infinite1up | IC Inbox (Hadriel)

[ Armand meets Sato's eyes and he parts his lips, letting just a glimmer of his fangs show. ]

Tell me, sir. Do you know of creatures called vampires?

[Some people would probably be scared. Sato's reaction is perhaps mildly surprised, maybe even a little delighted.]

Of course! Dracula is very well known where I'm from.

[ Armand laughs and steps forward. He raises a hand and lets it hover an inch or two about Sato's shoulder. ]

Dracula is but a story. I live the reality.

Ha ha, well, we sure do get all kinda around this fine city, don't we.

[He tilts his head to the side a little to expose his neck better.]

I assume it's close enough to how the old stories went, though?

Such as immortal men willing to give up litres of blood?

[ He rests his hand on his shoulder and tips his head up as far as he can. He's rather tiny. He brushes his lips very close to Sato's neck. ]

Yes. I will puncture your throat and drink. Do not fear. The experience is rather exhilarating.

[It's okay, Sato's not that tall himself. He'll lean a little if necessary. There's no trembling or faster heartbeat here, though, no sign in the slightest of fear to begin with. 'Exhilerating', he's not sure about, but this sure is anther one to add to the list of unusual experiences.]

I'm sure it'll be fine. Go on.

[ 'Exhilarating' is a bit of an understatement. Usually the victim swoons and a transfer of memories happens, an intimate shared experience. Instead of explaining this, Armand just nods and rolls back his lips to fully reveal his fangs. Without further ado he sinks his teeth into Sato's neck. He nearly groans as the salty, coppery taste of blood hits his tongue. He sucks, taking in mouthful after mouthful. He could feel the pull of Sato's heart. Armand's arm drops from Sato's shoulder and instead wraps around his waist, holding him tight to him.

The images start as he drinks. Sato will get glimpses and pieces of an Italian villa. Armand gambling at pubs. A tall blonde haired man, smiling down at him.

When the redhead said he wants all the blood he could get, he had meant he. He intends to glut himself. ]

[And minus a couple small differences, Sato is indistinguishable from any other human, buckling at the knees as expected.

Still, oddly, this isn't the first time a transfer of memories has happened to Sato, although not nearly so extensively. He'd glimpsed a memory of Nagai's, felt what he felt in that moment when their black ghosts' heads met.

This time what passes across: a small-town farm in California. War in the jungle, a rain of gunfire and explosions. Sheltered from the rain on a cold street. Pushing the controls to steer a plane down into a nosedive, straight into the city below, laughing.

And as he's drained dry, it's easy for Armand to feel the exact moment he goes dead and limp. So close to him, it's possible to hear the faintest burbling static-y crackle as color rises in his cheeks again, the punctures from Armand's fangs healing over almost instantaneously as life returns in less than a handful of seconds.]

Whew!

[ As soon as he felt Sato's heart slow to a stop, Armand broke away and watched with fascination as he snapped back to life, like a marionette that had its strings pulled taunt. If he was concerned about Sato's death it didn't show on his face.

Armand touched his own cheek where a rudy flush was beginning to seep into his face. His lips seemed to have more colour and Armand was sure he was now warm to the touch, unlike the corpse like clamminess he had been subjected to for the past month. ]

Welcome back.

[ He smiled, pleased with his own sense of humour. ]

You are truly immortal then. I did not quite believe it.

I wouldn't have believed in literal vampires before coming here, myself, but we all have to adjust our expectations.

[He collects himself, looking a little more thoughtful as he straightens back up.]

Were those... memories?

[ Armand lets a small smile spread over his face. He felt so delicious warm and content. He'd never take blood for granted again. ]

You are taking it remarkable well. Many would be afraid.

[ He nods. ]

Yes. Thoughts, memories, finger prints of the soul. Yours were wildly exciting.

[ Who exactly is this man? Armand burns with curiosity. ]

Afraid of what... dying?

[He can't help but suggest, the corner of his mouth quirking up a little. Obviously that isn't a problem.

For all of his smiling earlier, Sato's expression looks a lot more neutral now. If he'd known that trading memories was part of the deal, he might have reconsidered -- just what did Armand see? But too late for that now.]

I'm sure it wasn't a problem in the past, but that could be a little awkward in this city where even the non-immortals eventually get brought back to life, I would imagine.

[ Armand smiles a little. He can appreciate this joke. ]

The principal of the blood drinking undead is repulsive to some. It is most unnatural, I will admit.

[ He can't help but think of Carlisle. What would he have accomplished if he had successfully killed him? ]

Yes, I would most definitely be hunted out and burned alive for the crime of killing one of our kin. Although, I wonder if the gods mercy would extend to resurrecting me as well.

Oh, I'm sure the so-called 'gods' don't mind, as long as...

[Oddly, Sato catches himself off guard mid-thought and tilts his head up, smiling again. He was about to say '...As long as they get the emotions they want out of all of us.' Isn't that a funny thought.]

I'm sure you'd be fine, anyway!

[He says cheerfully, giving Armand an encouraging pat on the shoulder.]

Immortals aren't treated so well when we're discovered either, back where I'm from. But I think you'll find people here a lot more open-minded!

And if they're not... well, if you ever need a hand, just let me know.

[ He watches Sato's face and resists the temptation to dip into the man's mind and fish out that thought that is being kept from him. ]

You have a sunnier outlook than me. I need blood and only few can give it. A starving vampire is not a pretty sight.

[ He looks at the hand and looks back at Sato like he just grew an extra head. No one ever touched him so casually. ]

That puts me at ease, I will admit. I will offer the same service back to you. An immortal alliance, of sorts.

[ He lets a small smile escape. ]

Exactly so. There are a couple others around too... we may not be all quite the same, but as long as we have we have that in common, I don't see why we can't all support each other. A stake through the heart or garlic isn't going to do much to me, but then I can't turn into a bat or... hmm, what do real vampires do?

Ah, yes. Such as the brown haired immortal whose blood with return to his body no matter what.

[ Armand smiles, looking a bit mischievous. ]

Those are all tall tales. I sadly, cannot do any of those things. Although I am gifted in other areas.

Such as?

[Sato's a curious kind of guy, and tilts his head the faintest bit.]

Mind gifts. Tricks and illusions.

[ He keeps the fact he can read minds to himself. He's a power house of psychic arts, this one. ]

[Far from put out or wary about this, Sato claps his hands together and actually laughs. This is the kind of skill set he doesn't have... and could certainly use, here in Hadriel.]

Oh, wonderful! I'm sure that if you ever ran into trouble, that would be very handy to have. Do they work on the monsters too, or just humans?

I have not thought to use it against a monster. I did not think they had the same awareness as a human.

With some of the residents here, it's a fuzzy line.

[He smiles, hefting the rifle up over one shoulder. Although he's not sure about the memory-swap portion of things, this has definitely been an interesting evening.]

If you happen to find anything else you think I might like just lying around, feel free to contact me. I'm always available to make an exchange.

[ He nods. Sato seems like a practical man. He wouldn't dare assume that a single rifle would be enough to buy him unlimited blood. ]

I will look out for such items and alert you if something interesting comes up. Thank you for your time.

[ He says, like he didn't just kill him. ]

[Admittedly, that isn't something that seems to bother Sato in the least!]

I'm sure I'll see you around again. Take care!

[And on that note, he's off -- looking as pleased as ever as he heads out the door and on his way, in no rush as usual.]

IC Inbox (Hadriel)

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