[video / both courts]

[enthraller]

[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.

Comments

[deadpoet]

You're human, right?

[enthraller]

Yes.

[sorta. he doesn't know about the other part yet, whoops.]

[deadpoet]

So here you are, sitting at home, feeling a bit peckish. Suddenly you have a big juicy steak walk onto your plate. It wants to talk politics, but you're only thinking about your stomach. How do you expect that conversation to go?

[enthraller]

I can't say I've ever considered it before. Food doesn't generally talk where I come from. I can only guess at the restraint the vampir here typically show in the matter, but given the man I'm looking for more or less rules a city, I'd like to imagine he's more civilized than that.

[how would anyone manage to accomplish anything if they ate the first person to walk in the room everytime they were hungry? it'd be chaos.]

[deadpoet]

Well it would depend on whether he likes your message or not, wouldn't it?

[enthraller]

I'd hope he's heard the phrase "don't shoot the messenger" before.

[or "don't eat the messenger" in this case, but whatever.]

[deadpoet]

So do I, mate. So do I.

[Only. Not really. Who cares?]

[enthraller]

Either way, even if he did feel the need to sate his hunger -- and perhaps he'd feel that was his right, given his status, who knows? -- shouldn't it be possible to drink from a person without killing them?

[he's fully aware of just how much blood a body can lose and still survive, after a certain incident with an arrow.]

I'd wonder if that would be considered polite here, where these vampire seem fairly common and hold positions of power? Would offering blood be akin to giving a gift to a lord one is visiting?

[deadpoet]

I've never met a vamp that was full only after one human. But you know what? Lords are known for their small appetites. You should definitely risk it.

[enthraller]

[have the flattest look ever. because yeah you could maybe just come from a really weird world or something, but combined with everything else it's a lot more likely that you're just an asshole.]

You must come from a very backwards sort of place. I've rarely met lords who aren't incredibly greedy.

[deadpoet]

You're probably right. Who is this Lord of the Vamps you're looking for anyway?

[Once this damned werewolf business was done, this might be something he wanted to look into.]

[enthraller]

His name is Tzilan. I don't know that he's a lord of any other vampir, but he has a certain level of control over the city of Cothromach.

[and by that he means the dude rules the black market and general underground. but y'know, gotta keep it polite and classy for the general public.]

[deadpoet]

Is that right. And how much Un do you put in your Seelie, mate?

[enthraller]

What?

[deadpoet]

[He groans.] Which court are you in?

[It's tough when others don't speak Joss.]

[enthraller]

Ah. I don't really see what my court has to do with Tzilan. And I'd rather not talk about that sort of thing, besides. All it will do is creates walls and imaginary conflicts where none previously existed, should I find myself speaking with someone from the opposite court.

[deadpoet]

That might be the only smart thing you've said so far. Well done. Maybe you won't be someone's dinner after all.

[... but he doubts it.]

[enthraller]

[oh ye of little faith. worry not, he has some tricks up his sleeve.]

Are your compliments always so backhanded?

[not that he doesn't appreciate the openness of it -- it's honestly pretty refreshing, compared to the two-facedness and backstabbing of nobility -- but seriously. fuck you too.]

[deadpoet]

It's a sad life you lead if that's a compliment, mate.

[enthraller]

That's a "yes", then.