mayfield_rpg

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10

[A - 2239 Stevens]

[Hajime goes out to get the mail this morning, and, to his surprise, there are two small packages addressed to him. He knows others have been getting things back from home, so he quickly takes them inside, parks himself at the kitchen table, and opens them up to take a look. At this point, he's not too worried about any potential disastrous effects from his packages--he's already gotten back the worst of what he could regain.

The first, slightly heavier envelope, contains an assortment of odd-looking playing cards. He's clearly pleased as he flips through them; he almost has all of his cards back now. Only the Royal Undead are missing, and as far as he can remember, he never had the King to begin with... The second envelope was roughly the same size, and he's assuming the remaining two cards are in there.

To his surprise, a photograph slides out. He kind of locks up when he sees it; this is really the first he's seen of his adoptive family since he came to Mayfield, and this picture in particular is rather important to him. He likely won't notice anyone coming into the room for a bit and is ripe to be surprised.

[B - John Doe Park]

[Hajime is spending a rather quiet afternoon out in the park. He'll be out through the early evening. You might find him out and about photographing things. He might also be seated on a park bench, changing the film in his camera or examining the cards and photograph he just regained.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He'd be a bit more concerned if he didn't know her family was made up of drones. Better them than a "real" person getting eaten.]

If you'd like to see them, I'd be happy to share.

I can't really say I was ever much for the nightlife back home...too many people for my tastes.

I'd like to see them. I very much would. And there's still those pictures you took at the prom, hmm?

[She gives her head a little tilt. Really, the one picture she cared about was the one he took of her, all done up nicely and purposely focusing so she'd be clear on the image.]

When there are more people, it makes things easier for creatures like me. It's easier to blend in, when the crowds are so much bigger.

...it's not like there's much use to spending an evening in, there's nothing to do. They haven't even sent me back my books...

I've never actually been that comfortable in crowds...I'm just unused to being around that many people.

[The prom pictures...he'd had those done, but then AUfield had happened and then the carnival had come to town. Kind of put a cramp in his hobbies.]

I've actually got the prom photos developed, if you'd like to come see them. I would have brought them by sooner but...things sort of went crazy.

[He offers her a smile.]

It would be something to do.

I didn't care for them much, either... but crowds, they're like an animal. They're a creature with a thought process all of its own. After... Father embraced me, he taught me how to move with them. There's a certain safety there...

[Her expression is soft, and it seems likely to stay that way. At further talk of photos, she steps a bit closer.]

I'd love to come see them. You're right. It would be something to do.

I've always seen them as being in the way more often than not...just one more obstacle to take into consideration.

[He shoulders the camera bag and seems pleased to have the company.]

Shall we go, then?

It's a matter of perspective, I think. Even when I'm not fighting my Beast, I am still a hunter...

Yes, let's.

[She nods, and moves alongside him. And there she plans to stay for the rest of the walk back to their neighborhood.]

In my case, I've...really found I hate people getting in my line of fire when I'm after another Undead. Crowds make that difficult.

[He seems quite content to have her there alongside him as they walk.]

Aaah. Crowds do make that sort of thing difficult. Especially if you're trying to keep a low profile. Things get terribly messy and unpleasant once people start getting out the cameras and calling the police...

[She rolls her eyes and sighs, as if it's a silly sort of nuisance.]

I usually managed to be gone before the police arrived, at least. It's probably for the best that they just didn't seem to be all that competent. Things might have gotten messier for them.

[He smiles a rather dry smile.]

Photographers can be difficult, I know.

Being able to leave before the police arrive is an important skill. Oh, I am so thankful for those moments when the police are utterly clueless...

[A genuine laugh escapes her, at the photographer quip.]

They're so persistent! And they have a habit of sharing pictures of all kinds of things.

At least on my world, the police are particularly poorly prepared for issues concerning nonhumans. They seem to have no idea what they're doing.

[He smiles when she laughs; it's not often he actually tries making a joke with someone.]

I know, they're absolutely terrible about that. It's even worse when they think they've gotten some good shots. Then they're insufferable.

[The street's getting very close now.]

That's lucky. I think the police in my world are starting to catch on to what we're up to... But not quite how to deal with us. Not yet.

[It's a joke that's right up her alley, too! Which is why she's still laughing as they get close to home.]

So how good are those shots that you've taken? Are we going to have to worry about your head getting all swollen?

[Then a slightly more serious question occurs to her.]

...is anyone else home? Kreutzer won't be any trouble, will she?

It'll likely take them awhile. I think they get bogged down in too much red tape to actually be of much use to anyone when they're dealing with something new.

I'd like to think they're pretty good, but it's been a while since I've actually shared my pictures with anyone...

[There's a slight grimace at the mention of anyone else being home.]

You could say Kreutzer and I have reached an understanding. She shouldn't be a problem.

[His other housemates, on the other hand...]

There are, ah, kids in the house now, not just drones...they might get a bit nosy at the worst, but they're ultimately harmless. Shouldn't be a problem.

True. Institutions are very slow to learn. I'm starting to wonder, though, if some of the institutions back home are finally starting to catch on....

Mm, it's a good thing you're showing me, then. I'll try to provide you with some honest, down to earth critique.

[That next laugh is diminished. Oh, so his home situation has changed...?]

I did notice it was a little busier over on that side of the street... and here I am with a big house full of nothing. Which one of us is the lucky one?

Sometimes, they can manage well if they're small most humans don't know about them...but in that case, then you've got to look at the motivations of the ones running the organization in question. Most of the time, they're not exactly interested in the common human good. Just their own power.

I'd appreciate that. The equipment here is less than ideal--I'm afraid I'm not being hard enough on myself in an attempt to compensate for that.

[They're getting closer to the house now, close enough that Hajime's taking out his keys.]

It's been...interesting. Different. Undead don't have family units. Not that I think this is anything remotely resembling a normal human family unit.

[He shakes his head a bit at that, but he's smiling.]

I guess in some ways they're at least easier to deal with than the drones.

I'm not sure a lot of organizations are interested in the common human good. You make some good points...

[There's another little laugh.] I'm not a photography expert. But I'll tell you if I like your work or not. I hope that's enough?

[Her voice lowers a bit as they get to the house and as Hajime unlocks the door.]

Most normal families aren't strictly normal... but here, I think things are a little more abnormal than usual. Mm, drones are easy to deal with. It's the real people that you have to bother trying to reason with and cooperate with...

The only humans that could handle fighting me got their power from one such organization. Things got...complicated.

[He smiles.]

That's all I can ask.

I'm learning how to deal with them. It's a very human thing, not trying to control everything through battle.

[After he unlocks the door, he makes a quick check to make sure none of his housemates are in the area before motioning Natalie to follow him quietly. He'll quickly lead her to the darkroom before any of his housemates come to see what's going on.

It's evident the darkroom in question is also his bedroom, as there's a neatly-made bed against one wall. There's a long counter on the other side of the room, and while it's covered in copies of pictures, negatives, and camera parts, it at least looks like the piles are neatly arranged.]

Make yourself at home; I should have the pictures over here...

You know... I think we may have to stop beating around the bush and actually compare notes about the kind of issues we run into back home, sometime. Complicated sounds interesting.

[She remains quiet, considering what Hajime said about this family business being a very human thing.] It is, isn't it....?

[A darkroom and a bedroom? It looks to be Hajime's little fortress from the rest of the house and rest of the town, at least. She takes a moment to take it all in, folding her hands before her. She won't touch unless given permission.]

You've done a nice job with the place.

I actually miss some of it...at least I knew exactly what was going on.

[He nods slowly, thoughtfully.]

It's what drew me to the humans in the first place. I was...curious. I'd never seen anything like that before. To worry about someone other than oneself, even at the moment of death...

[He trails off a little absently as he rummages around for the photographs in question. The room is indeed his refuge against the rest of Mayfield--he's even bricked and plastered over the window to make the place more defensible should the need for a bunker arrive.]

Thanks. It took a while, but it's been worth it.

[After a bit more rummaging, he produces the prom photos. There are a couple of prints of the photograph he took of Natalie, as well as a proof sheet, which denotes that he spent some time trying to develop it just right.]

Here. I think it came out rather nicely.

[Hajime's statements get little sounds of confirmation from Natalie, but no actual words. They reveal more and more about him.... and they're giving her concerns about her own humanity.

She takes the photos with a small smile, that becomes larger when she actually looks at them.]

That is very nice... Aah. It's been so long since I've had a proper picture done of me... I usually just show up as a smudgy blur.

[Discussing humanity is one of the things that will make Hajime get all philosophical, really. He's registered the little sounds of confirmation, but if she doesn't want to say anything, he's not going to think it odd.

And he's quite happy she seems pleased by the pictures.]

You photographed very well there. Let me know if you ever decide you'd want to have it done again.

I've always been told that I clean up nicely... [She laughs a little, and lets the picture rest in her lap.] At gatherings, at big ones, they were always mistaking me for a Daeva at a distance...

[It occurs to her that he may not know what that is. She blinks and looks up to Hajime to explain.]

...there are different kinds of us. I'm Nosferatu. We're the creepy ones. The ones that aren't quite right. The Daeva are the... pretty ones, to be polite about it.

[No, he didn't know what that was. He seems quite interested when she explains the differences. He kind of knows what it is to be considered the potentially less desirable member of his species...]

Are there many different kinds of you? Or just those two?

[He's moving to take a seat now.]

[She hesitates a moment. It's an awful lot to tell an outsider... but she's already told Hajime an awful lot already. What's a little more? Why not slide down the slope a little further?]

There are five broad types that we seem to fall into. There are also the Mehket, who stay in the shadows. There are the Gangrel, who take on the traits of animals. And there are the Ventrue, who see themselves as the leaders and rulers.

[He nods, listening. That was different from what he'd encountered, both Human and Undead. It was interesting, learning of another race that every now and then reminded him of his own...]

The Ventrue "see themselves as the leaders?" Sounds as though you don't entirely agree with that assessment.

[He nods. And since she's sharing, he's more likely to share as well. Fair is fair.]

The Royal Undead were the same way.

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