I Wear Sunglasses At Night

But that wasn't the weirdest part of the day, surprisingly. The sensation of a heart --- his heart --- thumping about in his chest, and a pulse that he can't possibly be imagining thudding in his wrist and throat. He's been coughing off and on since then; having forgotten how important breathing was to the living having been largely out of practice of the simple action in a century's time.

Adale laughed at Cassidy’s reaction to the reference. “Be glad I don’t know more of the song, otherwise I would definitely try to get it stuck in your head.” He then made a mental note to look it up for the sole purpose of being annoying later. 

Adale rolled his eyes at the vampire. “You got me, I definitely missed you.” There was a bit of truth to that. Cass was one of the few people he could genuinely have a good time with. JUst let loose and not worry about any sort of the anti-mutant bullshit that he usually preoccupied himself with.

He explained how to get to his place, a decent sized cabin on the forrests edge, as he listened to the sound of Cassidy’s rickety truck start up. “You know Cass, you should really think about getting rid of this thing. I feel like it’s gonna die or explode or something at any moment.” 

“Feck off with that, yeh dick.” Cass’ laughter is no less genuine, despite the sneaking suspicion that this wouldn’t be last time he’d hear the tune. Hell, he’d likely hear it before the night is through if he really wanted to hedge his bets.

knows a guy with bloody Jedi mind powers something called Genesis inside him, and a firecracker of a woman -- both of them both of them were human as far as Cass could gleam. Wasn’t that weird, all things considered. But that? He doesn’t hear it often enough. A smile a couple of shades away from subtle twists on his lips before he shrugs his shoulders slightly.

jubes let go of a smirk at the mysterious man’s first comment. she had been known to down some poison herself. “i’m honestly not really sure. my friends found a cure — this was years ago — the rest is history. who else do you know that shook the disease?” she asked.

“Nobody. I was talkin’ about the magic man in the sky, actually.” Coincidentally, the same one that a certain Preacher (and the Irishman by extension) was lookin’ for, but Cass wasn’t quite ready to admit that to Jubilee just yet. Most of the time, Cass didn’t like to admit that it was a fool’s errand to himself. “He’s the only one I can think of that could do it, but...” He shrugged his narrow shoulders slightly.

An uneasy laugh dribbled out of his mouth as he asked Jubes, “Dyeh think they’d remember how they cured yeh? Or if they’d consider it?” Wasn’t much harm in asking, he supposed. He paused briefly as he realized that he hadn’t formerly introduced himself in his curiosity and the brief flickering of hope.“I’m Cassidy, by the way.”

“I thought I’d surprise you.” After seeing Cassidy in passing at the holiday market, Adale had been planning his next wild evening with the vampire. “I wasn’t in any particular hurry and besides, what was the line from that overplayed kids movie? ‘The cold never bothered me anyway.’” He laughed. 

As Cass unlocked the door to his truck, Adale mentally chuckled at the idea of using conventional means of transportation. With his teleportation powers he rarely spent much time in any sort of vehicle. But it’d probably be better that Cass at least got his truck to his place as opposed to leaving it in the lot, nevermind that he couldn’t see anyone wanting to steal the thing. 

“Just because,” He replied as he opened the door and getting in. “Plus I have some stuff I want you to try. We can catch up, get wasted and just have a generally good time.” 

“Consider me surprised.” At the Frozen reference, Cass couldn’t help but chuckle in response, “Don’ get me stuck on that shite. I’ll have it stuck in my head all week.” The Beast had been rather scratchy as of late; he could definitely make use of whatever Adale had planned for them that night to try out. What’s the worst thing that could happen to someone already dead and gone, technically?

“Or yeh missed me that much.“ Cassidy’s brows waggled at Adale in the passenger’s seat for a moment before the Irishman barked out a laugh. He’d been keeping quiet as of late; didn’t want those uber religious, vampire hunting fuckers to catch wind of him here in Paragon, especially with Jesse around and the fledging kid. He doubted that they’d find him after one night of taking the edge off of his hunger. 

It was strange thinking about how different his life is NOW compared to two years ago. Sorcery had always played a big part in his life, even if he only knew the basics it was easy to fall back on a healing spell. Now? If he had blood on hand that was never a problem thanks to his vampirism. He imagines for vampires older than himself adjusting to the modern times over the years was probably a challenge for some, but he was only making an assumption with that. Cassidy was the only one he has met that was NICE to him. “Well maybe someone took care of it. They won’t be able to hide out for long with how modern society keeps destroying the environment to build more houses.” He says with a frown, since that was a shame really in of itself. He thinks nature deserves better.

“I don’t understand why some people think it’s romantic anyway. I think they like the concept rather than the actual reality of the situation.” He would never want a romantic parter to bite him, and he would never do that to anyone he was involved with. It makes him think about Rex, and NO – he would never do that on a date or otherwise. “I’ve ever actually drank from someone. I try to keep it to a bottle with straws, but sometimes I have to drink from a blood pack itself – which that gets everywhere. It’s embarrassing actually. I’m still trying to figure that out. My dad wants me to try drinking animal blood instead of human.” 

He’s silent for a minute, and now he’s suddenly hungry thinking about it. When was the last time he ate? Ah, not important right now. “Wow, that’s a long time. Fifty years?” 

“Maybe. Kinda doubt it, tho’. I mean, Billy was a crack shot, but I’ve been hit where he shot it. It hurts t’ all fuck, but it won’ put yeh down for long. Wouldn’ know fer sure; ain’ been back since 1916 or so. Folklore an’ all, me Ma never told me that things like we are now actually existed.” At least he wasn’t entirely alone anymore, circumstances aside. Bitterness edges into his tone as he snorts, “Lucky us, huh. Get t’inherit that shite in a century if that Hawking guy’s right, up ‘til it ends.

“Probably. It all seems cool until yeh go through it an’ have t’deal with it.” Could be said about a lot of things, really. “There’s weirder shite to be into, la’. Trust me. Tho’ bitin’ does feel... pretty weird, I’ll give yeh that. Dunno if I’d trust me that much not to do real damage to a lass or lad or whatever, meself. Even if... well, you know.” As if to lighten the subject just a little bit, Cass quietly laughed and shook his head, “Halloween’s also super weird too. Like, double weird. It was already kinda weird -- not bein’ from here and all so I guess I jus’ don’t really get it, but seein’ fancy Draculas or Lestats’ out and about is a bit wild. Not a fan, but I guess if tha’s how yeh get yer jollies...” Cassidy shrugged a bit. 

At hearing about the animal blood, he perked up a bit. “It works - least for me. If yeh do decide to give it a go, try an’ stay away from mice’n rats, ‘less yeh get super desperate. No judgin’ if yeh do, mate -- been there myself ‘n it’s no fun. They taste absolutely feckin’ disgusting, but they’ll do in a pinch. But um, yeah. Been goin out in th’ woods when I absolutely have to.

“I didn’t even think about that.  You’d end up resenting them for what they did to you. I mean, don’t get me wrong I already don’t like the guy that did this to me, but that’d just be worse if I was forced to see his face all the time.” Blayze likes having his own life to live anyway, even if there was stuff to figure out about his life.  He wonders how many other vampires were out in the world. He figures there was a lot of them, right? They must had to be better at hiding in the shadows, blending in, and the boy actually kind of admires whoever they are for it. “The one that made you lives in a bog?”

The first thing to com to mind had to be interview with a vampire, and then also twilight. It makes a laugh come out of Blayze’s lips though. “Romantic is the last word I’d ever use to describe us. I mean in the sense that pop culture sees us. They really don’t understand if they’re thinking being bitten is supposed to be HOT.” His eyes roll at that comment, and besides it was more terrifying at first then anything close to romantic. 

“They think we’re elegant and all live like it’s 400 years ago or something. We can keep up with the times. I’ve only been one for two years. I was eighteen at the time.” Blayze finally admits as he looks at the other man.

“Exactly. I gotta admit like the thought of it trying to figure out how electricity works, la’. Or a loo.” A laugh tumbles out of Cassidy as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other before he continued, “Livin’ out in a bog for so long -- I doubt it’d have little idea of th’ modern world an’ all, ya know?” Hell, he’d pay to see that just for a laugh alone. He nodded, “Yeah, or possibly lived. Dunno if it’s still spookin’ around out there or not. Hope it did die, but a bullet isn’t that much t’us. Hurts, sure, but it’s an inconven...ience at best.” His eyes narrowed as he thought of the word until the rest of it came back to him.

“Me too. They really should put a stop to that shite. There isn’t anythin’ romantic about our shared existence. You have a hard time keepin’ yer impulses under control, so yeh turn to alternatives that’ll eventually stop workin’. Plus, yeh gotta find blood somehow to keep goin’. And blood gets feckin’ everywhere when you do get a hold of some -- there’s no dainty little holes in the side of th’ neck, either. Least fer me; dunno about yeh.

In all honesty, Luna hadn’t expected Cassidy to remember or ever make good on his promise for them to go shopping together, so it was definitely a pleasant surprise when he showed up in his rickety truck. She couldn’t remember the last time she went on a shopping trip that didn’t consist of her simply picking things out while whichever family member she drug along paid half attention to what she was doing. Since this was really about finding a maxi-dress for Cassidy, that wouldn’t be how things ended up today. 

“I’m not sure, I haven’t had the chance to shop around here myself so I don’t know what stores they have here.” Luna shrugged as she also pulled her jacket close to her small frame. “It’ll be more fun that way I think.” Her voice was hopeful. 

It'd been a good number of years since Cass took to actually shopping instead of just borrowing (or taking out) things from lost and found, or scrounging around in dumpsters, or other means. It’s easier not to form too many attachments to impermanent objects that way. One less thing to say goodbye to, as silly as it sounds.