Ooooooooooooooookay, so here is my tentative character! I wasn't sure how to go about showing the CS, so I just took a screenshot of the PDF linked in the first post (with my character info, of course), uploaded it, and stuck it here. The rest of the stuff I have posted here is more or less questions and answers presented in the "Prelude" character story building. So before I go on and put it all out, please understand that this is my first time building a character for this particular RPG: I'm probably going to make mistakes and I don't have the experience to know how to optimize my character according to her role as a business savvy aristocrat. I've also tried to brush up on my history and more details about Europe and the Vampire lore in general: I am undoubtedly going to take liberties in how I portray things because I am not a historian or a veteran with this material. Finally, the Prelude aspects I've written that tell my character's backstory are absurdly long. I just started and went on and on and on and on and on...
So if it gets to be to much and it's making your eyes bleed, feel free to tell me what I can fix and I'll be more than happy to edit. As far as canon and what's acceptable to the RPG is up to the DM, so if there are issues with what I've come up with (or you just have better ideas for what I'm trying to do period), I'm also happy to fix them. In essence, I have a former baroness who's seeking enlightenment and remnants of the lore of Nod, and that is why she will end up in Balgrad.
CS
Appearance: Celeste has the pale, impossibly smooth skin of her fellow vampires. Her build is a step above lanky, giving her full feminine form that still retains willowy grace. She has long blond hair (usually braided up in a headdress) and icy blue eyes. As far as facial features, she keeps up a mostly human appearance, sporting flushed cheeks, high cheekbones, and a soft, weak chin. For a woman of her time and culture, she is a bit too lean for the ideal woman, but is otherwise quite appealing.
As far as clothing, Celeste wears the clothing of the time, sporting loose, floor length dresses with long, tight sleeves. Her circumstances do allow her to wear better clothing than most, consisting of fine, dyed wools, embroidered mantles, and thin belts with clasps of precious metal. For formal occasions, she will don the sleeveless surcoat of her family: a blue garment emblazoned with silver feathers.
Mannerisms: Celeste is easily labeled as condescending; she considers her noble heritage a rite that places her above other neonates and expects to be addressed as a lady wherever she goes. In return, she shows respect and even reverence to those in higher society, be they mortal or vampire. She has a love of theology, music, literature, and art; others who make such pursuits a way of life she also shows respect towards regardless of social standing. Her grace and good manners reek of noble breeding, and so it is natural for her to feel at ease or be welcomed in high societies: the opposite is true nearly everywhere else.
What was your mortal life like?
Celeste was born and raised in her family’s barony (a territory of about 10sq. miles in the Gascony region of France). Though she knew nothing of vampires growing up, her family unknowingly entertained quite a number of them, as the beautiful countryside was a popular retreat for the nobles of larger cities like Paris and Marseille. Her family’s estate entertained many salons, opulently spending money on parties and meetings where artists, nobles, authors, and musicians could celebrate French culture throughout the region.
In addition to hearing foreign dialects on a monthly basis, Celeste received private tutoring for the practices befitting a lady, namely the linguistics (Old French and English), etiquette, and business affairs she would use as a fully-fledged baroness. She also had a gift for music, and practiced both vocal and harp music from a young age. In private, she was able to occasionally enjoy horse riding and archery, practices that she insisted on for the sake of getting outside of the house once in a while. Her understanding of Latin was largely based on her family’s devout faith to the Roman-Catholic church, who took readings from the Old Testament daily.
Thus, she became used to fervent study and continued to press into dialects of music, religion, and French culture. Occasionally, she was given leave to visit the great Marseille in the company of her younger brother. She was pampered, educated, and gifted with music, all qualities that lead to her being targeted by a vassal from the ranks of The Courts of Love.
In regards to personality, she developed a sense of nationalism—no culture could compare to that of France’s. Her hardworking personality led her to become one of the most worthy members of the family to run the household, and the fact that she would never have the power to do so because of her womanhood caused deep resentment. While she loved the opulent parties of the estate, she also became aware that her family was steadily overspending well outside of their means; her father would hear nothing of curbing his need for the company of cultured nobles.
A sense of isolation eventually developed between her practicality and the garish appetite of her family. She began to manipulate the grossly unattended expenses of the family, chipping what she could off her father’s orders for goods to reinvest in the barony’s properties. Even so, she knew it was not nearly enough to save the family. A sane woman would have given up the enterprise and accepted that she would be married off to another bothersome family anyways, but she saw the situation as a challenge.
She started by fleeing from her own arranged marriage, making use of servants whose trust she’d gained to help cart her off to some of the family’s friends in Paris. It was quite the spectacle, and she was soundly rebuked, but the insult to her fiancé’s family was such that further attempts at marriage could not be made between the two families. While her mother attempted to downplay the scandal and her father continued to drown in his own narcissism, Celeste began to council her brothers about their ignorance on the state of the family’s finances.
When did you first meet a Cainite?
Although Celeste was occasionally exposed to vampires masquerading as French noblemen and women, she did not gain anything more than fleeting attention from any one of them until the incident of her fled marriage.
Who was your Sire?
According to her sire, Jean Arave Moret, it was “the angry flush of indignance against the snowy innocence of a bride’s garb” that first intrigued him to her. His standing as a viscount made it easy to infiltrate her family, and he made use of their frequent salons to observe her. Her passion for change and willingness to subvert her own father were entertaining to watch, her ability to enrapture him with music more than pleasing.
He approached her as an eclectic suitor, caring nothing of her previous scandal and feigning interest in having good relations with the family’s barony. Despite the pressure from her family, she refused him again and again, and every time, he returned with more poetry, music, and affections, the picture of the perfect, chivalrous bachelor. This annoyed her to no end, up to the point where she refused to leave her room when he was in any close proximity to the family’s property. Naturally, he reveled in the game, taking all the wrong approaches he could think of until he decided the time had come to claim her.
The sudden, inhuman charm he used was both alarming and alluring when he caught her alone during an evening salon. In her naiveté, she believed him to be a silly, but forthright man—someone whose position in life could elevate her own and make her comfortable both physically and emotionally. Their illicit affair began, and after many clandestine meetings and trysts, he proposed. The resulting marriage was grand and happy, and she believed for a moment that a new life with a respectful partner was about to begin.
The consummation of their wedding night, however, was not what she expected. He Embraced her and she consequently became his childe. While he still clung to the pretenses of mortal wedding vows, it was all in mockery. As her inner beast awakened, she not only saw the depth of his deceit, but found a strange pleasure in it: she was duped into undeath and would pay back the creature responsible for it ten times over. As a childe, however, she had no choice but to watch and learn from him, enduring the indulgences of her sire. She was his beloved toy, and he had more plans than to simply show her how to survive. Her first feeding was of his blood, a mistake she realized much too late. The basics of feeding he made very simple, demonstrating methods of extracting blood from multiple hosts, leaving them weak and alive and in euphoric oblivion as to what had just occurred.
He showed her the power of true corruption: in a matter of weeks, her father “disappeared” and the barony, at the bequest of the sons, was legally placed in Jean’s hands. He could enthrall mortals with the smallest effort, using his position of social power and inhuman graces to seduce and comfort his way into their best graces. He promised her family security while turning them into thralls, inviting his host of vampiric peons to descend upon the barony like wolves—it was now his very own sanctioned hunting territory.
What surprised Celeste most was how unmoved she was by the debacle. People she had been raised with, men and women who she still had some shred of respect for were reduced to slaves of their own pleasures. It was a fitting end, in its own way, or perhaps a fitting beginning. She even had to respect Jean’s social genius in manipulating those she had never been able to influence her entire life, as well as his ability to maintain her petty barony while exploiting the most blood out of it.
Resentment did grow in her, however. The world he was playing with was her world, a birthright she had always been denied because of her gender. He had no intention of handing his newest toy to her despite having a palace of his own and she would not stand for it. The more she was taught, the more she fed her hatred until her beast spoke firmly in her mind: it was time to end the being who had created her. The consequences of that action mattered not if she could never hold dominion even with the powers of the damned.
What happened at the end of her plans was the worst possibility. Jean knew very well what her intentions were and was more than prepared when she slipped into his chambers at the crack of dawn. She thought he was asleep, that if she stabbed his vitals enough times, he would perish in a half-awoken state of agony. As she poised herself over his body, he did something she never would have predicted—he bit his tongue and opened his mouth.
The blood she had once feasted on was a sore temptation; it made her hesitate. Before she knew it, Jean’s slit wrist was on her mouth and she was suckling it like a baby. He repeated the act the night thereafter, and the night after that. She became his loyal, obsessed thrall. Jean, however, deemed such an act as protection, not punishment. Bringing up her attempt to the residing prince would only get himself punished, too, so he resorted to branding her on his own. The distinct memory she despises most was that she considered it an act of mercy.
Vengeance and desperate need of her sire caused such conflict within herself that she could feel the beast within crawling out. She wanted to kill, she wanted to kiss; she wanted pain, she wanted relief. Madness was starting to take ahold of her, and even her sire began to have difficulty controlling her.
How do you feel about mortals?
Celeste’s return to some semblance of humanity set upon her as she realized a simple fact: thrall or no, the woman she had been in life had accomplished far more than she ever had in her time as an Cainite, albeit that time was brief. She did have the power to bend mortals and vampires under her will—she’d just been fighting the wrong fight. Her enemy wasn’t her sire, but herself. He controlled her because she could not control herself. If there was still something human inside of her, the soul who had once refused him time and time again, there was hope of stepping out of the shadow of the barony she was raised into.
Thus, though she feels like the lives of mortals are fleeting, she also believes that they are integral to keeping the human part of her alive. It’s not just a matter of being temporarily enraptured by their emotions and creations, but the fact that they share a heritage, and perhaps, share the same fight against inner beasts. The will to survive, to control oneself and one’s surroundings is an active choice.
How do you see yourself?
Celeste sees herself as a monster of the night, a capricious creature that can easily forget its human roots. She was cold as a human and remains so in undeath, but the sense of duty to guide and protect those under her birthright is the magnet of her moral compass. It is the source of her vengeance and the reminder of her need to retain control. She dedicated herself to learning and went behind the backs of her family to become a baroness that could protect them and the serfs underneath them. Thus, she is a hypocritical hero of her own cause, struggling to retain what sense of empathy she still has.
How did you meet the rest of the coterie?
When Celeste became a neonate, she officially joined vampiric society. Although she was bound to her sire and the land she had once considered her own, she decided that she was not yet prepared to face either. She sought after what she heard only in whispers: Golconda. She knew such enlightenment was far beyond reach as she currently was, but pursuing a path of humanity and finding at least some control and sense of self would help her further her goals. There was also the fact that such a personal crusade would put some distance between herself and Jean, helping to weaken his hold over her.
Where is your domain?
Although her sire holds dominion over her barony, she is still considered the baroness over it. Whether out of kindness or his own amusement, Jean has allowed her personal possession of taverns within the barony and express permissions to hunt there as she pleases, with or without other vampires of her choice.
What drives you?
In her search for Golconda, Celeste is willing to travel to the lands of the Erciyes Fragments, hoping to find more clues or relics that will lead to the enlightenment of Golconda or the forgiveness of God. She wants nothing more than to be free of the pulsing desires that constantly undermine her control, with the intention to carve out her own destiny and rule over her own people. With that control and the gift of unlife, she believes that she can forge her own society of culture and moderation.
It was lovely, as always! Such a foreboding, but genial man, that earl! The servants have already been quite entertaining to watch, too. I decided to make up some profiles for the dinner guests (I'll probably put some up for the servants I bring up later, too) to help me add more to the scene, too. You're free to use those profile for your own benefit if you'd like to take control of any of the guests during your posts.
When I was writing my post, I thought up these various characters sitting around Cicely. I don't know if they may be important or not in the future, but should you wish to control any of them for your posts, feel free to do so. Hopefully these profiles will be helpful to you, too!
Name: Matthew Eriador
Age: 48
Occupation: Cartographer
Appearance: Starting to get later into his years, Matthew has a full head of grey hair and mild wrinkles on his brow. He is a wiry being and keeps a trimmed mustache. His usual attire is closer to a merchant’s than a noble’s, sporting long, fine woolen coats and practical linen shirts with the occasional vest.
History: Matthew was born in the capital city of Astley. His family could afford private tutoring, and he was eventually apprenticed to a trading guild, where he followed the work of a cartographer. During the occupation of the country, he worked for the residing government and surveyed all the surviving towns and villages. His latest work has been commissioned to the Earl of Airedale to map the wilderness and ruins throughout the earldom.
Personality: Matthew is a relatively conservative man, but he is also a thinking one. As far as anyone knows, his family consists of a sister and two brothers (all with children), but he has no wife or children of his own. He blames this fact on the amount of travel his job has always required, but he isn’t ever one to complain about being lonely. He seems happy to sit in the corner with his own thoughts, occasionally showing interest in the political feuds of the nobility between their fiefdoms.
Name: Alex Gerthrod
Age: 32
Occupation: Metalurgist
Appearance: Alex has a stout frame and trimmed beard, and it’s obvious to anyone that the suits he wears as formal attire are more than a little uncomfortable to him. His broad shoulders and sheer height make him an intimidating figure, but his gaze is thoughtful and distant most of the time, leading most to believe he’s relatively clueless.
History: Alex was raised in a family of miners working in the mountain village of Pendle. Though he came from a very humble background, his genius was obvious even as a child. He had a knack for quantifying and identifying the properties of ores, proving himself a valuable prospector. When war broke out, he lent his abilities to the rebels, refining metals into fine weapons to fend off both human enemies and monsters.
Personality: Alex has gained a comfortable living from his work, but still maintains a number of intellectual pursuits. He has tried to build upon mathematic understanding in the country, as well as more scientific pursuits, which makes him more of a thinker than a talker. Even so, he is passionate about the conversation when war or weaponry is brought up, and can hardly stop talking.
Name: Erin Gerthrod
Age: 27
Occupation: Housekeeper
History: Erin was born in the mining village of Pendle. There, she cared for her constantly sickly mother, looking after four younger sisters and a younger brother. She knows how to make a meal from almost nothing, and her loyalty and support towards her first crush, Alex Gerthrod, led to her eventually marrying him. Though he was mostly self-taught and far from the recognition his work deserved, the war through his efforts into a better light, and both he and his wife were given titles by His Majesty.
Appearance: Red-haired with long curls and a freckled face, Erin is the picture of a hard-worked village girl. Her skin has been tanned by the sun, her arms are taut with muscle, and she looks downright awkward in the latest, tight-fitting dresses for the nobility.
Personality: Introverted and quiet, Erin prefers to watch her husband talk when in the company of others. She has a perpetually polite smile on her face and still struggles to keep up with the etiquette expected of her position. That being said, her gaze is known to be rather intense, and unlike most women of the noble courts, she is never the first to look away when eyes meet.
Name: James Ichabod
Age: 42
Occupation: General of Penshaw (retired)
Appearance: True to the appearance expected of a soldier, James has a hard-muscled body that has only recently started to gain some fat. He enjoys wearing the finest silks and jackets, making use of vibrant colors that compliment his pale complexion and dark brown hair. The most notable of his features, however, is the long scar that runs across his nose and all the way to the corner of his jaw.
History: James was once nothing more than a humble farmer boy in the village of Stanmore. He lived his life peaceably, but always dreamed of a world beyond the fields and stables he worked day after day. When he was old enough, he joined the regiment of Baron Penshaw. His military performance for bravery and tactical mastery quickly upped him through the ranks, and when the occupational war began, it was his troops that stood firm against the first assaults of the enemy. After the war, he was given leave to retire. He married into a wealthy family by merit of his rank and has since taken to writing philosophies of war.
Personality: Boisterous, proud, and lively, James is clearly a man who has spent too much time around rowdy, unrefined men of war. He’s softened up a bit since his retirement, and rumors say that his wife has strong-armed him into learning actual manners. He does seem to be tamer when his wife is around, and seems mellow enough that most insults and blunt remarks don’t bother him.
Name: Stella Ichabod
Age: 18
Occupation: Housewife
Appearance: Flushed with youth and grace, Stella is in many ways the opposite of her husband. Her tastes are simple, yet refined, and she wears only the fashions that suit her rather than keeping up with the latest trends of the capital. She has hair of gold and vibrant green eyes, which are usually in some state of tension when she’s around her husband.
History: Stella was born into the family of a baron. They were quite well off until the war hit, and rather than putting up a fight and loosing soldiers and civilians, they surrendered early on into the war. Though they were taxed heavily for years, her parents handled the family’s finances expertly, keeping them all afloat and comfortable even with the occupation. This launched them into sudden prosperity at the end of the war, though her stingy parents were also quick to marry her to a colonel who had quite the comfortable income.
Personality: Stella is both polite and social, reflecting in many ways what the true image of a lady should be. Though she does occasionally break from this appearance to scold her rambunctious husband, she generally gives off a calm, soothing air, which is further enhanced when she opts to sing at parties. She also has a savvy sense of both politics and economy, making her a valuable friend for advice to those lucky enough to be able to call upon her.
Name: Odell Jaques
Age: 46
Occupation: Nurse
Appearance: Odell has aged gracefully with grey hair that still holds tints of blond. She has a relatively thin build, but also has a healthy flush to her skin. Her face is a kind one, and she wears very modest clothing despite her station as a duchess.
History: Odell was privately tutored during her childhood and experienced the very finest things in life. She married into the family of another duke and raised several healthy children. That world, however, was shattered when the war hit, and she watched her own husband be executed by the invaders. She managed to escape with her children, only to find that there was nowhere to run to. Ultimately, she spent her days during the war aiding the wounded, and soon found that she had a gift for caring for those poor souls. When the war ended, her title was reinstated and she was allowed to keep her estate.
Personality: Odell is a kind, if somber woman. Though her skills with taking care of others are relatively new, she’s taken care even after the war to practice them. She finds that helping others eases her own pain, and she is one of the most sympathetic ears a person can hope to chat to. Her smiles are rare, but warm, and she has never been known to have an insultive demeanor.
Name: Brian Jaques
Age: 22
Occupation: Druggist
Appearance: Brian’s frame is fairly thin, but much like his mother, he also has a healthy flush to his skin. He has rather wild blond hair that he gave up taming long ago, and he fits into the suits of a gentleman with ease. He smiles frequently.
History: Brian was comfortable and educated in his childhood, though he also witnessed the death of his father during the occupation. When he escaped with his mother, rather than joining the troops, he joined the effort of aid and followed in his mother’s footsteps to care for the wounded. Long before the war ended, he developed a fascination with medicine, and has since become one of the leading students in the field.
Personality: Warm and kind, Brian believes that no time spent in the company of friends is wasted. He treasures his relationships and works tirelessly to make his family proud. Though he is not the head of his family (his elder brother is), he has no resentment, happy to spend his days studying and speaking with other practitioners to learn the best and latest cures.
“Ah, what a pleasant man.” An elderly lady who had been seated at Cicely’s table was quick to begin conversation with the young man sitting next to her. “You know, most of the other lords of land don’t share quite as admirable an opinion of the current state of affairs. It would seem the only territory worth claiming to some are steadings and mines.”
“I quite agree, Your Ladyship.” Cicely knew this lady who decided to butt in—she’d introduced herself ever-so-genially as Lady Ichabod. “Strange, isn’t it, that just after a war, we must speak of more war.”
“Mn, it is quite concerning.” The middle-aged man next to Lady Ichabod stretched his arm over the back of her chair, only for her to promptly shove it off. He pouted at her before turning his attention back to the table. “On one hand, the earl has secured his assets quite nicely, but on the other hand, territory like this is something any man—be he duke or baron—would be jealous over. A functional port, and on the more favorable Tarnock sea!”
The young man next to the elderly lady laughed. “True enough, but we should celebrate the moment, no? After all, it would seem the earl has been good enough to share the bounty of his port with us.”
Cicely gazed down at her their table as well, and she had to disagree: what lay before them wasn’t a bounty, but a holy platter of the finest seafood she’d ever laid eyes on. There was an elegant plate of cod baked with some crunchy, cheesy topping, and it lay on a fresh bed of carrots and fresh salad greens. Next to that were long strips of salmon baked with pistachios and green beans roasted to perfection; then there was the white, steaming halibut with slices of exotic tangerines as it lay among more salad greens; dominating most of those dishes even then was the plate of still-hot crab legs, complete with lemon sauce with which to dip the delicate meat; but perhaps most irresistible were the lemon and spinach crusted fish fillets. Those were just the main dishes present to choose from, however.
Warm wheat bread, hot from the oven, honey and butter, wines said to have survived in the cellar during the occupation—there was no spared expense on the table. Cicely found herself staring in awe, and for a moment, her self-control was tested. She had to try at least a little of everything, as she would probably never have the chance to again. In that moment, she forgot that her and the earl’s eyes had ever met. In fact, she forgot where she was entirely, focusing solely on the textures and tastes of the varying fish as they more or less melted in her mouth.
By the time she could force herself to stop eating, her stomach already felt like it might burst. She delicately dabbed at her lips with a napkin and glanced about the table again, finding that the group was still deep into conversation. They had only compliments to rain down on the food and the serving staff, and on top of those were even more favorable words on the earl’s fine tastes and excellent hospitality.
Cicely finally glanced back at the man’s direction. He did seem like the merry type, smiling and talking with his hands as much as he did his mouth. She decided she ought to forgive the annoyances he’d indirectly caused her—after all, hadn’t he provided the lovely gown and the fantastic dinner? It was kind of him to have considered someone like her a scholar, but she had to wonder: were all the guests just a show to enhance his social status, or did he actually plan to do something will all the brilliant minds in the room?
Hi!
I found this idea strangely attractive and have since picked up the Vampire: The Dark Ages book. After going through about 150 pages of it (and getting my mind destroyed by the historical iterations that are impossible to keep track of in a first read-through) and working through the character sheet, I had an idea for an originally French neonate who would have a background like the suggested "Lady of the Night." I prefer bardlike (D&D reference, haha) characters to begin with, so a more noble, yet not ridiculously frail lady character appealed to me.
I haven't put a ton of concrete character development down quite yet because I don't have a real vibe for the characters involved thus far (I also feel like I need to have some DM conversation to know the overall feel and needs of this RP). And then there's the fact that the introduction itself is going to require me doing more lore re-reading until all of the names fit into my head.
All that being said, if you guys are open to that initial character concept and a new player like myself, I'd be happy to put up what I have for my character so far. Otherwise, I wish you all the best in your roleplaying endeavors!
As a personal note, the wikia I found for Vampire: The Dark Ages is here. And, if you have the money and the interest, you can buy hard copies or download pdf copies of the book for the roleplay on DriveThruRPG. You can also torrent it, but... that's morally incorrect, even for a dark vampire rpg.
I knew it. Djonn wants me to suffer. Adele removed the totem mask from her face for the umpteenth time, one arm curled around her middle as she tried to keep her stomach from turning inside out. The rattling movement of the carriage on top of having her vision zoomed in and out at will was the perfect recipe for nausea. While she figured a master of such a device could ultimately learn to use it while moving, she was far from such a goal. If she tried to use her cannon without some ample practice, her trajectory would be so off-put that the group would probably wonder if she’d ever used her cannon before.
So what gives, Djonn? Why me? Even if you didn’t want to play lookout, you could have given this to someone else. Y’know, someone you’ve known longer and trust more? Adele put the mask back on and gazed in the old man’s direction, squinting her eyes to zoom in on his face. Surely, the totem must have psychic properties to affect her vision so. Or perhaps the eyes had special lenses that reacted to the subtle tension of her face?
The carriage hit a pothole, and she promptly forgot anything about the totem’s properties.
“You alright?” The driver glanced at her, more fearful than concerned. “Mr. Hemming isn’t going to forgive me if you—”
Adele held up a finger, her other hand occupied with covering her mouth. She waited a moment for the rolling motion in the pit of her stomach to stop before speaking. “Don’t worry. If something happens, Djonn will be fully responsible. If that’s not in the contract, I’ll write it in.”
“Eh… maybe you ought to take a break, then? Whatever you’re doing looks awfully… awful.”
“Thank you for noticing, Sir Obvious.” Adele shot the man a glare, deciding to take out her frustration on him. “In case you haven’t noticed, I have the best vantage point in this miserable caravan, so I’m more responsible than most for keeping vigil. If something sneaks through while I have this masochistic vision totem, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
She couldn’t tell if the man’s face was amused or annoyed—it was a very strange mix of the two on his crinkled face. “Just give it a break for a few minutes. I don’t want to have to deal with vomit on the driver’s seat.”
For the sake of her light lunch, she did take a break. She listened to him go on and on about his various clientele, namely some popular vocalist by the name of Tristana Dent. The best part was that she didn’t even have to feign interest because it was her job to continually glance away to watch the roadside. At length, she finally gave him a jibe about never having given a ride to an esteemed engineer—namely the one responsible for creating the carriage he so liked to brag about.
“His name is Victor Greaves, by the way.” Adele gave the driver a smug smirk. “He worked with a team of scientists who put the first electric crystals to use—in Bossart, that is. I got to attend a seminar on totem powered machinery by him when I attended the academy. After his lecture, I got to shake his hand, and he personally signed my copy of his textbook.”
After that little quip, the driver didn’t talk much.
She was more or less left alone with her thoughts, and she eventually came to regret that. While she was used to getting upset and going off as she pleased, losing composure as she had in front of Rook was new. She still couldn’t shake off the embarrassment he’d given her just before they left. With a real task in guarding the most targetable object in the caravan, she’d been eager to go off to her post, only to realize she wasn’t ready. There’d been no time or privacy to get her shoes and stockings on, so she’d been caught leaning haphazardly against the carriage while trying to shove them on.
“Did you want me to put those on for you? Not that seeing you hop like that isn’t fun, of course.”Ugh, that pervert! I’ll get him for that! Adele glared down at the carriage’s passenger compartment, knowing full well that Rook was in there. He probably wasn’t having issues holding his pride or his stomach down, either.
Enter the swaggering new player! It's nice to see you onboard, Cutie! (this is the name I dub thee Hella Cute, hereon and henceforth)
I will try and burn up the rest of my creative juice coming up with a post, especially since I didn't get around to posting earlier. Prepare yourselves for the return of overemotional Adele!
