For the very first time Who: Phoenix, Rick, npc What: Rick took the bait When: 24 May, mid-afternoon Where: Kyoto's office in Tokyo Warnings: Probably language, vampirism, slash
Phoenix was restless. Flitting endlessly, tracing out the boundaries of the large, well-lit office over and over again, he couldn't make himself be still. Everytime he passed the wall-length windows he scanned the streets down below, searching hungrily, desperately for that familiar face.
The one that haunted him. Imprinted on his eyelids, waking or dreaming. Driving him to the breaking point.
Once Chris had given him the name, Phoenix had gone to Jennifer Kyoto, demanding she find this Richard Hardwell, wherever he might be on the planet. He hadn't made it easy for her; all he'd been able to give her was the language he spoke and a physical description. But she had earned her paycheck, and after presenting him with two dozen passport copies, they had found him.
Taking a deep breath his body didn't need, the vampire touched the photograph in his pocket. The eyes didn't shine like candles in the dark, in this picture, but it was without a doubt the same face as the one burning him.
He - Rick had been searching for Asian artworks. Phoenix had instructed Kyoto to tempt him with the extensive collection of Japanese paintings, fans, and watercolor screens he had inherited posing as 'Alexander', and she had set up this meeting between 'a person who would prefer, as yet, to remain unnamed, Mr Hardwell,' and Richard.
And he would be here any minute. This would all be over in the next ten minutes.
I'll do anything to make him stay, Phoenix thought, staring out the window again, accepting the truth of his own words. Anything.
The intercom buzzed, and Jennifer's voice politely announced that 'Mr Hardwell' was coming up the stairs.