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, I don't.

[ he says it while shaking his head, even as he's brought his own hand up to his mouth and is quietly nibbling at his thumb without thinking. ]

I'll manage.

[privatechat]

Uh huh. Sure you don’t need a pacifier?

[narcolepsy]

... a what?

[ he can't have heard right— ]

[privatechat]

A pacifier… you know. Or like one of those rings they freeze for kids to bite and suck on?

[narcolepsy]

[ the prince lowers his hand and crosses his arms over his chest. he's almost... pouting? but that can't be it. it feels somewhat humiliating, though. ]

I am not a child.

[privatechat]

How long have you been a vampire?

[ Lennon asks, tilting his head and he leans in again, studying the other carefully. ]

Thirsty?

[narcolepsy]

Not long—

[ baein abruptly shuts his mouth and instinctively leans back both in the face of the question but also because lennon is too close and now when asked the vampire can't help but feel the scent of blood rushing through the other. ]

...please don't ask me that.

[privatechat]

[ Lennon doesn’t have a death wish but he’s lived a high risk lifestyle for a while now and somehow being here makes him feel a bit untouchable. Is death even possible in this weird magic place? He doesn’t have a death wish but he knows he’s playing a dangerous game.

This thing he doesn’t leave alone. he scoots to the edge of the chair making up a little distance. ]

Are you thirsty?

[ he asks it again more deliberately and less of a throw away. ]

[narcolepsy]

[ baein pulls breath. it does nothing for him, but he feels a little like he's going to choke on it before he swallows hard. he feels colder than ever. ]

Lennon— don't. I don't want to hurt you. Or anyone.

[privatechat]

Then don't. But don't starve yourself either. That sounds profoundly stupid and you might make Daeshim sad and well, I've heard he turns into a mushroom when he's sad.

[ Lennon reaches out, he grasps the other's hand. It's so cold it sends shivers all through him. ]

Denying things you need hurts everyone around you if people care about you.

[narcolepsy]

[ baein almost jumps at the touch, but he doesn't pull back, instead looking at lennon's face to avoid looking at their hands and how lennon's body heat is almost scalding.

he wants more of that, because everything is so cold. ]

He... he does?

[ and then he shakes his head and looks down. ]

I don't want to need it. It hurts people no matter what.

cw: vague ish disordered eating mentions.

[privatechat]

[ Lennon feels chilled touching him and there's the primal instinct to run from a predator but instead he gets out of the seat and doesn't let go of the other's hand moving around and without a second thought just sits on top of the table right in front of Baein. ]

There's a lot of things that everyone doesn't want to need...but they do. I need... him to be happy. And you like this will make him sad and worried.

[ He is so careful with food, so controlled. He tries to think of anything that might help Baein. ]

Control can be hard when you're hungry, thirsty... but you're not going to learn it by denying yourself. It's just going to get harder and harder and then you'll find yourself coming to in the middle of destruction.

[ It's personal experience and maybe the weight of things is heavier, much heavier with Baein, the premis is the same. Denying completely almost always ends in a binge. ]

[narcolepsy]

[ baein is intimately familiar with coming to in the middle of a bloodied room with bloody hands and the bloody bodies of the people he holds most dear. he'd thought he lost them then, for a few terrifying minutes that felt longer than eternity before they'd woken up, come back to life and been fine, albeit a little weak.

it's mostly a blur and baein remembers collapsing on jasper to cry.

when lennon approaches, the vampire wants to hold his breath if only to not feel the scent of the other so close to him, but it's a futile attempt. it's a little overwhelming, but he manages to sit still. stock still, even, as lennon speaks. and of course lennon is right. baein knows this, but the thought doesn't get less terrifying for it. he leans his head back to stare at the ceiling. ]

Yes, I'm thirsty. I haven't— not really, since just after I turned.

[ he looks back down at lennon then, feeling like the other's words come from a place of introspection, and baein isn't sure how to offer anything in return, if he should at all. or if he's even capable to. it seems to be something lennon already knows, too. ]

[privatechat]

[ Lennon knows that there must be so much that he doesn't understand or know but his focus is rather singular and when he's determined he can be a bit relentless. ]

Then stop being stupid and drink. You won't kill me.

[ He doesn't actually know that for a fact but he chooses to believe it, to believe that anyone Daeshim cares about wouldn't be able to kill someone. ]

[narcolepsy]

[ there's an intelligible noise from somewhere far back in baein's throat and he shakes his head, and ducks it to avoid lennon's look. ]

You don't know what you're offering. You don't have an obligation to. You— no.

[privatechat]

I’m not stupid. I know what I’m offering. So… please. For Daeshim.

[narcolepsy]

[ baein whips his head up to stare at lennon, wide-eyed. ]

That's... not fair.

[privatechat]

It is. So… for Daeshim, okay?

[narcolepsy]

I...

[ technically, eating would be beneficial, considering baein has been sustaining on a diet of anxiety and air the past week. well, not the air, it's not like he needs to breathe. ]

You might get hurt— I don't want that.

[privatechat]

Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.

[ Lennon says dismissively. He smiles, leaning in a little closer to get a good look at Baein, to make him look at him. ]

I’m not afraid of you. So you shouldn’t be either.

[narcolepsy]

[ baein closes his eyes and breathes out on air that doesn't exists before he looks up again. his irises have taken on a clearer, more vivid red, and his voice is a little strained. ]

Please don't underestimate it. I will worry.

[privatechat]

Okay.

[ Lennon doesn’t flinch even when he looks in the others eyes and they send a bit of a chill through him. ]

I’m not backing down, though.

[narcolepsy]

I don't... want to. It's not safe.

[ he's not ready to do this. maybe he figured it'd be easier with a stranger, but lennon doesn't feel like one. he looks too much like jasper. he's close with daeshim.

and baein... baein doesn't know how to deal with himself like this. ]

[privatechat]

[ Lennon exhales and he doesn’t exactly move away but he doesn’t press forward anymore. ]

Life’s not safe.

[narcolepsy]

[ baein looks up then and tries to push away the cold rising in his chest. the one that usually chases any lingering warmth from any other source. ]

I'm not alive. You are, and I'd like for you to stay alive.