video; un: Hob

[100more]

[The video shows Hob, sitting at home on a balcony of his apartment. He smiles, but there's a little uncertainty to his attempt at pleasantness. Something is bothering him.]

Hello, all. Uh, I don't mean to alarm everyone, but...

[That's usually how people cause alarm. Good work, Hob.]

I noticed something strange during my recent walks. I have a path I routinely take as I explore the city, walking different areas each day in case there's something out of the ordinary. Well, I typically stop in the same shops for some water or food, or to carry something home. When I went into one of the stores I frequent, I noticed the things I helped myself to previously haven't been replaced. It always was, before.

[It's hard to mask his concern.]

As more people typically arrive about once a month, if resources get scarcer... shouldn't we think of something?

[A quick smile.]

Or maybe it's all a fluke! A temporary disruption in services. That's all.

[That could be it, right? Hob doesn't have to eat to live, but starving is not a lot of fun.]

Comments

video, un: thevampirelestat

[perfectdevil]

[ He'll respond in kind, but the camera is slightly too zoomed in and not at all centered. It's also moving quite erratically as he speaks. He's very clearly never done this before, okay, give him a minute. ]

Usually when there is famine, people ration. Do you think something like that could be coordinated here?

[100more]

That sounds... awful.

[ But Hob supposes not all worlds and universes are peaceful. People seem to be brought here for everywhere. ]

Let's hope things remain peaceful.

[100more]

I would definitely not prefer that many.

[ But this place seems to like to scare them a bit, so he wouldn't count it out. ]

[stubboarn]

It will come naturally, I think. Once people realize that organization becomes necessary, it will happen. We have quite the group here, with several people of varying strengths and tempers.

My only worry is we are turned against each other ... deliberately.

[100more]

I don't know everything about him or who he keeps his time with, but yes, you're probably right about that. He hasn't always been very good at the 'friends' thing, but he's learning. Maybe he'll learn from you, too.

[matermali]

[ Now that almost gets a laugh, though it's barely audible with the lightest breath. ]

I fear that I am no good at such a thing, myself. In besides, is there any such lesson that a mortal can teach a god of dreams?

[100more]

I'd rather be prepared for the worst than not be. We'll have to see how this all unfolds and manage as best we can. At least so many are willing to work together. Thank you.

[ He wishes there was less uncertainty, but whoever is running this place doesn't seem bothered by that. ]

[100more]

[ Hob can't help but look amused by the camera malfunction. ]

Perhaps? I've heard a person has gotten in trouble for stockpiling, though, so that might make things more difficult.

[ And given the username he sees, he must ask. ]

I'm sorry, but... are you really a vampire?

[ Or maybe that's just a cool nickname or something. ]

[100more]

I'd hate to see something like that happen.

[ When it comes to survival, though, people can be pushed to their limits. ]

Let's hope everyone can remain friends.

[100more]

I don't know. You two had a nice conversation, didn't you? I think that's pretty valuable.

As you said, lessons in companionship. I don't know the first thing about gods, but just the title sounds... far removed from others.

[perfectdevil]

[ Lestat considers that, mind quickly shuffling through reasoning, and is just about to theorize further when that second comment comes, and his expression of thought turns to one of self-satisfaction. ]

Ah, what do you think? Vampires aren't real, are they?

[ It's a cheap cop-out of an answer, but there are so many varying categories of experience here when it comes to supernatural beings that Lestat is curious which one Hob might fall under. ]

[100more]

There may have been a time when I might have doubted it.

[ Though everyone was at least a little superstitious six hundred years ago. ]

But I try to keep an open mind.

[perfectdevil]

[ An open mind is certainly something Lestat can respect, so after staring at the screen for a long moment, he shrugs with a ridiculously exaggerated flourish for a movement so casual. ]

What are vampires like in your world? Do I look like a vampire?

[stubboarn]

That would be ideal, yes. Let's hope we all pull through these difficulties.

[ and speaking of friends - ]

Have you met any of your friends from home lately, or are you still living by yourself here?

[apshot]

A lot of it is just picking out a place that receives various amounts of light. Then making sure that there is a system to keep it humid or hydrated. Temperatures consistent to what the plants prefer.

[matermali]

Then I suppose we would be teaching one another, in such a state. Though I doubt he would call me a friend.

[100more]

I've never met one before. [ That he knows of. ] In stories and television their looks can range from horrific to beautiful.

[ Obviously, this man is classified as the latter. ]

So, I suppose you could look like one? Show me your teeth.

[ If he has fangs, he just might be a vampire. ]

[100more]

It may take some time, but we seem to have that, at the moment.

[ It doesn't look like they have any option but to stay here. ]

Do you not know many people back home?

[nerine]

Maybe just a few spider friends 😉
But I'll see if I can experiment with like, idk, with strawberry seeds or something.
Or at least green onions.
Those are easy to keep going for a while without dirt or bugs.

[matermali]

I am very glad to have a few dear friends back in London, but such company has been more of a recent occurrence.

[ She probably shouldn't mention how before this year, her friends had a tendency to, well, drop dead. ]

Responsibilities got in the way, you might say. To that, I am not very good for most people.

[codenametesla]

[That's... a bit of a complicated answer and she can't help huff out a breath, glancing away for a moment while she tries to put her thoughts together to answer.]

So... someone who disappeared from here told me about someone else who I think might have disappeared from here? And I think he got handcuffed for hoarding? But please take all that with a grain of salt! He might have misheard, or there might be other rules we still don't know about; it's all guesswork still.

[Though she certainly wouldn't put it past the city to punish that, even when the city had been restocking things faster.

His joke gets a bit of a chuckle though, and she's glad to think about something else, even briefly.]

Well, luckily for you, I'm pretty sure there's others around here who can cook more than just an egg. I'm not too bad, but usually I'd want a recipe and we both know the sorry state of books in this place. Oh! I wonder if we could convince others to put down all the recipes they know! We could make our own interdimensional cookbook!

[perfectdevil]

[ Lestat gives a slow tilt of his head, like a snake listening for the scratching of a mouse at the entrance to its hide.

When he opens his mouth the motion is far from obedient; instead it's languid, almost lascivious, his tongue against the roof of his mouth, his eyes staring straight and unblinking at the viewfinder, his lips pulled back in the ghost of a smile.

His eye teeth are indeed sharp, but they're nothing like what Hob might have seen of Dracula or Nosferatu. Lestat has no need for anything quite so long and sharp. It's entirely feasible that Lestat could simply be one of those mortals born with exaggerated canines. If it were in person, it might be a little more obvious that there is a lot to him that is distinctly not human - his pale skin and the chill of it, his eyes, the shine of his fingernails, the way his body moves - but this screen offers him a handy gauze of pixels to add to his disguise. ]

Satisfied?

[aceslow]

Of course. I have a vested interest in things going well here as well. I do live here, after all.

Though I have to wonder why this is happening, exactly. A breakdown of administration, or something more deliberate.

so sorry for the delay, i lost the notif! ;;

[miyagimagic]

I think it's a good thing.

[ Does Daniel understand the value of being cautious? Of course - it's why he's more like that himself.

But it doesn't mean he can't appreciate some good optimism, especially-- ]

Especially here. Things can feel so.. bleak sometimes, you know? Especially when things like these happen. Sudden changes that don't make sense, but that could turn out for the worse for us. It's nice some people can keep their spirits up in the face of all of it. I'm sure it helps other people too.

[ Especially the kids. Gosh, there are just truly too many kids out here with too little supervision, and it's definitely a worry of Daniel's. But having some adults be optimistic could be good for them, right? ]

[100more]

I'm happy to say I have met a couple. Well, someone from my home who is now a friend and a old, dear friend are here. The latter is staying with me for the time being.