[PRP]Not so alone. (Acheron and Paris)

[Sleet Tempest Snape]

Wandering the woods was not an uncommon thing for Paris, he and his elder brother had lived in the woods their whole lives. They hadn't had a home or parents and it had been wise to avoid older, more dangerous, vampires. The ball had been a shocking thing where he'd had to act on his best behavior, something he'd never had to do before, as neither sibling had been around others of their kind before. They knew of them, of course, but not enough and he knew that. He knew their mother belonged to a bloodline, he knew it's name, but he knew males weren't welcome and so it was part of why they'd kept hidden. Their mother might be displeased with her sons if they came around and she might deal with them.

Tonight he was alone, his brother off to see about some fabric for clothing they both needed, the weather was cold and while he was dressed warmly tonight the nights were long and cold and heavby fabrics needed. Over the time his old clothing had become worn and thin, not good for this weather, so he was on his own to wander the woods near to where his brother would meet him in time.

Stilling as he heard something moving he sat himself under a tree, taking cover in it's misshapen trunk as it rounded and curved, a cave in almost, wwhich he could press himself into and have the trunk pressed to his back and his front. It did well to sheild him and he could peer around it. He was to keep safe on his own, his brother was not here to help him if trouble came looking for him.  

[[Estelle]]

The chill of the winter night seemed to not affect the young vampire making his way through the forest. Perhaps it was simply the state of his existence as a vampire. Perhaps it was that his clothes were suited for such weather. Perhaps it was the warmth of the blood from his latest meal that still lingered on his lips. Who was to say? Wiping a paw across his mouth, he was careful to avoid the cuff of his sleeve. Arisa would have his head if he came home from another meal with another bloodstained outfit. Something about how she had taught him better than that. She wasn't wrong. And she had made him clean up enough of his own messes enough to learn his lesson. Bloodstains were the least of those lessons.

His dark blue eyes snapped to the trees as a sudden noise drew his attention. Nobody had been on this path when he took it out of the manor. Nobody was usually on it. He would know. This particular path through the woods was one worn well by his feet. It was one of the furthest from the cemeteries he avoided like the plague. Ears twitching as his eyes narrowed, claws flexing, Acheron straightened up, sensing out the source of the sound. It hadn't been much, but to his sensitive ears, it couldn't have been more obvious. Whatever--no--whoever it was had just stepped off the path. The soft earth was indented, but just slightly. They were light on their feet and quiet too. A mortal couldn't have slipped into the shadows so quietly. But who would be so timid as to hide?

The hairs on the back of his neck prickled as his heckles raised. Amadeo had warned him to be careful when he left the manor. To avoid interacting with any besides the mortals he needed to feed on. The risk was too great should he be discovered by the wrong people. Still, he couldn't show his fear now. He took a deep inhale, trying to get any sort of read on the hidden one to no avail. Whoever it was, they were very good at concealing themselves, as though they belonged to the trees.

Acheron stood there, still as death in the path. The smart choice would be to pass without saying anything. Go home. After all, he had done what he needed. He had fed. There was no need to push his luck. But there was something about this night that felt different. It could be that he was still on a high from his meal, or perhaps that he had been in the manor for too long. He hadn't been out in a while. His curiosity battled with his sense of self preservation. Really, he was still too far from the manor, should he need help of any kind, not that he would ask for it. He'd rather take his beating and lick his wounds privately than let any of the rest of the clan see him as weak. Then again, as elusive as this other seemed to be, Acheron was just as quick and sly. He had spent his youth sneaking around the halls of the manor, making a game out of how far he could get before Arisa, or worse, Amadeo found him. Yes. He could slip away if needed. With his mind made up, he cleared his throat, voice steady as he stepped to the edge of the path.

"I know you're there." It was simple, nonconfrontational, but his tone was strong, letting the other know he was not truly hidden. Acheron accepted that if they other wanted to slip off, he could. If that was the case, he would not pursue him.

Sleet Tempest Snape

 

[Sleet Tempest Snape]

He'd heard them, just as he'd no doubt been heard, and he was certain it was another vampire...another like himself and his half brother - because they were not Avignon. He knew this one didn't sound like Avignon when they walked, he knew how his half brother moved. When he'd heard them he had hoped they'd ignore him, he didn't want to get involved in such things.

He knew, mostly from what his elder brother had taught him, that vampires could be dangerous to them both. Other vampires, those who belonged to clans, could do many things which neither of them could do and they had support - they had a clan behind them. He hoped this one, who was speaking, wasn't one who would attack him. He had hoped they'd ignore him, think him not worth their time, his hope however had failed.

Avignon would not be happy, especially if something happened to him. But he did slowly step out from where he'd been tucked away. "I know you are as well." He answered, trying to be as unthreatening as he could be. He needed to not upset this other vampire, they might have a clan to call on or powers he couldn't contend with.

[Estelle]

 

[[Estelle]]

A smirk stretched across his features as he heard the other step from his hiding spot before returning his greeting, if you could call it that. What a silly thing to say back. Of course the other knew Acheron was there as well. He had announced himself. He was not the one hiding in the trees. He was not the one trying to go unobserved. Well, not directly. His shoulders rolled, limbering his body as he flexed his feet, feeling the ground beneath them. If he needed to spring into any type of action, he could, though from the other's apparent nature, he didn't have anything to worry about. As his scent became more apparent, he recognized him as another vampire. How strange that he was so timid. Hiding and then parroting Acheron's words back to him.

"There you are." A toothy grin crossed his lips as he laid eyes on the other who had just stepped forward. Taking in his appearance, Acheron shifted, settling. He wasn't relaxed, but something about this vampire didn't feel like a threat. They were about the same size and the same stature, but nothing about him seemed particularly threatening."What has you hiding in the shadows? Afraid of the monsters?"

The words were teasing as he continued to size up the pale vampire before him. As if they weren't the monsters that hid in the night. Acheron stretched, adjusting the ribbon tied around his white locks as he waited for an answer from this seemingly strange kat.

Sleet Tempest Snape

 

[Sleet Tempest Snape]

"Considering we are the monsters, hardly. I was waiting for someone." Avignon should be back soon, well maybe, his brother did tend to get carried away when in a fabric store. All the bolts of fabric and thread, and needles, he could never get into it like his brother did. He wouldn't deny his brothers demands, that he be his doll to dress up, but hisbrother could be a little obsessive over things. With colder weather coming he knew heavier fabrics were being looked over, he was certain of it, his brother would make sure of it. He might even get enough to make yet another blanket, since they lived tucked away in safe places outdoors. It was always good to have a warm and well kept nest of bedding.

"I also live not far from here." Really anywhere in the woods was home, it just depended on the night, so he wasn't lying when he spoke. His home wasn't far from here, they might set up home somewhere near to here or somewhere a bit further off. It all depended really. His brother would have him sized up, and fabrics pinned in place, all by moonlight and work under the cover of dense trees and bushes. He didn't know how his brother managed it all but he did.

"Why is my presence here such a curious thing for you?" Looking over the other vampire. They seemed his size but he wasn't sure on age, that was a harder thing to tell. He didn't seem older though...

[Estelle]

 

[[Estelle]]

His ears twitched slightly, a small amount of nerves shooting through him as he mentioned waiting for someone. Encountering one other vampire, he could get away with, but a second? That didn't bode well for Acheron, especially if things went south. Running his claws through the length of his white strands, he tried to play off his discomfort, hoping the other wouldn't notice. He did still seem tense, which Acheron found strange. What did vampires have to be afraid of typically? The wolves, yes, but clearly, Acheron wasn't one of those vile creatures. He had done nothing to directly threaten the other. However, his eyes narrowed when the other mentioned living not far from here. Lips curling into a slight snarl, he took a step forward.

"That was a lie. Slowly, Acheron began to circle the other male. He could brush off the strange, skittish behavior. He could not ignore the blatant lie. If it were true, and he lived nearby, Acheron certainly would have caught his scent by now. Would have heard him. Why lie? As he sized him up, he was certain he had never known this scent before, but there was still something familiar about him. But Acheron didn't know any outside of his clan, so there was no way he could know this stranger. "Why?

His question came as he tilted his head, taking in every detail of the stranger as he could. The worn down clothing, dark hair, bright green eyes. Nothing that rang as someone he should know. What was it about him? He continued pacing, never removing his eyes from the other male, but keeping his ears tuned out, listening for any signs of another approaching. Unless that had been a lie too...Acheron was on edge now. Maybe this had been a mistake. Maybe he should have minded his business.

Sleet Tempest Snape

 

[Sleet Tempest Snape]

"It wasn't a lie. Why would I bother to do so?" Never mind that his home, as well as his elder brothers, changhed fairly often. They moved from place to place and found areas to sleep and call home for a few days, and nights, before moving again. They never stayed in any one place for long - they couldn't. They were vampires and hadn't much to worry about, werewolves aside, but they had no cla nand just each other. They were young and who knows what those who were older, who had a clan, would do with them should either of them somehow slip and offend someone? Neither knew how to navigate the clans, and sects that clans belonged to, very well so rather than risk themselves they kept seperate.

Watching the white haired vampire pace he kept his green eyes on them, he didn't trust them. Slowly he moved closer, sniffing a bit at the air. "You think I lie because you've not seen me before. That's not my fault. I don't stay in one place for long." He couldn't and wouldn't, neither would Avignon.

Turning slowly, as the other circled him, he kept his green eyes focused on the other. Something seemed familiar, in an odd sort of way, not like his brother and yet also similar in some way. "Why do you remain here, wasting your time on me?"

[Estelle]

 

[[Estelle]]

He froze his stalking around the other. How had he known that’s why Acheron was convinced he was lying. How had he read him so easily. His mind raced as he tried to assess what had given him away. Usually, he was quite good at concealing his thoughts and his intentions. Yet this stranger had seen right through him. It was unnerving to say the least. At least his concerns that he had been careless and just missed the other on other nights was soothed. Still, he couldn’t relax. Tail lashing behind him as he looked the other in the eyes as he asked his last question.

Why was he wasting his time on him?

That certainly was the question. At first, it had been curiosity. It was so rare that he got the chance to speak with others, and he’d been feeling good after a nice meal. Maybe he had let himself be reckless. But then why hadn’t he left yet? Rather than being entertained by this engagement, he was feeling off kilter. Like a strange case of de-ja-vu. It felt too familiar.

Wait. Another thought struck him. Why did the other not have a home? A pang shot through his chest as he recalled the time when Amadeo had finally revealed the truth of Acheron’s childhood. That he had been abandoned by his parents, and it was only by the Giovanni’s hand that he survived. Was this other like him? Abandoned? That would explain the worn down attire. Could explain the lack of home. Still…he couldn’t lose control of the situation.

”I suppose I remain for the same reason you didn’t run when you heard me. Some sort of curiosity about who else roams the night.” Acheron sighed and relaxed once more, leaning against the tree behind him. “Honestly, I don’t get out much. So when I noticed you, I thought…well, I’m not sure what I thought. That it could be at the very least interesting to talk to someone?” Most of his childhood had been spent with Amadeo’s foul little wraith and the occasional lesson from Arisa. Even as an adult, he didn’t often socialize with the other members of the clan. Not more than necessary. It was for the best.

Sleet Tempest Snape

 

[Sleet Tempest Snape]

"Perhaps, but also perhaps not." He stated with a rolling of his shoulders. He was here because he was waiting for his half brother, he did not want to deal with his brothers dramatics if he went missing and had to be found, his elder half brother would not be amused if he had to hunt down Paris with an arm full of fabric and the like. No, Paris knew better than to panic and upset his brother. The elder tended towards dramatics when it came to caring for him, he always had, the older took his duties seriously and did his best since neither of them had parents to speak of. Avignon would find him, without a doubt, and Paris knew it. He stayed so he didn't make his brother hunt for him. He wasn't that cruel and nasty...not to family anyway.

"So, have I proven interesting. I think I'm rather boring...especially compared to many who wander the night." Many other vampires were far more interesting, at least to himself, he'd never met others but he'd heard about them from his brother. His brother who had found him, by luck, and had swept him up and kept him away from other vampires and kept him safe...told him what he needed to know. He did wish to see more and perhaps find a pladce amongst other vampires but he worried too. He was no sweet and innocent thing, his brother was closer to that than himself, but he also knew many would be stronger than himself and without knowing who to approach and not to approach he could mess things up for himself. It was a want he had but fear and lack of knowledge kept him away.

"Who are you anyway?"

[Estelle]

 

[[Estelle]]

He watched as the other also rolled his shoulders. Again, he had the strangest sensation. Before he had thought it was deja-vu, but that wasn't quite it. It felt almost more akin to looking in a mirror. The way he moved so similar to Acheron. The vampire's mind began to race over the possibilities. Already he was certain that this other was abandoned like himself. It was nearly obvious based on his appearance and his words so far. Well--he could be one of the more feral vampires out here., Acheron supposed. But no. His clothes were those of someone trying their best in a bad situation.

Attention divided, he listed to the other prattle on about being boring while he continued to work through his thoughts, careful to keep his expression level. It had been a long time ago that he had learned to not let others see when he was trying to figure out a particularly interesting puzzle. And this certainly was. There was a nagging feeling that he couldn't quite shake. Something telling him that he needed to figure something out. Acheron felt like he was trying to piece together a puzzle that he had never seen. Knowing the pieces fit together, but not what they were supposed to look like once they were together.

When Paris asked his name, he was so deep in his thoughts, that he answered on instinct.

"My name is Acheron." Since he didn't carry the Giovanni family name, he felt it was safe enough to share his real name. Nobody knew who he was anyway. He was just a nobody for now. One day, he knew he would come into his own, but for now, he just flew under the radar as much as possible. Pulling himself out of his thoughts for a moment, he really looked at the other vampire. Here they were, two strangers in the woods. Why did he feel so connected to him? "And who are you?" The manners Arisa had drilled into him could not be forgotten, even now.

Sleet Tempest Snape

 

[Sleet Tempest Snape]

He knew the other would ask for his name in return, it was only right and Paris had no issue in sharing his name. He knew it tied him to his mother, his half brother had told him as much, because he knew who and what his mother was. He knew why he and Avignon had both been tossed aside by her - they were male.

"Paris DeLuca." He doubted the other would know a simple, fairly low ranked, vampire who was a daughter of Cocaphany. It wasn't the biggest bloodline out there, though perhaps well known for being female only, the bloodline was home to those with a musical talent. He took after his mother in looks some, he had her eyes as his brother had told him. Where as Avignon had grey eyes, presumably from the others different father, he had never seen his mother and he figured that was a good thing.

Avignon had apparently crossed paths once though from a distance. he'd made sure to not be seen or figured out by anyone. It was another reason for keeping themselves hidden; so they remained alive.

[Estelle]

 

[[Estelle]]

DeLuca.

The name was familiar, just on the tip of familiarity. It certainly wasn't a Giovanni family name, but a family name non-the less. Was this stranger related to someone he knew? Some family he should know? Acheron was positive he knew the name from somewhere. Perhaps a long dead family he'd read about in the history books? No. That wouldn't explain the way it was nagging him now. He never cared that much for the detailed history lessons he'd been subjected too. They had been a necessity for his ability to blend in among the masses of his clan. Too many times, the young vampire had balked over the lessons just to be reminded that knowing the names and traits of the families could mean life or death for him in the future. Acheron would have much rather just kept to himself. Apparently, that wasn't really an option.

"Paris DeLuca." He repeated the name, turning it over in his mouth, hoping it would trigger whatever was nagging incessantly.

DeLuca.

Elettra DeLuca.

His mother.

This wasn't happening. There was no way! Panic began to race through him as the puzzle suddenly became a lot more clear. Kats were typically born in pairs. Amadeo had said he was alone when he found him, but never ruled out that he had been the only child. And if Paris had been abandoned and never picked up, it explained his apparent lack of culture or home. This couldn't be happening. It made too much sense though. The strange familiarity. The similarities in the way they moved.

s**t.

Amadeo had warned him to stay away from his biological family at all costs. Any connection to his father would be like asking for his own death or worse. But the longer he stared at Paris, the more apparent it became. While Acheron had escaped the pale façade of his father's bloodline, Paris' stark white coloring could easily blend in among the Cappadocians. The more his mind raced, the more certain he was.

This was his brother. Every warning bell in his head was screaming at him to run. To say nothing else and to go home and pretend this had never happened. Never say a word of it, not even to Amadeo, who knew everything. Yet, the fascination kept him rooted to the spot.

"DeLuca is not a common name." Finally, his voice found him again. His words didn't waver, but they were not as arrogant as they had been earlier in the evening. "Especially for a male. In fact...the only DeLuca I've ever heard note of was Elettra...and she was my mother." It took every bit of strength to not call her what she really was. A b***h who had abandoned him--abandoned both of them as children. Who could have taken them to their father who hadn't cared enough to even wonder if he had children. Instead, now they stood face to face, grown strangers.

Sleet Tempest Snape

 

[Sleet Tempest Snape]

For a while it seemed like the other might not say anything, that perhaps something was broken inside their head even? But they weren't a Malkavian, he was certain of that, but he'd heard from his half brother about that clans insanity and how they were dangerous because of it. Looses cannons he'd said. Though he's also warned him of other clans, Brujah and Lasombra...Followers of Set. There were many who were dangerous for two clanless vampires to come across, and they knew it very well, it was Avignon who knew it better than he himself but it was Avignon who seemed far kinder than he was. His brother who seemed to not be as heartless as he could be; though he tried to hide that frrom his brother.

"I wouldn't know. I just know the name I was given by my half brother." He had been given his mothers last name, as his brother had told him, and his brother had given him a first name was well.

"So we're...brothers. Full brothers." He whispered staring at the other for several long moments. "I knew it was possible, my, I mean our, half brother said as much but he hadn't seen anyone else with me. He'd looked but no other had been around so he took me in. Apparently this is not our mothers first time." And maybe it hadn't been the last, could they possible have more siblings out there? More half siblings...maybe even a sister somehow?

"I was told she was a Daughter of Cacophony." And that, Avignon assumed, was why they'd been dumped by her.

"But we....the same father too?" He asked while slowly approaching the other, hesitent in his movements. He hadn't been alone when he'd been dumped, just when he'd been found, and now they had found each other.

[Estelle]

 

[[Estelle]]

So it was true. Elettra was his mother too. And she had other children. Of course. Acheron knew better than to think that he was special. At all. He spent his life striving to be as not special as possible. Part of him had always known that this was a possibility; that he had a sibling out there somewhere. He was certain that was why Amadeo and Arissa had been fussy about him going out more. More time out meant more chances of running into someone he shouldn't. They just always assumed it would be a Cappadocian who would see his father in him and try to take him.

"Yes. I was told she was a Daughter of Cacophony as well. I never bothered to seek her out after that. Why would I? When she left me--" Again, he faltered. He'd spent his life thinking of himself alone. It was jarring to think of them as a pair. "She left us. Didn't even bother to tell our father. And he couldn't care enough to wonder if his dalliances produced children."

Acheron bristled at the thought, a snarl pulling at his lips. It was just like their father. Too caught up in his own pursuits, whether they were scholarly or carnal, to care about anyone or anything else. It was that blind focus that led to his very downfall the first time. And with the whispers that Augustus Giovanni would rise again, it could very well lead to his downfall a second time if he wasn't careful. Not that Acheron cared at this point. Maybe as a young child, he may have cared. The more he learned about Ashur, the less he cared.

"It would seem that's a strong possibility." He sighed, meeting the others' eyes as he approached."They said I had fragments of a second egg shell when they found me, but they couldn't find the second egg. They assumed it didn't make it..." Part of him wondered how hard Amadeo had looked, though. For a brief moment, he thought of the possibility that they could have been playing together in the halls, growing up together in comfort. However, Acheron knew how dangerous it had been for Amadeo to bring him into the manor. Two of them would have been impossible to conceal. Besides, there was no changing the past.

Was this changing the future though? He had never truly imagined this would happen. He had plans within his clan. Goals. This could disrupt everything. What was he supposed to do? Go home and forget it? Somehow, he didn't think things would be that simple. He knew from watching the other family lines growing up that it was rarely simple when it came to family.

Sleet Tempest Snape

 

[Sleet Tempest Snape]

"We didn't seek her out either, it seemed too dangerous to do so." Considering her bloodline it seemed dangerous to himself and more so to his elder half sibling, who didn't like taking such rsisks. Avignon tried to play things safer than he did. "So he doesn't know about us." Trialing off. He was certain this meant whoever was Avignon's father didn't know either. They had a mother who knew, but didn't care, and an unknowing father who couldn't have taken them in even if they'd wanted to.

"Perhaps none of them ran away as I assume our mother did." It would have made sense for her to run off, before anything else could happen, though he didn't know how bad the time spent between their mother and father could be. Who was his and Acheron's father? Did the other know?

"So one of us likely wandered off from where we'd hatched. One was found by one person and the other by someone else." He'd been found, thankfully, by blood related family but Acheron had been found by someone else.

"Who found you? You've been well taken care of, I hope?" He did hope his sibling had been living better than he and Avignon had been, living from place to place in the woods, it was safe but not very comfortable. "Did you ever find out who our father is?" Even while Paris asked this he was reaching out and hesitating a moment he went to run his fingers through his brothers hair. He wanted to hug him, to huig the sibling he'd always wondered about. It was uncommon for fae's to be born all on their own. Most came in pairs but he'd been alone. Avignon was likely in the same place as himself, but had never found his sibling, but he felt like that was why the other clung to him as he did.

[Estelle]