eachdraidh | [video / both courts]

[the lockets show the blond king sitting in a library somewhere, a book open in front of him with another stack beside it. the background is still in disarray, repair and clean-up efforts having been prioritized elsewhere, but clearly, he didn't feel like waiting for them to tidy up here.]

Now that all the fuss has settled down some, there's something I'd wanted to ask you all.

[he aims his own locket down at the books in front of him for a moment, and on the open pages are a whole lot of text and an illustration of what looks like a set of fangs. the stack look to mostly be on similar topics, though a perceptive viewer might notice one or two including the word "cothromach" in their titles. the view is angled back up before he speaks again, and though his smile is polite, his golden eyes have a certain piecing quality even through the lavender-tinted glasses he hides them behind.]

What do you know about vampir? There's certainly a good amount of information to be found in books, but I'd like to know what's considered common knowledge, or what others might have heard. There's a task I've been given by the monarchs, you see, and I'd rather go into it as well-informed as possible.

And if there's anyone who's explored the area just east of Caer Glaem, I'd be interested in speaking with you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[he makes a mental note of those details, but his stare is still curious.]

How does that make you a hypocrite?

Because I've just told you not to generalise.

Shit, just be polite. And if you can, read up on exactly where and how he sings for his supper. You can tell a lot about a man from how he sucks blood.

I'm always polite, so no worries there. I can't say how much of his eating habits -- or, would it be drinking habits? -- will be in books. Even for influential people, some things just aren't written about, and I really can't say what would be considered unusual enough to merit mention in writing in this world. If vampir are fairly common here, then would their blood-sucking methods be too mundane to bother bringing up? Perhaps if the author is an ordinary human, but even then, I have no idea how the natives of this world view that sort of thing.

Listen. No army marches on empty stomach. No one is free when he can't eat. If your food is hard to find, or taboo, and you get it anyway, you're making a point. You can't help it.

So ask around. If this man is well-known, so are his habits. Ask the barmen, the gossips, check the brothels, hear the rumours. Does he drink from his friends, his lovers, his enemies, his employees, or a different paid stranger each night? And why?

[He feels uneasy, suddenly, giving this information so freely—though it's no more than he would say if someone asked him about his own eating habits. He has had this discussion before. But if it's to give an advantage...]

Who is he, this vampir?

[he frowns pensively at that advice, but nods regardless. it's not a new idea to him, but it is the sort of information gathering he would have left to belias, back home. but belias isn't here. and morla may have given him men to command but he doesn't trust them the way he would have his personal guard, so he resigns himself to the task himself.

there's a thoughtful pause before he answers again. he's been cautious this whole time, about what he can and can't say to simultaneously sound completely sincere and not actually give away any details that might turn anyone against him. the name isn't anything particularly dangerous, though, especially when it could most likely be guessed with a bit of research on the guesser's end.

besides, he's been telling the truth about not intending to hurt anyone. there's no reason why anyone would try to oppose him.]

His name is Tzilan.

[Why is the Brucolac not surprised. He doesn't know much about Tzilan but that he's old friends with Alyosha, the Lady of Redgate; based on that, he's willing to tentatively judge him positively, but he's no easy truster. He's suddenly itching to do his own research.]

Not a name I'm familiar with.

[You wanker.]

You'll have to wing it. Really? [The video abruptly flicks on, and the Brucolac's mouth with its collection of sharp teeth fills most of the locket screen.] We're just like everyone else.

[And he ends his transmission.

In his room at Caer Scima, looking at his closed locket, he abruptly starts laughing at his own theatrics. Godspit, what a ridiculous performance.]

[...why is everyone a vampire.

why.]

[video / both courts]

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