singinghuntress | IC Inbox: Duplicity

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It was after work that he showed up in her bookstore. Though he's still the same guy since they met a month ago, he appears to look haggard and tired.

"I would think it's better to speak in person."

After taking a nervous deep breath. Her bookstore is always cozy with it's stacks of books. "Do you remember what happened that night? Did anything happened to you after that? When I woke up, I was in a different room so I vanished and so do you. After that, when the hotel is gone, I was worried. I hope you didn't get hurt or anything since then. My memory isn't the greatest at times."

In other words, he came to visit her to get some closure what happened that night.

Rip was straightening books as she waited for his arrival. It was a chore that was never truly done but, could still always need doing. Plus it passed the time until he showed up..

Once he did, she took in the haggard appearance and paused, looking slightly worried as she set down the books she had been holding and moved to lean against the counter, leaning back on it a bit and bracing her hands on the edge. When he asked if she remembered what they did in the hotel, she nodded slightly, a faint blush gracing her cheeks as she glanced away.

He was one of two men she...well. Had that kind of experience with. The other experience had been with someone she was very close with and it only brought them closer to each other. "How can I forget? Zhe fire burning in my veins for vat ve vere trying to ah.. do vas hard to forget."

At least, that was one way of describing it. "I didn't get hurt after zhat, Abel. Zhe hotel just gave me a lot to think about" Among other things...

"That was good. I was...I meant it when I think you're beautiful. And I still think you are. I'm glad that you weren't hurt. I wasn't...in my right mind. I mean, I had trouble with the elevator alone due to a technical difficulty if you experienced that."

Abel is trying very hard to meet her gaze. He hadn't seen her for a week because he was very busy.

Gathering the words, "You're the one who helped me when I first arrived here. It was rough. So I wanted to thank you for the help. It makes my first month easier here. The time in the hotel made me realized that things in this city can get tough around here."

Finally, gathering the courage to say, looking straight at her. "So...there's no baby, is there?"

"Abel, neizher one of us vas in our right minds. I don't think I've ever asked anyone to ah...'breed me' before." Her blush gets a little more pronounced, making her freckles stand out as her fingers tighten around the edge of her counter. "Und I know vat you mean, I got stuck in zhe elevator vith someone too. It vas a pleasant experience for zhe most part."

Then again, Rip never shied away from sex in general and knew just how this city got when it was determined. It was something that most new arrivals had to experience first hand to really understand and by the sounds of it, Abel was coming to those realizations now. "I'm glad I could help you. New arrivals really haf to deal vith quite zhe.. culture shock vhen zhey arrive. Sometimes it takes experience for zhem to realize just how insistent zhis city is on some things."

As for his last question though, She had been expecting it even if she was having a hard time looking at him as well. "No, zhere vasn't. Zhe hotel vas playing.. tricks on us. After you, I vas paired vith someone else for a similar experience. Apparently breeding und pregnancies are fetishes to add to my list of zhings I've done here."

Abel nodded and listened to her explanation. At this point, a huge weight has been lifted off his shoulders when comparing notes with her experiences. "Was it the same for you? Thank goodness. I thought I wasn't the only one. That hotel was a new one for me."

Abel was blushing deeply, fair dust of red across his cheeks, as he was thinking about what he did in the elevator to escape.

"You know, I was rolling and turning in bed every night wondering about it. Vampires back home, they can ge pregnant like humans can and they intermingled with humans too. They lived side by side in my homeworld. So all of this time, I had been wondering what happened to you. So, I'm glad you're okay."

With a nod, Abel gaining a new understanding. Being a priest, this behavior is quite shocking even for him, but it's breaking him in and hence his haggard, exhausted appearance from the stress. Her explanation made rational sense to him, so it helps.

"Oh dear...." He just tisked and clicked his tongue with disapproval. "You know, I was tickled thinking I could be a father to our supposed child. It could be a fine son or daughter, smart and intelligent, and may grow up to be a doctor or lawyer or anything they could ever want to be. But then again, I would hate to raise our child in this world. I wouldn' t be ashamed of that even being a priest. Having a child is a blessing, but I preferred raising a child in a free world free of contracts and the dominant/submissive system." In other words, all of this time, he's not denying it either, regardless of the outcome.

Shifting the subject, "Anyway, I came to see you for that...but also..." He's blushing more deeply. "And also I met someone."

She nodded slightly, listening to him and noting that vampires could carry children in his world, unlike her own. "I'm not capable of hafing children. Vampires in my vorld just can't do zhat as far as I know so..." Though, that didn't stop her new..slight desire to have one or two someday.

Even if it wasn't possible. "Honestly? Part of me vishes zhe children I vould haf had as a result of zhe hotel vere real. At least, in part." She drew in a deep breath and held it before slowly letting it out. "But, I agree. Zhis City is no place to raise a child of any sort."

As for his shift in subject, she smiled slightly and relaxed. "Did you? Vho?" Now she was just curious. "I vill admit, zhe experience vith pregnancy brought me closer to one of my lovers. I...may treasure him more zhan most." She means 'loves him'.

"That's a shame. I think I could have children. I just can't sire vampires. My nanomachines aren't something that can't simply be passed on." He said with a shrug.

Good thing Abel didn't mention who he was stuck within that elevator yet.

At her question, he relaxed. He found he trusts Rip still and he hoped after this, they could remain, friends, to simply exchange notes and experiences, but at this perhaps definitely not lovers. That wouldn't work out, especially with the lover he's currently caring for.

"That's nice to hear. Lovers, huh? You make it sound like it's normal, but then again it might work for most people." But her experiences and knowledge is an eyeopener for him. At her question. "His name is Sabo. I'm forming a contract with him to keep him safe. We are seeing each other for a while now."

She nodded slightly, relaxing a bit. Her lack of ability to have children really hadn't bothered her before now, but.. "I can't make ozher vampires either. I suppose you could say vhen I die, my kind dies vith me." Though, not quite.. Rip had been an artificial vampire when they first met. Now? She...was more of a real vampire from her world after some other things that happened in the hotel.

The only question was, how long could she go before anyone noticed the slight change? It definitely wasn't obvious...

"Vell, zhis place seems to normalize zhings like zhis." She smiled slightly and then perked up a little when he mentioned Sabo. "I know him. Ve're friends or at least I think so. He's a good kid." She grinned a little, relaxing against the counter.

"Zhe lover I became closer to is Azwel." A look of fondness graced her features. Rip was most definitely in love with the purple haired alchemist. "He's soothing to be around for me."

Abel is comparing notes on the types of vampires here. Up until now, he didn't collect much other. The first one is Diva, whom he befriended shortly, but then life got busy. Abel didn't noticed anything for now. Her change and transformation is unique to her.

At that Abel lightens up. "Oh you met him? Yes, he is." Abel said with a nod.

At the mention of Azwel, his pale face brightens red and bitten his lower, then cover his mouth to prevent himself from laughing. In this city, most people certainly don't hide who they're sleeping and they get around. Small world.

"W-wait? Is that man your lover?" Abel makes a gesture of the cross and muttered, Lord have mercy.

Regaining a calm composure to be able to speak. "Is he the same guy working at the Persian? Should I have known I wouldn't" Then with a thought. "Unless you two are still working on it?"

There were a lot of things unique about Rip, not just her kind of vampirism. But, he was probably getting a good understanding of that the more he talked with her anyway.

She took note of his reaction to Azwel's name and found herself amused by it as she watches him intently with a faint smirk on her lips. Rip never hid who she was sleeping with. But, Azwel.. he was special to her compared to everyone else. She's in love with the Alchemist which puts him well above everyone else in her eyes, save for her dominant.

Then again, Rip and Alucard had a strange relationship going on. "Yes, he iz. He shares my bed more zhan anyone else." Which should be a large hint of just how fond of each other they were.

"Und yes, he vorks at zhe Persian as a bouncer. He's hard to miss." She laughed softly at Abel being flustered. "In a sense, ve're still vorking on it. But, I alzo know zhis place really isn't meant for monogamy zo, vho am I to hold vho he sleeps vith against him? Zhere are ozhers zhat share my bed alzo so.."

She gives Abel a pointed, albeit amused, look. "Does it really matter if ve are in some sort of a relationship?"

"Not really. It just that such concepts is pretty new to me. I'm a Catholic. Went to Catholic university to study theology in order to become a priest." And if Rip met Anderson, regarding how their faiths and religious are so rigid and strict, so it comes to no surprise on their views about what's taboo.

With a thoughtful expression, if this lady and that man are together, and they are working on it...then Abel has to think about not courting them or pursue either of them. Even if she has a good point that this place isn't meant for monogamy...

"Oh, I didn't know he was with you. I met him in the elevator back in the hotel. He got stuck more or less and I have to help him out. I found him to be very stimulating and an interesting conversationalist about his work in alchemy despite he's probably maybe listed as a heathen by my church in his world. I assured him I'm not here to burn anyone at stake for being a heretic."

Bowing his head down, "Forgive me for borrowing him. You know, he did confess his sins and I found them to be quite interesting." Then with a smile. "If you two are working on it, then I hope you don't mind that I shall bless you both for a bright new start." After all, even now he totally believes Rip is a good vampire who is really working on herself, and Azwel is in the same boat. Abel just wanted to help with their morale in that regard.

Her amusement grew as he mentioned he was catholic. She figured but, even so, he was more laid back than a certain other Priest she knew. Then again, in her world Iscariot was... Scary and rigid. Anderson was simply a prime example of it.

Whatever Abel decided to do when it came to courting them was his choice. Rip knew where she stood with her dominant and wasn't about to leave Alucard's protection anytime soon. Though, she still wasn't opposed to having other lovers. In a place like this, it was almost an necessity.

"Ve hafn't.. really declared anything 'official' yet. If zhat's vat you're thinking. Ve are just... very fond of each other. " If by 'fond', she meant 'in love' with one another. Not that Rip would admit that out loud any time soon. At least, not to anyone but Azwel. "It's a good zhing you've made zhat clarification~. I don't vish to be destroyed because of your faith." Even if she was rather sure that wouldn't be the case when it came to Abel.

"Zhere is nothing to forgive. Azwel is a grown man und can sleep vith vhoever he vishes." Which, again, was the truth of the matter. Though, the idea of Abel 'blessing' their relationship struck her as overly funny in a strange way. "Zhanks.. if zhere are ever vedding bells, ve know vat priest to ask." She chuckled softly. She doubted they'd reach that point but.. who knew.

At least he wasn't wrong. Rip was trying to work on being better than the vicious thing she was before her arrival. She'd like to think she's succeeding though.. she's still dealing with a few that consider her nothing more than a beast.

Abel doesn't seek to destroy her, not by a long shot. He merely nod, meaning they're working things out. If Abel himself uses the word, "fondness" it simply means he really likes the other person but not fully in love with that person yet.

"I don't seek to destroy you. Back home, I tried to help keep the peace between vampire and humans. I work in the Department of Foreign Affairs for the Vatican so I did a lot of traveling in my work."

With a soft laugh, in amusement, but just as kind. "You're not the first to ask me that if I could help with a wedding, which I would gladly do so given a schedule and when the time is right for the both of you, if it comes to that. I think weddings are wonderful, happy events."

Well, with nothing else come to mind and clearing the air between. "I think that's all and we're good. You're a good friend, Rip."

At the very least, Rip has a friend and when it comes to rock and hard place especially in a city like this, there's at least one priest who isn't her enemy.

"Zhen it sounds like you vould get along vell vith Rafa und Ignacio. Zhey both tend to take zhe diplomatic approach vhen representing zhe vampire population vithin our city." Which she had been against at first but.. Rip was starting to see the benefits.

"Oh? Vho else asked if you don't mind me prying~? Now I'm curious. I vill admit, zhe idea of being 'married' is amusing to me. Its something I never thought I'd see myself doing." Or though she'd live to do.

With his statement of her being a good friend, she nodded slightly with a faint smile. "I'm glad. It alvays helps to know I haf at least a few friends in this city."

With a nod, having friends is good. Those are people he never heard of before but may want to bump into them someday for a chat. "I think I heard of Rafa, he spoke to me on the network not too long ago."

With a chuckle, "A young man going by a Mr. Cain, I think? It's not my brother Cain, but I'm humored that a human has a name like that. He asked if I could help him plan a wedding, but I think that's the job of a wedding planner and not a priest. A priest just recognized the couple's love and being a witness."

With some thought, "I think it's possible for people to get married here. That would be a wonderful celebration. Have you ever seen weddings happening in this city?"

"I'm sure people can get married if zhe vished. Zhough, I'm not sure just how received two submissives vith different dominants vould be." She frowned a little.

"No, I hafn't come to think of it..." Which was true. Rip's seen many things in this city but, weddings were not one of them.