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 glances over from where he's trying to negotiate with the vendor. He appreciates the help, but as the vendor disappears, Louis sighs, hands still on his hip.]

Thanks.

html WHY

[knowsvinewhip]

I'm sorry. I hadn't thought he'd be so skittish...

[But he does feel bad. And sighs himself, before turning slightly.] Well, since this appears to be my fault. Here -

[That's. A book. A novel about the thickness of an encyclopedia. Some kind of historical fiction.]

I finished this last night and was on my way to return it to the library. I hope it helps?

it is the worst

[interviewee]

[Louis accepts and looks up from the book in question. That could be enough pages to cover his windows, but the thickness is something to be wanted.]

It won't hurt.

[knowsvinewhip]

I'm glad to hear that.

[But it doesn't seem as if it's enough. He frowns, thoughtfully, then... leans over the vendor's counter.]

I don't suppose tourist pamphlets will be any help? There seems to be quite a number of discarded ones here.

[interviewee]

Anything. Any kind of p-- reading. [He notices the tourist pamphlets now and grabs most of them.]

[knowsvinewhip]

Then let's make with a bit of petty larceny, shall we?

[Here, let him help collect even more, stuffing them into his library bag.]

[interviewee]

[How helpful! As Louis is stuffing the last of the pamphlets into the bag he smiles.]

This should be enough, thanks.

[knowsvinewhip]

Of course. I'm happy to be of assistance.

[He offers the bag out, bowing slightly in the process.] I hope you find it useful.

[interviewee]

[Louis accepts the bag with a reciprocal bow.]

I will, thank you.

[knowsvinewhip]

Ah, and should you need anything else, please don't hesitate to reach out!

[Hakkai stop with the Necessary Pleasantries and let the poor man take his paper.]

[interviewee]

[Louis chuckles at all the pleasantries. He's not used to them and it's so oddly charming.]

You want to come up for some coffee?

[knowsvinewhip]

Oh! Well, I certainly can't refuse a polite invitation.

[Yes you can, you weirdo.]

I would be happy to.

[interviewee]

[Louis nods with a smile and leads the way up to his loft apartment. Through the windows, the starry sky is readily visible. Louis walks over to the coffee pot and gets the coffee started.]

Have you been here long?

[knowsvinewhip]

[He'll take a seat, just about anywhere. Sitting with his legs crossed primly at the knees.]

Quite a while, actually. But I'm afraid my story is rather unique amongst those here.

Yourself?

[interviewee]

Just got in last night.

[The mention of a unique story, though, catches Louis's attention.]

You mind explaining your story?

[knowsvinewhip]

Ah, well. Welcome aboard, so to speak.

[He hums, and folds his hands into his lap.]

My partner and I arrived here from another world like this one. We were previously displaced from China - to a world known as Trench. A world that ran on the power of one's blood, if you can believe that.

[interviewee]

Thanks. Appreciate the welcome and the help.

[Louis gets up to retrieve the pot of coffee and two mugs. He sets one cup in front of Hakkai and the other in front of himself. As he listens, he pours both mugs full.]

Honestly, I can. Blood can be more powerful than you think.

[knowsvinewhip]

Of course. It's something of a pay it forward, I suppose.

[A quiet "thank you", before he collects his offered mug.]

Oh? I admit, Trench was the first experience I ever had with such a thing. I didn't expect to hear someone else was familiar.

[interviewee]

[Louis settles the pot between them and takes a sip of his own coffee. After giving a long interview, Louis doesn't hesitate in stating,] I'm a vampire. Blood dictates legacies and who has which abilities. It's a weird kind of hierarchy.

[knowsvinewhip]

[ . . . ]

[Have you ever heard an ellipse? Hakkai just sort of blinks. Several times. He looks down at the coffee, frowns for a moment. And then sighs.]

Well.

Had I not spent so long in Trench, I suppose such a revelation would strike me as quite the work of fiction. As it stands, I can believe it.

[interviewee]

Well it's true, whether or not you believe in it.

[Louis shrugs, as if he weren't giving out vampiric secrets.]

[knowsvinewhip]

Oh, I apologize. Not to say I didn't believe you. Merely that had I not been in Trench, it would have been far more difficult, ahaha.

[SMILE SMILE. This is perfectly normal conversation.]