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[Winter was now over and spring had just started. Minato kind of missed the snow, but at least the weather was cool and comfortable instead of being too cold. For a change of pace as he wandered outside, now that the space event was over, he decided to head to the Checkerboard Hills. He hadn't been there often. It was time to check it out again.

That is, if checking it out meant doing a once-over on the checkered patterns from dark to light, then ending up laying in one of the darker square patches, his comm device off to the side as he looked up at the sky.

It's spring here and spring at home. School would be starting again, if he were there and time progressed.

Were these questions even fair? Did he have too much time on his hands, playing around with or thinking about 'what if' in a place that may make him forget his existence here at all?]

..... Would you rather be dead at home or alive here?

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[Minato smiled and then shook his head too. He was only as good as he was, not too good. And it was for Stefan. For Stefan, Minato would do it.]

If you're sure. During events when closets don't function, just ask.

[Or Minato would go find him since he thought Stefan would need it.]

Thanks for telling me. If it's a secret, I'll keep it.

You really don't have to. [ Stefan pressed his lips together. As much as he appreciates the offer, he knows that him and human blood just don't mix. ] I'm more of an animal blood kind of guy.

[ That, and he's not keen on unleashing his bloodthirsty self on the entire mansion. Damon would never let him hear the end of it. Reckless endangerment is a lot more reckless when the population is less than what, 200? ]

I'd appreciate that. I'm not... it's not something I'm exactly proud of.

[Oh, that kind. Minato really needed to read up on his vampire lore since it was true, anything would blood might do in a pinch, and of course, animals fell under that category. That's why closets work well. Maybe the dining room?

But Minato would keep this a secret for sure. He wasn't one to go around spilling those anyway, but this one he'd watch over carefully.]

It doesn't change us. It's okay.

[Minato wasn't worried at all. It wasn't that Stefan could help it, not that he knew.]

... Did someone change you or you were born this way?

Thanks. [ It felt like a huge weight had been carried off his chest. While he doesn't hate being a vampire (at the moment), he sure knows that he isn't proud of it. Why else would old-him have kept that card so close? ]

I was turned. [ He grew quiet, avoiding Minato's gaze, ] I didn't ask for it, either. I was uh, I was in a relationship with a vampire, and - neither of us really saw it coming.

[ At least, Katherine had implied as much when she had told him. Stefan doesn't know what's real and what's not, but he does know that Katherine had meant every single word of what she'd told him. ]

She needed it and you happened to be there?

[They both couldn't help it. It just happened. Minato thought it was just fate. The right place, the right time. But being a vampire didn't change Stefan as a person, not in Minato's view.]

How long ago was this, if you have a guess?

Something like that. [ The real story's a lot longer and murkier, and Stefan doesn't want to bog his friend down. Instead, he takes a breath, knowing that what he tells Minato next may change his entire perspective - ] A hundred and fifty years ago, give or take.

[A hundred and fifty years? Minato tried to think back as to what was happening around that time, if he and Stefan were around the same period, which he assumed.

That was a long time though to be around.]

... It had to be hard, right, trying to live without someone trying to kill you for what you are?

I'd imagine so. [ Amnesia doesn't let him remember the full story. Stefan can only guess, based off others have reacted to him. ] I'm not sure, but... I don't think I ever wanted to be one.

Edited 2017-05-29 04:28 (UTC)

Aren't there positives to being a vampire?

[Like the super speed, strength, things like that? Living for years could have its pros and cons. Everything did.]

But is it possible to change back too?

[ He grew quiet.

Minato had a point: as much as he hates who he is, those same powers have allowed him to survive even the harshest of Wonderland's events. ]

I don't know. If there's a way to turn back, I mean. I feel like once you're a vampire, that's it.

[From the vampire lore he knew, Minato didn't think that someone could be changed back either, but different worlds worked in different ways.]

What else can you do? Or can't do?

[Vampires had to be capable of more than just what Stefan had demonstrated. And if they knew what he could or couldn't do, they could be ready for any events.]

Besides the stuff I mentioned? Uh. I can mess with people's heads, and sometimes even walk into their dreams...

[ He grew quiet again, swallowing some newfound discomfort. ]

If it were just the blood, it would be one thing, but there's a lot to take responsibility for.

[Minato hadn't expected those two abilities, but it was good to hear about them.
That had to mean Rebekah was also capable of that too. Dreamwalking sounded fascinating though. Maybe it was helpful?]

How do you mess with people's heads though if not though dreams?

[There seemed to be a lot of things that Stefan could do, but it sounded like he didn't want to be able to do them either.]

Through something called "compulsion." If I'm looking them in the eye, I can get them to forget they've ever seen me.

[ While Rebekah, and in turn other vampires, were more than okay with this particular ability, Stefan's never wanted it. It robs humans of their free will, and he's even trying to sugarcoat the full story.

He can't even look Minato in the eye, ] Since you have your Personas, I don't... I don't think it'll work on you.

[Checkmark that as a possibility then. A dangerous possibility too if used for all the wrong reasons. Minato knew that there was also the possibility that it might work since some Shadows he encountered could use their mind-altering ailments too, making them panic, fearful, or even compelled or charmed into attacking their teammates. But those were Shadows. These were vampires.]

... Did you want to test it?

[That way they could know for sure if it did or not, and Minato trusted Stefan.]

[ He blinked back genuine surprise - ] You would trust me with that?

[ Honestly, he doesn't want to test it. Minato is too kind, too empathetic for such an ability. Stefan doesn't need Minato to forget about him, let alone be nudged into doing something on Minato's behalf.

But if he's offering . . . why not? ]

[Minato nodded. It would be a good way to test it, testing it with someone definitely safe.]

If it works with someone else using it, we'll know. I trust you.

[He knew that Stefan wouldn't use it against him either. Stefan wasn't that kind of person. He could already tell that his friend didn't like the idea that he could do it at all.]

During events, if I'm doing something dangerous, you can help reel me back in too.

[If it worked that way.]

[ Like a failsafe. If Stefan goes out of control, Minato can use one of his Personas, and if Minato's the one to rampage across the Mansion? Well, Stefan has compulsion (and a mean punch). ]

Okay.

[ He closes the distance between them, looking Minato straight in the eye. Come on, Salvatore... think of something that would not only be out of character for Minato but would also convince both of them that compulsion was at work. Without flinching: ] Put your Persona away. Now.

[Minato was definitely aware of that mean punch considering how much strength and speed Stefan had. But he'd probably deserve it if things went really awry.

Minato didn't quite know what to expect, but then he didn't have to think about much after that, thanks to Stefan. Thanatos vanished back into the sea of Minato's soul not a second too soon.

It took a few minutes plus a moment or two before something snapped back into place and Minato blinked back at Stefan, vaguely remembering that his friend had gotten this close to him.]

... You did it.

[That was fast. His Persona was back where it was supposed to be, and the feeling after coming back to reality was a bit familiar, like waking up from a Shadow's mental ailments spell.]

[ That shouldn't have happened.

Stefan bit on his lower lip as he lost eye contact with Minato. An uneasy feeling sits in his stomach. Not even Personas can save his friend, and that... that honestly doesn't sit well with him. Next time they meet, he'll bring vervain over. Just in case. ]

Y-yeah. I guess it did. [ He lets out a breath, ] Not exactly the answer I wanted, but now we know.

Mn, it's better that we do. Thank you for letting me test it.

[In some way, it was a test for Minato too to see how much willpower he really had and if it could stand up to something like a vampire's abilities. He knew that he'd have to be careful if he were around any other vampires that could do this, even ones not from Stefan's world should there be any.]

... It didn't hurt you, did it?

[Stefan looked so pained, Minato was afraid that using that power hurt Stefan back too.]

What? No, of course not.

[ Compulsion was seen as a gift, not a curse. Vampires used it with reckless abandon, as an excuse for feeding and snatching and repeating the cycle over and over again. Old Stefan might've been that guy, and new Stefan had been heading down that road until Wonderland kidnapped him.

Still, he's touched that Minato would think about others, even when the guy had been Stefan's guinea pig. ]

I was more worried it would hurt you. [ And, you know, make Minato trust Stefan even less. ]

[Minato shook his head. He hadn't been worried at all if he were with Stefan or if Stefan had been behind it. He didn't want Stefan to worry either.]

I'm okay. I feel normal.

[He did. And he thought he should tack on that last part for Stefan to reassure him that he was.]

It's something you can do whenever you want though?

[ He has to laugh, admittedly from sheer relief. That may be the first (and only) time he's ever heard someone feel normal afterwards. ]

Pretty much. As long as I'm looking straight at someone, I can get them to do - or forget - whatever I need.

[At least Stefan looked a little more relaxed now. Compulsion really was just that, compelling someone to do something, including forgetting. It could be good in the right hands, but then also really not cool if someone abused it.]

Why would you need someone to forget?

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