rainbows are visions, but only illusions

[glowsferatu]

WHO: Kanaya Maryam and YOU!!
WHERE: Around The City
WHEN: March 13th, afternoon
WARNINGS: Creeping, stalking, awkwardness, potentially a little blood?
SUMMARY: Kanaya's been thirsty lately, and it's led to her stalking shadows a little more often, creeping around, thinking about how people might taste. Bright feelings and bad ideas.
FORMAT: Whatever you like! If you have any special instructions, drop a note here!

[ terezi had crashed shortly after they returned from school. she still wasn't used to the daylight hours, and despite every assurance kanaya could possibly give, still wasn't comfortable under the sun. she only stayed up to keep an eye on kanaya, but it was clear that it was wearing on her. kanaya had tucked her in with her scalemates before sneaking out herself.

she finds herself stepping along the edges of the rooftops, leaping across the walls, dancing across the city as though it was her own personal studio. it helps to clear her head, but also recalls the last time she did this, reminds her of her need. it isn't as easy this time, though, she knows better.

but a resolution not to take doesn't erase the strength of her want. she slides down a fire escape, kicks against the wall, and softly lands in the alley below. she's not sure how she'll manage the thirst for now, but the romance of the hunt is certainly tempting as she sees the passersby on the sidewalk. she can't stay here long, she'll have to keep moving if she wants her thoughts to keep from settling on the subject too strongly. ]

Comments

[glowsferatu]

Excellent. It was a most pleasant encounter, [ hahahahahaha ] but I have... [she brightens a little, glancing back to the mouth of the alley with wide eyes, then flicking her gaze back to carrie ] ...uh, other matters to see to.

[ and then she turns and steps off back, incredibly innocently because she's not doing anything suspicious at all whatsoever ]

[slingshots]

[ And somewhere, through all the teenaged guilt and awkwardness, there's a tiny little crime-fighting ping in that. Carrie blinks, glancing back at her. Just what is Kanaya doing out here? ]

Yeah, sure. See you later.

[ (See how much more easily that comes when you're focused on business, Carrie?) She launches out a line, swinging up and away — but not all the way away. She'll be landing just out of sight, preparing just a quick, light stalking. Nothing too heavy-duty. ]

[glowsferatu]

[ after a minute or so, she opens a portal in the wall and ducks into it, emerging in the alley across the street. once there, she walks out into the foot traffic, blending into the crowd, but not so inconspicuously. not with the way she's glowing right now. ]

[slingshots]

[ She's a little glad that portal hadn't gone further, because Carrie hasn't quite figured out how to track a teleporter yet. But this she can easily do. So after spotting Kanaya again, she slips after her, traveling along rooftops and careful to keep facades and fences between them to obscure any wayward glances up.

Just for curiosity's sake, of course. ]

[glowsferatu]

[ after a few blocks, despite the distance she's keeping, it becomes clear that kanaya is following someone specific, a woman in her late-20s, from the looks of it.

she's keeping her distance, trying not to look obvious. she does some window shopping as she follows, something to make herself look otherwise occupied, but anyone paying particular attention would certainly notice it. ]

[slingshots]

[ And notice it Redbird does! Trends are way more easily picked out from overhead, and all the more so when you're looking for them. And seeing as she's pretty sure Kanaya is no mugger, and that she doesn't actually know that particular lady, there's really only one conclusion Carrie can draw.

She creeps a little closer, a little lower, but still doesn't take action. She'd rather have her suspicions confirmed than be overly hasty and wrong. ]

[glowsferatu]

[ she doesn't realize she herself is being watched, she's too busy remaining unseen by her prospective prey...though she hates to think of the woman in such a way. she'll have to think of a better term later.

unexpectedly, the woman takes a turn into a building. kanaya hadn't really planned for that, and isn't entirely sure what to do from there. she ends up haunting outside the door a few moments, trying to decide whether to enter or not, and afraid doing so might mean a commitment to the scenario that she isn't quite ready to make.

this results in any onlookers seeing a flustered and glowing girl pacing in front of the door repeatedly, needling her fingers and staring at the ground while emitting low fussy grumbles ]

[slingshots]

[ Well, that pretty much cinches it. There's no other way to interpret disappointed hovering. Redbird scoots to the edge of her current rooftop, just above Kanaya, and drops a pebble of gravel over the edge. Not designed to hit her, just to land at her feet. And if she glances up, there'll be a quick beckoning gesture before Redbird disappears back over the edge again. ]

[glowsferatu]

[ the pebble does its job. oh god. she doubts humans have a word for the mortification she feels at this moment, she's pretty sure trolls didn't, either.

she walks very slowly to the alley around the corner before hopping her way up the wall. once she reaches the roof, her approach is heavy laden with apprehension and guilt, not unlike a dog with her tail between her legs. caught red-handed. ]

That...it, uh, it wasn't what it looked like.

[slingshots]

[ If she weren't sure already, that palpable guilt would definitely top it off. Redbird is perched at the edge of a rooftop bench, heels crossed and looking comfortable, casual. This? This is way easier to deal with. ]

Right. [ She tosses her head, a c'mere gesture. ] So, this a habit of yours?

[glowsferatu]

[ she only slinks forward still, not meeting redbird's eyes ]

N-not really. The impulse to...actively hunt has only been so strong over the past few days, b-but Terezi's presence would typically...dissuade me from it.

[slingshots]

[ So either Terezi's missing (and she hasn't seen anything about that on the Network), or... ]

What changed?

[glowsferatu]

Well, nothing. That's the problem, as the situation wasn't sustainable. The thirst remains and it grows, especially when unsatisfied. So, with time comes the introduction of entropy, and the whole matter begins to deteriorate.

[ and then, just one more thing to feel guilty about: ] I, uh...waited until Terezi was asleep before letting the evening decide where I would be taken by it.

[slingshots]

Right.

[ One gloved hand taps thoughtfully at the bench, and she watches the building across from them just for somewhere to rest her gaze. ]

Can you do cold blood, or's it gotta be fresh?

[glowsferatu]

[ kanaya finally closes the gap between them, taking a seat on the bench ]

Prior to her exPortation, Tank Girl would provide me with a supply which I kept in a refrigeration unit in my respiteblock. It's since been exhausted, unfortunately.

[slingshots]

[ Ah, there's the change she was looking for. And it comes with good news, too. She even smiles, glancing back over again. ]

How often d'you gotta drink?

[glowsferatu]

Usually to counter an injury, as replacement to whatever's flowed outward. But the thirst is not exclusively reactive, and it will present itself eventually, should I remain in my native form too long.

[ she shrugs in surrender ] Left ignored too long, it apparently begins to seep into this one as well.

[slingshots]

Right. [ So, there's always bloodbanks, sounds like. She doesn't need to drink that often, it should be decently affordable. And in the meantime... ]

So, I'm thinking you're pretty hungry now, if the stalking's anything to go on.

[glowsferatu]

Well, uh...

[ yes. kind of a lot, yes. ]

[slingshots]

Right.

[ A nod, and she's pulling off her glove, pushing back the sleeve there. The neck-thing was weird, but she can definitely offer a wrist. ]

[glowsferatu]

[ and kanaya's just looking at her like she's suddenly sprouted a third ocular orb ]

W-what are you doing?

[slingshots]

You're hungry, I got more blood'n I really need. [ Cocking a brow at her. ] Or did you wanna do the whole fight thing first.

[glowsferatu]

[ wow carrie, that's a pretty direct way to get her blushing ]

Well, uh, not unless... [ no, not that way. carrie may not understand what additional implications the fight may carry in this context, but she's already made clear where this won't be going between them, so it would be best not to let that mix in with this. it's complicated enough as it is. ]

No. No, that shouldn't be necessary.

[slingshots]

So we cut the fight outta this round. [ With a shrug, like it's no big deal, and she rubs her wrist. ] Need a knife?

[glowsferatu]

I'm...supplied my own means on puncture.

[ she scoots over on the bench, gradually glowing brighter as she does, but it isn't quite enough. the reversion has taken yet, it would have to be forced.

so she thinks of every awful thing she can imagine, every single doomed possibility her life is inevitably building toward, even that redbird's only doing this as a trap. she pulls up every source of stress she keeps shoved to the side, buried underneath, until it compounds to such a degree that she finally changes with a blinding flash. ]