven. Her ears drooped, though not for long.
“Lady Talisa would allow it,” she said confidently. “I’m pretty sure of it.”
She held still while Vythmiirik put on the broach. It was strange when she thought about it; how she’d come in so certain that she and Vythmiirik had almost nothing in common, but more and more, she felt like they were neighbors of a sort. Even if she was partly human, she had so, so much more in common with the dragonborn than any human she’d ever met. Hierarchies, rituals, and ancient pacts were a part of life here.
Maybe her mistress had understood this when she’d decided to come to Wayward City. Perhaps it wasn’t a coven, but they weren’t the alien outsiders that her time on the road had made her assume.
“And I appreciate that,” she said, standing up carefully, as if one wrong move might ruin the careful folds of the scarf. “Well, now you’ve done it two or three times.”
She walked into the shop floor and, as Vythmiirik had suggested, twirled slowly. The scarf held fast and she looked at herself in a mirror, finding that the scarf complemented her perfect, the black, sparkly fabric standing out even amid her fur.
“I know that this is kinda going against the point, but… I could see myself wearing it around the collar too – in the right place, of course. The gold matches nice.” She touched the fabric carefully. “And I know that my mistress is going to love it.”
She smiled, this time genuinely and gave the half-bow as Lady Talisa had taught her, something that had suited her far, far better than a more feminine curtsey.
“So… I imagine our business is done? Or is there something I can do for you to return the favor?”
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Post by Vythmiirik on Feb 2, 2022 22:54:22 GMT
Kara's droop of the ears was noted, but deliberately not spoken of "Well, I suppose this is a professional setting. So you're probably right" she tried to reassure.
She watched Kara for a moment and carefully filed away her thoughts to tell her clan elders all she'd found out recently. It was always best to prepare for such things and since noble vampires were setting up a night club in town she'd have to let them know so the proper diplomatic paths could be taken; her clan weren't really the sort to like conflict if it could be avoided.
"Always happy to help" she smiled, truly Vythmiirik didn't get what the big deals were about such things, but she was young and knew some things only came with experience and time. Besides her clan had their own rules about what could and could not be done, so she just supposed it was a cultural thing.
"Hmm, well I've designed the weave to go over the collar so be careful, don't pull it too taught as you wrap it around. But it should be fine, I made it strong after all." Vythmiirik warned carefully, indicating that pulling it in the long ways direction was fine but the weave was slightly (only slightly) weaker in the width ways direction. Regardless she smiled, clearly pleased "That's great I'm glad; I'll have to start work on your other scarves tomorrow, but I should have them finished by next month. I'll drop them over when I'm done" though it would be during day time, she wasn't that much of a night owl by nature.
Vythmiirik nodded "Yes that's about it. I've got your order and once you've paid you're good to go" seeing as she'd told Kara that she wouldn't have to pay until she'd received the first scarf and was happy with it. Seeing the formal bow Vythmiirik gave the appropriate response, flaring with wings and coiling her tail as she dipped into a formal curtsey-ish of her own. She felt pretty good about her work and all the new information she could pass on to the elders; so all in all it had not only been a good transaction, but also a good meeting.
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Kara
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Post by Kara on Feb 3, 2022 0:00:02 GMT
Kara inspected her scarf in the mirror, reluctant to disturb Vythmiirik’s careful work. When she got home, she’d do her best to duplicate it, but for now, just in case, she wanted it perfect.
“If I wear it with the collar, I’ll tie it loosely,” she said. “Of course, I’m a fucking dunce when it comes to nice clothes, but mistress will know how. Honestly, between uniforms and coven life, I’m not even used to picking my own clothes out.”
She nodded when Vythmiirik said that she would work on the other scarves latter. With the formalities exchanged, she supposed that it was time to pay. Carefully, she reached inside the pocket of her coat and withdrew a black leather slip, placing it on the counter and slowly withdrawing a black plastic card inlaid with lines of platinum arranged in swirling patterns.
“I assume that you take city account credit?” she said. “If not, I have other things.” She snorted. “Truth be told, I forgot that things like this existed. On the roads, it’s all bartering and bullshit. Gold in the nice places, but some so bad that they ask for food and ammo. And not even good ammo. Goddamn metallic cartridges with gunpowder, like we’re in the Ancient West or something.”
She shook her head again, checking her reflection in the mirror and admiring her scarf. Slowly, she ran the pads on her fingers over it, feeling the softness of the silk.
“I’m turning into fancy folk now. A year in this city and I’ll be like some kind of geisha concubine or whatever.” She chuckled. "Have you been here long yourself?"
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Post by Vythmiirik on Feb 3, 2022 18:47:59 GMT
Vythmiirik nodded "That's fair, she seems to be quite a person of refined tastes" she watches Kara with a careful gaze and seems pleased that everything has gone so well and was probably already planning the next ones and how to blend the colours to match or compliment Kara's fur or eyes.
"Yes I do," she wandered over to her checkout area and pulled out a card-reader machine from under the counter and held it out. "Here you go, please place your card into the slot" she indicated the area and waited for Kara to put the card in the slot and then verify it properly.
"Yes I've bartered at the market before, we take all sorts of currency there. Though I generally prefer credit in the shop." She responded to Kara's comments regarding how she had bartered out on the roads, sometimes in the markets traders from afar would come in and they didn't really have a matched currency so Vythmiirik would accept goods instead. Usually someone in her large family would then trade for it in turn or she would keep it herself if she had a use for it.
"That's up to you, if you like that kind of life then there's nothing wrong with it" she shrugged not at all fussed about it. "I was born here, so I've lived here all my life" she seemed nonchalant about it because Vythmiirik really didn't know anything else.
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Kara
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Post by Kara on Feb 3, 2022 20:09:13 GMT
“She is!” said Kara eagerly.
If Kara was centuries old, she could imagine herself developing such fine tastes. Viewing time as more of an order of events than a limited resource offered unlimited opportunities to savor everything that there was to be savored.
When Vythmiirik pulled out the card reader, Kara didn’t put her card into the slot, pulling it out once it read. This much was familiar at least. On rare occasions when she’d been on operations in developed places, there had been cards to allow the government to track expenses, though they were ones far less fancy than this “company card” belonging to Lady Talisa’s club.
She looked up at Vythmiirik’s surprisingly nonchalant comment, putting her credit card away.
“’That kind of life…?’ Oh. I mean, I was joking about the concubine thing. Well, kind of. As far as I know, my mistress has no plans for marriage, not unless you count our thing together.”
Kara knew that this was a fine line – and one of the few topics that she would never dared to have broached in the coven. “Personal thralls” were for companionship and pleasure. Spouses were for furthering the dynasty with little vampires and political alliances. Kara didn’t want to think too hard about the topic and what it might mean one day.
“Well, if you were born here, do you know a decent place to get a drink? If I go now, I figure I have a few and still have time to sober up so that Lady Talisa doesn’t get it in my blood.” She paused, realizing that she was forming secretive plans. “Someplace classy, of course. Where I can be a proper fashion model.”
She smirked at Vythmiirik, trying to get her regular mood back after the worrying thoughts about marriage.
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Post by Vythmiirik on Feb 3, 2022 21:00:40 GMT
She nods at the agreement, dragonborn could live long lives; but many did not live to their full span. Vythmiirk didn't think too much about what she would do if she lived for centuries; for her she was more than content with living in the moment.
Once it had beeped she put the card machine away "Do you need a card receipt?" she asked as she checked the till and nodded to confirm it had gone through.
"Huh, dragonborn don't really do marriage either. We just pick life partners and stay together, or at least that's how my clan do things. I guess we never really saw much need for ceremony; so I forgot that people do things like that" Vythmiirik did seem a little contrite that she had caused pain. She did understand that sometimes vampires did political alliances, but generally didn't think too much about what that would mean. Her clan didn't really bother with it, thinking that it just put people in awkward positions for no real gain.
She perks up at the question "Well I do know several places you can get drinks. You looking for a classy pub or more of a wine bar?" she asks mentally going through the ones she knew of and what would be the best place to go to. She also pulled out a map of the local area in order to show Kara the places she knew of.
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Kara
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Post by Kara on Feb 4, 2022 3:16:56 GMT
Kara frowned when Vythmiirk mentioned that dragonborn didn’t practice marriage. Vampires did marry, even if it was strategic and not a matter of love. And for any powerful vampire, it would become critical in time. Lady Talisa had insisted that if she ever got married, it would be to someone who would love Kara just as much as she did. She wouldn’t be put aside. In fact, she would get another mistress who would be there for her, even when Lady Talisa was away or busy. But words were cheap and as much as she loved Lady Talisa, Kara knew better than to fully trust a vampire.
She really did need a drink.
“No, I don’t need a receipt,” she said. “I imagine that if anything comes up, you’ll remember me.”
When Vythmiirik puled out the map, Kara leaned in to study it. She tried to memorize as much as she could and match it up to what she knew of the local area.
“Oh… you know a wine bar? I mean… I got into wine in the coven. Wine bar then. Unless they’re going to be mad if I get drunk and act like a jackass, right?” She smirked. “Nah, don’t worry. I wouldn’t risk your reputation.”
She pointed a point deep in the city where a twisted cluster of old streets met to form the entertainment district, Wayward city’s cluster of upscale clubs.
“We’re over here, by the way. Just watch out for the less friendly vampires. Should be safe during the day, but you need to watch from the... less classy thralls.”
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Post by Vythmiirik on Feb 4, 2022 16:21:14 GMT
With a nod the receipt was placed in the till for accounting work later. Vythmiirik herself knew better than to trust vampires for anything else other than to not cause trouble for themselves. That's why the clan had the methods they did for teaching the youngsters to keep the laws and make sure they did not break the in-place agreements. So she would always interact with them with caution, but make sure to maintain her own dignity; as she had been taught, looking the part often made a large difference.
Looking at the map Vythmiirik used a pointer to indicate a few streets near the entertainment district. "Here's where you have the high end restaurants, and the wine bar I would recommend is here" she pointed to one street in particular "It's called 'Dawn Star', a pretentious name; but they do have nice wine and very good atmosphere. Also they're run by people who are good at not being bothering, if you get my meaning. They're a family of Kobolds." Which might be a bit unusual, Vythmiirik didn't know if Kara had ever been to a Kobold wine bar; but they were really good at running their small business and a favourite of many rift-sider species in the city.
Where Kara indicated that the vampiric club was and made a note of it. "That's fair, I've had to be careful before. Thankfully most don't want to bother me." She did not say what happened to those that would, Vythmiirik was not much of a combatant, but a slight against one, was a slight against the whole clan. "If need be I'll bring some of my relatives, they'll probably be curious"
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Kara
New Member
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Post by Kara on Feb 4, 2022 21:02:41 GMT
Kara supposed that she’d never fully appreciated the order that had dominated life in Cheyenne until she’d been hiding among the world outside it. In Cheyenne, everyone had a place to be, an ordered hierarchy, and a general sense of pulling in the same direction for the same goals. Outside of it was chaos. Every person was the king of their own little domain and did as they pleased – even when such things might’ve gotten them killed.
But until recently, she’d always counted on the fact that she could depend on other soldiers and the self-governing drone over her head that was one button away from unleashing hellfire upon whatever local gang thought themselves the kings of everything.
That was in the past now. She was her own person – to a point. And she was getting thirsty.
“The ‘Dawn Star,’ huh?” she said, peering at the map as if it might offer some sort of further information. “Sounds fancy enough. Kobolds though… I’ve never met any of them, but I’ve heard things.”
She touched her scarf. One thing that she’d heard was that kobolds lived to serve dragons. Perhaps they felt the same towards dragonborn… and perhaps they’d even see her as a kindred spirit of sorts.
“Bring the whole family,” she said. “Though… I would suggest having one of your high-ranking people contact Lady Talisa. ‘Diplomacy,’ like you said. I don’t think that any of our ‘masters’ would appreciate the underlings scheduling a meeting of the minds.”
She smirked, putting her hands at her side.
“Well… wine and kobolds.” She paused, her smirk growing broader. “This is gonna come off weird, but… are you sending me to Dawn Star because I’m a thrall and they’re your thralls, so we’ll all compare collars and argue about whose mistress is the most perfect goddess who ever lived?”
Her tail wagged behind her. Either way, Kara wouldn’t have had complaints.
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Post by Vythmiirik on Feb 4, 2022 22:03:01 GMT
Vythmiirik shrugged "They're nice people, don't know what you've heard, but they wont bother you or ask awkward questions if that's what your worried about" she wasn't really aware of what stories people had about Kobolds out there; the one's she'd met were very kind; but she also knew not to judge an entire species by the actions of a few.
She gave a rueful smile at that "Yes I get your point, well, I'll get the elder, or one of her judges to send a message over whatever means your mistress prefers to let her know I'll be dropping off a delivery with a couple of my relatives. Three of us should be enough." Especially considering one of those would probably be one of the clans members who actually could fight; better safe than sorry.
Vythmiirik outright laughed at that "No they aren't our thralls; we are respected and somewhat looked up to, but we have no direct power over them. We just help each other out when needed, particularly as there isn't a dragon in the area and dragonborn don't really match up to an actual dragon, or so my grandmother tells me. She actually met one." She chuckles again at the comparing mistresses part, "you're welcome to do that, Iskner would be the dragon in question, though she felt the twilight call before I was born; they still highly revere her. They can talk about her for hours."
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Kara
New Member
Posts: 37
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Post by Kara on Feb 5, 2022 3:02:34 GMT
Kara didn’t doubt that they were nice enough people. Minions usually were. She couldn’t say that she’d met a kobold, but she’d remembered that threat briefing: that they were small, numerous, and often that there was a dragon around. And if there was a dragon around, it was time to back off and call for whatever artillery or air support was available, ideally along with tanks if they could be spared.
“I think that they’ll like her if even half of what I know about rift-siders is true. And well… she charmed me half to death.”
She smirked, but it faded quickly when Vythmiirik brought up dragons. Again, she thought back to that same briefing. The dragon had a name, but she couldn’t remember it. And clearly, the last thing that she’d want to do is to mention that
“Funny thing: I’m a lot bigger than my mistress. ‘Size doesn’t matter,’ she told me. But a dragon? If you’re with a dragon, either get to serving or you’re going to be fried and chomped in half like a fucking chicken nugget.” She chuckled darkly. “Oh well… we’ll see, I guess.”
She paused for a time, looking at Vythmiirik and then at the mirror.
“Thanks for all you’ve done. Mistress will pay you, but thanks for listening to me. You’ve given a lot to think about in this place – Wayward City, I mean. Seeing that your people are thriving, it makes me think that maybe I could make a home here.”
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