transfusionem | •daybreak inbox

[ Rex would be more liable to care that she wouldn't mind him seeing than the actual sights. As established, he knows Adelaide is a very pretty girl but he's got those settings turned off right now. On the other hand, a show would imply that either she found him so non-threatening she didn't mind him seeing (which is kind of okay in his book, really) or she wanted him to see (which is Not Good, she deserves far better taste no matter what Toki and now Maverick think).

The suit feels tighter than it looks, thanks to being several layers. The one closest to the skin clings but moves fluidly it's not comfortable but takes some getting used to. The middle layer is mostly softer but has rigid rods, the batwing patterns, which are defensive, then there's the top layer which is slightly dimpled like a golfball. ]

Looks like a good fit. Not too tight anywhere?

[ He doesn't ogle, technically, but he does give her a long, discerning look. Like her with the shortbread, he'll feel like he's done something right with an invention works.

To illustrate a cape use, he whips the cover off the bed and drapes it over his shoulders. ]

For a start, you can't see what I'm doing with my hands, or what's in them. I've been able to get a shot off before anyone realised I was playing dirty many times.

[ Lewd. ]

[Adelaide is trying not to think about what Toki thinks - and she has no idea about Maverick.

Which is probably a good thing, because she is spending time alone with Rex on a fairly consistent basis. Or at least more consistent than she would have expected.

Anyways. Enough about that.]

It's a little snug, but... [She does some stretches, testing the give of the fabric. It's a little strange to wear, but after getting used to it...She doesn't think it'd be so bad.] It's not the worst thing I've worn.

[She smiles at the blanket cape, nodding.]

Right, right, so it's for more than just being super stylish. Nobody will expect anything I do.

[ It's fine. Maverick has just started and Toki isn't smart, nothing to take seriously here. All of their time together is strictly business, they're certainly not forming a connection or anything. Surely she merely tolerates him for his usefulness (and thinks his face is hot????) and he is merely using her to learn vampirism inside and out (and she makes him laugh????). ]

There's more to it than that. Observe- [ It's not as cool as it would be if he was using his actual cape, but he steps forward with a certain twist of his shoulder. Looks like he's about to throw a punch with his right, except suddenly he has his left foot at head height. ] I'm not much of a fighter, but a little misdirection can even things out.

[ He says all that with his leg in the air, but the razzle-dazzle passes when he tosses the cover off. ]

It can make a decent makeshift shield, help carry items, a blindfold, tear it up for bandages, the hem of mine is weighted for strikes, it obscures your outline for stealth- there are lots of uses.

[ He actually cracks a smile. He likes building things and the recent thrill of people liking what he makes is new and surprises him. ]

It does look stylish though, right?

[There's no funny business going on here. Clearly. They are just maybe friends??? That sounds good.

Adelaide claps, like Rex is the one putting on a show, but she seems suitably impressed. Very flashy. The razzle-dazzle is much appreciated.]

So dazzle them with how flash you are, and give them the ol' one-two while they aren't expecting it.

[She nods, considering - and she's surprised when he actually smiles. It's kind of nice to see, honestly. (But it's fine. She just think that, objectively, he has a nice face. She certainly doesn't think anything of it over how nice it is to see him looking pleased with something.)]

It's very stylish. This whole thing looks better than I thought it would, honestly.

[She pats herself down, even though there's no mirror in the room for her to look in. She feels like she looks like a complete badass.

And also maybe hot? She feels like, objectively, she looks hot.]

[ He gives the smallest bow possible, basically just a wobble at the shoulders, but he's at least participating! ]

Not exactly how I would phrase it, but... yeah.

[ He works out what her patting is for and pulls out his phone to take a picture and sends it to her. Complete badass is a given, hot... Rex isn't one to ask but almost certainly. Like. Objectively. It's science. ]

There's a certain intimidation factor to be had in being striking.

[ Yes, that's why he made the combat suit look kickass and kind of sexy, because it's intimidating. And he's constantly Rextra too, of course. ]

...Do you want one with the helmet on?

[ He offers up said helmet, showing her the on-switch at the temple. It's got a sporty visor, a shade darker than the rest of the outfit. Naturally, it has a head's up display. He'd normally have made it more mechanical with separate lenses but Adelaide doesn't need night vision, right? Instead, it has data on her speed and barrier charge percentage up by default, but with the little radial menu button on the opposite temple, she can jump to other options. Polarised to deal with bright light, distance calculator, directional microphone. Also, it can sync to a phone if she wants to look at funny cat videos. Or call people I guess. ]

I wasn't sure of your senses, so let me know if anything is overwhelming... or underwhelming and needs improvement.

[It's Better Than Nothing, and that's all that matters.]

It's good enough you know what I mean.

[Oh shit, selfies. She completely blanked on those. That is an excellent idea, though.]

Striking definitely covers it - but I'm sure you've got a way easier time being intimidating.

[She takes the helmet from him, grinning, before sliding it on. Her hair sticks out the bottom, but that's a problem she can deal with later when she's not excited over the existence of all of this stuff.]

Probably won't be able to get a good feel for how this compares until I give this a better test than standing in an inn room.

[But so far nothing is overwhelming her and making her want to curl up into a ball and cry, so...success?? Possibly??]

[ He nods when she mentions he's probably got a knack for appearing intimidating. ]

You'd be correct. I don't need to try most of the time.

[ She probably knows there's a great deal of eager to please puppy under the terrifying grizzled feral dog look he sports. At least he looks a bit neater with the fresh haircut, on the other hand, he's put on muscle since he got to Daybreak, so he's even larger than before. Scary boi.

She gets another kickass combat suit shot. Do a pose! Put it on facebook! ]

Anyway, please do experiment with it as much as possible. Testing it to destruction when practising is fine- it means I can improve on it. And if you make it look cool, more people will want their own.

Must be nice - though I guess if everyone is afraid of you it'd probably get pretty frustrating.

[She knows he's got some sort of soft, squishy center. She's not necessarily certain how much he knows he has a soft, squishy center, or how much he wants to have that squishiness...

Well. It's there whether he knows or wants it.]

So it's beta testing and advertising all in one. [She's definitely going to at least show the pictures to her friends.

Which probably means sharing it with Mav and Toki.]

It'd be a shame if this got all beat up, even if it makes version two point oh better.

[ He makes a quiet 'mm' at the idea being scary is frustrating. He's used to it. He's cultivated it, when he wears his mask and speaks with the voice of the devil and its been so long since he's thought of Rex as the real him... so it's just kind of a dull sensation of inconvenience, which is life itself.

So that answers that 'if he knows' question. ]

That's the nature of early models. Their brief existences promise better things.

[ He can wax philosophical on the design proccess, why not. On that note though, he decides to reveal the last goodies in the case. Looks like a rather large bladed knife, when he pulls it out of the sheath. Not quite a machete, just a little smaller. He holds it up to let her see it from a few angles, to see the trigger on the handle and the odd ring shape on the end. Pushing the button and pulling on the ring simultaneously reveals the grip around the hilt is in fact, a very thin bag of holding and it turns out the knife is a spear. Or the knife has a very long handle. Depends on your perspective. Once it slides out a little- enough it'd be clear the user does want the spear, it springs out instead of having to be pulled. Probably good for a surprise attack itself. ]

Both suit a high-speed combatant so I decided to give you both in one- I know you've been more interested in swordswomanship but... A back-up is always a good idea. Useful if you're cornered too.

[ Putting it back in is a similar process. Hold the trigger, push the bottom of the shaft enough and the handle is sucked up- slurp! Like pasgetti. ]

[Don't worry, some day he'll acknowledge he's more than just the doom and gloom inventor and slayer he's trying his best to be.

Or at least that's what Adelaide hopes. She can see there's something more to him, which is why she's wound up in this room to begin with.]

That's more optimistic than I would've expected from you.

[She doesn't mean to be unkind, but, well. Rex is kind of mopey.

She makes an excited noise at the knife, which gets even more excited once it turns into a spear.]

Oh, that's awesome! [Now she needs to double down on her training.] And a knife that big is basically a sword anyways.

[That's just science.]

Hmph. Allow me to clarify- an early model could also be a complete failure destined to be forgotten, but there is a slim chance that if adequately tested, it may have been worth the time to build.

[ That might be a purposefully grim response designed to be humorous in nature, but if so someone should have told his face.

But her increasingly excited exclamations to the spear reveal does get to his face. It's not nearly on par with her, but there's a quiet twinkle in his eye and a tiny smile. Building stuff is the greatest. It's counter to his nature as a natural born destroyer. Obviously, that's just undeniable, but he does his best and sometimes that's even good enough!

Before he hands it over, because obviously she's going to want a picture posing with this kickass thing he gives a warning and demonstration. ]

The blade isn't magical in itself, but I've sharpened it beyond what conventional techniques could possibly achieve. So please be careful.

[ The demonstration is gently draping a limp piece of paper over the blade and watching it get split in half just from that.

Then back into the sheath and handed over. Look cool, vampire assassin girl. ]

[That's a terrible joke, if it is a joke, but it still gets Adelaide to laugh. She's almost gotten the hang of understanding him.

Spooky.

He's also smiling, which is a little spooky, but...she's glad to see it.]

Right, of course.

[She's careful when taking the blade - gentle, even. She doesn't want it to spring open and slice through the bed or the ceiling or anything in the room at all.

Even though it's sheathed, and it can't really do that. She's still cautious!]

I guess I could always add runes to it myself, if I really wanted it to be magical. And then it'd be like I've actually got the hang of all this magic stuff.

[ Rex doesn't really make jokes, he just says offputting and unpleasant things and doesn't mean them. It's obscured by the offputting and unpleasant things he says in earnest more often, so it kind of takes some getting used to. Sometimes he does puns.

The smile melts like the first snowflake, too weak to keep its form. But it was there at least. ]

That's certainly an option- I'd recommend you practice with it for a while and then decide if there are any shortcomings you wish to overcome or strengths you wish to emphasise. I'm always available for consultation on improvements. If that's something you'd like me to do or help to do yourself.

[ He appreciates her care. People keep waving deadly things around in Daybreak, almost like they're barely trained children who haven't spent more of their life fighting than not. It's weird and makes him nervous. ]

And that's everything for version one. There's a manual for the helmet and an outline of the defensive capabilities of the suit.

[ For reference, it's mainly designed to be highly resistant to cutting and piercing, with the 'batwing' fingers being there to disperse impact and is especially good at protecting her heart from stakes. The suit is also meant to hold her parts together in the right place if she gets her bones broken and stuff, so that vampire super healing can do its job properly, though he's not sure how good a job he did with that. The airbag bubble barrier takes about ten minutes to recharge. ]

[Puns are one thing they have in common. There's a lot they don't have in common, but the things Adelaide relate to with Rex drive her batty.]

Of course, of course. Won't know how it works until it's been given the best tests it can get.

[Which means wearing it out on missions and hunts and...That's a little nerve wracking! But she can handle it!

She nods, sliding the helmet off and placing it back on the bed. It feels a little weird just...wearing a helmet and standing around in it in an inn. It's so jarring from the cozy atmosphere of this place.]

I'll try to put it through its paces and not die in the process. But now...I guess we should try the blood out, huh?

[Might as well rip off that bandage.]

[ Hopefully it won't drive her barking mad.

Rex still just feels kind of awkward regularly being in buildings, let alone cosy ones. The luxury of Soliel makes his head spin sometimes, so it feels no weirder for him to be doing weird science in the inn than it would to just be hanging out.

He nods as he retrieves the flask and hands it over, the odd circuit looking runes still there to keep it warm. ]

It's atomically identical to human blood. I can't foresee any problems.

[ Except yah know, the atoms are made of spiritual stuff instead of stardust like the rest of us. Breaking it down is gonna be real energising, in ways vampires aren't really meant to get. Rex really has to stop thinking of magic as science. ]

[Eyyy.]

Atomically identical.

[That's pretty identical. She takes the flask, fiddling with it for a moment before unscrewing the cap. She doesn't know why she's nervous. She's had blood before. She's had Rex's blood before. And this might not be his blood, but it's still blood from someone she's pretty sure isn't trying to poison her.

She takes a deep breath.]

Well! Bottoms up!

[And she chugs it. Though there's not really much to chug, really.

It's when she's lowering the flask that she realizes that it's not just blood. It's something...better? She feels different, somehow. Everything feels more and she feels like she could take on the world.

Adelaide can hear Rex's heart beating.

She could before, but now it's an intense drumming noise that's impossible to ignore, not the faint murmur she's gotten used to. She can hear the hearts of other people in the inn, and she can smell them too. She can smell Rex - and she begins to bounce in place. It's like chugging an energy drink after having an entire pot of coffee. She needs to move, and Rex is there - and he smells so good? That's not very fair at all. She should do something about that.

From the outside, the change only takes second. One moment Adelaide's had the blood, and the next she's in Rex's face. Her pupils are blown, and there's a wide grin on her face, showing off just how sharp her fangs can get.]

[ That's not encouraging. A second is not a great deal of time for Rex to react at all, nor comprehend what exactly is happening. It's a fantastically long amount of time to be staring at fangs though- it's an eternity.

He always had a barrier or two ready when he knew he would be alone with Adelaide, even before the Toki incident- but suddenly it doesn't seem enough. Suddenly it seems like he's locked himself in a room with one of the most famously dangerous magical predators on Earth. And much more importantly, he's done something to his friend.

His feet don't move, though his knees tremble a little. Good lord, what has he done? What is he doing? What should he do? ]

...Uhm.

[ That's his eloquent reaction to his entire situation, his hands flexing- ready to flip the magical switch and wrap his skin in a thin but tough layer of protection. ]

Are you... okay?

I feel great!

[The fact she's doing her best imitation of a snake about to strike probably makes that less than reassuring, but it's true. She hasn't felt this great in a while. Maybe not ever. Everything is sharper, now, she's seeing things better than ever.

But things could be even better.

Maybe with a little taste? Or maybe with a little fight? She wants to fight. She wants to run. She wants to do everything at once and that leaves her jittering where she stands.]

Hey, hey, do you think this counts as a test? Or is this not pushing hard enough?

[She laughs, shaking her head, before getting ready to pounce. Rex doesn't have much time to react, but there's...some.]

[ The tone she speaks in is familiar in the worst way- she sounds like he does when the thrill comes to him and he can hear his own heart pounding and feel his blood flowing and is undeniably more alive than ever. Right in the middle of a clash to the death.

That alone, the instinctive terror he has of his own bloodlust, is what allows him to react in time, fingers flicking outwards and covering his skin a sheen that provides him with protection but does nothing to stop him from being knocked around- much, much worse, he can already feel himself ready to join her in that delirium of violence. And it doesn't even have the one thing that always drags him out, the negative emotions from his dance partner.

"Ah, wouldn't it be so beautiful to kill each other, without a shred of fear or hate?"

He hears that call but doesn't give in to it just yet. Instead, he's going to try and use the momentum of her pounce to throw her across the room- if he can keep her off him for a few seconds, he can cast enough to restrain her. Unfortunately, she's just so fast.

It'd be more fun to grab the spear though. ]

[That's no fun - or maybe it is? It makes things harder, that's for sure, but that means things aren't going to be over before they've even begun.

She gets thrown, and she manages to land on her feet. She takes a moment - a breath - to gather herself before launching back at Rex. There's no finesse to her movements, and she doesn't even think of taking out the knife and using it. She doesn't want to use it. She wants to take Rex apart with her bare hands and see what he'll do in return.

(Mostly, though, she wants to tear into his skin and get blood on her teeth, but she'll get there.)]

[ The time she gives him is enough for Rex to cast something useful. Regrettably, in typical Rex style, when he's on the back foot and doesn't have a plan to fall back on he spends too long thinking. It's the major weakness of his ability to take on so many skills- he doesn't develop the sort of reactive instincts a more focused person would.

So he gets ploughed to the floor and only has the wherewithal to get his legs up to his chest to try and keep her at bay. She'll find the shield he's put up isn't an invincible defence. Struck, scratched, anything, it burns away the area that's hit- the harder it is, the wider the surface of his body is exposed. The gaps are filled in as the edges expand, like scooping a bucket of water from a lake, but it'll come apart quick enough. ]

Adelaide- it's not you!

[ He's going to die, he thinks, and can feel his lips quirking up at the idea. ]

[Hey, long limbs have to be good for some thing. It does keep Adelaide out of hitting reach, but not for long.

She grabs onto his ankle - tries to, at least - and laughs again.]

What is it, then? Someone else?

[Of course it's her. She's always wanted to do this - wanted to fight the world and have it fight back. Now she can, starting with Rex. Not that Rex has done anything wrong, but what's mortal combat between friends?

Life and death, probably, but that's okay.

Her grip tightens on his ankle, and if she can't get past his shield without constantly hitting him, might as well go for covering as much ground as she can.

Which means throwing him against the wall.

(There is a part of her, a distant part of her, that feels that Rex might be right, but...she just ignores it. It's not as loud as the rest of her.)]

It's not the real you-

[ He manages to get that out before she swings him like a toy. Her instincts are right- smashing into the wipes out such a lot of the surface area the barrier disappears entirely with a fun little 'pop', like tugging a wet finger on the inside of a cheek and letting go.

He doesn't hit the floor for it though. He lands in a crouch, only the tips of his toes and fingers on the ground and a wide grin to match her own. It's softened by his coat, but the brilliant golden light of the Hero Medal slips through small cracks of the buttons like god rays through clouds.

The use of the Human Power is a rare thing for Rex- despite it being one of the strongest tools in his arsenal, he fears its use will expose him and he's just not well suited to its use. It transforms focus (with Rex usually juggling a thousand thoughts) and fighting spirit (with Rex a self-confessed coward) into power. This is the first time it's been used in conjunction with this part of him, that ignores the world for the sake of a fight, doesn't care if he dies. ]

-But I think this is the real me!

[ The irony makes him laugh, hearty and joyful like a child, rising to his feet. All his usual fatigue is gone (endorphins? The medal? He doesn't know) and his joints don't ache, nor is he worried about tomorrow. He's locked in a room with the second most beautiful woman he's met (mother still holds top ranking), and she wants to kill him.

Heaven. ]

We're friends, right?

[ That's said in the middle of a flicking a leg out at her head- but swapping to a fist launch him into classic superman punch. If it lands, she may well get to experience being knocked across a room herself. ]

What do you know about the real me?

[She laughs with him. Seems like things are getting interesting. She takes note of the glow, though she doesn't know what's making it. Something under his coat for sure, but what it could possibly be she has no idea.

Not that it matters. What matters is the fight. The rush running through her veins, the way it almost feels like her heart is pounding again from all the excitement. That's more important than a mystery.]

Of course we're friends.

[And she takes the punch, and she can't stay on her feet. She pushes herself up with another laugh, running a hand through her hair. By now it's a mess - she really should've worn it in a ponytail or braids today - and she flips it over her shoulder before sizing up Rex.]

If we weren't, we'd be doing something else.

[She aims lower, this time, settling down into a crouch. Her goal is to take out Rex at his center of balance, knock him down, and keep him down.

There's probably worse things that could happen to him than having a pretty girl sitting on him. Probably.]

[ Rex pointedly ignores the way the neighbour bangs on their wall to inform 'the damn kids' to calm down after the smashing and crashing. If that guy wants them to stop, he can come in and try it himself- he'd probably just die in the crossfire and that'd be dull.

Rex is used to this sort of attack- there are only a few disadvantages to his size in a fight and the major one is being knocked down. It takes longer for him to get up and hurts more, due to both weight and larger surface area. So he bends his knees, making himself more stable and in a better position to deal with her charge. Like a two-person Rugby scrum, a clinch that lasts only long enough for him to ask- ]

Yeah? Like what?

[ -Before he attempts a rudimentary powerbomb. It's not a move he's well acquainted with, so she gets her wish- he goes down and she ends up on top, whilst he lets out a delighted gasp of air. Oh! This might be it! It's too quick! What a shame!

Of course, he's equally unfamiliar with the Human Power and that the strength it gives his muscles makes them more durable in equal measure. Otherwise, he'd pop his limbs from their sockets with every punch, so at least he'll be tougher to sink teeth into (figurative or literal) than most. ]

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