All my rps r ded so.... rp with a smol 'vegan' vampire?

Now that he thought of it, Damien realized he didnt know much about the publicizing process either. Other than the obvious manuscript-gets-sent-to-print-and-becomes-book, he didnt know much else about what exactly went on behind the scenes and what were the selection criteria for a story.

"Oh… I see…"
Now the question why humans had so many myths about creatures that presumably exist started to receive a clear answer.
"That… thats good to know." he nodded, playing with his hands. "i didnt know that could happen, i just assumed i had done something wrong the whole time"

He shrugged gently, with the shy barely sketched awkward smile still on his face.
"Better than nothing, i guess?"

That information should probably be somewhere out there, he was sure of it. Just had to ask someone who knew more about it, and he relayed that to Marissa as well. Another curiosity to check out added to the list.

"I hope i didn't… Because then i wouldnt know what it was i did." he admitted, sinking in the pillow he was leaning against.
The notions that humans could turn violent out of fear were rolling around in his head, changing his perspective on the memory of those long gone days, where he shook in fear almost constantly, wondering what on earth did he do to anger all those people at him. He closed his eyes, continuing on his train of thought silently.

Slightly cheered, Damien nodded.
"So, um, where do we start? Do you need to go home to start looking or how? By the way, didn't you mention something about your parents giving you a curfew? I wouldnt want to hold you here more than i should…." the boy perked up, remembering their talk at the start of the day

Damien seemed to blush a little, his visible cheek stained a delicate shade of pink, from her description of him.
"You're right, i wouldnt…" he agreed with the last statement, which was mostly true, given he'd never inflicted violence upon anyone, ever, not even animals. But it was hard to all of a sudden drop the guilt of somehow being the instigator in all of that, just by being himself.

"Aww, time to go back already? When did time fly…"
Neither of them kept an eye for the time, but the boy had hoped she could stay just a little longer, had it not been for the looming threat of possibly getting Marissa into trouble at home if she was late.
"Do tell me if you find anything." he said, sitting up to help her pack her things. "And yea, im still interested to test those out"
Once the girl had gathered her things, he was ready to lead her through the same path as last time.

"You've been the first person to ever believe this much in me, how do you manage this?" he asked, overwhelmed by just how much she encouraged him all the time.

He motioned with his hands semi defensively, like he wanted to reassure her.
"I really wouldnt want you to have to run back home, i should have been more careful with the time, and i will, next time." he promised, slightly worried. Even if she had mentioned the trouble wouldnt be too big, he would have been more comfortable if there wasnt any at all to begin with. After all, Marissa was his only actual friend, he would have felt bad to create inconveniences in her life.
Damien nodded briefly in an acnowledgement, helping her gather the last of the books he lent to her, making sure nothing was forgotten. Just like her, he too was kind of excited to dive into the new books she'd brought him. Finally something new, after so many years of rereads.
Once all was packed, he headed to the small flight of stairs, waiting for her to follow him through the now familiar corridors.

Damien lowered his gaze, slowly nodding to himself.
"Well, im glad i havent given any so far.. And i hope i dont in the future" he dared to chuckle as well, lightly. He was secretly very relieved by her words, which also comforted him greatly.
"Isn't it hard sometimes? To look for the good in people?"

"If you enjoy running, then i guess its not that bad… But i still wouldnt want you to have to rush back all the time." the boy spoke his mind, standing up as well. "I really like spending time with you too.. I really do. It was pretty boring here, you know?"
Upon her following him, he opened the door to the corridor and invited her first, leading her through the same route as last time, ending up back at the door where he'd handed her his umbrella so she could walk home during the storm. Judging from the clouds outside the door window, it seemed like the rain was going to make a come back somewhere during the night.
"So, this is it." he nervously presented the door to her. "Would you um, like me to accompany you to the main gate? Im sorry i didnt do that the first time you left"

"oh, im sure you won't" he smiled genuinely, sure she wouldnt do anything to make him lose trust in her. After all, they were friends, and friends dont do that, right? Betrayal wasn't something he'd faced before, but he'd read about it so while he moderately knew what it felt like, he didnt think nor want to imagine Mari could do something like that to him, not when his trust was already so frail and easily attachable.
If its so deep, why bother looking for it? I mean, wouldnt it be better to just distance yourself away from the person?"

Damien shook his head, his smile turning into a sad version of itself, as he continued his walk. What reason would he have to lie? Aside from the books which he would read over and over again and the daily chores, there really wasnt much to do around here, aside maybe from talking to one self.
"There's only so much one can do when completely alone in a large place like this."

"Mhm! Mhm! I do want to talk!" he quickly jumped at the offer, wanting to fulfill his duty as a host all the way. He opened the door and stepped outside, waiting for her to join him. As it was a little past noon, the sun was already up high in the sky, illuminating the clearing in the forest gently, sometimes obscured by the passing clouds.
"Still, i shouldnt have left you to go all alone" he commented, moving slowly towards the old metal gates. "So, um, tomorrow you're coming back right? For the testing part…"

"Oh, i see how it is…" he understood, looking away. Guess she didnt have the option of just locking herself in the house for a very long time like he did in order to avoid the problem altogether.

The boy's thin frame leaned forward a little bit under the weight of Mari's arm on his shoulders. It hadnt been a significant weight, just a small reflex.
"But hey, now im no longer alone. Cuz i have you here…"

Now outside, Damien walked slowly next to her, like he was counting every step he took on the grass. Once they stepped into direct sunlight, the boy's hair was once again proven as a gentle shade of dark green, with a rather smooth texture, that somehow made obvious his not so straight haircut.
"Getting wet wouldnt have been that big of a deal, the house isnt too far away, i would have been fine." he tried to deflect the problem, puttin on what looked like a brave face.
"Yeah, outside would be great. Wouldnt want to break anything inside"

"No no, its alright. It's just me…" he reassured her, waving his hand gently. Apparently he hadn't realized the way he'd changed over the years and where before he could withstand a decent amount of weight, now discovering he bent under relatively small amounts. Guess he was just a little tired at the moment.
"You've no idea how much it helps… Really." the boy replied, with what could be described as the pained expression of someone who was tired of just doing the same things all over again, with little to no change.

"Is all okay?" he asked, turning to look at her once he noticed her head was facing his direction. Apparently he'd been observing her out of the corner of his eye, and caught her sorta staring at him, which made him concerned about wether there was something on her mind

Damien blushed slightly, at her little teasing observation of his behavior. Guess he really was stubborn when he wanted to be, although he liked to think of it as him fulfilling the obligations of a host, which he'd been taught as a young kid. He wouldnt be able to sleep soundly if he didnt do things the 'right way'.
"Yep, tomorrow it is. Same time as today?" he asked, once at the rusty metal gates.

"Its my, you know… Quirks. But also like how i kinda almost lost my balance there for a bit. Its hard to explain." the reply came, as the boy looked down at his feet, moving them like he was trying to find a position where he couldnt easily lose his balance. Sure, he had been a little hesitant about having one's arm around his shoulders after just getting used to physical contact, but at the same time it felt like it had tipped his apparently fragile balance. It was odd honestly, for he'd never noticed that before.
"It really does, you know? I cant even say how glad i am to have you here"

"You're sure?" Damien probed further, with an innocent look on the visible half of his face. He didnt mind her staring, mainly because she had already expressed her interest in his not so common appearance.

The boy too was a little hesitant to part just yet, so he didnt hurry up on saying goodbye. He stopped right before the metal gates, not daring to take another step past them, like an invisible barrier.
"Mhm, i'll bee waiting then" gently waving one hand. "I'll uh, see you later then as well. Stay safe out there"

"i… i guess that might be it, im not sure." he responded after a brief moment of thinking. Honestly he wasnt too certain either about what exactly it was that he'd experienced. It wasnt like he'd lost his balance before, or at least didnt notice it if he did.
"Guess it was a chance meeting, that you were here and it happened to rain. You really did find me" he chuckled at the end, finding the train of events rather sweet.

"My mom?"
The question seemed to take him a bit by surprise, given its randomness, but he did his best to remember, biting his lip as he slowly recalled what she looked like. Although faded and slightly warped by the passage of time, he pieced back together the one face he held dearest in his heart.
"Dark. It was a dark color, i remember, with a bit of a white streak on one side." the reply eventually came, Damien still gazing in the void, like he was visualizing her portrait. "It was different than mine, and i remember asking her about it once. She said it was nice"

The boy started swaying his body once again, similarly to a cartoony shy gesture, while gently kicking some pebbles at his feet.
"Well, you never know what might happen. Just saying, you cant be too careful out there"

The way these small decisions led to their meeting, even though by chance, felt like a cosmic combination made by whatever higher being was out there, but in the end be was very much satisfied with the end result.
"Lucky indeed" he replied with a smile of his own.

Damien's only response to her compliment was a slow nod, while looking at her and then away. Yes, she had been beautiful, in his eyes at least.
"He could, i wont argue, but i cannot guarantee anything. Mom didnt describe him too much to me."
He honestly hoped it would be that easy to identify him, but he wasnt ready to bet on it. If vampires really had powers, and one of them was shapeshifting, then they might as well look for a needle in a haystack then.

"I'll be okay, dont worry. I wont go anywhere." he promised, before gently motioning towards the path in the forest.
"I guess you should get going now, i've held you here enough"

"i really hope it helps, as little as it is." he told her, looking like he was sorry he couldnt provide more information on the matter. When it came to tracking down an actual vampire, he really did not know much at all, reason why when she'd mentioned they could shape shift he automatically assumed his father may have done something to that extent, perhaps to conceal his identity? After all, vampires were very hated back in his time, so it would make sense to go for a disguise; also, if he had taken residence somwhere, wouldn't people be a little suspicious of a seemingly never aging person? Unless he was in a very secluded place just like he was, with no neighbours around.

"I wish you the best of luck with that" he nodded gently towards the bag the girl had tapped with her hand. She really did have a lot in there.
"Tomorrow then. Byee"
Damien waved at her shyly, still remaining on the other side of his gate, silently watching her as she vanished off on to the deer path.

While he may have not been as confident as she was about the whole thing, Damien elected to just give an understanding nod, biting his lips as he did so. After all, she possessed all those new things she'd showed him, perhaps she had more chances of finding his dad than he ever could, who knew? If Mari insisted to look for him, who was Damien to stop her from doing so?

When he couldnt see her anymore, he turned around and slowly began walking towards the mansion again. The sun at its peak felt very warm on the top of his head, despite it only being gentle. Thankfully, with the hair covering half his face, he didnt feel any discomfort whatsoever, just the nice warm feeling. He did not hurry to get inside, just enjoying the moment, up until he reached the mansion's door, where he crawled back into his chill lair.

(I didnt have too many ideas for the research, so we could skip :D damien is prolly gon lie down and just read all day. We could play that part if u want to :0)

(We can skip then, no probs :D)