2020-07-28 Bunny in Der Blaue Engel

Bunny in Der Blaue Engel

Participants: Karner

Storyteller: Zebastian

Location: Der Blaue Engel

Date and Time: June 23, 2010 11:124 pm

Summary: Karner Blue sees another little gathering at Der Blaue Engel come to the end - and finds himself a touch peckish; how to keep things subtle, while satisfying the thirst? It's his party, he can feed if he wants to...

Man. What a great party, eh?

Oh, it's one of those semi-casual get togethers of Industry Bigwigs who are no doubt enthralled with Mr. Blue's next upcoming sure-to-be hit III*Penny. Cocktails, music, a little light dinner hardly nobody eats because they're too busy chattering and taking in the ambience -- that kind of thing. The hight of the evening is almost done, with one or two of the key players -- aside from Karner of course -- having already stepped aside. People are thinning out, but not very speedily -- some producer or another is holding court with a casting director and some money people, and some of the younger assistants and PAs hoping to get a writing credit one-of-these days have congregated elsewhere at the edges of the entertainment patio -- talking in small groups, pairing off...

...A round-eyed girl with a severe haircut that does nothing to hide the fact she's trying to look older than twenty-three, trying her best to be taken seriously by a dreamy eyed blond boy who's a little younger, wearing a leather motorcycle jacket and chatting with the confidence of someone with three big credits and a franchise offer under their belt... A cluster of three PAs; two of them look like they could be twins, but that's just the brown hair and hazel eyes paired with matching turtlenecks - they're laughing at a diminutive red-haired kid with big blue eyes who quite literally tried to pitch Karner a sci-fi script about some apocalyptic 'boy who stole the sun' story earlier, and in his naive enthusiasm kinda made a fool of himself -- in front of his boss, no doubt. God, will he have a job tomorrow? He's trying to save it, taking advice from his 'friends' who really don't want to see him succeed...

So much life, here at Der Blaue Engel. Such strange innocence and dream-chasing -- subdued by alcohol and vain hope.

What else are these parties for?

Indeed, it's a lovely party. Karner enjoyed himself quite a bit, as one of his many strange habits is eating actual human food, and even enjoying it. Oh sure, he'll have to puke it up later, but it was delicious in the short term. The III*Penny popularity's caused him to dress with a nod to the 1920s, though not enough to be costume-like: black three-piece suit with blue pinstripes, black and blue spats and a watch chain, plus blue eyeball-shaped cufflinks and tie tack. He's thought about growing out a pencil moustache, but the spats will have to do for now.

Karner drifts to the edge of the living room, gazing out at the assembled on the patio. Look at those little darlings. There are a number of interesting ones here tonight, but which lamb has the softest wool? Which doe eyes see the farthest and the brightest? Who among them believes that sweetness and light still exist in this city of monsters? That's the one he's looking for, and he hopes, prays even, that one of them are here tonight. Because despite the bellyful of very pointless food, Karner Blue is ravenous.

Yes; the little groups of more obviously green party-goers certainly have a kind of charm about them. Light glimmers off of the girl's long earrings - a star and an ankh of all things - shook as she gestures with her hands, trying to get something serious across to the blonde kid in the biker jacket, who is just staring at her with dreamy consideration for all she has to say - engaged, and possibly flirting, but in a real easy slow-burn kind of manner, like he was the flame moths gravitate to, and he knows it. Smiling at her, like none of those kind of worries would ever touch him - but he fells for her, man, he really does.

Meanwhile the red-haired writer has started to scratch at the side of his neck, watching the two guys in turtlenecks with gentle suspicion turning to wonder, as they feed him a story on how to get back into his boss's good books. Doesn't seem entirely convinced, but maybe - just maybe - there's hope left...

Is it true innocence? Hard to say.

It is real blood, though -- underneath the surface, just beating through their chest, flushing their features and animating their little, strange, petty, complicated, hopeful, beautiful and brief lives.

The redhead...funny. He reminds Karner vaguely of a brother he had, long long ago. So long ago that it hardly seems real anymore. Normally, that sort of thing would be a turn-off, but...

He can briefly remember things about that child...running through hallways in short pants...crying...and always Mommy's favorite...

Karner begins to move towards the young writer, tapping ash in the grass as he goes. He comes right up to the kid and taps him on the shoulder, perhaps hoping he'd jump. "Remind me what your name was again? I meet so many people, one is bound to lose track, you see."

Woah. They're being, like, addressed? By Karner Blue?

The two kids in turtlenecks shut up and watch -- leaving the red haired young man to turn and look up at Karner, those big blue eyes showing actual surprise. Ohmygod. Was his earlier pitch maybe not a huge fuck-up? A hand dampened by a cocktail glass is immediately and only somewhat awkwardly wiped on his trousers, before it's offered to Karner.

"Bradley Shackleton -- my friend's call me Bunny -- Mr. Blue, great, great to meet you- really, thanks -- Absolute Pin? Game changer, I mean it." He really does.

Bunny really, really does. Earnest may as well be his middle name.

In the background: people mull about in their little groups, going about their end-of-party rounds -- PAs getting coats or waiting to be beckoned, glasses clinking as someone just gets another for the road... And Bunny stares up at Karner with a clear eyed look of interest on his face.

The blue eyes...well. The child may remind Karner of someone in a not entirely pleasant faction, but the blue...it's always something to fall into. Even if not enough.

"Your friends call you Bunny..." Bunny torn to pieces by an absolutely ravenous wolf. Bunny in a woodchipper. Bunny turned into bunny patties...Bunny lollipops. For a few moments that seem like an eternity, it's all Karner can think about.

All he can smell is Bunny's blood. The veins are blue, too, just beneath the skin, and he can practically taste the blood in his mouth, pouring between his teeth, feeding a Beast that wants nothing more than to tear Bunny to complete shreds...

But something brings Karner back from the brink. He's not even entirely sure what it is. He could see his mother's face for a moment...no love lost there. But her voice, it reminds him...

Karner smiles down at Bunny, careful not to show his teeth. He fears they may already be long and huge in his mouth. "The pleasure is all mine...Bunny. Would you like to have a drink and speak about your film, now that the hubbub has died down? Something about the sun?

"It's a long story-" Bunny offers, withdrawing his hand and trying to look anything other than a little embarrassed - that smile persists, and he ignores the two PA's in turtlenecks who are watching Karner and Bunny like two very nosy parkers. No doubt they will be gossiping about it later:

'Did you see the way he looked at Bunny?' 'I bet he was pissed - they say he's a nightmare to work with...'

But in this moment, Bunny continues explaining; "-see when I was a kid, I found this old cabin in the woods and---" Bunny stops himself, and those big blue eyes blink at Karner. Did the director just ask about having a drink and talking about his movie? There's a dumbstruck moment, before Bunny blinks again and a big, crooked smile breaks out across his face. "Oh, yeah, of course Mr. Blue --- it's about a boy, living in a backwater in Missouri, who wakes up one day to find he's stolen the sun..."

Oh god. Bunny's actually under the impression this is a real invitation to talk about his movie idea. Better usher the kid along, or they'll be stuck here on the patio all night.

Of course, Karner isn't listening to him at all. He just shoved the Beast into a cage, but it's not like he locked the damn door. But he does put a hand on Bunny's shoulder as he speaks, leading him back into his hose, past the vision of The Garden of Earthly Delights, down into his blue-hued screening room.

"Have a seat." Karner says this as he begins to unbutton his jacket. There's not going to be much time left for the dance and the small talk, not now. But he has little doubt that Bunny is about as innocent as one gets for this awful town. The fact that he thinks this conversation is real is proof of it...the poor lad.

The whole way, right? Down off the entertainment patio - away from the other party goers and the jealous PAs who glare at their departure - through the complicated party house and into the big screening room with its blue light -- the whole way, Bunny talks about his film:

Some luckless country boy who has to defeat his inner demons and piece together the fractured memories of himself as he back-tracks through the previous night and discovers just how it is he stole the sun. There's stuff about a witch in a forest and a lake of black waters and a whispering spirit of some girl who's out to kill him with a machete because she wants the sun back, right? Actually it's a pretty good story...

...and nothing that Karner gives a shit about.

It's obvious Bunny has had a few too many drinks and a little pick-me-up in the Blaue Engel's notorious powder room, but he is ... mostly lucid; hair hair is tinted a dark maroon colour under the screening room's lights -- but his eyes? Bright. Watching Karner as he unbuttons his jacket - moving to take a seat when it's offered.

"---so that's when he realises, what it was all about, finally, right?... So." Bunny swallows, eyebrows suddenly knotted as he stares at Karner's face - his own expression rubbed raw with keen vulnerability, now his movie pitch has been given. "What do you think?"

Karner made sure to lock the door, lest another partygoer find their way down here and eaten, too. But now, now that Bunny has finished his tale, Karner is standing before him in his shirt and vest and trousers. He's carefully rolled up his sleeves, for reasons he doesn't understand -- the vestiges of Humanity are always a funny thing.

"I think..." And now, Karner moves to descend to the seat next to Bunny. He fiddles his long fingers into Bunny's now-fascinatingly maroon hair...isn't it amazing what the blue light does? To him, and to everything. Everyone. The entire universe.

Karner leans in to sniiiiiiiiiiff Bunny's neck. Just a whiff. "...it has potential, actually. It turns out I was right about you, after all." He'd like to run his long tongue along Bunny's neck and...oh, what the heck. It's his house, why not do it?

Settled in, Bunny watches Karner roll up up his sleeves -- that expression of weirdly vulnerable keenness still on that blue-tinged face of his. Its only when the director sits down next to him, gets all cozy-like and starts mussing at his maroon-stained hair that ... ah.

There is a blush to his features - it can be practically /felt/, resonating through the air -- a wash of blood, tinged with not so much embarrassment as much as awkward, flattered, confused pride melding with desire -- for what?

Karner's attention - or his acclaim? What Karner has done, or could do? To be him, or to be had by him?

It's a bit of a mess -- but Bunny smiles, something coquettish as he tilts his head, neck obscured a little as he tries to look at Karner's face. "You think so? I mean, I know it -- I think the lead would be great--- ooh."

Was Bunny's neck just licked? That garners a weirdly soft giggle. Man. This kid must've just flown in from the Corn Belt -- no way he's been in Los Angeles long. Still, he moves as if to wrap an arm around Karner. Because they're gonna make out, right? ...sure.

Karner puts his hand under Bunny's chin, holding it -- and he licks his lips. Sure, kid. They'll make out --

Actually, what Bunny feels next is Mr. Blue necking him. So maybe he was right. Except, of course, Karner is doing nothing of the sort. He's finally, finally gotten to sink his fangs into Bunny's supple neck. He moans to himself, closing his eyes, ready to drink his fill.

His nails dig into Bunny's shoulder. For Bunny, of course, this will feel like heaven on earth. The vampire's evolutionary advantage in full force. But all Karner can think about right now is blood.

And bunnies. He's still thinking about bunnies, too. Hopping, fluffy bunnies with vampire teeth, throats gashed, eating each other...

Was there something in that last drink, Bunny?

Just one bite, and blood flows -- rich and hot, coppery and sweeter than any ambrosia. Bunny tastes like life -- he tastes like youth -- he tastes like freedom. Ripening cornfields and the rush of going up in a plane for the first time, watching the world drop out from beneath him; watching every stupid soul in every stupid podunk town he dreamt of leaving every day, just fading away into a pin-prick of light that gets washed into black, as jet-fuel burns and he flies off into the future.

Bunny tastes like innocence.

He is delicious.

But he is not infinite source -- and really, if Karner is not careful, he might end up with a very different and more complicated annoyance on his hands, for the little over-indulgence. Probably wouldn't be the first time - all Kindred have their moments - but is a corpse-removal on the agenda tonight?

Can Karner work it into his schedule?

If only Bunny didn't taste so sweet... Pleasure and delirium - an incomprehensible rush, that leaves the young writer prone - and Karner with mouthfuls of blood.

No, Karner Blue. You can do this. You're not so hungry that you can't leave this sweetness for another day -- he may not have been Karner's usual variety of cornfed blood, but this was far tastier, and far more satisfying, than he anticipated.

Did he ever feel like this, in life? It's hard to imagine. So much warmth, and youth, and hope...

Karner forces his mouth away from the boy -- licking the wounds, closing them. Licking his lips, tasting the remnants of the life essence there. He closes his eyes, savoring it. Delightful.

Bunny doesn't quite seem ready to just let go of Karner, when the director stops, uh, necking him like that. His hands? Still rather entangled around him, so that it might take a little coaxing for Karner to get the guy to let go. Punch-drunk on the delirium of the Kiss, Bunny moves in to boldly take a proper kiss from Karner. Not even the faintest traces of crimson leaving Karner's lips deter him from trying to prompt more contact.

Because that's what they're doing, right? Making out.

Something has awakened in Bunny, and the logical follow-up is to get more of whatever it is he wants - which in this case is Karner.

Sheesh. Obsessive much?

At least at first, Karner allows it. More into girlies, usually, but in his own red-flushed world, he doesn't mind indulging the kid in a kiss. After that, though, he wants to get off of him. So Karner pushes him away, reaching for his blazer to retrieve a handkerchief to wipe his mouth...

Not that that will necessarily keep Bunny away from him, however. The Kiss, the real kind, is a helluva thing in Karner's hands. The madness that swirls in his mind, making every moment a waking dream or reality, well, it has this tendency to pass itself along to his prey...

Bunny, to his credit, is not a bad kisser -- it's just that he's a mite eager, chasing a sensation unlike any other he's likely felt before, and coming up a little short each time. C'mon, Bunny; just ride that initial wave and count the blessings you don't even know you have...

...but he is an innocent boy, after all.

"--then, yeah? We can get boat - you and me - I'll show you the whole world - fuck them, right? Karner, you're unbelievable - the stories we're gonna make, you and me, yeah, we're gonna make it to the top, beyond the top - I can feel it; don't you hear the horns, blasting like Gabriel's trumpet? Let's go, let's do it, let's---"

Ah, there's the flip-side of Karner's Kiss -- tastes so sweet, but leaves the bitten more than a little twisted.

Bunny sounds like he's been standing on the corner of La Cienega and Melrose after an evening of poppers and crystal at the Abbey. Damn. Who knows what the kid will say, if he's let out in public.

Kinda a thrill, right? Just not a particularly safe one -- considering he's swaying and sweating, skin palled to a pallid blue-white under the lights of the screening room.

Well, that's a shame, but it's also something Karner's gotten used to. Surprisingly, he's been able to make it work in this town. Everyone here's lost their minds, so what's one more hopped-up young thing? Poor dear. He doesn't mean to break them like this, but then again, Karner also knows it won't last.

Shushing him, Karner presses a finger to Bunny's lips. "Here, little one. I have something for you." If Bunny allows him, he will wrench his jaw open and place a small pill inside...something to mellow Bunny out, at least for a little while. At least to get him off his property, which is what Karner is going to work on next, as soon as he calls security. He's a very busy man, you see.