(BSF)

[the_death_card]

Who: Dylan and Jack
What: They make another call to room service and talk about readjusting.
Warning: Vampires drinking blood (no deaths)


the_death_card: *have a baby vampire hanging out in the suite's living room, then, with a deck of cards because he's kind of bored. he's also seeing how much faster he can actually do some of this, now*

onebehind: *lets himself into the suite, a bag slung over his shoulder. he pauses for a moment, just inside the door, to set it down on the counter nearby, and then heads into the living room* Hey.

the_death_card: *glances back over his shoulder as soon as Dylan comes in, shooting him a grin* Hey.

onebehind: *flashes him a vaguely tired smile in return and moves to take a seat in his usual chair* How's it going? *and, more than that, has he eaten yet today? because that's important -- as young as he is, he needs to eat every day -- and also oddly apparent*

the_death_card: *makes a face that probably says enough, even as he does actually answer...* It's okay. Kinda bored. *a beat* You? How was the office?

onebehind: *arches an eyebrow at the face. is that a no? not that he outright asks that. instead ... * It was. *and that's about as specific as he's going to get, because well ... daylighting as a vampire hunter*

the_death_card: *yeah, that's a no, sorry. makes a little sympathetic face at him, though. yeah, he can get some ideas*

onebehind: *he shrugs faintly. he knew what he was signing up for when he got involved in this and it has its uses. again, though, rather than comment to that effect, he frowns at him for a moment and then gets up, heading for the kitchen. he pauses halfway there, apparently considering, and then turns to glance over his shoulder at him* Take out or left overs? *because yeah. he's going to make him eat. he really, really doesn't want to skip a meal. it's not a pleasant experience. it's more than just starving. it's worse. like burning up from the inside*

the_death_card: *which is why he's not going to argue. he didn't mean to not eat, it just got "late" kind of suddenly. it also doesn't take him long to make up his mind* Take out? *and it's not that he doesn't understand or whatever, that's a "if it's not too much trouble" sort of question*

onebehind: Yeah. *it's not an issue, really ... and it gives him an excuse to get himself something fresh, too. otherwise, as much as he doesn't really like leftovers, that's what he would have gone with, just out of habit. but at any rate, that said, he heads for the phone instead and calls down to room service. when he hangs up, he moves back into the living room to sit down again* They're gonna send something up in a few minutes.

the_death_card: *nods, and there's something a little sheepish about the way he says....* Thanks.

onebehind: *he makes a vague gesture, waving off his sheepishness. it's no big deal. he needs to eat, takeout is admittedly better, and the Eye keeps people around for this exact purpose, considering most of its members are vampires, so* You're welcome.

the_death_card: *offers him another smile and then sets his cards aside, to give him his full attention* So how's it going? *for lack of another conversation starter*

onebehind: *actually takes a moment to consider that and then shrugs* Kinda tired, kinda ... *he has sort of a headache. he figures it'll fade once he's gotten the chance to relax and eat, though. being out of the sun will help, as will having fresh blood in him, even if he doesn't particularly need it, as far as not starving himself goes. and while he probably doesn't need to explain that, he still does* I'll get over it, though. *a pause follows, in which he glances to the cards, and then* How much've you played around? *not that he minds, he can just guess what Jack was doing before he showed up, and he's curious*

the_death_card: *looks sympathetic, again, but nods - and then shrugs at the question* I've just been messing around, mostly. Seeing if I can keep up with myself. *and he grins*

onebehind: *he makes a small, amused noise, and then, part-teasingly, part-honestly* Maybe I should have taken you hunting instead of calling down for dinner ... *he actually needs to learn, at some point, in case they're somewhere where Jack needs to catch his own dinner -- though, in his case, the fame should make it much, much easier, once he's no longer "dead" -- and it's kind of a rush. even if you're not looking to make a kill, and he rarely if ever does ... well. they're predators. you do the math*

the_death_card: *lets out an amused breath, too, and reaches up to rub at his eyes* I'm still... well, the wrong kind of dead. I mean, I know there's everything we can do to make people forget they saw me, but. *if the wrong person saw him.... he doesn't want to risk ruining Dylan's plans at this point. and yeah, he's left the suite since they officially joined, but never with the intention to actually interact with people*

onebehind: *offers him a smile that's equal parts sympathetic and brittle. despite their bond, though, he manages to hide the reasoning behind the latter well enough* We could probably make it work, still. *but again, he was only half-serious, even if Jack does need to learn, at some point. speaking of, though, that seems to remind him of something, and he gets up from his seat to move for the bag he dropped on the counter when he first came in. he roots around in it for a moment, obviously looking for something, and when he finds it, comes back with a vial of amber-colored liquid. he holds it up, to indicate it, but rather than toss it to Jack, he hands it to him, instead. and by way of explaination ... * Take the lid off that and smell it. Don't let it get on your skin, though. *or let it get anywhere near him otherwise*

the_death_card: *frowns a little at that - that he can't pick up the reasoning - and then just nods. he doesn't doubt they could, really, and he does want to learn, he's just still nervous about it for an assortment of reasons. anyway, he watches curiously as Dylan goes for his bag. he holds a hand out for it, expecting Dylan to toss it - and then leans forward to take it* What is it? *takes the cap off as he asks, to smell it, as instructed*

onebehind: Vervain. *which is why he didn't toss it at him. he didn't want to risk it breaking open and ending up in his eyes or his mouth or whatever* Vampire poison. *which he figures Jack knows, if not because he's mentioned it before than because Merritt has, but still. he needs to see it, to smell it, to be told. it might save his life, one day*

the_death_card: *that's probably for the best. obviously. and yeah, he knows what it is, and he flinches a little despite it being safe enough, for now. either way, though, he puts the cap back on it, to hold it back out to Dylan* Guessing that came from work.

onebehind: *takes it back from him and moves to return it to his bag rather than leaving it sitting out* Yeah. *he also has stakes, a gun with wooden bullets (they won't kill, even if they stop in the heart -- though, in that case, it'd be the same as being staked and whoever he's shooting at would end up comatose -- but they will hurt like a bitch and, for some reason, wood's harder to heal around for a vampire), vials of something like Greek Fire (exposure to air will make it combust and it'll burn long and hot, even if water is applied), and so on and so forth. what do you expect from a vampire hunter?*

the_death_card: *and just nods, not sure what else to say about it. he figured as much, really*

onebehind: I figured you should know what it smells like, just in case. *he hesitates and then adds* It won't kill you, but it'll make you sick for awhile. Weak. *less than human, even* Kinda like -- like having bad food poisioning.

the_death_card: Yeah. Merritt's talked about it a few times, but.... *even though he knew other vampires before he met Merritt, it was never something he'd really come into contact with*

onebehind: *he nods. a pause follows and then almost wryly, he offers* It's how I got the tattoo on my back to stick. *because yeah, he got that done after he was a vampire, so ... he knows exactly how it feels to have vervain poisoning*

the_death_card: *cringes, at that* That had to suck.

onebehind: *lets out a breath of a laugh* Kinda, yeah. *more than kinda, that much is obvious, both from his tone and through their bond* I was sick for ... *he pauses, squints, trying to remember* ... maybe three or four months? *it wouldn't have lasted that long if he'd just eaten it or fed from someone who had it in their system -- it would have worked its way out of his over the course of a few hours to a few days, depending on how big the dose was and if he had access to a hot meal. the fact that it was under his skin made it worse. that much is just as obvious*

the_death_card: *has his own ink, of course, and it means a lot to him - but he's definitely realizing now how much Dylan's has to mean to him, if he was willing to go through that for it. he doesn't say anything to that effect, though, considering it's fairly obvious - and it's probably obvious through their bond that he's had the thought anyway* When did you get it done? *considering he knows how long Dylan and Merritt have been vampires*

onebehind: *he's silent for a moment, not so much doing the math as he is just hesitant, and then* After ... *after Lionel was killed*

onebehind: *so, yeah. it means a lot to him. it was part resolve to avenge him, part honoring his memory, and part actual attempt to torture himself*

the_death_card: *and again, looks sympathetic, but also apologetic - he didn't mean to pry his way into opening old wounds, and, mumbles...* Sorry.

onebehind: *gently* It's fine. *it still hurts, yeah, Lionel's absence a hole in him that will never truly be filled, but ... it's not as bad as it was, a few months ago, before they took down the people responsible for his death. that, at least, has brought him some measure of peace of closure or whatever you want to call it*

the_death_card: *smiles a little, in return. he's glad they could at least do that for him*

onebehind: *offers him a small but all the same fond smile in return, then looks away, briefly -- or, well, the break in eye contact is meant to be brief, but then he catches the sound of footsteps in the hallway outside, coming towards the suite. glances towards the door, instead, briefly, the moves in that direction. dinner's here*

the_death_card: *looks up as Dylan does, having caught the same thing, and he resettles a little, fidgeting some as Dylan moves to answer the door*

onebehind: *he'd be lying if he said he wasn't at least a little amused by Jack's sudden fidgeting -- not that he blames him -- and he shoots him another tiny smile over his shoulder in response to it, before pulling the door open. as before, room service brought up actual food in addition to bringing themselves, and also as before, Dylan lets them bring it in before casually suggesting they sit down for awhile. which they do*

the_death_card: *grins back, a little sheepishly, that time. again with knowing he needed to eat and just not getting to it. he does get to his feet once they've sat down, though, looking to Dylan, silently asking if he wants to go first or...*

onebehind: *Jack stands up; he sits down. that should probably be answer enough, really, but even so, he inclines his head towards the pair, wordlessly. he can wait. Jack can have first pick*

the_death_card: *ndos a little and moves to one of the people, mostly at random, rpeeating what Dylan showed him the first time and what he's had more practice at since then. and while it's still not perfect, he is already a lot better at this*

onebehind: *in spite of that, he still keeps a close eye and ear on Jack and the heartbeat of the guy he picked, just in case. and for as much shit as he may or may not have given Jack for fidgeting, albeit teasingly, and as long as he could still probably go without eating, old as he is, he can't help but fidget, himself, once the smell of blood hits the air. he'd say Jack or whoever has no idea what that's like, but ... *

the_death_card: *he does a bit, yeah. and it's only another few seconds before he pulls back, a little breathless, and makes sure the wound he left is healing before he backs off so Dylan can take his turn. they can take care of making sure they forget afterwards, he figures*

onebehind: *that's usually the plan, so that in mind, he slides out of his chair, and moves over to his half of dinner, wetting his lips as he goes. he stops in front of the guy, two fingers going to his chin to turn his head aside gently, and then he leans in, taking a deep breath and letting it out a sigh as he bites down. and after a moment or two, he, too, pulls back, his breathing just as odd as Jack's. he mirrors him, taking a cursory glance at the guy's neck to make sure it's healing -- it's still force of habit to do so, even though he knows by now that it will be -- and then drifts a few steps away, feeling good, warm, the last of the headache the sun left him with evaporating already*

the_death_card: *and once he steps back...* You good?

onebehind: *swipes the back of his hand over his mouth and then glances to Jack, the dark fading from his eyes* Yeah. *a beat* You?

the_death_card: *nods* Yeah, I'm good. *he pauses a beat, before...* You wanna... *he gestures to the room service guys, vaguely. does he want to send them on their way?*

onebehind: Yeah, sure. *offers him a shrug to go along with that, and steps back up to the one he fed on, catching his eyes. proceeds to spin him some story about how they came up here, dropped off the food, and left -- and that, in a minute, he's going to leave -- and that's it. maybe when they get downstairs, they'll have a cookie or something, because they feel like it and definitely not because of any need to keep their blood sugar up. it's like watching someone get neuralyzed in an MiB movie, really, and when he's finished, he turns on Jack's dinner and repeats the process, watching as they get up and go, once he's done*

the_death_card: *returns to his spot on the couch as Dylan finishes with them, to watch. he's done it a few times, now, but Dylan and Merritt are still better at it than he is. which is likely obvious*

onebehind: *he moves back to his seat, too, once they're gone and glances over at Jack, briefly, before shrugging* It gets easier. Merritt and I have had a lot of practice. *Merritt more so than him, even, but*

the_death_card: *nods as he reaches up to thumb at the corner of his mouth* No, I know. I'm still the grasshopper, here. *and grins as he drops his hand back to his lap*

onebehind: *he makes a small, amused noise* Or the padawan. *same difference, but still*

the_death_card: *chuckles a little* Yeah, that's better.

onebehind: Just be glad Merritt or I don't make you do the whole braid thing. *you know. the one that padawans grow in the actual Star Wars universe*

the_death_card: If I get a light saber, it might actually be worth it.

onebehind: You might be waiting a couple of hundred years on that. *technology's progressed pretty quickly as far as he's seen, as long as he's been alive, but he's not holding his breath for lightsabers anytime soon. or flying cars. or faster than light travel, whatever they end up calling it*

the_death_card: *looks actually disappointed* Darn. *a beat* Well, at least the odds of anyone going dark side are low, too.

onebehind: *snorts* Yeah, that's definitely a plus.

the_death_card: *and just grins again*

onebehind: *flashes him a grin in return, stretching out in his chair a bit. and after a moment, more thoughtfully* Merritt's told you how old he is, right? *and that the couple hundred years thing might be an actual possibility? which, yeah, okay, should be obvious at this point, but still. it still kind of blows his mind that he's still alive after more than a century, now, and it's his life*

the_death_card: *nods* Yeah, I asked him. *Merritt had made some reference about something and made it sound like he'd actually been there for it. Jack had had to ask, after that. and after a beat, curiously, but a little hesitantly, considering he gets the feeling it can be a sensitive thing, and it is a personal thing...* How old are you?

onebehind: *it can be, yeah, but right now, he's not bothered. he figured Jack might ask, after that* I'll be a hundred and seven in November.

the_death_card: *doesn't look all that surprised by that, if just because he has known other vampires. does look suitably impressed, though* So not that far from Merritt.

onebehind: Yeah, no. *a moment of hesitation follows, what he's about to say a much touchier subject, if only because of the memories that follow the statement, and then* You know, I met him once, before all this. *he makes a vague gesture to the suite*

the_death_card: *frowns a little, if just because he's picking that up* Yeah? He's never mentioned that.

onebehind: I'm not sure he even remembers. He was pretty hammered at the time. *a beat* And I wasn't far behind him. *they were both also human, if that comment is any indication. not that they can't get drunk -- they just can't do it from having a few. they'd have to feed on someone who was already smashed* It kinda took me awhile to remember where I'd seen him before, actually. *and all that said, he hesitates for another minute, and then* It was at a dinner honoring some of the guys who fought in World War II.

the_death_card: *he's figuring they were still human, yeah. and...* Oh. He has mentioned that. Sort of. *they've heard some stories, even if Merritt only tends to tell them to illustrate something else. another beat, and...* Is that part of why you picked him, or...?

onebehind: *he shakes his head* It took me awhile to place him, actually. *to figure out where he knew him from* Before all this started for real -- *before he got them their cards* -- but after I'd decided on you four.

the_death_card: *nods a little* I was just wondering. *has wondered why them more than once, honestly. why he knew the three of them would be okay working with a vampire. and considering he probably could have found all vampires right off the bat. and so on.*

onebehind: *he could have, yeah, but then maybe they wouldn't have been comfortable with making a move against Tressler. maybe they wouldn't have been comfortable when they found out they'd been working for him, who, by vampire standards, is fairly young. maybe their sires wouldn't have approved. maybe a lot of things, really. picking them had a lot to do with variables and being able to control as much of the playing field as he could, yes, and he did look into them beforehand, to make sure they'd be comfortable with vampires, with taking a vampire down, with all of it, but it also had to do with, as he said, giving them something better. it's why he didn't pick strictly humans. rather than say that, though, he catches Jack's eyes, raises his head a tiny bit, and tries to impress that on him, through their connection*

the_death_card: *yeah, he gets it, and he smiles a little, still more grateful than he can really put into words without feeling ridiculous about it - but he's figuring Dylan gets it, considering the connection and what he has said*

onebehind: *offers him a smile in return, obviously fond, and then reaches to scrub a hand over his scruff, looking away as he does so*

the_death_card: *returns the smile for a moment - and then breathes out a laugh* Merritt was whining you didn't wait on him to be here before you turned me, by the way. *Merritt was also teasing, he knows*

onebehind: *he hums, amused, and drops his hand back into his lap* I'll wait for him when I do Daniel and Henley. *teasing or not*

the_death_card: Good. The whining gets old. *also teasing. ish.*

onebehind: *and that gets another amused noise out of him* Wait until you've lived with him for a handful of decades. *a moment of silence follows, and then, more seriously* You wanna be there for them, too?

the_death_card: *looks abruptly horrified* Is it too late to change my mind about all this? *obviously joking. but he sobers after that question, looking actually thoughtful. before, he would have said no, if just so he wouldn't end up... well, not psyching himself out since he's been sure about this for a while, but. it definitely would have ramped up the nerves. now, though..... he's still not sure, actually, though he's not sure why. and, finally...* I might ask them? *if they want him there, he means*

onebehind: Little bit. *but at any rate, he lets Jack work through that, watching him just as thoughtfully, somehow, his head tipped slightly to one side. he rights himself, when he makes his decision, and nods once, sharply, approving, somehow* Lemme know what they decide. *a beat* Not that I'm gonna do it right this second. *so he has some time to approach and ask them*

the_death_card: *nods* I will.

onebehind: *he probably shouldn't suggest that, if he wants to feed of one of them, he should probably have that talk with them beforehand, too. so ... yeah. he's not going to mention that. or the fact that he still sort of regrets not feeding on Jack at least once, beforehand. he's just going to nod, too*

the_death_card: *he's... only recently given that part of it any thought at all, honestly, even though Merritt did feed on him a couple of times during the year they were getting ready for the shows. he might bring it up, though, if he actually gets to giving it serious thought soon*

onebehind: *he could, technically, do it afterwards, too -- he, himself, still plans on sharing blood with Merritt, at some point. the effect is the same, after all. mostly. there's still that sense of connection and pleasure and all, there's just no nutritional value to it, and both vampires usually need something real to eat, afterwards. but at any rate, since we're not discussing that, he's going to get up and grab something off the tray of food room service brought. there's no nutritonal value to that, either, but he can still eat and enjoys eating human food, actually, because it tastes fucking good with the heightened senses. and as he sits back down ... * You try eating anything solid, yet? *he hasn't seen Jack eat anything that's not blood since he turned him, but he hasn't been around the entire time, either*

the_death_card: *they really should discuss that at some point, though, because there aren't enough feels floating around in here yet. but anyway, for now, he nods - and it's clear he's having the same thought about it being better based on his expression* Yeah, a couple of times.

onebehind: *they probably should. but at any rate, he hums, pleased somehow, and takes a bite out of the apple he grabbed -- apparently one of the things they brought was a fruit tray. and when he's swallowed* If you hadn't, I was gonna make you try something.

the_death_card: *and grins outright as he scoots forward and then gets to his feet, to scope out what they brought and grab a roll* Merritt made me, a couple nights after.

onebehind: What'd you end up with? *Lionel took him out for Italian, the first time*

the_death_card: *amusingly, considering that and other 'verses...* Pizza.

onebehind: *snorts* Remind me to send down for a steak for you, at some point. *or something. anything other than pizza. not that pizza's bad, just ... they could do so, so much better*

the_death_card: *they probably could, but it was already there and he was a little wary about it for some reason he can't even remember, now. apparently casual interaction with some vampires and an actual, familial relationship with another few hasn't given him as much of a leg-up on the culture shock as he was hoping it would. he chuckles a little at that as he nods* Okay.

onebehind: *it gets easier -- as he may or may not have been noticing. but at any rate, after a moment, and more for his own benefit than for Jack's* Maybe a bottle of good wine, too ... *again, not that they can really get drunk from straight alcohol, but that doesn't change the fact that he likes the way booze tastes. with blood and without*

the_death_card: *he has, yeah, thankfully. he was just sort of hoping he'd be able to bypass a lot of the adjustment period. grins his approval to that suggestion as he pulls off a piece of bread and eats it, and...* It's kinda... like when you have a cold and you can't really taste anything for a while, and then you get over it. *it's kinda like that. it's all the same, he knows, but. even basic stuff is better*

onebehind: *that's kind of perfect and he mirrors the grin at that* It is, yeah. *a beat* Of course, it also means the shitty stuff sucks more, but ... *like caviar. he's never really had a taste for it and it's worse, now that he's not human anymore*

the_death_card: *nods and then makes a face* Fast food is... *shakes his head*

onebehind: *he can't help but laugh a little* Merritt torture you with that, too?

the_death_card: *around another piece of bread* Yeah. I'm kind of worried about a couple of street things I liked. *and he's joking a little - and also maybe expressing a little of the overwhelmed thing he's trying not to drift farther into, and the frustration at having to stay under the radar until they get the next show together, though the latter two are mostly unintentional*

onebehind: *he picks up on that and his amusement fades slowly into sympathy. a moment of silence follows, as he searches for something to say beyond the obvious, and when he can't come up with anything, he shakes his head a little, breathes out a sigh and, for all the times he's already said it, offers more of the same in the form of:* It gets easier. You get used to it. *a beat, and then, more question than statement ... * And I think I already told you Daniel's got something in the works.

the_death_card: *it actually helps, anyway, and he nods* I know I will. And yeah. You did, and he's kinda mentioned some stuff.

onebehind: *he nods, too, before falling silent again, however briefly* I wouldn't beat yourself up over it too much, either. *since he knows that Jack's probably frustrated that he's overwhelmed, that he has to adjust, that there's a learning curve* I know Merritt and I make it look easy or whatever, but we're also both more than a century old. We've had a lot of time to practice. And we had our fair share of screw ups and overloads or whatever, just after, too. *case in point? he's pretty sure he spent the better part of a night staring at the wall, a few nights after he was turned, just because all the things he could see, now, were almost hypnotically intense*

the_death_card: *it's clear he believes what Dylan's saying, but he still makes another face. he might as well admit all this outloud, now* I was just thinking that, y'know, I know Merritt, and I knew other vampires from... before. *when he was practically a street kid, if just based on his habits and not actual necessity. and he pauses a longer beat, before, and, with some effort considering the wall he has to lower, even if he is just talking to Dylan...* And... adjusting to things is kinda what I do.

onebehind: If it makes you feel any better, you're picking up on it a hell of a lot faster than I did.

the_death_card: *lets out a wry breath, and, admitting...* Kinda, yeah.

onebehind: *and since he didn't say it before ... * I'm pretty sure I spent an entire night staring at a wall, once upon a time, because I just -- *he pauses, squints, shakes his head at the memory* -- couldn't get myself to look away. *and then there was the first time he was out in the snow, after becoming a vamprie. or the fact that, according to Lionel, he was dead for a couple of hours before he woke up, when he turned him, whereas Jack was down for, what, twenty minutes or so?*

the_death_card: *laughs a little* I've been out on the balcony a lot. *just watching the city, because he loved New York enough before, and now....*

onebehind: Pretty sure I did that, too. *but ooh, shiny wallpaper seemed more embarrassing for him and more reassuring for Jack to mention first*

the_death_card: *and again, it is helping - and it's probably clear, by both his body language and their connection. either way, though, the smile this time is a fair bit less troubled*

onebehind: *smiles back at him for a moment and then, almost sheepishly ... * Pretty sure I still do, actually.

the_death_card: *teasing...* Watch New York or the walls?

onebehind: *snorts* What do you think, asshole?

the_death_card: *and just grins, in response*

onebehind: *scowls at him, though he's obviously not serious about it, and takes another pointed bite of his apple*

the_death_card: *and after a moment, just laughs again under his breath as he drops his head*

onebehind: *grumbles* I can still hear you, you know. *never mind the fact that he's fighting a smile of his own, now*

the_death_card: *clears his throat and looks serious enough when he looks up again, though the grin's still in his eyes and their connection* Sorry. *or not*

onebehind: *just shakes his head at him, picking up the grin where Jack left off*

the_death_card: *and then his is back, too, as he ducks his head again, reaching up to scratch at the back of his neck*

onebehind: *his smile softens a bit, a little less amused, a bit more fond, and he makes a small noise, reinforcing that sentiment, before looking away*

the_death_card: *drops his hand and looks up after a moment* And thanks, for... *the reassurance, this time*

onebehind: *he sobers, nodding* You're welcome.

the_death_card: *his answering smile is smaller but warmer, somehow. despite their connection, and despite how close he is starting to feel to Dylan, it took him a while to drop all the walls with the Horsemen, and he's still working on it, here, too*

onebehind: *he can wait for him -- they have all the time in the world, now. that in mind, he offers him a smile, just as warm, if a little wider, in return. it fades after a long moment, though, albeit not for any particular reason, and when it does, he stretches out in his seat a little more, relaxed, content*