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

[100more]

If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know. I'm Hob, by the way. Same as my accout name.

[100more]

Sounds like that would require a bit of engineering.

[100more]

Not good for them?

[ A strange thing to say. ]

Why would you say that?

[matermali]

[ She's oh so cursed, but that is always a bit heavy for an introduction! ]

Mm, some might say that I am a bit of bad luck. [ Said like a tease anyone could make about a gambling addiction. ] Do you believe in such a thing? Luck?

[100more]

[ Hob wouldn't be surprised if a punishment was dealt, as well. Stockpiling goods seemed like a good way to prepare in case food disappeared, but there's a chance it won't be allowed. ]

A recipe book sounds like a great idea.

[100more]

[ If Lestat's intention was to make Hob blush when showing off his mouth, he has succeeded.

But he does want to see, and his brow knits at the sight of the pointed teeth. They're not as huge as they are in the movies, but it does feel like there's something otherworldly about the man. He's simply.. too perfect. ]

Uh.. yes, but I still can't quite decide.

[ He knows he wouldn't want to be bitten by those sharp ones, though. ]

It's not polite to assume.

[100more]

It seems a little soon for everything to suddenly fall apart, but anything is possible.

no problem, i've been bogged down by work :/

[100more]

I'm sure a lot of people are feeling homesick by now. Especially if they come from a place very different from this one.

[ Hob has also been concerned about the large number of younger people, but so far, they don't seem overly bothered by it all. Or they're putting on brave faces, at least. ]

[100more]

[ A smile. ]

I think I do.

[ It was certainly very lucky that he was the one who got the attention of two Endless in a random inn one night. ]

But I can't imagine you're bad luck.

[perfectdevil]

[ Lestat finds himself cursing this crutch of technology often, but never so much as he does when humans react in this way; the flush of colour to the skin, the slight pause in their reactions, the rapt expression they look at him with. He wishes he could smell the blood through this little screen, to know what kind of human he's dealing with by lightly scanning his thoughts. In a way, perhaps that's his own crutch to lean on, so he'd do well to have a little more patience for these machines. ]

It's not, is it....

[ Lestat closes his mouth and smiles, a devilish little twinkle in his eyes as he watches the man on the feed very closely. ]

Would you be scared if I was?

[100more]

[ Hob wouldn't want to be rude, but he's also incredibly curious. After all his years, it's exciting to think he can still see and experience new things. Though sometimes, he reaches for something too dangerous. Something he shouldn't. Maybe one day, he'll learn. ]

That depends on if you're a threat or not.

[apshot]

Sounds pretty simple to me.

[ Has someone... Never been in a greenhouse? ]

[100more]

Great. You should build one.

[ Hob has certainly been to a greenhouse, but building a water and humidity system that will keep the plants alive, not to mention artificial light if needed, as the weather cools and the daylight hours reduce is not something he's equipped for. ]

ugh, the worst!! let's hope it gets better soon ;;

[miyagimagic]

[ There's a hum of agreement coming from Daniel. Easily. It's something he's considered too, if not just because he's pretty homesick himself - and because he's been fussing about quite a lot of people in this place on top of it. ]

What is your home like then?

[ There's a slight pause, and then Daniel is at least kind and polite enough to add: ]

If you don't mind sharing. [ It's not like he wants to be nosy, anyway.

He just wants to give Hob a moment to talk about it. To maybe prevent homesickness just a tiny bit. ]

[perfectdevil]

[ Lestat's hand falls to his mouth in thought, a shining glass-like nail running a track back and forth along his lower lip. He could quite easily tell this man he had nothing to worry about, or crow with delight of what a miracle the human sense of danger is, but oh.. it's no fun to give such a concrete answer so soon into a first impression. The mystery, the allure, these are the things Lestat covets above all else when talking to humans. ]

I suppose you'll have to come to that conclusion yourself, should we ever meet, hm?

[ He reaches forward to shut off the feed, but just before he does-- ]

Good luck with your famine.

[100more]

[ Hob doesn't mind the questions, but he considers his home pretty average. Especially since he's already met a god and a couple aliens since he's been here. ]

London? It's just a city like most others, but I guess that depends on what you're used to. I teach at a university there.

[100more]

[ The mystery is definitely left lingering in the air when the pretty man turns off the feed. And what did he mean by your famine? Unless food doesn't apply to him. Maybe he did just talk to a vampire, after all? ]

[miyagimagic]

Yes, I know London.

[ Daniel feels a little silly saying it, and it shows in his tone - just a touch awkward. But, you know, this city just happens to be the one place you actually have to confirm other people actually know about major cities where you come from.

In fact, Hobb may just have one of the more normal backstories Daniel has heard so far, thank god. ]

I'm from the San Fernando Valley myself, over in the United States. Do you know how statistically impossible it is that we both apparently happen to be from regular Earth, compared to the stories some of the people here have?

[100more]

[ There's a quick smile at hearing Daniel is familiar with some version of Earth, though he knows there are more than one version, too. ]

It's surprising, but in a good way. Someone else told me Earth was invaded by aliens some years ago. Not where I come from, thank goodness.

[miyagimagic]

[ He lets out a huff - it sounds half-disbelieving, half-exasperated. ]

Aliens? Really?

[ He supposes it's in line with the way some people here talk about their worlds, but.. sheesh. ]

That almost makes it sound like we've got the entire collection of 'weird stuff that usually only happens in movies' gathered here. Almost makes you feel strange for coming from such a normal place, right?

[100more]

It does.

[ Even with his unique circumstances, Hob feels as though he's the normal one here. ]

But it's also a chance to experience things we never have before, so that's kind of exciting.

[miyagimagic]

That sure is a word for it.

[ It's not like Daniel will fully deny it, but-- on the other hand, he's a guy who would prefer having a little less excitement in his life, honestly. Espeically at this point. ]

Were you some sort of adventurer back home? You know, someone who loves extreme sports and all that?

[100more]

[Hob laughs.]

No, nothing like that. I like to travel a bit, but I definitely wouldn't meet an alien back home. Probably.

[miyagimagic]

Well, that's good to hear.

[ Not that extreme sports wouldn't still be considered relatively normal.. but that relatively is doing a whole lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.

It's more normal than vampires or aliens, sure, but also still a little more out of the norms when you go by absolute normal standards. ]

If not just because I'm glad there's a guy here who's just as normal as I am. Feels reassuring, you know?