001 ☥ you cannot kill what you did not create

[socoolbrewster]

[Video -- Public]

[There's a worryingly pale and exceptionally filthy boy with black eyes and fangs staring at you through the screen, folks. He looks pretty annoyed. Or at the very least lost and miserable.]

Listen, I know I'm not supposed to be out yet, but...I need something. Just a little...It doesn't have to be much. I tried to find the girls but everything's all fucked up. I think...I think something's wrong. My head's splitting and it's not like usually. At least...not all of it; it's everywhere, not just in my head.

...God, I can't even think right now.

We're not in Kansas anymore, I'll tell you that much.

[He hisses, words more clearly irritated now but with an undertone of pleading.]

It hurts, Jerry; you said it wouldn't anymore. You fucking promised.

Comments

[valentineluke]

[Senses the distress; responds]

Describe your location.

[socoolbrewster]

[He glances around as if he hadn't already looked, and...this doesn't make any fucking sense. At all.]

A playground. There's like a really fucking weird slide and swings and shit.

[It's still dark; he would have found a better bolthole than under the wooden castle thing if it wasn't.]

Who the hell are you?

[valentineluke]

One of the locals. Welcome to the City - yes, that is its name.

video:

[charring]

Didn't I tell you to get your ass underground and get something to eat?

[socoolbrewster]

Well it's a stupid name; there's thousands of cities, you can't just call it "the City" and expect everybody to know what you're talking about.

[He closes his eyes and curls up a little more; ffff he needs to eat something. Like...two hours ago. WHERE IS JERRY AND WHY IS HE TAKING SO LONG ON HIS STUPID ERRAND.]

video:

[socoolbrewster]

[All the side-eyeing. Who are you?]

...Whut. I was underground. I'm here because I was looking.

Except there wasn't a fucking park here before.

video:

[charring]

[What even.]

No. Underground. The City under the City. We spoke yesterday. [If you want to call what happened yesterday talking. It was more like very dangerous posturing.]

[valentineluke]

[Vampires in extreme distress will sometimes 'call' for assistance from other vampiric beings in the area. Deep in the Underground, Luke is well out of range, but thanks to the device, he can feel the newcomer's 'broadcast'; decides to help.

There's a number of playgrounds, but only one with a unique slide. The boy's in Xanadu.

*downloads map and directions to Underground and the Raven*

Contrary to popular belief, vampires - at least the ones in Luke's world - don't mesmerize with their eyes. All it takes is to have the target's attention focused on them, even for a minute, and the power can take hold. This works just as well verbally. Luke's tone is soothing over the device. A subliminal attempt to calm the boy and settle his mind (pull yourself together/you can do this/everything will be alright).]

I'm currently far away. Can only assist via the device at the moment. Quickly follow the path I've given you. Don't deviate from it!

video:

[socoolbrewster]

[He curls his lip in a snarl; stop telling him things that never happened, whoever you are; it's annoying.]

...No, I'd remember. I've never seen you before.

video:

[charring]

[This is more in exasperated disbelief at the entire situation and not at the guy.] Really?! You were---son of a bitch. Fucking hate this City sometimes.

Well, just take my advice. Get to the Underground. You'll feel better there.

[socoolbrewster]

[Ed resists at first on instinct, opens his eyes and momentarily looks panicked for a reason he can't quite define, but with Jerry's absence (and he feels that keenly enough, even though he tells himself he's only...out hunting or something) he's all too willing to accept the surrogate, the tendrils of calming influence that snake in past his defenses. It's enough to get him thinking more clearly, get him moving, and when he sees the file he opens it, eyeing the diagram and instructions curiously. He nods, unfolding himself.]

Yeah, alright. You have a name?

video:

[socoolbrewster]

[All the snarky faces; seriously? Wow.]

Yeah, thanks; got that the first time. Were you this pushy when you...thought you met me before?

video:

[charring]

Oh, I was worse. [Hello, cocky bravado. We were wondering when you'd show up.]

You tried to eat me.

video:

[socoolbrewster]

[Hey, he's got vamp feel-good vibes going on for now, he's feeling a little better.]

Yeah? [Pause pause, then a smirk.] I could buy that.

video:

[charring]

Yeah. You stalked me from work [She's not mentioning where that is now. Nope.] tried to eat me, I tried setting you on fire. It was a thing of magic and I never even got your name.

[signatures]

Oi, not more of you.

[orangetoughguy]

Sounds like you got a problem there.

[valentineluke]

[For the recorded, Luke's reasons for lending aid aren't 100% altruistic (vamp kid could be useful for something). Not to say he isn't a little sympathetic towards the boy's plight - as a fellow predator, he too has experienced a few unsettling situations.]

Luke Valentine.

(Private)

Assuming you're the sun sensitive type. Best get moving before dawn.

video:

[socoolbrewster]

Ed, actually.

[Because it is standard operating procedure to talk up your future meal. Welcome to Vampire Training 101: the Jerry Edition.]

...You tried to set me on fire? Seriously?

[socoolbrewster]

Oh, sorry, are we cramping your style?

[This face could not give less fucks.]

...How many more?

[socoolbrewster]

Oh, aren't you full of genius comments. You volunteering a solution?

[Please say yes. He doesn't even care that eating a guy sounds a little gay; he's just so hungryyyyy.]

[signatures]

There's a bar for your lot in the Underground.

video:

[charring]

Yes. Yes, I did. And don't you forget it. [A pause.] Again.

I'm Charlie.

[socoolbrewster]

[Ed wouldn't expect any less anyway, considering he's fairly sure 99% of the world is filled with utter suckage. He's too cocky these days to care anyway; if shit goes south he'll handle it.]

Ed.

[Private]

Yeah, I know, I'm going, I'm going.

[Action?]

[He kills the feed, because moving is more important than talking right now. But he follows the directions, and soon enough he's knocking on the door, practically skulking while he waits.]

[orangetoughguy]

Maybe if you say please, damn.

[God buy him dinner first before you try to eat a guy out.]