Silence

[silverdust]

Ah, so the other chose to ignore him. Heh, fun already. He tilted his head forward, his hat tipping rakishly low over his eyes. That and the cloak added a roguish air to his distant, aristocratic bearing.

"Hunting so soon, Vlaj?" he intoned quietly, already slipping effortlessy into his new role. He raised an eyebrow, flashing an almost smile over in the direction of the pair. Moonlight glinted from his pale eyes, turning them an odd iridescence in the lurid glow.

"Is she a marionette for the cast, or another of you poppets?"

The blades clinked together in a semi-musical rhythm as he crossed his paws, awaiting the vampire's response. Let's see him play the seducer now.

[Rhayeqasr]

He had to be kidding? She, although flattered, hadn't ever thought she'd compare to a 'beauty.' "Some, like myself, won't compare to these 'beauties' you speak of. There is a reason I am not a Marionette." She smiled, how would he respond to this? She had not caught onto his act, but was curious, surely he could honestly think her to be as beautiful as the ravishing Marionettes?

Soon their walk ended, she stopped infront of the Canine Puppet Master. What did he mean? They were not hunting. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding? She eyed the blades upon his paws, and guessed that the two were Puppet Masters of the same cast. His next words hit her, and hard. Obviously she was no Marionette, surely he knew this. She looked up at Vlaj, awaiting his responce.

[ferabird]

Vlaj kept features a schooled expression of calm, intending this time to simply play Jaku off as a madman. Not necessarily untrue, but he'd use the fact to his own advantage. Rolling his eyes as though confronted by a step-relative, the bat-like euclides gestured in off-hand fashion to the rather dashing wolf. "Lovely one, meet Jaku. He is my fellow as a Puppet Master of our cast. He is also, as you can tell by his attempts to alarm you, the reason for the rule we've been discussing." And with that not only did he continue to flatter the puppeteer, but managed to pass the blame and suspicion onto his fellow. Top that he thought to himself.

Slightly he lowered his voice, speaking to the female at his side in one of those loud whispers that the one you speak about is meant to hear. "And if it's all the same to you my sweet, we'll not mention your name. Jaku has a real head for them, and I'd rather he not find you when I am unavailable to stand at your side."

[silverdust]

Jaku's light smile widened. Oh, he had gotten better. He chose his next lines carefully, fixing the young mustildae with an enchanted look, as if he were the one entranced by her. It was a mask he had perfected beautifully over the years.

"I am sorry if my words have offended you," he said, his voice a dark silken melody. "It is just that Vlaj is very...alluring with women. His companions are genuinely marionettes of the most exquisite beauty, and you are really no different in radiance. If I embarass you, I apologize, but really miss, you take yourself to modestly."

Nothing in his expression changed or gave him away, the lies turning to truths as they left his lips. He let his gaze stray over to Vlaj. "You certainly have lovely choice in prey, my aesthetic 'prince'."

Jaku lifted one of his paws and examined the blade, playing with the moonlight that danced over its steel. "You're taste hasn't changed in the least. It is also a reason young femmes are not allowed in our cast. They are so charmed by Vlaj's elegance, the broken hearts never leave them quite the same. Their exceptable talents are ruined for the longest time, always distracted as our prince walks by, wearing their broken hearts around his neck."

It was a rather clever role reversal, passing the reasons for Vlaj's accusations into the vampire himself. Of course, it would also depend on how much this femme trusted his fellow puppet master. "Do not worry Vlaj, I will not enquire after you new doll. I only wish, m'lady, that I had the pleasure of meeting you first this evening. I just ask that a puppeteer like yourself not fall too deeply into our 'prince's' web. A rare talent should not be wasted."

He gave her a gentle smile, and closed his eyes with a sigh. It was such a performance, he could convince himself to believe it.

[Rhayeqasr]

She looked up at Vlaj. His words sunk in, was he truly willing to protect her? She smiled sweetly and nodded her head out of gratefulness. Misogynst, eh? She was glad he stood there, between herself and the female hating Canine. He had momentarily won her trust. How could she not trust one who would go to these lengths to protect her. She even found herself slightly attracted to him, oh, how this was so unlike her!

But as the other Puppet Master began to speak, she could not see how someone could possibly hate females. Perhaps he wasn't a misogynst after all? What was she to believe? "I thank you, sir, for your kind words," she looked into his eyes, and they did not give away his act at all. What a fine actor he was! If only she were keen enough to pick up on such talent. She had much to learn.

She assumed his use of the word 'prey' to mean choice in women. She did not think for a moment that she was the first female that the charming Puppet Master lured into his trust. But she would not let herself get attached to him, not to the point in which a heartbreak would be of concern.

Her gazed moved from one Puppet Master to the next, she wasn't sure to consider herself lucky to be in the company of such fine Puppet Masters, or to fear for her life.

[ferabird]

Was irate. Damn him.... He considered losing his temper, but thought better of it. "I povide my beloved companions a muse." he said finally, tones as earnest as before, and still he wielded that phenomenal accent. One wing-arm was used for the sake of a flourishing gesture, artistic pose taken as he sat up on his hinds. Tophat was held against his chest, the other arm lifted to the sky, wing tightly folded against it.

"And as Jaku has said, I suffer only the finest." Yet another compliment. And then he follows up ever so sweetly, head canting and fanged smile brought to bear. "But then again a broken heart is better than a missing one, nicht dir denken Jaku?" He spoke of course for the others fond habit of dismantling his prey.... and those females he grew swiftly tired of. A shame that his fellow required so very much of his attention.....

"Besides, mein schatz, rare is it that our Jaku stays about the lovlies long enough to tell whether or not they are capable of their work. Always he is so busy with his hunts... one less familiar with him might go so far as to call him obsessed! To think..." Let him worry about defending himself, rather than making smart remarks. Why did it always seem he was the first to lose his temper?

[silverdust]

"It depends on how you wish to see it, 'prince'. One could live with the pain of a broken heart, or end one's suffering."

He smiled apologetically at the female, giving a slight shrug. "I'm sorry Vlaj has steered the conversation in a morbid matter, mademoiselle, but I had to answer truthfully. My fellow puppet master whle a connoisseur of beauty, is often drawn to the bloodbathed aspects of conversation," his gaze softened as he looked at her, almost shy in the light. "Don't worry, I do not harm females of my own kind. I only hunt those ladies of the night, who throw away their dignities to the street. It is better that they meet a swift end, rather than live their life in sin. Surely you might understand?"

He had missed a spot on the right blade, the spatter of blood like a dark mar on the silver. He lifted his cloak, shining it as he spoke. "I admit they are a bit of an obsession, but it is an escape from the madness of our cast members. Vlaj is better at I with dealing with their trivialities."

He let his glance stray sidelong to the vampire, his faint smile holding a hint of mockery. "Unless you are so lost in maintaining the cast that you need my constant guidance. But that would not be the case, would it Vlaj?"

[Rhayeqasr]

The puppeteer gazed at both of them, it seemed they were trying to out talk the other? "Well, I supose my hearts been broken for years." She said this more to herself than to anyone else. She had a lot to think about. Why did this Jaku call Vlaj 'prince'? He was a handsome Puppet Master, but a prince?

Now, she thought she'd adress some of what she'd been told, and with greater volume than before, "Well, I suppose we all have our beliefs, I for one don't think it right to have such a strong distaste for a certain species or gender." What did he mean? Was he saying that females live life in sin? This was not true, aside from the pleasure she gets from causing misery, she is free of sin... or so she thought. Until recently, she was free from a man's touch. And she didn't flaunt beauty, or sell herself. "Surely males live in their own sins as well?" It may not be wise of her to say such things to a Puppet Master. Surely he'll have something to say!

She smiled innocently, perhaps it'd be best not to piss such powerful Puppet Masters off?

[ferabird]

Inserting himself neatly between the two were he able, Vlaj's voice was directed first to his fellow. Volume was hardly lowered though, the puppeteer certainly able to hear. "One should hardly deny their type, Jaku. To do so would only bring unneccessary suffering." Were those teasingly patronizing tones...? Oh indeed. "I do well enough handling business as is needed, unless there is some cast-related issue you felt needed my attentions? I can think of no other reason that you would seek me out during what little spare time I am afforded." Next chiroptae would turn his head, vibrant eyes of crimson softening considerably. A veritable study of calm he would befome upon viewing her again, insinuating thought perhaps, that she could effect him so?

"I would never demand your attentions, mein schatz." he began sincerely. "Would you like to continue our pleasant walk? I have no desire to press you should you find yourself uncomfortable." A lucky one she.... had he intent of coralling her in... now might have actually proved a convenient time to do so. Of course Jaku had his uses.... intimidation among them. However seeing as her rank was so-unfortunately other than what they were willing to recruit, twas best to play out the night and do his thing.

"Jaku...." he'd add, turning once more to his fellow. "Were your blades any indication, I'd say you've feasted tonight? I would certainly appreciate it if you widened your scope to potential cast-members and went in search of those...." Meyhaps given a task, the other would take himself away and leave him to finish his night with his quarry....

[silverdust]

Jaku gave a gentle nod in the Puppeteer's direction, acknowledging her thoughts. Whatever disdain he might derive from her sentiments were carefully disguised, and he still held nothing but that courtly tone in his words and mannerisms. "I do not say all women live in sin, mademoiselle, indeed, you are the ideal of what they should be. I am merely saying I only feast on those who do."

His gaze gentled in an almost regretful way. "Nightly I sin, as do you, with the lives we take. We see it not as sin, but merely survival. In that way, we are all guilty, and all saints. It all depends on which way you wish to look at it, my dear puppeteer."

Let her think on that for awhile, if she wished for riddles and mind games. He turned his attention to Vlaj. Getting a bit peevish, eh? Amusing, but he had to admit the vampire's acting was superb. He let a bit of savagery slip into his otherwise pleasant smile. "Of course, dear prince, I know you prefer to take your prey alone. I shall part of your company then. A rare pleasure meeting you, miss."

He slipped gently from the angel's arms with a catlike grace alluringly unnatural in his canine form. His head tipped slightly in a farewell nod, the brim of the hat casting rakish shadows over his eyes. Those pale orbs met Vlaj's for an instant, and only for him was there a that silent threat, that flicker of the madness lurking within. Jaku didn't need her name to find her, only her scent that was already thick in the air, and nothing Vlaj could try to do would stop him from killing her, if he felt the urge to. With that silent promise, he slipped into the silhouettes of the gravestones.

[Rhayeqasr]

She felt well protected, standing at Vlaj's side. He had earned her undying trust with his words, and possibly more than that. She was unsure about this 'Jaku' and was slightly relived when he disappeared within the graveyard, he made her very nervous, a feeling unpleasant for those of the Tradegy type. She felt almost as if she had betrayed her type, she most certainly was not pittying herself and was not miserable... yet. Dispite this, she was enjoying herself with this Puppet Master, perhaps she gave him more than her trust?

She nodded back at Jaku and watched him slip off into the darkness, even though he was an intimidating character, she liked his... madness? She was, after all, attracted to misery. She was sure he already disliked her, for she was female, and had questioned his ways, but did not worry about his return. After all, he had not learned her name. Vlaj had protected her, and she was grateful. She knew little about the canine sences, she knew not that her scent was picked up by the Jaku.

Once he had disappeared, her attentions turned to the Vampire once again. "Yes, let out walk continue," she smiled, showing her trust for the creature. What role would she play in his life? A one nights stand, that's all she could do. She was not a beautiful Marionette, and was not a lowly Puppet. She could not join his cast, or take part of his harem of beautiful females she believed him to have. No matter, one night is better than the normal lonliness she suffers.

[ferabird]

Twas often the case that Vlaj's temper was the first to erode to the point of a slip-up. He knew his fellow well, and tendency to do whatever in hell pleased him. Speeches were always for audiences, as thier lengthy dialogue had been. Perfectly aware nd is returned the canid. Let him hunt among his own if it pleased him. Even the vampire's taste for their blood never led to a death. Well, unless he'd been too long without eating.

"Come then, mein schatz. We shall find ourselves a more private setting." he encouraged, tophat swept to a particular path that wound amongst the leaning and ill-kept stones. Another masoleum was to be seen not too terribly far off, and as they seemed to be his preferred setting it was an easy enough guess that this would be his goal. A step, and another. Then a pause, muzzle canted back so that unsettling eyes of crimson could engage his companion. He needn't use his eyes to know if she followed, but so many found his ability as a chiroptae to detect their movements unsettling. Another flourish and bit of acting for the female, that.

The flow of thought? Don't interrupt before I've eaten Jaku.... or I swear this time I'll feed on you.... He'd do no such thing of course. But should he come and ruin his hunting, he just might feel inclined to foul Jaku's obsession in return.

[ferabird]

(Am I safe in the assumption that Jaku has truly left? Or is Silverdust just on hiatus? Just trying to figure when we can safely resume.)

[silverdust]

((Oh, you were waiting on me? I'm sorry, I thought that I had left XD Sorry, again...))

[ferabird]

(Lol, it's no prob! I assume Rhay just wasn't sure if Jaku was gone gone or something like that. ^_^ If he is indeed pulled out I just wanted to get confirmation so that we could continue.)