#c:abraxos

[rpvmsx]

@forestofforever from here

His most immediate response is a hearty chuckle. Perhaps he's just a nervous laugher? Although his shit-eating grin would suggest otherwise.

"My, that's a cute little thing. What exactly do you think you're going to do with that?" His eyes flick down to gesture to the blade, though he cannot see it.

The confident facade falters for just a moment as he swallows, a sudden flash of memories, and their associated emotions, hitting him as he feels the pressure of the blade. But they rather quickly resolve back into a grin of renewed vigor, a flash of teeth. Sharp teeth, biting his lip in a deliberate attempt to call attention to them.

A gloved hand reaches for Sylvester's, hoping to disarm him or, at the very least, restrain him. He's not as quick when he's hungry, but maybe a small distraction will even the odds. "Dinner? Personally, I'm famished, and really this is no way to treat a guest."

[rpvmsx]

Abraxos starter for @tragictwinflames

There is so. much. blood.

He's absolutely covered in it. It can't all be his, there's far too much of it, he wouldn't be capable of standing, let alone approach a house, knock on the door, and stand there waiting for a response.

But he does.

He waits. Patiently. Nonchalantly adjusting his blood soaked leather gloves as he does.

He even waves with a polite smile at passersby.

What the hell is this guy's deal...

[rpvmsx]

"Why do you taste like that..."

[rpvmsx]

He's been keeping to the shadows well enough, only glimpses of his own shadow in well-lit stretches of the path even allude to his existence. Besides, of course, the rhythmic clicking of his cane on the pavement.

While he keeps his pace modest, almost slow, it changes, mirroring changes in their own pace to maintain a consistent distance between them. It's not their imagination. This guy is definitely following them.

Now the only question is what the hell does he want?

[rpvmsx]

"I assure you, I will make my displeasure known." He obviously has enough of an ego to not take discomfort without some fight.

He offers no more pleasantries or farewells before retreating to the attic, apparently already knowing the layout of the house quite well.

And he truly does retreat. It's like Abraxos has disappeared, swallowed up by the house. He's rarely seen and even less often heard. Occasionally the click of his cane moves rhythmically across the floor, like a heartbeat. But mostly, he's a ghost.

Sylvester is a little surprised at the comment, his face going red. He wasn't flirting, and he is almost certain that Abraxos knows that... He hopes so, at least. While the vampire isn't unattractive by any means, Sylvester would never even consider pursuing him in any way. He doesn't think he has any chance of wooing the other, and besides, as twisted as his relationship with Benjamin might be, there is still a certain loyalty there...

Just a beaten dog that still loves its master.

"Ah, right, yes." Rest so he can be a meal. How lovely. Still, he is admittedly still exhausted, and while the meal has revived him somewhat, a good night's worth of sleep is not unwelcome.

"Please let me know if the attic isn't up to your standards, alterations can be made." Well, at least he's not just a meal, he's also a host. Kind of. Or maybe he's just trying to consider himself one to make him feel a bit more in control of the situation.

[rpvmsx]

"No need to apologize for flattery." He smirks, but at the same time seems genuinely touched.

Monsters aren't usually praised, nor are the more innocuous bats. It's actually nice to hear every now and then...

"Though you'd better be careful, flirting with a vampire can be a dangerous game." The slight laugh suggests he's joking, but... there's always a chance he isn't. While Sylvester isn't his usual type, anything can happen when living under the same roof, can't it? Only time will tell...

Speaking of time...

"I suppose I'd better leave you to rest, hm? You'll need your rest if you're ever going to become a suitable meal." Flirty in one breath and threatening to eat him with the next. Well, it's not exactly a threat if they've made the deal, is it? More of a promise.

"If there's nothing else, I think I'll retire to my roost then." Until, of course, there's an intruder. Or he needs a snack. But this will be the last Sylvester likely sees of him for a while.

"I suppose we could just get you a mattress... that should be easy enough to get up the stairs..." Sylvester muses. While a bed frame might be difficult, a mattress shouldn't be too much hassle. It'll provide the other a somewhat comfortable spot in the attic anyway.

He doesn't notice the subtle way in which the other's expression changes. His eyes are too busy looking just about anywhere else, the act of making eye contact being quite the struggle at the moment.

The next comment, however, does make his eyes snap back to Abraxos's face. The other is lucky, Sylvester isn't remotely troubled by bats... though he certainly hopes the other doesn't mind finding a few mounted bats nestled between all the other taxidermy.

"Ah, no. I am not troubled by bats, I find them fascinating, actually." He can't help but smile a little. "Their way of flying never fails to capture my attention. It's so different from birds... and their wings have the most curious texture... Ah, apologies. I won't bore you with my ramblings on the matter."

[rpvmsx]

His cane twirls, and he looks rather self-satisfied. As if he's winning this conversation, somehow. As if that's something that matters.

"Bed, no bed." A single-shoulder shrug. "I am flexible. And, perhaps more importantly, not in a position to be picky." Instantly he regrets saying that, all that smugness draining from his face. Definitely reveals more about his situation than he would've liked to.

But, no matter. One has to roll with the punches. He resumes his haughty attitude. "A bat can sleep where he pleases, after all. Roosting in the rafters can be quite literal, should it need to be."

It's at this point that, despite Sylvester's collection of dead things, Abraxos actually hasn't established a rather important something: "You aren't troubled by bats, are you? I fear that would make this an awfully tense arrangement, if it were the case." And worse, his ego might not be able to handle such an objection. The whole vampirism thing really does bring him a lot of pride.

Sylvester would like to mention that he would've given the other full privacy even in the bedroom, it's not like he uses the room much to begin with... but he remains silent as the other explains his situation.

He had never even really thought about the vampire going to the store. Money wasn't even the main issue in that scenario, he just couldn't imagine the other walking around a grocery store to do his shopping...it just felt weird. "Oh, yes, right, of course." He mumbles, still processing their conversation. He decides not to explain his own thought process, in fear of it possibly offending the other.

"I was just thinking it might be difficult to get a bed all the way up there, is all..." He eventually mutters in defense of his original comment.

[rpvmsx]

He stifles a laugh, as the offer is generous, but not in the slightest does it appeal to him.

"No, thank you. I would much prefer the darkness and the privacy." Really, it can not be emphasized enough how much the privacy part matters to him. That's always a bit tricky in communal living situations, but an attic does sound like a place one could hole up in, alone.

"You say the attic is dark, and I say that is all that I require. Should I need or want for anything else, I am more than capable of acquiring it on my own. I do have money, you know." Of course, he smirks, it should be obvious. The way he's dressed certainly suggests old money... or poor taste. And he did some grocery shopping. Need money for that.

Sylvester thinks for a moment, trying to recall what state the attic was in. It is probably dark and dusty, filled with boxes of his old life that no longer hold any meaning to the new him, and some of his earlier taxidermy works that he had made while he was still practicing, which causes the animals to look a bit awkward and stiff.

The attic isn't overly cluttered though, and it has been insulated properly, mostly to ensure that the attic remains free from dampness and so that the temperatures won't fluctuate too much. Taxidermy is fragile after all. The dust isn't good for it either, but Sylvester has reached the point where he can't bring himself to care enough about that fact anymore. Everything turns to dust eventually, might as well be covered in it.

"The attic is dark, so that should be fine, but I don't think there's anything soft for you to sleep on. I know anything is better than a coffin, but I wouldn't want to make you sleep on the floor." He's slept on the floor too many times for his own tastes, and he isn't about to ask the same from the vampire. "You're free to claim the bedroom. I can change the sheets for some fresh ones. I don't really use the bed much anyway."

[rpvmsx]

"Oh, I don't require much. I grew bored of opulence quite a long time ago."

His cane taps against the ground again, some of its ornate decoration betraying the very words he uses it to punctuate.

"Darkness. During the daylight hours, most especially. So long as the attic is free of pesky holes, I ought to be quite comfortable there. I won't often be conscious, anyway."

"It's easy enough to satisfy a dead man. Just about anything is better than a coffin..." There's a sincere weariness in his voice; that comment is no joke. He'd really rather be anywhere else. Even here, in a dingy attic, surrounded by dead things. Other dead things.

Actually, it might be quite nice. Maybe the first time since he's turned that he won't be the only thing in a room that stinks of death.

"...And, as for when I am awake, you really need not worry. You will find I am very capable of keeping myself entertained."

He is relieved that the other is agreeing to stay away from Benjamin. It's the best for everyone, he's quite sure. It makes sense too, that the vampire would rather stay away from any of the guests unless they could function as a meal.

"Right, that sounds like it would be the best way to handle things." Sylvester gives a nod. He eats the few grapes that he's been holding throughout the conversation, but he also recognizes that he cannot eat anymore. He gets up and starts putting the food away. He'll probably have some more in a couple of hours, if the bit that he's eaten doesn't come back up, anyway.

"I suppose you might as well make yourself comfortable then. I don't really remember in what state the attic currently resides but..." Would the other even want to stay in the attic? The question suddenly occurs to him. An old bat roosting in the rafters, well that could've just been a turn of phrase. He doesn't exactly have any spare bedrooms though. Should he try to acquire a second bed to put in the attic? Do vampires sleep in beds? Do they even sleep at all?

"...I think perhaps you should tell me what you need, actually. I agreed to let you stay, but I don't know if I have any available spaces that are actually suitable for you to reside in at the moment."

[rpvmsx]

It is very clear that something is going on in that man's head, but Abraxos does nothing but look on curiously. What is there to do? It's up to us all to fight our own demons, is it not?

If pretending everything is normal is the move here, he's more than happy to oblige, his typical calmly-smug expression returning as he replies.

"You may be right. I'm not exactly the agreeable sort." He chuckles. "But you've seen that firsthand, of course. Here I am stating the obvious."

That was all more than enough information than Abraxos needed to glean the general situation, though. Several potential, and equally intriguing, configurations of the relationship between the two of them. No matter the case, it'd be more entertaining to observe than to meddle.

"To be honest though, Sylvester, I don't exactly intend on socializing with you or your 'guests' much. This is more of a business arrangement. Once you've recovered, you likely won't see much of me until it's showtime."

Sylvester looks away, chewing his lip and rubbing his thumb over the scar on his palm, his discomfort plain to see. He almost elaborates, wants to explain that Benjamin could probably figure out Abraxos in seconds, find his weak spot as soon as they shake hands... Perhaps he's overestimating Benjamin or at the very least underestimating his new roommate, but either way, putting those two in a room together would undoubtedly result in disaster.

And he doesn't want Benjamin getting hurt. It sounds ridiculous. All the other man ever did was hurt Sylvester, yet the idea of Benjamin being harmed caused him to feel a wave of panic crash over him.

For a second he's back in that room and Benjamin is the one opening the door to finally let him out. It's Benjamin who put him there, but in the moment it doesn't seem to matter. It's only Benjamin's arms that fold around him, after all, and it is the only bit of comfort anyone will offer him. It doesn't seem to matter to the other that he's grimy from sitting in his own filth for days, he's still embraced like a lost pet that's finally been reunited with its owner. He's scared and hungry and all he wants is to be by the other man's side, and it's pathetic but he can't help it.

And then he's back on his chair in the kitchen, feeling more than a little nauseous and perhaps a tad disoriented as well. He's always a little worse for wear after being disciplined. That may mean it's working. Whatever the case, he cannot dwell on it while the vampire is still in the room with him. It takes a moment for him to recall the conversation they were just having, but he tries to sound normal as he finally speaks up again.

"Right, of course, I understand. I'm sure he'd be glad to meet you, though I fear the two of you wouldn't exactly get along."

[rpvmsx]

His cane fidgeting stops, intrigue overtaking his thoughts.

"...Oh?" What a curious request. There's a lot to be gleaned just from those few sentences, assumptions to be made.

"Stay hidden? I don't even get to meet the man who's buying me dinner?" The cane taps the floor, accompanied by an exhaled chuckle. "I hope you know this only serves to pique my interest. But, I will do my best." He doesn't make promises, but it's better to keep things cordial at least. Vaguely in agreement. This one simple request isn't worth risking his access to the all-you-can-eat buffet.

Besides, eavesdropping is its own fun, which is easily done without making one's presence known.

The vampire probably doesn't think about this as much as Sylvester does, he assumes so anyway. For him this is something strange, hell, something potentially dangerous. Sure, he's got enough enemies as is, but is letting one into his house willingly truly a good idea? He's been mostly harmless so far... but who knows if that will remain. Still, the choice has already been made.

"Right, of course." The words slip out without any real thought, though he quickly follows up with a request. "There is one person; Benjamin, you cannot harm him and I ask you to stay hidden if he's ever here. You'll know it's him if he shows up, none of his lackeys have the same...effect...that he has on people."

[rpvmsx]

"Ah, excellent~"

Sure, drifting has suited him well enough for many many years, but when you've been around a couple centuries, what's a brief stay with a human? Hardly a thing at all. Maybe he's just getting old, lazy. He brushes that thought off with a quick twirl of his cane, which he continues to play with as he speaks.

"This arrangement ought to suit us both nicely. Some peace of mind in exchange for easy meals. Meals I've no doubt you will freely provide in the event your stream of uninvited guests grows too infrequent to satisfy, yes?" A guy's gotta eat even if delivery isn't an option, after all. "You did seem quite interested earlier, and I do hate to disappoint. Though-" he furrows his brow, an air of concern put on to disguise his displeasure with the situation. "-when you are in better health, of course."

An old bat roosting in his rafters... is the other seriously asking if he can live here? The question catches him off guard, not at all something he was expecting. He isn't sure how to respond to it either, the question sounds pretty sincere, so saying no might actually work in this scenario... but he isn't sure if he wants to do that.

He doesn't like the idea of somebody else being in his house, it's supposed to be the one place where he feels safe, away from the outside world and any prying eyes, bringing the vampire into it would destroy all of that.

But admittedly the house stopped feeling safe a while ago. It's been broken into far too many times, he's entered rooms only to get ambushed more often than he'd like and at this point adding Abraxos to the mix wouldn't make things any more awful than they already were.

He takes a few grapes, and rolls them around in his hands, looking at them thoughtfully. "I suppose it would be fine." He finally replies.

[rpvmsx]

Well, that's a puzzling question. Who else is going to eat it? Certainly not the vampire. He stifles a laugh.

"But of course. You desired fruit, did you not? So I acquired some. You are most welcome. For the bread as well."

Though it is true Abraxos isn't exactly doing this out of the kindness of his quite dead heart. Sylvester may be right to be suspicious of him, any rational person would be. Perhaps now might be a good a time as any to make his proposal, now that he's buttered him up with at least a partial meal. Revealing his hand ought to alleviate some tension, no?

"...You can consider it a... payment, if you like. Rent, in a sense." The very concept tugs at the corners of his lips, the slightest bit of amusement dripping in to his voice. "I would quite like to stick around, Sylvester Crow. You're an interesting fellow. Or, rather, I suppose it's the company you attract that attracts me. Surely you won't mind an old bat roosting in your rafters?" There is some bit of sincerity in his question, a chance that he might actually take no for an answer. Maybe.

He startles at the noise, instantly raising his hands in defense, terror making his breathing speed up. He's no longer in the kitchen, not mentally, he's back in that dreadful room and he knows that any moment now they could drag him out to punish him, and he almost welcomes it because it's still better than being stuck in that room...

Then he snaps out of it, realizing it's just Abraxos speaking. He's home. He's safe, or, well, as safe as he could be anyway. As the realization sets in, his shoulders relax a tad and he lowers his hands. "I...yes, I am feeling better. Thank you for the bread." Even as his posture relaxes, his voice remains shaky.

He looks at the fruits and his eyes light up. It's silly, he knows it too, but fruit has never looked quite this good and he can't stop his lips from pulling into a smile at the sight. He doesn't even notice the insult, far too busy inspecting the fruit. As eager as he is to eat it, he does not actually take any of the fruit, his hands hover above it and slowly his smile fades, another unpleasant memory clearly making its way to the surface. As he speaks, his voice is barely louder than a whisper and his eyes cannot meet the vampire's. "Am I allowed to eat this? I haven't earned it."

[rpvmsx]

"Ah, you've risen." He's not too discreet about wiping some final drips of blood from his lips, like he was saving it for when Sylvester might see. At least that answers the question of where he's been.

Or at least, answers some of the question. The rest is answered by him placing a plastic shopping bag containing a few assorted fruits. Grapes, apples, nothing extraordinary, nothing excessive. "Something fresh for you," he announces with a small flourish. If he understands anything, it's the importance of a fresh, decent quality meal. And how to subtly insult the way someone lives with just a slight change in tone.

"Feeling much better after your little nap?" He retreats to lean against the nearest wall, although it should be noted that his cane is tucked away at the moment. The wall lean is entirely an attempt to look 'cool'.

He does not find the vampire in the kitchen, though there is plenty of evidence that he's been in here. It's the loaf of bread that catches Sylvester's attention, a loaf of bread that must be new, for Sylvester rarely buys any bread, certainly not at the bakery, for fear of it spoiling before he gets to eat it.

Sylvester hesitates for a moment, never a fan of eating food provided by others, but hunger wins out in the end. He takes a few slices of bread from the bag and opens a can of soup. He does not bother to heat the soup, it's safe to eat cold, and while the flavor of it would undoubtedly be much better hot, he does not have the patience to wait for it to heat up. He dips one of the slices of bread into the cold soup and shoves it into his mouth with little care for how it looks.

He barely chews before swallowing and forcing another bite into his mouth, just desperate to fill his stomach before anyone can take the food away from him again.

[rpvmsx]

If only Abraxos were the homemaking type, perhaps Sylvester could've woken up to a nice, warm, pre-made meal waiting for him. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

There isn't exactly a mess, per se, but it's clear he's been rifling through the cabinets and whatnot, leaving a few things out on the counter. Nothing frozen, at least. A loaf of bread has appeared, too. Clearly from a bakery of some sort. It isn't freshly made, but it hasn't gotten too stale yet, either.

As for Abraxos, he is currently nowhere to be found. Perhaps he left to do more grocery shopping, or maybe he finally got bored and moved on to find another victim. Impossible to know until- or unless- he returns at some point.

So at least Sylvester did not lie about the food, he does have items in his pantry that are technically edible. Cans of soup, boxes of granola and crackers, a carton of shelf-stable milk, and a jar of peas. The freezer is similarly filled with stuff that definitely counts as food, like a bag of frozen berries, potato wedges, and a half-empty box of fish fingers.

The fridge meanwhile is empty. The whole kitchen seems devoid of perishables. No bread, no fresh produce. It's probably for the better, considering the fact that he hasn't been home in a while, it would've just spoiled, but the lack of their presence definitely gives off the feeling that Sylvester had expected to be away for a few weeks beforehand. Either that or he just didn't bother visiting the grocery store, also a possibility.

Sylvester, meanwhile, is still pretty out of it. The exhaustion has knocked him out cold. His body seems unsure of what it needs most: sleep or food. Honestly, he's behind on both. His body is still healing, desperately repairing the damage that has been done to it, but it lacks the resources and Sylvester himself lacks the motivation to do anything about it.

He would've gladly just died in his chair, but alas, he doubts he'll be able to make that happen. Things are never that easy. Once he's got just enough energy to remain upright, he staggers to the kitchen. He might just eat the soup straight from the can. The spoon is optional.

[rpvmsx]

Right, he'll have to take Sylvester's word for it, and not just because he is now apparently unconscious. Though he's quite dissatisfied with the revelation that no good lamb has ever found its way into Sylvester's life, from what Abraxos could recall it was always a delight no matter the dish. Perhaps he will try to remedy that situation when Sylvester feels he could keep it down.

Well, expensive meats are out of the question, but surely there's something Abraxos can go out and acquire. It's possible he's getting a tad bit stir crazy after all the waiting around he's done. At the very least he'd better take stock of what this guy does have in the house.

And why has he been waiting? He finds himself wondering as he rifles through the cupboards. This is an awful lot of hassle for a meal he doesn't even particularly want.

There are plenty of other people out there, people that attract just as much negative attention as Sylvester, if not more, that would be far easier to 'get into bed with,' so to speak. (It isn't attraction keeping him around, he knows that much. Which only raises further questions; why put in this much effort for a human you do not wish to eat nor fuck?) When anyone would do as a 'business partner', why him?

An answer does lurk beneath the surface, of course, but it isn't one Abraxos would like to admit to himself. Beyond reminding him of the life he'd long since left behind, figuring out his own true intentions would also reveal a truth about himself that he'd very much detest knowing. Instead he shall reveal easier-to-digest truths, such as 'does this guy actually have any soup?'

And, if not, what good would a vampire roommate be if he can't do a quick grocery run?

Sylvester tries to keep his eyes open to finish the conversation before allowing himself to pass out, though it's becoming quite the challenge.

"I don't. I haven't eaten in days, if I eat a fatty piece of meat right now, it's bound to come back out just as quickly as it went in... perhaps even quicker." He grimaced. "Something easy to digest. Some crackers. Maybe some soup. Possibly a small portion of fruit. I think I have a few cans of soup tucked away and there might be a bag of frozen berries in the freezer. Again, I can get it myself when I feel up to it, alright?" With those words he allows his body to give into the exhaustion, the final bit of adrenaline fully ebbing away and leaving him barely conscious. "Besides, the only lamb I've ever had is a few chewy scraps. Hardly something to crave." A few meaningless mutterings escape him before he truly passes out.