001 | [ video | action ]

[byherscore]

[ a face appears, her smile glinting with an edge of danger as she speaks ]

That's not

very

nice.

[ she leans in close, eyes flashing a brilliant blue before fading darker. ]

If you're not here soon, well... I guess I'll just have a little bit of fun. [ she flicked her wrist then, the phone fizzling out with a plop as it landed in the fountain. Diva's a bit pissed off after all. Her Riku's gotten away again and just before she found him. And if her chevalier (any of them) don't come find her soon, well... who knows who might get hurt. Do tread with care. ]

((ooc: Diva's not happy at the moment, so if you want to action it up, be prepared for potential unpleasantness depending on how the threads go. I won't go too extreme, no worries! She's more interested in general destruction then a feast right now. ))

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[byherscore]

Are you?

[ she leans in close, trailing a hand over his shoulder as she circles him. ] You let him get away. [ and her nails raked down his cheek. Her darling, her own, her chevalier. She should have thought better of that for all that he was the only one who wanted to help her. ]

[worldofourown]

[ After the absence of her touch, even that scrape of nails is pleasurable. Any touch-- tender, violent--she cares to bestow is bliss. She could trample him, tear him to pieces. And it would only intensify his adoration. ]

[ He is hers. Worthless, undeserving, to do with as she pleases. ]

I am. [ Sincere yet plaintive. ] Please forgive me. I will do everything I can to make this up to you.

[ Even if it's impossible. ]

[He can't give her the children she yearns for. ]

[byherscore]

[ she stoops down low, yanking on his hair to bring his face close to hers. ] Then find him. [ she shouldn't have to ask it twice after all. It's the only thing she's ever wanted. ]

[worldofourown]

[ He knew she'd ask. No, command.How does he explain? Saya isn't here. Nor is Riku. He gathers his courage, even as his skin creeps and his blood tingles at her proximity. ]

[ She is exquisite, even in white-hot rage. ]

This place hasn't allowed that boy [ Or Saya. ] to enter it. Only a handful of our family.

[ He'd move heaven and earth to give her what she desires. But. He. Can't. Self-disgust roils through him. ]

[ He drops his eyes, fully expecting her wrath. ]

[ He deserves it. ]

[byherscore]

[ she pets him then, soft touches on his hair. ] And that's going to stop you? [ she doesn't realize yet that she can't leave, that Karl can't disappear from her sight.

She only knows she's being wound tight, on edge. She could tear Karl limb from limb, but that won't kill him. The one defect to her blood. It's a shame it doesn't work that way, even if she may regret it, later on. ]

[worldofourown]

[ He's steeled himself for violence. The soft touch surprises him. But this is Diva. He could never predict her moods. It's why he worships her. ]

No. I'd never let it stop me. [ Not a lie. He's never stopped fighting the City in his own way. But she doesn't realize how absolute its restrictions are. He can't bring himself to explain. Perhaps Nathan can? She's always calmest in Nathan's care. ]

But -- [ Tentatively, he regards her. ] Why don't I take you home, first? The others will be so happy to see you.

[ Nathan will. Marishka, probably. Solomon? He's unsure. ]

[byherscore]

[ She's satisfied. Stepping back, she starts to walk away. ] I know where they are. [ And she does. She can sense them, feel them. She always knows where her Chevaliers are.

Assuming she cares to listen.

Assuming she cares to look.

They're with her, always. But please don't let that stop you. You were just given a charge. ]

[worldofourown]

[ He trails after her. Of course he won't let her out of his sight. A bitter wave of longing surges through him, a wave he's held off while she was gone, lest he sink into it and never resurface again. He wants to snatch her up and bury his face in her hair, kiss her lips or fingers or the very hem of her dress, whisper his despair at losing her. ]

[ But he doesn't dare -- is unworthy -- of touching her. ]

I hope you'll like the place we've chosen. [ Her old self had. ] The garden's perfect for playing hide and seek in.

[ He wants to shower her with gifts. Dolls, dresses, puppies, blood, pretty screaming boys and girls. Anything to make her happy. ]

[byherscore]

[ she doesn't spare him a glance, walking surefooted through the streets and sneering at any man or woman who might come close. ] And this is what you've done? Picked out houses? [ oh Karl, better to have simply left then to follow her. She's hardly in a better mood just yet. ]

[worldofourown]

[ He knows she's angry. Why shouldn't she be? From her perspective, he's failed. And there's nothing more unbearable than bearing the brunt of her displeasure. ]

No. [ He's caused mayhem. Stalked and terrorized. Fed on victims. Made friends and enemies. Made trouble for Solomon, only to turn around and take care of him. But the topics make him fidgety. Fill him with unwelcome speculations of what she'll say. ] Perhaps you'd like something on the way? A doll or a dress? A tasty snack?

[byherscore]

[ she spins, dress flaring and hair flowing. ] I want him. [ Don't try to placate her. It's better to simply forget. She'll get over it. in time, but if Karl keeps this up he

just

might

not.

But she does have a heart. A small one, but a heart nonetheless. ] Unless, of course, you'd prefer to do something else for me. [ like scream as she drains out your blood. She's just itching to scratch that desperate look off Karl's face, the skin off his bones. And then, perhaps, she'd be able to sleep. ]

[worldofourown]

[ When she spins, he doesn't backtrack. But the skin around his eyes tightens. He can't help his desperate look. Can't stifle the shame of knowing, you disappointed her, you worthless creature, this is why she would never care for you. ]

[ Because, really, he didn't fail. She'd gotten her babies. And he'd died soon afterward. ]

...Anything...

[ She can shred him to pieces. Devour him. She's made him hers, and without her he is nothing. ]

[byherscore]

[ yes, look miserable, drown in a pool of self-loathing. He deserves it, every last ounce. And he was so beautiful in his desperateness. ]

Then die.

[ she spun on her heel again, walking away, walking faster. She could do it now, right here in the street, but that takes out half the fun. These humans never could leave well enough alone. ]

[worldofourown]

[ She always knows just how to make it sting. His throat tightens, eyes slipping shut. He lets his hands hang limply at his sides. I can't die. Not at home. Not here. ]

[ But he can't summon the words. ]

[ Instead, numb, he follows. It wouldn't do to have someone pester her. In this City, there are creatures as strong -- stronger? -- than Chiropterans. ]

[byherscore]

[ Ah... sweet Karl, ever chained to her side, so desperate, so devoted. No matter how irritating, how annoying, she had to smile a little as she walked, taking in the scents of this city like any other.

It wasn't home, but Diva never had a home.

It simply was, and she was itching to stretch her wings before being trapped yet again. It wasn't often she had the freedom of a hunting ground. Flicking her wrist, she gestured Karl closer. ]

[worldofourown]

[ She's barely gestured before he's at her side. Eager and solicitous, but afraid to speak. Her words still crackle through his head like red-hot sparklers. Overlaid by his own misery -- she's been cheated of her children, he's failed her as a Chevalier -- even as he's unsure how to remedy this. ]

[ He'll find a way. He must. ]

[ Until then, he's ready to serve her in every capacity. ]

[byherscore]

I'm hungry. [ her eyes shine blue in the dark shadow of a wall. ] Where do you hunt? [ darkness was almost always preferred by her chevaliers, but Diva so preferred the light. ]

[worldofourown]

[ Hunting? He dares a little smile. Diva will always be Diva. ]

The Underground. The City Limits. Even Xanadu or the City Center. [ Humans everywhere. Easy to snatch away and devour, in blinks. He gauges their eyes out so they don't recognize him, upon returning to life the next day. ]The Underground has monsters too. But the tastiest humans are in Xanadu. [ Babies. Pretty girls. Sprightly boys. Frolicking in a live buffet. ]

[byherscore]

Monsters? [ her eyes flicker for just a second as she paused to listen. Was Amshel nearby and she somehow missed him?

Poor Amshel.

Dear Amshel.

She expected more from you then this. After a second, several counted heartbeats, both hers and his, she turns into Karl, half smiling yet again. ] Just take me there then. Something nice, something tasty. Something young.

[ and then she'll give Karl the dregs. ]

[worldofourown]

[ While she's quiet, he waits. Tense, twitchy, yearning. Her half-smile seems to promise every possible excitement and comfort, if only he truly deserves them. Except he doesn't. ]

[ You failed, you failed. ]

[ He shakes the terrible voices off. Nods at Diva. ]

Of course. Anything -- anyone -- you wish for.

[ He'd accept her dregs with abject gratitude. He's used to her scraps. Of snacks or affection. ]

[byherscore]

[ she slides a little closer, lifting up her arms ] Then take me there.

[worldofourown]

[ He gathers her in. Tentative, yet grateful for even the smallest closeness. Her presence, like the taste of blood, is over-exciting, over-activating. But infusing him with purpose. ]

[ In the next beat, he's swept her off to Xanadu -- a dim blue flash. ]

[byherscore]

[ and she'll loosely hold on to him, listening to the wind of passage, accepting it as her due. Karl's touch was always a tad possessive, a tad too tight, but never restrictive.

Freeing.

It's the one he does right. ]