transfundere | TLV Inbox

[It purely bowls him over a minute. Arthur, whom he had asked to search, to ask his own ally to search, had simply told him it was most likely useless. Doctor Reid, who had not even been told, had simply diagnosed the need -]

You are entirely correct, Doctor.

[Jedao's voice is precise in the way that suggests he is controlling a great deal of emotion.]

I believe he would have deliberately avoided any such significance. But I should be able to locate the items myself, with the general area so narrowed down.

May I prevail upon you for another favor? Even though I hope you'll agree this was not merely the expectation of your position, and I am already indebted to you for it.

[ Quick diagnosis was as much a skill on the battlefield as here, or so he's learned. But scent trails are fleeting, thus he'd pursued the idea even if he'd find such a roadblock at the end of it; it was worth a shot. ]

Please do.

One, if you could rule out whether he went very recently to the deck, that would be some relief. And two - this is the larger request, and if you have other obligations please don't worry about saying no - would it be a terrible imposition to watch over the area tonight, and perhaps tomorrow morning, unobtrusively, and let me know right away if he returns to that spot?

I am assuming, given that you followed his trail, you already have some idea of our culprit's identity.

I don't want to leave Hakkai's side at the moment, but tomorrow I will have an opportunity.

I don't, actually. I was going purely by, um... er, well, the scent also jumbled with the bitter almond scent. I followed it from the room to the library.

But given my dead end here, I can certainly take a trip up to the deck. The library has a mix of the scent alone and with the bitter almond, so I ought to be able to tell whether he went there after he had the scent on him.

[ A pause. ]

And I certainly wouldn't mind keeping an eye out on your floor, Jedao. It isn't far from my own room. I'll make arrangements at the infirmary.

[ Very wry- ]

We have on-call staff for such a reason. And I do consider this part of my duties.

Clearly Earth does not have a proper concept of support staff.

[Just a little bit dryly. SIR. Please acknowledge that this is above and beyond.]

But you'd recognize it, if you smelled it again, even after the cyanide fades?

[ That earns him a small self-depreciating huff. ] The bulk of my practice lately has been on the battlefield, I'm afraid, and thus my standards may include some very non-standard services.

[ A quick nod to the camera. ]

Certainly. I wouldn't call myself a bloodhound, but only for fear of a terrible joke. Er, one moment-

[ One quick communication later and- ]

And I am clear for duty tonight.

Edited 2023-07-18 18:48 (UTC)

Then I hope you will never hesitate to call on me if you require anything, as though we were members of the same service.

[Which, of course, in a way, they are. But wardens aren't exactly the most coordinated or reliable group.]

And show me the area?

[If Arther is right that Nat disposed of them immediately - and he probably is, Jedao has to admit - he'll be able to hone in on them right away.]

I'll keep that in mind. [ A pause as he considers how frustrating a situation Jedao is in right now. ] I promise. [ Said more softly.

Then he breathes in deep and shifts a few feet. ]

The almond scent ends here among the stacks. [ And he'll turn around to show the shelf number and label as well as some of the books. ] I assume he turned around and walked out here, so it's my best guess. For all I know, however, he might have thrown them further; I recall them being rather small.

[Not thrown, he's almost certain, much too haphazard for Nat's style. They'll be hidden behind or under or even inside any of a few hundred books, deeply aggravating to search for if he couldn't pick them out so clearly in his mothsense. But also a place Nat might hope - not knowing what Jedao is capable of, or that Doctor Reid might volunteer to get him so close - to take refuge in sheer obscurity. One leaf in a jungle.]

Thank you, Doctor. Truly.

[Timeskip to the next morning?]

If we're in the same service, it's just Reid. I'll head up to the deck as quick as I can and then return for a night of light reading.

[ a-okay with timeskipping! ]

Then thank you, Reid.

[Quiet and appreciative.

The next day -]

I'm on my way now.

[He finds that spot in the library in less than a minute - it's only down the hall, after all.]

[ He will no doubt see Reid sitting in a comfortable chair with a stack of books (mostly poetry, in truth) and what seems to be a journal beside him. He'll look up as Jedao makes his way towards the spot. ]

[Jedao looks - well, not as terrible as he could. His hair is a little mussed, but he doesn't show bags under his eyes, or similar physiological signs of wear. He gives Reid a very small, wry smile and a lightly-gestured version of the Kel salute, then closes his eyes, fingertips trailing the edge of one shelf as he walks up and down the identified area. Ah - yes, there. Close to the floor, actually, on the second-to-lowest shelf, out of the natural sightline, not where you'd go guessing based on someone's reach, starting from the top with the assumption that they'd be more inaccessible - just out of the way. He crouches down, pulls out a single book, and gingerly scoops up the limiters. He replaces the book and moves toward Reid, the sudden deep relief in his eyes and the set of his shoulders betraying just how tensely controlled he'd been moments before.]

It would have taken me ages to narrow it down without your help.

[He half collapses into a chair next to Reid. He has no idea how long Hakkai's no doubt excruciating talk with Nathaniel will take.]

Thank you, again. Do...do you mind, Reid, if i ask you a slightly indelicate question of my own?

[ He has been in states like that, felt that bone tired, collapsed like that on a bunk or a chair. He offers a nod of acceptance, for the thanks, before nodding again in answer to the question. ]

Of course.

[ He has no trouble declining if he doesn't want to answer something, after all, and no harm in asking. ]

You mentioned being a vampire, but unlike the common folklore.

[And he had also mentioned the relative awfulness of potential bloodhound jokes.]

I'm curious what you can eat, and what you can't. After all this, I'd be happy to offer you a vein myself, only I'm told I taste terrible.

[ Oh, that is... not at all where he thought this would go. He blinks, closes the book he'd been reading, and gives Jedao his full attention. ]

Animal blood, the blood of other immortals, and human blood, obviously, though I have largely abstained from the last other than what is provided by the Admiral. I've also been working with some samples to create a serum I can use which minimizes the amount of blood required for nourishment, both for leaner times and for safety. The serum does not require refrigeration or other preservative measures as long as the glass remains sealed.

[ He dips his head thankfully to Jedao. ]

I appreciate your offer, and would be willing to take a sample to test with. But I... don't drink from others.

[ The sharp eyed might notice that he seems almost bothered by the idea, not in an insulted way but in the sort of way that indicates past heartache.

He has only ever bitten one human being that wasn't trying to kill him. The results are... well, why he is here, after all. ]

Ah. I see.

[And he does see, if not specifics, at least the tenor of much of what is unspoken.]

Yes, I'll provide a sample in case you find it helpful. My...ichor is fairly unlike blood, but as I heal rapidly, perhaps it may provide some benefit to the serum overall.

And...may I ask if there is any particular food you miss from when you were human?

Tea.

[ Warm, comforting, constant. Simple to prepare, a constant companion. ]

I still sometimes serve myself tea if only to feel the heat in my hands and to enjoy the scent.

[ He dips his head towards Jedao. ]

And I would welcome a sample, thank you.

I'll come to the infirmary to give it in a few days, then.

[He lets out a soft huff of breath.]

I feel the same way about tea. I...have to eat human food, to live, but none of it is pleasant. With tea, though...well, as you said. The other senses...there's something lovely about it, still.

Please, take your time. There's hardly any rush, but thank you again.

[ He can't help a small huff of fondness. ]

I also find something soothing about brewing it: simple enough, and quick enough not to idle, but it does give me a moment or two to pause and reflect.

[ Something strikes him. ]

You find food unpleasant?

Yeah. There's an awful sort of...harsh metallic taste to everything. Everything is wrong.

Why?

Only that Mr. Caffrey, a friend of Lestat's, and in truth coming to be an acquaintance of my own, has mentioned that he has sought less 'bland' food for myself and Lestat.

It might be possible to see if certain foodstuffs could be requested for yourself that don't have this quality. Or at least, you may ask if he knows what the chemical or substance is which causes that reaction thus that you can be wary of it.

[ He spreads his hands. ]

Only a thought, but in truth, I had not had it for myself, regarding my own sustenance, so considered you might have been the same.

Ah. The Admiral did...provide something, once. As a Christmas present, at my inmate's request. But I suspect it was rather difficult even for him to procure and as I don't really need it to live...

[Jedao doesn't feel entitled to ask. He also doesn't entirely want to find out what the Admiral would say, either way: no would emphasize what a freak he is, that his proper food is such a bizarre conglomeration of gatespace energies that it can't be acquired easily; yes would make him feel stupid for not asking earlier and like a freak when he actually got to have it. Not to mention the logistics of keeping regular organic matter safe from any corpselight radiation.]

My next deal is going to involve my own physiology, including fixing taste, hopefully. What should I eat first, when I get it?

Edited 2023-07-19 01:05 (UTC)

[ He nods to the first, because he can certainly understand that point. After all, he hadn't asked for similar reasons. He had assumed that if the Admiral could do better, he would have. And that the idea that he could have blood that harmed no living being was a miracle enough.

Thus he turns his thoughts to the second. ]

Boeuf bourguignon. It was a favorite of my mother and I admit that when I think of something that could be savored after a long time of dissatisfaction, few other dishes come close.

I'll plan to look forward to it, then.

[Perhaps rather sooner than his deal, if his latest scheme comes together.]

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transfundere - 2023-07-19 17:59 (UTC) - Expand

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