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[deathoftheauthor]

USERNAME: @louis Louis de Pointe du Lac The Vampire Chronicles TEXT • AUDIO • VIDEO • ACTION • OVERFLOW

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text; un: louis

[deathoftheauthor]

That is close enough.

Are you all right?

[lupusintus]

Fkne.

I sprry? Louis. For waht I did to yiu both.

[deathoftheauthor]

( Squint. Is he intoxicated? )

Ethan, there are no apologies necessary between us, I assure you. Lestat and I were there because we wished to help.

text → video

[lupusintus]

Irs not the pwrson I want tl ve

[ Frankly, he's disgusted with himself for several reasons. At least he can apologize to someone. After a moment of fumbling, he switches to video: ]

I know that. Please, Louis, just accept it.

[deathoftheauthor]

( Louis is immediately sympathetic. He understands the feeling totally — there are times when no amount of reassurance will ever get through to him, because he knows in his heart that what he's done is evil. In a soft, sincere voice, Louis replies: )

... Yes. Very well. I understand. I accept your apology, Ethan, and I forgive you for what you did.

( He nods, lingering in the dip long enough that it's almost a bow. )

I, too, was pushed into violent action. I was entirely myself, but I acted on instinct. If you're looking for blame, I'm afraid you'll find only unhappy company here.

[lupusintus]

I've attacked all of you now.

[ He can't quite focus on the screen, but he is giving it his best, and doesn't look any less disgusted with himself despite Louis accepting his apology. Misery loves company. ]

Is that what this place wants?

[deathoftheauthor]

I don't know. I hope not. I was naive enough at first to hope, if not truly believe, that perhaps this was some twisted way of testing our cooperation under stress. But then, I suppose this doesn't disprove that theory, does it? Pushing us to our breaking points to find out what our bonds can withstand...

[lupusintus]

The only thing its testing is my patience, I'm tired of having my head messed with like this. There's only one safe thing about this place and I can't even protect her from what the city has in store for us, I don't have that kind of power.

[ He sets his jaw, looking into the screen with a renewed sense of conviction. ]

I've had that tested before. My bonds.

[deathoftheauthor]

I can't imagine that was pleasant.

( There's an implied question in his tone, the invitation to elaborate, but without pressing. )

[lupusintus]

You can't change what you are no matter who you save or who you care about.

[ Maybe he will on another day, but not this one. He wouldn't be this open normally. ]

The longer time passes, the more I wonder if I was ever made to have them. Bonds. Friendships.

[deathoftheauthor]

( Louis winces slightly when that hits too close to home, but he looks at Ethan with compassion he's never been able to extend to himself. )

Of course you were. No human heart was ever made for loneliness.

[lupusintus]

Nor a vampire one, I imagine. Never thought I'd say those words.

[ He saw that, Louis, and gives him a thoughtful look for his trouble. He can be perceptive enough sometimes. ]

At least not yours. [ He squints at the screen. ] A blind man could see that.

[deathoftheauthor]

( Louis' chest aches, though he can't name the precise reason why. Perhaps it's only that Ethan is extending understanding that he doesn't feel he deserves.

He nods. )

We were all human once.

[lupusintus]

If it's any consolation..

[ Wait, did his screen just freeze? No, Ethan's brain did. There it is again, the last two drunken brain cells having a slap fight for dominance. ]

You're the most human of the ones I've encountered.

[deathoftheauthor]

( Louis lets out a slow breath and nods once. )

Thank you, Ethan. That means more than you can possibly know.

[lupusintus]

[ Ethan smiles, looking thoughtful for a moment. It seems like a good place to end this before he embarrasses himself any further than he already has. ]

I think I've kept you long enough, I'll let you get back to what you were doing before I decided to pick up the phone.

[deathoftheauthor]

It's always a pleasure speaking with you, Ethan. But I advise you to get some rest.

Good night.