steady, boys, steady

John Beckett.

[tony-baxter]

Sheepishly, Tony stood there for a few moments trying to think of an excuse of what they were doing to help someone.  Yet, nothing came to mind.  Tony was never one to think on their toes.  As John made a whole display with the television set, Tony managed to take a seat across from the desk and nodded. 

Once John’s attention was back on them, they leaned back uncomfortably knowing the other was not in the best of moods. 

“Well what?” Did they miss something?  

“Oh, do you want me to talk about how I’m a great employee?  All the old bitties love me, they love pinching my cheeks and even my bottom,” they smirked.  “I uh, I’m really good at making people laugh and like I’m the best at Marco Polo,” suddenly they realized they gave themselves away.  When they should be serving the guests by the pool, they ended up playing in the pool with everyone.

[justjohnbeckett]

This was going nowhere. John was losing the battle with his patience.

"None of that constitutes a good employee, Tony. I expect the people in my employ to show up on time and admit to their mistakes." John debated pointing out each of the mistakes in Tony's reasoning, although he doubted if they would land. Disagreeing with Tony's logic usually meant John went down a rabbit hole trying to prove the very point that he was being artfully distracted from. "If you keep coming in late, you'll need to stay later and later and help with the close." The opening staff and closing staffs were often at odds over each other's work performances, but it was nothing John could not handle. He was not sure whether adding Tony into the mix would solve the problem, but it was worth a try. "Some separation from those regulars might do you good."

[ignislupinotuumdaemonium]

Of all the lives the demon had lived, it never thought it would run into one of its past live's lovers. Not in a thousand years & it wasn't even half that age yet. Zita stared at him, cold stare hiding the shock in her face. She looks down at the treats and then back at the man. "Altair." It slips out like melted butter before she even realizes it. She clears her throat and shakes her head. "My aplogies. I...It's just," she pauses and continues looking at him. "I know you...Don't I?"

[justjohnbeckett]

"Pardon?" John was busy examining the treats. Beatrice might like these better, though he had no way of knowing. He had half a mind to buy out the shop and let her have her pick of sweets. That would at least get the manager off his back for a time.

He did catch what she said and dwelled briefly on the meaning before glancing up at the owner. "I don't believe you and I have ever met, no." To be polite—and speed things along—he extended a hand across the counter. "John Beckett. And you are...?"

[smoothwhiskeymicah]

Micah tilted his head as he watched John, keeping his eyes fixed on the other. "I don't need to tell myself, I know it for a fact." Micah said as he rolled his shoulders a little before he crossed his arms tightly over his chest.

Micah moved his eyes back across the room, his eyes falling back on the male he had originally lined up before he looked back to John. He raised an eyebrow slightly as he watched John looking him over.

Micah let out a scoff as he clenched his hands again, feeling them tingle slightly. That wasn't a good sign. Micah didn't know much about his power, but he knew it was triggered by his emotions. Which was almost as bad as it could be when he was someone who didn't have much control over his emotions. "I've never howled in my life."

[justjohnbeckett]

"Saying so doesn't make it so." John's little game was starting to heat up. Being so long alive—undead—granted him an ever unfinished study of body language. While Micah said in so many words that he wasn't bothered, his features were saying the opposite.

John laughed. "Come now, that's not even a little true. Are you always such a liar, or have you reserved that courtesy specifically for me?" Wolves howled, did they not? Unless Micah had an embarrassing chirp, like a cheetah? Wouldn't that be something.

[rubydavenport]

"The truth, for me, is never one where you underrate yourself, darling." Perhaps Ruby was biased, but as far as she was concerned, John was the most important person walking on earth. He had been for many, many years, and though Ruby got along (mostly) with many, she cared for very few, and was loyal to even less. "But I appreciate the compliment nonetheless," she added with a faint smile.

Their lives had gone through many iterations, and though their paths were slightly different these days, Ruby always knew she'd make her way back to John. He was far more settled, and seemed happy in Greywood, with his ventures. Ruby knew it would never be exactly what she dreamed of as a human -- that ship had sailed long ago -- but there were times she imagined a quieter life with John. There were even times she wished she could have raised her daughter with him instead of the Duke, although those were thoughts she'd never vocalized, and never intended to. Not even to John himself.

"They'd be likely to have you in those meetings. They don't deserve you," she said simply. As far as she was concerned, no human was worthy of John's time. "You are good at waiting for special things," Ruby said suggestively. "That's a relief."

John was always smooth, and Ruby always felt the storm inside her calm when she was kissing John. "Now is perfect," she said, once she had pulled away. "You should come for a tour of my new home. I think you'll like it."

[justjohnbeckett]

"Just an old habit," he told her, unperturbed and smiling. "Coming fifth in a family leaves a mark." The descendants of his siblings had just as many children as their parents, offering new opportunities for unnoticed issues to seize adventure like John had, although none he knew of were among the undead. He preferred it that way. His own fledglings were enough of a family for him, spread out and distant as they were.

He was. John was usually waiting for Ruby, not the other way around. He preferred it in that way too, if only in her case—being the lighthouse and not the ship in the night.

"Would you believe me if I told you the rest of my day is now devoted to that tour?" John prompted, closing his ledger and programs without drawing his gaze from her.

[duderosiers]

"amazed you didn't steal it," it was out before jean-claude could really think about it, quick to the post as usual with his comments before he laughed at himself and took another long drink. the vampire enjoyed their little barbs, it kept his mind sharp and off much sadder topics, like the reason he was here in the first place.

unfortunately, j.c was becoming a regular fixture and elysium, holed up at the edge of the bar. perhaps he'd become a permanent one, if things weren't resolved.

"aww, johnny-boy, i didn't know you cared!" he crowed before immediately downing what was left of a drink just poured, gently tapping his glass against the bar for another one. "is that a challenge? you know i could,"

[justjohnbeckett]

"We do steal everything, but someone or something must've beaten us to the punch." John wasn't kidding, however—egoism could be stretched just far enough to draw in merry old England in one way or another. Once you started thinking in this very modern way, it was difficult to stop. "Couldn't be the French. They're too slow."

John eyed Jean-Claude as he prepared yet another drink. He wasn't quite sharp enough when it came to his friend to see if their tête-à-tête was making a difference on his mood. "I know you could. I'm afraid you could. To a point is when I cut you off." John set the fresh drink down in front of Jean-Claude, then raised his own. It was a Friday, so John offered the old toast from his seafaring days. "To a willing foe and sea room." Was Matthew a willing foe of JC's now? John wondered. He didn't want to ask.

[anatasiabell]

Anastasia was getting an outline of the man. It was only an outline, she knew that. Early on in her career, she had learned to be careful about assuming you knew a person because you knew their outline. Although, it was her personal life, not her professional one that taught her the strictest lesson in that. Still, an outline was useful. Her own smile was slightly impish. "When you say it like that, a girl might start to think you don't have one," she replied. He probably did have a credible business. Credible didn't always mean moral. Her outline didn't yet give her information on what level of credibility of his business might have.

She nodded. It was true enough. In the small town she'd grown up in, there were a few old timers who only considered you a local if your grandparents had been born in the town. Ten years was long enough to a local in most cases. Considering that Christian Cooper had gone missing two month ago, it was certainly long enough that he might know something.

Anastasia laughed, shaking her head when he asked if she was a local herself. She wasn't even a newcomer. No, her place in town would be temporary, like her place in most towns. "I haven't even gotten out of the B&B," she replied, "And don't tell anyone but I got lost like three times on my way here." She had not gotten lost on her way here. Although, she had once turned the wrong way. However, her outline suggested that he was the kind of person who would love to have a chance to show his knowledge.

[justjohnbeckett]

"Certainly sounds that way, doesn't it?" She could cut to the quick. "That's the challenge. Some are lying...while others simply enjoy what they do too much."

He didn't expect her laughter, but it was pleasant. Definitely against type—or the type John assumed from the first impression. "You can't go wrong with Mystic Encounters. They're the best bed and breakfast in the state." It was a shame he wasn't affiliated with the business. His portfolio could always use more properties. "Or so I hear."

"Three times?" John repeated rhetorically, giving the next table of items for sale a thorough inspection. More knickknacks. His collection was approaching a dangerous level. He rewound an old watch and waited until he detected the faintest ticking, its seller watching nervously. John passed over the money and then slid his wallet back into his pocket before strapping the watch to his wrist. "You might've set a speed record. Someone I know missed the exit into town at least ten times on their first day."

[ignislupinotuumdaemonium]

It'd been busier than Zita expected to be today. Every ten minutes, someone was coming in wanting something. Eventually, there was a line & it only took so long for her to cut the line short by going fast but still ensuring customer service. No one would come back if she was the cold, heartless demon she truly was. If the baker isn't sweet, what does that say about the treats themselves? She'd been sanitizing her hands with sanitizer as someone approached. She flinched for a second, feeling the sanitizer burn at a small cut she had on her finger. Ignoring it, she listened to the customer. "Well, do you know what they like?" Zita asked. "A cake could be a nice start. Or, if you want something smaller, brownies or cupcakes. Any dietary restrictions?"

[justjohnbeckett]

I barely know the girl was what John wanted to say, but he held his tongue.

"We're not close. She's an employee. A cake should suffice." That was general enough for a gift of his choosing but grand enough to show how much the staff appreciated her. Not that John didn't appreciate Beatrice and her work ethic. "Let's err on the side of caution and assume a dietary restriction. Does that narrow the search, Mrs.—?"

He hoped so. The sheer number of options was shocking.

[taliazheng]

Wanderlust was Talia's particular drug of choice, and it always had been, ever since she crossed the threshold from Briar into London all of those years ago. In Greywood, that hadn't changed remotely, and perhaps had worsened now that she could take all sorts of different shapes and sizes. It was certainly a power that suited her, although she wasn't currently using it.

In the caves, all Talia needed was a charm for light, which took the shape of a floating orb hovering above the palm of her hand. They were beautiful, majestic, and entirely abandoned. It was fascinating! It reminded her of the neighbouring court, Uiscigh, which was along the ocean with plenty of caves to explore.

Unfortunately, that peace didn't last for long. Talia left the orb floating above her hand, but also dawned a lantern when she ran into John. God, this man was a nightmare, and a liar! Now it all made sense why he'd seduced her all those years ago. "I'm pretty sure you're the one stalking me," she said angrily. "I know what you were trying to do, by the way. You just want my lifeblood." She sounded a bit like Minho there, she mused, and how he'd explained. "That's why we keep running into each other, too. You won't give up, will you?"

[justjohnbeckett]

"Stop copying me." A little juvenile of him, John would readily admit, but what else to say? She was delusional and here for no good reason. Of all places in Greywood...

"Now you've done it. You discovered my master plan." He rolled his eyes. Was she making up these ridiculous accusations as she went along? "I wasn't trying to do anything. I'm not trying to do anything, Talia. I had no thoughts on your lifeblood until the early aughts when it was clear you looked exactly like you did in the eighties."

And did he demand an explanation? No, because she was nowhere to be found.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm very busy." Turning on his heel, John strode away.

[justjohnbeckett]

Location ➠ Acacia Heights Country Club Status ➠ Closed to Gabriel (@gabriel-baudelaire)

A sense of the fundamental decencies is parcelled out unequally at birth.

These words of Fitzgerald intrigued John just under a century ago, and somehow stayed in his mind as Acacia Heights was built up, brick by brick. The type of person attracted to membership within his country club were given a great number of things at birth, decencies dead last on the list, although he still met with each one of them in turn, bestowing the welcome all believed they deserved. He moved easily among the morning's golfers, composure forged long ago in the years since he became a vampire, contenting himself with the mingled pique and pride that it was he—a farm boy born to nothing yet destined for the full monty—was the man providing such luxuries.

And speaking of members embracing luxury...

"Good to see you, Gabriel," said John, ignoring the caddie straightening up importantly now with his boss nearby. "I hear you're playing well today. No mulligans yet, I hope."

[justjohnbeckett]

Location ➠ Pouty Bat Face Vamp Cafe Status ➠ Closed to Elena (@elena-delacruz)

There was something about the Latte Lestat that kept John coming back for more.

Perhaps it was the cafe itself, from the menu to the decor to the theme. Themes of any kind amused him. Unlike Acacia Heights and Elysium, which were each devoted to specific tastes and leaned hard on two kinds of the haut monde, Pouty Bat's appeal stretched that much wider, like it were a mouth of fangs eager for its next meal.

Whatever the cause, John liked to spend Saturday mornings here after the first tee time at the country club was underway. Little by little, he was learning how to delegate. John was just finishing his second latte when a familiar face came into view.

"Elena," he greeted warmly, standing up to pull out a chair for her. "The usual?"

[justjohnbeckett]

Location ➠ Cyprus Caves Status ➠ Closed to Talia (@taliazheng)

Ten years of Greywood, John mused, and no wanderlust to be found.

It was striking. It was confusing. He never considered himself domesticated or even settled until recently, until Ruby. She was his complement, his equal in all things. Their lives stretched parallel to the other until now. Was that his preoccupation?

He was still deep in thought as he stepped further into the caves. On a whim—always a whim, followed like a trusty beacon—John decided to indulge in an old habit and go exploring. An old habit and new conclusions made for an odd mix, so much so that he didn't immediately notice he wasn't alone until the creak of a lantern reached his ears.

His eyes adjusted, recognized the person standing behind it, and narrowed.

"Stalking me now, are you?"

[justjohnbeckett]

Location ➠ Black Magic Bakery Status ➠ Closed to Zita (@ignislupinotuumdaemonium)

This was not John's scene.

Not one bit...or bite, as it happened.

And yet he was here, sent into town by his own manager like an errand boy. Beatrice was out sick, John was told, and the staff—united for once, an alarming prospect—wanted to make her feel better. The gap in John's schedule was suspicious but inexplicable, leaving him with little room but to agree and follow directions to a bakery. He waited his turn until the owner was free, then stepped up to the counter.

"I'm on the hunt for a 'get well' gift. Any recommendations?"

[duderosiers]

"ah, i refuse to be lectured by an englishman on egotism," j.c tutted softly with a shake of his head and a similar wag of his finger. at least he was honest and open about his high opinion of himself, much better than that false veneer of politeness and humility that befell his companion.

he'd lived in london for a considerable amount of years, still john was the only one with whom he'd had such banter. a feud more ancient than both of them combined was all but crushed in the current world, everyone so hell bent on some form of harmony, terrified that discord would seal the fate of everyone on earth. personally, jean-claude wondered if he'd survive whatever the end would be.

everything ravaged by war and bombs, and he and john were still ribbing each other in a bar somewhere, probably.

"yet, you still bought it," jean-claude joked. the given drink was taken with a flourish, immediately pressed to his lips. "i am. fine. good. getting on with it,"

[justjohnbeckett]

"Us and our lion's share." That was a point for Jean-Claude, lithe as any fencer. This was a game that could go on for decades if they let it. "I would say we invented it."

"I'm easily led." My, my, wasn't he feeling charitable today? "So was he." Donating blood to make up for bad advice was a fair trade to John. (The contractor didn't remember anything to be angry about and got to work without complaint on the fix.)

His thoughts drifted to another Frenchman, long lost. He and Jean-Claude were nothing alike, although the impression lingered. "If you say so, but you're free to run up your tab until you've gotten over it. To a point. Don't drink me out of house and home."

[taliazheng]

Talia rolled her eyes at John's tone. "You're literally listening to music I produced right now," she informed him. "Google it." God, John was such a buzzkill, and he knew absolutely nothing about her. Disappointing, considering Talia thought she shared plenty with him.

"And why is that?" Talia asked, snickering. It seemed like a total waste of time to have a bar and an entire country club and not supply drinks for yourself, but she was choosing to take it as evidence that John was literally the worst and experienced no joy in his life. Besides, maybe, that one night with her... What could Talia say? She was a little cocky sometimes, and with good reason! Artists needed to be. "Okay, then explain to me how exactly I'm a criminal to you." This she genuinely wanted to here. "Yeah, I did miss that. Being with you was far from a privilege. It was actually a disappointment."

At John's question, Talia took a slow sip of her drink, never once breaking eye contact. "Tell me about one time you experienced joy, in detail, and then I'll leave." Tormenting him was too fun to tap out now.

[justjohnbeckett]

That he didn't know. "It's nice," John said reluctantly. He liked it—the song was on the club's playlist for a reason—but offering more than that would only stroke Talia's ego.

"It's expensive and off-putting." While John saw the merit of supplying any kind of drink humans wanted, a vampire's palate by comparison was considerably limited. And in a different vein, he didn't like to mix the Acacia Heights crowd with Elysium's. Greywood was a special place...but from time to time, he found himself wondering whether its delicate balance between humanity and inhumanity would crumble.

"Lying to my face, for one thing. Leaving without saying goodbye." He hadn't lied. She just never asked what he was. He would've told the truth if she gave him the chance.

He didn't look away. There were plenty of moments to call upon, days and weeks and years of good times with many different people. Yet John couldn't say why the only thing coming to mind was their only night together. Proximity, he guessed. He had dwelled long enough on Talia Zheng. "Fine." John leaned closer. "Ten years ago, Elysium opened its doors. Standing room only at the bar. Line out and onto the street. It was the first time my name was ever on a deed." The farm boy turned sailor still alive in the back of his head could not believe it. "There was an upstart who thought he could order me about so long as he was a paying customer." John's hand encircled Talia's that still clutched her drink. "I threw him out. It was a joyous night all around."

He let go of her. "Shall I walk you out?"

[rubydavenport]

“Hm, what makes you say that?” Ruby asked with a sly smile. “You’ve charmed me for decades now.” It was the complete truth. John wasn’t exactly as social as Ruby was, or as well liked for that matter, but she completely, utterly adored him. After Anne, Ruby was convinced she would never find love again, and for good reason. Anne was both the beginning and ending of her human life — nothing mattered before she graced her sire’s presence. John was different. He didn’t feel like an eclipse the way that Anne did, but like starlight, always present, beautiful, and eternal. Perhaps, Ruby mused, that was best in the long run. You could admire and value the stars, but you didn’t die without them.

“I look forward to it,” she said with a smile. John had understood exactly what she meant. Ruby enjoyed the natural ebb and flow of their relationship, that came together and apart, but it remained consistent and solid. 

As John explained his reasoning, Ruby nodded along. His points all made sense, although the idea of being saddled to two entire businesses didn’t entirely appeal to her. “I’m happy for you,” she said earnestly. “What kinds of things do you hope to influence?” John could do anything he set his mind to. “We’ll need to find a good manager though. I need ample time with you.”

Ruby squeezed John’s hand when he grasped her, a smile crossing her face. His touch had always been electric to her, and now was no different. If anything, after years had passed, John’s touch was more electric than ever. “But I like trying. You deserve someone who tries for you,” Ruby replied. She chuckled at his comment and caressed his cheek. “If I wanted you out of your clothes, I wouldn’t bother making excuses. I’d say so, John.” Of course, Ruby did in fact want John out of his clothes. "You could always refresh my memory a bit though."

[justjohnbeckett]

"Just telling you the truth, that's all." John couldn't remember if he had ever lied to Ruby, but he wasn't about to start now. There was little to hide. She knew of every secret, of his sire, of his fledglings far and wide and lost, of his stashes and stockpiles of treasure. If he had something to keep from her notice, it would be important.

So would he, although he wasn't certain if another Greywood would ever come to be without a dozen more founding families chipping in. The building of a town was boring and slow, not to her tastes by any measure. He'd never force her to stay as he would to see the first bricks become the first building of the first block in this hypothetical alternate Greywood. Instead, he always let her go so she would always come back.

John shrugged. "Anything. Those meetings are lightning in a bottle. Hard to catch and even harder to predict, but I'm willing to wait for something special." He smiled up at Ruby, looking sly. "My manager is fine. He can take the reins whenever I want him to."

She always knew just what to say. Could be the deep-rooted courtesies of a duchess, but John believed it was just Ruby's way. "How's now?" John asked, and kissed her.

[the--helen]

It was another night of outings where she was given a beautiful dress to get into and taken by the hand with a smile to following to the car and then out of it and into the building. She was surprised it was a visit to Elysium, knowing Alexander usually did prefer to conduct his work meetings which she was there for in the vault. And there he also did not leave bite marks on her neck like he did in this place, something she hadn't thought would be happening today considering the white fabric of the dress. But she was always surprised and had long ago learned not to have expectations so she only followed inside, getting a peck on the cheek before he asked her to order him a drink and went to a face that was already familiar to her from the months.

She had a usual smile on her face, though she was quite tired as she had asked him to go out more in the afternoons before he woke up so that she could do things like sit at cafes and do groceries, things she had liked doing while he was gone every time in the past months. She had even met with people a few times, though she wouldn't always say that to him. He had come home a few nights ago from his longest venture yet, seemingly happy with whatever it had been he had been doing when away, and it did seem that he was in very high spirits, currently chatting away with the person whose table he had joined for now. She sat at the bar to make the orders and wait for him to call her over whenever the topic was suitable for her.

She looked around at the man behind the bar, another slightly familiar face, though she was surprised he called her by her first name. This led her to believe that over the past visit Alexander had gotten to know the man and thus they were now on first name basis. "Good evening, Mr Beckett," she said, herself too nervous to use the man's first name when her husband was within ear shot. Christmas' incident was still fresh in her head. "Yes, please, he does like what he likes," she added with a smile to her lips, hoping the presentation of a perfect wife was as decent as usual.

[justjohnbeckett]

Helen Leslie was a nervous wreck.

John hadn't figured out why, but it was unlikely he would for the simple fact that there were too many possibilities. Perhaps she was born that way. Perhaps she felt uneasy in Elysium. Perhaps she was afraid of him, or under a spell, or stressed about one human thing or another. He didn't know what he couldn't know, not unless Helen explained.

Which seemed very unlikely.

"And what can I get you?" John asked, setting Alexander's usual in front of one of the empty chairs near Helen. Her husband was out of earshot with another regular and could be a long time yet. John passed a menu over to her. "Everything is available."

"I haven't seen either of you in a while," John ventured, rather curious now. "Did you enjoy the new year?" Another year gone was a drop in the bucket for vampires like John and Alexander, but the passage of time would always mean more to a human.

[sirenmaiakelly]

"Exactly! I'd spend all day in the water if I could." Maia laughed knowing full well that has been done many times in her lifetime.

"We haven't. Lame to say but I missed you." Maia grinned as soon as John got into the water with her and she closed the space between them as well. She always felt better in any water but especially here with John. "We had a bit but it wasn't too bad. Luckily people still kept coming in but it definitely put a damper on everyone's performance." Maia laughed before shrugging. "My home wasn't too bad, had some in the beginning but someone helped me get rid of them and keep them away. So that was pretty nice to at least have that safe space."

[justjohnbeckett]

Her smile was infectious. He wondered long ago if it was the subtle interplay of siren song and Maia's own charisma, but seeing her this morning in the sunlight as it sparkled off the water, the answer was obvious. "That isn't lame." He smiled back, pulling her closer still. There was a short list of people who could set John at ease and in some semblance of peace with the world and Maia was on it. "I've missed you."

This image made John laugh too.

"Did you have to fight them?" He damaged one of the golf carts in his haste to stamp out the infestation. It was not worth the price to repair. He wound his arms around Maia's waist, preferring the present to the past. "Your helper must've been a godsend."