Log: Ongoing

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

When; Nov 25, evening
Rating; PG13?
Characters; Spike heart_at_stake, Adrian Veidtcaughtthebullet
Summary; a casual meeting of minds
Log;

[Thanksgiving is a time for friends and family, and to be quite honest with himself Adrian has none of these. There are people he considers acquaintances, people who work for him diligently, people who fulfill his research with greater goals in mind, but none of them are truly friends. Much less family. The only girl he ever loved has been dead for months now. Adrian Veidt has no reason to celebrate and he couldn't be anymore all right with that. Hands tucked into the pockets of his wool coat, he walks along an area of the City that blurs the boundaries between the general populace and the Underground. He's looking for something or someone to better fuel his research.

Adrian is thankful for his science and the ability to further it here.]

Comments

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

[He has to click the lighter a few times before it flames, but he manages to get it going and lights his cigarette. It's a nice change of pace from yesterday. Some curses really don't play fair.

Leaning against a shadowed wall, he takes a nice, deep, unnecessary breath of smoke.]

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

[The freshly lit orange spot at the end of Spike's cigarette catches his attention first before Adrian focuses on the rest of his silhouette half cloaked by shadows.]

Might you have another?

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

I might. [Look at him not reaching for it as he eyes the new arrival.]

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

Are you willing to part with it?

[It's no trick question and although Adrian notes the lack of movement his eyes are directly on Spike's.]

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Guess I could let one go. [After a moment he withdraws the pack, freeing one of the cigarettes and holding it out.]

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[He looks at the pack, trying to determine the brand because some say the brand says a lot about the man. It's just a saying though. Adrian pinches the offered cigarette then lifts his own lighter from his pocket. It's a fancy zippo in gold casing. Possibly that says a lot more about him.]

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Uh huh. [They are Morleys if he happens to notice before they get slipped back into Spike's pocket.

The vampire does notice the fancy lighter]

Slumming it tonight?

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

[He pockets the fancy thing as he exhales smoke through his nose. Adrian's ethnically, semi-culturally, European but his accent is American.]

Physically or metaphorically speaking?

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Take your pick.

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

Physically speaking, you have me pegged correctly.

[Adrian would be an idiot to think he can hide his class despite the way he dresses and carries himself. Even his shoes have a shiny finish to them from being perfectly polished. He takes another pull, this one deeper than the last.]

Metaphorically speaking, I feel no kinship towards much of anyone, so I have no one to slum with nor anyone to slum against.

Yourself?

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

It suits me just fine here.

No kinship, hmm? Tough nut there.

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

Most of those with whom I like to think I empathized died centuries ago. Have you always been alone?

[It's different from being lonely of course.]

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

That so? [He finds that answer interesting.]

What makes you think I'm alone at all?

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

That you were here at all.

[Adrian nods once but the gesture doubles as a way of his unabashed look at Spike from head to toe then back up again.]

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

I've got plenty of friends. [Or something like that.] And probably a better reason for saying mine were from a past century if I were going to say that. [Which he wouldn't.]

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

I think you just did.

[He puffs into the cold air before looking the other man in the eye again, cool and casual.]

I won't tell.

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

[Eyes narrow a little] Look mate, if you're looking for a date or something, I'm not selling. No offense.

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

I suppose that works for both of us; I don't buy.

[Not like that anyway, but he pulls the cigarette from his mouth, taking a look at it. It's near the filter already but not quite.]

What do I owe you?

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Since I'm such a giving soul, it's free of charge.

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

That could very well be a set up for the future.

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Think I'll make you repay the favor? It was just a cigarette.

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

Not quite.

[No specifics.]

Adrian Veidt.

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

[Trying to figure out what he makes of this one.]

Spike.

You don't say much.

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

There's value in brevity, Spike. You're free to ask what you wish, of course.

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Does it look like I came out here to chat up the locals?

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

[Here Adrian actually smiles.]

I didn't think so.

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Uh huh. And what's got you smiling?

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

I don't say much and you don't look like you chat up locals.

[He takes a final pull before flicking the cigarette aside to rub it out. When he speaks it's in the same breath as he exhales the smoke.]

But here we are, Spike. Talking.

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Guess that makes us the very best of friends.

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. If you have need for a cigarette or even a cigar, you'll find the Palace stocked with a fine selection.

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Palace?

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

We're at the north end of the City, between Building Twelve and the woods.

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Who's we?

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

My staff and I. I don't manage the place alone.

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Is it just some big, shiny place to live then or is it open to the public with some kinds of goods or services?

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

We host art regularly in the galleries and social functions whenever the space is needed. Occasionally there's wine tasting.

[Adrian speaks coolly, already aware of the pretentious exterior the Palace tends to cast.]

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Oh, right. I have those in the basement of a warehouse where I live sometimes. We have competitive rates on weddings too.

[caughtthebullet.livejournal.com]

So you're the primary competition.

[Whether or not Spike's being sarcastic.]

[heart-at-stake.livejournal.com]

Don't think I'm giving up my trade secrets.