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[ The video feed initially just shows the entrance to the cemetery at dusk. There's some fluid movement as the camera moves past Grave Concoctions, the local alchemist, and then forward a few steps towards a small strip of somewhat rundown buildings. The camera stops in front of one of the buildings on the far left side and then just zooms up and down on it. There are lights on inside the building and it clearly looks like someone's been inside and cleaned it up. Overall it's small and the outside is in need of a bit of help.

Ivy turns the camera to face her. She's got a thick white scarf wrapped around her neck and a large silver cross can be seen dangling down. ]

I've fixed the inside into what I want for the most part. [ She's to the point, it's common for her when she's got a specific goal in mind. ]

But I need some help for a few other things. I need the outside fixed up, there's some loose brick, and it needs some paint. Inside I need six barstools in black. I don't care about the material, but they have to be black. There were booths in there already, but I want them painted red. [ She's very specific. ] The kitchen is basically just the woodfire oven but that's enough, I don't need much more fixed with that. I've gotten the décor down.

[ Wait she's forgetting something. ] It's going to be a pizzeria. [ Probably should explain that right? ] I also need help with a name. If you have any suggestions, let me know.

[ A pause ] I can pay anyone that's willing to help clean up the outside and do the few other things I mentioned. I might also need some help running the place. I don't need a resume, just proof you're competent.

[ And she just ends things there. Ivy has A+ asking people for help skills. ]

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[He returned her smile in kind.]

I did, but I can also be of some use. It looks as though quite a bit of work has gone into this place...unless you found it this way, in which case I believe luck is on your side, my friend.

[ She shakes her head. ]

No, it came with a kitchen that made it seem like it was a restaurant of some kind before. But everything else I've had to bring in or clean.

And you've done this alone?

[Something about that reminded him of himself. He wasn't predisposed to asking for help, either, though something struck him as well. It was possible she'd wanted to do it alone, perhaps for the accomplishment or some other, more personal reason.]

It has a unique atmosphere. [He smiled.] And I appreciate the darkness. My eyes are sensitive to the light.

Yeah. I'm stronger than I look and I like keeping busy. [ And she hated asking for help. Really hated it. ] I'm also...particular. [ A perfectionist. ]

Good unique? [ He smiled so she's assuming so. ] Are they? I assume that's genetic?

[He had a friend who was 'particular' in his own world so it wasn't very hard to follow what she meant by that. Still, he nodded.]

Good. [He nodded. He'd heard the term before here, and actually knew what she meant.] Many of my people never leave their subterranean home. We are not built for daylight.

[ She pushed the pizza over to him and offered him up a slice. ][ She nodded at his explanation. ] Ah, so it's that your kind have adapted for the underground. Do you go out mostly at night here still?

[He'd seen the sailors and fishermen of Ten Towns put things on bread, or wrapped within dough and baked for quick lunches out on the Lakes, but the pizza was something else. More than anything, it was just...more refined. It smelled appetizing, though, and after a moment's hesitation, figured out where he was supposed to pick it up from and did so with more grace than might be expected from the inexperienced.

He nodded before taking a bite.]

Yes. If I go out in the day, I wear a hood pulled low. The light makes my head ache after a time.

[And then he look a bite. The bread was light, airy, but with a crispness he hadn't been expecting, and the sauce was so flavorful! His eyes widened in surprised and he smiled before swallowing.]

I can see why pizza is popular.

[ He's not the first person she's watched with amusement as they try to figure pizza out. He's a bit better than the other guy actually. He was a human that was afraid of the tomato sauce. That'd been hilarious. ]

Maybe consider sunglasses?

[ Just a suggestion. ]

Like it?

It is quite delicious, yes, though...rich. [At least more rich than most of the things he eats.] Do humans eat this often? Or...vampires?

[He looks thoughtful while he finishes his slice.]

...sunglasses?

Sometimes. Some people live off of it, but some use it as an every now and then thing. [ She grins. ] More vampires than humans like it after the Turn. Humans are afraid of tomatoes now.

[ Probably shouldn't be surprising he doesn't know what sunglasses are. ]

They're glasses you wear with shades on them that darken the sun.

[He couldn't imagine living off the stuff, but he could see treating himself to it on occasion.]

Is it sold by the slice, or whole?

[It was an important distinction he should like to know beforehand. His eyebrows rose in curiosity before he nodded.]

I have much to learn about vampires. I confess, all I know I read in books.

[For instance, he didn't know they could eat as mortals do.]

They sound like a marvel and I should like to find some.

You can get it either way.

[ She shrugged nonchalantly. ] I think vampires are different in a lot of worlds and I doubt mine are like yours.

[ Though she'd be curious about what he knew of them. ]

Let me know if you find any here and how they work for you.

I would think by the slice sufficient for most.

[But maybe he was just partial to less rich food.]

Most likely. Most things I've learned are both similar and dissimilar across worlds. Some, I have learned, have elves, but no dark elves. That may be for the better. What are your people like? Are they very much like you, or are you an exception?

[He nodded with a smile.] Gladly, and I thank you for the suggestion.

If you buy a full pizza it's usually not just for yourself.

[ Though she finds it amusing he'd think that it could be. ]

The exception. Most living vampires take pride in their bloodlines and would consider being a scion an honor. Most look forward to becoming undead, particularly if they were previously ghouls. Undead vampires have no souls and don't even remember what it's like to be human. Everything to them is a game.

Ah, yes. That makes a certain degree of sense, then.

[His isolation was such that he rarely thought of casually gathering with friends.

He frowned at her explanation, nodding though.]

All vampires in my world are undead, and all are soulless being possessing powerful magics and treat the lives of mortals as playthings as well as food sources. I've heard tale of mortals who sought to join the living dead in eternity so that's unsurprising. I take it you do no count yourself among this number.

That's similar enough to how undead vampires are in my world. [ Exactly like them actually. Which was unsurprising but also a bit disappointing in a weird way, knowing that more worlds had creatures like them. ]

No. I'm not. I don't look forward to dying the first time. My kind, living vampires, were born with the virus. When I die, I'll become undead.

Virus. An infection, then? [He nods.] Then it is the same.

[His brow creased with sympathy, though, and he smiled slightly, comforting.]

Well, my friend, for what it's worth, I will do my part to assure it's avoided as long as I am able.

I'm sorry it's so similar. [ Because it sucked if it was. Actually, all of it sucked. ]

Thank you.

You need not apologize. I have never crossed paths with a vampire. They say they avoid the cities of the Drow, but perhaps it is more that they are created upon the surface and it is wiser to stay nearer a food source than to scour hundreds of miles below in the lightless dark for food when it is more numerous under the stars.

[He really didn't know.

He inclined his head at her thanks.]

I would do what is necessary to protect the others of this city as well.

[That was to say if he failed in the first, he would see to the second. It was a strange thing to promise, but he felt she might understand his motive.]

Maybe a bit of both? [ Seemed logical that it was a mix.

Weirdly there was a comfort to knowing that. She wasn't sure if anyone else would actually do that here. ]

Thank you. I doubt most people here would actually do that for me. [ Death would be what she wanted at that point. ]

A true friend will save you from the monsters within as surely as the monsters without.

[Though maybe she was right, maybe there weren't many friends who would swear by such an oath, but Drizzt was one.

He understood the darkness that could dwell inside, and also understood the desire to retain oneself, and the need for an end when it was no longer possible.]

[ She cast her gaze down awkwardly and then nodded. ] That's...true. [ And she had very few true friends. ]

A mutual agreement, then. I know not what could turn me upon you all, not in this place anyway, but if were to happen, I would be stopped.

[It seemed like a good trade to him, anyway.]

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