( He seems frustrated by Solomon's logic because he doesn't disagree with it. He's just... unhappy. )
... Is it that weird that I'm not happy being what I am? The part of me that hates this is the only thing keeping me from becoming as much of a monster as the rest of them... for however long that lasts.
I wouldn't call unhappiness "weird", no. Your feelings are your feelings, not anyone else's.
[It's the actions that come from those feelings that Mika has control over, even if right now... Solomon wonders if Mika would even believe that about himself.]
Have you been this way your whole life? A vampire?
( He doesn't see reason to disguise that. That's pretty old in a post-apocalyptic world with very few adults, too. )
... Yeah. It's a curse. From God, apparently. Another vampire fed me her blood against my will. ( Bitterly. ) Vampires can't really die, either. My only options were exist with some semblance of my consciousness as a human, or become a demon and lose my memories. Neither option was ideal.
( But he could only protect Yuu-chan with his memories, so... a vampire he stays. )
( Mika... folds his arms, quiet as his gaze falls away. )
... I don't know. I just...
( ... )
... I hate the idea that I might stop being "me." And I lost most of that when I died. Now I'm just... a corpse losing pieces of what I was until... eventually, I end up no better than some shambling ghoul.
Yeah. It's what happens to every vampire. Some of them can put on airs, but... it's hollow.
( This is part of what makes it a curse, in the end.
He exhales needlessly, as if speaking of some terminal diagnosis he knows of but is still struggling to accept. )
... But if everyone here is lucky, we'll finish this business with the moon before that finishes happening to me. It'd make me more of a liability than I already am, if I lost my ability to care and reason like this entirely.
( He looks... reluctant. This isn't a conscious decision or anything, but he's definitely avoiding most of the people he's fed from by manner of habit. )
... No. I guess I could... tell him, as a possibility to prepare for.
( This is something he only concedes because we're fresh off the consequences of what happened when he didn't warn anyone about a certain possibility to prepare for (what happens if he is not fed). Normally, he would've brushed it off with a "doesn't matter" or something to that effect. )
But you seem like a busybody. You can tell him, if you want. I'm fine with that.
( Two birds, one stone: lets Mika avoid people and lets the administration figure out what to do with him. )
[He doesn't respond to the permission to act as an in-between, however. Instead, he falls silent, looking over where Mika has folded in on himself in discomfort and shame and numbness, before stepping over to the windows overlooking the manor in the shadows of the evening.]
Come with me for a moment. I want to show you something.
He seems by default suspicious - not because of Solomon, but because of who he is and the sort of life he's lived. But... after a moment, he steps forward, coming up after him. )
... Sure.
( He won't ask what it is, since Solomon intends to show him. He'll simply follow after him - summoning his broom should they take to the air. )
[They are indeed! Solomon gently opens the window, his own broom materializing in his outstretched hand in a shower of golden lights, simple and black in its entirety, with gold rings decorating both the handle and the tight, almond-shaped bristles.]
( He needs practice, for sure, especially since he's missed on some days of practice, and his heart... could be steadier. But he did work pretty hard at it the first few days. )
I don't think I can go fast or take any route too complicated right now, but I won't fall.
[He nods as he shrugs off the starry-colored coat from his shoulders, gently tossing it to the side. No need for that to go flailing around in the dark when he had company with him]
Then there's nothing to be concerned about. We're not going very far.
[With a little hup of a sound as he steps up onto the windowsill, Solomon smoothly takes a seat onto his own broom, letting himself drift out into the open air with the momentum.]
It takes a moment to still his heart enough to manifest his broom, but he feels the weight of the cool-wrought iron in his grasp and he steps out and slips onto it side-saddle. It bobs with his weight slightly before finding its buoyancy, and he drifts in a slow semi-circle to face Solomon. )
Of course. [He settles a hand against the front of his broom.]
I'll trust you to say if that changes.
[With that, the sorcerer leans his weight forward as his ankles cross beneath his broom, smoothly shooting off into the night sky - a figure in all black with only the shocking white of his hair to place him.
He keeps to his word. If Mika doesn't mention that he needs Solomon to slow down, then the sorcerer will continue on at a brisk but manageable pace.]
Though Mika lags slightly behind, his pace slower but steady, he has the advantage of his vampiric hearing and sight - even if Solomon errs further ahead, Mika will not lose his trail, like a proper hunting dog. He won't push himself to go quicker than he can confidently go, but he won't ask anyone to slow down for him, either.
At the very least, he doesn't seem frustrated with his progress. His gaze falls to the distant world below, and to the stars and grand moon - a little lost in thought, but not distracted. )
[They fly out past the lights of the city, out until the darkness starts to feel ingulfing. Far enough removed that the moon and stars start to look like the pinpoints of many distant windows, many tired souls, holding onto what's left of the day.
He quietly slows to a halt, holding up a hand to hopefully get Mika's attention before he overshoots him.]
Here, please. Just for a minute.
[They're in the middle of nowhere and it's So Dark.]
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( They're all alive. )
Was there more information you wanted about me?
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[He finds a spot of the Gothic Interior Design to lean up against, arms folded across his chest.]
I'd like to know how we can keep this from happening again.
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... Feeding regularly.
( Unhappily, he puts his hand on his sword at his hip, frustrated. )
But I don't enjoy the thought of having to ask that of people.
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You also don't seem to enjoy the aftermath of the carnage left behind when you wait until it's too late.
It might be a hard truth to swallow, but you can't have both. You have to pick something proactive, or this could very well become a trend.
[A beat. He sighs tiredly.]
Is it because you dislike humans that you refuse to ask? Or is there something else making you so hesitant?
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... Is it that weird that I'm not happy being what I am? The part of me that hates this is the only thing keeping me from becoming as much of a monster as the rest of them... for however long that lasts.
( Bitterly... )
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[It's the actions that come from those feelings that Mika has control over, even if right now... Solomon wonders if Mika would even believe that about himself.]
Have you been this way your whole life? A vampire?
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... No. I was turned two years ago. Though, I... didn't become a full vampire until recently. That's when I stopped aging.
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[Says the one who also doesn't look like he can be any older than 25.]
Is it a disease that turns you? Another vampire?
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I'm 16.
( He doesn't see reason to disguise that. That's pretty old in a post-apocalyptic world with very few adults, too. )
... Yeah. It's a curse. From God, apparently. Another vampire fed me her blood against my will. ( Bitterly. ) Vampires can't really die, either. My only options were exist with some semblance of my consciousness as a human, or become a demon and lose my memories. Neither option was ideal.
( But he could only protect Yuu-chan with his memories, so... a vampire he stays. )
1/2
...
He goes very, very still as some of that coldness cracks. Thinking, suddenly, both so slow and so quickly that it makes his head ache.
How much should he reach here? What would he...
What would he do if this were Ibuki in front of him?
...]
2/2
Does it frighten you?
A life of something that isn't quite human anymore?
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... I don't know. I just...
( ... )
... I hate the idea that I might stop being "me." And I lost most of that when I died. Now I'm just... a corpse losing pieces of what I was until... eventually, I end up no better than some shambling ghoul.
no subject
Is that what you've seen happen to others? Losing themselves like that?
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( This is part of what makes it a curse, in the end.
He exhales needlessly, as if speaking of some terminal diagnosis he knows of but is still struggling to accept. )
... But if everyone here is lucky, we'll finish this business with the moon before that finishes happening to me. It'd make me more of a liability than I already am, if I lost my ability to care and reason like this entirely.
no subject
[...]
Have you spoken to the sage about any of this?
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... No. I guess I could... tell him, as a possibility to prepare for.
( This is something he only concedes because we're fresh off the consequences of what happened when he didn't warn anyone about a certain possibility to prepare for (what happens if he is not fed). Normally, he would've brushed it off with a "doesn't matter" or something to that effect. )
But you seem like a busybody. You can tell him, if you want. I'm fine with that.
( Two birds, one stone: lets Mika avoid people and lets the administration figure out what to do with him. )
no subject
[He doesn't respond to the permission to act as an in-between, however. Instead, he falls silent, looking over where Mika has folded in on himself in discomfort and shame and numbness, before stepping over to the windows overlooking the manor in the shadows of the evening.]
Come with me for a moment. I want to show you something.
no subject
He seems by default suspicious - not because of Solomon, but because of who he is and the sort of life he's lived. But... after a moment, he steps forward, coming up after him. )
... Sure.
( He won't ask what it is, since Solomon intends to show him. He'll simply follow after him - summoning his broom should they take to the air. )
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Are you comfortable with flying yet?
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( He needs practice, for sure, especially since he's missed on some days of practice, and his heart... could be steadier. But he did work pretty hard at it the first few days. )
I don't think I can go fast or take any route too complicated right now, but I won't fall.
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Then there's nothing to be concerned about. We're not going very far.
[With a little hup of a sound as he steps up onto the windowsill, Solomon smoothly takes a seat onto his own broom, letting himself drift out into the open air with the momentum.]
no subject
It takes a moment to still his heart enough to manifest his broom, but he feels the weight of the cool-wrought iron in his grasp and he steps out and slips onto it side-saddle. It bobs with his weight slightly before finding its buoyancy, and he drifts in a slow semi-circle to face Solomon. )
... Don't worry about me. Just go.
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I'll trust you to say if that changes.
[With that, the sorcerer leans his weight forward as his ankles cross beneath his broom, smoothly shooting off into the night sky - a figure in all black with only the shocking white of his hair to place him.
He keeps to his word. If Mika doesn't mention that he needs Solomon to slow down, then the sorcerer will continue on at a brisk but manageable pace.]
no subject
Though Mika lags slightly behind, his pace slower but steady, he has the advantage of his vampiric hearing and sight - even if Solomon errs further ahead, Mika will not lose his trail, like a proper hunting dog. He won't push himself to go quicker than he can confidently go, but he won't ask anyone to slow down for him, either.
At the very least, he doesn't seem frustrated with his progress. His gaze falls to the distant world below, and to the stars and grand moon - a little lost in thought, but not distracted. )
no subject
He quietly slows to a halt, holding up a hand to hopefully get Mika's attention before he overshoots him.]
Here, please. Just for a minute.
[They're in the middle of nowhere and it's So Dark.]
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