Eiji Remington

“I don’t know. I think it’s going to take time, dealing with species that are so old and used to acting in a certain way isn’t going to be as easy as that.” Eiji replied casually, making sure to keep his rather passionate views quiet. “Makes me glad I’m not a politician.” He breathed an easy chuckle. “I’m not sure anyone wants life coaching from me of all people, but thanks. What drink are you going for?”

She nodded solemnly, knowing that he was right. There were beings that transcended Daphne's concept of time. There were those as old as the earth itself. To be told to change would take decades if they were lucky. "That makes two of us. I can't imagine what it is like to be stuck between worlds. We can picture a brighter future, but there is so much contention to what that looks like exactly. What's best for one person is horrible for the next." This was a party. She didn't know how they had gotten so off track. "A shot of tequila would be great. Am I allowed to buy one for you too? It seems like you've had a long night that's only getting longer."

“I probably shouldn’t, but thanks for offering. Why don’t you have mine and go and have fun for me? I’m on drinks duty here for a while before I move onto dishing out special ‘party favours’” Eiji chuckled. “Maybe see you later?”

He sat quietly, unsure of what to say or how to act after the previous nights confessions. He waited, not wanting to be the one always starting the conversation and yet hating the quiet at the same time.

“I don’t know. I think it’s going to take time, dealing with species that are so old and used to acting in a certain way isn’t going to be as easy as that.” Eiji replied casually, making sure to keep his rather passionate views quiet. “Makes me glad I’m not a politician.” He breathed an easy chuckle. “I’m not sure anyone wants life coaching from me of all people, but thanks. What drink are you going for?”

“I was told you needed a little extra.” Eiji responded as the door quietly clicked shut, glancing briefly at the familiars in the room before back to the vampire. “Do you?”

He beckoned the male closer with the crook of his finger as his voice took on a velvety tone laced with magic. “Come. Sit— I want to chat.”

“Another staff member. They said we might need a switch over in here.” Eiji swiftly lied, glancing briefly towards the familiars towards the back of the private room. He felt his feet move before he’d even decided to do as he was told and he found himself moving forwards to sit in the seat close to the vampire.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have worn such a nice coat to an event like this if you were that worried about it.” He pointed out before he could help himself, “They look pretty busy right now, but you can go and speak to them if you want.” Eiji turned his head and nodded towards where Judas had momentarily appeared behind the bar, likely troubleshooting problems before they even started.

"Get lost, you low life," he seethed.

[text:] Delete all of this.

[text:] I think you should delete this number.

As he stepped back out into the street, he caught sight of a familiar face. “For fuck sake.” He breathed to himself, unable to handle anymore for one night he promptly turned his— or rather Jacob’s— face away, in an attempt to not be seen. The last thing he needed was to deal with someone else who was suspicious of him.

He had been surprised to see Jacob at the event earlier in the evening, and had made a point of keeping track of him from afar at most of the event. The human was part of Artemis, after all, and seeing him enter private rooms and talk with various individuals throughout the night had raised several red flags in the witch's mind. He supposed it shouldn't have been too surprising, considering Jacob's appearance in the dream month's prior. He was obviously just like Faust- a member of the supernatural community who had simply betrayed their community by joining Artemis. But were the others he spoke to as well? How did they know Jacob? Oh, he had been determined and certainly found out ever damn detail he could... And now.. After sitting on the fact Jacob was present all evening, it felt like time to make his own presence known. "Learn anything interesting tonight, Jake? Saw you seizing an opportunity more than once tonight," he commented casually-- as if it wasn't a big deal he'd had his eyes on the human. "You think they're behaving themselves and following the agreement after what you witnessed tonight?"

“I’m really not in the mood for the third degree tonight, so if you could just cut to it.” He responded impatiently. His eyes were bloodshot from tears shed and he wanted to get a cab and be gone from there. “Witnessed what exactly? A load of stoned vampires ruining a perfectly good ferris wheel?”

[text:] I think you should delete this number.

“And he didn’t listen when you told him to stop?” Eiji asked, it wasn’t exactly uncommon. It was one of the many reasons they needed these laws. “I’m sure your friends are just being protective, it’s nice that they care about you enough to not want to see it happen again. Or for something worse to happen.” Eiji replied, feeling like he couldn’t take himself seriously when he was constantly taking out glasses and fulfilling orders with neon umbrellas in them in between chatting to her. This was the difference between the Rubicund and The Green Dragon, there was no time to sit down and think, and getting to escape his own mind suited Eiji down to the ground. “The blood substitute is great, it’s getting everyone on board that’s the difficult part.” Eiji shrugged and then gave a small chuckle, “yeah, not sure they’d know what flavouring to put in a soul protein shake.” He teased, though it would have been nice if the absurd notion of an artificial soul could be created.

Now that he mentioned it, Daphne couldn't recall whether she had told the vampire to stop. She'd been giddy with the optimism of a new beginning and the fizz of the champagne. Still she must have said something. "Maybe he didn't hear me. It was a loud party." The excuse sounded weak to her, but it was the only rational thing she could think of. Daphne didn't want to think poorly of anyone, and that included the vampire who left her passed out at a party. "Yeah, they are a good bunch who only want what is best for me." Apparently something that they might know better than Daphne herself. She smiled, thinking of Viv's latest project. It would be revolutionary when released. It could free vampires from needing human blood. She chuckled at his quip. "I think they might want to flavor souls like emotions. Sweet victory would probably be a best seller. Now we just need to patent it. I bet the best mixologist in town could make something worthy of the name."

[text:] No. Leave him alone.

“An accident? Like a… you wanted him to feed from you and then he couldn’t stop himself kind of accident?” Eiji asked curiously, “With respect, vampires are like that in nature. It’s not exactly within their natural capacity to want to stop, so maybe your friends aren’t totally out of line. But— I’d like to think you are right in saying that not all vampires are the same. I’ve worked here for a little while now and a lot of them have been pretty okay about following the new rules.” He shrugged. Despite what people might have thought about him, Eiji didn’t hate the supernatural. He just wanted humans to get treated with some respect for life. “If it helps, the security is good here. There are plenty of people specifically here to make sure the rules are followed.”

"To the point of almost being drained." It was a bit embarrassing to admit that she'd let herself become so helpless. She had her powers, but she'd been too weak to use them and too trusting that the vampire would stop. All her other experiences with vampires had been so pleasant. The way that he'd kissed her right before almost killing her felt good. It had to be how people became addicted to the bite. "I'm glad to hear that the vampires are following the rules. I would hate to see anyone harmed at all. I understand their nature, but there are other ways. A friend of mine is even working on a blood substitute. It's a shame that there's not an equivalent for souls that demons can take."

“And he didn’t listen when you told him to stop?” Eiji asked, it wasn’t exactly uncommon. It was one of the many reasons they needed these laws. “I’m sure your friends are just being protective, it’s nice that they care about you enough to not want to see it happen again. Or for something worse to happen.” Eiji replied, feeling like he couldn’t take himself seriously when he was constantly taking out glasses and fulfilling orders with neon umbrellas in them in between chatting to her. This was the difference between the Rubicund and The Green Dragon, there was no time to sit down and think, and getting to escape his own mind suited Eiji down to the ground. “The blood substitute is great, it’s getting everyone on board that’s the difficult part.” Eiji shrugged and then gave a small chuckle, “yeah, not sure they’d know what flavouring to put in a soul protein shake.” He teased, though it would have been nice if the absurd notion of an artificial soul could be created.

Eiji didn’t look at Rei, couldn’t bring himself to, and instead turned to find one of the exit doors. He shrugged out of the stupid neon green staff jacket on the way out, leaving it abandoned on the stairwell, taking the steps multiple at a time until he could break out into the cold night air. He moved past the bouncers, not stopping until he reached the alleyway where he could suck in a raw sounding breath. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself to control the ragged sounding pants to a calmer rhythm and failing.

[ text: Jacob ]: do you want me to find a way to kill him? we can't let him reveal your secret

[text:] No. Leave him alone.

Eiji didn’t look at Rei, couldn’t bring himself to, and instead turned to find one of the exit doors. He shrugged out of the stupid neon green staff jacket on the way out, leaving it abandoned on the stairwell, taking the steps multiple at a time until he could break out into the cold night air. He moved past the bouncers, not stopping until he reached the alleyway where he could suck in a raw sounding breath. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself to control the ragged sounding pants to a calmer rhythm and failing.

Eiji spun around, momentarily shocked into silence. They’d both been stupid and reckless letting their emotions get the better of them in such a public place and now Eiji had messed up in a way he couldn’t get out of. “Judas, I—“ He paused, unsure why he felt so guilty. “Stop.” He held his hand out to whatever Rei was trying to attempt, “Just stop.” There was a panicked edge to his voice, unsure of what his brother would do, or what Judas had heard. Did it matter? His gaze slowly returned to the vampire. “I didn’t want to kill anyone. I just wanted to change things.”