GHB 2, orb 4

[dailybread]

Does anyone know what this is?

[He holds up a pendant. Something white and curved and thin is attached to it, along with a small satchel.]

There were fourteen of them on our doorstep this morning.

[[OOC: Yes. It's a fertility charm. And yes. It was left by an NPC. The white thing is a penis bone. :D]]

Comments

[dailybread]

I know. [Why would it be? They don't even have princesses in Twelve, much less rules about whether or not they can be male.

But he laughs nervously at the second comment.] Thanks, but I'm a little sick of being dressed up.

[Hair slicked back for the cameras, the white gloves and tuxedo--a wedding suit--he'd worn before the quarter quell. He didn't have it as bad as Katniss, but it still made him uncomfortable.]

I'm Peeta. It's nice to meet you, Selene.

[golden_moon]

Of course you can dress yourself.

[A dismissive wave of her hand.]

I was simply going to offer help with your hair, darling.

[She laughed, softly, and winked at him.]

It's okay, I know most men don't care for the extras, Peeta. And I'm charmed, truly, to meet you, as well. Have you been in the city long?

[dailybread]

I'm fine with my hair the way it is, but thank you.

[Gently, but firmly.]

Not really--a few days. Are you new?

[golden_moon]

Alright. I won't say another word. Promise.

I arrived yesterday, local time.

[dailybread]

Thanks.

[He means it. He's sure she had no ill intent.]

How do you like the city so far?

[golden_moon]

[If he starts finding the local seamstresses sending him special dresses, though...]

I've seen very little of it, honestly. The castle, and the market. It's...rather quaint. And dusty.

[dailybread]

It's peaceful, though.

[golden_moon]

Docile, certainly. Unsettling, though.

[dailybread]

Unsettling? How so?

[golden_moon]

The locals would rather force you into drag, young man, then give you a pair of pants, and you don't kniw what I'm talking about?

[dailybread]

[He laughs a little.]

Well, compared to where I come from, that's pretty tame.

[golden_moon]

It is nice not to wonder if any of my neighbours want to eat me. The problem is, if anyone here did, sugar, they'd probably just say so.

[dailybread]

Eat you?

[golden_moon]

Consume. Devour. They all mean the same thing. Even the little old Dutch lady probably thought about it once in a while, though she'd have just wanted a little blood. Vampire and all. But the poor dear would never do something so...crass.

I don't live in the best neighborhood, but you take what you can get, I suppose.

[dailybread]

[Peeta just....blinks at her.]

Eating blood?

[golden_moon]

[There is a pause on her end; she has to think that over for a moment.]

The vampire, dear.

[She should have specified, sorry.]

[dailybread]

Vampire...?

[He shakes his head apologetically.]

Sorry. I don't know what that is.

[golden_moon]

Vampire...? Well.

[She considers this for a moment.]

They are...cursed. They feed on blood. Only blood. Nothing else sustains them. They used to be rather...unwelcome, all things considered, because of it.

[dailybread]

[He winces.]

Are they a muttation?

[golden_moon]

[She winces at the question]

No.

[No more than werewolves, at least; look, this might be a touchy subject.]