Open Finished The Darkness Within

Vladimir waved away Kon's concerns. "Comes with the territory... " he said unperturbed. "People find out you are a doctor and within the hour they are asking you about a bunion on their foot, some weird growth on their back, or whether you can tell them why they have a stomachache after eating a gallon of ice cream," he stated in a tone that was both sarcastic and joking at the same time.

"Besides, I offered advice because I could and because I was curious," he pointed out. "Your case is as unique as my own... which I admit that I find that rather refreshing," he told Kon truthfully.

"My case is strangely unique, even for a place like Manta Carlos where shapeshifting is more common than dying," Vlad stated, his words tinged with a tiny bit of irony since the number of immortals walking around the island was probably greater than the fabled Mount Olympus or Vahalla combined.

"And for the record, I am unsure why this happens," he told Kon pointedly as he turned his glass a few times, "but I am cursed to forever be human, or near human..." he said with a small frown. "No matter if a vampire bites me, or a werewolf claws me, or if somebody kills me," he explained. "A few weeks later, I always end up becoming human once again."

"It's also the reason I decided to research and study them," Vladimir admitted. "There is always the possibility - however remote - that they can help unlock the key to my condition," he explained. Vladimir had spent decades compiling information on each species, even going so far as to letting himself be killed, bitten and/or turned a few times just to add or reinforce his understanding of each species.

When Kon mentioned side effects, Vladimir just scowled and looked away. Though the scowl was not really directed at Konpeito, it was merely an abrupt and involuntary reaction to the comment.

"Yes..." he replied shortly. "And lately the bloodthirst and the slow-building effects of the full moon are becoming more and more acute. Like tonight, I felt like jumping out of my skin and literally biting someone's throat out," he confessed darkly as he stared at a point across the room.

"I honestly think if you hadn't stopped by to talk and distract me, I'd have had to leave eventually and go somewhere to let out the rage I was feeling." Vladimir confessed as he now turned his gaze slowly to look at Kon somewhat grimly.

Kon's not so subtle offer was very unexpected and earned him a double-take from Vladimir. While the doctor was used to people, especially women, hitting on him - Cause who wouldn't want to date and marry a doctor? - he rarely had anyone suss out his true nature as quickly as Kon just had.

Staring at the young man thoughtfully and as if he was considering him for something - which he was - Vladimir finally spoke.

"You do realise what you are getting yourself into with such an offer, no?" he asked pointedly, very much needing to know if Kon was on the same page as him. It would not do if Vladimir took him home one night and Kon freaked on him or reported him to the police.

Kon's assurance that he understood and was more than okay with everything, sent a small jolt of excitement through Vladimir causing him to grip his glass tightly as he felt that dark side of him surface for a brief moment. Vlad wasn't going to lie. It had been a while since he had had a willing partner, and while he did enjoy taking his sadistic lust out on the unexpecting, he was extremely aware that one day such a practice would land him in hot water.

"No, you didn't misunderstand," Vladimir admitted as he gazed at Konpeito, now imagining him in a very different setting than they were right now. "I just wanted to make sure that you knew exactly what you were getting yourself in for if you volunteer to let me take my urges out on you ..." he stated as a tiny smile crossing his lips.

"Are you free this weekend?" Vladimir asked him, preferring to cut to the chase since the most important thing was out of the way.