[ VIDEO ]

[Frankie looks a little older; a little paler, his hair longer than he usually wears it. When he talks, there's a funny lilt to his voice-- not quite an accent, but it's like he's been living elsewhere, has started to pick up the inflections and expressions of another place, layered over his more familiar tones.]

Never noticed, 'fore I left, I made it four years in this place. Stopped counting after a while. The time I had was all I had... didn't see a reason to think about after.

[He huffs a little sigh, half a laugh.]

I come back, turns out I still own that fuckin' bar.

[With his usual half-grin, he just shakes his head and turns off the feed.]



[ooc; replies might come from transposition but might not cos I'm lazy. He believes he's been back for about a week.]

[ VIDEO ]

[The video clicks on, and Frankie is seated, looking serious and rather resigned, his arms folded on the table. He shifts a bit, somewhat uncomfortable, but doesn't look away.]

Halloween's done so I figured, maybe it'll calm down some, probably I should say something.

[He takes a breath, half a frown twitching his lip briefly.]

If something happened between you and me, one of those weekends, I'm sorry. That's about all I can say, 'cause as bad as I feel about it... wasn't me. Curses fuck everyone up.

Don't think there's much I can do to make it up, but we can talk if you want. If not, that works too.

[Truth be told he doesn't want to talk about it, but he can't shake the feeling that he should be trying to do something for anyone he hurt.

Without another moment's hesitation he reaches forward to turn the camera off.]

( i. late shift at the Raven )

( ii. out for a run )

( iii. out for blood )



[ooc; tl;dr OPEN ACTION, he'll be getting progressively more violent and bloodthirsty... literally... although he isn't actually gone all vampy-- just cursed, so not contagious. Please let me know if you're character is up for injury and/or death; otherwise feel free to make a successful escape. PM &c with any questions! <3

today is NYCC so all tags will likely be later / tomorrow, sorry kittens <3 I backtag forever.]

Can't count this kinda thing as a curse, I guess. Wonder how long it's sticking around?

Not into the giant pumpkins or any of that weird 4H crap, but the junk food's not bad. Even if I feel kinda like an idiot trusting it. No one's turned into anything weird, far as I see. Yet, anyway.

Can't believe it's October already. Shit.

Two years since...

[ VOICE ]

[The feed clicks on with a long moment of silence. Contemplative silence; or really, resisting silence. But the curse wins out.

They always do.]

I don't wanna talk about dying. Don't wanna think about it, either, but I do. Not all the time but more than I want. Knowing how you're gonna go doesn't make it easier; and I dunno when, just whenever this place is done. Nothing strange there, I guess, except I got used to not worrying about it. Life's a bitch and then you don't die, Ed said. He's the only one I ever knew who it bothered.

Knowing why helps a little, doesn't mean I'm not till fucking terrified. You'd think maybe it wouldn't be scary, knowing how, but it just means I know it's gonna hurt. Not a thing to change that. Doesn't help knowing it's a good cause.

[There's a long pause.]

The first time-- when I died, I mean-- it hurt like fuck but it wasn't so bad, or maybe it's just you forget after a while. Everything gets a little numb. Had ten years of that. But it was easier-- I mean, I knew I'd come out the other side anyway, wasn't the same as this. Everyone told you it'd hurt but not how bad-- didn't wanna scare me off, maybe. Getting bit wasn't the bad part, at least not for me. Not when I knew it was coming. Knew the girl, even. But after-- you lose enough blood and your body starts to panic even if you didn't mean it. And once you're infected that's it. That's what hurts.

Coming back was just as bad. Fuck, and I had it easy. I'm the only one who didn't fucking light myself on fire.

[Another pause.]

I'm gonna be torn to shreds when I go. There's your fucking story, City. That's all I got.

Three days is long for one of these.

Hope you're not all here to stay.




[ooc; no other frankie daltons but otherwise, whatever, go nuts.]

Y'know, half of me wonders if these guys making trouble-- the ones who want to take down the Deities, or take over, or whatever-- have the right idea. Don't wanna get involved in it-- I got too much I won't risk for a maybe-- but there's a point to it. City's a pretty fucked up place, any way you look at it. Take right now, I'd like to shut up and go about my business but no luck.

Thing is, there's people worth staying for and I'm better off than I'd be anywhere else-- hell, better off than I'd be even if things didn't fall apart at home, probably-- but the place? The curses? I mean, don't think anyone likes that, but it's not fair. Sometimes I think it's an okay price to pay, but that's just me. Plenty of people'd have it better anywhere but here. People here longer than I've been.

Wish I wasn't still talking.

Either way... I don't know. I don't much like the way things've been lately, worse than usual. Still don't wanna pick a side, though. Isn't just that I don't want to risk losing what I've got, it's...

Well, I got enough shit I regret. Don't want to take on any more if this goes south.

Been a little more than three years, I guess the novelty of being able to go out when it's this bright and hot out's kinda worn off. Can't complain. Even sunburn's not so bad.

It's fucking awful out there. I guess this is a curse-- these weird two-day ones, if that's what they are-- but I hope the rest of the summer's not this bad.

Guess this weekend's a reminder things could always be worse. Everyone back now?

Shit timing but I'm looking to hire at the bar. My manager's gone, don't wanna wait and hope he comes back.

Anyone interested?

Can't say I've got that much, just what I need. I dunno what the bar's worth. Not bad, I'd guess. Not like I can sell it, so I don't know why it matters. Better than I ever figured I'd do so I can't complain.

Rest of my shit's not worth much. All together maybe an Indigo. Probably includes the furniture, not that most of that's mine really. Probably would've bought a car at home, or something.

Got a couple things worth having, can't put a price on those. Heartbeat's a good start. Eden, too. Couldn't buy either off me for everything else in the City.

Not saying any more. Too much sappy shit already.

No free drinks. Don't care if it's unfair, find someone to buy you one. Plenty of people glad for the company.

Vince, if you show, yours isn't free. But you know that.

Never seem to see too many familiar faces these days, but you know where to find me.



[ooc; no other frankie daltons not that anyone else plays him wheee. open to action at either the Raven or the Blue Light since he'll drop by both, or anywhere else he's likely to be. <3]

[TEXT]

Far as I'm concerned, anything that tries to bite is fair game to flush down the toilet.

[ooc; backtags exceedingly likely as i'm exhausted >: but HOUSEHIPPOS EEEEEE]

[VIDEO]

[The video opens on Frankie in an empty bar, absently drying glasses. Something moves in the distance. He doesn't look up right away.]

Closed.

[But really, the door should've been shut, shouldn't it? In the second it takes that to occur to him, his guest has already crossed the room. Frankie pulls back with a gasp, his glass falling and shattering.]

You've got a tan. Suits you, [says the ghoul, pale-eyed and laughing, its gums shriveling back from its fangs.

Frankie ducks as the ghoul swings at him, managing to upset the camera. It falls to the ground, showing a glimpse of a bloodied and sickly-looking girl, before turning to static.]



[ooc; imagine this was during the day and actually. during the day. /lifefail!]

Doesn't even seem weird anymore when people bleed half to death, shit turns to candy, whatever. But this? Creeps me out.

Dunno what that says.

Just glad it's not me for once.

Been a while since anyone came by from home. Might be for the best... Hardly seems worth saying anything.

You need me, you know where to find me.


[ooc; anything save duplicate Frankies is good. Preferably don't tell him he doesn't exist, but he wouldn't believe you.]

[VIDEO]

[Looking rather frustrated, Frankie Dalton is... doing dishes. At home. Only the top rows of text on his shirt are visible:

I'M ABOUT TO BE
TORN TO PIECES BY

but, perhaps, the rest can be inferred? He's still scowling down at the sink.]

Fucking City,

[he mutters with characteristic eloquence, still unaware. A few dishes later, the connection times out.]



[ooc; ...A HORDE OF HUNGRY VAMPIRES &c.]

[VOICE]

Anyone's having trouble, hitting 'em with a bat seems to work pretty well.