singinghuntress | IC Inbox: Duplicity

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You have reached the inbox of Rip van Winkle. Leave a message so I can get back to you later~.

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I figured.

We can figure out terms later if you want.

Are you sure? I wouldn't mind.

i'm just laying facedown on my couch trying to figure out how to die so if you want to visit that's fine

I'll be there in a few.

[Can you hear her exasperated sigh. She'd be at his door soon enough, knocking.]

[ he opens the door. eventually. he looks like shit but he moves aside so she can come inside, letting the door click shut behind her. the apartment is dark, all the windows are covered, and there's an empty wine bottle on the coffee table in front of the couch.

no glass. ]

[She's quiet as she enters and takes a look around, noting how dark it was and the empty wine bottle. She sighs softly and turns her attention back to him after the door shuts.

After a moment, she hugs him if he'll let her.]

[ he's openly surprised by the gesture, but he doesn't push her away. instead he lets his head droop to her shoulder, arms at his sides as he closes his eyes. it's a lot. it's too much. he can't stand it.

his voice is rough when he speaks. ]

I don't know what to do.

[Admittedly, she's surprised that he's letting her hug him and even more surprised that his head was on her shoulder. But..Rip also understood in her own strange way.

Her fingers gently started to run through his hair.]

I don't know vat to tell you.. but, it looks like you're trying to drink it avay.

[ he just needs... something. some kind of grounding force. without integra, he's adrift and doesn't know how to function. ]

She's... I don't know how to be, without her. I'm nothing without her influence. I'm not a person, I'm a tool. Without instruction, what the fuck am I?

[ adamant. he's definitely not taking this well. ]

[Her hug tightens a little as she sighs softly.]

You are just az lost as zhe rest of us. I had.. a similar issue vhen I arrived. I know its not zhe same..

[And she reluctantly just pauses. Her attempting to relate to others never worked as well as she hoped and she was sort of hesitant to even try.]

Just... lets get some more wine or zomething. I still hafn't tried to drink since ve got back from zhe fort.

I'm tired. So tired. I've been tired for well over a century. Now I'm just more so.

[ her pause lets him sort some of his thoughts out, at least. finally though, he nods. ]

I have another couple of bottles in the kitchen. I can put some blood in yours if you want.

Zhen.. lets try it. I'll be amazed if I manage to get drunk.

[It's been awhile. She reluctantly pulled back to let him go and slowly drag her fingers from his hair to cup his cheek for a moment.]

Vell...as tired as you are, ve both need to live here. And.. I do appreciate you taking me on as your submissive because of zhis. Zo, maybe.. ve can just take care of each ozher for avhile until eizher she comes back or you find your vay back to our vorld.

It'll be an achievement if we get you drunk off wine.

[ he leans into the touch briefly before he turns toward the kitchen, all business on the way to get some wine and actual glasses. ]

I told you I would before she needed to contract before I did. What kind of vampire would I be if I went back on that? [ a sigh and he reappears with two glasses and an open bottle, gesturing toward the couch. ]

You've been trying to turn over a new leaf. I can't ignore that.

It'll be an achievement if I can drink it und not get sick.

[She smiles a little as he leans into the touch before letting him go. Rip waits for him to come back before moving towards the couch once he gestures to it and settles down, waiting for him to hand her a glass.]

I know, but...I am avare I can't go back to how I vas before zhe fort. Zhe only choice I haf is to change und adapt..to 'be better'.

Mm.

[ he sits on the couch, pouring some wine into each glass before ripping into his own wrist with his teeth and filling her glass the rest of the way with his own blood. ]

Only one way to find out.

[ he picks up his own glass, wound healing instantly, then nods before he takes a drink. ]

It's good you realize that, at least. There are others who would hold staunchly to their old ways.

[She watches as he tears his wrist open to fill her glass and eyes his ability to heal instantly. She can't help it, Rip's a little jealous of that.]

I suppose so.

[She takes her own glass to take a sip and savor it. So far so good anyway..]

Vho is to say I von't hold on to zome of zhem? I'm just.. more flexible zhan most people realize. Ozhervise, I'd be dead.

[She took another sip of her wine, though perhaps.. downing half of it in one go was a little more than a 'sip']

Besides, my 'old vays' ... vould be at odds vith zome of zhe zhings I've been doing anyvay.

Well there are some I'm not going to let you hold on to, for that matter.

[ blandly. it's good to talk about something other than integra. he well knows rip would be dead if she wasn't flexible, so he nods.

he arches an eyebrow at her downing so much of it at once, taking another sip of his own. so much for caution, rip. ]

Oh? At least you realize that.

[At least she's good for a distraction.]

I figured as much. But, I doubt you'll be opposed to my love of slaughtering people just so long as I aim my more destructive impulses correctly.

[Like say at LIES people. ]

Und as long as I aim zhose impulses avay from our fellow captives.

[...She was never good at caution, okay?]

Besides...I zhink I'm falling for a human. My 'old vays' vould razher I just kill him und move on. So yes, I realize it razher vell.

No, that much can stay. I have fun killing things too, but it's always the right things. The right focus.

[ he nods, satisfied. ]

Here, they're not our enemies. Even if they would be at home.

[ then... he takes a long drink over 'falling for a human,' because it hits closer to home than she may realize. ]

Hold on to that emotion. It's what'll keep you from being a monster.

So I've realized... und if I couldn't kill zhings anymore, I zhink I'd go insane.

[She glances towards him as he takes a long drink before refocusing on her own wine as if it's the most interesting thing in the room.]

How can you be zo sure? Zhere are already plenty of people here zhat consider me a monster und I doubt loving him vill change zhat.

Mm, being stuck here without that outlet would do it for me.

[ he's thoughtful, and quiet, but there's really not much to say, is there? but then: ]

It's not about what others think of you. There are people that will think you monstrous simply for being a vampire, not knowing of the monstrous things you've done. But there will also be people that see you loving a human and think, ah, she hasn't lost all her humanity.

[At least they were similar in that regard. Rip wasn't really expecting him to answer her question, but, when he did..she listened and mulled over his advice. ]

Maybe.

[Another sip of her wine before she starts swirling it idly around her glass.]

But, it is vat it is. He makes me smile und I like being around him. Zhen again, I'm finding myself liking our times togezher as vell. Just.. not in zhe same vay.

[ he can be good for that, at least. advice. he's been around long enough.

he downs the rest of his wine, pouring himself another glass and settling back again with it. he sighs. ]

If you have something like that, keep it. [ he closes his eyes, tipping his head back. ]

Our times are enjoyable, I'll agree. But not in the way that you feel about this human.

[She nods and after a moment, she's leaning on him a little. Touch was a comfort to her and she knew it was one for him.. so.. She settled against his side.]

Even so, it's nice to haf someone from home. Vell, now zhat I'm not afraid of you. Besides, you can teach me how to actually vampire.

[She smiles slightly.]

So at least zhere's zhat?

[ he leans into her, keeping his eyes closed the whole while. it is a comfort, a small one, but it's better than nothing. ]

I agree. Don't go anywhere. [ not that she wants to, he knows. ] I can teach you plenty of things.

[ a sigh. ]

Small favors, right?

You know I von't if I can help it.

[She shifts to rest her head against his shoulder and just sort of curls up against his side with her glass in hand.]

Zhen...consider me your villing student. It's about time I learned properly.

[She nods against his shoulder slightly. Yes, definitely small favors.]