judgementor | [Aefenglom IC Inbox]

[When he reaches out, it's a faintly hesitant thing, but that nervous determination prompts him to move and curl one hand lightly around Bailey's wrist.]

Don't worry about it too much. Wielding a weapon isn't something everyone can do, but we'll find out if you can.

[They blink at the touch, not expecting it. After a moment, they sigh.]

...I don’t want to be useless, though.

You don't need to be in the middle of a fight to be useful.

[He keeps his hand where it is. His skin is noticeably cooler than it was a week ago.]

Who told you that you were useless?

[The look on their face says that they don’t believe that at all.

...And hm. They don’t think that coldness is a good thing.]

Nobody needs to say it for it to be true.

That kind of idea doesn't come from nowhere.

[And he pulls his hand back then, because he can feel the warmth of the faun's skin seeping through their clothes and it only serves to highlight just how cold he is at the moment.

He clasps them around his tea instead.]

Everyone has something to offer.

Mm.

[Maybe some day, Bailey will tell Red Wine, but... It’s not important. It doesn’t really matter, and it’s not like he really wants to know. It’s just common courtesy.

They shrug, taking another sip and finishing their tea.]

I don’t really have anything to offer, though. Anything I can do isn’t exactly something people need or want here or I just can’t do it anymore.

[He sighs, because this kind of thing isn't really what he's good at. He sees worth in the person in front of him, even if they don't, but they're still almost strangers despite everything.]

Being here hasn't been easy for me, either. [And those words stick, but they need to come out.] I understand.

[There’s a pause, before they give Red Wine a crooked smile.]

Sorry, I didn’t mean to be such a downer.

[They’re fine! They’re fine. Just don’t think about the fact the one thing you could define yourself by was taken from you and it’s fine.]

But... Do you have any questions about me? I was just a human back home, but...

[They shrug.]

[He flashes a quick smile in return. Red Wine would not be one to talk about being a downer given his overall attitude towards being in this world. As much as he often tries to hide it, he truly hates being here and what being here has done to him. There's so much to dislike... and to be angry about.]

Hmm...

[It occurs to him that he rarely does anything like this. Just... sitting down and learning about someone.]

'Just' a human? Are empaths common in your world?

[Red Wine is free to dislike Aefenglom - and it's not like he doesn't have good reason. Bailey is just... Trying to focus on the good things of this place.

Which is sometimes easier than other times. When it's something like this, sitting down and talking, it's easy to feel like this place is somewhere they could be happy living.]

Ah...

[They tilt their head.]

Yes and no? Supernatural abilities like it aren't uncommon enough that people would be surprised to hear about it, but it's also more likely you'll live your life never meeting anyone like me than not. It's more common than being able to do magic, at least.

[He makes a thoughtful sound, another little 'hm' in the back of his throat, and lifts a hand to tuck a few loose strands of hair behind his ear.]

You're interesting. [The vampire says, and he does mean in more ways than the aforementioned empathic ability.]

Would you be interested in that walk I offered the last time we saw each other? It's cloudy enough that I shouldn't be bothered by the sun.

[Their eyes track their hand, and their lips purse for a moment.]

I'm not sure I'd go that far.

[Interesting? Not really, they think. The only thing remarkable about them is gone, now, and they're just... Incredibly plain beyond that.]

A walk would be nice, though...

[They glance at the teapot, raising an eyebrow, before moving to stand up.]

[Red Wine stands as well, briefly stretching enough to softly pop something in his shoulder. On their way out of the house he dips into a side room to grab his coat. It's a long, fancy affair as what a nobleman might be seen wearing, and it doesn't look at all out of place on him as he straightens how it sits on his shoulders and then pulls a ribbon from his pocket to tie back his hair.]

Is there any part of the city you haven't been able to see yet? [He asks, and he holds the door open to let the faun out first.]

Or the other cities, perhaps.

[Red Wine is so much fancier than them... He also looks too much like the idle fantasies Bailey had when they were younger, which, really, no idea how this happened.

They step outside, ducking their head out of a habit they haven't been able to shake - the doors in Aefenglom aren't as short as they would've expected, probably due to the presence of monsters.]

I haven't really been outside of Aefenglom much.

[They've kind of been a major homebody... Which isn't new for them, exactly, but they feel like maybe they should've been taking the time to explore this entirely new world.]

So anywhere would be a good start.

I'm very fond of the underground city. [Perhaps for obvious reasons, though he doesn't give that too much thought. This is an excuse to get out of the house more than anything else. Despite the clouds he still squints slightly against the light when they step outside.]

The people there are tolerant enough, though they have some strange traditions.

[He cocks his head to one side slightly, looking up at Bailey for a moment.]

Let us see where the road takes us. Come along.

How strange?

[They live underground, so Bailey imagines things could get pretty weird.

Also, they're curious over what Red Wine thinks about the people living in this world. It doesn't take much to see how he's not exactly the fondest of this place, but... Still.]

Alright. Lead the way.

[...They wish their sweater had pockets. They have no idea what to do with their hands - holding Red Wine's would probably be weird? Definitely too forward. Ugh. They're going to start overthinking everything like they're back in middle school.]

They don't treat their monsters poorly, but certainly differently. They have a graduation ceremony of sorts, perhaps something like a coming of age, where they fight one another.

[There's more, but that stands out in Red Wine's memory for a few very specific reasons.]

They'll try to have others join in. I happened to get roped into it the first time we were invited there. I did fairly well until a very burly chimera hit me in the face.

Different?

[They cock their head, watching him as they walk. They can picture him fighting easily, and their lips quirk a bit.]

That’s unfortunate. Just knocked you right out, huh?

I'm not accustomed to hand to hand combat. [He says wryly. Red Wine has many talents but outside of scuffing with Steak he does not engage in fisticuffs with people. The vampire shrugs, looking offside.]

I may have blacked out for a moment. I only remember being pulled up to my feet and helped to a chair. Everyone was very good natured about it. I suppose it was... fun.

[Pfff-]

Ouch. That’s unfortunate.

[They grin, brightly.]

That makes you sound like an old man who doesn’t know how to have fun.

[His ears prick up immediately at that, and he lets out a quick snort of amusement.]

I know how to have fun. [He retorts. Though several people who know him would no doubt wonder if he ever knew the word given his habitual sour mood since coming to this city, he does in fact know how to have a good time.

Lightly, he snags Bailey's hand and kisses the back of it.]

Unless you choose to wait until now to tell me that you didn't have fun spending time with me.

Uh-huh.

[Color blooms across their cheeks at the kiss, and they clear their throat. Well, now they’re definitely flustered.]

Well, I certainly had fun, but this is about you.

[They are very easy to embarrass. He hasn't forgotten. He lets their hand drop but still keeps a loose grip on it, easy to escape if they're not comfortable.]

Yes, yes... I do know how to have fun. I just don't find much of it here.

[He shrugs one shoulder.]

And nor do I tend to look for it.

[Let them live, okay, they’re trying their best.

They keep their hand in his, humming.]

So you don’t turn down the fun that shows up on your doorstep, but you don’t try to find it, is that it?

[Hmm.]

I guess that’s better than having no fun at all...

I don't see the use in pretending.

[In pretending he's having a good time here. In pretending that he can put everything that goes on here to one side. The celebrations and festivities in Aefenglom happen so often as to be a clear distraction from other matters as far as Red Wine is concerned.

But, now and then, he can still have fun.]

But I'm not entirely unable to have a good time if the mood takes me. Perhaps you'll find out.

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