Dazai's Vampire Adventures [open]

[proficience]

Who: Osamu Dazai (proficience) and you!
When: September 1st through September 4th, before the trip to Dorchacht
Where: Various places around the main city; the cafe, around the streets, etc.
What: Dazai is just trying to get by as a vampire during the daytime, really. Some fairly light-hearted threads before the event!
Warnings: Probably nothing really, but I'll put a talk of suicide warning here just in case, since that's how he is.



I - The Cafe

[Dazai had originally agreed upon working at one of the local cafes as a way to earn money to buy his closest friend a notebook, as well as to help pay for whatever their house needs. That, and he'd become painfully bored without any sort of job. Sure, back home, he'd tend to avoid work or responsibility unless absolutely necessary, but --

He knows that here, as a vampire, his time to enjoy the days are short. Incredibly so.

He's also a social man, so meeting new people is always a bit of a thrill; without a job, doing so would be near impossible.

Today, he's behind the counter and about as peppy as one would expect him to be. He's trying to cope with the fact that he has to yawn just about every few minutes or so by insisting he keep a smile upon his face at all times. The smile may be a tad -- well, unnerving with his newly formed fangs.]

Hello~! Can I take your -- [He'll yawn here, waving a hand frantically in front of his mouth in an attempt to hide it.] order?

II - With an Umbrella

[After receiving several lessons on how to survive as a vampire during the day soon after his initial arrival, Dazai has picked up on a few Life Pro Tips and has now finally procured an umbrella that he now has tightly gripped in his hand. He's walking around the city near most of the shops, stopping occasionally to catch his breath.

Honestly, if he weren't in the process of turning, he'd appear to passersby to be incredibly sick. Even if one were to witness him wobble about and stop for breath, they might think that he is.

He can be approached either while walking, while hunched over and holding his knees, or while he's passed out on a bench.

If approached on the bench, he might be baking just a bit in the sun. That umbrella won't be in his hand at that point!]

III - Desperate Need to Feed

[A certain vampire named Dazai has been incredibly stubborn lately when it comes to actually feeding from others. He has two reliable sources, those who are bonded to him, but --

Sometimes, neither are available, and sometimes, Dazai worries about taking too much blood from them at once. So, he's far more emotional than usual if approached while anywhere, the chance of him simply snapping at you higher than normal.

In fact, while he's trying to make his way home from work, he'll bump into someone (you, perhaps?) and state:]

Out. of. my. way.

[His voice, although weak, still carries a strong hint of disdain for whomever he'd bumped into.]

IV - Wildcard

[Want to run into Dazai at a specific place or in a specific scenario? Talk to me on discord (Celes#5178), plurk (danger) or just write a starter in the comments here! I'm open to pretty much anything!]

Comments

[hisui]

[One month has taught Nagare plenty of how equally convenient and inconvenient books are. With powers like the ones he had back home, going from having all and every kind of information at his disposal to needing to resort to something as archaic (and sometimes heavy) as books is proving to be quite the change of pace.

This evening, he is on his way to the Coven, carrying a small pile of books meant to be returned to the library in his arms. Using magic to make the task easier was an option, but doing things the conventional way still translates into new experiences to him.

What is an even fresher experience is suddenly having a familiar face emerge from the shadows and bump into him, sending a couple of books scattering across the ground.]

Dazai?

[And getting snarled at for something that clearly isn't his fault.]

I apologize for bumping into you.

[Even in the dim light, a quick glance at the big letters on the cover of the books that landed on the ground is enough to tell that Nagare was researching about necromancy. Or at least trying to, given the lack of information publicly available about the subject.]

[proficience]

[Considering the fact that he hasn't eaten in far, far too long, Dazai's mood levels are low. He's testy, to say the least. So, even though he knows Nagare and considers him an acquaintance-and-soon-to-be-friend, he's still going to respond harshly to that apology.]

Can't see? You shouldn't be reading, then.

[He glances at one of those books and tilts his head, kneeling down to then pick it up. Which is a feat considering how weak he is right now.]

Necromancy...

[hisui]

[Rather than feeling personally attacked by the harsh words, Nagare is a bit taken aback by the sudden aggressiveness of that reaction. It's unlike the flirty man to lash out like this for no apparent reason.

... Which probably means he must have a not so obvious reason for that unusual behavior.

Balancing the weight of the books on one arm, he carefully leans down to pick up the remaining book that didn't catch Dazai's attention, setting it back on top of the pile.]

Yes. More accurately, this book is about the history of necromancy. Unfortunately, there is nothing about how to perform the magic. I am a bit disappointed.

[proficience]

[Still feeling undeniable and indescribable anger pooling within, Dazai lets out an exasperated sigh as he watches Nagare deal with those books. He's intrigued by the concept of necromancy, of course, since it's related to death -- he's always interested in that, but --]

You can't actually bring back the dead?

[He's not surprised. The concept simply seems too unreal, too impossible to actually work.]

Were you fascinated by this school of magic for a reason? Trying to bring back a lost loved one?

[hisui]

[The sigh doesn't go unnoticed, but at least the topic got the other man to talk, hopefully distracting him from whatever is bothering him until the opportunity to ask arises.]

Apparently, it is possible to bring back the dead. However, it seems it isn't encouraged. This book doesn't delve into details, but it does give the impression that the risks outweigh the benefits.

[Nagare technically understands the importance of being careful, but the reason why the Coven seems content with a ban instead of looking for alternative forms of applying that knowledge to good use is still a mystery. If even the mirrorbound - that are exceptions to many rules of this world - are discouraged to learn this type of magic, how will they know if it's truly impossible to harness this power?]

I am just curious as to why this type of magic was banned. I imagine it might be useful in difficult times. It could give us a better chance of surviving unexpected threats.

[proficience]

[He nods slowly, closing the gap between them to have an even better chance at studying Nagare's expression. Which is about the same as it usually is, stoic.

He's far less outwardly expressive than Dazai is. That, of course, intrigues the former detective, even with his foul mood.]

Useful, perhaps. Dangerous, certainly. Are you implying that if a friend here dies, you'd like to resurrect them?

They wouldn't be the same, you know.

[hisui]

[Despite Dazai's foul mood (and the possibility of him doing something uncharacteristic), the proximity doesn't seem to bother Nagare, evidenced by how he shows no reaction to the slightly taller man closing the distance between them. He does react to the vampire's defiant words though, lips curling up faintly. Beliefs - especially regarding taboo subjects - can be a quite sensitive topic, so it's not like he expects Dazai to readily accept his views. Nor does he intent to persuade the other into agreeing with him.

There's very little hesitation before he answers.]

If that goes along with their wish, then I don't see why not. Unless it is true that the more harmful risks are completely unavoidable even with proper training, as the book implies.

[Which is why he wants to look deeper into the subject.]

As long as they accept that change, it isn't a problem. Because we all have changed since our arrival. Moreover, we have been brought here against our will. [To play somebody else's game. Although that is not to say he doesn't appreciate it, to some extent.] At the very least we should be allowed to choose freely from all the available possibilities.

[proficience]

[He ponders, for a few moments, what it'd be like after resurrection. He's already an undead, changing more and more each day, so theoretically he shouldn't be too different if he were to be brought back to life after death.

That's assuming that he can die, even; there's a good chance that since he's an undead, he's 'stuck' alive for good.

But his closest friend could die. He's not an undead, and that thought alone, that prospect -- scares him. He'd lost him once before, without even an ounce of a chance to stop him, to save him --

He can't let that happen again.]

I suppose. Do you have any theories on why we've all been brought here? [He'd been thinking of some, himself, but --

Hasn't come up with anything decent.]

[hisui]

[Compared to how Nagare was just speaking enthusiastically (by his standards) about the previous subject, his voice seems to drop a notch.

Aside from the fact that Aefenglom seems to be seeking help from other worlds to stop the Cwyld, there isn't much he knows either.]

Negative. I am still curious about that, as well. I question if there is a logical reason behind it.

[Because suddenly finding yourself in a foreign world is more likely to be a completely random occurrence rather than one thoroughly planned.]

I haven't found any solid proof that returning to our worlds is feasible, either. It's worrisome.

[He says this, but it's not like he has a home to return to.]

[proficience]

[Luckily(?) for Nagare, Dazai's emotions are still running high. In other words, he's grumpy. So, when he's told that there has yet to be any information found about leaving this world, he groans and drops his head, his gaze locked onto the concrete by his feet.]

Have you done a thing since you've arrived here, then? [He asks, his tone of voice admittedly cold and harsh, especially considering how he'd enjoyed the time he'd spent with the other man during their first meeting.]

Or have you been wasting time? I don't know how much time I have here. [He looks forward again, his lips still not forming a smile.] Or anyone else. I could leave tomorrow, or I could stay here for years.