Tristan was a simple man who owned a bookshop, he loved books. He love the smell of books, the stories in them, and he love restoring books. He was not someone who cared for money or materialistic things. Tristan also didn’t bullshit around and wasn’t afraid to call anyone out. He was headstrong and a talented mage. Tristan had always known of his magic, his parents practice such and taught him when he showed skills.

Tristan was lucky like that, to have parents who raised him well. They were not perfect by no means, but there could be worse. Tristan grew up in france, was born there. He moved to England when he was old enough and thats when he open his bookshop.

First person to come was Colins and Voltruist. Colins was looking for someplace the priest looking fellow could get books. Place were no one ask questions, because they were vampires. A bookshop open late, given Tristan was very wellverse to the other world being a mage he was that place. Voltruist was such a mystery, he never seen anyone like him. The priest always wore a veil, barely spoke, very skittish. It was adorable and yet sad to Tristan, as he recognized that this priest likely been through abuse.

Tristan smiled and was nice, every now and again the priest talk to him. Most of Voltruist conversations were about plants, when Colins wasn’t with him he ask for books on plants and means. It intrigued Tristan that he too began reading such. Finding it fascinating, he knew some plants had meaning, especially in magic, but he was excited to learn about other meanings. Apparently the priest had a crush he found out, on the florists down the street, Val. He couldn’t blame him Val was gorgeous.

Next came Indigo, who came in his shop like a hurricane. Indigo had a powerful personality, he was confident and didn’t hide what he wanted. At first Tristan ignored every flirt Indigo threw at him. Tristan thought Indigo was very flat minded, Indigo seem shallow. When Indigo realize Tristan wasn’t going to just sleep with him, he started to open up more. Tristan much prefer that to the fake over the top persona he gave.

He also learned Indigo and Voltruist were friends, though Tristan couldn’t fathom why outside the fact Indigo could push the priest around. The priest seem desperate for a connection. Tristan got that from all the research Voltruist did on plants to impress Val. He understood the need to connect, seem the priest craved it with anyone, but especially seem to crave romance.

Tristan met another in his time, a vampire name Guilhem Fleuret, he recognized the last name. Though he never commented such to Guilhem, he figured Guilhem might have lost family during the time nobles were well killed. Tristan also never mentioned he too come from France. He notice Guilhem also collects books, especially magic tomes. He enjoyed their little work relationship, Guilhem gave fun challenges in finding rare books.

As time passed Tristan began dating Indigo and didn’t know how but got very smitten with him. Maybe because he felt Indigo showed his true self to him. He was happy and so he agree to being turned. Hell he wanted it, alot of friends he made were Vampires. So he harassed Indigo sire, a Vampire named Lord Stahs Grey.  Eventually Stahs gave in, but as soon as Tristan was turn Indigo ditched him. He realized Indigo was very clingy to Stahs, Val explained as much to him. It hurt, it really did but he learn to get over it.

Indigo stop visiting the bookshop, barely talked to him in his short stay of living at Stahs manor, he stayed there up until Indigo pulled the stunt on Voltruist. That pissed Tristan off, both Val and Indigo. He gave them a piece of his mind over it, the priest deserved better. Tristan moved out, which made the other fledgling happy, Carmilla. Tristan liked her least of all.

Voltruist continue to come to Tristan shop and had open up more. They talk about books and Voltruist went on a whole thing about his church. Tristan admired his dedication, even if he didn’t share all his views. Tristan had also wondered what the priest looked like without the veil. He was told why it was worn, but still he wondered if there was a way. He started collecting certain books for Voltruist and eventually he learn Voltruist first name is Pavel. He treasured that, Pavel didn’t share that with just anyone, Val didn’t even know it.

Eventually Tristan decided to come to one of the mass. He was curious and he wanted to see Pavel in his environment. He truly enjoyed it, to see the priest, who seem so confident and sure of himself up there. He smiled and started coming back, hiding in the back. One evening Pavel came sobbing to the shop, he needed someone outside Colins and Lillian. Nothing against them, but Tristan and Pavel were closer in age and sometimes you needed that. Apparently someone name Felix hurt him. Well his feelings, Tristan listen and comforted him. That night he learn something else, he learn Pavel had personalities. Which didn’t scare Tristan, he met Zagine. So it made sense and he heard Pavel home life, having multiple personalities seem correct. He eventually met them, sage was abit more to handle. Though he learn, especially when Sage picked at himself. Tristan took Sage put gloves on his hands and taught him how to restore books. Sage was scared at first but got good at it and calmed. Ivy came out and snapped at Tristan once, it made the mage stop and he laughed. They got on fine, Thorn loved the bookshop. When all of them wanted quiet, Thorn come out and sit in the bookshop and Tristan let him be. Also Tristan had a nook for people to read in his shop, he would read to sage there, holding him.

Then Stahs had been attacked and gone into torpor. Tristan wrote a series of strongly worded letters to Sanderson on how he felt the situation handled was wrong, on how he felt the council a joke and doesn’t give a damn about common vampires. He didn’t like Sanderson and thought the elder purposely put Pavel in hell with Zagine out of enjoyment. So he loved sending letters to be snide at the elder. He wasn’t scared.

Eventually Tristan decided he wanted to date Pavel. They been friends for a long time, he knew Pavel. He headed for the church Zagine be damned, he would turn him into a toad. However when he arrived there was a new guy. Mateo, Tristan saw the way Pavel looked at him. He knew it well, Pavel was into Mateo. Tristan left and figured it wasn’t to be, he didn’t want to stand in Pavel way if he found someone. Though when Colins was at the bookshop buying books for Pavel few days later. This happened when Zagine beat Pavel to the point Pavel couldn’t leave the church. However he learn Mateo helped, this pissed Tristan off. Especially because he knew Pavel would have dedicated himself to understanding Mateo to crave that connection. Tristan didn’t feel Mateo deserve Pavel love or dedication.

Tristan begane calling Pavel Pavi. The priest loved it and called Tristan Tris. This meant alot as Tristan knew Pavel didn’t give nicknames, he was very formal with people. He still was there for Pavel and was trying to keep it just friends. He didn’t want to be a rebound after Mateo.

One day Tristan was upstairs in his apartment, he left his door unlocked because of Pavel. He knew the priest needed a place to escape and glad his was it. He heard the bell chime and knew, he was working trying to finish up so he could see Pavel. He heard the bell again and assume Pavel left, he was abit upset. He wanted to hangout, but he neeeded to finish this. Then he heard a crash and a yelp. Tristan grabbed a lead pipe and ran downstairs. He saw Mateo beating on Pavel, Tristan saw red. He couldn’t believe it and he was on Mateo. He blacked out a moment and hadn’t realized he was just beating Mateo. Pavel brought him back and he stood away from Mateo giving his warnings.  Mateo made a threat that Tristan laughed off, he look to Pavel. He saw his clothes torn, knowing how sensitive he was about his scarred body. Tristan took him upstairs and put him in new clothes, a big hoodie. For one moment he saw Pavel with no veil,  his eyes were closed. He wished he could look Pavel in the eyes, but knew better. Pavel put the veil back on and they hung about chatting.

One day Pavel came and Tristan put a blanket on the floor had wine poured in glasses. He had Pavel sit and they drank and watched a movie on a tiny tv, laughing and having a good time. Tristan shared the frech wine bottle to him and it became Pavel favorite. Tristan cherished the memory.

Then carmilla decided to attack the rest of Stahs fledglings. Tristan despite still holding a grudge to Indigo protected him at a cost. He didn’t realize this cost till much later. He realized he mean cursed and he couldn’t find the cure. Voltruist came to check on him and they drank. Maybe because he had booze in him he let himself have more fun. They danced, if you can call what they did dancing, neither knew how but laughed. Then Tristan got the nerve and he kissed Pavel, it was slow and gentle. Pulling the priest close, savoring the taste as they stood there. Pavel left and Tristan thought yeah he wanted to spend the last of his time with Pavel. However Colins came over few days later.

Tristan expected as much, though he thought it be Lillian. Colins wanted Tristan to understand Pavel, because Pavel deserved someone who wouldn’t leave. However Tristan explains he knows everything and was fine, that he wanted to spend his remainder of his time with Pavel. Colins got upset, hearing of the cursed and called Tristan selfish, that this feeds Pavel fear of feeling cursed. To find love and they die. That he would destroy Pavel, this say with him he thought on this for days, he never wanted to hurt Pavel. He then kept Pavel at a distance as friends and chalk the kiss to drunkness. It killed Tristan, but Pavel deserved better. He deserved someone not dying.

Tristan notice Pavel was in his magic books desperate to find a cure for him when he learn of the curse. It hurt and Tristan remember a trinket he had that showed magic. He pulled the monocle out, Pavel had passed by once when he got it. He notice things, he looked at Pavel now. He saw the bindings and decided he find away to break that. He searched and finally found something with a high price. Tristan did it, the binding would break when he died, even cut his time to shorter, but worth it in Tristan mind. Maybe Pavel finally break away once the binding was gone. He could give him this atleast. Tristan also started rubbing Pavel head so he could touch him.

As time passsed and the curse ate him more, Pavel was there. Even at the worst of it and it broke Tristan heart, he felt rage. It wasn’t fair, why they couldn’t be. Pavel deserved so much more and he couldn’t give it. On his death bed, he wanted to say bye to everyone. He first called Indigo to say bye to Stahs and him. He thought he had plenty time. Life was cruel, because he wanted to give Pavel a intimate goodbye, but time ran out. He died never getting to say goodbye, asking for one kiss before he died. He felt as life slip he wasted and made the wrong call. He should have spent it with Pavel, but there was Zaginr, Mateo, no strength to beat them, the binding he didn’t know if Zagine placed or not. He wasted it being stupid, but Pavel stayef by him, so he still spent it with him. He just wish he could have said goodbye, that Pavel was worth so much that he could never deserve. Tristan didn’t have the time, he passed with Pavel sobbing over him.