vaguely re. hiatus (but mostly attention-whoring)

[cherrycocktail]

This place? Aren't you going old school!

[I have my reasons...]

Shhh, don't focus on the dry facts too much. There's nothing wrong with a little retro.

A~ny~way... I thought we were gonna take a break for the month? I was thinking I'd go to Japan, take in the culture, watch the other kind of cherry blossom, and you would -...

Well, play around with others, I guess. Shame on you, mun! Such a fickle, hungry creature.

[Look, I've had you in a game since July, and it's always been a terrible fit for a hedonist (no pun intended) like you. I'm running out of steam.]

So put me out there more! Some friendly communication, with my tongue... with the rest of my body~

It's not that hard, right?

[...! You're the one who -]

Tut-tut! Go on, get your rest, get refreshed. We'll talk later.

Comments

[fantomatique]

Addie, Addie, Addie. So quick to shake off your leash.

You always did love to leave them.

[cherrycocktail]

Nope. You're just a special case.

[He actually has his reasons for wanting to stay in that place. But he's not sharing.]

[fantomatique]

'Special'. What a pretty designation.

You flatter me so.

[cherrycocktail]

Special like a rare disease.

What the hell are you doing here?

[fantomatique]

Loathe to have attention? You are changed.

[cherrycocktail]

Didn't I tell you? You're special. [Just to rub in how much of a compliment it wasn't.

That said, he's more sulky about it than anything. The shock of reunion is always the worst.]

[fantomatique]

Play with care, Addie. We wouldn't want my attention diverted, would we?

[cherrycocktail]

... I asked you what you wanted, didn't I? [Sorta kinda.] If you don't tell me, how am I supposed to know what game you're in the mood for?

[fantomatique]

You have no guesses?

[cherrycocktail]

Maybe I keep hoping you'll surprise me.

[fantomatique]

Were we not past the point of no return?

I don't have an account for Cherry anymore so I apologize for this guy instead

[inabluemoon]

My Mundane has informed me that you're someone who would be of great interest to my work. Are they correct...?

Never apologize!

[cherrycocktail]

That depends on your line of business.

[inabluemoon]

I'm a doctor who specializes in vampires and I'm told you're an exceptionally interesting one.

[cherrycocktail]

[Well, that's not unsettling at all...]

A doctor for vampires? And what kind of medical assistance would a vampire need?

[Yeah, he's playing dumb, and not confirming anything - not that he really needs to.]

[inabluemoon]

[Interesting. None of the vampires he has met here so far seem to have knowledge of malnomen... Or they are simply all skilled actors, which is doubtful because none of them tried to kill him upon learning his name.]

Dealing with the corruption of their true names, of course!

[cherrycocktail]

[So much for acting coy. If Rayflo was never all that tanned, he grows a shade paler still, pure shock - and yet there's also hope. There shouldn't be, really. He's learned better, over and over and over again. But still...]

"Deal with" how?

[inabluemoon]

[Aha, such an interesting reaction. His smile grows a fraction of an inch.]

I have my means, monseuir.

[Vanitas has decided not to mention the Book quite yet, because now his curiosity is piqued.]

[cherrycocktail]

Then explain them. Or you'll have a very grumpy vampire on your hands.

[He makes half an effort to keep it playful, but his expression doesn't quite follow his tone in that. He's not making threats - not yet, anyway. But if this guy is somehow yanking his chain - almost literally, even - Rayflo isn't amused. Maybe he's misinterpreting just what this guy is offering, but either way, he wants answers.

That smile doesn't bode well. He doesn't need centuries of experience to know that. But if there's a way out - any way out - of course he's going to be tempted. No matter how well he knows it's not possible, and how poor a move it would be, even if it was.]

[inabluemoon]

[That expression and the change in atmosphere simply makes Vanitas burst into a fit of laughter. This is hardly the first time he's been threatened by a vampire, after all, and he always finds the experience amusing. Once his giggles have calmed he waves a hand casually, revealing oddly sharp nails.]

Now now, none of that! I have quite a few people who are not fond of my methods, so can my caution be blamed? However my infamy doesn't seem to have followed me here... [He pulls out a book covered in silver metalwork that is chained to his hip.]

I use this, the Book of Vanitas.

[cherrycocktail]

[The attitude, the promises - even the fingernails. Everything about this guy suggests demon, and if it's not the kind Rayflo is familiar with, he really doesn't want to broaden his horizons. But he knows he's shown too much of himself - the real him - already. And there's no point in losing his calm.

Not fond of his methods, huh?]

And you're such a charming fellow.

[Sorta kinda. Rayflo looks at the book. Nothing he's familiar with...]

What is it? How does it work?

[sitient]

Since when have you ever suffered from a lack of 'communication' with other residents?

[ ...Of all the strangest things. Someone had an inkling to give this place a glance, and here you are. ]

Is that in another parallel universe where everything is backwards?

[cherrycocktail]

If it's a parallel universe to a parallel universe, doesn't that make it the same universe?

[Not... necessarily... but whatever, he wasn't aiming for logic, anyway.]

You know how that place is. Doesn't even have a decent bar.

[sitient]

Being parallel to one another doesn't necessarily mean they're complete opposites.

They merely exist simultaneously. But remain forever separated from each other.

[ He's not quite speaking about Universes any longer, but it hardly matters. The words are simply there to decorate the space between them enough to drown out notice of a major theme in Rayflo's original spiel. ]

Even you should know that much. So I'll assume you're just having a senior moment.

[ He can't be accused of chiding when the tone is almost affectionately conversational and set against a backdrop of fingers slowly re-buttoning an eternally loose shirt. ]

Or should I suspect that you're suffering from some other mind-addling ailment or fever, on top of the senility?

[ If that's the case, Chris seems hardly concerned so much as determined to follow this train of thought ever onward. Even if it involves leaning in to lightly touch his forehead to Rayflo's once unruly bangs are gently brushed aside. He doesn't need to explain that hands are worthless in determining a temperature. Then again, Chris knows his sire isn't the most likely person to acquire one. They both do. And maybe that's the point.

If there's one thing he's learned from Rayflo, it's the art of working beneath several layers of superficial conversation to achieve a different goal entirely. ]

...Tell me, do you feel hot anywhere?

[cherrycocktail]

[Forever separated, is it? The two of them, or could it possibly be...?

It's a little depressing, regardless of the answer or Chris' intentions. But Rayflo's smile doesn't waver. Gotta be one of those senior moments, for sure.]

Hmmm, I wonder...

[He's always hot, is what he might have said, but it's more comfortable to veer towards a more direct approach, especially when it would be a welcome distraction from his own thoughts. So he takes a step closer, tilting his head a little, absolutely not accidentally exposing his neck and making his shirt fall open that much more.]

Maybe you should feel me, just to make sure.