stefanged | Save the Earth

I know we haven't talked since Purim, but we need to touch base on something important. Please get back to me promptly and let me know when you're free to have a frank conversation.

[His reply comes in almost immediately:]

I'm free right now. Do you want to meet with me in-person, or would a call work fine for you?

It would be better in person. Do you know where Espresso Yourself is? The coffee shop that I run?

Yeah. I can be there in ten minutes, if that works for you.

Yes, that's fine.

[And ten minutes later, he'll be at the coffee shop, behind the counter. There's no one else in the store.]

Lock the door behind you, if you would, we just closed for the day.

[Shivers suddenly go down his spine as Stefan enters, following L's order to lock the door before approaching him.

Stefan wasn't kidding, all those months ago, when he admitted to feeling guilty without being prompted to. Raising an eyebrow, he tries (and probably fails) to look calmer than he feels.]

What'd you want to talk about again? [Even if he has the sinking feeling he already knows.]

[For someone who has no supernatural powers whatsoever, Lazarus has a quiet intensity and a definite way of putting people on edge. Especially when a situation is serious, and this one promises to be.]

I never actually told you what I wanted to talk about. That was intentional; I worried that if you knew you might not come. Please sit down.

Huh. [So Lazarus hadn't. Stefan furrows his brows, half-amused by his inability to have caught that, before he cautiously takes a seat. He knows that logically, he could overpower the other guy by now.

Could isn't the same thing as should, and yet - he's still terrified of what's to come.]

You... really thought I wouldn't?

[Logically, a stiff breeze could overpower Lazarus. He's willowy and thin, and he looks sickly even on his good days. That being said, there's still a strange air of authority and confidence he carries himself with; hell, he's talking to Stefan now almost like an employer dissatisfied with someone's performance.]

I thought you wouldn't nearly kill a young woman from blood loss, as well, but life has a way of surprising us all. In light of your recent development, I want to talk about your options with you. Obviously, that cannot happen again.

[Shit.

He should've guessed. This really wasn't how he wanted to break the news to L that hey, guess what, he's apparently a vampire now. He bolts from his seat, not really to run - but the second that chair falls onto the floor, he cautiously pulls it back up.]

It won't happen again.

[The incident's been on his mind pretty much non-stop. Blood isn't halal, let alone killing others for the sake of survival. Misa's blood has sustained him long enough to live, but Stefan's starting to look a little gaunt himself. He may have to visit the hospital soon and figure out where they keep their blood bags.] You can be assured of that.

[L himself is not magical or supernatural. That isn't to say that he doesn't possess at least one object that is, however. When Stefan stands in a hurry, knocking over his chair, Lazarus' response is instant; he starts to rise as well, a bamboo stave clutched tightly in one hand. When Stefan relaxes and places his chair upright again, Lazarus seems to stand down, but a sharp eye can glimpse a glaze of ice on the edge of Lazarus' side of the table, almost as cold as the black ice his eyes seem to be made of.]

There are other Numbered vampires I can put you in contact with. Shou in particular is very helpful; he can teach you some tricks and methods for surviving without injuring others. You'll take advantage of these resources, if I provide you with them? I'm sure you'll agree that there are enough people against us without us turning on each other, so keeping the peace among ourselves is of the utmost importance.

[If Stefan wasn't terrified before, he sure is now - his entire body's shaking as he dares to make eye contact with L.]

"Resources?" When you put it that way... ["It seems so cold." For a second, his eyes flicker towards his feet. He can't face L; he can't face Misa; and he most certainly can't face his own reflection in the mirror right now.] I... yeah. Fine.

I wasn't trying to hurt her, you know. [He's tempted to laugh, but he's blinking back tears too quickly to even attempt to look normal.] That was the last thing on my mind.

[L meets his stare with one that's level and patient, although probably no less chilling. Simply put, the man doesn't have a terribly wide range of expression.]

I've been and known Numbered long enough to recognize that bad things happen to good people, often very suddenly and without warning. If I thought that wasn't true for you, we'd be having a very different conversation and I would have backup with me, but as you can see, we are... quite alone...

[He takes a second to peer pointedly around the coffee shop while Stefan seems to be fighting back tears.]

What was the first thing on your mind? My theory is that you were in close proximity and you lost control of an impulse because of that.

[Save for their voices, yeah - Stefan hasn't heard anything else in the past few minutes. He bites on his lip, discerning the obvious: no one's lingering in the back of the shop. All other noise is far beyond the confines of this space.

Still, he can't bring himself to relax - especially not when L brings up the idea of proximity. He freezes, blurting out the first thing on his mind--]

You have a theory? [He's not even upset. He's just stunned.]

I... we... there wasn't anything going on. I asked her to meet me outside since I thought I needed to go to the hospital, and then I felt really hungry when she was nearby and it just kinda... happened.

Well, technically it hasn't been subjected to the rigorous testing required to allow an actual theory to pass muster. A hypothesis, maybe. That's likely more accurate.

[The naturally harsh lines of his face remain as relaxed and neutral as they ever get.]

I guess what I'm asking is how near you were. Closer than we are now?

[What kind of question is that? The way he's asking it - hell, the fact that it's even being asked is enough to snap Stefan out of his funk.

He blinks back surprise, kind of wishing that he could at least help himself to a cup of tea at this point.] Yeah? She was helping me walk to the hospital.

["That's kind of how biting works, L. You are ridiculously close to them."]

[The funny thing is that if he asked, Lazarus would gladly make him something on the house. This isn't meant to be a threatening encounter; Lazarus is just shit at making it seem that way.]

Walking to the hospital? She has access to a Bentley, you know. That's absurd.

[Congratulations, Lazarus: you have acquired +1 slightly terrified vampire.]

We might've been walking to her car. [It's all one big red blur. He shrugs apologetically.] I just remember slinging my arm across her shoulder and then...

["Dinner time."] Well, everything else.

Ah, so you were close enough to embrace.

[That seems to clear something up on Lazarus' side, and he nods as though something has been privately confirmed.]

[Forget his terror - if his non-existent love life is on the line here, Stefan has to defend it somehow.]

L, I'm Muslim. [As if that explains anything to someone who may not know the belief that Muslims don't engage in pre-martial anything.] Wallah, I wouldn't... No. We weren't.

Right, I'm aware...

[Lazarus bites his lip.]

And... I'm Jewish, but I don't observe every law and all. I didn't want to make any assumptions about how far you take your observation, but... that being said, I believe you.

[Even if he still seems a little uncertain.]

[Even he doesn't observe every law in Islam, but the big ones, he tries to follow to the letter.]

Thanks? [He sure doesn't sound particularly grateful.] Sorry, it's just... a big law. Kind of up there with "no pork, no alcohol, and no blood."

[Hence his dilemma - he's not keen on consuming blood, or hurting another living being, but when his whole existence relies on it? It's a dilemma he can't quite answer.]

No blood... yes, I can see how that would pose a problem, given your new status. But consider that your life is important... and that you've already come this far. Sacrificing your survival and hurting others are both unacceptable options, so let me help you find one that will work, even if you have to be a little more open-minded than you're accustomed to.

I wasn't trying to hurt Misa... [He doesn't know who he's trying to convince more, L or himself.]

So what're you thinking of? Getting me in contact with Shou specifically, or just other vampires? [He's already in contact with Emi, considering she ran into him right as the whole incident happened, but... more opinions wouldn't hurt.]

No two vampires are alike, just as no two non-vampires are alike. I think that as long as their Others were from different realities, that's the case in more than a few ways. I want to recommend Shou, just because he's helped me out before and takes the "mentor" role very naturally.

[That makes sense. If no two humans were alike, no two vampires were anyways...

So he concedes. For now.] Alright. I'll get in touch with him.

[He has to laugh, though, at the whole thing.] You know what I was working on? Before I found out I was Numbered? Synthetic blood. [Like it's going to be a thing now, or in the near future, but god - someone out there must've known what his life would've become.]

[Lazarus brings out a small notepad, writing down Shou's contact info off-network and sliding it across the table to Stefan.]

Blood? That's some irony.

[He pauses.]

Because blood is iron-y.

[It takes him a moment to realize what Lazarus meant as he accepts the notepad and takes a picture of the page with his cellphone.

He's tempted to groan, because that was terrible, but puns. Puns are the closest way to his heart, so he laughs - but he tries to muffle it with his hand. Tries being the key word.] You could say that again.

[Sliding the notebook back, after he's torn the page out, he adds:] Thanks.

I could say it again... but my impression is that you heard it the first time. Do you... really want me to?

[That sense of humor appears in flashes and then it's like it wasn't even there.]

[He's still laughing, even though he's desperately trying to regain his composure now.]

N-no, we're good. I promise. [Rising to his feet, Stefan glances back at the coffee machines.] Is that all, L? Or can I get some tea to go and try to... ["stave the cravings?"] carry on?

[The laughter isn't returned, but at least it doesn't seem to make L uneasy. His dark eyes watch Stefan as the other man rises and begins to make the proper overtures for an impending departure.]

I'll get you some tea, just please specify what kind you'd like. And please contact Shou at the earliest opportunity, preferably sometime today, so what happened with Misa doesn't repeat itself.

[He's already on it, plugging the number into his phone so that he can shoot Shou a text.]

Sure - and black tea with milk? Darjeeling, if you've got it. [It's been a while, so he's not honestly sure what's in stock and what's not.]

...yeah, we keep that on hand. I'm fond of it myself.

[Lazarus is on his feet in short order, finding it comforting and familiar to prepare a drink just as much as he finds it exhilarating to be an assertive Numbered resource staple.]

Thanks for being so open to discussing this, I... know I'm not always easiest person to approach, or be approached by.

It's nothing. Really. [Half of his openness was fear, but if Lazarus is willing to overlook it, then Stefan doesn't mind going along with the half-truth.]

I don't... exactly want to repeat this either, so it'll help me out with the rest of my existence. [Immortality at the cost of aging and a normal life. Two things Stefan desperately wanted. Marriage was probably out of the question too. He fiddles with his lapis lazuli ring, almost out of habit.] The sooner I can get it under control, the better.

Oh...

[As he draws the hot water, he says the syllable as if something has just occurred to him.]

Speaking of the rest of your existence, if you're Numbered that long... There's still nothing stopping you from living the life you want. Try not to forget that.

Edited 2015-06-22 19:02 (UTC)

[The life he wants, huh? He's pretty certain children are out of the question now - as is a life as a doctor. With that out of the way, he's not sure what's left. Interfaith work, maybe.

Still, Lazarus has a point. He's got the ability to be anyone he wants. Time is his enemy and his best friend.] Thanks. I'll try to keep that in mind for the next century and--

[Oh. Oh, incoming echo.

Stefan, for the most part, just groans:] --century and a half? I'm a hundred and sixty six?

[Lazarus glances up, blinking.]

You just realized that? What prompted that realization, if I can ask...?

This time, I'm not sure. Our conversation was probably similar to one my Other had. [That's what usually triggers his Echoes, anyways - recurrences that remind him of things he's said and done before.]

Seems like this was something my Other dealt with too.

That'd be enough to do it.

[The tea looks to be finished being poured, even if it still needs to steep for a little while, and he moves carefully as he carries the cup of hot water over to the table.]

Is there anything else you can remember about it, or perhaps guess? Sometimes you can get a train going; I mean, it's stressful, but you can learn a lot if you keep it going long enough.

[Stefan raises both of his eyebrows this time, even as he relaxes his guard. From what he's gathered of his past life, Stefan whatshisname was a character - and he's not certain he's ready for whatever may come next.]

It was... sometime in 2009? He fed on a girl because he was weak and got "hungry," and it took him a while to regain control over himself because human blood does a number on his system. [Kind of like an addict, if Stefan were honest.]

Pretty sure this means I'm feasting on chipmunks and deer for the next century.

[Lazarus seems surprised that Stefan remembers a year, but there have certainly been stranger things brought and returned by echoes, which seem to disregard timelines with respect to the current date and all the Reincarnates' ages.]

A number on his system, is it? You make it sound like an addiction.

[A dark laugh; Lazarus isn't a mindreader, but he is an addict, actually, and that's naturally the first thing his mind springs to.]

Is that possible? I mean... will animals sustain you? If so, it seems like you're problem is largely solved.

It's a weird addiction, if it were one. Kinda like you or me being addicted to oxygen... [If it is an addiction, Stefan pities himself - his other? Vampires need blood to survive. It's not as if they have a choice in the matter.]

I think so, yeah. I'm not thrilled about hunting animals, but it seemed to work okay for him.

[Lazarus snorts gracelessly.]

I promise you that an addiction feels every bit as vital. The question is whether or not it is, and when you're quitting anything, reminding yourself what's necessary and what's not is pretty important. But that's somewhat... beside the point.

[His own experience quitting heroin might or might not really be applicable here; if it is, he'll trust that he'll receive signs and signals indicating as much. Otherwise, he's content to let it rest.]

There's another arena Shou could help you. Tony, as well, if you'd permit it. Not that I want to speak for them, but it's worth asking.

Save the Earth | IC contact

[Text] (Backdated to shortly after Misa's hospitalization)

[Text]

[Text]

[Text]

[Text]------> [Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action] 1/2

[permaaction] 2/2

[permaaction]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

hover for translation

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

or it would've been an echo, were ste still open

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject