agentlenet | [video]

[It's early evening and the video shows Jonathan's room, the heavy curtains blocking out the waning daylight and the room lit by a single light. He's seated at a desk, papers spread out before him but clearly his attention isn't on them. Jonathan himself looks markedly better since the last time people may have seen him; there's colour in his skin and while he still looks slightly starved, there's nothing of the hungry expression in his eyes.]

The Lady Fayura and her court have been particularly helpful but have also made certain... factors clear to me. So I feel honesty is the best policy here. Rational thought and decision only.

[He settles forward to rest his weight on his elbows, pale blue eyes fixed on the far-caster.]

I am not human. As unbelievable as it may seem, after I returned to London following the war I was attacked, murdered, and reborn as what I am now. A creature of death and blood that must survive on the living.

[He says it so calmly, matter-of-fact in his delivery.]

I try not to feed on humans but it has been made clear to me that this will no longer work, and animals are not enough to survive on. My hunger cannot be so easily ignored here despite my efforts so I am asking a... favour, a show of trust, if any would be willing to make it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Mary finds herself rendered speechless for a long time. When Reid first started his announcement, she had been so pleased to see him looking so much better than he had lately. She had thought that perhaps he had found a cure for what was ailing him. Now she sees that such a cure is not possible.

His matter-of-fact tone only adds to how disturbing this is. ]

Dr. Reid... I... surely you are not saying what I think you are...

[He anticipated these reactions, although it hardly makes them any easier. Those he has come to think of as friends here have every right to be disturbed and afraid at learning the truth. His tone is gentle, but he doesn't shy from the topic either.]

I am a monster, Mary. I survive on blood and live in the dark of night. It is what I am now.

[ Mary shakes her head. ]

But... you are so kind and gentlemanly...

[ Surely this is some kind of joke, or maybe he's gone mad. ]

You are saying that you are... a vampire?

And yet I can and have fought and killed, both as a man and as I am now. One does not prevent the other.

That was during the war though. All men did things they were not proud of during the war.

[ There's a clear look of distress in Mary's eyes. ]

I... I was so fond of you, Jonathan. Even when you were gaunt and pale, I... I still found you handsome.

[ He looks so much healthier now, but at what cost? Whose blood had he drank? ]

[His expression turns colder at those words.]

I am a creature that needs to feed on others to survive, that has killed and is still haunted by it, and what you lament is that you no longer find me attractive?

[ Mary stiffens in response, eyes narrowing. ]

I'm merely trying to illustrate how well I thought of you. Now I do not know what to think.

[ The irony is that now that he's fed he looks vastly more attractive, similar to how he looked when he first came here. ]

You lied to all of us, and the only reason that I suspect you're telling the truth now is because you have no choice. You'll starve without us helping you.

You're partially correct. I tell the truth now because while I may starve, I would not die. I would only be a greater risk, a creature that may go mad with hunger and attack others, unable to tell friend from foe.

I do not wish for that to happen to you or anyone else here. So while Queen Fayura has offered me an option to keep my secrets, I choose to share them and at least ensure you're aware of the risks.

I'll consider myself warned.

[ She sighs and rubs at her temples. ]

I suppose you were trying to protect me earlier, keep me at arm's length and thus keep me safe from you if you went mad.

You and everyone else here. Getting close can end poorly with my... condition.

[ A convenient excuse, isn't it? ]

You never acted like a monster to me, Jonathan.

So, what are we to do now? Shall I stay away from you? Is that what you want?

[video]

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;

video;