Dog Day Afternoon—Reli

[Lynette Adelaide Keeler]

MISS MARA NYX

→ MAKE YOU THINK IT'S TRUE IT IS ALL AN ILLUSION ALREADY BEGUN
IT ALREADY HAS BEGUN WELCOME TO THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW THERE'S NO ROOM HERE ←

Nothing to do, nothing to do. Except take the dogs for a walk. The large fluff-balls known as Luisa and Mapi were sat in the aisle of the subway car, tongues hanging from their mouths as they panted breathlessly. It was hot in the train with all of the people on it, but they seemed to give the woman and her dogs as much room as possible. After all. . . they didn’t have leashes on. As far as these strangers knew, they were vicious and blood thirsty mutts that wanted nothing more than to eat them the second they got the chance. However, they didn’t look like killers. They had rather cute faces, and how could you take that thick coat seriously? Mara Nyx sat on the bench with her legs crossed and the nail of her pinky finger in her mouth, a mischievous grin on her face as she looked out the window at the solid cement wall that zipped past as the train moved. What was she going to do tonight? The Countess had been quiet for quite some time, and since her fight with Lynx she hadn’t had much to do. It was quite boring now, and she needed something to entertain herself. Hmm. The people on this train would do.

No, that was too easy. Mob mentality was an easy thing to manipulate. Get one or two people freaking out and then everyone else would. That just got boring. Ah well. At least the rest of the people on the subway train looked as bored as she was. Her other hand dropped from where it sat in her lap and she rubbed at Mapi’s hear with her hand and the big dog closed his eyes. Luisa whined quietly and set her head on the back of Mapi’s, and Mara pat the top of her head as well. Finally, the train came to a stop and a few people stood up. Outside, the sound of gun shots were heard and several people screamed and ducked. Mara hauled herself to her feet and snapped her fingers as if nothing was going on, and meanwhile a pair of people shooting at each other came running through the crowd. No one else was moving, and Mara made it easily through the train without having to worry about bodies hitting her and people shoving each other. Once she was out, the gunfire stopped and people started to look around, still frightened and unmoving. Several people were on the line with probably the cops. Mara grinned. All of it was fake—an illusion created to make it easier for her to exit the subway.

With her two dogs next to her, Mara strolled through the tunnel, making her way toward the stairs and the outside world. Tails wagging, the leashless dogs followed her obediently as they moved up the stairs. The sounds of New York were loud, and Mara sighed. So many people, so little time. She sighed longingly and tried to decide when the last time she fed was. . . . Two days ago. She could go a little longer, but if she couldn’t find something to do tonight, she was going to have to go find something to feed off of just to fill the time. Sometimes it was a pain in the ass living forever. Ah well. The vampire and her pets made their way through the streets, and occasionally something would happen that would make people scream, but nothing was actually happening. . . the situation was disappear, and people would be left confused. Mara’s small illusions were entertaining for a little while, but it was her more elaborate ones that really got her going. However, she felt a little tired tonight, so she didn’t want to do anything to big. Up ahead, something caught her dogs’ attention. They had reached the outskirts of Central Park, and it seemed there was someone else with a dog out here.

→ NOTHING YOU CAN DO THIS IS CALLED THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW ←

→ STARRING Reli
→ COUNTING Word count
→ LOCATION Outside Central Park
→ WEARING Click here.
→ NOTES The type of dogs she has are Eurasier dogs.
→ LYRICS By Muse

[Reli Kain]

Reli always forgot how difficult it was, taking a dog overseas. There were forms and writing and forms and so much hassle. Sometimes she thought it wasn't worth it. Until her puppy slobbered on her leg as he slept and she realised she loved him enough that it was worth it. And after a grueling trip to New York, there was ony one thing she wanted to do: run. Run with Copper, preferably. Today would be devoted to fun - an aim which on the surface would seem typical. But it was the honesty that she would pursue this goal that was different. She should be finding somewhere to stay, buying food, etc, etc. But she wasn't going to, not today. If she couldn't even drag herself to a room when she finally crashes, well, she and Copper could always sleep outside...

They wandered the streets for a while, both Copper and her trotting along in a oddly similar way. They stopped at places when whims took them, Reli sauntering away to icecream carts and Copper pawing at hotdog stands (Reli hoped that did count as cannabilism), and just generally meandered about the city. Reli soon began to bounce as she walked, a sure sign of pent up energy. Deciding that they needed a run, Reli steered them in the direction of Central Park. Once they had reached one side of the park, Reli into the enterance but it was Copper who voiced her feelings by whimpering. The park was too daunting today. For whatever reason. Instead, they followed around the edge of the park, watching their fellow creatures as they passed.

It was a long way - the pair ran all the way down Central Park West - but it was fun. They stopped to chase pigeons, freaked out the general commuters with their exuhberant attitudes and just let loose. Reli felt it was the perfect day, bright enough for the city to stay populated by figures that weren't umbrellas, but over cast enough for a nice clean moisture to hang in the air. Reli came to the end of the road and turned to keep following the edge of the park. Copper barked and ran ahead, his nose to the ground in a typical fashion. Reli looked ahead and spotted the owners of the scent he may very well have been following. There were two dogs up ahead, fluffy looking with curled tails. Reli relaxed into a fast paced walked and followed her puppy, approaching the pair. Copper reached them a few strides before she would and gave one bark before sitting before them.

[Lynette Adelaide Keeler]

MISS MARA NYX

→ MAKE YOU THINK IT'S TRUE IT IS ALL AN ILLUSION ALREADY BEGUN
IT ALREADY HAS BEGUN WELCOME TO THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW THERE'S NO ROOM HERE ←

“What is this you have found?” Mara murmured more to herself than to her dogs as they went sprinting ahead. She didn’t bother calling for them to come back as she didn’t much worry about them. They didn’t do anything against her will, following her commands easily enough. The two dogs were taught not to attack until she gave them the word. Up ahead, she could see a lanky little dog running up, and even further back a woman following. However, Mara was much more interested in the little bloodhound dog that was bounding up to her pretties. They stopped running as they met with the other dog and the two went about the doggy tradition of sniffing at the other dog and whining and getting acquainted. Mara continued to walk forward, one hand on her hip and the other hanging by her side. Her combat boots made a heavy clopping sound as she walked, and she knelt down slowly, pushing her dogs aside—they sat down as they were pushed and whimpered, wanting to play with this new dog—and she rubbed the puppy’s ears. “Well hello little cutie. And what might your name be?” she muttered, a small smile on her lips as she tried to find a collar. However, she froze and looked up, her brows furrowing as she caught wind of the other woman. Werefox!

→ NOTHING YOU CAN DO THIS IS CALLED THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW ←

→ STARRING Reli
→ COUNTING 230
→ LOCATION Outside the park
→ WEARING ~
→ NOTES Sorry it took me so long! I hope to post more often in the future.
→ LYRICS By Muse

[Reli Kain]

((No worries))

Reli padded up to where Copper was, studying the woman who was patting him. She seemed so relaxed around the other two dogs that Reli figured she must be there owner. Reli's sensitive ears caught the woman's mutter, but she declined answering, letting the woman find the plain brown collar with the plain round tag among the folds of Copper's neck. Her hair flung forward in a gust, slightly obscuring her face, as the wind changed direction. Seemingly in response to that, the woman looked up at Reli, a look on her face. Reli bared her teeth in a joyous grin in return, and came to a stop near the back of the pack. She crouched down, one hand between her legs steadying herself as the other hand left the pocket of her hoodie to pat one of the other dogs. "They are so fluffy." Was Reli's only comment, said with a slight giggle.

The dogs were unleashed, which was unusual especially in the city. It made her wonder what kind of person this woman was. She seemed nice, she certainly was nice to Copper. Any friend of Copper was a friend of hers. But other than that the woman didn't seem to give much away. Except for one thing - an aura. An aura of power. It wasn't very unusal to come across something like this, if someone believed they were powerful, if someone was egotistical, they would give off this aura. But it did let Reli know one helpful fact; either this woman was very good news or very bad news.

[Lynette Adelaide Keeler]

MISS MARA NYX

→ MAKE YOU THINK IT'S TRUE IT IS ALL AN ILLUSION ALREADY BEGUN
IT ALREADY HAS BEGUN WELCOME TO THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW THERE'S NO ROOM HERE ←

Mara’s fingers found the little round tag and she flipped it over to glance at the dog’s name. Copper. She tilted her head to the side and looked at the lanky little puppy and rubbed at his head. She was knelt down in a crouched position with her hand rested on her knee and the other one on the dog’s head. Soon though, she let it fall back to her knee as she crouched there, balanced perfectly on the balls of her feet. By now the were-fox had arrived and Mara found it rather easy to keep her hate locked up for the time being. Perhaps she could play with the abomination a little bit. . . steal her adorable little dog. Mara didn’t have a bloodhound, after all. “They’re so fluffy,” the woman remarked, talking about the two Eurasiers that had accompanied the vampire. Mara slowly stood to her full height and nodded her head, a mischievous little grin stretching over her face. Her hand went to her hip and she gave a little wave with her other hand. The two large marshmellows of dogs scampered to the little dog and started to try to get him to play. One moved to Reli and carefully sniffed at her. Mara narrowed her eyes.

There was something about this fox that just seemed. . . a little off. Mara couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was just something about her. She didn’t seem dangerous—no one ever seemed dangerous to Mara—it was just that she seemed different. Ah, she’d figure it out later and deal with it when it came. “And what is a vixen doing out here?” she asked bluntly, unafraid of announcing that she knew what this girl was. It was not hard for a vampire that had been around as long as she had to pick out humans from immortals and vampire from weres. She knew this woman wasn’t a werewolf—she spent all of her time with werewolves, after all—and she was very aware of all of the were-creatures in this world. The only reason she knew for sure this woman was a fox was because she had been around a few foxes in her time. “I can only assume you are walking your dog as I am mine. . . . Mapi, Luisa,” she pointed out, indicating to each dog in turn. She was very proud of her pets and loved showing them off. At the sound of their names, they stood at attention, tails wagging.

→ NOTHING YOU CAN DO THIS IS CALLED THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW ←

→ STARRING Reli
→ COUNTING 424
→ LOCATION Outside the park
→ WEARING ~
→ NOTES ~
→ LYRICS By Muse

[Reli Kain]

The woman stood and the fluffy dogs moved over to Copper, engaging him in play. One took a moment to sniff her, and she lifted her nose and sniffed the dog too. Then, rather abruptly, the woman asked what a vixen like her was doing out here. Giving a sharp sound of surprise Reli promptly overbalanced and landed on her backside, now in a perfect position to be looking up at the woman (an action she now wanted to be doing). The woman continued and stated the obvious assumption; that Reli had been walking her dog, adding that she had been doing the same. Her dogs stood with wagging tails as they evidently recognised that they were being introduced. Reli quickly bobbed her head to the two dogs, automatically greeting them back, before looking up at the woman again. She mentally analysed the womans statement. She called me a 'vixen'. A female fox, that's what she called me. Uncle told me all the terms that relate to foxes, said it was 'right' that I know. No! Don't jump to conclusions. How could she know I has a fox, right of the bat? Think, Reli, think... Ah ha! Human's use the term vixen much more commonly to mean something else. She must've meant- hey!

Outloud she said "Hey! Are you that rude to all strangers you meet?! Geez, you need lessons in manners, I wasn't being mean or spiteful." She pouted, sniffed (not that she was close to crying) "Yeah," she continued in much more mumbled words "Me and him were talking a walk. A run. Nice job, meanie." She sat there, legs still splayed in front of her, teeth clenched together. This woman had put her in a foul mood - calling her spiteful like that. And Reli had been having a great day too. She glanced at Copper, at least he seemed like he was still having fun, messing about with the other two larger dogs. Though he caught her eye, seemingly senseing her mood shift.

[Lynette Adelaide Keeler]

MISS MARA NYX

→ MAKE YOU THINK IT'S TRUE IT IS ALL AN ILLUSION ALREADY BEGUN
IT ALREADY HAS BEGUN WELCOME TO THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW THERE'S NO ROOM HERE ←

Falling over. That was something Mara had not expected. Eyebrow cocked, the vampiress’ other hand snaked up to her hip and now she was looking down her nose at the girl, hands on her hips in her common “higher than thou” posture that she held. Was she that surprised that Mara had noted her foxiness? Did this woman not yet realize what she was? But that didn’t make any sense. She should have met a vampire before. Head tilted to the side, the two dogs mirrored this movement. They seemed to be catching her curious demeanor and adopting it, but Luisa was a tad too caught up in trying to play with Copper to pay attention to everything else. She pawed at him happily and whined loudly, trying to get his attention. Mapi—the male of the duo—sat down next to his mistress, wide, flat tongue hanging out of his mouth as he panted quietly. The right thing to do would be for Mara to see if she was okay or if she wanted help up, but that wasn’t how the vampire worked. The girl could get up on her own.

Suddenly, the woman’s demeanor changed and Mara raised both of her eyebrows as she was seemingly told off. “Hey! Are you that rude to all strangers you meet?! Geez, you need lessons in manners, I wasn't being mean or spiteful,” she began. An amused look crossed the older vampire: that’s what was off about this woman. She was a child. Maybe not technically, but she was one. “Rude? I believe I was merely asking a question, vixen. It was not my doing that you should fall on your ass like a three-legged badger. If you think being curious rude, then perhaps you should put your own attitude in check before you question mine,” she chided, a smirk falling upon her flawless features. She snapped her fingers and Luisa begrudgingly left Copper’s side to stand on the other side of Mara. “However, should you wish to see a more spiteful side of me, I can oblige easily, vixen. I can only assume by the way you are astounded that you know not what I am. However, I know what you are. These two know what you are, and I am certain Copper knows what you are. So, shall we cut to the part where I announce that I am a vampire and that you are an abomination known as a were-fox?”

→ NOTHING YOU CAN DO THIS IS CALLED THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW ←

→ STARRING Reli
→ COUNTING 412
→ LOCATION Streets
→ WEARING ~
→ NOTES ~
→ LYRICS By Muse

[Reli Kain]

The woman stood there, hands on her hips, lecturing her on rudness. Part way through she snapped her fingers so that her other dog would stand at her side (letting them flank her). What? Does she think that's imtimidating? With the amount of times the woman had called her vixen Reli and a retort working on her tongue, after remember the second way humans commonly use the term vixen. She wasn't quite sure how to turn the woman down, especially because she seemed quite... brash. Then after a series of vauge hints, the woman revealed her true species - she was a vampire! At this Reli let loose a comfortable large grin. But her expression was swallowed up by the womans next words. She new Reli was a werefox. She knew Reli was an abomination. Reli's features crumpled in defeat, she dropped her eyes to stare at the toes of her sneakers. She was an abomination, she knew that, she accepted it, she wouldn't argue. Idley she noted that her instinct had been right; the woman had meant a female fox when she'd said vixen.

Copper whimpered and shuffeled over to her side, lying down right up next to her. She automatically moved her hand to pat him on the head. "Hello." she mumbled in a quiet voice. The vampire's words had Reli rather subdubed. "Um, yeah. That sounds good. Cutting to that part." she continued to stumble for footing in her uncharacteristically timid voice. She was so ashamed, this day was horrible. Reli could barely believe she'd run into some who openly knew what she was. It was horrible, the only thing worse was if she now got a message saying her family wanted to see her. They never want to see me. She continued rubbing Copper's head, avoiding the vampire's gaze. And to be called out by a vampire. Oh this is so embaressing.

[Lynette Adelaide Keeler]

MISS MARA NYX

→ MAKE YOU THINK IT'S TRUE IT IS ALL AN ILLUSION ALREADY BEGUN
IT ALREADY HAS BEGUN WELCOME TO THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW THERE'S NO ROOM HERE ←

Mara raised her eyebrows. It seemed she had struck a chord of some sort in this little fox. Of course, she didn’t much care. After all, she was only a lowly fox. Good for nothing and a monster that went against nature. Well, in Mara’s eyes. Truth be told she just hated all weres: she blamed them for the death of her beloved husband and for ruining her life. The dogs whimpered slightly, sensing the hostility in their mistress. Mara sighed and set her hands atop the canine’s heads and scratched their ears. Mara watched the woman for a second, then knelt down in front of her and smiled a sadistic little grin, her hands resting atop her knees as she crouched there, balanced on the balls of her feet. “Oh, have my words stung you? The truth hurts, does it not vixen?” Mara asked, trying to sound sweet even though she continued to insult the woman. “My name is Mara Nyx, and it is a name everyone will come to know and fear when I get through with this city.”

→ NOTHING YOU CAN DO THIS IS CALLED THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW ←

→ STARRING Reli
→ COUNTING 181
→ LOCATION Streets
→ WEARING ~
→ NOTES Finally got it done. Sorry it sucks, my muse is low.
→ LYRICS By Muse

[Reli Kain]

As Reli stared at her sneakers, it was only at the last moment that she saw the woman crouch in front of her. She automatically drew her legs closer to her, making herself less obtrusive. Painful words reached her ears, sweet tones asking sour rhetoricals. The truth hurts was the underlying message and oh did Reli know how much it hurt. The woman intorduced herself - really introduced herself, not only stateing her name but also how dangerous she was. Reli remained curled up, a perfect looking victim. Why don't these people help? Why do they not help me? But people in New York never stopped to ask - it had been one of the things Reli had liked about this city. Not so much now. Her thoughts took a turn for the worse, Why would they help you? Why would they care in the slightest for you?

She picked at a loose thread on her jeans. "Only everyone in and near this city." she couldn't help but point out, "Keep to this continent, you'd be outmatched elsewhere." Even as the woman's words - Mara Nyx's words - stung her she couldn't help but favour the vampire. Hope the best for her and hope she succeeds. Copper whimpered again and tried to snuggle up to her, his cold wet nose pressing against her. Though Reli barely realised, Copper's nose wasn't the only thing wet - the air had grown just a little bit more humid. I should just go back to Uncle.

[Lynette Adelaide Keeler]

MISS MARA NYX

→ MAKE YOU THINK IT'S TRUE IT IS ALL AN ILLUSION ALREADY BEGUN
IT ALREADY HAS BEGUN WELCOME TO THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW THERE'S NO ROOM HERE ←

Mara was uncertain as to what this fox was trying to accomplish by telling her these things. Mara knew that the town was ridden with pests that wanted to make a name for themselves, make the people of New York fear them. Mara had already taken place in the assassination of the mayor in one of the neighboring towns—a feat that was covered up by every Homeland Security and Patriot Act laws known to man—along with one of the few people Mara had come to respect—another vampire going by several different names, but Mara preferred to call her Amoura. Their names had been written on the walls, and the government knew of their existence now. It was only a matter of time before Mara could convince this town to fear her. “Ah, little vixen. I do not mind biding my time and waiting for my name to get out there. After all, I do live forever,” she commented errantly, scratching her dog’s ears. “Your dog seems quite attached to you. He is a fine beast.” Was this Mara’s attempt at making conversation?

→ NOTHING YOU CAN DO THIS IS CALLED THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW ←

→ STARRING Reli
→ COUNTING 185
→ LOCATION Outside the park
→ WEARING ~
→ NOTES ~
→ LYRICS By Muse

[Reli Kain]

Reli looked up at the vampire's words, greatful for a reason she couldn't quite grasp. Her body relaxed just enough to allow Copper to clumsily clamber onto her legs and her hand automatically moved to pet him. She smiled at him, remembering how glad she always was when she brought him with her, and even more so at the moment for he seemed to be a tenuous connection between herself and Mara. "He always liked me, then again he grew up with me. Don't they say even cats and dogs can be friends if they knew each other when they were both young? Not that I'm comparable to a cat..." Reli trailed off as her words confused herself (this evident by the look on her face). Copper let his tongue almost hang out of his mouth as he began to pant, he could tell that Reli was calming even if the humidity had yet to lessen.

[Lynette Adelaide Keeler]

MISS MARA NYX

→ MAKE YOU THINK IT'S TRUE IT IS ALL AN ILLUSION ALREADY BEGUN
IT ALREADY HAS BEGUN WELCOME TO THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW THERE'S NO ROOM HERE ←

As she had expected, the girl brightened. Aw. How cute. She loved talking about her dog just as much as Mara liked talking about her dogs and other such pets. Mara had a soft spot for exotic animals—mostly birds and dog-like creatures—but all she had with her were two dogs. They were like family to her, and she loved them dearly. She would miss them when they died, but all mortal things could be replaced easily. The vampiress had all the time in the world to train new dogs, and they would be the children of Mapi and Luisa. They were her breeders, and she got in quite a bit of money from their pups.

“He always liked me, then again he grew up with me. Don't they say even cats and dogs can be friends if they knew each other when they were both young? Not that I'm comparable to a cat. . . ,” came the rather confused-sounding reply as the vixen stroked her beloved pet. Mara tilted her head to the side. If she killed the fox, she could take the dog. Dogs forgot. But no, that wasn’t her style. She was more likely to steal the dog and leave the fox there to mourn than to outright kill her.

Mara gave a slight laugh and shook her head, getting to her feet. “You are not a cat. If you were a cat, I would have killed you as soon as I reached you. As it were, you are of a different species altogether. I myself own a fox at my mansion. He is of the arctic variety,” she responded matter-of-factly. Mara might have enjoyed the company of animals, but she most definitely did not enjoy the company of shifters. It had been jaguars that had killed the love of her life, but she blamed the entire race of shifters.

However, Mara could respect a fellow canine lover. She huffed slightly and stood back a little bit. “How old is he? I fear that Luisa and Mapi only have a few more years before they pass. Hopefully I can get one more litter from the two so I can continue. . . . I would have to find another purebred Eurasier of course. . . but their lineage lives on. I have been breeding the same family of dogs for over one hundred and fifty years.”

→ NOTHING YOU CAN DO THIS IS CALLED THE BLACK MAGIC SHOW ←

→ STARRING Reli
→ COUNTING 401
→ LOCATION Outside the park
→ WEARING ~
→ NOTES Sorry it took so long.
→ LYRICS By Muse

[Reli Kain]

((No worries.))

Mara stood, giving a slight laugh and shaking her head. She told Reli what she would've done to a cat, to which Reli gave an understanding tip of her head, and informed her of her own fox pet, to which she wrinkled her nose at. She knew she shifted into a fox, but she was still averse to being compared and associated with one. The vampire stood back and asked Copper's age, proceeding to express her regrets over her own dogs elderly ages and revealing in the process a minimum age - 150 years old. She mentally filed this last piece of information away.

Reli laughed; "Oh Copper's just a pup. He's got a while yet." A particularly affectionate rub around his neck. "Then you're a breeder? That must be, um, interesting. But it must be hard to get other purebreeds these days. People just stopped caring at some point... pity." She considered the links between her words and her own position. Was she a mutt? A spoilage in what was meant to be the most purebred line of Kains? She vaugely wondered as the humidity dissappitated and wait for an answer.