whitehairedprettyboy | prismatica inbox

[Well, someone's looking forward to this. Valmont is...interesting, he has to say, and he isn't going to say no to a nice dinner, anyways. He's dressed up for this in his dress jacket and collared shirt along with dark dress pants, though internally he would've preferred to go more casual - ah, well, it seems like a nice place, and Valmont seems the type of guy to appreciate dressing up.]

[He enters, scans the room for the man - and then wanders over when he does, giving him a smile.]

Right on time. It's a nice place.

[ Valmont's been looking forward to tonight as well. Whether or not he would call it a "date" is up in the air - Steinbeck, while certainly not unattractive, isn't particularly his type. Too American. But on the other hand, it always pays to have connections, and those connections can take quite a few different forms, especially in this society. He supposes he'll see where the night takes them.

So here he is, sitting at a table in their agreed-upon restaurant, having arrived just a few minutes previously (fashionably early). He looks up appraisingly as Steinbeck approaches. ]

Well, well. You clean up better than I'd have expected.

[ Not an insult, at least not intentionally - just calling it like he sees it. He sweeps an arm toward the chair across from him. ]

Please, sit down. I'm sure we have quite a bit to discuss.

Edited 2020-02-24 13:07 (UTC)

Haha, what do you think I would've done? Dressed in overalls?

[He smirks at that, taking the chair as indicated. Valmont is an interesting man. A bit snide, maybe, for his tastes, but sharp, too. He likes sharp people.]

[He sort of unintentionally collects them, like knives.]

So, Mr. Valmont. What do you want to talk about, then? I'm all ears.

Overalls? [ He looks slightly scandalized at the image. ] My word, I should hope not. But there are some people who can pull off a proper suit, and some who simply cannot. You, Mr. Steinbeck, can.

[ Hmm. What exactly does he want to get out of this meeting? Well, they're ostensibly here to get to know each other better, and he can admit to a certain amount of personal curiosity, so... ]

Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself? It would seem I have a pretty good idea of who you aren't - an author, for one - but rather less of one who you are. Serving tea isn't your only passion in life, surely?

Flattery will get you nowhere, Mr. Valmont.

[But its flattery he'll accept. His eyes turn up with his smile at the question - get to know him better? Well, he could just tell him about his sordid past, about the blood he's spilled, that sort of thing...but that wasn't something to just unload on anyone. He has still yet to know what Valmont is about, after all.]

Haha, nope. I'm from a large family in California. We own a huge farm there, so I've grown up working on the land. Crops, livestock, you name it, I know it. I'm the type of guy who likes to get his hands in the dirt.

Clearly I shall have to try harder, then.

[ He leans in as Steinbeck speaks, trying not to look too obviously disgusted at the idea of digging around in the dirt, for fun. Eurgh. Couldn't be him. ]

California? What a fascinating coincidence. I happen to live in San Francisco, and have for the past several years - though, as I'm sure you've gathered, my origins lie elsewhere entirely. You've never been to England, have you, Mr. Steinbeck?

Maybe you should.

[He says, cooly.]

[San Francisco, huh? So a city man. He looks the type, for sure, and the England part doesn't surprise him either.]

I actually have once or twice on business trips, though I do a lot of work at home. Which part do you come from? London, I guess?

[ A challenge, hmm? Valmont levels his gaze at Steinbeck across the table, considering. Very well, he can try and work a little more flattery into the night, but it'll have to wait. Talking about himself comes first. ]

Born and bred. And might I say, between the two cities, there's really no comparison.

[ His chest puffs out a little. For all that he hasn't actually spent much time in London in the past several years, he does miss it, and he's compelled to defend its honor. ]

Business trips to England, you say? Is this still farming we're talking about?

[ No, really, do farmers go on international business trips? He honestly doesn't have any idea. ]

Oooh, born and bred, huh? [He leans his cheek against his hand.] Why don't you live there, then? Stuff to do in California?

[The question makes his eyes narrow a little.]

Maybe it is. [He laughs - it sounds like bells ringing, bright and light.] What do you think?

Duty calls, unfortunately. Would that I could conduct my business from London, but it's simply been more practical to stay in San Francisco for the time being. Although, recent events having transpired the way they did, perhaps it is time to consider relocation...

[ You know. Now that he's got the demon out of his body and all. ]

I think I don't know the first thing whatsoever about farming, so you tell me. And I think I'd like to hear you laugh more often.

[ Unless of course Steinbeck's laughing at him, in which case, screw 'im. ]

What, San Francisco causing trouble for you?

[He vaguely wonders what sort of business this man might be in. Perhaps just business- the arrogance smacks of it, a little - but he thinks its more than that.]

You really are trying to butter me up, huh. [He's not offended - in fact, he laughs again.] There's this capitalist who helps to fund my family's farm. As part of the deal, he wants me to travel with him and do certain odd jobs here and there. Nothing major.

"Trouble" would most certainly be the word. On the off chance you've never had dealings with demons, let me tell you: they're not the pleasantest to put up with.

[ He twitches a little as his mind helpfully replays some of the more troubling memories. It's been months, but he's going to need a lot longer to deal with a few of the things he went through, and ideally some good therapy. ]

I am indeed, and it's working, isn't it?

[ He means it, too, about Steinbeck's laugh. For all that the man himself comes off as the rough-and-ready type, his laugh is surprisingly delicate. It's... endearing. ]

So you're a bit of a handyman, then, I take it. Well, there is something to be said for versatility. Perhaps I ought to look you up the next time I have a job that needs doing.

Demons? In California? Well, I've heard of weirder things...what, did you do something to get them mad?

[His partner is literally Cthulhu, at this point, demons existing isn't that out of the ordinary.]

It might be. [Though there's still something a little guarded about how be holds himself, there's more of an ease in his smile.] And hey, I'd be down for a job. Can't be a butler all the time, you know. What sort of stuff do you do, besides dealing with demons?

Through absolutely no fault of my own, yes, I did manage to incur the wrath of one of these demons. Unfortunately, that just so happened to be the one who possessed me and sent me and my employees all over the world looking for the others.

[ Mumble grumble he's so bitter. But the question about himself perks him up a little. He should even be able to get through this one without mentioning anything illegal! ]

I'm something of a collector of rare artifacts. Chinese, in the main. And most recently, I suppose you could append the adjective "magical" as well, though some of those have been merely happenstance.

[ He didn't know the catboy one would turn him into a catboy until it turned him into a catboy, for example. ]

That...possessed you?

[Yikes. He definitely doesn't look possessed now, but Steinbeck really dislikes the idea of anything taking control of anyone else like that.]

Let me guess. One of those artifacts happened to have the demon or like, belong to the demon. [Well, that gives him a better image of the man. Someone who wants what he can't have. It reminds him a little of Fitzgerald - he tamps down the kneejerk comparisons. Maybe this guy's different, like...a museum collector or something.] Still, kind of interesting for an English guy to like Chinese stuff. What got you into it?

[ Steinbeck thinks he doesn't like the idea... ]

You've about got the size of it. I first encountered him when he was trapped in the form of a statue, and he promised me untold treasure if I would retrieve a series of artifacts for him. A promise which, may I add, he broke at the first conceivable opportunity. And this demon, you see, was Chinese in origin, which is how I came to focus on artifacts from that particular part of the world... as much good as it's done me thus far.

[ He's so bitter. ]

[~~immediately adds valmont to LIST OF PEOPLE TO ROB~~]

Huh. ["Untold treasure". What a laugh. Making deals with the devil wouldn't get you things like that. Steinbeck stares at him for a moment, before giving him a slightly amused smile.] So how did you get rid of your demon? Since I assume you aren't possessed right now.

[ ~~don't rob him ok, he didn't get the treasure, he's straight broke!!~~ ]

Oh, it's... it's a bit embarrassing, really. It involves a gentleman whom I consider something of a thorn in my side, an archaeologist by the name of Jackie Chan. You see, the demon had, as I mentioned, been hauling my body all across the world to free his demon brethren, and every time, along would come Chan immediately afterwards, sending them right back whence they came and sealing the portals behind them. Well, eventually it reached the point where there was only one portal left to be opened: that belonging to my demon himself.

[ Eesh. He really should have established the demon's name earlier in the conversation, because he does not like using the phrase "my demon", like he'd been a pet or something. Gross. But he soldiers on. ]

Having promised his siblings they could escape through it - another lie, of course - we headed to the last portal, only to find ourselves intercepted by Chan. And when he performed the banishment spell associated with sealing the portal, it was, apparently, strong enough to tear the demon straight from my body. Why he couldn't have done so months earlier, except that he enjoyed seeing me in torment, I couldn't tell you.

[ That was a bit of a spiel, wasn't it? He peers over to see Steinbeck's reaction. ]

[~~HE HAS THE AIR OF SOMEONE WHO COULD BE ROBBED~~]

Yeesh. That's pretty terrible. Maybe he didn't know you were possessed?

[He has some sympathy for Valmont, if only because being the puppet of some demon that wants you to do its bidding 24/7 sounds like hell.]

At least you're back to being yourself, now.

[ ~~yeah he... he kinda does tbh~~ ]

Oh, believe me, he knew. I'm certain his priorities merely lay elsewhere.

[ The sympathy is appreciated - rather a lot, actually, even if he doesn't say it. This wasn't a very fun time in his life, and it's nice to have someone around who gets that. Is this what having friends is good for?? Maybe there's something to it after all. ]

I am, yes, and quite glad about it. Do consider yourself lucky that you haven't had any run-ins with supernatural beings. No matter what they may promise you, it's not worth it.

[ All right, so he hasn't said he hasn't run into any, but farming seems like an entirely mundane profession. Nothing weird, eldritch or spooky there. If it weren't so horribly unglamorous as to not even be worth considering, he'd almost be jealous. ]

Guess he cared more about the artifacts than you?

[The comment about supernatural beings makes a glimmer appear in his eyes, one he doesn't attempt to hide.]

Well, it depends on the supernatural being. [His tone is so light, so casual. Time to throw this man for a loop.] You know, people like me back home could be considered "supernatural beings" too, depending on who you ask. I'm one hundred percent human, though.

Edited 2020-04-13 14:30 (UTC)

Oh, he absolutely did. That's always the way with him. "Don't touch that, it belongs in a museum," bloody sanctimonious son of a...

[ He trails off as Steinbeck picks up the thread about supernatural beings, and when Steinbeck casually mentions that that thread might encompass himself... well, he stares. ]

You - I beg your pardon? How can you be human and - what are you?!

[ Just gonna surreptitiously scoot his chair backwards in case he needs to make a run for it. This was supposed to be a nice simple date between two humans what did he get himself into ]

[Oh, man. Now THIS is entertaining. The laugh that comes from Steinbeck this time is totally at Valmont instead of with him. Sorry, man, its just funny.]

Come on, you need to let me explain before making a break for it! [A light shake of the head, grinning.] In my world, its real rare, but people can be born with special abilities. To most, they're kind of like urban legends. But I'm one of those people. I'm what they call an ability user. Sorry, haha...didn't mean to make you seriously think I was like a demon or something.

Edited 2020-04-14 11:30 (UTC)

[ Sure, it's entertaining for one of them. Valmont liked that laugh a lot better when it wasn't directed at him... but it's still kind of cute, damn it. ]

I - I wasn't going anywhere.

[ For all the world like he wasn't a second away from tipping over his chair and bolting, should the need have arisen. ]

So you're some sort of... superhero, then? Well, you might have simply said so in the first place. And what would this ability of yours happen to be?

[ And can he somehow harness it for profit? :|a ]

Are you scared of little ol' me?

[Momentarily, a devilish little smile crosses his face. Ah, he admits it, its fun to rile up people a bit.]

No, not a superhero. My ability isn't anything like flying or whatever. [Hm, how does he explain it...] I can control grapevines, and can graft them on other plants to control them. The way I do it is a bit gruesome, though, so I'm sure I can spare you the details.

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right after that invitation

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comes to this with starbucks 45678765 days late

ssshsh no worries!!

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