Ashford Luxury Hotel Into the Unknown

[Markus Eldridge]

Attire

The commute from Baxendale College to The Ashford Luxury Hotel was not a short one, and it gave Markus plenty of time to think, and contemplate. It has been a few weeks since he found himself moving into the dorms, and the lack of information has been driving Markus wild. Sitting in the Uber, the young man would be playing with the silver chain around his neck as he made pleasant conversation with the driver.

Markus was asking about Easthaven as they traveled. He wanted to know more about the city, its boroughs, the big movers and shakers, even simple questions. The name of the park they passed, a public building in the distance, even so far as to ask about the man himself. All while keeping pleasant conversation, and a broad smile plastered on his face.

When the car finally pulled near the hotel, Markus would wish the man a good day, and step out into the cool air with a pleasant smile. As the car took off once more, Markus would quickly confirm his arrival, and leave a generous tip before striding through he front door of the luxury hotel. His face would adopt the look of someone on a mission, a man of intrigue. He would meet eyes if someone were to look his way, but quickly move on, for he had more important matters.

The sights and sounds he was greeted with were exactly as he was expecting, the décor was modern, luxurious, and expensive. The patron were equally so. In the past, Markus would have looked for the closest, most interesting individual his preferences were vast when it came to company. Tonight however, he was looking for one person, and he had very little to go off of.

Delilah King, he knew like himself was wealthy, and seemed to deal in antiques and curiosities. Her online footprint seemed very small for someone living in the modern world, and he knew from his correspondences with his sister that this was one of their haunts, where she would sing on occasion.

Markus would find his way to the bar and order himself a drink while keeping his eyes, and ears, open to what the night would bring.

[Asphodel Malvolia]

Outfit

The hotel lounge at the Ashford Luxury Hotel was comfortably busy with both diners and bargoers. There were the usual suspects arrayed at the tables and bar, from Easthaven's wealthy upper class to traveling businessmen and women, all enjoying delicious food and top-rail drinks. Asphodel was the background music to it all. Although she was dressed to impress, she was part of the scenery, which was perfect for her intentions. While she sang, she could scope out the contents of the bar, and get a sense of the night's crop. She was hunting.

When Markus entered the bar, she was just finishing off her set. Though she did not know the young man on sight or otherwise, he drew her attention because he was handsome and alone. Both were highly desirable traits for a predator. If he glanced in her direction on the stage, the vampire would be sure to offer him a brilliant smile.

When the music ended, there was polite applause. Asphodel and the pianist both took a bow before departing for their break. She descended from the low stage, all smiles, and made her way to the bar. Singing was a joy, but it was only the first phase of her modus operandi. After putting herself under the spotlight, phase two was sitting at the bar, being available. It worked like a charm; bold men would approach or send her drinks, opening them up to conversation and subsequent hypnosis. And then the vampire would take her fill.

She didn't sit next to the handsome young man she'd smiled at, but there were no occupied seats in the space between them. When she stepped up to the bar, she glanced in his direction and would offer another inviting smile, but didn't engage right away. There was a chance he was waiting for someone, but she was a patient predator.

[Markus Eldridge]

The redhaired man was, if he was being honest, taken back by the atmosphere and performance. The price of his drink did not give him pause, but it also was way above what he was used to. Even though he came from wealth, on deployment he was a man of simple tastes. This, while not being new territory for him, was almost like putting on an old suit. He was having to adjust to his surrounding's in a way he was not expecting.

As he watched the stage, he would meet eyes with the ravishing singer, and notice the smile he was given, returning his own in kind. He had no doubt, this was who he had come to see. Victoria's letters did not do her justice, that much Markus was certain. As he thought back to what was said in the script, he realized he had very little to go off of, nothing within the pages gave him insight into Delilah. However, there was a chance she did not know who he was. The question then became, if that was something he should capitalize on. He had to assume once he gave her his name, he would be known.

Markus would watch her from the corner of his eye as the set ended. Joining in the applause when she finished, and make sure to note where she ended at the bar. It was not far from him, and as he looked around the room he wondered if he was the only one who would be vying for her time. As his attention returned back to her, he realized she was looking at him, offering him another smile, perhaps an invitation of sorts.

For a brief moment, Markus would consider ordering her a drink, he had no doubt the bartender would know what she wanted if he was just to say it was for her. But, that was something everyone who approached her would do, send a drink her way or show up with one in-hand. As if that gave them the right to her time. So instead, he approached alone, having left his own finished drink behind him, after letting the bartender know he was done with it. No, just as much as he had to work for her time, she needed to work for his. After all, though he was relatively certain she was who he was looking for, there was no guarantee until they talked.

When he approached her, he would take the spot next to her casually, not asking if he should. He took her invitation, and smile as it appeared to be. If she wanted him to leave, she just had to make that be known and he would without question.

“Good-Evening,” he would start, his voice confident in its tone. He would look directly at her, making eye contact. “I would offer a drink, but I have a feeling more than one is headed this way for you. However, if you would not be bothered by the company, I would be happy to get your next one.”

[Asphodel Malvolia]

Cinder Hypnosis, 4 passes, complete success (Contested)

The vampire knew he'd taken the bait by his approaching heartbeat, the living, radiant warmth on her cold skin as he took the seat next to her. One elbow elegantly perched on the bar, she didn't face him right away. Instead, she turned her head, her chin pillowed on her knuckles, and smiled as he settled in. It was genuine - it was hard not to smile when she got precisely what she was looking for.

His introduction made her chuckle, her red lips curling into a smile. Then he met her eyes, and she struck like a snake, her magic reaching between them to take ahold of his mind and put him at ease. “Not at all. Stay and relax, we can talk for a while.”

The part in italics is the hypnosis, and if he's unable to resist, you can have him respond to staying or relaxing or both, whichever works for you!

[Markus Eldridge]

Cinder Iron Will, 2 passes, partial failure (contested vs 4 passes)

Markus would smile softly as she laughed, and look at her as she turned to him. Her voice, even spoken, was as beautiful as her singing voice, and as mesmerizing as the rest of her. Without even thinking, he would sit down and place his arms casually on the counter turning his body towards her as she spoke.

He was glad she didn't turn him down, he didn't realize how nervous he was to approach her at first. Not only because she is beautiful, but because of what his mission was. Speaking to someone who knew his sister, adding flesh to the words she had written to him, it was nice. His shoulders would relax, all nerves leaving his body, the tough part was behind him after all.

“I am happy to talk, as long as you wish,” Markus would say with a grin. He would keep eye contact with her as long as she allowed it, personally he found he learned the most watching someone's eyes. If they shift, upon him, towards someone else, away from the conversation it told so much to someone who knew what to look for.

When he decided to speak up again, he made an important decision. He wanted to get her measure before he gave away too much. As such, he did what he usually did, introduced himself with a white lie. “Well, it is certainly a pleasure. My name is William,” he said, knowing it was unlikely his sister would her told her friend his middle name. Though, still possible. If she recognized it, then she was closer with Victoria than he would have imagined. If not, then he got his first bit of information. He just needed to confirm she was who he thought she was. “And, who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?”

[Asphodel Malvolia]

Asphodel did not recognize the name, and perhaps to Markus' benefit, she also did not pick out the sibling resemblance. What mattered was that she had his attention, and it was only then that she turned to face William fully, spinning the barstool to turn her body toward him.

As he introduced himself, she offered her hand for him to take in an old-fashioned over-hand handshake. “Delilah King,” she replied. He could've made the connection from the placard outside the bar naming the evening's entertainment, but it never hurt to confirm. “What brings you here tonight, William?”

The vampire said his name like she was tasting it, tilting her head to take in his attire and bearing.

[Markus Eldridge]

Markus would offer her a coy smile as she fully turned to face him, only then taking the briefest of moment to, quite pointedly, look down across her entire form, before returning his eyes to hers. He would gladly shake her hand, noticing that her hand was quite cold. Not that he was surprised, with her dressed as such in the weather. Truth be told, as nice as contact was, or could be, he even more happy that she confirmed who he thought her to be, and showed no sign of recognition to his name. As she asked her next question, Markus would hear how she spoke and feel a flutter of desire.

“I am new to the city, recently moved in and wanted to see what Easthaven had to offer. Maybe learn some of its dirty secrets.” Markus would speak slowly, but confidently. Even if he wasn't on a mission, he was quite sure he would enjoying talking to her for a while as she had suggested. “I have heard good things about the Ashford Luxury Hotel, people speak highly of the beautiful young singer that occasionally blesses its visitors.”

Markus would keep turned towards her, and move the conversation along, “What about you Delilah?” He said her name slowly, as if testing it out, speaking each syllable. “How long have you been singing in Easthaven, couldn't have been easy getting such an esteemed booking.”

[Asphodel Malvolia]

The man seemed intent on buttering her up, but Asphodel allowed it, relishing the stream of compliments with a sharp smile. She was terribly vain that way, fluttering a hand before resting it on her décolletage. Still, she let William know she could tell he was turning on the charm with a good-natured eye roll.

“You have a silver tongue on you, don’t you?” she teased, gently releasing his hand so she could flag down the bartender. The true answer to how long she’d been singing in Easthaven was ‘since the 70s’, but she went on to lie, “Only a few years now, though I’ve lived here all my life.” The bartender noticed her, but was still taking another order so she knew it would be a few minutes. She turned her attention back on William, and relaxed back into the cradle of her barstool, her dress shimmering as she crossed one leg over the other. She couldn’t help smirking, continuing, “You’re looking for dirty secrets, hm?”

[Markus Eldridge]

Markus caught her eye role and would only smile. There was nothing wrong with a little complement, he had no doubt she heard anything he could come up with before, and truth be told the longer he kept her talking, the more he hoped to learn. Some people he knew took complements, others hated them, and others still returned them in full. There was a measure to be read on all interactions, he for one enjoyed getting complements, and was glad she seemed to as well.

He would briefly play with the simple silver chain around his neck as she let go of his hand, turning the pendant over in his fingers, an almost unconscious action as he spoke. “Some people say so, though there is nothing wrong with silver, I've always preferred it to gold.” He joked, though his statement was true, he didn't have the complexion for gold, in his opinion, so all his jewelry was made of pewter, or silver.

Letting go of his necklace, he would cross his fingers, placing his elbows on the bar, before then resting his chin over his hands as she flagged down the bartender. His eyes would remain on her, and think for a second as she talked. If she lived here her whole life, then she would know a lot about the city. He wondered when, how, she had met his sister, not that he could ask right now. Smirking at her last question, he would answer honestly in an almost alluring whisper, “Oh, I love learning secrets.”

[Asphodel Malvolia]

The flash of light on metal caught the vampire's eye and she glanced down at the pendant with a curious air. Silver around the neck was troublesome, but not a dealbreaker. Of course, there was a chance it wasn't silver, though his abrupt comment about preferring one metal to the other contradicted that thought. She wondered if he was being pointed or if this was just a coincidence.

Amused, she smiled and then held out her hand like she was curious about the pendant now hanging down over his suit. If he let her see it, it was a chance to scoot in and close the physical distance while seeing how the metal felt against her skin. Even if he didn't, she still asked in an equally as silky voice, “Do I look like a woman with some dirty secrets?”

[Markus Eldridge]

Markus would obviously hesitate for a moment, he cared nothing for the chain, but the bobble it held was one of his most prized possessions. After his brief hesitation, he would pull the necklace from his neck, and wordlessly hand it over, once more hesitating as his skin touched hers before letting go. If she were to look closer, she would see that the charm on the necklace was a pewter pendant of shody craftmanship. The kind of purchase once could find at a thrift store, the chain was worth many times over the pendant itself. The charm was a small wolf, tarnished a bit, probably from the oils of Markus' hand with how often he messed with it. If she didn't ask Markus wouldn't say anything more about the item while she held it, but a small smile would creep into the corner of his mouth thinking of its story. It was the first gift Victoria had ever gotten him with her own money, they were 17 and she had been so proud to have done something without relying on their trustfund. It matched the one he got her a bit later, though her's was in the visage of a tiger.

He would respond with clear amused to her question. “Yes, I have no doubt you do... but, then again everyone has secrets.” His eyes would shift, from her eyes, back to the necklace between them, then to her eyes as he seemed to contemplate. “This town seems to be full, of them. It is exciting,” He would say, thinking of how to learn more about her. “Speaking of you, and the dirty little secrets you know. Tell me more about the town, living your whole life here must have opened many a door, what are some of your favorite watering holes, the best little gems?”

In the end, as much as he would love to explore her more, secrets or otherwise, he decided it was safer to first learn more about the town, and her habits. The question, would hopefully keep conversation off the two of them, meaning he didn't have to spoil his connection too early, and he didn't have to worry about putting her off. The game was the best part after all, and if he discovered what she liked, it would tell him plenty. Someone who knew many bars liked to drink, or meet others. Someone who knew every park might be an active jogger. Markus himself was a fan of libraries, trade stores, and internet cafe's, as a person who loved to learn.

[Asphodel Malvolia]

To Asphodel's surprise, he didn't simply offer her a look. Instead, he removed the whole thing from his neck, and let her hold it. When the necklace touched her skin, she immediately knew it was silver. Good silver too, pure and powerful in a way that made her joints ache up to her elbow.

Still, the vampire didn't flinch away, well versed in keeping her inhuman reactions to herself. It was deeply uncomfortable, but not harmful, and she elegantly tipped her wrist to lessen contact with the metal and peered at the pendant. There was something strangely familiar about it, but she made no solid connection--just vague impressions.

“You came all this way to ask me about watering holes?” she asked with a musical laugh as she offered the pendant back to him. With a flutter of her eyelashes, Asphodel pouted, teasing, but indicated the bar around them. “I like the Ashford, as you can imagine. Good company, and excellent food. And drink.” Which, to her, were all one and the same, but that was her private joke.

[Markus Eldridge]

Watching as she examined his necklace he would not break eyes with the medallion, oblivious to the effect it was having on her. He would only glance up as she examined the wolf closer, wondering if he would see any hint of recognition in her eyes, a hope that was, he believed, crushed. Not that it was a big one to begin with, after all so far he had just been prodding vague connections.

Markus would smile at her question, a simple call out that was completely true, and take back his necklace, happy to have it back around his neck. As she teased and gestured to the bar around them, he would laugh back as he responded. “No, you are right, I did not come all this way to learn about the Ashford,” he would say, leaning in, and getting closer to the woman. “However, I admit to being genuinely curious about you, and I was not lying, nor just trying to merely flatter when I said I had heard good things. I just felt some small talk was in-order.”

Though he was unsure whether it was wise, he had no idea where this night was going he just knew he wanted to continue to talk with her as she had offered, and in the back of his mind he was focused on his goal. Now facing her entirely, his eyes to hers, he decided she didn't seem like she was going anywhere at this point, so he would admit the real reason he was here, still keeping the crux of the details to himself. “I guess you can say, I am on the hunt.”

[Asphodel Malvolia]

After he took the pendant back, Asphodel rotated her wrist to get the ache out. After resisting the urge to rub at the joint, she folded her fingers into a bridge. She rested her chin on it as William explained further. When he leaned in, the vampire mirrored the motion. Her lips pulled back into a soft grin as she listened to the soft gush of his blood. The boy said he wasn't here to flatter, but Asphodel thought she could only call that a soft truth. Even if he wanted to indulge in small talk. Hypnotized or not, she hadn't needed to work too hard to get him to sit next to her.

When he concluded with being 'on the hunt', she lifted both pale eyebrows in surprise. Turning her body towards him, she uncrossed and recrossed her legs, letting the lacy top of her stocking show. show. If that's what he meant. There was a whisper in the back of her mind that a man wearing silver might know more than he let on, but with his mind ensorceled, she wasn't very worried.

“On the hunt? Are you a recruiter? Talent scout?” she wondered, playing dumb until she had a better sense of what he was looking for.

[Markus Eldridge]

Markus would wait, watching for her response, looking for any signs. If she had knew him, and was hiding it, knew his sister, had anything to do with her death, surely even the hint that someone was sniffing around would show... something. Yet once more, Markus was met with a frustrating lack of information from her reaction, other than a lifted brow.

Her body language however, was intriguing. His eyes would briefly fall as the moment she made was not lost on him, and a small smirk would appear on his face as he slowly brought them back to her face. He had not come here to sleep with anyone, and if he was being honest until the prospect was a possibility, it had been the last thing on his mind. However, now as he sat with her, he let the scenario play out.

Markus would smile at her questions, he had no plans to lie to her, though if he played her game, he had a chance of learning more. So, he decided to keep with the mystery, get her alone if he could to really talk about what he needed to. “Oh, no. Nothing quite so boring... It has been a long time since I worked in acquisitions.” He would say in a nonchalant manor, it wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. “Now... Well. Lets just say I work a bit differently. Don't worry, I am not here to snatch you up.”

“Unless of course... that is what you desire?” He would add, this time turning away from her looking towards the crowd within the establishment. His tone would make it obvious he was not talking about talent scouting.

[Asphodel Malvolia]

'Worked in acquisitions' was interesting phrasing, and Asphodel gave William another look over. He looked well-built beneath his clothes, leading her to conclude he was either military or former military. To her pleasure, he offered up the opportunity to learn more, and unbeknownst to her, it was mutual.

Without having ordered from the bartender, she was at loose ends. Laughing musically, she angled her body towards him, allowing him a generous view of her cleavage as she did so. “Oh William, you read my mind,” she chuckled. Then she offered her hand for him to take, this time to allow him to lead her away to whatever he had planned. The vampire was not concerned about herself, fully convinced that she was the huntress in this scenario.