The Park [after sunset]

[texted3times]

When one was a thousand year old vampire, one did not go to dances with 15 year old children.

But one could lurk in the dark shadows of the park around Halloween, lounge against a tree in a leather jacket and tight pants and just look a little bit tempting and wrong.

Around Halloween, that was practically traditional vampire behavior, really.

Comments

[vanillajello]

Apparently 25-year-old (what? when? how?) Kansans didn't go to dances with 15-year-olds, either. Or to Fandom. Look, Kate was old and probably didn't know anyone on the island anymore anyway.

hey uncle

She was immune to the allure both because she knew him and because she wasn't even there to begin with.

i'm gonna need to you eat one of the new skykans trainees

[texted3times]

I can totally do that. What'd they do to piss you off? he texted back.

Not that it matters, he added a second later.

[vanillajello]

he keeps being gross about the other trainees
also can't memorize the safety speech like worth a damn

Which on of those was the bigger offence? Hard to say.

etc etc it adds up
dudes should NOT be allowed in the sky at all is2g.

[texted3times]

Definitely deserves to be eaten. Punched, then eaten. Bet he also never gives anyone a full can of soda, just one cup thats mostly ice

Eric hated those people.

[vanillajello]

YES. and also he didn't shut the overhead lockers right, so when we hit turbulence some guy's bag came flying out and hit a lady on the head.

To be fair, that had also happened to her when she'd started out. But she didn't feel like being fair.

I thought that she was getting a concussion 4 sure.

[texted3times]

Definitely needs to be eaten, Eric agreed. What do I get as a reward for going to Kansas?

People who set up to live in Louisiana don't get to tease people about their states, Eric.

[vanillajello]

my love and affection? maybe a really great hug?

[texted3times]

A hug can work, Eric said. Have a thing in Shreveport on Tuesday but I can get out by the weekend.

[vanillajello]

you're the best uncle, you know that right?

Kate, stop trying to get your underlings murdered.

[texted3times]

I do. Other than edible coworkers, hows life? he asked.

[vanillajello]

same old same old. had a wild 25th bday party with bod and seamus where seamus got to the cake before I did and we had to take him to the emergency vet.

And then spent all evening there. Truly a wild party.

he's fine now

[1000yearstoolate]

Seivarden had no reason to go to dances with 15 year old children either, or lurking in the park. She was however walking through it, when she thought she saw someone out of the corner of her eye. She stopped, turning to look closer. Having been stared at by jack o' lanterns all day had made her a little jumpy.

[texted3times]

Eric gave her a laconic wave. "Hi there."

[1000yearstoolate]

People lurking in the park was hardly the strangest thing Seivarden had experienced on the island, but she didn't recognize the person.

Never mind.

"Good evening," she said, offering a small bow that would have been considered bordering on rude to a Radchaai, she then walked on.

[notconflicted]

As expected, Sia had had a pretty boring night. Which was fine, but it meant she left the dance early rather than stay bored. So, park, still in her dress.

And when she got nearer to the tree, she slowed to a stop, trying to sense any threat. "Are you lurking for a reason?"

[texted3times]

"It's close to Halloween, so I'm contractually obligated to lurk as part of being a vampire," Eric told her, smiling.

[notconflicted]

Sia had been around here too long for that word to worry her on its own, and she stepped a bit closer to see him since her danger sense wasn't going off. "So you're leaning into the cliche."

[texted3times]

"Just this once," Eric said. "How was the dance?"

[notconflicted]

"It's a high school dance," she answered. "There was spiked punch and an overabundance of glitter, and more animals than usual. Probably more interesting than standing by a tree."

[texted3times]

"Depends on the tree," Eric said. "I've met a lot of interesting people here tonight."

[notconflicted]

"Such as?"

Since in Fandom, that could mean a lot of things.

[texted3times]

"You, for one," Eric said, arching an eyebrow. "So far, you're the most interesting."

[notconflicted]

That got a slightly amused look out of her.

"Why do you say that?"

[texted3times]

"You didn't even blink when I said I was a vampire," Eric said. "Most people either run screaming or ask about getting bit."

[notconflicted]

Sia wouldn't be doing either of those things, and not just because she was wearing heels.

"You're not threatening me," she explained. "I'm not new here. Hearing that isn't enough to send me screaming."