Romero

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Kirkpatrick House
Skills: N/A

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William nodded in thanks as he took the flask offered to him. He took a drink himself before he replied to the driver, smiling again as he handed the flask back. It was good to talk to someone who didn't have a string of titles attached to them. This was where William felt more at ease, away from all the rigidity of noble etiquette, just sharing a drink while they watch the world go by. Of course the world they were watching go by was the grand and imposing shape of Kirkpatrick House, but William would take what he could get.

"You're right there, friend. I'm just a wanderer in truth, a musician who follow those who will pay me for my craft. As it happens, Lord Rutherford has hired me to play at his wedding to Miss Wyndham, so here I am. For both of our sakes, I hope this diversion doesn't take too long."

The man looked over towards William and took the flask back from him. Taking a swig from it he hissed slightly at the burn as he swallowed before nodding. "I hope yer right. I don't exactly get paid by the hour but by the job. Longer they take less chance I have at getting another hire before nightfall. I really don't want to spend an evening Gretna Green if I ain't got'to."

William nodded again. He didn't envy the man looking for customers with the night drawing in, least of all in Gretna Green. Now that he thought of it, what was William intending to do? Once the Rutherford and Millicent were wed, then William's contract would have reached it's end, and he doubted that the happy couple would want to keep William as a companion, and in truth, he wasn't sure he could stand Egerton for longer than he absolutely had to. But that was in the future, for now, William would live in the moment.

"That makes two of us."

William glanced over his shoulder, making sure that the rest of the party had moved on before he turned back to the driver.

"So, what do you make of their Lordships?"

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Unknown
Skills: N/A
Hit Points: 6
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Even the voice of the strange girl caused lances of pain through Cobalt's aching head, and he closed his eyes, enjoying the slight respite of the sweet darkness for a moment, before summoning the strength to open his eyes again. He saw that the girl had moved out from behind the pillar, only by a little, but enough for him to see her better. Her eyes never seemed to settle on one thing, constantly darting around, always seeming to avoid looking at the candles that burnt around the room. Struggling, he sat upright, although the effort made his head throb. Pressing one hand to the side of the head, he had to ask himself the same question that had just left her lips.

In truth, his head was starting to ache a little less, and he could feel the room spinning slower than it had when he had first woken up. He'd recover, but that was the extent of his self-diagnosis. He still didn't know what had caused him to suddenly pass out, and he certainly didn't know where he was, or how he had come to be waking up in this strange chapel. His throat was still painfully dry, and he glanced across at the girl, managing a weak smile, ignoring how rough his voice sounded when he spoke.

"I've been worse. I could use a drink though. Some water perhaps? Please."

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Kirkpatrick House
Skills: N/A

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William couldn't help but feel he'd slipped through the cracks. But he wasn't complaining. Lady Kirkpatrick had already dissapeared inside the house, Lord Egerton confidently following after her. Millicent eventually took Rutherford's hand, and the engaged couple moved towards the house as well. No-one was particularly paying William any attention, but if anything, he preferred it this way. He'd entertained at enough parties to be used to just being part of the furniture. Humming slightly, William turned back to the carriage in time to see that the driver was beginning the task of unloading the two bodies strapped to the roof. Still humming some half-forgotten tune, William decided that he may as well make himself useful.

Half clambering onto the carriage itself, William began to help the driver with his task. As he worked, he looked at the two bodies properly for the first time. The first man that they lowered from the carriage roof had an ugly gunshot wound in his chest, and William hardly needed to be a doctor to know that was what had killed him. The blood that stained the man's mouth was enough to show that his lungs had been torn open, even if the gaping wound wasn't. At least it looked quick, he probably never even knew what hit him.

The second body they unloaded was a different story. He recognized the body as the one that had caused Rutherford such issues, but looking at it properly, he could see that he was a bloody mess. He'd clearly been torn at by one of the Ryne's, and William could only hope that he'd managed to take the creature down with him. Laying the two bodies down on the ground, and seeing that the rest of the party had already moved on, William found himself turning to the carriage driver himself for the first time.

"So, how did you come into the employ of their Lordships?"

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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Location: Unknown
Skills: N/A
Hit Points: 6
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Cobalt woke with a start. In an instant, the swirling dancers and lively music of the ballroom was gone, darkness came rushing back. His head ached, and for a moment, he couldn't bring himself to open his eyes. The dank smell of earth and stagnant air filled his nostrils, and his ears strained for any noise, but there was nothing but the low crackle of candles. His head was still sore, and his throat was dry. He felt like death, but thankfully, at least from what he could tell, he wasn't yet. And he intended to keep it that way.

Finally, Cobalt opened his eyes. He regretted it almost immediately, even the dim light in the strange room made his head ache even worse, but he pushed through the pain, gritting his teeth. His eyes took a moment to focus, and he could tell he was still feeling the effects of whatever had hit him so suddenly in the Billiards Room. That felt like an age ago now.

Looking around the room he was in, he saw that he seemed to be in some kind of chapel, all cold stone. An alter dominated the center of the room, and beyond it a stained glass window was framed with pillars, and statues he didn't recognise. A handful of candles offered the only light, and they cast long, flickering shadows across the room. Movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he turned in time to see a pale figure, watching him from behind a pillar. He was not alone then.

Cobalt tried to speak, but he found his throat was still too dry, and he could barely croak. Swallowing, although the effort only made his head spin more, he tried again, his voice still hoarse and rough.

"Where am I?

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Kirkpatrick House
Skills: N/A

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

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

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

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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

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

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

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Annan
Skills: N/A

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

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

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

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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

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

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

🦄 Soulless Regency - Merged With T.S.

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William Fraser

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Location: Annan
Skills: N/A

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

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

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

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

🦄 Machiavellian Masquerade - Chapter 1

Justice Cobalt

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

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

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