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Kaspar
The sting was a familiar one, but it felt like forever since he'd last experienced it. His children were growing quickly, life was moving faster with each day and he'd barely had time to take a breath for six months. It meant that he was well overdue to feel the needles marking his skin, tracing layers if ink that would penetrate and remain forever on his youthful skin. Jesse was usual surly self, but Kaspar could ignore it if the man did his work well and didn't ask too many questions. He paid the guy, throwing in a solid tip after what had turned into a long session to get it done, and exited the shop. What now? Hel knew he should rush home to his family, but he'd been assured things were well under control and encouraged to take some time to himself so found his legs carrying him towards an empty bar stool.

Adley Reed
This side of the city was interesting to Adley; where he'd moved to up in the Northern hemisphere of Harper Rock, it was relatively quiet. The catacombs were open again, the military having moved elsewhere to contain a different threat; but then most of the city seemed concentrated on the new threat. Adley slipped across the river every now and again, armed with a knife and a handgun and a fully charged camera. He liked to capture the duels between humans and zombies; vampires and zombies. He did gritty portraits of the soldiers, of the vigilantes with their strings of zombie ears, which Adley was told could be sold to a certain person for a lot of money. Which was why there were so many fighting the fight. There was always money involved. Somewhere in the past few hours, Adley had ended up with zombie gunk splattered across his arm and over the front of his shirt; he'd slipped into Serpentine to use the bathroom to try to clean some of it off. When he meandered out of the bathroom stall, smelling of handsoap, he caught sight of a familiar profile. He veered off course and took camera in hand, approaching Kaspar like a ninja in the night -- purposefully using the flash, right up close, as he took a picture.

Kaspar
The response to the flash was slow, a sideways glance, glass in hand so that the amber liquid flashed molten gold in the bright light. His eyes were temporarily blinded, brows furrowing as he tried to see who had been so brazen as to shove a camera in his face and wavering between snarky wit or tense outrage. His other senses seemed to recover and spring into action more quickly than his sight, his nose twitching at the smell of generic soap covering lingering decay. The strange thing was the decaying scent was layered, one more alive than the other, more akin to grave dirt than rotting flesh and something else that was terribly familiar. Ah, of course, who would be so brazen indeed. "Adley." He identified the male by scent only moments before he got a good look at the cheeky devil half hidden behind his bulky camera. "You know, if you sell that to a magazine you'll make enough to buy me something shiny."

Adley Reed
"Ah, I have my doubts," Adley said, sliding onto the stool beside Kaspar and placing the camera on the bartop in front of him, wrangling the strap from over his shoulder. "Magazines pay for scandal and intrigue. You're not even drunk. Besides, you have more than enough money to buy your own shiny things," he said with a wink and a shove at the other man's knee with his own. "How goes?"

Kaspar
He managed to look appropriately sulky, jutting his lower lip out in a pout. "But I like it better when other people get shiny things FOR me." That wasn't true, not in the slightest, but he figured Adley knew him well enough to realise that. "Besides, you'd be surprised what they could come up with off a simple picture." Kas winked at him as he settled, knocking his knee back the man's and letting it rest there. "It goes. You?"

Adley Reed
"Life... is good," Adley replied. There were plenty of things he could have said -- witty quips about the kinds of things those hack 'reporters' could get out of a paparazzi photo, but he bit his tongue. He'd worked in that industry. He'd been the paparazzi. He'd followed people around; he'd moved on to photograph murders and car accidents. It all got a bit dirty, a bit morbid and depressing. Intrinsically immoral. Now that he focused on real portraits, on landscapes, his photographs could make political statements. They were art, rather than yesterday's trash. He wouldn't do that to his friend. "A bit chaotic there for a second, but I'm in a good place. You'll have to ah... meet the new brood," he said with a wide, gleaming grin.

Kaspar
His brows went up, both at the hesitation and the choice of words. "Brood? At least two of them are not six months old."

Adley Reed
"No. I mean. Depends. They were reborn, and in that new life I'd say I have four under six months old," Adley said. No, he had not suddenly gained the ability to make perfectly pink, warm, happy, healthy human children. And though he probably knew, deep down, that his siring tactics might have had something to do with the lack, he hadn't admitted it out loud. In fact, ignored that completely. "How are the twins?"

Kaspar
Kas swirled his glass, eyeing the liquid as he listened to Adley talk, one half of mouth quirked in a sardonic smile. "Kids, am I right?" He teased, as if they were two middle aged men venting their woes about family life over a cold drink. "They are good, they are developing..." He considered the word, tongue tapping the roof of his mouth as if searching for right word, "Personalities." This was accompanied by a wrinkle of his nose and deep sip from his drink, though it was all an act. He was loving watching them turn into their own little people, with likes and dislikes.

Adley Reed
As was so often the case with new parents, most topics turned back around to their children. Normally Adley would have been invested; he should have been invested. He was happy for Kaspar, of course, but he did not offer to come around and see these developing personalities. As much as he'd love to be 'Uncle Adley', he'd have to do so from a distance. "So what are you doing drinking alone at a bar, then?"

Kaspar
Kaspar snorted a laugh, pressing his knee into Adley's a little more, nudging him. "Having a brief adult moment to myself. Wife's orders." He hurried to add the last, a brief flash of the guilt he should probably be feeling more readily. "So, tell me more of this... Brood. I should probably swing by and give them a lecture about safe fanging."

Adley Reed
"It was all safe enough. I think you'd like them," Adley said. "Craven and Lakenna -- I keep wanting to say they're sisters, but they're close friends. Jericho, struggling artist. Well, no -- brilliant artist, but struggles. Keeps to himself a lot. And Grayson. Blonde, nice body, really enjoys some safe fanging," Adley said with a subtle wink. He was not unaware of the knee against his. He'd always enjoyed the proximity.

Kaspar
Kas nodded his head along to the descriptions, he'd heard bits and pieces from Adley but they'd yet to catch up and sit down together to chat in depth about his ventures into the world of siring. "And all of them, they are accepting of their new life?" He couldn't help but linger on the idea of the struggling but brilliant artist, and of course deliver a narrowed gaze at the suggestion of an attractive blonde. "Not trying to replace me, are you?"

Adley Reed
"They are, mostly. Some are still learning to adjust, but at least none of them loathe me," Adley said with a chuckle, and arched a brow at the last question. "And I wouldn't call it replacing, per se. But there are certain things I can no longer get from you that he satisfies. Calling him a replacement doesn't really do him credit," Adley said with a shrug, not sure of the point he was trying to make.

Kaspar
Kas wasn't sure if he was impressed, annoyed or something else entirely. Did he care really? No one could compare to him, he was his own self. "He sounds terrible, ditch him." Kas smirked, knocking back the rest of his drink. "I'm kidding, of course. I'm glad they are adjusting well, and that you are content after..." He trailed off, looking vaguely apologetic and trying to cover it by ordering a second drink. "Sorry." He grunts as the bartender busied herself with pouring, accepting the cash and making herself scarce. He reminded himself silently to commend Jesse on his staff's social awareness.

Adley Reed
Adley's lower lip was pulled between his teeth, sucked briefly before it was released again. Talking about Gray had him glancing out the window; his newest childe was never very far away, and Adley wouldn't have been surprised if he wandered in eventually. "It's fine," Adley said. And on the surface, he believed it, too. Kaspar had ordered another drink and Adley remained drink free, content to watch his friend. "You'll have to swing by the new place one day," he said.




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This thread was submitted via a live roleplay chat in the Serpentine area. Participants and rewards were: Kaspar earned 1166 RPP. Adley Reed earned 1261 RPP.

Kaspar
He turned his gaze away as if searching for something, and Kaspar wasn't entirely sure that it wasn't a ghost from his recent past that had his eyes travelling. He was content enough to believe Adley's "fine", or not push the argument when he'd already moved on. "Ja, I will, i'm sorry I haven't come sooner. Things have been... Well, you know. Broods." Hel smirked fondly, sipping his drink.

Grayson Wyatt
His evening had been plagued, as it always was, with trying to get things done after having left it to the very last moment. He had been meeting with some local small-scale textile producers, and had been only a few minutes late. Now, the meeting was over, and he had a steaming Styrofoam cup of mint and mocha coffee (which apparently did nothing, but try convincing him of that). He was letting his feet lead him (read as, he was subconsciously following a trail that felt familiar. He pulled open a door into a place he'd never been before - no clue honestly why he was there, until he caught sight of a face he recognized. A grin formed and he lifted his drink as if to get attention before ambling over.

Grayson Wyatt
Wearing: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/ ... ormat=500w

Adley Reed
Adley shrugged. "It's fine. We haven't completely finished furnishing it yet, but it's close. Though I almost kind of like the ... boho chic of minimal furniture," Adley laughed. The one thing he had purchased almost immediately was the bed, however. A similar bed to the one at the hive. Huge, big enough to fit ten bodies if he saw fit. It was then that movement in the corner of his eye caught Adley's attention. "Speak of the devil," he said, sitting up straighter. He turned to greet Grayson as he approached. "Kaspar, this is Grayson. Grayson, Kaspar," he said, curious to see how the two men would react to each other.

Kaspar
"Boho chic? Is that a fancy way of saying second hand and smelling of patchouli?" He offered, about to add something else when Adley spoke again. Kas tilted his head to look beyond his friend and eye the man who was lifting a drink as if in greeting at Adley. "Only one devil in this room." Kas murmured, painting a pleasant smile across his features by the time Adley began his introductions. "Hallo, i've heard almost nothing about you. Almost." His free hand lifted in a casual wave, not committing to offering it for a shake, but his posture didn't say he was opposed to it either.

Grayson Wyatt
His eyes were like the clear sky right before sunset, when the sun itself was sinking and leaving behind a trail of darker blue, not yet touched by purple or burnt orange, and his gaze locked on Adley's when the other man turned towards him. It wasn't until he got a little closer he realized he was being introduced to someone, and he had the grace to offer something of an apologetic smile to the two men - not realizing he'd interrupted something. Remorse aside though, his hand slid over his sire's shoulder in greeting, his fingers and palm tightening slowly for a moment to enjoy that contact. "Nice to meet you." He said, his accent not clearly marking him as a New Yorker, but definitely as American. He offered his own hand to Kaspar, at the sight of the wave, though he had to put his coffee down to do so. "Hope I'm not barging in."

Adley Reed
"No, actually. I was just telling Kas he's got to meet my new brood. Figured you'd be around somewhere," Adley said with a subtle wink. If Adley weren't such an intimate person by nature, the way Grayson so often was able to find him without issue might have been a little... weird. But Adley didn't mind it. He wasn't a person who really liked being alone, always needing company and someone to chat to, to be around. His arm slipped around Grayson's waist even as the bartender gave Grayson a dirty look for bringing in a drink from somewhere else.

Kaspar
There was an air of comfort and intimacy between the two that was immediately evident, a bond born of blood he could only assume. "Grayson, not at all. We just ran into each other, Adley flashed me." He grinned devilishly, taking Grayson's hand in a firm shake.

Grayson Wyatt
When an arm slipped around his middle, he leaned into Adley, his fingertips sliding along the other man's shoulders, thumb brushing lightly across the nape of a neck before it settled on his sire's bicep. Then his eyes just kinda...dropped to Adley's groin a moment. Before dragging back up to the new acquaintance "Lucky. Day." He said as he gave Kaspar's hand a little shake before his palm slipped away, pushing into a jacket pocket. "The others might be little difficult to get ahold of the others." And then after a moment of contemplation, eyes on the new vampire. "You know you have excellent bone structure. Have you ever done any modeling?"

Adley Reed
Adley didn't miss the pointed gaze, which earned Grayson and arched brow that he may have missed, as he was too busy contemplating Kaspar's bone structure. Adley, too, turned to Kaspar, also to admire the bone structure. The question summoned a short laugh from Adley. "Kas has probably done plenty of photoshoots in his lifetime..." he said, wondering if Grayson truly hadn't heard Kas's music. But then, if one doesn't pay attention to that kind of thing, perhaps it wasn't so hard to miss. He remained quiet, then, giving the others room to get acquainted.

Kaspar
He'd scoffed his amusement at the lucky day comment, though the following comment gave him pause. His brows quirked up, looking not surprised but bemused by the random comment. "Mmm, I suppose you could call it that." He had, in fact, done some modelling in his time but definitely preferred the attention of the stage to being frozen in time. "Your cheekbones aren't too terrible either, i'm sure Adley takes full advantage. Does he flash you often?"

Grayson Wyatt
Gray got the impression he was on the outside of some sort of inside joke between the two based on their comments, which only added to this nagging feeling like he should know the man in front of him. There was some kind of familiarity there, and his thumb lazily dragged in a slow arch over Adley's arm in thought. It would have been rude to just come out and ask if he knew Kaspar. He was momentarily distracted though, by the cocking of Adley's brow, which drew his attention to the barkeep. And then his coffee. Oh right! He mouthed an apology and leaned to push the offending drink away as if it would fix the situation. "No, I prefer a long, slow exposure myself. More old timey, I know, but sometimes that's the best way." He commented - though they had actually met at a photoshoot.

Adley Reed
"Well, yeah. But you have been flashed," Adley said with a nudge and a playful laugh. He'd been aware that Grayson wouldn't mind a bit of 'flashing' within the first hour they'd met, and Adley hadn't been shy in providing. After they'd done what needed to be done, first, though those needs might have been rushed. Adley hadn't ever been the practical one, the one who used his common sense. He was led by his senses. "Do you want a drink?" he then asked Grayson -- he figured it would appease the barkeep if Grayson were also to order something, rather than just discard what he'd brought in with him.

Kaspar
Hel considered Grayson's words, eyes narrowed as if he were truly mulling it over. Spoiler alert, he wasn't. Instead he was studying their interactions, trying to summon enough emotion to be genuinely pleased that Adley seemed to have found comfort and support in his childe... Among other things. The offer of drinks broke him from his reverie, causing him to revert to his preferred language, "Er ist ein Allurist?" He asked Adley, gesturing towards Grayson in a manner that he hoped after the fact wasn't entirely rude.

Grayson Wyatt
Rather than respond to the claim that he'd bee flashed, Gray's grin only grew a little wider, his eyes animated in the way they darted away from Kas to the figure beside him, before slowly dragging back. "I'd love a drink. Something sweet?" He questioned, giving another light squeeze as if to thank Adley for helping with the faux pas. Gray, it seemed was easily distracted. The German confused him for a second, before he processed it. In his teens, he'd been all over the world modeling - and he had picked up bits and pieces of non-English languages along the way. "Well the drink won't make me sick, if that's what you're asking."

Adley Reed
The question could have been asked directly of Grayson, rather than Kaspar asking Adley about Grayson when Grayson was standing right there. Still, Adley opened his mouth to respond, only to have Grayson beat him to it. More or less. Although Adley didn't speak German, the question was still understood. It wasn't too hard to hazard a guess. Adley leaned over the bar and asked for a Long Island Iced Tea -- and another of whatever it was Kaspar was drinking. He had to lift his backside off the seat a little to pull his wallet from his pocket, sliding the required cash across the counter. "Yah," he said, turning back to the conversation. "This one's an allurist. And before you ask the question -- no. I don't only sure allurists. The others are... telepath and shadow," he said. One day, he'd sire someone who ended up in his own path. Maybe/

Kaspar
Kaspar managed to look mildly sheepish, doing the infamous head duck that Adley would no doubt recognise and occasionally still fall for. He glanced up apologetically through those blonde lashes of his, shrugging. "Ja, sort of. It seems Adley has a type." Although the other man had already presented his argument against his siring habits, Kaspar wasn't sure that he was talking about that when he finished type. He did, however, know to look put out when the man ordered and paid for his next drink, obediently finishing the one before him and leaning over to press his lips against Adley's jaw. "Danke, Ads."

Grayson Wyatt
He could tell almost immediately that the display put on was not for him. Grayson was a creature who made his life out of displays, out of the aesthetic and body language. It was clear that the two of them knew each other very well, and that only made Grayson want to learn more about Kaspar. There were so few people, it seemed like, who had staying power when it came to immersing themselves in the lives of their friends and lovers. Maybe that was his youth though. "He certainly does." He commented when Kaspar leaned closer to kiss Adley's jaw. Grayson, who was still standing, took that opportunity to drag his digits through the blond hair that was so close to him. His own was like silken gold, and it was impossible not to want to feel the texture, as if he expected Kaspar's hair to be like safe, warm sunlight. "His type is good taste, I think." He concluded before deciding to press his own lips against Adley's temple. After all, he was very good at offering his gratitude.

Adley Reed
If this was what buying others drinks got him (when he could not consume anything bar blood himself) then Adley decided he ought to do it more often. Within the space of ten to twenty seconds he had two pairs of lips upon his skin. He wanted to taste those lips; he wanted to cause a scene right there in the middle of the bar -- really give the tabloids something to talk about, should some snap-happy paparazzo stumble upon them. There was a keenness to his sharp gaze as it slipped between the two blonde men, Grayson wasting no time to become friendly with Kaspar. This made Adley supremely happy. The lurid imaginings were clear in those eyes; when Kaspar had leaned forward, Adley's fingers had affectionately trailed his jaw, the line of his neck. But he recalled the boundaries, and instead cleared his throat, snapping himself out of it. Mostly. "...just wait until you meet Jericho."

Kaspar
The last thing he'd expected was to feel a hand in his hair, fingertips parting over the soft, curling strands. Hel wasn't complaining, not at first, he loved the feel of fingers in his hair but when they brushed over a certain spot of his scalp he tensed. The tightening of muscles was subtle but it gave him good reason to withdraw, giving a low, throaty chuckle. "Mm, here is hoping." To Grayson he offered a smile, thought it was tentative and to Adley a dark flash of eyes that seemed to want to communicate something he couldn't say. Silent uncertainty perhaps, the briefest hint of doubt in a man who thought he was the sun. "The artist." It was intended as a question, but came out as a statement. "Grayson, what do you do?"

Grayson Wyatt
There had been an almost moment there, but it was cut short by some sort of...stiffness between the two men (and not the kind Grayson could have got behind, mind you). He wasn't terribly bothered by it, if only because he felt no compulsion to pull himself away from Adley. He reached for the Long Island Iced Tea when it was set on the bartop, lifting it to his lips to sip, as if to make sure it was suitable, and when he effectively melted into his sire's side, that question was answered. "What haven't I done?" He asked with a chuckle. "Right now I'm modeling, and trying to pull together a modern fashion house. There aren't enough local voices in the industry, so the branding potential is insane. You?"

Adley Reed
Adley might have told Grayson to pull up a stool, but it would only put distance between them. He was quite happy for his childe to stay right where he was, Adley distracted momentarily by the line of Grayson's neck -- just as he had been focused on Kaspar's only moments before. Kas had pulled away, which wasn't entirely unexpected, and though he half understood the look in Kaspar's eyes, he half didn't, too. He was curious, but not curious enough to ask what he assumed might be private. So he let it go. For now. Again, he sucked on that lower lip of his, lazily paying attention to the conversation. "Kas -- Hel -- is a musician," he said with a smirk. How would Kas take it, someone not knowing him immediately?

Kaspar
He probably should have been offended somehow, but he wasn't. Kaspar was satisfied with his level of fame and attention, though more wasn't necessarily unwelcome. He was proud of what he'd done, and would continue to do so he didn't argue with Adley's assessment of what he did. In fact he didn't say anything for a brief time, sipping his drink and offering an agreeable, "Mm." Murmured around the rim of the glass pressed between his lips. When he did reply it was not about himself, but about Grayson's career path. "I am sure there is plenty you haven't done, but you are young. Eternally. Do you design clothing or wanting to collect others who do?"

Grayson Wyatt
His head tipped slowly to one side, away from Adley in thought, auric veil slipping like the growing plumage of a proud, beautiful bird putting on some sort of display. In truth, he just needed a hair cut. "Music." He commented, another one of those nagging thoughts pulling at his attention. "I would love to learn more about the craft. I've been considering looking into local talent, but my own two minutes failing miserably at being in a band proves I don't have the ear for it." Though that had been before he was turned. And the spotlight was on him. What did he want? He wanted everything. To dig deep into the magic of the human mind, and pull free the most beautiful things people had ever seen. He wanted to visit the entire world. Only a few months before, he felt like an angel cast down from grace. Now? Well Adley had said he would be a god. Apollo. Dionysus. "Both. I want to put myself into what I'm making. I want people to know, when they buy my things, they're very much getting part of me." He settled on the easier answer.




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This thread was submitted via a live roleplay chat in the Serpentine area. Participants and rewards were: Kaspar earned 1110 RPP. Grayson Wyatt earned 1824 RPP. Adley Reed earned 1332 RPP.

Adley Reed
The moment had passed, something strange and dark, something exciting, and normal conversation had resumed. Both Kaspar and Grayson knew what Adley did; they knew what his craft was, the way he lived his nights. These questions were not aimed at him, so he leaned against the bar, turned so that he was facing both men. His head rested in his palm; he had one arm still looped around Grayson's waist, his knees still pressed to Kaspar's. There was no preference here. No replacement. Just an avid fascination.

Kaspar
"Ah, beautiful young men, always wanting to put part of themselves into things." Kas couldn't help the quip, though there was no hidden thorns, if anything it was spoken wistfully as if he wasn't sure he counted himself among them. Not in the same way, at least, he carried more responsibility though he didn't begrudge it. After all, he'd chosen it. "If you are looking for talent, or wanting to know more about the industry you could stop by the studio. I'm going out of town for a while soon, but will be there the rest of the week. This reminds me, Adley, I have some work for you if you were interested?" Hel fluttered his lashes, managing to look every bit the fallen angel his studio was named in reference to.

Grayson Wyatt
He didn't seem at all interested in finding a seat, his boots planted on the ground, his weight distributed against Adley's form. He was the sort of person who took a sip and then found themselves staring through the bottom of an empty tumbler or glass. This case almost always held true, and had been part of why he had been mildly successful working the night life. But also part of why he'd been terribly miserable at it. The emptied shell was slid onto a bartop, devoid of what had made it interesting in the first place. "Leaving that soon? But I only just met you." He said, faux-accusation in his tone. "Where are you going?" Though he probably should have asked where the studio was. And then the topic turned to work for Adley, so Grayson fell silent to listen to the men talk about this new job.

Adley Reed
If Grayson wanted the address, Adley could surely give it to him. His brow arched as Kaspar presented a job; Adley was curious, as per usual. He'd done a few odd jobs for the musician in the past. Photography was a malleable trade, and Adley was able to flip from one persona to another. He could photograph events as much as he was able to photograph landscapes, or portraits of people who didn't know they were being watched. "I almost want to suggest we go there now. To the studio," Adley almost purred. "Introduce Grayson to some of your work. And you can tell me about what you want from me along the way..." he said.

Kaspar
It wasn't the worst idea, after all it wouldn't take them long to walk there, or hop in his car to speed up the process but he wasn't sure he wouldn't be in big trouble for being out too late. "Ja, just let me check in?" He pulled out his phone, quickly typing out a couple of messages before delivering the device to the bar to await a response. "Some of my work? Which part..." His knee nudged harder to his friends, Kas shooting back the last of his drink in case he got the almost inevitable ok that would leave him free to take the men to the studio.

Grayson Wyatt
The way Adley talked did not entirely match with the topic of conversation - it was the tone of someone who was saying two things at once, and Grayson rather liked it, that quality of the other man's voice just then. "I would love to see the studio, listen to some of your music. All of it even." Though he had no idea about the genre. He lazily traced along the veins of Adley's arm with a lone fingertip, though he couldn't necessarily see them, it was as if by instinct. "All of it." He repeated, as tendrils of warmth coiled around him and left him finally pulling away from his sire, but only so that he could reach for the man's hands in an effort to drag him to his feet.

Adley Reed
Adley's sharp gaze watched Kaspar's fingers fly over his phone; he wondered what that could be like, needing to check in, to gain permission, even, to go out with friends. Adley had always loved his freedom, and even before... well, maybe that's why it all went pear-shaped. Perhaps because he was the one who required a little honesty. He wanted to know everything about those he chose to share his time with -- and what they did with theirs. He wouldn't interfere, but he still liked to know. He'd decided that, in the end, perhaps it wasn't worth all the trouble. He was pulled from his reverie by the absence of the body beside him, then the tugging of hands in his own. He had time to grab at the camera he'd left on the bar. "All of it," Adley repeated in answer to Kaspar's question. He knew that could take hours. A whole night, even. But Adley wouldn't complain. He had no other plans.

Kaspar
The pair were going to put on something of a display, and he expected no less of Adley really. Wasn't that how it often was? Not at first, he was slightly more subtle with his affections in public but certainly not afraid to let them be known. Now? Nothing appeared to be overly off limits. They'd caused their fair share of scenes in the past, hell even the first night they met. A lot had changed since then, so much so that Kaspar had trouble tracing the events that had unfolded back to that beginning, to that first encounter when four of them had come together and what was left? Two of them, apart but united, happy enough to be in touch but be on their own paths. His phone buzzed, a reply faster than he'd expected. "They are asleep. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE." Followed by a second, "Just kidding, but don't stress we are fine. Say hello to Adley for me, k? Love you." His Sig, of course content for him to have a night out, especially if there business involved. She knew little could come between him and his career, not even death. "Looks like we are going to the studio. Walk or would you like to hop in the jeep?" His eyes flashed, travelling up and down the two of them, considering. "Just remember, i'm the only one who gets to **** in my backseat." With that he was sliding off the barstool

Kaspar
and taking steps towards the exit.

Grayson Wyatt
Adley was up, camera in hand, and Gray monopolized on the moment where Kaspar was on the phone - though the model couldn't have said who with (studio manager?) - to steal his sire's attention, peering into his eyes across the span of the space between them, which was bridged only by their hands touching. Up until the point at which he leaned in to brush his lips right across the other man's. It was this affection laid out as offering, and yet barely there, as if consumed in flame. Some might have called it a promise, but promises could be broken. It was something else entirely then. When they finally got the go-ahead, Gray pulled away, though didn't release the hand in his. "Walking is probably best. I'm terrible at following rules, and I'd hate to make a bad first impression."

Adley Reed
Adley saw no reason not to reciprocate; Kaspar and he had been entangled once, but even then there'd been no chains. Kaspar knew Adley, and how he was, and what he required to survive -- as if he thrived off the attention and adoration of others. The same as Kaspar, in a way, but different. Adley had no reason to believe that Kaspar would be put off by the affection, the kiss that he returned, strap of the camera looped over his shoulder so that he could let it go and momentarily cup Grayson's jaw. And he could only laugh as Kaspar made his joke (if it was even a joke at all). "Maybe I should drive, then," he said. "Though if something were to occur in the back while I was driving, I'd have to watch. And that could be dangerous," he said. Which meant that they would all be walking -- which was fine by Adley. He liked the fresh air, and the promise of more time together. He happily and mischievously slapped Grayson's ***, his turn now to overtake the younger vampire and lead them all toward the doorway and out onto the footpath.

Kaspar
Kas couldn't help but shake his head at the pair, releasing a husky laugh. "Mein gott, what will I do with you?" The comment was light, Kaspar pushing the door open and stepping into the night air, holding it open for the others to follow. "It's not far, i'll come back for the car later." He wasn't going to take Adley's driving offer, considering his comment following it, there was too much suggestion and Kas wasn't about to put himself in a precarious position. "So, how long has it been since you joined our little gang?" The question directed to Grayson as he fell into an easy pace, long legs taking comfortable strides and hands sinking into the back pockets of his well worn jeans. He was wearing the rocker uniform which he favoured, heavy black combat boots paired with jeans that clung to his legs with artful tears and rips around the knees. On his torso a loose, long sleeved black shirt that had a vintage feel to it, the fabric luxuriously soft and worn around the hems and seams. Somehow it didn't look cheap on him, or dirty, it had this effortlessly cool grunge feel that was largely due to the accessories he wore. Chunky rings adorned his fingers and two more delicate wedding bands on each hand, a long necklace draped around his neck baring a simple silver fang pendant just

Kaspar
big enough to be a statement and of course his blonde hair artfully mussed. Nothing about it was fussy, it just was. Today he wasn't trying, he wasn't going to meetings or trying to impress anyone inparticular - it was just Kaspar. It was nice to just walk the street this evening, and although strange dangers looked around every corner he didn't feel worried.

Grayson Wyatt
Grayson knew that clothing said a lot about a person, specifically the way they wanted to be interpreted by the world. Someone who wanted to be taken seriously in the corporate world made sure to wear a suit to work, for example. If someone dressed without thought, it meant they, for whatever reason, didn't care about how the world viewed them. What Kaspar wore told Grayson that that there was something of a rebellious heart in the other blond. And yet, he seemed to live by ordinance of obedience to...something. Someone? That was certainly interesting, and worth looking into just a little more. He didn't have time to think about it though, because one moment he was enjoying a kiss, and the next his *** was being smacked, which honestly just made him grin deeply, after letting out a brief sound of surprise. Oh. He was going to have to find a way to get back at Adley for that. Though it wasn't revenge on his mind. Not really. And in a moment, they were outside, on the street, leaving Serpentine. The first night he'd met his sire, they had been attacked by a small gang. Grayson, with all of his charms, had been gunned down. He didn't worry about the potential for violence though. In fact, there was some part of him that invited it.

Grayson Wyatt
"You'll just have to show us more of this car another time." He commented as he caught up to Adley, a hand forcing its way into one of the other man's back pockets.

Adley Reed
Adley's own attire rarely ever fit into a mold. It was different every time he stepped outside; tonight he wore converses that had seen better days, jeans, and a long-sleeved t-shirt that was vertically lined, knitted with shiny bright colours that blended together. Simple, but bright. Perhaps that was how Adley himself could be described on certain nights. Out on the street, Adley happily kept his arm looped around Grayson's waist, a grin on his lips like the cat who ate the canary, yellow feathers like carpet beneath his feet. "What will you do with me? Nothing I'd like you to," Adley said, the mischief dancing in his tone. "Besides, you're partly to blame for how I am," he said to Kas. If it weren't for him, or for Jameson... well, Adley might have become a deviant regardless. But the narrative stood unchanged. "It's been a month," Adley said after he'd regained his composure, answering Kas's question for Gray. "Maybe more?" he said, glancing at Grayson beside him. Adley was never good at keeping track of the time.

Adley Reed
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C8uSS5ZWsAAQKqW.jpg

Kaspar
"A month? Not long at all. You are adjusting well, ja? Adley was saying that you were all... Mm... Ok." He didn't know how else to put it, and ok wasn't the word. How could you be one hundred percent ok with it? Even if you were happy, even if you didn't get the shittiest outcome and were able to carry on as you were you still had crosses to bear. Kaspar had taken time to adjust, though at first it seemed like he was born for it there was a lot that just hadn't really hit him. And then it did. "I can't believe you turned someone named Grayson, Adley. A blonde Allurist, who can be called Gray." It was almost comical in a way, and he knew Adley would see it from his perspective but perhaps he would have to explain to Grayson. Later, he thought, later he might tell the boy more about himself and his life.

Grayson Wyatt
One month. Three months. Grayson didn't look at time that way, which was probably part of why he'd had trouble holding down any job which didn't involve art. Art itself could capture a moment for eternity. Time had two meanings - one objective and one subjective. Had he answered, Gray would have said he honestly couldn't remember, because for him it was all about the feeling involved and his feelings around Adley were...more potent. He had known him a short time, but it felt paradoxically like forever and not nearly long enough all at once. All in the best ways. He leaned into the man in question as they walked, his cheek dragging lazily across a shoulder. Had his spirit animal been a feline, it might have seemed like a possessive gesture, but Gray was more colorful and bird brained than that. "I suppose that means I have to thank you for helping to shape this guy." He said. And then Kaspar was saying things he didn't get. More of that 'inside joke' type of feeling. Maybe he or Adley could explain ti to him at some point.

Adley Reed
"Oh, c'mon," Adley whined. He'd not even seen the correlation until then, until Kaspar had brought it up. "It's not as if I went out of my way to find a blonde that could be called 'Gray'. And it's Gray with an ay, not with an ee," he said. Though, he doubted that was going to matter to Kaspar. They sounded the same. Comical as it may be, Adley shrugged off that feeling that Kaspar would think Adley was trying to somehow emulate his life. That wasn't the case at all -- and he wouldn't defend it, as he couldn't know if that's what Kaspar was getting at. "Kas is married to a 'Grey'," Adley said by way of explanation. Though it would have to be later that Adley would explain how that had all... happened. He nudged Grayson's ribs. "He's asking how you've adjusted..."

Kaspar
"In every way but legally." He corrected, though habitually his thumbs shifted across to the twin bands he wore on both his right and left hand, one silver and one gold. "Though I am also legally married, Adley nearly **** himself when he found out. He went all white and confused." Kas smirked at the memory, "We were also naked at that time if I remember correctly, so that might not have helped. He was like, "DOES SHE KNOW"." He drew his hands from his pockets, wringing them in the air in a mockingly nervous fashion which was inaccurate but clearly meant for teasing. "The others didn't seem quite as concerned. Shocker." He dropped the hands at the last word, delivering it in a deadpan fashion that endeavoured to convey sarcasm.

Grayson Wyatt
He was beginning to get it maybe. Kaspar had a very complex life - maybe he was one of those people who lived for that kind of intricacy. And then you had Grayson, who hadn't even considered marriage. He was still in that place where he was trying to figure himself out. Find where he fit into the world."Maybe Kas has good taste too." He concluded, though little could be determined from a name. "Oh right." He hadn't deliberately ignored the comment about how he was adjusting. He'd just sort of...subconsciously avoided it. The first night he'd been a vampire, he'd torn someone's head off. He had been so angry, more filled with rage than he had ever been in his entire life. In fact, that was what being a vampire was to him. Everything in dangerous extremes. Fun was blissful euphoria he could drown in. "I usually adjust to the left so I have room to grow." He commented with an ivory flashing grin. "Adley has been amazing at showing me what it's like to be a vampire. I've learned a lot just watching him, fumbling my way through things." It helped that people seemed to give him what he wanted most of the time. Well. Humans at least. "It sounds like you lead an interesting life. I take it you prize building those connections? Or are some people for pleasure and

Grayson Wyatt
some people for more long term endeavours?"

Adley Reed
"I don't even remember that," Adley said, though he wasn't disagreeing. To find out someone's married while tangled naked in bed with them could come as a shock. The rest of the topic Adley steered clear of; he didn't want an argument with Kaspar even if all their past hiccups had been buried; they'd talked them through, Kaspar not losing Adley as a friend despite everything. Despite Adley's bruised ego. Deep down, Adley still believed he had the ability to get under Kaspar's skin -- he'd just been respectful enough of Kaspar's wishes not to push too much too often. And then he fell quiet as Grayson asked his question. Adley, too, was keep to hear the answer.

Kaspar
"Interesting is a word for it. Don't we all, though?" He was with fellow artists, those considered to be outside of polite society in many ways and yet the ones who fueled the world. Grayson's question caught him off guard, he wasn't sure what to read into it. Should he take offensive? Was he bothered enough to? "I enjoy building connections, and the challenges that come with that. Of course there are some people who interactions with are fleeting but enjoyable, and others who have the ability to stay in your life and go with the changes." He glanced at Adley, giving him a shrug.

Grayson Wyatt
It both was and was not an answer at the same time. The way Kaspar replied said a lot about him. That he perhaps viewed the world in terms of what it could give to him, and how people could fit into his world. And not necessarily the other way around. Had Gray not been the same though? When he'd been in New York, the heir to a fortune, brought up to be the cream of the crop, the finest of society. Life without money had taught him a lot though. "Connections are the most important part of being alive." He said, as he glanced over to Adley for a moment. 'It's like how people say anything worth doing is worth doing right? For me, doing something right means being surrounded by the people I care about." In fact, back when he'd modeled the first time, he had been routinely surrounded by three or more close friends at any given waking moment. He thrived in situations like that. In the sway of their walk, he turned his head more to press his lips against Adley's jaw, not bothering to remove them even after he'd pressed a kiss there. "You think of people like passing boats on the river then?"

Adley Reed
This was not a good topic. It was serious and heavy and so unlike their banter from earlier -- and it was hitting too close to home. Kaspar's glance and shrug were seen out of the corner of an eye, and they went unacknowledged. Adley, too, suffered an ego that alienated many people, but he'd learned to curb his behaviours. He was a puppy who happily greeted anyone and everyone with a wagging tail and a lolling tongue, inviting pats and reveling in love. And he continued to do so despite how often he'd been kicked. Like a dog, he bonded with certain people and he assumed, at the time, that it would be for life. But how many had walked away from him? Yes, he could go with the changes but only because if he didn't, he knew he'd have lost Kaspar for good. And it wasn't something he was willing to do. At least he could still call the rockstar 'friend'; they weren't as close as they once were, but Kas still at least lent an ear when Adley needed to vent. And despite how reassuring Grayson was subconsciously being, there was no guarantee that he would stick. There was every chance he would walk like most everyone else Adley had been loyal to, had done. But it wasn't something Adley liked to think about, or admit. They rounded a corner and up ahead, the studio loomed. Adley pointed.

Adley Reed
"There! That's where Kas works," he said. A flimsy attempt at change of topic.

Kaspar
Like passing boats? It sounded so dismissive, and not at all the way Kaspar would describe his feelings towards others. For much of his life people had wanted things from him, to use his connections, to score the picture, to get an in with his father. It wasn't exactly that kind of thing that lead to trusting, or to forming bonds. He was always open to conversations, to building bonds but his trust wasn't invested easily. Once it was those people very much became his, an extension of himself and once that level of trust, and dare he say love, was achieved it was hard for him to let those people go. He'd opened his mouth to disagree, or to make some comment when Adley jumped in and pointed out the studio. Kaspar was immediately grateful, he could feel himself getting hot under the collar, agitated at the way Grayson seemed to want to needle him. It felt as if the man was insinuating he was selfish, and while he wasn't entirely wrong Kaspar preferred to think of it as being guarded, and realistic. "Ja... That's mine." The studio loomed, a beautiful old church building that had been re-purposed and brought into the modern era to become Morningstar Inc, home to Morningstar studio and productions office. Hel stepped ahead of the pair, fishing in his pocket for a set of keys and making

Kaspar
quick work of the locks and alarm system, focusing in on the clicks, scrapes of metal and punching in of numbers to push away the nagging annoyance.

Grayson Wyatt
He could tell Adley was looking for a change in topic, and he understood some of why. Not the details. He had heard the very broad strokes one night. Conversation with his sire was this flowing stream which never ended, with a defined beginning and no real end. There were few things Gray couldn't or wouldn't talk about. Some topics he glossed over, and there were a few which Adley seemed to do the same with. If there was any visible indication of Kaspar's ire at being questioned, it wasn't ignored - Gray's focus was just on other things. Like the way his sire felt against his side, and the way his hand slipped from a pocket so he could curl his fingers in the space between hips and ribs as if to clutch a little closer. "I can't wait to see you at work." He murmured softly, voice a little slurred until he cleared his throat. "Tell me, what kind of music do you make? Anything I might have heard?" This subject perhaps, was a little safer.

Adley Reed
Kaspar's annoyance was evident and Adley felt somewhat responsible. Like he could have explained, like he could have defended. In hindsight, he could have answered on Kaspar's behalf. What Kaspar and Adley wanted, in the end, were two completely different things. The adult reaction was to accept and move on, which Adley had eventually done. But Kaspar had landed on Adley's doorstep about as much as Adley had landed on his, since, and though Adley might have preferred that their doorstep still remain a joint one, it wasn't possible. He ought to have clarified that Kaspar wasn't like the others. Like Xylia, even. Like his sire. Like the grandsire who barely gave him time of day. Kaspar was at least one element that hadn't changed TOO much. He'd not disappeared completely. But the topic had been changed and to swing it back around felt awkward, and clunky. Instead, Adley veered close to Kaspar as he unlocked the doors to nip affectionately at the curve of his jaw, arm still looped around Grayson. This time he didn't answer Grayson on Kaspar's behalf.

Kaspar
Kaspar let a sigh, the softest sound to pass his lips that evening, briefly leaning back towards Adley at the nip of his jaw. It was a submission, of sorts, a wordless acceptance of peace rather than arguing with the younger vampire. "Me? Oh, this and that. I suppose you could classify it as rock. You might have heard it." He wasn't being too cocky about it, while his music had reached many he didn't presume that everyone listened to his style of music. Sure, they were crazy if they didn't like it but who was he to judge? He let his gaze fall on the man's face, studying it a moment in silence. "Hel welcomes you to Morningstar." He announced, opening the door with a playfully dramatic gesture and walked inside to flick the lights on illuminating the entryway in soft, welcoming light.

Grayson Wyatt
The irony was that Grayson was not really a fighter. It was the abuse of an old phrase 'I'm a lover'. Though it was true enough. Gray had no interest in arguments because they just led to bad feelings, and bad feelings didn't mesh well with him. Which was probably a little vague and shallow of him. But he didn't have the grip on his emotions yet to deal with that. Perhaps he'd been more blunt than intended. And when Adley nipped at Kas's jaw, any chance of the previous topic returning disappeared, because Gray was thoroughly distracted by it. It made him want to reach out and touch the other blond. "Classify it as ****." He said, repeating what he'd heard. And then he played that back in his head. And then he laughed. "Rock! I mean rock. Wow. Yeah okay." He said, trying to push past the moment. Only for the moment to grow more severe as Morningstar was opened up to him. The name Hel seemed. Oddly familiar. Like he should have known it. "Tell me you make music to have sex to." He insisted as he let his hand slip up from Adley's side, moving along a back until he could brush the tips of his digits against the nape of neck. "What else do you do here?"




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This thread was submitted via a live roleplay chat in the Serpentine area. Participants and rewards were: Adley Reed earned 2253 RPP. Kaspar earned 2386 RPP. Grayson Wyatt earned 2614 RPP.