oo1. VIDEO (cw animal death)

[oversear]

[ The video starts too close to Armand's face, blurring the image, making his stark white skin appear to be glowing with the poor lightening. He seems to be somewhere very dark with a lone candle burning. The seconds tick by as he plays with his own image in the frame. Eventually he finds the proper distance to hold his camera. He breaks his silence with a very soft voice. ]

My impression was that I had landed in Hell but now there is an atmosphere of a child's fantasy. There are monsters yet candy rains from the taps and there is light pouring in from inside the cave. I cannot make sense of it.

[ He stops speaking for a moment to think this statement over. ]

I come to this strange community with a request. These animals that have appeared. Rabbits and kittens and such. I would like to welcome them into my home. If someone could deliver them to me I would find a way to repay you. I have fallen ill and unable to leave myself.

[ Not with the chance of encountering odd hours of daylight. He can hardly believe he's using such simpleton tactics to obtain blood. ]

I'm afraid that is all I can say at the moment. My thanks in advance.

Comments

[oversear]

You offered a stranger medicine. Is that not a kind act?

[ Armand would never do that. But that's because he's a dick. ]

[foundafamily]

Depends on why you're offerin' it. Either way, I wouldn't call that a "masquerade." Don't be so dramatic.

[That makes him sound like some kind of mastermind villain, which he is not. Villain, maybe, but the masterminding is best left to people like Ronnie or Molsa.]

[oversear]

[ Dramatic???? Armand?????? never!!!

He just smiles. ]

Then enlighten me. Why did you do it?

[foundafamily]

Huh?

[Ugh, great. He didn't really think about it when he was doing it, so he hopes it doesn't show on his face that now he actually has to stop and think about it.]

Why not? It's not like it cost me anything--the medicine just came from the clinic.

[oversear]

That is not an answer. There must be some greater motivation. Some higher reasoning.

[foundafamily]

[Reasoning? That has no place with Firo.

But he gets this kind of thinking. Hell, he'd be suspicious too if some guy just tried to help him out. People don't do things for free.]

Well, you know what happens when you do a guy a good turn, right? You owe me now. Ain't that enough of a reason?

[oversear]

[ Armand looks stricken for a moment. ]

Such games!

[ It's a whisper. He looks positively furious. ]

You are a deceiver, sir!

[foundafamily]

[Oh, come on now. Firo just looks puzzled for a moment, but he supposes he might as well pursue this. Anyway, isn't it true? Even if he hadn't been thinking of putting this guy in his debt at first, it still makes sense to him.]

Hey, you're the one who wanted me to give you a reason! What's the problem?

[oversear]

You now have a vampire in your debt. That is the problem!

[ What type of person was this man? Would he command unspeakable things? Why could he possibly want a favour? ]

[foundafamily]

[He blinks and shrugs.]

What's the problem with that? You think bein' a vampire makes you any more special than anybody else?

[oversear]

[ The answer to that is obviously a 'yes'. But that's rude. ]

We are more dangerous than anyone else.

[ He has no experience with other beings to know this might not be as true as he believes. ]

[foundafamily]

[Firo shrugs and rolls his eyes, obviously skeptical. But he still doesn't feel like he has an answer to his initial question]

So what's that matter? If you owe me a favor, sounds like you bein' dangerous is a problem for other people.

[Not that he plans to use a favor in such a way--if Armand would even do it, which Firo doubts. That'd just be cowardly, to have someone else fight his battles.]

[oversear]

What sort of favour are you imagining is the real question.

[foundafamily]

How about you make me an offer?

[In other words, he has no clue what favor. But it'd be good to know the kind of thing this guy can do.]

[oversear]

[ Armand falls silent, thinking. ]

I can show you the thing you most desire to see.

[foundafamily]

Huh?

[What a weird offer. ...Slightly tempting, though, before he reminds himself that what he most wants to see will only make him homesick.]

What good's that do me? I know what I want, and you showing it to me isn't gonna make it any better. Unless you could actually send me home, I don't really care.

[oversear]

[ Armand shrugs. Not his fault that his offer is useless. He is basically good for illusions and killing. His only talents. ]

Then there is nothing I can offer you.

[foundafamily]

[Firo sighs, letting his shoulders droop in mock disappointment.]

That's really all you can do? That's kind of boring. You made it sound like bein' a vampire was such a big deal.

[oversear]

Do you often take death so lightly?

[ Being immortal can do that to a person. The only reason Armamd can not forget it is because he is the cause of it so very often. ]

[foundafamily]

Lightly?

[Not the first time Firo's been accused of that. It's true, too. He shrugs.]

What's the point in worrying about something like that? It happens or it doesn't.

[oversear]

[ Armand smiles a little. ]

You are curious.

[foundafamily]

[Firo shakes his head.]

Are you saying I'm weird? It's anybody who'd be in a hurry to think about stuff like that would be weird.