[network] [video] [locked to new hires]

[vampthropologist]

[the man before you is tall, long-haired, quite pale, and wears tinted glasses. He takes them off as he speaks, revealing glowing red eyes; astute viewers may notice that his nails are dark and oddly-shaped, more like claws.]

Good evening. Or morning, or afternoon, as the case may be. My name is Beckett. I'm a recent arrival. I'm making this post by way of introduction and some explanation, since my nature may be, for some of you, cause for concern.

I am what most of you would call a vampire. I am clinically dead, resurrected by supernatural means and sustained by the blood of the living. That being said, I'm also not bad at chess, a decent poker player, and a wonderful dancer.

[He pauses briefly, for laughter. That was An Joke. He is Putting You At Ease.]

I am given to understand that I'm not the first of my kind to arrive here, although the young man who preceded me appears to have vanished. I'm not sure how much of an impression he made. I'd be happy to answer what questions I can, within limits. To start with the obvious one: Jorgmund has seen to my nutritional needs, so I won't be asking for volunteers.

[He means to smile reassuringly, but mostly just bares his teeth.]

Any other questions?

Comments

video

[hallelujahjunction]

[For a few weeks there, Dan held a grudge against vampires. Even though it was because he was carrying his dead "little sister" in his heart, it wasn't the righteous satisfying kind of grudge that the wronged carry when they feel certain of their mission. It was just the kind of diffuse anger that splatters all over everyone who vaguely looks like the person who hurt you. A vampire killed Eliora, and for a while it was easy to want to make generalizations just to have something to be pissed off at.

He doesn't feel that way anymore. Dan's too open-minded a person to allow himself to pigeonhole an entire race (species?) over the bad actors. He successfully drank and partied and screwed and drove his way out of feeling any kind of anger at all. He talked himself out of it, in his head, with every vampire he encountered.

This is an individual. Just an individual. They aren't responsible for anything in my life.

So. Dude sounds fun! Dancing! Poker! The eternal hobbies of the cheap and lively. Or would-be lively, if not for being technically dead.

He hops in on video, a scruffy-looking guy with a baritone voice that sounds as fried as lard in a skillet.]

Are you a decent poker player who wants to play against another decent poker player?

Re: video

[vampthropologist]

Why, certainly. You play, then?

[Beckett's voice is cultured and just a touch high-handed, in an unconscious way. Someone accustomed to control, even if they only choose to exercise it over themselves.]

[hallelujahjunction]

Same as you, it sounds like: decently.

[The clash in their voices is almost comical, but Dan's all friendliness.]

But no one ever improved none without practice.

[vampthropologist]

Name the time and place, then.

[Beckett is trying for friendliness, quite earnestly, but the predator peeks through around the edges. It's been three hundred years since he interacted with the living as anything but prey, and habit is a hard thing.]

[hallelujahjunction]

What’re you up to tonight, big guy? And what are your thoughts on card games with libations?

[Dan might be flirting or he might just be Like That, even he’s not sure. He sees the predator peeking through and, well, that’s fine. Bloodlust and habit are a hell of things, he won’t judge. He just won’t let his guard down.]

[vampthropologist]

I'm afraid I can't partake, but please, if you've found something to make this place bearable, don't withhold on my account.

[He smiles, quite satisfied with this outcome.]

A night off trawling through this ridiculous excuse for a library won't impede my progress.

Want me to set up a log?

[hallelujahjunction]

Ah, they’re not giving you blood with good vintage? [Dan winks.

Ugh, libraries. If there are audiobooks, Dan hasn’t been able to read the instructions on where to find them. Real books give him hives; it’s like being surrounded by dark trees and shadows in a forest late at night, only for his brain.]

Meet you there in an hour? Gives you a chance to meet some other folks first.

sure! i'll hit it up tomorrow though

[vampthropologist]

The quantity is adequate; the quality is somewhat lacking.

[It would be a rakish grin if he wasn't discussing, you know, eating people.]

I'll see you shortly, then.

I'll put it up today!

[hallelujahjunction]

[Hey, one of his best friends is a werewolf. Making light of eating people is part and parcel of any world with a Weird.]

Looking forward to it!

Re: I'll put it up today!

[vampthropologist]

I'll see you shortly.