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[lordoftheozarks]

When the ringing stops, all you'll hear is a cold voice that says one simple word, "Speak."

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Re: a bit of friendly competition

[lordoftheozarks]

"Yes," he answers in something close to a purr. It is working hours after all. But he drops that just as soon as George introduces himself and states his true purpose for the call.

His voice brightens then with delight. "Well, this is exciting news. Of course. I'm free at present if you would like to come by my home. If you are new then I imagine you must be staying temporarily at the Inn?"

[stonecoldtop]

"I am, yes. Delightful place, if lacking in privacy. Your home would be wonderful, I shall see you shortly."

And true to his word, it's not long before George is knocking on the door. His bearing is cooly professional, with no hint of the burning curiosity he has as to how someone who bills themself as the 'premier town whore' presents showing through.

[lordoftheozarks]

"A little noisy for my taste, but very comfortable, yes. See you soon."

Erik opens the door on the first knock. He's wearing a nicely tailored suit in a dark cream matched with a burgundy tie. He's not very tall, at only 5'4", but he holds himself with regal elegance that somehow seems to make him appear larger. His smile warms his amber eyes as he appraises the man on his doorstep, before finally stepping back to let him through.

"Please come in. Do you take tea? I cannot partake of it but I do like to make my guests comfortable."

[stonecoldtop]

George knows that stance, 'Lord' isn't just for show or marketing, is it? Intriguing. If he wasn't who he is, he might be curious as to why a lord would take up sex work.

George is taller than Erik, by about half a foot, but he doesn't make any real use of it. Even as he slides from distantly professional to the casual refinement of a man among peers. If only he had something nicer to wear than what he was given on arrival.

"I'd love some tea, if you wouldn't mind. Black, no sugar, thank you." He smiles, already looking around now that he's inside, "It's a nice place you have here."

[lordoftheozarks]

"Not at all." Erik answers, pleased at the directness in his peer. He sets to work fixing the tea.

It strikes him just now that this is not completely unlike when he encounters another vampire in his territory. There is a dance that must be done. They must measure each other. Erik was here first, but that guarantees nothing. Here and now will define how they live in this town--as enemies or colleagues. Oh, they will be competitors either way, but that doesn't have to come between them.

"Thank you. I've had some time to improve things. I do like my creature comforts."

[stonecoldtop]

"Creature comforts are very important, I've always thought. Life would be worth far less without them."

George has every intention to make this as amicable as possible, it's very important to him that they exist more as colleagues than as rivals, and that means establishing the beginnings of a friendly rapport before they get down to brass tracks.

"How long has it been since you arrived, if I may?"

[lordoftheozarks]

"I couldn't agree more. I'll admit that starting fresh here took me some getting used to. But I'm living quite comfortably now." So business must be good. 

He sets the prepared tea down on the table in front of George and takes his seat across from the man. 

"It will be coming up on ten months, I believe. I'll be celebrating a year anniversary soon enough." 

[stonecoldtop]

George takes his tea with thanks, and perhaps slightly plays up his genuine enjoyment for the benefit of his host.

"That's quite some time." By some perspectives anyway, if not George's own, "I suppose that means I must settle in for the long haul, then."

[lordoftheozarks]

"For most, it is, yes." His perspective on a long time is more than slightly skewed.

"I agree it is best to resign yourself to being here for a significant amount of time. I was reluctant, myself, at first. But I've settled so comfortably here now that I may choose to make it my home even after the barrier around this island is released."

[stonecoldtop]

Between the word 'most' and the earlier comment about not being able to partake in tea, George has a few questions. Just not any that seem polite to voice at this juncture. Or that won't have similar questions levied on him in return.

"That's quite the commitment, though I can certainly see the appeal."

He taps on his mug a few times deciding whether or not it's the time to slip out of the pleasantries and into more pertinent matters.

"I have to ask, have you run into any problems with your career choice?"

[lordoftheozarks]

"Ostensibly, we are all meant to go back to the lives we left, eventually. It may not be a choice we have, but if it is, I think I could enjoy a quiet life here for quite some time." Even he is surprised about that, but it's the truth.

"If by problems you mean social judgment or retribution from the law, then no. None that I'd consider significant. I have my permits for work signed by Dahlia herself. I'm well-regarded among the villagers because I simply have not allowed them to disrespect me and go unchallenged. Few actually have. My dealings are all fair and transparent and I've received no complaints, to date." He says all of this proudly. But now his smile turns a touch wry.

"Though, I must warn you that one of the local doctors will come calling on you to inspect your health once you make your business public knowledge. First Aid was most insistent about it."

[stonecoldtop]

George nods, it's good to know and promising for his own business prospects.

"I'm surprised insistence was necessary." He's not going to voice his opinions more than that, but he's certainly not having Good thoughts on what that phrasing implies.

"I'll be sure to check in with, First Aid you said? At my earliest convenience. There isn't much risk of my passing anything on, but I'll want to be on the good side of at least one doctor regardless."

[lordoftheozarks]

"Yes. First Aid was not satisfied to take me at my word that, as a vampire, I am not capable of transmitting any diseases. He wanted to be certain about it. I thought it best to oblige him rather than fight it on principle. Having a certified bill of health from one of the trusted physicians here is a useful selling point, after all."

[stonecoldtop]

"A vampire? I thought vampires were mere folklore." Says the man who was kidnapped by Faeries.

[lordoftheozarks]

"I'm very real," Erik states flatly. "However, I have discovered since I got here that what counts as a vampire, and what traits a vampire may display can vary wildly depending on where they come from. I can only speak for myself."

[stonecoldtop]

"I never said you weren't"

They're diverting from the topic, but...

"Different worlds with different variations on the same theme, that makes some sense." He's already seen Erin and come to terms with her world's broken Mask, so this isn't quite the jarring thought it could be "I suppose I may as well tell you, I'm not entirely human myself."

Gilbert isn't going to be happy, but what can you do.

[lordoftheozarks]

"I'm glad it does to you. It took me some getting used to." Being confronted by the local 'vampires' was quite a shock to him.

"I did suspect. I have spent a long time perfecting the art of appearing human." It takes one to know one. "Your secret is safe with me."

[stonecoldtop]

"I'll hold you to that," George says, and the Wyrd twists around him binding the words to a Pledge. Not that he's going to elaborate further on just what he is without prompting, even with that assurance.

"How long is a long time, if I may?"

[lordoftheozarks]

Erik has half a mind to ask for information tit-for-tat, but he decides against that for now. His age is a point of pride for him, so that is no secret

"Over a thousand. For my kind of vampire, that is exceptionally long-lived."

[stonecoldtop]

George just stares for a moment. He's not sure what he was expecting, but more than a thousand? He's really not sure what to do with that.

"Well," he says at length, with something that might be either a laugh or a sigh, "It's nice to know I'm not anywhere near the oldest in the room for once."

[lordoftheozarks]

Erik is enjoying that look maybe more than is polite. Please, do be impressed by him.

"Just how old are you, my friend? Generally speaking?"

[stonecoldtop]

He spends a moment longer keeping the somewhat amazed look on his face. It's symbiotic, Erik likes the attention, and George is enjoying the glamour he sheds in response to it.

"That's a complicated question, but the simplest answer is 132."

[lordoftheozarks]

"I realize you are reluctant to name what you are, but that does make it rather hard for me to place if such an age is advanced for you or not. For a human, that would be exceptional, but human you are not."

[stonecoldtop]

"Again I say, it's complex."

George taps the side of his cup lightly as he thinks, the sound almost more like stone than nails. There's a risk to sharing more, he has no way of knowing whether this place is safe from the Gentry or not. Given that Dimitri had to contend with Them in a similar situation, the signs point more towards not. But if anyone can handle themselves it'll be a vampire who's over a millennia old. Plus Erin wandering around without a Mask likely poses more of a threat than mere words.

And lord help him he wants a peer he doesn't have to hide from.

"Knowledge of what I am can be dangerous, even explaining what the threats are is dangerous. So if I am to tell you more, I will need a more concrete assurance than 'your secret is safe'. Both that you accept the risk, and that not a single word of what I am will pass your lips to someone who doesn't already know."

[lordoftheozarks]

"I am no stranger to dangerous information. I accept the risk and I do not do so lightly. My word as a vampire, I will not tell a single word of this to anyone without your explicit consent or unless they can prove they knew it already. I do take my word very seriously."