[ OPEN ] July Catch-all!

[unrequite]

WHO: Midnight (unreserving) & You (you)
WHAT: Midnight, please calm down, it's only been a week, you can't be this much of a disaster already.
WHERE: Lots of places! Mostly in outdoor or public spaces he hasn't been to yet. If you would like a closed or specific prompt, please PM me or take a peek at my OOC intro so I can get you set up!
WHEN: Pre and post Sylvain's shitpost. Probably mostly pre-event!
WARNINGS: Most definitely alcohol use! Some references to death and terminal illness. Will update as necessary, please see Midnight's content warnings for possible canon-typical content.


a. day (a local gym)

[ Generic workout routine. He does arms and legs on alternating days for about two to three hours there starting at about 7 am, then an hour (or however long he has at the end of the day until, uh, midnight) before showering and going home. He may also steal a practice room and swing around a stick he's found in lieu of his sword... He should probably think about getting a practice sword made, huh.

He's friendly, cleans up after himself, and will spot for anyone, but also feel free to accost him walking in or out of the facilities! But also, if your character needs... well, less of a personal coach and more of a cheerleader, he's there for you. Why'd you ask him for this? I don't know, but he's so there for you at this lateral press, bench, tiny silicone dumbbells, whatever. He is rooting for you! ]

Two more in the set and you're done. Don't think about it, just do it!

b. day (shopping center)

[ Midnight just needs to go clothes shopping. That's it. He'll carry bags for people, he'll help out with menial tasks. Look at this guy, do gooding.

Okay, specifically: ]

Do you think anyone would mind if I procured that?

[ He points at a neon sign, a bright Edison light, a small discoball, a chandelier. Something very bright, flashy, and... probably not intended for sale. ]

I mean, I don't suppose there's a manager, and I wouldn't like to interfere with their marketing, but I quite like it.

[ ... He rolls up his sleeves, drags over a chair, and begins climbing. He's decided he doesn't need an opinion anymore, or just straight up didn't wait for an answer. Look, sometimes a guy just desires a lava lamp. ]

c. evening (town hall)

[ Once the dust settles and everyone is perfectly happy with the distinct lack of helpful information in the help center, Midnight will still arrive there in the evenings, haul out a bunch of books into an empty side room, and flip through them, a plastic bag of assorted drinks at his side. (Mostly alcohol and water.)

Weird nightclub looking vampire here, books open on his lap, spinning a pen between his fingers. Occasionally, if someone walks by his room and doesn't look too busy, he'll get up, go to the door, and gesture to them, an open book in his hand. ]

Hello, love. Do me a favor and write anything you like here.

[ He clicks the pen in his hand and offers it. Man's doing some experimenting! ]

d. night (the park)

[ Remember the stick he has at the gym? He needed to find it at some point. During the evenings, but honestly any time he isn't doing something else throughout the first three or four days, he'll be poking around the park, searching for fallen branches long and straight enough to do the trick. It'll take a while, and he definitely looks like he's lost something! (Or feel free to assume that you've already joined the hunt. Find a bird's nest with no birds! An odd little gravestone! Get stuck up a tree! Help!!!)

If that is overly gung-ho Boy Scout behavior, feel free to catch him a little later in the night, either from 9-10 pm or 1-2 am, sitting at a bench, workout bag sitting at his side, his running shoes neatly tied by their laces and looped around the strap.

He stares out into the darkness. That's... sort of it. It still seems like he's looking for something, but not to the point where he's about to get up and look for it. If one would like to sneak up on him using the cover of darkness, his eyes will slide over and lock on a little more quickly than what should be natural. He sees you.

He grins. (Even if he isn't surprised, he grins.) ]

Hello, darling. Having a pleasant walk?

e. morning (everywhere!)

[ Remember when we said Midnight starts his workout routine at 7 am? He actually starts at 6 am with a jog. He'll be everywhere, just exploring, and he'll use most of the subway systems to make his way back to his gym of choice. He is... not shy at all about his body, so he'll probably pull off his shirt once the sun comes up so he can cool down a bit.

He is truly minding his own business here, but he'll pause his run for anything, even if it's just a short conversation. Or just feel free to wonder why there's a shirtless, sweaty vampire on public transportation at like 7 am. Where does he need to be? Where does anyone need to be??? ]

f. day (city hall, again, late July)

[ Midnight has a seat he's pulled up to the information kiosk, but he doesn't use it all that often. He only sits to add to a growing list in a book he keeps on his person. If one would peek over his shoulder, the list is composed of questions, some pertinent, some less so. Please feel free to make one up, but the first on the list is definitely "Are you single?", which should tell you how seriously he's taking this endeavor. ]

g. evening (shopping district)

[ Not much to this prompt either, he's just poking around. Poking around at the restaurants and bars in the area, his planner occasionally out as he takes notes on... something or other. He tries to choose establishments that see less traffic, so it's very likely that wherever he finds someone, they're the only two in the building. ]

Sorry to interrupt your meal. Mind if I ask you a few questions?

h. wildcard

Feel free to make your own starter, or PM for one! Will match prose and bracket text, please start however you like.

Comments

[codenametesla]

Depending on where the book's from, it definitely could write quite the story, you're right.

[While that was an interesting thought, especially in a city that felt both as alive and dead as it did, she was quickly distracted by his answer and next question.]

Aww, I bet it would be fine! And it doesn't have to be that long anyway... probably?

Hmm... I guess I could. Part of me feels like I should do something else, but... well, I don't know what else I know well enough to write.

[Whoops, guess they were of the same opinion on their areas of expertise after all]

[unrequite]

[ Well... Midnight has less to say about his expertise because he thinks that it's rather easy to understand. It's just hard to do. ]

Hmm... Well, if neither of us are writers, neither of us have anyone to impress here, right?

[ Midnight gives this a moment of thought. It's not like they're being graded, right? ]

Well, since I have a highlighter here, and I'm pretty sure I didn't bring another pen...

[ He checks his pockets... No dice. He gets up from his spot. ]

I'll borrow one from the information desk. Be right back. Ah, if you want a drink, I have a few in the bag. Help yourself.

[ And he'll make an exit out, leaving Miss Althea to write, or worry about what she's going to write. If she checks the bag, there will indeed be an unopened bottle of water and three beer cans still attached to a former 6-pack from the grocery story. And also a plastic packet, unopened and filled with red liquid, labeled "AB+". Nothing to worry about there! ]

hahahaHAHAHAHA

[codenametesla]

That's true!

[That was a good way to think about it, honestly, and Althea sat back slightly to mull over this new consideration that... no one was expecting anything of her here. In more ways than one.

She was pulled from that train of thought quickly and glanced over at Midnight, nodding and offering a smile.]

Alright, thanks!

[Even without her abilities, her metabolism was still unfortunately fast, so any amount of sugar or carbs was usually something she had to go for. The pickings were slim though, as it seemed he had mostly alcohol and water, and for a moment she briefly considered the fact that she could probably get drunk here.

But that was a thought for a different time as the entire train derailed on unearthing something that immediately reminded her of a blood packet. For a long moment, she simply stared at it, brain stuck somewhere between assuming it had to be blood and assuming it had to be anything but blood. Slowly, mechanically, she reached for something that looked like soda and went back to her chair, lifting the pen to work.

Which is how Midnight would find her when he returned, pen raised, but nothing written, because what the fuck?]

*clown car music intensifies*

[unrequite]

Still thinking, hmm?

[ Midnight's back, a fresh pen in hand. (He doesn't mean to sneak, honestly. He's just a bit quiet. Quieter than most.) He's peering into Althea's book, looking at the empty page. Well, he was only gone for a minute, so he wasn't expecting miracles, but he also didn't expect to see her freeze-frame still. He looks at her. (Did she grab a drink? Excellent, although looking at her choice, he resolves to bring a wider variety of non-alcoholic drinks next time.)

He scoops up his book from where he dropped it, settles in his own seat, and opens it, tapping the tip of the pen against the paper. ]

I was thinking of writing about my squad at home, personally. Haven't decided on a story, though.

-blasts entry of the gladiators in the distance-

[codenametesla]

[She did tense when Midnight suddenly spoke nearby, but she quickly looked over, watching him for a moment before she spoke. He was really pale, wasn't he..? And he had said he liked the night time, as per his code name, but she'd also seen him around during the day, which meant... he couldn't be, right?]

Yeah. Thinking.

[It wasn't like she could just ask a question like that, surely that would just be rude. But what if he was dangerous and she wouldn't have known till it was too late if she hadn't seen the bag? But then he wouldn't have put it in the bag and then told her she could grab a drink if it wasn't a big deal?

Her head hurt.]

What are they like?

[She asked partially because she was genuinely curious, partially to give herself time to keep thinking, and partially because maybe he would talk about it one way or another, and she wouldn't have to keep worrying.]

🤡

[unrequite]

[ ... Well, she's still looking a bit out of it, but to be fair to Midnight, while people are fairly aware that vampires can be dangerous in his world, it doesn't have the same cultural weight as an urban legend might. Vampires walk among us, just like a woman, a child, a dog on a leash. People tend to react poorly out of ignorance, not because there's anything to fear outside of the normal things humans to do each other, and that's a humanity problem.

The blood was in there because being a normal, everyday vampire isn't a big deal. Midnight's young, liberal, and acts like it. It's the older, conservative vampires who... well. They're stuck in the old, old ways. Midnight doesn't like thinking about them much. ]

It's five of us. My commanding officer, Miss Orchid, then our medic, Spot. My hero. [ He says it with a laugh. A pet name for his favorite medic in the whole world. ] Then our artillerywoman, Miss Catapult, then little Miss Popukar. I love them dearly. They're my whole world.

[ Said without irony. Without the remotest shred of embarrassment. He capital L Loves His Team. Up and down, completely, sincerely adores them. ]

We do tend to fight a bit, but I can't imagine life without them anymore. [ ... He shrugs. ] I mean, I'm living life without them now, but present company aside, I would dearly like to go back and see them.

real talk that's so sweet though omgggggg ;A;

[codenametesla]

[And it's that thought that's keeping her from saying anything, keeping her from absolutely freaking out and... well, maybe not make a run for it considering how relaxed he seems, but very quickly excuse herself to mull over whether she was in danger.

But perhaps, since angels weren't like the stories in her world, vampires weren't like the stories in his?

As he explains however, she can't help but start to properly listen again, because he sounds so genuine it cuts through the confused fog.]

That makes sense, you sound like you've been through a lot with them. [Damn it, how was she supposed to focus now? Maybe she should just ask, get it over with. If worst came to worst, she'd try to get a hand on him and taser him, then run. That would probably still work on a vampire, right? He might not even be one! It would just be an awkward conversation they could laugh about later!]

Are... they all like you? [Well it was a start.]

that's not even bending canon, he just says things like that... babyman...

[unrequite]

[ He makes an affirmative hum in response. They're his family now. He hadn't thought about being in a family since... Well. It's been a while, and now he has them.

("Had" them. Technically, they're a part of the past now. It's... something he'll have to think about.) ]

Like me? You mean, civilian operators? [ Midnight nods. ] We're all on the same reserve corps, A6. Here, I have a couple pictures...

[ He reaches into a pocket, pulls out a small wallet, and picks out a couple pictures. There's a woman who looks either frazzled or just deadpan sober in every frame she's in, a small girl with a hat on who looks very shy, but has a sweet smile. Those two look normal by Earth standards. The third young woman looks normal enough... except for the pointed ears sticking out of the top of her head? And the last guy is just straight up a hyena. Standing on his back paws, in a coat, with plenty of piercings, but he's definitely just a hyena.

But Midnight, as per usual, is incredibly sincere about the photos. He looks at them like they are, indeed, his whole world. ]

SUCH a good bean

[codenametesla]

[She can't help but frown slightly, since that isn't what she meant, but the confirmation that he was apparently in some sort of military unit brings its own host of concerns.

As does the pictures he pulls out when she sees not only one person who looks like a child, but another with some sort of pierced dog? ears on her head, and the last who...

Yeah, she can't hide her surprise and amazement. Normally, she'd assume something like this has to be faked somehow, or an amazing Halloween costume, but... in the situation they were all in, it was entirely possible this was real.

And he looked so happy...]

Are you.. the oldest? Or the leader, I guess? Or is it one of them?

[She hasn't figured out how to ask about her main concern politely yet, okay]

[unrequite]

Neither. Well, relatively. Miss Orchid is my CO, if you'll remember: commanding officer.

[ He points at the frazzled looking woman again. He grins at the image. ]

She looks after me, most of the time. Out of all of the troublemakers in my squad, I'm, well... perhaps the most outspoken of the bunch.

[ ... Midnight, you're a full grown adult running a fellow full grown adult ragged. Have you no shame? (No. Seriously, he doesn't.) ]

[codenametesla]

Oh. Right. [She was losing details with how distracted she was, so when he pointed, she made an effort to look and focus on what he was saying.

Somehow, she wasn't at all surprised that he managed to be the 'outspoken' one, just from what little she'd gleaned on interacting with him.]

[She sighed and leaned back, pressing her hands to her eyes as she tried to decide whether she was going to ask or not, because clearly she was worried, but maybe it was safer not to...?]

Is that blood in the bag? [Is finally blurted out, hands still pressed to her eyes so that she didn't have to see his reaction. Though she was tensed to move if she heard his chair roll.

She's trying to be as collected as she can be about this, but she's afraid she made friends with someone dangerous, especially with the talk of murder she's started seeing on the network.]

[unrequite]

It is.

[ Said completely comfortably. Then he blinks. Huh. For once, he's surprised that he hasn't thought about himself in terms of what makes him different. Everyone here is rather different in their own ways, some more visibly than others. Well... Rhodes Island was the same. He's been among diversity for nearly a whole year now... It was surprisingly easy to take it all for granted. Or maybe he's just a victim of his own mindfulness. Par for the course. ]

Ah... I'm the first vampire you've ever met, aren't I? Apologies, I just don't think much of it myself. It must have given you quite the startle. Are you all right?

[ He's asking this with even, calm curiosity, with a little bit of concern. With the ease of someone who's started this conversation this way a lot. ]

/it's always nice when a character's reaction to something makes me figure out more of the story lol

[codenametesla]

Yeah.

[Just.. give her a moment, as she breathes, slowly, in and out a few times, trying to stop her mind from anxiously spinning out and jumping to conclusions. After those, she shifts one of her hands to crack an eye open and peer at him, seeing that he was still sitting there, that he hadn't moved, and he didn't look upset or angry, and she slowly nodded.]

Vampires were always just stories, but there were people who did take blood from others, where I'm from. Both get conflated, and it just... reminded me of that. [An explanation for the panic, at least. Even though he probably didn't need one, all things considered.] Sorry.

lmao nice

[unrequite]

[ Midnight nods in understanding, then takes a beer from the bag and cracks it open. He folds up his legs up and sits comfortably. ]

Nothing to apologize for. About the same thing happens where I'm from. Although, you know, my parents emigrated so far that the preconceptions most had of me where I grew up was about the same as that of any foreigner. Nothing about undead monsters shying away from the sun, turning others into thralls to join their everlasting undeath. Just the regular sort of curiosity.

[ Midnight grins, puts his chin in his hand and rests on his knee. ]

Ask me anything. I won't bite. I promise that's quite literal.

[codenametesla]

I just... didn't want to be rude.

[And that sounds sad and idiotic as hell considering he could have been a threat to her. Yes she had some trust in her abilities to protect her a bit, but mostly he just seemed... not threatening? If she had misjudged him, things would be very different right now.

The sort of joke gets a snort of a laugh though, and she lets her other hand drop from her face as well, posture shifting to more of a tired wariness, not an immediate fight or flight response.]

I guess... what is true? About you, I mean? You need blood, apparently, but for what? And what kind?

[unrequite]

[ Midnight is not outwardly shocked, but is inwardly a bit taken aback. One part very touched, one part worried. Was she that confident she could get away? He doesn't want to think about what could have happened here with an elder vampire... ]

Any, to answer your last question. [ He tilts his head. ] You may have seen — oh, if vampires are just legends in your world, perhaps not. Well, the blood you saw in my bag is an artificial substitute that's available in most grocery stores where I'm from. They're useful supplements for more carnivorous human subspecies, but I think vampires are the only subspecies who can, theoretically, survive off them.

As for whether I need blood... Well, technically, I don't. I eat everything else a human eats. I like my liquor. But... [ Midnight scratches the back of his head. ] The reality is that if I don't drink blood at least every now and then, well, blood abstinence only gets one so far. People tend to get a bit unreasonable and touchy when they haven't eaten, right? Vampires get the same way, except everyone around them is a potential solution to the problem. I do hope I've made my point clear.

[codenametesla]

[She likes to think she could get away, or that she would have gotten bad vibes if he truly was a danger. The truth was that even if any of those things were true, she was still too trusting, and part of her knew that.

Or, at least, she was starting to see that, after being thrown into this city from a battleground.

That didn't make it any less valid for Midnight to suddenly start sounding like he was lecturing her, though she at least had the decency to nod quickly when he finished.]

It's really no big deal, where you're from? And.. you don't do anything else with the blood? It's just food?

[unrequite]

Relatively, not a terrible issue, no.

[ Terra has some... other problems.

As for that second question... Midnight sighs, tries to give a reassuring smile. Why'd she have to tack on that last question? He really, truly wish he had it in him to lie to women, sometimes. ]

There... are other things vampires can do with blood. Not ones I'd prefer to use, not anything I've... tried to use, to great extent.

[ He laughs suddenly, shaking his head. ]

It's the elder vampires you'd have to ask for real demonstrations of sort of thing, and, well. [ Midnight turns to her, eyebrow raised. A bit lighthearted, a bit... not. ] Promise me you won't?

[codenametesla]

[At the confirmation, Althea can't help but sigh heavily and rest her head briefly on the table.]

It's more that I just... wanted to know if it was possible, even in a different world.

[She waved one of her hands tiredly before lifting her head up again, resting her chin in her hands.]

I don't want to go anywhere near anything like that, don't worry. And I'm sorry for freaking out about the blood. [Aaaaaalmost a hint of humor there, because it's probably more understandable than some things she's freaked out about, but still she feels bad.]

[unrequite]

[ Midnight nods cautiously...? Mostly in acknowledgment of the apology, but she's said some very vague things that don't bode too well. ]

I can see how it can be alarming if it's not an everyday sight for you, nothing to apologize for there. I do wonder, though... What's possible in terms of blood if my kind doesn't exist in your world? Or did I misunderstand you?

[codenametesla]

I... don't know. I mean they could exist, but vampires, and anything else that might use blood, are just rumors.

[Which... was all technically the truth, but she knew it would be clear she was holding back. She didn't like to, it felt too much like lying, but maybe it was all a misunderstanding anyway in her own world! And they weren't there right now anyway, so it was fine! Probably!

She scooped up the pen again and scooted the book back in front of her, starting to quickly scribble in another diagram.]

You were right, we don't need to do anything great since this is just to test stuff, so I'll go ahead and do another circuit.

[unrequite]

[ Whatever she was referring to certainly did seem rather specific... But Midnight isn't about to squeeze answers out of a stone. He returns to work on his own book, a bit confused, but willing to let the topic slide for now. ]

In the end, nothing to write about, huh...

[ Midnight has decided to write out the plot of one of Spot's superhero comics, as best as he can remember it. Lady Marvel, and her quest to defeat world eating Draco... ]

After that, we'll have our three books... I can put away these two, so will you bring that one home withh you?

(i'm so sorry for her, but in more awesome news, I'm getting back into arknights because of him XD)

[codenametesla]

Mm, sorry.

[Truthfully, all she can think about is technically stuff she could write, but it's not something she wants to risk other people reading till she can wrap her own brain around things. Maybe she would find a way to keep a journal later after all, if she could find a secure way to do so?]

Oh... uh, sure? You don't want to take one of yours home? [She was hoping this would be one of the ones stuck in a store or back where it belonged. Guess that meant she'd have to finalize picking out an apartment tonight after all. She'd been trying to figure out what building had the most people in it first, to make things easier to find or work with people, so now it was just a matter of finding the apartment that looked the least creepy.]

lmao nice

[unrequite]

Well, I do feel as though I've cut into your ruminating, what with the blood situation and all. Perhaps I'd like to give you a bit more time to sit with what you'd like to write, hm?

[ So yes, choose a house, Miss Althea. It does rain here, apparently! Midnight's being very serious about this, but he's got a face on him like he's making some gentle joke at her expense. ]

[codenametesla]

[Too late, scribbling a circuit, don't want to think!]

I'm not- [Yes she was] I was just surprised, it's fine! This is quick and easy.

[She wasn't sleeping outside or anything, it was just easier not to feel like an intruder in the motel, where it was meant for people to come and go. But that was beside the point.]

Where do you stay, anyway? [Definitely not fishing for what apartment buildings seem most occupied, what do you mean?]