rubydavenport

[rubydavenport]

"You can start if you'd like. I'm a great listener," Ruby said with an arched brow. She was genuinely curious what their problems with their spouse were to elicit such a public dispute, but she didn't admit that aloud. "You want me to kill your partner?" She asked with a laugh. "I suppose I could. Is he human? I do love a tasty treat." Ruby paused, before adding, "Though I always preferred to kill my lovers myself. Felt more romantic that way." The lovers she killed were admittedly limited to humans, and ones she never had feelings for, but for the story, this sounded far more interesting. "How did you two meet anyway?"

Zita wanted to laugh at what the woman said, truly because it was funny & meant to lighten up the situation. But she was still feeling the heat in her body from how angry she was. How dare he cause an arguement--a fight--during bakery hours? "Don't even get me started," she mumbled, rubbing her temples & sighing. A laugh finally came out. "You offering or are you just going to give me a few tips?"

[rubydavenport]

"You're very aloof with your writing," Ruby observed. In Greywood, a curious reporter was a very dangerous thing to be. Idly, she considered compelling the man to tell her exactly what he had found thus far, and if any of his findings lead him to her store specifically. But so far, he seemed far too stupid to be onto anything about Karoline Gottinberg, though Ruby didn't enjoy his presence nonetheless. Occasionally, humans were brighter than she gave them credit for. "What kind of lucky breaks?" She pressed, offering a fake smile to butter him up.

As Hal began rambling about the history of Greywood (God, could this day get any worse?), Ruby tuned him out entirely. Yes, she was perhaps being paranoid, but she was also famished, and a hungry vampire lead to misery for all people around. The more she considered, the more Ruby believed her best option was to compel him to explain his exact findings, bite hm, and then compel him to forget her entirely.

"Only a couple of months. Being a shop owner isn't really my thing, but fashion is fun, isn't it?" Ruby said, casually leaning against the wall. "Why don't you show me how the clothes fit? Anything to your liking?"

"Whatever I can find." Hal didn't want to explain the gut feeling he already associated with his new home. If it couldn't be printed and proven, it was only research. Said research kept his attention like glue, however, and Hal could not explain that fact even to himself. "So far I've done interviews—unrelated to Greywood but lucky breaks for me nonetheless." Amy and Minho were interesting subjects and generous with their time. He would need to mail out their thank you gifts soon. "I have a few books to start with on the history of Greywood. That might narrow my search, or it might not."

Had her eyes glazed over? He must've been rambling again. That was his cue to get moving. "Thank you, Ruby." He stepped past her into the dressing room and admired one of the suit jackets hanging next to the mirror for a moment. Hal wished he had her ability to diagnose the right look seemingly from thin air. "These will do nicely."

"Have you owned the shop long?" He asked from behind the curtain.

[rubydavenport]

Greywood had limited options as far as shopping went, and at times, that forced Ruby to peruse places she would not normally venture to. Today, that was a bakery, an ironic place for a vampire who got no pleasure in eating human delicacies. But she supposed her friends may enjoy a cake, and growing up as a Duchess, excellent manners were reinforced in her.

What Ruby did not expect, however, was to bear witness to a domestic. Or rather hear a domestic, she supposed, raising her eyebrows as the spouses screamed at each other. At least this was something to shake up her day. When the woman emerged, Ruby cocked her head to the side, analyzing her curiously. "You can certainly get me better treatment than him," she mused. "Rough day in marital hell?" Ruby had never been one to beat around the bush. "I've been known to murder a few of my own lovers."

open | location: black magic bakery

"Just get the fuck out!" was a predecessor to a medium-sized, silver mixing bowl being thrown. Missing its target, it fell to the floor loudly. Ye Xian & her husband had once again, gotten into a screaming match. It was a challenge who could be the loudest, not who was right, at least not anymore. She never listened & he knew it but that never stopped him from trying. But his persistence annoyed her. Why wouldn't he give up & accept defeat? Whatever wife he knew & loved was long gone. He'd walked out, saying something that went in one ear & out the other. Unfortunately for this occasion, it was in the back of the bakery. With all the stoves & ovens, bowls & plates, baking ingredients, & knives. "Lucky I didn't stab the bastard," she mumbled to herself.

The front bell went off a minute later & Ye Xian groaned to herself. She couldn't have a minute of peace. Walking out, she plastered a smile on her face. Clearly, it was fake. "Welcome in! Hope you weren't waiting here too long." And hopefully, been deaf for the past 30 minutes? "What can I get you?"

[rubydavenport]

"The truth, for me, is never one where you underrate yourself, darling." Perhaps Ruby was biased, but as far as she was concerned, John was the most important person walking on earth. He had been for many, many years, and though Ruby got along (mostly) with many, she cared for very few, and was loyal to even less. "But I appreciate the compliment nonetheless," she added with a faint smile.

Their lives had gone through many iterations, and though their paths were slightly different these days, Ruby always knew she'd make her way back to John. He was far more settled, and seemed happy in Greywood, with his ventures. Ruby knew it would never be exactly what she dreamed of as a human -- that ship had sailed long ago -- but there were times she imagined a quieter life with John. There were even times she wished she could have raised her daughter with him instead of the Duke, although those were thoughts she'd never vocalized, and never intended to. Not even to John himself.

"They'd be likely to have you in those meetings. They don't deserve you," she said simply. As far as she was concerned, no human was worthy of John's time. "You are good at waiting for special things," Ruby said suggestively. "That's a relief."

John was always smooth, and Ruby always felt the storm inside her calm when she was kissing John. "Now is perfect," she said, once she had pulled away. "You should come for a tour of my new home. I think you'll like it."

"Just telling you the truth, that's all." John couldn't remember if he had ever lied to Ruby, but he wasn't about to start now. There was little to hide. She knew of every secret, of his sire, of his fledglings far and wide and lost, of his stashes and stockpiles of treasure. If he had something to keep from her notice, it would be important.

So would he, although he wasn't certain if another Greywood would ever come to be without a dozen more founding families chipping in. The building of a town was boring and slow, not to her tastes by any measure. He'd never force her to stay as he would to see the first bricks become the first building of the first block in this hypothetical alternate Greywood. Instead, he always let her go so she would always come back.

John shrugged. "Anything. Those meetings are lightning in a bottle. Hard to catch and even harder to predict, but I'm willing to wait for something special." He smiled up at Ruby, looking sly. "My manager is fine. He can take the reins whenever I want him to."

She always knew just what to say. Could be the deep-rooted courtesies of a duchess, but John believed it was just Ruby's way. "How's now?" John asked, and kissed her.

[rubydavenport]

"Yes, the person who turned me." Talking about Anne was like opening an old wound, although she was frequently on Ruby's mind, even after hundreds of years. Having Avery ask about her was almost comforting, although she had to mull over a reply. Explaining that she had been a Duchess of a fallen land was far too complicated, and Ruby preferred to keep secrets in her past. "It's complicated," she admitted after a moment. "It was a long time ago, before all of these medical achievements. I would have died during childbirth had I not been turned, but my sire did ask me. It was my choice," she clarified. "I never got to meet my daughter though. It's a regret I'll always carry with me." It was a very simple version of the story, but one that was almost refreshing to share. "You should try kickboxing," she suggested. "Or just break the coffee mug. That may help, too." Ruby was not the person to ask for advice regarding that, considering that she drank blood freely, and when angry, was known to ravage entire towns. "There's nothing wrong with being horny," she assured him. "Why are you awkward about it?"

"Sure, I'd love to meet them." Ruby was always interested in meeting new vampires. "You shouldn't cage yourself. That's never the answer, Avery," Ruby replied. "You just need to find new ways of controlling yourself, like going deeper into the forest, perhaps. Or training yourself to hunt large game instead of people?" Silently, Ruby thought there was nothing wrong with hunting people. Frankly, it was fun, but Avery didn't seem like the type to be keen on that suggestion. "The Den sound perfect. Where do we find them?"

"Your sire? The person who turned you?" He asked, he was still very curious about all these supernatural things, how other species worked because there were similarities but he knew it wasn't the same for all, "So... Was it something you wanted? Being a vampire? Sorry I don't know it that's like rude to ask," he was still learning and he didn't want to be rude, "Yeah its the same for me with the rage," he agrees with a nod of this head,it was good to have someone who could relate, though, "I hope so... I've never felt anything like this before, its like I accidently drop my coffee and wanna go on rampage and break shit," he jokes, though there's some truth on there, its been so hard to keep all those emotions at bay. "I--didn't want to say it but huh--yeah," the blush on cheeks itensify a little, he takes a hand to his hair, letting it rest there for a bit, "I--huh am working on it, but I'm kinda awkward with these things," he admits.

"You'll like them, they are very sweet" Avery grins, he really took a like on the vampire, "I can intrude you guys if you'd like" he offers. "Yeah..." He lets out a sigh, "I know, but until I have control I'm not sure what else to do? I mean I can't lock myself, the Wolf is strong to it breaking the door and the lock is the same was us ripping up a piece of paper ,you know?" He nods, "I'm in the process of finding that yes! I've heard there is one that meets at a palce called The Den, I'm getting more info but I for sure want to contact them!"

[rubydavenport]

Styling other people wasn't particularly hard, although Ruby supposed that came naturally after being alive for hundreds of years. People were predictable, and every great hunter knew its prey. Ruby liked to think of humans that way, particularly men in need. Was that cruel? Perhaps, though she would argue that was simply the nature of the game. "A reporter?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, suddenly a little more on guard. No vampires appreciated a reporter nearby, and Ruby did in fact exist within history books if you dug deeply enough, albeit under another name. "What kind of story are you hoping to find?" With a miscellaneous stack of clothes in her arms, Ruby loaded up a dressing room. "You can try some of those on and see if you like anything then we'll go from there."

Hal laughed, unashamed. "I hoped for that." Humbling himself to experts guaranteed the best advice. It also broke the ice—always an added bonus. He watched as she began the search. "Myself?" There wasn't enough to say to a stranger to define a style but he obeyed nonetheless. "I'm new to town. I was following a rumor of a rumor and decided to stick around." Hal studied a line of cufflinks. "For the moment, I'm a reporter without a story." It wasn't as interesting as being a rebel without a cause, though Hal was determined to find something. He paused then, remembering how the facts should lend themselves to clothes. "I'm looking to fit in. Does that help any?"

[rubydavenport]

Days where Ruby actually had to work at Celestials Boutique were a punishment from God for the many, many lives that she had taken. In Ruby's defence, however, murder was the natural order of things. She was the predator and the humans were the prey. If God had such a problem with that, perhaps he should have slayed all the vampires personally. The woman, Mrs. Francelli, who was in the midst of paying a large bill would be Ruby's next target, she decided. The woman had good taste (though Ruby was responsible for that, since she chose what to stock) but she was frankly the most obnoxious woman Ruby had spoken to in two hundred years... and possibly a Fae, which was even more appetizing.

When another person walked in, Ruby sighed. After this man, she would close. "Hello," she greeted. "Well, if you beg, how could I possibly say no?" At least the man knew how to appeal to her, Ruby mused. "I'll get some outfits together that you can try on and you can tell me more about yourself." Once Ruby finished, she began looking through Celestials Boutique, and pulling items.

Location ➠ Celestials Boutique Status ➠ Closed to Ruby (@rubydavenport)

Between trying half a dozen restaurants and bars, reuniting with Mars, running into Ophelia, conducting two successful interviews and bungling a third, addressing a pest problem, meeting a score of people, nearly getting mugged, just as nearly entering a shouting match over a guitar, bantering with Dino, haranguing a small business owner, and exploring, Hal would say his first month in Greywood was...a mixed bag.

All the better to consider when facing his newest hurdle—updating his wardrobe. Hal could not delay it any longer, not after all his excuses were exhausted. His work could wait, his apartment was clean, and he had no other plans. Hal sighed and went. While not against shopping in principle, he always found himself wishing he could skip to the end where he could leave the store, arms laden with exactly the right look.

Thanks to many promising online reviews, Hal cast an appraising eye around Celestials Boutique and stepped inside. The only employee around was finishing up with her single customer, so Hal proceeded to the suits section and examined the displays until the owner was ready for him. "Hello," he greeted, checking her name tag and presenting his best pleading expression, "Ruby. My name is Hal and I am utterly hopeless when it comes to clothing. Can I beg your advice on these ready-to-wears?"

[rubydavenport]

"They really do," Ruby replied with a dramatic sigh. Unless she was drinking at one of John's establishments, she was frequently disappointed. Nevertheless, she kept returning. "I'm happy to pay," she reassured Evelyn. "Although I'm not opposed to finding someone to compel either." Was that morally corrupt? Perhaps, but Ruby had never claimed to be particularly good.

"May I ask why?" She asked curiously, arching an eyebrow.

continued from here @rubydavenport

"Yes the drinks do leave much to be desired, don't they?" Evelyn smiles at the mention of their top liquors." Only if you are paying, or maybe we can find someone to pay it for us." He wasn't planning on wasting money unless it was on themselves, of course.

At the question Eve shrugs their shoulders." I was feeling sorry for myself and found myself here, not my best moment but drinking helps."

[rubydavenport]

It had been years since Ruby felt at home enough in any place to make plans to stay for any length of time, let alone purchase a business, but Greywood was admittedly special. Celestials Boutique was unspoken proof that she would remain, at least for now, despite the fact that her staff primarily ran it. So was joining the Sanguine Liguria, Ruby mused, but she'd always had a soft spot for vampires who sought guidance. Anne had remained with her long enough that she had understood the ropes of immortal life, but not so long that Ruby recognized she wouldn't be alone for all of eternity after her creator's disappearance.

Under the guise of dark, Ruby began roaming Greywood aimlessly. On nights like these, she typically ended up at John's vampire bar, but for once, she preferred the quiet and comfort of the stars. Eventually, however, she saw Seo sitting alone on the bench. She recognized the vampire immediately, and truthfully, Ruby had been curious about her for a number of evenings. "Hello," Ruby replied. "How are you doing?" She asked with a faint smile.

With: @rubydavenport

Where: at the park

When: ~ 10PM

Seo had been in this city for close to 4 months now. She couldn't say she knew anyone and no one really knew her, though she had met quite a few people throughout this time. More people combined than what she had met in the past 10 years, maybe she had talked to more people in these short months than in the whole decade. But she could not say she was content. She still had little touch with her humanity, as if it had been lost somewhere in the stone and darkness of that cave, locked away by the voices that had plagued her for the first two centuries while there had still been hope for her that someone would wander in and feed her. She could not say that she was getting better at mimicking the emotions yet, so it was hard to fulfil her desire of finding that witch that would give her what she wanted out of the goodness of their heart.

She was sitting on the back of a bench, her feet laid to the side in a manner that would keep modesty along with one of her light dresses. She had acquired many such clothes through the decade, none of which through honest means but she had surely found it nice that at least she could keep some kind of decorum through clothes. She heard the light steps of someone and looked from under the drapes of black hair around her face to see a blonde vampire she had previously seen in her quick visits to the vampire bar before sunrise, a quick drink in a glass to help her get through the days that were getting longer. Seo held her gaze and wondered for a second what others like her did in the nights, surely more settled than herself. "Hello," she said it, to be polite when the other woman met her gaze.

[rubydavenport]

Despite a long life, there were few people Ruby genuinely cared about. Perhaps that was expected as an immortal, you adjusted to the heaving loss, and it forced you to reanalyze your ability to connect. Truthfully, she hadn't put loads of thought into it, but Vera was on that limited list. Even now, Ruby didn't particularly like the idea of her ex coming to harm, either emotional or physical. Maybe that, too, was part of immortality. Once you cared, you truly cared forever. What a burden, Ruby thought, trying to disguise the conflict in her expression. "Your home town, of course," she murmured, confused as to why she did not remember that. Greywood was a mysterious place. "Are you happy to be... home?"

At the question, Ruby paused for a moment. "I heard rumours about Greywood, that there were many of my kind here. It seemed like a decent place to be for a few years, I suppose. Would you prefer that I leave?" The question was direct, but if it was Vera's true home, Ruby would entertain the thought. "It's nice to see you again," she added, although the pain was not so nice.

Vera.

How long had it been since she had heard that voice utter her name? It felt like forever now." Ruby?" The witch stopped in her tracks, her cat following along the trail leaving the two of them be.

" Do I live here? It's my home town." She adds in disbelief, hadn't she told the vampire? She was sure that she did but Greywood had this way of leaving peoples memories even when mentioned maybe that was why Ruby didn't remember." Well, I guess you will see more of me now since I also live here." Vera grows quiet, feeling a pain grow in her chest." I didn't expect to see you either since last time." The witch isn't sure what it is, maybe it's hurt that she had been holding unto all these years, all those times together coming back,

" What brought you to Greywood?" Vera finally asks, there was no point in just standing there awkwardly.

[rubydavenport]

4

4. does your muse find any specific features particularly attractive?

Ruby loves necks!

Sorry, that was really lame. Ruby finds elegance particularly attractive so she is attracted to people that are well dressed. Feature wise, Ruby also finds lips/eyes attractive.

[rubydavenport]

"And the same to you," Ruby said warmly. There weren't many people she truly cared about, but Maia was high on that list. "Being immortal pays off sometimes," she said with a wink. She'd never bothered hiding who, or what, she was from Maia. Immortality did have its benefits, and she was happy to be able to share them with her friends. "You're obviously welcome to stay there whenever you want, by the way," Ruby added. When Maia returned, she leaned into her embrace. "I'm happy to see you, too."

It was a quick cab ride back to Ruby's house and she lead Maia into the kitchen and popped a bottle of champagne. "To us," she said, handing her friend a glass. Hopefully Maia wouldn't mind the blood mixed into her own -- Ruby hated human food or drink without. "Little update for me: I own a boutique now, John -- my... something -- is here and so is my sire's sire. Strange place," Ruby said with a sigh. "How have you been? What's happening in Greywood?"

"Always! If no one's got you just know that I do!" Maia laughed, but in truth she and Ruby just seemed to get each other more than most and that meant a lot to her. "Oh my god look at you! Absolutely I want to!" She was always after the glitz and glam in life, one of the reasons she was a con artist, so she would take any opportunity to experience it. Maia laughed again and quickly ran backstage to get dressed. After a few moments she came back out and quickly threw an arm around her friend. "God I really am so glad to see you!"

[rubydavenport]

As Avery explained more about the wolf, Ruby nodded along. “I can relate,” she admitted. “When I was first turned, it was confusing as well. Thankfully, my sire stayed with me for a long time, but the blood lust…” she trailed off, shaking her head. “It was hard and a lot of my emotions felt amplified. You get used it,” she assured Avery. It likely wouldn’t be comforting to add that Ruby was now hundreds of years old and had her impulses in check now. “Hornier?” She asked, laughing quietly. “I’m sure you can find ways to take care of that, no?” 

When Avery mentioned Noelle, Ruby raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t met them, but they sound nice.” She was glad to hear that Avery was making friends, truthfully. For years, the only person Ruby surrounded herself with Anne, although that had been different times and in a far less paranormal friendly setting. “Ah,” she said sympathetically. “We should try to think of a more pleasant experience for you. Obviously, we don’t want anyone to get hurt, but I’m sure there’s better ways than running into the woods.” Most likely, Ruby wasn’t actually positive. “Are there any local packs?”

"A little bit," he nods, he was still learing about all this, he wasn't fully sure what was him, what was the wolf yet at this point, "There's some--instincs the wolf seems to be waking up in me, I do found myself hungrier, angryer and--well other things I'm not really sure I feel comfrotable mentioning to a lady," he tried to joked though he was being honest, the light redness on his cheeks would say so, Avery was pretty sure those feelings come from the wolf as well, it wasn't like him to worry too much about physical contact, but latelly, well, the wolf was restless, it was an animal and it had certain stronger instincts, he figured. "Got it , I'll keep my eyes open for anything that looks like that," he nods, "Oh they are my friend, a vampire too, they work at the library, I think you'd like them!" Noelle was super nice, once of the first friends he had made in town. "Sure that sounds like fun!" Avery grins at the idea, something nice, something...Normal. "Oh--well I still have no control so it's hard to--" he sighs, "Mostly I run to the woods as deep as possible when I'm still--me, I don't know how else to contain the wolf other than taking myself away from people, I'm working on that..."

"Did woke up completly naked with no clue how to get home though, but at least no one got hurt so..." he actually has to laugh at that.

[rubydavenport]

“Hm, what makes you say that?” Ruby asked with a sly smile. “You’ve charmed me for decades now.” It was the complete truth. John wasn’t exactly as social as Ruby was, or as well liked for that matter, but she completely, utterly adored him. After Anne, Ruby was convinced she would never find love again, and for good reason. Anne was both the beginning and ending of her human life — nothing mattered before she graced her sire’s presence. John was different. He didn’t feel like an eclipse the way that Anne did, but like starlight, always present, beautiful, and eternal. Perhaps, Ruby mused, that was best in the long run. You could admire and value the stars, but you didn’t die without them.

“I look forward to it,” she said with a smile. John had understood exactly what she meant. Ruby enjoyed the natural ebb and flow of their relationship, that came together and apart, but it remained consistent and solid. 

As John explained his reasoning, Ruby nodded along. His points all made sense, although the idea of being saddled to two entire businesses didn’t entirely appeal to her. “I’m happy for you,” she said earnestly. “What kinds of things do you hope to influence?” John could do anything he set his mind to. “We’ll need to find a good manager though. I need ample time with you.”

Ruby squeezed John’s hand when he grasped her, a smile crossing her face. His touch had always been electric to her, and now was no different. If anything, after years had passed, John’s touch was more electric than ever. “But I like trying. You deserve someone who tries for you,” Ruby replied. She chuckled at his comment and caressed his cheek. “If I wanted you out of your clothes, I wouldn’t bother making excuses. I’d say so, John.” Of course, Ruby did in fact want John out of his clothes. "You could always refresh my memory a bit though."

"You're the charmer, not me." But it was the same for him. She certainly made an impression the day they met, with him eluding a persistent werewolf and her leveling a village. One look at a bloody Karoline Gottinberg was enough to keep John coming back for more. The rest—affection, passion, love, true friendship—followed as if fated.

"We'll have the time." The years would pass and neither would change. Life as they knew it was a very different life than the one humanity inhabited and understood.

"Society rumblings. You remember. Clubs are where far reaching decisions are made." He maintained a membership in White's, but it had been years since he visited London. "Then the influence of these movers and shakers cascades upon their surroundings." He pictured prestige like it was gilding along lintels. "That's the intention. If that fails, these are nevertheless the kind of people to throw money around like it'll catch fire."

He caught Ruby's hand and held fast. This was an old game, a play upon formalities that defined their generations. Sometimes, it was the opening salvo to more. "You don't need to try either." He liked the idea of her at the helm of her own business. Perhaps she would stay longer, although not always with him. "I could use a refresh of my wardrobe, but you don't need modeling as an excuse to get me out of my clothes."

[rubydavenport]

The bond with a sire was unlike anything else. Despite hundreds of years having passed, Ruby still frequently thought about Anne. She wondered if her sire, and lover, was still alive, and if she was, if Ruby would ever see her again. She mused about killing Anne sometimes, too, although that was complex. Being abandoned had done its number on Ruby, and until she met John, Ruby had often wondered if she were the only vampire left alive. It had been horrifically lonely, and the villages she levelled in her anguish and anger, well… Ruby didn’t regret that exactly. Vampires were created to cause chaos, and if she bothered with morality so black and white, she likely would have staked herself years ago.

During those long nights spent wondering about Anne, Ruby had eventually began wondering about Anne’s sire. All she had was a name, but the vampiric community in Europe had been small, and Duncan was frankly prolific. Eventually that had lead Ruby to France and meeting him face to face.

That, of course, had been intentional but hearing that her sire’s sire was in Greywood had been shocking. Ruby acknowledged that coincidences in such a long life were regular, and rare, all at once. She tracked Duncan down to his antique shop, and there, she stared at him blankly for a moment. Any person associated with Anne so closely felt like a punch to the gut, but somehow, Duncan strangely also felt like family. God, Ruby hated such complexities. “Pleased to see me?” Ruby asked, raising an eyebrow. “I expected a far less warm welcome, but I suppose I appreciate that.” After a pause, she asked, “How have you been? It’s been ages.”

|| Ruby & Duncan ||

Against all odds, Duncan’s antique shop had become quite lively ever since its reopening in Greywood. ‘Lively’ was probably a bit of an exaggeration but it was lively according to Duncan’s standards. He’d been used to the places he inhabited being completely deserted save for himself. But an antique shop in a supernatural town seemed to draw in quite a number of people despite its eerie, almost haunted look. Or maybe it was its ancient owner who’d gotten quite around during his long years on earth. The world was actually a small place and when you had plenty of time to meet plenty of people, it became even smaller.

With a glossy wooden pipe in hand, puffing out thick clouds of fragrant smoke by the open window, Duncan sat under generously lit candelabra with an engaging read on The Sonnets of Michaelangelo Buanarotti, translated into rhymed English by John Addington in 1904. As he drifted between its letter-like format that ranged from formal words of thanks to passionate arguments, he heard the door chime announce someone’s arrival into the store. The familiar face that had walked through surprised Duncan unlike any other he’d discovered in Greywood. After all, Ruby and himself had lost touch since France, where she’d tracked him down and announced that she was his grand-childe. Not an impossible thing as Duncan had turned many who had, in turn, turned others. The man’s vampiric bloodline was very prolific to say the least.

“Well, if this isn't a very pleasant case of deja vu. Different place, similar circumstances.” He closed the pages of his book softly, expression unchanged from the serene indifference it always seemed to wear. Perhaps Ruby would find Duncan slightly changed - he had always been stoic, mysterious and seemingly impossible to rile up but now, he seemed to have reached new levels of detachment.

@rubydavenport

[rubydavenport]

"Are wolves truly more hungry than most?" Ruby asked, finding that quite interesting. Until Greywood, she hadn't been familiar with other supernatural, and it was something she was extremely fascinated by now. Admittedly, many of the younger ones, like Avery, also had a soft spot in her heart. After Anne had left her, Ruby roamed Europe lost and confused, feeling utterly alone until she met John. For years, she'd wondered if the only vampires in existence were herself and Anne. "They're subtle, usually jewelry," Ruby replied. "I'd prefer a silver necklace if we can find one like that. Goes with everything," she explained. "No, who's Noelle?" She asked curiously. "Yes, we can go out in daylight next time, promise. Maybe we can swim in the lake or something like that." After a pause, she asked, "What do you normally do on the full moon once you've changed?"

Avery shook his head as they walked trough the market, "Oh, I'm okay, thanks! I ate before I left the house, hungry wolf and all that?" he raises an eyebrow, he does't know if that's anything to do with the wolf, but as many things in his life at this point every new change would make him question, was that him? was that the werewolf? "This is probably a dumb question, but does it have a specific--shape or? how do you know what it is? what does it looks like?" he had heard of it before, actually, "Oh yeah, my friend Noelle told about the charms, did I tell you about them?" he asks, "So maybe next time we get to do this during the day light? not that I mind the night, just you know, as long as there's no full moon action."

[rubydavenport]

"I thought you might understand," Ruby said with a grin. It was nice knowing some people she cared about ended up here, like Maia and John, but she still couldn't imagine spending all of eternity in one place specifically. Immortality was far too long for that. "You want to come to my place? It's ritzy," she suggested, waggling her eyebrows. "There's some art you'd love and a hot tub." Money was fairly easy to come by when you were alive for hundreds of years, and also a thief of precious art and jewels. "Take your time," Ruby said with a smile. "You're worth waiting for."

Maia laughed knowing that feeling all too well. "Honestly same here. I heard about this place and knew I wanted to check it out." Greywood was growing on her but she wasn't sure how much it would last if she was honest. But Ruby being here had definitely made Maia feel more at ease. "Oh we definitely have to go somewhere else. I don't want other people thinking they can have my attention. Let me just go change real quick okay?"