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Post by Jasper Hale on Apr 9, 2009 20:48:56 GMT -5
 Jasper had never been to such an extravagant ball before. Perhaps Alice's parties could be compared to one, but the Volturi certainly went out of their way to make this event as large, and fancy as possible. The place was covered with decorations, and each guest was dressed beautifull -- the women in gowns and the men in tuxedos. Jasper was dressed in one himself, since this was after all a formal occassion. Perhaps the best part of this entire night was the comfort that lay within this hall. Jasper did not have to struggle to maintain his control around humans . . . for here, everyone was a vampire. No one had blood pumping through their veins . . . everyone was the same species. It was wonderful indeed!
He had obviously come here with Alice, and he watched her dance with another guest at the ball. He smiled at the image of his wife, gracefully gliding across the dance floor. He was extremely happy in this moment. No stress. No pressure. No struggle. He was completely, absolutely, relaxed. And so he stood there, placing his hands in his pockets, watching Alice, and the other guests.
--- Tag Maria, come ruin his rare peaceful moment  --- |
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Post by Maria Verdugo on Apr 9, 2009 21:28:31 GMT -5
"Felix, go dance something charming. I need to pay a visit to an old friend." Maria said and winked at him, knowing he would understand her meaning. Maria then turned and walked closer to the back of the military man she saw. Dressed in a formal black gown with a black peal choker to help make her wonderfully red eyes stand out, and gloves up her arms (So Aro could not touch her) Maria walked humanly slow behind Jasper. The whole building was in hearing range but the hum of voices sometimes make blocking out the sounds necessary. Once she was close enough, Maria let out a long slow, and deep (for a vampire), chuckle. Maria's Dress
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Post by Jasper Hale on Apr 9, 2009 21:36:58 GMT -5
Jasper had been trying to avoid that chuckle all night. He thought it would possible, seeing the abundant number of vampires here in this hall . . . and yet, she had found him. It was not very difficult, he had just been hoping that she would have been preoccupied. Then again, when was Maria ever preoccupied enough to not want to disrupt ones good mood -- especially his.
Maybe if I ignore her she will go away.
The mere thought was enough to make him laugh, but he did not. It was the most unlikely case. She would stand right behind him, and if he did not turn around, she would most likely make herself seen. He turned his entire body, at a human speed since he was in no rush to converse with her. "Maria," he said in a flat tone. This was the one thing that could very well ruin his seemingly perfect night. No . . . he was not going to let her . . . not tonight. He was going to be curteous. He was going to keep his calm. "How are you this evening?" He asked as politely as he could. "You look lovely." The compliment was more of an attempt for small talk. Pay her a compliment, exchange a few phrases, and then hopefully she would be on her merry way. Besides, his compliment was not false. Jasper would say the same to any vampire in the room.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on Apr 9, 2009 21:50:42 GMT -5
Maria was slightly shocked he said that. She doubted he meant them but she was still shocked. "Why thank you, Jasper dearest." Maria said pleasantly. She liked getting her way and this was might not be her way but oh this was better. "My partner is other wised in en aged for this waltz and I thought I would escort my self over for a quick hello. Out last meeting wasn't so pleasant and I thought, surely here for could at lest pretend to have a few nice words." So HAD been her plan, or at lest to annoy him until Felix stole her away again. Now her plans changed.
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Post by Jasper Hale on Apr 9, 2009 22:01:38 GMT -5
Strange new partner she had . . . Felix of all vampires. Was that not odd for her, to be so close to the Volturi? Why him? What ploy did she have formulating in that mind of hers? Perhaps that phrase keep your friends close and your enemies closer would prove to be effective in this case, and work to Maria's advantage. She was not stupid. Jasper would never make the mistake of underestimating her intelligence and actions. His voice was not as pleasant as hers, and he did not give her a bright smile. He was treating this as a formal meeting.
"I do agree that being civil in such an event would prove to have the best outcome." They did not need to argue tonight . . . or so Jasper hoped it would not lead to that. "Have you been remaining in Italy for a stay, prior to this occassion?" Once again, he did not care a great deal about her activities -- as long as they did not concern him or his family -- but he was just making small talk. This was after all how it is done . . . isn't it?
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Post by Maria Verdugo on Apr 9, 2009 22:12:41 GMT -5
"I find my self here more and more." Maria made a face as if that had only just occurred to her. Then she shook her head as if shaking away unwanted thoughts, "I must admit to being surprised you were even here. As your last meeting with the Volturi had a bit of a edge on it." Maria wasn't saying in harshly, more of a 'Why are you even here' tone. She had not thought to see her old pet so close to the ones bent on destroying him. It was telling. It was as if the Cullens were making a statement. 'I am not afraid of you' perhaps?
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Post by Jasper Hale on Apr 9, 2009 22:24:22 GMT -5
Was she here more often because of her new flavor of the decade? Or was it because Aro was suspicious of her? Or was it because she was planning something with the Volturi? So many possibilities . . . and yet he knew he would not recieve an answer. "That is fortunate. Italy is a beautiful place." He spoke as if it was the place that drew her to it . . . not the vampires that resided in it.
"As you said, everyone here is obligated to be civil tonight. And such a grand event . . . I would not want others to miss the opportunity to enjoy it." He had mostly come for Alice. She loved these sort of things, and since the whole family had come, he would certainly look odd for not showing up himself. "I am rather surprised to see you here. I did not realize you were so . . . willing to involve yourself in such social events." She had laid low for quite some time after the massive failure she experienced, but now . . . she was rising. The rise of Maria . . . what a scary thought indeed.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on Apr 9, 2009 22:35:31 GMT -5
"I admit to not being,-" Her eyes trailed to were the leaders of the Volturi stood, then back to Jasper, "-In my element here." She was not going to say uncomfortable were they could hear but she knew Jasper would know. He knew how she felt about the Volturi. "Jasper, why not ask me to dance? One waltz for old times shake." She said with a smile, and chuckle. She doubted he would take her up on it, and the song was about half done. Still, Maria loved to annoy him, since she couldn't kill him.
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Post by Jasper Hale on Apr 9, 2009 22:45:40 GMT -5
Her assumption had been right. It was not difficult to determine that Alice's comfort was not great with the Volturi. "Then why do you so frequently associate yourself with one of them?" Jasper was not concerned for her, nor was he in any jealous . . . he just wanted to try to understand what she was doing -- if that was even ever possible. While Jasper may have been civil, he was not going to go as far as to offer a dance. "I would prefer not to," he said simply. What other answer could she have expected? He was not going to lie and say he could not dance or did not enjoy it. The plain truth was enough . . . he had no problem with admitting it to her.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on Apr 10, 2009 19:16:34 GMT -5
Maria couldn't answer Jasper's question honestly. So many of the wrong ears were in hearing range. She knew that if Jasper thought hard enough he could think up some reason for her to be here more and more. It might not be true but it would have to suit him. Part of the reason, was of course the delicious Felix, but the other part, was staying in Aro's good graces and 'showing' him she was out of trouble, there by making sure the need to touch her was not needed.
She didn't have someone with Jasper's talents at her side anymore, she had to work harder to stay on top. That annoyed her. "Come now Jasper. One dance, and I even promise to behave my self."
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Post by Jasper Hale on Apr 11, 2009 10:48:36 GMT -5
'Behave' was a loose term with Maria. She would of course have to behave her self on a larger scale, since there were Volturi present all over the place. But that did not mean she could not make remarks at him . . . or allow herself to think certain things that would cause her to feel a certain way. Jasper did not even want to touch her, in fear that she would do something to irritate him, but of course in a subtle way so that it would not attract attention from others.
Jasper too had to realize that he was at a social event, and that he was going to be polite to her . . . at least one day out of many. "Define behave," he said simply, wanting her to be the one to say what she would or would not do.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on Apr 11, 2009 19:11:21 GMT -5
"I promise to only touch you to dance and not squeeze your delicious ass--oops, I will also control my adjectives." Maria made a cross over her 'heart', "I promise. I only want to to dance this last bit of the dance with you. If you stall then we might get a whole dance together." She teased. "While that would suit me just fine, I do think that would annoy you, and I am trying to not do things with the goal of annoying you. See, I can be a good girl."
It wasn't as fun but Maria knew the his giving in might annoy his wife and she would take that. Smiling at Jasper she added a wink. A sign she had been around Felix to long.
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Post by Jasper Hale on Apr 13, 2009 12:32:52 GMT -5
Jasper remained unimpressed with her attempt to 'behave'. "Do not presume to know what would and would not annoy me." He did not want Maria to act as if she knew him . . . she did not. Not anymore. He hated to think that she did. "We shall see about that," he said, offering his hand so that they would quickly dance, and she would go irritate someone else, and he would return to his wife and enjoy her company for the rest of the evening.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on Apr 15, 2009 20:04:58 GMT -5
Maria gave him a smug look but refrained from calling him any pet names. "Thank you, Jasper." She put her hand in his and let him lead her onto the floor, then put her hand on his arm, since she was to short to reach his shoulder with out stretching and she was for the moment, trying to behave herself. "Now, see, this is not so bad." She winked but not in her normal way that had under lying, or double meanings.
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Post by Jasper Hale on Apr 15, 2009 21:43:26 GMT -5
It was bad. It was terrible. He did not like being anywhere near it, and yet she kept popping into his life. When he had left her, he thought the world was big enough to avoid her . . . apparently, it was not. The universe would not be large enough to avoid her. She would always be there. "I simply think you would be better suited to dance with those who you are on better terms with." Was she on better terms with anyone? He knew she was still bitter that he left, and he knew that she was aware of how much he wanted to keep his distance from her. And here they were, dancing together as if they did not have the most complicated, intense past.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on Apr 24, 2009 19:49:39 GMT -5
Maria having a ball. Having a ball at the ball. She let her hand snake up his arm then, pulled it back seeming to remember that she was 'behaving'. That was the last time she did this! Good girls and their rules! They could go suck a donkey. . . She thought of Jasper' wife and laughed a light musical laugh. That one could so suck a donkey! "Are we not on good terms Jasper? Don't let your emotions get mixed in with business. One dose not mix well with the other. Our past was business related, this is personal."
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Post by Jasper Hale on May 18, 2009 14:14:05 GMT -5
"It has always been a mix between personal aspects and business." Even if it was not for her, it had been for him. He would acknowledge that much, no matter how much he did not want to. "If you believe we are on good terms, then you are massively mistaken. However, tonight there is no need to express it." He was not enjoying this waltz; he wanted it to be over as soon as possible. He felt uncomfortable, and he did not like what emotions were coming from Maria. He was not trying to carry on a conversation with her. He was merely talking because it was a distraction that he hoped would pass the time more quickly.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on May 18, 2009 14:59:10 GMT -5
Maria chuckled. "My dearest Jasper, It was never personal for me, when it came to you." She told him, "I held you no higher then my favorite toy soldier." She told him with a evil smile, "Still," Her smile grew softer, and her emotions went a litter more annoyed, "You were my favorite. You could have single handedly brought down all our foes."
"I was rather mift when I found you gone." She could not be specific with so many ears around, however, "Especially since, guest showed up hours after the levy broke."
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Post by Jasper Hale on May 18, 2009 18:50:54 GMT -5
Jasper did not want her light annoyance to escalate into something far more severe. He would have to keep her calm . . . if that was even possible. He had been with her long enough for her to know when he was manipulating her emotions, and that would obviously not go over well with her either. He would have to choose his words carefully. "Perhaps. It is an outcome that we will never know for certain whether it would have been possible or not." He was not going to encourage her thoughts, nor was he going to act like he missed the life he had once lived with her.
"I do not regret my decision Maria. Not a single day goes by where I do. It was something that was long overdue. You knew that." Surely she had known how distant he had been becoming in the days prior to his departure. He was less enthused about her ploys, and his emotions were less intense than they had once been. Surely . . . she must have seen it coming.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on May 19, 2009 15:43:56 GMT -5
Maria gave a soft, yet deep sounding chuckle from with in her chest. "It has taken me years, my little lo--Jasper," She gave him a telling smile that was meant to say 'see, I can be nice' "-before I could think of you with anything but rage." She admitted but Maria admitted nothing as such with out getting something in return. "Had you have stayed, I would have eventually ordered your death. You were getting boring with your depression."
She had plans for Jasper, some that were only just forming, and some that would take years to set up. However, Maria was wasn't the type to get annoyed with the time it took to set up a plan, wither it took days, years, or millina.
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Post by Jasper Hale on May 20, 2009 21:17:51 GMT -5
He was not surprised to hear that. He knew she had grown irritated with him, and anyone Maria was irritated with did not live long to get a second chance. But things were different now. She no longer had that same control over him . . . he would not allow her to. And yet, here they were, on the dance floor. "Perhaps you do still associate anger when you think about what I had done. It is of no consequence or relevance now. We have both moved on, some quicker than others." He knew that she did not dwell over his departure. She would never fully understand the lasting pain and damage those years with her had caused Jasper. It would always be with him, no matter what he did.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on May 20, 2009 21:31:06 GMT -5
Maria gave a small shrug, "Perhaps I might," Her head turned to the side to look down on her shoulder were a double crescent scar showed. "I might even have more then one reason to to show anger." Maria's hand slid up his arm, and the tips of her finger brushed the similar but smaller scar on his neck. It had been one of her more fond memories, of Jasper. The day he could not bring him self to kill her.
She was speaking words, he might want to hear for a reason. She, as always had plans. "Still, as I said before, you had been my favorite, and I was rather glad I had not been forced to kill you Jasper." She told him, this was slightly honest of her, but for reasons she would not admit. "It would have put a damper on my day."
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Post by Jasper Hale on May 21, 2009 0:03:34 GMT -5
He moved his head to the side, to indicate that he did not want her touching her neck. He wanted to remain in a formal dancing position, and nothing more. He still did not trust her when she promised to 'behave'. It was an empty promise, for Maria had never done anything to earn his trust. "We both lost control of our actions that day." The scar she was referring too . . . that was something he wished not to remember, for it was a recent point in time where was unable to -- once again -- control himself. It was become more and more frequent these days, and that greatly worried him.
"I am also relieved you were not forced to kill me, for if you had, I would never have found true happiness with Alice." If he had known what his future had held, he would have left Maria much sooner. But the fact that he felt there was nothing else outside the life he had lived with her, he did not even bother escaping it. Death would have been a relief the way he was feeling back then . . . but he instantly regretted having such thoughts when he thought about everything, and everyone he had now.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on May 21, 2009 0:41:59 GMT -5
Maria stiffened as Jasper spoke of love and sap. Damn that little witch to hell for ruining what could have been a near perfect soldier. She hoped Jane used her as a play toy. Maria however merely smiled and shook her head, "Now, now, Jasper. You were not always so unhappy with me. There times, when I recalled other emotions from you." The ones where he loved the blood, love the fight, and the sex. "Now you sit on your high horse and think your so much better then me. I know who you really are in side, Jasper. I saw you at your greatest. What dose she do Jasper? Tell you how to live your life? Maybe you like that, being controlled by a woman."
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Post by Jasper Hale on May 21, 2009 0:53:11 GMT -5
"I was never truly happy with you Maria." He never felt the content he felt now. Perhaps in the beginning he had appeared to be happy . . . no, happiness could not describe what he had felt then, because what he felt every moment with Alice, that was happiness. "I do not believe I am better than you." He hated himself for what he had done, but he did not entirely blame her for it. "I blame myself for my actions. You may have been a catalyst for them, and introduced me to them, but you never made me do anything. No one can fully control anothers actions."
He was not trying to have some bizarre heart-to-heart conversation with her, or try to make her feel better . . . he was just speaking the truth. Maybe she would grow angry at that; maybe she liked believing she could control people . . . who knew with Maria. But if there was one thing Jasper knew, it was that he had made himself a monster; everyone should take responsibility for their actions and he was not going to be a coward and blame her for everything. "You define great as someone who kills, someone who tortures, someone who is a skilled murderer. If that is how you define great Maria, I have great pity for you." He was going to ignore any remarks she made about Alice . . . though it was hard. If she mentioned anything else about her, he was not going to snap back, he was not going to attack her as he did before . . . he was just going to simply walk away.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on May 21, 2009 1:10:12 GMT -5
"I define great as man who would conquer his foes, and openly admit he was built for this." Maria hissed, having grown angry at his pity. "Do not pity me, you think you have left this life behind you? Look at your life, Jasper. You dancing around-" She almost said things that would cause them to get killed. She paused, and spoke sounding calmer, but there was a steal edge to her voice, which was also so low it would be hard for even vampires to hear clearly. It was almost more breath and thought, the words "-You dance around, the life you had. Your foes want what you have and instead of taking them down, you yes ma'am and no ma'am your little wife. The plot agisnt you over and over and you take it and all but thank them for it."
Her voice picked up some, "Don't pity me. At lest I admit what I am. You hide behind pretty would be morals, and think you've changed. Ask anyone, vampires don't change Jasper. You just learn to lie a little to your self!" She was angry. Pity her? Damn him!
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Post by Jasper Hale on May 21, 2009 1:22:54 GMT -5
Jasper could feel her anger, and felt no pride for having gotten to Maria. He did not feel anything. He let her talk it out, and wondered why he was even justifying himself to her . . . or trying to make her understand the complexities of how his past effected him, and still does to this day. She had her own views, which clashed far too much with his ones now. They would never see eye to eye. "Choosing a life of peace over a life of war is not weak or cowardly. It is simply another way of life. I could never live the life you lead. Maybe once, but never again."
He did not bother trying to calm her down in the supernatural way that he could. He allowed her to feel anger for his words. "I never deny what I have done. I admit that it was wrong, that it was a mistake . . . the same can not be said for you. That is why I pity you. Because you have no sense of right and wrong; because you consume yourself with greed and power, and live a lonely, empty life." His voice was not teasing, empathetic, or taunting. It lacked emotion, but held belief in what he said.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on May 21, 2009 1:33:49 GMT -5
Again with the pity! Damn him! Damn her! Damn them all! "You pity me? I built you from a mere human to one half the vampires in Texas feared." If they were not careful, people would put together there words, with rumors of pasts and they would be caught. "She turned you into a joke they tell, to newborn vampires. They laugh at you, and yours. They still fear me."
"Pity your self Jasper. Even your human self didn't believe in peace." She dropped her hands to her side and stopped dancing. "She broke you down, and make you think you did."
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Post by Jasper Hale on May 21, 2009 1:45:14 GMT -5
They were walking on thin ice right now. It was a risky place to talk about their past affairs, for they had a few close encounters with the Volturi and had been fortunate enough to get away with it . . . but that was then, and this is now. They may not be so fortunate this time around; one could never rely on luck or the ideal situation. "Do not presume to know me. You never truly knew me. Not my vampire self, nor my human self. Fear is temporary. When there is no fear, when no one fears you, you will have nothing to show for yourself." Even being feared was a pathetic feeling to ellicit from others, but that was the way Maria was. He knew what that fear was like, he had felt it from the others. "No one fears you right now. They only are wary and cautious of you."
When she broke the dance, he wanted to end it right here. He had nothing more to say to her, and he did not want to spend the entire evening arguing with someone he did not even intend to talk to. He gave a subtle bow, as a gentleman wouldm and turned, walking out of the ball room, and into the hallway.
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Post by Maria Verdugo on May 21, 2009 1:53:30 GMT -5
Jasper Whitlock was going to die tonight!
Maria paused there, standing and shaking for a moment in almost pure rage. Never had she felt so angry, not even when he left her since she had at lest warnings something was going to happen. She turned and followed quickly after him, not sure what she planned to do to him quite just yet.
Once in the hall way she spoke again, "You know nothing!" She hissed, "You think you know anything any me and how things were before or after you. You are but a speck in my time line, and my--" She cut her self off before saying army, "--My coven is built on skill, and wit and training to be the best . . . hunters. . . there are! You are nothing but the whipped ex-gen-" Anger made it hard to watch her words. "ex-lover who couldn't handle the pressure."
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