maskormenacelogs | you can check out any time you like but you can never leave;

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you can check out any time you like but you can never leave;

WHO: Tristan Duffy and OPEN
WHERE: The Hotel Castile and the Fangs for the Memories club
WHEN: Throughout May
WHAT: Tristan tries his best to (assistant) manage his bar and visits a familiar hotel.
WARNINGS: Murder talk is likely.

[Fangs for the Memories - Nonah]

[Tristan had never managed anything before. Or even assistant managed, as he was doing now. He wasn't usually interested in anything that required more work and responsibility than getting dressed and walking down the runway.

But, he was kind of flattered that someone gave him this job, and it looked like it could be fun, so he figured he'd at least give it a shot. He leans against a wall near the entrance, giving a nod to anyone who comes in.]

Hey. Thanks for coming.

[The Hotel Castile - Maurtia Falls]

[It was refreshing to be in a hotel so much like the one he resided in back home. He thought he'd be more excited to be able to go wherever he pleased again, but he'd gotten used to being in the hotel (and being dead actually gave him a bit of patience) so he was a bit homesick.

He decided to take a look around the new hotel, wandering about and searching for anything - or anyone - that might catch his eye.]

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[There was a new old face behind the bar. Instead of Liz and her graceful cleaning of some dirty glass, there's Sally. She puts out one cigarette on the bar counter and lights up her umpteenth one of the night before smirking over at him.]

Look who came slumming.

[Tristan hadn't really spoken to Sally much. Mostly because he'd been in hiding until Liz died. But he recognized her, and she was part of Liz's little family, so that was good enough for him to be happy to see her.]

Damn, am I the last one to get here?

[He's pretty sure that Liz wasn't here, because March would have told him if she was, but he wasn't expecting to see any more familiar faces at all.]

[Tristan's presence is noted almost the moment he steps in, but March lets the boy walk about for a while before he makes his presence known. If any of his are to haunt this place as they deserve, they'll need some time to be familiar with it. March had already made the adjustment. He could be patient.

When Tristan turns a hallway, he'll spot a familiar figure at the end of it. Smoking a pipe and without his jacket or tie. Familiar in more ways than one and planned as such.]

I see you've found your way back easily, old boy.

You're dead middle, kid. Don't get her borrowed panties in a twist.

[ Liz's love he might have been, but Sally had seen how the Countess guarded her belongings. She wasn't going to pretend he belonged to anything but that bitch. ]

Drink?

[ It's a Friday night and Bela is heading to a night spot tailor made for vampires. Well, not just for them, everyone was welcome according to the man who had advertised it not so long ago over the network.

She strides confidently into the club, stopping when Tristan offers her a greeting. Bela smiles at him in return. ]

I did say I'd stop by sometime, didn't I?

What can I say, I get homesick.

[This wasn't totally home, but it was close enough.]

I've never really been interested in coming back to life, but I might as well make the most of it.

[With murder, he means. Liz isn't here so that leaves him with one interest.]

I don't borrow Liz's panties, they're not really my style.

[He doesn't even think she means the Countess. He's been so distanced from his maker that he barely even acknowledges her anymore.]

Sure.

[Homesick, oh how March smiles, pushing away from his perch to bridge the distance between them. This might not be home, exactly, but March is pleased to hear it just the same and welcome Tristan back like some prodigal son who'd never be turned away or kicked out no matter what criminal mischief he'd get himself up to. That means an arm outstretched for a pat on the shoulder at least, a hug if Tristan so desires.]

I couldn't agree with you more. I always knew you were a man after my own heart. Welcome home, Tristan.

Yeah, but sometimes people say that and then, like...forget.

[And he doesn't know if there are enough vampires here to keep business going if the humans aren't interested.]

[Of course he wants a hug. March is the person he wants a hug from the most right after Liz. But it's a manly hug, with the pat on the back so no one thinks they're dating or anything.

He grins, infinitely proud that he's earned some show of affection from his mentor. Someday he'll get that coveted high five. Someday.]

I only wish Liz was here, too. But there's plenty we've got to catch up on, right?

[Like the fact that he can leave the hotel to murder people.]

I'm not one of those people, sweetie. [ Mostly. It depended on her mood and the situation. ]

Am I allowed a tour?

[The manliest hug ever. So manly. It involves a hand lingering to gently squeeze his neck, trailing over his shoulder and back to his pipe. He nods, solemn, exhaling smoke through his nose like a deeply aggrieved dragon.]

I wish she was here with us, too. Perhaps we'll see her in time. [It's where she belongs, with the family she'd come into and helped create.] That we do! A whole new world with a whole new history. You must have questions, yes? I'll answer if I can!

[He can leave the hotel to murder people. And he should leave the hotel to murder people.]

[She pours whatever's closest, silence hanging for the moment while she does.]

Never heard of trying new things?

Yeah, sure. You wanna see where we keep the blood?

[Because obviously that's what everyone wants to see at a vampire bar.]

[He takes a drink.]

Oh, I try a lotta new things, believe me.

Seems like the whole killing thing would be a bit complicated here. With all the...powers, and coming back to life, and stuff. You been thinking of ways around that?

[Because he has but all his ideas are probably bad.]

[Has March being thinking of murder? Gosh golly, that's like asking an astronaut if they've been thinking about space, or a farmer the weather. The answer is YES, CONSTANTLY there is no chill when it comes to March and murder, how to murder. He thinks about it at all hours of the day. At all half hours of the day. Sometimes at all minutes of the day.]

Oh yes. [Said with the airy sort of awe one usually reserves for things that aren't murder. What can he say? He's murder's biggest fan.] I've been focused on establishing the hotel first, but there are ways. Thinking outside the box will get you where you need to go with that very nicely.

[Outside the box, outside the imPorts, same thing.]

I think I can help. Uh, more than I used to help, I mean. I got strength I didn't have before - I can pretty much bench press a car now.

[He's practically brimming with pride at the thought that he might, in some way, be especially useful to his mentor. He's always regretted the fact that he only got one kill while he was alive, and is eager to prove himself a worthy pupil again.]

When I see it. You let me know, yeah?

[ Wandering off with the Countess doesn't count. ]

[March stops mid-step, turns to face Tristan fully, and stares at him a few seconds as though he's not sure he heard what he heard. Of course he knew his wife and those like her had exceptional gifts. Even if they needed help from time to time going up against stranger creatures, didn't negate the fact they had abilities mere humans could only dream of. So when Tristan speaks of his strength being even more than it once was...a world is dawning before him and he just needs a moment to digest, to understand, to appreciate.]

Is that so. [Too flat to be a real question, too slow to be anything other than confirming this new facet of Tristan to his own ears. His eyes drop to those arms, as if expecting HUGE BURSTING MUSCLES to suddenly be there. But no, that's silly, isn't it?] Shame you weren't here when we were in the height of remodeling. Could've used a man with such strength!

[Worthy for more than murder, it's a miracle.]

As if Liz would ever pick anyone boring. You gotta believe that at least, right?

[He really, really wants his ghost family to think he's a fun guy.]

Well, if you need any more heavy lifting done, I'm here for it now.

[He thinks for a moment.]

Or if you, like, wanna see a guy's skull get crushed with bare hands or something awesome like that.

[Because the real use of these new powers is murder.]

[Is he being seduced? This feels like a seduction, all the sexy talk going on right now.]

I'd think a woman's skull might be more awesome, as you say. Unless the guy had exceptionally long hair. [So much sexy talk as March turns back to lead them to his office.] You'll find this hotel bare of the chutes and ladders you've come to know, I'm afraid. The basement regrettably serves its intended purpose as well. For now. We'll change that sooner rather than later, won't we?

[He shrugs.]

Guess you're right. But I'm not gonna turn down a good skull crushing even if it's a short haired dude.

And is it possible? To make this place into something like the Cortez, I mean. You built that from the ground up.

[The million dollar question. Unfortunately...]

Something like it is all that can be done unless I have it torn down and built anew. The additions we need are time-consuming and call for a greater creativity. Some of what the Cortez held cannot be recreated with this design but, in time, the Castile will be a suitable stand-in.

Well, I can break a wall down or something, if you ever need it. So you don't need to hire outside help, I mean.

[He could also try to find a spike to put in some closet somewhere.]

Sounds good. It's not everyday I get to look around a vampire bar. Lead the way.

[He nods, approving and obviously already scheming. He takes another big puff of his pipe before he stops in front of a door that just so happens to have 64 on it. Go figure. Even if it doesn't make sense with the rest of the hall, he is 64 so help him. And even though he can totally just poof on the other side, he pulls out an oddly shaped key from his front pocket to unlock said door before opening it and gesturing Tristan inside, following perhaps too-closely behind him. When he flicks the lights on, it's...normal. Extremely normal. Desk and whatnot, like this is some regular office.]

You noticed Sally has joined us as well, haven't you?

[That gets a chuckle]

Well, Cleopatra did have a tiny taste for fun. Until the remodel.

Yeah. We haven't really talked much back home, but Liz likes her a lot, so she's alright with me.

[Because Liz's family is his family, too. At least, he hopes they'll be. Maybe not the lumberjack guy seeing as he kind of killed him, but everyone else.]

[Hopefully Lumberjack is too busy screwing Will Drake for them to make too many family gatherings super awkward.]

I wonder if there are many people your Liz doesn't hold some fondness for. [Besides rude customers and the like, of course. Liz had a way with people. The turnaround with Sally, Will, Iris...compliment, March's wondering. Tristan was lucky to have who he had instead of, well. Anyone else in the hotel.

Lightly said, of course, as he moves to a shelf and begins to pull out select books. He wasn't joking.] Ah, yes, here we are. Tell me, Tristan. Should we expect you to move in with us?

[Legitimately seducing him with books and the promise of future murder, what a shocker.]

Oh, she's still fun...maybe she saves most of it for me, but I can't blame her, I am a charmer.

[Well, she thinks he is, and she's probably the only person who thinks that because he's not actually that charming.]

Okay.

[He leads her over to a fridge and opens it. Fake blood sits inside a bunch of clear packets, but it's real looking at least.]

That's the blood. Uh, the rest is pretty much just a regular club.

I'm her favorite, though.

[Yeah, okay, she has family and loves everyone in the hotel and all that. He thinks that's great.

As long as everyone knows that he's the boyfriend and she loves him best.]

I mean, if you want me here, hell yeah.

[Tristan earns A Look for that—there was never any question in March's mind who Liz considered her Number One, but it's charming Tristan so openly speaks of their bond. Perhaps they'd hold a ghost wedding in the Cortez one day because why not? Everyone liked a good party.]

Of course I want you here! [He transfers the stack of books to his desk, pulling out some twine from the shelf beneath it to wrap around. So quaint, so old school, so vintage, how adorable.] We don't have as many rooms as the Cortez, but still plenty enough to fill. You're always welcome at any hotel with my name on it, Tristan, never doubt that.

Awesome!

[And geez, that's a lot of books. Hope March doesn't mind being without them for a while because Tristan's reading speed is...not fast, although descriptions of murder might motivate him.]

Of course I'll stay, then. I wanna do whatever I can, while I'm here. [He's super eager to help out. He really wants to get into that Devil's Night group this time around.]

[If he gets done with even one of these books in a month's time, March will be amazed. It's all good, Tristan, he expects the slow reading.]

Splendid. [Granddaddy Ghost is so proud, handing over that neat collection of books to Tristan before clasping him ever-so-personally on the shoulder.] There are plenty of rooms for you to pick from, and you are free to any of them you'd like. I'll inform the staff and we'll get your key taken from the front desk, and then you're welcome to decorate as you so please.

[He takes the books.]

You, uh. You have room 69 available, by any chance?

[Yeah. Yeah he really asked for that. He doesn't expect March to understand why he wants that room in particular. And that's probably for the better.]

Absolutely! [He does not understand. He does not understand at all.] Room 69 is all yours! I can take you there now, if you'd like. Call for room service if you decide you need anything more.

[Bela peers into the fridge for a moment or two before turning back to him.]

I take it the taste of the blood is as authentic as you can get? To keep the customers happy.

Yeah, totally! I'm probably just gonna crash for now.

[And March probably doesn't know what that means.]

Uh, sleep, I mean. It's been so long since I had to that I've been forgetting to do it.

Sorta. Real blood is a little more unique. Has different flavors. This stuff's all kinda the same.

That's interesting to know. Is there anything else you can show me while we're here or shall we get a drink?

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you can check out any time you like but you can never leave;

Hotel of course

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such a lovely place; such a lovely face

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Fangs for the Memories

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