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[desmodusdraculae]

You've reached Kirk Langstrom. I'll call you back later.

TEXT | VOICE | VIDEO

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[desmodusdraculae]

[Kirk doesn't respond immediately, as he's out being Batman, but the moment he sees it he calls back, the cowl tucked away under his arm.]

I'm here. Rikki's...?

I'm sorry, Ben.

[the_horror]

[He's already been out. He's already hurt some people and himself. Now he's not moving to go, but he's having a moment. He KNOWS that if the message goes through it means they are there, but since he didn't get an answer right away he's worried Kirk too is gone.]

[So as he answers back, Ben sits up, wobbling a moment and rubbing at a blood covered neck.]

Fuck, Kirk. [He sniffed, head lowering.] Yeah. Rikki's gone. I'm sorry too. Shit, I'm just glad you're still here.

[desmodusdraculae]

I'm here. And you have nothing to apologize for.

[Kirk squints slightly as he peers into the camera.]

Tell me that's someone else's blood.

[the_horror]

[Ben runs a hand over his face, then scratches it over the side of his neck, at the blood. He starts to rub at it to try and rid it from his face. His knuckles are raw but otherwise he looks okay]

Most of it, yeah.

[desmodusdraculae]

[Kirk sort of watches Ben doing this, grateful this is over video, because this would be A Lot for a vampire if they were in the same room right now. Oh, and he's also relieved as he sees that the blood doesn't appear to be Ben's. Definitely that too.]

Did they deserve it?

[He certainly doesn't sound like he cares.]

[the_horror]

[He may have raw knuckles, but the suit he's wearing, the leather and armored suit that Kirk convinced him to wear, took most the hits back. So he'll be bruised later for sure, but well.]

[He sat up more, rubbing at his neck and frowning. A sniff and his arm came up to rub at his nose, grousing as he said]

Yeah. Mostly. Picking on a girl. I might have went overboard, but those idiots never learn. [He sniffed again and looked calmer just talking about things.] Burned five of their bikes in a trash can. Kind of on accident.

[desmodusdraculae]

[Kirk has to fight a smirk as Ben relays the events back to him, though he does ultimately shrug.]

These things happen.

[You should see half the shit the Justice League's done. There is 0 judgement on Kirk's end.]

Are you home? I can swing by.

[the_horror]

["These things happen". This is why he likes Kirk. He doesn't make him feel bad about the things he's done. Doesn't make him feel like shit for burning thugs bikes. The other has done worse, and Ben doesn't mind.]

Yeah, these things happen. [He sniffed again and moved to sit on the edge of his bed.] Yeah. I'm home. Promise I wasn't fighting drunk. Lemme remove the blood before you get here.

[desmodusdraculae]

[Get yourself a friend who has done some horrible shit so they can't judge you for your bad life choices.]

That would be appreciated.

[He glances off-screen for a second before looking back.]

I'll be there as soon as I can.

[the_horror]

[The non Judgmental kind of friend is all Ben needs lately. Kirk is the best.]

[He's clearly moving to stand, taking his video with him a moment. He wobbles, then stands still. Got it.]

See... see you when you get here.

[and he'd go do as promised, aka: clean up the blood.]

[desmodusdraculae]

[Kirk nods and quickly ends the feed, more for Ben's pride than anything. He swings by as quickly as he can, carrying a plastic bag in one hand, still dressed as Batman.]

You smell better, that's a start.

[the_horror]

[Ben does clean up, still in the suit, but half of it was strewn here and there through the house. The kitchen had a baton, the hall had a bracer, there was another on the stairs to the bedrooms, and another baton laying somewhere, lost for now. They all needed some cleaning, but he and the suit were clean now. He had it half unzipped and a t shirt exposed, damp at the neck.]

Smell... you, you can't smell me in a video. [He protested, holding the door open for the other.] But I do smell better.

[desmodusdraculae]

Perhaps, but I've also smelled drying blood before so I can take an educated guess.

[He thrusts the bag into Ben's arms.]

Beer, ice cream, and the dumbest movies I could find.

[the_horror]

Well, jokes on you, it smelled of butter cream and booze. [No it didn't.] Or ... not. Whatever. It's better now, yeah. [He sniffed again, blinking as a bag got thrust to him. He closed the door behind Kirk and peeked into the bag.]

Aww man, why are you the best. [His eyes welled up a bit but he refused to cry.] Dumbest movie on the big theater screen that this stupid house has, or the TV in my room?

[Either way worked for him. Mostly he just wanted to not think about Rikki or the pain in his hands and side. Beer will help that.] Or are you just delivering, Batman. [he sees that suit.]

[desmodusdraculae]

Your choice.

[Unless he just sort of stands there paralyzed by choices, in which case he will gladly make a choice.]

What, did you want me to go home and change?

[the_horror]

Room. [He muttered, nodding his head for Kirk to follow. He might see the strewn about parts of his costume around as they go. Ben's sure as hell not picking them up.]

No. I just, I guess I didn't expect you to drop everything and head over to spend time with... with a sad sack. Thank you, by the way.

[desmodusdraculae]

[Kirk nods, stooping to pick up Ben's scattered clothes every so often. Because he is a bro like that.]

Of course I would. This is important.

[Besides, being a sad sack is his thing. Gotta keep the trademark on the brand.]

[the_horror]

[You are one hell of a bro like that, bro.]

It means a lot. I donno what I'm going to do with out her. March on, I guess...

[He's just taking after his best friend is all? Maybe. You can keep the sad sack thing all you want. Ben hates it.]

[desmodusdraculae]

You can take solace in the fact she wasn't using you? [To consolidate her father's criminal empire using you as a blunt instrument/handy scapegoat?]

But in all seriousness, remember the good times you shared together.

[the_horror]

Yeah, there is that. [He said in a sad tone, shoulders still slumped. In the weeks to come he was going to lose more of them, Ben was not going to take this month well.]

Remembering them kind of hurts right now, if I was to tell the truth. [He stepped into his room and held the door open for the other, closing it behind them. Izzy was wrapped around a pillow on the bed, while Star Jumped down from her gothic looking cat tree and came over to greet the two.]

[desmodusdraculae]

Then don't. Let's drink, eat, and watch a movie, and think about how terrible it is.

[ He finds an empty spot and dumps the costume parts he recovered there, leaning down to let Star sniff him. He knows he smells strange to animals--sometimes they just don't like him. ]

[the_horror]

[Star has seen him before, if hes come over for movies before, and she's... okay with him. She takes a head rub then wanders off.]

[Ben takes the bag of goods and sits it on a table, looking for the movie.]

That sounds like a good plan. Bad movies are the best. So long as it's not a zombie movie. Not ready for that yet.

[Anything to get his mind off Rikki, or everything. He just wants to be numb.]

[desmodusdraculae]

I don't know, maybe you can learn to use something better than a baseball bat.

[The movie is on the side of the beer, and it looks to be a colorful, violent, stupid action fantasy movie.]

Do you want me to find a bowl for the ice cream or are we doing this like savages and just eating straight from the carton?

[the_horror]

Hey, are you giving me shit for my anti-zombie bat?

[he paused at the savage comment, snorting at it.]

I'd say we can go savage, but we need spoons too. [he took the mo,vie out and held it to the other, rubbing sleepily at his face with the other hand.]

I'll grab bowls, you set up the flick?

[desmodusdraculae]

Of course I am. And there's only one anti-zombie Bat in this room and it's nor yours.

[He pulls the DVD from its place in the bag.]

I think I can handle that, so long as you don't get lost.