Oh shut up and let me do this. It's not like I want to be here either.
[Shockingly fast, even for her, he's at the window with his arms crossed.]
You cannot feed without killing but you cannot drink the synthetic crap they have here. The rest I feel you deserve so I won't address your apparent loneliness.
[Even if he doesn't actually wish that for her.]
That's a problem in this place and something that needs to be addressed since you're a child who cannot go without nightly feedings.
You need to be taught and I am the best source of that information. You and I both know it. Unlike where we're from, you can be sent to prison here where it doesn't matter how powerful you are.
[Lestat turns to face her then. He doesn't look happy about this but he's trying here.]
We're going out hunting. I know where we can find someone who won't be missed.
[Claudia stands her ground, knowing full well how easy it would be for him to grab her by the arm and drag her out behind him.]
There are vampires here dating up to a thousand years old. Why shouldn't I ask one of them for instruction?
[Because they're from different worlds, she knows, and what they have to teach her may not be adequate. Still, having him teach her anything, it feels like being indebted. A part of her would rather starve, or rot in a cell.]
Because they are not from our world, Claudia. The only one who can understand our specific needs is me. Besides, several of those vampires are my lovers and won't want to help you until I say so which still leaves you with me.
[Claudia can't help but scowl for real at his apparent threat of blackmail. As she finally moves to follow him, she looks for a moment like a child again, hardly containing a tantrum.]
You wouldn't care if I were to be arrested. You must have been made to feel quite ashamed.
[Rolling his eyes, he moves out into the hall then to the elevator so they can head out into the night. Where he leads her though is straight to the elevator leading to the Down. There are higher class criminals here but why bother when she might make a mistake?
Better down here where it's easier to stash a body.]
[Silence thickens between them. There's nothing to say. Claudia stares forward, not interested in so much as looking at her father as they stand together in the elevator that takes them to the Down. He always told her that she was irritating, so might as well make this as painless as possible for both of them.
He can give her his lesson, and she can learn it, but there's no need for sentimentality or gratitude.
The last time they hunted together, her hand was much smaller, and he held it in his. They shared smiles and praise.
What a stupid little girl she had been back then.]
When you are feeding you have let yourself connect with the one you are hunting.
[He lowers his sunglasses down over his eyes again as they move. He knows that she's listening so he doesn't bother to repeat himself.]
You can hear the heart beating, feel it as it quickens and slows. In a matter of seconds you can drain a body dry. And so you have to slow yourself and be aware of what is around you to let yourself pull away.
[Lestat steps around to one of the shadiest looking streets imaginable. There's evidence of crime and filth all around them but he walks by it without seeing it.]
[It removes a bit of potential argument that Claudia's never particularly cared what caliber of human she's fed from. All ages and creeds have been of interest to her, depending on her mood. Having generally been keeping to the crime-riddled streets of the Down to sate her hunger, none of where he takes her comes as a surprise.
But she frowns thoughtfully as she listens to his explanation. Connecting isn't something she's ever thought to do. Never needed to. Never cared for it. He makes it sound so simple, but when she's in the throes of her hunger, stopping isn't something that she's generally been able to control.
Claudia glimpses a man crouched outside a shuttered storefront, clothes dirty and cigarette trembling between his lips.]
[Lestat actually looks to her now. He's already so deep into the man's thoughts but he doesn't plan to tell her anything. No, he wants to hear why she picked that one. Because part of what he's here to teacher is not only to feed without killing but also who is the best to target in this city.
After all, there are people who are better suite to their needs than others.]
[She nods her head slightly to where the ragged man struggles with his cigarette.]
An addict of some kind, withdrawing but not by choice. Judging by the state of his clothing, he doesn't have the money for a hit, and it isn't because he has a dominant who wants him clean.
[A broke submissive who can't get a contract, smoking alone at night.]
[Not bad observations but Lestat shakes his head. Yet there's not an irritated feeling to it. Just a simple correction.
It's almost like years ago when he was teaching her to hunt for the first time.]
An addict withdrawing will still have enough drug in their system to impact us. They're good for an enjoyable kill but not for a taste. The one we want is that one there.
[He points to a pretty man leaning against a wall smoking. He looks put together and lovely. There's a flash of something in his hand that suggests he has a blade of some kind. His eyes are locked on the junkie.]
The evil doers of the world are less likely to be missed. More so than a junkie. And this one keeps himself clean even as he enjoys the sadistic pleasures of killing the weak in alleys like this. I've been following him for a month.
[Lestat doesn't realize how much it says that he's letting Claudia test her skills on one he's marked as his own prey. Or if he does he's ignoring it.]
[Claudia frowns. Partially, because she hates that he has a good point, but mostly because of the target her attention is drawn to.]
He won't be wary?
[They're both a far cry, after all, from the pathetic addict that Lestat's mark is so focused on. Not that wariness will stop them, but it's certainly messier.]
Even if he is, that is why you have to be clever. You are stronger than him and if he is aware enough then he will fight you which will keep him alive.
[He looks to her then waves his hand to the prey.]
Approach him. Pay attention to how he reacts. Respond to that to let yourself get closer.
[Being clever is her strong suit, and of course she knows subduing him isn't a problem...though the fight will be annoying. She isn't particularly the type to play with her food outside of playing a mental game.
Claudia gives Lestat a final glance before she goes on her way, heading toward the target, not about to give him the satisfaction of a "yes, sir" as she follows his instructions. At first, the mark pays her no mind. And by the time he sees her walking his way, she's smoothed out her features to seem innocent, young, lost. Her arms fold lightly over themselves, and when she catches him eyeing her, she dares to catch his gaze.
The young man puts an arm around her and steers her into a back alley. And once they're far enough into it, she puts her delicate hand on his and twists it around his back, forcing him onto his knees as her other hand covers up his scream. Her mouth close to his ear, he tries to get his knife with his free hand.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[But somehow, she's not surprised. He seems like the type to try and meddle.]
And none of your concern.
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[Shockingly fast, even for her, he's at the window with his arms crossed.]
You cannot feed without killing but you cannot drink the synthetic crap they have here. The rest I feel you deserve so I won't address your apparent loneliness.
[Even if he doesn't actually wish that for her.]
That's a problem in this place and something that needs to be addressed since you're a child who cannot go without nightly feedings.
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[As long as she tells herself she's fine, surely, she will be.]
I told him I was alone, not that I was lonely. Don't misunderstand.
[There's nothing more mortifying than thinking he might have something to hold over her, or worse, pity her.]
I've been managing. I will improve.
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[Lestat turns to face her then. He doesn't look happy about this but he's trying here.]
We're going out hunting. I know where we can find someone who won't be missed.
[He's already heading for the door.]
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There are vampires here dating up to a thousand years old. Why shouldn't I ask one of them for instruction?
[Because they're from different worlds, she knows, and what they have to teach her may not be adequate. Still, having him teach her anything, it feels like being indebted. A part of her would rather starve, or rot in a cell.]
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[He holds the door open and lifts a brow.]
Stop stalling.
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You wouldn't care if I were to be arrested. You must have been made to feel quite ashamed.
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[Rolling his eyes, he moves out into the hall then to the elevator so they can head out into the night. Where he leads her though is straight to the elevator leading to the Down. There are higher class criminals here but why bother when she might make a mistake?
Better down here where it's easier to stash a body.]
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He can give her his lesson, and she can learn it, but there's no need for sentimentality or gratitude.
The last time they hunted together, her hand was much smaller, and he held it in his. They shared smiles and praise.
What a stupid little girl she had been back then.]
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[He lowers his sunglasses down over his eyes again as they move. He knows that she's listening so he doesn't bother to repeat himself.]
You can hear the heart beating, feel it as it quickens and slows. In a matter of seconds you can drain a body dry. And so you have to slow yourself and be aware of what is around you to let yourself pull away.
[Lestat steps around to one of the shadiest looking streets imaginable. There's evidence of crime and filth all around them but he walks by it without seeing it.]
You are the predator. Not your instinct.
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But she frowns thoughtfully as she listens to his explanation. Connecting isn't something she's ever thought to do. Never needed to. Never cared for it. He makes it sound so simple, but when she's in the throes of her hunger, stopping isn't something that she's generally been able to control.
Claudia glimpses a man crouched outside a shuttered storefront, clothes dirty and cigarette trembling between his lips.]
That one.
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[Lestat actually looks to her now. He's already so deep into the man's thoughts but he doesn't plan to tell her anything. No, he wants to hear why she picked that one. Because part of what he's here to teacher is not only to feed without killing but also who is the best to target in this city.
After all, there are people who are better suite to their needs than others.]
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[She nods her head slightly to where the ragged man struggles with his cigarette.]
An addict of some kind, withdrawing but not by choice. Judging by the state of his clothing, he doesn't have the money for a hit, and it isn't because he has a dominant who wants him clean.
[A broke submissive who can't get a contract, smoking alone at night.]
I look like money.
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It's almost like years ago when he was teaching her to hunt for the first time.]
An addict withdrawing will still have enough drug in their system to impact us. They're good for an enjoyable kill but not for a taste. The one we want is that one there.
[He points to a pretty man leaning against a wall smoking. He looks put together and lovely. There's a flash of something in his hand that suggests he has a blade of some kind. His eyes are locked on the junkie.]
The evil doers of the world are less likely to be missed. More so than a junkie. And this one keeps himself clean even as he enjoys the sadistic pleasures of killing the weak in alleys like this. I've been following him for a month.
[Lestat doesn't realize how much it says that he's letting Claudia test her skills on one he's marked as his own prey. Or if he does he's ignoring it.]
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He won't be wary?
[They're both a far cry, after all, from the pathetic addict that Lestat's mark is so focused on. Not that wariness will stop them, but it's certainly messier.]
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[He looks to her then waves his hand to the prey.]
Approach him. Pay attention to how he reacts. Respond to that to let yourself get closer.
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Claudia gives Lestat a final glance before she goes on her way, heading toward the target, not about to give him the satisfaction of a "yes, sir" as she follows his instructions. At first, the mark pays her no mind. And by the time he sees her walking his way, she's smoothed out her features to seem innocent, young, lost. Her arms fold lightly over themselves, and when she catches him eyeing her, she dares to catch his gaze.
Claudia gives him the benefit of a double-take, like any apprehension she might have felt vanishes when she sees that he's fair-featured. Having walked past him, she turns back around and comes back. It's a hushed conversation, but of course Lestat will be able to hear it: Claudia being every bit the naive ingénue as she asks him for help finding the elevator back to the Up. He seems to consider her slight stature along with what he might be able to steal from her, and ultimately agrees to show her a shortcut.
The young man puts an arm around her and steers her into a back alley. And once they're far enough into it, she puts her delicate hand on his and twists it around his back, forcing him onto his knees as her other hand covers up his scream. Her mouth close to his ear, he tries to get his knife with his free hand.]
I wouldn't try that if I were you, Monsieur.
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[Lestat comes out of the shadows, having tailed them this whole way. He's not actually watching them and is instead on his phone. Texting.]
The next part of this is to focus on his heartbeat. Listen to it now. Do you hear it?