Logs:Interview With a Vampire

Interview With a Vampire
(cn reference to murder, exsanguination)
Dramatis Personae Blink, Dusk, Joshua
In Absentia Carnage	2021-12-16 "You all don't regularly get together for intrigue and trysts? Charlaine Harris lied to me." (the x-men continue investigating after examining an exsanguinated corpse)
Location <NYC> Freaktown - Riverdale - The Bronx
Freaktown is all decked out for the holidays, from dark green wreathes with red velvet ribbons to multicolored string lights to giant glittery artificial snowflakes. In an empty lot between two of the communal mansions there is a skating rink under construction, nearing completion, and behind it, nestled in the middle of the block, is a small wooded park with winding paths and seating shaped from fallen logs. It's to this little patch of not-actually-wilderness that Blink has led Joshua on this brisk, sunny day. She's not so festive but certainly warm enough in a black hooded cloak trimmed in magenta and purple over a rich purple mandarin tunic with forest green piping and frog buttons, green wide-legged pants to match, and brown suede boots. Her magenta-streaked hair is gathered up into a braided bun, though strands are escaping here and there. "We can check the rooftops after this," she's telling her partner, "or ask around inside. There's snacks and warm drinks in it for us even if we don't find him." Perched on one of the fallen logs with a tablet in his lap and thermos beside him, Dusk is looking properly wintery -- thick cable-knit cream sweater, chocolatey-brown corduroys, a slouchy knit cap pulled low over his shaggy hair. He's just popping the lid on the thermos, steam wisping up in the cold air before he takes a sip. He glances up from the screen after this, thumbclaws twitching before he tips his chin up in a nod. "Warm drink and a snack right there," Joshua comments as they come up on the clearing, his hands tucked in the pockets of his oversized hoodie and his eyes lighting on Dusk a moment before the other man looks up. "Yo. You busy?" Blink flushes at Joshua's observation, the color in her cheeks making the geometric markings there stand out more. "...you're not wrong," she says quietly. When Dusk nods at them she nods back, deeper, the gesture halfway to a shallow bow. "Hi. Sorry if we're interrupting your work." One corner of Dusk's mouth hooks up, briefly, baring a sharp flash of fangs. He recaps his thermos, setting it back on the log beside him. "Eh, it can wait. Don't see you out this way that often." He's flicking a claw toward Joshua. "Be flattered if you came all this way just to stroke my ego." "You're a hard guy to catch, lately. Can't just drop a casual compliment in passing, anymore. Messes with a man's style." Joshua's ambled up to the edge of the log, though he doesn't take a seat. He rests a foot against it, arms folding down against his knee. "Flattery was a preamble, though. We came about blood." That sharp hook of a smile does not help Blink's blushing or her heart rate. Whether or not there's any fear involved with the second one, ehe follows Joshua over to Dusk and also does not sit, but stands straight and proper. "Not how I would have put it, but..." She shrugs, biting her lower lip. "Well. He's not wrong. We're investigating a -- two murders, both victims completely drained of blood." Her eyes widen enough for a glimpse of white to show around her large green irises. "We're not accusing you." She bites her lip again. "It's more that you're the closest person we know to an expert on vampires." Dusk's smile fades, his brows climbing. He turns the screen off on his tablet, sitting up a little bit straighter. His wings shift behind him, flexing outward and then wrapping back tight against his shoulders. His small-sharp chuff frosts the air in front of him briefly in a puff of white. "What, you think there's like, a vampire social club I can ask around at? There's not exactly a glut of us around." Joshua draws in a small breath, his eyes growing wider. "You all don't regularly get together for intrigue and trysts? Charlaine Harris lied to me." His gaze stays level on Dusk. "Not looking for a glut. Just one will do us." Blink bows again, apologetic. "We thought if there were someone -- or even just rumors of someone who might have done this, you're more likely than most to have heard. Even if not from other vampires, then from people who assume..." She blushes deeper this time. "The victims were both mutants, so the police won't do much to find who's responsible or stop this from happening to anyone else. We have to try." "Heard from other vampires," Dusk echoes, and though he's trying not to sound incredulous it doesn't entirely work. He leans slightly back, claws digging down against the earth behind him where his wings are braced. There's something thin and unhappy in the twitch of his lips, this time. "You really so spoiled by your teleporters' club you think we all just rolling deep like that? You want to take a wild guess how many other bloodsuckers I've even met in my whole damn life?" Joshua's eyes don't waver. His arm stays resting against his knee, his hand turning slowly up in a shrug. His lips purse as if in thought and to this pop quiz he ventures a reasonably confident: "One." Blink looks away -- very briefly, but her jaw is set tight. "I don't know," she replies stiffly, "that's why we asked. It was a long shot, but we didn't have any leads. I'm sorry." She glances aside at Joshua's answer, arching a quizzical eyebrow. "That's...kind of specific." Dusk's eyes narrow sharply. His shoulders tense, his fingers digging small dents into the log where his hand is resting. "One," he agrees, very softly, "and if you remember we didn't exactly part as BFFs. Look, I'm sorry if your attempt at playing Mystery Inc isn't turning up any clues but I can't help you. I gotta get back to work, okay? Good luck." "What I remember was pretty intense." Joshua's eyes cut down to where Dusk's fingers dig grooves into the dead wood. His own fingers flex slowly, pressing into his palm and then easing. He pushes upright, hand dropping back to tuck into his pocket. "-- Right. Sorry to have bothered you. Guess we'll take our meddling elsewhere." The downward tip of his chin is quick, jerky, and then he's heading off. "-- still got time for cocoa, anyway." Blink's eyes bounce back and forth between the two men, her frown deepening slowly. Her entire posture tensing when her eyes drop to Dusk's hand. She opens her mouth to -- add something, presumably, but no words actually make it out of her. Just a quick bow to Dusk before she falls into step beside Joshua. "Yeah. Cocoa while you tell me what the hell's going on."