Chapter Text
Adrian opened his eyes to find himself in a room he didn't recognize. He sat up and held his head. Everything hurt. How much time had passed since he'd fallen asleep? This coffin didn't look anything like the one he'd originally laid down in.
"You're awake?" Grell glanced in his basic direction but neglected to pay much attention. She was too busy moving her fingers on a strange flat rock that emitted light.
"Uhm..."
"Oh, honey, I wouldn't talk until you've had a bit to drink," Grell pointed to the glass containing some blood, although not fresh, on a nightstand by the coffin. Adrian reached for it and took a sip, it instantly eased some of his headache.
"Now that you're awake, I suppose I should explain to you a bit of where the world is at right now..." Grell patted the seat beside her. Adrian crawled out of his coffin and sighed, wobbling over to her, groggily and unwilling.
"Don't give me that face. You're the one that wanted to sleep away your troubles like a big ol' idiot," Grell frowned. "Do you know how hard it was for a lady like myself to move around that stupid coffin of yours?" she huffed.
Adrian sat down and stared at the flat rock. "This is a laptop," Grell gestured. "Humans have been very creative lately and technology is pretty entertaining. You can talk to someone on the other side of the world with this thing."
"Really?" Adrian's eyes lit up with curiosity. Grell nodded.
"And this," Grell moved her fingers along the buttons with symbols, "is where you're going to find your next romance."
"Grell..."
"Adrian."
"Grell," Adrian sighed.
"Adrian."
"I don't want to start dating and aren't there still rules about, you know, telling the humans we exist?"
"Ah ha," Grell raised her gloriously painted red fingernail at Adrian and poked his nose. "Humans are actually dying for us to exist and think we're just acting. Isn't that hilarious? You can tell them the truth and they'll just think you treat your vampire-role very seriously."
"I'm not sure...my heart still aches for..."
"Tsk, tsk," Grell shook her head. "I thought we promised you'd never mention that cursed name again. Get over him. You deserve a new romance now and this is your best bet. Besides, I'm sure I can find you the perfect match."
"I still don't know anything about this stuff," Adrian gestured to the flat rock, er, laptop. "And this language is different from the one I remember."
"Well," Grell smiled and crossed her arms. "Lucky for you I'm a great teacher."
...
"I'm breaking up with you."
Vincent smiled as he processed the words but unfortunately his reaction was delayed, given the circumstances. "What?"
"I've been thinking about this for a while but, you're just...this just isn't working."
"I see," Vincent nodded with a smile still on his face before his expression hardened and his lips pressed into a straight line, "Don't you think it would've been a bit courteous to tell me that before I found you in my bed with another man, Charles?"
"Actually we're both Charles..." the man raised his hand apologetically.
"Oh?" Vincent tilted his head slightly, wondering why that was crucial information, but neglected to ask. He pointed to the door. "Well Charles and Charles, do me a favor and get out of my apartment."
The two gathered their clothing and hurried to the door. Vincent grabbed his now ex-boyfriend's arm and looked at him with mild disgust. "The key," he held out his free hand. Charles reluctantly gave it. Vincent released his arm and followed them to the door, opening it and gesturing.
"I'm sorry, Vincent," Charles apologized before walking through the doorway. On his way out he said one last thing, "you're just too old-fashioned."
Vincent closed the door and locked it. He let out a long sigh and then went into the kitchen. He grabbed a kettle and started boiling water for tea. "I wish I could say this was the worst thing to happen to me today," he sighed once again. "Unfortunately, I seem to have a run-in with a bit of bad luck."
A few hours later, with about three boxes of tea gone, Vincent sits in front of his teacup when Othello walks through the front door. "Oh dear," Othello adjusted his glasses and gazed at the tea boxes. He sat down in the opposing chair and folded his hands. "Are you quite alright?"
"I found Charles in my bed with another Charles," Vincent took another sip of tea. "He called me old-fashioned," he frowned.
Othello burst out into a fit of laughter. "I'm sorry," he tried to stop laughing. "But, you're the most old-fashioned person out there. Why are you offended by that?" Othello gestured to Vincent. "You dress as if you've walked right out of a Victorian painting, you drink tea, insist on full-course meals, and-"
"And I don't sleep with people fast enough into the relationship, I suppose," Vincent sighed. "He should've just told me."
"What would you have done?" Othello tapped his fingers against the table. "Would you have given him what he wanted without really wanting to? You're better off without him, Vincent, I didn't really like him that much."
"There is just no place for a hopeless romantic like me in this world," Vincent shrugged lightly.
"Well, I wouldn't say that," Othello smirked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the truth is, now that your single I can use you for my personal advantage."
"I didn't think I was your type," Vincent raised an eyebrow.
"Ah," Othello raised his finger and pointed at Vincent. "But that's where you're wrong. You're exactly my type because my favorite type of human is one that helps me with my research."
"Is this about vampires?"
"Quite possibly."
"Why would I help you prove the existence of things that don't exist?"
Othello scoffed, "You shouldn't be so close-minded to the possibility of things you don't understand."
"How exactly am I supposed to help you?"
"I'm glad you asked," Othello grinned. "You just have to make an account with VampireLovers.com and start flirting!"
"Why does this sound like a bad advertisement?"
"Because," Othello snickered, "Maybe it is."