[video]

[championbittersweet]

[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.

Comments

psychic thread;

[verstoned]

If I weren't imaginin' things, I'd have said you were callin' yourself a vampire. [Fucking Eorzean fairy tales.

... But then again, with what he's seen a lot in his home world, fairy tales tend to have a terrible habit of proving themselves true.]

But then again, you are one, aren't you? So many things make so much bloody sense now.

psychic thread;

[championbittersweet]

[Well that's interesting. A psychic touch isn't entirely new, although he's not certain how well he likes it here.]

I am indeed calling myself that. Although I have to admit I'm impressed that you're reacting so well to it. Are you familiar with vampires?

[verstoned]

You drink blood. Were only stories told 'round the tenth month of the year, but if you say y'are, then y'are.

I seen things people said were only stories what turned out to be true in the end. I shouldn't be surprised anymore.

[championbittersweet]

I've seen much here and elsewhere that I thought impossible. Even my awakening was a vast change in how I saw the world. It seems there's always something new and unexpected on the horizon.

[verstoned]

I delved into a cavern in search o' treasure an' found that all the great, divine guardian beasts what sealed a terrible evil away were real. I put my hand right on Byakko's mane as he looked me in the eye. 'S why I ain't bothered by what you said.

[championbittersweet]

[A large part of that doesn't make terribly much sense to him, but Jonathan nods after a moment. Whatever it was clearly had an impact at least.]

I appreciate the sentiment, although I imagine for many people there's a difference between finding out something like that in their own world and being faced with someone who may hurt them or worse here. I don't fault people their caution.

[verstoned]

You're bein' determined to act like this is the end of the world for you.

The thing you used on me before? Promise you shan't do that to anyone and it's fine.

[championbittersweet]

Well for a while it quite literally was.

[He's reasonably pragmatic, but he can't easily forget the experience of dying either.]

And I apologise for that. I have no intentions on using it again unless I must.

[verstoned]

It shan't work on me, but others are not as lucky as myself.

[championbittersweet]

[Arguing the point doesn't seem the best option right now; Jonathan deciding that if the young man wishes to believe that, it might be best to let him do so.]

I'll keep that in mind.

[verstoned]

No, I don' think you're convinced. Else you'd 'ave been askin' how. Or if it's true.

[championbittersweet]

I beg your pardon, but it seems rather irrelevant. I don't intend on attempting anything of the sort and I'm well aware of the limits of others. What's the point of wondering anything else?

[verstoned]

SO you know where you stand with me, an' 'ow I can deal with you even if you're Red, an' myself Sapphire.

[championbittersweet]

[He has no idea why this has turned into some contest in the other man's mind. It seems straightforward enough to Jonathan; there's no point in arguing who would potentially win when the situation wouldn't happen regardless. And yet the younger man continues to push him.]

I don't know what you wish to hear from me, sir, but I've made it quite clear of my intentions not to harm anyone here. But that doesn't mean I intend to simply accept threats.

[verstoned]

[Rhus just has to sigh.]

Fine then. Ain't no point.

So what's the favour you want from everyone here?

[championbittersweet]

I imagined it would be obvious, given the circumstances.

[verstoned]

Hrrrm?

[Give him a moment, he needs to think.]

A way o' survivin' in the sun? Food? Somethin'? Western folktales aren't my specialty. [That is to say, he's from the East, and thus does not know many of them.]