abyssale | 𝖘𝖆𝖑𝖙𝖇𝖚𝖗𝖓𝖙 𝖎𝖓𝖇𝖔𝖝.

We should speak, at your convenience, given recent events.

Considering I'm intending to avoid the center of the storm as much as possible, currently is convenient for me.

Would you come to my rooms, or would you prefer I go to yours? Alicent is my suitemate, but she is a friend to our kind.

While I wholly trust Alicent, Dani is feeling a little protective of me currently. I don't think he wants me going too far from him right now. I'm in [insert room nearish Louis and Armand].

Your Dani is certainly entitled to his worry.

[ with his own mental abilities restricted as they are, he doesn't believe armand will be able to sense him near, and hold any suspicion as a result. ]

I will be there imminently.

The door is open. No need to knock.

[ Of course Lestat already knows which room Louis and Armand are inhabiting — he'd made it a point to know, back when he was respectfully maintaining the distance they'd agreed upon prior to his leaving Paris, and while he has yet to cross the threshold, has only welcomed Louis into his room by comparison, he remains helplessly aware of how little space remains between them while they've all been guests of this strange manor house.

Their collective inability to delve into minds — at least, he suspects it's collective, because if Lestat himself has been met with a pounding headache for his efforts, no doubt Armand and Louis have suffered the same — means that his closer proximity can remain unnoticed, at least for now, as he finds the room Alexei had indicated and lets himself in without further preamble.

He's dressed for remaining in his own rooms — a long dressing gown, loose and belted around his middle, slippers on his feet — and his expression is relaxed, but intent, as he crosses the space to assume a seat in the nearest open chair. ]

I suspect you might already know why I wished to meet.

( Lexi still hasn't sorted out the relationship with Lestat, Louis, and Armand. so honestly, he's not aware if there would be any discomforting coming near them. but he does wonder at Lestat not being close to them.

he's not nosy, though. oh that's a lie. he is. but only for gossip freely shared. he would never pry.

either way he's asked Dani to at least go to the adjoined room while Lestat visits in case Lestat prefers the privacy. when Lestat does arrive the room is very clearly barely lived in. it's only temporary quarters until this whole thing is over.

and as usual, Lexi is stricken by the inexorable beauty of the vampire. a shame they have more pressing matters at hand. ) An alliance of some sort? A plot? ( Lexi is dressed comfortably, too. an open kimono and loose, flowing style pants of a thin, soft material. ) I'm open to anything, at this point.

[ It is not Lestat's priority to remark on the space, or the room, but he does observe its sparse state, a potential indication that it has only been occupied for a short time.

His mirrored gaze, a piercing blue that possesses an otherworldly quality in the way that all vampires of his world do, briefly sweeps over their surroundings before returning to the figure before him. There is no question about it — Alexei is objectively beautiful, with an artful degree to his features that would easily inspire many a muse. No wonder, he thinks, that the vampire has inspired such deep loyalty from one who seems to be human; he doesn't need to lend much effort at all to be able to hear his heartbeat through the wall. ]

The former. [ Though he hasn't lent serious thought, yet, to the latter, and as suspicions only mount against them, it may be necessary for them to take more decisive measures. Lestat leans back in his chair, idly crossing one leg over the other. ]

All of us who are called vampire were exposed through that indiscreet feast, whether we sought it or not. [ For his part, Lestat still suspects Armand for having orchestrated the entire thing, and can't completely repress a slight sneer. ] Since then, we have become easy scapegoats for the humans to blame whenever it's the least bit convenient.

[ He leans forward slightly, one hand braced against the arm of the seat, fingers curving slightly until the points of his nails are digging subtly into the fabric. ] In my world, vampires often form covens, but those are ruled over by one leader. An authority. I would not seek to replicate that so precisely here. I propose that we all rely on each other, if necessary. Especially if the humans decide they no longer tolerate our presence here.

( in all honesty, Lexi would have wanted an alliance before now. he hates to say this, but he misses his community of vampires. he hates not being surrounded in his own kind. even worse now that they've become targets. he's had to measure his steps in ways he never did before. he hates that feeling more than he can explain.

but now? he has no desire to balk at the concept. )

It was disturbing to se how quickly they all pointed to us. One name at a time. One story or another to fit their accusations. ( Lexi sighs, letting his head fall back against the headboard of the bed he's resting on. ) I would like to join this alliance you propose. I would like to protect you and the others. To have others I can rely on as well. ( something he hasn't had in centuries... )

I would also ask the girl Louis referred to be included in our protection.

[ Alexei has no way of knowing what Lestat's distaste of covens truly stems from — or that it's mostly wrapped up in Armand himself, and what transpired between them in the years long before he first traveled to New Orleans and met a young, aspirational businessman in Storyville. If he were any younger, he would not have even entertained the thought of forging alliances with other vampires, let alone those not even of their world — but desperate times and all that.

He reclines as well, definitively lounging back in his chair, but his gaze is casually observant, drinking in the view of the other vampire with something that falls more in line with appraisal. ]

Mademoiselle Forbes. A tragedy, abandoned by her sire in the manner that she was. [ In the manner that Lestat himself was, although he doesn't go as far as to allude to what occurred with Magnus. ] Yes, her as well. Any others you would propose? Your human, perhaps?

( oh good. he does already know Caroline's name. that makes things easier. it isn't just that she'd been abandoned by her sire, he hates that too. but it's that she's alone her. no vampires from her home. no friends at all from there. she's too young to be left to fend for herself.

he nods his head. ) I don't know how the others might feel about him being mortal, but he cares for Louis as deeply as I do. And he'll stand with me regardless. I would prefer if I'm called on to protect those cared for by others in the alliance, Dani would be given similar protection in my absence.

What of Alicent? Will this alliance be only vampires and a select others? Or will it extend to Alicent and those she allies with? ( how big will this get? )

[ Not only does Lestat feel a pang of sympathy for Caroline's plight, but, if he allows himself long enough to dwell on it, he becomes much closer to enraged. A young vampire, only months old, should not be left to their own devices, not when there are important lessons to be taught, guidance she must be given.

Still, Alexei raises a fair point, and Lestat rises to stand as the other vampire puts forth other names, pacing forward by a few steps as he brings a hand to his mouth in visible contemplation. ]

Alicent has already agreed to ally with both Louis and myself, though that agreement was struck long before this game began. [ Out of all the humans here, he can rely on her not to turn on them even after being made aware of their true nature. ] I would consider her a part of this... circle, for lack of a better term. Just as your Dani would be named.

[ When he turns again, to look in Alexei's direction, his gaze is insistent. ]

I would not see vampire pitted against vampire, when we are already at a disadvantage by sheer numbers alone and have made every effort to exist as peaceably as possible. Whoever can be trusted by one of us should be counted.

( Lexi lets Lestat cook through his thought process on how to handle outside alliances. it's not that he doesn't trust Alicent wholly, he really does. he just wants to know the details of this alliance prospect. he doesn't want conflicting allegiances should someone else decide their conflicting alliance trumps the alliance struck within the game.

so he nods his head. )

I see nothing wrong with your sentiment. And I stand with you on it. I'd prefer not to watch us all named, scrutinized, and made into monsters at every turn.

I'll agree to your alliance.

To be clear, I have no intention of abandoning this once their game has ended. I would have gladly remained outside of it, had I not been named, and you, and Louis shortly thereafter.

[ But now, his hand has been forced, and as suspicions rise, the likelihood of their being judged, and blamed, and trussed up without reasonable cause only grows. ]

And I would rather make allies of our kind, whatever our differences may be, than enemies.

[ He presses his lips together — tempered, somewhat, by Alexei’s assent — and then reaches to begin rolling up the sleeve of his dressing gown. ]

Let us seal our agreement properly, then. In blood.

( Lexi is a bit surprised to hear the offer extends past the game. not because he disagrees with it, but because he was just unprepared for it.

but he does agree with it. in fact, he's grateful for it. the more he's in the presence of people like Louis and Lestat, the more he feels like himself. he'd never say as much to Dani, but he feels a bit restricted at times. forced to temper who and what he is in this place to be more palatable. and even that's not been enough for them.

so it's a nice feeling to not be in the presence of one he has to play games for outside his own romance.

and when that wrist is bared, offered to seal their deal in blood the way only vampires do, Lexi is off the bed. he crosses the room in a flash, taking the offered wrist. he's so close to Lestat now. so close to the scent that rolls off him, those piercing blue eyes, that sensual tone, and the feeling of his wrist beneath his thumb as he presses the pad of his thumb there.

he tilts his head away from his wrist, though he still holds it in one hand. his other hand comes up to brush back those hold curls that got Lestat in trouble with little else to blame, and brushes his fingers over his neck as he leans closer. ) May I?

[ Truth be told, Lestat has been considering this move since the night of the feast — banding together with the other vampires, strengthening their link, not to assert himself over them but to have an assurance of fewer foes in this house. Many of the humans still can’t be trusted, but he would sooner throw his lot in with those who know what it is like to be exposed against their will.

From a distance, across a dinner table or the span of the room between them now, Alexei is a pleasure to look at; up close, he’s striking, features both delicate and strong. Lestat is a bit surprised to be met where he stands so quickly, but only because it affords him a better opportunity to look over the other vampire from this adjusted proximity.

Better still is Alexei’s choice, bypassing Lestat’s wrist to suggest drinking from his throat instead. He won’t disguise the brief frisson that elicits, the manner in which his gaze darkens and his own fangs visibly elongate. In response, he stretches out the hand that the other vampire isn’t currently holding in his grasp, fingers sliding beneath dark hair, over nape — then cupping, to draw Alexei in, guide him. ]

Be my guest. [ Lestat tilts his head ever so slightly, clear invitation visible; his thumb strokes over the edge of Alexei’s jaw. Moments like this, brimming with anticipation just before the feed, are hypnotic in their own right. ]

𝖘𝖆𝖑𝖙𝖇𝖚𝖗𝖓𝖙 𝖎𝖓𝖇𝖔𝖝.

text; un: lestat

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