Sigried hadn't been to this place, yet. She walked in, accompanied by her usual amount of grace and charm, smiling sweetly at the doorman before proceeding, taking a seat then at the bar, resting her elbows on the counter. She looked around, eyes their natural black. She had no reason to hide herself, and fairly did that, tending to ward away from humans anyways.
No big deal, really.
She flipped through a small drink menu, wondering if she should just ask for a Bloody Mary and get it over with. She wore blue, as usual - tonight a lovely blue dress from Prada, along with a silver necklace that had a teadrp-cut sapphire on it. The dress was very simple, yet elegant, as most of her wardrobe was. It was as blue as the sapphire that hung on the edge of the silky fabric, and stopped only just above her knees. Her brown hair was left straight this day, and hung around her shoulders in a stylish windblown fashion. She managed to always look quite put-together, and she didn't suppose her natural vampiric beauty played that up.
She couldn't believe she was actually sitting in a bar, though. She never went out. When she did, it was usually to cause trouble. But was this really any different?
Lucien wasn't usually the sort to hang out at a bar, usually heading for a club instead. The Hellcat's Hollow was nice, though. He made his exceptions every now and then, and he needed a nicer place than his usual chaotic little club runs. Tsunai was pregnant, they were engaged, he was still worried about the small chance that someone else might be the father of her child and that the test was wrong, there was the issue of Batten having been kidnapped and tortured, the attack on the Onyx guild, and he'd been informed that Batten and Shane were going to want to chat regarding those issues. Sitting there with his drink, and his whip and knives in place sight, he was almost daring someone to mess with him, just for a reason to react.
At first, he ignored the woman who sat down at the stool beside him, finding no reason to even bother with her. Why? She probably wasn't human to be in this place. Most of the customers here were 'unusual' in some manner, and he wasn't in a hurry to find out what her quirk was. Or so he thought.
She was only sitting there for a few moments, not really doing anything special as Ash Leone, the Hellcat himself, took her order, but Lucien felt his garnet eyes drawn to her nonetheless. He thought he was uninterested in anything about her, but he was suddenly taking in her graceful beauty. Despite the dark hair, she seemed as though she were almost ethereal in the elegant blue dress. She looked out of place here.
Was he staring? No, not quite. More like, admiring.
Sigried only smiled at Ash as he handed her the Bloody Mary. "So is it true? Is the Hellcat real, through and through, now? I heard it from Theron but I had to see it for myself." She batted her lashes at him, wishing she could call the cat like she could the serpent. It would make her life so much more interesting if she could bring Theron a Triste as a surprise gift.
She glanced sidelong to the Serpiente who watched her, fully aware of this. She enjoyed how they always fought it at first - the utter confusion they felt until they finally gave in, and simply admitted that she was utterly wonderful.
"Why don't you come closer, friend?" she asked, looking up to meet Lucien's eyes. She nearly betrayed herself in surprise, and if it hadn't been for 600 some odd years of practiced control over her madness, she might have actually gasped. She knew that particular snake. She could nearly burst from joy. Perhaps she would have something of a treat to tell Theron anyways!
"Come closer, and have a drink with me?" Her voice was so soft, so inviting.. She smiled at him sweetly, and if Ash was still standing there, he'd notice something very funny going on....
Ash kept his usual cool demeanor, his expression as perfectly untouched as ever, but something had flashed in his eyes and it was obvious to whoever had known him before that his already inhuman grace was now most definitely feline in nature. He knew Theron's name, and was more than a little peeved to discover that the news had spread that quickly.
"Perhaps it is, mon chere," he responded in a smooth tone, his icy blue eyes flicking to Lucien for a moment. Uh oh. "But that is not something you would ever 'see for yourself', so you'll never know for sure. You may wish to be careful about your choices in playmates, though."
He meant himself, of course, what with the way she was batting her eyelashes at him as she teased him, but he also meant Cobriana. The cobra was not a man to be messed with, regardless of what tricks she had up her sleeves.
Lucien was oblivious of Ash's concerns, unfortunately. Yes, he was still aware enough to know what was going on, he was just...interested in this woman. For whatever reason, he felt drawn to her in a way he'd never experienced before, and that was what made him accept her offer of a drink. Or at least, that's what he told himself. It was strange, but when she told him to move closer to her and have the drink, he wanted to do it. So, he did, simple as that.
She looked genuinely hurt at Ash's words. "Oh now, come on. You know how Theron is. He probably knew before you knew. I don't think it's spread that far." She splayed her fingers across her glass, looking at the impression that they made from the other side. Things always looked so silly and distorted through multiple layers of glass. Sort of like life did.
"Hm, you mean him? Oh, he's harmless." She smiled again, and this time Ash would really know something was up. She turned to Lucien fully, resting her glass on the counter and canting her head with a sweeter smile than had previously been present.
"Hello, fine Cobra. And how are you this lovely, lovely evening?" There was something so... comforting about her voice. So loving. So warm. Like she could just... something.
Sigried is a bad, bad girl.
Ash really didn't want to believe that Theron could have known what was in store for him before he did, since that meant that the vampire could have warned him and hadn't. That would have been...irritating. That wasn't his biggest concern, though. He raised an eyebrow when she said that Cobriana was harmless, expecting the cobra's reaction to prove otherwise, especially given his earlier mood. Ash was unpleasantly surprised.
Lucien didn't react.
"I'm going to remind you that this is neutral territory, and he is not to be harmed or tricked into leaving with you," Ash told her firmly, unable to truly do more. It wasn't his place to tell her to stay away from the cobra, and a threat like that would only make her want to play with the man more. The most he could really do was pay attention and make sure no harm came to Cobriana while he was at the Hollow. This was a tricky situation.
Otherwise, he had to get the drink and walk away, really. He'd be watching, though.
It was true, Lucien didn't argue when she said he was harmless. In fact, the most he did was frown, aware that she was wrong, but he didn't argue it. Why argue with her? Anhamirak, she's beautiful... A pale goddess. Just the sound of her voice in his ears, directed at him, and he felt the anger and frustration he'd previously been worried about fizzling away.
"Better now," he answered honestly. He couldn't help himself. Who was she?
She reached a hand out, twining it in the Serpiente's magnificent hair, giving him a gentle brush of her fingertips as she smiled a cheshire smile at Ash.
"I wouldn't dream of encroaching upon the rules of your establishment, my deliciously furred friend. You should just be glad this doesn't extend past what it does, or this," she said, smiling dreamily at Lucien, "could be you."
She turned her attention away from Ash entirely, done with the cat for the moment. She would have loved a tiger, but she didn't think the feelings were mutual. Ah, well!
"Tell me, dearheart, how goes your work? I've been hearing interesting things about the Guilds lately. It breaks my heart to see you distressed so." She was so kind, so understanding of his pain, his needs.
His blue eyes narrowed at her 'threat', but he knew better. She had no power over him, and he'd like the excuse to get her away from Cobriana. "Not likely," he shot back at her, though he was taking his leave. He'd keep watch, though.
Poor Lucien. He was a proud man, a skilled hunter and not one known for having a weak will. On the contrary, he was no pushover in any sense, but this wasn't normal.
Of course it wasn't normal. How often did he meet a positively radiant woman who actually cared about his worries? Even Tsunai didn't get involved in his issues, and that was alright. He didn't want to stress her out, especially since she was pregnant, but sometimes even he could get close to his limits. And it was always nice to have someone who cared. Someone who asked, who listened.
Can you say 'mindfuck'? Ah, good, I knew that you could.
He actually leaned his head toward the hand that had brushed against his face, his eyes closing in silent appreciation for a moment. Why did she feel so good to be near? "Less than perfect, I'm afraid," he told her, regarding his work, and that was the last thing he should have done. Once he even started, he'd opened Pandora's box, and it wasn't shutting. He told her his troubles, all of them, from Tsunai's pregnancy to the issue of the father, the upcoming marriage, Kain breaking into the guild and nearly managing to even kill Lucien himself, the other guild leader's capture and torture, all of it.
She listened intently - and it was hard for Sigried to pay attention to any one thing, but on this matter, she did so with ease - to everything the lovely Cobriana had to say about his life. She chose to comment every now and then.
"You were -attacked-? Oh my, I am so glad he did no permanent damage to you!"
"It's a pity about Tsunai, but as your future wife, she cannot use her pregnancy as an excuse for you not to express yourself to her. Perhaps I could speak with her, maybe ease her mind?" YES, let Sigried talk to Tsunai. She'd have that woman packing her bags in no time, not to mention throwing herself down a flight of stairs. Mongrel baby, it probably wasn't even Lucien's.
She was genuinely shocked to hear about Connor's kidnapping. "Hm.. that's unfortunate." That was all she said on the matter. She didn't dislike the man, but he had never warmed her heart either. He was more honourable than some of the humans she knew, but it didn't say much. Sigried couldn't really stand humans at all.
She stroked his hair lightly, gently, so comfortingly. "My word, you've been through so much, it's a wonder you are still around us and able to stay social. How hard it must be to have such troubles with no respect in return.. "
Ah yeah, feedin' that ego.
In Lucien's favor, he didn't jump at the idea of Sigried talking to Tsunai, though it wasn't because he was suspicious or anything of the like. "I don't think Tsunai would take that too well. She's been...emotional, a bit unpredictable. In fact, she'd probably think my talking to you at all was wrong," he said, laughing a little, as though it were ridiculous. Of course, he wasn't exactly aware of how messed up this all was.
Also in his favor, though, was that he didn't take her ego stroking to heart. He was a realistic person; he knew his strengths, and didn't let a little flattery build him up. Oh, it was nice to hear and appreciated, but he wouldn't change his attitude as a result of it. "Thank you, but it isn't the worst I've seen, just a lot of smaller things at once. I'll be fine. Just needed a little time out."
He was going to need more time out after talking to her, too. Just to get his head together and figure out what the hell had happened. Like, why he was automatically leaning into her touch. Why it felt so good. Why he was engaged and didn't find anything wrong with any of this.
Sigried feigned surprise, pulling her hand away suddenly. "Wrong? Oh, I apologize, then. I never meant to intrude. I don't want you to be any stressed than you already are, especially not from your fiance?!"
She sounded so hurt, so utterly embarassed. She shrank back from him, in the back of her mind making a note that Lucien wasn't a man who enjoyed having his.. ego fluffed. No matter. She drank her drink and looked away, casting the illusion of blush to her pallid cheeks, and gave the impression that she was greatly ashamed.
***
Short post, but got the point across. hehehe.
Well, to be honest, what man doesn't like his ego being fluffed occasionally? Lucien just didn't act like an idiot because of it. No, he was acting like an idiot because of something else. Nicely done.
He looked startled at her sudden reaction, then shook his head and took her hand in his for a minute, just to get her attention, of course. Right. "No, that wasn't waht I meant. You're not stressing me out at all. In fact, I feel much better talking to you, so don't worry about it."
What an idiot.
Ah, a silent victory as the Serpiente lightly took her hand, trying to reassure her that he was not displeased. Why, again, did Sigried not work at Midnight? Perhaps she followed Theron in sitting on the fence, preferring to do a little of everything rather than limit herself to any one thing.
She smiled, a tiny, hopeful smile. "Really?" Wasn't SHE supposed to be reassuring HIM? Ah Sigried, turning things around again. "Do you mean it? I want you to feel as though you can talk to me, but if I make you uncomfortable, please, please say so, I will bother you no longer."
Batting of the eyelashes, gorgeous, award-winning smile. She had outdone herself this time. She really had.
Lucien was obviously a dumbass. Or at least, he was way too wrapped around her finger right then. He needed a good smack to the head to get it all straight, and then to get out of there before the vampire decided to take a bite out of him or something. At that point, he'd have let her, though Ash probably wouldn't have.
"Nonsense, this is some of the better company I've found when I've gone out," he assured her, not wanting the pale, kind goddess that she obviously was to feel as though she'd done wrong. She hadn't, of course.
He smiled back at her, getting a little closer without realizing it, since she'd backed off some. For whatever reason, he wanted to be close to her. He was like a moth to a flame.
Sigried took great note of the way he drew himself closer to her, and smiled inwardly as well as out.
"I am glad, then, Lucien. I would not want to offend a man such as you." She batted her lashes, adoringly of course. Not that Sigried quite adored anyone. She hadn't recalled a time where she had ever, with the exception of Theron, held any one man in reguard above any other. She didn't favour them, actually. Come to think of it, she didn't favour women either. Sigried pretty much didn't like anyone except for Elke and her sire.
"Tell me, what are your plans for later?"
Okay, now she WAS up to something.
Up to something, was she? If he wasn't careful, this moth was going to end up getting scorched. "Nonsense, I don't see how I could possibly be offended," he assured her easily.
"I don't believe I had much in the way of plans. I was here to relax a bit, then I would have gone home to Tsunai. Why do you ask?" Idiot. Fucktard. Dumbass. Why wasn't something clicking in his brain?! Either she was really good, or he was really stressed out, or something else was up. This was, quite frankly, ridiculous. Who was going to feel like an idiot later? That's right, snakeboy.
Egh, her again. Sigried was going to have to meet this Serpiente woman and have a talk with her, though she hadn't quite decided about what, yet. Her attention span at the moment wasn't up to plotting that far ahead.
"Just curious, my dear. I don't see how a man such as yourself can stand to be home at all on a wonderful night like tonight. The city is an amazing place to behold on the small hours of the morning, you know."
She smiled again, that dreamy smile, taking care to keep track of Ash from the corner of her eye. She did not want the silly cat mucking up her fun, not now. Oh, she and Lucien would leave seperately - she wouldn't drag him anywhere. Where he went of his own accord, was out of her control completely.
"I can assure you, I've seen the city in the 'small hours of the morning', and I don't see what you find so amazing," he challenged, his tone rather...playful? Poor Ash was down the bar giving the Serpiente prince worried looks, and for exactly this reason. The vampire had him completely thrown, at least for the moment.
Oblivious as to what she was up to, and just appearing to be content drinking in her beauty, he would have probably agreed to leave with her if she asked. Fortunately for him, Ash was watching his back. Unfortunately, Sigried was smarter than that.
Sigried declined the invitation to explain how the world looked through her own eyes, as no doubt it was very much different than this mans, or any others, for that matter. She had a way of viewing things so that they all seemed somehow changed, if only slightly.
"Oh, come now. Ever stand on a building and watch the sun rise across the cityscape? It is quite amazing. The light seems to reflect off of every mirrored window, creating a massive explosion of light within the streets that only a very small few actually notice."
Of course, Sigried wasn't concerned with the sunlight. She just wanted to make something more appealing than this place the topic of conversation. She became bored suddenly, and switched gears again.
"When are you and Tsunai to be married?"
Well, she could dig some more information there, at least.
He stopped for a moment to think about what she said, really considering how the city was at that time of night, and she did have a point. It was beautiful, it really was. "You do have a point, but it's been so long since I took the time to notice that I've mostly forgotten," he admitted thoughtfully. Running Onyx was such a full-time job that he really didn't have time to just sit and appreciate his surroundings often. Maybe that was something he needed to make time for.
The drastic change of subject didn't seem to bother him, especially since it was coming from her. Why would it bother him? "We actually don't have a date yet. We wanted it to be soon, but so much has gone on lately that we haven't really had the time to plan it out."
"Hm, no date yet? Summer time is always lovely." She feigned interest in that respect. Sigried did not understand the concepts of love, marriage, union, or any of that nonsense. Companionship had no play in her thoughts, as frayed as they were.
She stretched her arms out, and her mouth may have, years ago, opened in a silent sigh - but the vampire had since seperated herself from silly human mannerisms such as breathing. She drank only to amuse herself, and ate only when it suited her purpose. None of it had any sort of taste anymore - it had all been changed, altered thanks to Theron. At least she and Elke experienced it together.
It tickled her to think of what would happen should Elke have been present. While Sigried could call the serpent, Elke was quite fond of wolves. But that was... neither here nor there.
She leaned against the bar, suddenly seeming very interested in everything Lucien had to say.
Tsunai had been bored out of her mind. She was not allowed to hunt and she was hardly able to do much without having someone freak out on her. She was pregnant, not dying. So she had decided to go look for Lucien. She had been told that he had gone out. Well, this was usually the place he went to get away from things so she tried here first. Well even if he was not here she could at least say hello to Ash. It had been a while since she had seen the man.
Tsu made a face as she entered the bar. It had been a while since she had been in the place. Her poor senses were going to have to adjust to it. Letting her eyes focus she looked around the room in an attempt to spot her Fiance. Eventually she was able to catch a glimpse and made her way towards him. Though she had to stop when she noticed something a little...odd. He was far too close to another woman and from what she could tell, a vampire. That just did not bode well. He looked a little far gone which was another point against him at the moment. Though she was not about to cause a huge scene, though it had crossed her mind. She would not do that to Ash, well for tonight at least.
Mustering up a small smile she moved up a little bit and tilted her head. "Guess I finally found you Lucien. Really, you should at least let me know where you go so I do not worry so much." She was actually glad that she was not looking very pregnant at the moment. That just meant if it came to a fight with that Vampire then she could handle it. She really was beautiful, Tsu could at least admit that. But she was beautiful and flirting with HER Lucien. Now that just would not do.
She had a point, of course, when she said that summer was a nice time to do it, but he wasn't so sure if waiting that long was really an option. Tsu was pregnant, and they really didn't want her showing so much on her wedding day. Best to have the ceremony early. It would lessen the scandalous rumors regarding Tsunai's pregnancy, and allow for the bride to feel her best on her wedding day. He wasn't going to argue with Sigried, though. Whyever would he want to?
Ash became aware of Tsunai's approach with a mixture of relief and dread, his sharp blue eyes zeroing in on her immediately. Of course she was here for her prince, but the issue of the vampire wasn't going to be so easily solved. And whatever had the cobra all mixed up posed the risk that it would do the same to Tsunai. Unless it only worked on men? Maybe just mortal men? Ash hadn't been affected, and he sincerely thought that if she could have done it to him, she would have. So, why hadn't she been able to? He was worried it involved the fact that Cobriana was a serpiente, and if that was the case, Tsunai was at risk. He'd have to watch.
Unlike Ash, and quite unlike himself, Lucien was completely unaware of Tsunai's presence until he heard his name. He was entirely engrossed in the very feel of Sigried's presence, to the point that it was like he'd been asleep and was attempting to wake himself. He only managed it about halfway, just being so close to her keeping his mind fuzzy, but he recognized his fiancee. "Not to worry, I didn't go far," he assured her, his entire demeanor far more relaxed and casual than he'd been in...hell, even he didn't know how long. Did he ever really fall into such a casual, content state?
Honestly? No.
He was a hunter, and a leader of a band of hunters, so he never truly relaxed, even at home. It had become automatic for him to be on his guard at all times. This wasn't a man who missed a single trick, yet here he was. And no, he wasn't drunk. In fact, it took far more alcohol than was worth it to get him that messed up, given his pure ancestry. This was all Sigried.
"Why don't you join us, Tsunai? We were just discussing the wedding," he informed her lightly, his eyes on his fiancee for a moment before he looked back to Sigried, and was completely lost again. All he needed was to catch her dark, beautiful eyes, and he was drowning.
Oh Tsunai was not at all happy about this. Her eyes narrowed as she took a seat and shot a glance at Ash. She just hoped he would be able to handle anything that happened because right now something was not right. That or Lucien was drunk which she highly doubted. It was then that she turned her sight back to her fiance, who was currently starting at the vampire. She let out a low growl. He was so damn relaxed! He never was that relaxed! He was a hunter! What the hell was she doing to HER Lucien.
"The wedding huh? What about it?" She asked trying to keep her voice light. She kept her face plesent with a smile. She was going to try and behave. But unfortunately things like this did not go over well with a pregnant woman. Hormones had a tendency to take control. She placed a hand on Lucien's should and forced him to turn more towards her then the other woman. He was talking to her after all at this point.
Sigried's voice was liquid now, smooth and flowing, using that God (or ungod?) given ability to soothe and calm the Serpiente, HER serpents, drumming fingers so softly against the rim of her empty glass, the ice within tingling slightly from the gesture.
"And this must be the blushing bride," she said, with a smile. She was laying it on thick now, practically tainting the air around her with the dark tapestry of power she wove. "Come, sit, join us. Your husband-to-be was just discussing when the date for your wedding was. I was about to tell him that my sister plans them from time to time, and he was welcomed to any information I could pry from her."
She batted those long lashes, which seemed only endless now as she concentrated on Tsunai, easing her aggression, using that charm, that beauty, that sense of mystification and wonder that was hers so naturally.
Tsunai shook her head as that power started to take affect. It felt wierd though she was not sure what it was. She tilted her head slight and her smile faded though did not turn to a frown. Tsunai was quite aware of magic and such around her. Power was something she could always sense though this was not something she could fight. She let herfelf relax slightly. Though unlike her husband was really not all the taken in by the beauty of the vampire. Yeah, she was pretty but she was perfectly happy just relaxing for the first time in forever.
"And yes, I would be the bride though hardly blushing at this point. Been a little too stressed for that. And I was hoping to have it here shortly so that I can still fit inot a dress." That made her frown a bit. That was rather annoying. It was going to have to be planned fairly quickly and she was pretty sure because Lucien was a Cobriana that it was not going to be a small wedding either. "Would be nice to get some information. We will need all the help we can get."
Whatever they were talking about, he was completely lost to the world with her increased output. She was putting out enough of whatever it was that gave her that power over serpents that he was entirely useless for the moment. He'd have to really watch out for this if he ever ran into her again, though it wouldn't really be all that easy to convince him that anything at all had happened.
Her blue eyes were enough to drown in, and had she turned them on him, he very well may have. Just the sound of her voice ringing in his ears was enough to keep him enthralled, as though she'd really needed to up the potency of her presence. Tsunai may have required the added power, but he didn't right then. He had eyes only for the pale goddess before him.
Well, Lucien was punch drunk in her magic, but Tsunai was too emotional at the moment to really succumb - no matter, Sigried had more time than God.
"I'll definitely give her a call for you. She loves that sort of thing. She decorates, organizes.. definitely the more sane of the two of us." She laughed softly, a charming, twinkling sort of sound.
The meaning though, was all true. Elke, dear sweet sister - she was the sane one by far. She was actually at one point looking into Single Earth, but Sigried had managed to talk her out of the idea for the most part.
"I'm sure you'll figure everything out in time. Maybe you just won't start showing. I knew a girl once who didn't show at all until her eighth month in.. pretty amazing." Sigried's mind was going off again, deep little dark thoughts popping off here and there.
She idly wondered what would happen if the child were to be lost? Or wasn't Lucien's to begin with? Oh, the thinks you can think!
Tsunai was still not happy about Lucien staring at the vampire. He really should not with his fiancee sitting right behind him. But for right now she seemed to really not care. It just kind of settled in the back of her mind for later. She let out a sigh though as the vampire spoke. "Knowing my luck, that would not happen. It would be amazing if that would happen but I hughly doubt it. And we would both appreciate it if you would contact her. We need all the help we can. I would go nuts working on such a larger thing by myself." Tsunai sighed and shifted a bit. It was so hard just thinking about it. She slouched a bit, something completely out of character for her. "That would really help out a lot."
"You are a hunter as well, correct? I think with such an active lifestyle you can pull it off. If nobody had mentioned it to me, I'd never have even known," she purred again.
Oh, and how they'd sealed that horrible nightmare with a gentle kiss. Sigried was dreaming such deliciously dark and entertaining thoughts at the moment that if Ash could read her mind he'd have slain her. But the old vampire was well guarded, and thought in the most erratic of ways...
She leaned forward on the bar, directing her attentions obviously past Lucien to Tsunai, who was slowly... ever so slowly starting to come around.
Ahhhh, yes.
She tilted her head and smiled. "You should really relax, though. Can I get you a drink? I know you can't have alcohol.. or can you? I'm not quite clear how that works with shifters." She was so cute when she was coy, but she was also terribly convincing.
"Unfortunately I am not allowed to drink alcohol. It is bad for the baby." That caused her to smile a little bit. Though are first the thought had scared her she had come to terms with it. It did help though that she was fully convinced that it was Lucien's. The test said so and she could just feel it. "I guess I should try but it really is hard. There are so many things going on though. It is hard when you are hunter and living in the guild. There is always something." She placed her elbow on the bar and rested her chin in her hand.
Sigried was terribly sympathetic - or so she seemed, as she ordered over some juice for the Serpiente woman. She leaned in with interest, drinking in her every word - her eyes were wide and attentive, and Tsunai may have begun to feel as though she were the only person in the room for a moment. Such was Sigried!
"I can only imagine. I can't have children, unfortunately, so I suppose I shall never know what it's truly like. Do you intend to keep hunting or are you on hiatus?"
If she was still taking contracts, Sigried knew people happy to assist to the disposal of the Serpiente. Oh, and what if? Lucien, well, he would be devistated, or she only hoped that he would. Sigried knew nothing of love and desire, not like a couple did, and so this was all some big puzzle for her to undo.
It did him some good that he'd had some time with Sigried paying attention exclusively to Tsunai, since it gave him some time to clear his head. He was still practically drowning in her very presence, but now he could somewhat think, and he had an answer for THAT question.
"She's on hiatus," he answered for her, not giving her the option to state otherwise. He wasn't risking anything happening to her. "Just to be safe."
Tsunai had opened her mouth to respond to the question when Lucien beat her to it. She let out a sigh and took the drink that was ordered for her. "Yeah, I am on haitus. Lucien would not have it any other way. I argued with him for a while but he got his way eventually." She leaned over and kissed Lucien on the cheek. "He is just looking out for me, though I am bored as all heck." She took a sip of her drink and leaned against the counter again.
"I have everyone looking after me. Heck, even Dom somewhat behaves himself." That much she had to appreciate. "I know I am going to get tired of being fussed over though I do not think I have much of a choice."
Ugh. Sigried hid the contempt from her face as she watched Tsunai talk so freely about being confined and told what to do. There was no way you'd ever catch Sigried following some stupid orders like that, child or no. Pregnancy, she decided finally, was a trap.
"Ah, well, I'm sure it will give you time to explore other hobbies?" She was getting slightly bored with this, and had Ash not been so close she'd have asked them both if they'd like to take up elsewhere. Sigried wasn't sure where she wanted this to go. She'd at least make it a point to get one of them alone at a later date.. Tsunai seemed harder to convince than Lucien, so she'd probably try to work on her.
"Other hobbies. God you make that sound so boring." She finished the rest of her drink and set the glass down. "Though I guess I have no other choice. At some point I am not even going to be able to dance. That is going to kill me. I am all ready going out of my mind not hunting." It was true. She had become quite cranky, many had been on the recieving end of her bad moods. Usually people tried to avoid her now...which just ticked her off more.
"This is a blessing and a curse. Not sure whether you are lucky or not to never know what this is like." She could not really say that she was not excited. She just wished that the thing had been planned...not well...on accident..."I am actually surprised Lucien did not freak seeing me in here. He has been so protective lately. This is probably one of the last places he would want me to be. No offense Ash." She gave the Triste a smile. Just with so many different types of people in here it was unpredictable.
He sighed as she whined about it, obviously weary of this conversation. They'd been over it so many times in the past that he was about ready to bash his head against the bar if he had to do it again, which was why he wasn't about to argue it anymore. He didn't want to tell Tsunai what to do about anything, but he also didn't want to risk her safety, or the baby's. Once she'd had the baby, if she wanted to hunt again, so be it.
"Love, we've already been over this. I'm sorry, I know you're bored, but it would be foolish to risk both you and the baby for a hunt! Once you feel up to it again after the baby's born, you can take as many hunts as you'd like, just not in the meantime." Of course, he was only worried about her, and it didn't help his mood about the issue that she spoke about him being protective and such as though he wasn't even there. Nice.
Tsunai chuckled a bit. "He speaks. For a while there I thought you were just going to be a lump." She knew she was probably getting on his nerves. She would make it up to him somehow. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Lucien from behind him since he was still facing Sigried. She rested her chin on his shoulder and gave him another kiss on the cheek.
"Sorry love." She did feel bad about complaining so much. She would have to work on it. If anything just for him. She smiled a bit. "Come on Lucien I promise to stop complaining if you promise to lighten up." To tell the truth she had just been so focused on the vampire for some reason that she had forgotten the Lucien was there. Though it was not like he was saying much.
((Hope you don't mind, felt I needed a post in here. If not in the plan tell me and it can be deleted.))
Sigried had been focusing far more on Tsunai, who had required that attention to fall under her spell, and that had actually allowed Lucien to straighten his thoughts out somewhat. It hadn't really occurred to him that he'd really lost them, but he'd actually spoken his opinion on what Tsunai had to say, as well as leaning into her touch as she held him from behind. He loved her, that much was obvious, and amazingly tolerant of anything she did. Like telling him to lighten up when he really was simply exhausted and weary of the conversation at hand. He was far more light-hearted and personable when he'd had time to rest properly and his guild wasn't being attacked by vampires and the like. That was enough to dampen anyone's sense of humor.
Despite the fact that he'd seemed to have tensed and pulled himself somewhat out of his stupor with Tsunai's conversation and touch, he was still facing the vampire, and the instant his garnet eyes rose to meet hers, a long, slow breath escaped him, his body relaxing once more. This time, he'd relaxed against Tsunai, but that was merely luck on her part. It had nothing to do with her, and everything to do with Sigried.
He became so lost once again at seeing her that he fell silent, not even caring to respond to what Tsunai had said. Whether she would take his relaxing to be his answer or notice that something was wrong, he didn't really know or care. All that mattered was Sigried.
Tsunai frowned slightly as she rested her head on Lucien's shoulder. Though Sigried's power was working that did not mean she did not have any thinking power left. Lucien was so relaxed it almost frightened her. And the thing was he was staring at the vampire. Right now it really did not mean anything but when she remembered this later it was going to really lead to something not pretty. Right now though she was happy just being with Lucien this relaxed. He had been so tense lately. "I am sorry love I will try to not complain so much." It was a promise she would try her best to keep.
"I do not know what you did but I have never seen him so relaxed." He arms tightened around him a bit perfectly happy to stay there. "I guess I should thank you. I have not been very good for that lately. Well...as you could just see. I really appreciate you helping him out...even if I do not know what you did." As far as she could tell right now in her mind everthing was perfectly innocent. "So thank you...I do not think I ever caught your name. What should I be calling you?"
Sigried smiled broadly, a sort of cheshire thing, which was usually very bad when it came from her, because it was only a prelude to things that usually got her and other people into heaps of trouble.
"Sigried, dear, and the pleasure is all mine," she purred. It was... that name. The way she said it. Whereas normally it would have been pronounced 'Sea-grid', she said, 'Sig-reed', and the 'r' was... just a rolling sound between the first and last part of her name. It was her name, a name of power.
A name.. more often than not on the top of the hit lists for the Guilds, actually. But.. it couldn't be the same woman, could it? Not this lovely Goddess dressed in blue. She was so terribly sweet and charming.
She looked pointedly at Lucien and smiled. "Anything for such a wonderful couple."
I. Dare. You. Her smile said it all.
And this was where it became painfully obvious just how messed up he was on her power. He heard her name, registered who she was in his mind, and completely didn't react at all like he should. This was where he should have tensed up and grown suspicious, but he didn't react at all like a hunter.
He stayed right where he was, his eyes locked on hers as she gave him that rather pointed look, and he didn't rise to that bait of hers quite like he should have. "Sigried. You're on my list," he told her, sounding entirely too casual about it. "My own personal list, actually. I don't send my people after some targets."
And she was one of the targets he'd actually thought he'd save for himself, so he didn't risk any of his hunters. Smooth move. Obviously, that had blown up in his face.
She blinked in surprise, of course it was all feigned. This is where Ash, who had drawn near, suddenly looked up in surprise, and made it a point to hover in a closer range than before, should the vampire try anything... vampire-y.
"Me? But you can see plainly for yourself, Lucien," she said, drawing out his name with a burst of power on her part. Ah, audio heroin. "You can see as well as Tsunai... I do nothing so offensive as to end up on a... list."
She looked hurt. He'd hurt the wonderful, splending woman. She allowed tears to glitter in her eyes as she stood, leaving money on the bar for her drink. "After I listened to your woes, you insult me so?" She looked at Tsunai.
"I am sorry, lovely, but I simply cannot sit here and be taunted in such a manner. Of the thousands that exist, surely one would share my name." She turned and left the Hollow, pretty much just like that. Once outside, she giggled to herself.
Now what?
Oh, no. Oh, no no no. Damn her! And damn him for being so caught up in her!
When Sigried reacted like that, the shift in her mood coupled with the unchanging tone of her power hit him like a brick. He looked a bit surprised and quite displeased with her sudden displeasure and departure, and he'd slipped out of Tsunai's arms and after her with the sort of liquid grace that only a snake really pulled off. It was entirely different from Ash's feline traits, making it entirely Lucien's. And speaking of Ash, the triste called out after him as he neared the door, but Lucien ignored him only to catch a few curses from the man. Not his concern.
Sigried was his concern.
He hit the cold night air and got a fresh breath of air that almost would have cleared his mind, if she hadn't been out there. He looked to her, appearing to be truly sorry, and he reached out for her to reassure her. "No, that's not what I meant. I'm sure it's just someone else with your name. It was just ironic to meet someone else with the same name," he explained to her, not wanting her to be offended. She was so beautiful, and understanding, how could he ever offend her?
"Forgive me, I meant no offense."
Tsunai, even under Sigried's power, was upset that Lucien left her to follow after that vampire. She sat there for a moment just watching Lucien's retreating back in the crowd before it was gone. Shaking her head she stood and began to follow him. She had to see what was going on. Without the vampire right there her mind had begun to clear a bit. Something really was not right. She did not know what but there was something strange going on. Placing a hand to her forehead she turned back to look at Ash. He seemed rather upset, which meant that something really was not right.
Shaking her head again she continued on her way to the door to catch up with Lucien. Right now he was the only one that was on her mind. He had been so concerned about the vampire. That was not like him at all. Her mind was still clouded with Sigried's power even as it cleared. She gently pushed the door open and silently moved outside. She really did not want to disturb them if she did not have to.
Sigried did not run - she never ran. Heels clicked on the sidewalk as she moved, with all the grace and power that only a vampire her age could have perfected. She did not turn her head to Lucien's calls, and it was only when he came within a few feet did she suddenly stop and turn.
"You hurt me, friend," she said sadly. "How do I know you are not trying to trick me?" She was accusing now, but her voice was so very soft, so very innocent and untrusting and alone. How could he have made her feel so bad?
Big eyes batted at him as she pouted, something Sigried did very, very well. She saw Tsunai come out of the bar, and knew she had suddenly come across her chance. The moment Lucien's hand brushed her (as he had reached for her, of course) she vanished, taking him with her.
Telelocation was such a beautiful thing.
Usually, getting blipped off to some other place that he didn't know by some vampire would have freaked him out and had him either fighting his way out or just leaving, but this was a bit different because of her ability. He was startled, looked around to find himself on the top of a building, and then was lost in her eyes again when he looked back to her. He'd hurt her.
"I'm sorry, how can I make it up to you?" And there it was, one of the stupidest lines possible. And what did he think of Tsunai? He didn't. Sigried somehow made it necessary to forget about his fiancee.
"Oh, I don't know, Lucien," she said, tone somewhat... vacant, distant. Displeased. She turned from him and walked to the edge of the building, allowing the icy blast to rush across her pallid features. She looked over at him, and folded her arms.
"I'm sure you can think of something. Unless... you don't really want to make me happy?" There it was, that wounded tone again. She turned away, the little girl routine in motion. Ah, he'd hurt her so very much. She was so lonely, so afraid. Why had her friend been so cruel?
He shivered in the icy wind, the fact that he was cold-blooded really not working in his favor right then. He wouldn't have even lived in New York if the Guilds hadn't been there, and for this very reason. It got far too cold in this part of the country. The cold wasn't the least of his problems, though. There was Sigried, and the fact that he didn't even have the slightest idea what she could possibly want from him. He'd apologized, so what else could he do? He didn't know what she'd want, so he didn't have a single idea what to offer.
"I want to make you happy and make it up to you," he told her, shaking his head. "But I don't even know where to start."
He wasn't the sort of man who found himself in this sort of situation before. Really, he shouldn't care if he'd ruffled her feathers. Anyone whose opinion he cared about, he knew how to fix it. Everyone else got over it, but he wasn't being rational regarding her.
Sigried was well aware the Serpiente's dislike of the cold weather, and she drew away from the edge, holding out her hand to the shivering man.
"Would you like to go somewhere warm?" she asked, voice so promising. And she would take him somewhere warm, nice and warm. Knowing her, though, it could easily be somewhere in Peru or the bottom of a damned volcano. Hard to say, with this one. Self preservation, though, would prevent her from doing anything terribly stupid.
"Come with me, and I will let you make it up to me, okay?" she said. She sounded so sincere, so ready to forgive him for all of the things he'd said that hurt her vulnerable, poor feelings.
She really did sound incredibly sincere, like she'd forgive it all. He knew better, somewhere in the rational part of his mind, but that wasn't the part being affected by that power she was putting out. If he was going to refuse her, he'd have done so when she first sat down and he'd started talking to her. He wasn't going to do anything of the sort.
He nodded at her question about somewhere warm, though he was hardly at the point that he was in any real danger due to the cold. "Alright," he agreed when she said she'd let him make it up to her. Of course, he had no idea just how she could be thinking right then.
He took the offered hand.
Tsunai had followed after the two for a bit. She had been about to call out Lucien's name when he had reached out to her and then they suddenly disappeared. Her eyes widening she ran to the spot where they had been. The vampire had taken him somewhere. Worst was...he LET her take him. Tsunai began to panic, her fiance was alone with a vampire that obviously was up to something. But why had she even let it get this far? What had happened to her common sense?
Turning she ran back to Hellcat's Hollow and up to the bar. Reaching over she grabbed the front of Ash's shirt and yanked him forward. "What they hell just happened?" She asked in a low voice. She guessed this was a little overboard but right now she was just worried about Lucien. "I want to know what you saw or felt since obviously you were not affected by...whatever it was."
In another instant, they were standing at the door at the end of a large, airy hallway. The quality of air was strange, filtered, and fresh, with the lightest scent of lilacs coming from somewhere. Sigried released Lucien's hand and smiled, before reaching out to the door and knocking on it.
There was a clattering sound and footsteps - a moment later the door opened, spilling warm sunlight into the already well-lit hallway. A slender brunette woman, also obviously a vampire, held the door ajar, a look of surprise on her face.
The two women prattled on for a moment in what sounded like German, but seemed... different. Finally Sigried turned to Lucien again. "This is my sister, Elke. And this is Los Angeles - quite warm, right now, considering the sun is still up and we are three hours behind."
Elke reguarded the man with a calm expression, although she was interested to know what her sister was doing with a Serpiente. This... was probably no good. Still, she opened the door wider to invite them in.
"Please, enter. Don't mind the cats, they're very friendly."
Two fuzzy white cats sat at the sink, playing in the water coming out of the tap. Turkish water cats - Elke's favourite.
Ash was dealing with customers, trying to watch Lucien and Tsunai with their vampire friend, and suddenly attempting to stop a mental brawl between two vampires in one of the corners furthest from the bar all at once. All at once, he realized that the serpiente couple had vanished, and he could do nothing about it. His mental energies were focused on not only keeping the others from damaging each other with their own energies, but keeping anyone ELSE from being hurt. And Tsunai grabbed him, ripping him out of that serene sort of meditation, and those energies essentially exploded on the two 'combatants'. It made him cranky, and he didn't like being touched BEFORE Midnight.
He turned his sharp blue eyes on Tsunai, not looking at all pleased, and let his own aura of power wash out across the bar, Tsunai and the rest of the establishment in an attempt to 'remind' the two vampires that their fight needed to be somewhere ELSE. He reached out and removed Tsunai's hands from his shirt rather calmly, aware that she'd been hit with the brunt of that wave of power, and put a bit of distance between them again. He would NOT be jerked across the bar like that.
"Do not ever grab me in that manner again," he told her, making that clear before anything, and actually considered not answering her question. Afterall, he was neutral. Of course, the fact that he'd been in Midnight and didn't trust Sigried's intentions helped Tsunai. "Apparently, something about her power affects serpiente, and Cobriana wore himself down to his breaking point before even coming in here tonight. I could see it in his aura. If he had stayed here, I could have kept him safe, but he left while I was occupied, and on his own two feet. There's nothing I can do."
Lucien was taken aback by the sudden shift in scenery and temperature, but he took it rather well with Sigried's power pulsing about in the air surrounding him. The biggest surprise wasn't for him, but Elke, really. After Sigried had explained to him, he raised his garnet eyes to meet hers as he did as she'd told him to.
"Thank you, it's a pleasure." Ever the gentleman, considering how he'd been raised. So, what was Sigried going to do with Serpiente royalty?
Tsunai hissed slightly as Ash's power washed over her. She hated it when they did that. But what else could she do. She gladly let go of the witch as he pulled her hand away. "Sorry Ash, forgive me for having a panic attack." She growled before taking a seat again. Yeah, that had not been very tactful...it was not like her to do something like that. "Well I guess I am screwed in trying to help him. And you really can't do much since you're neutral." Crossing her arms she placed them on the counter before resting her forhead against them. "God this is where I could really use a drink..."
Well this was peachy. Lucien had been swept off with a vampire that had a power over snakes. Not like she could have helped, she was affected too even if not as deeply as Lucien. She felt rather guilty though knowing some of his weariness was her fault. Her life just sucked right about now. "Again I am sorry Ash. It was out of place for me to grab you like that. God why did she not screw up so you could have done something about it..." That would have been the only way to save him. Right now she could only hope that he would come back to her unharmed. Guess she was going to be sleeping with her daggars for a while. "Well I guess while I am here and getting over the shock I can at least buy something. I don't care what it is as long as it does not have alcohol in it." Well she owed him that much at least.
Elke turned with a smile and strode back into the apartment, Sigried in tow with Lucien not far behind she was certain. She went to the drapes and drew them open more, turning to smile at her company.
"Even now I dispell rumours of vampires and their aversion to sunlight. Is there anything so warm and inviting?" she purred, a cat coming to rub on her leg. "Lucien, might I offer you anything to drink? I do have some warm tea, or iced, if you enjoy it?"
Elke was definitely the less-menacing of the two, though her power was related to cats and those alone, she had perfected the art of masking her aura with something more comforting. She walked back into the kitchen, tossing brunette locks aside.
"Ah, Lucien, as you can see from her decorations now she would do well for the wedding. I wonder, though - why does Tsunai seem so unhappy? She makes it sound as though you keep her in a cage, which I can't really understand. A wonderful man like yourself? A woman should appreciate you."
Elke shot her a glare across the room but she ignored her.