1925

@pict-prodigy

It was a rainy night in London.Gloomy atmosphere.Lively music originating from pubs downtown.Mortals speaking loudly,laughing.Aelia and Cassius mingled among them in one of these pubs.Dancing and enjoying themselves.Amused by drunk mortals,stumbling and falling unto the dusty floors.Men getting into fights over who would dance with the pretty girls.

The pair was barely paying attention to their surroundings.The music was loud.The smell of the crowd,intoxicating.A mix of sweat and blood beneath the skin.The orchestra began playing a slower song for couples to dance to.It was at this moment as the crowd shifted that Cassius noticed a figure in the far left corner of the room.A man.He wispered in Aelia’s ear.She turned to catch a glimps of the stranger.The Romans knew he too was an immortal.By his energy Aelia and Cassius could tell he was an ancient as well.He seemed out of place in this mass of animated warm bodies.Standing still.Staring at them.

The stranger looked confused,lost.The couple was not sure if they should approach him.So,they decided to let him come to them if he wished.

@lumen-in-tenebris-iii

After living for almost 2,000 years, the world had become a very different place. Drosten had seen entire nations rise and fall as well as the destruction of his own people and now everything was completely different. For mortals it might have happened slowly, but for Drosten, it seemed to have happened all too suddenly and now the people, the clothes, even the music was different. The women were far more outgoing than they’d ever been before; their dresses were shorter; their dances were different. And he was entirely overwhelmed. 

He’d spent a great deal of time in the wilds recently, exploring and wandering aimlessly and when he’d arrived in London, only in the last few nights, he’d immediately felt out of place. People had stared at him, especially because of his appearance and, as soon as he could, he taken himself to a tailor and been given a suit more fitting of current styles. His long hair and beard still didn’t work though and even if he tied his hair back, he still looked like a wild man attempting to fit in; which was precisely what he was. Tonight, it had taken him a while to notice that there were others in the room like him, his eyes were so drawn to the dancing throng of people, kicking their feet and jumping around in a way he’d never seen before. And by the time he knew they were there, it was too late to go anywhere else. Uncertainly, he made his way over to the pair, stopping just in front of them and then gave a low bow, pressing one hand over his heart.

@pict-prodigy 

The ancients bowed in return to show respect.The man meant no harm.The raven haired woman looked up to her companion.Waiting for him to judge if it was safe for them to get any closer.After a second he nodded in approval.The two stepped up to this unknown character.Intrigued.Scanning him as he walked to meet them.

Cassius took the lead and went to shake the other man’s hand.Aelia on his heals.

“Hello there,I am Cassius.She,is Aelia.I never saw you here before..Who are you?”

The girl looked up to the stranger.Thinking he must have been about as old as they were.Could he be older? You never knew with their specie.The men were like towers compared to her.How intimidating must have they been in an armor on a battlefield.The stranger was more muscular than Cassius though.The latter had lost muscle mass due to disease and starvation.Yet he was not any less impressive.

@lumen-in-tenebris-iii

He watched the little interaction between them with surprise, she seemed to seek his permission from the male which surprised him and eventually, they approached. He smiled slightly and shook the other male’s hand, in a gentle but solid action, taking time to look carefully at both of them. They were very clearly like him and though he’d not met many others over the years, something in him told him that their ages were not all that different to his own.

“I am Drosten. I am pleased to meet you both.” He replied in a carefully rehearsed tone; he’d learned over the last few years that manners counted for a great deal now.

Cassius and Aelia exchanged a look and a smile.The couple was eager to know more about Drosten.The woman spoke for the first time.

“We haven’t met ancients in a long time.Where are you from,good sir.?”

She standing close to her companion her arms wrapped around his form.The man’s arm around her waist.

“We date back from the Roman ages.Let’s just say…We are well preserved.” Said Cassius chuckling.

Drosten watched as their arms curled around each other and something lonely welled up inside of him, catching him a little unawares. He'd been alone for a very long time but it occurred to him then that he'd never met a pair like him before, two immortals that were so close. It was unusual and yet, he yearned for it.

His gaze dropped for a moment as he pushed those thoughts back down, his smile never leaving his lips and when he looked up again, his eyes were narrowed a little. "I am from Alba. I think it is named Scotland now... Are you both Roman?" He asked, as that was what had made him grow suspicious. It might have been ancient history now, but his experiences of Roman's had been anything but good.

1925

@pict-prodigy

It was a rainy night in London.Gloomy atmosphere.Lively music originating from pubs downtown.Mortals speaking loudly,laughing.Aelia and Cassius mingled among them in one of these pubs.Dancing and enjoying themselves.Amused by drunk mortals,stumbling and falling unto the dusty floors.Men getting into fights over who would dance with the pretty girls.

The pair was barely paying attention to their surroundings.The music was loud.The smell of the crowd,intoxicating.A mix of sweat and blood beneath the skin.The orchestra began playing a slower song for couples to dance to.It was at this moment as the crowd shifted that Cassius noticed a figure in the far left corner of the room.A man.He wispered in Aelia’s ear.She turned to catch a glimps of the stranger.The Romans knew he too was an immortal.By his energy Aelia and Cassius could tell he was an ancient as well.He seemed out of place in this mass of animated warm bodies.Standing still.Staring at them.

The stranger looked confused,lost.The couple was not sure if they should approach him.So,they decided to let him come to them if he wished.

@lumen-in-tenebris-iii

After living for almost 2,000 years, the world had become a very different place. Drosten had seen entire nations rise and fall as well as the destruction of his own people and now everything was completely different. For mortals it might have happened slowly, but for Drosten, it seemed to have happened all too suddenly and now the people, the clothes, even the music was different. The women were far more outgoing than they’d ever been before; their dresses were shorter; their dances were different. And he was entirely overwhelmed. 

He’d spent a great deal of time in the wilds recently, exploring and wandering aimlessly and when he’d arrived in London, only in the last few nights, he’d immediately felt out of place. People had stared at him, especially because of his appearance and, as soon as he could, he taken himself to a tailor and been given a suit more fitting of current styles. His long hair and beard still didn’t work though and even if he tied his hair back, he still looked like a wild man attempting to fit in; which was precisely what he was. Tonight, it had taken him a while to notice that there were others in the room like him, his eyes were so drawn to the dancing throng of people, kicking their feet and jumping around in a way he’d never seen before. And by the time he knew they were there, it was too late to go anywhere else. Uncertainly, he made his way over to the pair, stopping just in front of them and then gave a low bow, pressing one hand over his heart.

@pict-prodigy 

The ancients bowed in return to show respect.The man meant no harm.The raven haired woman looked up to her companion.Waiting for him to judge if it was safe for them to get any closer.After a second he nodded in approval.The two stepped up to this unknown character.Intrigued.Scanning him as he walked to meet them.

Cassius took the lead and went to shake the other man’s hand.Aelia on his heals.

“Hello there,I am Cassius.She,is Aelia.I never saw you here before..Who are you?”

The girl looked up to the stranger.Thinking he must have been about as old as they were.Could he be older? You never knew with their specie.The men were like towers compared to her.How intimidating must have they been in an armor on a battlefield.The stranger was more muscular than Cassius though.The latter had lost muscle mass due to disease and starvation.Yet he was not any less impressive.

@lumen-in-tenebris-iii

He watched the little interaction between them with surprise, she seemed to seek his permission from the male which surprised him and eventually, they approached. He smiled slightly and shook the other male’s hand, in a gentle but solid action, taking time to look carefully at both of them. They were very clearly like him and though he’d not met many others over the years, something in him told him that their ages were not all that different to his own.

“I am Drosten. I am pleased to meet you both.” He replied in a carefully rehearsed tone; he’d learned over the last few years that manners counted for a great deal now.

1925

@pict-prodigy

It was a rainy night in London.Gloomy atmosphere.Lively music originating from pubs downtown.Mortals speaking loudly,laughing.Aelia and Cassius mingled among them in one of these pubs.Dancing and enjoying themselves.Amused by drunk mortals,stumbling and falling unto the dusty floors.Men getting into fights over who would dance with the pretty girls.

The pair was barely paying attention to their surroundings.The music was loud.The smell of the crowd,intoxicating.A mix of sweat and blood beneath the skin.The orchestra began playing a slower song for couples to dance to.It was at this moment as the crowd shifted that Cassius noticed a figure in the far left corner of the room.A man.He wispered in Aelia’s ear.She turned to catch a glimps of the stranger.The Romans knew he too was an immortal.By his energy Aelia and Cassius could tell he was an ancient as well.He seemed out of place in this mass of animated warm bodies.Standing still.Staring at them.

The stranger looked confused,lost.The couple was not sure if they should approach him.So,they decided to let him come to them if he wished.

@lumen-in-tenebris-iii

After living for almost 2,000 years, the world had become a very different place. Drosten had seen entire nations rise and fall as well as the destruction of his own people and now everything was completely different. For mortals it might have happened slowly, but for Drosten, it seemed to have happened all too suddenly and now the people, the clothes, even the music was different. The women were far more outgoing than they’d ever been before; their dresses were shorter; their dances were different. And he was entirely overwhelmed. 

He’d spent a great deal of time in the wilds recently, exploring and wandering aimlessly and when he’d arrived in London, only in the last few nights, he’d immediately felt out of place. People had stared at him, especially because of his appearance and, as soon as he could, he taken himself to a tailor and been given a suit more fitting of current styles. His long hair and beard still didn’t work though and even if he tied his hair back, he still looked like a wild man attempting to fit in; which was precisely what he was. Tonight, it had taken him a while to notice that there were others in the room like him, his eyes were so drawn to the dancing throng of people, kicking their feet and jumping around in a way he’d never seen before. And by the time he knew they were there, it was too late to go anywhere else. Uncertainly, he made his way over to the pair, stopping just in front of them and then gave a low bow, pressing one hand over his heart.

Armand’s voice seemed to be the only thing to stir Drosten from that moment and blinked once, then twice before frowning slightly at the other, almost as if he was only just realising that he was there. “No…” He replied, slightly confused and his frown deepened. “I forgot.” He mumbled upon realising that he had really forgotten everything before that moment. How had he come to be sitting here with him?

His brow knotted; with a crooked little smile, a flickering glance, he looked to this old one as if to say: Really? But there was no artifice there. No falsity. In fact, Drosten peered back at him almost helplessly. As if he – hoped Armand had the answer for him. After a moment, he pressed: “How often does that happen to you? That brief madness.” 

Drosten's face could be quite expressive for one his age and now it showed deep feelings of remorse and guilt; he was feeling just a little sorry for himself now, these moments always felt, to him, like such a deep loss. He had no way of knowing just how much he had lost this time and even if he had lost nothing at all, he had no way of knowing that either. His memories lied to him, because some hid gaps and some pretended that they hid gaps. He could never know for certain if he had forgotten anything or if he would ever remember at of what was really gone. "I forget many things." He admitted finally and with deep regret, his eyes lowering to stare, instead, at the table between them.

Armand’s voice seemed to be the only thing to stir Drosten from that moment and blinked once, then twice before frowning slightly at the other, almost as if he was only just realising that he was there. “No...” He replied, slightly confused and his frown deepened. “I forgot.” He mumbled upon realising that he had really forgotten everything before that moment. How had he come to be sitting here with him?

Drosten was quite proud of himself and the other’s reaction told him that he should be, something that pleased him immensely. At his suggestion to read the book together, Drosten’s eyes lit up like a child and his nodded in agreement, picking up the book and holding it out to him. “English is very hard for me.” He insisted by way of explanation because he knew that he was not very good at it.

Yoshimi could sympathize; after all, Japanese was a very distinct language from western ones, and he recalled his struggle to learn English well enough. Yet, the same rule which applied to humans also applied to them: practice makes it perfect — even if for immortals the process was way faster.

“Oh, but through reading, especially out loud, is one of the quickest ways to master a language… I can converse with you, too, if you believe it could be helpful.” He suggested kindly before his gaze fell on the children book just for a moment as he tenderly took it once offered to him, meeting the other man’s a soon after. “I also have learned that what matters the most when you are getting familiar with speaking a different language is… Making yourself be understood, first and foremost.” The smile on his lips bloomed further, gently, reassuringly. “And I did understand everything you said.”

His language was a long dead one, at least for everyone else. He was the only one who knew now, how to speak it and so he often had little choice but to speak it all alone. English was different and far more difficult than his own language. But Yoshimi made him feel far better about his English and he was soon smiling proudly again.

“That is very good...and you are very kind and nice.” He insisted with a beaming smile; he was slightly overwhelmed by how kind he was being and it made him quite excited.

Drosten was quite proud of himself and the other's reaction told him that he should be, something that pleased him immensely. At his suggestion to read the book together, Drosten's eyes lit up like a child and his nodded in agreement, picking up the book and holding it out to him. "English is very hard for me." He insisted by way of explanation because he knew that he was not very good at it.

The other’s response took a long while and the silence that drifted between them made Drosten a little uncomfortable. He smiled wider wondering if, perhaps he had not seen it; he certainly wasn’t smiling back. “I am Drosten.” He announced, remaining as cheerful as he could manage.

The old one’s shy awkwardness took him by surprised, admittedly, and for a moment he was slightly suspicious of it – but then it occurred to him this Drosten really was … quite gentle. There was no way to hide true gentleness, after all. It was simply impossible. Amusing; endearing. And Armand was in just such a mood to thrive with it. He raised his brows, inclined his chin just so – the very picture of smug adolescence in his denim jeans and a softly-worn fashionable ‘bomber’ jacket. 

“And what brings you to New York, Drosten?” he hummed. “To me? You know other Old Blood here? Or are you asking me if you have permission to hunt in my city?” 

This one confused him very much. He looked like a boy, and a small one at that, but everything else about him and his demeanour made him seem older and stronger and more important in every way. He considered his questions carefully and though something about the name New York registered in his mind, he still struggled to that it was the name of the large city he'd come to.

"Your city?" He asked softly and then frowned a little. "Oh, I did not know. I walked here." He replied with a shrug of those broad shoulders.

❥      NON - SEXUAL   ACTS   OF   DOMINANCE . 

The other’s response took a long while and the silence that drifted between them made Drosten a little uncomfortable. He smiled wider wondering if, perhaps he had not seen it; he certainly wasn’t smiling back. “I am Drosten.” He announced, remaining as cheerful as he could manage.

The energies of the universe, as water, would remain motionless in an eternal resting state if nothing provoked it’s movement, perhaps that was the beauty of existing, to dance with this energies eternally, life was a calm river, and the witch would undoubtedly be universe’s oars, but Was she good? She couldn’t stop thinking about it every time one of this particular jobs arrived to her hands. 

Graveyards, lands for mourning, where the old abode of souls was sent to rest forever, and the traces left of life was an energy a skilled witch could use in her favor, but not necessarily in a work of light. “Today I am the devil.” She muttered thoughtfully as she walked through the holy grounds, so many times disturbed by her sisters that sometimes she doubted of its holiness.

She read the oldest gravestones, looking for no signs that other witch had worked there before, finally there was one from a woman who had died young, fitting enough for the work she had been paid for.Her hand reached in her bag for a small black cloth that held a smaller cloth bag inside, it was ready to be buried, but before she could start digging the hole she sensed movement behind her, and suddenly felt observed, it was the witching hour, a good time for a curse, but also for danger.

“I see you. Show yourself.” Merrick demanded in a firm voice, turning to the shadow she could barely distinguish in the darkness. 

Big cities were strange and vast places. Nothing but endless miles of steel and concrete and glass rising way up high as far as the eye could see and sometimes little wooden places that people rushed out of in the mornings and back to at night. They had little areas of plants and green grass but he knew he wasn’t allowed to touch them, unless the people didn’t know he was doing it.

Then, in the middle of everything, there were areas dedicated entirely to hundreds, maybe even thousands of standing stones. None of them were as old as he was, but some were old enough that the careful carving on them had worn away. When he ran his fingers over the surface, sometimes he could just feel the cuts made by an artist’s tools and other times they were more pronounced.

It didn’t take him long to realise that he wasn’t alone either and his feet were soon carrying him towards the person. A deep seated instinct told him to stay hidden, to watch from the shadows and not make himself known too obviously. Sometimes people were afraid of him and didn’t seem to like him. But it didn’t work and as soon as she spoke, he slunk guiltily out of the shadows the tall trees were making.

The most notable thing about him was, of course, his stature. He was very tall and muscled in a way that only a man who’d relied on the strength of his body could be. Other than that, he had a long and bushy beard and long hair that hung over his shoulders and somehow added to his bulk. Despite all of that, he was not a particularly threatening figure and seemed more afraid of her than anything else.

Truth was she wasn’t exactly certain of where he was until his imposing shadow moved just enough to be distinguished under the moonlight,  there was something about that vibe she couldn’t ignore, it reminded her of the creatures Oncle Vervain’s stories used to be about, the ones he had domained with his ancestral relics, and that could just mean one thing; She had to be careful.

The two figures seemed unwilling to talk and remained in silence for a moment, mainly perhaps because both knew they were not meant to be there. Merrick never considered herself tall, but 5'9’’ wasn’t exactly ground-level, but then again, her physique wasn’t what provoked that imposing sensation, but the blessings of her deities that surrounded and enhanced her magic, those constant whispers from the non-corporeal world, they became louder as he moved, they kept whispering into her ear; Do not trust. 

Her hand had returned discreetly to her bag, leaving her craft conveniently hidden from sight. “What are you doing here? It’s not visiting hours.” Merrick questioned him, trying to keep a firm voice as she had before, there was no room to show any doubt or weakness. 

The look on his face could almost have been a look of regret and how she might have taken that, he didn’t know. Nor did he consider it in the least. He regretted the fact that he’d clearly disturbed her and therefore had not got to see what she was doing. But she was unlikely to think of that as a train of thought for this man lingering in a cemetery. Nor would she consider that he didn’t even know that was the name of the place where he stood. His ignorance about this place and his presence there was complete.

As the silence dragged on, his expression turned guilty because now he was sure that he was going to be told off for being somewhere he shouldn’t have been. And when she spoke, that somewhat confirmed it and he squirmed under those words and her gaze, shifting his weight awkwardly from one foot to the other. “I did not know there were hours to visit.” He admitted with a slightly confused frown and he cast his gaze helplessly around as if the stones themselves would help him. “I look at the stones, that is all...” He didn’t quite want to admit that he had also touched many because it did seem that many in this world thought that he should only look and not always touch.

Vampires of Ages: Drosten/ Iron Age

Wordlessly, she lifts her glass, its rim hiding her own smile as she drinks the dark blood within it.

Now he just sat with a goofy smile on his face, ignoring the fact that he dwarfed almost everything in the room but very pleased that someone was making conversation with him. "You are having a good day."

The energies of the universe, as water, would remain motionless in an eternal resting state if nothing provoked it’s movement, perhaps that was the beauty of existing, to dance with this energies eternally, life was a calm river, and the witch would undoubtedly be universe’s oars, but Was she good? She couldn’t stop thinking about it every time one of this particular jobs arrived to her hands. 

Graveyards, lands for mourning, where the old abode of souls was sent to rest forever, and the traces left of life was an energy a skilled witch could use in her favor, but not necessarily in a work of light. “Today I am the devil.” She muttered thoughtfully as she walked through the holy grounds, so many times disturbed by her sisters that sometimes she doubted of its holiness.

She read the oldest gravestones, looking for no signs that other witch had worked there before, finally there was one from a woman who had died young, fitting enough for the work she had been paid for.Her hand reached in her bag for a small black cloth that held a smaller cloth bag inside, it was ready to be buried, but before she could start digging the hole she sensed movement behind her, and suddenly felt observed, it was the witching hour, a good time for a curse, but also for danger.

“I see you. Show yourself.” Merrick demanded in a firm voice, turning to the shadow she could barely distinguish in the darkness. 

Big cities were strange and vast places. Nothing but endless miles of steel and concrete and glass rising way up high as far as the eye could see and sometimes little wooden places that people rushed out of in the mornings and back to at night. They had little areas of plants and green grass but he knew he wasn't allowed to touch them, unless the people didn't know he was doing it.

Then, in the middle of everything, there were areas dedicated entirely to hundreds, maybe even thousands of standing stones. None of them were as old as he was, but some were old enough that the careful carving on them had worn away. When he ran his fingers over the surface, sometimes he could just feel the cuts made by an artist's tools and other times they were more pronounced.

It didn't take him long to realise that he wasn't alone either and his feet were soon carrying him towards the person. A deep seated instinct told him to stay hidden, to watch from the shadows and not make himself known too obviously. Sometimes people were afraid of him and didn't seem to like him. But it didn't work and as soon as she spoke, he slunk guiltily out of the shadows the tall trees were making.

The most notable thing about him was, of course, his stature. He was very tall and muscled in a way that only a man who'd relied on the strength of his body could be. Other than that, he had a long and bushy beard and long hair that hung over his shoulders and somehow added to his bulk. Despite all of that, he was not a particularly threatening figure and seemed more afraid of her than anything else.