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Post by CORBIN ROSE HALLOWAY on Aug 8, 2011 5:17:39 GMT
This was clearly going against everything she had learned in her time as queen. Under no circumstances was she to leave the Halloway mansion unattended. Yet, there she was walking down the streets of Jamerson Falls alone. She didn't have much time, the staff was surely going to notice that she was missing and Heath was probably going to throw a fit until he found his wife again. She wasn't looking forward to his temper, but some nights she just had to get away from it all. The demands and stresses of being the vampire queen was slowly taking it toll on her. She of course had been forced into this life. Hand picked to be Heath's queen while she was human. Her fangs were only a result of Heath's anger from her reaction to the news...but as Corbin thought about her past more she was sure she would have had them one way or the other. Heath was a very determined man, if he wanted her to be the queen he was going to do anything and everything he could to make sure that was accomplished.
The queen's condition was slowly starting to reach the other royals. There had been talk that she would be executed if she didn't get a hold of her human emotions. She had been expected to rule like a queen and that could not be done when she was allowing floods of crimson to run down her cheek. She appeared weak because she was too sensitive. She had always been that way, what made Heath think that it would be any different. Maybe that was why she was staying away from heath tonight....she was going off on her own to deal with the empathy that often consumed her. Heath tried to get her to understand that she just needed to cut off all her emotions and to give into instinct. That goal really wasn't that hard but Corbin thought that if she allowed herself to become detached from her emotions she would lose herself and become someone that she barely even knew. Was it worth it though? The person she had been was weak, pathetic, and miserable....she had the chance now to be strong, to be a ruler. Her life depended on it after all. She made her way down the alley, hoping that for tonight she would be left alone with her thoughts.
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Post by 11tk38 on Aug 8, 2011 22:45:50 GMT
Brodir was on another stroll through Jamerson Falls, he was still in the process of familiarizing himself with the cityscape. Brodir had just left Ambrosia, it was another full night, but Brodir had gotten tired of the racket that was the music. He desired a little peace and quiet tonight. Brodir left Ambrosia in the hands of one of his business partners, they were younger than he, and so probably more capable of minding the club.
Brodir still marveled at the many advances of the modern world, advances humans took for granted. Street lights for example were in great abundance these nights. They used to be very rare and were often times used by wealthy individuals. That is until the larger cities started to adopt them in the eighteen hundreds. Those were usually gas power or kerosene powered and had to be lit by hand each night. Now the street lights were set up every few feet and came on automatically at a certain time. This of course made the night a much brighter place. A place much harder for vampires to hide in. Perhaps the street light was the first step to ensuring that vampires would be forced to go public.
Brodir was shaken from his reverie when he a woman heading into an alley. This was no ordinary woman, she was vampire, and no ordinary vampire at that. Brodir recognized her, it was her royal majesty Corbin Halloway. Brodir had only met the Queen briefly, when he had introduced himself to the King, and ask his leave to reside in his domain, the Kingdom of New Jersey. Brodir quickly scanned the area, but he didn't see any of the usual bodyguards that surrounded the Queen. This worried Brodir, as the Queen was still quite young, and vulnerable to enemies.
Brodir himself had begun to hear rumors about Queen Halloway. Brodir usually isn't one to pay heed to rumors but something had happened recently. Brodir had been approached by a representative of another King he had served in the past. His former King had wanted Brodir to get into a position to gather information on his current King and Queen. Brodir had turned the representative away, stating he had sworn fealty to their royal majesties King and Queen Halloway. The representative invoked a debt Brodir had with his former King to prevent Brodir of informing King Halloway of the offer, Brodir was honor bound to obey.
Brodir decided to approach the Queen, to see if she required any assistance, it was the honorable thing to do after all. Using the great speed granted to him by his advanced age, Brodir moved up behind the Queen and stopped several paces back. "Forgive my intrusion your majesty, but do you require any assistance?"
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Post by CORBIN ROSE HALLOWAY on Aug 12, 2011 2:08:53 GMT
"Forgive my intrusion your majesty, but do you require any assistance?" Corbin turned around slowly. It caught her off guard slightly to have been approached so fast but there really wasn't any use trying to pretend who she was. Everyone in that town much less the state knew very well who she was. Her cheeks would have given off a slight bit of pink from embarrassment if she had been alive. She wondered if he had heard the stories about her. If he happened to know that she would only be given a little more time before the other royals decided upon her execution. If she couldn't control her human emotions then she wasn't fit to rule at all. Heath had tried to get her to understand that as much as he could. She was sure she was looked at as weak...that was the last thing she wanted but she knew it was true.
"If you wish to walk with me you can. I suppose a little company wouldn't hurt." she said trying not to express any emotion at all. She was trying to avoid showing her vulnerability at that moment, one she was sure he knew about. Corbin continued to walk, her eyes now focused on a few of the alley lights. She wasn't sure whether or not he would follow, much less if she was safe. At that time she was willing to take her chances. She didn't think it was possible to hold herself together in time that the council would decided she was fit to rule. Her human life had been filled with so much pain and suffering that it was clear it had successfully transferred over to her undead state. It made no difference to her if she was staked in an alley or by her husband who would be most likely ordered to do so. |
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Post by 11tk38 on Aug 12, 2011 17:49:38 GMT
Brodir fell in step a pace behind and to the right of the Queen. "As you wish your majesty. I could use the company as well." Brodir looked around once more, "Forgive me your majesty, but if I may ask, where is the usual retinue that you travel with? I don't think I can recall ever seeing you alone before." True Brodir had only ever seen the Queen once before in public, when she attended the grand-opening of Ambrosia, but she had been surrounded by bodyguards. Perhaps like him the Queen had little time or use for sycophants, or perhaps she just wanted to clear her head. Hopefully I am not disturbing her majesty Brodir thought, although she did invite me to keep her company. Hopefully she was not just being polite.
Brodir didn't really know what to say, it was not an often occurrence that he encountered the royalty outside of a official function. Her majesty also sounded distracted or perhaps even distraught. Brodir wondered if the Queens situation was more dire than he knew. Brodir thought it best if he did not inquire on the matter, it was not his place to after all. Brodir wondered as to the fate of the Kingdom of New Jersey, if the other royals were plotting against them. What else would have the Queen so worried?
Though the Queen was young Brodir reminded himself, perhaps there were other concerns on her mind. Brodir tended to forget the concerns of the young, after all it has been a long time since he was young. Well if the Queen needed to discuss anything with him, he would be here to listen. Although he was unsure of how to convey that message except directly. "It may not be my place your majesty, but if you need to talk about anything, I am willing to listen if you need me to." Brodir hoped he wasn't overstepping his bounds, but again he wasn't sure of the procedure to discuss unofficial matters with one of the royalty.
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Post by CORBIN ROSE HALLOWAY on Aug 19, 2011 6:51:27 GMT
"Forgive me your majesty, but if I may ask, where is the usual retinue that you travel with? I don't think I can recall ever seeing you alone before." Her lips parted slightly. She didn't mind the company at all but the answer to his question was rather hard. She didn't know why she was exactly doing this. In fact the whole idea of it was very crazy. There were tons of dangers that the queen faced when wandering out into public alone. Really no matter how she looked out she was being extremely foolish and naive. "I guess I was counting on something to happen." she glaced at him quickly trying to gage his reaction before she looked down at the ground as her heels drummed out the beats of her steps. "I'm not really sure what....but I suppose whatever it was I thought it would be better then this."
She wasn't exactly sure what she meant by "this". True Corbin loved Heath with all her heart but she couldn't help but think death would be far more comforting. She had prayed for it all her human life...and got it but in a different way. Her natural instinct of survival and being on top as a vampire kept her fighting but the misery of her human life seemed to be holding her back. She supposed that was how she came to be living in a very uncomfortable in between. A place where true death didn't seem to scare her if she didn't think too much.
"It may not be my place your majesty, but if you need to talk about anything, I am willing to listen if you need me to." She gave a pause uncertain of what words she was going to say. Her eyes looked into his once more as she tried hard to hide the pain that she was starting to experience. Her transformation had been very painful and violent. It was something that always stuck with her no matter how hard she tried to forget about it. Maybe that was because she hated this life. She felt she had been robbed. A wild horse plucked from the fields to be used as a show horse. She had been plucked from life to be an undead queen. "Do you love this life?" was all she could managed to say as she looked away trying to hide a tear that was beginning to form. |
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Post by 11tk38 on Aug 20, 2011 2:51:04 GMT
Brodir considered the Queen's question carefully. He took note of her body language, she did not seem in the best of spirits. Something was definitely bothering her, Brodir could smell the traces of blood that often preceded the bloody tears of a vampire. "Over all I would say yes, however it is a lot to take in." Brodir thought back to his early nights as a vampire. He had coped by giving in to his baser instincts for violence among others. "We all handle this life differently, but it is especially hard when you are still new to it. What about you my Queen, you seem uncomfortable with your new existence." Brodir began to wonder if the Queen wanted to die, it would explain why she is wondering around by herself. It would also explain her comments from earlier, about expecting something to happen. Brodir then wondered if the Queen was the type to meet the sun, he had known a few in his time that had.
Brodir though again about the words the Queen used, she had expected something to happen. Had she expected an assassin he wondered? Perhaps the Queen was the type to want death only to regret it moments before it actually came. Brodir had known a few like that in his time as well. Perhaps I should oblige her a little, show her that death is no release after all, it is only an end. Some people seemed to think an end is desirable, Brodir disagrees, an end only stops you from enduring and overcoming the challenges placed before us. Not to mention there is no telling what actually awaits us in the afterlife. That could always be far worse.
Brodir knew this was a bad idea, but he chose to show the Queen was she was asking for, at least what he believed she was asking for. Perhaps he could show her the true death was not the answer she thought. Besides Brodir was always more a man of action than words, he thought actions taught better. Of course this could always end in Brodir's execution, after all he was attacking a monarch even if he thought it was for her own good. But the choice had already been made and it was not often Brodir second guessed himself.
Moving faster than the Queen could ever hope to match at her age, Brodir seized her by the throat and drove her hard into the nearest wall. "Is this why you are here my Queen? Is this what you were expecting to happen? Were you hoping an assassin would find you, and give you the true death?" Brodir eased up on her throat only enough to allow her the breath to speak. "If this is what you seek here, in this nameless alley, then I will grant you what you desire."
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Post by CORBIN ROSE HALLOWAY on Aug 22, 2011 23:04:36 GMT
She didn't want to admit it. There was no way she would admit to being uncomfortable in her current state. The queen kept walking. She was silent as she tried to find something to say to him. The words that tossed about in her mind only seemed to vanish just as fast as she caught a glimpse of them. "It's not that..." she finally said as her pace began to slow. She was hoping some how she would be able to change the subject. Before she had time to really answer things she felt Brodir strong grip around her neck as she was being forced into the wall. Her eyes widen as her hands reached up to pry his hands from her neck. "Is this why you are here my Queen? Is this what you were expecting to happen? Were you hoping an assassin would find you, and give you the true death?" She felt his grip ease up slightly and she gasped. "If this is what you seek here, in this nameless alley, then I will grant you what you desire."
"Please...I have done nothing wrong. I don't want this. I never wanted this." she cried as she felt her body begin to shake. Her human emotions now fully showing itself. It wasn't long before she gave a frustrated grow as her fangs extended. Dark eyes now locking with his as she tried to struggle free. "You wouldn't kill me." she growled as her face turned cold, trying to show him that she wasn't scared. "You just doing this to scare me. I will see that your true death will be met long before mine." at that point she wasn't sure if she was taunting him because she wanted him to kill her or because she had finally managed to regain control. There was a part of her that wanted it badly...but then another part that seemed to want to fight back. That part seemed rather small though compared to the amounts of emotions that still seemed to be bubbling up from deep inside her. |
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Post by 11tk38 on Aug 23, 2011 16:32:44 GMT
Brodir began to feel bad for his current actions, the Queen was shaking. She admitted that death was not what she wanted, it was the reaction he was hoping for. Brodir never liked the thought of those who sought death or contemplated suicide, they were weak. Brodir hoped by his actions he could scare the Queen straight, make her realize that death was not what she truly wanted. Although he did regret that he felt it had come to this, he did not enjoy terrorizing his fellow vampires, especially the young ones. However he had felt that it was necessary, there were those that, given her position as queen, would not give her the chance to mature as a vampire. As a subject of the kingdom of New Jersey, Brodir felt it was his duty to help the Queen in any way he could, even if it meant him attacking her in a dark alley.
Then suddenly the Queen switched gears and began threatening Brodir. Brodir increased the pressure on the Queen's throat again, to silence her. "Your majesty I am at least fifty times your age, if I want to kill you there is not much you can do about it. Not to mention there are those who would reward my effort of disposing of you." Brodir used the word 'disposing' so the Queen would feel like Brodir considered her insignificant. He didn't of course, she was his Queen, but she didn't need to know that just yet.
"Besides your highness your threat would have carried a lot more weight had you not first begged for your life, and trembled with fear." Brodir could see the conflict in the Queen, between her fear and her instincts to fight back, that was a start. Brodir raised the Queen up by her throat high enough that he had to look up to her slightly. Now he wanted to get a feel for the Queen's conflict, where did the conflict truly lay with in her. Brodir eased up on her airway, enough to let her draw the breath to speak, "Tell me your majesty, are you afraid right now?"
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Post by CORBIN ROSE HALLOWAY on Aug 25, 2011 0:18:28 GMT
"Your majesty I am at least fifty times your age, if I want to kill you there is not much you can do about it. Not to mention there are those who would reward my effort of disposing of you. Besides your highness your threat would have carried a lot more weight had you not first begged for your life, and trembled with fear." Corbin just stared at him, small gasps escaping what she once thought to be dead lungs. She never really thought about the biology of vampires but she slowly accepted the fact that the same reflexes where still in place, even if their hearts weren't exactly beating. She tried hard to keep herself from trembling as she let his words sink in. She had not expected to get her wish so fast. "Tell me your majesty, are you afraid right now?"
Wearing the most noble face she could she looked him square in the eyes as a few crimson tears ran down her check. All she could think about was Heath....and what he would do upon hearing the news of her death. Ignoring the question completely she closed her eyes picturing her husband as she braced herself for death. "Tell him I always loved him....Tell him I will miss him and I'm sorry." she was finding it harder and harder to speak as his smile filled her mind. She wanted him there, she wanted him to be telling her it was all a dream that this moment wasn't real. It was though, and suddenly Corbin had discovered that she had wished for the wrong thing. She didn't want death...she wanted an escape from her failures. She wanted to be the queen who she was supposed to be and kill the past that seemed to haunt her. She wanted to kill her past self not the the vampire that was now at death's door. |
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Post by 11tk38 on Aug 25, 2011 1:37:35 GMT
Brodir got his answer in a wave of crimson tears. Unfortunately this had been the desired outcome, to scare the Queen. Hopefully she realized that death wasn't truly the answer after all, and not just making peace with her demise. "Well I guess I have my answer." Brodir eased the Queen down and released her throat. "Forgive me your majesty, I have seen too many young vampire such as yourself decide to meet the sun. You were right I was only trying to scare you." Brodir removed a handkerchief from one of his pockets, carrying it was an old habit, and sometimes old habits died hard. Brodir offered the Queen the handkerchief to dry her eyes and cheeks. Brodir had grown unable to see a woman cry, even though there was a time he had enjoyed it. Besides Brodir had never enjoyed causing his fellow vampires pain, especially the young ones. This existence was hard enough, without him adding to it.
Brodir knew there was a conflict within the Queen, and that conflict was with her emotions. "Your majesty, may I ask, I have noticed you seem to be crippled at times by an internal conflict, may I ask the nature of this conflict." Brodir didn't exactly expect the Queen to answer the question, not after what he just did, he just hopes she understands why he did it. She could very well call for his execution, Brodir hoped it wouldn't come to that though. After all he didn't want to die, or become a fugitive. Though he was unlikely to run, cowardess never sat well with Brodir, if it came to it he'd challenge the King to one on one combat and go down fighting, like a warrior should.
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Post by CORBIN ROSE HALLOWAY on Aug 25, 2011 22:23:29 GMT
"Well I guess I have my answer. Forgive me your majesty, I have seen too many young vampire such as yourself decide to meet the sun. You were right I was only trying to scare you.Your majesty, may I ask, I have noticed you seem to be crippled at times by an internal conflict, may I ask the nature of this conflict." You would have thought the queen would have been mad after her encounter with him, but as soon as he eased her down and released her, she took the handkerchief and wiped her eyes before trying to do her best to calm herself down. A slight smile of relief crossed her face. She was still taken back but she had been able to still process each word that had been spoken to her. She was thankful that she now had a second chance, and her life wasn't be cut short. Corbin had been stupid to wander off alone, and that had been a hard lesson to learn but yet a very valuable one. "I'm not sure of the nature other then my past. I was weak and vulnerable as a human. Perhaps there is a part of me that doesn't want the humanity in me to die. So I'm forced to battle with it daily. I wasn't exactly given a choice about my transformation. I was hand picked by the King. I loved him as a human...but when he told we what he was I could deal with it so he turned me out of anger. Heath means the world to me...but sometimes I don't think he understands that I still deal with things since my transformation was so sudden."
She gave a slight pause as she parted her lips and looked up at him. "Thank you...I needed a wake up call. It's not me that I want to kill...its a part of me. The part that is keeping me from being who I am supposed to, which is the Queen." It was then that an idea crossed her mind. She would have to speak with the King about it, but it seemed that Brodir was fit for the job. "I am in need of a guard for the moment. I would be pleased if you were to take upon that job. Acceptance of this might lead to your newest job as Sheriff. Of course I have to discuss this with the king. But you are favored in the Queen's eyes. I am sure my opinion will be beneficial on your behalf." |
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Post by 11tk38 on Aug 26, 2011 1:53:26 GMT
Brodir inclined his head to his Queen, "Of course your majesty, I offer whatever protection you may need." Brodir was a little disappointed that her majesty mentioned the role of Sheriff to him, Brodir had wanted to avoid vampire politics for the time being. Then again that wasn't really an option the moment he laid hands on the Queen. He may have desired to stay out of vampire politics but his actions had thrust him into the middle of them, he would of course accept any consequences of his... intervention on the Queen's behalf. "You honor me with your words your majesty, and I am glad that I am still able to hold a favored position in your eyes." So her majesty had seen the wisdom in what he had done, that was a good sign he thought, she was certainly wise beyond her years, in certain matters.
"Your majesty if I may be so bold..." as if Brodir had not been bold enough for one night, "...have you ever considered the reason you struggle with your human emotions is because you deny them?" Brodir let his words sink in a bit, gave the Queen the chance to consider them. "To me your humanity seems to be a big part of you, if you were to continue to deny that, you would only deny yourself." Brodir hoped the Queen was understanding what he was suggesting. "If I may suggest, perhaps you should embrace that humanity within you, learn to master your emotions, so they don't master you." Besides denying something, Brodir found, usually gave it power over you. "I find that the denial of the existence of something tends to lead to you giving it power over you."
Besides not all of humanity was weakness, there were strengths to be found in it, beautiful and terrible strengths in equal measure. "I have also found over my many years that there are strengths that lie in humanity, strengths that can lead to both beautiful and terrible things. Love is a strength that humanity possesses, and that strength has lead to both joy and calamity." Brodir began to feel he was lecturing the Queen on the finer points of humanity, perhaps he was. "Anger and hate can also lend strength, there are many facets of your humanity that could help you reign as queen of New Jersey, the trick would be to find the strength that lies in your humanity and master its weaknesses. However I don't believe this can be achieved if you continue to deny your humanity is still apart of you."
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Post by CORBIN ROSE HALLOWAY on Aug 28, 2011 7:24:39 GMT
The queen listened as Brodir spoke. He was wise, but it was expected of someone so old. She wondered if she would gain the same knowledge as the years went by. She had often been intrigued by knowledge of the older vampires. Corbin supposed that was what first attracted her to Heath. She hadn't know what he was when they first met, but she loved hearing the vast knowledge he seemed to carry. Judging from her conversation with Brodir the older vampires seemed to be like that. "There are many facets of your humanity that could help you reign as queen of New Jersey, the trick would be to find the strength that lies in your humanity and master its weaknesses. However I don't believe this can be achieved if you continue to deny your humanity is still apart of you.
"Thank you Brodir...your words mean a lot to me. I will enjoy you assistance along with further advice. It seems I have been denying my humanity far too long...and that has gotten me no where. Seeing as though your words maybe true, I will strive to embrace it as best I can and see the strengths of holding on to it." she said softly with a smile. With this new out look things didn't look so bad. She had faith that she could actually get a handle on things before news spread of her weakness and inability to rule. She could possibly stop this before it became a problem. |
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Post by 11tk38 on Aug 30, 2011 15:31:00 GMT
Brodir listen to the Queen as she thanked him for his council. Hopefully his council would prove to be beneficial to her her in the future. She also stated that she would enjoy his assistance with further advice. "Of course your majesty, whatever council I may be able to offer you is yours." Brodir was glad that the Queen could see the wisdom in his words, he hoped he had been able to save her this night. He was proud that he could help a young vampire avoid a fate she didn't deserve. Young vampires had this existence to rough in the early nights, he was hopeful he had just given the Queen the time she needed to adjust to this existence and make it her own. Brodir had always worried he would not be able to properly get through to a young vampire, not be able to relate enough to one, to guide them. It was many of the major reasons that Brodir had never been a maker, but perhaps his outlook on his own wisdom and ability to guide others in such sensitive matters was changing.
Brodir looked at her majesty the Queen again and noticed her smiling. Brodir was uncertain that last time he had witnessed a monarch truly smile. Sure he had seen them smile but they were always wicked one brought on by some cruel thought or spectacle. Brodir didn't consider such smiles to be real smiles. A real smile was the product of joy and happiness. Like in the Queen's case, happiness at renewed hope, or that is what Brodir imagined it to be.
"I am glad to see you smile your majesty, a genuine smile at that. I don't think I have ever seen you smile before." True this was only the third time he had ever seen her, he just got the feeling she didn't smile in front of that many people often. "It pleases me to think I had something to do with it." Brodir gave the Queen a smile of his own, to show that it did please him. "You should smile more, it suits you well. But now my Queen, where should we go from here?"
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