East

The east side of the city is the very heart of Sacrosanct - it's unique skyline is a clash between modern sky rises and small Victorian-inspired storefronts. In the heart of downtown, the sleek colored glass buildings reign supreme though their old-world roots can be seen in the most peculiar places from the lamp post styled electric street light to the stone sidewalks. The old world architecture slowly returns the further from downtown you travel, however. It's here that magic thrives, it hums in every stone and can be felt in every breath. Often, newcomers to the city may become overwhelmed by such sensations but, eventually, it becomes an ever-present feeling that's hardly noticed.

What You'll Find Here

City Creek Center
Dark Hunter Department
Inner Sanctum
Red on the Water
Starlight Tower

Where you invest your love, you invest your life;


Posted on October 09, 2018 by DAREIOS
East

It's not the long walk home that will change this heart, but the welcome I receive after the restart.



The sun is just beginning to hover on the horizon, cracking through the urban canopy of skyscrapers and illuminating the slick city streets in warm hues. Dareios watches the faint orange glow grow stronger and more vivid from the stained-glass window of his brownstone office in Anacosta Heights. His heavy, mahogany desk is still plastered in documents, manila folders dangle from the edges and some even litter the rich maroon carpet all around it. The mayor of Sacrosanct feels weary, but there's no rest penciled in on his agenda today. Now that the sun was upon them, his mind would shift from his personal business needs, like the antique restoration operation in his basement, and the more hush-hush drug ring he ran under the table -- to the diplomatic matters waiting for him at city hall.

The thin and stiff vampire breathes a long sigh before tearing himself away from the window. Despite the very early hour, he is already groomed and dressed for the day. Dareios chose a well-fitting navy suit with a rich violet carnation protruding from his pocket. It was councilwoman Nancy's birthday, and purple, you see, was her favorite color. He had sent a similar bouquet to her office already. Dareios hoped the aging, career politician would appreciate the gesture, because he needed something from her. She had to vote in favor of his police referendum today, if it had any chance of passing into law after second reading next week. The schmoozing part of politics came easy to the vampire after many decades spent building up his personal fortune.

Dareios moved to the kitchen, where his phone buzzed away across the cream-colored granite counter top. His assistant, his publicist, you name it, were already outlining all of the last minute commitments he needed to somehow fit in to his already impossible day. He glazed over the words illuminated on the screen while grabbing a bag of blood from the refrigerator. (Animal blood of course. After campaigning on equality for all species and peaceful coexistence, he couldn't be caught *dead* drinking human blood, or feeding live anymore. This bag is bear, if you have to know.) He sighs again as he drops his phone back on the counter top, pours the blood into a thin champagne flute, and chugs it down in one fell swoop.

There's a knock at the door and it's Michael, his security detail for the day. Dareios waves him off, opting to walk to city hall this morning instead of taking the car, despite the looming presence of the morning sun. He should really get going. The vampire grabs his coat and tucks a few folders under his arm, and off he goes into the damp city streets.

The vampire buries his chin into his peacoat instinctively against the crisp autumn weather, even though the temperature doesn't bother him at all. It's small acts like this, his publicist reminds him, that makes him more likable. It makes him appear more human even if he wasn't one. He veers into the neighborhood coffee shop, which is just a block away from the government building around the corner, hoping to quickly nab a cup of Joe and beat the oppressive sun. But much to his dismay, the cafe is uncharacteristically busy at this hour. He waits in line rather impatiently, dancing back and forth on his feet, until he reaches the barista. "A venti black, of your strongest stuff." He rattles off quickly. "To go, please." He adds.

Dareios moves out of the way as he waits for his coffee. He's grimacing now, watching the sun's powerful rays light up the street outside the window with renewed vigor. It was always so embarrassing, when he needed to call the car to get him when he was so close to where he needed to be. But it was better that burning up and eternal death, he mused. His coffee arrives and he decides to relax for a few minutes, given he'd missed his window to get to work unscathed, at this point. He shuffles through the throngs of people at tables and chairs, and makes his way to a corner set of plush arm chairs. One is already taken by a pretty burnette. The other was the only empty seat left in the house.

"Mind if I -- ?" He asks, his small dark eyes looking at the girl now, his tall and thin body half-crouched into the seat already. He plops his stack of folders onto the small table between their chairs.

Dareios Auerbach | Vampire | Vinyl

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