𝖘𝖆𝖑𝖙𝖇𝖚𝖗𝖓𝖙 𝖎𝖓𝖇𝖔𝖝.

[abyssale]

WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK

USERNAME:
LEXI

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[godspark]

[ it's really only a cursory knock on Lexi's side of their bathroom, before Dani is pushing the door open and striding on in. he's looking at the phone in his hands which, frankly, is a mystery to him. ]

I need you to show me how to use this. Everyone stares at them all the time, and I can't do it.

[ hi Lexi here he is please deal with him ]

[abyssale]

( lexi is lounging on the bed, looking at his own phone, when Dani barges in. )

By all means, don't wait for an invitation. ( he sasses, but it's not as serious as one might think.

he sits up to look at what Dani is struggling with. ) What can you do with it to start?

text; un: persephone

[semicharmed]

they're letting me out today ... prognosis is a few weeks of no heavy activity

[ An image accompanies this message: a selfie of Matt in a hospital bed, bare-chested with the thin sheet pulled over his hips in case House pokes his head in. There's a green lotus tattoo over his heart, and another tattoo on his right hip depicting a half-monkey, half-man figure. There is also a bandage over his left side, a square of white gauze affixed with tape. ]

which I'm pretty sure means we're good to have sex if you're on top

<3

[ This text was ... supposed to go to somebody else. ]

[abyssale]

well that was a very sudden expectation. but if you really like, i suppose i can manage gentle (:

@dani

[godspark]

come out with me tonight

[abyssale]

i'm not saying no.... but to where?

text; un: coan_tean

[preborns]

Do you sparkle?

[abyssale]

( this username looks vaguely familiar..... )

are you Alina's friend?

and no? why would i sparkle?

un: greasy

[imperatour]

How would you know if blood is poisoned?
Would you be able to taste it?

[abyssale]

( ......... weird fucking question. )

yes. blood has different tastes under the most normal of circumstances. poison would be obvious.

text / un: solnishka

[peasant]

What do you do if you're trapped inside all day?
Aside from preening and gawking at yourself in the mirror.

[abyssale]

that does take up the largest portion of the daylight....

but i spend a lot of time in the library. i genuinely like to learn about new things, like i asked on the network. the library is the most straightforward, but i do try to visit the other rooms in the house to see what else is on offer from time to time.

un: t.laughlin

[holyposition]

[ He’s gone through every public comment on Lexi’s network post. Twice. It’s jarring, as a normal person from a normal world, to have two new arrivals announce their presence as vampires, which is bizarre, impossible, all the other words that seem to hold less and less meaning the longer he stays here. Fear is still potent, though. To have people among them that have cheated death, and pray upon the living to do so, it isn’t just disturbing, it’s an affront to all that is holy, it’s a wrench in his belief that this place is a purgatory, it’s a danger to everyone.

And yet. Lexi comes across, at least over text, as perfectly normal. Charming, even. It’s confusing. He’s confused. ]

Hi. My name is Tim Laughlin.

You don’t know me. But I think I have a friend who’s like you. A vampire. I was wondering if you could help me.

[abyssale]

( interesting reach out...

he's always game for these kinds of conversations, though. )

a pleasure, tim. i'm assuming you must know of me from the network if you're reaching out, but not to wholly assume - my name is alexei. though i quite prefer lexi.

i'm happy to try my best. i can't guarantee anything, as i've discovered there's some pretty interesting differences in not just vampire capabilities in different worlds, but also cultures. but there's also some common ground, so hopefully enough i'll be of some use.

@dani (voice)

[godspark]

I've decided that when you're king, you should invent electricity. And movies, we should have movies.

[abyssale]

You do recall we have problems with limited resources, yes?

@dani

[godspark]

what do we do

[abyssale]

Keep our heads down and don't draw attention to ourselves as potential targets.

I'll be staying particularly quiet.

post-louis jaccusation

[godspark]

[ when he sees lexi leave, dani's quick to follow. alina's words are still playing in his head.

he goes straight to his room with lexi, and shuts the door after him. ]

Lexi. Talk to me.

[abyssale]

He gave her name. ( Lexi runs his hands through his hair, pacing. ) Why would he do that?

( he looks to Dani, red blood staining the edges of his eyes. ) He never said to me he didn't do it.

[godspark]

[ once the votes are cast, and alia and lucifer are taken away, dani comes to lexi. it's after dark. he takes his hand. ]

Come to the gardens with me.

[abyssale]

( after the other two are led away, Lexi follows Dani out into the gardens. )

We shouldn't be out here. We could be attacked.

text; un: lestat

[perfectionner]

We should speak, at your convenience, given recent events.

[abyssale]

Considering I'm intending to avoid the center of the storm as much as possible, currently is convenient for me.

text — un: missmystic

[highlyemotional]

They're going to blame you again

[ by they she means specifically the same people since that ginger girl was attacked. ]

[abyssale]

Ridiculously so, yes.

I have evidence I reached out to Koby and Nami and promised no retaliation. If anyone will take that as enough reason not to accuse me.

UN: DRESDEN

[forzare]

I know you and yours haven't a cause to trust me. Hell, I wouldn't.

But — and it's an olive branch 'cause we're all stuck here together — if you and yours come out of this harassed and harangued more than Louis already hinted at being — we can talk, yeah? I hate the thought that they're all just cycling through you guys, hoping to catch you out. It's shitty.

I'm sending this to the other vampires, too. Just let me know you got the message.

[ local vampire hater hates bullies more :) ]

@dani

[godspark]

lexi i can't stay near armand.

i love louis, i want to be near him, i trust him, its not about him.

i can't live near armand.

so if you want to, if you feel safer with him, that's okay. but i have to go, then, okay? i'm not asking you to choose. but i'm going back to our old room today.

[abyssale]

what's brought this on?

text — un: aemond_

[provoke]

Your Highness. I mislike to call upon your friendship with mine mother for a task that puts your abilities to risk, but if you will hear me, it could — should we succeed — aid in finding justice for mine nephew, now twice murdered.

Have you the time to spare?

[abyssale]

Lexi. Not your highness.

And I do suppose I have a certain skill for this kind of thing. ( more than the average vampire, but he doesn't need to explain that. )

Yeah, I'm happy to help.

@SET

[redsoil]

You are Daniil's Alexei, yes?

[abyssale]

Yes, but just call me Lexi.

You're the god he's been speaking with? Set?

[godspark]

[ sometime after matt's demise, dani comes to find lexi in the library. he's red-eyed and looks agitated, but doesn't say much. he sits beside him, and slides the note over in front of him. ]

I can only get...half of this, maybe, and I don't want to ask anyone else.

What does it say?

[abyssale]

( he saw the post. he isn't happy, either, with what happened with Matt, but he knows it's hitting Dani harder.

he takes the note, reads it out loud as Dani sits. )

Are you okay?

a brief haunting.

[occupied]

[ are you having a peaceful evening? are you enjoying the sights and sounds of saltburnt? well, congratulations on finding a new companion tonight: this dog, with glowing hell eyes and fire collar and a stinky sulfuric perfume wafting along with her. if you step away from her, she will follow. if you move towards her, she will step back. just a little dance-y dance for about a few minutes before she decides she's had enough and leaves.

she knows you now. time to report back to her human. ]

[godspark]

[ he's in bed one night, waiting for lexi to join him. he's been tense all day, likely for a couple of days, and hadn't been forthcoming about why. but now, when lexi leaves the bathroom, dani sits up straight, and says it like he's just desperate to get the words out. ]

I think I'm ready.

[ ... ]

For biting. I mean, I want you to.

🎁

[rationalism]

[ sometime during the holiday season, wrapped in red and gold paper, tidily and well done because grace enlisted some of the staff to help her, a gift is delivered to lexi's door along with just so many flowers. so many! one box bears a chess set and the other a leather journal. ]

Lexi,

Now we have no excuse not to learn to play chess since we can do it inside in our pajamas. Happy holidays!

Love, Grace

🎅 delivery.

[peasant]

( wrapped in sleek paper, alina manages to wriggle her way into lexi's room while he's out elsewhere. a stack of presents waits for him on his bed: a box of macabre chocolates up to the standards of alina's sweet tooth, two necklaces filled with an unidentifiable red liquid, and finally, an unwrapped hand mirror, glinting ruby ring, and a letter sealed with a gem. it reads, )

For the man who loves to admire his reflection,

Uncork the bottles and drink the potion inside. The liquid inside should protect you from the sun for an hour or two, so you no longer have to brood in the dark. I know it's not ideal weather for it, but you should be able to bask in the daylight with the rest of us.

Thank you for being my friend, even when I made it difficult for you to be.

(PS: Can vampires eat chocolate? If they can't, you know where to find me to share.)

☀️ Alina

delivery; christmas eve 12/24

[preborns]

[Alia’s gift is wrapped somewhat clumsily in brown paper, likely taken from the kitchens, and taped excessively to ensure it’s secure. Inside, resting in sparkly, star-studded tissue paper:

A black parasol, enchanted to keep off the sun's rays, despite it's apparent flimsiness.

A smooth-polished rock from the lake (yes, everyone gets a rock) with the gift-receiver’s initials carefully carved into it (with what? Don’t worry about it.)

A business card for Sol & Scroll, because if you aren’t patronizing it, you should be.

There’s also a note, scribbled on notebook paper stolen from Alina (sorry, babe):

Alexei -

To keep you from sparkling and revealing your secrets.

Thank you for your visit, in the cells.

I will not forget your kindness.

- Alia

🎁

[highlyemotional]

[ neatly wrapped and tied with a wide white satin ribbon are a stack of boxes left just outside lexi & dani's door. half the boxes are labeled for alexei and inside he will find:

a box of chocolate covered strawberries on ice

a dozes butterscotch chip cookies, homemade

a copy of dracula

caroline's own daylight ring

the note reads in perfectly neat penmanship, which she got an A for in 3rd grade, ]

The chocolates are mostly for Dani so share with him before you take a spin in the sunlight with him.

Love Caroline