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✉️ text — un: astarion.

[thirsted]

And how does one get from "William" to "Spike," exactly?

[chipped]

Don't tell me you've never fancied a little image change in your hundred-plus years on earth

[thirsted]

That's what it is? An image change?

[chipped]

What's the point of becoming undead if you can't shake things up a little?

Had the nickname half-picked for me already, though. Got to be "William the Bloody," first.

[thirsted]

I suppose I'd be picking low-hanging fruit to say that's hardly imaginative.

At any rate, I've met more than a few undead who didn't have a choice in the matter. I don't believe "shaking things up" even entered into the picture.

[chipped]

Spike's more fun than William the Bloody, ain't it. And less of a mouthful.

You talking about yourself, stud? Or are the other few undead in the room with us now?

[thirsted]

I couldn't possibly say.

Half-picked, then, hm? By whom?

[chipped]

Reputation. Used to kill people with railroad spikes.

[ u can roll Insight against his Deception to see if he's telling the whole truth, here ]

I take it you didn't beg to be made, then, did you?

[thirsted]

You know, if you want to get away with a lie, it helps for it to be believable.

[ why bother with an insight check when you can just bluff ... ]

I suppose that means you did?

1/2

[chipped]

Not a lie, mate. But I wouldn't say we're good enough friends for the whole story. No offense.

[chipped]

Wasn't looking for it, exactly. Not like all those groupies who hang around vampire towns dying for a bite.

Dru saved me. Found me miserable in a back alley and changed everything. She was the only creature in the world that understood me.

[thirsted]

No offense taken. I wouldn't, either.

[ Though it's funny that he'd keep that to himself, yet bare the circumstances of his turning. One intimacy withheld, another given. Odd little duck. ]

You were lucky.

[ More honest than he's trying to be, hence— ]

"Vampire towns"?

[chipped]

Guessing that means you were unlucky.

[ Not a question. But he's not exactly being flip about it, either. ]

Well, Sunnydale's a Hell Mouth, so it's more than just a vamp town. We've got demons, cultists, you name it. Makes sense to set up shop where you can get good eats.

[thirsted]

Sometimes one has to make one's own luck.

Do you all prey on mortal humans? That sounds like rather stiff competition.

[chipped]

That's a nice way of dodging the details.

Yeah, you'd think, wouldn't you? Sunnydale's never low on fodder, for some reason.

[thirsted]

Thank you — you can have it for free.

Are there any downsides, then?

[chipped]

Most other creatures of the night would say the Slayer's a big one. Chosen girl who fights evil. Namely us.

[thirsted]

[ you mean like a paladin ]

Well, if there's just one, I suppose the odds aren't so bad.

[chipped]

You'd think, wouldn't you. I've killed a couple of 'em, but this one's got friends.

And things are a little more complicated with her, anyway.

Enough about me. How long've you been dead?

[thirsted]

Complicated.

[ but, whatever, that's not his business! ]

Two blissful centuries. No Slayers to worry about, during that time, but it's hardly as though vampires are considered welcome houseguests in Faerûn.

[chipped]

Complicated. [ cue avril lavigne ]

Yeah, the invite thing's a bitch, ain't it. Did you fly solo, or have a coven situation?

[thirsted]

[ rip astarion you would have loved avril lavigne ]

I wouldn't have called it a coven, but I wasn't alone. Yourself?

[chipped]

Coven, nest, gang, family.

Had something like family with Dru, but I've been alone for a minute.

[thirsted]

[ Frankly, he wouldn't have called it any of those other options, either. ]

Out of preference? Or just happenstance?

[chipped]

Well, you know. Fall out with a girl and you land in your own cozy little bachelor pad. [ Crypt-shaped, just like here. ]

You're real good at turning these right back around on me without giving me much of anything, aren't you? Don't think I don't notice.