[quote=Violet]Dear Count Fritz,

I trust this letter finds you well. I wanted to extend my gratitude for your generous offer at the masquerade. The idea you proposed was startling at first but… perhaps with another conversation, we could discuss things further.

Given my... condition, it wouldn’t be as simple. I would appreciate it if we could discuss the matter further. Please let me know where and when would be the best to meet with you. If the offer is still available.

Yours sincerely,[/quote][h3][center][color=firebrick]Violet[/color] & [color=9354FF]Fritz[/color][color=firebrick]Part 1[/color][/center][/h3]
[color=firebrick][center] TRIGGER WARNING: Talk about blood [/center][/color]
[color=firebrick][center] Mentions: Roman [@reusablesword] Alexander [@FunnyGuy] [/center] [/color]
[color=firebrick][center] Location: Polite Inn [/center][/color]
[color=firebrick][center] Time: Nighttime [/center][/color]
[hr]
[color=gray]
Ryn savored the warmth and aroma of his tea in the Polite Inn’s grand yet cozy lobby. Dark wood paneling, lamps of various shapes and sizes, and lush plants dotting the room framed an array of strategically placed portraits. Intricately patterned rugs softened the gleaming hardwood floors, while an elegant chandelier hung above. He’d chosen this meeting place with care—safe enough for Lady Damien to visit unescorted, but not so high-end as to attract attention to the rendezvous of two nobles, a guest room upstairs for privacy, and a convenient washroom to clean up should the need arise.

Movement at the entrance caught his eye. Lady Damien glided through the arched entryway, her presence immediately commanding the room. Ryn’s face lit up. He set his tea aside and rose to greet her, one hand raised in an enthusiastic wave. [color=9354FF]“Lady Violet, I’m so happy to see you. How have you been?”[/color]
Pulling down the black hood of her cloak, Violet offered a faint smile to Lord Fritz, though it didn’t reach her eyes. She was dressed in her familiar black attire, but tonight there was something different—something unsettling. Her gown, usually high-necked and modest, had been replaced by one with a daringly low neckline, plunging enough to reveal a large scar that snaked from her chest, up her neck, like a jagged reminder of a past that refused to heal. The once-concealed mark now lay bare for him to see, each raised edge telling the story of her pain.

Her red eyes locked onto his, but they held none of the anger that once simmered within them. They were hollow, darkened with an eerie emptiness. Back in the garden, her rage had been palpable, like the sharp crackle of a flame barely contained. But now, standing before him, that fire had burned out, leaving behind only cold ashes. The vivid red of her irises felt more like an abyss, swallowing any remnants of life or warmth she once held.
There was no spark in her gaze, no anger, no passion—just an unsettling void. Even the smile she gave him felt fragile like it could shatter into sorrow at any moment.


[color=firebrick] “Good evening, Lord Fritz” [/color] his enthusiasm for this meeting didn’t go unnoted considering its topic. [color=firebrick] “I’m glad to see you in good health aswell. I’ve been alright I suppose. Surviving as we all do. Yourself?” [/color] She asked as she set her cloak down over the chair. 

The smile on Ryn’s face slowly faded as he took in Lady Damien’s hollow expression. It was markedly different from the vacant stare she wore when she had just been resurrected. Where once there had been fire, now only ashes remained. [color=9354FF]“I’m surviving as well,”[/color] he replied, [color=9354FF]“though I dare say my spirits are a tad higher than yours at present.”[/color] He searched her face for any hint of the reason behind this change. The question [i]“What happened?”[/i] hovered on his lips, but instead, he gently cupped her cold hands in his own.

Violet’s eyes dropped down to his hands grabbing hers in his false attempt at comforting her. She offered him a smile. [color=firebrick] “ I assure you I am fine. Nothing to worry over. Just a long morning. [/color] 

Ryn’s dark eyes met her gaze, his concern on full display. The silence stretched between them, before he donned his cheerful demeanor once more.

[color=9354FF]“Have you eaten?”[/color] he asked. [color=9354FF]“I brought you some… delicacies I’d like you to try, if you’re feeling up to the task.”[/color] Ryn reached for a trunk positioned beside his chair.

Adjusting herself to sit down into the chair she looked at the large trunk he seemed to be reaching towards scared of what lay under it. If it was what she thought, she was possibly in a dangerous position. 

Looking around the Tavern nervously, it was nearly empty with only a few patrons who seemed to be minding their own. Turning back to his attention she leaned into the table to see what exactly it was that he brought. 

With a click, the latches surrendered, revealing rows of glass bottles nestled in plush velvet. Each contained various shades of crimson liquid, from the bright scarlet of fresh-picked cherries to the deepest garnet, with every shade of ruby and burgundy between.

[color=9354FF]“As I was uncertain of your dietary restrictions, I procured an assortment of samples for you to taste,”[/color] Ryn explained, carefully avoiding any mention of blood in a public setting. [color=9354FF]“Consider it a kind of wine-tasting.”[/color]

His eyes sparkled with excitement as he looked at her like starlights on a moonless night.

Violet leaned back in the chair, her expression softening as she stared at the sealed vials before her. Though the blood inside was safely contained, preventing its scent from reaching her, she felt the thin barrier was the only thing standing between her and chaos. For now, her self-control held firm, but she couldn’t help but wonder what might happen if just one of those vials were opened.

[color=firebrick]“That is very kind of you…” [/color]she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She knew the meager amount of blood in those vials would hardly satisfy her growing hunger, but she wouldn’t burden him with that truth. It had been far too long since she’d fed, and even the smallest wound could push her over the edge. A mere cut from a finger might unravel her restraint, and yet here sat an entire case of blood, taunting her, teasing her with its unattainable promise of relief.

[color=firebrick]"Early for some wine, but I much prefer it from the source," [/color] she said with a sly, toothy grin. The gleam in her eyes darkened, hinting at the hunger that simmered beneath her teasing words. The playful smile she flashed was laced with something far more dangerous, a subtle but undeniable threat lurking in the shadows of her gaze.

[color=9354FF]“Naturally,”[/color] he said, keeping his tone light. [color=9354FF]“Most everything tastes better when it’s fresh off the vine or out of the oven, doesn’t it? However, circumstances may conspire to narrow one’s options.”[/color]

Leaning in slightly, Ryn’s voice took on a more serious note. [color=9354FF]“I think it’d be for your benefit to explore the boundaries of your dietary restrictions with an open mind.”[/color]

He leaned even closer, whispering, [color=9354FF]“Who knows? You might discover a predilection for a bred heifer, heavy with her first calf, and find out you’re violently allergic to human, male, age twenty, banker.”[/color]

[color=9354FF]“These are just appetizers.”[/color] Ryn said as he pulled away. His fingers adjusted his tie, the motion drawing subtle attention to his neck. [color=9354FF]“I have something more substantial in mind for the main course.”[/color]

[color=firebrick] “ But … we have business to discuss first. Amongst some other things. [/color]

Ryn tilted his head to the side. [color=9354FF]“This sounds serious. Would you like to move upstairs? I have a room reserved for us if you want privacy.”[/color]

[color=firebrick] “ Should by me a drink first Lord Fritz before inviting me to your room.” [/color] she teased in her attempt to lighten the mood. She looked over at the bar raising two fingers to signal some drinks over. 


He chuckled, [color=9354FF]“You’re absolutely right. Where are my manners?”[/color]

Turning her attention back to Fritz she let out a soft sigh [color=firebrick] “ I want you to understand that this conversation is not an easy one for me. I struggled to even write the letter to you in the first place. [/color] she admitted as some drinks were brought over to their table. Two glasses of whiskey sat neatly between them before the bartender hurried off. 
[color=firebrick] “ What made you so interested in starting this [i]wine[/i] business? [/color] She looked over at the trunk [color=firebrick] “ You seem rather versed in your own knowledge of it. [/color] 

[color=9354FF]“Because I want to help you where I can, of course.”[/color] And it was truly as simple as that. [color=9354FF]“Whether I am versed at it, is a matter of debate,”[/color] Ryn added, lifting the whiskey to his lips. The whiskey burned a path down his throat, igniting a warmth that spread through his chest.

Violet reached for her glass as well, tossing back the glass before setting it down.

[color=9354FF]“My family and I are no stranger to…”[/color] he paused, searching for another word to replace the one he wanted to use, [color=9354FF]“the ‘unusual.’ So in that regard, I am more knowledgeable than the average person.”[/color] A smirk crossed Lady Damien’s lips.

He leaned against the back of his chair, hands clasped loosely, as his gaze settled on her. [color=9354FF]“Why do you ask?”[/color]

[color=firebrick]“ The idea of help is a foreign one for me. I suppose I am waiting for some kind of payment or expectation yet you seem to be offering it so freely. I am trying to understand why.” [/color] Her hand reached for the empty glass as her fingers idly fidgeted with it. 

[color=9354FF]“If it would set your mind at ease, I could certainly attach some conditions to my generosity.”[/color] He tapped his chin in mock contemplation. [color=9354FF]“Perhaps you might be required to join me for tea in the gardens, or form a book club with me. We could gather a circle of literary minds to debate the merits of brooding heroes and swoon-worthy villains, with the losers owing the winner a dramatic reading of their choosing.”[/color]

She let out a soft chuckle, one that was truly genuine as she seemed to relax against the chair. Her eyes were still dark but there was a glimmer of light still in them. Her eyes dropped down to the glass as her mind wandered.[color=firebrick] “ I think I can make that work, book club may need to be in the evenings though”[/color] she joked[color=firebrick] “I will say that is the first time I've been referred to as unusual...”[/color] 

[color=9354FF]“You,”[/color] Ryn interjected. Lady Damien’s crimson eyes looked up from the glass to meet his. [color=9354FF]“Are extraordinary.”[/color] Then winked at her, she smiled softly in return.

The silence between them simmered for a moment[color=firebrick]. " Have you ever heard of the tale of the beast?” [/color] She broke the silence with a simple question.

Oh, he knew of beasts aplenty—one in particular, he knew very well. [color=9354FF]“The Beast, you say? I’ve heard many tales of beasts. Which one were you thinking of? Do share.”[/color]

[color=firebrick]” This one is just a silly child's story, Was thinking about it today. Its no matter, kind of a silly question.[/color] She waved over the bartender with another drink as he placed it down in front of her. 

[color=firebrick]” Truthfully, I am just very nervous about this agreement.[/color] She admitted. [color=firebrick] “A lot of unknowns for me. It's all feels very intimate and that is foreign territory.” [/color] She grabbed her drink, and before she finished speaking she had already finished her glass off. 

Flinching slightly as it went down, she started to feel more relaxed. She held the glass lazily in her hand. 

Ryn’s eyes tracked the arc of Lady Damien’s glass as it lifted, tipped, emptied. Amber liquid vanished in a heartbeat. He recognized the telltale signs of someone seeking the age-old remedy for nerves: liquid courage. [color=9354FF]“I understand,”[/color] he said in a low voice and gave her the time to gather her thoughts.

[color=firebrick]” I do have something to give you in return for helping me… It might not be something you’ll like but hopefully, something you appreciate. Maybe if you decide to be a returning customer we can discuss that book club.” [/color]

[color=9354FF]“A customer? … Ah, when you said business, you truly meant business.”[/color] Ryn sat up straighter in chair. [color=9354FF]“Very well, Lady Violet, please do continue. I’m all ears.”[/color]

[color=firebrick] “ I…[/color] Violet froze in her seat for a moment [color=firebrick] “What did you think this was?” [/color] she asked curiously her voice holding slight caution but held concern. [color=firebrick] “ I didn’t mean to offend you. The bookclub remark was intended to be a joke but I suppose my humor is rather dull. [/color] Which caused him to chuckle.

[color=9354FF]“I thought I was taking my nightlife friend out for dinner.”[/color] Ryn’s laughter faded into a gentle smile. He reached across the table, his hand coming to rest reassuringly atop hers. [color=9354FF]“Don’t worry, no offense taken.”[/color] He gave her hand a light pat before withdrawing.

Friend…

She didn't have many of those. She felt the darkness linger behind her eyes but as she continued to drink its presence seemed to linger less but continued to remind her it wasn't all that gone. Just waiting for its see moment. 

[color=firebrick]“ Dinner. With a friend.”[/color] She nodded[color=firebrick] “ I like the sound of that.” [/color] Smiling, she waved down another drink.[color=firebrick] “I just need this whole arrangement. I've been informed of some things but…”[/color] Her red eyes look up at him, holding its stare as the darkness that lingered made itself known through her gaze [color=firebrick]“I am afraid I may end up doing something I regret.” [/color] She omitted[color=firebrick] “ a loss of restraint. I don't seem to possess that…the last time…”[/color] her mind flashed back to the kiss, tasting Roman's blood on her lips as the darkness consumed her like a rushing wave of need. Then the slap.

[color=firebrick]“I hurt someone I really care about, I'm not sure he … I don't know. “ [/color]She said with a troubled mind.[color=firebrick] “he slapped me in the face…I don't know maybe it was to pull me from …whatever was happening but the look on his face.” [/color] Violet's heart sank.[color=firebrick] “ I feel like that is what really hurts. I see this monster just looking back at me in the mirror but when I tasted him it was like I lost all control of my body and my mind. Something else took over and I'm scared it may happen here.” [/color] Her voice was soft like a whisper just enough for the two of them to hear. Her eyes wandered his face for any reaction. Maybe she said too much, but she still didn't understand it herself. 

Ryn listened intently, his expression solemn as Lady Damien’s words hung in the air between them. [color=9354FF]“I am sorry it happened that way,”[/color] he said softly. [color=9354FF]“But I’m certain he only meant to snap you out of it. Not because he thought you a monster. I feel like he would’ve done more than just slap you if he did.”[/color] 

Violet seemed to relax at his explanation confirming what she had thought herself but was uncertain if she was trying to find resolve.

A chuckle escaped him, [color=9354FF]“I’ve seen it before, you know. Friends who’d sooner tackle each other into a mud puddle than let one another spiral. It’s messy and imperfect, but it comes from a good place.”[/color] She smiled softly. 

His lips curved into a gentle smile. [color=9354FF]“I’m sure your special someone acted out of love, not condemnation.”[/color] 

[color=firebrick]“I’d rather see myself dead before I harm him.”[/color] her voice dropped. He slowly nodded in response.

Ryn leaned forward slightly, his gaze unwavering. [color=9354FF]“I trust you, Violet. I see the compassion that held you back from that masquerade, the fear for my safety. These aren’t the hallmarks of a monster.”[/color]

Their gazes interlocked. Ryn’s voice carried the quiet strength of absolute certainty. [color=9354FF]“You will not kill me,”[/color] he stated.

[color=firebrick]“You can't be certain of that,”[/color] she replied taking a large sip of her whiskey [i]it wouldn't be the first time she’s killed someone. [/i]

[color=9354FF]“True,”[/color] he said. [color=9354FF]“But I choose to trust you with my life because I have faith in you.”[/color]

[color=firebrick]“I hope you are right. “[/color] she paused[color=firebrick] “I know that this person can handle himself with little concern but… If he out of all people saw me as I see myself. I think that it would be safe to say I did become that monster.” [/color] Her shoulders relaxed as she leaned back, chugging back the rest of her drink. She tilted the glass in her hand[color=firebrick] “ He was the one person who always saw me…” [/color] she said softly as if remembering something. 

[color=firebrick]“Anyways… The news I have. When would you like it? I’m afraid it's not good but perhaps there is a solution.” [/color] she smiled [color=firebrick]“Before or after our wine sampling…” [/color] Her red eyes seemed to darken at the mention of it. 

After studying her for a moment, Ryn answered, [color=9354FF]“When would feel right to you?”[/color] 

[color=firebrick]“After…if you do die, well you won't have to worry about it, and no sense in worrying you before that.”[/color] she smirked at her rather dark joke. 

Her macabre jest elicited a burst of laughter from Ryn, warm and genuine despite the somber topic. [color=9354FF]“In that case, might I ask a favor of you?”[/color] he began. [color=9354FF]“Should I not survive this ordeal, would you see to it that my remains are returned to my family?”[/color]

He paused briefly. [color=9354FF]“If that proves difficult, ensure nothing remains of my body, but let my family know of my passing. You can spare them the details.”[/color] His eyes fluttered closed, [color=9354FF]“And if you're feeling particularly charitable, tell them I’m sorry I failed.”[/color]

[color=firebrick]“You can tell them yourself when you're 90 years old…” [/color] she said with a soft smile, offering a small, but genuine, attempt at reassurance. Her voice, though calm, carried the weight of uncertainty beneath it. [color=firebrick]“So… dinner. Friends.”[/color] She repeated their agreement slowly, as if testing the words on her tongue.[color=firebrick] “I’ve never really had a friend.” [/color] Her confession hung in the air, bittersweet.[color=firebrick] "Roman… well, I suppose he counts. But I don’t usually go around kissing my friends...” [/color] She paused, the alcohol loosening her tongue more than she intended. The words slipped out, followed by a half-hearted shrug.

A coquettish grin played at the corners of his mouth as he added, [color=9354FF]“Is Lord Ravenwood the special someone you mentioned earlier?”[/color] The name had been a calculated guess. “Roman” wasn’t uncommon in this continent, but the strapping lord was the only one Ryn could imagine Lady Damien crossing paths with in her circles. He watched her carefully, searching for minute changes that would confirm or deny his suspicion more surely than any words she might speak. Lady Damien’s eyes widened slightly as her cheeks pinkened. She reached for her glass avoiding eye contact as she finished off her whiskey. 

Clearing her throat, she shifted uncomfortably in her chair, the fabric beneath her rustling as she fidgeted. Her crimson eyes flicked back to Fritz, locking onto his with an intensity that lingered in the air between them, as if he were searching her soul for answers.

[color=firebrick]“Roman?” [/color] she echoed, her voice trying to sound casual, accompanied by a sheepish smile. The act didn’t last long. She exhaled deeply, the tension in her shoulders easing as she gave in.[color=firebrick] “I suppose I made it rather obvious, didn’t I…”[/color] Her sigh was one of quiet defeat, her gaze dropping for a moment before she gathered the courage to continue.

[color=firebrick]“Yes, it was him… is him,”[/color] she admitted, her voice softer now, tinged with regret. [color=firebrick]“I wanted to scare him away, to make him leave before he saw the... monster I’ve become.”[/color] Her words trembled as they left her lips, the shame in her voice undeniable.[color=firebrick] “Seems it worked,” [/color] she murmured, her fingers gently folding in her lap as she crossed one leg over the other.[color=firebrick] “I haven’t seen him since, so I guess I got my wish.”[/color]

Her hands tightened slightly, her knuckles paling[color=firebrick]. “It’s for the best. I don’t know how I’d live with myself if I hurt him. It was only a small taste this time but… what if it hadn’t been? What if I killed him?” [/color] Her voice cracked at the thought, eyes distant, haunted by a fear she couldn’t shake.

[color=firebrick]“Sorry, maybe this is too inappropriate. I guess I don’t know what friends talk about,” [/color] she admitted, her gaze drifting off as she tried to grasp the concept. Her thoughts wandered to the novels she’d devoured over the years—stories filled with dark romances, complicated relationships, and secrets. The women in those books always seemed to gossip about their love lives, their hearts entangled in someone else’s story. In those worlds, gossip was gold, a currency of connection.

[color=9354FF]“Friendship needn’t be confined by others’ definitions. It can be whatever you want it to be.”[/color] His eyes twinkled. [color=9354FF]“Be your charming self and the rest will fall into place naturally.”[/color]

She let out a quiet breath, her expression softening.[color=firebrick] “How about you?” [/color] she asked attempting to change the subject.[color=firebrick]” Did anyone catch your eye? Or maybe some new friends?” [/color] Her voice took on a wistful tone as if searching for something to hold onto.[color=firebrick] “I need a distraction.” [/color] she pleaded hoping he would go along. 

After a long pause, Ryn finally said. [color=9354FF]“Aside from you?”[/color] He chuckled, [color=9354FF]“Well, it’s hard not to have my eye caught by everyone here. So many fabulous people are bedazzling me at every turn I’m practically in a constant state of whiplash.”[/color]

But even as the words left his mouth, faces flickered through his mind—fleeting images he might have dismissed as stray thoughts, had her question not prompted deeper reflection. [color=9354FF]“Even if there are a few individuals who linger in my thoughts more persistently than others, whether I can pursue them romantically is... a little complicated.”[/color]

[color=firebrick] “I think I understand complicated more than most.” [/color] She added with a reassuring smile. 

Ryn’s fingers drummed an absent rhythm on his knee as he considered the question about friends. [color=9354FF]“I’d like to believe I am making some headway with new friends, but… I cannot help feeling as though there is a barrier between us, which prevents us from becoming [i]good[/i] friends. I’m not entirely sure how to bridge that gap,”[/color] he confessed.

[color=firebrick]“Time… I would imagine,”[/color] she murmured, her voice trailing off as her thoughts drifted. She paused, eyes narrowing slightly in contemplation. [color=firebrick]“Sharing something with them—something you wouldn’t normally tell anyone else,[/color]” she added, her words slow, deliberate, as if she were unraveling a truth buried deep within. 

Her mind wandered to Alexander, the secrets they had exchanged, the intimate confessions that felt too dangerous to share with anyone else. With him, she had revealed her darkest thoughts, her most raw vulnerabilities. He, too, had shared some in return, creating an interesting dynamic that she had yet to understand. Then there was Roman—Roman, who had also come to know her, but in a way that felt worlds apart from Alexander. Roman saw Violet in a way that made her feel [i]human[/i], made her feel [i]seen[/i]. With him, she wasn’t a creature of darkness, but something almost normal, someone deserving of affection, of warmth.

But Alexander… Alexander forced her to confront the monster within. He stripped away the illusions and made her face the darker side of herself, showing her how to embrace it, how to [i]understand[/i] it. In his presence, she could no longer hide from the truth of what she was.

Both men stirred something profound within her, but in entirely different ways. Roman brought a sense of humanity, grounding her in a reality she longed for, while Alexander illuminated the shadows, urging her to accept the very thing she feared. It left her standing in a fog of blurred lines, unable to distinguish who she truly was, or where she stood with either of them. She struggled to reconcile the two versions of herself they had uncovered, wondering which was more real—and which was more dangerous.

Smiling, she shook off the weight of her wandering thoughts, her gaze refocusing on Lord Fritz. [color=firebrick]“You’re a very lovely person, Lord Fritz,”[/color] she said warmly, her voice soft yet sincere. A playful glint sparked in her eyes as she continued, [color=firebrick]“I’m certain it’s only a matter of time before others see that too. And, if nothing else, you’re already off to a great start—because you’ve made a new friend in me.” [/color] 

Ryn blinked a few times before he returned the smile with equal sincerity, [color=9354FF]“Thank you Lady Violet.”[/color]

Her lips curved into a mischievous grin as she reached for her freshly filled whiskey glass. Her hands, unsteady from the drinks she had already consumed, trembled slightly as she raised the glass between them[color=firebrick]. “We should toast,” [/color] she declared, her grin widening, [color=firebrick]“to new friends and to the tangled web of complicated relationships.”[/color]

Ryn raised his cup. [color=9354FF]“To tangled webs and complicated relationships,”[/color] he echoed. [color=9354FF]“May they be less convoluted than a Caldwell Thornewicke novel.”[/color] Their glasses met with a crystalline chime, the delicate sound drifting above the lobby’s soft murmur like a stray note of music.

With a final appreciative sip, Ryn set his emptied glass on the table’s polished surface. [color=9354FF]“Now then,”[/color] he ventured, [color=9354FF]“shall we head upstairs? Or do you think you can maintain composure if you were to ‘wine-taste’ here?”[/color] His fingers brushed the trunk’s edge, a subtle reminder of its crimson contents. The unspoken option—to drink directly from him first, before the samples—hung in the air between them. Ryn’s raised eyebrow and slight tilt of his head made it clear: the choice was entirely hers.

Her eyes flickered towards the staircase, thoughts wandering as her pulse began to race. The creeping darkness that relentlessly plagued her mind seemed to giggle with sadistic delight, feeding off the anticipation. She glanced down at the half-filled glass in her hand, the deep red liquid sloshing faintly before she tipped it back, draining the contents in one swift motion, her throat burning as the warmth spread.

[color=firebrick]"Yes... upstairs would be best,"[/color] she whispered, her voice barely audible, laced with the weight of her decision.

[/color]