itinere | {open} - won't apologize for the way that I shine, I'm a work of art

{open} - won't apologize for the way that I shine, I'm a work of art

(*NETWORK*)

[A woman with long blonde hair is on the network. Lexi gives a small wave to whoever may be on the other end.] I don't know what's up with the door here, but I can't make it work. [RUDE.] I tried.

One minute I'm with my best friend at a not-really-birthday-party party at a local place celebrating his one hundred sixty second birthday, and the next minute ... I'm here.

[And yes. Yes she did just casually say that someone she knows is 162 years old. She's 350, for the record.]

I'm Lexi Branson, for those tuned in. [Anyone?] I'm more of a night owl with sun issues, so any advice on for what's around here to do when the sun's not up?

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[The network hadn't been that active since arrival so this actually caught his eye when he checked it out of habit. ]

.....162 years old? [He was going through the bestiary in his head for creatures that lived past the normal human span. She looked like she was in her 20s so it was something that didn't age very quickly. Kitsune was probably out. ]

Do you mind elaborating on how your friend got to be that old?

No, not at all, it's actually a pretty simple story. After a hundred sixty one birthdays, he got to a hundred sixty two the next year. [She says with a quick smile, as she's twisting a strand of hair between her fingers; she thinks she's funny sometimes.]

But you weren't testing my math abilities, were you? [no.]

...No, I wasn't. I was asking what you are to be able to live that long? [He's not at all amused.

Not at all, really.]

To be fair, I didn't say I was that old. [a beat.] I'm a hundred eighty-eight years older than that.

[ .... ]

How familiar are you with things that go bump in the night? [hey just because he's not missing much of a beat when it comes to the mention of age doesn't mean he's got personal experience with non humans. he could just be a chill person.]

Very familiar.

[At least with the ones he's encountered in his own world. ]

I've been aware of that aspect of the world since I was old enough to hold a gun. You could say my family has a lot of history with other species.

[That has her curious, for sure. She tilts her head to the side slightly.] Any vampires in there for you?

[Okay that's a new one.]

You'd be the first I've met.

I'll try to not make a bad first impression in that case. [she's serious, but she says it in a lighter tone.]

What's your history with other species?

Complicated.

Let's just leave it at I ask questions first and then the guns come out if they're necessary.

Fair enough. That's a lot better than shooting first and asking questions later.

I'm guessing this means you're completely human?

Under the circumstances, shooting would likely be a poor choice considering I don't know what you're capable of or your weaknesses. If it slows you down, then it's good, but if it's just going to make you more intent on killing me?

Seems like a bad idea.

And yes, I'm human.

That would depend what kind of bullets you're talking about. [Her face goes partially off screen for a moment as she reaches for something that's just slightly out of reach. Spoilers: it's nothing exciting, it's a bag of twizzlers. She opens them and is focused back on the screen.]

A human with a complicated relationship - that involves weapons - with the supernatural. [That, she's pretty sure, sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. A disaster in the form of him getting himself killed. She takes a bite of twizzler.] Huh. [Another short pause.] Well, congratulations on not being dead yet. [And that she says seriously.]

Edited 2015-07-10 04:25 (UTC)

[Speechless is a rare thing for Chris, although he's not exactly talkative either, but there's a difference between choosing not to talk and what's happening right now. When he finally speaks, his words are very, very calm. ]

Yes, I suppose I am lucky that I only had to watch my wife and daughter die.

[Well, SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE WARNED HER ABOUT THIS. Who, exactly, that "someone" should have been, she has no idea. That got depressing and awkward fast. Her eyebrows shoot up slightly, for a moment, then her expression turns to one that's somewhere between concern and sympathy. The bright side she'd assumed was there, is ... not.]

Sorry. [That's all she says. She's been around a while, and in those decades that have turned to three and a half centuries, she's experienced loss. Maybe not quite like that.]

I'm afraid I haven't had much luck with my door, either. Can't imagine what's keeping them closed or why.

[ it's frustrating her, okay? also she doesn't even blink at the age, though she is very curious. she's 274, after all. 162 is hardly anything to her. ]

I'm afraid I also can't help much with what to do, though perhaps you and I could figure something out together? [ she's thinking propaganda vampire. not the species she knows, but she's been here for a few days and learned that there's more here than even she knew about. ]

Helen Magnus. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lexi.

Whatever it is, it's strange. [what an understatement.]

Sure, that sounds good. It would be helpful. Thanks. [She smiles again.]

Likewise. Have you been here a while?

It's hardly the worst I've seen. [ strange or no, she's been in worse situations.

like stranded at sea. in the ice cold water. or in the middle of an oil rig. or nearly dying in some shape or form. take your pick. at least this form of being stranded isn't life-threatening. ]

Of course. What good are we if we can't help each other? [ so she may have a slight ulterior motive, but for the most part, she means that. ]

No, actually. A day or so. I've been trying to learn my way 'round, but the area is much larger than I originally thought.

We should share stories sometime. [hey, it might not be a bad way pass some time. plus, learning things.]

I guess I have that to look forward to when exploring. Anything of note?

I would imagine, with a friend like yours, you have a few fascinating ones. [ to say nothing of helen's stories. she may or may not be testing the waters, dangling enough wordplay out to see what lexi will do with it. ]

Nothing of particular note. It appears to be a nice little town with shops, apartments, even a hospital. I'd like to take a better look soon. Perhaps one of these nights you'd care to join me?

In general, yes. About him, definitely. He's the kind of friend who jumps naked in the Trevi fountain; interesting guy. [she says, with fondness, as she casually shares embarrassing birthday stories. it's tradition for him to do Dumb Shit ™ on his birthday ... he's That Guy.]

Sounds harmless enough. [she knows better though. see mystic falls: small town, lots of issues.] If it's easy enough to investigate when the sun goes down, count me in.

[ helen can't help the sharp laugh in response. she thinks he might have got on very well with nigel. ] In that case we certainly have to trade stories. He sounds like the sort of friend one of mine would have got on very well with.

Absolutely. I won't turn down the company.[ nights bring out different creatures. she would be a fool not to look into everything in every light. ]

[lexi smiles back. oh yes. this will be good.] Does yours like to act like he's super broody and serious around most people, and no one thinks he knows how to have fun, but really when he wants to have fun - he makes the party? [stefan in a nutshell t b h.]

Not particularly. Someone else was more the broody type. [ druitt, specifically. ow that's still a sore wound. ] Nigel liked to cause trouble. And he was quite good at it.

Sounds like if he was here and Stefan was here, they'd have a great time together running around. And we'd have our hands full.

[silence....]

Or join in with the shenanigans.

Knowing Nigel, it would be quite entertaining and frustrating at the same time.

[ she misses nigel, okay. ]

If he shows up here, I totally request an introduction.

The same goes for your friend.

[ helen, stop being and looking so cheeky. ]

If I can find Nigel, I'll let you know.

[ a) invisible man reference. b) lexi gets second dibs after helen hugs the crap out of him. she's missed him. ]

Sounds like a deal to me. [another smile.] If this were in person, I'd shake on it but .. [#technologyproblems?]

We can save that for when we meet in person.

Doens't always seem to work for everyone [ Rose chimes in. ] It used to work for me. I could pop back and forth for a holiday as I liked. [ Not so much anymore. That ended when the Doctor showed up here. It's a somewhat acceptable trade.

As for the one hundred and sixty second birthday...the Doctor is 900 and something so it doesn't make her bat an eyelash. In fact, it gives her an idea that she and Jenny should throw the Doctor a birthday party. ]

Rose Tyler. I think there's a few nightclubs round, some pubs. Right now there's a fair goin' on.

That sounds like ... a very picky door. At least it makes a little more sense now. [kind of.]

Nice to met you, Rose. [a short pause.] I like the sound of those; I'll have to check those out. Any suggestions on which are the better ones?

Positively temperamental. Dimensional travel usually is. [ said with complete authority ]

You too, Lexi. [ She tilts her head to one side, gnawing on her bottom lip to consider it. ] There's a place called The Houndstooth I quite like. Very American though. There's the White Hart, more British if that's your thing. I'm more of a pub girl than a nightclub girl, but there's a club down the street from The Houndstooth that seems to be all right.

This isn't your first time with dimensional travel? [that's one thing she hasn't experienced in her long life.]

[she makes mental notes of the names of the places.] I've spent time all over in my world, so I can work with whatever. Though most recently my time was spent in the US, so I'm probably well past due for some British experience. [this is a fact.]

No. I've done loads of time travel, which isn't quite the same as dimensional travel, but I've done that a couple of times, yeah. [ Rose knows it's not common, but she also knows that things are weird here. ]

Yeah? I've only been to the US once. I can give you a crash course in Brit if you like.

Time travel? [ok she's officially impressed.] That's nothing I've ever been able to do. Please tell me time travel is as awesome as it has always sounded. [she's only heard of this being a thing in movies and books, where she's from.]

What part did you go to? Or, should I be asking what time period? [maybe both.]

A crash course would be great.

[ It is rather impressive. Rose is aware of that. ] It's more fantastically awesome than you can even imagine. [ And the expression on her face as well as the giddy tone of her voice confirm that. ]

Sort of all over. Met Charles Dickens, saw the Earth die in the year 5 billion. Sorta meandered 'round between those two. Oh! I've met Queen Victoria. She made me a dame then banished me and the Doctor.

[ She considers that a bit. ] Meet you at the pub I told you 'bout?

[Sun issues. Not a welcome thing to hear, when Karrin's best friend touched off a war with one of the vampire courts. She considers not responding at all and instead keeping a wary eye on Lexi, but...]

The door doesn't work for me either.

[She'll deal with the consequences of this question later. For now, Karrin figures she doesn't have much to lose by asking:] Vampire, or something else that doesn't do well with daylight?

Sounds like answers are mixed on if it works and doesn't. Like it keeps some people in and lets some pass back and forth. [maybe there is a pattern. maybe not. she's way too new to tell.]

Got it one guess. As far as vampires where I'm from, though, I wind up being one that gets vampires on the wrong path more straight, and able to function around humans. Especially with a particular crowd. [AKA: Salvatores.]

No one seems to have any idea why some people can leave and some can't. I'm fairly new here myself. [For some value of new. In Karrin's opinion, she's been here too long.]

Red Court or Black? [Suspicion creeps into her voice. She hasn't heard of members of either doing that, but she supposes given Thomas Raith and the White Court, it's possible. Remotely so, but possible. Forgive Karrin for not realizing the differences in vampires between worlds.]

Red or black ... uh, neither. The only thing that comes to my mind at that is a game of checkers. What are these courts? Is it something here?

Vampires in my world. I guess the alternate universe theory is still what I have to go with here. Is there only one kind of vampire where you come from?

We don't divide into groups like that, so yeah just one kind of us where I'm from. [there were the Originals, the oldest and first (and strongest) vampires that all the other vampires either have the misfortune of knowing -- probably for a short time, before one of the kills anyone they meet -- or have just heard about. Lexi has only heard stories.]

It's not a deliberate division. They're different, in strengths and weaknesses as well as what they are. [There's the White Court too, but they don't have the sunlight problems. She wonders which of the courts Lexi has more in common with.]

Interesting. Like some move faster and some hear better? We just get the same strengths and weaknesses in my world; it's all pretty uniform.

Like some might as well be straight from the pages of Dracula, and some are other creatures entirely that just look human most of the time. Turning into a Red Court vampire is a full transformation. Their real bodies, the ones they usually hide, look nothing like the people they started out as. [Harry once told her that Dracula was published as part of a ploy to undermine the Black Court's power. It is basically a how-to guide when it comes to killing Black Court vampires.]

I've seen some shit and even I'll say that sounds creepy. Not to mention kinda rough. [a pause.] I guess I should be glad it is how it is where I'm from.

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{open} - won't apologize for the way that I shine, I'm a work of art

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