nott_caine | Russia - Late 1700s

Russia was perhaps one of the most ideal places for a vampire. The winters long and the sun barely out. For a fledgling, this was also a perfect place for feeding. The locals often went to bed drunk, sometimes staying out far too late into the night, stumbling through the alleyways alone. It was here that Selene could perfect her abilities, to find a way that to cut through her anger and hostility, to reach that part of her that needed to be allowed free reign. Not Caine, not the devil, but Selene's first chance for freedom.

There was little to interest visitors in terms of amusement. But for those who knew where to look, there were several gathering places for locals and vampires. The gaming halls for one, filled with opium, whores, and true bon vivants.

After the French Revolution, people wanted to live, to party and smile. They needed a distraction from the coming wars and their own mortality. No one more than the vampires, the ones with the ever present reminder that life was short and their demons on their trail.

Choosing her best dress, Selene found one of the nicer establishments, seeking to try something that she was never allowed in her mortal life. Gambling. It was a hobby frowned on for ladies, but there was little reason to be afraid anymore. All it took was a bit of practice and the right teacher.

Sitting at the first craps table, Selene watched one of the more skilled players collect his winnings. She sat across from him, watching his expert hands roll the dice and let them fly. Dark eyes expertly watching as others joined his bet, eager to back a winner. There was a surge of energy and power from him, the indication of an old and strong vampire.

Selene leaned on her hand, catching his gaze for a moment. With a small smile, she placed a bit of her coin on top of his, a challenge in her expression. Let them see if he could replicate his good luck.

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"Then I will lead you on the merriest chase of life." Grinning, Matthew lead her through the throng of people that were filling the room to the door. His room wasn't far away but they would be going out into the considerable Russian cold.

Stopping at the coat counter, Matthew smiled at the woman behind it and called for both his jacket and hers. Of course, he left space for Nott to describe her own outerwear but as soon as they were bundled up, his arm was held out and he was leading them to the street.

"But we'll start the merry chase tomorrow. Tonight will be some small indulgences - testing the waters of your tolerance and capability." Glancing around, Matt noted that there weren't any people on the street, making it safe to talk a little more openly. His voice was kept low, like a lover telling secrets, but the Masquerade had to be held, despite his desire to know more about her.

"Now that we're away from prying ears... Tell me a little about yourself. You're a young one, I can see that much - but how young?"

She wrapped her coat tighter around her, following him out into the night. His ability to sense her age and lack of experience was flustering, but it likely was apparent to anyone with a number of years under their belt. Instead, she turned her face to the side, looking out across the frozen landscape.

The moon shone down on the snow covered streets, the ice and cold blue in the night. Stars glistened above them, as beautiful and delicate as the crystals that had fallen from the sky earlier that evening. It was magical, a winter fairyland that Diana had always whispered about as a child whenever they woke to such a landscape in England.

But there was something more. The ancient beauty of this land seemed to make everything see more large and intimidating. There was strength in the soil, in the people. Russia was a force, lying beneath the fragile beauty of the snow. There was so much she wanted to see and do, now she had the years ahead of her.

"I was turned in 1777," she admitted to him, finally looking back at him. "My father... he was my sire, though...I have not seen him in some time."

The sky had long lost it's drawing luster; Matthew preferred to keep his attention on those around him. He would never see them properly and they served only to draw a mocking attention to his lack of stature. If there was one thing Matthew wanted for himself, it was comfortable wealth and a moderate power that was befitting his station. He was secretly something of a priss but it was getting more tolerable the older he got.

He let her have her silence and arched an eyebrow as he guided them down the street. "Your father.. And he's just allowed you out into the world with no protection?" The frown that formed between his eyebrows showed his displeasure at the thought. Sires could often be horribly cruel, but perhaps hers hadn't been like Gina.

"You're but a child to this life.." Upon passing a collection of men that leered at the heels and bit of dress poking out from under her jacket, Matt gave them an abrasive look and put his gloved hand at the small of her back. "No worries," he continues with a smile, meant to banish away unpleasant conversation, "What your Father has laxed in, I will happily help fill in the spots, as well as I can in one night, hmm?"

He wasn't going to assume that she'd be with him long.

They never are.

She glanced over her shoulder as the men passed by, instinctively lowering her gaze and turning her face away. But a small glimmer of fire raised itself from her core, causing her to growl at their leering. A warning that she should not be touched, at least not by them.

His comment caused her to chuckle. She didn't feel like a child, but she was certain that compared to him, it was obvious.

"And what would you teach me tonight?" Selene teased him, looking up to meet his eyes as small flakes of snow fell against her brown curls. "Whatever education I have had, it is miniscule and moderate. You seem to be one to take chances and have worldly eyes. I imagine it would take much more than just a single night."

Not that she expected anything more than just this. This alone might be enough.

"Hmm, well how to play poker and smoke opium, of course," he promises with another tilt of his lips. It would take more then one night to share everything he had to share and for whatever self ideals she had that labeled her not a child, she very much was, not that he minded.

"Perhaps by the end of it, you'll be asking for more." The building he lead them to was multi-storied but it suited his upper-middle class lifestyle and after nodding to the doorman, Matthew lead her to the stairs and up.

"And whatever else you'd like to add to the list of 'to learn', I'm sure we can fulfill. You must promise to go easy on me, now, if you get better at poker then I."

She laughed, pulling her shawl tighter. It was a great step forward into a more brazen life style for her, to even be entering a man's home without an escort. This would be the first man she was alone with that wasn't family or her husband. Matthew already was leading her into unfamiliar and enticing territory. Whatever else followed was icing on the cake.

"You are rather certain of yourself, aren't you?" She remarked, giving him a cheeky grin. "I see my greatest lesson tonight will be in how to hold that swelled head up high."

Selene grinned, "We must gamble for something. Though I imagine my money is not as interesting as other things. Perhaps we should find something more...enticing to wager?"

Russia - Late 1700s

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