forum vita post mortem | sci-fi vampire rp

Started October 15, 2022 by @knightinadream group

tune

Good Lord. Can such a young vampire act in such a manner to someone like him? Why should he even talk to these younger vamps anyways? As much as he can practically hear things a mile away, he doesn't even want to listen to these children anyways.

Narciso crossed his arms. Yes it is a rather childish thing to do, yet he argues that it gets the message across. Something valuable with time? He is the one that is wasting time and should find somewhere more valuable to be! He wasted an hour with some wealthy Florentine and look where that got him!

Averill Penn and Lucille Huang, how lovely. Narciso rolled his eyes. He sort of paid attention. Half of the time he didn't make any eye contact. Then the other half he went back to staring and not blinking. He wanted to see if these ones can get distracted. Hey, what can he do? He's bored and talking about disappearances isn't something new.

Leaning forward, he watched as Averill sat down each photo. His eyes scanned each of them carefully. At certain photos, he stared at some longer than others. He does known a few vamps and people; one he hadn't seen since the 1980s. Then his gaze flickered up to the two in front of him.

"Why? Did vampire hunter vigilantes get them? I am sure you two know that they wouldn't make a VHIPA and local work together on a stupid case like that," He yawned. Well, fake yawned. "Your point?"

God, if Lucy was 6'4", absolutely jacked, and didn't have her supervisor watching, she would not hesitate to deck this motherfucking ancient bag of arrogant dust. She would send him and his chair skirting back to the wall with a thunk and then- Nope. Stop. No violence, Lucy has to physically jolt her head to knock herself out of the fantasy.

She watches as Averill sets down the individual photos. She recognizes the faces from her superior's desk, from the massive whiteboard in the main VHIPA Investigation Offices. However, Lucy can only say that she confidentially knows three of the names. Three out of the thirty. She feels like she should know more… But after all, she is the lowest ranking member in all of the VHIPA hierarchy. She's only been a vampire for thirteen months, only been alive for nineteen years.

"They're gone," is all Lucy supplies. "We don't know what the hell happened to them." She looks at him steadily, trying to pick out the older vampire's mannerisms and tells through heavy mascara. "Since you're as old as dirt itself, we were hoping that you might have some idea where they went." She glances to Averill, then to the one-way mirror. She's saying the right thing. (At least she hopes she has some semblance that she is.)

"I'm not a local." Av replied. Sure, he had worked in New York for the past 50 years, roughly, but he was not a local. It was still a fraction of his life. "And Lucy is barely VHIPA." he cast a warning glance to Lucy when she called Narciso "old as dirt". Just because she was right did not make it, well, right. Antagonizing Narciso would get them nowhere. "And I apologize for her lack of decorum, as well."

He brushed back the loose strand of hair from his face, keeping his gaze on Narciso, making a mental note of which ones the vampire had looked at for longer. Some were victims. Some suspects. Others completely unrelated, which was…interesting indeed, though it did not necessarily mean anything in the context of the case. How long had Narciso been locked up? He could not remember. "Our point, in any case, is that thirty people in three years is too many. Yes, it comes out to only ten a year, but the similarities between the cases are too much for them to be unrelated to each other, especially when they all took place in and around Cagnol." some of the victims had ties to each other, but there had been no tie connecting all of them. None that had been found, in any case.

He paused for a long moment, debating how much of their hand to show. The more information they gave Narciso now, the more problematic it could prove later on. But yet, that was a double-edged sword. Without more information, the older vampire would be useless. With it, he could be even more dangerous. And that all depended on Narciso being honest, which Averill knew well could not be trusted to happen. Narciso had been alive for two or three times he had, and could have had plans and such in the works for longer than even Av had been alive.

Looks like they all are getting off on the right foot. If they were not in some VHIPA building, he most likely would have been incredibly offended, but today he decided to not to be. After all, compared to the other two, he's the oldest. Not to mention, he holds information that they would never be able to get without him. It's like he is the key to get into everything. How quaint.

He waved Av off. "No no, it is alright. I like to say that I am old as Renaissance masterpieces," Narciso chuckled. Then he mumbled to himself while picking up a few pictures, "If only those bloodbags knew how to truly appreciate art or anything of the matter."

One of the pictures was of a vampire with short blond hair, probably around two hundred years old. He rolled his eyes. "If you think I have some part of this or that disaster of a group did it, then say so….You younger vamps always dance around things…"

Narciso held up the picture for the two to see. "He is or was part of the Crimson Sect. Too prideful, I may say…." Throwing the picture across the table, he sighed looking down at the other two. "Bloodbags….foolish ones too nevertheless."

Lucy wrings her hands together in her lap, giving them something to do rather than bang her fist on the table. (She's fully aware of her own short temper and low tolerance for pretentiousness. It's taking every ounce of her self-control to not flip the table.) She may be young and new to this whole scene, but she knows she has a job to do. There are thirty missing people to find. They could be dead for all Lucy knows, but it's her duty (as of five minutes ago) to find them.

Old Renaissance masterpieces my ass, Lucy seethes internally, once again fighting the overwhelming urge to throw the clipboard at Narciso. Pushing past her own internal anger, Lucy studies each one of the pictures individually, locking away any sort of information Narsico feeds them deep in her brain.

"So he's a cult member?" Lucy simplifies. "Are any of these other guys a part of the Crimson Sect?" She's going to have to educate herself on the Sect as soon as she gets the time. It's… something from before her time. She was barely nine when it was disbanded, all of the members rounded up by human and vampire police alike.

Av studied the image for a moment, not remarking on it and instead looking over at Narciso, gaze thoughtful. "You say we are the ones dancing around it, but you are not sharing your thoughts on the matter frankly." he replied, accent easy to hear even after his years here in America. "You are dancing aroud the matter as well, Narciso." he adjusted a few of the photos, gaze moving for a moment to the stack of the files, then back to Narciso.

He had not once looked at the mirrored window. Had not once glanced back to check, as Lucy had. He was older than the vampire in there, and was not beholden to the supervisor in any way. He knew how to question someone, and glancing back would only betray nervousness and anxiety that, frankly, did not exist.

"So why don't you tell me what you see? What you think is happening, based on these photos?" he paused for a moment, letting Narciso consider his words. "And I am well aware that you do not know much of the case. That is fine. I merely want you to extrapolate from what little you do know." he picked up the files, pulling out a few of the older ones and setting them down. "If you would like, you may read those as well, to gain slightly more insight into the matter."

Narciso rolled his eyes. So God is making him repent for whatever he has done by making him deal with the two most unamusing VHIPA federal traitor vamps ever. One who is British and another who has no sense of decency. Great. As long as he can repent or get out of this hell-hole as soon a possible, perhaps he can deal with these two.

"I don't think I know that fancy English word…..extrapolate…." He rolled his eyes. Taking a brief look at the file, he barely lifted the front up before pushing it away.

He went back to looking at all the photos collectively. For five minutes he spent looked at every individual one. "I only know about ten personally….but maybe I have seen others somewhere around Cagnol…."

Standing up, he kicked the chair away. Once he turned back, he started to pick up certain photos. Might as well help these foolish souls a little. "These three were in Phantasma and took the same road I did…" He took the three photos then set them towards the left side of the table. Then Narciso picked up another two, "Crimson Sect banished these two. They tried to escape and got what they wanted sort of…"

Throwing those two in a different pile, he took a look at the other five. His finger point at them. "They frequented at clubs in the Sanguine district, you know the one that Crimson Sect used to run…Last time I remember, two of them are still bloodbags."

Lifting his chin up, he stared at Av. "Clubs….secret groups….and some spent the night with me….There….Satisfied?"

To be honest, Lucy entirely tunes the British guy out. His accent annoys her. She just knows he says some fancy detective-level things and slides the files and photos over to the oldest vampire in the room.

Alright, alright, at least Narsico handed them some information. Cults and banishments and the implied… intercourse. (Blugh.) All of it, truly, is above Lucy's pay grade and experience level, but she'll be damned if she has to appeal to her superior. Lucy knows her being here instead of an actual professional is a recipe for failure, but she's sure as hell going to succeed and show that she is capable, goddamnit.

She follows the old vampire with her eyes, narrowing them and making her eyeliner even sharper by doing so. "The ten you know personally–" Lucy flips Narsico's documents over on the clipboard before sliding the blank backside over to him. "Write down what you know about them." In the process of doing so, Lucy takes in Narsico's piles of photos. "Enemies, allies, business that could get them abducted or killed." She lists them off casually before turning her glare to Narsico. "The works."

(sorry for the wait!)

Av tipped his head faintly as Lucy instructed Narciso on what to do, brows twitching faintly. It was a good idea, in truth, and he likely would have eventually suggested something similar. He still had not specific to Narciso which of the ten were actually involved in some way; that might now pay off in their favor, if the things Narciso wrote down could be tied into the case, or not tied in at all. Of course, it all still depended on honesty from the older vampire, and older vampires were not exactly renowned for their honesty.

He absently rubbed the pad of his thumb across the lines of his other palm, gaze still resting on Narciso as his thoughts wandered, pulling in all the information he knew about the case and about Narciso, along with the Crimson Sect. To tell the truth, he knew the least about Narciso. The files that he had received on the old vamp were not the most extensive, and had contained only the barest of details about him. That was rather a problem, as it left him doing more guesswork about the vampire's temperament than he would have liked. Thus far, sure, Narciso had proven to be prejudiced towards humans, and rather superior in his behavior, as if he were better than them all. Av didn't like it, but it didn't point towards guilt. Not, of course, that he believed Narciso was involved in these kidnappings. The vampire had been here for a bit too long to be involved, though there was always a possibility that someone the vamp knew or once knew was involved in it. That, after all, was why they were here.

He paused with his repetitive motion of his thumb, studying Narciso again and watching to see how the old vampire would react to being given orders by Lucy. Lucy was so young, by vampire standards and by human standards, so many older people would have bristled at being ordered around by her. Listening to her orders could mean anything, but it would be interesting, if he did. Granted, if Narciso did not listen, it also told Av a deal about the vampire's character.

Two roads diverged leading onto the same path. Narciso found himself right in front of two, but what is he to do of this? The blank side of the paper stared at him. There was a slight shaking in his hand. Biting on his bottom lip, he stared back at the paper.

He just gave a couple of words and now he is expected to write things down. Can't they just use a recording device like they used to in 1970s? Although, it would be funny if he just wrote "no" on the middle of the paper or some sort of insult in Italian. It would be as funny as it would be useless. Neither of which would get him out of here. The same goes for it he does write anything down. They'll just chain him to them till they get their use out.

Crossing his arms, he sat back down. Turning his neck, he made eye contact with his reflection. "My handwriting will not provide any benefit for your investigation," He hummed. "I will tell you whatever it is that you want. You do the burden of writing it all."

Tapping the side of his arm, he bit the inside of his cheek. Only when Narciso relaxed did he decide to look at Av and Lucy. "English is complicated to learn in all aspects. Believe me, my writing is not as exceptional as other parts of me. And I will tell you anything, not like there's anything holding me to say otherwise."

Lucy purses her lips as she stares down the oldest vampire. My handwriting is too poor for this simple task! Bullshit. A guy like this has to have the biggest ego ever, and a giant ego like that without a doubt extends to his handwriting. Her palm aches to slap down on the table–her eyes flick to the mirror–but her superior is watching. No matter what her temper wants, Lucy values her job more. Nevertheless, she pushes the clipboard and pen over to Averill.

"Fine, then just tell us what you know about them." This detective forensics dude has to have some sort of recording device on him. Isn't that what guys like him do? They have a funky pen with a recorder in the clicker and that's how they catch criminals. (Or that might've been something she saw on TV as a child during her many afternoons home alone.) She eyes Averill next to her, the man still standing next to her. She doesn't like how tall he is.

He raised an eyebrow at Narciso's words, but decided not to fight the older vampire on this. It wasn't worth it. He took the clipboard and pen when Lucy pushed them over to him, opening the pen up and preparing to write. He knew how to write fast and write neat, often utilizing shorthand. Before recording devices for playback purposes, the only way to record things had been by hand, fast, as someone spoke. He had had a century and a half to practice it.

"Alright." he drew the word out, finally sitting down so that it would be easier for him to write. "Tell me about them, then. Names, dates, any information you know." He wrote down "1", in preparation for Narciso to begin talking. His handwriting was neat, but old-fashioned, his cursive the kind that Lucy might have seen had she read something written by her great-grandmother. Looping, easy, and almost delicate, flowing out from his hand with a lot of practice behind it. He barely looked at the paper, instead keeping his gaze on Narciso.

As long as this will get him out of here one way or another; that's all that matters to him. It would also be nice to get away from these two, yet he think he could manage. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, right? He sighed then reluctantly nodded his head. "Fine, let's get this over with."

He sat the photos out into two rows of five in front of him, but he didn't start right away. The silent passing of time was not on purpose though. Narciso had to stare at the pictures, letting the imaginary dust and cobwebs disappear from his mind. Hey. For some of these bastards, he hasn't seen them in years and for good reason too. Finally, he pointed at the first picture.

"Andreas Kohler: probably 163 years old, former Phantasma, was a current Crimson Sect member, goes to those balls and parties run by the wealthy, he tried to rebel against Crimson Sect a few times and is too prideful for his own good. Then that one's Dominik Lehr: same as the last idiot. Those two were like peas in a pod; I think they considered themselves soulmates or whatever. Third is Ivana Novak: 130 years old I think, was part of Phantasma, arrested, was invited to join Crimson Sect but was heavily against joining. She was always around those clubs downtown though."

When he was finished with those three, he pushed their pictures out of the way. His finger pointed at the next one. "No one ever really knew his name, but everyone called him Gio. Some forty year old vamp from southern Russia. He was part of Crimson Sect since their beginning, then started to become a wire to the police. They threw him out a year ago. Same thing with Farah Zaman, but I though they fled to Turkey or something. Farah never stayed in one place, but was always loyal to the secret society. I say 'was' lightly."

"The last vampire is Berto Bellini or something." He squinted his eyes at the photo. "He had no ties to Phantasma nor Crimson Sect. I don't why he's in with the rest of these. Berto is actually a decent vamp; he has or had a lot of human friends. Some of them are over there." Narciso pointed at the remaining pictures. "Oliver Lehis, Jasper Suh, and Mia Charbonneau. Those three are just humans. I think Oliver and Mia are twenty-six while Jasper has to be almost thirty. They work in that symphony hall by Seward Street. That's how they met Berto cause the vamp loves theater and music."

Though the manner being useless, he took a deep breath. He stared at Av then at Lucy. "There. Happy?"

(I'm so sorry I forgot I had this one to reply to–)

With a clenched jaw, Lucy takes in all of the names and stores them in the back of her mind. She didn't spend her formative years memorizing thousands of influencer tips for nothing. Thanks to that, things rarely fly over her head. Things rarely escape her memory. With a click of her gum, Lucy sorts the names and brief descriptions away in her mind in neat, color-coded piles. None of the vampires' faces look familiar to her, but that's to be expected with how young and new to the game she is. Her temple temporarily bulges as her teeth grind together. You're not useless, goddamnit.

"How do you know Bellini?" She asks, reaching a manicured black talon over to tap on his face. "If he's not associated with the Crimson Sect and if you've been locked up here for the past ten years, what's the connection?" She squints through her mascara-heavy lashes before moving her hand to spread the pictures of the three humans with the pads of her fingers.

"And if Oliver, Mia, and Jasper are all humans, they would've had to be around sixteen and twenty when you first heard their names, no?" Unless Narciso was hanging around a high school before he was incarcerated, a lot of it could be lies. (Or simply muddled truths from being locked up for so long.) Some of the pieces don't add up. Lucy will not be taking this bullshit at her impromptu interrogation.

Av's brows twitched as she spoke. She wasn't doing too bad, for a complete newbie who hadn't previously been associated with investigatory things. Her tone was slightly too accusatory for his taste, but it seemed to serve her well. He had a feeling that telling her to tone it back would not go over well. Plus, getting a rise out of Narciso, if that was possible, could serve them well. If they managed to get the old vamp's feathers ruffled, well, who knew what could happen? It would certainly tell them a lot about Narciso's disposition.

He ran a hand through his hair, making sure he had written everything down accurately. He had, luckily enough, so he just went in and cleaned it up a bit, making a few little notes of his own in the margins. He was always careful to mark his own notes as speculation, so that when he read them back later, he would not mess up and think his notes were part of the recorded facts. He had been doing this a long time, and while he could have typed this all up, he preferred the tactile feeling of the paper and pen. Preferred to have his notes in paper form. Later, he would read them aloud to a recording device and play them back, just to listen to the information again from a neutral source, rather than from the mouth of a witness. Tone of voice could distort so much.

He tapped the end of the pen on the paper for just a moment, then stopped the action. It was distracting, and they needed the vampire to focus, not get irritated by an absent little motion like that.

Reclining back into the chair, he grimaced at Lucy. His mood soured if it hadn't been already. Narciso brushed his face off then looked away. Only staring at his reflection seemed to be the only thing that can save his sanity. Well, that and the thought of somehow escaping. Oh the thought of escape…..

"We met at an art exhibit….and we dated before you idiots dragged me here," Narciso mumbled the last part. "Hmmm…I saw him preform in a ballet show before we actually met….Oh Dio…You get my point."

He thought about the ages for a second. "Yes." But it beats him. All he knew was that they were friends of Berto and he had to accept their presence because they're Berto's friends. "I didn't care much about them. Humans, especially the younger ones, who hang with vampires at clubs are stupid. I only cared about Berto." He rested his fist under his chin, looking down at his feet. They swayed a little, sliding against the floor. He forced them to stop.

The clicking of a pen caused his chin to shoot up and turn in the direction of the sound. He stared at Av then tilted his head. So is this one not going to talk? His head snapped back up, but he glanced away from the two of them.

Ex-boyfriend, ex-boyfriend's child friends, a lack of empathy for everyone except for the ex-boyfriend. Lucy scrunches her nose at the new information and stores it away in her brain. The vampire sitting across from her is clearly not fully clear in the memory-department. She supposes the same four walls, ceiling and floor will do that to a man if he's stuck in them for ten years.

She draws in a breath, clicking her nails on the table before adjusting her back. Her spine shifts uncomfortably as she attempts to sit straight. (Damned shape wear Lucy wore in the seventh grade. She should've known better. Should've ignored the advice, should've said no, should've never stolen that credit card to buy it.) Can vampires get surgery to fix a warped spine? Or is she just cursed to reside in her eighteen year and three day old body for eternity?

"Does his disappearance upset you?" Lucy inquires, dropping just the right amount of acid into her tone. Maybe she's distracting her toxic thoughts by pressing them onto another, perhaps she's just trying to get leverage for Narciso to hand out more information. "Like you said, seems to be a decent man."

(hi hello i forgot about this–)
(I'm so so sorry)

Av continued to sit, silent and letting Lucy continue this interrogation for a moment. It was interesting, watching the responses. The back and forth between an 18 year old and the older vampire. The contrast. Lucy, still energetic and short-sighted like any newer vampire, and Narciso, old and supposedly wiser, being questioned by someone centuries his junior. He did notice the instant response to the pen, but did not tap it again. Narciso's response was interesting. It had been almost too fast, for how little stimulation that noise actually was.

He shifted forward in his seat, studying Narciso. "Now, where is Berto now?" he asked. "Or, at least, the last time that you knew of him?" he knew Narciso had been in here for years, but he wanted to know what Narciso would say. Especially with Berto's disappearance. Perhaps. He could not remember if Lucy had actually been told that some of the photos in the stack were completely unrelated to the case. In which case…ah, Narciso would be furious if he was misled. Which could work in their favor. So Av didn't say anything about that, letting Lucy continue with her words. If she had been informed, wonderful. If she had not…well, that would only make it better. She would believe what she was saying, which would mean there would be no trace of a lie anywhere in her words or in her tone.