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After a few texts back and forth (Calls going to a sweet sounding assistant who after a few moments gives a direct number and sets up the meeting via group text as if arranging something of a playdate), Atalo is given the address to a place in East Parkside.
The home itself is one of those massive brick monstrosities that showcases a three floors spanning what's a large area for buildings relatively close together and build individually as if trying hard for castle aesthetic. The copper piping on the windows and front of this one is unlike most of the others - scrubbed clean and shiny rather than allowed to green gracefully.
The button to the space actually seems to flicker some lights in the house. After just a moment, Atalo's keen senses can probably hear the tha-thunk-a-thunk of the dragon man's hearbeat as he rushes up to the door.
Opening in would reveal the short man - shirtless, slightly glistening, with naught but a kilt on. He beamed a big smile up before giving that hello sign that looked a bit between a salute and a more casual wave. "Good evening."
Atalo blinks once, studying Drake and looking over the house before looking to him and speaking clearly. "I am starting to suspect that most have far more money then me. Good evening Drake." A light smile shows, the vampire wearing a casual shirt and jeans himself, though hidden from view, an axe and shield rest on his back. "You showed interest in wanting to meet me again. Is that still the case?"
"Very much." The bronze skinned one reached out to try to tug the other Mediterranean folk into the space. Clearly reaching out and touching weren't an issue here as he looked up. "Money isn't hard to make when you can turn things to gold or diamonds or whatever you need to work with."
Moving in, Atalo let his axe and shield fade into view, a hand very carefully patting at Drake's own. "I've decided on an exchange to offer, if you're willing, and, mm." A slight smile shows at that explanation. "Something I suspect you're careful with. Gold and diamonds are valuable due to rarity and having too much draws unwanted attention."
"That's why you make something small and very pretty out of them, like a wedding ring, and then say there's only one in the world when you could make dozens by the hour, and suddenly people fight for it and lots of bids happen." He smiles. "Destabilization of global rates on individual priced models cannot benefit as the resulting economic freefall would cause significant strain on dealing with the people at- oooo, weapons," says the one who started almost making grabby hands before stopping himself. All thoughts of an exchange forgotten immediately, as well as his rant on economics...
The vampire stills a moment. "That is, yes. Though modern economics aren't something I grasp terribly well. I do understand the diamond market is a highly controlled one, because they would lose their value if it wasn't. And I would see diamonds as being of less importance then food or water. Which would you prefer in a desert?" He considers the grabby hands, then carefully unstraps his axe, handing it over. It's a large one, enough that wielding it one handed would need someone to be fairly strong.
"The diamonds. The food can spoil, the water can evaporate, but I can turn the diamonds back into either potentially," says Drake as he takes it in two hands before stepping back and giving it a few test swipes. It seems the crafter has more than just a touch of practical knowledge for when and how to swing an axe. After he does, he turns back smiling.
"Hgn." The vampire grunts. "Your point. But most would need the diamonds less." He studies the axe carefully as it's swung, then back to Drake. "You've used weapons before. Good. You can't make what you don't understand." He pauses. "Am I being rude?"
"I completely agree. Those who try don't make things that are practical and beautiful. It's the only thing that can be good about a car," says Drake before holding out the blade to Atalo. "You've been wearing down the blade. It's not meant for someone as strong as you are. It's seen much of a fight, but the poor thing can't take much more. I can tell you've taken good care of it, and it appreciates it as much as you appreciate the weapon."
Then another pause. "I like direct. I agree so it wasn't rude. It also helps that you're pleasing to my eye because I don't assume you are fragile physically. It will make me overlook small issues."
"I wear down most human weapons in the end." The vampire answers, taking the axe back and considering it carefully. "This is an old friend, but it wasn't built for me. I took it, hgn, no, that was another life. Unimportant now." Atalo nods, looking around to take the interior in before focusing on the Changeling again. "I." Briefly unsure of how to respond, he continues a moment later. "Thank you? I'm not, no. And you admire strength? I admire talent. I would also overlook small issues."
"I am very talented." Not with humility. "I can make a weapon for how strong you are," states Drake before reaching out to grab whatever portion of Atalo is available to tug along. Strong, but, uh, nowhere near the Kindred. "Come."
The home is set up the way one might do to try to not casually flaunt wealth and pretties, except in reverse. Everything is gaudy to the point of being tacky, and rather than carefully curated, it's... strangely loved? There's an entire curio cabinet filled with a significant number of spoons of various makes and places, all just held together like this is the spoon pile. Only if there were that for everything...
At one juncture next to a door, the Wizened turns back towards Atalo. "Can vampires go to other worlds?"
"I would like to ask you to make a weapon for a friend instead, if you're willing." He lets himself be towed along by his hand, untroubled by this. "A punch dagger. I would offer you the Kiss in exchange." Dark eyes watch the home as he's pulled through it, and then he rests a hand on Drake's shoulder when they reach the door. "I like your home, and your care for it." He considers that door. "I'm unsure. I have been to another in my life, but was long ago."
"I'm glad. It's the best on in Philadelphia for dragons. It's better on the other side though, but I do not know if fire's actually bad about vampires - actually, let me check my library." And another tug, but this time with Drake walking backwards and leading the pair up some stairs.
"Counter offer. I make a punch dagger for your friend - I've already started a katar for the most perfect man already so can do a lesser for them - but you must take me on a date that you would really enjoy so that I may know how best to date you if I wanted to try. You may kiss me if I can lay on your chest at some point as a secondary deal."
"Drake." There's an amused chuckle. "You could simply ask me about me and fire. I do not care for it, but it would take a great deal to do me any harm." Still, he's perfectly happy to follow along once more. "Who is the most perfect man?" His head cants. "Do you want to try? And I will trade the Kiss for letting you lie on me, yes."
"The one who taught me that I can fix things," notes Drake. "I had no thoughts really. I didn't understand until someone showed me."
Drake stares a moment at the Greek. "I would like to kiss you, yes. I can't tell if you want to kiss me because you're using it as a bargaining chip. You could be manipulating to get two things you want, or you could not want to do it at all."
"You told me you were curious, about seeing me feed." Atalo notes. "I wondered if you might prefer experiencing it. That's what I mean by Kiss, here." He lets his fangs reveal themselves, studying the Changeling. "If you mean it in the romantic sense, I wouldn't use that to bargain with. I am curious if you can see me enough to tell me why." His fangs glint in a faint grin. "Ah. And I should remind you I'm in a relationship, but an open one, allowing us to be with others. That might not be your own desire, however."
"Limiting the desires of others is very pointless. If you are with me, at that moment, if I do not hold your desires, then why would you waste your time? When you are not directly in sight of me, why do I care what you do? Unless you mean you want me there with the other relationship? What are you picturing? You in the middle? Me on the side cheering you on? The other one replacing me? What's your desire here?" asks the entirely too blunt Wizened
The vampire chuckles. "I admit I hope you and her meet. But I simply want to ensure you are comfortable with me being involved with another. Clearly you are. Now. Did you want to kiss me? Because I am happy to try that. And then maybe we can talk about dates and deals and punch daggers and feedings. I have no desire to rush."
"Why not?" Drake gets about two steps higher up for a better vantage point, then he grabs the Kindred by the shirt to jerk forward into a kiss. That mantle of honey scented smoke leaks through just a bit with the sweetness of his kiss as the Wizened vigorously kisses with every bit of ferocity contained in his compact frame. The clash of teeth or potential of being bitten only seems to drive him on more. Spring has Sprung.
There's a faint growl, but not an angry one. Fingers close on Drake's arms but hold back to avoid gripping too tightly as that kiss is returned, fangs scraping over lips and hands tightening their grip slightly as he responds in kind with his own ferocity.
The same sort of fervor that grips one right at the proper edge of drunkenness that they feel they can do anything has Drake dragging Atalo in for another long, long moment before he bites the other's lip to trap it in his teeth. Hands wander with nails to pull up the shirt, and then he's breaking the kiss with a self-satisfied grin to delight on what sort of emotions he can dredge up from the Kindred.
Dark eyes stare at Drake, intent and focused once the kiss is over, the bite only serving to add that. Hunger and lust swirl and mix as fangs glint again and he takes a single, heavy step upwards to draw closer, uncaring of his rucked up shirt. "You are distracting me from the deals I wanted to make.." He doesn't sound like he minds.
"You should make your deals," says Drake before he grips the man's shirt and, with no regard for the poor thing, rips it up and open to bare the Kindred's chest for him to claw down instead as he goes back to looking up. "Otherwise, I might take you to the forge to chain you to the ceiling and have my way with you." Drake's bluntness comes with a bit of a hiss to it as if trying harder to make it sexy.
Atalo doesn't seem to react to the clawing and nails on his skin. It's possible he doesn't really feel it, warm skin traced under the dragon's touch showing the Blush applies. "Are you really a dragon?" He asks. "I see why you hoard and talk about fire." He growls in response to that hiss, strong hand squeezing Drake's shoulder. "You think your chains can hold me? But.. yes, deals." A slow blink as he tries to focus. "Create the punch dagger and I'll offer you that date. Allow me to use the Kiss on you and I'll lie on your chest."
"Yes. I could show you, if you want, but I'll have to take you to another world. Downstairs," says Drake as he eyes the man's arms before looking to Atalo. "I can make better chains if they don't. Do you like having to struggle still? Does that excite you? It would let you be very, very strong without having to worry about hurting me."
He considers and then leans in to bite on Atalo's collarbone firmly as hands got searching. "Deal on both accounts."
"Agreed." The vampire answers quietly. "Show me." A slow, steady blink. "It would be.. good, to not need to hold anything back." He tugs Drake closer at the bite, his own fangs extended. "Show me.. before I make use of the Kiss here and you forget."
The hands go to push Atalo back step by step, down the stairs before grabbing that hand and hauling him down into another hall, where a door leads into the basement or one very thick on into a warm-feeling area. "You did mean show you the... dragon parts, right? Not the forge and very strong chains? I am happy to show either."
"Was the other world you went to the Hedge or somewhere else? I've read there's other ones too, but never been."
"Chains later, perhaps. When we know more of one another." A nod as he's led into that warm area. "Though I am happy for your interest." A pondering hum. "And it is named the Shadow, though I don't understand most of it. I was taken there by werewolves, in a past life."
"Were you a werewolf before you were a vampire?" asks Drake before going down, down, down to... honestly, a horrifying amount of stacks of everything in a basement, sliding around before he can find an old coal door with blackened wooden slats before it. "Are you ready?"
"No. But the pack welcomed me, for a time." He explains, leaning forward to study that door. "To see another world, and a dragon? Yes, ready."
Drake pressed his hand lovingly against the old door and closed his eyes. When he opened the door beyond, a small curling of thorns crept around the edges of the doorframe, sharp needles ready to pierce.
Beyond was a glittering cave that looked as if it might have been cut from the inside of a geode large enough to break a city. Inside, there was the feeling of heat and comfort that one might find on a warm stone, with the steps carefully cut to lead inside. Greater heat still permeated from one of the passageways off this main portion of the cave, which seemed to house something of a combination drawing room and dining area - plush cushions set around in expensive silks and strong woods gilded with so, so, so many books and blueprints strung up.
As Drake made his way inside, the mask seemed to melt away. Where bronzed skin one stood, there was now golden scales on much, carefully detailing the man in a way that seemed as highlights on a sculpted physique. Those sharp nails revealed talons made for fine detailed work, and as Drake grinned, a pair of wings stretched out behind him - not large enough to fly with, but maybe meant more for helping one jump from treasure pile to treasure pile. Every move seemed to help the man shimmer just a bit.
"Come in. This is where I plan what I make before I make it."
Atalo's eyes moved in all directions as he took the huge cave in and followed after Drake, his usual calm last in what was almost a look of wonder. That was sustained as he turned attention to Drake again, staring at his mein in revelation.
"So this is who you truly are? Dragon. Crafter, Collector and keeper." He padded around slowly, studying Drake. "Most impressive."
"Not a keeper," hisses the dragon man. "That's the word for the ones who steal us. Drag us away. But the others, yes."
There was definitely preening happening from the little man - still no taller than before, but clearly believing himself every bit the fierce and magnificient predator all around. "You see why I don't like shirts. They keep my wings pinned. Everyone should be shirtless. You should take off your torn shirt," suggests Drake.
"Then I'll avoid that word." Atalo concedes, ducking his head lightly. "And I understand why you don't like them, now. But I don't have wings to pin. Tell me Drake, why should I be without a shirt?" His head cants, lips twitching slightly at that question. "Hgn.. you are distracting me again."
"You should be completely naked. No one else has been to my Hollow. You're safe here," offers Drake with a grin. "Come. You need to see the forge. Or maybe the grotto. Or the jewel cavern." He steps forward, then grabs one of Atalo's hands to pull up to touch him. There's a little bit of shimmer to the place pressed, like a red-purple sunrise lingering at the touch of smooth scales to go with the man's piercings.
He stops suddenly, staring in confusion. "I'm the only one you've invited here? Including Mearcstapa?" Atalo's clearly taken aback. "Drake. Why?" He looks down at his taken hand, studying the shimmer quietly. "What.. would you like to show me first, which part?"
"I told you. We aren't friends. He doesn't like me. I don't know if I like their whole group. But I want to find out. And I can't find out if they're dead so I need to keep them alive until I decide. Then they can go off and get dead if they want to," 'explains' Drake. "I don't have friends. Any friends. I don't people well."
"Mearcstapa is in hiding and afraid. And he trusted you to know where he was. I don't know people well either. I don't know if he likes you. But he clearly trusts you." He watches the Changeling carefully, then carefully tugs him closer. "But you haven't said why you bought me here. I didn't think I had friends either. But they all keep deciding otherwise for me."
"Trust and like are very different things. I like you! You're cute and blunt and I can make you blush by doing things like saying I want to see you naked. Right now. Very badly."
There's just enough of a pause for the words to ring around in the Kindred's ear before he continues. "I don't trust you. I can bring you here, but if you tried to hurt me, I could leave you in this other world forever until you starved to death. It's not why I brought you here, but I'm safe here." He smiles. "I want you to see the things that i do. And I want to make you the best gift."
"Why would I hurt you?" Atalo asks. "You're not a threat to anyone important to me as far as I know." He does pause at the naked suggestion though, before stepping forward to speak quietly into Drake's ear. Settling back he's silent a moment longer. "You're lonely." He decides. "You have all this, and all your treasures. But you want to share them. You want others to see them and experience them with you." A cant of his head. "And what gift is that?"
Drake.... doesn't catch any of that bit. He seems to be waiting for something, then turns to face Atalo as he slides his hands over his chest. "You didn't kiss me. Were you interested in my earrings? I made them." a pause. "Wait. No. I'm deaf," he explains. "I'm good at reading lips, but if you were speaking, I didn't get that. Unless you were trying to decide if you should kiss me. You can take your time."
"Oh." The vampire does look embarrassed here. "I apologize." He offers, leaning forward again to repeat his statement softly, this time ensuring Drake can see his lips. "And, do you want me to kiss you again? Would you accept you showing me this place as the date?"
"No. You owe me a different date." He eyes the other before grabbing the man by the belt, if it was worn, and tugging him along into...
The forge where stone meets heat as open magical lava flows help form the obsidian flooring. Here are strong things, anvils, places to hoist things up on chains, and a roaring fire that seems somehow the coolest place in the room, made of a purple flame. There are various metalworking projects set up about in different stages of development, and a pit of lava that has a handwritten sign above it that says Scrap Disposal.
Drake releases Atalo so that he can go pluck off a bit of steel before looking back to the vampire. "Do you want to see real magic?"
"Agreed." A dry laugh as he's tugged along further, a slowly growing smile now on the Kindred's face. He eyes the place, keeping a little away from the fire before watching Drake again, nodding slowly. "Show me. Please."
"It might take time, but..." Drake reaches out, pressing his hand to the man's heart. From there, he takes it to the the sheet of steel and begins to work.
Desire itself seems palpable to the Lost as he works. Infusing it with glamour, the Artist begins to work with metal in all the same ways that he might when he's alone, on a slower scale. It's strange, perhaps, to see the small creature folding and working with things in such an intricate display while so silent and focused. He moves on instinct as Pandora's Gift takes hold.
What ends up being made from the Wizened is nothing if not a statue alcove made of metal with natural stones seeming to come to life within it. Among it, this +5 religious icon, comes to life the face of the great Huntress herself, Artemis, in her full regalia, albeit in metals rather than the stone she may have been found in with the past.
By the time it's finished, Drake steps back, fully glistening with sweat and lets out a perfumed smoke from his nostrils. "There. What your heart really wants." He pauses. "I recognize this."
Atalo waits silently, with a hunter's patience as Drake works, watching his movements with intent focus and a small smile. That calm i driven away once the work is done and the alcove comes to life. There's a gasp from the vampire and a widening of eyes. He stumbles closer, staring up at it and forgetting everything else.
He drops to his knees to kneel on the rough ground, trembling and bowing his head and chanting ritual words in Greek as he prays to the Goddess he follows. Finally, he lifts his head, looking to Drake with a stunned, awed expression. "How..?" He whispers.
"I am desire," explains Drake in the strangest way possible. He comes forward, running hands over the worshipping vampire. "This gift will only last until the sun next rises, but I can make a permanent one," decides the Wizened. "I took what your heart wanted, took what I had, and shaped it to fit. It's not something everyone can do, but that is part of the magic of Spring. Desires can be met, fostered, nurtured." There was a long look to the statue before back down at Atalo. "Would you like me to make a permanent one some day?"
Atalo slowly stands, staring up at the statue. Then he turns to look at Drake, simply staring a moment again. And then he's moving across to the other man, tearing his shirt off as Drake showed he wanted him to earlier and pulling him close to offer a hungry kiss. "It is remarkable.." He breaths. "And yes I do."
Drake happily enough fell into that kiss, gripping at the other before pulling back. "Stay. Worship. Your desire for me will only grow the longer you have to wait to be ravished. So enjoy this while I plan how to make you cry my name with as much devotion."
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