Preacher Ep. 7 spoilers (x-post to d_p)

[bloodandwhiskey]

Yeh know... Yeh think yeh know a person. Y'really think yeh do. Turns out people're more and more surprisin' every day once they get a chance t'really show their colours, now aren't they?

Jesse's changed. I thought he wanted t'help people.. that he was doin' good. Bringin' all them people to the church, gettin' right with that little arsey-faced kid. No. Turns out he's just as self-righteous and egotistical as the rest of them religious leaders, isn't he? And that's comin' from me.

Shite.

Tulip was right about him. She's been right about everythin' so far. Even how he'd feel about me, the fuckin' hypocrite. Sendin' boys t'Hell and then turnin' and lookin' at me like I'm the monster. Shite, when I'm the one talkin' sense, you know things is buggered all the way up.

Just wait until he gets a real good look at me and what I can do.

Comments

[relictusdeus]

And what is it that you can do?

[Isaac drawls, his tone cooly amused, humouring. The demonic energy in his blood reacts to the stranger's presence and he can sense what he is. But no two vampires are alike and he's bored enough to engage this one and figure out what his particular skills might be..]

[bloodandwhiskey]

Me? Well. I mean, s'not like is anythin' mind-bendin' or any bullshit like that, but I've torn out me fair share of throats with me own teeth, tossed a few blokes out of windows... Oh! A few weeks ago I cut up a couple'a angels with a chainsaw and battered one of 'em with one of them fancy candle-putter-outer things. Not always me idea of fun, but I've had less fun than that.

[ As far as vampire senses go, Cassidy really has gotten the short end of the stake. Granted, crosses and holy water might not have bothered him, but he also didn't get cool powers of hypnosis or sexy fangs, either. ]

Mostly I'm just a tosser who's a bit stronger than most other tossers. Won me a few bar fights, that has.

[relictusdeus]

[This is new (and suspect) - any sort of humble, self-deprecating attitude is not what he's come to expect of vampires. But then again, given his experience of the castle with its brutal hierarchy, strength and the illusion thereof meant everything.]

I'm sure you have. [His smile sharpens, edging on a sneer. Lovely choice of word, tosser.] And if I may be so bold, what is it that you consider 'fun', if not tearing out a man's throat as he screams?

[Isaac's voice holds no disapproval.]

[bloodandwhiskey]

[ Cassidy pulls a face. Were there people who actually did enjoy that? ]

Jaysus fuck, man.

Uh... Well, I like gettin' pissed out of me own head, messed up in other ways. Heroin, crack, amphetamines, ecstasy, whatever drugs I can take out of the pockets of homeless folks passed out behind the bus station, but if I can't find that, whiskey's just fine.

[relictusdeus]

How utterly boring.

[C'mon, petty theft and getting high, drunk, or both? (That can't be all.) Well, he's never experienced the 'high' part, but his head's been fucked around with enough that he might pass on the chance unless in a very controlled environment.]

Ha. Your disgust is nearly convincing.

[bloodandwhiskey]

Might be boring to yeh, but I always have the time of my life. Didn't ask for any hierarchy bullshite. S'why I do what I do. Can't stand the idea of some pompous prick tellin' me how t'conduct meself so I don't make an absolute tit out of some imaginary line of vampires I couldn't give a kitten's arsehole about.

Yeh should try it sometime. Might be better than composin' an orchestra of the screams of the damned, at any rate.

[relictusdeus]

['Pompous prick telling me how to conduct myself' gets a wry snort out of him - it describes Dracula rather nicely.]

My business remains with the damned, I'm afraid. Humans are exceptionally talented at destroying themselves and 'twould seem their tortured souls are without limit. I haven't need to lift a finger.

[Unless, of course, they provoke him. Isaac repurposes a certain kind of soul, twisting the ones released to him into servant-like forms. Isn't recycling's grand?]

[bloodandwhiskey]

Oh, yeah. People're absolute wizards at fuckin' things over. Especially themselves. But there's no stoppin' em, so when yeh can't beat em, join em, they say. Trust me, mate, s' a lot more fun that way.

[relictusdeus]

What good it has done you. [Says the man with not much of a life going for him.]

[bloodandwhiskey]

What good's bein' pompous and stuck up yer own arse done for anyone else?

[ He shrugs and spreads his arms wide. ]

Got me freedom, haven't I? Go where I want when I want, no obligation, no schedule. I have fun, got no ties down anywhere. Honestly, can't say I'd want it any other way, mate.

[relictusdeus]

[He offers a soft, scoffing noise in response. There might be some agreement in that but, nah, not admitting it. Whether he could ever warm up and come to respect a vampire's hard to say with the grudges he holds. But, to be fair, he looks down on everyone he meets. Everyone's an asshole unless proven otherwise and even then he has his doubts.]

[bloodandwhiskey]

[ Cassidy sneers at the response. ]

What, yeh think that bein' immortal makes yeh better'n people? Well guess what, mate, yer made of the same stuff they are. Same blood, grit, and bone. Make the same stupid mistakes. Only difference is eventually there'll be no one hangin' round t'remember em, aye?

So don't try t'sell me on the regality, the class and privilege of bein' a vampire. It's all just shite and means nothin' in the end.

[relictusdeus]

[His pale eyes narrow.] Do not equate me with the humans, or your own miserable, leech-like ilk.

[bloodandwhiskey]

[ Cassidy's eyebrows raise at the sudden change in language. He shrugs and purses his lips a little. ]

Right. I see. I'm the leech. Yeh know, leeches, them blood-sucking parasites who hide in dark places waitin' fer an unsuspectin' victim t'cross their path. Me, who only drinks to heal. I'm the leech. Right.

/isaac continues being a butt

[relictusdeus]

Is that what you tell yourself to set your poor, troubled mind at ease? [His smile tightens.] You are what you are, vampire.

/Cass continues to be flippant

[bloodandwhiskey]

[ Now only one of those eyebrows is raised. ]

Look at me, mate. Do I look troubled to yeh? I'm not ashamed of what I am. I just don't give a toss about whatever culture or whatever bullshite is supposed t'come with it.

I love it XD

[relictusdeus]

A curious leech. [He cants his head.] But a leech all the same.

[bloodandwhiskey]

[ Cassidy rolls his eyes and lights up a cigarette. ]

And remind me again why I should give a kitten's arsehole?

[thelittlemacthatcould]

I'm sorry about your friend. [Assuming Jesse was a friend.] I knew a couple people like that once. I thought they really cared - they did all these nice things for me n' took me places - but turned out I was just one big joke to them. ...It sucks.

[bloodandwhiskey]

He's not a bad guy. Really. Just a bit.... He's got some problems right now.

[ Cass frowns and nods. ]

Not fair, that. Still, yeh seem all right t'me. If anythin', they're the ones missin' out.

[thelittlemacthatcould]

[He looks up at him (way up, being under five feet as he is,) blinking, as if to say, 'you really think so?']

Oh. Well, he's real lucky to have somebody who's still stickin' with him, y'know?

[bloodandwhiskey]

[ He puts on a broad smile. ]

Sure! Yeh seem nice enough. Bit sensitive, maybe, but nothin' wrong with that. Just gotta learn t'pick yer battles and maybe toughen up that skin there. Trust me, I've been around enough t'know there's not enough nice people round anymore. World needs more of 'em.

[thelittlemacthatcould]

[Too sensitive indeed, this fellow's got it in one. Mac rubs the back of his neck, grinning awkwardly.]

Gee... thank you, sir. [A beat.] I'm Mac, by the way. [He offers a hand.] Are you some kind of counselor?

[bloodandwhiskey]

[ Cassidy actually laughs out loud at that. ]

Counselor? Me? Christ no. Just one of them standard road-weary vagabonds with too much experience behind him is all.

[ He takes his hand and shakes it. ]

Cassidy. Pleasure, mate.

[thelittlemacthatcould]

Nice to meet you, Mr. Cassidy. [Dad always told him a firm handshake makes a good impression.] Doesn't it get kinda lonely, wanderin' around?

[bloodandwhiskey]

Nah. Not really. Whenever I get lonely, I just attach myself to the least boring person I can find. This time happened t'be a preacher in a bar. Not somethin' yeh see every day. Caught me attention, that one. Nice bloke. Mostly. Bit of a temper on him, but he's still got a good heart, I'm thinkin'.

That's the uh... [ He clears his throat. ] The fella from before I was talkin' about.

[thelittlemacthatcould]

...Wow. Really? --Sorry, I guess it ain't really any of my business.