Sunday, August 22, 2010

Stab My Back

Stab My Back
Post by bill on Aug 22, 2010, 10:50pm


now we're broken on the floor, she just wants me to share her
[image]
billCOMPTON.
it hasn't been this way before, she just wants me to dare her
i can't get past her, falling faster, it's better when i bleed for you


Stepping forward to the front desk as the human in front of him finished their ritualistic check-in procedures all hotels followed, Bill offered a cordial smile to the human behind a computer monitor. The girl's bubbly smile seemed a little forced and frightened, but that wasn't something uncommon. She was probably new to vampires showing up at her place of work, but she would have to grow accustomed to it quickly. "Good evening," he began, doing his best to sound as harmless as he was to her. "I have an appointment with Gabrielle Blackwood. It is my understanding she has..." There was no need to complete his sentence. With a single gesture of a shaking hand, the girl pointed towards an elevator and Bill lowered his head in appreciation before walking to the polished doors of the private elevator, pressing the up button and waiting only a brief moment before the doors opened, allowing him entry.

He pressed the lone button on the inside wall of the compartment before the doors slid closed and he was left standing in the middle of the car, hands clasped behind his back. The stoic vampire found it difficult to keep back a smile from his face at the moment when he was so nearly elated. Only a few nights earlier, Bill had felt at his lowest of lows. Sookie telling him that their relationship was through was not easy to receive, but that was only compounded to a miserable degree as she gloated that the reason there was no hope for them was because of Eric Northman. Even thinking on it now, the vampire found his eyes rolling in an exaggerated fashion. Of course it was about Eric. Everything was always about Eric. He had known from the moment that Sookie had insisted on going to Fangtasia in order to investigate the deaths occurring around Bon Temps that the Sheriff of Area Five was going to complicate and ruin things for him.

Sookie was just so blind, Bill nearly could have pitied her. He knew both Eric and the world far better than her. Eric wasn't some resident of a small town who spent his life wasting away in the local drinking hole like the others Sookie could read and by doing so, knew so well. No, he was a calculating and vicious vampire Sheriff, one who would do anything to benefit himself at the expense of anyone else without regard, without remorse. It was only a matter of time before the Viking discarded her like the trash... if she was that lucky. Knowing Eric, he wouldn't want anyone else to have a chance at the telepath and would just waste her. Sookie was such a valuable asset, one Bill had watched over for some time, and Eric would ruin her if given half the chance. But what could Bill really do? Like it or not, Eric was the authority of the Area. Bill couldn't do much of anything without the act being treasonous, which was ridiculous. Eric didn't deserve such respect.

Fortunately for him, it seemed he wasn't the only one who thought such. News had quickly spread that Gabrielle Blackwood, the Queen who had overthrown and killed Sophie-Anne, was leaving her normal home in Nevada for an extended stay in Louisiana. Of all the Areas, of all the possible places she could go, the Queen had selected Shreveport to set up camp. Obviously, she wanted to keep a close eye on Northman and Bill was thrilled for it. With vampire royalty watching over Eric's shoulder, the Sheriff would have no time for Sookie, no time for humans, no time for anything but watching and waiting for a stake through his heart. Bill would do everything he could to see that that sharpened piece of wood got there all the sooner. He had information Gabrielle could use and with it, hope that once more, he could be the one with claim on Sookie Stackhouse. Stepping off the elevator as the doors opened, he immediately found himself flanked by guards who promptly searched him before escorting him through a pair of double doors. Bowing to the ancient vampire on the opposite side of them, he slowly lifted his head to catch the Queen's eyes. "Thank you for giving me your audience, my Queen. I am Bill Compton, Investigator of Area Five, and eternally at your service."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by gabrielle on Aug 22, 2010, 11:57pm


Now the city blacks out the sun that you know is rising
[image]
g a b r i e l l e b l a c k w o o d .
You can see that you're being surrounded from every direction
And love was just something you found to add to your collection



Gabrielle was fairly pleased with the way things were running in Louisiana. She and Stan had been trading visits to the state between running their own, and though there had been some transitional issues once Sophie-Anne was eliminated, the takeover had gone fairly smoothly. Eric was doing a wonderful job running things, and Gabrielle couldn't have been more pleased with the way things were unfolding. Wedding plans were going wonderfully, and the event was shaping up to be the most elaborate event anyone had seen this century. Still, with so much to do, Gabrielle had decided it would be best if she spent some time in Louisiana to oversee things. Really, she and Stan had expected that one of them would need to set up shop in the state at some point, but Gabrielle knew that now was as good a time as ever to have an extended stay.

So, she'd set herself up on the top floor of the nicest hotel in Shreveport, which also happened to be the only vampire hotel in the city. It wasn't quite what she was used to in Vegas, but the penthouse suite was nice enough, and there was a private elevator to her floor and everything so she could completely control access and security. It was more than she'd expected from a state that was decidedly redneck, but money could fix anything up, and since arriving, she'd poured quite a bit of it into the hotel. Shreveport wasn't really as bad as she thought it'd be. Gabrielle had lived in nearly every sort of city, town, suburb, and everywhere else people could possibly gather to live since being turned. In the grand scheme of things, Shreveport was everything a vampire could want. It wasn't Vegas or California, to be sure, but what was? It would do very, very nicely for however long she decided to stay.

Holding meetings in the suite had become quite common since she'd settled there. Eric was still running things in the area and the state, but there was still much to be done. It was especially important that leaders of other states recognized her and Stan's ownership of the state by sending representatives to visit, to ward off any questions of attempted takeovers. So far, they had been going very smoothly, and frequent meetings with Eric let her know how everything else was running. Wedding planning required many meetings as well, but tonight, the meeting she had was unrelated to any of that. Bill Compton, Investigator of Area Five had requested an audience with her, and out of curiosity, she had agreed. Eric had told her of Mr. Compton, and had painted a rather unflattering picture she almost doubted could possibly be true. She had to see for herself.

Glancing up from a folder as her security team showed Compton into the room, Gabrielle smiled politely, turning from the window, and closing the file to hand it off to an assistant. "Mr. Compton, welcome. I'm very pleased to finally meet you." Well, very pleased might have been an overstatement, but she was curious, and she was sure none of that showed on her face anyway. Walking to the seating area and trusting him to follow, Gabrielle took a seat in one of the chairs, crossing her ankles and gesturing for Bill to sit as well. Beckoning an assistant closer, she looked to Bill. "Would you care for a glass of Royalty?" she asked with a small smile. "I admit, Mr. Compton, I was surprised to hear you wished to see me. I was under the impression that everything was going well with the project you're working on for us."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by bill on Aug 23, 2010, 12:49am


now we're broken on the floor, she just wants me to share her
[image]
billCOMPTON.
it hasn't been this way before, she just wants me to dare her
i can't get past her, falling faster, it's better when i bleed for you


"The pleasure is all mine," Bill insisted with a genteel smile, bowing his head once more to the vampire who was now his Queen. It was, perhaps, a bit of an overstatement. Bill had made a great deal of progress with Sophie-Anne. She had even creation the position of Area Investigator just for him to help protect and maintain his claim on Sookie when the Area Sheriff was constantly overstepping his boundaries. Sophie-Anne had given him numerous projects that had the potential to make Bill the most valuable vampire in her kingdom, he had been climbing the ladder quickly, and all of that had ended the moment the vampire he now bowed to had aided in ending her. That bit of resentment he would have to push past and remember this opportunity could put him right back where he was. He looked forward to it.

Following Gabrielle to her seating area, the vampire sat down carefully on the obviously expensive purchase, his eyes looking around the room. "What you've done here is lovely," he commented, though he had never seen the pent house of the hotel she resided in now before. It seemed a safe comment and flattery could go a long way. Nodding his head once, it wasn't often- okay, it wasn't ever- Bill was offered Royalty by anyone. Too long he had been forced into the background, ignored and dismissed. It was time to change that, and with this new regime, he had the chance to do so. "Yes, thank you, your majesty. I would appreciate that sincerely." Watching as the assistant the Queen had called over ran off to fulfill Gabrielle's orders, he wasn't surprised in how quickly it was down to business.

"The database," he volunteered. "It's going very well. I informed Sheriff Northman of that the last time we spoke. Did he not tell you?" He mostly doubted Eric had when the Viking was so wrapped up in Sookie. It hadn't escaped Bill's notice that the new car the vampire had given the telepath had been absent overnight recently. "I recently completed a trip that helped finish most of the South American vampire information. I imagine I can have an early copy of the finished program before the end of the month for you and King Davis to inspect. As you can imagine, there was a great deal of time and effort put into it. Not all vampires were willing to provide the information I was looking for, but I took on the great personal risk in order to complete my willing duty. I'd be happy to deliver it myself as well," he added. "The fewer people who have access to the information upon it, the better." And he'd be very willing to cut Eric out of the line of communication entirely.

"I didn't ask for this meeting for those reasons, however. I felt it important to introduce myself as the Area Investigator and also..." His voice trailed off as he hesitated for a moment. "I wish to discuss something somewhat sensitive with you." Looking around the room briefly, the vampire took an unnecessary breath before leaning forward in the chair he was seated in. "The database was only one of two projects Sophie-Anne had me working on before she met her end. I have kept it quiet thus far because there is a vampire hungry for power in this Area, one who doesn't follow our laws because he thinks himself above them. I come to you now to tell you of this work Sophie-Anne had me do and to warn you explicitly that Eric Northman cannot be trusted."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by gabrielle on Aug 23, 2010, 1:34am


Now the city blacks out the sun that you know is rising
[image]
g a b r i e l l e b l a c k w o o d .
You can see that you're being surrounded from every direction
And love was just something you found to add to your collection



Eyes traveling over Bill as Gabrielle remembered everything Eric had told her of the vampire, the queen tried to reconcile the vision of one of Sophie-Anne's most trusted vampires with the appearance of the vampire standing in front of her. Appearances could be deceiving, but Gabrielle didn't think Bill's unimpressive exterior was concealing anything extraordinary. She'd heard the vampire was gifted with technology, which was a gift she could make use of, but there would be some obstacles to get through first, she could tell. Perhaps meeting Bill would allow Gabrielle to get a better feel for a way to put his actual skills to better use, since she couldn't honestly say she knew what the job of Area Investigator consisted of. She was relatively certain that it was a bullshit position.

"Thank you," she acknowledged as Bill complimented the area, always happy to receive a compliment, genuine or not. What she'd done with the top floor of the hotel was lovely. She'd made countless improvements since acquiring it, and everyone who'd seen it approved, including Stan, who was possibly as picky as she was. Nodding as Bill accepted her offer, she watched as the assistant quickly came over with two wine glasses of the expensive blood. Taking a sip of hers, she nodded slightly in approval before setting the glass down on the table in front of her. "The hotel has been kind enough to keep us supplied," she informed Bill unnecessarily, mostly just showing off, just as the hotel was doing for her. It seemed more than just politicians were afraid of being removed and replaced, and Gabrielle liked that everyone was on their toes.

Nodding as Bill brought up the database, Gabrielle knew that was what he was working on, even if she wasn't sold on the whole idea. She thought it was dangerous, but Stan was enthusiastic, and Gabrielle knew that even if she didn't like the idea, the database would be best under their control instead of someone else's. "I believe Sheriff Northman spoke to King Davis last," she answered, not having spoken to Eric herself in about a week. Eric alternated who he gave reports to, to keep things fair. Stan had more than likely mentioned it to her, but updates on the status of the database were far from high on her list of priorities, even if she did want it in her possession once it was finished. Compton certainly liked bragging about himself which, while not unexpected, wore quickly on her nerves. It never showed in her expression, though, as she nodded at all the appropriate times. "I'm unsure how long I'll be in the area, actually, and I'll need to make frequent trips back to my other states to ensure things are running smoothly. Delivering the database to Sheriff Northman will be fine. He'll make sure it gets to either myself or King Davis."

Gabrielle was somewhat surprised that this database mess wasn't the reason Bill wanted a meeting, though. Listening as Bill explained himself, she wondered if she'd have the opportunity to explain what his job actually consisted of, but it wasn't looking like it. That Compton was working on two projects was news to her, and a surprise she didn't much like. She didn't like the accusations he was tossing around about Eric, either, though they were more laughable than dangerous when presented to her. "These are dangerous claims to make, Mr. Compton. Tell me of your second project, and of your concerns about Sheriff Northman. Are these suspicions a result of your Area investigations?"

Re: Stab My Back
Post by bill on Aug 23, 2010, 2:15am


now we're broken on the floor, she just wants me to share her
[image]
billCOMPTON.
it hasn't been this way before, she just wants me to dare her
i can't get past her, falling faster, it's better when i bleed for you


"I hope you find the rest of Louisiana shows you the same courtesy," Bill stated with a nod as Gabrielle bragged about the efforts the hotel was putting into practice in order to ensure she was kept happy. Despite having a large, uneducated population, the state was very vampire friendly, at least in the southern part of the state. New Orleans was practically the vampire capital of the world. "I find it interesting you picked Shreveport to establish a base in," he continued delicately after taking a careful sip of the Royalty. "Sophie-Anne was always so fond of New Orleans." He doubted the new Queen would be quick to admit she was in Area Five to keep an eye on the arrogant ass of a Sheriff there, but he wanted to let on that he knew. More than that, he understood completely.

Setting his glass down on the ornate table in front of him as Gabrielle insisted the database could be delivered to Eric before being turned over to either herself or Stan Davis, he felt a pull at the corner of his lips that could only indicate an approaching frown. "Of course, that will be no trouble," he agreed with another bow of his head. "Though I wonder how secure it will be in his hands." He was treading risky waters and he knew it, but he wanted to be on the same page as his new Queen and if they weren't already, he needed to ensure that they would be. It hadn't been long since Sophie-Anne had met a second death, there hadn't been enough time that had passed for Eric to establish complete trust with the new regime. That wasn't even enough time to establish partial trust. Seeds of doubt would be valuable.

"It is just that Sheriff Northman conducts all of his business out of Fangtasia, as I'm sure you know," he continued slowly. "And not very cautiously. It seems there is a steady stream of vampires and humans alike going in and out of the offices and I've found that Eric can be easily distracted when something or someone catches his eye. Given the sensitive nature of something as valuable as my work and given how many could want their hands on it, I wonder if it will be safe and watched over once in the Sheriff's hands." Pausing to allow that thought to sink in as it no doubt would, he reached for his glass of blood and took an additional drink from the vessel. "But I am sure Eric will only have the best interests of Texas and Nevada at heart and would never allow for such a dangerous calamity to occur. I will deliver it to him as soon as it is completed and hope it reaches you."

Returning the glass to the table and nodding gravely as she pointed out his accusations were dangerous, Bill knew they were, but it wasn't as if they were unfounded. Far from it. "I mean no disrespect," he began. "I only have the best interests of yourself and King Davis at heart. I know the transition of power in regime changes such as this is a delicate time and that is why I am being forthcoming about the information I hold. There is a reason Sophie-Anne didn't inform Sheriff Northman about my work on the database, or of the project at all. The position of Area Investigator was created by her to keep an eye on Eric and to protect her assets in Area Five. The database was obviously an asset, but also, there is a human who possesses a gift that Sophie-Anne learned of through one of her children. I was sent to Bon Temps to secure the human in question. Perhaps you are familiar with her since she performed a job for King Davis. Sookie Stackhouse?"

Re: Stab My Back
Post by gabrielle on Aug 23, 2010, 2:53am


Now the city blacks out the sun that you know is rising
[image]
g a b r i e l l e b l a c k w o o d .
You can see that you're being surrounded from every direction
And love was just something you found to add to your collection



Smiling politely at Bill's words, Gabrielle nodded slightly. "So far, I have been extended every courtesy," she acknowledged honestly enough, mostly because anyone who would have opposed her or Stan had been removed before they could ever get close. It wasn't an issue, though, for the most part. Sophie-Anne hadn't been a very good ruler. She didn't know how to correctly use the assets she had at her disposal, and had not been overly competent in any other way. The state had not been in wonderful financial condition when they'd inherited it, and apparently she had earned loyalty from very few vampires who really mattered. Bill did not really matter. "New Orleans was a gift to the Prince. I would never dream of establishing a base of power in the Area that was given to him." The Prince liked to drain powerful vampires, and Gabrielle wasn't getting near that unless she had to, an honor though it would be. "Besides, I am not Sophie-Anne." In Gabrielle's eyes, that queen had been a miserable failure. She didn't want to be associated with that.

Raising an eyebrow as Bill clearly reluctantly agreed to her request that the database be delivered to Eric upon completion, it was almost difficult not to express surprise as Compton communicated his doubts about his Sheriff so boldly. In the Old World, expressing doubt in another vampire would only be natural. No one trusted one another, and with very good reason. Here, though, under the political system of the vampires this country which had only tightened after the Great Revelation, his words were bordering on treasonous. Was this really how Sophie-Anne ran things, with underlings in bullshit positions questioning their Sheriffs? It was a wonder she wasn't overthrown by someone in her own regime, with this sort of mentality. Was it just this vampire, or was this sort of thing happening elsewhere? This would need to be addressed quickly if it was.

"I'm familiar with Fangtasia," she acknowledged with a small nod, though she hadn't been there to observe during business hours. She would not be gawked at under those conditions, even though she was frequently admired back in Las Vegas. Fangtasia was decidedly tackier, and she wouldn't subject herself to that, nor the security risk, no matter how much money it somehow produced. It worked for Eric and had a sense of humor, but it was not her taste. Perhaps that would have to change, though, if only so she could say she investigated Bill's claims for herself. She doubted they were true, though. She saw firsthand how Eric did business, and it was anything but careless. "I will have to invest in upgrading Fangtasia's security, if this is so," she decided, having no problem giving Eric the money for whatever he chose to use it on, though she doubted that was Bill's intention. "Fortunately for us, very few individuals know of your database, so it will be impossible for anyone to plot to steal it from us. I have faith that it will be quite safe."

It wasn't news to Gabrielle that Sophie-Anne hadn't trusted Eric. Plotting his demise had really been the final straw that had spurred her and Stan into ending the queen. She put her trust in all the wrong vampires including, apparently, Bill Compton. It was surprising to hear that so many knew of the former queen's distrust of the Viking vampire, but it was only further proof of her failures. As she listened, though, Gabrielle realized that Sophie-Anne had made more mistakes than even she had been aware of. "You were sent here over the Stackhouse girl?" she repeated, not doubting her perfect hearing, but still. It was... alarming. Nodding as though it wasn't, she sat back in her chair. "Yes, King Davis spoke of her talents. How were you to secure her? What were your instructions? And which of her children did she learn this through?" If she'd missed any children when eliminating threats, Gabrielle would have work to do.

Re: Stab My Back
Post by bill on Aug 23, 2010, 3:52am


now we're broken on the floor, she just wants me to share her
[image]
billCOMPTON.
it hasn't been this way before, she just wants me to dare her
i can't get past her, falling faster, it's better when i bleed for you


"That is a relief to hear," Bill stated as Gabrielle insisted she had been treated courteously by more than just the hotel she stayed at, and genuinely, he meant it. Much had changed in Louisiana since he had first called the state home as a mortal man and not all of those changes were one he could take pride in. Uneducated and unmannered as it seemed most of the humans around were, they, at the very least, either worshiped the undead or kept their distance. Bill preferred the latter. "Of course not," he agreed dutifully as she pointed out Area One was now under the jurisdiction of the Dark Prince. Bill had never interacted with the vampire legends were made of, but from what he had heard, that was a thing to be thankful for. Nodding still as she pointed out that she wasn't Sophie-Anne, Bill had to hope she'd be more beneficial to him than his former Queen had been. He'd do his part to make sure she was.

Frowning further as Gabrielle decided that his warnings about Eric and Fangtasia were cause for her to actually contribute financially to that embarrassing night club, Bill shook his head from side to side. "I do not believe the Area nor the Sheriff are in any kind of financial crisis. He's only just purchased and gifted a new vehicle," he added, a bitter note seeping into his words that he couldn't stop. Grabbing the glass of blood off the table and taking another sip in order to calm himself once more, he returned the glass to the table only after he once more wore a neutral expression. "You are right, of course," he finally agreed, forcing a smile to his face. "I am sure it will be safe."

Once more picking up the glass of Royalty, he kept his eyes on the queen over the mouth of the glass while taking a drink of blood. "Yes, that's correct. I expressed interest in moving to Louisiana from my home in Washington. This was where my human life occurred. I was from Bon Temps, the home I resided in was still in my family, and located very near Sookie's family dwelling. The last of the Compton line was very old," he explained ruefully as he returned the glass to the table. "Knowing of my connection to Bon Temps and knowing she needed Sookie secured without involving Eric, I was sent to secure her services for the Queen. It was my duty to protect and annex the asset that was Sookie for her majesty. Her ability as a telepath was quite rudimentary when I first encountered her. I was to help her nurture her gift and report back to Sophie-Anne on her progress when updating her on the database."

Shifting slightly in his seat as Gabrielle questioned him further, Bill was aware he was potentially damning Sookie's cousin, but Hadley's elimination would help prevent Sookie from ever discovering what had happened, something he was sure Gabrielle was considering now. "Hadley Hale," he answered smoothly. "She was a lover and child of Sophie-Anne and also, Sookie's cousin. I was told to secure her for Sophie-Anne's exclusive use, to woo or seduce her in order to claim her talents for the Queen's disposal. I was doing quite well. Sookie was learning to block out what she wasn't interested in "hearing," Sophie-Anne had named me Area Investigator to give me enough power to keep Sookie safe for her, and I had even had my claim in blood by bonding with her twice. Eric Northman wanted her for herself, however. He usurped her from me by bonding to her under false pretenses, despite my claim on her. Sophie-Anne was not pleased, especially because Eric's intentions are only to use her gift for himself and his profit. Though I mean no ill to King Davis, the assignment Eric sent her on needlessly risked her gift for a kingdom unconnected to our own at the time. The Sheriff didn't hesitate because King Davis' price was to his liking, however. Sookie's talent is valuable in the right hands, and I am the right hands for it. I would be more than willing to secure Sookie for you, and I imagine her talent would be beneficial for one such as you, who's income comes so dominantly from humans gambling. I believe we can both agree, it would be put to much better use stopping cheaters for a Queen than petty cash thefts in a night club."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by gabrielle on Aug 23, 2010, 4:39am


Now the city blacks out the sun that you know is rising
[image]
g a b r i e l l e b l a c k w o o d .
You can see that you're being surrounded from every direction
And love was just something you found to add to your collection



Nodding as Bill told her that it was a relief to hear she was treated well, Gabrielle remembered being told that this was actually Compton's home state. She was told it was the reason that he stayed here, though why anyone would want to return to the place they were born when it was so chanced was beyond Gabrielle. Maybe a visit was understandable, but moving back? Living in the past would never allow a vampire to survive for very long. Neither would residing too close to the Prince, which was what living in New Orleans would have meant. Very few knew about Gabrielle's gifts, and she was grateful of that. If the Prince had known, there was little doubt that he would have drained her. Thankfully, everyone she used her gifts on had died by them, and were currently and permanently incapable of talking.

Shrugging as she was informed that Eric recently purchased a car, she couldn't really understand what that had to do with anything. "A vehicle is nothing. Good security is invaluable. I will personally see to it that the base of this Area is made completely secure." She was sure it was, but Eric could do what he liked with the money. She'd enjoy just knowing that the vampire across from her would be upset by its use. He already was not sitting well with her, and she doubted that would change. First impressions were rarely wrong, even for a vampire nearly two thousand years old. Eric had been right about this one, and how he'd managed to secure his own position in an influential Area of the state was beyond her realm of comprehension.

Nodding and listening carefully as Compton explained what he was really doing in Louisiana. She didn't particularly care about the Compton line or where Bill's family home was located. That Sophie-Anne had pretended to care in order to secure the Stackhouse girl without involving Eric was disturbing, though. Treating humans as assets wasn't uncommon, though it wasn't a practice Gabrielle particularly liked when a human was especially valuable. Most humans were interchangeable, but for the special ones, annexing them against their will seemed unnatural. Many didn't share her belief, of course, and she didn't publicize it, but she wasn't happy to hear this. Gabrielle had encountered her fair share of extraordinary humans over the years, and she knew how rare they were, and how fragile. What Compton and Sophie-Anne had done was unwise on many levels.

Committing the name Hadley Hale to memory as Compton so easily gave up the name, she would be sure to put someone on it, Eric more than likely. They'd need to have a discussion after this, because she was sure much of this would be new information for him. If Eric had bonded to the girl, then she was worth something. He didn't waste his blood unnecessarily, and wouldn't take well to hearing that his human had been seduced under false pretenses. She wasn't pleased to hear it, and she had only seen the human once. Worse, Bill clearly wanted the human back, and was planning on going over Eric's head to get her. Disgusting. "Why did Sophie-Anne not take the human for herself?" she asked, since she wasn't above 'annexing the asset'. "And why shouldn't I?" Not that she would, but it was a fair question. Her talent would be beneficial, but she would rather hear the situation from Eric and make an arrangement with him. "Has the human accepted Sheriff Northman's claim of her?" She was sure no one had asked the Stackhouse girl what she actually wanted in all of this, but it actually was important. If Eric had claimed her and Sookie accepted the claim, then there was nothing any vampire could do, including Compton.

Re: Stab My Back
Post by bill on Aug 23, 2010, 5:22am


now we're broken on the floor, she just wants me to share her
[image]
billCOMPTON.
it hasn't been this way before, she just wants me to dare her
i can't get past her, falling faster, it's better when i bleed for you


Reaching for his glass of Royalty once more, Bill once more used it to conceal the frown etched into his pale features. The last thing he had wanted this meeting to bring about was Eric getting anything more than he already had and from the way Gabrielle spoke, seeing to Area Five's "needs" was a new priority. There was nothing remotely insecure about Fangtasia that Bill was aware of really, he had only meant to plant and nurture the seeds of doubt in this new Queen of his, but apparently she had missed the purpose of his pointed hinting. "I'm sure the Sheriff will appreciate your effort in securing his place of business," he stated with a monotone bitterness. At least Bill knew Eric didn't like anyone interfering in his business, including royalty. He'd probably be furious, even if receiving things. Good.

Shifting once more in his chair while finishing off the glass of expensive blood, Bill returned the empty vessel to the table slowly as he debated how to delicately answer Gabrielle's questions. This really was his opportunity. The new Queen hadn't dismissed him immediately and seemed genuinely interested in finding out about the situation, both things were good signs. He was eager to gain favor with the new regime and this was definitely taking a step in the right direction for him. Meeting her gaze once more, he offered a small smile. "Sophie-Anne cared very deeply for her children," he answered slowly. "Hadley didn't want Sookie to be harmed, nor to find out about her involvement in revealing her talent to the Queen. She needed Sookie to be acquired in a way that made her feel it was both voluntary and serendipitous when she found herself reconnected to Hadley."

Pausing for a moment, he once more reminded himself to be delicate. "The reason you shouldn't simply take her for yourself is, well, shortly after meeting Sookie, I discovered she was incessantly willful for a human," he stated with a soft chuckle and a strained smile, as if the trait was both endearing and incredibly annoying. "She believes herself very independent and does not like being told what to do, even if one knows far better than she does. She is incessantly stubborn and because she cannot be glamored, it takes a forceful yet subtle hand to navigate her in the direction that is best for her. I became exceptionally skilled at steering Sookie where I needed her to go. Granted, once she took Eric's blood, that became more difficult for me to do, but Eric is just as willful and stubborn as she is. She needs someone reliable and sensible to guide her hand and gift, and that someone is me."

Pursing his lips together at the final question, Sookie's rash words delivered in her farm house in front of both the Viking vampire and Bill's newborn echoed through his mind. "Right now, she is confused," he decided, his head lifting slightly as he set his jaw stubbornly. "Completing the database took me away from her and Bon Temps, and in that time, Sheriff Northman had her ear and has used it to his full advantage. I believe Eric has used her downheartedness over my absence to create and fuel an anger within her. Sookie is a very passionate young woman, but I have always been able to help her see reason. This tantrum of hers will be short lived. Truly, she understands very little of the way things work for us. I have always believed the less she knew, the less likely she was to rebel. If I am given the opportunity to better inform her what it means to belong to a vampire, I am confident she would revoke the Sheriff's claim upon her."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by gabrielle on Aug 23, 2010, 5:46am


Now the city blacks out the sun that you know is rising
[image]
g a b r i e l l e b l a c k w o o d .
You can see that you're being surrounded from every direction
And love was just something you found to add to your collection



Bill seemed unusually bitter that she'd give Eric any additional funding, but from what Gabrielle had told her and what she'd already observed, that hardly surprised her. What she hadn't quite gotten over was how outspoken Bill was against Eric. It wasn't dangerous to the Sheriff, of course, though another regime might have looked into it, but it was incredibly stupid of Compton. Eric was many times his age, and infinitely more powerful. He could kill Bill easily, and without second thought. No one would blame him. In fact, if Bill got much bolder, he would have legitimate and legal cause to do so. Had Sophie-Anne really allowed him so much freedom that he felt comfortable speaking as he was? This vampire was nothing, and he spoke like a top Sheriff, even a Magister. It was disturbing. Who else had such reckless disregard for their hierarchy?

That Sophie-Anne could be so likewise manipulated by her children was unsurprising, and far less disturbing considering how well she and Stan had profited from the former queen's stupidity. If she'd really allowed a child to keep her from an asset she'd already decided to secure through questionable means, there really hadn't been any hope for her. She was equally sure that voluntary and serendipitous were two words the Stackhouse girl would never use to describe her involvement with Bill if she ever learned of this. More needed to be learned of this Hadley Hale, but Gabrielle saw no reason that it should be kept from her, though it wasn't her decision. She wouldn't give an order either way. It would be left in Eric's hands, she decided. It was obvious that this was a last resort for Compton to get to her, which meant she had chosen the older vampire on her own. He would know what was best.

Truthfully, the last thing Gabrielle wanted was to deal with a willful telepath who wouldn't really want to work for her. Compton had that much correct. "Sheriff Northman works for me, just as you do. Why can I not simply deal with the telepath through him?" she asked, though the answer was that she could. Compton just didn't want her to, and she wanted to hear if he could give any legitimate reason other than simply wanting the telepath for himself. She doubted it. Regardless, she would not allow for Compton to have her again, especially without the girl having full knowledge of the situation. The telepath was valuable, that much was correct, and Gabrielle wouldn't have her damaged or turned from vampires forever because of Compton and Sophie-Anne's miscalculations and controlling natures. Besides that, Gabrielle wasn't in the practice of being cruel to humans just for fun, especially ones with reputations for helping the vampire community at great cost to themselves.

"She choses Northman over you, and so you call her confused," Gabrielle summed up with a sigh, sitting up in her chair, quite finished listening to Compton's political maneuvering. "If she does not dispute his claim on her, there is nothing you, nor I, nor any other vampire can do to change that. She belongs to him, and frankly, I would not have it otherwise. She is a valuable asset, and I want her in hands I know I can trust. Eric has earned my trust since the time he was a boy. He has always been loyal to me, someone I know I can depend upon. I do not know that I can depend upon you when you come to me with manufactured concerns over injured pride and what is to you, I am sure, imagined stolen property. That is not how I run my state. I say this again, I am not Sophie-Anne. Under my rule, and under the rule of King Davis, you will remember your place. You report to your Sheriff, you are unconditionally loyal to him, whether your dead queen made up some fantasy position for you or not. Remember this and live by it, or I will relocate you. You are dismissed.

"Watching as the vampire left the room, Gabrielle rolled her eyes in disgust once alone before calling for an assistant. "Call Eric Northman for me. Tell him to meet me in the parking lot of Fangtasia immediately. I am on my way over." She didn't have to say that no alternatives would be tolerated, and she didn't doubt that he would show up. What she had told Compton was true, she trusted Eric implicitly. Leaving the room followed by her guards, she allowed one of them to lead her out to her car, getting in and giving the driver instructions while sending an email to Stan about the meeting. The affairs of a human wouldn't interest him, but the sort of behavior Compton had shown would. Besides, Stan knew how to deal with telepaths, even if Barry seemed like far less trouble. She would keep her fiance updated, even though she knew it was Eric who would really want this news. She was going to have to handle one very angry Viking tonight, she was sure. It wasn't the first time, and Gabrielle was certain it wouldn't be the last.

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 23, 2010, 6:41am


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


"What is it?" Eric snapped over the impossible noise of the club, so the timid human waitress standing nervously at the end of his table could hear his annoyance loud and clear. She hadn't technically done anything wrong, but her unrequested interruption had snapped the vampire out of daydreams of memories recently created in his bedroom and brought him back to the unfortunate surroundings of Fangtasia, and that simply wouldn't do. Waving a hand urging her forward as she began stuttering incoherently, his eyes widened fractionally, his eyebrow arching as the message finally came tumbling forward. Without a word to the girl, the vampire was on his feet, moving easily through the crowd and through the swinging door that led to his office in the rear of the club.

"I am here," he stated into the phone before the receiver had even reached his ear. Listening to the voice on the other end of the line informing him Gabrielle was on her way to Fangtasia, or at least to the parking lot of the club, the Viking was left wondering what was so urgent about her visit. True, he had been almost expecting to hear from his Queen since she had arrived in Shreveport a few nights previously, but he hadn't expected it would happen quite like this. "Inform her majesty that I will be waiting," he answered without hesitation before dropping the phone back to the desk. Heading back out of his office and to the bar, he found Pam at the door. "Consider me indisposed for the rest of the evening," he stated, not giving her a chance to counter his words with a snarky comment that could only be called expected. "Gabrielle is on her way here."

There was no need to say more than that, so without another word, he headed through the front doors of the club, glancing only fleetingly to the line of humans waiting for admission. There would be a good take tonight, but for once, Eric couldn't think on it for more than a moment or two. The desperate calls for attention from the crowd fell on selectively deaf ears as he watched the car clearly belonging to Gabrielle pull into the parking lot. Following it easily as it pulled into the back of the club, he approached the car door, opening it for Gabrielle, a small smile on his cold lips before he bowed his head to her and extended a pale hand to help her from the vehicle. It wasn't as if she needed his aid, far from it, but Eric had always been fond of Gabrielle and had no trouble showing it.

"This is a surprise," he admitted easily, wondering if that had been the point of the abrupt meeting. Was Gabrielle checking on things? It didn't matter, he had nothing to hide from her. "But a very welcome one. I know you have never been here when the club has been open, but I feel I must warn you now, you're slightly overdressed," he teased lightly while opening the back door of the club and holding it open for her. "Will my office work for this exchange? It offers a little more privacy than the main room holds." Not to mention, it would be far easier to focus without the drooling humans. Gabrielle would be like a fresh piece of meat to a pack of starving dogs. Nothing good could possibly come from it.

Opening the door for her, he waited until she had taken a seat before closing the door behind the pair of them. "Can I get you anything to drink, Gabrielle? TrueBlood? Royalty? Something a little more... fresh?" She could do him a favor and drain the stuttering waitress who interrupted his fantasies for political affairs. Finally sitting himself, he let the smile cross his lips once more. "It is good to see you again, Gabrielle, without one of my children being in unthinkable peril this time. Bianca has almost entirely recovered. Her fangs are still coming in, but she is as strong as ever." Eric had been with Gabrielle when he had felt Bianca's distress and she was one of very few who knew of his child's present condition. "One of the humans responsible still evades us, but we will find him." Pausing for a moment, he tilted his head thoughtfully, eyes never leaving Gabrielle. Something seemed slightly amiss. "What brings you here tonight, Gabrielle? It isn't a pleasure visit, is it?"

Re: Stab My Back
Post by gabrielle on Aug 23, 2010, 7:01am


Now the city blacks out the sun that you know is rising
[image]
g a b r i e l l e b l a c k w o o d .
You can see that you're being surrounded from every direction
And love was just something you found to add to your collection



Gabrielle was actually angry over Sophie-Anne's treatment of the human girl. It was a surprising realization, considering the telepath was a stranger to her, but even Stan had spoken of her generosity in helping one of his lost nestmates, and the danger she had put herself in to do so. Of course, that didn't make her fiance any more fond of the telepath, but that sort of thing meant something to Gabrielle. Humans very rarely did anything for vampires out of the goodness of their hearts, something she knew from nearly two thousand years of experience, and something she knew was dangerous to forget. If this human was an exception, which Sophie-Anne must have known she was, she should have been treasured, not seduced under what were inarguably some very false pretenses. Compton should have known better, but he was clearly a possessive ass. Gabrielle had dealt with enough of those to know his type from just the brief meeting, and she was not pleased. Not at all.

Seeing Eric lifted her mood slightly, though. Smiling slightly as he opened her door, she took his hand, slipping gracefully from the car, heels clicking on the pavement of the parking lot as she stepped out. Nodding as Eric admitted his surprise, she sighed, looking around. "I'm sorry for not giving you more notice, but to be honest, I had not expected to come tonight," she admitted, certainly not having expected things to go the way they did with Compton. The nerve of that vampire. "Yes, I see that," she acknowledged, cringing very slightly at the way the humans clamoring to get into the club were dressed before looking Eric himself over. "You look as though you plan to attend a very strange funeral," she admitted, though she'd seen far stranger. She spent most of her time in Vegas, after all. A little light goth from some hillbilly types didn't shock her.

"Your office would be best," she answered, not wanting to be overheard, and wanting to see for herself what Compton had complained about, though she was sure it was entirely secure. From what she could see on the way there, there were no wandering humans endangering whatever business was conducted in the back. Some Area Investigator. Temporarily dismissing the thoughts as she took a seat in one of Eric's chairs, she shook her head. "No, thank you. I've rather lost my appetite for the night," she admitted, though they'd get to that. "I'm very glad to hear that," she told him honestly, having been quite shaken herself with Bianca's situation last time she'd been around Eric. "Being helpless while a child suffers is an unthinkable agony." She knew that from experience, unfortunately, but Eric hadn't lost Bianca, and that was what was important. "I'd like to see her while I'm here. You as well, of course, in a social capacity." It'd be nice to visit for reasons that didn't involve incompetent rules issuing ridiculous orders to morons. "Anything I can do to aid you in your search, I hope you will tell me."

Shaking her head as Eric asked what brought her there, Gabrielle sighed. "No, it isn't, unfortunately. Tonight is purely business, and some business that has managed to get under my skin more than I'd anticipated." Pausing, she studied the vampire she'd known for so long. "Tell me of your telepath. I want to know how you found her, of her relationship with you, of her relationship with Bill Compton, what she was to Sophie-Anne, and what you know of her cousin, Hadley Hale." She needed to hear Eric's side of things before she jumped into telling him what Bill had said, if only so she could get a clearer picture. The one Bill had painted was entirely too one-sided for her to get a clear grasp of the situation, and she wouldn't be comfortable repeating what he had told her to anyone until she understood it herself. "I know you have claimed her as your own. Has she accepted this?" She'd appreciate getting a straight answer to the question once tonight. For a human, Sookie Stackhouse certainly was a lot of trouble.

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 23, 2010, 7:42am


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


"Every night is my funeral at Fangtasia," Eric stated with a chuckle. It certainly felt true. Unexpected as Gabrielle's visit was, it would break up what would have otherwise been a very long night enthralling the humans. "I'm sure Bianca would love to see you now that she is her normal self. She isn't here tonight which can only mean she's out shopping, but I'm sure any night you're available would work for her. And you know I am always more than willing to meet with you. It's been that way for a thousand years," he added with a small smile. "We're all so stubborn, I couldn't break that tradition now even if I tried." Gabrielle was one of few vampires Eric found he genuinely liked the company of, even if he hadn't always known she was a vampire. Sometimes it was a very small world.

Getting comfortable in his desk chair, he leaned back into the leather of it, eyes on Gabrielle's familiar, eternally unchanging face. She was edgy. It tended to take a great deal to make a vampire her age uneasy, but she certainly seemed it now, and Eric began wondering if he should start gathering his troops for whatever his Queen was preparing him for. Gesturing once with his hand for her to continue as she stated her visit was purely about business, his arms crossed in front of him as she began rapidly requesting information the Viking couldn't possibly understand her curiosity in, and as she pressed forward, he found himself blinking once, his brow wrinkling in confusion.

"Her cousin?" he repeated, shaking his head a few times. "I believe you are mistaken. Hadley Hale is not Sookie's cousin. She is Sophie-Anne's most recent creation before she met second death, a newborn vampire who wasn't the same threat her other children posed. As far as I am aware, she still resides in Area One under the Prince's eye. I know little more than that of her," he added with a small shrug. "Sophie-Anne never seemed to keep her as close as the others. I mostly dealt with Andre and the twins when in New Orleans and seeking an audience with her. I don't believe Sookie even has a cousin. She has told me repeatedly her brother is the only family she has left."

All these questions about Sookie really had Eric wondering where Gabrielle was going with this and Eric found himself growing concerned for the telepath who seemed much too far away from him at present. "Sookie is my bonded, my human. I found her after Compton escorted her to Fangtasia in order to question me on a few deaths in her town of Bon Temps. While she was here, the police were preparing to raid the club. Sookie heard the thoughts of one of the officers and informed us so the vampires were able to get out before they arrived. Bill had claimed her at the time, Sookie didn't argue it, but once I found out about her ability, I rightfully claimed her ability for my use. I'm sure Stan's told you that much," he added almost as an afterthought. "But then..."

Briefly, Eric's voice trailed off and he shrugged slightly, a small, guilty smile crossing his pale visage. "She fascinated me. She belonged to Compton, they were 'dating.' I pursued her anyway, though never by crossing lines. We bonded initially after the attack on Stan's compound by the Fellowship. Eventually her and Bill parted ways," he summarized with a wave of his hand, "and Sookie came to me. We have been seeing one another since and have bonded once more only a few nights ago. My claim on her is complete and willingly accepted. She... she says I make her happy," he admitted with a small smile. Saying anything more seemed risky, but Eric trusted Gabrielle explicitly. "I care for her a great deal, I am very fond of her, and she is mine." Letting the smile leave his face, his brow wrinkled once more. "And she was nothing to Sophie-Anne. I don't believe they ever met. What is all of this about, Gabrielle? Is Sookie in some kind of danger?" Uncrossing his arms and placing his hands on the arm rests of the chair, ready to push himself upward at a moment's notice, he glanced to the door, ready to send one of his subordinates to Bon Temps to guard his telepath until he was available for the night. "What have you heard?"

Re: Stab My Back
Post by gabrielle on Aug 23, 2010, 8:09am


Now the city blacks out the sun that you know is rising
[image]
g a b r i e l l e b l a c k w o o d .
You can see that you're being surrounded from every direction
And love was just something you found to add to your collection



"I don't doubt it," Gabrielle agreed with a small grimace as Eric called Fangtasia his funeral. "Honestly, Eric, I don't know how you stand this." Certain things just weren't worth the money, though to be fair, Gabrielle hadn't seen Fangtasia's profits lately. No matter what they were, though, this was just tacky. "You two are welcome to stop by at any time. I'm all settled in and everything, completely prepared to entertain." She was quite proud of how nicely it'd turned out, even if the compliments from Compton had her wanting to redecorate. "No, that's very true," she agreed with a laugh, truly enjoying that she and Eric had so much history. There weren't many vampires she could say that for, and even fewer she had respected enough to actually want to stay in contact with. Eric was an excellent vampire, a strong vampire, and a good friend. Friends among vampires were nearly nonexistent.

"I do not believe I am," she answered as Eric said she was mistaken about Hadley Hale. "I would look into it. Bring up the name to your telepath and see what she says. I will have Ms. Hale questioned myself, but I believe the information is accurate." Pausing, she frowned slightly. "I also believe that Ms. Hale is the reason Sophie-Anne knew of Ms. Stackhouse's gift. They were lovers before she turned Hadley, and apparently she told her." That was the story Bill had given anyway, and he thought he'd been giving Gabrielle important information. He was bragging, there was no doubt about that, but she had no reason to mistrust it yet. "It requires looking into." She hadn't thought Hale was a threat, but now? She'd need to be questioned.

Nodding through Eric's explanation of what Sookie was to him, as well as their history, Gabrielle smiled slightly. Many vampires dismissed relationships between the species as insignificant, but she knew otherwise. It seemed that Eric was getting himself invested in one, which went entirely against what Compton had said, naturally. The guilty smile Eric wore told Gabrielle that he knew he'd pissed Compton off and that he didn't particularly care, which should have surprised no one. The other vampire was spineless, and worse than Eric really knew. She'd fix that soon enough. Really, she could only count the human lucky that she left Compton on her own. It showed intelligence that was unusual for a human. Her ability had always been Eric's to use, no matter what Compton thought, but now the claim seemed perfectly clear.

"They grow up so fast," Gabrielle teased with a small smile, enjoying hearing that Eric cared for a human the way he clearly did. Still, as Eric answered her questions on Sophie-Anne, the smile slipped. He really knew nothing. "Not as you mean it, no," she answered as Eric asked if Sookie was in danger, seeing that the vampire was ready to go defend his human. "Bill Compton just came to see me. It seems that Sophie-Anne was a bigger bitch than we knew," she began with a sigh, not accustomed to using such harsh language, but deciding it fit. "Compton came to express his deep and lasting concern about your heinous disloyalty and disregard for authority," she informed him, since he might as well know. If he'd told her, he was more than likely telling everyone else who would listen as well.

"He also felt it necessary to inform me that Sophie-Anne had agreed, and distrusted you so much herself that she'd hidden the database, which Compton is very reluctant to surrender to you, as well as another project specifically from you. In fact, his Area Investigator position was created specifically for those purposes. The other project disturbs me, though. It seems he was instructed to acquire Sookie Stackhouse for Sophie-Anne's exclusive use, to seduce the telepath in order to gain access to her abilities. It was the reason he was sent to Bon Temps, based off the information Hale gave to the former queen. He came to try to convince me to go over your head and allow him to secure Sookie once more, so she would be at my disposal, and that her current acceptance of your claim on her was a mere tantrum that would be eliminated if he explains what it really means to belong to a vampire, as if that pathetic excuse for one would have the slightest idea." Pausing for a moment, she allowed a tight smile. "I believe he was unhappy with my response."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 23, 2010, 8:10pm


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


"It is really not as bad as it may seem," Eric insisted with a smirk, amused by how repulsed Gabrielle seemed by Fangtasia. "Blood, sex, and money simply throw themselves at my feet. Believe me, i would not be spending my nights here if it weren't more lucrative than most could ever believe." Since leaving the coffin, humans had been intrigued and curious of the undead and their minds were filled with ridiculous stereotypes they had convinced themselves to be real. Eric didn't mind playing to those notions when he brought in so much more on a nightly basis than the Sheriffs who ran businesses like all night dry cleaners and grocery stores. "It's not Vegas, but what is?"he added with a smile. "I look forward to seeing what you did with the hotel. I'll inform Bianca of your invitation next time I see her.You know how she is. As soon as she hears it's finished, she'll be over there inspecting every inch and wanting to know where she can get the same." Bianca was really one of a kind.

All of that was much easier to talk about than where their conversation was obviously heading though. Eric didn't know what had spurred these somewhat ridiculous theories in Gabrielle, but he was sure it made for an interesting story. "Hadley Hale?" he repeated once more, dumbfounded. "That just cannot be. Sookie has always been very forthcoming with me," he insisted. "And she never mentioned a cousin, let alone a cousin who was a vampire. She has told all repeatedly that Bill is the first vampire she ever met." And Eric always thought it was unfortunate, because Compton really didn't count as a vampire in his book. Rubbing his forehead as she insisted her information was accurate, Eric really didn't see how it could be. "But Sophie-Anne didn't know." At least Eric didn't think she did. "I will bring the name up with Sookie and see what she says, though." He could do that much if it would put Gabrielle at ease.

Letting a smile play across his lips as Gabrielle teased him, the vampire shrugged his shoulders once. "It was bound to happen eventually. Everyone knew there was hope for me still," he joked back. "You really should meet her sometime. Sookie is... very special." Eric would go out of his way to keep his telepath from most other vampires, especially vampires who ranked over him, but he trusted Gabrielle and knew that Stan had a telepath all his own thanks to none other than Sookie. He felt secure in that much, which was appreciated when he was feeling less than secure that Sookie was safe because of his Queen's questions. Eric didn't relax in the slightest as she assured him Sookie wasn't in danger as he meant it, his body and features remaining tense as he waited. Whatever this was, it wasn't going to be good.

"Compton?" he repeated with a frown. What was that vampire up to now? He really wasn't following Gabrielle's line of thought. "I don't know about my heinous disloyalty, but my disregard for authority is rather well known and no doubt comes as a surprise to no one," he offered with as much of a smile as he could muster when so on edge. He really did play most things by the book with only a little creative interpreting now and then, but his Queen already knew that. "Sophie-Anne is dead in part for her disloyalty and disregard for my own authority," he pointed out, though Gabrielle obviously knew. "Compton is an ass-kisser. He always has been. He constantly tried to get around my power over him by running to Sophie-Anne. I am sure he is only doing the same to you now." He had even tried to warn her that he would. "He is no threat to me, no matter how much he wishes he could be."

Still, Eric found himself pausing as Gabrielle continued forward. It was true enough, the little computer program thing of Compton's had remained a mystery to him nearly until Sophie-Anne's end, but another project? The Viking had no knowledge of such a thing. "I've always known it was bull shit," he concluded with a minute roll of his eyes as the Queen spoke of Bill's 'title.' Any further words on that matter were silenced abruptly as Gabrielle pressed forward, caught in his throat as his eyes stared unblinkingly at her, the Sheriff left doubting whether or not his perfect ears could possibly be hearing accurately. It just wasn't possible. Letting a silence fall over the room as Gabrielle finished explaining, Eric tried to look at it from all angles, determined to see how it wasn't possible. He had questioned Compton's motives himself more than a time or two and when Sookie had so staunchly defended her relationship and the shared feelings, he had thought it was impossible, but had he expected all of this? Not in the slightest.

Leaning forward in his chair, his arms coming to rest on his desk, his head and gaze dropping to stare unseeingly at the papers strewn about it, he sighed. "Compton is desperate right now. He never believed Sookie would leave him voluntarily. Perhaps this is only a lie to justify pursuing her without her consent," he murmured quietly, but even Eric wasn't buying it. His pale hands clenched into fists, his head finally lifting to meet Gabrielle's gaze. "Sookie is not like us," he began quietly. "I should kill him. A betrayal such as this one will not bounce off her. She loved him." She had told Eric such frequently when he had pursued her and though it had only made him roll his eyes then, now he found himself wanting it to be true, if only so he had a chance to be loved by her as well. This would destroy her though. She may not have been with Bill any longer, but her feelings and commitment had been genuine. Eric was still competing to earn them for himself, but did he even have a chance? Sookie wore her heart on her sleeve and after learning how she had been manipulated and used, there was a good chance she would push away from him and all other vampires entirely. "She must be told, but this will crush her." Putting his head in his hands, he sighed heavily. "Are you certain it was not all a fabrication? Are you certain he was not simply being opportunistic?"

Re: Stab My Back
Post by gabrielle on Aug 23, 2010, 9:30pm


Now the city blacks out the sun that you know is rising
[image]
g a b r i e l l e b l a c k w o o d .
You can see that you're being surrounded from every direction
And love was just something you found to add to your collection



Shaking her head at Eric, Gabrielle didn't entirely believe that. "It seems pretty bad," she countered with a laugh, though with the way she ran things in Vegas, she had little room to judge. "I doubt that is new for you," she countered with a matching smirk as Eric bragged that blood, sex, and money threw themselves at his feet. Even she had pursued Eric a few times in her existence. "You could do so much better elsewhere," she insisted, not for the first time. She said so frequently. Vegas or California would do the vampire well, but he seemed committed to Louisiana for reasons she was only beginning to understand. "I'll give her all my references," she assured Eric as he told her Bianca would want to know where she could get Gabrielle's latest updates to the hotel.

Nodding as Eric repeated the name she'd given him, the older vampire simply shrugged. "This is the information I was given. Hale was the latest creation of Sophie-Anne? Perhaps she was not a vampire when Sookie knew her. I don't really know. Family turns up in all sorts of strange places." Gabrielle had heard rumors of much stranger family ties, even from her own past, though she hadn't truly looked into them. She was too old for that sort of thing. "Many meet vampires without even realizing it," she reminded Eric as he insisted that Sookie thought Compton was the first vampire she'd met. "You should know that lesson better than most." He'd had no idea what she was, after all, the first time they'd met. There were all sorts of possibilities, and she wanted it looked into before they were simply dismissed.

Shaking her head, smiling despite the serious nature of the information she was handing over, Gabrielle couldn't help but feel a small surge of pride over Eric. "They come around so rarely," Gabrielle sighed, crossing her ankles. "The special ones who just seem to haunt you. I'm glad you found one. I would enjoy meeting her. I saw her at Sophie-Anne's event, but it was an eventful night." There hadn't been much time to introductions to humans, and she'd been there with Stan, who enjoyed them very little. Gabrielle liked humans, though, or at least a few of them. The special ones, like she'd told Eric, made up for the rest of them. Really, that was why she was telling Eric this. She had no real obligation to tell Eric what Bill had confided in her, but if she'd been in his shoes, she would want to know.

"Compton," she confirmed with a nod and a matching frown, not enjoying even thinking about him. He had truly rubbed her the wrong way. Scoffing at Eric's response, she knew the vampire better than most. "You've never disregarded my authority," she answered with a shake of her head, since the disloyalty didn't even deserve a response. She had complete faith in Eric, and in anyone else, that might have been dangerous, but she knew he was worthy of it. Sophie-Anne had made a deadly mistake in mistrusting Eric, and Gabrielle was certain that it had gotten her killed more than anything else had. "That was why he came to me today," she agreed as he stated that Compton had tried to get around his power with the former queen.

Eric seemed almost unwilling to accept what she was telling him, but she didn't think it was any sort of lie from Compton's end. "I do not think that was it. I am certain he was being optimistic, but what he was telling me about this Stackhouse project was true. He was clear on his orders because he wanted me to allow him to continue with them. He dug his own grave with it," she added with a small frown, since he'd really been trying to dig Eric's. "You can kill him if you'd like. I'd prefer if you wait until the database is finished, Stan is quite excited about it, but it would be justified, or at least it would look that way." Gabrielle could take care of that. "I have already informed him that if he does not follow your orders and express loyalty to you in every way, I will have him relocated. We can, of course, do that anyway." She would take responsibility for all of it. "You can decide if, how, and when to tell her. If you would like someone else to do it, we can have that arranged as well. There is no changing the past, unfortunately. I will do what I can to help you with your future."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 23, 2010, 10:33pm


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


Waggling his brows as Gabrielle pointed out blood, sex, and money being thrown at his feet was nothing new, Eric simply smiled. "True as that may be, I think I will stay in Louisiana for a while. It isn't bad as it seems." Actually, it undeniably was, and the Viking was aware there were any number of states that would open their arms more than willingly to him. There had been a time he had been certain he aspired for nothing more than becoming a king, and at his age with his ability to fight, it wouldn't be difficult to do. Desires changed though, so did he, even if he didn't completely understand why. "It grows on you after a decade or so. You can trust if I ever do relocate, Vegas and California will be my first choices. I hear the Queen over those kingdoms is quite irresistible, so we already have some kind of common ground," he teased with a quick wink.

Had Eric known the lightheartedness of their conversation would end there, he may have tried to hang onto it longer, because this alternative was far from invited. He was inundated with information, all of which was bad news, and trying to process whether or not it could possibly hold any grain of truth to it was a difficult task. Brow wrinkled and eyes closed, he rubbed his forehead while thinking. "Family is of the utmost importance to my human," he answered almost distantly. He would be meeting Sookie's brother in only a few nights because it was important to her that he did so. "And Sookie would know had she met a vampire," he concluded, his head lifting. "We are the only ones who walk this earth that are silent to her. She keeps her ability relatively secret. Only a few know that she is actually a telepath. To this day, I remain surprised she actually exposed her gift during our first encounter..."

His voice trailed off and for a moment, Eric sat in silence, the only sound in the office being the rhythmic thumping of the club's music that leaked into the back. What was he thinking? What was he doing? Trying to prove it couldn't be true? Where did this trait come from suddenly? Of course Gabrielle was telling him the truth. Hadn't he been the one who had warned Sookie from the very beginning that she couldn't trust vampires? That she couldn't trust Bill as she was? Hadn't he been the one who had pursued her vigorously despite her complaints? Hadn't he selfishly decided only nights ago that he wouldn't give her up even though he was exposing her to more and more danger? This was Eric's world and he knew how it worked, even if he was furious to find it had worked this way for Sookie.

A clenched fist crashed down on Eric's desk, making all the things atop it jump, some falling to the floor as he stood from his chair and began abruptly pacing back and forth through his office. "This is a betrayal of so many varieties," he growled. "Her gift was mine. Sophie-Anne had no right to poach any from my territory, let alone someone with such a talent, but to use such methods to attain her? To send a thief and a spy?" That was really what Compton had been. He had received Eric's permission to move into Area Five under false pretenses. Eric had grown to suspect the younger Queen was afraid of him in the recent times before her second death, but he had never suspected this. "And then there is the betrayal to Sookie..."

Sookie. Eric really didn't want to think of what this would do to her; what this would do to them. His pacing abruptly stopped and he silently slipped back into his desk chair, feeling nearly defeated. The actions of a second dead Queen and a 'mainstreaming' monstrosity were still causing him grief, but what those things would do to Sookie, he couldn't even begin to imagine. Sookie was so pure, so alive, so trusting, so compassionate... they were things that had drawn him in immediately, and they were the very things that could be lost the moment she learned of this. Could he promise not to kill Bill before the database was completed? If the rage that was pumping through his system now was any indication, he couldn't. "I will leave those matters in Sookie's hands," he decided. Sookie could decide if Bill deserved death or at the very least, relocation, and he'd respect it... probably. "I cannot allow someone else to do it. I need to be there with her, for her, even if she would send me away once she hears of it. I need to do it myself or Bill needs to tell her, but she has to hear it from us." Shaking his head once, he frowned, his eyes finally meeting Gabrielle's once more. "I had believed when we left the coffin, we would cease some of this bullshit towards the living. Sometimes it is too easy to forget that we never change."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by gabrielle on Aug 23, 2010, 11:32pm


Now the city blacks out the sun that you know is rising
[image]
g a b r i e l l e b l a c k w o o d .
You can see that you're being surrounded from every direction
And love was just something you found to add to your collection



Shrugging slightly as Eric insisted he was staying in Louisiana, Gabrielle wasn't surprised, though she didn't truly understand. He could live so much better anywhere else, and his ties weren't to this place so much as some of the people there. People could be relocated easily, but she supposed she didn't have the full picture. "When you decide to relocate, I will be insulted if you do not come to either Vegas or California, if you do not strike out on your own and take some other state. Then, I will get to throw your first party." Eric was destined to be king somewhere. It was sort of strange he wasn't already, but she knew he wouldn't stay in Louisiana forever. Who wanted that, aside from Compton?

And Compton was clearly a failure of a vampire. Wondering if the information on Hale that he'd given her was correct, Gabrielle could only shake her head at Eric. "It requires investigation, whatever you believe now. Much was hidden from you specifically, and clearly from her. This sort of thing is exactly why it was so easy to take over the state. Sophie-Anne had all these elaborate schemes for no real, useful purpose. Someone is keeping secrets here, and it has something to do with this child of Sophie-Anne's. Someone has the answers, and I want them found." He would ask Sookie, and she would make sure that the Hale vampire was found and questioned. She'd normally put Eric on it, but now didn't seem the time.

Not even wincing as Eric's fist hit his desk, Gabrielle merely blinked, allowing him to get his anger out. Studying him, she realized just how much he cared for the human girl. She wondered if he understood what he felt or accepted it. "We cannot give her a third death," she reminded Eric, though it would've been nice. Sophie-Anne was long second dead, and had apparently deserved more than a beheading, but there was nothing to be done about that. "She was an unjust queen, and we killed her for it. It does not fix things, but it is justice for her political misconduct, if not the way she personalized her attack on your area's assets." That was how Sophie-Anne had seen it anyway, she was sure.

It didn't excuse that, and it didn't excuse Bill, who was very much around to take the fall for all of this. Watching Eric retreat to his chair, Gabrielle wondered what was running through his mind. She was sure it was nothing good. "And I leave them in yours," she agreed as Eric decided to leave things in Sookie's hands. "Whatever you decide to do, you have my support and permission." He could say it was on her orders for all she cared. Nodding at the decision that he would have to tell her, she could respect that as well. "If you decide Bill should tell her, I will order him to do such, but I would not trust him not to twist his words in his favor," she warned, though Eric already knew that. Frowning at Eric's words, Gabrielle shook her head. "This 'bullshit towards the living' is the work of cowards. Sophie-Anne was a coward, Compton is a coward. We are not cowards, and this is not our nature. I will not allow you to lump us in with those two. We will find a way to right this."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 24, 2010, 12:41am


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


Forcing his hands onto the arm rests of his chair, Eric's fingers dug into the delicate leather. With the grip he had on it, he'd no doubt need a new chair tomorrow, but that would be better than tearing his office to shreds. Political maneuvering was nothing uncommon to the Viking and though it was always infuriating, such a strong reaction was uncommon to him. He'd normally simply swallow the information and begin plotting a way to exact his revenge. The difference in this equation was Sookie. She had been treated as an insignificant pawn, used by everyone around her. Unlike the vampires in the equation, however, she was fragile. Eric had been wronged as well, but he was no victim. Sookie was. Would she even believe that he had played no part in this charade? It was the truth, but would she even want to? He couldn't blame her if she didn't, but that only made everything Gabrielle was informing him of now all the more infuriating. He had the chance at something he didn't understand, but that he wanted more than anything else, and now that was all in jeopardy.

"When do you intend on apprehending the newborn?" he asked after a long thoughtful moment. "Sookie will deserve some answers that questioning can produce. Though it would, of course, be your prerogative whether or not to end her once you have the answers you seek, I would consider it a favor if you would delay such a thing until Sookie has the chance to decide whether or not she would like to speak to her." Whether she was somehow Sookie's cousin or someone impersonating a relation to his telepath, Sookie probably deserved direct answers about it if she so desired them. There was nothing about this situation Eric failed to find frustrating. If only he could stake Sophie-Anne now himself...

"I would not allow Bill to explain himself to her without my presence," he stated honestly. Not now, not ever if he had it his way. He had been concerned about what Bill would do once he fully grasped that Sookie had no intention of returning to him, but he had never anticipated this, and it irked Eric to no end that Bill's act might end up coming between the Viking and his telepath. "If I go that route, I assure you, he won't have the opportunity to twist anything, or I will twist him into pieces." Pausing for a moment, the expression on his face that made it obvious he wanted to do just that vanished and he looked to Gabrielle's eyes once more. "If you were in my position, would you want to tell her yourself?" Being delicate wasn't Eric's strong point, but he didn't want to lose Sookie, not only after he had just truly attained her. He wasn't used to someone else being so important to him. He didn't know how to handle this. He didn't know if Gabrielle would have any experience or knowledge that would help him, but any advice would be helpful at this point.

"This is our nature, Gabrielle," Eric sighed after a moment. "Some of us are just more civilized than the rest." It wasn't as if either of them could really claim they didn't use humans, but the extent to which Sookie had been used nearly sickened him. Bill had bonded to her in blood for no reason other than to follow Sophie-Anne's instructions. It was not so different from the days when vampires would forge bonds with humans just to ensure they had control of them. "You are right, we are not like them, but we will pay for their sins." At least, Eric imagined he would. "I will want to take a look at Compton's home," he decided. "To see if there is anything else he is concealing. And I intend on looking deeper into his past then I did when approving him for residence in this Area." He trusted Gabrielle would support both. Taking an unnecessary breath, Eric felt as if every time he had something special, something took it away from him. "Thank you," he finally stated, forcing a small smile to his lips. "For telling me of this. I know you did not have to do such a thing, but I will appreciate it eternally."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by gabrielle on Aug 24, 2010, 1:21am


Now the city blacks out the sun that you know is rising
[image]
g a b r i e l l e b l a c k w o o d .
You can see that you're being surrounded from every direction
And love was just something you found to add to your collection



Pausing to consider Eric's question, Gabrielle tilted her head slightly. "I will make the call tonight. It might take a few nights to find her, of course. If she has any sense at all, she's in hiding somewhere, but I am confident that those I put on the case will find her quickly." Nodding once, she didn't think it would be a problem to delay ending the vampire, if she decided to end her after all. "I will do nothing until your telepath has spoken to her," she promised, since Sookie would no doubt help solve this whole thing. The two of them would have answers that no one else would have, and Sookie certainly deserved to find some of the answers on her own. She'd been controlled more than anyone would like, and this seemed a small way to make it up to her.

"Naturally," Gabrielle agreed as Eric said he wouldn't allow Bill to explain himself without him there. Eric's anger was natural, as it was his human who was seduced and deceived, but she really was pleased to see he cared so much. "Would you like him removed from the Area, temporarily or otherwise? It would be easy enough," she offered, knowing that if Eric didn't end him immediately, it might still be beneficial to have him out of town. She didn't honestly think Bill would be any help in telling Sookie all he had done. It would give her a target for her anger, yes, but Gabrielle couldn't imagine a scenario in which that confession went well. Eric was right, the telepath would be crushed no matter what, but if she had loved Compton, hearing the words from his mouth could only be painful.

Sighing at Eric's question, the queen sat back in her chair, nodding slowly. "I would, yes. I would want her to be able to look into my eyes, to look into our bond and see the truth, and to see the outrage over the way she was treated." Shaking her head, Gabrielle didn't like the situation in the slightest. "I have had many human lovers, some infinitely more significant than the others. I have never been in your position exactly, but humans always think the truth is what's best for them, even if it's painful. All you can do is be honest with her and then be there with her through her pain." It wasn't much, especially when vampires were accustomed to being capable of so much more, but humans were very complex. "She will need companionship and someone to hold her while she cries more than she will need anything else."

Scoffing as Eric insisted that it was their nature, she shook her head in clear disagreement. "There is no reason to treat humans as they have, especially humans who have earned better. It is more than being civilized." Some humans had intrinsic worth that was not meant to be abused, and that was exactly what Sophie-Anne and Compton had done. Nodding once as Eric said they would pay for their sins, she didn't doubt it, but she would make sure Compton paid as well. "You are free to search his home, of course, and to investigate him however you chose. My resources are at your disposal." She was sure he had his own, but it only felt right to offer. "I would not think of doing otherwise," she assured him as he thanked her for telling him, folding her arms. "I will make sure Compton stays busy while you investigate. I have plans for him. If he wishes to remain Area Investigator, I will loan him out to local and state police departments. He can investigate for and serve under the humans until he learns to treat them with more respect."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 24, 2010, 2:30am


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


"I imagine you are right about that," Eric agreed as Gabrielle theorized it could take a while to find the Hadley who had a great deal of explaining to do. "She must be the only remaining child of Sophie-Anne. Even without knowing this treachery to her supposed family has been exposed, if she has any sense of self preservation, she must be hiding. As soon as I speak to Sookie, I will contact you about whether or not they truly are kin. If Compton is simply selling an innocent vampire out, she must not be held accountable." Such wouldn't surprise him of Bill after this bombshell, and if a newborn was ended because Gabrielle and Eric hadn't thoroughly investigated first, they would really be no better than Compton and Sophie-Anne. "The former queen employed a demon lawyer to tend to her affairs. Her estate has continued to pay his wages while her affairs are settled," he stated while scribbling the name and number for the demon in question down and passing it across the table. "He was fond of Sophie-Anne and the vampires she made. If you contact him and inform him you are searching for Hadley, he may help, he may want to warn and protect her. Either way, with eyes and ears on him, he will lead you directly to her." It is what Eric would do to track her down, but if Eric did it himself, there would probably be no chance to question her before something unfortunate happened.

Considering the offer, Eric internally weighed the options. If Gabrielle sent Bill away, he would be less likely to kill the younger vampire the first chance he had, but if Sookie wanted answers from Bill, he'd be unavailable to provide them. If he allowed for Bill to stay, Eric was putting Sookie in more danger. Eric's claim on her hadn't deterred the cowardice vampire in the slightest and appealing to a new monarch for permission and encouragement to continue his quest proved he was both bold and desperate. Sookie may have the chance to yell at him and to lecture, but the cost of that could be unthinkable. She may have rescinded Bill's invitation to her home, Eric doubted she'd reinstate it any time soon, but they were located far too close together for the Viking's comfort. "Yes," he finally decided with a nod of his head. "I want him out of my territory until further notice, yet reachable by phone. Chain him in silver to a computer desk so he can continue work on his program thing for all I care, I want him out of Bon Temps and out of Area Five until this is fully righted. His newborn may stay," he added, unsure if Gabrielle was aware Compton had recently tried his hands at being a Maker. "I will see to it that an eye is kept on her with his absence, but I will not punish her for the sins of her creator." Jessica had actually chosen sitting alone in the upstairs of his telepath's farmhouse with only the sounds of Eric and Sookie enjoying themselves to entertain her. The least he could do was give her an empty house all her own for a bit.

Listening carefully as Gabrielle offered him advice he never would have thought he had needed, it was still almost overwhelming how Sookie had so easily dragged him into such unfamiliar waters. He hurt for her, and what was possibly more, he felt sorry for her. Never did Eric allow himself to feel guilt or remorse, he didn't feel sympathy, shame, or pity. Even if such a thing was deserved, he was uninterested in offering it. He felt all of that now. He felt guilty he hadn't found her first, he was sorry another of his kind had used her in such a degrading way, he felt badly that her feelings had been only requited with lies, he was ashamed Bill and Sophie-Anne had done this to her because she was a human and could be manipulated, and he already felt for the pain she would experience when everything she believed came crashing down around her. He often begged her not to cry. He wouldn't make a single plea this time.

"I have never had a human lover like this. Never. Not in a thousand years," he admitted with a small shake of his head, once more getting to his feet before heading to a small fridge and pulling out a bottle of blood. Setting it in the microwave above it, the Viking felt like he needed it. He felt drained. He had promised he would do his best to keep her away from harm and to never hurt her, but he would be destroying a piece of her heart and he would be the one delivering the blow that could never be erased. He hated himself for what he would have to do to her, but Gabrielle was right, of course. He needed to do it, and he needed to be there for her, even if she pushed him away. Plucking the bottle of blood from the microwave, he took a long drink from it before returning to his seat. "The fates are too often cruel this way, but I will fight for her. I will fight her for her if I must. And I will prepare myself for a great amount of leaking." As best he could, anyway.

Nodding once as Gabrielle pointed out the whole thing involved more than being civilized, he could concede that much as he took a drink of blood. He really wanted to believe vampires could be capable of more than he thought, more than he knew, but this seemed to be only further proof that it couldn't be and that he would never be or know more than he was. "You are too gracious, Gabrielle," he murmured with a small smile as his Queen offered him her resources to investigate his own 'investigator.' Eric had no intention of siphoning off the responsibility to anyone else, however. If Compton had any further secret, Eric intended on uncovering it with his own two hands and he'd leave no stone unturned. Sookie deserved that much. Letting his smile become more genuine as Gabrielle explained her plan for Bill, Eric took a drink of the bottle of blood and nodded. "I quite like it, especially if it is outside this Area." The land between Shreveport and Baton Rouge was decidedly more redneck and since Bill considered himself some kind of southern gentleman, Eric was confident he'd be more than miserable. "You can trust that if I do allow him back and do not choose to end him, I will be thoroughly reminding him of who he must respect and serve here as well." Hopefully by then, Compton would have completed his database, because Eric wouldn't be remotely bothered by taking his hands...

Re: Stab My Back
Post by gabrielle on Aug 24, 2010, 3:04am


Now the city blacks out the sun that you know is rising
[image]
g a b r i e l l e b l a c k w o o d .
You can see that you're being surrounded from every direction
And love was just something you found to add to your collection



Vampires in hiding were incredibly difficult to find, but lucky for Gabrielle, Hale had to still be something of a newborn. It was entirely likely that she didn't know much about concealing herself. She couldn't imagine Sophie-Anne gifting her with knowledge of survival skills that she doubted the former queen herself possessed. "I believe so," she agreed with a nod as Eric theorized that Hadley was the only remaining child of Sophie-Anne, having made sure it was carefully investigated. "No, of course not, I would never dream of punishing an innocent party," she assured Eric, having every intention of getting to the bottom of this before any decisions were made. Taking the name and number of the lawyer from the vampire, she nodded before stashing it away in a pocket of her jacket. "That will be very helpful," she agreed easily enough, the lead being exactly what she needed to get the investigation started. It shouldn't be hard with that information. Naturally Eric would know the best way to go about finding the vampire, it was just a pity he couldn't look for her himself. No matter, it wouldn't be hard now.

Nodding in approval as Eric decided that sending away Bill really was the best course of action, Gabriele couldn't have agreed more. She wasn't surprised by his sympathy for the newborn either, given Eric's history as a Maker. "I will send him to Stan," she decided at once, mentally reviewing all the arrangements that would need to be made. "He's always eager for someone to fix and update his computers and all that, and that way Stan can oversee the completion of the database. We will make sure he never leaves the compound without supervision until further notice," she assured Eric, confident that Stan would agree, even if he probably wouldn't want to interact with Compton personally. She was sure he would have plenty for the lesser vampire to do, and the menial tasks would no doubt frustrate him to no end. It was perfect. "Would that suit you?"

Smiling very slightly as Eric admitted to never having a human lover like Sookie, she shook her head. "You have missed out greatly," she decided, though it seemed he was making up for it now, or at least trying. "Getting involved with one is always such an adventure. They are so fragile," she sighed, never having found a way around that fact. Of course, Gabrielle had turned her truly important human lovers, but then they weren't human anymore. Of course, they didn't necessarily last even when they were vampire. "This isn't cruelty," she corrected almost gently. "Not yet. You still have her, and still have the chance to fight for her. Perhaps it will bring you closer together." It would be a difficult road, but they had one to travel together, and that meant hope was not lost. It made him lucky, in the long run, even if things seemed bleak now.

Waving a dismissive hand as Eric called her too gracious, Gabrielle only wished there was more she could do to help the situation. As it was, only Eric would be able to help now. "Oh, it will be. I have heard the police in Texas are really very hostile to outsiders. It should be quite unpleasant for him." Once Bill was allowed to return home, he could frequently be sent all over the country to investigate crimes. She would even put Eric in charge of that. "You can control his assignments if he returns, of course," she informed him, voicing her thoughts and nodding at the idea of Eric putting Bill in his place. "Yes, he needs a strong reminder. His behavior has been unacceptable several ways over, and I will not have that sort of nonsense in my state. I would not mind making an example of him," she added, in case it was a problem elsewhere. "Is there anything else I can do to help you with this? I know it is a lot to take in."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by Sookie Stackhouse on Aug 24, 2010, 3:39am


I remember years ago someone told me I should take caution when it comes to love, I did
[image]
s o o k i e s t a c k h o u s e .
Falling out of love is hard, falling for betrayal is worse
Broken trust and broken hearts, I know, I know



Sookie was angry. Furious, really. Angry, and furious, and all sorts of other upset. Except she wasn't. She was dressed up nicely to go see Eric and driving to Shreveport to do just that, but the overwhelming emotions hitting her nearly made her pull the car over to see if she was going crazy or something. The closer she got to Shreveport, the stronger she felt them, and it was really concerning. Something was very wrong with Eric. If they weren't her emotions, they had to be his. It was just the first time she'd felt them so strongly from so far away, and they were just so negative. There was a whole jumbled mess of them, and she couldn't get to the club fast enough to make sure he was okay. She needed an explanation, and just to make sure he was safe and whole. She couldn't imagine what had gotten under his skin like this.

She wasn't going to risk getting into an accident over emotions that weren't even her own, though, so Sookie still drive carefully, despite how she'd seen the car handle in the past. She didn't even feel in complete control of herself, so she certainly didn't feel in complete control of the car. She still made it to Fangtasia in one piece, though, so she considered the drive a success, even if she'd honked angrily at maybe a few too many people. She really needed to learn to control her end of the bond better, but she hadn't had any real need before this, and she'd never felt Eric this angry. She half expected to see Bill's car in the parking lot, but as Sookie parked herself in the staff lot, she saw only the regular cars.

Walking to the front of the line, despite some very loud protesters, Sookie gave a small smile to Chow at the door. He waved her right in, even if he didn't look too happy about it. Eric had taken care of making sure she got into the club without a problem a while ago, and it looked like it paid off. It only took a quick look around the place to realize Eric must've been in the back, but as she headed that way, she was stopped by Pam. It took a little arguing and insisting that Eric wouldn't mind seeing her, but eventually Pam was distracted by some sort of bar fight, and Sookie got to slip past her into the back of the club, to the hallway she had kissed Eric in just the other night. Smiling at the memory despite what she was feeling from Eric, she moved quickly to his office, knocking on the door.

Too honestly worried about him to be worried about being polite, she opened the door to his office. Immediately breathing a sigh of relief as she saw Eric whole and in one piece, Sookie took in the mess of things that had fallen from his desk to his floor with a frown, wondering just what had happened. "Eric, hi," she began, not really having planned what she was going to say. "I felt..." Glancing to the female vampire in the room, she wasn't really sure what to tell him. "Are you okay? I was really worried," she explained vaguely before forcing a small smile for the woman. "Hi, I'm Sookie," she introduced herself, not wanting to be entirely rude now that she had completely barged in on what was clearly a meeting between the two vampires. Still, she'd been genuinely worried for Eric's safety when she opened that door, and she was sure he'd understand that.

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 24, 2010, 4:24am


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


Poor Stan. It was the first thought that traveled through Eric's mind as Gabrielle decided her fiancé would make for the perfect host to keep an eye on Bill. From what he had picked up in Dallas, when Sookie had been helping to rescue Stan's imprisoned nestmate from the Fellowship of the Sun, Eric had gotten the clear impression that the then-Sheriff didn't much care for Bill Compton. Then again, who did? Nodding once at her plan for the Area Five Investigator, it seemed fair enough. He didn't know if Compton would suffer nearly as much as he deserved to, but he could see to that himself in time. "I would consider it a personal favor if you would see to it that he was deprived of fresh blood," he murmured with a frown, recalling what Sookie had confessed about Bill's last trip to Dallas. "He has played with blood too much in recent history to have the pleasure of knowing it for some time."

Returning Gabrielle's smile with a small one of his own, before Sookie, Eric hadn't wanted such a relationship with a human. The idea, though satisfying enough in theory, was never very appealing in practice. It was senselessly risky, his blood was too precious, the human too vapid... the list of reasons seemed endless. Sookie was something different, something special, and if what he already felt was any sign of things to come, Gabrielle was right. He had missed out. Or perhaps he was just meant to not know such a thing until he found her. "I am not sure how this could possibly bring us closer together," he retorted, really doubtful such a thing was possible. Sookie would have every right to be furious with the undead, and Eric was what he was. "But I will fight." It would always be a fight. This one just might be bigger than others.

Taking a drink of blood from the bottle of TrueBlood, it wasn't doing a damn thing to silence the drained feeling within him. Bill would pay for what he had done to Sookie for as long as he walked the earth. Eric would personally see to that, and Gabrielle seemed more than willing to contribute to such a thing as well. "It is a great deal to absorb," he agreed honestly, his mind still reeling as he attempted to adjust to all the information. "But I am already indebted for what you have done and offered. I can think of nothing else I require immediately, though after I speak to my human, that may not be so true." If Sookie required anything to make dealing with this easier upon her, Eric would see that it happened. "I will let you know..."

His voice stopped abruptly at the knock to the door and Eric snarled while slamming the bottle of blood down on his desk. "I specifically said I was not to be interrupted until further notice, Pamela," he growled, really unsurprised when the door swung open anyway. That was how Pam was, of course, but the face on the other side of the door didn't belong to her. Blinking once to make certain he wasn't projecting the image of his thoughts on one of his children, the voice that met his ears was definitely that of Sookie's. Rising immediately to his feet, Eric crossed the room in half a second, his arms coming to rest in a firm grip on her arms as his blue eyes looked urgently over her from head to toe for any sign of something amiss. If Compton had gotten any kind of hint from Gabrielle that he would be kept even further from Sookie, Eric didn't want to imagine what his desperation may have cooked up...

"You are fine," he stated as his eyes returned to her own, almost dumbfounded by the observation. With the urgency in which she had entered the room, he was almost surprised. "What are you doing here?" Her presence in his office now seemed to be the fates informing him his night was far from over and that he needed to inform the telepath of all he had learned immediately. Glancing back over his shoulder at Gabrielle as Sookie introduced herself so casually to the Queen, he cast her a glance of both pain and apology, the expression a mixture of what he felt for Sookie now and his responsibility for protocol. Vanishing the evidence of the expression from his face, he put on his normal Fangtasia mask before looking back to Sookie. "Lover, as you can see, I am in the middle of something at present, so now is not a good time for a visit. I should not be much longer here. I need for you to go to my home and wait for me and I will join you there shortly." This would definitely be something that needed to be discussed by them in private, despite how understanding and helpful Gabrielle had been. Reaching into his pocket and withdrawing his keys, he held them out for her. "It won't be long."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by gabrielle on Aug 24, 2010, 6:46pm


Now the city blacks out the sun that you know is rising
[image]
g a b r i e l l e b l a c k w o o d .
You can see that you're being surrounded from every direction
And love was just something you found to add to your collection



Raising her eyebrows slightly as Eric asked his personal favor, Gabrielle nodded, keeping her curiosity to herself. "I will see that it is taken care of," she agreed, knowing that would only make it easier on Stan. He wouldn't have to supply Bill with donors, just bottles of blood, and that was perfectly easy. "I am sure there is a story there," she decided, though he didn't have to tell her. She could only guess that it had to do with Eric's telepath. "Stan did not particularly like Compton when you visited. I am sure he would be happy to see that his stay is unpleasant." Her fiancé wouldn't have to deal with Compton directly, of course, but there were many, many other ways to make a vampire unhappy. She was sure that Stan could be creative.

Smiling slightly as Eric expressed doubt in her words, Gabrielle shook her head. "Humans are strange like that. If you are there for her through sadness and heartbreak, it will let her know that she can depend on you. She has been wronged, but not by you. It is important that you both remember this." Gabrielle wasn't sure she was the best source for relationship advice considering all of hers had ended one way or another, but she'd clearly experienced more of them than Eric had. "You will have to," she agreed as Eric seemed to assure both of them that he would fight. "Women are very strange creatures. Dealing with us romantically is not always easy." Gabrielle knew that about herself as well as other women. Eric was in for a battle, but it wasn't truly one he had fought before. He would need to adapt as he learned this particular style of combat.

Nodding, Gabrielle knew that it was, in fact, a great deal to absorb. She'd had to absorb it herself not long ago, though from a very different perspective. It was a lot of information for anyone, though, and information that had previously been hidden. It was all very disturbing, but she didn't feel that revealing it to Eric was inappropriate in the slightest. "I would have wanted to know," she answered with a small shrug as Eric said he was already indebted to her, not needing his gratitude for this. He had enough to deal with without feeling indebted to her, and she knew that. "If she needs anything, you know how to reach me," Gabrielle offered, feeling indebted to the telepath herself. She wasn't Sophie-Anne, but her responsibilities had to go to someone, and that made it her job to make things up to Sookie, somehow. She doubted such a thing was possible.

Turning at the sound of a knock on the door, Gabrielle smiled eery slightly in amusement at Eric's antics over his child's interruption, though as the door actually opened, the woman on the other side looked nothing like Pamela. Judging from Eric's reaction, there was really only one person it could be. Raising her eyebrows slightly in interest, she tilted her head, watching the two together. Trying not to laugh at the girl's very casual interruption to herself, she nodded, an amused smile on her lips. "It is a pleasure, Sookie," she replied, waving her hand dismissively at Eric's apologetic glance. Now wasn't really the time for protocol, and it wasn't like Sookie knew who she was. It was clear that she was just concerned for her vampire, and with the anger Eric had displayed in the room, who could blame her? Still, she was surprised that Eric dismissed her when they so clearly needed to talk. Gabrielle would have left herself, but it seemed that Eric had other plans. He always had been careful to respect those he actually did respect, though, no matter what anyone else said.

Re: Stab My Back
Post by Sookie Stackhouse on Aug 24, 2010, 7:21pm


I remember years ago someone told me I should take caution when it comes to love, I did
[image]
s o o k i e s t a c k h o u s e .
Falling out of love is hard, falling for betrayal is worse
Broken trust and broken hearts, I know, I know



Frowning at Eric's yelling from the other side of the door, Sookie can't imagine why he was yelling at Pam when she was across the club. There was no way even a vampire could hear him. Still, she decided that wasn't really her business as she pushed open the door despite Eric's yelling at her child, her frown of confusion remaining as Eric looked at her with a mixture of confusion and disbelief himself. Blinking, a little startled as Eric was suddenly in front of her, she wondered why he had such a strong grip on her arms. He was studying her really carefully, and she couldn't understand why. She was the one worried about him, not the other way around. Well, at least that's what she'd thought. It seemed she hadn't been entirely right, because she felt a lot of concern from him, and she could see it in his face. She could see it, but she didn't understand it.

"Of course I'm fine," she answered, searching his eyes for any sign of why she wouldn't be. He just looked worried, but she couldn't imagine why. He was the one throwing off all the strange emotions into their bond. Nothing was wrong with her. Why would it be? She was just going to see him and sit with him in Fangtasia as a surprise. She'd gotten out of work early and thought it'd be a nice way to spend the night, but now she wasn't so sure. Was he so upset to see her? No, he'd been upset before. "I was worried about you," she explained very quietly, glancing at the strange vampire and wondering if it was a good idea to say any more in front of her. She'd never met her, and she didn't know how much she was supposed to say in front of vampires she didn't know, especially ones who could upset Eric to such degrees as she obviously had. What had she walked in on?

Frowning at the mask Eric wore when he looked at her again, Sookie was almost taken aback. He was hiding something from her, and she couldn't understand what or why. It was one thing to hide things from the other humans in the club, but not her. The strange vampire couldn't even see his expression. The only one he could've been hiding from was her. A little hurt, Sookie's jaw clenched at his words. Looking between him and the strange vampire she wasn't sure what she had walked in on, but she really wanted to know. Pulling from the hands on her arms, she took a step back. She was definitely being dismissed. He was dismissing her. Taking a deep breath so she wouldn't say something to undermine Eric in front of the strange vampire, because at least one of them could be nice to the other, she shook her head. He really was dismissing her. Unbelievable.

"Fine," she snapped, taking the keys from his hand, careful not to touch his skin. "I'll see you there." Without waiting for him to answer, she turned and walked back into the hallway. She was embarrassed, and humiliated, and now had her own anger on top of what she felt of Eric's. She also felt pretty stupid for worrying about him when it was obvious he was just fine. Just fine, and with some female vampire who was way too pretty for Sookie to be comfortable being dismissed like that so he could be alone with her. Sulking all the way to her car, she got in, using all her control not to slam the door behind her. Taking a few breaths before she started it so at least she'd be able to drive safely, she took off towards Eric's house, remembering the path from the other night, though tonight felt so much different, and not just because she wasn't breaking all sorts of traffic laws getting there. She'd wait at Eric's house like he wanted, but then he'd have a whole lot of explaining to do.

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 24, 2010, 9:06pm


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


"Isn't there always?" Eric asked rhetorically with a weak smile as Gabrielle theorized there was a story behind the Viking's request Compton be deprived of fresh blood. It wasn't something Eric was going to share though, not when Sookie had been so upset and humiliated when confessing her experiences to just him in private. Of course, that little tidbit paled in comparison to what his Queen had told him tonight, but it was still something the vampire would keep mum on. "Compton calls himself a mainstreamer despite abundant evidence to the contrary. It is about time he actually does what he claims to without any alternative available to him." That would be enough of an explanation without having to betray Sookie's confidence. "I will be certain to send my sincere thanks to Stan for his contribution, but I would appreciate if you pass on my gratitude to him immediately when informing him of all of this."

Eric may not have had much experience with genuine human-vampire relationships, but he already knew women were very strange creatures. Dead or alive, they were all very strange creatures and nearly impossible for him to understand. Add the romantic involvement to the equation and the Viking was nearly a hopeless case and well aware of it. It made him appreciate Gabrielle's advice all the more. And his Queen was right. He hadn't been the one to wrong Sookie, not this time. He was left with the task of informing her of her betrayal, but he wasn't the one responsible for it. He couldn't let himself forget that. No matter how guilty he felt for what others had done to her and for what he had been blind to, it wasn't his doing and he never would have approved of it. "I will keep all of this in mind... and thank you," he stated once more. He didn't want anyone unnecessary finding out about all this to spare Sookie, and most of the other women he could trust with it would either laugh at him or would start rearranging his furniture. Gabrielle's input was invaluable and would help him when actually exposing Sookie to what he had to.

He just hadn't been ready to expose it to Sookie right now. The idea that the telepath would be heading to Shreveport to surprise him had never even crossed his mind. He hadn't bothered trying to bite back any of the emotion that had rolled over him as Gabrielle had informed him of her meeting with Bill. He had counted on the distance between them to keep her blind for now, so he hadn't made any effort to block her from it. He felt another stab of guilt as Sookie looked up at him, so obviously worried about what she had felt from him on her journey, but he couldn't explain, not properly, not with Gabrielle right there and with so many other vampires and humans only a short distance away. This was a private matter, and though he couldn't say that now, he hoped Sookie understood.

Sookie didn't understand. "Sookie..." he began, his voice trailing off as she pushed herself away from his grasp and glared at him, snatching the keys from his hands without so much as a single touch to his skin. It left him sighing quietly, especially when her touch to his skin always seemed to produce a jolt through the vampire's entire being. Watching as she turned and headed back out the door, his eyes closed for a long moment as he listened to her angry retreat from the club and the Viking was left metaphorically crossing his fingers she wouldn't simply turn around and drive to Bon Temps. Slowly turning around to face Gabrielle again, the mask he had so quickly worn to keep Sookie from worrying was gone again.

"I couldn't do it here. The chance of interruption was too great," he explained with a frown, momentarily feeling all his thousand years. Eric wasn't a procrastinator, he faced things head on, but Fangtasia really was all wrong for this. He also couldn't just dismiss his Queen, not for a human, even if Gabrielle was more than understanding. "With what needs to be discussed having been so, I humbly ask your permission to go to her," he continued, unsurprised by her approval. Walking the Queen back to her waiting vehicle, Eric was silent as he opened the door for her and watched her gracefully enter the vehicle. "I will contact you before dawn with what I learn about Hadley," he added with a forced smile. "Thank you again, Gabrielle."

Closing the door to her car, he watched as the driver pulled out of the lot before glancing to his parked Corvette and shaking his head. A day in the Fangtasia lot wouldn't destroy it, he was relatively certain, and he needed to get to Sookie now. Taking to the sky, it was a very short flight to his own front porch, and as he landed there, he found the driveway empty. Sitting down on the step, he could feel Sookie growing slowly closer. She really needed to learn to drive faster. As the car finally turned into his driveway, he stood from the step, making his way to the car to open the driver's side door for her, though from the look on her face it wasn't a very welcomed gesture. Following her silently to the front door and keeping a respectable distance away since she was still very clearly angry, he waited for her to unlock the door before following her inside, closing and locking the door behind them. Remaining facing the closed door, he let a small smile cross his lips. "Were you really worried about me?"

Re: Stab My Back
Post by Sookie Stackhouse on Aug 24, 2010, 10:15pm


I remember years ago someone told me I should take caution when it comes to love, I did
[image]
s o o k i e s t a c k h o u s e .
Falling out of love is hard, falling for betrayal is worse
Broken trust and broken hearts, I know, I know



It was all Sookie could do not to scream to the confines of her car. She barely resisted, even though no one could hear her. She was so frustrated with him! She'd rushed to Fangtasia, worrying the whole way, only for him to dismiss her once she got there?! She'd thought Eric was better than that. She thought he respected her more than that. She was sure there was an explanation, but she had deserved to hear it before him practically ordering her to his house. Smacking her steering wheel at a red light in frustration. She wasn't going to speed to get to Eric's house, she wasn't going to lose that amount of control, but did she really have to hit every light in Shreveport? Trying to remind herself that all the anger and frustration she was feeling wasn't entirely her own only helped so much when her own was rising.

Pulling into Eric's driveway didn't lift Sookie's mood much. There was Eric, sitting on his front step like everything was fine. If his meeting was going to end so soon, she could've just stayed at Fangtasia. Hell, she could've stayed in his office, since all they really would've had time to say was goodbye. What was so urgent about that that she couldn't stay around? Parking the car in Eric's driveway, she frowned as he opened the door for her, like that made up for just dismissing her from his office so he could have more time with his guest. She'd been worried! She'd told him, repeatedly, that she'd been worried. At least he could've told her that he was okay, that there was nothing to worry about. But no, he'd just told her to leave. Opening the door for her didn't do anything.

Walking to his front door, she took a few tries to unlock it because she was so frustrated. Putting the key on the table just inside the door once she was inside, she waited for him to lock up, crossing her arms while watching him. Frowning at his first question, she practically growled in frustration before storming into his living room, plopping down on the couch and wishing it seemed more mature than it actually felt. "Like you care. You didn't even tell me you were okay after I worried all the way there." It wasn't the most mature answer, but she was upset! She'd been nearly panicked for him, and he pretended like nothing was wrong, wearing that mask he wore whenever he didn't want someone to know what was going on inside his head, and told her to leave. "Yes, I was worried! You were so angry, so upset!" That seemed like such an understatement.

"What the hell is going on?" she finally asked, crossing her arms and watching him carefully. "I don't think I've ever felt you that angry, and then that vampire was in your office, and you made me leave?" She didn't have to explain to him what happened. She was the one asking him what had happened, after all. "The only reason I even came back here is because you're not normally like this, but if you're gonna start dismissing me when I come to visit you..." Shaking her head, she took a deep breath. "I get that you have business and stuff to do, and that there are vampires you don't want me around, but I was really worried about you. You could've at least told me you were okay. And you looked at me with that mask you wear around other people!" He wasn't normally like that around her. Were things changing cause they were sleeping together now? Had she made a mistake with the whole thing? She really hoped not...

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 24, 2010, 11:06pm


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


If the darkness that had settled over Eric's mood had been any lighter, the vampire would have chuckled as an actual growl escaped Sookie's lips before she stormed out of his entryway and towards the living room, the vampire tracking her by her footsteps before turning away from the sealed door. She was definitely his bonded, there was no doubt about that. Instead of being amused and perhaps even a little aroused, Eric just sighed, standing immobile in the entryway as he took a quick, silent survey of the house, searching for any sign of another in his dwelling. No, they were alone, which was what he needed, and also what he dreaded. Everything could change tonight. He wasn't sure he was ready for that.

Finally following Sookie into the living room as she spoke, instead of taking a seat on the couch beside her, he sat down on the floor in front of her feet, his eyes looking up to her sulking face. "You can accuse me of many things, lover, but never accuse me of not caring. Not when it comes to you." Especially not tonight. The only reason Eric was risking everything he had with her was because he cared and respected her enough for her to know the truth. He could have sworn Bill to silence, ended Hadley, and ask Gabrielle never to speak a word of it. The entire issue could have been swept under the rug. He wouldn't do that to her though. He couldn't. He didn't want to.

Nodding his head once, his hands lifting from beside him to grip the arms so firmly crossed in front of her, he began gently prying them apart. "I was very angry. I was very upset. If I told you I was fine, it would have been a lie. If I told you I was fine now, it would also be a lie. I will not lie to you unless I must. You are upset I am not concealing the truth?" he asked, his eyes seeking her own out. If that was the case, perhaps he should keep his ancient mouth shut. "Sookie, I am furious along with many, many other things, and I will explain such to you, but Fangtasia was not the place to do so. Fangtasia will never be the place to do so. You know my opinions on our privacy. This matter is for us and not something I wish to share with my subordinates and the trash." Hopefully it wasn't revealing too much too quickly to admit the feelings Sookie had been inundated with had to directly do with her.

"The vampire in my office was my superior," he continued. "That was Gabrielle Blackwood, Queen of the kingdoms of Louisiana, Nevada, and California, and the information we had been discussing when you entered was both sensitive and political in nature. Gabrielle did me a great service tonight. I was not dismissing you so much as I was making it clear I was not dismissing my Queen. Such a thing was necessary, especially after my loyalty was called into question by another this evening." Sighing once, he looked up into her eyes, his hands wrapping around her own. "I did not want to concern you anymore than you already were, but my mask is now off. I trust you can see such. Thank you," he continued genuinely, quietly. "For not fighting me in my office. I know you are not pleased with me, but I thank you. I also must ask that you hold back your anger to answer me one thing. It is very important. Do you have any family aside from your brother? An aunt or uncle? Niece or nephew? A cousin or two perhaps?"

Re: Stab My Back
Post by Sookie Stackhouse on Aug 25, 2010, 12:04am


I remember years ago someone told me I should take caution when it comes to love, I did
[image]
s o o k i e s t a c k h o u s e .
Falling out of love is hard, falling for betrayal is worse
Broken trust and broken hearts, I know, I know



Staying angry in Eric's house surrounded by things that pretty much screamed Eric was really hard. Sookie cared about him too much not to listen to him, but she was trying really hard not to cave so easily. She wanted to forgive him for the whole thing, but she wanted an explanation first. She deserved an explanation. She couldn't understand why he would treat her like that, what he would do what he did when he had to have known it would upset her. How could it not? She hated being ordered around, and that was exactly what it felt like Eric had done, all while she'd been worried about him. She'd only gone there in the first place because she wanted to see him, and he hadn't been remotely happy to see her.

Sookie couldn't help but feel a little confused at Eric sat on the floor in front of her. "What are you doing?" she asked, trying to stay upset and confused at the same time. Looking into his eyes as he insisted he did are about her, she melted a little. She couldn't help it. She felt so much every time she looked into his eyes. It eased her anger, but not her frustration with the way things had unfolded. She had every right to be frustrated, and she was worried on top of it. She still felt what Eric felt, and she could feel that he really was being truthful with her. He did care about her, and she knew that, and she felt it. "I'm sorry," she replied with a sigh, meaning it. It wasn't fair for her to say he didn't care, but this whole thing was just so confusing. She was so worried about him, and he was acting so strangely. She didn't like it.

Letting Eric unfold her arms, she searched his eyes as her hands moved into his, tugging lightly to try to get him to sit up on the couch with her. She was uncomfortable with him sitting on the floor like that. Still holding onto his hands, she sighed as she listened to him, shaking her head. "No, I ant you to be honest with me," she answered, still worried about him but not wanting him to assure her that he was okay if he wasn't. She wanted him to tell her the truth, and if he wasn't okay, he wasn't okay. He didn't feel fine. Nodding slowly as he explained why he didn't want to talk in Fangtasia, she could understand that. Eric was a very private vampire, and she respected that, but there was a way to do things. "You could've just asked me to wait there if you weren't gonna be much longer," she suggested, but she couldn't stay as mad as she was when she understood not wanting to discuss anything personal at that club. "And you didn't have to look at me like that."

Biting her lip as Eric told her who the vampire in his office had been, Sookie very nearly winced. She was pretty sure she should have introduced herself a little more formally, and probably bowed or curtsied or something. Pushing that thought to the side as best as she could for the moment, she nodded slowly, trying to understand everything he was telling her. Her eyes went wide as Eric told her that his loyalties had been called into question, she could hardly believe it. "Eric, that's awful! Are you okay? She didn't believe it, did she?" she asked in quick succession, holding his hands a little tighter. "No wonder that'd make you so angry," she sighed, not liking that one bit. Of course he'd been acting so strangely around the queen when someone was saying that sort of thing. "It's okay," she told him, understanding better now that he explained. "Don't worry about that. You must've had a really hard night." She could forgive him now that he told her what had happened. Of course he'd been confusing. It seemed he really wasn't done being confusing though. "My family?" she repeated, sure she was looking at him strangely. "No, it's just him," she began, though she hesitated as he mentioned other children. "I had an Aunt Great Uncle Bartlett, he... um... he died. And an Aunt Linda, but she died a few years ago," she continued quickly, certainly not wanting to talk about the first relation. "Linda had a daughter, Hadley, but she went missing years and years ago, while I was in high school. She was in some awful trouble, drugs, stuff like that, but no one's heard from her since. Other than that, it was just me, Gran, and Jason for a while. Now it's just the two of us, far as I know. What does that have to do with anything?"

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 25, 2010, 1:21am


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


"I am sitting," Eric answered, resisting the urge to smirk at Sookie's question. The vampire seated on the floor in front of her would have thought that much was obvious. He hadn't picked his location at random. From here, he could see Sookie's face, she couldn't turn away from him, and she couldn't run. When she was already as angry as she was, he needed to take every necessary precaution. Once she calmed down, he would be completely willing to sit beside her and to hold her, but he needed to know she wouldn't run before he ever had the chance to tell her everything. Shaking his head as she apologized to him, Eric wanted to silence the words. "There is no need to apologize to me," he insisted. He regretted having to send her away as he had. "I just... wish you would never be uncertain of how I feel." Eric didn't understand his own feelings, they were a foreign and strange thing to him. He needed Sookie to have some kind of confidence in them though. If not, well, he doubted they had much of a chance in surviving the night.

Shaking his head as Sookie pointed out he could have just asked her to wait there, he sighed. "I didn't know how long it would be, I could not have you in the room, and I did not want you to have to endure the company Fangtasia offers when you were sharing my emotions." He probably would have ripped a human to shreds as a substitute Bill had he gone back into the club after meeting with Gabrielle. He hadn't even been able to risk telling Pam or Chow he was leaving for the evening when he was in such a mood. Only Sookie could save him from it. "I sent you to my sanctuary. I made it clear you knew my resting place. If you think Gabrielle believes I simply dismissed you or disposed of you, or that you are just a human play thing, you would be wrong. She recognizes how important to me you are. And you are important to me." He really couldn't stress that enough.

Stroking his thumbs over her hands as she suddenly clung to them more tightly, if she was upset over the accusations of disloyalty on his part, he didn't entirely know what to anticipate in what would follow. Shaking his head, he offered her a smile. "Gabrielle and I share a lengthy history, one that has been built upon a mutual respect and trust. She wanted to warn me of what another was attempting to spread." Fucking Compton. "I am fine in that respect," he continued, wanting to reassure her since she seemed more upset about Bill's words than he had been. They seemed expected to Eric. "But that is really only part of it. That is the small, insignificant part of it. I am accustomed to Bill's games. In regime changes, it is not uncommon for vampires to turn against one another in order to gain ground and approval with the new royal. You do not need to be concerned of it."

Nodding once as Sookie echoed his question about her family back to him, he continued cradling her hands in his own, lifting one to his lips and kissing it as she seemed to consider the question. He arched a brow as she sounded almost uncertain about her uncle's death before pressing forward. For a moment, Eric wondered if perhaps this Bartlett was a vampire, but as she pressed forward, the thought fled his mind. "Hadley," he repeated, his eyes momentarily falling closed. "Hadley Hale?" he decided to ask, though it seemed obvious now that it was. Everything Bill had said to Gabrielle, with the exception of Eric's loyalty, had been unfortunately accurate. "Unfortunately, lover, that has to do with everything." He really didn't know how to continue. Getting to his feet and pulling his phone from his pocket, he sent a quick text message to Gabrielle before grabbing an arm chair and pulling it directly in front of where Sookie was seated on the couch before sitting down and once more taking Sookie's hands. He didn't usually have to break this kind of news to anyone. Usually, he was the one causing this kind of news for someone. "Sookie, your cousin is dead," he stated with a sigh. "Dead as I am dead. A vampire, a newborn. Was your cousin very aware of your gift? Were the two of you very close before her... trouble?"

Re: Stab My Back
Post by Sookie Stackhouse on Aug 25, 2010, 2:21am


I remember years ago someone told me I should take caution when it comes to love, I did
[image]
s o o k i e s t a c k h o u s e .
Falling out of love is hard, falling for betrayal is worse
Broken trust and broken hearts, I know, I know



Shaking her head at Eric as he stated that he was sitting, Sookie rolled her eyes slightly. "I can see that. I know you're sitting. I mean why are you sitting down there?" There was no shortage of seating space in Eric's living room, as nice as his floor was. She couldn't imagine why he was down there. "Should I be sitting down there too?" Maybe it was some strange vampire tradition. She guessed she'd heard stranger. "Yeah, there is," she argued as he said there was no need to apologize. "I know you care for me. You've shown me that and I can feel it. I was just upset," she explained, though she was sure he'd caught onto that part. Smiling just a little as he said he wished she'd never be uncertain of how he felt, it wouldn't be easy for her, but she knew she owed him the effort. "I'll really try not to be."

Nodding slowly once again as Eric explained why he hadn't just had her wait at Fangtasia, it made plenty of sense now that she was removed from the situation and was calming down. Sitting in the club after all that would've just made her mad too, and she knew that. He was right, he'd sent her to the place he felt most safe, even if she wasn't happy being sent anywhere. That he'd made it clear she was important to such an important vampire wasn't something she could just dismiss either. "You're important to me too," she replied, her anger nearly entire faded away. It was hard to argue when Eric was so reasonable. He had all the answers, and when it came down to it, Sookie was pretty sure he'd done the right thing, even if she hadn't liked it at the time. "And I like that you let others know it too. I know you were worried about important vampires thinking too much of our relationship." He'd told who he could, and that meant a lot.

Sookie didn't know how Eric was smiling over accusations of disloyalty when that sort of thing could have serious consequences to vampires, but as he explained, she thought she got it a little better. They trusted each other too much to let others spread lies. Sookie was grateful for that. She still didn't know too much about vampire politics, but she knew that being friends with the queen had to have some serious advantages. "Wait, Bill said that?!" she interrupted, understanding Eric's rage even better now. "And how would he know anything about your loyalty? He knows nothing about you! Oh, I am gonna give that vampire a piece of my mind," she ranted, feeling her own share of anger now. "He is such an ass." She knew Bill had been upset about their break up, but this was just inappropriate! "I'm really sorry he's trying to take out his anger over me on you. That's not fair."

Nodding as Eric repeated Hadley's name, Sookie couldn't imagine why Eric wanted to know. Was he really so enthusiastic about meeting Jason this Monday that he wanted to learn more about her family? It seemed like a random time for it. Frowning as he added the last name, Sookie shook her head. "Hale's not her real name, that was Gran's last name before she got married. Hadley Delahoussaye. She changed it when she ran away." It was one of the last things they'd heard from her before the drugs and prostitution took her away. Frowning in confusion as she watched Eric, her eyes went wide at his words, her heart dropping. "Dead?" she repeated, on the verge of tears before he explained that she was a vampire. "Oh, thank goodness. Don't do that to me," she sighed in complete relief as she pressed a hand over her racing heart. "Yeah, she knew about it. We weren't really that close. She was a cheerleader, real popular. Everyone loved her, and I was younger and... sort of a freak. She didn't want a whole lot to do with me. She knew what I could do, though. Why? And how do you know she's a vampire? Has someone found her? Is she okay?"

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 25, 2010, 3:24am


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


"I am sitting here to keep you from running," Eric answered Sookie's inquiry without hesitation. It was the truth. His telepath had already calmed down considerably from the way she had entered his home, so she'd probably think blocking her means of escape was an unnecessary tactic for Eric to employ, but too soon, he was sure she would understand why. Arching a brow as she asked if she should join him on the floor, he looked at her as if that was the most bizarre question he had ever been asked. "Why would you do that?" he asked in turn. "Is my furniture uncomfortable for you? I can acquire something new." Vampires were quite 'comfortable' anywhere doing anything. It was just as comfortable standing for three hours in too-small shoes as it was laying atop a giant pillow. Humans seemed to be more picky about such things. Shaking the thought from his head, Eric actually chuckled. Of all he had to discuss with her, of all the thoughts running through his mind, they were discussing seating arrangements. Only with Sookie...

"I know," he murmured with a sigh as she assured him that she knew he cared, but that she was just upset. He doubted Sookie really knew upset yet. What had happened in his office seemed entirely trivial when compared with what was left to say, so Eric could really only brace himself for the worst. "Gabrielle knows you are my bonded. She is no threat to you nor to us. Part of her coming to me this evening was a courtesy to actually help me protect you and us," he continued cautiously, not ready to expose too much too quickly. "She will not attempt to come between us." Others had been willing to encourage her to do so, but she hadn't and wouldn't. When Eric was going to expose her to a rather negative side of vampires, he had to hope she realized they all weren't like that. It was the only hope he had right now.

Nodding once, his lips pursed together as Sookie expressed her exasperation over Bill being the one to accuse Eric of disloyalty. It was an anger Eric shared, for so many reasons. "Bill knows enough about me to know it profits him to have me ended," he answered with as little emotion as if he were talking about the weather. He was furious, he was, but this was how things worked in his world, and his anger over the accusation was nothing compared to his anger at Bill's other information. "He did not know Gabrielle has known me my entire existence, and after everything that happened in Dallas, he knew he did not stand much of a chance gaining ground with Stan. He desires what I have and he went for it. It is not uncommon," he concluded with a shrug. "It is not fair, but it is not your fault," he quickly added. "And it did him nothing but a disservice in the end. He did himself and myself many more potent disservices tonight."

Clearly, Bill's information had been accurate, a fact that was unfortunately apparent as Sookie confirmed all Bill had said and even elaborated on it. Not understanding why Sookie's eyes were already on the verge of leaking, he watched a series of emotions flutter over her features in a matter of seconds, enough he could have gotten dizzy if he would've been capable of such a thing. Blinking once as she threw a series of questions at him, he cataloged them all mentally before taking an unnecessary breath. "I know she is a vampire because... well, I have met her," he answered with a shrug. "Both when human and once turned. I had no idea she was of relation to you, however. Hadley was a companion of Sophie-Anne Leclerq, the former Queen of Louisiana." The one who had planned on having Eric killed. "Sophie-Anne eventually turned her." Sookie had unknowingly probably contributed to her cousin earning immortality. "As far as I am aware, she is fine... for now... and the only one of Sophie-Anne's children who hasn't been ended since the takeover. Her age makes her no threat to us." But she sure managed to be a threat to Sookie.

Keeping Sookie's hands tightly within his own, he held them in her lap. "Lover, when Bill went to Gabrielle, he attempted to exchange information for favor," he explained slowly, each word painful for him to part with. "One piece of information he gave her was that your cousin had gained favor with Sophie-Anne by telling the former Queen of her cousin, who could read the thoughts of humans." Pausing only a moment to let that information sink in, he hoped she would understand the gravity immediately. He had implored her to keep her gift as secret as possible. This was exactly why. "Sophie-Anne was intrigued. You are already aware of how useful your talent is to us, so it should come as no surprise that she wanted your ability at her disposal. There was a problem, however. Namely me."

Closing his eyes for a long moment, he reopened his eyes to meet her gaze. "You recall after you came to Fangtasia the first time, I claimed your gift for my use. It was mine to claim. So long as you lived in my territory, you were at my disposal. Sophie-Anne could borrow you from me, but it would always take my blessing and payment to me for your services." He loathed talking so clinically about such things with her now, but it was the only way to understand. "Apparently, that was something she was unwilling to do. At the time this must have happened, I did not even know you existed. Sophie-Anne would have known if she attempted to remove you from my territory without ever informing me of your gift and I came to discover both it and your origin, there would have been costly repercussions. So, it seems, she took matters into her own hands by going in a different direction. Are you following this so far, dear one?"

Re: Stab My Back
Post by Sookie Stackhouse on Aug 25, 2010, 4:17pm


I remember years ago someone told me I should take caution when it comes to love, I did
[image]
s o o k i e s t a c k h o u s e .
Falling out of love is hard, falling for betrayal is worse
Broken trust and broken hearts, I know, I know



Sookie wanted to wrap her arms around Eric, to hold onto him and let him know that she cared too, but she couldn't do that with him sitting on the floor. Settling for holding onto his hands, Sookie nodded slowly at the knowledge that Gabrielle knew how important she was to Eric and wouldn't try to come between them. "That's nice of her," she decided, since not many vampires actually seemed to want to help others and those important to them. "She must be a good friend." Eric needed more of those, really. If she was going out of her way to help Eric protect her, she must've been a lot nicer than the other queen had been. She didn't know too much about her, but she did know she'd tried to get rid of Eric. Sookie wasn't too upset she was dead.

Angry all over again as Eric so casually said that Bill wanted Eric dead, she didn't know how he was so calm about it. The very thought had Sookie holding onto his hands tighter, as though that would keep him there. At least she was pretty sure that Bill couldn't actually take Eric in a fight, so she figured Eric was relatively safe, especially with vampires in positions of power on his side. "It might not be uncommon, but it's wrong and awful. How could he sink so low?" That wasn't the Bill she had known, but she was starting to realize she'd been completely wrong about him the whole time. If he could actually try to have Eric killed... "I hope he gets in trouble for it. He can't just do that to you!" Sookie had planned to stay away from Bill unless he came near her first, but now she was going to let him know she'd make his life hell for doing anything to Eric.

Blinking back at Eric as he said he met Hadley, she just couldn't believe that. "You met Hadley? More than once?" she repeated, clearly confused. "A companion of the ex-queen?" That really didn't sound right. "Why would Sophie-Anne have been friends with Hadley? How would she even meet her? Last we heard from her, Hadley was into drugs and prostitution, things like that..." That didn't seem like the kind of people who were friends with vampire royalty. "I'm glad she survived, I just can't understand how we could possibly be talking about the same girl." Shaking her head, she corrected herself. "Vampire. She's really a vampire?" It was so strange to think of the Hadley she grew up with all fangy, but at least she was still around.

Making herself focus on Eric's words as he continued, she frowned as Eric brought up Bill again, still pretty confused about how this all connected. Her eyes went wide as Eric finally told her, hardly able to believe what he said. "Hadley would do that?" she asked, her voice a little shaky at the prospect. Hadley had abandoned her family, though, and had been into some seriously bad stuff. Maybe she hadn't known what it would mean to tell that sort of thing. Nodding as he said Sophie-Anne was interested, that would make sense. Everyone was interested in a telepath. It wasn't new, but it was dangerous. At least it had turned out fine this time, though. Clearly Sophie-Anne had died before she'd figured out a way around Eric.

Searching Eric's eyes to see what was upsetting him so much, since Sophie-Anne was permanently dead after all, she nodded as he went on to explain why he had been able to claim her gift when she'd went to Fangtasia. She didn't like it, but she knew by now that was how vampires thought, and he was explaining how things worked, not how he personally felt. Frowning as he began explaining that Sophie-Anne had taken matters into her own hands to go around the protocol, she shook her head as Eric asked if she was following so far. "I do for the most part," she answered slowly. "But she didn't take matters into her own hands. She never came after me. I've never even met her." Sophie-Anne might have been interested in her, but she'd never worked for the ex-queen. She had never even asked.

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 25, 2010, 7:59pm


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


"Bill could sink lower," Eric countered as Sookie insisted the much younger vampire's acts were unthinkable. Granted, the Viking wouldn't have thought Bill could sink much lower than trying to have him ended for disloyalty, but now he knew far better, and he was disgusted by it. "In light of the accusations made by him against me and the exposure of a far greater betrayal, I have had Compton removed from my Area until further notice." He doubted Sookie would like that much, at least at present, since she seemed to still care for Bill more than Eric liked, even if he was an ass. "Gabrielle is sending him to Texas to be supervised until he completes his database, and he will stay there until I decide whether or not I will allow him once more in Area Five." Really, with Gabrielle's blessing echoing through his mind, Bill would stay there until Eric decided whether or not to stake his silent, worthless heart.

"Yes, I have met Hadley numerous times," he nodded once. "But I promise you, I only became aware of the connection you share tonight. Whenever I was called to New Orleans by Sophie-Anne, Hadley was somewhere nearby, though usually not as near as her other children. They were not 'friends,' my lover," he added with a weak smile, finding the naivety of his telepath both precious and rare in this world. It was unthinkable that he would be ruining so much of her innocence and rose-colored ways tonight. "They were fucking. Sophie-Anne was drawn to and attracted to humans of plight, humans who were victims of their circumstance. Your cousin's involvement in things such as drugs and prostitution were probably what made Sophie-Anne notice and take to her initially." And it was probably Hadley's information, like what she had provided about Sookie, that had made her more than a temporary entertainment to the Queen. "I assure you, she is a vampire. You will be able to see for yourself if you so choose. As I speak to you, she is being tracked down by the new regime for questioning on this matter." He didn't know how she would receive that.

"It seems so," Eric answered almost gravely as Sookie questioned whether or not her cousin would really betray her to Sophie-Anne in such a way. "I do not know why your cousin would expose you in such a way, though I am not without theory. I had hoped the information Bill had provided would prove as false as his information on my treachery, but your confirmation that the former Queen's newborn is your relation makes it painfully obvious it is not." And he hated Bill a little more for that. He hated that Bill had kept so much from him, that his loyalties were so askew, that Sookie would be so crushed, and that the world as she knew it would be so changed. Eric was disgusted he hadn't had so much as a clue to any of this before. If he had ever had so much as an inkling of a clue, things could have been so very different, but this was how things were, and they weren't good. "Perhaps Hadley did not realize what she would be exposing you to. Perhaps none of this was her intention." Or, and possibly more likely, she hadn't cared what happened to Sookie, so long as the information gave her more time with the vampire she was infatuated with.

"No, lover, Sophie-Anne did take matters into her own hands," he stated with a small shake of his head, a sigh escaping his lips. "Before I knew of you, before you knew of me, or any other vampire personally, a vampire went to Sophie-Anne from Seattle," he continued slowly, almost wanting to close his eyes. "Compton wanted to relocate to Louisiana, and he came with the prospect of a database he would share with her. When he offered up his history to my former queen and she learned his human life had been spent not only in Area Five, but within Bon Temps, only a short distance from your residence, she decided Bill could be of great use to her. She could not remove you from my Area, she couldn't take you away from me, but another, politically uninfluenced vampire could. If given the chance to make you his, he could convince you to leave Area Five, to reside in Area One, to work for the Queen..."

Eric couldn't stop now. He had to get it out, for both of their sake. "So she sent him to me, to seek residency in my Area. I had no idea the true nature of his request. The idea of a vampire desiring to return to his human home did not seem so unnatural to me," he continued. "Pathetic? Perhaps, but I did not think much of it, since it aligned with my initial impression of Bill. He seemed harmless, I didn't believe he would be any great trouble to me, and Bon Temps held no interest to me that I would be concerned of his influence there. I never suspected there was more to his request than what he presented. I had no idea he was here to spy on me for Sophie-Anne, no idea his entire purpose seemed to be to flout my authority, but far more important and significant, I had no idea he was sent to acquire a specific human for her use."

The rage in him threatened to bubble to the surface again, it was definitely potent in his veins, but just looking at Sookie was enough to quiet the aggression for her. She was the one who had a right to be mad and hurt now, not him, not even for her. "He went to Bon Temps with the intention of attracting you and luring you to him. He was sent to have you fall for him. He used everything he could to ensure that you would be invested in him enough to do what he needed you to, so he could use you and bring you to Sophie-Anne to complete his assignment." Had Sookie not insisted on Bill taking her to Fangtasia that fateful night much earlier, had Eric not learned of her and claimed her gift for himself, things could have been much worse, for the both of them, but he doubted Sookie would even think of that now, when he was sure her heart was breaking. "And tonight, he sought permission from Gabrielle to continue that work for her." Taking an unnecessary breath, he kept his eyes on her face, though it was a nearly impossible task. He had never pitied another this much. "Lover, I swear to this, I had no idea. I never would have allowed for such a thing to happen had I even suspected it, but I believed his intentions and affection were genuine." Eric was usually suspicious of everyone and everything, but yet again, Sookie had been his blind spot, his weak point. He hated being the one to tell her, but, at the end of the night... "You had the right to know."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by Sookie Stackhouse on Aug 25, 2010, 9:34pm


I remember years ago someone told me I should take caution when it comes to love, I did
[image]
s o o k i e s t a c k h o u s e .
Falling out of love is hard, falling for betrayal is worse
Broken trust and broken hearts, I know, I know



Frowning as Eric insisted that Bill could shrink lower, Sookie held tightly to his hands. "What could be lower than trying to have you killed?" she argued, entirely unable to think of anything. Eric was incredibly important to her. She couldn't think of many things that could possibly hurt more than losing him. Nodding slowly as Eric said that Bill was being sent away, Sookie didn't like that she wouldn't get the chance to yell at him, but she understood. "Of course you wouldn't want him around," she agreed with a frown. "I don't want him to be able to hurt you." That was most important right now. She knew Eric was a lot stronger than Bill, but she didn't want the younger vampire getting lucky. "I just want you safe. That's what matters." What Bill did to Eric was unforgivable.

Sookie couldn't really get over the shock of the idea that Eric had met Hadley so many times when Sookie herself hadn't seen her in years. "How could you have known?" she agreed as Eric said he only learned of the connection between them tonight. Sookie hadn't known that Hadley was a vampire or associated with vampires, and Sookie was sure that Hadley didn't know that she knew any vampires. Blushing a little as Eric said that Hadley and Sophie-Anne were more than friends, Sookie wasn't sure when Hadley had changed so much, but clearly she had. "Well that's... um..." She wasn't really sure what that was. Pretty weird, really. She'd ask if Sophie-Anne had made her happy, but she didn't think too highly of the ex-queen. "I'd like to see her," she told him with a nod, frowning slightly at the idea of Hadley being questioned. "They won't hurt her, will they?"

Her frown only deepened at the idea of Hadley giving away her secrets like that. Had Hadley asked if she'd be hurt when she told all this to Sophie-Anne? Had she cared? That she was validating information Bill had given was disturbing, but not more so than the information she was currently receiving. It was so strange to be hearing all of this, but maybe Eric had a point. "Maybe," she agreed with a sigh, hoping he was right and that Hadley didn't mean any harm. "I'd like to think that." Hadley had gone down a bad path though. "She didn't care much about her family after things went wrong with her. She didn't even come to Aunt Linda's funeral." To think that she would've thought twice about telling Sophie-Anne Sookie's secrets was probably wrong.

Keeping her eyes on Eric's as he began explaining that the ex-queen had taken matters into her own hands, Sookie almost didn't understand what she was hearing. It was like he was speaking another language. Shaking her head, she was ready to tell Eric that she didn't understand, to ask what Bill's move had to do with anything, but he really was explaining. She just... couldn't understand. Her mind didn't want to. "Bill..." she started to say, but she couldn't finish, and she didn't know what she would have said anyway. "He was sent here for me?" It couldn't be true. It just couldn't be. She'd met Bill by chance. She'd saved him from the Rattrays, then he'd saved her. All that had been a coincidence. It had to have been. It wasn't like he could have set that all up.

She believed Eric when he said he had no idea what Bill had wanted when he requested permission to move to his Area. She couldn't even think of that though. She couldn't wrap her mind around Bill doing something like that, let alone try to figure out whether or not Eric had known. Eric didn't want to hurt her, but she'd believed Bill wouldn't want to hurt her. She'd been thinking she was all wrong about Bill, but she'd never have suspected this. This was unthinkable. "He can't!" But as she looked into Eric's eyes, reached out for anything that could help her understand, she felt the full force of their bond. He believed what he was saying to her. He was sure of it. And he felt so bad for her. That was what brought the first tears to her eyes.

Taking one of her hands from his to put it to her mouth instead as her body trembled slightly with the effort not to cry, she shook her head. "How could he do this?" She didn't understand, but she believed him. She still believed him as he said he had no idea, though she couldn't even voice that. Instead, she slipped from the couch to wrap her arms around him, desperately needing something she could hold onto, and needing to be held. She'd been so, so wrong. He'd never loved her, not even close. It was just a trick to get what he and some other vampire wanted. Sobbing into Eric's shoulder, she couldn't even think of a response. He'd lied. Everything he'd done had been a lie. She was tempted just to run, not to trust Eric either, but she could feel him as part of her, hurting with her. "I didn't know..."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 25, 2010, 11:03pm


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


"Plenty," Eric answered as Sookie asked what Bill could possibly do that was lower than wanting him dead. All of it would have been unthinkable to him before tonight, however. Eric felt as naive as Sookie for once. He had believed Compton held a basic respect for human life, he had believed the most damage Bill could do was a well placed whine. He really had underestimated the Civil War relic. "I didn't send him away because he is a threat to me," the Viking corrected. Bill being a threat to Eric was an insult to Eric. "I am having him removed so he cannot hurt you." She couldn't understand that at present, he knew, but she would. "I have asked that he be reachable by phone should anyone need to... confront him, but I do not think that option should be entertained until the dust from this has fully settled." He just wanted her to know the option would be there. That he hadn't simply sent Bill away without considering what she may want or need in this.

Allowing his smile to become slightly more genuine as a blush rose to Sookie's cheeks as she grasped what Hadley had been to Sophie-Anne, he would seize the opportunity to smile with his telepath since it would probably be the only chance he had to do such a thing tonight. "She will be available to you. Simply tell me when you would like to see her, and I will make the arrangements with Gabrielle." Pausing at her question, he was almost angry once more. Not angry at Sookie, not angry at her concern, but angry that anyone Sookie could show such compassion towards would betray her in such a way. Hadley did not deserve family like Sookie was. "What happens to Hadley will depend upon you," he finally answered. "Gabrielle has left her punishment in my hands and I have decided to leave it in yours. I know that may not make you comfortable, but it is you who has been wronged. I will respect your decision, but you must understand the entire situation before making up your mind." If it was up to Eric, she'd be sharing a stake with Compton.

Watching Sookie wrap her mind around what he was telling her was a painful experience. He could practically see the cogs in her mind turning while fighting the truth as best she could. He couldn't blame her for that. She had given herself to a vampire who had claimed to care for her, a vampire who claimed to be so unlike any of the other vampires she had encountered. Perhaps Bill had lived up to the latter. In Eric's eyes, he had proven himself far worse. Treating humans in such a way was an archaic practice, but treating someone as special and as important as Sookie was as she had been was sickening. He hated watching her figure things out. He wanted to make none of it matter, but even Eric knew it did. He had never felt so utterly bad for someone else. He wished it didn't have to be this way. He would give most anything to change it.

It was difficult to see the tears falling from her eyes, to be the one causing them, even if he wasn't the source. It made him want to rip Compton to shreds even more, if that was even possible, but he couldn't. He wouldn't. He needed to be there for her. His eyes remained on her face and he did his best not to wince as she pulled her hand out of his grasp in order to silence some of the sobs that were escaping her throat. It was never easy for Eric to see her cry, but he'd make no effort to stop her now. Shaking his head only an inch or two from side to side, he sighed. "I don't know," he answered honestly. "Lover, what he has done is not acceptable. Not to me, not to Gabrielle. This kind of thing is not okay. He had no right and he will pay for it, but I know that does not undo what has been done."

Almost surprised when Sookie suddenly sank into his lap, the vampire wrapped his arms around her, one hand moving to her head, supporting it and stroking it as she sobbed into his shoulder. He tilted his head towards her own, letting the arm that held her to him gently run over her back as soothingly as he could. Eric was a problem solver, he got things done, but there was nothing he could do, and he felt as helpless as she must have felt. He ached for her as he silently held her, the only sound in his house present that of her crying and ragged breath. He wanted to kiss her, but he didn't. "I know, dear one," he whispered as she stated she hadn't known. "No one did. You could not have known. None of this is your fault." He hoped she didn't think it was. He would rather she blame him. He blamed himself. If only he had suspected something, perhaps it could have been stopped. "I am so sorry he has done this to you."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by Sookie Stackhouse on Aug 25, 2010, 11:52pm


I remember years ago someone told me I should take caution when it comes to love, I did
[image]
s o o k i e s t a c k h o u s e .
Falling out of love is hard, falling for betrayal is worse
Broken trust and broken hearts, I know, I know



Sookie couldn't imagine anything Bill could do could be lower than trying to have Eric killed, except maybe trying himself, and Sookie was glad that he wouldn't have the chance when he was out of state and it sounded like he was being watched. Opening her mouth to correct that Bill wouldn't hurt her, Sookie promptly closed it before nodding thoughtfully. Months ago, she'd have sworn that Bill wouldn't hurt anyone, but he'd just tried to have Eric killed. Besides, Bill had hurt her in the past, in other ways. Who was she to say what Bill wouldn't do? She clearly didn't know him as well as she'd thought she had. "I don't even want to talk to him," she decided with a shake of her head. Yelling at him would only be a waste of time, and she didn't want him in her life.

Nodding again as Eric told her that Hadley would be available to her, Sookie wondered what it'd be like to see her cousin again after so long. She was pretty sure she still wanted to, even after knowing what Hadley had done. She had to know if she'd known it would dangerous if she told. She had to know what Hadley was thinking, and if she was sorry. Shifting uncomfortably as Eric told her that Hadley's punishment was in her hands, he was right, she didn't like that at all. "I'll have to see her first," she told him, not sure she would be able to even think about punishment for her cousin, but she had to know what she was thinking. She had to know the motivation behind all of this before she could even think of the consequences for everyone.

Sookie couldn't believe what the consequences of Hadley's betrayal had been. She couldn't wrap her mind around Bill coming to Bon Temps with the intention of getting her to trust him like that. Who did that? Who manipulated people like that? She could hardly take a breath as she thought about all the nights she'd spent confiding in Bill. She felt physically sick as she thought about the nights they'd spent in each other's bed. She'd trusted him with her body, with her heart, and that had been his plan all along. She couldn't even comprehend how someone would do something like that. He'd actually planned getting her to love him so he could take advantage of her. Shaking her head from side to side, hand still covering her mouth as though that'd quiet her sobbing in the slightest, she couldn't imagine how any punishment of Bill would make anything better. It didn't matter, it wasn't like he'd cared. It was painfully obvious he didn't care about anything.

Clinging tightly to Eric as he wrapped his arms around her, she buried her face in his shoulder, unable to even look at him. She could see the pity in his eyes, and it was almost painful to see. She couldn't even think of that in the face of everything else racing through her mind, though. Shaking her head, nearly choking on her sobs as he said that no one knew, that wasn't true. "He knew. He was lying to me the whole time!" Even that much was so hard to understand. She wanted to pick apart every moment of knowing him, but with every new thought just came more pain. She was sure she could feel her heart in shreds. Sookie could only shake her head as Eric apologized. "Not your fault," she tried to tell him, though she wasn't sure she was remotely coherent through the crying. Eric hadn't done anything but tell her the truth. Bill was the one who had lied to her, who had intentionally hurt her like this. She had so many questions, but she couldn't even begin to know where to start. She wanted to know why and how he had done all of that, but Eric wouldn't have those answers. Only Bill would, but the thought of talking to him again just made her cry harder. Feeling the need to say something to the vampire she was clinging to, she wiped her eyes as she looked up at him. "I'm ruining your shirt." It wasn't the smartest or most relevant thing to say, but it was the only thing that came to mind as she saw the tear stains on his clothes. "I'm sorry..."

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 26, 2010, 12:59am


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


"That is reasonable," Eric agreed as Sookie decided she would have to see Hadley before deciding if she wanted anything to happen to her. There wasn't a single part of Eric that believed for even a second that she would seek any kind of revenge on her cousin. Even if Hadley confessed and gloated about what she had done and showed no remorse whatsoever for what she had done, his telepath would turn the other cheek and insist it was best to put the past in the past. That was Sookie though. It was one of the many things Eric couldn't understand about her, but also, wouldn't change for anything in the world. He had to hope that things like this, things that exposed her to such an ugly side of his race and made her a victim of vampires in such a significant way didn't change it for her. "No matter what, we will respect your wishes." It was important with all he would be telling her that she believed and understood some actually gave her value she deserved.

Eric could actually feel Sookie becoming unraveled. It was a strange thing, watching her mind work ahead of his words, watching her breathing change, her eyes water, and hearing her heart suddenly racing in her chest. He didn't like this. He hated it. He was a man of action and he was helpless to aid his bonded. He could only bear witness and it was frustrating and infuriating. He hoped Gabrielle had Bill out of Bon Temps already. He hoped Stan kept him locked away for the night and following evenings because every fiber of Eric's being demanded retaliation for the source of Sookie's pain now. He didn't know if he could stop himself from flying to Bon Temps or to Dallas tonight in order to get it. He had to push it back though, because as rewarding as that would be, Sookie needed him. At least, Eric wanted to think Sookie needed him. It was difficult to tell when her suffering was so clear, suffering Bill had caused because Sookie had allowed herself to care so much more for him than he deserved. If he was remotely honest with himself, he was a touch jealous, but he couldn't and wouldn't think on that now.

He kept a hold on her as she sobbed almost violently into his shoulder, and he stared unblinkingly ahead of him at the place she had vacated on the couch as he stroked her back. "He did know, and he was lying to everyone," he agreed. "But you could not have known. You could not have suspected this. It never should have been a possibility. There is no justifiable excuse for what he did." Sookie was a victim, a victim of political maneuvering and vampire selfishness. He had never comprehended Bill could be such a convincing liar. He shook his head slightly as she assured him it wasn't his fault, Eric unable to see it that way. Too much of it felt as if it was, or as if there was something he should have been able to do. At the very least, he was angry at himself for not putting together the pieces sooner. He should have known something was amiss when Bill was suddenly willing to leave Sookie for lengthy periods of time following Sophie-Anne's second death...

Blinking his thoughts back as she suddenly lifted her head from his shoulder, her red, tear stained face sending a stabbing pain through him, he must have looked at her like she had two heads as she spoke. "What?" he asked in confusion, his head and eyes turning to look down at his stained shoulder. She was concerned about his shirt? That couldn't possibly be right. "Sookie, it is just a shirt," he insisted with a shake of his head. He'd be more than willing to toss it into his fireplace along with all other memories of tonight. "You have nothing to apologize for. I will replace the shirt." Pausing for a moment, he could faintly recall hearing of humans going into something referred to as 'shock' following traumatic experiences. It caused them to be more nonsensical and delirious than normal. Where was a medical text book when he needed one? Grabbing a blanket off the couch, he wrapped it around her shoulders while contemplating calling the dwarf. "I am sorry I have put you through this. Talk to me," he practically begged. "Say anything." Maybe he needed to get her to an emergency room...

Re: Stab My Back
Post by Sookie Stackhouse on Aug 26, 2010, 1:52am


I remember years ago someone told me I should take caution when it comes to love, I did
[image]
s o o k i e s t a c k h o u s e .
Falling out of love is hard, falling for betrayal is worse
Broken trust and broken hearts, I know, I know



Nodding a little shakily as Eric decided that Sookie's decision to see Hadley before she made up her mind about anything was responsible, Sookie knew that she could never actually order the punishment of another person, vampire or otherwise. Hadley was family, and no matter what she'd done, that wouldn't change. She wasn't going to make it so her family suffered, or even allow it if she could do anything to stop it. Love for family was unconditional, no matter who Hadley had told her secrets to. "I don't think I'll want anything done to her," she told Eric quietly, hoping he didn't respect her any less for it. She'd grown up with Hadley, and while they hadn't been too close, blood was thicker than anything else, even undead blood.

Sookie was almost grateful that her own emotions were too overwhelming to remotely sense Eric's. Now she knew why he'd felt like he did earlier. He was angry for her, and she appreciated that, or would when she could think straight again. For now, she mostly felt like Bill had ripped her heart out and stomped all over it, as overdramatic as it sounded. Her chest hurt worse with every sob torn from her lips, every breath that she had to fight to take because her lungs didn't want to work anymore. She was sure her fingers were digging painfully into Eric as she held onto him, but she couldn't bring herself to ease her grip. She hurt, and she didn't understand. She didn't understand how he could've looked into her eyes and said he loved her. She didn't understand how she hadn't seen it. This was huge. Shouldn't she have known?

Eric didn't seem to think so, or else he was just trying to make her feel better. "I trusted him," she insisted with a shake of her head. She'd believed him, and she'd loved him, and she would've sworn on everything she knew that he'd loved her back. She hadn't known anything was wrong, not in the slightest, not until he started spending so much time away from her. If she hadn't gotten so frustrated with him, she might still be with him... Shaking her head at just the thought, she only held tighter to Eric. He'd been honest with her, even though it hurt like she didn't even know it was possible to hurt over something like this. She hadn't even known something like this was possible, though. She couldn't understand how Bill lived with himself, knowing he lied like he did. It was just so cruel.

Wiping a little harshly at the unending stream of tears from her eyes before rubbing a little at the tear stains on Eric's shirt, she shook her head at the thought of replacing the shirt. "Don't get rid of it. It didn't do anything wrong," she insisted tearfully, possibly misplacing some of her emotions a little. Pulling the blanket tighter around her as Eric wrapped it around her, she shook her head at his words, honestly unsure what to say. "Thank you for telling me," she finally answered, hoping he understood her through her tears. She was sobbing pretty hard, she wasn't sure he would. "You're always honest with me." She would've doubted that if she couldn't feel what he felt through the bond. Her own emotions were overwhelming, but his were there if she looked for them. She could see it in his eyes, though, and she'd felt his anger earlier. "You'll always be honest with me, right? Promise me?" She didn't have to ask him to promise he'd never do something like this. She already knew he wouldn't.

Re: Stab My Back
Post by ericnorthman on Aug 26, 2010, 3:38am


somehow, i couldn't stop myself, i just wanted to know how it felt

[image]
ericNORTHMAN.
now i'm just tryin' to make some sense out of how and why this happened
where we're heading, there's just no knowing


"You do not need to decide anything now, Sookie," Eric insisted quietly, knowing she had far more pressing issues on her mind at present than deciding if she wanted anything done to Hadley or not for the role she had played in this unthinkable mess. "She will be held until you are given the opportunity to speak to her and only then will you need to make some kind of decision. I can request that her time being held until you choose to speak to her is not very uncomfortable or unpleasant," he added after a moment. If she was already considering letting Hadley go without any kind of punishment, he was sure it was something she would be concerned about. She just wasn't motivated by the same things Eric was, and he wouldn't try to change that.

This kind of pain was so different from what Eric knew. He would have given anything to be chained in silver, kept awake during the day, and drained all over again instead of to feel what he was through his bond. This was why vampires were so willing to leave behind their human emotions. This was why blood bonds could be labeled more risky than rewarding. He felt every one of his thousand years. He felt the weight of the world on his shoulders... though the weight actually seemed much more focused on his silent chest. He wanted to do something... anything... to make this better, to right this for the both of them, but he couldn't do anymore than he already had. His blood wouldn't fix this. It hadn't replaced Bill, it never would. Right now, Eric wondered if it was even doing her a disservice. She was entitled to her pain, she was entitled to work through her feelings for Bill and the emotions he had stirred up tonight. She didn't need his own leaking into her because of their proximity.

"I know," he murmured distantly, in a monotone, to keep himself from sounding entirely bitter, as Sookie reminded Eric how she had trusted Bill. He had never been worthy of that trust, Eric had always thought that. Every time Sookie seemed to truly need Compton, the younger vampire seemed to fail, or at the very least, fall short. Bill had been the one who promised to protect her and what was of importance to her when claiming her, only to let her grandmother be killed. Bill, despite being an 'investigator,' had been the one who failed to finger the serial killer in Bon Temps, despite his heightened senses, and had nearly gotten her killed for it. Bill had been the one who had let her walk into the trap of the maenad anxious to send the Viking a message. Bill had been the one who had left Sookie to the care of Shifter's, a telepathic bellboy, and Eric after she had been held prisoner by the Fellowship of the Sun. Bill had been the one who had left Sookie to face bullets on her own at Stan's compound when it was under attack. Bill had been the one who had left Sookie on her own to deal with an orgy of murderers. He had never deserved that trust. It was just more painfully clear now.

Wrinkling his brow as she insisted he shouldn't replace his shirt, Eric was never more positive that he didn't understand humans in the slightest. It was nearly impossible to understand what she was saying, so the Viking was left believing he must have been mishearing her. The one thing he was certain he didn't mishear was her request for a promise. Looking into her red, swollen, tear-stained eyes, he nodded once. "I promise, Sookie," he stated, though the Viking found himself wondering if that in itself was a lie. He would do his best not to deceive her. For the most part, he always had. He would never to lie to her in any way that remotely resembled this, however. Nothing could make him lie to her in such magnitude. There was nothing that could make him want to lie to her like that.

Lifting Sookie from his lap, he set her once more on the couch before getting to his feet. He needed to get her somewhere safe, somewhere private, somewhere she was free from his own feelings and emotions, and able to deal with her own. Letting her sobs ring through his ears, he swallowed hard before heading out of the living room, grabbing a bottle of water from the kitchen and the only box of tissues in his home from one of the bathrooms. Carrying both out to the living room, he pulled her hands away from her eyes long enough to deposit the water and tissues into her grasp before grabbing his purse up off the floor. "Let me get you home, Sookie," he explained, though he wasn't even sure she heard him. She was in her own world at present, it seemed, and it had nothing to do with him. He understood.

Lifting her from the couch, blanket still wrapped around her, he carried her to the front door, grabbing his house keys off the table she had deposited them on before heading outside, using the keys from her purse to unlock the doors of her vehicle. Setting her carefully in the passenger side, the telepath seemed unwilling to uncurl from the fetal position she seemed prone to right now, and he wasn't going to make her. Fastening the seatbelt around her, he was in the driver's side in a blink of an eye, backing out of his driveway and heading towards Bon Temps faster than most would ever dream of driving. The car was silent aside from Sookie's gasping and cries. Eric wasn't going to make her talk. He actually doubted that she could. Glancing over at her repeatedly throughout the drive, the telepath seemed focused on the darkness outside the passenger side window. Even with the aid of his blood, he was sure she wasn't really seeing anything.

It wasn't long before he was pulling the luxury car into Sookie's long driveway, parking it in the back of her house, the place he knew she preferred. Grabbing her purse from between their seats before rounding to the passenger side and unbuckling and lifting her from the vehicle, he carried her up the back steps, unlocking the door and weaving easily through her kitchen to her bedroom. Setting her on the bed, Sookie seemed in a daze. This had to be that shock he had heard of. He'd need to research it further later. Pulling her shoes from her feet, he tucked them away in her closet before coaxing the telepath to lie down, not bothering to urge her out of the blanket she had wrapped herself in, nor her clothes. With ease, he pulled her bedding up and around her before leaving the bedroom and heading back outside. Collecting the littering of tissues that had accumulated on the passenger side of the car from the drive, he locked the car before disposing of them, tucking the car keys back into her purse. Making sure Hundr had enough food and water to last a while, unsure when Sookie would actually be capable of leaving her bed, he lifted the puppy from where he was snoozing and carried him to the bedroom, setting him down on the bed beside his master.

Looking down at Sookie, the vampire ached. Leaving her when she felt and looked as she did destroyed him. This was not how things were supposed to be, but he couldn't change them. Letting his hand rest on her warm, flushed, tear-stained cheek for a moment, his thumb brushed away the tears that were still falling from her eyes and his own eyes fell closed for a long moment. He wanted to hold her, he wanted to tell her it would be okay, but would it? He didn't know, and he wasn't going to lie. Leaning down to kiss her forehead, the vampire stopped himself before he reached her skin, mentally scolding himself for the action. It was no doubt the last thing she needed right now. Pulling his hand from her cheek, he stood once more with a sigh before turning and heading to the door. Hesitating there for a moment, he closed his eyes. "I truly am sorry, Sookie," he stated, unsure if she would even hear him over her crying, but heard or not, it didn't make it less true, or less necessary to say. Closing her bedroom door, he slipped out through her kitchen, locking her back door before taking off in a run towards Shreveport without looking back for even a glance, putting as much distance as he could between them and their bond for Sookie's sake.

He bet Dallas was beautiful tonight...