forum vespertilio sanguineus | sci-fi vampire rp | 1/3

Started October 13, 2022 by @knightinadream group

tune

Avital remembered their notepad as Rafael responded to their question. They clicked the pen, only once, for the ink. They wondered if it'd bother Crow. Unfortunately, probably not. They quickly scribbled his exact words.
What size was he?
Oh, the clothes.
The clothes?
Avital whipped their head around and looked at Crow, no longer angry but confused. They were aware of his request, a fair request. But they assumed that'd be when he could actually leave the cell. "Now?"
The scientist looked back at the prisoner, who was in thought. He started to take his shirt off. "Sir, that- That won't be necessary." The scientist looked away. "Okay, then." They mumbled, eyes staring into the paper in their hand.
"That is what it says."
Having already accepted Rafael's request, half to avoid further tension than they'd already created -since Crow had already agreed- and the other to get some information out of this man, it again dawned on them that he was a prisoner. "By now I assume you're just coming with us, somehow? Something could be sorted out. Unless-" No, that wouldn't work. They couldn't possibly sneak out. 'I can just fill out some paperwork or convince them to let us leave for an hour or two. Even if it'd take a while.' "Actually, never mind."

"XL," Crow repeated in a mumble, quickly typing something into his phone before glancing up with yet another bright smile, seemingly unfazed by the now shirtless prisoner in front of them.

There was something curious about the way Avital seemed to stop themself midsentence, and Crow regarded them carefully. "I don't know what just occurred to you, but rest assured that I'm not plotting anything."

He paused, mentally cataloging their remaining time before typing something else on his phone. This time there was a 'whoosh' sound as a text message was sent, followed by a click as he turned the phone off. "Nothing illegal, at least," he amended somewhat cryptically, pocketing the device and winking at Raphael.

With that, Crowley strode to the window and stooped over to collect the case file that had been thrown, calmly combing through the dislodged papers and reordering them correctly. "It seems to me like you weren't the most informed, either, Avital Sagire. The Agency requested you, specifically, for this investigation, seeing as you're this fancy forensic scientist from the city and all. But, if I had to guess, I would bet they don't trust you all that much." The "either" was implied, but not stated, as Crow focused his ruby gaze on Avital through the mirror-like widow.

"But, as you said, this investigation should have been started far before now. And I agree. Too much time has been wasted already. Which is why…" He trailed off, tilting his head as the sounds of clinking from the other side of the door registered in his sensitive ears.

The guards from before stepped back through the door, one of them holding a bundle of outside clothes over his arm and a sour look on his face.

"…Which is why," Crow continued, "the Agency is…speeding up the protocol normally required."

He let the two guards take over for him as he leaned against a wall to observe.

(Yeee Rafael is being held by VHIPA. Really appreciate the response Veere. It's all good!)

Once given confirmation, he took another look at the tag. An XL….Human measurement systems make absolutely no sense to him still, and it's been centuries. His eyes squinted at Crowley then at Avital. Then he slid the shirt back on.

Funny how usually that gets some sort of reaction. Now it was not his initial intention to get something out of taking his shirt off. The old vampire was genuinely unsure and confused for a second.

Rafael slightly turned his head to the right. His lips formed a frown. Why even go over to pick up such useless papers? Now they are the ones wasting his time! As he crossed his arms, his head perked up in the direction of the door. The faint click noise ringing in his ears.

The guard with the bundle of plain clothes approached him. Out of basic instinct, he scorched the chair back. It made a screeching noise as it barely slid against the floor. While Rafael was ready to fight, the guard just dropped the clothes on the table in front of him then walked back.

Another one placed another file down by Avital then the two left. Rafael stared at the clothes. "So is that what this ugly bracelet is for?"

"Nothing illegal, at least." As Crowley retrieved the case file Avital furrowed their brow and considered this.
"It seems to me like you weren't the most informed, either, Avital Sagire. The Agency requested you, specifically, for this investigation, seeing as you're this fancy forensic scientist from the city and all. But, if I had to guess, I would bet they don't trust you all that much." 'Fancy forensic scientist?' Technically true, but the wording was patronizing, to them at least. They were about to drop a bit of their exterior and counter the statements when the door was opened. It seemed to alarm the prisoner, but the guard ended up just leaving some clothes and then leaving. Another file was dropped in front of them and they didn't answer Rafael's question.
They flipped through the file, in hopes of some actual information. While they did this, they "calmly" poked the metaphorical flame.
"Crowley- or would you prefer 'Crow'?- I don't know about you, but although I've been given little information I think they trust me- a 'fancy forensic scientist'- just fine. Less than I'd prefer, but still. I've been in this agency for a while." They would have added another rude comment but decided they had been blunt enough for a few sentences (again, hypocrite).
Once they had actually paid attention to what they were sifting through, Avital's eyes widened. "Well, then." Photos. Awfully gritty and blurred, but they were photos. They put a few on the table in hopes of making some of them out in the light.

Crow made a noise in the back of his throat while he watched the interaction between Raphael and the guards. The noise itself didn't give much away, but in his eyes shimmered a tinge of displeasure–perhaps over the inmate's fear response. By the time he blinked, however, it was gone.

Replacing it was mild amusement at Raphael's choice of adjective. "That's exactly what it's for. We can't have you disappearing at your earliest convenience, after all–you have to earn your freedom." He trailed off as the scientist began to speak.

His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly at their response, but his tone was just as light and friendly when he answered, "My friends call me Crow. But, I suppose I can make an exception, seeing as we'll be working closely together for the foreseeable future." His gaze flicked to Raphael. "That goes for you, as well… Although, it doesn't seem as if you were waiting for the go-ahead."

He pushed off from the wall, brushing off imaginary dust and being careful not to dislodge the file once again held in his hands.

Crow wandered back over the table to peer down at the new file, curious to see which part had prompted Avital's reaction, and winced at the sight of the neatly laid out photos.

No matter how many times he saw it, it continued to disgust him. Just the thought that those things had been done to other people–

He broke that train of thought off.

"Gruesome, isn't it?" He waited to gague Raphael's reaction, wondering if there was any humanity at all left in a being so old, before humming and promptly raising his hand to reveal a ring of keys looped over his finger.

"Well, are you two ready to get out of here? There's a bathroom you can change in on the upper floor, Raphael."

Earning freedom? Obviously it is something that he highly desires. Last time he had to forsake his humanity, family, and honor. What will he have to forsake this time for his freedom? At least this time his fate rests in the hands of two fools. Two incredibly younger fools who happen to have capabilities beyond him.

"No, waiting is useless." His eyes scanned the pictures. All the blood, the grotesque details…He didn't move a single muscle. He barely batted an eye. Rafael picked up one, holding it up close. It wasn't long before it fell back onto the table with the rest.

Rafael glanced up at Avital. Then he turned his next, looking at Crowley. He scoffed. Keeping his chin low, he stared back at the photos. "I have seen horrors long before I became one myself," Rafael mumbled. "Are to stirr something from me?"

The keys caught his attention; more than the photos did. He chuckled. "I don't need such thing." Rafael wants to get out of here. In fact, he would rather go out with nothing on if it meant not spending a second more in this hell hole. Separating the clothes, he swiftly got out of the prison uniform into the normal outsider clothes. Ahhh he never knew how much he would've appreciated something simple as a black tee-shirt.

Picking the photos up, he put them in a neat pile before setting them back down. "Are we going now?"

"My friends call me Crow. But, I suppose I can make an exception, seeing as we'll be working closely together for the foreseeable future." Avital's arms cross subconsciously. They wondered if Crowley had seen corpses. He was pretty new, wasn't he? The bodies were gruesome, sure, but they all were. This wasn't particularly abnormal if you ignored other factors in the investigation. Rafael's reaction was unsurprising to them, it would be more strange for someone of his age not to have seen some shit. The scientist was almost proud of themself for the lack of their reaction, at least something about their job seemed to matter here! A smile tugged at the edges of their mouth but they suppressed it.
"Going?" Avital didn't blame the man for wanting to leave. "Where do you plan on going?" This wasn't intended to be a threat, trying to assess his intentions, but the things the scientist said weren't always clear.

Crowley hummed in response to Raphael's question, once again seeming displeased. While he assumed it was rhetorical, that didn't stop him from adding, quite gravely, "Life is nothing but horrors stacked upon horrors. Forgive me for wanting to acknowledge the ones who failed to realize that in time." His eyes gravitated once again towards the scientist, practically feeling the judgment prickling against his skin where they had been staring, and he graced them with a small frown.

Breaking the eye contact, Crow methodically swept the pictures back into the file that Avital had opened and tucked it into the crease of his arm along with the other.

"Yes, we're going now," he answered Raphael when he was done, gesturing for both to follow him. "As for where we're going…" he trailed off, the displeasure fading away to be replaced with his original lightheartedness. "…I thought we might get a bite to eat while we get to know each other."

The door swung open with a turn of a key, and as the two passed through the threshold, Crow snapped his fangs almost playfully at them to emphasize his point. The two guards were stationed outside, clearly unimpressed by Crow's behavior. Even more so when he handed them the files with a cheeky wink and not so much as a goodbye.

He retook his place at the front of the group, hand in his pockets as he began to lead them down the hall.

Rafael shrugged. "Anywhere that is not here. Outside in the real world. Why not be happy that I have some enthusiasm about your case?" He smirked. Deep down, he is desperate to get out. Please, anywhere but this hell hole. The lights are too bright and everyone here is awfully boring. He would rather help these investigative vamps if that means he will get out of here.

Despite his eagerness to get out, his feet dragged behind him as he followed the one called Crowley. His head turned, taking a look at the mirror one more time. Will these losers really let him be out there in the world? Guess that's what the bracelet is for.

His brow quirked up. "A bite?" If he ever wants to do that, Rafael just goes to one of those clubs and finds a human. Those convenience stores with the blood fused foods is not fun. Why bother modernizing such a thing anyways? It is not fun at all.

A rather cranky yet stone-cold expression settled onto his face. Yet if he was a human, his heart would be pumping with excitement. Although, there is this urge telling him to whack the guards. Those fools… It would be really nice if he could.

Keeping his chin parallel to the floor, Rafael just kept on walking behind Crowley. His eyes kept looking at Crowley then at Avital. What's the point of getting to know these two? They should just solve this case and let him go. That option would be more beneficial for everyone.

Avital thought for a moment. They hadn't exited the room. "I'm sure something could be arranged, but we can't just… well, there are some things that have to be sorted out before-" There was no point in explaining. The both of them seemed set on leaving. As long as nothing bad happened while they were gone, nothing bad could happen to the already unstable state of the scientist's career. Hell, maybe it'd improve it if they could convince their manager they had been collecting information. Avital hurriedly catches up with the two.
"Never mind. Yeah. Anyway we shouldn't be longer than- than an hour and a half?" They didn't wait for a reply, they didn't want a 'yes' or 'no'. "Two hours at most." They adjusted their sleeve.

Avital Sagire liked to be in control. More than they liked being in control, they disliked working with others or being "flexible". As a petty way of expressing this, they made sure to be at least in front of Rafael. It was tempting to ask who Crowley was messaging a moment ago, or how he had gotten ahold of them. Later. It could wait, for the fear of appearing envious of authority, which they entirely were.

(control freak moment for avital)