text, un: rosaceae

[roseblooms]

It's my understanding that if a person here has ruled out the possibility of experiencing changes beneath either the Sanguis or Cordis moons, by process of elimination they can reasonably assume to be affected by Iris. It's also my understanding that these cycles seem to last around five days, which means that Iris is set to begin slightly less than a week from now.

With such limited time until that occurs, I'd like to solicit some advice about what to expect from Iris, and perhaps begin making arrangements to best cope with it when it occurs next week.

One preliminary tip I've gathered thus far is to expect to remain isolated and indoors for the duration. With that in mind, I intend to stockpile some food, clothing, and sources of entertainment that will help to last the duration. However, if there's more I should anticipate, I would certainly welcome the advance warning.

On a final note, not related to the above: if xX_Funkmaster69_Xx should happen to be reading this, I would like to offer an apology for pulling aggro on Venomfang the Tomb Behemoth and then immediately redirecting the full focus of his not inconsequential ire onto you.

Let me clarify — I would like to apologize, but regrettably I cannot, as that would necessitate being sorry to begin with. Kindly refrain from stealing my kills in the future.

Comments

[roseblooms]

Only those in books, I'm afraid. However, where I'm from, it's entirely possible that the conception of a vampire was simply a human's attempt at explaining a different type of supernatural creature whose activities they may have happened to witness.

Half-vampire, then. A human mother and a vampire father?

[reposing]

Not surprising from a human. They have interesting ways to explain scientific or supernatural phenomena.

Indeed. My father was Dracula himself.

[roseblooms]

Indeed. In the old days, such things were somewhat common — supernatural creatures making forays into the human world. It's been posited that they were the inspiration for early pantheons of gods and the like. It's only natural, I suppose; any sufficiently powerful creature might easily be mistaken for one.

Of course, that all ended with the construction of a barrier specifically designed to keep those particularly powerful creatures out. Heaven had something of a problem with the unsavory creatures having such easy access to the human population.

Such a fanciful notion. As though human beings aren't just as capable of behaving monstrously as the so-called monsters.

I'm sorry. I don't mean to bore you with my own reminiscing. How did your human mother come to be acquainted with Dracula himself?

[reposing]

How fascinating that Heaven even gives a damn in your world. God is not so infinite where I am from. Though he'll relinquish his love when it is betrayed, I've not seen much else of his touch beyond that.

But you aren't wrong. Human beings are perfectly capable of being just as wicked or worse than the beasts they fear.

My mother wanted to be a doctor. A true doctor. In my time, a human woman learning the true science and medicine was unusual. Dracula had such knowledge, and she found his castle, banged on his front door with the pommel of her knife, and demanded he teach her so she could make human lives easier.

[roseblooms]

In my experience, Heaven gives a damn because it's a bureaucracy run by a toddler apprehensive of disappointing his father. Far from infinite and certainly not infallible. I stole something from them, once; their security leaves something to be desired, though their hunters are the boogeymen that plague most demons' nightmares.

Your mother sounds like a strong-willed woman. Did she love you, I hope?

[reposing]

Who knew Heaven would be so incompetent. Then again, I suppose anything is flawed.

She did. Both my parents were exceptional.

[roseblooms]

I suppose I'm being slightly unfair to the toddler in question. He's come a long way from the person he was when I first met him, and his intentions are usually good. My objections lie with the system, not the bureaucrat.

You were fortunate, then. I imagine it's difficult enough to grow up as the product of two worlds, without that added burden on top of it.

[reposing]

I usually find those things to be hand in hand, but often it is indeed the system that is broken. I shouldn't judge, I have little to do with the affairs of Heaven.

The love of my parents was never in question. The tolerance of humanity often is.

[roseblooms]

Judge however you like, as far as I'm concerned. They never hesitate to judge based solely upon their own opinions, and congratulate themselves on their own infallible wisdom for it. Why should those not of Heaven be denied the same luxury?

Mm. And what about the tolerance of the monsters? Is that in question, also?

[reposing]

I certainly can agree with that.

Creatures of the night did not execute my mother unjustly. For all of their squabbles, that is not something they would have dared to do.

[roseblooms]

So she was taken from you. I realize the condolences of a stranger mean very little, but I'm sorry for your loss nevertheless.

Your creatures of the night sound similar enough to the demons I'm familiar with. They recognize no authority but power, but they do respect power where it exists. None would have dared because she was Dracula's wife, and therefore under his protection. To trifle with her would mean bringing down his swift and merciless wrath. Something like that?

[reposing]

It is appreciated.

That is more or less correct. I would not claim that monsters and beasts necessarily have a better sense of morality; all beings are capable of being perfectly horrible. However, they at least were wise enough to not kill a woman simply because they didn't understand she was attempting to truly heal people and was not practicing witchcraft.

[roseblooms]

At the risk of sounding callous, was there no means of restoring her to life available to you? Such things are rare, but they do exist. At least where I'm from.

Persecution for witchcraft reached its peak in the 1500s in Europe, which I presume is where you're from based on the fact that lutes weren't particularly popular elsewhere. Is that the year it was, when you left?

[reposing]

Oh, of course. That never occurred to me.
Any means would never be a guarantee. There are too may ways for a person to come back wrong from being dead. A ghoul, a puppet, a shell-- too many variables to desecrate a person who deserved better than she received.

Wallachia, 1476.

[roseblooms]

I did warn you that the question was callous. But it wasn't an attempt to insult you.

Quite the contrary, actually. Had a guaranteed option been available, you would have utilized it, wouldn't you?

[reposing]

You did indeed, which means you should have anticipated a less than pleased response.

I would have at least deeply considered it. It certainly would have saved lives if it were a possibility.

[roseblooms]

If you can think of a more polite way to phrase the inquiry, I'll adapt my approach in the future.

An artifact exists, where I'm from, with the power to grant the heart's desire of the person who uses it, for a particular cost. A legend attached to the artifact talks about a young man who used it for that particular purpose — specifically, to seek to save his mother. Your circumstances reminded me of it, is all.

[reposing]

Perhaps just don't bother.

How fortunate of an artifact, and yet it would do nothing to help me now, would it? Enough of this topic.

[roseblooms]

Very well. I've asked you a number of invasive questions, and offered little of myself in return. If you'd like to turn the tables on me, then by all means.

[reposing]

I've no curiosities at this time and I'm disinclined to continue.

Good luck with your games.

[roseblooms]

And if our paths happen to cross in the virtual world, NightSymphony?

[reposing]

Then perhaps hope we're on the same team.

[roseblooms]

Marvelous. Then I have either a teammate or a worthy challenge to look forward to.