Make Your Mark [2430-2-2 Thur 10:00 pm]

[Titus Vere]

The streets crunched underneath his boots, years of dirt and filth and dampness having left a crust on the streets. Some areas of the Below made an attempt to keep the streets clean, but here, there was no such false pretence. The buildings were grimy as the streets, and the people were non-entities, more like mobile street decoration than actual people. It was like a sort of camouflage, made from warped and faded bottles, and the remains of cheap fabrics so recycled that they barely held any colour in them. If they held still long enough, they would almost disappear into the streets. The lump beside a crumbling cement step was an old man, already passed out and smelling like rotten grapes. The dark shape at the mouth of an alley was something young, doing his or her best to find a customer in what looked like caution tape and cellophane.

Titus stood out here. His disguise was decent enough for the better areas, but here, it was clear that Titus wasn't one of them. His eyes were too bright, his back too straight, and his clothes were merely dirty, not crusted with filth. Eyes turned to look at him, and the minds behind them wondering quietly if he would have enough on him for a few days meals.

Like a deep thing with too many teeth and a bright little lamp hanging before it's mouth, Titus dangled himself out, trying to fish out something violent and dark from the black who thought they could get the better of him. He didn't do it often. No sane man went looking for trouble, particularly the kind that could be carrying a shank (but not a gun, couldn't afford guns down here, down at the very base of Terra). But wasn't that just the very flaw in that thought? Titus wasn't sane.

Oh he had his more lucid and collected moments. In fact, he'd been having quite a few of them lately, now that he had Skye in his life and a reason to be lucid when alone. And Regan as well, though Titus let the darker side of him sometimes shine through. He didn't want to terrify Skye, but he did enjoy watching Regan squirm with fear. The lanky redhead had slipped away a few days ago, presumably to pay off his debt with the suitcase full of stolen things Titus had given him. Or perhaps to waste it on the Circuit or other foolish games. He would turn up soon enough, whenever Cain began to catch his sent, and then he would find his way into Titus' bed, or perhaps into the second guest room. And Persephone's visits of course, and Digeo's jobs and... it was all very well, but Titus could only manage sane and lucid for so long before he felt his very edges start to wear thing.

This seemed to be better than simply killing men who had the misfortune to be in the same alleys as Titus. Innocent victims were fine, but they lacked a certain something. The guilty were so much more fun to kill, so much more satisfying and visceral. It was so good to lure greedy beings after him, to get them following the bright little light into the twisty labyrinth of side streets and dead ends, until that lovely moment of comprehension when he made the first slice and they realized they hadn't seen the long sharp teeth surrounding them, not until it was too late.

All the hairs stood up on the back of Titus' neck. He kept his smile inside. Someone had taken the bait.

[Eli Wellington]

It had been an interesting few days to say the least. Eli was fairly certain he'd gotten a handle on the blood lust that hadn't raged this strong in... possibly ever. The scent of billions upon billions of humans--and a few unidentifiable creatures here and there--had nearly driven him completely mad his first night.

Grace had directed him to what was called "The Below", for obvious reasons that had taken Eli by surprise: he had had to take a ride in a strange contraption with a dropping floor that eventually took him way way down to the planet's surface. Eli hadn't even realized how far into the sky the buildings on the planet were until he took that ride down. If Grace hadn't told him it would stop at the planet's surface, he would have assumed the "elevator" had taken him way down underground, since no sky could be seen from where it had dropped him off at.

A few hours later (or possibly a day, he didn’t know), and the evidence of four or five bodies cleaned up (or possibly more, he couldn't be quite sure he'd found them all), with his senses finally calmed and in check, Eli finally began some proper exploring of this “Below” in order to get a better sense of his new… territory.

First and foremost, it was dirty. Disgustingly dirty on a level Eli didn’t even know people could exist in. Dirt and mud and dust and garbage lined the streets, and in some places he was pretty sure even human waste and other unidentifiable refuse. The smells battled to take control of his senses, and it was only the scent of the sheer amount of human blood pumping in every corner of the planet that kept him balanced and not vomiting at the rest of the sights and smells around him.

Immediately he had found himself regretting the whole idea and wanting to be back in the mansion on Nox, with it’s clean, polished floors and it’s beautiful linens. But then, the scents of the people continued to remind him that he had a possibly endless supply of food here, all to himself. There were no vampires to fight for food—and Eli would likely not be making any more. He’d learned that lesson a long time ago—and there was no way he alone could kill off this population. They were parasites, filling every crack and crevasse of Terra, reproducing at the most remarkable rate. Eli could have multiple kills in a day and still never make a dent in the number of humans. And he could tell: no one in the Below would be missed.

That was another challenge: The people in the Below were just as dirty as the streets, and Eli found himself disgusted at every single one of them, not even wanting to touch them, let alone feed on their throats. But eventually as the hours passed, he would get hungry again, and instincts overruled his common sense, and he would make another kill, jumping another disgusting victim.

One thing he discovered as a few days passed, however, was that there were women just waiting for him on certain street corners, flesh bared and ready, and high, skinny little heels they could barely walk in let alone run from him when he finally revealed his true nature. They essentially handed themselves over to him on a silver platter.

The night before this one, while he happened to be lingering on a corner he knew they once and a while appeared on, one of the strange horseless carriages hovered up to the corner and a man had peered out of it, looking Eli over. Eli simply looked at him, sizing him up with interest. He seemed a little less dirty than the usual Below residents he’d passed. And when the man finally asked “How much?”, it had finally dawned on Eli why the women presented themselves as they did. And this only made them an even better target.

Needless to say, Eli had taken full advantage of the situation, and that night (or something. Between the space ship ride and the lack of sun in the Below, Eli didn’t know when it was any more) he’d woken up in a mysterious bedroom ready for a night (or something) of more fun. He’d shoved the dead, naked man off the bed, stretched, and proceeded to gather his clothes from the various places they’d been discarded hours earlier, along with snatching up the handful of credits the man had promised him out of the man’s things. Business arrangement complete, he’d thought in amusement as he hit the streets once more, feeling like he was king of the universe.

His mood dropped quickly in the next few hours as he’d realized he was still in the Below, back to the same options: dirty, sickly, disgusting people with nothing to offer him but blood that tasted nothing like the man he’d just fiked and killed. His blood had been healthy and full of flavor. Not exactly like Grace’s blood, but similarly healthy. Eli wanted more like that. Eli wanted…

…not the Below.

He’d been spending some time pondering how to go back up the Elevator thing and see if the tasty man had come from there, when a figure caught his eye. He was a strange kind of graceful, and he was clean. Even better dressed and far more handsome than the previous man. Would he be after the same thing? Eli wondered. He wasn’t in a vehicle, and he didn’t look ashamed or even like he was seeking anyone out. Just out for a walk. Completely out of place. Completely tasty looking.

Eli wanted him. Bad.

He ducked into the dark, away from the artificial lanterns that Eli found lined most of the streets in order to light the way in a place the sun never reached. Into the shadows Eli hid, following his new prey with such interest and delight. This wasn’t going to be like the others, who were like idiot boars rumbling and screeching through the forest when Eli dove for them, disgusting but food nonetheless. This was a deer: graceful, silent, and rare.

Eli followed him for a while, sticking to the dark, ducking into alleys and behind things on the street for cover. They weren’t exactly trees and brush, but they would do in this alien urban environment. All he was waiting for was an opening. Some moment in the man’s walk that would cause him to stop or slow and present him with a target. Preferably that beautiful neck…

Finally he saw a chance, and he took it, slipping out of the pure dark and diving immediately for the man’s throat, Eli’s fangs bared and ready to sink into his skin at instant contact…

[Titus Vere]

Titus couldn't get a good look at what was following him. If he turned around, he'd risk revealing himself. Normally he could catch glimpses in reflections of windows, or more distorted representations in the various metal objects lining street fronts and sidewalks. But whatever was following Titus was better than the usual drunken oaf. He stuck to the shadows, he stayed away from reflections, and it took all of Titus' self control not to turn around and see what it was.

It was a delight. It had been a while since any kill had required skill from him. Even the last few assassination attempts had been poor things, with Titus killing them far too easily, or far too messy for his liking. This was going to require far more skill than the usual kill.

Titus lead the stalker into a dark twist of corridors. He paused, pretending to glance between two similar streets, as if he wasn't certain which way to go. Titus listened, and he heard the faint press of footstep. The man moved almost silently. Titus slipped the knife in his sleeve into his palm, and just as the footsteps closed in, he turned and stuck the knife in.

It slipped right through the man's ribs, and nestled quite nicely in the heart. Titus took a moment to look at the man who'd followed him. He was a bit surprised to see how young and handsome he was. With that sort of face, Titus would have expected him to have found a way out of the Below. But then Titus noticed something else. He'd had his teeth modified into fangs. So he had to have some sort of money. What was he doing in the Below?

The same thing Titus was, apparently. Only with those teeth of his.

[Eli Wellington]

The sharp pain in his chest was a surprise, causing Eli to halt in front of the other man. No no no not already, not... wait... he took a moment to assess the weapon embedded in him. It hurt like hell, but it hadn't hit his heart like he'd initially thought. It was close. Close enough that it might have impaled the organ in some people, or maybe if Eli had come at the man at a slightly different angle, but it was a stab that wasn't an end to his life. It would heal within a few hours, as long as the knife got removed, and he wasn't stabbed again, but properly.

It was only a few seconds that Eli stood in shock at the man's quick reveal of a weapon, but it was long enough to recognize the look in the other man's eyes. It was, shockingly enough, like looking in a mirror, Eli realized. The man's face was stoic, but his eyes still gave him away. He was a killer, and he'd toyed with Eli just like Eli had done to so many before. He couldn't believe he'd fallen for it.

Once both realizations--the fact that he wasn't going to immediately die, and the fact that the other man wanted to intentionally kill him from the start--had hit him in that flash of an instant, Eli went on the offensive once more, feeling oddly encouraged by this sudden challenge. He smirked and leaned closer, fighting a twitch of pain as the blade of the knife slid even deeper into his chest. "You missed," he hissed into the other man's ear. Finally he pulled back, jerking the knife out of both the man's grasp and his chest simultaneously, and tossing it aside.

He quickly backed away a few feet, knowing that the man would likely have other tricks up his sleeve if Eli stayed near him longer than he could formulate his own new plan of attack. If it was anything like the first move, the man would be fast in his next choice of actions. Eli knew he would have to be faster.

[Titus Vere]

Titus had seen a lot of things. He had never seen anyone force themselves further onto his blades. His heart skipped a beat as he realized that his knife hadn't killed the man dead. But it had hit home. Titus knew that, even if it hadn't hit the heart dead-on, it was a deadly blow. If not the heart, than the lungs. But the man's voice wasn't even whistling when he spoke.

He backed away, quick as Titus, maybe even quicker, and the knife went flying. Titus almost instinctively slipped another knife into his hands. It wasn't good to reveal how many he had sitting up his sleeves, but he wasn't about to be caught unarmed. While he gripped the knife, his eyes racked over the handsome and not-dead-yet man. He was bleeding, but it wasn't strong. There was no force behind it. No heart beat. No change in his breathing. No breathing, actually. And those fangs...

It was impossible. No vampire would ever make it to Terra. Any ships not showing lifeforms were immediately destroyed to prevent plagues spreading, and vampires. Any other person would have decided it was impossible, and therefore they were just up against a human pretending to be a vampire.

But Titus was insane, and a strong believer in Occam's Razor, and impossible was something that happened to other people. "I didn't realize there were vampires on Terra." Titus said softly, one part fascinated and one part on guard. If he was going to die, dying to a vampire seemed a worthy way to go. And if he didn't die... well. He'd always want to kill a vampire.

[Eli Wellington]

It must have finally dawned on the man that Eli wasn't human, his voice betraying the realization more than any change (or lack thereof) in facial expression did. Eli couldn't help but smirk a little, once more feeling the pride of being the one who 'got through', so to speak. He was one of a kind again, in a place that wasn't expecting him. It was bringing up more ancient memories already.

"There's one," Eli replied to the man's statement, giving a bit of a bow. He stood upright once more, looking the man in the eye, still sizing him up, wondering what other surprise weapons he might have on him. "And I plan on keeping it that way." He would let him translate that how he wanted, but of course Eli meant it with a double meaning. He'd learned his lesson the first time, so he wasn't planning on turning any vampires at this stage in the game. And he wasn't planning on allowing the number to drop below one either. That would mean leaving Terra. Or dying.

He began to pace slightly from side to side as he spoke again, feeling a little antsy at not immediately landing this kill like he'd hoped. "So. What brings a fine gentleman such as yourself to my domain? Surely it can't be the view." He motioned to the dirty and dark street. "Especially not with that shiny knife of yours so ready and raring..." he ran his hand over the wound in his chest, and then eyed the blood left on his fingertips with interest.

[Titus Vere]

Titus kept his eyes fixed on the vampire, moving as he moved to make sure he was always facing Eli straight on. It was mostly an unconscious movement, and it gave the impression of a trained snake, swaying back and forth, back and forth. The knife stayed solid in his palm, but his other hand stayed ready. If the vampire came at him, he would go for the neck, and for the hand with the knife. That could maybe buy some time for Titus' other hand, the the pretty prizes hiding up his other sleeve.

One vampire. So he wasn't part of a... well, pack or nest, or whatever term they would use for themselves. Had he stored away on a ship, slipped in under the radar and then disappeared into the Below? How long ago? Could be years ago, but there was something that made Titus feel that the time had been much shorter.

"Your domain?" Titus couldn't help but raise his eyebrows at the suggestion. But he kept his voice quiet and soft, giving those living nearby no reason to investigate what was happening. "My apologizes. I did not realize this was your territory. It's simply just that I've been hunting in this district for two years now, and I've yet to have met a vampire, so I rightly assumed this area was free."

[Eli Wellington]

So, this was a new twist. The man did this regularly. Odd, for a human. Eli had clearly surprised his routine, whatever it was, and that kind of amused him. New alpha male, he thought to himself. This could be fun.

"I didn't know humans to be territorial. Then again there's enough piss on these streets, maybe you are," Eli commented, leaning against one of the pole with a fake lantern on top that helped light the streets of the Below. "You are human, right? It's taking me a while to adjust my senses around here, it smells so fiking bad."

He kept an eye on the man's movement. He wasn't a regular clueless human. He was a stealthy killer, and Eli knew stealthy killers. Every tiny movement meant something. The smallest adjustment to one's stance could mean a shift in game plan, or a sign that he was ready to spring in a certain direction. A hand movement, a facial twitch, all of it signaled wheels turning and quick planning. Eli knew the man had another knife ready in one hand--he'd caught a tiny glimpse of metal--but there were still any number of surprises he could pull. Maybe he had a gun. Likely not. This seemed like a man who preferred close combat. But it didn't hurt to be wary of the possibility.

[Titus Vere]

The vampire had a sense of humour. That was somewhat surprising. Titus felt a smile curving up the side of his mouth. This wasn't exactly the kill he'd been looking for, but it wasn't bearing bitter fruit... yet.

"Territory isn't precisely the right word. This area is simply... convenient for my needs." Titus gave a small shrug, keeping his eyes locked on the vampire all the while. "If you prefer to hunt here, you may have it. I will move south, or north. The commute will be the same, more or less."

The vampire was doing his best to seem relaxed. But his eyes were just as alert as Titus'. The element of surprise had been removed from the table, and if they fought, it would be talent against talent. That could be fun. But Titus hadn't come for this sort of a challenge tonight. And he still wanted to make a kill, a real kill.

"And yes. I am human." Titus added, prolonging the confession a moment. "An assassin to be precise. But not yours. Were I your assassin, I wouldn't have missed."

[Eli Wellington]

"Really," Eli stated dryly, unconvinced. While there was virtually an unending supply of hunting grounds on the planet and either one of them could move on without any loss to quality of pickings, it didn't mean it made sense for a natural and skilled killer to just give up one's familiar, well-used space because a new comer came along. "You would just go somewhere else, with your tail between your legs? I find that hard to believe."

Still leaning against the poll, arms crossed, Eli eyed Titus' features. He seemed human. He certainly wasn't Were. Eli would definitely smell that right away, even in the scent overload that was his surroundings. Most other species that Eli had learned about over the Network had definite giveaways. Body parts that should have belonged to other animals, height issues, ugly disgusting skin... but the ones who could pass as human would likely be confusing for Eli until he managed to get their scents straight. This man claimed he was human. Eli would have to take his word for it.

"My only other guess would have been Elf," he suggested, basing his thought solely on the videos he'd seen of them. He pushed away from the pole, daring to step a little closer to the man. "Tall, graceful. Features that are beautiful, yet slightly... different. More... intriguing..."

[Titus Vere]

"I have no love for this place, why would I fight for it? You may have it if you wish." Titus gave another small shrug. It was the truth. This was a filthy place, only good for catching greedy brutes. There were a million like it. And while there were some things Titus would die for, this would never be one of them. "There are others. Many of them are closer to the elevators."

Titus remained in his place as the vampire came closer. His position was good and not worth giving up. But he did not go on the offensive immediately either. The vampire seemed to be changing tactics. If it was possible, he seemed to be flirting. What a strange creature. What a fascinating creature.

"Thank you." He took the compliment graciously. "But the same words could describe yourself. And you are no Elf."

Titus took a step toward the vampire, turning his head this way and that as he studied the vampire. "You will not find many Elves this far down, or anything other than human. Other species tend to reside further up, where the sun can be seen. This place is good for hunting... but not much else."

[Eli Wellington]

"Suit yourself," Eli shrugged. He wasn't sure what an 'elevator' was, so it couldn't have been that important. So far, whatever it was, he hadn't needed it to make successful kills. "I've made myself quite comfortable here for now anyway, so I wasn't planning to move." This was only partially true, of course. He had yet to find any permanent place to live, but he'd certainly begun to get used to the surroundings.

"I'm definitely no Elf," Eli shook his head, smirking specifically so his fangs were visible once more. "And I certainly couldn't pass for one. You on the other hand..." Eli narrowed his eyes, inspecting the man some more. There was something so familiar about his features, besides those that resembled the photos of Elves. It was something else, nagging at him, like somehow maybe Eli knew this man. "...you know. You... remind me of someone..." he stated, thoughtfully. Before he could help it, he was reaching for the man's face to inspect it closer.

[Titus Vere]

So it was decided. Titus would leave this place to the vampire. He mentally crossed it off the places he preferred to visit. There was another neighbourhood to the south, similar to this one. He would take to visiting it when he felt like playing bait.

The vampire was right, he would never be mistaken for an Elf with those fangs of his. Titus was about to say so when the vampire seemed to change his tone. He was looking at Titus, but he wasn't seeing Titus. His eye was seeking someone else in the shape of Titus' face. This was made all too clear when he reached for Titus' face

Titus caught the vampire's hand, quickly bringing him to a stop. "I'd rather you didn't." He warned the vampire, blade still solidly held in his other hand. Titus knew better than to let anybody get that close to him, particularly someone who ten minutes ago had planned to have Titus for dinner, and might still be planning that. He did manage a smile teasing smile, "After all, we've only just met. Why, we haven't even exchanged names yet."

[Eli Wellington]

Anger flew through Eli as his wrist was grabbed, halted before it could reach its destination. At the same time, he was hit with a flash of further recognition at the action. Finally it hit him.

Ciaran.

Eli recoiled in surprise, pulling his arm from the other man's grasp as he took a few steps backwards. His head hurt a little at the onslaught of memories that were flooding back to him, and he had to reach for the lamp pole behind him once more in order to center himself.

It wasn't the physical resemblance, although there were enough minor similarities. It went deeper than that. It was something in the man's mannerisms, in his reactions and the way he carried himself. "I'm... sorry..." he admitted, and somehow he realized he was telling the truth. "You just look so much like... someone I once knew." He subconsciously wrapped his fingers around the wrist that had been grabbed, thinking back to an older memory. "...a... long time ago..."

[Titus Vere]

Titus had expected the vampire to react in one of two days. Either he would attack Titus, hopefully leaving his side open for a knife to cut him right up. Or he would respond with flirting, since it was rather obvious that the vampire was attracted to Titus, or to whomever Titus resembled.

He didn't expect the vampire to recoil and pull himself away. Titus stayed still, reading the vampire's face for clues. He seemed to be flooded by emotions. Or more likely by memories. Memories of someone like Titus. The vampire confirmed that when he spoke, sounding shaken as he spoke.

"Ah." Titus tilted his head to the side, studying the vampire. "Apology accepted. Memories can be... powerful." All too powerful. Titus could feel some of his own building up behind his eyes, pressing down on him. He pushed them to the side, but only momentarily. They would be back soon enough.