[IC] Castle of the Immortals (Reboot)

[EmzyOfNeverland]

Niklaus "Nik" and Dashiell
Niklaus stood outside the heavy wooden door that led to the left wing tower. It was three am on a Friday. He made it a thing to see his brother once a week since his tyrant father wouldn't let him be apart of the family anymore. He had believed Dashiell had changed and that he had done the time for his crimes. 475 years was enough.

Niklaus took a deep breath before pulling out the iron key that opened the heavy door. Once the door was open, he walked up the steep steps towards the top. As soon as he go to his brother's door, he stopped. Why did he come back with nothing to offer Dashiell? All he could offer Dashiell was hope. He decided to walk in with little emotion on his face, not knowing what to feel.

"Why, hello, little brother. Was wondering if you were going to show," Dashiell said with a smug grin that Nik returned.

"You're older by a few seconds and of course I showed. I haven't let you down in 475 years." Dashiell grinned at his brother as he spoke and moved to the small window that overlooked the courtyard.

"So many siblings now," he said with a sigh, knowing it would get Nik to feel worse and it did.

"I know. Helena was six when you were locked in the tower and dear old dad even wiped her memory of you," Nik said, looking down at the ground. "You were destined to rule anyway. The deserve the true king."

"I would love to take that burden off of you Nik but dad has other plans, " Dashiell mentioned, stepping into the shadows as a grin formed.

"Not if I have anything to do with it, Dash."

~

Caspen
Caspen sat in the lounge area wiping a stray stream of blood coming down his chin. "You're a tasty one, aren't you?" he said to the young girl with a scared look on her face. She was looking a little weak but Caspen wanted to feel the heat leave her. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her on his lap. "I hope you had a nice life, sweetheart," he said before biting back into her neck

~

Tarquin "Quin"
Tarquin sat in the garden, watching an owl sitting in the tree above him. He loved watching the animals, it was his favorite thing. There wasn't much the younger kids did except make noise or get into trouble. Of course, Quin got into a lot of trouble but he loved being just with the animals. As if on que, Fang l, one of Magnus' hunting dogs came bounding towards him.

[Sazama]

Alice

Friday nights are when the young people come out and "play". Glamor themselves up, in hopes of finding company for the night. For Alice it was effortless. Every vampire in the realm knew about the Krishkovs, it made Alice all the more powerful in the night scene. Which is why she never comes home alone, in hand with one or 2 strangers, male or female, sometimes both.
This night was no exception, soon the floor of her bedroom was strewn with clothing as her and her male lover entangled each other in the silky sheets.
Although everyone was out and about since it was only 3am, she wasn't worried. She had the walls of her bedroom mostly soundproof. And always had her servant girl Sarah, at the door keeping anyone from barging in on her fun.

Sarah

Sarah sat on the ground in front of the door of Alice's room with a book in hand. Although the room was mostly soundproof, there were still muffled sounds that escaped. It was pretty hard to focus on reading when the background noise of "wrestling" fills your head. But it was routine, guarding the door while Miss Haughty had her fill, wait til the lover gets kicked out, then come in and "clean" the room. The last chore is always the worst.

[GrizzTheMauler]

Magnus

The lumbering giant of a vampire was busy marking things down for the security at the upcoming ball when Fang tore out of the room carrying one of his shields. Being a rare breed of mastiff that the myth of direwolves come from, this dog easily hefted the shield like a toy and charged off. Storm merely raised his head at his brother and went on chewing his bone. Swearing, Magnus grabs his vest and hurriedly pulls it on, chasing after Fang. Storm whines and follows, not wanting to leave Magnus' side. When he gets out he sees that Fang has dropped the shield at Tarquin's feet, panting and whining. "Fang! Get back here ya crazy beast!"

Gunnar & Duvalt

Gunnar stands with his king, listening intently to his ideas about how the ball should be run. It will be for his and the Queen's anniversary. It is generally celebrated because his children when they were younger wanted to do it and he just kept the tradition. At times he would have to shut down the king's requests as he was quite extravagant... and some things couldn't be done...

"My liege, having that many... humans.... in this place for too long is a bad idea." Gunnar crosses his arms. "Seeing as how a few residents would... cause problems. Now, I suggest that the only ones we have here are the usual ones, and bring in a few more to help with the feeding stock." He doesn't seem happy about that last bit, but it is a necessity, it's how they survive and so, it must be done.

"Alright, alright..." Duvalt chuckles. "It's a good thing I ask you for your advice... Aren't afraid to tell me no..."

"Someone has to, my king." Gunnar smiles. "Have you prepared her Majesty's gift?"

Duvalt's eye sparkle. "Aye. And I believe she will like it." As a general rule, they flip off the gift giving at the event. Because they've lived so long it helps keep a fresh pace to the whole affair. This year it was Duvalt's turn and he was known for often forgetting.

[EmzyOfNeverland]

@GrizzTheMauler
Tarquin "Quin"
Quin looked at the mastiff, amused. The beast of a dog laid a shield at his feet with a panting grin on his face. Quin rubbed the top of the dog's head. "Well aren't you a trouble maker. Aren't you, Fang?" he said in a playful tone that earned him a bark. He looked up to see Magnus walking towards the him and Fang. "Hey Mag. I think this belongs to you, " he said with a flashy grin.

[GrizzTheMauler]

@EmzyOfNeverland

Magnus

Magnus sighs. "Yeah... Had it down to polish it..." He takes the shield and frowns when he sees that Fang has torn the straps. "Great... You broke it again, Fang..." The dog ignores this and rubs against Tarquin's legs, begging for attention. Storm plops down with his bone and keeps gnawing it. Magnus just stands there and fiddles with the shield, his beard hiding the beginning of flushed cheeks.

[SouffleGirl123]

Elizabeth 'Liz'

A new hole in one of her old pairs of jeans and a new bruise on her arm from one of her latest late night brawls with her friends Elizabeth wandered back to the mansion she called home. Of course' this had involved a small stroll by a small nearby lagoon prior to the current moment.

Moments passed and the young vampire reached home and entered the grand doors. Her plan was to reconnect with her father and see if she could help with preparing for the ball. It was probably a childish thing to enjoy but she loved the anniversary ball her parents threw each year. Luckily, she also loved being busy and there was always a lot to do leading up it.

Walking to the room her father was currently in she passed Caspen viciously feeding on a young woman. It almost make Liz sick the way some of her siblings feed. "Caspen! There's no need to be so cruel!" she shouts at her brother, "Has father not told you to stop torturing the humans you feed from?!"

[EmzyOfNeverland]

@GrizzTheMauler@SouffleGirl123
Caspen
Caspen looked up with his eyes to Elizabeth standing in the doorway. He took his fangs out of the unconscious girl. He always thought the younger ones were particularly bratty but Elizabeth was a kiss ass. "If I wanted a lecture, Lizzie, I would've fished out Nik," he said before moving his finger to soak up the blood dripping down he girl neck, licking his finger afterwards.

~

Tarquin "Quin"
Quin loved on the mastiff, moving to the ground for better action, getting licked in the face a couple of times, nibbled here and there. "He's just playful, Maggie. You know that," he teased as Fang laid his head in Quin's lap. "He just wanted to hang out with the best person ever. Didn't you, Fang? "

[GrizzTheMauler]

@EmzyOfNeverland

Magnus

The big man attempts to hide his deeply flushed face as Fang just rolls over and wags his tail happily, woofing. 'Odin's beard...' He thinks to himself, unsure of what to say around this one. Usually he can get the others to go away by growling or glaring but to Tarquin... He only seems to get more excitable and teases him even more, calling him the friendly neighborhood Sasquach. Just the thought of this affable young vampire gets him a bit warm under the collar... But he can't do anything about it. It is his job to protect, not meddle in the court affairs... Besides, he can't risk his heart again... It's why he got this curse in the first place... 'Leif... I'm so sorry...' He looks saddened, lost in thought of times long past.

[SouffleGirl123]

Elizabeth 'Liz'

@EmzyOfNeverland@GrizzTheMauler

"Just because you don't want the lecture doesn't mean you don't deserve it," Liz retorts, rolling her eyes as her brother drinks the blood rolling from the young girl's neck- she was probably not much younger than Liz looked. Eventually Liz just sighs, walking across the room to exit it, muttering "I thought you were meant to be the mature older sibling," as she leaves.

With a slight bit of cheerfulness drained from her at the last scene Liz sauntered to where her father was discussing plans with Gunnar, the General. "Father, General High-water," She greets the pair, granting each a courteous nod as she did so, "I was wondering if I could help with the ball in anyway?"

[Legion02]

Victor
There were few nights as perfect as this one drive a car. Or so Victor thought as he cruised through the small paths towards his parent’s mansion. Unlike his siblings, Victor was often gone and often for several years. So obviously he missed several important days. One time he missed Christmas for a decade. Though he did call from time to time and he did confess he missed his parents and siblings. His job in the human world was just too demanding. You’d think that a species so short-lived would value their time more. Instead, they worked seemingly tireless, like ants, day in, day out.

But now he was coming home and could only wonder how his siblings were doing. Nik reached the age where he should have found a mate by now. Victor hadn’t seen his older brother for five years now, so obviously he wondered if the big guy succeeded in charming someone. Then there was Liz, the brattish one. No doubt she raised her usual amounts of hell. But she was still young, so he could forgive the slightly childish behavior. Then there was Sasha. Circumstances made seeing her for the past 7 years an issue. He wondered how many guys she drove crazy this time. Then there was Caspen. Just a decade and a bit shy from Victor’s own age. Yet he was such a disappointment. Broken by only 3 years. And now, after so many years he still couldn’t gather himself. No, Caspen was definitely becoming a problem for the family. Ah, he couldn’t help but remember Quin then. It felt like yesterday that the kid turned a century. How fast they grew up. His mind trailed towards Maggie then. His older sister. One of the few people he’d actually listen to in this world. Some would say he loves her the most, as they both had the soul of travelers. He didn’t consider it true. And then finally there was Alice. The runt of the bunch. For fifteen years her weakness held an iron grip around his heart. Fifteen of such years could make anyone feel different about someone. Even though she was his little sister, he couldn’t love her the same way he might love Maggie, Liz or Sasha. Even now he sees her as the weakling that tries to cover her vulnerability. Involuntarily his mind wandered towards Sarah. Sweet Sarah. Poor Sarah. Fate was cruel the day Alice found her dying. If it was only someone else. Some other sibling. But no, Alice basically forced her into service.

He forced the thoughts away. For the time being, he’d just ignore Sarah and try not to stumble into her. Though, the last time he was home he did fail both of those things. Eventually, the roar of the engine shook him out of his travel stupor as he approached the mansion. It was exactly as he remembered it. Once his quite expensive and quite fast car got parked he wandered inside holding a wrap of cloth in his hand. He’d know where to find his father.

[Sazama]

Alice & Sarah

When they were done, Alice took no time to kick him out. She couldn't risk anyone lingering or getting too "attached". As the man was getting dressed he turns to her and asks, "When will I see you again?" Her face scrunched up at the question, "When I feel like it." She snapped as she lays back down and pulls the sheets around her to cover herself. After the man opens the door to leave Sarah comes in with latex gloves on & a bottle of febreeze ready to clean.
"Oh Saraaaaah" Alice groans as she throws an arm over her forehead. "Why do they always want to stick around."
Sarah ignores Alice as she picks up her dress and undergarments on the floor throwing them in a laundry hamper. Next was the bed in which Alice was still rolling around in with only the bed sheets covering her. Sarah stands by the bed ready for her to get up.
Alice looks at Sarah and smirks, "Ah so impatient." Alice gets off the bed and throws the silk blanket that was covering her to Sarah. "Wash the sheets and replace them, after that you're free to go I guess." Alice waves a hand and prances towards her closet room.
Sarah watches as Alice's pale body disappears into the closet and sighs. She throws the sheets into a different hamper and replaces them with new ones. She finishes off by spraying the room with febreeze. Now it looks like nothing sinful ever happened in here. Contempt with the job, Sarah picks up the hampers and heads towards the laundry room all while humming a song to pass the time.

[GrizzTheMauler]

Gunnar & Duvalt

Duvalt smiles. "Of course my dear. I fear your gracious mother might not like it if there were no decorations!" He chuckles. "You know how terrible I am with those things..."

Gunnar groans. "Yeah... You have no eye for the task, my liege..." He thinks back to a very beginning of the tradition when Duvalt had barely had anything in the grand ballroom.. The queen was quite upset with him those years....

Duvalt shoves at him. "Hush, you. At least I have a wife! How long has it been since you've fancied a woman, hmm??"

[SouffleGirl123]

Elizabeth 'Liz'
@GrizzTheMauler

At her father assigning her the job as decorator she gave him a small smile. Not quite what she was thinking but a job nonetheless. Liz treaded over to her father, her sisters running through her head. Any one of them would be more suited to this than she. Liz was girly or that artsy, outside of music that is. "I can but I don't think I'll be much better than you in that department," she chuckles, giving her father a quick peck on the cheek.

She stays quiet for all of a minute before gently informing her father; "Caspen's torturing the human he's feeds from again," she says gently. Not really intending to 'dob' on him per se but more to start a conversation with her father. If he happened to pull her brother up for it later, Liz figured, Caspen deserved it. "I don't really understand how he can do it. How any of us can. I mean she was squirming and... She didn't look much different to me in age, well the age I look to humans I guess," she picks at the new hole in her jeans, "It's just... I don't know,"

[GrizzTheMauler]

@SouffleGirl123

Gunnar & Duvalt

Duvalt twitches slightly. "I see..." He shakes his head. "I have told him repeatedly in the past to quit with such things... Sadly he doesn't want to learn..."

Gunnar grunts. "He just doesn't care..." He starts walking out. "I'll stop it." He heads out and over to Caspen. "Alright, kid. You'd better hope she's alive, or you and your dad are having a little chat..."

@EmzyOfNeverland

[Sazama]

@EmzyOfNeverland @GrizzTheMauler
Alice

It should be noted that the term "closet" was an understatement. It was an enormous room filled with clothing and accessories that just happened to connect to Alice's room. In the middle was a grand piano for whenever she feels like playing. It took time and countless begging to have her father install this room for her. But of course, Duvalt always had a soft spot for his family which is why Alice has one of the biggest closets in the realm.
It doesn't take long for Alice to look presentable and so she heads out to find Caspen and fill him in on the latest night scene drama. She finds Caspen in one of the lounges getting chewed out by Gunnar for "mistreating" food.
"Lay off of Caspen would you? There's plenty of humans to go around, it's not like this one mattered." Alice scoffed as she entered the room.

[Legion02]

Victor
@GrizzTheMauler
Fate you cruel mistress. It was the only thing Victor could think of as he walked through the hallway. Right when he heard the singing. It felt odd, to Victor, how fascination could bring about focus. He witnessed a thousand concerts. Hundreds of bands performed for him and many other guests. So many people have talked to him and about him. Yet they weren’t fascinating. Their voices grayed out as time came to pass. Even now he could not remember the tone nor the face of the many humans that talked to him a century again. Their words felt like words from a book. Mental ink on the brain. But Sarah’s voice… his brain was determined to remember it. Why was it so determined?

The son of Duvalt could hardly hide away from a servant. Especially not Victor, who wouldn’t suffer cowardliness. He stood still for a moment, mustering his strength and courage. Eventually, he forced himself to keep on going. However, now he walked in a much more soldier-like fashion. Instead of taking easy steps, it looked more as if he was marching.

Eventually, he reached the hall and the sight of his dear old father banished any thoughts of Sarah. For now. “Ah, father!” he exclaimed with a bright smile. “You haven’t aged a day beyond 2000.” He continued as he walked, much easier now, towards the nearest table. On which he laid down the cloth and started to unwrap it. “I’ve brought you a present.” It was tradition, after all. He was gone for so long. The unwrapped cloth revealed a sword. A simple one. With black scabbard and unadorned handguard. Victor wasn’t planning on insulting his father, though. The blade was forged for those who looked beyond pretty jewels and the glamor of silver. It was a bastard-sword. It required true mastery over metal to forge such a balanced sword. One that was so well balanced it could be held by both or just one hand. This blade, above all others, was forged in such a perfectionist fashion. He hoped it would be a welcome addition to his father’s collection. “A gift.” He said, he picked up the blade in its scabbard and handed it over to his father. Trying to not look too hopeful for his father’s approval.

[GrizzTheMauler]

@Legion02

Duvalt

"Welcome home, my son." He smiles warmly and walks over to the table. "Hmm..." He picks up the sword and draws it, testing the weight and balance. "Wonderfully done... Did you forge this yourself, my boy?" He has a grin on his face as he gives it a few swings. "It has the perfection of a master..." He is happy that at least a few of his children have dedicated their lives to bettering the world somehow. It brings him no joy to hear his children delving into the cruelties that the Old Count had enjoyed so much... There is no honor in such practices... Something he often heard Gunnar reaming out the children for. God knows that man has put up with and trained all of his children... Yet very few give the man the respect he and his cousin deserve.. 'I'll have to give the man a raise... Hopefully he'll settle down soon himself.."

[EmzyOfNeverland]

@GrizzTheMauler@KimmiNinja
Caspen
Caspen rolled his eyes as Lizzie left. She was a little brat, that was for sure. Of course, that statement was validated when Gunnar came threw the door. "Gunnar, they got you on a tight leash. Do you bark like throwing good puppy you are?" his eyes traveled to Alice. "See? Plenty of humans. Besides," he sticks his fingers to the girls neck. "She's alive. She'll die anyway but she's alive. Whether she suffers for a few more hours or you let me put her out of her misery is up to you."

~

Tarquin "Quin"
Quin played with the hound before looking up, way up at Magnus. He could tell something was up. He always knew. That's what happens when you know someone all of your immortal life. "Iron Giant, are you okay? " he said being dramatic about his height by straining his neck more than necessary.

[GrizzTheMauler]

@EmzyOfNeverland

Gunnar

Gunnar's demeanor changes like a switch being turned on. His very presence in the room seems to grow and his eyes darken, a fire seeming to grow in them. He holds a lax stance, but his every fiber radiates an unsettling amount of power. "Dog?" His voice has grown deeper, but his fangs aren't even out. "Do you even know who you are speaking to, boy? I am the terror that plagued countless shores. A man who has killed more people in one day than you will ever see in your entire life." He takes a step forward with each word, and when he reaches Caspen he knocks his hand away and takes the girl. "Cross me, and princeling or not, I can make you suffer." He hefts the girl princess style, covering her wound with a hand. He sets his glare on Alice. "There is a rule here, that you two seem to forget. You are not to torture and abuse servants or even the feeding stock. We are not a society of monsters. But of civilized vampires. You will do your best to uphold the honor of the Krishkov name, younglings." He walks off, heading to the infirmary to ease the poor girl of her suffering.

Magnus

Magnus blinks, shaking his head. "Hmm? Oh. I am fine... Just lost in thought for a moment... Sorry..." He looks down at Tarquin. He wouldn't let him get hurt. He'd protect him to his last breath. "It happens why you get as old as I am... And have seen the things I've seen in this cursed life."

[Emma]

Magdalene stepped out of the deep claw foot tub and wrapped herself in a fluffy ivory towel. She had spent the last two hours pampering herself in the jet stream shower, and then soaking in a relaxing bath of luxurious oils. Now that she smelled like a bouquet of jasmine and honeysuckles, it was high time to get ready for the day. This particular bathroom was decorated in the ornate pastel style of the 1700s. It was her favorite bathroom in the house, mainly because she was so proud of the ceiling. She had painted the Norse gods and goddess up on the high domed ceiling as a gift for her father birthday over 300 years ago. Back when she and most of her siblings would try to top each others gifts to their parents.

She walked over to the mirror and rubbed away the steam. She glanced at herself in the the mirror. Though she was 438 years old she didn't look a day over 26. Youth and beauty was not really something she concerned herself with, unlike her mother. She towel dried her hair and slipped on her silk robe. She left the bathroom and made her way down the hall and upstairs to where her bedroom was. Maggie changed into one of her many dresses. She had clothes from every decade she had been alive, but her collections was small compared to her younger sister Alice's. Today she decided on wearing her pretty lilac dress she had gotten back in 1913, it was her favorite color and the chiffon and satin material felt heavenly on her skin. After pulling on her velvet fur lined slippers she finally began her descent to the first floor, were most of her siblings and the castles live in guests spent their time.

She passed the library with the door splayed open and her younger sister Elise was surrounded by books, and looked to be engrossed. Then she heard something she hadn't had the pleasure of hearing in a long time, her dear brother Victor's voice echoed through the stone castle walls. This brightened her day considerably. It was always nice to have the family together. Now all that was missing was Larkin. Her siblings were a range of personalities, and behaviors. She loved them all just the same, even the most selfish and conniving of the brood. "Victor's home." Maggie said softly to Elise who nodded, but didn't look up from her books. Magdalene smiled at her, and then started walking down the different halls towards where she had assumed Victor would be. But she could hear Gunnar reprimand of her foolish younger siblings, and turned around. She could wait to talk to Victor, rather she didn't want to walk into a middle of an argument. People could get savage around here. Instead she would go looking for Nik, and anyone else who was most likely not aware of Victor's sudden appearance.