Bloodsport [2430-2-3 Fri 12:30 am]

[Titus Vere]

All the glittering lights of the city were laid out below them, but Titus didn't have eyes for them tonight. It had been quite a jaunt to his apartment, and while he normally didn't notice the journey's time, he was quite aware of it with his passenger. However, the vampire seemed to be fascinated with what lay outside of the Below, and the journey had gone well, all things considered.

The elevator had returned to normal service the moment they'd stepped out of it, and Titus had made sure to put some distance between it and his home. It was unlikely that anyone would notice, but on the off chance that someone did, he didn't want to make it easy for them.

But they had finally arrived. Titus drew his gloves off and pressed his thumb to the scanner-lock. The door unlocked, and the assassin stepped inside. Titus slid his shoes off and put his coat on the stand, and walked into his living room. Skye was likely in bed, and he could hope she was sleeping, but he felt almost certain that she would venture down to see Titus, and his guest.

The paintings shifting to Titus' favorites, an assortment of reds and bloody scenes. Titus paused. The guest protocols should have activated and displayed a far more innocent selection of paintings. Clearly, the room didn't sense Elijah, or treated him as a non-entity. "Interesting..." Titus said under his breath, then glanced at Elijah, "Can I get you something to drink? Or is that a biologically impossibility?"

[Eli Wellington]

Having gotten quickly used to the Below's darkness, Eli had almost forgotten how bright the Top was at night. The false lights didn't seem as bright up here as they did in the Below, having less darkness to cut through, but there almost seemed like more of them up here. That false glow mixed with the natural light made Eli feel like he should be retreating somewhere quickly, lest the sun come up in the next half hour and burn him up. Titus reassured him that it was still the middle of the night, but Eli still uncomfortably pulled his hood up over his head once more to shield his eyes.

Still, the Top was infinitely cleaner and more appealing than the Below. Clean metal and smooth cement and even marble in some places. The people smelled better, healthier... Eli's appetite felt much bigger here, knowing just how they tasted compared to those in the Below. But from what he could tell, more damage could be done by hunting here, and when the sun came up, he could only assume how much worse it would be than day time on Nox.

They finally got to what Eli assumed was Titus' home, and Eli watched with interest as Titus gained access by pressing his thumb to something. He eyed it carefully before following the assassin inside, following suit by removing his coat. He eyed the paintings on the wall. They didn't quite look like real paintings, but they looked enough like them that they were passable. He stopped to inspect one of them. "Interesting choice of art," he commented. "They make me... hungry."

He glanced at Titus, "Not biologically impossible. Just biologically uncomfortable, and not recommended. I'll pass unless you've got blood in that kitchen of yours. Which I highly doubt..."

[Titus Vere]

"Thank you. Hunger is not my usual reaction, but I am still very fond of those particular pieces. The painting above the fireplace is my favorite." Titus glanced to the one unchanging selection. Even with Skye in the home, he hadn't been able to bring himself to force it to rotate out. There was something about it that just called to Titus, "It's called 'Saturn Devouring His Son'."

Titus walked into the living room and glanced out the window. His heart was still beating a bit faster than usual, and the killing high had yet to dissipate. If anything, it had grown keener with the vampire so near. "I'm not in the habit of stocking blood, but that is something I can remedy in the future. As for food, can you still taste? Or has that ability also left you?" He took a seat on one of couches, and gestured for Elijah to join him.

[Skye Thompson]

The air that came in through Skye’s open window was cold, but it was also crisp, clean, and fresh. It brushed against her cheek with a feathery touch she could feel even through the numbness, and though her throat stung, her lungs felt somehow stronger breathing the fridged air. The lights from below blotted out all but the brightest stars, but Skye, not having anything to compare it too, didn’t notice.

To her, the night was soft and peaceful, despite the lights and the clamor that raged underneath. The curtains flapped in the breeze and the noise almost, almost but not quite, obscured the sound from downstairs of a door being open and closed. A smile crept over the girl’s face. Titus was back.

She rose from her window and padded lightly to the door of her room. But as she stepped into the hall, a voice spoke from downstairs, and it certainly wasn’t Titus’. Skye ran back into her room and shut the door behind her with a snap. She put her back to it as if afraid someone would try to force their way inside. Who could be here so late? And why? What should she do? Was it safe to go downstairs and meet them, or was Titus counting on her to stay in her room? Perhaps it was Regan. Skye had actually missed him just a bit. But then, it could also be Digeo, and if she ever saw him again in the entirety of her existence, it would be too soon.

But her instincts told her an unidentified person was too dangerous. She had to know who was here. Skye darted to her closet, opened the door, and pulled out the long wool coat that had been a gift from Persephone. She slipped it on over her nightgown, but didn’t take time to fasten the buttons. Holding the coat closed across her chest with one hand, she crept slowly down the stairs.

[Eli Wellington]

Of course it wasn't his usual reaction. He was a human, and most humans didn't consume blood for any reason. "Just imagine it was a painting of a large feast of... whatever the hell your favourite food is. Then you'll understand what I mean." He turned towards the one above the fireplace, feeling instincts rumbling in his stomach just looking at the primal hunger displayed in it. He glanced away. "That one... that one is the fiking main course."

Eli followed Titus into the main room, taking in the apartment with interest. It was much cleaner than the homes he'd been experiencing in The Below, but it wasn't entirely welcoming either. It was all very stark, straight lined, and... odd. Not unlike the Top itself, he supposed.

"My sense of taste is still there," he responded, choosing to sit in the couch opposite to Titus to avoid temptation. "If it weren't, there certainly wouldn't be any pleasure in the things I still consume. But..." he paused for a moment, catching the sound of a door elsewhere in the house. He eyed the staircase for a moment. "...but to intentionally taste food I can't properly consume is setting myself up for disappointment. You know, like... what was it called again... oh, an allergy. You might enjoy it at first, but the unfortunate reaction to your body isn't worth it. Not that we had much other food around at home anyway, what with the... with the..." Eli sighed then, putting his head in his hands. "You wanna tell your female friend to stop creeping down the stairs? It's fiking distracting."

[Titus Vere]

Fascinating. It appeared that Elijah's bloodlust was stronger than Titus' own. The vampire was already hungry again after draining one human. How much blood did he need to consume to live? That could be vital information. If a vampire needed multiple human bodies per day, they would leave a trail, but their hunger could make them more dangerous. The ability to taste foods was less useful, but still interesting. "It sounds like a cruel joke, letting you keep your taste but not your digestion."

Elijah's senses were very good. Even Titus hadn't heard Skye coming down the stairs, and this was his apartment. "Skye, come over here." He called out to her. Better to make introductions now than have her crouching over there, listening in and not quite comprehending what she was hearing. She had known from the beginning that Titus was an assassin, and had still reacted badly when she realized the full truth of those words. There was no doubt in his mind that she would react far worse to Elijah if she were to put the pieces together on her own.

He waited until Skye had come near enough to see Elijah better, and made the introductions. "Elijah, this is my sister, Skye. Skye, this is Elijah, a colleague of mine. I've brought him over to discuss business." Specific enough to be true, vague enough to be changed as circumstances changed.

[Skye Thompson]

What was she hearing? It made no sense, this talk of not being able to digest food and hunger that was brought on by paintings. How could a person live if they couldn’t digest what they ate? There was something nagging at the back of her mind, though she couldn’t get a firm grip on it. Not even enough to tell what it was, a word, an image, or a memory.

The other man’s exclamation about her presence made Skye jump. What had she done? Had she ruined something? Would Titus be angry? She could hear him calling her. Trembling slightly, Skye padded down the stairs the rest of the way and stood next to Titus where he sat, still holding her coat closed over her nightgown. She kept her eyes on the ground as she approached, and they stayed fixed near her bare feet until she finally got up the courage to let them travel from the stranger’s boots up to his face.

His appearance surprised her, though not necessarily in a bad way. His clothing looked nice enough for him to be wealthy, although it was rather worn, except that he didn’t dress they way other people she’d seen in the Top did. There was something different about him. A certain light in his eyes, a certain poise to the way he sat, a certain… something, that made Skye sure he was unlike anyone she’d ever met before. She raised her hand in the air and waved shyly to him. “Hi.”

[Eli Wellington]

He waited for the mystery girl to show herself. When she finally emerged, she crept over silently, eyes to the ground as if she were a child in trouble, or even the behaviour of a servant. Odd, Eli pondered as he looked her over. She was still young by human standards, though age mattered very little to Eli considering how much older he was than any living human. She wasn't a child, though, she was very much a young woman, and despite her obedience to Titus' commands, Eli could sense she had a backbone of her own. There was a hardness to her eyes that one didn't get from living in the lap of luxury their whole life. This one certainly had a story to tell.

Titus introduced her as his sister, which Eli had a hard time believing. They didn't look anything alike, and had two very distinct scents. His curiosity was officially piqued, but he didn't say anything until Skye's eyes finally lifted to meet his own. Then he summoned up the best friendly smile he could muster, keeping his fangs retracted and hidden. That would be a surprise best left for later, he decided. "Hello."

[Titus Vere]

First introductions went smoothly. Good. This was a delicate matter, and the last thing that Titus wanted was for it to be ruined before it even began. And strangely enough, Titus wanted Elijah and Skye to be friendly with one another. He couldn't quite explain why he felt a certain investment in their own interactions. He dismissed it as a symptom of his own madness.

Titus gestured to the couch beside him. It would be best if Skye sat beside him, rather than taking a seat near Eli. Titus had the reflexes to defend himself. Skye was quick when she needed to be, but Titus was certain it wouldn't be quick enough. "I apologize for waking you up. Did you sleep well?"

[Skye Thompson]

She could feel Eli watching her, studying her. Skye had never been scrutinized before, and she decided she didn’t like it at all. It made her feel vulnerable like being dissected. Titus and Persephone were just about the only people who’d ever wanted to know anything about Skye, at least, anything that mattered to her. But Persephone was slow and gentle, and even Titus’ probing had been hidden behind a curtain of politeness.

Eli’s curiosity was bold and unobscured. She liked his smile though. It seemed a bit forced, but maybe that was Skye liked it. It wasn’t insincere, just unpracticed. And she wanted to know why. Curiosity. Two could play at this game.

It surprised her a bit to be invited to sit with Titus. She’d been expecting to be sent to her room. The question was also a bit unprecedented. Titus seemed to be making a deliberate effort to introduce her to Eli. Did that mean he would be around for a while? “I-” She began, “Don’t worry. I wasn’t asleep. I was just… looking out my window.” Skye hesitated a moment feeling suddenly rather uncomfortable. “It’s a nice night.”

[Titus Vere]

"Yes, very nice considering the season. I believe this may be the warmest winter we've had in years." This was interesting. It had been a while since Titus had engaged in polite conversation. It was the thrill of the hunt still hammering through his veins, but he was feeling charming and eager to speak for once. Like a drug addict riding a high, he was relaxed and attentive in the same moment, sharp eyes swapping back and forth between Skye and Elijah. "I'm not entirely certain how well that bodes for summer. It was rather hot last year, and the winter was merely average."

He wondered idly how his guardian's sensors were reacting to Elijah's presence. Certainly the apartment hadn't registered him, and the paintings hadn't changed until Skye had entered the room. There were no listening bugs, Titus had made sure of that, and no cameras, Simply tools to register how many bodies were in an apartment, but would Elijah appear on them? Perhaps not.

It occurred to him that he had lied to Elijah. It had not been deliberate, but habit. He had grown accustomed to saying that Skye was his sister. Indeed, he had said it enough that he had begun to half-believe it. But it was a lie. And if he hoped to know the truth about Elijah, he couldn't let this lie for long. In fact, this may be the perfect time to disclose all.

"Elijah, I apologize. I've lied to you. Skye isn't my sister, at least, not by blood." Titus turned to Skye, knowing she would be shocked to see him admitting the truth, after he had emphasized how important it was to keep it hidden. "I've made a deal with Elijah to trade information. He asked for my life. I owe him the truth." His eyes flicked back to Elijah, "I found Skye in the Below a few months ago. I brought her back here. I'm not sure why. Our cover story is that she is my half-sister, created when my father had an affair before his death. I would ask that you not share this information with anyone, or anything else I tell you, as it would put us all in grave danger."

[Eli Wellington]

She was awkward, but that could be changed, Eli thought. She was still young. She had plenty of time. She could have plenty of time, if Eli had anything to say about that. But that wouldn't be happening any time soon. Not with...

He had to stop his thought right there. What was he doing, thinking about turning someone? He hadn't done that in so long. Partially because he'd learned his lesson the hard way, partially because, well... there hadn't been anyone to turn in a long time. But suddenly Eli was eying the pair in the room, wheels turning in his head. He banished the thought quickly from his head, and focused back on the conversation at hand.

Titus was suddenly apologizing. Slightly surprised, Eli just smiled. "I thought so. You two have nothing physical in common." He wanted to go over and inspect Skye a little more, but he decided to keep himself where he sat. He didn't need to startle the girl, or raise suspicion in Titus. He didn't need any quick reactions from the assassin at that point. He found it interesting that Titus would be willing to offer this apparent secret to him, and trust him not to tell anyone.

"So... do you make a habit of collecting people from the Below?" he finally asked, still eying Skye with interest. Why on Terra would he bring a random girl to live with him. besides to cover servant duties?

[Skye Thompson]

Titus’ casual tone made Skye feel slowly calm under Eli’s still searching gaze. But her moment of peace was short lived as Titus suddenly went back on his earlier statement, revealing their secret to this man she barely knew. They had agreed very clearly that no one was to know. Even Persephone hadn’t been told.

Why was Eli being told? Who was he? Titus looked at her and Skye searched his face for the answers to her questions. His explanation didn’t make much sense to her, but something in his eyes calmed her again. All the same, she was now watching Eli anxiously. Because with a few simple sentences, Titus had transferred both their fates into his hands.

[Titus Vere]

It was strange how much Titus appreciated that Skye trusted him. It was stranger that he felt anything, much less appreciation, for her. Titus couldn't put it in words. It was the closest he'd ever come to selflessness. Even with Persephone, it had been an exchange, an arrangement, and there had been expectations, even if they were freely given ones. The only thing he wanted from Skye was for her to trust him, and she did so willingly, and with no explanation as to why she had to.

Titus turned his attention back to Eli. "The collecting is a rather recent development. I have no explanation for it. I simply felt compelled with Skye. As I felt compelled to strike a bargain with you. Something within me is... changing." It was the only explanation. And it was one that Titus did not fully understand. "I am not sure if this is the next stage of my psychosis or something new. Excuse me if I do not make complete sense. I do not understand it myself, and I have no experience in truth-telling. My relationship with my guardian was one of lies and mistruths, and until quite recently, I assumed that I would spend my life lying to everyone, including myself. The truth is... new. And dangerous."

He glanced at Skye. "I may be telling Elijah some unpleasant truths. If I disturb you at any time, or you find yourself uncomfortable, you may feel free to return to your room. I'll understand."

[Eli Wellington]

"Hm." was all Eli could say at first. Titus was confusing... Extremely complex...

And best of all, certainly not boring.

Was one truly psychotic if they could acknowledge their psychosis? Could you be crazy while admitting it? One must be able to, he realized, because even Eli knew he wasn't the picture perfect example of mental health.

But then again, he had the excuse of being dead. Or something like it.

Titus seemed to be surprising himself, though, and this was even more exciting. If nothing was premeditated, that meant his unpredictable actions were truly the most unpredictable. It would definitely keep Eli on his toes.

He glanced between the two of them, still halfway in thought. "Sometimes it can take the weirdest events to make you accept the truth about yourself..."