nott_caine: ([Nott] Updo)
Selene York ([personal profile] nott_caine) wrote2014-07-11 09:57 am
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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.
dirtyandtrue: (Half hid smile)

[personal profile] dirtyandtrue 2014-07-16 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Russia was the perfect place for Matthew to wile away a few years while the heat of London simmered back down into something manageable. He'd fucked up and he knew it but Russia was a frozen wonderland and the Frenchman was interested in only drowning his problems in liquor and opium and women. That was something else that Mother Russia held to her bosom for Matthew to take.

Dressed to the nines in a red suit jacket with broad black lapels, there was a small crowd starting to form around him and he loved the addition of bodies to the girls he'd hired for the night. It bolstered his already astounding confidence.

The dark haired beauty that joined the table was given an idle glance before the dice were cast and the table erupted into a cheer at his continued luck. Grinning like a mad fool, Matthew collected his winnings and set out another bet, laughing under his breath at the amount of support he was getting. The woman caught his attention again as she added her coin to his and it was here he gave her pause, noticing her supernatural beauty and the familiar pull of Kindred blood against kindred blood. She was a vampire but since she didn't look like any hunter he'd been running from, he flashed her a brilliant smile and offered his dice ridden hand for her to blow her luck on.