𝖘𝖆𝖑𝖙𝖇𝖚𝖗𝖓𝖙 𝖎𝖓𝖇𝖔𝖝.

[abyssale]

WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK

USERNAME:
LEXI

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[abyssale]

I will literally gag you with a tie to keep you quiet if you talk. ( he looks at him from the corner of his eyes as they get closer. )

[godspark]

[ sensing that this is a trap, he pretends to button his lips closed, and smiles. look at him, he is behaving. continue please, your royal majesty. ]

[abyssale]

Good boy.

( so.. Lexi reads him the post. it feels weird to read his own writing out loud like a bed time story. but he does it for Dani's benefit.

he reads each conversation... and he doesn't edit what he says to Dani. he'll parse it out eventually anyway. )

[godspark]

[ he listens, dutifully. there's a few moments when he starts to say something or makes a kind of worldless, disgusted sound, but he buttons himself again.

until the end. ]

Thank you.

[ then he punches lexi's arm. ]

You wrote on this network that you're the last survivor of your bloodline, and your name is on it, and anyone who's here can go and read it at any time? Are you mad?

[abyssale]

( ...

this is not what he expected.

he raises an eyebrow at him. ) I can handle myself if anyone else from our world comes here and wants to make themselves a nuisance to me.

[godspark]

Really.

[ dani stares at him. the fucking ego on him-- ]

What if it's the King? Or really anyone in the royal line. What if it's more than one? There's two of us, we don't know who else might be brought. For all we know there's others already here.

[abyssale]

( Lexi rolls his eyes and leans back against the frame of the bed. ) This place is different. That means different rules. I looked through the list. Even if anyone from our world is here they're not anyone I would consider a threat.

That also means I have the advantage of learning the rules here before anyone else arrives.

[godspark]

[ this is gonna be a struggle. ]

You're so used to being the strongest. You think nothing can hurt you. They're right, all those people who told you that you weren't being careful.

Humans used to think the same thing. They never imagined another species could come and take everything from them. Look where it got them.

[ we aren't so different, you and i. ]

[abyssale]

I know what happened to humans. And I know how to be careful. I didn't survive my lineage's massacre by not being prepared.

( his gaze meets Dani's. ) Why are you so worried for me? My death would practically ensure humanity's freedom.

[godspark]

[ Oh now, that makes him laugh. ]

Everyone's thought you were dead for almost my whole life. I was two when your whole line 'died'. Where is this freedom we're supposed to have found?

[abyssale]

( Lexi rolls his eyes. ) I'm talking about Agrafina and her plan to wipe out all vampires. Which includes me in the end, if you haven't guessed.

Killing me would just speed up her end results.

[godspark]

[ dani scoffs. ]

Well, yes, but she's not going to win.

And even if she did, that would just put the witches in charge. You think they'd free all the humans that they've never given a shit about? There's more of us than them, they're not stupid. They'd keep us controlled.

[ he pauses. he's quiet, but not at peace. there's some anxious energy in him, wanting to come out. ]

All those worlds where humans dominate, where they're free. That's not us. We had our chance, that's gone.

[abyssale]

They would probably kinder to you all at least. ( why is he arguing against his own rule here? )

What do you imagine happens if I win?

[godspark]

[ the fact that he only found out about lexi's plan yesterday notwithstanding... ]

Nothing. Everything stays how it is.

Just like it did when the Dravens died. The only thing that changed for my people is what name we thank before we eat.

[abyssale]

( he's not wrong. Lexi shouldn't feel... guilty about that. he hates to admit it, but as unfair as the system is on humans it has been keeping all populations alive in a world that is more than likely dying. )

I'd bring you with me.

[godspark]

[ dani looks up at him, brow furrowing. ]

What does that mean? Bring me where.

[abyssale]

To the palace. When I ascend. ( he knows what he's offering is a pittance... )

[godspark]

[ to the palace.

what does it say about dani that he can't even picture it? ]

So that I would be...what.

Like.

Your pet?

[abyssale]

( Lexi watches him with neutral eyes as he nods. ) Yes. Essentially, yes.

[godspark]

[ could he...do that?

he'd be king, in theory, so there wouldn't be anyone to stop him. and for all that he'd talked to poor alina about representation, the king was an absolute ruler.

so. in theory, he could.

dani doesn't know what to say. his lips move. his eyebrows lift, he looks away, then back at lexi, frowning. ]

Why? You could have anyone. The ones raised to it, they'd definitely punch you less.

[abyssale]

( ... not the reaction Lexi expected to that revelation. )

Your punches don't hurt. ( he rolls his yes, relaxing slightly. )

And I like you most of anyone. I thought that obvious after our talk when you arrived?

[godspark]

[ that doesn't mean he understands it. ]

You could change things, though.

If you wanted. You could stop the Fields. The breeding program. Humans could learn how to read again. You could do that.

[abyssale]

( ah. there it is.

Lexi shrugs and shakes his head. ) No I can't.

There is no version of this where humans allow themselves to be fed on. It's just a simple fact.

The system we've created has led to the most peace between our four species as is possible. The most lives saved. For all of us.

[godspark]

[ his head shakes.

now, that nervous energy is gone. ]

It's not peace, Lexi.

[ he pushes up his sleeve, revealing the track marks on his arms. ]

It's this. And it hurts. Our lives are needles and teeth, and we have no choice. And we have no voice. You said that we do. It's either a lie that you told or a lie you believed, and calling this 'peace' is the same.

[ he picks up his phone and moves away. ]

I have to go. Thank you. [ gesturing with the phone. ] For helping.

[abyssale]

( Lexi doesn't stop him. doesn't move at all. he lets Dani get his piece out. take his phone. )

Ask again if you need help. ( is all he finally says before he picks up his own phone again to look through the network. )