You don't need to have a goth phase to think vampires are hot. Pick any random ass vampire movie and chances are it's gonna star some slinky broad in a plunging neckline or chiseled dude in tight leather pants.
[It's a whole thing. Who hasn't had the vampire fantasy? It's pretty friggin standard, as far as Jack's concerned. Biting is hot, powerful immortality is hot, leather pants are hot...]
It's the whole...you know. [He waves a hand vaguely, trying to grasp at the right words.] Vampires represent loss of inhibition and indulging in vices and primal desires and yada yada yada. And something about death making people wanna fuck. I don't know, Dracula had three wives at once, obviously he was doing something right.
[ This distraction is not helping, if anything it’s just more tedious, sitting here as he listens to Jacks history lesson, inhaling deeply under his shirt to try and overpower the warm copper smells. He can feel the sweat and sense the shakes are right around the corner. ]
Right right right- uh look, is one of your guys gonna be able to help me soon or…
Because I don’t think I should stick around otherwise. For y’know, your sake?
[ He remembers jacks words, about losing control and attacking if he wasn’t fast enough to feed and— listen, there’s plenty of fantasies Rhys has had about committing bodily harm to Jack but 1: that was usually like, a solid punch to the face and 2: there weren’t guards around who will definitely kill him if he so much as tries ]
Oh please, like I wouldn't chuck you into the fireplace if you tried to bite me without permission. Relax, you can make coherent sentences, you're not about to tear me apart.
[Jack fixes his mismatched eyes on Rhys, contemplating the dude. He's got a lot to learn about monsterhood. Why doesn't everybody do what Jack did, and learn as much as possible when the changes first start? It just makes life easier.
He could just leave it. Rhys will snap and the problem will take care of itself. Only he's pretty sure he'll be dealing with the fallout and that's just not on his agenda.]
But you do realize...you're gonna have to learn how to bite people. Either way I'm gonna start charging you for helping out, I normally make people pay for my meal prep services. And also go to The Chop Shop, not my personal home. So...I'm gonna offer ya another one of my many services, cuz I'm in a good mood tonight. Now I've never worked with a vamp before, because I'm a robot, but you clearly need more help with the getting to the biting stage. But you've got a choice. Either I teach you how to approach people to bite, or you suffer through this till The Chop Shop is open and come in and put in an order like everybody else. Cuz we are not establishing a pattern of you showing up like this out of the friggin blue and expecting me to feed you. You're not some freaking stray cat I'm taking care of.
[ Rhys’s first instinct is to fight Jack on this, is to snap back at him to not be so patronizing, to not talk to him like he’s some kid. In any other setting Rhys is incredibly competent….too competent, even!
But he’s getting to the edge of desperate here, and he doesn’t want to land himself in a position where he has to beg. He really can’t think of anything worse than pleading to Jack, he really would rather be thrown into the fireplace.
So he concedes, at least a little.
He sighs, letting go of his shirt collar and tipping his head back, face pinched. Playing nice with this man is agonizing but he’ll do it if it means he’ll feel better. ]
There we go! Teach a man to fish and he stops bugging ya for fish.
[Jack grins and sits up a bit straighter in his chair.]
Okay, first things first! Lower your inhibitions a little, mellow you out, get ya feeling less self conscious.
[If Rhys' problem is that he gets hung up on how weird it is to approach somebody about this, he just needs to be in a headspace where he's less concerned about that sort of thing.]
What's your preference? I got shit to drink, smoke, snort...but I'd advise staying away from the cocaine for this, you want downers right now.
[ Getting drunk and heady around Jack does NOT sound like a great idea. But desperate times… he’s not gonna do more than one though, and definitely isn’t going to mix it with anything. He’s had one too many nights in college hugging porcelain because he mixed beer, vodka and a joint in succession and puking is the last thing he needs on top of everything else. ]
Uh… I dunno. D’you have the ingredients for a long ice tea? Tequila sunrise?
[ He is also extremely Dainty about his drink selection but they taste good so shut up]
You're friggin kidding me. You want a mixed drink? The liquor cabinet's that big fancy thing with the onyx inlays over there, it folds out into a bar, knock yourself out.
[Jack shakes his head again. There's potential in the kid but geeze. He's a needy thing. Rhys is on his own for a fancy drink. But whatever, as long as it calms him the hell down some.
Maybe he can even have a little fun with this whole surprise plan for the evening.]
And bring me the whiskey bottle when you're done, I need a top off.
[ Rhys stalls as he begins to get up, narrowing his eyes at the additional personal request, but moves to the cabinet to do as he’s asked regardless.
Jacks his lifeline at the moment, and much as he hates that he’d hate being reprimanded (undeservedly!) and denied way more at this moment.
It’s not a surprise that Jack has a selection of probably the most expensive spirits he could find in this place, and Rhys chooses the fanciest bottle of whisky he can find. He ends up serving himself some first before adding in lemon juice, simple syrup and a generous amount of maraschino cherries to his drink before bringing the bottle itself over to Jack, holding it out for him to take. ]
[Jack just takes the bottle and tops off his own glass, then sets it aside and stands up. Like he's gonna thank the guy for bringing a bottle from where he was to where he's going. He's the one giving up his weekly special time to help the world's most pathetic vampire.]
Alright. So you're a relatively young, good looking guy who's got the attitude of somebody who usually carries a lotta scratch in their pocket. I'm gonna guess you're no stranger to the club scene. So we're gonna tap into that tonight! Do you need me to lower the lighting and turn on music, or do you have a functional imagination?
[There's only so much effort he wants to put into all of this.]
[ He hasn't told him... Jack pegged him for being corpo (not something difficult to do, given how Rhys looks and talks) but they'd never discussed which.
It was hard to keep history straight when it came to this Jack, what he knew and what he didn't know about Rhys, it was easy to fall into unquestioning familiarity even though this iteration didn't know all they'd been through. ]
I uh, [ he takes a hefty sip from his drink ] did some work for Hyperion, back in the day.
[ ...that's one way to put it. ]
I don't know, just not dubstep or industrial? I'm already dealing with a sensory overload.
No shit? Why didn't you say something, you know I take care of my people!
[What the hell is wrong with Rhys? Not the first time Jack has wondered this, but really. He maybe would have been less of a dick about lending him a hand if he'd known.
When left to choose the music, there's only one go-to for Jack. A few clicks of the screen and Taylor Swift is coming out of the speaker set into the bookshelf.]
Yeah, not a big dubstep fan myself. Alright. Ya got your drink, we got the music...For this little teaching demonstration I'll be playing the part of you. Or at least of a hot vampire out for a bite. The you that you're not letting yourself be!
[ There are… a lot of reasons Rhys didn’t casually bring up Hyperion, and just as many that he’s not going to bring up Atlas, at least right now. Both company names seem to invoke “the floor is lava” energy and Rhys does not have the wherewithal to deal with that right now.
He raises an eyebrow at Jacks scenario though, putting all those other thoughts to fhe back of his mind ]
Ooookay, and how does that work when you’re human?
Rhys...I don't have to be a vampire to show you how to be smooth and say sexy things to make the whole blood drinking thing appealing. I mean we could start out with you showing me what you've got, but I get the feeling that would just be sad and awkward.
[It's a roleplaying exercise, essentially. Not that different from crap that gets done in corporate spaces all the time.]
You said your problem is you don't know how to approach people to ask if you can have a drink out of their necks, so that's what I'm gonna show you and what you're gonna practice. And it shouldn't be that hard, we're in a freaking giant dark castle on a cliff over the ocean. This is like a vampire's natural domain!
It wouldn’t be sad and awkward, in any other scenario I have a ton of game!
[ No, no he should stay on topic just… get this all over with. If he plays nice then hopefully Jack will approve of his valiant efforts, supply him with some sustenance and then he can go home and be done ]
Fine fine fine, okay, I’m uh, an unsuspecting human or whatever. Do your worst.
It all boils down to the same thing, champ! It's a seduction. There's a reason that the whole vampire thing is an analogy for sex. It's intimate, there's embracing and lots of touching, it involves penetration and body fluids...
[This is where the whole idea of sexy vampires come from. It's all psychological. The same exact approach used in getting laid should work the same when it comes to blood sucking.]
You've seduced people, right? Good looking, young guy like you. I bet you can flash some seriously devastating bedroom eyes. Make'em all weak in the knees.
[Jack's voice takes on an appreciative, flirtatious tone. He meets Rhys' eyes and gives him a Look, the kind that has a little bit of smolder in it.]
[ In another life, Jack is ticking off a bunch of the fantasies Rhys once had about the man. Ones where he'd praised Rhys's charm and looks before they'd get to...other stuff.
Now, Rhys doesn't know how to really take it. To hold this thing he once desperately wanted but now isn't sure what to do with. Sure, the AI Jack had buttered him up plenty, but this was different. ]
I- I...yeah.
[ He smooths back his hair, a nervous tick. Gives himself a second to recompose. ]
You didn't climb the ranks at Hyperion purely with good work ethic.
[Jack gives a throaty, deep chuckle as he advances towards Rhys. This really isn't hard. Not that Jack has any problem with turning on the charm and picking people up, but it helps that Rhys is actually hot and not a complete loss in the personality department. He wouldn't kick the other guy out of bed - maybe his mouth has talents beyond rambling.
It just makes it that much easier to get into it and really sell the whole thing.]
But you...I dunno what it is, but I've been watching you since you walked in the joint. Make my night, hot stuff, and tell me you're here alone.
[ Oooh my god so this is really happening huh? For a moment Rhys is very deer in headlights about this, which sucks because really, with anyone else he would be good. Better than good! Sure Rhys stumbled here and there in the flirting department but he could usually fall back on his looks in those cases, play it off as awkward charm.
Now... ]
Hah- uh, yeah. Just me tonight.
[ HE TAKES A HUGE SWIG OF HIS DRINK ]
Nnnormally I'd be here with The Crew but it's-- it's been a rough week. Needed to uh, get some R&R in with or without them.
[Jack doesn't care how Rhys reacts, or how shitty his responses are. Rhys is playing the part of the target here, he doesn't need to act, he needs to learn. Pay attention to what Jack's doing and saying and how he's laying the groundwork.]
Just...for a little while. Lemme buy ya another drink, at least.
[He makes a show of looking Rhys up and down now that he's drawn up close, running his eyes over him like he's starving and Rhys is a big fat juicy steak laid out in front of him.]
I'm usually not so forward, a guy like me tries to keep to himself, but I...I just can't help myself, I knew if I didn't come over here I'd just never get you out of my head.
[ He gives a laugh at this whole performance that's 70% nerves and 30% incredulous at everything that was happening right now. ]
I could definitely use another drink...
[ Said partially as a play along, but also her really could use another drink. He knocks back what's left in his glass and holds it out to Jack. You get it. :) ]
[Since this whole thing is just a little teaching scenario, Jack doesn't make a fuss about pouring Rhys a drink.]
Here.
[Making sure to brush fingers when he hands it over - it's the little touches that make a big difference. Making that personal connection - or at least making somebody think there's one.]
Now tell me something...cuz I got a hunch about you. You're an adventurous kind of guy, aren't ya hot stuff? The kinda guy who doesn't get scared off where a lot of lesser, shittier dudes would.
[This is probably the place where Rhys would screw it all up, in Jack's opinion. Slowly leading into the vampire thing and making it sound good.]
[ He did not expect Jack to actually serve him. ”Nice.” He thinks before there’s that skin on skin contact and Rhys can feel something electric run up the base of his spine to the nape of his neck.
It’s such an unexpected reaction, something old and forgotten and wanting rearing it’s ugly head from the depths of his hindbrain.
Fuck.
He takes a huge sip from his refilled glass, downing half of it at once before the taste and the heat of it catch up with him, forcing him so screw his eyes shut as he holds in a cough. ]
Ooooh I should not have done that… C- uck- can we just-
[ And here it is! Rhys screwing this up as expected. ]
Wow, just ruin my rhythm why don't you. I had a whole thing going here...
[Jack lifts one thick brow and shakes his head a little. What the hell is wrong with Rhys now? He's having fun with this! The younger guy should loosen up and have some fun with it himself.]
Alright, so you lead into the vampire thing nice and easy like...and when you're sure they're into it, then you really step it up.
[As he talks, Jack slips around Rhys, positioning himself behind him. He wants to skip ahead, sure, fine, they'll skip ahead.]
Get up real nice and close like, get your hands on their waist like this...or shoulders, if they're sitting down I guess. And give'em a little breath on the back of the neck...
[Whatever shampoo Rhys is using, it's working for him. Smells good. That sort of thing stands out more, when he's human. His robot form doesn't have much of a sense of smell.]
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[It's a whole thing. Who hasn't had the vampire fantasy? It's pretty friggin standard, as far as Jack's concerned. Biting is hot, powerful immortality is hot, leather pants are hot...]
It's the whole...you know. [He waves a hand vaguely, trying to grasp at the right words.] Vampires represent loss of inhibition and indulging in vices and primal desires and yada yada yada. And something about death making people wanna fuck. I don't know, Dracula had three wives at once, obviously he was doing something right.
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Right right right- uh look, is one of your guys gonna be able to help me soon or…
Because I don’t think I should stick around otherwise. For y’know, your sake?
[ He remembers jacks words, about losing control and attacking if he wasn’t fast enough to feed and— listen, there’s plenty of fantasies Rhys has had about committing bodily harm to Jack but 1: that was usually like, a solid punch to the face and 2: there weren’t guards around who will definitely kill him if he so much as tries ]
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[Jack fixes his mismatched eyes on Rhys, contemplating the dude. He's got a lot to learn about monsterhood. Why doesn't everybody do what Jack did, and learn as much as possible when the changes first start? It just makes life easier.
He could just leave it. Rhys will snap and the problem will take care of itself. Only he's pretty sure he'll be dealing with the fallout and that's just not on his agenda.]
But you do realize...you're gonna have to learn how to bite people. Either way I'm gonna start charging you for helping out, I normally make people pay for my meal prep services. And also go to The Chop Shop, not my personal home. So...I'm gonna offer ya another one of my many services, cuz I'm in a good mood tonight. Now I've never worked with a vamp before, because I'm a robot, but you clearly need more help with the getting to the biting stage. But you've got a choice. Either I teach you how to approach people to bite, or you suffer through this till The Chop Shop is open and come in and put in an order like everybody else. Cuz we are not establishing a pattern of you showing up like this out of the friggin blue and expecting me to feed you. You're not some freaking stray cat I'm taking care of.
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But he’s getting to the edge of desperate here, and he doesn’t want to land himself in a position where he has to beg. He really can’t think of anything worse than pleading to Jack, he really would rather be thrown into the fireplace.
So he concedes, at least a little.
He sighs, letting go of his shirt collar and tipping his head back, face pinched. Playing nice with this man is agonizing but he’ll do it if it means he’ll feel better. ]
Fine….fine. Show me the ropes.
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[Jack grins and sits up a bit straighter in his chair.]
Okay, first things first! Lower your inhibitions a little, mellow you out, get ya feeling less self conscious.
[If Rhys' problem is that he gets hung up on how weird it is to approach somebody about this, he just needs to be in a headspace where he's less concerned about that sort of thing.]
What's your preference? I got shit to drink, smoke, snort...but I'd advise staying away from the cocaine for this, you want downers right now.
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Uh… I dunno. D’you have the ingredients for a long ice tea? Tequila sunrise?
[ He is also extremely Dainty about his drink selection but they taste good so shut up]
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[Jack shakes his head again. There's potential in the kid but geeze. He's a needy thing. Rhys is on his own for a fancy drink. But whatever, as long as it calms him the hell down some.
Maybe he can even have a little fun with this whole surprise plan for the evening.]
And bring me the whiskey bottle when you're done, I need a top off.
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Jacks his lifeline at the moment, and much as he hates that he’d hate being reprimanded (undeservedly!) and denied way more at this moment.
It’s not a surprise that Jack has a selection of probably the most expensive spirits he could find in this place, and Rhys chooses the fanciest bottle of whisky he can find. He ends up serving himself some first before adding in lemon juice, simple syrup and a generous amount of maraschino cherries to his drink before bringing the bottle itself over to Jack, holding it out for him to take. ]
Here, you’re welcome.
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Alright. So you're a relatively young, good looking guy who's got the attitude of somebody who usually carries a lotta scratch in their pocket. I'm gonna guess you're no stranger to the club scene. So we're gonna tap into that tonight! Do you need me to lower the lighting and turn on music, or do you have a functional imagination?
[There's only so much effort he wants to put into all of this.]
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Also he’s not listening to Jack calling him good looking he’s not hearing it, he’s not falling for that again.
Rhys just snorts at Jacks suggestion, knocking back a swig of his drink and catching a couple of the cherries in his teeth. ]
Pfft, like you have any of the hits from the Helios clubs in this place. Can anything on this island even play mp8’s?
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[His own, catered to Jack's own tastes, but that just means it's really good music!
He wanders over to a bookshelf full of books he never touches and pulls out his mp player.]
What's your musical poison? I got all the classics.
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[ He hasn't told him... Jack pegged him for being corpo (not something difficult to do, given how Rhys looks and talks) but they'd never discussed which.
It was hard to keep history straight when it came to this Jack, what he knew and what he didn't know about Rhys, it was easy to fall into unquestioning familiarity even though this iteration didn't know all they'd been through. ]
I uh, [ he takes a hefty sip from his drink ] did some work for Hyperion, back in the day.
[ ...that's one way to put it. ]
I don't know, just not dubstep or industrial? I'm already dealing with a sensory overload.
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[What the hell is wrong with Rhys? Not the first time Jack has wondered this, but really. He maybe would have been less of a dick about lending him a hand if he'd known.
When left to choose the music, there's only one go-to for Jack. A few clicks of the screen and Taylor Swift is coming out of the speaker set into the bookshelf.]
Yeah, not a big dubstep fan myself. Alright. Ya got your drink, we got the music...For this little teaching demonstration I'll be playing the part of you. Or at least of a hot vampire out for a bite. The you that you're not letting yourself be!
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He raises an eyebrow at Jacks scenario though, putting all those other thoughts to fhe back of his mind ]
Ooookay, and how does that work when you’re human?
[ A still very strange thing to consider ]
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Rhys...I don't have to be a vampire to show you how to be smooth and say sexy things to make the whole blood drinking thing appealing. I mean we could start out with you showing me what you've got, but I get the feeling that would just be sad and awkward.
[It's a roleplaying exercise, essentially. Not that different from crap that gets done in corporate spaces all the time.]
You said your problem is you don't know how to approach people to ask if you can have a drink out of their necks, so that's what I'm gonna show you and what you're gonna practice. And it shouldn't be that hard, we're in a freaking giant dark castle on a cliff over the ocean. This is like a vampire's natural domain!
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It wouldn’t be sad and awkward, in any other scenario I have a ton of game!
[ No, no he should stay on topic just… get this all over with. If he plays nice then hopefully Jack will approve of his valiant efforts, supply him with some sustenance and then he can go home and be done ]
Fine fine fine, okay, I’m uh, an unsuspecting human or whatever. Do your worst.
[ uh! ]
Er, but not actually your worst.
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[This is where the whole idea of sexy vampires come from. It's all psychological. The same exact approach used in getting laid should work the same when it comes to blood sucking.]
You've seduced people, right? Good looking, young guy like you. I bet you can flash some seriously devastating bedroom eyes. Make'em all weak in the knees.
[Jack's voice takes on an appreciative, flirtatious tone. He meets Rhys' eyes and gives him a Look, the kind that has a little bit of smolder in it.]
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Now, Rhys doesn't know how to really take it. To hold this thing he once desperately wanted but now isn't sure what to do with. Sure, the AI Jack had buttered him up plenty, but this was different. ]
I- I...yeah.
[ He smooths back his hair, a nervous tick. Gives himself a second to recompose. ]
You didn't climb the ranks at Hyperion purely with good work ethic.
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[Jack gives a throaty, deep chuckle as he advances towards Rhys. This really isn't hard. Not that Jack has any problem with turning on the charm and picking people up, but it helps that Rhys is actually hot and not a complete loss in the personality department. He wouldn't kick the other guy out of bed - maybe his mouth has talents beyond rambling.
It just makes it that much easier to get into it and really sell the whole thing.]
But you...I dunno what it is, but I've been watching you since you walked in the joint. Make my night, hot stuff, and tell me you're here alone.
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Now... ]
Hah- uh, yeah. Just me tonight.
[ HE TAKES A HUGE SWIG OF HIS DRINK ]
Nnnormally I'd be here with The Crew but it's-- it's been a rough week. Needed to uh, get some R&R in with or without them.
[ GOD. He's normally so much better at this! ]
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[Jack doesn't care how Rhys reacts, or how shitty his responses are. Rhys is playing the part of the target here, he doesn't need to act, he needs to learn. Pay attention to what Jack's doing and saying and how he's laying the groundwork.]
Just...for a little while. Lemme buy ya another drink, at least.
[He makes a show of looking Rhys up and down now that he's drawn up close, running his eyes over him like he's starving and Rhys is a big fat juicy steak laid out in front of him.]
I'm usually not so forward, a guy like me tries to keep to himself, but I...I just can't help myself, I knew if I didn't come over here I'd just never get you out of my head.
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I could definitely use another drink...
[ Said partially as a play along, but also her really could use another drink. He knocks back what's left in his glass and holds it out to Jack. You get it. :) ]
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Here.
[Making sure to brush fingers when he hands it over - it's the little touches that make a big difference. Making that personal connection - or at least making somebody think there's one.]
Now tell me something...cuz I got a hunch about you. You're an adventurous kind of guy, aren't ya hot stuff? The kinda guy who doesn't get scared off where a lot of lesser, shittier dudes would.
[This is probably the place where Rhys would screw it all up, in Jack's opinion. Slowly leading into the vampire thing and making it sound good.]
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It’s such an unexpected reaction, something old and forgotten and wanting rearing it’s ugly head from the depths of his hindbrain.
Fuck.
He takes a huge sip from his refilled glass, downing half of it at once before the taste and the heat of it catch up with him, forcing him so screw his eyes shut as he holds in a cough. ]
Ooooh I should not have done that… C- uck- can we just-
[ And here it is! Rhys screwing this up as expected. ]
Can we just skip ahead a step or two with this?
[ He can’t keep this up, he can’t do this. ]
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[Jack lifts one thick brow and shakes his head a little. What the hell is wrong with Rhys now? He's having fun with this! The younger guy should loosen up and have some fun with it himself.]
Alright, so you lead into the vampire thing nice and easy like...and when you're sure they're into it, then you really step it up.
[As he talks, Jack slips around Rhys, positioning himself behind him. He wants to skip ahead, sure, fine, they'll skip ahead.]
Get up real nice and close like, get your hands on their waist like this...or shoulders, if they're sitting down I guess. And give'em a little breath on the back of the neck...
[Whatever shampoo Rhys is using, it's working for him. Smells good. That sort of thing stands out more, when he's human. His robot form doesn't have much of a sense of smell.]
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5million years late u_u