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. kirma

[ratratrat]

[dating & rating]

I've been told that before, that I need to expanding my view on people.

But I think I'm pretty damn open!

The guy who washes his sidewalk every week and then complains about the water bill, the kid who steals gum and sells it at school, the old lady who goes to the same store every day even though they stopped carrying the jam she likes ten years ago. Those are humans.

You got dog ears.

[There's no convincing Charlie you're human. But, better to tell people what they want to hear.]

So you're a human with dog ears!

Now, help me to continue to expand my definition here. What do you eat. Favorite food? Little past times? [He narrowly stops himself from making a ball fetching joke]

[conspecifics]

Wolf ears.

( don't get it twisted.

the rest takes an extensive pause; he can follow the examples well enough despite the unfamiliarity with the details, the meandering train of thought that leads to— acceptance? he's frowning at his watch, feeling the slightest bit of doubt, likely enhanced by the lingering annoyance of it all. well—

he'll let it go. even if the followup questions aren't much better. )

I shouldn't say in the open. There was trouble over it last time.

( ... that sounds more ominous than it actually is. he swears. )

Do you cook much?
Or is this supposed to be for a date.

. reign

[ratratrat]

[dating & rating]

Yeah, I think there's a certain bunny I wanna see...

[Charlie chuckles, but his watch doesn't pick it up.]

Do you want to or not? I'm not gonna put you in somethin you hate.

So be honest with me. Because if you want to, then your 'condition and circumstance' can be: I wanna meet you.

[eaudevamp]

[ If only Reign could hear Charlie's chuckle. But even through the text, he could "read" the teasing tone.

The vampire considers for a moment. Does he want to? Not right now. Unless there's an event or a party going on with such a theme. It's almost surprising that this stranger wants to meet him in person so badly. Let's see... ]

I admit that I do want to give it a try, even if the bunny suit is vastly different than the appearance I was in.

[ There's a pause as Reign ponders something. ]

Do you like bunnies. A lot? As in, you want to eat them? Or do you have an interest in someone dressed like one? If I wear the bunny suit, what do I get out of it?

[ Business mode on. Time to negotiate. ]

. narumi

[ratratrat]

[dating & rating]

Then that brings us back to my question - what kind of person do you like? What kind of person holds your interest.

If you can't think of the words, just think of someone you know who fits. Then tell me about 'em.

[keyeju]

What makes you think there's anyone who has actually managed to hold my interest?

[ He'll be taking the real answer to his grave if he can help it. ]

. aak

[ratratrat]

[dating & rating]

yeah sure you get used to it

[nah you're flirting with that guy - Charlie's the third wheel to your couples spat. delightful! no, seriously, he loves this]

you think you can KILL A GUY to rank up?
we'd all be kings if that worked
[way easier to murder than fuck, apparently?]
if he didn't do it himself, i'd say it was a gift too
you lookin for a friend like that?

[malpwactice]

look sometimes a specific guy wants a specific other guy dead and will pay nice for it
not just waving a knife around and shankin anyone!

[There were probably some big players behind the scenes. There was J, whatever his deal was, and then plenty of people in the back of the Naked Yolk, and then whoever really composed the House they referred to so nebulously...]

i care about cards i dont care about rank
more lab space might be nice
i dont care about livin in some fancy penthouse!

. monika

[ratratrat]

[dating & rating]

yeah okay well I'm not a normal guy so you'll have to tell me. what's a 'normal' thing?

and uh, no need to apologize for the age thing. fourty's a compliment to some people!

[holeinwall]

wow...just outright admitting to being a weirdo?? neat!

but i mean things like reading, writing, making music, spending time with friends, searching for my true love, going to the library and birdbucks....normal stuff!

how old are you though if being in your 40s is a compliment.... 💀💀

[ One foot in the grave, she bets! ]

. makoto

[ratratrat]

[dating & rating]

Okay, you've got a good head on your shoulders for barterin. I like that - let's make this somethin we're both happy about.

[Charlie wouldn't bat an eyelash taking advantage of a naïve negotiator, but he doesn't mind the savvy ones either. The more exchanges to the creation of a deal, the more he understands what the other party considers favorable terms.

Offer a good enough deal when someone's desperate, and they'll agree to it quickly.

This is the groundwork.]

You wouldn't need to give much, think a few syringes. Two. Three. And it'd be easier to get it where it needs to be if it was just once a month. You don't want to agree to somethin without an end date, I understand.

How about two syringes once a month for three months? The exchange, I play with you once. I'd offer more, but you've made it sound pretty fuckin intimidating.

[He's not that worried about it (maybe he should be?)]

[extramortem]

I wouldn't survive for very long if I were a demon who made bad deals like that.

( he's pretty sure that's why J sent him to datenshou for "practical education" in the first place; he would have to grit his teeth and admit to its effectiveness, even if he still rankled over the reality it had landed him in.

after a moment's thoughtful consideration: )

I think that sounds like a good place to start.

( is that what it would be? something that was pretty fuckin' intimidating? if he planned on doing the same to charlie that he had done with J, that would certainly be true, but... no, he knows he can't allow himself to run so wild as that again, and so he won't. he has been teaching himself to indulge at smaller scale, rather than fall into that wild hedonism of wanton violence. not that he didn't want to do something like that again (he did), but... people that could survive it are few and far between. )

Truthfully, I'm not really sure how to value it myself. I don't want to take it easy on you if you're willing to let me hurt you, but... I'm not going to let myself take it too far.
I know how the things I tend to like make me look, but I don't want to be heartless about it.

. genya

[ratratrat]

[dating & rating]

I've got some news for you about every place you will ever go.

[full of idiots]

Yes, I have heard of Japan. I don't live under a fuckin rock.
You like it there?

[demawn]

What the hell? There're plenty of people that haven't heard of it, it's not a weird question
Like it?
It's fine, aside from the demons

. rokuro

[ratratrat]

[dating & rating]

I'm sure I'll stumble in sooner or later.

When I get there, I wanna be ready to get what I'm lookin for, so let me have another question.

Everythin but chips is vague. You talkin tradin contraband for contraband? Or is this more of a blowjob situation?

[swordhardy]

Both. But the guy's weird, he likes collecting things like blood and arms most of all. Anything that gets people bothered, really.

People say he's "French" if that gives you any ideas.

. compress

[ratratrat]

[dating & rating]

A middle man! I'm there too, but different. To me, it makes sense to have people on top and bottom . Not to say you gotta disrespect those twos and threes - they're important! I know I like 'em.

And I'm sure the top isn't so charitable as to take care of its uh.. 'inferiors,' but.

The high guys make good targets when things don't go so well.

[Pragmatic, never an idealist. Charlie operates within the status quo for his own gain. Little shit.]

But hey, nothin we gotta worry too much about, right? Since we've got home on the mind?

[compresses]

[ An evasive answer; well met, then. ]

I've found this place operates unlike the society I am accustomed to back home
Not only in its currency, but in its distribution of wealth

All to say that the top is not necessarily all full of the sorts you'd expect
And that fortune favors the bold here in unusual ways

But you are correct there, too!
With home as the goal, one hardly has need of luck or, truly, even wealth here.
Charm and wit are strengths enough.

But good looks certainly never hurt.

. edelgard

[ratratrat]

[dating & rating]

Who said anything about fire? [Please say less about fire! There are so many other effective ways to destroy things, this Vampire would like you to know-]

But yeah, it'd be awful to put all this fuckin legwork into leavin the place only for the bastards to repeat whatever magic they did to get us here.

I think it's interesting you're lookin for a device, and not a spell. What if it's not something you can destroy? You gonna kill everyone who knows the process and tear up the books?

Mages aren't so straight forward, let me tell you. [Not that he's opposed to giving that approach a try.]

Which is to say, I agree. We need to know what we're dealing with. I'm quite uh.. nosey, so if I stumble into anything, I'll let you know. In the meantime, don't hesitate to ask me to do gruntwork - I don't mind.

[crestsidestory]

[ Sorry, Charlie, this is the artist formerly known as the Flame Emperor. ]

I have no idea if what has made this possible is a spell or a tome or an object but this is a significant reason I continue to assume we will have to fight our way out one day. The best theory I know is that this entire resort is a demiplane and we are being used as a source of needed power or energy. In that case I think we are too valuable to lose. I would suggest that the captive mages here may be able to piece together an escape that has little to do with how we were brought here in the first place and there are certainly a few puzzling over it but we are so closely monitored that I have a difficult time believing a development like that will simply be allowed.

But your interest in nosing around may prove useful. Beyond the most pressing mysteries there is an area in the maintenance levels with a door that is locked and appears to no longer see use. It is labelled "Punishment Protocol." I am curious as to whether it is as abandoned as it seems but currently know of no way past.

[ It isn't the only magically locked door she has encountered but it's enough to start with. ]

text ; un: pz25948011717

[pyrolyzed]

[ You know what -- thanks for pestering him on that network post, Charlie, because it saves him the effort of having to hunt down your username. Fuuta saves it to his contact list under the name 'ASSHOLE THAT OWES ME,' and one (hungry) evening, finally cashes in on that. Hi Charlie, you have a message waiting for you! ]

hey
remember you owe me
i want some of that payback

[ratratrat]

[A smile cracks on Charlie's face any time his watch pings with a message. It only grows when he sees who it's from.

Being in debt has its uses. This guy's running right to him - after so clearly wanting nothing more to do with him.]

Hey, there you are! I was wondering if you forgot about our deal.

Sure, I got time. What do you want?

a letter, delivered

[tattooism]

[The day after their lurid phone conversation, Charlie will find an envelope slipped beneath his door. It is slightly scented, of fine paper weight, and to make sure there is no mistake on the intended recipient or the sender... "my curious little friend" is written on the front. (Wait... Had he ever given her his room number?)

Inside, there is a single piece of paper. On it, a delicately colored, hand-drawn sketch of a flowering bunch of paulownia.

Nothing else ♡]

[ratratrat]

[There's something charming about holding a physical letter; Charlie's thumb runs over the thick paper in idle caress. The wide reach of the network requires sacrificing a certain weight to the connections fostered there.

He opens it carefully, smile toying earnestly on his lips.

Paulowina. He knows, but Charlie tucks accuracy away to favor a cute 'purple flower.'

On the small jutting surface that runs across one wall of his room - a terrible shelf, made to be hip checked - this drawing finds a home tucked into a plain purple frame, the envelope beneath it.]

@perfume | text

[eaudevamp]

[ It's a while later after receiving Charlie's tantalising gifts that Reign sends the other a message. ]

Greetings, Sir~ <3

How have you been on this wonderful evening? The gifts are well-received, and I dare say, most alluring as well. Took me a while to put everything on, but I hope I'm wearing them correctly.

[ Attached is not just one, not two, but three pictures of the vampire, wearing light makeup on and decked out on the bed, long brown hair free flowing. One of it has him reclined against plush pillows, one knee drawn up and an arm placed atop, the sarong parting just enough to show a sneak peek of his thigh. Another has him lying on his front, a close up of his face and eyes, the slightest hint of a smile tugging on his lips. The final one is the most daring. It has the vampire on his knees, legs tucked in and glancing coyly over his shoulder at Charlie, wearing nothing except the gold chains.

In all of the pictures, Reign has also made sure to wear the watch gifted to him. ]

[ratratrat]

So formal - very cute, I like that!

You took a lot of time on these, didn't you? The outfit looks good, or. I'm supposed to say you look good in the outfit I picked out. That's better.

I see the watch, too.

You're sweet.

So, now that you're all dolled up, do I get to enjoy your company? What are you doing - got some wine? [Charlie does take a moment to appreciate all of the pictures, though he hasn't figured out how to zoom or save.

Instead he flicks between them a few times, settling on the closeup of Reign's face to glance at throughout their conversation. He's got a good smile.

And he does like seeing the man so eagerly don his gifts. Reign's enjoyment is at the forefront of Charlie's mind - he wants to give someone a good time. But there's a part of him that simply enjoys the control, too.]

. clara

[ratratrat]

[continued from here]

You can't spare any? Just tell them you dropped it - clumsy - and they'll give you another one. They're not squeezing you for resources up there at your rank, I know it.

And.

If you DO ever need something you can't afford, let me know. [Who needs chips when you have Dominate?]

I'll take care of you. [A pause preceded the message. Charlie knows she won't like hearing it. It's a suspicious thing to say. But he's never meant it more.]

Anyway, the sooner you know what you're putting into your body, the better. [Is this... Charlie giving her an out to the conversation!? Wow! That's how you know he's expressed something genuine.]

[incirculation]

[Clara had only gotten a faint gleam of the disparity between the ranks. Her own fortune escapes her while thinking of them all as equal prisoners. Still, she takes Charlie's suggestion fairly easily. If she could stockpile extras, or keep some to assess the actual contents... it was a good idea. A place like this likely didn't have shortages.]

[It's not quite the honesty she squeezes out of him by prying into his business. The stress they apply to each other wasn't as harshly affecting them in this moment. She does believe him. She's just still unsure she'll enjoy the cost the care comes at or the means of caring for her.]

I will keep that in mind. I'm relying on you for information anyhow.

[So they don't need to make it weird, right? They're normal. Both of them are very normal and their relationship is normal.]