RP:A Drink, Interrupted

Summary: While fuming over a drink, Larewen is interrupted by Valen. The strange vampire braves the necromancer's ire for conversation and a new friendship, if somewhat rocky, is born.

The Hanging Corpse

Larewen shoulders open the door to the establishment roughly enough that she immediately earns a glower from Steadmen. It doesn’t last, for the barkeep is taken aback by the drastic change in the necromancer’s appearance since she last stepped in for a drink. Larewen is clad in a nicely fitting, emerald gown and brown leather shoes. Her hair, a dark brown hue, hangs in shapely waves around her pale features. The elf sports mismatched eyes, which are oddly reminiscent of a similar set that Valen has seen earlier this evening: her right is brown and augmented to see magic, her left is a sparkling silver - Irenic’s other eye. Her skin plays host to a litany of blackened scars that give off an eerie, poisonous green hue. Beneath that an her pale skin, corruption taints her veins black. “Lady Dra-“ the barkeep begins, and she cuts him off with a cold stare as she approaches the bar. “Bloodwine, and keep your mouth shut.”

Valen had no idea that more than likely, this night was about to get even more interesting for him. Not taking notice of the Lady Larewen, not yet at least, he would arrive while humming a lilting tune before he ended up actually singing under his breath to himself, dancing to the tune that had been in his head ever since he had met the Avian. "~Is it true that only the mirror's strength, can conquer the mist and be therefore received? You turn around the illusion of a voice, my desire crowned by another defeat.~" It wa sthen that he noticed the woman, and the mismatched eyes as he realised the bar is not its usual empty self. "Oh I'm....terribly sorry I...I had no idea there was anyone else here..."

Larewen glanced sideways, the silence ordered upon Steadmen broken by the arrival of another patron. She studied the vampire for a long moment, his apology heard but left unacknowledged. Her head craned slightly, chin lifted in a curt nod as she sipped her glass. A moment later, she drew a cigarette from a small silver case before finally vocalizing a reply to Valen, “If this place was always empty, what would be the point of keeping it open?” she asked, her tone chilly. She lit the cigarette with a flick of her fingers.

Valen pondered the question as if giving it serious thought before realizing it was meant to be rhetorical. He would however return the nod with a bow, before eyeing her eyes...forgetting almost that he had seen that exact pairing not but maybe half an hour prior. the realization came to his face as he remembered what was told to him, and just who was in his presence. Half of him was telling him to run, while the other half was formulating something he didnt even know what. Opting to try and at least be friendly, he would order himself a bloodwine as well before using an icebreaker, and decided to answer her rhetoric anyways. "Well, practicality says there would be no reason to do so but if I am to think outside the box...Perhaps keep it open for the scenery?" Gods he was terrible at conversation sometimes. "Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Valen."

Larewen’s lips curled into a sneer. “I might argue that, but then, Tenebrae is an odd creature,” she remarked, more to herself than to Velen. His introduction is met with another glance his way and her eyes narrowed slightly. When was the last time someone had introduced themselves to her, let alone done so in a friendly manner? This put the necromancer on alert and for a moment, her stare moved past him, as if expecting something less pleasant on his heels. “You may call me Lady Dragana,” the elf said, once she was certain there were no would-be assassins in his wake. “I do not recall if I have crossed your path before, but then our years eventually run together.”

Valen could not argue that last point, as cliche as it may be he had literally stopped counting though it was clear he was no Elder like she was. He caught her trepidation, and at her gaze also turned his head to look behind him thinking the same for himself that there might be some dark assassin come to finish the job that was started a while back. Turning back to her, he would offer another bow in response to her name. "I do not believe we have met My Lady though..." Biting his lower lip he figured why the hell not. "I have seen those eyes before...Just recently in fact." Part of him was still hacked off that something so beautiful as that avian would allow something that that to happen to his eye, but he had resigned himself to acknowledging it had been his own choice. A soft tinge would appear on his cheek, but only for a moment before "If...I may ask, you seem to be put off by something? Is everything alright?"

Larewen was an observant woman. It came with being a predator. Thus his blush, after the mention of seeing her eyes before, drew from her lips a bark of laughter that wasn’t exactly pleasant. “Then you have met my bird,” she replied, narrowing her stare briefly. Her cigarette was raised to her lips and a drag taken from it. “I had not realized that he’d followed me back, as well. I suppose I ought to check on him. Did he appear to be doing well to you?” Not that she actually cared. Lady Dragana cared about very little other than herself. His query regarding her well-being was intentionally left unanswered.

Valen gave off a nervous smile before shrugging "I'm not really sure? He had blood on his wings and bruises on his side, though I suppose you could say he seemed in good spirits?" The laughter caused him to flinch somewhat, though it was not from repulsion. "He is not here in Vailkrin, I ran across him in Kelay. But yes, I met him and he seems..." A frown graced his features as he tried to find the right words "He seemed sad, but not. It was more along the lines of an indifferent sadness. All I know is that he said he could not afford distractions of certain natures though that may just be a wall he puts up. He is a very hard man to read and I am usually good at reading people."

Larewen smirked at Valen’s words, turning her mismatched eyes to her glass of bloodwine. She swirled the carmine fluid, studying its tannins in a prolonged silence. “Then he learned his lesson,” she replied coldly. She finally pulled a mouthful from the glass. “Distractions would be counterproductive.” If she was in the least bit jealous, it didn’t show on her features. Granted, the necromancer’s scarred facade was surprisingly void of all emotions.

Valen looked at her curiously, mulling over the words in his head before boldly asking "Well, as his master I was hoping you might give me the opportunity to try to be one for him?" Well, it was too late to go back now, the words were out and he was once again saying before thinking. "Of course, if said distraction was another...servant? Underling? Would it truly be a distraction then? I do not mean to try your patience, but if it helps me learn more about him and at least get me close enough to try...That's something I would be willing to offer to you. You can tell I respect you, as I am not trying to hide anything, or at least I hope that is how it comes across. Just know that, for reasons that are unclear to even me...I..." With a sigh he looks down, before looking right back up into her eyes, determination evident in his gaze. "So far I think he is one of the most beautiful and wondrous and enigmatic individual I have met to date, and perhaps it is curiosity that makes me feel this way, or perhaps its the part of me that does not wish to be alone...I mean hell I screwed up my own marriage, made my husband hate me, but it taught me things. True, in the end we divorced but it taught me a very long awaited lesson and that is that if I want something, I need to do whatever is necessary to go out and get it. I am not asking anything except the chance to get to know him better and see what develops."

Larewen grimaced. The runic scars upon her body flared up in that verdant hue at the mention of messing up a marriage and it sent a wave of pain through her body that affectively killed the emotions threatening to surface. Shortly after, an amused smirk curved her pale lips. “Did you… just offer me your servitude, in exchange for the opportunity to pine after my bird?” she asked, clarifying his intent.

Valen was not about to abashadly lie, or slyly lie, or lie in any capacity though he was suddenly wondering just what fresh hell he made himself open to. "No. I offered you my services in exchange for the opportunity to foster a friendship, evolve it, and see where it goes from there. Pining, to me at least means sitting on my backside and simply wish and wait to catch his attention. Wishing only gets one so far, it is the actions that make the importance. Wishes simply help keep the dream in sight." It was oddly profound for him, but it could not be denied that he spoke his heart and mind. the flare up though definately caught him by surprised and genuine concern showed on his face yet he felt such matters might be personal, so he kept his worry to himself in that regard.

Larewen listened as he clarified, a dark brow arching upward in lieu of his explanation. She dragged upon her smoke and exhaled as he finished. “And what, pray tell, could you offer me that I might have a use for?” she asked, coldly. She was scrutinizing him now, watching every twitch of his facial muscles. As far as she was concerned, he was a previously unknown vampire - to her, at least - making a request that would garner some of Irenic’s time. Time that would be better spent furthering the ambitions of House Dragana, in Larewen’s mind.

Valen had been waiting for just that very question it seemed. Motioning for her to watch closely, from his eyes poured a black mist which moved into the shadows and out of sight. Soon after, a ripple went through those dark areas of the tavern and they started to move towards him, up his legs and to his back. From his back then grew two wings, seemingly made from the shadows themselves. Though they were made from shadow, they took on the appearance of very solid natural wings, shapes of feathers and all, spanning almost as large as an Avian's natural pair. "This is just a small taste of that. My main talents lie in memories. Locking them away, revealing them, viewing them, changing them, discerning truth from lies. I can also get rid of nightmares, or I can cause them if need be." He had hoped to keep the memories a secret, but it was too late now. Besides, what else was he going to do? Stay in Kelay and watch the Tavern? No, the time for inaction had passed him by. If he ever hoped to gain more power, he would need to earn it. "My main talents lie with the memories, as stated, but I have also known how to control some aspects of light. Not a lot, but enough to know that if I practice hard, I am certain it will end up just as useful. I was even a teacher at the Mage Academy under headmaster Lydrain, though I am all but certain my position is now gone and passed to someone else."

Larewen seemed relatively unimpressed by his show of magic, though he certainly did have talent in that regard. More than most of the neophytes and initiates with whom she’d crossed paths. She’d hope as much, considering his previous position. When he was finished, with both display and speaking, the necromancer wrinkled her nose slightly. “If I had a use for such skills from another, I would be in no position to lead the Necromancer’s Guild,” she remarked. Her words were punctuated with the remnants of her glass of wine. “There is, however, other matters at hand for which you might be useful. Where do you reside, Valen?”

Valen shook his head as he explained "Currently? Nowhere. I honestly do not have a home, as I used to reside in the Academy, but seeing as how I am most likely no longer employed, I have the unfortunate situation of being homeless." He was quick to add "But I am certain I can find a place and update you on my chosen dwelling site, if that is what you are getting at. I have also been very fortunate that-" He cut himself off and smacked his forehead "I am such an idiot. I forgot to mention that I was also taught runes by the Kitsune Alphonz." A shudder escaped him as he uttered that name, thank the gods he was no more. "But yes, my Lady. I am certain I can find a place unless you had other ideas."

Larewen finally turned to face the male fully, adjusting herself upon her stool as she finished her cigarette too. “Let me be frank with you, Valen,” she said, mismatched eyes belying nothing but coldness. One leg raised beneath her gown to cross over the other. Now that she was in purely business mode, and not in the least bit dealing with emotions, the glow of the runes etched into her flesh faded to an inky black. “I have no use for your particular skills,” she began, glancing around the establishment to verify that they were, in fact, the only two present aside from Steadmen. Once that was confirmed, she continued. “I do, however, have plans. Plans that could use a few more bodies to fulfill. I am the head of the newest House in Vailkrin’s aristocracy, and my home can be found within the Abyssal Forest, north of here. I cannot promise that my darling bird will return your emotions; he hasn’t exactly hidden his infatuation with me all that well. I tend to provide those that serve me, whether it is as he does, or in death, with some measure of their own free will. There are no guarantees that you will obtain what it is you desire; however, if you are willing to pledge your allegiance to myself, and to House Dragana, then I am willing to offer you residence within the walls of my home. All I ask of you is that you show your support and aid where necessary when it is time for me to seize this city’s throne.”

Valen listened to what she had to say, and as much as the first part may have stung, he knew that he could prove himself if given the chance. Not many people he knew actually put their own consciousness inside someones mind when altering or accessing memories, in fact he was the only one he knew that did it that way. But regardless, he hung on to her every word and in the end felt that this was more than fair. It was a chance to start a new life, a new way, for better or for worse. "I know all too well that what I want may be unobtainable. But I swear to you, one day, you will see my value. Like I said, actions speak louder than words. You tell me what you need done, when you need it, and so long as it is me you ask I will not stop until the task is completed. I do hereby pledge my life and loyalty to House Dragana, until my Lady release me or until true death take me." Whatever she might be searching for, she would find nothing but the most honest intentions in mind, body, and spirit.

Larewen was pleased, though the only visible sign of it was a slight upward curl of her lips that was free of malice and bitterness. A moment later, a spell was upon her lips. It conjured a black leaf of parchment, which floated betwixt the pair. Glowing, verdant ink scrawled its way across it, penning directions to House Dragana. Upon completion, she held it out to Valen. “This is the route to the House, should you not find an escort first. Of course, if you happen to cross paths with my bird, you can always ask him to lead you, as well.” With those words, she turned back to Steadmen to request another drink contentedly

Valen took the parchment. bowing a final time. "You will not regret this my Lady." And with that, he turns to go and walk to his new abode, wonder and nervousness abound but more than anything...hope, for everything.