Afterparty

[latinumsbetter]

[After the execution finishes and Wendy is dragged down into the Earth by that absolute horrific monstrosity of a creature and Typhon gives his goodbye, Quark will stand there for a long moment in the silence, before announcing, in a voice that wavers while trying to go for neutral:]

The bar’ll be open. Sitting around alone isn’t going to help anyone. [he turns to look at Ferdinand] Ferdinand, you’re with me. I need someone to move the table.

[and, taking Cerejeira’s elbow, he’s going to head out of the Arena. So...post trial, the Eatery’s been moved into bar configuration by Ferdinand and Quark. There’s been several of the extra togas gathered and folded to be used as blankets. There are snacks from the pantry brought out and placed on plates and in bowls and left out to eat. The bar is open, but so is the kitchen, if anyone wants to make something.

Both Ferdinand and Quark can be found behind the bar, the latter attempting to teach the former how to use the replicator he’s now got back there in addition to the other drink components. At least it’s keeping them busy. They’re both there to serve drinks, however.

The door is open.]

Comments

[raisethemoon]

You cannot go out even at night?

[ She had supposed he could! The issue is the sun, is it not? ]

[pariunt]

Oh, no. I can, but the vampire spawn that were freed fled to the Underdark. I lead them now, with Tav.

[raisethemoon]

And you must stay there always?

[ That's...sad. ]

How many of them are there?

[pariunt]

Seven thousand, those we've lost some of those just due to the nature of the Underdark.

[raisethemoon]

Goodness! Is that - an ordinary number of foals to have?!

[ She has misunderstood "spawn". ]

[pariunt]

[Oh... oh dear. His eyes go comically big for a moment.]

Goodness, no. It's— it's a term.

When one is turned into a vampire, they become a vampire spawn for the one who turned them. A slave. For two hundred years, myself and my "siblings" have lured people back to Cazador. I assumed it was to gorge himself, but it was to create thousands of spawn, all to sacrifice in a dark ritual to make himself a vampire Ascendant.

Those thousands of souls couldn't be left to starve, or killed after Cazador was slain. And so many of them were left to starve for... a long time. So now Tav and I lead them.

[raisethemoon]

Oh!

[ That is not what she thought was happening at all! It is quite a lot of harrowing information to take in all at once! But... ]

Well - that is very valiant of you both.

[pariunt]

Yes, I suppose so.

[It's still strange, getting these compliments. All he's done is what he thought was right.]

It's not an easy life. But it's the correct one.

[raisethemoon]

Is it difficult due to living underground? Or because you are vampires?

[ That's maybe a little blunt, but things like that are common in fiction, at least. Though really, Luna doesn't see why some accord could not be reached, in a world where they were real and people. ]

[pariunt]

The Underdark is... dangerous. Filled with zealot drow, not to mention other unfriendly peoples, dangerous creatures, and now hunters looking for a rumored vampire stronghold.

But there is no sun, so it's the safest place for a colony of vampires.

[raisethemoon]

Ah. Yes - there was a time in Equestria's history very like that.

[ Save perhaps hunters, except in the usual sense of wild predators. ]

I hope that you will be able to carve out your own territory, at least.

[pariunt]

We have something approaching that. It's neither safe nor secure, but it is ours.