@marcos.diaz

[heliophilous]

with everything that's gone on lately, i had a question.

if given the choice, how many people would stay here and how many people would leave? i get that it's a pretty personal question and don't feel like you've gotta answer. i'm just curious considering the way the place has changed lately and the people that have been lost.

could you live your life here? or would you leave and take your chances?

Comments

[gasping]

oh my god
i am not a prostitute, kol, what the fuck

[gradual]

you seem to be making good money is all.

[gasping]

that's what happens when you get a job...

[ surprise ]

[heliophilous]

yeah, it's not bad.
it's not gourmet but it works.

it does what it needs to do and keeps you from starving.

[gradual]

would being a bartender allow me to get an apartment of my own?

[gradual]

i've been starving for weeks now.

[gasping]

probably? eventually, yeah. you might have to work more than a couple days at a time.

[ she can't imagine kol has ever held down a job for very long. or ever. ]

[gradual]

it's such a normal thing to do, isn't it? bartending. a bit of normalcy and i suppose it'll be fun. but back to the subject of my breakfast. what's wrong with making an extra bit of toast or eggs or pancakes? ( also, blood bags. he'd like some of that as well. )

[heliophilous]

if you're that hard up, i can help you.

[gradual]

will you now? how kind. i am incredibly hungry.

[heliophilous]

is there something specific you want?

[gradual]

beef bourguignon. but i'll be realistic. omelettes. sausages. are those microwaveable?

[heliophilous]

sausages, maybe.

omelettes, no.

i can order you a pizza to have sent there?

[gradual]

will you be hand delivering it? i'd like to thank you in person.

[heliophilous]

i can.

save you from having to tip if you don't have money.

i've got some plans tonight so it'll have to be now so hope you're hungry.

[gradual]

a date? ( nosy, isn't he? )

[heliophilous]

something like that.
you want the pizza or not?

[gradual]

yes to the pizza. come on over. we'll have ourselves a feast.

⟶ action

[heliophilous]

[ don't make him nervous, kol. but fine, he is going to help you but just be aware he knows who you are.

so, he orders a pizza with everything on it and, after figuring out where kol actually lived, showed up with the pizza still hot.

he knocks and waits and, if he has to, prepared himself to grab the man and use the fear ability he had to at least distract him so he could run. ]

[gradual]

( he's hanging out in an apartment that doesn't belong to him. he might or might not have broken in and made this his temporary home for now. people go on vacations and whatnot, right? at hearing the knock on the door, kol knows immediately that it must be marcos. who else would it be at this particular hour? )

Come on in. Door's not locked. ( he'd get up and greet the man properly, but he's conserving his energy for more important things like -- eating the pizza first and foremost. lucky for marcos, pizza > blood right now. kol's been craving for a good meal for what seems like ages. he's seated at the dining table, looking pale and weak, but all ready to feast. )

[heliophilous]

[ man, he really should have just had a pizza man do this. if kol wanted to eat him too, it wouldn't have been so bad because that wouldn't have set caroline on him.

but, he's here and he wants to try and be helpful so he slips inside, pizza in hand and winds his way to where there's some dim light shining. that's where he finds kol, looking like he's had better days. ]

You really need to eat more regularly.

[ he sets the pizza down in front of him, careful to keep his distance once it's on the table. ]

[strove]

You don't have to try to be him.

This was about having him inspire you.

[gradual]

( he studies the man walking in and how he's going out of his way to be careful, too careful, as if the wrong move will cause him to lose an arm or a lung or both. well, kol's not an idiot. he knows almost immediately that little miss cranky pants must have said something about him. still, that's not about to ruin his mood however. kol lets out a little grin at the sight of the pizza box in front of him. )

This smell absolutely delicious. Thank you. ( he appreciates being bought a meal. he absolutely knows that marcos is doing this out of the goodness of his own heart considering how he's keeping his distance right about now. ) I'm sorry, but do I look diseased? ( he's fairly sure he still looks as handsome as ever. )

[heliophilous]

You look like you're going to fall over and die if a stiff breeze hits you.

[ so, he's just going to stay where he was, thank you. caroline would kill him for being stupid and then she'd try and kill you, kol. this was just a better arrangement. ]

Eat your food.

[ before it got cold. ] I got it over here while it was still hot so don't waste that.

[gradual]

Don't be silly. You're not my servant. ( although that would be a nice arrangement for him moving forward. ) You ought to have a meal with me. I insist. ( he's going to wait for marcos to join him at the table. nothing to be afraid of. he's not going to bite. )

Do you like beer? There's some in the fridge. ( he's drank all the good liquor, slept in the biggest bed and found himself some decent clothing to wear. he's practically goldilocks at this point. it's a good thing his brother isn't here to see this. how the mighty have fallen. )