2021.10.12 Hunt of the Giovanni
| 2021.10.12 Hunt of the Giovanni | |
|---|---|
| Zago sets out to hunt at an art park within Escondido, his new domain. | |
| IC Date | 2021.10.12 |
| Players | Zago, Ambrosia as ST |
| Location | Prospect County - Escondido |
| Spheres | Vampire Ghoul |
The evening finds Zago out at a new haunt, Queen Califia's Magical Circle. Soft lights shine from the bottom of the sculptures, which hang suspended like clouds of surreal dreamstuff. Huge, colorful, and very abstract serpents comprise the wall of the circle, enclosing a riot of different freestanding works.
Zago sits against a tiled wall, irregular, almost shattered tiles in black and white. They stand out in sharp relief against his dark clothes, his black hair, and his milk-white skin. A little Bluetooth speaker hangs from a belt loop, which has been playing The Doors albums since he first got here. He just hangs out for now, almost a part of the sculptures himself. He does look around occasionally for people, though.
It is a rare evening where Queen Califia's Magical Circle is open so late but for the entire month of October, the hours are extended even if the 'Halloween' theme isn't entirely invoked. The evening crowd is entirely different than the usual daytime visitors, though. Tonight's crowd are mainly teenagers and young couples though the occasional loner wanders among the sculptures. One trio in their late teens pass by Zago, two boys and a girl, and one of the boys sneers toward the vampire, "Maybe play something from this century, Jackass!" The other two laugh as the trio move on. Behind the teens and keeping his distance is another young man, early 20's and dressed in dark vinyl pants and a black and grey flannel top. Cheap Hot Topic knockoff, by the look. He is blonde and walking with his hands in his pockets, one eye on the three teens and the other on the nearby sculptures.
Zago looks over at the kids and scoffs at the suggestion. He grins, and chuckles to himself. Then he looks up at the young guy and asks, "Hey, you know them?"
The blonde-headed guy in his very early twenties looks up with a 'Huh?' in his eyes and glances from Zago to the teens and bag. "Nah. They kind of punked me while we were in line for tickets. Just ignore 'em, dude. Still in high school, I bet." His pace has slowed during the exchange but he hasn't stopped completely.
"Already have," Zago continues. "Just here to enjoy the scenery, don't mind me if you want to chill for a minute. It's my first time here."
The blonde-headed guy gives Zago a once over and his facial expression reveals the 'weirdo check' he is doing. The teenagers up ahead laugh aloud as the harass someone else which draws the guy's glance, then he shrugs. "Sure. Whatever." He moves over to stand near the black and white wall. "Aaron."
Zago stands up and steps off of the wall. "Probably shouldn't lean on that, come to think of it," he says with a grin. "I'm Z. Nice to meetcha, Aaron. You a local? I'm moving into town and I haven't really met any locals yet."
"Yeah? Guess not..." Aaron stops leaning against the wall and just settles in to stand. He glances down toward Zago's bluetooth speaker but doesn't seem to recognize the band. "Yeah. Live off of Bear Valley Parkway. Not far. Where you moving to?"
Zago turns down the volume on the speaker. "South Juniper," he says. "You've probably seen the house before. It's that big Victorian with the palm trees and the gazebo. You don't have to believe me." He grins.
Aaron just kind of shrugs and minimizes his disinterest. "Nah. Don't think I know it. Don't really pay attention to that kind of thing, you know?" He shifts his weight from foot to foot and watches as a couple in their mid thirties wanders by while holding hands.
<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Zago rolls Perception + Empathy vs 6 for 4 successes.
2 2 2 +6 +7 +8 +10
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->
Aaron seems nervous and on the shy side, both mainly directed toward Zago rather than generalized. He's currently battling a bout of social anxiety and coming down from an earlier bit of aggravation as well as a little bit of fear from the teenagers. He wants to be more talkative but his anxiety and inexperience is making it hard to think of things to say.
Zago leans back against the wall again, and looks up at Aaron with a playful grin. "What brought you out here tonight?" he asks. "I guess I'm not what you expected to see, right?" He's trying to reel the guy in now. He's alone. Let's make him feel less alone.
Aaron shift-shifts his feet again and glances back toward Zago. That playful grin is noticed. The fact that Zago is leaning on the wall again, too. "Uh..." He starts before shyly averting his gaze to the side to avoid eye contact. "...I don't know. Just kind of wanted to get out, you know?" A couple footsteps bring him over to the wall, too, and he leans. "I wasn't really expecting to see anyone. You're alright, though."
Zago keeps it up, letting just a hint of his very real desire show in his expression for a moment. "I like the way you shuffle when you're nervous," he says in a hollow, soft baritone. "Are you blushing?" he asks. "Can I see?" The grin widens.
Aaron seems more anxious than enticed right now. He tenses completely and looks in the other direction, "Dude, you're coming on strong, man... not usually into dudes and all..." Still... the way he trailed off.
"You like the quiet and anxious kind? Shy dudes or something?" Aaron's smile betrays him when he sneaks a glance back, then he is directing his gaze forward as another couple wanders by.
Zago lets the grin soften to a small, coy smile. "Yeah, because it's not like I don't notice you're trying not to look at me. It's okay. You can look. I don't mind at all." He's trying to seem genuine, easy to relate to. "I remember how you felt, at first. You're under no obligations here, so don't worry."
<---======##====================[ Dice Roll ]=====================##======--->
Zago rolls Manipulation vs 6 for 3 successes.
2 +8 +9 +9
<-------------=============++++++++++++++++++++++++=============------------->
Aaron takes a deep, shaky breath before he turns to look toward Zago. He's shy and timid still but there's a defiant streak there that seems spurred on by Zago's own encouragement. "Why would I be under any obligation. You're weird, Z, and how do you know how I feel?" He pauses briefly and lowers his voice, "Always pick up guys at parks like this?"
Zago lets a few teeth show in a grin. "You're an honest guy, Aaron. So am I. I decided to try something new tonight. I'm not the pick-up type, normally. Figured I'd, you know... shoot my shot. 'zat so bad?"
Aaron returns the grin briefly before it's wiped away by his shyness. He shakes his head and mumbles, "Nah, man... guess not, right? May as well. So you never answered me, though, 'bout liking shy guys or whatever." Zago may have him by that glance and smile.
Zago inches closer, ever closer to Aaron's neck. His dark black hair and pale white skin contrast kaleidoscopically with the cracked black-and-white tiles behind him. His eyes remain locked with his. "Want me to show you how I like shy guys?" he asks, a velvet whisper, promising trust, ease, comfort. Surrender.
A cackle in the distance. Those teenagers again, harassing someone else most likely. Aaron glances that way and doesn't notice Zago's approach until that question is asked. His head snaps back and his nerves rise but Zago's earlier seduction is still in is mind, if he doesn't realize it yet. "Um... yeah... but not here. Let's go back to that house you were talking 'bout or my place or something... my roommates are gone until Thursday." The vampire grins, his desirous thirst driving him on. "Let's go to your spot," he says. "I'm free. Want to drive?"
Aaron nods quickly, more with his chin than his head, and he hooks a thumb back toward the entrance. "My Prius is back that way, yeah. Hope you like cats, too... got two... so..." and off he goes to lead his predator back home. He'll be an easy target then. A bit clumsy and eager before becoming a far too willing victim of The Kiss when it is offered. He'll invite Zago to spend the night then offer his number when that is turned down. If Zago shares his own number, he'll get texted the next night... and the next... and the next. Zago has found a willing member for his future herd.
