rivalrus

[rivalrus]

HEADCANONS ( feat. fledglings / vampire hunters / crosses )

due to his sire’s absence after his transformation, it took some time for him to learn how to  successfully create a fledgling. besides his own experiences and what he could infer, he had no idea what to do to guarantee their survival so the task became one of trial and error. many failed fledgling attempts litter his past and bruised his ego as a result, sometimes ensuring that another attempt wasn’t made until years later. he’s now since mastered the act of siring and enforces the same archaic dirt-based transformation ritual that he himself experienced many years prior -- a decision that had less to do with the maintenance of old traditions and more to do with ensuring that his fledglings weren’t spared of the traumatic experience that was initially thrust upon him.  

his patriarchal  leadership  style as it pertains to his fledglings is predominantly defined by  respect. he doesn’t intend to foster a relationship based around dependency in the long-run and instead, prefers for them to act as an extension of himself. given the choice, he always wants their loyalty to be organic. although not opposed to aggressive behaviour (hissing, grabbing and squeezing their neck, etc.) if it means keeping a wayward fledgling in line, unless provoked, violence is not his immediate tactic when interacting with his fledglings. despite considered lesser than him in the hierarchy, he considers each and every one of them to be superior beings to humans and treats them as such. it’s not uncommon to witness gentler gestures or ones that would otherwise testify his favouritism. all that said, however, repeated failures and underwhelming contenders for fledglings has left him hollow of any real attachment.  

while uncommon, he’s had his fair share of encounters with  vampire  hunters  over the years and they served to teach him early on what hunting items and tools he could withstand and which ones he could not. attempts to  stake  him through the heart have always failed due to the hunter’s nerves, shaky hands, and the close proximity requirement; these failed attempts have developed his sardonic sense of humour towards the threat and a keen awareness as to where the human heart is, the aid of a heartbeat notwithstanding. his retaliation attempts at staking the hunters through the heart with their own stake have been overwhelmingly successful thus far.

similarly to what’s alluded to above, as far as  crosses  are concerned, they have been used so frequently that he’s since developed a tolerance for the pain that comes from the cross’s contact and fiery reaction on his skin. although the rule of thumb has been that the cross’s power comes from the wielder’s faith, nowadays, he can more or less tolerate and overcome an average person’s attempt at using a cross against him.   

[rivalrus]

Colin Farrell - Jerry

Fright Night (2011)

[rivalrus]

let’s kiss with mouthfuls of blood to deepen our bond

[rivalrus]

and  i  shall  be  the  wolf who  dines  upon  wolves, the  sheep  upon  sheep, the  man  upon  men  —

i  will  be  invader,  rebel,  cannibal, traitor,  murderer  and  thief; i  will  be  rotten  flesh  and  tainted  blood, and  all  things  in  between.

i  will  ruin  what  i  cannot  have, i  will  bite  the  hand  that  feeds, and  i  shall  suffer  none  so  much as  they  shall  suffer  me.

—  out of spite  //  m.a.w

[rivalrus]

HEADCANONS ( feat. travel / vampire form / speech )

the various uniforms in jerry's closet  do  have a purpose (besides concealing the hallway with the allotted cells for his victims and nostalgia’s sake). if ever there comes a time when an invitation is needed urgently but the house owner in question (who isn’t yet familiar with his face and/or voice) hasn’t extended one, he’ll wear one of the uniforms and knock on the door posing as someone with the occupation in question; this has proved particularly successful with the police uniform where singular houses are concerned. for apartments, the VLH uniform (the same one that Ed dons later in the film) serves the same purpose. all of them, however, are united in this purpose and can be used in a pinch.

a great deal of his belongings throughout the years are brought along and stored appropriately as he moves from city to city. these are primarily kept due to personal significance or fond memories of his past acquaintances or experiences and are usually stored in his bedroom or an extra room away from the prying eyes of guests. although they are mainly antiques and items with sentimental value, some of them can still function and provide a fair amount of use to him after all this time.   

although he can will himself to transform into his ‘true’ vampire form and his half-turned form to a greater extent if necessary, it takes a  great  deal  of effort and focus; as such, deviation from his human form is primarily triggered by extensive abuse, an ongoing threat to his ‘life’, and/or the times when he is truly starved of blood -- either from the need to heal inflicted wounds or natural appetite. as it is a corporeal fail-safe, the closer he is to his true form, the more his actions are driven by primitive instinct over that of logic. understandably, due to both the drawback of his steady surrender of rationality and sheer vanity, he prefers his human guise.

rarely does he use affectionate terms or nicknames towards humans. he believes them to be flawed, undeserving of unearned fondness. not unlike his practices when he moves around, any and all opportunities to disconnect and distance himself on an earnestly emotional level are taken -- including making individual references to them by formal name, their preferred nickname, or a non-committal slang term only.   

[rivalrus]

@asteritm​:

          he doesn’t crumble like the others. doesn’t fall for the pretty threats, the implications for more — he doesn’t bend to her will when she touches him. where others have fallen to their knees for a taste, he stands somehow indifferent, and it is — well.

          infuriating as it is attractive. she itches to get under his skin, wishes there was a button she could press, but there isn’t. or at least it’s not one she can find easily. the woman pauses for a second, considering him, before making her decision.

❛ on second thought, why don’t we do this now. i’m a busy girl, midnight snacks are reserved for really good sex or really good food, there is no in between. ❜

          she tugs him back inside her apartment instead of leaving as she’d planned, setting the bag and keys back down on the table. kicking off her shoes she settles down cross legged on the couch, motions for him to do the same if he wishes.

                          ❛ i need your — help. with a chess game i’m playing. ❜

          the word help feels funny on her tongue, and her discomfort is clear enough on her face when she says it. doesn’t help that it’s him she’s asking help from, but the discomfort doesn’t stop her from asking.

❛ there’s a party i’ve been invited to, though truthfully it’s more trial than party. i am there to be judged in front of a large number of — uh. let’s just refer to them as my peers for the moment, makes it easier. they’ll be watching every move, every word, everything i do. it’s honestly the last thing i’d want to be doing on a friday night, but i don’t have a choice. ❜

          a clawed hand runs through her hair, a familiar gesture tainted by the slight furrow of slim brows and red lips pressed into a thin line.

❛ here’s what i want them to see. i want them to think that i’m frightened of them. i want them to think i brought a ‘date’ in order to cover up the fact that i actually brought someone along to protect me — so that i could hide the fact that i am not strong enough to defend myself. that’s not what they expect to see. ❜

          she absentmindedly begins to twirl a curl around her finger, looking up at him to gauge his reactions every so often. 

❛ they expect to see me trying to compensate for all the years i thought i was human, they expect me to try to bully them into being afraid of me. they expect me to come through the doors with nothing but my ego, pride, my stubborn determination and nothing else. they expect me to fake it till i make it. ❜ 

          truthfully that’s exactly what she wants to do, but wars are not won with brute force — but are won with the right strategy, as she is beginning to learn.

❛ i don’t want to do that. i want to look weak instead, i want to be underestimated, it’s the best position to be in strategically — and i need you to help me complete that look. you are gonna look like you could kick everyone’s ass and i’m going to look like i might need you to do that because i can’t do it myself. i’m too human still, i’m not enough, i’m easily killed. i want them to think that. ❜

          uncrossing her legs (fidgeting, another old habit), she pulls them up to her chest until she can rest her arms and then her chin on her knees while watching him.

❛ as for making it worth your while, i can only say that you’ll have the prettiest girl in the room on your arm, you’ll get a night’s worth of entertainment, and if all goes well — ❜

                     there’s a pause, a moment of reflection and a weighing of options.

❛ — your compensation can be whatever you want. name your price, and i’ll pay it. tell me what you would consider appropriate compensation for this, and i’ll do my best to meet your demands. ❜ 

❛ questions? thoughts? suggestions? if one of those suggestions is you telling me to fuck off, i understand and will do as asked and you won’t hear another word about it. ❜

     THE ABRUPT CHANGE in destination created a  crack  in his otherwise cocksure demeanour, bewildered by how quickly the previously outlined plan had been abandoned and how expeditiously their route shifted from the car back into her apartment. a crudely-formed hypothesis considered the possibility that the  catalyst  had been something he’d said, a social fallacy that had emerged when he’d misread the severity of the situation. flippancy may not have been the most  appropriate  response but until she offered further elucidation, there wasn’t any real way of knowing better. although she had yet to lean into  melodramatics  for an appeal for his attention, the effort would have proved to be  redundant  and needlessly gratuitous; she  already  had his interest.

     regardless of his willingness to  entertain  her pending proposal, sheer curiosity alone was more than enough reason to warrant his attendance as the invitation to take a seat on the couch was accepted. visibly did he get  comfortable  in preparation for clarification to come, shamelessly embracing her  overt  need for his involvement and lending an open ear to the subsequent details of her endeavour. what had started as a frivolous approach quickly became more subdued as it became apparent that the matter carried a great degree of significance. with  shrewd  commentary stifled for the time being, all she had left was his  undivided  focus.  

     periodic nodding testified his attention’s continued investment, a  reminder  that a conscious effort was being made towards understanding her species’ politics and her current  standing  within its hierarchy. there were admittedly a number of factors to consider, even though it was clear that she had spared him an unabridged history and opted instead for a truncated narrative -- hardly the  standard  pitch for a casual night out, but he’d heard  worse.

     already had he begun to mull over the possible  disadvantages  and consider the drawbacks of the described event. finite knowledge about her nature posed enough of a  hindrance  on its own but to be exposed several more of her kind was a little  disconcerting, if only for the  uncertainty  that was tethered to the foreign situation. he preferred to know how to keep his head above water when he was  haphazardly  thrown into uncharted waters; he preferred to know  whom  and  what  he was dealing with beforehand. unversed in the intricacies of her species, he would’ve been more  ignorant  than most of the attendees at the party and that fact alone elicited a  pang  of vexation. fortunately for him, the counterpoint that he would have an  expert  on his arm for the duration of the evening did manage to quell a growing inkling of disquietude. she wouldn’t have brought it up unless she had a great deal of faith in him to make the exact impression she’d described.

     ❝ ------------- well, I have  a  lot  of thoughts,  some  questions. still working on the suggestions. ❞    suspended breath left him in extended  exhalation, thumbs massaging into the meat of the other hand’s palm before leaning forward and musing aloud,   ❝ this must mean a lot to you, though, if you’re willing to give me  anything  as compensation. you don’t exactly strike me as the kind of girl who makes those offers often. you really  need  me for this, huh? ❞

     an attempt at some  levity  was made with a halved smile while a moment of rumination came to pass. her success was reliant on his well-being so there wasn’t much logic in withholding information or otherwise throwing him to the proverbial wolves. it was a promising  tactical  gambit but it would only work with their collaboration. thus far, between the two of them, the playing field seemed fair and the chess pieces were  primed  for movement. not to mention, if anything were to go wrong, he reserved the right to  withdraw  his attendance for the sake of self-preservation -------- always the underlying clause.   

      ❝ i can appreciate what you’re trying to do and i gotta admit, it’s a good  strategy  if you’re looking to get the upper hand. i could play it up, work that angle for you and really sell it. honestly, on paper, it sounds like a  good  time  to me. ❞    the evolution of his smile brought teeth to flash, a brief glimpse of a grin meeting her eye as a pressing follow-up question was voiced,    ❝ anything else i should know going in? code of conduct? a  dress  code, maybe? lay it on me. i want to know  exactly  what i’m getting into before i set foot in that room. the last thing i want is a last-minute  surprise. ❞     

[rivalrus]

i have a god complex but i also don't cause i am god and its not that complex

[rivalrus]

    WITH  rapt attention did he allow the slightly flustered response to run its course, reluctant to intervene too early lest he miss out on another opportunity to witness  ruddy  cheeks darken by an extra shade. to insinuate imposed disturbance with her impromptu appearance in the late hours of the evening gave cause for manifest  amusement, perceptible on his features for a moment prior to a shake of his head. although she wasn't privy to his  particular  routine, she needn't have been concerned with interruption; had he been otherwise occupied, he wouldn't have answered the front door and readily extended an  invitation  to use his home's amenities. lilly's timing truly couldn't have been better, especially when borrowed blood already ran  warm  in his veins and all evidence of previous carnage had long since been cleansed from immediate sight.

     ❝ you didn't. i used to take on a lot of graveyard shifts back in the day so i'm used to being awake at all hours. in some ways, i actually prefer it. there's less distractions at night --- easier to be  productive. you showing up tonight just happened to be a bonus, one more reason to stay up a little longer. ❞

     untouched by fatigue, jerry's conduct alone was testament to his  atypical  schedule and waking hours. after the surge of adrenaline from the night's events, she looked like she would soon forfeit to slumber in the next hour and understandably so. she had evidently undergone much mental stress and toils to secure the nearest viable shelter; still, piqued curiosity hadn't yet to abate and  elucidation  was sought as respectfully as he could manage in the given circumstances.

     ❝ so, ah, are you going to tell me what happened tonight ?  or should i chalk it up as a deep, dark, secret ?  i'm all for privacy but i just can't help but wonder what the  real  story behind this visit was. when i opened the door, you looked -- i don't know, maybe a little on edge, anxious. if the reason's off-limits, i get it. not really any of my business, but figured i'd try my chances and ask anyway. ❞

    lilly's inhuman scent had been a compelling point of interest since their initial introduction and given the  unplanned  nature of the visit, there could have been a connection that was worth further investigation. possibilities were  aplenty  and while he could've refrained from voicing a string of questions, they were verbalized strictly under the guise of  cordial  concern. even if she chose to keep her rationale to herself, that in itself provided some  insight  about her situation and its heightened degree of confidentiality.  

     ❝ also, if you need to stay the night, i don't mind. there's more than enough space and it seems like you've gone through a lot already. plus, you've already got a sleep shirt on. you're practically settled in. ❞  solicitude carried in his tone as an alternative was offered, simply as a formality.    ❝ i can also drive you home too but you'll have to wait for the rain to clear up a bit. it's your call. whatever works best.  ❞

for a moment she feigns shock, giving him a jaw-dropping, hands against her cheeks, surprised, look before inhaling sharply as if to say oh no! i've been discovered! but the mischievous sparkle in her eyes should betray any seriousness he might hear in her voice. ❛ how did you know about my terrible, evil, dastardly plan to get in your house by looking like the saddest, wettest, cat in existence with no shoes? can't believe you saw right through it. whatever shall i do now! ❜ the dramatics melt quickly away and into a smile and a laugh, she ( reluctantly ) pulls away from him and shrugs — crossing her arms over her chest.

❛ yeah, but i only show up at the doors of guys who think i'm cute, otherwise my terrible, evil, dastardly plan might not work. guess that means you think i'm cute. ❜ excuse her while she bats her eyes at him, emphasizing her point while continuing to grin. ❛ and it also means my plan is working, but we don't have to talk about that. ❜ does she have a plan? absolutely not. is she pleasantly surprise that he happened to be home and let her in? absolutely yes.

his admittance of his lack of desire to visit when she's not there suggests something she hadn't actually ( well, seriously ) considered. maybe it's a mutual attraction, she hadn't imagined the flirty undertones of their conversations, had she? ah, but when he takes note of the shirt she's wearing ( his shirt ), even goes so far as to mention it, she has her answer. ❛ and here i thought it was just my luck i got to see you more than the others, i'm beginning to think it's not just luck. what exactly are you suggesting, mr. dandridge? ❜

it's hard to play it cool when he compliments her like that, so her once playful stare drops to the floor while she smooths the shirt out again to give her hands something to do. there's a soft blush on her cheeks that has nothing to do with the warmth of the shower, and everything to do with his comment.

❛ i — oh, thank you. it's uh. extremely soft, and honestly i'm a little jealous. i'd have a drawer full of these if i had my way, but, i can give it back to you later. if you like. i mean later as in after i get back to my room, or work, wherever i see you next. um. ❜ lilly clears her throat to stop herself from rambling, he seems to have the ability to trip up her smooth conversations when she's not expecting it.

❛ anyways, ignore me, i'm just — ❜ exhausted, a little stressed out, a little flustered, a little happier-than-i-should-be-in-his-shirt, a little warm, a little staring-too-much-at-him, a little — ❛ a little tired, i guess, it's been a long night. shit, i didn't interrupt anything, did i? ❜ it occurs to her that he might've been in the middle of something, lilly looks around as if to spot anyone else in the house, or anything he might've been doing when she came in. ❛ i honestly didn't think about what time it is, i can't even remember — ❜ she winces, tries not to think about the hours she's lost, ❛ what time it is. i hope i didn't wake you up, i'm so sorry if i did. ❜

[rivalrus]

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[rivalrus]

     DRAMATIC recital of her colleagues' adulation merited a wider grin, pleased with the exaggerated  falsetto  and lilly's devout commitment to theatrics. even though the quotes were sourced from select coworkers, to hear them rearticulated in her own voice added to its existing appeal and effortlessly attracted his focus. the dark cotton shirt that had been laid out as an alternative to her befouled clothing had been a  laudable  suggestion, especially after it came to fruition and he was presented with the first visual of it adorned on her figure; she looked exceedingly comfortable in it, and resolutely was he inclined to offer it as a keepsake for future visits -- an  incentive  to stay the night if ever impelled to seek refuge from the cruel climate outside. her company had yet to overstay its welcome and as her hand moved to rest atop his in gratitude, certitude convinced him that its charm wasn't liable to wane in the immediate future.

     ❝ no ? wasn't part of the plan to show up on my porch and bat your eyes at me, all wet and muddy ? I don’t think many guys would turn you away, even if they weren’t visiting you at work on the regular like I am. ❞

     upon first opening the door had several questions come to mind, namely in regards to her  disheveled  appearance and attire. it looked like she had undergone an eventful evening and seemingly in that state of  desperation  had she considered him as a viable option for assistance — she hadn’t been wrong to do so.

     ❝ can’t say I’m all that interested in stopping by when you’re not around, though. not like I’m there for the good coffee and i'm not in any hurry to switch up waitresses anytime soon. i prefer to stick to what i know. ❞  a beat passed before his chin jutted out towards her in indication of the borrowed garment, roguish smile still on his features,  ❝ it looks good on you, by the way. should wear it more often. ❞

❛ they've got a betting pool going, you know. ❜ she pads quietly into the room on bare feet, the warmth of the shower still clinging to soft, flushed skin as she gently towels her curls dry. she's not sure how she'll thank him for opening his door to the wettest looking not-a-cat, slightly muddy and definately shoeless, brunette — but she's got to think of something. lilly mimics her coworkers facial expressions and words in a somewhat exaggerated manner for her next words, almost laughing once she's finished. ❛ for us, i mean. and i'd find it funny if i didn't have to listen to oohhh he's so handsome and he's the kinda guy i'd call daddy, every time you show up. ❜ satisfied that her hair is at least partially dry, she carefully folds the towel ( force of habit ) and hangs it over a chair before giving him the biggest, pleading i'm being tortured here!! look, trying not to laugh too much. ❛ have pity on a poor girl and come in sometime when i'm not there, yeah? ❜ two hands smooth out the non-existent wrinkles in the shirt ( his shirt ), both out of habit and because it somehow feels like one of the softest things she's ever worn. she's grateful, maybe more than he knows. a hand reaches tentatively out to slip into his for a gentle, quick, squeeze — lilly doesn't find herself at the mercy of semi-strangers very often, she's really not sure how this goes.

❛ thank you by the way, you certainly didn't have to let me in. i think i had at least three inches of mud up to my shins, a record. ❜ she won't explain what happened unless he asks, it's probably not a story he'll believe anyways, no one ever does. ❛ when i said i'd drop by sometime @rivalrus, this was not what i had in mind. ❜

[rivalrus]

     GREETINGS and exchanged pleasantries were aplenty over the course of four centuries; most of them had the same script with minor divergences, an extended impression of amiability which was conducive to his gradual assimilation of the neighbourhoods' particular dynamics. Rarely did his profusion of acquaintanceships ever re-enter the proverbial picture but when they did, it always gave cause for inquisitive interest. With Lee Harker, the existing familiarity wasn't mutual -- at least not at first glance.

     Head angled with unspoken query as his name spoken ahead of formal introduction, narrowed eyes conveying a dedicated effort to recall the  finer  details of their previous encounter and pinpoint exactly when they had last spoken. Typically did he pride himself with his ability to remember a face but as of now, the aptitude was doubted. It was possible that maybe they had a shared acquaintance but his appearance's description would've had to be quite exhaustive to yield such instant recognition. Absence of immediate revelation evoked an inkling of uncertainty but cordiality didn't  dampen  quite yet.

     ❝ Huh, guess word gets around. ❞  No longer did his smile reach his eyes but his tone wasn't noticeably impacted, still retaining its casual air in spite of his maturing mistrust. ❝ That, or maybe I didn't recognize you -- sorry. Usually I'm great with names but lately I've been pulling some long nights. You know how it is, being an FBI agent and all. Bet you're up until the late hours of the night too. ❞

What he needed was a hint, another clue to discern how she knew of him.

          ❝  When did you move to the area again ? Or is this your hometown ?  ❞

｡° ⸻ @rivalrus.

There were patterns in everything Lee saw, in everything she heard, in everything she did. Pieces that came together on their own if she paid enough attention. As her eyes land on the small chest in the back of her childhood room   ( collecting dust as much as everything else ),   more of those pieces start falling into place to paint a better picture of her investigation.

The picture.   Her pictures.   They're in her hands before she realizes she ever opened the chest. Knelt in her living room instead of the plush rug her Momma bought her when she was eight.  Blinking against the lowlight of dusk instead of the bright afternoon sun that bled through her old window. And as she blinks into this realization, staring down at the old polaroids, there's a cold chill that grips it's knobby fist around her chest, squeezes hard until she gasps and jolts up from the floorboards. All across the floor are empty photographs of trees and suburb. Empty photographs she once thought held a face, a man...

The same man she's stood before now, her expression steely as she tries to get her nerves to match.

       ❝ Jerry Dandrige... ❞

[rivalrus]

     compliment directly appealed to ego and earned a halved smile, glimpse of teeth absent of visible fangs in abidance of his human guise. eyes' earthy hue were rarely considered his most attractive feature but he supposed that they'd attract some notice, especially when their dull ring of colour became swallowed by dilated pupils --- perhaps a FINAL observation from one of his victims before their blood flooded his mouth full.

     ❝ only when we want something. ❞ rectification was proffered as his chin subtly lifted to better facilitate the gesture. eye contact didn't waver, wholly committed to holding her gaze as if to accentuate the underlying risk of touch --- a GAMBLE, to have her wrist so near to his mouth with its pulse's beckoning call. ❝ if you've been told the same thing a few times over, there's probably some truth to it. most people wouldn't think to just wipe the blood off themselves. i normally wouldn't let them. guess that makes you special. ❞

"you have lovely eyes."

a half smirk, doe eyes glance up at the creature before her, the monster that prowls the night and feeds off its terrors. she shows no fear, only an enchantment over his nature - the beauty in horror. she is familiar with it.

dusk falls upon the horizon, night creeps closer. his prime is near, the air fills with a pungent scent - it it blood? it's surprisingly sweet.

"it's no wonder you so easily lure people inside your home," a slight cant of her head, fingertips graze over his collarbones in an almost trance-like touch. there is a smudge of blood on the corner of his lips, her thumb swipes over it with utmost care, "i wish i had that special allure. i've been told i do, but i don't believe it. men lie all the time, after all." @rivalrus

[rivalrus]

     ❝ huh, sounds like you were dealt a bad hand. didn't get a lot of instruction myself back in the day but you were turned by a KID. might as well be the blind leading the blind ---- no offence. ❞ introspective gaze considered his younger counterpart's experience against his own, a low whistle frivolously expressing unrequested opinion on the nature of her maker and the patent absence of guidance. over four centuries ago had he too been forced to improvise, to learn how to satiate sanguine hunger and survive without mentorship; that said, he hadn't been actively jugging the rebirth alongside the temperance of youth. she had him beat there. ❝ you're what, sixteen ? you BARELY look old enough to get behind the wheel. ❞ 

@fuckinonions

[rivalrus]

HOT SINGLES IN YOUR AREA WANT TO HUNT YOU FOR SPORT

[rivalrus]

Shhhhhhhhhhhh...

I want to eat him up. I swear to you, I'm just...