video; daemon: kyd

[mordacita]

[ Rafa is sitting on a countertop bar, his legs dangling. The camera is looking up at him. For now, the rest of the room is obscure. He's smiling. His suit is slightly damp and his hair has been pulled back to keep it out of his face. ]

Hello. My name is Rafa, and I have some news.

First, to those who have just joined us, welcome. Many here will know that I am a vampire. This is not a secret, and the new faces among us should know it too. If the word is unfamiliar to you, what matters is this: vampires drink blood. We need it to live. Many fear us because of this. Some of you spent time with me in the land called Eudio, where synthetic blood was given to my people. That is not an option here.

I come with an answer, I hope. A friend of mine has made a machine.

[ He pats the device sitting beside him. It looks something like a filter coffee machine; slightly bigger, and with more openings. ]

It clones bags of blood to create more. If you are not a vampire, then I ask if you would donate. One pint is all I need, and I can replicate it indefinitely.

For those of you that need this, as I do, I ask you to come to me. I will give you what you need, and none here will have to fear us.

Either way, I would be glad to see you. But even if you do not donate, and do not want my help, I would welcome you to this bar.

[ Rafa slides off the counter and waves his hand. His obedient daemon turns, and the camera now takes in the whole room. The bar area is filled with bottles of alcohol, as many varieties as Rafa had been able to find. There are booths with soft chairs, and dim lighting. Xistentia's foliage has been cleared away, and the whole place has been redecorated in shades of black, dark blue and purple. Rafa's own navy blue suit matches nicely. He comes back into view. ]

I grew rather good at making cocktails in Eudio. I find I miss it, and mean to continue. I am calling it The Coven. Cliched, I know, but it makes me feel at home. Come and shelter from the rain, if you will. I have plenty of space.

Comments

[mordacita]

Well, I have some time right now. I am alone, for the time being. You could meet Hunter later, if you would like.

[ He smiles, dark eyes sweeping over Zeke's face. He's very handsome. His smile makes his whole face light up, and his skin is a beautiful tone. ]

Unless you have other plans, that is.

[salveo]

If I had other plans you look like you're worth dropping them for.

[ Because damn he was an extremely attractive vamp. ]

I'd love to meet him later. But spending time with you alone right now? Damn, that sounds good. Want me to come to your bar? Help you christen it?

[ That was a terrible joke... Oh shit, wait. ]

That reminds me, religious symbols don't burn you or anything do they? I wear a cross.

[mordacita]

Yes, please come. I would like to show it off.

[ Rafa smiles, and to his credit, it only fades a little bit when Zeke mentions crosses. Well, that's going to be awkward. With some regret, he says: ]

My apologies. The cross would be dangerous for me. I would ask that you take it off when we…

[ He gestures, and his smile strengthens a little. ]

It is in our nature, you understand? Not for all vampires, but for my kind, coming as we did from demons. I am surprised you can tolerate them, being a demon yourself. But I know these things are different, for all of us.

[salveo]

Yeah, no problem, that's why I asked! Some vampires are alright with them and others...

[ He's definitely been in this situation before. He went ahead and pulled it over his head right now, so he didn't run the risk of forgetting about it later. He gave it a fond squeeze then tucked it away into his pocket, because he couldn't leave it behind. ]

It really depends. I'm probably so far removed from Lilith, the original succubus, that the sensitivity to holy symbols wore off? My entire community is Christian, since our founder met Jesus Himself, but we don't have souls. Anyway, I don't want to bore you to death with my genetics.

[ He chuckled with a wave of his hand, clearly moving to make his way to Rafa's bar. ]

Hey, tell me something about you? I'd love to know more. Were you born a vamp or...?

[mordacita]

A Christian demon.

[ The irony is not lost on Rafa, but that's all he says about it. Religion is a difficult topic for him. He spent a very long time thinking it meaningless and foolish, a way of comforting naive humans who didn't know what it was they really feared. Add to that the fact that the faeries of his world had pretended to be gods to gain the worship of humans, and it doesn't paint a very positive picture of religion for Rafa.

He says none of that. Instead, he only shrugs, and the picture will show him moving out to tidy the already immaculate bar. ]

Where I am from, no one can be born a vampire. Though you are not the first to ask me that, of late.

[ It's surprising. It makes him think that somewhere, it might actually be possible. If that's the case, he envies those vampires.

Still. As far as he's concerned, it can't be done. ]

I was mortal, and turned when I completed the challenges my sire set for me. [ But that's not a happy story. Rafa casually sweeps over it. ] I am from Sicily, born to the House of Este, one of the major noble houses of the day. To the humans we were eccentric aristocrats, with unusual habits. Among our own, we were royalty. Some three hundred years ago, I wed the prince of our Russian allies, joining our houses, and today our reach extends across the continent of Europe and beyond. Nikolai was the first of my husbands. I have two others, who are here; Shane, and Hunter.

[ A little pause. ]

That we are not exclusive can be difficult to understand, for some. And you are Christian. If it displeases you, I understand. I find it best to introduce the subject early, just in case.

[salveo]

Please, I'm Christian which means I believe in Jesus being the son of God, it doesn't mean I buy into the rest of malarkey a bunch of humans wrote around it. [ He laughed and shook his head. ] The sex demon community had to write their own version of events and rules that made sense for us to do good with humanity but we're not of humanity. So yeah, we don't fit in with what you'd see as the traditional Christian.

An exclusive incubus or succubus is very rare. [ No matter how much Zeke might want that, but that wasn't a topic he discussed freely. That was deep down into the pit of his problems, and he wouldn't let those thoughts detract from his wide white smile. His focus was on Rafa, not his own issues. ] I think it's great, that you could find three people that you love so much that you married them. I'm a big lover of marriage.

I've never been to Sicily, I hear it's beautiful. If I'd know guys like you lived there I would've visited sooner. [ oh-so-charming wink. ] Have you ever been to Hawaii? That's where I'm from.

[mordacita]

[ That's hardly the typical Christian attitude. Rafa smiles, though, greatly preferring this take on the whole notion. At the question, he shakes his head a little. ]

I have not gone that far west. I have been making my way across the Americas, but those very sunny islands?

[ His smile grows. Rafa hadn't had his magical, sun-defying glasses at home, after all. ]

I imagine they are beautiful, too. Perhaps you could tell me about them.

[salveo]

Shit, they're the best. Lemme tell you...

[ Insert a bunch of rambling about how great Hawaii is, because Zeke really loves his home but his player isn't in the mood to type out a vacation brochure's worth of stuff. Sum up: HAWAII IS BEAUTIFUL, GO THERE >8(

By the time he finishes he's apologizing sheepishly for going off about his home, but he's also at the bar. He grins as he stands at the doorway and knocks against the frame of the door- looking quite nice in a tight black t-shirt and black jeans. ]

Hey, I'm here. Anybody home?