1; video

[heroxide]

[The video flickers on upside-down for a moment before Spike flips it over after a little squinting. He looks pretty annoyed, slightly tired, and sort of disappointed with everything in general.]

Alright. I have a little question for you all, in case anyone knows for sure.

Does the sun in this godforsaken place ever come fully out at all? I hope it does. Because if this is really a whole new world, then I've finally found a place where the sun doesn't immediately set me on fire if I step into it. Or that's how it should work, anyway, I think. But then if it turns out that the sun barely shows up anyway... what good does that do?

[He makes a disgusted sound and waves a hand.] That would really make my day, wouldn't it. If it honestly is just all rain and gloom every day, that's another thing to strike out while I'm searching for one single redeeming quality that this bloody place has. That search is getting old very quickly, as a side-note.

Anyone have an answer?

Comments

:) Everyone needs a mean vampire in their lives

[heroxide]

[Snorts at the "special" comment, privately agreeing.]

Four... [He sounds vaguely defeated, momentarily lowering the tablet to cover his eyes for a second.] Oh, goody. Looks like everyone's stay here is a long one. I had my suspicions. Always so nice to be proved right.

[5055034455]

Hey, now. No need to get as gloomy as that outfit of yours.

[Says the lawyer who is dressed in obscene garb all the time.]

I've seen people come and go more quickly than that. Maybe you'll be lucky.

[heroxide]

My outfit is not gloomy. It's dashing. [Gives a little self-aware smile while saying it, though.

Starts to nod in agreement about being lucky and then stops, thinking about it. When has he ever been particularly lucky, generally speaking?] I doubt it.

[5055034455]

Yeah, I guess it goes well with that bleached-out hair of yours. Maybe you'll single-handedly make goth cool again.

[Not totally convinced of that, though.

Spike's admission gets a quiet tch of sympathy.]

Anything's possible, my friend.

[heroxide]

Is this whole conversation going to be you making jabs at how I look? Because I promise, I can look a lot worse if I feel like it. [Grins at that, like it's a private joke.]

--And hold off on the "friends". [Someone's a little prickly.]

[5055034455]

Nah. Only half. You've got great cheekbones, I'll give you that.

[Saul grins, too, but mostly at the "friends" thing.]

Aw, c'mon.

[heroxide]

So glad you noticed, but sorry. I don't go for blokes. [...EXCEPT FOR that one time...

He makes a little face and rolls his eyes.] You're just a little ray of sunshine-funtime, aren't you.

[5055034455]

And I don't go for vampires, so let's have a moment of silence for missed opportunities.

[You bet your ass he's actually going to have a moment of silence.

Then, with a smile:] Sunshine, yes. Funtime, not so much. It depends on my mood.

[heroxide]

[Mutters:] Glad we had that chat... [And then raises an eyebrow at him.] Oh, so you're a moody one?

[5055034455]

I've been called that. I like to think of it more as being... ah, mercurial.

[heroxide]

As long as you don't get overly broody too, that'll be fine. I've had enough broody people to deal with as it is.

[5055034455]

Do I look like the type to get overly broody?

[let's not talk about how much crying he did when that whole virus thing was happening

shh]

[heroxide]

Brooding doesn't have a type, really. It just creeps up on people all stealthy-like. Just don't start writing sad poetry and we'll all be fine.

[5055034455]

April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land...

[A pause.]

Oh, sorry. You said writing, not reciting.

[heroxide]

[Grins despite himself. After all, despite his request, Spike actually is a poet. Though admittedly a pretty bad one.]

Yes, yes. You're so witty. Feel proud.

[5055034455]

[Hook, line, and sinker, man.]

I generally do. So — [And here his gaze travels elsewhere on the screen, up to where Spike's name is displayed.]

Your name isn't really Spike, is it? I mean — come on. A vampire named Spike?

[heroxide]

[Rrrgh. He could tell you the gross story behind that name one day, if you like. Gifting him with a challenging look.]

Yes. Spike. Problem with that?

[5055034455]

I guess since it's technically called a stake it's not really that funny, but...

[heroxide]

[...Slow-claps.]

Ha. Sorry to say, but that's not at all what I was thinking when I chose it.

[5055034455]

[A half-bow. Thank you, thank you; he'll be here all week.]

Aha. Is it story time?

[heroxide]

[Pauses and sort of winces. Getting a soul makes you way less eager to share your tales of driving railroad spikes through your victims' heads...]

Don't think so.

[5055034455]

Fair enough. That's usually second date material.

[Spike, he's not usually this bad. Promise.]

I'm Saul. It's a pleasure.

[heroxide]

[Laughs and shakes his head.] As a friendly tip from you to me— even if I was a woman, you still wouldn't be a charmer. [Oh, harsh.]

And we've been over my name. I'd give you a handshake, but that would be tricky right now.

[5055034455]

There are a few women here who'd disagree with that assessment.

[kanyeshrug.jpg]

So what's the plan for keeping yourself healthy?

[This is Saul's slightly tactful way of asking ARE YOU GOING TO START KILLING PEOPLE AND DRINKING THEIR BLOOD?]

[heroxide]

Donations. Any mammal blood, really. [Looks disgusted for a moment.] I wouldn't be surprised if the people here have some sort of synthetic available too.