askstalkingvampire

[askstalkingvampire]

Hm, how interesting. It seemed Sarkhan was completely fine with what basically amounted to be someone's puppet, but far be it from her to question anyone's decisions in life.

'Ah, I am an artist. My preferred medium is poetry; it is always a challenge to translate visuals or ideas to words that evoke the same feeling in the reader.'

[askstalkingvampire]

"Ereshkigal I believe?" He asked slowly.

'That is my name, yes,' she answered, her eyes taking in the man before her, one of her eyebrows raised only slightly. 'And to whom do I owe the pleasure?'

[askstalkingvampire]

'My, that does sound quite interesting. I daresay not a dull day in a job like that,' she said. Though curious as to the gifts he had mentioned, Ereshkigal declined asking after them. It would not be too polite.

'A kind of guard, you say - what must I imagine by that?'

[askstalkingvampire]

'That is a story, is it not?' Ereshkigal countered, still that same smile on her lips. 'The absence of a reason, to me, is as interesting as a completely perfected plan.'

The sound of laughter made her momentarily look over her shoulder. It was a sound produced by the woman in white; a low, pleasant kind of laugh, yet slightly catty around the edges. She was accompanied by a veiled woman whose hair seemed to resemble a nest of young snakes. Interesting. She turned back to Sarkhan.

Another butler drifted by, this time with sweet cakes. Ereshkigal once again declined.

'If you do not mind me asking, what is it you do in every day life?'

[askstalkingvampire]

'Cathars,' she repeated, 'really? My, it certainly sounds like quite the pesky problem you have then, dear. Would you mind telling me exactly how many we are dealing with here, so that I know what to expect - I am but a single woman, after all.'

Ereshkigal smiled finely. The intrigues that involved cathars were the best kind of intrigues. As a rule, she never did kill if it wasn't for sustenance, and neither was she planning to now. She simply wanted to know more and - especially - how it could be of use to her.

"Ereshkigal, correct? I have a proposition for you."

'That is correct,' she said mildly, looking at the other woman with interest. 'Do explain this proposition, miss…?'

[askstalkingvampire]

She answered in the affirmative when he mentioned Innistrad. 'It is your typical harbour town. Rolling mist, a lot of churches - that type of thing.'

When he set fire to the toothpick he had been chewing on, she raised an eyebrow in amusement. Much more to him than first met the eye, how terribly interesting. 

'Ah, you were by far the most interesting person present,' said she then. Half-turning, she gestured at the ballroom. 'Everyone dressed in their finest, on their best behaviour, making polite but ultimately meaningless chit-chat - and then there is you. No offence intended, of course, but your style of dress is certainly a little out of tune. I wondered what the story behind that was.'

[askstalkingvampire]

'My dear, I am positive I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.' Ereshkigal was rather puzzled by the cryptic utterances of this girl, and how she did not seem to finish one sentence before moving on to the next.

I don't even know who you are but gee your awe fully pretty,

'Hmm, thank you. I do make sure to be presentable.'

[askstalkingvampire]

Ereshkigal was familiar with the sentiment. Immortality brought with it a certain sense of displacement, even if one's original place of birth always held the most special of places in one's heart.

In that respect it was perhaps not too surprising that one of the more pervading myths about vampires was that they slept in a casket filled with soil from their birthplace rather than an actual bed. Perhaps some vampires would be so inclined for no other reason than the theatrical, but Ereshkigal had always preferred actual comfort.

'Yes,' she said pensively, 'sometimes we think we can make something our own only to be proven wrong in more ways than we could have imagined... The more bitter the experience.' She brushed her hair from her face and smiled again. 'I have lived in Drunau for quite a number of years. It suits me well enough, for now.'

[askstalkingvampire]

'The one who does the thing,' Ereshkigal repeated, her eyebrows raised politely. 'Depending on what you mean by the thing--I guess?'

I don't even know who you are but gee your awe fully pretty,

'Hmm, thank you. I do make sure to be presentable.'

[askstalkingvampire]

'Just a curiosity. Like I said, I enjoy these events for their social aspects, and the more names I can couple with the right individual, the happier I am.'

With another smile, she looked around the ballroom. The dancefloor was filling up, as was the area around the bar. There were some familiar faces, and some that were completely alien to her. Yes, this had all the ingredients to be a particularly successful fête. 

'So whereabouts are you from, if I may inquire?'

[askstalkingvampire]

I don't even know who you are but gee your awe fully pretty,

'Hmm, thank you. I do make sure to be presentable.'

[askstalkingvampire]

Well, that could mean anything from that he was someone's lackey to that he just went with the flow. Ereshkigal ignored it, smiling when he mentioned to have met some decent people, at least. 

'Ah,' she said, 'with the amount of guests, I daresay she would have to be. What is the name of this nice young lady?'

[askstalkingvampire]

Sarkhan. An unusual name to her ears, but then, she was one to talk about such matters. Even less so considering the very nature of this ball, filled as it was with individuals completely unfamiliar to her.

'I have always enjoyed social gatherings,' she answered. 'An opportunity to meet new and interesting people.' And to network, and scheme, and a veritable abundance of related matters.

A butler drifted by with a tray full of tasty morsels. Ereshkigal declined by holding up her hand, and the butler indifferently moved the platter into Sarkhan's direction.

[askstalkingvampire]

'I see,' Ereshkigal said, just a trifle surprised anyone would come to a ball if they did not genuinely want to be there. Perhaps a cultural difference. 'Well, considering the rules put into place for this particular event, I suppose you could simply ignore those you know and make the acquaintance of those you do not.'

Since violence was definitely frowned upon - as it should be! - that seemed to be the best course of action. 'I am Ereshkigal, pleasure,' she added with a smile.

[askstalkingvampire]

Her dress made a faint, delightful jingling sound as she walked, Ereshkigal had determined. The way the gold caught and reflected the light of stars and candles was handsome without blinding anyone else - that would be bad manners, after all.

The mansion was lavish in all the good ways, and she was excited for this fête, which promised to be the pinnacle of social events that season. As she approached the doors, a slim figure in white made her way up the staircase. Ereshkigal smiled politely at the woman, a pale appearance with her platinum hair and grey eyes.

'Lovely evening, is it not?'

'Very,' came the curt reply. 

Ereshkigal looked down the woman's choice of attire - it was almost entirely translucent, but that did not seem to matter as her body for the largest part seemed to be constructed out of some type of metal. How odd. 

Marking her down as possible conversational partner somewhat further down the road, Ereshkigal stepped into the ballroom and looked around. The host and guests had truly outdone themselves in their appearance.

Except for one man.

He was slumped against the wall in clothing that could best be described as - well, worn. Intrigued by his choice of formal wear (or lack thereof), she moved towards him.

'Begging your pardon, my good man, but you seem a trifle ill at ease.'

Sarkhan leaned against the wall, arms crossed with a permanent scowl on his face. He wasn’t even sure why he had come to this ball. He was dressed in his soldier’s garb, it being the the closest thing to formal wear that he owner. It was more suited for battle than anything else.

Scanning the ballroom, he saw more people that he held contempt for than anything else. He snorted a puff of smoke, and slumped further into the wall. 

[askstalkingvampire]

She drew her brows together. 'I do have a younger sister, yes,' leaving in the middle whether said sibling was, in fact, promiscuous. Ereshkigal did not like to talk about it too much.

You look like a goddess.

Ereshkigal smiled, curtseying in acknowledgement. ‘You are not the first to say so, ninurisa.’

[askstalkingvampire]

You look like a goddess.

Ereshkigal smiled, curtseying in acknowledgement. ‘You are not the first to say so, ninurisa.’