Jade Blades

Of Blood and Magic

Joryldin Nailo

_{Interacting with: Morrigan Cade @HecateProxy}

Morrigan posed a difficult question to answer. The simple fact of the matter was that he was trying his hardest not to adjust. It was stubborn and ultimately pointless, and Joryldin knew that, but it was a matter of values. He didn't want to adjust to a life that spat in the face of what he held dearest before.

"It's been... a challenge. You don't need me to tell you that there's a lot of things you miss. The sun, normal food... Hell, creepy as it sounds, sometimes I miss mundane pain. It's strange to stub your toe and dent the chair instead of the other way around."

Joryldin set off meandering towards his councilor. He shuffled along with the crowd in a way that seemed far more akin to a zombie than a vampire. A quick tilt of his head indicated for Morrigan to follow and do the same.

"Heh...It's not all bad though, I finally get to sleep in all day!" It was a shitty joke, that's for sure; but like Dakota said, what's the point in being undead if you couldn't make light of it? "Name's Joryldin, how about you?"

Of Blood and Magic

Joryldin Nailo

_{Interacting with: Morrigan Cade @HecateProxy}

You know that awful feeling in your mouth after you get braces? Your teeth ache as they move, and your tongue uncontrollably attacks the foreign invaders in your mouth as if to say, "The hell is this? This doesn't belong here. Get it out, now!" Imagine that feeling multiplied tenfold. All night, Joryldin could focus on nothing but what felt like two massive spikes in his mouth. They rubbed against the inside of his lips, poked his gums, and he couldn't keep his tongue off of them no matter how hard he tried.

Count Alder's speech was no less irritating. He said that humans weren't pets, but expected the students to control their mages life like one would keep track of a puppy. Joryldin tuned out pretty much everything that the rotting count had to say besides vital information about classes. Guidance councilors were a blessing from heaven above, and he was grateful that he had an adult to help him sort out his courses, but as soon as he had instructions to talk to someone else, he started ignoring the speech completely. Joryldin put in his earbuds and started up a playlist on his phone, the most recent album by Red.

Red

One of the few prominent human musicians, and the subject of much controversy, the woman known simply as Red had always been Joryldin's favorite artist. Her music, which seemed perfectly innocent to passing listeners, was always charged with powerful emotion. Every song had a hidden meaning, usually one that her vampire peers did not appreciate. Themes of freedom, independence, criticism of how humans were looked down on, it was no wonder Jorydlin gravitated towards her work.

Recently, Red had suffered a terrible accident while at her most recent concert. Just as her performance had finished and the musician took her bow, a stage light came crashing down onto her back. Several ribs were broken and her lungs were left heavily scarred. Red would never be able to sing again. Her fellow artists gave long winded speeches mourning the loss of one of the biggest inspirations of this human generation, but everyone knew it was all just crocodile tears. Many, including Joryldin, suspected foul play.

Joryldin wondered if Red would be disappointed to hear that one of her biggest fans had become a vampire...

As Morrigan nudged his fellow Embraced, he caught a glimpse of the contentious album cover before Joryldin dropped the phone into his hoodie pocket. The other freshman didn't seem nearly as frustrated as the glimpse Morrigan caught the night before. He simply looked tired. Draped in comfortable clothes (though neglecting to pull up his hood as there was no real danger in eye contact with other vampires), the fledgling looked ready to fall asleep. His dull crimson eyes were cloudy and unfocused, and his features all seemed to droop. When Morrigan nudged him, Joryldin pulled out one of his earbuds and looked his way. He collected himself a bit and gave Morrigan a soft smile.

”Could he get any duller?”

I dunno, it's pretty interesting to me. Didn't think him the type to be a contortionist, but how else could he be so far up his own ass? At least, that's what Joryldin wanted to say, but this was a prestigious school with some of the most powerful and narcissistic vampires on the planet. One wrong word could cost him his head, or worse.

"It's a necessary evil, I guess. I'd probably be wandering around like a stray cat without this tour, and we get to see the electives and whatnot." He couldn't keep it all in though, and with a chuckle he added, "At least we aren't stuck in 'human psychology' class. It's probably just a whole period of this."

Of Blood and Magic

Joryldin Nailo

_{Interacting with: Dakota Brookes @WeepingLiberty}

Joryldin let out a defeated sigh and averted his gaze to the heavy curtains covering the back door. "About that... I know this is gonna sound dumb, but I've never been on a school campus before. I've always been home-schooled." This was actually true, and he was pretty embarrassed about it. If Dakota could see him, his eyes would be a very bashful pink. "Think you could give me some advice? How to make friends, stay away from enemies... stuff like that? I figure it's a bit more of a process than what I'm used to..."

To be fair, he never bothered making friends before now. They were usually dead weight and trying to keep track of two people's necks would get the both of you killed. The whole mess of this social environment was taking him for a loop, and he'd already slipped up more than enough times to learn his lesson. He wasn't going to risk going a step further without some guidance. There was also the issue of the hunger gnawing at his insides. At least now it was more like conventional hunger, but he still winced a little at a sudden pang. Staying on the safe side, he discretely grabbed a vial from the fridge after Dakota snagged something for breakfast.

Of Blood and Magic

Joryldin Nailo

_{Interacting with: Dakota Brookes @WeepingLiberty}

“Don’t worry, I closed the curtains before I went to bed in case you needed something while I was sleeping. You can come out now... How can I help?”

Joryldin cursed himself for being so hasty and stupid. He barely new this girl, and yet he succumbed to his hunger enough to almost ask her for blood. It was pathetic and disgusting. Like... Like... Like something a vampire would do... He decided to go hungry for today. If necessary, he could ask at a more appropriate time, tomorrow before class. Of course, now he needed something else to tell her. Dakota had already read him like a book the night prior, so he thought for a moment until he came up with something solid. After all, half-truths are a lot harder to discern than lies.

The fledgling opened his door, and Dakota was met with a soft smile. Joryldin stood straight, though a slight bend in his knees and the way his arm dangled loose at his side gave the impression of a melancholy, relaxed nature that he worked so hard to keep up. Joryldin wore that same comically oversized hoodie, with said hood pulled well over his eyes for her sake. Underneath was a rather nice button-down, contrasted by jeans that looked like they went 15 rounds with Mike Tyson in his prime. He pushed a curl of grey hair out of his mouth and said,

"Good mo- I mean, evening... How'd you sleep? Those beds really are something else aren't they?"

Of Blood and Magic

Joryldin Nailo

_{Interacting with: Dakota Brookes @WeepingLiberty}

Sleep was... difficult. Jorldin wasn't used to the downright wonderful accommodations that the Nolia academy provided. While it's true he had a good home for the past 8 years, the young man had never shook his habit of living as simply as possible. When he was alone on the streets, it was a matter of necessity. When he was given a home, it was a matter of personal preference. After becoming a vampire, it was a matter of the heart. In the midst of living under the heel of the undead, modest living felt like an innately human thing to him, it brought Joryldin comfort. Luxury made what was left of his stomach churn, and the heavenly queen-sized bed he was provided with did nothing to help.

Just like almost every day since he was turned, nightmares plagued Joryldin's slumber. They always started the same, with himself as an orphan cowering in some dark alley as figures run past, silhouetted by the moonlight. He was always cold, hungry, and alone, but never scared. He had a knife, and nothing to lose. No animal fights with greater fury and viciousness than when it's cornered, and that's what he was to them, right? Nothing more than a wild animal? Usually the nightmares ended just as he was found, but tonight was different. A man stood in the threshold of the alley, and two glowing red eyes pierced the night. As a car meandered its way past, the headlights revealed the face of the threat.

The vampire in question was unmistakably Joryldin himself.

Though something was wrong, there was a madness in his face that went beyond words. A psychotic smile that only shows itself in the most broken men. The vampire's voice was different. Calm, confident, smooth... Nothing like his usual tone.

"What are you still doing here?"
The horrid caricature of himself stepped forward, looming over what he used to be.
"It's too late now, you're one of them. Why keep fighting it? It won't amount to any good. We're all slaves to their great machine, nothing will ever change that."
Hugging his dagger like a stuffed animal, Joryldin shook his head. Tears began welling in his eyes.
"You're w-wrong... It's just that everybody g-gave up instead of trying."
The vampire's grin shone bright in that dark alley. His fangs sparkled.
"Because unlike you, they knew better."
It took a step back and spread its arms wide.
"You either join, submit, or die. Be grateful they gave you the mercy of the first choice, and enjoy it."

With that final message, the dream ended. Joryldin bolted upright in his bed, gasping for air, only to dump himself back onto the mattress as he processed everything... He'd spent his whole life struggling against the tide and trying to stay afloat, cursing the sharks who swam with it gladly and devoured those who drowned. Finding himself a shark now, returning to land was made impossible. If he struggled against his new nature, he would starve and the others would tear apart what was left. Joryldin couldn't stomach the idea of sinking so low as to be the monster in his nightmare, submitting to the order of vampiric life and lording himself over those blessed to still be alive. Right then and there, he made a resolution: If he couldn't fight the tide, he would keep others afloat. Nolia was a place where the living and the undead were supposed to come together in harmony, and he would do whatever he could to embody that vision.

Joryldin got out of his bed. The rich sheets were making him sick. He quickly opened his phone and checked the time. 7:30 PM. He needed to get ready for orientation, but the sun was still just barely out. A long shower served to pass the time, but the thinking time only brought more of the same...

He got dressed, grabbed his things and was pretty much ready for the day, but then the hunger hit him. The chalice Joryldin downed the previous night was more than he would normally allow himself in a week, and it was delicious. After being starved on and off for a month, his body craved more, and Joryldin couldn't risk using up the few vials he brought. With no other option, he opened up his phone and texted his roommate.

"Good mo-" No, he hadn't woken up in the morning for weeks now... But saying "good evening" to somebody who just woke up sounded dumb. He cleared the message and simply asked,

"Is it safe to come out yet? I'm all packed for the day but I kinda need your help with something before we head out..."

Of Blood and Magic

Joryldin Nailo

_{Interacting with: Dakota Brookes @WeepingLiberty}

With the sun approaching fast and his senses at their breaking point, Jorylin excused himself from his partner's company and walked down the street towards their lodge. Number four of the common housing, if he recalled correctly. About halfway there, Dakota caught up with him, munching on some sort of stuffed pastry balls. Maybe doughnut holes? Not likely, it had to be something fancier. She didn't say anything, and considering how tense the whole night had been so far, a quiet walk was VERY welcome. They reached their house after a couple of minutes and Joryldin fished his key out of the envelope. He turned the lock with a satisfying click and turned back to give Dakota a small smile as he opened the door.

"Wow... I don't think I've ever seen an apartment this nice."

He gestured for her to come take a look, then instantly disappeared. All the lights turned on, as did the TV. A grey blur rushed past her and the bedroom doors flew open. The fridge opened and shut instantly, and a game console appeared under the TV. When the blur finally became slow enough for human eyes to see, Joryldin stood there in sweatpants and a grey hoodie, two sizes too big. He gave her a description of the room then said,

"I'll take the room on the left since it's smaller. I don't have much."

He pulled the curtains aside, freeing the windows.

"I'm gonna head to bed... You enjoy the sunrise, ok?"

Of Blood and Magic

Joryldin Nailo

_{Interacting with: Dakota Brookes @WeepingLiberty}

Joryldin dived headfirst back into the haze of the party. He covered his nose and mouth with his hands in an attempt to block out the smell of perpetual indulgence around him, but after a moment or two, the mage's words rung in his ears again. Being a black sheep was just going to make him look incompetent and get him in trouble. He didn't have to prove anything to anyone but himself, and even if he had to play the part of a good little monster, he wasn't going to let this place break him.

There were whole trays of wineglasses filled to the brim with blood or alcohol, and maybe even both. Wasn't this supposed to be a school? Whether or not it was legal, he grabbed one and started walking with it. There was no need to actually drink it, just keep up appearances. The scent attacked him at once, and as he wandered, hunting for his partner, it became harder and harder to resist. He was still thirsty, that one little bottle wasn't going to make up for days worth of fasting.

Eventually he caved. In one go, Joryldin downed the whole thing without spilling a drop. It was like a taste of heaven, but he mustered all his will and ignored the horrid enjoyment. It was a lot easier after the first taste, he was starting to get used to sustenance after his period of withdrawal. Without a single twitch, it was gone. He placed the glass down on a tray for used dishes, and just in time too.

"It's not a crime, you're just doing what you need to do to survive, and ... alright where is she? I swear its been like an hour."

WHAM! Joryldin spoke of the devil, and just like that she appeared. In an instant, the girl in the photo had bowled him over. The only thing stopping him from landing firmly on his ass were supernatural reflexes. The girl, he noticed, was not so lucky.

“I am so sorry, I didn’t see you… Oh hey! You’re Joryldin aren’t you? I’m Dakota!”

He tried to play it cool, act all gentlemanly...

"No need to appologize, I should have been paying more attention to-"

No amount of vampiric reflexes or rehearsed lines could have prepared him for what happened next. The sudden hug caught him completely off guard.

“Nice to meet you at last. I was worried you had wandered off without me.”

Again, he put on his best suave and seductive voice in an attempt to save face. While the shock of surprise physical affection drove him to stammer, he did manage to keep his tone rather confident.

"G-good to meet you too, Dakota! And here I was s-starting to think that you didn't show up!"

Joryldin's smile was warm, and his eyes shone with a cheerful yellow light. He was genuinely happy to see her. it was someone he would be able to trust, and someone who he could count on to keep him rooted in his humanity.

"We can get set up in our dorm and chat later. For now, what do you want to do first? The party's still going strong."

Of Blood and Magic

Joryldin Nailo

What the mage said stung like fire, but he was right. Joryldin had no clue how to fit in, and if he didn't, all he would do is make things harder for himself.

"I see your point... Thanks for the advice." The fledgling closed up his bag and hid the evidence. Of course, like the mage said, everybody probably saw him anyway.

"You're a student here, yeah? Shouldn't you be hunting your little pet right now?"

Joryldin froze. Ever so slowly, the glow of his eyes shifted from grey to a dim red. Here he was, trying to hold on to his humanity and getting belittled for it. That, he could take. The mage's blatant disregard for his own kind, that crossed a line.

"You want to say that again? Because I heard you say that I should be treating the person who's being forced to spend their life keeping me breathing like nothing more... than a pet. You can't be serious, right!? You actually want me to walk all over someone who's giving me everything they have!?"

He was furious, to the point where he had half a mind to break this guy's nose. Joryldin slung the bag over his shoulder, his nails dug into the nylon as he grit his teeth and turned away.

"You've got something seriously wrong with your head if you think you're gonna give me lessons on how to be a monster when you don't even know how to use your own beating heart."

Without another word, the fledgling stormed off. The party didn't matter, the blood didn't matter. All he cared about was finding his partner and making sure they were ok.

Of Blood and Magic

Joryldin Nailo

"You really should check your surroundings before you let yourself go like that. It's... unbecoming of your status. Although if you want to suck down blood in the corner like a starving animal, I guess that's your perogative... That stuff must be like sex for you guys, huh?"

A nervous laugh was the most the fledgling could manage. He deserved the insult, that much was for sure; but even if he was a monster now, he felt at least some need to defend himself.

"L-let myself go? Tell that to everybody gorging themselves out there. I'd sooner sit outside and watch the sunrise than have any part in that."

Burning to ashes was starting to sound like a better and better idea with every passing second.

"It's insane, what this stuff does to you... It's like the strongest drug ever, and I don't want the addiction to go any further than it has to... I know I'm not gonna make any friends going against the grain, and you're right, I'm probably gonna be a laughing stock.. but I won't let them change me more than they already have. I'm not gonna be another number in their system."

A modicum of confidence could be heard in Joryldin's voice. It was faint, but it was there.

@Scribe of Thoth

Of Blood and Magic

Joryldin Nailo

It was all just too much. The music, the people, the alcohol, the blood... Joryldin's senses were being assaulted from every angle. He'd never seen such a proud display of luxury and debauchery, neither when he was on his own nor after the widow took him in. It was nauseating. To make matters worse, all the other vampires were so welcoming! He expected most to scoff at a newly turned, or just refuse to interact with him entirely, and he would have preferred it that way! Instead, most welcomed the young man with open arms. They invited him to join in on their drinking, dancing, and merrymaking, but he politely declined. This was wrong, everything about him being here was so wrong! Why was everyone celebrating slavery? Why was everyone so damn happy about spending eternity without anything to fight for?
It might have sounded silly, or even downright treasonous to some, but those were the questions plaguing Joryldin. They were... until the hunger set in. Unbeknownst to his mother, Joryldin hadn't fed in two days. The mere act of sustaining this new form of his disgusted Joryldin, so he had made the terrible habit of waiting until the last moment to satiate his needs. Right now, the revelry was calling to every fiber of his being. The smell of blood hit his nose like sweet honey. It was intoxicating, and Joryldin shuddered in ecstasy at the mere olfactory sensation.

"Oh god... I've got to get out of here!" He thought to himself.

It took all his strength to turn around, dash to somewhere private, and calm down. Joryldin had no choice. He needed something or he was going to lose his mind. Of course, he was resourceful if nothing else, and came prepared. The young man set down his duffel bag behind a statue near the edge of the courtyard and opened up one of the side pockets. A set of vials sparkled in the darkness, each filled to the top with the red nectar he needed. They were from Miss Theresa, his mother's current partner. After his transformation, he was never able to gather the courage to bite her, even with both the widow's encouragement and her own. To keep him fed, they simply kept bottles. These vials were for emergencies only, but for Joryldin this was most certainly an emergency. He pinched the bridge of his nose and tipped his head back, trying to ensure he tasted as little of it as possible. Out of the corner of his eye, Joryldin noticed someone else had already claimed this hiding spot, an intimidating human with messy hair and a crumpled up letter. This momentary distraction was enough for him to lower his head a bit just as the blood poured out into his mouth, making full contact with his tongue.
Joryldin violently shivered as the mind-shattering pleasure hit him in waves. He stumbled back, then simply sat down on the ground. Why did it have to taste so good? Why did it have to feel so good? It was the worst ecstasy, the most miserable satisfaction. He felt vile and wonderful all at the same time, and somebody saw the whole thing!

"I'm s-sorry you had to see that."
Joryldin got to his feet and slapped on a ballcap hidden in his bag to cover his eyes.
"I didn't think there would be anybody back here... I'm Joryldin. Nice to meet you."
It was most certainly not nice. He felt ashamed of himself, and the dim grey glow in his eyes betrayed him completely.

@Scribe of Thoth