trans_9 | It's Hard to Get People to Like You When You're a Vampire

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It's Hard to Get People to Like You When You're a Vampire

Nanashi had found an open Sensorium, and had quickly summoned up the war room from her castle. The walls were lined with books. Nanashi had read so many of these so many times you could open them and be able to read what they said.

But Nanashi was not concerned with the books, she was standing over a table with tiny sculptures of warriors with blades like hers- along with some of the people she knew on the ship or remember from the battle. Opposite them were sculptures of the various Ohm, clashed in mid battle. Nanashi was trying to recreate the battle on the board.

She had meant to be going over how she should gain some trust among the humans for her campaign without taking advantage of her relationship with several of the children on the ship, but the final parts of the battle just were not sitting right with her.

Something was off... Aside from the fact that the Ohm clearly decided to leave.

Even as she concentrated on the table, she had decided to leave the door open, with a "Vote for Nanashi, Vote for Experience" sign on the door. She thought it sounded catchy. She did not like 'catchy', but others seemed to. Below was a scroll that read, "Have any questions? My door is always open!"

Well, figuratively it was at least. And only for the purposes of her campaign. Normally she liked closed doors. Locked doors. They helped keep out the assassins.

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Celena was one who was always interested in hearing others stories. Those from other worlds all the more. Though Celena had little concern as to the elections she had heard about. "Well then, I would be quite interested in hearing more about you and your world, Nanashi," She replied with a soft chuckle and a smile, taking a brief moment to touch the crystal about her neck to deactivate it.

Her gaze sweeping the room with interest, her assumption had been correct it seems. Nodding at the explanation of its use, intriguing. Though she steered clear of battle where she could, the basis behind strategies, the conflict at the level of tactics and counter-tactics still drew interest at times. "Indeed, any living opponent has the possibility to be unpredictable, some more so than others,"

Inclining her head once more as the offer was made, "That would be nice, though do not worry about seating in my case, such normal seats do not generally...acomodate..to one of my kind," A soft grin given as she replied with another soft chuckle.

"Then a walking tour, perhaps?" Nanashi walked next to Celena and suggested, "Perhaps you might want to close your eyes, as the room changing is disorienting. I have never been fond of it."

Nanashi closed her own eyes for a moment and summoned the main part of the city to mind. Much unlike most cities, the place was entirely contained within rock face, stone towering above them, until it intersected the Castle walls. The huts around them were made largely of stone, though they were not carved out of a single piece of stone as the ceiling and castle was. They seemed to merely have taken advantage of the most abundant local resource.

in front of all the buildings in view were vampires on rugs and tables, all trying to sell their goods, which varied from bottles of blood to books and scrolls, to furniture, and anything in-between. The entire place was very dimly lit with an almost ghastly blue glow, from the same sort of blue flickering candles that had lit the war room. The small number of them only offered the smallest bit of light- an amount that might just make a human terrified of all the moving shapes. Human ears would also hear the crowd as being rather quiet, as they spoke on softer terms, the loudest voices being the vendors calling for their items to be bought over their neighbours. All the regular conversations were held at a level just above a whisper.

Behind them towered a great, iron door. It was at least a half- mile high, and half as wide. Around it could be still seen a large crack, where Nanashi had caused it to crash down just over a century ago. They had been able to repair the door itself almost perfectly, but the cracks around the door would be there forever.

"This," she said with a sweeping gesture, "Is the one and only entry to the capital city of Kuninoryu. The castle has a few openings at it's peak, but only a very few, all carefully guarded and impossible for any but a vampire to open. This is the grand city of vampires. It was said that the dragon that made us carved the castle and made room for the city for us as well. It would seem the case, since if you examine the walls of the castle, there are no tool marks, and even with our strength and long lives, we would not be able to create walls so perfect. Perhaps if it was of clay or wood, but certainly not of stone. After all, that," She gestured to the gate without looking at it, "is the best of a repair job we can do. It is still our weakest point."

This was about the time where the vampires controlled by the sensorium saw Celena, and began bowing on their knees, with their heads to the ground and their hands on the ground above their heads. This was spreading like a domino effect. It had not initially occurred to Nanashi to prevent the temporary AIs created by the sensorium from doing that. With a thought Nanashi fixed that, and the people around them continued as if they had never been there.

"I am sorry," she said with a nod of her head, "I shall have the people treat us as if we are not here, with much thanks to the sensoriums, or you would not get to see past here."

"A walking tour sounds a fine idea indeed," she replied easily as she nodded, "Thank you for the concern, I should be fine though, I do not mind it," A smile on her snout at that. She had enough experience with illusions of her own making to be phased by the shifting of the world around them into a new form.

The shear size and structure of the cavernous city, struck her with familiarity and a sense of her own home, her own city. Her smile fading slightly out of a sense of longing before all the details started flowing through her mind, a new smile soon tugging at her lips as she took it all in, from the smallest flickering candle stick to the largest part of the castle. "Magnificent," she half whispered to herself.

Her attention drawn to the door behind them as Nanashi pointed it out, letting her golden eyes take in its immense size. Who ever had made this place, they had not been thinking small. "Indeed? That would take a skilled craftsman, perhaps with aid of magic to achieve on such a large scale," she commented, "Certainly no small work," Her mind going over all the ways one could achieve such a result, mentally comparing what she saw around her to works of her own kind..similar yet..different.

At the apology she blinked, only just noticing the citizens that had been bowing, so caught up in thought she had been in that instant. "Not to worry, perhaps best for ease of travel..lest I fly that is," she added with a soft chuckle, refolding her wings against her sides.

Nanashi laughed politely as she began walking forward, "We could fly, but most of the interest is down here. Most vampires are not terribly fond of their ability to fly."

She gestured to the stone buildings as she made her way down the lane, "These buildings were all build by vampires. It is rather easy for us to carry the stones to make these buildings, but," She spread he hands over her head and then indicated the castle at the far end of the city, "All of this was created by the same Dragon who created our race, Eraslarius."

She had been smiling, but her smile faded as she looked to Celena, "However, all the dragons are dead in our world. All vampires could once borrow the magic of dragons to create things like those blue un-burning flames, however we no longer can since there are no dragons left to borrow our magic from. Eraslarius taught us to make this flame, and most households keep a small bit burning. It only spreads to certain types of wood, though it never actually burns it. Now that all of the dragons have passed, we must be careful with it. Some is kept in the royal vaults for safe keeping."

Nanashi continued walking silently, her hands clasped behind her back beneath her cloak as she looked around with a slightly far-off look on her face.

Celena chuckled at that, giving a nod as she walked after her, "Understandable in that case, though why you would not wish to fly.." She shook her head at that, ruffling her wings a bit as she followed along. Flight was one of her main joys, she wouldn't know what she would do without it.

The dragon grew quiet once more as Nanashi gestured to the buildings and how they were built as well as to the one who constructed the cavern. She nodded softly, that would explain the reverence of dragons, if a dragon had been the one to provide so much for them.

Celena tilted her head as Nanashi's smile faded, listening quietly for a moment as she explained the plight of the dragons from her world and what had happened to her kind in their passing, "I am sorry to hear that, the passing of a species, especially one so linked with your own as it seems, is a sad thing indeed," Replying softly as she fell quiet once more.

Following silently along side as she took in every detail of the city, of her current companion and of what she had described.

Like the way she spoke, every step Nanashi took resounded with purpose. It was this seeming air of constant importance around her that lent her most of what made her seem like true royalty. She walked with a sense of ownership and pride, which seemed to make many on the ship wary of her. Despite this Nanashi tended to be skilled at garnering pity. "It is sad. Horribly sad."

After another quiet moment she said, "as for flying, when we fly it feels... different. Our vision, our speed, our hearing- that all seems natural. It is a natural extension of what humans are capable of, but flying feels less natural. We have no wings that grant us this flight, just our minds, our souls and likely some of the dragon magic that still resides within our veins. Most turned vampires do not use this ability outside of battle. Born vampires are much less sensitive and use the ability far more often, but even I feel a little strangeness as I fly- and I think it is rather fun, however it takes me time to get used to it every time I take off.

"I believe it in part reminds us of how closely our souls are bound to our bodies, and that reminds us that if we die, then so does our soul."

They were slowly getting closer to the castle, but at this pace Nanashi realized it would take all evening. "I shall expedite our journey to the castle, for there is little different in our city than any other city, save perhaps our restaurants."

Nanashi would show Celena those if she desired, but she felt that skipping them might be better, so without request for confirmation she moved them to the front of the castle gates.

A similar set of iron doors was the only entrance through the gate. Even the top of the gate was connected to the castle wall by a solid sheet of stone. Nanashi walked up to them, and a guard who she allowed to see her coming reeled up the iron bars behind the door that kept them closed so that they came up through little holes in the top slab of rock. With a gentle push the heavy iron doors swung open, creaking on their hinge. As soon as the pair entered the door closed behind them and the iron bars crashed back into place.

"Welcome home, your Highness," said the guard with a bow. Nanashi acknowledged him, which was more then he usually got. Still, the sensorium construct show no notice of the difference.

"We must be careful of assassination attempts. When you live so long, you are bound to make enemies. In here live several noble families, as well as my precious children."

Nanashi brightened at the mention of 'her' children. If there was ever a smile that reached her eyes it was when she spoke of those she treated as her children or when she was with a child. Compared to this smile, despite the menacing fangs, all her other smiles seemed dull.

"And I must show you the library! We shall go there first, as it takes up part of the basement and first floor."

Celena inclined her head as Nanashi spoke, though she did feel pity for the Vampire she was not one to be blinded by it. She took to note aspects of her companion's personality, the way she held herself as she walked. She pondered all of this quietly as she let her companion explain the intricacies of the way her flight worked and how it was perceived by her and her kind. A view she found quite interesting, so different to how she held flight for herself.

"Hmm..for something to seem unnatural or strange in such a way is understandable I suppose. Though I will admit that my own feelings on flight are quite the opposite personally, though such are the differences between us," She replied with a smile,before going on, "On wing, I feel more alive than ever, my soul soars with me in flight," A wistful smile given as she thought on it, wings rustling, she really needed to stretch her wings some more.

Celena nodded in agreement to Nanashi's suggestion, she was interested indeed in what the castle had she had to show within the castle. Unphased in the slightest as they were suddenly before the castles massive gates. Taking every detail in even as she followed Nanashi along within as the gate was open. "Indeed?" commenting at the mention of assassination attempts, cautious she was it seemed, but to what degree she wondered.

Thoughts of this were soon put aside at the mention of a library, her eyes lighting up as she half grinned, "A library indeed? I'd certainly be interested in having a look,"

"The most terrifying part of our flight is that it reminds us that our bodies and souls are so tied together. When our body dies, our souls do too. While we are immortal, we may be the most mortal of all, if you understand? Occasionally, in those rare moments I am at peace with the idea, I have felt something like what you say, where you feel your soul soaring with you."

As she spoke she led the way into her castle, the first story opening up with a loft that led to all the other floors and hallways branching in all directions. The centre was large, many vampires passing through on their ways to whatever it is they might be doing throughout the day. A group of young giggling human girls ran past, creating quite the racket as they were chased by a young vampire lord no older than them who, despite his feigned anger, was laughing. It was clearly just some sort of play, as he was making sure to gain no ground on the girls.

Nanashi pointed directly in front of them, ignoring the group, "Down that way is the ballroom, where many parties are held, the dining hall, and the kitchens, however, the library is off to this side." She began to walk to the left, headed towards the main hallway on that wall. As soon as they reached the short hallway the library was visible at the end.

The room was spilt into three levels, the bottom most looking much like your average library room, with rows and rows of shelves making isles and books all lining the walls, however it stretched back at least a mile and a half, if not two. To either side of the entrance the wall extended another quarter mile. Dotted among the walls were doors that led to various storage or reading rooms.

The second level, which was the level the hallway opened onto was a sort of loft area that encircled the outer perimeter of the room. The walls were lined with shelves, with another shelf coming out perpendicularly every five or so feet to make little cubical-like areas, each equipped with a small, elegant stone table and chair.

The third level was above them, created in a grid pattern with shelves lining every section that was parallel to the wall the entrance was at. All three levels were periodically connected to each other with stairs that were off to the sides of the loft areas around the edge, while the third and first level were every so often connected by spiral staircases.

Clearly, someone had expected the place to fill up, and indeed it had. In some places books were piled on top of shelves, or on top of each other on the shelves so that more books could be stored. Right next to the entrance sat a fairly young-looking man, though he looked more like a sculpture than a living being. Indeed, many first-time visitors mistook him as such. He was The Bookkeeper.

Aside from the books, he seemed to be the only one not moving, many vampires and humans alike sitting among the stacks, turning pages, wandering with their fingers sliding down the rows, searching for a title. A soft buzz of whispering humans and rustling pages, and a hum that seemed to be no more than the sound of electric in modern walls of whispering vampires. Down the line it could be seen that some vampires were taking advantage of their flight to traverse this vast multi-level place.

Blue flickering candles lit this area scarcely as well, with little brighter spots marking where it was a human reading. To the side of the entrance opposite The Bookkeeper stood a bin filled with pieces of wood with simple wood bases, and a little way further sat a torch of blue nestled into the wall.

At the start of the hall, still in the main room, Nanashi stood, gesturing for Celena to enter, "Welcome to the Royal Library. Ask The Bookkeeper to the right for a book on any topic, and he will be able to give you a title and location."

"I believe I might, yes," She replied thoughtfully, pondering Nanashi's words as she followed her further into the castle to its center. Her golden eyes taking in each vampire that passed them, and especially took note of that group of children that seemed so out of place. The only sign of humans she'd seen thus far, all of them fair looking too, though they did seem to be having fun at least.

Putting that thought aside as Nanashi pointed out a variety of locations within the castle, making a mental note of them even as she led them closer and closer to the library. As they entered she couldn't help a small grin sneaking onto her snout at the shear scale of the library.

The sheer number of books that lined the walls as far as she could see certainly impressed the Linar, she had not seen a library as impressive in all her travels on the surface. Taking in all the movement that was held within its walls, from those reading to those using their flight to move about.

Celena dipped her head to Nanashi and entered as she was gestured to enter, taking a moment to look over the Bookkeeper himself, certainly not a talkative one it seemed, "thank you, Hmm I would not wish to take up your time in books, I may become stuck for hours on end," She commented with a soft chuckle.

Nanashi strode over to the nearest bookshelf and laid her hand on it, the titles all appearing unfamiliar to her. The section she spend her time in was further back- some of the more in-depth history books, first-hand accounts, old battle reports.

"Though I am sure these are likely all books from the media library, I would be honoured if you were interested in using the room for ambiance, I would be glad to re-create it for you any time." She smiled and let her hand fall, walking back to Celena.

She moved out of the library and headed in the opposite direction, to the main hall on the wall opposite them in the entrance room. "I have a feeling that if you lived here, you would quickly become a Librarian- one of the people who spend all their time in the library, reading the books and essentially memorizing where the different books are. Some Librarian vampires even take their 'little deaths' hidden within the storage rooms."

The hall they entered was rather busy, with people of all ages moving up and down it's width. Some open doors led to what appeared to be over-sized living rooms, with soft chairs and a fireplace, each occupied by several people. It was in one of these rooms Nanashi first allowed a glance of a feeding vampire, though it very much looked like the woman was kissing the young gentleman's neck as she sat on his lap.

At the very least he seemed to be enjoying it, the way his eyes were lightly closed and his head tilted away to expose more skin.

"These here are the apartments of some lower nobility and the families of people such as the royal physician, the royal black smith, the royal clothier, as well as a few other skilled professionals from their trades.

"That young lord that was making all that noise in the entry hall earlier actually lives in this wing, a few floors up. His name is Hikaru. He has gotten quite the reputation for being a lady chaser, be they vampire or human. He is really a kind heart, actually, and would not abuse a woman's feelings for his own whims. He has a human girl he is infatuated with, Sakura. He intends on offering his blood to her once they are both of age. She is not only tolerant of the games he plays, but encourages him. She seems to take delight in sweeping him off his feet at the end of the day, and has even said that they ease her job in satisfying him."

Nanashi laughed softly putting her hand to her heart, "It seems not even yesterday that I had taken him under my wing. His parents were farmers who had been killed by Angels, however his mother had managed to hide him. Their neighbour found him later, and brought him to the castle. He was only a little thing, still drinking only his mother's blood. His fangs had not even yet grown in, but now... Oh, there he is, look at how he makes the girls giggle."

Indeed, he was just down the hall, having apparently separated a girl from the herd. He had his hand on the wall next to her, his other lifting her chin gently so that she would look at him. She was laughing and looking away shyly, her cheeks a bright crimson.

"Ah," said Nanashi, realizing she ought to explain something, "Sexual encounters in our society are not repressed as they are in the human's kingdom, especially when one of the partners is a vampire. We have the ability to control when we desire to have children, and we do not suffer from, nor can we spread disease. From my understanding, these are many of the root problems that have developed into a cultural avoidance of sex. As we lack these issues, sex has been embraced in our culture as an enjoyable way to spend time with a friend, without most of those deep emotional attachments that humans develop. That is not to say that it is not intimate. You are not nearly as likely to have a close, deep, heart-to-heart conversation with a complete stranger as you are with someone you are friends with, though doing so may cause a friendship to develop. It is much the same."

Nanashi paused there, figuring that she would allow Celena to ask any other questions before she explained the significance of blood to her culture.

Celena stepped after Nanashi as she approached one of the shelves, watching on and nodding as she spoke, "A fair enough assumption, lest Stacy has recovered the entirety of this library in some manner..a pity. Though perhaps I shall sometime, it would make an interesting ambience indeed,"

She couldn't help but chuckle at that, "A librarian, perhaps, but not for long I would imagine, the itch to explore, to spread my wings. I would certainly read what I could though in the times I wasn't out and about," Shaking her head with a smile, raising an eyeridge at a particular thing she'd mentioned, "'little deaths'?"

Celena once more grew quiet to take in all Nanashi had to show as she lead her further onward out of the library. Watching the many residents move back and forth through the busy halls, pausing as she glimpsed that female vampire feeding...it didn't looks so bad for the one subjected to it, though looks could be deceiving she knew. Filing the sight away for later reference.

On they went, Celena taking in all Nanashi said, a well equipped castle indeed, with the majority of specialties well covered from the sounds of it. She tilted her head with interest though as she went on to describe the certain vampire they had seen previously, nodding softly as she listened on.

He didn't seem a bad one from what she saw and was described of him, though perhaps a bit of a flirty one, soon proven as she pointed him out in the hallway. Shaking her head with a soft chuckle, certainly a bold one it seemed. Nanashi's explanation of her kind's attitudes toward sexual encounters did make the bold advances of the vampire more understandable in her mind.

"I've seen at times how humans can react to such things, some due to superstition some due to other reasons. My own kind are not too..constrictive with such encounters, as long as both are willing, as a way to spend time with a friend as you say, or more meaningful encounters with ones mate," Giving her companion a light smile as she explained, not too hesitant to talk about such things openly.

Nanashi laughed at herself and shook her head, "I am sorry, the idea is such a normal one to me. A 'little death' is when a vampire grows bored of this life. They lay down, often somewhere deep underground, some place safe from the sun, and they cause their hearts to beat so slowly it is almost impossible to notice. They seem to be truly dead, however they are merely sleeping. Some how- most likely through sound, or perhaps even through some unknown magic within us, the vampire will awaken some time later when there is an event nearby that would pique their interest.

"This could take hundred, or even thousands of years, and it is something almost all vampires do at one point or another. I have never had the time, even when I have grown tired."

As they continued among the bustle it was easier to realize that there were a decent number of humans here, while few seemed to walk the streets of the city itself. Being acoustomed to this, Nanashi did not even realize that this might strike someone as strange. Instead she merely went on, "It is good to hear that my culture is not the only one open on the matter. Most of the people I have met on the ship are rather reserved. Of course, even here, if you force someone to have sex with you- human or vampire- it is considered a severe form of assault, and punishable by law. Fortunately, crime is rather low both in and outside the castle. Because of the amount of security," Nanashi gestured to a gentleman who seemed to merely be waiting for someone, "It is rather hard to get very far with any crime."

Yes. Treason was included. While openly Nanashi's law allowed discussion about her rule, anything that seemed dangerous to her rule was called treason. Not that she did anything that might let this on.

"Aside from these quarters, which truly extend to be practically it's own city within the city, there is little that you would not expect to be available in a city, save an inn. There is the Great Hall, however it often fills up early, and so among these apartments there are smaller halls that may be used by several families each. There is also, of course, my chambers, and there is the children's wing. That houses the living quarters of any child in the land who has lost everyone that might care for them. I, with the help of the older children, raise them. While there are too many for me to mind each personally, I have always visited them daily, and made sure to pay special attention to any child who has needed it. There are always a few that are a close to me as my own."

Nanashi had already began walking up the flights of stairs that led to the children's wing. She had intended on allowing Celena to choose where she wanted to visit, however her feet had already decided. "Like my dear Ritsuki-chan. She has dayterrors, and has taken to sleeping with me. The poor girl lost her family to a fire. The human that lived with them saved her, and is now living in the castle as well. She is a little one, only five. Already has skin like cherry blossoms, the dear."

The way she was speaking, it seemed as if she had almost forgotten that this world was no more, and that the children they were going to meet were mostly- if not all- dead.

Celena shook her head with a soft chuckle, "It is no problem, hmm, so it a form of hibernation, or stasis as it were," Pondering aloud she nodded in understanding, "Going into stasis until something of interest happens..an interesting way to pass the time I would imagine," She shook her head softly as she thought on the idea, even if she could, there were so many things that had her interest that she doubted she'd ever run out of things to be doing.

The increased number of humans about the castle did not go unnoticed by the dragon as she was led through, nor did the seeming quality of looks from both Vampires and humans alike, odd. She did not speak up on the matter however, merely mentally noting it as they proceeded onwards. A soft chuckle given as she gave a nod at Nanashi's reply, "Indeed, it was much the same among the humans on my world, though there have been pressing matters on the ship to direct attention to from such things I suppose,"

"Of course, I would not have expected it to be otherwise," She commented with a small nod, noting the man that was pointed out, hmm, a rather high level of security then..something about it just didn't sit right with her. "A low crime rate, is a good thing indeed, as long as the people within it feel safe,"

"A vast castle indeed to be able to fit so many, no small feat," Smiling at that and moving on, tilting her head as Nanashi spoke of her children, those who had lost everything, a noble cause, but to what end? Had the children themselves had a choice in the matter? Perhaps she looked too far into things, but then again, that was part of her job description.

"A kind thing indeed you do here it sounds, to raise them when they have lost everything," A smile on her snout as she followed Nanashi, "Indeed? You take their care quite seriously, to care for them as a mother when you are the Queen of this place, if I am not mistaken in assuming,"

Nanashi smiled, warmth raising in her, "I do. I love them as my own. I have never found a husband with whom I could have a child with, but each of these children, they are as precious as if they were of my blood. I believe that every child deserves as happy a child hood as possible. They deserve love and attention and kind words before the world corrupts them."

They were at the door now, and Nanashi put her hand on the doorknob. She dropped her voice low, pausing. A touch of sadness and pain entered her voice, "I want for them what I was never granted."

She opened the door to the hall. It was just like the other halls, but only children and teens lived here. No one looked older than about 20 years old. One of the little ones happened to notice her first as she walked in.

"It's okaasan!" A chorus of "okaasan" and "Nanashi" echoed through the halls. Many of the children rushed forward, and Nanashi knelt to meet them, her arms open wide. She held as many as she could and kissed the heads of all those she could reach. She picked up in her arms one of the smaller ones and cooed to him, "Karou-kun, how are you feeling?"

"Much better Okaasan," replied the little human boy in her arms, smiling. "Is that a dragon lady? I thought they were all dead!"

Nanashi laughed, "No, but she is like vampires, she's born from dragons. She is a friend of mine from far, far away! Her name is Celena." She turned to Celena and said, "This is Karou-kun". She then she began introducing many of the children, until one of the older vampire girls came up to her and said with a laugh that resembled Nanashi's own, "Nanashi, I don't think that she really needs to hear everyone's name, unless she is moving in."

Nanashi laughed with an honest smile, "You are right, little one. She has not even had a chance to get far into the hall!"

Of course, once they were done greeting Nanashi children up until about the age of 12 were around Celena, while most of the older ones stood back and laughed at the other's antics. As such, she would not have had the chance to get very far before being surrounded by children.

Celena smiled in turn, dipping her head a little as she spoke, "A noble thought,and it is a good thing indeed that you do for them," she replied softly, tilting her head a little at her comment, "Before the world corrupts them you say?"

An interesting term, Celena continued to listen quietly once more, nodding as Nanashi spoke, hmm, so she hadn't had the best child hood herself. Her thoughts on reply were silenced for the moment at the chorus of voices as she led her into the hall. A soft smile on her snout as she watched the children surround Nanashi, it was a sight both happy and sad for her, seeing Nanashi so caring with the children and the knowledge that this was all and illusion, a memory from Nanashi's past. One that it seemed that Nanashi herself was lost in.

"A pleasure to meet you Karou," She greeted kindly, giving small greetings to each as they were introduced, chuckling softly at the older Vampire girls came up. "It is fine, it is good to meet you all,"

Nanashi lifted the human boy onto her shoulders. She then pointed midway down the hall and announced with over exaggerated bravado, "To the Story Room!"

She practically skipped down the hall, holding onto the little boy's legs to keep him steady. The little ones rushed ahead of her, clearly excited at the prospect of going to the Story Room.

The same girl that had suggested Nanashi not go through every child's name approached Celena, "It's really an honour meeting you. The Dragons were really precious to our people, it is wonderful to meet some more of their kin." She bit her lip and looked away, "Nanashi has been through a lot, so please do not judge her too harshly. The chance she gives us- all of us- is so great. She really has good in her heart." She smiled and caught up with one of the human girls her age, clearly not interested in hearing any response.

The Story Room was, like the majority of the castle, windowless, not that it would be easy to tell with the number of tapestries covering the walls. A blue fire crackled in the fireplace, warming up the room. The floor was covered with a thick rug, pads, pillows, couches, chairs, all over-stuffed.

Nanashi lifted Karou off her shoulders and spun him around gently. She gave him a kiss on the head as she set him down. As soon as she sat on one of the couches by the fire a little vampire girl crawled on her lap, the other children clambering for a spot next to her. Eventually everyone was settled into a seat somewhere in the room, chatting excitedly to each other.

Nanashi was stroking the vampire girl's hair as she smiled to Celena, "Please, make yourself comfortable!"

Celena gave a chuckle at that, half grinning at that over exaggerated bravado, shaking her head and following after. Story room eh? Interesting.

She paused though as the same girl as before approached her, blinking lightly "A pleasure to meet you too," she replied with a dip of her head before the other continued, Nanashi already ahead of them and seeming to pay no attention at all to this girl..odd, she listened intently to what the girl had to say. Concern rising within her mind at her words. Both for Nanashi and her seeming loss of control within this illusion of her world.

Celena soon caught up with Nanashi and the other children in the Story room, taking a brief moment from her thoughts to take in the many tapestries that covered the rooms walls, gaze sweeping over the many pieces of furniture, picking out the largest to settle herself down upon for the moment, giving a nod to Nanashi as she spoke.

The vampire seemed so at ease, happy surrounded by all of these children...these illusionary children, it was clear to her now that Nanashi thought all of this real. She could not let the Vampire go long and get herself entirely lost..but perhaps she could see more about her in the way she interacted with the children.

Nanashi could have easily stayed there for hours and hours, forgetting that it was all an illusion. Her mental state was a large part of the reason why Sam thought her using the sensoriums was a bad idea. She was practically completely lost in her illusion.

"Rieko-chan, why don't you start today?" A little human girl began to tell a tale about a human who helped save her vampire friends from the evil Angels who wanted to get rid of the vampires. Nanashi was beaming at first, but her face began to fall as the child's story went on. It was off. It was too familiar, and Rieko was usually so creative.

Of course. Because this was not really Rieko-chan. Nor was the little one on her lap Ritsuki-chan. No, she couldn't hold back the Ohm to save them. Ritsuki had died in her arms, even as she kept striking down the Ohm around her. It wasn't enough.

Nanashi pulled the sensorium-Ritsuki into her arms, closing her eyes against the building tears. She bit her lip. How was it that she had come so close to crying how many times now? What was it with the ship and bringing out in her the few things that could really get her so upset. She did not like this loss of control. But if the Ohm were destroyed, she could get it back.

She could get her children back.

The children looked at each other, whispering, confused. None of them have seen her this upset. Some of the older had heard her tell her story, but it was always done with a certain calmness, a certain acceptance. This was different.

"I am so sorry my little, little ones. I am so very sorry. I will get you back. I will at least make them pay."

Celena watched on with a soft smile as Nanashi asked the girl to tell the tale, listening on as she recited the tale. Though she listened, her true attention was on the only other true person in the room.

Her expression hardened a little as she watched the Vampire's expression fall as she realized the truth of the matter, that all of this was a mere illusion, as real as it seemed. The dragon sat there quietly as she gave the other a moment as it sank in, letting her gaze sweep over the illusionary children that even now whispered amongst eachother. Such elaborate illusions this 'sensorium' could conjure.

Letting a soft sigh leave her throat she faced her companion, "They may yet lie sleeping in the pods, Nanashi," She offered softly, "Perhaps it would be best if we changed the location, or ended this..simulation, I am sorry for the distress it caused,"

Nanashi shook her head, letting go of the child reluctantly, exchanging the scene for one from her inner chambers. It was a small room in comparision with a desk and a fire place. Nanashi was sitting in a plush armchair, while she replaced what was usually another chair of the like with a cushion the same size as what Celena had used last time. Aside from that and a worn carpet the room was rather bare.

Nanashi pressed her fingers into the plush of the chair, "No, I saw most of them die. Many were dead when I got there. The Angels knew of the attack before we did, and they decided to attack us, so we would be weaker against them. Of course, that meant that our forces were focused elsewhere, not that I entirely believe we could have truly held them back. As soon as I heard the City had been invaded by a mysterious force, I fell back to help defend the castle, but the time I got there, they were already inside."

She sighed and shook her head, "I rushed to protect them, however they had just managed to reach there." Nanashi paused a moment to count, "last I remember before being taken was that there were a mere ten of them left, and we were cornered at the end of the hall. Our only hope was that we might seal ourselves off with a mountain of dead Ohm."

"I feel my heart ache for them daily," she said with a wave of her hand, "do not apologise. It is what keeps me going, and part of what made me run for Captain. The murder of a child is unforgivable, and the murder of a vampire is a horrible thing as well."

She realised how that sounded and continued to explain, "Not because we are any better. No. But because our souls are bound to our bodies. There is a chance that the souls of the human children and the rest of the humans are living in existence somewhere. Vampires on the other hand- the immortality of our soul is shared with our bodies because of how strong our souls are bonded to our physical form. When our bodies are completely destroyed, so are our souls. There is no hope for our dead."

Celena kept her gaze on the Vampire for a moment, unphased once more by the change of scenery. She could only assume that the new room was Nanashi's own, idly noting its comparative bareness before redirecting her attention to her companion.

She dipped her head lightly at that but did not look away as Nanashi described what she remembered before she had been taken. Her own memory of her cities demise, as clear in her mind as when it had happened. Yet she forged on, as Nanashi had it seemed, as they all had. "The Ohm have taken most worlds by surprise it seems, even my own fell similarly," She replied softly before shaking her head, "Nevertheless there is still hope for both your children and others, Stacy works in strange ways," She offered with a quirk of a smile.

"Such are among the reasons the Ohm must be stopped, why we must do our all to protect other worlds and if hope shines on us, save our own," The smile on her snout faded, but still lay dormant there as she listened even on, "Your race bears a great gift and an equally great curse then it seems,"

Nanashi nodded, "Unless we give our blood to another vampire, or create another vampire, our souls cease to exist when our body is gone. This is also why the Angels are such horrible creatures. Their blood is the only thing besides fire that I know will absolutely kill a vampire with no chance of regeneration."

She shook her head sadly, "I cannot think that our worlds shall not be saved. It is more than I believe I can bare. At least I may save the children of all the other worlds, even if I could not save my own." She let her head fall back in the chair and she closed her eyes. "There is no thing I can think of that causes me more pain than hearing a child cry. Even the thought that I shall cease to exist when I die is all but a comfort compared to the pain I feel hearing children crying out in fear and pain." Nanashi sighed deeply, still recovering from a seeing all her children, all her dead children again.

Celena inclined her head as Nanashi spoke, to have ones soul so bound was a curse an indeed, the only way to avoid it was to spread it? Interesting. "Hmm, I see, such a thing would be quite a danger I would imagine,"

"I am certain that everyone on this ship would give their all to save the worlds the Ohm have taken, we shall make sure that we save all we can," Celena dipped her head at that thought, "We will do all we can to ensure that does not happen again," Shaking her head softly, letting her own thoughts drift over the last minutes as the Ohm had attacked her own city.

"Dangerous is an undertatement. They say they wish to save humans, yet they are what have caused the war to last so long." She shook her head, going into no further explanation.

"I know that I can help lead us in such a way that we will be more effective in our goals. That is why I am running. Even if I lose, I shall be offering my advice. If I win I shall need to find people who can effectively support me, supplementing my knowledge with theirs, so that we may have experience on our side, not only in military skills, but also in technology, science, medicine."

"Indeed.." Celena trailed of thoughtfully at that, they did sound a threat indeed, but many who described an opponent knew but one side of them, she would perhaps have to look into that at a later date.

"A fine goal indeed you have then," She replied easily, politics, one thing she did her best to avoid involvement in, though she was required at times to observe and analyze those who were highly involved. "I wish you luck in your campaign and with the elections,"

It's Hard to Get People to Like You When You're a Vampire

Re: It's not a problem!

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