wizardmanor | floor one, room two

( Unfortunately, Mika's efforts to become one with the couch haven't been effective, so, after a minute or so of delay, the door slowly opens.

Seeing Ahito, he pauses, then wordlessly steps aside to let him in and close the door behind him. He says nothing if Ahito comes in; it seems like he's going to let Ahito start the conversation. )

[The shades are back on, hiding his eyes once more - he really does seem to wear them no matter what time of day it is.]

Thanks.

[And he does wait until the door's closed before he speaks again.]

...I thought you hated humans.

( nvm get out of his room

He grimaces slightly, lips pursing tight. )

... I do. But... I hate vampires, too.

( He grips the hilt of his sword, frustrated. )

... And leaving them to die would be what a vampire would do.

( While this isn't just lip service... it sounds partly just like what he's telling himself to justify seeking help for them. )

[He hums in thought at that.]

...In the baths. Was it your hunger that set off your magic?

( stop calling him out )

... Yes. I was starving. But that's when I started to realized I couldn't keep it under control like I usually did.

( Hence his disappearance a day later. )

To get some distance from other people...?

[An honest question. If there were other attacks, he feels he'd have heard something among the townspeople, but there's always a chance eavesdropping on gossip failed him.]

... Yeah. I didn't think I'd lose control to that extent... where I'd drag myself back.

( He almost seems like he doesn't want to admit it, because it almost makes him sound like a decent person, and he's not. )

This has nothing to do with wanting to save humans, though. I just hate what I am. If starvation had taken me, maybe Tatara could've summoned someone else.

[...He doesn't believe that, but he's not going to press it.]

Yes, well, obviously that didn't work.

How much do you normally need, and how often? -And before you get the wrong idea, I'm not asking because I'm "nice" or whatever.

If it's possible to get you enough blood to keep going and heal up the loss with the magic we're supposed to be practicing anyway, that would be much easier than dealing with all that.

[Gesturing vaguely to fully encompass All That.]

( Ugh. He crosses his arms, not happy it's come to this, but Ginger made him be amenable to the idea. )

... I can get by on a little bit once every three days. ( Which would keep him hungry, but will ask less of people. ) I'm not really in a position to ask for an ideal feeding situation.

Well, now I'm just curious. What's the ideal?

[He's not actually entertaining the thought, he's just nosy.]

( He can kind of tell, which makes him kinda "ugh," but it's not really a secret. )

More than a little, every day. Not a lot, but I don't know the exact amount. I haven't fed normally since I became... this.

[But he definitely, absolutely hates humans.

Uh-huh.]

Ideally, if people split the burden it'd be easier to heal and keep you going... But I'm not sure how many would agree.

( listn, )

It's possible. But that makes me a liability. I don't see why people should go through the effort for me, the chance of practicing magic aside.

[Raising an eyebrow.]

What, you've got absolutely no skills you can offer in exchange?

( ...? )

... You're saying people would trade blood for services?

( Are we normalizing... donating blood to vampires........???? )

Maybe not as a direct exchange, but - if needing blood makes you a liability, why not figure out something you can offer to offset that?

If it turns out you excel at a certain type of magic or some other ability, all the more reason to help each other out, right?

( Mmgh... Logic... Okay... He purses his lips, but can't find a decent grounds to argue besides "feeding vampires is stupid lay me in a stone prison to die" )

... I guess. I'm... still figuring out magic, but I'm good at fighting. And I'm pretty strong and fast. I guess I can do physical labor...

( No pride on this one... )

[It's honestly a relief he's actually listening to said logic, though he doesn't let it show on his face.]

Then you've got someplace to start. Sounds like a plan.

( Sighs. (A very pointed act, given he doesn't need to breathe,) )

... I need fewer of you all to be so willing to give away blood. Even in exchange for errands.

( But... it is what it is, and it seems like he's going to have to progress forward in this way, given his own plan (running away to the woods) didn't work. )

You better not be offering, though.

( He remembers what you said in the baths, mr GLASS BONES AND PAPER SKIN!!! )

I don't know what you expected when most the people you dragged in to heal actually buckled down and did it.

[Despite their overall strangeness, most of the people here seem to be willing to pursue the stated goal as a group? Madness.

At the second part, he holds up his hands in a surrender.]

Only if there's no other options. Or if I can figure out reliable healing magic that actually offsets it.

[It's clear from his tone he's in no hurry to have a repeat of the past.]

( yeah ok but the people who need healing deserved it and he didn't ergo )

If there's no other options, lock me up or kill me. There isn't any point trading your life for mine.

( This is a logical deduction to Mika. If Ahito's life might be at risk from Mika feeding on him, it would be better to let Mika die - Mika will always run the risk of reducing their numbers, and Ahito won't. It's Just Basic Math, )

As for healing... It would be worthwhile to prioritize. ( Given everything that happened... ) What do your spirits specialize in?

My body's weaker, true, but it's not like I'm going to drop dead on the spot if I lose some blood.

[He's dying but it's not that dire yet ok]

Our spirits specialize in offensive magic, so, pretty much the opposite.

( doubt.jpg )

Oh, good. You'll be especially effective at neutralizing me, then.

( A joke.............? A wry one if it is. )

Well, if healing isn't easy for your affiliation, why not approach it like offensive magic? Shove a bunch of magical energy into the person. ( But with more refinement to the idea. Shove... Positive magical energy into them ? ) It might be a start.

...

Keep joking like that and I'll just give you a cup of my blood on the spot.

[Because that, ironically, seems like it would annoy Mika the most.]

Anyway, I'm working on it. Healing was my domain in my world, it'd be embarrassing if I couldn't figure it out in this one.

( wow, hey, (he's right) )

Don't think I won't cut you open and put the blood back.

( He says this knowing that's not how it works, but the point isn't to be correct, the point is to Win, )

I'd think you'd be ready to leave healing behind, given your history with it.

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