Log:Show Me The Stars

2020/10/04 Radical|Connor Mari 1

It's the night after the concert show, and it's starting to get dark earlier in the evening. It's completely night time by the time the coffee meeting is meant to happen. The Confederation of Pie is an independent coffee shop. The type that roasts its own beans, and bakes its own pies, both sweet and savory, including pot pie and quiches. They also have an offering of hot cocoa and a variety of teas and tea lattes. The ambiance is warm and cozy, with a rustic feel. Light jazz plays in the store. Mari is seated at a small table against the left wall near the rear, facing towards the entrance. She already has a large cup of coffee, and is browsing her phone.

Connor comes in and waves to Mari with a smile. He then goes ahead and orders a coffee before taking it over to the table. "Hey there."

Mari's lips curl and she looks up as he approaches. Her skin looks flush and lively, her lips pink. She's dressed in skinny stonewash jeans, a black camisole, and a red scarf around her neck. An olive green jacket is draped over the back of her chair. "Hello, Connor," she says as she takes a sip from her cup. She glances around with just her eyes. Currently there's not anyone sitting immediately near them.

Connor takes a seat at the table. "How are you doing?" He notices her looking around, which does get him perhaps a little more wary, but he tries to remain calm.

Mari thinks a moment while taking another sip of coffee before her eyes return to him. "Doing alright, thanks to a last second rescue."

Connor sips him coffee, "Rescue? Umm...what happened last night? You disappeared on me." He's unable to really keep completely suave about it, though. He fidgets a little bit.

Mari sets her coffee on the table, her lips parting slightly as she studies his fidgeting act. Which in itself seems like an act compared to his heroics last night. She closes her eyes and inhales deeply through her nose, then lets it out slowly through her mouth to be sure. Her eyes open calmly and she smiles. "You still managed to find me. Was it you that sent your young friend over to warn me?"

Connor sips his coffee as he thinks about what to say. He then sets his mug down calmly as he realizes she knows. "It was. I told her to tell you. She helped me confirm what I saw initially, and that I wasn't mistaken. But yeah, I sent her over."

Mari smiles. "See? Was that so hard?" she asks as she gets comfortable and leans a little closer as they talk. "At first, I thought you found yourself a new date. It seems you're not nearly as mundane as you pretended to be."

Connor nods again and smiles. "Well...I AM a college math professor. So that's completely true." He sips his coffee again and makes sure there's no one else listening. "I just left out the...other stuff. Magic. Dimension hopping. All that good stuff."

Mari raises a brow at the dimension hopping. She didn't go research him yet. And her research skills are limited to social media and google searches, so leaving things out. How long have you known? About me?"
 * 1) Radical has millions of results. "I guess it's only fair since we were both

Connor rubs his chin. "A while now. I didn't at first. I found out...after we broke up, I think? You did a good job of hiding it."

His answer catches Mari by surprise. "There are ways to hide it. How did you find out if it was after we broke things off? Last night was the first time I saw you since then. I haven't noticed you at any of the shows or events around town. I began to wonder if you were ever really into that scene."

Mari adds, "Or if you were just avoiding me."

Connor shakes his head, "I wasn't avoiding you. When we met the first time, I was...trying to break out of my shell, so to speak? I'm an academic. And...pretty tightly wound. The woman you saw me with, and gave you the message? She helped me try to relax. And that's when we met. In a way, I felt like I was...pretending to be something that I'm not? If that makes sense, given the situation?" He smiles. "She's also the one who clued me in. She has more innate talent than I do. And better senses than I do." He takes a sip of his coffee again, "And no, she and I aren't dating."

Mari chuckles. "Oh, don't worry, she was quick to straigthen that out." She doesn't elaborate how, but the last time Gabrielle was quick to straigthen things out, she ended up being not so flattering. She runs a finger around the edge of the lid on her cup as she studies Connor. "Mmm. I don't know about pretending. I think there's some of that hidden within you, yearning to be free. To cut loose. Breaking out of our comfort zone is never comfortable. That's why it's called a comfort zone."

Connor takes a deep breath. "You're probably right. And...I do seem to act differently when...in the other persona. I can be more confident. More self-assured. Less concerned about appearances." He smiles, "And more willing to do what needs to be done, I guess."

Mari smiles at that. "You seemed confident and self-assured when we were dating. I wasn't disappointed that your day job was a professor, you know. I was disappointed you felt you had to lie to me about it. And...some other things. Nevermind." She sips her coffee. "Wearing a mask, like drinking, let's people let go of some of those things holding them back. All those nagging thoughts society puts in our brains. That's why so many female halloween costumes are 'slutty nurse' or 'slutty cop'. They sell because they give people permission to do what they want." She thinks a moment while watching him. "Did you mean what you said? About protecting some of the things that go bump in the night?"

Connor nods as she talks, "Yeah, I apologize. I...didn't deal with everything very well. And you certainly deserved better than that." He then nods again as she asks the question, "I did. I mean...you're people. Same as anyone else. Just...different. There will be evil and good in everyone to varying degrees. Some need to be protected. Some need to be stopped. Just like humans."

"It wasn't just that. I also realized I was kidding myself that I could pursue a relationship with," Mari lowers her voice a bit, "a human for very long." She smiles faintly. "You're very open minded. I'd be dust if you hadn't saved me."

Connor smiles, "I...have had a lot of experience in dealing with the extraordinary. Look up the name 'Cartesian' when you do your resarch. I used to have that job a few years ago." He figures...why not throw that out there? She might not know the name, but he's less interested in being super secretive with her. "I still care for you. I am...pretty sure I'm the wrong person for you, but I think you could probably find the right person. There must be SOMEONE out there for you? It just...will be difficult to find him or her."

Connor adds, "I would very much like to remain friends, if you're okay with that?"

Mari chuckles. "We're probably wrong for each other for a variety of reasons. I have a lot of time to find someone. Though it's time to choose a different life. Those Vampire Hunters know me. I wonder who I'll be this time..." she ponders.

Connor snaps his fingers, "You just need to find a meta who's immortal. There you go."

Grimm laughs at the suggestion. "Have any you can recommend? I stayed away from metas. Ever since that blow up about a vampire taking over the city, my kind have had an even worse wrap than normal."

Connor nods. "Oh...yeah, that's true. I was going to suggest maybe someone like Titan? Or maybe one of those aliens visiting is immortal. Godflora? But that adds another complication, if they're not human." He smiles. "At any rate...if you do change identities, make sure to give me your contact info. I'll be around another...fifty years, maybe? Discounting time travel, which I'm not a stranger to. So I might see you...whenever." He says it with sincerity, too. So the time travel thing is likely true.

Mari laughs at the mention of the Godflora. "Those Godflora seem a bit to chaotic for trying to keep my secret life secret. And Titan...Mmmm. He's ruggedly good looking, but very high profile. I might not mind a date with that one, but I think DMZ claims he's dating some Fae or something," she smiles slyly. "I'll pass on my next identity to you. Seems worth keeping you updated while you're still around. I suppose I could still date mortals who would be willing to be turned." She shrugs at that potential. Her brows quirk up at the mention of time travel. "Funny. I...don't -think- I've already met you before. But maybe you'll pop up in my future even after your fifty-some-odd years are up." She pauses a moment. "I'm not sure what to think of that."

Connor shrugs and nods, "Time travel gets complicated. I don't know what to think about it, either. And I've done it. A few times now. But if you see me turn up in the far future, dont' be too surprised. It hasn't happened yet in my timeline, but I can't rule it out."

"I probably would've suspected it was a descendant if you hadn't mentioned time travel," Mari smiles. "So...dimensions and time travel. Is there a dimension of eternal night that doesn't freeze the world over?"

Connor thinks about it, "There's one of eternal darkness, but it devours things. I do not recommend that one. I was only exposed to it briefly, thankfully."

Mari cringes at that. "Doesn't sound like it offers much of a night life. I'm glad you didn't get devoured."

Connor smiles. "I'm afraid I don't really know of a good one. Usually it'll mess with things. Crops won't grow, that kind of thing. Though I suppose there might be one with large overgrown cities where you could live out of sunlight? But that seems pretty bleak, in my opinion. There's something nice about the night sky. Especially out in the countryside."

"It doesn't sound fun," Mari admits. "Also sounds like food would be scarce of there weren't crops for animals and humans." Something amuses her as she has en epiphany. She shakes her head and laughs. "You know, I...haven't spent too much time away from cities after all this time. For the same reason. I'd like to see it sometime."

Connor nods. "I can help you with that, if you like?"

Mari considers Connor's offer. "How? I need to stay near someplace safe by sunrise. And near...well." Her finger taps lightly against her cup as she decides not to finish that statement.

Connor smiles. "I have my gear with me. Well, in the car. I can get you out to the countryside in a matter of...a couple of minutes? And back in the same amount of time."

Mari sits up a bit at that information, eyes widening a bit. "Really?" she asks, as if not quite believing, though there's excitement in her voice. "Somewhere where you can see the Milky Way?"

Connor smiles. "Absolutely. We'd have to go via another dimension, rather than directly there. But I can do it."

Mari grins and can't help but let out a pleased giggle. "I have no idea how that actually works or what that means, but if it only takes a few minutes, it doesn't seem bad to me."

Connor smiles. "Fair enough. Let's finish our coffee, and I can go grab my stuff. We should have plenty of time. Alternatively, you know...you could have driven out there. But I realize that can be a bit...dangerous, if you dont' get back in time.

Mari nods. "It's risky going that far. I've been a city girl all my life. And...well...unlife," she adds the last more quietly. "I tried a road trip once and had to sleep in my trunk. I don't recommend it. It was an old beater and there was some gaps for sunlight," she cringes at the memory.

Connor finishes up his coffee and nods. "There must be a half dozen kinds, huh? Because I know of at least one type that can walk around in daylight."

Mari sips the last of her coffee. "There's all kinds all throughout the world. Some more gruesome and weird that I'd care to run into. A few of the older ones can walk in daylight."

Connor nods. "Ah, that makes sense. Meet you in the alley in the back? How does that sound?"

Mari chuckles. "Sounds like something I should be asking. Sure. I'll meet you there."

Connor chuckles. "Alright...see you there." He gets up...and heads outside to get his gear. He uses the harness to teleport to the roof...and then finishes getting dressed. It's just easier. Only then does he reappar in the alleyway in costume.

Mari is waiting in the alley, keeps alert in case any other vampire hunters are on the prowl, or metas who would stake first and not ask question. She gasps at Connor's reappearance, not accustomed to it. "That...is something," she smiles.

Radical chuckles. "The gear I have allows me to fold space. But I use magic too." He then offers his hand. "I'll take you through my sanctum first...and then out to the countryside. We'll have to come back the same way. And it requires that you and I are touching. I can't create gates like some others can."

Mari smiles. "A man of science -and- magic? That's so...unusual," she says, intrigue as she reaches out and delicately takes his hand. "I won't complain of the methods when I'm getting a free ride," she grins.

Radical chuckles. "Alright...this will feel...a little disorienting." He then shifts them to his sanctum. Floating flat-topped asteroids in an otherwise dark void. "This...is my home away from my actual home." They're in what might be considered the 'foyer', as the furniture and lab equipment is on other floating rocks.

Mari's sense of balance goes out the window when they travel to dimensions, almost falling over if not for her grip on his hand. When she straigthens up and feels better on her feet again, she looks around. "How...are you able to breathe on an asteroid belt?" she asks in awe, taking it all in. "That area looks cozy," she says nodding toward the lounge.

Radical smiles. "Hang on." He keeps a hold of her hand...and teleports them over to the lounge area. "Partially magic. Partially tech. I have a plasma generator and a full lab set up. And an occult library.""

Mari grips a bit tigther to prepare for the disorientation. She still is wobbly as they reappear at first. "How do you get -used- to that?" she laughs. She keeps hold of his hand and steps close to the edge of the asteroid, leaning to peer over the edge. It steals her breathe away--even though she doesn't need to breathe--and she grips his hand tigther. Not with crushing strength, though.

Radical chuckles. "You just...do. After the first twenty times or so, it becomes second nature. I used to do it all the time as the Cartesian, so it was easier to adjust to the near gear." He realizes that he revealed something extra there. "Umm...if you don't know what the Cartesian is, he or she is the representative of the cosmic entity of Order on the plane. That was me for a couple of years."

"You mentioned you were the Cartesian, but I didn't know what that really meant," Mari confesses. "Metahumans, especially of the magic sort, can be dangerous to my kind. You never know." She studies his mask for a few moments. "You're full of interesting secrets. 'I'm just a professor'," she mock-imitates him.

Radical chuckles. "I'm sorry. But...I have enemies too. So, sometimes, it's best to protect others around me by not letting them know everything. There are only few people who know." Well, maybe a dozen at this point. But mostly metas.

Mari nods and smiles. "Protecting me even before you saved me at the show?" she says, flattered. "I suppose it was also protecting yourself from me, if you had known what I was."

Radical takes a deep breath. "I'm not sure what I would have done had I known. I might have asked you about it?" He nods, "But yeah...absolutely. I actually showed up at the show about Flyte's writing for a couple of reasons. One...because I was invited." HE smiles, which is barely visible under the mask. "...but also because Flyte himself is a cultist. Actually deals with cosmic entities that he writes about. It's real."

"I'm sure you wouldn't have felt comfortable or accepted my offers for 'coffee' if you had known," Mari says suggestively. She's not used to the mask and can't sense the smile to be sure, but there's context in his voice. She looks surprised at his revelation. "So...you were expecting something like that attack to happen? That's why you disappeared!" she realizes.

Radical shrugs, "I wasn't sure what would happen. Just that something might. But that is why I disappered. And I got injured during the fight, if I remember correctly."

"That explains some things. I had no idea," Mari says honestly, concern on her features at him having been injured. "I was a fan of his books. I had no idea he was for real."

Radical nods. "I suggest....not reading any more of them. The books have a corrupting influence."

Mari nods. "I suppose I better throw out my books, then. Damn...I didn't even finish the trilogy," she says. "But maybe that's a good thing," she sighs in realization. Her eyes light up. "Didn't you say you had an occult library?" she asks excitedly.

Radical nods. "I do. Over there." He points to another floating rock which is set up as a library. "Want to take a look?"

Mari nods excitedly. "Can we? Please?"

Radical smiles. "Sure. hang on to your stomach again." He takes her hand once more...and teleports them to the library. Then the points out the books. "These are on mathematics and physics. These are on occult and arcane lore. The ones I've written are in the math section, I'm afraid."

Mari grips tight as they port again. She takes another step on solid asteroid to orient herself. "That...-is- getting a bit better. It feels so weird." She's been uneasy about letting go in case she will somehow go falling off the asteroid. But seeing the books, she finally braves letting go of him. She looks towards the physics and smirks a bit. "So another lie. You said you wrote occult stuff. Why?" she asks as she walks over to the math section and traces her finger down the spine of one of the books bearing his name as the author.

Radical actually pulls off his mask this time. "Umm...vanity? I wanted to seem cooler in your eyes, I guess?" He shrugs and smiles. "A stupid decision on my part. Dont' get me wrong...I have a LOT of journals on the occult stuff I've dealt with. But nothing published yet."

Mari glances at him as he takes off his mask, smiling at getting to see his face. It's left his hair not as perfectly styled as before. She shrugs. "Nothing uncool about being smart. And based on...well...this," she nods to the lounge and the asteroids in general, then at his outfit, "I think I'm the one who would've needed to impress you." She turns towards him. "So you weren't lying about that part. It doesn't matter of it's not officially published. Are any of them available to read?"

Radical nods. "Sure." He heads over to a shelf and pulls out a leather bound journal, picking out an older one, tyring to avoid anything about Rira or Grimm. That restricts things pretty severely. "There

Radical nods. "Sure." He heads over to a shelf and pulls out a leather bound journal, picking out an older one, tyring to avoid anything about Rira or Grimm. That restricts things pretty severely. "Here's one that deals with some of my findings about Flyte and his cult that he created." He offers the journal to her.

Mari accepts the journal and smiles, holding it with both hands with some meaning. "Thank you for sharing this," she says reverently as she looks over the leather binding and opens it carefully. She knows she hasn't time to read it all, but she looks very involved as she pages through it, stopping to read here and there.

Radical smiles. "You're welcome." The section on the asylum is definitely in there. As well as the corrupting influence of the books.

Mari gasps as she reads the part of the asylum. "I guess you really aren't a stranger to monsters," she realizes. She pages through to the end of the writing. "So fascinating. I wish I could read through it all," she smiles and offers it back to Connor, regret in her eyes at having to do so without getting to read it.

Radical smiles. "Tell you what...we can set up a time to have you come back, if you like." He takes the book and puts it back on the shelf.

"Really?" Mari asks a little too excitedly, then tries to pull back to acting cool. "I'd really like that." And by like, it sounds more like she meant love.

Radical grins. "I'm good with that. So...don't lose my contact info." He smiles and pulls the mask back on. "All set to go see the night sky?"

Mari smiles. "I'll make sure at least you know who I'll be next." After giving the sanctum a last look, she steps up to him and holds out her hand as she revels in excitement. "All set. Show me the stars."

Radical smiles and takes her hand again...and transports them back to Earth, but out north of Green Acres, well into the farmland area, aiming for a field. "We're north of Colonial Bay now."

Mari sways a bit again as they traverse dimensions. Far from the city light pollution, Mari looks up to the sky.

Radical smiles. "I can't take us directly to and from town. I have to go through another dimension to cover that kind of distance quickly. But it works."

"How far a distance -can- you go?" Mari asks, though her voice is quiet with awe at how many stars there are.

Radical says quietly. "Pretty much...anywhere. The only limit is making sure it's someplace I can breathe."

Mari smiles and laughs at the stars, looking across the streak of the milky way. "That's incredible. You're free. You could go anywhere!" she says enviously, not afraid to laugh and be loud in the remote field as she lets go of his hand so she can take a few steps away and slowly spin in place while admiring the heavens.

Radical chuckles. "Yeah. I...am." It had never occurred to him that she might be feeling cooped up in the city. Especially given how easy it is to get around on the planet for most peopel after the advent of TransMat. "How long have you been stuck in Colonial Bay?"

Mari is imprisoned by more than just cities and driving distance. She's trapped from being out in the day as well. She thinks a moment. "At least a decade, I think. I've been through a bunch of cities as long as they're within a night's drive or have a transmat terminal, but I've been nervous to be away from the safety they provide. I used to live in New York, but things are really political there. All these territories and rules. I try to avoid cities like that. Colonial Bay is strange enough, I'm hardly noticed." The Transmat's don't often go to smaller country towns or isolated areas.

Radical nods. "That makes sense." He thinks about it some more. "Maybe...I can rig something that would allow you to be outside during the day? The trick woudl be to have it not draw attention. I'm not sure if I can do both."

Mari finally pulls her gaze from the skies and looks to Radical in disbelief. "You...you really think you can do that?" she asks, afraid that in asking, she'll find out it's not really true.

Radical shrugs, "I...am not sure. The issue is...it might be super obvious. Deflected light is pretty obvious. But...I can look into it?"

Radical opens his coat and shows his harness. "I'd base it on this. The harness creates a partial protective field around me of dimensional energies. But I might be able to go with a similar base to work that out. Give me a little time to think about it and do some brainstorming."

Mari nods slowly and reels in her excitement. "That makes sense. Even if it let me go out to a distant meadow and see the sun rise again. That'd be -amazing-," she says. She looks over his harness and grins a bit. "Well, the field might make it obvious, but I could certainly rock a harness like that into a look."

Radical chuckles. "Worst case, you look like a walking polarized area of space. Like a dark sphere."

Mari laughs. "So sexy. It'll be the latest fashion in Milan before you know it."

Radical laughs. "Probably not. But I could see that. Like a walking bubble down the runway."

Mari laughs at that and puts her hands on her hips, giving a mock runway walk. "So like this?" she asks, before turning around. "Or like this?" she puts her arms out and walks without bending her knees to look like she's waddling in a bubble.

Radical chcukles. "It woudln't impede your movement. It would just look like an opaque ball."

Mari laughs some more and drops her arms to her sides. "Now you tell me," she mock-scolds him. She takes a breath as her laugh subsides, then turns towards the East. "Though it would still be something to see the sun rise in person without turning to ash and dust," she says longingly. She looks back up at the sky. "I could probably stay here stargazing all night...and probably loose track of the time," she smiles faintly.

Radical smiles. "Well...since you need me to get you back, loosing track of time might be bad. How about...spending an hour or two just relaxing here? And I cna get you back. We can schedule another time to do this again."

Mari looks to Radical and smiles. "Really? You don't mind? And...I'd love to come out again. Maybe bring a good book and lay on the cool grass," she replies dreamily.

Radical nods. "I don't mind. It's the least I could do, given how things went between us. I feel like I owe you." He goes ahead and takes a seat on the ground. "Besides, it's nice to just...be sometimes."

Mari smiles and sits down next to him. "Weeeell, if that's how you feel, who am I to refuse a chance to see the sunrise when you've already saved my unlife?" She looks to the sky, folds her arms behind her head, and lays back on the long grass with a smile to stargaze. "Being is nice. It'll give me a chance to think of who I'll be next. And maybe just relax before all the work ahead of me. It takes some work to kill off an identity without too many questions."

Radical looks over, "Can't just...disappear, huh? Are you going to have to leave town?"

"Disappearing used to be easier," Mari grins. "I guess it depends on how much those Vampire Hunters really knew about me. It could be as easily as a change in hair style, color, and fashion."

Mari thinks for a moment. "I...don't know if I'll have to leave town. I really liked my place, but if they know my face and name, they may know where I live. I probably need to move asap, and find some other place to sleep in the meantime."

Radical nods. "If you need help with anything, please let me know. I'll do what I can."

Mari smiles at the stars. "I'll think on that. In the meantime," she reaches up to try and grab the back of his coat collar to pull him down to share the view, "start relaxing. I'm not going to bite. Unless you ask."

Radical laughs. "Umm...I think I'll pass on that." He does lie back to look up at the stars, though. "Not without knowing more, at least."

Mari chuckles. "It won't make you turn. Otherwise we'd have vampires everywhere. You'd have to drink vampire blood in return for that to happen," she lets go of his coat once he starts lying back. "And unlike some breeds of vampires, it's actually...ah...pleasant."

Radical pulls off his mask again as they lie out there. He's unlikely to get spotted. "You can kill that way too, I'm assuming, right? Not that you necessarily would, I know. I mean, if you did, you start to draw heat on yourself."

Mari gazes up at the stars. "Sure. I could. If I waited until I was starved and taken by the Hunger, I might lose control. Police ask questions if bodies start showing up, so it's not a good idea to kill. That goes for the living, too, though."

Radical nods. "Do people that you bite remember it? Or is it kind of vague?"

Radical says, "Or is it kind of based on how strong willed they are?"

"Depends on their will. I can mesmerize them into forgetting some of the details. They just remember some...aggressive making out or being in the throes of passion." Mari turns her head to Connor. "And no, I didn't bite you," she smiles.

Radical smiles. "I appreciate you telling me, but I hadn't even considered that yet." He chuckles..."But that would have been my next thought, I admit."

That makes Mari smile warmly. "Well. I wouldn't blame you for starting to wonder. I wasn't interested in you for just a fling and a meal," she says before looking back at the stars.

Radical smiles. "Good to know. Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it."

Mari nods, chuckling briefly. "You're welcome. I'm sure you appreciate not being turned into a snack, despite being a 'snack'." Snack in the slang term. She relaxes and enjoys the stars.

Radical laughs. "Mmm." He looks up at the stars for a few minutes. After a bit he says, "You really think so? Thank you."

Mari smiles. "So a professor -does- know that term. I don't know if the kids are using it today. And yes, I do. Don't you?"

Radical chuckles. "I am hip to the kids these days." He grins, "I think of myself as kind of average looking, normally. Unlike yourself. You drew my eye immediately."

Mari can't help but chuckle at the hip comment. "You drew my eye, too. You certainly don't strike me as average looking. And despite what you said about being tightly wound, you seemed at ease on our first few dates. Maybe you started overthinking."

Radical grins. "The odds are...very good that was the case, yes. One of my fatal flaws. I know in my head that just being relaxed is most important. But I end up overthinking."

Mari smiles. "Well, that may have been your downfall. Doubting the real you was good enough. You are."

Radical smiles, not answering that immediately. After a bit he says, "Thank you. I sometimes need a reminder. I know it doesn't make any sense."

"It makes perfect sense. Most people aren't comfortable or doubt themselves." Mari cracks a smile. "Part of the human condition," she says with some degree of wryness, since it doesn't quite apply to her anymore.

Radical chuckles. "Not an issue for you? Or did you grow out of it over time?" He thinks about that. "How old are you, if you don't mind my asking? No judging. I mean, you don't look old at all." He grins at that, knowing that being immortal makes that easy.

"I grew out of it. Eventually you stop caring. Though...they say sometimes that's a risk for vampires." Mari chuckles and looks over to him. "Hmm...about...wow...112 years old. So yes, I'm robbing the cradle with you," she smiles slyly at him. "I was turned around the mid-1980's."

Radical blinks, "Wow. Do you like it? I mean...being a vampire. And...well, theoretically living forever?"

Mari blinks a few times and looks back at the stars. She has to think on that. "I've...struggled with it. Not aging is nice. But...it has its price. I...don't feel alive like I used to. Physically. Emotionally. There's times where I can get back that feeling. You gave it to me for our brief time together. The best an fastest way to get that feeling is to feed. But...you're feeding on people. I can eat small amounts of food without getting too sick, but it doesn't really have much flavor. I miss the sun. It gets lonely over the years and harder to relate. I try to keep current with the times, but it's getting more and more difficult. I've gotten good at pretending, though." She cracks a sad smile. "I guess I'm pretending to be something I'm not all the time."

Radical smiles. "Well...I know I won't live as long. But as long as I'm around, you can be yourself around me. And I promise to try to be myself too."

The sadness leaves Mari's expression and her smile becomes genuine. "If you ever change your mind, I might be able to get permission to turn you. I know it has its drawbacks, but it's better than the alternative. And...I'd like that," she says, touched. She gazes back up at the stars and fully relaxes against the grassy field to enjoy the view and companionship, living in the moment rather than thinking of the inevitable loss in decades to come.

Radical finds himself thinking about the futures that he's seen. And the past. And whether or not things really can be changed. Are they fated? Grimm's fate was changed, at least. Maybe it's not completely locked in place. And maybe he's overthinking. Again. He takes a deep breath, "I'd have to think about that. But I figure I have some time to consider it." He smiles.

"At least several decades, right?" Mari chuckles. "Plenty of time to obsess pros and cons. Something I wish I had done, but...my sire left out a lot of the details to give me a real choice."

Radical chuckles. "Well, I'm not sure I want to be like...seventy and a vampire. Then I'm stuck with my body at that age, right? Doesn't seem ideal."

Mari laughs. "Well, don't wait that long, then. Now just look at the stars and just be. Relax." She looks back to the stars, trying to spy the constellations.