i never read the signs, driving with no lights

[interviewee]

WHO: Louis de Pointe du Lac and you!
WHAT: Louis's arrival
WHEN: Today, everything happens at night.
WHERE: Sunwaning, Solarpeak, and Dayrise segments
WARNINGS: Possible mentions of violence, etc.

[Multiple prompts below. Let me know if you'd like another!]

Comments

[interviewee]

[Louis is used to being stared at by humans, though usually before he drains them. A bit of blood remains at the corner of his mouth.]

Louis de Pointe du Lac. [His creole accent comes out stronger when he introduces himself.

When Xue Yang starts off, Louis moves to walk beside him.]

Are you another Daoist?

[jiangzaid]

[ Why should he be afraid? So far Louis hasn't made any threatening motions towards him. And he's used to being nibbled on, both of his lovers enjoy marking him (and he them!)

The question has him almost stumble and he peers at the other man before laughing again. ]

You've meet Daozhang Xiao Xingchen? No, I'm not nearly as good as he is. But we're from the same world, and he's been teaching me more of what I never got the chance to learn.

[interviewee]

I have. Nice guy. Seemed interested in what I am.

[Louis nods with a soft smile.]

Has he? Sounds like something he'd do.

[jiangzaid]

[ He beams. ]

He's the best person I've ever met!

[ Tilting his head again, his smile settles somewhat to something more curious again. ]

Oh? And what are you?

[ Blunt, but he's genuinely interested. Besides, if Xingchen doesn't care, why should he? ]

[interviewee]

I'm a vampire, Xue Yang. [Louis raises an eyebrow.] And not the hopping kind.

[jiangzaid]

[ His lips do indeed part to ask when Louis answers him, making him laugh and grin. ]

Daozhang asked already? I bet you can jump pretty high though!

[ And he's not afraid! Why should he be? ]

[interviewee]

He did, yeah.

[Louis offers a smile.] I can, but I don't practice.

[jiangzaid]

How about flying?

[ He's being only a little ridiculous now, but waves it off by pausing before a specific little bush and gesturing a little way ahead. ]

More of those little beasts usually are just ahead.

[ He pulls out a talisman, but waits to see if Louis wants to handle the catching part himself. ]

[interviewee]

No flying, but I've known a couple who can.

[Louis looks ahead and the tiny heartbeats reverberate in his ears. He takes a few steps forward and cathces a rat of ease. His fangs drop and he bites into the, squeezing it like a juice box.]

[jiangzaid]

[ Xue Yang stands back, watching with open interest and tucks the talisman away. Part of him wonders about the taste of raw rat, but the rest of him doesn't miss the need to hunt, catch, then attempt to cook for every scrap of food.

He waits patiently for the vampire to seem full, showing no sign of frustration or disgust. Only when Louis seems to be done does he speak again. ]

I can fly on my sword, though Daozhang is much better. It's fun~

[interviewee]

On your sword? [Blood drips down his chin, as he snags another rat and bites down. Forgive him as drinks his fill before discarding the creature.]

Never seen that before.

[jiangzaid]

[ There's nothing to forgive! ]

When you're done, and no hurry! I don't mind showing you.

[interviewee]

One more. [And he snatches up one last rat to drink down.]

I'd like to see that. [He tosses the remains of the third rat away.]

[jiangzaid]

[ He can imagine it could take several of the small animals to satisfy an average appetite. A shrug answers the third rat and he doesn't complain.

When the third rat is tossed aside, he proves he keeps his word by summoning Jiangzai from his sleeve and hopping onto it, sending it and himself up into the air for a very short flight around the base of some of the trees. Once done with that, he brings Jiangzai to hover just overhead to grin down at Louis. ]

[interviewee]

[Louis wipes his mouth on his sleeve as he watches Xue Yang summon his sword and then hops onto it. As a charlatan from the streets of New Orleans, he's used to tricks, but this looks real. Louis raises both eyebrows, sufficiently impressed with the show.

He has to swallow down the memories of being dropped from Lestat's hands, the way he twisted and clutched at the air.]

I wouldn't go too high.

[jiangzaid]

[ His breath almost catches at the caution. So few people have extended such a sentiment towards him that it immediately makes him like Louis just that much more.

So he smiles warmly and moves Jiangzai in such a way that he hangs upside down for a moment before righting himself. ]

I'm not the strongest cultivator still, but I can still hold myself to my sword for a while.

[interviewee]

That's a talent. You using it to help around here?

[jiangzaid]

[ Oh Louis, you're making him almost feel shy! He beams at the praise and guides Jiangzai to the ground before hopping off and tucking his sword away. ]

I am! Daozhang Xingchen does more, of course.

[interviewee]

Xingchen seems like a good guide. [Louis smiles at Xue Yang.] You could be one too.

[jiangzaid]

[ Now he does duck his head, but that smile doesn't fade as he peeks back at Louis. ]

He's a good teacher.

[interviewee]

I notice you talk about him a lot. You close?

[jiangzaid]

Mm. We got married here.

[ Somehow he doesn't think he'll get a look of disgust from Louis to learn Xue Yang and Xiao Xingchen are cutsleeves. ]

[interviewee]

[Louis blinks at Xue Yang.]

You can do that here?

[As a queer man himself, that sort of thing was never possible back home.]

[jiangzaid]

[ He likes the fact he was right!

Beaming, he nods, rocking back and forth on his heels. ]

No one complained about it before or after. We're not the only ones, either.

[interviewee]

Not the only ones? [The fact that folks of the same gender can marry and there's more than one? Louis might just stick around.]