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Tweak says, "I made u an orange but I eated"

Garnet (damenocturne) wrote in nybynightic,
@ 2020-06-19 13:06:00

Entry tags:

activity type: ic/ooc, character: amadeus lazarus, character: anastasia thorne, character: ariel lee underwood, character: ash turner, character: devan modi, character: dominique august, character: felix moon, character: garnet winters, character: julian blackwood, character: kjell, character: leo thayer, character: sloane marlowe, character: sunni day

WHO: Kindred of New York
WHEN: June 19th; an hour after sunset til dawn
WHERE: A grand ballroom
WHAT: A ~~distraction~~ masquerade!
WARNINGS: TBD

MASQUERADE

Distraction? What distraction?
This is simply a party for the New York Kindred!

Garnet rented out one of the fanciest ballrooms in the city for this event. Grand staircase entrance? Check. Gold gilding everywhere? Check. Blood from the bag and vein? Check. If someone doesn't have a mask, the hostess has many spares, all curated from either her personal collection or friends from the Paris court. Ghouls and human thralls are invited as well.

Requested dress code is anything dressy from the kindred's era. If not, a suit will do just fine. Be as overstated as you wish! In need of something sparkly to go with your look? The hostess also has you covered!

All Elysium rules apply.

Vampires all over the city wake the evening of the 19th to an elegant invitation with the details to the party set for an hour after sunset. At the bottom, in block font instead of script, is Garnet's contact information, just in case of questions. Of course, in her true fashion, the paper is framed in a sparkle that, thankfully, doesn't come off like real glitter. From all accounts, it looks like something that was in the plans for months, rather than the few short days it took. Once a Toreador has a project in their hands, they don't let go, so to speak. One is even sent to the Prince and Primogen, in case they decide to make an appearance.

While there is a DJ, there will also be a string band in attendance. Both will take requests. Dance, drink, be merry. Not too merry, of course, there are eyes everywhere, watching and waiting. © tessisamess

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Ariel & Amadeus

_intherough
2020-06-22 06:12 am UTC (link)

It was strange - being alone in the city. He had yet to run into any other Gangrel and he was almost certain that he wouldn't unless they wanted to be found. Hell, he didn't even have a Primogen representative. So yes, he needed that layer of protection that came with Amadeus being the Sheriff - especially if he fucked up or was about to.

He let all that fade away for the moment, chuckling, "You ever field dress a rabbit by squeezing the entrails out?" He had, of course, a long time ago but that really wasn't the question. It was more implanting the visual in Amadeus's mind. And there weren't doubts persay. At least, not about them. It was just the idea of finding his place in the city when he really wasn't built for it. Instead of letting Amadeus guess, he spoke, "What am I doing? Courier work only lasts so long. So after that, the Hell am I doing to keep busy, to be useful?"

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Ariel & Amadeus

sanguinemagic
2020-06-22 10:44 am UTC (link)

Amadeus slid his hands down and let them rest on either side of Ariel's neck, his fingers idly stroking the back of it as he looked at the other man and thought. It was a valid enough question and one that Amadeus could understand. Never once in his existence had he ever sat idly by. There had always been some research to do, some occult item to hunt down, or a new spell to master or come up with. Now being Sheriff kept him busy enough. Some days too busy.

"What if—" he started then stopped. Amadeus looked away from Ariel and stared out at the city as he mulled over what he was about to suggest. It was an idea that wasn't without complications. If anything if Ariel agreed then it was just going to add to the talk about them but it wasn't actually against the rules so Amadeus really didn't give a fuck what anyone thought. Besides, it wouldn't be the weirdest situation two Kindred had ever found themselves in.

His eyes slid back from the city and found Ariel's once more. "Have you ever considered becoming a Hound as a career choice?" It was an unfortunate name, crude and a bit archaic if you asked him, but one that seemed unlikely to change anytime soon.

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Ariel & Amadeus

_intherough
2020-06-22 03:11 pm UTC (link)

He closed his eyes, just enjoying Amadeus's touch. Honestly, he wasn't used to being caressed so gently so often - if ever. Ariel really didn't know how to reciprocate it because careful touch wasn't usually an option for him. It was tooth and claw, caught in combat more often than he would like. His hands moved to Amadeus's wrists and just settled there, holding onto something of him - anything.

At first, he wasn't sure where Amadeus was going to be going with that, and then there it was. Ariel pulled away then, pushing his fingers through his hair as he leaned his elbows on the balcony ledge. Nevermind the name, he knew what it entailed, knew what people would say if he agreed. "It wouldn't be as if I haven't done something... similar before. Elly and I hunted Sabbat in LA for the ruling faction at the time. It just wasn't really official." And that explained what he was doing living at her place.

He straightened up, turning back to Amadeus with a question, "Could you handle it? If I get fucked up by someone or something you sent me to deal with, could you handle it?"

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Ariel & Amadeus

sanguinemagic
2020-06-22 11:07 pm UTC (link)

The Elder's brow furrowed as he considered the question. It was something he had to deal with every time he gave a Hound an assignment but he knew that it would be different with Ariel. It would bother him if he sent Kjell out and something happened to him but when it was your lover that changed things. Amadeus knew that in his work he'd never treat Ariel any different than the others. He wouldn't pull his punches and not send him off on potentially dangerous missions. There'd be no playing favorites.

"Yes, because in a way I'm asking the same of you. For you to have to watch me throw myself into dangerous situations." And Amadeus was not going to deny that he didn't get reckless at times in order to get results. He was a force to be reckoned with but he knew he wasn't all-powerful and yet he sometimes acted like he was. "Even if you say no, I'd still have to ask myself if I could handle it because it's just as possible that you get hurt because of me just from being with me." They weren't playing casually here and that was something others were going to latch on to. It wasn't just Amadeus' personal enemies they had to worry about but even just those who hated any Sheriff because they considered anyone in that position to be a lapdog to the local Prince.

Amadeus glanced back out at the city again. What it all really came down to was moving the right pieces. "Being a Hound would give you an added level of protection. While it wouldn't stop those who may decide to come at me through you, it would make the consequences of doing so worse." He looked back at Ariel and gave him a wry smile. "It's more than that though. I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't think you weren't fit for the job or that you couldn't handle yourself. And I need Hounds that I can trust."

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Ariel & Amadeus

_intherough
2020-06-22 11:38 pm UTC (link)

Ariel understood that Amadeus was already in danger as the Sheriff. That was something he had quickly come to terms with. Yes, he was going to put his cold, dead heart on the line but it wasn't his place to say no, don't do it anymore. No one could just barge into anyone's life like that. Or they shouldn't anyway. Amadeus had a point about the position giving him a little something... More but was it enough?

"What makes you trust me so implicitly, I wonder," he spoke aloud but didn't make it a question. "I've not given you a reason to outside of... following basic protocols and our new intimacy." But he wanted Amadeus to trust him and for some reason, that frustrated him because he knew he already had secrets about the city and the Kindred within them. His upper lip curled slightly, a hint of a growl in the back of his throat.

So he punched Amadeus's shoulder - not a hard punch. It was a movement of frustration but even weaker than kine trying the same move. Just a punch to punch. "Get close so I can whisper," he actually ordered, obviously annoyed but mostly at himself. No, he couldn't keep secrets from Amadeus - especially ones that would affect a potential Hound-Sheriff relationship.

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Ariel & Amadeus

sanguinemagic
2020-06-23 06:54 am UTC (link)

The punch caused Amadeus to raise an eyebrow but he didn't otherwise react to it. He was more than willing to let the other Kindred take his frustration out on him and he knew that punch was hardly anything compared to what the Gangrel was capable of.

"It does seem rather foolish to trust you so soon," Amadeus agreed as he stepped in closer. His hands sprayed against Ariel's chest and he couldn't help but slip loose the top two buttons as his fingers played with them. "I am not foolish enough however to not put trust in a connection such as the one we have found ourselves with." They were the Damned. Amadeus didn't doubt that for a moment. And as the Damned he found it hard to believe in something as foolish as soulmates because it was more than likely that they no longer possessed such thing if they did exist but as a Tremere, he did believe that people could be connected in other ways and come together for reasons that were usually better off not trying to figure out.

Amadeus leaned in and kissed Ariel's neck once more putting himself in the perfect position for Ariel to whisper whatever he needed to tell him. "And you forget, Ariel. I've tasted you." He ran the tips of his fangs over that neck in reminder. "Having tasted you means so much more to a Tremere." It told him more than what any other Kindred would learn from drinking from another and the taste had been more than a simple drop telling Amadeus more.

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Ariel & Amadeus

_intherough
2020-06-23 07:17 am UTC (link)

Ariel closed his eyes as Amadeus pressed in close, explaining his reasoning for trusting the Gangrel so quickly. It was all very fair. Whatever was burning between them was wild, intense. But did that mean it was trustworthy? Even with that little sharing of blood between them. His eyebrows furrowed together. He just felt worse and worse with each touch, the feeling of fangs at his throat.

He lowered his voice to a whisper and none of it was erotic or pleasant. Instead, it was more of a confession. "A month ago, Maya had me deliver an envelope. I don't know what was in it or who it was for. I just brought it to the address. She was acting a little squirrelly even for a Malk but people pay for discretion so I don't ask questions."

Gently pushing Amadeus back, he fished his phone out of his pocket and pulled up screenshots of the messages that had been exchanged. He'd saved them in a couple of different places as he did all his messages - just in case. Then he pushed the phone into Amadeus's chest and turned away. Trustworthy... Feh. He didn't feel particularly trustworthy at the moment - for Amadeus, for Maya. Even for himself. "It could be nothing. She's a Malkavian. But after the shit with the network, it could also be something." After all, it was only a handful of days later that the network had gone down.

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Ariel & Amadeus

sanguinemagic
2020-06-23 11:48 am UTC (link)

Amadeus stared down at the phone without saying anything. The address was not one he was familiar with but that didn't mean anything. It could have been the address of a ghoul or human thrall who then passed it off to whoever it was meant to go to. It could have been an arranged drop off location. Even if he went there now, there was no guarantee that answers would be there.

Looking up from the phone, Amadeus watched Ariel. It was clear that sharing this with him was bothering the other Kindred and yet he was telling him anyway. "It could be nothing. After all, Maya's not known for being the sanest of Malkavian." He could leave it there and not go any farther into this. It wasn't as if Ariel had agreed yet to take on the job. Amadeus wasn't one to share confidences easily but he knew that even if Ariel rejected the offer that sooner or later he was going to end wanting to turn to Ariel. The Sheriff had a nasty habit of letting his work swallow him whole.

It seemed only right as well to let Ariel know what was going on and give him a chance to decide to leave New York after all.

"But it could also be something," he agreed. Amadeus reached out and pulled Ariel back to him, pressing his forehead against his so that he could speak under his breath. "The network going down was not a glitch. It was an attack. We went to hunt down the one responsible but found nothing so we don't know who is behind it or if they'll try something else. And with the Primogens fussing among themselves and the Prince over the thing going up in the first place..."

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Ariel & Amadeus

_intherough
2020-06-23 04:25 pm UTC (link)

And that was the problem wasn't it? Anything that could have been helpful was long gone because Ariel was so determined that his reputation as a secret keeper stay intact. Every city he went to, he collected little bits of secrets that could have descended those cities into absolute chaos if he let them slip. Old grudges, new anger - it would all boil over if he wasn't careful because people paid him to be discrete.

He closed his eyes as Amadeus pulled him back in close and there was a feeling of relaxing against him. So this particular secret hadn't cost him the only thing that mattered right now. Good. It might cost him later - Malkavians knew too much like that bitch saying his actual name. He hated that shit. But as he listened, he realized what this was - Ariel had given the Elder Kindred an out... now he was being given one, the chance to turn tail and run.

"I have a gut feeling she was involved. The network went down just a few days later," he spoke just as quietly, just in case, "Guess we better find out what the fuck is going on." That was about as close to a 'yes' as Amadeus was going to get. He pulled the other into a kiss again, wondering if they could just stay on the balcony until the threat of sunrise crept up on them, ignoring the party and the intrigues of the city below...

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Ariel & Amadeus

sanguinemagic
2020-06-25 01:00 am UTC (link)

"I would not put it past her or any of the Primogen in being involved." It's what he and Kjell had already suspected and now this. If not Maya then one of the others but right now all signs were pointing to the Malkavian Primogen. And if it wasn't the network, she was still up to something. Or knew something anyway. It was something they were going to have to figure out.

Amadeus wouldn't have minded at all staying here the rest of the night, just the two of them. He knew though that sooner or later someone was going to get curious enough to invade quiet they had managed to steal for themselves so far. Those who had noted them disappearing up the stairs would be keeping an eye out for their return, all so that the gossip mill could be fed. He was determined to squeeze a few more minutes out of it as he slid his fingers up into Ariel's hair and returned the kiss.

"As much as I hate to," Amadeus started, still not moving away just yet, "we should probably head back downstairs. For now. Then I'm thinking we can really give them something to talk about by ducking out early and disappearing for the rest of the night."

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Ariel & Amadeus

_intherough
2020-06-25 01:09 am UTC (link)

Of course, the Primogen would be involved. Why wouldn't they? But the political intrigues of Kindred had often gone over his head. He had long since learned to just expect the worst. It was easier than hoping for the best. For now, he would just kiss Amadeus and forget the intrigue - just for a little while - as he pulled open the buttons of the Tremere's vest. If Ariel was going to have undone buttons, so was Amadeus.

"Or we could just leave now," Ariel offered, not pulling away either, "Duck out the back, head to yours... You can finally get me out of these clothes like you've been trying to do this whole time." Maybe, just maybe, he was encouraging by unbuttoning Amadeus's shirt now, starting from the bottom. He wanted to just rip it open but if they did end up going back and pretending for a little bit longer, well, Amadeus would need his buttons.

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Ariel & Amadeus

sanguinemagic
2020-06-25 02:08 am UTC (link)

"Can you blame me?" Amadeus was sure that at least half the Kindred downstairs wished they could do the same. "I've been torn been getting you out of your clothes or to just bite your nipples through that shirt. Of course, there's always the option of both." Both were sounding like a really good option right now.

Ariel's suggestion was sounding really good right about now as well. Especially as Amadeus glanced down at those fingers undoing the buttons of his shirt and then back up at Ariel. "I think I could be persuaded. His fingers still Ariel's hair, he drew the other back into for another kiss before murmuring against his lips, "I think I can definitely be persuaded." After all, it wasn't like he had to stay. Everyone was going to talk one way or the other so why not get to enjoying the rest of his night with Ariel in his bed than suffering through going back downstairs.

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Ariel & Amadeus

_intherough
2020-06-25 02:18 am UTC (link)

Ariel ducked his head almost shyly, shaking his head slightly. Well, at least he was having some effect on - well, everyone, right? He'd had to take the time to read all the labels on his clothes to match up the colors. It'd been painstaking so he was glad the effort hadn't been a waste. "Could you not? That would feel fucking awful."

There was something about fingers in his hair, even without the push and pull, that had him wanting to forget about ducking out and--well, the city was down below and wouldn't it be just a fucking shame to get the cops called on a Kindred party? He had moaned slightly into the kiss, dragging fingernails down the length of Amadeus's chest and not gently in the slightest. "Then let's go."

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Ariel & Amadeus

sanguinemagic
2020-06-25 09:32 am UTC (link)

If he had been even a bit inclined to say no earlier, that moan and the feel of fingernails biting into his skin through the thin silk of his shirt would have been enough to change his mind. Suddenly leaving through the backway seemed like too much work. They'd have to move away from each other and then there was the time it would take to get to his place and none of that would do at all.

Besides, it wasn't as if he had steadied blood sorcery for three hundred years just to have to walk everywhere. Unlike before this wasn't a waste of Blood.

"Then hang on," Amadeus told him before nipping Ariel's bottom lip and taking possession of his mouth again before whisking them both away.

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