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Post by ◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊ on Feb 3, 2014 18:38:25 GMT -8
Back into the sound stage, the entrance to the crypt was easily found by the sound of the voices. Winding around a pirate ship, a fur lined boudoir, a Kallan temple, the two youths found an open wooden box, with faux stone steps and only half assembled tombs. Two men leaned against the painted foam stones. Marchese- "Welcome my friends! I hope your evening has been better than the previous. I do apologize for this inauspicious beginning. Of course, we didn't want to scare you at the time but when is there a good time? I've heard your group did a bit of exploring on your own. We'll of course have to keep that to a minimum in the future, I'm sure you ended up scaring yourselves worse than if you'd stayed in bed. Well listen to me rattle on, bocca grande, piccola mente! Santi, would you like to say something to our new charges."
Santi- "Uh yeah. Like he said, welcome. Do you want to know anything before we leave?"
Marchese- "By the way, this hangar is yours! We acquired it after Cudgel Films went under, I regret its lack of maintenance though we've plenty of money to throw at it. We have a number of rather antique instruments as well, though I hear they are in working order. "
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Post by ∆§Indea§∆ on Feb 3, 2014 19:11:21 GMT -8
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Post by ◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊ on Feb 3, 2014 21:17:04 GMT -8
Marchese- "Oh but of course, what good is a film studio with no films being made? I've held on to it for years but never had the time or resources to do anything with it. And look, here you are! You may call me whatever you like, most call me Marchese but you may call me Dominic as we are now family."
Santi- "Yeah, whatever you want, man. I guess we do have some arranging to do. Is there a way we can get this... collection discretely? We definitely don't want to make a scene."
Marchese- "What an adventure! Oh I'm too excited about these movie films, I almost imagined we'd film one straight away. I must have patience, there are the centuries of art ahead of us!"
Santi- "Yeah. Well our cab is waiting, want to discuss further in the car?"
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Post by ∆§Indea§∆ on Feb 3, 2014 21:49:29 GMT -8
"Oh boy, that's a huge upside. Years of art, honing, changing and reflecting with culture. We'll be masters of film!! Brilliant!!" “No worries Dom and Santi, let's go catch that cab. Should be easy as though.The place is like an anthill, what's one more ant? Not many folks know about them except Cam anyways. My ma thinks I threw it out years ago but I love them. They're kinda embarrassing, I don't tell girls about them that's for sure!” He was glad this wasn't where they were living, he'd been worried for a moment.
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Post by ◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊ on Feb 3, 2014 22:10:18 GMT -8
((Hahaha I imagine August saying Santi's name like 'Sandy' ) Marchese- "Splendid! I nearly feel guilty for denying the others from such a wonderful lad! You'll go far, young man."
Santi- "Yeah actually, I'm glad you're taking this in stride. I was imagining a real bleak scene."
Marchese- "I'd congratulate myself on my good taste, but those on top get first choice and it's hardly fair. Unfair to my advantage though, just the way I prefer. Hahaha!"
Santi- "Err, yeah. To the cab then?"
The hangar was a labyrinth of strange old sets and props. Some were half-assembled, some half-deconstructed. They passed an apparent abortive space scene, with laughably tacky alien costumes hanging from hooks. They went through a roll up grate and out into the dismal night. A cab idled, its headlights looked like bonfires. Marchese- "Don't forget, all this is hush hush around humans. Don't want to look like a madman, do we?"
For a moment, the vampires might have thought the cabbie was being burned alive. He was aglow with flames, concentrated on his head and steaming out of his mouth and eyes. He seemed remarkably sedate considering that.
Santi- "This is everyone."
Cabbie on Fire- "Right-o, sport."
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Post by ∆§Indea§∆ on Feb 3, 2014 23:12:31 GMT -8
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Post by ◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊ on Feb 3, 2014 23:32:07 GMT -8
Santi smiled and spoke quietly, though easily heard over the engine's rumble. Santi- "If you like, we can have a conversation that is at a lower level like this, it is beyond the hearing of humans. Isn't that right cabbie?"
(...)
Marchese- "I can imagine you'll be fine! I feel so lucky getting the 'easy' bunch. It is so generous of you to worry about your friends. That's our reputation as a family, grandi cuori, braccia aperte! Those with big hearts and open arms. "
Santi- "..."
Marchese- "Anyhow I do hope you'll get the others in on our little project. Those glamorous young actors and... well, someone needs to hold the mic, right? You do know how to operate a reel-to-reel, don't you? Do they teach that anymore?"
Santi- "Ehm, when we stop by your apartment perhaps you should pick up your equipment as well. So do you have any questions for us about, well, the supernatural?"
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Post by Sir Milo Quartermass on Feb 4, 2014 0:02:47 GMT -8
Quinn had followed, meek and easy as a lamb. He'd been happily floored when he'd been told there were antique instruments more or less at his disposal. He listened carefully in the car before trying out the 'whisper trick'. Quinn- "I'm curious about one thing. Won't more vampires in the city raise the likelihood of people finding out? Competition for resources and all that."
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Post by ∆§Indea§∆ on Feb 4, 2014 0:10:43 GMT -8
“And powers, what kind of things can we do now? Apart from those shadow tricks. Will ya train us?”
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Post by ◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊ on Feb 4, 2014 12:57:48 GMT -8
Marchese- "Fair questions indeed! La curiosità è una virtù. Harlan is unique for a big city, in that there are actually few vampires. I think the power of the Circle has forced out more rowdy competitors, save for a few rabble. It's been a century since we've had any new vampires, Wilhelm was the last and the others are quite older."
Santi- "I'm not that much older, but yeah, older than Wilhelm."
Marchese- "It's quite time I think, and there are plenty of humans to go around, obviously. Despite what you may have heard in those horror stories, we don't need to kill to eat. I think those stories come from the rabble that aren't afraid to maim and terrify. Being found out is of course an issue, and that's why we are going to be careful and protective of you."
Santi- "We'll definitely teach you some things. There are simple matters such as being more strong and resilient than humans. Wilhelm told us that a couple of you youngsters needed some... eh, corporal punishment, and you probably noticed that they quickly recovered. This of course makes you hungry, much like exercising as a human would cause you to need more food and water. There are other abilities that are more strange such as transformations and unnatural movement, but we can get into that in some future lessons. Suffice to say, each family has a specialty. We are adept at the manipulation of shadows in various ways."
Marchese- "You probably know about that one already! Oh I wonder what impudent young rebels had to get the love tap. Hahaha!"
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Post by Sir Milo Quartermass on Feb 4, 2014 13:11:25 GMT -8
Quinn winced a little at the 'love tap' euphemism, but didn't argue. What was done was done and they had moved on. It was time to figure out how to survive in this new world...not to mention Santi and Marchese seemed like decent enough chaps. No point in getting on their bad sides if they even had one. Quinn- "Not having to kill is certainly a relief, I'll confess. However, I am curious. What happens to us if we don't have access to blood? How long can we endure without it?"
Something else there caught his attention.
Competitors? Were there other families not part of the circle?"
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Post by ◊◊BLOODBEASTER◊◊ on Feb 4, 2014 13:20:36 GMT -8
Marchese- "Oh don't worry about them, street punks and hoodlums only. I don't even remember what they're called."
Santi- "Crowboys. They're a new family but not much to worry about as long as you have an older vampire with you. Think of them as criminals that happen to be vampires."
Marchese- "As for blood, your brother will help you learn. How exciting!"
Santi- "I guess... Anyway, if you take on serious injuries, you may become a bit... um, unhinged. Basically you will become so desperate for blood that you will lose control. You likely experienced that in the day as you transformed, but of course you wouldn't remember it. The less you do, the less you need. Much like food for humans. Athletes and the ill require more sustenance than layabouts. Some of you probably required more blood depending on how vigorous your adventuring was. I've heard of some vampires trapped without blood for long periods falling into comas, but I've never seen it firsthand. That's why it's important to know how to fend for yourselves, and keep well fed."
Marchese- "I always believe in enjoying your food. Perhaps it's a remnant from my former culture. Buon cibo, buona casa."
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Post by ∆§Indea§∆ on Feb 4, 2014 13:24:48 GMT -8
August looked away uncomfortably at the mention of eating, focusing instead on the rushing city view outside the cab. It was small comfort that they wouldn't have to kill. Mention of the 'love tap' made him flinch too. He still felt guilty about that, he'd asked for magic and Wilhelm had delivered. How could Marchese be so cheery about hurting someone? Perhaps it was different for vampires.
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Post by Sir Milo Quartermass on Feb 4, 2014 13:35:16 GMT -8
Quinn- "Well, that's not too dreadfully hard to remember...common sense, really, when you put it in those terms."
The musician seemed to be bucking up by degrees, feeling somewhat safe now that they weren't getting their throats immediately ripped out or some other such ghastliness. He looked over at August and his face was sympathetic.
"Alright there?"
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Post by ∆§Indea§∆ on Feb 4, 2014 13:51:17 GMT -8
August looked back from the window at the others with a faint smile. No use moaning, like trying to stop a cow eating grass. He'd have to find a way to cope."Just fine. So ah we'll be living at that mansion we had the party at, yeah? Fancy."
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