un: meffy | Forward-dated to July 1st

[meinwaifu]

[There's a video playing. There's no one speaking, but the audio is the sound of small monkeys chittering, as three plump little monkey-like creatures dance in front of the magi-comms camera. While no explanation is given, these creatures are demons known as the three wise monkeys.]

[While characters have they option of closing the video right away, those who watch for more than ten seconds will be affected by their power, forcing them to tell the truth. They may not even be aware that they're being so forthcoming until the effects wear off, and may even spontaneously reveal things that were not asked.]

My, you've all had a hell of a time recently, haven't you. I do hope most of you are on the mend now, yes? So why don't we play a little game?

I think after last month, it would be better for us refugees to get to know one another better!

Oh, that's enough stalling! So why don't you pick, hm?

Truth or Dare?



[ooc: It's a game canon truth or dare meme! Post your top-levels and tag around! Feel free to decide how honest the monkey's power forces them to be, if at all! The effects won't last longer than an hour after they put their magi-comm down.]

Comments

[steponme]

[The relief is immediate, but Shell sure does look like a kicked puppy right now. He'll even roll Childe's sleeve back down before giving his arm back.]

...sorry.

[It feels weird to apologize for not biting someone?? Please.]

I feel bad for making you come all this way. Even if it was... for a weird reason to start.

[acutabove]

[ To that he just laughs, the sound boyish and light. ]

Hey, it’s not my fault you’re interesting. Besides, I think I like it here a lot more, the temperature is more fitting for me.

[ He doesn’t get up though, not yet, just looking around a little more. ]

Do you live alone?

[steponme]

Really? The few people I've had over so far think it's too cold in here.

[Shell can't feel the cold at all, of course. Thankfully, he's since figured out the best way to maximize the AC's power, so he's able to stay pretty comfortable.]

Mm, I do. But it's what I'm used to. I had servants back home, but I was generally by myself for the most part. Though it still doesn't really feel big enough for one person.

[Shell's true form: the spoiled rich kid who lived in a mcmansion by himself.]

[acutabove]

[ Childe thinks of his own childhood home, in the tiny fishing village of Morepesok.

What kind of bourgeois ass… ]

For one person, this is plenty of space.

Ah… did you say you don’t eat human food? Is it just blood?

[steponme]

[He doesn't even have enough room for a sex dungeon?? Clearly too small.]

It's less a matter of "don't" but rather, "can't". I probably wouldn't be able to keep it down. So I can't really offer you anything if you're hungry.

[Makes a note to self to buy human snacks for guests?? ...makes additional note to learn what human snacks would be.]

[acutabove]

[ Yes because everyone just has sex dungeons in their homes, that’s totally normal ]

So… you don’t need to eat anything at all? [ Except blood, apparently. But if Shell was that adverse to taking from Childe, how was he..? ]

What have you been doing for sustenance this whole time?

[steponme]

[VAMPIRES DO]

[Ah... he almost feels like he's been caught in some way.]

...I-I've been adjusting to animal meat and blood. It's not quite the same, but... I can keep it down, for the most part.

[FOR THE MOST PART, HE SAYS]

[Also yes there is just a terrifyingly large amount of cow-adjacent-fantasy-creature blood in his freezer.]

[acutabove]

[ Ah yes tenderize human meat before you suck them dry

But also Childe is more than just a pretty face, and he’s starting to put two and two together. Although he hasn’t known Shell for very long, there’s something about him that… he can’t quite put his finger on it. Perhaps it’s because he reminds him a little of a past he’d just as soon forget, or maybe he really is intrigued by the idea of vampires. Maybe he’s wondering if Shell really is strong and he’s just hiding it away, like someone playing the long con to get Childe to lower his guard.

Either way, it’s enough to keep him here. For now. ]

Is that why you look like shit?

[steponme]

...y-you don't have to say it like that.

[HE HAS FEELINGS WOW]

But-- yeah. Vampire metabolisms are a little different from humans, so I don't have to drink as much as a human would need to eat, at least.

To be honest, I'm still not entirely sure if a diet like this is feasible long-term, but... I want to try.

[acutabove]

So… if it’s only a little bit…

[ Shell do you see where this is going ]

Honestly, I’d hate for you to be anything but at your best when you use your pheromones on me again, because make no mistake, I was serious about training against it.

I suppose we haven’t even really come up with a uh… [ He lets out a little laugh at the word, unmistakably fond. ] A contract regarding everything, but… I guess I could give you… some? My blood, I mean.

If you can’t drink it from the source, that’s fine. It’ll be just another sort of training, I think, to find the right places to prick.

[steponme]

[It's not Childe's fault that he keeps saying things to unintentionally make Shell upset. He's just been through a lot, and has always been pretty sensitive, for all that he used to be good at hiding it.]

[But he doesn't hide the way the word contract has his eyes grow wide, before he pointedly stares down at floor.]

It's not like human blood is hard to find here. There are even some shops that sell it, down in Yokohama.

I just... I don't want to drink blood from humans anymore. It's too hard.

[acutabove]

Even if it’s willingly given? Why pay for the milk when you can get the cow for free?

[ But he does notice that reaction, and he wonders for a moment if he’s pressing him too hard for this. While he’s pretty sure he’s not a masochist, the prospect of someone feeding off him isn’t something entirely unappealing. It’s more a curiosity of his than anything.

There’s power in letting someone willingly “eat” him as opposed to being hunted by monsters, he supposes. ]

What’s so hard about it? Did you kill someone?

1/2

[steponme]

[steponme]

...you already have an idea of what my world is like. But the full story is... so much worse.

Before I came here, I'd never seen an elderly human before. I didn't even know they could live that long.

[While it'd be easy to think the climate may play a role in that, given Childe himself lived in a cold and wintry place, that's unlikely. And certainly he wouldn't be mentioning it if that was all there were.]

I know it won't make a difference. But I just... I can't just go on drinking human blood and starting over here like none of that ever happened. Since the humans of my world never got that chance. It's not fair.

[acutabove]

[ Childe opens his mouth like he’s going to say something, thinks better of it, and closes it again. Maybe this isn’t a subject he should speak on.

He’s no stranger to the cruelty of a man, the cruelty of a world changed by the merciless slaughter of gods in a way some ages past. There’s plenty of blood on Childe’s hands to more than damn him to whatever hell he gets thrown into at the end of his life. Which, honestly, he isn’t expecting to be very long in the first place. ]

It sounds almost like you’re punishing yourself.

[steponme]

...that's the only way I know how to live.

[There's a pause, and then-- he takes a breath and quickly stands. Though even as he does, he doesn't know where he's going. This is his place, after all.]

Sorry. You didn't come all this way to deal with all of this. It's just-- been on my mind a lot, is all.

[acutabove]

[ And here's where he realizes the differences between them, the way that Shell lives his life versus how Childe lives his. It's a stark contrast, he thinks, that the blond before him lives in order to atone for whatever sin he imagines he's committed, while Childe just. Doesn't care. There's certain connotations that come with the title of Harbinger, after all, and not once has he ever regretted it.

If anything, he's only glad for the opportunity, which makes him wonder what that says about him. ]

Well, I came all this way for a dare, so while unexpected this isn't really any better or worse than coming out to get bit.

[ There's a lot to unpack with Shell, and he's not sure if it's something he should really do. ]

I can leave, if you want.

[steponme]

[...]

Do you... want to leave?

[For all that Shell feels like every conversation with Childe ends up being uncomfortable at some point or another, well... he's doesn't exactly want to be alone. He never does -- things just always seem to end up that way.]

[And really, it's not like he dislikes his company. He's interesting too, after all.]

[acutabove]

I should, shouldn't I, especially since it seems like I'm not good enough for your refined tastes.

[ He maintains this serious tone for all of five seconds before he bursts out laughing again, shaking his head and waving his hand dismissively. ]

No, no. You're fine. I don't mind staying, if you want me to stay. Besides - [ And here he gestures with his arm to the entirety of the room in a wide sweep. ] It feels a lot more cozier in here than out there. I've always preferred the cooler climates, myself.

[steponme]

[In which Shell believes Child for all of those 5 seconds until he laughs.]

Ah-- really? I didn't think humans liked it when it was too cold.

[Not that the room is frigid or anything, but it's definitely lower than most would enjoy having their AC set.]

This is probably closer to how summer in my world feels, at least in the Midlands. But vampires can't feel cold, so anything lower wouldn't really bother me.

[acutabove]

[ god what a gullible lad

Childe considers Shell’s statement with a thoughtful hum. ]

Well, I suppose I’m not like most humans, then. But where I come from, it’s generally a lot colder than this. If you didn’t keep constantly moving, you would literally freeze to death.

[ And the madman has the audacity to laugh, as though at some fond memory. ]

So this is actually quite pleasant, comparatively. You would probably like Snezhnaya.

[steponme]

[Shell doesn't even blink at Childe casually chuckling over possible immediate death. But the land he describes sounds for more like the climate of the North, ruled by Brutal Bones that's an actual character's name. Hopefully it wouldn't be similar in any other ways, but--]

What's it like there? Aside from just the climate.

[acutabove]

[ Oh. This is quite possibly the first time that someone has asked him about his homeland, or at least in a long while. It takes him off guard for a moment as he deliberates answering. ]

... Snezhnaya is a nation of perpetual winter storms. It's not for the faint of heart, and if you aren't terribly careful, you'll probably die.

[ Still, though. He sounds fond over it. ]

My father used to take me out ice-fishing. It's among some of my fondest memories, growing up.

[steponme]

Then I can see why you're fond of colder climates.

[It's so strange for Shell to hear about a human feeling that way, given the suddenly shift to a colder climate is what caused most of their kind to die out during the apocalypse back home. But he can see the fondness in Childe's otherwise soulless eyes.]

Ice... fishing? What's that?

[...he's asking what fishing is too, for the record.]

[acutabove]

[ Shell your bourgeoise is showing

But Childe doesn't comment, and instead moves into explaining without a second thought. Lifting his hands, he makes a sawing gesture in a circular motion. ]

Since the lakes are always frozen over, when the storms die down it's the only opportunity you get to go fishing. You basically set up a little tent - just in case of blizzards - and you cut a hole in the ice, through which you stick your line. Because you don't have much range in casting, you have to sit and wait for the fish to come to you.

It can take as long as a few minutes to even hours at a time. Nothing but the wind at your backs and the cold biting at your nose... it's a perfect way to build up your endurance and your patience, and nowadays is a good chance for me to reflect on my techniques in combat. There's nothing that can quite compare.