RP between Rook (Jack) and Rigby (Evren)
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Rigby — 03/03/2021
The woman's late-night walks were frequent, and not unlike the ones of a certain snoopy vampire-guard; she was here to learn. Her arsenal of shapes could not get much smaller than a human, but that was fine: the manaraptor, the mist...and most importantly, the fiancee could cover that kind of sneaky ground.
Additionally, she was known, and she had been bothered before - the scene of Carnieros' resurrection was not so easily forgotten, and a winged and tailed woman was attention she'd not always wanted. So while she wore a shape entirely human tonight, her dog was distinctly not. It was the illusion of safety...and the guarantee that no mundie would annoy her, tonight.
Hulking and boxy and freed from any daytime shapes he'd typically worn, Shuck had no care for scoping the lay of the land or any sense of politics, and was instead eager to stretch his legs, snuffling about the empty market stalls, finding stray scraps, and on occasion waggling some around for Ev - as if she'd cared about the half-eaten unicorn thigh he'd found, or thought that rolling an olive jar down the road was a decent toy.
Rook — 03/04/2021
It was likely the 'dog' that captured and held Jack's attention more than Evren, though he'd been on a patrol more than heading for the woods. With the escape of Pascaal (or atleast any accomplices), keeping an eye out for him seemed mandatory. It beat sitting on cell duty.
"Good evening, Ma'am. The companion of yours usually not restrained? Hopefully not aggressive too?" It wouldn't be a 'mundie' possibly annoying her, but a concerned guard. It wouldn't do for him to ignore the creature, especially with people around who often liked to make a fuss about such things.
What fun it'd be for the City if someone got mauled.
Rigby — 03/07/2021
"Not aggressive at all!" Well that was a lie - but at a gesture or unspoken command, Shuck bounded right back to her side. Then sat down, ears perking obediently, nose twitching with surreptitions sniffs for the guard, a doggy grin on that hideous face for good measure, plumed tail only starting to swish slowly. He'd only belatedly realized he still had a mouthful of unicorn meat and slooooowly, eyes flicking between the pair, he lowered his head to set it down before sitting back up again. Goblin-monster or dog, Shuck knew how to work it!
"Let him off the leash while it was empty here; I can put him back on should it be an issue?" She lifted a hand; a knitted rope was loosely tied around it.
"Not aggressive unless he's hunting, but that's far off, that's the forests." She waved with that same hand. "He just wanted a run and I didn't want to panic some locals in the daytime. You know how it goes." Did he?
Rook — 03/09/2021
Thankfully, Jack didn't know what meat the creature was chowing down on, but he rarely made an effort to drink blood of anything that wasn't human. Not an animal blood fan here. "I really don't know the rules about creatures like him to be honest, but if he's not a safety risk, I'm sure no one cares at this hour."
Wishful thinking, really, someone would.
"How often do you take him hunting?" Jack asked, as he adjusts the gauntlets he was wearing and he'd glance away a moment. No one was watching, so he remained non-chalant. "I don't, actually. I don't make a point to go out during the day, sun hurts."
Rigby — 03/18/2021
"My point exactly!" She smiled, quirked her head with an, only briefly followed his glance to check their surroundings. "Not sure if I remember your face or if you were serving nearly a year ago, but...needless to say, a goblin-dog with his face-" Shuck slurped at his bat-flapped nose before relaxing into a wide, pitbull smile and a heavy, happy pant. Yes, this face, mother. Be proud. "-is not the most welcome sight when attached to myself or my fiancee." Had Jack not been around, the long and short of it was thus: the fae lord resurrected in the city, and his fiancee caused a stir. No death, no injury, but a whole heap of tension. "He'll be back on the lead the moment you or any guard asks," she added; there was a slight rueful quality to the tone, too: she got caught.
"Know a few like that." Knew...but luckily one close vampire, gone, didn't mean there weren't others that were still here. "One of my former students in particular, love him dearly, I must figure out a hunt or two with him whenever he's home and free... Also just doesn't give a shit how he comes off to humans anymore, and it's refreshing." She wouldn't ramble about someone TOO much to a stranger, though, and took it back to the dog, and she patted that chunky, bearlike neck. "Shuck?" (The barghest slurped his tongue back in, eyes round, ears alert. Yes, he was Shuck.) "Once a week, usually. Unless something explodes. Socially, personally. Politically. ...literally. Usually literally."
Rook — 03/18/2021
"No, I haven't been here that long. A couple months? A friend brought me here." Jack explained with a shrug, a hand tentatively held out to the creature. "Yeah? What's the word with you and your fiancee?" If he'd heard anything, it likely came with little description, because Evren did stand out rather well on her own. "Someone likely will, if you start going near the residential spots. People and their pets generally make for targets." Shuck seemed relatively behaved, but who knew what'd happen if someone's kitten came running over.
"Honestly, the wariness has always bothered me, but I don't hide myself." What the point for it was was beyond him. Someone would find out sooner or later with the certain traits and behaviors standing out. "You don't seem concerned with it, either." She was carting around a large beast afterall, and as far as he knew, most humans didn't do that. "Well, very good. Hopefully nothing explodes soon to warrant that."
Rigby — 03/19/2021
"Might've missed out then. Just as well, huh! Well, fiancee's got a way of coming back from the dead a lot. And is a pretty obvious fae" And a formerly-genocidal fae lord. Who got better. She wisely left that bit out, instead grinned - as if relighing the thought. "He makes'em nervous. And having the dragon-witch as a wife probably isn't helping."
But whatever private joy she did get out of making folks nervous was short-lived in favor of a more sensible take. "The last few places we'd lived were countries where we had to hide ourselves to even get into the country safely. I have children. I'm not going to keep doing that to them, but even now, even here in a fairy country, we still get those looks."
She stuck out a hand with little warning at all. "Evren." She waved at the barghest. "And this is Shuck. Which I SAID...but now. It's official, I s'pose."
Rook — 03/19/2021
"Ah, yes, that'll do it. Fae seem to get the worst." And she was a dragon, which he was sure didn't help matters much either. "A dragon-witch, hm? Truth, or just what they want to call you?" Jack had to ask, but now he was curious and she wasn't helping the case.
"Yes. I know that life all too well, but the luck here is I can work and let people know what I am, and the worst of it is angry looks." Or in the worst case, a nuisance like Harpur. "Children? Dragon-fae? Interesting parentage." If it was true.
When offered the abrupt handshake, he'd take it with a nod. "Jack Walsh, Private of the City Guard." For now.
Rigby — 03/20/2021
She hummed; the smile was nearly a smirk, utterly mischevious and all but saying - yes. This was a dragon witch. "I've warmed to the title in recent years. Mostly I'd prefer, 'Scientist.'"
Shuck rose again, quietly creeping up to carefully snuffle Jack's hands, entirely under the illusion he was far smaller and sneakier than he actually was.
"Second marriage, he'd be the fourth father. Long story." And the poor guard probably didn't have the time for THAT one! Her expression didn't speak of the tragedy and love that lay in that 'long story,' but her eyes certainly did in spite of themselves. "Parentage just as colorful though, I assure you. Should we ever unleash dragon-fae upon the city, you'd know."
She'd clasped at that handshake, then. "Honored, Private!"
Now HER curiosity was piqued! He'd mentioned 'that life,' after all. "How about you? If you don't mind my asking!"
Rook — 03/20/2021
"Scientist seems more friendly." Usually.
When he was snuffled at, Jack feigned surprise and ran his fingers over one side of the creature's head. He minded those jaws, kept an eye on Shuck's body language. What it didn't like, he'd pay attention to and move his fingers to another spot. "Sounds complicated." And it likely was!
Her eyes said it all, but he refrained from asking or learning through underhanded means. "I likely would, heh. Fae were a big part of my homeland's lore, probably would've been treated the same." After the handshake and inquiry, he didn't seem so concerned.
"Mundane Irish history, if you know it. Many wars, nasty things. Not much luck for my people." Jack wouldn't hint to where and when he lived through it all, because alluding to an actual age wasn't part of any plan.
Rigby — 03/20/2021
There was a little laugh at that. "If dragon-fae children are in the cards, I could only hope they're at least as chaotic as your homeland's fae! I don't expect anything less!" It was a grin. Especially with such a chaotic father...
This 'dog' was used to vampires, if not outright welcoming of them, and aside from the odd flick of long, triangular ears and the odd, loud slurp of his tongue against his nose at any new shift in the pets, he seemed rather well-behaved and happy about the attentions from the New Person. Evren didn't seem uneasy, and thusly Shuck shouldn't be, either. It made perfect sense to the barghest, and he eventually even ventured pressing his big, blunt forehead into the guard's side.
"I know a bit of Ireland! We'd stayed in that world...several worlds ago. It was one in which my children had to hide. Just England. Very gray, there." There was some distaste, but whether it was due to the country or something else, she'd refrained from speaking about it now. This Irishman would likely have some pretty strong opinions about it, himself. "I've read about a lot," she'd added as only a vague allusion to THAT matter.
Rook — 03/24/2021
"Would remind me of home." Jack said in jest, though it'd likely only be where the fae were concerned. Everything else was certainly different. He didn't move his hand when Shuck came over to act doggish and he'd rest his cold hand to the back of the creature's neck. Fascinating, really.
"England's always gray. The people, the sky. I don't know how people handle all the rain." Maybe it was the reason why half of them acted so drab and dreary. "I didn't like England, when I went." Jack commented, shrugging after. "Reading about it is one thing! Makes me wonder how it is now."
Rigby — 03/28/2021
She seemed to catch the man's drift. "Maybe it's why! Gray skies, gray people! No place for creatures like us, like me or my children." She did quirk her head, then. "Think some day you'll return? To Ireland, I mean."
At the returned attention, Shuck remained, tail swishing, leaning on the vampire as if he were a far smaller animal and utterly clueless about his true size. The coldness didn't appear to bother him; it might have been a safe guess to presume the 'dog' was used to it.
"I should hope Thornmouth is better. For the both of us." A beat as the barghest looked up. "And for Shuck!"
Rook — 03/31/2021
"Probably, need more colorful places." Thornmouth offered that atleast, as well as actually colorful people - good and bad. "No, probably not. I haven't been there in a very long time, I imagine any changes would very much overwhelm me." Very much so. However, the comment almost made him feel old. Likely should have.
"Where did you get Shuck? An interesting creature." Jack said after he was leaned into, that hand going back to his head. Of course, he had to steady himself because of said lean. "I imagine not from here, because he's the only one I've seen so far and I've been in those woods plenty."
Evren — 04/01/2021
"I know how that is. But I've been particularly long-lived, I ought to be getting used to it by now."
Shuck offered the vampire a lick - it started as a casual and thoughtful lick of his broad nose, but that enormous tongue hit Jack's hand instead. With a RRR? of surprise, he snuffled and continued, while Ev spoke. "Years ago now, I used to belong to a vampire clan. We were given a litter from a rival clan while we were on mission." Read, they probably took them. "They were trained to hunt with each other. The clan dissolved." It was an INCREDIBLY frank and sudden end, but Evren in human-shape could never say one thing and display the other; each emotion would posses her entire body, far too large for such a small shape - even if she did train it out of her tone with all of the practice of one long-injured from the event.
"But I'd be damned if they took Shuck with them."
Rook — 04/01/2021
"Does anyone?" Old age or not, sometimes, it was just difficult.
When Shuck licked his hand and seemed surprised, Jack drew those fingers back a moment. "Your pet seems perturbed." He commented, a tad curious. Maybe she'd know why, perhaps not. "Unfortunate, clans do that. They can stagnate, others will go do their own thing." Of course, her body language spoke of more, but he wouldn't ask. Yet. Always a yet.
"What happened to yours? Didn't know vampire clans made a point to include more than just our sort."
Evren — 04/04/2021
"He's fine. New vampires just take him a moment to register, I think." Both a casual acknowledgement of the other guy, and an even-handed attempt at reassurance.
Shuck still snuffled, before shoving his entire large nose into Jack's hand, and wobbling his broad head in a way that moved Jack's hand juuuuust over the bridge of his nose and behind one long year.
"I was the exception. And then there was another. And then another. He formally opened it to any immortal or fairy creature in need after it was clearly heading in that direction, behaved as if it had been his plan all along." There was a little snort and eyeroll there - as if that ability to turn on a dime and play it off as if it was planned was a regular thing. Perhaps it was. Perhaps it was usually pretty amusing. "I still wonder if the lord just never found enough cooperative vampires that agreed to...whatever his mission-statement-of-the-day may have been. There were several on that island that were outright assholes."
"The 'new' mission was to travel far and wide in attempts to find fairy creatures in distress, 'convert' the monsters and secretly work against oppression. Took us all to a hostile country, after a detour to an equally hostile neighboring island. Sat us all down. Celebrated our arrival. And just...left. Took his wife, took his children. Raised them somewhere safe." It was bitter, and it was hurt. "I would've stood by him.I did, being the dragon in the vampire group. Thought he would for me."
Jack Walsh — 04/05/2021
"Makes sense." He did wonder if the creature ever made the rest of his kind worried about him, but he doubted it...a little. Some vampires were exceptionally wary.
As Evren described the Lord, Jack was quiet as he listened and obviously attentive. "Ahhh, likely. As they do. Lords are often like that, vampire or otherwise." Then more came. "Convert!" The word was spat with a sudden, vicious venom, but Jack soon regained his composure. "Oh, pardon me."
Where did that come from! certainly would've followed. Didn't, this time.
"So lambs to the slaughter, as he watches from the high walls. Makes one wonder if he was hoping to get rid of you all through other means." Someone else's hands stained in blood. "I am sorry. Some of us are...eh..."
Evren — 04/08/2021
"I never liked questioning him before. 'He was young,' I figured, 'I'm here to advise.' Any plays at questions were plays at leading him to think. And make decisions based on...that. But where so much energy is spent in trying to keep us in one place, then by his actions deciding that the place is not safe or good enough to rear his own children, it speaks far more than any noble turns-of-phrase ever could. To the slaughter, indeed."
She quirked her head at Jack's outburst, sympathetic and curious, but initially said nothing. Shuck did as well, briefly slurping up that tongue with a closed mouth, perked ears, and directed focus, but the motion looked considerably less drastic on a dog-creature. A question, concerned, remained unspoken in her eyes. Then, she nodded. "I would've settled for nuance, conversation, understanding. That kind of thing. We certainly weren't going to be the saviors of a city under one foreign rich man's banner."
"Some...are, 'eh' yes." There was a little bit of a flicker of teasing in THAT look, despite the flurry of heavy subject matter. "I've met old assholes and feral ancient royals, and perfectly pleasant newborns. But he didn't have to be a vampire to do that. He wasn't unpleasant because of what he was; he was unpleasant because he was unpleasant." And, probably because he was a noble - but that facet was not touched upon by Ev at all. 'Unpleasant' was still an incredibly kind word for the ordeal, but there had likely yet been lingering feelings about the matter. Then she smiled. "You don't have to apologize!"
Rook — 04/15/2021
"I imagine outright questioning him wouldn't have gone well, never does, hm?" Jack figured she'd know. When she mentioned leaving them all to raise his kids elsewhere, he let out a laugh. "That's something else. Maybe he hoped it'd be rid of you all indeed."
He would dismiss those looks, content to avoid saying anything or hinting to anything more. "Perhaps you'll find that here, without any banners to concern yourself with." A pat to Shuck's head followed, but he disengaged after that. "That's unfortunate, but atleast you've run into all sorts; good and bad. Interesting, I'm sure."
He adjusted his hat a moment and glanced about, an attempt to judge the hour was made. "I should get back to my patrol, let you get back to your dog walk."
Evren — 04/17/2021
"It never did." It was a cynical snort, yet still with the slight and hopeful vestiges of something else. She'd loved him for it, once. "Maybe...Maybe we were all props. Or pawns." And the distaste arose once more - Evren loathed knowing she'd been played.
"Good and bad," she'd echoed. And after a moment, she offered her hand for a parting handshake. "Shuck would like that, I'm sure. But it was a pleasure meeting you, Jack Walsh. I should hope we do so again, perhaps off-duty. Sorry about the..." she waved her hand in a demonstrative flutter. "Unloading. But...it helped."
Rook — 04/19/2021
"Such is the life, dealing with nobility." Jack said with an amused sound, though he did understand her frustration with being used. Anyone would, unless they liked it. "Well, you're not now, there's that silver lining."
For now, perhaps. He'd accept that handshake and nodded, only to step back once. "I'm often around the tavern on days off, when I know I can avoid being stared at." Vampires didn't get much love, unsurprisingly. "I'm glad to help the local population in every way that I can, talking or guard work. You have a good night, don't be afraid to come to me specifically if something goes amiss."
A sort of 'I'll handle it' offer.
With that, Jack headed back to his patrol route, keeping an eye on the area as he walked along.
The woman's late-night walks were frequent, and not unlike the ones of a certain snoopy vampire-guard; she was here to learn. Her arsenal of shapes could not get much smaller than a human, but that was fine: the manaraptor, the mist...and most importantly, the fiancee could cover that kind of sneaky ground.
Additionally, she was known, and she had been bothered before - the scene of Carnieros' resurrection was not so easily forgotten, and a winged and tailed woman was attention she'd not always wanted. So while she wore a shape entirely human tonight, her dog was distinctly not. It was the illusion of safety...and the guarantee that no mundie would annoy her, tonight.
Hulking and boxy and freed from any daytime shapes he'd typically worn, Shuck had no care for scoping the lay of the land or any sense of politics, and was instead eager to stretch his legs, snuffling about the empty market stalls, finding stray scraps, and on occasion waggling some around for Ev - as if she'd cared about the half-eaten unicorn thigh he'd found, or thought that rolling an olive jar down the road was a decent toy.
Rook — 03/04/2021
It was likely the 'dog' that captured and held Jack's attention more than Evren, though he'd been on a patrol more than heading for the woods. With the escape of Pascaal (or atleast any accomplices), keeping an eye out for him seemed mandatory. It beat sitting on cell duty.
"Good evening, Ma'am. The companion of yours usually not restrained? Hopefully not aggressive too?" It wouldn't be a 'mundie' possibly annoying her, but a concerned guard. It wouldn't do for him to ignore the creature, especially with people around who often liked to make a fuss about such things.
What fun it'd be for the City if someone got mauled.
Rigby — 03/07/2021
"Not aggressive at all!" Well that was a lie - but at a gesture or unspoken command, Shuck bounded right back to her side. Then sat down, ears perking obediently, nose twitching with surreptitions sniffs for the guard, a doggy grin on that hideous face for good measure, plumed tail only starting to swish slowly. He'd only belatedly realized he still had a mouthful of unicorn meat and slooooowly, eyes flicking between the pair, he lowered his head to set it down before sitting back up again. Goblin-monster or dog, Shuck knew how to work it!
"Let him off the leash while it was empty here; I can put him back on should it be an issue?" She lifted a hand; a knitted rope was loosely tied around it.
"Not aggressive unless he's hunting, but that's far off, that's the forests." She waved with that same hand. "He just wanted a run and I didn't want to panic some locals in the daytime. You know how it goes." Did he?
Rook — 03/09/2021
Thankfully, Jack didn't know what meat the creature was chowing down on, but he rarely made an effort to drink blood of anything that wasn't human. Not an animal blood fan here. "I really don't know the rules about creatures like him to be honest, but if he's not a safety risk, I'm sure no one cares at this hour."
Wishful thinking, really, someone would.
"How often do you take him hunting?" Jack asked, as he adjusts the gauntlets he was wearing and he'd glance away a moment. No one was watching, so he remained non-chalant. "I don't, actually. I don't make a point to go out during the day, sun hurts."
Rigby — 03/18/2021
"My point exactly!" She smiled, quirked her head with an, only briefly followed his glance to check their surroundings. "Not sure if I remember your face or if you were serving nearly a year ago, but...needless to say, a goblin-dog with his face-" Shuck slurped at his bat-flapped nose before relaxing into a wide, pitbull smile and a heavy, happy pant. Yes, this face, mother. Be proud. "-is not the most welcome sight when attached to myself or my fiancee." Had Jack not been around, the long and short of it was thus: the fae lord resurrected in the city, and his fiancee caused a stir. No death, no injury, but a whole heap of tension. "He'll be back on the lead the moment you or any guard asks," she added; there was a slight rueful quality to the tone, too: she got caught.
"Know a few like that." Knew...but luckily one close vampire, gone, didn't mean there weren't others that were still here. "One of my former students in particular, love him dearly, I must figure out a hunt or two with him whenever he's home and free... Also just doesn't give a shit how he comes off to humans anymore, and it's refreshing." She wouldn't ramble about someone TOO much to a stranger, though, and took it back to the dog, and she patted that chunky, bearlike neck. "Shuck?" (The barghest slurped his tongue back in, eyes round, ears alert. Yes, he was Shuck.) "Once a week, usually. Unless something explodes. Socially, personally. Politically. ...literally. Usually literally."
Rook — 03/18/2021
"No, I haven't been here that long. A couple months? A friend brought me here." Jack explained with a shrug, a hand tentatively held out to the creature. "Yeah? What's the word with you and your fiancee?" If he'd heard anything, it likely came with little description, because Evren did stand out rather well on her own. "Someone likely will, if you start going near the residential spots. People and their pets generally make for targets." Shuck seemed relatively behaved, but who knew what'd happen if someone's kitten came running over.
"Honestly, the wariness has always bothered me, but I don't hide myself." What the point for it was was beyond him. Someone would find out sooner or later with the certain traits and behaviors standing out. "You don't seem concerned with it, either." She was carting around a large beast afterall, and as far as he knew, most humans didn't do that. "Well, very good. Hopefully nothing explodes soon to warrant that."
Rigby — 03/19/2021
"Might've missed out then. Just as well, huh! Well, fiancee's got a way of coming back from the dead a lot. And is a pretty obvious fae" And a formerly-genocidal fae lord. Who got better. She wisely left that bit out, instead grinned - as if relighing the thought. "He makes'em nervous. And having the dragon-witch as a wife probably isn't helping."
But whatever private joy she did get out of making folks nervous was short-lived in favor of a more sensible take. "The last few places we'd lived were countries where we had to hide ourselves to even get into the country safely. I have children. I'm not going to keep doing that to them, but even now, even here in a fairy country, we still get those looks."
She stuck out a hand with little warning at all. "Evren." She waved at the barghest. "And this is Shuck. Which I SAID...but now. It's official, I s'pose."
Rook — 03/19/2021
"Ah, yes, that'll do it. Fae seem to get the worst." And she was a dragon, which he was sure didn't help matters much either. "A dragon-witch, hm? Truth, or just what they want to call you?" Jack had to ask, but now he was curious and she wasn't helping the case.
"Yes. I know that life all too well, but the luck here is I can work and let people know what I am, and the worst of it is angry looks." Or in the worst case, a nuisance like Harpur. "Children? Dragon-fae? Interesting parentage." If it was true.
When offered the abrupt handshake, he'd take it with a nod. "Jack Walsh, Private of the City Guard." For now.
Rigby — 03/20/2021
She hummed; the smile was nearly a smirk, utterly mischevious and all but saying - yes. This was a dragon witch. "I've warmed to the title in recent years. Mostly I'd prefer, 'Scientist.'"
Shuck rose again, quietly creeping up to carefully snuffle Jack's hands, entirely under the illusion he was far smaller and sneakier than he actually was.
"Second marriage, he'd be the fourth father. Long story." And the poor guard probably didn't have the time for THAT one! Her expression didn't speak of the tragedy and love that lay in that 'long story,' but her eyes certainly did in spite of themselves. "Parentage just as colorful though, I assure you. Should we ever unleash dragon-fae upon the city, you'd know."
She'd clasped at that handshake, then. "Honored, Private!"
Now HER curiosity was piqued! He'd mentioned 'that life,' after all. "How about you? If you don't mind my asking!"
Rook — 03/20/2021
"Scientist seems more friendly." Usually.
When he was snuffled at, Jack feigned surprise and ran his fingers over one side of the creature's head. He minded those jaws, kept an eye on Shuck's body language. What it didn't like, he'd pay attention to and move his fingers to another spot. "Sounds complicated." And it likely was!
Her eyes said it all, but he refrained from asking or learning through underhanded means. "I likely would, heh. Fae were a big part of my homeland's lore, probably would've been treated the same." After the handshake and inquiry, he didn't seem so concerned.
"Mundane Irish history, if you know it. Many wars, nasty things. Not much luck for my people." Jack wouldn't hint to where and when he lived through it all, because alluding to an actual age wasn't part of any plan.
Rigby — 03/20/2021
There was a little laugh at that. "If dragon-fae children are in the cards, I could only hope they're at least as chaotic as your homeland's fae! I don't expect anything less!" It was a grin. Especially with such a chaotic father...
This 'dog' was used to vampires, if not outright welcoming of them, and aside from the odd flick of long, triangular ears and the odd, loud slurp of his tongue against his nose at any new shift in the pets, he seemed rather well-behaved and happy about the attentions from the New Person. Evren didn't seem uneasy, and thusly Shuck shouldn't be, either. It made perfect sense to the barghest, and he eventually even ventured pressing his big, blunt forehead into the guard's side.
"I know a bit of Ireland! We'd stayed in that world...several worlds ago. It was one in which my children had to hide. Just England. Very gray, there." There was some distaste, but whether it was due to the country or something else, she'd refrained from speaking about it now. This Irishman would likely have some pretty strong opinions about it, himself. "I've read about a lot," she'd added as only a vague allusion to THAT matter.
Rook — 03/24/2021
"Would remind me of home." Jack said in jest, though it'd likely only be where the fae were concerned. Everything else was certainly different. He didn't move his hand when Shuck came over to act doggish and he'd rest his cold hand to the back of the creature's neck. Fascinating, really.
"England's always gray. The people, the sky. I don't know how people handle all the rain." Maybe it was the reason why half of them acted so drab and dreary. "I didn't like England, when I went." Jack commented, shrugging after. "Reading about it is one thing! Makes me wonder how it is now."
Rigby — 03/28/2021
She seemed to catch the man's drift. "Maybe it's why! Gray skies, gray people! No place for creatures like us, like me or my children." She did quirk her head, then. "Think some day you'll return? To Ireland, I mean."
At the returned attention, Shuck remained, tail swishing, leaning on the vampire as if he were a far smaller animal and utterly clueless about his true size. The coldness didn't appear to bother him; it might have been a safe guess to presume the 'dog' was used to it.
"I should hope Thornmouth is better. For the both of us." A beat as the barghest looked up. "And for Shuck!"
Rook — 03/31/2021
"Probably, need more colorful places." Thornmouth offered that atleast, as well as actually colorful people - good and bad. "No, probably not. I haven't been there in a very long time, I imagine any changes would very much overwhelm me." Very much so. However, the comment almost made him feel old. Likely should have.
"Where did you get Shuck? An interesting creature." Jack said after he was leaned into, that hand going back to his head. Of course, he had to steady himself because of said lean. "I imagine not from here, because he's the only one I've seen so far and I've been in those woods plenty."
Evren — 04/01/2021
"I know how that is. But I've been particularly long-lived, I ought to be getting used to it by now."
Shuck offered the vampire a lick - it started as a casual and thoughtful lick of his broad nose, but that enormous tongue hit Jack's hand instead. With a RRR? of surprise, he snuffled and continued, while Ev spoke. "Years ago now, I used to belong to a vampire clan. We were given a litter from a rival clan while we were on mission." Read, they probably took them. "They were trained to hunt with each other. The clan dissolved." It was an INCREDIBLY frank and sudden end, but Evren in human-shape could never say one thing and display the other; each emotion would posses her entire body, far too large for such a small shape - even if she did train it out of her tone with all of the practice of one long-injured from the event.
"But I'd be damned if they took Shuck with them."
Rook — 04/01/2021
"Does anyone?" Old age or not, sometimes, it was just difficult.
When Shuck licked his hand and seemed surprised, Jack drew those fingers back a moment. "Your pet seems perturbed." He commented, a tad curious. Maybe she'd know why, perhaps not. "Unfortunate, clans do that. They can stagnate, others will go do their own thing." Of course, her body language spoke of more, but he wouldn't ask. Yet. Always a yet.
"What happened to yours? Didn't know vampire clans made a point to include more than just our sort."
Evren — 04/04/2021
"He's fine. New vampires just take him a moment to register, I think." Both a casual acknowledgement of the other guy, and an even-handed attempt at reassurance.
Shuck still snuffled, before shoving his entire large nose into Jack's hand, and wobbling his broad head in a way that moved Jack's hand juuuuust over the bridge of his nose and behind one long year.
"I was the exception. And then there was another. And then another. He formally opened it to any immortal or fairy creature in need after it was clearly heading in that direction, behaved as if it had been his plan all along." There was a little snort and eyeroll there - as if that ability to turn on a dime and play it off as if it was planned was a regular thing. Perhaps it was. Perhaps it was usually pretty amusing. "I still wonder if the lord just never found enough cooperative vampires that agreed to...whatever his mission-statement-of-the-day may have been. There were several on that island that were outright assholes."
"The 'new' mission was to travel far and wide in attempts to find fairy creatures in distress, 'convert' the monsters and secretly work against oppression. Took us all to a hostile country, after a detour to an equally hostile neighboring island. Sat us all down. Celebrated our arrival. And just...left. Took his wife, took his children. Raised them somewhere safe." It was bitter, and it was hurt. "I would've stood by him.I did, being the dragon in the vampire group. Thought he would for me."
Jack Walsh — 04/05/2021
"Makes sense." He did wonder if the creature ever made the rest of his kind worried about him, but he doubted it...a little. Some vampires were exceptionally wary.
As Evren described the Lord, Jack was quiet as he listened and obviously attentive. "Ahhh, likely. As they do. Lords are often like that, vampire or otherwise." Then more came. "Convert!" The word was spat with a sudden, vicious venom, but Jack soon regained his composure. "Oh, pardon me."
Where did that come from! certainly would've followed. Didn't, this time.
"So lambs to the slaughter, as he watches from the high walls. Makes one wonder if he was hoping to get rid of you all through other means." Someone else's hands stained in blood. "I am sorry. Some of us are...eh..."
Evren — 04/08/2021
"I never liked questioning him before. 'He was young,' I figured, 'I'm here to advise.' Any plays at questions were plays at leading him to think. And make decisions based on...that. But where so much energy is spent in trying to keep us in one place, then by his actions deciding that the place is not safe or good enough to rear his own children, it speaks far more than any noble turns-of-phrase ever could. To the slaughter, indeed."
She quirked her head at Jack's outburst, sympathetic and curious, but initially said nothing. Shuck did as well, briefly slurping up that tongue with a closed mouth, perked ears, and directed focus, but the motion looked considerably less drastic on a dog-creature. A question, concerned, remained unspoken in her eyes. Then, she nodded. "I would've settled for nuance, conversation, understanding. That kind of thing. We certainly weren't going to be the saviors of a city under one foreign rich man's banner."
"Some...are, 'eh' yes." There was a little bit of a flicker of teasing in THAT look, despite the flurry of heavy subject matter. "I've met old assholes and feral ancient royals, and perfectly pleasant newborns. But he didn't have to be a vampire to do that. He wasn't unpleasant because of what he was; he was unpleasant because he was unpleasant." And, probably because he was a noble - but that facet was not touched upon by Ev at all. 'Unpleasant' was still an incredibly kind word for the ordeal, but there had likely yet been lingering feelings about the matter. Then she smiled. "You don't have to apologize!"
Rook — 04/15/2021
"I imagine outright questioning him wouldn't have gone well, never does, hm?" Jack figured she'd know. When she mentioned leaving them all to raise his kids elsewhere, he let out a laugh. "That's something else. Maybe he hoped it'd be rid of you all indeed."
He would dismiss those looks, content to avoid saying anything or hinting to anything more. "Perhaps you'll find that here, without any banners to concern yourself with." A pat to Shuck's head followed, but he disengaged after that. "That's unfortunate, but atleast you've run into all sorts; good and bad. Interesting, I'm sure."
He adjusted his hat a moment and glanced about, an attempt to judge the hour was made. "I should get back to my patrol, let you get back to your dog walk."
Evren — 04/17/2021
"It never did." It was a cynical snort, yet still with the slight and hopeful vestiges of something else. She'd loved him for it, once. "Maybe...Maybe we were all props. Or pawns." And the distaste arose once more - Evren loathed knowing she'd been played.
"Good and bad," she'd echoed. And after a moment, she offered her hand for a parting handshake. "Shuck would like that, I'm sure. But it was a pleasure meeting you, Jack Walsh. I should hope we do so again, perhaps off-duty. Sorry about the..." she waved her hand in a demonstrative flutter. "Unloading. But...it helped."
Rook — 04/19/2021
"Such is the life, dealing with nobility." Jack said with an amused sound, though he did understand her frustration with being used. Anyone would, unless they liked it. "Well, you're not now, there's that silver lining."
For now, perhaps. He'd accept that handshake and nodded, only to step back once. "I'm often around the tavern on days off, when I know I can avoid being stared at." Vampires didn't get much love, unsurprisingly. "I'm glad to help the local population in every way that I can, talking or guard work. You have a good night, don't be afraid to come to me specifically if something goes amiss."
A sort of 'I'll handle it' offer.
With that, Jack headed back to his patrol route, keeping an eye on the area as he walked along.
