video; un - usernamehere

[narcolepsy]

[ 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.

Comments

[narcolepsy]

No? My apologies.

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

So what are we talking about?

[privatechat]

[ 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.

[narcolepsy]

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.

[privatechat]

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?

[narcolepsy]

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. ]

[privatechat]

[ Lennon smiles, more genuinely again. ]

What do you study?

[narcolepsy]

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.

[privatechat]

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. ]

[narcolepsy]

[ 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.

[privatechat]

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.

[narcolepsy]

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?

[privatechat]

what is normal anyway? But I'll drop it for now not that I would treat you any different if you were king of the universe.

[ And it's true. No matter prince or pauper Lennon would still put Baein above himself on the totem pole. ]

Why would that be a problem? There's plenty of sunny da--

[ Lennon cuts himself off, eyes widening and he points at Baein as it dawns on him ]

You're a vampire!

[ He totally forgets the question the other had asked. ]

[narcolepsy]

[ the thought warms him and baein starts to smile at the admission that lennon wouldn't treat him differently regardless of status, and baein is almost inclined to believe him. provided it means he'd treat baein like a regular person, of course, and not someone to compare himself to.

he opens his mouth to reply, but then lennon is suddenly yelling, pointing at him, and the world turns to white noise in the vampire's ears. he's frozen, eyes wide and dark, as he stares at the other across the table. it feels like he's going pale, paler than he already is if that was possible, and his smile drops entirely. ]

N... no, what makes you say that?

[ his voice catches and the prince knows it's a weak deflect. he doesn't even notice how he's scooted back a bit, chair scraping against the floor. swallowing thickly, baein fights to get his limbs to move. ]

I should— I should leave.

[privatechat]

[ Lennon notices immediately the way he's managed to freak the other out and he starts to formulate why he would say that but he realizes there's something more important because the other's talking about leaving. And why should he leave? Lennon came to see him not the other way around -- Lennon could leave.

He shakes his head, lowering his hand so he's not pointing at him. ]

Look, I don't care what you are. I don't know why you're keeping it a secret but shit's a lot weirder than that here.

[narcolepsy]

[ baein's eyes dart to the door, and there's still daylight outside, so of course he can't leave, not really. he'd start burning the moment he stepped out into the sun. and then he looks back to lennon and quietly sags in his seat, seemingly almost a little defeated. ]

... my apologies. I suppose you're right. And I... I'm apparently very bad at keeping secrets.

[ his voice is a little strained, caught between a laugh and some desperate attempt at making himself calm down. baein tries to find any sort of accusation or disgust in lennon's voice, but there is none, and while it's a meager comfort, it's still reassuring. his hands are in his lap, and he fiddles quietly with them, finally focusing on the tight knot of hunger in his gut and the way his gums ache. it's been there all this time, but he's managed to tune it out mostly. he looks up again, eyes still a little wide. ]

I didn't mean to react like that. Sometimes... I wish I could keep it a secret from myself too.

[privatechat]

[ The knowledge does explain the strange feeling Lennon had had when he first saw Baein, the sort of hair standing on end feeling. But he's not afraid. Maybe if he hadn't meant Daeshim first... Also no idea why that makes a difference to him but it does.

He leans forward again, studying the other more carefully now. ]

Well, I won't out you but you'll probably do that yourself anyway...

[narcolepsy]

[ when lennon leans forward, the prince forces himself not to retreat. lennon is isn't the person to be feared at all. baein is, so why is he the one having some sort of instinct to distance himself? because of himself. because baein doesn't trust himself. ]

If... if I may ask, what would make it harder for someone to find out? I realize my choice of words was very poor, and I did it to myself, but...

[ his voice is a bit rushed, but he doesn't sound breathless. of course this is because baein doesn't need to breathe at all. he still feels out of breath though, anxiety simmering on the surface, just a little bit. ]

[privatechat]

[ Lennon thinks about that carefully, and honestly -- he has no clue. He licks his lips and exhales. He wants to help -- strangely enough. Baein is infuriatingly nice and he's really irritated how easy it is that he's kind of growing on him. ]

Honestly? I think you should make peace with the fact that it's not going to stay a secret.

[narcolepsy]

[ baein's eyes finds the hands in his lap again and he tugs at his fingers nervously. ]

But...

[ in his world, all vampires are seen as vicious and heartless creatures, quite literally too as baein found his own heart shrivel up into a husk inside his chest, never to beat again. they're incapable of compassion, and easily let themselves get lost to their feral side, to the side that's blood thirsty and ravenous. baein has fallen to it himself, after he turned. he wasn't even able to control anything he did, lost in a haze of red and hunger he couldn't control.

he takes a breath, one he doesn't need to, and nods then. ]

For everyone's safety... I suppose it is more than fair.

[ so that people can avoid him, as they should. ]

[privatechat]

You know Daeshim isn't going to care, right?

[ If he were Baein, that would make him feel better. He rubs his hand on his knee for a moment and then looks away from Baein.

There's a pause and Lennon tilts his head. ]

Are you okay, though?

[narcolepsy]

...that's exactly why I can't tell him.

[ baein looks up again, smile lopsided, resigned. ]

I know what he would say.

[privatechat]

You’re going to have to tell him. He’s annoying and obnoxious and persistent when he wants to know something. It’s better to just give in.

[ pot meet kettle. ]

[narcolepsy]

... he sounds... a little different from the Daeshim I know. But also very alike.

[ the prince looks down at the table. the grains and dents in it look very interesting. at least, talking like this seems to have calmed him down again though, and maybe the lack of more reaction from lennon helps too. ]

You found out, and I didn't even try to say it. Maybe he'll find out anyway.

[privatechat]

Probably. But do you always just let things happen to you?

[ LEnnon asks, tilting his head and leans back in his chair. ]

[narcolepsy]

[ he frowns then, fingers curling in his lap. ]

I didn't let it happen to me. I was attacked.