(no subject) (part 2)

[initiatesnpc]

Here is an overflow log for the Black Rock, New Mexico mission! The original log is here, and the OOC information is here. Start new threads or continue old ones, this is just some more room for it to grow into.

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[deservinghell]

It's an uncomfortable question, particularly coming from a woman who, he suspects, genuinely cared about him. But he's wrestled with it for so long that he's numb to the pain, to the guilt it should inspire.

"Because I'm not the last." If Henry sounds tired all of a sudden, it's because he is, and he tilts up his sunglasses to rub at the bridge of his nose. "When the day comes that I've destroyed every other blood-sucking demon on the planet, then I'll be free to rest."

[totallytrustworthy]

Which calms her a bit, surprisingly. Doesn't do much in the way of making her less upset, but it certainly gives her an idea of what undeath means to him. Of why he might not have said something.

"Well this isn't your bloody world, is it?" Chloe huffs from behind the neck of her wrap. "Still, I was the one dumb enough to trust you, wasn't I? All things considered, I suppose it's my own fault."

[deservinghell]

He's happy to hone in on any opportunity to take the edge out of the conversation, and she's easing out of her initial panic. Seems like a good place to start.

"Trust is always likely to do you more harm than good. I shouldn't have let us get as close as we have, it snuck up on me. But you can't really blame yourself. It's not your fault you're better than average company." Henry lifts his chin out of the shadow cast by his hat. "Or that for a dead man, I know how to turn on the charm."

[totallytrustworthy]

Considering the way things in her life have panned out, she can't argue with that. Trust does more harm than anything else, it seems.

"Long as you've been around, I guess you've had plenty of time to practice."

[deservinghell]

"Well. Some things do just come naturally." Now he's managed to slide the tone down toward the lighter end of the scale, Henry is eager to keep it there. But he knows he has to tread the line carefully; he hurt Chloe, he realizes that, and the last thing either of them needs is for her to think he's blind to her pain.

He clears his throat.

"I want you to know that I didn't go out of my way to deceive you. It may be dangerous and the currency of fools, but your trust means something to me. Someday I hope to have the chance to earn it back."

[totallytrustworthy]

"Right." Chloe mutters, finding her way back to her saddle and climbing up into place once again. There's no melancholy or regret when she says it, either. In truth, now that it's out in the open, she's already started to shove it all right out of her mind-- but it also means that she's not inclined to let him close. That he is, for the moment, off limits.

"Well I'm glad to know you're the only one about. Maybe you can learn to enjoy it while you're here."

[deservinghell]

"Enjoy undeath? There's a paradox for you." His laugh is dry, forced as he watches her swing back up into her saddle. "Usually it takes sitting behind the wheel of a high-performance car to put the spark of life back into me. Shame those are in short supply."

Henry takes a step back toward his own horse, but it flares its nostrils at him and shuffles away. Before it can take two steps, he's bound up onto its back and recovered the reins, forcing the animal's head back toward town.

He knows he's just about outstayed his welcome.

[totallytrustworthy]

Christ, she doesn't know what vampires do for fun. Aside from turning into bats and drinking the blood of the living, anyway. And he says he's not that sort, but she can't think past her desire to bolt to even consider the weight of his words versus that of his actions-- not with him standing right there, watching her every response and hoping for a clear answer.

She needs time.

"Shame about a lot of things, Henry." Which is more indirect than it sounds once it's said. Chloe takes it as a sign that she ought to quit while she's not even close to being ahead, digs in her heels and spurs her horse off in the opposite direction.