DELETE

[Nicholaus I. Diabolus]

It was such a human custom when a person died to mourn them, bury them and continue to mourn them. Such a fate for merely the shell of a person to rot in the ground for the rest of their days as a carcass. Luckily for anyone along Nicholaus's line, they faded into nothing when they finally perished. He once recalled one of his relatives getting in a sword fight, dying and turning into a cloud before evaporating. A thought that slightly entertained the man walking through the graveyard.

Just what would happen to Nicholaus if he ever died? Would he fade into nothing and be forgotten? If he was still living life as carefully as he had been for the past four centuries, then he would probably end up living far longer than his father. He let out a sigh as he gently traversed through the graveyard, reading the names and the years of each gravestone. Some of these, however, he remembered. Not because he had been here before. But because he had known them.

Nicholaus had been in New York many times prior. And each time, he had still set up shop as a therapist. Always finding those certain victims. James Hoyt, Lisa Garrison, Yvonne Crisp, Caesar Green. Just a small handful of people he had seen to the end of their days. For there was beauty in imperfection and no one was perfect. The way a people lived never tended to make an impression. But the way they died would usually haunt people they knew for the rest of their lives.

For those that were emotionally and mentally disturbed, giving them a death that everyone would remember was the least Nicholaus could do for those that were so miserable. The grass crunched lightly under the man's dress shoes. And dressed in a dark suit and tie seemed appropriate for a place like this. He reached up, adjusting the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose as he came to gaze at one gravestone in particular.

Alice Winthrop. A fine patient she was. But not too difficult for Nicholaus to figure out. In fact, he was so hellbent on getting through to her that the paranoid woman somehow came to the conclusion that he wasn't some normal human being. That had made him panic and that afternoon, she was walking into fast traffic on the interstate. Nicholaus had his scare with her almost figuring him out, but again, he had the upper hand. He gave a soft sigh, ignoring the afternoon sun shining on his skin a bit as he paid his respects and moved on.

He moved on down the sidewalk until he came upon a bench, sitting on it. He brought a foot up, resting his ankle on his other knee comfortably. Places of the dead like this were so common, but peaceful otherwise. Sitting in a field full of dead people after all wasn't fun, but it was a nice getaway from the rest of the world. A place to dwell in the past with memories. Even if the ones he had weren't exactly the best.

[katharina]

Surely her parquee floor must have a very visible mark in it by now. Tessa had been pacing up and down in her living room for hours. She hadn't eaten anything so far and really didn't feel how hungry she actually was. All she could think about was Jem. There was never a day that she didn't think of him, noiselessly moving in the silent city, as it was the brother's custom. They were so close together and yet so far. Usually she could somehow divert her thoughts by reaching for one of the books on her book shelf and losing herself in the words, the world so entirely whole and different to her own broken version.

But today, today was different somehow. Nothing kept her attention and when she was not pacing, pondering wether she should just go into the silent city right then and there, she lay on her couch staring at the jade pendant that she held in her hand and dangled infront of her eyes. She felt so lost and needed to talk to her Jem. And then she remembered the day that James had played to her, the song that he wanted to give her to their wedding. Tessa remembered the mountains and the fire in the melody and a tear ran down her face. Her choice was made.

Tessa snapped back into the determined person she usually was, her eyes losing the dreamy look they had had all day so far. Hastily she went to her closet the put on something other than her PJs. Shoes on, bag on her shoulder and she was already at the door when her stomach grumbled so loudly and painfully that she almost ran against the door in astonishment. How had she not noticed how hungry she was? Annoyed she went to the kitchen and grabbed an apple. All Tessa needed now was a good solid reason, why she would show up in the silent city with nothing important to say. Never mind that now.

A nervous energy surrounded Tessa as she left the subway station closest to the cemetery. She was doing something that would put Jem at risk of punishment. Infront of the statue she suddenly stopped. What am I doing? scolding herself, she started pacing infront of the statue.
Finally something drew her attention entirely away from Jem. The cemetery had not been in actual use for years and years. It was only a left over sight, used by the shadowhunters to gain acces to the city, and yet she could see a male figure some yards away moving from grave stone to stone, as if he was dwelling on the past times together with them.

Focusing her eyes on the next random grave stone, Tessa looked at the dates chiseled into the marble. 1887-1953 it read, the name no longer decipherable. The surrounding markers had similar dates, the newest Tessa could see died in 1968. How very odd that someone looking so young would mourn these people now, unless that man is immortal and had some very stong connection to these mortals. A burning curiousity overcame Tessa, her former object completely pushed away. In a casual stroll she approached the bench, which the man had just sat down at. It was the only one to be seen all around, so it wouldn't be too odd of her to sit down next to him. "Even after a long time, friends and family are never forgotten, are they?" Tessa said, in a way that really demanded no answer. However she took the man for the type that would engage in a random conversation.

[Nicholaus I. Diabolus]

His eyes ran across the landscape as he thought back to certain individuals. Although they were long gone and the cemetery itself would hardly ever see a person walking through to pay respects, Nicholaus wasn't the sort to ever forget. He could recall details as vivid as the days when he was but a boy. Surely all of the people he ever met and dealt with were always there to recall. For humans were fascinating creatures and there was nothing more or less that Nicholaus would say or think about them.

But what else could he offer in this world besides some form of relief for the humans? Was there not some other thing he could give back besides suicides and death? Well, the more he thought about it, the less he was sure he could give anything else. Being what he was and having such a reputation only brought people the fates of going six feet under. A lifestyle that he wasn't exactly proud of, but unlike the humans, he couldn't really change who or what he was. He sighed once again and lifted his chin. Someone was coming.

He saw her in the distance, coming his way from the gates of the cemetery. By her aura, she didn't seem very human, but he couldn't be too sure. Spending so many decades or centuries around humans made him less aware of those that weren't so human and normal. But being a fey made him a tad more sensitive to the magic surrounding someone. Especially a witch or warlock or someone else with some fey blood in their veins. But the closer she got, the easier it was to tell that she wasn't as normal as she seemed.

When she glanced at a gravestone and then spoke to him, he replied, rather certain of himself. "If I've got friends that I'm aware of, they're not here. And Family? No... Not in this place." he mentioned. He cocked his head to look at her as she stood there and motioned towards the other half of the bench. "Have a seat, miss."[/color] he stated. The way she had spoken didn't mean he had to answer, but he was a crucial fellow and liked answering people. And getting details right.

"The name's Nicholaus, by the way."[/color] he introduced himself, but didn't put a hand out. He never was fond of physical contact.

[katharina]

If I've got friends... was all that really entered Tessa's mind. His comment sounded terribly of bitterness. Surely he must have a friend somewhere? Everyone does, even if they push everyone else away. It reminded her of Will, who had not showed love to anyone but Jem, because he had thought that he was cursed. And yet people around him did not despise him, but love him. Like she had done even though he had hurt her often enough to not deserve her love back in the days before he had told her about the curse that had never existed. A smile played on her lips as she remembered the happy times and the sad times they had had.

Tessa tried to find out what the man was. He could have not been a vampire, because they were out during the day, his whole demeanor seemed too composed to be a werewolf as they were usually more restless. He however seemed almost carved into stone, an everlasting mark in the constant movement of the world. That left him to be either fey or a warlock, an immortal being just like herself. She couldn't be sure as he did not offer a hand when he introduced himself and she had never been good at telling others species without physical contact.

She liked that she could usually get a glimpse at their personality when shaking hands with them. That way she knew whether someone could get dangerous, if she revealed her talent. It was how she had stayed out of trouble for the past 100 years or so. In an instant Tessa would know whether she could trust a client or not. Not that she enjoyed changing into people for others, but it was her expertise and she put a very high price on it. Tessa often took the liberty of not giving out any information after changing, when she realised that the information she had to provide would put more than one innocent soul into danger. The weight of a murder she could have prevented would never lie on her shoulders that way she figured, and so far it had worked out well.

"I am Theresa. Very pleased to make your acquaintance, sir." His whole body language and the way he spoke to her intrigued her. Tessa wanted to know more about him, he sounded like someone who had seen a lot in his life and resulting from experience spoke his mind with thought and caution. Before she sat down she checked whether the bench was actually clean with a quick glance. When Tessa sat she crossed her legs and turned towards Nicholaus a bit. "So, Nicholaus, that is a very old name, is it not?" There must be some information she could get out of him, about who he was, especially what he was.

[Nicholaus I. Diabolus]

Within this place, silence was amazing. No people. No soul to wander and wail. As a fey, he believed that once you were gone, there was no trace of you left. No soul or ghostly being. Nothing that could bind you to this world or the next. You were simply dead and that was that. Which was why this place may, more than likely, be a place he could come to often just to relax and use as an escape from the city and the noise. Surely he wasn't the only one that found comfort within these walls. Like those that believed in God found relief in the walls of a church.

He felt her eyes on him as she stood there and he knew she was studying him. a lot of people tended to do that. Whether human or not. Nicholaus knew he was a strange individual and thus, he avoided most or all people for long periods of time if possible. His home rested outside the city limits in a more open, country-like setting. It was more peaceful than this cemetery, but it gave Nich a sense of timelessness. Here, in this place, he felt more mortal. Strangely enough, it made him humble his life as a fey, but envy the lifespans of humans and he respected them far more.

He lifted his chin as she finally sat down and spoke so politely. Quite an old way of speaking. If he had to guess, she had some years on her too. The way she spoke. The way she sat. The way she studied him with such a set of eyes. Everything about her spoke history and years. For as old as he was, he could see it just as much in her as she could probably see it in him. He shook his head at her words. "Not in the least. If I had introduced myself as 'Nick', perhaps you wouldn't think my name was so old. But I introduce myself in the way my parents named me." he mentioned.

He could have gone into a long, drawn out monologue about how old his name really was and the meaning of such a name and so on. But he didn't want to bore her with details. Surely he wouldn't give his full name either. As the last name 'Diabolus' raised some interest and suspicion in people wherever he went. Her name however, it wasn't common. But from the way it sounded and given Nicholaus's age and place of birth, he would have guessed she had some French or Greek origin in her family. Or that her parents just named her as such just for a name.

So what to talk of now? Certainly not about being immortal or any of the sort. He knew what the world was coming to with all of these shadowhunters and such. For what he was, they could put a bounty on his head. He had to be careful. "So were you born and raised here in New York?"[/color] he asked just to start off a little conversation.

[katharina]

It had taken her a long time to accept that she was immortal and those that she loved were not. Tessa now felt a little uncomfortable whenever she was somewhere that reminded her so strongly of the mortality of the majority of people living on this earth. Of course a cemetery was exactly the place that would remind anyone of mortality. For Tessa it reminded her of all the people that have died in her lifespan, while she had not gotten any older in appearance since she was about 24. Therefore anyone who was set in time as much as she was, was instantly familiar in a way. They experienced time the same way which she thought bound them all together one way or the other.
Yet Theresa enjoyed the company of anyone, mortal or immortal. A lot of times the mortal people made her feel more alive as a lot of them were just burning bright as stars, full of life to be lived. While talking to immortal creatures, like herself, had something steady in them that Tessa could always come back to. It wasn't indifference of passing life, but something much deeper that she was still trying to uncover.

And then Nicholaus offered a resemblance in the two of them that Tessa usually never cared for. How they introduced themselves. "I too chose to introduce myself by the name given by my parents. Exceptions are only made when talking to mortals. How odd that both our names should have an ancient greek origin. I guess at the end of the day most names originate from either greek or latin..." Tessa said and completely trailed off the topic, musing about names like that. It was usually not her habit to do so, but she was just really relaxed most of the time lately that she just didn't care. Not so relaxed this morning, were you?, she teased herself.

She collected her thoughts again and continued with the conversation that Nicholaus had started. "I was actually born and raised in New York!" Tessa sounded oddly surprised by that information herself. She had not lived in New York for so long, that she had not thought about her birth place as such for a long time. Truth be told she felt like she had been born in England, where she had learned who or rather what she really was. Or reborn... New York was definitely not the city she called home anymore and why should she. Nothing tied her to this vast city, where everyone just seemed so intend to kill themselves by living their lives the way they did. It was like the humans were trying to force an immortal lifespan into their mortal one. Always busy, always doing, trying to be better than everyone else in everything. "But I have not lived here since I was sixteen. How about you? Were you born in New York?"

[Nicholaus I. Diabolus]

He was doing his best to be conversational. Obviously, this wasn't like a park where one would feel entitled to just start conversing with a total stranger. This was in a cemetery. A resting place for the bodies of the dead. Supposedly, a morbid place where silence was the key and where too much noise or liveliness was't exactly welcomed. At least it had been like that years ago. Now, this was just another mark in the city. A place forgotten much like the dead that were buried here.

Regardless, he'd make the best out of this little conversation. She was being polite after all. Not like one woman he had already met at the Brooklyn Bridge. But everyone had their first encounter protocol now didn't they? This was much more welcomed however, as Nicholaus responded well to calm and interesting conversations. First impressions were also a plus. So he'd forgive her for the way she had been looking at him earlier. It was so common, he didn't seem to mind it.

When she mentioned she liked to introduce herself as the way her parents named her, the proper way, Nicholaus's brow rose a bit. Well that was interesting actually. He hadn't known anyone else really who tended to agree on doing that. And when she gave the exception to mortals, that was Nicholaus's huge clue that who he was dealing with wasn't mortal herself. Regardless, he was still careful. As people these days judged books by their covers and feared what they didn't understand. Nicholaus didn't like scaring people off. At least she seemed quite taken with the conversation. He felt he could at least open up a little.

"Most names started off like that of course, but not many these days still show such honorable lines. Just the way times evolve I suppose."[/b] he gave a slight shrug and looked around for a moment. Just a few birds flapping around in a tree nearby, chirping up a storm. And when the woman spoke again, she seemed... surprised by what she said about herself. He was curious and looked at her again. Though his face seemed set in an emotionless state, he was fascinated. "Really?" he asked, tilting his head back a bit as he looked at her through his sunglasses.

At her last words, Nicholaus just nodded his head, wondering to himself about something before asking her the question he had been wanting to ask. "Definitely not the same as when you remember it, eh? A shame how people change. Society changes and molds the generations of the next and so on."[/b] he paused and blinked a few times, answering her question. "I was born in Greece. Back when names just weren't names. But they held meaning."[/color] A time long forgotten.

He used to think back to those days. Though his name in its whole meaning was a bit sinister, it was something his mother and father called him because he was supposed to be 'the' son that would ultimately rule the family line. He was powerful enough, but he faded away into non-existence for his reasons. He cleared his throat when he found himself thinking on past issues and spoke up again. "Where else have you traveled since New York?"[/b]

[katharina]

It was refreshing to talk to another immortal being here in New York. Tessa had only met shadowhunters before, who were all as different as they could be. It was very odd how energetic they had all been, at least in some ways. Not the shy one in Central Park, she noted, thinking back. She remembered how the girl had jumped sky high when a dog had dashed passed and let out an involuntary laugh. It had looked hillarious, especially Tessa had called her a fighter only moments before.

Something fascinated her about Nicholaus. It was hard for her to put her finger on it, but he had something very secretive and sinister about him. It must be the dark clothes he was wearing and the dark sun glasses that completely covered his eyes. She couldn't even try to guess his eye colour. In most of the books that she had read people dressed like that were usually the bad guys. And yet he was just talking politely with her, like any other one would, not sounding like he was up to anything evil at all. Even her own experience had not differed from books in that aspect so far. Apparently she had met an exception to the rule. When meeting new people she was just like everyone else; the first impression counted, but Tessa could be easily convinced to have been wrong with her first judgement.

To Tessa it turned out to be a little tricky to answer Nicholaus' question of New York. Of course it had changed in a lot of aspects, but some were still the same. "New York itself has changed a lot, since I last saw it. People seem to stay the same. Back then people were immigrating by the thousands every week, looking for the streets paved with gold. Dreaming that life in New York would be better than where they had come from, when in reality it was not in the least." Tessa remembered those days, where each ship from europe had been greated by a brass band, welcoming the immigrants. "If you watch people now, they still do that. Moving to New York or America in generally, thinking that life here must be so beautiful and easy, even though it is just as hard." On a lighter note she added: "But of course now everyone has a smartphone in their hands and headphones in their ears."

So Nicholaus himself was from Greece and not only his name. "I am not familiar with the meaning of the name Nicholaus. I would feel honoured if you could enlighten me. I am ever so curious." By the pause he had made before telling her where he was born, had made Tessa think that it might not be a topic he liked to talk and she would accept if he chose to not answer her question about his name.

Tessa could not recall all the places she had been in her life so far. She loved to travel and had seen a lot of the world. So she just decided to name only very few of the places she had been. "I have been to Paris, Shanghai and Australia also. Many more places, but I have not yet seen Greece. It is definitely on my list though." Tessa looked at Nicholaus and smiled. She was gratefull for his appearance at the graveyard now. His figure had stopped her from doing something very stupid.

[Nicholaus I. Diabolus]

Conversation and getting to know people what fascinating for the man with so many years in his eyes. Just to learn stories and experiences of mortals and immortals was what kept him from holing himself away in some corner of the world to live out his days with his horses and no one else. There wasn't a single person that Nicholaus had in his life that last in a friendship or relationship. Well, there was his horse Saxon, but he didn't count. He had been given as a gift and felt like a brother. But other than that, no one had ever gotten so close to Nicholaus.

So learning of and about people just kept him interested in society and the changing of the times. And for him, humans were his best interest in life. Sure, there were immortals like Theresa, but those with mortality had their perks. Their stories were full of life and comedy. Or some had their hearts filled with sadness and regret and hearing about it made him envy them as the mortals they were. Nicholaus was a difficult man to understand, but his ways of thinking always tended to sway towards humans and just how much he wanted to be like them.

He listened to her as she spoke about New York then and now. He knew what she was talking about. Though he had settled in New England in 1701, he had remained in the area to keep up with events throughout most of the immigration time periods. "America definitely wasn't what it was cracked up to be. That much is definitely true. But what's fascinating is that people made do with what they were given and through such trail and tribulation, they still made it through. Though times now are certainly much different, it's just what I know as human nature. It's never fully understandable."

When she mentioned the days now and people having their technology, Nicholaus's face wrinkled a bit. "The way people are raised these days and the technology brought into the mix seems to be ripping tears in society like no tomorrow. I remember watching children playing outside ninety-five percent of the time. Now they reside in their homes to watch movies or play their video games. I have a bad feeling it's only going to get worse for humanity."[/b] he threw in his two cents and laced his fingers together idly, looking at her.

When the topic of his name's meaning came into the conversation, he almost smiled. How long had it been since someone wanted to know what his name meant? Or knew what it meant? His name wasn't just given to him by his parents, but bestowed on him for his purpose. Not just for what he was as a creature, but as a member of his large family. "It means 'victory of the people'. But it's not as positive as you might take it." he stated. He knew what it really meant as the son of the head of his family. But the world didn't need to know it. He just refused to live up to his duties.

But he cleared his throat a bit as he listened to her list off the places she had been to. All of those places that he had never been to. "Well now I feel under-accomplished. I haven't been to any of those places. Though traveling isn't much on my agenda, but you seem to have gotten around."[/b] he commented. "What's the best place you've been to so far? The one place that you liked the most?"[/b] he was certainly curious, as he hadn't been to any other places except for America, Greece and some places in Europe.

[katharina]

Tessa opened her mouth to answer just as a jingle penetrated her hearing. It took her brain a rather long time to recognize the sound as the ringing of her own smartphone. There was barely ever a time that it rang as she did not have many friends in general and only the ones she considered particularly close had her number. Guiltily she openend her bag and checked who was calling her. The screen showed her the picture of a particular friend of hers. All dressed in sparkly purple and with his spiky hair. Magnus had gotten a lot more excentric over the years, or at least the fashion standarts had allowed him more. "So sorry. I need to take that call.", she said to Nicholaus and turned her head ever so slightly away from him to give herself the impression of being alone.

"You have reached the mailbox of Theresa Herondale, please leave a message after the beep ... How did you know? ... I know I need to absolutely work on making that sound real. So what's up? ... That's next week. Not this week. ... One hundret percent sure. ... Not at all. I have been taking a walk at the cemetery ... I have done more morbid things before. Also remember ghost Jessamine used to live in the same place as me. ... Right. See you next wednesday. ... Bye then." Tessa pressed the red button and put her phone back into her bag. "Guilty as charged.", she said referring to their earlier topic of over used technology. "I am so sorry. My friend tends to neglect running his calender and constantly confuses his appointments and dates."

After that disturbance it took Tessa a short moment to recollect what Nicholaus had said to her. It took her a bit to pick up on their topic of names again. "'Victory of the people' is not too bad, honestly. Doesn't sound half bad. When I tell people that my name is often translated as 'the reaper' all they ever seem to think of is the grimm reaper that slaughters people and not in fact just a harvester. It can be very annoying." She gave him a crocket smile at that. Victory of people could be taken as something quite negative, but Tessa chose not to. He really seemed like a very decent person to her, not someone constantly plotting wars or things like that.

"There is no need to feel under-accomplished at all." She said pleasantly and continued. "I just like reading and traveling. I'm sure you are a very accomplished person in something or other. There are a lot of things to be done when you're immortal. An endless life span to do whatever one wants." At that Tessa chided herself. She was getting too personal once again. He was still a stranger, who most likely did not like people to pry the way she always did. "Honestly, the best place I have been to so far is London. It's my home and I always come back to it. It holds too many memories to just leave it behind."

[Nicholaus I. Diabolus]

He was really enjoying talking to this young-looking woman. Usually talking to someone immortal wasn't all that exciting because they were complaining about their lives and how dull it was. Or how times were changing and that humanity was just taking a dump for future generations. It was nothing Nicholaus liked to chat about. But Theresa was someone different. A lighter note in the dark and dull strumming of a sad musician. He didn't notice how much he had spoken to her until it hit him a couple seconds ago.

Normally, he would avoid answering questions about his life or talking about himself in general. But little by little, he was giving her tidbits. It just seemed to show how much he needed a conversation with someone he could relate to. In the back of his mind, he knew that he wouldn't want to forget this woman. Just for the way she was speaking and helped in keeping the conversation interesting enough. He soon heard a jingle though and figured it to be a phone. As he had heard plenty of ringtones of phones as the recent years went by.

He nodded politely and turned his attention away from her as she spoke to someone on the phone. He wasn't a technology person. The only things he allowed were his electric stove, the refrigerator, the washer and dryer and the phone that came with the house he lived in. But even that wasn't used. He didn't have a car or a cell phone. He was just as disconnected as anyone in a third world country. So how did he make his business stay alive? Going out and talking with people.

When she finished talking and directed her attention back to him, he put up a hand with a slight waving motion. "Not to worry. Communication is important between people."[/b] he mentioned, dismissing the fact she had to take a call in the middle of their conversation. It wasn't the first time that had happened before. There were those times some of his patients would answer a call in the middle of a session. Which greatly annoyed Nicholaus until he banned cell phones coming into his home where his office was.

She commented on his name and he'd leave her with her own assumption as to how it sounded. He wasn't about to explain why it held a darker meaning to him. After all, it was better when people didn't know a lot about you. Only certain things. When she gave the meaning of her name, he was almost ready to correct it. For he knew it meant 'the harvester'. But she got to that point and only gave him a valid reason as to how people assumed it was something bad. "I can see your point, but then why not just say it means 'the harvester' then and save yourself from people judging you?"[/b] he asked curiously.

When she told him there was no need to feel under-accomplished, he wanted to know why. Yes, he had done a lot of traveling in his lifetime, but he hadn't seen as many countries as her. His existence was geared more towards the places that would hide him from the rest of the world rather than for its sights and beauty. If he didn't have everything he had now, he wouldn't mind packing up and leaving for a trip. But he had too much on his plate in a personal sense. He nodded in agreement with her other words of wisdom and spoke up.

"You're right about that. There is a lot to do when you're immortal. But it matters a lot if you're willing to take the initiative over things you haven't done otherwise."[/b] he mentioned and listened when she mentioned the best place she had ever been in thus far. He smiled in the back of his mind before chiming in. "London is a really old and beautiful place albeit. Though the last time I was there, it was ransacked with polluted air. But I know it's much better now. How long did you live there?"[/b] he asked, cocking his head the other way.

[katharina]

Nicholaus seemed very indifferent to the interruption of their conversation. Most people would eye the guilty one with complete and utter disbelieve when taking a call and therefore ending a conversation appruptly. It was odd how that happened, especially because those that looked upon you the worst were most likely those that took calls in mid-conversation all the time. Tessa only ever did it when Magnus called. He was the one person she had stuck to all her life so far. Of course she didn't always know where he was, but at the end of the day they met more regularly, often by chance, than she did with other immortals.

Involuntary she touched the jade pendant that dangled from her neck. It had been an engagement present from Jem back when he had still been a shadowhunter and not Brother Zachariah. Tessa never really thought of him as immortal, even though he was. To her he would always be her James. The one that helped her to not lose feeling, like so many immortals did. He was indifferent to feelings, as all the brothers became very soon after their first ritual brother marks. But each time they met the wall broke a little, only to be up again in seconds. It was those glimpses of feeling in him that kept her own love alive. It had been a bitter year for her, when they had not been able to meet, because of world war two.

Answering Nicholaus' question as to why she would not just say that her name actually meant 'the harvester' was not actually that easy. It was a habit of years. "I guess if I say my name means 'the reaper' it is easy to tell part of their character, by their reaction alone. An educated, intelligent mind would not jump to the worst conclusion possible. Where as those quick to judge people by name and looks will think that I might just have a very dark soul. It has become a habit over the years." Tessa gave him a wicked grin at that. It was true. People were easy to judge by their reactions.

Why Nicholaus had not traveled the world in all his life completely escaped Tessa's understanding. She loved to travel and could only advise anyone to do the same. Seeing the world will open anyone's eyes to new experiences and maybe a better way to live. "I used to only be able to travel the world in the books I read. When I got the chance to actually do it I loved it and still do." How long had she lived in London? Tessa had no idea how many years it had been, taking in account the time she had spent weeping in Paris in Magnus' flat and other longer adventures... His little description of the typical London air a century ago made her laugh. "I moved there in 1878 and always came back to it. It was exactely the time when London was 'ransacked with polluted air' as you describe it so well. Has New York always been your home?" Tessa figured that everyone had a place that they always came back to. Like she always came back to England, surely Nicholaus had a place just like that.

[Nicholaus I. Diabolus]

He lifted his chin slightly, his mind steadily thinking of questions to ask her should the need arise to keep this conversation going. They ere pretty well off in their topics, but just to make sure they didn't encounter awkward silence or a topic that neither of them wanted to talk about, he was going to be ready. He turned his head down and away from her for a moment, thinking that waring sunglasses was getting to feel a little impersonal talking to someone else who was immortal.

Perhaps it was making him feel a bit rude too. He sighed softly before reaching up and taking his sunglasses off. The light of the day around him made him blink a bit more until his sight adjusted, but the purpose of those accessories was merely to hide his crimson eyes. Though now, thanks to the help of his fey glamour, were just an ordinary brown instead. Obviously, he was getting more comfortable. After all, she was no where near as pushy as most people he came across. So she deserved a bit more than others.

He looked back at her, holding his sunglasses in one hand before hanging them from the front of his shirt, right on the collar. When she continued to explain about telling people the true meaning of her name, he nodded in agreement. That was definitely a smart way to discern people and sort them out based on their reactions and personality. He never thought of it like that, in truth. After all, he didn't have a name like hers that could seem sinister and just be something innocent. His was the exact opposite. "Never really thought of that, actually."[/b] he mused.

She obviously had a smart chip on her shoulder. Which was duly noted. Though not all immortals were smart these days, she was a testament to say the least that there were still those out there that lived with their minds still intact. Such a good thing of course. Nicholaus had felt many times that he was on the brink of insanity or depression, but always made it through simply by paying less attention to himself and more on the people around him. a good habit of course. As meeting someone like her seemed to help him put things in perspective.

As Theresa continued speaking, he nodded in response. "And it seems you took well to traveling and seeing things not many would get to see. It certainly is a good way to refresh the soul somehow." he mentioned, looking at her carefully then as she mentioned when she had moved there. She was only sixteen when she moved out of New York. If he did his math right, she was somewhere around 150 years of age. He didn't want to be rude and ask her how old she was. He would rather figure that out on his own. Which he did.

He shook his head when she asked him about this being his first home. "I was born in Greece. Moved mostly around Europe with family before I came to America. I haven't gone back since."[/b] He mentioned and took a quick look around for a few moments. "And I don't plan on it anytime soon."[/b] he added and let his eyes wander back to her. "So what's your job amongst the humans? What do you do to keep yourself busy? Or to keep yourself entertained in a life of immortality?"

[katharina]

It had taken Tessa a long time to accept her ability as a blessing and embrace it rather than try to avoid using it. By now she had learned how absolutely valuable it was. Her being the only on earth to be able to change into someone else at will, if she held something of theirs, and also accesing their personality and general behaviour. If need be, she could impersonate anyone. It rarely ever happened that she could not penetrate someone's mind. In those cases the subject most likely had a block placed in their mind by a warlock or was just plain senile. The uniqueness of her talent made it invaluable and people had to have a solid reason before she ever used her ability to their will, they also payed her fortunes. Never would she do anything evil or endanger anyone.

After she had met Hyacinth in the early days, when she was still learning about her ability, she had not tried to use her disguise to fool faries. Hyacinth could just look through it and see the real Tessa below Jessamine's pretty face. That was when Tessa figured that her disguise must just be some sort of strong glamour that all except apparently fae could not see through. It must have something to do with them only being able to say the truth or the like. The conclusion of her being able to cast a glamour so strong around herself was however, that she could also see through stong glamours.

Tessa watched Nicholaus take off his glasses. It had seemed a little impolite to her, that he had been wearing them all the time, but then the sun was shining so he had a good excuse for wearing them. Her eyes widenend just that tiny fraction, that Nicholaus would surely be able to make out, when she looked into his blood red eyes that she could see through the slight blur which came from a strong glamour. A little embarassed at her first reaction to his eyes she said amazed: "I have never seen such an eye colour before and I have seen a lot! You must be one of the fay folk." Tessa was used to a lot, but these crimson eyes were just a little disturbing. She understood now, why Nicholaus would want to hide them with the glamour and glasses in addition.

The way Nicholaus looked away when talking about his family and basically early years made it clear to Tessa that they had talked enough on that topic and she should therefore not ask any more questions on it. "What do I do?", she laughed at that. "I work in a book store. Absolutely underpayed but I love it. I'm lucky enough to be payed fortunes for my... other occupation. And what do you do to blend into the human world?" As she did not like to talk about her ability to strangers she preferred to not name it and her tone usually inidacted it too. Fair enough if he asked her about it, she could tell him, but he would probably not be able to see it anyway if she showed him.

[Nicholaus I. Diabolus]

This had to have been one of the longest conversations Nicholaus had had with an immortal person in the longest time, to be honest. Usually wanting to avoid those that were just like him was just a part of the game. Coming across someone he enjoyed speaking with was a rare thing indeed. So he'd try his best to come of with questions or topics of conversation they could both definitely benefit from and contribute to. After all, Nicholaus's usual job was talking to people. Surely he could do that here, right?

He blinked a moment or two, feeling personal questions coming into his mind. What was she? Where was she going today? Did she have a lot of friends he'd need to watch out for? Random things on his mind that wouldn't be asked and therefor, wouldn't get answered. Instead, Nicholaus kept himself quiet as he listened to her voice and the words coming out of her. She was a kind person. He gathered that much and therefore felt a little more at ease.

When he removed his sunglasses and looked at her, he caught the look from her reaction. At first he hadn't realized she had seen the bit of crimson until she spoke up. His own reaction was that of nervousness. He didn't like scaring people more than he hated people knowing something about what he was. He wasn't embarassed, but he wasn't too proud either. "Good eye... and good guess."[/b] he mentioned, looking at his lap. Might as well make her feel less awkward by mentioning she hit the nail on the head.

But he knew his glamour was hiding his eyes completely. Apparently, he gathered, that her being immortal might have given her some sort of advantage to see past his glamour at times. His eyes were no big deal, in fact. But his true form was something he never wanted anyone to see. The monster he kept inside. He swallowed and looked back at her as she answered his questions. He was actually thrilled to hear where she worked, but he didn't show much besides a raised brown and a voice bearing the interest on the subject.

"A bookstore? What a really wonderful place to work in fact. I envy you just for having a job like that, actually. Books are amazing." he looked books. Any sort of them. They really played with his imagination. Perhaps he'd find out which bookstore she worked at and would pay a visit there one of these days. He already had a big library at home, and a few more books here and there wouldn't bring any harm whatsoever.

He raised his head slightly when she asked what he did for a living posing as a mortal. This might get more interesting even though he'd rather talk about her. "I'm a psychologist, or therapist, or whatever you'd like to call it. People have mental issues or life issues that they can't handle. So I sit... and listen... and offer advice when they want it most." he explained, looking at her. "Not nearly as interesting as working in a place that has so many places to drown your imagination in, but I've been doing my job for a.... very... long time." he stated.