video; un: thevampirelestat

[perfectdevil]

[ The screen opens up to a black imitation Chesterfield couch in pride of place at the centre of the screen. On it sits a young man of seemingly around twenty years old, dressed in a half unbuttoned black shirt and silver waistcoat, tight black slacks and shining black boots with golden toe caps; his long legs crossed elegantly before him, he lifts his wrist in a light wave of greeting toward the viewfinder. ]

Good evening, everyone. Lestat here.

[ A flourish of his other hand, a widespread sweep as if he'd just announced something very impressive, and then he leans forward with the manner one might take when speaking to a dear friend, rather than addressing a network of mostly strangers. ]

I've been thinking, mes très chers, as I am often known to do: it's my birthday soon, and though I'd love nothing more than to throw some grand shindig and invite all of you, I have it from a reputable source that it might not be the best idea given the way the last party we were all invited to turned out for a lot of us.

[ In the background, another figure can be seen through the entranceway leading to the kitchen, though this man seems much less prepared to be on show to the entire network as he goes about taking off his gardening gloves and placing the tools he'd been using into the sink. He emerges a moment or two later with two freshly potted plants in his hands, which he deposits somewhere off-screen, before returning and taking his place at Lestat's side. ]

That, and, if I'm being honest... I'm feeling strangely low-key about it this year. All I really want to do is sit in the comfortable velvet seats of a quaint little movie theater and watch something new. I've heard of the media store opening soon, of course, but I'll be another year older weeks before its doors open. Instead of wasting time browsing once I'm inside, I thought instead that I might rely on the knowledge of the masses, so-to-speak, and get a few recommendations before that time comes.

So, I come to you with a question, my beloved City: what is your favourite movie? Tell me the plot, describe to me your favourite scene, tell me how your favourite actor 'eats up' every role they play — truly, anything goes. If you don't have films in the world you are from, perhaps tell me your favourite story, and maybe while I'm inside the media store I can keep my eye out for an adaptation of it for you.

[ His eyes naturally slide to his side, to his patient companion, and a smile curls his mouth. ]

And, if you're interested in something a little more challenging... Louis is here, too, and he can be frightfully picky. If you manage to genuinely pique his interest, then you'll really impress me.

Comments

Video | UN: Loki

[abit_ofboth]

[After watching Lestat’s video, Loki can’t help but want to respond. Despite the issues he ran into at the varying Halloween parties, Loki is still a fan of celebrations. Though he did stop celebrating his own date of birth many centuries before. When you’ve had a thousand of them, it hardly seems pressing any longer. But, any excuse for a party really.

Wanting to respond in kind, Loki sets up his camera. He’s lounging on his own couch, or at least the couch in the apartment he took over a few months prior. He’s dressed impeccably, as always, in a dark green collared shirt, the top two buttons open as he is feeling more casual today, and perfectly pressed black dress pants. The sleeves of his shirt have been rolled partway up his forearms. Something he’s started doing more of lately.]

I feel as if I should start this message by apologizing for our little encounter at the party last month. I do hope you do not think that is normal for me. [Though considering his past, Loki himself isn’t sure it isn’t, though Lestat does not need to know that.]

If this is truly an invite to everyone in the City, I would like to join. Unfortunately, I have never seen one of these ‘movies’ you speak of. I’m afraid my limited time spent on Earth was rather taken up by other things. I have, however enjoyed a few books that came from Earth so if you come across a version of anything about the Roman Empire. I did find their civilization to be quite fascinating.

[perfectdevil]

[ God, what a ridiculously attractive man Loki is. So stylish, so confident. It makes sense, of course, for a shapeshifter to be so dazzling, but Lestat sometimes forgets just how dazzling a person can be when blessed with superb taste and the ability to look however they like. Or perhaps Loki's powers don't work that way and he is simply blessed. Whatever the case, Lestat wriggles in his seat a little, clearly excited, and leans forward. ]

Water under the bridge, mon ami. That place did strange things to a number of my friends, it would hardly be fair to hold it against you. Even Gods aren't immune to such influences, it would seem.

[ He looks from Loki's username, to Louis, and back again. ]

All things considered, in retrospect, I'd say it was quite fun. I haven't brawled like that in... well, it's been some time. [ Has he ever brawled in that way before, he wonders? Usually, his 'fights' are limited to slight struggles at the moment of the bite. It's been a very long time since he traded blows. Well, it's good to know he's still got it. ] Perhaps it might have been more enjoyable in a different circumstance, but it is what it is. You're alright, aren't you?

[ He offers a small cheeky smile, before tossing his hair haughtily over one shoulder. ]

And as far as movies go, I am not so accustomed to them as I would like to be - not the ones of the modern age, at least. Perhaps if I find something good, we could watch together. [ He glances at Louis. ] I think that could be interesting.

video; un: louis

[deathoftheauthor]

( Louis' eyes go wide — he looks between Lestat next to him on the couch and Loki on the screen with absolute astonishment. He doesn't want to admit that he hadn't realized that Loki was actually Loki; no, Louis had presumed, and rather arrogantly, that he must have been some other sort of being. Magical, yes, but godly? No, of course not. Louis hadn't let himself consider the possibility in any serious way.

But if Lestat thinks so... and if Lestat had grappled with him, then his strength must be considerable... oh, he didn't expect to be reevaluating so much just now.

He composes himself, though his brows remain raised. )

As Lestat said, no one is to blame for what happened in that place... save for the people behind it, and they aren't here.

( But. ) I think a "movie night" of sorts could be quite stimulating. I've too often found myself leaving the theater with no one at all to discuss my thoughts with. I can certainly keep an eye out for anything historical. Tell me, what fascinated you about Rome?

video ; @thundaga

[astraphilia]

[ well, well, well, if it isn't Mr. Dine-and-Dash himself.

Reno is stretched out along his own couch, head propped on one arm and feet up on the other, with one arm tucked behind his head as he films. his grin is easy, flirtatious as always. ]

Midgar's real big on hero stories. There's this one real famous one, Loveless—based on an old poem. [ how refreshing to be in a place where not everybody knows Loveless, where not everything is just another Loveless adaptation. for Reno, who relies on the nighttime soaps as his prime form of entertainment on the rare evenings he's off the clock, Loveless is getting more than a little played out. ] It's about three friends who go off in search of "the gift of the goddess" so they can save the world. Honestly it ain't really my thing, but it was definitely the most popular thing in Midgar for a long time.

[ until the world ended and people stopped having the time to care about the arts, anyway. ]

It's old enough nobody knows how the poem ends. I guess people are into that. Open-ended kinda shit.

video; un: louis

[deathoftheauthor]

( !!!!!

Louis feels his heart knock against his ribs, and he shifts not so subtly closer to Lestat on the sofa. He's dressed in a dark knitted sweater, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, hair carelessly messy, clearly not half as intentionally dressed as Lestat. There's a look of recognition in his bright green eyes, followed by a deliberate, unnatural stillness — an attempt to make his expression unreadable. Mostly, though, he just looks distrustful. )

Intriguing. Do people create their own endings, or has the ambiguity become the point?

[perfectdevil]

[ Hello yourself, Monsieur Likes-Having-His-Dick-Stepped-On.

Seeing Reno isn't a surprise exactly, but Lestat does visibly react to the sight of him sprawled out like that; it was rather easy for him to assume he'd embellished just how shameless and ready to play with fire Reno had been, but looking at him now is a stark reminder that he hadn't misinterpreted even a second of their time together.

Lestat straightens up a little, crossing his forearm over his knee so that he can lean in ever so slightly, an open expression of curiosity on his face; it would be a lie to say that he isn't interested in the story too, which is why he's perhaps not clinging to his unflappable persona quite so relentlessly in this moment. ]

Well, who can resist a hero story; there's something in it for everyone, after all. Even if it ain't your thing.

[ Just a fair warning to stop saying Things around him, because he will inevitably repeat them and they will sound utterly ridiculous. ]

But if stories of saving the world don't interest you, what does? [ His voice almost chiding, very slightly forceful, as though Reno is misbehaving on purpose and Lestat can tell. ] I didn't ask what's popular, after all. I asked what your favourite is.

video; un: mightiest

[fanstheflames]

It's gonna be your birthday soon??

[ Despite the brighter lilt of her voice, Tsuruno looks as though she's... very tired, perhaps a tad subdued. All the same, this is relevant?? Birthdays are very important! Truthfully, she's only come to appreciate them more in her line of... work, so to speak. ]

Is telling you my favorite movie really enough, though? Obviously you're not gonna do birthday cakes or anything like that, but...

[ Presents?? Presents for a man she's only met once! ]

[perfectdevil]

[ Oh, sweet Tsuruno. You don't just look run down around a guy as perceptive as Lestat is. Of course he easily picks up on the slight wilt in her typical energy; even from meeting her only once, he can tell something is weighing heavily on her shoulders. Hmmm.... ]

It is. The seventh of this month. Roughly, I'll be somewhere around two hundred and twenty-five. Or at least I would have been on my birthday in my own world.

[ A little shrug, he clearly doesn't care that much to keep an exact count. Understandably, the number means less and less the older you get. You start to count in decades and centuries rather than in individual years. ]

I'd like to know your favourite movie, at least. I'm not sure what you mean by enough. I'd like to be spoilt rotten, of course. [ His eyes sllliiiideee over to Louis, then back to her. ] But what other way is there to do such a thing? The last thing I want is for anyone here to be sick of parties. What a horror that would be.

video; un: louis

[deathoftheauthor]

( Who is this adorable creature Lestat has befriended...?

Kindly: ) He loves gifts, if that's what you're asking.

Text | Un: Ouroborosed

[inlovewithmycar]

I reckon Four Weddings and a Funeral would be right up your alley.

[perfectdevil]

What an interesting name. Tell me, what is it about? Other than four weddings and a funeral, I assume.

text | un: willthewise

[willtheunwise]

[ There is absolutely no way Will is getting on video looking the kind of hot mess he looks however he can’t resist chipping in ]

My ultimate favourite movie is The Evil Dead where five college students go on a trip to a cabin in the woods and they find the book of the dead and play a tape recording of someone reading from it but they accidentally summon evil spirits and everyone starts getting possessed and killing each other and it’s really gross and bloody and someone gets stabbed with a pencil and it’s like… so over the top it’s fantastic.

But if hardcore horror isn’t for you then I’m gonna say Gremlins coz there’s a cute pet and it accidentally spawns a bunch of evil pets and they cause havoc but it’s funny.

text; un: louis

[deathoftheauthor]

( ... Will. Your taste in cinema is so grim. )

Gremlins? I do know that one. That came out just last summer in our world. It was surprisingly witty. I thought setting the film during Christmas was especially vicious, but I do mean that as a compliment. I think Lestat would get a kick out of it. ( Reflexively, Louis types "as they say," and backspaces. )

I take it you have a preference for horror?

[perfectdevil]

[ Well, what a name for a movie, Lestat thinks: 'The Evil Dead'.... Hashtag not all dead things are evil. ]

That does sound like an interesting movie. I'm sure it has a lot of good life lessons in it, particularly about pencils.

I honestly didn't realise there was a market for movies about possessions and spirits: I thought even in the modern era the general public were still quite afraid of things like that. Even my band got a little flak for posing as vampires. We were 'starting a panic', you know.

I can't quite say what my kind of movie is, as I really haven't seen enough to know, though I'm certainly not squeamish. However, my favourite plays are comedies, perhaps a funny movie like the latter one you mentioned might suit me better.

text; un: Constantine

[keepgodwaiting]

If you lot like possessions and gore I suppose I have to mention the Exorcist, but don't believe everything you see in it

Video; un:stampede

[bountyfull]

[ thus far, Vash has largely stuck to texting when it comes to network shenanigans. Call it an old habit, keeping his identity at least partially shrouded, nut as time goes on he's come to realize a bounty on his head at home might not translate to having one here, in this place.

So he turns on the video after a moment of deliberation with himself and offers a quick, friendly little wave with a jade looking prosthetic hand, his expression sunny. ]

I don't have any specific recommendations, but my brother was always fond of the old westerns from earth we had access to when we were younger.

[ he wasn't overly fond of them himself, but that's not the question being asked. ]

video; un: louis

[deathoftheauthor]

( The prosthetic catches Louis' attention — how could it not? It's lovely in its intricacy, more complex than anything he's seen before. But the man's smile is captivating, too, and Louis' expression softens immediately in response.

It does, however, take him a moment to convince himself he's heard correctly. )

Forgive me, but do you mean you were raised somewhere other than Earth?

( That's more interesting than movie recommendations. )

[perfectdevil]

[ Lestat is thoroughly endeared by the sweet little wave, and cant resist a chuckle in the wake of it. He's not used to technology like this, or it's customs, but something about waving to it is so strangely cute to him that it has him feeling rather bemused. ]

Ah, westerns as in cowboys, yes? I've been told about Clint Eastwood in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly after thinking the title was interesting, though I have to confess I've not found the time to sit down and watch any such films.

[ So many different definitions of West. The world really is a big place. :') ]

You never watched any movies yourself? I find it hard to believe you can't recommend anything at all. Come now, monsieur; the last film you watched, at the very least?

[rescinded_vow]

Time Bandits. I will be taking no further questions, but I can provide a list alphabetically and by genre.

[ What movies? All the movies, every single one. ]

text; un: louis

[deathoftheauthor]

Then "Why Time Bandits?" is off the table?

Ah... that was another question.

[perfectdevil]

I know you said no questions, but I haven't seen it and I simply must know what has captured you so about a movie with such a... particular title.

[ Lestat thinks it sounds dumb. ]

So, what is it about?

video | un: paphiopedilum

[playing_human]

All stories have diminishing returns, which makes it difficult to maintain a favorite. Of late, I have enjoyed Der Ring des Nibelungen and its sources. Titus Andronicus is one I seldom miss, whenever there is opportunity to see it performed. As a child, I was fond of the Mabinogion. But these are all very old stories. I'm sure you already know the first two at least.

[perfectdevil]

[ It's times like these Lestat is thoroughly reminded of their difference in age, despite all their other similarities. While he has, of course, heard of the four epic musical dramas and is obviously a fan of Titus Andronicus — finding himself not at all surprised that such a vicious tragedy would have earned Dorian's favour because Lestat himself thoroughly enjoys it too — they are certainly not main stream stories, nor ones he's thought about in some time.

Because of that, though, he feels that powerful intrigue he seems to only feel around Dorian perk up its ears, and he leans a little closer to the screen. ]

You are right, my friend, I know all about the first two. So tell me about the third, won't you?

video; un: louis

[deathoftheauthor]

Diminishing returns? Forgive me, but I completely disagree. I never did tire of Macbeth, no matter how many times Lestat took me to see it, and I find myself just as captivated by Tchaikovsky's ballets every time I'm fortunate enough to witness one.

video; un: d.larusso

[miyagimagic]

Well, if he's that picky, I'm not sure I could make a suggestion that might interest him. All of the stuff I like is pretty old. [ And, sure, considering a previous talk with Lestat he does know the other is from just about a time where those movies would be pretty recent.. But Daniel also knows there's lots of kids here who'd probably recommend stuff that's a little newer. ]

But I could make a list of a few old Italian movies my mother liked to watch with me when I was younger. [ If not just because he feels like they're a little more niche. Less likely to overlap with other people's suggestions. ] I guess it's the least I could do for your birthday, huh?

Though.. [ There's definitely something else on Daniel's mind.

The way his voice trails off says enough all by itself. But he doesn't keep it just in his mind, instead addressing it out loud. ]

Aside from all that, it's good to see you two together.

[ Look, he didn't listen to Louis' whole talk that basically boiled down to 'this is my most special person' for nothing!! ]

[perfectdevil]

[ Lestat has some quip in mind — something like 'Don't worry, mon ami, we are also pretty old' — but the comment about seeing them both together makes him pause. He looks sideways at Louis, then back at Daniel and he doesn't look embarrassed, exactly, but some of that unflappable rock star persona has softened into something a little softer, a little younger perhaps, certainly more human. ]

We're together quite often, you know, though I'll admit... never quite so unavoidably public as this.

[ He laughs a little, wondering if he's been foolish to find himself thinking rather often that he should give Louis a little space; if people aren't even used to seeing them as a pair yet, has he been concerned over nothing? Unless there's more to it. Louis had already told him all about meeting Daniel, they'd both discussed their enjoyment of talking with him and had combined efforts in the diner on the odd night... but Lestat didn't have details for what they talked about. ]

And as for movies, please do. I'd be interested to see how they compare to Hollywood.