8230/Hatshepsut and other things Vampirey

Hatshepsut and other things Vampirey
Date of Scene:	13 October 2021
Location:	Mystique's Quarters
Synopsis:	Hatshepsut begins Lydia's instructions as a Vampire and offers up a meal until the young vampire is ready to feed on her own.
Cast of Characters:	Lydia Dietrich, Raven Darkholme

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Lydia Dietrich has posed:
It's hour 20 of the first 24 hours and Lydia is beginning to feel hungry. Thirsty. Thungry. It's a weird mix of the two. It's not anything serious at the moment, and she's wondering if she should go ahead and go to Dr. Hathaway and get herself some blood at this point in time. Really it's not that bad, it's just a pang. She just wonders how badly that's going to ramp up.

So she pulls out her phone and sends a text to Hatshepsut. 'I'm a little bit hungry. Should I eat now, or wait? Are you good coming up? If so I'll get Ritz to bring you to the Asteroid.' If she comes up, she'll be directed to Mystique's quarters where Lydia will be waiting.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut can take herself anywhere in the world she wants to go... more long on the world. The Asteroid however still requires the assistance of the mutant teleporters. She had already called up once, which equaled being moved to the hold department. So when she got Lydia's text, she sent back that she was already attempting to get to the Asteroid but had been placed on hold and the musak was enough to drive any sane person to murderer.

Meeting Ritz as the chosen location, she thanks the woman profusely then asks for her number directly, as Hatshepsut already knew she would need to come up a lot for the next several months. Ritz has no issues with giving Hattie her number, and gives her Gates number as well.

Lydia and Mystique's door chimes her arrival.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia looks relieved when she opens the door to the apartment. "I'm glad you're here. It's been... one hell of a ride. Come on in." She takes a step back to let the elder vampire in, when she realizes that the whole can't come in unless invited could be real. "You... we don't have to be invited, right? We can just walk on in if we wanted to?" God, she feels stupid asking that question, but you never know.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Stepping into the room, Hatshepsut removes her long trench-cloak and folds it over her arm. "You can come and go in any place you want," she states. "You don't require an invitation, running water has no effect on you. Garlic doesn't repel you either, it's quite tasty in Italian cooking." She offers a smile. "I promise, we will cover all the bases Lydia, I will not leave you in the lurch. I'm sure everything seems turned upside down right now, and everyone around here is likely freaking out over this. I..." she pauses a moment, looking to her expensive shoes for a moment. "... I really wish there had been another choice."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia steps up to put a consoling hand on Hattie's arm. "I know. Mystique is beating herself up over it, too, but it's not your fault. Either of you. It was Bhanavi's fault. She was going to turn me. I suspect she was going to do that regardless if you submitted to her demands or not." Lydia takes a breath so she can let it out in a sigh, "I'm just grateful that it was you who did it and not her." She shudders, "I don't know what kind of state I would be in if she had managed to follow through."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The minute Lydia says that name, the red flash of Hatshepsut's eyes can't be missed, but it's quick and she's back in control of herself. "I do not know what that bitch told you," she says quietly, then is back in control of her tone as well. "But this was never about me submitting. One thing that Irappu are good at, is lying their asses off."

Walking over to to a chair, she settles herself into it. Mystique has added a couple of random chairs recently, so people have a place to sit when they visit. They are as far away from Mystique's desk as possible, so perhaps not visit her.

"Come and sit, and we'll go over some of the basics, and I'll answer your questions."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia nods and decides to sit in her chair, which she rolls over so she can be closer to Hattie. "I kind of figured that," Lydia says derisively. "She didn't exactly strike me as the honest type."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia Dietrich says, "So basics," Lydia says thoughtfully. "Sunlight? Silver? I'm assume silver's okay since I was able to see myself in the mirror. A stake through the heart and a beheading will kill just about anybody regardless if they're a vampire or not. Do I have to worry about being extra flammable?""

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The trench-cloak gets laid over the back of the chair before Hatshepsut turns back to look at Lydia.

"The basics. Silver does nothing to you, other than look good against your skin. A wooden stake through the heart will not kill you, but it will render you completely paralyzed. Beheading is one of the ways to permanently kill you, burning with fire is another but you aren't specially any more flammable than you were before."

She thinks for a moment, then continues. "For you, the sun will not cause you to smolder or burst into flames, but you will be weaker, none of the vampiric powers will be accessible. On top of that, you will be more tried in the day light hours, whether in the sun or not. We are beings of the night by our very nature."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
The fact that she can still go out in the sunlight surprises her. She knew that some vampires could. Blake could, after all. But she had figured that since Hatshepsut couldn't she'd have inherited that. "I can work with that," she says. "I was prepared to never see the sun again, and I was wondering if we slept at all. I didn't know if it was because I was running off of your blood or not, but I haven't slept at all since you turned me."

She looks thoughtful for a moment. "I assume that I'll have to feed daily at first. How long before I can start spacing that out? What kind of powers do I have?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The serious talk.

"You will require blood daily, Lydia," Hatshepsut answers quietly. "And that will remain the way of things for many, many years. My blood will sustain you for several days, but after the first twenty-four hours, the hunger will start. The longer you put off consuming blood, the stronger the hunger will become, until at some point it will consume you, claim you, and you will attack someone." She is being blunt because anything else would be a cruelty.

"There is another issue that often comes up this early in the Embrace," she continues. "Because of the power that comes with my age, animal blood will never sustain you. The blood of human beings, or mutants, will be the only thing to satiate the thirst. Unfortunately, there is more to that even. You can drink from donated blood, blood bags from the Red Cross, or where ever, but even that will eventually stop being enough, because it is not fresh."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia nods. Depending on blood daily for the first couple of years was nothing unexpected, as was denying herself food would cause her to eventually devolve into a frenzy. But having to drink directly from the source, as it were? That's thrown her for a loop.

"That's..." she begins, before sighing and rubbing her face. "How long do I have before I have to rely on fresh blood? It's going to take a while to convince people to let me feed directly from them." She already starts thinking about how to achieve this. "I'm sure there are people who would /love/ to be fed upon." After all, Lydia nearly jumped at that chance herself.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut cants her head slightly, one brow raised, "There is a reason that feeding on someone is pleasurable for them and yourself Lydia, because when done right there need never be pain, only pleasure and the transition of life force from one to the other. There are a few in New York who are in the know, and would allow you to feed on them. Do you think I stalk the night and attack people?"

She reaches over and takes one of Lydia's hand in her own. "That said however, you can watch them put it in a glass and drink it, that is still considered fresh... because I am afraid that you will always likely need fresh. You can exist on the bagged stuff for a few days if needed, perhaps even a week, but I would not suggest you push it that far."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia laughs mirthfully, "No, I don't suppose you do. Unless you /like/ that sort of thing, but I always figured the considerate vampires would have a stable of people that they draw on for their nourishment." She leans back in her chair, "I'll talk to Mystique to see if we can hunt down people in the Brotherhood who'll take up the call. That'll be the easiest place to start."

Lydia nods, and squeezes Hatshepsut's hand to reassure herself. "A few days. That doesn't give me a lot of time."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut cants her head again. "I can give you a few more days, and a little practice, if you'd like."

She lifts her other hand up to offer Lydia her wrist. "Your fangs can be permanent or you can retract them, but it takes practice. More of my blood will give you a few more days then that, now that the transition is complete. Please, let me do this for you Lydia. You may partake of me any time, it is easier for me to find what is needed right now."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
"I'd rather not the fangs be permanent," Lydia admits. She runs her tongue along the row of teeth, where her fangs still haven't dropped yet. She takes Hatshepsut's wrist and brings it towards her. "Uh..." she says. "How do I get the fangs to... do the thing. Have they not grown in yet, or have I just not been hungry or angry enough for them to drop?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut does her best not to laugh, but she does smile with mirth in her eyes.

"I realize this is not funny, at all," she offers, trying to rid herself of that smile and failing. "But to a vampire as old as myself, so takes for granted everything there is about what I am, it's... refreshing to remember what it was like for me in the beginning, through you."

Collecting herself now she says, "There is specific command, you cannot go, 'fangs in' and just have them appear. Your body already knows that fangs are required," she takes her hand back for a moment, then drags her own nail across her wrist. Blood doesn't immediately flow, but Lydia can smell it there.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
The smell of blood hits her like a truck. Lydia's eyes go half lidded as her nostrils flare as she inhales that sweet, sweet scent. What was a slight pang of hunger has turned into full desire, and it catches her by surprise. "Oh, God," she breathes, and that's when it happens. She feels a kind of *crack* as her canines sharpen and extend into what feels like daggers. "Ow."

It takes a moment of centering to keep her from lunging at the source of blood, calming herself so that she can maintain control. "Okay," she says breathlessly. "Okay. I can manage this. It just took me by surprise." It sounds almost as if she's trying to convince herself of this.

"Lets..." she takes the offered wrist and awkwardly takes it into her mouth. She feels so foolish doing this but she knows that this is how it's got to be for the rest of her unnaturally long life. But all awkwardness and foolish feelings evaporate as soon as blood hits her tongue. She lets out a groan of pleasure. Nothing in her life up to now could compare to the taste, or the rush that fills her body as she suckles. She closes her eyes and for a while, her whole world is feeding.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
There were exactly two other people in existence to had gotten to drink from Hatshepsut, one was her lover, the other was her lovers Childer who was dying and needed blood fast. The sensation of pleasure strikes her just as it would any human, the difference is the near magical effect that strikes mortals stupid in this situation does not effect her. She is able to consciously enjoy the pleasure of it and still keep a close eye on how much Lydia takes.

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia is lost in the pleasure of the drink, but soon her hunger is sated. She stops her suckling and, on instinct, licks at the wound both to clean up any remaining mess and to close it. She slumps back in her chair contentedly, just riding the warm afterglow from feeding. "Is it always that good?" she asks, finally looking up.

She runs her tongue against her fangs, this time taking time to explore them. They're sharp. Dagger sharp. And grooved in the back to allow the blood to flow into her mouth. When they extended, she felt the muscles used, and now she knows that they're there it's easy enough to relax them to pull her fangs back up.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut takes a single moment to collect herself, and her hand, then nods. "Yes, it is always that good," she answers. "There is another thing to note. If the person is willing, there is no pain, even if they are willing and hesitant. You can make it hurt of course, but that is just stupidity in action, on the willing. It works as a weapon, the pain can nearly paralyze and then the passion takes over."

Sitting back, she folds her hands in her lap. "There are three distinct things you will notice in the next few days, above and beyond your already enhanced senses. You find that you are stronger, perhaps not lift a tank strong, but you will notice it improve as time goes on. You will find that you are more agile and quick, able to dodge better and you will notice that you are more enduring. No more scraps and bruises for you."

She offers a smile, then moves immediately into the next lesson topic. "Yes, you can eat and drink human food, but you will gain nothing from it at all, expect the amazing flavors, because I am certain you have noticed that everything seems to much more... intense."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia nods in understanding. "That's what she did to me when she opened me up. She made it hurt like nothing has ever hurt before." She gets a soft smile and says, "I was worried that that's what I'd be inflicting on other people were I to feed on them."

"I've been careful when hugging my family," she says with a grin. "I knew that there'd be physical changes as well, and I didn't want to accidentally crack a few ribs." She looks thoughtful for a bit, "I'll have to set up the training room for some scenarios to test my limits so I know what they are."

She nods. "The two vampires I know, you included, have been able to eat food, so that was something I was expecting as well. That's good though. I don't think I could live without the waffle bar," she jokes.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut offers a smile, finally seeming to relax a little. Clearly even three thousand year old's get nervous at times. "There are types of vampires out there who cannot eat," she offers to explain. "In fact I think one of the clans has that problem, liquids are acceptable but trying to eat actual food makes them sick. Even with all my research on the clans, I have never been able to figure out why."

Once again she takes one of Lydia's hands in her own. "You will know inside yourself when you truly /need/ blood and when it is merely a nagging sensation, like being peckish, but always remember that if you have troubles finding blood, contact me. No questions, no hesitations, call me. You cannot go without nourishment."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
"From my research there are different types of vampires. Not all of them cut from the same mold." She chuckles, "You know more about this than I do."

She then nods in agreement. "I have plenty of blood bags here which should tide me over until I get real nourishment. From what I understand that should work but I can't rely on that too often." She scowls, "I don't really want to rely on you that often."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
The smile that touches Hatshepsut's lips is a mixture of amusement and something almost sly. "Why not? I get something out if as well." Then she clears her throat and sits up a little straighter. "The blood bags really need to be last resort Lydia, my age makes your blood very potent, which makes the hunger more demanding."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia lets out an understanding chuckle. "All right. I'll keep that in mind." She nods as she begins to understand just how last minute the blood bags are going to be. "I see. We'll get to work at finding.... volunteers? Doners?" She shakes her, "I don't know the right terminology."

"So what about other vampire powers?" she asks curiously. "Things like turning into wolves, or bats, or mist. Or the mind whammy thing?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Sitting back in the chair, Hatshepsut crosses one leg over the other as she adjusts slightly. "Those are all powers in the blood that you can learn," she replies. "And many, many other things as well. Which one interests you the most? Being a wolf or cat or bat? Any animals really. Turning into a fine mist to creep under doors, or the ability to knock someone on their ass just by looking at them? Want to make stranger fall in love you, or run screaming away into the night in terror?"

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Never in her life would Lydia think that she would be seriously answering this question. She takes some time to actually /think/ about this. She isn't sure that she wants to mind whammy people. It'd be helpful, sure, but it feels too much like an invasion to her. Shapeshifting, however....

"Turning into a wolf would be useful. It'd let me run with Rahne," she muses. "Mist too. A bat... hmm, no." she says shaking her head. "I can already fly." Then an idea strikes her. "What about a swarm of bats? That would be /neat/."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut laughs. "What about a crow, a raven, a flock of birds, I heard that was a good movie," she muses then smiles. "All of those things are possible, though a swam of bats may take time to master, and ultimately you have to start with one bat. The beast in our blood is oddly linked to wolves, which makes it the easiest, though again centuries of study and I still do not know why."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia has a huge grin on her face. "If I have to be a vampire," she says, "Let's go all in and go with bats. Though a raven would be neat, too." She nods, her mind made up. "I'd like to start with the shapeshifting stuff, and when I've got that under my belt, we can work on the mind stuff."

Despite all the disadvantages, Lydia has to admit that this is becoming something pretty darn /cool/. "Or would it be better to branch out early?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
There are so many comments that Hatshepsut could make, but the enthusiasm that has grabbed hold of Lydia just makes her smile and keep those things to herself. "Alright, we will start with shapeshifting, once you have mastered the ability to feed, and once you start learning you will find that you can choose any animal you want. The basics are best to start, wolf, bat, black cat, after that we will branch out to the other animals."

She stands up now, to stretch her legs. "I understand how most people assume that worst of vampires, after all we do drink blood to survive, but many of us are misunderstood. There are those out there who will kill for what they call the 'simple pleasure of it', but all life is precious and valuable." She pauses and looks back to Lydia. "That is the very standing of the clan you are a part of Lydia, that all life is more precious and valuable than our own existence. If the choice comes that my existence must end to save the life of an innocent human, then I will gladly do so."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia can't help but keep grinning over the prospect of actually learning how to shapeshift. She'd never really thought about it before, really, but now that the notion has struck her, she's looking forward to it.

Hatshepsut's change of tone catches her attention though, and she finds herself nodding along with it. "I understand and... I agree. I feel the same way. I was afraid that when I changed.... the part of me that holds humanity dear to me would change, too. But so far... it hasn't. It's just a little bit distracting at times when your family smells delicious." She shakes her head, "but that's something that I think I'll get used to."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hetshepsut walks back around the chairs and sits down. "It is the most important lesson that every Valkkai must learn and accept," she says with a smile. "You have always felt the same, even before you became my Childe... that is the correct term for you by the way, I am your Sire, you are my Childe, with an E... I have no idea, do not ask."

"You already believe as the clan does, so there is no reason to discuss it further, and that is why I do not stalk the night looking for food, or hunt down innocent people to satisfy my hunger. There is one fine option to be offered to you," she reaches into the pocket of her suit coat and pulls out Lydia's pendant and offers it offer. "Even member of the Coven is willing and ready to support your need for blood, though we do hope you will choose the adults."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia looks horrified at the very idea of feeding off of kids. "I... don't think I could feed off children even if they offered," she says, thinking about the boys. She takes her amulet and secures it back around her neck. "It's... God, I don't like conflating the two, but it's like sex. They can't consent. They aren't emotionally mature enough to really know what they're consenting /to/."

She smiles as she runs her fingers across the ankh. "Is there any other terminology I should know?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut studies Lydia for a moment, one brow lifting. "You are correct about children not being able to decide, but you are also talking to a person who married her half brother at the age of twelve. Age is not the part that truly matters Lydia, it is the state of mind. Remember that.

Sitting back she considers for a moment the other question, searching her brain. "No specific terminology that I can think of, but there may be and I will text them to you. It has been a long time since I had to think of the correct way to say and do things, as very few tend to care what I do so long as I am not involving myself in the war... which I will hit on later. There are other things you need to know as well. Do not try to create another vampire," this she states very seriously. "It would kill you at this point in your existence."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia blinks at Hatshepsut as she reminds her of the different ages that she's lived in. "I see your point." she concedes.

As for siring another, "I... never really considered trying to do that. Even if I could I'd be really reluctant to do so, to be honest. This kind of life change... it isn't to be done lightly."

She silent for a moment before she reaches across and takes Hatshepsut's hand in her own. "I want you to know that I'm grateful that you turned me. That it was /you/ who turned me. I wish that we hadn't been put in that situation.. I think we all do... but this is a second chance at life, something not very many of us get, but I'm in your debt."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut shakes her head slowly. "You are not in my debt Lydia," she states softly. "If Raven had not been there, I would have made the decision myself and likely you would have hated me for it. I hope that you are not angry with her for the decision she made, I realize I should not have asked her. I should have just done it and let the weight of it all fall on my shoulders. I have existed long enough to accept the coming and going of emotions, but I could see just how hard this was on Raven, to see you like that. I should have just decided and done it."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia looks sadly up at Hatshepsut. "I don't hate her for it," she says. "She hates herself for it though." Her voice gets quiet as she looks at her hands. "I try to tell her that it's not her fault. That she did what was right." Tears of blood begins to well in her eyes, "If our positions were reversed I would have done the same. If... If /I/ had been given that choice, death, or unlife, I would have chosen the same."

"I keep going around in circles in my mind about what we could have done differently to have changed the outcome, and I can't. think. of a single thing." Her hands are clenching so hard that her knuckles would have turned white if they weren't so pale already. "You're not at fault. Raven's not at fault. /I'm/ not at fault. The only person whose hand in this we should blame is Bhanavi's."

She silent for a moment as tears leave red streaks down her cheeks. "Do you believe in destiny?" she asks, finally looking up. "I don't, though this is making me question it, because you have to admit that the irony of a woman who's made a living writing lesbian vampire fiction /becoming/ a lesbian vampire is pretty on point," she says with a humorless chuckle.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Reaching over, Hatshepsut uses the sleeve of her shirt to wipe to the tears away, then takes Lydia's hand back.

"I do not blame myself, nor do I blame Raven or you. I blame that cunt," no, she won't say her name, perhaps she can't without a violent streak running through her. "It is what it is meant to be. We can rail against what occurred, or we can accept and move on."

Using her sleeve again, she collects the other tear that wanted to escape. "Raven will realize, when she sees that you can accept this, she made the right choice. I would offer to speak to her, but I think she would feel overwhelmed by it, but you can tell her that if she had said no, I would have done it anyway. Destiny spoke in that moment, whether I believed in it or not, it was in front of me... but you are right, the irony is quite impressive."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
"I can't wait for my emotions to start settling down," Lydia says with a gentle smirk. "All this crying I'm doing is getting a little messy."

She stands, "Thank you for coming by. For explaining things. For the blood. It's helped settle things in my mind. Once I get feeding down, and a schedule, I'll contact you about learning some neat vampire tricks. That is," she says slowly, "unless I need you for more blood. I don't want that to be a regular occurrence. I want to get to be as self sufficient as possible." A chuckle escapes her, "Well, as self sufficient as a vampire can get."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Hatshepsut stands, collecting her trench cloak from the back of the chair to slip on. "Do not try to rush yourself, many Childer lose themselves in the anxiety and panic in the first few months. If you need to call me, call me. It is my duty to see you through this time and the rest of your existence."

Lydia Dietrich has posed:
Lydia lets out an anxious laugh. "Yeah. The rest of my existence." Which now that she contemplates it could be for a very, very long time.