Video, city wide post, Sunday evening

[babysage]

[The image is a big blurry, Kotaro is a bit close, he pretty much pressed all the buttons until he got this to work]

Can everybody see me? And hear me? [He smiles showing fangs, still far too close to the camera]

My name is Kotaro Mochizuki, I'm a Black blood, which you might also know as a vampire. If you don't know what a vampire is [Because Nephenee hadn't] we have powers, like being able to fly and we have to drink blood. It's more complicated than that but If you come and find me I'll explain more!

But why I am talking on the computer is because vampires need blood, well Sam does anyways...

But we don't want to hurt anyone! [Read as he doesn't want to hurt anyone, Sam can't remember he's a vampire] Sam is a doctor though so can take the blood out of you with a needle, just a bit of it and that way he wont need to bite you. But I need volunteers.

There might be other black bloods here as well. [He knows of one who might be, but he isn't sure] And I'm sure they need help too. So if you want to volunteer let me know. And if you are a black blood then answer as well!

[And then he spends a while trying to end the message, pressing buttons again]

Comments

[babysage]

Sam, Sam, Golbez is here to help you. You wont hurt him! [Kotaro is pulling blankets off Sam now.] We can take the blood with a needle you said, it wont hurt him at all. Come on Sam you gotta get up!

[bloodbrother]

[He resists a bit, but eventually he comes out from under the blankets] I don't know if I can do this.... I'm not a vampire, I know I'm not but when you bring all the facts together, I can't reach any other conclusion and I get dizzy and a headache and I just don't know what to do. [He's finally breaking down into a full-blown panic attack.] I hid in here when I realized I thought luring one of the students in here was a good idea. I hate this I want my brother and I want to go home. [Finally he stops flailing, and hides his face between his knees]

[stoppedhiding]

[ This is an especially cruel thing to have made somebody forget. Just one more reason to dismantle this system and get everyone home as quickly as he can.

He doesn't know what to say about Sam's outburst, though. He just stands there, feeling uncomfortable. ]

[babysage]

[At Sam's outburst Kotaro wrapped his arms around him tightly.] I want to go home too Sam, and I want my brother but he's not here and neither's yours so we gotta be brave okay? [He doesn't let go, hugging Sam tighter.] I know you can't remember but really if you drink some blood you will feel better I promise!

[bloodbrother]

[Why was this kid handling this better than he was? Right, because he was actually a functional human being-- or however that saying went for people that weren't sure they were even human.] Alright. I-I- There should be some supplies around. [He moved to start gathering things up, and while he moves slow, he seemed to be working around the fact one hand seemed to be stuck permanently on 'claw' mode.]

[But soon he had everything ready.] This'll probably hurt. My hands aren't the steadiest right now. [He glances quickly up to Golbez and back down to what he's doing to clean his arm.]

[stoppedhiding]

[ Thaaat's actually somewhat worrisome. He sits down to make things easier for Sam, eyeing that claw for a moment. ]

Is there anything I can do to make it easier for you?

[babysage]

[Kotaro held Sam's hand whilst he gathered things. He was a little bit scared, since Sam was so ill but he knew that once he had blood he would feel better. Kotaro sat down between them, ready to make sure that Golbez didn't get hurt.]

[bloodbrother]

[He'd had to focus but he didn't skip any steps. Before long he was ready with the needle.] Just don't let this color what you think of my abilities. [He said, closing his eyes for a moment.He didn't breathe for a long minute and his hands soon stopped shaking.] Okay. [And have a stick. It hurts but he seems to have got it on the first try. And the blood is flowing. He gives Golbez a rolled bundle of paper towels and squeezes his hand attached to the arm with the needle in it around it. He doesn't miss any steps in the process but he doesn't talk much either.]

[stoppedhiding]

Gah-- [ It takes a supreme force of will to keep from flinching, which he's sure would just make matters worse. At least he'd been expecting it to hurt.

He glances at the bundle Sam handed him -- ah, that makes sense. Squeezing his hand like that would increase the blood flow and get this over with quicker. Which is something he definitely wouldn't complain about. ]

[babysage]

[Kotaro switched and held Golbez's hand instead, the free one. Because it probably still hurt a bit and Kotaro was sorry for that.] You're very brave Golbez!

[bloodbrother]

[He sat back down and waited. He closed his eyes.] Kotaro, let me know when the pouch reaches that top black line.

[stoppedhiding]

[ Awkward... He just kind of looks at Kotaro. Does he really think that? How is Golbez supposed to respond to a statement like that...?

It shouldn't take long. He hopes not, anyway, since the needle site is starting to itch. Clever technology, this blood extraction, but it's not without its problems. ]

[babysage]

[Of course he thinks it, you're a hero Golbez! He nods at Sam and stares at the bag of blood, not taking his eyes off it for a moment. Because this is a really important job and he had to do it properly.

When the blood reached the line he looked up.] Sam it's at the line!

[bloodbrother]

[He lifted his head when Kotaro spoke up, and got up to disconnect everything. His hands didn't bely any of the fogginess in his head. He could smell blood in the air. It made it hard to focus.

But then Golbez was set free, and the blood was safely sealed away into the pouch. He set it on the table, and leaned over it, staring at it.

He thought for a long moment, and then finally decided to take the plunge. He tore a hole near the top and had plainly decided to throw it all down and be done with it all at once.

When he was done, he started coughing, and made a face like that was the most disgusting thing he'd ever ingested. He staggered back a bit in the aftermath, bumping into the end of an examining table. He was taking long, shaky breaths, but his hand began to revert back to human. He got a little bit of color back in his face. His fangs became less pronounced. It seems to have done the trick, though it's clear from the look on his face, that he's still processing this.

But then, all at once, he screamed in pain, and held his head. And he passed out onto the floor.]

[stoppedhiding]

[ When Sam pulls the needle out of his arm, he presses his other hand against the wound to help the blood clot faster. And then Sam collapses, and Golbez quickly gets to his feet -- and falls to his knees in the next instant, dizzy all at once from blood loss. ]

Kotaro... Check to make sure he's all right. I can't...

[babysage]

[Kotaro watched Sam disconnect everything and drink the blood. He was glad when he saw his hand go back to normal. It had worked! Sam was a vampire after all (not that Kotaro had ever really doubted.)

His eyes went wide when first Sam and then Golbez fell to the floor. He nodded at Golbez and ran over to Sam's side.] Sam? Sam? Wake up what's wrong? Was the blood bad? [He glares at Golbez, as if it was his fault.]

[stoppedhiding]

It... should be fine. I'm not ill. Perhaps he overexerted himself.

[ ...unless... He really should have made sure, first, but it had slipped his mind when he'd seen Sam's pitiful state. If his blood made them sick, though... ]

Can you tell if the blood smells off, Kotaro? Different from what you're used to?

[babysage]

[Kotaro shook Sam some more but he still didn't wake up. He nodded at Golbez and went over to smell the blood.] It smells okay, not bad just not exactly like normal blood. Not like Black Blood blood though either. [Which is good, he had been scared for a moment that Golbez was some kind of strange calm Kowloon child, though he knew that wasn't very likely.

He dipped his finger into what remained of the blood and tasted it. The pulled a face.] Yuk! Euch! [He rubbed his tongue trying to get the taste off it] You're blood is yukky Golbez! [But not poisonous it seemed... unless it was only harmful in big doses.]

[bloodbrother]

[It didn't take long for Sam to come around. He blinked up blearily at Kotaro. When he lifted his head, there was a blood mark on the floor and blood in his hair from when he'd cracked his head on the tile on the way down.] I'm okay... [He sat up on the floor, and leaned his back against the drawers on the end of the examination table.] I feel better. Better than I have in a while. [It takes him a second to glance in Golbez's direction.] Crap! [He gets up and goes over to him to help him up.] I'm sorry I was so wrapped up in what was going on I didn't warn you.

[stoppedhiding]

[ So he's okay... Despite that blood on his head. With Sam's help, Golbez gets back to his feet and sits back down. What Kotaro said made him grit his teeth and clench a fist. ]

It's all right. You were preoccupied. ...As was I. I should have considered that my blood might be unsuitable for you. I'm not entirely human.

[babysage]

[Kotaro helped Sam up and then looked at Golbez] If you're not a black blood and not a human and not a troll what are you?

[bloodbrother]

[He bandages up the hole properly.] It wasn't the blood that was a problem. I think it was the memories that made a problem. It tasted awful, but I was feeling better before my brain tried to divide by zero.

[And there's absolute sincerity in his voice.] But I want to thank you for your help, both of you.

[stoppedhiding]

[ ...ah. The fact remains, though, that he should have warned them. ] Lunarian. If the taste is the only problem, I apologize for that.

... [ He nods to Sam. ] It would be unfortunate to have the school doctor indisposed.

[babysage]

What's a Lunarian? It tasted really yukky. [He hovers by Sam, worried that he will faint again.] You don't need to thank me silly, friends help each other!

[bloodbrother]

Yeah, they do. [He wonders if Golbez considers himself in that category. It seems a strange things to ask, though... He gives Golbez the standard schpeal after donating blood.] I'll go down to the cafeteria later, you need something to eat. For now, just stay here.