ataraxion | ( 005 ) video ✶ they say what you lose only turns into gold is that what this luck's gonna bring

[ admitting she's a vampire hasn't been topping jenna's list of priorities on-ship. she's spent more time as a vampire aboard the tranquility than she did at home-- she still thinks of herself as human, for crying out loud. it doesn't matter if she likes garlic on her pizza and she can still primp in mirrors, and that unless someone accidentally impales her with a large piece of wood she could probably keep her secret longer. there's a line now, and jenna's firmly on the non-human side of it, like it or not.

after todd, there are people who won't care what jenna classifies herself as, people who will be every bit as terrified as she was when klaus used ric's body to threaten her. if klaus had been the only vampire jenna had met before dying-- before he killed her, just to drive the point home-- she might still be just as afraid.

but he wasn't the only one, and jenna can't just say nothing. so she's uncharacteristically anxious before this broadcast, staring at her communicator and changing her mind a million times. finally she sighs and pushes the button, quiet as all the careful speeches she prepared slip out of her head. ]

...Hi. Hey. [ sighing, she lifts a hand to wave awkwardly. ] For those of you who don't already know me, I'm Jenna. And I'm-- [ not human. not human. god, this is ridiculous. ] --stalling. I'll just go for it, like a bandaid.

I'm Jenna, and I'm a vampire. [ her words speed up here, because she's aware nothing here sounds like more than a sincerely nice trip taking hold. ] Here, hold on.

[ reaching out of frame, jenna grabs a small knife stolen from the kitchen-- a fit of paranoia, after katherine's arrival-- and holds it out. she's debated about this part, going back and forth all week. she's not happy with the idea for a multitude of reasons-- but even everyone won't be convinced regardless of what she does on-camera, if she has to somehow prove she's not just screwing around to everyone one by one, she'll go nuts. better a big impression first, and add more personal sides of the story one on one. ] If you're squeamish, you might not want to watch this part.

[ stripping off her hoodie and angling her arm so it's in clear view of the screen, jenna places the knife's tip on her upper arm before turning her head away and looking a little pale. the first score doesn't bring blood to the surface-- vampire strength is nothing when compared to a lifetime of trying to not cut herself when holding knives-- but after a deep breath she pushes harder, wincing as her skin splits under the blade. once the cut is long enough to make her point but not be dramatic, jenna prods at the wound a little, avoiding the sluggish, fat trickles of blood winding around her bicep. ] Sorry about that, it's just the best way I know to prove it. I mean, other than this.

[ all jenna has to do is let herself think about how much that hurt, how unfair this all is-- the ship, that she's dead at all, everything-- for her features to slip into something a lot less run of the mill. the whites of her eyes go red, veins protruding beneath them. she keeps her teeth firmly hidden behind her lips, but the point is hopefully made. her cut is beginning to close, as well, but it's still hard to switch back so jenna lets her hair swing in front of her face for a moment-- when she raises her head, the face on-screen is the one everyone who's met her up until now expects. ]

I don't drink from other people, I've never killed anyone, I really love garlic bread, all a holy water bath would do is make me cleaner, and I never asked for this. Any questions?

[ 'any questions'. yeah, she'd bet. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Fuck yes philosophy tea party. Substitute tea for chess and alcohol and you have Erik's life entirely before he came here. ]

I'm not risking innocent men and women. [ The emphasis is deliberate, if anything Erik has a very moral definition of innocent, and bystanders fall under that list rather than anyone who actively participates. ]

Not necessarily adopt, but I do take an interest in them.

[ It's Charles who adopts, Erik is just... whatever he is in their dynamic. ]

Back home, non humans were at risk for extermination, myself included. I'd do what it takes to keep them alive.

[ jenna was just a stoner with a lot of liberal arts major friends-- less chess, but maybe more alcohol. ]

Okay, so there's a distinction. [ which jenna can roll with. she's hardly a pacifist, just an optimist. ]

I'm a little old for adoption, anyway.

[ old to be adopted. she's as bad as charles for the adopting, erik, js. ]

And where's the distinction there? What if one of those-- [ beat to adjust to erik's terms. ] non-humans kills a human for stealing the last bagel?

[ Fair enough, Jenna. If you'd rather not be adopted, Erik can roll with that. He'll just keep an eye on you nevertheless.

Raising an eyebrow at the comparison, he pauses, pursing his lips. ] The distinction ends there. [ As it should, because who kills people over bagels? ]

With a needless comparison.

[ magic 8 ball says signals are mixed, check back once there's actual fallout from this sweet life choice of a post. ]

Okay, then I think we're roughly on the same page. [ it could happen, okay. BAGELS ARE SRS BSNS. ]

What? I needed a ridiculous, non self-defense related example.

Roughly. [ He says lightly, offering her a slight smile. It's a start at least, and it's not a circle of nonstop bickering like it is with Charles. ]

Better than not agreeing at all.

[ Which on its own would have serious repercussions for Erik, who's convinced that everyone that falls under the spectrum of non-human needs to see things as he does. ]

Although it'd be better if we skipped the obvious answer examples in the future.

[ Juuuuuuuuuuust going to tease you right there because you're smarter than that :[ ]

Took the words right out of my mouth.

[ OH SO THAT'S HOW IT IS. mock serious tone, engage. ]

I promise from here on out to never use hyperbole for effect and only ever use examples with real heft to them.

[ she's so good with taking everything seriously, wow. ]

Edited 2012-04-08 19:00 (UTC)

[ Oh, he knows you're mocking him, and for that you've earned Erik's approval with a laugh on his part, his smirk only widening. ]

Make sure you hold up a sign too for clarity. Wouldn't want others to misunderstand what you have to say.

I'll requisition some glitter, just to make the signs extra easy to understand.

Don't forget the flashy neon lights either. I hear some people can't see without them.

Oh, I would never forget those. Maybe a song and dance number, too. Just for the slower members of the class.

Do you think perhaps that might be over the top? [ But not really, they can always add in some more details, even as Erik refrains from trying to crack up around her. ]

Unless you're interested in killing off your audience.

We're in space, on the set of Saw Two Thousand and Six: This Time, It's Zero Gravity. I don't think I could match that for over the top without some serious effort.

[ erik, be less fun. seriously, you'll never get rid of jenna now. ]

That depends. Are any of my exes in the hypothetical audience?

Edited 2012-04-28 09:02 (UTC)

[ .... He likes you Jenna, he really does, because he may have just lost it right about then since she did manage to make him smile at that. Took him long enough, but she won him over, laughing softly. ]

Only if you'd like them to be. I'd suppose they can provide the two of us enough entertainment in kind.

You're only saying that because you haven't met any of my exes. Trust me, unless you like losers we're talking zero entertainment value there.

[ SUCCESS LAUGHTER ACHIEVED. life goal: marked off.

she grins, ducking her head a little and shrugging. ric nonwithstanding, her taste is just tragic and she knows it. ]

Don’t get me wrong. I never said I intended on conversing with them in the first place. [ They’re exes, and given the implication Jenna left him, the last thing he wants is to play nice with them in the first place. ]

I'll deny ever saying this, but start with the one named Logan. [ >.> ]

Anything I should know about him, or are you going to surprise me?

Ooof, you sure you want the whole, gross, 'he cheated on me with someone named Monica and I literally fled town to get away from the emotional carnage' story?

Edited 2012-05-11 08:04 (UTC)

I'll pass. [ Lighthearted as it is, Erik was never one for sordid affairs. ] I'd rather not get caught in between a sordid romance.

Though if he ever shows up, do tell me?

( 005 ) video ✶ they say what you lose only turns into gold is that what this luck's gonna bring

video FILTERED

video FILTERED

video FILTERED

video FILTERED

video FILTERED

video FILTERED - LATEST TAGBACKS EVER 'R US IS HERE I GUESS >.>

video FILTERED - never too late!

video FILTERED - thank god this game is pro-backtag /stares at the post date and then this comment

video FILTERED - no shit. /tags back forever with you

video FILTERED - /happily does the same

video FILTERED

video FILTERED

video FILTERED

video FILTERED

video FILTERED

video FILTERED

video FILTERED

video FILTERED

video FILTERED