Beau Louis-Armand's Story

Martin sniffed around a bit more and looked up in interest as Awinita approached. When the treat was presented, he let out a subtle trill. He hardly even noticed that he had been lifted off the floor as he hungrily devoured the small food item, using his soft paws to grab onto the hand holding it clawlessly. When Martin was placed upon a plush item on one of the tables, he sniffed it first in curiosity and then started kneading it. He meowed again and looked up at Tsol, purring subtly as he continued to knead his sitting place.

A dark figure appeared in the doorway. Standing 6’6”, the vampire Beau Louis-Armand was an intimidating presence. Having recently awoken from a years-long hibernation, he was looking thinner than usual. Not that anyone here would know what his usual build was. The being was clad in a dark suit that looked to be plucked directly out of the 19th century. He bore an ebony-black carved cane as well, which was more for style than any functional usage. “Greetings,” he announced, his eyes casually panning the establishment as he entered.

He placed the tip of his cane on the floor in front of him and rested both hands atop it. “I’ll have one of your finest bloods. Please, surprise me,” he said to the barkeep. As his eyes continued to pan the environment, they inevitably fell on the only other patron. What looked like a ghostly figure enjoying the company of cats. Beau almost snorted. “Felines, I see. I prefer more exotic companions myself. But to each their own,” he remarked, taking a seat at a different table. "Hm, this place has not changed much since last I saw it."

Martin initially laid his ears back at the vampire’s arrival, but then he relaxed when the being did not approach the table they were at. The little black cat rested his weight on his lower back on the pillow and extended one of his legs in the air as he went about licking his belly. He paused after a few licks and then looked up at Awinita.

The box and all the wrappings were indeed made of silver. Not just any silver, either. The silver was mined from a crater far far away. The mass that created the crater deposited the silver, and even though it was definitely silver, in certain lights rainbow fractals would appear. Inside of the box was a present for Awinita. Special for Awinita.

It was a bracelet, silver in the shadows of the box. When moved into the light it dazzled rainbows like a disco ball. A thin and solid band, when closely examined, the bracelet had on it an engraving of a cat. The cat was the only part of the bracelet that did not shine, sparkle, or cast rainbows about. Upon even closer imagination the cat moved about. The bracelet gave a little hum- the cat was purring!

Tsol drifted down from his spot onto the pillow. His grin spread wide, body manifesting shortly after. He followed Martin's uncomfortable gaze to the door where a vampire had appeared. Ah, another one. They were everywhere around here. This town, after all, was built and loosely governed by them.

"I don't suppose it has," Tsol remarked on the everlasting ambiance with an annoyed flick of the tale. Exotic? There was nothing more exotic than he. No.

Absently as she set the top of the silver box aside she stared at the bracelet. As she picked it up from the box Awinita felt the subtle purr of the cat symbol, it was, in a word; Gorgeus. Awinita hadnt see nanything that beautiful before. The ghostly woman slid it onto her left wrist with a happy chirp and a firm nod. Then once more started stroking Tsols shadowy fur as Martin started cleaning himself.

She caught sound however of the vampire, Another one ? Oh that was right, she had to remember that the Tavern was inside the Hollow, which then meant that Vampires wandered, but she hadnt encountered other types of ghosts. at least not just yet. She presented Martin, and also Tsol another treat each to calm both of them down

her emerald eyes took in Beau rather carefully, old vampire, but why did he make Martin nervous ? was it the fact that most cats had a connection to the dead ? Or was it that the vampire made the cat worry for someone he belonged to ? Gently stroking both Tosl and Martin's fur to calm both cats down Awinita was a happier girl that afternoon.

Awinita smiled and leaned towards the table, resting her chin in her hands and looking from Martin to Tsol. "Tsol, do you think we can help our new friend here get back to his proper home ? It is possible someone is looking for him" Awinita was in a good mood. Tsol was there, she had a gift from someone possibly him ? It didnt matter, he liked her as a friend and she liked him as a cat. But there were secrets they both had they never shared, for one Awinita was dead.

Maiar were dead, gone, extinct. And yet, there she was, nearly alive and well. and she wanted to help another cat get home ?

Her gaze briefly rested ont he vampire as Abe brought by a nice dark blood wine of some form. And also a fresh bottle of Rattlesnake Sake to Awinitas table along with some freshly nicely cooked meat for Martin to enjoy.

Martin immediately turned his attention away from the vampiric patron when his nose detected the scent of another tasty treat. He meow-nommed greedily as he devoured it. Then he sat down in a meatloaf position on the pillow, tucking his limbs and tail under his body, as Awinita stroked him. The little black cat started purring with eyes half-lidded. Martin, though he could not speak any human language, could easily understand the ones to which he had been regularly exposed. He meowed in protest when the ghost woman suggested helping him find his home. He could go back there anytime he wanted to with a magical twitch of his little black nose.

He demonstrated the concept by wriggling his snoot. His little black body started to evaporate into a sparkling black mist, which swirled upward and then disappeared momentarily. In an instant, he reappeared in the exact same spot and position that he had been in previously. He meowed again. Beau raised both brows in mild interest at the show. "Hm, enchanted felines," he mused. "I've encountered a few in my day, but even they are common in comparison to the company which I prefer." Just then, the vampire snapped his fingers and a rather grotesque creature appeared on his right shoulder. About the size of a mop head, the upper body appeared as the enlarged multi-eyed head of some kind of jumping spider. The rest extended downward into bizarre-looking brown tentacles with suction cups. Beau started to stroke the creature on the head. "I call him Mr. Bojangles. Isn't he delightful? You'll not find another one like him, not on this planet at least." The creature's beady little black eyes seemed to be staring at Awinita and her feline companions in a very intense manner, though it moved not a muscle. It did not even blink.

"Ah, many thanks, my good man," Beau said as Abe delivered him his order. He popped the loosened cork and emptied a small portion of the bottle into an elegant wine glass. The deep red liquid stained the sides of the glass as the vampire raised it to his face and took a whiff. "Mmyes, an excellent year." He took a sip with one hand as he stroked Mr. Bojangles' head with the other. The unblinking stare of the bizarre spider-squid creature continued.

Martin rose to his feet and meowed loudly at the smell of the meat. He kneaded his feet impatiently on the pillow until Abe arrived at their table. The little black cat rushed forward and started devouring the meat off the plate even before Abe had set it down on the table. He was very vocal as he ate, making a series of loud meow-nomming noises.

"You can, I suppose," Tsol remarked, blinking casually at Martin before tucking his face into his tail and taking a snooze. As Tsol fell asleep he felt the eyes of a strange creature on him. No matter. The feline faded away, leaving just a floating grin behind, before that too snapped from existence.

The bracelet, a present with mysterious powers, glimmered on Awinita's wrist. She wouldn't know it until she suddenly did but one thing the bracelet did was translate for her, specifically, communication with cats.

Slightly unnerved by the present of the strange critter on the vampires shoulder Awinita briefly went com,pletely spiritlike, a ghyost really was what she was. Before turning fully human. her long black hair was bradied into beautiful dreadlocks, There was so gold leaf in her hair as well.

When Martin briefly disappeared and reappeared Awinita was briefly surprised then smiled. The cat liked her, and Tsol.... "Tsol! Naughty boy where did you get off to again ?" He hadnt exactly left the tavern, and that was alright, no real problem there. But Awinita felt slightly nervous.

But her nervous feeling melted away as Martin ate so loudly, making meowing noises as he ate. Some of the Maiar pets and otherwise did similar but it was the first time Awinita had seen a mortal animal do it. Of course she soon found herself understanding the cat, sort of "Oh man this is good! thank you thank you thank you" martin seemed to be saying.

Try as Awinita might however she couldnt figure out how she could decern such a thing as the bracelket on her wrist glittered briefly and she felt the gentle purr of the metal. It actually felt... quite reassuring actually now that she really thought about it.

and briefly, ever so briefly, Awinita felt safe, Tsol was a bodyguard of sort, he couldnt exactly fight persei, but holy hell could he raise an alarm.

Winne wasn't exactly comfortable here in Verinotte Hollow. The redhead at the bar eyed her sideways before slipping out.

"Ms. Awinita?" The smartly dressed woman approached Awinita, "My name is Winne, Winne Rineswurth, of Terracast. Do you have a moment to answer a few questions?" She fiddled with a pen in her blazer pocket.

Briefly focused on Martin, the black cat scarfed down his meat before nodding off, it took nothing more then the sound of the recorder being set on the table that got the ghosts complete attention. If she got on the news anywhere, Mother is going to kill me Awinita thought briefly, her eyes focused on the recorder before focusiong on the reporter, a Mortal.

Awinita took that moment to matrialise entirely human.... at least as humans as a Maiar could get. Her eyes locked on the recorder briefly before focusing on the Mortal woman before her. She held up a hand, fghostly mist wafted off it briefly. Two fingers pointed upwards. "Two things. How did you know me, and how did you know I was here ?" If Abe gave me away... no he's too trusting, he wouldnt give anyone away even for a bag of souls Souls were worth on average, $20,193 plus tax depending on planet or place of death. So a bag of those suckers would net Abe quite a bit.

"I have my sources," Winne shifted to lean forward, thinking back on the hefty toll she paid for such sensitive information. With a flick of her hair the thought was shook from the brim of her conscious. Now, for business.

"Is it true, Awinita, that you are of royal descent?" Winne placed a hand on the table towards Martin the cat. She hoped the cat would acknowledge her presence. As cool as Winne tried to play it, it felt good to be acknowledged by a cat.

Kethyr Naethus sighed and went on his way, paying his tab and slinking into the night.

Winne Rineswurth loudly scootched her chair an inch closer to Awinita.

Ulrich Paternosta stepped into the warm interior of the tavern. He gave it a quick scan and grunted. She wasn't anywhere in sight; good. There was something off with Ms. Tauvyr as of late. More off than usual.

Stone and Boyle followed in shortly after. The pair of vampires sort of taking in the sights of a rather rich looking drinking hole. "Nice. Nice. Hey Stones! They got the nice chairs! Take a peep at them!" Boyles made his way over to a table. A chair with rich velvet cushions that he ran along his hand. "Look at that. Feel that. Good right?"

Stones followed in not even giving the chair a look.

"Ish fine." He said bluntly. He moved to the sight. Taking in a strong nostril fill of something. Hm.

"That one." he pointed to a bottle behind the counter. A cup? "No. That one." The whole bottle? Okay... He uncorked it and began to drink it very greedily.

Deliveries to the Tauvyr Tavern were more regular with the new ownership of Fantasma Vineyards. The bottles were stocked and varied though many of the labels familiar some a more threatening make. Labels with letters that squirm and images with unsettling angles. One such bottle festooned with the dual masks Sock and Buskin sported others etched into the glass. Though these of anguish and horror if one should peer closer. Perhaps a warning for its label 'Thousand-Faced Wine' that said little else of its make than bottled in Fantasma Vineyards. A cigarette alit behind the bar though the embers fell first out of memory than the light of one's eyes. A bit of red ash falling in life before the eyeless grin of Ebrabbos underneath her wide brim hat and thick cloak. Long hair pours from under her hat to float past her shoulders as locks snake around her shoulders as to threaten by rising there. Though the eyes obscured beneath her hat their ill-defined shape inviting one to stare too close as they stared back. The cigarette in her mouth flared but never burnt down as she unpacked a box of wine from behind the counter.

"Careful now, " the tone lost about some unclear sarcasm, "There are so very many faces of regret that deep in a bottle of wine."

Stone and Boyle were now separated. Boyle was now at the side of Ulrich beginning to get comfortable in this soft velvet chair. A wide grin as his shark like mouth slowly blended back into a row of normal teeth. "Blimey! This is delux ain't it!?" He asked the other vampire. Before he began to speak again. "Look. The two of us are on a hunt. But not to cause trouble. Stones can be a bit violent. He comes from a violent times you know?" He told the other. "We are looking for a criminal. Or someone close to that."

Stones was at the bar. He drank half of the bottle and was surprised that the alcohol actually had some affect on him. THe huge man now turned to the stranger. He looked to her fancy hat. He nodded. "Good fashion." He told her at first. "We both know this is not wine."

"I half think he's a bloody caveman sometimes. EH?" Boyle asked the other with a laugh.

Stones Acute hearing picked that up. And without even missing a beat CHUCKED a rather dull tankard right at his noggin. Knocking the other mercenary over the chair. "Ah! Sorry! Sorry Stones! Common! Just a bit of fun!" He uttered

Ulrich Paternosta hitched his pants and settled into a velvet chair himself. He listened close to Boyle. Ulrich asked, "Hunting who, or what? If'em any danger to the Hollow, best be on the hunt, too."

Ulrich Paternosta shook his head as the tankard bounced. If the lady of the house was here she'd shit a brick.

Stone and Boyle regathered back at the table. Stones standing there while Boyle got back up. Stones stood there as he handed the etching back to Boyle. The other vampire had been better at talking. Most times. Unless they wanted to frighten people. Stones was much better at that he felt.

Boyle handed the other a etching. An etching of a man done in charcoal. The likeness was very well done. Man in his forties, very long slant nose. Dark hair. Short cut. Very fierce looking eyes. "That is who we are looking for. And trust me he is dangerous anywhere we gather." He told the other Vampire.

"This shit gets powers. What does he do? Immediately what most shits start to do. Start to think he's a bloody god."

The visage was of a vampire in circles called Feastus. A Vampire that had started a sanguine cult installing him as their living deity. "But most of these shitheads don't try to bother the established covens... So we got the call."