Mayerling November Catchall

[whowillmourn]

who: Mayerling & others
what: Various November happenings
when: All month
where: Outpost, Staging Point, Archaic Archives, Around Trench

content warnings: see individual starters

Comments

[entreats]

There's definitely some visible signs on Ange. There's mostly the ring on her finger, which takes very little effort to notice. Her bond markings are a little harder to spot, since they blend with in along her hairline, but if Mayerling is taking a good look he may recognize them as signs of a romantic bond as well. (Though really - it's just a repeat sign, since the ring on Ange's finger practically means the same thing, just within a different set of traditions.)

Ange seems to either not notice or not mind him observing her though. Her own thoughts are on what he's saying here more than anything else, either way, because if she thinks for too long about a stranger saying he's happy for her, her brain might threaten to explode.

(It's just a little bit too much casual kindness, compared to what Ange was used to before Trench, or before Deerington.)

Then again, if she considers it in the light of his latter words--

"You're a kinder person than you seem," Ange concludes. Perhaps a little blunt, but.. sorry, Mayerling, you don't exactly look very sweet and cuddly on the outside, you know. "I guess I'm a little surprised."

.. well, at least she's being honest.

And her words don't sound malicious either, despite their bluntness. It just does entirely sound like she's only being honest here, in her usual Ange sort of way. There may even be a hint of genuine surprise in there, as if she really is surprised by how relatively kind he's turning out to be.

"In that case, you definitely should keep me updated if you happen to get in touch with any of the Pthumerians. Even if I don't trust them, I want to make sure we have all the information we can get our hands on in this place."

[whowillmourn]

Mayerling glances away, smiling slightly. He dresses like a vampire to a t, so it's hardly an accomplishment to be kinder than most people's expectations. However, it's still a rare event to have that recognized and believed. Ange doesn't doubt him or claim he could never be like that. He's already shown his interest in the Pthumerians and his plans to interact with them.

Trench truly is a softer place, at least for someone like him.

"I'll do that," Mayerling says, "Presuming I survive or return from the dead, I don't want the knowledge to be lost. It will comfort me to know should the risks ever claim my life that my work until that point shall still have accomplished something."

He will only play a small part, if the archives are anything to go on. However, an answer to the question he has long asked himself—who will mourn vampires when they are gone? who will mourn him?—may have an answer. Fellow scholar(s) in Trench. It's possibly his best moment thus far.

[entreats]

Ange releases a breath of air through her nose, almost huffing.

"Hey, I have one condition though."

She leans her elbows on the table, holding up one finger on one hand.

"Don't say 'should the risks ever claim my life', alright? I'm not even going to entertain that possibility! If those beings get someone trying to do a kind thing like you killed, I'm going to have to kill them right in return." .. is Ange serious about that? It's hard to tell. She sounds serious, sure, but that's the same tone Ange has practically been using this entire time, just her usual deadpan.

She even follows it up with: "And then I'll have to go to the afterlife and kill you too for getting yourself killed."

Okay, maybe it's not.. entirely serious then, huh. Maybe she's just trying to show the true extent of her scolding if he'd get himself killed in the process of all this.

[whowillmourn]

Mayerling looks at Ange, someone in all likelihood far younger than himself, and frowns slightly at the condition she lays down. Not recognizing those risks aloud to her is simple enough. That ignores the spirit of the condition, while obeying the letter. However, the risks themselves shall always be there. To pretend otherwise or worse to actively ignore them only make them greater.

It's all the stranger the way that death, or most deaths, for Sleepers in Trench is temporary, the way death can be for him as a Noble.

Strangest of all is having that concern oriented toward him—a vampire, a near stranger, a new ally.

"I assure you," Mayerling says, "I have no interest in my premature death. I have not worked so hard for so long to live to give only a pittance for my well being. I shall do my best."

He's sure she is incredibly skilled at scolding if this display is anything to go by. "I must insist, in return, that you not get yourself killed on my account," Mayerling says, "I do not know that I could bear it, and hence would we sit in the afterlife telling each other off for what fools we'd been."

He cannot help but smile, slightly, at this.

[entreats]

"Oh, don't worry."

Maybe it's the way he puts it - with a faint treace of amusement, that smile on his face - that makes Ange react so casually, quite literally waving away any hint of concern with a simple wave of her hand.

"I haven't died once here. Not a single time. Do you know how long I've been here?" She shakes her head, before adding the answer herself rather than leaving him to guess: "Super long."

Okay, maybe that's not very specific, but the message is getting through all the same, right? She's pretty good at this not dying thing. Maybe not back home, but she's been pretty good about it ever since showing up in these different multiversal places.

"I'm not sure if I look like it, but I'm a very responsible girl."

So, hey, as long as both of them keep themselves to these ends of the bargain, it should all be fine.

[whowillmourn]

So much as is possible from where they sit, Mayerling flourishes his cape out in a small bow. Respect respect. In this place of blood and temporary death, that is no small accomplishment. Many may be nonchalant about their deaths, but not this woman he's met. He appreciates that. Even the shortest of deaths come with their costs.

"I have survived thousands of years," Mayerling says, not sure whether vampires or humans the greater threat to his family. One by one they died, regardless. Oh, there've been some brief respites from life in there, such as he is, but he's carried on.

"I may look dramatic, but I'm hard to kill."

Even those more powerful than him, for he has more sense than pride. He runs away when he needs to. Yes, they are well suited.