jikan_network | video; un

Entry tags:

original: baein etoile-etienne

video; un - usernamehere

[ the video flickers online on before two wide red eyes fill most of the screen. ]

Oh! My apologies...

[ the camera pans back so a face is visible instead, showing a faint strawberry blonde wearing a fancy, high collared white shirt with a fluffy cravat. he looks a little pale, brows set into a vague frown, and with his bottom lip caught between his front teeth in thought. it looks reddish and like he's been nibbling on it for a while without thinking about it, and here and there there's a flash of small but sharp fangs. ]

Hello, my name is Baein. I was wondering if anyone knows whether people close to you would also get stuck in the time loop and come with you, or if you've found you always arrive alone? If it's possible to meet people you know here?

[ there's a distinct noise of his stomach grumbling and baein curls his arm around it, eyes widening even more before he looks up at the camera again before he takes a breath and straightens as if nothing happened. ]

Anyway, I'm looking for two people like that. They're of faery court and werewolf clan.

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[ baein's smile turn a little lopsided. he does understand the feeling, but he leans in a little it too, eyes twinkling for a second. ]

I might be a monster for all you know.

[ technically he is a monster, even if both daeshim and jasper would argue otherwise. baein still doesn't feel like himself, and still isn't sure if he one day will lose grip of reality entirely. he did at first when he just turned. he had to be hurt and hurt his important people to realize himself again. ]

You... take your clothes off for money?

[ perhaps it's not the wisest of things to focus on at first, but at least there's not a shred of judgement in baein's voice or expression, just genuine curiosity. of course, he's well aware of what prostitution is. he runs a kingdom, there are people like that among his subjects too. ]

Did you choose it?

There are good monsters and bad monsters too. Humans can be monsters, so your point is irrelevant.

[ It's said with a playful smile. He's relaxing a little, steering his thoughts away from Daeshim as much as he can for the moment and the topic of conversation makes it easy enough for him.

Lennon laughs and his thumb reaches up pressing at his bottom lip for a moment before lifting a shoulder. ]

I do. I don't mind it either. And, I chose it because it was the best shitty option out of a lot of shitty options but I don't regret it.

[ baein looks down then, and chuckles almost. ]

... you are very right.

[ it was humans who attacked daeshim's wolf clan. it's humans who looked down on daeshim and jasper for being who they were. and it's humans who speaks behind baein's back now that he's not the prince he used to be. but they're too afraid to say it to his face.

but the conversation flows more easily now, and baein gives lennon his attention again when the man speaks. the topic is honestly rather scandalous, but baein doesn't feel uncomfortable talking about it, though if he wasn't currently hungry and empty for blood, a measure of pink would tinge his cheeks. ]

If you don't regret it, then it's good. But do you enjoy it, or just not mind it? They can be very different.

I usually am.

[ Lennon preens a bit and he feels like sometimes he can see gears turning in Baein's head but maybe he's just assuming. He wonders what it is that Baein is. One doesn't say they might be a monster if they haven't thought they might be a monster. ]

Sometimes... I enjoy it. I mean, it's not like I don't get off.

[ Lennon shrugs. ]

It's nice to be wanted, to know I have an effect on people.

[ baein actually laughs at that, brightly and amused, and seems more at ease. ]

Better than not being right, any day.

[ he does reach up to rub a finger over his nose then. it feels like he's flushing, even if it's not really visible on his skin. ]

Ah... mm. Yes, I can understand that would be a good reason too.

Mmm.

[ Lennon hums with an imitation of a sage nod.

His eyes follow the movement of the other's finger and he tilts his head, eyes narrowing some -- mischievous. ]

There's even people that follow me online waiting for me to go live. I let them make requests sometimes. I could show you someday.

[ at that, baein tilts his head, confusion yet again lining his expression. ]

What is online...? Like this video...? Wait—

[ show him? if there's any blood left in baein's body, it's going straight to the tips of his ears, and he can almost feel it, though he knows it's not there. his eyes widen though as he looks back at lennon above his fingers still lingering on his face. ]

S-show me?

Yeah. Like the video call earlier. Except it usually wasn't just one person chatting and watching me.

[ every once in a while a private show but not very often at all. He doesn't look away, not shy at all when it comes to something like this and well it's easy to be inappropriate. This is a safe zone for him. ]

Yeah. Give you an example of my work.

... I don't think I could do that kind of thing.

[ but he sounds almost awed, though he seems to have a hard time looking at lennon for a second. he's not sure what to think. why is lennon offering something like that to him? he's not... he's— flustered, it's almost visible, despite the lack of heat to his skin. ]

You don't... have to do that. That feels intimate. I would not want to invade your privacy.

[ Lennon can't help himself. He laughs. He's amused by the other being flustered but also by the idea of his privacy being invaded. ]

Thousands of people watch me at a time back home. I don't care about people seeing my body. It's only intimate if it matters.

[ he looks up again then, an unreadable expression on his face. it's hard to wrap his mind around wanting to give your body to someone without feelings attached. baein has always... figured he'd have to either find feelings when his inevitable engagement would have happened, and would have to weather having feelings for jasper and daeshim that would never come to fruition. then again...

he's a vampire now. no doubt he won't find a suitor anytime soon. it's complicated. if he's even expected to marry someone someday anymore. ]

So it doesn't matter, then? That feels... lonely.

It's for money most of the time, of course, it doesn't matter.

[ Lennon isn't bothered by it. And he doesn't answer the lonely part at all. ]

You're a person, though. You matter.

I'm not saying it's a bad thing, if you're comfortable with it. But you matter.

[ Lennon waves his hand and the shift in the conversation makes him uncomfortable. ]

That's not what we're talking about.

No? My apologies.

[ his smile is a little rueful, but genuine. ]

So what are we talking about?

[ Lennon groans inwardly and forces a smile. ]

Don't apologize. It's a nothingburger.

We're just... talking about my work, not who I am.

A nothingburger? I'm unfamiliar with the term.

[ baein breathes out on a small sigh then, looking more apologetic anyway. ]

Ah, I just... wanted to get to know you.

Edited 2022-04-17 19:41 (UTC)

It just means it's nothing.

[ Stop being so nice and cute. Lennon is so annoyed about it. ]

There's really not a lot to know. I work, I try to keep up with school. I like music and art. Why don't you tell me about you?

All of those things are things I can use to describe myself too.

[ well, he used to do all of those things. as a crown price, he had a job to make sure his duties were done. and his royal lessons never ended, as well as his education. ]

I do enjoy music and art. And my studies can sometimes get tedious, but they're interesting. I like wandering... the markets are enjoyable to visit.

[ until he was attacked by a vampire, that is. going out now is not high on his list of things to do. ]

[ Lennon smiles, more genuinely again. ]

What do you study?

Oh... um. Diplomacy, literature, history, fencing, etiquette, arts. I think I was required to learn an instrument as a child, but my teacher could not deal with how I refused to stay around for practice. My fingers hurt too much from both piano, violin and cello. And I hated it.

[ baein chuckles, and seems a little wistful. maybe if he'd paid more attention he would have stayed indoors playing the piano or a violin instead of rushing out into the open arms of danger as he always did. ]

I liked the gardening lessons the most, I think. Making things grow... it's amazing.

Wow... What are you again...?

[ Because. What even? ]

You like to garden? Hm.

[ Interesting. Probably another thing that Daeshim will like about Baein... not that there's any shortage of things to like and... not that he doesn't already. ]

[ rubbing at his neck, the prince suddenly feels like he said too much. he doesn't want people to look at him differently just because he's a prince, or because of anything, really. he's just himself. no one knows his status here, but he keeps forgetting that some of the things he explains are unusual. ]

Oh... I'm— [ he clears his throat and looks away. can he get away with a white lie? ] I'm just Baein.

[ and then he latches onto the second question like a lifeline, a smile lighting up his face. ]

I love it, it's difficult and hard to get right if you don't take care of the plants, but the reward is often beautiful and sometimes delicious.

Baein is really bad at bullshitting.

[ Lennon says but that's the extent of what prodding he will do. He's now sure the other is some prince or king or spoiled rich boy that grew up in a mansion or something. ]

You could probably garden here.

Baein also would like to be normal. [ his voice quiets. ] For once.

[ he is far from normal. and he can't ever change that. ]

Mm, plants need a lot of sun and attention. We'll see. What about you? What do you study?

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