judgementor | [Aefenglom IC Inbox]

[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.

Mmm... Pretending is usually for the good of other people.

[They’ve been known to contort theirself for the benefit of others, to pretend to be something they’re not so people will be happier. More comfortable.

But they’re tired of doing that, even if it’s not quite the same.]

Yeah? I hope I get to - I’m sure it’ll be unforgettable.

[Red Wine laughs. Not mocking, but a sound of genuine amusement.]

Perhaps you will, if I can bring myself to attend one of the many festivals that this place insists on holding.

[Or dances, or masquerades... He doesn't really understand how people can go along to those things and earnestly have fun, but many people aren't struggling with their changes in the same way he is...]

I'm sure there will be another one soon.

Would you go if I asked you to?

[They don’t want to presume, but... They do want to see Red Wine relaxed, to see him enjoying himself. They want to see him smile.

They tilt their head, considering.]

...There does seem to be a lot of them, though. Like, how can one place have so much to celebrate?

[He glances at them sidelong. It wouldn't be the first time he'd dragged himself to one of those ridiculous events because someone he was growing fond of had asked him to go with them.]

I might.

[The answer is fairly noncommittal, but it isn't a refusal.]

Tierra has many festivals, but they're usually spread across the regions. Not so many in one place.

I'll have to try my luck, then.

[They tilt their head, considering.]

New Lodgins has some festivals... A lot in the summer, when everyone's on break or just wanting a break, y'know? And then some for season changes and all that. Not quite every month, though. Most also only last for a day or two, too.

Mm. I find the schedule of festivals here to be more than a little overdone.

[But if he didn't have so much to dislike about being here, he would probably enjoy it. It wasn't as if he went out of his way to avoid the Tierran festivals. He even travelled to visit them if it wasn't too far out of their way.

He huffs out a sigh then, letting his eyes drop down to his feet and giving a small shake of his head.]

I don't like what being here has done to me. I was never this bitter.

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