Know My Name

“I’ll have to check them out, maybe I’ll learn something. I could use my powers to give them an edge but I’m trying not to use my powers for unnecessary reasons. You been doing anything else other than tok tok? Haven’t heard from you in a while…”

“Maybe it’s time for a solo career?” he suggested. “That way you wouldn’t have to share any potential fame that was gained.”

“Fame is just a cult that’s gone public,” he quipped. “If that’s hypocrisy, then, yes, I’m afraid you’ve gone and done the thing.”

“Heh, not a bad idea, I might give that a try. What kind of stuff do you do on your account? Dances, trends, or just staring at a camera and being gorgeous?”

“Well… there’s always….” Tal plopped down beside him (or, rather, partly on top of him) on the fainting couch. “Have you considered starting a cult? Those are always fun.”

His stoicism finally cracked at Lestat’s antics, and he huffed a small laugh. “Yeah? I mean, I guess so. Or, if they do long for the eternal, they aren’t doing it on TikTok. You’d have better luck elsewhere, like, I dunno, LinkedIn. Or maybe LiveJournal or FetLife.”

“Well I haven’t been on it that long, it was just something dumb to pass the time during quarantine. I guess I’m just not that funny, or in-tune with the kids these days… I did consider putting some of my professional dancing on there but… well it doesn’t look good, a social care worker grinding on a pole, one of my kids might find it and then I’m in hot water.” he shrugs.

“Will you feel better if I follow you? …also could you follow me back? I’ve got sixty followers and the only duet I ever got was an eleven year old girl calling me a loser…”

Tal shook his head slowly. “Eternity just doesn’t work for a generation that fears for its very life. They don’t believe in the eternal. They barely believe in tomorrow. Any edge you have is on the wrong side of the knife, my dude. Though, yes, I will concede that you are hot.”

“Are old, rich rock stars what kids are into, these days? It just doesn’t jibe with the zeitgeist. Maybe do some charity work. Maybe do some charity work your followers can participate in. Or at least feed them some controversy.”

“And how did that affect your stats?” He wasn’t about to let it go. “Hell knows you’re fluent enough in ‘the memes’. I just don’t think you’re relatable enough to be a real influencer, Lestat.” Tal was keeping a straight face, but it was quit fun to egg the vampire on.

“Vulnerability. Everyone likes to feel connected to their heroes, even if it’s just pretend. Put out a confession video, or an earnest-sounding apology, or… I dunno, a video where you do something stupid for likes and get hurt. People eat that shit up with double-fisted spoons.”

“You’re just not particularly entertaining.” Nicolas returned to the shelf he had been inspecting. “But do be my guest.”

Lestat snorted at that, brushing away sweaty hair from an uncomfortable expression before tasting the salt of his skin once more. “People tend to think I go beyond entertaining. Like a trainwreck you can’t look away from. You’d have a better time watching a dead fly than me, it always seems.” He murmured against the hollow of the man’s throat, as if he were talking to him and not his oldest friend. 

bravenotstubborn replied to your post: “i’m gonna drink myself to death.” 

“Write it down or it isn’t science.”

“Don’t overestimate my interest.”