driftfleet | 002 In Which Vampires are Silly

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002 In Which Vampires are Silly

Who: Akeldama and you!
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Planet side and Iskaulit
When: throughout December

Iskaulit library - actually more in late November ~~shh~~
[What was Lord Akeldama to do with himself when he didn't have the life he normally lived at home? No drones, no going out to the see the latest show at the theater. None of it. So he had headed to the library. True, he typically only read what appeared in the gossip rags now-a-days, but that didn't mean he was incapable of a good book.

Well... that's if he could find a good book...

Curiosity had compelled him to look at one of the books on Earth history, but he clearly hadn't gotten very far, sitting there, drumming his nails against the table as he stared at one section]

Planet side - shopping!
[At the first possible opportunity, Lord Akeldama was shopping! He was sadly lacking in clothes and he wanted so much to be able to burn those horrid jumpsuits that had been given to him. They were a travesty against all things fashion after all.

So he could easily be found in the formal section of a clothing store browsing different options that fit his taste... in as many colors as he could possibly afford. He didn't like not having funds to just do whatever he wanted.

He had also found a fabric store while he was there, browsing quietly. Not like he could do anything with it after all. An unfortunate side effect of metamorphosis, no more creativity.

That was until he had happened to find a blue paisley fabric. It was exactly his style!]

This would make the most perfect waistcoat! A shame though...

Open Broadcast
[Of course here is Lord Akeldama and he has to make this a post. Why? Because he's showing off in a way. So he'd seen all of this about "ugly Christmas sweaters" which why would someone do that to themselves. But he had found something else and he was playing this off as if it is completely normal.

So Lord Akeldama is dressed in dark brown trousers, a sage green jacket, a rose gold cravat, and this vest as if it were a waistcoat. Nothing odd to see here, just a vampire in an ugly Christmas vest...]

This truly is a remarkable place. It has been so long since I've had the chance to visit a city such as this.

So what have been your favorite things to do here? I would like to know what all I have missed thus far.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If I do receive one, I will let you know. I understand completely not using one of the gadgets that they have given us.

[He looks down at the young wolf again as Keith was recounting the story of how he found him, nodding along, interested in the story. Given that Lord Akeldama had never been off world before this, he will have to take his word for it.

The comment about Kosmo teleporting off without water or loose hair did get a chuckle from the vampire]

Well, I suppose it is more efficient that way. But more work for you. At least he doesn't dislike water. Many canines do, at least domestic ones.

[Keith nodded and then chuckled slightly about the water comment.]

I guess. I never had a dog when I was a kid. Figures... my first dog, and he's from space.

[He shrugged.]

I believe that is what someone would call "ironic".

I have known many who have owned dogs and there are a surprising number that don't like water. Perhaps its a breed thing. However more cats don't like water.

[Keith snorted a bit, and then nodded. He supposed it was ironic.]

It could be a breed thing. [He smirked a little.] Yeah. Cats definitely not... unless they happen to be the Blue Lion of Voltron.

[There's a pause at that before Lord Akeldama answers. Keith should be proud. He actually made the vampire speechless for a moment]

Space wolf who is now your companion, space whale, and now a blue lion. My dear, you have seen some very strange things in your young life. Even I cannot possibly claim those.

You know... after a while, I forget how strange it all sounds. I guess I just got used to it.

[Keith shrugged. Keith didn't know Akeldama well enough to make the call on whether he should be proud or not about making him speechless, but it wasn't a rare reaction when he talked about things he'd been through.]

I suppose I am not one to talk. A goodly number of people have never heard of vampires here and a few who have thought I was simply going to attack them. How uncivilized would I have to be.

I don't know... a lot of worlds don't exactly have "good" vampires in their lore.

[Keith shrugged a little. But, then...]

So... you're a vampire, then?

So I have been lead to believe. To be honest though, we weren’t always so civilized. Stories have their truth somewhere. And animals know it too.

[He gives a nod of his head towards Kosmo]

But with the integration of supernaturals into English society and the position of drone being less taboo than it was, there’s no reason for vampires to behave as such. Well-off vampires can afford to retain as many drones as they need.

And yes, I am a vampire. But neither you nor he has any reason to worry. While I am lacking my drones, the Atroma have provided something that seems to work in place of blood.

So like... people know exist and stuff?

[Keith looked surprised.]

And this is all okay in your world?

[Well, clearly he is a master of words...]

Of course they know we exist, my ducky darling. My neighbors know I am a vampire even if they might prefer to not live near me. Though I had my town house long before they did so it was really their decision to move next to me. And it's not like I can just up and move.

For the most part. Drones are viewed with more suspicion by government agencies than clavigers because they have the agendas of their vampire masters, but it is not an undesirable position. I give patronage to my boys, they assist me with daylight business and other necessities. I don't know about the hives, but I have no requirement for them to stay if they decide to move on.

[There were some odd words in there... and Keith sort of looked a little confused.]

What's a drone and a claviger? And... hives? What do you mean by patronage?

Well, you see, both vampires and werewolves have a terrible time getting work done during daylight hours, when most businesses operate. Drones and clavigers are basically servants to a supernatural master. Drones serve vampires, clavigers serve werewolves.

Now, because we have found those with high creativity levels are most likely to have the excess soul needed to survive transformation, both groups employ those in creative fields. Vampires mainly select drones from artists, sculptors, and musicians. Werewolves tend to look at actors and dancers because of the physicality. In return for their service to us, we give them money to fund their art. Patronage.

And a hive is a group of vampires with a queen, a female vampire who can change others. I am a rove and do not belong to a hive because I grew tired of the hive queen telling me how live my life.

Oh.

[Okay... that all made sense, oddly enough. Keith nodded, having listened to the whole thing.]

So, you don't have a queen at all? Was it that particular queen or do you just not like being in a hive altogether?

No, I do not answer to a queen. I have only lived in one hive, but the atmosphere is so oppressive. Unless you are the praetoriani, your freedom is restricted. The queen can pretty much tell you to do whatever she likes, what to wear, when you have to be near her. You can't even have your own drones. Officially, they work for the hive. Yes, everyone has their favorites, but there's nothing to be done for it.

I much prefer to be the one at the head of the house.

Mm... I guess that makes sense, then.

[Keith nodded.]

So, what ship are you on?

On the First Breath. With Captain Loki.

[If he's keeping track of where certain others are in the fleet, he'll realize that this is also where Haggar is]

And yourself?

[There was a beat as Keith processed that, wondering why the ship name triggered some warning flags. He snapped back out of it quickly enough.]

The Huntress. I'm one of the pilots.

[First Breath... Haggar... Keith nodded a little, trying to keep himself steady and even so it didn't look like he had a weird reaction.]

How's the rest of the crew been with you?

Pilot? That must be very exciting.

My crew? [He wonders about the question but answers it] They have been just delightful. So many people with a remarkably similar design taste to me.

[But he figures there is a reason WHY he’s asking so he’ll be nice give him one for free]

They do have their quirks though. The captain is a god. The cook is an elf who can cook without even lifting a finger. Then there was the medical professional who would not tell me her name. I had to make come up with one for her myself simply for a proper way to greet her. Aside from that, she was perfectly lovely.

There are a lot of people in the Fleet with quirks. I mean, we don't have public knowledge of vampires being real in my world, so I don't know if they are... and it's likely they're not, but, because of that, you're kind of quirky to me, too.

[Keith smirked a little.]

But, it's good to hear that you're getting along with most everyone. [The "medical professional", huh? Yeah, that was Haggar. Keith seemed amused for a moment.] You gave her a nickname because she didn't give you her name? [Then again, she hadn't given him her name, either, so Keith wasn't really surprised.] Can I ask what you decided to call her?

Well, I suppose, even if you were aware of vampires in your world, you might still call me quirky. [He smiled, not enough to show too much fang] I prefer eccentric though.

[In response to the question about giving a nickname, he hummed out] Yes, I did~. I decided to call her “starling” because of what she was wearing at the time.

[And now... since you asked, it’s time to repay the favor] What about your crew? What are they like?

[Keith smiled a little.]

Okay... eccentric, then.

[He looked a little confused at the reference about 'starling' to what Haggar might have been wearing, but he left that alone for now.]

My crew? [He shrugged.] I guess some of them are a bit eccentric, too. We've got a few elemental beings that are pretty much invisible to anyone unable to use something called resonance, along with their... I guess, vessel? I'm not sure what he is to them, but they're able to merge and use powers and all that. It's kind of cool.

There's a young nerdy kid who's our lab tech. Genius, really, so I'm not worried about him being younger than me. [Because Keith was all that old, really, but he was definitely older than Pete.]

There's Ben, which I'm still not really sure what to make of him.

And there's me and my co-pilot... who also happens to be a team member from home. And his sister.

We all get along for the most part, so it's not bad. We're just over half full, so there's actually a pretty decent amount of room on the ship, too.

My, my, sounds like you have quite a fascinating crew. So many people. And it is marvelous that you all get along as well. There are still so many here I need to meet.

[He’s willing to wager that he’s going to get another question about his crew at some point. Let’s see if he’s right]

Well, the Fleet is pretty big, after all.

[Keith hesitated, because he did actually have a load of questions about Haggar, but he didn't want to draw too much attention to that.]

I know not everyone is used to being in space, either. Are you handling that okay?

It is. I have noticed.

I am one of those who is unfamiliar with it. I never thought I'd be closer to the stars that my own roof. It was difficult in the beginning, but now that I have been on the surface, it has eased a great deal.

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