(Untitled)

[of_highdegree]

Who: John Kenway and you.
When: Saturday, early evening.
Where: Just outside the Rice Building.
What: Smartphones are for pansies.
Warnings: None.

Comments

[veryemerson]

Now that the Rebekah and his existence in Arkham was known -- Elena probably went right back to Alaric and Damon with the information -- Stefan was taking the opportunity to explore. He hadn't done much of it, trying to keep a low profile and off of his brother and Alaric's radar, but now that he was on it again, it wouldn't hurt to look.

He paused in the middle of the quad, trying to get a sense of the place. He also would need to feed soon, but he was trying to keep that sense of rage in check. He couldn't draw that much attention to himself. After all, he knew that Alaric wasn't the only vampire hunter in town.

[veryemerson]

"Probably true. Distracted doesn't necessarily mean lying for the sake of it, though. It could simply mean he was under duress."

[of_highdegree]

"In my experience, there's no great difference," he said, souring faintly. Richard had seemed distracted on more than one occasion and he'd turned out to be a vampire killer. He imagined that had had something to do with it.

[veryemerson]

"Personally, I think intentions count for everything." But that may have been more hope on Stefan's part than anything else.

[of_highdegree]

Young people these days. So painfully naive.

"I suppose we'll find out one way or another," he said finally, sighing. "If the Dean has no more a clue that what he told us, so be it. If not, someone will find out eventually. A lie can't be kept up forever."

[veryemerson]

Stefan wasn't really as young as you think, John. But he'll let you think that.

"No. People usually do find out sooner or later."

[of_highdegree]

Comparatively, Stefan was still a child to him, so it worked out.

"So they do." He paused, sighing, and glanced towards the buildings. "And I suppose I should get back to my room before it gets much darker. I've heard terrible things about the sort you lot have dealt with after dark."

Not that he was afraid of the supposed monsters, but that too worked to his advantage.

[veryemerson]

He nodded. "It would probably be best. I could walk with you, if you'd like. I hear it's safer to be with other people as oppose to being alone."

Because really. You never know what could be out there.

[of_highdegree]

John took a moment to debate that, the look on his face genuinely thoughtful. On one hand, he wanted to get away, to try and find a way out of this mess; on the other, though, assuming he was truly trapped here, accepting his offer would help him sell the whole infirm old man image.

He drummed his fingers on the head of his cane, the when he seemed to come to some sort of conclusion, nodded. "I think I'd like that."

[veryemerson]

Stefan nodded, hands sliding into his pockets as he fell in step next to the older man. It was harmless enough to walk with him, and if anything, he'll be able to defend him better. Because regardless of his allegiances at the moment, Stefan was still a nice guy.

"So where are you from originally, if you don't mind my asking?"

[of_highdegree]

"I would have thought the accent gave it away," he answered, flashing Stefan a look that was equal parts amused and horrified, somehow. "I've spent the last few years travelling extensively, but home is and will always be London."

And by last few years, he meant last few centuries, of course. Either way, he shrugged faintly and started making towards the dorms one labored, limping step at a time. "And you? American, I'd imagine, but there's quite a bit to the States."

[veryemerson]

"I haven't done much traveling in England," Stefan admitted sheepishly. "I didn't want to be rude and assume." He knew from experience that if you misplaced an American's place of origin, he wouldn't be nearly as cordial about it.

"I'm from Virginia. A small town called Mystic Falls."

[of_highdegree]

"I can't say I've ever heard of it." Which was odd to him, seeing as he owned property in Virginia, among other places. Then again, Stefan had said it was a small town. Maybe it had somehow escaped his notice. "Which part of the state?"

[veryemerson]

"We're a couple hours from Duke University?" he nodded. "We have some notable civil war history, but beyond that we've managed to stay off the radar." The history actually went back further than that, but he wasn't sure if John was all that interested in town folklore. Especially when it involved vampires.

[of_highdegree]

Catching the thought about vampires, John tried his best not to look too surprised or too amused. He hadn't been expecting that from this boy, and well, John was interested. Was this child a hunter? A vampire like himself? Or, assuming he was buying into the whole separate worlds thing, was it all just a fairy story people in the town told, like people in his world talked about Dracula?

He decided to press it, to get a feel for whether Stefan was an ally, an enemy, or someone who had seen too many ridiculous vampire programmes. "Come to think of it ... now that you've said that, I think I may be familiar with the town. Quite a bit of ... unusual folklore, further back, isn't there?"

[veryemerson]

Stefan's eyebrows raised a bit as he turned to study the man, regarding him carefully. He wasn't young and he wasn't stupid -- maybe not as old as John, but he had seen his fair share of the world. He wasn't giving anything away quite yet.

"Just horror stories, really," Stefan said simply. "Kind of like the boogeyman -- meant to help encourage children to behave."