Oh So Savvy *OPEN*

[Shendeth Evans]

Bleh, he wished half-bloods could flit. Suddenly she had gone to get a bottle of blood and came back before he could move; too fast to even see. Shendeth could only watch and try not to look thirsty as she drank it down. The fact that he needed more soon was part of the reason he had ended up here after all. But even if she'd share, which she wouldn't of course, that was no fit way to drink and it was such a small amount. And old. Nothing for a vampaneze.

Shendeth narrowed his eyes at what she said next. "You mean doing what I have to to survive." Of course this Larten didn't like it, who would? He didn't either but at times he couldn't deny the savage pleasure it brought; and in any case how he put it was the truth. Maybe it was selfish but he wasn't about to die or not live freely like a vampaneze just to save the lives of random strangers.

Both vampires and vampaneze would die without drinking blood. But unlike vampires the vampaneze had changed so they had no choice about how much to drink anymore. Killing was in their blood and they couldn't stop when they drank no matter how disciplined they were or how much they wanted to. He'd done it enough times to know this. It wasn't murder, it was staying alive. Was that really so bad when there was no other way?

[rayne]

She nodded, taking in what the half-Vampaneze had said. Of course she didn't expect him to know that such a thing was wrong, it was their way of life. Arra didn't believe in taking blood from humans anyway, but it did her no good to throw fits about it, that was her way of surviving. She looked hi from head to toe, there must have been a way to train him otherwise. Of course, there were always those that ended up having it in their spirit.

"Shendeth, I know how the Vampaneze are. Do you understand that they're not humane? I'm not going to say that Vampires are saints, but we are all sinners. Some more than others." Arra sighed. She knew this boy had a brain, he was smart, young, he could still make something great of himself. Yet the path he was taking wouldn't necessarily lead him down that road. "Do you understand what I'm saying, Shendeth?" She questioned, running a free hand along the bridge of her nose.

[Shendeth Evans]

He stiffened and nodded. "Yes." It wasn't right to judge an entire group of people but he was under no impression that the vampaneze were saints. Nobody ever said that he was a good person either. Shendeth knew the vampaneze brought it on themselves. He wasn't ashamed to be one because he couldn't change that.

"I didn't choose to be blooded." he added quietly. That was the truth for the most part. He never talked about the past to anyone and was therefore saving her the sob-story but his experiences with other vampaneze were no better than those with vampires. Arra should understand what that implied.

Shendeth didn't want to be a vampire, but he wasn't trying too hard to be a vampaneze either. He just wanted to be himself.

[rayne]

Arra nodded. Others have been blooded as Vampaneze, and then the strong Vampires are able to turn them into Vampires themselves. It was awfully risky and full of pain. Besides, even if she wanted to change Shendeth, she was in no position. She was a respected general, a strong woman in the vampire community. She didn't think she could let all that go for something that may not even work.

"So many of us don't want to be what we are, but in our circumstances, we cannot change it. Now I personally don't believe in destiny, but it might have been for the greater good. You and I, do you understand what I am saying? Sometimes what we want we cannot have, so we must settle for our needs, and I don't know about you, but I need humanity and order and peace. As much as I'd want to be human, my wanting won't get me anywhere." Arra wasn't about to let the boy think he had the upper hand, or her pity for that matter.

She straightened the collar of his shirt while she waited for his reply.

[Shendeth Evans]

"I know that. I don't want to go back." Just because the circumstances hadn't been good didn't mean simply being changed in itself was a bad thing. His human life hadn't been so great either. He'd only said that to let her know that he wasn't deluded but knew firsthand that some vampaneze were bad. It hadn't been easy but he certainly didn't want her pity.

There were advantages to being changed, especially now that he was rid of his mentor. Maybe sometimes he did wonder if things might have been different and was sorry about it but he didn't even waste time pitying himself. Shendeth didn't believe in destiny or the greater good. Nothing good ever happened. But that didn't mean he had to hate it or hate what he was. Maybe it was already too late for him to be saved. If given the choice he'd probably stay this way anyway.

[rayne]

Arra nodded slightly. At least she was getting something across the the half-Vampaneze, or at least she liked to think so. She knew how stubborn the young ones could be, and that was vampires alone. She smile at the thought of the younger ones she beat, how cocky they were, then how their attitude suddenly changed after losing. She never shook their hands, they showed no respect, they didn't then, and some still don't now. The vampire she had just killed by order of the princes was one of those. She felt a tinge of regret.

"Be smart, you don't want to end up dead." That was all she could think to say to him.

[Shendeth Evans]

Shendeth nodded. He tried to be. People who knew him knew that he was smart. But he knew that he still had a lot to learn, especially after this meeting. No he did not want to end up dead just yet. The vampire may be offering words of wisdom now but had at first threatened to kill him and could have. The half-vampaneze wasn't sure what else to say to her. And on that note.. "So I'll.. uh.. go now." said, edging hopefully toward the exit. But he kept his eyes fixed on her just in case. On the thought of being careful, her being nicer could have been a trap. Not trusting people was already instinct.

[rayne]

Arra walked him to where the sunlight dripped into the cave. She looked about wearily, she couldn't risk a burn. She pushed him out and shrank back into the cool damp darkness of the cave. "Oh and if you bring some of your friends back, and they've got a malicious intent, I'll be sure to kill you first." She called out, taking another step into the depths of the cave. She wasn't about to let him go without a warning.

[Shendeth Evans]

He quickly moved out into the welcome sun. Though he'd never liked being out in the bright sun much even before that would be a bad thing about being fully blooded. But that wouldn't be anytime soon. Shendeth heard the warning but didn't reply; he at least had actually told the truth in the cave. That the vampires set up places like this was interesting but he wasn't coming back alone or otherwise. At least not while she was there. Though the Cirque was due to move on soon of course and she might not be. He walked away, keeping alert, but when he was a safe distance away and sure that she was not following him regardless of the light he started to run. Shendeth wasn't scared but there was no point hanging around, better to get the place behind him. Maybe he could still get back to the Cirque in time. Speaking of the Cirque.. he hoped this was the right direction.