Romero

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Kirkpatrick House
Skills: N/A

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Millicent seemed to have some bite in her still. Regardless, William found his mind wandering. He was out of his natural habitat, not just literally in the carriage, but also in the whole situation. He always yearned for the thrill of a good story, but now he was brushing shoulders with nobility, for what? The promise of payment from a man who was clearly not the most honourable? The opportunity to play at the marriage of that same man to a woman who was selling herself to save her family? He missed the freedom, the care-free life that he'd been enjoying since his father had passed, travelling from town to town, not being tied to anyone or anything.

And yet here he was, trapped within this web of problems. He'd waded in too deep for him to turn around and try and clamber out now. He had to push on. But he was out of his depth, and he knew that the skills that he did have weren't suited to these basic pleasantries. Give him a Soulless to kill, and he'd throw himself into it, give him a violin to play, and he'd never feel more alive, but this? It felt slow, every move he made seemed to be the wrong one. Maybe if his mother had survived, he might have been better at this, but he'd grown up a wanderer. He had enough charm to seduce a barmaid, he had enough charm to at least fit in among the gentry, but in situations like this, he was like a blunt knife.

The door of the carriage being pulled open dragged William out of his own thoughts, and he turned to see Rutherford standing in the doorway. He'd not even noticed them stopping moving, but clearly they had arrived. Lady Kirkpatrick was the first out, ignoring the hand offered by Rutherford. Suddenly feeling claustrophobic in the carriage, and with neither Millicent or the other woman making any move, William clambered out of the carriage next, relieved by the fresh air he gulped down. Lady Kirkpatrick was already moving towards the front door of the impressive house, but William wasn't in any rush. He simply enjoyed the wind he could feel on his face.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Dream Land
Skills: N/A
Hit Points: 6
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The figure of Mauve, or at least the figure of Mauve that Cobalt's mind had conjured up, had just shrugged off her dress when Cobalt's surrounding started to fade away. He cried out in dismay, stepping forward and reaching out, but Mauve was gone before he could reach her. Cursing slightly under his breath, Cobalt was in darkness for a moment, inky blackness seeming to cling to him like a blanket, and then the light came rushing back like a wave. Lively music filled the air, and in an instant, Cobalt was in the middle of a crowded ballroom.

It only took him a moment to recognise where he was. He could feel the mask on his face, less elaborate than the one his unconscious body wore but still enough to conceal his identity. Strangely enough, the party that his memory had conjured up was another time he had come uninvited. Sure enough, as he glanced across the room, through the mass of dancing bodies, he saw Elizabeth. He winced as he remembered their... argument. He could almost still feel the three scratches she had left across his chest, but he smirked slightly at the memory regardless.

Glancing around, Cobalt allowed himself a nostalgic smile. He had still been young and foolish when he had sneaked into this party. He hesitated slightly, maybe he hadn't quite outgrown the foolish stage yet? Deciding to leave such issues till when he woke, he resolved to enjoy this dream while it lasted, and stepped forwards, joining the whirling dancers, losing himself in the music.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Annan
Skills: N/A

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William had to hold back a physical wince. The auburn-haired woman sitting opposite him really wasn't pulling her punches. His hopes of getting to know her, of recovering from his initial misreading of her, was becoming a fainter reality with every minute that passed. Regardless, he didn't try and defend himself, and he only glanced towards the woman as she spoke, his face not giving anything away. Maybe this was justified, or maybe it was simply her way of venting, venting about the loss of the two figures strapped to the roof, or venting about something altogether different. Either way, it wasn't William's place to stop her.

For how much he had enjoyed Lady Kirkpatrick's ire when it was turned towards Egerton and Rutherford, William certainly didn't enjoy when it was turned towards him. The younger woman was blunt, but he could shrug that off, Lady Kirkpatrick had much more experience at this, and her words actually cut. Before he could even begin to think of an answer, Millicent broke her own silence. He glanced across to her, and found out the answer to the question he had asked himself, just minutes before.

It was for her family? He'd been right to feel something wrong with this engagement, all the way back in that tavern in Port Annan, but he didn't give himself time to congratulate himself. He held his own tongue, he had waded in without care too many times, now was the time for tact, or at least some semblance of it. His place was to wait, and to watch. In his own mind, he'd entered into some half-contract with Millicent, some sense of honour binding him to her. For now, at least, he would play the part of the musician, ready to play at the couple's wedding, and only fueled by the promise of payment. Besides, he wasn't too fond of drawing Lady Kirkpatrick's razor wit back at him, not for now at least.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Dream Land
Skills: N/A
Hit Points: 6
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Cobalt clenched his eyes shut, crying out again as he felt his grip beginning to slip. And then suddenly, it was all gone. The barking faded away, the wind died, and the air cleared. Now, there was faint music, and the scent of fresh spring flowers in the air. And he wasn't clinging anymore, he was simply standing, feeling the warmth of the sun on his face. Hesitantly, he opened his eyes. He wasn't trapped in that hellscape, but he also certainly wasn't in the Billiards Room of Shadowell Manor anymore.

He heard a ring of laughter behind him, and turned to see an angel. Or at least, she looked like an angel. Flowing golden hair, dazzling emerald eyes, and a sky-blue dress that clung to every curve, she was the most beautiful woman that Cobalt had ever seen. She smiled shyly, and blushed as Cobalt's mouth fell open. He tried to speak, but he couldn't find his voice. Something about the vision in front of him was totally entrancing.

In an instant, he knew what it was. She was innocence, she was every young woman he'd seen, blushing in the corner as she caught Cobalt's eye across the ballroom. Her face seemed to shift, like mist, flickering through the faces of the women who had crossed Cobalt's path, before settling on one, half-formed. He knew the dark blue eyes that looked back at him at once, but he didn't know the face. Not yet. Cobalt smiled as the woman took a step towards him, a smirk crossing her face.

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Annan
Skills: N/A

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William had been expecting the retort from the woman, but that didn't make the blow any softer. Bizarrely though, he smiled as she moved past him and climbed into the carriage. Now that he'd looked at the woman properly, he didn't see rejection in her rebukes, he saw a strength. She had a fire burning in her heart, a strong will behind those blue-green eyes. He'd been wrong to think that her bluntness had been a sign that there was nothing special about this girl, it was a sign that there was much more to her. He hoped that his initial entitled blundering hadn't condemned him too much in her mind, he relished the opportunity of getting to know the woman in time.

Stepping up into the carriage, William closed the door behind him, and took his seat beside Millicent. A moment after he had, the carriage lurched forwards, and their journey continued. The carriage was dragged through the mud as it returned to the road, and William took the chance to glance around the other characters within. He caught a look of perplexity across Millicent's face, just for an instant, and he frowned slightly himself. He decided it would be best to give Millicent some time without his prying, hopefully to recover from his pushing too far just moment earlier.

The carriage made it back to the road, and the clattering of the wheels on the cobblestones drowned out any outside noise, William's teeth rattling in his head as they bounced and juddered along. Lady Kirkpatrick spoke, her voice just audible above the noise from the road. William glanced towards Millicent, but it was clear the young woman wasn't going to answer, her face turning pale and her gaze focusing on everything but Lady Kirkpatrick. Realising that this would have to serve as his cue, William took an instant to think, before he spoke himself, keeping his voice low enough so that it wouldn't travel out of the carriage.

"I cannot speak for Miss Wyndham, but I believe her experience with the two Lords is greater than my own. For myself, our paths simply crossed earlier today in Port Annan and I offered them my services as a musician."

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: Billiards Room
Skills: N/A
Hit Points: 6
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Cobalt continued to struggle, desperately attempting to stave off the pit of unconsciousness. But he knew it was a fight he couldn't win. The fire seemed to burn unbearably hot, and his mask was suddenly stifling him. It took all his willpower not to tear the mask off there and then. He half-heard Jane's voice above the roaring in his ears, but he couldn't make out her words, and it simply be some creation of his fevered mind. Grimacing, he slipped into the darkness, slumping as he finally passed out.

He seemed to wake with a start. In an instant, he realised the chair was gone. Not only the chair, but the Billiards room, and the very manor house itself. He cried out, as he realised that he was hanging off the edge of a cliff! He scrambled for grip, but he couldn't pull himself up, he could only cling desperately, his fingertips the only thing saving him from death. The air seemed suffocating, and every breath was a ragged gasp. The harsh barks of rabid dogs seemed to come from every direction, below and above him all at once.

His mind still reeling, struggling to understand this reality, Cobalt looked up, and cried out again, his voice lost in the roar all around him. Against the dark sky above him, standing over him as he clung to the cliff, there was a dark figure silhouetted. The figure was little more than a shadow, only darkness where any features should be, but Cobalt had never been more terrified. He was sure that this figure was doom, an angel of death that had descended to punish him for his sins. This was surely his end!

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Annan
Skills: N/A

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William had half-moved to climb onto the carriage when Lady Kirkpatrick spoke. He stopped, and barely managed to stifle a smile as she chided the two Lords like schoolboys. He'd heard rumours of the woman, her reputation preceding her, and often being talked about in the local inns and taverns, but in person, she was resplendent. Her wit was razor-sharp, and she could clearly still more than handle herself, despite her age, if the corpses of Soulless they had found her standing amongst was anything to go by. He didn't doubt that a truly formidable mind sat behind those piercing blue eyes.

Rutherford at least seemed to realise that arguing with Lady Kirkpatrick was a fight he wouldn't win. Swallowing his pride, but not quite resisting the urge to grumble, Rutherford climbed up onto the carriage. Egerton seemed to hesitate more, and William found himself silently willing the man to argue, purely so that he could witness the spite that Lady Kirkpatrick seemed primed to unleash. The head of the cane pressing against his chin seemed to be enough of a deterrent, even for Egerton, and the man finally relented, following after Rutherford. William sighed, almost disappointed, but from what little time he had endured in Egerton's company, he didn't doubt that the man would draw Lady Kirkpatrick's ire again before long, and William planned to be in prime position to watch when he did.

He was glad to see that Lady Kirkpatrick had somewhat taken Millicent under her wing already. For all of William's sense of unease about the wedding Millicent was heading towards, he lacked the power that Lady Kirkpatrick wielded in her wrinkled hands. He only hoped that she really was as intuitive and as shrewd as he thought she was. Realising that it was only himself and the other, fairly rude woman yet to board the carriage, William made a move. Hoping to remedy some of the damage he seemed to have inadvertently caused earlier, he help open the carriage door, and gestured for the woman to go before him, smiling as he did.

"After you, ma'am, I insist."

He watched her face as she spoke, all too ready for another rebuke, but curious to see how the woman did react. In that brief moment, he seemed to catch himself. His empathy, his compassion, his humanity, all came rushing back. Maybe he really had been playing his part for too long, that somewhere along the way of perfecting his charm, he'd lost some part of himself. He'd found this woman in the midst of bloody carnage, two of her companions had been slain, and even now were strapped to the carriage roof, and his first act had been to try and win her over? How far had he fallen? His smile fading, he properly looked at Maeve for the first time, bowing his head slightly as he spoke.

"If you wish, that is."

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: Billiards Room
Skills: Constitution
Hit Points: 6
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A wave of fatigue washed over Cobalt, and he reached out a hand to steady himself on the billiards table itself. The room seemed to sway, just for an instant, and he shook his head to try and clear it. Maybe he was simply tired, the stress of the evening finally catching up with him, or maybe it was something more sinister... Pushing the thought from his head, Cobalt shut his eyes as he tried to steady himself.

He almost fell as the feeling threatened to consume him. Whatever it was, it wasn't fading. His ears roaring, sweat running down his brow. His tongue felt too big for his mouth, but even if he had wanted to speak, he felt like the effort might make him pass out. Leaning heavily on the table for support, and through suddenly bleary eyes, he saw the line of chairs against one of the rooms walls. Moving painfully slowly, but needing to focus on every step, Cobalt inched his way along the billiards table.

Taking a deep breath as his support reached an abrupt and unwelcome stop. The distance between the table and the chairs could only be a metres, but to Cobalt, it may as well have been a chasm without end. Taking a deep breath, realising that if he didn't at least sit down, he might be shortly getting better acquainted with the floor. Pushing himself away from the table, he staggered the couple of paces into the abyss, and all but fell into the welcoming arms of one of the chairs. Struggling to maintain consciousness, Cobalt took deep breathes, his eyes closed as he tried to stop his head from spinning.

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Shadowell Manor: Billiards Room
Skills: N/A
Hit Points: 6
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Mauve drew even closer, just for an instant, and Cobalt allowed himself a smile, even though she did move away a moment later. Here at least, he had found an equal. Even though every shadow in the accursed house could conceal a hidden killer, here at least, he could find some semblance of enjoyment. He didn't know who the 'fool' was that had attempted to stab his new companion, but presumably, once they had finished hopping around the manor somewhere, they would want some form of revenge. When that moment came, Cobalt would make sure he was ready, although in truth, he'd been on edge ever since he'd first arrived outside the front gates.

That moment seemed a lifetime ago, but it can't have been more than a few hours past. Brought back to the present by Mauve's question, William moved towards the table himself, shrugging slightly as he did so. He'd been drawn to the table himself, when he'd first walked into the room, but the bells that had been ringing were worth investigating if nothing else. He stopped a few paces from where Maeve stood.

"Games pass the time, but I wager we'll find something more exciting if we explore this house further."

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Annan
Skills: N/A

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William was left slightly slack-jawed by the woman's response. He thought he had been his best, charming self, looking to make conversation as an escape from the bleak backdrop that they found themselves in, but he had been rebuked. She hadn't even had the courtesy to return the introduction. He frowned as he watched her walk after Lady Kirkpatrick, perhaps he'd been wrong to think there was more to her, perhaps she was simply as she appeared. Besides, if there was more, he was hardly being allowed to see it. Shrugging, and brushing off the rejection, William started to hum to himself, some half-forgotten classical piece, as he moved towards the carriage as well.

It was clear that the group was about to embark, keen to leave the bloody scene behind them. The onward journey would be more crowded, two more needing to fit within the carriage, as well as the two corpses, although William could see that they had been lain across the roof of the carriage itself. He was no fool, he knew that he was hardly at the top of the pile in the group he had found himself in. Two Lords, a Lady, even Millicent was clearly a member of the gentry, and even Rutherford would force his fiance out of the carriage. The other woman he couldn't place yet, but she had Lady Kirkpatrick's favour. If anyone was going to lose their seat, it was going to be William. Thankfully, he was used to not exactly luxury travelling, and he had missed feeling the wind on his face. Avoiding Egerton was a welcome bonus.

Resolving himself to his fate, William continued moving towards the carriage. The story was just beginning to reveal itself, and William would be damned if he missed it. He was already thinking of the songs he could write about the characters he had met, and he continued to hum absentmindedly.