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Finley's place is actually in a fairly decent neighborhood. Not anything amazing, but--solidly working class. Close enough to Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to get back and forth easily enough. It's a quiet neighborhood, and the address leads Jasper to a two story house that has recently been renovated and converted into a few different apartments.
When Jasper sends the text to let them know hes there. Finley arrives at the front door, unlocking it to let him into the front hallway. They're without their coat, but dressed otherwise as is expected--an over sized sweater and baggy cargo pants. Even inside, they have a mask on that covers their face--tonight it has cartoon cacti on it. They offer Jasper a soft but clearly nervous look. "Hi."
Jasper is currently staring down a cat that appears to be caught between window and screen, sputtering in the absolute hatred of the kindred with the intent to maul. 4 pounds of feline fury stopped by a screen.
The Kindred's looking like the fading glow of life is still draining from him. A bit disheveled, but pleasant enough. "Hello, Finley. I brought my computer as requested, just in case these movies you suggested don't turn out to occupy our time tonight."
He pats the bag, looking from behind gold rimmed glasses at the Order member. "Shall we? I don't care to draw undo attention." A nod towards the cat.
Finley blinks up at the cat, startled. "Oh--Um, yes... This way..." Finley opens a door and leads down into a basement apartment...
The basement has been finished, so it's actually fairly nice. There's wood floors and the walls are a pleasant beigey but bland color. It's not really... decorated, cause Finley sure as heck doesn't have an eye of design. More thrown together mismatched furniture angled more towards comfort than anything. A soft couch, a decent TV and entertainment system, and a small kitchen. There's a door that leads to another room--probably bedroom, but it's currently closed. There's a lot of cute stuff placed here and there--some anime character figurines and toys on a shelf, several stuffed animals lining the back of the couch, and some cute animal decor on the walls. No natural light--the two tiny windows at the top of one wall have been covered, but there's enough lamps that the space is well lit.
"Do... cats not like you...?'
"No animals," admits the Elder as he takes off his suit jacket, and then loosens his tie. One of the buttons in his shirt has been skipped as if put on in some haste. "I've come to quite appreciate automobiles. The age of horses was ghastly."
"I take it that you hide your face due to some Nosferatu curse?"
The neonate gestures to a hook on the wall for him to hang his coat up at, then hesitates. "...Yeah. Um. Walking around without it would scare people..."
"Take it off," directs the Mekhet as he settles that, his tie, and even unbuttons his sleeves to roll up. He glances towards Finley. "I'm not scared, and you should be able to be comfortable in your own home. If you're missing your entire lower jaw, which I doubt given your diction, it won't be the first time I've seen such things. You need not stress tonight."
Finley hesitates, looking uncertain. It's clear they're uncomfortable with strangers seeing them without the mask on--even when inside their own home. But after a few seconds they move to sit on one end of the couch, reaching up to remove the straps from around their ears and slide the mask off.
They're not missing their lower jaw, but their mouth is... a monstrous thing. More maw than mouth--with rows of jagged, protruding sharp teeth that look like some nightmare cross between a anglerfish and a lamprey, their lips thin and drawn back so far that even while their mouth is closed, the teeth are visible. Finley doesn't meet his eyes, looking down to fidget with the mask straps for a moment.
Jasper moves forward, reaching out towards the side of Finley's face. "May I?" he queries.
They look up at him as he reaches out, shrinking away from his touch at first, eyes widening. "...U-um...? For what..?"
"It's clear that you don't expect touch in such a state. I'm hoping to correct the expectation. What I see here is efficiency. There are numerous variations in the fangs of Kindred, and yours? I imagine you're quite able to drink. Reminds me of the Aswang myths." Jasper's edge of lip curls faintly upwards as more life drains from him, letting that natural inclination fall away. "So, if you wish, allow yourself this moment of touch from someone who can see and appreciate you for the predator and the person you are at the same time."
The Nosferatu continues to stare uncertainly at Jasper for a long moment, before giving a timid little nod. "O...okay..."
Jasper presses his palm to the side of the other's face, then carefully strokes back their hair. After a moment or two of searching, he comes to sit next to them, arm around their shoulders. "You're quite the interesting figure, Finley Adams. More on that later. Should we watch this trilogy?"
Finley's eyes close when touched, their whole body going rigid, jaw clenching tightly together underneath his hand.
"Thanks," they murmur. "Um, sure, yeah--that'd be good..." They reach for the remotes to turn the TV on, looking like they're afraid of making any sudden movements. "It's... pretty silly."
There's a moment of gears whirling around behind his eyes before Jasper asks lightly, "Finley, dear child, are you afraid of me? Perhaps hear some story of the nasty elder who ate a neonate?"
They freeze again, keeping their eyes down. "...A little," they murmur, doing their best to talk without opening their mouth as little as possible. "It's... not really your fault. Sorry."
"Am I able to make you more comfortable? Further away, perhaps? I'd perhaps thought this was the expected distance after my research on netflix invitations." He considers. "I am an elder, yes, but I remember the days when elders did eat neonates. It's a valid fear. I'd much rather have a willing subject give me vitae, if I needed it."
They make a startled sound, then shake their head quickly. "I... I didn't invite you here for--for that," Finley practically squeaks out. "J-just to watch the movies. Not--please, I'm sorry if I--I didn't mean..." They're growing increasingly nervous.
"I should hope not," lets Jasper out with a long breath. "I've already partaken this evening, and it's quite a waste of vitae to do so with multiple people in different times. Still, the cuddling is not preferred?" He's already scooting away...
Finley does look pretty mortified as they also scoot further away. "M-maybe? Later. Not... I don't know you that well. And..." They rub their arm, glancing away again. "Sorry. You seem nice. Just... older men kind of make me... nervous sometimes..."
"... Older? I'd not reached three decades alive," muses Jasper. "You must be quite young. But no, I don't need such things." He waves a hand. "Part of getting to be this old is knowing when one can put away the dance and just be as you are."
Their mouth opens a little, then clamps closed again. "...Really young, yeah. Less than a year," they murmur softly.
"You mean since your embrace? Ah. You must have heard quite the horror stories then."
"Worry not. The transition is difficult for us all."
"Mine was... What year is it again?"
"...Mine was.." They shrug. "My sire was awful. So--I'm sorry. It's really nothing against you. I'm sure you're nice. Just please don't touch me unless I give you permission?" A beat. "2020."
"Ah. Well over two hundred years." Jasper looks to the screen. "My sire embraced me to just be his private food supply. I understand your rightful fear in this circumstance."
Finley glances over, watching him quietly for a moment before turning back to the TV. "Sorry that happened to you..."
"Oh, please. They're long since dead. Those who can't get over their trauma are doomed to face the sun."
That makes Finley pause awkwardly, then clear their throat. Quietly, they lift the remote to start the movie...
"No newborn looks like that. There's not even an umbilical cord hanging free," notes Jasper.
"... Who Embraces a child?"
"Though I have heard that lycans feast on kine flesh. This is true."
"I think they're born vampires. Um. Not embraced, just biologically..." They glance over. "Really?"
"It gives them power, supposedly." He waves a hand. "You don't run into them unless you're stupid."
"Have you met very many werewolves..?"
"... When is this set? These clothes..."
"Not many. I'm a smart Kindred. I do better."
Finley giggles. "Yeah, the clothes are... ridiculous. In all of the movies. They're just trying to look goth and edgy..."
"They are appealing clothing sets." A pause. "They're screwing."
"The father is being racist towards him. They are most definitely having sex."
Finley nods sagely. "Yes, they are."
"These slaves dress like some of the men in the clubs."
They giggle again, nodding. "Mm, goths. That's the style." Finley trails off as the SEX SCENE happens, looking... hella awkward. ...Then just start bursting into giggles at the weird 'hanging over the cliff' moment. "Ohmygod..."
"I've not done that. Perhaps I should find a strong sort..." muses Jasper.
"W-what? Why--that looks so uncomfortable..." Their nose wrinkles, as if grossed out.
"Much of it is. Lots of it is about the excitement of the moment instead of the physical pleasure."
"No thanks," Finley murmurs softly, drawing their legs up to their chest to hold.
"... You weren't the one I had in mind. No offense," notes the elder. He was so creepily still as he looked on. "This sort of attack would be such an issue for the Masquerade."
"Ugh. I remember these kinds of slave owners. I killed my fair share of them."
"I don't think they care about the Masquerade in this movie," Finley replies, squinting. Then glances over. "Really?"
"There is little I hate more than a racist. There's no reason to have such cruelty for others. Be invited to a party, and after they'd showed their true selves, finding out everything about them and exposing them for the monster they truly were to all that would hear. Then, when they eventually turned away from society, helping them politely slip away into the oblivion to be forgotten by history."
Finley blink-blinks at him for a moment, then smiles slowly. Their smile is a gruesome thing, more like an animal baring teeth. "That's... awesome."
"That is the balance of a life unhindered. You mustn't do too much and risk being lost to the Beast, but if you are selective and careful... you can prune much darkness out." He pauses. "Is this what you imagine Invictus meetings to be like?"
They look away at the mention of being lost to the Beast, looking down a second then back at the TV. "...Yes?" they admit, sheepishly.
"Formal, yes, but not quite like this." Jasper's eyes focus on the speech. "I like this werewolf revolutionary. I wonder what he would taste like."
"...Have you ever tried werewolf blood?"
"I've not. I just tried the blood of a fairy earlier."
"...What?? A changeling?" Finley sits up, turning up on with wide-eyed excitement. "What was it like??"
"Like... like the static of a television in the moments between flipping. The top notes live, electric. The lower notes predatory, more like a wild animal."
"....Whoa..." Their eyes remain wide. "I've been wanting to study changeling blood for weeks..."
"Perhaps you may get the chance. I've worked a deal with him in order to get a bit..."
Welp, now the Nossie is looking at him practically starry-eyed. "Could... I get a sample from you???"
"If you were willing to work together on the research, I don't see why not," comments Jasper.
Their head bobs quickly. "Mm, yeah! What sort of research would you want to do?"
"I personally intend to figure out how to develop a taste for it - but I likely won't need more than a-that sort of landing would likely break their legs."
They glance towards the TV, then bursts into giggles again. "U-um, yeah... I told you this movie is ridiculous..."
"I want to eat more than a few of these men."
"For different reasons."
"The very strong one right there with the deep voice? Mmmm..."
"Hmm... He probably would have very healthy blood," Finley murmurs, because that apparently matters more than attractiveness to them...
"He's a criminal, strong, and very sexually appealing. Making him weak in the knees, watching as he clung so tightly to me, that would very much appeal." A pause. "Would you wish to work on the blood with me?"
"... Are they Mnemosyne?!" asks Jasper with a wide eye.
Finley's nose wrinkles again at the thought of how Jasper would make him weak in the knees. Then another eager bob. "Mm. I'd be excited to. I love studying blood." A beat. "Huh?"
"He just drank the memories out of her. No one else can do that."
"What does Mnemosyne mean?" they ask curiously.
He's quiet a moment as he gathers his thoughts. "It's a bloodline of the Mekhet. My bloodline. We are able to build strength through blood and memory. Learn things others cannot, help recover memories thought lost by magic or time..."
"...Could I study a some of your vitae sometime?" Fin asks softly, watching him intently. Probably a bit too intently.
"That depends. Would I be granted the same opportunity?" he asks as he looks upon the carnage on screen. "This Sonia intrigues me."
"... She's going to have a Dhampir."
Finley considers a moment, then nods. "Sure." They look back to the TV, watching the epic fight scene. "She's pretty badass..."
"My methods and your own might be quite different. And I've little equipment for scientific approaches so magic will need to suffice."
"I have a lab, if you wanted to use it...? I'd like to see your magic, though."
"Another time. With less distractions. But... yes, I think that should be alright. Especially if we work with one another and share results, hm?"
"Why is this woman not simply breaking her hands to let herself free?"
"... She really was a Mnemosyne."
"Deal! That sounds fun. I like dabbling with alchemy too--which is sort of science and magic." They pause to eye the screen. "Her death is a plot device, it turns the werewolf evil to set him up as the bad guy for the next movie."
"I disapprove."
"Mmm... It's a pretty bad storyline, yeah..."
"I like the struggle. I just wish it had been the opposite direction. I feel more for her. An expectant mother of horrific nightmare children? One of my bloodline? This one, yes, it was sad for him, but... I care less."
"Hmm... You might like the people in the next movie better? It's more about vampires than the werewolves."
"I appreciate that he and the burly one are having this moment."
"I'd like them to have some intimate, caring moments after."
"They're still friends in the next movie." Finley bobs their head.
"Who are in those three coffins?"
"Oh--the Elders. The bitchy dad is one of them, and there's two others that are super-fucking-old that run everything. They're in torpor right now."
"... Huh. And who was that woman? She looked more modern."
"She's the protagonist in the next movie." They reach for the remote. "Do you want to watch the next one?"
"I think so. They've... shown me other Keepers."
Finley bobs their head, and turns on the next movie. They seem more comfortable now, curling up into the couch relaxedly. Even grabbing one of the stuffed animals to hold in their lap.
"This movie is... soooo extra..."
"Extra?" asks Jasper. "That would break her legs. That's such a waste of vitae to heal."
"Um. Extra means... like... ridiculously dramatic."
"Am I extra?" asks the elder knowing damn well it's a trap.
"... What nonsense is this?"
"Everyone has those slimmer versions of tommy guns."
"Don't try to bring realism into this. It won't work," Finley says dryly, smiling gruesomely again.
"They've stumbled onto some of the right things. Being fast enough to be able to dodge bullets, being able to drink memories from blood, seeing at incredible distances..."
"Now this looks like an Invictus meeting."
Finley giggles again, looking between him and the tv. "Noted. ....Probably with less leather?" trying to make a joke.
"No."
"...Really?"
"I could do with more leather, but leather is useful."
"This blonde is plotting that man's death."
"I think she's wanting to bang him, actually... Oh! She's gonna do more blood memory stuff!"
"...Wait, that's later, sorry."
"That's fine. But fucking someone is an excellent way to get their guard down. So many people fall for that. I've seen this hunger. She wants to impress because she wants to rise in the ranks."
"Bleh." Their tongue pokes out through their teeth a bit. "Ugh, I hate this guy..."
"Why would you talk to your knight like that? She could kill you."
"Ah, that one's of the Order."
"Cause he's a sexist asshole...?"
"That's how many a sexist ends up in torpor. Celerity and Vigor both are enough to destroy someone often before they can even react."
"Have you broken into someone's home to learn about them yet?"
Finley blink-blinks, then shakes their head. "No... Have you?"
"Of course. It's a key experience for every Kindred with Obfuscate."
"Don't worry. You'll get there."
They just stare at Jasper for a long moment, then focus on the TV. "That doesn't seem very nice."
"Neither is drinking the blood of those who do not know. They need that," comments Jasper. "It's part of the experience. You often use your abilities to your advantage."
"She is bleeding a lot for a va-did she just pass out?"
"Yeah, they bleed in this universe, I guess. And she's stubborn and stupid."
"Exceedingly."
"This Erica is very relatable."
"Seems an awful waste of busts."
"Yeah, I kinda like Erica more than Selene..." They hug the stuffed animal closer, watching a bit. "I wish research was as easy as that..."
"I do too. She's incredibly lucky." He continues to watch. "They even call them covenants."
"This is another masquerade breach..."
"Someone needs to kill this boy."
"So many masquerade breaches. OH! Now she's gonna do the memory thing! Is this like what you can do?"
"We'll find out..."
Still, Jasper was hyper focused finally.
"That's wrong. Not only elders can do it."
"Is she trying to bind him?"
"I suppose the only way to rouse some of the truly old ones is through powerful blood."
"Why are there cobwebs in the chest cavi-Ah. Here we go..."
"This... this is quite like when I channel someone in the dynasty, but I don't feed them my vitae, no."
"Mm, yeah, makes sense kind of..." Finley glances over curiously. "Channel someone?"
"Ah, yes. I imagine not many dynasties left. But yes, I can channel those in torpor. Allow them their full mental faculties to speak through me like a spiritualist might do for a ghost."
"Ooohhh..." Finley blink-blinks, then nods. "That... sounds really cool. You call upon them through the blood?"
"Not... quite, but also not... not?" explains Jasper. "The dynasties are built upon clans, of course, so there are ties."
"I kinda wish I had some family... Um. Blood family. The Ashtifar have been great to me, but it's not quite the same. Not that I wish my sire was still around..."
Jasper's turn to look to Finley. "Do you now?"
Finley glances up, frowning. "Yeah. My sire was awful. But he's gone now."
"You wish for those bonds of blood. To feel and sing within you as you find that sympathy," murmurs Jasper. "Correct?"
The young Nosferatu hesitates a moment, then nods faintly.
"Hm." He looks back to the screen. "It's been some time since I've taken another under my wing, but should you prove as good as I hope... why are they kissing now?"
"Ah, it was a trick. I appreciate this. Much more than her rubber clothing."
Finley looks at him a moment, confused. "Um... As good at what...?"
He seems caught up in the Drama of the Movie. "Ah. As good as the last Defiant I worked with." He looks back. "I could make that connection for you."
"Why is this elder afraid of a couple lycans? Why is she not fighting back?"
"...Really?" Finley blinks. "How?" Then, more cautiously, "You... don't mean by a blood bond, do you?" A shrug at the tv. "Yeah, they made her really weak..."
"Technically, but not in the way you think," comments Jasper idly. "Ah. I really like Erica."
Finley still looks cautious, but turns their attention back to the movie. "She's the smartest one in this movie..."
"Oh, now he can do the superhero landing thing too..."
"Everyone's going to need new knees."
Jasper looks back over. "It's part of my bloodline. We... build webs of connection by tasting the blood of others."
"...Oh. So... you would taste my blood? I wouldn't taste yours?" Finley asks, still uncertain.
"These fake cop vampires are very dumb..."
"Yes. I've no need to bond you to tighten the threads of connection." He smiles - well, sort of. His lips quirk upwards slightly. "These are terribly dumb ghouls."
"That... sounds really intense, still. Um... not something to be done lightly." They pause a beat. "I'm a Galloi. We bathe in vitae. And... um, can bathe others, in our vitae. It can change their bodies."
"Oh?" Now he turns more in his seat to look over the Nosferatu. "I'd not... run into that sort. Change how?"
"Um... there's several different rituals. One you can only use on ghouls, so I've never bothered learning it. There's one I use sometimes, that makes it harder for people to notice you. And... there's one that can make a mortal look younger and more beautiful." They fidget with their sleeve. "And... one that can... change your biological sex."
"Fascinating. Does it help?" asks Jasper.
"Help... what?"
"I imagine one wouldn't waste their time to learn to change one's sex if they didn't desire to. Do you feel better having undergone such a thing?" asks Jasper.
Finley looks away at that, staring at the floor for several seconds.
"Is that too personal a question?" asks Jasper.
Their shoulders lift a little, legs drawn up tighter against their chest to cling to. "...I like to think... that it could help some people. That it... could be something... good. But... it wasn't. For me. I didn't... get a choice of how my body changed. My sire treated me more like... a doll. I was changed so many times that I don't... feel like my body will ever be really mine anymore, even after changing it myself. I... don't like blood bathing, now. I avoid it, unless I'm doing some... experiments. Then it feels... okay. It feels like it has a purpose."
"The effects are permanent until used another time?" asks Jasper even as he frowns. "I can't say I'm not glad to have never needed to meet this odious figure."
"They can be permanent, if you put enough will into it. Usually they lasted a month, when he did them. But he just... kept doing it." They rest their chin on their knees, curled up into a ball. "He was evil."
"No doubt. I imagine for many, that could act as a miracle. If chosen for the one who's a proper nonrisk to masquerade," muses Jasper.
They nod slowly. "I'd like to help people with it, if I can. It'd... be really awesome, you know? But I've never met anyone to offer it to."
"There are now centers, yes? For those who wish they could." A pause. "Find the desperate. Those so ready to give it all up, to die rather than remain as they are. Those are the ones you have the most chance with helping without endangering the masquerade, I expect."
They consider that for a moment. "Do you think I can do it without blood bonding them? Without getting in trouble? I don't... want to enslave anyone."
"It depends on if they're some other... variety," Jasper waves a hand. "Or you could do it, then find someone with Dominate to remember the surgeries, the recovery, and remove you and your magic from their mind."
"You wouldn't be viewed as the heroic savior, but you'd have done a good bit of work."
"Why is he blue?"
"Neither the vampires nor the Lycans are blue. Why is the hybrid blue?"
"I don't need to be a hero," Fin murmurs, seeming to be thinking it over. "I'll... look into it..." They look back to the tv. "Heck if I know. He looks super weird..."
"She did show the reason you should fear Mekhet though. Celerity can move so fast not everyone's even aware of who you killed."
Finley giggles. "She does seem like a mekhet, yeah..." They watch the end, then look back at him. "What did you think?"
"It was quite a set." He considers. "But it grows late. Perhaps the third for another night?"
"Sure." They smile their creepy as fuck ugly smile. "I... had fun. I'd like to do it again sometime. And next time we can play video games too!"
"Of course," agrees Jasper as he rises, going to collect his things. "And think on some of the topics covered tonight. I certainly will be."
"I will." Finley stands to see him out, looking excited. "I'll see you soon?"
"Yes," agrees the elder before heading out
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