Chris Elkar

[chris-elkar]

Key Events

Daphne (sire): early days

Matthew: first bite, ending it

Withdrawal

Judas: making it official, argument and breakup, reconciliation

Teddy: mentor relationship,

Viv: first meeting

[arjun-iqbal]

Arjun let out a low, breathy laugh, as if he wasn't anticipating Chris wanting to do this out here, where anyone might see. It was hot as it was reckless, but by now there was no fighting the heat growing between them. Those fingers, which had just been unbuttoning his shirt, where the same that wrapped around him only seconds after, making his lips part with a moan of his own. "..fuck, t-that feels nice." He'd needed that, the deity thought, using his current hold of the vampire to steady them both as Chris rocked into his touch. "...keep going."

[chris-elkar]

It would probably be plenty clear what they were doing if anyone cared to look, but they certainly weren't the only ones. Watching Arjun actually relax and enjoy himself filled Chris with a warm sense of gratification. He wished he had something clever or chaming to say back, but nothing came to mind as he began to move his hand, keeping his eyes fixed on Arjun's face and trying to coax more reactions out of him. He pulled Arjun closer to him, partly so their activities were better hidden and partly so he could grind up against him, chasing his own pleasure but focusing more on the deity at the moment.

[isabellexlaurent]

"How many of the rules were revealed to you? Do you know they want lists kept of every supernatural being?" Treated no better than animals in a zoo even if the lists were kept by the respective representatives of each species, it was still a danger to have all the information available. She was thankful Elijah helped put the protections around the list of her sisters. "No, darling. This is a way to declare war while looking like the good guys. They are setting up rules that they know will eventually be broken leading to retaliation. It's a very smart move on Artemis's part, and stupidity of the Council."

[chris-elkar]

"I don't think I heard the list part." Or maybe he had but that hadn't been the part that stuck out the most to him. He also hadn't thought to ask Teddy about that, but presumably the rosu clan already had all the names they needed, but Chris wasn't sure he liked someone else having that information. "I... yeah." Everything she was saying about this setting up vampires to 'take the first shot' definitely sounded reasonable. "Are they going to refrain from attacking us until something actually happens?" After his own experience he would appreciate some peace, even if it was temporary.

[arjun-iqbal]

There was no logic in his arguments, just pure, raw honesty. Maybe some emotion, too, but Arjun was having enough trouble with his own as it was. What was he supposed to do with all that? Jump in and deal with the expectations later? Arjun opened his mouth to offer some kind of counter-argument, some logical defense to protect them both, but instead he found himself holding onto him. "Reluctant, huh?" he teased, returning the small smile he'd been offered moments ago. "Well, if you're that sure...and you stand by what you said, then I am yours for the evening." And plenty others, if the circumstances allowed for it. The deity tugged Chris' shirt out of the waistband of his trousers and slid his hands underneath the fabric, waiting for a reaction. "Show me what 'fun' means."

[chris-elkar]

Chris's smile broadened into a bright grin, happy that Arjun was willing to go with him on this. "Reluctant indeed. Downright recalcitrant." He opened Arjun's suit - importantly still unbloodied - so he could slide his hands down the deity's sides, pushing his shirt up rather than going to the trouble of unbuttoning that too. The deity's skin was so warm against his own, and Chris rocked his hips into Arjun's hands, letting out a soft groan. He undid Arjun's own pants and wrapped a hand loosely around his cock.

[carmenlagreve]

“Or maybe they’re just being nosy?” Carmen suggested with a small but playful smile. It was fun to watch everyone from above, they were like little neon blobs moving to the music, but Carmen was more interested in finding the various red collars in what appeared to her as a birds eye view, all-you-can-eat buffet menu. “It’s nice to meet you too.” Her smile brightened as she shook the idea of feeding loose. “Have you lived in the city for long?” She paused, “Hm? Oh. You asked if I’d had chance to go on the dance floor, I wondered if you were hoping for a partner.”

[chris-elkar]

"Maybe that too." He agreed with a shrug, watching the way Carmen watched the crowd down below them and trying to figure out what kept her gaze jumping between people. "I grew up here, went away for a while for work and came back a few years ago. So I'm mostly used to the city again. What about you?" He glanced back and forth between her and the dance floor with a lazy smile. "I wouldn't mind a partner if you'd like to dance. I can't promise I know anything fancy but I can keep track of a beat."

[arjun-iqbal]

Chris's laugh was captivating in a way that Arjun had not anticipated. He might have wished to pin it down to what they had just done, but this was definitely something else. "I am quite happy for you to do that, but this is just who I am. I never leave a conversation unfinished." There was no resistance as he was drawn into the quiet safety of the shadowed corner. In fact, Arjun let his head tilt slightly into the palm sliding through his hair, his eyes revealing the truth about how he felt before his words did. "..and then what? How do I know this isn't going to end up hurting you? I can't be with anybody like this right now. So tell me. Can this just be..fun between friends?" The deity smiled faintly as he thought of the meaning of fun in this context.

[chris-elkar]

So much for not overthinking it, but he knew Arjun was in a weird place. The deity had said 'right now' though, so Chris hadn't given up all hope. "You don't know for sure. I might get hurt, and if I do then it'll suck, but I'll deal with it. So you don't have to have that hanging over you." Chris sighed and gave him a small smile. "We've established I find you attractive, so this can be just fun. I also just like being around you regardless, so I'm reluctant to let you go now that I have you here." Even when Arjun wasn't doing it on purpose, Chris did feel more relaxed around him, and he always had been kind of clingy.

[lindleycardan]

Nothing hyped her up more than a party and she was ever so thankful that Vievecor City always had one waiting for her. Musicfest was no different and with each area having a different vibe she was able to explore all sides of herself and give out the best content she could. Viewers were always hungry for more, and at least for now Lindley was willing to deliver to the greedy eyes that kept her joy meter running.

The tree of a man stood before her and with a body like that there was only one thing for the deity to do. Jumping from the light pole, she landed solidly in his arms. “Weee!!” Giddy with delight Lindely giggled from the moment she was caught until her feet hit the ground again. “I’ve become something that’s for sure!” She patted the big guys chest smiling up at her friend. Lindely loved her friends, they are what kept her in the city more than anything, because like always life did eventually get boring. “Ok we need to get you a drink first and then conversation, maybe I’ll even wingman.”

[chris-elkar]

He caught Lindley with an 'oof' and a half step backwards, very glad for the strength that came from being a vampire because her jump gave her extra momentum. Still, he couldn't help laughing along with her when he lowered her to the ground. "I'm revising my guess, flying squirrel, though you need to work on the landing a bit." He linked their arms together so they wouldn't get separated and took a look around to see which direction they might need to go it. Lindley had a giant personality, but losing her in the crowd was definitely a risk. "Wingman? You're saying I don't get to be your anonymous will-they-won't-they mystery man for the event that sets all your fans talking?" He clutched a hand to his heart. "Lindley I'm hurt."

[siphodumisanifigs]

"Ah." Sipho nodded his head absentmindedly as he continued to glance between the acrobats above his head and the man standing to his right. "I am glad that they were able to provide you with assistance. My sister, in particular, is gifted in that area." He opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it again, his eyebrows furrowing as he gave the question some thought. "I don't believe I have ever been asked that question," he started, "I enjoy my coven and my family. I don't particularly enjoy the politics of it all but I was raised to put my coven's interests first and to take care of all their needs. It can be... burdensome I suppose, but can't all positions of authority or power feel like a burden from time to time?"

[chris-elkar]

He'd heard about Sizani from some of the people he'd worked with but hadn't met her in person or remotely yet. "I'll have to make sure she gets our results, it's been interesting trying to figure out magic with conventional science." He waited patiently for Sipho to figure out his answer, though he was a little surprised that it was apparently a new question. Then again, all of this probably felt a lot more natural for someone who was born supernatural. "Makes sense that they would. I've seen Teddy having to herd cats sometimes with clan matters. Do you think having magic helps or just makes it all more difficult?"

[isabellexlaurent]

She would need to have a long discussion about the project with Vivianne, although she had faith that Chris was being humble. He probably contributed far more than he was willing to admit. Then again it was interesting to see that there was a limit to his scientific knowledge. Belle would need to fund more research into the field.

Belle pressed her lips together, shoulders growing stiff. "They know not what they do." The idea of consensual feeding was nothing more than an ideal of those without knowledge of how the world worked. Feeding on only those that knew about the existence of vampires would severally limit the pool, especially considering the rules against glamour. "I voted against such restrictions of course, but the idea of the greater good triumphed over common sense."

[chris-elkar]

Damn. He'd had a hunch that Isabelle would disapprove of the new rules but she was madder than he'd expected, at least outwardly - and with what he'd seen from Isabelle this was a lot. Was that a sign that she trusted him more if she was willing to be more openly angry around him? Or was this just that much of a sensitive question? Chris decided it was better not to voice any of his own opinions on the rules and he just nodded to show that he was listening. "So, what do you think is going to happen? I could see it being a bit controlled in some places like in the shard, but outside of that I don't see it ending. So I guess it'll have to be covered up" He was conflicted about that last part.

[arjun-iqbal]

Was this wrong? There was a small voice in Arjun's head that did think so, a faint whisper reminding him of the very thing he was running away from. But as Chris’s lips pressed firmly against his own, returning the kiss, that voice was no more. It was drowned out; replaced by a much simpler need. The deity leaned forward, his posture folding to the hand cradling the back of his neck, and let the vampire take control. "Better." he managed to whisper, "This is a lot better.." But his words and the distraction could only carry Arjun so far. When he finally pulled back, his lips curved into yet another smile. His eyes captured the other's, searching for confirmation that he was fine and not blood drunk. "Thank you. For not staining my suit."

[chris-elkar]

Right after he'd leaned forward Chris had gone through half a moment of panic thinking that he might have gone too far, but the way Arjun almost melted into him put that to rest easily. Chris let out a breathy laugh. "If you're still thinking about your suit, I think I need to try harder." He took a step back to tug Arjun gently with him into a bit more of a shadowed corner and slid his hand up from Arjun's neck into his hair. For a few breaths he just trailed his fingertips along a few locks of hair, tracing out the curls and searching Arjun's face. "Why don't we both try not to overthink things for tonight?"

[vixwuboos]

"can I admit something to you?" victoria asked, now taking her turn to lean in conspiratorially. "I had to track down a book on what a nuclear engineer did, and I read that book in its entirety. I'm still not expressly clear on what your job entailed, but I'm impressed." she was an old lady, despite what appearance may suggest, and not the sort who necessarily kept up with what was going on outside the sanatorium sphere which remained her ultimate priority. vix chuckled. "squishy suits me. I think I'm no good with the rigid rule sets of the physical space. I like to imagine the world a little more tractable than what it routinely proves to be." while that was true, there was little she enjoyed socially more than engaging with people on what they knew best. "oh, solo by nature. what about you?"

[chris-elkar]

Chris couldn't help laughing because Victoria definitely wasn't the first person who'd said that to him. "Thank you. I appreciate the effort even if it didn't make much sense. It's mostly a lot of math-ing something out, trying it in real life, then doing that over and over again. Which is also what happens whenever I try to really understand psychology." He couldn't imagine how weird the world must be sometimes for spirits and demons and deities who could see other realms or planes or whatever they were called. At least being a vampire kept his feet on the ground. "Semi solo I think would be the best way to describe it. Kind of drifting between people I know, maybe leaving with someone."

[cxrvantes]

Part of having lived a decently sheltered human life, up until she arrived to Mexico City, was that she never got to experience or learn much about other species at all. Ana had taught her about witches, and she had briefly dated another spirit who had more interesting connections, but she only had the chance to scratch the surface. Now she felt silly for thinking that vampires were like the ones portrayed in the movies she’d watched. “Do humans here know much about… well, our kind of people?” She knew the magical population was larger here, but could she go around screaming from the rooftops that she was actually just a coyote?

At his question, Rau shrugged. “I was planning on listening to the bands, then go home with a pretty girl. But I’m new, I’d still like to do a tour of the different places.” She explained. “How about you?”

[chris-elkar]

"Some of them do. Humans who know about the supernatural have a magic tattoo that shows up when they come into contact with the supernatural." He held up his left hand and tapped the underside of his wrist. "I used to have one before I became a vampire but something with the ink makes it go away." It was kind of weird once he looked back on it the way he'd grown up knowing the supernatural was real but that he shouldn't tell anyone, but when he thought about it more, it made sense for his parents to just tell him than keep it secret.

"Listen to the bands, go home on my own though. I was out of town for a while and I turned soon after I came back so it was interesting relearning the city as a supernatural. There are a lot of good places. You'd probably like stuff in Chissob."

[isabellexlaurent]

She still wasn't certain exactly how the distillation process worked. The fact that it would be faster than the alcohol from the winery just outside of town was promising. Belle knew that neither Viv nor Chris would allow the product onto the market before it was ready. They simply didn't have the tainted morals to do so. "So a quicker process then. That is promising." There were even machine that could help, or so she imagined.

"Interesting." She tilted her head to the side, letting her mind wander. The substitute could help their kind with their hunger, yet it was not the sort of substitute that was directly interchangeable with real blood. She wondered if it was lacking some key compound that would make it thus and possibly improve the taste. "Aside from the flavor, are there any other concerns for the product?"

[chris-elkar]

"I think it'll be fine." Chris wasn't completely sure how it would all work, but he was willing to be one of the guinea pigs for it because it was Viv, and it sounded like Isabelle was on board. "Honestly, you're getting to the end of my knowledge about it. I'm working on helping get the process right, but it's her project."

He shifted in his seat and leaned towards Isabelle. "What do you think about the stuff from the deal with artemis? Like the stuff where any vampire feeding on a human has to be consensual, or the stuff that apparently came up about turning people." Even though their conversation was private enough, he still felt like this sort of thing shouldn't be discussed loudly.

[chris-elkar]

"Yeah. Or I think there was something on the roof, whichever works for you." He stepped just inside the room when Arjun prompted him, shutting the door quietly like he was scared of it making too much noise. "I just didn't want to intrude."

He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, taking a long breath as he tried to untangle the whole mess of what he was feeling. There was jealousy, lust because Arjun looked unfairly good in that stupid robe, adrenaline, a bunch of other things he couldn't identify, then add on top of that just the slightest bit of self-reproach because a part of him felt like he shouldn't be feeling half of what he was. At this point he didn't even try to hide it even though he knew Arjun could read it easily. He'd only been selectively good at hiding his emotions fro humans, he didn't stand a chance against whatever ability deities had.

[arjun-iqbal]

Arjun released a soft breath, choosing not to add to the stress Chris was obviously already feeling. Instead, he moved across the room toward the dresser, giving him some time to simply exist in the silence without being interrogated.

"You weren't interrupting..and in any case, it's all good. You don't need to feel bad about it, Chris." Then, the deity let the robe slide down his arms until it was pooling at his feet. He stood there for a moment in the dim light before reaching for a fresh linen shirt. "How are things out there? I can't imagine they're great if you've resorted to clandestine donations."

[chris-elkar]

HC wrap up: the two of them have some kind of connection and they'll see what happens

Chris

He'd looked up and over at Arjun when he'd asked the question and found himself unable to look away. Ok, Arjun was definitely doing this on purpose because he looked stupidly good. "It's up and down. I have a few regulars that I can get blood from, but I always try to keep some bagged blood at home just in case. So that's what this meeting was." Chris shrugged. Everything with artemis had made him more reluctant to go to places from before because he was afraid they might be watching, but he wasn't at the point of having to hunt down random people.

"I've been ok, but I've also always had people I can lean on." He tilted his head. "What about for deities? Is this stuff hitting you all at all?"

Arjun

Arjun pulled the shirt on but left it hanging open, the white fabric creating a sharp contrast against his skin as he turned back to face the vampire. So Chris was looking now...interesting. "That is very clever of you. How are you finding the consent part? I've heard, from Isabelle, that not everyone is happy with the agreement.." Was Chris? He remembered him having trouble with feeding in the beginning because of his humanity but..had that changed?

The deity reached for a pair of grey slacks, bending forward slightly in order to bring them up to his lean, fine waist. He fastened them with a quiet click of the button, the silver of his belt buckle catching the dim light before he looked back up. "Deities are resilient by nature but that doesn't mean we like to see how frantic and loud everything has become.." Iqbal offered with a frown, "Either way, I've got my own thing to deal with."

Chris

He shrugged again. The provisions for vampires hadn't really affected him, and he'd been more worried about not getting shot again. "It hasn't really been a problem for me, but then again I never really fed on anyone who wasn't consenting. The people I go back to are my friends, and I give a couple of them money for letting me feed or help out with other stuff." It sounded weird when he put it that way, but it was basically the same as the clan paying people for blood.

God dammit Arjun, ok he was definitely doing this on purpose. Chris looked away to roll his eyes before looking back when Arjun said something again. "Your own thing?" He asked quietly, pretty sure it was delicate territory. Resilient by nature didn't mean immune to pain.

Arjun

Arjun nodded at what he was told, incapable of not picturing those exchanges, whenever and however often they might occur. It seemed like it was ages since he'd offered anyone his own blood. Not since they had been thrown into that made-up reality but a month or two ago. Now that he was back, it had not even crossed his mind. Not until now. His fingers rose to tackle the buttons next, fastening them with a gentle yet swift motion.

And then, there was the question. Expected. Arjun caught Chris’s gaze and held it, a small, hesitant smile curving his lips before turning towards the dresser. "I've been gone for a while." Yes, it was easier this way. "..I've been trying to retrace my steps to..to who I was, before everything happened."

Chris

He met Arjun's eyes, trying to figure out what was behind that look. There was of course the interpersonal part, but he had a feeling that the dream might be haunting him too. "I know that feeling." Chris gave him a small smile. He'd spent a lot of time essentially doing that after becoming a vampire, and he wasn't sure how much it had helped or hurt him in the end. He took a couple steps forward towards Arjun. "Who do you think you are now compared to who you were before?"

Arjun

Arjun reached out for a silver watch on the dresser, sliding it over his wrist with a practiced flick, as if continuing with what he was doing was going to help distract him from the feelings forming in his chest. "It's not about that," he murmured, ignoring the fact that the vampire was stepping closer. "I'm trying to be someone who does not get lost in someone else again. Relationships are clearly not for someone like me."

Chris

Chris let out a long sigh because that hit too close to home. "Yeah I... Yeah." There wasn't much he could say to that other than the expressing his sympathy. He came to a stop a few feet away from Arjun and tilted his head to try to catch his eyes again. "I don't know... I don't think... you have to give up entirely. Maybe it's just... figuring out where the right lines are." Or maybe in Chris's case it was about being more flexible with them.

Arjun

His fingers stilled against the clasp of his watch and then, Arjun lifted his gaze, allowing Chris to see a fraction of what was going on. What was really going on. "And what is the point, Chris? What lines am I supposed to be drawing?I will never be seen as anything other than what I am." he sniffled, "I will never be able to escape what happened." It had been downright humiliating, but even more so, it had been painful. Awfully so.

Did it make sense for a being older than anything many had probably ever known to be in a relationship..again?

Chris

"I-" Fuck he was in way over his head. "I don't know." Even if Arjun wasn't ancient, Chris wouldn't have a good answer for him. He reached out to catch Arjun's hand, feeling like he wanted to offer some sort of comfort but not wanting to push too far. He used the excuse of finishing up clasping the watch then letting his hand linger. "I like who you are. A lot of people do. Rocky relationships happen. You don't think less of me for having them, right?" Hopefully he was right in that, otherwise the point he was trying to make that Arjun's reputation hadn't been tarnished would be lost.

Arjun

Arjun's first instinct was to shake the vampire's hand off, do anything to avoid being confronted with the compassion and warmth Chris was so good at giving, but he couldn't. Instead, he watched as he took over the small, mechanical task of securing the watch. "..of course I don't think less of you," the deity murmured, "..but your mistakes don't ripple out the way mine have. How do you know people even like me?" who does, he wanted to ask, but instead, he remained quiet. "How many really do..?"

Chris

He barely resisted the urge to call bullshit when Arjun doubted that people liked him, but even though it would have been meant well it wouldn't be well received. "Ok they ripple a bit, but that's because people care so when you're upset they notice." From hanging out with Arjun occasionally before Chris had ended up getting to know some of the people who worked at the gallery, and all of them only had good things to say. "People do like you. I don't think you want to hear me rattling off names right now, so you're just gonna have to believe me. Or you'll have to tell me to my face that I'm wrong and I don't know if my ego could take that right now."

[siphodumisanifigs]

He scratched at the faint stubble across his chin with his thumb and forefinger, nodding his head thoughtfully. "I guess I could tell people that; seems a bit dishonest though. Maybe I should join a gym or something?" he suggested, his lips twitching into a teasing smirk. There was no way he would be joining a gym. His muscles were sculpted through years of lugging boxes of ancient books around his shop. "Hard to enjoy the festivities that way. I get it. Do you... work here, or are you just a concerned citizen?" He took Chris's hand and shook firmly. "Nice to meet you. I'm Sipho. Head of the Dumisani Coven".

[chris-elkar]

"I help out with clan stuff around here sometimes, but I'm not actually employed. So I guess I count as a concerned citizen tonight." He answered with a shrug. After the first hour or so he'd relaxed and had mostly just been going around different locations and meetin up with people he knew. He nodded when Sipho said his name. "I've worked with a couple people from your coven on getting some basic ecology measurements for some magical plants." Chris tilted his head and leaned against the railing. "This might be a strange question, but what is it like being a coven leader? Like do you enjoy it or is it a burden?"

[arjun-iqbal]

Chris' quiet sign of protest was noted, but it did very little in the way of changing things. Arjun's eyes remained closed, his lips parting with the occasional hum as the vampire's fangs sank a little deeper on the flesh. He never drank too much, but every time they did this, it felt as if he grew a little more reluctant to let go. At least right away. The moment those fangs retracted, the deity shifted his current position, laughing at his statments. "I can't tell you. You're supposed to figure that one out." Arjun squeezed the nape of Chris's neck, inching closer to press a soft kiss right over the smudge of blood on his lips. He then rolled his thumb across the skin to clean up the rest, offering a lazy, unbothered smile. "You had a little blood right there. My bad."

[chris-elkar]

The kiss was unexpected, and he let out a surprised huff, but it was over too soon and Chris had to stop a while from leaving his throat. The blood left him with a lazy warm feeling and he leaned into Arjun's hand. "Think I managed not to get any on your suit though." He responded quietly, eyes flickering over Arjun's face to keep landing on his smile. Figure it out, huh? Well then. Feeling bold, he leaned forward to kiss Arjun properly this time, sliding a hand up to cradle the back of his neck.

[vixwuboos]

vix immediately perked up. "oh yeah? which sciences are your favorites?" she was rather versed in medical and social sciences, as well harboring a rampant fascination with all things flora, fauna, and bug related. the more mechanical sciences were lost on her. things like the ferris wheel had largely escaped her attention over the years. "you can explain how all of this works to me?" engineering and electricity could be a tad intimidating considering when she was born and in what state she now existed. victoria smiled at his admission, glad to know she wasn't going to be missing much. "do you think you would have enjoyed it more with other people?"

[chris-elkar]

"Well I told you about how I used to be a nuclear engineer, so I lean more towards stuff like that. Engineering, chemistry, materials science." He shrugged with a laugh. "Biology, medicine, ecology are interesting but they're a bit too... squishy for me." The ferris wheel was cool but in Chris's opinion they always looked more fun than they actually were. "I couldn't tell you exactly how it works, but the basic principles, yeah. I think the photobooth stuff works best if you're with someone who's into that." He shifted to lean against the railing so he could face Victoria. "Did you come with anyone or just going solo?"