"Nicolas and Vere meet"
26th November 2005

Kuja Terra Fina Esstariol::
*Kuja barely slept that night, his eyes closed with his mind thinking. Constantly thinking. He presumed he could go for a fair while without closing off his conscience. It was already past day break, the other gaining his well deserved rest as the midday sun spills through the end window. The other curtains would soon open, save the ones that would spill directly into Nicki's eyes as Kuja strokes his hand over the others thick locks. The day smelt of stained blood.* "Wake up."

Nicolas de Lenfant::
The sleep that had consumed him had done so like a heavy blanket. The rest had been just that - well deserved, and probably the deepest he'd had in a very long time. That when he stirred at the other's command his body was still reluctant to obey. A flood of memories assaulted him even before dark pools opened and gazed about bleakly. For a moment he wanted to recoil from the rampaging flood of twisted thoughts, lash out and scream and tantrum but he held himself together for the sake of everything he'd bargained for last night. He tried to be appreciative of the gentleness of the other. It was grace compared to the violence of him. Hands crept along the bed and towards himself, propping himself up a little to shake off the grogginess of slumber. Still he felt horribly weak.

Vere::
*Vere sat in the library, alone, thankfully reading some of the not so burnt books. Kuja seemed like a learned man, so burning his library seemed like more then an aggravating action to perform. It was, however, pointless. Vere pondered the irony he was faced with; near limitless power at his fingertips, but unlike Kuja, not unlimited use. He reminisced of happier times, of his family, of his honour and pride. All these were nothing now. All that mattered was revenge, but this stupid upstart had him trapped in a castle in the middle of nowhere. He slowly drifted into sleep in the musty ashen library pondering what he would do next.*

Kuja Terra Fina Esstariol::
*His gentle smile upon his person once more, he lifts Nicki's stained hand in his own, eyeing over the wrist run raw.* "Lets get you cleaned up." *Sliding out of the bed, he holds Nicki's hand, patient with the others pain. Then as they walked slowly through the castle's corridors, he linked arms with the other. A stroll had never seemed more pleasant, the dust floating caught visible through the suns rays never more warm, and his company was so comforting. The company of one forced to stay beside him. He stopped them at the library doors entrance. Albeit burnt, his smile brightened as he whispered in Nicki's ear, his malevolent eyes remaining fixed on the slumbering one* "There he is... your sustinance is served.. only do not kill, for he will forever be your health."

Nicolas de Lenfant::
He wanted to speak but he couldn't think of words, and though he understood the other; It felt that he would be too ashamed to hear his own voice - perhaps too frightened of the way it would sound. So keenly he followed the other's gaze, his wrists were raw and bruised skin torn and bunched and he was aware more suddenly of the pain there and in his bruised neck.. something at the base of his wing stung as well but it was hard to think and remember right now. He was too set on accepting the other's kindness and a few memories of something similar came to him. At that time he'd been in comparable pain, but Gabrielle could hear him in his mind, and cleaned him and combed his hair and wiped his tears... Or was he just making these things up? It hurt to think with too much focus. So he took the hand offered to him and rose from the bed, wings steadying him once as he stumbled and to the other. Allowing his arms to link with the other's as if he were made right now to fit into his every whim. When the halted his senses were distracted a moment by the scent of ash and it took him a moment to notice the other which Kuja was mentioning. Sustenance? He wondered if Kuja had a whole cast of others that he felt he could force into certain roles. He was curious about this other who slept so soundly in these walls.

Vere::
The sound of footsteps rang in the darkness of Vere's dreams as his eyes opened blearily. His head lay on a book on a table, and from that place, he would not move it. Why bother? It was just Kuja, come to torment him more. He closed his eyes once more, in the hopes that his insane host would leave him peacefully to sleep. The steps pounded in his skull though, and for some strange reason Vere had a bad feeling. His dreams hadn't brought him a way to escape or a means to somehow incapacitate Kuja, but rather fond memories of a life so seemingly far away, so distant, and yet painful to remember. If Kuja was just a sorcerer or a warrior Vere would have no problems, for these things are easily dealt with... but a god? Vere closed his eyes again and placed his head back down on the dusty book, footsteps ringing in his head

Kuja Terra Fina Esstariol::
*His arm leaves the other as his light footsteps carry him to Vere's side, aware he only thought it was him. Running his hands down those toned shoulders, he beckons Vere to stir. "Rise and shine, sleepy head. I've brought you a visitor." Come, his hand gestures, reaching out for Nicki to stand by his side. How dark Nicki's presence must feel to his little mortal guest, those ebony wings so menacing with that morbid and pale face. Though to Kuja, it felt like he was dealing with a child, another son even as the others obedience had turned into a lost innocents grasp. As he waits for Nicki, he speaks to Vere. "I'm afraid the outing i promised has been cancled. Vere, i would like you to meet an old friend of mine, Nicolas de Lenfent... sort of a life draining demon by trade." Chuckles*

Nicolas de Lenfant::
Vere.. this other was Vere... it was all Nicki cared to register as he moved near to the two, taking place next to Kuja. Though his eyes wander about the place like a mute ADD child. His eyes wandered upon Vere on their own accord. A mortal? One foot began to step closer. Instinctively; He was so hungry, but the Kuja's words echoed. Don't kill.. To kill, oh how he wanted to right now. Find solace in the screams of the dying. Perhaps if there were enough they would scream louder than the madness that raged inside him. Ebony feathers stretched on wings menacingly as he watched the sleeping figure. He must have looked frightening even more so for the gruesome wounds that seemed to bother him about as little as a common cold might a mortal these days.

Vere::
A friend of Kuja's? The thought was a terrifying one, but the visage before him was tattered and torn. Blood dripped down the creatures torso, and Vere finally realised what that hungry look in the demon's eyes were. He saw another look in its face too, maybe arrogance; a feeling of superiority over a 'mortal.' He had seen the look in Kuja's face before as well, but in Nicolas, it was more savage. He had no doubt drained thousands of mortals, but both of these beings had another thing coming if they thought they would kill Vere. Still, now was not the time, and he could take more punish. He lay his head back on the book. "Get lost Kuja."

Kuja Terra Fina Esstariol::
*He grinned, a tasteful one at the others words. My, what his guest was getting in to, they could all feel it. Nicki's hunger seemed to dominate the room, and Kuja would do nothing but encourage it. He flicked a cynical glance to Nicki before inhaling deeply. His exhale was a soft sigh as he pressed his cheek against the others back, eyes closed, embracing the other as his hands crossed over his upper torso. "Now now, no need to be rude." The nails danced around the others neck, the suspense thrilling to his own ears. "You get what you get." The nails pierced the others flesh as his grip became iron, spinning him on to his back to land hard against the surface of the wooden table. His laughter was un-containable by now that it trilled through the room as his nails scratched along Vere's neck, letting go and leaving the site of spilling blood right under Nicki's nose.*

Nicolas de Lenfant::
Eyes that had for the time seemed more shamed took on something that was much more akin to the way they had looked before Kuja had smeared him in the mud like something less than this creature that bled before him. There was a hunger, but these were more feral eyes than were his even then. He might have denied this offering prior, but his mind wasn't busy with thoughts of defiance now, and very swiftly he slipped against Vere, tangling his fingers in the other hair and yanking his head to the side. He climbed onto the table and over the other, running his tongue along the wound greedily. And settling to nurse the gash; sloppily. Opening it further in his eagerness. There was always something rather disturbing about the way he fed when he was unhinged like this.

Vere::
For the first time in a long time, Vere felt teeth sinking into his neck. This wasn't his first dealing with vampires, but he thought those days were long behind him. The sensation was new and excruciatingly painful as the teeth sunk deeper and deeper into his bloodied neck. The only sound he could emit was a light scream as he attempted, pointlessly to fight against the dark blood soaked figure on top of him. He could probably fight back stronger, maybe even overpower the vampire, but he'd rather deal with nicolas then with Kuja. Perhaps this 'friend' of Kuja's would be more then happy to help him escape, given more strength. Vere lay back, gritting his teeth as he let the vampire feed.

Kuja Terra Fina Esstariol::
*Kuja sat at the head of the table, topping his fine show off with a brandy in hand. Swishing it around and swallowing his finely acquired taste, he reminisced with quiet eyes upon those youthful nights spent with Nicolas. He never remembered being close to death, which is probably why he let his blood drinker feast for such a dangerous amount of time. It was good to hear Vere's scream, but that was a while ago now, wasn't it? He lay so still.. where was his old vigour? There once was a time where Vere screamed uncontrollably as he was buried alive. "Stop now." He says, though the tone wasn't very demanding as he mused on the inside. It was never really till the second or third stop was ushered, or a bang to the head issued that one would stop drinking. Vere was dying as Kuja curiously observed how gone Nicki was. In this state did Nicki remember that he had to live off Vere for as long as he remained here.*

Nicolas de Lenfant::
Escape, he could hear that thought in Vere as he drank from him, something told him that meant something but he couldn't think of it just yet. Ebony wings arched menacingly as he pulled and pulled the life from him, spiling crimson and making a little mess of it all until he heard the soft command. The bruises and wounds had closed and healed nicely with the fresh bit of energy, but the blood of a mortal was nothing compared to the life of one. Mortals however only had one of those, and it would hardly suffice for him to survive... Reluctantly he drew back, half tempted to leave Vere like that, veins spewing blood until he wasted away in a pool of it here on this table. But that wouldn't do, and he frowned a moment, biting his tongue and smearing his own blood on the oozing wound with his tongue until it healed completely, and in mild contempt for the mortal he with drew. Massaging his healed wrists and neck and licking the crimson from his lips still in silence. This was the first time he'd fed, since... There'd been a reason for it, hadn't there? A hand raised to his head and held it a moment. Things were making less and less sense in this downward spiral of events. Or maybe he made less sense. He had the sudden urge to break something, or someone.

Vere::
Vere stumbled off the table and fell over, a pool of blood surrounding him on the floor as he lay on the cold stone floor momentarily. Slowly, Vere pulled his body off the floor and slowly stumbled towards the figure of Kuja sitting, sipping Brandy. Slowly Vere lifted his head and looked into Kuja's eyes, slowly drawing them narrower as he peered right into Kuja's pupils. Vere coughed violently and blood covered his lips. He spits on Kuja, a bloody wet spit before dropping to the ground unconscious. If Kuja wanted contempt, he'd have to wait till' Vere was conscious. Once again, Vere floated softly into the darkness of his dreams, dreams of happier times, of happier memories. These memories, no doubt, would hurt more than his neck when he awoke.

Kuja Terra Fina Esstariol::
*Wiping the blood from his face with stretched out fingers, there was a bit of a disgusted sneer in his expression as Vere hit the ground. What a sad case, he thought, aware of the dreams the other conjured. Placing his drink down on the table, he rises and moves to stand over deathly sight. He ponders for a moment before crouching beside him, an elegant hand waving over Vere's forehead as he changes those happy dreams. To make them more vivid, or to turn them all upside down? He choses the latter, filling his guest with nothing but chaos to bring him down into a state where this is his only life. Unlike Nicolas and Skye, Vere only had himself to fear for, and with his spirit he still choses to defy Kuja. This is what was keeping him alive. Kuja was slightly upset that Vere didn't get to witness Kuja lapping up his blood over Nicki's lips. Looking back to his dark angel, who stood so well on ceremony, he smiles. "Are you feeling better, my darling mute?" Prying into the others thoughts, he was slightly disturbed. Something barren to him was there, a change in Nicolas that he was uncertain of the outcome... but he didn't let that put his mood down as he rises to stand by him, a hand sliding through his short hair as he wraps him up in a hungry kiss. At this particular moment he liked Nicki's silence, the others obedience was comforting and delicious. -let me be yours- he sent, the first step to Nicki truly hating Skye. Over a span of time, moving with Nicki's spiral down, he'll eventually make the other believe all his hatred for Ku belongs on his precious ex lover.*