Snippet #2191399

Erasmus Ambrogio

"I'll never like the things... even if the modern age forces me to use it." He shook his head, displeased. Oh how he hated the modern age. He took a drag at his cigarette, quietly thinking about how much he hated the world now. His thoughts, though not voiced were quite apparent on his face.

For now he was silent about her habits of carrying a gun. Though it was useful to know she was always armed. Crazy woman. Though since she'd spoken of being captured - well, he couldn't quite argue with it. Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome really messed with one's head and habits. He was in no position to criticize. If it made her feel better, so be it.

He listened intently, eyes never straying from her as she talked. It was a highly traumatic time in her life. It would be disrespectful to look away; if she was strong enough to go through it, than he was strong enough to stand with her when she retold her story.

"It's remarkable that they didn't use you to create a super army. World would have been screwed a dozen different ways if that happened. You're quite brave though, to withstand it." He said, quietly, blowing a small stream of smoke out in front of him. He watched it drift into nothingness before continuing.

"Be careful with revenge, Malice. It doesn't fix the wrongs that have been dealt to you. Think of the Count of Monte Cristo; when all his schemes were completed and he'd had his vengeance at the end of it all he had nothing left in his life. Don't let that happen to you or the revenge wouldn't have been worth it in the first place." His voice hadn't changed, and to match the caring words of caution he gave her the expression in his eyes matched. Perhaps he was playing at emotions again, perhaps he really was sincere. He certainly looked it.

"And I won't grant you that point. She's been a hero throughout time. She was sainted in the 1800's. Movie upon movie has been made about the girl. She's not a face or a personality that you can fit. No more than Charlemagne or Richard the Lionheart."
He let the rest slide. He was sure he knew a few others that would have something to say about the girl - but it wasn't his ideas. Therefore, it didn't matter. He did concede one point:
"Many people have been bastardized over the years. Richard the III of England being a humpback. Chatherine the Great dying under a horse." He waved his hand dismissively. "People always try to tarnish a hated man's reputation. Sometimes they succeed."

"And I will not stop looking at you like that." He said, that small little grin on his face again. "A little girl in love is far too cute to not smile at." He teased. She didn't let onto her emotions - she was quite stoically hiding them, but he knew they were there simply by where her pauses stayed, how she spoke of her. She wasn't the only vampire Erasmus knew who'd fallen for the heroine. He knew those signs all too well.

"And perhaps it is your lifestyle that is wrong, instead of the emotions, La Pucelle." Though asking the woman to be open and vulnerable was like asking her to lay her guns down and lay down on an operating table surrounded by scientists. It would be cruel of him.
So he wouldn't say it outright at least.

"I find that a human's tendency to destroy vampires on sight is quite an intelligent reaction. When a vampire is in the neighborhood humans are no longer the top of the food chain. It's a matter of self preservation, really. Humans are just more proactive at getting rid of threats than the animal world.

"As for my family... We're ah.. an interesting bunch." He smiled softly. "Vespasien is the head of the household - our father if you will, though now he goes by Ambrose, hence the surname Ambrogio." Son of Ambrose; at least in Italian. "Sens is the eldest of us all, about a hundred and...." He thought for a moment, gazing up at the ceiling. He tapped his chin with his finger, pulled at his cigarette as if that would spark some sort of recollection of her age. "...fifty? years older. I am the second oldest, in fourth is Magnus - scary s.o.b if I ever saw one. He wasn't right in the head even before he was a vampire. I think he gives even Vespasien the willies. Total god-complex and as twisted as Bluebeard. Then Jaques," it was obvious by how Ermo said the name that he was not fond of his youngest brother, "and Ester. Who is only about seventy now." There was a pause. He'd left the third child for last.

"Rohesia is the third child and for a time my lover. Till she decided I wasn't good enough for her. Course I got her back with aforementioned house burning. And yes, she was caught inside. She also escaped. It caused quite a scandal in our household." He said with a mischievous grin and a wink. Out of all of them Ermo was most prone to tricks and pranks and wild behavior such as that. He was quite proud to hold the title of the wild child.

He snapped as she shot down his question. That means he had two he wanted answered. "My turn is it? Or are you limiting me for the night then? If not," He held up a finger and then pointed it at her. "I am repeating my last question: Who was the person you first fell in love with? If I don't get another question: Who was the person you first fell in love with?"

Guess there was no limiting him for the night....