delta v over delta t when there is no t

[ertia]

In a bar, there is a girl.

She looks like she has saved up all of her decadent and slothful impulses for a solid decade and is indulging them all at once. She is sprawled on a couch with a book she's only half-reading, and an ice cream sundae, and smiiiiiiling.

Comments

[first_and_final]

So is Milan!

[taste_tester]

That's weird, but no skin off her nose!

[first_and_final]

It certainly makes it a lot easier to engage him in detailed discussion of the various properties of his world!

[ertia]

Meanwhile, Kithabel catches up on her reading and peeks in on the conversation now and then.

[first_and_final]

"Okay, 'incomprehensible agony' was a fair description," Milan concedes, two days in. "It's not your fault I'm cheating."

[taste_tester]

"I wouldn't want you to think I was handing out false advertisements for my species."

[first_and_final]

Giggle.

[taste_tester]

And the passage of time and an Addy ready to boop the newborn vampire as soon as his heart stops.

[first_and_final]

As it gets closer, he complains more frequently, but he's still firmly on top of things in a way that proto-vampires are not known for. He tells Addy about interesting magic from his world and his haphazard understanding of thaumatology and a few amusing childhood anecdotes (many things were set on fire that perhaps should not have been) and then he says "okay, ow," and...

A rippling wave of scattered light floods across his skin. Vampires are supposed to sparkle in sunlight. They are not supposed to do it indoors. Apparently Milan didn't get the memo.

Also, that's very clearly a bite mark on his neck. All his previous scars are gone, but that one stuck.

[taste_tester]

"Okay, that's weird."

[first_and_final]

"Wh—oh," says Milan. "Goodness me, I'm all pretty."

[taste_tester]

"Well, you're supposed to be pretty, you aren't supposed to shine outside of sunlight! And you're not supposed to keep your bite mark, I would've offered to put it somewhere more discreet."

[first_and_final]

"I'm fine with an indiscreet bite mark," Milan assures her. "Huh. This feels weird. I am less unquenchably thirsty than advertised. Did I cheat at that too?"

[taste_tester]

"Mmmm... yes, you did. You've got some kinda passive power, I want to say healing? and it's doing the thing, very nice."

[first_and_final]

"I cheat at so many things!"

[taste_tester]

"It's very impressive!"

[first_and_final]

"I know!"

[taste_tester]

"Satisfied with your results? Going to recommend it to your friend?"

[first_and_final]

"Definitely," he snickers. "Iiiiii never have to sleep agaaaaaaaaain!"

[taste_tester]

"Not universally seen as a plus, but I'm glad you like it."

[first_and_final]

"Let's go find Kithabel. What else can you tell me about this power of mine?"

[taste_tester]

"Tastes like chicken. You probably don't have to worry about any of the usual vampire causes of death, those being 'turned into gravel and set on fire' and, theoretically, 'starvation'... I don't think you can make it do anything except by getting injured or rather permitting it to protect you, though. I'm not sure why you kept the one scar; turning got rid of all your others and this power doesn't want you to get any new ones even under the stricter conditions..."

[first_and_final]

"But there was that whole rather memorable three-day interval where I didn't have the power yet, right? So maybe the fairy curse argued with the turning process about scars and this was its compromise," he gestures to his bite mark, "and whatever compromise it works out with my new healing power will be separate."

[taste_tester]

"Sounds plausible! I can't pick up your curse or your blessing or your background ability to do layperson-level arcane magic or your sorcery the way I can the witchcraft, so your guess is as good as mine."

[first_and_final]

"Fairy curses are pretty emphatic, I'm a little surprised it didn't manage to grandfather in the whole set. Anyway."

Where's Kithabel gone off to?