Aspasia - Tulsa - 3/17 Saturday night (Snapshots II of II)
Georgia’s wake was well attended. Somehow, Aspasia ended up seated beside the Ravenscarred and across from Kinkaid.
A single rose rests in her hands. Her feet are bare against the cold, flat carpet.
This should have been held outside.
Various kindred speak. She can hear the sorrow of loss in Exodus’ voice. A brother remembering a sister. A commander, one of his trusted guard.
Others step forward, speak their peace and return to their seats. Some are profound, some are trivial. Most are brief.
Raven stands up and she wants to reach out a hand to him in comfort but does not. Instead, the Amazon listens as he relates a tale of the past.
And all the words are spoken of the one woman’s passing. She had been told that this wake for all those that had been lost. She was here not only for Exodus’ old companion, but for Mary, Hisa and for one other.
One long-winded vampire finishes his eulogy and she stands up. Looking down at the rose, Aspasia crosses to the urn and lays it before the vessel.
“I owe Georgia Perryman a debt.”
The Amazon turns to face the crowd. “Over a century ago, I walked away from the man who had a claim on my heart. Since then I took the long sleep, while he did not. Georgia helped him to reclaim his soul from the brink of decay. She guarded his back. She was his godmother.”
“Because of her, he was still living when the fates guided me back to Delphi. Some of what was lost was found again.”
He stands at the fires of Delphi, eyes widening when he realizes who is behind Regina. That she has come again to the forest and into his life.
“I owe Georgia a debt for that gift of time, which I never can repay.”
And say you, any of you, one ill word of him in my presence tonight and I will send your soul to bleed on his claws and beg his mercy in Hades.
She returns to her chair, and remains there through the end of the ritual.
****
Out in the forest, where the clan has retreated from the presence of the rest, Raven pulls her away from the crowd and she does not resist.
She walks in his steps, admiring his form, watching the sway of the duster, the swing of his arms. As he lights one of his cigarettes and holds up a low-hanging branch for her to pass under, Aspasia stops thinking about Raven when confronted by the site of Exodus.
What is this about, thread-benders?
“Good Evening,” She says automatically, looking from sire to son and back again.
“I wanted to let you know the debt is paid.”
She looks at him, a wrinkle forming on the bridge of her nose. What do you mean, Angel?
Raven nods in agreement with Exodus’ words, adding his support to it.
“You came to Hamilton, put yourself at risk to help rescue me. A life for a life.”
Realization dawns. He is speaking of the as yet unsealed tie. The adoption of her childe to his house. He means to walk away from it. And for a moment shock and anger fill her heart.
You aren't a god, even if you are favored by the fates. You do not get to dismiss the words of the Oracle. You do not have that power, Exodus.
“No. Others came, the clan came to aid clan.” She retorts in a gentle tone of voice, willing him - them to understand that this is not how things are done.
The conversation continues, each of the three contributing their thoughts and neither side yielding to the other. Aspasia begins to understand. Or understand part of what drives this. Exodus’ daughter, Dominion, had already spoken to her about disliking the idea of Jessica being adopted. It is more than that, Dominion is in some measure threatened. Exodus is being careful of his childe’s heart. That is something the Amazon can easily understand. And with that understanding she has reached, the anger lessens in her heart. They are not deliberately trying to defy the gods. They are trying to make things right, in their own way.
But it does not change the decree. All that remains is to consider this, that Jessica is not the childe destined to repay the loss. But if not who? When the right childe steps forward, it will be clear to all. In this she has faith. And she has just a moment of joy, deep in her heart. Her eldest will not forsake the line. She will not lose a daughter to pay for the death.
Aspasia shakes her head regretfully, but the men will not hear a contradiction. It becomes clear to all three, the issue will not be resolved in the remains of this night. Instead, the conversation turns to hunger.
And the three with the grace and strength of age, power and Gangrel blood move off into the forest. She does not remind them that the vitae from animals will sate nothing. Either they know and think to share only in the joy of the hunt itself or the men are subtly trying to convey a message, whose meaning is beyond her contemplation for the moment. Or, they simply do not care.
Still it takes not long to come upon the trail of a suitable meal. She moves with them until it is in their sights and the two, Sire and Son - though more the brothers that they claim to be - and act, strike. Then, while they feed their hungers, she slips away in the night.
Wanders off alone. Alone to eyes and ears. But in her mind there walks at her side a man wearing a duster, hat tilted low over his eyes. He stays with her so he can haunt her resting dreams.
Which is no more than what she deserves.
But, Aspasia knows this night he will smile. Be pleased. She is just that bit more what he remembered. When the two of them hunted together, careless of humanity. Joyful at being the stronger predators. She is that much closer now to what she was.
A single rose rests in her hands. Her feet are bare against the cold, flat carpet.
This should have been held outside.
Various kindred speak. She can hear the sorrow of loss in Exodus’ voice. A brother remembering a sister. A commander, one of his trusted guard.
Others step forward, speak their peace and return to their seats. Some are profound, some are trivial. Most are brief.
Raven stands up and she wants to reach out a hand to him in comfort but does not. Instead, the Amazon listens as he relates a tale of the past.
And all the words are spoken of the one woman’s passing. She had been told that this wake for all those that had been lost. She was here not only for Exodus’ old companion, but for Mary, Hisa and for one other.
One long-winded vampire finishes his eulogy and she stands up. Looking down at the rose, Aspasia crosses to the urn and lays it before the vessel.
“I owe Georgia Perryman a debt.”
The Amazon turns to face the crowd. “Over a century ago, I walked away from the man who had a claim on my heart. Since then I took the long sleep, while he did not. Georgia helped him to reclaim his soul from the brink of decay. She guarded his back. She was his godmother.”
“Because of her, he was still living when the fates guided me back to Delphi. Some of what was lost was found again.”
He stands at the fires of Delphi, eyes widening when he realizes who is behind Regina. That she has come again to the forest and into his life.
“I owe Georgia a debt for that gift of time, which I never can repay.”
And say you, any of you, one ill word of him in my presence tonight and I will send your soul to bleed on his claws and beg his mercy in Hades.
She returns to her chair, and remains there through the end of the ritual.
****
Out in the forest, where the clan has retreated from the presence of the rest, Raven pulls her away from the crowd and she does not resist.
She walks in his steps, admiring his form, watching the sway of the duster, the swing of his arms. As he lights one of his cigarettes and holds up a low-hanging branch for her to pass under, Aspasia stops thinking about Raven when confronted by the site of Exodus.
What is this about, thread-benders?
“Good Evening,” She says automatically, looking from sire to son and back again.
“I wanted to let you know the debt is paid.”
She looks at him, a wrinkle forming on the bridge of her nose. What do you mean, Angel?
Raven nods in agreement with Exodus’ words, adding his support to it.
“You came to Hamilton, put yourself at risk to help rescue me. A life for a life.”
Realization dawns. He is speaking of the as yet unsealed tie. The adoption of her childe to his house. He means to walk away from it. And for a moment shock and anger fill her heart.
You aren't a god, even if you are favored by the fates. You do not get to dismiss the words of the Oracle. You do not have that power, Exodus.
“No. Others came, the clan came to aid clan.” She retorts in a gentle tone of voice, willing him - them to understand that this is not how things are done.
The conversation continues, each of the three contributing their thoughts and neither side yielding to the other. Aspasia begins to understand. Or understand part of what drives this. Exodus’ daughter, Dominion, had already spoken to her about disliking the idea of Jessica being adopted. It is more than that, Dominion is in some measure threatened. Exodus is being careful of his childe’s heart. That is something the Amazon can easily understand. And with that understanding she has reached, the anger lessens in her heart. They are not deliberately trying to defy the gods. They are trying to make things right, in their own way.
But it does not change the decree. All that remains is to consider this, that Jessica is not the childe destined to repay the loss. But if not who? When the right childe steps forward, it will be clear to all. In this she has faith. And she has just a moment of joy, deep in her heart. Her eldest will not forsake the line. She will not lose a daughter to pay for the death.
Aspasia shakes her head regretfully, but the men will not hear a contradiction. It becomes clear to all three, the issue will not be resolved in the remains of this night. Instead, the conversation turns to hunger.
And the three with the grace and strength of age, power and Gangrel blood move off into the forest. She does not remind them that the vitae from animals will sate nothing. Either they know and think to share only in the joy of the hunt itself or the men are subtly trying to convey a message, whose meaning is beyond her contemplation for the moment. Or, they simply do not care.
Still it takes not long to come upon the trail of a suitable meal. She moves with them until it is in their sights and the two, Sire and Son - though more the brothers that they claim to be - and act, strike. Then, while they feed their hungers, she slips away in the night.
Wanders off alone. Alone to eyes and ears. But in her mind there walks at her side a man wearing a duster, hat tilted low over his eyes. He stays with her so he can haunt her resting dreams.
Which is no more than what she deserves.
But, Aspasia knows this night he will smile. Be pleased. She is just that bit more what he remembered. When the two of them hunted together, careless of humanity. Joyful at being the stronger predators. She is that much closer now to what she was.